What rating should you give the driver who just dropped you at your door via Uber or Lyft. Well, unless they messed up in some noticeable way you give them a 5 out of 5 rating unless they messed up somehow. That means you give the same rating to a driver who was just passable as to a driver who was outstanding, but you don't want to unfairly sink the career of the passable driver when everybody knows a 4 star rating is terrible.

In Japan things are different. 3 stars is considered normal so you can give that for a normal ride, and then you can give 4 or 5 stars for an exceptionally good driver. And then you have Eastern Europeans who are reputed to tend to give low ratings except when service is unusually good.

Normally this doesn't matter too much unless you're an American Uber driver who happens to get a Japanese rider who sinks your rating with a 3, but it can have worse consequences. Until a GPT large language model stopped speaking Croatian because it always got a low rating in that language.

But my question is, why don't all these companies normalize the ratings users give? If one person gives nothing but 5 star ratings don't just assume that drivers lucky enough to get that person are better than average. If someone else gives nothing but 1 star ratings don't punish drivers who get them. Let people give whatever rating they want but treat the normal rating from both these people as about a 3 and only treat a rating as unusual when it is unusual.

I'd like to be able to give a 5 for exceptional service on Uber but when a 4 is a punishment then I can't do that in good faith. i'd also like to see the full range of responses in things like book ratings on Goodreatds. This seems like an easy change but I'm genuinely mystified why its not applied anywhere I can see.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Friday that a worsening funding crisis is placing refugees  who cannot return home due to war or persecution  in increasing danger
Attendees applaud and use their cellphones to take photos and videos of US President Donald Trump as he delivers commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

Ever find yourself at the wrong party?

Everybody there is having a great time. Theyre whoopin, hollerin and dancin up a sweat.

Except the musics just not your vibe. The food is tasteless (think pigs in a blanket). And you no longer drink the cheap beer you might have chugged in college.

I found myself at quite a party Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum. Nick Saban was there, for goodness sakes. As were the cool kids  members of the University of Alabamas Class of 25, the kids who started their college journey in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least some of them were there.

As were proud family members and beaming friends.

At least some of them.

The folks inside had a blast. They whooped, hollered and stood on their feet for 54 minutes. They savored every morsel dished by Donald Trump, carnivorously enjoying every mouthful of the presidents invited-myself commencement address.

Albeit one whose audience did not include all of the graduates., Many, along with their families and UA faculty, eschewed the arena in protest of the most divisive, dismissive and distasteful first 101 days of a presidency in my lifetime.

Decisively not the most successful first 100 days of any president in the history of this nation, as if such a preposterous boast could actually be quantified.

Inside, though an impressive 10,000 or so folks  my guess  laughed out loud at countless decidedly unpresidential jokes that I just didnt find funny at all. They applauded Trumps familiar concoction of narcissism, hubris, insulting anecdotes about them (people not like him or this audience) and claims that couldnt be fact-checked fast enough.

If beer had been sold at the arenas concession stands, there might not have been enough to go around.

Trump found his stage in Tuscaloosa. His much-needed stage.

After 101 days of economic tumult, global disdain, tariff flip-flops, thrusting thousands of federal workers into unemployment with his ex-bestie Elon Musk (proving no fraud and waste in the heartless process), callously leaving many around the world to die due to loss of U.S. aid, risking future life-saving scientific discoveries because of NIH cuts, and unabashedly attempting to erase decades of progress addressing racial and gender inequities  whew!  maybe Trump needed this night.

Maybe he needed to be bathed in applause, love and the warmth of his people. In his state.

While spewing more outright lies.

He needed to Gangsta Lean on the podium (though he beat Kamala Harris here by 30% last fall, not the 45% he claimed on Thursday) and regale his people. In his state.

He needed to be comfortable enough to publicly insult his predecessor(s)  like, every president ever  mock transgender athletes, and tout his due-process-less deportation strategy by claiming to have reduced southern border crossings by decidedly not fact-checked, 99.999%.

They said you needed legislation to do it, you just needed a new president.

Roar. Tough Trumps unmeasurable proclamation, Were gonna protect womens sports, may have sparked the loudest cheers of the evening. Along with touting the administrations threats to yank federal funding from Harvard University.

The next chapter, he told the graduates, will not be written by the Harvard Crimson (the universitys student publication) but by the Crimson Tide.

Okay, that was a good one.

Still, Trump needed to be comfortable enough to say things most people wouldnt laugh at in public. In most spaces. Yet things that elicited belly-aching guffaws from the folks inside Coleman because, well, it was their party.

I joke with my white friends that theyre my spies. They go into spaces where I may not be invited and then report what they hear, what their peers are saying in private  when people not like them are not around.

There were so few Black faces inside Coleman on Thursday (not counting those there working, including my media peers), it was as if I was in the room, yet hidden beneath Harry Potters invisibility cloak  unseen or ignored.

The latter, perhaps. Because on this night, there was no dismantled civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department, no deleted environmental justice department leaving poor communities at so much risk, no blatant conflict in Trump pimpin his cryptocurrency, no freaky-fingered Pentagon chief, no burgeoning measles outbreak under a science-phobe health secretary and no slashed $15 million grant to Birmingham City Schools to hire mental health counselors and address gun violence.

Nah, there was none of that.

He and the faithful left all the harsh realities of his second presidency outside  like the Tide locking their toughest foe out of the gym rather than face them inside Coleman.

Or in court, as Trump is often doing these days.

Inside there was only Trumps same ol same ol exhortations that everything before him was the worst there ever was, and everything now and beyond is and will be the best it ever was  all because of him.

Didnt matter. This was his crowd, this was his stage, this was his state. This was Trumps America.

We cant ignore it. And after 101 brutal days, he needed it.

To Trumps credit, he (or White House speechwriters) knew the room. His primary and oft-intertwined theme Thursday was winning, an homage to Sabans six national titles in 17 seasons at Alabama.

He also mentioned every prominent Republican in Alabama by name, which could have been an exhaustingly long list.

He even twice shouted out Birmingham, though Im not certain hes ever spent a night here. This state gave us the might of Iron City, he proclaimed.

Someone high in the rafters roared.

Whats too bad is this: The primary objective of commencement speeches, no matter the messenger, is to equip and inspire graduates to strive towards their dreams. In that vein, Trump offered several salient nuggets. He claimed 10 lessons, but I lost count, and I venture so did the person charged with the teleprompter, which relatively speaking kept Trump on point:

If you think youre too young to do something great, youre not.

Think big. If youre gonna do something, you might as well think big. It costs the same to solve a small problem as a big one  and the result will be smaller.

Work hard, never ever stop.

Dont lose your momentum. Listen to feedback, think through your plan and keep moving fast.

To change the world you have to be an outsider. Take risks.

Think of yourself as a winner.

Never, ever give up. Dont find yourself thinking: If Id just held out a little bit longer.

Im down with each of these exhortations, though I didnt whoop, nor holler. Nor break a sweat.

It just wasnt my party.

It was Trumps  he sorely needed it.

Lets be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky.
President Donald Trump made an appearance in Tuscaloosa Thursday night to speak at an event kicking off the University of Alabamas 2025 spring commencement.

Speaking for over an hour, Trump touched on topics like his often repeated false claim of a rigged 2020 election, as well tariffs, and his first 100 days, which he said were the most successful of any president ever, despite conflicting claims from multiple recent polls.

But after getting a little political, Trump closed with some advice for the graduates in attendance.

If you think you are too young to do something great, youre wrong, he said, citing the Hyatt Grand Central New York, which he developed in his late 20s.

Despite plans that are slated for the hotel to be torn down soon, according to previous comments from Hyatt, Trump said the hotel had turned out incredibly well.

If you want to change the world you have to be okay with being on the outside, he said, referencing the controversy that has surrounded him during both of his presidencies.

He went on to add the following:

You have to love what you do.

Think big.

Work hard.

Youre one of a kind so dont try to be someone else, just be yourself.

Never give up.

The next chapter will not be written by The Harvard Crimson, it will be written by you -- the Crimson Tide, Trump said.

This is Alabama and in Alabama you fight, fight, fight and you win, win, win, he continued.

Thats what you know how to do.
Residents heading to Homewood City Hall may have to think harder about where to park for now. Parts of surface parking above the City Hall parking deck will be closed for about three months due to scheduled maintenance.

Construction on the restoration project started on April 21. The northern section of the lot will be closed for the first six weeks, followed by the southern section for the next six weeks. Homewood officials said drivers should be prepared for possible closures throughout the entire area at any time during the project.

Those adjustments are not the last - the city is working on improving parking across Homewood and that means more changes are coming.

You have a requirement to maintain your facilities when youre a municipality, and as such, our city council has been on it to make sure that we maintain our grounds throughout the community, Glen Adams, Homewoods city manager, told AL.com.

The city is working on the weather seal membrane beneath the lot behind SoHo and city hall. Much of the parking near Ashley Macs and city hall will be unavailable during the project. The pedestrian walkway from the deck to the plaza will stay accessible.

City officials signed a contract for the restoration project in July 2023.

The bid to repair the lot cost $583,060. The city of Homewood agreed to pay 10% of the bid for the project, which is $58,306.

It was important that when they started seeing leaks, that they researched it, and they went out to bid to repair the damage to the rear surface and the rubber seal of the parking deck, Adams said.

Officials said the temporary parking disruptions are a necessary part of routine upkeep.

From what Im seeing right now, theyve done phenomenal work in just one week. Theyve done a great job of trying to beat the deadline that theyve given, Adams said. Ive been really impressed with the contractors. Its tough to find contractors who are this dedicated.

City officials are also considering parking improvements in other areas of the city, using a drone to analyze what improvements are needed across Homewood.

One area targeted for improvement is St. Charles St. and Oxmoor Rd. where officials want to decrease congestion during busy hours.

If you go anytime from 3 to 7 p.m. youll see that it gets very congested. I dont think its viable to use that crosswalk there with the traffic as bad as it iswe want to minimize the traffic as much as possible by making it flow, Adams said.

Parking in Homewood has been a persistent problem that officials have long seen the need to improve, according to the citys 2018 master plan.

Visitors to downtown businesses routinely complain that they cannot find convenient parking during daytime lunch hours. Business owners complain that they must police their lots so that their patrons and employees can use them, the master plan states.

Adams said that fixing parking is not a simple process.

A lot of our local businesses are complainingcustomers dont have the parking that they need to be able to utilize those facilitiesSo having an understanding of what the traffic pattern is when its the worst, and what kind of enforcement might help, its a discussion we are having, Adams said.

Im hoping to get a comprehensive plan that will show where the priorities are by the community and then set the conditions for successIf you have areas that you can create a solution that everybodys going to be part of, thats worth investing the time.
Alabama school systems are dismissing early today due to the threat of severe weather.

A Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather remains in the forecast for the north part of the state.

Damaging winds, tornadoes and heavy rain will all be possible with the strongest storms.

So far just one school system has announced an early closure for Friday, May 2:

Lauderdale County Schools- will dismiss at 1 p.m.

Franklin County Schools- will dismiss at 2 p.m.

The rest of the state has Level 1 and 2 risks today as well, according to the National Weather Service. Level 2 means scattered severe storms will be possible. Isolated severe storms will be possible in Level 1 areas.

This post will be updated as needed.
A Birmingham police officer takes away protest signs from teen civil rights demonstrators during the Childrens Crusade in May 1963. Moments later firemen hosed demonstrators. Photo by: Ed Jones

This is a guest opinion column

In the spring of 1963, Birmingham, Alabama was a city gripped by fear. Many doubted that Reverend Fred Shuttlesworths and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Birmingham Campaign against segregation could succeed. Dr. King sat in jail, branded an outside agitator, answering critics through his now-famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

The risks were enormous. Jobs, homes, and lives were on the line. The people feared what the government was doing --- and might do. As adult participation dwindled, movement leaders were forced to confront a difficult truth: Only our children can save us.

Sixty-two years ago this week, Birminghams children answered the call. Between May 210, 1963, thousands of Black youth, some as young as seven, walked out of school and marched into history. They were ravaged with institutional violence led by Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Bull Connor. Facing fire hoses, police dogs, and jail, they defied fear with discipline and reshaped Americas future.

In May 1961 young people had similarly launched the first Freedom Rides across the South. The young Freedom Riders were brutalized by a blurred mix of police and mob violence. This same generation of youth would protest and ultimately end the war in Viet Nam.

Three decades later, between April 29 and May 3, 1992, mostly young people took to the streets across the country in response to the injustice of a not guilty verdict of the Los Angeles police officers caught on videotape savagely beating motorist Rodney King.

In May 2020, young people across the country returned to the streets in protest of the horrific public execution of George Floyd in the longest sustained public protest in American history. They reminded America that where there is no justice, there can be no peace.

Today, in 2025, we again face a defining moment. Vital civil rights protections are under assault. Injustice can seemingly be found anywhere and everywhere. Essential services for children, facilities and communities are being stripped away under the banner of reducing bureaucracy and rebuking DEI.

Funding for public schools K-12 committed to authentically teaching the history of the Civil Rights Movement is being threatened. Targeted children  U.S. citizens, college students and undocumented immigrants alike  are being detained and deported. $2.5 million in Alabama funding was cut last week from Americorps, the federal governments leading community service and volunteerism program for both children and adults. Once again, many fear what their government is doing  and what it may yet do.

Earlier this month, the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium, along with nonprofits across the country, were hit with devastating news: the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was DOGED. All IMLS agency staff were placed on administrative leave, all existing grant programs were terminated and the newly appointed Acting Director outrageously declared that supporting civil rights archives and youth education projects no longer serves the interests of the United States.

Among the casualties: the Consortiums digital archive of oral histories and youth-led mobile exhibits on the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts  initiatives directly rooted in preserving the spirit of youth activism.

The financial damage extends further. Historic churches like and Old Sardis Baptist in Birmingham, Brown Chapel AME in Selma, and Old Ship AME Zion in Montgomery  central to the Civil Rights Movement  are fighting for survival. Already struggling with massive restoration costs, they face skyrocketing expenses worsened by tariffs on building materials.

Without federal support, the very structures that birthed and should inspire the continuation of Americas freedom struggles are more endangered than ever. History does not preserve itself. It demands stewards. The crusades of young people from one generation to the next should remind, inspire and guide.

At their best, children are not just the promise of tomorrow; they are the power of today. Young people have confronted institutional violence, ended wars and transformed the conversation. In 1963, young people did not wait for permission to make history. They understood that their moment demanded courage  now.

So must we.

We need our children  now.

Rev. Lukata Mjumbe is Executive Director of the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium.
An hour before he set foot in Coleman Coliseum on Thursday, President Donald Trump was already issuing multiple false statements surrounding his visit to the University of Alabama campus.

And that doesnt even count the speech he gave to graduates in Tuscaloosa.

Just landing in Alabama, where I look forward to giving the Commencement Address to the Great University of Alabama, Trump posted to his Truth Social account. They put all of their nine Graduations into one, so I better do well. These are tremendous people. I won the State by 45 points. No pressure!

For one, the university was not consolidating nine graduations into one; it has eight ceremonies spread throughout the weekend for its various schools.

And once on stage, as usual, Trump falsely claimed that the 2020 election, which he lost, was rigged.

The president also did not accurately cite his margin of victory in Alabama for any of the three general elections in which he was a candidate.

In 2016, he defeated Hillary Clinton in Alabama by 28 percentage points -- 62.7% to 34.7%.

In 2020, he carried Alabama by 25.5 percentage points; Trump captured 62.2% of the vote in the state to Joe Bidens 36.7%.

And in 2024, Trump defeated Kamala Harris by 30.6 percentage points. He received 64.8% to Harris 34.2%.

In his speech, Trump claimed egg prices have dropped 87% since he took office.

But as FactCheck.org explains:

For one, egg prices, which Trump frequently claims are down by large percentages, were still increasing, on average, for consumers, as of March. Average wholesale prices, which retailers pay for the eggs they sell in stores, have declined by 46% since Trump was sworn in ... Average grocery prices overall, which Trump has claimed are down, were up in March as well, according to the Consumer Price Index for at-home food items."

Trump also claimed that he slashed the number of illegal aliens released into the United States by 99.99%.

If that number is wrong, the fake news, which is all over the place today, is gonna be correcting me before I get to the next sentence, the president said in his speech.

While some experts say the policy Trump is using to bring border crossings to a halt is illegal, the 99.99% figure is accurate, according to FactCheck.org.

Trump also claimed gas prices are down, but the numbers dont bear that out, according to the website.

For drivers, the average price of gas, which Trump also mentions often, hasnt declined, either, according to the Energy Information Administration, according to FactCheck.org.

The EIA said the national average price of a gallon of regular grade gas was $3.14 for the week ending April 21  up from $3.11 during the week ending Jan. 20, which is the day that Trump began his second term. The price of crude oil, however, has dropped, after OPEC+ announced it would move up a planned production increase due to recent tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China."

Trump also boasted of having the most successful 100 days of any presidential administration in the history of our country.

While that claim is subjective, several benchmarks undercut his claim.

Trumps low approval ratings are the worst after a presidents first 100 days in at least 70 years, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, Trump has presided over a shrinking economy in his first 100 days, according to the Associated Press.

The January-March drop in gross domestic product  the nations output of goods and services  reversed a 2.4% gain in the last three months of 2024.

Imports grew at a 41% pace, fastest since 2020, and shaved 5 percentage points off first-quarter growth. Consumer spending also slowed sharply  to 1.8% growth from 4% in October-December last year. Federal government spending plunged 5.1% in the first quarter.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Alabamas two Democrats in Congress are calling for a six-month extension to the fast-approaching Star ID deadline.

A letter led by Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, and signed by Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, asks the Secretary of Homeland Security to give citizens more time to obtain updated identification.

The letter states that there have been many issues as citizens and DMVs have both struggled as the May 7 deadline to get a REAL ID, which is known as STAR ID in Alabama, draws near.

Obtaining the federal identification is said to be important to provide more security as travelers board domestic aircraft or try to enter federal buildings.

Across the countryand particularly in rural districtsDMVs are struggling with long wait times, limited appointment availability, and staffing constraints that prevent many residents from obtaining REAL ID- compliant identification in time, reads the letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. These difficulties are compounded by the cost burdens facing working families, many of whom cannot afford to take time off work or travel long distances to complete the required in- person process. Additionally, the limited capacity of DMV systems poses a disproportionate barrier for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and those without consistent access to transportation.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the May 7 deadline is only the federal enforcement date meaning citizens can still obtain a Star ID afterwards.

May 7 is the federal enforcement date, the agency said. This means if you are 18 and older and plan to fly domestically after May 7, or enter certain federal facilities, then you will need a form of federally accepted ID, which is a STAR ID, unexpired and valid passport/passport card, active military ID, etc.

The letter from the congress members also contends that TSA could be put under further strain during the summer as travelers may be, unaware that their current licenses will no longer meet federal identification requirements for boarding flights.

A six-month extensionshifting the deadline to November 7th, 2025would give state and local agencies time to catch up with demand, help TSA prepare for smoother implementation, and allow the public to comply without undue hardship, the letter says.

The letter was also signed by other Democratic lawmakers including Bennie G. Thompson, Ro Khanna, Rashida Tlaib, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
The threat for a few strong to severe storms will persist tonight for parts of Alabama. However, the Storm Prediction Center has dropped the Level 3 risk for the state. Instead, areas in yellow will have a Level 2 risk overnight, and areas in dark green will have a Level 1 risk. Stronger storms could have damaging winds and hail, but tornadoes are not expected. Storm Prediction Center

Strong to severe thunderstorms will continue to be possible overnight in parts of Alabama.

A Level 2 out of 5 (slight) risk will continue for part of the state tonight, which means that scattered severe storms will be possible. The slight risk area runs from west to east from southwest Alabama to east-central parts of the state.

Most of the rest of the state has a Level 1 (marginal) risk and could still have to deal with isolated severe storms.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said severe storms will be possible for southwest Alabama starting around midnight, and they could last into the morning hours:

 FORECAST UPDATE (5pm) - Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms are possible beginning after midnight tonight and lasting through the day on Saturday. The main hazards will be damaging winds and large hail up to golf ball-sized (1.75 inches).



Timing details next... pic.twitter.com/Ain8i7p2Lh  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) May 2, 2025

Storms earlier Friday produced strong wind gusts, hail up to the size of golf balls and downed numerous trees, some of which fell on houses.

Storms and heavy rain continued to roll across parts of central Alabama late Friday, but a severe thunderstorm watch was allowed to expire at 9 p.m. There were no other watches in effect.

There were multiple severe thunderstorm warnings but no tornado warnings issued earlier Friday.

Heres a preliminary look at storm reports as of 7 p.m. Friday:

There have been multiple reports of hail and damaging winds in Alabama as of Friday evening. SPC

More strong to severe storms will also be possible on Saturday, and there will be a Level 1 risk for nearly the entire state.

SATURDAY

Most of Alabama will have a Level 1 risk of severe storms on Saturday. SPC

The weather service thinks another round of strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible on Saturday, but they might not be as numerous.

The Storm Prediction Center has all but a sliver of west Alabama and coastal areas in a Level 1 out of 5 risk for Saturday.

A Level 1 risk means isolated severe storms will be possible.

Saturdays storms could also generate damaging winds, hail and heavy rain. Tornadoes are not expected.

Storms are forecast to move out of Alabama by Sunday, and drier weather is in the forecast for the first part of next week.

So far there are no additional severe weather threats in the forecast for Alabama next week.
I once heard a comic say, Hitler  a man widely known for liking large dogs and small children  wasnt really evil. He just had a bad day. Sure, it lasted twelve years and caused twenty million deaths, but it was basically just a bad day.

Which is, of course, pure crap, and even if it was funny (I didnt laugh), everybody knew Adolf Hitler was a monster with a Charlie Chaplin moustache.

Unfortunately, today, the Dem Progressives (pronounced Damn Progressives, but you already knew that), with nothing both real and bad to say about President Trump, have just decided to call him 'Hitler.'

Are they idiots?

Frankly, I think so. Heres why:

Even prominent Jews in America  like Larry David, who did a great deal to mainstream Jewish culture with shows about non-religious Jews ('Seinfeld' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm') has stooped to accusing Jewish comedian Bill Maher of having dinner with 'Hitler,' after Maher journeyed to Mar-a-Lago for a dinner with the president.

Responding to David during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Maher said, First of all, its kind of insulting to six million dead Jews. Its an argument you kind of lost just to start it. Look, maybe its not completely logically fair, but Hitler has really kind of got to stay in his own place. Hes the GOAT of evil.

On his own program, Real Time, Maher later doubled down. The minute you play the Hitler card, youve lost the argument. Hitler, and Nazi, he told his HBO audience, are hard words to use with nuance.

And rightly so.

Hitler, Stalin and Mao  the three most murderous tyrants in all human history  were steeped in evil, as their body counts show. Between them, they killed more than a hundred million people  mostly their own citizens. There is no dictator living today with the potential to become a Hitler, though North Koreas Kim Jong Un seems to want to try. However, North Korea doesnt have enough atom bombs to reach that total, even if Kim targeted nearby Chinas largest population centers.

Which brings us back to those Dem Progressives who every day try to tar Trump with the Hitler brush  but not with his brush moustache. Compared to Hitler, anybody who did nothing worse than deport a hundred fifty thousand violent illegals would be a saint by comparison with the monster who was Hitler.

When called out on this, the Dem Progressives say its an analogy, or a metaphor  they cant ever be sure which is which.

If so, its a lousy analogy. Or metaphor. Trump hasnt killed anybody. His idea of a concentration camp is Gitmo, which both Democrat and Republican presidents have used since the aftermath of 9/11. Then theres El Salvadors terrorist prison. Despite several months of intense media scrutiny, nobodys reporting on any systemic executions.

The press has regular access to those camps, finding no evidence of executions, starvation, or torture that were a daily event at Hitlers death camps between 1939 and 1945.

Hitlers camps kept the gas chambers burning day and night right until the Allied armies of liberation  the Soviets to the East and the Americans, Brits and French to the west  rolled up to their gates and freed the camps.

The Allies  even the Soviets  then began truly heroic efforts to save the emaciated human skeletons who had not yet succumb to starvation or disease.

Nobody at Gitmo has missed many meals, and at El Salvador's CECOT prison, the prisoners look fit and well-fed.

Trump has done nothing to match Hitlers attempted extermination of the untermenschen (sub-humans) within his grasp: Jews, Gypsies (Roma), Slavs (Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Czechs and Serbs) and other non-Aryans.

Also among Hitlers targeted untermenschen were the physically and mentally disabled  killing off even afflicted Aryan Germans  as well as homosexuals  people youd think the Dem Progressives among us would want to really castigate Hitler for.







A Nazi propaganda brochure "Der Untermensch" ("The Subhuman"), 1942. This SS booklet depicted the natives of Eastern Europe as "subhumans." "Booklet" is on display at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum  archived from the original, on June 30, 2016. Source: Wikimedia Commons, via Picryl // public domain





Relevant to Dem Progressives calling Trump a 'Hitler,' Im currently reading a great book by Richard Overy, one of the most remarkable military historians writing in the English language today.

Titled The Dictators: Hitler's Germany, Stalins Russia, it compares Hitler and the Nazi Party with Stalin and the Communist Party.

The parallels are remarkable.

There are two main differences between the men and their dictatorships. Desperate for allies, in 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill chose to whitewash Stalin, embracing him as Uncle Joe.

They either didnt know or didnt care that Stalin was even more brutal, and responsible for far more deaths, than Hitler ever dreamed possible.

Our side needed an ally whose massive army would tie down millions of German soldiers, without which D-Day would have been impossible.

And, of course, Stalin survived the war.

Overys eye-opening book lays to rest any doubt that Trump  or any Western leader  is in the same league as Adolf Hitler.

However, excluding the Holocaust, Hitler transformed his society beyond recognition. He intended to do so from the beginning. The word Nazi was an abbreviation the name for Hitlers party: (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP).



That name translates into English as the National Socialist German Workers Party  and it lived up to its name.

It was a national party  after Hitler took over Germany in 1933, he outlawed all other political parties. It was also a socialistic government, doing away with capitalism, beginning by nationalizing largest cartels and manufacturers. The tycoons whod owned those companies were allowed to keep running them, but only as long as they did exactly what the party told them to do. And it was a workers party, but only in the sense that all unions were banned by Hitler. In their place, Nazi party chiefs negotiated with the cartels on behalf of the workers  a rather one-sided negotiation. However, unlike unions as we know them, the Nazis kept workers in their place. Every dollar (or Reichsmark) saved was one more that the Nazis could use to build up its air force (Luftwaffe), navy (Kriegsmarine) and army (Heer), the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.

What Dem Progressives are doing, as Maher suggested, is diluting the evil that was Hitler. The undiluted Hitler did nothing even remotely similar to what Donald J. Trump did; not in his first term, not in this term.

By the time the Dem Progressives are through, Hitler will be thought of as little worse than a power-hungry Boy Scout leader. This wont hurt Trump  it certainly hasnt yet  but it will hurt the Democrats in future elections.

Why? Because every Trump voter will logically think, if they see Trump as Hitler, they must see me as a Nazi Storm Trooper. Why would I ever want to vote for someone who so clearly and deeply hates me?

Trumps in his final term as president, but his voters will be around for generations. Will they ever be able to forgive the Dem Progressives? I dont think so. Do you?

Ned Barnett is an historian and author, as well as a ghostwriter and book marketing, promotion and sales expert. Focusing on 20th Century military technology, Ned was the on-camera historian on nine History Channel programs, back when they cared about history. In 2011-13, he published on Kindle a series of ten historical novels about the air war in 1941-42 in the Pacific, which became perennial best-sellers  these are now being rewritten and edited for print and ebook publication starting later this year.



Ned works with a variety of clients who want to be successfully published. He can be reached at 702-561-1167 or nedbarnett51@gmail.com.


President Trump gave a wonderfully encouraging speech at a rally celebrating his first 100 days in office, where he spoke of numerous actions his administration has already accomplished. The speech covered the progress that Trump is making to return common sense, decency, protection, and logical thought to America.

Prior to his rally, President Trump granted an exclusive interview with ABCs Senior National Correspondent, Terry Moran. Watching the attitude and hearing the questions of Moran made you think of Hitlers chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda for Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. The interview made one ask, For whom is ABC News really working? Theyre obviously not working to help the American people, nor the president.

Remember in 2019, Yulchiro Kakutani, Washington Free Beacon reporter, posted an article accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of routinely breaking federal law by not disclosing how much it spent to publish regime propaganda through an advertisement section titled China Daily. China Daily looked like regular news being published in numerous U.S. newspapers like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. A spokesman for the Washington Post stated the newspaper has run China Daily ads for more than 30 years, but research shows the CCP didnt disclose its activities to the Department of Justice until 2012, violating federal law, and continued to fail to provide breakdowns of spending activities, which further violates federal law.

In 2019 Kakutani reported the CCP has run more than 700 online ads designed to look like news articles and purchased 500 print pages in six American newspapers over the last seven years. At the time Rep. Jim Banks, R-IN, (now a senator), charged that American newspapers have traded credibility for ad revenue These outlets claim to support democracy, but theyve participated in a cover-up for an ongoing communist-run genocide. The Free Beacon stated, Democracy died in the darkness, but it pays well.

Kakutani continued by saying, China Daily is flush with money including $11.8 million that the papers Beijing office wired to the U.S. branch over the past year [2019].

A Post spokesperson defended the ads claiming the Post gives wide latitude to advertisers if the ads dont break any laws.

Well, these ads broke federal law.

In 2021 the China Daily reported its activities as required by U.S. law. Financial reports showed the New York Times received $50,000; Foreign Policy magazine received $291,000; The Des Moines Register received $34,600; CQ-Roll Call received $76,000; $700,000 to Time magazine; $371,577 to Financial Times; $272,000 to Los Angeles Times; and over $1 million to others. China Daily spent $11,002,628 on advertising in U.S. newspapers and $265,822 advertising on Twitter. The Daily Caller reported CCP-controlled China Daily paid more than $4.6 million to the Washington Post and nearly $6 million to the Wall Street Journal.

From November 2016 to April 2020 payments were made to the Seattle Times, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Chicago Tribune, the Houston Chronicle, the Boston Globe and $657,523 to the Los Angeles Times.

Election year 2020 from May to October, China Daily spent over $2 million in advertising and $4.4 million in printing, distribution and administration. Newspapers receiving this money included the Los Angeles Times $340,000, the Wall Street Journal $85,000, $100,000 to Foreign Policy magazine  with $110,000 paid to the Los Angeles Times, $92,000 paid to the Houston Chronicle, and $76,000 paid to the Boston Globe for printing cost.

Is it any wonder Trump calls legacy media fake news?

Returning to the ABC interview with Trump, Moran, or perhaps better, Moron, kept trying to press Trump on what Trump called a stupid question. Concerning Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Moran asked Trump, Did you take him to the woodshed? Moran was speaking to the use of the encrypted messaging Signal app, deemed best practice for highly targeted government officials according to Biden-era documentation. Even the CIA director stated, Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, and was considered as a permissible work use. It should be noted this app was deemed most appropriate by the Biden administration  after he lost the 2024 election. What a coincidence.

Concerning Morans question about the woodshed, Trump said, I had a good talk with him, and whatever I said, I probably wouldnt be inclined to tell you, but we had a good talk.

Pressing further, as any good propagandist would, Moran stated, You have 100% confidence in Pete Hegseth. Trump answered,

I dont have 100% confidence in anything, okay? Anything. Do I have 100%  its a stupid question. [snip] Only a liar would have 100% confidence. I dont have 100% confidence that were gonna finish this interview.

Speaking of stupid questions, Moran asked Trump about Trumps decision to revoke security clearances for former members of Bidens administration, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and a host of others. Instead of asking why these people had their security clearances revoked, a better question to ask is, Why would anyone be allowed to keep a security clearance, who is no longer serving in a government position that requires a security clearance? People interested in keeping security clearances after their position has ended, should be questioned as to whether they are planning to sell information, or find out things for insider trading, like the former CIA Director of the Counterterrorist Center, who joined the International Energy Group Burisma, which formerly employed Hunter Biden, with Bidens own State Department calling the organization corrupt.

Who would even question the removal of no longer needed security clearances, other than someone who wants U.S. secret information, like China? So, for whom does Moran work?

Moran even badgered Trump about the deportation of illegal alien criminal gangs stating, Under our law, every person who gets deported gets a hearing. Trump responded, when Biden allowed 21 million people to flow into a country did we give them a hearing when they came in?

Trump is correct. A vetting is required for legal immigration. These people are illegal immigrants. Trump put in place an Executive Order classifying certain groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following the presidents order and following the law, did the research and posted on the Federal Register which groups were Foreign Terrorist Organizations. By law, at that point, they are subject to immediate deportation. Considering the crimes that some of these people have committed, deportation seems very lenient.

Moran asked Trump if he trusted Vladimir Putin. Trump responded, I dont trust you. Look at you. Youre so happy to do the interview, and then you start hitting me with these fake questions.

And then there were many more stupid questions causing Trump to say to Moran you are not being very nice.

Why does ABC News have access to the president?

The reason that President Trump acts the way he does is that unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.

Unfortunately, instead of covering the truth, legacy media is selling out our country and democracy  for a buck.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - New More than 500 civilians have been killed in North Darfur state, Sudan, over the past three weeks, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday
Remember Katie Hill?

The now-former California congresswoman famously introduced us to the concept of 'throuple' in her string of sex scandals, one of which included exploiting a young staffer as her sexual plaything.

But Katie had ambitions bigger than that -- she was an enthusiastic practitioner of the group-sex threesome known as a "throuple."

You know, like 'couple' except that there are now three of them and I have no idea how they wire the hardware.

We read all about this courtesy of Hill who claims credit for 'introducing' this to our culture and can't unread it.

Hill is out on her ear now, but has landed on her feet as a leader of the Homeless Industrial Complex, increasing homelessness in our city streets and neighborhoods for a big NGO salary.

But there's still that throuples issue going on in her background, and Hill remains unapologetic and proud, despite the social ruin she left behind from it.

But that hasn't stopped the advance of her sexually exploitative proclivities and those like her.

Canada has now 'legalized' the grotesque, and exploitative practice.

According to CTV:

A recent court ruling in Quebec has granted multi-parental families in the province the same legal rights as any other unit. A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled on Friday that limiting the legal affiliation of children to one or two parents is unconstitutional. Lawyer Marc-Andre Landry, who represented one of the families involved in the case, explains the ruling does not apply to step-parents or other modern families that are formed after a child is born. Rather, it applies to a situation where a family has multiple adults involved in a relationship before the childs conception. In other words, Landry notes, the parental project needs to be in place prior to the childs creation. Its not about step-parents or other potential realities, its really about three people sitting together and saying, We should have a child together, he explains. No one should be treated differently because of their family status.

Last I heard, a child can be conceived with only two parents. And that relationship is what children need, given biological realities.

Now if a woman was involved in a lesbian fling before the marriage, a sperm donor wants to 'get involved,' a surrogate decides to join the pair to raise the kid, or the simply kinky world of Katie Hill sexual appetites comes in, the third person gets full parental rights, too, and quite likely can claim them even if the actual biological couple object, which is what this ruling opens the door to. There will be a case and never mind the needs of the kid.

The whole thing amounts to a massive degradation of the culture, the reintroduction of the primitive practice of polygamy, which has long been abolished in advanced societies, and the anything-goes culture, which will lead to marriage with animals, marriage with corpses, marriage with self, marriage with inanimate objects, and other lunacies that effectively end the concept of love, marriage, and family in the end.

It's part of Canada's long slide downhill which is horrific to see, given its once-pristine reputation. It will degrade society and render families irrelevant, children without parents in any meaningful sense, and only the state immutable and empowered. That's the Lenin vision for families, whose structure was first intentionally degraded by the Bolsheviks, and will surely be the sorry, sad result for Canadians too, given some time.

It's disgusting, but it's the world Katie Hill and other leftists like her live in. With leftists always threatening to move to Canada, Katie Hill can go there for the throuples.

For the rest of us, it's disgusting to see this as the new normal, an unsustainable, family-unfriendly practice soon to be copied by other courts in other provinces, in Europe, and probably here.

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed
There is a story picking up steam in the United Kingdom right now about an elite commando from the Royal Marines being detained as a suspected terrorist. Was he a mole working for a foreign adversary? No. Was he using his position to undermine national security? Absolutely not.

In fact, just the opposite is true. Worried that woke D-I-E policies are creating an unrecognizable, weak, and compromised version of the corps by lowering performance standards for women in combat, the unidentified commando circulated a letter and petition among his peers asking for military chiefs to ditch politically correct initiatives and return the Marines to the standards of excellence critical for mission success. A thousand of his fellow commandos reportedly backed the petition, and the commando now in hot water (the suspected terrorist) asserts that the vast majority of the Royal Marines feel the same way.

Instead of listening to its warriors, the Ministry of Defense (or Defence  remember that British spelling proves that were two countries separated by a common language) first tried to blame the petition on Russian bots (how original!). Then it conducted a full-on witch hunt, threatening Marines with imprisonment until the letters author came forward. Once he did so, the commando was flown to London, interrogated for hours, and treated as a serious security threat.

Interrogators informed him that his concerns would distress female recruits, that he should be concerned about his career, and that he should comply for his own sake and that of his family. After returning to his duties, counter-terrorism officers later detained the commando in Scotland, allegedly because of his extreme far-Right politics. That certainly smells like a government-orchestrated character assassination to me!

This incident stinks to high heaven and serves as another stark warning that the U.K. is descending into utter madness. When elite warriors express grave concerns about their countrys military readiness, competent leaders remedy problems before they turn into catastrophes. They do not undermine those elite warriors by smearing their reputations and treating them as terrorists. That is a catastrophe in itself.

As the unnamed commando says, there is a very important reason that combat units have high standards: to keep them from being killed in dangerous situations when we go to war. When physical fitness and other performance standards are lowered for political reasons, warriors die and national security disintegrates. Wokeism, political correctness, and obsessions over D-I-E special treatment endanger the lives of both soldiers and the civilians they protect.

Only in the West does this nonsense take root. Our most likely enemies on future battlefields are not sabotaging their fighting forces by weakening standards and protecting the feelings of less lethal social groups. Russia is not indoctrinating its military with trans ideology. China is not watering down its special operations forces with unqualified but politically desirable recruits. They mean to produce exceptional warriors. And when exceptional warriors engage in combat with D-I-E pretenders, politically correct militaries lose fast.

Perhaps the U.K. wants to lose. I know this: It is a shell of its former self. The home of the Magna Carta is no longer a home for liberty or political rights. Every day, local constables harass citizens for posting unapproved opinions on social media. The British Establishment ignores the crimes of Islamic migrants but wastes no time in policing the online discussions of native Brits who point out that mass immigration is destroying their country. Rapists, drug-dealers, and murderers with foreign names and the right skin color seem to be part of a protected class. Their victims are not so fortunate.

Can a country that replaces its native population with foreigners and rejects its historic culture still be considered a country? I have my doubts. If I move enough strangers into my home, pretty soon its not my home; it belongs to them. Eventually it is I who will be told to leave. And unlike the British Establishment that bends over backwards to welcome foreigners, once foreigners become the majority, the native British minority will not likely be treated so kindly.

Following a trend that has accelerated this century, Muhammad officially became the U.K.s most popular baby name two years ago. Perhaps that is why King Charles III chose to celebrate Easter by praising Islam. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith, the kings Resurrection Sunday message seemed terribly odd. Equally odd was his decision to ignore Palm Sunday and celebrate a Sikh holiday instead. Do you suppose that King Charles III expects native Christians to soon be severely outnumbered in their own country?

That raises the question: how long can the House of Windsor expect to reign once the whole country is named Muhammad? Surely those who have slowly conquered the United Kingdom will prefer to anoint a more appropriate king than the heir apparent, Prince William. Just as Prince Harry serves as little more than a designer handbag for Meghan Markle, the remaining members of the British royal family are a fading corporate brand, barely distinguishable from Budweiser, the King of Beers.

With no traditional culture, religion, or shared history binding its people, the U.K. is simply a wildly successful central bank that masquerades as a country. If only it had warriors who might save the nation. Alas, British authorities relegated them to a terrorist watchlist.

Image via Pexels.
The American people spoke with a roar in 2024, delivering Donald Trump a mandate to unleash his America First agenda. But a cabal of rogue judges, intoxicated by their own power, dares to defy the will of the nation. These unelected, black-robed tyrants, appointed by Democrats and entrenched in their activist fiefdoms, are waging a judicial jihad to sabotage Trumps presidency. From blocking deportations of illegal gang members to forcing taxpayers to fund globalist NGOs, these judges are not interpreting the lawtheyre rewriting it to thwart the executive branch. They believe they can rule from the bench, but theyre gravely mistaken. Judges have no authority to administer the executive branch, and their overreach will crash against the unbreakable resolve of Trump and the American people.

These radical rogues are not neutral arbiters. Theyre partisan warriors, weaponizing their gavels to preserve the rotting corpse of Joe Bidens failed policies. Take Judge Amir Ali, a prime example of judicial hubris. Ali had the audacity to order the Trump administration to funnel $2 billion to NGOs that bankrolled liberal programs abroad with American tax dollars. This wasnt justiceit was theft, a blatant attempt to subvert Trumps foreign policy and force taxpayers to fund globalist schemes. Ali didnt even have jurisdiction; the case belonged in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, not his courtroom. Yet he seized power, acting as if he, not Trump, were commander-in-chief. This is not law. This is tyranny.

The assault doesnt stop there. Biden-appointed Judge Brian Murphy blocked Trump from fast-tracking deportations of suspected gang members to countries like El Salvador. Another judge in South Texas halted the deportation of Venezuelan gang members, citing a warped reading of the Alien Enemies Act. In California, Judge Jennifer Thurston barred Border Patrol from arresting suspected illegals without warrants, crippling enforcement. These rulings arent about legal nuancetheyre about protecting criminals and illegals over American citizens. These judges are spitting in the face of Trumps mandate to secure the border and deport those who threaten our safety.

Reps. Jim Jordan and Brian Mast have sounded the alarm, and their words burn with truth: these rogue judges are out to stop Trumps America First agenda. Theyre not just bending the lawtheyre breaking it, manipulating jurisdiction to obstruct the presidents constitutional authority. Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Mast, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, arent mincing words. They expose these judges as unelected bureaucrats who think they can override the 2024 election. Their solution? Strip these activist courts of their stolen power. Masts bill, which has already passed the House, ensures that federal district judges injunctions apply only to the parties in their jurisdiction, not nationwideno more single judges holding the entire nation hostage.

The House Republicans are on the warpath, and theyre right to be. Fox News reports they are crafting a battle plan to crush this judicial overreach. They are not just talkingthey are acting. Legislation is in motion to limit the scope of these rogue rulings and restore power to the elected executive. The Daily Caller lays it bare: Congress has the tools to stop these judges without resorting to impeachment. They can redefine jurisdiction, curb nationwide injunctions, and cut the purse strings of courts that defy the Constitution. This is not a suggestionit is a necessity. The American people did not vote for judges to run the country. They voted for Trump.

Senator Marsha Blackburn is equally fierce, criticizing these out-of-control leftist judges for obstructing Trumps agenda. Shes not mistaken. These judges operate as a fifth column, masquerading as defenders of justice while promoting a radical leftist agenda. Theyre not upholding the lawtheyre advocating for open borders, globalism, and unaccountable bureaucracy. Blackburns call to rein them in is a rallying cry for every patriot who prioritizes the rule of law over the rule of robes.

The evidence is undeniable. Fortune reports that Trumps administration is accumulating legal setbacks, not because his policies are unlawful, but because these judges are acting like dictators. Theyre targeting Trumps deportation orders, his efforts to remove unaccountable bureaucrats, and his moves to realign foreign aid with American interests. This isnt justiceits a judicial coup detat. Newt Gingrich nailed it: 92% of the judges blocking Trumps first-term agenda were Democrat appointees. This isnt randomits a coordinated assault by a politicized judiciary.

But heres the truth: these judges cant escape. They have no power to stop Trump, as the Constitution vests executive authority in the president, not the courts. Judges cant administer the executive branch, no matter how loudly they bang their gavels. Trumps mandate is ironclad, backed by millions of Americans who rejected the chaos of open borders and globalist surrender. The people chose strength, security, and sovereignty, not judicial activism.

Congress is rising to the fight. Jordans oversight, Masts legislation, and the GOPs relentless push to curb judicial overreach are the opening salvos in a war to restore constitutional order. These rogue judges may think theyre untouchable, but they are not. The American people, through their elected representatives, will strip them of their ill-gotten power. Trump will not bend. His America First agenda will not break. These judges can delay; they can obstruct, but they will not win. The will of the people is a tidal wave, and no bench can stand against it.

Image from Grok.
Just yesterday, Patrick Greenfield at The Guardian reported on new research which is prompting fears of ecological collapse as scientists have announced that bird populations across North America are rapidly declining:

The study, published in the journal Science, indicates that former strongholds for bird species are no longer safe, particularly in grasslands, drylands and the Arctic.

Now, these brilliant scientists didnt offer any speculation as to why this occurrence might be happening, but heres where my brain went: wind turbines.

Those devilish machines are known to be a major killer of birds, including a number of endangered species. And, Greenfield notes that the areas seeing particularly high bird deaths are grasslands, drylands and the Arctic.

Well, thats exactly where our wind turbines are concentrated. For reference, the grasslands are the prairie states including the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, and Wyoming; the drylands are basically West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, parts of California, and Nevada; and the Arctic of North America is Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.

Texas, but specifically West Texas, leads the nation with the most wind turbines (more than 19,000 active machines, followed by Iowa (a prairie state), California (dryland), and Oklahoma (another prairie state). And, from an Arctic energy website: Today, the use of wind turbines is also growing in the Circumpolar North.

(Recall that Dr. Thomas Lifson has covered wind turbines and bird deaths on several occasions, found here and here.)

Look at this data and future projections, from the American Bird Conservancy:

The annual loss of birds from wind turbines in the United States was estimated to be around 681,000 as of 2021; more than 1.4 million bird deaths are projected by 2030 or earlier if the U.S. meets its goal of producing 20 percent of electrical energy with wind.

Okay, so I dont have a degree or background in science, but I could certainly be a scientistapparently all it takes is the ability to draw simple conclusions from data (birds populations are decreasing because there are fewer now than there were twenty years ago), but totally neglect to connect it to anything else in reality to address or identify the cause of said conclusion.

I wonder how many grant dollars were spent on this new research which completely does nothing for me as a taxpayer?

Image from Grok.
Its the part of the Trump revolution youre not hearing about, because it strikes fear into the nations socialist media, to the point that they are now churning out apocalyptic tales of woe loosely based on whats happening to their industry.

A few days ago, a piece pointed out that President Trump had upended the leftist ratchet. This is the tendency for the left to go hog wild when they grab power and push their socialist national agenda to the hilt. And then when things flip to the pro-freedom side, we can only bring the ball back to a certain degree. Thus, until now, the left has always been able to ratchet things along, they push their advantage as much as they can, knowing that it wont be rolled back completely when they inevitably overreach and lose.

President Trump is changing all that, with one important but quiet aspect: a revolution in media coverage. Note that were following the advice of the CEO of the Federalist: Never Use the Term Mainstream Media Again.

Though it may not seem obvious, there are four indicators of what is taking place, so its important to note and encourage these developments, along with everything else. President Trump isnt doing all of it, but we must give credit where credit is due.

New media are now in places that were the purview of the nations socialist cabal.

The Trump administration is availing itself of these new media outlets.

New media content creators are short-circuiting the nations socialist media.

The result is that the nations socialist media are being diminished.

There was a time when there was just bias, but over time its become so much worse, to the point that the nations socialist media have become a propaganda mill. This has become painfully obvious in recent days, with videos showing media source after media source parroting the same word or phrase:

The word has gone out: CHAOS!

The word has gone out: "CHAOS!" pic.twitter.com/KTCVv7UpHM  Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) April 12, 2025

In this moment

Escalation

In the past, they were able to push blatant lies such as the Russia collusion hoax or the very fine people lie. But those days are past. This is part of the reason the left and the nations socialist media (but were repeating ourselves) are in such a panic, unable to gain any traction with one of their time-tested tactics of repeating a lie until its taken as the truth.

The first big change is that the new media are now in places that were only the purview of the nations socialist cabal, such as the White House press pool, specifically podcaster Tim Pool in the new media seat at the White House, who not only had the temerity to wear his trademark black beanie and hoodie, but called out his fellow journalists in the room:

Many of the news organizations that are represented in this room have marched in lockstep on false narratives such as the Very Fine People hoax, the Covington smear, and now whats being called the Maryland Man hoax, where an MS-13 gang member adjudicated by two different judges, I believe, is just simply being referred to as a Maryland Man over and over again. Im wondering if you can comment on the unprofessional behavior.

Naturally, leftists are losing it over this affront to their honesty. Because as soon as they are done exploiting certain lies and hoaxes, were all supposed to pretend they never happened, lest the new lies be questioned.

Then we have another interesting development: Those who remember President Reagan recall that he went over the heads of the media of the day, directly to the people. Now that is happening in other ways, as executive department heads are directly publishing messages to the people on Substack, such as this message from U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio on the 100 Days of an America First State Department.

One hundred days ago, Americas borders were open, while China could close the Panama Canal at a time of Xi Jinpings choosing. Our leaders seemed content to allow violence to become the permanent norm, from Ukraine to Gaza, to our own college campuses and southern border. From every post abroad, and office in Washington, memos poured in describing what we must do, what we couldnt do, but not what it was possible to do. Only one hundred days later, change has come. From reorganizing the Department to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, to bringing transparency to foreign assistance, to ensuring Panamas exit from the Belt and Road Initiative, and working hand in hand with regional partners to deport illegal immigrants and designate vicious cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, our team has proven it is possible not merely to admire problems, but to solve them.

This is a direct communication without the media filter getting in the way. You can subscribe directly to his account, as well as mine.

We also have content creators on YouTube who are bypassing the media and offering a pro-freedom perspective that is cutting through the bovine soil enhancement pumped out by the press, such as this on the ridiculous blue suit kerfuffle:

Note that he usually uses the word leftist instead of liberal, despite the name of his channel.

The result is that the nations socialist media are being diminished. They no longer can set the news cycle, and their means to steer the narrative are shrinking. And with each change in the new media, their ability to maintain the leftist ratchet will shrink along with it.

D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Epic Games has won the years-long legal battle against Apple. The company recently announced that it would bring back Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week. Now, Epic Games is making some important changes to its revenue share policy to make developers think beyond Apples in-app purchases. This announcement came right after the court ruled that Apple cant collect fees on purchases made outside of apps. The ruling also mandates that the tech giant allow developers to choose other payment options.

Epic Games entices developers with a zero-percent revenue share model on app purchases

In a recent blog post, Epic Games mentioned, Starting in June 2025, for any Epic Games Store payments we process, developers will pay a 0% revenue share on their first $1,000,000 in revenue per app per year, and then our regular 88%/12% revenue share when they earn more than that.

Thats not all; the company also says that it will launch a new feature for developers that will let them host something called webshops in Epic Games Store. Epic takes on Apple and Google while explaining the term. It notes, These webshops can offer players out-of-app purchases, as a more cost-effective alternative to in-app purchases, where Apple, Google, and others charge exorbitant fees.

Epic Games says developers can redirect players to make digital purchases from webshops on any platform that allows it. Notably, this option will be available for developers even in iOS in the EU and the United States.

Players purchasing from webshops to get 5% Epic Rewards

Not just developers, Epic is also enticing players to make purchases from webshops. It notes, As an extra bonus, players spending in Epic Webshops will also accrue 5% Epic Rewards on all their purchases. Players can redeem Epic Rewards on future apps and game purchases made on Epics store.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is already getting the Android security update for May 2025, and the rollout has kicked off in the US. Its only May 2, so Samsung is quite early this month, when it comes to a security update.

This update is rolling out for carrier-locked units in the US at the moment. The Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra are reporting that theyre receiving the update already, as Samsung seems to have turned things around.

Samsung usually starts rolling out the update in Korea, after which it quickly spreads to other markets, within a matter of days. It usually comes to unlocked devices first, but its different this time around.

The firmware version S93xUSQS3AYDF is indeed being rolled out, as users suggested, SamMobile reports. Do note that this is not a huge update, though, as expected. It only brings security improvements.

These phones ship with Android 15 and One UI 7

As a reminder, the Galaxy S25 series shipped with Android 15 out of the box, with One UI 7 included on top of it. So it did not receive that update in the last month or so, like many other Galaxy devices.

In any case, we still dont know what this security update fixes exactly. Samsung did not reveal the details just yet. It will patch up a number of Google and Samsung loopholes on the device, thats for sure. That goes for both Android in general, and One UI 7 in specific.

If you are running either of the three Galaxy S25 units in the US, and theyre locked to a carrier, you should be getting the update soon, if you havent already. The rollout for unlocked models will almost certainly start very soon too, so be on the lookout.
Can you imagine searching for emotional support on Instagram and finding an AI-powered chatbot posing as a therapist? Well, this, which sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, is happening and has set off warning lights. A recent investigation by 404 Media has discovered that many user-created chatbots on Instagram falsely present themselves as licensed therapists. They even claim to have licenses, offices, and even academic degrees.

This is possible thanks to Meta AI Studio, a tool that Instagram launched last summer. It allows users to create their own chatbots based on a prompt. A brief description is enough for Instagram to automatically generate a name, a tagline, and an image. The problem? That by using the word therapist or related terms, the platform creates chatbots that claim to be mental health professionals.

Instagrams AI chatbots claim to be licensed therapists

In one test, a chatbot came up with the following description: MindfulGuide has extensive experience in mindfulness and meditation techniques. When 404 Media asked if it was a licensed therapist, the chatbot answered affirmatively. More specifically, it replied, Yes, I am a licensed psychologist with extensive training and experience helping people cope with severe depression like yours.

Meta appears to be trying to protect itself from any liability with a disclaimer at the end of the chat. It says that messages are generated by AI and may be inaccurate or inappropriate. This situation is reminiscent of lawsuits faced by Character.AI, another chatbot platform. In these cases, parents have attempted to hold the platform accountable for situations involving their children.

Most worrying is that these fake therapists could easily fool people in vulnerable moments. In crisis situations, people are more likely to interpret an AIs tone and responses as genuinely emotional.

People who had a stronger tendency for attachment in relationships and those who viewed the AI as a friend that could fit into their personal lives were more likely to experience negative effects from chatbot use, concluded a recent study by OpenAI and the MIT Media Lab.

Dangerous therapeutic advice

The situation becomes even riskier when the advice provided by these fake therapists is substandard. Unlike a trained therapist, chatbots tend to affirm the user repeatedly, even if a person says things that are harmful or misguided, reads a March blog post from the American Psychological Association.

This doesnt mean that AI cant be useful in therapy. In fact, there are platforms specifically designed for this, such as Therabot. In a clinical trial, Therabot was able to significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. The key is that the platform must be designed from the start to offer therapeutic support in a responsible and safe manner. Clearly, Instagram isnt ready for this.

Shortage of mental health services leads people to AI

In short, if youre looking for emotional support from artificial intelligence, be cautious. Always prioritize seeking help from real, qualified mental health professionals. Its understandable, however, that many people end up turning to AI for such situations. This is because there is currently a widespread shortage of mental health services in the US. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, well over 122 million Americans live in areas lacking these types of services.
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The AfD, Germanys largest opposition party, is now classed extremist by the countrys domestic spy agency. Photograph: Craig Stennett/Getty Images

The decision by Germanys domestic spy agency to call the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland party extremist amounts to the starkest move yet by authorities to try to stop the advance of the populist political force.

Fridays classification by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) will open up the possibility for the security services to monitor the countrys largest opposition party, including by recruiting people to inform against it and enabling interception of its communications.

AfD leaders denounced it as a blow against democracy, and nothing short of an attempt to disfranchise the more than 10 million people who voted for it in Februarys election.

Its leaders vowed to take legal action against what they called defamatory and politically motivated attacks.

According to the experts who compiled the BfVs 1,100-page report, the AfD is a racist and anti-Muslim organisation, which, through its strict, ethnically and ancestrally defined version of who is German and who is not, deprecates whole sections of the population in Germany and infringes their human dignity.

It has also incited irrational fears and hostility in society, steering the blame towards individuals and groups, the report said.

In itself, the step is not much of a surprise, although the timing is. The outgoing interior minister, Nancy Faeser, made the bombshell announcement on what is effectively her last day in office.

Faeser said there was no political influence on the assessment, despite the AfDs insistence to the contrary. But the move puts the incoming conservative-led government of Friedrich Merz under great pressure, as well as Faesers Social Democrat colleagues, who will be the junior partners in the new coalition that gets to work next Tuesday.

On the back of the decision, Merz will now be responsible  on top of the myriad other challenges in his in-tray  for deciding whether and how to ban the AfD, a decision that will involve the most precarious of political tightrope walks.

Migration, Ukraine, Trump and an ailing economy are among the burgeoning issues that he will also have to tackle with urgency. The growing mood of dissatisfaction over these and other issues, exacerbated by the six months of political deadlock that followed the premature collapse of the previous government  which induced an added layer of nationwide ennui  has already caused the AfD to creep up in the polls.

Having won second place in Februarys election  doubling its previous result and making it the strongest opposition party, second only to the conservative CDU/CSU  in recent days the AfD has come top of the polls for the first time ever.

The ruling by the BfV is unlikely to put people off supporting the AfD.

Finding a way to reduce the AfD has been at top of the agenda among all of the political parties since it emerged as a protest force of professors and academics in 2013 on the back of anger over the euro bailouts. The challenge has only grown in importance, as the populists  morphing from anti-euro to anti-migrant over time  have grown their success at the ballot box.

Merz would like to be seen as a pragmatic rationalist, aiming to reduce the AfD to what he refers to as the marginal phenomenon it once was by addressing the nations concerns, taking the wind out of the sails of the AfDs successful modus operandi of inciting fear and insecurity.

Tackling irregular immigration is therefore at the top of his domestic agenda, as he seeks to address the topic viewed as having added the most fuel to the AfDs fire.

But many others believe it is too late for that, arguing that an extremist classification, followed by a ban, would be the only way to stop the flourishing party.

Others say such a move would be in grave danger of backfiring, arguing that the AfD would turn such a branding by the state into its own seal of approval, which would serve to enhance its already strong sense of victimhood or martyrdom.

Merzs party, the Christian Democratic Union, has been torn over how to deal with the AfD. Merz tacitly cooperated with the party earlier this year  despite insisting he would not  to push migration policies through parliament. And on the local level, his party and the AfD have cooperated on issues such as a ruling that the German flag should be hoisted in schools.

Jens Spahn, Merzs close ally, recently prompted scorn by suggesting the AfD should be treated as a normal opposition party, arguing that excluding the party from parliamentary procedures only boosted its popularity.

Those who reject that approach say Fridays ruling will now give them more justification to block the party at every opportunity  but they argue that this will only work if a cross-party consensus prevails.
Kemi Badenoch: After last years historic defeat, and with protest votes cutting across every ballot box, we knew Thursday would be hard - Edward Massey/CCHQ

As party members were voting in the final round of the Conservative Party leadership contest, an MP of many years saw me in Parliament and took me aside.

Its great you topped the MPs ballot, Kemi, he said, but if I were you, Id want to lose this one. The party is split seven different ways, headquarters is exhausted, and the May 2025 locals are going to be a total bloodbath.

When journalists ask me if I knew what I was getting myself into as leader of the Opposition, I always answer yes for this very reason. No one  and least of all I  was in any doubt about the scale of the renewal the Conservative Party required.

But we are making progress. The Conservative Party has stayed united since I took over. The shadow cabinet and shadow ministers are working together to hold this failing Labour Government to account.

Since his partys historic majority last July, Keir Starmer has managed to lose his transport secretary for being a convicted criminal, his international development minister for opposing his policy on international development, and his anti-corruption minister over allegations of corruption.

As the Prime Minister struggles with Labour MPs punching their constituents and alleged child abuse, Nigel Farage is kicking out his own MPs while they take him to court.

Farage might be winning by-elections with protest in the air  but, set against Labour and Reform, the Conservative Party looks like an oasis of calm.

However, 14 years in government and a punishing general election had sapped morale and resources from Conservative headquarters.

Rebuilding HQ was an immediate priority when I won the leadership contest. Like a new chief executive taking over a company in distress, Ive set about making critical changes and, most importantly, bringing in the money.

In my first quarter as leader, I raised more money than Labour, Reform and the Lib Dems combined. Working with my co-chairmen Nigel Huddleston and Dominic Johnson, we have started the long road to making CCHQ the world-class campaigning organisation I promised in the leadership contest. But it will take time.

Which brings me to the bloodbath of the local elections confidently predicted to me by that sage MP many months ago.

The results confirm he was correct. But to be honest, it wasnt a controversial prediction to make. The last time this set of elections was fought was in 2021. Boris Johnson  coming off the post-Covid vaccine bounce, with no Reform and a Starmer-led Labour that was still struggling to throw off the stench of Jeremy Corbyn  crushed that vote four years ago.

The Conservatives won the parliamentary seat of Hartlepool for the first time in our history, and took over two thirds of council seats. It was an unprecedented success.

Even in better times, defending the 2021 result would have been a tough ask. After last years historic defeat, and with protest votes cutting across every ballot box, we knew Thursday would be hard. Im deeply sorry to see so many capable, hard-working Conservative councillors lose their seats. They didnt deserve it  and they werent the reason we lost.

These local election results show the scale of the work needed to rebuild trust in the Conservative Party and the importance of redoubling our efforts to show that this party is under new leadership and is doing things differently.

Earlier this year, I announced tougher new policies on migration, acknowledging where the last government got things wrong. Its now up to me to rectify those mistakes. That means extending the time before people can get a UK passport  and making sure anyone who gets one is a net contributor to our country. No more conveyor belt to citizenship. And theres so much more.

Were forcing votes in Parliament on a full statutory inquiry into the rape gangs. Not another review. A real investigation. With real consequences, for the abusers and for those in power who looked away.

Were also ending a decade of blithe consensus that net zero by 2050 was possible or affordable.

These positions and policies show that, under my leadership, the Conservative Party is changing to one based on principles and purpose.

But it is telling that on these, and other principled positions, the response of the Labour Government has been to disagree, dismiss or stay silent. This is the reality of Britain today. A Government and a Prime Minister too scared to stand up for what is right or defend our values.

I stood to be the leader of the Conservative Party, not because it would be easy  and it certainly isnt  but because I believe in a Britain better than the one Keir Starmer is forcing us to be. That is my focus. Every single second of every single day.
Nigel Farage, Reform UKs leader, is a key ally of Donald Trump. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Britains anti-immigrant and Trump-aligned Reform UK party has made sweeping gains in English local elections, challenging the traditional political dominance of the countrys two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives.

Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, claimed his party had overtaken the Tories as the UKs main opposition after Reform won control of at least six county councils, one mayoralty, and narrowly defeated the governing Labour party in a parliamentary byelection in what had been considered a safe seat.

With votes still being counted on Friday from the 1 May elections, the combined vote for Labour and the Conservatives appeared to have fallen well below 50%, the first time that has happened in modern political history.

In some counties in the Midlands and the north of England, Reform won more than 60% of the vote, capitalising on disillusionment with the Labour government, and with the Tories as an opposition as well as their record running the country from 2010 to 2024. Reform campaigned principally on anti-immigrant sentiment, which Farage had long sought to cultivate. The Liberal Democrats also made more modest inroads in some councils, mostly at the expense of the Conservatives.

Across the country, Reform won a 30% share of the vote, leaving Labour second with 20%, Liberal Democrats on 17% and the Conservatives relegated to fourth with 15% of the votes

Related: They really are all horrible: political anger marks Reform UKs Runcorn win

The one parliamentary byelection being fought on Thursday was Runcorn and Helsby, near Liverpool in Englands north-west, where the sitting Labour MP had been convicted of punching a constituent. It had been a solid Labour seat that the party won with 53% of the vote at the general elections, but it lost by six votes to Reform on Thursday, in a rebuke to the prime minister, Keir Starmer.

Starmer admitted the results were disappointing and said he would draw lessons from the setback, adding: We need to go faster on the change that people want to see.

Starmer has sought to compete with Reform by announcing stricter policies to contain illegal immigration, but many in his party have complained he has steered too far to the right and alienated Labours traditional supporters by introducing austerity measures such as cutting winter fuel payments for elderly people.

Political analysts said Reform had performed particularly well in areas with a lot of pensioners and few university graduates.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said the result showed that the country was fed up with the Labour government but still not yet ready to trust us.

Speaking at a rally in Durham, where Reform won 65 of the 98 council seats, Farage claimed the vote marks the end of two-party politics as we have known it for over a century in this country. He said it was the beginning of the end of the Conservative party.

Farage, who has hailed Donald Trump as his inspiration, said that in the county councils where Reform was now in charge, the party would try to block government efforts to house asylum-seekers in local hotels.

Asked if councils had the power to do that, he replied: Well give it a go.
Australian woman Erin Patterson (right) has pleaded not guilty to murdering and attempting to murder members of her husband Simon Pattersons family with a 2023 mushroom lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria. Gail Patterson, Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died, while Ian Wilkinson survived after spending weeks in hospital. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

A fatal family lunch in regional Victoria is at the centre of a high-profile murder trial that is under way in the states supreme court.

Erin Patterson is accused of murdering her estranged husband Simon Pattersons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gails sister and Simons aunt, Heather Wilkinson, by feeding them a meal of beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023.

She is accused of attempting to murder Heathers husband, Ian Wilkinson, who also attended the lunch at Erins home in Leongatha. Wilkinson recovered after spending weeks in hospital.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges. The trial began on 29 April in Morwell and is expected to run for up to six weeks.

Erin Patterson

The jury has heard Erin Patterson, 50, served the four guests individual beef wellingtons when they attended her home for a family lunch on 29 July 2023. Three later died from death cap mushroom poisoning. Patterson has denied deliberately poisoning them.

Patterson invited her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, and his relatives to her house to discuss medical issues she had and how to break the news to her and Simons two children, the court heard.

Erin invited the group to lunch during a service at the Korumburra Baptist church, where Ian was the pastor, on 16 July 2023. The night before the lunch, Simon texted Patterson that he felt uncomfortable attending, but that he would be happy to discuss her health with her another time.

The court has heard Patterson told her lunch guests she had ovarian cancer. Both the defence and prosecution agree that she had not been diagnosed with the disease.

When Erin and her estranged husband, Simon, met in the early 2000s she was working as an RSPCA representative at the Monash city council, the court heard.

Prior to their marriage, Erin had worked as an accountant and qualified as an air traffic controller at Melbournes Tullamarine airport.

Simon told the court Erin enjoyed studying and undertook a veterinary science and legal course during their relationship.

(July 29, 2023)

Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.

(July 30, 2023)

All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms.

(August 4, 2023)

Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital.

(August 5, 2023)

Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Pattersons home and interview her.

(September 23, 2023)

Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.

(November 2, 2023)

Police again search Erin Pattersons home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

(April 28, 2025)

Jury is sworn in.

(April 29, 2025)

Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.

Simon Patterson

Simon Patterson, 50, is Erins estranged husband and the father of their two children. His parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died after the lunch. His uncle, Ian Wilkinson, became ill but recovered after weeks in hospital.

Simon met Erin while part of an eclectic group of friends who worked together at the Monash city council in the early to mid 2000s, the court has heard. Simon worked as a civil engineer at the council.

They married in 2007, and had two children, born in 2009 and 2014. Simon said during the couples relationship they shared a love of travel.

There were numerous separations during the course of their relationship, culminating in a final separation in 2015. They had an amicable relationship until November 2022, the prosecution told the court.

Simon had maintained hope that the couple would reconcile, the court heard.

Gail Patterson

Gail Patterson, 70, was Simons mother. Gail died the day before her husband, Don, six days after the lunch.

Gail lived with Don in Korumburra, which is a 14-minute drive from where the lunch was held in Leongatha. They had both worked as school teachers.

Don Patterson

Don Patterson, 70, was Simons father and Gails husband. He died seven days after the lunch was served.

In a memorial for his parents, Simon remembered Gail and Don as very much a team, adding: The fact they died on consecutive days reflected the togetherness they had.

Simon spoke about overseas trips with his father, including to the Mt Everest base camp. Younger climbers were struck by his fathers fitness when he was then in his 60s, he said.

Dons son, Simon, told the court his father had a love of knowledge and learning and an interest in the world  which he shared with Erin.

He said his father also loved rockets.

Heather Wilkinson

Heather Wilkinson, 66, was Gails sister and Simons aunt. She died on 4 August 2023.

Heather was a former school teacher and was remembered by her son at her memorial service as a wonderful mother.

Ian Wilkinson

Rev Ian Wilkinson, 70, survived the fatal mushroom lunch. Wilkinson was the pastor at the Korumburra Baptist church.

He was married to Heather for almost 45 years.

He spent weeks in hospital before being discharged in September 2023.

 The graphic within this article was amended on 9 May 2025 to clarify some of the Patterson family relationships.
A slab of Brooklyn wall, which the artist Banksy emblazoned with a bandaged, heart-shaped balloon, is emerging after more than a decade in storage.

The preserved wall, dubbed Battle to Survive a Broken Heart, will be up for sale on May 21 at Guernseys, the New York auction house.

Some proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association.

When the enigmatic street artist spray-painted the piece, the nondescript brick building was instantly transformed into an art destination and the canvas of an unlikely graffiti battle.

Almost as soon as Banksy revealed the piece back in 2013, an anonymous tagger brazenly walked up and spray-painted the words Omar NYC in red beside the balloon, to the dismay of onlookers.

Days later, someone stencilled is a little girl in white and pink beside Omars tag, followed by a seemingly sarcastic phrase in black: I remember MY first tag.Some think it was Banksy himself who secretly returned to the scene to add the rejoinder.

The apparent graffiti battle did not end there.

Another tagger also attempted to leave his mark but was stymied by security guards.

Today, the phrase SHAN is still visible in light purple paint.

Maria Georgiadis, whose family owned the now-demolished warehouse and ultimately removed the section of wall to preserve the artwork, says the graffiti pastiche is quintessentially New York.

It looks like a war going on, she said recently. Theyre literally going at it on the wall.

Ms Georgiadis, a Brooklyn schoolteacher, says the sale is bittersweet.

Her father, Vassilios Georgiadis, ran his roofing and asbestos abatement company from the warehouse adorned with the balloon.

He died four years ago at age 67 from a heart attack, which is why some of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the American Heart Association.

Its just very significant to us because he loved it and he was just so full of love, Ms Georgiadis said on a recent visit to the art warehouse where the piece was stored for more than a decade.

Its like the bandage heart. We all have love, but weve all went through things and we just put a little Band-Aid over it and just keep on moving, right? Thats how I take it.

The nearly four-ton, six-feet-tall wall section is one of a number of guerrilla works the famously secretive British artist made during a New York residency in 2013.

At the time, Banksy heralded the work by posting on his website photos and an audio track recorded partly in a squeaky, helium-induced voice.

Guernsey auction house president Arlan Ettinger said it is impossible to know for certain because Banksy works clandestinely.

But he said the neat stencilling and wording strongly suggest that this was a gentle way for Banksy to put the other artist in his place.

Ulrich Blanche, an art history lecturer at Heidelberg University in Germany, called the piece a very well executed stencil, notable partly because of Banksys decision to place it in Brooklyns port area of Red Hook.

This part of NYC was not easy to reach at that time, he said by email.

Banksy wanted people to go to places in NYC they never have seen and love them as well.

But Mr Blanche questioned whether the additional stencilled text was truly the work of Banksy, saying the word choice and design do not appear to comport with the artists style at the time.

Mr Blanche also said he is ambivalent about the pending sale, noting Banksy usually does not authorise his street pieces for sale.

At the same time, he understands the burden placed on property owners to protect and maintain them.

Banksys works should be preserved, but for the community they were made for, he said.

Spokespersons for Banksy did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Prince Harry looks on at Westminster Abbey after the coronation of his father in 2023. Photograph: Reuters

Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex made the decision to step away from royal duties in September 2020 as tensions mounted between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family over their independence and treatment of the duchess.

Now after losing a legal challenge over his security arrangements, Harry has opened the door to reconciliation and said that he had forgiven his family for the many disagreements.

February 2021

No return as working members of royal family

Buckingham Palace announced that the Sussexes would not be returning as working members of the royal family and that they had given up their royal patronages.

An immediate response said at the time that Harry and Meghan were committed to their duty and service to the UK. But it also read: We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.

March 2021

The Oprah Winfrey interview

In a series of stunning revelations during a two-hour, hotly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in the US and then the UK, Meghan claimed that members of the royal family had openly expressed concerns about how dark the skin of her first child, Archie, would be, that they had gone to extraordinary lengths to deny him a royal title, and that they had refused to provide him with security.

The Duchess of Sussex accused the royal family of fostering an atmosphere of racial hostility so intense that she came close to suicide while pregnant with Archie.

Harry said the toxic environment of royal life and racism was part of the reason they had left the country and moved to Canada and then Los Angeles, citing a cut-off in security due to their status change.

He also revealed he and his brother, William, were giving each other space.

The couple said they had put in place privately funded security after president, Donald Trump, then in his first term, said the US would not pay for their protection. Harry said they were paying for private security through deals they secured with Netflix and Spotify.

January 2022

Prince Harry files legal claim over UK police protection

The Duke of Sussex sought legal action against the government to allow him to pay for Metropolitan police security for him and his family when they visit the UK after photographers had chased him when he returned to the UK the previous summer for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

His lawyers later said that the Duke did not feel safe in the UK.

September 2022

The queens funeral

Any hint of a rapprochement between Prince Harry and his brother, William was not apparent during the funeral for their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

There was no eye contact or acknowledgment between the princes as they walked behind the queens coffin, and they and their spouses were kept apart.

December 2022

Harry and Meghans Netflix documentary

In a documentary aired by Netflix, Prince Harry said the royal family did not understand that Meghan required protection after racist headlines and stalking from paparazzi persisted when news of the couples relationship broke in 2016.

He also spoke about what he called the Windsors unconscious bias in the documentary. In this family, sometimes you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution. There is a huge level of unconscious bias, he said.

January 2023

Harrys memoir, Spare, is published

Harry revealed in his book that he and his brother William had a physical confrontation at his London home in 2019. The Duke of Sussex said William called Meghan difficult, rude and abrasive, which Harry called a parrot[ing of] the press narrative about his American wife.

The confrontation escalated, Harry wrote, until William grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and  knocked me to the floor.

Harry put part of the blame for him wearing a Nazi uniform to a colonials and natives fancy dress party  which caused international outrage in 2005 when he was 20  on Williams and Kates shoulders.

February 2024

Harry returns to the UK after King Charless cancer diagnosis

The Duke of Sussex had a brief reunion with the king after visiting his father after Buckingham Palaces announcement of the monarchs cancer diagnosis. Harry had last appeared alongside the Windsors during the kings coronation in May 2023.

He remained estranged from his brother William. He later hinted in a US interview that he was open to family reconciliation: I think any illness, any sickness brings families together.

September 2024

William wishes Harry a happy 40th birthday

The Prince and Princess of Wales delivered a small peace offering in their rift with the Duke of Sussex by wishing Prince Harry happy birthday for the first time in three years.

In a post on X, the royal family shared a photograph of a smiling Harry to mark his 40th birthday, complete with a cake emoji. The message said: Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!

It was the first time the royal family had shared a public birthday greeting to Harry since the Sussexes accused unnamed royals of animosity and racism in the interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Every child knows the thrill of testing out new playground equipment! Whether its a freshly installed twisty slide or some monkey bars that help them reach new heights, its exciting to get a turn on the new playscape. Parents expect laughter and silliness but what we dont expect to see is a black bear enjoying those same things!

One family from Simsbury, Connecticut recently returned home from an outing to the sight of two black bears hanging out in their backyard. While this was not the first time the bears had shown up, it was definitely the most entertaining visit.

The video shows one of the bears carefully climbing up the ladder rungs. The bear turns toward the green slide at the top of the platform, sprawls out on his belly, and, with his head and big bear paws first, goes for a quick ride down the bumpy slide. The bear lands with a splat in the mulch at the bottom.

You can hear the adults laughing and the toddlers giggling at the end of the video which is sure to make anyone smile. This once-in-a-lifetime show will be a story they pass along for generations to come.

Related: Huge Bear Casually Knocks on Window Like He Was Invited for Lunch

Many viewer comments reflected the silliness of the situation, with remarks like, He said wee all the way down the slide lol and Hes definitely done that a time or two before!! One comment, in particular, posed the burning question we all want to know, But did he go more than once?

In northern Connecticut, a black bear sighting is a regular occurrence. While these bears are generally shy and try to avoid humans, theyve also become accustomed to their surroundings. Neighborhood trash cans are often an easy place to find food and as we can see in this video, they generally appear to be comfortable sharing their space with humans.
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says Labors crackdown on the sale of vapes has not worked, citing the widespread illicit market. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

The Coalitions plan to raise $3.6bn by increasing tax on vapes and making them more widely available would lead to serious short- and long-term harm and is exactly what big tobacco have been asking for, according to public health experts.

The experts, who are calling on the Coalition to apologise for the policy, believe it is not based on credible evidence and that the savings cannot be achieved unless current regulation  supported by all states and territory governments  is completely dismantled.

A Dutton government would allow vapes to be legally sold in retail stores  rather than restricting them to pharmacies  and would increase the tax on the products to raise billions of dollars over four years. This would help the Coalition pay for policies such as a significant increase in defence spending.

The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, does not believe this change would further normalise vaping  which has been identified as a significant health concern among young Australians  and would instead regulate a market that is being exploited by criminals.

Labors policies have failed, there is no doubt about that, Taylor told the ABC on Friday. The bans have not worked and they will not work. What they have done is encourage a tax on illegal vapes from criminal gangs.

Taylor cited the widespread but illegal sale of vapes beyond pharmacies across Australia as an example of how the current regulatory system was failing.

When asked whether increasing taxes on vapes would provide an incentive for criminal groups to sell unregulated vapes at cheaper prices, Taylor said that was absolute nonsense.

Related: Burning out: how Australias bid to cut smoking rates exploded into suburban tobacco wars

The Australian Council on Smoking and Health, which represents 33 health and community organisations, said the policy was exactly what big tobacco has been asking for.

It will recklessly flood the market, fuel youth addiction and undo years of public health progress, said the groups chief executive, Laura Hunter.

Becky Freeman, an associate professor at the University of Sydneys school of public health, said Australias current approach to vapes and the restriction of their sale to pharmacies was world leading.

Throwing out this legislation would be a blow to public health and would reward the very same companies and retailers who have flouted the vape laws, Freeman said.

The Public Health Association of Australia claimed the most disappointing aspect of such a policy proposal is that it would resume the marketing of vaping products to Australian children and young people.

That will fuel new waves of nicotine addiction, expose millions to serious short- and long-term harms and suffering, and add more pressure on our already overstretched health system.

Related: Shock, out of stock and secret supplies: what we found when we tried to buy vapes in Australia

The association said the proposal had no credible evidence behind it.

It would fly in the face of years of research and carefully constructed policy about the best way to protect the community, especially young people, from nicotine, its statement said.

The public health community calls on the Coalition parties to apologise for this policy shift, and for the way it has been presented so late, and without transparency.

The Coalition did outline this policy in mid-2024, but the issue did not feature in the election campaign until late on Thursday, when the opposition revealed details on how it would afford several expensive policies, such as a significant increase in defence spending.

When the policy was first floated, the shadow health minister, Anne Ruston, described it as a strict and sensible measure that would protect our community from organised crime.
A former army officer who will row solo around the UK for 2,000 miles is one of our best local stories of the week.

Gloucestershire Live reported how ex-Parachute Regiment member Mike Ellicock, 49, will take on the challenge of rowing around the country in fewer than 80 days.

Elsewhere, a Warwickshire man who used to drink 14 cans of Pepsi Max a day has managed to quit his habit after hypnosis, while a first date on a beach went rather awry when a car got stuck at the seaside in Dorset.

You can read the full version of each of our selected articles through the links under each story  or read more top headlines from around the UK's regions on the Yahoo UK local news page.

Former Parachute Regiment officer aims to be fastest person to row 2,000 miles around UK

Mike Ellicock is aiming to become the fastest person to row 2,000 miles solo around Great Britain. (PA) (Phil Steere/PA Wire)

A former Parachute Regiment officer is on a mission to set a new record as the quickest individual to row solo around Great Britain for 2,000 miles.

Mike Ellicock, hailing from Lewes in East Sussex, sustained injuries during a hostage rescue operation in Sierra Leone in 2000 when he was just 25 years old.

He managed to recover fully and later led a team of paratroopers during missions in Iraq. Now at 49, the father-of-three is embarking on a historic attempt to circumnavigate the UK by rowing boat in less than 80 days, which would make him the fastest to achieve such a feat.

Read the full story from Gloucestershire Live

Dad who drank 14 cans of Pepsi Max every day beats 'heavy addiction' in just two hours

Dean Gavin has beaten his addiction to Pepsi Max. (SWNS) (Anita Maric / SWNS)

A Bedworth dad who drank 14 cans of Pepsi Max a day and 'couldn't stop' has ditched his habit - after being hypnotised.

Dean Gavin, 52, would have his first can when he woke up, and would even take a Pepsi Max to bed with him to sip on through the night.

But the 3,000 a year 'heavy addiction' was wreaking havoc on his sleep and making his Tourettes tics worse. In a desperate bid to help him stop reaching for the sugar-free fizzy drink, Dean turned to a hypnotherapist.

Read the full story from Coventry Live

Joy as rare Amur Leopard cubs born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is celebrating as they welcome the birth of two Amur Leopard cubs.

The award-winning park says it is a 'remarkable step forward' in the battle to save the big cats from extinction.

The new duo is only the second and third of their specifies to be born in the whole world this year.

Mother Kristen, 13, gave birth last week and is currently spending all her time nursing the babies.

Read the full story from Hull Live

An East Lothian family was amazed after capturing breathtaking footage of a shark swimming just feet off the shore of their local beach.

Alan Nash, who shot the footage from a drone, said the creature was so close you "could have just swam out to it," estimating it was only 100 metres away.

Alan and his family of five discovered the basking shark off the shores of Longniddry Beach around 5pm on 30 April.

Read the full story from Edinburgh Live

We've all had a difficult first date  but this one is perhaps up there as being one of the trickiest.

A Bournemouth resident drove on to the sand at Boscombe beach, east of the pier, which could have been a romantic spot to get to know his date.

However, his Jeep Cherokee became wedged in the soft sand  not too far from the water  despite having four-wheel drive and a sand mode.

Read the full story from The Daily Echo

Primary school go-karter starts racing competitively just months after visiting a track

An eight-year-old girl has found her passion in go-karting racing and is now racing on the track competitively.

Ava-Lily first went in a go-kart when she was just seven and less than a year later she is now competing at various competitions across the county each month.

Back in January 2024, Ava-Lily's brother had a birthday party at Gridline Racing in Lincoln but at the time she was too small to join in on the fun.
In May 2014, Nigel Farage stood in front of the television cameras and declared his partys victory in the European elections was about the most extraordinary result that has been seen in British politics for 100 years.

A year later, the Conservatives won an unexpected majority at the general election, restricting Ukip to just a single seat, with Farage failing in his attempt to win South Thanet.

The question for Keir Starmer after a bruising set of local, mayoral and parliamentary elections is whether he can pull off what David Cameron achieved 10 years ago and burst Farages bubble in time for a general election.

Related: Farage claims Reform UK local election gains beginning of the end for Tories

The big question going into these elections was whether Reform could turn the enthusiasm of their supporters into actual votes, said Luke Tryl, the executive director of the political research group More in Common. The early results from both the early council elections and Runcorn suggest they have managed just that.

By Friday afternoon, Reform had won the Runcorn and Helsby byelection, overturning a Labour majority of more than 14,000, as well as the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty, seven councils and hundreds of council seats.

Farage says he has learned from previous failures, and has spent much of the past few months trying to professionalise his party. His model for this, he says, is the Liberal Democrats, who have long been stronger at the local level than they are nationally.

The Liberal Democrats build branches, the Liberal Democrats win seats at district, county and unitary levels, he said last year.

His success at building a grassroots campaign for these elections is one reason why many experts think this time Reform could be a long-term electoral force. Farages party delivered so many personalised letters to voters ahead of Thursdays votes that the Liberal Democrats raised questions over the source of the partys funding.

Reuters recently estimated that Reform had poached at least 80 former candidates, donors and staff members from the Conservatives since last years general election, bolstering its ability to reach voters on the doorstep.

This time it is quantitatively and qualitatively different, said the political historian Tim Bale. Reform seems to be turning its poll performance into seats. Despite Ukips 2014 European election win, Farages parties have often not been great at local elections, partly because they dont have boots on the ground.

However well organised Reform was on a local level before Thursdays vote, it is likely to be much more so afterwards, with hundreds of councillors to provide much-needed ground troops at a general election.

Another reason this year is different is that the two main parties are watching voters desert them on both flanks  to the Lib Dems and Greens as well as Reform.

The Greens were disappointed to lose the West of England mayoralty, but performed well elsewhere. The Lib Dems prospered by taking votes away from the Conservatives in the kinds of affluent southern areas where they also did well at the general election.

The polling expert John Curtice told the BBC: This is the first time when the two parties have been challenged from more than one direction at the same time.

In the Tory ranks, Kemi Badenoch will have to cope with another round of speculation about her leadership after heavy losses just six months into the job, though she is likely to be given time to improve her partys standing.

For Starmer, meanwhile, there are reasons for optimism amid the gloom.

First, turnout at a local level was low, suggesting that many Labour voters remained at home rather than voting for another party. Second, there were pockets of resistance.

Labour won three mayoralties: in Doncaster, North Tyneside and West of England. In Doncaster, pollsters say voters were particularly impressed by the reopening of Doncaster airport, suggesting Starmers focus on building infrastructure may pay electoral dividends.

The problem for the prime minister is that Doncaster also provides him with some more unpalatable lessons. Ros Jones, the re-elected Labour mayor, told the BBC she had won in part by running against the national partys policies of cutting winter fuel payments and disability benefits while hiking national insurance.

And unlike Cameron in 2014, who nullified Ukips electoral appeal by promising a referendum on Europe, Starmer lacks a similar option for winning back defecting voters.

The more existential worry for the prime minister and Badenoch is that neither Reforms strong showing on Friday nor Ukips victory in 2014 are a blip, but rather part of a long-term trend away from the two major parties.

The grip of the two main parties has been gradually loosening since the mid 1970s  a process disguised, and to some extent slowed, by the first-past-the-post voting system, Bale said.

Famous last words, but I cant see it ever being restored.
Nigel Farage celebrates Reforms success in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, which it won by six votes - Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Nigel Farage has declared the end of two-party politics after Reform UK secured the greatest ever local election results for an outsider party.

He said Reform has had the Labour Party for lunch and wiped out the Conservatives in parts of England after delivering a heavy defeat to the mainstream parties.

His party has taken control of 10 local councils, winning hundreds of seats across areas from Durham to Kent and toppling a 14,000 Labour majority in a parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.

Reform won in Durham, Doncaster, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Kent, West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire. They controlled none of them in 2021. It also won mayoral elections in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.

Mr Farage vowed to use his partys new-found foothold in local government to close hotels housing asylum seekers and cut public spending in a similar approach to Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, and his Doge department in the US.

Sir Keir Starmer told voters we get it as he vowed to move faster with government delivery, while Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, issued a public apology.

Reform came first in so-called projected national vote share analysis, which takes local results and estimates the nationwide picture. No third party has ever topped this metric before.

Sir John Curtice, Britains foremost polling expert, called Reforms surge unprecedented and said no party had ever beaten both Labour and the Tories in council seats and votes in a set of local elections.

Reform had success eating into Labours support base, taking Runcorn and Helsby  Labours 49th safest parliamentary seat at last summers general election  from Sir Keirs party.

The race was won by just six votes, the smallest by-election victory margin in history.

A surge in support for the Liberal Democrats and the Greens added to the picture of the decades-long political dominance of Labour and the Conservatives being challenged.

The Lib Dems took control of Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Shropshire county councils for the first time. They controlled none of them in 2021. The Lib Dems also became the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.

Mr Farage used a victory rally in Durham, a council Reform now controls after a dramatic collapse in support for Labour, to announce that the death knell had rung for the two mainstream parties.

He said: Firstly, it marks the end of two-party politics as weve known it for over a century in this country. Its finished, it is over, it is gone. That is a significant moment.

It also marks the beginning of the end of the Conservative Party. They may well have been around since 1832 and the Great Reform Act. But they have been wiped out in the shires of England They will practically cease to exist.

The results  Reform had won 677 council seats  mean the surge in support picked up in polling has been translated into votes.

Nigel Farage told supporters the days events marked the end of two-party politics - Leon Neal/Getty

Reforms popularity looks set to be one of the defining themes of British politics in the years ahead as Labour scrambles to find a way to dent it and the Tories weigh up the merits of an electoral pact.

Sir Keir said: The message I take away from these results is we must deliver that change even more quickly, we must go even further. Ive believed for some time thats the case. Im reinforced in these results that that is what weve got to do.

The Telegraph understands that there will not be a Cabinet reshuffle or a reset in net zero policy in the wake of the local elections, despite pressure on Sir Keir from within Labour this week to change course on its green agenda following criticism by Sir Tony Blair.

In the coming weeks, Sir Keir will get on the front foot by unveiling his long-awaited plan for reducing net migration, publishing a new defence strategy, revealing proposals for supporting industry and striking a closer partnership with the European Union in a blizzard of activity. He also hopes to secure a new US-UK free trade deal.

Meanwhile, Mrs Badenoch used an article for The Telegraph to acknowledge that the results were a bloodbath for her party, which lost control of more than a dozen councils and saw hundreds of councillors defeated.

The last time these seats were voted on was in 2021, when the Tories were enjoying a surge in support under Boris Johnson as the Covid vaccine was rolled out.

Mrs Badenoch writes: Im deeply sorry to see so many capable, hard-working Conservative councillors lose their seats. They didnt deserve it  and they werent the reason we lost.

These local election results show the scale of the work needed to rebuild trust in the Conservative Party and the importance of redoubling our efforts to show that this party is under new leadership and is doing things differently.

Kemi Badenoch promised to rebuild after the Conservatives losses - Edward Massey/CCHQ

Privately, Mrs Badenoch is facing criticism from shell-shocked Tory MPs, with one saying the Conservative leader should do more public interventions and not stay out of the limelight.

But there appears to be little appetite for a move against her leadership after just six months, with some Conservative MPs pointing to next springs local elections as a make or break moment.

Reforms new-found position in local government breaks a barrier that previous Eurosceptic parties led by Mr Farage never overcame.

The UK Independence Party and the Brexit Party topped the European elections in 2014 and 2019 respectively, but never took overall control of a county council.

Mr Farage told The Telegraph he wanted to fight to close hotels housing asylum seekers, although the power to decide that is held by the central government.

The issue looks set to become a key political battle, with Downing Street pressing the Home Office to go further and faster in closing down the hotels.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the former Tory MP who has now been elected mayor for Greater Lincolnshire for Reform, called for asylum seekers to be housed in tents instead of hotels.

Reform claimed a second mayoralty with Luke Campbell, a former boxer and Olympic gold medallist, winning in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Labour narrowly won three of the other four mayoralties in North Tyneside, Doncaster and West of England. Paul Bristow, a Tory, became mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

In this years nationalised vote share analysis, Reform was found to have come top on 30 per cent, followed by Labour on 20 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent, the Conservatives on 15 per cent and the Green Party on 11 per cent.

It is the first time a party other than Labour or the Tories has topped the analysis, according to Sir John.

It is also the lowest Labour has sunk since 2008, when it was in power as the financial crisis struck, and the worst result on record on this metric for the Conservatives.
Youre being interviewed for a job you really want and its going well. Youve managed to keep calm, show off your skills and experience, and you can feel a rapport with the interviewer. But then, they ask a question that leaves a bad feeling  they ask whether youre planning to have children.

Maybe, you reply, adding quickly that youre pretty good at balancing different responsibilities. You feel like you have to prove that youre as dedicated to your career as anyone else. And as you shake hands and leave, you feel as if youve been blackmarked.

Asking whether a woman is planning to have children  or if she has a family  has no place in a job interview. Despite this, a study by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that over a third (36%) of private sector employers believe it is perfectly reasonable to ask a woman about her plans to have children during a job interview. A further 46% said it is fair to ask whether a woman has young children.

Asking whether a woman has children, or is planning to have them, assumes that women will prioritise family over their careers and reinforces gender stereotypes. It implies that theyre less capable, dedicated or motivated  and violates their privacy.

Read more: How to ask an employer about flexible working without explicitly asking

Such questions leave employers open to claims of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

So what questions are you not allowed to be asked in an interview  and what should you do if you are?

Do you have children or are you planning to have them?

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

That means questions around these characteristics should be off the table when it comes to interviews, says Patricia Hewitt, founder of Tap HR.

Questions like this could represent employers acting in a discriminatory way, treating someone differently or less favourably due to the protected characteristics that they have, she says.

Asking someone whether they are planning to have children could indicate that the company doesnt want to hire someone who is due to go on maternity or paternity leave soon, which would be discriminatory.

it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. (PixeloneStocker via Getty Images)

How old are you?

Ageism is one of the most common forms of discrimination. Nearly one in seven (15%) people reported feeling that their age was a factor for not getting some jobs theyve applied for, according to HR and payroll software provider Ciphr. And around one in 12 (8%) say theyve experienced workplace discrimination based on their age.

Interviewers also run the risk of demonstrating bias, whether intentional or not, which could all lead to someone taking the company interviewing them to court, says Hewitt.

A lot of employers forget that someone doesnt necessarily have to be employed by them to sue the company for discrimination that stems from poor conduct during an interview process.

What religion are you?

An employer has the right to check if the candidate has the right to work in the UK but not to ask them how long is left to run on their visa, nor ask questions about the candidates race, religion, or native language, says Senior associate solicitor Karen Morovic, who specialises in employment and business immigration law at Birkett Long LLP.

Read more: How to manage rejection when job hunting

An employer only needs to know if the person can do the job and if they are willing to do the job. Assumptions should not be made about who will and who will not fit in with the existing workforce.

Are you pregnant?

Pregnancy is a protected characteristic by law, meaning employers cant treat someone unfavourably because they are pregnant  although this is still a common problem.

Asking someone if theyre pregnant in an interview can be evidence of discrimination. If a candidate isnt hired, it could be used as evidence if they take legal action.

A woman should generally not be asked if she is pregnant, says senior associate solicitor Karen Morovic, who specialises in employment and business immigration law at Birkett Long LLP.

A woman is under no obligation to declare her pregnancy in a recruitment process, and if she volunteers that information, it should not be taken into account when deciding her suitability for the job.

Do you have any health conditions?

Interviewers shouldnt ask about the health of applicants, unless its to ask specific questions linked to the requirements of the job. For example, if someone is able to lift heavy items.

There is an exception when the question is necessary to establish whether the candidate will be able to carry out a function that is intrinsic to the work concerned, says Morovic.

Read more: What to do if your job is at risk after having children

If manual handling was intrinsic to the job, the organisation could ask the applicant questions about their health to establish if they could undertake manual handling  with reasonable adjustments for a disabled applicant if required.

However, the organisation would not be permitted to ask the applicant other health questions until they had offered the candidate the job.

What to do if youre asked an inappropriate question in a job interview

Its difficult to know how to respond to a question about your age, religion, family situation or your health, but Hewitt recommends politely challenging why the question is relevant to your skills, experience and ability to carry out the role. And remember, you have no obligation to answer the question.

If you feel the question was discriminatory, raise it with the company's HR department after the interview or a senior representative from the business if they dont have HR, Hewitt says.

You can choose whether you want to make a formal or informal complaint, if youre not happy with the outcome you receive you might want to consider bringing a claim to an employment tribunal.

Being asked a personal question that makes you feel uncomfortable in an interview is a red flag. It can be a strong indicator that an employer may treat their workers unfairly  and a sign to stay away.

Ultimately, if youre being asked questions that make you feel uncomfortable it's reasonable to conclude that the company probably isnt the one for you, says Hewitt. But that doesnt mean they should be able to get away with asking inappropriate questions.

Read more:

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Gerry Adams has told a libel hearing that he does not remember how many people were killed in IRA atrocities such as Bloody Friday or the Claudy bombings.

There were sharp exchanges between Mr Adams and a barrister for the BBC at Dublin High Court as he was quizzed about a number of terrorist killings.

The former MP and Sinn Fein leader is continuing to give evidence in his defamation case against the broadcaster at the High Court in Dublin.

He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of the former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson, who had worked for Sinn Fein, was shot dead in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

Mr Adams denies any involvement.

Gerry Adams leaving the High Court in Dublin on Friday (Liam McBurney/PA)

In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson.

The Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016.

Mr Adams entered the witness box for a fourth day where he faced questioning from counsel for the BBC, Paul Gallagher SC.

The barrister began his cross-examination by asking how many people were killed during the Troubles.

Mr Adams said there had been around 3,500 deaths with countless others injured and traumatised.

He said he could speak from personal experience, stating that his brother-in-law had been shot by the British Army.

He said there was still a live threat against him from dissident republicans.

Mr Adams said: I have met with numerous victims and survivors, including victims of the IRA.

Asked by Mr Gallagher what proportion of Troubles deaths and injuries were the responsibility of the IRA, he said: A lot, what has this got to do with the Spotlight programme?

The barrister said that the book Lost Lives stated that 48.5% of Troubles deaths were the responsibility of the IRA, amounting to 1,758 deaths.

Mr Adams told the court he had no reason to dispute that figure.

He said: That was the main reason for my work to build the peace process, to bring it to an end.

Mr Gallagher then referred to a number of IRA atrocities in the 1970s, including Bloody Friday in 1972.

Nine people died and 130 were injured when a number of IRA bombs exploded across Belfast on July 21 1972.

Mr Adams said it was terribly wrong, quite a few people were killed, it was a disaster.

Mr Gallagher asked him how many people were killed.

Mr Adams said he did not remember.

Mr Gallagher said it was one of the most infamous incidents of the Troubles, stating the details of it must be known to Mr Adams as a republican.

Mr Adams responded: The IRA apologised, and 30 years later apologised again.

The barrister asked him again how many people were killed.

Mr Adams said: I have already answered that.

Mr Gallagher asked him to give an estimate of the number of deaths, but Mr Adams said he was trivialising the details.

The barrister then asked him how many people were killed in the 1972 Claudy bombings.

Mr Adams said he did not know.

He added: I remember it was another disaster, a wrong action.

The barrister then asked him about meetings he had attended with other senior republicans in 1972 with UK Government representatives in an effort to negotiate an agreement following an IRA truce.

Mr Gallagher asked him about the attendance of republican Daithi O Conaill at the talks, whom he described as a leader of the IRA.

Mr Adams said: I was there and he was there in our capacity as leaders of Sinn Fein.

Mr Gallagher asked: Why can you not answer that he was a member of the IRA?

Mr Adams said the group was there to broker a ceasefire which Mr O Conaill would then bring back to the leadership of the IRA.

Mr Gallagher said: Were Sinn Fein empowered to negotiate on behalf of the IRA?

Mr Adams said: No, our briefing was not to negotiate on behalf of the IRA, the briefing was to negotiate a package which Daithi would bring back to the IRA.

After the barrister continued to ask about the 1972 meeting, Mr Adams said: I thought we were going to talk about Denis Donaldson, not a meeting which happened 50 years ago.

The barrister went on to ask him if he remembered a number of further IRA incidents.

Mr Adams said incidents in which civilians were killed were some of the biggest regrets of his life.

Referring to the La Mon bombing in 1978, Mr Adams said: It doesnt matter who it was, it was wrong.

As the barrister continued to ask questions about IRA killings, Mr Adams said: What has this got to do with Denis Donaldson?

Mr Gallagher said: I will ask the questions.

Mr Adams said the barrister was persisting in asking me to remember events, to remember atrocities.

When the barrister began to ask about IRA killings in the Republic of Ireland and the view of the Irish government towards the IRA, Mr Adams said the Irish government had for a long time played no positive role in bringing peace to the island of Ireland.

He said: Successive Irish governments abandoned people of the north.

Mr Adams said he was surprised the barrister was not interested in asking him about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, carried out by loyalists in 1974.

Mr Adams, 76, stepped down as Sinn Fein president in 2018 after 34 years at the helm.

He served as an MP for West Belfast and represented Co Louth in the Irish parliament for nine years until the 2020 general election, when he retired from politics.

The case, which is expected to last four weeks, will resume on Tuesday.
A 12-year-old girl who was operated on by a since-suspended childrens surgeon and left in awful pain is one of the first to receive findings of an independent investigation into her care, lawyers have said.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) said the cases of almost 800 patients are being reviewed in relation to the practice of consultant orthopaedic surgeon Ms Kuldeep Stohr.

Ms Stohr, who specialises in paediatric surgery, was suspended earlier this year.

The trust said, in a statement on its website, that it wanted to apologise unreservedly again to our patients and their families.

It said that a review of patients care has begun and it would take at least a year to complete all cases, but that we will be contacting patients and families during this time once the review of their care is complete.

Medical negligence specialists Hudgell Solicitors said that the family of 12-year-old girl Tammy Harrison, who was operated on by Addenbrookes Hospital surgeon Ms Stohr in 2021, are among the first to receive findings.

Tammy, who has cerebral palsy, has had problems with her hip joints throughout her life causing her legs to face inwards towards her body.

Lawyers said the review noted there had been technical problems with her surgery.

The procedure was intended to stabilise her hip joint and improve mobility.

But lawyers said the review found screws were inserted in the wrong place and too low, meaning they did not properly connect to the bone, leading to gradual displacement.

Solicitor Elizabeth Maliakal, who represents the family, said: Tammys family have been issued a written apology which has come with an admission of substandard surgery, causing pain and harm, which is of course significant.

But in terms of explaining what was found in the investigation, it is very brief, lacks detail, and is unclear.

She said that the response raises more questions than it answers and the firm will be instructing independent experts ourselves to study Tammys medical treatment.

Tammys mother, Lynn, said: Obviously we are pleased to have a written admission from the trust that Tammys care fell below standard, but we are four years after that operation now.

When Tammy had the operation in 2021, she was left in awful pain.

She had to remain on painkillers much longer than wed been advised she would need, and she didnt leave her bed for weeks, having to have pillows and cushions around her.

She was in agony and wouldnt leave the house.

She added: We raised our concerns on many occasions as she was in so much pain, so they should have been looking for issues on the x-rays.

Never once were we told after she had x-rays that the screws had been in the wrong place or that they were not fully connected.

They left her in pain.

A Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: As part of the external clinical review process, patients and families are being invited for a meeting with a senior clinician, either in person or online, depending on their preference.

This is to go through the details of the review findings for their case and to provide an opportunity to ask questions and clarify details.

As a follow-up, patients and families will receive a letter with the details of their case and the review findings.

We understand how important it is to support our patients and their families and we have put in place a dedicated patient and family liaison team, who will be their primary point of contact for the duration of the review and can answer any further questions.

We apologise again to the patients and families affected and thank them for their patience as the external review process continues.

The trust has also commissioned an investigation into what was known and when, as it emerged that concerns had been raised as early as 2015.

It said this was due to be completed by the end of July 2025 and it would publish and implement the findings.
Swinfen Hall, which holds about 600 men, was placed under lockdown on Tuesday. Photograph: Matthew Clarke/Alamy

Governors have been accused of losing control of a Staffordshire jail after a union claimed that a male officer was stabbed in the head and two female colleagues were punched in the face during serious disturbances on Tuesday.

The Prison Officers Association is demanding a clearout of hidden makeshift weapons from HMP Swinfen Hall near Lichfield after a third outbreak of violence over recent weeks.

The union said that all three prison officers went to hospital on Tuesday, while prisoners attempted to take a fourth officer hostage.

Swinfen Hall, which holds about 600 men aged 18-28 serving between four years and life, was placed under lockdown on Tuesday and officers wearing riot gear were sent into G wing to break up a violent incident.

Emergency services reportedly attended the same prison on 28 March after an inmate was stabbed. On 21 March, another prisoner was taken to hospital after receiving trauma care for serious injuries.

Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, said he had spoken to union representatives and officers at the prison.

This was far from a minor incident, said Fairhurst. A member of staff received stab wounds and was stamped on, whilst another was nearly taken hostage. Two female staff who responded were also hospitalised.

It is clear that senior leaders at Swinfen Hall have lost control and we now need a reset which involves a full lockdown search to eradicate weapons and illicit items, coupled with a regime refresh that reduces the amount of prisoners unlocked at any one time.

The union also said that in March, a serious incident occurred where approximately 20 prisoners fought with each other but then turned on staff, resulting in an officer being assaulted with a pool cue. Emergency transfers were needed to stabilise the wing.

Concerns have been growing about violence across prisons, in particular among young men. Last week the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, authorised for the first time the use of synthetic pepper spray, or Pava, against 15- to 18-year-olds after an increase in violence in young offender institutions.

Mahmood has also announced a trial deployment of Tasers to prison officers in high-security jails, a snap review of whether they should be equipped with stab vests and the suspension of kitchen access for offenders in separation units.

It follows Hashem Abedis assault on officers at HMP Frankland using two homemade knives and hot oil. He has been moved to HMP Belmarsh, in south London, to continue to serve his life sentence for his part in 22 murders in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

In April 2001, HMP Swinfen Hall was a young offender institution and was named as a centre of excellence by the then prison watchdog for its anti-bullying policies and programmes.

The prison now specialises in taking young offenders who are serving between four years and life. A quarter of the inmates have committed serious sexual offences, and many others have been involved in gang-related violence.

As a category C prison, it is supposed to offer education and training to prisoners. In December, the prison watchdog, Charlie Taylor, said the prison regime lacked purpose, with nearly a third of the prisoners locked in their cells and nearly half (45%) taking illegal drugs.

Assaults in prisons have been rising, with an average of 74 a day recorded in England and Wales last year, including 25 assaults a day inflicted on staff, House of Commons library research has shown.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Violence in prison will not be tolerated, and we will always push for the strongest punishment for attacks on our hard-working staff and do whatever we can to protect them. The lord chancellor has announced a review into protective body armour and a trial of Tasers in jails to better respond to serious incidents.
An Israeli fighter jet fires a rocket while flying over an area near Damascus on Wednesday. Israel launched more attacks early on Friday. Photograph: Bakr Alkasem/AFP/Getty Images

Syrias new rulers have angrily denounced raids launched by Israels air force against unidentified targets near the presidential palace in Damascus, warning of a dangerous escalation.

Israeli officials said the attacks were intended to send a message to the Syrian government after days of bloody clashes near Damascus between pro-government militia forces and fighters from the Druze minority sect.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, and the defence minister, Israel Katz, said in a joint statement that the attack early on Friday, the second this week in Syria, was intended to deter the countrys new leadership from any hostile move against the Druze.

This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community, the statement said.

The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that fighter jets struck near to the area of the palace of the president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus but gave no further details.

On Friday, an Israeli fighter jet killed four civilians in another strike on Kanaker, a town south-west of the Druze-majority province Sweida. The strike came after repeated statements by a spokesperson for the Israeli military that it was deployed in southern Syria to prevent the entry of enemy forces into Druze villages.

Israel has said it will protect the Druze religious minority in Syria, a declaration that most Druze leaders have rebuffed.

The government in Damascus took power after ousting Bashar al-Assad in December last year and is dominated by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has its roots in the al-Qaida jihadist network. Though Syrias new rulers have promised inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, they face pressures from extremists within their own ranks.

Syrias presidency called the strike a dangerous escalation against state institutions and its sovereignty and accused Israel of destabilising the country.

The clashes broke out on Tuesday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man making derogatory comments about the prophet Muhammad. The clip, which was attributed to a Druze cleric, angered many Sunni Muslims, but may have been fabricated.

On Thursday, one of the three Syrian Druze spiritual leaders, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, accused Syrias government, which is mostly made up of radical Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, of what he called an unjustified genocidal attack on the minority community.

Hijri released a statement calling for international protection for the Druze in southern Syria, asking international forces to intervene immediately. The two other Syrian Druze religious leaders chose to negotiate with Damascus directly and rejected calls for international intervention in Syria.

A UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed, including local armed fighters and security forces.

The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus.

Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed in 1981.

The Syrian government has denied that any of its security forces were involved in the clashes with the Druze, which followed a wave of massacres in March when security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly from Bashar al-Assads Alawite community, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Asaad al-Shaibani, the Syrian foreign minister, called for national unity on Thursday, as the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival.

Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division, he wrote on X.

Since the fall of Assads regime in December, Israel has launched repeated airstrikes on Syria, destroying military hardware and stockpiles, in what it says is defence of the Druze. Israel has also sent troops to what was a demilitarised zone in the Golan Heights, on Syrias south-west border with Israel, seizing key strategic terrain where Syrian troops were once deployed.

Related: The international criminal court should prosecute Syrias Assad | Kenneth Roth

Analysts in Israel say the strategy aims to undermine the new Syrian government while also protecting and so co-opting a potential proxy ally within the country. The strategy is controversial, however, with some officials arguing that a stable Syria would better serve Israels interests.

The Syrian president, Sharaa, told a visiting US congressman last week that Damascus wanted to normalise ties with Israel.

Protesters from the Druze community in Israel temporarily blocked roads on Thursday night and called for the Israeli government to protect the Druze community in Syria.

Underlining the regional dimension of the conflicts involving Israel, Qatar, a main backer of Syrias new rulers, called Fridays Israeli airstrike blatant aggression against the sovereignty of the country, while warning alarms sounded across much of northern Israel on Friday before air defence systems intercepted a missile that military officials said had been launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza 18 months ago.
Jack Draper marched into the Madrid Open final with another statement straight-sets win over Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

The British number one battled past 10th seed Musetti 6-3 7-6 (4) and will face Norways Casper Ruud in Sundays final as he bids for a second Masters title in two months.

Reaching a first career ATP final on clay  considered Drapers weakest surface  also provides the 23-year-old with a massive fillip with the French Open just over three weeks away.

Welcome to the Jack Draper show  Into the final without dropping a set, pure @mutuamadridopen | #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/CpJmEy8B6J  ATP Tour (@atptour) May 2, 2025

Should he add the Madrid title to the Indian Wells crown he won in March, Draper  who has already leapfrogged Novak Djokovic into the worlds top five  would be only 25 ranking points behind American world number four Taylor Fritz.

Musetti considers clay his best surface and reached the Monte Carlo final just last month, pushing Carlos Alcaraz to three sets.

But two breaks of serve to Musettis one swayed a high-quality first set in Drapers favour, with the man from Surrey squandering two set points before converting a third.

Musetti, another rising star who is three months Drapers junior, stepped up his level in the second with some stunning shot-making while his opponent began to look heavy-legged.

But a couple of big holds kept Draper in the set, and in the tie-break a solitary mini-break and a backhand winner wrapped up another impressive victory.

Draper, who has yet to drop a set in Madrid, told Sky Sports: Every moment felt like a key point. Ive played Lorenzo since juniors but hes a different animal on clay.

I was trying to stay present. I had chances. I thought I did a great job, especially at the end changing tactics, serve-volleying a bit more.

Sometimes in these moments Im thinking about all the pain I go through on a daily basis, all the sacrifices, and try to remember why I do it, to go for it.

The final will be a really big challenge. But Im ready.

Ruud, whose recent form has seen him drop out of the top 10, beat Argentinas Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 7-5.
Ketanji Brown Jackson on 13 February at the Library of Congress in Washington. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The US supreme court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson condemned the Trump administrations attacks on the judiciary in a cutting speech at a judicial conference on Thursday evening.

Without mentioning Donald Trump by name, Jackson spoke of the elephant in the room and rhetoric from the White House designed to intimidate the judiciary.

 Across the nation, judges are facing increased threats of not only physical violence, but also professional retaliation just for doing our jobs, said Jackson, according to the New York Times. And the attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity.

Related: Trump officials ask supreme court to help strip legal status from Venezuelans

The justices comments are the most direct criticism of the Trump administration by a supreme court justice since the US chief justice, John Roberts, rebuked the Trump administration in March for pushing for the impeachment of a federal judge. Jackson made the remarks at a judicial conference in Puerto Rico.

Federal judges have said the Trump administration has failed to comply with court orders regarding foreign aid, federal spending and the firing of government workers. The administration disputes it has defied judges but has been critical of orders and judges that have blocked its actions.

Judges have also come under pressure in Trumps campaign to deport migrants, as in Wisconsin, where a judge was arrested after she allegedly helped an immigrant evade federal authorities. Local judges have chafed at the idea of arresting migrants in local courthouses, which they say undermines public safety.

The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our constitution and the rule of law, Jackson said.

Jackson urged her judicial colleagues to show raw courage to continue their work. I urge you to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service, she said according to Politico.

The supreme court has a 6-3 conservative majority.

Reuters contributed reporting
The Government said the fisheries would remain closed to help sand eel and puffin populations rebound - Getty/Frans Sellies

Britain has defeated Brussels in its legal battle to keep sand eel fisheries closed to European fishermen and ensure British puffins have enough to eat.

The European Union took the UK to an arbitration tribunal over its ban on catching the fish eaten by kittiwakes and puffins, both species vulnerable to extinction.

Brussels argued the ban in the Scottish and English waters of the North Sea broke the terms of the Brexit trade deal and triggered the agreements dispute mechanism for the first time.

EU members Denmark and Sweden told the European Commission the ban imposed in March 2024 discriminated against their fishermen, who catch sand eels for fish oil and pig feeds.

The EU referred the matter to the tribunal in October for the first hearing of its kind since the UK left the blocs common fisheries policy and took back control of its waters after Brexit.

After receiving the Permanent Court of Arbitrations final ruling, the Government said on Friday the fisheries could remain closed to help sand eel and puffin populations to rebound.

The tribunal fully upheld the decision to close Scottish waters. It found there had been errors in the process to close English waters but that does not mean the fisheries will reopen.

Protecting our seabirds

We welcome the clarity provided by this decision, and we will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the tribunal, a government spokesman said.

The ruling does not mean the UK is legally obliged to reverse the closure of English waters, and the decision to close Scottish waters was fully upheld. We remain committed to protecting our seabirds and the wider marine environment.

The tribunals report found the UKs decision to close English and Scottish waters were based on the best available science and had sufficient regard to the principle of non-discrimination.

The tribunal found that the Scottish measures had sufficient regard to the principle of proportionality to EU rights during the adjustment period after Brexit.

But it also said the decision to close English waters did not have sufficient regard to that principle, which is a requirement under the UK-EU trade deal.

While the UK will take steps to remedy that, it does not mean the sand eel fishery will have to legally reopen while they are taken.

The European Commission said the EU supported the protection of the marine ecosystem and long-term sustainability of fisheries. But it added that any unilateral measures, such as the ban, needed to be consistent with the rules of the trade deal, which is called the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Politically sensitive

A spokesman said: While not all EU claims were upheld, the arbitration tribunal considered that the prohibition of fishing sand eel in English waters of the North Sea did not comply with the proportionality principle in the TCA.

The arbitration tribunal also found, therefore, that the prohibition in English waters of the North Sea breaches the UKs obligation to grant EU vessels full access to those waters to fish sand eel.

The UK now needs to notify the EU, within 30 days of the ruling, of the measures it has taken or intends to take to comply with the ruling, and indicate whether it requires a reasonable period of time to implement the necessary changes to bring itself into compliance.

He added that the EU will continue to support a mutually beneficial fisheries relationship.

Before the tribunals decision, there was speculation that Sir Keir Starmer could cave in to EU pressure over the sand eels to smooth the way for his reset in post-Brexit relations.

Fishing has proved hugely politically sensitive since Brexit. Under Boris Johnson, British and French warships shadowed each other off the coast of Jersey during a dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences.

The Brexit deal reduced EU fishing in UK waters by a quarter over five years. That deal expires in June 2026 and negotiations over its replacement have already begun.

Negotiators are divided over how long the new deal will last for, with Brussels calling for a five-year deal and the UK pushing for two.

France has warned failure to do a deal on fish could jeopardise UK hopes of a defence pact with the EU. That pact is the centrepiece of a reset deal being prepared for a UK-EU summit in London on May 19.

Brussels has also made clear it wont sign agreements on improving trade or continued access to the EU energy markers unless fish is taken care of first.

A government spokesman said: Disputes and the use of resolution mechanisms are a normal part of a mature relationship with international partners. We will continue to act in the national interest as we work towards a strong and lasting partnership with our European neighbours.

Charles Clover, co-founder of the Blue Marine Foundation, said the decision showed environmental law beat narrow fisheries interests and that it was a big win for conservation.

He said: The tribunal has vindicated the UKs precautionary, science-based approach. We welcome its decision and we are delighted that fishing does not have to resume in the sand eel fishing areas while the one remaining point about the ban in English waters is sorted out. This will continue to have huge benefits for seabirds and fish, as well as dolphins, whales and porpoises.
David Collier said he would rather leave the UK than stop reporting on the conflict

A car belonging to a journalist who was the first to raise issues about a BBC documentary on Gaza was vandalised on Saturday.

David Collier was in Tel Aviv when the vehicle at his London home was doused with a chemical substance that stripped its paint.

Police are treating the incident as racially aggravated, with specialist hate crime officers reviewing evidence.

Mr Collier, 59, frequently posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict on social media sites.

Earlier this year, he revealed that the narrator in the BBC documentary Gaza: How To Survive a War Zone, was the son of a Hamas government minister  a connection which was not disclosed in the film.

The BBC went on to pull the hour-long documentary from its iPlayer streaming platform and said it had not been informed beforehand of the link between Abdullah Al-Yazouri, the 14-year-old narrator, and Ayman Alyazouri, his father and a senior figure in Hamas.

However, the incident sparked a slew of complaints and the BBC has since launched an investigation to decide whether staff should be sacked over alleged failings.

The car was targeted from five or six positions with a substance that acted as a paint-stripper

Mr Collier, who has nearly 233,000 followers on X, claims he now receives death threats on a daily basis.

Last month, he said he was particularly concerned about a message which stated that the sender knew where he lived.

Shortly afterwards, his car was keyed on the drivers side. Mr Collier, a father-of-two, went on to report the incident to the police.

On Saturday night, April 26,  while he was abroad in Tel Aviv  his vehicle was targeted again.

It is believed the incident took place while Mr Colliers 52-year-old wife, 24-year-old daughter and 19-year-old son, were at home.

She was very distressed

Mr Collier, who did not want to identify his family out of concern for their safety, told The Telegraph: I got a WhatsApp message from my wife, she was very distressed.

She came out on Sunday afternoon  she would have been going to a supermarket and she noticed immediately that someone had vandalised the car.

Someone had thrown a chemical substance, which acts like a paint stripper, across the roof, the bonnet and the side of the car.

It was attacked from about five or six different positions.

The family, who are based in North London, went on to report the incident to the police.

Although the incident was investigated by hate crime specialist officers, the lack of evidence meant the case has since been closed.

Mr Collier, who has increased security at his property  by fitting CCTV cameras to film the area outside his home  said the car was not in the range of the camera at the time.

And while he said had received increased attention following his posts about the BBC documentary, he said the UK had become a deteriorating environment for Jewish people since war broke out between Israel and Hamas following the October 7 attacks in 2023.

Abdullah al-Yazouri posed as a ordinary Palestinian but was actually the son of a Hamas official - YouTube

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which protects Jewish people in the UK, recorded 3,528 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2024, the second-highest total ever reported to the organisation in a single calendar year.

A CST spokesperson said: We are aware of the incident and are providing David with support. We urge anyone who has any information to contact the police and CST.

Mr Collier has said he would rather leave the country than stop researching and reporting on the conflict.

He added: The UKs been really nice to my family for quite an extended period of time now. We came 120 years ago and my grandfather fought in the army.

He added: Im very attached to this country and yet honestly I am having every part of Britain kicked out of me.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed it had received a report of criminal damage.

They said: The victims car was vandalised outside his address. Officers launched an investigation and the report was treated as a racially aggravated criminal damage incident.

Specialist hate crime officers reviewed CCTV from the area across a five day period.

The spokesman added that the investigation has been filed with no arrests being made due to a lack of positive lines of enquiry but should further information be discovered, the case could be re-opened.
Newspaper clippings on Ispo rulings imposed over image of the House of Commons

Who should be the ultimate arbiter of what a news organisation should or should not be allowed to publish? Who decides whether the words on this page are appropriate or not?

Those were the questions debated by MPs this week after the UKs press regulator decided to censure The Telegraph for reporting something that had been said in Parliament.

The row over the role of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) became so heated that Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, said on X that it must be abolished.

You might wonder why you should care about a wrangle between the media and its watchdog, but the implications for the freedom of the press are far-reaching, and in turn have implications for democracy and explain why it was given time in the House of Commons.

Critics say that instead of protecting free speech, Ipso is starting to stifle it by allowing pressure groups to weaponise press regulation to silence those who challenge their point of view.

There are concerns that Ipso has drifted away from its founding principles of preventing the sort of wrongful behaviour that led to the Leveson Inquiry more than a decade ago, and has instead started to insert itself in matters of taste, or issues that are best left to the courts.

For anyone new to this story, the row began after Ipso upheld a complaint by the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) over a report that quoted Michael Gove, the former communities secretary, telling Parliament that the MAB was affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation banned as a terrorist group in some countries.

The Telegraphs reporting of comments made by Michael Gove in Parliament resulted in a censure, concerning free speech advocates - AP

Ipso ruled that despite Goves comments being made under parliamentary privilege, The Telegraphs account of those comments in a subsequent story in January 2025 was misleading because it failed to include a response from the MAB, which denies any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood.

The ruling came despite there being no obligation for a publisher to seek a response when reporting the workings of Parliament, provided that care is taken not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information.

Gove has suggested that such rulings risk having a chilling effect on journalism, because reporters will feel less inclined to report freely on the workings of Parliament for fear of being reprimanded by the regulator.

In another recent ruling, Ipso censured The Spectator magazine (which Gove now edits) for allowing one of its writers to describe a transgender author as a man who claims to be a woman. Since then the Supreme Court has ruled that trans women are not legally women, suggesting that if the person who complained to Ipso had taken their case to court they would have lost.

Lord Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, says: Ipso has certainly made some eccentric decisions recently. Its as though Ipso now regards freedom of expression as being less important than protecting minority groups from being offended, and that is a significant shift that has taken place over the past 10 years.

Ipso is an independent body whose members, including The Telegraph, volunteered to be regulated by it after it was set up in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry to replace the Press Complaints Commission, which had been criticised for failing to prevent the News International phone hacking scandal.

Its focus was originally on preventing the sort of invasions of privacy and illegal behaviour that led to the Leveson Inquiry, but it increasingly acts as an arbiter of what is or is not in the public interest.

Lord Young: Various activist groups have become very good at weaponising Ipso to silence their critics - PA Wire

As a result, says Lord Young: Various activist groups have become very good at weaponising Ipso to silence their critics.

There are also concerns from Lord Young and others that by presenting campaign groups with a win by finding against news organisations on often highly technical grounds, Ipso will make its own job much harder by encouraging complainants to bombard it with accusations against the press.

In its ruling against The Telegraph, Ipso acknowledged that the article had accurately reported Goves comments in which he linked the MAB to the Muslim Brotherhood in Parliament, but this could lead readers to believe that the allegation had gone unchallenged and is accepted.

A reporter paying attention to this ruling might interpret this to mean that they must seek comment from anyone who is the subject of a contentious statement in Parliament, which, as several MPs have pointed out, is at odds with the legal protections given to the reporting of parliamentary proceedings and might interfere with the speedy reporting of them. Reporters might, for example, be left wondering whether they are obliged to seek a comment from Hamas every time it is described in Parliament as a terrorist organisation.

The former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis is so concerned about this that he and two other former ministers this week urged the parliamentary authorities to investigate whether Ipso has undermined free speech with its ruling.

Sir David Davis has asked parliamentary authorities to investigate Ipso for potentially undermining free speech in its ruling against The Telegraph - PA

In finding against The Spectator, Ipso ruled that the magazine had not breached rules on accuracy because the columnist who referred to a man who claims to be a woman was expressing a view to which they were entitled. However, Ipso decided that the description was belittling and demeaning toward the complainant and upheld the complaint that it amounted to a prejudicial or pejorative reference to their gender identity and was not justified by the columnists right to express their views on the broader issues of sex and gender identity.

In other words, the columnist has every right to hold their view, but it is trumped by the complainants hurt feelings. News organisations have always operated on the basis that they have a right to cause offence, but any journalist reading that adjudication might conclude that their regulator is moved above all by the desire to be nice.

A free press, and a press regulator that is independent of government, are vital components of a healthy democracy.

But, says Lord Young: If Ipso continues to deprioritise freedom of expression then key members will eventually leave and Ipso will inevitably collapse.

That would be disastrous because it would give the Government the excuse to bring in state regulation of the press.
The ruling will come as a huge blow to the Duke of Sussex - Kate Green/Getty Images

Credit: BBC News

The Duke of Sussex has said he would love a reconciliation with his family and had no idea how long his father, the King, would live.

Speaking after losing his appeal against the Government over his security, Prince Harry said that life is precious.

I would love reconciliation with my family, he said. Theres no point in continuing to fight any more I dont know how much longer my father has. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff.

Although the King is likely to welcome a potential reconciliation, royal aides may fear that any resumption of communication could one day become material for future books or interviews.

The Duke said he could forgive my father, my brother and my stepmother for the many disagreements of the past but acknowledged that some members of the Royal family would never forgive him for writing a memoir, or for lots of things.

The Duchess of Sussex this week hinted that she too may one day write a memoir, saying: Ive got a lot of life to live before Im there.

The Duke has previously revealed that he has enough material to write another book, having held back disclosures for which the King, who is receiving treatment for cancer, and the Prince of Wales would not ever forgive him.

The Duke and Duchess have made no secret of their need to rely on commercial ventures to fund their new, independent lives, including their own security provision.

The Duke at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 - Max Mumby/Indigo

The Duke said of the rift: There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family. This current situation that has been ongoing for five years with regards to human life and safety is the sticking point. Its the only thing thats left.

In a series of significant and highly personal interventions on Friday following the court ruling, the Duke gave a 30-minute interview to the BBC before releasing a 900-word statement listing his concerns.

In his remarks, he:

alleged to know the names of the people he blames for the security decision, but declined to name them at this point;

accused people of wanting history to repeat itself, in an apparent reference to his mother, Princess Dianas death;

said he could not bring his wife and children back to the UK;

claimed there was an initial attempt to deny Meghan security when they got engaged;

and said the King could intervene to resolve his security concerns.

In a rare intervention, a Buckingham Palace spokesman refuted the Dukes allegations, saying: All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.

Royal sources insisted that it would have been constitutionally improper for the King to intervene in the legal process and noted that the chair of Ravec (the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, responsible for VIP security arrangements) was responsible for the committees decisions with members of the Royal household simply advising on specific matters.

The Duke admitted that the ruling took him by surprise as we thought it was going to go our way.

However, he said it had proven that there was no way to win this through the courts, having only found out through the case that Ravec was not constrained by any legal framework.

He appeared to rule out taking the case to the Supreme Court, saying: I dont want any battles to continue. There is way too much suffering and way too much conflict in the world.

He repeated the assertion that his police protection was withdrawn in an attempt to trap him and Meghan in the UK.

This  at the heart of it  is a family dispute, and it makes me really, really sad that were sitting here today, five years later, where a decision that was made most likely, in fact I know, to keep us under the roof, he said.

Theres a duty of care that has been completely thrown out of the window and that doesnt feel great.

What I know through this legal process is that the interference that was created came from the Royal household.

He added that he did not think he would ever be able to speak to his father about the issues raised through the legal battle.

I dont think he would ever want to talk about it, he said. I think he would just push it aside and the argument will just be that it was a Government decision.

For me and only me, there has to be a royal obligation in order to receive protection on UK soil. And I think that speaks volumes. The Duke was referring to the fact that he said he only receives protection if he is invited to the UK by the Royal family.

Dark forces at work

The Duke had argued that he was singled out for unjustified and inferior treatment when he was denied the right to automatic police protection after quitting royal duties. But on Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that a personal grievance did not equate to a valid legal argument.

However, the Duke questioned how even those who have never carried out any functions on behalf of the state could receive security when he, who had served for 35 years, had not.

He is understood to have concerns about people who have left public office, such as Liz Truss, who still receive taxpayer-funded police protection.

Credit: Reuters

He said his legal battle with the Home Office had uncovered my worst fears but that he now knew the truth.

We have lost the appeal, but the other side have won in keeping me unsafe, so again there is a lot of question marks that a lot of people will have, he said. I have all of the truth, I have all of the knowledge now, throughout the legal process.

In an apparent reference to the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, he said he had discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.

Asked who that was, he replied: Im not going to share at this point. I know all the names of the people that were involved in this process.

The establishment stitch-up keeping his family from his homeland

In his statement, he further claimed he had also learned the names of all those involved, many of whom retired immediately after playing their part.

Sir Edward Young, Elizabeth IIs private secretary, and Sir Richard Mottram, the chair of Ravec at the time, have both retired.

The Duke, convinced that the King has the power to reinstate his police protection, said: There is a lot of power and control in my fathers hands.

Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary and to carry out an RMB [risk management board] analysis.

The Duke said the ruling handed down by the Court of Appeal felt like a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.

He said he had always loved his country and missed parts of the UK but added that, having lost the appeal, he could not see a world in which he could bring back his wife and children.

I think its quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland, he added. What Im struggling to forgive, and will probably always struggle to forgive, is that a decision that was made in 2020 that affects me every single day, and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harms way.

Everybody knew that they were putting us at risk in 2020, and they hoped that me knowing that risk would force us to come back.

In his statement, the Duke also alleged that Ravec had tried to deny Meghan security in 2017, when they got engaged, only reversing the decision when he demanded to know which individual was willing to block it.

Security used to control us

The Duke claimed the case had set a new precedent that security could be used to control members of the family.

Effectively what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life, he said.

He said he could only come to the UK safely if he was invited, suggesting that was now the only circumstances in which he would be offered state-backed security, and said he would ask the Prime Minister to step in, adding: I would ask Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to look at this very, very carefully.

I would ask her to review Ravec and its members, because if it is an expert body, then what is the Royal households role there, if it is not to influence and decide what they want for the members of their household?

The Duke has said the decision was imposed upon him as some form of punishment and said that suggestions in the press of his security costing 20 million were grossly inflated by 18-19 times.

He said: Because I decided to remove myself eventually from the institution, my life got devalued from the highest score to the lowest score overnight. You have to question, why wasnt I put through the same risk management board that everybody else was put through, including members of my family?

The ruling, handed down by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis on Friday afternoon, left the Duke devastated.

Last month, he flew to London to attend a two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal, during which his barrister argued that the Ravec, a Home Office committee, had failed to adhere to its own policies.

Sir Geoffrey told the court that the Duke had put forward powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain he felt badly treated by the system.

However, he added: I concluded, having studied the detail of the extensive documentation, I could not say that the Dukes sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to Ravecs decision. Accordingly, the Duke of Sussexs appeal is dismissed.

Last roll of the dice

The appeal was widely considered to be Prince Harrys last roll of the dice, bringing to an end a three-and-a-half-year legal battle that he admitted was even more significant than his legal crusade against the tabloid press. This one always mattered the most, he told The Telegraph last month.

In a witness statement filed to the High Court, the Duke said: The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US.

That cannot happen if its not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harms way too.

When he and Meghan first announced their plans to quit royal duties, they insisted that effective security would still be needed to protect them.

But Ravec concluded that a flexible and tailored approach was best suited to the Dukes new circumstances. The couples plan to live abroad as private citizens did not fit readily into any category in its framework, meaning that automatic Metropolitan Police protection was no longer appropriate and would be withdrawn.

Instead, the couple were required to give 30 days notice of any travel plans so each visit could be assessed on its merits.

When the Duke was told of the decision in early 2020, he was furious, demanding to be given the names of those responsible.

In an email sent to Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary at the time, he expressed disbelief, insisting that he be told who had put him in a position of such vulnerability and risk. He offered to pay for his security, but was told the Met was not for hire.

The Duke applied for a judicial review in September 2021, shortly after a visit to the UK when he felt his security was compromised.

The challenge was based on an alleged lack of transparency about Ravecs composition and processes. He also claimed he had been singled out and treated less favourably than others by Ravec, which had subjected him to unlawful and unfair treatment.

His lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, said the committee had also failed to consider the potential impact on the UKs reputation of a successful attack on the Duke, bearing in mind his status, background and profile within the Royal family.

The Duke believed he faced a greater risk than his late mother, with additional layers of racism and extremism, she told the court. Last February, he comprehensively lost the case when Mr Justice Lane ruled that Ravecs decision had not been irrational or procedurally unfair.

Compelling reasons for decision

He was granted leave to challenge the judgment in June, when the Court of Appeal concluded that there was a real prospect of success in his argument that Ravec had not followed its own written policy.

It found that Mr Justice Lane may have erred in concluding the Duke was not in a comparable position to those in an Other VIP Category who receive state security.

The three-judge appeal court panel heard last month that Ravec did not apply its normal terms of reference to the Duke nor carry out its usual individual risk assessment.

Ravecs policy was not set in stone but rather inward facing and unpublished, the judges concluded, noting that the committee had unrivalled expertise and experience in the field of royal protection.

The judges also noted that a Risk Management Board analysis was not required because of the case-by-case basis on which decisions would be based under the new arrangement, pointing out that Ravec obtained three threat assessments for the Duke before making its decision.

Sir Geoffrey said Ravec had provided compelling reasons for its decision, adding: The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by Ravec.

Outside the UK, he was outside that cohort, but when in the UK his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible.

Unintended consequence of decision to step back

The judge acknowledged that the Duke and Duchess had not anticipated a reduction in their security provision when stepping back from royal duties.

From the Duke of Sussexs point of view, something may indeed have gone wrong, in that an unintended consequence of his decision to step back from royal duties and spend the majority of his time abroad has been that he has been provided with a more bespoke, and generally lesser, level of protection than when he was in the UK, he said.

But that did not, of itself, give rise to a legal complaint.

The judge said the only question before the court was whether Sir Richard Mottram, then the chairman of Ravec, had failed to follow the committees policy without good reason. He concluded that he had indeed failed to follow the policy, but with good reason.

The Dukes only outstanding legal case is his joint claim against Associated Newspapers, scheduled to go to trial in January next year.

The Duke, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, and Sir Elton John are among seven high-profile claimants suing the newspaper group over the alleged misuse of private information. Associated Newspapers denies the claims.
Raffaele Mincione had to defend himself against allegations of dishonesty, fraud and conspiracy

The Vatican has been ordered to pay millions of pounds in legal costs to a British financier caught up in the Vaticans trial of the century.

The Vatican will now pay half of the legal costs of almost 7 million incurred by Raffaele Mincione after he was forced to defend himself against allegations of dishonesty, fraud and conspiracy.

British-Italian businessman Mr Minciones name was cleared after taking High Court action in England against the Vatican to protect his reputation.

The businessman won the legal action to clear his name over his role in the Vaticans 275 million purchase of a former Harrods warehouse in Chelsea, west London.

The former Harrods warehouse in west London, at the centre of the dispute - Bailey-Cooper Photography/Alamy

It was the first time the Vatican had faced trial in the English courts in its 2,000-year history.

The Holy See had claimed Mr Mincione committed fraud by inflating the price when his companies sold the former Harrods property to the Vatican in 2018 to convert into luxury apartments.

The financier and his legal team claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt where the legal goalposts were moved to secure his conviction in a trial in Italy.

After ruling in his favour, the UK court has now ordered the Vatican to make an immediate payment to Mr Mincione of 1.5m within weeks, with further payments to be made following detailed assessment.

Mr Mincione said: I am proud as a British citizen that these matters have finally been examined by a truly independent judicial system which has exonerated me of dishonesty, fraud or conspiracy.

I am grateful that the English judge has awarded us millions of pounds in legal costs, reflecting the true winners and losers of this sorry case.

For the first time, I am also pleased to share the opinion of the Vatican City States chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi when he previously said he was satisfied by the findings in this case.

The Vatican trial was originally an attempt to deflect attention from its own incompetence, but it quickly became a witch-hunt. I am still a Catholic and I believe that my Church should be and can be better than this.

In his judgment on the case, Mr Justice Robin Knowles granted 29 of the 31 declarations sought by Mr Mincione in his legal action against the Vatican.

It accepted independent expert evidence that the value of 275 million for the Harrods warehouse was a supportable market value for the property before the transaction in 2018.

However, the judge criticised Mr Mincione for failing to act in good faith in their communications with the Vatican, saying he had not been frank about the 275 million valuation and was misleading by reference to the sources available to him and in context.

The Vatican, a Catholic enclave in the centre of Rome, often avoids legal action in foreign jurisdictions by claiming sovereign immunity.

The defence of sovereign immunity was not, however, available to the Vatican in the case of 60 Sloane Avenue, the central London property at the centre of the dispute, because the dispute relates to a commercial transaction.

During the trial in the Vatican, it emerged the late Pope Francis had authorised secret wiretaps, including of a cardinal, during the investigation. The extraordinary powers allowed investigators to bug phones, intercept emails and arrest anyone they wanted without seeking prior approval from a judge.
Journalist Nick McKenzie faced cross-examination from Ben Roberts-Smiths barrister during a hearing over whether to reopen the war veterans defamation case appeal. Photograph: Bianca De Marchi/AAP

Investigative journalist Nick McKenzie has denied in a Sydney court that he saw privileged communications between Ben Roberts-Smith and his lawyers during the proceedings of the war veterans failed defamation case against him and Nine.

The court also heard a secret recording where McKenzie allegedly told a witness in the defamation proceedings that Roberts-Smiths ex-wife, Emma Roberts, and her friend Danielle Scott were actively briefing us on his legal strategy in respect of you.

It was not revealed who made the recording.

It is part of a two-day hearing in which the war veteran is arguing an appeal should be reopened in light of new evidence showing a miscarriage of justice caused by McKenzies alleged misconduct.

Roberts-Smith brought the defamation proceedings, which ran for a year, against McKenzie and Nine newspapers over a series of stories published between June and August 2018. The stories alleged Roberts-Smith was guilty of murder and war crimes.

Related: Ben Roberts-Smith demands defamation retrial citing alleged recording of Nine investigative journalist

Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, lost the case. In 2023 Justice Anthony Besanko ruled Roberts-Smith on the balance of probabilities had murdered unarmed civilians while serving in Afghanistan.

Asked on Friday if the legal strategy he was referring to in the recording was information gleaned via legally privileged communications between Roberts-Smith and his lawyers, McKenzie said it was not.

I never received or had legally privileged information and thats why Im confident I wasnt referring to that, he told the court when being cross-examined.

By legal strategy what I meant was in respect of what Danielle had told me Things like Emma had been told by Roberts-Smith to lie in court.

Thats what I meant by legal strategy.

The court heard McKenzie flew to Cairns to meet Scott in March 2021 and also met Roberts alongside his lawyers in the same month.

McKenzie was questioned about a screenshot he was sent by Scott in which Roberts had informed her: [Mark OBrien lawyers] just sent BRS an email saying AFP wants to speak with him.

Arthur Moses SC, representing Roberts-Smith, asserted that this was McKenzie receiving information gleaned from emails exchanged between the war veteran and his lawyers. But the journalist said he did not agree.

McKenzie told the court he believed the information had been found out because Ben got the warrant to appear, shat himself, told his wife, she told her best friend, who much later told me.

Asked about other information shared by Scott, he said he believed it had come from Roberts gossiping to her best friend.

The court heard McKenzie gave to his own lawyers the information received from Scott and Roberts that he deemed would be relevant. He said he was unaware how or whether that was used in the defamation proceedings.

He also agreed under questioning from Moses that he had proactively asked Scott for any evidence Roberts had. He said the request related to an anonymous tip he had received that BRS was crawling through his back yard at night and burying stuff and stashing stuff.

Moses also put to McKenzie that the witness  Person 17  had threatened legal action against him and Nine newspapers after Roberts-Smiths failed defamation trial.

Related: Decision to award Ben Roberts-Smith extra medal made by King Charles, not Australia, Albanese says

She threatened to sue you and Nine in respect of your conduct in the proceedings before Justice Besanko, correct? Moses asked.

Yes, McKenzie said.

The court was on Friday played the 85-second secret recording of an earlier conversation between McKenzie and Person 17, who was at the centre of an allegation of domestic violence against Roberts-Smith. This was not proven in the proceedings, with Besanko determining her testimony was not sufficiently reliable. Roberts-Smith denied the allegation.

McKenzie told the court he was utterly surprised to learn about a month ago the recording existed after it was sent by an unknown person via an encrypted email service to Paul Svilans, one of Roberts-Smiths lawyers, with the subject line: Secret McKenzie recording.

In the recording, after telling the witness about knowing about the legal strategy, McKenzie said: I shouldnt tell you. Ive just breached my fucking ethics in doing that.

McKenzie agreed he knew the witness, who appeared for Nine, was wavering and he was trying to assure her.

She wasnt just stressed, she was very, very stressed, he said.

During the two hearing, Roberts-Smith sat alongside his parents in the court. When McKenzie walked out of the court on Friday afternoon after finishing his evidence, he and Roberts-Smith exchanged a sustained stare.

The hearing before justices Nye Perram, Anna Katzmann and Geoffrey Kennett was due to finish on Friday.
Maheen Kamran said she had entered politics because of the conflict in Gaza, which she called a genocide - @DaveAtherton20/X

A pro-Gaza candidate has won a council seat in Lancashire after campaigning in favour of segregation between the sexes.

Maheen Kamran, who said free mixing between Muslim men and women was a major issue for Muslim voters, won the Burnley Central East seat on Lancashire county council at the local elections.

The 18-year-old, standing as an independent candidate, won 38 per cent of the vote, surpassing Reform UKs 30 per cent and leaving Labour in third place on 14 per cent.

It comes after victories for a number of pro-Gaza candidates in the north of England at last years general election, which led to fears of rising sectarianism in politics.

Ms Kamran told Politics Home that she had been motivated to enter politics by the war in Gaza, where she said a genocide was taking place.

She also said she wanted to encourage public spaces to prevent free mixing between Muslim men and women.

Theres a big aspect of free mixing, she said. Muslim women arent really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. Im sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women dont have to sacrifice their health.

Also in Lancashire, Azhar Ali, who was suspended from Labour for anti-Semitism during the Rochdale by-election last year, was elected as an independent candidate as county councillor for the Nelson East ward. Reform UK won control of Lancashire county council from the Tories.

Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and polling expert, said: I dont see Labour being able to resolve this issue with the Muslim community in places where there are large Muslim populations.

Labour has angered many in the Muslim community by its failure to declare Israels actions in Gaza a genocide and to recognise Palestine as an an independent state.

At the last general election, four pro-Palestine independents defeated Labour MPs amid Muslim voters anger at the partys Gaza stance. Shockat Adam won in Leicester South, Adnan Hussain in Blackburn, Ayoub Khan in Birmingham Perry Barr, and Iqbal Mohamed in Dewsbury and Batley.

The four MPs later joined Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-Left former Labour leader, to form an independent grouping at Westminster.

Anti-Labour feelings among many in Asian communities were sparked by Sir Keir Starmers comments early in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, when he suggested that Israel had the right to withhold power and water from civilians in Gaza.

The party also refused to back a motion from the Scottish National Party calling for an immediate ceasefire in the region, even though Labour passed a similar motion of its own soon afterwards.

At last years general election, Labour canvassers in some seats said they had been harassed by their opponents in some seats.

In Leicester South, Labour campaigners were followed down the street while handing out leaflets. In Birmingham, Labour supporters had to call the police twice during the final weekend of campaigning.

In Dewsbury and Batley, Heather Iqbal, the Labour candidate, was told she was not a proper Muslim because she had a Western first name, and her activists were told not to canvass in Asian areas by supporters of a pro-Gaza independent.

Ms Iqbal told The Telegraph the campaign was characterised by intimidation, with her opponents supporters shouting at her that she was a child murderer and a genocide agent.
Nigel Farage speaks to the media after Reform UKs Runcorn and Helsby byelection victory. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Fragmentation in British politics is not new. Disillusionment with the choices on offer is not new. The two-party share of the vote has been below 70% in four of the last six elections. Six months before the 2019 general election the Brexit party topped the EU election results with the Liberal Democrats in second. The 2024 general election had the lowest two-party share in the modern-party system.

What is driving this change? Political scientists talk about the demand and supply sides of electoral politics. The voters are the demand side, what types of parties and positions they want to vote for. They do not always get their wish. Who appears on the ballot paper is the supply side of the electoral equation. Increasingly, it is everyone.

This was evident in the general election, where all seats had at least five candidates and almost half had eight or more. At these English local elections, almost everyone was able to vote for Reform UK if they wished to, something that was not even true at the general election in 2024 (where there was a longstanding pact between Reform UK and the Social Democratic party under which Reform did not field a candidate in some places, including Ed Milibands Doncaster North seat).

This was undoubtedly a terrible set of results for the Conservatives and Labour. While the Conservative losses are staggering in absolute terms, Labours are equally bad relative to their starting point.

While Reform was the main beneficiary of Conservative losses, the Liberal Democrats also gained councillors and councils from the Conservatives, highlighting that as main party votes break away, they splinter into fragments rather than moving as a single bloc.

In the run-up to polling day most attention was focused on the Runcorn and Helsby byelection, but a wafer-thin victory for Reform there did not really give the sense of what was to come, with Reform simply replacing the Conservatives wholesale in some areas.

In Staffordshire, one of the early declarations, Reform gained 49 seats while the Conservatives lost 46 of the 56 won in 2021. In Durham, Reform took control of the council with 65 of the 98 seats. It was an extraordinarily good set of results for Nigel Farages party.

But this is far more than a story of an insurgent party disrupting the status quo. It is a story of a deep disillusionment with the political parties that have been in charge in British politics for a century. The electorate saw two unpopular governments, one they recently got rid of and one a large majority did not vote for less than a year ago. No longer bound by old loyalties of class or party, voters are willing to try something else.

For some, that something else is Reform, which was always likely to benefit as the Conservative vote crashed down from the high point of 2021. For others, it is the Lib Dems, who added substantially to their 2021 total, continuing the patterns from the last three sets of local elections gaining in both the blue wall seats and the places they were strong in the pre-coalition years. And for a smaller, but also important group, it is the Green party, which made significant gains from a low starting point in these seats.

Fragmentation poses challenges for all political parties seeking to win at the national level.

To do so requires a coalition of voters. Labour managed it on 34% of the popular vote in 2024 but against an especially favourable distribution of votes. In other circumstances it would need a far greater share.

Yet the fragments of the electorate are difficult to join together. In Devon the Tories lost seats to Reform on one side and the Lib Dems on the other. Kemi Badenochs instinct is to go after the Reform votes, but this will do nothing to stem the flow of votes, councillors and Westminster seats to the Lib Dems, and the Tories also need these for a path back to power.

But fragmentation affects the other parties too. There are faultlines within the coalition Reform is building  some parts are cheerleaders for the Liz Truss approach to economics, private healthcare and the retreat of net zero, while others are in favour of public ownership of industry, more spending on health, and government intervention to improve their local areas.

In a political landscape such as this, the sands need only to shift a little for voters to change priority and party.

Fragmentation is here to stay, but what that means for party support remains unpredictable.
Nigel Farage and Sarah Pochin celebrate her win by six votes for Reform UK in Runcorn. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Nigel Farages Reform UK has dramatically won the Runcorn and Helsby byelection by just six votes in a blow to Keir Starmers premiership.

The hard-right party narrowly overturned Labours 14,700-vote majority in the first full-scale electoral test of Starmers government and set a new record for the smallest majority at a parliamentary by-election since the end of the second world war.

The result, which came on a night when Reform UK was expected to gain hundreds of council seats across England, followed a 17% swing from Labour to Farages party.

After a recount that delayed the declaration by three hours, Reforms Sarah Pochin won 38.6% of the vote  amounting to 12,645 votes, six more than Labour, making it one of the smallest margins of victory in recent UK political history.

The Conservatives slumped from 16% of the vote at last years general election to 7% in this contest, narrowly finishing ahead of the Green party in third place.

The closely watched contest had been billed as the first real test of Farages ability to turn his partys rising popularity into seats in parliament.

Pochin, a former Tory councillor and local magistrate, becomes the first non-Labour MP to represent the Cheshire town of Runcorn in 52 years.

Arriving at the count centre to declare victory at 6am on Friday, Farage said: Here and across the country youre seeing big swings to us, from Labour in the north and Conservatives in the Midlands and the south. Its fascinating.

He added: For the movement, for the party, its a very, very big moment, absolutely no question and its happening right across everywhere.

Farage said the result sent a clear message that we are now the opposition and that if voters backed the Conservatives then they would just get a Labour government.

Despite the tiny margin of victory the result will heighten fears among Labour MPs that they could lose scores of seats to the hard-right populist party at the next general election. Karen Shore, Labours candidate, refused to speak to the media as she was ushered out of the count centre at the DCBL Stadium in Widnes, Cheshire.

The Cheshire byelection was triggered by the resignation of Labours Mike Amesbury, the former MP who was convicted earlier this year of punching a constituent.

Farages party sought to make immigration the key issue in this overwhelmingly white British corner of north-west England, raising fears over small boat crossings, houses of multiple occupancy and even Turkish barbers.

Reform UK also attacked Labours cutting of the winter fuel payment  an issue repeatedly raised by voters  as well as its early release of prisoners and the rising cost of energy bills.

Its tactics appeared to work, delivering Reform UK its fifth MP and establishing the fledgling party has a serious challenger to Britains two main parties.

In her victory speech Pochin said: Enough is enough. Enough Tory failure. Enough Labour lies. I want to thank every one of you who were brave enough to put a cross against my name on the ballot paper.

She said the result would inspire the rest of the country to believe that they too can stand up for what is right and stand up for our British values.

The result appears to back up recent opinion polls that suggested the anti-European Union populists were on course to topple Britains historic two-party system at the next general election.

Despite Runcorn and Helsby being one of Labours safest seats, the party faced a challenge to win over voters from the beginning given it was sparked by Amesbury violently assaulting a constituent in a drunken late-night row.

In the first weeks of the campaign, Shore was criticised for launching a Facebook petition to close a hotel housing asylum seekers, in what some saw as a cynical attempt to stem the flow of votes to Reform UK.

Shore, a former deputy council leader, denied her campaign was prejudiced but admitted that the tone of it couldve been slightly different  and the fact it was exploited by the populists.

A Labour spokesperson said: Byelections are always difficult for the party in government and the events which led to this one being called made it even harder. Voters are still rightly furious with the state of the country after 14 years of failure and clearly expect the government to move faster with the plan for change.



While Labour has suffered an extremely narrow defeat, the shock is that the Conservative vote has collapsed. Moderate voters are clearly appalled by the talk of a Tory-Reform pact.



Labour and Reform UK officials appeared tense as votes were counted through the night at DCBL stadium, the home of Widnes Vikings rugby league club, just across the mouth of the River Mersey from Runcorn.

Campaigners from both parties repeatedly said the result was too close to call, downplaying talk of a decisive victory for either side.

Turnout in the contest was a higher-than-expected 46.33%, which some on the count floor attributed to the Farage factor  a reference to the Reform UK leaders ability to provoke strong opinion on either side.

There were bizarre scenes at the count centre when Reform UK officials announced that Farage was expected to arrive imminently about 30 minutes before the result was expected  a sign they were confident of victory.

But as camera crews and officials gathered, some holding the door open for their soon-to-arrive leader, there was no sign of him. Journalists were then told he was instead waiting in a car near the venue, perhaps as word reached him that it was too soon to declare a win.
An elderly woman is evacuated in Pokrovsk, a frontline city in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces are desperate to capture - Anadolu

Moscows forces are trying to create a security strip in the border areas of Ukraines Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of Russias neighbouring Kursk region.

Ukraine claims it still has a small foothold in Kursk, but has warned for months that Russia is planning an offensive into Sumy.



Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraines northeastern region to guard against any future Ukrainian cross-border incursions.



Units of the North group of forces have completed the rout of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry said on Friday.

The creation of a security strip in the border areas of Ukraines Sumy region continues.

Analysts say that up to 52 square miles of Sumy is a contested grey zone, referring to an area of the battlefield that neither side fully controls.

Our paratroopers, having broken the stubborn resistance of the enemy, advanced in the area of Loknya and in the border forest belts in Sumy, Two Majors, an influential Russian war blogger, referring to the area close to the border.

A commander of a Russian airborne assault brigade said Ukraines troops fighting in Sumy were demoralised. We have disorganised their command system, he told Russias TASS news agency.

Oleh Hryhorov, the governor of Sumy, warned on Tuesday that Russia was having little success in carving out a buffer zone, but acknowledged that four border villages in the region were in a grey zone due to Russian attacks.

06:29 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine and the US withdrawing from formal peace talks.

We will be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

06:11 PM BST

Todays episode of Ukraine: The Latest

Also available in Ukrainian and Russian. More information here.

05:56 PM BST

Analysis: If Trump is determined to force through a peace, he can do it

President Trump hoped to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by almost reversing the Biden position in this war. That is, by being tough on Ukraine while taking a more conciliatory tone with Russia. He aspired also to achieve improved long-term relations with Moscow in Americas interests.

The US put forward a ceasefire proposal which Kyiv accepted, despite indications of serious disadvantages to itself in potential negotiations. Russia rejected it. In recent days Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Putins position, apparently understanding that he has been strung along.

Now he has pulled out of a formal mediation role in the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is changing the methodology of how we contribute, no longer playing the role of intermediary. This is a major policy change for the US and it remains to be seen exactly what role it will take up.

05:26 PM BST

Nato chief suggests boosting defence spending to please Trump

Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato, has proposed that members of the military alliance boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.

He has also suggested members commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending to meet Donald Trumps demand for a 5 per cent target, people familiar with the idea told Reuters.

Mr Ruttes proposal could allow the US president to declare a win at a Nato summit in The Hague in June while not committing European nations and Canada to a 5 per cent pledge on military spending that many see as politically and economically unviable.

The alliances current defence spending goal is at least 2 per cent of GDP, met by 22 of its 32 members.

But leaders across Nato warn that goal is no longer sufficient in the face of the threat of Russia.

04:41 PM BST

Russia orchestrated plot to kill prominent Ukrainian blogger

Ukraine has accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an assassination attempt on a prominent Ukrainian blogger.

A 45-year-old woman carried out the failed hit on internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who is known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, Ukraines internal security agency, the SBU, said.

The woman had fired several shots with a pistol on Thursday, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg, it added.

The blogger said there was no danger to his life.

04:27 PM BST

Pictured: Healey unveils new British StormShroud drone

John Healey, Defence Secretary (R) and Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff (L) standing behind a StormShroud drone with F-35B (L) and Typhoon (R) jets in the background

04:15 PM BST

US withdraws from formal Ukraine peace negotiations

The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.

The State Department said it is changing the methodology of how we contribute to the talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings.

It comes after the US signed a minerals deal with Ukraine on more favourable terms that was originally thought. Donald Trump also reportedly signed off his administrations first round of weapons deliveries to Kyiv.

The State Department said that Kyiv and Moscow must now present concrete proposals for ending the war and should meet directly to resolve the conflict.

Mr Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated with Mr Putin. US intelligence briefings overnight also suggested Mr Putin is now in a weakened position and has shifted his war goals to consolidate gains.

03:52 PM BST

Greece arrests man on suspicion of spying for Russia

Greek authorities have arrested a man in the strategic port city of Alexandroupolis on suspicion of photographing supply convoys on behalf of Russia, police said.

The suspect, a 59-year-old Greek of Georgian descent, was arrested in the northeastern city on Tuesday and had a hearing on Friday.

The man confessed to taking photos and video of military material, acting on behalf of another person to whom he sent the footage via an encrypted application, the police said.

A police source told AFP this week that the man, who has identified himself as a house painter, was targeting military convoys to Ukraine, according to footage retrieved from his cellphone.

03:23 PM BST

Two UK university Ukrainian societies suspended for buying drones

Two UK universities have suspended their Ukrainian societies as they investigate if they broke charity rules to buy drones that were later sent to Kyivs troops.

The student unions at University College London and Lancaster University suspended the societies after they discovered the purchases, which were made last year, the Financial Times reported.

Both unions are UK-registered charities and governed by the Charity Commission.

According to the watchdogs rules, providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force is not a charitable purpose, and no charity can legally undertake such activity.

02:46 PM BST

Pictured: A rally in Kyiv demanding Russia return Ukrainian POWs

People burn smoke flares during a rally in support of prisoners of war and missing people of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, calling for authorities to return their relatives from Russian captivity in Kyiv, Ukraine - Shutterstock

02:36 PM BST

Europe to hand billions in frozen Russian cash to Western investors

Europe plans to seize and redistribute about 3 billion euros (2.5billion) of Russias funds that are frozen, according to documents sources familiar with the matter.

The money will be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized cash held in Russia in recent months, three people told Reuters, escalating attempts by both sides to recoup billions in funds affected by the war in Ukraine.

Euroclear will redistribute 3 billion from a pool of 10 billion euros in cash belonging to Russian entities and individuals hit by the EU sanctions following Russias full-scale invasion in 2022.

The move marks a new level of reprisal by Europe. The EU changed its sanctions regime late last year, allowing a disbursement to Western investors.

02:12 PM BST

Trump team has prepped options to pressure Moscow

US officials have prepared a set of options to increase economic pressure on Russia as Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire, according to people familiar with the matter.

The sources, speaking to Bloomberg, cautioned that Donald Trump has not yet made a decision and diplomatic efforts are still ongoing. They did not share details on what the options are.

Kyiv and its allies have been urging the US to step-up pressure on Moscow, including through expanding sanctions on its energy exports and oil revenues, to force Putin to the negotiation table.

01:51 PM BST

Ukraines parliament will vote to ratify minerals deal on May 8

Ukraines parliament will hold a vote on May 8 to ratify a minerals deal signed with the US earlier this week, a lawmaker said on Friday.

Washington and Kyiv signed a deal on Wednesday that will give the United States preferential access to new investments in extraction of Ukraines natural resources, and fund investment in Ukraines reconstruction.

Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak published the date of the upcoming ratification vote on Telegram. Two of the documents related to the deal would not need to be approved by parliament.

01:40 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraines Stork reconaissance drone

Leleka-100 (Stork) is an unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance - Ukraine's 82 Separate Airborne Assault Brigade

01:26 PM BST

Analysis: Trump was tiring of playing peace-maker

So thats it, the US will now take a hands-off approach to ending the war in Ukraine.

Negotiators will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat, seeking to broach an agreement between the two warring parties.

The signs have been there for days that Donald Trump was tiring of playing peace-maker, as the clock ticks ever further on from the 24 hours in which he had promised to end the conflict.

He had dedicated his best people to it for 100 days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week. Other priorities would have to be attended to.

In truth, this amounts to an admission that Russia is not playing ball. Ukraine agreed immediately to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Moscow has only stalled.

Also last week, Mr Trump wondered if Vladimir Putin was simply tapping him along in talks. Following that famous, knee-to-knee meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican, he has softened towards Ukraine.

The minerals deal is no outrageous rip-off. It recognises that Russia was behind the full-scale invasion.

In turning away from the peace process, the president leaves the Kremlin in something of a quandary. According to CNN citing intelligence sources, Putin is now focused on consolidating Russian positions on the battlefield amid a worsening economy.

Is Mr Trump also shifting away from his efforts to entice Russia into a grand economic relationship, something he promised if a deal could be struck? That is an overarching ambition of Putins - he will be eager not to let the chance slip.

Will the Russian dictator engage more seriously if the US appears to be once more turning cold? Some in the White House will surely hope so.

Equally, Putin could simply continue as he was before the change-over in the White House. Grinding Ukraine down, restocking his army, and waiting for the West to tire of supplying his enemy with arms.

01:07 PM BST

US State Departments comments on withdrawing from peace talks:

The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the US State Department spokesman, Tammy Bruce, told reporters.

Here are her full comments:

The nature of how this would change is we would not  we certainly are still committed to it and will help and do what we can. But we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties. And now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them.

01:00 PM BST

Watch: Ukraines PM asks parliament to quickly ratify minerals deal

Credit: Reuters

12:55 PM BST

Trump approved first batch of weapons to Ukraine day before exiting talks

The day before the US State Department said it would no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the Trump administration approved its first arms exports to Kyiv.

Last night, the State Department said it is changing the methodology of how we contribute to the talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings after Vladimir Putin refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Yet, the announcement came not long after it was revealed that the Trump administration informed Congress it would approve arms exports worth at least $50million to Ukraine on Wednesday.

The permission is the first of its kind since Mr Trump returned to office more than 100 days ago, marking a significant change in its policy, and came just weeks after Washington paused all Ukraine-related military aid for review.

The move to send arms to Ukraine followed Washington and Kyiv signing a long-contested rare minerals deal that granted the US preferential access to to exploit Kyivs vast resources.

12:23 PM BST

Ukraine war wont end any time soon, warns Vance

The war in Ukraine will not end any time soon, the US vice president has said.

Speaking to Fox News, JD Vance said Donald Trump had brought Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table but that it would now be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.

Its not going anywhere its not going to end any time soon, he added.

The Kremlin has expressed a willingness for direct talks with Ukraine, but this week rejected a US peace proposal because it did not grant international recognition to territory seized by its troops.

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected recognising Russian annexation of its territory, saying that Vladimir Putin should not be rewarded for his aggression.

JD Vance tours at steel plant in South Carolina on Thursday - REUTERS

12:22 PM BST

Watch: Russian drone attack injures 29

A Russian drone attack injured 29 people in Zaporizhzhia overnight.

Credit: Reuters

12:06 PM BST

Ukrainian troops in Sumy demoralised

A commander of a Russian airborne assault brigade told the TASS state news agency that Ukrainian troops fighting in Sumy are demoralised.

We have disorganised their command system, the commander was quoted as saying.

Two Majors, a Russian war blogger with over 1.2 million subscribers, said Russia was developing an offensive from the villages of Zhuravka to Bilovody.

Our paratroopers, having broken the stubborn resistance of the enemy, advanced in the area of Loknya and in the border forest belts in the Sumy region, the blogger wrote today.

Deep State, a Ukrainian open-source data project, indicated about 82 sq km of the Sumy region are in a contested zone.

11:43 AM BST

Russia creating security strip in Ukraines Sumy region

Russia is continuing to create a security strip in border areas of Ukraines Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region of western Russia, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying today.

It quoted the ministry as saying that in the past week, Russian troops had seized four settlements in Ukraines Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to create a buffer zone in Sumy region, which borders Kursk.

There were 33 clashes in the Kursk direction overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

Our soldiers inflicted significant losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and are also actively undermining the enemys offensive potential in the rear.

11:25 AM BST

Ukraine launches massive combined attack over Crimea

Russian air defences reportedly intercepted 89 Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea and 23 more over the Black Sea, according to the countrys defence ministry.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed leader in Sevastapol, said his forces had repelled the most massive combined attack on the city so far this year.

Our military worked on all targets over the sea: more than 50 drones were destroyed on approach to Sevastopol, and several sea drones in the waters, he added.

No objects were damaged either in the city or in the waters.

10:53 AM BST

Ukraine to vote on minerals deal next week

Ukraines parliament will hold a vote to ratify the minerals deal with the US on May 8.

MPs were told that two of the three documents in the deal would not need parliamentary ratification.

On Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky said the pact was a truly equal agreement.

10:33 AM BST

Pictured: Aftermath of Russian drone attack

Rescuers work at a site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike - REUTERS/Stringer

10:23 AM BST

Putin switches war aims

Vladimir Putin has changed his goals in the Ukraine war to solidifying his hold on occupied territory and boosting Russias economy, according to new Western intelligence.

Its a shift from earlier US and western assessments that Putin felt he had the upper hand in the war, as well as the momentum and manpower to take the whole country.

Two US sources told CNN the belief Putin has changed his thinking may have influenced Donald Trumps belief the Russian leader is more willing to consider peace now than in the past.

Senior US officials remain suspicious that Putin might try and seize the rest of Ukraine in the long-term.

I think that he may be thinking - I dont want to say thinking smaller - but thinking about what a reasonable nearer-term objective is, a senior western intelligence official told CNN.

10:05 AM BST

Russian drones injure more than 30 overnight

Russian strikes wounded more than 30 people in Ukraine overnight, officials said on Friday.

Twenty-nine people were wounded as a result of a nocturnal attack by the enemy, on the industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram, adding that a 13-year-old boy was amongst the victims of the drone strike.

The Russians have struck the citys civilian infrastructure. Residential buildings, a university, and an infrastructure facility have been damaged, Fedorov wrote.

Two men were also wounded in a Russian drone attack in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, with fires breaking out at two locations, Governor Sergiy Lysak said on Telegram.

Ukraines national railway company said its locomotive repair plant in Zaporizhzhia was subjected to a massive attack overnight, which sparked a fire that raged for hours. No injuries were reported.

09:49 AM BST

Waltz dismissal to be met with anxiety in Kyiv

The abrupt dismissal of Mike Waltz, the White Houses national security advisor, following the high-profile Signal group chat scandal, marks the first major shake-up in President Trumps inner circle during his second term and signals uncertainty for US policy toward Ukraine.

Shortly after news of Signal-gate broke, Politico reported that the president was considering dismissing Waltz, who mistakenly added a journalist to a classified group chat.

But sources close to the White House told the website that Mr Trump was desperate not to give the liberal press a scalp. One offered a prediction: Theyll stick by him for now, but hell be gone in a couple of weeks.

Just over a month later, Mr Waltz is gone. The dismissal will be met with a measure of anxiety in Kyiv. Mr Waltz infamously compared Ukraine to a mule that needed to be beaten over the head with a wooden plank; he spoke of Volodymyr Zelensky, the president, as a spurned girlfriend.

But insiders felt that those comments were designed to ensure he did not add to Mr Trumps suspicions he was too close to Ukraine, too willing to agree to its demands and too swift to criticise Vladimir Putin.

For now, Mr Trump has appointed Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Mr Rubio, too, has a history of supporting Ukraine.

But there remains the chance that Mr Trump could elevate a more Maga-friendly candidate in the end, perhaps even Steve Witkoff, the peace negotiator who has come out of his series of meetings with Putin with little but an apparent appreciation for the graciousness of the Russian dictator.

09:44 AM BST

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing civilians

Moscow accused Kyiv of launching a drone strike on a crowded market in Russian-controlled southern Ukraine on Thursday, claiming at least seven civilians were killed and over 20 injured.

Vladimir Saldo, the regions Russian-installed governor, said the drones had struck a market in the town of Oleshky at around 9.30 am local time during a public holiday.

He and two social media users released videos purporting to show some of the incident. Reuters confirmed the location as Oleshky, but could not independently verify when they were filmed.

Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, said Kyiv had targeted Russian troops in part of Kherson region controlled by Moscow and that only military personnel, and not civilians, had been killed.

09:31 AM BST

France and Poland set to sign defence pact

France and Poland are set to sign a defence pact in the face of Russian aggression and amid uncertainty over the US commitment to protecting Europe.

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk will sign the treaty in the French city of Nancy on May 9, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, the Financial Times reported.

The French President has mooted offering Paris nuclear umbrella to Europe, which Mr Tusk, Polands Prime Minister, has signalled is a possibility he could explore. No agreement on the French bomb is expected in Nancy.

Tusk is also sending now a message to Washington, our main ally for so many years, Aleksander Olech, a security analyst at Defence24, a Polish think-tank told the FT. It is a clear signal that Poland is not only dependent on the US but can also have other strong nuclear allies.

Poland borders both Ukraine and Russia and has ramped up its defence spending since Putins invasion. Warsaw plans to spend 4.7 per cent of its GDP on defence this year.
Sam Cook will finally get the chance to prove his Test credentials after he received his first England call-up for this months clash with Zimbabwe.

The skilful seamer is one of two uncapped players in the 13-man squad, joining Essex team-mate Jordan Cox. The hard-hitting batter was pencilled in for a debut in New Zealand before Christmas, only to miss out when he broke his thumb in the nets.

Cook has been one of the most impressive performers in the county game for a number of years but has found himself leapfrogged by a succession of quicker bowlers. With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired and Chris Woakes yet to play this season through injury, there is a vacancy for a swing and seam specialist with more modest pace and nobody fits the bill better than Cook.

Sam Cook, right, has been a prolific wicket-taker for Essex (Mike Egerton/PA)

The 27-year-old has 318 first-class wickets in 88 games, with an outstanding average of 19.77. Most importantly, he performed impressively on England Lions tour of Australia in January, taking 13 wickets in three games Down Under, a timely nudge at the start of an Ashes year.

His selection was signposted when he was rested from Essexs recent match against Worcestershire at Englands request, though Hampshire rookie Sonny Baker is not included despite being pulled out of a previous round against Somerset.

England will be heavy favourites to see off Zimbabwe in the four-dayer at Trent Bridge, the first Test between the two countries since 2003, but will need to do so with a new-look bowling line-up.

With Mark Wood and Olly Stone joining Woakes on the injury list, England have Gus Atkinson (11 caps), Matthew Potts (10), Josh Tongue (two) and newcomer Cook.

Captain Ben Stokes has yet to play this season for Durham, working hard in the background to recover from a badly torn hamstring, but it is unclear how much bowling he will be able to do.

Ollie Pope, left, and Zak Crawley, right, retain their places at the top of the order (Mike Egerton/PA)

The trip to Nottingham represents an opportunity for Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Shoaib Bashir to bolster their position after difficult spells. Crawley averaged just 8.66 on the tour of New Zealand and has looked vulnerable at times for Kent this season, while Popes place has also come under scrutiny after a mixed run of form.

First-choice spinner Bashir managed only two wickets in his first three games after being sent on loan from Somerset to Glamorgan. The selectors have kept faith with the trio, backing them at the start of a summer that will pick up in intensity with a big five-match series against India.

Highlights of all Englands home international matches will continue to be shown by the BBC, as well as eight live double-headers in the Hundred, after the broadcaster renewed their deal with the ECB for another four years.

England squad to face Zimabwe at Trent Bridge (May 22-25): Z Crawley, B Duckett, O Pope, J Root, H Brook, J Smith, B Stokes (c), J Cox, G Atkinson, M Potts, J Tongue, S Cook, S Bashir.
Kemi Badenoch has apologised for the Tories performance on immigration, but she should grasp the opportunity to do something similar on the economy - Gareth Fuller/PA

The pasting the Conservative Party has just been given at the local elections was widely predicted yet still politically painful. Yes, they were defending from a high watermark. And yes, it hasnt been long since their worst general election result. But it should still give everyone that wants to see it succeed a wake up call in terms of just how hard a job it will be to turn things around.

The economy should be central to that job. Yet it is not clear that Kemi Badenoch and her team agree. This may be a fear of being dismissed with the familiar cry of you had 14 years. It may be that she is more comfortable securing decent wins on other issues. But as the economy is consistently the most important issue to UK voters, vacating this space forever is obviously unsustainable.

So while the party is licking its wounds, how might it approach economic issues in the future?

It should start by earning a right to be heard. Which means a deep and sincere apology for what she thinks the party got wrong. And this should be repeated until it actually sinks in with the public.

Badenoch was completely right to apologise for the partys performance on immigration. In fact, I think she should do so more often. And she should do something similar on the economy, especially with Liz Trusss mini-Budget.

This still resonates with the public because of its link to their own personal finances. Regardless of the nuances involved, people saw the government lose control of the public finances and then their bills go up. Many have still not forgiven this. Some probably never will, but they certainly wont unless they say sorry.

And it is this interplay between government action and the cost of living that the public really cares about from an economic point of view.

Politicians of all parties are obsessed with GDP growth. The public largely couldnt care less about it and instead, rightly, care about their own personal cost of living.

The Treasury is very aware of this. It commissions research, polling and focus groups on a weekly basis and throughout my time there the cost of living, not economic growth itself, topped the list of peoples concerns.

I thought the Labour Government had recognised this when its Plan for Change set out how growth was going to be judged by whether living standards increased. This would mean a completely different focus in the Treasury and could deliver real results to people up and down the country. But since then they have decided to ignore themselves and continue to talk solely about GDP growth.

Theres an opportunity here for the Conservatives. Because although I certainly believe that if we grow the economy more, then most people will be better off, that isnt how the public feel. So having said sorry for the specifics of the mini-Budget, I would develop this into a wider analysis of how growth could have been higher.

This should include Nimbyism regarding house building and infrastructure as well as the fact that regulation went up despite the party apparently being in favour of deregulation. But most of all this should focus on the fact that spending rose too much, which in turn led to taxes being too high.

How did this happen? We had to pay for the Covid and energy crisis interventions. But even accounting for those events, it was because most people in the party, from activists through councillors, to MPs and Cabinet ministers, had simply stopped making the argument for lower levels of spending. The demands to spend more and more came into the Treasury on a daily basis from across the party when I was there.

For instance, in the run up to three out of four fiscal events that I was involved in, there was a constant briefing of the media that we should cut taxes  the exception being the first in the autumn of 2022. The fact that this briefing seemed to come from the same people who were simultaneously lobbying the Chancellor for billions of pounds of additional spending would have been laughable if it wasnt so frustrating.

In addressing the economy in this way the Tories would open up a line of attack on the Government where there is genuine weakness and where Reform has no answers.

No Labour politician actually believes in the radical action required to transform our economy. They are still increasing the welfare bill. And they have massively ramped up day-to-day spending, borrowing and taxes. Their answer to economic growth is more state spending and more state intervention.

People are quite literally paying the price for all of this through higher energy bills, lower wages, and continually stalled living standards.

The Conservative Party should be screaming from the rooftops about this. But it must do so in a way that the public may be willing to listen to. If Badenoch were to apologise for past mistakes, focus relentlessly on the cost of living and point out how this Government is making that worse, she might turn things around.

Adam Smith is the former chief of staff to Jeremy Hunt
Trump Zelensky Putin

President Trump hoped to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by almost reversing the Biden position in this war. That is, by being tough on Ukraine while taking a more conciliatory tone with Russia. He aspired also to achieve improved long-term relations with Moscow in Americas interests.

The US put forward a ceasefire proposal which Kyiv accepted, despite indications of serious disadvantages to itself in potential negotiations. Russia rejected it. In recent days Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Putins position, apparently understanding that he has been strung along. Now he has pulled out of a formal mediation role in the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is changing the methodology of how we contribute, no longer playing the role of intermediary. This is a major policy change for the US and it remains to be seen exactly what role it will take up.

One indication of the future methodology is the economic cooperation deal just signed between America and Ukraine, involving significant US investment in minerals. That includes provision of military aid in exchange for access to natural resources. Accompanying this, Trump has approved his administrations first fifty million dollars of arms exports to Ukraine. This is exactly what Putin did not want. It has been his priority to prevent the continuing Western supply of munitions to Ukraine which has been one of his main conditions in considering what was proposed as an unconditional ceasefire.

It does seem probable that Putin actually wants a negotiated end to the war given his countrys desperate economic situation  which can only get worse while the fighting continues. His apparent intransigence in responding to Trumps ceasefire proposals is likely to represent a push for acceptance of his maximalist terms which involve much more than just freezing the conflict on current lines. Putin wants greater territorial gains as well as demilitarisation and regime change in Ukraine. By angering Trump in the way he has, Putin may have miscalculated. Not only has the new minerals deal given the US an increased economic interest in the future of Ukraine, but Trump has also said if Putin doesnt accede to his peace proposal, he will flood Ukraine with arms.

Whether that actually happens we shall have to see. It would represent a major volte-face from the line Trump has taken on this war since the beginning. Nothing new there! The extent of arms supply would have to be enormous to have a significant effect on the ground, and accompanied also by a step-change in intelligence sharing as well as much more open-ended authority to use US-supplied weaponry against targets on Russian territory. Failure by the Biden administration to get close to the actual need in these areas led us to the current situation where Russia retains the upper hand on the battleground. A substantial boost to Ukraines hardware capabilities, no matter how great, is unlikely to be enough at this stage, given the countrys dire shortage of fighting troops. But if Trumps threat begins to be operationalised it might push Putin further towards accepting a ceasefire.

A complementary, and probably even more effective tactic would be to turn the screws on the Russian economy in a way Biden did not do over three years of war. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham has put forward legislation to apply 500 percent sanctions on any country that buys Russian oil, gas and aluminium as well as imposing much more extensive sanctions. His proposal has so far gathered substantial bipartisan support in the US legislature.

There is no doubt about Trumps determination to end the war. His use of the carrot so far has led only to frustration. How hard he is prepared to wield the stick  both in military support and economic action  is going to determine how quickly some kind of peace can be achieved.
Flooding caused by heave rains across the midwest in Frankfort, Kentucky, on 7 April. Photograph: Leandro Lozada/AFP/Getty Images

The Trump administration has ordered the closure of 25 scientific centers that monitor US waters for flooding and drought, and manage supply levels to ensure communities around the country dont run out of water.

The United States Geological Service (USGS) water science centers employees and equipment track levels and quality in ground and surface water with thousands of gauges. The data it produces plays a critical role across the economy to protect human life, protect property, maintain water supplies and help clean up chemical or oil spills.

The targeted centers are part of a larger network, and the Trump administration based its decision to make cuts on leases near expiration, not scientific reasoning, said Kyla Bennett, director of science policy with the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility non-profit that is tracking the issue.

The administration has not indicated a plan to fill the holes left by those that closed.

Its not being done with any thought about human life, it was just this seems so woke so lets get rid of it, Bennett said. People think water is free and comes out of your tap whenever you want, but its not that simple.

The Trump administration has made few details available, but the leases were ordered cancelled by the General Services Administration, said a water center employee who requested anonymity to speak freely without retribution. They learned about the closure from their landlord, and centers from Alaska to Massachusetts will begin shuttering within four months.

Were doing everything we can to make the argument that we need these facilities to complete our mission, the employee said, but added that the groups were in a difficult position to push back.

Among the centers most important functions is their role in flood warnings. USGS monitors water levels in a river and shares that data with the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS determines if the precipitation levels in a coming storm combined with water levels in a river will result in flooding or top a dam. If theres a risk, flood warnings are issued.

Its also critical to state emergency response agencies and the Federal Emergency Management (Fema) responses to floods. Among the centers on the chopping block is that in Charlotte, North Carolina, which managed the fallout from widespread and deadly Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville in late 2024.

The centers also measure water levels in aquifers to ensure utilities and industry are not overdrawing them, which could cause communities to not have water. The monitors and data also inform states droughts declarations, which triggers limits on withdrawals, and water conservation requirements.

That is especially important in the drought-plagued west. Among those targeted for closure is the Moab, Utah, center, which measures snowpack and other water resources in a state 77% under drought. Bennett noted even much of Massachusetts was under drought conditions and limits for lawn watering were in place.

Related: Civil rights advocates say Trump order guts protections against discrimination

Nobody knows what happens if were not doing [monitoring for drought conditions], the employee said. Privatization is possible, they added, but the USGS has in place rigorous data quality standards that probably could not be copied by a company.

States also use the data to protect drinking water quality, and manage pollution discharge permits. During drought conditions, streams can dry up and discharges have to be reined in. If not, small streams may entirely be made up of industrial discharge, Bennett said.

When oil or chemical spills happen, the USGS data is used to protect drinking water by tracking plumes with real-time monitors in some locations. They have also provided comprehensive pictures of where Pfas forever chemical pollution plumes are contaminating the countrys aquifers.

The data is also used by state and local officials, emergency responders, water system operators, road and building designers, construction companies, city planners, conservation commissions and many others for economic purposes. However, local governments are not equipped to take over.

The facilities include boats, scientific equipment, machine shops and field vehicles, and it is unclear what the fate of those, the employees and the water monitors they manage might be.

The USGS did not respond to a request for comment, but an earlier press statement said: These efforts reflect our broader commitment to streamlining government operations while ensuring that scientific endeavors remain strong, effective, and impactful.
Donald Trump has long sought to showcase the US military - AP/Mike Stewart

Donald Trump has announced that the US is to strip mention of Europe out of its annual celebration of victory in the Second World War.

The president said that the May 8 Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) will become Victory Day for World War Two. Russia also uses Victory Day to celebrate the end of the war.

The US will also recognise the defeat of the Germans in 1918 as Victory Day for World War One, scrapping the title of Armistice Day.

Mr Trump appeared to downplay the role of European forces in defeating Nazism, saying we won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance.

We are going to start celebrating our victories again! the president added.

The entry of the US in the Second World War turned the tide against the Nazi forces, with General George S Pattons soldiers joining other allied forces in surging up through southern Italy before the D-Day landings in Normandy.

But VE Day was named as such to reflect the fact that US and British troops fought on in the Pacific until VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, on August 14 1945.

White House has clashed with Europe

Mr Trump has long sought to showcase the US military, only cancelling a full-scale parade through Washington DC in 2018 over concerns about the $92 million cost and potential damage to roads.

On June 14, there are plans for a parade through the capital to mark the US armys 250th anniversary, coinciding with Mr Trumps birthday.

The White House has clashed with European leaders under the Trump administration, arguing that their reliance on the US security umbrella has led them to ignore spending on their own militaries.

In the Signal chat leaked to Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist at The Atlantic, JD Vance, the vice-president, said I just hate bailing out Europe again.

Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, replied: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading.

Russian celebrations on May 9

In debates that roil to this day, historians often point to the critical role of the Soviet Red Army in ending the Second World War.

Around nine million Soviet troops were killed in the conflict, compared to 416,800 Americans and 383,700 British men.

Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, reflecting the the official Nazi surrender, signed just after midnight.

It holds a military parade through Red Square to mark the anniversary, with tanks, missiles and troops marching past the Kremlin.

Last month, the Kremlin denied there were talks over Mr Trump attending this years celebration, amid negotiations over ending the war in Ukraine.

On Thursday, Russian state media reported that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, could represent the country at the showpiece event. The US state department denied any plans were in place.
Donald Trumps plan for a swift end to the Ukraine war has come to nothing - Leah Millis/REUTERS

Day by day, the evidence mounts that Donald Trump is rethinking American policy towards Ukraine. His ambition to put a swift end to the war has come to nothing, but the crucial change is that he may at last be realising that Vladimir Putin is chiefly responsible for thwarting his efforts.

As long ago as March 11, Mr Trump proposed an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine said yes; Russia did not. While Steve Witkoff, the US envoy, received friendly welcomes in Moscow, Putin would only consider a limited ceasefire  provided that new conditions were met.

This week, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, simply repeated all of Russias maximum demands, including the absurd notions that Ukraine must be forced to demilitarise and de-Nazify.

While talking to the Americans, Putin has carried on bombarding Ukraines cities, defying all of Mr Trumps pleas for him to stop, including by firing ballistic missiles at the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, killing at least 36 people.

Vladimir Putin meets with Steve Witkoff in Moscow on April 25 - KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

This time, Mr Trump has voiced frustration with Putin not just with angry social media posts but real actions. On Wednesday he released $50 million of weapons for Ukraine, hours after the agreement was signed for the joint exploitation of the countrys critical minerals.

The State Department has now signalled that America will step back from its efforts to settle the conflict. We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings: that it is now between the two parties, said an official spokesman on Friday. Its going to be up to them.

The sudden removal of Mike Waltz as national security adviser can also be interpreted as fitting this direction of travel. True, Mr Waltz held hawkish views on Russia: as recently as Monday, he was advising the president to impose tough sanctions on Putin unless there was a swift ceasefire.

But dispensing with a hawk who was viewed with deep suspicion by his political base might give Mr Trump the cover he needs to change course and, paradoxically, move towards the policy which his former national security adviser was recommending.

All of this could still amount to wishful thinking and Mr Trump is perfectly capable of changing his mind instantaneously. But his conciliatory meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican last Saturday might just have been a turning point.

Credit: Reuters

It seems to be dawning on Mr Trump that the obstacle to his burning ambition to pull off the ultimate deal to end the bloodshed in Ukraine resides not in Kyiv, but the Kremlin.

Two vital tests will show whether US policy really has changed. Will this weeks $50 million consignment of arms for Ukraine be followed by more American military supplies? And will Mr Trump support the bill proposed by Lindsey Graham, a Republican Senator, that would impose punitive sanctions on Russia? It will soon be clear whether Putin has somehow managed to alienate Mr Trump.
Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has hailed the long-discussed minerals deal with the US as historic , and suggested it had been much improved during those talks to now become an equal partnership. In his nightly address, he said: The agreement has changed significantly during the preparation process. It is now truly an equal partnership  one that creates opportunities for substantial investment in Ukraine, as well as significant modernisation of Ukraines industries and, equally importantly, its legal practices. He said the deal was the result of a meaningful meeting with Donald Trump at the Vatican on the fringes of Pope Franciss funeral service and that he looks forward to the further results arising from that meeting.

Related: Cautious optimism in Ukraine over minerals deal with Trump

Ukrainian analysts have noted that Kyiv has apparently been able to extract some major concessions, despite Donald Trumps repeated claim that Ukraine has no cards to play. Ukraine held the line. Despite enormous pressure, every overreaching demand from the other side was dropped. The final deal looks fair, Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, wrote on X. Notably absent from the final text was the insistence that Ukraine should repay previous military US assistance via the deal, something Trump has previously repeatedly demanded.

The Kremlin was silent on Wednesdays agreement, but former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev claimed it meant Trump had broken the Kyiv regime because Ukraine would have to pay for US military aid with mineral resources.

The deal will show the Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business Network in an interview. And again, I think this is a strong signal to the Russian leadership, and it gives President Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, he said. His remarks appeared to send a signal to Russia that Washington remains aligned with Kyiv despite question marks over its commitment to its ally since Trumps return to power upended US diplomacy.

The Trump administration will approve its first sale of military equipment to Ukraine since Trump took office, in an indication that the minerals deal signed by the two countries this week may open a path to renewed weapons shipments. The state department has certified a proposed licence to export $50m or more of defence hardware and services to Ukraine, according to a communication sent to the US committee on foreign relations. Trump paused all Ukraine-related military aid shortly after taking office.

The state department announced a 30-year veteran of the foreign service to run the US embassy in Kyiv during this critical moment as we move toward a peace agreement to stop the bloodshed. The appointment of Julie Davis, now the US ambassador to Cyprus, was announced the day after the minerals deal was signed. She has previously served as ambassador to Belarus and deputy ambassador to Nato. She replaces Bridget Brink, who announced she was leaving the post last month as the Trump administration pushed ahead with plans for peace talks that many believed favoured Moscow.

French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday that the European Union was preparing a 17th round of sanctions against Russia, describing Vladimir Putin as the sole obstacle to peace in Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc has hit Russia with multiple rounds of sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine and said earlier this year that it would not lift them before the unconditional withdrawal of Moscows forces from its neighbour. We Europeans will accompany this American [sanctions] initiative with a 17th package of sanctions and I committed yesterday to [US senator] Lindsey Graham that we would try to coordinate both the substance and the timing of these two packages of sanctions, Barrot told AFP in an interview.
The judge outlined Lydia Mugambes legal accomplishments including work concerning the protection of human rights. Photograph: Thames Valley police/PA

A UN judge has been jailed for six years and four months after forcing a young woman to work as a slave in the UK.

Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found to have taken advantage of her status in relation to the Ugandan woman in the most egregious way while Mugambe studied for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford.

Mugambe was found guilty in March of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness after a trial.

Mugambe, who is also a high court judge in Uganda, stopped the woman holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare, prosecutors said.

Judge Foxton, sentencing Mugambe at Oxford crown court on Friday, said it was a very sad case, outlining Mugambes legal accomplishments including work concerning the protection of human rights.

Foxton said the defendant showed absolutely no remorse for her conduct and that she had looked to forcibly blame the victim for what happened.

He gave Mugambe a restraining order with terms saying she cannot directly or indirectly contact the victim.

In a written statement read to the court by the prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, the victim described living in almost constant fear due to Mugambes powerful standing in Uganda.

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she could not go back to Uganda due to concerns of what could happen to her, and said she may never see her mother again.

Haughey said Mugambe exploited her victim by taking advantage of the womans lack of knowledge about employment rights and misleading her about why she came to the UK.

The prosecutor said on Friday there was a clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship between Mugambe and her victim.

Haughey told the court that the victim had been granted asylum in the UK on the basis that she had a well-founded fear of persecution in Uganda.

Paul Raudnitz KC, defending, spoke of Mugambes glittering legal career and told of the great support she had received since her conviction.

A small crowd held placards and chanted Justice for Lydia Mugambe outside the court before the hearing took place.

Raudnitz also said Mugambe had resigned as a UN judge.

According to her profile on the UN website, Mugambe was appointed to the bodys judicial roster in May 2023, three months after police were called to her address in Oxfordshire.
Hull 096, an electric ship constructed by Australian boatbuilder Incat, was contracted by the South American ferry operator Buquebus to run between Buenos Aires and Uruguay. The ship launched in Hobart, Tasmania on Friday. Photograph: Incat

An Australian boatbuilder has launched what it describes as the worlds largest battery-power ship, describing it as a a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping and the most important project it has ever done.

Incat, a manufacturer based in Tasmania, constructed the ship  called Hull 096  after being contracted by the South American ferry operator Buquebus to build a vessel to run between the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, and Uruguay.

Launching the ship in Hobart on Friday, the company said it would operate entirely on battery-electric power, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate, which forms the border between Argentina and Uruguay. .

Related: Surface tension: could the promised Aukus nuclear submarines simply never be handed over to Australia?

Weve been building world-leading vessels here in Tasmania for more than four decades, and Hull 096 is the most ambitious, most complex, and most important project weve ever delivered, the chairman of Incat, Robert Clifford, said.

Clifford said Incat hoped to build as many sustainable ships as possible for the global market, both here in Australia and overseas.

The company said at 130 metres, Hull 096 was not only the largest electric ship in the world, but also the largest electric vehicle of its kind ever built.

The ship is equipped with more than 250 tonnes of batteries and has more than 40 megawatt-hours of installed capacity.

Incat said the energy storage system was connected to eight electric-driven water jets and its capacity is four times larger than any previous maritime installation.

Hull 096 proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now, Incats chief executive, Stephen Casey, said.

The global shipping industry accounts for 3% of the worlds annual emissions, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Dr Liam Davies, a lecturer in sustainability and urban planning at RMIT University, said because the new ship would service a regular ferry route, it could be a good use case to monitor what was effective in shipping electrification.

That is something that seems like a good use case and a good way to find what works and what doesnt in terms of electric vehicle shipping, he said.

Using that to learn how we effectively do electric shipping could act as a stepping stone towards container ships and cargo ships.
New research shows the traditional 2.1 fertility rate isn't enough. (CREDIT: KieferPix / Shutterstock)

Fertility rates are falling across the world. This isnt just a social concernits a mathematical warning. In places where people have fewer than two children on average, the population can no longer replace itself. For decades, scientists thought the solution was simple: an average of 2.1 children per woman would keep the population stable. But new research reveals that this common belief leaves out a critical factorrandom chance.

Why the 2.1 Rule Falls Short

For years, the benchmark fertility rate needed to keep a population from shrinking was set at 2.1. This number accounts for the two parents, slight childhood mortality, and a small imbalance in the number of boys and girls born. It workson paperin large populations with stable health systems, where everyone has an equal shot at having kids.

However, the real world rarely works this smoothly. Some people never have children. Others face health issues. Birth rates and death rates can shift unexpectedly. In smaller populations, chance plays an even bigger role. This randomness, known as demographic stochasticity, can tip the scales toward extinction even when fertility rates appear stable.

Total fertility rate: births per woman. The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. (CREDIT: UN WPP (2024); HFD (2024) / Our World in Data)

New research from Takuya Okabe and his colleagues at Shizuoka University, published in PLOS One, shows that the old 2.1 rule is far too low. Based on mathematical models that simulate population changes over generations, the study found that a fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman is the true minimum needed to avoid long-term extinction in a population.

The Power of Chance

At the heart of the research is a model called a branching process. This model doesnt assume that every woman will have the same number of children. Instead, it uses probability to reflect real-world variationsome women might have no children, some might have one, others might have three or more. Over time, this kind of variation can erase entire family trees, especially if a population is already small or shrinking.

If a woman has only one child, and that child never reproduces, her family line ends, Okabe explains. When enough of those endings happen, the entire population can collapse. And while large countries might seem safe, the data suggest that even they are not immune. Most family lineages will eventually go extinct, he warns.

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The research also factors in birth sex ratios and mortality differences between men and women. In doing so, it highlights how female-biased birth ratios may serve as a natural buffer. When more girls are born than boys, the odds increase that more women will reach reproductive age and have children. This leads to greater stability over time.

A Global Decline

Around the globe, fertility rates have dropped sharply since the 1960s. Back then, the global average was 5.3 children per woman. By 2023, it had fallen to 2.3. That might not sound dramatic, but it marks a massive shift in how societies growor shrink.

Today, two-thirds of the worlds population lives in places where fertility has dropped below the old 2.1 threshold. And all of the G7 nationsamong the worlds wealthiesthave fertility rates well under that number. Italy, Japan, and Canada all have rates between 1.29 and 1.47. The United States sits at 1.66. France is slightly higher at 1.79, but still well below even the outdated target.

The extinction probability P and the critical fertility b. (CREDIT: PLOS One)

South Korea has the worlds lowest fertility rate, sitting at just 0.87 in 2023. Japans rate of 1.30 is also far below replacement levels. If this trend continues, Japans population is expected to fall by 31% every generation.

Despite government policies that promote childbearing through subsidies and parental leave, these nations continue to see birth rates sink. High living costs, long work hours, and changing values around family and work contribute to the steady decline. In the face of these modern pressures, the costsfinancial and personalof having children often outweigh the incentives.

More Than Just Numbers

The new research adds urgency to the issue. It suggests that countries must not only increase their fertility rates above 2.1 but aim for at least 2.7 children per woman to ensure long-term stability. Thats a much steeper climb than policymakers have planned for.

This higher bar also reflects the influence of local conditions like child mortality and sex ratios. For instance, in countries where only 60% of children survive to reproductive ageas in Afghanistan, Burundi, or Sierra Leonean RLF of 3.3 would be needed. These differences underline the need for tailored policies that reflect local realities, not one-size-fits-all targets.

The population with subcritical fertility goes extinct except for a few exceptions that keep growing. (CREDIT: PLOS One)

In the context of sexual reproduction, the extinction threshold rises even more under demographic randomness. Okabes model assumes that each womans number of children follows a Poisson distributiona way of modeling random eventsand that children are born with either sex according to a binomial ratio. When you plug those assumptions into a branching process, the need for a higher fertility rate becomes clear.

The Bigger Picture

This study has broad implicationsnot only for humans, but for endangered species as well. When conservationists set fertility targets for animals in small, isolated populations, they need to consider demographic randomness too. Just as with humans, survival depends not just on averages, but on luck and timing.

"Considering stochasticity in fertility and mortality rates, and sex ratios, a fertility rate higher than the standard replacement level is necessary to ensure sustainability of our population," notes Diane Carmeliza N. Cuaresma, a co-author of the study.

The histogram of survived generations for the population with subcritical fertility. (CREDIT: PLOS One)

The work also invites a broader conversation about sustainability. What does it really mean to sustain a population? Its not just about head counts. Its about preserving cultural traditions, languages, and family legacies. If most family lines are destined to end, then demographic trends may be erasing more than just numbersthey may be erasing histories.

And thats the key takeaway. Randomness is not just a statistical footnoteits a force that shapes the future. To counter it, societies must act with intention, adjusting not only their policies but their expectations. The replacement rate of 2.1 is no longer good enough. In a world of uncertainty, it takes more than balanceit takes a buffer.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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In an era of soaring travel costs, finding budget-friendly basecamp towns and affordable lodging near America's national parks can make the difference between a dream vacation and a financial nightmare. Costs keep rising at in-park lodges, pricing out many visitorskind of ironic, considering the parks are supposed to be "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people."

But national park vacations on a budget can still be donewith a bit of research and timing. These seven gateway communities offer budget-conscious travelers comfortable accommodations, local dining, and authentic charm without breaking the bankall while providing access to some of the country's most breathtaking, wildest natural landscapes. If you're looking to book that national parks road trip this summer, here's where to stay.

GRPimagery via Getty Images

1. Pinedale, Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park

Smack dab in Wyoming's scenic Wind River Range, about 75 miles from Grand Teton National Park, Pinedale offers visitors a genuine Western experience at a fraction of the cost of staying in Jackson Hole. This charming mountain town provides budget-friendly accommodations (check out the Log Cabin Motel and the Jackalope Motor Lodge), family-owned restaurants, and outdoor recreation opportunities galore.

Visitors can explore the Museum of the Mountain Man to learn about the area's rich frontier history, fish in the pristine lakes, or hike the surrounding wilderness. The scenic drive to Grand Teton National Park takes just over an hour, making Pinedale a good basecamp for early morning excursions to experience the park's majestic mountain views, abundant wildlife, and stunning alpine lakes.

Tip: For those who want to add in a little crowd-free scenery to their national park vacation, the trails through the Wind River Range are spectacular, offering scenery as good as the Tetons without the hordes of tourists. (Try these suggestions.)

ogichobanov via Getty Images

2. Livingston, Montana - Yellowstone National Park

50 miles north of Yellowstone's North Entrance, Livingston offers visitors an authentic Montana experience without the premium prices found in towns closer to the park. This historic railroad town along the Yellowstone River blends Western heritage with a vibrant arts scene, surprisingly sophisticated dining options at reasonable prices, and tons of affordable lodging options (see: Econolodge, Travelodge by Wyndham, and the Livingston Inn, just to name a few).

Downtown Livingston features well-preserved historic buildings, locally owned shops, and galleries showcasing the area's superb regional artistswhich might explain its literary write-up in The New York Times. Visitors can enjoy fly-fishing on the Yellowstone River, soak in nearby hot springs, or explore the Yellowstone Gateway Museum. The drive to Yellowstone National Park takes under an hour, providing reasonable access to the park's iconic geysers, wildlife viewing, and dramatic supervolcano landscapes.

dpenn via Getty Images

3. Townsend, Tennessee - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Known as "The Peaceful Side of the Smokies," Townsend offers visitors a quiet, affordable alternative to the touristy, kitschy, neon-lit hubs of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Located just minutes from an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (just minutes!), this small town maintains a relaxed atmosphere with budget-friendly accommodations, family restaurants, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Visitors can explore the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, tube down the Little River, or cycle along the scenic 11-mile Townsend trail. With the national park entrance just a short drive away, guests have easy access to the park's ancient forests, diverse wildlife, and historic structures without the crowds and high prices (and general brouhaha) found in the park's other gateway communities.

tobiasjo via Getty Images

4. Moab, Utah - Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Okay, it's true: Moab has skyrocketed in popularity and can be quite expensive, but it still offers budget options that make visiting two spectacular national parks affordable. This desert town provides access to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, with numerous reasonably priced motels (like Field Station Moab), campgrounds, and vacation rentals available, especially during shoulder seasons.

Out of Moab, visitors can mountain bike on world-famous trails, raft the Colorado River, or explore dinosaur tracks at nearby sites. The town's numerous affordable eateries serve everything from hearty breakfasts to authentic Mexican cuisine. With both national parks within a 30-minute drive, Moab will really never not be a great basecamp for experiencing the superb red-rock landscapes, natural arches, and canyons that define this epic region.

Tip: If I'm being totally honest, shoulder season is really the only time to go. Arches only has one entrance, so try to avoid summerunless you want to wait 2 hours in line just to get through the park entrance.

tobiasjo via Getty Images

5. Tusayan, Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park

Located just one mile from the South Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park, Tusayan offers visitors a more budget-friendly alternative to staying inside the park without sacrificing convenience. This gateway community provides a small range of affordable accommodations, family restaurants, and essential services for travelers looking to experience one of America's most iconic natural wonders. You can also take the park shuttle right from here, or take the Tusayan Greenway bike trail right into the park, saving money, time, and parking woes.

Admittedly, there's not too much to do in town, but you're here for the park. With the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just minutes away, you'll have easy access to epic viewpoints, hiking trails, and ranger programs, without paying premium prices for lodging within the park boundaries. That being said, you can find some cheap-and-great dining options inside Grand Canyon National Park, like the $4 pizza slices at the Maswik Lodge cafeteria.

franckreporter via Getty Images

6. Port Angeles, Washington - Olympic National Park

Situated on Washington's gorgeous Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles provides affordable access to the mind-bogglingly diverse ecosystems of Olympic National Park. This working seaport town offers budget-conscious travelers reasonably priced lodging options (Wander Camp Olympic, Olympic View Inn, many more), fresh seafood restaurants, and a walkable downtown with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

From here, visitors can explore the Olympic Coast Discovery Center, hike along the waterfront Olympic Discovery Trail, or take a ferry to Victoria, British Columbia, for a day trip. With the park's main visitor center just 3 miles away, guests have easy access to Olympic's temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and alpine meadows without paying premium prices for accommodations closer to the park's main attractions.

Dmitrii Pichugin via Getty Images

7. Torrey, Utah - Capitol Reef National Park

This tiny town (population under 300!) sits just 8 miles from the western entrance to Capitol Reef National Park, offering visitors a quiet, affordable alternative to more developed tourist areas in southern Utah. Torrey provides budget-friendly motels, cabins, and campgrounds (Rim Rock Inn, Moore's Old Pine Inn, etc.), along with a handful of local restaurants and cafes serving hearty meals at reasonable prices. A surprising amount, really, for the town's population!

Visitors can explore the nearby Fremont River for fishing and swimming opportunities, hike to dramatic viewpoints outside the park, or stargaze in some of the darkest skies in America. The short drive to Capitol Reef National Park provides easy access to striking red-rock formations, ancient petroglyphs, and historic orchards where visitors can pick fruit in season, all with significantly smaller crowds than Utah's more famous national parks, like Arches, especially come spring and fall.
American Airline's latest business class product is about to take flight.

The airline announced Friday that its new Flagship Suites will go on sale on select routes starting next week, with service set to begin on some flights as soon as next month.

The new suites will begin service on new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and will later be introduced on Airbus A321XLRs and retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs. The seats feature fully lie-flat beds and closing doors.

American Airlines' new business class Flagship Suites.

Every aspect of our new 787-9 is designed to feel premium in nature, Heather Garboden, Americans Chief Customer Officer said in a statement. Whether flying for business or pleasure, having the opportunity to explore other parts of the world should be an exciting and memorable experience that begins the moment you book your flight, long before you reach your final destination.

The 787s will feature new premium economy seats as well.

American Airlines' latest premium economy seats.

According to American, these are the first round-trip routes the new seats will be available on:

Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) beginning June 5

Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR) beginning Aug. 6

Philadelphia (PHL) to Zurich (ZHR) beginning Sept. 3

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Brisbane (BNE) beginning Oct. 26.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are the first routes with American Airlines' new business class
Lorenzo Sisti  AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Spoilers below.

If you thought the plot to A Simple Favor was deliciously twisted, wait until you see its sequel. Another Simple Favor manages to up the stakes even furtherwith multiple ridiculous plot twists, plenty of daring hijinks, and a surplus of fabulous attire. Not only is the stunning island of Capri, Italy, serving as an ultra-chic backdrop, but more secrets come to light about Emily Nelsons ( Blake Lively ) troubled family. Anna Kendrick was not exaggerating when she teased to ELLE last year that Another Simple Favor is really dark and fucked-up in all the ways that the first one was.

Paul Feigs follow-up to the 2018 thriller embraces more mystery and dark humor. Ill say that I know that the standard selling point for any sequel is like, its even crazier than the first one, but this is, Kendrick added. Im not worried about saying that, because youll see it and youll be like, Jesus Christ. That sentiment is accurate, based on my personal experience in the theater.

There are many pieces to the Another Simple Favor puzzle. If you need a quick refresher on the first film: Emily (whose real name is Hope) killed her twin sister Faith so that she could fake her death and collect a $4 million life insurance policy. Emily was sent to prison at the end of A Simple Favor after an elaborate back-and-forth in which she shot her husband Sean (Henry Golding), who had been sleeping with Stephanie after Emilys death. Emily planned on making it look like Stephanie had pulled a murder-suicide, but Stephanie was live-streaming the whole thing to her mommy vlog followers. Instead, Emily ends up in prison.

Another Simple Favor is a fun ride that takes Emily and Stephanies sparring up a notch. Melodramatic storylines involving Emilys estranged Aunt Linda (the always incredible Allison Janney ) bring the story to absurd beats that, at times, feel like putting a hat on a hat (think: the giant one worn by Lively in the film). If someone mentions a dead triplet in the first movie, it probably means theyll show up alive in the sequel. Regardless of how silly the situation becomes in the final act, Lively and Kendricks chemistry throughout this depiction of a toxic friendship makes the film compelling. The destination wedding premise, extravagant costumes (designed by Renee Ehrlich Kalfus), extra-dry martinis, and over-the-top twists all add to the beach-read vibe. Join us as we break down the key points of Another Simple Favors wacky ending.

Aunt Linda is a conwoman blackmailing Emilys fiance, Dante.

In the five years since Emily went to prison, Stephanie has become a true crime writer. However, her recent book, The Faceless Blondewhich chronicles her violent experience with Emilyis not setting the literary world on fire, and Emily is released from prison at the perfect time to boost its sales. The details regarding Emilys release on appeal are vague (including how she can travel outside of the U.S.), but Another Simple Favor isnt particularly concerned with legal logistics. Emily's fiance, Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), pulled whatever strings needed to make it happen.

Dante is a man connected to organized crime and involved in an on-again, off-again turf war with the Bartolo family. Emily first met him when she was working in a bar in her early twenties, and the attractive pair hit it off. What we dont know until later is that Emily was Dantes beard; as it turns out, he was actually in a romantic relationship with Versano rival Matteo Bartolo (Lorenzo de Moor). (How very Romeo & Juliet of them.) Only Emily knew their closeted secret, and she agreed to marry Dante 15 years after they first met to maintain their cover.

However, theres no love between Emily and her future mother-in-law, Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci), who invited Emilys estranged mother, Margaret McLanden (Elizabeth Perkins, taking over from Jean Smart), and her Aunt Linda to the wedding festivities as a cruel gift.

Lorenzo Sisti

The McLanden family has plenty of skeletons in their sketchy closets, and the disoriented Margaret still thinks her daughters have the devil in them. Linda helped deliver Emily and her twin, but Emily claims she hasnt seen her aunt in decades. In the first movie, Emily revealed she was a triplet, but that the third baby died in the womb. Margaret never even got to see her deceased daughter, Charity, as Linda apparently had the stillborn cremated immediately. That isnt suspicious at all!

Surprise, surprise: Another Simple Favor reveals that Linda, a con artist under investigation by the FBI, has been keeping the third sister, Charity (also played by Lively), hidden from her family for years. Charity has been an integral part of Lindas schemes, which include blackmailing Dante. Charity has spent little time socializing with anyone other than her creepy dolls, making her unhinged and unpredictable.

Emilys not-dead triplet, Charity, kills Sean and Dante.

Before Emily and Dantes wedding day, a drunk and belligerent Sean makes it clear hed rather be anywhere else than Capri. He hasnt let Emily see their son during her time in prison and plans on applying for full custody. Cut to: Sean getting murdered in the shower via a chemical that makes him bleed from the eyes, nose, and mouth. (It is deeply unpleasant to watch.) The pool of potential murder suspects is small, as we, the audience, watch Sean recognize his killer in the bathroom before he dies.

Courtesy of Amazon Content Services

Next on the murderers hit list is Dante, who is shot and then engulfed in flames as fireworks explode above the wedding party. Stephanie witnesses Dante plead with his killersomeone with whom he seems familiarbut she doesnt see who pulled the trigger. Stephanie is somehow blamed for his death and is placed under house arrest in her hotel.

We soon learn it wasgasp!Charity who killed both men. Her motive? She wants to be one with Emily and claims she has a psychic triplet connection with her. As she soon reveals, she drugged Emily on the morning of her wedding day and took her place skipping down the aisle.

Emily saves Stephanie.

With the help of a hotel housekeeper, Stephanie escapes from her room and goes to see Margaret to ask questions about Linda. In between Margarets comments about hell and demons, Stephanie figures out that Linda stole Margarets third baby and pretended Charity was dead. Later, Linda smothers Margaret with a pillow when she realizes her sister knows too much. Apparently, murder runs in the McLanden family.

Stephanie gets word to meet the not-so-covert FBI Agent Walker (Taylor Ortega), but when she arrives, Charity stabs Agent Walker in the back. Before Stephanie can do anything, Portias mob guys inject Stephanie and knock her out. Considering Stephanie was holding the murder weapon used on Walker, Portias intrusion briefly saves the true-crime influencer from another murder accusation.

Not that shes better off for it. Stephanie wakes up tied to a chair in an unknown location. Portia wants to get a confession about her son Dantes murder, giving Stephanie a fast-acting truth serum. Stephanie begins to share unrelated and incredibly minor misdemeanors shes committed, and even though shes not guilty of murder, Portia wants her men to kill Stephanie anyway. Luckily, Emily is waiting in the wings to save the day, as Charity was too busy killing Agent Walker to drug her again.

Amazon MGM

Eventually realizing that Emily has escaped, Charity and Linda figure out how to lure her back into their net. On Instagram Live, Charity (posing as Emily) shows that she has Emilys son Nicky (Ian Ho) up at the clifftop known as Tiberius Leap. Emily wasnt in the mood to kill another sister, but now she sure is!

Charity kills Linda and takes the fall for Emily.

With a gun to Nickys head, Linda lays out her plan: Charity will take Dantes place in the Versano crime family, a lucrative deal for both Charity and Linda. However, for this to work, Emily has to die. But Charity wavers at the prospect of killing the sister with whom she wants to be one. Hope doesnt die, says Charity, using her sisters real name.

In the ensuing confrontation, Nicky escapes and uses his drone to hit Linda in the face. Charity then grabs Lindas gun and pushes her aunt off the high cliff to her death. Desperate to protect Stephanie from the now gun-toting Charity, Emily opts for what is (apparently) the only distraction available to her: She kisses her sister on the lips. In a callback to Stephanies incest with her half-brother in the first film, Stephanie brands Emily a sister fucker. (Some of Another Simple Favors salacious comedy lands successfully, but these jokes try too hard to be edgy, ultimately leaving a sour taste). Charity relents her grip on the gun, and the day is saved.

Finally, we watch Stephanie appear on CNN to chat with Jake Tapper about her new book, Dying for Love: A Killer in Capri. We learn that Emily is back in police custody, but its not actually Emily: Its Charity doing her time in prison, while the real Emily remains in Italy. Emily calls Stephanie to ask for a simple favor to raise Nicky, and Stephanie agrees.

Moments before the credits roll, the story takes us back to Rome, where Emily meets with her mother-in-law. As she is now part of the Versano family, Portia expects a lot from her. Shes in need of...a favor. The details of Portias discreet request are kept hush-hush, leaving the ending open for more European adventures in the future. By its end, Another Simple Favor has unraveled, as it tries to outdo the final-act surprises from the first movie. But its cliffhanger close promises there are still a few satisfying thrills left in this cocktail shaker.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed some much-anticipated details about the impact of President Donald Trumps trade war on his company, describing a relatively modest increase in costs this quarter. But his response didnt entirely satisfy Wall Street, which was anxious for a big-picture assessment of Apple's exposure to the tariffs.

In an earnings call on Thursday, Cook said the new tax on imported supplies would cost Apple an extra $900 million in the June quarter, assuming no further changes in tariffs, after only a limited impact in the March quarter. Asked by analysts to predict the longer term cost of the tariffs, Cook deflected from giving any specific numbers, saying the situation was fluid, but hinted that the price tag could rise.

We will manage the company as we already havewith thoughtful deliberate decisions, Cook said.

Apples shares fell 4% in after-hours trading to $204.94.

Apple, the world's most valuable company, is among the many corporate giants scrambling to adapt their business operations to weather the barrage of tariffs unleashed by Trump. Earlier on Thursday, General Motors told investors it expected to take a $4 billion to $5 billion hit this year as a result of the automobile tariffs imposed by Trump.

Trump sent shockwaves across corporate America on April 2, when he said he would impose a steep tax on products imported from abroad, including a 145% levy on goods from China. Apple risked being particularly impacted because a big chunk of its production is in China.

In the aftermath, investors, worried by the potentially devastating impact of the tariffs on Apple, sent its shares tumbling. In just a few days, the companys stock fell 20%, erasing hundreds of billions of dollars in market value, before recovering more recently.

A week later, as financial markets verged on chaos, Trump gave tech companies including Apple at least a temporary reprieve by exempting smartphones and other electronics from his tariff plans. But the industry still faces huge uncertainty about the future as the White House mulls a separate tax on imported tech products.

During Thursdays call, Cook laid out some of the maneuvering Apple has undertaken to minimize the impact of the China tariffs as much as possible. The strategy has included shifting the countries from which Apple imports its all-important iPhone into the U.S. along with other devices.

Most of those iPhones in the current quarter will come from India, where Apple has scrambled in recent years to increase its manufacturing and where tariffs are lower than in China. Nearly all other products imported into the U.S., he said, such as Mac computers and iPads, will be sourced from Vietnam, where tariffs are also lower.

Cook added that Apple would continue with diversifying its manufacturing and supply chain outside of China. What we learned some time ago was that having everything in one location had too much risk with it, he said.

Analysts on the call repeatedly asked Cook to talk about the impact of tariffs on Apple beyond the June quarter and whether it would lead consumers to buy fewer devices as the economy sours. Each time, he declined, saying its too difficult to predict more than a few months out given the current environment.

In fact, during the call, Cook never once directly mentioned Trump. But he did say Apple is party to ongoing talks about the administrations future tariff policy.

Cook also played to Trump by reiterating Apples recently announced plans to spend $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, including a plant in Texas for producing servers and buying 19 billion U.S.-made chips. Trump, of course, has said his tariff plan is intended to increase corporate investment in the U.S. and create jobs domestically, reversing a decades-long trend of globalization.

But bringing manufacturing of consumer devices to the U.S. would be a years-long process, if at all possible, due to the lack of a domestic supply chain and skilled workers. Doing so also risks raising costs on each device by hundreds of dollars, making them far less competitive if those costs are passed on to consumers.

Apples results for the quarter ending March 29 were largely in line with what Wall Street had expected. Revenue rose 5% to $95.4 billion from the same period a year earlier while profits grew 5% to $24.8 billion.

Analysts had raised the possibility that tariffs would cause customers to stock up on Apple devices in the quarter, before any tariff-induced price hikes kicked in. Cook downplayed the idea during the call, saying that there was no evidence of any significant change in customer behavior.

Still, Apples sales in the Americas, dominated by the U.S. market, rose 8% in the quarter to $40.3 billion.

In contrast, analysts feared that sales in China would decline as customers reacted to the trade war by retaliating against U.S. vendors like Apple. They were correct to a point: Sales in Greater China, which also includes Taiwan, fell 2% to $16 billion, but Cook said they were flat if changes in foreign exchange weren't taken into account.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Mlenny/Getty Image The El Nido fishing village and harbor with anchored Bangka Boats in Palawan, Philippines.







The Philippines announced plans to launch a new digital nomad visa.

The island nation offers remote workers numerous perks, including a low cost of living, a mix of beaches and cities, and a ubiquity of English speakers.

No firm date for the visa has been announced, but government officials are working to launch the program soon.







If youve been dreaming about working remotely from a beach in Southeast Asia, now might be your chance.

The Philippines is preparing to launch a digital nomad visa, making it easier for remote workers to base themselves in the country for an extended period of time. The new visa allows eligible remote workers to stay in the Philippines for a year and allows for visa renewals after that time.

The visa is available for workers who can show that they make sufficient income to support themselves, have appropriate health insurance, and have no criminal record. Recipients are not allowed to work for a local company in the Philippines; they can only work remotely for companies located outside of the country. The visa is also only open to citizens of countries with reciprocal visa agreements with the Philippines.

Other countries in Asia already offer versions of a digital nomad visa, including South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Japan and Taiwan also have limited digital nomad visa options that cap the visa holder to only six months in the country. In comparison to other countries in the region, the Philippines has a low cost of living as well as a mix of both urban centers and pristine beaches. Plus, English is a widely spoken language there.

Allowing digital nomads the opportunity to stay longer in the country will spur tourism activities and increase visitor spending, tourism secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. Not only do digital nomads help mitigate seasonal fluctuations in tourism by visiting during off-peak times and providing a more steady economic flow, but these types of international visitors also bring diverse perspectives and cultures, enriching our host communities."

The Philippines tourism numbers are lower than they were pre-pandemic, partially due to the suspension of an e-visa for Chinese citizens, which has impacted the number of tourists from China who are visiting the country. The digital nomad visa is one method to boost those numbers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Tourism, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue are all working together to prepare to launch the digital nomad visa in the near future.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
New AI model reads CT scans to predict heart failure early and improve treatment with non-invasive imaging. (CREDIT: Adobe Images)

Every year, heart disease claims more than 17 million lives around the world. It remains the top cause of death, and for many, it strikes with little warning. Doctors and scientists continue searching for better ways to spot early signs of trouble. Now, a group of researchers is building a new tool that could make those warnings clearerand soonerthan ever before.

At the center of this push is artificial intelligence (AI). Scientists at Case Western Reserve University are using AI to dig deep into heart scans, finding patterns that human eyes might miss. Their work could soon help doctors predict not just if, but when a person might face heart failure or other serious heart problems.

A smarter way to scan the heart

The researchers plan to teach AI how to read and learn from a type of imaging called calcium-scoring computed tomography, or CT. This scan checks for calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque can harden and block blood flow, increasing the risk of heart attack or failure. These scans already help doctors find early signs of disease, but they may offer more than just a view of calcium levels.

AI can be used to identify different cardiac segments in CT scans, such as left and right atria, left and right ventricle and cardiac arteries. AI also integrates patient biometric data, allowing physicians to more precisely predict cardiovascular risk. (CREDIT: Sadeer Al-Kindi)

These images hold a wealth of information that goes beyond what we currently use, said Shuo Li, the lead scientist of the project and a professor at Case Western Reserve. The AI model were building can look at heart shape, the aorta, lungs, liver, muscleseven bone densityand find meaningful links to disease risk.

Instead of focusing on one piece of the scan, the AI will analyze the whole image, connecting it to things like age, gender, and body composition. That combination of factors can give a much clearer picture of who is most likely to face heart issues in the near future.

Making prevention personal

Predicting risk is only part of the goal. This AI model aims to provide doctors with detailed and personalized health insights. By identifying warning signs earlier, doctors can act faster and possibly prevent life-threatening events.

Accurate risk prediction allows us to tailor preventative treatments, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and improving patient outcomes, said Dr. Sadeer Al-Kindi, a cardiologist and co-leader of the study from Houston Methodist. By identifying risk of heart failure and other events early, this project can potentially redefine care protocols, save lives and lower healthcare costs.

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AI's ability to quickly process and analyze large amounts of imaging data gives it an advantage over traditional methods. It doesnt replace doctors but gives them a sharper tool to help their patients.

Big data, low cost

One of the strongest advantages of this project is that it uses a type of scan already performed on many patients. A calcium-scoring CT is both affordable and non-invasive. It doesnt require dye or surgery. It gives a snapshot of the heart and nearby organs with minimal risk.

Normally, doctors focus only on the amount of calcium in the arteries. But thats just one part of the picture. The research team wants to add many more layers to that picture using AI.

The new system will pull in data from thousands of past CT scans at Houston Methodist and University Hospitals. The AI will learn from these examples, connecting scan features with real patient outcomes. Over time, the model will get better at seeing patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Heart failure free survival in full cohort, stratified by diabetes mellitus status. The term at risk in the given context indicates the number of patients who are susceptible to heart failure at the specified time points. (CREDIT: Shuo Li)

Our goal is to develop a non-invasive, accurate and personalized method for predicting cardiovascular disease risk, said Li. This innovation will seamlessly integrate into existing clinical workflows, enhancing decision-making while minimizing the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.

Turning images into insight

What makes this approach different is how the AI model interprets data. It wont just count calcium or look at blocked arteries. It will measure heart shape, the density of bones, the volume of visceral fat, and how the lungs appear. All of this connects to heart health in ways that researchers are still exploring.

A clearer understanding of how these novel imaging-based risk factors combine will advance the knowledge of cardiometabolic disease phenotypes and support doctors in making appropriate and timely therapeutic recommendations, said Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan, director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University and chief of cardiovascular medicine at University Hospitals.

This deeper view of the body and its health can offer insights into more than just heart failure. It might even help predict other chronic diseases linked to obesity, diabetes, or aging.

DM Testing Set ROC Curves for HF prediction at 1 year post CTCS exam for DM-specific Age-sex-BMI, Agatston, EAT Volume, Calcium-omics, and Fat-omics Models. Statistical significance was determined using the DeLong test on AUC values. (CREDIT: Shuo Li)

The National Institutes of Health has recognized the importance of this project. It awarded two grants totaling $4 million to support the development of the AI model. With this funding, the research team can continue their work across multiple health systems, gathering a wide range of data from real patients.

A team built on collaboration

The project brings together experts from different fields, including medicine, engineering, radiology, and statistics. David Wilson, a professor of biomedical engineering and radiology, contributes technical knowledge of imaging systems. Pingfu Fu, a biostatistics professor, helps analyze and validate data models.

This cross-discipline teamwork means the AI model wont just be high-techit will also be backed by sound science and rigorous testing.

This project represents a significant leap forward in personalized healthcare, said Li. It has the potential to set new standards for cardiovascular disease prevention and management, as well as advance the forefront of using AI to analyze images for transformational healthcare.

As this research moves forward, it may help turn regular CT scans into powerful tools for saving lives. By making the most of data already collected in hospitals every day, this AI project shows how advanced technology and medicine can work together for better health care.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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Updated May 2, 2025 at 2:21 AM

A cat has seemingly survived a fall at Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah and is recovering after two people died after falling from a viewing area, officials told USA TODAY.

According to Judah Battista, Chief Sanctuary Officer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, the cat is an approximately 12-year-old tabby, which they have named Mirage.

Battista said they were told the cat was found inside a "black soft-sided carrier that was dirty and torn."

The cat was found near the bodies of 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, who were identified by police, according to a press release from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office sent to USA TODAY.

Mirage the cat being taken care of, following her fall earlier this week.

"Remarkably, she has a couple of fractured ribs and the tips of her two canine teeth are broken, but other than that, her blood work came back normal. She is eating and drinking on her own," Battista said.

Battista expects that Mirage will make a full recovery, despite the large fall.

"Shes a very sweet girl doing very well," he said. "Its really remarkable."

Two people die after apparent fall at Bryce Canyon

According to police, Crane and Nannen fell approximately 380 feet down a cliff after climbing over the railing at Inspiration Point inside the park. Police said they did not know the cause of the fall.

Police said tourists spotted the bodies of two people on April 29, below Inspiration Point.

Officials said that the two people were living in a U-Haul rental and were last known to be permanent Florida residents before traveling to Utah "after spending a significant amount of time in Arizona."

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office did not immediately confirm to USA TODAY on May 1 if Mirage was owned by the deceased pair.

Other recent deaths at Bryce Canyon National Park

In June 2024, 78-year-old ranger Tom Lorig died due to injuries he sustained after he tripped and fell while on duty.

Tom Lorig was working with park visitors, directing them to a shuttle bus at Bryce Canyons annual Astronomy Festival, when he fell and struck his head on a large rock, the National Park Service said in a news release.

Bryce Canyon National Park

A visitor found Lorig unresponsive and immediately alerted a law enforcement ranger. Park rangers, medically trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel provided Lorig with initial lifesaving care but were unable to revive him, NPS said.

In 2023, Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, an Arizona teacher considered "an experienced and enthusiastic hiker," was found dead in Campbell Canyon, after being missing for days.

Contributing: Saman Shafiq and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

(This story was updated to include video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cat survives apparent fall at Bryce Canyon National Park
Grande will not run in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, scratched because of a bruised foot.

The decision by the state veterinarians at Churchill Downs on Friday did not sit well with owner Mike Repole, who said he was "baffled and confused" by it.

Grande became the second horse scratched from the 151st Kentucky Derby, following the Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez. That horse also was sidelined on Thursday due to a bruised foot.

In all, 19 horses now are scheduled to take a spot in the starting gates in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday.

Repole voiced his displeasure, writing on the Repole Stable X account that tests on the horse's cracked heel were clean.

"He has been training and looking great on the track all week. The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning," Repole said. "Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics. We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today."

He continued: "We were given no real explanation why Grande was scratched 36 hours before the race. We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing Thoroughbreds. That is, and should always be the priority. With all the diagnostics we have taken, the great vets we use, and the experience of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we are baffled and confused by what criteria vets are using to determine who scratches, who doesn't and when...especially when every diagnostic tells us the horse is safe and sound."

This is the second time in the three years that a horse owned by Repole and trained by Pletcher has been scratched from the Derby hours before the race.

In 2023, Forte -- the morning-line favorite -- was scratched by veterinarians on the morning of the race because of an injured right front foot.

Grande, the son of former Preakness Stakes winner Curlin, was set to run from post position No. 10 and had 10-1 betting odds. He has just three career starts, with one of them a win at Gulfstream Park in January.

Grande was Pletcher's only entry and was scheduled to be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner. Pletcher will miss the race for the first time since 2003.

--Field Level Media
General Motors on Thursday became the first U.S. automaker to put a dollar figure on the cost of Trumps tariffs: $4 billion to $5 billion in 2025.

But the answer to the bigger questionwhether these steep penalties will compel GM to move a more meaningful chunk of its vehicle production back to the homelandremains as vague as ever.

CEO Mary Barra described a variety of levers the company can, or already has, pulled to offset some of the bite of the tariffs. Among them, working with suppliers to increase the amount of parts that are compliant with the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement, building more battery modules in the U.S., and ramping up production of pickup trucks by roughly 50,000 units on an annualized basis at its Fort Wayne factory.

We have excess capacity in the U.S. with the plants that we already have, so that allows us, if we want to make adjustments, we can do it, Barra said on a conference call with analysts on Thursday. She and GM CFO Paul Jacobson noted that the company has more plans to increase vehicle production in the U.S. going forward, but did not share any details.

The footprint responses and supply chain responses, et ceterathat's what's going to take a little bit of time, Jacobson said on the call. So as we continue to go through, we'll provide more detail on our progress on each of those.

Asked by an analyst on the call about reshoring auto manufacturing to the U.S., Barra said, I think we also get fixated on where final assembly is versus all the powertrain plants that we have here, the stamping plants, the fact that we've invested in two battery plants and that's what allows us to have such high USMCA compliant parts.

The comments underscore just how steep of a challenge U.S. automakers face in carrying out President Trumps vision of bringing manufacturing and supply chains back to the U.S., where costs are higher. The frequent changes to U.S. trade policy in the Trump administration has added to the challenge, leaving businesses uncertain if the tariffs announced by Trump will be changed or scrapped weeks later.

GM had delayed its earnings call and refrained from providing a financial forecast when it reported its quarterly results earlier this week, an unusual move likely due to the ongoing uncertainty around the final form of the 25% tariffs on foreign cars and parts that President Trump first announced in March. On Tuesday, Trump signed a new executive order that said U.S. automakers would get credits and partial offsets for assembling vehicles in the U.S. and using parts that are made in America.

On Thursdays earnings call, General Motors executives said the company should benefit from those adjustments as it builds about 1.5 million of its fleet in the U.S. each year. Jacobson said on the call that GMs primary location for sourcing parts for assembly in America was the U.S. and that it counted for well over half of its annual parts expense. The new adjustments will help mitigate a substantial portion of tariffs on parts going into those vehicles and help avoid added costs on U.S. vehicle production, CFO Jacobson said.

But even with these mitigations taken into account, Jacobson said that the tariffs will ultimately lower GMs projected annual earnings before income tax to between $10$12.5 billion, down from the $13.7$15.7 billion it had estimated at the beginning of this year. Jacobson specified that around $2 billion of the tariff expenses will stem from vehicles imported from Korea, as well as Mexico and Canada and higher costs for imported indirect materials.

Executives at the automaker have been publicly upbeat about Trump and his administration. On the call, Jacobson referred to the auto-focused tariff adjustments from this week as smart policies that help encourage companies to do more in the U.S. while also ensuring satisfactory return on invested capital. General Motors CEO Barra said that the company has been in continual discussions with Trump and his team and that she felt GM had a good understanding of his plans heading into this week.

But in a sign that Trump may not be pleased with GMs response so far, the automakers name was notably absent from a White House press release about U.S. automobile production issued hours after GMs call on Thursday. The press release touted several automakers making or considering investments in U.S. production including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda, BMW, and Nissan, among others.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
'Never seen anything like it': This small Omaha stationary shop got hit with a surprise $1,108 tariff bill  owner says she supports US manufacturing, but it's still frustrating

Megan Hunt has two jobs  one as a Nebraska state senator and another as the owner of a small art and stationery shop called Shop Five Nine in Omaha. The brightly painted store is filled with racks of cards, notepads, and art supplies. Some days, you might even spot the store's resident tabby cat lounging in the window.

"What I really like about this work is sourcing," Hunt told KETV News. "Finding makers and designers from all over the world who have something unique that maybe people in this neighborhood haven't seen before."

Don't miss

But in mid-April, she was stunned to receive a $1,108 tariff bill for goods she imported from Japan  far higher than the $70 to $100 she typically pays for imports.

"It's so frustrating," she said.

"So many Nebraskans can relate to this  just when you start to get ahead  you get hit with a big bill."

How Hunt is handling the tariffs

Since Hunt placed her order, the tariff situation has shifted. President Donald Trump initially announced 24% tariffs on Japanese imports, but that figure was later reduced to 10% amid a temporary 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.

Still, the timing meant Hunts order fell into the higher bracket.

"This tariff bill was not something I planned for," she told KETV reporters. "It's a surprise."

Hunt said she doesn't plan to raise prices. Instead, shes leaning into selling more merchandise to offset the added expense.

"To me, it's the cost of doing business," she said. "I expect to pay duties on things I import from other countries. But I've never seen anything like this before."

Despite the setback, Hunt remains optimistic about global trade.

"I think global trade is a great thing," she told KETV.

"I'll always support American manufacturing. I will always support anything that supports jobs here at home, but we have to look bigger than that and realize there's a lot of beautiful things in this world and we shouldn't be deprived of those things."

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America  and that anyone can do it

How to prepare your small business for tariffs

Tariffs can hit small businesses hard, and sudden shifts in trade policy only add to the challenge. Here are a few ways business owners can prepare for unpredictable tariff costs.

Adjust pricing, carefully

Raising prices can help cover increased costs, but it's a balancing act. Higher prices can drive away customers, especially in competitive markets. Instead of blanket increases, consider small, strategic adjustments on select products where demand is strong.

Lean into marketing

Boosting marketing efforts can help grow your customer base and drive more sales  offsetting the pinch from higher costs. Focus on telling your brand story, highlighting unique products and building customer loyalty through email campaigns, social media promotions and in-store events.

Look for local sources, where possible

Sourcing products closer to home can reduce exposure to international tariffs. While not every product can be swapped for a domestic equivalent, even partial shifts in your inventory can soften the financial impact.

Get creative

Now might be the time to introduce new product lines, bundle items into themed gift baskets or experiment with subscription boxes to increase revenue. Innovation can not only drive sales but also keeps customers excited about your offerings. For example:

A stationery store could offer curated 'Mothers Day Writing Kits.'

A home goods shop might create 'Seasonal Decor Bundles.'

A specialty food store could build 'Gourmet Snack Subscriptions.'

With trade negotiations in flux and tariffs changing quickly, its wise to build flexibility into your business plan. Watch trade news closely, talk to your suppliers about potential risks and consider setting aside a small financial cushion for unexpected import fees.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Dear Limestone University Students,

Welcome to South Carolina State University, affectionately known as Bulldog Country!

Due to the recent announcement of the closure of Limestone University, we are here to stand and support our fellow institution in the state of South Carolina. Therefore, we are opening our doors to assist the students at Limestone University to continue and finish their education here at SC State University. We welcome you to join our vibrant and historic community.

We understand that transferring is an important decision you'll ever make, and I want you to know that SC State is more than just a university - it's a family!

For nearly 130 years, we have been a place where students are empowered to grow, lead, and succeed.

Our faculty and staff are committed to your academic success, personal development, and career readiness. Whether your passion lies in science, business, education, engineering, the arts, or any of our other exceptional programs, you will find the support and resources you need to thrive right here.

We believe in your potential, and we're ready to help you turn your dreams into reality. We stand with Limestone University, with ONE mission, ONE focus, ONE goal to assist you in graduating.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Bulldog family.

Apply today, and our admissions team will assist you.

Sincerely,

Alexander Conyers

13th President

South Carolina State University
The US government got a second chance to try to dismantle Google's (GOOG, GOOGL) stronghold over the internet in a hearing on Friday meant to sort out how best to restore competition in two online advertising markets.

Judge Leonie Brinkema, a US federal district judge in Alexandria, Va., set a "remedies" trial date of Sept. 22 for the tech giant to face off against the Justice Department's effort to break up Googles ad tech monopoly.

Google now has to defend that part of its empire against a breakup while also doing the same in a separate antitrust trial where the DOJ is seeking the divestment of the tech giant's Chrome search browser.

Last August, in that case, US District Judge Amit Mehta found Google liable for illegally monopolizing the general search engine market and the market for general search engine text.

He is now considering divestments of Googles highly valuable Chrome browser and its Android operating system, along with limitations on its implementation of artificial intelligence tools.

In the ad tech monopoly case, Judge Brinkema in April sided with the DOJ and 17 state attorneys general by ruling that the tech giant used illegal tactics to block competition in markets where online advertisements are bought and sold.

That ruling gave the judge discretion to permit or deny the governments request to consider divestments known as structural remedies.

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo: REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel (REUTERS / Reuters)

Specifically, the DOJ has argued that Googles Ad Manager suite, which includes DoubleClick for Publishers, a publisher-side ad server, and Google Ad Exchange, its exchange platform where buyers and sellers broker deals for online ads, should be spun off.

Google tried to get the judge to eliminate the option of divestitures. It was "going for a kill shot, said Daniel McCuaig, a former trial attorney with the Justice Departments antitrust division, who is now a partner with Cohen Milstein.

But Google didn't get its way, which heightens its business risks as it fights to hold on to multiple subsidiaries in two major antitrust defeats suffered over the past year. However, Judge Brinkema did express concern about overreaching remedies during the hearing, noting that the wrong remedies can cause additional harm. Publishers, for example, may see no benefit if Google's ad server were demolished.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president for regulatory affairs, said, "The DOJs additional proposals to force a divestiture of our ad tech tools go well beyond the Courts findings, have no basis in law, and would harm publishers and advertisers."

FILE - A man walks past Google's offices in London's Kings Cross area, on Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Melley, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Googles lawyers told the judge that divestiture should be excluded as a possible remedy and that the court should instead focus only on changing how the company operates its businesses. A company spokesperson added that divestitures would be an unprecedented remedy in the case, given that the court found the acquisitions did not harm competition.

McCuaig said that at the heart of the ad tech decision, Judge Brinkema found that Google enshrined its illegal monopoly by tying together its advertising technologies, which reinforced each other and allowed it to charge supracompetitive prices.

Ideally, he said, the government would likely want the two businesses sold off to different buyers.

Googles acquisition of DoubleClick was reviewed and cleared by the US Federal Trade Commission by a four-to-one vote in 2007, based on its finding that the deal was unlikely to substantially lessen competition.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed.

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Credit: Alamy

Abyssinian overview

Abyssinian cat curled up on a cat perch

Other names: Abys or Aby

Life expectancy: 9-15 years

Size: Between 812 lb in weight and 810 inches in height

Coat (colour and pattern): Warm brown, red, blue and fawn coloring and ticked coat

Eye colour: Gold, green, hazel, or copper

Temperament: Loving, affectionate, quiet and intelligent

Origin/native country: Ethiopia

With their affectionate personality, playful character and love for human company, there are bundles of reasons why an Abyssinian cat is considered one of the most popular cat breeds of all time.

Hailing from Abyssinia, which is now known as Ethiopia, this regal-looking breed is believed to have been imported into the UK in 1868 after the Abyssinian War, before making its way to the US in the early 1900s.

This breed is known and loved for its ticked tabby coat, which can range from warm brown and red to blue and fawn. But what really makes these beauties stand out is the fact that each hair is ticked with up to six strands of color, which results in a seriously shimmering coat.

Abys, as they are more affectionately known, also come with almond-shaped eyes which look like they've been lined with eyeliner (they haven't!). To discover whether these little beauties would fit into your lifestyle, we enlisted the help of Dr Rebecca MacMillan , who gave us the lowdown on everything from key health concerns to how much exercise these felines need.

Are Abyssinian cats hypoallergenic?

Its worth knowing that no cat can be classed as 100% hypoallergenic. Thats because all cats produce varying amounts of a protein called Fel d1, including the Abyssinian.

This protein is what triggers reactions in susceptible people, Dr MacMillan explains. It is spread from the cats saliva throughout the coat as they groom themself.

However, in the animal world, the term hypoallergenic is used to describe breeds that shed less. Or produce less of this protein.

If you are allergic to cats or just want to prevent fur from making its way all over your home, the good news is that Abyssinians are considered low shedders. They also tend to produce less Fel d 1 than some other breeds.

According to Dr MacMillan, this makes them less likely to cause severe symptoms in allergy sufferers. So, in that regard, they may be considered a hypoallergenic cat breed compared to other fluffier breeds , the expert adds.

Are Abyssinian cats rare?

Despite Abyssinian cats originating more than 8,000 miles away in Ethiopia, Abyssinian cats are not considered a rare breed in the US  they are actually a fairly popular breed.

As such, these little beauties are often found at cat shelters, adoption centres, and from reputable cat breeders.

Abyssinian cats are not considered a rare breed," Dr MacMillan confirms. "But, in my experience, they are not as popular as other short-haired pedigrees like the Siamese or Bengal ,

Credit: Getty Images

How much exercise does an Abyssinian cat need?

These lean and muscular cats are highly energetic with a capital E. Its why they top our guide to the list of high-energy cat breeds that will want to play with you (or their toys) pretty much all of the time!

Therefore, if you are considering welcoming an Aby into your home, you will need to regularly engage in cat play to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.

Generally, a healthy adult Abyssinian requires 30 minutes of exercise each day, but some will want more, Dr MacMillan recommends. This can be spread out into several, short play sessions.

That said, while this little ball of energy might have a passion for staying active (you'll most often spot them climbing or jumping), they are very low-maintenance pets, as they are super independent. Therefore, they are perfectly happy to amuse themselves with the best cat toys .

How much grooming does an Abyssinian cat need?

With their short, sleek, smooth and shimmering coat, Abys generally only need brushing weekly to keep their fur looking its best.

To do so, it's worth investing in one of the best cat brushes for short-haired felines.

They will also need routine dental care and their nails trimmed to prevent potential health issues and safeguard their surroundings (like your furniture!).

Credit: Getty Images

Are Abyssinian cats pretty healthy?

With their love for staying active, agile nature and lean and muscular bodies, Abys are generally healthy compared to other breeds. However, they are prone to a few hereditary health complaints.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is an example of this, Dr MacMillan says. It causes problems with the cats red blood cells, leading to anaemia. For most cats, their episodes of anaemia are mild, but some can have more severe issues.

According to Dr MacMillan, screening tests can help to identify cats that carry the genes for this enzyme deficiency.

Like many pedigree cats (like purebred or show cats ), Abys are also prone to progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Dr MacMillan tells us.

The back of the eye deteriorates, leading to a gradual loss of vision, which cannot be reversed.

This breed can also suffer from two joint conditions, including a dislocated kneecap (luxating patella) and a condition where the hip joint doesn't develop properly (known as hip dysplasia).

These joint abnormalities can cause issues with mobility, as well as painful lameness, Dr MacMillan notes.

Amyloidosis can flare up in Abys, but Dr MacMillan explains that this is now quite a rare condition due to careful breeding.

Cats that suffer from this condition develop kidney failure at an early age, which is life-limiting," she explains. "Amyloid, made from abnormal proteins, collects in the kidneys, causing issues with the way they function.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to stop any of these problems from occurring, and they are not curable.

Therefore, your best bet is to purchase your kitten from a reputable breeder who only breeds healthy cats.

You should check for evidence that they have carried out all the available health screens," Dr MacMillan says. "This will reduce the risk of your cat inheriting conditions like pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

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How much does an Abyssinian cat cost?

Generally speaking, an Abyssinian kitten can set you back anywhere between $1,200 to $2,800 from a reputable breeder. But this will depend on the area. However, the price will be a lot less if you adopt an Aby from a shelter or adoption centre.

Just note, this is the upfront cost. So you will need to consider pet insurance/veterinary costs, and any food, toys, and bedding they need.

Abys are considered to be expensive compared to most common cat breeds , like a domestic shorthair or domestic longhair.

Should I get an Abyssinian cat?

These cats are very curious, intelligent, and people-oriented. They are also very active, so theyll thrive on physical and mental stimulation.

Therefore, these high-energy creatures would be best suited to an owner who is geared up for one of the most playful cat breeds .

They wouldnt be a great choice for an owner who wants a sedate, lap cat, notes Dr Macmillan. These are also very sociable creatures that would prefer to be in their owners company, so leaving them home alone for hours on end is not recommended.

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Read next: Calmest cat breeds and facts about Abyssinian cats
FILE - Wadee Alfayoumi's father, Oday Al Fayoume, seated right, and his uncle Mahmoud Yousef attend a vigil for Wadee at Prairie Activity and Recreation center in Plainfield, Ill., Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP)  An Illinois landlord who killed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and severely injured the boy's mother in a brutal hate-crime attack days after the war in Gaza began was sentenced Friday to 53 years in prison.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Czuba to 30 years in the boy's death and another 20 years consecutively for the attack on Shaheen. The judge also sentenced him to three years imprisonment for hate crimes. The length of the sentence makes it all but certain he will die behind bars.

No sentence can restore what was taken, but todays outcome delivers a necessary measure of justice, said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. Wadee was an innocent child. He was targeted because of who he wasMuslim, Palestinian, and loved."

Czuba did not speak during the sentencing. Czuba's attorney, Lenard, declined comment. Will County States Attorney James Glasgows office issued a statement calling Czuba a morally reprehensible killer" and the impact of his actions truly unfathomable.

The boy's great-uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, was the only family member who spoke during the hearing. He said that no matter the sentence length it wouldn't be enough. The boy's parents had plans for him and Czuba robbed them of that, he said.

Yousef asked Czuba to explain why he attacked the boy and his mother, asking him what news he heard that provoked him, but Czuba did not respond, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, prosecutors said during the trial.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives.

He could not escape, Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant states attorney, told jurors at trial. If it wasnt enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boys body.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a verdict.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover.

She said there were no prior issues in the two years she rented from the Czubas, even sharing a kitchen and a living room. Then after the start of the war, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome. He later confronted Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

He told me You, as a Muslim, must die, said Shaheen, who testified at trial in English and Arabic though a translator.

Police testified that officers found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

Separately, lawsuits have been filed over the boys death, including by his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who is divorced from Shaheen and was not living with them. The U.S. Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crimes investigation.

Yousef told reporters after the hearing that Czuba was a grandfather figure to Wadee and the family doesnt understand what fake news Czuba may have heard about the war in Gaza that caused him to attack the boy and his mother. People need to understand Muslims before judging them, he said.

Some people are bringing this war to this country, Yousef said. We cannot do that. We cant bring the war here. We cannot bring hatred to this country . . . we need that to stop.

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Mahmoud.'
JOLIET, Ill.  An Illinois man was sentenced on Friday to 53 years behind bars for the racially motivated killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and attacking his mom, days after the Israel-Hamas war erupted in 2023.

Wearing a red jail uniform and appearing thin and frail, 73-year-old Joseph Czuba appeared before Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak and heard what amounted to a likely life sentence for murder and attempted murder.

A jury in February found the landlord Czuba guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and hate crimes for the Oct. 14, 2023, killing of Wadee Alfayoumi, whose family were tenants of the murderer.

Czuba was sentenced to 30 years for killing Wadee, who was stabbed 26 times.

No matter what the sentence is going to be, its not going to justify Wadees death, the prosecutions only witness, great uncle Mahmoud Yousef, told the court on Friday. The day he was killed, his father had memories, had plans for his son.

Yousef then turned to face Czuba and said: He had no right to take them.

Czuba also wounded the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen, whom he stabbed more than a dozen times in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield Township.

In addition to the 30 years for Wadee's killing, Czuba was hit with a 20-year sentence for attacking the boy's mother and an additional 3-year term for a hate crime. All of the sentences are set to run consecutively.

Czuba declined to speak on his own behalf on Friday. It did not appear he had any family members in court to support him.

Joseph Czuba, 71, sits before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment in the murder of 6-year old Wadea Al-Fayoume, at the Will County courthouse, on Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill.

The victims had been been renting rooms in Czubas home when he launched into anti-Muslim rants after the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attacks into Israel by Hamas-led militant groups, witnesses said.

The boys mother testified that Czuba told her your people are killing Jewish people and babies in Israel and that Muslims were not welcome in his home.

Before sentencing, the judge denied defense's bid to vacate the verdicts.

Defense lawyer George Lenard had accused prosecutors at trial of inflaming the emotions of jurors by making points of argument during the rebuttal portion of their case.

(Prosecutors are) not supposed to give arguments in rebuttal, especially that amount to prejudice, Lenard said. Its our position that these grounds in and of themselves are grounds for a reversal of the verdicts. But if you look at all these errors, if you accumulate them, theyre additional argument for why the court should grant Mr. Czuba a new trial.

The great uncle, Yousef, said the killer and his victims appeared to get along before Czubas frame of mind seemed to spiral of nowhere.

Thats (a lengthy sentence) not going to be enough. So for peace of mind, Mr Joseph, Yousef said, turning toward the killer, say something. Come up. Say something.

The boys father Odai Alfayoumi, echoed that thought, saying the killer had always seemed to like his son before suddenly snapping.

This is America and when I came right here, I came because this is a free country, Alfayoumi told reporters outside the courthouse.

So right now Im confused. There is, like some people, they call my son, they call him as an angel. And they heard that a lot. Some people too, they call him as a devil Muslim. They make me confused. The same guy, he was looking at my son as an angel (and) right now, he call him as a devil. So I don't know. This is America?"

Samira Puskar reported from Joliet and David K. Li from Los Angeles County.
(Changes headline )

By Samia Nakhoul, Humeyra Pamuk, Parisa Hafezi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump blindsided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his decision to immediately open negotiations with Iran last month. Now, the talks hinge on winning key concessions that would prevent the Islamic Republic ever developing a nuclear bomb, eight sources said.

The pivot to negotiations with Iran in April was a shock for Netanyahu, who had flown to Washington seeking Trump's backing for military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities and learned less than 24 hours before a joint White House press event that U.S. talks with Iran were starting within days, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Tehran's leadership remains deeply concerned that Netanyahu may launch a strike - deal or no deal, a senior Iranian security official, said.

However, in just three weeks, the U.S. and Iran have held three rounds of talks aimed at preventing Tehran from building a nuclear weapon in return for sanctions relief. A fourth round is expected to take place in Rome soon.

For this story, Reuters spoke to officials and diplomats from all sides of the negotiations who disclosed previously unreported details under discussion. All requested anonymity to speak about delicate ongoing conversations.

An initial framework under discussion preserves the core of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) - scrapped by Trump in 2018 during his first term, eight sources said.

A deal may not look radically different to the former pact, which he called the worst in history, but would extend duration to 25 years, tighten verification, and expand so-called sunset clauses that pause but don't completely dismantle aspects of Iran's nuclear program, all the sources said.

Under the terms being discussed, Iran would limit stockpile size and centrifuge types, and dilute, export or seal its 60 percent uranium stock under unprecedented International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) scrutiny - all in exchange for substantial sanctions relief, all the sources said.

The U.S. State Department, Iran's foreign ministry and Netanyahu's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Dennis Ross, a former negotiator under both Republicans and Democrats, said that any new agreement must go further than the JCPOA by imposing a permanent, structural change in Tehrans nuclear capabilities - shrinking its infrastructure to the point where developing a bomb is no longer a practical option.

"Anything less would leave the threshold threat intact," he told Reuters.

But several red lines are emerging that negotiators will have to circumvent to reach a deal and avert future military action.

Foremost is the question of Iran's capacity to enrich uranium, something Washington and Israel say must stop entirely, leaving Iran reliant on imported uranium for Bushehr, its only existing nuclear power plant, located on the Gulf coast.

Netanyahu is demanding zero enrichment and a Libya-style deal that dismantles Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

Iran says its right to enrich is not negotiable. However the size of the uranium stockpile, shipping stocks out of the country and the number of centrifuges are under discussion, three Iranian officials said.

Under proposals discussed in rounds of talks in April, Iran would cap enrichment at 3.67%, in line with the JCPOA, all the sources said, including three Iranian officials. Tehran is also open to granting the IAEA expanded access to its nuclear sites, the Iranian sources said.

The proposals do not seek to dismantle Tehrans nuclear infrastructure entirely as Israel and some U.S. officials want, but aim to lock in permanent constraints on uranium enrichment that deter any breakout, the sources said.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff appeared to acknowledge that position in comments last week, but later said Iran must "stop and eliminate" enrichment.

One way out could be for Iran to accept long breaks to the enrichment program, through an extension of sunset clauses, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow and the founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

"The Iranians, if they were smart, they would settle for much longer sunset clauses going into the future," Vatanka said, emphasizing the importance of each side being able to claim victory in the talks.

Another possible compromise could involve Iran retaining minimal enrichment, with 5,000 centrifuges, while importing the rest of the enriched uranium, possibly from Russia, one of the three Iranian sources, a senior security official, told Reuters.

In return for limits on enrichment, Tehran has demanded watertight guarantees Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, the three Iranian officials said.

Among the red lines mandated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reducing the amount of enriched uranium it stores to below the level agreed in the 2015 deal, the three sources said. Iran has been able to "significantly" increase the amount of uranium it can enrich to 60% purity, the IAEA said in December.

The JCPOA only permitted Iran to accumulate enriched uranium produced by its first generation IR-1 centrifuges, but now Iran is using far more advanced models banned under the 2015 deal.

A senior regional source close to Tehran said the current debate over Iran's uranium stockpiles centers on whether Iran "will keep a portion of it - diluted - inside the country while sending another portion abroad, possibly to Russia."

According to the source, Iran has even floated the idea of selling enriched uranium to the United States.

Iran currently operates around 15,000 centrifuges. Under the JCPOA Iran was allowed to operated around 6,000.

"Essentially, the negotiations are shaping into a JCPOA 2 with some additions that would allow Trump to present it as a victory, while Iran could still keep its right to enrichment," the senior Iranian official said.

Another sticking point relates to Iran's ballistic missile manufacturing capacity. Washington and Israel say Iran should stop making missiles. Iran counters that it has a right to self-defense. One Iranian official previously told Reuters it would not go beyond the requirements of the 2015 deal, offering only to avoid building missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads as a "gesture of goodwill."

Washington is pressing to include the ballistic missile program in the talks, but Tehran "continues to reject any discussion," said one regional security official. "The problem", he added, "is that without addressing the missile issue, Trump cannot claim that the new deal goes beyond the JCPOA."

Former negotiator Ross points out the contradiction: Trump abandoned the JCPOA for being too weak, and as a result now faces a reality where Tehran stands at the threshold of nuclear weapons capability.

"Accepting a deal that mirrors or softens the original would be politically indefensible," he said, suggesting a deal must slash centrifuges from 20,000 to 1,000, ship out all enriched stockpiles, and impose intrusive, penalty-backed inspections.

STRIKE RISK

Vatanka, the analyst, likened Iran's current predicament to the 1988 decision by the regime's founder Ruhollah Khomeini to accept a ceasefire with Iraq - a moment he famously likened to drinking "the bitter chalice of poison"

"It's about survival," Vatanka said. "It's not capitulation."

Diplomats say Netanyahu sees a rare opening: last years military campaigns crippled Irans air defenses, and decimated Hezbollahs missile arsenal - Tehrans primary deterrent.

"This is a historic window for Israel to strike Iran's nuclear sites," said an official in the Middle East. The United States he said, opposes such a move for several reasons - chief among them the concerns of Gulf Arab states, which Washington cannot ignore given its deep strategic and economic ties in the region.

"Still, it must weigh Israel's security calculations," he said. "So while the U.S. may not take part directly, it could offer indirect support. It would be a difficult operation for Israel - but not an impossible one."

The U.S. military has surged assets in recent weeks to reinforce the Middle East. The Pentagon has deployed six B-2 bombers to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia - a location used in the past to support its military operations in the Middle East.

Additionally, the U.S. currently has two aircraft carriers in the region and has moved in air defense systems from Asia.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Farsi-speaking Middle East expert, warned that a strike may slow Iran's program, but won't eliminate it. "You cannot bomb know-how," he said. "The knowledge is there. Iran has mastered uranium enrichment.

(Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Parisa Hafzei in Dubai; Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
In a new book and in this week's issue of PEOPLE, Kelsey Grammer opens up about the lasting impact his sister Karen's 1975 murder has had on him

Grammer reveals that Karen crawled for help in her final moments in an exclusive excerpt of the book, below

Grammer says that he "couldn't access happiness" for a long time after Karen's murder, but "the book helped me get to a new place with that"



On July 8, 1975, Kelsey Grammers life changed forever.

The actor, then 20, was at home that day with his family in Pompano Beach, Fla., when detectives knocked on the door. The detectives told him that theyd found the body of a Jane Doe in Colorado Springs, Colo.  whom they believed to be his 18-year-old sister Karen.

The next day, Grammer flew to Colorado and confirmed the detectives suspicions. He learned that Karen had been brutally raped and stabbed to death on July 1, two weeks before her 19th birthday, by a man who had been on a killing spree with accomplices in the area.

In his new book Karen: A Brother Remembers, out May 6, Grammer delves into the horrific details of his sisters murder, as well as the deep and lasting toll it took on his life, which has been touched by multiple tragedies. In 1968, his father Allen was shot and killed at his home in St. Thomas by a taxi driver amid a wave of racial violence following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.; In 1980, his paternal half-brothers, twins Billy and Stephen, were killed in a suspected shark attack while scuba diving in the Virgin Islands.

Harper Select, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus 'Karen: A Brother Remembers' by Kelsey Grammer

For a long time, the grief was so dominant that I couldnt access happiness, Grammer, now 70, tells PEOPLE for a story in this week's print issue. "The book helped me get to a new place with that.

The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!

Related: The Murder of Kelsey Grammer's 18-Year-Old Sister in 1975 Still Haunts Him: 'It's Always with You'

Karen had moved to Colorado Springs after a semester at college in Georgia to be with her boyfriend. Grammer last spoke to his sister on June 30, 1975, and she told him she planned to come home to Florida after the Fourth of July. When he didnt hear from her after that, Grammer called the local police.

Courtesy of Kelsey Grammer Karen Grammer

He later found out that just hours after he and Karen had chatted, she went to the Red Lobster where she worked at around 11 p.m. to wait for a friend to finish their shift. Freddie Glenn and two others had planned to rob the Red Lobster, but when they pulled up behind the restaurant, they spotted Karen.

With a gun drawn, they told her to come with them. For what? she asked, according to Grammers retelling of the police report. That characteristically sassy response was all Karen, Grammer notes.

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.

She was taken to Glenns car and was left with him as the other men entered the restaurant and decided against the robbery. When they returned, they found Karen tied up next to Glenn.

They drove her to one of the mens apartments, where they took turns raping her.

Related: Kelsey Grammer Reflects on the 'Terrible Loss' and Guilt After His Sister's 1975 Murder

Afterwards, the men drove Karen to an alley, where Glenn stabbed her 42 times and nearly decapitated her. In her last desperate moments, Karen attempted to crawl for help, which Grammer writes about in an exclusive excerpt below.

Grammer grappled with whether to include the "graphic, impersonal review" of Karen's last moments from the police report in the book. Though delving into the details was "not pleasant or comforting," he ultimately decided "there is something beneficial in knowing [the truth]. It is ammunition to keep Freddie Glenn in jail."

Glenn was convicted of Karen's murder and several other murders in the area, and he's currently serving a life sentence in prison. He has been denied parole four times, and his next hearing is in 2027.

"His protestations these days are like, 'Well, I dont remember raping her,'" Grammer says. "Bulls---.

While Grammer has said in the past that he forgives Glenn for his actions, he still holds him accountable.

You dont want to eat yourself to pieces because you cant forgive somebody, he says. But its hard to forgive a person who consciously decided they wanted to murder somebody you love. This wasnt just some temperance issue with him. It was deliberate. I can give you forgiveness, but youre not going to get out of paying for it.

Related: PEOPLEs Best Books of April 2025: Powerful Stories from Jeremy Renner, Tina Knowles, Joan Didion and More

Beyond sharing the details of her murder, Grammer paints a picture of Karen in the book as a free-spirited and loving woman who made the most of every moment, whose life was so much more than the way it ended.

I wanted to breathe life into her and welcome her into the world, he says. We were Kelsey and Karen, brother and sister.

Below, Grammer learns about Karen's final moments in an exclusive excerpt from Karen: A Brother Remembers.

Courtesy of Kelsey Grammer A young Kelsey and Karen in 1973

Related: Kelsey Grammer's 7 Kids: Everything to Know

In my imaginings, the man who found Karen at his doorstep was a good Samaritan of sorts. I stand corrected and disappointed that that man did not attempt to help her but simply called the police after leaving her body as it lay...eyes vacant, staring at the sky, her legs still on the steps, her head on the ground and a clenched fist above her head with a single finger pointing  somewhere or nowhere  just pointing.

She had fallen backward from the trailer door after knocking for help. It was her last hope and disappointment after crawling 400 feet from the place where she had been stabbed. Bloody fingerprints mark the trail of her final moments at exactly 36 along the office and walls of the trailer park. She had been on her knees, crawling her way. Seeking help with her last ounce of life. The coroner noted that through a gaping wound in her neck, he could see all the way into Karens lung. I had been right in saying he almost decapitated her. Freddie Glenn punched holes in my sisters body with unimaginable brutality. There were defensive wounds on her hands.

What I had hoped were a final, few moments of kindness from some stranger, were nothing of the sort.

Taken from Karen: A Brother Remembers by Kelsey Grammer. Copyright  2025 by Kelsey Grammer. Published by Harper Select, a division of HarperCollins Focus, LLC. https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/.

Karen: A Brother Remembers comes out May 6 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

Read the original article on People
Updated May 3, 2025 at 12:48 AM

A Kentucky man who won a huge Powerball jackpot might have run out of luck after being arrested in Florida for allegedly kicking a police officer in the face during a bar fight.

James Farthing and his girlfriend were arrested at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by USA TODAY on Friday.

Farthing, 50, is accused of punching another hotel guest in the face during an argument. A Pinellas County Sheriffs deputy was trying to break up the fight when Farthing kicked him in the face, causing swelling and redness, the affidavit said.

Police said that Farthing tried to flee the scene but was apprehended.

As for his girlfriend, another arrest affidavit says that she was trying to fight other patrons in the bar.

Linda Grizzle, James Farthing and Jacqueline Fightmaster pictured with the winnings from the Powerball.

She appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements, the affidavit said.

Farthing is being charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting an officer, according to online court records. His girlfriend is being charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Farthings attorney did not immediately respond to USA TODAYs request for comment on Friday.

From winning the lottery to behind bars

The last week for Farthing has truly been a rollercoaster. On Monday, April 28, one day before his arrest, Farthing and his mother were announced as the winners of a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot.

The jackpot was the largest prize ever won in the history of Kentucky.

Its going to be a good Mothers Day, Farthing's mother, Linda Grizzle, told lottery officials. This is going to pay off my debt.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky lottery winner arrested day after winning huge jackpot
The Kohls board of directors terminated Buchanan for cause and appointed board director Michael Bender as the interim CEO, the company said.

Kohls CEO Ashley Buchanan was fired this week because he had an undisclosed personal relationship with a vendor on a consulting team that made a multimillion-dollar deal with the retailer at his direction, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Buchanan had only been in the role since January.

An investigation by an outside law firm found Buchanan had violated company policies by directing the company to enter into vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest, the department store said.

Ashley Buchanan.

The Kohls board of directors terminated Buchanan for cause, the company said, and appointed board director Michael Bender as the interim CEO.

Kohls said Buchanans firing was unrelated to the companys performance and did not involve any other employees. Buchanan previously held the same position at the crafts retailer Michaels since 2020. He became Kohls chief executive in January.

Kohls said Wednesday in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the investigation found Buchanan had directed the company to conduct business with a vendor founded by an individual with whom Mr. Buchanan has a personal relationship on highly unusual terms favorable to the vendor.

The filing said the unnamed person was also part of a consulting team that had entered into a multimillion-dollar agreement with Kohls under Buchanans direction.

The regulatory filing said Buchanan did not disclose the relationship as required under company policy, and he will have to forfeit all equity awards and bonuses he received from Kohls when he was hired. He also will have to reimburse the company on a pro-rated basis for a $2.5 million signing bonus.

Kohls did not disclose who the consulting agreement was with, but The Wall Street Journal, which was first to report Buchanan had been fired, said it was Boston Consulting Group, where Buchanans romantic partner, Chandra Holt, was an adviser. The Journal report cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.

Buchanan and Holt did not immediately reply to requests for comment made by phone and email.

Boston Consulting Group said in a statement to NBC News that it was shocked to learn of the relationship between Holt and Buchanan.

We have strict guidelines for our senior advisors to disclose any conflicts of interest, Boston Consulting said, adding it had terminated Holts contract for nondisclosure.

The Boston Consulting Group said Holt is a recognized industry expert who worked for the group on a part time basis and was paid by the hour.

She was not involved in structuring the project or negotiating any contract terms and was not expected to lead any part of the project, the group said.
By Doyinsola Oladipo, Karen Freifeld and Rich McKay

(Reuters) -Lawyers, teachers and politicians marched among thousands of demonstrators across the U.S. on Thursday to protest President Donald Trump's policies on immigration, the targeting of lawyers and judges, and the power of wealthy decision-makers.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, whose husband Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a U.S. resident the administration sent by mistake to a prison in El Salvador, spoke at a Washington rally that was among the protests organized by lawyers' groups and by a coalition of more than 200 labor unions and immigrant rights advocates.

"He was illegally detained, abducted and disappeared by the Trump administration, though they admitted it was an error," Vasquez Sura said, adding her husband has endured "50 days of suffering."

"For everyone watching, keep fighting," she said. The crowd responded with chants of: "Bring Kilmar home."

Organizers have accused the Trump administration of prioritizing profits for billionaires and called on it to invest in working families by fully funding healthcare, housing and public schools.

"It's a clear split screen between the priorities of the Trump administration and what regular people want and need," said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a consumer rights advocacy group and a co-organizer of the Washington rally.

Organizers expected hundreds of thousands of protesters across the country, hoping for the biggest May Day Protests in U.S. history. Previous protests have garnered thousands of attendees since Trump returned to office.

Federal workers have been fired as Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, a top adviser heading a new Department of Government Efficiency, have moved to slash government departments and fire workers.

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar told a crowd in Washington the administration's actions were "eliminating oversight so corporations can exploit workers without consequences."

Days after Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office with a campaign-style event in Michigan, the rallies came as Democrats sought a unified response and a galvanizing leader.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont addressed thousands at a rally in Philadelphia.

In New York, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned protesters that Trump and the Republican majority in the U.S. Congress "are going after Medicaid next."

Ocasio-Cortez, who has been touring the country holding rallies with Sanders, said she had just learned that Republicans "have stopped and suspended next week's Medicaid cuts because they are getting too scared ... But our fight is not over because they have only suspended" the cuts to Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans.

She said there were 6,000 protesters in New York City and tens of thousands more demonstrating in Philadelphia, Idaho, Los Angeles, Denver, and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Also in New York, hundreds of lawyers attended a separate "National Law Day of Action" event, chanting "Respect our judges, give support. Stand behind them, and the court."

Some prominent law firms have pledged millions in free legal work and made other concessions to Trump in efforts to get him to rescind punitive measures against them. Others have filed lawsuits challenging his orders and have been supported by law professors, advocacy groups, state attorneys general, former top legal executives at large companies and others.

Federal judges have claimed the Trump administration has failed to comply with court orders regarding foreign aid, federal spending and the firing of government workers. The administration disputes it has defied judges.

Among the speakers in Manhattan was Stuart Gerson, who served President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, as an assistant attorney general and also served President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, as acting attorney general.

"This is about country, not about party," Gerson told the crowd, recalling what Bush told him when Clinton asked him to serve in his cabinet. "You don't pledge fealty to an individual, you pledge fealty to the Constitution."

In Los Angeles, demonstrators turned their ire on Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Trump's hard line against immigration, hoisting banners declaring, "L.A. labor stands with immigrants" and "Resist Fascism."

"The constitution is being trampled on," said Mark Diamond, 62, from the L.A. neighborhood of San Pedro. "If it takes four years, we'll be out here 100 times."

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo and Karen Freifeld in New York, Rick McKay in Atlanta, and Alan Devall and Jackie Luna in Los Angeles; editing by Donna Bryson, David Gregorio and Diane Craft)
Food & Wine / Getty Images / McDonald's







Key points

McDonalds coffee has developed a loyal following, with some fans preferring it over specialty cafe options due to its consistent taste and surprising quality.

A McDonalds chef revealed the secret lies in the details, including a proprietary medium-dark roast made from 100% Arabica beans, sustainable sourcing, on-site grinding, and precise brewing techniques like Japanese flash brewing for iced coffee.

The result is a flavorful cup that cant be replicated elsewhere, contributing to the brands quiet but powerful reputation among everyday drinkers and coffee enthusiasts alike.







Most people love McDonald's for a nice, indulgent burger. Perhaps they enjoy treating themselves to some fries, or on busy nights, they might snag their kid a Happy Meal (or hey, adults can get it too; we don't judge). But not in my house. For my entire life, McDonald's stops have been for one thing and one thing only: Coffee.

Since I was a little kid riding in a booster seat, my dad has always gushed about his love for a hot cup of McDonald's coffee. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen him order a burger, fries, nuggets, or anything else from a McDonald's menu or any fast food menu, for that matter. But ask him where his favorite coffee shop is, and he'll always reply it's under the Golden Arches.



As a coffee snob, I could easily brush this off as Dad being Dad. But here's the thing: He's right. And he's not alone. Just give it a quick google and you'll find Reddit threads proclaiming, "I try all kinds of coffee trying to duplicate the taste of that $1 large cup of McCafe and almost always fail. What is McDonald's secret?" with commenters adding, "I think that every time I buy coffee anywhere," and "I swear its their coffee bean."

But rather than having to wonder any longer, we went straight to the source, McDonald's chef Mike Lingo, to find out.

Related: Drinking Coffee Could Add Years to Your Life, According to a New Study

"At McDonalds, were focusing on making sure the little things are done right and leveraging great partnerships to ensure we are selecting the best beans for our blends and roast levels to bring out that great flavor," Lingo shared with Food & Wine. "For our coffee, we use 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms or farms participating in our McCafe Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program  it is a special blend made just for McCafe, a medium-dark roast with a full body, fruity, floral, and chocolate notes."

That's the biggest secret. You literally can't get McDonald's blend anywhere else. However, we do know a bit about one of its coffee suppliers, Gavina Gourmet Coffee, which sources coffee from across the Coffee Belt, including Central America, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

As McDonald's shared about its supplier, it not only sources most of its beans from the Gavina family, which established its coffee roasting plant in Southern California in 1967, but the Gavina family also offers a training program to McDonald's employees so they can learn "the art of brewing great coffee." As Pedro Gavina noted, his family's company remains committed to delivering the best coffee in the world to McDonald's. And while you can't get the exact McDonald's blend (which the fast-food chain purchases through Gavina's wholesale program), you can try purchasing a bag or two and see if any come close to the in-restaurant experience.

According to Lingo, it's a simple "traditional hot brew" for all its brewed coffee and a "Japanese iced coffee brew method for our iced coffee. "We pay attention to the details while we brew, from the quality of our roast and selection of our beans to the equipment we use." It also grinds all its coffee on-site, which helps to preserve its flavor as ground coffee begins to degrade instantly.

Related: McDonalds All-New Frappe Is a Chocolatey Dream Made With Hersheys Magic

As for the Japanese iced coffee brew method, it's also known as "flash brewing," which Perfect Daily Grind explained, involves using a typical ratio of water to coffee, but with a portion of that water being ice. You then put the ice under the dripper of a power-over, and heat the remaining water to brewing temperature, using it as you would in a typical pour-over, only this time, you're creating a coffee concentrate. Basically, you're making a typical hot coffee that is quickly cooled to bring out its full flavors.



When asked if he's surprised at just how much people love McDonald's coffee, Lingo said absolutely not.

"Im never surprised how much they love our McCafe beverages; they are delicious and affordable for our consumers," he said. "They can feel good about our pledge to sustainability as well. We love to hear the stories of peoples memories and experiences with our coffee."



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Welcome to Bulldog Country The Veteran & Military Student Resource Center at SC State University welcomes you! We are eager to assist you as you continue your educational journey with us and hope that your time at SC State University will be a rewarding experience. Congratulations and thank you on the service you have given our country.

Mission

To support the mission of the Division of Enrollment Management through the development and implementation of outreach programs designed to provide student support services focused on the special needs and requirements of todays military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. The Center was established to improve and enhance the success of student veterans, to help them receive the benefits they deserve, to serve as a liaison between the veteran student community and the University and to increase their academic success.

Location and Contact Information:

The Veteran & Military Resource Support Center is located on the 1st Floor, Suite 180, of the Crawrford Zimmerman Building. The staff provides assistance to student veterans, dependents, and military service members. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our office at 803-378-4743 or gherzog@scsu.edu.

*Current Service Members and Veterans only, to receive credit for HEALTH and PE courses you must submit your DD FORM 214 (SEPARATION PAPERS) and Official Military Orders. You must also submit your OFFICIAL MILITARY TRANSCRIPT for credit evaluation. Please note, that it is your Academic Departments sole discretion as to which courses will be credited toward your degree requirement.*

*GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.*

Campus Support Services

Veteran Career Transition Program: Through the Career Services Center, resources will be provided to guide students through navigating their job search, enhancing their resume, and preparing for the interview process. Career Services Center is located on the 2nd Floor of Belcher Hall.

Counseling Services: The Counseling and Disability Services & ADA Compliance Centers offer support to student veterans as they transition into civilian life. This service is designed to discuss issues related to their military experience and provides mental health counseling. The Counseling & Self Development Center is located adjacent to the Brooks Health Center 1st floor. The Disability Services & ADA Compliance Office is located adjacent to Brooks Health Center 1st floor.

Veterans Work-Study Program: This program is designed to offer part-time work to veterans, service members, and dependents currently receiving veteran education benefits.

SCSU Army ROTC: This program gives men and women the opportunity to become Army officers while completing a degree.

Out- of- State Tuition Waiver: SCSU takes pride in being a top Military Friendly School and may waive out-of-state tuition for those student veterans, dependents, and service-members who qualify. Military students that qualify for the $10,000 out of state fee waiver are students that are using Post 9/11 GI Bill and we must have the official certificate of eligibility from the VA, along with other paperwork.

Contact the Veteran & Military Student Support Center for more information call 803-378-4743.

VA Certification

Students are required to submit an ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION REQUEST each semester of enrollment to verify credit hours and course dates. You will not be certified until this document is on file in the Office of Veterans Affairs. You are also responsible for notifying of our office of any changes in degree program or semester hours (drops/withdrawals/changes in sessions) as projected on the Enrollment Certification Request form. Note: The Enrollment Certification Request is necessary for both first time and continuing student/veterans. However, veterans initiating benefits for the first time or transferring benefits from another institution must complete additional documentation.

Important Information for Veterans at SC State

Frequently Asked Questions

Veterans Benefits at SC State

Assistance for Veterans and Dependents

Veterans Student Responsibilities

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office

Eligibility and payment questions should be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office at:

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Regional Office

P.O. Box 8888

Muskogee, OK 74402-8888

Phone: 800-827-1000

Fax: 918-781-7864

http://www.benefits.va.gov/muskogee/

SC State University Veterans Coordinator

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Veterans Coordinator in Registrar Office between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 5:00p.m.

The Veteran & Military Resource Support Center

Office of Admissions

Crawford-Zimmerman Building

Suite 180

Orangeburg, SC 29117

803-378-4743

Important Phone Numbers
The Kentucky Derby started the 2025 competition for horse racing's Triple Crown Saturday with a field of 19 horses set to race in the annual Run for the Roses. Sovereignty, who came in with 5-1 odds, came out the winner in muddy and rainy conditions, edging out heavy-favorite Journalism, who finished in second place.

Journalism, who had won three straight graded-stakes races coming into Saturday, had been picked as the morning-line favorite by Mike Battaglia, the oddsmaker at the home of the Derby, Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.

Junior Alvarado rides Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. Sovereignty powered through the final turn and overtook favorite Journalism in the final straight to win the Kentucky Derby on May 3, giving the Godolphin stable a first victory in the US racing classic at Churchill Downs. Untroubled by the sloppy track on a rainy day in Louisville, Sovereignty gave Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado a first Kentucky Derby win. / Credit: Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images

2025 Kentucky Derby horses and odds

Battaglia had given Journalism 3-1 odds after last Saturday's post-position draw. The odds change leading up to Saturday's post time just after 7 p.m. Eastern Time as bettors place their wagers. Here's a list of the Derby horses in order by their number with their morning-line odds:

1. Citizen Bull, 20-12. Neoequos, 30-13. Final Gambit, 30-15. American Promise, 30-16. Admire Daytona, 30-17. Luxor Cafe, 15-18. Journalism, 3-19. Burnham Square, 12-111. Flying Mohawk, 30-112. East Avenue, 20-113. Publisher, 20-114. Tiztastic, 20-115. Render Judgment, 30-116. Coal Battle, 30-117. Sandman, 6-118. Sovereignty, 5-119. Chunk of Gold, 30-120. Owen Almighty, 30-121. Baeza, 12-1

The Derby field has been capped at 20 horses since 1975. Most of the horses became eligible for the Derby by earning points in a series of races in the U.S. that started last September. Journalism worked his way up the leaderboard in California by winning the Los Alamitos Futurity Stakes in December, March's San Felipe Stakes and last month's Santa Anita Derby.

Journalism's trainer, Michael McCarthy, lives in Southern California's Altadena community, which was devastated by massive wildfires that tore through the area earlier this year.

"It's been a few months now, people are still healing, people are still without a place to live, so maybe for a couple hours on Saturday, we can provide them a little bit of entertainment," McCarthy told CBS News' Jim Axelrod.

Journalism runs on the track during morning training in preparation for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 25, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. / Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Sovereignty and Sandman came in posing the closest challenge to Journalism with 5-1 and 6-1 morning-line odds, respectively. Sovereignty came to Louisville after finishing second in March's Florida Derby and winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes earlier in the month, as well as the Street Sense Stakes in October. Sandman won the Arkansas Derby in March after coming in third in February's Rebel Stakes and second in the Southwest Stakes in January.

It would have been a tall order for this year's Derby to have a closer ending than last year's photo finish. Mystik Dan won by a nose in 2024 over Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the closest three-horse finish at the Derby since 1947, according to Churchill Downs.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard Mystik Dan for the dramatic Derby ending, a day after riding Thorpedo Anna to victory in the all-filly Kentucky Oaks  the first time one jockey won both of the weekend's two big races since 2009. In this year's Derby, Hernandez rode Burnham Square, the bay gelding who won last month's Blue Grass Stakes in Kentucky and Florida's Holy Bull Stakes in February and was given 12-1 odds in the morning line.

Burnham Square trains on the track during morning workouts prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. / Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The same odds were given to Rodriguez, the winner of last month's Wood Memorial Stakes in New York who initially drew the No. 4 post for the Derby. But the dark bay colt was scratched on Thursday over what co-owner Tom Ryan said in a statement was a "small but slightly sensitive foot bruise that will need a few more days."

The scratch made room for the Derby's only other eligible horse, Baeza, to enter the field. The bay colt, who got 12-1 odds in the morning line, came in second behind Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby.

Rodriguez, who Ryan said will now be targeted for the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore later this month, is trained by Bob Baffert, who still has a horse set to enter the starting gate Saturday. Baffert is returning to the Derby after a three-year suspension from Churchill Downs following the now-deceased Medina Spirit's failed post-Derby drug test in 2021 and subsequent disqualification.

Baffert's other horse in this year's Derby, Citizen Bull, is among the four colts in the race given 20-1 odds in the morning line. In California, Citizen Bull won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes in February, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November and the American Pharoah Stakes in October, and came in fourth in the Santa Anita Derby won by Journalism.

The other three colts given 20-1 morning-line odds were East Avenue, Publisher and Tiztastic. On Friday morning, Grande, who was initially given the No. 10 post with those odds, was scratched from the Derby because of a foot bruise, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

But the odds aren't a crystal ball. The last time a morning-line favorite took first place at the Derby was in 2018, when Justify won the Triple Crown. Last year, Mystik Dan got 20-1 odds in the morning line  which improved to 18-1 by post time  before winning the Derby. The bay colt launched from the No. 3 post, which Final Gambit drew for Saturday's Derby with 30-1 odds in the morning line.

The winner of Kentucky's Jeff Ruby Steaks in March, Final Gambit, is among nine horses given the same long-shot odds, which also include Admire Daytona, American Promise, Chunk of Gold, Coal Battle, Flying Mohawk, Neoequos, Owen Almighty and Render Judgment.

Luxor Cafe, with 15-1 morning-line odds, and Admire Daytona are the two colts who qualified for the Derby outside of the U.S. Luxor Cafe won Japan's Fukuryu Stakes in March and the Hyacinth Stakes in February. Admire Daytona came in fourth in the Hyacinth Stakes and won the UAE Derby in the United Arab Emirates last month.

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FILE - President Donald Trump, pictured on screen from left, French President Emmanuel Macron and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch a Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, July 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Army on Friday confirmed there will be a military parade on President Donald Trumps birthday in June, as part of the celebrations around the services 250th birthday.

Plans for the parade, as first detailed by The Associated Press on Thursday, call for about 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 helicopters to follow a route from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall. Until recently, the Armys birthday festival plans did not include a massive parade, which officials say will cost tens of millions of dollars.

But Trump has long wanted a military parade, and discussions with the Pentagon about having one in conjunction with the birthday festival began less than two months ago.

The Army 250th birthday happens to coincide with Trumps 79th birthday on June 14. In a statement Friday, Army spokesman Steve Warren said the Armys birthday celebration will include a spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a daylong festival on the National Mall.

The pricey parade comes as Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk, have slashed federal government departments, personnel and programs, with thousands of workers losing their jobs, including civilians in the Defense Department.

In comments to Fox News Digital, White House officials confirmed a commemorative parade would take place and said it would be one of the first events to kick off a yearlong celebration of the nations 250th anniversary.

When asked about the parade Thursday, the White House did not respond, and Army officials said no decision had been made. While officials said there has now been a formal decision to proceed with the parade, there is still no specific cost estimate.

Warren said that given the significance of the Army birthday, they are looking at options to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community.

Army planning documents, obtained this week by the AP and dated April 29 and 30, said the parade will include soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. They said it would involve a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

The plans note that while the parade will begin near the Pentagon, the heavy, tracked vehicles  which would include the Strykers  would be stationed near the Lincoln Memorial and join the procession there, so they will not go over the bridge from Virginia

City officials, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14. At the time, she said that tanks rolling through the citys streets would not be good.

If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads, she said.

The Army birthday festival has been planned for more than a year and is slated to include displays of Army equipment, military demonstrations, musical performances and a fitness competition on the National Mall.

The late afternoon parade would be followed by a parachute jump by the Golden Knights, a concert and the fireworks. The planning documents also suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges and reenactor organizations.

According to the plans, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.

During his first term, Trump proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Elysees he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.

That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs  with one estimate of a $92 million price tag  and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads.

Trump said in a social media post in 2018 that he was canceling the event over the costs and accused local politicians of price gouging.
By John O'Donnell

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Euroclear plans to seize and redistribute about 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) of Russia's funds that are frozen at the Belgian clearing firm after Moscow grabbed investor cash in Russia, according to documents seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter.

The money will be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized cash held in Russia in recent months, three people said, escalating attempts by both sides to recoup billions in funds affected by the war in Ukraine.

Euroclear will redistribute 3 billion from a pool of 10 billion euros in cash belonging to Russian entities and individuals hit by European Union sanctions following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, two of the people said.

The move, reported in detail here for the first time, marks a new level of reprisal by Europe. The European Union changed its sanctions regime late last year, allowing a disbursement to Western investors in such circumstances.

In the past, the West has engineered loans and payments to Ukraine from the interest on frozen Russian assets, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced as theft.

The planned Belgian payout was triggered by Russian government orders to confiscate billions from Western investors last year. Euroclear has been under pressure from international investors to release money. Reuters could not determine which of them would benefit from payout.

Euroclear in March gained clearance from Belgium, its principal legal authority, to make the payout, according to the people who spoke to Reuters.

Euroclear has notified clients of the upcoming payments in an April 1 briefing document, reviewed by Reuters.

"We received authorisation from our competent authority, to unfreeze the compensation amounts and make these available to our participants," the document said.

Reuters could not establish the identity of the Russian owners whose assets will be seized.

Belgium's government declined to comment, while Russia's finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Euroclear has emphasised that it implements sanctions but the company does not take decisions about the shape of sanctions or their lifting.

The payments to Western investors won't dip into the more than 200 billion euros of Russian central bank reserves that have been frozen in the EU, the two people said.

It will, however, reduce the stockpile of Russian wealth, that includes cash, shares and bonds, held almost entirely at Euroclear that gave the bloc leverage over Moscow. Some hoped frozen Russian assets could be used to rebuild Ukraine.

Western investors have tens of billions of assets stranded in Russia from seized factories to cash.

Europe's decision to release frozen Russian wealth in Europe to investors is viewed critically by some.

"To seize Russian assets and give them to Western investors would be morally reprehensible," said Jacob Kirkegaard, a sanctions expert with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington-based think tank.

"It would represent a political decision to prioritise Western businesses over the taxpayer. Any frozen assets that don't go to Ukraine's reconstruction will ... have to be covered by tax payers."

BLOCKED

The European Union froze hundreds of billions of Russian assets - including the central bank reserves - following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, in an unprecedented move that amounted to its single biggest penalty to Russia.

Euroclear holds the lion's share of sanctioned Russian wealth in Europe - more than 180 billion euros.

Getting that money back is important for Moscow and has prompted roughly 100 court actions against Euroclear, one of the people said. Reuters could not determine the status of those court cases.

Moscow has warned last year that it would retaliate if its frozen assets were seized and used for Ukraine and made a change in the law earlier this year, allowing it to do so.

In past months, Moscow has seized 3 billion euros of cash held by Euroclear at a depository in Russia to compensate Russian investors hit by Western sanctions, two of the people said.

Clearstream, an arm of the German stock exchange that like Euroclear warehouses securities such as stocks and bonds for traders, also found itself in a similar situation.

The Luxembourg-based firm will also make similar payouts from frozen Russian cash to Western investors but on a smaller scale, one person familiar with the matter said.

The sum concerned is several hundred million euros, the person said. Clearstream declined to comment.

Two people familiar with the case said it amounted to a swap of Western money frozen in Russia with Russian cash blocked in Europe, initiated by Moscow.

Moscow's efforts to unlock its frozen assets come as its economy labours under a fourth year of international sanctions imposed because of the war. Russia continues to bomb Ukraine amid talks between Washington and Moscow to end the war, which have left Europe on the sidelines.

($1 = 0.8834 euros)

(Additional reporting by Reuters in Moscow, Alex Marrow in London and Julia Payne in Brussels; editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Daniel Flynn)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Illinois man was sentenced on Friday to 53 years in prison after a jury convicted him in the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and the severe wounding of his mother in an October 2023 hate crime stabbing, prosecutors said.

Joseph Czuba, 73, stabbed and killed Wadee Alfayoumi and knifed Hanan Shaheen days after U.S. ally Israel began its war on Gaza following an October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.

Prosecutors said the stabbing - one of the earliest and worst hate crime incidents in the U.S. since the start of the war - was sparked by anti-Muslim hatred. U.S. rights advocates have noted rising Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate and antisemitism.

The prison sentence by Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak included 30 years for the child's murder, 20 years for the attempted murder of the mother and 3 years for hate crime, according to prosecutors.

Czuba, who was the landlord for Shaheen and her son, stabbed the boy 26 times with a military-style knife with a 7-inch (18-cm) serrated blade, authorities said. Shaheen suffered multiple stab wounds in the attack that occurred in Plainfield Township, about 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Chicago.

Czuba was found guilty in February. Shaheen testified during the trial that Czuba told her "you, as a Muslim, must die."

Czuba had earlier pleaded not guilty. His defense attorney claimed prosecutors appealed to the jury's emotions.

IMPACT OF WAR IN GAZA ON U.S. SOCIETY

Other recent incidents raising alarm in the U.S. about anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian prejudice include the attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Palestinian American girl in Texas, the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas and the beating of a Muslim man in New York.

There was also a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters in California, a Florida shooting of two Israeli visitors whom a suspect mistook to be Palestinians and a New York City assault by a pro-Israeli mob that chanted "Death to Arabs."

Incidents raising alarm over antisemitism and anti-Israel attitudes include an unsuccessful plot to attack a New York Jewish center, an arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence and attacks in Florida that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damages to businesses over perceived support for Israel.

There have also been physical assaults against Jewish people in Michigan, Maryland and Chicago.

Hate incidents have also been reported during protests and counter-protests related to the war.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Diane Craft)
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada rosen.senate.gov

(The Center Square) - A bill to protect American telecommunications against foreign adversaries is headed to the U.S. Senate floor.

The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, which is co-sponsored by a Nevada senator, would mandate the Federal Communications Commission to publicly name foreign, adversarial government entities that hold licenses, authorizations or grants with the commission.

If this law is passed, the FCC would have 120 days to name these countries.

To dig even further, the commission would have 18 months to create new rules that help identify more countries.

Furthermore, the FCC would have one year after the new rules were created to add to the public list.

This act would require the FCC to update its list on an annual basis.

Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, and Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, introduced this bipartisan bill, which was advanced Wednesday by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.

America needs to protect itself from foreign adversaries that are trying to hack our systems and access our information," Rosen said.

Im glad to see that our bipartisan bill to help protect our telecommunications systems from adversarial nations, including China, Russia and Iran, passed out of committee today, she explained Wednesday. Ill keep pushing to secure our networks and strengthen our national security.

Fischer said America could not let China and Russia have silent footholds in its tech and communication markets.

The senator added that the FACE Act will require the FCC to review the communication risks foreign ownership ties pose to Americas national security.

She also said the U.S. must be able to respond to these foreign threats.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the same bill this week. It was introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Richmond, Virginia.

The Houses passage of my bipartisan FACT Act marks real progress in countering foreign threats to our tech infrastructure, he explained.
Person holding cash. Courtesy: Alexander Mils on Unsplash

(The Center Square)  Colorado taxpayers would see a significant tax increase if the federal Tax Cuts and Job Act expires at the end of the year, a new report says.

The report, released Thursday by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, says Coloradans would see a nearly $3,800 tax increase on average per filer if the law expires. Congress has until the end of the year to reup the tax cuts, which were signed into law during President Donald Trumps first administration in 2017.

NTUF said 80% of the countrys taxpayers stand to see a tax increase if the act expires. That would amount to a 0.5% wage reduction and 1.1% economic activity reduction over the next decade.

The most obvious impact is higher tax bills for families, but there are further automatic tax base changes, elimination of pro-growth business investment policies and huge compliance headaches if the 2017 tax cuts expire, said NTUF Executive Vice President Joseph Bishop-Henchman, the reports lead author. State lawmakers have control over their own state tax codes and should consider shielding their constituents from some of the fallout.

Colorado would be among the states that would see the largest average tax increase per taxpayer at $3,795 per filer.

The other highest per filer averages would be seen in Massachusetts ($4,848), Washington ($4,567), Wyoming ($4,493), the District of Columbia ($4,160) and California ($3,769), according to the report.

These states are especially vulnerable because their tax codes are tied directly to federal law, so expiration would ultimately shrink their revenue, Bishop-Henchman said. Their taxpayers would face hefty new tax bills, while dealing with heavy compliance burdens just to stay on the right side of the law.

Mattias Gugel, NTUs director of state external affairs, said the expired tax cuts would be detrimental to Colorado tourism, with less money for consumers to spend.

Tourists from across the country will be in the same boat, he told The Center Square. That kind of hit to household budgets means fewer family vacations, fewer long weekends in the Rockies and less spending at Colorados restaurants, hotels and resorts.

A tax increase of this size doesnt just affect wallets. It hits the heartbeat of Colorados tourism economy, Gugel said.
By Elizaveta Gladun and Octav Ganea

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Many young Romanians are again scrolling through video-sharing platform TikTok for guidance on how to vote in Sunday's rerun of a presidential election annulled over allegations of Russian meddling via suspicious TikTok accounts.

With around 9 million TikTok users, the nation of 19 million people experienced a surge in such accounts last year during a campaign that eventually led to the annulment of the Nov. 24 election. Moscow has denied the allegations of manipulation.

In the first round of that cancelled election on Nov. 24, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who had been polling in single digits before the ballot, rose into first place amid an explosion of content on TikTok that favoured him.

Now, George Simion, leader of the radical right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), tops the presidential candidate list with 1.3 million followers on TikTok. Lagging far behind with about 233,600 followers is Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister whose politics have turned ultranationalist. The remaining, centrist candidates have even fewer followers.

The 38-year-old Simion's TikTok films combine nationalist rhetoric with an emotionally charged delivery and often use direct-to-camera speeches, footage from political gatherings and behind-the-scenes clips to hone a sense of personal connection.

"The time for rebirth has come," he told followers in a video posted on Tuesday. "Our nation will find its way again ... We have within us the power to be reborn and to move forward, more united and stronger."

Remus Stefureac, chief executive of INSCOP Research, said all the presidential candidates now appreciated the pivotal role of social media in campaigning.

"If we analyse our presidential campaign..., we can say that each and every one of the relevant candidates tried to build strong operations online and on social media, so they invested a lot of their resources in this type of campaign," he said.

YOUNG AUDIENCE

TikTok's Romanian audience is predominantly young: 64.6% are aged 1824 and 33.7% are aged 2534, according to Start.io, a mobile advertising platform that analyses app-based user data.

Young people interviewed by Reuters in downtown Bucharest this week said they obtained information from various online sources, among them TikTok.

Andrei, an engineer who declined to give his full name, said he trusted what he saw on TikTok to a limited extent, though news media sites seemed more credible. He said around a third of people he knew based their political decisions on TikTok material.

Andreea, a student who also withheld her full name, said she was influenced politically largely by TikTok videos. She had watched many TikTok political videos and they had helped her feel closer to the lives of candidates.

TikTok says it has formed a task force to ensure effective moderation of content and has launched a media literacy campaign to help users spot disinformation. In January, the company said it had blocked more than 116,000 spam accounts from being created in Romania during the second half of December.

It also said in a recent report that during the second half of 2024 it had removed over 27,000 accounts operated via a "fake engagement vendor" that had promoted the AUR and Georgescu.

Romania's government has ordered that campaign materials on social media be clearly labelled as such, while local media said the Central Electoral Bureau had ordered the removal of over 500 unverified or mislabelled posts.

In the wake of the annulled election, the European Commission opened formal proceedings against TikTok over its suspected failure to limit interference in the vote.

Stefureac said Romania's experience from 2024 should serve as a lesson for the future of democracy worldwide - "that we cannot take our democracies for granted and we need to find ways to better control and moderate how political and electoral communication is managed through social media".

(Reporting by Octav Ganea and Elizaveta Gladun, writing by Krisztina Than; editing by Mark Heinrich)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's state prosecutor said on Thursday it will not prosecute an American academic who was arrested and charged last month with insulting the royal family, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in jail, and asked a court to free him.

Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University, was arrested after a complaint was filed by the royalist army, drawing widespread criticism within Thailand and from the U.S. State Department, which said it was alarmed by the case.

Chambers was also charged with violations of the computer crimes act. He had denied both sets of charges.

Thailand has one of the world's harshest lese majeste laws, setting jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of defaming, insulting or threatening King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family.

The Office of the Attorney General said in a statement it had decided not to pursue the two sets of charges against Chambers, asking the court in Phitsanulok to release him. It also said it would seek the opinion of the police force on the decision.

Chambers spent a day in pre-trial detention last month and had to wear an ankle bracelet for weeks following his release on bail after his arrest. He also had his Thai work visa revoked, but was told not to leave the country.

His lawyer, Wannaphat Jenroumjit, said the initial charges stemmed from a blurb published on a website of a research institute outside of Thailand for an online academic seminar last year at which Chambers was a speaker.

"The swift order from the prosecutor is a good thing as it could alleviate the damages to Paul, which were numerous," Wannaphat told Reuters.

An appeal against the cancellation of Chambers' visa has been filed, but the immigration bureau has not yet made a decision on the matter, Wannaphat said.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by John Mair)
Stride Investment Management Limited (SIML) today announces the resignation of General Manager Corporate Services, Louise Hill, from the company's executive team.

SIML's Chief Executive Officer, Philip Littlewood, commented: "I would like to sincerely thank Louise for her contribution to Stride over her seven and a half years with us. I am very grateful for her advice, commitment and contribution across a wide range of areas in our business. I wish her the very best for the future."

SIML will provide the market with a further update on this role in the coming months.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Tim Storey, Chairman, Stride Investment Management Limited / Stride Property Limited

Mobile: 021 633 089 - Email: tim.storey@strideproperty.co.nz

Philip Littlewood, Chief Executive Officer, Stride Investment Management Limited

Mobile: 021 230 3026 - Email: philip.littlewood@strideproperty.co.nz

A Stapled Security of the Stride Property Group comprises one ordinary share in Stride Property Limited and one ordinary share in Stride Investment Management Limited. Under the terms of the constitution of each company, the shares in each can only be transferred if accompanied by a transfer of the same number of shares in the other. Stapled Securities are quoted on the NZX Main Board under the ticker code SPG. Further information is available at www.strideproperty.co.nz or at www.nzx.com/companies/SPG.

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DUBLIN (Reuters) -TikTok was fined 530 million euros ($600 million) by its lead EU privacy regulator on Friday over concerns on how it protects user information and was ordered to suspend data transfers to China if its processing is not brought into compliance within six months.

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) said TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, failed to show that EU users' personal data, some of which is remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded the high level of protection provided for under EU law.

As a result, the short-video platform did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to the data under counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards, the DPC said in a statement.

TikTok said it strongly contested the finding and that it has used the EU's own legal framework, specifically so-called standard contractual clauses, to grant tightly controlled and limited remote access. It plans to appeal the ruling.

It also said the decision fails to fully consider data security measures first rolled out in 2023 that independently monitor remote access and ensure EU user data is stored in dedicated data centres in Europe and the United States.

TikTok, which has grown rapidly among teenagers around the world in recent years and has 175 million users across Europe, added that it has never received a request for EU user data from the Chinese authorities, and has never provided data to them.

"This ruling risks setting a precedent with far-reaching consequences for companies and entire industries across Europe that operate on a global scale," TikTok said in a statement.

The DPC also found that while TikTok said throughout the four-year inquiry that it did not store EU user data on servers in China, it disclosed last month that it discovered in February that a limited amount was stored in China and since deleted.

"The DPC is taking these recent developments very seriously. We are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted," DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said.

It is the second time TikTok has been reprimanded by the DPC. It was fined 345 million euros in 2023 for breaching privacy laws regarding the processing of children's personal data in the EU.

The powerful Irish privacy regulator, the lead regulator in the EU for many of the world's top tech firms due to the location of their regional headquarters in Ireland, has also fined the likes of Microsoft's , X and Meta since it was given sanctioning powers in 2018.

Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that also covers European Economic Area member states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, the lead regulator for any given company can impose fines of up to 4% of its global revenue.

($1 = 0.8827 euros)

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Susan Fenton)
HONG KONG/SHENZHEN (Reuters) - Doris Au, a seller of door locks and hardware in Hong Kong for 25 years, received a letter from her bank, DBS Group, last June stating that her business account would be closed. The bank gave little explanation but subsequently froze the account, killing her business with international suppliers, she said.

Au discovered after searching online that another firm with a similar name was added to the U.S. trade blacklist in October 2023 for "providing support to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base." The entry identified two addresses, one of which was Au's warehouse.

"We are not that company. It's totally a mistake," Au told Reuters in her warehouse stacked with locks, hinges and sliding-door kits from well-known brands.

Au's predicament captures the challenge facing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as it ramps up limits on China's access to American technology by adding dozens of Chinese firms to its blacklist.

A Reuters review of almost 100 Chinese and Hong Kong companies added to the U.S. entity list in 2023 and 2024 found more than a quarter, or 26 entries, contained erroneous details, such as incorrect names and addresses and outdated information.

For each listed entity, Reuters visited at least one address identified by the U.S. to determine whether the blacklisted firms were still there. Businesses at those locations included a beauty salon, a tutoring firm, a massage parlour and a counselling center.

At one site in Shenzhen, Reuters found weed-covered remnants of a factory locals said was demolished years earlier.

Yet Reuters also found evidence of trade in restricted items by some entities, aided by loopholes, paper companies and networks of freight forwarders and shipping agents, illustrating the challenge of containing access to sensitive technology.

The entity list, established in 1997, has become an increasingly important tool for the U.S. to limit technology transfers to Russia and China, including semiconductors, that might undermine U.S. security. It is managed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a Commerce Department agency.

Five former U.S. officials acknowledged difficulties in evaluating possible cases of mistaken identity and updating information on the entity list, due in part to limited staffing. BIS is "woefully under-resourced," one said.

Many listed entities are front companies, said Matthew Borman, who until March was a senior BIS official overseeing U.S. export controls, including those targeting China and Russia.

"The challenge is that they can move to a different address with a different name," he said.

BIS and the Commerce Department didn't respond to detailed questions about errors on the trade blacklist and any actions to rectify them.

Singapore-based DBS declined to comment on Au's case. In its letter to Au, DBS didn't mention the entity list but said it had reviewed her business account and found "activity/information that is not consistent with your account profile."

TRADE FLOWS

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. sought to limit transfers of technology that Russia needed for its war in Ukraine. The U.S. added hundreds of entities to contain Moscow's access to such components, many made in China. It also used the list to limit China's access to advanced capabilities in AI, military modernisation and quantum technology.

That trend is continuing under Trump.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in March that China must be prevented from getting U.S. chips, noting the success of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. He said the U.S. would bring export controls into future trade deals.

The Commerce Department has claimed some success from its export controls in stemming chip flows to Russia via Hong Kong and China. But they don't catch everything.

Ukraine's KSE Institute think tank found 76% of all common high priority items likely to be procured by Russia for its weapons programs, including semiconductors, radar and communications gear, were routed through China and Hong Kong in 2023.

Russian customs records show 20 of the 92 entity-listed companies visited by Reuters were exporting restricted items to Russia in December 2023, the most recent month for which a complete dataset was available. Those items, including semiconductors, were valued at $7.5 million.

A Hong Kong government spokesperson said the region had robust controls of strategic trade in line with international standards, but it would not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries.

China's Commerce Ministry didn't respond to questions about trade in U.S.-restricted items with Russia. Moscow's embassy in Washington also didn't respond to questions.

Blacklisted companies and addresses are barred from receiving restricted U.S. goods. Transactions with listed entities aren't necessarily prohibited but should be treated with a "red flag," and parties involved should conduct due diligence, BIS says on its website.

Borman said entities are listed based on BIS analysts' review of open-source and classified information, and the process involves the Commerce, State, Defense, and Energy departments.

Denis Makkaveev, the Hong Kong-based director of Global Broker Solutions Limited, a freight-forwarding company that was entity-listed in 2023, told Reuters he was visited by two BIS agents in October.

In an email seen by Reuters, BIS told Makkaveev it wanted to conduct a "post shipment verification" on a 2024 shipment "to discuss the end use and the end user of the item".

The item wasn't specified and Makkaveev told Reuters he had no idea what it was.

"I'm the forwarder, the logistics guy. I don't trade military goods," Makkaveev said in his office in an industrial building, showing some of the semiconductors he was shipping.

Makkaveev said he got around his company's blacklisting by setting up two new firms on Hong Kong's Companies Registry, which took less than a week. He said he used e-commerce platforms to process payments after banks shunned him.

GHOSTS OF ENTITIES PAST

Around half of the entity-listed locations Reuters visited were company secretarial, or COMSEC, firms. They act as host addresses for businesses formed by overseas and China-based individuals on Hong Kong's Companies Registry.

Some had overspilling mailboxes. Others were tiny cubicles in dilapidated industrial buildings.

Staff at nine COMSEC firms whose addresses were identified by the U.S. as hosting blacklisted companies told Reuters the entities in question were no longer on their books. At one COMSEC firm, Inter Group, a manager surnamed Yang said it still represented hundreds of companies linked to people in Russia.

Banks that facilitate transactions for entities shipping restricted goods to Russia or China can face hefty fines from the U.S. Accordingly, Reuters found some banks monitored customers for any links to the entity list.

That's also where errors in the list came into play.

Crystal Ng, who owns Tsz Yu Beauty salon in Hong Kong, said HSBC and Dah Sing Bank rejected her applications for accounts last year.

She said she learned from one of the banks that her office address was entity-listed when she moved there in late 2023, adding that the former tenant was a company secretarial firm.

In the end, Ng moved her salon to another address, after which she was able to open a business account with Dah Sing, she said.

Benjamin Kostrzewa, a former U.S. official and trade lawyer who advises financial institutions on export controls, said some addresses were "haunted by ghosts of sanctioned entities past."

Many banks have compliance protocols that automatically screen thousands of names daily to ensure they don't fall afoul of U.S. authorities, Kostrzewa said.

"In my experience, banks are often over-compliant," he added, "and sometimes they make mistakes."

HSBC declined to comment on Ng's case. Dah Sing didn't respond to questions.

LOCKED OUT

Au's business name, Win Key (China-Hong Kong) Limited, resembles Win Key and its aliases Win Key Ltd and Win Key Limited, which BIS added to the entity list in 2023.

Russian customs data provided by Olena Bilousova, senior researcher at the KSE Institute, and reviewed by Reuters show Win Key Ltd shipped $147 million of goods to Russia that year, including $104 million in restricted items such as chips and communications equipment. The data show none of the goods came from Au's warehouse.

The second address for Win Key Ltd identified by BIS was occupied by a company secretarial firm, Linkage Secretary Limited. It declined to comment about Win Key Ltd, which registry records show was dissolved in May 2024.

Lee Jan-chi, the Taiwan-based director of Win Key Ltd, couldn't be reached for comment at his residential address.

Taiwan joined the U.S. and its allies in enforcing export controls on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. The island's economy ministry told Reuters it couldn't comment on specific cases, but said Hong Kong's Win Key Ltd had been added to Taiwan's trade blacklist last October.

Since her address was blacklisted by Washington, Au says, U.S. and other foreign suppliers and couriers have refused to ship goods to her. She estimated her losses at over $600,000.

BIS says on its website that people can submit a request for an entity's listing to be removed or modified.

Au said she emailed BIS accordingly. She said she got a response in December seeking further information, which she provided, but hasn't heard more.

Two former U.S. officials said the appeal process is rarely used and tends to be treated with skepticism by U.S. authorities.

The entity list is "like the Hotel California," said Steve Coonen, a former export control expert and foreign affairs adviser for the U.S. government.

"You can probably check in anytime you want, but you can't ever leave."

(Reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong and David Kirton in Shenzhen; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington, Anson Law and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Antoni Slodkowski and David Crawshaw)
By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on two entities and three Mexican nationals it said are involved in a drug trafficking and oil smuggling network linked to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion gang.

U.S. authorities say CJNG is one of the two major Mexican drug gangs, along with the Sinaloa Cartel, responsible for pushing fentanyl onto U.S. streets over the past few years.

The Treasury imposed sanctions on hazardous materials transportation companies Servicios Logisticos Ambientales and Grupo Jala Logistica, saying they have transported fuel and crude oil between Mexico and the United States on behalf of individuals linked to Mexican cartels.

The network generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually benefiting CJNG, through fentanyl trafficking, fuel theft, and smuggling stolen crude from Mexico across the southwest border, Treasury said.

Fuel theft and crude oil smuggling are cash cows for CJNGs narco-terrorist enterprise, providing a lucrative revenue stream for the group and enabling it to wreak havoc in Mexico and

the United States," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He said the U.S. would use all available tools to target the cartels.

The administration of President Donald Trump in February designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist.

Attempts by Reuters to reach the companies were not successful.

The sanctions block all U.S. property and interests of the persons and entities and prohibit Americans from any transactions with them.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Ian Hutchinson | Unsplash

Over the next few months, members of the U.S. Congress will answer an important question: Should North Carolinians be forced to pay for bad state tax policies in New York and California?

It sounds ridiculous, but its one of the key issues lawmakers in Washington, DC, will tackle as they work to extend a series of big tax cuts created back in the first Trump administration. Most of the proposals under consideration are very pro-taxpayer, including extending low personal rates and the increased standard deduction, increasing the pro-family child tax credit, and freeing most taxpayers from the complicated and duplicative alternative minimum tax that makes some filers calculate their taxes twice and pay the higher amount.

To help pay for all these great taxpayer measures, Congress back in 2017 placed a cap on a tax break that mainly helped rich taxpayers in liberal northern and western states: the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. Over 90% of this tax break went to taxpayers making over $200,000 a year, with over half going to taxpayers taking home over a million dollars in income.

Most importantly, over 90% of the benefits of this deduction went to taxpayers in six states: California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas. So, basically, taxpayers in North Carolina were subsidizing a tax deduction going to rich people in high-tax states.

Now, a few members of Congress from these left-wing states have proposed significantly raising this cap on state and local taxes, or even getting rid of it altogether. Rather than make their state more competitive by lowering taxes, they instead want you to subsidize their irresponsible spending for projects like free health care and public university tuition for illegal immigrants.

These blue state members of Congress give two reasons why they feel their rich taxpayers deserve this benefit. They believe that all Americans benefit from the state and local services paid for by their heavy government spending, and that they feel that their states pay more into the federal coffers and therefore deserve more federal money going their way.

Both arguments dont hold much weight. How often does a resident of Fayetteville use the sidewalks of Brooklyn or Chicago? Do their kids ever attend Boston public schools, or receive treatment at a public hospital in San Francisco? Probably not that often.

Services provided by state and local governments reflect the interests of the voters that vote for the leaders of their governments, and the services provided are consumed almost exclusively by residents in those jurisdictions. While some residents will move to different jurisdictions, this by itself should not create an expectation that a resident of Wilmington should help subsidize street signs in Times Square.

The other argument provided by these blue state members of Congress holds even less water. They claim they send more money to Washington, DC, than other states, so the residents should get a special tax break. Federal taxes are not assessed on states; they are assessed on taxpayers in those states using rules that are the same across all the states. If someone makes more money, then he will likely pay more federal taxes. Many of these blue states have more rich people living there than other areas of the country. Good for those individuals who are doing well financially. Congratulations! But that does not mean they should get a tax break for choosing to live in high-tax states since they provide a basket of government services that they prefer. Neither the federal government nor other states owe them any extra funds because of their success or their choice of residency. These taxpayers are just paying their fair share.

Meanwhile, residents of states like North Carolina, with more modest budgets and lower tax rates, would receive less benefit, widening the fiscal disparity between states. Even worse, lifting the cap could encourage further fiscal irresponsibility by allowing high-tax states to continue their spending habits without fixing underlying budget issues.

As Congress pieces together the one big beautiful tax bill, its important that states like North Carolina arent left holding the bag for the bad policies of New York, California, New Jersey, and other fiscally mismanaged states. Congress should keep the SALT deduction capped.
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The following contains light spoilers for "Thunderbolts*," so beware if you prefer to go in cold.

A generation of youngsters have been raised on the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. And while most of those movies are pretty kid-friendly ("Ant-Man," for example), some do lean older in terms of content.

Last summer's R-rated "Deadpool & Wolverine" was definitely one of those. And the new action-comedy adventure "Thunderbolts*" (in theaters now) is another. While it's an entertaining and meaningful outing  and features Marvel supporting characters that young fans of previous superhero flicks will recognize  the movie is surprisingly dark and pretty heady when it comes to themes of depression and mental health.

So before taking the little ones to the local cineplex, here's what parents need to know about "Thunderbolts*":

Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox

What is 'Thunderbolts*' about?

Red Guardian (David Harbour, far left), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) are the scrappy antiheroes of Marvel's "Thunderbolts*."

When antagonistic CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) comes under fire from Congress, she tries to get rid of evidence of her wrongdoing. She lures a bunch of her shadow agents  including Russian assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), invisible operative Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and disgraced former Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Ryssell)  to a remote location so they'll take each other out, but they instead form a team.

These Thunderbolts are joined by Yelena's dad Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to face off with Valentina, who turns their powerful new friend Bob (Lewis Pullman) against them.

What is the 'Thunderbolts*' age rating?

"Thunderbolts*" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for "strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references."

Can kids watch 'Thunderbolts*'?

Russian assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) meets the mysterious Bob (Lewis Pullman) in "Thunderbolts*."

It's more for tweens and teens than younger kids. The movie includes four-letter words and adult-oriented humor, though children of all ages will get a kick out of Harbour's paunchy and scene-stealing Red Guardian. In terms of violence, it's got plenty of gunfight and action scenes, plus one somewhat main character gets shot in the face early in the movie.

The darker, more striking material comes later. When Bob becomes a colorless figure known as The Void and threatens New York City, he erases people in the street, including a young girl, and only a black, body-sized mark is left where they were. (That shadow effect was inspired by images from the aftermath of Hiroshima.) Also, many of the main heroes revisit moments of past trauma and regret, including scenes with Bob and his abusive dad, and the intimated murder of a young girl as Yelena looks on. Those may need some parental guidance or a chat afterward.

Are there any post-credit scenes in 'Thunderbolts*'?

Yes! There is one mid-credits scene that's a humorous bit involving breakfast cereal and a Thunderbolt that kids will enjoy. The more significant one for hardcore fans is after the credits finish, revisiting the characters some time after the movie ends and setting up future Marvel films.

Which Marvel movies do you need to watch before 'Thunderbolts*'?

There's not a ton of homework needed for this  most of the action is self-contained and most of the characters, B- and C-level MCU players, are explained on the fly. If your teen wants to bone up, watch "Black Widow," which explains Yelena and Red Guardian's origin stories and connection to Scarlett Johansson's Avengers heroine, and the series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," which digs into Walker's complicated past with Bucky. Plus, for more on Ghost and her invisibility powers, watch her first appearance in "Ant-Man and the Wasp." (All the past Marvel movies and shows are streaming on Disney+.)

What are some kid-friendly Marvel movies?

Paul Rudd's shrinking hero rides insects and tussles with a ginormous Thomas the Tank Engine in "Ant-Man," so that for sure is best for the kiddos. The original "Avengers" is OK for little ones, as is the World War II throwback "Captain America: The First Avenger." And for those who dig school movies, tuck into "Spider-Man: Homecoming" with Tom Holland as the young web-swinger caught between superhero duties and living life as a teenager.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 'Thunderbolts' appropriate for kids? A parent's guide.
FILE - Paula Kerger, President and CEO at PBS, speaks at the executive session during the PBS Winter 2020 TCA Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Jan. 10, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

The nation's public broadcasting system  decades-long home to Big Bird, Ken Burns documentaries and All Things Considered"  faces the biggest crisis in its nearly 60-year history with President Donald Trump's order to slash federal subsidies.

A court fight seems inevitable, with the heads of PBS, NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting all suggesting Friday that Trump's order is illegal.

We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public, said Katherine Maher, NPR's president and CEO. We will challenge this executive order using all means available. Her counterpart at PBS, Paula Kerger, said Trump's order was blatantly unlawful.

The public broadcasting system dates back to the late 1960s, devised as an educational and public service-oriented alternative to commercial broadcasters available at the time. In his order, Trump said the system has become politically biased and time has passed it by.

Today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse and innovative news options, the president said in his order, issued just before midnight Thursday. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary, but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.

The focus is on news, but there could be other casualties

Trump's order concentrates on news, and between PBS' NewsHour and a robust reporting corps at NPR, that's an important part of their operations. But public broadcasting also has entertainment programming, educational children's shows and Burns' historical documentaries.

PBS and NPR get about a half-billion dollars a year in public funding funneled through the private Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Roughly 70% of that goes directly to the 330 local PBS outlets and 246 NPR stations.

On average, PBS says 15% of its stations' budgets come from public funding. But there are wide variations; stations in larger markets usually get more money through philanthropy and fund drives, while smaller stations depend much more on the government.

Besides Trump's order, Congress has been considering future funding levels for the public broadcasters, and the Federal Communications Commission is questioning public broadcasting efforts at corporate underwriting, said Josh Shepperd, author of the 2023 book Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting.

It's a three-pronged effort that is frankly very smart in its institutional understanding, Shepperd said. They're not just going after programs that they don't like. They're going after the operations and the infrastructure that makes it possible to even air the programming.

A ripple effect is possible, and could be local

Trump's order instructs the CPB and other government agencies to cease Federal funding for PBS and National Public Radio and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing. Separate from the CPB grant, for example, PBS gets a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for programming that helps build the reading, math and science skills for children age 2 to 8, particularly in poor areas.

The administration's plan might not threaten your favorite program  Burns gets plenty of corporate and philanthropic support  but it may impact local programming and potential growth, Shepperd said.

Congressional Republicans aired some of their grievances about public broadcasting to Kerger and Maher at a public hearing in March. Such complaints have been common over the years, but the broadcasters have avoided funding cuts, in large part because members of Congress don't want to be seen as responsible if a station in their district shuts down. Who wants to be the public official who killed Sesame Street?

Also, public pressure from constituents is minimized because most Republicans don't watch PBS or listen to NPR, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. I have this morning habit of listening to NPR on my commute, Graham said. I yell at the radio.

For years, Graham's group has issued reports with examples of what it says is bias against conservatives. For example, during an 18-month period that ended last November, his researchers counted 162 examples of PBS journalists or contributors making reference labeling some politicians far right or some variation, with only six called far left.

He said he's not trying to shut down these stations, but resists them receiving public money.

Let the people who listen to it do the funding, Graham said.

Bias concerns are taken seriously, officials say

At a board meeting Friday, CPB president and CEO Pat Harrison said her agency has taken bias concerns seriously. It has increased investments in fact-based local journalism, and provided a grant to NPR to make changes in its newsroom to address issues of bias.

The court fight over public broadcasting has already begun. The president earlier this week said he was firing three of the five remaining CPB board members  threatening its ability to do any work  and was immediately sued by the CPB to stop it.

The executive order is also the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with  particularly those related to media.

Since taking office in January for a second term, Trump has ousted leaders, placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters and others, through takeovers of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agree to eliminate diversity programs and other measures he has found objectionable.

The move against PBS and NPR comes as Trump's administration works to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press.

Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, which have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
British comedian and actor Russell Brand was granted bail after appearing in a London court Friday on charges of rape and multiple counts of sex assault.

Brand, who was charged last month, has always denied having nonconsensual sex since the allegations about him were first aired two years ago.

Brands appearance Friday came ahead of the first hearing of the case at Westminster magistrates court.

He arrived in a black shirt unbuttoned down to his chest, black jeans and dark sunglasses. Making his way through the main entrance, he was flanked by journalists and photographers on both sides, to whom he did not give any interviews or comments.

In a short procedural hearing, the 49-year-old right-wing wellness influencer spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions.

Brand will next appear at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, on May 30.

London police on April 4 charged Brand with rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault in cases related to four separate women between 1999 and 2005.

Russell Brand arrives at court in London on Friday.

Court documents detailing the charges stated Brand indecently assaulted a woman in 2001 by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet. In another instance in 2004, he was accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Westminster by touching her breasts without her consent.

After he was charged, Brand in a video on X stated, I have never engaged in non-consensual activity, adding, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and Im incredibly grateful for that.

The charges came after detectives began investigating in September 2023 after The Sunday Times newspaper and British broadcaster Channel 4 reported allegations that Brand had sexually and emotionally abused four women.

Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women. One of them said she was 16 (the age of consent in the U.K.) and Brand was 30 when they began a relationship that included abuse and sexual assault.

Born in Essex, Brand rose to fame in British television in the early 2000s, including a stint as a broadcaster on the BBC, from which he resigned in 2008 after he and his co-presenter made prank calls to British actor Andrew Sachs, which resulted in more than 42,000 complaints.

He later moved to Hollywood and starred in numerous films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008 and Get Him to the Greek in 2010.

He married pop star Katy Perry in 2010, but the couple divorced 14 months later. In 2017, he married Laura Gallacher, with whom he has three children. Last year, he said he had become a Christian.

Brand, who has since faded from mainstream culture, is an outspoken critic of American politics and free speech and regularly posts his views on his YouTube channel.

These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies, he said in another video on X posted in September 2023. And as Ive written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous, he said.

The relationships I had were very absolutely, always consensual, he added, before suggesting that the mainstream media may have an agenda against him.
A man flees hid home following attacks by armed gangs, many grouped behind an alliance known as Viv Ansanm, in the Poste Marchand neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Dec. 9, 2024.

The Trump administration has designated a coalition of Haitian gangs that have embroiled the Caribbean nation in mass violence as terrorist organizations, a White House official confirmed to NBC News.

The Viv Ansanm coalition and the Gran Grif gang will now be labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organizations and as Specifically Designated Global Terrorists by the State Department.

The designation was first reported by the Miami Herald.

The Treasury Department also applied the designation to the Gran Grif gang. In October, the gang took responsibility for a massacre of at least 115 people in Pont-Sonde, a rural town.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized a similar designation for several Mexican cartels and gangs, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, according to which, if an individual is found to be providing material support to them, they could face sanctions and penalties.

"Engaging in transactions with members of these groups entails risk in relation to counterterrorism sanctions authorities, not only for Haitians but also for U.S. lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens," Rubio said in a statement on Friday. "Individuals and entities providing material support or resources to Viv Ansanm or Gran Grif could face criminal charges and inadmissibility or removal from the United States."

The terrorist designation for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 has been used as one determining factor in deporting several people in the U.S. to a Salvadorian prison. The move comes as thousands of Haitians living in the U.S. under protected status programs were told they must leave the country months before their status was set to expire.

According to a fact sheet by the State Department, Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti's rural Artibonite region. The department said the gang is responsible for 80% of the deaths in that area, including an attack earlier this year that killed a Kenyan military officer on a mission to provide security in Haiti.

The wife of a journalist who was shot during a gang attack cries as his body arrives at a hospital in Port-au-Prince on Dec. 24, 2024.

Viv Ansanm is a coalition of gangs especially concentrated in Port-au-Prince, where most of the violence has centralized since 2021. According to the State Department, this group coordinated the attacks that have destabilized critical infrastructure, including prisons, government buildings and the main airport.

Rubio told the Herald that the designation was part of Americas responsibility to address the widespread violence and political upheaval in the country. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

In anticipation of the designation, Democratic representatives Gregory Meeks of New York and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, sent a letter to Rubio sharing their problems with the plan.

"While we support efforts to target the financial support of violent gangs wreaking havoc on innocent Haitians," they wrote on April 30, "we are concerned that an FTO designation, absent a clear, comprehensive U.S. strategy to defeat the gangs and their enablers, is counterproductive and will only exacerbate Haitians suffering."

Guerline Jozef, the executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, said the designation "would not weaken the gangs  it would criminalize survivors, block humanitarian aid, and escalate deportations and target of people of Haitian descent fleeing for their lives. We must address the flow of guns and armed groups in Haiti while pursuing lawful, effective toolsnot political theater.

In addition to potentially cracking down on anyone in the U.S. who sends cash to people in Haiti, Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who is monitoring the situation in the country, said the designation may have more of a social effect on Haitians living here.

More than 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict as the violence has spread to central Haiti. The instability throughout the country has forced health facilities to close and has caused widespread famine.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic and other countries have been deporting Haitian migrants back to their home country despite pleas from the United Nations to stand down over humanitarian concerns, according to Reuters.
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Last month, the return of the dire wolf took over the mediaits one of the first happy headlines to take off in a while. I was so chuffed to see how many people were into the idea of protecting species from extinction. Thats so relevant to our age.

Of course, the de-extinction story isnt really truethe wolves are simply genetically modified gray wolves. But there are so many cool stories of species brought back from the brink that are 100% true. Humanity has done a good job, at least a few times! And it deserves to be mentioned: The science used to deextinct the dire wolf could help other species, lengthening the list of our conservation success stories.

Here are those tales of near extinctionand where to spot the creatures that almost became fiction.

jared lloyd via Getty Images

1. Bald Eagles: America's Comeback Kid

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was riding Amtraks Borealis train across the Upper Mississippi River, and I couldnt believe my eyes: There were dozens of bald eagles along the river at that exact moment.

I grew up not far from the Mississippi, so this felt unreal. Why wasnt my childhood like this? In the mid-20th century, there were just 417 breeding pairs in the entirety of the Lower 48they were decimated by widespread hunting and DDT pesticides that weakened their eggshells. The 1972 DDT ban and protections under the Endangered Species Act sparked an incredible turnaround: After decades of captive breeding programs, habitat protection, and public education, bald eagles have soared back to over 71,400 nesting pairs in 2020. 71,000! They were officially delisted in 2007, once again ruling America's skies and waterways as living symbols of successful conservation.

To-do list: Ride Amtraks Borealis train across the Upper Mississippi.

arkanto via Getty Images

2. California Condors: Rising from 22

The California condor's revival is nothing short of miraculous: By 1982, only 22 individuals remained in the wild, pushed to extinction's edge by lead poisoning, habitat loss, and human persecution. In a desperate gamble, conservationists captured every remaining wild condor for an intensive captive breeding program. (Can you imagine that being your job?)

The strategy worked. Careful reintroduction began in 1992, and today, some 500 California condors soar above the American Southwest, with approximately half flying free. Though still critically endangered and facing ongoing threats from lead ammunition and power lines, these magnificent birdswith 9-foot wingspans!showcase how dedicated conservation efforts can pull a species back from the absolute brink.

To-do list: Go condor-viewing at Californias Pinnacles National Park.

by wildestanimal via Getty Images

3. Whales: Oceans' Giants Rebound

The 20th century spelled near doom for the world's whales, with industrial whaling driving many species toward extinction. Humpback whales, just one example, plummeted to 5,000 individuals by the 1960s. (Thats how powerful humans arewe can wipe out any creature, no matter their size.)

The 1985 global commercial whaling moratorium became their lifeline. Today, humpback populations have rebounded to approximately 80,000 worldwide, while gray whales and southern right whales have also made significant recoveries. Though still threatened by ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and ocean noise pollution, many whale populations now show positive growth trends. Their recovery demonstrates the power of international cooperation and the effectiveness of giving nature time and space to heal. Can you imagine a world without these buddies?

To-do list: Whale-watching through Alaskas Kenai Fjords.

Patrick Kuperus via Getty Images

4. American Bison: From Millions to Hundreds to Thousands

Once thundering across North America in herds of tens of millions, commercial hunting reduced the American bison (Latin name: bison bison) to fewer than 1,000 by the late 1800s. Maybe youve seen the vintage photos of their skulls and hides packed in train cars? Oof.

Early conservationists like William Hornaday and Theodore Roosevelt established protected herds, beginning the slow recovery process. Today, approximately 500,000 bison exist, though only about 20,000 are in conservation herds with pure genetics. While nowhere near their historical numbers, bison now roam protected lands like Yellowstone National Park and numerous tribal lands, where Indigenous nations lead restoration efforts.

To-do list: Custer State Parks buffalo round-up, in South Dakota.

Donna Feledichuk via Getty Images

5. Whooping Cranes: Dancing Back from 15

The whooping crane's recovery showcases just how far the most dedicated humans will go to save a species.

In 1941, these striking five-foot-tall white birds declined to just 15 individuals. Intensive protection of their last breeding grounds in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park, along with innovativewhich is putting it lightlyreintroduction programs (where teams literally dressed up as birds to teach instincts and even flew with them in tiny airplanes to show them ancient migratory routes), have gradually increased their numbers.

Today, approximately 800 whooping cranes exist, including about 500 in the wild. Though still endangered, each dancing, trumpeting, whooping crane represents a victory against overwhelming odds.

To-do list: Catch a whooper at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana, one of their main nesting grounds.

Foreverhappy-Mee via Getty Images

6. Giant Pandas: China's Conservation Emblem

God, theyre just so squeezable.

Facing extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation in China's bamboo forests, panda numbers fell to fewer than 1,000 individuals by the 1980s. China responded with strict habitat protection, creating reserves that now protect nearly 70% of wild pandas, along with sophisticated breeding programs. These efforts paid off in 2016 when pandas were downlisted from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, with wild populations increasing 17% between 2004 and 2014 to approximately 1,800 individuals. As the World Wildlife Fund's iconic symbol, pandas demonstrate how focusing resources on a charismatic species can achieve remarkable conservation success.

To-do list: Eat your weight in Chinese food before heading to Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve.
The News in Brief Friday, May 2, 2025

The Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia has strongly condemned the resumption of direct flights between Russia and the occupied Abkhazian region, calling it a violation of both international law and Georgian legislation. The agency emphasized that the airport in question was opened illegally and lacks the necessary certification to ensure flight safety.In a statement, the agency stressed that Georgia is unable to supervise aviation safety and security in the occupied territory, making any air traffic from the region a serious risk. "Operating air traffic from an airport that does not have an aerodrome suitability certificate issued by an authorized body... poses a threat to aviation and passenger safety," the statement reads.The Georgian government reiterated that any flights operating from Abkhazia without the permission of Georgian authorities violate the country's Law on Occupied Territories, as well as international civil aviation standards under the Chicago Convention. Georgia, as a signatory to the Convention, said it remains committed to international norms and continues to raise the issue through diplomatic and multilateral channels.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already submitted a diplomatic note to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), reaffirming the country's position on the inadmissibility of international flights from occupied Abkhazia. The government says it will continue coordinating with relevant agencies and international partners to address the violation.Regular flights between Russia and Abkhazia resumed on May 1st for the first time in 30 years.The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted recent reports claiming the abolition of the Directorate General for European Integration. In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that the ongoing structural reform involves the creation of a new Political Directorate for European Affairs, which will consolidate the existing Europe and European Integration Departments."The information that the Directorate General for European Integration will be abolished in the Ministry is not true," the statement reads. "As a result of the reform, a Political Directorate for European Affairs will be established. [with] four divisions in the European Integration Department, which will serve the country's EU integration agenda."The Ministry emphasized that the reorganization aims to strengthen and streamline Georgia's coordination with European institutions and member states, describing the move as a step toward enhancing efficiency rather than dismantling the EU integration framework.This clarification comes in response to claims made by Grigol Gegelia, a representative of the opposition coalition Lelo-Strong Georgia. Gegelia alleged that the Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, is effectively shutting down the directorate and laying off 250 employees as part of the reform process.
Kiwi Property today announced the appointment of Louise Hill in a newly created role, GM Corporate Services, effective late July 2025.

Louise has considerable experience in senior leadership roles in governance, legal, and health and safety, including most recently at an NZX-listed property company and prior to that as Head of Legal at Fletcher Building, Head of Corporate Risk and Governance at Fletcher Construction, and Senior Associate at Bell Gully.

At Kiwi Property, the new GM Corporate Services role will oversee the existing Legal, Digital and governance functions across the company, including serving as General Counsel.

Kiwi Property CEO, Clive Mackenzie, says: "We are thrilled to welcome Louise to the Kiwi Property executive leadership team. Her broad range of experience in the corporate services space, particularly her capital transactions experience, will be an invaluable contribution to the work we are doing to ensure our business is fit for the future."

Louise said she was excited to be joining Kiwi Property in July.

"Kiwi Property is at an exciting point in its mixed-use strategy, and this is an opportune time to join the team on this journey. Im inspired by Kiwi Propertys ambitious vision for the future of its property portfolio and am eager to contribute to the success of this strategy, says Louise.

ENDS

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Some prepackaged salads sold at Trader Joe's have been recalled over concerns that they contain an undeclared allergen.

Trader Joes Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon was recalled because it may contain milk that is not declared on the label, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in an announcement on April 28.

About 500 units of the salad were mistakenly packaged with a sealed packet of parmesan cheese crumbles instead of a packet of crispy onions, the FDA said.

The salads were sold in 18 states across the country, according to the announcement.

This week's announcement also follows an earlier recall from Trader Joe's for a batch of Hot Honey Mustard Dressing that does not expire until the end of May.

Trader Joe's sesame miso salad with salmon has been recalled.

What should customers do with the recalled Trader Joe's salads?

Customers should not consume the product if they have a milk allergy, the FDA said. Trader Joe's added that customers can return it to their local store for a full refund.

Which Trader Joe's salads were recalled?

Trader Joes Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon was recalled because of a possible milk allergen.

The affected batch has use by dates of April 28 and 29 and the UPC barcode number 00773164, per the FDA.

Where were the recalled Trader Joe's salads sold?

According to the FDA announcement, the recalled salads were sold in more than a dozen states, including Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Check pantries for recalled Trader Joe's dressing

Trader Joe's issued a recall in March for its Hot Honey Mustard Dressing, which does not expire until late May, so it could still be in some customers' pantries.

The recall was issued because of a labeling error, as certain bottles may contain undeclared allergens, including peanut, sesame, soy and wheat, the company said.

Customers who have the recalled product should discard or return it to a Trader Joes store for a full refund, according to the company.

The affected items have a recall date of May 27, 2025, and were sold in Arkansas, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at MKhan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trader Joe's premade salad recalled over milk allergen
Fernando Rodriguez Jr. speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November 2017. - From Senate Judiciary Committee/File

A Donald Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas ruled that the president unlawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act and blocked the administration from quickly deporting some alleged members of a Venezuelan gang.

US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez of the Southern District of Texas said Trump had unlawfully invoked the sweeping 18th century wartime authority to speed up some deportations. His decision means Trump cannot rely on the law to detain or deport any alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua within his district.

The ruling is a significant blow to Trumps decision in March to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, which has faced numerous legal challenges and has been halted by several courts. But Rodriguezs ruling is the first to conclude that the president exceeded his authority by relying on a law that was intended to be used during times when the US is at war.

The Trump administration, Rodriguez wrote, does not possess the lawful authority under the AEA, and based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country.

The President cannot summarily declare that a foreign nation or government has threatened or perpetrated an invasion or predatory incursion of the United States, followed by the identification of the alien enemies subject to detention or removal, the judge wrote.

He continued: Allowing the President to unilaterally define the conditions when he may invoke the AEA, and then summarily declare that those conditions exist, would remove all limitations to the Executive Branchs authority under the AEA, and would strip the courts of their traditional role of interpreting Congressional statutes to determine whether a government official has exceeded the statutes scope. The law does not support such a position.

Although Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act has been litigated in multiple courts nationwide, including the Supreme Court, Rodriguez is the first judge to have reached a final decision on the merits.

The importance of this ruling cannot be overstated, said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who helped bring the legal challenge.

This is the first court to squarely rule on the fundamental question of whether a wartime authority can be used during peacetime and properly concluded it can not, Gelernt said.

The Venezuelans suing had narrowly avoided being sent to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act when two flights took migrants to the countrys notorious CECOT prison in March.

They were continuing to sue so that the administration wouldnt try again to deport them under the Alien Enemies Act. The judge says other immigration laws governing deportations could still be used, and the men are still being held in a facility in south Texas.

Last month, the Supreme Court, without reaching the merits of Trumps use of the 1798 law for deportations, said that sufficient notice needed to be given by officials to people targeted under it so the migrants could raise legal challenges if they wanted to. The court also ruled that the migrants Trump is targeting must challenge their removal under a habeas petition in a district court with geographic jurisdiction over the place where they are being held.

But that decision was light on details, and weeks later, the justices were asked to intervene in a case out of the Northern District of Texas in which some Venezuelan migrants claimed they hadnt received adequate notice of the governments intention to swiftly deport them under the law.

In a middle-of-the-night order, the high court said no one who the Trump administration was preparing to deport under the Alien Enemies Act who are being held in a northern Texas detention facility can be removed while it considers the emergency appeal. The court is still considering the request.

The administration is likely to appeal Rodriguezs ruling to the conservative 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, and its possible the case could eventually land before the Supreme Court.

But there are separate groups of detainees in different places around the country, like in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nevada, whom the administration had been gearing up to deport using the AEA, making each judges decisions in lower courts notable as several court cases like these continue this month.

The administration has argued that Trump was justified in using the Alien Enemies Act to target alleged members of Tren de Aragua, which the government has designated a foreign terrorist organization. But its also said that courts dont have the power to review the presidents invocation of the law, something Rodriguez strongly rejected on Thursday.

The judge acknowledged that while he may not adjudicate the veracity of the factual statements made in Trumps proclamation invoking the wartime authority, he retains the authority to construe the AEAs terms and determine whether the announced basis for the Proclamation properly invokes the statute.

CNNs John Fritze contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional details.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President Donald Trump speaking in the Oval Office in February.

President Donald Trump released a budget proposal Friday calling for a mix of cuts to domestic programs involving public health, education and clean energy, while seeking to increase spending on the military when factoring in a one-time boost.

The 40-page request was addressed to congressional leaders and accompanied by a letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought addressed to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Overall, Vought said the proposal contains a 23% cut ($163 billion) in discretionary funding, and a 13% increase in military spending after including the $150 billion Republicans are eying in a separate bill.

The White House budget comes as the Republican-led Congress is seeking to craft a massive bill for Trumps priorities of tax cuts, higher spending on immigration enforcement and the military, spending cuts in other parts of the federal government, and a debt limit increase. Vought mentioned the calls for border funding in the new budget blueprint.

The budget sparked some unusual pushback from Republican defense hawks, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who accused the White House of using accounting tricks to make it look like the White House wants a trillion-dollar budget.

It is requesting a budget of $892.6 billion, which is a cut in real terms, Wicker said in a statement, referring to the Pentagon spending level outside the one-time supplemental. This budget would decrease President Trumps military options and his negotiating leverage. We face an Axis of Aggressors led by the Chinese Communist Party, who have already started a trade war rather than negotiate in good faith.

White House budgets are usually symbolic and never become law as written. But they represent the presidents vision for spending and tend to influence the debate on Capitol Hill. They also tend to be a vehicle for messaging on the White Houses most popular priorities  and often propose difficult policy compromises or cuts that become the basis for political attacks from the opposition party.

Trumps new proposals could affect the next round of government funding talks, with funding set to expire on Sept. 30 after passage of a six-month funding bill in early March. That legislation  unlike the party-line "reconciliation" bill  is subject to the 60-vote filibuster rule in the Senate, meaning it will need significant Democratic support to become law in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Trump's budget proposes a variety of steep cuts to well-known government programs, including cutting the National Institutes of Health by $18 billion compared with 2025 levels, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $4 billion, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $3.6 billion.

The budget also calls for various cuts to clean energy funding, education funding, scientific research and international aid.

And it proposes a funding boost for Trump priorities, including a $43.8 billion boost to the Department of Homeland Security, $113.3 billion for the Defense Department and $500 million for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "MAHA"  "make America healthy again"  priorities like promoting nutrition and exercise.

The Trump proposal is limited to "discretionary" spending and excludes proposals on "mandatory" spending, the major part of the U.S. budget that covers safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Yet that's where difficult decisions on federal spending ultimately lie, with Medicaid proving to be a sticking point among Republicans as they consider their big bill on Trump's tax and spending priorities later this year.

Trump's budget won praise from Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called it "a bold blueprint that reflects the values of hardworking Americans and the commitment to American strength and prosperity."

"House Republicans stand ready to work alongside President Trump to implement a responsible budget that puts America first," he said.

It was slammed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who vowed that Democrats will "fight this heartless budget with everything weve got."

"Donald Trumps days of pretending to be a populist are over. His policies are nothing short of an all out assault on hardworking Americans," Schumer said in a statement. "As he guts healthcare, slashes education, and hollows out programs families rely on  hes bankrolling tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Its not just fiscally irresponsible, its a betrayal of working people from a morally bankrupt president."

Collins also responded in a Friday statement calling the request simply one step in the annual budget process and noting: Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse.

This request has come to Congress late, and key details still remain outstanding, Collins said, expressing serious objections to various provisions including cuts to programs like LIHEAP, TRIO [an Education Department program], and those that support biomedical research.
Iran talks

Talks between the United States and Iran over Tehrans nuclear program set for this weekend have been scrapped, according to the government of Oman, which has been mediating deliberations between the two sides.

A fourth round of discussions had been scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday, but were postponed due to logistical reasons, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi revealed on X Thursday.

New dates will be announced when mutually agreed, added al-Busaidi, who did not elaborate on the logistical reasons.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has been leading talks on the US side. REUTERS

Irans Foreign Ministry claimed that the meeting was delayed at the request of Omans foreign minister, while an unidentified source claimed to the Associated Press that Washington had never confirmed its participation in Saturdays planned talks but was expecting conversations to take place in the near future.

On Wednesday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ominous threat against Iran over its ongoing backing of Yemens Houthi rebels, whose attacks on Red Sea shipping have drawn the attention of the US Navy.

Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing, Hegseth proclaimed on X. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of  and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.

The responsibility for the consequences and destructive effects of the contradictory behavior and provocative statements of American officials regarding Iran will lie with the American side, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei responded to Hegseth Thursday.

Two rounds of indirect talks between the US and Iran took place in Omans capital, Muscat, while the third was held at the sultanates embassy in Rome.

The US hopes to convince Iran to give up its nuclear program, which Washington believes to be geared toward creating an atomic weapon, in exchange for a rollback of sanctions against the theocratic regime.

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iran if talks fall through.

Message to IRAN:



We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing.



You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of  and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025

Irans nuclear program is said to be making rapid advancements. ZUMAPRESS.com

Im not asking for much  but they cant have a nuclear weapon, the president told reporters April 9. If it requires military, were going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be  the leader of that. No one leads us. We do what we want.

US special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has taken the lead in the talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

In 2018, Trump pulled the US out of the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, saying it lacked adequate mechanisms to prevent, detect, and punish cheating and dont even have the unqualified right to inspect many locations, including military facilities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been involved in discussions between the two adversarial countries. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

In addition to its nuclear program, Irans ballistic missile system has rattled the US. AP

Not only does the deal fail to halt Irans nuclear ambitions, he said at the time, but it also fails to address the regimes development of ballistic missiles that could deliver nuclear warheads.

Back in March, however, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.

Trump confirmed in March that he had penned a letter to Khamenei seeking to rekindle nuclear talks.
An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard near the Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 1, 2025. - Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The United States is stepping up pressure on India and Pakistan to avoid conflict in Kashmir after a tourist massacre in an Indian-administered area of the divided territory last week.

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington hopes Pakistan will help hunt down the militants behind the attack as well as any other terrorist groups who he said sometimes operate from within Pakistan.

India has long accused Pakistan of harboring militant groups that have conducted attacks against it, including in Kashmir, something Islamabad has long denied.

Vance also urged India, which has vowed to pursue the tourist massacre attackers to the ends of the earth to act with restraint so tensions do not explode into a war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict, Vance said in an interview on Fox News Special Report with Bret Baier.

And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.

Vances comments echoed those of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Wednesday spoke with top Pakistani and Indian officials and called on the two rivals to work with each other to de-escalate tensions, according to State Department readouts of the two calls.

Rubio expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism, in his call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

In his call with Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22, and urged Pakistani officials cooperation in the investigation.

Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence, the readout said.

Fears of a broader conflict increased earlier this week when Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said his country had credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours.

That timeframe has now passed.

Militants on April 22 massacred 26 civilians, the vast majority tourists, in the mountainous town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, a rampage that has sparked widespread outrage.

India and Pakistan have since engaged in tit-for-tat hostilities.

India closed its airspace to commercial flights from Pakistan on Tuesday, matching Islamabads ban on flights from India, which was imposed last week in response to New Delhis cancelation of visas for Pakistani nationals and suspension of a key water sharing treaty.

This week, New Delhi and Islamabad have both been flexing their military might.

Pakistan shot down an Indian drone that was used for espionage in the disputed Kashmir region on Tuesday, Pakistani security sources told CNN.

Two days earlier, Indias navy said it had carried out test missile strikes to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike.

Tensions have also been simmering along the de facto border, the Line of Control, in Kashmir, and gunfire was exchanged along the disputed border for seven straight nights.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities continue to believe an Indian attack is highly likely a a senior Pakistani official told CNN on Friday.

The official said four Indian fighter jets flew close to Pakistani airspace in the direction of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on what Pakistani authorities assessed to be an attack mission early Wednesday, but rather than cross the border, diverted to a nearby base. The official noted that Pakistani jets were also in the area. CNN cannot independently verify the allegations.

CNN has reached out to the Indian government, army and air force for comment on the officials allegations.

The official also praised efforts by the Trump administration to defuse tensions as even-handed and helpful.

A policeman stands guard at a checkpoint along a street in Srinagar on May 1, 2025. - Basit Zargar/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier stands guard near the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35 kilometers from Amritsar, on May 1, 2025. - Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

A history of conflict

Kashmir, one of the worlds most dangerous flashpoints, is controlled in part by India and Pakistan but both countries claim it in its entirety.

The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars over the mountainous territory that has been divided since their independence from Britain nearly 80 years ago.

India conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan in 2019 following a major insurgent attack on paramilitary personnel inside Indian-administered Kashmir. It was the first such incursion into Pakistans territory since a 1971 war between the two neighbors.

The latest attack on tourists in Kashmir has sparked fears that India might respond in a similar way.

Conditions may be ripe for greater conflict now than was seen in 2019, according to Steven Honig and Natalie Caloca, researchers at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Writing on the CFR website, the two said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the transformation and stabilization of Kashmir a central pillar of his legacy

They said Modi was hurt politically by the 2019 attacks inside Indian-administer Kashmir and will likely feel pressure to be more assertive with New Delhis response this time.

Military numbers favor India

Both countries are heavily armed, though in any conventional conflict, India holds a large advantage.

The Indian defense budget is more than nine times Pakistans, according to the Military Balance 2025 from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

That budget supports an active-duty Indian force of almost 1.5 million personnel, compared to just 660,000 for Pakistan.

On the ground, Indias 1.2 million force army has 3,750 main battle tanks and more than 10,000 artillery pieces, while Pakistans tank force is only two-thirds of Indias and Islamabad has fewer than half of the artillery pieces in New Delhis arsenal.

At sea, the Indian navys advantage is overwhelming. It has two aircraft carriers, 12 guided-missile destroyers, 11 guided-missile frigates and 16 attack submarines.

Pakistan has no carriers and no guided-missile destroyers, with 11 smaller guided-missile frigates being the backbone of its naval fleet. It also has only half the number of subs that India fields.

Pakistan's Air Force fighter JF-17 fighter jets fly past during the multinational naval exercise AMAN-25 in the Arabian Sea near Pakistan's port city of Karachi on February 10, 2025, as more than 50 countries participating with ships and observers. - Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

Both air forces rely heavily on older Soviet-era aircraft, including MiG-21s in India and the Chinese equivalent  the J-7  in Pakistan.

While overall numbers of air-to-air fighter jets and ground-attack aircraft sway heavily in Indias favor, both militaries have been making recent efforts to update their air forces with modern fourth-generation aircraft.

India has been investing in multirole French-made Rafale jets, with 36 now in service, according to the Military Balance.

Pakistan has been adding Chinese J-10 multirole jets, with more than 20 now in its fleet.

Though Pakistan still has dozens of US-made F-16 fighters, the backbone of its fleet has become the JF-17, a joint project with China that came online in the early 2000s. About 150 are in service.

Despite acquiring the Rafales from France, Russian-made aircraft still play a significant role in Indias air fleet. More than 100 MiG-29 fighters are in service with the air force and navy combined. And more than 260 Su-30 ground attack jets bolster Indias force.

The rivals are closer in capabilities when it comes to nuclear forces  with around five dozen surface-to-surface launchers each  though India has longer range ballistic missiles than Pakistan.

India also has two nuclear-capable submarines while Pakistan has none.

CNNs Nic Robertson, Jennifer Hansler, Rhea Mogul, Sophia Saifi and Aishwarya S Iyer contributed to this report.

Clarification: This story has been updated to make clear Vice President JD Vance said militant groups sometimes operate from within Pakistan.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The fact that IT implements some security controls has created the perception that IT is cyber both in the heads of the workers and in the general public, who go, Oh, my IT guy does that. No, he doesnt.

Tax accountants dont do estate planning, or tax lawyers dont deal with criminal law, Irwin noted. These are niches and require specialised skills.

MSPs, I feel, are great at what I refer to as the frontline cyber: the antivirus, the patching, the firewalls, the network segmentation, he said. They are fantastic at that.

But when I ask the MSPs I work with about risk assessment on the environment, or what the crown jewels are, they just look at me blankly.

They dont know what to protect, said Irwin. If they dont know what to protect, they cant budget properly to get the right systems, controls, and processes in place.

Whos the problem?

Sometimes the customers also dont see cyber security as a priority, noted Fabri.

Enex TestLab managing director Matt Tett told ARN the issue with a lot of these small businesses is they dont even have time to run their own administration, let alone their own security, which is why they tend to MSPs.

Legitimate businesses that really are trying to do this comes with a cost to their business to conform with that governance, risk and compliance.

Small to medium businesses should be empowered with the questions to ask their providers on who looks after their data, where it resides, how they transit the data and how that data is secured and how its going to be made available.

Confidentiality, integrity and availability [are] three key pillars of good security, said Tett. Thats really what consumers of those service providers offerings need to know what to ask and then to understand the answers arent just sales fluff.

Getting the end user to understand this is a value proposition.

However, a lot of consumers purchase based on product, not value; they might want to spend only $99 instead of $109 regardless of the value.

At the end of the day, they can offer a cut-down service for the customer, noted Tett. Look at TPG Telecom  they get you to disclaim the Australian Consumer Guarantees.

Therefore, [customers are] willing to waive [their] rights to consumer guarantees.

An MSP needs to make it obvious to the customer that their security is in their own hands, Tett said.

Do you want to buy this car without airbags? Its saving you $1,000, its your risk if you go through the windscreen, he said. Or, do you want to buy with the airbags and pay the extra $1,000 bucks? Thats another way of looking at it.

OpSys, noted Fabri, makes sure to have everything it does entered into a report for customers and lets them know when they were warned about risk. If they continue to ignore their risk profile, then thats on them.

We are evolving this over the next six months, he said. Every single customer, from our top-tier customers to our one-seat organisations  we will evaluate their risk for them.

If they become too risky for us, or they do not subscribe to a minimum cyber security standard, theyll be very quickly looking for a new MSP.

Irwin noted that MSPs can get indemnity insurance for themselves which covers legal costs and damages if a client claims advice, service, or failure caused them loss.

However he noted that this was not the same as cyber insurance, which typically covers a business receiving MSP services.

Weve had very serious conversations, and they strongly advocate to all their clients take out cyber security insurance, said Irwin. The challenge is that so many clients think that the MSPs insurance policy covers them. They think the MSPs disaster recovery plan, incident response plan, cyber plan also covers them. No, thats for them  you need your own.

Get yourself a partner

According to Fabri, not all MSPs still dont fully understand cyber security. For example, there are IT providers out there who give customers ISO 27001 and ISO 1001 frameworks while charging them through the nose for it.

Weve come in and said, Youre not compliant in many places, he said. When they ended up having an issue, they brought us on to take the service over.

The biggest problem with this MSP was when we wrote them to request the delete all of the customers data  all the help desk tickets, all emails, all backups. The MSP actually wrote back to me personally saying that This data is ours. I noted they received this data in the midst of doing a contract and its still the clients data.

According to the Australian Privacy Principles (APP), specifically APP 11.2, organisations are required to destroy or de-identify personal information once it is no longer needed for any purpose for which it may be used or disclosed under the APPs.

This obligation applies unless the information is contained in a Commonwealth record or the entity is required by law or a court/tribunal order to retain the information.

If youre holding vulnerable peoples data and health data that you shouldnt be holding, he said. Once the contract is done, thats it. You need to remove all that information.

For Fabri, MSPs dont have to make the investment that is required to the own the supply chain of a cyber security operations and all the hardware that comes with it, which takes money and time to build. However, there are things they can do to make sure they are doing the right thing by their customers.

Just on my LinkedIn, somebody asked me what MSPs should be doing, said Fabri. They should partner with a cyber capability that they can trust.

From a cyber security perspective, OpSys works side by side with Adelaide-based Loftus Technology.

Its an IT firm and we dont touch its IT, he said. We dont want to know about the IT and we raise things with this team, for instance, about things it needs to look at or if theres a sales opportunity because something needs to be fixed.

However, a key challenge Irwin sees is that when hes engaging with MSPs, theyre concerned hes going to eat their pie.

What they need to do is be aware that there are other people they can engage as partners who arent going to steal their clients from them and make them look bad, he said.

Irwin does think that perhaps in the general technology industry there needs to be some form of governance like MSP regulations coming out of the UK.

Im not sure if thats the best approach, but I dont know of another one, he said.

Regulation for regulations sake isnt right either

This then begs the question of whether or not regulation is the right way to go. The industry isnt regulated but what cyber security professionals do is regulated, which makes the risk higher, said Fabri.

As cyber security providers, theres an obligation to let the directors and board chairmen be assured that all necessary actions and security measures have been completed. This is to ensure that everything was done if a breach occurs.

However, MSPs dont have the same obligations and can pass responsibility and claim they werent given the right access or data, explained Fabri.

Theres a very different and distinct framework between whats going on, he said. The other side of it is we have to report a hell of a lot more.

Every month, whats occurred [includes] how theyve increased the strength of the cyber program, whats been rolled out [and] what projects are delayed.

For cyber security partners, if someone came knocking because of a breach, they need to be able to show that theyve done their job.

Otherwise, the risk comes straight back to us, said Fabri.

I believe both sides, MSPs and MSSPs, need regulation, he said. Im not talking about that bloody professionalisation, everything that everybodys up in arms about and having arguments and fights. From a regulation standpoint they need to be held accountable for the advice they give like anywhere else  like tax or legal advice.

Tett believes regulation for regulations sake is not great, while self-regulation by industries also doesnt work.

Sadly, our government ends up regulating to give themselves work and build silos/empires within departments and agencies that have little experience, understanding or expertise in the field that theyre attempting to make rules for, he said.

However, Tett believes good effective regulation with supporting legislation thats in plain English and has a path for policing and enforcement with penalties is needed.

Cyber security is a team sport

At the end of the day, an MSP is not going to be able to provide 100 per cent guarantee when it comes to cyber security, noted Tett.

There are no guarantees in security and so the consumer also must be responsible for their own security, their configurations and how they behave, he said.

You can make security simple and straightforward for them people, so they dont end up misconfiguring things.

Each link in the chain has its part to play in it, but training and education for individuals is pretty critical, he added.

Ultimately, Tett wants to take a holistic approach to cyber security.

Managed service providers are managing a service on behalf of the consumer that cant do it, and if security is an integral part of technology, privacy, confidentiality, then they need to make sure that theyre, wherever they possibly can, either being honest and transparent about what they do and dont provide, he said.

Irwin also believes MSPs need to be aware of the cyber landscape and they also need to be aware of the limits of their capability and skills and it is unreasonable for an MSP to know everything.

However, they do need to understand that cyber security is not another vertical under IT, security is a horizontal that sits at the top of technology, he added.
by Shafique Khokhar

Born in India, he moved to Lahore with his family at a very young age. Over the years, he has fought for social justice, Christian rights and freedom of worship. He has been able to defuse feelings of revenge even among Christians, as in the case of the assassination of Minister Bhatti and the Gojra massacre. Harmony and peace are the guiding principles of his episcopate.

Karachi (AsiaNews) - A staunch defender of interreligious dialogue in a predominantly Muslim country where Christians make up less than 2% of the population. He is the second cardinal in Pakistan's 78-year modern history.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts was born on 21 July 1945 in Amritsar, in the diocese of Jullundur (India), to parents originally from Goa, and for only two months he will be part of the college of electors of the new pope before reaching the age of 80. His father Peter was an officer with ICI Imperial Chemical Industries.

Together with his family, consisting of two sons and a daughter, he moved to Lahore, Pakistan, and grew up opposite the Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on a street now called Cecil Chaudhry Road.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts studied at St Anthony's High School, run by the Irish order of the Brothers of St Patrick, before continuing at St Mary's Seminary, also in Lahore, and completing his studies at Christ the King Seminary in Karachi.

The future cardinal was ordained a priest on 9 January 1971 for the clergy of Lahore. Elected Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad on 5 May 1988, he was consecrated on 16 September of the same year, although the ceremony took place in Lahore due to tensions in the diocese.

On the evening of his ordination, Fr. Cyprian Dias was shot dead in the Catholic Colony in Karachi. On 1 September 1990, he succeeded as coadjutor bishop of Hyderabad. He was later transferred to Faisalabad (27 June 1998) and promoted to the metropolitan see of Karachi on 25 January 2012. Cardinal Coutts was Metropolitan Archbishop of Karachi until 11 February 2021 and president of the Bishops' Conference from 2011 until the end of 2017. Pope Francis created him cardinal in the consistory of 28 June 2018.

As a religious leader, he fought for tolerance and freedom of worship in Pakistan, where the majority of Christians are poor and have faced decades of discrimination and violence because of their faith and social class.

The cardinal served three dioceses - Hyderabad, Faisalabad and Karachi - where he always worked for social justice and to give voice to the fundamental rights of all human beings. Coutts always remained cool and calm even when the situation seemed to be getting worse, making wise decisions and handling even the most complicated situations with intelligence and integrity.

One of the most notable cases dates back to 2011 when Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's cabinet, was assassinated by Islamic extremists for defending, among others, Christian Asia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy.

After this tragic news, thousands of Christians from different parts of the diocese gathered at the bishop's residence, chanting slogans and threatening to take to the streets and block roads in anger and protest. They turned to the then Bishop Coutts to lead them. On that occasion, the cardinal addressed the crowd, asking them to remain calm and remember that, as followers of Christ, they should not act out of a desire for revenge.

Subsequently, a group of Muslim religious leaders visited the bishop to express their solidarity with the Christian community and assure them of their support at this difficult time.

All this happened thanks to the policy of harmony of the future Cardinal Coutts, who always joined forces with other leaders to promote peace and brotherhood in the diocese. Under his leadership, the Catholic Church has always opened and pursued the path to peace in the region.

Even after Bhatti's assassination and the massacres in Gojra, where hundreds of Christian homes were set on fire by Islamic extremists, he always raised his voice against persecution. Muslim religious leader Pir Ibrahim and other members of various Islamic groups have always joined Bishop Coutts and expressed their solidarity and support.

Wherever he carried out his pastoral mission, the local Church progressed in a climate of harmony and dialogue between Muslims, Christians and other religions.

He spoke at meetings of the international community to defend the rights of the Christian community in Pakistan. Not only did he raise the problems of Christians, but he also provided solutions always in the spirit of harmony and peace, and even today, the dioceses of Faisalabad and Karachi have good relations with other religions.

Kashif Anthony, from Karachi, shares with AsiaNews his experience of working with Cardinal Coutts over the years, whom he describes as an extraordinary prelate for the Catholic Church and a resource for the Church in Pakistan. Working on the Interreligious Commission for Peace and Harmony, I learned a lot from him. He truly acted and served in all the dioceses according to his motto Harmony and became one with all the faiths living together in Pakistan.

Yousaf Benjamin, editor of Cyril News, adds: Cardinal Joseph Coutts is widely recognised and honoured for his tireless efforts in promoting dialogue and understanding between different religious communities in Pakistan, particularly between Muslims and Christians.

The cardinal, he continues, is a staunch supporter of the rights of religious minorities and has spoken out against the abuse of blasphemy laws and worked to ensure justice and equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. His legacy, he concludes, is a dedicated service to promoting interreligious harmony, defending minority rights, promoting social welfare and building bridges between communities in Pakistan, which has earned him national and international recognition.
New Delhi has revoked the system that allowed Bangladeshi goods to be exported to third countries via Indian territory. Dhaka responded by suspending imports of cotton yarn from India through five border crossings, including Benapole and Bhomra. In the background are India's concerns after Yunus's overture to China.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - More than a week after the 22 April massacre in Kashmir in which an Islamist commando killed 26 Indian tourists, there is no sign of easing tensions between India and Pakistan.

In addition to diplomatic retaliation, including the revocation of the agreement on river water management and the closure of the Attari border crossing and Indian airspace to Pakistani aircraft, Islamabad has spoken in recent days of military raids that New Delhi is allegedly preparing.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have vowed to respond to any act of aggression in an appropriate manner.

While this clash is now out in the open, another has been simmering beneath the surface for months. Almost a year after the departure of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi remain tense.

The friction now extends beyond religious minorities and the spread of disinformation to trade between the two Asian countries, already in deep trouble due to tariffs imposed by the US administration led by President Donald Trump.

In recent weeks, a sort of mini trade war has taken place between India and Bangladesh: on 8 April, India revoked the transit facility granted to Bangladesh in 2020, which allowed Bangladeshi goods to be exported to third countries via Indian territory.

According to Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, the decision was motivated by congestion in our ports and airports, but he also stressed that certain developments in Bangladesh had influenced this choice.

In response, on 13 April, Bangladesh suspended imports of cotton yarn from India through five border crossings, including Benapole and Bhomra. The decision was justified by the authorities in Dhaka as necessary to protect local producers from competition from Indian yarn, which is considered cheaper and often smuggled, according to local producers.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association had previously urged the government to intervene. The Ministry of Commerce had already submitted a request to suspend imports to the government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus on 27 March.

However, the measures are damaging Bangladesh's garment sector, which accounts for about 80% of exports. The suspension of Indian yarn imports through land border crossings is forcing manufacturers to resort to longer and more expensive sea routes, increasing production costs (estimated to have already risen by 17%) and delaying deliveries, risking to compromise an entire sector already severely affected by US tariffs, which amount to 37% on Bangladeshi exports.

India (which has been hit with a 27% tariff by Trump) is also in trouble: in 2024, Bangladesh accounted for 45.9% of India's total cotton yarn exports, worth .57 billion.

These trade tensions are the result of a complex political context: India has offered asylum to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled after widespread anti-government protests led by university students in August last year.

Since then, diplomatic relations have gradually cooled, despite a meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in early April between Modi and Yunus.

Last month, Yunus visited China and described Bangladesh as the sole guardian of the ocean, suggesting a desire to deepen cooperation with Beijing. These statements have caused irritation and concern in Delhi, which fears a blockade of the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting north-eastern India to the rest of the country.

India also condemned the recent killing of a Hindu leader on 17 April. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident a systematic pattern of persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government of Bangladesh.

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2 May 2025 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Today, the trial held at the Baku Military Court continued with the testimonies of the victims and responses to questions, Azernews reports, citing one of the victims, Rafiq Quliyev, a resident of Qaradagl village, as he said during the court.

Rafiq testified about the repeated attacks by the Armenian Armed Forces on their village, the shooting of buses, the torture and killings of Azerbaijanis, and other atrocities. He also answered questions related to the occupation of the village.

"We were told that Garabagh belongs to the Armenians, and we had to leave," Quliyev said.

He further explained that during the occupation of Qaradagl, he, his father, and his mother were taken hostage by the Armenian soldiers. Quliyev described how he and his father, Elastaan Quliyev, along with other Azerbaijanis, were forced onto KamAZ trucks and transported to Khankendi. On the way, near a place called "Beylik Bag," the truck was stopped, and some of the hostages were killed. Quliyevs father, Elastaan, died after being subjected to torture by the Armenian soldiers during his captivity.

"My mother was held hostage for 13 days before being released. As for me, I was freed after 45 days in captivity. During our imprisonment, we were beaten every night. They gave us only a piece of bread and a little water to keep us alive, but the torture continued," Quliyev said.

The trial, which is focusing on the crimes committed by Armenian military forces during their invasion, continues as it investigates the charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the preparation and execution of aggressive warfare. These include violations of war laws, genocide, terrorism, and the financing of terrorism, as well as the illegal seizure and retention of power by Armenian citizens.
2 May 2025 20:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenia is rapidly losing control of the narrative it has tried so hard to sustain  that of a country striving for peace and democratic reform, while maintaining strategic partnerships with both the East and the West. While its leadership proclaims a commitment to European integration and regional peace, its actionsboth at home and abroadreveal a different reality. The recent response by European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to a written question by MEP Emmanuel Fragkos has once again exposed how Yerevan and its powerful diaspora lobby operate within EU institutions to distort facts, manipulate perceptions, and obstruct genuine dialogue.

In her response, Kallas reaffirmed the EUs strategic engagement in the South Caucasus, emphasizing the importance of peace, stability, and cooperationparticularly in the context of the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. She also reiterated that human rights and the rule of law are key pillars of the EU's relationship with Azerbaijan. Yet the backdrop to her reply was not a constructive inquiry into improving regional stability, but rather a politically loaded attack disguised as parliamentary oversight.

Fragkoss written question demanded to know whether Azerbaijans Foreign Minister had promised to release 320 political prisoners, repatriate Armenian detainees, and provide conditions for the dignified return of the Garabagh Armeniansall framed as obligations supposedly mandated by the International Court of Justice. These allegations are drawn directly from Yerevans narrative and rest on highly contestable interpretations of international rulings and facts on the ground.

Such tactics are not new. The Armenian lobby, particularly in Western capitals, has mastered the art of leveraging democratic institutions to advance a narrow, nationalistic agenda. It routinely invokes the language of human rights, only to weaponise it against those who challenge its position. When international organisations like PACE or the European Parliament adopt balanced or unfavourable stances, it is Armenian actors themselves who lash out, casting doubt on the credibility of these institutions.

This hypocrisy is increasingly difficult to ignore. The same voices that accuse Azerbaijan of democratic backsliding remain silent about Armenias own failuresconstitutional ambiguity, delayed reforms, growing militarisation, and a lack of political will to resolve outstanding issues with its neighbours. For example, while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insists his government is committed to signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, he has yet to amend Armenias constitution to remove irredentist claims. Nor has Yerevan made any real progress in dissolving the obsolete OSCE Minsk Group framework, which Azerbaijan considers a relic of the past.

Even more telling is Armenias behaviour along the border. While speaking in European capitals about peace and normalization, Armenian armed forces continue to provoke incidents along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. These escalations are then misrepresented by Armenian media outlets to portray Baku as the aggressor, creating a false image that feeds directly into lobbying efforts in Brussels and beyond. This tactic of provocation followed by victimhood has become a hallmark of Yerevans approach to diplomacy.

In her statement, Kaja Kallas rightly emphasised that the EU has conveyed concerns to Azerbaijan about domestic legal practices and political freedoms. These concerns are legitimate and must be addressed. But the EU must also be wary of one-sided narratives designed not to promote reform or justice, but to demonize a geopolitical rival. The selective outrage demonstrated by Armenian-aligned actors undermines the EUs credibility as a neutral mediator.

The irony is that by misusing democratic platforms for narrow political ends, the Armenian lobby damages the very institutions it claims to uphold. Instead of supporting reconciliation and mutual compromise, it fuels division and perpetuates zero-sum politics. And when these same institutions do not yield to pressure, it is Yerevans allies who are first to accuse them of bias or betrayal.

It is clear that the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires more than rhetoricit demands political courage and an end to manipulation. If Armenia genuinely seeks peace, it must take concrete steps: revise its constitution, stop military provocations, disband outdated international mechanisms, and engage with sincerity rather than subterfuge.

The EU, for its part, must continue to support dialogue while resisting pressure from partisan lobbies that seek to hijack its agenda. Kaja Kallass reaffirmation of the EUs balanced role in the region is a welcome step. But going forward, Brussels must insist not only on human rights and legal compliance from Azerbaijanbut also on honesty, consistency, and accountability from Armenia.

Because peace cannot be built on posturing and propaganda. It requires truthand the willingness to act on it.
2 May 2025 14:34 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan is preparing its second state program on food security, as announced by Balarahim Guliyev, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AQTA), at the Agribusiness Development Forum in Baku today, Azernews reports.

The current state program for 2019-2025 is nearing completion, and the draft of the second program will be made public soon.

In addition, new draft laws on animal and plant health are under preparation, along with a series of legal and regulatory technical documents. Efforts are also underway to export Azerbaijani honey to the European Union, agribusiness products to China, and poultry to Arab countries and the USA.

Work continues on establishing a disease-free zone in Eastern Zangazur, focusing on preventing outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth disease.
2 May 2025 15:58 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Although some attention is given to protecting individuals' honor and dignity in the media, the situation regarding the protection of citizens' constitutional rights - such as the inviolability of their private lives and personal and family secrets - is concerning.

Azernews reports that this was stated by the Chairman of the Supreme Court Collegium, Sanan Hajiyev, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Forum on "Public Processes in the Media," organized by the Media Development Agency.

He emphasized that illegal interference with these rights, particularly in television programs, has become a common practice:

"Given this, the Supreme Court plans to adopt key decisions soon to implement proper legal regulation in this area."

Constitutional Court Judge Kamran Shafiyev noted that the reforms in Azerbaijan aimed at building a legal state have brought radical changes to the political, economic, and legal systems. These reforms extend across all spheres of state and social life. The concept of social justice is strongly reflected in Azerbaijan's Constitution, which assigns the state the responsibility of improving citizens' well-being by ensuring the free development of the economy, social protection, and a decent standard of living.

Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov highlighted the significant steps taken in Azerbaijans digital development, which are creating favorable conditions for progress in the media space and adapting to modern needs. The successful implementation of online projects and recent achievements in the field of the Internet have notably improved accessibility to information, allowing citizens in remote regions to obtain timely information from various sources.

He emphasized that digital media not only strengthens public control, transparency, and social responsibility but also supports the formation of alternative information sources and ensures public access to information. The media plays a vital role in helping people achieve success in their daily lives, promoting positive behavioral models, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

The forum continued with panel discussions on the topics: "Media Agenda in the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty," "Sustainable Solutions in Transport Infrastructure at the Media Level," and "Safe Digital Media Environment: Informed Users."
2 May 2025 16:19 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

"AzInTelecom" LLC, part of the Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding (AZCON), has launched the new "AzInCloud" platform in collaboration with "Gcore," one of Europe's largest technology companies, Azernews reports.

The partnership was officially announced at an event in Baku yesterday, attended by executives from both companies, technology representatives, and other guests.

During the event, it was highlighted that the "AzInCloud" platform, operated by "AzInTelecom" in partnership with "Gcore," offers a variety of cloud services equipped with modern tools. Both individual and corporate clients can access these services via the website [www.azincloud.az](http://www.azincloud.az). The platform, now live, features easy management, a wide selection of operating systems, a cloud marketplace, monitoring services, and more.

The "AzInCloud" platform follows a pay-as-you-use model, making it accessible to legal entities, small and medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals. Users can register on the website, pay via bank card, and start using the services immediately.

Its also worth noting that "Gcore" is a global technology company providing cloud, hosting, and cybersecurity solutions. Founded in 2011, "Gcore" has a strong infrastructure in Europe, North America, Asia, and the CIS countries. The company primarily serves clients in the financial sector, government, and large corporations.
2 May 2025 16:37 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijani companies may soon enter the prestigious London Stock Exchange (LSE), as discussions are underway to explore dual listings and foreign capital access for firms based in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE).

BSE noted that delegation from the exchange visited London as part of the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.

During the working visit, BSE representatives, alongside officials from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the British Embassy in Azerbaijan, held a meeting at the London Stock Exchange. The focus of the talks was to examine the potential for Azerbaijani companies to gain listings on the LSE, thereby opening doors to international investors and capital markets.

The parties also discussed incorporating Azerbaijani financial data and analytics into LSE platforms to enhance global investor awareness of Azerbaijans capital markets.

The BSE emphasized that increased cooperation between the two nations financial markets would further strengthen their already robust economic ties. Moreover, such initiatives are expected to accelerate the development of Azerbaijans local capital markets and improve global visibility for its leading corporations.
2 May 2025 11:37 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The International Mugham Center has hosted a special evening dedicated to celebrating the 130th anniversary of the renowned German composer Paul Hindemith (1925-1963), Azernews reports. The event was organized with the support of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan.

During the opening remarks, Honored Cultural Worker and esteemed radio and TV presenter Rahib Azeri highlighted the rich German cultural heritage, particularly its influence on Azerbaijani architecture.

Honored Artist, musicologist, Professor Zumrud Dadashzade spoke about Hindemith, emphasizing his significance as one of the most influential figures of the first half of the 20th century.

She outlined that Hindemith's compositions were regularly performed in Baku, notably at the Gara Garayev Contemporary Music Festivals.

Dadashzade quoted Hindemith himself: "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." She described him as a composer who reverently upheld this fire while continuously exploring new, uncharted musical territories. Although often regarded as a prominent representative of neoclassicism, Hindemith's work defies simple categorization, blending seemingly incompatible elements. His compositions encompass profound philosophical themessuch as The Artist Matisse and Harmony of the World as well as avant-garde pieces featuring unconventional materials like newspaper advertisements and train schedules. He was also a pioneer of the applied music movement, aiming to engage a broader audience".

The evening's performance featured a captivating duet by international competition laureate Tofig Shikhiyev and soprano Nigar Jafarova, whose nuanced interpretation brought the essence of Hindemith's music to life.

The concert offered a rich journey through German musical history, tracing its evolution from the baroque polyphony of Bach, through the romantic masterpieces of Schubert and Brahms, to Hindemith's innovative experiments and the twilight romanticism of Richard Strauss.

Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895- 28 December 1963) was a German-American composer, music theorist, educator, violist, and conductor.

In 1921, he established the Amar Quartet, which toured widely across Europe. As a composer, he became a prominent supporter of the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) style during the 1920s, producing works such as Kammermusik, some featuring the viola and viola d'amore as solo instruments, all composed in a neo-Bachian style.

His other significant works include the song cycle Das Marienleben (1923), Das Unaufhorliche (1931), Der Schwanendreher for viola and orchestra (1935), the opera Mathis der Maler (1938), the Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber (1943), and the oratorio When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd (1946), which is a requiem based on Walt Whitman's poetry.

Most of Hindemith's compositions are built around a central tone and employ musical structures, counterpoint, and cadences reminiscent of Baroque and Classical traditions.

His harmonic language is more contemporary, often incorporating all twelve notes of the chromatic scale within his tonal approach, as explained in his three-volume treatise, The Craft of Musical Composition.
2 May 2025 12:22 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Baku Municipal Theatre has premiered a play based on the novel "Bygone Days" by the Uzbek writer and playwright Abdulla Qodiriy, Azernews reports.

The play "Bygone Days", prepared at the suggestion of the Uzbek Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Bahrom Ashrafkhanov, is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The premiere held on the stage of the Academic National Drama Theatre was attended by well-known figures of science and culture of Azerbaijan, People's Poet of Uzbekistan Usmon Azim, People's Artist of Uzbekistan, director of the State Academic Theatre named after Alisher Navoi Ramiz Usmanov and other guests.

First, the dear memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was commemorated with a minute of silence, and the National Anthems of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were played.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Committee on Culture, MP Gunay Afandiyeva, hailed the diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

She underlined that the example of brotherhood demonstrated by the heads of state of both countries is based on the traditional relations of friendship, trust and mutual understanding in our country.

Usmon Azim, People's Poet of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Creative Council for Drama of the Writers' Union, as well as other guests from Uzbekistan, each of them especially emphasized the relations between the two countries, the fact that the events taking place in the work addressed by the Baku Municipal Theater still retain their relevance.

Then the stage play was presented to the audience.

The author of the play, prepared based on the motifs of the novel of the same name, is writer, translator Kenan Haji, and the director of the play, People's Artist Marahim Farzalibeyov. The roles in the play were played by actors from the Baku Municipal Theatre.

Abdulla Qodiriy (April 10, 1894  October 4, 1938) was one of the most influential Uzbek writers of the 20th century. He introduced realism into Uzbek literature through his historical novels and influenced many other Central Asian novelists.

Qodiriy's most famous works are the historical novels Otgan kunlar (Bygone Days) (1922) and Mehrobdan chayon (Scorpion in the Pulpit) (1929). Otgan kunlar is the first full-length novel by an Uzbek author.

His stories Kalvak Mahzumning xotira daftaridan (From Mahzum the Simpleton's Diary) and Toshpolat tajang nima deydir? (What Does Irritate Toshpolat Say?) are considered to be some of the best satirical stories in Uzbek deydir? (What Does Irritate Toshpolat Say?) are considered to be some of the best satirical stories in Uzbek.
2 May 2025 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Sharing her thoughts on the Carpet Forum, Inese Baranovska, head of the Decorative Arts and Design Museum at the Latvian National Museum of Art, told Azernews that the event is both exciting and meaningful, bringing together participants from across the globe, including Latvia, the UK, Japan, and many other countries.

Baranovska emphasized the importance of traditional ornaments as living traditions, noting that such events play a crucial role in inspiring younger generations to appreciate and safeguard their cultural heritageparticularly in an era marked by globalization and the rise of subcultural influences.

"The Carpet Forum is truly exciting and interesting. It brings together representatives from different countries such as Latvia, the UK, Japan, and many others. Although we are far apart, we share many common elements, especially ethnic ornaments. These ornaments are found all over the world, from India to America and Azerbaijan. Most importantly, they represent a living tradition. Events like the International Carpet Festival are very important, especially for young people, because in todays era of globalization and subcultural influences, its vital to be proud of your culture and traditions and to preserve them as a heritage. The future depends on the past."

The International Carpet Festival began on May 2 with the International Carpet Forum. The forum has brought together leading experts, designers, manufacturers, and researchers in the carpet industry. It features plenary sessions, panel discussions, B2B meetings, and special sessions for young scholars.

The main goal of the festival is to promote Azerbaijani carpet weaving art on a global scale, to showcase its rich heritage and future development prospects, and to facilitate the exchange of experience and skills with master carpet weavers from around the world.

Every festival visitor has the opportunity to meet 28 female weavers invited from 14 workshops of Azerkhalcha OJSC operating in various parts of the country, as well as members of the processing team and the creative group, who will share the secrets of carpet weaving and host master classes.

From May 3 to 4, the festival will continue along the historic streets of Icherisheher. Ancient caravanserais and squares will host carpet exhibitions, master classes, interactive theatrical performances, and musical events. Representatives from different countries will present their national carpet weaving traditions, and national pavilions of participating countries will be on display.

This year International Carpet Festivalcoincides with the 25th anniversary of Icherishehers inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During the festival, exclusive exhibitions dedicated to the art of carpet weaving, master classes, interactive activities, concert programs, and special educational events for children will be organized.

The festival organizers invite everyone to Icherisheher to help preserve the rich tradition of carpet art and present it to the world.
2 May 2025 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

As the International Carpet Festival gets underway in Baku, the city has once again become a gathering place for artists, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world who share a passion for the art of carpet weaving.

The festival began with the International Carpet Forum, a major platform for celebrating tradition, exploring innovation, and building global connections through this timeless craft.

In the midst of the forum, Azernews had the opportunity to speak with Emin Mammadov, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Board of Azerkhalcha OJSC.

In this interview, Emin Mammadov talks about the forum's role in preserving cultural heritage, the place of carpets in our modern lives, and why Azerbaijani carpets continue to hold a special place on the world stage.

Q: What is the role of the forum in strengthening international cooperation in the carpet industry?

A: The forum plays a key role in strengthening international cooperation in the carpet industry by bringing together experts, artists, and enthusiasts from around the world. As you can see, we have guests and distinguished speakers from countries as diverse as Japan, Latvia, Georgia, and Turkmenistan-all united by a shared passion for carpet weaving traditions.

If we look at the logo of Azerkhalcha, it proudly states "The Home of Carpet Weaving," which is why we are gathered here in Baku. This region is widely recognized as the historical heartland of carpet weaving. By inviting speakers to discuss Oriental rugs, Caucasian carpets, and Azerbaijani weaving techniques, we are creating a platform where the art of carpet weaving serves as a cultural bridge, connecting people from different nations. As is often said: artists connect peopleand in this case, the art of carpet weaving brings people together across borders.

Q: What is the significance of the International Carpet Forum in preserving cultural heritage?

A: On one hand, the forum is an important platform for preserving the cultural heritage. Carpet weaving is a centuries-old tradition and a significant part of our historical identity. On the other hand, in order to keep this art form alive and relevant, it must evolve and integrate into modern life, just like other forms of art.

That's why the forum also highlights innovations in carpet design and craftsmanship. Speakers discuss how carpet weaving fits into today's world, exploring new styles, techniques, and contemporary uses, thereby ensuring that this heritage continues to thrive for future generations.

Q: How do you assess the significance of carpet culture for world culture?

A: Azerbaijani carpets are an integral part of global cultural heritage. This year, we are proudly celebrating the anniversary of the inclusion of the Traditional Art of Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving in UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

By hosting this forum in Baku, we are not only honoring this recognition but also fostering dialogue about the global significance of Azerbaijani and Caucasian carpets. Through these discussions, we reaffirm the role of Azerbaijani carpet culture in enriching the broader tapestry of world heritage.
2 May 2025 13:03 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The rapid adoption of digital technologies, the modernization of the media landscape, and related innovations have contributed to the formation of a qualitatively new media environment in recent years, Azernews reports.

This statement was made by Azerbaijans Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva during the opening speech at the Second Forum titled Public Processes in the Media Space, organized by the Media Development Agency (MEDIA).

Aliyeva emphasized that one of the key pillars of building a democratic and law-based state is the existence of an independent media and the safeguarding of freedom of thought, speech, and the press.

She noted that media plays a crucial role in promoting legal awareness among the public, delivering information about current developments in a timely and objective manner, and thereby shaping public opinion and serving as an effective tool for public oversight.

However, the Ombudsman also drew attention to the risks emerging in todays digital media environment. These include disinformation, hate speech, breaches of privacy, digital surveillance, cyberbullying, disruption of education, exposure to harmful content, and the promotion of aggressive behavior.

Aliyeva stressed that media activity must be governed not only by legal frameworks but also by ethical standards. She underlined the importance of respecting national and moral values and, above all, aligning all media practices with the principles of human rights and human dignity.
May 2, 2025: China is up to something big some have called the Beijing Bunker. Satellite photos show a large 600 hectare underground bunker complex being built 30 kilometers outside the Chinese capital Beijing. Satellite images indicate that the military is supervising construction. It is believed this underground facility will be a refuge for leader Xi Jinping and his political, economic and military advisors and their staffs. The idea that the United States or any other nuclear nation, like Russia, Britain, France, Israel, Pakistan or North Korea would attack China is unrealistic, though the corruption opportunities are vast.

In the event of war, especially a nuclear conflict, the bunker complex would be a refuge for the political and military leadership. This would be a place where Chinese leaders could develop reprisal plans and issue them to surviving Chinese units to carry out.

China believes that they would be attacked if they finally did attack the island nation of Taiwan. This would be an expensive effort to reunite Taiwan with China. For nearly thirty years China has been making serious preparations to launch an amphibious operation to conquer Taiwan. Last year Xi Jinping announced that China would seize or try to seize Taiwan before the end of the decade.

In China laws have been passed allowing China to quickly nationalize foreign assets as part of a program to keep the Chinese people supplied if there is an international embargo and economic sanctions. China also plans to increase its emergency petroleum stockpile so there will be supplies for years of isolation. China is building a pipeline to get petroleum to areas that normally receive it from the nearest coastal city and port. China is purchasing oil from as many suppliers as possible as these nations will feel the economic pain if China is embargoed because it seized Taiwan. China is also buying immense quantities of corn and wheat to feed the population in the event of embargo or American blockade. There are reports that this grain is not being properly stored and is instead simply dumped in the open to the delight of huge flocks of birds.

Xi Jinping would supervise all this from his Beijing Bunker. Xi has been reducing Chinese holdings of American government bonds. This reduces the economic damage to China if the United States declares war and seizes whatever Chinese assets it can. China hopes such a war will not involve much military action beyond that needed to blockade China. According to Chinese plans, that blockade would last a few years and would then be lifted because so many nations want to end their economic suffering because trade with China was blocked. China is the second largest, after the United States, trading nation in the world and taking Chinese trade out of circulation would cause worldwide suffering. In theory, it would be worse for China but not if China can build up large enough reserves of essential food and industrial supplies to survive the economic catastrophe China created. These Chinese moves would lead to economic disruption outside China for years and have a lasting impact that could take a decade or more to recover from.

The Chinese plans are theoretical at the moment even though China is quietly implementing some aspects of their surviving the expected worldwide economic disruption a seizure of Taiwan would lead to. Another problem is that enough details of the Chinese plan have become known to trading partners and nations willing to use military and economic force to block a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China wants to avoid a war but Taiwan and its military allies, especially the United States, are willing to meet force with force. China doesnt want to get into a war because its forces are untested and, as recent corruption scandals have demonstrated, led by generals who are more concerned with getting rich than getting ready for war.

The Beijing Bunker is seen as another military boondoggle. Corruption in the Chinese military has been rampant for thousands of years. While the military leaders and their subordinates swear allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party/CCP and Xi, this is a mixed blessing. The Chinese military is regularly disrupted when senior leaders are arrested for corruption. Officers are selected more for their loyalty to Xi and the CCP than for competence. Chinese troops have not fought since 1979, when Chinese infantry were defeated by Vietnamese troops in a brief border war.

In the end, the Beijing Bunker may be a place where Xi can hide while coming up with a plan to get himself, the CCP and China out of some military misadventure that seemed like a good idea at the time. Before that there were some border skirmishes and naval conflicts with neighboring India and Vietnam. In the 1960s Chinese forces fought with India over disputed borders. That conflict continues to the present. There was some fighting with Russian troops in 1969. Until 1975 there had been three decades of naval skirmishes with Vietnam over disputed islands in the South China Sea. These battles continued on land and sea until 1991.
2 May 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

According to a recent study by the University of East Anglia (UK), essays generated by artificial intelligence are still far from matching the quality of work produced by real students, Azernews reports.

The study, published in the journal Written Communication, compares the essays of 145 real students with those generated by ChatGPT. Titled "Does ChatGPT Write Like a Student? Markers of Engagement in Argumentative Essays," the paper delves into the differences between human-authored and AI-generated content.

While the AI-generated essays were impressively coherent and grammatically correct, they were notably lacking in one critical aspect: personality.

As AI writing tools like ChatGPT become increasingly sophisticated, the study emphasizes the importance of cultivating critical literacy and ethical awareness in the digital age.

The researchers hope that the findings will assist educators in identifying instances of cheating in schools, colleges, and universities worldwide by distinguishing machine-generated essays from those written by students.

Professor Ken Hyland from the School of Education and Continuing Education highlighted that ChatGPTs public release has raised serious concerns among teachers. Many fear that students may use AI to complete assignments. "The concern is that ChatGPT and other AI writing tools may contribute to cheating and undermine foundational literacy and critical thinking skills," said Hyland. "This is particularly important because we don't yet have reliable tools to detect AI-generated texts. In response to these concerns, we wanted to explore how closely AI can mimic human essay writing, specifically by examining how writers engage with readers."

The research team analyzed 145 essays written by real students and 145 written by ChatGPT. "We were particularly interested in what we called 'engagement markers,' such as questions and personal comments," Professor Hyland explained. "We found that the essays written by real students featured a rich array of engagement strategies, making them more interactive and compelling. These included rhetorical questions, personal digressions, and direct appeals to the readertechniques that enhance clarity, communication, and argument strength. On the other hand, while ChatGPTs essays demonstrated linguistic fluency, they were more impersonal. AI-generated essays adhered to academic writing standards but lacked the personal touch and clear stance that human writers bring to their work."

Despite these shortcomings, the study does not dismiss the role of AI in education. On the contrary, the researchers argue that tools like ChatGPT should be used as teaching aids, rather than shortcuts for students seeking to reduce effort.

"When students enter school, college, or university, we dont just teach them how to write; we teach them how to thinkand this is something no algorithm can replicate," Professor Hyland added.

The study also raises important questions about the future of education in an AI-driven world. As AI continues to evolve, it could become an invaluable tool for assisting students with research, brainstorming, and drafting. However, it also underscores the need for education systems to adapt and teach students how to interact with AI responsibly and ethically. Encouraging students to maintain their unique voices in writing, even when using AI tools, may become an essential aspect of future curricula. Educators will likely need to strike a balance between leveraging AI for its benefits while preserving the critical thinking and creativity that form the foundation of meaningful learning.
We have read about the thought police in the UK under the current Labor government which led Elon Musk to post that they should "make Orwell fiction again". We have read about the German pensioner arrested for posting that their incompetent former Finance Minister was an "idiot". We have read about the French woman arrested for posting online that President Macron is a "piece of filth". We have read about the Finnish former cabinet minister arrested for posting a Bible verse online.

Who would have thought that something like that would ever happen in North Carolina? But it already has.

When Sloan Rachmuth, a Jewish woman who is a freelance journalist and conservative education activist, observed an employee of Harris-Teeter where she was shopping wearing "Free Palestine" garb, she complained in person to the store manager and posted about it online on X. The next thing she knew, she had three Holly Springs police officers on her doorstep arresting her for "cyberstalking" and carrying her off to jail on a $1,000 bond. Shortly after she was bonded out, she got a call from Wake County's Democrat District Attorney telling her that never should have happened and dismissing the charges. But the damage to her was done with the liberal media widely reporting the arrest.

Now, Rachmuth has struck back, filing a civil lawsuit for damages against the Holly Springs police department. Hopefully, the full story behind this travesty will come out and everyone involved punished severely enough to discourage any such future attacks on free speech.

https://dailyhaymaker.com/journalist-files-suit-against-holly-springs-cops-in-re-her-arrest-for-social-media-post/#comment-3408770
After a Decade of Advocacy, Return Americas School Safety Push Gaining Ground

Your Voice is Needed: Call Your State Senator



Return America

May 2, 2025

RALEIGHTwo bills advancing in the North Carolina General Assembly would give private schools the option to allow trained employees, volunteers, and even visitors with concealed handgun permits to carry firearms on school grounds. Supporters say this move is long overdue and critical to protecting vulnerable students.

House Bill 193  Firearm Law Revisions  passed the House floor Thursday, championed by Rep. Jeffrey McNeely (R-Iredell). Meanwhile, Senate Bill 280  Private School Security Act  a companion measure with additional provisions  cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee this week and is expected to be taken up for a full vote on Tuesday's Senate floor.

The legislation would allow private school personnel, with written permission from school administrators, to carry concealed handguns and stun guns on campus. They would be required to hold a valid concealed carry permit and complete regular training. In addition, SB 280 would permit schools to designate trained volunteers  including parents or other community members  as armed security, provided they undergo eight hours of annual instruction. The bills also authorize the secure storage of defensive tools such as Tasers and Pepper Spray in biometric safes.



See Related Story By WRAL News: NC bills would allow concealed handguns for teachers, parents and others in private schools

A private school parent, Rachel Brady, told WRAL News, Our children are the most vulnerable among usI like that there are protections in place and ways of ensuring that responsible adults who go through the necessary processes to receive a concealed carry permit... could be designated by the school to serve as protectors of our children.

Although public schools in North Carolina are staffed by armed sheriffs deputies  particularly at the middle and high school levels  private schools are not afforded the same taxpayer-funded protection. Many private institutions are small, serving only a few dozen students, and cannot afford full-time professional security. Supporters of the legislation say this leaves children in private education defenseless.

Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), the primary sponsor of SB 280, said the bill balances safety with individual rights through stringent criteria for training, permitting, and school oversight. This bill simply strengthens the safety in North Carolinas private schools while respecting the unique needs of our communities, Jarvis said. It allows private school employees or volunteers with concealed carry permits to carry firearms on school grounds, but only with the explicit authorization of the school board and/or the administration director.

Return America, a conservative Christian public policy organization, has advocated for legislation of this kind for over a decade. Its president, Dr. Ron Baity, who also founded a Christian school in Wilkes County in the early 1970s, spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and urged lawmakers to consider the reality private schools face.

Every day we are horrified, Baity said of the possibility a shooter could attack one of their schools. I hear it said that innocent people could be killed if a shooter comes on the property and our staff is armed. The truth of the matter is, if we have no resistance against the individual whos armed, he can kill all of our staff, he can kill all of our students, and we have no way to protect anyone.

Read Rev. Mark Creechs editorial published in the Greensboro News & Record: Evil Brings a Gun. Why Cant the Good?

Rev. Mark Creech, who now serves as Director of Government Relations for Return America after leading the Christian Action League for 25 years, also testified before the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.

This bill is not about arming everyone or promoting a gun culture. Rev. Creech said it is about giving private school leaders a choice - the same choice already available in some other settings - to authorize responsible and competent individuals to protect their students. These private and religious schools are not asking the state for money or mandates. Instead, they are asking for freedom for their institutions to protect their own. They implore you to give them the freedom to stop being a soft target.

The proposals come amid a national debate over how best to secure schools, especially after the tragic 2023 shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, where six people were killed at a private Christian school. Proponents say the North Carolina bills are a commonsense step toward empowerment, not escalation.

If SB 280 passes the Senate floor next week, it will move to the House for consideration  where HB 193s success signals strong momentum.

 TAKE ACTION NOW!

Contact your State Senators office IMMEDIATELY and urge a YES vote on SB 280  the Private School Security Act.

Its the weekend. So you probably wont get an answer if you call, but leave a message on his/her voicemail.

Find your Senator's contact information by clicking here.

Its simple. Its urgent. The measure has momentum, and your voice is needed to support this legislation now.

 Call.

 Send an email.

 Do both, if you can.



 Especially Take Action If You Are: A pastor or church leader

Employed by a private or Christian school

A parent of a student in a private or Christian school

Your voice carries weight - use it now.



 Key Talking Points in Favor of SB 280. You need only to use one or two.

 1. Enhances School Security in Vulnerable Institutions

Many private schools cant afford full-time security. This bill allows them to authorize trained individuals to protect against violent threats, including active shooters.

 2. Respects and Strengthens Religious Liberty

Restores the right to self-defense during religious services, even when held on school propertya crucial protection amid rising violence against houses of worship.

 3. Empowers Local Decision-Making

Private school leadershipnot the statedecides whether to implement this option. Its a local choice, not a mandate.

 4. Ensures Rigorous Training and Safety Standards

Only those with a concealed handgun permit and an additional 8+ hours of annual firearms training under a certified instructor may qualify.

 5. Promotes Transparency and Parental Confidence

Schools must adopt and distribute written procedures annually to parents, ensuring clear communication and accountability.

 6. Restricts Participation to Law-Abiding Citizens

Only concealed carry permit holders who have passed background checks and state training are eligible. This is not a reckless or open-ended policy.

 7. Provides a Targeted, Sensible Solution

This is a measured response for private institutions and churches that need it most. It doesn't apply to public schools or create a sweeping statewide rule.

-----------------------------

With this bill advancing, your timely response is critical. Thank you for standing with Return America to protect our children, schools, and freedom.
UPDATE: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, the hero of Brexit, says the newly minted Reform Party majorities in local governments across England will use local government powers to block the national Labour government from placing illegal alien migrants in "migrant hotels" in the regions they control. They will also use local government powers and sue in the courts to block the Labour government's controversial "green" agenda in those regions, such as building wind and solar "farms"s

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/05/05/farages-reform-vows-to-use-council-power-to-block-migrant-hotels-net-zero-agenda/

Local elections in the UK have given the populist right Reform Party outright control of nine local government authorities. . Reform and Conservatives together also constitute a solid majority in seven others and those coalitions are likely. Party leader Nigel Farage, hero of the Brexit campaign, says the Reform Party will immediately take strong policy positions that will pose a challenge to the national Labour government.

Farage says Reform-led local councils will resist any attempt by the national government to house any illegal alien migrants in their areas such as in migrant hotels. That is something the Conservatives have never dared to do. It will set Reform up as real opposition, willing to take action against illegal immigration. An example might be the towns in Austria that used local zoning ordinances to stop migrants being dumped in their communities by the national government.

The second thing Farage has said the Reform-led local governments will do is to set up local DOGE-style committees to go over local spending with a fine tooth comb to weed out farud and waste. Reform is calling for DOGE style efforts at the national level, and this will show that they are serious.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2050498/reform-uk-threatens-legal-action

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2048931/local-elections-2025-live-blog-reform-labour

Now there is speculation in the press that three top Conservative members of Parliament might defect to the Reform Party.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2050829/kemi-badenoch-panic-trio-defect-Reform
Listed property on Belfasts Golden Mile on the market for under 1m

Distinctive black and white building described by agent as a prime landmark investment

2-6 Bradbury Place

Margaret Canning Fri 2 May 2025 at 07:36

A listed property in Belfasts so-called Golden Mile is on the market for 950,000.
Marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day: Let us remember those who will not come back...

We look back at the events leading to the end of WWII in Europe  and how Northern Ireland is celebrating VE Day on the 80th anniversary

VE Day celebrations across Belfast

Fri 2 May 2025 at 13:30

May 8 will herald the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), when Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied forces, signalling the end to World War Two. The surrender document was signed by German representatives the previous day.
More than a year before Hume quit as SDLP leader, shocked British Ambassador found him incoherent

Political giants declining health was set out in highly confidential diplomatic cable sent to London by Britains ambassador in Dublin

John Hume, pictured here at Belfast's Wellington Park Hotel in 1999, was by the following year seriously ill

Sam McBride Fri 2 May 2025 at 07:40

More than a year before John Hume stepped down as SDLP leader, the British Ambassador to Dublin was shocked to see how incapable he had become of political discussion, he said in a confidential cable.
Son of man murdered by IRA says Bobby Sands statue is glorifying terrorism

Campaigners father was shot by the IRA 40 years ago in Co Down

Sammy Heenan with his dad William Heenan

Amy Cochrane Fri 2 May 2025 at 07:16

A memorial for a man shot dead by the IRA 40 years ago will be held on the same day a Bobby Sands statue is unveiled in west Belfast.
Aristocrat Constance Marten has told jurors she was reluctant to report her babys death over fears she would be branded an evil mother and a murderess after recalling through tears how she woke up to find her daughter had died.

Marten, 37, and Mark Gordon, 50, are charged with the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria, who died after they went off-grid in early 2023.

The Old Bailey was told the couple were avoiding their fifth child being removed from them amid a high-profile police hunt for the missing baby, with Marten claiming her other children were stolen by the state.

The defendants are on trial at the Old Bailey (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

It is alleged Victoria was inadequately clothed in a babygrow and that Marten had got wet as she carried the baby underneath her coat.

The prosecution alleges Victoria died from hypothermia or was smothered while co-sleeping in the flimsy tent on the South Downs, despite past warnings.

The childs body was discovered with rubbish inside a shopping bag in a disused shed near Brighton after the defendants were arrested on February 27 2023.

Marten, who started giving evidence last week, gave an account of Victorias death through tears.

The court heard she fell asleep with Victoria on her lap before waking up on January 9 to the worst sight.

She was on my lap, her head was on one of my forearms, I had flopped forward, my forehead was on the floor of the tent, Marten said.

I fed her and then I burped her and she usually liked to be held for a while. She liked to be held close to us.

I was holding her on my lap and tapping her to help her sleep and I just woke up in that position.

I woke up because I knew something was wrong, the defendant continued. I just felt it in my spirit.

I woke up and I just felt something was wrong. I brought her out of my jacket and she was completely limp.

She was completely limp and she was pale and her lips were a kind of purply colour.

Marten grew emotional as she went on: I just knew she wasnt alive and I felt responsible because I was holding her so my assumption was that I had fallen asleep on her.

She described being in disbelief and not wanting to believe her daughter was not alive.

You know when you sort of know something deep down but you dont want to accept it, she said.

She was still warm to touch. As soon as I took her out of my jacket within a minute or so she went cold.

Marten asked for a minute to collect herself and began to cry with her hand over her eyes.

Asked whether there was anything that could be done to save Victoria, the defendant said: No there was no heartbeat, there was no breath, she was completely limp.

She told of feeling panic over the death and how she thought she had to somehow hide her.

On January 12, Marten and Gordon went to a Texaco garage where they filled a glass bottle with petrol with the idea of cremating Victorias body.

Asked if she reported Victorias death, Marten said: At that stage no I was just in the movies, I dont know, accidentally someone dies they panic and they think, oh my gosh I just thought they were going to say I was some evil mother, a murderess, that sort of thing.

She said she did not trust the police to carry out an investigation after such a big media furore around us.

Marten described the situation as the worst nightmare that you have ever woke up from.

She said she thought lots of times about handing herself in.

The pair went off-grid in a tent (Metropolitan Police/PA)

But anytime I thought about it, I just panicked and I saw my other four children and I thought they are going to chew us out.

I dont trust the police.

The defendants were arrested on February 27 2023.

Marten said she felt obviously fearful, and begged for police to be gentle with Gordon whom she claims officers were extremely violent towards.

She did not answer questions in interview initially, explaining to jurors that she was terrified.

I found the arrest pretty traumatic to be honest, she said.

It was just a harrowing experience and I was in this room and I just thought these people were treating us like we were criminals and I was terrified.

Marten told the court she did not tell officers where Victoria was and that she did not want them to find her.

I thought they are never going to believe me, they are going to try and make something, this situation, nefarious, she said.

I just felt like the whole press thing, we were being made out to be dangerous individuals who had to be found.

I was hoping they would not find the body.

Because I dont trust the police, I thought they would make something into something that it is not and thats basically what has happened.

Tom Godfrey  who was the junior barrister in Martens defence team with Francis FitzGibbon KC as the leading silk  was the one to ask his client questions on Friday.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told jurors at the start of the days proceedings: The eagle-eyed amongst you may notice Mr FitzGibbon is not here and the eagle-eyed will see it is going to be Mr Godfrey who will be asking further questions of Ms Marten going forward.

Please do not concern yourselves as to the reasons this has happened.

The pair, of no fixed address, have denied the gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter and causing or allowing her death between January 4 and February 27 2023.

Jurors have been told the defendants were convicted at an earlier trial of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.
Vietnamese nationals were discovered by Border Force officers hidden under rubbish in an unregistered van. (Home Office/PA)

Two people smugglers have been jailed for trying to bring five Vietnamese migrants into the UK hidden under rubbish in a van.

Denice Blendell, 62, and Andrew Stainton, 48, were sentenced to more than five years in prison on Friday after their plan was foiled on March 4 2022, the Home Office said.

Border Force officers searching the pairs unregistered van in Coquelles, France, discovered the five migrants underneath an old mattress, clothing and heavy motorbike parts, before they boarded the Eurotunnel train back to the UK.

A video released by the Home Office shows the moment officials unloading the white van bring out one migrant from the back of the vehicle.

It emerged from a Home Office investigation that British nationals Blendell and Stainton were working as part of an organised crime gang and were expecting to be paid 2,000 each for smuggling the five migrants into the UK.

They were also found to have made several previous trips to France and Belgium by the Home Office working with international partners, and had deposited cash totalling 14,000 into their respective bank accounts after one of their earlier facilitations.

Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said: Blendell and Stainton, like many criminal gangs are only concerned with lining their pockets, they exploited a desperate group of individuals by disguising them under motorcycle parts in the back of their van.

This type of heinous criminality must be stopped, and todays sentence shows we wont stand and watch.

Blendell, of Burringham Road, Scunthorpe, was sentenced to one year and eight months for conspiring and acting to facilitate illegal entry into the UK, and Stainton, of the same address, was sentenced to three years and nine months respectively.

They were sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

Jason Jowett, of the Home Office Criminal Financial Investigations team, added: As with many cases we see, the migrants were led to believe they were coming for a better life, but found themselves in cramped, dangerous conditions as their exploiters lined their pockets at their expense.

I cannot state this enough  the criminals running these networks do not care about the welfare of those that they transport to the UK. Their sole focus is financial gain and one by one we will put a stop to them.
Pat McFadden will set out the action the Government is taking to boost the countrys cyber protections (Lucy North/PA)

A wave of cyber attacks should be a wake-up call for every business in the country, a senior minister will say.

Harrods became the latest high-profile UK retailer to fall victim to hacking in recent days, after a serious ransomware attack on Marks & Spencer forced the company to suspend online orders and halt recruitment.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden will use a keynote speech to urge companies to treat cyber security as an absolute priority.

Speaking at the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr McFadden will say: These attacks need to be a wake-up call for every business in the UK.

Marks & Spencer is working day and night to manage the impact of a damaging cyber attack (Jonathan Brady/PA)

In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit  with attempts being made every hour of every day  companies must treat cybersecurity as an absolute priority.

Weve watched in real time the disruption these attacks have caused, including to working families going about their everyday lives.

It serves as a powerful reminder that just as you would never leave your car or your house unlocked on your way to work, we have to treat our digital shop fronts the same way.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working closely with affected organisations to fully understand the nature of the attacks, the Government said.

M&S confirmed on Thursday it had taken down all job adverts from its careers website while it dealt with the fallout.

A message on the site told prospective applicants: Sorry you cant search or apply for roles right now, were working hard to be back online as soon as possible.

The London-based retailer employs about 65,000 people and has seen its operations disrupted since the Easter weekend.

Contactless payments were affected, and click-and-collect services halted, though contactless has since been restored.

Meanwhile, the Co-op Group has also been affected by an attempted hack, prompting it to shut down parts of its IT infrastructure.

While its shops and funeral services continue to trade, staff have reportedly been instructed to keep cameras on and verify identities during all remote meetings.

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into the attack on M&S.

Mr McFadden, who led a briefing with national security officials and the NCSC on Friday, will set out the action the Government is taking to boost the countrys cyber protections in his speech.

He will say: Were modernising the way the state approaches cyber, through the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. That legislation will bolster our national defences.

It will grant new powers for the Technology Secretary to direct regulated organisations to reinforce their cyber defences. It will require over 1,000 private IT providers to improve their data and network security.

It will require companies to report a wider array of cyber incidents to the NCSC in the future  to help us build a clearer picture of who, and what, hostile actors are targeting.
The coffin of Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who resigned over criticism of his role in investigating allegations of clerical sexual abuse, is carried out of the Church of the Sacred Heart, in Clondalkin, Dublin, for his funeral on May 1, 2025 (Arthur Carron/PA Wire)

The remains of the Comiskeys, exhumed in Co Monaghan by experts searching for Disappeared victim Joe Lynskey, were reinterred to the family plot this week

The family of Joe Lynskey, one of the remaining Disappeared whose body is yet to be recovered, have paid tribute to the compassion of the Comiskey family for facilitating the latest search for his remains.

Maria Lynskey was speaking following the funeral of Bishop Comiskey, who died on April 28, aged 89.

Ms Lynskey, the niece of Joe Lynskey, who was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972, said she and the wider Lynskey family will be forever grateful for the compassion shown by Bishop Dr Brendan Comiskey and his family for all their assistance in the search for her uncles remains in Annyalla Cemetery, Co Monaghan, in November last year.

Remains from the Comiskey family grave were exhumed by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR), the body set up to locate and recover the remains of the Disappeared, when it was believed that Mr Lynskeys body may have been buried in the grave following his murder.

Joe Lynskey

DNA testing revealed that although there were remains in the grave that did not belong to the Comiskey family, they were not those of Joe Lynskey or any other Disappeared.

Maria Lynskey said: Previous searches for Joes remains were in a field and on a bog.

Going into a family grave was very different and it must have come as a shock to the family to think that one of the Disappeared might be there. I can only imagine how distressing it must have been for them.

Bishop Comiskey, who was very ill at the time, and his family supported the ICLVRs efforts to find Joe despite the very difficult personal circumstances, and that showed great compassion, she added.

I will never forget it and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

A former Cistercian monk from the Beechmount area of west Belfast, Mr Lynskey later joined the IRA and went missing in 1972. Republicans have claimed he was executed and buried by the IRA.

The remains of the Comiskeys, exhumed in Co Monaghan by experts searching for Disappeared victim Joe Lynskey, were reinterred to the family plot this week

The latest search in November last year was the first since 2018. Before that, a search for the remains of Mr Lynskey recovered the remains of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee.

The remains of four of the original 19 Disappeared  Captain Robert Nairac, Seamus Maguire, Columba McVeigh and Joe Lynskey  have yet to be recovered.

Maria Lynskey at her home on April 15, 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph)

Maria Lynskey interview

As last Novembers search got underway, Ms Lynskey said her father, who had been dead for 30 years, would have loved to have known where his brother was.

When people give information, they dont realise how humble and how grateful we are that they have given information, she said, speaking of her hopes that the details provided would finally lead to her uncles remains being discovered.

Whoever owns this grave, I thank them from the bottom of my heart Hopefully its Joe. I hope to God its Joe and that we can bring him home.

But we still have four more bodies  three men and one young woman  that we need to bring home, too.

The coffin of Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who resigned over criticism of his role in investigating allegations of clerical sexual abuse, is carried out of the Church of the Sacred Heart, in Clondalkin, Dublin, for his funeral on May 1, 2025 (Arthur Carron/PA Wire)

Describing her uncle, Ms Lynskey said: He was quiet. He was quite gentle and shy in a way. He was the only uncle we had.

Bishop Brendan Comiskey had resigned from Ferns diocese in the south-east of Ireland in 2002 after acknowledging failings in his handling of complaints against notorious priest Fr Sean Fortune.

Requiem Mass for Bishop Comiskey was held in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Clondalkin in west Dublin on Thursday.

After the service, Bishop Comiskeys remains were transported for burial in Annyalla Cemetery, Co Monaghan.
A woman who alleges Harvey Weinstein forced oral sex on her nearly two decades ago broke down in tears in the witness box at his MeToo retrial on Friday.

She raised her voice and swore as the former Hollywood moguls lawyer questioned her account of the alleged assault.

He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Miriam Haley told jurors in New York.

That is for the jury to decide, Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean said.

No, its not for the jury to decide, Ms Haley said, her voice growing louder as tears began streaming down her face. Its my experience. And he did that to me.

Harvey Weinstein appears in court in New York (Adam Gray, Pool/AP)

Judge Curtis Farber promptly halted questioning and sent jurors out of the courtroom for a short break.

Ms Haley, her eyes red and face glistening, did not look at Weinstein as she left the witness box and left through a side door.

Ms Haley, 48, is giving evidence for a fourth day at Weinsteins rape trial. Questioning resumed after the break.

Ms Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first of three accusers expected to give evidence at the retrial, which is happening after an appeals court overturned his conviction at his first trial in 2020.

Ms Haleys evidence at that trial took just one day.

She alleges that Weinstein assaulted her in July 2006 after inviting her to his apartment to, as she put it, just stop by and say hi.

She said earlier in the week that Weinstein backed her into a bedroom and pushed her on to a bed, holding her down as he ignored her pleas of: No, no  its not going to happen.

She and two of her friends gave evidence that she told them soon after that Weinstein had sexually assaulted her.

She maintains she was never interested in any sexual or romantic relationship with Weinstein, despite his past overtures, but wanted his help getting jobs in show business.

Zeroing in on the alleged assault, Ms Bonjean on Friday questioned why Haley would agree to go to Weinsteins apartment after what the witness described as previous bizarre and overwhelming behaviour, including his barging into her home weeks earlier as he sought to persuade her to go to Paris with him.

Ms Haley said she did not have a reason to turn down Weinsteins request to stop by his apartment and said she did not fear for her safety, even after his earlier outburst.

It wasnt a big deal, she said. I go to peoples houses all the time.

Ms Haley broke down as Ms Bonjean asked her about the clothing she wore to the apartment.

She was not certain what clothing she was wearing, but maintained that Weinstein was the one who took them off.

She has said that Weinstein also removed her tampon before forcibly performing oral sex on her.

I didnt take my clothing off, Ms Haley said, before saying that Weinstein raped her.

Ms Bonjean objected, saying that determining whether Weinstein assaulted her is a legal conclusion that only the jury can make.

That set Ms Haley off. The witness, who has sparred with Ms Bonjean during two days of cross-examination, said that regardless of the legalities at issue, her experience is that Weinstein violated her.

Before Ms Haley broke down, Ms Bonjean underscored through questioning that before the alleged assault, Ms Haley agreed to take a Weinstein-paid flight to Los Angeles to attend a premiere of his companys Clerks II.

The trip was the day after the alleged assault.

Did you just think he was just being generous? Ms Bonjean asked.

Ms Haley said she had accepted partly because she wanted to get back in his good books after turning down the Paris invitation, and the Los Angeles trip seemed more appropriate because she would be traveling on her own and could also visit a friend there.

You wanted to appease him, make him happy, make him like you? Ms Bonjean asked, suggesting the arrangement was a win-win for Ms Haley.

Well, that, too, Ms Haley said.

Haley said on Thursday that a few weeks after the alleged assault, she agreed to meet Weinstein at a Manhattan hotel.

She said she expected to talk in the lobby, but was instead directed to his room, where she says she had unwanted, but not forced, sex with him.

Weinsteins retrial includes charges related to Ms Haley and another accuser from the original trial, Jessica Mann, who alleges a 2013 rape.

He is also being tried, for the first time, for allegedly forcing oral sex on former model Kaja Sokola in 2006.

They also are expected to give evidence.
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This article first appeared in The Republican.
Williams College President Maud Mandel is navigating the impacts of Trump-era federal policies that threaten the schools endowment, diversity programs, international student access and research funding. In a calm but firm response, Mandel says the college will adapt while remaining true to its educational mission and values of inclusion and autonomy.
By Branden Ferguson

As Ohio continues to face a teacher shortage in public schools, Bowling Green State University remains committed to preparing students like senior Grace Kirk to meet the state's workforce needs, fostering their passion for the profession and equipping them with the tools to succeed.

"If you want to change the world, it starts in the classroom," Kirk said. "Today's students are tomorrow's thinkers, workers, doctors and politicians."

With the goal of changing the future, Kirk enrolled in the University's highly regarded education program, focusing on middle childhood education for math and social studies. BGSU is the largest producer of teachers at a single site in Ohio.



"As a first-generation college student, my experience at BGSU has been amazing," Kirk said. "Students are prepared to be teachers through field experience, experiential learning, interactions with faculty, and through support from professors and President Rodney Rogers.

"He is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet, and he has made it a point to make me feel welcome as a first-generation college student."

As a Thompson Working Families Scholarship recipient, Kirk also had the dedicated support of a Thompson advisor to help guide her through her educational journey.
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Ryanair has threatened to cancel orders for hundreds of Boeing aircraft if a US-led tariff war leads to materially higher prices, and said it could look at alternative suppliers, including Chinese planemaker COMAC.

The threat by Europe's largest low-cost carrier and one of Boeing's biggest customers was the latest sign of a potential reordering of the global aerospace industry if US president Trump does not exempt the sector from his tariff plans.

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But with COMAC not yet certified in Europe and Boeing's main rival Airbus saying it is sold out through the rest of the decade, Ryanair may find it hard to follow through on its threat, one industry source said.

In a letter to a senior US lawmaker, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said Trump's tariffs could threaten 330 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that his airline has on order, which have a list price of more than $30 billion (26.5 billion).

"If the US government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs, and if these tariffs materially affect the price of Boeing aircraft exports to Europe, then we would certainly reassess both our current Boeing orders, and the possibility of placing those orders elsewhere," O'Leary said.

The letter, seen by Reuters, was a response to a warning by US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, about the security implications of Ryanair following through on an earlier suggestion it might consider a COMAC order.

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Boeing was not immediately available for comment.

Change of tone

The threat to cancel orders marked a hardening of tone from O'Leary, who in April had threatened to delay deliveries. In March he said that Boeing executives had privately expressed confidence that aircraft would be exempted from Trump's tariffs.

Aircraft industry sources say Boeing and Airbus contracts do not include any provision for tariffs, since the industry has for decades operated without them. Tariffs only become due once ownership of the aircraft has passed to the purchasing airline and the contract has been completed.

Most aircraft purchase contracts include a clause requiring all sides to pay their own taxes without explicitly mentioning tariffs, the sources said. But many aerospace companies are said to be reviewing the wording of contracts for future deals on the assumption that trade turbulence will remain for some time.

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O'Leary's comments in the letter may in part be a tactical intervention ahead of a period of potentially tough negotiations with Boeing behind the scenes, the industry sources said.

Considering China

O'Leary said in the letter the Dublin-based airline has not had any discussions with COMAC about aircraft purchases since about 2011 but that it would "of course" consider it if they were 10-20 per cent cheaper than Boeing's main rival Airbus.

Airbus, which is Boeing's only competitor for large single-aisle aircraft that are currently certified in Europe, has repeatedly said it is sold out through the rest of the decade.

No Western airline has bought a COMAC plane. The Chinese company has applied for certification for its C919 jet in Europe but not in the United States.

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The C919 jet is around 150 seats or up to around 190 in dense layouts, smaller than the Boeing planes Ryanair currently flies and the MAX 10, which make up most of the planes it has on order, which can seat up to 230.

Ryanair's threat comes as Boeing is looking to resell potentially dozens of planes locked out of China by tariffs after repatriating a third jet to the United States in a delivery standoff that prompted more criticism of Beijing from Trump.

It is rare for airlines to cancel airplane contracts rather than delay delivery because of the small number of suppliers and the risk of returning to the back of the queue for capacity, dampening growth, analysts say.

And attempts by airlines to cancel contracts are typically resisted by planemakers, who can cite a list of excusable factors like supply chain delays, according to industry sources and previous court filings.
The Court of Appeal in Belfast has affirmed a High Court ruling ordering the British government to hold a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown.

The Appeal Court judges said the order compelling Northern Secretary Hilary Benn to establish an inquiry would come into effect on June 2nd.

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Mr Benn has already signalled an intent to take the case to the UK's supreme court.

He had asked the court to give him a further four weeks before making a final order on the case but judges decided to make their determination on Friday.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald arrive at Belfasts Court of Appeal on Friday (Liam McBurney/PA)

The courtroom in Belfast was packed with supporters of the Brown family who accompanied Mr Browns widow Bridie and her children to the hearing.

Mr Brown (61), the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Co Derry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

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Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several British state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

The family of Mr Brown were applauded by a large crowd of supporters as they arrived at the Court of Appeal for Fridays hearing.

Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald were among those who walked with the Brown family as they approached the court building.

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On Wednesday, Northern Secretary Hilary Benn sought leave for a UK supreme court appeal in the case.

The move had been heavily criticised by the Brown family and their supporters.

Ireland Family of Sean Brown has waited too long for truth... Read More

Mr Benn has not confirmed he ultimately intends to take the case to the UK Supreme Court, but applied for protective leave to appeal to the UKs highest court if he believes that course of action to be necessary.

The Belfast Court of Appeal, as is routine practice, dismissed the application for leave to the supreme court in London.

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That places the onus on Mr Benn to apply directly to the UK supreme court for leave to hear an appeal.
Irish data protection authorities have fined TikTok 530 million for transferring the European users personal data to China, following a long investigation.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said it examined the lawfulness of TikToks transfer of personal data of its users in Europe to China.

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As part of its investigation, it also examined whether the provision of information to users in relation to such transfers met TikToks transparency requirements as required by the GDPR.

 Latest News: Irish Data Protection Commission fines TikTok 530 million and orders corrective measures following an inquiry into transfers of EEA user data to China.



Press Release  https://t.co/d4jNVux18y pic.twitter.com/15jE1dKVXw  Data Protection Commission Ireland (@DPCIreland) May 2, 2025

The decision includes administrative fines totalling 530 million and an order requiring TikTok to bring its processing into compliance within six months.

The decision also includes an order suspending TikToks transfers to China if processing is not brought into compliance within this timeframe.

Throughout the inquiry, TikTok denied that it stored European users data on servers located in China.

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However, last month TikTok told the DPC of an issue that it had discovered in February 2025 where limited data had been stored on servers in China, contrary to TikToks evidence to the inquiry.

TikTok informed the DPC that this discovery meant it had provided inaccurate information.

DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said: The GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries.

TikToks personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU.

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As a result of TikToks failure to undertake the necessary assessments, TikTok did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards.

The DPC submitted a draft decision to the GDPR cooperation mechanism on February 21, as required under Article 60 of the GDPR.

Mr Doyle added: The DPC is taking these recent developments regarding the storage of EEA User Data on servers in China very seriously.

Whilst TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted, in consultation with our peer EU Data Protection Authorities.

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The DPC will publish the full decision and further related information in due course.
Israels air force has struck near Syrias presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria.

The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus.

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The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded.

Fridays strike was Israels second on Syria this week, and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syrias new leadership which is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.



(AP)

On Thursday, Syrias Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticised Syrias government for what he called an unjustified genocidal attack on the minority community.

Early on Friday, the Druze religious leadership said the community is part of Syria and refuses to break away from the country, adding that the role of the state should be activated in the southern province of Sweida and authorities should be in control of the Sweida-Damascus highway.

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We confirm our commitment to a country that includes all Syrians, a nation that is free of strife, the statement said.

In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, where fighting occurred earlier this week, security forces deployed inside the area along with local Druze gunmen, and at a later stage heavy weapons will be handed over to authorities.



Clashes erupted in last two days between members of the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters (AP)

As part of the deal, forces from the defence ministry will deploy around Jaramana without going inside.

The Israeli army said that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus.

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Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz said the strike was a message to Syrian leaders.

This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community, said the joint statement.

Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the Peoples Palace on a hill overlooking the city.



Clashes broke out at midnight on Monday (AP)

Over the past two days the Israeli military said it had evacuated Syrian Druze who were injured in the fighting.

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The Israeli army said a soldier was killed and three were lightly injured in an accident in the Golan Heights. An army statement added that the soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment and that the circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

The clashes broke out around midnight on Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticising Islams Prophet Muhammad.

The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims.



The Druze sect is a minority group (AP)

Syrias information ministry said 11 members of the countrys security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while the UK-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces.

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The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. More than half of the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus.

Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in 1981.
A landlord in the US who killed a six-year-old Muslim boy and severely injured the boys mother in a brutal hate-crime attack, days after the war in Gaza began, was sentenced on Friday to 53 years in prison.

Joseph Czuba, 73, of Illinois, was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges over the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

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Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Czuba to 30 years for the boys death and another 20 years consecutively for the attack on Ms Shaheen.

The judge also sentenced him to three years imprisonment for hate crimes. The length of the sentence makes it all but certain he will die behind bars.

No sentence can restore what was taken, but todays outcome delivers a necessary measure of justice, said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of not-for-profit Muslim civil rights organisation CAIR-Chicago.



Wadee Alfayoumis father, Oday Al Fayoume, right, and his uncle Mahmoud Yousef attend a vigil for Wadee (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Wadee was an innocent child. He was targeted because of who he was, Muslim, Palestinian and loved.

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Czuba did not speak during the sentencing. His lawyer declined to comment.

Will County states attorney James Glasgows office issued a statement calling Czuba a morally reprehensible killer and the impact of his actions truly unfathomable.

The boys great-uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, was the only family member who spoke during the hearing.

He said that no matter the sentence length it would n0pt be enough. The boys parents had plans for him and Czuba robbed them of that, he said.

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Mr Yousef asked Czuba to explain why he attacked the boy and his mother, asking him what news he heard that provoked him, but Czuba did not respond, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, prosecutors said during the trial.

Evidence included harrowing testimony from Ms Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.



Mahmoud Yousef, grandfather of Wadee Al Fayoumi (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times/AP)

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago, when the attack happened.

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Central to prosecutors case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim.

Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czubas wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also gave evidence for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the childs body.

Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadees relatives.

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He could not escape, Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant states attorney, told jurors.

If it wasnt enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boys body.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community.



Odai Al Fayoumi, father of Wadee Al Fayoumi (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times/AP)

Wadees funeral drew large crowds and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honour.

Ms Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover.

She said there were no prior issues in the two years she rented from the Czubas, even sharing a kitchen and a living room.

Then after the start of the war, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome. He later confronted Ms Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

He told me You, as a Muslim, must die, said Ms Shaheen, who gave evidence in English and Arabic though a translator.

Police said that officers found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

Separately, lawsuits have been filed over the boys death, including by his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who is divorced from Ms Shaheen and was not living with them. The US Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crimes investigation.

Mr Yousef told reporters after the hearing that Czuba was a grandfather figure to Wadee and the family does not understand what fake news Czuba may have heard about the war in Gaza that caused him to attack the boy and his mother.

People need to understand Muslims before judging them, he said.

Some people are bringing this war to this country, Mr Yousef said. We cannot do that. We cant bring the war here. We cannot bring hatred to this country, we need that to stop.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been granted bail after appearing in a London court charged with rape and sexual assault.

Brand spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions during a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court.

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The 49-year-old, wearing an open shirt and jeans, listened intently to the details of the charges as he sat in the dock.

Brand did not speak to reporters as he walked into the court on Friday morning after flying back to the UK from the US for the hearing.

The 49-year-old was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

Photographers surround Russell Brand as he arrives at court (James Manning/PA)

The charges came following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023 in which several women accused him of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.

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Brand was wearing sunglasses and a navy open-buttoned shirt as he arrived at court just before 9.30am.

Photographers surrounded Brands car when it pulled up outside the court on Marylebone Road where there was also a police presence.

It took the comedian more than two minutes to walk the short distance from his vehicle to the court door as photographers attempted to get a shot of his arrival.

Russell Brand arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court (Lucy North/PA)

World Russell Brand accused of grabbing woman and dragg... Read More

In a video previously posted on his X account, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

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Brand, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, will appear at England's Central Criminal Court in London on May 30th.
South Koreas former prime minister Han Duck-soo said on Friday he will run in next months presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.

Mr Hans entry heats up the scramble among conservatives to unify behind a candidate to compete with liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung, whose campaign was set back by a court decision to open a new trial on election law violation charges.

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Ive determined to find what I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea that I love and for all of us, Mr Han told a press conference at the National Assembly.

South Korea is holding an early presidential election on June 3 after conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted over his imposition of martial law.

Mr Han had been appointed prime minister, the number two post, by Mr Yoon and he served as acting leader after the former president was suspended and later removed from office.



Mr Han Duck-soo speaks at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea on May 1, 2025. (Hong Hae-in/Yonhap via AP)

Mr Han was also prime minister under liberal president Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008 and has served as trade minister, finance minister and ambassador to the US during his 40-year career.

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He has never held elected office but has risen politically as the main conservative People Power Party (PPP) struggles in the wake of Yoons ouster.

Mr Han does not belong to a political party, but contenders in the PPP have said they are willing to field a single candidate among them and Mr Han.

PPP members are scheduled to nominate their partys candidate on Saturday.

Mr Han said that if elected, he would launch a body to amend the constitution so the president and the assembly share powers based on the principle of checks and balances.

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His revisions would also bar the political circle and the judiciary branch from meddling in each others sectors.

In South Korea, executive power is heavily concentrated on a president and there have been calls for change.

The election on June 3 will give the new president a full, single five-year term.

But Mr Han said he would serve three years to finish the constitutional revision and then leave.

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Mr Han said he would also use his expertise on economic affairs to resolve trade issues with the US over president Donald Trumps tariff policies.
A woman who alleges Harvey Weinstein forced oral sex on her nearly two decades ago broke down in tears in the witness box at his MeToo retrial on Friday.

She raised her voice and swore as the former Hollywood moguls lawyer questioned her account of the alleged assault.

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He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Miriam Haley told jurors in New York.

That is for the jury to decide, Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean said.

No, its not for the jury to decide, Ms Haley said, her voice growing louder as tears began streaming down her face. Its my experience. And he did that to me.



Harvey Weinstein appears in court in New York (Adam Gray, Pool/AP)

Judge Curtis Farber promptly halted questioning and sent jurors out of the courtroom for a short break.

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Ms Haley, her eyes red and face glistening, did not look at Weinstein as she left the witness box and left through a side door.

Ms Haley, 48, is giving evidence for a fourth day at Weinsteins rape trial. Questioning resumed after the break.

Ms Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first of three accusers expected to give evidence at the retrial, which is happening after an appeals court overturned his conviction at his first trial in 2020.

Ms Haleys evidence at that trial took just one day.

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She alleges that Weinstein assaulted her in July 2006 after inviting her to his apartment to, as she put it, just stop by and say hi.

She said earlier in the week that Weinstein backed her into a bedroom and pushed her on to a bed, holding her down as he ignored her pleas of: No, no  its not going to happen.

She and two of her friends gave evidence that she told them soon after that Weinstein had sexually assaulted her.

She maintains she was never interested in any sexual or romantic relationship with Weinstein, despite his past overtures, but wanted his help getting jobs in show business.

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Zeroing in on the alleged assault, Ms Bonjean on Friday questioned why Haley would agree to go to Weinsteins apartment after what the witness described as previous bizarre and overwhelming behaviour, including his barging into her home weeks earlier as he sought to persuade her to go to Paris with him.

Ms Haley said she did not have a reason to turn down Weinsteins request to stop by his apartment and said she did not fear for her safety, even after his earlier outburst.

It wasnt a big deal, she said. I go to peoples houses all the time.

Ms Haley broke down as Ms Bonjean asked her about the clothing she wore to the apartment.

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She was not certain what clothing she was wearing, but maintained that Weinstein was the one who took them off.

She has said that Weinstein also removed her tampon before forcibly performing oral sex on her.

I didnt take my clothing off, Ms Haley said, before saying that Weinstein raped her.

Ms Bonjean objected, saying that determining whether Weinstein assaulted her is a legal conclusion that only the jury can make.

That set Ms Haley off. The witness, who has sparred with Ms Bonjean during two days of cross-examination, said that regardless of the legalities at issue, her experience is that Weinstein violated her.

Before Ms Haley broke down, Ms Bonjean underscored through questioning that before the alleged assault, Ms Haley agreed to take a Weinstein-paid flight to Los Angeles to attend a premiere of his companys Clerks II.

The trip was the day after the alleged assault.

Did you just think he was just being generous? Ms Bonjean asked.

Ms Haley said she had accepted partly because she wanted to get back in his good books after turning down the Paris invitation, and the Los Angeles trip seemed more appropriate because she would be traveling on her own and could also visit a friend there.

You wanted to appease him, make him happy, make him like you? Ms Bonjean asked, suggesting the arrangement was a win-win for Ms Haley.

Well, that, too, Ms Haley said.

Haley said on Thursday that a few weeks after the alleged assault, she agreed to meet Weinstein at a Manhattan hotel.

She said she expected to talk in the lobby, but was instead directed to his room, where she says she had unwanted, but not forced, sex with him.

Weinsteins retrial includes charges related to Ms Haley and another accuser from the original trial, Jessica Mann, who alleges a 2013 rape.

He is also being tried, for the first time, for allegedly forcing oral sex on former model Kaja Sokola in 2006.

They also are expected to give evidence.
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Exclusive Eating outComing soon Renowned New York bar to open two Australian venues this year  and theyre not pop-ups A leader of the craft cocktail scene, with four locations in the US, has chosen Australia for its first step towards global drinks domination. Kosa Monteith May 2, 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

Celebrated US cocktail group Death & Co is set to open bars in Melbourne and Brisbane this spring. The new locations will be the groups first permanent bars outside North America. Australian Venue Co, which operates more than 200 pubs and bars across the country, is partnering with Death & Co to run the Australian outposts. The original Death & Co opened in New Yorks East Village in 2006 and has expanded to Los Angeles, Denver and Washington. Death & Co started in New York but has since expanded to four North American cities. The New York bar was a key player in the global craft cocktail renaissance of the late 2000s, popularising modern classics such as the Naked & Famous (mezcal, Aperol, Chartreuse and lime). Weve admired Death & Cos work for some time now and have teamed up with them on a number of pop-up events at our venues in the past, so this has felt like a natural extension of our shared vision, said Ben Hehir, Australian Venue Cos head of training and development.

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Hiring for venue managers has already begun, which will include three weeks of training experience at Death & Co sites in North America. Death & Cos Washington location (pictured) is one of four in North America, with a fifth on the way. Australian Venue Co operates venues including Melbournes Beer DeLuxe at Fed Square, St Kildas revitalised Hotel Esplanade and Brisbane spots The Boundary Hotel and Leftys Music Hall. The partnership may raise some eyebrows in bartending circles, at least privately. The group is more associated with sprawling pubs than singular cocktail bars. While the bar locations in Melbourne and Brisbane are under wraps, comments from Australian Venue Co suggest theyll be slotted inside existing venues. Hehir said the focus was on delivering craft cocktails and a New York-inspired bar experience with the same welcoming atmosphere our pubs are known for.

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Related Article Flying high or calling last drinks: Whats happening with your favourite Melbourne bars? Rob Libecans of Caretakers Cottage, ranked No. 21 on the latest Worlds 50 Best Bars list, thinks the Australian venture is a great sign of things to come. A rising tide lifts all ships, he said. Proven operators [coming in] with a history of success, a deep level of experience and training opportunities for Australian hospitality workers can only be a benefit to Melbourne. Matthew Linklater, a former manager at Black Pearl in Fitzroy who now works in hospitality consulting, agrees. Death & Co entering our market is a huge vote of confidence in the Australian cocktail scene, which has historically been among the worlds best.

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Its also great news for classic cocktail drinkers after a tough couple of years of bar closures. Their no-nonsense approach to modern American classics ... is reminiscent of The Everleigh or Romeo Lane, two venues which, once gone, left large dry martini-shaped holes in Melbournes  and my  heart. Related Article Three Australian bars named in the Worlds 50 Best Bars for 2024 Meanwhile, Death & Co has a new bar set to open in Seattle, too. The multimillion-dollar group also sells glassware and clothing, and co-founder Dave Kaplan has, along with co-owner Alex Day, written two books under the Death & Co name that are faithfully found on many bartenders bookshelves. Correction: an earlier version of this story stated that Death & Co run online training for bartenders worldwide, but this is yet to be launched.
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Eating outJust open A bread course unlike any other: What Young Chef of the Year is cooking at her pop-up For the month of May, a young gun chef and her husband are bringing their innovative, Indian-influenced pop-up restaurant Saadi to a well-known city venue. And its their longest residency yet. Tomas Telegramma Updated May 2, 2025 , first published May 1, 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

When hatted Punch Lane restaurant Sunda closed unexpectedly in late January, questions swirled around what would replace the modern South-east Asian diner. Three months on, an exciting new concept is taking up residence in the space, albeit temporarily: an Indian-ish pop-up from chef couple Saavni Krishnan  the 2025 Age Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year  and Aditya Adi Suresh. Young Chef of the Year Saavni Krishnan (right) and her partner Aditya Adi Suresh. The pair have been running Saadi events around Melbourne since 2022, while holding down full-time roles elsewhere. Sundas owner the Halim Group - also behind Aru and Antara - invited Krishnan and Suresh to take over the site for the month of May, after founder Adi Halim visited an earlier pop-up. We are grateful to be given this opportunity, very excited to serve customers in such an amazing venue, and extremely nervous and anxious to see how it all pans out, says Krishnan. Krishnan and Suresh have both quit their jobs (hers at North Melbournes Manze and his at Gemini in Coburg) to focus on Saadi.

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Weve gone all in, says Krishnan. We decided to focus all our time this year into Saadi to see how it could transform into a business. The success of more than a dozen pop-ups over three years  at cool wine bars like Arnolds and Sleepys, and wineries like the Indian-owned Avani on the Mornington Peninsula  has progressively given the pair more confidence in their concept. Kosha Mangsho (slow-roasted lamb neck, swede and yoghurt dressing), plus paniyaram (fermented rice doughnuts) with onion chutney at the Saadi pop-up at Sunda. Saadi, a portmanteau of Saavni and Adi, not only blends their names but their respective Indian upbringings and their experience cooking in top Australian kitchens, including Etta and Sydney fine diner Freds. The magic is in how they take traditional family recipes and throw in creative curveballs, like topping thattai (a lentil cracker usually eaten at teatime) with raw kingfish and onion chutney.

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My dad said It feels wrong but it tastes really good, says Suresh. What you can expect from Saadi at Sunda is an $80 set dinner menu  plus an abridged $40 set lunch menu and small a la carte snack selection  of entirely new dishes. To start, the kumror chokka tartlets will use in-season pumpkin, while tangy fermented rice doughnuts called paniyaram will be served with onion chutney. Goulburn River trout and bisi bele bath (a rice and lentil dish). Then, what Krishnan calls a bread course unlike any other is Saadis version of dhal bati churma, a dish from the west of India. It involves whole-wheat rolls charred on Sundas charcoal grill, dhal made with three varieties of Mount Zero lentils, and  in a twist  seasonal pickled veg.

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The main protein is Goulburn River trout, but its the accompaniment thats actually the main event: a homestyle rice and lentil dish called bisi bele bath that makes use of Sundas claypots. Its powered by an intricate housemade spice mix that includes marathi moggu  described as a type of caper  that gives some South Indian dishes a peppery sourness. Related Article The hot new (and upcoming) Indian restaurants you need to know about right now Back when we started, we never thought this is where we could be. I think Melbourne as a whole has really accepted our food, says Suresh. Expect more pop-ups as Krishnan and Suresh work towards opening their own restaurant. Saadi at Sunda runs from May 1 to 31.

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Open lunch Sat; dinner Thu-Sat 18 Punch Lane, Melbourne, instagram.com/saadi_melbourne. Bookings via sunda.com.au
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Tips & adviceCooking To prick or not to prick? The secret to the perfect DIY democracy sausage Pork or beef? Slowly does it or lots of sizzle? And dont forget the jammy onions. The experts share their brilliant banger tips, for election day and beyond. Jane de Graaff May 2, 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

Its the great Aussie tradition of polling day: the democracy sausage. Served hot from the grill, with loads of onion and sauce, inelegantly slapped onto soft white bread and bundled into a paper napkin. According to traditions that began as far back as compulsory Australian voting in 1924, food stalls are the reward for braving long lines on a Saturday, with money going to the community venue hosting the voting. Barbecues around Australia will sizzle this Saturday for democracy sausage day, aka the federal election. The term democracy sausage was officially coined in 2010, appearing alongside interactive maps locating polling day barbecues, and was voted Word of the Year by the Australian National Dictionary Centre in 2016. But the tradition came into its own long before that, with the rise of the 1980s portable gas barbecue. Whats the best sausage for the job?

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For the democracy sausage, were talking a standard fat beef snag, says butcher Adam Stratton, the World Butcher Challenge sausage champion and owner of Tender Gourmet Butchery. Hes served Aussie sausages to prime ministers and US presidents, and beaten the Germans at their own sausage game in world competitions. Butcher Adam Stratton knows how to make a banging sausage (and turduckens at Christmas). Edwina Pickles Natural casings are his choice, which dictates the sausage is a classic, fat snag, identifiable by a not-quite-uniform shape and a tied-off end. Collagen casings start to peel off when theyre cooking, says Stratton. Fat ratios in the filling mix are also key for texture, mouthfeel and flavour or itll be dry as anything, says Stratton. We find that starting at 80 per cent lean and 20 per cent fat is ideal. For the democracy sausage, were talking a standard fat beef snag. Adam Stratton, butcher

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Butcher of 20 years Alison Meagher agrees. Natural casings are her go-to, with a preferred filling mix of 70 per cent lean to 30 per cent fat. I like to put it on the 5ml grinding plate. Its a bit chunkier, says the advocate for women in butchery, adding that chilling both the water used for processing and the grinder is her trick to keeping the mince cool and avoiding the pasty texture that comes from over-processing and warm, emulsified fat. While ratios of seasoning and additional flavours are personal  trade secrets, even  Stratton says classic beef seasonings (including paprika and onion powder) should be just a hint, not an overwhelming feature. Adam Liaws perfect barbecued sausage is one for the bougie banger crowd. William Meppem Related Article EASY The perfect barbecued sausage

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Tips and tricks for cooking the perfect sausage Both butchers recommend slowing down on the cooking temperature. A hot grill causes splitting, burning and raw centres, and easing sausages into the heat is best. Stratton says par-boiling before barbecuing is the way to go, to retain moisture and make catering for large groups more efficient. Bring the sausages to a simmer in a large pot of water for about 8 to 10 minutes until they begin to firm.



Allow them to cool and, when youre ready, roll them on the hot (but not scorching) grill to get some colour, or butterfly them for more browning surface. It halves the cooking time and you wont be losing moisture. When cooking from raw, Meagher recommends starting with your sausages in a cold pan or on a cold barbecue. You dont want them to burst, so bring them up to a medium temperature slowly. The result will be a lovely browned-outside and juicy interior, without any splits.

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To prick or not to prick? Both butchers are adamant that you should never prick a good sausage. When butchers work hard to create the perfect flavour and texture balance, pricking will undo it all, with the flavour and moisture just draining away. DIY democracy sausages Jane de Graaff How to DIY classic democracy sausages with jammy onion The trick to stopping the skin splitting and cutting down on time is working ahead, par-boiling the sausages and cooking the onions ahead of time.

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INGREDIENTS 6 thick all-beef sausages

6 slices of soft, fresh, white bread, buttered

3 large brown onions, cut into thin half rings

3 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp barbecue sauce, plus tomato and barbecue sauce to serve METHOD First par-boil your sausages: Place your sausages into a deep pot of cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until firm. Drain, cool and set aside. Cook your jammy onions ahead: Heat your barbecue or pan to medium heat. Add the olive oil and toss in your sliced onions. Cook the onions for 30 minutes, tossing every so often to make sure they dont stick or burn. Time is key here; you cant rush them or they wont caramelise. In the last 5 minutes, add 1 tablespoon of barbecue sauce and stir through to cook. Once the onions are done, set aside until needed. When youre ready, bring your barbecue plate to medium, toss your onions back on the barbecue plate to warm, and add your sausages to brown for a couple of minutes on the same hotplate. Serve browned sausages on a slice of buttered white bread, with a good spoonful of jammy onions and a drizzle of preferred sauce. Related Article Bangers for your buck: 20+ easy and affordable sausage recipes

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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 There is one thing you absolutely cannot get wrong when trying to sell clothes on Shein. Its all about the first image. Its all about photography, because thats your storefront, says Tara Skene Haygarth, Sheins first director of product in Australia. That will get the click-through, which will get the conversion rate. If you dont have great photography  you dont really get the sales. Skene Haygarth is steering the Chinese-founded fast-fashion retailers latest initiative Down Under: Aralina, the first house brand designed by Australians and manufactured by Shein. The launch of Aralina has provided the first glimpse inside the local machinations of the US$50 billion ($78 billion) global behemoth that fosters a competitive internal culture among hundreds of in-house brands to stimulate sales. Its a bid to bring the Australian lifestyle to the northern hemisphere  a marketing exercise to sell beachy, relaxed vibes to online shoppers from the US, Europe and the Middle East. Billed as feminine, flowy and dainty, the new products are designed, photographed and released for sale every week. Models posing on the sand are photographed wearing pieces selling for as little as $8. Aralinas approach to product photography, shot beachside rather than in the studio, is necessary to distinguish itself from hundreds of other labels produced by Shein.

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Its all very competitive, says Skene Haygarth. Its really about having such a unique point of view with the creative art direction, the way you shoot  So it is tough, but its all just about performance, too. Loading Getting cut-through is key to success at Shein. Its model of mass production  the company is estimated to have as many as 600,000 items for sale at any given time  depends on a perpetual cycle of trendy styles. Part of the strategy is to design as much as possible and see what sticks. A Shein product typically isnt sold for more than 90 days. A team of seven designers is behind the Aralina label, which spans swimwear, resortwear, activewear, sleepwear, casual wear, and a curve collection. We really have the scale under the Shein Group, says Skene Haygarth. Obviously, [the] Australia [market] is there, but its the smallest part, really, of the business because the customers are northern hemisphere. After joining the business in June last year, Skene Haygarth says she had to learn an entirely new business model and way of working. Its so ahead of where Australian retail is, but it really is the future of retail.

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By copying designs at a rapid pace and flooding the market with low-cost versions, companies like Shein fundamentally undercut Australian designers, who are investing in this market and employing local people, she says. Quaintance-James and this masthead are not suggesting that Aralina has copied designs. Its really sad that some retailers and brands are not really able to keep afloat and keep moving forward, because some of them are absolutely incredible, says Skene Haygarth. Everyones shopping online. The way I knew retail 10 years ago doesnt even really exist any more. No ones doing catalogues. Stores are an experience, and its a different model to an online tech-based business. Designs on demand Aralina has already sold 250,000 items around the world, 15 per cent of which are from the Curve collection, since it launched. Only about 10 to 15 per cent of Aralina items have gone back into production.

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Internally, Shein has set a high bar for its designers through its on-demand production model, which Skene Haygarth says is part of the companys sustainability efforts. This model, which has been at the heart of Sheins business since its inception, allows Shein to test and learn in real time by producing small quantities of each product. Shein will produce more stock, or rebuy, when demand hits an undisclosed threshold. Its what allows the company to keep prices low for customers and respond to trends at a rapid pace. Skene Haygarth says this model means there is no real waste at the front end, given the company does not run the risk of sitting on unwanted inventory, by producing only what consumers demand. The on-demand model really isnt spoken about, says Skene Haygarth. I feel like for us, the operating model is quite sustainable. Courtney Holm, a former fashion designer and founder of Circular Sourcing, says the on-demand model is very clever, pointing out many small businesses use a similar model, albeit on a smaller scale. However, Holm says low-waste claims need to be viewed in the context of the total volume of clothing being produced  while it may eliminate overproduction of a finished piece of clothing, it doesnt curtail large amounts of fabric waste produced by the fashion industry. Fabric is not made on demand. There are minimum order quantities, and there are typically huge amounts of excess fabrics left over from production because of this, and this is pervasive across the industry, said Holm.

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A Royal Australian Air Force pilot accused of staging his wifes death as a late-night lawnmower accident will walk free from custody after he was granted bail by a Supreme Court judge.

Frances Elizabeth Crawfords body was found by emergency services at the bottom of a retaining wall at the couples property on Thomas Road in the Upper Lockyer Valley about 3.30am on July 30 last year.

Her husband, Robert Crawford, 47, stands accused of killing her, with the prosecution alleging he manipulated the scene by sending messages from her phone to himself after her death.

Frances Crawfords loved ones described her as a devoted mother to three children, a beloved daughter, sister, friend, dedicated health professional, and a valued member of her church and community. Credit: Nine News

In making the application for bail last month, Mr Crawfords barrister, Saul Holt, told the court his client denied strangling his wife in a murderous rage. Holt described the prosecution case as very weak.
After five weeks of political twists and turns, ups and downs and claims and counter-claims, the federal election campaign is drawing to a close. Most voters probably cant wait for it to be over, and who can blame them?

As the Heralds election-eve editorial observed today, neither Labor nor the Coalition has done much to inspire, with the Australian public subjected to a political tussle devoid of a compelling vision for the future at a time of great domestic and global challenges.

Whatever the outcome, both major parties acknowledge this will be a messy and complicated contest. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, James Brickwood

The election editorial is a tradition of newspapers around the globe. I dont think they shift any votes and nor should that be their purpose. The election editorial is simply letting readers know where our masthead stands on something as big and consequential as who should lead our nation for the next three years. How you vote is entirely up to you.

As you may have read, todays editorial is critical of the Coalitions policy offering, and of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his lacklustre frontbench team. Ultimately, the Herald believes Dutton has not done enough to tell us who he is, what he believes in and what sort of leader he would be, we wrote. We are not convinced he is ready to be prime minister, and do not believe the Coalition is fit to return to office after just three years in opposition.
Bring on the 2028 election! (Too soon?) Although I expect some of Australias wealthiest citizens wont share this sentiment. That sound you hear emanating from luxury mansions and compounds around the country is the gnashing of teeth and the smashing of crystal champagne glasses as Australias politically engaged billionaires and millionaires realise that for them, the party is over. Or at least downsizing from a catered black-tie affair to a backyard barbecue.

Australia has an estimated 170 home-grown billionaires and around 15,000 ultra high-net worth individuals (worth more than $US30 million) and their power over Australian elections is real. A recent report in The Australian Financial Review found the majority of elections since 1999 have been won by the party that spent the most. The exception that proves the rule seems to be any party linked to Clive Palmer, who spent approximately $123 million in the 2022 federal election, which netted him one senator and the worlds most expensive democracy sausage. This still might be better value than the doughnut he got  zero MPs  for splurging $60 million at the 2019 election. The Queensland billionaire defended that as money well spent for helping Scott Morrison to ensure those little grubs [Labor] stayed out of office.

Clive is my favourite billionaire political activist. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

With the 2025 election set to go down in history as the most expensive ever, the campaign finance reforms putting caps on donations and expenditure that are due in 2028 cant come soon enough, despite the fact they will impact Clive, who is my favourite billionaire political activist. (And Im not just saying that because hes spent so much on political advertising with this masthead that I think he might now technically be paying for this column.) Thanks to his bottomless pockets we all enjoyed some much-needed comic relief this election, via his Trumpet of Patriots party logo. Its portrayal of a lion with luxuriant Fabio-style tresses tooting a trumpet encapsulates the incoherent messaging we can expect when a billionaire gets involved in politics. For starters, lions arent Australian, making it an odd choice of patriotism. Secondly, lions are native to Africa and India, which Im guessing arent the places the Trumpettes had in mind when they said they wanted to prioritise migration from nations with compatible values.

The Trumpettes also state that Globalism is the scourge of the free world, which is a bit rich for a party that lifts its policies and ideology wholesale from the MAGA movement in the United States. Then again, confused messaging is probably to be expected from any organisation that believes an apex predator would be amenable to joining a jazz ensemble.
NSW Police will visit polling booths across the state on Saturday in a bid to ensure tensions do not boil over after threatening and aggressive behaviour at early voting centres prompted the electoral commission to warn that bad behaviour would not be tolerated.

The confirmation of police patrols at polling booths follows a bombardment of complaints about poor behaviour from campaign volunteers, especially in marginal seats where stakes are highest.

In one example in Bennelong, the northern Sydney electorate that is one of the most marginal seats in the country, a man was last week charged with intimidation after he allegedly kicked corflutes and became aggressive towards three volunteers working at the Macquarie Park booth.

Voters are increasingly casting their ballot before the election date, but scenes have been ugly at some booths. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers

Campaigners across the political divide have reported aggression at voting locations as a record number of Australians cast their ballot early this year, with more than 5 million people having voted as of close of business Thursday.
In the weeks after the re-election of Donald Trump, the bosses of Americas tech giants worked hard to ingratiate themselves with the returning president, congratulating him publicly and dutifully turning up to his inauguration.

Mark Zuckerberg, boss of Meta, gushed that it was nice to have an administration that was proud of Americas tech champions.

Tech titans (from left) Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have toadied to Donald Trump. Credit: Graphic illustration: Monique Westermann

There was good reason for the obsequiousness. During the campaign Trump referred to Meta as an enemy of the people. Many in his MAGA movement have accused Americas tech giants of censoring right-wing views. In 2021, J.D. Vance, now Trumps vice-president, called the behemoths parasitic. Even the techies surrounding Trump, such as Elon Musk, belong to a different Silicon Valley tribe that is suspicious of big tech.

Three months in and the bosses of Americas most valuable firms have little to show for all their toadying. Trump appears unwilling to spare them from the trust-busters snare and is adding to their troubles with his trade war.
"What we've built is for a broker," he said. "We've got all the lender policy data, which gets updated in real time, and a broker at any point can go in and ask questions. The idea being that a broker can go into the platform and say, 'I have a doctor who wants to refinance. Which lenders will offer me an LMI waiver at 95%?' And from there, the AI assistant will go off, compare and analyze all the lender policies and the data set, and then come back within under a second with a full list of all relevant lenders that would be able to assist.
Australia has experienced one of the steepest declines in bank branches across the Asia Pacific region, on par with Thailand. However, the country still maintains one of the highest ratios of branches per 10,000 customers, underscoring ongoing community demand and regulatory scrutiny around branch closures.
With their expertise and skills, mortgage brokers are best placed to help first-home buyers understand the many different federal and state-based home buying grants and schemes, and other incentives, such as the Queensland transfer duty concession. Their ultimate goal is to assist Australians to achieve their dreams of homeownership.
Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission

NEWS PROVIDED BY

The White House

May 1, 2025

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2025 /Standard Newswire/  The White House releases the following:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law. The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government. Indeed, the roots of religious liberty stretch back to the early settlers who fled religious persecution in Europe, seeking a new world where they could choose, follow, and practice their faith without interference from the Government. The principle of religious liberty was enshrined in American law with the First Amendment to the Constitution in 1791. Since that time, the Constitution has protected the fundamental right to religious liberty as Americans first freedom.

During my first term, I issued Executive Order 13798 of May 4, 2017 (Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty). Pursuant to that order, the Attorney General issued a memorandum for all executive departments and agencies (agencies) titled Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty on October 6, 2017. The Supreme Court has also continued to vindicate the Founders commitment to religious liberty, including by giving effect to the principle that religious voices should be welcomed on an equal basis in the public square.

In recent years, some Federal, State, and local policies have threatened Americas unique and beautiful tradition of religious liberty. These policies attempt to infringe upon longstanding conscience protections, prevent parents from sending their children to religious schools, threaten loss of funding or denial of non-profit tax status for faith-based entities, and single out religious groups and institutions for exclusion from governmental programs. Some opponents of religious liberty would remove religion entirely from public life. Others characterize religious liberty as inconsistent with civil rights, despite religions vital roles in the abolition of slavery; the passage of Federal civil rights laws; and the provision of indispensable social, educational, and health services.

President Ronald Reagan reminded us that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Americans need to be reacquainted with our Nations superb experiment in religious freedom in order to preserve it against emerging threats. Therefore, the Federal Government will promote citizens pride in our foundational history, identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission. (a) There is hereby established the Religious Liberty Commission (Commission).

(b) The Commission shall function as follows:

(i) The Commission shall be composed of up to 14 members appointed by the President. Members of the Commission shall include individuals chosen to serve as educated representatives of various sectors of society, including the private sector, employers, educational institutions, religious communities, and States, to offer diverse perspectives on how the Federal Government can defend religious liberty for all Americans. The President shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among the members. The Commission shall also include the following ex officio members or such senior officials as those members may designate:

(A) the Attorney General;

(B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and

(C) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.



(ii) Members appointed to the Commission shall serve one term ending on July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of American Independence. If the term of the Commission is extended by the President beyond July 4, 2026, members shall be eligible for reappointment for a 2-year term. Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until the appointment of a successor.

(iii) The Commission shall produce a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, the impact of religious liberty on American society, current threats to domestic religious liberty, strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate Americas peaceful religious pluralism. Specific topics to be considered by the Commission under these categories shall include the following areas: the First Amendment rights of pastors, religious leaders, houses of worship, faith-based institutions, and religious speakers; attacks across America on houses of worship of many religions; debanking of religious entities; the First Amendment rights of teachers, students, military chaplains, service members, employers, and employees; conscience protections in the health care field and concerning vaccine mandates; parents authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children, including the right to choose a religious education; permitting time for voluntary prayer and religious instruction at public schools; Government displays with religious imagery; and the right of all Americans to freely exercise their faith without fear or Government censorship or retaliation.

(iv) The Commission shall advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies of the United States. Specific activities of the Commission shall include, to the extent permitted by law, recommending steps to secure domestic religious liberty by executive or legislative actions as well as identifying opportunities for the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious liberty around the world.

(v) Members of the Commission shall serve without any compensation for their work on the Commission. Members of the Commission, while engaged in the work of the Commission, may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, to the extent permitted by law for persons serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), consistent with the availability of funds.

(vi) To advise members of the Commission:

(A) An Advisory Board of Religious Leaders shall be designated by the President and shall consist of not more than 15 members. The Advisory Board of Religious Leaders shall be a subcomponent of the Commission and report to the Chairman of the Commission;

(B) An Advisory Board of Lay Leaders from religious congregations shall be designated by the President and shall consist of not more than 15 members. The Advisory Board of Lay Leaders shall be a subcomponent of the Commission and report to the Chairman of the Commission; and

(C) An Advisory Board of Legal Experts shall be designated by the President and shall consist of the Attorney General, or the Attorney Generals designee, and not more than 10 attorneys. The Advisory Board of Legal Experts shall be a subcomponent of the Commission and report to the Chairman of the Commission.

(vii) The Commission shall terminate on July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of American Independence, unless extended by the President.

(viii) The Department of Justice shall provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the Commission may require, to the extent permitted by law and as authorized by existing appropriations.

(ix) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act (chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code) may apply to the Commission or any of its Advisory Boards, any functions of the President under that Act, except for those in sections 1005 and 1013 of that Act, shall be performed by the Attorney General, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.

Sec. 3. Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any agency, person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other agencies, persons, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

SOURCE The White House

CONTACT: www.whitehouse.gov/contact
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Harvard University announced on April 28, 2025, that it will immediately rename its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OEDIB) to the Office of Community and Campus Life. The decision comes as the Trump administration escalates its efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming at universities, threatening billions in federal funding. The move has sparked debate about whether Harvard is conceding to political pressure or strategically adapting to a shifting landscape.

The renaming was detailed in an email from Sherri A. Charleston, previously Harvard's chief diversity officer and now the chief Community and Campus Life officer. Charleston wrote, "In the weeks and months ahead, we will take steps to make this change concrete and to work with all of Harvard's schools and units to implement these vital objectives, including shared efforts to reexamine and reshape the missions and programs of offices across the university." The announcement followed two April letters from federal agencies demanding that Harvard dismantle its DEI initiatives or face a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze, which the university is now challenging through a lawsuit.

The rebranded office will prioritize expanding cross-cultural engagement, supporting first-generation and low-income students, and fostering dialogue across ideological differences. Charleston cited a 2024 campus-wide Pulse Survey, noting that while many at Harvard feel a strong sense of belonging, fewer feel comfortable expressing divergent viewpoints. This, she argued, underscores the need to reimagine how Harvard builds community with a focus on free expression.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Some see it as a pragmatic response to federal pressure, while others view it as a retreat from Harvard's commitment to DEI. Posts on X reflect this divide, with one user stating, "Harvard has renamed its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to 'Community and Campus Life'. The explanatory text is quite strong, and we will see what programmatic changes follow. Regardless of influence of federal pressure, seems like a positive development." Another user remarked sarcastically, "Wow they just be like 'whatever you say daddy' #DEI," highlighting skepticism about Harvard's motives.

NEW: Harvard renamed its DEI office on Monday as it faces a surge of federal pressure.



Effective immediately, Harvard's Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging will be renamed to "Community and Campus Life."



More in @thecrimsonhttps://t.co/oONJU7n1Op  Dhruv Patel (@dhruvtkpatel) April 28, 2025

Harvard's legal battle against the Trump administration intensified this month, with the university suing over the $2.2 billion funding freeze, which it calls an "unconstitutional campaign" to punish its resistance to federal demands. The administration's push includes additional threats, such as a potential $1 billion cut in health research funding and investigations into Harvard's programs, like the Harvard Law Review, for alleged discrimination.

The renaming also coincides with Harvard's decision to end funding and support for affinity group celebrations during commencement, a move attributed to federal warnings against race-based programming. Last year, Harvard hosted celebrations for groups including Black, Latinx, and first-generation graduates, but these events will no longer receive university resources, leaving student organizers uncertain about their future.

Critics argue that the rebranding may dilute the focus on equity and inclusion, which Charleston herself emphasized in a 2021 interview with The Harvard Crimson. Reflecting on OEDIB's work, she said, "We saw in various spaces that there was a clarion call to make sure that we were not forgetting the equity component." That commitment now appears to be reframed under a broader mission, raising questions about how Harvard will balance its stated values with external pressures.

As Harvard navigates this contentious period, the university's actions are being closely watched. Its lawsuit against the Trump administration and the rebranding of OEDIB signal a complex strategy: publicly resisting federal overreach while making concessions that could reshape its approach to diversity and inclusion. Whether the Office of Community and Campus Life will maintain the spirit of its predecessor remains to be seen, but for now, Harvard is charting a new course in a polarized climate.
CARLOWS Voices for Palestine concert has raised a total of 6,215 to support Maram Salah and her family in Northern Gaza, following a successful event held at St Marys Church last month.

The fundraising total was officially presented to Ms Salah on Tuesday 22 April at the Community House in Carlow town.

The concert, which took place on Friday 14 March, featured performances from a diverse line-up of musicians, including Indeceltic, Johnny Gleeson, Louise Keegan, Nuala Foley, Ukrainian opera baritone Maksym Lozovyi and members of the local vocal group enCORe.

Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, who served as MC for the event, expressed his gratitude to all involved. The collaborative effort was remarkable. Generosity and goodwill in Carlow once again knows no bounds, he said.

Ms Salah, a 25-year-old Palestinian now living in Carlow, spoke at the concert about her familys situation in Gaza. She recently graduated with a masters degree in digital marketing and data analysis from the South East Technological University (SETU) and has been working to support her family after their home was destroyed in the conflict.

With the help of community support, Ms Salah has already managed to bring her younger brother Ammar to Ireland, where he is now studying software engineering at SETU on a scholarship. The funds raised from the concert will help provide for her remaining family members in Gaza, particularly for basic necessities, including access to water.
CARLOW town was the centre of the Celtic universe last week when it hosted a festival that celebrated the arts and culture of six Celtic nations. The event celebrated Celtic heritage, culture and language over five days and nights of music, song, dance, storytelling, poetry, sport, craft, art and friendship.

Sharing an umbrella as they arrive for the official opening and welcome concert of the Pan Celtic Festival in Visual, Carlow ministers Jerry Buttimer and Dara Calleary

Minister for social protection, rural and community development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary officially opened the festival at an event in Visual, with many of Carlows Irish language promoters, including Bride de Roiste, in attendance.

Dancers from the Dargan School of Dance performing at the Liberty Tree

The towns hotels and hostelries played host to visitors from six Celtic nations  Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. The festival participants all dressed in traditional costumes and took part in many music and dance events throughout the busy week. Locals and visitors alike were delighted with the sight of the performers as they ambled around the town in full costumes, only too happy to stop for a chat and a selfie!

Tricia Ashton and Beryl Virgo, members of the Tippyn O Bopeth group from South Wales taking part in Pan Celtic International Festival in Carlow Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke

Throughout the week, there was all sorts of trad music and dance, featuring musicians and artists of all ages so it was fitting that the festival should end with the return of Streetfest on Tullow Street. On Friday and Saturday, the family-friendly event provided festive fun for all the family, including music, street entertainers, busking, face painting, juggling and lots more.

Traditional dancing during the Pan Celtic Festival parade on Tullow Street last Friday

And the best news is that its all going to happen again next year and the year after as Carlow has been chosen to host the event for 2026 and 2027, having already hosted it for the past three years.

Lots of fun at Friday's Pan Celtic Festival parade

The decision was announced on Thursday evening following a meeting of the festival council, with representatives from the six Celtic nations present.

Members of the Welsh contingent taking part in the Pan Celtic Festival parade

The beautiful vibrant town of Carlow is a favoured destination among all the Celtic delegates and regular attendees of the festival for a myriad of reasons, said Mairin Nic Dhonnchadha, Cathaoirleach of the International Pan Celtic Council. Not least the heartfelt cead mile failte we receive from the people of Ceatharlach, the excellent venues and facilities in the town and the generous support of Carlow County Council.

Bride de Roiste from the Pan Celtic Festival committee welcomes everyone to Carlow at the festival's official opening

Speaking on behalf of the local organising festival committee, Bride de Roiste said it has been an honour to host the event on several occasions over the past 15 years.

Music Generation Carlow's Reelig performing at the official opening of the Pan Celtic Festival in Visual

With the Irish language on the crest of a wave in Ceatharlach  coupled with the tremendous support of the entire community and the backing of the local authorities  the town is a perfect fit for this prestigious festival, she said.

Members of the Cor na nOg choir performing during their concert in St Clare's Church, Graiguecullen as part of the Pan Celtic Festival

We know that we can rise to even greater heights in 2026 and 2027. Ta athas an domhain orainn!"
A CARLOW man who was seen wielding a hatchet in the local bus park was handed a suspended sentence and told that it was time to grow up when he appeared before Carlow District Court last week. Gary Doran, 8 Springfield Park, Burrin Road, Carlow pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a hatchet at Hanover Bus Park, Carlow on 1 June last year.

Inspector Conor Nolan told the court that gardai received a phone call from a member of the public about a man wielding a hatchet in the bus park. He said that when the gardai arrived at the scene, they searched 25-year-old Mr Doran and found the hatchet in his rucksack. Inspectpr Nolan told Judge Peter White that the defendant had 80 previous convictions and that he had previously served a six-month custodial sentence.

Solicitor Joe Farrell said that his client hadnt been before the court in a while, that hed usually be intoxicated but that his time in custody seems to have worked. He also said Mr Doran told the gardai that he had the hatchet because he was going camping.

Judge White told the defendant that being in custody was a wake-up call for him and that being your age, its time to cop on.

He then sentenced Mr Doran to four months imprisonment but suspended it fully for six months to give him an opportunity to stay out of trouble.

Youre a grown man now, said the judge to Mr Doran.
Government tables Bill to amend the Employment Act to guarantee workers rights in law

HM Government of Gibraltar has tabled a Bill to amend the Employment Act to enshrine workers rights in law in the event that the company or organisation they work for changes ownership.

This Bill, based on the UKs TUPE legislation, is limited to making provision to ensure that where a contract to provide services changes hands, the employees terms and conditions are protected. The Government of Gibraltar made manifesto commitments in 2019 and again in 2023 to observing these provisions and guaranteeing workers similar protections under Gibraltar law. Therefore, the Bill formalises many rights that are already common realities in Gibraltar.

The Government and Unite the Union have collaborated closely on bringing into effect this important protection for employees when they transfer to a new employer.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: Im proud to announce this important step forward for employees in Gibraltar, guaranteeing in our law the rights and protections that they already enjoy in practice. This is a further positive outcome of the very constructive relationship that the Government has built with Unite the Union, and demonstrates the real, positive effect that this relationship has for workers and the wider community.

Whilst this Government has observed these protections for a number of years, we cannot take this for granted if there were to be a change of government. That is why it is important that these rights are protected by the law with effect from today, and tomorrow, which belongs to all workers, all workers in Gibraltar have something to celebrate.
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Holcim Ecuador has welcomed Ivanoff Rojas, as the new production manager of its Guayaquil cement plant.

A Peruvian national, Mr Rojas is a chemical engineer from the National University of Callao and has a solid academic background that includes a Master's Degree in Engineering with a specialisation in quality and productivity Systems from ITESM, as well as diplomas in strategic cost management (University of Piura) and industrial cost management (University of the Pacific).

With 19 years of experience in the cement industry, he has led multidisciplinary teams and managed continuous improvement, operational efficiency, quality and digital transformation projects with a focus on Industry 4.0.

His career at Cementos Pacasmayo reinforces Holcim's commitment to industrial excellence, technical leadership and sustainable innovation.
Governors Meadow Lower Primary School and CSRO collaborate to bring learning to life

Governors Meadow Lower Primary School once again partnered with the Civil Status and Registration Office for a lively and educational interactive learning experience on the topic of Transport and Travel.

The visit gave Reception pupils a fascinating glimpse into the world of passports and international documentation. The children learned that passports are essential documents for global travel and were eager to explore the contents of a passport.

CSRO officials kindly accepted the schools invitation to support the initiative by presenting real-life examples and guiding pupils through the basics of document handling. The highlight of the day was a role-play activity where the children, having created their own passports in class, had them signed and stamped by CSRO officials before embarking on their chosen holiday destination aboard the Governors Meadow Airlines plane, an experience that brought huge excitement and a tangible connection to the topic.

Headteacher Ms Emma Montegriffo expressed her appreciation, stating: "We are very grateful to the Civil Status and Registration Office for once again supporting our pupils learning in such a meaningful and engaging way. Its initiatives like these that make learning truly come to life."

Head of the Civil Status and Registration Office, Karl Triay, commented: It has been a real pleasure for the team to return to Governors Meadow Lower Primary School and support this fantastic initiative for a second time. Encouraging young children to understand the importance of documentation in travel and citizenship is vital and we are proud to play a part in making this learning experience enjoyable and memorable for them.

This interactive session also served as preparation for the childrens upcoming visit to the airport, where their handmade passports will be used in a mock travel experience: a perfect way to round off an unforgettable learning journey!
The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimers Center of Excellence, Chattanooga said they are so proud of Shellie Muncie, a certified nursing assistant who recently passed her boards to become a certified medication aide.Im thankful for the opportunity to move up in my career, Ms. Muncie said. I have been a CNA for five years, and with Morning Pointe for four years, and I wanted to get more medical experience.Ms. Muncie is also currently in school to become a registered nurse and hopes to eventually be a hospice nurse.The Tennessee Department of Health created the new medication aide certification program, and Morning Pointe Senior Living is one of the first organizations to adopt and use it.Morning Pointe is a senior living company based in Hamilton County.The class was a good experience, Ms. Muncie said. Im very excited to be working as a med aide.Officials said, "Certified medication aides are healthcare professionals trained in the administration of certain medications in an assisted living setting. They prepare and administer prescribed medications under the supervision of a licensed nurse. CMAs are trained to perform foundational care skills, such as setting up and passing medications, and to follow infection prevention practices. They learn about common conditions, documentation and basic pharmacology."Nurses delegate the administration of a medication to a CMA once a nurse has completed a nursing assessment of the resident and established a nursing regimen. A nurse is always available to provide oversight and guidance to the CMA."The program gives dedicated Morning Pointe associates a chance to further their clinical careers, to address the nationwide nursing shortage by providing a path for more individuals to be trained in medication administration, and to continue to provide high-quality resident care at Morning Pointe assisted living and memory care communities."The certified medication aide program requires diligent study and application, and Morning Pointe is so proud of our new CMAs who chose to pursue this advancement of their skills, said Bebe Kennedy, RN, Morning Pointe Senior Livings vice president of clinical services. I know they are proud of taking this step in their careers, and ultimately our residents are benefitting as well.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga today announced that Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi has been named dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), effective July 1.The announcement was made by Dr. Jerold L. Hale, UTC provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.Yelamarthi comes to UTC from Tennessee Technological University, where he has served since 2021 as associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering. In that role, he supported more than 3,100 students and 85 faculty members across seven departments and 18 programs.He previously led the School of Engineering and Technology at Central Michigan University, overseeing eight programs and managing a $4 million annual budget.Dr.Yelamarthi brings a combination of strong administrative ability, a distinguished record of scholarship, research and teaching, and valuable experience in academic leadership, Hale said. His background at a Carnegie-classified institution will serve UTC well as we continue working toward that critical R2 designation. He has demonstrated success in advancing external research funding, strengthening academic programs and building partnerships that support institutional growth.Having navigated the higher education landscape in Tennessee, he is well-positioned to help UTC move forward strategically and collaboratively.At UTC, Yelamarthi will hold a joint faculty appointment in electrical engineering and computer science.When I visited UTC, I was immediately struck by the campuswide commitment to student success, Yelamarthi said. The passion from everyone I metfrom faculty to staffwas unmistakable.The Universitys deep integration with the Chattanooga community was unlike anything Ive seen before, and Im excited to join a college that is ready to help meet regional and national needs for engineers and computer scientists.He holds a bachelors degree in instrumentation and control engineering from the University of Madras in Indiaand both a masters degree in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in engineering from Wright State University in Ohio.UTCs close ties to the Chattanooga community, its outstanding infrastructure and its location make this a place with incredible potential, Yelamarthi said. I feel fortunate to be selected for this role and am eager to get startedand so is my family. My kids are already excited about what the future holds for all of us in Chattanooga.Yelamarthis career spans leadership in undergraduate and graduate program development, industry engagement, student retention and recruitment, and research collaboration with national laboratories and academic institutions.Dr. Yelamarthis energy, vision and leadership align strongly with UTCs goals for advancing the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Hale said. He is well-positioned to lead the college to new levels of national prominence.The selection of Yelamarthi followed a national search chaired by UTC Honors College Dean Linda Frost.Dr. Yelamarthis background in researchand particularly in developing faculty to successfully pursue research funding, his varied administrative experience at both Tennessee Tech and at Central Michigan University, his overall focus on and achievement with student success practices, and his experience developing strong relationships with industry partners all make him an excellent choice for dean of the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, Frost said. On top of all that, Dr. Yelamarthis warm, personable, curious sensibility will undoubtedly make him an absolute pleasure with whom to work.Charles Wood, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, noted the local impact of Yelamarthis arrival.I am excited to welcome Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi to UTC and Chattanooga. His demonstrated track record of industry collaboration, focus on student success and track record of launching new graduate programs will help make UTCs College of Engineering and Computer Science one of the best in the Southeast, Wood said.Yelamarthi will succeed Dr. Ahad Nasab, who has served as interim dean of CECS for the last two years. During his tenure, Nasab helped guide the college through key initiatives, including the construction of the Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing Application Center and the expansion of student-focused programming.I want to thank Dr. Nasab for his exceptional leadership and service as interim dean, Hale said. His efforts have ensured that CECS remained focused on advancing University priorities, completing significant projects and preparing for this important transition.
Here is the weekly road construction report for District 29:

BRADLEY COUNTY I-75 at Paul Huff Parkway Interchange modifications: During this reporting period, the contractor will continue work on permanent signs. Intermittent flagging operations and temporary lane closures may be necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and use caution in the work zone. [Summers-Taylor, Inc./Cleveland/CNX362]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-60 widening from the 4-lane north of I-75 (LM 17.2) to SR-306 (LM19.9): During this reporting period, the contractor will continue grading work and install driveways, sidewalk, and curb. Intermittent flagging operations will take place throughout the project during various work activities. The speed limit in the work zone has been reduced to 35 mph. Motorists are advised to use caution in the work zone and watch for flaggers assisting with traffic control. [Summers-Taylor, Inc./Cleveland/CNV130]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-40 (3RD ST. S.W.) Utility Work both directions from LM 0 to LM 1 : Flagger assisted lane closures on SR-40 (3rd Street S.W.) from Westover Drive SW to Mill Street SE. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 05/05/25 thru 05/08/25 from 9 am - 2 pm. [2025-186]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-306 [0-5.55] from SR60 to SR308 resurfacing: During this reporting period the contractor will begin resurfacing work. Motorists should be aware of workers and construction equipment present during this time. Intermittent flagging of traffic will be necessary while work is occurring. [Asphalt Paving Systems, Inc./Cleveland/CNZ021]

HAMILTON COUNTY I-75 at I-24 Interchange Reconstruction Phase 2: Nightly Lane closures will occur on this project, 9 PM to 6 AM, on I-75 North and South between Exit 1 (East Ridge) and Exit 3A (East Brainerd Road/ SR-320) and on I-24 East and West from Germantown Road to Spring Creek Road, MM182 to MM185, for various construction activities. Uniformed police officers will be present in these work zones to assist with traffic management and to enforce traffic laws. (Note: The contractor is currently scheduled to have a nightly lane closure on Wednesday (4/30) on I-75 South near Exit 3 (East Brainerd Road/SR-320) to shift the current 3 lanes of traffic from the median (inside) of the roadway to the newly constructed outside lanes and bridge over the CSX Railroad. Should unforeseen circumstances delay this traffic shift it may be rescheduled to either Thursday 5/1 or Sunday 5/4. Nightly lane closures will also be in place Sunday (5/4) through Tuesday (5/6) on I-75 South and I-24 West for overhead sign work. On Wednesday (5/7) there will be a night-time lane closure for overhead sign work on I-24 East. Should any of this work be delayed due to weather, etc. it will be rescheduled to the next available night.) It may be necessary to do short duration (15 to 30 minutes) rolling roadblocks during the day or night for patching potholes, clearing debris or repairing guardrail, attenuators, etc. Portions of the left lane on North and South Terrace between Germantown Road and Spring Creek Road will remain closed for the installation of drainage structures, sanitary sewers, retaining and noise wall construction. (Note: The contractor currently plans to temporarily close a portion of the right lane on southbound Belvoir Avenue on the bridge over I-24 to work on an area adjacent to the bridge.) All work is weather permitting. The entrance and exit ramps to I-24 between Belvoir Avenue and Moore Road are currently closed. RESTRICTIONS: I-24 Ramps between Belvoir Ave. and S. Moore Road are closed.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Maj Prj - Blevins/DB2101]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-2 (BRAINERD RD.) Utility Work both directions from LM 14 to LM 15: NIGHTTIME Flagger assisted lane closures on SR-2 (Brainerd Road) between Spring Creek Road and Howell Avenue. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 03/03/25 through 05/30/25 from 9 pm - 5 am. [2025-016]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-2 (CUMMINGS HWY.) Utility Work westbound from LM 2 to LM 3: Shoulder and lane closures on SR-2 (Cummings Hwy) between Lilac Avenue and Starview Lane. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop if needed. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 04/22/25 thru 05/07/25 from 9 am - 2 pm. [2025-210]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-27 (ROSSVILLE BLVD.) Utility Work and resurfacing work Southbound from LM 6 to LM 8: Shoulder and lane closures on SR-27 (Rossville Blvd) between E. 31st Street and E. 44th Street. The work will result in narrowed south lanes beginning at 9:00 AM on 05/01/2025 and ending at 5:00 PM on 05/05/2025. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop or detour if needed. Arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 05/01/25 thru 05/05/25.

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-320 (E. BRAINERD RD.) Utility Work both directions from LM 7 to LM 8: Flagger assisted lane closures on SR-320 (E. Brainerd Road) between Bolton Lane/Brickwell Lane and Generations Way. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 05/06/25 from 9 am - 2 pm, with a rain date of 05/13/25. [2025-211]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-321 (OOLTEWAH-RINGGOLD RD.) Utility Work both directions from LM 0 to LM 1.2: Flagger assisted lane closures on SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) between Cobblecreek Way and Waycross Circle. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 05/06/25 from 9 am - 2 pm, with a rain date of 05/13/25. [2025-211 & 2025-213]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (MARKET ST.) Utility Work both directions from LM 8.5 to LM 9.5: Shoulder and lane closures on SR-8 (Market Street) between W./E. 4th Street and W./E. M L King Blvd. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop if needed. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 04/24/25 thru 05/16/25 from 9 am - 2 pm. [2025-063]

HAMILTON COUNTY I-124 (US-27) from I-24 Interchange to South of the Tennessee River Bridge: Daily lane closures are possible between 9 AM and 3:30 PM as the contractor work along the ramps and 4th Street. Motorists are advised to reduce speed in the work zone and watch for flaggers assisting with traffic control. [Stansell Electric Company, Inc./Chattanooga East/CNY900]

HAMILTON COUNTY I-75 at the Hamilton Place Mall interchange: The SR-153 southbound ramp to I-75 northbound has been reduced to one lane. Traffic shifts have been implemented on I-75 northbound, Shallowford Road entrance ramps, and Shallowford Road exit ramps and Hamilton Place Mall exit ramp. Hamilton Loop Road is closed for retaining wall construction and storm drainage installation between the intersections near Markmans Jewelers and Texas Roadhouse. On night of 04/30/2025 throughout the morning of 05/01/2025 the contractor will implement a traffic shift on Hamilton Place Blvd. shifting NB and SB traffic to the east side of the existing roadway from near the I-75 SB on-ramp to near Bams Drive for the installation of storm drainage. The contractor will maintain 1 lane of traffic in each direction throughout this area. The speed limit has been reduced on I-75 throughout the project limits. Nightly lane closures are permitted 8 PM to 6 AM. Motorists should use caution, paying attention to construction signage and watching for construction vehicles and personnel. [Summers-Taylor, Inc./Chattanooga West/CNX358]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-2 [11.33-11.92] from Dodds Ave to Seminole Drive tunnel rehabilitation: Both directions of traffic will be reduced to one lane and both flows of traffic will share the existing west bound tunnel. The east bound traffic will experience a significant shift across the existing medians to be able to travel through the west bound tunnel. There will be a raised curb and reflective delineators that will divide traffic within the tunnel.

[Stansell Electric Company, Inc./Chattanooga East/CNY192]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-317 (Apison Pike) improvement project from SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) to east of Layton Lane: Lane closures and flagging operations will be required on SR-317, Apison Pike, for bridge and grading work. The flagging operations will be performed on 05/01/25, 05/02/25, 05/05/25, 05/06/25, and 05/07/25 from 7 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 7 PM. Closures will last about 2 hours per location. The contractor will have intermittent flagging operations during daytime non-peak hours for bridge work, delivery of materials and equipment.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Chattanooga East/CNT336]

MCMINN COUNTY SR-163 (ETOWAH RD.) Utility Work both directions from LM 6 to LM 7: Flagger assisted lane closures on SR-163 (Bowater Road) between Meadow Fork Road and County Road 907 the entrance of Diamond Head Estates. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, arrow board/message boards, flaggers, and barrels/cones will be present, 05/01 thru 05/07/25 from 10 am - 12 pm. [2024-751]

MCMINN COUNTY SR-39 construction of a bridge over Middle Creek (LM 13.4): During this reporting period, the Northbound and Southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by traffic signals. County road 567 will be closed to traffic (LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY) and detoured to SR039. This closure is necessary to perform the bridge replacement. The lane restriction will remain in place until the bridge replacement is completed.

[Whaley Construction, LLC/Chattanooga East/CNX069]

MCMINN COUNTY SR-39 from west of Cook Drive to SR-30 and from SR-310 to the Monroe County Line : During this reporting period the contractor will continue work on ADA curb ramps. Motorists should be aware of workers in the area performing this work. Intermittent lane closures and flagging operations around the work area may be necessary.

[Rogers Group, Inc./Cleveland/CNZ038 ]

POLK COUNTY SR-68 construction of bridge over Brush Creek (LM 16.4) : During this update period, the contractor will continue phase 2 bridge construction. A temporary traffic signal system is active on SR-68 near LM 16.4. The northbound lane of SR-68 will be closed in the area controlled by the temporary traffic signal system. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and use caution in the work zone. Motorists should also be aware that traffic was recently moved onto a portion of the new bridge and there is a new traffic pattern through the project site.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Cleveland/CNX347]

POLK COUNTY SR-68 over SR-40 the construction of bridges: During this reporting period the contractor will begin installing EPSC measures. Motorists should be aware of workers in the area performing this work. Intermittent flagging operations around the work area may be necessary.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Cleveland/CNZ042]
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The fifth annual Chattanooga Burger Week presented by the Tennessee Beef Industry Council has wrapped. Forty of Chattanoogas best restaurants featured a burger of their choice for only $8 from April 21-27. Participating restaurants served over 20,000+ burgers throughout the week and fought hard to prove that theirs is the best. Patrons feasted on burgers ranging in flavor composition from classic to off-the-wall concoctions, culminating with voting to crown three champions: Best Classic Burger, Most Creative Toppings, and Best Burger Overall.

Throughout the week, 7,000+ Chattanoogans downloaded the official Burger Week app and checked in 10,000+ times at participating restaurants to gain points toward the Burger Week Grand Prize. This years Grand Prize included $500 in restaurant gift cards, Day Passes to Common House, and burger swag from the Tennessee Beef Industry Council. In addition to the Grand Prize, the Tennessee Beef Industry Council Burger Bud surprised patrons at burger stops throughout the week with gift cards and burger swag, and random winners were awarded from app users and social media giveaways.

At the end of the week, Chattanooga voted. Here are the winners:

The Best Classic Burger from Chattanooga Burger Week goes to Hoppys North River Corner Market with the Bacon Cheese Burger - a Quarter-pound Burger with Crispy Bacon, choice of Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Pickles with a side of Crinkle-cut Fries.

Most Creative Toppings winner from Chattanooga Burger Week is Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint with the Don't Call My Name, Alejandro Burger - 100% Wagyu Beef Burger topped with Mexican Street Corn Dip, Pepper Jack Cheese, & Fuego Taki Chips.

Best Burger Overall from Chattanooga Burger Week goes to Oddstory Brewing Co. Central for their Elote Smash Burger - a Single Beef Patty with Swiss, Mexican Street Corn, Pickled Chiles, a Charred Jalapeno Aioli, and Cilantro.

With 20,000+ burgers served throughout the week, restaurants and patrons alike are winners. Plus, for the first time, patrons were able to support the Chattanooga Area Food Bank by donating canned goods at participating restaurants and getting bonus points for doing good.

Mark your calendars for the sixth annual Chattanooga Burger Week - April 6-12, 2026.
Lee University will hold its 193rd commencement ceremonies May 9-10. Dr. Randolph Lowry will deliver the commencement address on Saturday morning at 9:30.

Weve been friends and admirers of Dr. Lowrys for many years, and we look forward to having him on campus, said Lee President Dr. Paul Conn.

Dr. Lowry was the president of Lipscomb University in Nashville from 2005 through 2021 and now serves as chancellor. Under his leadership, Lipscomb emerged as one of the top universities in the Southeast.

Dr. Lowry is a nationally recognized attorney and one of the nations leading experts in the dispute resolution field with over 40 years of experience. He has also served on the California Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, the Blue-Ribbon Committee on arbitration ethics, and the Judicial Councils Task Force on the quality of justice.

He is the founder of Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. He also co-founded the Southern California Mediation Association, an organization focused on supporting and educating the conflict resolution community that has since supported thousands of mediators. In 1990, he helped establish the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement in California.

Dr. Lowry received his Juris Doctor from Hamline University and both his masters degree in public administration and bachelors degree in political science from Pepperdine University. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Nashville, and they have three children.

Graduation festivities will begin with a hooding ceremony for students earning graduate degrees on Friday, May 9. This service is a ticketed event and will take place in Pangle Hall.

Following the Friday hooding ceremony, all graduates will march in the commissioning ceremony on the South Campus Quad Lawn. During commissioning, a special occasion for students and their families to reflect on their experiences at the university, five student speakers will share brief stories about their time at Lee. Students will also lead in the invocation, special music, and benediction. Each graduate will be presented with a personalized Bible in a traditional walk across the stage.

On Saturday morning, 401 undergraduate and 87 graduate students are expected to receive degrees during the ceremony. Of the 87 graduate students, six are doctoral students.

The commissioning and commencement services will not require tickets unless inclement weather shifts the ceremony inside the Paul Dana Walker Arena, where seating is limited. Climate-controlled overflow seating for both services will also be available.

The hooding, commissioning, and commencement ceremonies will be available for livestream viewing at leeu.live/.



For more information about commencement exercises, contact the Academic Events Office at graduation@leeuniversity.edu or visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/graduation-info/.
Oscar Brock, Republican National Committeeman for Tennessee, will speak during the North River Pachyderm Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 a.m. at Lillie Maes Place Restaurant.Mr. Brock has served on the Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee from 2002 until 2017 and has represented Tennessee on the Republican National Committee since 2016. He has also worked on dozens of campaigns and has been active in local, state and national Republican politics since 1986.Mr.Brock will be discussing how the Republican Party is organized and the difference between county, state and national organization.North River Pachyderm Breakfast Meetings are open to the public. For information on upcoming meetings, visit the website at nrpachy.org.
Ann Grace Becker, 92, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on April 17, 2025.

Ann was born on Jan. 25, 1933, in Chattanooga, to the late William and Grace Becker. She earned her BA in music education at David Lipscomb College and her MA in Education at Abilene Christian University. Ann taught music for 22 years in New Jersey and taught in the classroom at Boyd Buchanan school. Ann was a skilled musician. She began playing the viola in symphonies while in high school. She continued performing in symphonies while in New Jersey. When she returned to live in Chattanooga, she played in the Chattanooga Community Orchestra for many years.

Ann spent her life using her abilities and talents to honor and serve God. She was a faithful member of the East Brainerd Church of Christ. Ann loved her family. She was always willing to help those in need. She had a caregivers heart. Ann lovingly took care of several people when they needed her.

A celebration of Anns life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the East Brainerd Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ann's memory to Martin Boyd Christian Home.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Suite B, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Erlanger has earned BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee's first Pay-for-Impact Award which rewards providers "delivering high-quality, cost-effective care to the BlueCross members they serve."Erlanger earned the designation after the insurer conducted a review of services provided to members that focused on whether they received recommended preventive care and screenings in a timely manner.As medical costs continue to rise, we understand how important it is to support and recognize our provider partners efforts to provide a high standard of cost-effective care, said Dr.Andrea Willis, SVP and chief medical officer for BlueCross. In choosing recipients for our Pay-for-Impact program, we paid special attention to practices who deliver high-quality care for all our members, including those with high levels of social risk factors. We know that if providers can serve these patients well, all BlueCross members will benefit.One provider in each major region of the state earned Pay-for-Impact status and a $50,000 award as an incentive for their meaningful results on behalf of BlueCross members. Erlanger won in East Tennessee, while Baptist Medical Groups Family Physicians Group won the West Tennessee recognition and Meharry Medical Group won for Middle Tennessee.BlueCross and Erlanger have a long-standing tradition of partnership, and a shared commitment to meeting the health care needs of our region. We are proud of the care we provide BlueCross members and all our patients, and well continue our efforts to deliver quality, accessible services that protect and improve health, said Jim Coleman, president and CEO of Erlanger.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Thursday presented the Whitfield County Elections Office with the EAGLE Award for its outstanding performance during the November 2024 Presidential Election.

The EAGLE Award, which stands for Excellence, Accountability, Governance and Leadership in Elections, is presented to county elections offices across the state that demonstrate exceptional service, efficiency and a strong commitment to secure and accessible elections.

Whitfield County was honored for its strong execution of the election process, including an average voter wait time of just two minutes, at all 23 precincts.

This award reflects the effort our team puts in behind the scenes to make voting simple and efficient for everyone in Whitfield County, said Shaynee Bryson, elections director.

For more information about elections in Whitfield County, visit www.whitfieldcountyga.com.
Hy2gen AG, the global renewable hydrogen producer, announces it has completed an additional funding round of 47 million from existing shareholders. The round is led by Hy24, the worlds leading low-carbon hydrogen asset manager investing through its Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund, alongside leading Engineering & Technology company Technip Energies, and individual founding investor BenDa (Family fund of Hy2gens Chairwoman Dana Kallasch). The capital will be used to accelerate the deployment of Hy2gens portfolio of projects producing renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in Europe, Canada and South America  to reach Final Investment Decision (FID) and prepare the construction phase.

Hy2gen is designing, building, and operating green hydrogen, green ammonia, e-SAF, e-methane and e-methanol production plants using Power-to-X processes to support its clients in decarbonizing energy-intensive and strategic hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping and aviation, as well as chemicals and fertilizers. Hy2gens most advanced projects would represent a total installed electrolysis capacity of c. 2 GW and a funding of more than 5 billion to start the construction phase by 2027.

Hy2gens portfolio include the 300 MW project Courant located in Canada, a renewable ammonia and ammonium nitrate plant of approximately 2bn of capex, currently finalizing its design, with construction expected to begin by 2027, Atlantis plant extension in Germany, which began producing renewable hydrogen in 2023, and Iverson project in Norway, aiming to produce 200,000 tons of renewable ammonia annually using renewable hydropower. In addition, Hy2gen is collaborating with H2V in the Fos-Marseille industrial basin, on a 390 MW project with a capex of approximately 1.5bn, contributing to the decarbonization of Europes aviation sector with a production of 75,000 tons of e-SAF.

Cyril Dufau-Sansot, CEO of Hy2gen, declared: Thanks to our financial and strategic investors, we can take our projects to produce renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives to the next level. Looking back at 2022, I am very pleased to receive another capital raise of 47 million thanks to our trusted investors. This enables us to establish ourselves as a top-tier supplier of renewable fuels to cut industrial emissions. With this continued support, we maintain our trajectory to lead the development of the renewable hydrogen industry. The demand for renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives is growing with the long-term economic need to decarbonize industries. We have spent the years since the last capital raise developing projects all over the world for different applications of renewable hydrogen, e-SAF for aviation, e-Methanol, renewable ammonia and more. We have also proven ourselves in operating small-scale production plants with our facility in Werlte, Germany. Now we can confidently complete the planning and certification stages for our industrial-scale production plants and head toward the construction phase.

Pierre-Etienne Franc, co-founder and CEO of Hy24, said: In todays geopolitical and industrial context, resilience is essential. Over the past three years, Hy2gen has demonstrated its ability to build a diversified portfolio of e-fuel and green ammonia projects across Europe, Canada and South America. The company has mobilized a highly experienced team and addressed the complex challenge of industrial scalability and decarbonization, balancing offtake agreements with unique access to renewable resources. As an investor and catalyst, our role is to support the most promising entrepreneurs in the ecosystem. That is why we are reaffirming our confidence in Hy2Gen and its development strategy.

Arnaud Pieton, Chief Executive Officer of Technip Energies, stated: As a strategic investor and engineering partner, we are pleased to continue to support Hy2gens mission to drive decarbonization forward. We will continue to leverage our engineering capabilities, proven project delivery expertise, and the strengths of our companies, including Rely with its integrated green hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions, to support the successful realization of Hy2gen's projects. We are dedicated to affordable solutions at scale for a world designed to last.
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Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, TN | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Tennessee State Capitol

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee has signed Senate Bill 955 into law, enshrining conscience rights for medical professionals. This decision follows the bill's passage in the Republican-controlled Tennessee Senate with a 27-3 vote and in the Tennessee House of Representatives with a 71-22 vote.

Known as the Medical Ethics Defense Act, Senate Bill 955 states that a healthcare provider must not be required to participate in or pay for a healthcare procedure, treatment, or service that violates the conscience of the healthcare provider. The law defines healthcare provider to include healthcare institutions, health insurance companies, and healthcare professionals, while the term conscience refers to the sincerely held ethical, moral, or religious beliefs or principles held by a healthcare provider.

The legislation also provides protections for whistleblowers who report violations of the law, ethical guidelines, or gross mismanagement by healthcare providers. It prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from taking adverse actions against healthcare providers for engaging in speech, expression, or association that is protected from government interference by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Actions prohibited by the law include reprimanding or revoking the licenses of healthcare providers over their speech, as well as denying the issuance of licenses altogether. The measure allows individuals who believe their rights have been violated under the law to seek relief in court.

The enactment of Senate Bill 955 comes amid a backdrop of medical professionals and institutions in other states facing repercussions for refusing to perform elective services that conflict with their deeply held religious beliefs. For instance, Robyn Strader, Paige Casey, and Suzanne Schuler, three nurse practitioners at CVS Pharmacy MinuteClinics, were terminated for declining to provide prescriptions for abortion-inducing drugs based on their beliefs regarding the sanctity of life.

In 2023, a federal judge in Maryland ruled that a Catholic hospital violated the Affordable Care Act by refusing an elective hysterectomy for a trans-identified woman due to the hospital's religious beliefs about the immutability of biological sex.

As reported by the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy at First Liberty Institute, Tennessee joins other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington, in providing general conscience protections for healthcare professionals. This report was published before Idaho enacted its own Medical Ethics Defense Act earlier this year.
Home News Bill banning antisemitic speech on campuses amended to protect claims that 'Jews killed Jesus'

A bipartisan bill aimed at addressing rising antisemitism on college campuses has been amended with a religious liberty clause to protect statements claiming Jews killed Jesus, a move seen as a concession to Christian conservatives.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the U.S. Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism.

Under the said definition, claims of "Jews killing Jesus" used to "characterize Israel or Israelis" or "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor" can be considered antisemitic and punishable by law.

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The updated language, added ahead of a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee vote on Wednesday, states that the legislation will not "diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, including ... the free exercise of religion."

Proposed by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the HELP Committee chair, the amendment is aimed at addressing concerns from some Republicans, including Sens. Tommy Tuberville. R-Ala. and Roger Marshall. R-Kan., who worried the bill could restrict Christian teachings that reference the historical  and controversial  claim of Jewish responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion.

The act was initially introduced amid a wave of anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents on college campuses throughout the United States, spurred in response to the Israeli war against Hamas that ignited when the terrorist organization attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people.

The bill passed the House of Representatives in May 2024 with a 320-91 vote but stalled in the Senate over free speech concerns. Its reintroduction this year has reignited tensions, with critics on both sides raising alarms.

Last year, 21 House Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. and former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FLa., opposed the bill. They say that labeling the "Jews killed Jesus" claim as antisemitic could infringe on Christian beliefs. Greene argued that the legislation "could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel" that describes Jesus' crucifixion involving Jewish authorities.

In addition to Republicans, left-leaning Jewish organizations such as J Street and New Israel Fund released a joint statement in opposition to the Antisemitism Awareness Act for representing what they see as an endorsement of the Trump administration's "efforts to weaponize antisemitism."

"Voting in favor of this legislation in this current political climate would represent an endorsement of the Trump administration's escalating efforts to weaponize antisemitism as a pretext for undermining civil rights, deporting political dissidents, and attacking the fundamental pillars of our democracy, making the Jewish community and others less safe," they stated.
Home News Former Texas GOP speaker pushes bill to criminalize memes, manipulated media for politicians, candidates Critic warns proposed bill could result in jail time for someone who 'drew a cartoon'

Creating memes and other online speech  at least for political office holders and candidates  might soon become punishable by up to a year in jail in Texas under a proposed law.

The Texas House of Representatives passed a contentious bill Wednesday authored by former GOP Speaker Dade Phelan that critics warn could criminalize political memes and speech by requiring disclosures for altered media in political advertisements.

House Bill 366, approved by a vote of 102-40, aims to regulate the use of manipulated images, audio, or video in campaigns but has sparked fierce opposition from hardline conservatives who call it a threat to free expression. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.

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This is the beginning of a new era in ethics where the voters need to know what is real and what is not, Phelan, who represents Jefferson, Orange and Jasper counties, said during the floor debate. This AI technology gets better every single day. It gets more inexpensive every single day; it's going to become the norm.

It is my goal to prevent someone from impacting or altering an election by using fake media that never occurred in reality, be it AI or deep fakes," Phelan said.

If passed, HB 366 would apply to officeholders, candidates or political committees that spend over $100 on political advertising during a reporting period, excluding costs for basic hardware, messaging software, or bandwidth. It also covers those who publish, distribute, or broadcast altered media for compensation. The bill prohibits knowingly using images, audio or video of a candidates or officeholders appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur in reality, including media altered by generative AI, unless a disclosure is included indicating the content is fake.

Violations would constitute a Class A misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to one year in jail and/or a maximum fine of up to $4,000.

In a tense exchange with Rep. Shelley Luther, R-Plano, Phelan defended the criminal penalty, arguing that civil fines are ineffective and cited a figure of about $3.6 million in uncollected fines across 750 cases statewide.

Fining someone $500 in a campaign that could be $5, $10 million, a $500 fine is a cost of doing business, he said. If someone were to commit an offense of this nature, it would certainly get their attention.

The bill exempts superficial alterations, such as changes to saturation, brightness, contrast, or color, and shields entities like radio and TV broadcasters, cable or satellite operators, internet service providers, cloud or cybersecurity services, telecommunications networks, and commercial sign owners from liability.

Luther, a former hair stylist who was jailed for three days during the COVID-19 pandemic for defying lockdown orders, challenged the bills penalties. Can you imagine someone going to jail for a year and they say, What are you in here for? and they say, I drew a cartoon? she asked. Luther pressed Phelan on the year-long jail term, to which he responded that the bill acts as a deterrent to using fake or altered media to drastically change the outcome of an election.

Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, called it a retribution bill, arguing, We have an informed electorate, and we already have platforms where people can talk. It is not the role of government to sit there and be a nanny state police force to decide. Hopper proposed an amendment to prevent legislators from using the law to their advantage, but the proposal failed.

A related Senate bill on deep fakes, sponsored by state Sens. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Katy, passed unanimously in March but awaits a House Elections Committee hearing. Despite HB 366s passage, it remains unclear whether it can secure enough support in the Senate to become law by its proposed effective date of Sept. 1.
Home News Global Terrorism Index ranks countries most impacted by terrorist violence

The Sahel continues to be the region with the most terrorist violence, with Burkina Faso again being the country with the most killings, while Niger shot from 10th to fifth-worst in the world, according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

The region accounted for over half of all deaths from terrorism in 2024 and 19% of all attacks, according to the GTI report, published by the Sydney, Australia-based Institute for Economics & Peace.

Despite a drop in terrorist violence in Burkina Faso, it was the country most prone to such violence for the second straight year, reflecting its steep deterioration since its rank of 114th in 2011.

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Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which were all ranked outside the top 30 in 2011, continue to be among the most affected by terrorism consistently since 2017, the report states. This underscores a geographic shift in the epicentre of terrorism away from the Middle East and towards the Sahel, with substantial implications for regional stability.

Burkina Faso was followed by Pakistan and Syria as the three countries with the most terrorist violence, the majority of it perpetrated by Islamic extremist groups and much of targeting Christians. Besides Burkina Faso and Niger, other Sahel countries in the top 10 were Mali at fourth place and Cameroon at 10th. Rounding out the top 10, Somalia was ranked seventh, Israel eighth and Afghanistan ninth.

Burkina Faso maintained its top ranking despite attacks falling by 57% and deaths dropping by 21%. A fifth of all terrorism deaths globally were in Burkina Faso. Niger and Pakistan had the largest increases in deaths from terrorism, with increases of 94% and 45%, respectively.

Terrorism-related deaths in Burkina Faso declined from 1,935 in 2023 to 1,532 in 2024, with attacks falling from 260 in 2023 to 111 in 2024, according to the report.

This is the third consecutive year that over 1,000 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso, the report states. Northern and central-eastern Burkina Faso, near the countrys borders with Mali and Niger, experienced the most terror attacks, accounting for over two-thirds of all attacks in 2024.

Of deaths in Burkina Faso, 682 occurred along the Niger border in Centre-Nord and Est, with the former region recording the highest death toll of the countrys 11 regions. Burkina Fasos deadliest attack of 2024 took place in Centre-Nord, where Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) militants launched a massive assault targeting both soldiers and civilians.

The victims were engaged in digging defensive trenches for the army and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), a civilian armed group supporting Burkina Fasos military efforts, the report states. Reports estimate the death toll to be between 200 and 600 deaths, with hundreds more injured.

JNIM remained the most prominent terrorist group in Burkina Faso, claiming nearly half the countrys attacks in 2024. Islamic State (IS) activity in Burkina Faso declined last year, with the group claiming responsibility for only one attack, compared with eight the prior year  though attacks by both JNIM and IS may be significantly higher, as 55 percent of attacks and 35 percent of deaths in the country were attributed to unknown jihadist groups.

The Alliance of Sahel States, formed by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger last year, represents a regional effort to combat terrorism following the withdrawal of French and United Nations troops.

Despite these efforts, the security situation remains fragile, with reports of human rights abuses by both insurgents and government forces, the GTI report states.

Burkina Fasos military junta of Capt. Ibrahim Traore has extended its rule until 2029, and international observers are concerned that further undemocratic governance could exacerbate instability that terrorist groups would exploit, according to the report.

While the government has taken steps such as freezing the assets of individuals accused of financing terrorism and prioritizing counterterrorism efforts, it is unclear whether the recent decline in terrorism deaths signals lasting progress or a temporary fluctuation, it states.

Islamic State and its affiliates remained the worlds deadliest terrorist group in 2024, being active in 22 countries, one more than in 2023, though deaths attributed to the group and its affiliates declined by 10% from 1,996 to 1,805.

Deterioration in Niger

Nigers deterioration from 10th place to fifth was its worst ranking since the GTIs inception.

Niger recorded the largest increase, with deaths rising from 479 in 2023 to 930 in 2024, the report states. This is the countrys largest recorded death toll since the inception of the Index.

The number of terrorist attacks in Niger rose to 101 in 2024, up from 62 the previous year. Killings of civilians in Niger increased almost threefold in 2024, while military deaths rose to 499 from 340 the prior year, accounting for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths in the country, the report notes.

Niger now holds the highest military death toll from terrorism of any country in 2024, it states. Nigers deadliest attack of 2024 occurred when over 300 gunmen killed 237 soldiers in an attack in the Tahoua region, near the Malian border. No group has claimed responsibility at the time of writing, but jihadists operate in the area. This attack was also the deadliest globally in 2024.

Islamic insurgency in the Central Sahel severely impacted the Tillaberi region in the unstable tri-border area shared with Burkina Faso and Mali. JNIM activity in Niger saw a substantial increase in 2024, with the group claiming responsibility for 13 attacks that caused 109 deaths. IS also remained active, though attacks remained steady from the previous year, and deaths attributed to the group halved to 108.

However, the full extent of activity by these groups remains unclear, as 75 percent of deaths and 66 percent of attacks in 2024 were not claimed by any terrorist group, the report states.

Political and security upheaval following a July 2023 coup created an environment ripe for exploitation by Islamic militant groups.

Nigers shift toward partnerships with Russia, accompanied by a decline in collaboration with Western allies, has contributed to a sharp rise in terrorist attacks and fatalities, the report states. Russian military instructors arrived in April 2024 to replace departing Western forces, but their efforts have been hindered by limited experience in the Sahel and a focus on supporting the ruling junta. The U.S. withdrawal in August 2024 further exacerbated the security vacuum, raising concerns about militant groups expanding their influence.

The disruption of existing counterterrorism operations, combined with severed ties to Western powers such as France and the United States, have opened opportunities for groups such as JNIM and IS to escalate their activities in the region, the report states.

Trends

In other shifts, Nigerias ranking worsened from eighth to sixth, while Somalia remained at seventh place. Afghanistan dropped three places, from sixth to ninth, while Syria moved from fifth to third.

Pakistan, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Somalia have consistently ranked among the 10-most affected countries since 2011, indicating ongoing challenges in addressing terrorism, the report states.

In Nigeria, the GTI tracked only attacks by Boko Harm and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), leaving aside slaughters carried out by Fulani herdsmen, including the Fulani Ethnic Militia. From October 2019 to September 2023, Armed Fulani Herdsmen killed 11,948 civilians in Nigeria, compared with just 3,079 civilians killed by Boko Haram and ISWAP, according to an August 2024 report by the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA). Other Terrorist Groups, commonly called Fulani bandits, killed an additional 12,039 civilians during the period.

In Pakistan, terrorism reached its highest level since 2014, moving the country to second place from fourth the prior year, according to the GTI. Terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan rose to 1,081.

Terrorism has increased significantly in Pakistan since the Talibans rise to power in Afghanistan, with the number of attacks increasing fivefold since 2021, the report notes. The most recent surge in terrorism in Pakistan was primarily driven by increased activity from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is aligned with the Afghan Taliban.

The four terrorist groups responsible for the most deaths in 2024 were Islamic State, Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen, Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Shabaab. These four groups were responsible for 4,204 terrorism deaths, or 80% of those attributed to a specific group.

In 2014, these four groups were responsible for less than 40% of terrorism deaths attributed to a group, highlighting the large global shifts in terrorism over the past decade. In 2014, most terrorism deaths were attributed to Boko Haram and the Taliban, which accounted for 17% and 5% of the total, according to the report.

IS and its affiliates remained the deadliest terrorist organization last year, responsible for 1,805 deaths in 22 countries. The four major terrorist groups continued to increase their activity, increasing their killings by 11 per cent to 4,204 compared with the prior year.

The number of countries suffering at least one terrorist incident increased from 58 to 66, the most countries affected since 2018. More countries deteriorated than improved for the first time in seven years, with 45 reporting a higher impact from terrorism, while only 34 showed improvement.

Deaths from terrorism globally fell to 7,555 last year, a 13% decline from the prior year. This reduction was due to the large spike the prior year from the Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, otherwise deaths would have been approximately the same, the report states.

The number of terrorist attacks also declined, falling by 3% to 3,492. The drop was primarily driven by the 85% decrease in terrorist activity in Myanmar, where rebel groups previously carrying out terrorist attacks instead engaged in more conventional military warfare, according to the report.

Excluding Myanmar, global terrorist attacks would have increased by 8 percent, the report states.

Terrorism-related deaths in Myanmar fell from 356 in 2023 to 24 in 2024.

As the crisis in Myanmar deepens, the decline in terrorism deaths is likely linked to the growing strength of rebel groups, the report states. With more powerful capabilities, these groups appear to rely less on terror-style attacks, focusing instead on conventional warfare against the junta.

In Europe, terrorist incidents doubled to 67, including attacks by IS and Hamas.

The resurgence of attacks was particularly notable in seven Western countries  Sweden, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland, with Germany being the worst ranked nation at 27th on the Index, the report states. There are now seven Western countries ranked amongst the 50 most impacted countries on the GTI.

At the same time, in the United States antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes escalated sharply following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks, with FBI-recorded incidents targeting the Jewish community rising by 270 percent in just two months, the report states.

Similar patterns emerged in Europe and Australia, where attacks on synagogues were reported throughout the year, it states.

This article was originally published at Christian Daily International
Home News HHS releases 400-page report denouncing puberty blockers, sex-change surgeries for minors

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released a 400-plus-page report denouncing what is often referred to as "gender-affirming care" for trans-identified children, speaking out against what it says are "invasive" and "usually

irreversible" medical interventions.

Titled "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices" and released Thursday, the report analyzes the impact of cross-sex hormones, puberty-blocking drugs and cosmetic sex-change surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria.

"These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret," states the report's introduction.

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"Meanwhile, systematic reviews of the evidence have revealed deep uncertainty about the purported benefits of these interventions."

The report stated that it is "not a clinical practice guideline" and that "it does not issue legislative or policy recommendations." The document is "intended for policymakers, clinicians, therapists, medical organizations and, importantly, patients and their families."

In the executive summary, the report contends there is "currently no international consensus about best practices for the care of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria."

"In the U.S., the current approach to treating pediatric gender dysphoria aligns with the 'gender-affirming' model of care recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health," reads the summary.

"This model emphasizes the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, as well as surgeries, and casts suspicion on psychotherapeutic approaches for management of gender dysphoria."

The report was critical of WPATH's approach, noting that a recent "systematic review of international guideline quality" said that they "lack developmental rigour and transparency."

"Our duty is to protect our nation's children  not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions," said National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in a statement. "We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas."

The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization representing around 67,000 primary care pediatricians that has a history of supporting the use of puberty blockers and sex reassignment surgeries for trans-identified youth, denounced the HHS report.

AAP President Dr. Susan J. Kressly said in a statement Thursday that her organization was "deeply alarmed by the report," claiming that it "misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care."

"AAP was not consulted in the development of this report, yet our policy and intentions behind our recommendations were cited throughout in inaccurate and misleading ways. The report prioritizes opinions over dispassionate reviews of evidence," stated Kressly.

"We urge government officials and policymakers to approach these conversations with care, humility, and a commitment to considering the full breadth of peer-reviewed research."

In recent years, there has been considerable debate over how to care for children with gender dysphoria, with some medical professionals advocating for surgical and hormonal processes that support the trans ideology of a minor.

For example, the American Medical Association has stated that they support "improving access to gender-affirming care," claiming it "is an important means of improving health outcomes for the transgender population."

"Receipt of gender-affirming care has been linked to dramatically reduced rates of suicide attempts, decreased rates of depression and anxiety, decreased substance use, improved HIV medication adherence and reduced rates of harmful self-prescribed hormone use," the AMA added.

Last December, the United Kingdom's National Health Service moved to indefinitely ban the use of puberty-blocking drugs on children for the foreseeable future, except for use in clinical trials.

"The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has provided independent expert advice that there is currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children," announced the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care.

"Puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria in under 18s were banned temporarily in May 2024 after the Cass Review found there was insufficient evidence to show they were safe. Legislation will be updated today to make the order indefinite and will be reviewed in 2027."

Commissioned by the NHS in 2020 as a review of its gender identity services for youth, the "Cass Review" found there is "no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress." Amid an exponential rise in minors being referred to the Tavistock gender clinic in the U.K., the review urged the NHS to adopt a different service model when it comes to treating gender dysphoria.

Hilary Cass, the retired former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, led the review.

The report stated that even though some studies show that the use of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria is "beneficial in reducing mental distress and improving the wellbeing of children and young people with gender dysphoria," the "quality of these studies is poor."

The HHS report released Thursday offered its support for the Cass Review, but also suggested that providing youth with hormonal and surgical interventions, even in research trials, is unethical "until and unless the state of the evidence suggests a favorable risk/benefit profile for the studied intervention" and "the researchers have wellgrounded confidence that the foreseeable 'risks and burdens have been adequately assessed and can be satisfactorily managed.'"

"Criticism of the Cass Review appears to stem largely from a U.S.-based group of motivated advocates for the continued legality of [pediatric medical transition]. The critiques are ridden with misrepresentations of the Cass Review and contain multiple factual errors," the HHS report stated.

"In the UK, the Cass Review has been widely accepted as a foundational document for realigning pediatric gender medicine with the principles of evidence-based medicine and child safeguarding. It has been welcomed by both major political parties in the UK, and was fully accepted by the NHS for implementation, which is well underway."

In February, the American College of Pediatricians, a 600-member "national organization of pediatricians and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children," released a review of dozens of studies and argued that providing gender transition procedures to minors with gender dysphoria does not lead to an improvement in mental health.

The paper contends that parents and health care professionals "who support the transgender 'transition' of children and adolescents are, in fact, contributing to increased depression by appearing to validate to the children that 'something is wrong with their body and biological sex.'"

The report's author, ACP board member Dr. Jane Anderson, previously told The Christian Post that there is a "high incidence of adolescents who come into this medical care who have a previous history of depression or anxiety or autism or other medical or psychological concerns."

"And those issues have to be dealt with first," she added. "It's just crucial that they receive the mental health services and support that they so desperately need."
Home News Man convicted of murdering pastor in road rage incident prays for healing and forgiveness

Deshawn Longmire, a 26-year-old man charged with fatally shooting beloved Texas pastor, the Rev. Ronald K. Mouton, during a 10-second road rage argument in 2022, prayed for healing and forgiveness from the pastors family after he was found guilty Thursday.

I made a mistake, and I hurt a lot of people, and I see that and know that, Longmire told the family in court.

I pray that God puts forgiveness in your heart towards me. And then that God just put a miracle in your heart, restore your heart. I know that your hearts are broken, and I pray for healing in this situation, he continued. I want you all to know that I love you all  every single one of you all. And I never meant to hurt anybody. I never meant for any of this to happen.

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Since his murder, Moutons family, led by his twin brother, Rev. Roland Mouton Jr., has been advocating for justice for the death of the late leader of East Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston. He was satisfied with the verdict.

Im satisfied with the verdict. I think the family is very satisfied with the verdict, Rev. Mouton told KPRC 2.

Its a moral victory to us, but it doesnt take the sadness away. The loss is just too significant to us to just be overjoyed, but it does give us a sense of relief to know that the guy that killed my brother will now pay for what he did.

In a previous interview, Rev. Mouton stated that the family had already forgiven Longmire, but he still had to answer to the law.

To pull a gun out and shoot him in his car is senseless, and so we want justice. We want to see justice and him to pay for what he did, Mouton said. This family forgives him, but our forgiveness does not mean that we dont want justice.

Longmire is facing a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Mouton was shot in the chest in June 2022 after a 10-second argument with Longmire on the Gulf Freeway in Houston.

Investigators from the Houston Police Department said surveillance video from the June 24, 2022, shooting of Ronald Mouton shows the pastor, who was driving a BMW, and Longmire, who was driving a black Honda Accord, stopped along the freeway before the shooting.

Police say the two appeared to argue for about 10 seconds before the driver of the Honda shot the pastor in the chest and caused him to crash his vehicle. Ronald Mouton crashed shortly after 5 p.m. at 6400 Gulf Freeway near Gould Street along the southbound lanes, police said. He left behind his wife, four children and 10 grandchildren.

Longmire was charged with murder after witnesses told investigators they saw him arguing with the late pastor at a stoplight on the Gulf Freeway frontage road. Though neither driver exited their vehicles, witnesses told police that when both cars started moving, Longmire stretched his arm out of the driver window with a pistol in his hand and allegedly shot Ronald Mouton and sped off. Surveillance videos show Ronald Mouton crashing his vehicle and he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Home News St. Andrews University closing at the end of the school year

Two Christian colleges in the Carolinas have announced their intentions to close after the current academic year in light of financial concerns.

St. Andrews University, based in Laurinburg, North Carolina, has announced that it is closing and ceasing operations on May 5. A branch location of the Florida-based Webber International University, St. Andrews is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is separate and distinct from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

The Gaffney, South Carolina-based Limestone University, a nondenominational Christian institution, has also made public its decision to close at the conclusion of the spring semester.

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In a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, St. Andrews said the decision resulted from "extensive financial analysis, strategic review and exhaustive recovery efforts."

"We explored every viable path forward," said Webber International University President and CEO Nelson Marquez. "But the persistent financial and enrollment challenges facing St. Andrews could no longer be mitigated through internal solutions alone. This was a deeply painful but necessary decision."

St. Andrews first held classes at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1961. The new school was a merger between two schools based elsewhere in the state, Flora Macdonald College and Presbyterian Junior College. In 2011, it was renamed St. Andrews University as the institution merged with Webber International University.

St. Andrews indicated that it was "engaged with a number of universities about transfer credits" and expressed gratitude that it had received "an overwhelming amount of support in recent days." The institution listed more than two dozen other colleges and universities it is looking to establish "teach-out" agreements with that would enable students to transfer their credits to the new school and continue their education.

Schools in talks to enter into a "teach-out" agreement with St. Andrews include several North Carolina-based institutions such as Appalachian State University, Carolina University, Davidson College, East Carolina University, High Point University, Johnson and Wales University Charlotte and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Colleges in discussions about a "teach-out" agreement with St. Andrews extend across multiple states to Alfred University in New York, Tennessee Wesleyan University and Webber International University in Florida. In addition to pursuing "teach-out" agreements, the college will provide "advising and transfer assistance" to all currently enrolled students as well as "personalized transition guidance, including employment resources and benefit counseling" for members of the school's faculty and staff.

According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, 832 students were enrolled at St. Andrews as of fall 2023. The student body consisted of 806 undergraduate students and 26 graduate students.

Just four days after St. Andrews announced its closure, Limestone University made public its decision to close at the conclusion of the spring semester.

In a statement posted on the school's website, Limestone's Board of Trustees Chair Randall Richardson explained that "Despite exhaustive efforts to secure the funding necessary to continue our operations, we have come to the difficult conclusion that Limestone University has not been able to secure the necessary funding to sustain its operation."

"We want to thank the almost 200 recent supporters in the last two weeks who committed a collective $2.143 million. We had hoped that would be enough to sustain our institution. But in the final analysis, we could not continue operations on-campus or online without a greater amount of funding," he added.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Limestone had an enrollment of 1,782 students as of fall 2023.

"Words cannot fully express the sorrow we feel in having to share this news," Limestone President Nathan Copeland stated. "Our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters fought tirelessly to save this historic institution."

Like St. Andrews, Limestone is taking steps to assist students as they transfer to other colleges and universities in addition to supporting faculty and staff. The school's Facebook page describes the institution as an "accredited, independent, nondenominational Christian, liberal arts coeducational University."

St. Andrews and Limestone are the latest of several Christian colleges to shut their doors in recent years.

Last year, the Roman Catholic Church-affiliated Notre Dame College in Euclid, Ohio, not to be confused with the prominent University of Notre Dame in neighboring Indiana, announced that it was shutting its doors after more than 100 years in operation.

Birmingham-Southern College, an Alabama-based institution with ties to the United Methodist Church, announced it was taking the same course of action weeks later.
Home News Jerusalem area wildfires still rage but evacuated residents allowed to return; 18 suspected arsonists arrested, claims PM Netanyahu

The large wildfires that swept through the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council  a county located west of Jerusalem  on Wednesday, injuring 21 firefighters and threatening homes in multiple towns, continued to burn into Thursday.

However, despite the Fire Authority saying that its efforts continued at full intensity, residents of almost a dozen evacuated communities were allowed to return to their homes after the advance of the flames was halted and all roads were reopened.

While the fire service has not yet officially determined the cause of the large blaze in the Latrun area, which cut off Highway 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for hours on Wednesday, the prime minister indicated that arson may have played a large role.

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This is not a simple matter. There are natural damages and there are also human injuries. We are currently holding 18 people who are suspected of arson, with one who was caught in the act, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Police sources told media outlets that only three of the 18 were directly connected to arson. The others may have been arrested due to incitement for arson, as after the outbreak of the fires, a large-scale online campaign on Arabic social media accounts had called on Palestinians to set more blazes.

There is hard work here, our neighbors, who claim they love this land, are willing in their incitement and speak of burning the land, while we are lovers of the land and are preserving it, Netanyahu said.

While several reports indicated that some fires were started by arson, the main fire near Latrun began in an area where another large fire had been extinguished only two days before, making it possible that the fire reignited and spread from there.

On Thursday, the Fire Authority stated that it would concentrate maximum efforts in the early afternoon to achieve full control by the late afternoon hours, before the winds were expected to intensify again.

The fires started on Wednesday amid hot and dry desert winds, called hamsin in Arabic and sharav in Hebrew. Toward the evening, temperatures dropped by almost 10 degrees Celsius and light rain fell in some areas.

According to an update early on Thursday afternoon, 93 teams were still engaged in intensive activity to stop the spread of the fire. There were active centers in the areas of Latrun, the Burma Road, Eshtaol, Mesilat Tzion, Taoz, Canada Park and Shaar HaGai.

An estimated 20,000 dunam (20 square kilometers or 8 square miles) were consumed by the fires, including almost the complete area of the Ayalon-Canada Park, located north of Highway 1.

The unusually large area covered by the main fire, as well as several other small fires across the country, necessitated a general call-up of firefighters across the country, substantial efforts by the security forces, as well as calls for help from abroad.

On Thursday, the Fire Authority reported that its operations continue in a significant effort in cooperation with IDF forces and the Home Front Command to create firebreaks using heavy engineering tools to protect the communities from the spread of the fire.

Around noon on Thursday, the first firefighter teams arrived from Cyprus, including a helicopter. Firefighting planes from Italy, Croatia, Greece and France were also expected to arrive later in the day.

In addition to deploying engineering tools, the IDF activated several other units to help in the effort. The Operations Division of the Intelligence Directorate operated and coordinated resources to analyze the fire area and direct firefighting and rescue forces on the ground.

Visual Intelligence Unit 9900 utilized satellite imagery and other visual tools, which were analyzed to identify, interpret, and map the main fire centers. Other intelligence units worked to ensure that real-time information was accessible to firefighters in the field.

The Israeli Air Force contributed with logistical support and operated six Super Hercules aircraft to drop fire retardants. In addition, a battalion of officer cadets joined Home Front Command troops in constructing fire lanes around the settlements in the Jerusalem hills.

Israeli police forces reopened the numerous blocked roads and towed many vehicles abandoned on Highway 1 as the fires approached, relocating them to a parking lot near Latrun.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News 3 Democrats want their names removed from resolution seeking to impeach Trump, again

Three Democrat members of the United States House of Representatives have asked to be removed from a resolution seeking to impeach President Donald Trump for a third time.

Earlier this week, Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., introduced articles of impeachment against Trump, with a few of his colleagues initially co-sponsoring his proposal.

However, Democratic Reps. Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, Robin Kelly of Illinois and Jerry Nadler of New York asked on Tuesday to be removed from the impeachment resolution, The Hill reported.

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Spokespeople for Mfume and Kelly told The Hill that they had asked to be removed because the resolution did not have the official backing of House Democratic leadership.

As a result of the removals, the lone remaining co-sponsor for the resolution was Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., though Thanedar remained committed to advancing the articles.

On Monday, Thanedar announced his intention to introduce a resolution attempting to impeach Trump, with seven articles claiming that Trump had engaged in various unconstitutional actions.

These included allegations of obstruction of justice, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers, First Amendment violations, unlawful creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, bribery and corruption and tyrannical overreach.

Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as President and represents a clear and present danger to our nations constitution and our democracy, said Thanedar in a statement.

His unlawful actions have subverted the justice system, violated the separation of powers, and placed personal power and self-interest above public service. We cannot wait for more damage to be done. Congress must act."

However, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said at a press conference that Democrat leadership had no intention of pursuing impeachment.

Impeachment is, at times, a tool that can be used. This president is no stranger to that; hes been impeached twice, Aguilar told reporters in the Capitol, The Hill reported.

But we dont have any confidence that House and Senate Republicans would do their jobs. And so this is not an exercise that were willing to undertake.

Trump was impeached twice during his first term in office, with the Republican president surviving both attempts to throw him out of office via largely party-line votes.

The first vote was held in February 2020, when the Senate narrowly voted down two articles of impeachment alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over Trumps alleged efforts to have Ukraine investigate Hunter Bidens business dealings with Burisma.

Although some viewed these alleged actions and the administrations purported mistreatment of a whistleblower as unlawful, neither article of impeachment received a Senate majority vote.

In January 2021, Trump made history as the first president to be impeached twice, as the House voted to impeach him on the allegation of committing an incitement of insurrection after a group of his supporters stormed the Capitol building after a speech at the Ellipse where he called on the crowd to peacefully protest the certification of the 2020 election results.

The following month, the Senate failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority to find Trump guilty, with 57 senators voting to convict him, while 43 senators voted to acquit him.
Home News DOJ will go after schools that gender transition kids, don't tell parents: Stephen Miller

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller laid out the Trump administration's opposition to pushing transgender ideology on minors, describing it as "child abuse" during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday.



Miller said the U.S. Department of Justice is working with state and local law enforcement to push back against the ideology in the public school systems.



"It is child abuse to change a child's gender, particularly if you do not inform the parents," Miller said. "In other words, if a 5-year-old or a 6-year-old goes to school ... and the teacher turns, tries to turn the boy into a girl or the girl into a boy, that is child abuse. And this administration is treating that as child abuse, and it is a gross violation of parental rights."

Here were @StephenM's full remarks on the evils of transgender ideology and the Trump administration's efforts in its first 100 days to send it to the ash heap of history.



Not surprisingly, not a single liberal journalist in the Q&A tried to challenge him on this. No one even pic.twitter.com/rZfCKw55f3  Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 1, 2025

The administration opposes tax dollars going to hospitals to perform transgender surgeries on children, which Miller likened to "child torture."

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"The administration's message to our hospital systems [is] that they cannot and will not be allowed to use taxpayer dollars to perform chemical castrations and sexual mutilations of children," he said.

"Castration surgeries, castration drugs, sterilization treatments of children are barbaric. They violate all sound medical ethics. They are completely unwarranted. They harm children for life irreversibly."

"It is child torture, it is child abuse, it is medical malpractice," he added.

Miller's comments came the same day the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices," a report of more than 400 pages that denounced "invasive" and "usually irreversible" medical interventions for children with gender dysphoria.

Miller described policies that allow trans-identified males into women's prisons as "obviously insane" and akin to prison rape enabled by the government.

"We're also making clear in our prison system, male prisoners will not be allowed into women's prisons. The Biden administration promoted prison rape by putting men into female prisons. That is obviously insane, cruel and unacceptable," he said.

"And even though the Democrat Party and [Democratic House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries and the Democrat media continue to fight to put men into women's prisons, this administration will not allow that."

Miller said the administration is committed to rooting out policies that permit boys into girls' private spaces and restrooms in K-12 schools, noting "horrifying example after example of young girls being sexually assaulted because school districts have allowed men into women's and girls' private spaces."

"This administration  President Trump  is at the forefront of protecting women and protecting girls and nowhere is that clear than when we are talking about fighting radical gender ideology," he added.

Miller said that under Trump, federal law enforcement will not be weaponized against people of faith, Christians especially.

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum last week laying out several directives by which the DOJ aims to enact President Donald Trump's executive order from January aimed at protecting children from chemical castration and surgical mutilation.

In a report on the topic delivered to the president and released on April 28, the White House accused the federal government under the Biden administration of promoting "a grotesque social and scientific experiment on American children."

"During first three years of [Biden's] administration alone, more than 7,000 children were administered puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones," the fact sheet said. "Over 4,000 were subjected to sex-trait modification surgical interventions, such as mastectomies. These interventions were marketed to children on the basis of ideologically driven and financially motivated junk-science."

Proponents of the so-called "gender-affirming" hormone drugs and surgeries say they help improve health outcomes for the trans-identified population." Critics contend there is not enough research to make such a claim and that medical professionals should pursue a mental health approach to care as opposed to hormonal and surgical interventions.

In its report, the HHS states that providing such interventions, even in research trials, is unethical "until and unless the state of the evidence suggests a favorable risk/benefit profile for the studied intervention" and "the researchers have wellgrounded confidence that the foreseeable 'risks and burdens have been adequately assessed and can be satisfactorily managed.'"
Home News 'Avengers' star Jeremy Renner describes moment he died after tragic accident: 'Exhilarating peace'

Jeremy Renner recently opened up about the harrowing snowplow accident that nearly claimed his life in January 2023 and reflected on what he believes was a moment of death and the peace he felt in those final seconds.

The 54-year-old Avengers actor, who broke more than 30 bones after being crushed by a 14,000-pound snowplow while attempting to save his nephew at his Nevada home, recounts the experience in his new memoir, My Next Breath.

As I lay on the ice, my heart rate slowed, and right there, on that New Years Day, unknown to my daughter, my sisters, my friends, my father, my mother, I just got tired, Renner wrote. After about 30 minutes on the ice, of breathing manually for so long, an effort akin to doing 10 or 20 push-ups per minute for half an hour  thats when I died.

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In an interview with Us Weekly, Renner elaborated on what he described as a near-death experience. I could see my lifetime. I could see everything all at once, he said, noting his heart rate dropped to 18 beats per minute.

In death there was no time, no time at all, yet it was also all time and forever, he said, describing exhilarating peace and a constantly connected, beautiful and fantastic energy. He recalled a space without form or structure, no time, place, or space, and nothing to see, except a kind of electric, two-way vision made from strands of that inconceivable energy.

Renner said he felt a force urging him not to let go, which brought him back into his body.

The actor has spoken candidly about the accident in recent months. In an interview with People, he described the writing process as healing.

Writing about it has been very emotionally cathartic to have to go word by word through it all again, he said. I dont not talk about it. Its part of my life every day, and its always a wonderful reminder of the strength of the human spirit, and how fragile the body is and how badass it is at recovery.

Im not haunted by the incident  not too often anyway  by the images, the sounds, he added. But I am reminded of my new reality, and its wonderfully positive. I didnt die.

According to the statistics, near-death experiences (NDEs) are reported by about 17% of those who nearly die.

Some Christian leaders acknowledge that NDEs can be powerful and potentially real experiences, but caution believers to evaluate them against Scripture.

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, John Burke, pastor of Gateway Church, a multisite church based in Austin, Texas, and author ofImagine the God of Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Revelation and the Love You've Always Wanted, said that while studying near-death experiences, he discovered a striking commonality among them all: Every individual, regardless of their religious background, experiences the God of the Bible.

I interviewed 70 people on every continent and found that they all encountered the same God; it didn't matter their culture, ethnicity or religious background. God is the God of all nations, Burke told CP.

The pastor said that NDEs are God's "new global apologetic," intended to affirm His existence, the reality of the afterlife and His desire for a relationship with every person.

They all say, I never wanted to leave His presence and of all the beauty I experienced, all of these great reunions with people I love who've gone on before me, nothing could compare to just being in this presence, Burke said.

He clarified that while every individual encounters the God of the Bible during an NDE, he is not suggesting they will end up in Heaven. Burke said he doesn't believe these people are experiencing an entrance into eternity or a tunnel of death, rather, theyre encountering something in between.

This can confuse some Christians, he said. But I like to remind them that the Apostle Paul was not a believer in Jesus. He was arresting Christians and having them jailed and killed when the same God of brilliant light appeared to him on the Damascus Road in Acts 9. When Paul asks, Who are you, Lord? He says, I'm Jesus. But Jesus didn't tell him what to do, and He didn't explain the message of the Gospel to him.

I believe God is saying to the world, I'm real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. And I love every person from every nation; I want you to be my child through what I did through Jesus, so you can turn your heart back to me and be made right with me.
Home News Korea forum criticizes WEA Seoul Assembly as theologically incompatible with Reformed doctrine

A forum hosted by South Korean Evangelical leaders this week renewed criticism of the upcoming World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) General Assembly in Seoul, which has faced controversy since its announcement. Speakers at the event accused the WEA of theological compromise, interfaith inclusivism, and straying from historic Evangelical and Reformed principles.

The Christian Council of Korea (CCK), the former national member body of the World Evangelical Alliance in Korea led by Rev. Kyung-hwan Ko, hosted its first WEA Countermeasure Forum on April 29 at Grace Hall in the Christian Council Building in Seoul. Titled Problems with the WEA from Theological, Practical, and Historical Perspectives, the event featured presentations by Dr. Jin-young Yang (Kwangshin University), Dr. Chang-won Seo (formerly of Chongshin Seminary), and Dr. Ho-wook Kim (Kwangshin University).

Forum accuses WEA of promoting cultural inclusivism contrary to Evangelical identity

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Dr. Yang opened the forum with a presentation titled, Critique of the WEA Seoul Assembly: Regarding Its Statement of Faith and Core Values. He argued that while WEA materials list Evangelical, Orthodox, and Conservative as core values, these are not reflected in practice. WEAs real ministry is that of cultural inclusivism, he said, citing interfaith ties with the Roman Catholic Church, Islamic leaders and the World Council of Churches (WCC), which he described as a hotbed of religious pluralism.

On the surface, WEAs core values seem unobjectionable, Yang said, but a closer examination reveals that its actual operations promote cultural inclusivity and seek grand compromise under the banner of church unity  a movement unrelated to biblical truth. In this sense, WEA aligns with the neo-evangelicalism of neoliberalism.

Yang added that WEA emphasizes the visible unity of the church and insists on embracing even nominal faith statements. This is why, despite WEAs formal statement of faith, it interacts with Roman Catholics, the WCC, Seventh-day Adventists, and Muslims, he said. Such practice is not true theology.

He concluded that Korean churches should not participate in WEAs assembly or union. Practicing love without truth contradicts the true gospel, he said.

WEA leaders interfaith engagement sparks concern

Dr. Chang-won Seo followed with a presentation titled, Problems and Concerns about the WEA from a Reformed Theological Perspective. He criticized WEA leaders activities, pointing out that Deputy Secretary General Samuel Chiang has called Indonesias Nahdlatul Ulama, the worlds largest Muslim organization, WEAs Best Friends.

This directly contradicts WEAs stated vision, Seo said. Seeking peace through interreligious cooperation ultimately blurs the exclusive truth of the gospel.

He also raised alarms about Goodwill Shana, WEAs International Council Chair and acting Secretary General.

Shana is a Zimbabwean megachurch pastor known for promoting health-and-wealth theology. Some have even referred to him as the Pope of the WEA, Seo said. He added that Shanas wife refers to herself as an apostle, a hallmark of the controversial New Apostolic Reformation. The fact that such figures are at the core of WEA leadership raises grave concerns about the direction and nature of the organization.

Seo argued that the WEA Seoul assembly runs counter to Reformed theology and practice and lacks legitimacy, having been pursued by a few churches without broad denominational support. This could damage the theological identity and spiritual integrity of the Korean church, he warned.

He criticized the notion that a single church, simply by having resources to host an international event, could represent the entire Korean church. Reformed churches must decisively reject this trajectory. If possible, the Seoul assembly should be withdrawn to preserve theological integrity and spiritual purity, Seo said. If that is not possible, then churches committed to gospel truth should refrain from participating.

WEAs theological ambiguity and ecumenical drift

In the final presentation, Dr. Ho-wook Kim spoke on Historical Background of the WEA Statement of Faith and Assessment of Its Theological Identity. He criticized WEAs use of the term infallible to describe its view of Scripture. Infallibility refers to the belief that the Bible is without error in matters of faith and salvation, while inerrancy holds that the Bible is without error in all aspects, he explained. WEAs use of infallibility suggests a weaker theological stance.

Kim also questioned WEAs claim to be Reformed and Evangelical. They say criticisms about religious pluralism and syncretism are based on misunderstanding, but their actions contradict their claims.

He reiterated concerns over Chiangs engagement with Muslim organizations. In 2021, WEA held formal talks with Nahdlatul Ulama and declared a Best Friends relationship, Kim said. Chiang emphasized faith-based inclusivity in a world of religious diversity and argued for cooperation that transcends doctrinal differences to highlight shared human values.

Kim noted that Chiang met with Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Elders, in Abu Dhabi on February 29, 2024. That meeting was a pledge to strengthen cooperation and promote shared values.

According to Kim, WEA is breaking down theological boundaries and embracing diverse streams, including Roman Catholicism, Seventh-day Adventism, Islam, and the WCC. Its conduct contradicts its stated theology and reflects theological syncretism and pluralism.

He concluded by calling for the cancellation of the Seoul assembly: The 2025 WEA Seoul Assembly Organizing Committee should withdraw the event to resolve ongoing conflict within the Korean church and pursue biblical unity.

CCK leadership voices institutional concerns

In his welcome address, CCK President Kyung-hwan Ko said the denominations of the WEA Seoul Assemblys co-chairs do not support the event. To say they are not opposing it is no justification. Lack of opposition is not the same as endorsement. How can someone claim to serve the global church without the backing of their own denomination? he asked.

Ko proposed an open debate with scholars who support the WEA assembly and revealed that a formal whistleblower complaint from within WEA had been submitted. We will publish the details on the CCK website, he said.

Rev. Chung Seo-young, a former CCK president, preached at the opening service and also voiced concerns.

WEAs original intent was acceptable. But it has changed. Until it returns to its Evangelical roots, the assembly should not be held in Korea, he said. Many in the Korean church oppose this. Why push it through?

The WEA has not yet issued any public statement or responded to earlier requests for comment from Christian Daily International.

Originally published by Christian Daily Korea and translated and edited by Christian Daily International staff.
Home News Moms, school choice advocates rally in support of Catholic charter school at Supreme Court

WASHINGTON  In 2021, Kandice Jeske's son was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability that can cause difficulties with reading, writing and paying attention. Her son's public school teachers worked with the child to the best of their ability, but the administrators didn't believe the boy had different needs.



"They told us again and again that he was just not paying attention and that we needed to read more at home," the Oklahoma City area mother of three told The Christian Post Wednesday as she joined the Free to Learn rally outside the Supreme Court in favor of a Catholic charter school that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has deemed unlawful to be funded by tax dollars.



Remembering how she tried reading with her son every night for an hour, she said there would be "meltdowns every single night."



"How frustrating would it be to try to go to work? School is his job. So, he's already working for six to seven hours a day and then coming home and being frustrated for another hour," she remembered.





Jeske eventually started searching for other schooling options for her son after she saw that he wasn't receiving the attention that he needed in the public school system. Once she transferred her son to another school, Jeske noticed that his confidence and academic performance improved.



Jeske believes supporting the religious charter school would award more rights to parents, as they would have the option of sending their children to a religious or secular school.

"No one is forcing your child to go to a religious school," Jeske told CP. "The parent is choosing. The parent knows their kids' needs. The parent knows their family values. Nothing is forced."

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Dozens of school choice advocates, including speakers from the advocacy group EdChoice, demonstrated outside the nation's high court amid oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond.



The issue is whether the state can contract with two Catholic Church regional bodies to operate a taxpayer-funded online charter school known as St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican, sued the state board for approving the creation of the Catholic charter school. He considered a state-sponsored religious school to be "a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans." Last June, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 7-1 that it is unlawful to publicly fund a religious charter school.

"The framers' intent is clear: the state is prohibited from using public money for the 'use, benefit or support of a sect or system of religion,'" the opinion stated. "The St. Isidore Contract violates the plain terms of Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution."

School choice advocates have argued that parents should have more learning options for their children, not fewer, and they want to see the court rule in favor of St. Isidore.

Critics, including some conservative Christians, contend that private funding shouldn't support religious schools because Americans should not be required to fund the propagation of religious views they disagree with.

But Yalonda Chandler, a former public school teacher who launched a faith-based homeschooling support group and microschool in Alabama, Legacy Builders Academy, believes there's room for both religious and secular schools in the United States.

"One of the things that I spend a lot of time with my children and my students is that we start every week with Bible study. And that's not just because I enjoy teaching Bible study, but it also shapes their worldview," the teacher told CP.

"So they can have a solid foundation, not only in their relationships with each other but also in how they develop as adults," she added.

The advocate left the public school system around 14 years ago and started homeschooling her own children, later founding the Legacy Builders Academy in the fall of 2023.

Chandler currently has seven students enrolled in the Legacy Builders Academy, and she hopes to see the program expand.

One of the benefits of the learning environment at Legacy Builders Academy, according to the teacher, is that it allows students to receive individualized attention. The special focus on students' needs makes it hard for anyone to "fall through the cracks," Chandler said.

During oral arguments, several conservative justices on the court appeared sympathetic to the position that the Catholic Church has the same right as any other private group in Oklahoma to operate a charter school.

The liberal justices argued that the government backing a faith-based charter school would violate the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a favored religion.

Dr. Richard Land, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, wrote in March that a ruling in favor of the Catholic charter school would "break revolutionary new ground in the debate over separation of church and state."

"Ever since the Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002) decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that vouchers or tax credits used by parents to help defray the costs of private education did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because the aid went to the parents and they then chose whether to spend the money at a religious or a secular school," Land, the executive editor of The Christian Post, wrote in an op-ed.

"In the present Drummond case, public funds would be directly funding a charter public school, a school operated by Catholic officials to propagate the Catholic faith. While non-Catholic students could apply and attend this school, they would be taught within a framework that promoted the Catholic faith. (Let me be clear that I would oppose a 'Baptist' charter school just as vehemently as I oppose a Catholic charter school. Indeed, I would oppose it because I am a Baptist and I believe in separation of church and state.)."

"What is being proposed is a public school paid for with public tax money," he continued. "Consequently, all taxpayers, whatever their faith commitment or lack thereof, would be forced to subsidize that which they believe violates their faith affirmations."
Home News Texas bill seeking to add state holiday celebrating Dobbs decision stalls in committee GOP chair blocks 'Celebration of Life Day' as panel weighs Islamic, Hindu holiday proposals

An effort to memorialize the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the state of Texas has stalled due to Republican leadership who say giving workers a day off isnt how we honor that victory.

House Bill 911, introduced by Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, would designate June 24  the date the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision  as Celebration of Life Day, a state holiday celebrating Texas pro-life stance.

If passed, the bill would add "Celebration of Life Day" to other existing state holidays in Texas, including Confederate Heroes Day, Texas Independence Day and Emancipation Day, among others.

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While HB 911 was referred to the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, chaired by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, its unlikely to receive a hearing after Capriglione signaled an unwillingness to support the bill.

According to Capriglione, proposals such as HB 911 would increase paid holidays, expand leave policies, and add new entitlements for state employees.

As the author of Texas abortion ban, I am deeply thankful for the Supreme Courts decision  but adding another day off for state employees isnt how we honor that victory, the lawmaker said in an April 25 social media post. State workers already receive 22 holidays, 12 vacation days, and 12 sick days each year. We should be focused on delivering better services, not more days off.

Modeled after the Elon Musk-led federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Texas version, Capriglione said, is focused on cutting waste and abuse in Medicaid and pushing back on the costly work-from-home trend in Austin.

Texans expect accountability and results, not more paid leave for government staff, he wrote. Im proud to support our state workforce, but Im even more proud to defend the taxpayers who fund it. We must keep our focus on productivity, efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

Kimberlyn Schwartz, director of media and communication with Texas Right to Life, says while they support the intent behind the holiday, with time running out, lawmakers should focus on honoring preborn children by passing bills that directly stop abortions. Those, Schwartz said, include the Woman and Child Protection Act (SB 2880 and HB 5510) and the Stop Tax-Funded Abortion Travel Act (SB 33 and HB 1806), which are aimed at protecting mothers and babies from abortion pills and protecting citizens from paying for abortion travel through their tax dollars.

Celebratory pro-life bills like these do point the public's attention to the evil of abortion, but with only about 30 days left to pass new laws, Christians must prioritize pro-life bills that will stop abortions from happening in the first place, said Schwartz.

In addition to HB 911, the Texas DOGE committee is also considering House Bill 1047, proposed by the committees vice-chair, Rep. Salman Bhojani, D-Euless. Bhojanis bill would add Islamic holidays like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as well as the Hindu holiday Diwali and other religious observances, to the list of optional holidays for state employees.

Bhojani, who in 2023 became one of the first Muslims ever elected to the Texas Legislature, has also proposed several bills aimed at Texas growing non-Christian population, including HB 4444, which would provide multilingual resources for Urdu- and Arabic-speaking residents and other emerging communities. He also introduced HR 401, which would have recognized April 15 as the Shia Muslim holiday Ismaili Day at the state capitol.
Home News William Barber, activists arrested for demonstrating against budget proposal in US Capitol

Rev. William Barber II and other progressive Christian activists were arrested at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., while protesting the proposed Republican-led congressional budget.

Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, writer and preacher Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and St. Francis Springs Prayer Center Director Steve Swayne held a prayer rally near a monument celebrating the women's suffrage movement on Monday.

The three took issue with the proposed budget before Congress, which they contend includes damaging cuts to various necessary federal welfare programs that millions of Americans rely on.

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Shortly after they began praying out loud, several Capitol police surrounded the individuals, expelled others in the rotunda and then detained the three activists.

A spokesperson for the Capitol Police told The News & Observer that the three were detained "for demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings, which is not allowed in any form, to include but not limited to sitting, kneeling, group praying, singing, chanting, etc."

"In this case, they started praying quietly and then began to pray out loud," continued the spokesperson. "That is when we gave them multiple warnings to stop or they would be arrested. Three people didn't stop."

The spokesperson told the newspaper that there were other places on Capitol Hill where they could have lawfully assembled and noted that the penalty would be a fine.

Barber, a former NAACP leader, and Wilson-Hartgrove confirmed their release in a statement posted to their shared blog on Tuesday. The reason for their demonstration in the Capitol on Monday, they said, is because they are "Christian preachers" and "public theologians" who are called to speak out.

They contend that $1.5 trillion can't be cut from the budget without "slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, Head Start, Section 8, and other life-saving and life-sustaining programs."

"When someone dies from poverty and a lack of healthcare, we cannot lie and say, 'God called them home.' We have to tell the truth. They died because we live in a society that has chosen not to care for them," they stated.

"If we know the people are being robbed by a budget that will take from the most vulnerable to give tax breaks to the rich, it is our duty to relocate our ministry to where these life and death decisions are being made."

They added that they "appreciate the Capitol police and have prayed with them and for them." They also thank officers for their service and "have reassured them that our objection is not to them doing their job."

"We came to the Capitol rotunda to pray for representatives who currently support this immoral budget to see the danger of policy that kills and choose life. We came believing that God can take out a heart of stone and give anyone a heart of flesh," said Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove.

"That is why we chose to pray in the Capitol rotunda yesterday. And that is the prayer we hope to embody with a growing and expanding moral movement in this nation until 'justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.'"

Barber garnered national attention in 2013 for his weekly "Moral Monday" protests outside the North Carolina Legislature over issues he had with various policy proposals.

He has served as co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, which in 2019 hosted a "Moral Action Congress" in Washington, D.C., where nine leading Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls, including former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, gave remarks.

The Poor People's Campaign led the "Mass Poor People's & Low-Wage Workers' Assembly and Moral March on Washington" in June 2022.

In June 2023, Barber retired from ministry to focus more on political activism. He preached a retirement sermon at Greenleaf Christian Church of Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he had served as pastor since 1993.

Barber has often supported left-leaning causes, such as abortion, and is a strong critic of President Donald Trump.

Suffering from a severe type of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis since he was in his 20s, Barber said in his retirement the sermon that "God does His best work with cripples."

"Every main character that you heard, read from 2 Corinthians to Isaiah to Matthew to Samuel, is crippled, broken, handicapped," said Barber at the time. "Is that your story, too?"

"Somewhere in this room, there's not a person in here that does not have some crippling reality, some brokenness, some handicap. And yet, when you read the texts, in some ways, their stories testify to the glory of God."
Churches Sue Trump Over ICE Raids, UMC Court Rules On Same-Sex Weddings, SBC Membership Declining

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 08:04 08:04

Top headlines for Friday, May 2, 2025

In this episode, we explore the recent legal actions taken by a coalition of churches against the Trump administration's decision to allow immigration raids within houses of worship, highlighting the tension between state and sacred spaces. Next, we discuss a pivotal ruling by the United Methodist Churchs highest court affirming pastors' authority to decide on officiating same-sex weddings, marking a significant moment for church governance and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

In other religious news, we examine the Southern Baptist Convention's contrasting trends of declining membership yet growing worship attendance and baptisms, offering insights into the evolving landscape of faith communities. Finally, we hear from actor Jeremy Renner, who shares his courageous journey of recovery following a traumatic snowplow accident earlier this year.

00:11 Churches sue Trump admin. over ICE raids in houses of worship

01:05 UMC top court says church trustees can't stop gay weddings

02:05 SBC membership declines, but baptisms on the rise: report

03:19 1 in 10 women suffer adverse health effects from abortion pill

04:13 Police arrest Christians violently assaulted in Hindu mob attack

05:20 Arkansas to provide $2M in funding to pro-life pregnancy centers

06:16 Jeremy Renner describes moment he died after tragic accident
Home Opinion 5 traits of a confident Christian

The Christian faith is inherently confident in its messaging. The New Testament is only about 300 pages, and it doesnt read like a manual for apologetics. That is, the New Testament builds on the reality of Gods revelations in Old Testament history and confidently communicates His grace in the Lord Jesus. This was unpacked notably by Paul: According to the eternal purpose ... in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him (Eph. 3:12). Thus genuine believers who partake of His grace have always possessed traits that reflect a measure of confidence. However, it is not the human component that is confident, but Gods grace within that, which is unassailable and strengthens a Christians faith and practice.

Some Christians speak, live and move in full assurance of faith. What distinguishes such a belief? Is it available to all believers? Indeed, confident Christian faith should be the aspiration of all believers. Here are 5 traits that I believe can encourage confidence in those who are justified by his grace (Tit. 3:7), though there are certainly more.

1. Knowingness



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Theology 101 teaches about natural revelation and special revelation. The former is evident for all, but the latter is not. By definition, then, special revelation exists apart from what the natural person observes and experiences. When Paul wrote, I know whom I have believed (2 Tim. 1:12), it was from his new standing with God. An experience had occurred from natural to spiritual by Gods grace. To this day, a genuine regeneration from non-Christian to Christian is marked by an unmistakable sense of knowingness. Moreover, this reality of grace provides believers with the confidence to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philip. 3:14). A believer cannot aspire to something unless its known to be real. Knowingness comes from God, and His desire for us is to be assured of it.

The reason why Paul could press on confidently is that he had personal assurance that grace was working within. As he emphasized, I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philip. 1:6).

2. Boldness



A confident Christian is not bashful in faith. Some believers may have a reserved or private personality, and yet have boldness in their Christian faith. Somehow, we have stereotyped a bold Christian as one who is on fire for the Lord and endeavoring to turn the world right-side up. In the New Testament understanding, boldness is the expression of an apparent deep conviction of grace. Note the example of two humble fishermen who proclaimed: And there is salvation in no one else ... Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished (Acts 4:12). They were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, because their convictions of Jesus were palpable. Regardless of the level of education or socio-economic status, confident Christians will not shy away from communicating their faith with boldness and apparent conviction.

3. Maturing



Nevertheless, there is a sanctifying process by which believers grow in confidence, some slower and some faster. If you have been a Christian for under five years, dont you see yourself more mature in Christian faith today than two, three, or four years ago? Likewise if you have been partaking of His grace for decades, dont you see yourself now more mature than 10 or 20 years ago? As we progress in life, Christian faith is also about overcoming battles with doubts, temptations, and cultural intimidation. Again, the Bible does not read like an apologetic manual, but it provides us with the confidence that we can trust Him. Thus maturing believers are developing a growing confidence that they are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls (Heb. 10:39). Maturing Christian faith is a process whereby confidence in grace becomes increasingly apparent to others.

4. Humbleness



I am truly sad to say that there is no shortage of egoism in Evangelicalism. The depths of understanding of the Christian faith elude the egotistical, because of overwhelming confidence in themselves. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humble Christians are far more confident because they have an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for Gods mercy and grace. Isnt it encouraging to be around Christians who are gaining Christ (Philip. 3:8) while being genuinely humble? Its truly refreshing. Conversely, dont you feel spiritually drained when you converse with egotistical believers who thrive on pontificating? Humbleness makes believers grow stronger because they are teachable.

5. Teachable



Being unteachable is a sign of insecurity. Those who exercise confident Christian faith enjoy learning. The biblical injunction to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18) is very real in their maturing process. Confident Christians are secure and have realized that they dont have a monopoly on truth in Christian teaching, nor does anyone else. They are confidently relying upon God and humble enough to acknowledge that others are also gifted for the churchs benefit. In fellowship, or over coffee, confident Christians will listen more and talk less. They enjoy gleaning thoughts that enrich their faith and lives.

Finally, when you come across a confident Christian with these traits, you should try to befriend them. Confident Christians are maturing and thus also increasing in social graces. They are guided by the Spirit and desire to be Christ-like, and to grow in love towards neighbors. They are also serious about becoming the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-14).



So, whether you are a believer or not, dont be of the ilk that avoids confident Christians for fear of being challenged out of your comfort zone and deeper into His grace.
Home Opinion A plan for Ukraine: Roadmap to genuine peace in the region

The Russo-Ukraine War has tragic stalemate stamped all over it. The Russians are dug in and are apparently willing to endure casualty rates that normally only non-democratic oligarchies can sustain politically over time.

The Ukrainians, who have fought bravely and well, though outgunned and outmanned, show little sign of surrendering their freedom, no matter the cost to their citizenry.

So the ghastly war of attrition drags on, with its horrendous human cost in lives lost and bodies broken. President Trump, rightly horrified by the human carnage and suffering, has tried to be an honest broker, however awkwardly, in bringing about a cessation of the bloodletting. By the way, I would advise Vladimir Putin not to tick off the President. When President Trump believes he is being played for a sucker, he can very quickly become very dangerous.

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I am going to be so bold as to propose a peace plan that would provide a roadmap to restore genuine peace in the region. If successful, it could also provide an example for how to bring a peaceful conclusion to other conflicts across the globe.

First, perhaps the most universally accepted value in the world today is the principle of self-determination  the belief that people in a particular region have the right to determine for themselves how they will be governed and by whom. A close corollary to this is the principle that a regions sovereignty cannot be changed by military conquest (i.e. Crimea being annexed as part of Russia after having been taken by military force). To this point, most countries do not recognize Russias annexation of Crimea.

So, where do we go from here? I believe we should have the overwhelming majority of the international community come together and support a peace plan as follows:

1. A cease-fire is put into place, monitored and enforced by a multinational U.N. military force with a complete stand down and garrisoning of Russian and Ukrainian troops.

2. This would be followed by a U.N. policed, monitored, and supervised election in each of the occupied regions of Ukraine. In other words, the people living in Crimea, the Donbas, and the other occupied regions would have the opportunity to vote for: a. remaining part of Ukraine; b. becoming part of Russia; or c. becoming an independent entity. This way the people will decide their own fate and the international community will demand that their decision will be respected.

Part of the peace plan must also include an internationally supervised investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both sides with war criminals being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I realize that many will say this is unrealistic and Russia will never agree to such a plan. (I suspect the Ukrainians would agree because I am confident that in free and fair elections, majorities are going to vote to live under Ukrainian democracy as opposed to Russian dictatorship.)

If the will of the international community is sufficiently resolute, and the Russians pay a higher and higher military and economic price for resistance, Russia will grow tired of being an international pariah.

At the very least, such a peace initiative is worth a serious international effort. After all, the people themselves will decide how they are governed. What person of goodwill could, in good conscience, oppose self-government?
Home Opinion Teaching civility is not the same as instructing gay marriage is good

Respect and civility are basic civic virtues that ground our ability to live peacefully alongside people with whom we disagree. Yet proponents of gender ideology boil these concepts down to simply affirmation and agreement. Instead of civility and respect, children at some public schools are taught one-sided ideologies in the name of these virtues.



The oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in Mahmoud v. Taylor on April 22 demonstrated this fact. At issue in the case is Montgomery County, Marylands implementation of an inclusivity curriculum that features a variety of LGBT-themed storybooks for young children. Parents objected when the school refused to allow opt-outs from the curriculum.



During oral argument, Justice Samuel Alito pressed Montgomery Countys lawyer, Alan Schoenfeld, on whether the books in question simply represent exposure to the existence of same-sex couples, or something more. At a bare minimum, books in the curriculum, such as Uncle Bobbys Wedding, portray same-sex marriage or gender fluidity in a positive light. These lifestyles are shown to be just as acceptable as opposite-sex marriage and accepting ones biological sex. Alito therefore asked, Why is the Montgomery County Board of Education in this argument running away from what they clearly want to say? They have a view that they want to express on these subjects, and maybe its a very good view, but they have a definite view, and thats the whole point of this curriculum, is it not?



In response to this, Schoenfeld avoided addressing the idea that the school is teaching affirmation of same-sex marriage and gender fluidity. He stated instead that the Board wants to teach civility and respect for difference in the classroom. There is obviously an incidental message in some of these books that these life choices and these lifestyles are worthy of respect. I dont know how you can teach students to respect each other without teaching that.



That statement betrays a dangerously narrow conception of civility and respect. It equates respecting lifestyle and choices with respecting people themselves. Believing that someones lifestyle is immoral yet still respecting them as a person is out of the picture in this philosophy.



The same goes for civility. The implication is that you cannot be civil to someone with whom you disagree. Yet civility is a virtue particularly appropriate to situations of disagreement, even implying some kind of tension: We wouldnt say were merely civil to our families unless theres a disagreement. But in a courtroom, lawyers can disagree vehemently while being civil to each other.



Considering that all of us disagree with something and make bad decisions on a frequent basis, gender ideologys understanding of respect and civility all but destroys Christians prerogative to love our faulty neighbors, let alone ourselves. It pushes us away from reflecting the God who loves those who disagree with him, even to the point of dying for them. But a distortion that makes love antithetical to disagreement is woven throughout secular culture. Beneath the lawyers words is the idea that respect and civility require affirmation and agreement.



Teaching civility and respect is not the same as teaching that same-sex marriage and gender fluidity are good things. Advocates for gender ideology should stop tarnishing the good names of virtues with a bait-and-switch that substitutes forced agreement for loving those with whom you disagree. Loving and respecting the people with whom you disagree grounds our foundational freedoms to speak and think as we desire, a human right of everyone, no matter their choices or beliefs. The curriculum at issue in Mahmoud is not simply about civility and respect; its about teaching children to adopt a particular view on important issues, even when their parents dont agree.



In Mahmoud, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to affirm the freedom of parents. For the sake of civility and respect, lets hope it does.

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Home Opinion The cultural arena is not the enemy. Hollywood can be reclaimed

For decades, many Christians have taken a defensive posture toward the culture  retreating from Hollywood, mainstream media, and the arts, often assuming these arenas were too far gone to redeem. But what if the time has come to stop retreating and start reclaiming? What if our calling isnt to curse the darkness from a distance, but to shine light inside the very spaces where truth is most under assault?

Our culture is shaped not just in the pulpit, but in the producers chair. Not just in the church sanctuary, but on the soundstage. The stories that reach millions  whether through film, television, podcasts, or viral clips  often do more to mold public belief than a thousand Sunday sermons. And while many of these stories have carried messages contrary to biblical truth, there is a rising movement of Christians who are no longer content to be spectators.

Instead of waiting for revival in our culture, why not be part of it? Why not see ourselves as those who can turn the tide? What better way to do that than through books, articles, screenplays, music, or visual art  creative works that stake territory for Christ and raise a higher standard? Instead of descending into the depths that Hollywood seems to celebrate, we can elevate culture toward truth, beauty, and redemption.



The grip of secular influence may seem tight  but no grip is stronger than Christs. And He told us, Greater things than these will you do, because I go to the Father. That means we are His hands and feet now, commissioned and empowered by the Holy Spirit. So, what are we waiting for?

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We are not lacking in talent. We have the mind of Christ  and the power of the Holy Spirit. What we may lack is the spiritual boldness and prophetic urgency to take our anointing outside the four walls of the church and into the heart of culture.

Ive seen firsthand that this is possible. In my work as a media publicist, Ive had the opportunity to partner with cultural influencers  people like Kevin and Sam Sorbo, Jonathan Cahn, and actor Robert Daviwho are doing exactly this: creating and championing content that lifts up truth instead of tearing it down. These are not passive participants; they are culture-shapers, taking risks to ensure that biblical values are not silenced, but spotlighted.

But this isnt just about celebrities. Every believer has a voice. Every believer has influence. Whether you write, produce, paint, teach, or simply support faith-driven media, you have a part to play in the revival of our culture. And when we put godly creativity into the world, we give people a chance to taste and see that the Lord is good. Who are we to say they might not like that taste  and like it a lot?

Its time for the Church to move from critique to creation. From complaining about culture to helping shape it. From avoiding the platforms of our time to occupying them with truth, grace, and Spirit-led creativity. This isnt about fame  its about faithfulness.

As Christians, we were never called to shrink back. We were called to be salt and light. Not hidden. Not silent. But present. Creative. Engaged. If we truly believe the gospel transforms lives, why would we withhold it from the arenas that shape how people think, feel, and believe?

The cultural arena is not the enemy  its the mission field. Whether through storytelling, filmmaking, music, journalism, or art, the time has come for Christians to step back into the conversation. Not with arrogance, but with anointing. Not to dominate, but to disciple through influence. Because in a world where so many are losing their way, surrendering the stage isnt strategy  its silence.

And who knows? If enough Spirit-led believers rise with courage, creativity, and the fire of revival, we may help ignite the very end times awakening the prophets have long declared  and that our generation so desperately needs.
Asif Afridi has just stepped into his first chief executive role, leading the more than a century-old grantmaker, the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Still in assessment stage at his new employer, Afridi draws from more than 20 years experience at Birmingham-based equality charity brap, several board positions and involvement in a high-profile review of the sector.

Im really grateful to be in this position, he says. Of course, its scary. Its my first CEO role, so inevitably theres going to be a really steep learning curve for me around lots of things. My main goal is to be myself as much as I can and then hope that others will follow.

Early interest in social justice

Afridi grew up in Stechford, east Birmingham, which he says had quite heavy far right activity including racism towards him and his friends.

One thing I did know quite early was that racism really used to annoy me. So, I used to get really activated around issues of social justice.

I think I always knew I was going to do something like that. If there was a fight kicking off in the playground, Id generally be the one in the middle of it, trying to keep people away from each other. So I think Ive always had that interest in issues of social justice, particularly racism.

Afridis father was a postman with a keen interest in politics, which gave him the spark to eventually study political science and human rights at university.

His first job in the charity sector was in 2002 as a research officer at brap  then named the Birmingham Race Action Partnership.

I was basically going out to drug treatment services in Birmingham, speaking to people, trying to understand how they were treated, what they thought could be improved. That kind of thing was a bit of a baptism of fire for a kid whod only done research at uni but I really liked it.

A few years later, Afridi was promoted to deputy chief executive of brap, a position he held until February this year.

Leadership styles

In March, Afridi moved from brap to lead the Barrow Cadbury Trust, one of its funders. He applied after being told last year that Sara Llewellin was stepping down as CEO after 15 years in the role.

I never thought Id get the job, if Im honest. I just thought the competition would be way too stiff. But also, I was really hopeful and I thought it was worth a go. So, I was really pleased when I got it, but also quite surprised.

He says Llewellin is a tough act to follow as someone who has a formidable reputation in the sector but she has left a solid foundation for him at the charity.

For more than two decades at brap, Afridi worked with its CEO Joy Warmington, from whom he has learned a lot about leadership. He has also been a trustee of both the Lankelly Chase Foundation and the Baring Foundation since 2020, which has given him a different perspective on being a CEO.

One thing I've learned from those board positions is how to ask for help from trustees as a CEO. Barrow Cadburys trustees have just been great. A number of them are really long-standing as well, so they have seen the journey, if you like, from when they started funding organisations.

Afridi has joined Barrow Cadbury Trust halfway through its strategic review cycle, which he says will enable him to understand what type of impact our work is having, the partners work is having, and what that's telling us about how to tackle root causes of structural inequality over the coming months.

In contrast to the Lankelly Chase Foundation, which is in the process of spending down its endowment, the Barrow Cadbury Trust decided in 2019 to reduce its annual spending in order to increase its longevity.

However, this plan was paused soon after due to increased need resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Afridi says the trust has no immediate plans to reduce the spending from its endowment. Its group investments were valued at 88.8m in March 2024, with it paying out 5.93m in the preceding 12 months.

Privilege and power

For two years, Afridi was a panel member of Civil Society Futures , an independent inquiry into the sector led by Julia Unwin which published its final report in 2018.

The report called on charities and other voluntary organisations to make fundamental changes to how they operate to improve their accountability to beneficiaries.

Afridi remembers there being quite a bit of pushback to the reports suggestion that British civil society needed to turn the mirror on itself when thinking about issues of power and inequality.

There was a level of defensiveness around that, I would say. Have things shifted since then? I think yes, to some degree. I think its more common to have self-reflection around those things.

However, Afridi says the sector has not shifted well enough on the reports recommendation that civil society must transfer more power to people and communities so they feel adequately represented in the sector and society.

I think were still in that position where a lot of people think of civil society as the people who can influence, being based in London, where the bigger charities are. Theres still a level of inequality, I would say, within civil society that we havent yet managed to address.

He says some people with less access to resources still feel a sense of powerlessness not felt in other areas of civil society.

Meanwhile, the Barrow Cadbury Trust has made efforts to come to terms with its complex history in recent years.

Founded in 1920 by the grandson of renowned chocolatier and philanthropist John Cadbury, the founder of the family-run Cadbury chocolate business in Birmingham, it has been driven by a social justice agenda since then derived from its Quaker roots.

In 2020, the trusts chair Erica Cadbury published a blog about the roots of its endowment, which included the chocolate companys profits from labour on cocoa plantations in Sao Tome and Principe. A year later, she wrote an apology after discovering that Angolan people had been enslaved on the plantations at the end of the 19th century, from which the company had profited.

Afridi says: I think there's always a balance to be struck. But I think one thing that accountability requires is openness and transparency about what's happened.

Last year, the Barrow Cadbury Trust surveyed more than 400 of its partner organisations working in social justice and found that many were reviewing their use of social media, with a number planning to leave X.

The trust has not left Elon Musks platform itself but its output has declined and Afridi says it is likely to exit in the coming months.

However, the trusts Fair by Design advocacy programme is likely to stay on the platform, he says, because there is not an alternative to engage with its key audience of parliamentarians.

Covenant optimism

Afridi is optimistic about the Labour governments pledge to reset the states relationship with the sector through the upcoming Civil Society Covenant .

He is particularly hopeful about its focus on principles, which are currently drafted as recognition, partnership, participation and transparency.

Referring to the Compact, a similar agreement last renewed under the coalition government in 2010, Afridi says there was not a lot of investment, certainly at a local level.

Thats something I think well really need to take heed of with the covenant. Its one thing having a set of written principles. Its another entirely, embodying that, investing in the practice thats needed.

Accountability as well is another area that hasnt always worked well with the compact. You know, its not always clear who is holding people to account.

Afridi says he hopes the covenant recognises that the voluntary sector is more than just a contractor to the state and is important in its own right as an indicator of the democratic health of our country.

I think there's a risk that we don't factor that in, he says.

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Zoes Place

A Liverpool-based baby hospice that was previously at risk of closure has transferred to a newly established charity.

This week, Zoes Place Trust announced that it had transferred ownership of its baby hospice to Liverpool Zoes Place, which was established as a charitably incorporated organisation in December.

Liverpool Zoes Place has local Labour MP Ian Byrne as its patron and six trustees, and has finalised plans to build its new home at Haymans Green in West Derby, Liverpool.

Last October, Zoes Place Trust said its Liverpool baby hospice, which it opened in February 1995, would close at the end of 2024 due to its lease coming to an end and spiralling costs of building a new facility.

This prompted Byrne to initiate a fundraising appeal to raise an additional 5m needed to build a new home for the Liverpool baby hospice.

In December, Zoes Place Trust revealed that the appeal had raised 7.5m.

Weve come far

Byrne said: Weve come so far from the threat of Zoes Place closing in October to where we are now.

This is the start of an exciting future for the hospice under the stewardship of Liverpool Zoes Place.

I have no doubt that well create a centre of excellence to support the most vulnerable children in our city. This is a great day and Im so proud of the people in our wonderful and generous city.

Karen Livesey, chair of Liverpool Zoes Place, said: Im thrilled that Liverpool Zoes Place has taken on ownership of this wonderful childrens hospice in Liverpool.

Were working closely with the staff and plan a family day later in the month to mark the transition.

We could not have done any of this without the support and generosity of the people of Liverpool. The next step is to put a spade in the ground for the state-of-the-art new centre.

Significant step forwards in governance terms

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: As regulator, we have an important enabling role, helping charities to achieve their purposes and upholding public confidence in the charity sector.

Whilst its principally for trustees to lead their charity, the commission can play a crucial role in helping facilitate discussions, particularly in complex circumstances.

As such, we continue to engage with the trustees of Zoes Place Trust and Liverpool Zoes Place as they work towards ensuring the future of vital services provided to some of societys most vulnerable children.

The registration of the new charity was a significant step forwards in governance terms and the commission is pleased to have been able to play a part in making it happen.

Confirmation that the new charity has now taken responsibility for the existing Liverpool hospice and the new build project are important steps in ensuring that hospice provision for children continues in Liverpool.

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The first hundred days of Trump 2.0 brought forth more material than infinity reporters typing on infinity laptops for infinity years could possibly report. The flood the zone strategybrought to us from the mind of Steve Bannon, the MAGA media strategisthas been around since at least 2018, but now, as the New York Times put it, the flood is bigger, wider and more brutally efficient; the same article also included the phrases overwhelming sensory overload, drinking from a fire hose, and gasping in outrage. Each of these metaphors hit the news media directly, and hard. And then, on March 11, they gushed into the Signal chat of one journalist in particular.

Maybe you heard about it. But in case not: I hate to be the one to tell you that Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, joined a bunch of his colleaguesand oh, yes, also Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlanticon a group text message thread on the Signal platform about bombing Yemen. It was a whopper of a story, and a crowd-pleaser, too. It had everything: stunning levels of operational incompetence, JD Vance undermining his boss in writing, the fire emoji. Goldberg even treated readers to a description of himself sitting around in a supermarket parking lot refreshing his X feed, waiting to see if the chats plans came to fruition. (They did.) Goldberg, sensing that hed been invited unintentionally, decided not long after to leave the chat. He published a story about what happened. There were hearings; denials were issued. The memes were tremendous. It would have been funny if the thread in question werent about killing people.

The Trump administration, obviously, did everything it could to wave the whole situation away. The president claimed the debacle was no big deal because its not like a chat about whether and where to launch an air strike contains classified information. (Two days later, The Atlantic published a follow-up that included, among other revelations, screengrabs from the chat containing information about the precise times American planes were set to descend on Yemen.) The Atlantics reporting rendered Trumps defense of the chats existence and contents ridiculous. But what does that matter to this White House?

The absurdity of the response made sense to Margaret Sullivanthe executive director of Columbias Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security, who also writes for The Guardian and her Substack American Crisis. It doesnt surprise me at all that the reaction from the Trump administration has been to go on the attack and to criticize Goldberg and to say that hes sleazy and a bad journalist and all of that, she said. Because thats what they do. Goldberg was a model of caution and good judgment, as she put it in her column. She told me, There are certainly reporters who would have not left the text loop as soon as he did. There are those who would have maybe published some of the information earlier. I think he handled it ethically.

Soon, however, there were two conversations happening at the same time: the first about the eye-popping lack of respect for norms that the Trump administration officials displayed in conducting this grim business on Signal, and a second, way quieter one, about the journalistic norms to which Goldberg and The Atlantic adhered in reporting the story. Goldbergs decision to cut bait set off a cascade of texts in other (ostensibly private) chats, as journalists asked each other, Would you have stuck around longer than Goldberg did?

Some people were brave enough to ask the question in public, too. Curious decision to voluntarily leave the chat imo, Astead Herndon, a politics reporter for the Times, posted on X. Deserves more explanation. Obviously a good story but leave feeling like what we learned feels small compared to what we couldve. Herndon didnt respond to my request to discuss his views; nearly everyone I contacted for this piece was reluctant to expound on the subject of journalistic norms, probably in the interest of protecting their own credibility. I can hardly blame themthough, in an interview with CJR this week, Ryan Lizza weighed in on the subject broadly: Trump and his allies weaponize our industrys conventions (fairness, objectivity, etc.) against us, and we need to remember that its much more important to prioritize our industrys ideals (truth, intellectual honesty, democratic accountability).

Goldberg didnt respond to my request to talk, either, but in early April, he shared his thinking with his colleague Ashley Parker, during a video conversation for Atlantic subscribers. I take national security seriously, he said, on why he left the chat when he did. A reporters responsibility in a national security contextand Im very clear about this, I know there are some people who disagree with me about this, but Im very clearIm an American journalist. I might disagree with a policy, but Im not going to do anything that could endanger the lives of American pilots or service people. Whether you found yourself more aligned with Herndons or Sullivans feelings on his actions, Goldbergs respect for convention was inarguable.

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Indeed, my friend Max Read, who has a Substack called Read Max and an accompanying podcast, discussed the Goldberg-Signal situation on a recent episode, and observed that Goldberg actually seemed to care more about national security norms than Trumps national security team did. It actually is a huge bummer to have your suspicions about the operations of power be confirmed, Read said, referring to the power of the government and the US war machine. In Reads view, we have a better shot of building a better worldin which, say, civilians might not be killed in military strikeswhere there is at least a nominal commitment to some kind of norms and legal procedure.

For all the horrors Trump 1.0 visited upon the American people, the administration at least gave the impression of caring about the basic outlines of how things typically goappearing, for instance, to be aware of the concept of term limits. Fake news implied the existence of real news. Goldberg, in his talk with Parker, underlined how weird the Trump 2.0 response to him was. Hed expected Waltz to call him up and say something along the lines of Jeff, why are you on this chat? Something. Not what happened. Goldberg contrasted Trumps cabinets baffling lack of concern with what the reaction might have been if an ordinary administration were in charge: theyd call the editor and try to talk him or her out of publishing the thing, and the editor would make the best argument for transparency. What happened here was nothing. Nothing. And that was the most surprising thing about my withdrawal from the Signal chat, he said. That is something I cant explain. In the end, something did happen: on Thursday, the news broke that Waltz was out as national security adviser, and headed to the United Nations. Even so, the new stakes for journalism had already announced themselves: Who gets to set the norms around here?

For weeks leading up to Signalgate, as we began calling it, a sense had been growing that something wasnt right. Business-as-usual journalism seemed not to be penetrating for all of those people who had consumed the news in greater numbers during Trumps first stampede through the White House. Nor did the general public seem alarmed by what has felt to some journalists like a sudden onset of increased occupational hazards: in late March, Pew released a study finding that although most Americans were tuned in to coverage of the administration, word of Trumps attacks on the press wasnt getting around. Just 36 percent of survey respondents said theyd heard a lot about the Trump administrations relationship with the news media, and nearly a fifth said theyd heard nothing at all. That represented a significant drop from Trumps first term, when 72 percent of Americans said that they had heard a lot about his administrations dealings with the press. The lack of awareness of the tensionand the way in which the White House has utterly undermined journalistic norms, from populating the briefing room with MAGA freaks to spewing lieshas made it understandably hard for both reporters and followers of news to wring information out of propaganda.

That anxiety hung in the air on a night in early February, as I listened to a string quartet play a medley of business-thriller-inspired songs that included the theme to Succession. The audience wasnt there for chamber music, exactlybut what the hell, its 2025, you dont always get what youre expecting. Wed come to drink wine out of little plastic cups and hear Gabriel Sherman, a correspondent for Vanity Fair, discuss the making of his recent movie, The Apprentice. The event, part of a series called The Night Editor, was run by two journalist friends of mine, David Gauvey Herbert and Mitch Moxley. The basic idea is to hang out and hear tales out of school from editors and writers, working mostly in magazines. Some, such as Sherman, have hopped back and forth from reporting to movies.

If you havent seen it, know that The Apprentice is a Trump biopic thats mostly concerned with the presidents early mentor-mentee relationship with Roy Cohn, the lawyer-slash-monster who wielded extraordinary political influence in his time, including by assisting Joseph McCarthys persecution of suspected communists. Sherman described him at the event as providing the link between the underworld and the legitimate world for a young Trump. Eventually, Cohn succumbed to AIDS as Trump rose to the height of his real estate power and dumped his former father figure. The movie almostalmostmakes one feel bad for Cohn. Its very Shakespearean.

Sherman spoke of his challenges trying to get The Apprentice made, as the movie ran into the buzz saw of what he perceived to be Hollywoods cowardice. He also talked about the possibilities afforded by stepping outside the confines of traditional journalistic form, even as he based the screenplay on legal documents, interviews, and historical fact. Theres no shortage of information about Donald Trump, he told the room, and yet hes not known as a human being. Listening to Sherman, it was easy to see the appeal, to a longtime reporter, of turning to Hollywood to paint a fuller picture of Trump the man. And surely, such a picture would be useful to our collective understanding of this singularly powerful person. For a fleeting moment, I could squint and see a thriving media ecosystem concerned not with exactly what happened, when, and to whom but fundamentally what happened, presented with a little artistic flourish.

The problem is that thats not journalism. Its a curious thing that in pursuit of the same goalto provide as detailed a story of Trump as possibletwo forms might have such contradictory methods, such contrasting norms. One goes outside the minute-by-minute facts to reveal a larger, more profound reality. The other is devoted to reporting factseven if that sometimes smooths over complexity or context. Im oversimplifying here, but the contrast helps define journalisms limits. Theyre limits that, say, Bannon feels free to get creative withand, when faced with an administration that flouts those rules, abiding by them can make a reporters job so much harder.

And that is what happened to the Associated Press, just days after Trump took office. Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico toIm sorry, Im sorrythe Gulf of America. The AP declined to incorporate his preferred nomenclature into its style guide. Trump responded by giving the AP the boot from the White House press pool. Real nice. The AP has since challenged that decision in court, a move that suggests an enduring faith in norms and institutions that the administration itself lacks. No, the AP seems to be saying, we havent given up yet. It also reflects a similar impulse to the one Goldberg described: a refusal to match Trumps disregard with some disregard of its own.

Administrations have lied to reporters forever, but no ones ever done it quite like him. When youre dealing with Donald Trump, Sullivan told me, you are almost always dealing with misinformation, misstatements, and lies. And so journalists have to be attuned to what best serves the public, and that is seeking and publishing the truth and placing that above access. For Sherman, the answer was to make a movie, to step outside what wed consider classical journalism norms. But what enables Trump to care so little about convention is, at its heart, a lack of care about what is and isnt true. A movie such as The Apprentice does care about that distinction, and deeply. At the event, Sherman shared how he had to annotate the script basically line by line, every scene, every piece of dialogue, to make notes for the films lawyers about what was and wasnt real.

I thought that a film, Sherman said, a dramatic film, could puncture through the culture in a way that journalism couldnt. Considering those Pew numbers, its hard not to concede that hes got a point. After Shermans talk, I watched two journalists I know get back in line for yet another cup of warm wine. I completely understood.

Then theres the Bill Maher approach. Maher, who recently dined with Trump at the White House, described the experience on an episode of his show: The guy I met, he reported, was not the same as the Trump in public view; he was gracious and measured. (Larry David, in a Times satire, reimagined the scenario as a meal with an Adolf Hitler who is much more sensitive than his critics give him credit for, writing that it wasnt just a one-way street, with the Fuhrer dominating the conversation. David concluded that were not that different, after all. I thought that if only the world could see this side of him, people might have a completely different opinion.)

Maher was only the latest in a string of capitulatorsthere have been tech barons, law firms, universities doing versions of the sameand I wondered whether news organizations would follow suit. Already, the corporate owners of major newspapers have revealed their interest in trading editorial independence for corporate gain, including Jeff Bezos, of the Washington Post, and Patrick Soon-Shiong, of the Los Angeles Times, both of whom spiked endorsements of Kamala Harris, and have since made moves in support of Trump.

But when I asked reporters whether they thought all of thisthe calls coming from both outside and inside the newsroommerited a change of journalistic tack, they were firm: We have rules for a reason, everyone said. You cant print what someone said to you off the record if you both agreed to that. You cant ignore conflicts of interest. You cant pretend to be someone youre not. When Karoline Leavitt goes low, youve got to go high.

These are the norms that professional journalists continue to follow. But the political ascendancy of Trump upended the popular understanding of who gets to identify as part of that group, as the Bannons of right-wing media have proliferated, and filled the internet with drivel, confusion, and conspiracy. My friend Anna Merlan, a senior reporter at Mother Jones, covers that beat, including how it intersects with extremism. When I asked her about whether journalists need to rethink their approach, she wasnt sure she agreed with the premise of the question.

Did journalism not work because Trump is in power? she replied. I dont think thats the right way to look at it. I think our job requires us to try to understand the factors that led up to Trump being in power. Merlans parents are both historians, and she feels their influence on her work. Im doing two things, she said. One is creating the historical recordlike, news coverage creates a historical record for later generations to understand what was happening. The other thing is that I am hopefully giving people information now about the forces that govern their lives.

To that end, the basic rules have served us pretty well, she said. Even in situations like this where, you know, we dont know if our reporting is making an impact, or the people were reporting on dont always respect us, I still think theres a reason for the rules.

In the weeks after Signalgate, there were plot twists galore. Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, has turned out to be something of a Signal power user, and Trump agreed to an interview with The Atlantic. Coverage of Waltz, who will become the ambassador to the UN, doesnt provide official word on why he lost his last job, though one imagines it may have had something to do with how much room for improvement there was in his opsec. But the further out we get from Signalgate, the less it feels like a news story and more like a news-about-the-news story. After all, Trump has had a trade war to wage, funding for medical research to slash, and American citizens to deport.

The cliche about deks with a question in them is that the answer is always yes. But in the face of the collapse of every norm we know, some of which we love, I find some relief in knowing that journalism isnt giving itself an overhaul. There arent infinity American journalists who can type for infinity years. But maybe we wont have to. Maybe, if we can just keep typing for the next four, declining to bend to the bullshit, we can meet a humble goal: keeping it to four.
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Interviewing Donald Trump can be an exasperating ordeal, especially if youre not employed by one of his preferred outlets. So ABC News anchor Terry Moran had a tough job when he entered the Oval Office on Tuesdayeven more so as he challenged the president on topics ranging from immigration policy to Russias war on Ukraine.

At times, Moran seemed a bit like a hurried shopper, trying to make his way through his grocery list of questions without pressing the evidence that should have been at hand. That was especially evident when the interview turned to Trumps post that featured a photoshopped image of Kilmar Abrego Garcias tattooed hand that purported to show additional characters literally reading MS-13. Trump insisted it was legitimate. Moran insisted it wasnt. It wouldve helped if Moran had come prepared with a photo of Abrego Garcias actual MS-13-free hand to compare with Trumps fake image, the way this excellent Wall Street Journal story does.

That said, if you ever watch a Trump interview and expect a Colonel Jessep or Perry Mason moment, in which a certain question will suddenly cause him to admit failure or scream for smelling salts, fuhgeddaboudit. The best a reporter can hope for is an unintentionally revealing quote or twoexactly what Moran elicited about the promises big law firms made to stave off Trumps wrath. They paid me a lot of money, Trump said of the supposed pro bono millions. They just signed whatever I put in front of em. Ive never seen anything like it. Im actually surprised myself.

And to his credit, Moran kept his cool through a lot of bullying and insults. It takes the patience of a kindergarten teacher on the day after Halloween to keep going with an exchange like this:

Moran: Its the tariffs, right? We still have 145 percent tariffs

Trump: Well

Moran: on China

Trump: Why is it

Moran: Your treasury secretary said we basically have an embargo on China.

Trump: Look, youre trying to

Moran: And that

Trump: say somethings gonna happen, Terry

Moran: No, no, no, no. Okay, well, do you

Trump: Nothings gonna happen.

Moran: You know business. I wanna ask you

Trump: TerryTerry

Moran: I wanna ask you.

Trump: I do know business. And

Moran: Yeah, so 145 percent tariffs on China. Andand that is

Trump: Thats good.

Moran: basically

Trump: Thats good.

Moran: an embargo.

Trump: They deserve it.

Moran: Itll raise prices on everything from

Trump: They deserve it.

Moran: electronics to clothing to building houses.

Trump: You dont know that. You dont know whether or not Chinas gonna eat it

Moran: Thats mathematics.

I am not an AI user, even as I realize that its improving every year and that, before long, itll become as indispensable to our lives as Google or Uber. So I was skeptical when an invitation from the Financial Times to subscribers showed up, asking me to try its new AI tool, called AskFT.

The interface is simple. Theres a box into which you type your questionsuch as What is the latest on the China/US trade war?and within seconds it can churn out a thoughtful, accurate summary answer, with footnotes and links to FT stories that informed its response.

AskFT is limited because of its reliance on its own articles, and it cant seem to answer questions like How many cars did Tesla sell in 2024?

But the best use case, at least at this point, is that this deployment of AI could replace news sites internal search engines, which range from frustratingly mediocre to laughably terrible. And when assigned that task, AskFT is a huge improvement.

Much of the best reporting on the impact of Trumps immigration policies has come from independent reporters. Add Radley Balko, Judd Legum, and Rebecca Crosby to that list. Last week, Balko told the story of Clay Jackson, a Texas lawyer who heard that a local immigrant family needed legal help. Jackson went to the familys home, advised them of their rights, and offered assistance with getting pro bono counsel, since immigration law is outside his wheelhouse. A few days later, two men showed up at Jacksons door. Neither showed a badge, but they told him they had information that you are obstructing an ongoing immigration investigation. His Wi-Fi had also been mysteriously interrupted during the visit, rendering his door camera useless.

About six weeks later, on April 23, Balkos story ran. Later that same day, according to Legum and Crosby, Jackson was fired from his job as an attorney at a Fortune 500 insurance company, Fidelity National Financial. The company cited unsatisfactory performance and violations of company policy. It didnt respond to a request for comment.

Local journalists are also on the ground, tracking immigration-enforcement stories. Spencer Humphrey, with KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City, broke the story Tuesday about a family of US citizens who were terrorized by immigration agents, who tore up their home, seized their electronics, and threatened their young daughtersall because the feds were looking for tenants whod already moved out. I kept pleading. I kept telling them we werent criminals. They were treating us like criminals, said the mom. (The video is even more disturbing.) Two days later, the Department of Homeland Security grudgingly acknowledged its screwup: Unfortunately, the warrant that the court did give was for a house that the targets had moved out of two weeks prior. So that was not an ideal situation, obviously, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told NPRs Michel Martin. McLaughlin did not include an apology.

To observe Ethics Week, the Society of Professional Journalists recently asked college newspapers to publish the most unethical edition they could muster. Make up stuff entirely. The wilder the better, SPJ advised, adding this caveat: But run the SPJ Code of Ethics with a letter from the editor explaining what youre doing. The winner would get a $500 prize.

The reaction from journalists and journalism professors was withering. Comments on SPJs LinkedIn post ranged from I am truly appalled to Who thought this would be a good idea? to What the hell are you doing? to This is a disaster. Among the few positive responses was this, from a content marketer: Thanks for sharing.

(And congrats to the winner, the University of Arkansass Traveler, which ran this.)

Hat tip to CJR colleague Lauren Watson. If you have a suggestion for this column, please send it to laurelsanddarts@cjr.org. We cant acknowledge all submissions, but we will mention you if we use your idea. For more on Laurels and Darts, please click here.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued top health insurance companies and brokers alleging they used illegal kickbacks to steer members into certain private Medicare Advantage plans.

The complaint names units of CVS Health Corp., Elevance Health Inc. and Humana Inc., along with broker companies eHealth, Inc., GoHealth, Inc., and SelectQuote Inc.

The government lawsuit, which was initiated by a whistleblower in 2021 and unsealed Thursday, alleges that brokers told their agents to sell Medicare Advantage based on the kickbacks and blocked the sale of insurance plans that didnt pay. The complaint, which covers behavior from 2016 through 2021, further alleges that Aetna and Humana pressured brokers to enroll fewer disabled people in their plans.

Medicare Advantage is a private version of Medicare, the government health plan mostly for people in the US aged 65 and older. Over half of the Medicare population are enrolled in these private plans. They often enroll in plans with the help of a broker, who may be paid commissions by insurance companies.

Congress has investigated these payments before. EHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote previously disclosed that they received subpoenas from the US Attorneys Office in Massachusetts in 2022 regarding their arrangements with insurers. That office is one of several involved in the lawsuit unsealed Thursday.

We are still reviewing the complaint, but disagree with the allegations, and intend to defend the case vigorously, CVS spokesperson David Whitrap said.

Shares of all the insurers and broker companies fell after the news was announced.

Representatives from Elevance and Humana did not respond to requests for comment. Emails to eHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote were not immediately returned.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has filed a defamation lawsuit against Meta alleging that the social media giants artificial intelligence chatbot spread false statements about him, including that he participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Starbuck, known for targeting corporate DEI programs, said he discovered the claims made by Metas AI in August 2024, when he was going after woke DEI policies at motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson.

One dealership was unhappy with me and they posted a screenshot from Metas AI in an effort to attack me, he said in a post on X. This screenshot was filled with lies. I couldnt believe it was real so I checked myself. It was even worse when I checked.

Since then, he said he has faced a steady stream of false accusations that are deeply damaging to my character and the safety of my family.

The political commentator said he was in Tennessee during the Jan. 6 riot. The suit, filed in Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday, seeks more than $5 million in damages.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Meta said that as part of our continuous effort to improve our models, we have already released updates and will continue to do so.

Starbucks lawsuit joins the ranks of similar cases in which people have sued AI platforms over information provided by chatbots. In 2023, a conservative radio host in Georgia filed a defamation suit against OpenAI alleging ChatGPT provided false information by saying he defrauded and embezzled funds from the Second Amendment Foundation, a gun-rights group.

James Grimmelmann, professor of digital and information law at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, said there is no fundamental reason why AI companies couldnt be held liable in such cases. Tech companies, he said, cant get around defamation just by slapping a disclaimer on.

You cant say, Everything I say might be unreliable, so you shouldnt believe it. And by the way, this guys a murderer. It can help reduce the degree to which youre perceived as making an assertion, but a blanket disclaimer doesnt fix everything, he said. Theres nothing that would hold the outputs of an AI system like this categorically off limits.

Grimmelmann said there are some similarities between the arguments tech companies make in AI-related defamation and copyright infringement cases, like those brought forward by newspapers, authors and artists. The companies often say that they are not in a position to supervise everything an AI does, he said, and they claim they would have to compromise the techs usefulness or shut it down entirely if you held us liable for every harmful, infringing output, its produced.

I think it is an honestly difficult problem, how to prevent AI from hallucinating in the ways that produce unhelpful information, including false statements, Grimmelmann said. Meta is confronting that in this case. They attempted to make some fixes to their models of the system, and Starbuck complained that the fixes didnt work.

When Starbuck discovered the claims made by Metas AI, he tried to alert the company about the error and enlist its help to address the problem. The complaint said Starbuck contacted Metas managing executives and legal counsel, and even asked its AI about what should be done to address the allegedly false outputs.

According to the lawsuit, he then asked Meta to retract the false information, investigate the cause of the error, implement safeguards and quality control processes to prevent similar harm in the future, and communicate transparently with all Meta AI users about what would be done.

The filing alleges that Meta was unwilling to make those changes or take meaningful responsibility for its conduct.

Instead, it allowed its AI to spread false information about Mr. Starbuck for months after being put on notice of the falsity, at which time it fixed the problem by wiping Mr. Starbucks name from its written responses altogether, the suit said.

Joel Kaplan, Metas chief global affairs officer, responded to a video Starbuck posted to X outlining the lawsuit and called the situation unacceptable.

This is clearly not how our AI should operate, Kaplan said on X. Were sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didnt address the underlying problem.

Kaplan said he is working with Metas product team to understand how this happened and explore potential solutions.

Starbuck said that in addition to falsely saying he participated in the the riot at the U.S. Capitol, Meta AI also falsely claimed he engaged in Holocaust denial, and said he pleaded guilty to a crime despite never having been arrested or charged with a single crime in his life.

Meta later blacklisted Starbucks name, he said, adding that the move did not solve the problem because Meta includes his name in news stories, which allows users to then ask for more information about him.

While Im the target today, a candidate you like could be the next target, and lies from Metas AI could flip votes that decide the election, Starbuck said on X. You could be the next target too.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The British government will next week warn all U.K. companies to treat cyber security as an absolute priority in the wake of attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group and Harrods.

Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden on Friday led a briefing with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, about support being provided to the affected retailers, his office said.

Related: Britains M&S Enters Second Week of Sales Disruption After Cyberattack

It also said he will use a speech at next weeks CyberUK conference in Manchester to say the recent attacks are a wake up call for all businesses.

It said McFadden will highlight moves to bolster our national defences including new legislation  the Cyber Security Bill.

Related: Harrods Is Latest British Retailer to Be Hit by Cyber Attack

He will say: In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit  with attempts being made every hour of every day  companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority.

The 141-year-old M&S, one of the best known names in British business, stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on April 25 following problems with contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. It has not said when online orders will resume.

Related: Another UK Chain Suffers Hacking Attempt, Shuts Some Systems

Technology specialist site BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, said a ransomware attack that encrypted M&Ss servers was believed to have been conducted by a hacking collective known as Scattered Spider.

British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, costing them tens of millions of pounds and often months of disruption.

(Reporting by Davey; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
The Cuyahoga County Courthouse, which house Domestic Relations Court. Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze should be suspended from practicing law for a year for funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars in business to a longtime friend, the states disciplinary counsel said Friday. John Tucker

CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze should be suspended from practicing law for a year for funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars in business to a longtime friend, the states disciplinary counsel said Friday.

The counsel recommended that six months of the punishment be dropped if she commits no other misconduct.

Instead of enhancing the publics confidence in the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary, (Celebrezze), through manipulation and deceit, tarnished the reputation of the judiciary and undermined the publics confidence in the institution, wrote Joseph Caligiuri, the counsel.

Caligiuris 29-page report was filed with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, which examines misconduct of the states lawyers and judges. Celebrezzes attorney, Monica Sansalone, will file a report with later this month. She did not return a message left Friday.

The board will then make a recommendation to the Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide the judges fate.

If Celebrezze is suspended, it would come in the middle of her current term, which expires in January 2027. She would be allowed to return to the bench following a suspension. She has been on the bench since 2009.

Celebrezzes legal trouble  first detailed by The Marshall Project-Cleveland  stems from her handling of four complicated divorce cases.

In three of them, other judges recused themselves, sending the cases back to Celebrezze, who, as administrative judge, was supposed to randomly assign the cases among the four other judges, the state filings show.

Instead, she kept the cases herself. In a fourth case, she tried to force another judge to recuse herself so she could take it over, according to disciplinary records.

She admitted in March to delivering cases to Mark Dottore, who served as a receiver  a court-appointed official who oversees the division of property and assets in contentious divorce cases.

Celebrezze signed off on hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to Dottore in the cases, according to the accusations in the disciplinary case. She kept Dottore on or appointed him to cases despite objections from attorneys, the filings show.

Celebrezze acknowledged committing several judicial violations, including the failure to disqualify herself in a proceeding in which the jurists impartiality could be questioned. She and Dottore have been close personal friends since childhood.

A person involved in one of the cases hired a private investigator who followed Celebrezze and documented meet-ups at restaurants, Dottores office and Dottores home. After a dinner in Independence, Celebrezze and Dottore kissed each other on the lips, the documents say.

During the disciplinary investigation, Celebrezze said that she kissed Dottore because theyre both of Italian descent and have a habit of kissing all family and close friends.

Caligiuri, of the disciplinary counsels office, said the relationship extended well beyond close personal friends, as (Celebrezze) initiallyand falselyclaimed.

(Celebrezze) was heavily involved in a personal and, at the very least, deeply emotional relationship with Dottore, who racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in receiver fees from litigants who had no knowledge of the clandestine relationship and thus were left to question respondents impartiality and the propriety of the fees, Caligiuri wrote.

Dottore, in an interview Friday, said Celebrezze should not be suspended for a year.

She made some mistakes in which she was trying to help the court, he said.

Asked about the work she steered to him, Dottore said: Im the only game in town who does this work. No one wants to deal with Domestic Relations Court because it is such a mess.

Caligiuri, however, questioned Celebrezzes honesty throughout his report.

Swirling beneath respondents misconduct is a disturbing willingness to distort the truth to ensure her objectives, he wrote.

In February, FBI agents subpoenaed records from her office and sought evidence of her dealings with Dottore.

The subpoena requested Domestic Relations Court records dating back to 2008, when Celebrezze was elected, as well as for other records showing how many times Dottore and his business, Dottore Companies LLC, were appointed to act as a receiver in divorce cases.

Celebrezzes legal concerns extend beyond the issues of the disciplinary counsel.

Last summer, a visiting judge dismissed a lawsuit against Celebrezze that alleged retaliation and witness intimidation. Georgeanna Semary, a former aide to Celebrezze, claimed the judge demoted her and slashed her salary in 2023 after Semary provided public documents to a Marshall Project reporter who was examining the judges cases.

On Thursday, the 8th Ohio Court of Appeals reversed the decision, sending the case back to a trial court for the case to proceed.

This appellate decision is a victory for truth-telling public servants like Ms. Semary, who should be protected  not punished  for refusing to cover up alleged judicial corruption, her attorney, Subodh Chandra, said in a statement.
COLUMBUS, OhioOhio is holding a statewide vote next Tuesday on whether to again commit more taxpayer dollars for a 38-year-old state bond program that offers billions of dollars to help local governments repair and build roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

If you havent heard of Issue 2, youre not alone: its perhaps the most under-the-radar statewide issue on the Ohio ballot in recent memory. Backers of the measure have only spent a limited amount of money publicizing it, and its being held during an off-year primary election where just about the only other things on the ballot  if there are any at all  are for local races and tax levies.
Is Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wasting resources trying to collect damages from a scammer who sold inferior body armor to police departments throughout the state? Is he suing the scammer for political reasons? The Today in Ohio podcast considers the questions. AP

When Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a lawsuit against a man who sold defective body armor to police departments across the state, it might have seemed like a straightforward case of justice being served.

But on Thursdays Today in Ohio podcast, hosts wondered whether the motives.

The episode examined the case against Vall Iliev and his company Shotstop Ballistics, who for six years sold what he claimed was premium body armor to police departments across Ohio, including Akron, Alliance, Columbus, Rocky River, Shelby, Strongsville, and the Stark County Sheriffs Department.

What he was actually doing is getting substandard equipment from China, slapping a certification on it, and selling it, explained Laura Johnston. And he only got found out because folks in Oregon found the product coming through in the mail.

Chris Quinn said the crime was much more dangerous that a basic flim flam.

When you sell defective body armor, you can kill people. I mean, this is one of the worst things you could do, Quinn said. One, youre an idiot for defrauding police departments because its not going to go well for you when you get caught. And two, you are endangering the lives of law enforcement officers with inferior stuff.

While no one on the podcast disputed that Iliev should face serious consequences for his actions, Quinn raised pointed questions about the true purpose behind Yosts lawsuit, which asks a judge to bar Iliev from working as a supplier in Ohio until he pays millions in fines.

Dave Yost going after him for the money, though, seems to me to be a stunt, Quinn said. The guy has no money. Theyre never going to get the money. Hes going to be locked up, so hes not going to be able to generate money.

The podcast discussion turned to what might be Yosts real motivation: political ambition.

Dave Yost is running for governor, and he wants all the cops to like him. Its an easy one, right? Im representing the cops here. Im trying to protect the lives of police officers. And he wants another headline, which he got, Quinn said.

Johnston countered that regardless of the political implications, there was practical value in the lawsuit: Yeah, but I mean, this guy should never be allowed to sell anything ever again.

The case raises questions about the intersection of justice and politics. While Ilievs actions clearly deserve punishment  he faces up to 10 years in prison  the podcasts analysis suggests that public officials responses to crime can sometimes be shaped by considerations beyond simple enforcement of the law.

The complete episode of Today in Ohio is available here.

Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.

Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
Armenia is rapidly losing control of the narrative it has tried so hard to sustain  that of a country striving for peace and democratic reform, while maintaining strategic partnerships with both the East and the West. While its leadership proclaims a commitment to European integration and regional peace, its actionsboth at home and abroadreveal a different reality. The recent response by European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to a written question by MEP Emmanuel Fragkos has once again exposed how Yerevan and its powerful diaspora lobby operate within EU institutions to distort facts, manipulate perceptions, and obstruct genuine dialogue.

In her response, Kallas reaffirmed the EUs strategic engagement in the South Caucasus, emphasizing the importance of peace, stability, and cooperationparticularly in the context of the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. She also reiterated that human rights and the rule of law are key pillars of the EU's relationship with Azerbaijan. Yet the backdrop to her reply was not a constructive inquiry into improving regional stability, but rather a politically loaded attack disguised as parliamentary oversight.

Fragkoss written question demanded to know whether Azerbaijans Foreign Minister had promised to release 320 political prisoners, repatriate Armenian detainees, and provide conditions for the dignified return of the Garabagh Armeniansall framed as obligations supposedly mandated by the International Court of Justice. These allegations are drawn directly from Yerevans narrative and rest on highly contestable interpretations of international rulings and facts on the ground.

Such tactics are not new. The Armenian lobby, particularly in Western capitals, has mastered the art of leveraging democratic institutions to advance a narrow, nationalistic agenda. It routinely invokes the language of human rights, only to weaponise it against those who challenge its position. When international organisations like PACE or the European Parliament adopt balanced or unfavourable stances, it is Armenian actors themselves who lash out, casting doubt on the credibility of these institutions.

This hypocrisy is increasingly difficult to ignore. The same voices that accuse Azerbaijan of democratic backsliding remain silent about Armenias own failuresconstitutional ambiguity, delayed reforms, growing militarisation, and a lack of political will to resolve outstanding issues with its neighbours. For example, while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insists his government is committed to signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, he has yet to amend Armenias constitution to remove irredentist claims. Nor has Yerevan made any real progress in dissolving the obsolete OSCE Minsk Group framework, which Azerbaijan considers a relic of the past.

Even more telling is Armenias behaviour along the border. While speaking in European capitals about peace and normalization, Armenian armed forces continue to provoke incidents along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. These escalations are then misrepresented by Armenian media outlets to portray Baku as the aggressor, creating a false image that feeds directly into lobbying efforts in Brussels and beyond. This tactic of provocation followed by victimhood has become a hallmark of Yerevans approach to diplomacy.

In her statement, Kaja Kallas rightly emphasised that the EU has conveyed concerns to Azerbaijan about domestic legal practices and political freedoms. These concerns are legitimate and must be addressed. But the EU must also be wary of one-sided narratives designed not to promote reform or justice, but to demonize a geopolitical rival. The selective outrage demonstrated by Armenian-aligned actors undermines the EUs credibility as a neutral mediator.

The irony is that by misusing democratic platforms for narrow political ends, the Armenian lobby damages the very institutions it claims to uphold. Instead of supporting reconciliation and mutual compromise, it fuels division and perpetuates zero-sum politics. And when these same institutions do not yield to pressure, it is Yerevans allies who are first to accuse them of bias or betrayal.

It is clear that the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires more than rhetoricit demands political courage and an end to manipulation. If Armenia genuinely seeks peace, it must take concrete steps: revise its constitution, stop military provocations, disband outdated international mechanisms, and engage with sincerity rather than subterfuge.

The EU, for its part, must continue to support dialogue while resisting pressure from partisan lobbies that seek to hijack its agenda. Kaja Kallass reaffirmation of the EUs balanced role in the region is a welcome step. But going forward, Brussels must insist not only on human rights and legal compliance from Azerbaijanbut also on honesty, consistency, and accountability from Armenia.

Because peace cannot be built on posturing and propaganda. It requires truthand the willingness to act on it.
(L-R) Apple CEO Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem attend the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th U.S. President in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, after nearly a month of anticipation from investors, on Thursday finally revealed how Apple was navigating the Trump administration's tariffs.

The company only saw a "limited impact" on tariffs between January and the end of March, Cook told investors on an earnings call for the company's second quarter results.

For the current quarter which ends in June, Apple is predicting about $900 million in additional costs for those tariffs  assuming nothing changes, Cook said. That surprised analysts who said on the call that they expected the costs to be higher.

The vast majority of Apple's products are "currently not subject" to Trump's reciprocal tariffs, Cook said. But beyond June, he didn't say much.

"I don't want to predict the future because I'm not sure what will happen with tariffs," said Cook, adding that "it's very difficult to predict beyond beyond June."

Apple doesn't usually give a lot of details or guidance beyond the current quarter, but investors didn't like Thursday's lack of clarity. Apple shares fell as much as 4% in extended trading on Thursday despite the company reporting results that beat Wall Street expectations for revenue and showed strong sales growth for iPads and Mac computers.

"As we look ahead, we remain confident," Cook said.

Apple's uncertainty highlights how even a company with a reputation for world-class operations can get whacked by the unpredictability of the Trump administration's shifting tariff rates and dates.

Cook, who built his reputation in Silicon Valley as Apple's operations guru, discussed how the company has dealt with the tariffs to minimize their impact so far on Thursday. He praised his old division on a call with analysts.

"'l'll just say that the operational team has done an incredible job around optimizing the the supply chain and the inventory," he said.

Apple is currently sourcing American-bound products from India and Vietnam, Cook said. Those countries currently have 10% tariffs on them, and the company is sourcing Apple computers for rest of the world from China, which the Trump administration has hit with a 145% tariff rate.

Cook also said that Apple had built up inventory ahead of the tariffs, which would be reported as manufacturing purchase obligations in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cook said there was no "obvious evidence" that consumers were buying more Apple products ahead of tariffs.

"We do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. will have India as their country of origin," Cook said. "Vietnam will be the country of origin for almost all iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods products sold in the U.S."

Apple will still pay higher 145% tariffs on some Chinese imports for AppleCare, its extended warranty program, and accessories, Cook said.

One issue for forecasting tariffs going forward is that both Vietnam and India are in line to get hit with hefty tariffs on imported goods as soon as July.

Trump previously targeted both countries under his "reciprocal tariffs" on April 2, but a week later, he paused the tariffs for 90 days. Apple expanded its supply chain to those countries in recent years as a hedge for its business, but the Vietnam and India strategy won't work if Trump's tariffs ultimately take effect.

Cook also mentioned the possibility that technology products such as semiconductors might receive additional tariffs under a process called a Section 232 Investigation.

Apple is not the only big tech company to get rattled by the Trump administration's tariffs.

Amazon finance chief Brian Olsavsky said Thursday that Amazon would offer a wider range of guidance because of tariff uncertainty, and he also alluded to the possibility of weakening consumer demand. Microsoft raised Xbox prices on Thursday, despite tariffs coming up just once on the company's Wednesday earnings call.

Apple didn't offer guidance for its profitable Services division on Thursday, but offered the same kind of top-line forecast that it has in previous quarters. Apple expects overall revenue to grow "low to mid-single digits" on an annual basis during the current quarter. Apple reported $85.78 billion in sales during the June quarter last year.

And at least during that quarter, Apple investors will know what to expect.

WATCH: Deepwater's Gene Munster digs into Apple post-earnings
Apple on Thursday evening delivered solid quarterly numbers on many of the things Wall Street was concerned about  from better-than-expected iPhone sales to better-than-feared results in China. However, a small miss on services revenue was disappointing and knocked the stock down in after-hours trading. Revenue in Apple's fiscal 2025 second quarter, which ended in March, rose 5% year over year to $95.4 billion versus the $94.7 billion estimated by LSEG. Earnings per share increased by 8% in the quarter to $1.65 versus the $1.63 estimated by LSEG. AAPL YTD mountain Apple YTD Bottom line Apple almost nailed it. If not for the services miss  and we're talking about a very small miss; $26.65 billion reported versus the $26.7 billion  we would likely be seeing a different reaction in the stock, which dropped roughly 4% after the print. It should be said that services sales did grow 11.6% to $26.65 billion, a number that would be the envy at any other company. The services division includes iCloud subscriptions, services like Apple Music and Apple TV+, warranties and revenue from search licensing deals. While China revenue of $16 billion was also light, Apple CEO Tim Cook on the post-earnings conference call pointed to a survey that showed iPhones were the top-selling device in urban China. This should ease some concerns that U.S.-China tensions would stoke increased nationalism among Chinese consumers and hurt sales. Cook said that assuming current tariff levels, only $900 million in added costs are expected in the June quarter. He did refuse to go beyond that. He said there was minimal tariff impact in the March quarter and saw no evidence of "pull forward" in the March quarter sales because of tariffs, suggesting the positive iPhone demand was achieved on its own merit rather than people moving up their purchases to avoid tariffs. Most of Apple's products are currently exempt under President Donald Trump 's decision to temporarily pause tariffs on electronics, including smartphones and computers. However, that exemption did not include the 20% tariff the U.S. put on China related to fentanyl trafficking. On the call, Cook also said the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. in the June quarter will be shipped from India, and other devices such as AirPods, Macs, and watches sold in the U.S. will come from Vietnam. He added that product from China will be used to supply the rest of the world. Apple has been scrambling to move its iPhone supply chain from China to India to minimize its tariff exposure. Cook talked about Apple's planned $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years, saying teams and facilities will expand in states including Michigan, Texas, and California. He referenced Apple semiconductor production at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 's plant in Arizona. "We expect to source more than 19 billion chips from a dozen states, including tens of millions of advanced chips being made in Arizona this year. We also sourced glass used in iPhone from an American company. All told, we have more than 9,000 suppliers in the U.S. across all 50 states," he said. On the call, Cook said that iPhone 16 sales in the March quarter were strong in regions where Apple Intelligence AI features were available. There were concerns going into the release about iPhone sales, which actually increased 2% to $46.84 billion and exceeded estimates by roughly $1 billion. Apple Intelligence was announced at last year's Worldwide Developers Conference, and it has been rolled out on a staggered basis. Cook said the company has delivered a lot of what was promised, but did touch on the decision to delay the supercharged version of Siri. He added that more time is needed for the more personalized digital assistant to meet Apple's quality bar, and that while progress is being made, it's talking longer than the company had previously thought. We're reiterating our 2 rating but reducing our price target to $245 per share from $280 to reflect the difficult operating environment. For that reason, we trimmed our Apple position on April 21. Jim Cramer first wrote in his April 13 column that investors should sell some Apple shares. However, due to our trading restrictions  Jim mentioned the stock on television  we had to wait more than a week to make our move for the Club. Outlook While Apple doesn't provide formal guidance, management said the June quarter is expected to grow in a range of low-single digits to mid-single digits on a percentage basis. Growth of 4% was expected. Apple reported $85.78 billion in sales during last year's June quarter. Gross margin for this year's June quarter was estimated by the company to be in a range of 45.5% to 46.5%, which would be lower than the March quarter's 47.1% and lower than expected. Management expects operating expenses to be between $15.3 billion and $15.5 billion; that would be higher than the $15.28 billion seen in the March quarter and higher than expected. Apple Why we own it: Apple's dominant hardware and growing services businesses provide a deep competitive moat and plenty of bundling opportunities. Management's net cash-neutral strategy provides confidence that free cash flow will continue to fund dividends and buybacks. Competitors: Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, Dell and HP Inc. Most recent buy : April 8, 2014 Initiation : Dec. 2, 2013 Capital allocation Apple ended the March quarter with $133 billion in cash and marketable securities. Excluding debt, net cash was $35 billion, and $29 billion of it was to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. The board authorized up to $100 billion of additional share repurchases and a 4% dividend increase to 26 cents per share. "We continue to plan for annual dividend increases," Cook told CNBC in an off-camera interview ahead of the conference call. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL. 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.
In this seven image composite, shareholders gather prior to the start of the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Berkshire Hathaway 's annual meeting is far different  and larger  than it was six decades ago, when Warren Buffett took over what was then a failing Massachusetts textile company.

Today's "Woodstock for Capitalists" began with just a dozen attendees in 1965. Sixty years later, the Omaha, Nebraska gathering attracts as many as 40,000 people from around the world.

Nowadays, attendees begin lining up outside the CHI Health Center in the early morning hours on Saturday to hear from Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old chief executive officer. Known as the Oracle of Omaha for dispensing investment wisdom, Buffett is also famous for sharing insights into business and strategy, not to mention advice on softer topics such as friendship and life, to a rapt audience.

This year's shareholder meeting is Buffett's second without Charlie Munger, his close friend and business partner who died in 2023. Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway Energy chairman and Buffett's successor, will join him for questions on stage. Insurance Chief Ajit Jain will also join the pair for part of Saturday's question-and-answer event.

The event has ballooned into a weekend-long array of activities, including a shopping event known as the "Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains," featuring products made by the conglomerate's subsidiaries. A 5-kilometer run and value investing conferences have become hallmarks of attendees' weekend itineraries.

"You've just got event after event after event," said Christopher Bloomstran, president of Semper Augustus Investments Group. Bloomstran, who's attended the annual meeting for more than two decades, called it a "rite of passage" for new investors.

This year, the company is selling 5,000 volumes of a limited edition book, "60 Years of Berkshire Hathaway," marking Buffett's tenure as CEO. Proceeds from an auction of copies signed by Buffett and author Carrie Sova will benefit the Stephen Center, a charity for homeless youth and adults in South Omaha.

The meeting itself will look different than what many attendees remember from years past, according to the 2024 shareholder letter. Buffett will make opening remarks at 8 a.m. local time Saturday, but there will be no movie introduction, a popular feature in prior years. The question-and-answer period will only have a half-hour break and end at 1p.m., though the shopping area will remain open until 4 p.m.

News outlets have covered the event for decades. The event will be broadcast exclusively by CNBC this year and webcast in English and Mandarin.

Regular attendees often say there's a magic and camaraderie to the in-person experience that keeps them coming back to Omaha, where Berkshire is headquartered, despite being able to livestream the event at home.

"It really is special," said Adam Mead, CEO of Mead Capital Management and author of "The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway." "'I'm not a religious person, but it has that feel of going to church."

The following are a collection of moments from meetings throughout the years compiled by CNBC in honor of Warren Buffett's 60 years leading Berkshire Hathaway.
After Amazon's latest results came in above expectations , Wall Street remained largely bullish on the path ahead for the e-commerce behemoth. Shares of Amazon shed 1.5% in Friday's premarket trading hours after the company gave soft guidance for its current quarter, noting lingering uncertainty from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Amazon expects its second-quarter operating income to come in between $13 billion and $17.5 billion. However, first-quarter results exceeded analyst estimates, according to LSEG. The company reported earnings of $1.59 per share on revenue of $155.67 billion, which beat the $1.36 per share on revenue of $155.04 billion analysts polled by LSEG were looking for. Overall, most analysts remained bullish on Amazon. Here's how some of Wall Street's biggest shops reacted. Deutsche Bank reiterates buy rating, raises price target to $210 from $206 Deutsche Bank's forecast corresponds to upside of around 10%. "Amazon's 1Q earnings played out largely as expected with a fairly balanced event. However, while Amazon's delivery infrastructure, marketplace, and general services scale will undoubtedly allow the company to more successfully navigate the shifting global economy better on both the supply and demand side than essentially any of its competitors, uncertainty around NTM earnings power remains substantial." Goldman Sachs keeps buy rating, $220 per share price target Goldman Sachs' target calls for 16% upside going forward. "If past periods of macroeconomic volatility are any future indicator, we believe that AMZN is likely to emerge even more favorably positioned to address the needs of consumers and enterprises on the other side." Citi maintains buy rating, $225 per share price target Analyst Ronald Josey's forecast is 18% above Amazon's Thursday closing price. "We are encouraged with 1Q25 results as revenue and OI came in above FactSet consensus and 2Q guidance was better than expectations, in our view. To be clear, it remains early days regarding tariff impacts, particularly as it relates to 2H inventory supply and demand." JPMorgan stands by overweight rating, lifts price target to $225 from $220 "Importantly, AMZN remains focused on broad selection, low pricing, & fast delivery, and believes it typically emerges from uncertain macro periods w/greater relative market share gains." Bank of America reiterates buy rating, increases price target to $230 from $225 Analyst Justin Post's price target was approximately 21% higher than Amazon's closing price on Thursday. "Amazon has 'material' 3P seller revenue exposure to China and other imports, and AWS lost some ground to Azure in 1Q. However, the platform has shown nice stability in 2025 so far, and we think the stock is well positioned to benefit from any trade agreements over the next 3 months." Barclays keeps overweight rating, cuts price target to $240 per share from $265 The bank's target equates to 26% upside. "These results are fairly solid considering the global trade situation, and valuation is at cycle lows, but we expect AMZN shares to remain volatile until things become more clear." UBS maintains buy rating, lowers price target to $249 from $253 Analyst Stephen Ju's revised forecast implies upside of 31%. "Taken together, we believe the recent downward estimates revision seems to be ending and we believe we are seeing a tactical buy signal for AMZN shares. Longer term, the secular growth opportunities remain attractive as ecommerce adoption as well as on-premise-to-cloud transition seem to be at similar levels, which point the way for not only Amazon.com but also AWS to be multiples of its current size." Morgan Stanley stands by overweight rating, $250 price target Morgan Stanley's price target is 31% above where shares closed on Thursday. "1H:25 was strong as AMZN is investing/executing to manage through uncertainty. But visibility about the cost to deliver a leading platform in 2H/'26 remains low until we get tariff clarity. '26 EPS largely unchanged (still embedding 145% China tariffs) with a deal the next revision catalyst."  CNBC's Michael Bloom and Annie Palmer contributed to this report.
A sign outside a NatWest Group Plc bank branch in the City of London, UK, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Natwest is due to report first-half results on Friday, July 28. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images

NatWest reported its first quarter profit rose 36% on Friday, thanks to healthier margins on its deposit base, increased loan balances and better trading income.

The results come as the British lender prepares to return fully to private ownership for the first time since its state rescue at the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

"Our strong first quarter performance demonstrates the positive momentum in our business as we deliver against clear strategic priorities, and we now expect to be at the upper end of our income and returns guidance for 2025," Chief Executive Paul Thwaite said in a statement.

The bank reported operating profit before tax for January-March of 1.8 billion pounds, up from 1.3 billion pounds in the same period a year ago and better than the average of analysts' forecasts of 1.6 billion pounds.

It reported a return on tangible equity of 18.5% in the quarter compared with 14.2% a year ago.

The government's stake in NatWest fell below 2% on Thursday, having reduced its shareholding from nearly 40% in December 2023.

The bank's Chairman earlier in April said the lender's upcoming exit from state ownership represents an inflection point for the bank, as it pivots from years of post-crisis restructuring to a domestic growth-focused strategy.

This approach has so far insulated NatWest from the fallout to global trade tensions in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, compared to some internationally-focused rivals.

The bank booked a net impairment charge of 189 million pounds, and said levels of default were stable.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, is preparing to launch a U.S.-based stablecoin as soon as this year, as its CEO ramps up his presence in Washington to shape crypto regulation.

In an interview with CNBC this week, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino revealed that the company is working on plans to issue a new dollar-pegged stablecoin in the U.S. as soon as this year. The move comes as Tether, once accused of being a criminal's 'go-to cryptocurrency'  rebrands itself as a partner to American lawmakers and law enforcement.

"A domestic stablecoin would be different from the international stable coin," Ardoino told CNBC's Dan Murphy at the Token2049 conference in Dubai on Wednesday. "It depends on the timeline of the final legislation but we are looking at that by the end of the year, or early next year at the fastest," he said.

But the timing and tactics of that next step are raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill.

Ardoino's recent charm offensive in Washington, which included private meetings with lawmakers, a Capitol Hill lunch with Senator Bill Hagerty and parties with crypto insiders, according to a New York Times report, has put a spotlight on Tether amid the pro-crypto shift under President Trump.

That influence may now be helping shape key legislation, including the GOP-backed GENIUS Act, which critics say includes loopholes that benefit Tether and other foreign issuers  such as provisions allowing operations in the U.S. if they agree to work with law enforcement.
Nigel Farage (C), leader of the Reform UK party, celebrates the victory of Sarah Pochin, the party's candidate, in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election at the DCBL Stadium in Widnes, north-west England, in the early hours of May 2, 2025.

Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party made early gains in local English election results on Friday and won a parliamentary by-election by the smallest ever margin in the first major electoral test since last year's general election.

The populist Reform, led by the Brexit campaigner Farage, hopes a strong performance in English local elections to be announced through Friday will mark the start of the breakdown of Britain's century-old two-party political system, dominated by the governing Labour Party and opposition Conservatives.

In the most closely watched contest for the parliamentary seat of Runcorn and Helsby, a full recount of votes was ordered because the result was so close.

Reform's Sarah Pochin beat Labour's candidate by just six votes. Labour won the seat in last summer's national election with a majority of almost 15,000 votes.

The tight race in what was previously a safe Labour seat underlines the way Britain's political landscape has fractured since the general election. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in British history last summer but has suffered the fastest decline in popularity of any newly elected government.

Starmer, a former lawyer before turning to politics, has seen his government suffer a steep fall in support after it raised taxes, cut benefits for the elderly, and got into a row over the use of donations, giving an opening to Farage, who is a friend of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Voters cast their ballots on Thursday for more than 1,600 seats on local authorities across England and six high-profile mayoral elections.

Runcorn and Helsby was the only parliamentary seat up for grabs after the Labour lawmaker quit following his conviction for punching one of his constituents.

The former Conservative minister Andrea Jenkyns, who lost her seat at the national election last year and defected to Reform, also won the race to become the first mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

That makes her Reform's most powerful elected position yet with responsibility for an area covering about a million people.

Reform also came close to toppling Labour in three other contests in North Tyneside, the West of England, and Doncaster.
For the opening of its 100th location, the Bangalore-based burrito chain restaurant California Burrito priced everything on their menu at 100 rupees. The deal went viral, says founder Bert Mueller.

"We wound up with these incredible lines out of the stores because too many people had showed up," Mueller says.

Mueller started California Burrito in 2012 when he was just 22-years-old. The idea came to him when he was studying abroad in India for a semester during college. One of his classmates of Mexican origin brought her host family Mexican food and they absolutely loved it.

"Something clicked in my head that maybe this was something I could do  I could bring Mexican-inspired cuisine to India," he says.

Today California Burrito has more than 100 locations and last year it brought in $23 million in revenue. But Mueller admits that he made some missteps along the way.

One of them, he says, was not spending any money on marketing. Events like the 100th-location celebration just weren't a priority to Mueller during the early days of California Burrito.

"Marketing was something we totally underinvested in and really didn't start spending on until Covid," Mueller says.
Eaton , a maker of power management solutions for AI data centers and other commercial markets, delivered a solid quarter on Friday that raised more questions for us than it answered. Earnings per share for the first quarter ended in March rose more than 33% from the year-ago period to $2.72, beating the LSEG compiled analyst consensus estimate by a penny. Revenue rose 7.3% to $6.38 billion, beating the LSEG compiled analyst consensus estimate of $6.26 billion. Organic sales grew 9%, far exceeding the Bloomberg estimate for a 6.8% increase. Eaton Why we own it: Eaton has exposure to several important megatrends like electrification, energy transition, and infrastructure spending. It is also a player in generative AI, where data centers use its power management solutions and electrical equipment to keep up with the heightened demand for more computing power. We see a long runway for growth. Competitors : Parker-Hannifin , DuPont and Honeywell Most recent buy : April 3, 2025 Initiated : Nov. 15, 2023 Bottom line Has Eaton's stock peaked? During our Morning Meeting, Jim Cramer said he's concerned about it. In afternoon trading, shares of Eaton turned positive in a strong overall market. However, the stock has been struggling to get back to its 2025 closing high of $371 on Jan. 22, which was just days before the Chinese startup DeepSeek's more efficient artificial intelligence model slammed the AI trade. Jim said he's not ready to give up on Eaton, because it's "doing quite well," referring to the company's largely positive first-quarter results and guidance. Indeed, the company reported accelerating organic sales growth with record first-quarter margins. However, he did say he needs to rethink the position, given the Club's positions in DuPont and Dover also have ties to the AI trade. He also has his eye on GE Vernova in the Bullpen to fill out the electrification/power generation theme. ETN YTD mountain Eaton YTD In addition to Eaton's revenue and EPS beats, sales at three of the company's five segments  Electrical Americas, Electrical Global, and Aerospace were better than expected, with solid growth. The other two segments, Vehicle and eMobility missed, with the former sinking nearly 15% year over year and the latter up just 2.5%. Orders for the Electrical Americas segment, which accounts for nearly half of total company revenue, fell 4% organically on a 12-month rolling average. Excluding one large multi-year data center order in the first quarter of 2024, orders rose 4%. Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said Friday the market seemed to be aware of the order slowdown as Eaton and all multinational companies try to figure out President Donald Trump 's tariff endgame. Slowing order growth has been a multi-quarter trend due to tough comps going back to 2023. "Book-to-bill remained above one, with 6% growth in our large $10.1 billion backlog, providing strong visibility for our organic growth in 2025 and beyond," CFO Olivier Leonetti said on the company's post-earnings call. The data center end-market makes up 17% of Eaton's total revenue, according to the company's 2025 growth assumptions. On the call, incoming CEO Paulo Ruiz referred to the tech companies that reported earnings this week, which included Club names Amazon , Meta Platforms , and Microsoft , saying, "all the calls we have had this week, all the hyperscalers have confirmed the level of capex. So, we believe that this 15% CAGR for data centers is still intact." Capex stands for capital expenditures, and CAGR stands for compound annual growth rate. Ruiz will become CEO following the May 31 retirement of Craig Arnold, who has been at the helm since 2016. Management also talked about the data center designs of the future that require Eaton to work with not only the hyperscaler clients, the big tech companies that run the facilities, but also with chipmakers. "Therefore, you need to have open discussions with the likes of  Nvidia and so on. Not many companies, especially foreign companies, can have a dialogue with them. So again, this is another entry barrier that creates" opportunity for Eaton in this development area of the end market, Ruiz said on the call. Eaton, which aims to manage through the tariffs, plans to adjust its costs, supply chains, and prices as needed. Ruiz said, "We will see how the tariff evolves. We expect over time to recover from a margin standpoint, but not this year." The company expects to fully offset the impact of tariffs through USMCA, the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, compliance, supply chain optimization, disciplined cost containment, and commercial actions. Eaton believes its region-for-region strategy provides a competitive advantage. Guidance Eaton raised its full-year organic sales growth guidance range to 7.5% to 9.5% from 7% to 9%, but slightly lowered its segment margins outlook as a result of tariff cost pass-through. The company reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance. The company's second quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $2.85 to $2.95 was short of estimates. Perhaps, management was being a little conservative here. The outlook for Q2 organic sales growth and segment margins was fine. Management said on the call that these forecasts reflect the "net impact of the announced tariffs and assumes the current 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs will persist to the end of the year." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long ETN, DD, DOV, AMZN, META, MSFT, 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.
Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, takes the stage during The New York Times' annual DealBook Summit, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to sell up to 25 million shares in the company over the next year, according to a financial filing on Friday.

Bezos, who stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains Amazon's top shareholder, is selling the shares as part of a trading plan adopted on March 4, the filing states. The stake would be worth about $4.8 billion at the current price.

The disclosure follows Amazon's first-quarter earnings report late Thursday. While profit and revenue topped estimates, the company's forecast for operating income in the current quarter came in below Wall Street's expectations.

The results show that Amazon is bracing for uncertainty related to President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs. The company landed in the crosshairs of the White House this week over a report that Amazon planned to show shoppers the cost of the tariffs. Trump personally called Bezos to complain, and Amazon clarified that no such change was coming.

Bezos previously offloaded about $13.5 billion worth of Amazon shares last year, marking his first sale of company stock since 2021.

Since handing over the Amazon CEO role to Andy Jassy, Bezos has spent more of his time on his space exploration company, Blue Origin, and his $10 billion climate and biodiversity fund. He's used Amazon share sales to help fund Blue Origin, as well as the Day One Fund, which he launched in September 2018 to provide education in low-income communities and combat homelessness.
Reportage: SpaceX Crew-4 mission (April 2022) - Kennedy Space Center director Janet Petro speaks to members of the media after the arrival of NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center ahead of SpaceXs Crew-4 mission, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Florida..

The Trump administration has floated a plan to trim about $6 billion from the budget of NASA, while allocating $1 billion of remaining funds to Mars-focused initiatives, aligning with an ambition long held by Elon Musk and his rocket maker SpaceX.

A copy of the discretionary budget posted to the NASA website on Friday said that the change focuses NASA's funding on "beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars."

NASA also said it will need to "streamline" its workforce, information technology services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities, and terminate multiple "unaffordable" missions, while reducing scientific missions for the sake of "fiscal responsibility."

Janet Petro, NASA's acting administrator, said in an agency-wide email on Friday that the proposed lean budget, which would cut about 25% of the space agency's funding, "reflects the administration's support for our mission and sets the stage for our next great achievements."

Petro urged NASA employees to "persevere, stay resilient, and lean into the discipline it takes to do things that have never been done before  especially in a constrained environment," according to the memo, which was obtained by CNBC. She acknowledged the budget would "require tough choices," and that some of NASA's "activities will wind down."

The document on NASA's website said it's allocating more than $7 billion for moon exploration and "introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs."

SpaceX, which is already among the largest NASA and Department of Defense contractors, has long sought to launch a manned mission to Mars. The company says on its website that its massive Starship rocket is designed to "carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond."

Musk, who is the founder and CEO of SpaceX, has a central role in President Donald Trump's administration, leading an effort to slash the size, spending and capacity of the federal government, and influencing regulatory changes through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk, who frequently makes aggressive and incorrect projections for his companies, said in 2020 that he was "highly confident" that SpaceX would land humans on Mars by 2026.

Petro highlighted in her memo that under the discretionary budget, NASA would retire the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and Gateway programs.

It would also put an end to its green aviation spending and to its Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program, which sought to use rockets and robotic systems to "collect and send samples of Martian rocks, soils and atmosphere back to Earth for detailed chemical and physical analysis," according to a website for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Some of the biggest reductions at NASA, should the budget get approved, would hit the space agency's space science, Earth science and mission support divisions.

Petro didn't name any specific aerospace and defense contractors in her agency-wide email. However SpaceX, ULA and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are positioned to continue to conduct launches in the absence of the SLS. Boeing is currently the prime contractor leading the SLS program.

"This is far from the first time NASA has been asked to adapt, and your ability to deliver, even under pressure, is what sets NASA apart," she wrote.

President Trump's nominee to lead NASA, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, still has to be approved by the U.S. Senate. His nomination was advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

WATCH: CNBC's interview with NASA's astronauts on their nine months in space
U.S. Vice President JD Vance waves as he boards Air Force Two on May 1, 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has warned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not likely to come to an end "any time soon."

Speaking during an interview on Fox News, Vance said on Thursday that President Donald Trump's administration was working to "find some middle ground" to stop a conflict that has been raging for more than three years.

"It's not going anywhere ... it's not going to end any time soon," Vance said.

His comments come shortly after the U.S. and Ukraine signed a long-awaited minerals deal, an agreement that Vance said showed the White House is making progress.

He later added that while he was "optimistic" of a breakthrough in peace talks, "it's hard to say confident" because Russia and Ukraine will "have to take the final step."

After months of tense negotiations, the U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an economic partnership that provides Washington with preferential access to some of Kyiv's natural resources.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said the "historic" agreement would allow the two countries to invest together to accelerate Ukraine's economic recovery and help to "facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war."

For its part, Ukraine said the partnership was capable of delivering success for both Washington and Kyiv.

Since his inauguration in January, Trump has pushed for a minerals deal with Ukraine, saying an agreement to jointly develop and monetize Kyiv's deposits of rare earths, critical minerals, oil, gas and other natural resources would act, effectively, as compensation for U.S. aid to Ukraine throughout the war with Russia.

Before his presidential victory last fall, Trump pledged to end Russia's war with Ukraine in just "one day."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Washington could step back from its mediation efforts unless Russia and Ukraine delivered "concrete proposals" on how to end the conflict.

The Kremlin on Wednesday reiterated previous statements that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to peace talks with Ukraine.

 CNBC's Holly Ellyatt contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Some Senate Republicans are raising concerns about an exclusive dinner and White House tour President Donald Trump is offering top investors in his $TRUMP meme token.

"This is my president that we're talking about, but I am willing to say that this gives me pause," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, who has been spearheading a legislative push on cryptocurrency regulation in the Senate.

The official website for Trump's meme coin announced last week that the top 220 holders of the coin are invited to an "intimate private dinner" with the president at his golf club outside of Washington, D.C., later this month. The top 25 investors will also receive an invitation to a "VIP White House Tour" the following day, according to the website. The $TRUMP meme coin surged more than 50% after the dinner news broke, boosting its total market value to $2.7 billion.

The offer of access to the president for those who invest in an organization that funds Trump's personal fortune has sparked scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who often bucks her party, expressed uneasiness about the event, though she noted she didn't have all of the details.

"I don't think it would be appropriate for me to charge people to come into the Capitol and take a tour." Murkowski told NBC News on Thursday.

While using untraceable crypto currency to pay for access to the president raised questions for some senators, there are no laws barring Trump and the organization from proceeding as planned.

"He's got to remember that he's living there, but it's the people's house, right?" Murkowski added.
The Shell gas station logo is displayed on February 13, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

British oil giant Shell on Friday reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit and kept the pace of its share buyback program, even as earnings fell by more than a quarter compared to the same period last year.

Shell reported adjusted earnings of $5.58 billion for the first three months of the year, beating analyst expectations of $5.09 billion, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus. A separate, company-provided analyst forecast had expected Shell's first-quarter profit to come in at $4.96 billion.

Shell reported adjusted earnings of $7.73 billion over the same period last year  around 28% higher than first-quarter 2025  and $3.66 billion for the final three months of 2024.

Shares of Shell traded 2.6% higher at 1:52 p.m. London time.

Big Oil's shareholder returns have been a hot-button issue for investors, particularly as industry profits continue to fall from record highs in 2022.

A weak demand outlook, falling crude prices and U.S. President Donald Trump's fast-changing trade policy have rattled investor sentiment in recent months.

For its part, Shell on Friday announced another $3.5 billion share buyback program, which it expects to complete over the next three months. It marks the 14th consecutive quarter of at least $3 billion in buybacks, the company said.

By contrast, British rival BP on Tuesday lowered its share buyback as first-quarter profit fell short of analyst expectations.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan described the earnings as "another solid set of results."

"Our strong performance and resilient balance sheet give us the confidence to commence another $3.5 billion of buybacks for the next three months, consistent with the strategic direction we set out at our Capital Markets Day in March," Sawan said in a statement.

Shell reaffirmed its reduced annual investment budget of $20 billion to $22 billion for 2025.

In March, Shell had announced plans to increase shareholder returns and cut spending, doubling down on its liquified natural gas (LNG) push.
Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading: Block  The financial technology stock plunged nearly 22% following weak first-quarter revenue. Block said it brought in $5.77 billion, while analysts surveyed by LSEG had projected $6.20 billion. Atlassian  Shares sank 12% after the software company issued weak guidance. Atlassian expects fourth-quarter revenue to range between $1.35 billion and $1.36 billion, versus the $1.36 billion consensus estimate, per LSEG. However, the company beat on both the top and bottom lines for its third quarter. Chevron  Shares declined 2% after the oil major said it would repurchase $2.5 billion to $3 billion in stock in the second quarter, less than the $3.9 billion it bought back in the prior quarter. Net income also declined more than 30% from the comparable three-month period a year earlier. Apple  Shares pulled back more than 3% after CEO Tim Cook told investors on the company's earnings call that it will be "very difficult" to forecast the effect of tariffs on the iPhone maker beyond the June quarter. Apple beat Wall Street's second-quarter estimates on the top and bottom lines, but its Services segment missed consensus expectations. Airbnb  Shares slid nearly 5% after the vacation rental platform reported earnings. Despite the company slightly beating expectations for revenue in the first quarter, it listed a range of between $2.99 billion and $3.05 billion for the current quarter. The middle-range figure of $3.02 billion is modestly below the $3.04 billion consensus forecast from analysts, per LSEG. Roku  The streaming firm's shares fell more than 9% after sharing first-quarter results. Roku reported $1.02 billion of revenue, slightly beating the consensus prediction from FactSet of $1.01 billion. But the company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $56 million was below analysts' estimates of $57 million. Maplebear  The grocery delivery stock, which does business as Instacart, popped 4% on strong second-quarter guidance. Maplebear said adjusted EBITDA should come in between $240 million and $250 million, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated $234.8 million. That overshadowed modest misses on both lines in the first quarter. Twilio  The cloud stock rallied 8% on better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter and upbeat guidance. Twilio earned an adjusted $1.14 per share on $1.17 billion in revenue, exceeding the consensus expectations for profit of 94 cents per share and revenue at $1.14 billion from analysts polled by LSEG. Reddit  The social media stock jumped 6% after first-quarter results beat estimates. Reddit earned 13 cents per share on $392.4 million of revenue. Analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting 2 cents per share in earnings and $369.5 million in revenue. Guidance for second-quarter revenue also topped estimates. Duolingo  Shares jumped nearly 10% after the language learning platform issued a better-than-expected revenue forecast. Duolingo expects second-quarter revenue between $239 million and $242 million, while analysts polled by LSEG expected $234 million. Full-year revenue is expected to come in a range between $987 million and $996 million, higher than the consensus estimate of $977 million. Exxon Mobil  Shares ticked 1% higher following stronger-than-expected earnings per share from the oil major. Exxon Mobil earned $1.76 per share, beating the consensus estimate of analysts polled by LSEG by 3 cents per share. However, revenue came in at $83.13 billion, while Wall Street anticipated $86.72 billion. Amazon  Shares of the e-commerce giant slid 0.7% on the back of its first-quarter earnings print. Amazon posted better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the quarter, but issued soft guidance for the current period. Amazon is forecasting operating income to land between $13 billion and $17.5 billion, which missed the $17.64 billion consensus call, according to StreetAccount. Amazon also said tariff and trade policies could affect its outlook.  CNBC's Brian Evans, Jesse Pound, Sarah Min, Pia Singh and Michelle Fox contributed reporting.
Tourism could comprise 10% of Mongolia's gross domestic product if the country can attract 2 million annual tourists by 2030, the country's tourism minister told CNBC Wednesday.

"We have a big, ambitious kind of goal, which is about 2 million tourists by 2030, which will be around a $4 billion contribution towards our GDP," said Nomin Chinbat, Mongolia's minister of culture, sports, tourism and youth.

Money from tourists currently makes up between 3%-4% of Mongolia's GDP, she said.

The landlocked Asian country welcomed a record-breaking 808,000 foreigners in 2024, and interest continues to rise, especially among those seeking nature, adventure, culture and spiritual tourism, Chinbat said.

"Tourism numbers have been growing quite rapidly," she said. "Year on year, growth has been around 9%. We're wishing to increase it to 16%."
U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on May 1, 2025 in Washington, DC.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to unveil his budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year on Friday and send it to Congress, according to a White House official.

The annual White House budget request includes economic forecasts as well as detailed proposals about how much money should be spent by every government agency for the year that starts on October 1.

However, it is the responsibility of Congress to craft spending legislation, and what lawmakers ultimately adopt typically differs dramatically from the White House request.

The release comes as Republicans in the U.S. Congress are working to bridge internal divisions over proposed cuts in federal spending to pay for a landmark tax-cut bill they hope to enact by July 4. They may also have to factor in growing stress in the nation's economy arising from U.S. tariff hikes that are upending global trade.

Trump, who describes the tax-cut measure "a big beautiful bill," said this week that he would propose a military budget of over $1 trillion, adding that tariffs he has slapped on nearly every country will help boost revenues and offset his plans to cut taxes.

The proposed budget will also include over $160 billion worth of cuts in environmental, renewable energy, education and foreign-aid programs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.

Trump campaigned during the 2024 presidential campaign on reducing the size of the federal government and his administration. Aided by billionaire Elon Musk, he has shut down several agencies and slashed the federal workforce by tens of thousands of people. Some of the cuts remain tied up in court.

Trump won't be in Washington when his budget plan comes out.

The Republican president capped a week-long celebration of his first 100 days in office with a speech to graduates at the University of Alabama on Thursday evening before flying to West Palm Beach for the weekend.
Michelle Ruiz had her heart set on a trip to the south of France for her yearly summer getaway with her husband. But the $5,000-a-night rate in mid-July at Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat stopped her in her tracks. Her husband suggested they vacation in the Caribbean instead, and suggested Rockhouse, a luxury boutique property in Negril, Jamaica.A premium villa with ocean views there was available for about a tenth of the Grand-Hotels price: $574 per night. Given its cliffside location and access to azure swimming coves, Rockhouse kind of looks like its in Europe,Ruiz says. It would satiate that desire to be somewhere rocky and picturesque, and be at the beach without spending thousands of dollars per night on accommodations alone.Plus, she adds, for another $385 per person, she was able to book a five-day spa package that covers daily 50-minute treatments; for nearly the same price, youll get just one 60-minute massage at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. Including airfare from New York to Montego Bay, Ruiz says her entire trip (minus meals) will cost as much as one night at the five-star French icon.With European hotspots increasingly overpriced, overcrowded and affected by the anti-tourism protests that are gearing up for a second summer, a growing number of Americans are trading the Riviera and other parts of the Mediterranean for islands that are closer to home. As of April 10, the Caribbean had experienced a 26% year-over-year increase in overall summer bookings according to data provided exclusively to Bloomberg by the Virtuoso Travel Network, a collective of about 20,000 travel advisers.And theres still plenty of time for people to firm up their summer plans. With more Americans looking to travel closer to home, demand for a hot Caribbean vacation seems poised to keep growing as long as economic uncertainty persists. And anyway, summers in Europe are increasingly hot, tooin July 2024, coastal Mediterranean areas regularly reached 104F, while most Caribbean islands hovered below 90F. Plus, geopolitical tensions are creating fears that Americans will face hot tempers.Enter the hot Caribbean summer trend, as were calling it. Yes, it technically emerged amid the pandemic. But its growth has lately been so sharp that Caribbean destinations have become two of the five most popular summer destinations for Americans, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Using last years July bookings, it declared Mexico the most popular summer vacation destination for Americans overall by a long shotthough its Caribbean coast is just one part of its broader appeal.The Dominican Republic overtook Italy and France to land in the fourth spot right behind Canada in the UK, which ranked second and third. A broader list of the top 20 destinations, shows Jamaica (No. 13) and the Bahamas (No. 17) ranking ahead of perennial favorite Greece (No. 20). (Because Cirium primarily uses retrospective data, summer 2025 booking patterns wont be clear until the fall.)The primary draw for Caribbean-bound Americans: savings. The average daily rate at luxury hotels across the islands has decreased by 6% compared to 2024, Virtuosos data shows, while summer airfare is also down 3% year over year according to Kayak. The sharpest savings this summer, the company says, can be found on fares to smaller islands, such as Saint Barts (-31%), Bonaire (-28%) and Dominica (-17%).And prices should continue to fall as major US carriers and upstart discount airlines expand service to the region. Among the new options: weekly nonstops to Punta Cana on Spirit Airlines (which started on March 20), an American Eagle route from Miami to South Caicos, and JetBlues service from New York to Bonaire, which kicked off last November.Yet another 23 destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean are now connected to one another on the new Dominican national carrier Arajet, which continues to add routes. Victor Pacheco, the airlines founder and CEO, says fares (from $250) are even more affordable than domestic travel in some cases.Fiona Simpson, an Atlanta-based traveler who works in sales, has made the hot Caribbean summer an annual tradition since 2021. She says the value for her dollar goes much farther in the Caribbean compared to other regionspraising the regions flavorful cuisine and top-notch hospitality.Even in the most simple beachside restaurant, youre getting thoughtful service, she says. This year, for her partners 50th birthday in July, shes planning eight days at Fowl Cay, an all-inclusive private island resort north of Grand Exuma in the Bahamas.I really thought it was going to be an insane, crazy cost, says Simpson, noting that the total for plane tickets, hotel stays and daily access to a boat the resort provides came to less than $20,000. A vacation like that in Europe over the same dates would have cost a lot more, she adds.Theres the convenience of shorter flights, too, with no jet lag. Thats part of what drew Connecticut-based magazine editor Kristin Koch Kennedy and her familyincluding four children between the ages of six months and eight yearsto vacation in the Caribbean twice last summer. Another was costfor hotels and airfare alike. We felt like we could save Europe for when our kids are a bit older and can enjoy sightseeing and things like that, she says.Jamaica-bound Ruiz, meanwhile, is already daydreaming about what shell find in Negril besides the Mediterranean-like scenerynamely, the islands famed food and music. Its the type of cultural draw she seeks as well when going to Europe.The idea of it all is so tempting, shes mulling a return trip before she even sets foot on the island. After, all, she says, the villas at Rockhouse include a loft that could easily fit her family of four. Its slightly less grand than the premium ocean-view villa she booked for July, but it has extra beds andat $495 a nightits an even better value.
Thailand's finance ministry has lowered its forecast of foreign tourist arrivals this year to 36.5 million from a previous estimate 38.5 million. In 2019, before the pandemic, Thailand recorded a historic 40 million visitors.Now it has reduced the number of foreign tourist arrivals and did not cite any reason for lowering the number, according to Reuters.Meanwhile, Thailand recently introduced a Digital Arrival Card that all non-Thai nationals entering the country by land, air or sea will have to avail before arriving in the country post May 1.Foreign visitors will have to fill out and submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before boarding a flight or crossing into Thailand. The aim is to improve the entry process and enhance the overall experience of tourists and residents.Travellers need to submit their TDAC 72 hours (three days) prior to arrival. The online form is divided into three different sections that travellers must complete before entering the country.The first section contains personal information. Then, travellers will need to provide basic details, such as names, nationality, passport information, etc. The second part includes travel and accommodation details, such as their trip information, like flight and hotel bookings.The third section is about the travellers' health status, like whether they are suffering from any illness or undergoing any treatment. After the form is filled out, it will be validated to ensure everything is correct and complete.AlsoOnce the verification is done, the system will send a digital card to the registered email ID. It has to be presented at the immigration counter upon arrival in Thailand.Al travellers must do is visit the official website tdac.immigration.go.th. Click on Arrival Card, enter personal information, such as first and last name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and other details. Then, fill in your travel details, such as date of arrival, means of transportation, hotel address, purpose of visit, and among other details.
As it stands to potentially lose ad revenue after being ruled a monopoly, and also to maintain an edge in the digital ad space as generative AI use soars, Google is purportedly now injecting ads into third party chatbot conversations.

Its not a surprising move, particularly given Googles antitrust loss that could eventually lead to the breakup of its ad business (although there are likely years of appeals to come before any tangible changes). The tech giant is also in fierce competition with the likes of OpenAI, Perplexity, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce, and a slew of others to get enterprise users to adopt its genAI platforms.

Google knows its long-dominant search funnel is leaking, said Julie Geller, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. If conversational AI becomes the way people discover, decide, and buy, Google needs a revenue engine ready before regulators or rivals box it out.
According to our bladders, movies are a lot longer than they were 20 or 30 years ago, and while the truth is a little more complicated for the film industry across the board, its true that the most successful movies are nearly half an hour longer on average than they were in 1993. That can be a good thing in some cases  no longer restrained by the limitations of VHS, true artists can take as long as their vision needs, and it leaves room for a sharp left turn halfway through the film.

But it can also give permission to lazy filmmakers to release a bloated corpse of a movie that should have ended up mostly on the cutting room floor. For me it was The Many Saints of Newark, user Plus-Statistician80 told r/AskReddit. Huge Sopranos fan, but good Lord, that movie was trash. Only redeeming quality was Vera Farmiga as Livia.

They then asked, What film made you say, Holy shit there is still an hour left? and their fellow Redditors quickly came up with too many holy shits to count.

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23 Australia Advertisement

22 Zack Snyders Justice League

21 Cats

20 Les Miserables Advertisement Advertisement

19 Straight Outta Compton

18 The Thin Red Line Advertisement

17 Everything Everywhere All at Once Advertisement

16 Magnolia Advertisement

15 The Batman

14 The Hobbit Advertisement

13 King Kong Advertisement

12 Babylon Advertisement

11 Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

10 Titanic Advertisement Advertisement

9 Blade Runner 2049

8 White Noise Advertisement

7 The Dark Knight Rises Advertisement

6 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Advertisement

5 Barbarian

4 Parasite Advertisement Advertisement

3 Interstellar

2 Jurassic World Dominion Advertisement
Designing evil characters to look like enemies is standard operating procedure in Hollywood today, but like so many things, Alfred Hitchcock may have pioneered it

Imagine youre exactly as human as you are now, with all the flaws and impulses that implies, but you also have effectively infinite wealth and influence. How would you make your enemies pay? A select few know exactly how to answer that question.

5 50 Cent Bought Hundreds of Ja Rule Tickets for No One 50 Cent and Ja Rule have been feuding so long that even they probably dont remember why, but nearly 20 years deep, Fiddy happened upon the perfect trolling opportunity. After finding a Groupon sale for tickets to a Ja Rule concert in Texas, he bought out the first four rows  about 200 tickets  just so theyd be empty. I was like, They was so cheap, I might as well just buy them, he said, about a purchase that would financially cripple you for years.

4 Burt Reynolds Literally Pooped on the National Enquirer One Christmas in the late 80s, one of the eras most gossiped-about celebrities, Burt Reynolds, got sick of the tabloids writing crap about him, so he decided to give them a huge gulp of their own medicine. At the time, he owned about 100 horses, so he gathered up as much manure as he could and dropped it by helicopter on top of the Christmas tree outside the National Enquirers nearby offices. Jesus himself would have to hand it to him.

3 Patti LuPone Took Andrew Lloyd Webbers Money and Built a Revenge Pool When Andrew Lloyd Webber took his adaptation of Sunset Boulevard from the West End to Broadway in 1994, Patti LuPone expected to come with him, but she had to find out from a gossip columnist that she was being replaced by Glenn Close. Broadway divas arent known for taking things lying down, so she sued Webber for breach of contract to the tune of $1 million, which she used to build a pool at her Connecticut home. Theyve since made amends, but on blissful sunny days in the woods, she still toasts the composer by what shes named the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool.

2 Alfred Hitchcock Modeled a Villain After a Hated Producer Designing evil characters to look like enemies is standard operating procedure in Hollywood today, but like so many things, Alfred Hitchcock may have pioneered it. For 1954s Rear Window, he styled the villain played by Raymond Burr to look exactly like David O. Selznick, a producer who had gotten on Hitchcocks nerves, right down to the smallest details. It seems you didnt want Hitchcock to hate or like you too much.
For people who cant afford to shell out $250 for the fancy new 4K box set, the easiest way to watch Seinfeld is still on Netflix, even though the colors are weird and some of the jokes have been cropped out.

In an effort to get viewers to click on Seinfeld instead of, say, turning off the TV and interacting with a loved one, Netflix routinely introduces different pieces of thumbnail art for the show  from Jerry looking like a moody psychopath

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to George striking his timeless art of seduction pose.

Reddit

Recently, a Seinfeld fan on Reddit shared a particularly weird Netflix thumbnail, which a number of commenters suggested could be generative A.I. Theres definitely a lot about the image that feels off: Jerrys a full foot taller than Elaine, Kramer is either a giant or somehow hovering in the air in the hallway, George is inexplicably staring off to the side and the door clearly isnt from Jerrys apartment. Plus, as one fan pointed out, Elaine is looking at Jerry in a will they, wont they fashion that really isnt in keeping with the show.

Definitely feels A.I. generated, one person speculated. A.I. is so fun and quirky said no one, another joked.

Reddit

Its certainly understandable that people would be suspicious, considering that several other sitcoms have gotten the SkyNet treatment lately. As weve mentioned before, the recent A.I.-enhanced restoration of I Love Lucy made it look as if Lucy was being stalked by old-timey sleep paralysis demons. And Netflixs A.I.-upscale of A Different World made headlines for turning the show into nightmare fuel in which characters faces appeared to be melting a la Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But in this instance, the Seinfeld art wasnt actually A.I. For one thing, a similarly horrified viewer shared the same thumbnail on social media in 2022, before the A.I. slop art trend had really taken off.

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Most importantly, the thumbnails source photo was used in this vintage Canadian TV ad.

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robertgeorgecook.com

So the thumbnail isnt an example of how weird and creepy A.I. is, so much as it is an example of how weird and creepy 90s TV publicity photos were.

Whoever took the Seinfeld photo gave Jerry an apple box to stand on, and suggested that everybody make baffling facial expressions for the same reason that NBC marketed Frasier as a show about a guy fleeing a gang of gleeful home invaders.

And Friends, a show about 90s twenty-somethings living in Manhattan, naturally inspired a photo shoot in which the cast was dressed up like the sexy ghosts of Old West saloon workers.

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Its still better than A.I., though.
The best musical-comedy about an accused murderer youll see this season

The Tony Award nominations are out (sorry, Kieran Culkin), but that isnt the weeks most exciting theater headline. The big news: The entire run of Luigi: The Musical, a new comedy about Luigi Magione thats premiering next month in San Francisco, is completely sold out, according to People.

Heres the official synopsis from the productions website: Luigi: the Musical is a comedy that imagines the surreal scenario of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sharing a prison with real-life inmates Sam Bankman-Fried and Sean Diddy Combs.

If that set-up sounds like opportunistic playwrights trying to cash in on multiple contemporary scandals, you wouldnt be wrong. But as the shows producers point out, the premise is also rooted in a strange truth: Mangione, Bankman-Fried and Diddy were all incarcerated in the same prison. Whoa!

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These three people represent these big pillars of institutions in society that are failing in their trust: health care, Hollywood and then big tech, writer and producer Caleb Zeringue told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Another strange truth: The San Francisco theater is basing a musical comedy on an accused killer. But its not like it hasnt been done before. The shows creators were inspired by Chicago, the musical featuring the fictional Roxie Hart standing in for accused murderer Beulah Annan. (In that scenario, both the real-life and theatrical killers were acquitted.)

Mangiones reality isnt all that funny. Hes facing state and federal charges after being accused of fatally shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges, but if hes convicted on the federal counts, Attorney General Pam Bondi intends to seek the death penalty.

The shows producers seem to understand the potential discomfort. This show is not a celebration of violence of any kind, nor is it an attempt to pass judgment on an ongoing legal matter, according to the musicals website. Our hearts go out to the family of Brian Thompson, and we acknowledge the pain and complexity surrounding this case.

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That empathy wont stop Luigi: The Musical from finding laughs. Luigi the character, as weve written him, is dead serious about his thoughts and goals, says Arielle Johnson, one of the shows creators. Theres something campy about the whole good guy with a gun premise.

Backstage footage on the musicals Instagram account provides a peek at the laugh-out-loud funny songs in store for audiences. Johnny Stein, who plays Mangione, is working out the kinks in one number:

Flash those pearly whites

There were cameras there that night

And thats what let the police take me in

Hey, they still have a few weeks to refine the jokes before the show opens in June.
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If Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky is the sort of person who sees a half-empty glass as half-full, he will take some consolation from the fact that the deal his deputy PM signed in Washington yesterday is a lot better than the one he was offered in the White House two months ago.

Then, President Trump was demanding that he hand over a $500billion share of Ukraines rare earth and other minerals in exchange for the military aid it has already provided to Kyiv.

Under the final deal, however, the demand for reimbursement appears to have been abandoned, Ukraine keeps ownership of its natural resources and only new developments will be shared with the Americans on a 50-50 basis.

But the newly created American-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund wont be breaking ground any time soon because yesterdays agreement did not include any security guarantees.

Trump suggests that the very presence of American contractors on the ground would act as a deterrent against Russian attacks. But, as the Ukrainians have bitterly pointed out, Coca-Cola was operating in Ukraine three years ago but that wasnt enough to prevent Russias invasion.

The truth is no one is going to install an oil rig off the coast in the Black Sea if they think a drone could appear at any moment and drop a bomb on it.

The question now is: can Trump persuade Putin to come to the negotiating table and make concessions? As recently as a few days ago, Russias ghoulish foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was sounding as hardline as ever.

He insists that Moscow must be allowed to keep the eastern provinces it already occupies, as well as Crimea, and Kyiv must be banned from joining Nato.

In addition, he wants to see the de-Nazification of Ukraine  by which he means the silencing of any criticism of Russia  and its armed forces must be forbidden to acquire or manufacture modern weaponry.

Is the US President going to really push back on Putins demands or will he pressure Zelensky to agree a humiliating armistice?

If Zelensky put those terms to Ukraines parliament, he would be very hard-pressed to get them agreed. Nationalist groups and elements of the army would be appalled.

And if he failed, Russias position would be stronger than ever.

Everything still depends on the Trump-Putin relationship. Is the US President going to really push back on Putins demands or will he pressure Zelensky to agree a humiliating armistice?

Given that Trumps approach to the Russian leader up to now seems to have been based on nothing more profound than what side of the bed he got out of in the morning, that is impossible to predict. One moment he is hailing Putin as a friend, the next railing against him for bombing civilians.

Perhaps he should take a page out of the Stalin playbook. When the Americans made it clear that they would be pushing Germany for an unconditional surrender as World War II drew to a close, Russias wartime leader suggested offering Hitler peace terms.

If the Fuhrer was weak and accepted them, said Stalin, then more conditions could be demanded until the Allies had the unconditional surrender they had wanted all along. It would be ironic indeed if an approach championed by a Russian despot 80 years ago paid dividends for an American leader today.

Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute in Oxford
It was only six votes. But when people come to write the history, Keir Starmers defeat in the Runcorn by-election will probably come to be viewed as the beginning of the end of his premiership.

That may seem a premature conclusion, given he has been in office less than a year. But the evidence is there for anyone who wishes to see it.

Not least because it was not actually six voters who decided his fate. The ballots are still being counted in the local and mayoral elections. Yet across the nation the pattern is clear. Labours vote is imploding on an unprecedented scale.

And these are not mid-term elections, the traditional dog days of an incumbent administration. It is only ten months since Sir Keir was returned with a landslide majority. And already the suit so generously purchased for him by Lord Alli has been branded with the yellow stripe of betrayal.

Only one prime minister in the last half a century has been so comprehensively humiliated in their first parliamentary test since securing a majority. That was the hapless John Major, in the aftermath of the Black Wednesday debacle in 1992 that sealed his own political demise.

Keir Starmer is now facing his Black Friday. There will not be any precipitous demands for his head. Members of the shadow cabinet will trot out and regurgitate the prepared lines about listening and learning.

But this morning Labour MPs are waking to an uncomfortable reality. Which is that when Keir Starmer told a friend in the middle of the election that secured him the leadership of his party: You know, I dont get politics. I dont understand it. And I dont really like it, he was telling the truth.

Yes, we are still in the foothills of this parliament. Although the verdict of the people was damning, turnout was low as huge swathes of the country voted none of the above. Labours position is still recoverable. But what is worrying his backbenchers is they see precious little evidence that Sir Keir has the guile or will to initiate that recovery. With good reason.

Nigel Farage (pictured with new Reform MP Sarah Pochin) is now the true Leader of the Opposition, writes DAN HODGES

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Despite the hype, Starmer never actually had a strategy for winning the 2024 general election. Instead, he opted to sit back and let Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives lose it. And now he no longer has the Tories to kick around any more, he is politically adrift.

These elections were not just a verdict on Labours first month in office. They were also a referendum on Sir Keirs attempt to blame his Governments errors and missteps on its predecessors.

But having been told ad infinitum that a vote for Labour represented a vote for change, the British people simply dont want to hear it. Having constructed the 20billion black hole, Starmer and Reeves now find themselves stuck at the bottom of it.

Even then, if the Tories remained Labours primary opponents, the Prime Minister might just have a chance of reshaping his party's fortunes. Especially given Kemi Badenochs replacement by Robert Jenrick is now just a matter of time.

But Nigel Farage is now the true Leader of the Opposition. And Keir Starmer does not have the faintest idea how to confront Farages insurgent populism.

His prevarication on trans rights. His liberal squeamishness on immigration. His myopic inability to grasp the fury generated by cuts to winter-fuel payments, pensions and disability benefits. If Reforms leader could piece together an identikit Labour leader to run against, a former human-rights lawyer, Knight of the Realm resident of North London would represent the perfect fit.

And these results are by no means the nadir for Sir Keir and his party. The Rachel Reeves tax bombshell is about to detonate. Trumps tariff vandalism is set to plunge the US, and then global, economy into recession. The menace of Putin and China will force the West to beat its ploughshares into swords and at an increasingly frantic and costly pace. And as the international turmoil spreads, more and more small boats will hove into view off Britains coastline.

All political careers ultimately end in failure. I suspect when Keir Starmers ends it will be with Runcorn carved into his heart.
For a town that has just caused a genuine political earthquake  while also setting a new record for electoral nano-margins  Runcorn seems remarkably underwhelmed.

The rest of Britain, and particularly that part of it which inhabits the much-derided 'Westminster bubble', might still be in a state of shock.

Those who delivered victory for Reform here in Thursday's by-election shrug and tell me that there was no alternative.

Even the ones who voted for another party  or, in many cases, did not vote at all  are neither surprised nor terribly upset.

Labour diehards manage a smile as they acknowledge that the Government probably did deserve a good kick  and got one.

The aftershocks of this quake would continue to reverberate across the country into yesterday evening as Nigel Farage marshalled his Reform battalions in his native Kent for a victory rally.

Here in Runcorn, I arrive to find most people merely bemused by all the attention.

'Well, it makes a change because no one takes any notice of us,' says retired ICI worker Wilf Jackson.

For a town that has just caused a genuine political earthquake  while also setting a new record for electoral nano-margins  Runcorn seems remarkably underwhelmed, writes Robert Hardman. Pictured: Nigel Farage (L) and Sarah Pochin of the Reform Party celebrate as she is declared the winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election

The rest of Britain, and particularly that part of it which inhabits the much-derided 'Westminster bubble', might still be in a state of shock. Those who delivered victory for Reform here in Thursday's by-election shrug and tell me that there was no alternative, Hardman says

Even the ones who voted for another party  or, in many cases, did not vote at all  are neither surprised nor terribly upset. Labour diehards manage a smile as they acknowledge that the Government probably did deserve a good kick  and got one, says Hardman

'Everything always gets given to that lot.' I assume by 'that lot' he means Liverpool  or else London.

'No, Widnes! We've been waiting for a pool since 1960 and they've had three in that time.' Local rivalry is clearly deep and raw.

His point is neatly underlined by the fact that the declaration of this colossal result did not even take place in the constituency.

With nowhere suitable in Runcorn, the votes were counted on the other side of the Mersey at the DCBL Stadium, home of Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club.

Runcorn's lack of civic amenities like a leisure centre, cinema or theatre proved a major theme on the by-election trail.

It is that same perception of a 'two-tier' state somehow favouring other people at one's own expense which seems to lie behind so many of yesterday's upheavals in council and mayoral elections across England.

I hear it time and again in Runcorn's old-fashioned high street, which still boasts a hat shop and an independent butcher.

'I'm not political but there's nothing wrong with a bit of change,' says Danny Shaw at Shaw's Butchers. 'Labour's done nothing to help businesses like mine.'

Pictured: Farage celebrating as Reform Party candidate Sarah Pochin is declared the winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election Runcorn

The aftershocks of this quake would continue to reverberate across the country into yesterday evening as Nigel Farage marshalled his Reform battalions in his native Kent for a victory rally. Pictured: Farage with Dame Andrea Jenkyns (L), and Sarah Pochin (R) as Reform UK celebrate local election victories in Paddock Wood

Pictured: Farage celebrating Reform's historic local election victories in Paddock Wood

It's the same in the other bit of Runcorn, the post-war 'new town' designed by a communist municipal planner in the Sixties.

Its centrepiece is Runcorn Shopping City, the last word in 'space age' retail sophistication when it was opened by the late Queen in 1972.

Today, it is a faded and forlorn collection of cafes, discount stores and empty units.

The newest outlet to open here is the campaign headquarters of Sarah Pochin, the new MP.

It seems rather ironic that here, at the very epicentre of this week's tectonic shift, there is not a single light on and the doors are closed.

I find a couple of pensioners sitting on a bench outside, delighted by the result. 'I used to vote Labour,' says Pam, 'but it's Reform from now on. At least they will deal with all this immigration.'

Having been up all night, the new MP is grabbing some sleep before heading down to join the Faragefest in Kent.

Until this by-election, she was a local magistrate who had put politics behind her after a spell (as a Tory) on Cheshire East Council.

Before that, the mother of two grown-up sons and Loughborough University graduate had worked in business across Europe.

As she told me during the campaign, she was used to moving all over the country having grown up as an Army child (Dad was in 'the Glosters').

Pictured: Reform UK councillors and supporters attend a post-election event at the Staffordshire County Showground in Stafford, Britain, 02 May 2025

Nigel Farage cheers while addressing supporters and the media at Staffordshire County Showground after Reform won control of Staffordshire County Council winning 49 out of 62 seats available

Now she is on the move again, pronto, to begin a new career on Tuesday as one fifth of Reform UK's parliamentary party.

Later on, I talk to some of her team who are still coming to terms with the fact that they have actually pulled this off.

'We came into this with no local structure and no premises to take on a party that's run the council here for decades,' says one.

'The campaign was already underway before we got the keys to the office.' Given its obvious success, Mrs Pochin apparently intends to retain an office in the shopping centre.

Some of her supporters are irked by the tone of news reports that Reform won by 'just' six votes, pointing out that it was astonishing even to be in the running.

Runcorn was never a prime Reform target, as its polling in the Brexit referendum reveals.

While other once-safe Labour towns like Stoke or Sunderland delivered thumping great votes to leave the EU  and subsequently lurched to the Right this place was evenly balanced over Brexit.

Pictured: Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage is seen celebrating with supporters after Reform UK took control of Durham County Council

Nigel Farage (L), leader of the Reform UK party and Sarah Pochin (R), the party's candidate, speak with the press as they celebrate her victory in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election at the DCBL Stadium

It sits on the Mersey, in the shadow of Liverpool, where Labour's roots are deeper than anywhere else.

According to the House of Commons Library, of the five safest Labour seats in the land, four are in Merseyside.

All of which reinforces the significance of a result which warrants immediate induction to the by-election hall of fame.

Political nerds will be studying this one for years to come.

It was in this same region that Britain saw a similar seismic shift more than 40 years ago.

Back in 1981, Westminster was left reeling after the Crosby by-election when a new political force, the Social Democrats, beat both the Tories and Labour to assert themselves as a new party of government.

The difference in that case was that they were already part of the political establishment, led by a band of distinguished centre-Left moderates. Their candidate, Shirley Williams, was a former Labour Cabinet minister.

Reform UK candidate Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage (second right) arrive at the DCBL Halton Stadium ahead of the result of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election

The SDP represented a rearrangement of the existing political furniture. Reform's win feels more like a bunch of outlaws storming the gates.

I head out of Runcorn, along rural roads which are a reminder that the constituency has a significant rural hinterland.

I doubt that Labour could rely on a single farming vote (on my train to Runcorn, I encountered a group of agricultural students on their way to a Young Farmers' conference in T-shirts declaring: 'Be like Starmer! F*** a Farmer!').

I visit Frodsham, the opening scene of this extraordinary story. It was here, outside the Golden Lion pub, that former MP Mike Amesbury was filmed battering a constituent after a night on the tiles last October, thus triggering this by-election.

'Brilliant news, isn't it. Labour have ruined this country and now they've been punished,' says Colin Jones, outside his memorabilia shop.

So was that his first vote for Reform? 'I didn't vote! I don't like Farage one bit. I just think Labour are a disgrace.'

Former office worker John Riley is wearing a turquoise shirt which might suggest his voting intention.

'I'm glad you noticed,' he chuckles. 'I've put it on specially.'

Noticing a journalist with a notebook, a man puts down his pint at the Bear's Paw and bounds up to me.

'It's excellent news and it's just the start,' says Christian, an ex-soldier after 27 years in the Royal Signals. 'I'm not a member. I'm not far-Right. But this country can't cope with any more men of fighting age claiming to be refugees or children.'

It is also an election which will forever be cited as proof that every last door-knock and leaflet really does count.

'I don't care if people say we won by "just six votes",' says Reform's Gawain Towler. 'It's been great for grass-roots party morale because even a volunteer who helped out for a couple of hours can say, 'I made the difference.'

Back in the centre of Runcorn, Sandra Colgan, a lifelong Labour voter ('except for Corbyn') says something similar.

'It only needed a handful more of us and we'd still have a Labour MP,' she says, adding ruefully: 'Maybe it's just what we needed.'
In the world of cosmetic procedures, it can be dizzying to know what's what - with everything from 'fox eye lifts' to 'upper blephs' and BBLs circulating on social media.

But the latest trend on the rise - according to cosmetic surgeons - is a 'major surgery' that achieves a natural youthful glow without the tell-tale 'pulled' look of many procedures.

Speaking to FEMAIL, experts said they have seen increased interest in 'deep plane face lifts' - an operation that can set you back a whopping 60,000 - but offers a red-carpet worthy 'glow-up' that isn't obvious yet still gives a snatched rejuvenation. It was first developed in 1990 by Sam Hamra - a renowned practitioner - but recent years appear to signal an uptick in demand, as celebs have been signing up to go under the knife.

And a myriad of A-listers including Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway are speculated to have had one - although pros say the work can be done with such finesse and hidden-away scarring, that it's 'impossible to tell'.

Meanwhile, other VIPs such as Marc Jacobs and Real Housewives star Sonja Morgan have been open about getting the work done - and even shared recovery updates.

Fans have suggested that Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan and Kris Jenner are also among those who may have taken part in the procedure, having recently shown off very youthful visages with doctors on social media suggesting they may have had a series of procedures - both surgical and non-surgical - including brow lifts, nose jobs and liposuction.

'The popularity of this method fits with a wider trend I'm seeing in aesthetics which is increasingly focused on subtle refinement rather than dramatic change. People want to look great without it being obvious they've had anything done,' Dr Aamer Khan of the Harley Street Skin clinic said, adding that it may cost around 15,000 to 30,000 on average.

'The result is a more youthful facial structure and volume - patients look like a fresher version of themselves - not someone else entirely.

Fans have suggested that Christina Aguilera (pictured), Lindsay Lohan and Kris Jenner are also among those who may have taken part in the procedure

Lindsay Lohan has never confirmed any plastic surgery, but fans have speculated over her recent youthful appearances

Anne Hathaway is another star who, while not confirming any work, has showed off a youthful visage

'We're also seeing growing demand in this procedure because the results are far more long-lasting.

'Traditional facelifts typically last five to seven years, however, deep plane facelift results are more durable - they can last up 10 to 15 years, although the ageing process will continue!'

He added that as well as the celebs who have been open about their experiences with deep plane face lifts, there 'many more celebrities, particularly US A-listers with the means to access the best cosmetic surgeons in the world, have undoubtedly undergone the procedure, because it's imperative that they achieve natural, rejuvenated results for maintaining their public image'.

'Nicole Kidman, for example, looks especially youthful for her age and exceptionally beautiful,' the expert shared.

'Her deeper facial structures appear to have been expertly pulled and lifted, while her jawline and neck look noticeably tighter. While we cannot be certain that Nicole has had a deep plane facelift, her appearance is a perfect example of the results surgeons should be aiming for when performing this procedure.

'Sharon Osbourne has openly discussed her facelifts over the years, and although she expressed dissatisfaction with one of her procedures a few years ago, she looks great; her results also suggest the kind of youthful yet authentic definition and lift associated with deep plane techniques.'

Experts have speculated that Nicole Kidman, 57, has potentially had a facelift. Pictured left in 2016 and right in November

Kris Jenner, 69, has admitted to having a face lift - and social media users have speculated it may have been a deep plane one

Gwyneth Paltrow - pictured - is another A-lister who surgeons have suggested may have gotten a face lift

Marc Jacobs, pictured in 2021 before his face lift, is among the celebs who have admitted to getting the procedure

Marc Jacobs took to social media, to thank Dr Jacono for his 'lewks', posting a photo three days post op

The designer was open and candid about getting his face lift - and even shared the name of his surgeon

Dr Barbara Kubicka, Founder of ClinicBe commented on the 'subtlety' of the procedure, adding that results look more 'harmonious' because it's working on a deeper level of the tissue.

'There's certainly growing interest,' she added. 'While I don't perform surgery myself, I've noticed more patients are asking informed questions about deep plane facelifts  often after seeing impressive results online or on social media.

'People today are looking for subtler, more elegant outcomes that don't scream 'surgical' and the deep plane approach tends to align with that desire.'

Dr Kubicka added that while it's not possible to 'speculate definitively', it's 'fair to say that many people are curious about public figures like Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Anne Hathaway and Nicole Kidman'.

'Their faces appear more sculpted and youthful over time, which may be due to surgical intervention, advanced aesthetic treatments, or simply good genetics, skincare, and lighting,' she added. 'It's important to remember that non-surgical treatments, when done well, can also yield impressive transformations.

While some appear to be discreet, other stars have gone as far as sharing the clinic they went to get their perfect snatched look.

Sonja Morgan, 61, of the Real Housewives of New York, took to Instagram to address 'speculation around her fresh new look' in 2020.

'I got a lower facelift and neck lift after wrapping Season 12,' she expressed. 'I just wanted to be rid of the wrinkling on my neck and the jowls that were starting to form. People thought I was nuts because it was so subtle. But not to me!

Sonja Morgan, 61, of the Real Housewives of New York, took to Instagram to address 'speculation around her fresh new look' in 2020

Sonja shared the name of her surgeon, and opened up about the exact procedure she got online

'It was a no-brainer  gravity had taken its toll, I was also exhausted and I needed a 'pick me up'. I entrusted my face to the best Dr Andrew Jacono, and he hit it out of the park.

'He uses a method called deep plane which goes under the muscle so your skin is still attached. Your blood flows and your face stays vibrant and heals fast.'

The following year, Marc Jacobs, 62, took to social media, to thank Dr Jacono once again for his 'lewks', posting a photo three days post op.

Elsewhere, Real Housewives of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury, 49, got the procedure and documented it on social media.

In August, she revealed this was because she wanted to see what people her age would look like after getting it.

'You get handed books [with pictures of] 80-year-old women that suddenly look 70 or 60. And that's not me. I couldn't relate to them,' she told PEOPLE.

'I wanted to find someone else my age who had done it but she wasn't looking dreadful. She just wanted to look better, right?'

Dr Ross Perry - the Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics - explained that it works by 'lifting and repositioning deeper layers of facial tissue, not just the skin'.

Elsewhere, Real Housewives of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury, 49, got the procedure and documented it on social media

'A traditional facelift is used to tighten the skin and superficial tissues, whereas a deep plane facelift releases and repositions the SMAS layer (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system) and deeper facial fat pads,' he revealed.

'This technique allows for more natural-looking, longer-lasting results, particularly in the midface (cheeks), jawline, and neck.

'The other benefits to a deep plane is that it is able to target deeper layers, repositioning sagging muscles and fat, not just skin. The results are far more natural compared to the 'pulled' look common with older facelift methods.'

As described by The Williams Center in the US, the surgery involves making an incision in the face and neck - usually hidden within the hairline or tucked in the skin crease in front of the ear - where the face and neck skin is then 'separated' from the deeper tissues.

This allows the surgeon to access your superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a tissue layer made up by muscle cells, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers, which is known to become thinner with aging. It covers from your neck up to your forehead, and is the part of the face that gets 'lifted'.

The SMAS is separated from the 'deeper tissues' underneath it - known as the 'deep plane' - and 'lifted up'.

'The principles of a deep plane facelift are that the surgery is done under the surface of the SMAS anatomy and extends all the way to the side of the nose and the corner of the lip and by doing this there are ligaments that are like glue that can be released in this,' Dr Julian De Silva, a Harley Street surgeon, expanded.

'When these ligaments are released, the whole face will lift up, also improving the neck area and jawline. An extension of a vertical deep plane facelift is deep neck surgery where deep soft tissues including inherited fat and low submandibular slavery glands are also reduced which can give a much enhanced jawline.

Dr Julian De Silva explained that the deep plane face lift targets different tissue to a normal face lift

'How does this compare with a conventional or classic face lift, well most of the classic face of surgery was completed on the SMAS anatomy and this is located in front of the air, this surgery avoided the delicate anatomy beneath the mass however did last to improve the middle part of the face.

'In terms of time a classic face lift, that may take two to three hours. Whereas a deep plane face lift can take more like four and half to five hours.'

He added that this is partially why it looks more like a younger version of you - than an un-recognisable version of you.

'Within my patients the majority of patients who come to see me are looking for a natural looking result,' he said.

'What the vertical deep plane facelift does is that it enables me to lift parts of the face that have dropped with gravity, back to where they were previously which gives a very natural result.

'Having said that it is a relatively invasive procedure and of course there is some degree of healing and recovery which includes swellings, feelings of numbness and tightness.

'There are some of my patients who still request a classic facelift or Mini face because they are not looking to have such extensive surgery, however there is definitely a trend for patients wanting the best possible results which currently come from deep plane facelift surgery.'

Dr Perry also stressed it's a much more 'complex' procedure - 'requiring an exceptionally skilled surgeon due to the intricate anatomy involved'.

The SMAS is separated from the 'deeper tissues' underneath it - known as the 'deep plane' - and 'lifted up'

The surgery involves making an incision in the face and neck - usually hidden within the hairline or tucked in the skin crease in front of the ear - where the face and neck skin is then 'separated' from the deeper tissues

Pictured: Before and after photos of a patient who Dr Julian De Silva performed a deep plane face lift on

This technique allows for more natural-looking, longer-lasting results, particularly in the midface (cheeks), jawline, and neck

'Always do your homework and extensive research to find the surgeon who has performed this frequently and subsequently the results,' he warned.

'More and more people are opting for a deep plane for the more natural results and the fact it is longer lasting. You can expect prices to start from 15,000 upwards of 30,000 if the neck also requires work, for a reputable surgeon.'

Dr Khan also urged patients to consider how much post-op care it takes.

'Patients today are more well-informed and discerning about cosmetic procedures than in past years, and because of this, we are seeing a shift away from traditional facelifts toward more advanced, natural-looking aesthetic procedures which include the deep plane facelift,' he said. 'The initial downtime typically takes three to four weeks.'

Dr Paul Banwell, Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon at Pantheons Clinic, also said there are post-surgery markings to consider.

'During recovery, you could experience bruising, tenderness, pain, bleeding, possibility of infection, skin discoloration, nerve change, and tightness and restriction of movement in the face, to name a few,' he explained.

'Deep plane facelifts carry slightly more risk in terms of nerve damage but the plastic surgeons performing these in The U.K. are all highly skilled and obtain lovely results.'

Dr Kubicka also shared that it's crucial clients understand the facial is 'not a quick fix'.

Dr Kubicka - pictured - has also shared that it's crucial clients understand the facial is 'not a quick fix'

'Patients need to be in good general health, have realistic expectations, and understand the recovery process, which can be significant,' she explained.

'I always advise people to explore non-surgical alternatives first  especially if they're under 50  as modern aesthetic medicine offers a wide array of treatments that can restore volume, improve skin quality, and refine facial contours without surgery. Ultimately, it should be a well-informed, personal decision made in consultation with an experienced and reputable surgeon.'

And while fans have speculated about the glitzy Hollywood natives who may have had the procedure - as so many appear ageless when gracing the red carpet - Dr Banwell said because of how subtle and effortless the procedure can look, it's tough to pin anyone down for sure.

'It is sometimes difficult to discern whether someone has had a deep plane facelift although regardless patients usually look amazing with a refreshed more youthful look and a tighter neck and jawline,' he added.

'As plastic surgeons we always try to obtain inconspicuous scars and rapid healing. Deep plane facelifts often leaves a most pleasing lifted appearance that still looks quite natural.

'The procedure can take several hours. I always recommend researching for a plastic surgeon who specialses in facelifts.'

Elsewhere, he also added that while a deep plane facelift is certainly one of the more popular new procedures, it signals an overall rise in all facelifts.

'Yes, there seems to have been a surge in demand for deep plane facelifts in recent years, which I think has been due to the surge in popularity in face lifts in general,' he said.

'However, many people don't actually know what a deep plane facelift is in comparison to traditional face lifts, so I do think there is still a great demand for a traditional face lift.'
A 27-year-old woman who considers herself Gen Z has tested her knowledge of slang language from the generation after her - and realised she knows less than she thought.

Gen Alpha refers to anyone born between 2013 and 2024 and, to older people, some of their slang language may sound entirely foreign.

This is what Summer Fox, from London, realised when she decided to test her knowledge of Gen Alpha's vocabulary by asking her 12-year-old cousin to share a list of terms they frequently use.

'I'm convinced I was still down there with the kids, that I was up to speed with the slang, I'm only 27,' Summer said in a video posted on Instagram.

As soon as she read through her cousin's 'dictionary' list, however, Summer quickly realised how out of touch she was.

The first phrase Summer, who appeared confused by several terms, read out was 'aura points' and it's a way to quantify how cool someone is and whether they bring good energy.

Summer admitted: 'I have heard of this recently and it did freak me out because I didn't know that one. When someone says you're gaining aura points, it means you're giving off good energy, you've got cool vibes. I sound so old!

'Or people can deduct aura points from you, and be like "Ew you're being so cringe, minus aura points".'

Content creator Summer Fox, from London, decided to text her 12-year-old cousin to test her knowledge of words popular with those in their teens and early twenties

The next word was 'sigma' that can be used in different contexts.

As a complimentary adjective, it is used to describe someone as a dominant leader, lone wolf, someone who is cool and popular.

On the other hand, 'what the sigma' also translates to 'what the hell,' Summer, who was perplexed by the word, said.

She added: 'I don't understand, why sigma? What is sigma?'

The official definition of sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet.

The next word on Summer's list from her cousin was 'skibidi' that originates from a short web series called Skibidi Toilet, which was posted on YouTube in 2023.

The outrageous plot follows a war between toilets that have human-like heads and humanoids with CCTV cameras instead of faces - dubbed CameraHeads - and viral show has more than 65 million views on the American streaming platform.

Summer said: 'Apparently people are saying "What the Skibidi" which I assume means "What the hell"? I don't mind that one because it sounds silly, so it makes sense.'

Summer appeared confused by some of the words and had no idea what they meant

'Skibidi' can also mean an array of other things depending on the context in which it is used, including signalling that something is good or bad, cool or weird and dumb.

'Ballerina cappuccina' is another phrase that Gen Alpha appear to be using in their everyday lives and Summer claims it means someone who looks 'cute and classy'.

The phrase is part of the popular group of 'Italian brain rot' characters trending on the internet and originates from an AI-generated image of a cappuccino cup with a face on the body of a human ballerina.

Lindsay Sped - who describes himself as a 'student translator' on TikTok - defined Italian brain rot as: 'Blending AI-images and videos with made-up stories.'

The next one on Summer's cousin's extensive list is 'slay' that used to only mean killing an animal or human in a violent way - but now also translates to someone who has done exceptionally well or impressed others.

'Slightly offended that she thought I wouldn't know what slay meant,' GenZer Summer said, since the term is used widely by her generation as well. 'I know what slay means, thank you.'

Another phrase that is popular with both Gen Alpha and Gen Z is 'it's giving'.

This can be used to convey that you like something or to describe someone's vibe or personality, for example, 'it's giving CEO,' which translates to: 'You are [or it is] giving CEO energy.'

Gen Alpha and Gen Z have also found another adjective for the word 'yum' or 'yummy'.

When describing a delicious meal, for instance, they will say 'That's bussin' as Summer explained: 'Basically they'd all be eating their lunch in the canteen and they'd say "That sandwich was absolutely bussin.'
It has now been nearly a quarter of a century since I last saw my little brother Stuart Campbell, on a muggy afternoon in August 2001.

Although as boys we had been incredibly close  born only 14 months apart  by then we had grown apart.

Back then, Stuart was a 44-year-old self-employed builder. But his personality? I didn't really know him any more. Quiet, I suppose. Private. Didn't drink alcohol. No close friends. He lived with his wife Debbie, who was expecting their first child, in a residential street in Grays, Essex. He worked locally, going from job to job in his blue Transit van.

By contrast, I enjoyed a more glamorous lifestyle in Paris as a fashion journalist. We had little in common  except for a difficult past that neither of us wanted to dwell on. The reason I had travelled to see Stuart was not for a long overdue catch-up, however, but because it had been 45 days since 15-year-old Danielle Jones  his wife's niece  had disappeared.

And, to my horror, police suspected it was Stuart who had abducted her. It was a high-profile case, with Danielle's school photo appearing all over the newspapers and TV, with missing posters everywhere near her home in East Tilbury, Essex.

The search for Danielle had lasted weeks, covering miles of terrain, with divers searching local lakes. Police were still hoping to find Danielle alive, locked away somewhere with food and water. And that, as his brother, I might get Stuart to reveal her whereabouts  or at least give some clues.

A school photograph of Danielle Jones released after she went missing aged 15

At first, unable to believe my brother could be involved in such a sickening crime, I'd hoped it would turn out to be a hideous case of mistaken identity.

After all, only five years earlier, Danielle had been a bridesmaid at Stuart and Debbie's wedding alongside my own daughter Fiona  little girls then aged ten and eight dressed in matching pink satin gowns. But that day, when we came face to face, I noticed how Stuart lacked any of the outrage I'd expect from someone wrongly accused of such a terrible crime.

Instead, the overwhelming impression I got from him was self-pity. He seemed more concerned about his own stress levels than the disappearance of an innocent schoolgirl. I came away convinced of his guilt. It was devastating.

Afterwards, the police continued to piece together their case against Stuart, who refused to confess or disclose the location of Danielle's body. Despite this, they compiled overwhelming circumstantial evidence that he had abducted, murdered and disposed of his niece.

In December 2002, Stuart was found guilty and jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years. But, as with any murderer, his release depends on the judgment of the Parole Board. He has since made two parole applications, the most recent just a few months ago.

Given his lack of repentance, his release is an appalling prospect. Particularly as he still refuses to reveal what he did with Danielle, cruelly depriving her parents, Tony and Linda, of the chance to lay their beloved daughter to rest and finally find some peace.

The introduction of Helen's Law in 2020 places an obligation on the Parole Board to take into account an offender's refusal to disclose information, such as the location of a victim's body, when deciding on parole. So perhaps there's still a chance Stuart will do the right thing.

The pain Danielle's family have lived with since June 2001 is unfathomable. But what is it like to be the brother of a murderer?

Rightly, after a brutal murder, sympathy is with the victim's family and friends. But few can appreciate the impact such a crime also has on the perpetrator's family, who often feel tainted by association.

Then there's the emotional impact. How do you cope when you discover your younger brother  the once bright and cherubic little boy who had a beautiful singing voice and went to private school  is a sex offender and a killer? And worse still, that the clues were there all along, but you had never realised.

Needless to say it upends everything you thought you knew  not only about him, but about yourself, too.

For a long time, my best course of action seemed to be denial  pretending not to know or care about Stuart.

In the aftermath of his conviction I tried to run away. And for a while I managed to escape. I moved to America, where I sometimes forgot I had a brother serving life for killing his teenage niece.

Eventually, though, the situation became intolerable. On the one hand, I couldn't go on pretending that I didn't remember, or that it was out of my hands, all in the past, or nothing to do with me.

On the other, even though I didn't commit the crime, I felt certain it would radically alter how people saw me. I felt trapped.

As well as the shame, I felt a nauseating fear of being judged along with him. I began to wonder if we shared the same genetic predisposition, the same pathological tendencies. I was left wondering about DNA and genetic inheritance. What exactly makes someone a killer? Nature? Nurture? Or both?

I came back again and again to that time, many years earlier, when a vicious row with a girlfriend had got physical and I slapped her back, leaving her with a black eye.

I wondered how I could ever have raised my hands to a woman; wondered how deeply I had suppressed that memory, and if there were others even more shameful about to bubble up. And, worst of all, I wondered whether there's a latent predator in my psyche, like Stuart, just waiting to be triggered.

After all, Stuart and I not only shared the same genes but we experienced the same intensely violent childhood in Tilbury.

Our Scottish father Alec Campbell, a chef in the Merchant Navy, had pursued our mother Molly after they met in a pub. But Alec was not the stable, loving provider that this warm and gentle woman deserved.

A heavy drinker, he regularly and savagely beat her, though she refused to be cowed. As Stuart and I got older we became targets, too.

It was one of the many things that made us so fiercely loyal to each other. But there were differences between us, too. For a start, we didn't look at all alike. Stuart had the pretty boy looks  the thick, wavy hair and softer features of my mother  while I inherited my father's straight, dark hair; hooded eyes; and high cheekbones.

Our temperaments differed, too. Stuart was charming and daring, I was awkward and cautious. But being so close in age, at school Stuart and I always defended each other against numerous bullies.

When I was 11 and Stuart was ten, Mum found the courage to divorce our father. She hoped it would herald a more positive future for both of us, but at secondary school our paths soon diverged.

I passed the 11-plus and got into grammar school. Stuart didn't.

He began rebelling at school and got into serious trouble with the police after shooting a kid with an air rifle. Random violence was an everyday hazard in the rough end of Tilbury where we grew up, but Stuart had shot this child in the forehead at close range. The police began talking about prosecution for GBH and an approved school.

Instead Mum, ever resourceful, found Eccles Hall, a boarding school for 'bright but maladjusted' boys  mostly the offspring of foreign diplomats and civil servants

These parents normally paid a small fortune to offload their sons, but the school had a placement system for smart lads from the worthier end of the working class.

Against all odds, she gained what she thought would be a superior education for her fiery younger son, in a nurturing environment.

Killer Stuart Campbell, second left, poses for the camera with his bride Debbie, his mother and brother Alix, and Danielle, then aged ten

But it didn't work out for Stuart. In the holidays he came home as someone cold and arrogant. From then on we started to grow apart  and eventually to fear and mistrust each other. By our mid-teens we were both quick to throw a punch, but Stuart took things further. Soon I realised he was carrying knives and, at one point, even an axe.

Still, by 2001, the year of Danielle's death, I thought of Stuart as a once-troubled boy who'd finally gone straight and settled down.

Yes, he had been violent as a kid but, like me, he'd grown out of that.

I'd got lucky. Aged 18, I befriended a married couple called Pete and Viv, young teachers who also worked part-time at the local youth club.

They treated me like a smart and funny kid, as opposed to a nasty yob. I began spending evenings at their flat where we'd talk about books and art. They encouraged me to apply to art school, setting me on the path that led to me becoming a journalist and writer  and adopting my mother's maiden name along the way to break with my past.

In 1996 I moved to Paris, living a raffish, hedonistic lifestyle in the French capital, where I wrote about fashion and the glamorous set. Stuart, meanwhile, had become a thief and served multiple prison sentences from the age of 18. But he'd served his time and  what's the cliche?  paid his debt to society.

He had never hurt anybody, never committed any crimes of gratuitous or sexual violence. That was what I believed, anyway.

It was only after his arrest  after Mum had called in tears to tell me the police wanted to speak to Stuart about a missing teenager, and I realised with horror that she was talking about Danielle  that I learned the truth about his spells in prison.

For the first five years I wrote to him in prison in the hope hed tell me where Danielles body was - and give her parents some peace. But he never responded

During one of my chats with the police, they asked if I knew about Stuart's history of sexual violence towards underage girls. I was astounded. I'd always believed the first time he went to prison, in 1977, aged 19, was for handling stolen goods.

Now, I learned Stuart had been convicted of beating up a 16-year-old girl and stealing her purse. He hit her so hard that he left her with two black eyes. And then he sexually assaulted her.

And that was just the start of it, the detective continued.

For the next ten minutes he recounted the ugly, brutal crimes my brother had been accused of down the years. Some that he had been convicted of, others he'd managed to walk away from. None of which I'd known about.

After Stuart was arrested and his photo appeared in the media, the officer told me numerous women came forward claiming he had either assaulted, stalked or harassed them.

His unhealthy obsession with underage girls had seen him set himself up as a photographer  advertising his services producing 'portfolios for new and established models' as a ruse to take indecent photos of them.

It emerged Stuart was sending Danielle  his 15-year-old niece  inappropriate texts such as 'Hi, sexy legs'. On the morning of her disappearance, Danielle had been seen talking to a man in a blue Transit van just like Stuart's.

Alix and, left, his younger brother Stuart when they were growing up

In the loft of his house, police found blood-stained stockings with both his and Danielle's DNA on them. They also found her lip gloss. Mobile phone location evidence disproved his alibi  he said he'd been at a homewares store when Danielle went missing.

An analysis of text messages supposedly sent to Stuart by Danielle revealed they were almost certainly written by Stuart. In December 2002, at the end of an 11-week trial, the jury took less than eight hours to find him guilty of Danielle's abduction and murder. Reading the reports from Paris, I felt thankful it was over, but no relief. Instead I was numb, a throbbing mass of dull misery.

Today, my brother is still incarcerated in HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Western Europe's largest maximum-security prison, it houses more than 700 of the UK's most dangerous offenders. Apparently, even the guards call it Monster Mansion. For the first five years, I wrote to him, more than anything else in the hope that he'd tell me where Danielle was. But he never responded.

Today, I have no idea what he thinks or feels, or whether he has ever felt the slightest remorse.

So I ask myself: 'How could Stuart become so evil?'

While researching my book, My Brother The Killer, I learned the retired headmaster of Stuart's private boarding school had been convicted of sexually abusing young boys at precisely the time my brother was a pupil. By then this headmaster was in his late 70s. Facing a lengthy prison sentence, he'd committed suicide.

Stuart never mentioned any abuse, and it's not an excuse, but I've often wondered if that might explain how he turned out.

We will likely never know what tortured combination of nature and circumstance turned him into such a monster.

For my own part, after years of living with grief, shame and anxiety, I found some kind of catharsis in writing about this terrible tale. Telling our story has allowed me to escape the cage of guilt by association. The book details many of Stuart's worst secrets, exposing the lies he constructed to deceive his wife and her family, as well as his own. I'm sure Stuart didn't like the book, but I'm certain his vanity would have compelled him to read it.

Stuart and I shared a traumatic childhood, so I dedicated My Brother The Killer to my mother, daughter and wife, because they all helped me to understand and process that trauma. My wife Sarah in particular, whom I met in 2005, has helped me to heal many deep wounds.

I wonder sometimes if I was simply a lot luckier than Stuart, given we took such very different paths. For what it's worth, I still can't believe he set out to kill Danielle. I still want to think it was a confrontation that got out of hand and that he panicked and tried to cover up his horrible crime.

Our mother still loves Stuart, the way only a mother can. Even though she's now 92, and despite all the pain he has caused her, she still worries about him.

It breaks my heart that he doesn't have the decency to think of her. When my book was published, he stopped writing to our mum, stopped sending her birthday and Christmas cards. It was petty and vindictive, but it doesn't surprise me. Even after all these years, it seems Stuart is still thinking primarily about himself.

Our brotherly connection means I still cannot say I hate Stuart, though obviously I can never love him as I once did.

For Danielle's relatives, however, all that matters is that they can say goodbye to their daughter. Almost 24 years on from her death, I still hope that one day Stuart does the right thing and tells them where she is buried.

Extracted from My Brother The Killer: How A Boy Became A Murderer by Alix Sharkey (16.99, Mudlark)  Alix Sharkey 2021. To order a copy for 8.99 (offer valid to 17/05/25; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
Clench your teeth. And now reeeelax! Professor Syed Haq is instructing me calmly, needle poised just millimetres from my skin. Then comes the sharp scratch. And another. Until six tiny injections have pierced the base of my jawline  three on each side.

Today, Im having masseter Botox. Unlike regular Botox, this isnt about smoothing fine lines or freezing your forehead. Its a treatment that has become well-known among stressed mid-lifers as a miracle cure for bruxism, the medical term for unconscious teeth-grinding and jaw-clenching, which affects one in four adults and often worsens during times of anxiety.

But thats not why Im having it  or its not the only reason. Among women in their 20s like me  sometimes described as the TikTok generation  the treatment is booming in popularity because of a newly-discovered side-effect.

By preventing the overuse of the masseter muscles, this type of Botox is supposed to produce a softer, more contoured jawline that can dramatically alter the silhouette of the face, particularly for those with naturally strong or bulky jaw muscles. So-called jaw-slimming sculpts the face into a more feminine heart shape  or thats the claim; less Brad Pitt and more Scarlett Johansson, with no surgery or downtime required.

Ive long felt torn on the subject of Botox injections. In June last year, I wrote a piece for this newspaper about the boom in preventative Botox  the idea that the jabs can slow down or prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles among women in their 20s and early 30s.

The procedure itself is quick. Each injection feels like a minor sting  less painful than I expected and no worse than a flu jab

Most of the women I interviewed were inspired by TikTok to smooth their foreheads and preserve their youth  even though, like me, they barely had a wrinkle in sight.

In the end, however, I decided Botox wasnt for me. Or not yet in any case. I wasnt convinced that it could slow ageing and not leave me looking frozen, with a rather startled expression, so I gave it a pass.

Then, five months ago, during a stressful day at work, I suddenly became aware of an odd tense sensation at the back of my mouth. I was grinding my back teeth together  not just a one-off clench, but an ongoing, involuntary grinding. Once I noticed it, I couldnt stop.

I caught myself doing it constantly  at my desk, on the sofa reading, even walking to the shops. The worst was at night. Id wake up with aching temples, a sore jaw and the kind of headache that painkillers wouldnt shift.

I tried to de-stress (easier said than done). I looked into traditional treatments, like an occlusal splint (a mouthguard you wear at night). But with NHS dental appointments more elusive than Glastonbury tickets, I was looking at around 400 to get one fitted privately.

And then, like a sign from the algorithmic gods, TikTok began feeding me videos of masseter Botox. Young women showing off striking before-and-after shots of their newly-sculpted faces, claiming it had cured their grinding and sharpened their jawlines in one fell swoop.

My appointment takes place at the Marylebone clinic of Professor Syed Haq  one of the UKs most sought-after aesthetic doctor

Of course, one cant help but wonder how many of these women are really struggling from clinical bruxism  and how many are simply using it as an excuse to slim their jawlines. A bit like when a Hollywood star reveals theyve had surgery to correct a deviated septum  and happens to emerge with a perfectly sculpted nose.

Flossie Clegg, a 24-year-old TikTokker from London, revealed shed had the treatment after fans were speculating about the cosmetic work shed had done.

I got Botox in my jaw, she said. I did start getting it because I would grind my teeth and I actually didnt realise it changes your face. I do really like the look aesthetically. I used to have a very strong, broad jaw  which I didnt mind at the time but now that it has slimmed down my face, I like it.

The hashtag #masseterbotox has so far been used more than 12,000 times on TikTok.

Some of the results are from women trying to de-influence the treatment by warning of side effects  such as developing jowls, or a frozen smile. Even so, I decided to take the plunge.

My appointment takes place at the Marylebone clinic of Professor Syed Haq  one of the UKs most sought-after aesthetic doctors  who runs the practice AM Aesthetics with his wife and aesthetician, Alex Haq.

Before a single needle is uncapped, Im taken through a detailed consultation. We discuss my medical history, medication, and suitability for the treatment.

It turns out that, yes, I am suffering from bruxism  and Im a prime candidate. Then Professor Haq asks me to repeatedly clench and relax my jaw while he observes. He holds up an iPad to analyse my profile and casually announces: You have severe facial asymmetry.

Charming!

His wife Alex quickly softens the blow: There is more muscle thickening  or hypertrophy  of the masseter muscle on the right side.

Ive always noticed my jawline looks slightly stronger on that side, but I assumed it was my natural face. I never thought it could be corrected  or at least softened  by Botox.

Clara before she had the Botox, left, and after the treatment

Professor Haq explains his plan: 25 units of botulinum toxin type A on the right side, 20 on the left. The aim is to reduce the size of the more prominent muscle to create a more symmetrical, balanced look (while also preventing the grinding thats been plaguing me).

Botox blocks nerve signals to the muscles, temporarily relaxing them. In the case of masseters  the muscles responsible for chewing  it means youre no longer able to unconsciously clench or grind. The muscle shrinks from underuse, giving the jawline a softer appearance.

The procedure itself is quick. Each injection feels like a minor sting  less painful than I expected and no worse than a flu jab.

And although the toxin from the jab might take a few days to start paralysing the masseter muscles, Professor Haq tells me the relief may come not just from the Botox, but from the mechanical process of the needle breaking through the tense fibres of the muscle.

I wake up the next day with a dull, pulsing headache that sits behind my eyes. Professor Haq warned me about this. Its caused by the temporalis muscle at the side of the head overcompensating for the weakened masseter. Its unpleasant  but manageable with painkillers.

But whats more surprising is the near-immediate relief in my jaw. Just 24 hours after the injections, my teeth grinding has almost entirely stopped.

For the first time in weeks, I wake up with no throbbing pain in my jaw. Sitting at my desk at work, it sits relaxed  rather than constantly clenching. And yes, I admit it  I begin to notice subtle changes in the mirror.

A few weeks later, the right side of my face looks slightly less bulky and my jawline less rounded. Its a difference so slight that I

wonder if it might be placebo  but Ill take it! However, as with all TikTok-viral beauty trends, backlash against the treatment has already begun.

Made In Chelsea star Sophie Habboo, 30, recently admitted that years of masseter Botox had left her with a frozen smile. Its a really bad situation, she said. I look rank, to be honest.

And 23-year-old YouTube star Olivia Neill last year revealed she had been left with numbness on one side of her jaw after getting the injections.

Reddit threads are also filled with cautionary tales from women claiming they developed jowls just months after having their masseters injected. Some say their faces look hollow or aged.

Dr Shereene Idriss, a respected New York-based dermatologist, posted a video earlier this year warning about the growing trend of cosmetic masseter Botox.

Medically, there is a purpose, she says. But cosmetically, it can [wreck] your face. Once you bring that muscle down, [you get that] dreaded jowl.

Theres no known method to reverse the effects of Botox. It can only naturally wear off over time, usually within three to four months  though Professor Haq tells me I could feel the effects for eight to ten months.

If youre blessed with a strong bone structure, youre going to be fine as you get older. But if you have a dainty jawline, your bone structure is not strong enough to hold up your face. That masseter muscle was giving the illusion of a better jawline.

So whats the truth?

I certainly dont have a strong bone structure  so Ill be wary of the side-effects as the Botox continues working.

Alex Haq tells me it depends on the practitioner, the patient, and how often its done. While she would inject only after a medical assessment, many other clinics are reckless and will give injections to those who dont need them.

Maybe Ill need to think twice before doing it again, or tweak the dosage, or let the muscle regain some strength.

But, for now, waking up without an aching jaw feels like a luxury I didnt realise I was missing. And Id take pain-free mornings over a perfect profile any day.
A woman on TikTok is controversially claiming she isn't washing her face at all - or using any water - as she embraces the so-called 'caveman method.'

Content creator Tia Zakher, who splits her time between Montreal, Dubai, and Cairo, caused quite a stir on social media when she claimed she was no longer washing her face.

Instead, Tia explained that she was letting dead skin cells pile up because her skin's 'shedding cycle was disrupted for a long time from years of over picking and removing texture manually.'

Tia told her concerned followers 'the thick, flaky look is a normal part of resetting my skin barrier' but they weren't convinced, with many people accusing her faking her flakey skin for attention and viral fame.

In another video, the unemployed 22-year-old said she was looking forward to see new conspiracy theories about her skin.

The controversial creator also said she was going to start 'incorporating water' in her routine, after not using it at all.

She had previously stopped all skincare and was not using water to help her barrier 'rebuild naturally.'

Tia said her skin was 'shedding all the damage,' but one commenter replied, 'Girl. You're not a snake. Go to the dermatologist.'

FEMAIL has since reached out to dermatologists to find out what would happen if someone attempted the caveman method - and if it's realistic that Tia is trying it or if it's all an elaborate hoax.

A woman on TikTok is controversially claiming she isn't washing her face at all - or using any water - as she embraces the so-called 'caveman method' (stock image)

Women started making their own videos, with many saying that there was no caveman method, accusing her of using a mud mask with pressed powder for attention (stock image)

Content creator Tia Zakher caused quite a stir on social media when she claimed she was no longer washing her face

Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman told DailyMail.com 'if you stop cleansing your face entirely, especially in urban or humid environments, you're likely to see a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and environmental pollutants.'

'Over time, that can lead to clogged pores, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, or even fungal overgrowth,' Dr. Kopelman explained.

Dr. Kopelman said 'if you stop cleansing your face, especially in urban environments, you're likely to see a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and environmental pollutants'

Women started making their own videos in response to Tia's outlandish claims, with many saying that she wasn't telling the truth and that there was no caveman method, accusing her of using a mud mask with pressed powder for attention.

While Dr. Kopelman can't say definitively what's on her face, she 'wouldn't rule out the possibility that she's using a powdered clay or mud mask for aesthetic or storytelling purposes.'

If someone genuinely wants to repair their skin barrier, Dr. Kopelman recommends using a gentle moisturizer and washing their face twice a day.

Many people on TikTok were appalled that Tia was skipping washing her face entirely, especially since water isn't damaging.

One commented, 'Water will not do anything to your skin girl.'

Other people thought it was possible Tia had developed a rash if she was trying the technique, with one person saying, 'Someone tag me when she finally finds out it's a fungal infection.'

While the caveman method is taking off on social media, no one should try it at home (stock photo)

While the caveman method is taking off on social media, no one should try it at home. Not only will it not help rebuild the skin's barrier, which helps retain moisture, it could be quite damaging.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Stephanie Taylor warned that if people skip washing their face entirely they can develop fungal folliculitis.

The skin condition is a rash caused by yeast that develops in oily skin.

'People even get patches of redness, itching known as dermatitis,' Dr. Taylor, a senior consultant at Medpak Solutions, advised.

'Your skin has its own natural protective barrier, and when it is not washed carefully, that protective barrier can break down.'
The London-based food critic, 50, said Camilla has been a 'great mother'

King Charles spoke this week about the 'daunting' and frightening' experience of being told that he had cancer.

And his stepson, Tom Parker-Bowles is increasingly conscious of how much time his parents have left.

'Your parents matter,' reflected the food writer, whose father is Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, 85, first husband of Queen Camilla, 77. 'My parents are getting older. Birth, death and taxes are the definites in life  it matters.

'If my mother asks for something, you try your best. She's been a great mother to us.'

He added of his parents: 'We're there for them as well  as they get older, you appreciate what they've done.'

Tom, who's the Mail on Sunday's restaurant critic, has two children, Lola, 17, and Freddy, 15, with his ex-wife, fashion editor Sara Buys.

'[When young], you take your parents for granted  my children are that age now,' he said, laughing. 'They only ring if it's, 'Can I get some money please Dad?'

Speaking to broadcaster Gabby Logan on her podcast The Mid.Point, he said: 'I appreciate going out now with my son and daughter, I love it when we go out to lunch dinner, and we appreciate it.'

Tom Parker Bowles, 50, has spoken of the realisation that his parents are growing older (seen at Cheltenham Racecourse in March, 2024)

Tom, who turned 50 last year, is not worried about ageing himself, admitting: 'I like getting older [because] you're not expected to go out.'

Last Christmas, he stayed with the Royal Family at Sandringham, their Norfolk retreat, for the first time, at his mother's request.

Shortly before then, he remarked: 'For the past 15 years it has been: I go back to my ex-wife's house, sit in my tracksuit bottoms, go to the pub while the beef's in, then try to get my children to watch The Wild Geese. Classic. So this would be a bit different.'

The Old Etonian married Buys in 2005 and they divorced in 2022. Freddy was one of the Pages of Honour to the Queen at the Coronation in 2023.

In his message issued earlier this week, Charles made a series of poignant remarks about his experience with cancer and revealed that he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James.

She urged sufferers, he said, with moving magnificence to 'find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.'

His Majesty opened up in a message to fellow sufferers as they are invited to Buckingham Palace yesterday to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations.

The King is himself still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides say his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking.

Tom's comments come after King Charles spoke about the 'daunting' and frightening' experience of being told that he had cancer

The food critic told Gabby Logan that his parents are 'getting older' (Tom is seen with his father, Andrew Parker Bowles, in September, 2024

Before his latest remarks about his parents, Tom gave a rare insight into family life with his mother, Queen Camilla, on a leading food podcast.

The writer revealed what he grew up eating around the dinner table and what family life was like with his mother, now Queen Camilla, father Andrew Parker-Bowles and sister Laura Lopes.

Tom, the Mail on Sunday's restaurant critic, revealed that he grew up eating hearty roast dinners - but loves fast food too.

He also gave several insights into Camilla's cooking abilities and her go-to takeaway order.

The writer made the revelation during an appearance on the podcast Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware.

During the discussion alongside Henry Jeffreys, the Queen's son opened up about what family life was like in the kitchen and around the dinner table.

Tom explained his mother always ensured her children ate well - but added she doesn't cook much anymore for obvious reasons.

He told the podcast hosts: 'Not so much anymore - She's busy, but she was bringing up two children in the '70s, '80s, in Wiltshire.

Pictured: Camilla and Tom at the launch of his book - Cooking & The Crown - at The Audley Public House on September 5, 2024 in London

'It wasn't that my dad would cook [Camilla] was a good cook, but she wasn't a recipe follower.

'Get a chicken, put a lemon up his a***, you know, put butter all over it, put it in the oven. That's dinner!'

He continued to say that growing up, he didn't eat out often, and his first experience of a restaurant was on a trip to London with his grandmother.

'Growing up in Wiltshire in the '70s and '80s, you did not go out to eat,' he confessed.

'I went to London with my granny, who took us to nice Italian restaurants. But in the country - Wimpy in Swindon. '

And, although he enjoyed the occasional treat, he admitted that the most memorable dish from his childhood was roast chicken and a baked potato.

He said: 'I suppose it would be my mum's roast chicken.

'And then she'd never make gravy, but she'd she'd cut off that fatty bit and, you know, the bit that hangs over, and put it on the top so and then she'd pour all the juices over your chicken, and it'd be a baked potato, and that was it.'

He later described how he would often be allowed the odd takeaway and to rent a film, although Camilla was strict about the movies he could and couldn't watch.

Tom said: 'And the other thing was fish and chips. The fish and chip shop was in our local town, so we went to the video shop afterwards.

'She [Camilla] told them I wasn't allowed to get eighteen, so I'd get Lethal Weapon, and the Delta Force (..) whatever it was.

'It was just pre-the Video Recordings Act, so they weren't rated. But she would know all this stuff.

'And then you get fish and chips and a video, and it's just like, this is the lifeand a coke!

During the podcast, Tom also revealed that his last supper would consist of his mother's roast chicken or his favourite order from McDonald's.
Fashion-conscious Aussie shoppers are obsessed with Target's latest winter knitwear offering, with fans raving about the high quality and effortlessly on-trend selection.

The retailer showcased some of its newly released knitwear pieces in a video shared this week across Instagram and TikTok channels.

The eight-second video featured a model wearing four new season Target knitwear tops, which were styled four different ways in head-to-toe ensembles.

One impressed online Target follower quickly replied: 'Wait Target these sweaters are a slay'.

Target is also offering an online exclusive of 20 per cent off knitwear - meaning all the featured pieces in the video can be purchased at a reduced price.

The video, which was liked and shared several times, features four key pieces from Target Australia's winter 2025 knitwear collection.

The first featured item is the Lily Loves Fluffy Button Front Cardigan, which retails for $40 and has been reduced down to $32 in the sale.

The model showcased the blue version of the cosy cropped cardigan, which also comes in a brown, black, red and white version.

Target Australia's social media video (left) showcased four ways to style their new season knit wear, including the light blue Lily Loves Fluffy Button Front Cardigan (right), which retails for $40 and reduces down to $32 in the online sale

The social media video featured the model styling the new Target Australia knit wear four different ways, including the Lily Loves Cable Knit Jumper (left) RRP $40 and the Lily Loves Cozy Off The Shoulder Knit Top (right) RRP $30

In the video, the model is styled wearing the cardigan with just the top button down up and it's worn over a plain white top and paired with stylish wide leg jeans.

The next featured knit is the Lily Loves Cozy Off The Shoulder Knit Top, with the model featured wearing the brown 'Bracken' shade.

The shoulder-baring sweater retails for $30, which comes down to $24 in the online sale, and comes in an array of colours including white, black, charcoal, light blue and green.

The knit is styled in the video as part of a smart-casual look, paired with a brown striped mini skirt, black knee-high boots and a matching black shoulder bag.

The next look is a relaxed ensemble featuring the Lily Loves Cable Knit Jumper.

The wool blend grey marle jumper, which retails for $40 and reduces to $32 in the online sale, is teamed with a pair of wide leg jeans and closed-toe black shoes to create an effortless everyday look.

The Lily Loves Cable Knit Jumper also comes in three other colours: Charcoal Marle, Oatmarle and Decadent Chocolate.

The final bold ensemble is an all-brown outfit, centred around Target's Lily Loves Long Sleeve Split Front Rib Knit Top.

The social media video showcased how to style a monochromatic outfit (left) featuring Target's Lily Loves Long Sleeve Split Front Rib Knit Top RRP $30

The striking asymmetric top retails for $30, with an online sale price of $24 and comes in either the chocolate brown shade that's worn by the model or a black version.

To create a monochromatic effect, the model is styled wearing the top over fitted brown pants and paired with dark burgundy sneakers.

Excitement around the latest Target Australia winter knitwear offerings comes shortly after an Aussie style content creator recently raved about her winter fashion haul from the store.

Melbourne-based style content creator Tiarnah Norris posted a video last month that notched up over 230,000 views after revealing that she was 'shocked' at the brand's surprisingly well-priced and quality made winter staples.

'So, was anyone going to tell me that Target is popping off right now for nice winter staples that are low key really affordable,' Tiarnah said in the video shared to her TikTok account.

'This is a PSA because nobody told me. I'm really, really shocked right now,' Tiarnah said while brandishing a bursting Target shopping bag.

The fashion lover explained that she'd picked up four 'winter staples' that were affordably priced for the quality of the product.

Among her selections were two of the knitwear pieces that are now available at a marked down price in the online sale.

Online content creator Tiarnah Norris (left) raved about the 'quality' and 'really affordable' winter staples at Target - including the 'flattering' Target Lily Loves Australian Exposed Seam Knit Jumper, $30 (right)

Tiarnah's viral video saw her rave about the 'really flattering' Target Lily Loves Australian Exposed Seam Knit Jumper, which retails for $30 and has now come down to $24 in the online sale.

'We're going into winter and autumn - you can't go wrong with a really nice knit,' Tiarnah said.

Tiarnah's other winter knitwear pick was the Petites Australian Cotton Blend Button Knit Vest in Stone, which retails for $30 but can be snapped up in the online sale for $24.

'How freakin' cute,' Tiarnah exclaimed about the vest.

'If you'd told me this was DISSH I would have been like, "Yep, that looks like it's from DISSH".'

'The quality is so good, I'm honestly in shock.'
Queen Camilla appeared in great spirits on Thursday night as she couldn't resist talking about her 'favourite drink' at a reception at Windsor Castle.

The monarch joined her husband King Charles and step-son Prince William for a rare joint engagement, a reception for members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.

At one point, Camilla spoke to Keith Payne V.C, and insisted on getting him something to drink.

She said: 'Nice to see you, we've met before, haven't we!' before turning to an aide and asking: 'Would you be able to get some more wine?'

The Queen, 77, couldn't resist joking about her fondness for her favourite tipple, adding: 'On its way, red wine. That's all I drink, it's very good for you! Just what the doctor ordered!

'I promise you I do, It's my favourite drink. Very good for you'

Clearly on a mission to make sure everyone had a red wine, she asked another attendee, 'you don't want one too, do you?'

Keith, 92, was the oldest member of the association present and was awarded the VC in Vietnam after saving 40 men under heavy mortar fire, who had flown over especially from Australia for the occasion.

Queen Camilla appeared in great spirits on Thursday night as she couldn't resist talking about her 'favourite drink' at a reception at Windsor Castle

Payne received his VC from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II aboard the Royal Yacht, Britannia in Brisbane in April 1970.

It was one of 27 medals he received during a distinguished military career.

He said: Its a wonderful occasion. I have met all the Royal Family over the years, so many times in fact that when someone tried to introduce me to Queen Elizabeth she said: Oh you dont need to do that, Mr Payne and I know each other very well!

The Queen is a known lover of red wine, previously admitting at a reception for the United Kingdom Vineyards Association's 50th anniversary: ''People always ask me how I became involved in it all, well, first of all, I love wine, but secondly, my father was in the wine business, so I was brought up as a child drinking wine and water rather like the French.'

And when she was interviewed by her son, Tom Parker-Bowles for You Magazine, she admitted her 'last supper' would need to involve 'a really good glass of red claret.

'And, seeing it's my last supper, probably two.'

The Victoria Cross is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, irrespective of rank.

The George Cross, instituted by King George VI in 1940, which may also be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

Britain's Queen Camilla talks with Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne during a reception for the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association at Windsor Castle

The Queen couldn't resist talking about her 'favourite drink' and joked 'it's very good for you'

King Charles appeared in good spirits as he spoke to guests at a Windsor Castle reception for members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association

The King is patron of the association, following in the footsteps of his late mother and grandmother.

After posing for group photographs in St Georges Hall, the royal trio spent time with the VC & GC holders, and members of their families, as well as representatives of posthumously awarded recipients, in the Grand Reception Room.

Founded in 1956, the VC & GC Association provides support to the living holders and their families, restore - and in some cases, create - graves and memorials associated with VC & GC holders, and educate the public on the two awards.

The reception is held every four years.

The King and his son both spoke to Major Peter Norton GC, a triple amputee.

He lost both legs and an arm, with his remaining limb badly injured, after stepping on an IED in 2005 while serving as a commander of weapons intelligence unit in the Royal Logistics Corp.

He told William that had there been the same medical practices in 2005 that there were in 2010, he would probably still be walking.

But I am not bitter, he said. What is normal? Im spread across three continents (in reference to both his immediate injures and amputations that took place later as a result of them). 

The King is patron of the association, following in the footsteps of his late mother and grandmother. He is seen here greeting attendees

Prince William (right) joined his father, King Charles, and step-mother, Queen Camilla, (both not pictured) for the reception that marked a rare joint engagement

After posing for group photographs in St Georges Hall, the royal trio spent time with the VC & GC holders, and members of their families, as well as representatives of posthumously awarded recipients, in the Grand Reception Room

Theres not a lot I can say to that. I am in awe. Of all of you, said the prince. This is my first parade with the VC and GCs and I am just in awe of you. The stories. 

He also praised Major Nortons wife, Kate, saying: You have clearly found happiness. It takes two people to make that happen.

Do you remember it at all? Were you one of the most severely injured? They must have learnt a lot since then.

The King also spoke at length to Major Norton, praising his bravery and dedication since the incident.

And he laughed as Kate Norton-Hewins, who is six foot tall, gestured to her husband's wheelchair and said it was lucky she had met him before he was injured as he would have been far too short for me.

Wonderful, just wonderful, the king smiled.

Speaking afterwards Major Norton said he had been due to receive his GC from the late Queen Elizabeth in 2006 but it was one of those rare occasions that she was ill after suffering a bad back.

He instead received his award from Princess Anne who told him: I am so glad, I never get to give these out! She was my corp Colonel-in-Chief.

The King and his son both spoke to Major Peter Norton GC, a triple amputee.

Major Peter Norton told William that had there been the same medical practices in 2005 that there were in 2010, he would probably still be walking.

He said, remarkably matter-of-fact, of his injuries: It is what it is. We always thought we could go at any time. Most of us thought we would either survive of get killed. You could consider it an advantage. 

He currently lectures, among other things, in explosive ordinance engineering.

He said of the Royal Family: They are so good at what they do. They are professionals. I worked as chairman of the association for eight years with the late Queen and she knew every one of us, everything about us. She was just amazing. They make it so easy. King Charles is exactly the same.

Other guests included Jonhson Beharry, awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry.

Earlier in the day, the King and Queen hosted Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia for a special tree planting at Windsor tonight.

The Swedish Oak is a gift from the Scandinavian sovereign to celebrate the British royals coronation in May 2023 - two years on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prince William yesterday returned to the UK following a very special two-day trip to the Isle of Mull and Iona, accompanied by the Princess of Wales. The first day of their visit to the Scottish island coincided with the royal couple's 14th wedding anniversary.

The reception for the Victoria and George Cross Association comes one day after the King issued a moving message about his 'frightening' cancer diagnosis on Wednesday.

Prince William yesterday returned to the UK following a very special two-day trip to the Isle of Mull and Iona, accompanied by the Princess of Wales. The future King is seen here talking to members of the Victoria and George Cross Association; he has served as its President since 2024

Queen Camilla in conversation with Keith Payne, 92, the oldest member of the association. He was awarded the VC in Vietnam after saving 40 men under heavy mortar fire, who had flown over especially from Australia for the occasion

In what has been described as Charles' most 'personal' statement about being diagnosed with the illness, the monarch revealed he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James.

She urged sufferers, he said, with moving magnificence to find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.

His Majesty's 'poignant' words were addressed to fellow sufferers, as they attended a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Charles to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations last evening.

The King is himself still undergoing regular treatments as someone living with cancer, although aides say his recovery continues in a very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme he is undertaking.

The personally-penned message from Charles' desk has added significance given that his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer within weeks of his own diagnosis last year and underwent preventative chemotherapy.

In his message, Charles thanked those who so selflessly work to provide care, comfort and reassurance to the 390,000 people who receive a new cancer diagnosis across the UK each year - as well as those working to treat the diseases and raise funds for research.

Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones, he wrote.

The reception for the Victoria and George Cross Association comes one day after the King (centre) issued a moving message about his 'frightening' cancer diagnosis on Wednesday

As one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity, Charles continued.

It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years.

And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits - that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.

He added with added poignancy: You have my whole familys deepest admiration and gratitude.

The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January last year following routine surgery for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace have not confirmed what form he has, but have ruled out it being connected with his prostate issue.

They have also not disclosed what treatment he is still undertaking.
A former Playboy model who says she's 'tired' of men flirting with her has found a way to ward them off for good.

Sizzling hot influencer Ju Isen, from Brazil, says she's fed up of attracting the male gaze everywhere she goes, including at places like the gym, supermarket, pharmacy and even the swimming pool.

The 39-year-old, who boasts over 2.6m followers on Instagram, said she's been at the end of her tether for years now, and first tested the crafty trick when she was just 23.

She added that she was left with no choice but to resort to drastic measures as nothing else worked - and so one day decided to sport a fake wedding ring in public.

To Ju's surprise, it worked like magic and she's now happily single.

'I was tired of the constant approaches. It was nonstop. Even when I clearly wasnt interested' said Ju.

'So I put on a simple ring on my left hand, and it was like hitting a mute button. Even if its not real, it is a deterrent to being approached.

'It has worked for years. It is just visible enough to keep people from coming up to me'.

Sizzling hot influencer Ju Isen (pictured), from Brazil, says she's 'tired' of men constantly flirting with her

The 39-year-old has decided to sport a fake wedding ring in public in a bid to fend off male attention

But according to the creator - full name Juliana - some guys can be pretty persistent and the ceremonious jewellery hasn't worked on everyone.

She added that for the most part, wearing the ring made men 'think twice' before approaching her, and 'influenced' the way they treated her in public.

Ju recalled one particular moment when the strategy worked perfectly: 'I was at the pharmacy and a guy started making small talk.

'But the second he saw the ring, he stopped immediately. He asked if I was married, I just smiled, and he said "Got it, sorry" and walked away.

'It was respectful, and I got to keep my peace'.

Ju claims to have attracted so much unwanted attention throughout her life, that she's had to utilise the tactic for nearly two decades.

But she wants to make it clear that wearing a ring is a personal choice and not part of some elaborate ruse to 'trick' anyone.

She said: 'I still wear it to this day and its become part of my routine.Its not about tricking anyone  its about setting boundaries.

Ju said she's fed up of attracting the male gaze everywhere she goes, including at places like the gym and supermarket

According to the content creator, some guys can be pretty persistent and the ceremonious jewellery hasn't worked on everyone

'Its a quiet way of saying, "Im not available for this kind of interaction".

'And the most interesting part? It still works'.

The former model revealed that she once took a short break from wearing the wedding ring a couple of years ago, and found that male attention wasnt as strong as it was in previous years.

She blames the change on dating apps, which she claims has caused most men to lose 'the initiative they once had'.

'Its like theyre unmotivated' she added.

'Even the bad pickup lines that used to annoy me have become rare. Technology killed flirting. Nowadays, everyone just waits for a match on a dating app.

'No one makes eye contact, no one approaches naturally anymore. And that makes relationships feel more empty and mechanical'.

But she continues to wear the ring either away, to avoid peering eyes or flirty men.

'People sometimes ask if I miss the attention, and honestly? I dont. At least not that kind of attention.

'I prefer peace, if a man is really interested, hell have to go beyond the obvious. And if Im interested too, Ill just explain Im not actually married.

She added that for the most part, wearing the ring made men 'think twice' before approaching her, and 'influenced' the way they treated her in public

'The ring has become more than just an accessory, its a filter'.

Earlier this year Ju was rushed to hospital where she underwent a two-hour procedure to rebuild her nose after an Akita Inu bit off the tip of her nose.

She revealed she was at a party where she innocently pet the pooch before the freak accident occured.

'Look what a dog bite resulted in,' she told her 2.6 million followers on Instagram.

'I had surgery to remove the bacteria and had my entire nose reconstructed. Thank God, the plastic surgeon said I won't have any scars.'

Isen even found that her new nose appeared to look better than it did prior to the dog bite.

'I'm happier because the doctor said I don't need to do anything in Brazil, he reconstructed my entire nose,' she said.

'I don't need to do anything aesthetically, I don't need anything. It's perfect. I think he even refined my nose a little more, it's thinner.

'I did all the tests, it wasn't rabies, but I was infected by a dangerous bacteria,' she added.

'I'm taking antibiotics and being monitored in the hospital to avoid complications.'

Isen made headlines in 2015 when she appeared topless to protest the administration of then-president Dilma Rousseff.
A fashion tycoon has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a man he met in an East Harlem bar.

According to a complaint filed in a New York Supreme court, Patrick Cooper was 'unable to consent' after former Burberry boss Riccardo Tisci, who has also worked with huge brands like Givenchy and Puma, allegedly laced his drink with an unknown substance.

The designer, 50, was then claimed to have brought Patrick to his apartment, and 'prevented him from leaving'.

Patrick, 35, says he was 'disoriented, confused, impaired, intoxicated' and 'unaware of his actions and surroundings' - and the next day woke up to 'find himself and Tisci naked'.

Tisci vehemently denies the accusation. As reported by WWD a spokesperson for him said: 'These allegations are categorically untrue.

'Riccardo looks forward to clearing his name of these false and malicious accusations. He will obtain vindication through due process.'

The alleged incident took place in June last year. Patrick claims they didn't know each other prior to the interaction, in which Tisci 'approached and started a conversation with him'.

The complaint then alleges his drink was 'discreetly tampered with' when he wasn't looking.

According to a complaint filed in a New York Supreme court , Patrick Cooper was 'unable to consent' after former Burberry boss Riccardo Tisci, who has also worked with huge brands like Givenchy and Puma, allegedly laced his drink with an unknown substance

Tisci - who has been romantically linked to Maya Jama and is known for his close relationship with Irina Shayk - and has been a powerhouse in the industry for decades

It 'left him so disoriented' he 'no longer knew what he was doing, or what other people, particularly Tisci, was doing to him'.

Patrick says the designer then brought him to his home, where he 'sexually assaulted' him. The complaint also says Patrick claims he wasn't conscious at time of the alleged assault, and that 'as a result of the drugs', he 'was unable to reject, fight, stop or defend himself' from Tisci's 'predatory, sexual and unlawful assault and battery'.

He has also 'sustained and will continue to sustain physical, psychological and emotional injuries'.

Speaking to the Independent, Patrick revealed he 'just went out to have a good night'.

'My intentions were never to end up in Riccardo Tisci's bed. When I woke up, he was kissing me,' he added.

After leaving Tisci's home in the morning, Patrick says he made his way to the hospital for a rape kit test and reaching out to the police.

Pictured: Riccardo Tisci and Irina Shayk in 2020, attending a Warner Music & CIROC BRIT Awards house party

He continued: 'I remember sipping the drink, and I don't remember anything else... To this day, I still don't remember anything. Nothing.'

In a statement, the NYPD offered no comment on the specific case, but said: 'The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a police report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors.'

FEMAIL has also reached out to Tisci's reps and Mr Cooper's legal counsel, Philip M. Hines, for comment.

Tisci - who has been romantically linked to Maya Jama and is known for his close relationship with Irina Shayk - and has been a powerhouse in the industry for decades.

Originally from Italy, the designer has dressed the likes of Beyonce, Adele, Meryl Streep and Rhianna - and even designed Kim Kardashian's 2014 wedding dress, when she tied the knot with rapper Kanye West.

For 12 years, he was creative director for Givenchy, before in 2017 stepping down to 'focus on personal interests and passions'. As reported by Women's Wear Daily via GQ, the luxury label's turnover increased more than six-fold during his reign.

In 2018, he replaced Christopher Bailey as chief creative officer of Burberry - a position he held for four years.

Afterwards, he spent time between Paris and New York, while mentoring up-and-coming designers, collaborating with Nike and taking part in smaller projects.

Originally from Italy, the designer has dressed the likes of Beyonce, Adele, Meryl Streep and Rhianna - and even designed Kim Kardashian's 2014 wedding dress, when she tied the knot with rapper Kanye West. Pictured with Kendall, Kourtney and Kim in 2017

Tisci is known for his years of fashion influence. He has worked with a myriad of A-listers. Pictured with Nicki Minaj in 2022

Speaking to the Financial Times in July, he told the outlet he was ready to make a comeback in the public eye and 'start a new chapter'. Pictured left with Kim Kardashian and right with Bella Hadid

Tisci has described his upbringing as happy but says his family - including eight sisters - was 'very poor'. Pictured in 2017

Speaking to the Financial Times in July, he told the outlet he was ready to make a comeback in the public eye and 'start a new chapter'.

'Creative people get into a very dark tunnel. Sometimes, everything that [other] people see is positive and beautiful, but behind that is insecurity and darkness,' Tisci added.

'I went through that, but today, I'm happy, more than ever, because I'm happy inside myself.'

Tisci has described his upbringing as happy but says his family - including eight sisters - was 'very poor'.

'I never really knew my father, so I miss this strong image of a man in my life.

'So, even though I had a fantastic family, surrounded with all these amazing women, I always felt lonely,' he told Interview Magazine in 2016.

'Not lonely in the melancholic way but knowing that, to really survive, I have to do everything for myself.

'I had to work and study, and I was out in the street really surviving, bringing food back home.'
It seems like the 2024 Met Gala only just happened - but once again we are mere days away from this year's most fashionable event.

Vogue announced the theme back in October 2024 as 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' - based on Monica L. Miller's 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.

The theme is meant to pay homage to Black dandyism, a style with European roots that started post-Emancipation and came out in full force during the Harlem Renaissance.

The exhibition will feature 12 different sections, each one representing something that makes up 'dandy style.'

While many fans thought it was due time that Black style got the recognition it deserved, others immediately presented concerns about what could potentially come down the Met Gala red carpet.

Their main worry being the risk of cultural appropriation and offensive outfits.

While Anna Wintour has selected co-chairs that fashion fans believe were excellent choices - Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and honorary chair LeBron James - it's other celebrities that they're worried about.

And the concern has only been amplified in recent days as preparations for Monday's big event ramp up.

It seems like the 2024 Met Gala only just happened - but once again we are mere days away from this year's event (Anna Wintour pictured)

One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: 'Scared for all the tone deaf/borderline cultural appropriation fits at the Met Gala not going to lie'

One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: 'Scared for all the tone deaf/borderline cultural appropriation fits at the Met Gala not going to lie.'

'Dude, why would they make that the Met Gala theme for this year,' another shared.

'I feel like that leaves a hell of a lot of room for people to be unintentionally offensive,' someone else noted.

Another X user presented concerns about 'white women in boho braids,' at the possibility of celebs who may use this year's theme as an opportunity to wear hairstyles or outfits that are less about celebrating Black culture and more about co-opting it.

This isn't the first time fans have been worried about appropriation at a Met Gala event.

In 2018, the Met Gala's theme 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' received some backlash from religious conservatives.

Some expressed anger about their religion being used as a 'costume.'

This was met with the debate that the Vatican had approved the theme and even provided pieces for the exhibit to feature.

A$AP Rocky (pictured) is one of the 2025 Met Gala co-chairs, along with Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, LeBron James, and Wintour herself

Though the 2025 Met Gala them hasn't received 'backlash,' so to speak, there are general feelings of concern.

While the theme is 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' the dress code is a simple 'Tailored For You.'

This is a nod to menswear and tailored suits, something that celebrities can take advantage of to avoid possible cultural appropriation because it's all about embracing their personal style.

The dress code is seen in the exhibit at the Met, which is what the gala benefits.

There's no doubt that this year's Met Gala event will spark many discussions about appropriation, no matter what the A-listers don on the red carpet.
You might lose a load on your hips but you could gain a lifetime on your lips, cosmetic experts are warning, as another unpleasant side effect of Ozempic surfaces.

New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Michele Green told DailyMail.com that 'Ozempic mouth' is something she is seeing among many of her clients taking the blockbuster weight loss medication.

She said: 'Many users of Ozempic who I know report noticeable volume loss in the face, which can result in the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls around the mouth.

'This volume loss can also worsen the appearance of existing fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, contributing to a more aged smile and overall look.'

The condition is considered part of a broader phenomenon dubbed 'Ozempic face' where rapid weight loss causes sagging in the cheeks and around the mouth.

Dr Green says the appearance of an aged mouth is especially apparent on people who rapidly lose weight from higher doses of the GLP-1 drug.

It is characterized by deep folds at the corners of the mouth, increased vertical wrinkles on the lips, sagging skin around the borders of the lips and and drooping skin around the chin.

Dr Green has noticed a number of celebrities suffering from Ozempic mouth as the result of taking weight loss drugs, with some of her standout examples being Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.

Pictured: Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor in 2007. The mother-of-three has previously said she lost 'too much' weight while on Ozempic. Right, cosmetic experts say the weight loss drug has caused sagging around her lip borders

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All three women have spoken openly about using weight loss medications, with the slimming results clearly visible.

In terms of male celebrities, Dr Green adds: 'Actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has also been open about taking Zepbound, another weight loss medication, which has led to increased sagging skin and jowls in the face after he lost a staggering 120lbs.'

Ozempic, along with similar drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy, is approved to treat type 2 diabetes but is widely used off-label for weight loss - especially among celebrities.

Figures from 2024, which are likely an undercount, suggest one in eight Americans have taken a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic.

Due to the growing concern about 'Ozempic mouth', Dr Green reveals that she has had an increasing number of patients asking about dermal fillers around the mouth area to help restore lost volume.

The expert says that Ozempic depletes the subcutaneous fat. This is the visible fat layer just under the skin which you can pinch.

'By depleting the subcutaneous fat, the skin appears thinner, with more wrinkling and often lipstick lines,' New York-based plastic surgeon Dr Barry Weintraub told this website.

Fillers - gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines and enhance facial contours - can 'restore volume to the face, smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and plump the skin to create a more youthful-looking appearance,' Dr Green explains.

Just as the number of people taking semaglutide (the active substance in Ozempic) has skyrocketed, the number of women using fillers has increased close to threefold in the US over the past decade.

In 2010, 1.8 million filler procedures were performed, increasing to 5.3 million in 2023.

Fxing Ozempic mouth can be an expensive task, with filler costing between $700 and $2,000 per syringe, depending on the location and provider.

Another treatment Dr Green recommends as a fix is Thermage, which is a non-invasive radiofrequency treatment that uses heat to tighten skin and improve its appearance.

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Like many experts, Dr Green has noticed a number of celebrities suffering from Ozempic mouth as the result of taking weight loss drugs, with one of her standout examples being Whoopi Goldberg. Signs of Ozempic mouth include deep lines around the lips

Rebel Wilson dropped more than 70lbs back in 2021 after turning to Ozempic, and she's committed to keeping the weight off. Sagging around the chin area is one sign of Ozempic mouth the experts point to

It works by stimulating collagen production, which helps to reduce wrinkles, improve skin laxity, and create a more youthful look.

Dr Green adds: 'As the body's collagen levels increase, the skin becomes firmer and tighter.

'However, it takes four to six months to see results from Thermage, after which the results can last for approximately one and a half years.

'Patients on Ozempic should ideally undergo a Thermage procedure early in treatment or before treatment begins to prevent the development of loose, sagging skin on the face.'

But like filler, Thermage can be pricey, with the 30 minute treatment costing between $1,500 and $3,500.

To minimize the aging effects on your smile and mouth due to Ozempic, Dr Green recommends 'consulting with your doctor about adjusting your medication dosage to prioritize gradual weight loss rather than rapid weight loss.'

Meanwhile, Dr Ilana Ramer Bass of Mount Sinai Health System told this website she recommends eating 'small, well-balanced meals with a focus on fiber and protein' to help keep the skin hydrated.

She adds: 'Before any skin conditions develop, causing wrinkles or dryness, I would also recommend seeing a dermatologist before turning to cosmetic surgery.'

In terms of male celebrities, Dr Green says: 'Actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has also been open about taking Zepbound, another weight loss medication, which has led to increased sagging skin and jowls in the face.' Fierstein lost 120lbs in total thanks to weight loss medication

Ozempic mouth is just the latest body part to be warped because of the rapid and drastic weight-loss turbocharged by Ozempic and similar drugs.

Dr Barry Weintraub, a New York-based board certified plastic surgeon, previously told DailyMail.com a loss of fat can impact water retention in the body and cause excessive sagging in the feet.

Fans speculated stars like Sharon Osbourne and Oprah Winfrey - both of whom have admitted to taking weight-loss dugs - were among the first to show signs of the surprising side effect deemed 'Ozempic feet'.

'Ozempic face' has increasingly been seen on celebrities, who look gaunt with sunken eyes, hollow cheekbones and sagging faces.

Katy Perry, Scott Disick and Jessica Simpson have all been labeled as suffering from the side effect after fans noticed their slimmed-down looks while the stars were out and about.

Additionally, the term 'Ozempic butt' has been coined to describe the deflated look of a person's buttocks after GLP-1 weight loss.

Some users who have lost large amounts of weight said their backsides have now 'completely disappeared' and shrunk so much they can 'feel every bone'.

Some even said the problem was so bad they were constantly covering up their buttocks because they are self conscious of the way it looks.
Robert F Kennedy Jr once again sparked fury for his comments about measles vaccines and autism  though not for the reason his critics are used to.

The HHS Secretary was grilled on Chris Cuomo's show on NewsNation for his role in eroding public trust in the measles vaccine, which has led to a resurgence of the virus.

After noting that Canada's measles count stands higher at 1,069 cases, RFK Jr performed a balletic pivot to a different 'epidemic': autism.

Weve had four measles deaths in this country in 20 years,' RFK Jr said animatedly.

'We have 100,000 autism cases a year...That should be in the headlines, Kennedy told a panel of journalists appearing with Cuomo before an audience of supporters.

He added: When I was a kid, there were 2 million measles cases a year and none of them got headlines. And we had 400 deaths.

We had deaths between 1 in 1,200 and 1 in 10,000. We have so many kids now who are afflicted by chronic disease. And the media never covers them. They only want to cover measles.

The US is in the midst of ever-growing measles outbreaks across 30 states that have sickened 884 people, 97 percent of whom were unvaccinated. About 11 percent of people who have gotten sick have been hospitalized, and three people have died, including two little girls  marking the first fatalities in a decade.

HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a long-time vaccine skeptic, once again urged more focus on what he describes as an epidemic of autism, rather than on the comparatively small number of deaths caused by measles

Kennedy became increasingly more impassioned as he was asked about vaccine hesitancy and measles, his voice rising in intensity, his hand gestures become more emphatic, and opting instead to talk about chronic diseases more broadly.

His calls for more attention on rising rates of diabetes in children garnered a smattering of applause.

Kennedy has previously made the debunked claim that rising rates of autism spectrum disorders are linked to the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Doctors say the soaring rates are the result of better screening measures, general awareness and changing diagnostic parameters.

By 2035, we're going to be spending a million dollars a year on autism, RFK said. Autism in 1970 was 1 in 10,000 Americans. Today, it's 1 in 31.

America is an outlier when it comes to autism, with far higher rates than peer nations.

In the UK, around one in 57 children is on the autism spectrum. In Canada, the rate is about one in 50. In Japan it's roughly one in 55 while Australia's rate is slightly higher at one in 40.

It comes as Texas experiences America's largest measles outbreak since 2000, with 663 people  mostly young children  infected.

More cases were recorded in 2019, but officials believe these were the result of multiple outbreaks caused by repeat cases of the virus being imported from abroad.

Two girls, aged 6 and 8, have also died from the disease.

The third confirmed measles death in the US this year was in an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico.

Kennedy said: When I was a kid, there were 2 million measles cases a year, and none of them got headlines. We had 400 deaths - about 1 death per 1,200 cases, or 1 in 10,000.

Kennedy was approximately 14 years old when the MMR vaccine was introduced.

Until then, measles was considered a necessary evil to be endured in childhood, which could prove fatal, and it did not earn many front-page headlines.

However, when the vaccine became publicly available, annual deaths decreased from approximately 400 to 500 per year to nearly zero.

RFK Jr, pictured on a visit to the epicenter of the measles outbreak in Seminole, Texas, has previously promoted the thoroughly discredited claim that rising autism rates  largely due to improved screening, awareness, and evolving diagnostic criteria  are linked to the MMR vaccine, pesticides, and heavy metals

This led to measles being declared eliminated in 2000  a designation that means there has been no transmission of the disease in at least a year.

Cases would still crop up occasionally, but were almost always linked to a person traveling internationally.

The vast majority of measles outbreaks  around 90 percent  occur in communities where few or no people are vaccinated.

Dr Peter Hotez, the nations preeminent infectious disease expert and vaccine developer at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told Stat: My concern is this does become a new normal for us.

Dr Peter Marks, former top vaccine regulator at the FDA, added: Unless we dramatically change course, drastically change course, its going to be a problem. This is what measles does.

Health experts maintain that the best way to prevent severe complications of measles, including brain swelling and death, is to get vaccinated.

There is no standard treatment or cure for measles, which kills one in 1,000 patients. At the same time, there have been no documented deaths from the MMR vaccine in healthy, non-immunocompromised people.

In a 2005 article for Rolling Stone that has now been pulled from the publications website, Kennedy argued that the preservative thimerosal  a mercury-based vaccine preservative  was causing an epidemic of autism, speech delays, and ADHD in American children.

When the vaccine became publicly available in 1963, annual deaths decreased from approximately 400 to 500 per year to nearly zero

The US phased thimerosal out of childhood vaccines four years prior, and autism rates continued to increase.

Further, more than 100 scientific studies have found no evidence that exposure to the preservative causes autism, which RFK Jr recently painted as a life-destroying condition that keeps people from dating, having jobs, and paying taxes.

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Around one in 36 children are on the autism spectrum, which encompasses milder forms that cause social difficulties and restricted interests to severe cases in which a person has little to no verbal skills or engages in self-harming practices.

In the 1970s, an autism diagnosis was reserved for children who were highly impaired, non-verbal, physically disabled, and overall unable to care for themselves.

The diagnosis has since been expanded to cover a broad spectrum of subtypes, including people who can function independently as members of society.
At least 28 people have been struck down by a deadly parasite that causes bowel-cancer like symptoms at a petting farm in Wales.

Called cryptosporidium, commonly known as 'crypto', it can infect the digestive system of animals and people.

People become infected with cryptosporidium via contact with infected faeces and the disease, medically known as cryptosporidiosis, can then be passed between people who do not wash their hands thoroughly.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infected people can shed up to 100mllion crypto germs in a single bowel movement.

Swallowing just ten of these germs is enough to get ill.

Those with vulnerable immune systems, such as the elderly, pregnancy women and people undergoing cancer treatment, are at high risk of the bug turning life-threatening.

However, symptoms can often be hard to spot as they're easily mistaken for more common digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and food poisoning.

Cryptosporidium parasites are protected by a thick shell that allows them to even survive in chlorinated swimming pool water

Last year, UKHSA issued a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits

Some of the symptoms, such as abdominal pain and blood in the stools, may be particularly anxiety-provoking as they mimic the signs of bowel cancer, which is known to be on the rise.

Due to the bug's highly infectious nature, people with symptoms are advised to stay home from work or school until they have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours.

They are also encouraged to take steps to minimise the risk of passing the parasite on to other people in their household, including washing dirty clothes, bedding and towels on the hottest setting, and not preparing food others.

Victims can also experience periods of false hope where their symptoms clear for a few days, making them believe they are finally over the infection, only for it to return.

Sufferers often have to endure these symptoms for two weeks before it is finally clear from their systems, but bouts of illness can last even longer, particularly in people with weakened immune systems and the elderly.

Most people aren't offered treatment for crypto and instead are told to drink plenty of fluids and minimise contact with other people while waiting until symptoms pass.

People are typically infected with crypto via contact with faeces containing the parasite, either from humans or animals that then enters their mouth.

Risk of water supplies becoming infected is higher following periods of heavy rainfall and when animals are giving birth, such as the lambing season.

People can also get it by caring for people infected with crypto, particularly young children.

Health chiefs investigating the cluster of recent cases believe they are all linked to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm (pictured) in Cowbridge

Last May, more than 100 people were also infected by cryptosporidium in Brixham, Devon. The outbreak was believed to be linked to water contaminated with infected faeces making its way into the drinking supply

This can occur when people change a nappy and then put their hands near or in their mouth without washing them thoroughly, for example.

Other possible sources of infection are contact with infected milk, or from vegetables that have been fertilised with infected animal manure and not washed thoroughly.

As crypto can survive in faecal matter for long periods of time sufferers are asked not to go swimming until two weeks after their diarrhoea has stopped.

This includes both natural bodies of water as well as swimming pools as traces of infected dried poo can wash off an infected swimmer's anus.

In regard to the current outbreak, health chiefs investigating the cluster of cases believe they are all linked to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge.

The shop is thought to have offered cuddle and feeding sessions with lambs and calveswhich have since been stopped due to 'unforeseen circumstances', according to the farm's Facebook page.

Su Mably, a consultant in health protection at Public Health Wales said: 'We are working closely with partners to investigate these cases and to understand if there is a wider risk to the public.

'We would advise anyone who has visited the farm, particularly those who attended feeding or petting sessions, and who is now experiencing symptoms to contact their GP.'

According to the UK health Security Agency (UKHSA) people visiting farms should take precautions to protect themselves from infection including checking there are good hand-washing facilities at the farm with hot water, soap and paper towels.

Last year the UKHSA issues a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits.

In a twist on the classic children's rhyme the agency wrote on social media: 'Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.

'But wash your hands and dry them too in case it has crypto.'

Last May, more than 100 people were also infected by cryptosporidium in Brixham, Devon.

The outbreak was believed to be linked to water contaminated with infected faeces making its way into the drinking supply.

Whole streets in the town were infected, with victims forced to endure days of diarrhoea and agonising stomach cramps, with one sufferer even comparing them to 'childbirth'.
If you or your partner is a snorer, you could be in luck. For an anesthetic nurse believes she may have found the cure to sleepless nights.

A simple hack, which involves simply ensuring the mouth is closed during sleep, could stop the irritating noise in seconds, she suggested in a video posted to Instagram.

The method is supported by doctors, with one responding to the clip saying the technique could result in, 'the best sleep of your life'.

Ensuring the mouth is in the correct position can 'significantly improve sleep quality,' according to Dr Sermed Mezher, a London-based GP who has over 337,000 followers on Instagram.

In a separate clip, Dr Mezher explained the reason why the technique is so effective.

He said: 'As a society we have normalised snoring, but it's actually caused by a partial obstruction of the airway which leads to turbulent air flow and the loud sound.'

While there are many different reasons why people snore, it is often caused by the tongue and soft tissue in the throat relaxing as we fall asleep, and narrowing the space for air to pass through.

'This narrowing causes tissues to vibrate, producing the sound we recognise as snoring', Dr Mezher explained.

An anaesthetic nurse demonstrated the simple hack in a video posted to TikTok

But by pushing the mouth closed, the space between the tongue and the lower jaw widens, creating more space for air and reducing the vibrations.

In the caption to Dr Mezher's video, which has been viewed over 413,000 times, he said the technique is medically known as jaw thrust.

But, for people who are looking for a simpler solution than holding their partner's jaw shut all night long, the doctor advised investing in a type of mouth guard known as a mandibular advancement device.

He said: 'These devices work by gently holding the lower jaw in a forward position. By doing so, they stabilise the airway, pull the tongue slightly forward and prevent collapse, allowing for smoother, quieter breathing throughout the night.'

According to the NHS, for best results, snorers need to wear the device for as long as possible through the night, ideally between five and six hours.

However, it can take a bit of time to get used to the feeling of sleeping with a guard, especially for people who are prone to clenching their jaw at night.

Dr Mezher said: 'These devices are particularly effective for people with habitual snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea.'

Dr Mezher advised using a mouth shied, known as a mandibular advancement device, to help open up the airways

Sleep apnoea can lead to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

In obstructive sleep apnoea, the airway blockage can cause people to stop breathing.

While some cases of sleep apnoea can be treat by making lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking and losing weight, left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems, the NHS warns.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea mainly occur while sleeping, including breathing stopping and starting, making gasping or choking noises, waking up a lot and loud snoring.

During the day, sufferers may also feel extremely tired, find it hard to concentrate and experience mood swings.

Without treatment, this can lead to more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

Dr Mezher said: 'With proper fitting by a trained provider, these devices can significantly improve sleep qualityfor both the user and their partnerwhile addressing a key underlying cause of snoring.'
An NHS surgeon has raised the alarm over a number of popular supplements that could cause life-threatening liver damage.

Natural substances like trendy herb Ashwagandasaid to boast energy and immune boosting benefitscan affect the organ's ability to rid the body of toxins.

Green tea extract and turmeric are also on the list of plants to be weary of, according to Dr Karan Rajan, NHS doctor with 1.7 million Instagram followers.

In a social media clip that has so far garnered nearly a million views, Dr Rajan urged the public to perform vital checks on the supplements they're taking to ensure they don't 'fry your liver'.

'Use LiverToxa database of supplements and drugs that have been implemented with liver injury across multiple case reports.

'If it's listed under grade A,B or C, be extra cautious about the dose and what you're taking.

'Even the natural ones involve liver metabolism, meaning they go through the liver's biochemical sorting hat and get processed by liver enzymes.

'This can affect how hard your liver is working.'

Last year, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that Ashwaganda has been linked to potential liver toxicity.

Studies have shown that turmeric has also been linked with liver failure.

Dr Rajan stressed that taking multiple supplements at one time also carries potential dangers due to unknown interactions.

He said: 'If you are taking multiple herbal supplements, make sure there isn't significant overlap between the active ingredients of each one.

'You're creating a pharmacological cocktail with unknown synergy.'

This is also true for those who take common prescription drugs including statins and antidepressants, which can be made more potent or less effective when combined with supplements.

Dr Rajan advised consulting a doctor before taking any supplements that could interact with other medication.

'If you're on prescription medications like statins, blood thinners, anti-epileptics and anti-depressants, check for drug interactions with your pharmacist or doctor before starting any supplement,' he said.

Dr Rajan warned people to be extra cautious of active ingredients that have previously been linked to liver injury

The NHS warns taking herbal supplements could make other medicines trigger unexpected side effects.

It is also a good idea to look out for third-party labels on packets, to ensure that the product meets specific standards for safety, quality and performance, Dr Rajan advised.

This means that an independent organisation, such as NSF, Informed Choice or USP Verified, has reviewed the manufacturing process and deemed the supplements safe for consumption.

According to Dr Rajan, choosing supplements with this seal of approval should reduce the risk of ingesting impurities or banned substances that could lead to liver damage.

Dr Rajan was sure to point out that not all supplements are 'evil'.

'I even take a fair few myself, from omega-3, to vitamin D and even fibre,' he said.

Around half of all adults in the UK currently take vitamins, minerals or food supplements on a regular basis, according to a Food Standards Agency poll.

Yet studies have consistently found supplements to serve little benefit.

A 39 year-old mother of four developed yellowing skin and eyes two months after she started taking a herbal supplement to combat menopausal symptoms.

In 2018, a major study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the most popular supplements  multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin C  made no difference to the risk of heart disease, stroke or early death.

Last year, a woman from Pennsylvania warned of the harms of 'natural' supplements after she developed deadly liver damage within two months of taking a herbal supplement that she hoped would help menopause symptoms.

At first, she noticed that her mood had improved and she had more energy, but less than two months later, her eyes began to turn yellow.

A liver that is working poorly cannot get rid of bilirubina substance that triggers yellowing of the eyes and skin, medically known as jaundice.

She was rushed to emergency care, where specialists explained there was a chance she might need a liver transplant.

Doctors treating the mum-of four-concluded that the life-threatening problem appeared to be the result of the black cohosh she'd been taking.
Gripped by a blinding pain pulsing through her head and unable to move the left side of her face, Jenny Balls feared she was having a stroke.

She wasnt being overly dramatic: seeing how seriously unwell she looked Jennys friends  all student nurses like her  feared the exact same thing.

I literally couldnt move, and my friends thought Id had a stroke, says Jenny. They called an ambulance and I went to hospital.

Having lost her mum only five years before Jenny was terrified that she, too, might not survive.

But by the time she reached A&E, the paralysis down her left side had worn off.

Doctors basically told me I was fine and it was just anxiety and a headache, she says.

Yet four months later, the same thing happened. Then the same severe headache and the inability to move the left side of her face hit her twice more in the space of four months.

Doctors told me I was stressed. Some inferred I was trying to get out of doing university homework, she says.

Jenny Balls was terrified when she began to suffer from a severe headache and the inability to move the left side of her face

Certainly, Jenny was under pressure  aged just 21 at the time, she had lost both her parents by the time shed turned 16 and didnt have the support many others her age had.

Her nursing course was intense, and hospital placements reminded her of her parents deaths  but she knew the agony and paralysis she was experiencing was more than a reaction to all that.

Finally in her early 20s she saw a doctor who suggested it might be migraine, and gave her amitriptyline, an antidepressant thought to also prevent migraine attacks.

But I could barely function, she says. I was exhausted and felt sedated.

It would take decades before Jenny would get the treatment she needed to control her symptoms.

For not only was Jenny experiencing more than just a headache, she was also suffering from much more than just your average migraine.

It wasnt until she was 28 that she was finally diagnosed with hemiplegic migraine, which has symptoms that can be confused for a stroke.

But even with the right diagnosis, it would take many years more before she was given the right treatment to bring her symptoms under control.

Around ten million people in the UK experience some type of migraine, which is three times more common in women

Without that treatment, my life was blighted with migraines once every few weeks that left me bedbound, vomiting, unable to work or go out, recalls the advanced nurse practitioner from Huddersfield, now 44.

Around ten million people in the UK experience some type of migraine  most of them women; migraine is three times more common in women, possibly due to hormonal fluctuations.

Migraine can vary widely in severity, symptoms and frequency. Some attacks last a few hours, others days.

Some people with migraine do not experience head pain but have other migraine symptoms, such as nausea, sensitivity to light, sound or smell, vestibular symptoms such as dizziness or sensation of movement (vertigo), or vision issues known as aura which include seeing flashing zigzag lines.

Researchers think migraine is the result of abnormal brain activity affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, says Peter Goadsby, a professor of neurology at Kings College London and trustee of The Migraine Trust. We dont know exactly what causes this brain activity, although for many people there is a link to their genes.

The most common type is migraine without aura  typically a throbbing, intensely painful headache, followed by visual disturbances such as blind spots or flashing lights.

Less common is vestibular migraine (with vertigo and balance problems) and hemiplegic migraine, which can involve one-sided weakness in the body, and seem like a stroke.

Professor Goadsby explains that normally, when a nerve impulse passes from one cell to another, it opens a channel which acts like a gate, releasing chemical messengers that contact the neighbouring cells and tell them how to respond. But in those who suffer from hemiplegic migraine, these channels may not work properly. This can affect the release of chemical messengers, such as serotonin (which plays a part in for example how the body processes pain), resulting in these symptoms.

Researchers think migraine is the result of abnormal brain activity affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, says Professor Peter Goadsby

While stress does not cause hemiplegic or any other type of migraine, he says it can be a trigger for those who live with the condition.

Broadly, treatment can be divided into two categories: acute, to be taken at the beginning of an attacks, such as drugs called triptans which stop the release of certain proteins from the nerves known to be involved in pain; or preventative medications  these include beta blockers, normally used to treat blood pressure as they slow heart rate but they can prevent migraine by, for example, acting on serotonin receptors.

Beta blockers often need to be taken daily in order to prevent attacks or at least reduce their frequency and severity.

But there are many different types of treatment for migraine, and it can be a lengthy process to find what is most suitable for an individual, says Professor Goadsby.

Most people with migraine should be able to be cared for by their GP, not everyone needs to see a specialist, although some with more complex and difficult to manage migraine will need expert input.

But if you have suspected hemiplegic migraine, specialist advice is recommended, he adds. With these type of migraine triptans, for example, are best avoided during the aura phase.

After graduating and meeting her husband John, a mechanical engineer, Jenny came off the amitriptyline to avoid its sedating effect  and strangely had no attacks for around three years.

But in her mid-20s Jenny moved with John for work  and got a job in a prison.

In her mid-20s, Jenny began a stressful job working in a prison  at which point the migraines came back

Here, she was under a lot of stress and suddenly the migraines came back with a vengeance, she says.

I started having migraine with aura and could feel it would happen minutes before. Within half an hour Id have weakness down my left side, then a huge headache. If I was at work, Id have to leave early as I couldnt drive once the migraine hit.

Aged 28, she saw a neurologist. He listened to my symptoms and told me I had hemiplegic migraines, a rare type that causes muscle paralysis on one side and also causes impaired vision, speech or sensation, she says. Often it is mistaken for stroke.

Jenny was prescribed the beta blocker atenolol. This was effective at stopping the migraines, and for the next three years Jenny was able to enjoy life.

She says: John and I would go on city breaks, visit friends, we enjoyed hiking and walking in the countryside going to concerts and seeing comedians.

Then when she was 31, the migraines suddenly returned.

She recalls: Now they were even worse. Id get an aura, then a sensation the migraine was coming, then within 30 minutes it would hit.

Id have to hurry home and get in bed where Id have to stay for hours, feeling sick, being sick and hitting the side of my head with my fist - that was the only relief.

The head pain was a burning hot throbbing pain just to one side behind the temple and eye. It was blinding, it made me cry. I felt I wanted to drill a hole in my head.

These attacks would last up to 12 hours.

After that, my consultant tried me on triptans  but they never worked, she says. Id have to just ride it out each time, in agony, painkillers even strong prescribed ones, didnt even touch it.

Aged 30, with the atenolol no longer working and painkillers a dead-end, Jenny was feeling ever more desperate.

Although she went back to working in nursing, in a GP surgery as an advanced practitioner, she found the migraines affected her work.

It was awful, says Jenny. Despite being in a clinical setting where people were supportive you still feel terrible cancelling appointments and letting patients down.

She was prescribed the beta blocker propranolol, which works slightly differently from atenolol  and it made all the difference.

I have been on propranolol since then, she says. I also learnt to manage stress, not to drink tea or coffee and avoid stressful triggers.

Beta blockers were discovered to be a treatment for migraine by chance, says Professor Goadsby as it was noticed that when treating patients with high blood pressure, it prevented their migraines too.

However he warns there are potential side-effects, such as tiredness and weight gain, and they can be dangerous when used in patients who also have asthma. This is because the drugs can tighten the airways.

Jenny does have some side-effects including dizziness and feeling lightheaded so she takes the drug at bedtime to minimise this impact, but shes grateful to have her quality of life restored  I now only get migraine rarely, and even when I do get one, I no longer get the facial paralysis, she says. Its been such a vast improvement.

See migrainetrust.org
Several egg producers have been prosecuted for falsifying best before dates putting hundreds of people at risk of food poisoning.

Under UK law, 'Class A' eggs  the only grade supermarkets, shops and pubs can legally sell  must have a 'best before' date of no more than 28 days after they are laid.

But in a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent practices, experts discovered businesses had re-labelled their eggs and extended the 'best before' dates.

Four poultry farm and egg packaging wholesalers across England have now been slapped with fines worth thousands of pounds and suspended prison sentences.

It is not known exactly which shops or supermarkets the tampered eggs had been sold to, prior to health inspectors making the discovery or the number of eggs impacted.

The main risk of eating bad eggs is salmonella, a group of bacteria that infects the gut of farm animals.

The nasty bug usually causes a fever, sickness and diarrhoea that clears up in days. However, it can be fatal.

On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella.

Under UK law, 'Class A' eggs  the only grade supermarkets, shops and pubs can legally sell  must have a 'best before' date of no more than 28 days after they are laid

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that infects the gut. It is often triggered by contaminated food or water. Symptoms of infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever

It usually lasts between four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.

But if you become seriously ill, you may need hospital care because the dehydration caused by the illness can be life-threatening.

According to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which this week revealed the scale of the tampering, all prosecutions occurred earlier this year.

In March, Phillip Hoyland of Summerley Top Farm, Derbyshire pleaded guilty to fraud charges and was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.

The charges arose following routine inspections carried out by APHA and subsequent investigation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Counter Fraud and Investigation Team.

In the same month, Barradale Eggs Ltd of Ashford, Kent, was prosecuted at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, ordered to pay a fine of 466 and costs of 85.

APHA inspectors had discovered a batch of eggs had been re-packed and the original 'best before' date extended  contrary to egg marketing legislation.

In January, Holyfield Farm Fresh Eggs Ltd, based in North London, also pleaded guilty to three charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court and was issued a fine of 2,000.

According to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), who this week revealed the scale of the tampering, all prosecutions occurred earlier this year. Pictured, APHA headquarters in Weybridge

Inspectors found the original 'best before' date had been extended by four days.

Field Farm Eggs, based in South Newbald, East Yorkshire, meanwhile, was prosecuted at Hull Magistrates' Court in February.

Inspections in December had uncovered a batch of class A eggs was re-packed and the 'best before' date unlawfully extended.

The defendant was found guilty of two offences and fined 1,000, with a victim surcharge of 400 and costs of 85.

Responding to the prosecutions, Aled Edwards, head of England field delivery, at APHA, said: 'It's essential that consumers can trust the eggs they purchase are fresh, safe to eat, and clearly and accurately labelled.

'These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement procedures; across the country we have 35 EMIs who work in our field delivery teams and have the important role of ensuring regulations in the egg industry are adhered to.

'I welcome these sentences from the courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others.'

The durability of eggs depends on several factors including their storage conditions and handling.

Even the government's own food safety watchdog, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says eggs can be safely eaten up to two days past their best before date provided they are cooked thorough to the point the yolk and white are solid.

Food safety campaigners also say a simple test involving a bowl of water will allow people to use eggs they might otherwise throw away.

They claim that eggs that sink to the bottom of the bowl remain good to eat.
Junior doctors in England will ballot for strike action over 'ignored' demands for pay, the British Medical Association has announced.

The union said three weeks had passed since it warned the Government of the 'consequences of the absence of a reasonable, timely pay offer'.

The ballot will open on May 27 and closes on July 7.

The medics are now referred to as resident doctors instead of juniors as part of their pay deal last summer.

The union met today with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to discuss their calls for a further pay rise, but were unsuccessful in their pleas.

Co-chairs of BMA's resident doctors' committee, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said: 'We made clear that all he would have to do to avoid the need for a ballot was pledge to negotiate a fair deal that moved us toward pay restoration by 2027, in line with existing BMA policy.

'Unfortunately, he could not make this commitment.'

They added: 'Resident doctors are not going to be ignored. We are going to stand up for our value to the NHS and to patients, and we are going to fight to stay on the path set out for us by last year's deal: restoration of our pay to the level of 2008.

Resident doctors in England will ballot for strike action over 'ignored' demands for pay. Above, the doctors striking in June 2024

Health Secretary Wes Streeting could not meet the demands of the union, The British Medical Association said

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'No doctor today is worth less than they were 17 years ago, and that is precisely what doctors voting 'yes' to industrial action will be telling the Government.

'We don't want to be in the situation where we have to fight over and over again for our worth  we would rather get on with our careers and our work caring for our patients.'

It follows previous threats in January to strike after promises for over time payment were not met, while 'several smaller issues remain unresolved'. The doctors said that despite the agreement being made in good faith, they had reached an impasse.

The pending strike action comes after doctors accepted a staggering 22 per cent pay rise in September after ministers refused their demands for a 26 per cent hike in 2022.

The bump followed the longest industrial dispute in the NHS's history and ended months of paralysing walkouts as hospitals were brought to a virtual standstill.

They staged 18 months of strikes during which they stopped work on 44 days, sometimes for six days in a row.

The starting basic salary for a junior doctor has since risen from 29,384 in 2022-23 to 36,616 this year, with those at the top end earning more than 70,000.

While previous walkouts have led to the cancellation of elective care, emergency services like A&Es have remained open.

Officials have urged Britons needing urgent medical care to still seek help if needed.
My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner (Gallery Books 22, 210pp)

My Next Breath is available now from the Mail Bookshop

He has played some very tough guys in his glittering Hollywood career has Jeremy Renner; men like the adrenaline-fuelled bomb disposal expert in the Oscar-laden The Hurt Locker or the tough but deeply loyal bank robber in The Town, for which he was Oscar nominated again.

He was even heir to the Jason Bourne franchise in the The Bourne Legacy. But its not just on the big screen. Renner is the toughest of men in real life too.

And as he recounts in this remarkable, profound memoir he even has a brush with eternity, an encounter that will be one of the most moving passages you will read anywhere this year.

On New Years Day 2023 a large gathering of the Renner clan  his siblings, family and friends  had assembled at his mountain lodge in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Hemmed in by an enormous storm, finally the weather clears and Renner, accompanied by his nephew Alex, age 27 at the time, sets out on this crisp-blue mountain morning to clear the terrain with his 14,000lb industrial snow-clearing machine.

He makes one mistake  he fails to press the handbrake  and watches as the massive vehicle slides towards Alex. He leaps on board to try to stop it, but slips and falls, to be crushed under the huge tracks of the snow plough as it passes over him.

It is this horrific, unimaginable accident and its aftermath that form the core of this extraordinary, deeply affecting book.

The scale of his injuries is mind-boggling. He had broken more than 38 bones, including six ribs in 14 places, and lost several litres of blood. His face and head were brutalised, and he could see his left eye with his right eye.

Hanging in the balance: This is the sight awaiting Jeremy Renner's family when they first see him in the ICU

But it is below freezing out on the ice and Renner, close to death, his body in shock, has to keep breathing. Two neighbours, Rich and Barb, come to help and call for helicopter rescue.

But lying broken out on the ice, Renner knows that without breathing he will die. Each breath is harder and harder, each broken bone screaming out in agony. He knows he mustnt stop, or pass out. He has to keep breathing. Anybody who has just cracked one rib knows how painful each and every breath can be. Imagine that with six broken ribs.

As the killing cold begins to dangerously bite, Barb is holding his head and talking constantly. Just keep breathing, she says. Take shallow breaths. Stay with us. Keep your eyes open, rubbing his forehead and his hands just trying to keep him alert. But then she notices the colour of his skin begin to change and Renner closes his eyes.

Later Barb is to say, I wouldnt take my eyes off him because I didnt want him to drift off. Then he turned this grey-green colour. I lost him for a second. He closed his eyes. I really feel he did pass away for a couple of seconds.

It is here that we find the mystical heart of this wonderful, gripping story. For most of us the edge of our own lives will come only once. Will we be terrified, glad, guilty? Jeremy Renner is in the unique position of knowing. This is what he says. I know I died  in fact Im sure of it. When the paramedics arrived they noted his heart rate had bottomed out at 18 beats a minute  at that rate, as he puts it, youre basically dead.

So what was it like? What follows is just a small flavour of what Renner experienced. When I died, what I felt was energy, a constantly connected, beautiful and fantastic energy. There was no time, place, or space and nothing to see, except a kind of electric two-way vision made from strands of that inconceivable energy, like the whipping lines of cars tail lights photographed by a time lapse camera.

Bone crusher: The snow plough that broke more than 38 of Jeremy Renner's bones

Tough guy: Renner is know for his action movie roles and was Oscar nominated for his role in The Hurt Locker (pictured)

I was in space: no sound, no wind, nothing save this extraordinary electricity by which I am connected to everybody and anything, anyone and everything. I am in every given moment, in one instant, magnified to a number ungovernable by math.

What came to me on that ice was an exhilarating peace, the most profound adrenaline rush, yet an entirely tranquil one at the same time... It was an entirely beautiful place filled with knowable magic. It pulses, it floats; it is beyond language, beyond thought, beyond reason, a place of pure feeling... I knew then as I know now to this day and will always know: Death is not something to be afraid of.

As he slowly returns to Barb and Alex on the ice he realises: Love, here on earth, is our only currency; it is our energy and our existence and we take that energy with us into perpetuity... Something else; dying has left me with this simple but imperative thought  live your life now...

He goes on: What Id just been through  my death  proved to me something Id always intuited, which is that whatever we are goes beyond our galaxies, and it keeps going, repeating to the nth degree. Love. Thats what lasts. Thats what wins. Always.

Then, Renner hears the helicopter blades of the air ambulance and as he takes each agonising breath he knows the burden of staying alive will be borne by others, not just Barb, her husband Rich and Alex. Renner takes us with characteristic gusto through his recovery, recuperation and rehabilitation. And it is astonishingly rapid, though he admits he is the worlds worst patient.

After multiple surgeries and two blood transfusions, he was discharged from the Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles on January 13, 2023, after 12 days in hospital. I havent spent a single night in a hospital since, he says with some pride. The Jeremy Renner who emerges from this book is funny, generous, highly admirable, and widely liked. Hes a talented sportsman and musician, and clearly a very good writer.

Teamwork: Renner was discharged from the Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles after only 12 days in hospital and is proud to have never spent a night there since

His Rennervation project acquires and rehabilitates old trucks, ambulances, buses and other large decommissioned vehicles, repurposing them and giving them to communities that need them: a dance studio in Mexico, a water treatment centre in India.

He is devoted to his vast family  he is one of seven children  and especially his daughter Ava, to whom this compelling, and deeply inspiring book is dedicated. She must be very honoured. It is a magnificent story.
The Fall of the House of Montagu by Robert Wainwright (Allen & Unwin 22, 352pp)

The Fall of the House of Montagu is available now from the Mail Bookshop

Oh to have been a bidder at the 1949 clearance sale of Kimbolton Castle in Cambridgeshire, the crenelated seat of the Dukes of Manchester!

Two Van Dycks went for a mere 21 and 50. A Corot went for 30, a Canaletto for 150 and a Titian for 105. The castle had been compulsorily purchased and was being turned into a boarding school.

Britain was steeped in the murk of post-war austerity, plus ridiculously high inheritance tax rates, sweeping aristocratic families out of their houses. No one seemed to want those now-priceless treasures.

Lords and dukes were taking on menial jobs to pay the bills. Lord Mowbray had a milk round and Lord Garnoch ran a laundry. That generation of aristocrats was dragged into the modern age in which a title was not enough to ensure a comfortable existence.

The 10th Duke of Manchester at that moment was Alexander, nicknamed Mandy for Lord Mandeville. His dissolute father, the 9th Duke, had felt the chill wind of poverty back in 1933.

Hed pawned his dead mothers jewels, which he was briefly jailed for. He protested in court, I have four estates but I live in a flat because I cant afford to live in any of the castles. Ive been so broke I have only just been able to pay for my valets meals.

Poor man! But as Robert Wainwright writes in his lively chronicle of the decline of the Montagus, the dodgy duke gambled away a fortune in Monaco, once losing 27,000 in an evening. His son Mandy was determined not to fall into such a pitiful state.

Luckily, hed married a plucky Australian called Nell Stead, who became the first-ever Australian duchess. Mandy and Nell met in a swimming pool in Colombo in what was known as Ceylon. There was a sexy man standing near to me dressed in his undies, Nell recalled. Mandy proposed days later.

Alexander, the 10th Duke of Manchester married Nell Stead, who became the first ever Australian Duchess

Nell had a beautiful figure and swore like a trooper. Describing what she wore for George VIs coronation in 1937, she wrote in her diary, I looked absolutely stupidly out of date. I have seen f***ing dolls dressed better. A typical letter from her to a female friend would start Well, Kid, how is your sex life?

But they had business sense combined with zest for life and no fear of danger. During the war, when Mandy went to sea with the Royal Navy, he was awarded an OBE for outstanding courage when a bomb went off and he saved many lives. Nell followed him to Singapore and Colombo, where she joined the Red Cross as a nurse. They had two sons, Sidney and Angus.

After the war, they bought a 10,000-acre estate in the highlands of Kenya, which they ran as a successful farm, dealing with horrors such as Mau Mau insurgents killing cattle (as a terrifying message humans would be next). But they didnt flee like many other expats.

Their story was not one of catastrophic decline and fall. This book is not as satisfying or as gripping as Wainwrights previous book Enid (Lady Killmore), but it paints a memorable picture of how post-war British aristocrats had to adapt or die.
The Soho Murder by Mike Hollow (Allison & Busby 9.99, 384pp)

The Soho Murder is available now from the Mail Bookshop

An antiquarian bookseller is shot dead. This being Soho during the Blitz, when the blackout was a cover for all manner of dirty deeds, theres no shortage of suspects.

But the motive is elusive. As Inspector Jago discovers, the victim was hard up and desperate to raise money.

As the investigation progresses, Jago finds himself at odds with close-knit families disguising a past that holds deadly secrets.

Hollow has a deceptively easy style that allows his characters to speak for themselves.

A painstaking process of elimination eventually nails the guilty but not before we are led on a chase that offers thrills and spills at every turn.

The Ten Teacups by Carter Dickson (British Library 9.99, 288pp)

The Ten Teacups is available now from the Mail Bookshop

The unrivalled master of the closed room murder, John Dickson Carr, here as Carter Dickson, wrote this timeless humdinger mystery in 1937. It starts with an anonymous message to Scotland Yard requesting police presence at a particular time and place at an unoccupied house.

A reference to ten teacups reminds Inspector Masters of a case two years earlier when ten valuable teacups had featured in an unsolved murder.

Fearing a reprise, Masters has the address surrounded. A man is seen to enter but is alone in the house when shots are heard. Another murder is added to the list of apparently inexplicable deaths.

Under pressure to get results, Masters calls on Sir Henry Merrivale, amateur sleuth, to bring his superior intellect to bear on the case. As the puzzle unfolds, many a false lead is deployed before the truth is revealed. It is all fiendishly clever.

Murder On Bluebell Hill by Jane Bettany (HarperCollins 9.99, 256pp)

Murder on Bluebell Hill is available now from the Mail Bookshop

If its cosy crime youre after, this has all the essential ingredients. Tucked away in the Peak District, Merrywell is a snug community where everybody knows everybody and gossip is a way of life. The trouble with the village is the disturbingly high murder rate.

True to form, the latest victim is a thoroughly nasty piece of work, unlamented by all except her husband who relied on his wifes business brain to make lots of money.

As the local sleuth  with a track record of beating the police at their own game 

Violet Brewster is intent on identifying the murderer, not least because a close friend is under suspicion. With dogged persistence, Violet gathers the evidence that puts the police on the right track.

Building on a cast of credible characters, Jane Bettany gives us an engaging story with a few neat twists along the way.
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Is there any womans style as universally lauded as Kate Middletons? Throughout more than two decades in the limelight shes rarely put a foot wrong sartorially, whether shes opting for a stunning designer gown for a state dinner or nailing everyday style in a high-street find.

Its no surprise, then, that on a recent trip to the Isle of Mull, the Princess served up plenty of spring outfit inspo. Debuting a new bronde look (highlights are back, people), Kate looked laidback and chic in a brown tweed blazer, blue shirt and, gasp, brown skinny jeans (well, trousers).

But it was one of the Princesss accessories that really caught our eye. Kate was wearing a pretty pair of the Finlay and Co Vivian sunglasses in a light tortoiseshell colourway  and were pleased, if surprised, the exact glasses are still in stock.

Finlay and Co design their classic styles in London, which are then handcrafted in Italy with state-of-the-art Zeiss sun lenses for full eye protection. Kates 'Vivian' pair are a classic wayfarer-like design, available in nine colourways to complement all your summer outfits.

The Princess opted for them in classic marble, with a white and brown tortoiseshell effect. Given the fashion sets current obsession with mocha tones, were betting the rich brown shade will be one of the hottest eyewear trends this coming summer, so youre sure to be ahead of the curve.

As pretty much everything Kate wears sells out, we reckon these glasses wont stick around long  not least because theyre a very reasonable 160. You can buy them now on Finlay and Cos website (and brag about your royally-approved sunglasses).

Not quite for you? Here are a few alternative pairs worth shopping to channel Kate's classic vibe.

To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), TikTok (@you_magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial).
Rachel Maddow's trusted right-hand man, Andrew Dallos, has announced his departure after nearly 25 years at MSNBC, underscoring growing instability within the embattled network.

Dallos, 59, who was instrumental in launching The Rachel Maddow Show in 2008, confirmed his exit on Wednesday with an emotional Instagram post.

'After nearly 25 years, my time at MSNBC has come to an end. I've made the difficult decision to leave the company I've called home for nearly a quarter of a century,' he wrote.

In the post, accompanied by a photo of NBC Studios in New York, Dallos expressed gratitude for the experience.

'During my time here, I've been privileged to work alongside some amazing colleagues. Special thanks to Rachel Maddow for the opportunity to join her team on the very first day of her show and giving me the journey of a lifetime. Special thanks to Cory Gnazzo for his steady leadership.'

Dallos also acknowledged the broader shakeup at MSNBC, which has included sweeping layoffs and restructuring amid its corporate spinoff.

Rachel Maddow's (pictured left) right-hand man, Andrew Dallos, has announced his departure after nearly 25 years at MSNBC

Andrew Dallos (pictured), 59, who was instrumental in launching The Rachel Maddow Show in 2008, confirmed his exit on Wednesday with an emotional Instagram post

'As many of you are preparing to move to SpinCo, please know that I'll be cheering you on every step of the way,' he wrote, referencing the newly formed independent media entity Comcast is creating out of NBCUniversal's cable and digital assets.

Even though Dallos is exiting, the veteran producer celebrated a 'full-circle' moment, noting that his daughter will soon follow in his footsteps.

'Although today is my last day with TRMS, it's only the beginning for my daughter, Ashley, who will be interning for The 11th Hour starting in June, following in her dad's footsteps. Funny how life has come full circle,' he added.

'I hope our paths cross again down the line. Until then, I wish you all the best.'

Dallos' departure coincides with a major transition for Maddow's show, which is set to return to airing just one night a week on Mondays after briefly expanding to five nights to cover President Trump's first 100 days back in office, according to TheWrap.

His exit also comes amid deep cuts across the network.

According to The Guardian, most producers for Maddow's and Joy Reid's shows - including high-profile figures like Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Jose Diaz-Balart - have been let go, with the option to reapply or take severance.

While, Maddow's executive producer Cory Gnazzo and several senior producers will remain.

Dallos (center left in green) and Maddow (center right in black) celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Rachel Maddow Show in New York City alongside MSNBC colleagues

Though Dallos is exiting, the veteran producer celebrated a 'full-circle' moment, noting that his daughter will soon follow in his footsteps

Dallos' departure coincides with a major transition for Maddow's show, which is set to return to airing just one night a week on Mondays. Pictured: Maddow interviews Hillary Clinton on her show in 2019

The star host however has not shied away from criticizing the network's actions.

Maddow expressed concern for the dozens of producers and staff who work behind the scenes, saying that they were 'really being put through the wringer', facing potential layoffs and being 'invited to reapply for new jobs'.

'That has never happened at this scale, in this way before when it comes to programming changes, presumably because it's not the right way to treat people, and it's inefficient and it's unnecessary and it kind of drops the bottom out of whether or not people feel like this is a good place to work, and so we don't generally do things that way,' Maddow said on air.

'Personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her [Reid] walk out the door It is also unnerving both of our non-white hosts in prime time are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend. That feels worse than bad That feels indefensible and I do not defend it.'

MSNBC has characterized the changes as a staff reallocation rather than mass layoffs, but the fallout has left lingering questions about its programming future.
60 Minutes is set to air a new segment critical of President Donald Trump even as its bosses at Paramount are trying to settle his $20 billion lawsuit.

The long-running newsmagazine plans to run a segment on Sunday hitting out at the president's efforts to target law firms through executive orders.

'On the campaign trail, President Trump vowed to wield the power of the presidency to go after his perceived enemies,' the segment description reads in a press release from CBS News on Thursday, according to Deadline.

'Now in the White House, Trump is using executive orders to target some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of "weaponizing" the justice system against him.'

The segment will be entitled 'The Rule of Law,' and will be reported by correspondent Scott Pelley - just one week after he went rogue and leveled a blistering accusation against his own corporate bosses, Bloomberg reports.

In his signature calm but forceful tone, Pelley used the broadcast's final segment - aptly named 'The Last Minute' - to address the sudden resignation of the show's executive producer, Bill Owens.

But what began as a tribute to a respected colleague quickly morphed into an extraordinary on-air condemnation of CBS parent company, Paramount Global, which Pelley claimed had been taking a more active role in the show's journalism.

Pelley suggested the interest from Paramount bosses had come amid a desperate bid to secure political favor from the Trump administration - exposing what he called the dangerous erosion of editorial independence at one of America's most storied news programs.

Scott Pelley will report a segment critical of President Donald Trump on 60 Minutes on Sunday

The segment will focus on President Donald Trump's efforts to target law firms through executive orders

'Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us - and you,' Pelley told viewers, before delivering the bombshell.

'Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways.'

'No one here is happy about it' Pelley revealed about the extra supervision that corporate leaders are imposing. He also noted how in quitting, Owens proved he was 'the right person to lead 60 Minutes all along.'

The newscaster went on to make it clear that even though no stories have been blocked outright, Owens believed the creeping corporate oversight had crossed a red line and was undermining the very foundation of journalistic integrity.

'None of our stories has been blocked,' Pelley declared, 'but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it.

'Stories weve pursued for 57 years were often controversial, lately the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration. Bill made sure they were accurate and fairhe was tough that way.'

Owens, 58, had been with CBS News for decades and served as only the third executive producer in 60 Minutes' 57-year history since 2019.

In his resignation letter, Owens cited corporate interference as the breaking point, saying it had 'become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it - to make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience.'

Shari Redstone, the owner of CBS News parent company, Paramount, has tried to assuage the president amid merger discussions with Skydance Media

The show's executive producer, Bill Owens, abruptly resigned last week

Owens - a respected figure who recently helped overhaul CBS's Evening News - went on to promise that '60 Minutes will continue to cover the new administration,' and 'future' ones as well.

'The show is too important to the country,' Owens ultimately declared, weeks after sources told DailyMail.com how the bigwig was 'feeling the pressure' brought by the Trump lawsuit.

He reportedly added during a '60 Minutes' staff meeting last Tuesday: 'Its clear the company is done with me.

'It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer,' Owens said.

His ouster came as the network's parent company, Paramount Global, is trying to finalize a high-stakes merger with Skydance Media, a deal that hinges on receiving the green light from federal regulators under the Trump administration.

Yet the network also remains embroiled in the defamation lawsuit filed by Trump himself, who claims the show manipulated an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris last fall to paint her in a more favorable light.

Trump has claimed the network cut down Harris' 'word salad' answer to a question about the Israel-Hamas conflict. By doing so, he claims the network was helping the Democratic nominee secure the White House.

Employees at the network, though, have said they were simply trying to fit Harris' answer into their one-hour broadcast.

CBS continues to field a lawsuit filed by the president centered around an October interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on the once-prestigious program

Many, including Owens, were reportedly left dismayed as their corporate bosses tried to assuage the president in an apparent effort to get their $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media approved.

Executives at Paramount have reportedly supported settling with Trump and paying him as much as $20 million, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The company has not yet addressed the internal revolt, and representatives for the company did not respond to media inquiries following Pelley's on-air remarks.

But Shari Redstone, the owner of Paramount, has reportedly asked the network's chief executive if it were possible to delay running sensitive stories about the president on 60 Minutes amid the merger discussions.

She has wanted to sell Paramount since at least April last year, when it was reported that David Ellison's Skydance Media was among the leading contenders to buy the media behemoth.

The deal with Ellison, son of Oracle founder and CEO Larry Ellison, now needs to be approved by July 6, or else another 90-day extension will be triggered by the FCC, prolonging the process.

Trump has expressed his confidence that he would win his lawsuit

Yet the discussions appeared to hit a snag this week when the FCC warned CBS that 'all options remain on the table' as it continues to investigate the controversial 60 Minutes interview with Harris.

Complainants have said the station broke the 'news distortion' rules by cherry picking only a portion of Harris' answer.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has previously rejected a bid from CBS to dismiss the complaint. His latest comment suggests that all avenues will be used to probe CBS, and the network could be hit with a hefty fine if it was found in violation of the rules.

Meanwhile, Trump has expressed his confidence that he would win his lawsuit.

'The case we have against 60 Minutes, CBS and Paramount is a true WINNER,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform Wednesday.

'They cheated and defrauded the American People at levels never seen before in the Political Arena.'

He went on to reiterate his claims that the network deceptively edited Harris' answer, saying the news program 'perpetrated a Giant FRAUD against the American People, the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Communications System.

'The bottom line is that what 60 Minutes and its corporate owners have committed is one of the most egregious illegalities in Broadcast History,' the president said.

'Nothing like this, the illegal creation of an answer for a Presidential Candidate, has ever been done before, they have to pay for it...

'It is vital to hold these Liars and Fraudsters accountable,' he concluded.
John Fetterman got into it with a New York Magazine reporter after being asked whether he is taking his medication.

The query was posed by former Washington Post political journalist Ben Terris, for a lengthy first feature for the publication.

It occurred towards the end of the interview, which was held in-person in Washington, DC.

Things got touchy when Terris brought up details he said he obtained from 'a number' of former Fetterman staffers - 'that they are worried that you are not on your recovery plan,' the journalist said. 'That you might not be taking your meds.'

The exchange came weeks after it was confirmed the increasingly Donald Trump-aligned Democrat was put on medications in February, following a meeting with then-Senator Sherrod Brown where his behavior was described as 'catatonic.'

In months since, the progressive has surfaced as an unlikely Trump supporter, and has offered him kind words at every chance.

This paved the way for Terris's rather pointed question. He asked whether Fetterman wanted to comment on what was supposedly coming out of his camp.

The Pennsylvania politician - who barely beat out Republican Mehmet Oz back in 2022 - responded with a resounding 'no.' He went on to eye two of his staffers, Terris said - recalling how Fetterman then adjourned for an abrupt break.

John Fetterman got into it with a New York Magazine after being asked whether he is taking his medication

The query was posed by former Washington Post political journalist Ben Terris, for a lengthy first feature for the publication. It occurred towards the end of the interview, which was held in-person om Washington, DC

First, though, he offered the reporter some stern words.

He claimed that no one in his staff would know about his personal health situation and that anyone claiming otherwise was merely misinformed.

'There's not really anything to respond when that's just not accurate,' he said, shortly after fielding a question about Trump's mental faculties.

Terris, however, pressed on - saying that these former staffers told him 'they've witnessed ups and downs that could be associated with kind of a relapse.

'They also worry that the medication that you're on is not just for depression, but more serious drugs that if you're not on them would be a problem,' Terris added.

'Is there truth to that?'

At this point, Fetterman - who suffered a stroke whilst running against Oz - declared he had nothing to comment, before bringing the conversation off the record for the next few minutes.

That conversation remains shrouded, but once it ended, Terris was reportedly left out in a hallway with a few of Fetterman's aides.

Things got touchy when Terris brought up details he said he obtained from 'a number' of former Fetterman staffers - 'that they are worried that you are not on your recovery plan,' the journalist said. 'That you might not be taking your meds.'

Five minutes later, Terris was brought back into Fetterman's DC office where the interview was held.

'The office felt different now,' Terris wrote in his piece, remarking how it now felt 'quiet and tense.'

Fetterman sat in the same chair but was now 'slumped into himself,' he noticed - comparing the senator who checked himself into Walter Reed in 2023 to receive treatment for depression to 'a deflated parade float.'

'He avoided looking at me,' Terris further claimed, before breaking the silence.

'Anything to say about that?' he asked, referring to his earlier inquiry.

'There's not anyone that you're referencing who would be privy to my medical history,' Fetterman insisted again, before being asked whether he cared to comment on whether the unnamed staffers were right or wrong.

Fetterman - whose politics were once more aligned with those of Bernie Sanders before an apparent shift right in recent months - framed the insight as rumors from 'disgruntled' former staffers.

When asked why these employees may have been disgruntled, Fetterman shot back, 'For whatever reason.'

The exchange comes as the Democrat continues to become more aligned with Donald Trump, after campaigning for senator as an ardent progressive

'There's a lot of people who just hide behind unnamed sources in articles,' he added.

The exchange ended there, with the interview ending minutes later.

'I feel like there's been kind of a tone shift here,' Terris told Fetterman as the interview waned, attempting to catch the senator's eye.

'Can you tell me what you're feeling? What you're thinking?'

The question spurred the senator to finally look at him, Terris recalled - before remembering Fetterman's response.

'No, everything's great,' he said, reportedly with little emotion. 'Everything's great. I don't know what you're referencing.'

During a sunnier point in the sit-down, Fettered offered some insight into his now notorious Mar-a-Lago meeting with the president - a summit that made him the first sitting Democrat to visit the then freshly sworn in conservative.

He said the January meeting went smoothly, lasting around 75 minutes.

Terris said the former staffers said 'they've witnessed ups and downs [from Fetterman] that could be associated with kind of a relapse'

Fetterman also said it strengthened his belief that Trump's mental acumen is as strong as ever.

'His faculties haven't slipped at all,' he told the magazine, keeping course with his recent infatuation with the Republican.'

'It's not that I admire it - I acknowledge it, and if you don't, you do it at your own peril politically.'

He added how he now advocating for Trump to cut off nuclear negotiations with Iran - and get to dropping bombs on the country instead.

Fetterman, 55, is a staunch Israel ally. There have also been public disagreements with staff and fellow Democrats over such policies - as well as legitimate reports of a high turnover in Fetterman's office since he was elected.

Last May, Fetterman's behavior reportedly became so concerning that one of his since gone employees wrote a letter to the medical director of the traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed asking for help with his boss.

'I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him,' he wrote, claiming that if things did not change, the senator 'won't be with us for much longer.'

'We do not know if he is taking his meds and his behavior frequently suggests he is not,' it continued.

The email further described 'conspiratorial thinking; megalomania high highs and low lows; long, rambling, repetitive and self centered monologues; lying in ways that are painfully, awkwardly obvious to everyone in the room.'
The rush to buy state pension top-ups ahead of the April deadline has caused a six to eight month backlog to process payments, according to feedback from This is Money readers.

Sharon Gray, a retired civil servant from Herefordshire who paid 6,000 in March, was informed that this was the current wait time by a Department for Work and Pensions staff member.

Mrs Gray, pictured below, is 66 and had rung up both the HMRC and DWP - which run the top-ups service between them - to find out when she could expect her state pension to increase.

She asked the DWP if people like her who are already receiving a state pension were being prioritised and was told they were not by the staff member.

Mrs Gray says it didn't sound to her like the DWP had put extra staff onto processing top-ups payments, and that she was then told by the staff member: 'We are just working our way through them and there is nothing you can do. You have to wait.'

However, the DWP has since told us that is prioritising the cases of people over 66 and has doubled staff working on top-ups - see its statement below.

This week, This is Money has also heard from two other readers who bought top-ups in November - one of whom will be 66 and start receiving his state pension later this month - but half a year later have not had records updated.

Another reader, who is 66 and lives in France, told us she paid in January and is still waiting for an increase in her payments.

Sharon Gray: DWP staff member told her there would be a six to eight month wait to boost her state pension

Earlier this week, we covered the cases of pensioners who were shortchanged at 66 because their state pension top-ups payments had vanished, and who hit out at the 'terrible' and 'troublesome' service.

They were the latest in a run of cases of lost state pension top-up payments - including one saga lasting three years - and readers' struggles to persuade government staff to help find their money.

DWP and HMRC have received a huge rush of new top-ups payments in recent months as savers sought to beat a crunch 5 April deadline.

A deal to buy voluntary state pension top-ups going back to 2006/07 has now ended - although you can still backdate for the past six years.

The DWP launched a callback service, which is now closed, to handle the volume of enquiries. If you signed up you should be contacted to discuss your situation, and still be able to buy top-ups for earlier years.

If you are over 66, you will receive state pension arrears going back to the date of your top-up payment in addition to your increase, so you will not ultimately see a shortfall.

Mrs Gray told us she is not in urgent need of her state pension increase, but during the publicity surrounding the deadline many people were asking if they should take out loans to buy top-ups, and it is likely some of them did.

She commented to us that the general public is currently unaware of a 6-8 month backlog to process top-ups payments, and some people might suffer severe financial difficulty if they cannot afford to wait a long time for higher payments to start.

Are YOU in the state pension top-ups backlog? Are you chasing a top-ups payment? Or did you put in a callback request to DWP? If you have paid and heard nothing more, or you have received a callback or are still waiting for one, write to: pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk

Mrs Gray says: 'I was really surprised there hasn't been any coverage of this delay, especially given the level of publicity and coverage of the voluntary National Insurance contribution deadline.

'I was also surprised that they have no mechanism to prioritise updates for people already in receipt of state pension.

'I wonder if others are getting a similar message from DWP and if there is any additional resource being made available to the department to deal with this?'

One of the other readers who contacted us this week told us that if they didn't get the increase they paid for, they would be struggling to pay bills.

A DWP spokesperson said regarding Mrs Gray's comments: 'We do not recognise these claims and we are prioritising customers over state pension age so they can receive the immediate support to which they are entitled.

'We have doubled the number of staff on the team and are working at pace to process payments to customers.'

> Bought top-ups? See the box above for how to contact This is Money

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, who is This is Money's retirement columnist, says: 'For those who are already over state pension age and short of a full pension, it cannot be right that they have to wait months to get their pension reassessed.

'The Government must have known that there would be a surge of payments in the weeks and months leading up to the final deadline and should have put in place extra capacity to keep processing times down.'

Webb, who is a partner and pension consultant LCP, adds: 'As things stand, people are losing out on the interest on hundreds or thousands of pounds in contributions and simply have to sit and wait until their case gets to the top of the queue.'
Anthony Albanese has made reducing student debt and helping all first home buyers the hallmarks of his re-election campaign.

He has set aside $16billion to slash student debt by 20 per cent and is vowing to enable all first-home buyers get a mortgage with a 5 per cent deposit.

But the Prime Minister is facing fierce resistance from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who wants to scrap debt relief for students, free TAFE and sweeteners for those who buy an electric car worth up to $91,400.

Mr Albanese is also in the unusual position of being a Labor leader proposing permanent income tax cuts, opposed by the Liberal Party.

Labor is instead opposing the Opposition's plan to temporarily halve fuel excise.

Should be re-elected on Saturday, Mr Albanese would become the first Australian prime minister since John Howard in 2004 to have won at least two elections.

He would also become the first Labor leader since Bob Hawke in 1990 to have been re-elected, and only the third ALP prime minister since Federation to have won back-to-back elections, alongside Gough Whitlam five decades ago.

Here's how the opinion poll favourite is planning to make history on Saturday, and achieve what eluded other post-war Labor PMs Ben Chifley, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

Former university protester Anthony Albanese has made reducing student debt and encouraging more Australians to buy an electric vehicle the hallmarks of his campaign (he is pictured with fiancee Jodie Haydon campaigning in Brisbane)

Anthony Albanese (pictured in his protesting university days) has set aside $16billion to slash student debt by 20 per cent - something which Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would scrap

Student debt

Mr Albanese, who was a student protester at the University of Sydney during the early 1980s, is focusing on the youth vote with a $16billion plan to reduce student debt by 20 per cent or an average of $5,520 from their Higher Education Contribution Scheme liabilities.

Labor is also planning to lift the repayment threshold from $54,000 to $67,000, calculating it would save someone earning $70,000 about $1,300 a year in repayments.

This is on top of another $3billion plan to reduce student debt by indexing the interest on that debt it to the wage price index or the consumer price index, whichever is lower.

Mr Dutton is vowing to scrap Labor's student debt relief if the Coalition wins Saturday's election, arguing its unfair on tradies who didn't go to university.

The Coalition is also vowing to axe fee-free TAFE, a Labor policy that debuted in January 2023, because only 100,000 people had completed the courses.

It is instead promising to revive a network of 12 Australian Technical Colleges, that existed when John Howard was prime minister, at a cost of $260million.

First-home buyers

The Prime Minister is also seeking to consolidate the youth vote with a plan to guarantee every first home buyer would be able to get into the property market with a five per cent deposit, regardless of their income.

'I want to help young people and first home buyers achieve the dream of home ownership,' he said.

The Prime Minister is also seeking to consolidate the youth vote with a plan to guarantee every first home buyer would be able to get into the property market with a five per cent deposit

Taxpayers would guarantee the balance of the 20 per cent deposit so they are spared from having to pay costly lenders' mortgage insurance.

Unlike the existing Home Guarantee Scheme, these price limits are much higher and reflect mid-point house prices for each capital city from recent CoreLogic data.

In other words, from January 2026, a first-home buyer would be able to buy the typical house in their preferred city and not just a small unit or property in a far, outer suburb.

That means a first home buyer would be able to purchase a Sydney house for $1.5million - the city's median price - instead of $900,000 under the existing limit.

The limit in Brisbane is $1million, up from $700,000.

In Melbourne, it's lower at $950,000, reflecting the decline in Victoria's home prices during the past year, but it's an improvement from $800,000 previously.

Perth has a limit of $850,000, up from $600,000, compared with $900,000 in Adelaide, also up from $600,000.

The limit in Hobart is $700,000, up from $600,000, while in Canberra it will be $1million, up from $750,000. The Northern Territory limit is unchanged at $600,000.

The Albanese government is proposing $268 a year in income tax relief as part of a $17billion plan

Tax cuts

Both sides of politics are opposing each other's tax relief policies.

Labor has declared it won't honour the Coalition's $6billion plan to halve fuel excise to 25.4 cents for a year from July.

Instead, the Albanese government is proposing $268 a year in income tax relief as part of a $17billion plan.

From July 2026, those earning $18,201 to $45,000 would see their marginal tax rate fall from 16 per cent to 15 per cent.

A year later, in July 2027, it would drop to 14 per cent - taking the relief to $536 over two years, as tax cuts for part-time workers flow through to everyone else.

The Opposition has derided it as $5 a week or 70 cents a day worth of relief and is instead proposing a one-off offset of up to $1,200 for 10million Australians earning up to $144,000 in the 2025-26 financial year at a cost of $10billion.

Tax deductions

Taxpayers would be offered an instant tax deduction of $1000, which would automatically cover work expenses.

The reform will allow taxpayers to choose to claim a $1,000 instant tax deduction instead of claiming individual work-related expenses.

Taxpayers wont need to collect receipts for deductions less than $1,000 and will save on the costs of professional tax advice.

Medicare

If Labor is re-elected, Mr Albanese will commit $204.5 million to launch 1800MEDICARE, a 24/7 nation-wide health advice and after-hours GP telehealth service backed by Medicare.

From January 1, Australians who call the number will be connected to a registered nurse who can provide advice or refer them to another health service.

Anyone who needs urgent GP care for something like an emergency prescription or treatment for a short-term illness or injury can be connected to a free telehealth consultation with a GP between 6pm and 8am.

This could prevent an estimated 250,000 Australians from making an unnecessary trip to an emergency department per year, Labor said.

Penalty rates

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will legislate to protect penalty rates in awards.

Electric cars

Labor's electric car policies, introduced in 2022, are facing resistance from the Opposition, which is campaigning to scrap them.

Under the current policy, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles do not attract fringe benefits tax if they fall under the luxury car tax threshold of $91,387 and are purchased through a salary packaging program.

It also enabled those buying an electric car to claim all the costs of servicing a novated lease, along with running costs, giving them a tax benefit.

For an EV around the $45,000 mark, we estimate a worker would pay another $3500 per year without the exemption.

The Coalition is also vowing to scrap Labor's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, designed to reduce new car emissions by 59 per cent over four years, with enforcement starting in July.

Car companies that sold too many petrol or diesel cars would be penalised, which could see the price of a Ford Ranger ute rise by $6,150, based on Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries modelling.

Housing

Labor is vowing to spend $10billion building up to 100,000 new homes reserved just for first-home buyers by partnering with state developers to fast-track land releases, zoning and planning approvals.

But it is facing resistance from the Coalition, who have vowed to axe Labor's existing $10billion Housing Australia Future Fund to build 40,000 social and affordable homes over five years.
The Liberal Party faces being wiped out in wealthy heartland electorates with betting markets expecting it to hold no seats on Sydney's north shore for the first time ever after Saturday's election.

Sportsbet now has the Labor Party retaining Bennelong on revived 1970s boundaries, east of the Lane Cove River, as a Teal independent embroiled in a hair salon scandal picked up Bradfield.

This would also be the first ever state or federal election where the Liberal Party was left with no seats on Sydney's north shore, with areas from Ku-ring-gai to Lane Cove long regarded as its political heartland.

Labor MP Jerome Laxale is the favourite at $1.57 to keep Bennelong, with Liberal candidate Scott Yung now out at $2.20.

Should that occur, ultra-expensive waterview suburbs like Hunters Hill, Riverview, Longueville, Greenwich and Lane Cove would be in a federal Labor electorate for the first time ever.

In Bradfield, Teal independent Nicolette Boele is at short odds of $1.72 compared with $1.97 for first-time Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian - vying to replace retiring MP Paul Fletcher in the redrawn seat now stretching from Wahroonga to Northbridge.

Should that materialise, the Liberal Party would lose an electorate it has held continuously since the seat was created in 1949, to a Teal rival.

Bradfield was also the only Liberal electorate to vote for the Voice in 2023.

TheLiberal Party faces being wiped out in wealthy heartland electorates with betting markets expecting it to hold no seats on Sydney's north shore for the first time ever after Saturday's election

In Bradfield, Teal independent Nicolette Boele (pictured) is at short odds of $1.72 compared with $1.97 for first-time Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian

Mr Laxale is the favourite to retain Bennelong, even after having to apologise for his father Alain making an anti-gay comment to a Liberal campaign volunteer.

This is also despite the government proposing to slap a 15 per cent unrealised gains tax on super balances above $3million, and double retirement earnings taxes to 30 per cent.

The re-elected Labor government also changed the former Coalition's government's stage three tax cuts so those earning more than $200,000 would get back $4,529 instead of $9,075.

Andrew Zbik, who in 2017 was elected to Lane Cove Council as the area's first Labor representative since 1947, said wealthy people in Bennelong were happy to vote against their economic interests.

'I definitely see a shift - it's almost like "I've got my surplus income that I can care about issues; I'm no longer worried about just my own hip pocket",' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Zbik, a former Lane Cove mayor who is now a financial planner, said higher-income earners and baby boomers were the ones switching to Labor in traditional Liberal Party areas.

'The thing that I've been hearing, they're like, "I've got surplus, I've got more than that, it's okay"; if anything they're in that position going, "In the scheme of things, what's $4,000 to me? It's nothing to me, my children are struggling to buy a home, I'm fine",' he said.

While Labor has promised to leave negative gearing untouched, the ALP had strong swings to it on Sydney's north shore in 2019 when it campaigned to scrap tax breaks for investor landlords for future purchases of existing homes.

Sportsbet now has the Labor Party retaining Bennelong on revived 1970s boundaries, east of the Lane Cove River (pictured is Labor MP Jerome Laxale campaigning with Anthony Albanese)

'We started seeing this trend in 2019 where people were saying "Labor will help my children have a leg up",' Mr Zbik said.

'And that's where we really started this shift of traditional Liberal voter, A, come and talk to us; B, actually start voting for Labor.'

This occurred as former prime minister Scott Morrison's Coalition government had strong swings to his side in Sydney's outer south-west.

In 2022, Labor picked up electorates in wealthier areas of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and Perth, as the Coalition kept battler, outer-suburban seats in western Sydney and northern Brisbane.

The Liberal Party three years ago was wiped out on Sydney's northern beaches, with Teal independents picking up Mackellar and keeping Warringah, as the Teals gained Wentworth in the eastern suburbs and North Sydney on the lower north shore.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's vow to spend more on renewable energy and electric car subsidies resonated more with voters in upmarket electorates.

Mr Zbik said well-off voters disliked Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's nuclear energy policies.

'When you're worried about the environment and a transition to a renewable form of energy, going nuclear is just daft,' he said.

Labor MP Jerome Laxale is the favourite at $1.57 to keep Bennelong, with Liberal candidate Scott Yung (right) now out at $2.20 after handing out Easter eggs to children outside a school

They are also more likely to drive an electric car, and would benefit from Labor policies to cut car emissions over four years and provide generous tax incentives to those who bought an EV through a salary sacrificing package.

These are policies the Coalition opposed at the election, as it also campaigned to halve fuel excise to 25.4 cents a litre for a year.

Mr Zbik said the Lane Cove local government area had some of Australia's highest concentration of electric cars.

'You just hang in Lane Cove and you see electric cars everywhere,' he said.

'For an LGA, it's got one of the highest ownerships of electric cars in the nation.'

Mr Laxale first won Bennelong in 2022 under old boundaries that saw the electorate stretch west of Ryde towards Carlingford.

Under those old boundaries, former ABC TV journalist Maxine McKew won the seat for Labor, in 2007, off sitting Liberal prime minister John Howard when Bennelong overlapped with the state Labor seat of Ryde, then held by deputy premier John Watkins.

Bennelong's boundaries were redrawn for the 2025 election following the abolition of the Teal seat of North Sydney.

Labor has never held a federal electorate east of the Lane Cove River but it's previously held the north shore state seats of Lane Cove, North Sydney and Willoughby and the northern beaches electorates of Manly and Wakehurst, at various times from 1944 to 1984.

The Liberal Party still retained seats on Sydney's north shore and northern beaches in a landslide 1978 state election defeat, even as it lost traditional heartland electorates to Labor and independents.

The north shore covers areas east of the Lane Cove River, west of Middle Harbour and south of Hornsby, overlapping with Ku-ring-gai, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Mosman councils.
Actor and comedian Russell Brand today appeared in court where he faces charges of rape and sexual assault.

Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police charged Brand - who lives in Florida - by post with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four different women, and issued a court summons.

The alleged incidents took place between 1999 and 2005. Following the charges, Brand released a video to deny any wrongdoing.

Follow recap below
A former bikie begging for day release so he can attend his daughter's wedding insists he is the only man she trusts to walk her down the aisle after being allegedly raped by the notorious Skaf gang when she was 12.

Tim Fitzpatrick lodged the last-ditch application at Villawood Detention Immigration Centre, in Sydney's west, last week but was advised on Thursday it was still be processed by the centre's operators, Secure Journeys, just two days out from his daughter's big day.

The 67-year-old has been locked away for almost two months after being arrested and detained by Australian Border Force officers on March 7 for consorting with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who entered Australia legally from his native New Zealand in 1979, now faces being deported despite having spent most of his adult life in Sydney, and having no living relatives in his birth country.

In his hey day, he ran with both the Hells Angels and the Bandidos in Sydney, but maintained he's never been involved in any criminal activity during his time with either club and that he had left the bikie gangs for good around the time Covid hit.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who also worked as a security guard and quantity surveyor, told Daily Mail Australia he was devastated by the prospect of being exiled from Australia but even more distraught by the thought of missing his only daughter's wedding on Saturday.

'I've been locked up in here for nine weeks now,' Mr Fitzpatrick said from unit three in the detention centre's Hotham Compound.

'I was arrested at nine o'clock in the morning as I was walking out the door to take my father-in-law to the doctor two months ago and I haven't been home since.

Tim Fitzpatrick is making a last-ditch plea for day release to attend his only daughter's wedding on the weekend, explaining he is the only man she trusts to walk her down the aisle after she was allegedly sexually assaulted as a teen

Mr Fitzpatrick said he has also been been caring full-time for his wife of 39 years, Cheryl, as she battled with the ravages of early onset dementia, while also supporting his son and looking after his four grandchildren

Mr Fitzpatrick, who has lived in Sydney for decades after arriving in Australia legally from New Zealand in 1979, has been locked away in Villawood Immigration Detention Centre after being arrested over his former connections to outlaw motorcycle gangs

'The worse part of all this is that I'm stuck in here while my only daughter gets married.

'There's nothing any father wants more than to walk their daughter down the aisle on the day of her wedding and be there to give her away.

'I love her and wish I was with her - and I feel it's my fault and that I'm letting her down - it's horrible, it's devastating, absolutely devastating.'

Mr Fitzpatrick said he was advised just before 3.30pm on Thursday that his plea - the latest of six application - for day release to attend the wedding had been denied by the ABF.

Instead, he said he was informed that he would be able to meet see his daughter briefly before the wedding and later watch a video of the ceremony on a big screen television in the detention centre.

However, he hopes there's still time to overturn the decision.

'I'm no danger to anyone - I'm just asking to be let out for one day to go to the wedding - seeing her an hour before the wedding when she's getting made up isn't the same,' he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick said his ongoing detention had been made all the worse by the fact he knew his daughter had trouble trusting men after allegedly being sexually assaulted by the Skaf gang rapists when she was just 12.

The retired security guard has had six applications to attend his daughter's wedding denied - though he still holds out hope he can overturn the rejection on his latest plea (pictured)

Mr Fitzpatrick's daughter has consented to him discussing the sexual assault she suffered outside Westfields shopping centre in Hurstville as a twelve-year-old in the hope it will underscore the importance of his attendance at her wedding

He claimed she been attacked by the gang during a day out at the movies at the Westfields Shopping Centre in Hurstville in August 2000.

Although she initially reported the assault to police, he said the gang was never formally charged over the incident given her young age and their reticence as a family for her to have to endure the trauma of giving evidence in court.

The members of the gang, led by Bilal Skaf, was eventually convicted of a string of rapes and sexual assaults of women and teens as young as 14, with the ringleader still behind bars serving a 31-year prison sentence.

Mr Fitzpatrick said his daughter had agreed to let him discuss her alleged assault for the first time due to the extenuating circumstances around his detention.

'It happened at Hurstville on a Saturday morning while she was at the cinemas watching a movie,' he said.

'She was going to the toilet halfway through and they grabbed her by the firedoors and pulled her through them and out to where they had a van waiting and raped her.

'As you can imagine, it's incredibly traumatic to think about, let alone talk about, even now quarter of a century on.

'Not only was she raped in such a horrific way, she was also only 12 years of age at the time.

Mr Fitzpatrick was a member of the Hell's Angels before quitting the club about five years ago

'It's been a long road to recovery for her. She's found it extremely hard to recover - and, in some ways, she never has.

'The first few years she was self-harming and it took her a long time to trust people and believe in herself again.

'She's been so brave and so resilient, I love her so, so much and that's why it hurts so much not to be with her - just for the day - when she needs me.

'We've been planning her wedding for two years... and now this happens.

'I'm so proud of her and the man she's marrying. He's kind and understanding and comes from a loving family - and I trust him to be the rock that I've always tried to be for my daughter and to hold everything together.'

Mr Fitzpatrick's daughter said although she would be gutted if her father was unable to attend her wedding she did not blame him for the situation.

'It will be heartbreaking for me, and heartbreaking for everyone, but he hasn't let me down - and I don't want him to feel like that - he's not done this,' she said.

'He's a loving, caring many who has always done everything he can to help me - he's my cheerleader and my rock.

'He's the one who has taken care of all of us through everything - the good times, the bad and the very worst - I'm here today because of him.'

Before joining the Hell's Angels, Mr Fitzpatrick was previously a member of the Bandidos

Although getting day release for his daughter's wedding might be held at a Catholic Church in Sydney's inner west on Saturday morning was Mr Fitzpatrick's most pressing concern, it was not his only one.

He said he was also worried about the impact his potential deportation would have on the rest of his family.

Mr Fitzpatrick said he had been been caring full-time for his wife of 39 years, Cheryl, as she battled with the ravages of early onset dementia, while also supporting his son and looking after his four grandchildren.

He admitted he had been a known member outlaw motorcycle gangs scene in Sydney for much of his life, and was prominent enough to rate a mention in Cold Chisel songwriter Don Walker's 2019 memoir, Shots.

'Sasha Milenkovic was shot dead in the basement of the Blackmarket club in Chippendale on November 9th 1997,' Walker wrote in the tome while introducing a raft of songs before continuing.

'Two years prior, he, [Hells Angels boss] Felix Lyle and Tim Fitzpatrick had done my family a big favour.'

Walker said he repaid the debt by performing a gig at the Bandidos' western Sydney clubhouse, though he does not disclose the nature of the favour.

Cold Chisel songwriter Don Walker (second from right with bandmates Ian Moss, Jimmy Barnes and Phil Small) is a friend of the Fitzpatrick family

Mr Fitzpatrick confirmed he was close friends with Walker but politely declined to discuss the favour, saying it was 'a private matter'.

'I've been riding motorbikes since I was five years old growing up on my parents - I've always loved being around bikes and other people who share my passion,' he said.

'I was with the Hells Angels but let about five years ago. I was with them or about 10 years and before that I was with the Bandidos.

'But I've never been involved in an criminal activity during my time with either club.

'It's something you know, that's just been hyped up by Hollywood and the media - but you can't tarnish every one because of the actions of a few bad apples.'

He said his only encounter with the law came almost four decades ago when he was working as a pub security guard in 1987.

'We were always dealing with drunks and sometimes, back in those days, you had to get a bit heavy handed and man-handle people to get them out of the pub,' he said.

'One patron though I got a bit to heavy handed and I got taken to court and done for assault.'

Mr Fitzpatrick says he never engaged in any illegal activity during his days as a bikie

The incident saw Mr Fitzpatrick convicted and placed on a good behaviour bond but he maintained that was the sole blot on his otherwise clean record.

He added he had been hand-picked to join the security detail of former US President Jimmy Carter when he made a private visit to Australia in 1980 as well as helping to protect King Abdullah of Jordan during his visit.

'I have never been to jail before and haven't been in trouble with the law since then,' he said.

'And now I'm in here with drug dealers and murders and arsonist and people who have done long stretches in prison.

'It's the first thing the guards asked me when I arrived: "What prison are you coming from?" Even the other inmates can't believe I'm in here.'

Mr Fitzpatrick's lawyer, Stewart Levitt, described the former bikie's detention as 'ridiculous' and said he would be fighting his deportation when his case was heard before the Administrative Review Tribunal on May 19.

'He's been a faithful husband and good, loving father his whole life and this is how he is treated,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's outrageous.'

The ABF declined to comment, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Due to privacy provisions, the Australian Border Force does not comment on individual cases.'
A law expert says Nagi Maehashi would have a tough case to prove if she and rival Brooke Bellamy, accused of stealing her recipes, end up in court.

The RecipeTin Eats founder has alleged the popular social media baker stole two of her recipes - for baklava and caramel slice - in her bestselling cookbook Bake With Brooki.

Maehashi raised the accusations of copyright infringement on Tuesday before Sally McKenney, the US author and blogger behind Sally's Baking Addiction, came forward with similar claims about Bellamy hours later.

Bellamy, who was then dumped as an ambassador for a federally funded program for young girls in business, has denied the accusations, saying she had been making and selling her recipes well before Maehashi's were published.

On Thursday, Maehashi clapped back, sharing a screenshot of her archived recipe for caramel slice dated April 2016 - predating Bellamy's claimed October 2016 development of the recipe by six months.

The spat has raised questions about whether recipes shared by home cooks and food bloggers are covered by copyright law. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Maehashi's claims are true.

Can you copyright a recipe?

Isabella Alexander, a law professor at University of Technology Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia that it was indeed possible to copyright recipes.

Isabella Alexander (pictured), a law professor at University of Technology Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia that it was indeed possible to copyright recipes

RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi (pictured) has accused Ms Baker of stealing recipes for her bestselling cookbook Bake With Brooki

Ms Bellamy (pictured), who was dumped as an ambassador for the Academy for Enterprising Girls, has denied the accusations

'I guess the answer is yes, a recipe can potentially be protected by copyright law, but it might not give you much protection,' Ms Alexander said.

'It would be easier to claim protection for a recipe that was very unusual, unique, or expressed in a very individual way.

'Where the recipe is quite simple you would be looking for an extremely high level of identity between the original and the alleged copy.'

Does Nagi Maehashi have a strong case?

As an example, Ms Alexander said the two recipes for caramel slice looked extremely similar - but there are only so many ways to make the sweet treat.

'The problem is, you have to think about what the ingredients are for caramel slice - you're already working within fairly strict parameters,' she said.

'With the instructions there's more differences (than the ingredients), but there's still a really high level of similarity.

'I think there's an inference of copying that could be drawn there.'

Ms Alexander said there was a 'high level of similarity' between the two recipes for caramel slice

'Nagi would need to show her particular contribution to this classic recipe and that Brooke had copied it,' Ms Alexander said

But if Maehashi launched a legal action it would be difficult for her to show that she had put her own spin on the recipe, Ms Alexander said.

'It's not really cut and dried - recipe cases are hard to prove.

'Nagi would need to show her particular contribution to this classic recipe and that Brooke had copied it.'

It would be helpful to Brooke's defence that her recipe was worded slightly differently, she added.

If Maehashi's case was successful she could ask for damages or an account of profits

Her compensation might include a share of the book's royalties, plus an amount for lack of attribution.

The book has racked up an estimated $4.6million in sales.

Ms Alexander described it as a 'fascinating case' that gave an insight into the food industry.

Ms Bellamy's cook book, Bake with Brooki, has racked up an estimated $4.6million in sales

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan (pictured) had since come out with allegations against Ms Maesashi, saying he had not been credited appropriately for a butter chicken recipe

'Obviously there's a community of chefs and people that right recipes, and they have norms around the kind of copying you'll tolerate.'

The alleged plagiarism row took a further twist on Wednesday night when award-winning chef/restaurateur Luke Mangan accused Maehashi of not crediting him appropriately for one of his recipes.

'She has credited my recipe, but I would have preferred a bigger mention and at least linking people to our website,' Mangan told The Courier Mail.

Maehashi adapted Mangan's butter chicken recipe - adding salt and a low-fat cream option - and referenced the chef in a footnote online.

Mangan was not mentioned in the print copy but it did feature a QR code linking to the online credited version.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Maehashi and Bellamy for comment.

Ms Maehashi is the founder of popular website, RecipeTin Eats, which has 1.5million followers on Instagram.

Cookbook author and blogger Nagi Maehashi (left) has taken a stand against 'trolls' who have been attacking Brooke Bellamy (right) amid their plagiarism row

She is also the author of award-winning cookbooks Dinner and Tonight.

She and Bellamy could face off next week at the Australian book industry awards in Melbourne, where their respective bestselling cookbooks have both been nominated for the 2025 Illustrated Book of the Year.

On Thursday the row took a surprise turn when Maehashi posted a video to Instagram betting her fans and supporters to leave Bellamy alone.

'Please stop the trolling' the Australian cook said in the clip.

'Now I know I've made serious allegations, but this does not justify the personal attacks that I've seen online against Brooke Bellamy' she continued.

'I do not support it, and I'm asking you to stop. I know that this is just a very, very small percentage of people online. I know the majority of people are good, fun, normal people.

'You know, share your opinions, have heated debates, support Brookie, support me, disagree with both of us, think we're pathetic, whatever you want, but just keep it respectful, no trolling, no hateful comments.'

Maehashi went on: 'Fundamentally, at the end of the day, we're talking recipes, and this is a business dispute.

'You know, these are legal allegations that I've made against Penguin, a corporate, allegations made by my company.

'So it just, we've gotta be respectful about this, you know, it's the RecipeTin way.'

It comes after online baking sensation Bellamy locked down her social media amid a furious backlash over the alleged plagiarism row which has blown up around her.
The internet has been gripped by wild debate over the last week: could 100 men beat a gorilla? More than 288million people - including X-owner Elon Musk - have piled in on the hypothetical conundrum offering more and more outrageous possibilities.

For all the wild assertions that these men could 'literally sit on a gorilla and kill it' or their plans to grapple with and gouge the beast - these militant strategies may not be necessary.

Gorillas, as it turns out, are actually incredibly shy and while they may look more akin to The Hulk, these placid giants have never been known to kill a human. The instances where they do attack are usually down to human aggression or if they are surprised or threatened.

Males will then likely roar and do bluff charges - where they run straight to the victim and then stop only a metre away.

While they are still ferociously strong and can brawl within their groups, they are not the most violent of apes. That predator in the primate world - renowned for savagely ripping off people's faces and genitals as well as killing babies - is the chimpanzee.

Often believed to be gentle and living in harmonious communities, experts from London Zoo told MailOnline that chimps are more territorial while groundbreaking research in 2022 said that our closest relatives are innately violent.

Human interference was thought to be a large factor in their vicious outbursts but the 54-year long study showed that the coordinated group attacks that chimpanzees do display their inherent disposition to violence.

'Violence is a natural part of life for chimpanzees,' Michael Wilson, the study's lead researcher and an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Live Science. 'They don't need to be fed bananas to kill each other.'

A 57-year-old woman from Connecticut. had to have a face transplant (right) after she was savagely mauled by a chimpanzee

An American student was left fighting for his life after being attacked and dragged half a mile by two male chimps in an act of 'territorial defence'

AI image generated by Shutterstock a gorilla is swarmed by 100 men in a fighting arena. The men are trying to pull the gorilla to the ground. The gorilla lifts one man up, a beam of light shining down on them both

During the study, the chimpanzees killed 152 other chimpanzees, of which 58 were directly observed by scientists taking part in the observation.

Chimpanzees, alongside humans, are the only species known to plan attacks.

'Studies of chimpanzee violence have been especially influential in how people think about the origins of human warfare,' Wilson explained.

'Some people have argued that human warfare is a recent cultural invention, the result of some other recent development such as the origin of agriculture.'

The dominance between primates has also been proven as chimpanzees were seen attacking, killing and then eating gorillas in Africa's Loango National Park in Gabon.

On two occasions, chimps formed coalitions and attacked a group of gorillas for a combined 124 minutes that ended with two dead infant gorillas.

The second encounter ended with a dead, mutilated infant that was almost entirely consumed by one adult chimpanzee female.

Meanwhile, gorillas are far gentler creatures.

A famous tool-using chimpanzee ripped a baby girl from her mother's arms before taking her into the forest to butcher her and harvest her organs (Jeje, one of the chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea, pictured yawning in December 2017)

With one hand, a silverback can exert a grip force of 1,300lb, enough to mulch a human skull like a ripe mango (stock image)

Dan Simmonds, London Zoo's Zoological Operations Manager, said, 'gorillas are typically gentle and shy, and like the members of our critically endangered western lowland gorilla troop at London Zoo, they all have unique personalities'.

He explained that 'all four gorilla subspecies spend their days foraging for food and bonding with their family'.

'They are incredibly intelligent, so they prefer not to waste energy on aggression unless provoked or their troops are threatened.'

Dr Tara Stoinski, President of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, also said that 'while a Silverback would fight to defend his family from known dangers, they are generally calm and are known as 'gentle giants' - they are very family oriented and known for their care of all in their group'.

Woman's face and hands ripped off by chimpanzee

Charla Nash, 62, underwent a face transplant in 2011 after being viciously attacked by a chimpanzee but was hospitalised five years later after doctors discovered her body was rejecting the transplant.

Nash lost her nose, lips, eyelids and hands when she was mauled in February 2009 by her employer's 200-pound pet chimpanzee named Travis in Stamford, Connecticut.

The animal, who appeared in commercials for Old Navy and Coca Cola, was thought to be domesticated since he would open doors, drink wine from a glass, eat at the dinner table, and dress himself.

Charla Nash, 62, had a face transplant in 2011 after being viciously attacked by a chimpanzee

Nash also had a double hand transplant at the same time as her facial surgery but had to have them shortly removed due to her body rejecting the transplant

Nash lost her nose, lips, eyelids and hands when she was mauled in 2009 by her employer's 200-pound pet chimpanzee in Connecticut

The animal, who appeared in commercials for Old Navy and Coca Cola, was thought to be domesticated

Herold was given Xanax to relax after he tried to escape by stealing the owner's car keys, which may have contributed to his violent outburst

When Nash (pictured before the attack), arrived at the house to help, the animal brutally attacked her

He even used the computer as his owner, Sandra Herold, treated the chimp as if he were her son.

Travis tried to escape by taking Herold's car keys and attempted to use them on several cars.

Herold, who died in 2010, tried to lure Travis back into the house and gave him an iced tea laced with Xanax. When Nash, arrived at the house to help, the animal brutally attacked her.

Investigators suggested Travis may have mistook Nash, who was familiar with the chimp, as an intruder after she appeared with a new hairstyle.

The Xanax, which is used for anxiety in humans, may have also fueled Travis' aggression.

Nash also had a double hand transplant at the same time as her facial surgery but had to have them removed shortly afterwards due to her body rejecting the transplant.

Man loses multiple body parts in chimp mauling

St James and LaDonna Davis gained national attention in 2005 when the chimpanzee-loving couple was savagely attacked by two of the primates while visiting their cherished pet Moe at a ranch in California.

Photos of St James after the mauling  absent a foot, buttocks, nose, lips, and other body parts  shocked America.

They first entered the national spotlight in 1967, when St James brought orphaned chimpanzee Moe home from Tanzania, and the couple treated him more like a son than a wild animal.

Moe ate with the Davises at the kitchen table, slept in their bed, and was the 'best man' at their wedding.

He was finally moved to a ranch and when the couple went to visit Moe on his 39th birthday, two other chimpanzees escaped from their enclosure and attacked the visiting couple as they served up birthday cake.

LaDonna, left, and St James Davis, lost body parts in a frenzied chimpanzee attack in 2005 and were seen sobbing when their 'son' disappeared, never to be seen again

During the attack, the two chimps gouged out St James' right eye and chewed off his nose, eight of his fingers, and parts of his skull, lips, cheek, buttocks, genitals, and feet

St James brought orphaned chimpanzee Moe home from Tanzania, and the couple treated him more like a son than a wild animal

The beloved orphan chimp Moe acted as 'best man' at the wedding of St James and LaDonna Davis

The chimps charged the couple. While one bit off LaDonna's left thumb, another gouged out St James's right eye and chewed off his nose, eight of his fingers, and parts of his skull, lips, cheek, buttocks, genitals, and feet.

The attack lasted for several minutes and ended when the two beasts were shot dead.

St James spent five months in the hospital and underwent many surgeries. He was severely disfigured, never walked again, and was blind in one eye.

Moe was transferred to a facility in the San Bernardino mountains. In 2008, he escaped from his enclosure and disappeared. The Davises 'animal-son' of 40 years was never seen again.

Eight-month-old baby butchered

Last summer, a tool-using chimpanzee ripped a baby girl from her mother's arms before taking her into the forest to butcher her and harvest her organs.

Distraught mother Seny Zogba was working in a cassava field in Bossou, in Guinea, when a chimp sunk his teeth into her and stole her eight-month-old baby, named as Yoh Helene.

The little girl's mutilated body was found 3km from the Nimba Mountains Nature Reserve, with witnesses claiming she had been eviscerated - and it feared the chimp may have used his tools to maim her.

Chief researcher Gen Yamakoshi chillingly said the gruesome killing was because the chimps 'no longer fear humans'.

The tiny community of apes, famed for their remarkable use of tools, lives in a forest around the village of Bossou, in the far southeastern corner of Guinea

An angry mob directed their fury towards the scientists who have been studying the remarkable animal community for decades, and brought the baby's corpse to their Bossou Environmental Research Institute.

They then ransacked the building, destroying and setting fire to equipment including drones, computers and over 200 documents, the centre's managers said.

Joseph Dore, a young member of the group from Bossou, said 'it's the way she was killed, that's what angered the population'

Man dragged half a mile by two chimps lost a testicle and an ear

Andrew Oberle, 26, was left fighting for his life after being attacked and dragged half a mile by two male chimps in an act of 'territorial defence'.

He lost an ear, several fingers and toes and a testicle, had his muscle ripped from his arm and suffered deep lacerations to both legs after the attack in 2012.

Doctors said his parents - originally from Florida - were 'traumatised by their disfigured son who has to be in an induced coma to keep him comfortable.

Experts believe the two chimpanzees were marking their territory when they pounced on Mr Oberle after he strayed into a 'no-go' zone at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden near Johannesburg in South Africa.

Mr Oberle now has a bionic right hand after the attack left most of his fingers torn off and his left wrist was destroyed

Experts believe the two chimpanzees were marking their territory when they pounced on Mr Oberle after he strayed into a 'no-go' zone at a South African institute

Oberle went under 26 different surgeries to repair the damage from the attack, four of which were to reconstruct his nose

The chimps pulled him under two fences, the second of which was electrified, before dragging him for half a mile.

Oberle, an American researcher, was giving tourists a lecture at the sanctuary as part of his master's degree in Anthropology and Primatology, based at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Over the next couple of years, Oberle went under 26 different surgeries to repair the damage from the attack, four of which were to reconstruct his nose.

He now has a bionic right hand after the attack left most of his fingers torn off and his left wrist was destroyed, so doctors had to repair all the tendons in it in order for him to use it again.

He also has prosthetic's where both of his feet were because they were past the point of repair.

'I don't blame chimps at all,' Oberle said, 'they're wild animals. You can't know what's going to happen.'

He lost an ear, several fingers and toes and a testicle, had his muscle ripped from his arm and suffered deep lacerations to both legs after the attack in 2012 (pictured before the attack)

Oberle, an American researcher, was giving tourists a lecture at the sanctuary as part of his master's degree in Anthropology and Primatology

Attacked by pet of 17 years

Tamara Brogoitti, 68, made a desperate call to 911 after her daughter was attacked by a chimpanzee that was kept as a pet on a family ranch for 17 years and the pair were forced to take shelter in a basement bedroom.

Buck the chimp was shot at the ranch in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon, after biting the 50-year-old woman in the legs, arms and torso in 2021.

'She needs an ambulance. The ambulance can not get to her. I've locked myself in the basement with her. I can't get out to get my own gun. She's bleeding profusely. I've never seen anything like this,' Brogoitti said in the audio of the call to the cops obtained by KHQ-TV.

When the 911 operator asked if she was able to put pressure on her daughter's wounds she replied: 'I'm trying to guard her from a 200-pound ape, so I can't really put pressure on it, ma'am'.

Umatilla County Sheriffs Office deputies arrived and shot the animal dead so they could safely get to the victim.

Broigotti and her daughter were both taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in Pendleton for treatment.

Buck the adult chimpanzee was shot by a deputy for his unprovoked attack on his owner's 50-year-old daughter

When deputies arrived to Broigotti's house, Buck had been trying to get away while roaming around the fence that surrounded the property

Tamara Brogoitti had to give permission to the deputy to shoot Buck so she and her daughter could get an ambulance to their house

As the deputies arrived on to the scene, Buck was roaming near a fence that surrounded the Brogoitti house, Sheriffs Lt. Sterrin Ward said.

To get Brogoitti and her daughter medical attention, the sheriff's office concluded that Buck would have to be 'put down'.

Brogoitti gave the deputies permission to shoot Buck, and he was shot once to the head and died on the spot.

From 2010 to early 2019, Buck was a part of the Buck Brogoitti Animal Rescue. The nonprofit primarily housed and cared for horses the sheriffs office seized in abuse and neglect cases.

In 2010, the state of Oregon made it illegal to keep great apes including chimpanzees as pets.

But the law allowed exotic animals owned prior to 2010 to be kept until the end of their natural life - allowing Brogoitti to be excused from the ban.

Escaped chimp attacked carers

An escaped chimp was seen fly-kicking his carer in a bid for freedome from China's Hefei Wildlife Park.

The 12-year-old chimpanzee called Yang Yang was seen charging at visitors and then flung the employee into a wall.

His violent outburst was short lived as he was quickly tranquillised and returned to his cage but not before police were called and visitors evacuated in 2019.

It was the second 'prison break' in recent years for chimpanzees, with one managing to escape by climbing the electricity pylons out of the zoo.

Chacha, the male chimp, screams at a worker as he desperately to avoid being captured

The chimp escaped from Sendai Yagiyama Zoological Park with keepers in hot pursuit but climbed up an electricity pole

The chimp, 24-year-old Chacha, escaped from Sendai Yagiyama Zoological Park and was seen roaring at zoo guards trying to bring him back but was eventually shot with a tranquiliser dart.

He fell to the floor before being taken away by a zoo ambulance.

Four chimpanzees were also shot dead after sparking panic when they escaped from their zoo enclosure in Sweden.

The zoo said that the animals had to be euthanized because there was not enough tranquilliser for all of them.

A fifth chimpanzee is also believed to have escaped but found its own way back into the enclosure.
In the unusually deserted and silent corporate office, a very familiar, fruity voice came over the phone speaker, loud, clear and enthusiastic.

Keep the pedal to the metal! boomed one of the Duke of Yorks few remaining supporters. As investigative journalists, we already had the pedal to the metal, sure enough. But that metaphorical vehicle was now speeding in quite a different direction from the one which the Queens second son and his loyalists must have been hoping for.

Five years ago  in those strange months prior to and during the second Covid lockdown of 2020  I found myself, along with my Mail colleague Stephen Wright, in close proximity to a desperate final attempt to discredit the toxic allegations concerning Prince Andrews friendship with convicted paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

In November of the previous year, Andrew had given a catastrophic Buckingham Palace interview to BBC Newsnight. This unprecedented exercise had been intended  by the Princes advisers  to clear Andrews name. Epstein himself had been found dead in a New York jail three months earlier.

Instead, the Dukes blustering car crash performance saw him further vilified and almost immediately removed from public duties by the Palace. At the heart of the furore were the allegations made by one Virginia Giuffre, nee Roberts, who killed herself in Australia, aged 41, last week.

The infamous 2001 photograph of Andrew with his arm around a teenage Virginia in the London mews home of Epstein and Andrews socialite friend Ghislaine Maxwell was probably a fake. We only had to dig to get to the truth

The American claimed that the then middle-aged Duke had sex with her three times in 2001  in London, then New York and finally on Epsteins private island in the Caribbean  after she had been trafficked for that purpose by Epstein. On the first two occasions she was aged just 17.

The Duke vehemently denied having had any sexual relations with her. Very few believed him by the summer of 2020. But, he surely hoped, that could change.

For me, the Dukes last reputational counter-offensive began over coffee outside a Covid-distanced Mayfair restaurant. It was hosted by one of Londons foremost experts in crisis management.

Most of what had been said about the Duke was bulls**t, we were told. Virginia Giuffre was on the make and hapless Andrew was her golden goose.

The infamous 2001 photograph of him with his arm around a teenage Virginia in the London mews home of Epstein and Andrews socialite friend Ghislaine Maxwell was probably a fake. We only had to dig to get to the truth.

Tacit assistance would be given along the way, in the form of access to relevant documents and people. A succession of mildly embarrassed former equerries and protection officers who had seen nothing untoward would be served up.

There would be no pressure to write anything other than what we found out. Yes, they were that confident Randy Andy was more like an Edwardian boy scout.

And, with that belief, they were largely transparent to a self-destructive fault.

Up to that point Id taken little or no interest in the royal soap opera. But, like the death of Diana, Andrews dalliance with Epstein was a story for the ages. And here was a unique opportunity to get under the hood, as the Americans put it, to see how the royal mechanism really worked.

Or at least how Andrews crisis team thought, hoped or had been told by the Duke it worked. The reality was somewhat different.

Thanks to the information provided by the crisis team, we found ourselves obliged to calculate how many people would fit into a particular bathtub in Ghislaine Maxwells home. And what, if anything, they could get up to once they were so installed.

I found myself, along with my Mail colleague Stephen Wright, in close proximity to a desperate final attempt to discredit the toxic allegations concerning Prince Andrews friendship with convicted paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein (both pictured)

Also, the length of time needed to get from a Home Counties lacrosse match to a performance of the Michael Frayn farce Noises Off in Woking, then to a local pizza restaurant before ending up at a Belgravia bacchanal.

In a similar vein, we estimated how long a prince of the realm would require to travel from points A to B in Manhattan, have sexual intercourse at point B then return to point A. Some of these answers favoured Andrew. The important ones did not.

Everything happened in an odd atmosphere, I recall. Whether this was due to the Covid year or Andrews detachment from reality is still hard to say.

The first of the three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew that Virginia was to describe in legal depositions took place in Maxwells London home on Saturday, March 10, 2001.

Evidence provided to us, meant to disprove her claims about that evening, came in the form of a household diary written by the Dukes former but still loyal wife Sarah Ferguson, with whom he continued to live in Sunningdale in Berkshire. According to the diary, she was working in New York on that day.

That morning, the diary suggested, their daughter Beatrice took part in a lacrosse match vs St Swithuns (away) Their other child, Eugenie, was also in action, playing netball.

In the Newsnight interview the Duke had volunteered what he claimed to have been one of his domestic tasks during the late afternoon of March 10.

Id taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party, at I suppose sort of four or five in the afternoon, he said.

This recollection was undoubtedly sparked by the same diary entries we had been given privileged access to. One of these suggested that, after her lacrosse match, Beatrice attended the birthday party of a school friend, seeing a matinee performance of Noises Off. Saturday matinees at Wokings New Victoria Theatre usually begin at 2.30pm.

This is where the complications began. Because another diary entry suggested that a family member was having a manicure at home at exactly the same time as the play. That someone was A  in other words, Andrew.

Such a schedule clash would have made dropping his daughter at the theatre ten miles from his home a problem if he wanted his fingernails to be attended to simultaneously. So how much of a hands-on dad was he that day?

On Newsnight, the Duke had claimed to remember his visit to Woking that afternoon weirdly distinctly.

The third and final entry in the diary provided an explanation, if not the salvation he had hoped for. It read: Pizza Express.

As the play lasted little more than two hours, the schoolgirl party might have been expected to arrive at the restaurant for a birthday supper a little after 5pm.

But where was Andrew?

Beatrice, we were told in an admirable example of transparency, had no recollection of what happened that day. Nor did the parents throwing the party.

Whats more, Beatrice, then 12 years old, had her own security, able to take her where she wished to go. She had no logistical need of her father.

If the Duke had, in fact, either played a brief or non-existent part in her day, and been occupied with duties no more onerous than a manicure, then he had all the time in the world after the procedure to be driven up to central London.

But if the Duke had indeed been present to pick up his daughter at the end of the birthday meal, then taken her back to their home, Sunninghill Park, he could not have been in central London that night much before 8pm.

This last scenario was the only one whose timing was incompatible with Virginia Giuffres account of what happened that late afternoon and early evening.

For the record, Andrew claimed on Newsnight: I was at home with the children.

Virginia once wrote a 140-page autobiographical manuscript with the working title Billionaire Boys Club. In this memoir and other accounts, she claimed the Duke arrived at Maxwells home just after six oclock in the evening.

Their party had later gone to the Jermyn Street nightclub Tramp, where she claims she and the sweating Duke had danced. They then returned to the Maxwell home roughly a mile away.

Which brings us to the much-disputed bathtub.

In her memoir, Virginia claimed that the bath was a Victorian standalone in the middle of the room. We kissed and touched each other before submersing into the hot water, where we both continued to re-enact foreplay, she wrote.

Andrews team was hot on this detail. The bath in question was modern and cramped. Theyd even put two members of their legal team into the tub to prove it wasnt Kama Sutra-friendly, they told us.

Our own investigations  involving building plans and other witnesses  suggested that Andrews version was more likely.

Virginias purple prose had undermined her account. But this was in no way conclusive.

The second disputed sexual encounter which Andrews team wanted to disprove allegedly took place in New York in April 2001. Such efforts were undermined by two words in the Dukes confidential itinerary which they had provided to us: Private time.

This innocuous phrase related to the Dukes intentions for the five hours between 1.45pm, when his plane touched down at JFK, and 6.45pm, when he was to leave the Consul Generals Residence  where he was staying  to go to a formal dinner.

Epstein owned the largest townhouse in Manhattan, which was close to the residence.

On the day in question, flight logs suggest that Virginia was flown into the New York area on an Epstein plane.

On Newsnight, Emily Maitlis asked the Duke: There was a witness there... who says you did visit the house in that month. Andrew replied: I probably did... because of what I was doing. I was staying with the Consul General which is further down the street on Fifth so I wasnt... I wasnt staying there. I may have visited but definitely didnt, definitely, definitely no, no, no activity.

Maitlis didnt press the point further. Which may have been fortunate for the Duke. But thanks to the official itinerary, we could calculate that there was enough time on that first day for the Duke to visit Epsteins home and return to his formal duties.

Giuffre later claimed: I was told to go upstairs with Andy... I had sex with Andy there. I was only paid $400 from Epstein for servicing Andy that time. Her account was not incompatible with the formal itinerary we had been given sight of.

Despite his denial during the Newsnight interview, we found we could now prove that Andrew did spend the night of April 11/12 at the Epstein mansion.

In a fax sent from London shortly before his trip  and shown to us  a royal aide stated only that: His Royal Highness will return to New York on the evening of 11th April after his visit to Boston. He will spend that evening at a private address in New York and will depart for Miami the following day.

That private address was Epsteins mansion, a source close to the Duke conceded, once we pressed the matter. The Duke recalled he stayed there to save taxpayers money. We drew our own conclusions.

Then came what was, for me, a turning point in the investigation, when new evidence of the Dukes idiotic behaviour began to dominate the picture. We were provided with previously unseen photographs of the Duke in a swimming pool in the Bahamas, with his wife and daughters, in that Easter 2001 period.

They were meant to convey togetherness and loyalty. We were also given sight of official documents related to the Dukes complex travel plans for the period.

Again, the integrity and transparency of those trying to help him prove his innocence only served to reveal how he had fallen under Epsteins malign spell.

Documents confirmed that, after New York, Andrew was indeed supposed to join his family in the Bahamas on April 12. But he didnt arrive until days later. And it became clear to us that the Duke had torn up his plans in order to follow Epstein to Little St James, the tycoons Caribbean private island.

Andrew and his bodyguard were supposed to have travelled to the Bahamas via a connecting flight from Miami. Instead they went to Little St James.

Whats more, the Duke probably stayed one night on his own at Epsteins Miami mansion, it was admitted to us after we pointed out a further dislocation in the original schedule. His bodyguard had gone ahead to recce LSJ.

Once on the island, the Duke and his protection officer were to spend 48 hours amid what one witness described as a weekend-long party. We were able to confirm that the Duke finally embarked for the Bahamas on Easter Sunday, April 15, almost three full days after he was supposed to arrive there.

In this context, the family photos of the Yorks at play had quite a different impact. Where did this supposedly doting daddys priorities really lie?

Our investigations left me with no doubt that Virginia Giuffre was an unreliable witness.

In her memoir manuscript she gave an account of an orgy involving Epstein and a number of underage girls. This had allegedly taken place on the tycoons private Caribbean island in the summer of 2001, when she was 18.

Critically, in her memoir, she did not place the Duke at this extraordinary event or any other like it. Yet, in her 2015 legal deposition, and in various media interviews, she accused the Duke of having been a central participant in an orgy which appears identical in almost every respect  date, location, dialogue, ethnicity and number of girls, language barriers, aftermath  to the one she described in the manuscript.

But despite discrepancies in her account, our enquiries, far from exonerating him, had only revealed the Dukes discreditable behaviour in more forensic detail. And where there wasnt detail provided, there were glaring holes that could be filled credibly by Virginia Giuffres allegations.

The faith put in the Duke by his crisis team, their admirable dedication to transparency, had backfired. When we went to print, I recall there was little or no pushback from either side.

That was the last twitch of public resistance from the Yorkists, the very last drop of PR sweat expounded in the Princes defence.

The following year Virginia Giuffre sued the Duke for sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In February 2022 it was announced he had reached a multi-million-pound out-of-court settlement with her, while still refusing to admit any wrongdoing.

And now shes dead.

What was I left believing at the end of our investigation? That, on balance, the Duke may indeed have had some kind of Epstein-arranged sexual or sexualised contact with a teenage Virginia.

Her suicide has not silenced her so much as made her allegations indelible. The Prince will have to live with that until his own dying day.
Prince Harry today sensationally lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The Duke of Sussex has been told that his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK. It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.

The Duke of Sussex at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 during his appeal against a High Court ruling preventing him getting automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK. It was taken away following Megxit

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, pictured today as he rejected Harry's appeal

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family (pictured together at Christmas) is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard. Today's ruling raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again

Today the Court of Appeal found against Harry, paving the way for an appeal to the Supreme Court if he wants to continue his fight and ever more costs.

In a ruling on Friday, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis dismissed Harry's case.

At a two-day hearing in April, barristers for the duke told the Court of Appeal that he was 'singled out' for 'inferior treatment' and that his safety, security and life are 'at stake'.

The Home Office, which is legally responsible for Ravec's decisions, opposes the appeal, with its lawyers telling the court that Ravec's decision was taken in a 'unique set of circumstances' and that there was 'no proper basis' for challenging it.

Sir Geoffrey Vos told today's hearing: 'Ms Shaheed Fatima KC, leading counsel for the Duke of Sussex, submitted that this case had an important human dimension. She submitted that the Duke of Sussex's life was at stake because of the decision making in this case. She said that the bespoke process adopted by RAVEC had singled the Duke out for especially inferior treatment.

'In effect, it had been pre-determined in the decision letter that, on future visits to the UK, the Duke of Sussex would be provided with a lower level of security than had been provided for him throughout his adult life.'

'The impact of an attack upon him was obviously still just as significant as it had always been. His military service placed him at particular risk.

'These were powerful and moving arguments, and that it was plain that the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail of the extensive documentation, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument'.

Sir Geoffrey Vos said he did not think Harry had been 'able to demonstrate that the judge was wrong to determine' that Sir Richard Mottram, then chairman of Ravec, had 'good reason to depart' from its policy document.

He said: 'In this area of high political sensitivity, the court will inevitably have considerable respect for Sir Richard as a decision maker, whose expertise and experience in the field of Royal protection is probably unrivalled.'

Sir Geoffrey continued: 'In one sense, the claimant's dissatisfaction with the security that has been provided on visits since June 2021 has nothing to do with the decisions reached in the decision letter or the absence of any risk analysis from the risk management board.

'It is simply concerned with the outcome of the process that has been followed in augmenting his protection when he has been in the UK for a variety of royal and other events.

'The claimant disagrees with Sir Richard, Ravec and the current chair on these matters.

'But none of that disagreement supports a legally sustainable public law claim to vitiate the decisions taken in the decision letter or subsequently.

'Those decisions were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas.'

The Master of the Rolls even said the decision was 'an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to [Harry] having stepped back from Royal duties and having left the UK'.

He said: 'From the Duke of Sussex's point of view, something may indeed have gone wrong, in that an unintended consequence of his decision to step back from Royal duties and spend the majority of his time abroad has been that he has been provided with a more bespoke, and generally lesser, level of protectionbut that does not, of itself, give rise to a legal complaint.'

The judge cited 'compelling reasons' for the security decision and said on one point that it was 'impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate', adding: 'Indeed, it seems sensible.'

Ravec has delegated responsibility from the Home Office over the provision of protective security arrangements for members of the royal family and others, with involvement from the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Office and the royal household.

Meghan and Harry in New York last month, where they are believed to have had police protection, according to reports

The Duke of Sussex returned to London for the appeal

Last year, retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane ruled that its decision, taken in early 2020 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior working royals, was lawful.

Shaheed Fatima KC, for the duke, told the court that he and the Duchess of Sussex 'felt forced to step back' from their roles as senior working royals as they felt they 'were not being protected by the institution'.

After Ravec's decision, al Qaida called for Harry 'to be murdered', and his security team was informed that the terrorist group had published a document which said his 'assassination would please the Muslim community', Ms Fatima added.

She continued that Ravec did not get an assessment from an 'expert specialist body called the risk management board, or the RMB' and came up with a 'different and so-called 'bespoke process'.

She said: 'The appellant does not accept that 'bespoke' means 'better'. In fact, in his submission, it means that he has been singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment.'

Ms Fatima added: 'The appellant's case is not that he should automatically be entitled to the same protection as he was previously given when he was a working member of the royal family.

'The appellant's case is that he should be considered under the terms of reference and subject to the same process as any other individual being considered for protective security by Ravec, unless there is a cogent reason to the contrary.'

Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said in written submissions that the duke's appeal 'involves a continued failure to see the wood for the trees, advancing propositions available only by reading small parts of the evidence, and now the judgment, out of context and ignoring the totality of the picture'.

He continued that Ravec treats the duke in a 'bespoke manner', which was 'better suited' to his circumstances.

Sir James said: 'He is no longer a member of the cohort of individuals whose security position remains under regular review by Ravec.

'Rather, he is brought back into the cohort in appropriate circumstances, and in light of consideration of any given context.'

Harry attended both days of the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, and could be seen taking notes and talking with part of his legal team during the appeal.

Parts of the hearing were held in private, meaning the press and public could not be in court, to discuss confidential matters.

A Home Office spokesperson said today: 'We are pleased that the court has found in favour of the Government's position in this case.

'The UK Government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.

'It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.'
A Florida mother has recalled her horror at finding a 'love letter' addressed to her 11-year-old daughter which she says was sent by a teacher.

Ann and Jason Mitchell, the parents of the unnamed student, reported concerns of grooming to the school's principal in March after discovering the two-page letter in their daughter's bedroom, WWSB News reported.

The sheriff's office has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and a harassment charge in relation to bullying is expected to be filed soon. Daily Mail is choosing not to name the teacher unless they have been charged.

'You know I truly love you no matter what, that will never change,' the letter said.

'I really love being your teacher and more importantly, I love how close we have gotten this year.'

'[It was] incredibly upsetting as a father,' Jason Mitchell told Fox 8 News. 'What more could he have done to my daughter?'

On Tuesday, the Manatee County School Board held a meeting to discuss the matter, at which Ann described the teacher's alleged classroom behavior as 'serious and egregious misconduct', WWSB reported.

'[The teacher] led my 11-year-old daughter into his classroom and spent 45 minutes alone with her while the rest of the students went to the library ... on Valentine's Day,' Ann said during the school board meeting.

Ann Mitchell (pictured), the unnamed student's mother, claimed that the teacher was involved in 'serious and egregious misconduct' during a school board meeting on Tuesday

Jason Mitchell (pictured), the girl's father, called the allegations 'incredibly upsetting as a father'

Ann has accused the teacher of unwanted physical contact with her daughter and recounted the 'nightmare' of discovering the letter two months earlier.

'In my hands I have a copy of the two-page, handwritten textbook grooming letter that was written by this teacher and given to my 11-year-old daughter,' she said at the school board meeting.

Aside from professing love for the girl the letter describes how 'deeply' the writer claims to have known the student.

'We have had a lot of fun this year and made memories that I will always remember,' it read.

The letter goes on: On another note, I will say that it bothers me when you look directly into my eyes and lie to me. You forget that I know you pretty well. When you put your head down, ignore me, etc. I know something is wrong.

'You then will typically talk to all of your friends right after you tell me I just dont feel well which is a lie. Why do you do that to me??

'I dont think you are that weird any more :). I am glad that you like school and I hope that I play a huge part of that.

'Starting today I will try my best not to smile at you anymore. I know you hate it when I smile.'

After signing off the writer adds: '(Your favorite teacher "Only because I have to be")

'PS Ill keep our notes between us and wont show your friends. So, you do the same.'

Parents Ann and Jason Mitchell believe the teacher should have been fired over the alleged conduct

After making the board aware of the details Ann Mitchell asked at the school board meeting: 'Where is the accountability?'

'She has nightmares and wakes up having cried in her sleep,' she added. 'This teacher stole a piece of her innocence.'

Members of the board were left visibly shaken over the revelations, appearing unaware of the full extent of the alleged incidents.

'This is horrific', Board Chair Chad Choate said, WWSB reported.

'I learned more about this case from public comment than I did from the superintendent,' Board Member Cindy Spray said.

Heather Felton, another board member, applauded the fifth-grade girl for her courage in speaking out against the teacher.

'I commend her bravery to speak up, because she has probably saved a lot of other children,' Felton stated.

Michael Barber, the School District of Manatee County Director of Communications, released a statement detailing the steps taken to address the allegations against the accused, Fox 8 reported.

According to the statement, the letter was reported to the school on March 9. The very next day the teacher was reassigned to a non-instructional facility where he had zero contact with any students.

On April 23 the teacher handed in his resignation letter. After a board meeting the school approved the resignation.

However, Jason Mitchell firmly believes that the teacher should have been fired over his alleged conduct, calling the school's response insufficient.

'To us, we felt termination was tougher language attached to somebody we would hope would never be in a classroom again,' he told Fox 8.

On April 23 the teacher handed in his resignation to the school. After a board meeting the school approved the resignation

'I would ask [the teacher] to take a good, hard look in the mirror, truly self-reflect. I would ask [them] to get some help,' he added.

The child's mother agreed, adding: 'We would want [the teacher] to read the two-page letter out loud to us as parents, and I want [them] to look into my husband's eyes, father-to-father, and read that letter about our little girl.'

'We are often as parents teaching our children to listen to teachers, to be respectful, to follow directions, so that's what I taught my daughter,' Ann Mitchell said to parents during the meeting, Fox 8 reported.

'That may or may not be the right lesson to teach our kids.'
By Nazrin Abdul



Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijans Presidential Representative on Climate Issues, emphasized the importance of supporting agropark development through innovative and biological methods at the Agribusiness Development Forum in Baku today.

Babayev cited the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and FAO, stating that disasters in the past 30 years have caused agricultural losses of around 3.8 trillion US dollars, or 123 billion US dollars annually - approximately 5% of global agricultural GDP.

He stressed the significance of research and new technologies for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change. "Effective farming techniques and innovative irrigation methods can save water and time," he said. He also pointed out that agriculture is both a victim and a contributor to climate change, responsible for about 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

To adapt to climate change, Azerbaijan must focus on efficient water and land management, modernizing irrigation systems, reducing water waste, and preserving soil fertility. He added that cultivating drought- and heat-resistant plant varieties and applying modern agrotechnical methods will increase productivity.

Babayev called for the development of agroparks that integrate ecologically and economically sustainable production practices, as well as innovative methods for managing water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Public-private sector collaboration is key to applying new technologies and digital solutions to boost productivity.

Addressing the global fight against climate change, he emphasized the need for broad, long-term measures, including educating farmers and adapting their practices to changing climatic conditions.

He also noted Azerbaijans success in hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), a significant global platform for climate discussions. During COP29, initiatives such as the "Baku Harmony Climate Initiative for Farmers" were launched, focusing on climate resilience and sustainability in agriculture. This initiative supports rural communities, particularly women and young farmers, and encourages investments in sustainable agriculture.

Babayev praised the Ministry of Agriculture's leadership in these efforts, highlighting significant achievements in agricultural development and climate adaptation. He also discussed the tripling of the annual climate finance target to 300 billion US dollars, with the goal of reaching 1.3 trillion US dollars by 2035, and the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund to assist vulnerable farming communities.
By day, Herb Baumeister was a devoted family man and successful business owner living in the wealthy neighborhood of Westfield, Indiana.

But by night, he was a heinous serial killer who hunted Indianapolis gay bars for unsuspecting victims.

In the summer of 1996, those two worlds finally collided when the $1 million Fox Follow Farm estate Baumeister shared with his wife and children was unmasked as his very own human graveyard.

For the next three decades, the extent of Baumeisters killing spree remained something of a mystery as the depraved murderer died by suicide - taking his secrets to the grave - and a staggering 10,000 pieces of charred, burned bones and human remains belonging to his victims sat neglected and unidentified on a shelf.

Now, 29 years on, another of his victims has finally been given a name.

Daniel Thomas Halloran was identified this week as the 10th known victim of the man now believed to be one of Americas worst ever serial killers.

Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, who has been leading a new push to identify all the Fox Hollow Farm victims once and for all, announced that Halloran had been identified using investigative genetic genealogy.

Jellison told the Daily Mail on Thursday that, prior to this bombshell discovery, Halloran had never before been tied to the Fox Hollow Farm serial killer case.

Herb Baumeisters $1 million, 18-acre estate Fox Hollow Farm (pictured) doubled up as the serial killer's human graveyard

Daniel Thomas Halloran was identified this week as the 10th known victim of the man now believed to be one of Americas worst ever serial killers

'He wasn't on our radar. He wasn't reported missing,' he said.

'He wasn't anyone at all we were familiar with.'

Jellison told the Daily Mail back in January that the coroners office had found a DNA profile of a new victim but that it did not match any samples submitted by family members looking for their missing loved ones.

It also did not match any profiles in the national database.

The profile was then sent to forensic genealogy lab Othram to try to find a match.

But finding a match proved challenging and took several months, Jellison said.

The lab ultimately gave the coroner's office Halloran's name as the most likely match - but they still needed to confirm it by obtaining DNA from a family member for comparison.

Yet, they learned Halloran's mom, dad and brother were already dead.

Jellison said his office found out that Hallorans mom had died from a drug overdose two years ago in neighboring Marion County.

He reached out to Marion County Coroners office, which had handled her death, and obtained her 'DNA card' which was then compared to the Baumeister victim.

'That confirmed it was Daniel,' Jellison said.

It was only after this testing took place that Jellison learned Halloran had a surviving relative: a daughter Coral Halloran living in North Carolina.

Herb Baumeister preyed on young gay and bisexual men at bars in downtown Indianapolis

Jellison made that 'emotional' phone call to Coral to let her know he had found her father's remains.

'She was surprised. It caught her off guard,' Jellison recalled.

'It was an emotional phone call but I think in the end it kind of drew her a little bit closer to her dad as now she knows where her dad is, and the story behind her dad.'

Coral was just two years old when her dad left in 1993 and so she never knew him.

Estranged from Coral's mom, Halloran was also never reported missing.

However, Coral told 13News that her mom hired a private investigator to try to find him when she was around seven years old.

And her aunt later told her she feared he may have been a victim of Baumeister, Coral said.

She told me there was a serial killer in Indiana, and she suspected that years ago, Coral said.

Now 32, Coral said she is mourning her father who she hoped would one day come back into her life.

All my life, I kind of expected my dad to be around and one day hoping he'd come try to find me, she said.

It makes me sick and weary to my stomach, having to know my dad was brutally murdered, Coral added.

It's hard. And for all the other victims out there, their families, I'm with them. I'm praying hard for them.

Many questions still remain about her fathers death.

It is unclear when Halloran - who was born in 1962 - went missing or what age he was when he died.

It is also unclear how, when and where he came to encounter Baumeister.

His cause of death is also unknown due to the 'horrible condition' of the remains.

'We don't know anything more than his name, date of birth and social security,' Jellison said.

Halloran's cause of death will be listed as undetermined and manner of death as homicide, he added.

The 1996 search of Fox Hollow Farm (pictured) uncovered thousands of human bones

Halloran isn't the only victim getting his name back years after they fell foul to the depraved serial killer.

Jellison revealed that his office has also found three other victims who he is confident will be identified soon.

'So we have three other DNA profiles right now. We're looking for names,' he told the Daily Mail.

Like Halloran, none of these three victims match samples submitted by families and so they are also being sent off for comparison with profiles in genetic genealogy databases.

While he could not speculate on their identities, Jellison said that 'we have some people who are on our radar' who were known to have gone missing at the height of Baumeister's reign of terror.

Whoever the three profiles are, he estimates that these victims could be named within a matter of months.

'Each case in genealogy is different. Some come together quicker than others,' he said. 'But I imagine two to three months.'

Halloran marks the second victim identified since Jellison launched a new investigation in 2022 to identify all the remains and name all of Baumeister's victims.

Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison is pictured at a memorial service for the Fox Hollow Farm victims in August 2024

It's an investigation unlike anything ever seen before.

'This is the second largest investigation into unidentified human remains in United States history, second only to the World Trade Center,' Jellison previously told the Daily Mail.

Baumeister's crimes came to light when a man named Mark Goodyear came forward to claim he survived an attack by a man he met in a bar in August 1994 who took him out to a huge farm in the suburbs and tried to strangle him.

Around two years later, Goodyear spotted the man again and helped lead cops to Baumeister's estate. (Goodyear, meanwhile, has changed his story several times since and claimed in a new ABC docuseries this year that he was not attacked that night.)

A huge search was executed at Fox Hollow Farm in June 1996, uncovering thousands of human bones including legs and skulls. Baumeister fled to Canada and shot himself.

The clues appear to have been there for some time: Baumeister's teenage son had stumbled across a human skull on the grounds of the family estate two years earlier.

Despite the slight thrift store owner shaping up to be one of the most prolific serial killers in history, just two years later authorities stopped investigating the case or working to identify any more victims.

By then, just eight victims had been identified: Johnny Bayer, Jeff Jones, Richard Hamilton Jr., Steven Hale, Allen Broussard, Roger Goodlet, Mike Keirn and Manuel Resendez.

Allen Livingston, 27, and Manuel Resendez, 34, both went missing in 1993. Their remains have since been found on Fox Hollow Farm

As a result, 10,000 still-unidentified human bones and bone fragments were left to sit on a shelf at the University of Indianapolis.

Following the launch of Jellison's new probe, a ninth victim - Allen Livingston - was identified in 2023.

Livingston's cousin Eric Pranger previously revealed how Livingston's mom Sharon Livingston had always known her son must have been a victim of the heinous serial killer.

Livingston was last seen alive in August 1993 getting into an unknown individual's vehicle in Indianapolis. He was reported missing by his family at the time.

Jerry Williams-Comer vanished from Indianapolis in August 1995. He is widely presumed to be a victim of serial killer Herb Baumeister

Sharon so desperately wanted closure before she died.

Pranger said it meant 'the world to' his aunt to finally learn the truth before her death from terminal cancer in November 2024.

Now, when the three additional DNA profiles are identified, more families could get answers too.

Those identities would take Baumeister's known victims up to 14.

But the true number of victims is expected to be far higher.

Investigators have long thought there could be at least 25 victims.

Ted Fleischaker, a well-known figure in the Indianapolis LGBT community and the founder, owner and publisher of gay newspaper The Word, has long feared his friend is among the unnamed victims.

Jerry Williams-Comer, 34, was last seen alive in downtown Indianapolis on August 8, 1995.

His vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of a nearby mall - around halfway between the downtown bars and Fox Hollow Farm.

'He wasn't the kind of person to just vanish,' Fleischaker recalled.

'He was seen leaving Metro with Mr. Baumeister, so they said. I mean gossip is gossip, but he was supposedly seen leaving with him and then was never seen again.'

Three decades later, no one has seen or heard from him since. He is widely presumed to be a victim of Baumeister but his remains have never been identified.

Shocking questions still linger about what really happened on those haunting nights at Fox Hollow Farm

Even with the major strides being made in Jellison's new probe, Fleischaker is doubtful that the full extent of Baumeister's killing spree will ever come to light.

'We're never going to know one thing: We're never going to know how many people were killed,' he said.

'We don't really have any idea how many people died. We just don't know.'

Other more shocking questions also linger about what really happened on those haunting nights on the sprawling 18-acre Fox Hollow Farm.

To many, including Livingston's cousin Pranger, the sheer number of victims and extent of Baumeister's crimes point to a haunting theory: that he was not the sole perpetrator.

I pick up bodies for a living [working at a funeral home] and theres no way a man could handle all those bodies by himself, Pranger told the Daily Mail.

He added: I don't think Baumeister did this alone. I think more people were involved.'
Ed Miliband is ramping up his Net Zero zealotry, despite the blackout chaos that the failure of wind and solar brought to Spain and Portugal this week.

So no surprise there, then.

Two years ago, when Labour was still in opposition, Miliband released a bizarre video in support of his quasi-religious climate crusade. I missed it at the time and only caught up with it yesterday.

It featured Mister Ed standing in front of a wind turbine in a field near Mansfield, strumming a guitar and singing a couple of lines from Bob Dylans Blowin In The Wind.

Well, I say singing. Caterwauling might be a much better way of describing it. He made Dylan sound like Luciano Pavarotti.

Dont take my word for it, though. You can check it out on YouTube. Anyone who did stumble across it back then would have been justified in calling social services.

Miliband resembled someone who had just been released from the Puzzle Factory and was now serving the rest of his sentence in the care of the community.

Last time I saw anyone behaving in similar deranged fashion, he was wandering the concourse at Kings Cross railway station shouting at strangers about the End Of The World being Nigh.

Miliband was sporting a blue puffa jacket but looked as if he should have been wearing one of those padded numbers which button up at the back and are secured by straps and buckles.

Nurse!

Come to think of it, the End Of The World isnt far wide of the mark. Milibands message was essentially that we are all going to burn in Hell unless we abandon fossil fuels immediately and rely on wind power.

In the scheme of things, if his ranting was confined to a field in Nottinghamshire, or even the concourse at Kings Cross, it would be no big deal. And the internet is overloaded with crazy videos posted by assorted single-issue headbangers and conspiracy theorists.

Two years ago, when Labour was still in opposition, Miliband released a bizarre video in support of his quasi-religious climate crusade

The problem here is that while Miliband is right up there with the swivel-eyed End Of The World Is Nigh brigade, hes now in a unique position, as Energy Secretary, to put his mad policies into practice  with a vengeance.

This week hes been doubling down on his kamikaze mission, despite mounting resistance and all available evidence demonstrating the consequences of enforcing carbon-free targets in a truncated time frame will be economically catastrophic.

Everyone from former PM Tony Blair to the trades unions who bankroll Labour have been warning that Milibands madness threatens jobs, economic stability and energy security.

Blair, even though he started rowing back yesterday, said Labours Net Zero policies were doomed to fail.

The unions are horrified at the widespread job losses caused in manufacturing by the soaring cost of energy  which Miliband had falsely claimed would fall sharply. Gary Smith, head of the GMB, described the Government policies as bonkers.

Yet Mister Ed, and Surkeir  who continues to prop up his far-Left North London neighbour  still pretend that hes acting in the national interest.

A Downing Street spokesman this week insisted risibly that Miliband was doing a fantastic job and winning the global race for jobs of the future and securing peoples energy bills.

As I wrote on Tuesday, these people lie as naturally as they breathe. Who the hell are they trying to kid? Certainly not the thousands of workers at the now defunct Vauxhall van plant in Luton, or the sacked Grange-mouth Refinery workers, or the steelworkers now chucked on the scrapheap as a result of the highest energy prices in the developed world, artificially inflated by Net Zero.

Nor the 200,000 people in Scotland whose jobs depend on the North Sea oil and gas industry, which Miliband is hell-bent on closing down.

His lunacy and fanaticism have been well documented in this column and elsewhere. In probably his most demented act yet, Miliband even ordered concrete to be poured into fracking wells so they can never be exploited. This is nothing short of sabotage on a criminal scale.

The biggest beneficiaries are the Chinese, who are flooding the British market with cheap electric cars and even sacred wind turbines, all manufactured using energy generated by filthy coal.

Heres how rip-roaring bonkers Milibands crusade really is. Even Norway, a friendly country, is warning him not to abandon gas and oil. While hes determined to eliminate drilling for fossil fuels, Britain is importing oil and gas from Norway  all extracted from the self same North Sea reserves we are shutting down.

Wheres the logic in that? The Government is paying Norway billions of pounds for gas and oil we could be pumping from our own waters.

Meanwhile, as Britain teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, Norway grows richer and uses some of its abundant sovereign wealth to buy up vast chucks of real estate in London.

Go figure, as our drill baby, drill American cousins say while laughing their heads off at our suicidal stupidity.

As for energy security, I refer you to the TV series Occupation, which imagines Norway annexed by Russia. Drama, perhaps, but in light of pipeline vulnerability, the war in Ukraine and the widespread instability in the world, does anybody still seriously think depending on imported energy is a good idea?

Miliband belongs in a padded cell, but for now hes got the British people in a suffocating straitjacket instead, facing ever higher energy bills and economic ruin. This aint just an ecological shakedown, this is the road to Hell.

There are noises off suggesting Surkeir will, at some stage, get rid of this Net Zero nutjob. But the damage is already done and will take years to repair, assuming Labour can be bothered to change course.

Right now, were lumbered with Ed Miliband, tilting at windmills and insisting that the future is Blowin In The Wind. Thats his version and hes sticking to it. With apologies to Bob Dylan, heres mine:

How many pits must a man close down

Before we run out of coke?

How many North Sea oil rigs must shut

Before the UK goes broke?

Yes, and how many windmills must the countryside take

Before its beyond a sick joke?

Disaster, my friend, is blowin in the wind

Disaster is blowin in the wind.

Yes, and how many more must be dumped on the dole

Before the worm starts to turn?

Yes, and how long will we go on importing foreign coal

As if weve got money to burn?

Yes, and how many times will the lights go out again

Before this madman will learn?

Disaster, my friend, is blowin in the wind

Disaster is blowin in the wind.

Yes, and how much higher will our gas bills have to go

So Miliband can play superhero?

Yes, and while the economy goes up in flames

Mister Ed fiddles madly like Nero,

Yes, and how many old folk will die from the cold

In futile pursuit of Net Zero?

Disaster, my friend, is blowin in the wind

Disaster is blowin in the wind.
Dozens of notorious Tren de Aragua gangsters have been arrested at the border after seemingly blindingly following their Google maps onto an international bridge teeming with US immigration agents.

About 40 TdA members were arrested at Ambassador Bridge which connects Detroit, Michigan to Canada - and they weren't even trying to sneak into the US or Canada.

The gangsters had simply been following their GPS which routed them on to the well-secured international crossing, where shocked agents took them into custody.

Tren de Aragua, which is originally from Venezuela, is believed to have crossed into the US through the Mexico-US border during 2022, mixed in with the the thousands of South American migrants seeking asylum.

Since then, the gang has spread to at least half of America's states.

The arrests of dozens of TdA members to the Great Lake State makes it the 25th states where TdA has been confirmed by law enforcement officials to be operating.

Retired FBI agent Dan Brunner, who spent years tracking down migrant gang MS-13, estimates there are 3,000 to 5,000 mobsters associated with the South American syndicate in the US.

'Some of these would be hardcore members, but that number also includes the associates of the gang or people helping them who aren't necessarily members but are also flying the flag for them,' he told DailyMail.com Thursday.

The gangsters caught at the northern border weren't the only migrants taken into custody after making a wrong turn.

The ACLU reports some 213 have been taken into custody by immigration officials at the same international bridge since Trump took office in January, according to local station WXYZ.

One woman and her two small children were detained after she said she was following her GPS instructions to a grocery store.

The navigator was trying to get store on the Canadian side of the border when she ended up at the crossing and ended up in holding cell.

'This was a windowless room. They slept on cots, were provided microwavable meals, like macaroni and cheese, ramen and oatmeal, were not permitted to contact their consulate or counsel,' Ruby Robinson of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center told the local outlet.

Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) became a household in the US after video of them storming an apartment unit in Aurora, Colorado went viral in August

The Trump Administration has declared war on the criminal network, removing over 200 alleged members of TdA from the US and flying them to a max security prison in El Salvador

About a dozen families have been taken into custody following the mistake, according to NPR.

A family with two young kids who are US citizens spent 12 days in detention.

The children were separated from the parents and their location is currently unknown, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center revealed.
The panhandler whose floppy hair, chiseled good looks and massive biceps took the internet by storm is a nurse who was registered in two states before deciding to make panhandling his career, DailyMail.com can reveal.

But 'Brad Love'  whose real name is William Albrecht Jr.  is not homeless, he is living with his end-times pastor father and an uncle in a gated community, just a 20 minute drive from celeb-laden Palm Springs, California.

He declined to speak to DailyMail.com when approached, saying he has no interest in either telling his story or following the advice of dozens of followers by breaking into modeling.

'I have no interest in getting a job,' he wrote on Instagram Live. 'If I wanted a job, I'd go get a job. I was a nurse, I do not want to do that.

'This is much easier. So yeah, that's my rant.

'I hate to say it, but some people just don't want a job  I'm one of them!'

Love is now living with his father William Albrecht Sr., 67, and the older man's brother John, 64, in a high-end RV park in Desert Hot Springs, a 20-mile drive from celeb-laden Palm Springs.

The trio call themselves 'The Three Gringos'.

William Albrecht Jr.  also known as Brad Love  told his viewers he quit nursing in 2023 and doesn't want to work again. He was spotted out and about in Palm Springs on Thursday

The Three Gringos  Love, Pastor Will and John  pose with Will's pride and joy, his fully restored 1950 Studebaker

Love's popularity exploded after a photographer posted footage of him clutching a dog-eared cardboard sign reading 'Please Help' as he asked drivers for money in Palm Springs

On Thursday afternoon father and son drove to Walmart separately  dad in his red Ford Bronco, son on his powerful Kawasaki Vulcan S motorcycle.

They were both in the store at the same time but did not speak to each other. Love also shopped at the pricey organic marketplace Sprouts and gassed up his bike.

The community where they live boasts a large heated swimming pool and three natural hot spring mineral spas. Its cheapest lots go for $50 a night.

'You'll love the sweeping views of Mount San Jacinto and our mature tropical and desert landscaping,' the park's website crows.

'Our large sites, many with privacy hedges, offer a warm and cozy environment.'

Exclusive DailyMail.com pictures show a well-equipped RV, the Kawasaki, the Bronco and William Sr.'s pride and joy, his fully restored 1950 Studebaker Champion Regal Deluxe 2-door sedan all on their lot.

William Sr.  who goes by the name 'Pastor Will'  said on his Facebook page that he and his son reunited last fall after 10 years.

The dad posted a picture of his shirtless son flexing his muscles on his Facebook page on November 16.

'My 33 years old son! We reunited today after 10 years of silence!, Pastor Will, 67, the founder and now-retired CEO of Jesus Loves You World Outreach Ministries, Inc, wrote.

'Steroid Free/Drug Free/Alcohol Free/Tobacco Free! A Humbler Christian Youngster! Very Proud of Him. William S. Albrecht, Jr. God Answers Prayers at His Timing. Amen.'

Love was at a gas station to fill up his Kawasaki motorcycle before hitting the road

Love, who also pleads with his followers to send him money via his cash app and posts videos of him flexing his muscles on his TikTok page, was not happy with the posting

Love posing with his uncle John. He declined to speak to DailyMail.com when approached, saying he has no interest in telling his story

The lot where the three men live has a high-end RV, Suzuki motorcycle, red Ford Bronco and the aero blue Studebaker

Pastor Will posted a photo of his son on November 16 saying the two had reunited after 10 years of 'silence' and that he was 'steroid free/drug free/alcohol free/tobacco free'

But it is as Brad Love that Albrecht Jr. has found notoriety. His popularity exploded after a photographer posted footage of him clutching a dog-eared cardboard sign reading 'Please Help' as he asked drivers for money.

The TikTok posting amassed nearly 1 million views, leading to Love being dubbed 'The Beautiful Beggar'.

Love, who also pleads with his followers to send him money via his cash app, was not happy with the posting.

'People do not want to give me money after seeing her video, they think I have some sort of a scam,' he said.

'She was the one who is making money off me, getting hundreds of thousands of views,' Love added.

'She had her own motivation for trying to push me into modeling. Nobody asked me if I wanted to do it?' He then looked into his phone and told the viewers, 'I do not want to model.'

When pressed why by a female fan, he said, 'I signed with a modeling agency out of New York when I was 21 or 22 years old. They flew me out there and I had all of these guys trying to get me to go back to their hotel with them.

I hate to say it, but some people just don't want a job  I'm one of them!

'I quit that agency and left New York.'

A short time later he said he was signed by a small modeling agency out of Chicago. 'I flew to Chicago, and it was a small agency, the owner had me stay in his apartment. He did not have any other place for me to stay.

'He did not do anything to me but tried to persuade me that gay is okay, even if you don't want to be.

'I am not gay; he was trying to push me into doing something I did not want to do. I told him I was no longer interested in pursuing a career with him and his agency and left.'

Love also told his viewers he quit the nursing profession in 2023, 'I got burned out by it. I was a traveling nurse for a few years during Covid, afterwards I got a permanent job at a care facility.

The Desert Oasis, the gated RV community where the three live in their RV

William Sr. posing next to his white Bronco in front of a large Jesus statue. He's called the trio consisting of his brother and viral son 'the three gringos'

Comments from viewers left behind on his video, who were in awe of his good looks

'It was terrible, people would quit, sometimes mid-shift and I would end up wiping butts and cleaning up messes. It was a nightmare.'

After the video of Love panhandling took the internet by storm, viewers were left in awe.

'Wow! Insanely handsome,' one wrote.

'This man belongs in a @ralphlauren shoot yesterday,' another agreed.

'Brad your eyes look so beautiful,' another wrote.

Someone even joked about having a future with him: 'Our wedding is tomorrow at 3pm.'

'I need him so bad guys,' another boldly asserted, as another said, 'Hey baby daddy the kids miss you.'

One woman on his Instagram Live asked him to take her panhandling. He agreed to meet up with her this coming weekend, 'Usually when you are with a woman you can make more money,' he told his viewers.

He told his followers that panhandling was his choice and that 'some people just don't want a job - I'm one of them'

Pastor Will posted on Facebook that he saw three driverless cars in Tempe, Arizona, and that is a sign that the world is coming to an end

He appears to be content with working a few hours a day making $30-$40. He did say he was ecstatic one day when he pulled in $260. He also said he recently made some money on his TikTok live.

In fact, he has even claimed all the online attention has been simply bad for business.

After he went viral and his usual Palm Springs location was blasted online, Brad said cops banned him from the spot and the publicity has made him 'look bad'.

But if his father is to be believed, Love's days of panhandling  along with everything else  will soon come to an end.

Pastor Will posted on Facebook that he saw three driverless cars in Tempe, Arizona, and that proves the world is coming to an end.

'Well folks we are living in the biblical last days where knowledge shall increase!' he wrote.

'A robot car me saw,' he added. 'No one inside.

'Being 67 I have never ever seen any vehicle on our American streets to where no driver is inside. I was shell shocked and bewildered to witness this.

'Most times ya pull up to a vehicle and ya look for a hot gal or hot guy or the good the bad or the ugly. In me case I got no person no driver.

'Yes indeed we all must be prepared for the rapture of the awesome Lord's saints to meet Him in the air.'
A highly-experienced parachutist believed to have taken her own life in a tragic fall had split from her husband and had been living with a new man before her death, it's understood.

Jade Damarell, 32, a skydiver who had accomplished more than 400 jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground during a jump in County Durham on Sunday.

Initial reports had assumed Jade's death was a tragic accident.

But SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death was suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'.

MailOnline understands that police quickly marked the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note disclosing her intentions.

Jade had been living in lodgings in Shotton, Co Durham, since the end of last year, renting a double bed in a house used by skydivers staying over in the village.

She had been living with a man she described to friends as her 'boyfriend'.

One said: 'She had been staying in the digs since the end of last year. There are bunk beds for skydivers who come from all over the country to parachute.

'Jade rented a double room and told us she was staying with her boyfriend. No-one is living there now.'

Jade Damarell (pictured), 32, a skydiver who had accomplished more than 400 jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground during a jump in County Durham on Sunday. Initial reports had assumed Jade's death was a tragic accident. But SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death was suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'

Ms Damarell, an aunt, had previously married Leeds-based solicitor James Damarell in 2019, but the pair are understood to have divorced some time ago. Pictured: Jade Damarell and former husband James

Jade had been living in lodgings in Shotton, Co Durham, since the end of last year, renting a double bed in a house used by skydivers staying over in the village. Pictured: Ms Damarell skydiving on a previous occasion

Ms Damarell, an aunt, had previously married Leeds-based solicitor James Damarell in 2019, but the pair are understood to have divorced some time ago.

Ms Damarell's mother Liz Samuels posted images on Facebook of the couple's wedding day, in October 2019, writing: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful daughter Jade Damarell - all grown up and her first birthday as a married lady, but always my little girl.'

Other images showed her enjoying family hikes with the dog, and in one post, mum Liz revealed she'd completed her first skydive with her daughter.

In an August 26, 2024, Facebook post, she said: 'This weekend I did something I never thought I could, or would, do a sky-dive! Such a bucket list moment.

'Firstly watching my beautiful daughter Jade free-fly solo right before me, like a ninja. Then, amazed at the reassurance and confidence Jade and my fabulous tandem instructor Lewis (aka Biscuit) and cameraman Blake gave me, off we flew.

'Just wow over a minute in freefall from 15,500 feet, at around 120 MPH, with the air temp -15 and breath-taking wind at this altitude.

'Considering my fear of heights I still can't quite believe I did it! My favourite part was actually being under canopy, I absolutely loved it but this experience makes me even more proud of Jade's amazing free-fly skills now and it was incredible to watch her nail her landing below us and be there to greet me back on solid ground.'

MailOnline understands that police quickly marked the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note disclosing Ms Damarell's intentions. Pictured: Ms Damarell and her mother Liz Samuels

In a social media post Ms Damarell's mother Liz Samuels revealed she'd completed her first skydive with her daughter

Jade and James - who married in 2019 - were said to have split some time ago

Jade, pictured with ex-husband James, reportedly did not open her parachute on her dive at the weekend

Mr Damarell declined to speak about the tragedy when approached by Mail Online at his 500,000 detached house near York.

It was reported that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph.

An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments.

According to one friend, she jumped a staggering 11 times in the 48 hours leading up to her death.

A friend of Ms Damarell said: 'This wasn't a skydiving accident - we believe she intended to take her life, sadly.

'She skydived with someone else, broke off and turned onto her back and impacted.

'She chose not to open her parachute and she landed on her back.'

Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

One person is believed to have witnessed the horror.

A file has been passed to the coroner and an inquest into Ms Damarell's death will be opened in due course.

SkyHigh Skydiving confirmed the death in a statement and said that they had been given 'all indications' from police that 'this was a deliberate act'.

A spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April 2025 involving a valued member of our community.

It was reported that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph. Pictured: Ms Damarell skydiving on a previous occasion

An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments. Pictured: Ms Damarell and her mother Liz Samuels

Pictured: Jade Damarell & mum Liz Samuel & dad Andrew Samuel

'All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life.

'This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss.

'At this incredibly difficult time, we ask for privacy and compassion for those grieving.'

The centre added: 'If you are struggling or in emotional distress, please know that you are not alone. Support is available.

'We urge anyone in crisis to speak to someone or reach out to a mental health professional. Even in the darkest moments, there is help and hope.'

A Durham Constabulary spokesperson confirmed: 'A woman sadly died following a skydiving incident near Peterlee.

'Police officers and colleagues from the ambulance service were called to the incident in Shotton Colliery at around 10.30am on Sunday (April 27).

'Sadly, a woman in her thirties was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.'

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: 'We were called to an incident at Shotton Colliery in County Durham on Sunday 27 April at 10:17.

'We dispatched one ambulance crew and one specialist paramedic to the incident.'

Wreford Farm released a statement via Facebook, which read: 'Tragically, last Sunday 27/4/25 a woman lost her life after a parachute incident/accident, please join us in saying a prayer for her and her family, we ask the Lord to accept her into the kingdom of heaven and strength to her family.

'We ask for our own and farms privacy for this deeply upsetting matter to be respected. God bless.'
The other day my darling wife, and fellow technophobe, finally joined the brave new world of the smartphone parking app. It was to prove a costly experience.

Until then, something had gone wrong whenever we tried to download the PayByPhone app on her Samsung Galaxy, although  unusually for me  Id had no such trouble downloading it on my iPhone.

She therefore used to ring me whenever she had the car and needed to pay for parking. She would then tell me the location number of the space she had found, and I would feed it into my own app to pay the fee.

But then, last week, she announced triumphantly that, at last, she had succeeded in downloading the app.

So off she drove, exulting in her newfound independence, to walk the dog in Dulwich Park, where Southwark Council now charges an extortionate 2.70 per hour for using the once-free car park.

An hour later, she was home, seething with rage and clutching in her fist... a parking ticket!

Last week, she announced triumphantly that, at last, she had succeeded in downloading the parking app

The flaming app told me I had five minutes left! she said. (To be brutally honest, flaming was not her precise choice of word, but this is a family newspaper, and she was sorely provoked, poor thing.)

Well, I checked our joint bank account online and, sure enough, a payment of 2.70 had gone out to Southwark Council half an hour before the ticket was issued. So what on earth had she done wrong to incur a 55 fine, rising to more than twice as much if we didnt cough up pronto?

Um, are you quite sure you put our registration number in the app? I asked.

Of course I did! Im not stupid! she fumed, and she thrust her PayByPhone app under my nose to prove it.

At first glance, it looked all right. But, oh, dear, wait a minute. Instead of the last three letters of our registration number, shed absent-mindedly programmed in the last three characters of our postcode.

Perhaps other long-married couples will understand when I say that my irritation over the parking ticket was mixed with a delicious sense that, for once, she was the one who looked silly, and not me.

Never mind, darling, I said, as I relished my moment of schadenfreude. It could happen to anyone. God, dont I hate modern technology too!

Indeed, I cant help feeling that life was an awful lot simpler in the days before the smartphone, when there was no danger of making a mistake like hers. You knew where you stood with good old cash, when paying for parking meant feeding sixpences or shillings into a meter. (For the benefit of the young, a sixpence was 2.5p, and a shilling was 5p).

True, you had to have the right change  and many of us kept a stash of coins in the glove compartment for that purpose. But even if we didnt happen to have what we needed, a passer-by would usually be happy to give us change for a half-crown (12.5p) or a ten-shilling note (50p).

I should also admit that coin-in-the-slot meters were often out of action through theft or wanton vandalism, even in those days before so many of our city centres became no-go areas riddled with crime.

But, if so, we could generally get away with parking without charge, simply by sticking a note on the windscreen saying: Meter out of order. Though never noted for their forgiving nature, traffic wardens would usually understand.

Of course, paying electronically for parking  or for anything else  can be much more convenient than using cash, assuming that the technology is working properly and we are careful with how we use it.

But, this week, we were treated to terrifying warnings of just how vulnerable our increasing reliance on electronic technology makes every one of us  and not just the odd absent-minded old lady.

Im thinking of the catastrophic power cuts in Spain and Portugal, where life as we have come to know it came to an abrupt halt when the electricity supply failed.

Entire transport systems ground to a standstill, hospitals were plunged into darkness, ATMs stopped issuing money, distribution networks for food and goods ceased to function, TV channels went off air and millions couldnt contact anyone to ask what the hell was going on.

Meanwhile, only those with the luck or the foresight to have cash in their wallets were able to buy what they needed for their families.

Yes, I know the blackout has been blamed on Spains excessive dependence on solar and wind power, which are apparently more vulnerable than old-fashioned methods of generating electricity (and there would surely be a lesson in that for Ed Miliband, if only he were not too deranged to listen).

But just imagine how quickly a hostile foreign power could consign us all to the dark ages of hunger and disease, simply by interfering with the computer programs that govern our electricity supplies for a week or two.

Dont tell me that modern anti-virus systems are too sophisticated to allow such a thing to happen. Just look at the huge harm inflicted this week by hackers  possibly teenagers, its said  on shops such as M&S and Harrods, causing mayhem by attacking their IT systems.

Indeed, every week we read of more businesses falling victim to cybercrime, while the number of ordinary citizens who suffer a similar fate grows greater all the time.

Now we are told that even everyday household appliances such as high-tech fridges, TVs, smart speakers and video doorbells may be capable of spying on us and harvesting our personal details for nefarious purposes. Thats not to mention online retailers, banking apps or payment-card readers.

No wonder so many of my generation and older are deeply wary of shopping with plastic cards or making payments online, feeling much more comfortable with notes and coins.

Yet so many outlets now refuse cash that life is becoming increasingly difficult for those who prefer it. Indeed, it has come to the point where MPs say shops and services may one day have to be forced to accept cash, in order to protect vulnerable people who rely on it.

Meanwhile, members of the cross-party Treasury Committee advise that we might all be wise to keep a store of cash, to see us through future cyberattacks and blackouts.

We of a certain age are well used to being mocked by our young for our technological incompetence and our grave suspicion of the internet. But at the rate were going, there may soon come a time when they are forced to accept that weve been the smart ones all along.

As for that parking fine, yes, I know we should have challenged it. But Im ashamed to admit that I just couldnt face the palaver of hanging on the line for an eternity (Your call is important to us), before trying to explain my wifes mix-up over the registration number to some bloody-minded official, whose computer would almost certainly say No to my pleas.

So I meekly coughed up that 55 fine, on top of the 2.70 my wife had already paid. Ah, well, it was cheap at the price for the pleasure of seeing her blush.
It took 30 years for Dr Allan Josephson to establish himself as one of America's leading child psychiatrists but only seven weeks for a savage mob of woke critics to destroy him.

His story is all too common. The professional who dared to violate groupthink - cancelled. A career ruined. A life stalled.

For Josephson there is  at least  a bittersweet ending. Though, in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, he confesses he still wishes it wasn't his tale to tell.

'As a human, I would like someone to apologize,' he said. 'They did things that were wrong, were hurtful, weren't right, weren't ethical, weren't moral. But, as the phrase goes, I'm not holding my breath.'

Josephson's saga began with an invitation from the conservative Heritage Foundation to speak in Washington DC, at an event entitled 'Gender Dysphoria in Children: Understanding the Science and Medicine' on October 11, 2017.

As a University of Louisville professor and Distinguished Life Fellow of the internationally recognized American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Josephson, now 73, had served as a consultant to the surgeon general of the United States and earned world renown for his research.

From 2014 onwards, he had been invited to courtrooms and classrooms to discuss his views on the psychological impacts of administering hormone treatment and gender-altering surgery to children.

The Heritage Foundation invitation was in no way out of the ordinary.

It took 30 years for Dr Allan Josephson (pictured) to establish himself as one of America's leading child psychiatrists but only seven weeks for a savage mob of woke critics to destroy him.

From 2014 onwards, Josephson had been invited to courtrooms and classrooms to discuss his views on the psychological impacts of administering hormone treatment and gender-altering surgery to children. (Pictured: Trans protestors in Washington DC).

Josephson spoke for a little over 10 minutes, arguing it was necessary to take a cautious approach to treating 'gender-dysphoria' among minors.

He was 'stunned,' he told the audience, that some doctors in his field were prioritizing a child's 'feeling of gender identity' over the hard reality of 'chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, external genitalia and secondary sex characteristics.'

'Why should we listen to a nine-year-old about the time they want to go to bed? We don't let them vote, we don't let them drive,' he added. 'So we are going to let them, at the age of eight or nine, decide they are no longer male or female?' he asked.

Josephson also pushed back against the idea that medical professionals should not critically analyze the beliefs that a child holds about themselves, explaining: 'Absolutely you judge: not in a moral sense, but in a clinical sense.'

'[These children] need treatment and help, not someone advocating for their civil rights,' Josephson concluded, alluding to the ranks of those who practice medicine through the prism of social justice.

To this day, Josephson feels his comments were measured. 'All I basically said was that we should be careful,' he told the Daily Mail. 'We should take time before we make drastic decisions. It struck me as a fairly reasonable position.'

Yet that is not how his detractors  many of whom Josephson had no reason to know he had  took his remarks.

On returning to Louisville, Kentucky, he discovered that trans rights activists had seized on the Heritage event.

The director of a campus LGBT center informed a professor within Josephson's division of his appearance and demanded that disciplinary actions be taken against him. That professor then informed Charles Woods, the chair of the university's department of pediatric psychiatry and psychology.

And Josephson's three decades career was precipitously cut short.

By early November, Josephson had been told by colleagues that there was unease at his views.

Josephson thought little of it.

'I'd been through disagreement,' he recalled. 'University departments are interesting places, and usually, if they're run well, the debate, the disagreements are out in the open. You people think and you take time to reason with them.'

However, Josephson was surprised at how petty the argument became: on asking his assistant to get a rainbow sticker from the LGBT center, which many of his colleagues had taken to displaying, the assistant was told he could not have a sticker because 'he refutes the existence of transgender identity'.

On November 15, Josephson held a regular meeting of his 12-person team, at which he was assailed by four colleagues who said they were 'offended' by his views. He later suspected many had not even watched the talk online.

Still, he was confident that he could resolve the issues.

Then, the day after Thanksgiving, he was told that there was a letter for him, which needed to be collected from the secretary at the University of Louisville.

The correspondence, signed by his department chair Woods, told Josephson he had to resign as division chief - or else he would be fired. Josephson was blindsided.

'I had to read it several times,' Josephson told the Daily Mail. 'To realize how serious this was.'

Woods told Josephson he was being demoted because a 'majority' of his colleagues at the university 'disagrees with your approach to management of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria.'

By February 2019, he was told his contract at the university was not being renewed.

On November 15, Josephson held a regular meeting of his 12-person team, at which he was assailed by four colleagues who said they were 'offended' by his views. He later suspected many had not even watched the talk online.

Devastated at his dismissal and angry at events, he contacted a lawyer with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which 'advances every person's God-given right to live and speak the truth'.

Them, last week, Josephson saw some semblance of justice: the university, which he had sued for violating his right to free speech, agreed to a $1.6 million payout - the first settlement of its kind.

'I'm glad to finally receive vindication for voicing what I know is true,' said Josephson, in a statement issued immediately after. 'In spite of the circumstances I suffered through with my university, I'm overwhelmed to see that my case helped lead the way.'

Were the Heritage Foundation discussion held today, Josephson does not think he'd face the same outcry.

'I think we've made our point - we meaning the conservative side,' he said. 'Many of the scientific statements are in our favor, and the other side's on the run. I think it would be very different now. I don't think I would have lost my job over this.'

Though now he is reluctant to return to academia - 'I'm not sure where I would go or who would want me,' he laughs.

'My wife asks me all the time what I'm thinking of doing next,' he says. 'When you've just been hammered, and are recovering from that cognitively, it takes a while to sort through your thoughts.'

'I do want to speak the truth to parents and children to try to help them and use my background to do that. I do have a lot of things that I think I could say that would benefit the field.'

Perhaps, his lived experience is lesson enough.
Provocative far-right commentator Laura Loomer hinted that she may have helped oust Mike Waltz from his national security adviser role.

Loomer told journalist Tara Palmeri that she had sounded the alarm about Waltz's anti-Trump past and claimed he hadn't vetted his staff to weed out liberals.

Waltz has been a lightning rod for controversy in the still-nascent second Trump administration. He has been to blame for accidentally leaking military plans to the press via an unfortunate Signal group chat.

He was axed as national security advisor on Thursday and was soon after nominated by the president to become ambassador to the U.N.

The 'Loomer Unleashed' host told Palmeri all about the dirt she had on the former NSC boss.

Loomer said that Waltz, a Republican congressman from Florida before his appointment to Trump's Cabinet, was letting anti-Trumpers into the agency.

'He is saying that he's personally vetting these individuals who have a history of anti Trump remarks and anti-Trump associations,' Loomer, an ultra-Trump fan, told the host.

'Why would he be signing off on them? And then it reminded me of a video that I had saved in my phone for many years of Michael Waltz on video speaking out against President Trump when he first ran for president, accusing him of being against service members,' Loomer continued, stirring up controversy.

Loomer then shared a story about how she was about to show Trump the video in the Oval Office when the ex-adviser walked into the room.

Laura Loomer has traveled with Trump and had meetings at the White House

Conservative show host Laura Loomer, an ally of Trump's, hinted that she could have talked to the president about ousting the former national security adviser

Loomer appeared on the Tara Palmeri Show

'You know, I was about to show this video to President Trump, and then Michael Waltz, you know, walked into the Oval Office,' she told Palmeri. 'It just makes me wonder.'

Then, Loomer played what appears to be an old campaign ad in which the former Florida congressman slams the president.

'He essentially called anyone who was captured in combat a loser,' Waltz says in the clip. 'It's something that I just personally can't stomach.'

The ad then cuts to a snip of Trump slamming late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a captured in the Vietnam war, saying he prefers soldiers that weren't captured.

'Don't let Trump fool you,' Waltz continues in the commercial. 'Look into his real record.'

Last month, Trump denied that Loomer had anything to do with a round of National Security Council firings after she exposed some of the workers.

Trump said 'no' when asked if she was behind the dismissal of several of National Security Advisor Michael Waltz's aides.

'Laura Loomer is a great patriot. She's a very strong person,' Trump said. 'She's been in the party a long time, she's done a good job,' he later added.

Trump and Loomer pose for a picture

Instead of being behind the firings, the president said that Loomer met with him and gave him recommendations on people to hire.

'And sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody, I listen to everybody, and then I make a decision. But I saw her yesterday. She was at the ceremony. And she'll always have something to say, usually very constructive,' Trump said. 'She recommended certain people for jobs.'

That week, DailyMail.com confirmed that Trump had fired several members of the National Security Council team.

The dismissals came after Waltz accidentally added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat discussing attack plans.
A Yale-educated oncologist has hit out at detractors who claimed an influencer was faking her cancer diagnosis.

Sydney Towle, now 25, already had scores of online followers on TikTok when she tearfully announced in 2023 that she had a rare and aggressive form of cancer, known as cholangiocarcinoma.

As she shared her life undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments for the bile duct cancer, her fanbase grew and she now has more than 770,000 followers on the video sharing site.

But as Towle's popularity grew - so did her critics, who maliciously claimed they found evidence the CancerTok influencer was faking her diagnosis, according to the New York Times.

They pointed to her videos showing her traveling around the world and what they saw as contradictions in her treatment on an anonymous Reddit page.

The detractors even put together a 28-page timeline of medical details Towle shared online, using it to bolster their claims that Towle was lying about having cancer for public sympathy and monetary gain.

Yet Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alta, who specializes in liver and bile duct cancers and treats Towle - has now put an end to the debate.

'She has cancer,' he told the Times, categorizing her illness as Stage IV.

Sydney Towle, now 25, announced in 2023 that she had a rare and aggressive form of cancer , known as cholangiocarcinoma

Her doctor, Ghassan Abou-Alta, has confirmed her diagnosis - despite a cabal of anonymous Reddit users who claimed they found proof Towle was faking it

He described how Towle's cancer started in the bile ducts in the liver, and after an initial surgery to remove the original tumor, the cancer recurred in her liver.

Tumors were also detected in lymph nodes next to her liver, Abou-Alta said from his office at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

The doctor then went on to commend Towle for shining a light on young people who are fighting cancer, more and more of whom are diagnosed every day.

Many of them can maintain a fairly normal schedule, even when undergoing chemotherapy, Abou-Alta explained.

'We literally have people who come to us for treatment on their lunchtime from the office and then go back to work,' he noted.

'Patients really can live with cancer. Not everybody should be looking as if they were dying.'

Of course not everyone will tolerate chemotherapy as well as Towle, but a number are, he said.

'A young patient like Sydney, or at any age really, can keep going and look very good,' the doctor said. 'But it does not undermine that she's still living with a very serious matter.'

As Towle shared her life undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments for the bile duct cancer, her fanbase grew and she now has more than 770,000 followers on TikTok

When the oncologist was then told that skeptics on Reddit thought Towle was lying about her diagnosis, Abou-Alta reportedly hung his head and shook it in disbelief.

He then recounted how he had told Towle that the point of undergoing chemotherapy is to preserve and prolong life - something that she should cherish.

'Always what I tell her is, "We want to steal from you one day per week" for treatment,' the doctor said. '"That's when you're a sick person. We have to keep the other six days for you."'

Yet those on the so-called 'snark' Reddit page have claimed Towle's often cheerful videos are proof that she does not actually have cancer.

They started the page last fall, as Towle moved from her native California to New York City for treatment.

Its rules included: 'No defending Syd.'

Critics claimed she would not be traveling around and posting cheerful videos if she were truly sick

At the time, the Redditors noted that Towle had planned a three-week trip to Europe ahead of her move - questioning why someone with cancer would take a break from treatment for vacation, only to return to make dramatic videos about her illness.

The backlash then intensified over the winter, when the anonymous posters argued that she was not undergoing much chemotherapy.

They noted that Towle maintained her long hair, and zoomed in on videos Towle posted to look for signs of a port - a medical device that is implanted in patients to facilitate chemo treatments and ease blood draws.

When they didn't find evidence of one, the Redditors concluded Towle must be lying about her diagnosis.

Then, when she posted a video showing a port implanted not on her upper chest - as is usual - but on the underside of her arm, they remained skeptical.

And even when Towle posted a video in which she appeared to be at a chemotherapy appointment in March, she was hit with backlash just days later, for posting another video showing her with her brother, Austin, in the Caribbean.

'This is us before going scuba diving in the ocean - for the first time,' she wrote in the TikTok video.

In the next scene, Towle and her brother were seen wearing wetsuits, which Towle said 'is us after our first dive.'

The brother-and-sister duo were in Jamaica for a friend's wedding, but on Reddit, critics saw the stark juxtaposition as evidence she was not sick.

'Syd must WANT to be ousted,' one commentator wrote.

'Don't worry, she'll be back with the fake nausea and baby voice in no time,' another added.

Eventually, the Reddit page had more than 1,000 members who accused Towle of manufacturing emotion on camera to manipulate sympathetic followers.

The critics pointed out that Towle maintained her long hair, despite undergoing chemo

One of the biggest detractors was a Redditor with the username Beginning_Field_2421, who was found to be Connie Wright - a privacy officer for Valley Health System in Bergen County, New Jersey who shapes and manages the organization's patient privacy practices, according to her LinkedIn.

'We have receipts, medical analysis, fact-checking discussions,' she wrote on the page, urging others to 'join the conversation and tell us how you found out and why you may have doubts.'

She also shared posts with headings like, 'Sydney Towle- Were you lying then or now?' and 'How to spot when Sydney Towle is lying: Her biggest tells, which catalogued her 'slow blinks, pauses and squinting.'

Wright also used some strong language in her posts, once reportedly writing: 'I've never disbelieved or hated this phony b more than today.'

Others were also alarmed when Google said cholangiocarcinoma 'often affects adults in their 70s' and carries a 'usually poor' prognosis in cases in which the cancer advanced, as had Towle's.

Many of the detractors did not seem concerned about their hostility, the Times reports.

'If she fabricated any part of her story, it's deeply unethical and she deserves backlash,' Beginning_Fields_2421 wrote as others hit out at Towle for accepting donations from some of her followers.

'Being a public figure comes with scrutiny - it's part of the job.'

@sydtowle Link is in my bio. Thank you for the support as always.  original sound - syd

Eventually, the hostility spread beyond the Internet, as Wright urged people to complain about Towle to the companies whose products she endorsed and suggested that Reddit commentators show up at a cancer research fundraiser that Towle would be attending.

Someone else also suggested sending Towle's photo to cancer hospitals, implying they need to be alerted of a potential fraudster, according to the Times.

A third Redditor even contacted the Jamaican scuba company where she and her brother had gone diving, asking about the protocol for allowing cancer patients to participate.

Meanwhile, Towle also noticed a surge in criticism on TikTok.

'My comments have been so inundated with people being like, "You will burn in hell. You are lying,"' she told the Times, adding that she also received death threats.

The comments left her feeling stuck, because if she quit social media, she feared her followers would believe she had something to hide.

'I'm sorry that they are so angry that living with cancer can look different than they think it should,' she said.

In a video after the article was published, Towle finally addressed the hatred she received to her TikTok followers.

'I haven't really addressed this because I was quite frankly shocked when I found out this was a thing - and I wasn't sure how else to prove I have cancer because I was posting at chemo every week,' she said.

'I also know that I know what I'm going through, my friends and family know what I'm going through and that is ultimately what matters the most.

'But it has taken a significant toll on my mental health... It has been a lot,' she admitted.

Towle concluded by saying she hopes the article 'reinforces that you do not know what someone is going through.

'Just because I am traveling, hanging out with my friends and doing normal things doesn't mean that I don't have Stage IV cancer,' she said, before thanking 'everyone who has supported me, because none of the negativity negates how much I appreciate the support of everyone on here.'
The cyber attacks on M&S and Harrods occurring within the space of a few days are not a coincidence, an expert has warned.

Joe Jones, CEO and founder of cybersecurity app Pistachio, said customers may be in danger from the attacks due to the 'enormous amount' of consumer data both major retailers hold.

Yesterday, luxury London department store Harrods confirmed it has been targeted by cyber hackers, leaving some customers unable to make purchases.

It came just days after similar incidents in recent days at both M&S and the Co-op, sparking fears the attacks could be linked.

Mr Jones told MailOnline: 'It's too early to confirm if the attacks are coordinated, but the close timing suggests either a targeted campaign or that attackers are exploiting the same vulnerability across multiple retailers.

'It's also entirely possible that news of one successful breach inspired malicious actors to opportunistically launch follow-ups while the industry is distracted and vulnerable.'

He added that the attacks are 'absolutely' a cause for concern, particularly for customers who have shared personal data with the retailers.

'Retail companies hold an enormous amount of consumer data, from payment information to passwords (often reused by customers across multiple sites) to customer behavioural insights,' he said.

Joe Jones (pictured), CEO and founder of cybersecurity app Pistachio, said customers may be in danger from the attacks due to the 'enormous amount' of consumer data both major retailers hold

Harrods has become the latest in a string of prominent retailers to be targeted by cyber hackers (Stock image)

'As a result, any breach can have serious consequences for both businesses and customers.'

Mr Jones added: 'This should be a wake up call not just for retail, but for any industry that handles sensitive customer data.

'Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue  it's a board-level, business critical priority. Companies need to assume they will be targeted and build resilience accordingly.'

A Harrods spokesperson said yesterday: 'We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems.

'Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe, and as a result, we have restricted internet access at our sites today.

'Currently, all sites including our Knightsbridge store, H beauty stores and airport stores remain open to welcome customers.

'Customers can also continue to shop via harrods.com.

Scotland Yard detectives are probing the devastating IT meltdown at M&S thought to be caused by teenage hackers, it was reported this week

'We are not asking our customers to do anything differently at this point, and we will continue to provide updates as necessary.'

Harrods is understood to be using specialists to help fix and investigate the problem.

Scotland Yard detectives are probing the devastating IT meltdown at M&S thought to be caused by teenage hackers, it was reported this week.

A shadowy group operating under the name Scattered Spider was previously said to be behind the M&S attack, which has crippled the retailer for more than a week.

Detectives have been working alongside the National Cyber Security Centre and data watchdog the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Bosses at the retailer are said to have asked for help from experts at Microsoft as well as cyber security professionals CrowdStrike and Fenix24.
In a dramatic twist ahead of tomorrow's federal election, the Coalition may have found an unlikely saviour in Speckles the psychic crocodile.

Hailing from Crocodylus Park Zoo in Darwin in the Northern Territory, Speckles has previously made headlines for his uncanny accuracy in predicting elections.

He correctly predicted the outcome of the 2022 Australian Federal Election, choosing Anthony Albanese as the next Prime Minister.

In 2024, Speckles correctly predicted Donald Trump's return to the White House in the US presidential election.

Now, the reptile has returned his sights on Australia's political future.

The method is simple but effective, two pieces of meat are presented, each accompanied by a photo of one of the leading candidates.

Whichever Speckles lunges at is his chosen winner.

With less than 24 hours before the election kicked off, Speckles made his call on Channel Seven's Sunrise program on Friday morning.

Speckles the crocodile (pictured) picked Peter Dutton to be the next Prime Minister

Presented with two pieces of meat, each representing a major party leader, the 4.7metre reptile made a lightning-fast decision.

He lunged for Peter Dutton's offering within moments.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Luke Gosling, the Labor MP for Solomon, the electorate Speckles calls home, said the prediction wouldn't deter the ALP campaign.

'Voting is open until 6pm tomorrow night and we are still working hard to win Speckles vote, as we are with every vote.' he said.

We would remind Speckles that votes need to be cast at an AEC polling booth to count.'

Speckles swift verdict mirrors the record pace at which Australians are casting their votes.

According to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), more than 5.6million Aussies have already voted early.

Over a million more than at the same stage during the 2022 election/

Speckles (pictured) correctly predicted Donald Trump's return to the White House

On top of that, more than 1.5million postal votes have been returned.

With election day just one day away, Labor continues to hold their lead over the Coalition, maintaining its advantage in the final round of opinion polling.

A Freshwater Strategy poll released on Thursday puts Labor ahead on a two-party preferred basis, with 51.5 per cent to the Coalition's 48.5 per cent.

If this result holds, Labor risks being pushed into minority government, triggering a hung parliament and opening the door to crossbench negotiations.

Both party leaders are today making their final push to sway undecided voters.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese kicked off his day in the key battleground of Brisbane, where Labor is targeting seats held by both the LNP and the Greens.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is campaigning in Adelaide, where Labor hopes to ride the popularity of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Coalition Campaign HQ for comment.
A teenage boy has been 'suspended indefinitely' from a prestigious private school in Adelaide after the discovery of a deepfake image of a teacher.

Lauren Brooks, the principal of St Ignatius' College in the city's north-east, confirmed the senior school student would remain out of class as investigations continued.

Ms Brooks said the member of staff featured in image is being supported.

'The college is aware of this matter and the wellbeing of everyone involved is our highest priority,' she said in a statement to The Advertiser.

Ms Brooks said the school 'invested considerable effort in educating our students about the significant risks these (online) platforms pose to their safety and dignity and that of others'.

'Whilst we appreciate this is a challenging space for young people, we have incredibly high standards of every Ignatian student,' she said.

'All our students must be accountable for their actions and the consequences that accompany them.'

There has been no indication that the deepfake is sexually explicit in nature.

A teenage student at St Ignatius' College (pictured) in Adelaide has been suspended after the discovery of a deepfake image that is believed to have included a teacher

St Ignatius' College's principal Lauren Brooks (pictured) has said the school has spent 'considerable effort' to educate students on the risks of online platforms

SA Police said it has been contacted by St Ignatius School and no official report has been lodged at this time. St Ignatius' College have been contacted for comment.

It comes as the SA government passed landmark legislation this week criminalising non-consensual creation and dissemination of deepfake material.

'This is the fastest growing threat to women and girls online today,' SA Best member of the South Australian Legislative Council, Connie Bonaros said about deepfakes.

'Anyone, who feels entitled enough to exploit, to degrade or to humiliate a woman or a girl or anybody else, should feel the full force of the law. Deepfake abuse online is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated in South Australia.'

Ms Bonaros presented the 'Bonaros Bill', which was passed on Wednesday.

Offenders who use AI to 'generate simulated humiliating, degrading or invasive images, audio or video purporting to be of real people' could face up to four years in jail or fines of up to $20,000.

Australia's eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said last year that explicit deepfakes have increased by as much as 550 per cent year-on-year since 2019.

'It's a bit shocking to note that pornographic videos make up 98 per cent of the deepfake material currently online,' she said.

Roughly 98 per cent of deepfake material is pornographic, according to Australia's eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant (stock image)

'And 99 per cent of that imagery is of women and girls.'

Her comments were made while addressing an inquiry in July into the 'Deepfake Sexual Material Bill'.

Adelaide is not the only state impacted by terrifying headlines of deepfakes created by school students.

Victoria Police arrested a teenage boy from a Melbourne secondary college in February.

It followed the discovery of photos of female students from a formal which had allegedly been digitally altered in a 'sexually explicit' manner and shared online.

The month before, a Sydney high school was embroiled in a deepfake pornography crisis when artificial intelligence was allegedly used to make pornographic images of female pupils by a year 12 student.
Pharmacists are set to hand out weight-loss jabs on the NHS.

Under government plans, just a short, over-the-counter consultation will be needed to get the likes of Ozempic and Mounjaro for the cost of an NHS prescription  this week frozen at 9.90.

The Mail understands a deal worth tens of millions of pounds will be struck with a major pharmaceutical firm to fund a pilot scheme across the UK, with a view to eventually rolling it out to everyone in need.

At the moment, the powerful injections are available to only a tiny number of people on the NHS  after talks with a specialist and in conjunction with other weight-loss methods. There is a two-year waiting list.

But ministers plan to expand the drugs' use dramatically by dishing out prescriptions quickly and easily in 'creative' ways, such as through high street chemists, health centres and apps.

It means, once the deal is signed, it will be possible to walk into a pharmacy and, after a short assessment, leave with a supply of jabs for 9.90.

A source said: 'People with resources are already buying them privately, but we know there are people from certain backgrounds who always miss out on this kind of support.

This makes sure that local pharmacies and trusted medical support organisations are involved in the roll-out from the very beginning.'

Pharmacists are set to hand out weight-loss jabs on the NHS. Under government plans, just a short, over-the-counter consultation will be needed to get the likes of Ozempic and Mounjaro for the cost of an NHS prescription  this week frozen at 9.90 (stock image)

At the moment, the powerful injections are available to only a tiny number of people on the NHS  after talks with a specialist and in conjunction with other weight-loss methods. There is a two-year waiting list (stock image)

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of adults in England are obese and a further 36 per cent are overweight. The obesity crisis costs the NHS more than 6 billion a year and the economy billions more in lost productivity and benefits.

Weight-loss jabs can be bought privately from high street chemists or online pharmacies following a short consultation with a pharmacist. They cost between 120 and 250 for a month's supply.

The total number of people in Britain using the jabs is estimated at 500,000, with many obtaining them privately. In clinical trials, people lost 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight, depending on the drug.

With upwards of 14 million obese people in the country, rolling it out to everyone at once could bankrupt the NHS, so it needs to be done gradually.

Critics, however, said taxpayers should not be footing the bill for 'trendy' drugs that would not be needed if people chose healthier lifestyles.

Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said patients must be monitored by specialists who can ensure the drugs are used safely.

'Obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition with many causes,' she said.

'We welcome investment that helps people living with excess weight access much-needed support  but drugs alone are not the solution.'

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will rightly question whether rolling out weight-loss drugs on this scale is the best use of their money.

'While tackling obesity is important, ministers must ensure that this scheme delivers value for money and doesn't simply open the door to spiralling costs or waste.'

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'Weight-loss medications have a lot of potential

to help patients who are struggling to lose weight, and who meet all the clinical criteria for a prescription.

'But these drugs should not be seen as a silver bullet for weight loss or a short-term fix to lose weight for a particular milestone.

'The forthcoming roll-out will need to be routinely evaluated to ensure that these prescriptions are of long-term benefit to patients, and that general practice and the wider NHS has the capacity and resources necessary to ensure treatment is being delivered safely.'

It came as the World Health Organisation prepared to officially endorse weight-loss drugs to tackle obesity in adults for the first time. The U-turn was revealed in a leaked memo seen by Reuters, after the WHO previously said it could not recommend the drugs because there was not enough data on their long-term effects.

The recommendation, which could also see the drugs added to its essential medicines list, may make the drugs more widely available globally.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has suggested his party will use a hung parliament to force Labor to scrap negative gearing and revive free university education.

While Labor is ahead in the polls, Anthony Albanese could still be forced to govern with the support of either the Greens or Teal independents if the party fails to win a majority in its own right on Saturday night.

Mr Bandt boasted to the ABC's left-leaning Q+A program on Monday night that a hung parliament would present a unique opportunity for the Greens, who have ruled out supporting Liberal leader Peter Dutton if the numbers are close.

'I think we're heading for a minority parliament, probably the most diverse parliament we've seen,' he told the panel.

'And I think that's really exciting - it gives us a chance to actually tackle the cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis and the climate crisis.

'I think people are realising that we can't keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result, but I think we're going to be able to keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on some of the big issues.'

Those big issues would include negative gearing tax breaks for investor landlords, with Mr Bandt saying it would be a priority during his election campaign on April 9.

'The Greens will make reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount a priority in the next parliament, including when there's a minority government,' he said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured on April 4) has suggested his party will use a hung parliament to force Labor to scrap negative gearing and revive free university education

The Greens want negative gearing restricted to one investment property, but only for landlords who already own homes they rent out.

That means homeowners with multiple properties would be forced to sell if they wanted to continue claiming rental losses on their tax return while future investors would be banned from receiving the tax break.

The Greens would also seek to undo the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount introduced by former Liberal prime minister John Howard's government in 1999, which led to property price growth vastly outpacing wage increases.

Mr Albanese dumped his predecessor Bill Shorten's plan to scrap negative gearing for future purchases of existing properties after Labor lost the 2019 election.

But Treasurer Jim Chalmers last year admitted he had commissioned his department to model the effects of curbing negative gearing and amending the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount, which allows investors to only declare half the capital gain on their tax.

The Greens have cited a 2017 Parliament speech Mr Chalmers made when he was the Opposition's finance spokesman, where he slammed negative gearing for favouring the rich.

'The new data from the Reserve Bank showed that negative gearing increasingly does favour the most wealthy investors with multiple properties,' he said.

'That is more justification for our approach to negative gearing, so that first home buyers aren't going up against people with multiple properties who enjoy those big tax breaks from the government.

While Labor is ahead in the polls, Anthony Albanese could still be forced to govern with the support of either the Greens or Teal independents if it fails to win a majority in its own right on Saturday night (Greens leader Adam Bandt is pictured left with his wife Claudia Perkins)

'In a tight budget environment it makes absolutely no sense to give the biggest tax concessions to the Australians who need them least. It's dumb. It's daft policy, and we need to fix it.'

A Parliamentary Budget Office analysis for the Greens showed negative gearing and the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount would cost the Budget $73.3billion in foregone revenue over the next five financial years.

The Greens have also declared they would force Labor to revive free university education, a policy former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam introduced in 1974.

'Experts predict we're headed for a minority parliament. This election, the Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to act on cost of living relief for young people, including by wiping all student debt and making university and TAFE free,' Mr Bandt said on April 14.

'The Prime Minister benefited from free university education but he refuses to give young people the same opportunity.

'Young people are being crushed by increasing student debt while they struggle with paying rent or affording the basics, in a housing and cost of living crisis.'

Bob Hawke's Labor government scrapped free education in 1989 and replaced it with the Higher Education Contribution Scheme where graduates started repaying the debt once they earned a full-time income above a certain threshold.

While Labor has no plans to revive free university education, it introduced free TAFE in 2023 - a policy which the Coalition has vowed to scrap.

Labor has also pledged $16billion to slash university student debt by 20 per cent or an average of $5,520 from student loans, which the Opposition would also undo, arguing it was unfair on tradies who didn't go to university.

Adam Bandt (pictured) boasted to the ABC's left-leaning Q+A program on Monday night that a hung parliament would be an opportunity for the Greens, who have ruled out supporting Liberal leader Peter Dutton if the numbers are close

The government is also planning to lift the repayment threshold from $54,000 to $67,000, calculating it would save someone earning $70,000 about $1,300 a year in repayments.

This is on top of another $3billion plan to reduce student debt by indexing it to the wage price index or the consumer price index, whichever is lower.

The last time there was a hung parliament, after the 2010 election, former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard formed a minority government with the Greens and regional independents, and introduced a carbon tax.

This broke an election promise made on television and saw the Labor Party dump her as leader in 2013 in favour of her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

The Greens have also campaigned to make dental visits claimable on Medicare.

'We know that Greens pressure works. For years, we pushed to make it free to see the GP - and now Labor have adopted parts of our plan just before the election. Even the Liberals are getting on board.

'We can go further and get dental into Medicare  but only if we put more Greens MPs in Parliament to keep Dutton out and get Labor to act.'

The Greens now hold four House of Representatives seats, but Labor and the Liberal parties are campaigning to regain, from the Greens, inner-city seats in Brisbane.
Phoebe Gates casually let slip that her father, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has Asperger's syndrome.

The 22-year-old Stanford student made the accidental disclosure during a guest appearance on the hit podcast Call Her Daddy, hosted by Alex Cooper.

While discussing what it's like to bring dates home to one of the world's most recognizable - and reportedly awkward - dads, Phoebe casually mentioned her father's medical condition.

'My dad is pretty socially awkward. He's said he, you know, has Asperger's,' she said casually while on the podcast on Wednesday.

The offhand comment immediately raised eyebrows, as Bill Gates has never publicly confirmed such a diagnosis himself.

Though he has previously acknowledged identifying with traits on the autism spectrum, his daughter's revelation marked the first time a member of his family directly referenced a specific condition.

'Bringing a guy home is terrifying for the guy. It's also kind of hilarious for me,' Phoebe continued as she went on to describe how her dad once drove her and her boyfriend to a school dance while listening to NPR in silence - a moment she called 'so uncomfortable but so funny.'

Phoebe Gates (right) casually let slip that her father, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (left), has Asperger's syndrome

While discussing what it's like to bring dates home to one of the world's most recognizable - and reportedly awkward - dads, Phoebe casually mentioned his shocking medical condition. Pictured: Pheobe Gates appears on Alex Cooper's hit Call Her Daddy podcast

Listeners were quick to seize on the remark, which soon went viral across social media platforms, sparking debate and curiosity over whether Phoebe had unintentionally outed her father's private medical history.

'Not exactly surprising,' one user wrote on X.

'There seems to be a lot of self diagnosing going on here. Being high in trait disagreeableness, focused, highly intelligent does not necessarily mean one is "on the spectrum,"' another wrote.

The billionaire philanthropist, 69, has not publicly responded to the revelation.

However, in his 2023 memoir Source Code, Gates wrote that if he were growing up today, he likely would be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

In the book, he recounted how he struggled with social interactions as a child and often became hyper focused on specific interests - classic characteristics of Asperger's, which is now considered part of the broader autism spectrum.

'I was a hyper-focused kid. I would get so lost in what I was doing, I'd forget to eat,' Gates wrote. 'I probably would've been diagnosed today, and that's not a bad thing - it's part of who I am.'

Gates further opened up about realizing he was different from his peers growing up in a February interview with Axios.

'I always knew I was different in ways that confused people in terms of my energy level and intensity, and going off and just studying things,' he said.

'And it's a little confusing when you're a kid, that you're different, or people react to you in some ways, or your social skills - you're miscuing on various things.

'My dad is pretty socially awkward. He's said he, you know, has Asperger's,' Phoebe Gates said casually on the podcast. Pictured: Phoebe Gates arrives to Tiffany's launch of Blue Book 2025: Sea of Wonder at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 25, 2025 in New York City

The billionaire philanthropist, 68, has not publicly responded to his daughter's bombshell revelation. Pictured: Microsoft founder Bill Gates speaks during the World Economic Forum

'I definitely think my parents, maybe somewhat unintentionally, because there was no diagnosis, but the way they would explain things to me or push me to socialize was very helpful,' he continued.

While Phoebe's comment might have been unintentional, it contributes to a broader cultural shift around neurodiversity and high-functioning autism, particularly in high-achieving individuals.

In recent years, more public figures - including Elon Musk - have openly acknowledged being on the spectrum.

Phoebe Gates has not commented further on the matter, and the Call Her Daddy episode remains available in full.

Also during the 22-year-old's Call Her Daddy appearance, she spoke about her boyfriend, Arthur Donald, 26, the grandson of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

'Oh man, it's so bad. Like, I'm so bad at music. I mean, my family like, we're so nerdy, so I knew nothing about music. I knew about tech stuff growing up, not music stuff,' she said.

She recalled a time Donald tried to 'rizz' her by taking her to an Elton John concert.

'And Elton John comes out in like a bedazzled tracksuit. I'm like, 'Is Elton John gay?' His entire family starts dying laughing,' she went on.

Phoebe added that even now, after dating Donald for 'almost two years,' his family still joke about the incident.
Britain's best-paid boss could be in line for a 5billion pay cheque  her largest so far  with the sale of her Bet365 gambling empire.

Denise Coates's family are in talks to sell the firm, which could reportedly be valued at 9billion.

This would see the country's richest woman handed her largest ever single payout of 5.22billion, as she owns 58 per cent of the family business.

Discussions with Wall Street banks and US advisers have been held about a total or partial sale, The Guardian reported. Options being considered are said to include listing the business on the New York stock market.

Other proposals could allow the family to retain part of the firm by selling a slice to a private equity investor or publicly listing one division in a spin-off company.

Ms Coates, 57, is famous for her record-breaking pay packets, which over the last decade have amounted to around 2.4billion.

Denise Coates (pictured) could be in line for a 5billion pay cheque  her largest so far  with the sale of her Bet365 gambling empire

Ms Coates, 57, is famous for her record-breaking pay packets, which over the last decade have amounted to around 2.4billion (stock photo)

She set up Bet365 in 2000, from a car park in Stoke-on-Trent, and it now employs more than 8,500 staff.

It remains a family business, with her brother John Coates serving as joint chief executive and a major shareholder.

Ms Coates  who was awarded a CBE in 2012 for services to business and the community  received a salary of nearly 95million in the year to March 2024, company accounts show. Bet365 was approached for comment.
California's insurance commissioner was wined and dined by an insurance boss at one of Los Angeles' fanciest restaurants as the city burned beneath them.

The lavish dinner was exposed as part of an investigation by the San Francisco Standard that accuses Lara of blowing $30,000 of money allocated to his campaign on fancy restaurants.

Entire communities spent weeks on edge in January, evacuated from their homes and hunkering down in shelters or with loved ones, unsure if their homes had been razed during unrelenting wildfires which killed 30 and destroyed unimaginable swathes of land.

The perverse reality was that the 'lucky ones' were those wracked with fear about whether their insurers would ever pay out for any damage they faced.

Others were part of the unfortunate cluster whose insurance premiums had spiked to such extortionate levels that they'd had to cancel their policies, or had simply been told one day by their provider that they were no longer covered.

Meanwhile the man tasked with holding insurance firms to account, Ricardo Lara, was feasting on sea urchin, lobster salpicon, a rack of lamb and two bottles of Leirana Albarino with Raul Vargas, CEO of the Farmers Insurance Group.

On January 15, the pair had a table at San Laurel, the brainchild of famed chef Jose Andres which boasts glittering and sprawling views of Los Angeles.

That same day, first responders were combing through the devastation of the Palisades fire searching for the charred remains of residents in the wreckage, while firefighters were still battling to get the Eaton fire under control.

The man tasked with holding insurance firms to account, Ricardo Lara, was feasting on sea urchin, lobster salpicon, a rack of lamb and two bottles of Leirana Albarino

Entire communities spent weeks on edge in January, evacuated from their homes and hunkering down in shelters or with loved ones, unsure if their homes had been razed during unrelenting wildfires which killed 30 and destroyed unimaginable swathes of land

During the January 15 dinner, the total bill came to $697, including tip.

On that occasion, Lara paid $234 of the bill, charging it to a campaign committee balance created two years prior to fund a run for lieutenant governor which never materialized.

The rest of the tab was picked up by Vargas, whose company is California's second largest home insurer.

Throughout his term, Lara has been repeatedly accused of cozying up to the insurance industry which he is mandated to police.

As part of his elected role, Lara sets rates in California and is responsible for ensuring a healthy and competitive insurance market.

California is gripped by an insurance crisis as insurers increasingly turn their backs on areas they now deem high risk for wildfires and natural disasters.

From 2020 to 2022, insurance companies chose not to renew 2.8million policies for homeowners across the state. This included 531,000 in Los Angeles County, which was decimated by the wildfires.

Just months after he took office in 2019, he was forced to issue an apology after it emerged he had taken tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from parties with interests in the insurance sphere.

During the January 15 dinner, the total bill came to $697, including tip

The perverse reality was that the 'lucky ones' were those wracked with fear about whether their insurers would ever pay out for any damage they faced

He said he was 'deeply sorry' for his actions and vowed to no longer engage with the industry for support.

In addition to his latest dinner, last year Lara charged two meal bills at swanky Italian restaurant Piatti to his campaign fund.

One of the checks, from April 17 2024, was for more than $1,000. He described the dinner as a 'campaign strategy meeting' with eight diners.

Lara was dining with Raul Vargas, CEO of the Farmers Insurance Group

Between them, they ordered seven cocktails, eight glasses of wine, a bottle of Honis sauvignon blanc and almost half the food items on the dinner menu, including steaks, meatballs, olives and various desserts.

And in 2023, he held four separate meetings at Baar Baar, a ritzy Indian restaurant in Los Angeles.

On one of these visits, he and unnamed guests dined over a bottle of Cobb riesling, two more glasses of wine, lamb keema hyderabadi, shrimp ghee roast, and beef short ribs.

Meanwhile on another, he and a guest ordered three Slumdog Millionaire cocktails, along with other drinks.

Consumer Watchdog advocacy group executive director Carmen Balber told the publication Lara's dinner with Vargas was 'disappointing' given his earlier apology.

Unfathomable swathes of land were entirely wiped out during the wildfires

Altadena was one of the worst hit areas, with countless homes razed

'It sounds like he's mixing regulation and politics once more. Maybe ''shocker'' is the wrong word, but it's disappointing. And if this wasn't a campaign meeting, then what is this campaign committee? Nothing more than a slush fund.'

Beyond the fancy restaurants, Lara is also facing intense criticism for his travel schedule and for policies which are set to benefit insurers and drive up premiums by up to 50 percent.

The first Senate committee hearing on insurance in the wake of the fires was held on March 12, 2025. Lara did not attend, according to an investigation conducted by ABC.

Instead, he traveled to Bermuda to attend a conference where he delivered a 15-minute speech.

The Senate Insurance Committee holds between two and three crucial hearings a year, and the report determined that in his six year term so far, Lara has missed several to travel interstate or internationally.

A spokesperson for his office countered the criticism, insisting: 'Commissioner Lara's job is to ensure that California consumers have real choices - not just last resorts.

'This involves going over the heads of insurance companies and engaging directly with the global reinsurance groups that support them. Nearly 40% of the world's reinsurance companies are based in Bermuda, paying out trillions of dollars in claims - including those for wildfires.'

'He is working to retain insurance companies in the market and attract those that have left.'
The head of the equalities watchdog has lashed out at criticism of judges who made a landmark ruling on gender rights that has triggered a major trans rights row.

Baroness Falkner, the chairwoman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) the said it was unacceptable for people to question the integrity of Supreme Court justices because they did not agree with what had happened.

The EHRC has issued interim guidance in the wake of the court's ruling that the term woman is defined by biological sex.

It has said trans women - biological men - 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals - though trans people 'should not be put in a position where there are no facilities for them to use'.

Speaking to The House magazine Baroness Falkner said the ruling 'clarified' the legal position and 'claims that trans people are not being listened to are simply incorrect'.

'The public discourse on this topic continues to be polarised. Naturally, parliamentarians will highlight constituents' concerns,' she added.

'They will articulate whether they believe the law strikes the right balance between different rights.

'But it is unacceptable to question the integrity of the judiciary, or indeed the regulator, as some have done.'

It came as prominent luvvies said they are 'unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets'.

Baroness Falkner, the chairwoman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) the said it was unacceptable for people to question the integrity of Supreme Court justices because they did not agree with what had happened.

The EHRC has issued interim guidance in the wake of the court's ruling that the term woman is defined by biological sex.

More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the EHRC aid they are 'unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets'. Signatories include the founder of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter (pictured).

More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the EHRC which claims its interim update on the practical implications of the judgment 'overlooks the need to protect trans, non-binary and intersex people from discrimination'.

Signatories include joint chief executives and general directors of the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, the founder of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter, and the director of Queer Britain museum, Andrew Given.

The letter says: 'The majority of cultural venues  who are already facing significant financial challenges and are often based in listed and old buildings  are unable to magic up new toilet facilities. As well as being profoundly unfair, this kind of segregation will have significant social, cultural and economic impact.

'In addition, your interim update is not practical or possible to apply.'

It adds: 'We are unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets.

'Before any guidance or legislation is issued, we urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with the trans, intersex and non-binary communities about the potential impact of any legislation along similar lines to your update.

'We also urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with those running cultural venues and public buildings to understand the impact this would have on operations, our ability to keep people safe and our ability to ensure inclusive and welcoming spaces.'

It comes after actors including Oscar-winning star Eddie Redmayne, The Brutalist actor Joe Alwyn and Babygirl star Harris Dickinson signed an open letter addressed to film and TV industry bodies, encouraging them to support the trans community.

The letter said that the signatories wish to 'add our voices to the 2,000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community', which was signed by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Chewing Gum's Michaela Coel.
Mike Waltz's ouster from national security adviser can be seen as a promotion, Vice President JD Vance told a Fox News host Thursday evening, noting the recent Cabinet shakeup.

Sitting for an interview with Bret Baier, Vance explained that Waltz's reassignment from national security adviser to U.N. ambassador nominee is not a firing.

'He wasn't let go,' Vance, 40, told the show host. 'He is being made ambassador to the United Nations, which of course is a Senate confirmed position.'

'I think you can make a good argument that it's a promotion,' Vance reasoned.

Waltz infamously added a journalist to a Signal group chat where top U.S. officials discussed military actions. The oversight has prompted immense pressure on Trump to fire Waltz.

'Donald Trump has fired a lot of people,' the vice president said. 'He doesn't give them Senate confirmed appointments afterwards.'

Baier pushed back, asking if this sets an example for Trump to cycle secretaries, 'Is Pete Hegseth safe as defense secretary? Are there other changes coming?'

'I think certainly yes. Pete Hegseth is safe. And I think our Cabinet Secretaries you saw yesterday the President, they're all doing a great job,' Vance responded.

Vice President JD Vance told Fox News host Bret Baier that Mike Waltz was not removed as national security adviser because of his Signal scandal

Former National Security Advisor Michael Waltz delivers remarks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 20 February 2025. Trump announed Waltz is leaving the post via Truth Social on Thursday

Waltz could be seen checking his messages during Wednesday's two-hour cabinet meeting as he was still adviser

Vance also dished on what will happen to the vacated advisory role.

Now, Rubio will step into the national security adviser role; a position he will hold in addition to being secretary of state, administrator of USAID and the archivist of the U.S. - a unique array of positions never before held by a lone official.

The timeline for Waltz's Senate confirmation hearings is currently unclear.

Originally, Trump nominated New York Republican Elise Stefanik to the ambassador role, but he pulled her bid to pad his vote total in the House so he can pass his 'big, beautiful bill.'

Vance said in the interview that both he and the president think Waltz is better suited for this U.N. role.

He also noted that the former Republican congressman completed his Trump-assigned objective of firing unruly or disloyal staffers.

'[Trump] said, 'Mike, you need to go in here fire, frankly, a lot of people, people who aren't loyal to my agenda, who we think aren't even loyal to the American people, bring in the right collection of people to actually make the National Security Council function,'' the VP shared recounting orders from the president.

'And Mike has done that, and now it's time for Mike to do something else,' Vance said.

National Security Adviser Michael Waltz looks at his phone as he prepares for a TV interview at the White House on Thursday immediately before his firing

The vice president called the Houthi Signal group chat scandal 'a total nothing-burger of a story.'

Waltz joins a growing club of national security advisors Trump has replaced or fired.

The first was retired Gen. Mike Flynn, followed by H.R. McMaster and John Bolton. The final security advisor of Trump's first term was Robert O'Brien.

Laura Loomer, a conservative commentator and show host, recently revealed that she had planned on showing Trump a damaging clip of Waltz criticizing the president in an old campaign ad.

Last month, the president denied that the host was involved in a slew of firings at the National Security Council.

Waltz's reassignment is the first major move so far in the Trump Cabinet.

Though as the U.N. ambassador role is also a Cabinet-level role, Waltz will still be inside the White House's inner-orbit.
This is the heart-stopping moment a person jumps from the fifth floor of a burning apartment block to escape the flames.

Shocking footage shows a young woman plunging towards the ground with her arms and legs flailing in the air as the screams of horrified spectators ring out.

Miraculously, she is safely caught by a crowd of people who had gathered below the building, in Ahmedabad, India, after spotting the flames.

In another video clip, a man can be seen passing a child to a neighbor who stands on a balcony below, hoping he can save her from the blaze.

Meanwhile, further footage shows another resident using a rope to escape as orange flames leap out of the building and black smoke plumes into the sky.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and were seen using a hose to try and control the roaring fire.

Around 20-25 people were rescued after the blaze broke out in the air conditioning system of a flat on April 29.

This is the heart-stopping moment a person jumps from the fifth floor of a burning apartment block to escape the flames

Shocking footage shows a young woman plunging towards the ground with her arms and legs flailing in the air as the screams of horrified spectators ring out

Miraculously, she is safely caught by a crowd of people who had gathered below the building, in Ahmedabad, India, after noticing it was on fire

Firefighters rushed to the scene and were seen using a hose to try and control the roaring fire

Around 20-25 people were rescued after the blaze broke out in the air conditioning system of a flat on April 29

This isn't the only remarkable fall survival to have made headlines recently.

Last month the alarming moment a pensioner fell onto a car from a sixth-floor apartment before walking away unharmed was caught on camera.

CCTV footage captured the 80-year-old woman hurtling into view, slamming into the vehicle's roof as it crumples upon impact.

The hardy octogenarian, from Yekaterinburg, Russia, had reportedly been cleaning her windows before the terrifying plunge.

Miraculously, she survived the crash-landing and could be seen rolling off the car, brushing herself off, and returning to business as usual.

It is thought that the woman's life was saved by the parked vehicle, which cushioned her fall.

She was reportedly admitted to a local hospital as a precaution but is not believed to have been injured.

A video of the close-call has gone viral, with viewers noting the pensioner's incredible luck.

One wrote: 'She landed so perfectly, like a wrestler or a stunt person.'

Another added: 'Not only was she lucky to "fall right", but had she been any further toward the building, the back of her head would likely hit the frame supporting the truck - almost certainly fatal.

'Similarly, had she or the car been shifted a foot (or possible less) either left or right, she would have landed again on the frame, which would also have been fatal, or at least, she would have sustained far far worse injuries.

'She landed SQUARE in the middle of the roof, allowing it to crumple, and not her.'
Cookbook author and blogger Nagi Maehashi claims baker Brooke Bellamy may have also plagiarised a recipe by the late Bill Granger.

Maehashi sparked a firestorm this week when she alleged the former travel blogger-turned-baker copied two of her recipes for caramel slice and baklava in her book Bake with Brooki.

Brisbane-based Bellamy strenuously denied the allegations and made a statement via her lawyers.

'I do not copy other people's recipes,' she said.

'Like many bakers, I draw inspiration from the classics, but the creations you see at Brooki Bakehouse reflect my own experience, taste and passion for baking, born of countless hours of my childhood spent in my home kitchen with Mum.'

Speaking with Good Food, Sydney-based Maehashi confirmed social media rumours that Bake with Brooki may have copied a Portuguese tart recipe from Granger's book Every Day, which was published in 2006.

'It is so blatant to me that the wording in the method part of the recipe is copied almost exactly. To me, it is the biggest and strongest example of plagiarism that I have seen by this author,' Maehashi said.

'I was so shocked when I saw it. Bill is an icon of the Australian food scene. When I became aware of it, I knew that including it in my statement would make it stronger, but I left it out at the request of Bill's family.'

Cookbook author Nagi Maehashi has claimed Bill Granger is another author whose work was plagiarised by Brooke Bellamy

Publishing director of Murdoch Books Jane Morrow released a statement that read: 'We are aware of the allegations of plagiarism involving the uncredited use of a recipe by Bill Granger. We take any suggestion that his work has been reproduced without acknowledgement seriously. We are currently reviewing the concerns raised.'

American-based baker Sally McKenney also alleged that Bellamy used her vanilla cake recipe after Maehashi told her about the scandal.

Maehashi said she went public with the allegations because she wanted people 'to take responsibility for their actions and to remind influencers and publishers that stealing work is not okay'.

But she still sympathised with Bellamy after the swell of criticism she'd received online.

Maehashi said on Instagram on Thursday: 'I made the statement knowing that it would come with a barrage of hate against me, and social media did not let me down. I'm asking you to stop the personal attacks against Brooke Bellamy. That's not the way to speak your mind and that's not the kind of support I want.'

Maehashi said she told Penguin Books months ago about the resemblances between two of her recipes, along with Granger's, in Bake with Brooki.

Penguin denied the allegations, saying via their lawyers: 'Our client respectfully rejects your client's allegations and confirms that the recipes in [Bake with Brooki] were written by Brooke Bellamy', according to Maehashi.

It's hard to prove recipe plagiarism, particularly when recipes like baklava, caramel slice and Portuguese custard tarts are varieties of recipes that have been tweaked many times over the years.

Baker Brooke Bellamy has denined she copied other recipes

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan turned the tables and accused Maehashi, the founder of wildly popular blog RecipeTin Eats, of not crediting him properly for one of his dishes.

He said that while Maehashi did provide a footnote credit to him for a butter chicken recipe she had used online and in her book, she should have got in touch to say she was using it, and added a link to his website.

'I couldn't say off the top of my head whether she did reach out and ask permission or not, but I would have thought, in general, you would contact the person whose recipe it was,' he said.

'All of my recipes in my (seven) books are copyrighted, we own them, they are our intellectual property.'

RecipeTin Eats has 1.5million followers on Instagram and Maehashi has also authored award-winning cookbooks Dinner and Tonight.

Bellamy quickly became a global sensation after sharing videos on TikTok, which receive millions of views every day.

She is best known for her cookies and has opened pop-up stores in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Ms Maehashi said she wasn't across copyright infringement, but hired a lawyer specialising in intellectual property.

It is not suggested that the accusations of plagiarism against Ms Bellamy are true, only that they have been made.
Righto, prediction time.

Election day is soon upon us and voters will be trudging to polling booths set up all around the country. Ballots on the east coast will start being counted from 6pm local time, with the WA numbers coming in two hours later.

With so many minor parties and independents contesting seats, preference distributions will be critical in marginal seats.

Who will win: Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton?

It is all but assured that Albo will be victorious. The only real outstanding question is whether he secures a majority for his second term in power, or sees his government reduced to a minority administration reliant on crossbenchers for support.

I predict the latter as the more likely of the two outcomes, but if I'm right, the particulars of just how many seats Labor wins versus how many crossbenchers it needs support from to govern will be crucial in assessing the extent of Albo's victory.

That's because when it comes to a PM's parliamentary team, size does matter.

The magic number for Labor to form majority government is 76 seats. Anything less than that and it needs the likes of teals, Greens or other independent MPs to pledge support to retain power.

Political Editor Peter van Onselen is 'putting his head on the chopping block' with his election prediction. (Pictured: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club on April 30)

Size matters because winning with 74 or 75 seats means that Albo would only need one or two crossbenchers to back him into government.

It would also mean that, by comparison, the Coalition holds far fewer seats, perhaps in the low 60s. That would be a dominant Labor minority government, as opposed to a weak one always at risk of losing votes in the House of Reps.

If Labor's share of seats dipped to somewhere closer to 70-72 in total, it still wins the election and forms minority government, but the narrative of its win is completely different.

It becomes a Pyrrhic victory. King Pyrrhus of Epirus won battles against the Romans but suffered devastating losses when doing so. Eventually the cost of his victories brought him undone.

Similarly, the optics of Labor winning badly rather than well is likely to have lasting consequences for its second term - the same way Labor suffered after the 2010 election which saw its share of seats fall to 72.

So while I'm predicting Labor misses out on majority government tonight, it could be close, which is why I would be surprised if it wasn't able to at least win around 74 seats to stave off becoming a weak minority government.

Anything less than that and I'll be somewhat surprised. The Coalition will still have lost, and Labor won, but the victory will be a little more hollow.

Millions of Australians have already voted at pre-polling booths. Usually these voters aren't swinging voters, meaning that while they represent a sizeable chunk of the electorate who cast ballots before the major parties finish making their pitches, in most cases their minds were already made up anyway.

'The howler would be if Peter Dutton (pictured in Brisbane on May 1) mounted a comeback to outdo Scott Morrison's comeback-from-behind win in 2019 against Bill Shorten'

The pre-poll ballot results will land in large clumps throughout the evening once voting begins.

Then there are postal votes to count, some of which only come in in the days after the formal election day. These usually favour the Coalition, but sometimes favour incumbents over Coalition challengers.

The counting of postal votes in very tight seats will happen for days, perhaps weeks, after polling day. Which is why in these ultra-tight contests, the smart money is usually on Coalition candidates or incumbent MPs squeaking home.

So bear that in mind if we are forced to wait for days to find out what the exact result of the election is - especially if the small number of undecided seats is the difference between Labor forming majority or minority government, or if it represents the difference between a clear minority victory versus a more messy scenario like I outlined above.

Okay, so I am putting my head on the chopping block and saying Labor wins.

More specifically, I'm expecting that victory to only be as a minority government, but with a better share of seats than could otherwise have been the case.

There is plenty of room to be wrong in such a specific prediction. The howler would be if Peter Dutton mounted a comeback to outdo Scott Morrison's comeback-from-behind win in 2019 against Bill Shorten.

By the way, on that occasion, I got it wrong by incorrectly predicting a Labor win. In my defence, it was the first federal election I got wrong since I first started making public calls on results back in 2004.

While it's no surprise to tip Labor now, I was tipping them to win well over a year ago, and again late last year and early this year when polling agencies such as YouGov claimed their data gave Labor a mere one per cent chance of victory.

That claim was beyond stupid but there were plenty of commentators who also thought a change of government was in the offing.

'While it's no surprise to tip Labor now, I was tipping them to win well over a year ago,' notes Peter van Onselen

Not me. No first-term federal government has lost a re-election attempt since way back in 1931. Plenty have come close: John Howard in 1998 won with just 48.9 per cent of the vote; Labor scrapped home in minority in 2010; and the Coalition lost a swag of seats in 2016 on the way to only winning the barest of majorities, 76 seats under Malcolm Turnbull's leadership.

The lesson: first-term governments lose skin and can come close to losing elections, but they don't lose. Not since 1931. That historical precedent won't be broken tonight. But I would be surprised if Albo finds a way to retain his majority.

But what if I am wrong, and Labor does secure a second term with a majority? If that happens, there are two things that will explain it.

Firstly, Dutton and the Coalition have had a suboptimal election campaign. They have been flat, made mistakes requiring policy reversals on the fly (such as the WFH policy), and the personal attacks against Dutton have been hyper-aggressive from Labor. It has cost the conservatives support, no question.

The second reason Labor has a chance of forming majority government - indeed the same reason it might win somewhat comfortably with a stable rather than unstable minority - is the scare campaign mounted against the Coalition.

I'm talking about claims the Libs would gut Medicare, gut education spending and blow the finances with its nuclear energy policy. Most of the attacks were either inflated or outright wrong, but that doesn't mean they weren't effective. And Team Dutton has to take some of the blame for their effectiveness by setting itself up for the attacks.

In short, the Coalition made it easier for Labor to scare the bejesus out of enough voters to do better than it probably should have on the campaign hustings.

I say that because, even late in the campaign, most polls found that voters aren't happy with the Labor government. They haven't thought that it's done a good job over the past three years. They aren't happy about the cost-of-living pressures they face and the fact their standards of living have gone backwards.

These are all entirely understandable reactions from the public. But the opposition missed its chance to turn those sentiments into a willingness to kick Labor out of power - especially in the context of Albo breaking a series of clear-cut promises he made in 2022, such as stage three tax cuts and to not change super rules.

However, enough people voting on Saturday will choose what they consider the lesser of two evils: a poorly performing government over an opposition they don't believe is ready for a comeback.

Finally, another reason Labor has won this election, one way or the other, is because it has thrown your money back at you to win your votes.

That's right, it has bought its political recovery with high-priced spending that future generations will one day need to pay back. Because the budget is in deficit and national debt is rising.

The big-spending policies that have helped Labor win this election are funded by more borrowing, which will create higher interest payments.

Not that the Coalition was much better; the addiction to spending more than the nation can afford is a bipartisan problem. But only Labor's spending initiatives will take effect because they are the expected winners.

There is no denying that Labor has bought this election with policies such as forgiving 20 per cent of everyone's HECS debts, a $10billion dollar funding injection for Medicare (matched by the Coalition despite scare campaigns to the contrary), energy rebate handouts and not even means testing its homes guarantee.

In raw political terms, credit to Team Albo for achieving the outcome they wanted: more time in power. But as a nation we need a government and an opposition prepared to accept and embrace the need for major structural reforms.

No one seems willing to do that, and the markers for what happens over the next three years laid out by Labor during this campaign will only make it harder to fix the budget and streamline the economy. Because the government has boxed itself into a narrow corner, with no mandate for reform in a second term.

So it's a Labor win but without purpose beyond staying in power.
When she was eight years old, Linda Kelly-Lawless learned the 'amazing' man raising her was not her biological father.

'My world as a child changed forever when I heard this news,' Linda, from South Australia, says.

'I felt the shame. The stigma of being illegitimate.'

The news hit even harder when Linda's mother later admitted she'd almost had her adopted, travelling from her home in Melbourne to Sydney to give birth and begin proceedings, only to change her mind at the last minute.

'It was such a scandal to be an unwed mother,' Linda told Secrets and Lies, a documentary by Journeyman Films in 2019.

'She was very ashamed.'

When she was 10, Linda also learned she had three half-siblings - one brother and two sisters - who shared the same father as her.

'I have spent my whole life looking for them and, sadly, I still am,' she says.

'I believe that this [legal recognition] can help adoptees, and people who don't know who their father is, or want to reclaim their identity legally, like I've done. It's a first'

'My beloved mum would tell me things but she was absolutely terrified of revealing his identity,' Linda says

Despite her many questions, Linda's mother never revealed the identity of her father.

'My beloved mum would tell me things but she was absolutely terrified of revealing his identity,' Linda says. 'The fear in my mum's eyes in the end was enough for me to stop asking.

'My questions were too traumatic for my mother and the lack of answers [was] also traumatic for me. We shared an unspoken bond and she was my world.'

But while Linda stopped asking, she never stopped wondering. She became interested in genealogy and family trees, but only dabbled in her research, worried she would upset her mother.

But when her mum died, taking the identity of Linda's father to her grave, Linda says she began wholeheartedly delving into her past for answers. It was then she found there was no surname on her birth certificate.

'I dont have a surname. I am still Linda Catherine nobody,' she told Secrets and Lies.

In 2018, a friend told her about Ancestry.com, a genealogy website that helps people explore their family history.

Through the service, Linda was able to submit her DNA.

Linda Kelly-Lawless (pictured as a child) has fought long and hard for the Catholic Church to recognise she is the daughter of Victorian priest Father Joseph Kelly

'I thought what harm would it be to know my ethnicity? When the results came back I then realised it also matches you with biological family members,' she says.

'I just sat in awe and shock. It was then I thought I have to face this shame and learn how to use the DNA.'

With the help of 'an amazing lady in America', Linda learned she was part of the Kelly family. When she took this information to her aunt, she finally learned the truth her mother had concealed from her for so many years.

She was the daughter of a Catholic priest from Victoria, Father Joseph Kelly, who died in 1989.

Her mother, 20 years his junior, had had a relationship with him in the early 1960s while living in Melbourne.

'I was shocked, but finally so many things made sense - as I call them, my "OMG moments",' she says.

While Catholic priests are supposed to be celibate, it's been an open secret for centuries that many breach their vows and father children.

While the children often suffer in silence, the mothers are pressured to keep the secret - a wrong Linda became intent on bringing out of the shadows.

From there, Linda says, 'the truth had to be found and the Catholic Church were to know I existed'.

Thus began her journey to receive acknowledgement from the Catholic Church that Father Kelly was indeed her dad.

At first, she was refused.

In April 2023, Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli wrote to Linda and suggested an exhumation of Fr Kelly's body was necessary for the church to officially recognise him as her father.

Undeterred, she undertook autosomal DNA testing - using DNA from the priest's living relatives.

'I had legal DNA testing with Parabon in America, and a cousin from my grandfather's side and a cousin from my grandmother's side came forward,' Linda says.

'The results came back that I was 99 per cent related to both of them.'

The test results were then presented to NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.

'I was the first person in Australia to do this test for paternity. It's also used for cold-case files,' Linda says.

'NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages have re-issued my birth certificate with Joseph Kelly as my father. So, by law, he is my father.

'I believe that this [legal recognition] can help adoptees, and people who don't know who their father is, or want to reclaim their identity legally, like I've done. It's a first.'

She subsequently supplied the church with a genetic family tree produced from the autosomal DNA testing, and affidavits and statutory declarations from people who knew her father, leading to a meeting with the archbishop.

In a letter to Linda dated April 8, 2025, Archbishop Comensoli wrote: 'In response to your requests, I offer the following: From the materials that you have presented, I want to assure you that I believe that Fr Kelly was your biological father.'

The archdiocese did not respond to requests from AAP to confirm the letter constituted formal recognition of paternity.

Father Joseph Kelly, a Catholic priest from the Australian state of Victoria, died in 1989

Linda says her fight for recognition had been 'a long haul'.

This was not about winning, it was about the church doing the right thing, she said.

'It's been very traumatic and I understand why people walk away from the church,' she said.

'But I had to correct the wrongs that were done in the past.

'You just don't tell people that your father's a Catholic priest. Not in the 1960s, not even now. And the reaction from my mother when it was ever discussed was sheer terror.'
George Clooney's pick to be the next Democratic presidential nominee stunningly announced he is not running for the nation's highest office.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appeared on ABC's The View on Thursday when liberal co-host Joy Behar repeatedly pressed the Democrat on his plans for 2028.

'I am not running,' he reiterated about five times, even as Behar asked, 'What if we really, really need you?'

Instead, Moore, 46, insisted that Maryland is his priority - and he hopes to win re-election as the governor next year.

Moore has led the state since 2023 and has done 'a pretty bang up job' in the state, liberal co-host Sunny Hostin said on the show.

The governor has long been considered a potential standard-bearer for the nation's next president, and earlier this month, Clooney told CNN he thinks Moore 'in particular... is spectacular' to lead the Democrats moving forward.

'I think he is a guy that handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully,' the Oscar-winner said of Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse in early 2024.

'He's two tours of active duty in Afghanistan. He speaks sort of beautifully, he's smart. He's a proper leader,' he added of Moore.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced on Thursday he will not run for president in 2028

He appeared on ABC's The View on Thursday when liberal co-host Joy Behar repeatedly pressed the Democrat on his plans for 2028

'I like him a lot, I think he's someone we could all fall in behind,' Clooney added.

John Ronquillo, the director of the Institute for Public Leadership and a professor at the University of Maryland, has also suggested Moore could be the 'next Obama' - rising rapidly through the political ranks to ascend to the White House.

'While I want to be careful with comparisons  Barack Obama is Barack Obama and Wes Moore is Wes Moore  there's no denying that they've both had a meteoric ascent to political prominence,' Ronquillo told The Hill newspaper.

Obama endorsed Moore's bid for governor and cut a campaign ad for him.

But Moore is not the only potential Democrat leader.

Other names that have been floated include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

None of them have yet announced their intention to run in the presidential election, with two years to go before the primaries.

Regardless, Clooney warned Jake Tapper: 'We have to find someone rather soon.'

Actor George Clooney previously singled out Moore as being 'spectacular' to lead Democrats moving forward

And even though Moore made clear on Thursday he does not want to run for president, he had some strong words for the current White House occupant.

He hit out President Donald Trump's tariff policy as causing 'chaos' in his interview on The View.

'I think this is a powerful moment because people are seeing the power of the president and the power of Washington, but I think what people are also seeing is what's the power of the governor, what's the power of the states, what's the power of the people,' the Maryland Democrat said.

Moore added that he 'will work with anyone who has the people of my state in their best interest,' but added, 'I will bow to no one.'
Gretchen Whitmer's newfound friendship with Donald Trump appears to be short lived, as the Michigan Democrat governor slammed the president a day after appearing with him at an event.

The 2028 presidential hopeful was humiliated by Trump in a made-for-TV moment in her home state.

While speaking to Michigan National Guardsmen on Tuesday, the president spotted Whitmer in the crowd and then called her up for a spur-of-the-moment address.

Both that and a bizarre moment where she covered her face with folders and looked embarrassed during a trip to see President Trump have drawn ridicule from liberals.

Speaking to left-leaning Pod Save America Wednesday, she appeared to have finally rediscovered her dislike for Trump when former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau asked if the U.S. was in a constitutional crisis.

'We are, I think that no one is above the law. The thought that we've got an administration that is just blatantly violating court orders should, I think, scare everybody. This is a very serious moment,' she said.

Favreau then asked if Whitmer had used any of her facetime with the president to question policies she might be against, including kicking college students out of the country and freezing school funding.

'I have not had that direct conversation on this subject yet, but I'm not afraid to do that,' Whitmer said.

Favreau took a shot at Whitmer, asking: 'Isn't it worth speaking up for the rights and the freedoms of those people when you're at an event with him, or you are in a meeting with him?'

'Whenever I get the opportunity, I use every minute of that to cover a lot of different issues. So this is, I think, a very important one that you're raising. There's no question. And I will continue whenever I have opportunities to make sure that I'm covering as much as I can. No question,' Whitmer replied.

While speaking to Michigan National Guardsmen on Tuesday, the president spotted Whitmer in the crowd.

'I want to thank Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,' Trump said.

'You know, I'm not supposed to do that. She's a Democrat. They say, don't do that, don't have her here. I said, 'no, she's going to be here... she's done a very good job.'

He then called her up in what appeared to be a spur-of-the-moment decision.

'Well, I hadn't planned to speak...' she replied in a cringeworthy moment. 'But on behalf of all the men and women who have served... I really am damn happy we're here.'

Earlier this month, Whitmer faced the wrath of her Democratic colleagues for her seemingly friendly appearance alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

President Donald Trump brings Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on stage to address a crowd of troops

'I want to thank Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,' Trump said

At one point she even raised a folder she was holding to seemingly cover her face from press snapping photos of the unlikely bipartisan meeting.

During a press availability at the White House, Trump on camera praised Whitmer: 'She's really done an excellent job, a very good person.'

The president was equally as complimentary on Tuesday.

The Michigan Democrat was meeting with the Republican regarding issues in her home state, including an ongoing ice storm in the north, investments in the Selfridge Air National Guard Base outside of Detroit and an invasive fish in the Great Lakes.

It was her second time meeting with the president since he retook office in January.

But her presence in the Oval Office and Trump's glowing assessment of the Democratic governor led to members of her party questioning her ability to help lead the party into the 2028 election cycle.

She happened to be sitting down with Trump in the middle of a dramatic day pausing his highly controversial tariffs.

Just a few hours before the Oval appearance, Trump announced he was initiating a 90 day halt of imposing sweeping and steep international tariffs after 75 countries came to the table to negotiate more mutually beneficial trade deals.

Trump speaks with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer after arriving at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Warren, Michigan

A photograph of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer holding a stack of blue folders to obscure her face while President Donald Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office sparked online ridicule

Gretchen Whitmer temporarily shielded herself from the cameras when she was in Trumps Oval Office, per this photo from NYTs @erjleehttps://t.co/TFDPPnci7Q pic.twitter.com/hnLnvuQvlX  bryan metzger (@metzgov) April 12, 2025

Whitmer and Michigan Republican House Speaker Matt Hall already had a meeting set with Trump on the same day.

As a rising voice in the Democratic Party, many think Whitmer would make a good candidate for president in 2028  a year sure to be flooded with candidates in both the Republican and Democratic primary races.

Whitmer's team insists she was blind sided by being brought into the Oval Office press conference with Trump.

'The governor was surprised that she was brought into the Oval Office during President Trump's press conference without any notice of the subject matter,' a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement.

'Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.'

An image of Whitmer went viral on Wednesday with her standing along the outskirts of the Oval Office leaning against a door and looking wildly uncomfortable.
Three people have been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of Victoria.

The chopper plunged into the water at Point Lonsdale, near Geelong on the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula, just after 10am on Friday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after multiple calls to Triple Zero at 10.10am.

'Firefighters arrived on scene in two minutes to find a light aircraft impacted in water 30-50metres from the shoreline,' Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement.

'Crews worked in collaboration with Surf Life Saving and Ambulance Victoria to extricate three people from the water and bring them to safety to receive treatment.'

All three passengers made it to the shore.

A man in his 50s and woman in her 40s, who are yet to be identified, were airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Both are in a stable condition.

A second man, also in his 50s, was taken by road to Geelong University Hospital in a stable condition.

Wreckage from the helicopter is seen in aerial footage of the crash site on Friday

Police confirmed the chopper crashed just after 10am, with multiple Triple Zero calls made

Aerial footage of the crash site shows wreckage from the chopper.

A local told Geelong Advertiser she was walking along Point Lonsdale beach when she heard a loud bang but couldn't see what had happened.

A hero jogger said he spotted the pilot waving from the ocean and jumped into the water where he pulled the woman from the helicopter.

'They were flying low over the ocean and then crashed just off the shore,' he said.

'It's really sad, they weren't in a good way. The passengers were in shock and couldn't walk. The pilot could walk but seemed beat up.'

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash with police.

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information to contact Crime Stoppers.
A shock A-lister who has repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump was caught in the background of an intimate behind-the-scenes tour of the White House with Karoline Leavitt.

Trump's press secretary was taking part in a TikTok video touring her office and the White House grounds with running influencer Kate Mackz when the pair bumped into White Lotus star Jason Isaacs.

Isaacs famously lashed out at Trump by drawing comparisons to the 'wealthy and self-centered' character he played on the blockbuster show, and in Washington DC last week referred to the president as a 'scumbag', according to The Daily Beast.

'I don't know whether my clear dislike for the current president of America will affect me in future, whether I'm allowed to work there at all,' the British Harry Potter alumni said.

As Mackz camera panned to a crowd out the front of a White House building, she was stunned to spot Isaacs among the group.

'Hi guys, look who we ran into,' Mackz said. 'One week after hanging out with Patrick [Schwarzenegger]. We've got to get you on the running show.'

Isaacs was all smiles as Mackz and Leavitt stopped to chat, telling her 'sure, I'm in,' before adding: 'Wait, running and talking at the same time?'

As the pair walked away to continue their tour, a beaming Leavitt said: 'You just never know who you're going to run into at the White House.'

Karoline Leavitt has peeled back the curtain and offered an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the White House

President Donald Trump 's press secretary was taking part in a TikTok video touring her office and the White House grounds with running influencer Kate Mackz when the pair unexpectedly bumped into White Lotus star Jason Isaacs

Isaacs (second from the right) was seen in the same frame as Leavitt (left) as she took Mackz on a personal tour of the White House

Isaacs was joined by other Hollywood stars ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner, which Trump did not attend due to Pope Francis' funeral.

Leavitt had earlier taken Mackz through her favorite room in the White House - the press briefing room - before taking her into her own office to meet the press team and have a peak at where she spends most of her day.

'This is my office,' Leavitt said as she opened a door with her name engraved on a plaque.

Pointing to a trio of framed pictures on the wall, she said: 'I obviously have photos; of myself with the President...and that's my baby, my nine month old son from our senior staff swearing in ceremony... my first press briefing.'

Then Mackz was shown Leavitt's cork board above her desk. On it was a picture of herself with a group of school children from Georgia who she had met with.

Leavitt proudly pointed to another photo of her son, this time he was beaming as he sat on Air Force 1, the President's plane.

'My baby on his first Air Force One flight,' the doting mom said.

The final item on her corkboard was a meme which Leavitt said she 'loves.'

'It's a man pointing at a brain and it says no thanks, I won't be needing that. I believe everything legacy media shows,' she said, reading from the picture. 'We want critical thinking around here.'

The running influencer garnered mass praise for her interview with Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz during the election campaign, but those same fans - including Walz' daughter Hope - have now turned on her for speaking with Leavitt

Leavitt had earlier taken Mackz through her favorite room in the White House - the press briefing room - before taking her into her own office to meet the press team and have a peak at where she spends most of her day

Reflecting on her frequent briefings and the pressure to be accurate, across the news and be able to think on her feet, Leavitt told Mackz she 'prays to God before every briefing'

The meme is representative of much of Leavitt and Trump's criticism of legacy media and the driving force between this administration's decision to amplify the voices of influencers and social media creators like Mackz.

Last week, Leavitt even hosted 100 influencers and creators for a 'new media' press briefing in the White House to celebrate Trump's first 100 days back in office.

She has also taken steps to remove legacy media journalists' access passes to press briefings, barring Associated Press reporters' access after they refused to adapt to Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

A federal judge has since ordered the administration to restore the AP's press access, citing First Amendment rights.

In the briefing room, Mackz noted the space was 'a lot more intimate than I thought.'

Leavitt nodded, telling her that observation is one she hears all the time.

'That's the reaction of everyone who comes in here,' she said. 'It's way smaller than you'd imagine. We need to make it bigger so we can allow more voices in.'

Reflecting on her frequent briefings and the pressure to be accurate, across the news and be able to think on her feet, Leavitt told Mackz she 'prays to God before every briefing.'

Leavitt proudly pointed to another photo of her son, this time he was beaming as he sat on Air Force 1, the President's plane. 'My baby on his first Air Force One flight,' the doting mom said

'This is my office,' Leavitt said as she opened a door with her name engraved on a plaque

Leavitt gushed about her demanding job, describing it as a 'dream come true' and a 'full circle moment' after starting her career in the first Trump administration as an intern

'It's a moment to just ground myself,' she said.

'But before the prayer comes a lot of preparation. My team and I are just reading the news, consuming everything.

'I talk to the president multiple times before I take the podium to fully understand what he's thinking and feeling so I can relay it to the public.'

Leavitt gushed about her demanding job, describing it as a 'dream come true' and a 'full circle moment' after starting her career in the first Trump administration as an intern.

Later as the tour of the grounds continued, Leavitt casually pointed to a slick red Tesla parked out the front. 'By the way, that is the President's Tesla,' she said.

'He has so generously told staff that we are allowed to drive it if we wish to take it out. I haven't taken him up on the offer, but maybe I will soon.'

Mackz' video has been seen more than one million times on TikTok, while an accompanying video on YouTube has racked up 3,000 views.

The running influencer garnered mass praise for her interview with Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz during the election campaign, but those same fans - including Walz' daughter Hope - have now turned on her for speaking with Leavitt.

Hope left a message on the TikTok video demanding Mackz unpin the episode with her father in the wake of her latest video. That comment has since been deleted.
Erin Patterson argued with her estranged husband about a late invite to his mother's birthday party in the months before she allegedly murdered her.

On Friday, Simon Patterson again faced the woman accused of killing his parents Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson.

They died after consuming death cap mushrooms served in a beef Wellington during lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only guest to survive the lunch, with Patterson charged with attempted murder over his alleged poisoning.

The jury was shown a series of text messages sent between the couple on October 14 and 15 the previous year.

In them, Patterson lashed out at Simon after he sent her a late invite to his mother's 70th birthday party.

'Seems that my invite tomorrow is a bit of an afterthought and not even from your parents so I might pass thanks,' Patterson complained.

She told Simon she would rather not go somewhere she wasn't welcome.

Simon Patterson and his media representative Jessica O'Donnell enter the Latroba Valley law courts on Friday

'What I reckon is everybody forgot to actually invite me to this thing and I feel very very hurt about that,' she wrote.

Simon assured Patterson his parents wanted her to attend the party.

'I ask that you consider mum's feelings. They'd love you to be there,' Simon insisted.

After some back-and-forth Patterson eventually agreed to come along with their two children.

Simon told the court he believed his wife 'suffered from mental illness - post-natal depression, especially after [our son] was born.'

Dressed in a brown, cotton jumper, Patterson glared in Simon's direction as he gave evidence for the second day running.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Simon told the court his relationship with Patterson at the time of his mum's party suffered from 'a lot of tension'.

In another tough day in the witness box, Simon was again brought to tears when asked to watch a video of his father performing a scientific experiment with his son.

Erin Patterson had been generous with her money leading up to the alleged murders

Titled 'Rocket Car' the video showed Don Patterson attempting to power a toy car with a rocket.

But instead of rocketing forward, the rocket simply smoked out on the spot.

'It's working but why isn't it going?' a voice could be heard saying, turning Simon's tears to a broad smile.

The court heard Patterson had 'hated hospitals' throughout her relationship with Simon.

The jury had previously heard Patterson had been reluctant to remain at hospital after the deadly lunch.

Her children had also been afraid of hospitals due to some previous bad experiences which saw a tube inserted into her daughter and doctors bungling an x-ray on her son.

'They're arguing with me now saying I might have to go to Dandenong...this doctor is not listening to me and being a bit mean about it,' she texted Simon after attending hospital after the fateful lunch.

In another message, she texted: 'I'm going to Clayton. Squeaky wheel.'

Erin Patterson as she appeared in court on Monday

'I feel nauseous and sore tummy,' she texted later.

In a series of exchanges, the couple were seen talking about potassium levels and how the children had progressed while in hospital.

The jury has heard Patterson invited her in-laws over for the deadly lunch to tell them about a false cancer diagnosis and ask for advice on how to tell the children.

On Friday, the court heard Patterson had a history of discharging herself against medical advice.

Her barrister Colin Mandy, SC asked Simon if Patterson often complained about being unwell without substance.

'No,' Simon responded.

He told the court Patterson struggled with sleep apnea and was told by her that she had been diagnosed with something like multiple sclerosis.

Asked about Patterson ever mentioning ovarian cancer, Simon claimed it was news to him.

Simon Patterson approached the Latrobe Valley court house on Friday

'Erin's never told me she was concerned about ovarian cancer,' he said.

The jury continued to be shown examples of the couple squabbling leading up to the lunch.

In a message sent on November 22, 2022, Patterson sent Simon a terse message asking him to pay an anaesthetist bill from their son's surgery.

'Can you please pay this? I paid a surgeon an out-of-pocket fee a couple of days ago,' she asked.

Simon responded the Department of Human Services had instructed him not to pay anything for the kids after he agreed to pay her child support.

'So I cannot pay that, I'm afraid,' he told her.

Patterson insisted the money wasn't for her, but the anaesthetist.

'That's exactly the kind of thing they explicitly instructed me not to pay,' he told her.

Erin Patterson in the weeks before her trial began in Morwell

'She was saying she'd seen other people, they end up double-paying, and they get really upset, and it actually creates problems in the relationship. So it was on that basis,' Simon said.

As tension increased between the couple, the jury heard Patterson had gone to Simon's parents asking for help.

In a message by Simon to Erin, he confronted her about that meeting.

'Mum and dad told me you asked them over,' he wrote.

'I understand there are two main issues. 1: How (our son) is going. 2: Finances for our kids.'

Simon suggested getting in a mediator to help the couple communicate better.

He told the court Erin had become 'extremely aggressive'.

'Erin's and my communication about it wasn't working. From my point of view Erin was being extremely aggressive, so I thought a mediator would help us communicate about it,' he said.

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He will continue to give evidence on Monday after the jury was allowed to go home at the lunch break.

Before allowing them to leave, Justice Christopher Beale again warned the jury not to be tempted to talk about the case or seek out any information on it.

The trial continues.
The contest between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton has tightened dramatically, according to a shock final survey before polls close tonight.

The third and final Daily Mail Australia Ipsos poll of 2,574 voters on the eve of the election has the contest between Labor and the Coalition neck-and-neck.

Albanese's Labor Party is ahead of Dutton's Coalition by 51 to 49 per cent, with both major party primary votes down significantly from what they were at the 2022 election.

Jessica Elgood from polling firm Ipsos said: 'The Ipsos Daily Mail Australia poll shows a narrowing of Labor's lead over the last week of the campaign, but suggests Labor will stay in power as a minority government.'

Labor's primary vote is just 28 per cent according to the Ipsos poll, while the Coalition is at 33 per cent. The Greens are on 12 per cent, One Nation is on 8 per cent and the remaining 14 per cent of votes are spread across teals and other crossbench parties and independents.

'As we've seen throughout the campaign period, this is likely to be a good election for minor parties but (there is a) low primary vote share for both Labor and the Liberals', Elgood said.

If these poll results play out at voting booths across the country today, the results will be well below the expectations that have built up in ALP circles since the start of the election campaign.

Coalition strategists will welcome news that the contest has tightened, if only to abate growing concerns in their ranks that a bloodbath might be in the offing, especially in the wake of this week's YouGov poll predicting the worst result for the party since the 1940s.

The final Daily Mail Australia-Ipsos poll's two party preferred result shows Labor ahead of the Coalition 51 per cent. The result is the same when undecided voters are excluded from the count and when undecided voters are reallocated by which party they voted for last time

The Daily Mail Australia-Ipsos poll's party primary vote shows Labor on just 28 per cent and the Coalition on 33 per cent. 12 per cent will vote Greens - with the vast majority of preferences historically flowing to Labor. One Nation is at 8 per cent, Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots on 2 per cent, with 12 per cent of the vote flowing to other candidates, such as Teal independents, and five per cent undecided

This Daily Mail Australia Ipsos poll suggests the Coalition remain the underdogs - but that the contest is closer than many believe.

The pollsters were in the field at the time of Labor Senate leader Penny Wong's gaffe on the Voice, when she expressed belief that an Indigenous voice to parliament is inevitable, contradicting the PM's claims that it was off the agenda.

In what would be a deep concern for Labor strategists, the Ipsos poll also reveals that despite the tightening contest, voter expectations are high for a Labor victory.

Some 59 per cent of those polled say Labor will win this election compared to just 23 per cent who believe the Coalition will form government. The remainder are undecided.

The risk for the Labor Party is that certainty of victory might leave some undecided voters willing to register protest votes against the government in the belief that it won't affect the outcome.

The Ipsos poll found that 5 per cent of those surveyed were undecided about who they would cast their ballots for.

When those same voters were excluded from the sample the two party vote becomes 51 to 49 in Labor's favour. When those undecided votes are distributed the same way those surveyed claimed they voted at the previous election, the two party result is again 51 to 49 in Labor's favour.

Two party preferred vote, with undecideds: Some five per cent of voters were still undecided, showing a tight race. When the undecided vote was excluded completely, or reallocated based on their vote at the last election, the two party preferred vote split 51 to 49

Despite the tightening contest between the major parties, Albanese continues to enjoy a substantial lead over Dutton as the preferred PM with 48 per cent of voters prefer the Labor leader compared with just 34 per cent favouring the Opposition Leader.

Albanese also dominates Dutton on satisfaction with his performance, although both leaders register negative results with 36 per cent of those polled approving of Albanese's performance as PM, and 42 per cent disapproving. Only 27 per cent of voters approve of Dutton's performance compared to 51 per cent who disapprove.

The extent to which the PM leads the Opposition Leader on these figures may be a consequence of the powerful scare campaign Labor has mounted against Dutton, with much of its messaging targeting him personally.

Depite the tightening of the party votes, Elgood pointed out that 'the preferred prime minister and leader approval data do suggest that Albanese has won the campaign and is the party leader the voters want to form the next government'.

The Ipsos poll results, if reflected on election day, are likely to mean that it will be a long night before tight seat-by-seat marginal electorates can be called for either major party, and the eventual winner can be declared.

However, based on the share of seats both major parties start this showdown with - 77 seats held by Labor compared with just 54 held by the Coalition - it is hard to see how the Coalition can edge close enough to be in contention to form even minority government with just 49 per cent of the two party vote.

While the overwhelming majority of Greens first preferences flow to Labor - usually at a rate of 90 per cent or higher - One Nation and other right wing parties are largely directing their voters to preference the Coalition ahead of Labor.

This could help the Opposition pick up outer metropolitan marginal seats currently held by the Labor Party.

Pre-poll votes are now in excess of seven million, and they will be added to the Saturday evening count around 10pm.

Daily Mail Australia understands that the tracking polls of both major parties have them narrowly favouring the Coalition, suggesting that those who voted early were unbothered by the ups and downs of the campaign itself.

Postal votes will come in for days and possibly weeks after the election night. They could be crucial in some of the tightest contests around the nation.

In the final of Daily Mail Australia's three Ipsos polls during the campaign, voters were also asked who they would prefer to see as the new PM in Labor's ranks if Albanese stepped down.

Australians were asked which Labor candidate they would prefer to see as Prime Minister if Albo stepped down in the Daily Mail Australia Ipsos poll

After 'none of the above' and 'I don't know', Penny Wong was ranked the favourite Labor candidate to replace Albanese if he stepped down, followed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Environment Minister and Albo frenemy Tanya Plibersek in third

The question comes in the context of a potential hung parliament and because the 62-year-old PM is nearing retirement age - he even recently purchased a waterside mansion on the central coast for his post-parliamentary years with his fiancee Jodie Haydon.

The top two responses were 'I don't know' (27 per cent), and 'none of the above' (22 per cent), totalling nearly half of all respondents (49 per cent).

Senate Leader Penny Wong was the highest alternative PM with 17 per cent support, ahead of Treasurer Jim Chalmers on 11 per cent and Albo frenemy Tanya Plibersek on eight per cent. Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles got six per cent support.

Frontbenchers Jason Clare and Tony Burke barely got a look in, with just two per cent support.
The sentence handed down for the brutal murder of a 21-year-old woman has outraged the victim's mother.

Tyrone Thompson, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend Mackenzie Anderson 78 times while on parole, was jailed for a maximum 22 years and six months on Friday.

He will serve a non-parole period of 15 years and six months.

Ms Anderson's distressed mother, Tabitha Acret, ran sobbing from the Newcastle Supreme Court after the sentence was handed down and collapsed outside.

'While no verdict and no sentence can bring Mackenzie back, we are outraged by today's outcome,' Ms Acret told reporters.

'Whilst this might be thought of as a good outcome for the courts, we are disgusted that this sentence is what they think the value of my daughter's life was worth.

'Justice Weinstein's sentence was an insult to women globally and I call for an urgent appeal of this sentence.'

Ms Acret said she placed a 'great deal of blame for my daughter's death on the justice system'.

In sentencing Thompson, Justice Richard Weinstein said the brutal murder of the mother-of-one was a frenzied attack of such ferocity that one of the two knives he used snapped.

Mackenzie Anderson's loss would profoundly impact her family forever, the judge said

Tyrone Thompson has been jailed for murdering his ex-girlfriend after stabbing her 78 times. (HANDOUT/9NEWS)

Justice Weinstein said the Crown submitted that the seriousness of the crime was aggravated by previous domestic violence in the relationship, Ms Anderson's fear of Thompson and her attempts to end the relationship, which he refused to accept.

The judge noted Ms Anderson's family had been shattered by her murder and left with feelings of helplessness, despair and anger.

Ms Anderson's loss would profoundly impact her family forever and her death at such a young age was 'every parent's nightmare', he said.

But the judge also said Thompson's significant mental health issues, the domestic violence he suffered as a child at the hands of his violent, schizophrenic, drug-addled father, his difficult schooling and exposure to drugs had diminished his moral culpability.

Justice Weinstein found Thompson had intended to kill Ms Anderson when he first started stabbing her.

Thompson, 25, watched the sentencing via audiovisual link from prison instead of facing his victim's grieving family in court.

Thompson had been due to stand trial for murder before pleading guilty in April.

In a letter of remorse to the judge, Thompson - who was diagnosed with a complex post-traumatic stress disorder and severe personality disorder but was not considered psychotic - claimed the pair had struggled with a knife and when his hand was cut 'something inside me lost control'.

Tabitha Acret said what the court thought her daughter's life was worth disgusted her family

Ms Acret had told the court how her daughter must have suffered a 'fear no human should ever know' on the night she was murdered and had been convinced Thompson would kill her after being paroled.

Thompson and Ms Anderson had been involved in an on-again, off-again relationship, marred by domestic violence, since late 2019.

He was jailed in October 2021 for assaulting Ms Anderson, intimidating her and destroying her property before being released on parole on March 9, 2022.

Thompson, who ignored an apprehended domestic violence order banning him from contacting Ms Anderson, killed her 16 days later after breaking into her apartment in the Newcastle suburb of Mayfield.

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Labour descended into panic today after Nigel Farage triggered a political earthquake by seizing Runcorn & Helsby in a dramatic by-election.

A jubilant Mr Farage hailed a 'big moment' as the Cheshire seat was secured by just six votes following hours of delay for nailbiting recounts.

Meanwhile, local elections are seeing the insurgents rack up huge gains across England.

As results from yesterday's contests started to flow in, Reform's Dame Andrea Jenkyns romped home as the first Greater Lincolnshire mayor with an enormous 40,000 majority over the Tories.

The party is also on track to control the county council, as its national poll surge is translated into real votes and real power.

Earlier, Reform only narrowly missed out on having a mayor in North Tyneside, cutting a Labour majority of almost 14,000 down to just 444.

It was a similar story in Doncaster, where Labour's Ros Jones closed out Mr Farage's party by just 698 votes. The Tories were in third, with the right-wing parties together taking 57 per cent of the vote.

Ms Jones launched an extraordinary tirade at Sir Keir after the announcement, berating him for not 'listening' to unrest over cuts to winter fuel allowance and the national insurance hike.

Despite ministers pleading for calm, MPs quickly joined the demands for a change in direction from the premier, saying his leadership has not been 'good enough'.

Sir Keir is expected to respond by unveiling a new crackdown on immigration soon, and has faced pressure from some quarters to overhaul the government's stance on Net Zero.

There have been more rumblings from Conservatives about the possibility of a merger on the Right.

Reform were also a shock second in the West of England, where Labour held the mayoralty in what was meant to be a two-horse race between them and the Greens.

In the coming hours Mr Farage's outfit is favourite to win the Hull & East Yorks mayoralty and is expected to take hundreds of council seats surrendered by the Tories. The areas up for grabs are traditionally true-blue and were last decided at Boris Johnson's peak in 2021.

On a momentous day for British politics:

There is speculation the Tories and Reform could form a coalition in Northumberland after they won 26 and 23 seats on the council respectively from the 69 total;

Polling guru Professor John Curtice suggested the two-party era was over after the first 140 wards gave Reform a vote share of 39 per cent, the Conservatives 28 per cent and Labour 18 per cent;

Mr Farage branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for not campaigning in Runcorn, as ministers admitted the public is 'impatient' with the government;

The Reform leader said the party would end WFH in councils and introduce US-style 'DOGE' departments;

Labour sources are concerned about the party's Durham heartlands, with fears Reform could even end up in control of the council.

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Mr Farage raised his hands as the incredibly tight result was read out in the Cheshire seat this morning

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Mike Amesbury won Runcorn with a huge majority of 14,696 in July, but he resigned earlier this year after being convicted of assaulting a constituent on a night out, triggering this vote.

Ms Pochin received 12,645 votes with her Labour rival just behind on 12,639. The Conservatives received 2,341.

The previous post-war record for the smallest majority at a by-election was 57 in Berwick-Upon-Tweed in 1973.

Watched by Mr Farage, victorious candidate Sarah Pochin said the public was sending a message that 'enough is enough'. 'Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies,' she said.

In one of the first major shocks of the night, Labour's Karen Clark won the race to be mayor of North Tyneside - held by the party since the post's inception in 2002.

But the margin of victory was just 444 votes, ahead of Reform's John Falkenstein in second place and the Tories pushed down to third.

The last time the mayoralty was up for grabs in 2021 the Labour majority was almost 14,000 - although a different voting system was used then.

Mr Farage's long-term ally Arron Banks put in a strong showing in the West of England mayoralty, overhauling the Greens to come second.

In Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea received 104,133 votes, with the Tories far behind on 64,585. Turnout was just under 30 per cent.

She said that 'inch-by-inch Reform will reset Britain to its glorious past', paying tribute to Mr Farage.

'I know one day he will make a great prime minister,' she added.

Mr Farage said he was 'delighted' with the outcome so far. 'It's been a huge night for Reform. One or two near misses in the mayoral contests but a huge night for Reform,' he told reporters at the count in Runcorn.

He said it had been an 'emotional rollercoaster' for Ms Pochin.

'It's the closest by-election since the war and I think one of the most dramatic, but I sense, also, one of the most significant,' he said.

Mr Farage said they were 'on the verge' of taking control of the council in Staffordshire, and he would be looking towards County Durham where he 'fancied our chances'.

He also branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for failing to visit Runcorn during the campaign.

'He obviously feared they might lose, therefore he didn't come,' he said.

Reform's Dame Andrea Jenkyns romped home as the first Greater Lincolnshire mayor with an enormous 40,000 majority over the Tories

Labour MPs quickly demanded a change of direction from Sir Keir

Diane Abbott said there could not be 'more of the same' or a shift to the Right

'I knocked on doors for eight hours today and I would have been here in this hall with our candidate regardless, whether we had won or lost by six votes.'

Jibing at Kemi Badenoch, Mr Farage said: 'We want you to stay on as leader. I'll put some money if you'd like to keep you there.

'She's got an impossible job. The Conservative Party is split.'

Of Reform's approach to local government, Mr Farage suggested they will crack down on staff working from home and emulate Elon Musk's cost-cutting drive. He said 'every county council needs a DOGE'.

Northumberland was the first county council to declare all its results, with Conservatives winning 26 seats, Reform 23, Labour eight, Independents seven, Liberal Democrats three and Greens two.

With the Conservatives and Reform now holding 49 of the 69 seats on the council, it raises the question of whether the parties will have to deal to run it.

The council was previously led by a minority Conservative administration, with the party down seven and Labour down nine, while Reform previously had no seats on the council.

Senior Labour sources have suggested Reform could win Durham Council, which would cause panic in the ranks.

Returning Doncaster mayor Ms Jones condemned Sir Keir for failing to 'listen' to the public.

She told the BBC: 'I wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter.'

The increase in national insurance was 'hitting some of our smaller businesses' and the squeeze on the personal independence payment was leaving many people 'worried', Ms Jones said.

She added: 'I think the results here tonight will demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street, and actually deliver for the people, with the people.'

Labour MP Brian Leishman said the by-election result in Runcorn 'shows Labour must change course'.

In a post on X, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth said: 'People voted for real change last July & an end to austerity.

'The first 10 months haven't been good enough or what the people want & if we don't improve people's living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one.'

As Labour's left wing mobilised, Leeds MP Richard Burgon called for the government to 'tax the wealthiest' instead of cutting benefits.

'By pushing policies like cuts to disability benefits and scrapping the winter fuel allowance, the leadership is driving away our own voters  and letting Reform squeeze through,' he posted on social media.

'The Labour leadership must urgently change course and govern with real Labour values to deliver the change people are crying out for. It should start by ditching the plans to cut disability benefits and increase taxes on the wealthiest instead.'

Reform UK won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each.

It also picked up seats in Norwich and Hartlepool.

Touring broadcast studios this morning, Tory co-chair Nigel Huddleston tried to put a brave face on the battering.

He dismissed suggestions that Kemi Badenoch could have to quit, saying it was a 'marathon not a sprint'.

And challenged on whether there now needed to be a merger on the Right, Mr Huddleston said: 'Reform are not a Conservative party.'

Rifts are emerging on among senior Conservatives over whether to seek an accommodation with Mr Farage - something Ms Badenoch has flatly ruled out.

One Tory frontbencher told MailOnline today: 'Reform are not interested in a merger, even if we were - which we're not.'

Labour chair Ellie Reeves said 'change takes time' and acknowledged 'people are impatient'.

She told Times Radio: 'Change takes time and we know that people are impatient.

'We had 14 years of chaos under the Conservatives. Public services and the public finances were left in a state.

'We've had to stabilise the economy, but we're starting that work. We've got our Plan for Change, we're beginning to see the results of this, but we know we need to go further and faster.'

Ms Pochin said said illegal immigration was a 'massive issue' for Runcorn.

She said: 'People are living next to private landlord accommodation full of illegal immigrants that are causing people's lives hell.

'That is an issue that we will absolutely be looking at as the priority.'

She claimed constituents were 'frightened to go out of their houses'.

She added: 'It's a whole area that we will be looking at in detail.'

A Conservative Party spokesman said of Runcorn: 'This result is a damning verdict on Keir Starmer's leadership which has led to Labour losing a safe seat.

'Just 10 months ago Labour won an enormous majority, including in this seat with 52 per cent of the vote, but their policies have been a punch in the face for the people of Runcorn.'

Voters headed to the polls across England in 23 council elections, six mayoral contests, and one parliamentary by-election.

Up for grabs were more than 1,600 council seats, half-a-dozen regional mayors, and the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby.

It is the first big test for Britain's political parties since last July's general election, at which Labour secured a landslide win.

Results did not start dropping until after 2am, with mayors and the by-election first.

Council votes will come in later as most do not start counting until the morning.

Polling guru Sir John Curtice said Reform UK 'are in business' after the strong performances.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'The big question we were looking to these elections to answer was, the message of the opinion polls is that Reform are now posing a big threat to both Conservative and Labour, neck and neck with them according to the polls.

'Is that really true? And I think we now already know that the answer to that question is yes.

'Ukip never managed to win a parliamentary by-election afresh in the way that Reform have managed to do in Runcorn.'

Sir John said Reform had put in 'some quite remarkable performances' as the more evenly spread vote was not a disadvantage to them at local level.

He added: 'Reform are in business. They are a major challenge.'

Luke Tryl of polling firm More in Common said: 'While it's still early we have enough of a spread of results to know the Reform momentum since the election is real and they can turn poll ratings into real votes.'

A jubilant Nigel Farage hailed Sarah Pochin's (right) win in Runcorn & Helsby today after recounts, as his party racks up gains across England at the expense of the two main parties

The parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby was triggered by Mike Amesbury's resignation from the House of Commons.

It came after he was jailed for 10 weeks for punching a constituent while drunk in Frodsham, Cheshire, last October.

Amesbury spent three nights in HMP Altcourse, Merseyside, in February before successfully appealing his sentence.

He won Runcorn and Helsby for Labour at July's general election with a 14,696-vote majority.

Reform came second to Labour in the Cheshire constituency last summer, while the Tories came third - more than 900 votes behind Reform.

Labour has the most seats on Durham Council (52 out of 126), but has been shut out of power for the past four years by a multi-party coalition that includes the Tories, the Lib Dems, Greens and various independents.

Before losing control in 2021, Labour had enjoyed a majority in Durham continuously since 1925.

At this election the council is being reduced in size from 126 to 98 seats, which makes the outcome hard to predict. Labour will hope to regain full control, but is facing a new challenge from Reform.

One senior Labour source told MailOnline: 'Durham could be a bigger story than Runcorn.

'The results were awful last time, I think they will be worse this time.

'Reform has an outside chance of running the council. Considering we ran the show for 102 years up to 2021 it'll be devastating.'

Former Olympic boxer Luke Campbell (above) is in with a chance of winning in Hull and East Yorkshire

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was optimistic about his party's prospects as polls closed.

'We are expecting to see big gains against the Conservatives in their former Middle England heartlands,' he said.

'Last year the Liberal Democrats won a record number of MPs and became the largest third party in 100 years. Now we are on course for our seventh year of local election gains, making this our best ever winning streak.

'Voters have delivered their verdict on a Conservative Party that broke the country and a Labour government that is too timid to fix it.'
A famous fitness influencer is behind bars after he was allegedly found in possession of drugs on Anzac Day.

Ozcan Aytemiz, better known as 'Supa Turk', was charged last week with offences including break and enter, assaulting police, and drug supply.

Police were called to Cabarita Road, in Cabarita, in Sydney's inner west, at 11am on April 25 after reports of a person spotted entering a home.

When police arrived, they allegedly saw Aytemiz leaving the property carrying drugs, before he allegedly dumped a bottle containing one of the substances on the officers.

'As officers searched the premises and spoke to witnesses, a man was seen leaving the home,' a NSW Police spokesman said in a statement.

'The man was detained and subject to a search where he is alleged to have picked up a bottle causing the liquid inside to spill on officers.

'Police attempted to stop the alleged tampering of evidence, and the man allegedly resisted assaulting the officers. The 35-year-old man was arrested with officers suffering minor injuries.

'During a search of his property, officers seized a number of bottles allegedly containing GHB, cocaine and methamphetamine.'

Ozcan Aytemiz was charged last week with offences including drug supply

Aytemiz gained fame more than 10 years ago as a member of a group known as the 'Aesthetics Crew'

Aytemiz was charged with 10 offences at Burwood Police Station including one count of supplying a prohibited drug and three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

He faced Parramatta Bail Court on April 26 and April 29, and was refused bail on both occasions.

Aytemiz is currently incarcerated until his next court appearance on May 14.

The bodybuilder rose to prominence more than 10 years ago as a member of a group of Sydney fitness enthusiasts known as the 'Aesthetics Crew'.

Aytemiz was known for being a friend of the late YouTube fitness star Aziz 'Zyzz' Shavershian who died on a holiday in Thailand in 2011, at just 22.

Aytemiz was known as one of 'Zyzz's disciples', who once flew around the country to appear at nightclubs and shows as motivational sculpted bodybuilders to young Australians.

On January 29 this year, Aytemiz was found guilty by Magistrate Emma Manea for driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period, possessing a prohibited drug, and fined $300 and sentenced to a Community Corrections Order for 18 months.
Just days after claiming a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, a Kentucky man's dream turned into a legal nightmare on the sands of Florida.

James Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was arrested early Wednesday morning at a St. Pete Beach resort following a late-night altercation that left him facing serious charges - including felony battery on a law enforcement officer.

Farthing, who won the jackpot with his mother, allegedly punched another guest in the face before he kicked a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy in the face while resisting arrest, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Smoking Gun.

The incident occurred at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a beachfront destination where Farthing and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, were reportedly celebrating his life-changing lottery win.

Police were called to the resort bar around 11:10 pm after reports of a physical altercation between Farthing and another guest.

The already tense situation only escalated when officers tried to intervene, according to the arresting officer, WKYT reported.

Authorities said Farthing was intoxicated, uncooperative and aggressive, ultimately lashing out violently at law enforcement.

The deputy was reported to have swelling and redness on the right side of his face under his eye, according to the affidavit.

Farthing, who won the jackpot with his mother (left), allegedly punched another guest in the face before he kicked a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy in the face, all while resisting arrest. Pictured: James Farthing (center) with his mother, Linda Grizzle (left) and girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster (right) hold a $167.3 million check

The incident occurred at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a beachfront destination where Farthing and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, were reportedly celebrating his life-changing lottery win.

The jackpot winner now faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer - a felony - and a pair of misdemeanors, resisting an officer without violence and battery.

In addition, officials in Kentucky have issued a warrant for violating his parole, which stems from prior convictions for theft and drug offenses.

Farthing was on parole through August 2025 for charges in Kentucky, WKYT reported.

His court records include convictions of tampering with evidence, engaging in organized crime, drug charges, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking.

His girlfriend, Fightmaster, was also taken into custody on charges of public intoxication but has since been released.

Witnesses described her as verbally combative during the encounter.

'[Fightmaster] appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements,' the affidavit alleged.

The Wednesday morning arrest comes on the heels of a highly publicized Powerball win that saw Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, claim one of the largest jackpots in Kentucky history.

The $2 ticket was purchased at a Clark's Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown, where the pair was faced with the choice of receiving 30 annual payments or take the cash option of $77.3 million

Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, visit Clark's Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown, Kentucky after their life-changing lottery win

The $2 ticket was purchased at a Clark's Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown, where the pair was faced with the choice of receiving 30 annual payments or take the cash option of $77.3 million.

Grizzle told reporters earlier in the week that she had called her son immediately upon realizing they held the winning numbers.

'It's going to be a good Mother's Day,' she said. 'This is going to pay off my debt.'

Farthing, who was all smiles during the winner's announcement on Saturday, is now facing a far less glamorous spotlight as his court date in Florida is pending.

The 50-year-old Kentucky-native is being held on a $10,000 bond and jail records show he has $315 on his commissary account, according to WKYT.
Former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was left stranded on the tarmac as Donald Trump boarded Air Force One for an event in Michigan - just two days before Trump fired him.

The ex-Congressman had just visited Joint Base Andrews with the president when they landed on Marine One. But as Waltz moves to the stairs to enter the presidential plane with a briefcase in his hand, the video shows him prevented from boarding.

He is then seen speaking to a Trump aide who points him in a different direction, suggesting he's being told he's not getting on.

Waltz can only look on as the other Trump staffers boarded the flight.

The Daily Beast cited White House sources, who said that it was 'odd' that Waltz had been left there.

The White House told CNN that Waltz had never been scheduled to go with Trump to Michigan.

Waltz was nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. But his exit from the Cabinet has been seen as the first major shakeup of the second Trump administration.

A video clip shows former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz being left standing on the tarmac as Donald Trump left for an event in Michigan just two days before being fired

Waltz is being reassigned , should he be confirmed, as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations but his exiting his original job is seen as the first major shakeup of the second Trump administration

Waltz was fired amid outcry over the 'Signalgate' scandal after he accidentally added an editor to a highly sensitive group chat about military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen last month.

Trump's previous pick for the U.N., Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., was dropped from consideration due to the Republicans' tiny majority in the House of Representatives.

That opened up a spot for a replacement for the top unofficial Cabinet job based out of New York City.

The president revealed the shocking news on Truth Social after wrapping up a National Day of Prayer event.

Unlike the national security job  which Waltz held as of Thursday morning  the U.N. post requires Senate confirmation.

Republicans could push the nomination through on a simple majority, although Waltz earned some supportive language from Democrats Thursday who weren't expecting his ouster.

Trump's firing of Waltz from heading the National Security Council was the first ousting of a cabinet secretary in this administration, the Daily Mail confirmed.

Trump surprisingly declared Waltz as his new pick to be ambassador to the United Nations not long after news broke that the former congressman was being ousted from the top of the National Security Council

Marco Rubio, who spoke forcefully at Wednesday's cabinet meeting while refusing to reveal if there are talks to bring back a man mistakenly deported to Venezuela, will take on the security advisor role on a temporary basis.

It comes weeks after Waltz unwittingly added a journalist to a highly sensitive group chat on the Signal app detailing bomb strike plans against Houthis in Yemen.

The mistake quickly devolved into the biggest scandal of Trump's second term so far and left the president grappling with negative press fallout.

Waltz joins an expansive club of national security advisors Trump has replaced or fired. The first was retired Gen. Mike Flynn, followed by H.R. McMaster and John Bolton. The final security advisor of Trump's first term was Robert O'Brien.

'From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nations Interests first,' Trump wrote in his post, referencing Waltz's service as a Green Beret.

'I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'

'As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,' Trump wrote, explaining the decision.

Waltz reposted the president's statement on X.

Waltz looks at his phone as he prepares for a TV interview at the White House on Thursday immediately before his firing

Marco Rubio, who spoke forcefully at Wednesday's cabinet meeting while refusing to reveal if there are talks to bring back a man mistakenly deported to Venezuela, will take on the security advisor role on a temporary basis

'Im deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation,' he said.

Waltz suffered public humiliation from the scandal especially after his embarrassing Fox News interview in which he tried to to explain the mistake.

It also damaged his reputation in the West Wing.

Waltz took responsibility for the mistake, but struggled to explain how Goldberg's number was in his phone to begin with, even as he stressed that he had never spoken to him before.

'Well, if you have somebody else's contact and then it, and then somehow it gets sucked in,' he said to Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

Trump gave Waltz a less than enthusiastic endorsement in an interview with The Atlantic last week.

'Waltz is fine. I mean, he's here. He just left this office,' Trump said. 'He's fine. He was beat up also.'
It's a picture that paints a thousands words - and will no doubt spawn as many memes.

Amelia Hamer, the Liberal Party's great Millennial hope of snatching a seat back from the Teals, looks as if she's just seen a ghost, as perma-tanned Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume stands next to her, grinning maniacally.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton appears as if he has taken a sharp intake of breath, as he, too, glances out of shot with a similar, thousand-yard stare forming across his face.

The photograph was captured on Wednesday evening on a Liberal Party visit to the Tower Hotel in the seat of Kooyong in Melbourne's inner-east, currently held by Teal MP Monique Ryan.

It should have been an occasion for laughter given the Liberals were very much among friends.

The anti-Teal publican Joe Rumoro allowed the party to unveil a 10-metre billboard on his pub which read: 'Monique Ryan votes: 77 per cent with Greens'.

And when a battalion of Teal supporters swarmed his pub in protest and the council ordered him to take the sign down, Mr Rumororo hit back by selling anti-Monique Ryan stubby holders, which Ms Hamer and Senator Hume are holding in the now iconic picture.

But everything about the disjointed photograph, which was taken by AAP's James Brickwood and has subsequently gone viral online, seems to sum up the Coalition's faltering election campaign.

The photograph was captured on Wednesday evening on a Liberal Party visit to the Tower Hotel in the seat of Kooyong in Melbourne 's inner-east, currently held by Teal MP Monique Ryan. Everything about the disjointed picture seems to sum up the Coalition's faltering election campaign

It should have been an occasion for laughter given the Liberals were among friends. The anti-Teal publican Joe Rumoro allowed the party to unveil a 10-metre billboard on his pub which read: 'Monique Ryan votes: 77 per cent with Greens' (pictured: the swarm of teal protesters outside the pub)

A promising candidate, whose campaign focussed on renters was derailed by revelations she owns a property portfolio and is the beneficiary of a $20million family trust; a senior Coalition frontbencher out of step and reduced to a sideline role after a major policy bungle; and, finally, a leader who is wondering where his lead has gone.

Peter Van Onselen, Daily Mail Australia's Political Editor, said 'it looks like one of those campaign stops that neither the candidate nor the leader wanted to be at'.

'As Jane Hume is the only one smiling, perhaps she'd have been better off working from home that day,' he added, in a sardonic reference to the Coalition's biggest backflip of the campaign.

When Peter Dutton fronted the media on April 6 to admit that he had 'made a mistake' and was now ditching the Coalition's plan to restrict WFH arrangements for public servants, many within the party blamed Senator Hume.

The shadow finance spokeswoman had been a key architect of the policy that backfired spectacularly with voters, particularly women, who value flexible working arrangements.

Of course, other pictures from the night show Ms Hamer, Senator Hume and Mr Dutton laughing along with the Opposition Leader's wife, Kirilly.

But sadly that's not how political imagery works.

'If the Liberal vote falters the same way their campaign has then this will become the iconic photo that encapsulates everything that went wrong,' Van Onselen added.

Other pictures from the night show Ms Hamer, Senator Hume and Mr Dutton laughing along with his wife, Kirilly. But sadly that's not how political imagery works

The recriminations already seem to be starting in the Liberal camp.

And, with them, the inevitable talk of a post-election power struggle.

On Friday morning, Senator Hume was asked on ABC News Breakfast whether she could see Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor as a future leader of the party.

She insisted it was 'too early' to be having such discussions, before employing perhaps the most colourful metaphor of the campaign.

'You do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken,' she said.

Well, if the polls are to be trusted, it certainly seems like a flock of chickens are coming home to roost for the Coalition.
The original Gone Girl has broken her nine year silence to double down on her claims she was 'tortured' and held against her will.

Sherri Papini vanished from her home in Redding, California, on November 2, 2016, sparking a frantic search until she turned up three weeks later.

The mother-of-two claimed she was kidnapped in the dead of night by two women and held captive until she freed herself and fled.

In September 2022, her lie unraveled as the world learned she'd actually concocted the whole plot with her ex boyfriend James Reyes, drawing comparisons to the Hollywood blockbuster starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.

She spent the entire period she was 'missing' hiding out in Reyes home, and she was jailed for 18 months for the hoax.

Now, she is sharing her version of events for the first time since her initial fabrication in a four-part docuseries titled Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie.

'Haven't you ever lied? And then, has the lie been blown up?' she says in the newly released trailer.

'I went missing in 2016, was gone for 22 days. I was tortured; I was branded; I was chained to a wall. All that is true. I did keep some secrets from you, though.'

The docuseries, which premieres on May 26, 'retraces Papini's case from the days leading up to her disappearance into her alleged abduction, her shocking return to her family, and the subsequent aftermath that led to her 2022 arrest by federal authorities.'

Now, she is sharing her version of events for the first time since her initial fabrication in a four-part docuseries titled Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie

Sherri Papini vanished from her home in Redding, California, on November 2, 2016, leaving her husband (pictured together) devastated and sparking a frantic search until she turned up three weeks later,

'For the first time, Papini will share her account of events as she recalls them, offering rare insights into her mindset during her disappearance and the subsequent investigation into her abduction claims upon her return home.'

Her husband Keith Papini filed for divorce and custody of their children almost immediately after her deception was exposed.

The new show will follow her efforts to win joint custody of the children.

Papini appeared in court last month as the custody battle intensified, seeking increased visitation rights.

Keith was awarded full custody of Tyler, 12, and Violet, 10, and their mother only granted monthly supervised visits.

The kidnapping faker is also trying to force her ex-husband to to prevent their kids watching an unflattering documentary about her.

Hulu docuseries Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini rehashed the case in detail and included shocking new allegations.

Papini accused Keith in her court filing of 'revisiting the past and reopening old wounds rather than focusing on moving forward - at the expense of our children.'

In September 2022, her lie unraveled as the world learned she'd actually concocted the whole plot with her ex boyfriend James Reyes, drawing comparisons to the Hollywood blockbuster starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike

The docuseries, which premieres on May 26, 'retraces Papini's case from the days leading up to her disappearance into her alleged abduction, her shocking return to her family, and the subsequent aftermath that led to her 2022 arrest by federal authorities,' the press release states

Papini's scheme captivated much of the US - partially due her being painted as a picture-perfect stay-at-home mother, with two young kids

'For eight years our family has been followed, stalked, harassed and bullied by the media,' she wrote.

'I have done my best to stay private to focus on my children and healing from the events that transpired.

'For many years after my arrest, I was the primary caregiver of our children before serving my time in prison. My children have always been my primary focus.'

Papini's scheme captivated much of the US - partially due her being painted as a picture-perfect stay-at-home mother, with two young kids.

After she turned up on Thanksgiving, she claimed to have been cut loose from her restraints by two female captors at 4.30 that morning.

She claimed she was left on the side of County Road 17 near Interstate 5 - and made the 150 mile journey back home herself.

Her story unraveled when officers found Reyes' DNA on her clothes in 2020 and discovered she was holed up with him the whole time she was pretending to be missing

In reality, she was wrapped up with an affair with Reyes, all while her husband was in the dark.

Her injuries were all self-inflicted to back up the kidnapping story.

Her story unraveled when officers found Reyes' DNA on her clothes in 2020 and discovered she was holed up with him the whole time she was pretending to be missing.

She was released from prison early in August 2023, after a judge ruled she was no threat to her community.
Elon Musk elusive protege at the Department of Government Efficiency has spoken out for the first time to share his role at the agency.

Edward Coristine, 19, also known as 'Big Balls,' sat down with his colleagues in a wide-ranging roundtable discussion with Fox News' Jesse Watters on Thursday, when he shared what he sees as the importance of his job.

He told how he works on 'computer stuff' as a senior adviser at the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and Office of Personnel Management.

'One of our initiatives is to root out fraud and waste, and to do that we started looking at computers and, as mentioned earlier, there's no accounting of what payments go where,' he shared.

'You look at a specific line item, $20 million. OK what is it going to? For the majority of payment systems it's like we don't really know.'

'It's a huge cause for concern because the upstream thing, which is distributing money, literally has no checks and no accountability to the actual American taxpayer,' Coristine continued.

He added that 'there's no incentive to' respect taxpayer dollars 'if you work in the government.

'I think the incentives will always decide the outcomes,' the teenager said.

Elon Musk elusive protege Edward Coristine, 19, also known as 'Big Balls,' has spoken out for the first time to share his role at the agency

The roundtable discussion with Fox News' Jesse Watters comes as Musk leaves the White House

His interview marked the first time the teenager has revealed himself to the public, as his boss leaves the White House.

Coristine, who was raised in a wealthy town in Westchester County outside New York City as the son of a popcorn baron, also spoke about how he got his X-rated nickname.

He was a junior at a $50,000-per-year Rye Country Day School, where his bored math classmates were passing a note around.

When it got to him, Coristine 'drew a phallic object and wrote BIG BALLS on it,' a current student who heard the story told New York Magazine.

'Then a math teacher took it out of his hands and read it out loud to the class. Then I guess he embraced it because he changed his LinkedIn name to that.'

Speaking about the incident on Thursday, Coristine said he 'just set it as my LinkedIn username,' drawing laughs from Watters and others at the table.

'People on LinkedIn take themselves like super seriously and are pretty averse to risk, and I was like "I want to be neither of those things."'

'Honestly, I didn't think anyone would know,' he said.

Coristine told how he works on 'computer stuff' as a senior adviser at the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and Office of Personnel Management

He told Watters that 'there's no incentive to' respect taxpayer dollars 'if you work in the government'

The roundtable discussion aired on Jesse Watters' Primetime on Thursday, marking the end of Musk's reign at the White House

The roundtable, which aired on Jesse Watters' Primetime on Thursday, marked the end of Musk's reign at the White House.

Reflecting on his time in the Trump administration, Musk and his staffers shared what they saw as victories in cutting government waste.

They once again claimed that the Social Security Administration is rife with fraud, as people over the age of 120 are receiving benefits - though that claim has widely been disputed.

'Is the Small Business Administration giving loans to dead people, people over the age of 120?' one DOGE employee asked, rhetorically. 'The answer was "yes" and it was around $330 million in total.'

At that point, Musk jumped in and claimed that these people's birthdates 'could not possibly be real, meaning they were over 115 years old... Safe to say if anybody is in the system at 115 years or older, that is fake.'

He went on to assert that only a fraction of taxpayer funds reach their designated recipients - pointing specifically to the Inter-America Foundation, which DOGE left with only one employee.

'They get $50 million a year, congressional money, for things like farming in Peru,' Musk claimed. 'That's a real example,' he said before sharing others: 'improving the marketability of peas in Guatemala, fruit jam.

'You might expect in the private sector, nonprofit 80 or 90 percent of their money to grantees,' the Tesla CEO intoned. 'In the case of IAF, that was 58 percent. So the other half goes towards management, travel.

'An example is that even if you agree with supporting alpaca farmers in Peru, actually most of the money never made it out of DC. It's going to the pockets of people in the neighborhood.'

Staffers have previously said his team stationed in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building will carry on the SpaceX founder's vision

The DOGE crew also spoke about their experiences at different agencies - with one claiming he visited the federal 'retirement cave' in Pennsylvania, where the entire federal government's retirement paperwork is reportedly done by hand.

The staffer said its existence shows the need for widespread IT upgrades across the federal government.

Even though Musk is now taking a step back, they said their work will continue.

'It's a long-term enterprise,' Musk said. 'Because if we take our eye off the ball, the waste and fraud will come roaring back.'

Staffers have previously said his team stationed in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building will carry on the SpaceX founder's vision.
If Saturday's election ends up being closer than most people are expecting, and Labor's primary vote falls to an historic low of just 28 per cent - as our final Ipsos poll is predicting today - what happens next?

In the final of our three published polls during this campaign voters were asked who in Labor's ranks would they prefer to see as the next PM if Anthony Albanese stepped down as leader.

The question comes in the context of a potential hung parliament in which Labor forms minority government, and because at 62, the PM is nearing retirement age.

He has even recently purchased a $4.3million cliff-side mansion on the NSW Central Coast which is earmarked for his post-parliamentary retirement years with fiancee Jodie Haydon.

While Albo promised to serve a full term if re-elected in the lead up to election day, he's made promises before and not kept them such as pledges not to change the stage three tax cuts or adjust how superannuation is taxed.

It also might not be Albo's decision to make, if colleagues aren't satisfied with his performance and look to move him on themselves before he's ready to.

So who are the potential sharks circling and what to voters REALLY think of them as alternative prime ministerial contenders?

Call me PM? Penny Wong topped voters' list of potential Labor candidates for Prime Minister, if Anthony Albanese were to step down (together, above)

Treasurer Jim Chalmers came in second place, selected by 11 per cent of voters polled by the Daily Mail Australia-Ipsos survey

The top two responses to the Ipsos question of who should take over were 'I don't know' (27 per cent), and 'none of the above' (22 per cent), nearly half of all respondents (49 per cent).

That's not exactly a glowing endorsement for the ALP's alternative PM options, or how recognised they might be by the voting public. Perhaps that makes the PM safer ahead of negotiating a likely hung parliament as the leader of a minority government.

Among the alternatives named, Senate Leader Penny Wong was the highest rating next PM in line, with 17 per cent support. Perhaps enough locked in Labor supporters didn't mind her unhelpful late campaign intervention spruiking an 'inevitable' Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Wong is one of Albo's closest parliamentary allies. Being in the wrong chamber makes it hard to see her taking over, especially given she had plans to retire back in 2019, only staying on at Albo's specific request when he took over as opposition leader after Bill Shorten's election defeat.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been addicted to profile pieces since first going public about his addiction to drinking that he has kicked, after 'cutting a bit loose socially' around Parliament.

He came in second with 11 per cent support. That makes him the highest rating MP, given that Wong resides in the Senate and would need to shift chambers to become PM.

Albo's number one frenemy Tanya Plibersek came in third on 8 per cent. It is not hard to imagine that if Albo does step aside willingly he'll do all that he can to ensure his replacement is anyone other than Plibersek.

It will be just as interesting to see what Albo does with Plibersek if Labor do win a second term in power as expected. She was demoted from education to environment after the 2022 election with a further reshuffle down the order predicted by many this time around.

Best of frenemies: Tanya Plibersek is no favourite of Anthony Albanese's, and is the preferred choice of 8 per cent of voters

Deputy PM Richard Marles and Energy Minister Chris Bowen were the choice of six and four per cent of voters respectively

Industrial relations minister Tony Burke was the choice of just two per cent of voters - despite his name being bandied about by Labor powerbrokers as a potential PM one day. Charismatic Labor campaign spokesman Jason Clare was another also-ran, also chosen by two per cent

Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles came in next with just six per cent support. The senior Victorian right wing powerbroker has long considered himself an outside chance of one day taking over the Labor leadership.

The Ipsos poll confirms, yes, in the eyes of voters, he certainly is an outsider.

The remaining three names offered as options in the Ipsos poll included climate change minister Chris Bowen on four per cent, followed by campaign spokesman and education minister Jason Clare, and manager of government business and IR minister Tony Burke each of whom got two per cent support.

While this triumvirate of also rans might not have made names for themselves as alternative PM's amongst the public, all are senior members of the NSW Labor factional right which has often played a lead hand in selecting Labor leaders federally.

While the likes of Burke and Bowen continue to harbour leadership aspirations, it may well be that jittery marginal seat MPs will be reluctant to support them for the top job unless a second Labor term in office sees them lift their standing in the community.

Although Daily Mail Australia does hear that if Chalmers becomes impatient and starts to push Albo to move on and move out, the PM won't take kindly to be hurried up.

While he would never look to throw his support behind Plibersek to block Chalmers' move - assuming Albo's leadership looks to be over at that point - it is possible he backs Burke to beat Chalmers in what would become a NSW verses Queensland Labor right wing factional showdown.
Furious Labour MPs today demanded Sir Keir Starmer 'change course' as they savaged the Prime Minister over winter fuel payment cuts and tax hikes.

The Prime Minister suffered a backlash from within his own ranks after Reform UK won a House of Commons by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.

Nigel Farage's party also came close in several previously safe Labour areas in local elections - prompting even one of Sir Keir's own newly re-elected mayors to hit out.

Ros Jones said the PM had to start listening to those calling for a U-turn on cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits, as well as national insurance hikes for firms.

The Doncaster mayor lashed out after retaining her Yorkshire mayoralty by just 698 over Reform candidate Alexander Jones.

Reform also came a close second in mayoral races in North Tyneside and West of England.

These were two areas where opinion polls suggested Labour was either safe or facing competition from the Greens.

Left-wing Labour MPs said the Government's first 10 months in power 'haven't been good enough'.

They warned that Reform was 'waiting in the wings' to form the next government if Sir Keir failed to improve people's living standards.

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Ros Jones said the Prime Minister had to start listening to those calling for a U-turn over issues like cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits

Speaking to the BBC after her win, Ms Jones said: 'I think the result here tonight will demonstrate they (ministers) need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people.'

Asked what they should be listening to concerns about, she cited the winter fuel payment, which was made means-tested by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last year.

Ms Jones added: 'They need to look again because putting up the cost of national insurance increases hitting some of our smaller businesses and of course the PIP (disability benefit payment) which we know many people are worried about now.'

Ms Jones has been the mayor of Doncaster since 2013 and has now been re-elected for a fourth term in office.

While she won comfortably at the previous election in 2021 with the Tories finishing second, this result was much closer, with Conservative Nick Fletcher third.

While it is not possible to make a direct comparison with 2021, because a different voting system was used this time, the Reform and Conservative candidates took more than 57 per cent of the votes.

Labour MPs joined Ms Jones in delivering a warning to ministers in the wake of Thursday night's elections.

In Runcorn and Helsby, Reform secured victory over Labour by six votes in one of the closest parliamentary contests ever - less than a year after Labour won the seat at last July's general election with 53 per cent of the vote.

Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East and a former shadow justice secretary, said: 'Labour's defeat in Runcorn was entirely avoidable  and is the direct result of the party leadership's political choices.

'By pushing policies like cuts to disability benefits and scrapping the winter fuel allowance, the leadership is driving away our own voters  and letting Reform squeeze through.

'The Labour leadership must urgently change course and govern with real Labour values to deliver the change people are crying out for.

'It should start by ditching the plans to cut disability benefits and increase taxes on the wealthiest instead.

'If it fails to deliver that real change, things could get far worse, with Reform waiting in the wings. And the consequences of that would be horrific for those our Party exists to represent.'

Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said: 'Runcorn shows Labour must change course. People voted for real change last July and an end to austerity.

'The first 10 months haven't been good enough or what the people want and if we don't improve people's living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one.'

Diane Abbott, the veteran Labour MP and former shadow home secretary, said: 'Labour leadership seems to think that the answer to these catastrophic election results is more of the same, including cuts to winter fuel payments.'

Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: 'Runcorn is a warning we cant ignore.

'Voters want change - and if we dont offer it with bold, hopeful policies that rebuild trust, the far right will.

'If we dont step up now, the alternative wont be more of the same - itll be an extreme right-wing government.'

Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who was suspended from the party last year for voting against the Government on the two-child benefit cap, said there had been a 'tin-eared' response from ministers to the election results.

'Labour supporters feel Labour, their party, has turned its back on them citing winter fuel allowance, NI tax on jobs and threat of disability cuts,' he said.

'Message to ministers is drop the plans to attack disabled.'

Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East and a former shadow justice secretary, urged the Government to 'urgently change course'

Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, demanded Sir Keir 'change course' and warned the Government's first 10 months in power 'haven't been good enough'

Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: 'Runcorn is a warning we cant ignore.'

Diane Abbott, the veteran Labour MP and former shadow home secretary, also issued a warning to ministers

In the West of England, Helen Godwin had 51,197 votes for Labour to win the West of England mayoral contest, ahead of Reform UK's Arron Banks (45,252)

A Conservative Party spokesman claimed 'serious questions' were being asked about Sir Keir's leadership.

The spokesman said: 'Ros Jones has barely been re-elected as Labour mayor of Doncaster  and her first move? Publicly tearing into Keir Starmer's failing government.

'When even Labour's own elected mayors are slamming Starmer's cruel policies  like snatching winter fuel payments from vulnerable pensioners and hammering families with a 3,500 jobs tax  you know the country is heading in the wrong direction.

'Starmer promised change, but Britain isn't buying it. His own party isn't either. Serious questions are now being asked about Starmer's leadership.'

Labour won the North Tyneside mayoral contest in the first full result of the night, but Karen Clark had a majority of just 444 over Reform UK's John Falkenstein.

Norma Redfearn had been the Labour mayor in North Tyneside since 2013, but did not stand this time in one of the party's north-east heartlands.

The result cannot be compared directly with 2021 as a different voting system was used this time  first past the post, the same as for parliamentary elections, when previously voters could express a first and second preference.

But Labour won with 33,119 votes in 2021, with Conservatives on 19,366, Liberal Democrats 3,549 and Ukip on 1,753.

In the West of England, Helen Godwin had 51,197 votes for Labour to win the West of England mayoral contest, ahead of Reform UK's Arron Banks (45,252) and Green candidate Mary Page (41,094), with Conservative Steve Smith fourth with 34,092 and Liberal Democrat Oli Henman fifth with 28,711.

Mr Banks said there was a 'tidal wave' of support for Reform UK.

Speaking in Bristol after his defeat to Labour's Helen Godwin for the West of England Combined Authority mayoralty, Mr Banks told supporters: 'This was our least likely place to win and we came up 6,000 votes short.

'There is a tidal wave going on in the UK at the moment. We have seen Reform victory after Reform victory. It looks like Bristol liked Banksy after all. And we beat the Greens.'

Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves told Times Radio: 'Change takes time and we know that people are impatient.

'We had 14 years of chaos under the Conservatives. Public services and the public finances were left in a state.

'We've had to stabilise the economy, but we're starting that work. We've got our plan for change, we're beginning to see the results of this, but we know we need to go further and faster.'
Reform's Andrea Jenkyns cut short a toe-curling Sky News interview today after using her Lincolnshire mayor victory speech to swipe at a rival's South African accent.

Three losing candidates - including Labour and the Conservatives - walked off stage without shaking her hand after she triumphed by 40,000 votes this morning.

Lincolnshire was at the centre of Reform's political earthquake today after Dame Andrea's win and big gains on the county council amid a Tory collapse.

The advances have been reflected across the local elections battleground in England overnight, with Nigel Farage hailing a 'big moment' as the party seized Runcorn & Helsby from Labour in a dramatic by-election.

Dame Andrea had declared that Channel migrants should live in tents, suggesting that if the policy is 'good enough' for France it should be good enough for the UK.

She also jibed at the 'irony' of one rival claiming she had been 'parachuted' in by Reform, when they had a South African accent.

Dame Andrea faced questions during the campaign about whether she met the residence criteria to stand, but was given the green light by officials.

Minutes later the new Greater Lincolnshire Mayor had a bruising clash during a Sky News interview, batting away the microphone as she insisted her views on immigration are backed by Britain's 'silent majority'.

Reform only narrowly missed out on having a mayor in North Tyneside, cutting a Labour majority of almost 14,000 down to just 444.

It was a similar story in Doncaster, where Labour's Ros Jones closed out Mr Farage's party by just 698 votes. The Tories were in third, with the right-wing parties together taking 57 per cent of the vote.

Ms Jones launched an extraordinary tirade at Sir Keir after the announcement, berating him for not 'listening' to unrest over cuts to winter fuel allowance and the national insurance hike.

Sir Keir responded on a visit to Bedforshire, saying he 'gets it' and that Labour will go 'further and faster on the change that people want to see'. He pointed to work on reducing NHS waiting lists.

More Reform successes look set to rack up as results are declared over the course of the day. The areas up for grabs are traditionally true-blue and were last decided at Boris Johnson's peak in 2021.

On a momentous day in British politics:

There is speculation the Tories and Reform could form a coalition in Northumberland after they won 26 and 23 seats on the council respectively from the 69 total;

Polling guru Professor John Curtice suggested the two-party era was over after the first 140 wards gave Reform a vote share of 39 per cent, the Conservatives 28 per cent and Labour 18 per cent;

Mr Farage branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for not campaigning in Runcorn, as ministers admitted the public is 'impatient' with the government;

The Reform leader said the party would end WFH in councils and introduce US-style 'DOGE' departments;

Labour sources are concerned about the party's Durham heartlands, with fears Reform could even end up in control of the council.

The moment Dame Andrea Jenkyns walked off a Sky News interview over 'dirty tricks'

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Reform UK new Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns pushes away a Sky journalist's microphone

The new Greater Lincolnshire Mayor predicted that Nigel Farage would become Prime Minister as rivals stormed off over her speech

Keir Starmer visited a defence contractor in Bedfordshire today as Labour digests dire local election results

Dame Andrea, wearing an Abba-inspired glam sequined jumpsuit in Reform blue, won a thumping majority over her former party, the Conservatives.

In her victory speech at Grimsby, Dame Andrea claimed the campaign was 'filled with irony as one of the candidates stated I was parachuted in, she said in her South African accent'.

Dame Andrea said that illegal immigrants arriving in Britain should live in tents, not hotels.

She said: 'Reform will reset Britain to its glorious past. We will tackle illegal migration. I say no to putting people in hotels. Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.'

After her speech she had a row with Sky News over the comments, eventually pushing away the microphone and refusing to answer the reporter's questions.

Dame Andrea said that she stood by her comments about tents for migrants and that her view would also be backed by the 'silent majority' in the UK.

Asked about calling out a rival's South African accent, she said there was an 'irony of saying someone's being parachuted in who's not even from the country'.

'I went to school, college, university... I think I'm not going to answer any more of your questions...

'Do you not understand irony?' she said before moving away.

Independent candidate Marianne Overton describes her education as 'spread between South Africa and London', but she has served in local government in Lincolnshire for well over a decade.

Appearing on Sky News later, Tory former cabinet minister Priti Patel criticised Dame Andrea for wading into national politics instead of focusing on Lincolnshire.

'She doesn't have a mandate to stop the boats,' Dame Priti said.

Immigration and efficiencies in local government, including a British DOGE for each council they control to slash town hall waste, were at the heart of Reform's campaign.

Ms Jenkyns said there would be 'an end to soft touch Britain' after Reform UK's gains in the polls.

She said: 'The fightback to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun.

'Now that Reform is in a place of power, we can help start rebuilding Britain. Inch by inch, Reform will reset Britain to its glorious past.

'We will tackle illegal migration. I say no to putting people in hotels. Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.'

Party leader Mr Farage said today: 'We now are the opposition party in the UK to Labour, and the Tories are a waste of space'.

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Mr Farage raised his hands as the incredibly tight result was read out in the Cheshire seat this morning

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Successful Labour Party candidate Helen Godwin shakes Aaron Banks' hand after it is announced she won the Mayor of West of England election

On a night when Reform also won the Westminster by-election in Runcorn & Helsby by just six votes, Dame Andrea's victory was absolute.

She received 104,133 votes, with the Tories miles behind on 64,585. Turnout was just under 30 per cent.

She said that 'inch-by-inch Reform will reset Britain to its glorious past', paying tribute to Mr Farage.

'I know one day he will make a great prime minister,' she added.

Lincolnshire was regarded as the most Brexit-backing county.

The Reform UK leader said in Runcorn this morning: 'It's been a big night for us.

'We've dug very deep into the Labour vote and, in other parts of England, we've dug deep into the Conservative vote and we are now, after tonight there's no question, in most of the country, we are now the main opposition party to this Government.'

The results suggests that national polling putting Reform neck-and-neck with the Tories and Labour parties is correct.

Polling expert Sir John Curtice said Reform UK 'are in business' following their good night at the polls.

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The Strathclyde University professor told BBC Breakfast: 'The big question we were looking to these elections to answer was, the message of the opinion polls is that Reform are now posing a big threat to both Conservative and Labour, neck and neck with them according to the polls.

'Is that really true? And I think we now already know that the answer to that question is yes.

'Ukip never managed to win a parliamentary by-election afresh in the way that Reform have managed to do in Runcorn.'

Sir John said Reform had put in 'some quite remarkable performances' as the more evenly spread vote was not a disadvantage to them at local level.

He added: 'Reform are in business. They are a major challenge.'

Mike Amesbury won Runcorn with a huge majority of 14,696 in July, but he resigned earlier this year after being convicted of assaulting a constituent on a night out, triggering this vote.

Reform's Sarah Pochin received 12,645 votes with her Labour rival just behind on 12,639. The Conservatives received 2,341.

The previous post-war record for the smallest majority at a by-election was 57 in Berwick-Upon-Tweed in 1973.

Watched by Mr Farage, Ms Pochin said the public was sending a message that 'enough is enough'. 'Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies,' she said.

In one of the first major shocks of the night, Labour's Karen Clark won the race to be mayor of North Tyneside - held by the party since the post's inception in 2002.

But the margin of victory was just 444 votes, ahead of Reform's John Falkenstein in second place and the Tories pushed down to third.

The last time the mayoralty was up for grabs in 2021 the Labour majority was almost 14,000 - although a different voting system was used then.

Mr Farage's long-term ally Arron Banks put in a strong showing in the West of England mayoralty, overhauling the Greens to come second.

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Mr Farage said he was 'delighted' with the outcome so far. 'It's been a huge night for Reform. One or two near misses in the mayoral contests but a huge night for Reform,' he told reporters at the count in Runcorn.

He said it had been an 'emotional rollercoaster' for Ms Pochin.

'It's the closest by-election since the war and I think one of the most dramatic, but I sense, also, one of the most significant,' he said.

Mr Farage said they were 'on the verge' of taking control of the council in Staffordshire, and he would be looking towards County Durham where he 'fancied our chances'.

He also branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for failing to visit Runcorn during the campaign.

'He obviously feared they might lose, therefore he didn't come,' he said.

Jibing at Kemi Badenoch, Mr Farage said: 'We want you to stay on as leader. I'll put some money if you'd like to keep you there.

'She's got an impossible job. The Conservative Party is split.'

Of Reform's approach to local government, Mr Farage suggested they will crack down on staff working from home and emulate Elon Musk's cost-cutting drive. He said 'every county council needs a DOGE'.

Northumberland was the first county council to declare all its results, with Conservatives winning 26 seats, Reform 23, Labour eight, Independents seven, Liberal Democrats three and Greens two.

With the Conservatives and Reform now holding 49 of the 69 seats on the council, it raises the question of whether the parties will have to deal to run it.

The council was previously led by a minority Conservative administration, with the party down seven and Labour down nine, while Reform previously had no seats on the council.

Senior Labour sources have suggested Reform could win Durham Council, which would cause panic in the ranks.

Returning Doncaster mayor Ms Jones condemned Sir Keir for failing to 'listen' to the public.

She told the BBC: 'I wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter.'

The increase in national insurance was 'hitting some of our smaller businesses' and the squeeze on the personal independence payment was leaving many people 'worried', Ms Jones said.

She added: 'I think the results here tonight will demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street, and actually deliver for the people, with the people.'

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However, Sir Keir said the government had taken 'tough but right decisions' in the Budget.

He told Sky News: 'The reason that we took the tough but right decisions in the budget was because we inherited a broken economy.

'Maybe other prime ministers would have walked past that, pretended it wasn't there () I took the choice to make sure our economy was stable.'

He added: 'Yes they were tough decisions, they were the right decisions. Because of those decisions we are now seeing waiting lists coming down, something people desperately want.

'Because of that pensioners are now 470 up as of last month, these are really important changes.'
READ MORE: Man charged with the murder of a young Aussie woman

Marcus was previously an accomplice to murder for his twin, Vincent, in 2015

NSW Police are on the lookout for Marcus Stanford over assault allegations

The identical twin brother of the man who raped and murdered NSW schoolteacher Stephanie Scott just days before she was to get married is being chased by police.

Marcus Stanford, 34, is wanted by authorities over assault allegations in NSW, which were revealed on Friday.

He had previously spent 15 months in Junee Correctional Centre for being an accessory to his twin brother, Vincent Stanford's murder of Ms Scott, who was a popular drama teacher at Leeton High School in the Riverina region.

Ms Scott, 26, was attacked by Vincent, a janitor, in a classroom during the Easter long weekend on April 5, 2015.

She had been in the school preparing material for a substitute teacher who was due to take over her classes while she was getting married and on her honeymoon.

On Friday, police appealed to the public for help in finding wanted man Marcus who they believe is currently in Batlow which is 448km southwest of Sydney.

Officers said they tried to locate him unsuccessfully before asking the public for help.

'Police attached to Riverina Police Department have attempted to locate the male without success,' NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia in a statement on Friday night.

NSW Police are appealing to the public for its assistance in finding Marcus Stanford (pictured), 34, who is wanted over assault allegations

Marcus previously spent time in prison in 2015 after being found to have been an accomplice to a murder which his twin brother, Vincent (pictured), had carried out over that year's Easter long weekend

Vincent was arrested within days of the murder after he had already set Ms Scott's body alight in nearby Cocoparra National Park.

Before he went to jail he also sent an envelope containing Ms Scott's drivers license, engagement ring and another piece of jewellery to Marcus.

He then sent his brother a text message asking Marcus, who was living in Adelaide at the time, to keep it's contents safe for him.

After receiving the envelope Marcus burnt the drivers license before selling Ms Scott's jewelry for $705 in total.

Police discovered Marcus' involvement with the murder after they intercepted phone calls between the brothers while Vincent was in prison on April 9.

The pair had discussed the items and Marcus confirmed he had received them.

Five days later Marcus googled how to sell jewelry in Adelaide and the items were sold within a month.

When Marcus was captured at the time he admitted to selling the jewelry so that he could afford a plane ticket to see Vincent at Silverwater Correctional Complex.

Vincent raped and murdered Stephanie Scott, 26, in a classroom at Leeton High School on April 5, 2015

Vincent had sent his twin brother Ms Scott's drivers license, engagement ring and another piece of jewelry which Marcus (pictured) helped dispose of netting him a jail sentence of more than a year

Vincent took Ms Scott's body to Cocoparra National Park (officers pictured at the scene) where he set it alight after murdering her

Marcus was released from prison in 2016 at which point he vowed to cut ties with his twin.

He told the media that their relationship had been 'misguided' upon his release.

Vincent is still currently serving a life sentence.

Police have asked residents of Batlow to keep an eye out for Marcus following the latest allegations against him.

Marcus is described as being of Caucasian appearance with a medium build and approximate height of 6 foot 2 tall.

He is currently balding with brown hair, a beard and dark colour eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact NSW Police immediately.
A woman has been crushed to death after becoming trapped between her car and house in a freak accident in Adelaide's northern suburbs.

Debra Dennert, 60, was crushed to death about 8pm on Thursday night after she lost control of her Toyota Kluger as she approached her carport.

Ms Dennert was partially outside the door of the car when it ran into a wall at her Lynore Ave home in Para Hills and despite paramedics' best efforts she was unable to be revived and died at the scene.

Her husband, Trevor, confirmed the news in a tribute he posted to social media.

'At a total loss last night,' Mr Dennert wrote.

'The love of my life and loving wife Debbie grew her wings. Don't know how I will cope with this but for her memory I need to be strong.

'So sorry for our three children, their partners and our grandchildren. Thanks so much to our lovely neighbours for being there with her until the end.

'RIP my beautiful wife.'

Debra Dennert, 60, was tragically crushed to death in her own driveway while her husband, Trevor, (pictured together) was at work

Paramedics tried to save the Adelaide woman but were unable and she died at the scene at about 8pm on Thursday night

Ms Dennert's neighbour, Kevin Clarke, said he heard a 'scrunching sound' before a voice called for help which led him to discovering that she was trapped.

'The car was on the wrong angle in the carport and against the inside wall,' the 83-year-old told The Advertiser.

'Debbie was in the car with the driver's door half open and she was hanging out and jammed  and there were a lot of things that had become dislodged from shelves and stuff as a result of the crash.'

Mr Clarke said he was helped by other neighbours at the scene who tried to clear the debris off Ms Dennert while the ambulance was still on its way.

Unfortunately nothing could be done for the beloved matriarch and by the time paramedics arrived it was already too late.

Mr and Ms Dennert had been married for 40 years and their community has been rallying behind Mr Dennert since his loss.

Mr Clarke told the publication that Ms Dennert had been 'the life and soul of this street' and that she always invited her neighbours to the family's get-togethers.

He said Ms Dennert had been alone at home while her husband was working at the time of the crash.

Her neighbour, Kevin Clarke, (not pictured) was one of many who had come to try and help Ms Dennert after he heard a crash in her driveway

South West Road Transport Wall of Legends also shared their condolences with his family on social media early Friday morning.

'Debbie's smile and support for the industry never went unnoticed here,' they wrote.

'May the love you shared be your strength during this difficult time Trev.'

Major Crash investigators attended the scene to determine the cause of the crash but SA Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

The death will not be included in the road toll figures.
An aid ship heading to Gaza caught fire and issued an SOS call after reportedly being attacked by drones off the coast of Malta - leaving 30 activists stranded in the ocean for almost 10 hours.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international NGO, say their vessel was assaulted while in international waters early this morning.

Footage shows a fire raging on the ship, which the organisation says was loaded with supplies for the besieged territory.

Human rights activist Greta Thunberg is in Malta and was due to board the ship today, according to the NGO.

'I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza, which is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and to do our part to keep trying to break Israels illegal siege on Gaza,' she said.

'This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission.'

They believe that the front of the vessel was the target, but did not directly accuse any specific party of carrying out the attack.

'There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking,' Yasemin Acar, the coalition's press officer, told CNN.

'Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice.

'We have 30 international human rights activists on that vessel at this very moment on a vessel that is sinking.'

Harrowing footage shows a fire raging on the ship, which the organisation says was loaded with supplies for the besieged territory

The coalition said that the 'front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull' - but that no countries had responded to their SOS call

Yasemin Acar, the coalition's press officer, said: 'Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice'

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'Under international maritime law, Malta has an obligation to act & ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity,' the NGO added in a social media post.

Acar said the ship had 'sent out SOS calls to the surrounding countries, including Malta' and that a 'small boat' from southern Cyprus had been sent.

She added she had been able to contact crew members after the SOS signal was sent out.

A FFC spokesperson told MailOnline today: 'The drone strike appears to have deliberately targeted the ship's generator, leaving the crew without power and placing the vessel at great risk of sinking.

'On board are international human rights activists on a nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza, and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid.

'The lack of response and information about the rescue efforts breaches international customary law.

'Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.'

The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the attack.

Ellie Chowns, the UK Green Party's Foreign Affairs spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'My thoughts are with everyone still aboard as the vessel fights to stay afloat, and I urge Maltaunder its clear obligations in international maritime lawto act without delay to ensure their safety.

'I call on the UK Government to raise this urgently with international bodies, to demand a full investigation into this alleged attack, and to ensure accountability so those responsible are brought to justice.

'Beyond the investigation, we must redouble our diplomatic efforts to establish secure corridors for life-saving supplies into Gaza, where severe shortages of food and medical aid have only worsened under the ongoing blockade.'

In an official statement, the Maltese government confirmed that a distress call was received at 12.20am and a tugboat close to where the ship was immediately offered assistance, according to MaltaToday.

An Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was also dispatched to the area, with the fire brought under control at 1.28am.

The government said all crew and passengers on board were confirmed to be safe at 3.45am and refused to be brought ashore.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Malta said: 'We are monitoring the situation closely.'

UK Foreign Office sources said today that they are in touch with local authorities over the incident and continue to monitor developments.

FFC's lead organiser Thiago Avila the ship had been due to dock in Malta on Thursday to pick up additional passengers, which could have included Thunberg.

Marine traffic websites show the ship, the Conscience, departed Tunisia on Tuesday night.

Tracking data showed it had been in its position off the coast of Malta for around 12 hours before the alleged attack occurred on Friday morning.

The Conscience is listed as flying under a Palau flag.

Activists wash the deck of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship 'Handala' as they prepare to sail for Gaza in 2024

Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, when Israel shut all crossings into Gaza

Recently, the UN's World Food Programme and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, said they had used up all their stocks of food aid

The coalition is campaigning to end Israel's blockade of Gaza.

Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, when Israel shut all crossings into Gaza.

Recently, the UN's World Food Programme and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, said they had used up all their stocks of food aid.

The UN has warned that the current situation 'is likely the worst it has been' due to the blockade.

Another coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists died. Other ships have similarly been stopped and boarded, without loss of life.
The family of a British man are 'very worried' after he failed to catch his flight home from Spain three days ago.

An appeal has been launched to find Tim Wager, 39, who arrived at Alicante-Elche Airport on Tuesday evening.

The appeal said: 'Tim arrived at Alicante Airport at 9pm near the Bus Stop/Taxi Ranks.

'His phone was tracked up to this point. His family presume he left his phone on a bus or taxi and thought he was flying back.

'Tim hasn't arrived back in England and his phone has now been dead for two days.'

'Tim can be vulnerable when drinking,' it added, 'he is traveling alone and most likely to be in or around Alicante Airport... his family are very worried.'

An appeal has been launched to find Tim Wager, 39, who arrived at Alicante-Elche Airport at around 9pm on Tuesday

'Tim hasn't arrived back in England and his phone has now been dead for two days,' worried family said

A family member told a local Benidorm group on Facebook that Tim was staying at the BH Los Angeles Hotel

The last pinged location of Tim's phone was closer to the resort of Benidorm, according to the appeal.

A family member told a local Benidorm group on Facebook that Tim was staying at the BH Los Angeles Hotel.

The British Embassy has been contacted for comment.

News of Tim's disappearance comes after the body of a British national washed up on a beach in the Spanish coastal last week.

Jeff Duffield was found dead on April 23, just hours after his wife had alerted the police and reported him missing on social media.

Police were initially unable to identify the body, which was found without any identification, but confirmation of Mr Duffield's death was shared by his family on social media.

'We have unfortunately found out that Jeff has passed away,' a relative confirmed on Facebook.

'Thank you for all your lovely comments and please allow my mam the privacy she deserves.

'Not the usual happy post I imagine this group is used to so I apologise.'

The update was greeted with sadness by friends of Mr Duffield.

Benidorm tourist Jeff Duffield was found dead on Wednesday evening, just hours after his wife had alerted the police that he was missing

'Very sad news today to hear about the passing of a top lad and dedicated family man and old friend,' wrote one friend of Mr Duffield on social media

Mr Duffield's death comes after the body of fellow Benidorm tourist John George was discovered in January. Mr George was reported missing after failing to board his flight home

'Very sad news today to hear about the passing of a top lad and dedicated family man and old friend,' wrote one person.

Mr Duffield's wife had previously shared an anguished appeal for help with the group.

'My husband Jeff Duffield has been missing in Benidorm since 12.30 23/04/2025,' she wrote.

'I've reported it to police if anyone sees him please could you contact me, I'm worried sick. Thank you.'

The discovery of a body was confirmed by Spanish National Police the following day.

It is understood that the family did not approach the British Foreign Office for assistance.

Initial reports suggest that Mr Duffield's death is not being treated as suspicious.
A TikTok personality was murdered in an execution-style hit while recording a live stream.

Jabari Johnson, known on social media as 'Baba Skeng', was killed on Monday in Saint Andrew, Jamaica while he was filming live content with another TikToker.

Horrifying footage of the murder shows Johnson, 25, laughing and talking with his friend just moments before his killer opened fire.

The left-handed shooter, masked and dressed in all black, approached Johnson from behind and shot him at close range.

Johnson was struck multiple times in the head and his upper body and fell to the ground, as terrified screams rang out. The gunman then fled on foot.

The TikToker, the son of reggae star Jah Mason, was pronounced dead at the scene, The Jamaica Observer reports.

Officers with the St Andrew North Police Division have launched an investigation into Johnson's killing. MailOnline has approached the force for comment.

Jabari Johnson, (left) known on social media as 'Baba Skeng', was killed on Monday in Saint Andrew, Jamaica while he was filming live content with another TikToker

Horrifying footage of the murder shows Johnson, 25, laughing and talking with his friend just moments before his killer opened fire

The left-handed shooter, masked and dressed in all black, approached Johnson from behind and shot him at close range. Johnson was struck multiple times in the head and his upper body and fell to the ground, as terrified screams rang out. The gunman then fled on foot

The brutal attack occurred Monday around 6.30pm near Queenie's Snack Shop on Red Hills Road.

Johnson had reportedly been livestreaming while playing a game with a fellow TikToker.

His father confirmed to the Observer that his son had been killed, but declined to comment any further as the family is still processing the tragedy.

His death follows that of three other high profile Jamaican TikTokers who were killed late last year.

Marlon Samuels, known online as '41 Busshead,' was fatally shot on December 20, 2024 in Montego Bay.

Fourteen days prior, on December 7, 2024, Xavier 'Niah Gang' Fogah, 23, was gunned down St Catherine.

And in September 2024, a group of armed assailants murdered 23-year-old Keauno 'Popsy' Watson.

But the tragic slayings are not exclusive to Jamaica alone. TikTok star Gordo Percui, real name Leovardo Asipuro Soto, and his wife Brenda Felix were shot dead in a gang attack near their home in Culiacan, north-western Mexico last December.

Soto was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, local media reports. Felix was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
A steakhouse chain is set to close all its branches after falling into administration despite its rave reviews.

The restaurant, called Steak of the Art, serves steak, seafood, and other meat dishes in locations in Bristol and Cardiff.

A concept that doubles as a steakhouse and an art gallery, Steak of the Art was founded over a decade ago by former management consultant Stephen Bowen.

According to its website, the restaurant at Cathedral Walk in Bristol offers diners an 'original, fun and entertaining' experience, with an option of Moulin Rouge-inspired private dining.

The restaurants also hosts live music, film nights and fashion show fundraisers.

Despite earning positive reviews the chain, owned by Groupco Ltd, which is run by Mr Bowen, has collapsed into administration, BusinessLive reports.

Rob Coad and Sam Talby of Undebt were appointed as joint administrators on April 9, companies house documents show.

The company owed 410,347 to creditors as of March 31 last year, according to the latest filing.

The restaurant, called Steak of the Art, serves steak, seafood, and other meat dishes in locations in Bristol and Cardiff

The Bristol restaurant (pictured) has a 4.2 rating out of five on TripAdvisor with the last review given on April 5

This means that the Cardiff site (pictured), which recently closed, will now no longer reopen

This means that the Cardiff site, which recently closed, will now no longer reopen and it is understood the Bristol branch is also due to shut indefinitely.

It is unknown if jobs will be lost if the company will be sold.

The Bristol restaurant, which is still taking bookings online, has a 4.2 rating out of five on TripAdvisor with the last review given on April 5.

One customer wrote: 'The whole meal was cooked to perfection, the service was impeccable and the whole experience was a pleasure.'

Another added: 'The steak was absolutely delicious! And the roasts looked amazing, and I'm told were also delicious!

'I would highly recommend this place!! The service was also faultless.'

A third said: 'Very good food and service. Steak was cooked well and very tasty dishes. Would definitely visit again.'

While someone else wrote: 'Impromptu work dinner for 10 of us whilst in Bristol. One of the best steaks we've tasted. So good!! Great staff and service and the sides were super tasty too. Great job!!'

It comes after Rio Brazilian Steakhouse on Bridge Street in York announced it was shutting on Monday.

On a statement on its website, the steakhouse said: 'We regret to announce that Rio Brazilian Steakhouse York has now closed.

'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.'

A vegan street food chain in Manchester also shut all three of its sites, confirming the closures in a post on social media.

The founders Robyn Marsh and Damian Myles admitted it is 'really difficult to maintain a thriving business' and listed challenges such as the pandemic and the closure of Hatch food and drink village, which is one of their busiest locations.
North Korea and Russia have begun building their first road link, the two countries announced, hailing the construction of a bridge over a border river as a major development that will further expand their political and economic ties.

The kilometre-long Tumangang Road bridge, which is expected to take 18 months to construct, aims to expand cross-border travel of people, tourism and circulation of commodities, Russian and North Korean news agencies reported.

Relations and exchange programs between the two countries have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying ammunition and troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

On Thursday, North Korea and Russia simultaneously held a ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge's construction in their respective border cities of Tumangang and Khasan on either side of the Tumen River, close to their existing rail 'Friendship Bridge'.

North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song said the bridge's construction would be remembered as 'a historic monument' in bilateral ties, North Korea's KCNA reported Thursday.

'This is a big milestone for Russian-Korean relations,' Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added, according to Russian news agency TASS.

'We are creating a reliable basis for closer cooperation between our two countries, a road for an open and fruitful dialogue.'

It comes days after Pyongyang confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to Russia to help it reclaim parts of the Kursk region that Ukrainian forces seized in a stunning incursion last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea and promised not to forget the sacrifices of North Korean soldiers for Russia.

The kilometre-long Tumangang Road bridge is expected to take 18 months to construct and aims to expand cross-border travel of people, tourism and circulation of commodities

Satellite images shared by South Korean company SI Analytics earlier this year showed construction materials and preparations being made

This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a bridge between North Korea and Russia, in Rason Municipality, North Korea Wednesday, April 30, 2025

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024

According to a South Korean government intelligence assessment shared with lawmakers on Wednesday, North Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and 4,700 of them have been killed or wounded.

Pyongyang is believed to have provided Moscow with ballistic missiles, 120 long-range artillery systems and 120 multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, along with millions of artillery shells.

That represents the most significant direct military package handed to the Russians by any country since the war broke out.

State media in North Korea said its fighters had made an 'important contribution' to Russia's war effort by driving Ukrainians out of Russian territory - assumed to be a reference to Kursk.

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying: 'They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.'

Meanwhile, the Russian chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov, told Putin: 'I want to point out the participation of servicemen from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the liberation of the Kursk Region's border areas.

'In accordance with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries, they provided significant assistance in defeating the invading group of the Ukrainian armed forces.

'Soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army, carrying out combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, displayed high professionalism, fortitude, courage and heroism in repulsing the Ukrainian invasion,' he said.

But a slew of reports suggest North Korean soldiers performed woefully on the battlefield as they contended with modern warfare tactics, including Ukraine's widespread use of drones.

North Korean soldiers were also reportedly treated extremely poorly by their Russian commanders, struggled to understand orders and did not integrate into their units.

This macabre image reportedly shows a row of North Korean soldiers killed in the Russian city of Kursk

Ukrainian officials believe North Korea has deployed as many as 14,000 troops to the frontlines to fight against them

A North Korean soldier held after being captured by the Ukrainian army on January 11

Ukrainian servicemen fire a D-30 howitzer towards Russian troops at a frontline position, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine January 11, 2025

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last week claimed that Russia's forces deployed North Korean missiles in a deadly attack on Kyiv that killed more than a dozen people.

The hours-long barrage of missiles and drones on April 24 was the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July.

Zelensky said in a post to X: 'According to preliminary information, the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea. Our special services are verifying all the details.

'If the information that this missile was made in North Korea is confirmed, this will be further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang. They kill people and torment lives together  that is the only meaning behind their cooperation.

'Russia continuously uses such weapons  missiles, artillery. In return, Pyongyang got the opportunity to make its weapons more deadly under real wartime conditions.'

In return for North Korea's supply of troops and arms, Russia has given it air defence missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones and technology for spy satellite launches, according to the South Korean assessment.

North Korea has also been receiving Russian tourists since February 2024 amid slowly easing pandemic curbs.
Weve all been there.

Youve been forced to talk about the Scottish Greens and are struggling for a suitable description. There are a number of adjectives that would seem to apply but, mindful of your grannys admonitions, you want to avoid using language.

Russell Findlay was struck by just this dilemma at First Ministers Questions when speaking about the impact of the Bute House Agreement on energy policy.

John Swinney personally brought the Greens into government, he reminded the chamber, These dangerous fanatics want to shut down all oil and gas production

A wounded howl went up from the kombucha corner and Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone scolded the Scottish Conservative leader to be more respectful.

She had a point. Whatever you think of dangerous fanatics, they dont deserve to be compared to the Scottish Greens.

Findlay had another go: Sorry, these dangerous cranks.

The kale-munchers didnt like that either, earning the Tory chief a withering rebuke from the PO. For all Johnstones cool-hippy-aunt energy, the slightest hint of rudeness and its like Mrs Bridges from Upstairs Downstairs just discovered the under-house parlour maid flashing her ankles to the footman.

Russell Findlay's dad jokes 'are pretty advanced for a parliament where some struggle to speak in complete sentences'

The Scottish Tory leader struggles to rein it in at Holyrood

It all becomes too much for Russell Findlay

Mr Findlay! she gasped. If the clerk had smelling salts on hand, she would have huffed the lot in one go.

Findlay had the look of a man weighing up whether to push further or cut his losses.

He tried again: These dangerous ideologues.

The PO let that one stand. So now we know the proper parliamentary term to insult the Scottish Greens. I reckon Ill stick with the most insulting term of all: Scottish Greens.

The Swinney-Russell exchanges were a reminder that Nicola Sturgeon continues to loom large over the Scottish Government. Not literally, of course. That would require her to turn up on occasion. But in manner, style and tone it very much remains her show.

Findlay proposed that, in light of the decision to cease crude oil processing at Grangemouth, the First Minister reverse his presumption against new oil and gas exploration. Swinney assured the workers that they had his solidarity. Thats a relief, because banks accept mortgage payments in solidarity.

He added that ministers would support the individuals that are affected. Shutting down an industry then offering help to the workers facing redundancy. There could scarcely be a better definition of politics.

The SNP used to say Its Scotlands oil, Findlay said. Now they want to just stop oil.

Hiyo! It was a pun, you see, because of Just Stop Oil. At least Findlay sounded impressed with himself. I shouldnt nitpick. Dad jokes are pretty advanced for a parliament where some struggle to speak in complete sentences.

Swinney dismissed Findlays line of questioning, noting that the Conservatives are involved in a pivot and want to deny the climate challenges we face. Here he broke out some familiar moves: the vertical karate chop (used to emphasise a point), the reverse jazz hands (his trademark reasonable-to-a-fault gesture), and the prayerful palms (lets all come together and see that Im right).

The First Minister recalled that Findlay had backed climate targets then hailed Kemi Badenochs refreshingly honest call to dump them. Findlay was guilty, Swinney charged, of barefaced dishonesty.

Its quite something to be lectured by a career politician about barefaced dishonesty when hes built a career on it, Findlay shot back.

Well, that set the Presiding Officer off again, and it was another round of tongue-lashings for the lot of them.

If Swinney was so concerned about emissions, Findlay argued, he would back nuclear. Swinney sniffed that Hinkley C nuclear power plant, due for completion this year at a cost of 34 billion, now wouldnt be online until 2031 and the bill had risen to 46 billion.

So said the head of a government that promised two ferries by 2018 for 97 million and delivered them in 2025 for 400 million. If the First Minister is going to throw stones in glass houses, he should get a price and timescale in writing from the glazier.
A turquoise tide has risen. The opinion polls were not wrong. Across the country, a large section of the electorate has abandoned both Labour and the Conservatives and thrown in its lot with Nigel Farages Reform army.

The trend was seen most spectacularly in Cheshire, where Reforms Sarah Pochin overturned a Labour majority of almost 15,000 to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

Yes, the margin of victory was a tiny six votes. Yes, Labour was not helped by the fact the contest was triggered when their former MP was forced to resign after assaulting a constituent on a drunken night out.

But the big picture is that Labour has lost one of its safest seats to an upstart party less than a year after Sir Keir Starmers landslide election win. And the Prime Minister himself is so unpopular that Labour strategists did not dare send him to Runcorn for fear of making things even worse.

Reforms surge is by no means limited to Cheshire. In early results, the party seized control of the Lincolnshire mayoralty, pushed Labour hard in a string of other contests in heartland areas like Doncaster and North Tyneside, and came a strong second in the West of England, which had been depicted as a straight fight between Labour and the Greens.

By the end of the day, Mr Farages party will have won hundreds of council seats and for the first time taken control of major councils like Staffordshire and Lincolnshire.

With the Lib Dems also set to do well and the Greens poised to add to their strength in local government, the results add weight to the growing sense that the two-party system is disintegrating.

At Westminster, the Conservatives remain the official opposition and Kemi Badenochs party still has thousands of councillors in areas that were not up for election yesterday.

Nigel Farage celebrates as the Reform wins the Runcorn and Helsby by-election this morning

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But in terms of electoral threat it is hard to argue with Mr Farages claim that, for now at least, Reform have supplanted the Conservative Party as the main opposition party to the Labour government.

Yesterdays vote will add to the rising sense of panic among the 90 or so Labour MPs in seats where Reform came second last summer.

Labour sources insist the partys high command is already moving to address the concerns of voters switching to Reform. In the coming weeks, the Prime Minister will toughen his stance on illegal migration, which is seen as a key grievance for Reform voters.

Rachel Reeves is likely to have to abandon plans for further welfare cuts after activists across the country reported that reductions to winter fuel payments and disability benefits were a major issue on the doorstep.

Reforms success may even limit the ambition of Sir Keir's looming EU reset. It will certainly strengthen the argument of those ministers wary of signing up to any youth mobility deal with the EU that could be painted by opponents as a return to free movement.

But although it was a bad night for Labour, the partys vote did not completely collapse. The situation facing the Conservatives is significantly worse, bordering on existential.

Six months into the job, Mrs Badenochs position as leader is not under immediate threat. But she may now have less time than she thought to demonstrate she can turn things round.

And the result is likely to add to the pull of Reform on Tory members. Reforms new Runcorn MP is a former Tory councillor. Its new Lincolnshire mayor is a former Tory minister. How many more will go? And how long can Mrs Badenoch resist the calls to reach some kind of accommodation with Mr Farage to unite voters on the right?

Success brings perils with it for Reform. Both Labour and the Tories are licking their lips at the prospect of Mr Farages new, inexperienced councillors facing the scrutiny of office. Privately, Reform sources acknowledge there will be teething problems  and possibly worse  as candidates who never expected or even wanted to win take charge of big budgets and important services.

But for Mr Farage this morning, it is a good problem to have.
This is the shocking moment a gang of balaclava-clad teens battered a shop worker before stealing vapes and fizzy drinks.

The shop assistant was working in a newsagent in Northampton when a group of around 15 burst into the store on Tuesday evening.

CCTV footage shows the gang surrounding the worker who was pinned against the doors of the fridges.

The brutal attack that lasted 16 minutes happened in front of a customer who was forced to watch in horror as the gang repeatedly punched and kicked the worker.

In the footage, one boy appears to be trying to convince the worker that he is 18 so he can buy a vape.

While he is talking, another boy snatches a fizzy drink from the fridges and exits the shop without paying, causing the unnamed worker to chase after him.

Just three minutes later at 7.57pm a bigger group then enters the shops, throwing bottles of drink at the worker before unleashing a flurry of punches at him.

Then at 8.08pm a lone teenager arrives, demanding the worker hand over his phone saying 'give me the phone bro' before dragging him over the counter in a violent clash lasting two minutes.

The shop assistant was working in a news agent in Northampton when a group of around 15 burst into the store on Tuesday evening

CCTV footage shows the gang surrounding the worker who was pinned against the doors of the fridges

Shop owner, Vishal Patel, 46, revealed that around that there was 2,000 worth of damage following the raid as well as the stolen stock

When the shop worker tries to call for help, he snatches the phone out of his hand.

It was the second attack on the shop, named at Norman's News, in just two weeks.

Shop owner Vishal Patel, 46, said there was 2,000 worth of damage following the raid as well as the stolen stock.

Despite the horrific attack, the shop worker escaped major injuries and is currently recovering at home.

Mr Patel said: 'He's injured, his eyes are red from the punches. Three of my workers now don't want to work the 5pm to 9pm shift.

'The gang came last week as well and took some drinks from the fridge. We tried to get it back this time.

'They didn't have any weapons they just attacked with their fists.

'The police told me if they come back again just ring us but 30 turned up yesterday but the police didn't turn up.

'It's been two days and I still haven't seen the police yet.

'I just don't feel safe here. I am feeling unsafe and my three staff don't feel safe.

'I've been doing the 7am until 9pm shift as I don't have any staff. I'm scared and had to get my friend in the shop with me in the evening.

'I want to feel safe here.'

The brutal attack that lasted 16 minutes happened in front of a customer who was forced to watch in horror as the gang repeatedly punched and kicked the worker

It was the second attack on the shop, named at Norman's News, in just two weeks

Mr Patel, who was not at the premises at the time, is calling for a greater police presence in the area during the evening.

The father-of-two said: 'If these gangs of 10 to 15 kids come again, I won't be able to stop them and I'm not getting support from the police.

'I'm feeling unsafe here. I've been a shopkeeper for 15 years and it's never been like this.

'Police need to do something to stop these gangs. I've requested more police on the street from 5pm until 9pm but they never come.

'If they did, these things wouldn't happen. Yesterday, nobody came because police said the gang has gone. They say they patrol but I don't see anyone.

'These gangs, they have alcohol, I think they're being served alcohol, underage kids, so they're drinking.

'I think they're drinking alcohol and smoking weed. Their reaction and their behaviour are influenced by this.'

Julie Davenport, councillor for Delapre and Rushmere, said: 'Youths in balaclavas are becoming a trend - it's intimidating and the knives make it even more scary.

Mr Patel, who was not at the premises at the time, is calling for a greater police presence in the area during the evening

'People are scared. More needs to be done and incidents need to be taken seriously.'

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: 'This was a report of a robbery made to us at 8.15pm on April 29, at a business in Drapery.

'The caller reported a group of up to 15 young people had entered the store, assaulted a member of staff, stolen stock and damaged the store.

'Our patrol plans include the Drapery area, and we have been ensuring a police presence at times when we know issues have been taking place.'
Topshop is returning to physical retail for the first time in four years with a one-day pop-up event ahead of a rumoured high street return this summer.

The hotly-anticipated event in collaboration with Defected Records will take place on May 10 at the house music label's basement space in Shoreditch, East London.

Called 'Topshop & Topman In The House', the pop-up will offer early access to the brand's new Talamanca collection and limited-edition Topshop x Defected T-shirts.

Free tickets are already sold out for the event from 10am to 6pm which will feature live DJ sets and cocktails, but walk-ins will also be welcome subject to capacity.

The so-called 'activation' is the brand's first in-person shop since its final stores shut permanently during the pandemic lockdown in 2021 when it was bought by Asos.

It also follows a series of cryptic Instagram posts since March hinting at a retail comeback for Topshop this August which have sent fans into a frenzy.

Last month Asos confirmed it was preparing to bring Topshop back to the high street after signing new wholesale partnerships with brick-and-mortar retailers.

Asos boss Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said on April 24 that the chain had spent 'two years rebuilding the product assortment of Topshop' ahead of the relaunch.

Topshop has said is running a pop-up event in collaboration with Defected Records on May 10

The event will be held at the house music label's basement space in Shoreditch, East London

People walk past the closed Topshop on Oxford Street during the pandemic in November 2020

He added the 'first step of this comeback' is a new Topshop.com website, and the physical retail return will see the brand open shop-in-shops in some outlets.

According to Retail Gazette, Mr Calamonte added: 'We are listening to our consumers. We understand that they want Topshop to have a level of its own.'

He did not ruled out opening standalone stores in future  but an Asos spokesperson later clarified that Topshop's return for now will come through traditional wholesale arrangements rather than branded shop-in-shop concessions.

Announcing the new pop-up earlier this week, Topshop's global marketing director Moses Rashid said on LinkedIn: 'TOPSHOP x DEFECTED present: TOPSHOP IN THE HOUSE.

'We've seen your comments and couldn't wait until August to see you IRL Launching an exclusive 1 day shopping experience, with a basement takeover with Defected Records.'

Mr Rashid said the event will also feature beauty counters and is a nod to the brand's iconic in-store experiences from its heyday on Oxford Street.

Asos is expected to announce more details about the return in August over the coming months.

A bombshell announcement on social media in March from Topshop sent fans into a frenzy. It showed a couple standing on an industrial rooftop below a huge Topshop sign

The post was accompanied by a message saying: 'We missed you too'. Captions spaced out across three posts on the company's official Instagram added: 'We've been listening'.

The website www.topshop.com has also hinted at a major comeback for the fashion retailer

However, Topshop will definitely not be returning to its former flagship store at 214 Oxford Street, which is now occupied by the new Ikea which opened yesterday.

The Swedish furniture retailer bought the site, once the jewel in Sir Philip Green's retail empire Arcadia Group, for 378million in October 2021.

Topshop had 70 stores when it closed for good, but Asos bought it out of administration in February 2021 for 295million along with Miss Selfridge, Topman and HIIT.

The brand has since been online only via the Asos website  and last year Asos sold a 75 per cent stake to Heartland, an arm of Danish fashion business Bestseller.

Bestseller is controlled by the major Asos shareholder Anders Povlsen, the billionaire behind Vero Moda and Jack & Jones  with the sale prompting hopes that Topshop could return to the high street.

This was following by a bombshell announcement on social media in March that sent fans into a frenzy.

It showed a couple standing on an industrial rooftop below a huge Topshop sign, followed by a message: 'We missed you too'.

Sir Philip Green with Kate Moss at a launch event at Topshop on Oxford Circus in April 2016

British supermodel Cara Delevingne was the face of Topshop's Autumn/Winter 2014 campaign

Captions spaced out across three posts on the company's official Instagram added: 'We've been listening'.

And its website also teased a return, with the homepage of www.topshop.com simply saying: 'Topshop coming soon.' This message still appeared on the website this morning.

Brits rejoiced at the news, with one saying: 'Topshop announcing they're returning to the high street is a joy only millennial girlies will understand. We've missed you x.'

Another added: 'I feel like my parents just got back together.' And a third joked: 'Millennials everywhere are screaming, crying & throwing up I'm one of them.'

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was among those calling for the return of Topshop, saying at the time: 'I'd meet my mates outside Topshop, my daughters took me shopping at Topshop and I know every type of Topshop jean.

'Wouldn't it be great to get Topshop back on Oxford Street?'

The company later revealed that its post was plugging an 'audacious fan-fuelled art installation and treasure hunt' after it joined forces with London artist Russ Jones to create the 'We Missed You Too' art exhibit in Soho.

The exhibit features 21 mirrors with comments from Topshop's army of followers.

It also launched a 'treasure hunt' across London, where winners can bag a 1,000 Topshop voucher and exclusively early access to the website when it relaunches.

Crowds outside Topshop on Oxford Street waiting for model Kate Moss to arrive in April 2014

Sir Philip Green with models (from left) Suki Waterhouse, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Sienna Miller and Naomi Campbell at the Kate Moss x Topshop launch in London in April 2014

Topshop was once the undisputed queen of the British high street.

With its trendy clothes, sell-out designer collaborations and 100,000 sq ft Oxford Street flagship store, the brand attracted everyone from tourists and teenagers to 'It Girls' and fashion editors.

During their heyday in the early noughties, celebrities and fashion icons flocked to be a part of the retail leviathan - owned by Sir Philip.

Supermodel Kate Moss even launched her own Topshop range in 2007. She went on to do 14 collaborations with the company.

Attracting the 'It Girls' of the day, British supermodel-turned-actress Cara Delevingne was even the face of Topshop's a/w 2014 campaign.

At its high, Topshop seemed a true titan of the British high street, raking in 100million in profit, with hundreds of stores spread across almost every large town and city in the UK.

But the store's popularity waned as it struggled to compete with fast fashion online, losing its younger shoppers to aggressive digital e-tailers like Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing.

In 2018, former owners Arcadia revealed it was haemorrhaging cash, reporting a 93.4million pre-tax loss compared with 164.6million profit in the year before. And sales slumped 4.5 per cent from 1.8billion.

Shoppers queue to get their hands on the first ever Kate Moss x Topshop collection in 2007

Crowds of shoppers rush down escalators at the Topshop store on Oxford Circus in April 2006

As well as the financial woes, there was also the problem of image with Sir Philip Green himself.

Retail experts, including Topshop's former brand director, pointed at how the BHS pension scandal and accusations of sexual harassment tabled at Sir Philip - which he denied - had tarnished the brand, putting off female and Gen Z shoppers.

Then, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Arcadia was forced to shut 550 stores and furlough 14,500 employees. The move spelled the end of the shop's physical presence on the high street.

By 2021, all Topshop stores had closed after the brand was bought by online behemoth ASOS in a 295million deal.

Asos acquired Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT from the administrators of Arcadia, two months after the struggling group collapsed with a 750million deficit.

Topshop started life in 1964 as the 'Top Shop' concession within the now defunct Peter Robinson department store in Sheffield.

The company had spotted a growing need for fashion made specifically for teenage girls who wanted to embrace modern, forward-thinking design.

Under the leadership of buyer Diane Wadey, Top Shop stocked styles by young British designers including Royal College of Art graduate Jane Whiteside, Jeff Cooper and Ronnie Stirling.

In 2005, Topshop became the first high street label to show at London Fashion Week (left). That year, Sara Cox and Zoe Ball (right) are pictured at a Topshop party in London in 2005

Denise Van Outen launches a bikini line at the Topshop on Oxford Street in 1999

The idea was a success and a concession in the Oxford Street branch of Peter Robinson soon followed, marking the start of the brand's decades-long presence in the West End.

In the early 1970s, parent company the Burton Group split off Top Shop into its own independent chain of stores focusing solely on shoppers aged 13 to 24. Peter Robinson would continue to focus on shoppers over the age of 24.

But by 1974, Peter Robinson, which had been a mainstay of British retail since the 1830s, was floundering and reduced its 22 branches to just six.

Meanwhile Top Shop was booming. Within two years, Top Shop had 55 standalone branches and was reporting annual profits of 1million.

Its next major image revamp came in the 1990s, the same decade that the Oxford Street flagship opened in its current location.

Under the stewardship of Jane Shepherdson, who was Topshop brand manager from 1999 to 2006, the brand went from teen clothing store to a serious fashion brand with industry clout.

'It was a time when we were trying to prove Topshop had its own design credibility compared to a cheap high street retailer that used to copy everyone else,' Mr Shepherdson previously told The Standard.

In 2001, Topshop launched its own label, Topshop Unique, and in 2005 became the first high street label to show at London Fashion Week.

The move cemented its place as a brand worthy of the coolest names in British fashion, with It Girls including Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Donna Air and Jemima Khan sitting front row.

At the same time, Mr Shepherdson focused on collaborations with young British designers like Christopher Kane, and turned the Oxford Street store into a must-visit destination for schoolgirls, tourists and fashionistas alike.

Mr Shepherdson added: 'We wanted to make it everything that a young girl wanted from a fashion store and for it to feel like a real luxury, special experience. I think for a time we achieved that.'

In 2005 Topshop reported profits of 100million.

After Mr Shepherdson's departure came another great Topshop milestone: the first Topshop x Kate Moss collaboration.

Topshop started life in 1964 as the 'Top Shop' concession within the now defunct Peter Robinson department store in Sheffield. Pictured, shoppers queue outside the entrance to the Peter Robinson Oxford Street store in 1978

Peter Robinson had spotted a growing need for fashion made specifically for teenage girls who wanted to embrace modern design. Pictured, the Rag Doll Boutique in the Peter Robinson Sheffield store in 1966

Peter Robinson had spotted a growing need for fashion made specifically for teenage girls who wanted to embrace modern design. Pictured, the Rag Doll Boutique in the Peter Robinson Sheffield store in 1966

The 2007 release was a hit with shoppers and graced the pages of fashion magazines. The supermodel would go on to produce 14 collections with the retailer up until 2014, with each one selling out within hours.

'The Kate Moss collaboration cemented the Topshop brand and allowed it to expand worldwide piggybacking off the name of the world's most famous supermodel,' pop culture commentator Nick Ede previously said.

'It was the biggest fashion breakthrough and led to his products being featured in magazines that would normally turn a blind eye to his designs in a snobbish fashion.'

Other high profile designer collaborators include Mary Katrantzou, Richard Nicoll, Jonathan Saunders and Meadham Kirchhoff.

The idea was replicated at Arcadia's other brands including Dorothy Perkins, which launched a Kardashian Kollection in 2012.

Mr Ede added: 'These iconic collaborations were the top of their game. Many imitated but none were as good at tapping into the fashion zeitgeist of the times.'

In 2009, Topshop arrived in the US, with Kate Moss and Sir Philip jetting to New York for the launch that saw shoppers queue up around the block.

However, during the 10 years that followed, Topshop's shine started to fade.

On the high street it faced greater competition from new rivals like & Other Stories, Urban Outfitters and Arket, as well as from established retailers like H&M and Zara, which offer designer lookalikes within weeks of their catwalk debut.

Topshop also had a large number of brick-and-mortar stores - some 510 around the world, including 300 in the UK - which became less and less of a draw in the age of online shopping. In 2019 all of Topshop's US stores closed, just 10 years after opening.

Compounding the problem was Topshop's sluggish digital investment and the aggressive rise in online, fast fashion retailers like Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing and Missguided, which have become the go-to destinations for Gen Z shoppers looking to snap up new, social-media worthy looks.
A convicted transgender paedophile, who has finally been jailed for child pornography offences has complained of the 'distress' of being sent to a male prison.

Sophie Carter, 40, from Southsea, Hampshire, changed gender after being caught with indecent images of children.

Despite being a man known as Dominic at the time of his arrest - in which Carter is said to have 'wrestled' with police - the defendant appeared in court in August 2023 dressed in a pink T-shirt, pink shorts and wearing pink nail varnish, while going by the name Sophie.

Carter, who formerly worked as a tree surgeon, was found to be in possession of 11 indecent photographs of children discovered on two phones that were seized.

Two were Category A images, the most severe kind, with a further three being Category B and six classified as Category C.

After admitting three counts of making indecent images of children in April 2021, Carter was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

In addition to this, Carter was told to complete 60 hours of rehabilitation activity requirement sessions and 120 hours of unpaid work.

But Carter has since appeared in court a further four times after flouting the conditions of the suspended sentence - and has now been jailed for six months.

Sophie Carter, 40, from Southsea, Hampshire, a convicted transgender paedophile, has complained of the 'distress' of being sent to a male prison

Carter, formerly known as Dominic and pictured in 2023 outside Southampton Crown Court, changed gender after being caught with indecent images of children

Eve Shelley, defending, told Southampton Crown Court that Carter is being held in custody at HMP Winchester, which is a Category B men's prison.

She said: 'There are additional difficulties in terms of this particular defendant being kept in that male environment and that is something that is causing some distress and concern to her.'

At the hearing - where Carter was referred to using female pronouns - the court heard that the trans woman failed to attend appointments with probation and did not tell police of a change of address.

Carter was said to be living a 'chaotic' lifestyle after being convicted and had been made homeless.

The police found Carter was no longer staying at the address which had previously been registered after the paedophile called the authorities and pretended to have been kidnapped.

Hannah Douglas, prosecuting, said it emerged that Carter had changed addresses when they pretended to have been kidnapped and made a call to authorities.

Ms Douglas told the hearing: 'Ms Carter had sent a message so say that they had been kidnapped and held hostage... and demanded 140 to be released into a bank account.'

The prosecutor said police spoke to Carter throughout the day until they eventually arrested the defendant.

Carter has now been jailed for six months after flouting the conditions of his original suspended sentence. Pictured: Southampton Crown Court

Ms Douglas said: 'It was found she failed to comply with notification requirements having left her registered address. We say it's a deliberate breach.'

The court heard Carter also failed to comply with a suspended sentence order and community order which had been imposed after the 2023 conviction.

This relates to the failure to attend appointments with probation earlier this year.

Carter pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Ms Shelley, mitigating, told the court that Carter failed to attend the appointments after the defendant had been kicked out of their parents house.

She said Carter was 'street homeless' and had been 'assaulted herself'.

Ms Shelley added: 'That particular chaotic lifestyle made them disengage with probation.

'This defendant has been remanded in custody since the first of April this year and has used the time in custody in a positive way.

Carter is being held in custody at HMP Winchester, which is a Category B men's prison (file pic)

'They are now no longer using illicit drugs.

'This defendant has expressed to me an understating that upon receiving a sentence of immediate custody... that it is an opportunity to use that time positively.'

Judge Nicholas Rowland sentenced Carter to six months in prison.

He said: 'Sophie Carter... I have no choice but to impose an immediate custody sentence.

'I appreciate that your lifestyle is chaotic.

'That last thing I want to do is to have to send you to prison for these offences.

'I have given full credit for your plea.

'I have much hope that now this slate is wiped clean that there won't be another one in the future.

'You need to sort this out otherwise you will go to prison for longer and longer periods.'
Bali currently has no power on the island

The entire island of Bali in Indonesia has been hit by a blackout that holidaymakers and locals have been warned might take up to 36 hours for authorities to fix.

Power outages impacted thousands of homes, businesses and resorts across the tourist hotspot around 4pm local time on Friday.

PT. PLN, the state utility company tasked with ensuring energy to Bali, has said it is investigating the source of the power outages.

A spokesperson from the organisation said submarine cables connecting Denpasar to the mainland had been disrupted but that it was still looking into the matter.

'This problem is still being investigated,' they said in a statement, reports Detik Bali.

Bali is fed approximately 25 per cent of its entire electricity supply via these underwater cables which connect to the island of Java.

PLN is currently trying to complete a system recovery before it can begin normalising its electrical output once again.

During this time of repair all power plants across Bali have been disconnected as a safety measure.

An island-wide blackout hit Bali, in Indonesia, around 4pm local time on Friday

The outage has caused massive traffic buildups as local police raced outside to help coordinate traffic

Multiple venues and resorts have been forced to close while others continue operating in the darkness

Some locations throughout Denpasar have been able to temporarily survive off backup power generators but it is still unclear how long it will take for power to return.

A local who talked to Daily Mail Australia, Putri, said she has been sweltering in the heat since her air conditioning stopped working amid the blackouts.

'This is the first time I've ever known the entire island to face a blackout,' she said.

'And Bali is hot right now and nobody can turn on their air conditioning, many people can no longer work also.

'Offices have had to close which has also caused chaos but hopefully it will not take long for the power to return.'

Putri said some beach resorts along Kuta that typically charge for entry had begun letting tourists in for free as they struggle to stay open.

Traffic jams immediately broke out following the blackout and local police rushed to busy intersections to begin coordinating the built up traffic.

Locals have also begun flooding social media looking for answers as to how long it will take for the island to recover.

PLN, the local electricity provider, has confirmed that its submarine cables which connect Bali to the mainland had been disrupted which caused the blackout

Locals and holidaymakers alike immediately flooded to social media looking for answers regarding how long the power would remain out

However, it is currently unknown how long the problem will take to resolve

One person on social media began theorising how long the blackout would last based on historical data related to submarine cable failures.

'System stabilisation usually requires 4-8 hours to complete and critical infrastructure can take another 6-10 hours to come back online following that,' one wrote.

'Then tourist areas and city centres become the priority but that can still take 8-12 hours and a complete restoration usually requires 12-36 hours.'

Others however, were more concerned that their weekend might be ruined as venues are forced to shut down.

'Oh give me a break. Why is Bali experiencing a full blackout during the weekend,' a holidaymaker wrote.

Denpasar Airport has managed to maintain its power throughout the outage and there is no reports of flights having been delayed or cancelled.

The last time a blackout this wide struck Indonesia was in 2005 when both the mainland and Bali lost electricity and more than 100 million people were affected.

Miscommunications between power plants had led to a systems failure which struck at 10.23am local time on August 18.

The nation's capital, Jakarta, was one of many major locations impacted by its effects until power was restored at 5pm local time on the same day.
Gas boilers in new homes will be banned as soon as next year as Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband prepare to unveil strict Net Zero rules for housebuilders, it has emerged.

Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, are said to have been working together on the 'Future Homes Standard'.

This is a long-awaited change to building regulations that was first proposed by the previous Tory government.

It had been thought that Labour, after winning power at last July's general election, would not bring in the new rules until around May 2027.

But, according to The Telegraph, the regulations will be announced by Ms Rayner this summer and are likely to be in force by next year.

Ms Rayner and Mr Miliband are said to have opted for the most 'ambitious' version of the new rules.

It is understood that gas boilers will not meet the low-carbon performance required under the Future Homes Standard, meaning systems like heat pumps will become the new default.

Earlier this week, it emerged that solar panels will have to be fitted to almost all new homes as part of the Future Homes Standard regulations.

Gas boilers in new homes will be banned as soon as next year as Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband prepare to unveil strict Net Zero rules for housebuilders, it has emerged

Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, are said to have been working together on long-awaited changes to building regulations

It is reported the rules will ban gas boilers in new homes as fast as possible by increasing the energy efficiency requirements on developers

The apparent push by Ms Rayner and Mr Miliband to drive forward strict Net Zero rules for housebuilders comes despite a Labour row over cutting carbon emissions.

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair this week criticised any strategy that limits fossil fuels in the short term as 'doomed to fail'.

He argued the current climate approach 'isn't working', with the debate having 'become irrational'.

Sir Tony warned people are 'turning away from the politics of the issue because they believe the proposed solutions are not founded on good policy'.

He also cautioned that Brits would resent 'being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal'.

The ex-premier's extraordinary intervention was followed by a trade union chief lashing out at Mr Miliband for having 'no plan' to make Net Zero work.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham swiped that someone who 'believes in Britain' should be made Energy Secretary.

Last year, it was reported the Labour Government would require housebuilders to introduce electric heat pumps or other non-gas heating systems in most new homes.

A 12-month period was expected before the relevant bill would come into effect followed by a transition arrangement of up to a year, meaning the regulations would not take effect until around May 2027.

But Ms Rayner and Mr Miliband are now said to have sped up the timetable.

This is despite previous claims that Labour has ditched plans to ban new gas boilers in existing homes from 2035.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'For newbuild homes, the Future Homes Standard will see low-carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency as standard in new properties so that we can cut consumer energy bills and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

'Once this standard is published there will be a period to allow industry to adapt to the new rules. Further details will be announced in due course.'

Downing Street said on Thursday that the Future Homes Standard would contain measures to increase the uptake in solar panels.

Labour's manifesto included a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of the Parliament.

Asked how the plans would be balanced against the Government's push to cut red tape and speed up planning, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'Industry has been consulted on the plans that will have time to adapt once the Future Homes Standard, which is to be published in the coming months, comes into force.

'We must balance any increase in cost of business against benefits that solar panels will bring in cutting bills for families and boosting our national energy security to get Putin's boot off our neck.'
US Vice President JD Vance has declared he doesn't see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'any time soon' as Secretary for State Marco Rubio admitted Donald Trump needs to find a breakthrough quickly in ceasefire negotiations.

'It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,' Vance said in an interview on Fox News last night with host Bret Baier.

'It's not going anywhere, Bret. It's not going to end any time soon.'

He went on to admit that it was difficult to be confident that an end to the war was in sight, because the Russians and Ukrainians 'have to take the final step' and 'come to their senses', before trivialising Russia's invasion of its sovereign neighbour.

'For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?' Vance said.

Meanwhile, Rubio - who is now also fulfilling the duties of US national security adviser following the resignation of Mike Waltz - warned Trump would have to decide how much time to devote to resolving the war if there was not a significant breakthrough in negotiations very soon.

'I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now... They're closer, but they're still far apart,' he added during an interview on Fox News' Hannity program.

The disheartening admissions from Washington's top officials came hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated deal giving the United States preferential access to Ukrainian minerals.

The agreement, which is yet to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament, is considerably less exploitative than the initial deal proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this year, but will still see Washington profit extensively from Ukrainian natural resources.

It is hoped the US commitment to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure could facilitate ceasefire negotiations as Bessent said the agreement will show the 'Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals'.

US Vice President JD Vance has declared he doesn't see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'any time soon'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) speaks as US President Donald Trump (R) looks on during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 30 April 2025

Firefighters put out the fire at an apartment house following Russia's air raid in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, May 1, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, huddles with US President Donald Trump during a one-on-one meeting before the funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica, April 26

Bessent also said that the signing of the deal 'signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that the signing of the minerals deal was the 'first result' of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope's funeral and called the agreement 'truly historic'.

During his nightly address yesterday he said that, per the signed agreement, there were no debts to be paid from past US aid to Kyiv, describing the deal as 'truly equal' and one that 'creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine'.

'This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defence, can earn in partnership,' he added.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said that despite what he described as 'unimaginable pressure' during negotiations on the minerals deal, Ukraine succeeded in defending its interests.

'This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine,' Mylovanov wrote on Facebook. 'The deal looks fair.'

Mylovanov said the deal does not restrict Kyiv to selling only to American buyers and instead recognises contributions from both sides - Ukraine's in the form of revenues from new projects, and the US potentially through military assistance.

Russia is yet to comment on the signing of the deal between America and Ukraine but continued its barrage of Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian positions overnight.

A drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two people and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school, sharing videos on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames.

A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

Following the attacks, Zelensky said that Russia had ignored a US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days now.

'There were also our proposals - at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,' he said.

'Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow today that President Vladimir Putin (pictured right) supports the initiative to establish a ceasefire, but added that it could not be resolved quickly

A serviceman of the 68th Oleksa Dovbush Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fires a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers help evacuate an elderly resident from her damaged house following Russia's air raid in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, May 1, 2025

Emergency personnel work at the site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow earlier this week that Vladimir Putin supports the initiative to establish a lasting ceasefire.

'But before going for it, a whole series of questions need to be answered and a whole series of nuances need to be resolved,' he said.

Peskov's declaration came days after Kremlin rejected a seven-point plan to end the war set out by the US that would recognise Moscow's control of Crimea and effectively freeze the frontline in place.

The plan, presented by the Trump administration to European allies earlier this month, is widely seen as a land-for-peace deal that would allow Putin to keep Ukrainian territory seized by his forces while assuring that Ukraine would not join NATO.

However, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's veteran Foreign Minister, declared Monday in a written interview with Brazilian outlet O Globo that the Kremlin would only accept a ceasefire if various strict terms are met.

These include the removal of Zelensky and what he called Ukraine's 'neo-Nazi' regime, international recognition of Russian sovereignty over the four annexed Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and a restriction on the size of Ukraine's army, among other measures.

'All the commitments Kiev assumes must be legally binding, contain enforcement mechanisms and be permanent,' Lavrov wrote on Monday.

'Demilitarising and de-Nazifying Ukraine is also on the agenda, along with lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.'

Lavrov's open rejection of the US devised plan followed Putin's declaration of a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, which was ridiculed by Ukrainian officials and analysts as a 'trick' and 'cynical'.

Dara Massicot, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank focusing on Russian defence, pointed out that Putin likely doesn't want the threat of Ukraine air attacks to disrupt Russia's Victory Day on May 9.

Russia is set to hold major celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.

'The Kremlin wants a ceasefire for those days because it can't suitably defend airspace from Ukrainian drones and they want a smooth 80th anniversary victory day parade,' she said.
On the first episode of a Mail exclusive podcast that follows the trial of the alleged fellers of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, reporters Liz Hull and George Odling revealed what new piece of evidence silenced the courtroom.

Groundworker Daniel Graham, 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers, 32, face two counts of criminal damage after the 100-year-old tree was chopped down using a chainsaw and crashed into Hadrian's Wall on the night of September 28, 2023.

Both Graham and Carruthers deny the charges. Footage from the night in question was shown to jurors on Monday, with award winning crime correspondent Liz Hull telling the podcast why the grainy video stunned those in attendance at Newcastle Crown Court.

The two-minute and 41-second video, taken from Graham's phone, appears to show the moment the tree was felled. The prosecution asked police to digitally enhance the clip as it was originally too dark to see, recorded during the night.

The Sycamore Gap tree was well-known and featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Police officers look at the Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian's Wall on September 28, 2023

'You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom when that video was first played', Hull described.

Her 'The Trial' co-host, George Odling, responded: 'A lot of us in court watched the video with open mouths.

'The video, which was taken from that mobile phone footage, is grainy, but it's very shocking.

'The court was told the footage was originally very dark, but video specialists had managed to enhance it so that you can make out the outline of the enormous tree and the silhouette of a man standing next to it.'

Prosecutors claim the 'unmistakable sound of a chainsaw' can be heard in the video.

A court artist's sketch of Daniel Graham (left) and Adam Carruthers (right) at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on February 15, 2024

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The video clip was played to the court twice - once showing the dark, raw footage, and a second time after it had been enhanced by a police specialist.

Odling then explained the importance of the footage to the trial.

He said: 'The prosecution said analysis of Daniel Graham's iPhone 13 showed that the video was recorded on his phone, not sent to him, or downloaded from the internet, at exactly 32 minutes past midnight on September the 28th.

'No less than three minutes later, a photograph was also taken on the same phone, which, although dark, appears to show the felled tree.

'Metadata for the video and the photo was analysed by police and found to be a match for the location of the Sycamore Gap.'

The friends allegedly felled the tree in a matter of minutes having driven 40 minutes from Carlisle to the tree in the late hours of September 27 2023 in Graham's Range Rover.

The damage caused by the tree's felling was valued at 622,191 for the tree and 1,144 for the wall, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Richard Wright KC told the jury that the accused had engaged in a 'moronic mission' to commit an act of 'mindless vandalism'.

The trial continues.

To hear the Mail's award-winning coverage of the Sycamore Gap trial, as the case unfolds, subscribe to The Crime Desk today.

Become a member by clicking here, for ad-free access to every show across The Crime Desk network  including over 200 episodes of The Trial and On The Case and so much more.
A pensioner left scarred for life after falling down stairs in a luxury cruise ship's theatre is suing for up to 50,000 in compensation.

But Marian Reinelt, 76, is being blamed for her own downfall and has been accused of wearing 'inappropriately high-heeled shoes'.

Mrs Reinelt was celebrating her 75th birthday with a trip on lavish 13-deck liner, the Marella Explorer, off the coast of Greece in May 2023 when she slipped on the descending stairs into the ship's Broadway-style auditorium.

The pensioner from Poole, Dorset, suffered cuts to her face and arm and had to have skin grafts from her thigh to repair a 'substantial' wound to her right shin, leaving her with lifelong scars.

She is now suing travel company, Marella Cruises Ltd, for up to 50,000 in compensation, claiming the fall completely ruined the 6,000 'Iconic Islands Explorer' tour of the Greek islands she was taking with her family.

But the company, which is owned by travel giant TUI, denies there was anything wrong with the stairs and blames Mrs Reinelt for wearing 'inappropriately high-heeled shoes.'

According to documents lodged at the High Court in London, Mrs Reinelt had booked the seven-night island-hopping tour with her husband, daughter and son-in-law to celebrate her 75th birthday and 55th wedding anniversary.

She boarded the 260-metre liner, which features 962 cabins, 10 restaurants, 10 bars, a casino, cinema and an auditorium described in online promotional materials as 'big enough to rival a Broadway theatre', and departed from Corfu Town.

Marian Reinelt, 76, has been left scarred for life after falling down stairs in a luxury cruise ship's theatre

Ms Reinelt, 76, is now suing the luxury cruise ship for up to 50,000 in compensation

However, she is being blamed for her own downfall and has been accused of wearing 'inappropriately high-heeled shoes'

'On the evening of May 38, 2023, being the second full day of the cruise, the claimant and her family went to dinner,' says her barrister, Thomas Yarrow.

'Afterwards they decided to watch a show in the vessel's theatre. The claimant was descending the stairs within the auditorium of the theatre in order to find seating when suddenly and without warning she caught her foot against the raised edge of the metallic stair nosing, which unbeknownst to the claimant was in a state of disrepair.

'This defect in the staircase caused the claimant to lose her footing and fall down a number of steps, causing her to sustain injuries.'

As well as lacerations to her forearm and close to her eye, Mrs Reinelt sustained 'substantial traumatic avulsion' of skin from her right shin.

After treatment onboard, she was taken off the ship to Athens where she had to undergo a skin graft from her thigh to repair the damage to her leg.

'The claimant has been left with permanent scarring to all sites of injury, as well as to her left thigh from whence skin grafts were taken,' said the barrister.

'The scarring to her left leg in particular is obvious at conversational distance and represents a very significant cosmetic deformity.

'The scarring cannot be improved by surgical or non-surgical treatment,' he said adding that the pensioner 'was wearing shoes with a wedge heel and ankle strap' at the time of the accident.

After treatment onboard, she was taken off the ship to Athens where she had to undergo a skin graft from her thigh to repair the damage to her leg

The case documents have been filed at the High Court in London but the case has not yet gone before a judge.

Mrs Reinelt is suing the company on the basis that it is 'strictly liable for the injury sustained by the claimant, which was caused by broken stair nosing within the fabric of the vessel.'.

For Marella Cruises Ltd however, barrister Tom Collins denies the company is strictly liable under maritime law for an accident that could happen on land, or that the steps were defective.

And he said she had contributed to the fall herself by wearing 'inappropriately high-heeled shoes' and not paying proper attention to what she was doing.

'The claimant was attempting to descend the stairs in high-heeled wedge shoes,' he says.

'In pre-action correspondence, the claimant has estimated the height of these heels to be between 2 and 2.5 inches.

'The accident occurred at around 9.45pm and, according to pre-action correspondence, the claimant was carrying a glass of wine.'

The company denied that it is strictly liable under the Athens Convention because the injuries were caused by something that could have happened on land and not by a 'typical maritime peril.'

But he also denied there was anything wrong with the stairs anyway, pointing out that no accident had been reported on them before or since Ms Reinelt's fall.

Mrs Reinelt was celebrating her 75th birthday with a trip on lavish 13-deck liner when she slipped on the descending stairs into the ship's Broadway-style auditorium

'The claimant has disclosed photographs showing several stairs within the auditorium, one of which is said to be the stair on which she caught her foot,' he says.

'The defendant avers that these show no apparent defect on any stair, let alone one that would cause a person, taking reasonable care for their own safety, to lose their footing or fall.

'The defendant avers that the stairs shown in these photographs are typical of auditoriums and are reasonably safe.

'There is a non-slip metallic nosing affixed to each step. The nosing is flush with the horizontal and vertical tread.

'The horizontal tread is covered in patterned carpet and is easily distinguishable from the nosing.

'There is lighting affixed to the vertical side of the nosing and the lighting generally was adequate. In addition, a handrail is affixed to the stairs.'

The case documents have been filed at the High Court in London but the case has not yet gone before a judge.

A trial of Mrs Reinelt's damages bid will take place at a later date, unless the parties settle outside of court.
A D-Day hero who survived the Normandy landings and being shot three times has died aged 101.

Cecil Newton, a trooper with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, his family said.

In a message, his son Paul said: 'Thank you all for your friendship for my father and for supporting his efforts to remember those of the 4/7 RDG who did not come back.'

Former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps was among those paying tribute. He said: 'I was deeply moved to hear of the passing of Cecil Newton, a true hero of D-Day.

'At just 20, he landed under fire at Gold Beach and helped liberate Europe. He lived to 101, bearing witness to the freedom he fought for. We owe him - and his generation - a debt we can never fully repay.'

Cecil Newton, who died on Thursday, pictured on the 60th anniversary of the D-D landings

Cecil Newton served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and worked as a loader in the crew of an amphibious Sherman Tank

The then Prince Charles shakes hands with Cecil Newton at the at the monument at Cruelly on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings

Friend and historian Gary Wright added: 'For those of you who met my dear old friend Trooper Cecil Newton I received the news last night that he died yesterday at 17:00 Thursday 1 May 2025.

'He was 101 and one of our last D-Day veterans. He arrived on Gold Beach in an amphibious tank with 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards.'

His death comes just days before the country prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day - signalling eight decades since the end of the Second World War in Europe - on Thursday, May 8.

Mr Newton, from Aldbourne, in Wiltshire, was one of the last survivors of the assault on the D-Day beaches in 1944. He was 20 when, after boarding at Lepe Beach in the New Forest, he became of of the first to land on Gold Beach on 6 June 1944.

He went ashore in a Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) tank, an amphibious craft equipped with a propeller that enabled it to travel across water.

Mr Newton's tank crew was in action for just a few minutes after landing in Normandy.

A gallery assistant views portraits of Sergeant Thomas Burke by James LLoyd (left) and Trooper Cecil Newton by Peter Kuhfield during the press preview of the 'Last of the Tide' exhibition as 12 portraits of D-Day veterans are displayed at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London in 2015

The tank was among several not to make it off the beach when it sank in a water-filled shell hole, but all the crew got out. They were later among the first British troops to enter the city of Lille.

In an interview about the landings he said: 'We weren't nervous. At least, I wasn't  but I haven't got much imagination.'

He said the others, however, were not so calm. 'They didn't really show it until they became 'tank happy'. That means they wouldn't get out of the tank.'

The Shermans  nicknamed 'Donald Duck tanks'  could motor in on the surface of the water.

Mr Newton's crew trained in the Solent. 'We would sail from Calshot down to the Isle of Wight at night-time in a tank. With a mast, with port and starboard lights on. Very nice. The fact that we couldn't swim never occurred to anybody.'

He arrived to a grim scene at Gold beach. 'The weather was so shocking. A grey, grey strip of landscape behind grey sea.'

Mr Newton's tank lodged in a shell-hole by an enemy gun emplacement.

'If we hadn't been swamped he'd have got us point-blank, so somebody was looking after us,' he says.

By midday all opposition had been subdued. 'We were one of the most fortunate beaches, from a very hairy start,' he said.

'A cycle troop landed and dumped the bikes, a heap of them. So I took one and then went for a cycle down the beach in the afternoon. The beach there was lovely; it was like Bognor.'

Mr Newton was among those who liberated the town of Cruelly where a school is now named after him.

One week after the landing, his squadron was involved in heavy fighting in Verne-Sur-Mer in which half of his troop - more than 100 men - were killed.

'As we appeared they knobbled us,' he said.

'The Germans had settled down on a forward-looking slope and as we appeared they knobbled us.

'I had a new tank and went on and continued through Europe.'

Mr Newtown was later severely wounded when his tank came under attack close to the German border in November 1944.

He was shot three times in the leg and chest as he got out of his tank.

He kept a fragment from a shell that was embedded in his foot, given as a souvenir by the surgeon at a casualty clearing station.

Following the war, he later went on to qualify as a quantity surveyor and moved to Swindon.

In 2015, he was one of a dozen veterans of the battle for Normandy to be celebrated in a series of portraits commissioned by the then Prince of Wales.

In June 2024, Mr Newton returned to France to take part in the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations.

He read out the names of more than 100 comrades killed during the invasion.

He also laid a wreath at the memorial after abandoning his wheelchair and managing a few steps with the aid of his walker.
A British actor and Blake Lively co-star whose costume designer wife was killed in the Vancouver car rampage has paid heartbreaking tribute.

in a photo shared by her husband, Jenifer Darbellay is shown smiling happily with a child believed to be their seven-year-old daughter Darby on her shoulders.

MailOnline believes it may even have been taken in the hours before an Audi ploughed into crowds celebrating Lapu Lapu Day on the Canadian west coast.

Noel Johansen, best known for his Hallmark TV work who recently starred alongside Blake Lively in a romantic fantasy movie, survived the ramming that claimed 11 lives in Vancouver on Saturday.

His daughter Darby was injured after a SUV rammed through a packed street festival at about 8pm driven by suspect Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 31. His son Ford, 15, also attended the festival, but has survived.

Heartbreaking pictures have shown Mr Johansen, who is walking on crutches, sobbing at the scene of the attack as he mourns the loss of his beloved wife.

The actor, who has appeared in TV hits Psych, Supernatural, Fargo and The Good Doctor, appeared opposite Blake Lively in the movie 'Age of Adaline.'

Noel is a British citizen who was born in Toronto who went to drama school in London, spending a year studying acting at the 16,000-a-year Drama Studio next to the famous Ealing Studios in the west of the capital.

He is best known for his work on Hallmark Channel shows and films including: Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters, When Calls the Heart, Chesapeake Shores, Harvest Love, Reunited at Christmas and Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery.

Jenifer Darbellay is shown smiling with a child believed to be their seven-year-old daughter Darby on her shoulders in the hours before an Audi ploughed into crowds celebrating Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver.

Hallmark star Noel Johansen fought back tears as he spoke at a recent vigil in Vancouver, Canada after his wife Jenifer Darbellay died and his seven-year-old daughter were injured in a horrifying attack

Eleven were people were killed and dozens were injured after an SUV (pictured) rammed through a packed street festival Lapu Lapu Day - to honor Filipino heritage - at around 8pm local time on Saturday

Mr Johansen has also had a highly-successful voiceover artist career.

On Monday, leaning on his crutches with tears in his eyes, he addressed crowds at a vigil to remember his late wife and all the victims of the Vancouver attack.

He was embraced by other mourners and said: "Everyone who's hugged me since then, I felt her'.

He added: 'What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what's inside my heart is broken.

'Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.

'She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself; she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach. And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her. So don't be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have, and please remember us who went through this.'

A GoFundMe has been set up by Johansen's friend and business partner Michael Daingerfield has already exceeded the $150K Canadian dollar goal and stands at over $166,000 so far.

'I am literally in shock as I write this - but I want to do something for Noel and his two children Ford, 15, and Darby, 7,' Daingerfield said of his friend and the family.

'This is an incredibly difficult time for Noel, and moving forward with his life is going to feel insurmountable.

'Jen was a one-of-a-kind. She was an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman. A gifted painter, a selfless mother, and a loving wife. She gave the best hugs, was always there to listen without judgement, and had the sweetest voice.

'She was not only special to me and my family (wife and kids), but she was special to many other friends and people - giving of herself volunteering on the PAC committee at Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Darby's school.'

Horrifying video and pictures showed utter devastation as mangled bodies were strewn across the road following the crash.

Dazed bystanders could be seen racing away from the scene and from victim to victim as local cops swooped and arrested the driver, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30.

Lo allegedly to have told witnesses he was 'sorry' as he was dragged out of the car.

Lo severe mental breakdown after his brother was murdered last year and his mother then tried to commit suicide.

He is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder and remains in custody.

Authorities have previously said that the suspect was 'known to police in certain circumstances' and was believed to have been suffering from delusions and paranoia prior to the attack.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver... We are all mourning with you.'

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among the attendees at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, CTV news said.

The Psych star was on crutches at a vigil for the victims on Monday as he choked back tears while addressing the crowd as he said: 'What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what's inside my heart is broken. Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident'

He was consoled by a vigil attendee

Noel's teenage son could be seen standing next to him at the sad event

'This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say,' Singh said.

'I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing.'

Usually the city parks dump trucks to block streets for festivals but for unknown reasons that didn't happen on Saturday.

The festival had drawn families, children, and neighbors from across Vancouver, many eager to enjoy the warm spring evening, unaware of the horror about to unfold.

Instead, the street became a makeshift triage center as bystanders rushed to provide first aid before paramedics could arrive.

Noel is best known for his work on several Hallmark Channel shows and films including: Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters, When Calls the Heart, Chesapeake Shores, Harvest Love, Reunited at Christmas and Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery; he is seen with Kirsten Robek (left) and Lacey Chabert on set of 2017's All Of My Heart: The Wedding

There was also a GoFundMe set up by Noel's friend and business partner Michael Daingerfield to help Noel and his family which has already exceeded the $150K CAD goal and stands at over $166K so far

Vancouver police secure the scene after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival -- April 26, 2025

Videos posted on social media showed stunned festivalgoers standing beside twisted tents, toppled chairs, and scattered belongings, the aftermath of what should have been an ordinary, joyous community event.

Eyewitness videos from the scene show severe injuries among festival attendees, including reports of a baby trapped under a vehicle, while emergency responders could be seen performing CPR on victims.

The 11 dead range in age from just five to 65.

Lo's mental breakdown was believed to have happened when his father died shortly after the family moved into their Vancouver home, according to the Globe and Mail.

His brother, Alexander, 31, was then found murdered inside a home at around 1am on January 28, 2024, the Vancouver Sun reports.

Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the house and was later charged with second degree murder.

'It pains me deeply to put these words down, but my brother has been taken from us in a senseless act of violence, something we never saw coming,' he wrote at the time.

Meanwhile the driver has been identified as a 30-year-old man who suffered a severe mental breakdown after his brother was murdered last year and his mother then tried to commit suicide as suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder

'Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he's no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force.'

'I'm burdened with remorse for not spending more time with him,' Kai-Ji continued. 'I implore you to keep his soul in your thoughts and prayers.'

The fundraiser netted over $9,000 for Alexander's funeral.

But just months later, in August, Kai-Ji was back asking for donations - this time after his mother attempted suicide and ended up in the hospital for a month.

'The unimaginable grief brought upon my mother is something that is worse than my own sadness,' Kai-Ji wrote.

'For she brought him into this world, only for him to leave abruptly, it is a sadness I cannot begin to express.'

'She lost a son already and is on the verge of losing her home. This has driven her to attempt to take her own life,' he shared.

In the aftermath, Lo is said to have had several run-ins with police and health care professionals.

Authorities even showed up to the Lo's house within the last two weeks to ask for security footage, neighbors told the Globe and Mail.

They described how they could often hear Lo screaming inside.

'He always was yelling with his mom. I don't know why,' one of the neighbors said.

'He is really nervous,' the neighbor said of Lo. 'Very- always scared of something happening that might hurt him.'

In fact, just hours before Saturday's attack, a family member had even contacted a psych ward, the Sun reports.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of Jonathan Joly and Anna Saccones wedding day was that filming stopped at the bridal suite door.

The YouTube vloggers, who went on to release videos of all four of their children being born, were already sharing endless footage of their day-to-day lives when they tied the knot on Italys Amalfi Coast in September 2011.

But at least the newlyweds had enough taste to refrain from consummating their marriage in front of the cameras for their growing army of subscribers.

Over a ten-year period the couple, who were raised in separate parts of Ireland before later studying at Arts University Bournemouth, were to rack up a staggering 2,900 videos of their apparently enviable family life. Their daily updates quickly started bringing in the sort of money that would see their estimated net wealth reach over 1million ($1.3million).

Fast-forward to 2025 and their often excruciating domestic clips are once more a regular fixture on social media. But much else has changed.

Their original YouTube channel, The SacconeJolys, has effectively been inactive since 2020  although many of the home videos they removed two years later have since reappeared on the platform.

Nowadays Mr Joly and Ms Saccone, who live in a seven-bedroom Surrey mansion with their children, largely broadcast separately to their millions of followers.

Almost inevitably, this has triggered a barrage of unhelpful conjecture about the state of their marriage. On the online forum Reddit, one user speculated: I do think a divorce is on the horizon  adding that Anna was quite young when they got together.

Jonathan Joly and Anna Saccone with their four children

Mr Joly was named Celebrity Dad of the Year over Prince William and Declan Donnelly in 2019

In a reference to the couples 11-year-old daughter Edie, who was previously known to viewers as a boy, another individual remarked: With all the scrutiny the familys been under since their child transitioned, I wouldnt be surprised if it put a strain on their relationship.

Speculation continued in a similar vein until Ms Saccone recorded a TikTok video called Are We Divorced? in which she described the rumours about her marriage as the elephant in the room that I was not aware of.

The 37-year-old suggested that the couples priorities when it comes to what they ought to share online had changed, but stressed: Weve always had separate [social media] channels and weve always kind of liked that because it gives us our own creative control.

I actually show Jonathan quite a lot in my content... I appear quite a lot in his content.

I dont really understand where this rumour is coming from. I think people have just got super-used to us vlogging every single day and being together every day. Now with us having our separate platforms, this just seems really foreign to some people.

But behind closed doors, our relationship is absolutely fine.

Her voice cracking and briefly looking as if she might break down, Ms Saccone  whose recent videos have included soul-searching conversations with her gay friend Matthew Gray  continued: I dont really know what to say to prove it to you guys.

Hes [Jonathan] my soulmate, hes my person, I would not want to do life without him. Im really sorry to disappoint those of you out there that really wanted the drama. Were still together, were not getting a divorce anytime soon.

For his part, Mr Joly, 45  who admitted in his 2022 memoir All My Friends Are Invisible that he had wanted to be a girl when growing up  has previously spoken of his relief that Ms Saccone didnt run away when he revealed his gender identity issues in the early days of their relationship.

The couple met in Dublin in 2007, the year after Annas father Eduardo  an Italian-born professor of literature  was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

In a blog, she later wrote that it felt like my world was crashing down around me  a situation presumably not helped by a previous romantic relationship with someone who wasnt very supportive, who ignored me and made me feel I wasnt good enough.

Meanwhile, she found herself in the grip of an eating disorder  bulimia  as a way of dealing or coping with things. It was a symptom, she suggested years later, of a need for order and perfection in a world which I seemed to be losing control of.

It was against that backdrop that her future husband, a tattooed motorcycle enthusiast eight years her senior, entered the 19-year-olds life. While Ms Saccones father was unimpressed at first, even telling Anna that this is not the man I thought youd end up with, he later forged a strong relationship with Mr Joly.

Sadly, Professor Saccone died almost two years before his daughters marriage. The wedding video itself appears curiously unemotional, even slightly staged and soulless.

True to form, though, Jonathan Joly appears highly animated through the 18-minute recording. Im about to get married, he trills at the beginning, and Ive never felt happier.

Later on, he chirps to Anna: Its been a whirlwind of a day. I cant believe were married. What the hell?!! With a blank-looking expression on her face, the new bride simply replies: I know...I know.
The death of a 32-year-old skydiver who died instantly when she hit the ground during a jump at the weekend is the third such fatality in ten years at the same airfield.

Jade Damarell, 32, a highly experienced skydiver who had safely accomplished more than 400 previous jumps, is feared to have deliberately sabotaged her jump and taken her own life.

Ms Damarell, a married marketing manager, lost her life on Sunday morning while parachuting with Sky High Skydiving which is based at Shotton Airfield, a former colliery pit in Peterlee, County Durham.

Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death is suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'.

A spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April 2025 involving a valued member of our community.

'All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life.

'This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss.'

Jade Damarell, 32, a highly experienced skydiver who had safely accomplished more than 400 previous jumps, is feared to have deliberately sabotaged her jump and taken her own life

Ms Damarell (pictured), a married marketing manager, lost her life on Sunday morning while parachuting with Sky High Skydiving which is based at Shotton Airfield, a former colliery pit in Peterlee, County Durham

SkyHigh Skydiving was hit by a similar tragedy last year when videographer Sam Cornwell plunged to his death after his parachute malfunctioned and failed to open properly.

Mr Cornwell, 46, had taken off from Shotton Airfield but fell and landed on a factory roof at the South West Industrial Estate in Peterlee. He was pronounced dead at the scene on April 28, 2024.

An inquest into his death, at Crook Civic Centre, heard how he had been filming another skydiver when his main canopy opened but became twisted, rendering it useless, and the reserve shoot failed to deploy properly in time.

CCTV footage caught the moment he struck the roof while images from Mr Cornwell's helmet-mounted GoPro camera were also viewed.

Nine years ago, Pamela Gower plummeted 14,000 feet to her death after she was unable to deploy her parachute because she was aggressively spinning in the wind.

Ms Gower, 49, from Tyneside who had dwarfism died in a skydive because she was too short to carry out a move which could have saved her life, an inquest later found.

She was spinning so hard she was exposed to greater G-force than a fighter pilot as she fell to the ground and was unable to arch her back - which could have helped her regain control- due to her stature.

Ms Gower was an experienced sky diver, and had been taking part in a charity jump at Peterlee Parachute Centre - also based at Shotton Airfield - on September 10, 2016 when she died.

Nine years ago, Pamela Gower plummeted 14,000 feet to her death after she was unable to deploy her parachute because she was aggressively spinning in the wind

SkyHigh Skydiving was hit by a similar tragedy last year when videographer Sam Cornwell (above) plunged to his death after his parachute malfunctioned and failed to open properly

It was reported that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph.

An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments.

According to one friend, she jumped a staggering 11 times in the 48 hours leading up to her death.

A friend of Ms Damarell said: 'This wasn't a skydiving accident - we believe she intended to take her life, sadly.

'She skydived with someone else, broke off and turned onto her back and impacted.

'She chose not to open her parachute and she landed on her back.'

Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

One person is believed to have witnessed the horror.
A veteran councillor has hit back at Andrea Jenkyns after the new Reform Lincolnshire mayor mocked her 'South African' accent.

Councillor Marianne Overton was born in South Africa, but says she moved to Britain when she was 10, and claims to have lost her native accent while living in the area for decades.

Lincolnshire was at the centre of Reform's political earthquake that has left Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour party trembling after Dame Andrea won in every area of the county bar one with a total of 104,133 votes.

But after her campaign was hit by complaints that she was 'parachuted' into the seat and has weak ties to Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea used her victory speech to mock rival candidate Cllr Overton.

Cllr Overton was joined by the Labour and Conservative candidates in walking off stage after Dame Andrea called for migrants to be housed in tents instead of hotels moments during her speech after winning by more than 40,000 votes.

Speaking on stage at Grimsby Town Hall, Dame Andrea also called out Cllr Overton, saying: 'The campaign was also filled with irony. As one of the candidates stated I was parachuted in - she said in her South African accent.'

Dame Andrea, who had faced questions over whether she met the residence criteria to stand, then raised her eyebrows and sniggered but her jibe was met with murmurs from the crowd.

But Cllr Overton hit back today claiming she does not have a South African accent at all.

The Independent candidate told MailOnline it was 'disappointing' to see Dame Andrea launch into 'political point-scoring' immediately after becoming the county's first elected mayor.

Cllr Overton, who came fourth in the mayoral race with 19,911 votes, has served in local government in Lincolnshire for more than 30 years and joked 'I really don't!' when asked whether she had a South African accent.

The long-serving councillor attended school in South Africa but came to the UK before she turned 10, studying in London and moving to Lincolnshire, where she has been a councillor since 1991.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline today, Cllr Overton said: 'It wasn't great for someone to make personal attacks when we had congratulated her and applauded her magnanimously.'

Lincolnshire was at the centre of Reform's political earthquake that has left Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour party trembling after Dame Andrea (pictured) won in every area of the county bar one with a total of 104,133 votes

Marianne Overton (pictured) told MailOnline it was 'disappointing' to hear Dame Andrea's 'personal attacks'

Cllr Overton, who is the leader of the Local Government Association Independent Group, had previously made a formal objection to Dame Andrea running for mayor, accusing her of being 'parachuted in' from outside of Lincolnshire by Reform.

Dame Andrea splits her time between an address in Bassingham, near Lincoln, and a house in Yorkshire, where her son is at school.

She later doubled down on her comments about Cllr Overton, saying there was an 'irony of saying someone's being parachuted in who's not even from the country'.

Reacting to the comments, Cllr Overton told MailOnline she was 'surprised', adding: 'I think it's disappointing. We expect more from the mayor, a more statesmanlike approach, bringing different parties together.

'Lots of people have different accents. I've lived in this area for a very long time and served in this area for a very long time and made a huge commitment.'

Cllr Overton said she would have liked to have seen Dame Andrea 'bringing people together, not wasting time on fighting and political point scoring'.

The councillor said Dame Andrea used her position on stage to make the remarks 'when nobody else had a voice' - despite the other candidates 'congratulating and applauding' her.

Cllr Overton condemned Dame Andrea's comments about housing migrants in tents rather than hotels. Asked why she walked off stage, she said: 'Most of the room also walked out. It was completely out of place.

'That may have been the speech she was nominated for, but once you are elected it's time to do the job. We need to be together.'

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Cllr Overton (pictured) said she would have liked to have seen Dame Andrea 'bringing people together, not wasting time on fighting and political point scoring'.

According to Cllr Overton's LinkedIn, she spent three years at St Anne's Diocesan College, a highly-respected boarding school for girls in the small South African town of Hilton before moving to the UK before she was 10.

When she moved to London in 1973, Cllr Overton was enrolled at Grey Coat Hospital, an elite Church of England state school in the heart of Westminster.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron and veteran Cabinet minister Michael Gove have also sent their daughters to the school.

After completing her O and A-Levels at the prestigious school, Cllr Overton studied Zoology and animal biology at King's College in London before spending a year as a postgraduate at the Institute of Education.

In a near 50-year career, Cllr Overton has held a number of jobs, ranging from teaching biology to working with the NHS.

But for 30 years, she has been the leader of the Lincolnshire independents. Cllr Overton currently sits on the planning committee for Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council.

She has also been the leader of the Local Government Association Independent Group for the last 12 years. She is particularly involved in environmental issues, health and social care and education.

In an explosive interview after her win, Dame Andrea said she had 'never experienced such negativity and soul-destroying campaigns against me like this one'.

The moment Dame Andrea Jenkyns walked off a Sky News interview over 'dirty tricks'

Cllr Marianne Overton (pictured) was among those who walked off stage during Dame Andrea's speech

'The campaign was also filled with irony as one of the candidates stated I was parachuted in  she said in her South African accent,' she then jibed.

She added: 'They undemocratically tried to remove me from the ballot but I will say no more on this.'

When questioned by Sky News about her remarks, she said: 'What I meant is how can they say I'm parachuted in when I've spent most of my life in Lincolnshire?'

When pressed on why she mentioned the accent, Dame Andrea said there was an 'irony of saying someone's being parachuted in who's not even from the country'.

'I went to school, college, university..'

As the reporter interjected to say, 'So someone who has got an accent can't be from this county?', Dame Andrea roller her eyes and fumed: 'I think I'm not going to answer any more of your questions.'

Growing increasingly agitated, she insisted it had been a 'little play on words' which was 'a little joke because of the irony'.

'Do you not understand irony?' she said before walking off.

Dame Andrea had immediately sparked a backlash after winning as she called for migrants to be housed in tents instead of hotels.

She called for 'an end to soft touch Britain' in her victory speak, prompting some of her rivals to walk off stage.

Later, she doubled down on her views, insisting that the 'silent majority' would back her in thinking migrants should be housed in tents like they do in France.

Dame Andrea served as Tory MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire from 2015 until last year's general election, when the constituency was abolished.

She defeated then-shadow chancellor Ed Balls to claim the seat by a slender majority of 422.

Last July, she was beaten to the new Leeds South West and Morley constituency by Labour's Mark Sewards, picking up 23 per cent of the vote, and caused a stir after her election campaign leaflet included an image of her and Nigel Farage at his 60th birthday party.

A staunch supporter of Brexit and Boris Johnson, she submitted no-confidence letters in both former prime ministers Theresa May and Rishi Sunak.

Dame Andrea was appointed assistant whip under the Johnson administration in September 2021 before becoming a Department for Education minister in July 2022.

There was considerable reaction from teachers' leaders shortly after when Ms Jenkyns made an 'obscene gesture' to the public outside Downing Street, as she went to watch Mr Johnson's resignation speech.

In response, she said that a 'baying mob outside the gates were insulting MPs on their way in as is sadly too common'.

She was reappointed in the role by Liz Truss that September, who she endorsed in the party leadership election, but remained part of the cabinet for only 49 days and left after Rishi Sunak became the new prime minister.

Ms Jenkyns was given a damehood in Mr Johnson's resignation honours list in June 2023.

At a press conference in November last year, Dame Andrea announced her defection to Reform UK and said she had become the 100,000th member of the party.

Following the announcement, she said that she and Mr Farage were 'politically aligned' and that the Conservative Party had 'become tired'.

Speaking after her mayoral victory on Friday, Ms Jenkyns said: 'To the people of Lincolnshire, thank you for putting your trust in me. I will work tirelessly for you every day.'

She continued: 'To Nigel (Farage), to Richard (Tice) and to Zia (Yusuf), I thank you for your friendship, for your support and getting me through these last few difficult weeks. I'm immensely proud to be part of the Reform family, so thank you for welcoming me.

'I've fought many elections - four general elections, my third local election - but... I've never experienced such negativity and soul-destroying campaigns against me like this one.

'The dirty tricks in the US politics I believe has now been imported here into Britain.'
A man accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree tried to drop his co-defendant in it, claiming in an anonymous call to police that he had the chainsaw used to chop it down and a missing chunk allegedly kept as a trophy.

Daniel Graham, 39, spoke to police on the 101 service in August last year and told a call handler that his co-defendant, Adam Carruthers, was in possession of part of the tree, chainsaws and even firearms, it is alleged.

Graham and Carruthers were arrested in connection with the felling of the tree in October 2023, but even by August last year Graham was so desperate to pin the blame on Carruthers that he called the police himself, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Andrew Gurney, for Carruthers, then played the call to the jury. The male caller, speaking to a call-handler, said: I tried to phone Cumbria Police to report some information, they said I need to speak to Northumbria Police.

The caller then declined to give his name or number and when asked what the call was about replied: Sycamore Gap.

When asked what the information was, he replied: One of the lads that done it, Adam Carruthers, has got the saws back in his possession. They were being held by another male by the name of Lindsay Dalgleish. They were being held in Annan.

The caller said two of the saws were now in Wigton, Cumbria, at the home of Carruthers' mother. He added that Mr Dalgleish had another eight saws and they have the same oil in them as the one used to cut down the tree.

Prosecutors told Newcastle Crown Court photos were found on Daniel Graham's phone after his arrest showing a piece of the Sycamore Gap tree and a chainsaw in the back of his Range Rover

Groundworker Daniel Graham (left), 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers (right), 32, each deny two counts of criminal damage to the tree and Hadrian's Wall

Graham and Carruthers, seen here in a court sketch, were arrested in connection with the felling of the tree in October 2023

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The court earlier heard that police looked into Lindsay Dalgleish but was satisfied that he wasn't involved.

The missing 'wedge' of the tree and the chainsaw used to fell it have also not been found, the court has heard.

Analysis of Grahams mobile phone later established that he made the tip-off call to Northumberland Police on August 23rd last year, using the 101 service

Andrew Gurney, for Carruthers, told the court that Graham made the call: To drop Adam Carruthers in it.

In the call, Graham said to the operator: 'One of the lads that did it, Adam Carruthers, has got the saws back in his possession

'They were being held by another male by the name of Lindsay Dalgleish. They were being held in Annan, that's is in Scotland

'They went to his parents address at 22 Church Street in Wigton and they have been taken to Cumbria Turf at Kirkbride, which is where he works

'There is another eight saws that Lindsay Dalgleigh is still holding and I believe they have the same oil in. Every chainsaw has oil in it for the bar. You will be able to match that up.

'There is also part of the tree that is with the saws as well. They were at the home address but possibly they have been moved to Cumbria Turf and hidden there at his place of work. Two days ago they were moved from Church Street to Cumbria Turf. They kept part of the tree, the wedge.'

He was asked by the call handle: 'Is there anything else?'

Graham answered: 'No that is all I've got to say. If I get any more information I will do the same again and pass it over.'

However, then continued to divulge further information.

Graham told the operator: 'He lives in a caravan, his actual home address is the Old Fuel Depot and that's in Kirkbride, he lives in a caravan there.

'At Kirkbride he does have firearms. At the minute they are in the workshop where he works on cars, there are radiators and shelving and there are shotguns there and 9mm bullets on there as well. He has an old shotgun, a .22 or a 247, and a 9mm handgun.

Grabs from an enhanced version of mobile phone footage showing the Sycamore Gap being felled in September 2023, which has been shown at Newcastle Crown Court

'Ammunition is in the workshop and the weapons are in other buildings on the other side of the yard where someone else works out of

'He has free run of the place. If the chainsaws are there they will be stored at some place on the farm where Adam does not work, they will be in other buildings on the farm, he has access to everywhere on the farm.

'He has access to CCTV footage as well, he'll be able to delete that when he needs to."

The call, Mr Gurney said, provided false information, with no firearms being recovered. The trial has heard that the chainsaw and wedge from the tree have still not been recovered.

The prosecution has now concluded its case and Graham is expected to give evidence in his defence today.

Graham and Carruthers deny criminal damage.

The trial continues.
The annual benefits bill for refugee households has topped 1billion after surging by a third in just a year, new figures show.

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed the total amount of universal credit paid to households with at least one refugee claimant soared to 1.1billion last year, up from 828million in 2023.

Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, who obtained the figures through freedom of information laws, said rising costs could only be addressed if Britain quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

'The Government has dishonestly attempted to try and hide the ballooning costs by waving more and more people through into the welfare system so that they will no longer technically count as asylum seekers,' he said.

'But the cost in the real world doesn't go away and people can increasingly see that in their communities as more hotels open and more asylum seekers arrive into deprived areas across the country.

'This billion pounds is just one small part of the overall cost and the fact that is is rising so rapidly is very alarming.'

Mr O'Brien said the small boats crisis was partly fuelling the exploding bill to the taxpayer.

'Far from Starmer's smashing the gangs, the gangs are smashing him,' the MP said.

'It has been a complete failure as everyone predicted, because he hasn't addressed soft touch Britain and the reasons people are coming.

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'Human rights lawyers like Starmer are the reason we have this problem in the first place.

'Everyone knows if they can make it to the UK they will be allowed to stay because of human rights law. '

Mr OBrien told the Telegraph: None of this will be fixed until we exit from this thicket of human rights law which leads to illegal immigrants being prioritised over British people who have paid in all their lives.'

Experts said the increase was attributable to a surge in the number of asylum claimants being granted refugee status by the Home Office in recent years, allowing them to claim universal credit and other benefits.

Migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel at Dover earlier this week

Director of Oxford University's Migration Observatory, Madeleine Sumption, said: Between December 2022 and December 2023, the number of people with refugee permission increased by 86 per cent.

Government figures from February showed asylum claims have surged under Labour to hit more than 108,000 last year  the highest number since records began in 1979.

The biggest increase came in the second half of the year  following the general election - when more than 61,383 asylum bids were lodged, compared with 50,352 during the same period in 2023.

Tory MP and shadow minister Neil O'Brien, who obtained official data showing universal credit spending on households with at least one refugee occupant hit 1.1billion last year

The annual total - an 18 per cent year-on-year rise - smashed the previous record set during the early 2000s asylum crisis by five per cent.

One of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers first acts after taking power was scrapping the Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed by the previous Conservative government to deter Channel small boat crossings.

The data showed the number of asylum claims which were actually granted fell 37 per cent to just under 40,000, mainly because the previous Tory government put cases on hold last spring.

Migrants arrive at the Port of Dover earlier this week after being picked up in the middle of the Channel by a UK Border Force catamaran

But Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reversed that move in July, allowing processing to restart.

The Government has begun clearing asylum backlogs  including claimants who had been earmarked to be sent to Rwanda  and an expected surge in granted cases will be revealed in figures due to be published later this month.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged a migration crackdown with a white paper due later later this month.

Separately, Ms Cooper is reviewing the way Article 8 of the ECHR  the right to private and family life  is used in immigration cases.

Earlier this week Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood admitted that some Article 8 cases do not always stand up to scrutiny when you get into the full facts, and they do raise questions over whether the law is working as it should.

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Labour is facing a backbench rebellion over the proposed 5billion in benefit cuts announced by the Chancellor in her spring statement.

One senior Labour MP, Graham Stringer, said soaring spending on welfare for refugees meant backing broad benefits cuts would be made more difficult for many of his colleagues.

Labour MP Graham Stringer MP said rising refugee welfare costs would make broader benefits cuts 'more difficult' for many of his party's backbenchers

The MP for Blackley and Middleton South said: This data is an indication of part of the cost of a failure to control our borders.

Later this year Labour MPs will be asked to vote to cut benefits.

The Government's failure to control this budget on immigration will make that decision much more difficult for many Labour MPs.

A government source said: The Tories left the asylum system in chaos. On their watch, small boat crossings went from a few hundreds in 2018 to a record of over 45,000 crossings in 2022.

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A Labour Government is fixing the Tories' mess, going after the criminal smuggling gangs who were able to take root right along our border.

We are also getting a grip of the welfare system, which the Tories broke, by putting new support in place to get people back to work and put the finances on a more sustainable footing.

According to the DWP's letter to Mr O'Brien, the proportion of universal credit spending on households with at least one refugee rose from 1.7 per cent of the total in 2023 to 1.8 per cent in 2024.

The amount paid was 1,103,000,000 in 2024, the document showed.

A DWP spokesman said: The application process is thorough, and illegal migrants with no immigration status cannot receive universal credit.
A British woman who moved to the US to train as a nurse was stabbed to death in her flat just days before she was due to graduate.

Tamilore Odunsi, 23, was found dead in her student apartment in Houston, Texas, after a friend of her father called the police to say they had not been able to reach her.

When officers arrived, they spotted blood on the rear patio and forced their way inside  finding Tamilore in the kitchen with fatal injuries.

A flatmate was also found with stab wounds in a bedroom and taken to hospital in critical condition.

Tamilore and the unidentified man shared the two-bed flat, but were said to be 'complete strangers', with him only moving in a few weeks earlier.

The graduate nurse was prolific on social media  going by the handle Tamidollars on TikTok where she had 30,000 followers. Her posts had amassed more than 3 million likes.

Her last post on April 21  just three days before she died  showed her relaxed and smiling in her room with the caption 'I'm readdyyyyy' along with a relaxed emoji.

Alongside the clip she had written: '23 years old. BSN grad in 2 weeks. Summer is 14 days away. Starting to look human again.'

Tamilore Odunsi was found dead at her flat in Texas just days before she was set to graduate

The 23-year-old had recently moved into a flat in Houston with a 'complete stranger'

Tamilore  who was also known as Tami  posted regularly on TikTok about how her studies were going and offered tips to students and followers.

She also documented on Tik Tok under the tab 'Brit in America' what it was like for a Londoner to live in Houston and the lifestyle differences between the two countries.

In one clip she joked how Americans always asked her 'Is is true everything stops for tea?' and she also highlighted how healthcare in the UK was free.

Relatives have started a Go Fund Me page for Tamilore, who was originally from London and moved to Houston in 2022  to cover repatriation and funeral costs.

On the page  which has already reached more than 28,000 of its 40,000 target  sister Georgina Odunsi paid a touching tribute.

She said: 'With heavy hearts, we share the devasting loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and friend, Tamilore Odunsi  known ton her TikTok family as Tami Dollars or TD.

'Tami was a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition, and kindness. She was just 23 years old.

'A devoted Christian, she was a God-fearing young woman who found strength and joy in her faith.

'She had a deep love for her church community, where she was actively involved and always eager to serve others with humanity and grace.

File photo shows Houston, Texas. Tami had only recently moved to the US city

The trainee nurse was prolific on social media, with more than 30,000 followers on TikTok

'She moved from the UK to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, dedicating herself to a life of care and service.

'Tami had a special love for children and always dreamed of making a difference in young lives through her work in healthcare.

'Outside of her studies, she brought joy to others through her love for creating content and expressing her vibrant personality.

'Tragically Tami was murdered just days before she was set to graduate from university  an unimaginable loss at a moment that should have marked the beginning of a bright and promising future.

'Tami touched so many lives in her short time here. Now, we are asking for help to give her the peaceful and dignified farewell she deserves.

'Our goal is to bring Tami home from. The United States to the UK so she can be laid to rest surrounded by her family and loved ones.

'We are raising funds to cover the costs of her repatriation, funeral and burial, and to support her family during this incredibly painful time.

Tami moved from the UK to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse

'Any amount you can give, no matter how small, will make a difference. And if you're unable to give, please consider sharing this page and keeping our family in your prayers.'

The tribute ended: 'We love you, Tami. You will be forever in our hearts,' followed by a red heart emoji.

While on Instagram her property developer brother Manny wrote: 'Flying 10 hours to America will be the hardest journey of my life. Knowing that you won't be at the airport to greet us makes the pain even deeper.

'Ever since I heard the news, I keep asking myself if there was anything more I could have done to protect you as your older brother.

'But I believe you're in a better place now. Your assignment on earth is complete. This isn't goodbye, its just 'See you later'.

'I know you're smiling down on us. Tami you were truly a special soul, loving caring, generous, honest  and adored by everyone who met you.

'Our Tik Tok star. My creative director, and most importantly, my baby sister.

'You were always by my side especially through my property journey and for that, I'm grateful I promise to make you proud, and I'll continue to honour your legacy.'

Officers found Tami had been killed during a welfare check

No one was immediately available for comment from the Texas Women's University of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

A statement on the website of the Houston Police Department said: 'Officers were called to a residence at the above apartment complex for a welfare check.

'They knocked on the door but did not received an answer. Officers then discovered blood on the rear concrete patio and entered the apartment.

'The female victim was discovered on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds. A male was discovered in a bedroom with at least one stab wound.

'Responding Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the female deceased at the scene. The male was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

'The investigation is ongoing.'
Washington has said it will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after despot Vladimir Putin refused to sign a ceasefire deal.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said last night that the US will be changing 'the methodology of how we contribute... in that we will not be the mediators.'

'But we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties,' the former Fox News host added.

'Now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. It's going to be up to them.'

The day before the announcement, Trump approved his administration's first arms export to Kyiv.

He informed Congress that he would approve exporting at least $50million (38million) in arms to Ukraine.

This is the first time the president has approved an export deal since taking office in January, and came just a few weeks after the US put all military aid being sent to Ukraine under review.

It comes just days after Ukraine signed a major minerals deal with the US.

Donald Trump's (pictured alongside Volodymyr Zelensky) administration has revealed it is pulling out of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia

A Ukrainian tank crew of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a round from a Leopard 2A4 tank during a field training exercise at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on April 30, 2025

Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine May 1, 2025

Despot Vladimir Putin (pictured, right) refused to sign a ceasefire deal with Ukraine

The agreement, which is yet to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament, is considerably less exploitative than the initial deal proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this year, but will still see Washington profit extensively from Ukrainian natural resources.

It was hoped the US commitment to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure could facilitate ceasefire negotiations as Bessent said the agreement will show the 'Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals'.

Bessent said prior to the US' decision to pull out of its mediating role that the signing of the deal 'signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, declared that the signing of the minerals deal was the 'first result' of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope's funeral and called the agreement 'truly historic'.

Last night, US Vice President JD Vance declared he doesn't see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'any time soon' as Secretary for State Marco Rubio admitted Donald Trump needs to find a breakthrough quickly in ceasefire negotiations.

'It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,' Vance said in an interview on Fox News with host Bret Baier.

'It's not going anywhere, Bret. It's not going to end any time soon.'

He went on to admit that it was difficult to be confident that an end to the war was in sight, because the Russians and Ukrainians 'have to take the final step' and 'come to their senses', before trivialising Russia's invasion of its sovereign neighbour.

'For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?' Vance said.

US Vice President JD Vance has declared he doesn't see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'any time soon'

Firefighters put out the fire at an apartment house following Russia's air raid in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, May 1, 2025

Russia said on Friday its forces were continuing to create a 'security strip' in border areas of Ukraine's Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, just across the border in western Russia.

Ukraine says its forces still have a foothold in Kursk, where it staged an incursion in August to try to distract Russian forces and win leverage in any future peace talks, but that it is concerned about a possible Russian advance into Sumy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to create a buffer zone in the Sumy region to guard against any future potential Ukrainian incursions.

'Units of the North group of forces have completed the rout of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Kursk region,' the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

'The creation of a 'security strip' in the border areas of Ukraine's Sumy region continues.'
Influential political duo Mike and Kelly Johnson marked their decades-long wedding anniversary by sharing an unrecognizable throwback photo.

On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated 26 years of marriage with his wife, Kelly, by sharing a tribute post to Instagram featuring a nostalgic photo from the day they tied the knot in back in 1999.

'Kelly & I celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary today - which also happens to be the National Day of Prayer,' the caption read.

'I thank God now, as always, for this extraordinary woman with whom I have been so profoundly blessed to build a life and an amazing family.'

The photo showed a much younger Mike and Kelly Johnson with fresh-faced looks and '90s attire - a striking contrast to their more seasoned and polished public image today.

At first glance, subtle details are the only hints tying the couple to their present-day selves - Kelly's signature blonde hair, Johnson's familiar glasses and the duo's similar height.

Racking up more than 1,500 comments, the post drew a wave of congratulations for the duo's milestone, with hundreds expressing admiration for sharing the youthful throwback to the internet.

'You, sir, married above your class,' one comment read. 'Kudos.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated 26 years of marriage on Thursday with his wife, Kelly, by sharing a tribute post to Instagram featuring a nostalgic photo from the day they tied the knot in back in 1999

The photo showed a much younger Mike and Kelly Johnson, as they were nearly unrecognizable with their fresh-faced looks and '90s attire - a striking contrast to their more seasoned and polished public image today

The political duo's shared values are reflected in the details of their marriage, as Johnson has previously spoke of his and Kelly's 'covenant marriage' - a stricter marriage, only legal in three states, that puts emphasis on faith and lifelong fidelity

Another said: 'Happy Anniversary!! The first pic though, y'all were babies back then.'

'Congratulations!' said another. 'God knew what he was doing when he put you two together. A strong powerful team to withstand the evil that has come against you and this nation! Blessings in abundance to you both!'

However, others voiced distaste with the sentimental post, citing today's political climate and Johnson's alignment with President Trump.

'Good for you. Now put your boots on and do something in congress,' one viewer wrote.

'Congratulations!' one comment began. 'Now get to work and eliminate Trump's tariffs and other destructive policies.'

Another read: 'Hey Mike! Step it up! Your wife hasn't aged! I will cut you some slack, you do keep President Trump in check! That will age anyone!'

The pair tied the knot in 1999 after meeting at Louisiana State University as Johnson was in the midst of pursuing his law degree, People reported. They went on to have four children.

'I told Kelly I loved her about three weeks after we met, and I really did,' Johnson wrote to Facebook for Kelly's birthday in 2023.

Some Instagram viewers voiced distaste with Johnson's sentimental post for his wife, citing today's political climate and the House speaker's alignment with President Trump

The pair tied the knot in 1999 after meeting at Louisiana State University as Johnson was in the midst of pursuing his law degree

Johnson, a far-right Louisiana congressman, was re-elected as House speaker by the Republican Party in January 2025 - a tenure that has since been characterized by his vocal opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Kelly, a former teacher turned pastoral counselor, also has a deep sense of faith, conservative values and a commitment to a strong public presence.

Their shared values are further reflected in the details of their marriage, as Johnson has previously spoke of his and Kelly's 'covenant marriage' - a stricter marriage only legal in three states that puts emphasis on faith and lifelong fidelity.

Both Johnson and Kelly have played a significant role in shaping evangelical political ideologies, with their presence in Washington, DC, becoming increasingly prominent throughout Trump's second administration.

On Thursday, Johnson defended himself against criticism from New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who accused the House speaker of seemingly sabotaging her nomination to become Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

The president pulled her bid after consulting with her and the speaker via conference call, a report from The New York Times detailed.

Aides close to Stefanik blamed Johnson for delaying her nomination - ultimately slow-walking the process until her nomination was killed, the report stated.

Johnson has publicly aired his stress over the razor-thin House Republican majority.

Stefanik's continued presence in the House is crucial for Johnson, as it bolsters his vote count, which is expected to be tight when he pushes for Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' this year.

Both Johnson and Kelly have played a significant role in shaping evangelical political ideologies, with their presence in Washington, DC, becoming increasingly prominent throughout Trump's second administration

The political power couple have been vocal about their shared deep integration of personal faith, conservative values and a commitment to a strong public presence

Johnson has previously shared that he told his wife he loved her about three weeks after initially meeting. The pair went on to have four kids

After dropping her bid, the president posted on Truth Social that Stefanik would resume her prior leadership role.

But Johnson demurred on restoring her to the post, prompting a bitter phone call between the two where Johnson tried to placate the congresswoman by admitting he had a lot of members angry at him, the Times reported.

'Im the angriest one,' she shot back, according to the outlet.

After the tense call. Johnson appointed the New Yorker as chairwoman of House Republican leadership.

However, she's far from the only colorful GOP personality Johnson has had to deal with as House speaker.

Johnson has also gotten into public feuds with the conservative House Freedom Caucus, libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Tenn., firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and more during his tenure.

Johnson, for his part, has likened his job to being a firefighter where he constantly has to put out embers of concern before they brew into a full-blown blaze.

A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners survey shared last month revealed that Democrats were quickly securing the lead in the 2026 midterm polling.

A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners survey shared last month revealed that Democrats were quickly securing the lead in the 2026 midterm polling - a match-up to take control of the US House of Representatives in a threat to both Trump and Johnson's MAGA majority

Johnson, a far-right Louisiana congressman, was re-elected as House speaker by the Republican party in January 2025 - a tenure that has since been characterized by his vocal opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights

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In a match-up to take control of the US House of Representatives in a threat to both Trump and Johnson's MAGA majority, the generic Democratic candidate received the support of 48 percent of respondents.

On the other hand, the Republican candidate received the support of a reduced 44 percent - sitting just outside the poll's plus or minus 3.4 percent margin of error.

The numbers should serve as a warning sign to Johnson, whose MAGA majority is razor-thin despite Republican gains in recent special elections.

Currently there are 220 Republicans to 213 Democrats in the House - and midterms generally swing against the party in the White House, though in 2022 Democrats prevented a full-fledged 'red wave,' giving Republicans, instead, a narrow majority.

The winner of the House of Representatives in November 2026 will likely be the party that can deliver the best message on the economy, which Americans easily chose as their No. 1 issue.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday he's taking away Harvard's tax exempt status as he escalates his war on Ivy League universities.

'We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!,' he wrote on Truth Social.

The president, since taking office in January, has gone after America's elite schools by freezing their federal funding and revoking student visas as part of the fallout from protests on campuses against Israel's war in Gaza.

Conservatives have long been suspicious of the Ivy League. Trump argues these college campuses have become home to antisemitism led by the 'radical left.'

Harvard has been fighting the administration's new demands. The school is suing to get back its federal grants after the White House terminated $2 billion in government funds for the Boston-based university.

President Donald Trump announced he is taking away Harvard's tax exempt status

Trump was outraged after Harvard said it would not comply with the administration's demands to audit certain programs and departments the administration says fuels antisemitic harassment or has an ideological capture.

Harvard University President Alan Garber slammed President Trumps threat to remove the schools tax-exempt status, calling it highly illegal and destructive to Harvard.

The message that it sends to the educational community would be a very dire one, which suggests that political disagreements could be used as a basis to pose what might be an existential threat to so many educational institutions, Garber said told the Wall Street Journal.

If the government goes through with a plan to revoke our tax exempt status, it wouldbe highly illegal unless there is some reasoning that we have not been exposed to that would justify this dramatic move, he noted.

Garber added: Tax exempt status is granted to educational institutions to enable them to successfully carry out their mission of education and, for research universities, of research. Obviously that would be severely impaired if we were to lose our tax exempt status.

The administration's attack on higher education is part of its efforts to root out DEI programs and affirmative action.

Specifically the Trump administration is pushing schools to 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 administration called 'more committed to activism than scholarship.'

Harvard was the first university to fight back, filing a lawsuit against Trump's actions.

The next hearing for Harvard's case against the government is set for July 21.

The school argues the Trump administration orders violate the First Amendment.

Harvard President Alan Gerber said Trump's push to remove the school's tax exempt status is 'illegal'

Harvard University was the first school to fight back against the Trump administration's demands on higher education

The Internal Revenue Service started making plans last month to revoke Harvard's tax exempt status, CNN reported.

Last month, Trump floated the idea of removing the university's status.

'Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 'Sickness?' Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!' he posted on Truth Social.

IRS acting commissioner Gary Shapley has the authority to rescind the tax exemption under federal law.

But that move usually comes after the agency conducts an investigation and determines an organization has violated the rules that govern tax exemptions for not-for-profit entities.

Harvard would likely sue if the administration removed its exemption.

Not-for-profit organizations that benefit from the tax exemption can lose it if they violate a number of rules, including for political activity.
John Fetterman has revealed he believes President Donald Trump's mental acumen is as strong as ever as the Senator finally lifts the lid on his Mar-a-Lago meeting.

The Pennsylvanian had been the only Democrat senator to grace the halls of Mar-a-Lago after Trump's historic second win in November, but he has kept largely mum on it - until now.

'If youre a senator from a critical state and the president would like to have a conversation, thats part of our responsibility,' Fetterman, 55, told New York Magazine.

The meeting went smoothly, lasting around 75 minutes, and Fetterman came out thinking the president had a different persona than he does in public and had 'fully engaged' in the conversation.

'His faculties havent slipped at all,' he told the magazine. 'Its not that I admire it - I acknowledge it, and if you dont, you do it at your own peril politically.'

His comments echo those of the comedian and HBO host Bill Maher, who recently visited the White House to talk with Trump.

The comedian also said that Trump was a 'different' person than he had seen in the public eye over the past decade.

Fetterman has also been keen to get to know Trump's top cabinet picks, which has led him to also meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He even voted for Attorney General Pam Bondi, making him the only Democrat to do so.

Senator revealed he believes President Donald Trump 's mental acumen is as strong as ever

'His faculties havent slipped at all,' he said. 'Its not that I admire it - I acknowledge it, and if you dont, you do it at your own peril politically'

However, not everyone on Fetterman's staff and in is personal life have been happy with the Senator's recent choices.

His wife, Gisele, didn't want him to make the trip to Mar-a-Lago, and staffers said this led to fights between the couple, according to the magazine.

The staffers were worried he would ultimately support Hegseth, who would later go on to share state secrets with a journalist.

'We are going to have massive issues internally when he votes for Hegseth,' an anonymous staffer told New York Magazine in January.

Much like his meeting with Trump, Fetterman was the only Democrat to meet with Hegseth prior to his confirmation.

Staffers said the senator was unimpressed with the former Fox personality, but they still feared he would vote to him.

He even floated the idea of not voting at all, instead taking off to hide out in his parent's home in York, staffers told the magazine.

'I felt like I was looking at a six-eight eight-year-old,' a staffer told the magazine.

Not everyone on Fetterman's staff and in his personal life have been happy with Fetterman's choices as of late. His wife, Gisele, (pictured) did not want to make the trip to Mar-a-Lago

He allegedly spent time crying in his office and arguing with his wife, but the Senator has denied this.

'My "no" vote on Pete Hegseth speaks for itself. The rest is pure conjecture,' he told the magazine.

Fetterman, who had a stroke in May 2022, has been isolating himself since, many staffers said. Some described the early days of his recovery as being stressful they believed he had stopped caring about his work as much.

The aides did not recognize the man they were working with, they told the magazine.

It has been years since the stroke but Fetterman still needs help processing auditory things and uses an application to transcribe words in real-time, the reporter said.

Podcaster Tim Miller said Fetterman was 'struggling'.

'Hes, like, really struggling. And I just think coming off of the Biden thing, we should not be hiding the ball on this sort of stuff,' he said.

Staff have also alleged that the senator has gone off his medication, but he denies this

Fetterman said he does not think recent mental health issues he has experienced will be a 'lifelong' struggle, telling New York Magazine that he only started experiencing them after his stroke. 'Everything kind of collided at the same time,' he said.

When asked if he was still taking his medication because his staff had alleged he had stopped, the politician declined to comment.

'Theres not really anything to respond when thats just not accurate,' he told the magazine. 'Theres not anyone that youre referencing who would be privy to my medical history.'

For now, the senator insisted: 'Everythings great.'
Tennessee authorities have released damning police bodycam footage showing the moment an accused gang member at the center of a deportation fight was pulled over by cops for suspected human trafficking.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, is seen in the footage from November 30, 2022, speaking with officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol in what initially appears to be a routine traffic stop.

After asking Abrego Garcia to show his license, the officer changes his tune as he realizes there are eight other people in the car, all of whom were men.

'How many rows have you got in here? Four seats? Four rows of seats?' the state trooper said in the footage, first obtained by Fox News.

He questioned if Abrego Garcia had 'put an extra [set of seats] in' the car, adding: 'I've never seen one with that many seats in it.'

Abrego Garcia appeared to change his story after being quizzed by the trooper. He initially said he was going to St. Louis, Missouri, before then saying he was headed home to Maryland.

Abrego Garcia then said the group of men in his car were going to St. Louis while he was continuing on to 'work,' adding his boss was in Texas and seemingly raising the trooper's suspicions.

As the troopers leave to run his license, one was heard saying to the other: 'He's hauling these people for money.'

Tennessee authorities released damning bodycam footage showing the moment Kilmar Abrego Garcia was pulled over by cops after being suspected of being involved in human trafficking

Abrego Garcia, 29, is seen in the footage from November 30, 2022, speaking with officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol as they suspect him of 'hauling people for money'

According to Fox News, a source told the outlet that a redacted portion of the footage showed the troopers considering whether to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The troopers decided to do so, but ICE officials reportedly never came to pick up Abrego Garcia.

In a report from the traffic stop, troopers noted that none of the men in the car had luggage and all said their addresses were the same as Abrego Garcia's. Troopers also said the driver appeared to try and know less English than he was capable of.

The illegal migrant has become the face of President Trump's deportation crackdown as his status in the US was scrutinized following his detainment earlier this year.

In 2019, he was issued a deportation order, and two judges had previously concluded that he was likely affiliated with the gang MS-13 .

During the 2022 traffic stop, when troopers ran his name through the National Crime Information Center database, they were hit with a warning that showed he was suspected of being a gang member or a terrorist, a source told Fox News.

After the trooper suspected Abrego Garcia was 'hauling these people for money,' the migrant was found to be in possession of $1,400 in cash and an expired license.

In the footage, one of the troopers could be heard saying to the other: 'This is a good stop.'

Despite the expired license and the trooper's suspicions, Abrego Garcia was let go without an arrest or citation, and Garcia's lawyers said he has never been charged or convicted of any crime.

It comes as Abrego Garcia's alleged ties to organized crime have come under a microscope, with Democratic Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized for meeting with the deportee in El Salvador as they appeared to sip margaritas together.

Abrego Garcia's alleged ties to organized crime have come under a microscope, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized for meeting with the deportee in El Salvador (pictured in April) as they appeared to sip margaritas together

Van Hollen was ridiculed by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for his visit

Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere

Van Hollen was ridiculed by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for his visit, drawing attention to the drinks with salt on the rim at their meeting.

'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the "death camps" & "torture," now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' Bukele wrote in post on X.

Popular Trump-aligned accounts on X, including Libs of TikTok, also slammed Van Hollen for his cozy chat with Abrego Garcia.

One person pointed out that in Van Hollen's official post on X, he didn't include the picture showing the margarita glasses.

Another responded directly to the senator's post: 'Hey Chris!! This is the real picture. How were those margaritas??? President Bukele posted this one. No hiding the truth from America.'

A third wrote: 'Senator Chris Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia sipping margaritas with salted rimsThirsty Thursday in El Salvador.'

Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere.

Trump officials insist Abrego Garcia is not innocent. They claim he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador.

A 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), first obtained by DailyMail.com, stated that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years.

Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, first obtained by DailyMail.com, stated that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years.

In court filings last month, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US.

A three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

The Trump administration's claims that it can't do anything to free Abrego Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches.
Donald Trump is proposing major budget cuts to foreign aid and green energy in his billion-dollar budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

The proposal includes about $163 billion in cuts to key health, labor and housing programs but will bolster defense spending.

It's estimated to allot $557 billion for non-defense programs for 2026. Trump is also asking for a record $1 trillion for national security.

Earlier, he pushed for a controversial change to a beloved American federal holiday.

The president announced on Thursday that he would celebrate May 8 as 'Victory Day for World War II.'

And he plans to rename Veterans Day, calling it 'Victory Day for World War I.'
A luxury car dealership director has blasted Britain's soft justice system after his brand-new 114,000 Range Rover was stolen from his driveway  the fourth time he's fallen victim to brazen car crooks.

Tom Jaconelli, 39, was left fuming after thieves snatched his top of the range 2024 Range Rover Sport P550e from outside his plush home in Cobham, Surrey on Wednesday morning.

The sleek 150mph SUV  the pride of the Romans International director  was spotted being driven away on his own doorbell camera, sparking a frantic effort to retrieve it.

But thanks to a high-tech tracking system fitted to the luxury motor, and a rapid response from the Metropolitan Police, Tom was able to watch as three police dog vans swooped in and stopped the suspect in his tracks just 15 minutes later.

'This is the fourth time I've had a car stolen from outside my house,' Tom Jaconelli said.

'Three times out of four we got the car back but this is the first time they actually caught the criminal who did it.

'We got the car back with the amazing help of Meta Trak UK and the Metropolitan Police who turned up with three dog vans.

Tom Jaconelli, 39, was left fuming after thieves snatched his top of the range 2024 Range Rover Sport P550e from outside his plush home in Cobham, Surrey on Wednesday morning

The sleek 150mph SUV  the pride of the Romans International director  was spotted being driven away on his own doorbell camera, sparking a frantic effort to retrieve it

But thanks to a high-tech tracking system fitted to the luxury motor, and a rapid response from the Metropolitan Police , Tom was able to watch as three police dog vans swooped in and stopped the suspect in his tracks just 15 minutes later

'And not only did they manage to get the pinpoint location of the car, they also detained the suspect who is now in custody thanks to the police dogs who chased him and took him down.'

Despite the swift action, Tom slammed what he described as a 'laughable' punishment for offenders.

'Sadly the worst sentence someone can get for car theft is six months prison and apparently most get off with community service.

'Personally I think there should be much harsher sentences for car thieves to deter them as it's rife, especially around London and Surrey.'

He added: 'Big shout out to the Met Police officers who I have heard criticised previously for turning a bit of a blind eye to car theft but this shows that they will go after people in force and serve justice.

'Also I think it's time I got a gate or one of those retractable security bollards if anyone can hit me up with a contact.'

Both Surrey Police and the Met Police have been approached for comment.
New York running influencer Kate Mackz was met with merciless criticism following an interview with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, seemingly causing her to delete her video briefly.

Mackz toured the White House with Leavitt, resulting in fans slamming the influencer. Several users suggested that Mackz had deleted the video on her TikTok page, but it has since been reposted and her Instagram post is now online but with moderated comments.

While Mackz is known for running alongside her interviewees, Leavitt instead walked the influencer around the White House grounds.

'No miles because we're at the beautiful White House,' Leavitt said. 'But why don't I give you a tour?'

Mackz wrote in the video's caption: 'From being at the White House last year speaking on a mental health panel and meeting President Biden, to being back again this year... thank you for having us. Truly surreal to walk through a place with so much history and meaning.'

But the lighthearted tour of the historic grounds flooded her comments with outraged trolls.

'This is really, really disappointing. Yikes,' said one commenter.

'Reminder that this administration does NOT actually allow press from across the world into its press briefings. @apnews,' another wrote.

New York running influencer Kate Mackz was met with merciless criticism following an interview with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt , causing her to delete her video

Mackz wrote in the video's caption: 'From being at the White House last year speaking on a mental health panel and meeting President Biden, to being back again this year... thank you for having us. Truly surreal to walk through a place with so much history and meaning'

But the lighthearted tour of the historic grounds flooded her comments with disappointed and outraged fans. 'This is really, really disappointing. Yikes,' said one

The comment was in reference to the administration's decision to disallow AP News journalists from the Oval Office or Air Force One over the Gulf of 'America's' controversial name change.

A federal judge has since ordered the administration to restore the AP's press access, citing First Amendment rights.

'What a dystopic slap in the face to every queer person who has ever supported you. I'm just really really sad about this,' scathingly wrote one user.

'Followed this account basically since the beginning but the lack of integrity shown with this one is gross and kinda sad.'

'The fact she wasn't even running - you put a torch to your platform for a video that doesn't even fit your own brand,' another pointed out.

'This is actually the fastest I've ever ran... to the unfollow button,' one said.

However, some praised her interview on Instagram.

'We are so incredibly proud of you,' one wrote.

'The angry left never happy, because they are miserable themselves,' another pointed out.

'Yall. An interview is an interview!! Remember the days when media was unbiased and just interviewed everyone and put it out for the public to view and analyze to their own discretion?!' one said.

'No matter your political party, this is a COOL behind the scenes peek,' another wrote.

Some fans referred back to a popular interview Mackz posted last year with Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz, which they believed alluded to her political alignment at the time.

Users referred to Walz's daughter Hope's disappointment with keeping the video pinned on her page and called for its removal.

'Kate, be respectful, his daughter literally made a video telling you to unpin this. Insane that you won't. Also, nice new car. 0 morals,' one said.

'Unpin since you want to both sides your followers,' another wrote.

Her interview with Hope garnered more than 150,000 likes and remains pinned on Mackz's Instagram profile as of Friday morning.

'The fact she wasn't even running - you put a torch to your platform for a video that doesn't even fit your own brand,' one comment read

Tim Walz's daughter, Hope, slammed Mackz for the interview and said it was 'insulting' to keep a running interview with her dad pinned to her page

Hope said on TikTok that she doesn't 'understand how platforming an administration that cuts mental health services, cuts funding and literal shipments to food banks, is entirely heard in the climate.'

Hope began her critique of the interview by saying that 'running as an act is political,' due to the privileges that allow one the ability to run, such as, Hope said, free time, physical ability, access to 'quality' food and water, access to safe spaces, or funds for the equipment.

'Cutting funds to climate initiatives, and actively hurting the planet in that way, sending people away without due process, villainizing minorities, all of those things are preventing people from getting into the running community,' Hope said.

'Which is what I thought Kate's platform is for, but it's also just damaging to society as a whole. We should not be normalizing these people.

'I'm not gonna tell anyone what to do with their page, but I think it's insulting to my dad to leave a certain video pinned. Especially when he stands for, quite literally, the opposite of what this administration is doing.

'You don't get to "both sides" this. It's not both sides. We are quite literally talking about good versus evil here, and I'm just really disappointed the whole thing happened.'

'I was there when that video with my dad was filmed and I was very impressed with Kate, and this is just extremely disappointing,' she concluded.

Leavitt took Mackz through her favorite room in the White House - the press briefing room - before taking her into her own office to meet the press team and have a peek at where she spends most of her day

Pointing to a trio of framed pictures on the wall, she said: 'I obviously have photos; of myself with the President...and that's my baby, my nine month old son from our senior staff swearing in ceremony... my first press briefing'

The interview also gained attention after the pair bumped into White Lotus star and Trump critic Jason Isaacs.

Isaacs famously lashed out at Trump by drawing comparisons to the 'wealthy and self-centered' character he played on the blockbuster show, and in Washington DC last week referred to the president as a 'scumbag', according to The Daily Beast.

As Mackz's camera panned to a crowd out the front of a White House building, she was stunned to spot Isaacs among the group.

'Hi guys, look who we ran into,' Mackz said. 'One week after hanging out with Patrick [Schwarzenegger]. We've got to get you on the running show.'

Isaacs was all smiles as Mackz and Leavitt stopped to chat, telling her 'sure, I'm in,' before adding: 'Wait, running and talking at the same time?'

As the pair walked away to continue their tour, a beaming Leavitt said: 'You just never know who you're going to run into at the White House.'

As Mackz camera panned to a crowd out the front of a White House building, she was stunned to spot Isaacs among the group. 'Hi guys, look who we ran into,' Mackz said. 'One week after hanging out with Patrick [Schwarzenegger]. We've got to get you on the running show'

As the pair walked away to continue their tour, a beaming Leavitt said: 'You just never know who you're going to run into at the White House'

Isaacs was joined by other Hollywood stars ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner, which Trump did not attend due to Pope Francis' funeral.

Leavitt took Mackz through her favorite room in the White House - the press briefing room - before taking her into her own office to meet the press team and have a peek at where she spends most of her day.

'This is my office,' Leavitt said as she opened a door with her name engraved on a plaque.

Pointing to a trio of framed pictures on the wall, she said: 'I obviously have photos; of myself with the President...and that's my baby, my nine month old son from our senior staff swearing in ceremony... my first press briefing.'

Then Mackz was shown Leavitt's cork board above her desk. On it was a picture of herself with a group of school children from Georgia with whom she had met.

Leavitt proudly pointed to another photo of her son, this time he was beaming as he sat on Air Force 1, the president's plane.

'My baby on his first Air Force One flight,' the doting mom said.

The final item on her corkboard was a meme which Leavitt said she 'loves.'

'This admin has ICE destroy a family's home in Oklahoma and sent 3 young girls and their mom outside in their underwear in the middle of the night and stole all their stuff. They were all citizens. ICE didn't care. Apparently, you don't either. It's a shame,' one comment said

'It's a man pointing at a brain and it says no thanks, I won't be needing that. I believe everything legacy media shows,' she said, reading from the picture. 'We want critical thinking around here.'

Leavitt gushed about her demanding job, describing it as a 'dream come true' and a 'full circle moment' after starting her career in the first Trump administration as an intern.

Later as the tour of the grounds continued, Leavitt casually pointed to a slick red Tesla parked out the front. 'By the way, that is the President's Tesla,' she said.

'He has so generously told staff that we are allowed to drive it if we wish to take it out. I haven't taken him up on the offer, but maybe I will soon.'

DailyMail.com requested comment from Kate Mackz who did not immediately respond.
Nigel Farage's Reform Party has turned British politics on its head - seizing control of key councils and leaving the Tories and Labour reeling in the aftermath of a seismic local election shake-up.

In a night of jaw-dropping results, Reform UK claimed outright majorities in Staffordshire and Lincolnshire County Councils, toppling long-standing Conservative dominance.

Earlier in the day, Reform delivered a stinging blow to Starmer in Runcorn & Helsby, snatching a dramatic by-election victory that signals the party's growing might at the ballot box.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns made history as she became the first-ever Greater Lincolnshire mayor, trouncing her Tory rival by a whopping 40,000-vote majority.

Doncaster saw a similar story, with Labour's Ros Jones only narrowly fending off Reform by 698 votes, while the Tories were left languishing in third place. Crucially, right-wing parties combined for a dominant 57 per cent of the vote.

And there could be more bombshells to come with Mr Farage's party poised to capture the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoralty and set to rake in hundreds of council seats, many in Tory strongholds last won during Boris Johnson's 2021 high watermark.

For the Conservatives, the picture is grim. The party is now bracing for a catastrophic 600 to 700 seat wipeout, far worse than initial forecasts. Even Devon County Council has slipped from their grasp, thanks to a Lib Dem surge.

However, they are looking like they might just hang on in Buckinghamshire.

MailOnline has spoken directly to voters in key council and mayoral seats across the UK to get their views on this seismic night.

Mr Farage raised his hands as the incredibly tight result was read out in the Cheshire seat this morning

A jubilant Nigel Farage hailed Sarah Pochin's (right) win in Runcorn & Helsby today after recounts, as his party racks up gains across England at the expense of the two main parties

RUNCORN: 'We're sick and tired of Labour and what they stand for'

Locals on the streets of Runcorn vented their visceral rage toward Labour after Reform UK won the byelection by a handful of votes.

Nigel Farage's party won the count by just six votes on a night when Reform gained council seats across the country.

This morning locals in Runcorn hit out at the Labour Party who have had held the seat for the past 50 years after Reform's candidate Sarah Pochin overturned a 14,696 majority to take the Cheshire seat.

Peter Ellis, 73, said he had seen Labour 'destroy the town' over recent decades and was now delighted that voters had 'kicked them out.'

Peter said; 'Yes I voted Reform along with my neighbours. Let's just say everyone is just sick and tired of Labour and what they stand for.

'Locally we have seen the very sad decline of Runcorn over recent decades. And we all fed up to the back teeth with immigration. The asylum seekers are coming here now and we don't want them.

'I am a pensioner and Labour have made me poorer since they got in. It's not about racism but pounds and pence.

'People who have worked here all their lives get hit with bills they can't pay. And then we see asylum seekers in hotels with the best of everything.'

Peter Ellis, 73, said he had seen Labour 'destroy the town' over recent decades and was now delighted that voters had 'kicked them out'

Reform UK candidate Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage (second right) arrive at the DCBL Halton Stadium ahead of the result of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election

Pensioner David Atkinson said he was quietly pleased to see Reform win the seat but was not sure if the party offered a viable alternative in the long run

A workman eating a bacon sandwich in the high street agreed with Peter. The construction worker said: 'We are up at 5am every morning and on site for 6am.

'We are paying around 800 a month in tax and when we see illegals in hotels it's hard to take. I don't trust the government anymore end of.'

Peter added: 'It's important to emphasise this is not a racist town. And Farage is not a racist either. He just 'get's it' in a way most politicians don't.

'He can walk in the pub , have a pint and talk to the nearest person. Can you think of anyone from Labour with that ability. Look, ordinary people just like him.'

Peter's friend Rob, who said he was ex-forces, said:' I did tours of duty in Bosnia so I have seen real racism and ethnic cleansing. I have seen it mate.

'What we are seeing in Runcorn is something totally different. It's about indigenous people waking up and saying no, we are not taking it any more. We have been hammered with bills and taxes all our lives, and then the government fills the country with asylum seekers.'

Runcorn pensioner Mary Jones said; 'Well anyone looking at the town over recent years would realise it was time for a change'

Nigel Farage (C), leader of the Reform UK party, celebrates the victory of Sarah Pochin

Peter and Rob both said they believed there was a 'two-tier Briton' and that some of the rioters last year had been punished too harshly.

Peter said: 'People were angry for a reason. They knew they were being lied to about Southport. Starmer knew a lot more than he was letting on at the time.'

Runcorn pensioner Mary Jones said: 'Well anyone looking at the town over recent years would realise it was time for a change.

But we will have to see what Reform come up with. I think Nigel Farage has a lot to prove. He says he is not like the rest, but we will have to wait and see about that.'

Pensioner David Atkinson said he was quietly pleased to see Reform win the seat but was not sure if the party offered a viable alternative in the long run.

David, from the town, said;'Yes like most people I am not a bit surprised to see Reform get in. But Farage has a long way to go.

In terms of forming a government in the future I am just not sure. We will see how their new MP gets on. But Labour had to go.'

DONCASTER: Labour keep mayoralty by a whisker as locals say 'they've done nothing for the people they promised to help'

Labour has narrowly retained the mayoralty of Doncaster by just 698 votes ahead of Reform.

Its candidate Ros Jones received 23,805 votes, while Reform's Alexander Jones gained 23,107 and the Conservative candidate, former MP Nick Fletcher, was pushed into third place with 18,982.

Ian Mays said: 'I voted for Reform. I voted Labour previously. I don't like Labour any more. I did not like Keir Starmer in the first place. But we wanted a change from the Conservatives. They did not know what they were doing.

'But neither does he. I am from a pit village and voted Labour all my life. But they have made promises and not kept them.'

Joanna Evans, 54, said: 'There is a lot of debate with Labour at the moment. But I voted for James Church.'

Pauline Walker, who will be 84 on Saturday, said: 'I voted Labour today, though not for the General Election. I know what Labour do and they really think about people.

'I was a Labour Party member for 15 years. When Blair got in the Conservatives were shutting nursing homes down and I worked in one.

'Labour said they would not shut them. They were only in two months and they shut three down.

'We used to go canvassing around the streets, even when I was kid. My late husband used to fetch voters and bring them back.

Joanna Evans, 54, (right with Pauline Walker) said: 'There is a lot of debate with Labour at the moment. But I voted for James Church'

Ian Mays said: 'I am from a pit village and voted Labour all my life. But they have made promises and not kept them'

Liam Westmorland, 20, said: ' The last election I voted TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition). I voted for them again today. For me, I hope anyone wins but Reform'

'I know there is a strong possibility Reform will get in. I just hope they don't. Nigel Farage is like Trump and I have already lost some of the money for my funeral I invested before he got into power.'

Reform voter Anthony Griffiths, 54, said: 'I would never vote for Labour. I would prefer to punch Starmer in the face. I cannot stand him. He is as bad as Corbyn.

'I did not bother voting last election. Before that, I voted Conservative. But everyone I know is voting Reform now.

'When I heard about people getting evicted from places they had lived for years to house asylum seekers i thought it was an absolutely joke. It is disgusting.'

Liam Westmorland, 20, said: ' The last election I voted TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition). I voted for them again today. For me, I hope anyone wins but Reform.

'Starmer is nowhere near left wing enough. I fell out with the Labour Party and will never vote for them. Ideally, I would love Corbyn back in.'

Scott Elliott, 54, voted Labour - reluctantly - only to stop Reform getting in.

He said: 'It will be a disaster if Reform win. They are a right-wing party with nothing but sound bites. There is no substance to any policy they have.

'It is Trump-lite - lying but without the personality. I am not happy with Labour either. Normally, I vote with Labour except when I vote for the Greens.

'But there is no chance for the Greens in Doncaster. So the only option is Labour. Nigel Farage spends all his time just dodging the lies.'

Neville Morling added: 'I voted Labour but I think there will be a big swing against them.

'They have cut my fuel allowance. Some of the Reform policies I agree with. Others I don't.'

Neville Morling added: 'I voted Labour but I think there will be a big swing against them'

Fellow Reform voter Michael Krajnyk, 66, said: 'I have never voted Labour. I am an anarchist'

Another Reform voter Jean Hibbard, 69, who has mobility problems, said: 'I don't want Labour in. They have not done anything for the people they promised to help'

Another Reform voter Jean Hibbard, 69, who has mobility problems, said: 'I don't want Labour in. They have not done anything for the people they promised to help.

'It is the first time I have voted Reform and I am hoping they get in. Because this country is in an awful state. It is already crap and getting worse.

'Don't mention Starmer. He has cut my disability benefits. He was not going to do anything to benefits. Then as soon as he got in he cut the benefits.

'Since then he has done nothing apart from make this country worse.'

Fellow Reform voter Michael Krajnyk, 66, said: 'I have never voted Labour. I am an anarchist.

'I voted for Reform in the General Electon and I hope they get in here and stop the boat people simple as.

'You are talking to a man whose dad came from the Ukraine after World War Two. He got a job down the pits, not like these donkeys coming over now.

'My father did not come over on a boat. He got liberated from a German prisoner of war camp and I have worked all my life.'

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Reform targets county council as Conservatives battle to maintain slim majority

Residents in Buckinghamshire have expressed their fears that Reform could sweep in and topple a key stronghold for the Conservatives at this election.

Buckinghamshire has been under the control of the Tories for decades, with the party having consistently held a majority control of the previous Buckinghamshire County Council since its formation in 1973, and keeping an iron grip on the new unitary authority, Buckinghamshire Council, since its formation in 2020.

But since the last local election in 2021, the national Conservative party has been rocked to its core, first by the scandals which swept Boris Johnson out of office as prime minister in 2022, then by the disastrous and famously short-lived tenure of Liz Truss, before finally the Conservatives were hammered at last year's general election, which saw Labour claim a landslide victory.

During the same period, the Reform party has soared to prominence, competing with the Conservatives on traditionally Tory key issues such as immigration, securing four MPs voted in during the general election since Nigel Farage took over from Richard Tice last year.

Liberal Democrats Teller Mr Cowen (L) and Conservatives candidate Alex Dunlop (Beaconsfield Central) outside the Polling Station at the Curzon Centre in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Elderly voters leave the Polling Station at St Teresa's Church Hall in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Reform appears to have set its sights on Buckinghamshire Council as an election battleground where they could continue to chip away at the Conservative's voter base.

In 2021, Reform fielded just four candidates in the local elections, with one - Councillor Paul Irwin

from Stone & Waddesdon ward - getting voted in. The Conservatives, meanwhile, put a candidate up for all 148 seats and secured 106 councillors.

This year Reform has massively scaled up its ambitions for Buckinghamshire - which, after a boundary change, now has just 97 seats - putting up a total of 93 candidates. This means they will be contesting almost every seat with the Conservatives, who have put up a full suite of 97 candidates.

Although the two parties will be braced for a finger biting election results day on Friday, most constituents the Mail Online spoke to on Thursday said they had not voted and knew nothing about what the parties were offering in the local elections.

Particularly among young voters, the apathy towards the local elections was plain. One young man, asked who he might vote for, joked 'Matt Hancock seems like a good choice!'

Beaconsfield, a market town where almost a quarter of the population is aged 65 and over, has two Conservative councillors and one independent.

Sansa the dog, a Keeshond, waits patiently outside a Polling Station in the village of Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire

Local resident Ann Benstock, 77, told how she had - for the first time - split her three votes between different parties

Local resident Ann Benstock, 77, told how she had - for the first time - split her three votes between different parties.

'I am afraid it was a bit of a scattergun exercise', she said. 'I didn't vote, as a have done for many years, all for one party. I think the Conservatives will probably get in again, but we will see.

Asked about the rise of Reform, Ms Benstock said: 'I just think there is a lot of ill feeling about the previous government and also the current government and I think people are looking for alternatives.'

But she did not see Labour performing well in her area. 'Not in Beaconsfield, I don't think', she laughed. 'But you never know, never say die!'

Phil Powell, 62 and his wife, Michelle, 58, said they thought people in Beaconsfield were not 'as right wing as reform', but were more 'mid-range conservatives'.

Mr Powell, who said he had voted Independent on local issues, insisted the problems in the town were with the local Conservative party, who he said 'maybe took voters for granted'.

Mrs Powell, who also went Independent, added: 'I don't think they supported us enough. Planning was definitely one thing'. The couple pointed out there were extensive plans to develop Beaconsfield which are ongoing.

Just days ago, over 260 people had objected to plans submitted to Buckinghamshire Council for up to 330 homes and 60 elderly or care units next to Amersham Road and Minerva Way in Beaconsfield.

'People are looking for a change. I would not be surprised if it did turn. But having said that, we have got a lot of elderly people who have lived here all their lives and they are not going to change', Mrs Powell added.

Conservative candidate Paul Kelly with his rescue dog Rufus outside Burnham Park Hall in Buckinghamshire

Barbara Edwards, 78, said: 'I just hope Reform does not get in. I would be so disappointed in the people of Beaconsfield if they vote in Reform.

'It is usually Conservative, I think they do take Conservative voters don't they, so I hope not.'

Her husband William Edwards, 77, from Beaconsfield, said of the Conservatives: 'They have done a bad job, they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot, over everything.' He pointed to the town plan for Beaconsfield, which he said had been 'a mess'.

The Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Plan went to Referendum on September 9, but the turnout was low at just 26 per cent and the plan was not passed. The Beaconsfield Society has criticised the town's proposed Neighbourhood Plan for being 'badly drafted' and 'not protecting Green Belt land'.

In nearby Gerrards Cross, 49-year-old local Sara Reading said: 'I am hoping Reform do not get in. I think the current councillors we have got are getting there with potholes and all the ongoing problems with flooding.

'I do not think Reform, necessarily well, there is not a huge issue with immigration in South Bucks', Ms Reading added.

She said she thought either the Conservatives or the Lib Dems could come out well in the local elections.

'In terms of Reform, I am still waiting for my 350million from Brexit to be paid!', she quipped.

Waiting for a bus on the nearby high street, Chalfont St Peter resident Jim Ballantine, 86, said he was hoping for a lot of independents - who he had voted for - to get into power, as they were 'more interested in local issues'.

A parish councillor outside a polling station in Burnham, Buckinghamshire

'Years ago I said I would never vote Conservative again if they ever supported HS2 and I have kept to my statement ever since, so no way am I going to vote Conservative again', Mr Ballantine added.

Asked about why he thought Reform could now be in pole position to challenge the Tories, Ballantine responded: 'I think there is a feeling among my age group with things like winter fuel allowance and things of that sort and I feel certain it will have some influence on the vote.

'I don't know about Reform', he said. 'They have not get much of a record we can look on and see whether they are going to do something locally rather than nationally.'

In Chalfont St Giles, the owner of The Village Chippie, 61-year-old Paul Horwood, said he would mainly vote on local issues, such as pot holes.

Asked about the rise of Reform, he said the party could possibly win. 'That is possible, yeah, because people will want a change, because we both know what Conservative and Labour are like, now anyway.

'Time for a change. I mean, I know they are all as bad as each other. One might be one per cent better than the other, but that one per cent can make a lot of difference.

Commenting on the fact the Conservatives had always won in Buckinghamshire, he remarked: 'Well, yeah, because there is a lot of money people you see, and the rich always look after the richer. I happen to be very poor!'

LINCOLNSHIRE: 'We have very high hopes for Andrea Jenkyns. She has shades of Margaret Thatcher about her'

Voters in Lincoln reacted to the news that Reform's Dame Andrea Jenkyns had been elected mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

Retired schoolworker Margaret Swallow, 81, of Ruskinton, Lincs, said: 'I voted Reform in the council and Mayoral elections, so obviously I am pleased.

'It is a five-party debate now, whereas it used to be only two. I have very high hopes for Andrea Jenkyns. I think she has shades of Margaret Thatcher about her.

'I've voted for pretty much all the parties over the years, including Labour. But I think there's more about Reform than those previous parties - so let's try something different.

'In my opinion, they (Reform) are one to watch. I am interested to see how they do. They seem to be saying the right things, so I think it's time to give them a chance.'

Ms Swallow's partner, retired BT worker Christopher Haywood, 82, said he was a 'dyed in the wool' Labour voter.

He added: 'We have had some political debates in our house, but less so recently.

Retired schoolworker Margaret Swallow, 81, of Ruskinton, Lincs, said: 'I voted Reform in the council and Mayoral elections, so obviously I am pleased'

Vicar Karen Wooding, 69, of Louth, Lincs, said she voted Liberal Democrat in the mayoral election in a bid to prevent Andrea Jenkyns getting in

'I have become quite indifferent to politics in recent years, and I am not that bothered that we have a Reform mayor, to be honest.

'I can't say I am a big fan of Keir Starmer. He doesn't seem to be doing very well.'

Vicar Karen Wooding, 69, of Louth, Lincs, said she voted Liberal Democrat in the mayoral election in a bid to prevent Andrea Jenkyns getting in.

She said: 'I was debating to go with either Green or the Lib Dems, so I am not terribly happy about the result. I don't like Reform at all.

'However, unless I lived in a parallel universe, I would have to be deaf and blind to not see the fact people are voting Reform around here.

'It is nothing personal against Andrea Jenkyns, but I was deeply upset about Brexit and what I see as closing in on ourselves rather than opening up.

'I think the attitude of see other people as hostile rather than friends we just haven't met will make us poorer as a society.

'Plus I love travelling, and I love going to Europe. We seem stuck in our own little world - it makes me cross.

'Sadly, I am not a fan of Keir Starmer, and I have been a Labour voter in the past. I don't think he has stuck to his principles. on Palestine or a lot of things.

'He just seems to go the way of the wind.'

Aiden McQueen, 31, of Louth, Lincs, said: 'I voted Liberal Democrat. Labour has shown us what they really are now - and I used to be a Labour voter. I also saw the Green Party candidate on the local news, and wasn't impressed.

'We will have to wait and see what happens with Reform and Andrea Jenkyns being mayor. But for me, Nigel Farage has always just been one to keep away from. So when I saw this news this morning, it was a bit of a case of, 'Oh no'.'

Aiden McQueen, 31, of Louth, Lincs, said: 'I voted Liberal Democrat. Labour has shown us what they really are now - and I used to be a Labour voter'

Student Ethan Fleming, 24, of Lincoln, said: 'I would rather not say who I voted for, but I voted for them because I always have done'

Student Ethan Fleming, 24, of Lincoln, said: 'I would rather not say who I voted for, but I voted for them because I always have done.

'I just didn't feel like any of the parties had much to offer me, to be honest - so I was fairly indifferent about the result, and Reform getting in.

'They may shake things up a bit, but once everyone has calmed down a bit I think we'll go back to the two dominant parties. I think Reform may be a bit of a flash in the pan rather than a trend.'

Retired engineer Robert Taylor, 67, of Lincoln, said: 'I voted Reform, so I am really happy with the result.

'I have voted Labour in the past, but they have just broken so many promises that they were no longer and option. The Winter Fuel Payment thing was just the final straw.

'The two main parties have just let us down so much over the years. You can't trust them. Reform deserves a chance to show what they can do. I think a lot of people feel the same, judging by the results here, and across the country.

'We are entering some interesting times, that is for sure. For so long it felt like only Labour or the Tories would lead the country, but it really feels like that is changing now.'
Officials fear a huge tsunami could be heading for Chile after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Argentina.

The warning came after the quake struck around 200km (124miles) south of Puerto Williams, near Chile's southern tip, at 9am local time. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck at a depth of 10km, with four more smaller aftershocks being recorded in the region shortly after.

The US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that Chile risks facing tsunami waves that could be up to 9ft tall, while Antarctica faces potential waves of up to 3ft.

Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) estimated that waves will reach bases in Antarctica and cities in Chile's extreme south in the coming hours.

Chilean disaster authorities said the coastal area of the Magallanes Region in Southern Chile would have to be evacuated due to the tsunami risk. Video footage from the region showed civilians slowly making their way out of the danger zone.

Another clip, this time taken from the city of Punta Arenas, showed scores of people evacuating the city, alongside dozens of cars that were speeding out of the region.

National threat evaluation systems said that tsunami waves from this quake may appear within 300km (186miles) of the epicentre, seemingly putting the Falkland Islands out of harm's way.

The National Disaster Prevention and Response System, SENAPRED, added that it will 'continue to assess the impact on people and damage to infrastructure and basic services'.

It also reminded Chileans: 'Don't forget to consider your pet and its needs.'

People evacuate the coastline in Chile, following a tsunami preventive advisory generated by local authorities, after an earthquake sparked a tsunami threat on the Pacific coast, in Puerto Williams, Chile May 2

People evacuate the coastline in Chile, following a tsunami preventive advisory generated by local authorities, after an earthquake sparked a tsunami threat on the Pacific coast, in Puerto Williams, Chile

Chileans can be seen making their way out of the region

National agencies have told Chileans to evacuate the area

Footage from Punta Arenas showed scores of people evacuating the city

The warning came after the quake struck around 200km (124miles) south of Puerto Williams, near Chile's southern tip (File image of Puerto Williams)

File photo shows a glacier in the Beagle Channel in southern Magallanes and Antarctica region

The warning came after the quake struck around 200km (124miles) south of Puerto Williams, near Chile's southern tip, at 9am local time

The country's president Gabriel Boric, a native of the area, wrote on his X account that: 'We call for the evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes Region.'

'Right now, our duty is to prevent and heed the authorities. Regional and national COGRID are just getting started. All state resources are available,' he added.

The Interior Ministry reported that both its minister, Alvaro Elizalde, and his undersecretary, Victor Ramos, are headed to SENAPRED offices.

The Magallanes region, where the quake struck, is Chiles largest and southernmost and one of its least populated. According to government figures, in 2017, the population totalled about 166,000 people.

Chile was devastated by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in 1960, recording a magnitude of 9.5.

Between 1,000 and 6,000 people were killed in the quake and resulting tsunamis, which swept across the Pacific Ocean, affecting countries as far away as Japan, the Philippines and Australia.

Waves reached heights of 35ft (10.7m) as they crashed into Hilo, Hawaii, more than 6,200 miles from the epicentre at Lumaco.

A view of the north beach, as people evacuate the coastline in Chile following a tsunami preventive advisory generated by local authorities, after an earthquake sparked a tsunami threat on the Pacific coast, in Punta Arenas, Chile, May 2, 2025

The Magallanes region, where the quake struck, is Chiles largest and southernmost and one of its least populated

Fifty years later, the country was hit by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunamis, with intense shaking lasting some three minutes.

Tremors from the quake were felt in Peru, some 1,500 miles away.

A subsequent tsunami devastated coastal towns in south-central Chile. Some 9 per cent of residents in affected areas lost their homes.

At least 525 people were killed and more than two dozen went missing.

Chile lies on the boundary of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, leaving it vulnerable to hard-hitting tremors.
A Pennsylvania funeral director allegedly betrayed thousands of grieving pet owners by claiming their beloved animals were being cremated when in reality, they were being dumped in a landfill.

Patrick Vereb, the 70-year-old owner of Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, is accused of pocketing more than $650,000 over three years by charging more than 6,500 pet owners for burial and cremation services.

However, the funeral director actually returned ashes from other unknown animals instead, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

On Monday, Vereb was charged with the improper disposal of thousands of dogs and cats, whose remains were entrusted to the pet cemetery for end-of-life services.

'This case is disturbing, and will cause devastation and heartache for many Pennsylvanians,' Attorney General David Sunday said during a press conference.

'Our pets are members of our families, and this defendant betrayed and agonized pet owners who entrusted him to provide dignified services for their beloved cats and dogs,' he added.

'I commend our investigative team for a comprehensive review of voluminous records which uncovered this long-running pattern of theft and deception.'

Eternity Pet Memorial offered two types of services - common burials, when pets are buried together in the cemetery, and private cremation, when a pet is individually cremated before their ashes are swiftly returned to the owner.

In the charges filed, the business was said to offer 'cremation services that lay your pet to rest in a way that is dignified and celebrates their life', The Times reported.

Patrick Vereb, the 70-year-old owner of Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is accused of pocketing more than $650,000 over three years by charging more than 6,500 pet owners for burial and cremation services, only to return ashes from other unknown animals instead

An extensive investigation launched by the Attorney General's Office ultimately uncovered at least 6,500 pets, scheduled for cremation between 2021 and 2024, were never actually cremated, and instead were dumped into a landfill

Thousands of mourning pet owners are still grappling with the painful realization that the ashes they believed to be their beloved pets' were never truly theirs at all, with many turning to social media to try and piece together what actually happened to their pets

The cemetery's website reiterated this promise, stating that their cremation service 'allows the ashes to be returned to you'.

However, in July and August of last year, staff at the pet funeral home became suspicious when they realized Vereb was allegedly taking in more animals than he was sending off for cremation.

'But he was still charging for the cremation process and providing ashes to the vets and to the individual pet owners for animals that were not actually cremated,' April-Noelle Campbell and Austin Kaminski, agents that worked for Vereb, said, according to The Times.

An extensive investigation launched by the Attorney General's Office ultimately uncovered at least 6,500 pets, scheduled for cremation between 2021 and 2024, were never actually cremated.

'Instead of proper cremations, burials and returns of ashes to customers, he took thousands of animals to a landfill for disposal,' Sunday said.

'Thousands of customers who paid for their pet's ashes received ashes from other, unknown animals.'

During the investigation, Vereb allegedly told investigators that because the crematorium often 'took too long' to return ashes, he would give owners leftover ashes from another animal to 'make them feel good for the day, if nothing else'.

Staff said they frequently observed large dogs scheduled for burial being sent to the crematorium, with investigators suggesting that their ashes were subsequently redistributed to pet owners and falsely labeled as those of their own deceased animals.

During a press conference on Monday, Attorney General David Sunday announced that Vereb was ultimately charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices

Some heartbroken owners have even resorted to weighing the ashes they received, trying to make sense of the heartbreaking betrayal

During the investigation, Vereb allegedly told investigators that because the crematorium often 'took too long' to return ashes, he would give owners leftover ashes from another animal to 'make them feel good for the day, if nothing else'

'In essence, if an animal was at the crematorium for over a week, Vereb would use the ashes he had on hand to cover for that owner's pet,' the two agents explained.

'Then, when that animal's actual ashes were returned to Vereb, he would use them for another pet.'

Common burials, the standard burial service at Eternity Pet Memorial, involved burying remains alongside those of other animals.

Yet during the investigation, Vereb allegedly told law enforcement that he had not used pet cemeteries 'in a while' and 'he instead dumped the animals in a landfill'.

Agents Kaminski and Campbell eventually cross-referenced the list of pets scheduled for common burial with records from the landfill, uncovering a startling discrepancy.

Investigators unearthed landfill receipts showing that the company had dumped more than 170,000 pounds of 'animal carcasses', despite the funeral home only documenting the burial of 490 pets, totaling 27,000 pounds, between 2021 and 2024.

'These records indicate an incredibly large number of animals were being dumped rather than being cremated as promised,' the agents said.

Vereb was ultimately charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices.

Investigators unearthed landfill receipts showing that the company had dumped more than 170,000 pounds of 'animal carcasses', despite the funeral home only documenting the burial of 490 pets, totaling 27,000 pounds, between 2021 and 2024 (pictured: victim)

Eternity Pet Memorial offered two types of services - common burials, when pets are buried together in the cemetery, and private cremation, when a pet is individually cremated before their ashes are swiftly returned to the owner

The Attorney General's Office launched a dedicated website to connect victims with their office, as they work together to uncover the truth of what happened to their pets

However, people are still grappling with the painful realization that the ashes they believed to be their beloved pets' were never truly theirs at all.

'As a pet owner myself I can't imagine the heartbreak in learning that you were affected by a crime like this,' Sunday expressed.

Hundreds of alleged victims have turned to social media to express their devastation over the realization, as many begin to piece together the truth of what happened to their late pets.

Some have even resorted to weighing the ashes they received, trying to make sense of the heartbreaking betrayal.

In one post, a woman shared a photo alongside her late dog, revealing that two of her deceased pets' remains were mishandled as part of the disturbing scheme.

'Please have some grace today as I navigate this form myself, and look for answers regarding what happened to my beloved dogs,' she wrote.

'My heart is shattered, and hurts for not only my own family and dogs, but the estimated 6,500 other families who were also impacted by this heinous act.'

Emily Naugle, another alleged victim, shared photos of her dog Sadie to Facebook, saying 'words can't even describe' what Vereb has caused thousands of families.

Emily Naugle (pictured), another victim, shared photos of her dog Sadie to Facebook, stating that 'words can't even describe' what Vereb has caused thousands of families

Staff frequently observed large dogs scheduled for burial being sent to the crematorium, with investigators suggesting that their ashes were subsequently redistributed to pet owners and falsely labeled as those of their own deceased animals

'To take advantage of grieving pet owners and have no respect to animals that he claims took gentle care of by dumping them in landfills and then sending the pets ashes to the owners is cruel beyond words,' Naugle wrote to Facebook

'To take advantage of grieving pet owners and have no respect to animals that he claims took gentle care of by dumping them in landfills and then sending the pets ashes to the owners is cruel beyond words,' she wrote.

'We do not know yet if this affected our Sadie, we may never know. My heart goes out to everyone who is dealing with this news.'

The Attorney General's Office launched a dedicated website to connect victims with their office, as they work together to uncover the truth of what happened to their pets.

'Since the launch of the website, we've had over 3,800 form submissions on the website,' Sunday said, CBS News reported. 'And so that's a lot. We have not seen anything like this before in the AG's office.'

Vereb has since been released on his own recognizance but is scheduled to appear in court on May 9 for a preliminary hearing.


A third world war has already begun, former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon told the Mail's 'Apocalypse Now?' podcast.

In conversation with special correspondent David Patrikarakos, Mr Bannon described how the Russia-Ukraine conflict is 'metastasising' to engulf parts of the Middle East and Asia.

Mr Bannon said: 'There is an arc of instability, all the way from Belarus and Ukraine to the Balkans and the Middle East.

'If you add to that Kashmir, these are the flashpoints for a third world war, which we're already in. The kinetic part of this has already started.

'This is already much bloodier than 1939-1941, which people think of as the first few years of World War 2. Over a million and a half people lay dead or wounded in Ukraine, which looks like Dresden in 1945. Gaza looks even worse.

'We are two minutes to midnight here  from a far greater global conflagration.'

Listen to 'Apocalypse Now?' wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now

Mr Bannon served as a key strategist to Mr Trump for his 2016 presidential campaign. Listen now

Mr Bannon warned that unless US president Donald Trump can cool tensions with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, then the entire globe risks sinking into a 'brutal' war which inevitably will involve the use of 'chemical, biological and nuclear weapons'.

The host of the Bannon's War Room podcast made his chilling prediction when asked why Mr Trump has adopted a less hawkish stance towards the Russian president than his predecessor Joe Biden.

'I think what Trump is trying to do', Mr Bannon explained.

'He's trying to reach a reproachment with a part of the Judeo-Christian West, which is Russia  so we can lay down our arms and calm this thing down.

'If he isn't successful: China, the KGB mafia in Moscow, working with the mullahs in Persia and Tehran  people better understand that as barbaric as the Second World War was, the Third World War will be of such a level of brutality, with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, that people can't even comprehend it.'

The former Trump advisor, credited with spearheading the president's shock 2016 election victory, clarified that despite fears of global war, the US must continue to be tough with China.

Steven Bannon: 'We are two minutes to midnight here.' Listen now

Steven Bannon: 'It's not a question of whether Trump can take China on, he must take China on.' Listen now

Mr Bannon described how the Russia-Ukraine conflict is 'metastasising' to engulf parts of the Middle East and Asia

Over the last month, Trump has raised tariffs on the world's second-biggest economy to a record 145%.

'It's not a question of whether Trump can take China on, he must take China on', Mr Bannon declared.

'Wall Street and the global corporatists in Silicon Valley, have been gutting for twenty-five to thirty years, the heartland of the United States.

'I think around 100,000 factories closed in the United States and shifted to China. Our manufacturing base went there and what came back was fentanyl, chemical warfare the Chinese Communist Party is running on us.

'You have to confront that, and Trump is confronting that, through tariff and non-tariff barriers.'

Earlier in the podcast, Mr Bannon communicated his disdain for the Chinese Communist Party, branding China's leadership as 'worse than the Nazis.'

'We are hurtling towards an inflection point for all mankind', he exclaimed.

'The Chinese Communist Party is an illegitimate dictatorship: the most brutal dictatorship in mankind's history, worse than the Bolsheviks and the Nazis.'

Search for 'Apocalypse Now?' with special guest Steve Bannon, wherever you get your podcasts.
A smirking illegal migrant was arrested in Florida with a trove of sickening child porn that he said he 'enjoyed' because he was drunk.

Marlon Jefferson Fajardo Paiz, 32, is facing two dozen counts of possession of child pornography after investigators allegedly found him at an Ocala address with a cache of images on his WhatsApp account.

According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Paiz was caught after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) flagged the horrifying messages he had sent and received.

The NCMEC pointed investigators to Paiz's profile, and a search of his phone led to the discovery of 20 files of 'prepubescent females engaging in sexual acts', the sheriff's office said.

Under questioning, deputies claimed that Paiz told them he 'enjoyed the CSAM (child sexual abuse material) because he was intoxicated,' a statement from the sheriff's office said.

Detectives then learned from the Department of Homeland Security that Paiz had been deported from the US sometime in the past, and it is unknown how or when he re-entered the country.

Paiz was placed under arrest in the Marion County Jail and held on a $200,000 bond.

Paiz was seen smirking in his mugshot as the sheriff's office announced his arrest.

Marlon Jefferson Fajardo Paiz, 32, is facing two dozen counts of possession of child pornography after investigators allegedly found a cache of images on his WhatsApp account

The arrest comes as law enforcement across the country have stepped up their efforts targeting illegal immigrants in the months since President Trump re-entered the White House

Due to the nature of his alleged crimes, investigators urged the public to come forward as they said it is 'possible that he may have victimized a child.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Marion County Sheriffs Office (MSCO) Major Crimes Detective Henrik Osthed at (352) 351-4710.

The arrest came as law enforcement across the country have stepped up their efforts targeting illegal migrants in the months since President Trump re-entered the White House.

Trump's immigration crackdown quickly targeted illegal migrants known to have rap sheets, revealing a huge number of known gang members and predators were free on America's streets.

In shocking documents shared with DailyMail.com, White House insiders highlighted how ICE squads picked up individuals including a Dominican Republican national who was living free in Boston despite a criminal conviction for second-degree murder.

Over 2,000 people were detained in Trump's first two weeks, including a man who was picked up in San Antonio, Texas, after being identified as an active member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang.

He was found with a handgun related to an unsolved murder from November 2024.

As Trump crossed his first 100 days this week, a Homeland Security official told DailyMail.com that the number of illegal immigrants removed under the new administration stands at 65,682.

Over 2,000 people were detained in Trump's first weeks back in power, including Cesar Augusto Polanco, 59, a Dominican Republican national (pictured) who was living free in Boston despite a criminal conviction for second-degree murder

Men pictured attempting to enter the United States undetected through a section of the border wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico on April 29, 2025

President Trump's hardline Border Czar Tom Homan has pledged to continue ramping up deportation efforts in the face of criticism

As Trump crossed his first 100 days this week, a Homeland Security official told DailyMail.com that the number of illegal immigrants removed under the new administration stands at 65,682

An official said that the huge tally of deported illegal immigrants includes 498 with murder charges and 1,329 who were tied to sex offenses.

Over five percent of the detained individuals have criminal charges or convictions, the official said, with 2,288 suspected of having gang affiliations.

In an issue that often slips under the radar when looking at America's immigration crisis, thousands of those that have been removed were deemed to be scamming the federal government in benefit schemes.

Over 7,100 illegal migrants have been alleged to have participated in benefit fraud schemes, such as marriage fraud.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser said that Trump is putting a stop to 'disastrous Biden-era 'humanitarian' policies that invited fraud and allowed criminal aliens to legally live and work in our communities.'

He told DailyMail.com that USCIS facilitated arrests of 'criminals attempting to gain immigration benefits' and is ensuring that every migrant is being registered in the U.S.

'Aliens, immigration attorneys and non-government organizations take note: the days of exploiting our immigration system are over. Aliens who want to live and work in America need to do it legally or get out.'

A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll found that despite immigration successes, Trump is seeing a drop in his approval rating for the first time.

A new poll found that Americans said the border and immigration were clearly the biggest success of the first 100 days. The White House put mugshots of migrants who had been arrested on the White House drive on Monday

Your browser does not support iframes.

When asked to pick his biggest mistake, voters overwhelmingly said 'tariffs,' while the 'border' was seen as the greatest success.

In the poll of 1,006 registered voters conducted between April 23 and April 28, and covering a wide range of topics, disapproval of Trump stood at 55 percent.

The nine-point slip in his approval appears largely due the administration's tariffs and the ensuing reversal on those economic threats.

'Our last poll shocked DC as it showed Trump at his most popular ever after his tariffs announcement. But now, for the first time, we can say the Trump honeymoon period is over,' J.L. Partners pollster James Johnson told the Daily Mail.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners have continued to tear chunks out of Labour's voter base at the local elections.

A slew of candidates motivated by the Gaza crisis have been elected in council contests across England.

It is an echo of last July's general election, which was marked by success for independents across traditional Labour strongholds.

Following voting on Thursday, Maheen Kamran has been elected to Lancashire County Council for the Burnley Central East division.

The 18-year-old said she was motivated to enter politics by the 'genocide' in Gaza and wants to encourage public spaces to end 'free mixing' between men and women.

She will be joined on Lancashire County Council by Usman Arif, who won the Burnley North East division as an independent candidate.

He quit Labour over the party's position on the Middle East and regularly posts about the Gaza conflict on Facebook.

The elections for Lancashire County Council also saw success for Azhar Ali in the Nelson East division.

It comes a little more than a year after Mr Ali was kicked out of Labour over anti-Semitism.

Pro-Palestinian campaigners have continued to tear chunks out of Labour's voter base at the local elections to deliver a fresh blow to Sir Keir Starmer

Elections for Lancashire County Council saw success for Azhar Ali in the Nelson East division. It comes a little more than a year after he was kicked out of Labour over anti-Semitism

Usman Arif won the Burnley North East division as an independent candidate. He quit Labour in 2023 over the party's position on the Middle East crisis

Your browser does not support iframes.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Reform UK are set to take control of Lancashire County Council from the Tories after winning more than the 43 seats it needed to form a majority.

In Burnley Central East, Ms Kamran won with 38 per cent of the vote as she pushed the Reform candidate into second and Labour's candidate into third place.

This was in stark comparison to the previous election in 2021, when the Labour candidate easily won the council seat with 50 per cent of the vote.

Ms Kamran recently said she wanted to improve school standards, public cleanliness and encourage public spaces to end 'free mixing' between men and women.

'There's a big aspect of free mixing,' she told the PoliticsHome website last month.

'Muslim women aren't really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men.

'I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health.'

Mr Arif was elected in Burnley North East as an independent candidate as he retained the council seat he previously won for Labour in 2021.

He was among a group of local councillors to quit Labour in November 2023 over party leader Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the Gaza crisis.

Mr Ali won the Nelson East division as an independent candidate with nearly 50 per cent of the votes as he was re-elected to the council seat he has held for eight years.

He previously won as a Labour candidate in 2017 and 2021 and is a former leader of the Labour group on Lancashire Country Council.

Mr Ali was selected as Labour's candidate for the parliamentary by-election in Rochdale last year.

But the party suspended him and withdrew its support for his campaign over comments he made about Israel and Jewish people.

In comments published by the Mail on Sunday, Mr Ali claimed Israel had 'allowed' the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

Mr Ali subsequently apologised 'to Jewish leaders for my inexcusable comments'.

The Daily Mail later published a fuller recording of Mr Ali blaming 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for the suspension of MP Andy McDonald from Labour.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Bedfordshire on Friday following the local election results, Sir Keir said: 'What I want to say is, my response is we get it.

'We were elected in last year to bring about change.'

He said that Labour has 'started that work', such as bringing in measures to cut NHS waiting lists.

The Prime MInister added: 'I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see.'
A British 'cocaine kingpin', who is standing trial for planning the murder of a drug runner, is alleged to have sent selfies from a luxury Dubai base where he 'plotted the killing' - and on the same encrypted phone 'he used to arrange the hit', a court has heard.

James Harding, 34, can be seen in the photographs grinning and posing in the gym and a bathroom located inside the swish accommodation in the United Arab Emirates.

Having been shown the images, the jury at the Old Bailey were told that the selfies were allegedly sent by Harding on April 8, 2020 to an associate using an EncroChat mobile phone.

The same device was used to arrange multi-kilo cocaine deals and a planned murder, the prosecution alleged.

Harding, whose family originate from Hampshire, is alleged to have been in control of an operation importing cocaine that generated 5million in profit in only ten weeks.

The drug deals were arranged through the encrypted devices that the National Crime Agency (NCA) say were used exclusively by organised criminals.

Harding denies using an EncroChat handle called 'thetopsking' who sent messages pertaining to a multi-million pound cocaine network and plotted to murder an unnamed drug runner.

He pleaded not guilty to one count of evading a prohibition on the importation of cocaine and another of conspiracy to murder.

James Harding, 34, who is standing trial for planning the murder of a drug runner, is alleged to have sent selfies from a luxury Dubai base where he 'plotted the killing'

Harding can be seen in the photographs grinning and posing in the gym and a bathroom located inside the swish accommodation in the United Arab Emirates

Harding lived in a four-bedroom villa at The Nest development in Al Barari, Dubai, where each of the 55 units have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a swimming pool

Jayes Kharouti, 39, from Epsom, Surrey, who is alleged to be Harding's right-hand man, admitted in November to using two EncroChat handles: 'besttops' and 'topsybricks'.

He also admitted one count of evading a prohibition on the importation of cocaine, but denies any involvement in the murder conspiracy.

The court heard that from 2019 to 2022 Harding held a UAE Residence Permit, which listed him as a sales executive sponsored by a luxury watch company.

The jury was told 9,136 messages were sent via EncroChat between besttops and thetopsking between March and June 2020.

At the time they were unaware French police had infiltrated the encrypted platform in April 2020 and had made historic and ongoing messages available to police across Europe, including the NCA, which investigated and handed other cases to local police forces, including Met Police.

Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, said Harding had been so assured by the EncroChat encryption, that he sent 'pictures of himself to people who clearly knew him' and 'made reference to locations and events' at which he could be shown to have been present.

Some of the images Harding sent were of his four-bedroom villa at The Nest development in Al Barari, Dubai, where each of the 55 units have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a swimming pool and a maid's and driver's room.

The court heard that on May 6, 2020, thetopsking told a number of contacts that he was taking his 'Mrs' out that evening, and added to one that he was taking her to Zuma, an award-winning Japanese restaurant in Dubai.

The prosecution allege Harding used an encrypted phone to arrange multi-kilo cocaine deals

Harding is alleged to have been in control of an operation importing cocaine that generated 5million in profit in only ten weeks

The luxury accommodation in in Al Barari, Dubai, is where Harding is alleged to have plotted to kill a drug runner, as well as carried out his drug importation operation

Harding pleaded not guilty to one count of evading a prohibition on the importation of cocaine and another of conspiracy to murder

Investigations by the Met Police later discovered that Harding's personal mobile phone number and email address were used to reserve a table for two at Zuma on the same date under his name.

Mr Atkinson said: 'Was thetopsking using the defendant's contact details to book a table for two, or was the defendant one of those two?'

Harding had also used the same email and phone to book a 350,000 Dirham (71,108) private plane for Kharouti to fly back to the UK after his father died, the court heard.

On May 14 2020, thetopsking messaged that he was staying at the five-star Waldorf hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, for the weekend, and sent an image of the hotel pool area via EncroChat.

Mr Atkinson said: 'Enquiries with the Hilton Hotel Group showed that Harding stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in the United Arab Emirates and gave (his) mobile telephone number and produced a UAE identification card.

'During the stay, thetopsking had sent an image of James Harding relaxing on a sun lounger at, of all places, the Waldorf.

'Was thetopsking staying at the same hotel as Harding at the same time, and sending images of Harding at its pool for some unexplained reason or was thetopsking in fact James Harding?

'Had thetopsking registered at the hotel using the photo ID of someone else, or had the hotel received photo ID from James Harding, because he is thetopsking?

Harding lived a luxury lifestyle in Dubai, where he allegedly ran a mutli-million pound cocaine importation operation

'What is more, he was not staying at the hotel alone. Thetopsking said he was staying with his partner, 'Mills' and his brother  and sure enough, this defendant's partner, brother and daughter Milly were staying there as well.'

The court heard that on March 26 2020, thetopsking told a contact via EncroChat that he had finally 'got back' a Lamborghini and sent with it an image of the dashboard.

Allowing for the time difference, the time on the dashboard display matched the time of thetopsking message, as they had been set to UK timings by investigators.

Mr Atkinson said: 'The person who took the image caught their leg in the photograph, and on that leg is a tattoo which matches the tattoo on James Harding's leg.'

Harding was also connected to the EncroChat device through comments he made about his fitness routine and weight that matched with his Nike Running app, which was also interrogated by investigators, the court heard.

Harding recorded his weight on the app as 170 pounds (just over 77kgs) and on May 2, 2020, thetopsking told a contact he weighed 77kg.

On May 18 2020 thetopsking messaged that he had just run 6km, and, according to the app, that morning Harding had run 6.13km, on a route starting and ending at his Al Barari villa.

On March 21 2020, thetopsking messaged a handle called 'best.accountant', who was later discovered to be his brother George Harding, saying 'going Nusret (a restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort in Dubai) 4pm tomoz for mothersdsy with dad if u wanna come'.

Harding is alleged by the prosecution to have used his encrypted phone to discuss the distribution of the drugs

The drug deals were arranged through the encrypted devices that the National Crime Agency (NCA) say were used exclusively by organised criminals

Harding denies using an EncroChat handle called 'thetopsking' who sent messages pertaining to a multi-million pound cocaine network and plotted to murder an unnamed drug runner

In another exchange of EncroChat messages with the handle 'hyper-hawk', thetopsking referred to having been released from prison four years earlier, having received a sentence of nine years' imprisonment when he was 21.

Records showed that Harding was sentenced to nine years and eight months imprisonment when he was 21 years and seven months old, for his 'involvement in a leading role in a sophisticated operation for the supply and importation of mephedrone and other drugs', the court heard.

But, the main use of the phones was to discuss the importation and distribution of cocaine, the court heard.

Harding and Kharouti also discussed a plan to shoot dead another drug courier during a 'cryp robbery'.

The plan developed over time, and on May 25, 2020 there were further messages involving Harding and Kharouti which referred to a hit, locations for it, and the use of a bike and a strap (gun).

Kharouti contacted an associate asking for assistance to source a stolen car and Glock machine gun, before he also offered to source a gunman for the contract killing, which is understood to never have happened, the court heard.

The trial continues.
The King and Queen will visit Canada later this month to attend the State Opening of Parliament.

The royal couple will head to Ottawa on a visit that will take place on May 26 and 27, Buckingham Palace said today.

Charles is Canada's head of state and will be travelling to the country with his wife less than a month after former Bank of England governor Mark Carney's Liberal Party election victory.

Mr Carney's rival, populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was in the lead until US President Donald Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and threats to annex the country as the 51st state.

Buckingham Palace said: 'The King and Queen will visit Canada from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May.

'The King, accompanied by the Queen, will attend the state opening of the Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa.'

This comes a day after the King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer.

In what has been described as his most 'poignant' and 'deeply personal' words about the illness fifteen months after his own diagnosis, the monarch also revealed he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James.

She urged sufferers, he said, with moving magnificence to 'find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.'

The King and Queen will visit Canada later this month to attend the State Opening of Parliament

The royal couple will head to Ottawa on a visit that will take place on May 26 and 27, Buckingham Palace said today

His Majesty opened up in a message to fellow sufferers as they are invited to Buckingham Palace tonight to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations.

The King is himself still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides say his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking.

Mark Carney's Liberal Party stormed to an impressive victory this week driven by anger toward Donald Trump, though its too soon to say whether they will be forming a majority or minority government in Canada's parliamentary system.

It means that Carney will remain in charge of dealing with an American president in Donald Trump who has openly gloated about making the neighbors to the north the '51st state' and calling his predecessor 'Governor [Justin] Trudeau.'

The U.S. president trolled Canadians on election day by suggesting on social media that he was in fact on the ballot and repeating that Canada should become the 51st state, incorrectly claiming the U.S. subsidizes Canada.

'It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!' Trump wrote.

Carney and the Liberals cleared a big hurdle by winning a fourth-straight term, but they have daunting challenges ahead

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (pictured left) and his wife Diana Fox Carney (pictured right) watch the coverage of the election results at a hotel in downtown Ottawa

King Charles and King Carl Gustaf got busy planting the Swedish oak tree as Queen Camilla and Queen Silvia watched

After Charles and Carl planted soil over the tree, Camilla and Silvia watered the Swedish Oak with tin watering cans

Despite the King's ongoing cancer treatment, the couple have been continuing with a heavy list of engagements.

Earlier this month they travelled to Rome for a 'historic' four-day State Visit to Italy which saw them pack in 19 engagements over four days.

Just yesterday they were joined by fellow monarchs, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, for a special tree planting at Windsor.

The Swedish Oak is a gift from the Scandinavian sovereign to celebrate the British royals' coronation in May 2023 - two years on Tuesday.

Quercus robur, to use its Latin name, is taking up residence in Home Park on the Windsor Estate.
A California rail company boss has been found guilty of using embezzled public funds to build himself a secret apartment in a train station.

Former Caltrains Deputy Director Joseph Navarro was convicted on Wednesday for misappropriation of public funds after a jury found him guilty of building a personal 'crash pad' in the Burlingame train station near San Francisco, Mercury News reported.

He claimed his supervisor had given him permission to build the apartment as he was working 80-hour weeks and was known to sleep in his office.

'Were very pleased that the jury was able to see through the defense and recognize that he had no authorization from anybody to build this little apartment there at the train station with taxpayer money,' San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said.

Navarro's lawyer, Andrew Vandeveld, said they were 'disappointed with the outcome,' according to Mercury News.

'We felt it had been established that he had been authorized to do the work and that the statute of limitations to bring the case expired long ago,' he said.

Prosecutors accused Navarro of keeping invoices under $3,000 so that it would not need further approval, Mercury News reported. They alleged the $38,000 it took to build the apartment from 2019 to 2021 would have needed approval.

'Mr Navarro abused his authority as rail operations director in multiple ways, multiple times, affecting multiple people,' Deputy District Attorney Joseph Cannon said.

Former Caltrains Deputy Director, Joseph Navarro, was convicted on Wednesday for misappropriation of public funds after a jury found him guilty of building his little 'crash pad' in the Burlingame train station (pictured) near San Francisco

Navarro's lawyer, Andrew Vandeveld, said they were 'disappointed with the outcome.' He argued his client was a dedicated worker who 'loved his job'

'Turning a historic train station into your personal crash pad is 100 percent a conflict of interest. Thats just common sense.'

However, Navarro's lawyer argued his client was a dedicated worker who 'loved his job.'

He also argued that Navarro's direct supervisor, Michelle Bouchard, knew about the construction and even asked for a status update.

'Asking for a status update? Thats consent,' Vandeveld argued. He also argued that keeping invoices under $3,000 was not abnormal.

Despite that, Navarro was found guilty and will be sentenced on June 11.

His co-conspirator, Seth Andrew Worden, a former employee of TransAmerica Services Inc, took a plea deal.

The criminal complaint alleged that Worden used $8,000 in taxpayer funds to build himself a similar pad inside Millbrae train station.

Caltrain employees first discovered the converted space at the Millbrae station in 2020.

Navarro's alleged place in Burlingame, however, evaded detection until Caltrain received an anonymous tip in 2022.
A convicted killer who wanted revenge on a prison officer who he believed had left him to die was caught on tape by police plotting a gun attack from his cell.

Robert Paterson, serving a life sentence for shooting a man dead, claimed he had taken an overdose at HMP Edinburgh on November 15, 2022 after he had swallowed bags of cocaine.

Paterson had demanded an ambulance. But a judge at Edinburgh's High Court heard the guard grew suspicious after seeing the prisoner, who had tried to escape during a hospital visit before, remove a sim card from a phone and swallow it.

The 45-year-old inmate became furious after being kept in jail rather than being taken to hospital and hatched a plot to get a gun and ammunition.

The story emerged as Paterson pleaded guilty to a string of charges including the plan to seriously harm the prison officer.

Lord Harrower was told the prisoners behaviour had already set the alarm bells ringing and when an ambulance turned up at the jail unannounced, a decision was made to monitor Paterson in his cell until the morning.

He was eventually taken to the capitals Royal Infirmary where doctors found seven bags of cocaine in his stomach.

Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC told the court: He [Paterson] was extremely unhappy about the delay in him being sent to hospital and subsequently made a complaint about the prison authorities in which he claimed that he had been told at hospital that he was lucky to be alive.

Killer Robert Paterson plotted a gun revenge attack on a guard at HMP Edinburgh

He also formed a personal animus towards the officer whom he blamed for the delay in him being sent to hospital.

Ultimately, he decided that he would seek revenge upon the officer by having him seriously assaulted.

To advance this plan he made contact with people both within and outside the prison - the latter by means of non prison issue mobile telephones which he possessed.

The court heard that prison officials became increasingly concerned about Patersons behaviour and in February 2023 police started bugging his cell.

Mr Cameron added: Over that period Paterson repeatedly made reference to the man who left me to die and made it clear that he did not intend to let the matter lie. He spoke to several people abut different aspects of his plan.

Much of the discussion centred around a handgun to which he could provide access and the need to find the right size of ammunition for that gun.

He identified an individual who said that they were willing to assault the officer for him and discussed with that individual the requirement for a vehicle and a driver to assist him.

On one occasion he was heard to say that he identified someone to do the staff member.

Fortunately, the police intervened and no attempt was actually made to assault the officer who was entirely unaware for the matter until told about it by Scottish Prison Service staff and police.

Mr Cameron told the court yesterday that the roles of Patersons co-accused, Donald Stone and Sean McGregor, were picked up during the time police were bugging his cell.

The prisoner agreed to buy drugs from a raid to a cannabis farm while there was also a plot to rob a property with several kilograms of cannabis and cocaine and five high value watches.

Although the robbery did not go ahead, the men were later arrested.

Paterson pleaded guilty to a charge which stated that between January 28, 2023 and February 14, 2023, he directed McGregor and Stone and others to supply drugs into HMP Edinburgh.

He also directed the pair and others to rob others of controlled drugs, watches, and a sum of money.

Paterson admitted directing others to assault the prison officer and for that purpose obtain a handgun, ammunition and a vehicle.

Stone pleaded guilty to being involved in serious organised crime and did agree with others to do something you knew or suspected or ought reasonably to have known or suspected would enable or further the commission of serious organised crime. He was going to supply drugs into HMP Edinburgh.

McGregor admitted to a charge of arranging to carry out an assault and robbery of drugs from others and he was going to pass on the address of the property in order to facilitate the robbery.

Paterson was given life for shooting dead a man in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, in 2008 and in 2012 had another three years added to his sentence amid the foiled escape plan.

Lord Harrower deferred sentence on the men until May 30 calling for background reports.

Defence advocates Thomas Ross KC, John Scullion KC and Michael Anderson KC will address the court with their mitigations on that date.

Following the hearing, a Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: We welcome these convictions and are grateful to all who worked so hard to secure them.

The safety of our staff is absolutely paramount, and we will always to work closely with partners across the justice sector to ensure this continues to be a key priority.
Sobbing in the dock of her local sheriff court last month, Adele Rennie looked like a young woman enduring the worst day of her life, her world imploding as jail time was handed down.

She seemed chastened  humiliated even  to hear her offences aired in public. For anyone in court unfamiliar with her history, a degree of compassion for this wretched soul would not have been hard to muster.

But the same could have been said of her court appearance in September last year when she was jailed for 28 months. She sobbed her way through that too.

She wept at the same court in Kilmarnock, back in 2019 when, facing similar charges, she was jailed for three years.

It was the same story in 2017, too. Tears streamed down Rennies face as Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane jailed her for 22 months. She had described the narrative of facts in her case as the most astounding she had heard in her judicial career.

The sheriff added: I have no idea why somebody from a good family, well-educated with a good job, throws it all away. Inexplicable.

Eight years on, the motivations of Scotlands most notorious catfish are little clearer. Her behaviour seems beyond comprehension  even if the waterworks in the court dock have become increasingly transparent.

Its an act, one of her victims, Abbie Draper, tells the Mail. Shes a manipulator. She knows how to switch things on and off.

Catfish queen Adele Rennie pictured after being arrested in 2017

She adds: Ive witnessed her walking up the stairs into the dock and giving her family a celebrity wave and big cheesy smile on. And yet, minutes later, she is inconsolable.

Shes not changed, says Ms Draper. Very ballsy girl. She knows what shes doing.

Rennie, 34, has been committing the same crimes for at least a decade and a half. She preys on women online, pretending to be a man who is romantically interested in them.

She strings them along, using pictures of attractive men as bait and relying on voice-altering software to convince her victims they are talking to a man.

They share intimacies and she tries to induce the women to send compromising photographs. She stalks them as a female, making cameo appearances in their lives and outside their homes  and invents outlandish excuses to avoid any face-to-face meeting as a male. Because, of course, there is no man.

When the women ultimately lose patience, she pulls out all the stops to keep them on the hook  including using any nude photos they have sent her as leverage. None of this has brought Rennie financial gain.

Quite the reverse. The former nurse, who was struck off while serving her first prison sentence, appears to have succeeded only in rendering herself unemployable.

And yet, at each fresh opportunity to rebuild her life, she uses her phone to wage more cruel campaigns of deceit.

Craig Dunn was horrified to discover Rennie had taken images from his social media to snare women

In January, days after her release on licence from her third prison sentence, Rennie texted the victim of a scam she carried out in 2023. It was a breach of the five-year non-harassment order imposed last September, banning her from approaching or having contact with her victim.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard Rennie made it appear as if she was sending the rambling text to someone called Gordon, apologising for past behaviours and claiming to have been on a journey of soul searching and healing.

She said at one point: Im sure you were shocked when you seen I got the jail. Yes I done terribly wrong but theres a whole lot more to it than just her side.

Recognising immediately that the text was from her former tormentor, the woman responded: You know fine well who you have texted and its not Gordon. Do not text me again.

Rennie was said to have feigned surprise that she had inadvertently contacted a victim she was expressly banned from approaching.

Yet she has form for repeat scams on the same victim. Having preyed on one woman in the guise of a made-up doctor called David Graham in 2014, she targeted her again years later when she invented Dan Crolla, a wealthy criminal lawyer.

This, according to her then lawyer Neil McPherson, was a revenge campaign after an acquaintance of the original victim called Rennie a beast in a Kilmarnock park.

Last year the same lawyer told a court that Rennie targeted another victim after an incident at the TRNSMT pop festival in 2023. It is understood someone took a photograph of Rennie there and posted it online, calling her a sex offender.

Former Miss Scotland finalist and nurse Abbie Draper who went to police

That served as the catalyst for a new catfishing campaign.

Mr McPherson has also claimed in court that Rennie was herself a victim of catfishing before she turned cyberstalker. Whatever the truth, it is now clear she routinely conned many women for years before she was finally unmasked.

In 2010 she used the name David Graham and a fake profile picture to contact a then 19-year-old woman on the social media site Bebo. The woman recalled chatting online and on the phone with her supposed male admirer for several months before realising he did not exist.

She said: The man I knew as David made arrangements to meet up several times but there would always be an excuse. I got suspicious because this person who supposedly stayed in Kilmarnock would say hed seen me, but I had never seen him.

Obviously it was always Adele. She just seemed to be everywhere I was; it was really strange.

She discovered the number she had for David was the same one a friend of a friend had for Rennie.

Around the same time, while working in a care home, Rennie told a co-worker her cousin David Graham wanted her number. A bizarre year-long association with this invented cousin ensued, while plans to meet up never came to fruition.

Only years later, when police became involved, did these women realise they were victims of a serial scammer inveigling herself into their private lives by posing as a man.

Typically, her victims were young, very attractive women. Did she target them out of jealousy  to exert power over them in a way she could never have using her true identity?

Among the mitigations trotted out in court over the years are Rennies low self-esteem, lack of confidence and belief she has never fitted in.

Yet they do not sit well with Abbie Draper, a former Miss Scotland finalist who has met Rennie in person, been duped by her and watched her performances in court  showboating one minute and sobbing the next.

Far from conforming to the profile of misfit, Ms Draper says Rennie has a circle of pals  some of whom tried to intimidate the former model when she turned up at court to see Rennie sentenced.

She claims they shouted at her: You started this, Abbie.

It was certainly she who alerted the police  and Rennies employers  but, by then, Rennie had been catfishing for years. Indeed, according to one of her lawyers, Paul Gallagher, her male alter egos became a form of addiction that snowballed out of control.

Ms Draper first met Rennie in June 2014, when her grandfather John was taken to Kilmarnocks Crosshouse Hospital after a stroke. Rennie was a nurse there.

I drove to see him and met Adele straight away, remembered Ms Draper. I was immediately struck by how pleasant and hardworking she was.

The following day, she received a Facebook message from David Graham who asked if her grandfather was in the hospital. She found a handsome male profile picture on his page but, thinking the message odd, did not reply.

Rennie later updated the profile, making it clear David was in the medical profession. Ms Draper wondered if she had been rude to someone caring for her grandfather and sent a message to David who replied that he was Mr Drapers physiotherapist.

Later, having seen pictures of Ms Draper dancing, Rennie, posing as Dr Graham, posted an appeal for dancers for an NHS charity ball. The model took the bait, offering her services for free.

The ball, she soon discovered, was invented. Her grandfather did not have a handsome young physio called David. Further, she learned several women in her area had had dealings with a David Graham dating back as far as 2009. None had ever met him.

But one of them had identified his number as that of Adele Rennie  the same nurse now caring for Ms Drapers grandfather.

I was horrified, she told the Mail in 2017. If this was David and shed made up this many lies, who knew what she could be capable of as my grandad lay ill?

Ms Draper contacted the hospital which, she said, shut me down, believing she was simply a family member in conflict with a member of staff. She also told the police, whose first response, she says, was that nothing she had done was criminal.

Rennie was not arrested for two more years, by which time many more women had come forward  and she was suspended from her job.

It turned out that Rennie was the real-life nurse behind not only doctor David Graham, but also another made-up medic, Matthew Mancini, who spoke with a lilting Italian accent generated by the technology on Rennies phone. A third doctor, David Crolla, reeled in other women on dating apps.

One single mother who met Mancini on Tinder later recalled: He said I was beautiful and listened to my deepest secrets.

She added: He started instigating sexual conversations and at the time it was fun. He kept asking me to send him pictures of my breasts, but Im not that sort of woman. We spoke for hours and when he asked me for dinner I

was thrilled.

The dinner, of course, never happened. Mancini told the woman on the eve of their meeting he had just discovered he had fathered a child by his ex-girlfriend.

Other women did agree to send compromising pictures. One, a 26-year-old who had met Rennie at a party before receiving an online friend request from David Graham, finally submitted to relentless pestering to share sexual content.

Prosecutor Scott Toal told a court in 2017 Rennie would tell her what to do and sexual conduct took place over the phone.

The victim later blocked her fake suitor who became abusive, warning her: Just remember, Ive got your photos. On receiving the message, the woman collapsed with stress.

In all, Rennie admitted 18 separate charges of stalking, causing fear and alarm, sexual offences and data protection breaches relating to ten women in 2017.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) struck her off the following year despite her plea from behind bars to stay on the register. She wrote: I regret my actions and feel it was an act of naivety and stupidity, spurred on by one of the victims, I am disappointed I failed the profession. The NMC found she demonstrated an ongoing lack of insight into her behaviour and said there was a risk of repetition.

How prescient that judgment appears today. Months after her release, Rennie posed as Daniel, Max and Jack to target three more women. She induced one of them to send her a video after telling her he was a top lawyer.

Rennie even used the pretence to have a dig at Sheriff Liz McFarlane, who sentenced her in 2017. Daniel made out the legal figure was involved in the case he was working on and said he disliked her because she was putting the wrong people in jail.

The same sheriff sentenced Rennie for a second time in 2019. It beggars belief that you are back before me, she told her.

By 2023, Rennie was posing as Callum Crolla, a male pharmacist, this time bombarding a woman with texts, emails and calls, again using her voice changing app.

Again the planned meeting never materialised  and again a campaign of intimidation followed when the woman tried to break off contact. Rennie sent one photograph outside the womans workplace  and another image of her victims home.

The woman sought professional support to deal with the trauma.

Rennie, by dint of her serial offending, has seen professionals too. Rehabilitation is the watchword of the custodial sentences she continues to accrue.

And yet, on each occasion, she qualifies for early release. Once free, a mobile phone and evil intent are all she requires to wreak chaos on more young womens lives.
It started quite suddenly, an unwelcome intrusion into an islands natural soundscape. And unlike the ebb and flow of ocean crashing on rock or the storms that soak the lochans and bogs of Lewis, there has been no let-up from this disconcertingly unnatural interloper.

To some, it sounds like a lorrys engine idling in the road outside their home. Others complain of a infuriatingly vague but persistent low rumble they cannot escape.

Most agree its worse at night when theyre praying for sleep to free them from their purgatory. Yet when they pull open their curtains, there is nothing out there to explain the incessant droning slowly eroding their sanity.

Since it first assailed their ears in February, sufferers from Ness in the North to Scalpay in the South-East have tried in vain to locate the source of their despair. So far, all they have come up with is a name for their tormentor  the Hebridean Hum.

To the vast majority of the islands residents who cant hear it, that may sound like an overly jolly name for a phenomenon which has blighted the lives of the minority who can.

Disrupted sleep is only the start of their unpleasant symptoms: sufferers report difficulty concentrating, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fluttering in their eardrums. In extreme cases, it can engender feelings of isolation and deep distress.

Its impossible to ignore  like somebody shouting in your face constantly for attention, according to Dr Lauren-Grace Kirtley, who has set up a Facebook page to support the dozens of so-called Hummers, who are being driven half-mad by it.

Some say they are the only ones in their families afflicted by its constant thrum, while one mother in the coastal hamlet of Shawbost reported being at her wits end after her baby stopped sleeping at night and her son complained of nausea and headaches.

Submarine theory: Could communications hold key?

It is a very low humming, droning, pulsating noise. Its incredibly intrusive and distressing, Dr Kirtley, a doctor and university lecturer, told BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland programme last week. I havent slept a night through for weeks and have problems concentrating. I get a lot of fluttering in my ears. Its making me dizzy and giving me headaches.

Some islanders say they are so distressed by the noise, they are considering leaving. One posted: Awake at 12am, 2am. Sat outside at 4am with a coffee.

Been awake since. I cant keep going with no sleep, ears constantly pulsing and ringing. Definitely going to relocate back to the mainland God willing, this is too much.

Dr Kirtley, 44, who moved to her dream home in Aignish from Staffordshire two years ago, has teamed up with fellow sufferer Marcus Hazel-McGowan, 52, a physics teacher and amateur radio enthusiast, to find the source of the Hum.

M R Hazel-McGowan, who moved his family to the island partly in search of peace and quiet, is a former regional manager for the Radio Society of Great Britain and used to chase up spurious emissions and sounds.

He has begun mapping locations where the noise is detected and has found it to be less noticeable in the centre of the island and strongest on the east coast, telling the BBC: Its just trying to narrow it down and hoping nobody loses their mind completely over it.

Using a machine called a spectrograph, Mr Hazel-McGowan has measured the Hum at 50 Hertz, which falls below the hearing range of most. Only 2-4 per cent of the population are thought to be able to pick it up.

Dr Kirtley said the noise was known to be man-made and was not simply a background hum from appliances. She said: Its a persistent, environmental tone that can be heard indoors and outdoors in multiple areas.

Sounds similar: The X-Files told a tale like the one plaguing Lewis

Following complaints to environmental health officers, the local authority has pledged to carry out further investigations.

However, a council spokesman cautioned: Due to the geographical separation of the reports, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is currently considering them unrelated.

While Dr Kirtley presses on, compiling evidence to link the cases, her Facebook page has become a lightning rod for a slew of theories attempting to fathom the cause.

From the first report by a householder in Ness who wondered if a recently-installed smart meter might be to blame, contributors have run the gamut from the plausible  power lines, power stations and phone masts  to the downright bizarre, including interference from Russian subs or even the mating calls of amorous fish.

It is also clear that Lewiss Hum is creating an international buzz, with interest from as far afield as Canada, the US, France, and Australia.

And its not just armchair conspiracists offering their tuppence worth about sinister interference by government, the military, or, of course, aliens  the Facebook group has also been contacted by eminent names in the field of low-frequency noise pollution offering the benefit of their wisdom.

And these experts are as one in their belief that, as incredible as it might seem, the Hebridean Hum is part of a World Wide Hum.

Indeed, Lewis is far from the first place to endure low-frequency noise disruption. Last year, council officials informed the residents of Immingham, in Lincolnshire, that the source of a mysterious humming noise that has plagued them for years may never be discovered.

Some islanders say they are so distressed by the noise, they are considering leaving

Also last year, in a rare victory, a mystery hum dogging people in Omagh, Northern Ireland, was tracked by environmental health officers to an unnamed business premises and dealt with.

In 2013, marine scientists argued that an outbreak in Hythe, near Southampton, might have been caused by the mating call of male midshipman fish, nocturnal creatures which emit ever-louder drones, sometimes for hours to warn off other males.

Midshipman were previously found to be the culprit when houseboat residents in Sausalito Harbour, California, reported strange noises.

The truth is that The Hum has largely baffled researchers since the 1970s, when the first widespread reports of the unexplained acoustic phenomenon cropped up around the West Country city of Bristol.

In 1977, two of them wrote in the scientific journal Applied Acoustics that low-frequency sound waves generated by distant industrial sources were their best guess.

Equally inconclusive was another famous hum which began plaguing the Ayrshire coastal resort of Largs in the late 1980s. The Largs Hum was the same low-pitched drone, inaudible to most but debilitating to a sensitive few.

In New Mexico, the phenomenon is known as the Taos Hum after an artists enclave where the USs first large-scale incident occurred in the early 1990s. A Congressional investigation was ordered, but experts failed to find any conclusive results.

In Canada, it is known as the Windsor Hum following a spate of cases in the eponymous town in Ontario.

Hopes that the Lewis Hum might be caused by the temporary switch-on of electricity company SSENs Battery Point Power Station in Stornoway were dashed when it was realised that the energy hub only operated at certain times, while the hum has been reported as constant.

In any case, localised industrial sources seem inadequate to explain the worldwide prevalence of the Hum.

So what exactly is this mystifying noise? And does it even have an environmental origin, or is it all in the mind? It is fertile ground for research not only for scientists, but science fiction writers too.

Last year, BBC One addressed the issue in its four-part drama The Listeners starring Rebecca Hall as a teacher pushed to the brink by a low hum that no one around her seems to pick up.

In Drive, a 1998 episode of The X-Files, a man is being driven mad by a painful sensation of pressure building in his head.

Agent Scully, played by Gillian Anderson, discovers the cause is a United States Navy antenna array emitting extremely low frequency waves.

Certainly, long-distance radio transmissions have been put forward as a possible cause of the Hum.

One intriguing possibility is so-called TACAMO aircraft military planes that employ radio frequencies in the lowest end of the spectrum to track or communicate with submerged submarines.

T HE planes often operate at night, and their movements are top secret. Hum hearers in Largs have long suspected it is connected to operations at the nearby Faslane naval base, although no proof has ever been presented. If TACAMO was to blame, it might also explain why many sites are on the coast.

The Russian Navy has long operated in the deep Atlantic waters off the Western Isles.

However, the theory holds little water with the worlds foremost Hum scientist, Dr Glen MacPherson, of the University of British Columbia, in Canada.

Dr MacPherson, a Hum hearer who set up the World Hum Map and Database Project to record instances, said: I rejected that theory years ago after physical experiments ruled it out.

So, what does Dr MacPherson, who has undertaken years of research, think it could be?

His study appears to show that fully ambidextrous people, and those with a family or personal history of ADHD or autism are over-represented in the data.

He said: We are reasonably certain that the Hum is an internally generated perception of sound  that is, it is not actually a sound, just as tinnitus is not actually a sound. It is likely caused by some combination of specific anatomy, environmental exposure, or prescription/over-the-counter drug use.

It seems astonishing to contemplate that all these reports of debilitating symptoms might simply be peoples brains playing tricks on them.

Back in 2009, Dr David Baguley, who was a leading audiologist at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, told BBC News the Hum might be due to our sense of hearing becoming greatly heightened during times of stress.

He suggested hearing about the Hum could lead sufferers to fixate on a perceived background noise, with it becoming a source of increasing frustration, causing additional stress which tricks the brain into turning up the volume even further.

With his own Hum patients, Dr Baguley said he had some success with simple relaxation techniques borrowed from psychology.

However, noise and vibration expert Geoff Leventhall, who has studied similar incidents for more than half a century, received short shrift when he advised the Lewis Hummers to try cognitive behavioural therapy to help them relax and desensitise themselves.

It is draining, debilitating and incredibly distressing and disruptive, Dr Kirtley told one newspaper. Telling people to get used to it is not an acceptable solution.

For that, they must wait and hope as the source remains, maddeningly, just out of reach.
Prince Harry said tonight he was cut off from his father King Charles who 'won't speak to me'  after losing his appeal in court over his security.

The Duke of Sussex also launched a series of scathing attacks on his family in an astonishing interview with the BBC.

He revealed that he 'doesn't know how long his father has left', will not bring his wife or children back to the UK - and said he had had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

The most incendiary quotes from the interview were:

'He [my father] won't speak to me because of this security stuff'

'Some members of my family may never forgive me for writing a book'

'I don't know how long he [my father] has left'

'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point'

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family'

Harry also said he was 'devastated' after losing his court battle over security and claimed it was an 'establishment stitch-up'.

In response , Buckingham Palace said Harry's security issues had been 'examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion'.

England's second most senior judge, Sir Geoffrey Vos, today told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

And he ruled the security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit when Harry stepped back from being a senior royal and quit Britain.

Prince Harry said tonight he was cut off from his father King Charles who 'won't speak to me'  after losing his appeal in court over his security

King Charles III and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022

The Duke of Sussex at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 during his appeal against a High Court ruling preventing him getting automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK

In a devastating broadside reopening wounds with the Royal Family on Friday night, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation' with the royal family but was at present cut off from his father.

'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live.

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' he said, but he had now 'forgiven' them.

However, while Harry said he wants reconciliation, it is understood King Charles is still frustrated and upset with his son.

Speaking to The Sun, a source close to the King said: 'What has frustrated and upset him on a more personal level is the Duke's failure to respect this principle.

'And for his supporters to suggest that somehow his father doesn't care about his family, or should step in.

'He's been particularly concerned that it has taken considerable resources and cost for the Government to defend their position.'

Saying that he felt 'let down' and looking upset, Harry today described his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch up' and blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security.

In an emotional interview with the BBC in California , Prince Harry said he has been cut off from his father and doesn't know how long the King had left to live. Pictured: The court hearing

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family (pictured together at Christmas) is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

Harry's most incendiary quotes 'He [my father] won't speak to me because of this security stuff' 'Some members of my family may never forgive me for writing a book' 'I don't know how long he [my father] has left' 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point' 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family' Advertisement

Asked whether he had asked his father the King to intervene in the dispute over security, Prince Harry said: 'I never asked him to intervene - I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.

'The Ravec committee is an expert committee full of professionals plus the royals.'

He added: 'Five years later, every single visit that I do back to the UK has to go through the royal household.

'My representative on the Ravec committee still to this day is the royal household.

'That's not a decision that I choose. I am forced to go through the royal household and accept that they are putting my best interests forward during these conversations and deliberations.

'So no, I haven't asked my father to intervene.'

When asked by the BBC what about his current security arrangements made him feel unsafe, the Duke of Sussex replied: 'Everything.'

He continued: 'I would not have taken this this far if I did not have compelling evidence of facts that reveal why the decision was made and I am sitting here today talking to you, where we have lost the appeal, but the other side have won in keeping me unsafe, so again there is a lot of question marks that a lot of people will have.

'I have all of the truth, I have all of the knowledge now, throughout the legal process.

'I have uncovered my worst fears, and to now know today based on this judgment that there was no legal framework that constrains the decisions of this body Ravec, on which the royal household sit on, and I didn't know that until this legal process in 2021, one of the first things my lawyer said to me as disclosure started, as this process started, was 'did you know that the royal household sat on Ravec?', and my jaw hit the floor.'

In a shocking revelation, Harry also said he would not bring his family to the UK.

He explained: 'I can't see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things they are going to miss is everything.

'I love my country and always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done. So I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland.'

The Duke of Sussex returned to London for the appeal

It comes as Harry today sensationally lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The Duke of Sussex was told his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK. It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.
Prince Harry says he does not know how long King Charles has left to live in an emotional interview after losing his appeal in court over his security.

The Duke of Sussex claimed his father is not speaking to him because of his battle over taxpayer-funded police bodyguards.

He said there had been 'so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family', as he admitted he couldn't see a world in which his family would return to the UK.

But, amid another devastating broadside reopening wounds with the Royal Family, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation'.

'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live.

It comes just days after the King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer, speaking in his most poignant update on his illness since being diagnosed 15 months ago.

The King, 76, is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides have previously said his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking.

He said: 'There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family this current situation that has been now ongoing for five years with regards to human life and safety is the sticking point it is the only thing that's left.

'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book, of course they will never forgive me for lots of things.

'But you know there is, I would love reconciliation with my family there's no point in continuing to fight anymore, as I said life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff but it would be nice to reconcile.

In an emotional interview with the BBC in California , Prince Harry said he has been cut off from his father and doesn't know how long the King had left to live

It comes just days after the King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer, speaking in his most poignant update on his illness since being diagnosed 15 months ago

Asked if he had pleaded with the King to intervene, he added: 'I never asked him to intervene - I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.' Pictured: Together in 2022

'As I learnt through the First Nations, throughout Canada because of the Invictus games their goal in life was always truth and reconciliation and I turned around to them in many conversations and I said reconciliation can't come without truth.

'I've now found out the truth I've shared some of it with you today, a lot of it exists out there whether people choose to ignore it or not so it would be nice to have that reconciliation part now if they don't want that, that's entirely up to them.'

A Palace Spokesperson responded to the interview, saying: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'

The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January last year following routine surgery for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace have not confirmed what form he has, but have ruled out it being connected with his prostate issue.

They have also not disclosed what treatment he is still undertaking.

But there is little doubt that Charles has been more open about his diagnosis and medical treatment than any other monarch in history, using his profile to raise awareness of the disease.

In an emotional interview with the BBC, when asked if the last step to repairing relations with his family was the security issue, he said '100 per cent', adding: 'Whatever noise is being created, whatever stories have been written, this has always been the sticking point.

Harry said he was 'devastated' after sensationally losing his court fight - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

'Put yourself in my shoes, if you step back to try to create a different role, the same official role, but a different working relationship with the institution that you were born into, for the sake of your wife and your own mental health and your child, which now a lot more has come out, because I felt as though it needed to come out - the other side of the story needed to be told, God forbid anything should happen. And I don't regret that at all.

'But 2020, when that decision happened, I couldn't believe it. I actually couldn't believe it.

'I thought, with all the disagreements and all of the chaos that's happening, the one thing that I could rely on is my family keeping me safe.

'And not only did they decide to remove my security in the UK, but they also signalled to every single government around the world not to protect us.'

Asked if he had pleaded with the King to intervene, he added: 'I never asked him to intervene - I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.'

But he added: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hand, ultimately this whole thing could be resolved through him not necessarily by intervening but by stepping aside allowing the experts to do what is necessary and to carry out an RMB.'

The Duke of Sussex at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 during his appeal against a High Court ruling preventing him getting automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK

The Duke of Sussex returned to London for the appeal

England's second most senior judge, Sir Geoffrey Vos, told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

And he ruled the security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit when Harry stepped back from being a senior royal and quit Britain.

Saying that he felt 'let down' and looking upset, he described his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch up' and blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security.

It comes as Harry today sensationally lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The Duke of Sussex has been told that his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

In an emotional interview with the BBC , Harry said he was 'devastated' after sensationally losing his court fight - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs. Pictured: King Charles and Prince Harry observe the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transferred from the gun carriage to the hearse at Wellington Arch following her State Funeral

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK. It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.

This is a breaking news story - more to follow
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A tour van collision left at least seven dead near Yellowstone National Park after both vehicles caught on fire on Thursday evening.

The deadly collision left seven dead after a tour bus crashed into a Dodge Ram pickup truck, according to Idaho police.

Thursday night at 7.15pm on a highway near Henry's Lake State Park, 16 miles west of Yellowstone, the two vehicles collided before both caught on fire.

The driver of the pickup truck was reported to have died along with six others in the tour van, which was carrying a group of 14 people in total.

Idaho State Police have not released how many others involved in the crash were injured, and the names of the victims have yet to be released.

Air ambulances and emergency paramedics responded to the scene.

It remains unclear what caused the deadly crash as the investigation remains ongoing.
A United Nations judge has been jailed for six years and four months after being convicted of forcing a young woman to work as a slave.

Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found to have taken 'advantage of her status' over the Ugandan woman in the 'most egregious way', while she studied for a PhD in law at Oxford university.

Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, stopped the woman holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare, prosecutors said.

Judge David Foxton, sentencing Mugambe at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, said it was a 'very sad case', outlining her legal accomplishments, including work concerning the protection of human rights.

Mr Foxton added that the defendant 'showed absolutely no remorse' for her conduct and that she looked to 'forcibly blame' the victim for what happened.

In a written statement, read to the court by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, the victim described living in 'almost constant fear' due to Mugambe's powerful standing in Uganda.

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she 'can't go back to Uganda' due to concerns of what may happen to her and added that she may never see her mother again.

Mugambe was found guilty in March of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness after a trial.

UN Judge Lydia Mugambe had been jailed for six years and four months

Mugambe was found to have taken 'advantage of her status' over the Ugandan woman in the 'most egregious way' while she studied for a PhD in law at the University of Oxfor

In footage released by Thames Valley Police (TVP), the defendant appeared shocked when an officer said he was arresting her at her address in Oxfordshire under the Modern Slavery Act on February 12 2023.

She then had a conversation with the officer, in which she said: 'I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal.'

TVP said: 'Any immunity Mugambe may have enjoyed as a UN judge has been waived by the office of the United Nations Secretary General.'

Ms Haughey said that Mugambe exploited her victim by taking advantage of her lack of knowledge about employment rights and misleading her about why she came to the UK.

She said on Friday that there was a 'clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship' between Mugambe and her victim.

Ms Haughey told the court that the victim has been granted asylum in the UK on the basis that she has a well-founded fear of persecution in Uganda.

Mugambe conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the young woman to the UK, the court heard.

Ms Haughey said they took part in a 'very dishonest' trade-off, in which Mr Mugerwa arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's entrance into the UK in exchange for Mugambe attempting to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action in which Mr Mugerwa was named.

Thames Valley Police released an image taken from bodycam footage of the arrest of Lydia Mugambe

During her arrest, Mugambe told the officer 'I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal.'

Jurors also accepted that the defendant conspired to intimidate the woman to have her withdraw her support for the prosecution, or the charges against her to be dropped.

Mugambe contacted a pastor to assist in making contact with the young Ugandan woman, arranged for members of the woman's family to be contacted so they could persuade her to drop the case, and arranged for an email to be sent directly to her, the court heard.

She denied forcing the young woman to do household chores and said she 'always' treated her with love, care and patience.

The judge gave Mugambe a restraining order with terms saying she can not directly or indirectly contact the victim.

Paul Raudnitz KC, defending, spoke of Mugambe's 'glittering legal career' and told of the great support she has received since her conviction.

A small crowd held placards and chanted 'Justice for Lydia Mugambe' outside the court before the hearing took place.

Mr Raudnitz also said that Mugambe has resigned as a UN judge.

Lynette Woodrow, deputy chief crown prosecutor and national lead for modern slavery said 'Lydia Mugambe took advantage of the victim, who was hidden in plain sight through forced labour working as a maid and providing childcare for free.

'As a qualified lawyer, a Ugandan High Court judge and a United Nations criminal tribunal judge, Lydia Mugambe understood the rule of law and chose to overlook it.

'Modern slavery offences such as this one are incredibly serious and can have a profound effect on the lives of victims.'
A MAGA civil war has broken out as one of the movement's top female influencers railed against women who want to be a 'trad wife.'

The culture clash began as conservative influencer Emily Saves America, real name Emily Wilson, shared a TikTok video calling out 'young girls on the right promoting trad wife bulls***.'

A trad wife, short for traditional wife, is a social media term for a woman who embraces a traditional marital role, eschewing a career for being a stay-at-home mom and often sharing nostalgic content online.

In her video, Wilson mocked women who 'just want to make sourdough for my husband,' and cautioned them to find a way to make money on their own to avoid being financially 'trapped' in a marriage.

'I suggest you find a hobby that makes you money,' she said, adding that young women hoping to find a man who will give them a 'trad wife' lifestyle have a 'slim to none' chance of finding one.

'You're actually setting yourself up for failure, because it could not be easier, if that's what you're gonna pursue, to be trapped by a man, okay?' she said.

The video sparked fury among some hardline MAGA figures, with podcaster Matt Walsh questioning if she belongs in the conservative movement at all.

'A huge number of "conservative influencers" are left-wing feminists who despise the very things that conservatism by definition is supposed to be conserving,' he wrote in a post on X.

A MAGA civil war broke out on social media as conservative influencer Emily Saves America, real name Emily Wilson (pictured), shared a video calling out 'young girls on the right promoting trad wife bulls***'

The video sparked fury among some hardline MAGA influencers, with podcaster Matt Walsh questioning if she belongs in the conservative movement at all

Walsh waded into the controversy as he faces scrutiny from some over remarks he made this week on The Tucker Carlson show, where he branded gay couples being able to adopt children an 'abomination.'

In a follow-up post, Walsh called out women such as Wilson for riding Donald Trump's coattails, suggesting she doesn't hold values that are conservative enough.

'If you think that stay-at-home moms are stupid and they're allowing themselves to be "trapped by a man," as this woman says, then you are not in any meaningful sense right wing or conservative,' he wrote.

'I don't care if you also like Trump or whatever.'

Blogger Tim Pool piled on, adding: 'Liberals like Emily think they are conservative now but they are still liberals or [to be fair] at the very least "moderate."'

The issue has created a rift in the growing faction of Republican and right-wing social media figures, as some claim it is a litmus test for women to be a part of the MAGA movement.

In her video, Wilson mocked women who 'just want to make sourdough for my husband,' and cautioned them to find a way to make money on their own to avoid being financially 'trapped' in a marriage

Raquel Debono , founder of Make America Hot Again , told DailyMail.com that those promoting 'trad wife' nostalgia 'probably can't afford nannies'

Walsh called out women such as Wilson for riding Donald Trump's coattails and suggested she doesn't hold values that are conservative enough

Raquel Debono, founder of Make America Hot Again, told DailyMail.com that those promoting 'trad wife' nostalgia may be revealing too much.

'The loudest voices pushing the trad wife thing probably just can't afford nannies,' she scathed.

'This whole movement is starting to sound less like a moral stance and more like a budgeting issue.

'Funny how it's always the guys with no job, no plan, and no personality demanding a trad wife. Like sir, you don't need a submissive wife - you need a LinkedIn account.'

After Wilson's TikTok video ignited the debate, she took to X to double down on her take.

'By definition you can say I'm a feminist. Is that supposed to be offensive? Slow news day I guess,' she posted.

Blogger Tim Pool piled on as he questioned whether Wilson belongs in the conservative movement if she disagrees with women being 'trad wives'

Although she maintained that she 'promotes traditional values,' Wilson was also attacked by commentator Sarah Stock in an X post that gained almost two million views

After her TikTok video ignited the debate, Wilson then took to X to double down on her take

In her video, Wilson insisted that while she was warning women not to limit themselves, she was not inherently against a woman wanting to be stay-at-home moms.

She maintained that she 'promotes traditional values', but was nonetheless attacked by commentator Sarah Stock in an X post that gained almost two million views.

She said Wilson's 'message is ridiculous', and said 'being a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) is not being "trapped" by a man.'

'That's feminist BS,' she said.

'I'm very tired of our big conservative voices constantly echoing these feminist sentiments with no pushback.'
This is the shocking moment a Deliveroo rider was mobbed by a masked gang who wrestled his moped from him before using it to flee.

Footage shows how the courier had been parked on a road in Birmingham before being ambushed by the four thieves.

The group circled him on their own mopeds before approaching and trying to snatch his ride.

During the squabble, two of the thieves fell to the ground as they tripped on their own vehicles.

But, the minute the Deliveroo rider left his bike unattended, a member of the gang quickly hopped on.

The group then split up and rode off in different directions as the trademark light green Deliveroo food box was seen disappearing into the distance.

The rider was targeted in broad daylight outside of the Clayton Hotel on Albert Street, Birmingham, on April 30.

Members of the public were left disgusted by the theft.

This is the shocking moment a Deliveroo rider was mobbed by a masked gang who wrestled his moped from him before using it to flee

Footage shows how the courier was parked on a road in Birmingham before he was ambushed by four thieves

The group circled him on their own mopeds before approaching and trying to snatch his ride. During the squabble, two of the thieves fell to the ground as they tripped on their own vehicles

The minute the Deliveroo rider left his bike unattended, a member of the gang quickly hopped on. The group then split up and rode off in different directions as the trademark light green Deliveroo food box was seen disappearing into the distance

Ugo Chukwu Iwuoha said: 'Birmingham is unfortunately gone.'

Joanne McConnell said: 'Literally can't have anything for yourself.'

Susan Spiteri added: 'Disgusting.

'Poor man trying to make a living and the person laughing hope karma gets you.'

Roberto Carboni said: 'Birmingham is gone.'

Another said: 'In broad daylight, a gang steals a man's motorbike that he's using to earn his living.

'Jail all of these scumbags for years. What have we become?'

A Deliveroo spokesperson said: 'We take reports about rider safety and welfare extremely seriously and are concerned to see this footage.

'If a rider is subject to any criminal behaviour we would urge them to contact the police.





Members of the public were left disgusted by the theft

'Who are the right body to investigate such unacceptable behaviour and we will support the police investigation however we can.'

West Midlands Police has been approached for a comment.

It comes after another brazen theft took place in March.

Two moped-riding thieves were caught on camera stealing the mobile of an unsuspecting commuter.

In a video captured by an onlooker and posted to social media, the thugs, dressed in all black, are initially seen whizzing along a street on their mopeds before slowing down at a crossroad.

While the two moped-riders decelerate, a suspecting walker turns around, points and shouts something unclear at the thieves, who turn and dismissively wave their hands in response just moments before committing their crime.

As the walker cries 'thief, thief, thief' from the other side of the crossing, one of the brazen phone snatchers is then seen veering onto the pavement before grabbing the mobile of an unwary commuter, who momentarily turns and runs after the rider.

The victim, however, watches longingly as the thieves speed off with his device.

After viewing the worrying footage, X-users took to the comments section to express their shock at a crime which has become all too common in the capital.

'London is cursed! We need to stop this nonsense,' wrote one user.

Another commented: 'You simple don't bring your phone out on a busy London street.'
Well, Im in tears. I literally want to give him a hug, and tell him everything is going to be okay. I have rarely seen a public figure, let alone a prince of the realm, speak so candidly from the heart, and to so clearly be making a cry for help. Anyone who ignores his pleas is very hard-hearted indeed.

Harry sat down with the BBC in LA after his latest legal bid to be granted police protection when in the UK had been rejected by the courts.

He looked a broken man. Gone was the swagger of the Afghan combat soldier, the charm of the cheeky chappie, the compassion of the founder of the Invictus Games for disabled members of the armed services.

To me, he came across as very, very sad. No longer bitter, but holding out a hand of friendship.

Harry looked a broken man. Gone was the swagger of the Afghan combat soldier and the charm of the cheeky chappie

He apologised for writing his memoir, Spare: Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing this book.

When he talked about his fathers illness, it was almost unbearably poignant to hear him say: I dont know how much longer my father has.

He clearly loves Charles and wants to spend more time with him.

But he is doomed to disappointment in this regard. He is no longer speaking to his father, the one man who could resolve the situation with a click of his fingers or, as Harry said, This whole thing could be resolved through him.

Many of us are thinking, well, if a king cannot help his son, what power, what compassion, does he really possess?

Harry described the denial of his security as a good old Establishment stitch-up. He was the bigger man. The grown up. It would be nice to reconcile. I would love reconciliation with my family... It cant come without truth. If they dont want that, it is entirely up to them.

When he talked about his fathers illness, it was almost unbearably poignant to hear him say: I dont know how much longer my father has'

Harry said the court's decision not to reinstate his security makes 'it's impossible for me to bring my family back to the UK.' Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their children Archie (left) and Lilibet (right)

I think this extraordinary, history-making interview is up there with the radio broadcast by Edward, renouncing the throne for Wallis Simpson. But, this time, Harry is clearly declaring his undying love for the Crown.

I believe that his wife Meghan has, with her Netflix show, her peddling of wares, her podcasts talking about her 'busyness' as a Mom, suddenly thrown his life into sharp relief.

Its all too shallow, too sunny for him, standing on the sidelines like a waiter, cooing over a brunch party. He wants his life to really matter, as his mothers did.

You can see the regret etched into his features, and the sorrow. If Charles and William do not reach out to him after this, then they will seem petty and vindictive. And, I believe, the British public wont look kindly upon them.

I feel for Harry, I really do. His attempt in court to reinstate his official security in the UK, even pay for it himself, was an olive branch. But now I feel he is done fighting. He looks broken.

If the late Queen were still alive, she would be the bigger person and embrace him, her grandson. He is blood, he is family. Charles and William: reconcile with Harry, or I fear the British people will turn against you.
Prince Harry's security issues were 'examined repeatedly' by the courts, Buckingham Palace has said in a blunt response to his claims it was an 'establishment stitch-up'.

The Duke of Sussex tonight launched a series of scathing attacks on the Royal Family, saying he has been cut off from King Charles who 'won't speak to him'.

He revealed that he 'doesn't know how long his father has left', will not bring his wife or children back to the UK - and said he had had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Prince Harry also said he was 'devastated' after losing his appeal in court over his security and branded it an 'establishment stitch-up'.

Saying that he felt 'let down' and looking deflated, the Duke of Sussex blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his taxpayer-funded security.

Replying to the bombshell claims, a Palace spokesperson said tonight: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'

It comes after England's second most senior judge, Sir Geoffrey Vos, today told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

And he ruled the security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit when Harry stepped back from being a senior royal and quit Britain.

The Duke of Sussex has claimed King Charles 'won't speak to me', but claimed he wants 'reconciliation' with his family

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

Britain's Prince Harry walks to attend court about his security issues on April 9

Following the ruling, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation' with the royal family but was at present cut off from his father.

'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live.

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' he said, but he had now 'forgiven' them.

In a scathing attack on the Royal Family, Harry also claimed some of his family could never forgive him for his book, Spare, and said he does not know how long his father has left to live.

He said: 'There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family this current situation that has been now ongoing for five years with regards to human life and safety is the sticking point it is the only thing that's left.

'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book, of course they will never forgive me for lots of things.

'But you know there is, I would love reconciliation with my family there's no point in continuing to fight anymore, as I said life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff but it would be nice to reconcile.

'As I learnt through the First Nations, throughout Canada because of the Invictus games their goal in life was always truth and reconciliation and I turned around to them in many conversations and I said reconciliation can't come without truth.

'I've now found out the truth I've shared some of it with you today, a lot of it exists out there whether people choose to ignore it or not so it would be nice to have that reconciliation part now if they don't want that, that's entirely up to them.'

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago

Harry's most incendiary quotes 'He [my father] won't speak to me because of this security stuff' 'Some members of my family may never forgive me for writing a book' 'I don't know how long he [my father] has left' 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point' 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family' Advertisement

Asked whether he had asked his father the King to intervene in the dispute over security, Prince Harry said: 'I never asked him to intervene - I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.

'The Ravec committee is an expert committee full of professionals plus the royals.'

But he added: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hand, ultimately this whole thing could be resolved through him not necessarily by intervening but by stepping aside allowing the experts to do what is necessary and to carry out an RMB.'

The Duke of Sussex told BBC News that 'some people want history to repeat itself', which he described as 'pretty dark'.

He said: 'Because I decided to remove myself eventually from the institution, my life got devalued from the highest score to the lowest score overnight.'

Asked about history repeating itself, he said: 'Yeah, I don't want history to repeat itself. I think there's a lot of other people out there, and the majority also don't want history to repeat itself.

'Through the disclosure process, I've discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.'

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, pictured today as he rejected Harry's appeal

It comes just days after the King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer, speaking in his most poignant update on his illness since being diagnosed 15 months ago

Asked who that was, Harry declined to answer.

'I'm not going to share at this point,' he said. 'I know all the names of the people that were involved in this process.

'You have to question, why wasn't I put through the same risk management board that everybody else was put through, including members of my family?'

When asked by the BBC what about his current security arrangements made him feel unsafe, the Duke of Sussex replied: 'Everything.'

He continued: 'I would not have taken this this far if I did not have compelling evidence of facts that reveal why the decision was made and I am sitting here today talking to you, where we have lost the appeal, but the other side have won in keeping me unsafe, so again there is a lot of question marks that a lot of people will have.

'I have all of the truth, I have all of the knowledge now, throughout the legal process.

'I have uncovered my worst fears, and to now know today based on this judgment that there was no legal framework that constrains the decisions of this body Ravec, on which the royal household sit on, and I didn't know that until this legal process in 2021, one of the first things my lawyer said to me as disclosure started, as this process started, was 'did you know that the royal household sat on Ravec?', and my jaw hit the floor.'

In a shocking revelation, Harry also said he would not bring his family to the UK.

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family (pictured together at Christmas) is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

He explained: 'I can't see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things they are going to miss is everything.

'I love my country and always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done. So I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland.'

It comes as Harry today sensationally lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The Duke of Sussex was told his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

In an emotional interview with the BBC , Harry said he was 'devastated' after sensationally losing his court fight - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs. Pictured: King Charles and Prince Harry observe the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transferred from the gun carriage to the hearse at Wellington Arch following her State Funeral

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK. It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.
A New Mexico couple allegedly forced their teenage daughter to engage in sexual acts with her six siblings while other adults watched.

Valerie Cordell, 41, and her husband Melvin, 50, of Deming, were arrested in February after their 16-year-old daughter reported years of abuse she said she and her siblings endured while living in squalid underground caves surrounded by human feces, rotting food and bags of trash.

On Monday, Valerie pleaded not guilty to 18 charges during her arraignment, including multiple counts of child sexual abuse.

Melvin is also facing a total of 24 charges, with his arraignment scheduled for May 5.

On October 23, 2024, the 16-year-old girl, whose name has not been released, reported the abuse she said she and her six siblings suffered while attending the New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy, KRQE News reported.

'Authorities were originally alerted about a child who was sexually assaulted since she was 13, over the course of four years by her father,' the 6th Judicial District Attorneys Office said.

Aside from her father, the teen told investigators that she also had 'unwanted sex' with two other adult relatives, resulting in two pregnancies - one at the age of 13 and the second at 16, KRQE reported.

While bravely reporting the abuse, she revealed that she and her siblings - ranging in age from 6 months to 16 - were forced to perform sexual acts with each other in front of other adults.

Valerie Cordell, 41, of New Mexico, is accused of abusing her seven children with her husband for years - including forcing their 16-year-old daughter to engage in sexual acts with her siblings while other adults watched

The teenage girl told investigators that her father, 50-year-old Melvin Cordell, sexually assaulted her over the course of four years, resulting in two pregnancies - one at the age of 13 and the second at 16

Investigators said they found the family-of-nine living exclusively outside on a 35-acre site in a remote area of Luna County, describing the scene as 'inhumane' and 'squalid' as broken-down vehicles, boxes of rotting food and buckets of human feces surrounded the property

The horrific allegations led to a four-month investigation, during which investigators said they discovered the family-of-nine lived exclusively outside on a 35-acre site in a remote area of Luna County.

'Investigating officers described it as an inhumane, squalid scene,' the DA's office alleged in the press release.

'A dilapidated trailer, several unlivable camping trailers, broken-down vehicles, boxes of rotting food, bags of trash along with buckets located all around the property filled with human feces,' the release continued.

'The children were found in filthy conditions, they lived outside, year-round, sleeping on a mattress in a semi-underground cave, with tunnels from 4 to 6 feet in length or took shelter in the broken-down vehicles.'

The parents' pedophilic compound was described as a 'city trash landfill' in court documents, with animal skeletons, broken appliances and clothes scattered across the rural property, KRQE reported.

As punishment, the 16-year-old told investigators that she and her siblings were deliberately starved - specifically citing a moment when they were denied food for calling 911 and prompting a visit from CYFD.

Both Valerie and Marvin were swiftly arrested and booked into the Luna County Detention Center without bail following the investigation.

The children have since been placed into protective custody with the state.

Valerie now faces 18 charges - 16 counts of child abuse, one count of criminal sexual penetration and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse. Melvin is facing 24 charges

Valerie now faces 18 charges - 16 counts of child abuse, one count of criminal sexual penetration and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse, according to court records.

On the other hand, Melvin is facing 24 charges - some of which including criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact of a minor, abuse of a child, aggravated battery and tampering with evidence.

The 50-year-old father is also accused of performing two at-home abortions on his daughter without consent, 'destroying, changing or hiding' two aborted fetuses in the process, KRQE reported.

The Cordells are still being held behind bars - both without bond - as they await their next court dates.
Twelve years ago, on the afternoon of Thursday May 16, 2013, Nigel Farage attempted to hold a press conference in the Canons Gait pub on Edinburghs Royal Mile.

What followed was a darkly unpleasant farce as protestors tried to silence the then UKIP leader. First, the pub manager called time on the press conference when angry protestors in the street outside began screaming abuse. Forced to leave the premises, Mr Farage was rejected by a first taxi driver then turfed out his cab by a second.

Eventually police ushered the politician back into the pub, there to enjoy a pint before he was whisked away in a riot van.

Mr Farages flying visit to Edinburgh, ostensibly to launch the partys campaign in the Holyrood parliamentary constituency of Aberdeen Donside, was perfectly useful to both him and those protesting his presence in the capital.

Footage of Mr Farage being hounded by a genuinely angry mob only bolstered his argument that the left is dangerous. Viewed through a different lens, footage of a Little Englander being shown the door by defiant Scottish nationalists played well to an audience of those then campaigning for a Yes vote in the following years independence referendum.

Back in 2013, the idea that Mr Farage might make some kind of breakthrough into Scottish politics seemed laughable. Yesterdays local election results showed the joke was on the doubters.

Nigel Farage was escorted by police officers as he left the Cannons Gait pub in 2013 as protestors blocked the path of the taxi that had arrived to pick him up

Ironically, the populist easy-answers-to-difficult-questions approach deployed by Mr Farage in England mirrored that of then First Minister, Alex Salmond. The SNP may continue to declare their abhorrence of Mr Farages politics, but both have succeeded by creating bogeymen against whom only they can defend the electorate. The same dissatisfaction with politics that drove millions of English voters to back UKIP drove many Scots towards the SNP.

Now leader of the Reform Party, Mr Farage continues to occupy the minds of Scotlands self-styled progressive politicians.

A couple of weeks ago, First Minister John Swinney convened a meeting of political and civic leaders where all agreed that the sort of right-wing populism espoused by Mr Farage was a bad thing.

All reports of the meeting suggest it was a pointless exercise in hand-wringing where various bromides about kindness and inclusivity were delivered by attendees who felt compelled to be there.

On the face of things, Nigel Farage doesnt present a real and present danger to the electoral chances of either John Swinney or his closest challenger for the role of First Minister, Scottish Labours Anas Sarwar. Rather, he is a useful bogeyman for both; his presence in our national debate an all-purpose warning against voting this way or that.

But things change. For many decades, the SNP lingered on the fringes of Scottish politics. Now, the nationalists dominate.

Mr Farage has become a 'useful bogeyman' for Labour and the SNP, writes Euan McColm

Shouldnt we, at the very least, concede the possibility (perhaps even the likelihood) that Nigel Farage will build enough support to make a significant impact on Scottish politics?

In elections in England on Thursday, Reform returned a fifth MP, won two regional mayoralties, and picked up dozens of new council seats.

Mr Farages party might not yet have reached such levels of support in Scotland but a recent poll by Survation placed the party in third place, behind the SNP and Labour, in voting intentions for next years Holyrood election.

That polling tells the Scottish Conservatives they have quite a job to do in tackling a party claiming their place on their right.

But it should also be a warning to Mr Swinney and those in attendance at his grand photo-opportunity.

Mr Farages brand of politics has never been as unpopular as the SNP would have us believe. Despite endless nationalist rhetoric about Scots being above the politics of the Eurosceptic right, UKIP won a Scottish seat at the 2014 European parliamentary election. And there were many, particularly older, SNP members who backed Brexit on the grounds that independence should mean independence from all institutions beyond Scotlands borders.

A recent poll placed Reform in third place in Scotland - behind the SNP and Labour

Both the SNP and Labour know who these voters are and, in many cases, to what extent they might be persuaded to change their vote.

What these parties dont yet know is the extent to which Mr Farage might be able to attract younger voters.

The old divides of left and right, unionist and nationalist are less important to younger than older voters. Yes, strict ideologies - for example, the demands of trans activists - can still hold great power but younger voters are less likely to read a manifesto than they are to pick and mix the policies they support.

Last weekend, my 17-year-old daughter sat on the sofa, letting me hear snippets of songs from her most recent playlist. It was all over the place, in a good way.

She clicked from Led Zeppelin to Boney M to Metallica to Lana Del Rey to Dexys Midnight Runners. In common with other teenagers, she finds her music via Tik-Tok and Instagram reels.

This is how younger people get much of their political information, too.

A recent survey for the John Smith Centre, based at Glasgow University, found that almost two thirds of people aged 16-29 would consider backing an independent candidate.

An anti-extremist summit called by Mr Swinney was focused on politicians and policies that most people do not consider extreme, writes Euan McColm

That poll of 2,000 people across the UK showed clear evidence of a generational shift in the way voters engage with politics. There is little underlying loyalty to or close sense of identity with the main parties.

Instead, younger voters will happily take a little bit of this from here and a little of that from there.

Eddie Barnes, Director of the Centre, says: 'The youngest voters in Britain are increasingly turning away from the established political parties and looking to alternatives, a trend reflected in many European democracies.

'The poll results put Britains mainstream parties on notice: if an election were held tomorrow, the Labour Party would still attract the largest share of young voters - about 30 per cent - but two non-traditional parties  the Green Party and Reform UK  would collectively draw an equal share, with roughly 15 per cent of youth voting for each.

'A new political landscape is emerging, shaped by young voters in search of alternatives.'

The First Ministers peculiar anti-extremist summit had one central flaw. Mr Swinney was focused on politicians and policies that most people do not consider extreme.

The views of English and Scottish voters are closely aligned on immigration and the First Minister should be careful that he does not end up pushing away potential SNP voters who believe in some of what Mr Farage says.

One veteran SNP strategist says the First Minister risks alienating supporters who hold conservative views on immigration.

'Weve got plenty of voters who agree with Farage on some things. Weve even got voters who agree with Tommy Robinson - every party does. Weve got to be careful we dont confuse Farage with the real hard right like Robinson.

'Weve got an obvious case in favour of immigration - Scotland needs more people - but we cant just bludgeon voters with that when theyre responding to something Farage says about health.'

John Swinney, of course, has a personal interest in Nigel Farage being seen as beneath contempt. Current polling suggests that the SNP leader will fall short of winning an overall majority at next years Holyrood election and that Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform could have sufficient MSPs to form a Unionist majority.

Mr Swinney would like it to be known now that anyone doing any deals at any time with any party connected to Nigel Farage is a rotter.

Not that Mr Farage will have the slightest concern about deals at Holyrood. Rather, he will be looking at the prospect of Scots sending 15 or more Reform members to Holyrood with absolute glee.

Mr Farage has been a disrupter in both the European and Westminster parliaments. Next year, a number of his proxies will bring that brand of politics to Holyrood.

If Mr Farage so chooses, he will find plenty of locations in Scotland to recreate those ugly scenes on the Royal Mile 12 years ago. He will just as easily find places where Scots will stop him and ask for selfies.

In common with US President Donald Trump, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the late Alex Salmond, Nigel Farage kicks away the boundaries of what it is acceptable for politicians to say. He knows what buttons to push to wind up opponents and he manages, baffling though this may be to many of his opponents, to strike a chord with voters with traditional loyalties from across the political spectrum.

This ability to connect should, says one former SNP staffer, give pause for thought for John Swinney. as Farages party has the ability yo hurt the Nationalists.

'There are voters wholl go SNP or Labour in the constituency next year and Reform on the regional list. We cant just say Reform are hard right and think theyll go away. We share voters with them.'

One area where Reform is expected to focus its regional vote strategy next year is gender. While the SNP and Scottish Labour have angered voters with their willingness to acquiesce to the demands or irrational trans activists, Reform - in common with the Conservatives - has maintained the mainstream view that people cannot literally change sex and that a woman is an adult human female.

I would be astonished if Reforms election literature for Holyrood 2026 did not included a simple message along the lines of Donald Trumps Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you.

When Mr Farage was hounded out of Edinburgh in 2013, he seemed pure pantomime villain. All these years later, hes an MP with the potential to become Prime Minister and the power to shake up Scottish politics.

Nigel Farage wont stand for Holyrood next year but his presence will linger over every debate.
The Army is making plans for a massive parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating its 250th year that coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

It will feature marching troops, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, rows of howitzers, and other symbols of American might.

As many as 6,300 of the service members will march, with another 300 in support, in a demonstration of power and organization.

The parade has its origins in Trump's first term, when he viewed a Bastille Day event down the Champs-Elysees along with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Parades were back on Trump's mind Thursday night, as he posted about his intention to 'rename' May 8th 'Victory Day' and rename Veterans Day and Armistice Day as 'Victory Day for World War I.'

'We are going to start celebrating our victories again!' Trump wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to stage a major parade in Moscow May 9 attended by other world leaders including China's Xi Jinping to celebrate the Russia's role in the victory over the Nazis in World War II.

The parade through Red Square drew criticism from Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Moscow was only putting forward a temporary cease fire because it Russians were 'worried that their parade is in jeopardy, and rightly so.'

The details of the planning for the D.C. parade of personnel and hardware cones in an Army memo.

It would include up to 150 vehicles, and 50 helicopters  flown in highly restricted air space where a military helicopter collided with a passenger aircraft in a deadly crash days into Trump's second term.

Trump, who curates his campaign play list, will also get to see as many as seven bands, assuming he attends the festivities.

The parade planned for the 250th anniversary of the Army in Washington, D.C. coincides with Donald Trump's 79th birthday

He was denied the chance to view the string of marching bands who came to town for his inauguration after the outdoor ceremony got cancelled amid cold weather. The elaborate viewing stand constructed in front of the White House was never used.

'The president is planning an historic celebration of the Armys 250th birthday that will honor generations of selfless Americans who have risked everything for our freedom,' White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley told Fox News Digital.

Trump met resistance during his first term when he wanted July 4 military parade rather than the traditional fireworks show on the Mall accompanied by a concert and the National Symphony Orchestra. Military brass resisted his push for tanks and delivered flyovers and military vehicles less likely to tear up city streets.

The planning documents are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released. They represent the Army's most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element - a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed.

The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday on June 14.

It comes in a city that Trump is trying to remake with staff cuts at federal agencies, purging boards like the Kennedy Center, moving workers out of D.C., and threatening a federal takeover.

While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size.

Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.

High costs halted Trump's push for a parade in his first term, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the Army's latest plans have raised concerns from city officials about damage to roads.

Asked about plans for a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made.

US Army soldiers work on an armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle on display in front of the Lincoln Memorial for US Independence Day celebrations on the National Mall in Washington, DC, USA, 04 July 2019 after Trump ordered a 'Salute to America'

The documents show plans for more than 6,000 troops

Trump also sought a military parade in his first term

Trump posted about parades Thursday night, when he gave a commencement speech at the University of Alabama

Trump posted about 'celebrating our victories' in advance of Russia's planned parade marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe over Nazi Germany

The equipment might have to be transported to Washington by military transport aircraft and trains

Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, added that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.

'We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,' said Butler. 'We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.'

Others familiar with the documents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been finalized, said they represent the Army's plans as it prepares for any White House approval of the parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There has been no formal approval yet. Changes to the plans have been made in recent weeks and more are likely.

Much of the equipment would have to be brought in by train or flown in.

Some equipment and troops were already going to be included in the Army's birthday celebration, which has been in the works for more than a year. The festival was set to involve an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including a fitness competition, climbing wall, armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment.

President Donald Trump, pictured on screen from left, French President Emmanuel Macron and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch a Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, July 14, 2017

A parade, however, would increase the equipment and troops involved. According to the plans, as many as 6,300 of the service members would be marching in the parade, while the remainder would be responsible for other tasks and support.

The Army's early festival plans did not include a parade, but officials confirmed last month that the Army had started discussions about adding one.

The plans say the parade would showcase the Armys 250 years of service and foresee bringing in soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

There would be seven Army bands and a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. And documents suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges and reenactor organizations.

According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.

And it is expected that the evening parade would be followed by a concert and fireworks.

One of the documents raises concerns about some limitations, which include where troops would be housed and 'significant concerns regarding security requirements' as equipment flows into the city. It says the biggest unknown so far is which units would be participating.

In his first term, Trump proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Elysees that he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.

That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs - with one estimate of a $92 million price tag - and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads.

Trump said in a social media post in 2018 that he was canceling the event over the costs and accused local politicians of price gouging.

This year, as plans progressed for the Army to host its birthday festival in Washington, talk about a parade began anew.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14 that would stretch from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are located, across the Potomac River and into Washington.

Bowser at the time said she didnt know if the event was being 'characterized as a military parade' but added that tanks rolling through the citys streets 'would not be good.'

'If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads,' she said.

In 2018, the Pentagon appeared to agree. A memo from the defense secretary's staff said plans for the parade - at that time - would include only wheeled vehicles and no tanks to minimize damage to local infrastructure.
Prince Harry has called on the Home Secretary to step in and review the body which authorises protection for senior royals - as he issued a fresh statement on his failed bid for security in the UK.

It comes just hours after the Duke of Sussex launched a series of scathing attacks on his family in an astonishing interview with the BBC - claiming his father no longer speaks to him.

He revealed that he 'doesn't know how long his father has left', will not bring his wife or children back to the UK - and said he had had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Harry also blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security and branded the court defeat a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch up'.

After the court's decision on Friday, the 40-year-old said he would ask Yvette Cooper to 'look at this very, very carefully', and warned that the royal family's power over security means it 'can be used to control' family members.

Meanwhile in a fresh scathing statement, Prince Harry claimed he had been treated as an exception on the issue.

'The conditions of my security were not based on threat, risk and impact, they were made based on my role - one that my wife and I wanted to maintain but was ultimately refused,' he said.

He added: 'This all comes from the same institutions that preyed upon my mother, that openly campaigned for the removal of our security, and continue to incite hatred towards me, my wife and even our children.'

The Duke of Sussex tonight launched a series of scathing attacks on the Royal Family, and said his father won't speak to him, in an astonishing interview with the BBC

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

The Duke of Sussex at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 during his appeal against a High Court ruling preventing him getting automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK

When asked whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should 'step in', Harry told the BBC: 'I think that based on the judgment that the court has put out today, it clearly states that Ravec are not constrained by law.

'Again, I wish somebody had said that from the beginning.'

He continued: 'Yes, I would ask the Prime Minister to step in.

Harry's comments came after England's second most senior judge, Sir Geoffrey Vos, today told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

And he ruled the security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit when Harry stepped back from being a senior royal and quit Britain.

In response , Buckingham Palace said Harry's security issues had been 'examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion'.

In a devastating broadside reopening wounds with the Royal Family on Friday night, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation' with the royal family but was at present cut off from his father.

'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live.

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' he said, but he had now 'forgiven' them.

Saying that he felt 'let down' and looking upset, he described his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch up' and blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security.

Asked whether he had asked his father the King to intervene in the dispute over security, Prince Harry said: 'I never asked him to intervene - I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.

'The Ravec committee is an expert committee full of professionals plus the royals.'

He added: 'Five years later, every single visit that I do back to the UK has to go through the royal household.

'My representative on the Ravec committee still to this day is the royal household.

'That's not a decision that I choose. I am forced to go through the royal household and accept that they are putting my best interests forward during these conversations and deliberations.

'So no, I haven't asked my father to intervene.'

When asked by the BBC what about his current security arrangements made him feel unsafe, the Duke of Sussex replied: 'Everything.'

The Duke of Sussex returned to London for the appeal

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, pictured today as he rejected Harry's appeal

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family (pictured together at Christmas) is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

Harry's most incendiary quotes 'He [my father] won't speak to me because of this security stuff' 'Some members of my family may never forgive me for writing a book' 'I don't know how long he [my father] has left' 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point' 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family' Advertisement

He continued: 'I would not have taken this this far if I did not have compelling evidence of facts that reveal why the decision was made and I am sitting here today talking to you, where we have lost the appeal, but the other side have won in keeping me unsafe, so again there is a lot of question marks that a lot of people will have.

'I have all of the truth, I have all of the knowledge now, throughout the legal process.

'I have uncovered my worst fears, and to now know today based on this judgment that there was no legal framework that constrains the decisions of this body Ravec, on which the royal household sit on, and I didn't know that until this legal process in 2021, one of the first things my lawyer said to me as disclosure started, as this process started, was 'did you know that the royal household sat on Ravec?', and my jaw hit the floor.'

In a shocking revelation, Harry also said he would not bring his family to the UK.

He explained: 'I can't see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things they are going to miss is everything.

'I love my country and always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done. So I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland.'

It comes as Harry today sensationally lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The Duke of Sussex was told his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

Meghan and Harry in New York last month, where they are believed to have had police protection, according to reports

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK. It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.
A secretive gang of cyber criminals last night claimed to be behind the hacking attacks wreaking havoc on Britains high streets  warning this is just the start.

The group, called DragonForce, said it and its affiliates, which may include the Scattered Spider crew of teenage hackers, are responsible for attacks on Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods.

The hackers claimed to have stolen millions of customers data and said they are trying to force their victims to pay a ransom.

It came as Co-op said the personal data of customers, including names and contact details, had been stolen after cyber criminals accessed its systems, with the information watchdog highlighting that a similar situation could have taken place at M&S.

Retailers are on red alert for similar attacks, as DragonForce said it was poised to launch more. In an interview with Bloomberg, its anonymous creators threatened to release data if it does not receive payment from the retailers, saying it typically expects millions of pounds for ransom payments.

The group operates similarly to a criminal cartel and sells its software to other hackers, such as the Scattered Spider gang.

Our job is not to destroy, we just take some money and walk away, it said, also warning that the recent attacks were just a start. DragonForce hackers claimed more than 90 victims last year and targeted companies across various industries.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) urged M&S and Co-op customers to use strong passwords and different ones across multiple platforms.

Stephen Bonner, ICO deputy commissioner, said: We recognise that seeing cyber attacks in the news can be concerning, especially if you are a customer.

British teenagers have been linked to the notorious Scattered Spider hacking group responsible for the cyber attack that continues to cripple Marks & Spencer.

The alleged hack has cause mayhem for Marks & Spencer which has been unable to process online orders for days now

Harrods became the latest in a string of prominent retailers to be targeted by cyber hackers (Stock image)

Co-op and M&S customers were urged to use strong passwords and different ones across multiple platforms

If you are worried about your personal information, you can visit our website for advice and support. We also advise checking regularly for updates from the organisation and following their advice if they confirm that your personal information has been impacted by a cyber attack.

While M&S would not comment on if shoppers data is at risk, boss Stuart Machin apologised to shoppers after the devastating attack that has lasted two weeks.

The chains customers and staff have been reeling from the disruption since Easter weekend, with millions of pounds of lost business still mounting. Harrods revealed it was also targeted this week, as technology experts warned over copycat hacks.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is set to warn that cyber criminals are trying to hack firms every hour of every day.

Speaking at the CyberUK conference next week, Pat McFadden will say companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority in the face of a growing threat from relentless criminals.
Hallmark actor Noel Johansen was pictured standing beside his teenage son, Ford, as the two attended at a vigil in Vancouver days after his wife was killed when an SUV rammed into a crowd of festival goers.

Ford, 15, stood solemnly beside his injured father, who was one of dozens who had gathered to mourn the lives shattered following Saturday nights catastrophic car-ramming attack that left eleven people dead and many more wounded.

Among the dead was Johansens wife and Ford's mother, celebrated costume designer Jenifer Darbellay.

Jenifer was killed instantly when an SUV rammed through a packed street festival celebrating Filipino heritage.

Photographs from the vigil show Johansen, visibly shaken and leaning on crutches, flanked by both Ford. His seven-year-old daughter, Darby, also survived the attack but was injured.

The image of father and son standing shoulder to shoulder has already become something of symbol of heartbreak and resilience - a family fractured, but not broken.

The actor, who has appeared in Psych, Supernatural, Fargo and The Good Doctor, was on crutches as he madea an address during the vigil: 'What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because whats inside my heart is broken.

'Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.

Hallmark actor Noel Johansen was pictured standing shoulder to shoulder with his teenage son, Ford, 15, as the pair attended a vigil for the victims of the BC car-ramming attack

Noel, center, hugs an attendee as his son Ford watches on as the pair attended the service at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary school in Vancouver earlier this week

The couple share two children, 15-year-old son Ford and seven-year-old daughter Darby. Both Noel and Darby were injured at the festival

'She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself; she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach. And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her.

'So dont be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have, and please remember us who went through this.'

Johansen is best known for his work on Hallmark Channel shows and films including: Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters, When Calls the Heart, Chesapeake Shores, Harvest Love, Reunited at Christmas and Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Johansen's friend and business partner Michael Daingerfield has already raised more than $190,000 so far.

'I am literally in shock as I write this - but I want to do something for Noel and his two children Ford, 15, and Darby, 7,' Daingerfield said of his friend and the family.

'This is an incredibly difficult time for Noel, and moving forward with his life is going to feel insurmountable.

'Jen was a one-of-a-kind. She was an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman. A gifted painter, a selfless mother, and a loving wife. She gave the best hugs, was always there to listen without judgement, and had the sweetest voice.

Noel Johansen shows on his phone a photo of his wife, who was killed in the car-ramming attack at a Filipino heritage festival

Eleven were people were killed and dozens were injured after an SUV (pictured) rammed through the packed street festival celebrating Lapu Lapu Day

'She was not only special to me and my family (wife and kids), but she was special to many other friends and people - giving of herself volunteering on the PAC committee at Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Darby's school.'

Horrifying video and pictures showed utter devastation as mangled bodies were strewn across the road following the crash.

Dazed bystanders could be seen racing away from the scene and from victim to victim as local cops swooped and arrested the driver, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30.

Lo allegedly to have told witnesses he was 'sorry' as he was dragged out of the car.

Lo severe mental breakdown after his brother was murdered last year and his mother then tried to commit suicide.

He is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder and remains in custody.

Authorities have previously said that the suspect was 'known to police in certain circumstances' and was believed to have been suffering from delusions and paranoia prior to the attack.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver... We are all mourning with you.'

The Psych star was on crutches at a vigil for the victims as he choked back tears while addressing the crowd

Johansen, left, whose wife Jenifer Darbellay died is seen hugging an attendee at the vigil

Those in the crowd came up to embrace Johansen who said his heart was broken following his wife's tragic death

Some handed Johansen bunches of flowers and their offered their condolences

Son, Ford, was also seen hugging those in the crowd who came to pay their respects

With grief etched on his face, Johansen could be seen resting on his crutches

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among the attendees at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, CTV news said.

'This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say,' Singh said.

'I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing.'

Usually the city parks dump trucks to block streets for festivals but for unknown reasons that didn't happen on Saturday.

The festival had drawn families, children, and neighbors from across Vancouver, many eager to enjoy the warm spring evening, unaware of the horror about to unfold.

Instead, the street became a makeshift triage center as bystanders rushed to provide first aid before paramedics could arrive.

Videos posted on social media showed stunned festivalgoers standing beside twisted tents, toppled chairs, and scattered belongings, the aftermath of what should have been an ordinary, joyous community event.

Noel is best known for his work on several Hallmark Channel shows and films including: Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters, When Calls the Heart, Chesapeake Shores, Harvest Love, Reunited at Christmas and Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery; he is seen with Kirsten Robek (left) and Lacey Chabert on set of 2017's All Of My Heart: The Wedding

Johansens wife and Ford's mother was celebrated costume designer Jenifer Darbellay, right

Eyewitness videos from the scene show severe injuries among festival attendees, including reports of a baby trapped under a vehicle, while emergency responders could be seen performing CPR on victims.

The 11 dead range in age from just five to 65.

Lo's mental breakdown was believed to have happened when his father died shortly after the family moved into their Vancouver home, according to the Globe and Mail.

His brother, Alexander, 31, was then found murdered inside a home at around 1am on January 28, 2024, the Vancouver Sun reports.

Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the house and was later charged with second degree murder.

'It pains me deeply to put these words down, but my brother has been taken from us in a senseless act of violence, something we never saw coming,' he wrote at the time.

'Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he's no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force.

'I'm burdened with remorse for not spending more time with him,' Kai-Ji continued. 'I implore you to keep his soul in your thoughts and prayers.'

Vancouver police secure the scene after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival -- April 26, 2025

Meanwhile the driver has been identified as a 30-year-old man who suffered a severe mental breakdown after his brother was murdered last year and his mother then tried to commit suicide as suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder

Alexander Lo, 31, was found murdered inside a home at around 1am on January 28, 2024

The fundraiser netted over $9,000 for Alexander's funeral.

But just months later, in August, Kai-Ji was back asking for donations - this time after his mother attempted suicide and ended up in the hospital for a month.

'The unimaginable grief brought upon my mother is something that is worse than my own sadness,' Kai-Ji wrote.

'For she brought him into this world, only for him to leave abruptly, it is a sadness I cannot begin to express.'

'She lost a son already and is on the verge of losing her home. This has driven her to attempt to take her own life,' he shared.

In the aftermath, Lo is said to have had several run-ins with police and health care professionals.

Authorities even showed up to the Lo's house within the last two weeks to ask for security footage, neighbors told the Globe and Mail.

Alexander is pictured with his mother, who tried to take her own life following his murder

They described how they could often hear Lo screaming inside.

'He always was yelling with his mom. I don't know why,' one of the neighbors said.

'He is really nervous,' the neighbor said of Lo. 'Very- always scared of something happening that might hurt him.'

In fact, just hours before Saturday's attack, a family member had even contacted a psych ward, the Sun reports.
Nigel Farage has pledged to ban working from home and slash wasteful spending at councils seized by Reform.

He promised radical changes including slashing spending on consultancy, reducing council overreach into issues such as climate change and diversity initiatives, and imposing a change of culture on staff.

Reform councils will also resist Government efforts to house Channel migrants in their areas, he added.

The Reform leader told the BBC that he hoped to emulate Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which has attempted to cut federal spending, including by closing the US foreign aid agency.

He added that every county needs a Doge.

Referring to the culture changes his party would be pushing through at local authorities, Mr Farage said there would be no more working from home and increased productivity from staff.

Critics warned that Reform would struggle to slash spending significantly because much of it is mandated by law for things such as social care.

The surge in local council support came after Reform recorded an extraordinary win in the Runcorn by-election, taking one of Labours safest seats by just six votes.

Nigel Farage yesterday pledged to ban working from home and slash wasteful spending at councils seized by Reform

The Reform leader said he hoped to emulate Elon Musks (above) Doge, which has attempted to cut federal spending, including by closing the US foreign aid agency

He added that every county needs a Doge

It puts Mr Farages party in control of some of Britains biggest local authorities, in charge of delivering key services funded by budgets running into hundreds of millions of pounds.

He added: We are deeply dissatisfied with the way councils are running their budgets. Look at the millions a year being spent on consultants. Money is being spent on climate change and areas that councils frankly should not be involved in.

'So we are going to get the auditors in looking at the long-term contracts and asking why they are signing up to, for example, pothole providers that are not doing the business.

Mr Farage said Reform councillors would also push through culture change among staff, adding: No more working from home, increased productivity from staff.

That wont be a magic wand but it will be a good start and we will be judged on that.

After Reform took control of Durham County Council, Mr Farage said: I would advise anybody whos working for Durham County Council on climate change initiatives or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or ... thinks that you go on working from home, I think you all better really be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly.

Mr Farage said Reform councillors would also push through culture change among staff, adding: No more working from home, increased productivity from staff. That wont be a magic wand but it will be a good start and we will be judged on that

Critics warned that Reform would struggle to slash spending significantly as much of it is mandated by law for things like social care.

Labour and Conservative sources also warned that Reforms success could backfire if the partys hundreds of new, untested councillors fail to deliver.

In Lincolnshire, former Tory minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns celebrated victory in the mayoral race by calling for asylum seekers to be removed from hotels and rehoused in tents.

One Labour source: Im looking forward to Andrea Jenkyns being on Question Time every week.

Labour Party chairman said voters would now take a closer look at Reforms policies rather than just listening to the partys hype.
By Laman Ismayilova



Sharing her thoughts on the Carpet Forum, Inese Baranovska, head of the Decorative Arts and Design Museum at the Latvian National Museum of Art, told Azernews that the event is both exciting and meaningful, bringing together participants from across the globe, including Latvia, the UK, Japan, and many other countries.

Baranovska emphasized the importance of traditional ornaments as living traditions, noting that such events play a crucial role in inspiring younger generations to appreciate and safeguard their cultural heritageparticularly in an era marked by globalization and the rise of subcultural influences.

"The Carpet Forum is truly exciting and interesting. It brings together representatives from different countries such as Latvia, the UK, Japan, and many others. Although we are far apart, we share many common elements, especially ethnic ornaments. These ornaments are found all over the world, from India to America and Azerbaijan. Most importantly, they represent a living tradition. Events like the International Carpet Festival are very important, especially for young people, because in todays era of globalization and subcultural influences, its vital to be proud of your culture and traditions and to preserve them as a heritage. The future depends on the past."

The International Carpet Festival began on May 2 with the International Carpet Forum. The forum has brought together leading experts, designers, manufacturers, and researchers in the carpet industry. It features plenary sessions, panel discussions, B2B meetings, and special sessions for young scholars.

The main goal of the festival is to promote Azerbaijani carpet weaving art on a global scale, to showcase its rich heritage and future development prospects, and to facilitate the exchange of experience and skills with master carpet weavers from around the world.

Every festival visitor has the opportunity to meet 28 female weavers invited from 14 workshops of Azerkhalcha OJSC operating in various parts of the country, as well as members of the processing team and the creative group, who will share the secrets of carpet weaving and host master classes.

From May 3 to 4, the festival will continue along the historic streets of Icherisheher. Ancient caravanserais and squares will host carpet exhibitions, master classes, interactive theatrical performances, and musical events. Representatives from different countries will present their national carpet weaving traditions, and national pavilions of participating countries will be on display.

This year International Carpet Festivalcoincides with the 25th anniversary of Icherishehers inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During the festival, exclusive exhibitions dedicated to the art of carpet weaving, master classes, interactive activities, concert programs, and special educational events for children will be organized.

The festival organizers invite everyone to Icherisheher to help preserve the rich tradition of carpet art and present it to the world.
Prince Harry's bombshell interview where he dished out the details of his strained relationship with his father is a 'sad and sorry saga', a royal expert has said.

The Duke of Sussex last night launched a blistering attack on King Charles, saying he 'won't speak to me' and that he 'doesn't know how much longer he has left'.

He also revealed he will not bring his wife or children back to the UK - and said he had had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Reflecting on Harry's BBC interview, royal expert Jennie Bond questioned whether the seemingly 'angry and resentful' Duke could ever repair his relationship his father.

'This is a very significant moment in what will be written about by the historians of the future about Harry,' she told Sky News.

'He's bristling with anger, isn't he, and resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

She added: 'And despair over his father's attitude, I suppose. It's just such a sad and sorry saga.

'I had hoped eventually there might be some kind of reconciliation, but clearly, although Harry says he wants reconciliation, he doesn't see he can do that now.

'He's deeply, deeply angered. And I don't know where he goes from here.'

It came after Harry last night launched a blistering attack on the King, who he complained wont speak to me, and claimed to be the victim of an Establishment stitch-up.

The Duke of Sussex also accused the Royal Household of interfering in his long-running battle in His Majestys courts to reinstate his police bodyguards.

The comments were part of a scathing interview he gave to the BBC after judges ruled against him yesterday.

Harry vowed he would never bring his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Britain, adding that family ties are now so strained he does not even know how much longer my father has to live.

The Duke of Sussex tonight launched a series of scathing attacks on the Royal Family, and said his father won't speak to him, in an astonishing interview with the BBC

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

Meghan and Harry in New York last month

It comes as a royal insider claimed that while Harry may want to repair the relationship with his family, Charles is still frustrated and upset with his son.

A friend of the King said it would have been 'constitutionally improper' for him to intervene in the court case.

They added: 'What has frustrated and upset him on a more personal level is the Duke's failure to respect this principle.

'And for his supporters to suggest that somehow his father doesn't care about his family, or should step in.'

Harry's most incendiary quotes 'He [my father] won't speak to me because of this security stuff' 'Some members of my family may never forgive me for writing a book' 'I don't know how long he [my father] has left' 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point' 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family' Advertisement

Harry, 40, yesterday raged that 'the other side' in the court case had 'won in keeping me unsafe', as England's second most senior judge slapped down his Appeal Court bid to reinstate his police bodyguards when in the UK.

The duke, who left Britain in 2020 for a life first in Canada and later in California, alleged the Royal Household exploited security 'to imprison' members of the Royal Family, blocking them 'from being able to choose a different life'.

He said: 'It's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland.'

In the extraordinary interview, Harry added that he was 'devastated' after losing his battle over taxpayer-funded bodyguards  which puts him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

He laughed as he revealed 'someone had told me beforehand' there was 'no way to win'.

Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls, told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

And he ruled the original security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit  when Harry and Meghan stepped back from being senior royals and left Britain.

Reflecting on Harry's BBC interview, royal expert Professor Kate Williams questioned whether the seemingly 'angry and resentful' duke could ever repair his relationship his father

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

Within hours of yesterday's ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the duke launched a salvo of jaw-dropping barbs at the Royal Family, including saying: 'It's impossible to bring my family back to the UK'.

'I love my country and always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done,' Harry added.

'So I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland.'

Last night Buckingham Palace rebuked Harry's claims of an establishment stitch-up in a blunt statement.

A spokesperson said: 'These issues have been examined meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion on each occasion.'

A source added: 'It would have been constitutionally improper for His Majesty to intervene while this matter was being considered by the Government and reviewed by the Courts.'

Laying bare his rift with the King and Prince William, following his interview with Oprah Winfrey which alleged racism and then the explosive publication of his stinging memoir, Spare, Harry said he had 'forgiven them'.

'There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family,' he said.

''Some will never forgive me for writing a book. But I would love reconciliation with my family.

'I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.'

Members of the Royal Family depart Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, pictured today as he rejected Harry's appeal

The Duke of Sussex at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 during his appeal against a High Court ruling preventing him getting automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family (pictured together at Christmas) is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

But Harry paired his plea with an accusation that risks a constitutional debate: 'What I know is interference came from the royal household.'

During the interview in California with the BBC's Nada Tawfik, Harry claimed only he and the late Queen were on a par in terms of their security risk 'scores', as assessed by a Home Office quango.

He added: 'I've been treated differently to everybody else that exists, I have been singled out.'

And in what was interpreted as a reference to Princess Diana, who died in a car crash, Harry said: 'I don't want history to repeat itself. Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself.'

Yesterday's ruling is a bitter blow to the duke, who said that, of all his court battles, this one 'mattered the most'.

He will now be expected to foot the legal bill for taxpayers and his lawyers. The decision to downgrade the security was made by the Home Office's Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).

Harry said his jaw dropped when he discovered the Royal Household  he named the Kings private secretary Sir Clive Alderton  sat on the Ravec committee. He said: There is a lot of control and ability in my fathers hands.

'Ultimately this whole thing could be resolved through him.

Harry last saw the King in February last year, shortly after Charles, 76, was diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement last night, Harry said he would be writing to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asking her to urgently examine the matter and review the Ravec process.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

His barrister argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

The California-based royal had fought the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls said in his ruling this afternoon in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK.

It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

In a statement last night, Harry said he would be writing to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asking her to 'urgently examine the matter and review the Ravec process'.

'The conditions of my security were not based on threat, risk and impact, they were made based on my role - one that my wife and I wanted to maintain but was ultimately refused,' he said.

He added: 'This all comes from the same institutions that preyed upon my mother, that openly campaigned for the removal of our security, and continue to incite hatred towards me, my wife and even our children.'

When asked whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should 'step in', Harry told the BBC: 'I think that based on the judgment that the court has put out today, it clearly states that Ravec are not constrained by law.

'Again, I wish somebody had said that from the beginning.'

He continued: 'Yes, I would ask the Prime Minister to step in.
Princess Charlotte is quickly emerging as a young fashion icon, capturing global attention with her charming style.

As the daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charlotte has been in the public eye since birth but, in recent years, her fashion choices have begun to spark widespread admiration.

Whether attending official royal events, making public appearances, or simply being photographed alongside her family, she effortlessly showcases a classic yet modern wardrobe that reflects both tradition and contemporary trends.

Her outfits, often carefully coordinated by her mother, Kate, blend timeless British heritage with age-appropriate designs.

From elegant coats and floral dresses to stylish cardigans and Mary Jane shoes, Charlotte's looks frequently lead to a surge in demand for similar pieces - highlighting her growing influence in the fashion world.

Among them, one label stands out as a clear favourite: Rachel Riley.

The young royal has been spotted in six dresses by the British designer, often gravitating towards blue floral frocks.

The Wales family frequently coordinate their outfits, blue being a recurring theme. One of their most memorable moments, according to Rachel, was Easter Sunday in 2023.

Rachel Riley's brand - beloved for its vintage-inspired aesthetic - has long been a staple in the royal children's wardrobes. Princess Charlotte wore the Forget-Me-Not dress on Easter Sunday in 2023

'I loved seeing Princess Charlotte looking so pretty in our Forget-Me-Not smocked dress as she attended the Easter Sunday church service in 2023,' Rachel tells MailOnline.

'The sweet forget-me-not print was designed in-house as part of our Heritage Collection and this flower symbolises remembrance and love, which made it the perfect choice for Easter.'

Rachel Riley's brand - beloved for its vintage-inspired aesthetic - has long been a staple in the royal children's wardrobes.

Her designs, celebrated for their timeless charm and traditional craftsmanship, have been worn by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on numerous occasions.

Charlotte, in particular, has opted for floral-print dresses during key moments, including her sixth-birthday portrait, the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show and the rehearsal for King Charles's coronation.

Her sixth-birthday dress proved especially popular with royal fans, quickly becoming the brand's fastest-selling item.

Priced at 59, the dress sold out within 12 hours, prompting the company to launch a pre-order system in response to overwhelming demand.

Today, this style is part of the Rachel Riley Heritage Collection and remains available year-round.

Charlotte also wore a Rachel Riley dress to the Easter Sunday Church service in 2022

Charlotte's sixth-birthday dress proved especially popular with royal fans, quickly becoming Rachel Riley's fastest-selling item

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Charlotte showcased a smart striped dress by the British designer

'I feel that our prints have adapted well to Charlotte's changing style as she grows older,' Rachel says.

'The dress she wore when she was four years old featured a delicate, ditsy print in pastel pink, blue and yellow. Whereas the style she wore for her sixth birthday featured a larger print in stronger colours.

'This print has bigger flowers on a navy background, in keeping with the choice of older girls who tend to migrate towards bolder fashion choices. I love to see our timeless dresses being enjoyed across the years.'

The signature button-front dress worn by Charlotte was one of Rachel's earliest designs, originally created for her own daughter, Rose, more than 30 years ago.

Drawing inspiration from 1950s and 60s fashion, Rachel set out to create heirloom-quality children's wear that can be passed down through generations.

Her commitment to traditional techniques, such as smocking, hand embroidery and intarsia, combined with premium fabrics and yarns, ensures each garment feels as special as it looks.

It's this nostalgic, lovingly crafted aesthetic that may have drawn the Prince and Princess of Wales to Rachel's designs.

And the royal children's influence has helped spark a global resurgence in classic children's clothing.

Designer Rachel Riley in her studio. The signature button-front dress worn by Charlotte was one of Rachel's earliest designs, originally created for her own daughter, Rose, more than 30 years ago

Drawing inspiration from 1950s and 60s fashion, Rachel set out to create heirloom-quality children's wear that can be passed down through generations

'Being able to purchase an item worn by a member of the Royal Family for one's own child must feel like being part of history in some small way,' Rachel says.

Sustainability, too, plays a central role in the brand's identity. 'We are passionate about the environment and creating designs that can last and can be worn by many children, which has always been core to the business,' she explains.

All garments are designed in the UK, while handmade shoes are produced in an atelier in France's Loire Valley. The collections cater to babies, toddlers and pre-teens - offering classic pieces to accompany children through their formative years.

'I'm always delighted whenever I see babies and children wearing one of my designs. That feeling never goes away!' Rachel says. 'And seeing images in the press or on TV is always exciting.

'Of course, it's such a joy whenever we see high-profile children wear our clothes and it means so much to us as a business to know that people love our designs and want their children to wear them.'

With her natural poise and evolving wardrobe, Princess Charlotte is not just a young royal but a budding style icon, proving that the next generation of the monarchy will leave a lasting sartorial impact.

'I look forward to seeing Charlotte's style develop as she continues to grow and mature and have no doubt she will become as much of a style icon as her mother is,' Rachel concludes.
Last night the uneasy public truce between Prince Harry and the Royal Family was spectacularly shattered.

And it is hard to see, whatever words the Duke of Sussex might half-heartedly offer about 'truth and reconciliation', how they can ever go back.

As Buckingham Palace digested his frankly extraordinary  and at times, some might think, increasingly disturbed  series of broadsides, one disgusted former royal aide remarked simply: 'Gaslighting.'

Harry, of course, has spent the past five years convincing an at times highly sympathetic public that he and his wife, Meghan, were the victims of a catalogue of emotional abuse at the hands of his nearest, and not so dearest.

Now half a decade, several hundred thousand pounds of taxpayers' money and countless interviews later, an increasingly weary public is clearly starting to feel that, perhaps, the boot may be on the other foot.

Interestingly some former members of the institution have, with admirable openness, admitted to me of late that with the quiet benefit of hindsight the whole Harry and Meghan 'issue' could probably have been handled better.

'They were clearly a tricky couple who wanted out and maybe the institution could have found a better way to facilitate it before things went nuclear,' said one.

Indeed another says that while they completely disagreed with much of what he wrote in his memoir, Spare, they also, interestingly, defend his right to say it.

'Harry's decision to fight his father's government in the very courts that dispense justice in the monarch's name has been more than a financial and PR disaster for the prince,' writes Rebecca English

'At the end of the day it's his 'truth'. And when it comes to recalling his childhood, as he sees it, he has every right to say what he experienced,' they say.

'I still maintain for the sake of the family  his family  he should never have written that bloody book, but I also can't entirely disagree with his decision to do so either.' But even those more sympathetic to his cause believe his latest legal battle and, in particular, last night's extraordinary BBC meltdown have crossed a line.

Harry's decision to fight his father's government in the very courts that dispense justice in the monarch's name has been more than a financial and PR disaster for the prince.

It has proved to be a personal catastrophe that has driven more of a wedge between himself and Charles than any back-stabbing memoir or tell-all television series.

The monarch, I am told, has, effectively, been 'too fearful' of speaking to his son for the past three years in case anything he said was used as part of Harry's case, thereby sparking a constitutional crisis.

Charles has also found it particularly hurtful that sources close to the prince have gone so far as to suggest he could get to see his grandchildren again if only he were to step in and reinstate the family's full-time security detail in the UK.

If that were to happen it would be 'swords down' was, in fact, the rather repugnant phrase used.

While the King would never accuse a family member of 'emotional blackmail', many might think it certainly sounds like it.

Charles with Harry at St George's Chapel in 2022. Short of Charles making a private trip to the US, the King may never see his two youngest grandchildren Archie and Lilibet again

Now Harry has doubled down in person, making clear he believes it is 'impossible' for him to bring his family back to the UK 'safely' unless his security is comprehensively reviewed  and effectively accusing those involved in the decision-making process, which includes the royal household, of wanting 'history to repeat itself'.

The latter a clear and troubling reference to the death of his late mother.

King Charles may not have been a perfect parent. But he will always love his son and I understand it's a matter of personal sadness that he has seen his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, barely twice since they were born.

'As this case has dragged on it has become increasingly tricky for the King to have any kind of relationship with his son, particularly given how often information seems to trickle out [from the Sussex side],' a source tells me.

The question, of course, now is where do father and son go from here?

Harry has quite clearly boxed himself into a corner by dramatically arguing that his life is 'at stake' and he does not feel it is safe to bring his wife and family to the UK under the current 'bespoke' policing arrangements he is entitled to here.

If he sticks to this line  and clearly he will given his latest comments and his three-and-half-year legal fight  it means that Harry will indeed never be able to bring his children back to Britain let alone start to repair the family relationships that his and Meghan's acrimonious departure shattered.

And he is certainly not going to get the apology from his family that he has always said he believes he deserves.

'What on earth do they have to apologise for?' one angry insider splutters.

Short of Charles making a private trip to the US  which is unlikely to ever happen given his health and punishing workload  the stark truth is that the King may never see his two youngest grandchildren again.

Harry's only option would be to offer an awkward olive branch and return for a major family event (just as he did for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the only time Lilibet, who was born in California, has met her grandfather).

They would almost certainly be entitled to round-the-clock police protection and given an official royal residence to stay in on an occasion such as this.

But from what I hear  informally  the family are past even that.

Too much has been said and done now for them to ever forgive and forget.
It was once thought to be a conspiracy theory  but now the Trump Administration is promising to put an end to what it calls a 'crime against humanity.'

The 'chemtrail' conspiracy focuses on the idea that the government is spraying a host of dangerous chemicals from commercial airliners to intentionally make people sick.

The vast majority of mainstream scientists believe the theory has been thoroughly debunked and that most condensation trails, or 'contrails', seen in the sky are the result of water vapor from aircraft exhausts freezing into ice crystals as it hits the cold air at high altitudes.

But US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is a long time believer they are part of a 'mass uncontrolled experiment.'

RFK Jr has suggested chemtrails are 'affecting the environment and our health,' along with touting geoengineer as 'a real program.'

After repeatedly calling this act 'a crime' on social media, RFK Jr addressed the issue during an interview with Dr Phil Tuesday.

'Those materials are put in jet fuel,' RFK Jr claimed. 'I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it. Find out who's doing it and holding them accountable.'

'We will soon end this crime against humanity,' he shared on X.

Robert F Kennedy Jr called the spreading of toxic chemicals through the air in so-called 'chemtrails' a 'crime against humanity.'

Conspiracy theorists have claimed that airliners have been pouring various chemicals into the atmosphere for years for nefarious reasons including population control and mind control

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) was responding to an audience member's question, who said chemtrails (or stratospheric aerosol injections) were her biggest concern when it comes to public health.

He added that HHS was not responsible for the alleged decision to spray chemicals into the atmosphere, but he did have his suspicions of who would have done it.

'That is not happening in my agency,' RFK Jr declared. 'You know, we don't do that. It's done  we think  by DARPA.'

DARPA is the Pentagon's secretive innovation agency, in charge of driving high-risk, high-reward research for defense purposes and beyond. Their research is also believed to include advances in medical tech and AI.

DailyMail.com has reached out to HHS and Secretary Kennedy for comment.

The fears over what's coming out of countless airliners globally has gained recent attention after the UK revealed new plans to fight climate change by dimming the sun.

This geoengineering project calls for either stratospheric aerosol injections or the brightening of clouds to reflect sunshine - a process called marine cloud brightening.

Last week, the UK government's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has set aside over $66 million for projects which are scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks.

If those plans include injecting aerosols into the atmosphere, it would possibly mean seeing high-altitude planes or large air balloons releasing tiny particles of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.

In theory, it would have the same cooling effect as a volcanic eruption, as the plumes of volcanic ash block out the sun.

'Stratospheric aerosol injection,' like the kind that the UK government in proposing, is just one of the methods being considered for 'solar radiation management' in the battle against climate change

RFK Jr has tweeted multiple times about the spraying of chemicals via jet planes, calling the alleged program a crime, and claiming it is run by a secretive department in the Pentagon

On X, RFK Jr blasted the notion of dimming the sun by spraying chemicals into the atmosphere.

'We will soon end this crime against humanity and our planet and bring justice to the plutocrats who are perpetrating this mass uncontrolled experiment,' he wrote on April 25.

The HHS secretary hasn't back off of his belief that something dangerous is being sprayed into the air in months.

In August 2024, RFK Jr posted that 'we are going to stop this crime' while replying to a video featuring an alleged whistleblower who claimed to be part of a conspiracy known as 'Operation Indigo Skyfold.'

The video, posted on X by noted conspiracy theorist Concerned Citizen, depicted a voice-altered audio recording from a 'chemtrail pilot whistleblower.'

The alleged pilot, known as 'Blue Jay 1,' claimed that chemtrail pilots are chosen from the elite ranks of the military to carry out these missions.

The whistleblower in the recording said these pilots are 'hardened to humanity' and 'could care less about killing off unwanted or leaching aspects of America and the world.'

The allegations fit into the broader chemtrails conspiracy theory, which claims that geoengineering projects are being used by the government and other shadowy entities to influence the weather, reduce overpopulation, and even control minds.

Scientists have repeatedly pushed back on the conspiracy of chemtrails, debunking the allegations that these streams in the sky carry anything more that water vapor.

Contrails, what the visible trails left by aircraft are normally called, are formed from water vapor and soot particulates freezing into ice crystals under specific atmospheric conditions, including high humidity and low temperatures at cruising altitudes.

A 2016 study surveying 77 atmospheric scientists revealed that 98.7% found no evidence of a secret large-scale atmospheric spraying program, with the only scientist who disagreed attributing contrails to natural phenomena.

Chemtrails allegedly carry multiple chemicals which are released by airplanes, including barium salts, aluminum oxide, strontium, and mercury

Just months after this whistleblower recording was posted online, it was revealed that some of Silicon Valley's wealthiest elites were throwing their weight behind the controversial scheme of worldwide weather modification.

One of the new start-ups, Make Sunsets, has already launched balloons over Baja, Mexico releasing sunlight-reflecting aerosols into Earth's stratosphere.

The firm's concept, cooling Earth by bouncing sunlight back into space via sulfate aerosols, is not new. In fact, it's one of many exotic ideas now actively funded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and others in Big Tech.

In 2021, a roughly $3 million mission backed by Gates, tested a similar system sending a large balloon 12 miles above the Swedish town of Kiruna with a payload of more than four pounds of chalk dust bound for the stratosphere.

Due to the secretive world of privately funded Big Tech ventures, however, it is currently unclear how much money is actually being spent on private weather modification ideas.
The boss of the AI tool ChatGPT has revealed that his eyeball-scanning orbs are coming to the US, as questions still swirl around this dystopian step into the future.

Sam Altman announced Wednesday that the identity verification technology will now be available in six cities - Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.

The expansion into the US is all part of Altman's plan to create a new global identity and financial network.

Currently, Altman's cryptocurrency company World has rolled out the orb devices in more than 35 cities across over 20 countries worldwide.

The main purpose of these eyeball scanners is to verify that each user is a 'unique human,' not a bot or duplicate account.

The scanner reads the user's iris to generate a unique digital code called an 'IrisCode,' which is then linked to a World ID.

This ID could act like a digital passport for secure, anonymous verification online for anything from logging into websites, accessing government services, or possibly even voting.

While over 12 million people have already been verified with the orb, concerns over privacy, data security, potential exploitation, and ethical implications have slowed Altman's rollout in America.

The orb, created by Sam Altman's startup Tools for Humanity scans users' irises to create a unique online ID for them, primarily to access their World cryptocurrency accounts

Sam Altman (pictured) is also the boss of the AI tool ChatGPT, which he is concerned could be misused for creating fake content of people

The orbs will be available at six new orb-scanning hubs in these cities, with thousands of more orbs coming to Razer gaming stores, cafes, and college campuses, according to World.

The company's current plan is to have 7,500 orbs available throughout the US by the end of 2025.

Altman and Alex Blania, a German physics researcher and World CEO, also unveiled a new smaller, eye-scanning orb on Wednesday.

Their hope is the more portable eyeball scanner-and-app combo will help get more people to enroll in World's ID network, which stores everyone's biometric data on a blockchain, a decentralized and secure digital ledger.

Instead of storing the IrisCodes in a central database controlled by World, the data is stored on a distributed network of computers that collectively maintain an allegedly tamper-resistant record.

In theory, this ensures that no single entity, including World's parent company Tools for Humanity, has full control over the data, reducing risks of hacking or misuse by a central authority.

However, storing millions (and possibly billions) of people's IrisCodes in the same technology used for cryptocurrency has raised major security concerns from governments and tech experts around the world.

In March 2024, Spain temporarily banned World from scanning people's eyeballs with the orb for three months, citing concerns over the company's handling of users' personal information.

In 2023, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey pointed out the dystopian undertones of trying to register every person's eye scans to use a single global currency, warning 'Visit the Orb or the Orb will visit you.'

Storing millions of people's iris scans in the same technology used for cryptocurrency has raised major security concerns from governments and tech experts around the world

The orb will now be available in 6 US cities, allowing people to get scanned and join the global ID and financial network

In December 2023, World was forced to temporarily scale back their orb scanning programs in India, Brazil, and France amid regulatory scrutiny over data privacy and consent issues.

Glen Goodman, author of The Crypto Trader, told DailyMail.com: 'My first reaction was 'there's no way I'm putting my eyeball near that thing.''

'The privacy implications make me very nervous. One of the main security risks is the orb itself. We don't know what's inside the sphere and so we don't know whether it's possible for someone to hack the orbs and retrieve our iris scans,' the author explained.

'When you have your iris scanned, you're basically agreeing to hand over some of your most personal identifying data to a company based in the Cayman Islands, a tax haven. Do you trust that company not to misuse it? And if so, why?'

Despite the controversy over the orb itself, Altman has said he's worried about the amount of fraud new AI tools could enable, including the generative AI programs that can make images and videos of people doing things they never did.

One of those generative AI tools was pioneered by his own startup, OpenAI, which prompted Altman to create the World app and 'solve' this privacy problem.

Worlds network of users has reportedly doubled over the last six months, growing to an estimated 26 million users. However, less than half have scanned their iris with the orb.

World noted that the orb and the cryptocurrency's app will not be coming to New York. A reason for the restriction was not given by World or New Yorks Department of Financial Services.
Americans tuned into a congressional UFO hearing today, where top scientists and Pentagon insiders claimed the US government has been hiding proof of alien life.

And while officials continue to deny encounters with mysterious aerial phenomena, a resurfaced CIA document suggests the government may have identified extraterrestrial beings decades ago.

In the 1970s and 80s, the CIA conducted experiments with individuals who claimed they could perceive information about distant objects, events, or people  a process known as 'remote viewing.'

One such report, titled 'Description of Personnel Associated 'ET' Bases,' detailed a session in which a remote viewer was given unknown targets and asked to describe what they perceived.

The document describes alleged alien bases located in Alaska, South America or Africa, and on Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

'So far have run into three types of entities associated with bases at various locations within the solar system,' the test subject wrote.

The remote viewer also reported seeing 'entities' at these sites. One was said to have 'a very large, rounded-shaped head' and 'very unhuman appearance,' while another was described as 'very pale' with a 'sharp nose.'

But the Titan base appeared to be staffed with human scientists, including 'an attractive female.'

A a resurfaced CIA document suggests the government may have identified extraterrestrial beings decades ago

A remote viewer identified two alien bases on Earth, one in Alaska and the other in either South America or Africa

The remote viewing session was part of the CIA's top-secret STARGATE program, which recruited individuals believed to have psychic abilities for military and intelligence purposes during the Cold War.

The program began in the early 1970s and officially shut down in 1995 after being deemed scientifically unreliable and operationally ineffective for intelligence gathering.

The report on extraterrestrial bases was produced in 1987 and later declassified in 2000.

During a remote viewing session, participants typically sketched what they 'saw' and jotted down brief notes about their perceptions.

The 12-page document includes several drawings believed to depict the locations of these ET basesone sketch appears to resemble a rocky mountain.

That drawing has been interpreted as Mount Hayes in Alaska, which stands roughly 8,000 feet tall.

Mount Hayes has long been the subject of UFO sightings and theories about a hidden underground alien base. Numerous witnesses have reported seeing flying saucers, strange lights, and other unexplained phenomena in the area.

Although the remote viewer did not describe the base itself in detail, they claimed to have perceived 'two types of entities associated with this site.'

The remote viewer also reported seeing 'entities' at these sites. One was said to have 'a very large, rounded-shaped head' and 'very unhuman appearance,' while another was described as 'very pale' with a 'sharp nose'

The report also said there is an alien base on Saturn's largest moon, Titan

The remote viewer described seeing two beings standing outside one of the bases, 'accomplishing some sort of routine task.'

Inside the base, they perceived two more entities. One was seated at a circular console with a round, screen-like object, according to the session notes.

The second figure was performing another task in the background.

'The entity at the console appeared to be in human form but lacked definitive features,' the remote viewer shared, adding that the being appeared to acknowledge their presence and invited them to observe its work.

At the Titan base, the remote viewer did not report seeing any alien life.

Instead, they described the site as appearing to be staffed by individuals who 'looked no different than native earthlings.'

They observed two male technicians seated at a control panel, with a female figuredescribed as having brown hair and wearing a pale green lab coatstanding behind them in what appeared to be a supervisory role.

The final location was described as being somewhere south of the equator, though the remote viewer couldn't determine whether it was in South America or Africa.

Although the sketch was labeled 'South America,' the landscape reportedly resembled Europe.

At that base, the viewer reported seeing two entities.

'The first had a very large, rounded-shaped head on a slender neck very unhuman appearance almost robot-like unable to make contact with this being,' the report notes.

The second entity appeared more human, though it had no hair and lacked distinct facial features. 'The entity seemed friendly enough and appeared to be aware of my presence,' the remote viewer wrote.

Although the sketch was labeled 'South America,' the landscape reportedly resembled Europe

The CIA operated several secret remote viewing programs during the Cold War, using individuals with alleged psychic abilities to assist in a range of intelligence operationsfrom tracking kidnapped hostages held by terrorist groups to locating fugitive criminals inside the U.S.

One such program, known as Sun Streak, even tasked a remote viewer with locating the Ark of the Covenant, which they claimed was hidden somewhere in the Middle East.

In another high-profile session, famed remote viewer Joe McMoneagle, known as the CIA's 'Remote Viewer No. 1,' was reportedly given coordinates and asked to describe what he saw.

Speaking on the show American Alchemy in March, McMoneagle said he visualized a giant pyramid on Mars, larger than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, filled with what he called 'monster rooms.'

'I started getting an image of human beings that were trapped in a place where the atmosphere was turning bad,' McMoneagle recalled. 'It was obvious these people were dying for some reasonbut they were humans. They were just twice our size.'

The coordinates he had been given were later revealed to correspond to Mars, 1,000,000 BCas written on a white card handed to him during the session.
Elon Musk's $5 billion heavy-lift rocket suffered a major explosion during a test yesterday, and no one seems to know what caused it.

On Thursday evening, NASA and SpaceX performed a 'static fire test' of the 35th iteration of the company's Starship rocket. This type of test involves firing the rocket's engine on the ground to ensure that it functions correctly.

In this case, the test was done in preparation for the rocket's ninth test flight, which is supposed to take place sometime this month.

But after the fiery mishap that occurred last night, many are suggesting that Starship won't be lifting off any time soon.

When the rocket first ignited its engines at Starbase, SpaceX's rocket development and launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas, livestream video showed that everything appeared to be functioning normally.

But suddenly, an object flew out of the 'flame trench'  a deep channel below the launchpad designed to deflect flames generated by the boosters  followed by a bright blue flash.

Spectators watching livestream footage of the test quickly took to social media to discuss what happened, with some speculating that part of the flame trench may have been dislodged and damaged the rocket.

SpaceX hopes that this reusable, heavy-lift rocket will eventually reduce launch costs, power crew and cargo missions to the moon and Mars, bolster the burgeoning space tourism industry and more.

But this is the latest in a series of blows to SpaceX's Starship program. The rocket has suffered two back-to-back failed test flights this year, both of which saw it explode in mid-air.

During a static fire test of Starship 35 an object flew out of the flame trench followed by a bright blue flash, prompting many to speculate that it won't be launching anytime soon

'What is going on with Starship? This is 3 for 3 failures lately,' one X user posted in response to a video of the botched static fire test.

Multiple theories about what went wrong have been circulating online.

Many agree that the debris ejected from the test site appears to be a piece of the flame trench, but others have suggested that one of the engines may have failed.

The official X account for NASASpaceflight.com (NSF), a private aerospace news organization, responded to a video of the test to say they weren't sure what happened either.

'It'll be telling if we don't have the SpaceX post tomorrow, like they did for the single-engine firing,' NSF posted Thursday evening.

As of Friday afternoon, SpaceX has made no such post. The company has not offered any explanation for the bizarre anomaly that occurred during this static fire test, and it's possible it never will, as it typically only shares news of successful rocket tests.

Starship has cost at least $5 billion to develop, and each launch costs an additional $100 million. It's unclear how much a static fire tests costs.

Musk has big dreams for Starship. But for now, the vehicle is still in the testing phase, and it's had a rocky start to 2025.

StarShip 35 debris exiting the flame trench during static fire just before shutdown. pic.twitter.com/9IPRtpk4Rn  ProudbaldAmerican (@Proudbaldeagle) May 2, 2025

This is the latest in a series of blows to Elon Musk's Starship program. The rocket has suffered two back-to-back failed test flights this year, both of which saw it explode in mid-air

The most recent test flight saw Starship 34 launch from Starbase on March 6. At first, it appeared to go off without a hitch.

Its booster successfully detached and 'stuck the landing' as it returned to Earth, fitting into the 'chopstick' catch mechanism on SpaceX's launch tower system.

The rocket's upper stage then began what was supposed to be an hour-long flight, but about 10 minutes in, it spiraled out of control as four of the six engines died.

Seconds later, the livestream video ended and SpaceX staff confirmed they'd 'lost contact with the ship.'

Video from the Bahamas later showed debris falling from the sky as the rocket imploded in a ball of flames.

Starship 33 met a similar fate during its test flight in January. That time, the rocket's upper stage dramatically broke up and disintegrated over the Caribbean.

It's unclear what last night's presumably failed static fire will mean for Starship's next test flight. But as of now, the rocket is still slated to lift off sometime this month.
Customers of several banks, including TD Bank, as well as the popular cash transferring service Zelle are unable to login to their accounts or send payments.

According to Downdetector, a website that monitors online outages, the issues began around 8am ET.

Other banks affected by this glitch include, but are not limited to, Ally Bank, Bank of America, NBT Bank, Flagstar Bank, Cadence Bank, Webster Bank, Park National Bank and Northwest bank.

In a statement given to DailyMail.com, a Zelle spokesperson said: 'We are aware that certain Zelle users at some financial institutions are not able to use Zelle at this time.

'This situation involves an independent third-party that provides services to particular financial institutions. We are working diligently with our partners to resolve this matter as soon as we can. Zelle users may see transactions marked as 'payment pending' in the meantime. We will share updates as more information becomes available.'

A TD Bank representative said on X that its Technical Support team is aware of the issue and is 'working diligently' to resolve it.

A representative for Webster Bank told local New York City news station PIX11 News that the issues appeared to be due to a third party vendor.

'A third party vendor is experiencing a datacenter incident that is impacting Webster and other banks,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of customers of TD Bank, Zelle and several other banks are unable to login to their accounts or send payments today, according to Downdetector

'We are working diligently with our vendor to resolve any technology access issues our clients may be experiencing as quickly as possible.'

The timing of this outage has sparked outrage on social media, as many people use Zelle to pay their rent and other bills at the beginning of each month.

Since 2017, Zelle has become the go-to peer-to-peer payment system in the country, even as they compete with rivals Venmo and Cash App.

Last year, Zelle processed over $1 trillion in payments across 3.6 billion different banking transactions.

As of 2025, over 2,200 different banks and credit unions in the US offer customers the ability to use Zelle through their own banking apps - accounting for 98 percent of the company's financial transactions.

As of April 1, Zelle, which has 150 million customers in the US, no longer allows users to make payments through their stand-alone app. Instead, the service is integrated directly into users' banking apps.

Customers affected by this outage took to social media to express their frustration.

Rob Ingram told DailyMail.com that regular wire transfers at Bank of America have also been down for six hours.

150 million people in the US use Zelle to transfer money from bank to bank for everything from splitting a check at dinner to paying their rent

Another X user posted: 'It is unconscionable how a national bank's Zelle is down almost on a weekly basis as it is today! I for one am absolutely sick of it and will start looking for a better option for my banking needs if this continues,' tagging Citizens Bank in the post.

'Ummm I need to pay my bills, fix Zelle!!' another wrote, tagging Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU).

Just after 10am ET, NFCU responded to another user who claimed they could not access Zelle or the bank's mobile app.

NFCU said its technical team is actively working to resolve the issue with Zelle, but that it hasn't received reports of an outage with its Mobile App.

The bank recommended uninstalling and reinstalling the app to try and resolve the sign in issues.

Most reports of the issues with Zelle have come from New York City, Washington DC and Los Angeles, according to Downdetector.

As of 11am ET today, neither Zelle nor the banks affected by this widespread technical issue have said when it will be resolved.
Approximately 73 earthquakes have struck a massive volcano in the last week that scientists warn could soon erupt.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) shared on Friday that Mount Spurr remains at an elevated level of unrest, and an explosive eruption is possible.

In addition to the 73 recorded tremors, AVO noted that 'much smaller quakes are occurring several times per hour.'

The seismic activity is caused by magma rising toward the surface, which creates pressure and fractures in the surrounding rock.

The agency has also observed steam rising from the volcano and increased gas emissions.

AVO warned that any eruption would likely resemble those in 1953 and 1992.

Those past events involved one or more explosive burstseach lasting several hoursthat produced ash clouds traveling hundreds of miles and dropped up to a quarter inch of ash across southcentral Alaska.

Mount Spurr is located about 80 miles from Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 residents, which could be blanketed in volcanic ash.

City residents are already preparing for a possible eruption, which experts have said could occur within 'weeks to months.'

Approximately 73 earthquakes have hit a massive volcano in Alaska that scientists warn could soon erupt. The Alaska Volcano Observatory shard on Friday that the Mount Spurr remains at an elevated level of unrest and an explosive eruption is possible. Picture taken in March

Mount Spurr has been showing signs of an eruption since last fall. leading experts to put it on an advisory.

AVO said in the update that ground deformation at Mount Spurr has slowed over the past month, but noted it had previously occurred in November and December 2024 before restarting.

'Unrest continues at Mount Spurr, though at a lower level than observed in early 2025,' the updated shared.

'While the likelihood of an eruption has decreased since March, the volcano remains at an elevated level of unrest.'

Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust.

The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches of volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said.

In addition to locals stockpiling for the event, transportation systems are also scrambling as the eruption will cause international chaos.

The massive cloud of ash would force international hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down.

Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain.

Mount Spurr is located about 80 miles from Anchorage (pictured), home to nearly 300,000 residents, which could be blanketed in volcanic ash. City residents are already preparing for a possible eruption, which experts have said could occur within 'weeks to months'

AVO warned that any eruption would likely resemble those in 1953 and 1992 (pictured)

Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks per day, and it's not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8,000 cargo flights passing through each month.

Then last time Mount Spurr erupted in 1992, ANC shut down for 20 hours while the ash cloud hung over Anchorage.

It darkened skies in the middle of the day, and ultimately settled an eighth of an inch thick across the city.

When Mount Spurr blows, the resulting ash cloud will pose a significant hazard to airplanes because the particles are highly abrasive.

Flying through an ash cloud can quickly damage windscreens, fuselage surfaces, compressor fan blades and even kill the plane's engine. Ash particles can also cause critical navigational and operational instruments to fail.

All of this means that it is extremely dangerous to fly a plane while a volcanic eruption is occurring nearby. So, all airports in areas affected by the ash cloud will have to shut down.

ANC is perfectly positioned to transit freight between Asia and North America, which is why it is a major cargo hub.

Mount Spurr is one of 53 volcanoes in Alaska. It sits 81 miles from Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 people

Even moderate disruptions at this airport can delay freight shipments, e-commerce and manufacturing deliveries. A total shutdown would bring all of this to a screeching halt.

As for passenger flights, both ANC and FAI are also critical for polar and Pacific air routes.

Flights between North America and Asia, or the US and Europe, sometimes rely on these airports for diversion, refueling or emergency landings.

Closing them would force incoming passenger flights to re-route, resulting in longer flight times and congestion at alternate airports.

Any departing flights from these airports would be grounded until the ash cloud clears, which could take hours or days depending on how long the eruption lasts.

Therefore, Mount Spurr has the potential to snare travel and cargo logistics, resulting in disruptions that extend far beyond the Alaskan border.

The last time this volcano erupted was in 1992, when it saw three back-to-back explosive events in July, August and September.

During the August eruption, ANC shut down for about 20 hours, impacting commerce and transportation.

The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption.

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.
College freshman Liz Hamel died in February after falling three storeys from a balcony on campus, and her distraught father has shared images of the mystery man she was last seen with as he seeks answers for his daughter's death.

The 18-year-old was last seen alive on Valentine's Day after she went for a celebratory dinner with her University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) colleagues.

Hamel left the restaurant with a stranger her friends had never met before, according to KIRO 7, and the man's also not been seen since.

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Mysterious: Liz Hamel, 18, was found unconscious after she plunged from a three-storey breezeway on the University of California Santa Barbara campus - she died six days later

Stranger: The student had left the restaurant she was at with friends in the company of a mystery man, less than 30 minutes before the fatal fall

Less than 30 minutes after leaving, Hamel plunged several feet from a three-storey breezeway on the UCSB campus.

When a student called 911, first responders found Hamel in cardiac arrest.

She died six days later.

Hamel's father Alain Hamel held a press conference this week to release the images of the mystery man with his daughter, something the police never actually did, he told KIRO.

Alain told the outlet: 'He is the last person that we know of that had contact with Liz.

'And just if he has information with respect to her last moments, that could be useful.'

There's no suggestion the man whose images were shared was with Hamel when she died, or that he did anything wrong.

Alain's requested help from the Santa Barbara and UC community to find further information as to what led to his daughter's balcony fall.

Hamel reportedly spent 'a large part' of the evening of her death with the mystery man and left the restaurant with him sometime after 10pm. She was found unconscious on campus just 21 minutes later.

The stranger's described as white, 'approximately 6ft tall' with 'dark blond hair'.

He was wearing light blue Carhartt jeans, a gray Patagonia sweater, and 'a carabiner with keys on his right hip'.

Alain slammed authorities for not releasing the images to the public as part of their probe into the case.

UCSB's student paper Daily Nexus reported that Alain said: 'I shouldnt be standing here. I should be at home, grieving my daughter and trusting in the institutions that are responsible for this investigation.'

Heartbroken: Hamel's dad said the stranger was 'the last person' who had contact with his daughter

Studious: Hamel was only in her second semester at UCSB when she mysteriously died

The Hamel family has said they've never met the man before.

Attorney Tyrone Maho, who was with Alain at the press conference, emphasized they are not 'accusing anyone of wrongdoing'.

Maho said: 'If you are this young man, or you know who he is, we are pleading with you to come forward. If you have any information about that evening, we are pleading with you to come forward.

'If you were on campus that night, or in Isla Vista, or you heard someone talk about this who may know something, please come forward. You may hold important information that can help bring peace to a family that is suffering greatly.'
A married special-education teacher in Pennsylvania is facing over 60 charges for allegedly bringing a student to her parents' home and having sex with him about a dozen times and providing him with medical marijuana.

Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after the 16-year-old victim's family contacted police.

The teacher at Conestoga High School in Berwyn could be indicted on 63 charges, including institutional sexual assault and the corruption of minors.

Accused: Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after a 16-year-old student's family contacted police about her allegedly having sex with the boy

Mercogliano began a sexual relationship with the boy in February, according to a criminal complaint from the Tredyffrin Township PD.

The student's father provided police with some marijuana packaging he found in his son's closet with Mercogliano's name on the label, according to the affidavit.

Court documents obtained by ABC News stated: 'The [victim] disclosed that after school he would walk from Conestoga High School to the... apartment complex where Mercogliano would pick him up in the back parking lot and drive to his home, to her parents' residence, or drive him to the Sunnyside Marijuana Dispensary in Phoenixville.'

The investigation began after the victim told his sister of his relationship with Mercogliano and the sibling then informed their parents.

Fresh hiring: Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher at Pennsylvania's Conestoga High School, and she had started working there last fall

The teacher and student allegedly had sex about 12 times, the victim told police, and often in Mercogliano's parents' home in Wayne, according to the complaint.

Mercogliano was also said to have provided the boy with marijuana about 15 times.

She allegedly communicated with him through Snapchat 'to go undetected' or via text message.

The teacher lists herself as married on her Facebook page.

School District Superintendent Richard Gusick said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Mercogliano was placed on leave on Tuesday, and he added that the district was 'deeply troubled by these allegations'.

Gusick said: 'We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students.'

According to the superintendent, Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher to the high school and had only started working there last fall.

The teacher's not yet been arrested, but Chester County District Attorney's Office said she had been 'cooperative and arranging an appropriate time to turn herself in via her attorney'.
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I must admit, I had almost no idea about Australia's Northern Territory before embarking on an exhilarating six-day trip that became one my favourite holidays.

I'd watched the Aussie Succession-style drama,Territory, on Netflix and the sweeping shots of the outback blew me away.

So when it came to picking a honeymoon destination, my wife and I swerved on sunbathing in the Maldives or getting sozzled on cocktails in the Caribbean and booked a flight Down Under.

We made the right choice, because the Northern Territory  or the 'Top End' as locals call it  is one of the most exciting and beautiful places I have ever visited.

The gateway to the NT is the plucky, frontier city of Darwin.

The first charming thing about Darwin - and there are many - is that it's one of the closest Australian cities to the UK by plane.

If you decide to fly with Singapore Air from London Heathrow, business class passengers can access the SilverKris Lounge which is a delightful treat before a long-haul flight.

The lounge, full of comfy chairs with runway views, offers an array of delicious buffet food and a stocked bar in case you - like me - enjoy a nice pina colada with your cooked breakfast (in my defence, I was technically on holiday).

Wetlands, floodplains, and on to the sandstone plateaus make up the diverse landscape of Kakadu National Park in Australia's Northern Territory

An airboat takes off across the floodplains at Finniss River Lodge station where guests can go crocodile spotting and take part in a range of activities in the outback

Nawurlandja Lookout offers world-class views across Anbangbang Billabong to Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and the Arnhem Land escarpment

Airborne Solutions helicopter tours take guests around Litchfield National Park before dropping them off at a series of waterfalls for a swim

MailOnline journalist Alex Matthews stands at the top of Nawurlandja during a walk in Kakadu National Park

Kakadu Air tours allow guests to see the majestic waterfalls across the national park from a small fixed wing plane

Darwin is around 18 hours with a connection  ours was via Singapore - which compared to a monstrously long flight home from Sydney (nearly 24 hours) felt like no time at all.

A coastal city sitting on the edge of two huge national parks  Kakadu and Litchfield - Darwin feels slightly isolated from the rest of Australia.

(I say 'on the edge', both the parks are more than an hour's drive away, but for Aussies that's practically next door).

But it still has everything you could need for a quick stop off before heading into the wilderness.

Adina Vibe is a four-star hotel offering apartment-style accommodation right on the sea front and is a perfect place to set up camp.

While the fancier Mindil Beach Casino Resort on the other side of town boasts rooms around its gigantic pool offering guests the chance to jump in and swim up to a cocktail bar.

Adina is next to Snapper Rocks, an Aussie tapas-style restaurant that is well worth a visit - try the salt and pepper miso croc, washed down with a schooner of local lager and you can't go wrong.

And if you feel like a night-cap, the speak easy-style bar Hanky Panky's in the city's central business district is just a 15-minute stroll away.

Darwin is fun but it is not the real reason you or I should come to the NT.

The NT is all about the national parks and to explore you definitely need a motor.

We picked up the wheels for our three-day jaunt from Adventure Rentals on the edge of town and were given a brand new automatic Toyota 4x4, decked out with a satellite phone in case of emergencies - very handy.

It was a three and half hour drive to our first stop, Cooinda Lodge in Kakadu and it flew by surprisingly quickly.

This may have been because the roads were empty as we were in the NT during the rainy season, known as 'the Wet'.

It is less popular with tourists but locals say it is a wonderful time to visit because of the explosion of luscious green flora, burst rivers, flooded plains and endless wildlife.

Most visitors chose to come in peak season, 'the Dry', when the sun is shining and crocs are easy to spot - but roads and hotels are packed.

Darwin is a charming seaside city that bubbles with a charisma and boasts great restaurants, lively bars and is the gateway to two huge national parks - Kakadu and Litchfield

While Darwin does feel slightly disconnected from the rest of Australia it is still a great place to stay either before or after a trip into the wilderness

Cooinda Lodge has mixed accommodation for all budgets, but Alex stayed in the Yellow Water villas that were half snazzy-tent-half-cabin (pictured, inside on the villas)

The villas at Cooinda are stylishly decorated with a comfy bed and spacious bathroom - you even get a free-standing bath tub on your own veranda (pictured, inside one of the villas)

Cooinda is also the place to catch a river cruise that takes you up Yellow Water Billabong  the region's most famous natural water habitat (pictured, a Yellow Water cruise)

Alex hit the road in a Toyota 4x4 from Adventure Rentals in Darwin and it was the perfect way to explore the NT

We were blessed with mostly glorious sunshine during our time in Kakadu so my advice is: take a risk on the Wet and beat the crowds.

During our traffic-free cruise I claimed the first bragging rights of the trip  I SAW A CROCODILE.

My wife was envious because she was too busy driving and dodging wallabies as they darted across the road.

People in the NT are a bit croc-mad. Quite understandable, considering there are 10,000 of them in Kakadu alone.

But you are never a sentence or two away from people talking about a croc, a croc warning sign, an advert for a croc experience or even a menu for a croc dinner.

They are harder to spot during the Wet, but one thing to be aware of - just because you haven't seen the crocs it does not mean they haven't seen you.

Locals take safety very seriously and especially in dry season when the crocodiles are pushed into creeks, rivers and billabongs near roads and hotels.

You are on THEIR turf and it is very important to remember that because mucking about can result in losing limbs.

Cooinda Lodge has mixed accommodation for all budgets, but we were staying in the Yellow Water villas that were half-snazzy-tent-half-cabin.

They are stylishly decorated with a comfy bed and spacious bathroom - you even get a free-standing bath tub on your own veranda.

Cooinda is also the place to catch a river cruise that takes you up Yellow Water Billabong  the region's most famous natural water habitat.

It's a wonderful experience to sit back while a chirpy, knowledgeable guide talks you through the local wildlife and the land's sacred connection to its traditional owners, the Bininj and Mungguy people.

Sadly, for us, because of the abundance of water, the crocs were elusive.

When we got back to the room I looked out to the neighbouring jetty and noticed tall, metal railings had been put up  'the hotel is so quiet, that's weird', I thought.

It wasn't until the next day when a friendly local  and they are all friendly in the NT  gleefully showed us a video on a Facebook group.

A crocodile had been caught thrashing around in waters by Cooinda Lodge  it turned out the railings were to stop it from breaking free and eating guests.

Close but yet so far.

But Kakadu isn't just about crocs and wildlife.

This rugged and remote beauty has been the home of the Bininj and Mungguy people for thousands of years and learning about their incredible history and ties to the land is an absolutely crucial, must-do experience.

A short drive from Cooinda is the Burrungkuy Rock Art Site, a series of beautiful cave galleries detailing important spiritual figures and traditions to the local people and offering a captivating snapshot of how the tribes lived their lives (pictured, a cave painting inside Burrungkuy)

Kakadu has been the home of the Bininj/Mungguy people for thousands of years and learning about their incredible history and ties to the land is an absolutely crucial, must-do experience

Kakadu Air tours run from an airstrip in the small town of Jabiru where pilots with moustaches and trucker hats, and seemingly fresh out of sixth-form college, whisk you away in a small fixed-wing plane (pictured)

MailOnline journalist Alex Matthews poses outside a sign warning drivers to look our for wallabies in the Northern Territory

A 4X4 from Adventure Rentals in Darwin is the perfect way to explore the national parks of the Northern Territory

A short drive from Cooinda is the Burrungkuy Rock Art Site, a series of beautiful cave galleries detailing important spiritual figures and traditions to the local people and offering a captivating snapshot of how the tribes lived their lives.

Visitors can also learn about the Bininj and Mungguy and their history in Kakadu at the Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Inside are fascinating accounts from the traditional owners of the land, revealing their personal histories, hunting techniques and their relationships with European settlers as well displays of artefacts and examples of bush tucker.

While for many travellers Kakadu is about throwing camping gear into a rucksack and taking off into the wilderness, some of us like the idea of being back in time for tea.

Thankfully there is a short walk that offers you a bit of both.

Nawurlandja Lookout takes about 30 mins to get to the top and offers sensational views across the park to Nourlangie Rock.

One of the best times to go is late afternoon, in time for sunset, but it is a lovely experience regardless of the time.

Kakadu by foot is special but Kakadu by air will blow you away.

Kakadu Air tours run from an airstrip in the small town of Jabiru where pilots with moustaches and trucker hats, and seemingly fresh out of sixth-form college, whisk you away in a small fixed-wing plane.

The best part of the 90-minute tour is seeing the park's many majestic waterfalls cascading below.

Some of them you can reach onfoot but to get an aerial view of the falls in all their glory is a an unforgettable experience.

We all love an adventure but do you know what is even better? An adventure with luxury accommodation.

Luckily for us our next stop was the spectacular Finniss River Lodge.

A 50,000-acre working cattle ranch on the Finniss River, between Darwin and Litchfield National Park, the lodge is a truly special place to stay.

A 50,000-acre working cattle ranch on the Finniss River, between Darwin and Litchfield National Park, Finnis River Lodge is a truly special place to stay

An airboat tour across the floodplains and Finniss River is the perfect place to go croc-spotting and a highlight of any visit

Locals say that The Wet is the perfect time to visit the Northern Territory due to the explosion of lush green plants and the abundance of wildlife (Pictured, the floodplains by Finniss River Lodge)

During his airboat tour Alex was stalked by a very anti-social croc called Horace, known by the staff at Finniss River Lodge as a cow killer

Finniss River Lodge's pool boasts breathtaking views over the wetlands and is the perfect place to un wind with a drink

Alex Matthews strokes one of Finniss' residents during a bizarre but delightful experience called 'Cows with Canapes'

Accommodation is a series of simple but stylish huts facing out across the never-ending flood plain with a sleek restaurant next door.

I'm sure you could happily enjoy lying on a sun lounger by Finniss' infinity pool tucking into delicious snacks and knocking back some local tipple.

But it's the activities on offer that make it such a special experience.

Up first for us, was an airboat tour.

Finniss' expert guide, and all-round top bloke, Pete, weaved gracefully between trees and over the long grass, yanking plants out of the water, before popping out fresh peas for us to eat.

After enjoying our first taste of bushtucker, we casually mentioned our croc disappointment.

But diamond geezer Pete said we might have a bit of luck in a stretch of water away from the flood plains.

We got there with heads on swivels, eyes peeled, slightly terrified... and then we saw something.

Pete pointed out a crocodile's nest floating on an island of reeds - 'that's amazing!' I exclaimed, but where's the mother?

Seconds later a thrashing from the reeds grabbed our attention and a small female croc kept a beady eye on us as we lurched towards her eggs.

Even though she was quite small, about 10 yards away and we were on the safety of the airboat, I was very nervous for a split second or two.

Pete whisked away along the river and then we saw another  an absolutely huge male croc called Horace.

Almost instantly Horace, described by Pete as a 'cow killer', stalked our boat and circled around the edge.

It was then, that I realised why the locals are so serious about their neighbours.

Horace was a big lad and extremely unimpressed with us being so close so we decided to give him a bit of personal space and speed off.

Finniss' accommodation consists of luxury huts with stylish interiors boasting stunning views across the flood plains

Left, Alex Matthews enjoys a delicious outback breakfast at sunrise on Finniss and right, giant termite mounds which are a common sight across the wilderness of the NT.

Finniss staff whisk your around their huge property in buggies, whizzing you past wallabies, cows and occasionally stopping to point out rare birds

TOP END TIPS TRADITIONAL OWNERS Learning about the aboriginal tribes that have lived on the national parks for thousands of years is a very important part of visiting the NT. Visit a cultural centre or a cave art gallery and you will not regret it. STAY CONNECTED Investing in a fixed rate e-sim before heading out into the national parks means that if you do need internet connection to check maps or send messages you wont come home to a huge phone bill back in the UK. BE SENSIBLE If you see a crocodile sign alongside the road as you drive over a creek  dont get out to take a pic. These signs are not there for the sake of it! BE PREPARED Make sure you travel with plenty of water and snacks if you are going off on a day trip or adventure in the national parks. It is also advised to buy sun tan lotion and bug spray and to slap it on before venturing out. BY THE SEASIDE Stay away from the beaches in Darwin  the locals dont go in the water because of salt water crocs! Advertisement

Back at the ranch, we're off the airboat and onto a buggy for another adventure.

We whizzed past grazing wallabees and into the fields for a quirky experience called Cows with Canapes.

My ideal interaction with a cow involves a burger and chips so I can't say I was necessarily thrilled about the idea of snacking next to one.

Pete whipped open lunchboxes packed full of gourmet canapes of local produce by Finniss' fantastic chef, Lachlan, and we tucked-in while knocking back cans of lager and glasses of bubbles.

Other members of the incredibly friendly staff popped by for a bev and the cows, which are absolutely massive by the way, came over for a stroke.

They are tactile and friendly, but make you feel very crushable. It was nervy at times but after 20 mins, and importantly two cans, you get used to it.

After this bizarre but delightful experience we went back to the lodge to wash up for dinner.

A delicious three-course meal followed with lamb kofte kebabs and potatoes cooked in the bark of nearby paper tree.

Dinner was fantastic but breakfast stole the show.

We got up at 6am and were whisked back across the ranch and into the outback, to a mystery location as the sun was coming up.

We eventually arrived at a clearing surrounded by giant termite mounds  you see these a lot in the Top End  dwarfing both us and our buggy.

Standing in the clearing was Lachlan preparing our breakfast feast, complete with fresh orange juice and coffee.

The giant mounds, which look like something you'd see on an alien planet, did make me feel a bit queasy.

I wouldn't usually associate them with an unmissable fine dining experience.

But actually it was wonderful to be enjoying a meal at sunrise in such a beautiful part of the world and if you get the chance, you should definitely do it.

Just try not to think about what the mounds are made of as you enjoy your fritatta.

It was extremely hard to leave Finniss and head back into the world.

Sitting in the tiny helicopter as the pilot lands on rocks at the top of waterfall is so impressive it will blow your socks off (pictured, the helicopter that took Alex on his tour around Litchfield National Park)

Alex Matthews enjoys a drink while stopping at the pub on the remote goat island during the helicopter pub crawl

One of the delightful waterfalls visited by Alex during his helicopter tour of Litchfield park where guests can cool off in falls and water holes

But thankfully, we were not saying 'see ya mate' to the stunning scenery of our now beloved Top End just yet.

Once back in Darwin, we took our final tour and one I had most been looking forward to  a helicopter pub crawl.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but don't worry - you do all the drinking, not the pilot.

Our tour by Airborne Solutions, from an airstrip a 15-minute drive from the centre of the city, takes you out into Litchfield National Park and drops you off at a series of pubs  the most remote being on a tiny stretch of land called Goat Island.

Goat Island is home to one man and one pub  an eccentric character who went viral after fighting off a crocodile with a frying pan after it attacked his dog.

The pubs are great but the real reason to go on the tour are the waterfalls and rock pools.

Sitting in the tiny helicopter (which have no doors because it gets so hot) as the pilot lands on rocks at the top of waterfall is so impressive it will blow your socks off.

So there I was splashing about in the crystal clear water, hundreds of miles away from civilisation before being dropped for drinks at various pubs in the bush.

What's not to like?

At the end of eating, drinking, walking, driving, floating, flying and swimming our way around the Top End we were gutted to leave.

We'd seen buffalo, countless birds, wallabies and, of course, crocodiles.

We'd stayed in some magical places, watched one of Darwin's iconic lightning storms - typically for the NT, it was exciting but slightly scary - and met some lovely people.

It was an exhausting action-packed few days but the authentic Aussie experience we were desperate for.

Would we go back? In a heartbeat.
Holidays will be offered from Birmingham and Manchester airports in 2025

Jet2 has announced it's launching exciting new city breaks to one of Portugal's prettiest hidden gems.

The holiday company will offer city breaks to Braga from Birmingham and Manchester in summer 2025.

Holidays to Braga will also be available from Newcastle Airport in summer 2026.

Jet2CityBreaks will fly holidaymakers to Porto Airport, which is around 40 minutes drive from Braga.

Tourists will be able to choose from a range of four and five-star hotels for accommodation.

'With many religious sites offering beautiful architecture and a young and vibrant university population, Braga offers something for everyone,' says Jet2CityBreaks.

And while it might not be as famous as Lisbon or the Algarve, Braga is definitely worth a visit.

The destination, which is one of the oldest cities in the country, is often known as the 'Portuguese Rome' due to its Roman origins.

Jet2 has announced it's launching exciting new city breaks to one of Portugal's prettiest hidden gems

The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is located just outside Braga and is a famous Catholic shrine. The hilltop UNESCO heritage site is reached by climbing three beautiful Baroque staircases

It's renowned in Portugal for its many churches and its Romanesque cathedral is the oldest in the country.

The Cathedral of Braga was actually built several decades before Portugal was even founded.

Lonely Planet says: 'The constant charming of bells is a reminder of Braga's age-old devotion to the spiritual world. Its religious festivals are famous throughout Portugal.'

The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is located just outside Braga and is known for its Catholic shrine.

The hilltop UNESCO heritage site is reached by climbing three beautiful Baroque staircases.

But if 573 stairs sound like a little too much to tackle, tourists can also opt to reach the site via funicular.

Lonely Planet adds: 'But don't come expecting piety alone: Braga's upscale old centre is packed with lively cafes and trim boutiques, some excellent restaurants and low-key bars catering to students from the Universidade do Minho.'

Foodies won't want to leave without sampling 'Bacalhau a Braga', a local delicacy made of salted cod, sauteed onions and potatoes.

Lonely Planet says: 'But don't come expecting piety alone: Braga's upscale old centre is packed with lively cafes and trim boutiques'

The destination, which is one of the oldest cities in the country, is often known as the 'Portuguese Rome' due to its Roman origins

For dessert, tourists can opt for a pudim adade de Priscos which is a rich creme caramel pudding with one very unusual ingredient.

Created by an abbot in the 19th century, the pudding contains a whopping 15 egg yolks and bacon.

While its location in northern Portugal means tourists can't expect to enjoy the Algarve's warm weather there, average highs in July can reach 24 degrees in Braga.

And it's not the only destination that's getting easier to reach.

easyJet recently launched direct flights to a beautiful Mediterranean island with stunning beaches.
A trip to a theme park can come with buckets of fun, but also a side-portion of frazzle - thanks to long queues for rides and food, and often huge crowds in high season.

However, there's one European theme park that's so serene your heart rate might be slower when you leave then when you arrive - with one visitor describing it as 'like a stroll through a beautiful park that just happens to have a rollercoaster in the middle.'

Even better, it's a bargain compared to some of Europe's biggest theme parks at just 32 a day, with children under four going free.

Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, just north of the Dutch city of Tilburg, is a fairytale-themed park that boasts an emerald lake, miniature village, monorail and steam train - as well as a host of rides thrill seekers will love.

Those who've visited say the queues are often significantly lower than at other theme parks such as Disneyland Paris and Thorpe Park - where frustrated riders can spend around 90 minutes queueing for the most popular attractions on busy days.

Since opening in 1952, Efteling has seen well over 100 million people visit, with its attractions reflecting elements from ancient myths and fairy tales, legends, fables, and folklore.

Ride highlights include wooden rollercoaster 'Joris en de Draak' meaning 'George and the Dragon' to a magical forest and a creepy 'cursed villa,' with every ride based on a story.

The one that gets the biggest screams? A 60mph dive coaster known as Baron 1898.

From the wooden rollercoaster 'Joris en de Draak' meaning 'George and the Dragon' to a magical forest and a creepy 'cursed villa,' every ride is based on a story

It's attractions reflect elements from ancient myths and fairy tales, legends, fables, and folklore

Efteling is a fantasy themed park with fairytales at it's heart - since opening in 1952, it has attracted more than 100 million visitors

In the oldest area, the Marerijk, a beautiful forest frames a trail of classic tales such as Rapunzel, Pinocchio and Rumpelstiltskin reconstructed from the nostalgic drawings of illustrator Anton Pieck.

And while it's the largest theme park in the Netherlands, it's still relatively unknown with theme park fans in the UK - but those who've visited have been hugely impressed.

In 2023, TikToker The Travel Mum (@thetravelmum) shared a post heaping praise on Efteling, saying queue times were 10 minutes in many cases.

She told viewers: 'We have been told this theme park is better and cheaper than Disneyland, let's go and check it out.

'Efteling is a theme park in the Netherlands and with no queue to get in, tickets starting at just 34, and these cool little trolleys that you can pull bigger kids around in, I'm already impressed.

'As you walk around, there's all the magic and attention to detail that you get from a Disney park.'

She added: 'This park is huge, there's a great app you can download and as you can see, the majority of queue times are less than 10 minutes.'

Meanwhile, in the UK, one of Britain's busiest parks announced a new attraction this week.

Chessington World of Adventures revealed it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land.

The new multi-million pound land will be Chessingtons largest attraction for pre-schoolers.

Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides - including an entry-level My first rollercoaster - as well as play areas, and interactive character meet and greet events.

A British mother has hailed a park in the Netherlands as being a 'better and cheaper' alternative to Disneyland

Chessington World of Adventures has announced it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land. Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides - including an entry-level My first rollercoaster (Rendering of the Paw Patrol-themed land above)

Guests will also enjoy a dedicated food and beverage outlet and picnic space, plus a customised retail store.

The Paw Patrol land will open in spring 2026, but kids dont need to wait until then to meet their favourite pups.

Chase, Skye and Rubble will be at Chessington from this May, helping to oversee the construction of the new land.

Starting on the 24th May, the little ones can interact with their favourite characters at the Paw Patrol Meet and Greet experience.

And, in the summer, Chessingtons Safari Hotel will open five Paw Patrol-themed rooms  the first and only PAW Patrol accommodation in the UK.
A picturesque UK beach has been described as the 'perfect off-grid getaway' and a dead-ringer for a world-famous spot in the South of France.

According to holidaycottages.co.uk, Barricane Beach in Devon is the ideal budget dupe for Calanque d'En-Vau in Marseille.

Calanque d'En-Vau is one of the prettiest coves located along the French coast between Marseille and Cassis.

The beach's beauty attracts plenty of tourists who travel there by boat or by hiking along the cliffs.

But if a trip to the South of France is out of the question this year, Brits might be able to find a similar vibe at Barricane Beach.

Holidaycottages.co.uk says: 'Much like Calanque d'En-Vau, a famous and picturesque rocky inlet between Cassis and Marseille in the South of France, Barricane Beach in Devon is the perfect off-grid getaway.

'Known for its dramatic rocky landscapes, clear waters and remote access, it's also a great spot for those who love hiking.

'It features a cafe that serves homemade Sri Lankan curry throughout summer, making it a wonderful place for a refreshing sea dip, a delightful dinner and a stunning sunset.'

Holidaycottages.co.uk says: 'Much like Calanque d'En-Vau, a famous and picturesque rocky inlet between Cassis and Marseille in the South of France, Barricane Beach in Devon is the perfect off-grid getaway'

Calanque d'En-Vau is a world-famous beach between Marseille and Cassis. Do you see the resemblance?

If a trip to the South of France is out of the question this year, Brits might be able to find a similar vibe at Barricane Beach.

Sometimes known as Shell Beach, Barricane Beach is located in Woolacombe and is a popular surfing spot.

The pretty cove is also known for its 'exotic sea shells'. Visit Devon explains: 'Local folklore says that these shells have travelled off the shore of a Caribbean island thousands of miles across the Atlantic to be dropped in near-perfection condition in this precious little inlet on the North Devon coast.'

The Barricane Beach cafe is open from 10am and serves a simple lunch menu. Its famous Sri Lankan curries are served between 5-7pm but tourists should be aware that the cafe is cash only.

Dogs are permitted to roam free on the beach between October and April but must be on a lead between May to September.
High season equals big crowds...which can often mean the reality of a summer holiday is elbows at dawn for sun loungers, queueing at tourist sights and trying to find a patch of sand on the beach that hasn't already been snaffled.

What can you do about it? Turn your back on the most popular destinations and head for places that the madding crowds aren't targeting this summer.

Research by luxury yacht charter company 212 Yachts has identified the destinations that have had the biggest spikes in travel interest for summer 2025 - and those that appear to be slipping under the radar.

What tops the list? Puglia in Italy is the place deemed most likely to suffer from over-tourism during this summer's busiest months.

In Italy's heel, the region is firmly on the low-cost airline map - with connections to both Brindisi and Bari - plus there's delicious food, stunning cities, and beautiful countryside and coastal spots.

While it's grown in popularity in recent decades, it's only recently become a genuine rival to other Mediterranean favourites, such as the Greek, Italian and Balearic islands - and there's been a huge 631 per cent increase in online searches for it this year.

Saving a trip for shoulder season is likely a wise move - and the same goes for the four other destinations that make 212 Yachts' list of most searched for holiday hotspots.

Puglia is divine - but everyone else thinks so too, with searches for the Italian region up by 631 per cent, according to luxe brand 212 Yachts (The beach at Polignano)

Swap? Italy's Cinque Terre, the dramatic stretch of coast at the tail-end of the Italian Riviera, is a safer bet for tourists who don't want to battle crowds this summer

Croatia's sunniest island, Hvar, has also seen a spike in searches according to the research, which compared monthly global search volume from the past 12 months.

The pretty island, beloved of yachters, is up on last year by 182 per cent. Meanwhile, a Greek idyll - that often comes with premium prices - also finds itself on the 'risk of over-tourism' list.

Searches for Santorini, famous for its blue domed churches, have increased by 83 per cent, while Spanish summer city break destinations Barcelona and San Sebastian have each seen a spike of 50 per cent and 56 per cent respectively.

An expert from the brand, said: 'Were seeing the same thing every year - people book their dream destination only to arrive and find it packed, overpriced, or increasingly restricted.

'Over-tourism isnt just frustrating for travellers - its also a major concern for local communities and the environment. This year, its worth looking at lesser-known options that offer just as much beauty without the chaos.'

Where should you swap the most-searched for destinations for in a bid to share your holiday with less tourists?

The brand says the Cinque Terre region of Italy is a great pick. This dramatic stretch of the Ligurian coast sits at the tail-end of the Italian Riviera, tucked away between Genoa and Pisa.

Cinque Terre (translated as The Five Lands) describes the five fishing villages clinging to a 15-mile stretch of craggy hillside above the Ligurian Sea.

Santorini also makes the top five when it comes to search spikes - with the research suggesting the Greek Island could be at risk from over-tourism this summer

Ibiza is proving less popular this summer - so could be a great pick for those wanting to see the White Isle when its a little less busy (Pictured: Cala dHort beach in Sant Josep)

And tourist taxes have seen search for Venice spiral down, meaning it's likely to be less popular this summer

Surprisingly, Ibiza is on the least searched for list - the White Isle was searched for 56 per cent less than the previous year.

And three other destinations that have long been on the tourist map also fared less well for search, says the luxury yacht brand.

City break destination Venice could also see less crowds this summer. Down 46 per cent, the Italian lagoon metropolis has introduced new visitor taxes and tourist caps, which has put off many who may have planned to visit.
Staycations promise less hassle and often less financial outlay than a summer holiday abroad - but the UK's famous tourist resorts, from St Ives to Southwold and Margate, can get busy when the sun's high and hot.

UK holiday park brand Parkdean Resorts says searches for holidays at home have skyrocketed by 3,500 per cent since last year, suggesting this summer could see the country's most popular destinations busier than ever.

So, what if you fancy a little peace and quiet with your summer getaway?

The holiday brand has done the legwork and identified Britain's 'most relaxing' tourist town - considering factors such as green space, light and noise pollution, population density and local crime.

The tourism company says Bigbury-on-Sea comes out on top. The sedate seaside town lies in the South Hams region of Devon.

It's just a stone's throw from popular Salcombe, but can't command quite as many tourists - making it the ideal getaway for a tranquil break, says Parkdean.

There's three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty nearby plus Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks - and, even in the town centre, visitors are unlikely to feel like they're mingling with the masses; there's just 484 people per 10km.

When it comes to green spaces, the town also aced rankings, with an impressive 73.61 score in the Green Space Index, which ranks provision of parks and play per 1,000 people.

Big-bury on peace! Holiday company Parkdean says the Devon idyll of Bigbury-on-Sea is Britain's most relaxing town

The town looks out across Avon Estuary, the popular surfing beach of Bantham and Burgh Island - the setting for several of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels.

The crime writer wrote And Then There Were None in 1939, and Evil Under The Sun in 1941 there - and it's possible to walk right across the sand to the island when the tide is out.

And its own stretch of sand is certainly worth your time.

Bigbury beach is one of the region's largest sandy spots and favourite TV series of yesteryear, including Poirot and Lovejoy, once used it as a backdrop.

This week, England's worst beaches were highlighted ahead of staycation season, with 19 making the second annual 'Brown Flag Awards'.

The team at Holidayparkguru.co.uk looked at the Environmental Agency's summertime water quality data to determine which beaches have failed to make the cleanliness grade.

Brown Flag beaches are those that are rated 'poor' by the Environment Agency due to the amount of bacteria in the water caused by sewage and waste.

Sadly, the number of Brown Flag beaches in England has soared from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025, an increase of 46 per cent.

Somerset and Kent have the highest number of Brown Flag beaches, with each county having three beaches on the list.

At the other end of the scale, Northumberland officially has the country's cleanest beaches.

More than 90 per cent of the county's beaches achieved the highest possible score for water cleanliness.

Bigbury beach has featured in Poirot and Lovejoy - and looks out across to Burgh Island, famous for hosting crime writer Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie made Burgh Island her second home accessing it by trolley from Bigbury (pictured right) when the tide was high

Dorset, Devon and Cornwall also scored well when it came to cleanliness although each of the counties is also home to a Brown Flag beach.

Lincolnshire and Hampshire are the next cleanest counties.

And only St Mary's Bay in Kent had managed to clean up its act since the last Brown Flag Awards and is no longer on the concern list.

Holidayparkguru.co.uk has said it will be handing out free brown flags, each emblazoned with the poo emoji, to the counties with dirty beaches.

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England's 19 dirtiest beaches have been named and shamed at the second annual 'Brown Flag Awards'. Dymchurch in Kent (above) is on the list

Robbie Lane, a keen sea-swimmer who works at HolidayParkGuru.co.uk, says: 'I would like to extend my sympathies to beaches in Worthing, Lyme Regis and the other newcomers who have given Brown Flag Awards for the first time.

'Commiserations also to Weston Super Mare, Blackpool and other resorts that have retained their "awards", like a stubborn barnacle clinging onto a sewer pipe.

'We had hoped that we'd handing out fewer Brown Flags this year - but the numbers have surged.

'Several of the newcomers are newly designated swimming spots whilst others have gone down the pan since last year.

'The good news is that two-thirds of beaches in England are rated as "excellent" for their water quality.

'Do your research this summer and you'll be saying "wish you were here" rather than "wish I'd worn a hazmat suit".

'Let's give a shout out to St Mary's Bay in Kent, which is the only beach in the whole country that managed to wipe away its Brown Flag!'
She was made to empty her bags and carry the items instead

A British expat has slammed Jetstar's carry-on baggage policy after she was forced to remove 3kgs from her luggage prior to takeoff - only to then carry the items on board by hand.

The traveller was flying from Brisbane to Melbourne when she was asked to weigh her bags on Wednesday.

Jetstar staff told her she was going to be charged $70 since her bags exceeded the 7kg carry-on limit but instead of paying she discovered the 'ridiculous' way travellers can get around the fine.

As staffers looked on the woman emptied her bags until they were within the weight limit and once they verified her bags were light enough she was able to board.

What she found unbelievable, however, was the fact that she was still able to carry her extra items on her person in order to keep her bags under 7kgs.

'Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous,' she said in a TikTok after the fact.

'Tell me how that makes any sense whatsoever.'

When reached for comment Jetstar said its carry-on baggage policies were designed to ensure a 'smooth boarding process' that allowed bags to be stowed safely.

A British expat has expressed her frustration with Jetstar's carry-on policy after she exceeded her 7kg limit and was simply allowed to carry her extra items on her person

The woman was flying from Brisbane to Melbourne when staff asked her to remove 3kg from her luggage in order to get it within the airline's weight limit

The expat commended Jetstar's staff for not raising a fuss despite the airline's at-odds rules.

'They let you remove everything from your bag so all of my water, my snacks, my book. I can hold [it], and then they weigh the bag again,' she said.

'They were going to charge me $70.'

A spokesperson for the airline explained its baggage policies and said nothing was out-of-order with the women's experience.

'Being a proudly low-cost airline, we offer customers incredibly low fares which all include carry-on baggage allowance of 7kg across two items,' they told Yahoo News.

'Our carry-on baggage restrictions are designed to ensure a smooth boarding process, enough room to stow safely and comfortably all carry-on items and the correct weight and balance for take-off.'

Travellers can pre-purchase excess baggage at a reduced rate but those who show up to the terminal with more weight than they are allowed are charged excess fees.

She called the episode 'ridiculous' as she was still able to take the extra items on the flight which defeated the purpose of her taking them out of her bags in the first place

Jetstar said these hiked fees are because any unexpected extra weight brought on by passengers could potentially cause disruption to its operations.

Social media users who commented on the video equally praised the airline's staff for not making a big deal out of the situation.

'They are being kind and saving you $70,' one user wrote.

'This is the perfect example of amazing staff trying to protect you from corporate greed,' another added.

'I had to put all my work clothes/shoes on from the day before to 'make weight'. Saved me the same $70 though apparently the ground staff are on commission if they catch such cheaters,' a third claimed.

A fourth commenter however, was a little more confused about how simply carrying on the extra weight makes any difference at all.

'It makes no difference to the weight going on the plane! You are right, it makes no sense,' they wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jetstar for comment.
London has long taken the top spot on a list no-one renting in the capital wants to read - the most expensive postcodes to reside in if you're a tenant.

However, according to new research, the capital's most expensive postcode is no match for addresses found around 25 miles north west - and Greater London as a whole doesn't even come close to the top spot.

The analysis comes from Cohab, which offers landlords a property software solution, and puts a postcode in leafy Buckinghamshire in the number one spot for most expensive rent.

Renting an average home in any property in the HP9 postcode will set tenants back around 5,920 a month, which is 358.4% more than the British average.

Where falls into the HP9 postcode? Upmarket places such as Beaconsfield, Chalfont St Peter and Penn, which are in the heart of London's north-west commuter belt.

By comparison, the average cost of renting a property anywhere in the South East is 1,562 a month - while Britain's cheapest rental destination is Wales, where monthly average rent is 935.

How does London compare? At the most expensive end of the spectrum, it costs 5,438 per month to rent in glitzy SW7, which is South Kensington and some parts of Knightsbridge.

But in Greater London, prices are significantly cheaper, with an average of 2,176.

South Kensington's Georgian beauties might cost a pretty penny to rent - the average monthly rental is 5,438 per month in glitzy SW7, but it's not the UK's priciest postcode

Quaint Beaconsfield falls into the HP9 postcode in Buckinghamshire, where the average monthly outlay for a rental home is 5,920, according to research by property software solution Cohab

Living in a tourist town is also likely to prove costly, with Cornwalls TR11 postcode - which includes Falmouth, the most expensive in the South West at 2,834, 124.8% more than the regional average.

Manchester's M14 postcode, just south of the city centre, is the most expensive in the North West at 2,280 per month - 126.6% more costly for renters than in the wider North West region.

Explaining the findings, Founder and CEO of Cohab, Saveli Kotz, said: 'While the cost of renting varies across Britain, each region is home to a prime postcode where rents sit significantly higher than that paid by the average tenant.

'In Buckinghamshire for example it costs nearly three times as much to rent than the South East of England, demonstrating how competitive it is for renters.'

He adds: 'Its somewhat surprising that even the UKs prime postcodes in Central London, which are popular with international renters, dont match up to the area.

'At the other end of the spectrum Wales has the smallest difference between the average rental price and the most expensive postcode, suggesting tenant demand is more equally distributed in the country.

The research underlines that wherever renters are based theres likely to be a property available to rent at their price point if theyre willing to travel.'

Big-bury on peace! Holiday company Parkdean says the Devon idyll of Bigbury-on-Sea is Britain's most relaxing town

Meanwhile, a small town in Devon has been named Britain's 'most relaxing' town - considering factors such as green space, light and noise pollution, population density and local crime.

Research by Parkdean Resorts found Bigbury-on-Sea, a sedate seaside town that lies in the South Hams region of Devon, came top as the country's most relaxing town to spend time in.

There's three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty nearby plus Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks - and, even in the town centre, visitors are unlikely to feel like they're mingling with the masses; there's just 484 people per 10km.

When it comes to green spaces, the town also aced rankings, with an impressive 73.61 score in the Green Space Index, which ranks provision of parks and play per 1,000 people.

The town looks out across Avon Estuary, the popular surfing beach of Bantham and Burgh Island - the setting for several of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels.

The crime writer wrote And Then There Were None in 1939, and Evil Under The Sun in 1941 there - and it's possible to walk right across the sand to the island when the tide is out.
Vince Vaughn shared a little-known secret about legendary actor Al Pacino: 'He smells fabulous.'

The 55-year-old actor recently filmed a new movie called Easy's Waltz with the 85-year-old Pacino, who recently booked two new movie roles.

Vaughn put in an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, to promote his new Netflix movie Nonnas, debuting on Netflix May 9.

When Fallon asked how Pacino was, Vaughn revealed, 'I love Al Pacino. I did a movie with him. He's terrific. I have to say this, he smells fabulous.'

Vaughn added, 'He smells like a high end cologne counter in Italy. He has an incredible smell. The whole aroma is unbelievable,' which surprised Fallon.

The actor mentioned he wasn't the only one singing the praises of Pacino's indelible aroma.

Vince Vaughn shared a little-known secret about legendary actor Al Pacino on a late night talk show Thursday - and it's to do with how the Oscar-winning star smells

'And people had noticed this, I mean, many things about him. He's a tremendous guy. Very easy to be around. But smells matter,' Vaughn insisted about the Hollywood icon

'And people had noticed this, I mean, many things about him. He's a tremendous guy. Very easy to be around. But smells matter,' Vaughn insisted.

When Fallon asked Vaughn if he told Pacino that he smelled great, Vaughn added, 'Yes. A lot of people would be around us and tell him that he smelled fantastic.'

'He smells fantastic. And then, so, the question would come up which is, you know, "What's the cologne?"' Vaughn added.

He said the actor was, 'tight lipped' about his particular smell, adding, 'He'd say, "I have to try to remember." He doesn't want to share that fabulous smell.'

Vaughn added that Pacino would say, 'I'm trying to leave a legacy,' adding, 'So he was protecting his smells.'

Fallon said that he had to bring Vaughn back when he was promoting Easy's Waltz, as Vaughn joked, 'a smelling line would be fabulous.'

Their film Easy's Waltz marks the feature directorial debut for True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto.

The story follows a, 'down-on-his-luck crooner' who is given a huge comeback shot by an 'old-school Vegas personality.'

Vaughn revealed that Pacino 'smells like a high end cologne counter in Italy . He has an incredible smell. The whole aroma is unbelievable'

Vaughn said Pacino was 'tight lipped' about what he uses to smell so good. He'd quip: ' "I'm trying to leave a legacy." So he was protecting his smells'

Vaughn was on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon to promote the movie he's made with Pacino called Easy's Waltz

Vaughn and Pacino star alongside Cobie Smulders, Sophia Ali, Simon Rex, Shania Twain, Shane Gillis and Fred Melamed.

The film is in post-production at the moment, with Pizzolatto directing from his own script, with Margot Hand, Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros producing.

Pacino will next be seen in The Ritual with Dan Stevens and Ashley Greene, in theaters nationwide June 6.

Vaughn has Nonnas launching in a few weeks and he's in pre-production on The Bookie & the Bruiser with Adrien Brody.
Naga Munchetty has revealed her true feelings towards her BBC Breakfast co-star Charlie Stayt amid feud rumours behind the scenes of the show - and admitted 'you can fake' being friends on camera.

The presenter, 50, has made headlines recently with reports about alleged rifts between her colleagues.

Last month, viewers commented how Naga looked 'unimpressed' with 'mansplaining' Charlie, 62.

While The Mail's Katie Hind revealed tensions between the show editor, Richard Frediani, and Naga.

But the broadcaster delved into how she really feels about some things in a recent interview with The Times.

Though according to the publication Charlie is 'good friend' of Naga, she revealed her thoughts on sofa chemistry.

Naga Munchetty, 50, has made headlines recently with reports about alleged rifts between her colleagues

Last month, viewers commented how Naga, right, looked 'unimpressed' with 'mansplaining' Charlie, left

'Oh you can fake it, of course you can,' Naga said.

She also shared her take on dealing with various 'egos' in the workplace.

'You wrestle with egos all the time, in front and behind the camera,' she added. 'Know your worth.'

It comes as Naga was photographed keeping her distance from her BBC Breakfast co-star Charlie and show editor as she left the studios in Manchester amid the rumoured feud and bulling row.

Some staff have shared their unhappiness with the show's editor, who has been accused by insiders of being on occasion 'aggressive' and 'belittling' towards his underlings.

Sources on the show say that Naga has expressed uneasiness about his behaviour to bosses at the corporation.

An insider says that Naga is 'quite open' about her ill-feeling towards Frediani, while another says that she has an 'uneasy relationship' with him.

The Mail can reveal that displeasure is intensifying at the BBC's northern base in Salford, where staff have watched Frediani's rise - from Breakfast boss to arguably the most powerful BBC editor outside London.

Though according to The Times Charlie is 'good friend' of Naga, she revealed her thoughts on sofa chemistry

One said 'You have to wonder what on Earth is going on.

'The BBC claims to be this no-nonsense, woke, kind place - yet Fredi has been able to keep climbing the ladder.

'HR and his bosses are aware of [past] bullying claims against him.

'He's still allowed to hire, as we saw with Nina [Warhurst, who has just been appointed a regular presenter] this week, and presumably fire.

'He has so much power, it doesn't feel right at all.'

While during a BBC Breakfast episode last month, one viewersarcastically posted on X: 'As ever Naga looking impressed with Charlies mansplaining of the trivial news item slot.'

Another sensed more possible discomfort when Naga spoke to a woman discussing Trading Standards.

They commented: 'Naga being awkward as possible towards the Trading Standards lady #bbcbreakfast.'

While someone else claimed Charlie seemed tired and said: 'Charlie looks absolutely shattered. #BBCBreakfast.'

Though yesterday, some fans praised the hosts and one said: 'Love Naga Munchetty's sass and wit on BBC. Keep slaying, girl!'

And another complimented, 'Charlie is great'.

Naga also opened up about her life long battle with adenomyosis after years of dealing with excruciating pain and no answers to solve it.

The BBC presenter lived with painful heavy bleeding, vomiting, fainting and severe aching every two and a half weeks for 32 years before a private doctor finally gave her a diagnosis in 2022.

Adenomyosis is a condition where the lining of the womb (uterus) starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. It can affect one in 10 women, as per the NHS.

Naga also opened up about her life long battle with adenomyosis after years of dealing with excruciating pain and no answers to solve it

She told The Sunday Times: 'It makes you angry. If you are second-guessing that you are not strong enough to be a woman, that you are weaker than all the other women because youre told its all normal, everyones going through it, you second-guess other parts of your life.'

'Ive never been suicidal but definitely, because there were no answers, I just thought, I cant go through this in another two and a half weeks. It just needs to stop', she added.

Before she was diagnosed, in 2019 Naga opted to get sterilised in an attempt to stop her symptoms because she thought it was her 'only option'.

Breakfast airs weekdays on BBC One from 6am and is available to stream on iPlayer.
Netflix fans have warned 'the Americans aren't ready for this' after the streamer dropped the first trailer for its Fred and Rose West documentary, about the pair's 'house of horrors'.

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, set for release on the platform on May 14, will delve into the lives of Britain's most notorious and prolific pair of serial killers.

The three-part series will detail how the couple tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight.

Rose, 71, is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty in 1995 of murdering ten girls and women - but Fred, then 53, hanged himself in his remand cell in January of that year before facing trial for 12 murders.

Their home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester became known as their 'house of horrors' after police found nine bodies there before the couple's arrest in 1994 - and later found three more elsewhere.

Netflix fans think American viewers are not ready to hear about the true atrocities of what the platform has dubbed A British Horror Story, taking to the comments section of the trailer on YouTube to warn stateside streamers.

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, set for release on the platform on May 14, will delve into the lives of Britain's most notorious and prolific pair of serial killers. Pictured: Fred West

The three-part series will detail how the couple tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight. Pictured: Rose West

Rose, 71, is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty in 1995 of murdering ten girls and women - but Fred, then 53, hanged himself in his remand cell in January of that year before facing trial for 12 murders. Pictured: Their known victims

The new documentary, one of several on the case over the years, is set to be especially heartbreaking as it will focus on the victims' families.

For some, it will be the first time they have spoken out and opened up on camera about their trauma.

One YouTube commenter said: 'Oh dear, the Americans aren't ready for this.

'I'm from Britain and Fred and Rose West, what they did is beyond terrifying and worse than any other horror film, like beyond dark. Be warned.'

Another agreed: 'Dear God, Americans are going to have so many heart attacks when they see this.

'My mum remembers them getting arrested and Rose is still held in a women's prison near where I live.'

Someone else warned: 'This is the kind of horrific story that will stick with you.

'Still so surprised not too many people know about it, especially in America.'

Netflix fans think American viewers are not ready to hear about the true atrocities of what the platform has dubbed A British Horror Story, taking to the comments section (pictured) of the trailer on YouTube to warn stateside streamers

One user, seemingly not British, said: 'Finally, there really haven't been enough documentaries about it.

'British killers are never talked about here so it'll be chilling as all hell.'

Another said: 'I've seen the doc about Rose only. I don't think a crime documentary has scared me so much.

'A lot of people don't seem to know about these two, at least outside the UK. It's terrifying.'

The three-part series, directed by Dan Dewsbury, will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collected evidence against them.

The first instalment, called Fred, will zoom in on the moment Fred West was taken into custody and questioned about his missing daughter.

The second, named Rose, is set to explore the pair's 'dark, twisted relationship' and how police realised Fred did not commit the heinous crimes alone.

And the third, called The Trial, will look at the additional evidence that emerged to further implicate Rose in the case.

Their home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester became known as their 'house of horrors' after police found nine bodies there before the couple's arrest in 1994 - and later found three more elsewhere. Pictured: The documentary trailer

The new documentary, one of several on the case over the years, is set to be especially heartbreaking as it will focus on the victims' families

For some, it will be the first time they have spoken out and opened up on camera about their trauma

The three-part series, directed by Dan Dewsbury, will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collected evidence against them

The first instalment, called 'Fred', will zoom in on the moment Fred West was taken into custody and questioned about his missing daughter

The second, named 'Rose', is set to explore the pair's 'dark, twisted relationship' and how police realised Fred did not commit the heinous crimes alone

And the third, called 'The Trial', will look at the additional evidence that emerged to further implicate Rose in the case

The show will feature previously unseen police video footage and audio recordings - providing a deeper look into the case than ever seen in various other programmes made about it over the years

The trailer, released on YouTube last month, offered a sneak peek into the documentary series

The show will feature previously unseen police video footage and audio recordings - providing a deeper look into the case than ever seen in various other programmes made about it over the years.

The trailer, released on YouTube last month, offered a sneak peek into the documentary series.

But many commenters on the site said at the time they were exasperated by the platform making yet another true crime programme.

One penned: 'Anybody else tired of this true crime crap?'

Another added: 'I have no idea why people enjoy watching sick things like this. Someone please enlighten me how you get joy from watching this?'

Someone else simply said: 'I'll pass.'

Others felt uncomfortable about the idea the documentary would be profiting off making content about such heinous crimes.

One said: 'Why would anyone want to see this? If you do, you should really question yourself... Is there nothing Netflix won't do for attention/money?'

Many commenters under the trailer on YouTube (pictured) have said they are exasperated by the platform making yet another true crime programme

Others (pictured) felt uncomfortable about the idea the documentary would be profiting off making content about such heinous crimes

Another added: 'Is there only me who feels like this shouldn't be made?'

It comes after another heartbreaking Netflix true crime documentary surged to the top of the charts last month - knocking smash hit show Adolescence off the top spot.

Stephen Graham's four-part series Adolescence reached an eye-watering 24.3million views in just four days after its release and has received rave reviews since.

Adolescence follows the story of a young boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of stabbing his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday) to death.

But it was overtaken early last month by Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer.

The new crime docuseries consists of three episodes and looks at the stories of missing women whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach on Long Island in New York.

A synopsis reads: 'This tense true-crime series examines the hunt for the Long Island serial killer through the perspective of his victims, their loved ones and the police.'
Hugh Jackman's girlfriend may want to look away as the Wolverine actor swears liberally, speaks graphically about sex and engages in multiple steamy make-out sessions with his younger co-star in a new off-Broadway show.

Jackman, 56, plays a three-time divorced middle-aged college professor and novelist Jon who embarks on a forbidden romance with his 19-year-old student Annie, played by Ella Beatty, 25, in intense two-hander, 'Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes'.

The award-winning play, written in 2020 by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, debuted on April 28 at New York's Minetta Lane Theatre and has already grabbed the attention of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively who stepped out to support their close friend on Tuesday night.

Jackman's girlfriend Sutton Foster, 50, also made a backstage appearance this week, amid rumors that their fledgling relationship has struggled since they went public in January.

The new show may not be the easiest watch for Foster, with Jackman and Beatty kissing frequently, at one point making out on a desk as a scantily clad Beatty wraps her legs around Jackman.

Another scene sees the young star  the daughter of Warren Beatty  sat in between Jackman's legs wearing nothing but her underwear and a red jacket as he kisses her head.

Hugh Jackman's girlfriend Sutton Foster (pictured) may want to look away as he swears, speaks graphically about sex and shares steamy kisses in his new off-Broadway play

The actor plays the older love interest of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening's daughter Ella Beatty (pictured), 25, in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

In one scene a fully clothed Jackman leans over a scantily clad Beatty as she wraps her legs around him while laid back on a desk

And it's not just the steamy scenes that are X-rated.

Jackman also swears throughout, dropping F-bombs and at one point graphically detailing a college cheerleader 'sucking his c**k.'

It's easy to see why audience members are banned from using phones.

Set in a pre #MeToo era, the story explores discussions around sexual consent and power dynamics.

Annie, who has a crush on Jon, devours his erotic novels and fantasizes about him. Meanwhile, Jon is questioning his growing feelings for Annie and toying with the consequences of pursuing a teacher-student fantasy, all while agonizing over his third divorce.

Like Jon, Jackman is working through a separation.

The Wolverine actor, who has only been married once, announced his split from Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage.

In a joint statement, they said they were 'shifting' and had decided to 'separate to pursue our individual growth.'

They share adopted children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.

In March, a source revealed to the Daily Mail that Jackman and Furness have yet to file for divorce because 'they are struggling to reach an agreement on how to divide their assets.'

'It's always hard dating in the public eye, but when you add their whole backstory and what they've put on the line as far as their reputations, the pressure rises exponentially,' a source told Life&Style

'Deborra-Lee feels entitled to more money than Hugh is willing to offer,' the source said.

Jackman and Foster's relationship reportedly overlapped with the end of his marriage. The pair met as co-stars on the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man, but only went public after they were pictured holding hands earlier this year.

Foster filed for divorce from her now-estranged husband Ted Griffin, 54, in October last year.

But, despite the newness of their relationship, the new couple were this week plagued by reports that they were struggling, in part because of having to spend time apart.

'Being apart for an extended period of time can be tough on any couple,' an insider told Life and Style.

'It's always hard dating in the public eye, but when you add their whole backstory and what they've put on the line as far as their reputations, the pressure rises exponentially.'

Like his character, Jackman is working through a separation. He announced his split from Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, in September 2023. They have yet to finalize their divorce.

The source added: 'There's a lot of harsh judgement about them online.'

Jackman is juggling all this alongside fears that he'll be dragged into his pal Blake Lively's ongoing and messy legal battle with her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni, who she has accused of sexual harassment.

Baldoni has retaliated with his own countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds of defamation. The rancorous back-and-forth is scheduled for trial on March 29, 2026. All parties have denied the allegations.

A source recently revealed to the Daily Mail that Jackman will be subpoenaed, along with Taylor Swift.
Nestled in the sprawling suburbia of New York, a home with well-kept hedgerows and blooming spring flowers is the quintessential model of an American residence.

But this mid-century split-level home in Mount Vernon holds dark secrets that could explain the lead-up to the gut-churning accusations that disgraced rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces as he waits behind bars for his sex trafficking trial to kick off on Monday.

This is Diddy's childhood home, where neighbors told DailyMail.com that they witnessed 'wild' parties there thrown by his mother, Janice Combs, that could have been the inspiration for his later life of debauchery.

Janice, 84, reportedly invited shady figures from her Harlem days, exposing her young son to nudity and drug use in the home.

She did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment, but her son's attorney told Newsweek in January the motivations and credibility of people talking now 'must be questioned'.

'Many claim to have knowledge but lack any connection to the truth, while their wild, unfounded theories are cut and sensationalized to appear factual,' the attorney said.

Neighbors say Diddy's mother Janice Combs, 84, hosted 'wild' parties at his childhood home after moving there from Harlem following his father's death

A childhood picture with Tim Patterson, left, and Sean Combs. Patterson said he and 'young Sean' were like brothers, but Combs stood out amongst other children with his fancier clothes and accessories

Diddy's childhood home where Janice allegedly is said to have invited lowlives from her days in Harlem and her son saw naked people in the rooms and drug addicts when he was still young

And on the latest episode of DailyMail.com's The Trial of Diddy, Tim Patterson, Diddy's childhood friend said the rapper's unstable upbringing and access to money at a young age was a recipe for trouble.

'I do not want to condone, and I don't condone any of the things that he's been accused of.

'But Sean is special to me, you know? We were big brother, little brother type of moves, and there's no way I can sit back and allow this to happen without giving context to his life and to his story and giving some type of understanding that he was not born a monster.'

In the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, Patterson further elaborated on how Sean's deranged partying habits were somewhat inherited: 'Because Sean had no dad, all he had was his mom. Sean's house, our house, there was always things going on.

'On the weekend, and we did that a lot.

'He was around all type of alcohol, he was around reefer smoke. He was around drug addicts, around lesbians, around homosexuals, he was around pimps and pushers. That was just who was in our house.'

Listen to the full interview on the latest episode of The Trial of Diddy:

Former music producer Tim Patterson, who worked with Sean Combs at Uptown Records in the 1990s, claimed Diddy's hot temper came from having to protect himself from bullying from a young age

Combs was known for throwing lavish 'white parties' in East Hampton, New York, which were also attended by his mother, Janice (to his right)

Patterson said Diddy, 55, was not like other children who grew up in the suburbs of Mount Vernon in the 1960s and 70s.

His mother, Janice, moved the family from Harlem to the town shortly after Diddy's father, Melvin, was killed.

Melvin, who was an associate of notorious convicted drug dealer Frank Lucas, was shot dead while sitting in his car in New York City at the age of 33.

Diddy spoke of his loss and called his father a 'hustler' in a 2013 interview on his former network Revolt.

'They say you can't miss something you never had, but that's only a little ways right. There has definitely been times as I've gotten older that I've missed my father  his presence  not being here...,' he said.

'There are things that you would ask your father. There's also things that you would celebrate with him that would make him proud.'

The move to Mount Vernon marked a dramatic contrast for Diddy, who attended Mount Saint Michael Academy, an all-boys Catholic school.

But his mother was allegedly unable to completely leave the streets behind and she reportedly invited her friends from Harlem to come visit.

The street in Mount Vernon, New York, where Diddy grew up. When they moved, he attended Mount Saint Michael Academy, an all-boys Catholic school

One neighbor said they remembered 'a lot of cars on the street and people coming and going and music until late'

One neighbor told DailyMail.com's The Trial of Diddy podcast: 'It was a long time ago but I remember there were a lot of cars on the street and people coming and going and music until late. I never went but I heard they were wild parties.'

Another neighbor expressed his shock at how somebody on their quiet street had become such an alleged monster, saying: 'Diddy really messed up. I can't believe how he turned out.'

Patterson, who claimed he moved into Diddy's basement as a kid in an interview for the HBO Max The Fall of Diddy documentary, said the rap mogul allegedly was subjected to regular bullying and beatings from his peers, while also allegedly enduring harsh discipline at home.

'Just to give you an example, Sean was in a quagmire because of him getting picked on,' Patterson said. 'It wasn't the way it worked in his house. You don't come back as a loser. You have to come back and win.

'If someone takes something from you, you go get it back, or you have to deal with the consequences. So, Sean had to step up to the bullies. Sooner or later, and this was more in his adolescent years, but it got to a point where it just became too much for him.'

Patterson refused to comment further on the allegations but told The Trial of Diddy podcast that the missing paternal influence in Combs' young life could've been detrimental for an impressional boy.

Patterson claimed he moved into Diddy's basement as a kid in an interview for the HBO Max The Fall of Diddy documentary

Patterson declined to delve into Diddy's allegations but said not having a father was a recipe for disaster and that Janice allegedly had a lot of influence on him growing up

'My dad instilled some things in me that let me know there's only but so far people can go with you  win, lose, or draw,' Patterson said. 'And these might've been some of the things Sean could've gotten as a child had he had a father, right?

'In my home, there were boots and there were high-heeled shoes in the closet. In Sean's home, there were high-heeled shoes. There were no boots. So that makes sense. There was something missing from his maturing.'

Diddy, 55, is scheduled to begin trial with opening statements on May 12, following jury selection, which will start on May 5.

He was indicted on racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors allege Combs drugged and coerced women into sexual activities with male prostitutes.

Investigators said they found drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil that were intended to be used for orgies known as 'freak offs'.

Tim Patterson, who helped produce legendary hip-hop artists such as Notorious B.I.G., left the music industry in the mid-2010s

Sean Combs performs at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at ORACLE Arena on September 30, 2016 in Oakland, California

Combs pleaded not guilty and has vehemently denied all the allegations, and his lawyers intend to discuss the rapper's 'swinger lifestyle' and claims the threesomes were consensual.

The allegations were a shock to childhood friend Patterson, who claims Combs never showed him 'that side'.

Patterson said Combs, who is three years younger, was destined to become a star.

Patterson points to a picture of the two in front of Combs' childhood home in Mount Vernon. Both were smiling and posing in their bellbottom pants, but the young Combs was decked out with jewelry, a stylish bucket hat and fancier clothing.

Patterson said Combs' sense of style, talent for dancing and knack for entertaining was influenced by the burgeoning movement of hip-hop.

'As he got older and as I got older, you couldn't help but not be around hip-hop because it was a culture. It was a lifestyle. It was a certain type of sneaker, was certain type of pants, it was a certain type of hat.

An artist's drawing of a gray-haired Diddy as he appeared in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during a recent court hearing

Diddy's sons King and Justin Combs walking into court alongside Janice on November 22 for a pretrial court hearing

'It was a certain way to talk. It was a certain way to walk. And Sean being from Harlem, he had all of this in him. He had all this flavoring.'

By the time he was 17, Combs landed an internship at Uptown Records and quickly rose the ranks as the label's A&R director and was responsible for finding, signing, and developing musical talent.

As he started his trajectory to success, Combs brought on his 'big brother' Patterson to Uptown as his intern.

Combs's angry outbursts and cursing out subordinates became legendary, but higher-ups turned a blind eye because of the talent and money he brought to the label, Patterson said.

'He's 17, but he's got carte blanche access to the music industry,' Patterson said. 'Every day was a mess. He was a mess.

'You think he had decorum? You think he had it together? He's 17. He never got it together at 25. Shawn was just like he told you. He was the little bad boy every day.'

Diddy, 55, is scheduled to begin trial with opening statements on May 12, following jury selection, which will start on May 5

The outbursts and outrageous spending finally came to a head when Combs was fired at Uptown, Patterson said. But when Combs was quickly picked up and brokered a deal with Clive Davis's Arista Records in 1993, he was able to create Bad Boy Records.

As he gained more success, Combs became untouchable as his behavior and take-no-prisoners attitude became both feared and celebrated, his childhood friend said.

Combs was eventually celebrated in the upper echelon of society and partied with celebrated designers like Tommy Hilfiger and other A-Listers such as Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump, Patterson said.

'That type of behavior doesn't stick today,' Pattersons said. 'But back then, there were no examples, no blueprints, no references of Puffy's. He was the first 17-year-old kid hanging with Russell Simmons, Andre Harrell, Brett Ratner, Clive Davis.

'He was the exception because there was no reference to him. He was so interesting to the Hilfigers. He was so interesting to the Trumps. He was so interesting to the Winfreys - that this kid's got a magnetism about him and he's the one behind these people.'

Patterson said 30 decades of money, power and thinking he is invincible has caught up to Diddy. However, the former producer is certain Combs will not back down.

'I'm sure he's given every thought to everything, but Sean is the type who really believes he's innocent,' Patterson said. 'He doesn't feel the things that he's accused of is what he's done. He doesn't feel that. I know him.'

Patterson declined to comment about the parties when contacted by DailyMail.com and nobody answered at the door of the property.

Diddy's lawyers and his office did not respond to a request for comment.

For all the latest updates on this shocking case, search for The Trial of Diddy, available wherever you get your podcasts now.
Dallas fans were sent into a frenzy this week when one of the shows most beloved stars was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The beauty, now 61, famously played Cally Harper Ewing  the second wife of the notorious J.R. Ewing  on Dallas from 1988 to 1991, and she looked radiant as ever while crossing the street with an armful of childrens books.

Dressed casually in an oversized striped top and relaxed leggings, the actress looked nothing like her scheming waitress soap character.

Still, even years removed from her red carpet days, her signature blonde tresses were instantly recognizable to longtime fans.

After Dallas, she left the on-screen drama behind for lighter roles, popping up in fan-favorite shows like Growing Pains and Beverly Hills, 90210.

So, whos the gorgeous star?

Dallas fans were sent into a frenzy this week when one of the shows most beloved stars was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The beauty, now 61, famously played Cally Harper Ewing  the second wife of the notorious J.R. Ewing  on Dallas from 1988 to 1991, and she looked radiant as ever while crossing the street with an armful of childrens books

Dressed casually in an oversized striped top and relaxed leggings, the actress looked nothing like her scheming waitress soap character

If you guessed Cathy Podewell  you nailed it!

Back in 2018, Podewell looked back fondly on her time in Dallas, the show that made her a household name.

Speaking to Cryptic Rock, Podewell recalled, 'I got to play an amazing character and I got to work with Larry Hagman. He was so wonderful, he was the most wonderful, caring sweet person ever.'

What was originally planned as a brief appearance blossomed into a major role thanks to their undeniable chemistry on screen.

'That was a lucky thing, because when I auditioned, it was supposed to only be a recurring role for seven episodes, and the chemistry between us was so good, that the producers felt the storyline could go further, so it turned from seven episodes into three years! I feel very blessed about that,' she shared.

Podewell also opened up about her early career and her breakout in the 1988 cult horror classic Night of the Demons.

'The best memories! That it has survived and it has become a fan-favorite is so wonderful in and of itself because of the rest of the cast I get to see now,' she said.

Reflecting on the project, she added, 'I loved everybody then and I love everyone now. We were all so young. We just had the best time. At the time, we thought it would play in the theater, maybe go to VHS, and thats it. We were just in the moment having a great time.'

If you guessed Cathy Podewell  you nailed it; (seen in 2023)

Speaking to Cryptic Rock , Podewell recalled, 'I got to play an amazing character and I got to work with Larry Hagman. He was so wonderful, he was the most wonderful, caring sweet person ever'

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Podewell moved with her family to Walnut Creek, California, where she was raised by her father, a teacher, and her mother, a real estate agent; (pictured in Beverly Hills 90210)

Podewell pursued her artistic dreams at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in theater arts and dance, laying the foundation for her eventual career in Hollywood; (pictured in Murder, She Wrote)

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Podewell moved with her family to Walnut Creek, California, where she was raised by her father, a teacher, and her mother, a real estate agent.

Acting was part of her family legacy  her paternal grandparents, Lester Podewell and Beverly Younger, were both actors, which no doubt influenced her passion for performing.

Podewell pursued her artistic dreams at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in theater arts and dance, laying the foundation for her eventual career in Hollywood.

After graduation, Podewell packed her bags for Los Angeles.

Like so many aspiring actors, she worked as a waitress while enrolling in acting classes and slowly chipping away at auditions.

'I went to college and majored in theater and dance. After college, I went to LA, got a waitress job, got into an acting class, chipped away, and I was very fortunate,' she recalled to the outlet.

'It really didnt take that long  I think I got my first job after I had been there a year. I am very grateful for around five years of work; I worked pretty straight and solid.'

In 1989, Podewell married Steven Glueck, and by 1992, they welcomed their first child.

In 1989, Podewell married Steven Glueck, and by 1992, they welcomed their first child

'I went to college and majored in theater and dance. After college, I went to LA, got a waitress job, got into an acting class, chipped away, and I was very fortunate,' she recalled to the outlet

Naturally, her priorities shifted: 'Then I had a baby. I got married in 1989, and my son was born in 1992. I think the last few things I did were in 1991,' she explained, reflecting on her decision to step away from the industry to focus on family life

Podewell and Glueck went on to have three children together

Naturally, her priorities shifted.

'Then I had a baby. I got married in 1989, and my son was born in 1992. I think the last few things I did were in 1991,' she explained, reflecting on her decision to step away from the industry to focus on family life.

Podewell and Glueck went on to have three children together.

Even years away from the spotlight, Podewell remains a beloved figure to soap fans and horror aficionados alike  proof that her performances left a lasting impression.
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Carrie Bickmore has broken down in an emotional interview in which she discussed how she 'saved' the lives of her close friend and her husband.

The 44-year-old radio star revealed on the Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy show that she helped her close friend Jamila Rizvi find suitable treatment after she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour - while emotionally supporting her husband.

'My husband Jeremy and I were going through it together, but differently. He was thinking that if the worst happens, then he has to keep living,' Jamila told Carrie.

The 31-year-old then revealed she enlisted Carrie to speak to her husband on her behalf because they were struggling to cope with the shock diagnosis.

'I called Carrie and said, "Would it be all right if I introduced you two? I think he needs to talk to someone",' Jamila explained.

'It surprised no one that Carrie showed up on our doorstep 15 minutes later!'

Carrie Bickmore broke down in an emotional interview in which she discussed how she 'saved' the lives of her close friend and her husband

Carrie added that her visit came as a huge surprise to Jamila's husband, who was so grateful that the radio star had introduced them to a renowned neurosurgeon.

'Poor Jeremy. I don't think he was in the head space to receive a random person he never met in his lounge room,' Carrie said.

Jamila, who has been friends with the radio star for years, added she and her husband were really struggling at the time and were incredibly grateful for the support Carrie gave them.

'I think it is the best thing that has happened to us! We were definitely at our worst and you were very kind, supported us through the headspace we were in,' Jamila said.

'You introduced us to the neurosurgeon who operated on me twice and unquestionably saved my life. Another surgeon wouldn't have been able to do that surgery!'

'There was so much going on. I am so thankful the surgeon was able to help you because he was amazing,' Carrie added.

Jamila Rizvi initially thought her missed periods were just a sign of stress.

After noticing she hadn't menstruated for two months, the Aussie TV presenter decided to see a GP as a precaution to check her hormones, as she had just stopped breastfeeding her toddler son Rafi.

The 44-year-old radio star revealed on the Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy show that she helped her close friend Jamila Rizvi (left) find suitable treatment after she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour - while emotionally supporting her husband

Jamila, who has been friends with the radio star for years, added she and her husband were really struggling at the time and were incredibly grateful for the support Carrie gave them. Pictured together on The Project in 2017

But the then-31-year-old's world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a rare 'one-in-a-million' brain tumour.

'For me, it was very much out of the blue... I was very unexpectedly diagnosed with a rare kind of brain tumour so I've got a physically broken brain,' Jamila told Carrie and Tommy.

'Because of where the tumour grows and the complexity of the brain, for me it began with hormones so I just skipped a period.'

Reflecting on that fateful day seven years ago, the political commentator was on a book tour, so she suspected the missed cycle was simply due to stress.

'Then it happened again. I was very diligent, went and saw my GP and I think that's when I got lucky the first time because my GP took me really seriously... I got blood tests done, she sent me off to specialists and then a gynaecologist,' Jamila said.

In 2017, doctors found a tumour lodged deep in her brain, dangerously close to her optic nerves, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.

Despite undergoing two major brain surgeries followed by radiation, Jamila now lives with chronic health conditions, as she's told her tumour may return.
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Texas blues rock icons ZZ Top took to the stage in Perth on Thursday, wowing fans with a very strange instrument.

The Legs hitmakers were rocking Langley Park on the Australian leg of their Elevation world tour, with fellow rock veterans George Thorogood & The Destroyers.

Partway through their headlining set, bass player Elwood Francis, 63, whipped out a guitar that had the crowd doing a double-take.

He was rocking a bright yellow bass guitar that featured a whopping 17 strings and a body that almost obscured his entire torso.

The standard electric bass guitar has four strings, there are also five-string and five-string models.

Elwood, who replaced original member Dusty Hill after he died in 2021, looked like he was struggling to wrap his hands around the instrument's gargantuan neck as he stood in front of a large stack of amplifiers.

Texas blues rock icons ZZ Top took to the stage in Perth on Thursday, wowing fans with a very strange instrument. Pictured: Bass player Elwood Francis

The Legs hitmakers were rocking Langley Park on the Australian leg of their Elevation world tour, with fellow rock veterans George Thorogood & The Destroyers. P:ictured: Billy Gibbons

Speaking about the bass behemoth to Guitar World in January, Elwood said that it wasn't his favourite instrument to play, and despite bearing the Fender name on the headstock, did not come from the iconic guitar company.

'I hate playing that f***ing bass,' he said.

'I found it late at night while internet surfing on one of those Chinese websites. I couldn't believe they were making something like that.'

The rocker added that he saw immediate comic value in the oversized instrument.

'I found this guitar, took a screenshot, and sent it to Billy, saying, "We should order one of these, and I'll play it. It'll be hilarious."'

Aside from the imposing instrument, the iconic showmen did not disappoint when it came to the sartorial stakes either.

Frontman Billy Gibbons, 75, complete with his trademark beard, wowed the crowd with a very ornate jacket.

The black jacket featured a colourful cactus and rose design, along with a Dia De Muertos-style skeleton for good measure.

Partway through their headlining set, bass player Elwood Francis, 63, whipped out a guitar that had the crowd doing a double-take

He was rocking a bright yellow bass guitar that featured a whopping 17 strings and a body that covered his entire torso

Elwood, who replaced original member Dusty Hill after his death in 2021 looked to be struggling to wrap his hands around the instrument's giant neck as he stood in front of a large stack of amplifiers

He matched this with a pair of sequined black pants and a pair of black boots.

Finishing his stage ensemble, Billy went a little overboard with the headwear, wearing a bandana and a grey beanie underneath a battered light grey fedora.

While it was barely visible from behind the imposing bass, Elwood also wore the same eye-catching jacket and sequinned pants combo.

He did mix things up with a pair of ruby red suede shoes while sorting a shock of grey hair and a full beard.

Amongst all the rock and roll, both Billy and Elwood found time to switch out their jackets for an equally colourful matching bright purple number that also featured an ornate floral design.

Elwood had also swapped his monstrous yellow bass for a much more manageable black four-string version.

The Sharp Dressed Man rockers continue their Australian run in the Hunter Valley and Wollongong this weekend as part of the Red Hot Summer regional mini-festival.

They will then head to Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on May 7 before rounding our Red Hot Summer on Queensland's Bribie Island, and finally at the ICC Sydney Theatre on May 13.

Aside from the imposing instrument, the iconic showmen did not disappoint when it came to the sartorial stakes either

Frontman Billy Gibbons, 75, complete with his trademark beard, wowed the crowd with a very ornate jacket, that was also worn by Elwood

The black jacket featured a colourful cactus and rose design, along with a Dia De Muertos-style skeleton for good measure

Amongst all the rock and roll, both Billy and Elwood found time to switch out their jackets for an equally colourful matching bright purple number that also featured an ornate floral design

Elwood had also swapped his monstrous yellow bass for a much more manageable black four string version

ZZ Top formed in Houston Texas in 1969 and for 51 years kept the same line-up of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, until Dusty's death in 2021.

Responsible for a swag of blues rock hits including La Grange, Gimme All Your Lovin', and Sharp Dressed Man, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have sold an estimated 50 million records.

During an appearance on US Radio show Ultimate Classic Rock Nights, Gibbons discussed the origins of the band's unusual name.

'We had a little apartment, a little hangout room that was lined with those rainbow-coloured blues posters you'd say nailed to the telephone poll, [listing] who was coming to town,' Gibbons recalled.

As the guys looked at the posters, Gibbons said they realized 'it was odd how many current names had initials - O.V. Wright, D.C. Bender, and of course B.B. King - he was down on this end of the alphabet, then it was Z.Z. Hill.'

'Jeez, ZZ and King, that's a good combo,' Gibbons remembered saying, but decided that ZZ King was too similar to B.B. King.

'King being at the top, I said, "Okay, so it's gonna be ZZ Top, and that's the way it is."'
Gino D'Acampo's last remaining restaurants have reportedly been saved from closure after the scandal-hit star was sacked from his TV projects.

The firm who control the restaurants, Upmarket Leisure Ltd, has allegedly been struggling with mounting debt and a sale of the company fell through.

According to The Sun, HMRC issued a petition to close up the company at the High Court in March and an application to appoint an administrator was made on Tuesday.

However, Upmarket has now been saved and bought out of administration in a 5million deal, which means the five venues can remain open, reports the publication.

The apparent deal will save the jobs of 400 employees at the restaurants in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester.

Dean Watson, an administrator Begbies Traynor, told the Sun: 'This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again.'

Gino D'Acampo 's last remaining restaurants have reportedly been saved from closure after the scandal-hit star was sacked from his TV projects

The firm who control the restaurants, Upmarket Leisure Ltd, has allegedly been struggling with mounting debt and a sale of the company fell through (pictured Luciano restaurant in London)

In recent months, the TV chef has faced a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women - which he has denied.

ITV subsequently pulled all of Gino's shows from its upcoming schedules after the accusations were revealed in an investigation.

'He's in a lot of trouble and ITV don't want to be in a BBC situation [with Gregg Wallace] or have a repeat of Schofield so they are covering all their bases', an insider told MailOnline at the time.

But now the chef is set to return to TV, after he revealed he has been filming a new series in Ireland.

Gino shared a collection of snaps where he could be seen working as a mechanic with his face covered in grime as he filmed scenes for the mystery series.

Recent accounts for Upmarket, for the year to March 2023, had showed losses that increased from an eye-watering 559,000 to 1.475million. The company owed creditors 5.8million at that time.

The Sun have reported that staff at the company were due to be a paid a week ago and were warned of a delay. Some of them have since received payment.

One of them said: 'A lot of people are very angry and a few have resigned. Every day we're told we'll be paid tomorrow.'

HMRC issued a petition to close up the company at the High Court in March and an application to appoint an administrator was made on Tuesday (pictured Gino's Manchester restaurant)

The apparent deal will save the jobs of 400 employees at the restaurants in London, Leeds, Newcastle (pictured) and Manchester

However, Upmarket has now been saved and bought out of administration in a 5million deal, which means the five venues can remain open, reports the publication (pictured 2023)

Just last week, Gino shared a video of himself hugging several members of his staff in his restaurants across the country

According to the publication, Upmarket have apologised for the late payment citing administrative banking issues and being unable to process payroll.

Just last week, Gino shared a video of himself hugging several members of his staff in his restaurants across the country.

He wrote: 'Just finished my Restaurants Tour all over the UK @ginomyrestaurant & @lucianobyginodacampo. You guys make it all worth it. GDx.'

Last year it was reported that Gino had 'raked in 6million in the last two years', as it was claimed he had doubled his profits just after it was suggested that he was unable to pay 5million to his former employees and in tax after liquidating his restaurant chain, My Pasta Bar, in 2022.

Gino seemingly turned his luck around after making 5,718,514 from his three companies, all of which he owns with his wife Jessica.

In documents obtained by The Sun, Gino D'Acampo Holdings made 'record profits' of 4,893,220, while Gino D'Acampo Ltd saw 417,097 in profits and his talent firm MeMs agency made 408,197.

It came just two years after the chef was forced to call in liquidators after it was revealed My Pasta Bar lost thousands every year over its decade in business.

In recent months the TV chef has faced a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women - which he has denied (pictured Leeds restaurant at the Marriott Hotel)

ITV subsequently pulled all of Gino's shows from its upcoming schedules after the accusations were revealed in an investigation (pictured Liverpool restaurant 360 Sky Bar)

Last year it was reported that Gino had 'raked in 6million in the last two years', as it was claimed he had doubled his profits just after it was suggested that he was unable to pay 5million to his former employees (pictured May 2024)

He had restaurants located in Fleet Street, Leadenhall Market and Bishopsgate, London.

Gino defended his record as a businessman after being accused of failing to hand over millions of pounds to staff and the taxman when the chain collapsed.

The former This Morning star spoke out for the first time after suggestions he was unable to pay up after liquidating My Pasta Bar in 2022.

Accounts said 49 creditors were not paid, with 4.8million owed to trade creditors, 113,975 to HMRC and 53,304 to staff, according to reports.

But Gino hit back, insisting his philosophy was to 'make sure your wins are greater than what you lose'.

In a final account to creditors and members, the company had said: 'Overall, I can confirm that the realisations in the liquidation are insufficient to declare a dividend to the unsecured creditors after defraying the expenses of the proceedings.'

Major stakeholders included Gino, owning ten per cent, and IRG, who had an 85 per cent stake in the company - with the other five per cent belonging to Vernon Lord.

IRG is owned by Iceland founder Malcolm Walker and CEO Tarsem Dhaliwal, after Gino previously had a food range with the supermarket giant.

Gino has seemingly turned his luck around after making 5,718,514 from his three companies, all of which he owns with his wife Jessica (pictured together in 2018)
Billie Piper turned heads as she joined the ever-stylish Nicola Coughlan at the Olaplex dinner event in London on Thursday evening.

The Doctor Who star, 42, made a bold statement in a sheer black lace maxi dress that hugged her incredible figure.

Billie completed her striking look with black pointed heels and wore her auburn locks in loose curls.

Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Nicola, 38, looked effortlessly chic in an all-black outfit, opting for a sleek mini dress paired with black stockings and towering platform heels.

She styled her icy blonde hair in soft curls and added a pop of color with a swipe of rosy pink lipstick.

Also in attendance at the event were the likes of Bel Powley, Jessica Pimentel, Flossie Clegg, Millie Hannah, and Varada Sethu.

Billie Piper (left) turned heads as she joined the ever-stylish Nicola Coughlan (right) at the Olaplex dinner event in London on Thursday evening

The Doctor Who star, 42, made a bold statement in a sheer black lace maxi dress that left little to the imagination

The outing comes after it was revealed that Billie is returning to the Doctor Who universe opposite Christopher Eccleston, as the BBC show marks 20 years since its modern revival.

The actress is set to reprise her role as Rose Tyler for a series of Big Finish Audio dramas, which will be released in August 2025.

Billie starred as Rose opposite Christopher Ecclestone's Ninth Doctor when the show was revived by Russell T Davies in 2005.

She went on to star alongside David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor in the second series, leaving viewers in floods of tears with her heartbreaking exit in finale episode Doomsday.

Billie briefly returned as Rose Tyler for Who's fourth series, and the show's 50th Anniversary Special in 2013, but this is the first time she will be working with Christopher since the first series 20 years ago.

Discussing the 12 hour-long audio episodes, Billie said: 'I can't think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now.

'Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe  and the monsters  together.'

Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Nicola, 38, looked effortlessly chic in an all-black outfit, opting for a sleek mini dress paired with black stockings and towering platform heels

The pair appeared in high spirits as the posed for snaps at the event alongside Varada Sethu and Bel Powley

Doctor Who's newest companion Varada put on a very leggy display in a chic Amiri co-ord

Jessica Pimentel, Flossie Clegg and Millie Hannah all looked incredible at the glitzy occasion

Sophie Porley and Wen Ti Teong both showed off their toned pins as they donned mini dresses to the event

Jessica Diner and Sali Hughes were all smiles as they posed for a snap together at the dinner table

A description of the pair's new adventures said the Doctor's past 'returns to haunt him' and 'enemies old and new are waiting'.

Chris, 61, who only played The Doctor for a single series, went onto say he's equally happy to be back starring alongside Billie again.

He said: 'I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don't think my Doctor exists without Rose. He's a 'one man, one companion' kind of alien.

'There's a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose. They complete each other.'

Revealing more details of the new audio series, producer Matt Fitton added: 'Twenty years after the Ninth Doctor and Rose burst onto our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic  the Doctor showing Rose the universe, and Rose showing him the best of humanity.

'Across 12 episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space.

Billie starred alongside Christopher and David Tennant (pictured) as The Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and has since reprised her role in the fourth series, and the 50th Anniversary

'Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto.

'They're having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime  and they sound fantastic!'

Since 1999, Big Finish have produced multiple audio dramas featuring Doctor Who stars, with big names including David, Catherine Tate, Peter Davison and Jodie Whittaker reprising their roles from the original show.

While Doctor Who first hit screens in 1963, it was axed by BBC bosses in 1989, and following a poorly-received movie in 1996, Russell decided to bring back the show in 2005.

Since then, six more actors have played the titular Time Lord, with Ncuti Gatwa currently playing the role of The Doctor, with his second full series set to hit screens later this year.
Matty 'J' Johnson has opened up about his rumoured 'kink' for pregnant women, as his wife Laura Byrne is pregnant with their third child.

The former Bachelor star, 37, made the bold admission on the latest episode of his Two Doting Dads podcast.

'I don't have a kink for pregnant women, but I find Laura at the moment, she's popping a lot more,' Matty began.

'Laura's like, "I just feel so fat, I hate it," and I'm like, "Damn girl!"'

Matty added he had never been more attracted to his wife due to her pregnancy glow.

'There is no other moment I find Laura more attractive than when she is pregnant. It's beautiful!' he said.

Matty 'J' Johnson has opened up about his 'kink' for pregnant women, as his wife Laura Byrne is pregnant with their third child

Earlier this week, Laura announced her pregnancy news on her podcast, Life Uncut, which she co-hosts with fellow reality star Brittany Hockley.

'It turns out, we're having baby number three!' she declared.

'I'm pregnant guys!'

Laura revealed she is currently 18 weeks pregnant, two weeks short of the half-way mark.

'It is a Christmas miracle. We had a really small window. I have known for a very long time. I found out very early on in this pregnancy,' she explained.

Laura explained she took a pregnancy test while Matty was filming I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in South Africa but did not tell him the news until she was two and a half months pregnant.

'I wasn't able to tell Matt for ages. The whole time he was in the jungle, I wasn't able to tell him and then it was really tricky because I didn't want to tell him when it was the finale,' she explained.

'I didn't want to tell him as soon as the show, because I don't know if you guys remember, but the show wasn't filmed live this year, so we did the finale over there.'

The former Bachelor star made the bold admission on the latest episode of his Two Doting Dads podcast

Matty also made an announcement on his Two Doting Dads podcast, telling listeners:

'[It's] an October baby,' he said.

'We were trying before I went into the jungle. The plan was, we said this year 2025, if we were going to have a third, this will be the year that it happens.

'I'm conscious that Marlie and Lola are really close together, they're about 18 months [apart] and Lola just turned four, so I was like if it doesn't happen this year, it's a big gap We want the third child to still be friends with Marlie and Lola.'

Laura also posted a video to Instagram of her youngest daughter Lola sharing the exciting news with fans.

'I've got a baby in my mum's tummy and I tried to get it out. I'm so so so so excited. I really want the baby to come out but it's not,' Lola says.

'We are SO SO SO EXCITED!!!! Johnson #3 under construction,' Laura captioned the video.

She later revealed they were expecting a daughter, by cutting into a gender reveal cake live on her KIIS FM The Pick Up radio show on Wednesday, just hours after announcing her pregnancy.

Matty added he had never been more attracted to his wife due to her pregnancy glow

'It's a girl,' Laura squealed as she removed a slice of white sponge that contained layers of pink icing.

The couple share daughters Marlie-Mae, who they welcomed in 2019, and Lola, who was born in 2021.

Laura appeared on The Bachelor Australia in 2017 and met her now-husband, and father to her two children, Matty.
Tom Cruise is reportedly planning to take his rumoured girlfriend Ana De Armas to David Beckham's star-studded 50th birthday bash on Friday night.

The pair appeared to confirm their love affair is real as they flew into London together this week, just days before her 37th birthday.

In exclusive photos obtained by the Daily Mail, Hollywood icon Tom, 62, who has been linked to Ana, 36, since Valentine's Day this year, looked giddy as he piloted a helicopter into the UK capital with the brunette actress by his side.

And while they are in the UK, they are planning to make a VIP appearance at the Beckham party, according to The Sun.

David's big birthday bash is being held at Michelin-star restaurant Core in London and it expected to be a huge affair with friends and family.

A source told the publication: 'Tom and Ana's path crossed years back but they've grown closer in recent months.

Tom Cruise is reportedly planning to take his rumoured girlfriend Ana De Armas to David Beckham's star-studded 50th birthday bash on Friday night

It is being held at Michelin-star restaurant Core in London and it expected to be a huge affair with friends and family

'They are talking about working together on a new film and have been spending time together  both just the two of them, as well as with friends.

'Tom seems really keen to impress her and flew Ana to Madrid over the Easter weekend. They are having a lot of fun together.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ana and Tom for comment.

Top Gun actor Tom forged a close friendship with power couple David and Victoria in the early 2000s.

Tom made an appearance at Victoria's milestone 50th birthday last year.

Tom has been getting serious with Ana in recent weeks, the Daily Mail has learned, with one of his A-list exes even granting approval for the unlikely romance.

It can also be revealed that Tom will be taking the starlet to the 78th Cannes Film Festival in a fortnight. His new movie Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is slated for a star-studded premiere on May 14 at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.

It is not yet clear if Ana will walk the red carpet with Tom.

As for that A-list approval, it is understood Spanish actress Penelope Cruz - who dated the actor from 2001 to 2004 - is 'happy' that her ex-boyfriend has found new love.

The pair appeared to confirm their love affair is real as they flew into London together this week days before her 37th birthday

Tom made an appearance at Victoria's milestone 50th birthday last year (pictured departing)

Tom, 51, and Ana have been friends ever since they co-starred in the 2019 movie WASP Network.

'Ana has said that Penelope is happy for her, she approves,' an insider told the Daily Mail.

'They know each other from the movie and also they have friends in common in Madrid from when Ana lived there for a while.'

'Tom makes Ana feel safe and that is very important to her,' the insider added. 'She was flipped out by the fans and stalkers when living in Venice Beach [Los Angeles] so she moved to a remote part of Vermont.'

In 2022, Ana dropped over $7million for a sprawling six-bed home in the Green Mountain State.

'She loves being away from the crazy,' the source explained.

'She has been traveling with Tom to busy cities like London, but he always makes her feel safe because he is thoughtful and he has a ton of security. He never puts her at risk, she is completely taken care of when she is in his company.'

Friends believe the relationship could last, with our insider pointing to the fact that Ana does 'not like to party', preferring quiet nights at home like her decades-older boyfriend.

Though another source stressed that the pair are 'taking it day by day' and that Ana 'does not give her heart away easy.'

'Ana has a thing for older men and Tom fits the bill of her type. The proof is in the pudding. Being affectionate with someone is not something that Ana would do for a role,' the second source added.

In November last year, Ana was linked to the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, with the pair stepping out for a loved-up stroll in Madrid the following month.

Top Gun actor Tom forged a close friendship with power couple David and Victoria in the early 2000s (seen in 2008)

Despite receiving massive backlash over the relationship, the actress, who fled communist Cuba age 18, did not shy away from engaging in some PDA with him.

However, the relationship appears to have ended as swiftly as it began - with Tom soon emerging on the scene.

In February, the pair were first spotted enjoying a dinner together - again, in London - on Valentine's Day.

At the time a source claimed to the Daily Mail that they were not romantically involved. Indeed, the insider insisted that the evening out had been strictly business related.

'Everything with Tom and Ana is innocent. They are hanging out to talk about future movies that they could do together,' the source said.
Home and Away stars Ada Nicodemou, 47, and James Stewart, 49, are celebrating their one-year anniversary with a blended-family holiday to Port Douglas.

In what could be a sign that the couple could be preparing to walk down the aisle in real life, both actors shared sweet family snaps from their recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef with their children from past relationships.

'A big photo dump from our holiday,' Ada captioned her post on Wednesday, while James captioned his 'Together' with a series of island-themed emojis on Friday.

In Australia's longest-running soap, Ada's character Leah Patterson and James' character Justin Morgan tied the knot in 2024, after being one of the longest-running unmarried pairings on the show.

In a loved-up snap taken aboard a Great Barrier Reef cruise boat, a barefaced Ada beamed at the camera with her arms wrapped around James.

Ada is mother to a 12-year-old son Johnas, whom she shares with ex-partner Chris Xipolitas, while James is father to a 12-year-old daughter Scout, whom he shares with his ex Jessica Marais.

Home and Away stars Ada Nicodemou, 47, and James Stewart, 49, are celebrating their one-year anniversary with a blended-family holiday to Port Douglas

In what could be a sign that the couple could be preparing to walk down the aisle in real life, both actors shared sweet family snaps from their recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef with their children from past relationships

Ada was seen posing with her 12-year-old son Johnas, whom she shares with ex-partner Chris Xipolitas, and James' 12-year-old daughter Scout, whom he shares with his ex Jessica Marais

Ada looked every inch the doting mother as she posed for a photo with James' daughter Scout and her son Johnas.

The blended family of four enjoyed an adventurous Australian staycation in Queensland that included snorkelling, cruising, playing on the beach, and a helicopter ride.

There was no shortage of family portraits in the photos posted to social media as the happy couple soaked up the quality time with their kids.

In one picture, they even stopped to pose out the front of St Mary's church, perhaps hinting that wedding bells might be ringing in their near future.

Ada gushed over the couple's recent romantic connection, which blossomed after 25 years of friendship, in the latest issue of Stellar.

Revealing she is usually very private about their intimate life together, the actress said she couldn't help but post about their recent relationship milestone because she and James, 49, have had 'a really lovely year together'.

'It's been a really lovely year together,' she told the publication when asked about her rare social media post about the pair.

'I don't like to post a lot of stuff about us online but, at the same time, I'm really proud of the last year we've had, and wanted to share that.'

In one picture, Ada and James even stopped to pose out the front of St Mary's church, perhaps hinting that wedding bells might be ringing in their near future

'A big photo dump from our holiday,' Ada captioned her post on Wednesday, while James captioned his 'Together' with a series of island-themed emojis on Friday

Ada and her son Johnas both looked relaxed and happy on the special family trip

The actress paid another tribute to James earlier this month, taking to Instagram to post a sweet collection of pictures celebrating their one year anniversary at Mimi's in Sydney.

'Just perfect,' she captioned the post, which showed the happy couple enjoying a delicious meal of oysters, caviar and bubbles at the iconic eatery.

The soap opera stars were first linked at the beginning of 2024, when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day before Ada confirmed their romance in an interview.

Ada recently revealed how her Home and Away co-stars discovered her off-screen relationship with James.

Speaking on Mamamia's No Filter podcast, she explained she had only told a small group of people she was 'close with' on set before 'word got around' about the couple's off-screen relationship.

'I figured I didn't need to tell anyone else. We didn't need a group email, people just worked it out,' she said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ada admitted growing feelings for her television co-star James was 'weird' at first.

'Jimmy and I have known each other for 25 to 30 years and there were no feelings for a really, really long time. So I was shocked when I started having feelings,' she said.

James and Scout, 12, enjoyed a day of scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef

There was no shortage of family portraits in the photos posted to social media as the happy couple soaked up the quality time with their kids

'There was this chemistry for the first timethis spark that happened that wasn't there before and it was weird.'

In July last year, Ada finally broke her silence on her romance with James after months of speculation.

But she insisted their Home And Away characters getting married on-screen was not an early sign of their real-life romance.

The couple began dating after Ada split from her ex-partner Adam Rigby just before Christmas in 2023 and James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March 2024.
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A child star who appeared in coming-of-age drama The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants stunned viewers as she appeared on Today Extra Friday morning.

American actress Jenna Boyd, 32, who starred alongside Blake Lively and America Ferrera in the iconic 2005 film, appeared on the Channel Nine morning show to reflect on the movie's enduring legacy.

Jenna, who was just 12 when she portrayed the sweet and spirited Bailey in the film, looked almost unrecognisable from the pre-teen character she once played.

Gone are the blonde tresses she had in the movie and she now rocks long glossy brunette locks.

Her facial features are now more defined, but she still has the same trademark cheeky grin she sported in the movie.

'I know I was not one of the four [main characters], but you could have fooled me because they made me feel as though I was,' Jenna began.

A child star who appeared in coming-of-age drama The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants stunned viewers as she appeared on Today Extra Friday morning

'They made me feel as though I was one of them, it was such a sweet time.'

Jenna was nominated for a Breakout Performance Teen Choice Award in 2005 for her work on the movie.

She has gone onto star in many renowned productions, including the TV series Atypical, opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh, and the 2022 movie Good Mourning alongside Avril Lavigne.

It comes after three stars of the movie - America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel  spoke out after lead actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

As Lively, 37, sues her It Ends With Us costar and director, 40, for sexual harassment among additional allegations, her ex-castmates opened up about their firsthand experience with her.

The movie follows four best friends that buy a mysterious pair of pants that fits each of them perfectly despite them all being different sizes.

In a joint Instagram post, Tamblyn and Ferrera released a statement signed by all three of them, including Bledel, who is not active on Instagram.

'In support of our sister, Blake,' they wrote in the caption and signed off with a red heart emoji and their first names.

American actress Jenna Boyd, 32, who starred alongside Blake Lively and America Ferrera in the iconic 2005 film, appeared on the Channel Nine morning show to reflect on the movie's enduring legacy

She co-starred with Amber Tamblyn, Blake Lively, America Ferrera and Alexis Bledel in the iconic movie. Pictured

'As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,' the trio's statement read.

'Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set,' they stated.

'And we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice,' they continued.

The three actresses also condemned Baldoni's alleged attempt to 'bury' Lively  as he and his team reportedly stated in a private message that was made public in the court documents.

'Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety,' Lively's Sisterhood costars wrote.

'The hypocrisy is astounding.'

'Even if a woman is as strong and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment. We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up her herself and others,' the statement continued.
Angelina Jolie's son Knox Leon Jolie-Pitt towered over her during a grocery trip to Lazy Acres Natural Market in LA's trendy Los Feliz neighborhood on Thursday.

The 49-year-old Oscar winner rocked her signature all-black attire while the 16-year-old boy sported a 'Little Tokyo' T-shirt with cargo khakis.

Knox was clutching a to-go container and pushing a grocery cart filled with three paper bags, one of which had a French baguette sticking out.

Jolie-Pitt appeared to have experienced a growth spurt since escorting Angelina to the 15th Governors Awards in LA on November 17.

The high school junior appears to have grown as tall as his famous father Brad Pitt, who reportedly stands at 5ft11in.

Jolie still has primary custody of her only remaining underage children - Knox and his fraternal twin sister Vivienne - with the 61-year-old Wolfs producer-star, and they finalized their divorce on Christmas Day.

Angelina Jolie's son Knox Leon Jolie-Pitt towered over her during a grocery trip to Lazy Acres Natural Market in LA's trendy Los Feliz neighborhood on Thursday

The 49-year-old Oscar winner rocked her signature all-black attire while the 16-year-old boy sported a 'Little Tokyo' T-shirt with cargo khakis

Five of the Maria actress and Brad's kids appear to be estranged from him including his daughters - Zahara, 20; Shiloh, turning 19 on May 27; and Vivienne - who've all publicly dropped his surname Pitt from their names.

Pitt reportedly got into a physical altercation with his son Maddox, 23; aboard a private jet in 2016 and his son Pax, 21; called him a 'world-class a**hole' and a 'despicable person' in an explosive Instagram rant revealed by DailyMail.com.

'None of my children want to be in front of the camera at this time,' Angelina told GMA on November 21.

'They're quite private. Shiloh's extremely private. They weren't born with privacy, right? So I hope they can have that as they grow.'

The couple formerly known as 'Brangelina' were technically only married from 2014-2016 despite falling in love with each other on the 2004 set of spy flick Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which prompted his 2005 divorce from Jennifer Aniston.

However, Jolie and the two-time Oscar winner are entering year four of their legal war over their 1,200-acre winery Chateau Miraval in Correns, France where they wed, which is reportedly worth $164M.

The Tony-winning producer and Brad purchased the the 35-room estate together for $28.4M in 2011, but he sued her in 2021 after she sold her stake in the ownership to the Stoli Group without his approval, which prompted a countersuit.

Angelina had initially offered to settle, but she reportedly took issue with the mandatory non-disclosure agreement and backed out.

On Wednesday, Variety reported that Jolie will be an interviewee and contributor to Rebecca and Josh Tickell's environmental docuseries Bee: Wild, which will have its world premiere next month at SXSW London.

Knox appeared to have experienced a growth spurt since escorting Angelina to the 15th Governors Awards in LA on November 17

The high school junior appears to have grown as tall as his famous father Brad Pitt (pictured December 5), who reportedly stands at 5ft11in

Jolie still has primary custody of her only remaining underage children - Knox and his fraternal twin sister Vivienne - with the 61-year-old Wolfs producer-star, and they finalized their divorce on Christmas Day (pictured in 2015)

Five of the Maria actress and Brad's kids appear to be estranged from him including his daughters - Zahara (L, pictured in 2021), 20; Shiloh (R), turning 19 on May 27; and Vivienne - who've all publicly dropped his surname Pitt from their names

Pitt reportedly got into a physical altercation with his son Maddox, 23; aboard a private jet in 2016 and his son Pax, 21; called him a 'world-class a**hole' and a 'despicable person' in an explosive Instagram rant (pictured)

Angelina told GMA on November 21: 'None of my children want to be in front of the camera at this time. They're quite private. Shiloh's extremely private. They weren't born with privacy, right? So I hope they can have that as they grow' (pictured in 2019)

On Wednesday, Variety reported that Jolie will be an interviewee and contributor to Rebecca and Josh Tickell's (pictured April 2) environmental docuseries Bee: Wild, which will have its world premiere next month at SXSW London

The Tony-winning producer has yet to announce a US/UK release date for her dismally-reviewed sixth directorial effort Without Blood, which Fremantle released in Italian theaters on April 10

The Atelier Jolie founder-designer has yet to announce a US/UK release date for her dismally-reviewed sixth directorial effort Without Blood, which Fremantle released in Italian theaters on April 10.

In February, Angelina wrapped her role as American filmmaker Maxine Walker on the Paris set of Alice Winocour's fashion drama Couture for Pathe.

Jolie will also eventually reprise her role as the Mistress of Evil in Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' third Maleficent film penned by Linda Woolverton.
She is Australias most successful supermodels, and despite recently celebrating her 42nd birthday Miranda Kerr has barely aged a day since she walked the Victoria's Secret runway.

The Kora Organics founder often credits her own skincare line as the secret to her perpetually youthful glow, but in a new chat with ELLE magazine divulged her favourite daily beauty ritual.

'A beauty routine I swear by is dry body brushing,' Miranda said in a video shared on Thursday.

'I just love the way it boosts circulation. It is something that I do every morning before I get in the shower and I just feel really good.'

Dry body brushing is a technique where a dry, bristle brush is used to exfoliate and massage the skin to help boost circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system.

It's a form of self-care often associated with Ayurveda - a traditional Indian system of medicine.

Miranda Kerr has barely aged a day since she walked the Victoria's Secret runway

The Kora Organics founder often credits her own skincare line as the secret to her perpetually youthful glow, but in a new chat with ELLE magazine divulged her favourite daily beauty ritual

'Dry brushing is sometimes associated with improving skin texture, reducing the appearance of cellulite, and even supporting detoxification, although scientific evidence for some of these claims is limited', Healthline says on its website.

Using a brush with coarse, natural fibre bristles in a circular motion is believed to help improve blood flow and improve the skin's ability to eliminate toxins through the pores by exfoliating the dead skin cells.

This makes it easier for the body to sweat, which in turn reduces the amount of toxins flowing through the lymphatic system.

Fans of the beauty ritual believe the process may also support collagen production and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

There is little scientific evidence to support these claims, but dry brushing is unlikely to cause harm to most people.

To dry body brush, Miranda uses long sweeping motions in the direction of her heart, working upwards from her feet.

She uses circular motions on sensitive areas like the tummy and armpits and when she is finished, ends with a shower and moisturises her whole body.

'I feel it's because I use powerful and effective organic skincare,' Miranda continued in her video.

'Certified organic ingredients contain up to 60 per cent more antioxidants and no nasty chemicals.'

'A beauty routine I swear by is dry body brushing,' Miranda said in a video shared on Thursday

On a more personal note, the model opened up about the reason she became so passionate about skincare in the first place.

She said she created her Kora Organics line after her mother Theresa Kerr suffered a scary health issue.

'My mum was diagnosed with tumours in her spleen, so as family, we had to research what goes in and on our bodies,' Miranda said.

'And what we learned is that what you put on your skin soaks in.'
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Controversial influencer Indy Clinton has sparked concern among her fans after sharing a clip to social media about her Bali holiday with her family.

In the TikTok video, Indy, 27, discussed the challenges of parenting her children while on vacation.

She also shared a photo of her sunbathing in a bikini next to an outdoor pool which captured her very slender figure.

'In Bali, woohoo! Actually, it's not "woohoo" because I am just parenting in a different location,' Indy told fans.

Several followers quickly took to the comment section to ask if she was okay.

'I'm worried about you,' one person wrote, while a second added: 'She looks exhausted and says she cries every day.'

Controversial influencer Indy Clinton has sparked concern among her fans after sharing a clip to social media during a Bali holiday with her family

Others pointed out that Indy looked stressed out with motherhood and offered words of support.

'Kids on vacation is not a vacation,' someone chipped in, while another wrote: 'I can recommend a fantastic nanny.'

Indy and her husband Ben Azar share three young children - Navy, four, Bambi, two, and Soul, one.

The mummy blogger recently made a defiant return to social media after she was relentlessly bullied by followers over the results of her recent rhinoplasty.

Last month, Indy shared a clip to TikTok in which she revealed she was happy to be back, while offering some choice words to her haters.

'I'm coming back online for good! I'm 27-years-old and I've had a few tweaks, like my nose for example. I was so open about why I was doing it,' she began.

'But I still got so much hate. Online love to see you struggling, they love it so much. As soon as you are doing half good they hate you because you are not relatable anymore.'

She also shared a photo of her sunbathing in a bikini next to an outdoor pool which captured her very slender figure

Several followers quickly took to the comment section to point out Indy had undergone significant weight loss, and asked if she was okay

The mother-of-three added the trolls seemed to like her more when she was struggling and didn't like seeing her succeed.

'People loved it so much when I had three [kids] under three. I had milk leaking from my t**s, I was so sleep-deprived, exhausted, burnt out and depressed. People loved it, they ate that s**t up,' Indy said.

She finished by saying her followers could either support her or leave because she had no time for haters.

Prior to that, Indy hit back at trolls that likened her to Michael Jackson following a cosmetic procedure on her nose.

She had been criticised for covering her face, like the late pop star, and not showing the aftermath of the surgery.

'I have a lot of swelling obviously on the outside, but also internally which is making my nostrils look uneven,' she explained.

'It's going down everyday,' she said of the swelling, adding that it was 'so much worse' and she's been sleeping with little splints in her nostrils to help the healing.

Speaking of her time in the cast, she said it was the 'longest twelve days of her life' but she was happy with her 'supernatural' results.
Heidi Klum embraced her beloved nepo baby Leni Klum as they attended the King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala, which was held at Casa Cipriani in Lower Manhattan on Thursday.

The IMG Model - who celebrates her 21st birthday this Sunday - flashed her black-lace teddy beneath a sheer Zuhair Murad gown and matching pointy-toed pumps selected by stylist Kristina Askerova.

Leni slicked her hair back into a severe updo, overlined her brows, and adorned her ears with $16,775 Wempe 'Spotlight' earrings.

The 51-year-old America's Got Talent judge flashed a hint of cleavage beneath her black baggy PJ-style pantsuit and matching pointy-toed pumps selected by styling duo Rob Zangardi + Mariel Haenn.

Hairstylist Italo Gregorio blew out Heidi's middle-parted blonde mane while her longtime make-up artist Linda Hay applied dramatic dark eyeliner.

The mother-daughter duo's red carpet sighting came three days after they unveiled their latest joint gig modeling bras and panties for the Italian brand Intimissimi's basic collection.

Heidi Klum embraced her beloved nepo baby Leni Klum as they attended the King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala, which was held at Casa Cipriani in Lower Manhattan on Thursday

Leni also guest-starred in three episodes of the 20th season of Germany's Next Topmodel - airing Thursdays on ProSieben - which is hosted and executive produced by Klum.

'I did get help starting off, and I know that people would dream to start off with what I had,' the 5ft2in beauty - who's studying interior design at a NYC college - admitted to People back in 2022.

'I'm so grateful that I've been able to take what was gifted to me by my mom. But I am doing the work and putting in the time. Now I'm working on my own, traveling alone, going to school. My mom and I just have the same love for the same thing.'

Leni also fronts campaigns for GHD, Swarovski, and Dior Beauty mostly thanks to her connections.

The Emmy-winning host welcomed her eldest child following a 2003 fling with wealthy Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, but it was her second ex-husband Seal who adopted her in 2009.

During their seven-year marriage ending in 2012, Heidi and the 62-year-old Grammy winner also welcomed son Henry, 19; son Johan, 18; and daughter Lou, 15.

Missing from Klum's side Thursday was her third husband Tom Kaultiz, who's currently in their native Germany with his band Tokio Hotel.

But the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Halloween' and her mini-me were joined at King Charles III's charity event by Vetements creative director Guram Gvasalia.

In February, Spice Girls alum Mel B officially replaced Heidi as judge on the 20th season of America's Got Talent, which premieres May 27 on NBC/Peacock.

The IMG Model - who celebrates her 21st birthday this Sunday - flashed her black-lace teddy beneath a sheer Zuhair Murad gown and matching pointy-toed pumps selected by stylist Kristina Askerova

Leni slicked her hair back into a severe updo, overlined her brows, and adorned her ears with $16,775 Wempe 'Spotlight' earrings

The 51-year-old America's Got Talent judge flashed a hint of cleavage beneath her black baggy PJ-style pantsuit and matching pointy-toed pumps selected by styling duo Rob Zangardi + Mariel Haenn

Hairstylist Italo Gregorio blew out Heidi's middle-parted blonde mane while her longtime make-up artist Linda Hay applied dramatic dark eyeliner

The mother-daughter duo's red carpet sighting came three days after they unveiled their latest joint gig modeling bras and panties for the Italian brand Intimissimi's basic collection

Leni also guest judged three episodes of the 20th season of Germany's Next Topmodel - airing Thursdays on ProSieben - which is hosted and executive produced by Klum

The 5ft2in beauty admitted to People back in 2022: 'I did get help starting off, and I know that people would dream to start off with what I had. I'm so grateful that I've been able to take what was gifted to me by my mom'

She continued: 'But I am doing the work and putting in the time. Now I'm working on my own, traveling alone, going to school. My mom and I just have the same love for the same thing'

Leni also fronts campaigns for GHD, Swarovski, and Dior Beauty mostly thanks to her connections

The Emmy-winning host welcomed her eldest child following a 2003 fling with wealthy Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, but it was her second ex-husband Seal (R, pictured in 2023) who adopted her in 2009

During their seven-year marriage ending in 2012, Heidi and the 62-year-old Grammy winner also welcomed son Henry (3-L, pictured December 21), 19; son Johan (L), 18; and daughter Lou (2-L), 15

Missing from Klum's side Thursday was her third husband Tom Kaultiz (R, pictured April 20), who's currently in their native Germany with his band Tokio Hotel

But the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Halloween' and her mini-me were joined at King Charles III's charity event by Vetements creative director Guram Gvasalia (M)

In February, Spice Girls alum Mel B (2-L) officially replaced Heidi as judge on the 20th season of America's Got Talent, which premieres May 27 on NBC/Peacock

Also attending the King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala was Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, who flaunted her bare breasts and black panties beneath a sheer maroon dress.

Teyana Taylor - who coincidentally plays the 50-year-old Oscar winner's love interest in One Battle After Another - opted for a b&w David Koma coat and knee-high boots.

Iman easily defied her 69 years with a sideswept hairdo as well as a cleavage-boosting black-and-gold bodice and black maxi-skirt.

FKA twigs (born Tahliah Debrett Barnett) debuted a pixie cut after shaving most of her head last year while hyping her third studio album Eusexua.

The British 37-year-old donned a black silk slip dress with her boyfriend since 2023 Jordan Hemingway, who directed the music videos for her songs Childlike Things and Perfect Stranger.

Gayle King wore glasses with a yellow-floral brocade creation after suffering severe backlash for being a glorified space tourist during Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-31 mission.

Lionel Richie - who performed at King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation - looked sharp in a black velvet double-breasted suit while posing with his girlfriend Lisa Parigi.

Speaking of Camila, her nephew Luke Parker Bowles represented the Royals in a classic black tuxedo.

Also attending the King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala was Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, who flaunted her bare breasts and black panties beneath a sheer maroon dress

Teyana Taylor - who coincidentally plays the 50-year-old Oscar winner's love interest in One Battle After Another - opted for a b&w David Koma coat and knee-high boots

Iman easily defied her 69 years with a sideswept hairdo as well as a cleavage-boosting black-and-gold bodice and black maxi-skirt

FKA twigs (born Tahliah Debrett Barnett) debuted a pixie cut after shaving most of her head last year while hyping her third studio album Eusexua

The British 37-year-old donned a black silk slip dress with her boyfriend since 2023 Jordan Hemingway (L), who directed the music videos for her songs Childlike Things and Perfect Stranger

Gayle King wore glasses with a yellow-floral brocade creation after suffering severe backlash for being a glorified space tourist during Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-31 mission

Lionel Richie - who performed at King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation - looked sharp in a black velvet double-breasted suit while posing with his girlfriend Lisa Parigi

Speaking of Camila, her nephew Luke Parker Bowles represented the Royals in a classic black tuxedo

Evan Mock - the rumored boyfriend of K-pop star Rose - showcased his spiky bleach-tipped hair with a khaki blazer and baggy black trousers

Nile Rodgers - a disco pioneer - wore bedazzled sunglasses with a Chanel blazer and b&w graphic trousers

Nineties models Helena Christensen (L) and Carolyn Murphy (R) proved they were still fierce after 50 in a pink frilly frock and a grey tweed strapless dress

Model Karen Elson brought along her daughter Scarlett White - turning 20 this Friday - from her eight-year marriage to Jack White, which ended in 2013

Other models glamming up for the star-studded benefit included Brooks Nader (L) and Toni Garrn (R)

Evan Mock - the rumored boyfriend of K-pop star Rose - showcased his spiky bleach-tipped hair with a khaki blazer and baggy black trousers.

Nile Rodgers - a disco pioneer - wore bedazzled sunglasses with a Chanel blazer and b&w graphic trousers.

Nineties models Helena Christensen and Carolyn Murphy proved they were still fierce after 50 in a pink frilly frock and a grey tweed strapless dress.

Model Karen Elson brought along her daughter Scarlett White - turning 20 this Friday - from her eight-year marriage to Jack White, which ended in 2013.
Kim Kardashian showcased her figure in a stylish swimsuit as she brushed aside drama after her son Saint seemingly hacked her Instagram account this week.

The SKIMS founder, 44 - whose ex Kanye West recently went on a wild rant over a custody battle of their four children - shared an assortment of snaps on Thursday as she posed up a storm on a scenic beach.

The reality star whisked herself away to a tropical destination last month alongside her kids and other family members.

Kim flaunted her sculpted midriff wearing a black, plunging bikini top as well as a skirt that clung to her frame and flowed down on the right side.

Her shorter, damp locks were pushed back to prevent any loose strands from falling onto her face.

The TV personality could be seen standing on a sandy shore as waves crashed down behind her.

Kim Kardashian, 44, showcased her figure in a stylish swimsuit as she brushed aside drama after her son Saint seemingly hacked her Instagram account this week

She flaunted her sculpted midriff wearing a black, plunging bikini top as well as a skirt that was clung to her frame and flowed down on the right side

More photos were taken as Kim strolled next the water which was surrounded by palm trees and greenery.

In the caption of the post, the businesswoman opted to not pen a message to her fans and instead simply added a palm tree emoji.

The mom-of-four previously uploaded images from the relaxing getaway, such as her trying out ziplining.

In one image, the beauty also flaunted eye-catching ankle bracelets that she had worn while burying her toes into the sand.

An influencer and jewelry expert Julia Chafe soon called out the star in a video and said the accessories 'cost more than' a house.

Earlier this week on Wednesday, Kim's nine-year-old son Saint appeared to hack his mother's Instagram account.

A post was shared to her main page that encouraged social media users to follow his YouTube account and read: 'Sub to Saint,s channel.'

Fans offered mixed reactions in response, with some reprimanding Saint and others applauding him.

More photos were taken as Kim strolled along the water which was surrounded by palm trees and greenery

In the caption of the post, the businesswoman opted to not pen a message to her fans and instead simply added a palm tree emoji

Earlier this week on Wednesday, Kim's nine-year-old son Saint appeared to hack his mother's Instagram account; seen in 2024 in L.A.

A post was shared to her main page that encouraged social media users to follow his YouTube account and read: 'Sub to Saint,s channel'

One penned, 'Girl tell ur son to get off ur phone,' while another added, 'It's giving HACKED.'

'Saint, give mom her phone back!' a follower typed out, but one commented, 'Saint done hacked the IG for the promo lolol.. smart man.'

Kim previously admitted that her son had hacked her account last year as well hours before the U.S. presidential election to promote his Fortnite account.

During an appearance on the What In The Winkler? podcast, the reality star expressed, 'Like when Saint took my phone and posted and my publicist is writing me like "This is what you're posting on Election Day?"

'And I was like, "It's a kid. He has no idea,"' she continued, before saying that Saint's actions did cause embarrassment for her.

'He like reposted a video, something about the election, and I took his account down just because he has to ask me before every post. So he's just started a Fortnite account, and I'm like you have got to give yourself grace.'

When it comes to parenting and children making mistakes, Kim said, 'Sometimes I like when kids work it out themselves, and they figured it out themselves. Sometimes we have to intervene.'

Kim also explained she had started to 'put my foot down' in regards to disciplining her four kids.

Fans offered mixed reactions in response, with some reprimanding Saint and others applauding him

One penned, 'Girl tell ur son to get off ur phone,' while another added, 'It's giving HACKED'

Kim previously admitted that her son had hacked her account last year as well hours before the U.S. presidential election to promote his Fortnite account

''If I don't do this now and fight through the tears, as uncomfortable as that is, then they are always going to get their way. The lesson won't be learned.'

Kim has also been embroiled with drama with ex-husband Kanye West - who went on a wild rant about not seeing his kids in a livestream this week on Wednesday.

The rapper vented about not seeing daughter North, 11, as well as his three younger kids - daughter Chicago, seven; and sons Saint, nine, and Psalm, five as he ranted in a room while clad in an all-black ensemble and a mask.

'F*** all these f***** n*****,' said West, who was recently banned from Twitch. 'I'mma go get these kids, bro. I'm talking to the lawyers - it gets to the point where I don't lose my f***in' mind where I got to get used to not seeing my kids.'

The Stronger artist added, '[DJ] Akademiks put that battery in my back, bro - cause I was in the airport by myself  I'mma go get these kids, man!'

Dailymail.com has reached out to Kardashian's reps and West's rep Milo Yiannopoulos for further comment on this story.

In his rant, West said, 'Why you got all these Black kids that are just sitting there at school ... trying to jump up and down for McDonald's, n*****.'

West, who previously complained about the lack of public support from Jay-Z and Beyonce, added, 'None of these celebrity n***** give a f*** about anything but their next cheeseburger, n*****!'

Kim has also been embroiled with drama with ex-husband Kanye West - who went on a wild rant about not seeing his kids in a livestream this week on Wednesday

'F*** all these f***** n*****,' said West, who was recently banned from Twitch. 'I'mma go get these kids, bro. I'm talking to the lawyers - it gets to the point where I don't lose my f***in' mind where I got to get used to not seeing my kids'

The music artist, who recently returned from Japan, has been working on new music as of late and corresponding with his fans on social media about the upcoming slate of releases.

West previously posted a series of tweets on March 19 in which he said that he was put off by a white woman being in control of his Black children.

Kanye was slammed by people in the comment thread of a Hollywood Unlocked Instagram post for his frenetic behavior in relation to seeing his kids.

One commenter, referring to content on West's X feed, said that 'maybe swastikas and molestation of family members aren't kid friendly.'

Others said West was hurting his own cause with the public meltdown when the custody case eventually hit court.

'Kim don't even have to bring the evidence to court,' one user said. 'The judge can just look on her phone on a calm Wednesday morning.'

West's comments directed at his ex-wife came in reaction to a planned collaboration between his daughter North and rapper Playboi Carti, 28, which he opposes.

'So Kim got the name and likeness over my black children,' the Bound 2 artist said on X/Twitter.

West's comments directed at his ex-wife came in reaction to a planned collaboration between his daughter North and rapper Playboi Carti, 28, which he opposes

West cited his beliefs in terms of how gender relates to co-parenting, saying that 'the man has the first and final say over his kids'

The 24-time Grammy winner continued: 'So a white women has control over the name and likeness of my Black children and then speaks to carti about putting my daughter on a song with him.'

West added that 'these [dumb a**] celebrities be trying to play with me in my face.'

The Runaway artist explained in an earlier tweet that he wasn't comfortable letting North work with Playboi Carti, when he is not directly involved with the project.

West cited his beliefs in terms of how gender relates to co-parenting, saying that 'the man has the first and final say over his kids.'

The Gold Digger artist previously said that 'the man makes the final decision.'

West was critical of Playboy Carti for not collaborating with him amid recent controversies, citing how he included him on his 2024 hit single CARNIVAL.

Last month, West also took to X to make a claim that he has not seen his son Saint this year - despite him being seen with his children, including Saint, a few months ago in January while in Japan.

DailyMail.com can also confirm that the Heartless rapper spent time with Saint, Chicago and Psalm in April.

A source told DailyMail.com, 'Kanye has been in LA recently for a few months and didn't ask to see the kids aside from North until a week before he was leaving again.'

The insider added, 'Kanye can see the kids anytime he wants, there are no limitations, but Kim is very careful also to not put them in situations that are chaotic. Protecting her kids are first and foremost.'
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Neighbours star Ian Smith has appeared in a surprising ad campaign following his heartbreaking departure from the long-running soap opera last month.

The veteran Aussie actor, 86, is seen endorsing Victorian Independent MP Zoe Daniel in a short video shared to her social media.

In the clip, Smith is seen chatting to Daniel, 52, at an early polling centre and tells the former ABC journalist-turned-politician why he was voting for her and makes a heartbreaking admission about his terminal cancer diagnosis.

'I'm pretty sure this is going to be my last vote, so you may as well make it count,' Smith says.

'So if you get in and don't do what you said, then I am never going to talk to you again!'

Daniel's main policies address the rising cost of living, climate action and promoting gender equality.

Neighbours star Ian Smith has appeared in a very surprising ad campaign, following his departure from the long-running soap opera last month. The veteran Aussie actor is seen endorsing Victorian Independent MP Zoe Daniel in a short video shared to her social media

Smith adds that he saw Daniel's policies as being necessary for a stronger society.

'You're so needed... That's the only word nobody has used. This person's beliefs are needed. Please do it,' Smith tells the MP.

Last month, Neighbours lost one of its most iconic characters after Smith appeared in his final episode as Harold Bishop amid his real-life cancer battle.

In a tear-jerking scene as he bid farewell to his beloved Ramsay Street friends.

'Interesting is one word for it, privileged I think is better. I ended up making the best possible friends a man could ever have this has been more than a street to me,' Harold told a full house.

'You've been more than neighbours. My life has been enriched by every one of you. You are always in my heart. Always.'

The episode saw Harold make the difficult decision to leave Erinsborough for good and move to Port Douglas in Queensland to be with his granddaughter.

Heartbroken fans took to social media to share their sadness over Harold's departure.

In the clip, Smith was seen chatting to Daniel at an early polling centre as he told the former ABC journalist-turned-politician why he was voting for her

Last month, Neighbours lost one of its most iconic characters this week after legendary actor Ian Smith appeared in his final episode as Harold Bishop, amid his real-life cancer battle

'Harold... Ian Smith... the legend. Feels like losing a member of my household seeing you go. It's been a wonderful 40 years. I wish you much happiness and love,' one person wrote.

The character's exit coincides with Smith providing a remarkable health update, revealing he's feeling better than ever despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer just months ago.

The actor was told late last year he had just weeks to live.

But in a miraculous turn of events, he said he feels like he's been 'reborn' following a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment.

'I was supposed to die in March. I didn't. So I'm here to talk about me dying last month,' Smith said in an emotional interview on The Project.

'I know I've got cancer because doctors keep telling me I have. That's the only way I know. I've got no pain  none of that.'

Smith was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, which doctors initially told him was 'non-fixable'.

But after being put on a revolutionary treatment plan  which he cheekily described as being a 'guinea pig' for  he's defied expectations and is now hoping for 'a year, maybe two' of extra life.
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Kyle Sandilands has shared a 'heartbreaking' relationship update after he and wife Tegan Kynaston celebrated their second wedding anniversary.

The shock jock admitted on the Kyle & Jackie O Show on Friday he 'freaked' after finding a romantic note in Tegan's bag from a 'mystery man'.

He told co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson that the incident occurred just days after the couple celebrated two years of wedded bliss.

'I made a fool of myself in front of my wife and that's never a good look,' Kyle sheepishly admitted.

'It was our anniversary the other day and I bought her this hotel foyer quality sized flower arrangement, like something you'd see in the Hilton Hotel or something.'

Putting his flowery display of love out of his mind, Kyle said he was left crestfallen after rummaging in Teagan's bag while she slept.

Kyle Sandilands has shared a 'heartbreaking' relationship update after he and wife Tegan Kynaston celebrated their second wedding anniversary

'I was looking for a cigarette lighter this morning in her bag before I started work and I found this note and my heart dropped,' he said.

'There was a little note shoved inside her handbag and I freaked.'

Jackie, equally shocked at Kyle's admission, asked: 'Written by who?'

'I don't know. Not by her. By a fella,' Kyle replied.

He then went on to read the contents of the romantic missive.

'It says: "My love, every day with you is the best day of my life. I love you more than words can ever say".'

A clearly shocked Jackie could not believe her ears, telling Kyle: 'I would be vomiting at this point.'

Kyle wasn't going to take the note lying down either, admitting that he immediately confronted his wife over the note.

'I couldn't believe it, so I've woken her up and asked "What's this all about?"' Kyle said.

After wowing Tegan with flowers for the recent wedding anniversary, Kyle was left freaked after finding a romantic note while rummaging in her handbag

'I was looking for a cigarette lighter this morning in her bag before I started work and I found this note and my heart dropped,' he said. 'There was a little note shoved inside her handbag and I freaked'

'She looked all confused. She lifted her little silk eye mask and went, "that's the note you sent me with the flowers for our anniversary".'

Kyle then revealed he was not the author of the swoon-worthy words, but rather his producer and manager Bruno Bouchet.

'I thought that bloody Bruno has been ghost-writing again. I didn't ask for any cards,' Kyle said.

'I never wrote it and she's been carrying it around in her handbag like I'm a sweetie pie.'

Jackie was quick to confront Kyle over his lack of romantic impulse.

That's the most heartbreaking story ever because the poor thing now knows you had nothing to do with that message,' Jackie said.

Kyle retorted, saying the last card he received from his wife was on Valentine's Day and was delivered without any inscription from Tegan.

'At least that's authentic and real,' Jackie added.

Kyle then revealed he was not the author of the swoon-worthy words, but rather his producer and manager Bruno Bouchet

Kyle's admission comes after he revealed in January that the couple were trying for a brother or sister for son Otto, two.

'We were just talking yesterday and we will probably start working towards the new child [this] year, I thinkthat's what we're really doing,' he told Insider.

'But we've gotta time that out though because I don't want to be away on auditions for Idol next year when she's about to give birth, so that's gonna be well-timed.'

He previously described fatherhood as one of the greatest experiences in his life, telling Daily Mail Australia that he 'can't imagine being any happier'.

'I used to watch hours and hours of TV, and now I just sit there looking at him and he's really been a joy,' he said.

'I've just been sitting at home the whole time which I've enjoyed. I'm at home now more than I was with lockdowns, so we're loving every second of it.

'I'm pretty happy actually. I can't imagine being any happier.'
Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti left almost nothing to the imagination as she flashed her bare breasts at an A-list event this week.

The model, 26, joined the likes of Heidi Klum and FKA twigs at The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala, which was held at Casa Cipriano in New York City on Thursday.

Vittoria  who has been romantically linked to the Oscar-winner, 50, since August 2023  turned heads on the red carpet by going braless in a see-through outfit.

She made her way past photographers in a maroon gown made of a sheer fabric that exposed her perky chest and underwear.

The sexy frock flowed to the floor and slipped off Vittoria's slender shoulders as she posed for the cameras.

She stood on strappy black heels and accessorized her daring look with chunky gold bracelets.

Leonardo DiCaprio 's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti left almost nothing to the imagination as she flashed her bare breasts at an A-list event this week

The model, 26, joined the likes of Heidi Klum and FKA twigs at The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala , which was held at Casa Cipriano in New York City on Thursday

As for her glam, the runway maven paired sultry brown eyeshadow with a bare lip and wore her brunette hair in loose, voluminous waves.

Missing from the action was Vittoria's much-older boyfriend Leonardo, who debuted a midlife crisis makeover last month.

While attending CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas, DiCaprio appeared to have dyed his hair as he walked the red carpet.

DiCaprio showed off a tinted beard and eyebrows as well while posing with One Battle After Another co-stars Teyana Taylor, 34, and Regina Hall, 54.

Fans suspected the actor's appearance change may have been in response to his recent 50th birthday, which took place in November, or his progressing relationship with Vittoria, who is half his age.

Earlier this year, Vittoria made rare comments about their age-gap romance in an interview with Vogue France.

She revealed for the first time that the couple met 'in Milan. But I prefer not to go into details.'

She added that she was a fan of DiCaprio's iconic 1997 film Titanic - a film that was released before she was even born.

Vittoria  who has been romantically linked to the Oscar-winner, 50, since August 2023  turned heads on the red carpet by going braless in a see-through outfit

She made her way past photographers in a maroon gown made of a sheer fabric that exposed her perky chest and underwear

As for her glam, the runway maven paired sultry brown eyeshadow with a bare lip and wore her brunette hair in loose, voluminous waves

The stunner oozed sex appeal as she posed up at storm at the global gala

She stood on strappy black heels and accessorized her daring look with chunky gold bracelets

Vittoria joined the likes of Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni at King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala

FKA Twigs also cut an elegant figure at the event, while Elena Ora flashed the flesh in a racy black number

The gala was hosted by Lionel Richie [right] and Edward Enninful [Left], with the pair seen posing with Charlotte Tilbury

Edward, Iman Abdulmajid, Gayle King were seen having a giggle at the star-studded event

Meredith Duxbury and Brooks Nader struck a pose at their table

Heidi Klum, Guram Gvasalia and Edward Enninful posed for a snap together

Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins posed with husband Andrew Levitas

Nile Rodgers and Nancy Hunt posed together for a smiley snap

Teyana Taylor and Precious Lee looked as glam as ever as they posed for the camera

Helena Christensen and Georgina Chapman were all smiles for the evening

Vittoria said: 'Who hasn't seen it? Or didn't like it? It's an iconic film...'

She said the couple's love for another was strong enough to avoid any jealousy between them: 'It's something you learn. If what you're experiencing is real, if you know you love each other, then there's no reason to be alarmed. Because love protects and gives confidence.'

Vittoria also revealed she had forged a close bond with the Oscar winner's family - especially his mother Irmelin Indenbirken.

She said: 'A while ago, I was looking through childhood photos with my boyfriend's mom, and we noticed that every time I dressed up, it was as a witch, a bunny, or a clown! And I never played with Barbie. I spent hours in my room, alone, with my brother's cars. And I wrote a lot of diaries.'

Due to her decade in modeling, Vittoria says she feels older than her years and that she 'sometimes forgets I'm only 26.'

Leonardo and Vittoria were first romantically linked in August 2023 shortly after his rumored fling with Gigi Hadid.

The star's famous exes include models such as Camila Morrone, Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bundchen, Bar Refaeli and Nina Agdal.

Ceretti has already been married. She was wed to 37-year-old DJ Matteo Milleri from 2020 to 2023.

Missing from the action was Vittoria's much-older boyfriend Leonardo, who debuted a midlife crisis makeover last month; seen on April 1

While attending CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas, DiCaprio appeared to have dyed his hair as he walked the red carpet; He is pictured left in May last year

He is one half of the DJ and production duo Tale of Us, alongside Carmine Conte, and co-founded the Afterlife Records label.

They sparked dating rumors in the summer of 2023 when they were spotted on an ice cream date in Los Angeles and later dancing together at a club in Ibiza.

They have remained together since she turned 26, in spite of the tongue-in-cheek rumors that Leo has a '25 and under' rule for his girlfriends.

However in March of this year, Leo was spotted putting on a cozy display at a pre-Oscars party with none other than songstress Teyana Taylor, with whom he has been filming the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson movie.

At the pre-Oscars party, Teyana was glimpsed gently caressing Leo's face, and he in turn was seen tapping her on the derriere, according to TMZ.

Later that same month, he was spotted enjoying a lunch date with Vittoria in Los Angeles, indicating their relationship was still going strong.

Leo and Teyana were seen together again last month when he allegedly attended the New York party she threw to celebrate the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductions.

Hours after he went on a date with Vittoria, Leo is said to have gone with a group of friends to the Manhattan nightclub The Stafford Room - the site of Teyana's fete.

The couple have been romantically linked since August 2023 and Vittoria recently revealed that they first met in Milan

Due to her decade in modeling, Vittoria told Vogue France in March that she feels older than her years and that she 'sometimes forgets I'm only 26'; seen in March 2025

Vittoria did not attend the bash, where Leo and Teyana 'were dancing very closely' and shared 'a lot of laughs,' according to a Page Six source.

'They hung out the whole night and they were pretty much in a corner together,' added the insider, noting that Teyana appeared 'very protective' of Leo.

The source described Leo as 'flirty' but asserted that he did not indulge in any public displays of affection with Teyana at the club.

However an insider then exclusively informed DailyMail.com that the equation between Leonardo and Teyana is strictly platonic.
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Maria Thattil turned heads on Wednesday evening as she stepped out in a show-stopping green gown for the glamorous Haus Labs by Lady Gaga launch in Sydney.

The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, commanded attention in a slinky, halter-neck dress which hugged her figure in all the right places, featuring a plunging neckline and elegant draping cascading into a soft train.

Maria completed the look with a pair of transparent wedge heels and minimal jewellery, letting the daring ensemble take centre stage.

Her brunette tresses were styled in soft waves and she opted for a glowing makeup look, including a bronzed complexion, glossy nude lips and bold lashes.

Maria joined a string of notable names in attendance, including social media star Riley Hemson and fellow Miss Universe finalist Unice Wani.

Married At First Sight's Tahnee Cook looked sensational in a form-fitting black halter-neck gown which featured a daring chest cut-out dress.

Maria Thattil turned heads on Wednesday evening as she stepped out in a show-stopping green gown for the glamorous Haus Labs by Lady Gaga launch in Sydney

The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, commanded attention in a slinky, halter-neck dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, featuring a plunging neckline and elegant draping that cascaded into a soft train

She styled her platinum blonde locks in loose waves and completed the ensemble with a glossy black shoulder bag and soft glam makeup, which included a rosy blush, dewy skin and a glossy nude pout.

Meanwhile, fellow MAFS bride Selina Chhaur turned heads with her edgy ensemble.

The 34-year-old ditched the traditional red carpet glam for a high-fashion street-wear look, rocking an oversized white Vetements T-shirt as a dress, paired with sky-high black suede thigh-high boots.

She elevated the look with a sleek black handbag, silver jewellery, and an ultra-long braided ponytail for an added punch of attitude.

Her glam was equally striking, with dramatic winged eyeliner, bronzed cheeks and a glossy nude lip to highlight her features.

Selina exuded confidence as she posed against the futuristic, LED-lit backdrop at Hiles Lane in Alexandria, embracing the creative and boundary-pushing spirit of the evening.

Love Island winner Claudia Bonifazio also brought major glam to the launch, turning heads in eye-catching mini dresses.

Claudia looked sultry and sophisticated in a structured black strapless mini dress with a sweetheart neckline that showcased her hourglass figure.

Married At First Sight's Tahnee Cook looked sensational in a form-fitting black halter-neck gown that featured a daring chest cut-out dress

Fellow MAFS bride Selina Chhaur meanwhile turned heads with her edgy ensemble

Love Island winner Claudia Bonifazio also brought major glam to the launch, turning heads in eye-catching mini dresses. Pictured right alongside friend Jessica Bader

Maria joined a string of notable names in attendance, including social media star Riley Hemson, and fellow Miss Universe finalist Unice Wani

The star-studded event was held at Hiles Lane in Alexandria and marked the brand's highly anticipated debut in the Australian and New Zealand markets

She finished the look with pointed black stilettos and sleek brunette waves, keeping her glam bold with smoky eyes and a nude lip.

Meanwhile, her friend Jessica Bader shimmered in a dazzling icy-blue sequin mini dress that hugged her curves and featured a high neckline and sleeveless cut.

The star-studded event was held at Hiles Lane in Alexandria and marked the brand's highly anticipated debut in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Known for its clean, high-performance formulations and innovative pigment technology, Haus Labs pulled out all the stops to celebrate the milestone.

Guests were treated to interactive product discovery stations, shade-matching experiences, and a live DJ spinning Lady Gaga's biggest anthems  adding to the electric atmosphere.
Eurovision acts have reportedly been banned from taking Pride flags onto the stage for the 2025 competition in Switzerland.

Bosses of the annual song contest, which is this year taking place in the city of Basel, have issued new flag guidance.

The rules, which have been developed by the Swiss host broadcaster SRG SSR, state that contestants will only be able to bring the official flag of their country into any official Eurovision events, venues or related performances.

This includes the likes of the Opening Ceremony, the Eurovision Village Stage, the Flag Parade, the Green Room and of course the main Eurovision stage.

A statement from Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest provided to MailOnline reads: 'The official flag policies of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 have been developed by the Swiss host broadcaster SRG SSR with input from the EBU, particularly on official ESC spaces, to provide clarity for audiences and delegations.

'Together we wanted to strike a balance to ensure that our audiences and artists can express their enthusiasm and identities, whilst at the same time provide more clarity for the delegations when it comes to official spaces.

Eurovision acts have reportedly been banned from taking Pride flags onto the stage for the 2025 competition in Switzerland (Last year's winner Nemo pictured with the non-binary flag)

Bosses of the annual song contest, which is this year taking place in the city of Basel, have issued new flag guidance

'In line with other international competitive events, the policy for participating broadcasters is that only one national flag can be used in official spaces  these are the Stage, Green Room, Eurovision Village Stage and Turquoise Carpet at the Opening Ceremony.

'Outside of these official spaces the flag policy for delegations is the same as for audiences, where all flags permitted under Swiss law can be used, including Pride flags, and provides plenty of opportunities for the expression of everyones identities.'

It comes after last year's non-binary winner Nemo had to 'smuggle in' the non-binary flag to the parade after being refused by officials in Malmo, Sweden.

The song contest has long been associated with the LGBTQ community, often called 'Queer Christmas' by fans.

However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) banned the yellow, white, purple and black striped flag, forcing champion Nemo to 'smuggle' one in.

In a press conference after their win, Nemo was asked about the decision and branded it 'unbelievable', and accused the contest bosses of a 'double standard'.

They said: 'I had to smuggle my flag in because Eurovision said no, but I did it anyway, so I hope some people did that too.

'But, I mean, come on, this is clearly a double standard.'

The EBU received further backlash after the official Eurovision Twitter account shared a photo of Nemo holding the non-binary flag aloft, with the caption: 'Non-binary finery', with fans calling this 'hypocritical'.

It comes after last year's non-binary winner Nemo had to 'smuggle in' the non-binary flag to the parade after being refused by officials in Malmo, Sweden

In a press conference after their win, Nemo was asked about the decision and branded it 'unbelievable', and accused the contest bosses of a 'double standard'

In February, this year's UK Eurovision was revealed as country girl band Remember Monday

In February, this year's UK Eurovision was revealed as country girl band Remember Monday.

The band, comprising of Charlotte, Holly and Lauren, will perform their song What The Hell Just Happened? in a bid to compete for Eurovision glory next month.

And it isn't the band's first time taking part in a televised competition after they entered The Voice back in 2019 and caught the eye of BBC Radio 2 Breakfast host Scott Mills when they were played on the station last year.

They have also performed at a string of major UK events including Country to Country, The Long Road and Buckle and Boots.

The group are a trio of best friends, who have earned a reputation for their strong vocals and perfectly blended harmonies.

Their entry into the competition marks the first time a girlband will represent the UK for the first time since 1999.

The song, which is out now, is an upbeat pop track full of energy, excitement and drama and was co-written by Billen Ted (Tom Hollings and Sam Brennan), Thomas Stengaard and Julie 'Kill J' Aagaard.

The girls look set to be onto a winning formula as BRIT Award nominees, Billen Ted, have worked with Little Mix, Anne Marie, MNEK and Armin van Buuren to name a few.

Thomas Stengaard previously wrote Denmark's 2013 Eurovision winning song Only Teardrops. Meanwhile, Julie 'Kill J' Aagaard is both a multi-platinum songwriter and a successful experimental pop artist in her own right.

As well as their own brand of empowering pop, Remember Monday have become renowned for their viral melodies on social media. They've amassed over half a million loyal followers and 11.3 million likes on TikTok alone.

The band have skilfully crafted playful acapella takes on the songs of a wide range of artists from Sabrina Carpenter, Queen and Shania Twain, to Wicked.
Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa has been chosen as the UKs official Eurovision spokesperson, delivering the all important points to competing nations in the grand final on Saturday May 17.

The BBC announced the news on social media on Friday morning with a video featuring the 32-year-old star, who is famed for his role as The Doctor in Doctor Who.

The text on the clip read: 'Two worlds collide. The UK spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is... Ncuti Gatwa.'

The actor wore a fetching electric blue pin-stripe waistcoat cape, matching it with similar coloured trousers, a white t-shirt and a lace-up black boot for the surprise announcement.

Ncuti follows in the footsteps of previous spokespeople, including Ab Fab actress Dame Joanna Lumley, Doctor Who star Catherine Tate and television chef Nigella Lawson.

It is not the only special collaboration between the sci-fi favourite and music competition, as the BBC have promised to 'bring the nation together for an evening of event television' with a special Eurovision themed episode of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa has been chosen as the UKs official Eurovision spokesperson, delivering the all important points to competing nations in the grand final on Saturday 17th May

The BBC have promised to 'bring the nation together for an evening of event television' with a special Eurovision themed episode of Doctor Who starring Graham Norton

The Interstellar Song Contest sees The Doctor travel to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest, co-hosted by Rylan Clark  where planets from across the universe compete for the top prize

The Interstellar Song Contest  the sixth episode in the current season - sees The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) travel to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest, co-hosted by Rylan Clark  where planets from across the universe compete for the top prize.

Along for the ride is the King of Eurovision himself, Graham Norton.

The 62-year-old chat show host joins the ensemble cast for the episode, which includes guest appearances from stars of stage and screen Freddie Fox, Rylan, Kadiff Kirwan, Charlie Condou and Miriam-Teak Lee.

Russell T Davies, the Doctor Who showrunner said: 'Theres no song contest without the great man himself, and it was an honour to welcome Graham Norton to our studios in Cardiff.'

'And its not just a cameo, he has a whole plot twist all to himself! This is the wildest episode of all, and were lucky to have Graham adding to the mayhem.'

The episode will air at 7pm on Saturday 17th May on BBC One, with the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final following immediately afterwards at 8pm.

It comes as the UK Eurovision act Remember Monday have vowed to all get a tattoo if they make it into the top five at the competition - or suffer a tragic nul points finish.

The band, comprising of Charlotte, Holly and Lauren, will perform their song What The Hell Just Happened? in a bid to compete for Eurovision glory.

The BBC announced the news on social media on Friday morning with a video featuring the 32-year-old star, who is famed for his role as The Doctor in Doctor Who

The UK's Remember Monday will perform their song What The Hell Just Happened? in a bid to compete for Eurovision glory

The UK has a poor track record at the competition - which will be held in Basel, Switzerland, in May - with Olly Alexander receiving a score of zero last year.

And if Remember Monday suffer the same fate as Olly, they have decided that everyone on their team will have to get the abbreviation of their song, WTHJH?, tattooed somewhere on their body.

In a more positive sense, the group have also decided to enact the vow if they place in the top five.

'If we get top five or above, every single person on our team has to get WTHJH tattooed on their body,' they said on Instagram.

'We won't take no for an answer. Can I get a hell yeah? It's happening, it's happening. It's got to happen. Or if we come dead last, nil points. That is also worth a tattoo.'

The group are a trio of best friends, who have earned a reputation for their strong vocals and perfectly blended harmonies.

Remember Monday first hit TV screens in 2019 when they found fame after reaching the Quarter-Finals on The Voice UK.

The band confirmed their bid for Eurovision when they appeared as guests on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

After weeks of waiting, Scott broke the news, saying: 'It ain't a Eurovision entry until I say it is. I am so ready to get behind the act that is representing us and I know you're going to adore them. They are genuinely brilliant and really lovely.'

Remember Monday's Eurovision entry song What The Hell Just Happened? chronicles the aftermath of a fun night out with friends.

Their entry into the competition marks the first time a girlband will represent the UK for the first time since 1999.
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Pip Edwards has revealed the real reason she left P.E Nation following its relaunch last year, after founding the brand with former business partner Claire Greaves in 2016.

The fashion designer, 45, stepped down from the company in August last year after a professional rift between her and her ex best friend saw Claire leave P.E Nation just months earlier.

Now, after much speculation from fans about why the mother-of-one decided to give up her company, she has claimed she could no longer maintain the rigorous workload of running the business, reported Wish on Friday.

'Not many people understand the pressure of building and running a business, but also creative, front-facing, productall that stuff. It's five jobs in one, and I didn't stop,' she told the magazine.

'I gave that business 500 per cent of my life, and it was a 24/7 job, and you can only maintain that pace for so long. To be fair, I did have a couple of burnouts along the way. I'm just being honest here.

'It's no disrespect to P.Eit was either that or saving myself, you know? Because how do you get off that hamster wheel? How do you stop what you've started? You can't.'

Pip Edwards, 45, (left) has revealed the real reason she left P.E Nation following its relaunch last year, after founding the brand with former business partner Claire Greaves (right) in 2016

Pip went on to say she had to 'cut loose and then restart in a way that works for me, my emotions, energy, spirit, all those things, and realign and reset the boundaries'.

She added it became hypocritical to spruik a brand all about wellness when 'my health wasn't well'.

The fashion designer said many who have followed her long career at P.E Nation may 'misinterpret' the reasons she left the company just three months after its relaunch, but she insists she couldn't continue on with the workload.

But while Pip has moved on to become Creative Director at Ksubi, the brand where she first got her start in fashion, the socialite said P.E Nation still holds a special place in her heart as a shareholder.

It comes after there was a professional rift between Pip and Claire last year which saw the end of one of the Australian fashion industry's most lucrative and enduring partnerships.

Claire co-founded P.E Nation with Pip, and the athleisure brand beloved by eastern suburbs yummy mummies went on to make them multimillionaires. But Claire stepped down from her day-to-day role at the label in March last year.

At the time, P.E Nation said in a statement she would be 'pursuing other creative endeavours' and taking her career in a new direction.

Claire and Pip were then hit by rumours of a falling-out, and Pip later wiped all traces of Claire from P.E Nation's social media in a seemingly telling move, erasing years of posts promoting the sportswear brand.

After much speculation from fans about why the mother-of-one decided to give up her company, she has claimed she could no longer maintain the rigorous workload of running the business, reported Wish on Friday

Pip took over as the sole creative director after Claire's exit and gave the brand an overhaul and relaunch, but she later confirmed in August she too was stepping down.

The following month, in September, she returned to street-wear label Ksubithe brand where she first made her name in the Noughtiesas its creative director.

While neither woman has revealed the reason why they went their separate ways, Pip said in June last year Claire 'was the product one' in their business partnership.

'In P.E. Nation with my business partnershe was the product one. She was an amazing designer and I was more the marketing side of things,' she said on the Kyle and Jackie O Show at the time.

Pip went on to say she had fond memories of working with her former partner and praised Claire for being an 'amazing designer'.

Before her business partnership came to an end, Claire separated from her husband Tim Tregoning in mid-2022, although they would not announce it until January the next year.

'It is very amicable, we still love each other, we are co-parenting and he remains a great friend,' she said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

'Things change and that's just what happened for us, but we are getting through that with a lot of respect and support for each other.'
Amanda Abbington has doubled down on her defiant claims that her son Joe is not a nepo baby.

Joe, 19, who she shares with ex husband Martin Freeman, landed his acting debut in a new MGM+ show called The Institute, an adaption of Stephen King's hit novel, set for release later this year.

But his mother, 51, has insisted neither she nor Martin had any involvement in the surprise role and that the teenager got the job on merit.

She told White Wine Question Time: 'Whilst he was doing his A-Levels, he got an agent to come and see his A-Level production of Guys and Dolls, and she put him up for The Institute where he was filming for four months in Nova Scotia.

'I didn't need to help him with his tape, I just read with him and he got the job.

'He didn't use my name, he didn't use Martin's name, [the directors] didn't know who he was and they offered him the job.'

Amanda Abbington has doubled down on her claims that her son Joe is not a nepo baby (pictured with sister Grace in March)

She insisted neither she nor ex husband Martin Freeman had any involvement in his surprise role in The Institute and that the teenager got the job on merit (pictured in July)

Amanda also reflected on how the breakthrough role turned him into a different person, and that Joe did some growing up on the other side of the Atlantic.

'After five months in Canada, he just came back very changed, he went as a boy and came back a man,' she added. 'It was so lovely to see him.'

It comes after the actress strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn't had a helping hand in showbiz last month.

Amanda told the Mail's Richard Eden: 'He's just done a massive Stephen King show called The Institute, which comes out next year.

'He spent four months in Canada playing the lead in that. He got it all on his own, without anyone's help - there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all.'

And yet, while his mother insists that his famous surname didn't help him land his latest TV role, Joe's profile on his agent's website makes no secret of his background.

'Growing up with well known acting parents, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington, Joe has spent much of his life backstage or on a studio set,' Scott Cole management declares.

'He has inherited the natural and engaging talents of both his parents and is well versed in dealing with the publicity that has followed his family.'

The actress and the Sherlock star, who split in 2016 after a 16-year relationship, share son Joe and daughter Grace, 16 (pictured with Martin's girlfriend Rachel Mariam in 2022)

Joe is set to make his acting debut in the Stephen King adaptation The Institute, which will air on MGM+ later this year

While his mother insists that his famous surname didn't help him land his latest TV role, Joe's profile on his agent's website makes no secret of his background

Despite his parents' successful careers, Amanda has strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn't had a helping hand in showbiz (pictured with Amanda's fiance Jonathan Goodwin)

She previously told The Mail: 'He got it all on his own, without anyone's help - there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all' (pictured in 2023 with sister Grace)

In 2023, Joe was a cast member in the production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells. He's also appeared in an episode of Doctors and starred in a Paul Weller music video.

However, the teenager, who has a sister Grace, 16, decided to 'finish his studies' before embarking on an acting career full time.

Martin and Amanda met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000 and went on to play formidable duo John and Mary Watson in Sherlock.

They got married in 2000 and divorced in 2016, leaving them to co-parent their rwo children.

He has since gone on to date French actress Rachel Mariam, who has featured in many roles including BBC's smash hit Normal People.

Meanwhile Amanda is now in a relationship with former daredevil Jonathan Goodwin. The couple were friends for years before they began dating.

However they were only together two months before Jonathan became permanently paralysed when he was crushed during a stunt - leaving him in a wheelchair.

Amanda's last 18 months have been dominated by the fallout over her time with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing, which saw her leave the show after just six weeks, citing 'personal reasons'.

Amanda's last 18 months have been dominated by the fallout over her time with professional Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing (pictured, with Giovanni in September 2023)

Giovanni rejected claims of 'cruel behaviour' immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld

The actress then accused him of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' in July last year.

Giovanni rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld.

Complaints of verbal bullying and harassment meant the corporation issued an apology but the dancer said he was 'pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour'.

In the chat with White Wine Question Time, Amanda doubled down on the claims, saying: 'I just felt I wasn't being treated fairly in that room.'

In the wake of her accusations, she faced heavy backlash from the public, with the Sherlock star noting that she was subjected to '20 to 30 death threats a day'.
Molly-Mae Hague flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy blue bikini as she shared a glimpse of her latest lavish trip to Dubai in an Instagram post on Friday.

The influencer and businesswoman, 25, posed up a storm as she wore a blue and white bikini top and a pair of blue pinstripe trousers.

As she took a stroll around Atlantis The Royal Hotel, which costs upwards of 400 per night, Molly looked incredible as she accessorised her look with a white Miu Miu hat.

She toted around her belongings in a baby blue Louis Vuitton Alma BB bag, worth 1,600.

Sharing the jaw-dropped pictures to her Instagram, Molly penned: 'making the most of one day in my favourite place.'

Her trip to Dubai comes after she finally confirmed she and Tommy Fury are back together in the trailer for part two of Behind It All on Tuesday, but admitted she lives in fear of their romance being 'destroyed'.

Molly-Mae Hague, 25, flaunted her sizzling abs in a skimpy blue bikini as she shared a glimpse of her latest lavish trip to Dubai in a post shared to Instagram on Friday

In a trailer for her Prime Video show, the couple's reunion was seen for the first time.

Former Love Island contestants Molly and Tommy, 25, who share two-year-old daughter Bambi, split in August last year, later citing the boxer's struggle with alcohol as the reason for their break-up, but have since reconciled behind the scenes.

Molly shared her deepest fears during filming of the docuseries, asking herself: 'Things are looking like they are heading in a good direction but by tomorrow could it all be destroyed again?'

And her family's concerns were expressed in the first-look clip with Molly's sister Zoe questioning: 'Have you actually addressed the problems?'

The final instalment of Behind It All, Molly's first reality show with Prime Video, premieres on May 9 as viewers will finally see how she and Tommy mended their relationship.

In the trailer, Molly was seen smiling while on FaceTime to Tommy during an influencer trip.

During the clip she was taking a trip to Switzerland as the sportsman said he couldn't wait to see her face again.

Fans first learned the couple were in the throes of getting back together after a video leaked of them sharing a passionate kiss on New Year's Eve.

And Molly's reaction to the world seeing the intimate footage has now been revealed, as she buried her head in her hands and screamed: 'No, my God, what,' while her manager quizzed her on if they were together.

The influencer and businesswoman posed up a storm as she wore a blue and white bikini top and a pair of blue pinstripe trousers

Molly has also reportedly landed a new seven-figure beauty deal as she continues to grow her fortune.

Molly has signed a huge new contract with BeautyWorks, who she has been working with for years, according to The Sun.

Her extending the long-running brand partnership comes just before part two of her Amazon documentary series Behind It All is set to air next week.

A source told the publication: 'Molly's signed a huge new contract with Beautyworks and will be launching things throughout 2025.

'They were one of her first brand partnerships so it's really sentimental for her. She loves the owners, Penny and Martin, and they're good friends of Molly's now.'

A representative for Molly-Mae was contacted by MailOnline for comment at the time.

Earlier this week, she promoted her new hair range with Beautyworks on Instagram, writing: 'I can't believe I now have THREE hair shades of my own[crying emoji] Shop the Molly-Mae Blonde Collection online now.'

Molly-Mae was previously the creative director for PrettyLittleThing, owns her own tanning brand Filter and is also a brand ambassador for beauty seller LOOKFANTASTIC.
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Madeline Holtznagel stepped out in a very chic maternity outfit on Friday as she arrived at the top Sydney restaurant Quay to enjoy lunch.

The mother-to-be, 28, who is currently expecting her first baby boy with billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes, covered up against the rainy day with a brown skort suit ensemble from Commonry.

Opting for a conservative look, the model slipped on a high-neck black shirt beneath her blazer, pairing it with a set of Corbin boots from Billy J.

With a large black umbrella in hand, Madeline finished her glamorous look with gold rings and hooped earrings before slinging a black Chanel handbag over her shoulder.

Flashing a set of perfectly manicured nails, the expecting mother pulled her blonde tresses back into a sleek up-do and opted for a bronzed makeup look for her outing.

The sighting comes just a few days after Madeline revealed the real reason she was hoping to become a 'boy mum' with her 52-year-old boyfriend Justin.

Madeline Holtznagel, 28, stepped out in a very chic maternity outfit on Friday as she arrived at the top Sydney restaurant Quay to enjoy lunch

The mother-to-be, who is currently expecting her first baby boy with billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes, 52, covered up against the rainy day with a brown skort suit ensemble from Commonry

Opting for a conservative look, the model slipped on a high-neck black shirt beneath her blazer, pairing it with a set of Corbin boots from Billy J

The happy couple are set to welcome their first child together, a son, with the model hosting a very lavish baby shower at the entrepreneur's $100million Vaucluse mansion over the weekend.

Now the expecting mother has admitted in the latest Stellar issue she is happy she will give birth to a son, because she wanted a 'new journey' with her partner, who already shares two daughters with ex-partner Kate Fowler.

'I always thought I was going to have a boy. I knew I was going to be a boy mum,' she said.

'Justin has two beautiful little girls, so having a boy, it's like a whole new journey together.

'[The baby] is going to be his little best mate.'

Madeline broke her silence on her pregnancy over the weekend, as she showed off her baby bump in Stellar and revealed she is having a baby boy.

The mum-to-be said she has kept the process to herself but was now ready to share her journey.

'I keep a lot of my life private and I don't share a lot online anyway, so [being pregnant] wasn't really something that I was going to share online,' she said.

With a large black umbrella in hand, Madeline finished her glamorous look with gold rings and hooped earrings before slinging a black Chanel handbag over her shoulder

Flashing a set of perfectly manicured nails, the expecting mother pulled her blonde tresses back into a sleek up-do and opted for a bronzed makeup look for her outing

The sighting comes just a few days after Madeline revealed the real reason she was hoping to become a 'boy mum' with her boyfriend Justin

The happy couple are set to welcome their first child together, a son, with the model hosting a very lavish baby shower at the entrepreneur's $100million Vaucluse mansion over the weekend

Now the expecting mother has admitted in the latest Stellar issue she is happy she will give birth to a son, because she wanted a 'new journey' with her partner, who already shares two daughters with ex-partner Kate Fowler

'I haven't posted about it and it's been nice to have some quiet time off Instagram,' she added.

'But obviously because I am in the public eye and we do get photographed quite a lot, I think now I'm at this point in my pregnancy where it's nice for me to be able to share some nice photos.'

Madeline also revealed she has sought advice from her older sisters Anna and fellow model Simone, who both have had children.

'I call them and ask all those little questions that you have and they gave me a list of things to get and what things you don't need,' she said.

'Honestly, what do people do if you don't have sisters or friends to ask? You grow up with your siblings your whole life and then you go into this whole new parent journey together, it's beautiful,' she continued.

'It's been so nice having them to just call and ask and I know that the phone calls aren't going to stop.'
Nicolas Cage's son Weston got married to his fourth wife Jenifer Alexa Canter last week after a short engagement.

The Hollywood star, 61, was there to see his eldest child, 34, tie the knot at The London West Hollywood in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, in a romantic ceremony.

She has already changed her name to Jenifer Coppola Cage.

Weston looked dashing in a black suit, complete with a waistcoat and a white shirt, adding a black bow tie to the outfit, in a series of snaps posted to Jenifer's Facebook page.

The musician, who is the son of Nicolas and his ex-partner Christina Fulton, accessorized with a white rose in his top pocket and slicked back his brown locks for the occasion.

The bride wowed in a flowing white wedding dress and carried around a beautiful bouquet of white and pink flowers.

Nicolas, meanwhile, wore a black suit and black tie as he watched the couple exchange vows at the Jewish ceremony last Friday.

Weston was previously married to Nikki Williams, Danielle Cage - the mother of his sons Lucian, 10, and Sorin, 8 - and Hila Cage Coppola, with whom he has four-year-old twin daughters Venice and Cyress.

He announced his engagement to girlfriend Jenifer just eight weeks ago - five months after going public with their romance on Instagram.

The musician - whose mother Christina accused him of allegedly assaulting her - confirmed that he had popped the big question to People.

'Jenifer is my first love, my only love and my last. She is the love of my life and I am committed to her forever,' he expressed to the outlet.

'What I have with Jenifer is a God-given divine phenomenon, and therefore it is incomparable. She is the love of my life, and our special love is uncanny.'

Weston - who has previously been married three times - further gushed: 'I am honored to be with the absolute love of my life. We look forward to changing the world and making our legacy.'

The performer also uploaded a sweet selfie with his fiancee to social media at the time.

He could be seen hugging Jenifer from behind as she quickly snapped the photo in the reflection of a mirror.

Nicolas (pictured, second right), meanwhile, wore a black suit and black tie as he watched the couple exchange vows at the Jewish ceremony last Friday

And one day before confirming his engagement, Weston shared a post that included two images of the lovebirds.

In one picture, the two could be seen posing outside while a tree close by in the distance was lit up with colorful lights.

The music artist penned in the lengthy caption, 'I love you more than any man has ever loved in the history of humanity. That astronomically immeasurable love multiplies in every second.'

He then said that Jenifer is his 'first love, only love, the love of my life and my last love.'

Weston later added that his partner 'saved my life' and added he 'was born for you and I truly can't wait to change the world with you.'

He also credited Jenifer with his sobriety journey and wrote, 'The way it was always supposed to be shall always be and I love you galaxies above human love.

'You get the greatest version of me and that shall exist within my art as well. I can't wait to release all my love songs to you.'

Late last year in November, the couple went Instagram official as he shared a photo of the pair embracing.

The actor also revealed that both he and Jenifer - whom he called his 'twin flame' -were 'born in the same hospital' and 'grew up in the same area.'

Weston - who is the eldest child of Nicolas Cage - has been married three times in the past.

Back in 2011, he tied the knot with first wife Nikki Williams but the two went their separate ways the next year.

In 2013, he said 'I do' to Danielle Cage but the pair divorced in 2016. The former couple also welcomed two children named Lucian and Sorin.

Weston then married Hila Cage Coppola in 2018 and the two share twins Venice and Cyress. Last year in July, their divorce was finalized.

The musician's latest engagement news comes shortly after his mother Christina Fulton broke her silence after suing ex Nicolas Cage over Weston's 'vicious attack' on her.

Last month, it was revealed that she is suing both the actor and their son Weston following an alleged physical altercation that took place in April 2024.

This week on Monday, the actress spoke to TMZ about holding her ex accountable after their son allegedly assaulted her.

Before she entered a courthouse in Los Angeles, Christina declared she had been 'heartbroken ... for a very long time' over her treatment by both her son and the Los Angeles Police Department.

She accused officers of having left her alone 'on the ground, bleeding,' after her son allegedly attacked her.

'I have done this alone, I have been left alone - if not blocked,' she continued, before clarifying that she was accusing Cage of preventing her from addressing Weston's issues.

Fulton previously accused her ex of 'enabling Weston his whole life,' which she says led to his allegedly aggressive behaviour.

She said that her son was in the midst of a 'manic rage' before he was arrested for attacking her.

On Monday, Christina emphasised that she 'love[s her] son,' but she thinks he now needs 'tough love' to address his issues. She also clarified that she sees him as a victim of a 'mental health crisis epidemic.'

The actress said she hoped to 'be here' for 'mothers' in similar situations, but she also wanted to support her son to help him get the appropriate treatments.

When she was asked why she was suing Nicolas, Christina responded: 'I'm holding everyone responsible.'

In March, Christina spoke to TMZ about holding her ex accountable after their son allegedly assaulted her (pictured in 2019 in L.A.)

She stated that the actor is Weston's father and claimed that he could have done 'a hell of a lot more' to help their son and maintain her safety.

When she was asked if she and her son had attempted to make amends, she simply responded, 'We're in court.'

Christina then took a long pause and shook her head before indicating that Weston hasn't yet gotten any of the treatment she's hoping for.

Fulton filed her lawsuits against Cage and their son after Weston allegedly assaulted her in April 2024.

The actress - who dated Cage from 1988 through 1991 - submitted a civil complaint to the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County earlier this month, per the Los Angeles Times.

She is suing Cage for 'negligent supervision and negligent undertaking' of their son. Christina is also suing her son for assault, battery and negligent and intentional inflection of emotional distress.

The Hard Drive actress previously claimed that the 34-year-old 'brutally assaulted' her during a mental health crisis near his home, which left her with 'severe and life-threatening injuries.'

Weston - who has since pleaded not guilty - was arrested in July 2024 on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, and was released on a $150,000 bond.

She previously accused her ex of 'enabling Weston his whole life,' which she says led to his allegedly aggressive behaviour (pictured in 2022 in L.A.)

She is suing Cage for 'negligent supervision and negligent undertaking' of their son (pictured in 2018)

Nicolas Cage's lawyer hit back at Fulton's claims in a statement to People after her lawsuits were filed.

'The allegations by Christina Fulton against Nicolas Cage are absurd and frivolous,' they said. 'Weston Coppola is a 34-year-old man. Mr. Cage does not control Weston's behaviour in any manner and is not responsible for Weston's alleged assault of his mother.'

Last month, the pair were spotted at the assault trial in Los Angeles, which was granted a continuance and delayed.

Fulton is also requesting unspecified damages for the 'catastrophic physical, emotional and economic harm she has endured due to an unprovoked attack by their son, Weston.'

In the complaint, the star claimed that Nicolas enabled their son's behaviour - despite being 'aware' of Weston's 'long history of mental and psychological disorder.'

'Weston has a long history of mental and psychological disorder and a history of committing violent assault and battery and harming numerous individuals,' the suit stated, according to People.

'Nicolas has been aware of Weston's history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.'

'Nicolas has been aware of Weston's history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.'

In the complaint, the star claimed that Nicolas enabled their son's behaviour - despite being 'aware' of Weston's 'long history of mental and psychological disorder' (pictured in 2024)

Christina also claimed that her ex further enabled Weston's 'reckless' lifestyle and behaviour such as drinking alcohol together 'despite knowing his substance abuse history.'

She also alleged the Longlegs actor bailed their son out of jail on more than one occasion, paid his son's rent at a condo in L.A. and did nothing to ensure that Weston received 'necessary psychiatric' help.

In the complaint, Christina claimed that the alleged assault that took place in April of last year 'devastated Fulton's thriving career as a former model, actress and entrepreneur.'

At the time, she had been working on a Netflix project which she had to halt and had been involved in other business ventures which were also 'jeopardized.'

In January, Fulton also accused Nicolas of 'enabling' their son following the alleged April 2024 attack.

Weston and Fulton both arrived separately at an LA court in January for the assault trial, with Fulton's attorney Joseph Farzam accusing Cage of 'enabling Weston his whole life', leading to his alleged aggressive behaviour.

The scuffle between Weston and Fulton occurred on April 28 in the Los Angeles area, when a verbal dispute reportedly turned physical.

'On April 28th, 2024, around 5:30 p.m., I received urgent messages from friends of my son, Weston Cage, regarding his deteriorating mental state, urging me to come help,' Fulton said in a statement obtained by People.

'When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries,' she claimed (pictured in 2015)

'When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries,' she claimed.

'Despite my desperate pleas to the responding police officers to detain him for a mental-health evaluation, the police officers refused my request.'

Fulton added in her statement: 'As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Weston's ongoing mental-health crisis. It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs.'

The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for assault with a deadly weapon - just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face.

The LAPD also confirmed with People the arrest was made in direct connection to the alleged April 28 altercation.

Weston's case was submitted to the district attorney's office on May 10 and on June 26 the DA filed two counts of assault with a deadly weapon against him. An arrest warrant was later issued.

The actor was released on a $150,000 bail around 10am. The U.S. Sun reported that his father is believed to be the one who bailed him out.

An ambulance was reportedly called to the home to check out Fulton, but she declined to be taken to the hospital, TMZ reported at the time of the alleged incident.

The pair began dating in 1988 and welcomed Weston in 1990. The couple never married and broke up within a year of Weston's birth (pictured in 1988)

It is not the first time the son of the National Treasure actor has been in trouble with the law, as he was arrested in 2017 got DUI and a hit-and-run.

Police said that he hit multiple parked cars, signs and mailboxes before he crashed his car into a tree. After being taken to the hospital, he was charged with a DUI and arrested on $30,000 bail.

In 2011, he faced domestic violence charges after he had a dispute with his ex-wife Nikki Williams, according to ABC News.

Weston has been treated for mental health issues in the past. He was hospitalized on a psychiatric hold in 2011 after a violent incident in Los Angeles.

Fulton and Cage began dating in 1988 and welcomed Weston in 1990. The couple never married and broke up within a year of Weston's birth.

In November 2023, both Weston and Fulton filed a lawsuit against Weston's ex-wife Hila Arounian.

They alleged she embezzled $100,000, engaged in a smear campaign against them and requested a 'fraudulent restraining order' that stopped Fulton and her family from seeing Weston's twin girls, Venice and Cyress.
Tessa James had all the makings of a rising Australian TV star until she received a shock cancer diagnosis at the age of 23so where is she now?

The former Home and Away star, 34, who got her start on Neighbours in 2006 before moving to the rival soap, discovered she had Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014.

Despite being at the height of her career, Tessa said 'her life stopped' and she made the difficult decision to step away from acting, reported Mamamia on Friday.

'My life stopped, to be honest. I think for any 23-year-old, their life is moving pretty quickly,' she told the publication.

'You're working a lot of things out, you're trying new things, you're just busy, making the most of your life. And my life just stopped.'

Tessa went on to say she began asking herself if she could manage balancing a successful acting career with her cancer treatments.

Tessa James, 34, had all the makings of a rising Australian TV star until she received a shock cancer diagnosis at the age of 23 so where is she now? Pictured on Home and Away

She turned to stars like Delta Goodrem, who was also diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002, for inspiration.

But after six months of chemotherapy, which saw her become completely cancer-free in 2020, she made the decision to step away from acting for good.

Known best for playing the role of Nicole Franklin on Home and Away from 2008 to 2011, Tessa also starred in Beaconsfield, Love Child, and Spin Out.

But her rise to stardom came to a grinding halt in 2014 when she discovered a lump above her collarbone while pursuing an acting opportunity in Los Angeles.

Now the ex actress has transitioned into the world of interior design, following in the footsteps of her mother and sister who are interior architects.

Tessa is currently the Director and Head of Communications at AKI Design, a boutique interior design studio she runs with her family.

But she says the career change wasn't entirely due to her cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery.

'While I was having my children, I really felt this kind of heavy shift in what I was able to give to my career,' she said.

The former Home and Away star who got her start on Neighbours in 2006 before moving to the rival soap, discovered she had Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014

She went on to explain she was unable to give as much to her acting career because she 'wanted to give a lot to her children'.

Tessa married former NRL star Nate Myles in 2011, and the pair share sons Saynt, six, Jaguar, three, London, two, and their newborn, who they secretly welcomed in 2024.

The lovebirds announced they were expecting to welcome their fourth child back in January last year.

The couple told The Saturday Telegraph at the time Tessa was just weeks away from giving birth to their new addition.

'I am feeling really good. I have three other busy boys, so I don't have time to feel anything but good,' Tessa said.

She then explained the couple like to keep their life very private and not share many details on social media.

'I think consciously not sharing too much is really nice. It's important to keep something private. That is very sacred for us,' she added.

Tessa first met Nate through their mutual friends Jodi and Braith Anasta in 2009 and got engaged to him the following year.

Despite being at the height of her career, Tessa said 'her life stopped' and she made the difficult decision to step away from acting. Pictured with husband Nate Myles

They tied the knot in 2011 before welcoming their first child in December 2017.

Tessa's pregnancy came three years after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 23.

Nate stood by Tessa's side throughout her health struggles and chemotherapy.

'I was extremely lucky. I got through what happened to me and a lot of people don't,' she told Elle Australia in December 2017.

'For Nate and me, it was our first real challenge as a couple and it was hard and not nice, and not glamorous and very confronting.'

She added: 'But at the same time, life's not going to be perfect and we are so much better because of it.'
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Love Island star Sophie Mills has hard launched her new relationship with a mystery man.

The reality TV star, 22, shot to fame on the matchmaking series last year when she found herself in a love triangle between co-stars Zane Prophet and Dylan Towolawibut it all ended in heartbreak.

Now, the blonde beauty appears to have well and truly moved on as she debuted her new man on TikTok on Wednesday, but fans couldn't help but point out her boyfriend's uncanny resemblance to US actor Drew Starkey.

Sophie uploaded a very sweet montage video of herself and her new lover with the caption: 'How it feels to finally find the person who treats you how you've always dreamed of being treated.'

The clip saw several short scenes of Sophie looking loved up with her new man as they cuddled, kissed, and enjoyed fun adventures together.

Followers flocked to the comments to point out the mystery hunk looks just like 31-year-old Outer Banks star Drew.

Love Island star Sophie Mills, 22, has hard launched her new relationship with a mystery man

'You ate with the Drew Starkey dupe Sophie,' someone wrote.

'I thought it was Drew Starkey,' another said.

A third commented, 'He lowkey looks like Drew Starkey I LOVE this for you,' while someone else added: 'Girl yes he looks like Drew Starkey.'

Drew, real name Joseph Andrew Starkey, is an American actor who got his start with supporting roles in Love, Simon and The Hate U Give.

But his biggest role to date was as troubled teenager Rafe Cameron in the Netflix series Outer Banks.

Last year, he starred in Luca Guadagnino's romantic drama film Queer.

Meanwhile, Sophie shot to fame on Love Island Australia last year, though she landed herself quite the following on TikTok before she was cast for the Nine series.

Calling herself an enrolled nurse at the time she was cast for Love Island, Sophie was described as a 'bubbly' person who had just missed the cut to star on the series in 2023.

Now, the blonde beauty appears to have well and truly moved on as she debuted her new man on TikTok on Wednesday, but fans couldn't help but point out her boyfriend's uncanny resemblance to US actor Drew Starkey

Followers flocked to the comments to point out the mystery hunk looks just like 31-year-old Outer Banks star Drew

She said the type of men she usually went for were athletes, namely NRL players.

Unfortunately, Sophie's time on Love Island ended in heartbreak when she left the Villa with Dylan, only for the pair to split soon after, with Dylan quickly moving on with his ex, and Sophie's best friend, Mimi Paranihi.

'Since we left the Villa we'd all hang out. With lots of the cast in Sydney I'd make regular trips there and I just caught a little vibe of something going on between them [Dylan and Mimi],' Sophie told Nine.com.au in December.

'It doesn't seem like they're officially dating but they're open to the possibility of that. If something does blossom between Mimi and Dylan I can't hold it against anyone.

'I'd never ask somebody to choose between friendship and love. Maybe if they were sneaky or disrespectful or went about it in the wrong way, but that hasn't happened.'
Leonardo DiCaprio and his model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti are enjoying some downtime in Ibiza, Spain.

The Wolf of Wall Street star, 50, and his lady love, 26, started their day with some shopping at a local boutique.

The loved up couple - who are approaching their two-year anniversary of dating - were accompanied by another couple as they returned to their posh rental villa.

Leo and Vittoria were also spotted dining at Casa Joundal, an upscale beachfront restaurant where a caviar-topped wagyu steak tartar will set you back an eyewatering $295.

It was the third time in two weeks that the photogenic couple ate at the new hotspot in the legendary party capital.

The What's Eating Gilbert Grape actor was still sporting the dyed goatee and eyebrows he debuted at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in March.

Leonardo DiCaprio and his model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti are enjoying some downtime in Ibiza, Spain

The Wolf of Wall Street star, 50, and his lady love, 26, started their day with some shopping at a local boutique

Vittoria looked like a rock star in a soft grey t-shirt and black jeans with a white black belt with four rows of silver studs.

She completed her look with a cozy black cardigan and had her dark hair pulled into a bun.

Leo wore a black bomber jacket over a white t-shirt with grey cargo pants. His ever-present ball cap and sunglasses helped to disguise his famous face.

Leo sported a noticeably slimmer figure while vacationing in Ibiza.

'Leo has shed pounds before but this time is different because it isn't for a movie role,' a source close to DiCaprio told the Daily Mail.

'He is getting healthy and fit to keep up with Vittoria. She's a great influence on him and he is very much in love with her. She's a part of his world now and he intends on keeping it that way.'

And is she happy with the results?

'Vittoria is enjoying her "new man" so to speak, she is very happy with him and being several pounds under the weight he was at only a few months ago is only a good thing, she certainly doesn't hate it,' said another source close to the actor.

Leo and Vittoria were also spotted dining at Casa Joundal, an upscale beachfront restaurant where a caviar-topped wagyu steak tartar will set you back an eye watering $295

The loved up couple were accompanied by another couple as they returned to their posh rental villa

It was the third time in two weeks that the photogenic couple ate at the new hotspot in the legendary party capital

The What's Eating Gilbert Grape actor was still sporting the dyed goatee and eyebrows he debuted at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in March

'But in no way was she turned off from what he looked like before.'

The once interminable bachelor is said to be serious about Ceretti after years of being teased for his apparent penchant for dumping girlfriends once they turned 25.

'With previous relationships he felt a certain pressure to make it official with talk of marriage, but there is no rush to change what [he and Ceretti] have right now,' an insider previously told the Daily Mail.

'She is the realest girlfriend he has ever had, and she makes him feel genuinely loved. You can see that they both appreciate what they have.

'[She] understands that his schedule can change, and she never shows any jealousy.'

DiCaprio previously admitted in a 2014 Esquire interview that women struggled with his more nomadic lifestyle.

'Six months of being on location or being off in Morocco or someplace like that is not the best thing for a relationship,' he told the magazine.

But Italian bombshell Ceretti  who, despite her young age, was previously married to DJ Matteo Milleri for three years  seems undeterred by DiCaprio's globetrotting.

Leo wore a black bomber jacket over a white t-shirt with grey cargo pants. His ever-present ball cap and sunglasses helped to disguise his famous face

Vittoria looked like a rock star in a soft grey t-shirt and black jeans with a white black belt with four rows of silver studs

The model has accompanied him on a number of tropical vacations, with pictures showing the couple frolicking on a yacht off the coast of Sardinia, playing pickleball in the sands of the Caribbean or splashing about in the waters of St. Barts.

The couple reportedly met at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, but were not romantically linked until after they were spotted enjoying an ice cream date in Los Angeles that August and hot on the heels of DiCaprio's rumored fling with model Gigi Hadid, 30.

In a recent interview with Vogue France, Ceretti insisted they met 'in Milan,' but refused to divulge more details.

Bizarrely, she also shared that she finds it 'annoying' when she is referred to as 'Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend.'
This famous TV couple look unrecognisable decades after their first show hit screens and are still going strong more than 15 years after tying the knot.

They have been together as a couple since 1986, and first found fame when they hosted Million Pound Property Experiment for the BBC in 2003.

Throughout the 2000s, they presented a number of other property programmes including How Not to Decorate for Channel 5.

They even braved the jungle in 2009 when Gino D'Acampo emerged as winner of the series, and later hosted a number of programmes in Australia in Canada.

And in late 2022, they returned to Channel 5 where they fronted a documentary to take on the challenge of renovating a rural Canadian hotel.

They still share insights into both their personal lives and work lives on their joint Instagram account including this new snap... but can YOU geuss who they are?

This famous TV couple look unrecognisable decades after their first show hit screens and are still going strong more than 15 years after tying the knot

They have been together as a couple since 1986, and first found fame when they hosted Million Pound Property Experiment for the BBC in 2003

That's right, it's Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan!

The design duo are best known for their broad range of property and design shows - something they're both passionate about.

This week they took a trip to Glasgow to celebrate their anniversary and shared a selfie to Instagram to commemorate the occasion.

Colin and Justin revisted the place they first met and wrote in their caption: 'Were in Glasvegas for many reasons, not least to mark the precise anniversary (tonight) of the first time C+J clapped eyes on each other.

'Many moons past, shortly after prohibition was repealed, just after the Apollo moon landing occurred and following ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest, two tartan clad teenage tearaways walked into Bennets (now AXM as seen behind us) in a cloud of dry ice, and their time lines intertwined. You know the rest'

Fans quipped in the comments: 'Happy Anniversary. You two arent aging at all!!! Young and forever handsome'

'You guys aging backwards! Holy moly!'

'Beautiful couple, inside and out! Many more to come.'

'You two keep getting younger.'

That's right, it's Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan!

The design duo are best known for their broad range of property and design shows - something they're both passionate about

Throughout the 2000s, they presented a number of other property programmes including How Not to Decorate for Channel 5

This week they took a trip to Glasgow to celebrate their anniversary and shared a selfie to Instagram to commemorate the occasion

Fans rushed to congratulate the couple and gush they're 'ageing backwards'

In December last year, the duo revealed they nearly froze to death' in their Range Rover on Friday 13th.

The TV couple had been to a Christmas party at the onset of the weekend but took to social media in the hours that followed to reveal they had become stranded on the way back when their SatNav failed.

A joint post on Facebook read: 'How was your Friday the 13th? Let's just say ours wasnt great

'Okay, stop: so you know we hate thirst traps. And we loathe sympathy traps. Youre never gonna see us with our t*** out in our undercrackers.

'Of course we have dramas (just like other people) but we keep our stuff quiet. Normally.

'So please read this post assured that its here for one reason, and for one reason only: to profile - and show gratitude - to an army of people who (last night) came to our assistance in dire circumstances.

'So what happened? Well, we nearly froze to death. Literally.'

The former I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! contestants lost all signal and 'slid into a ditch' with no option that would allow them to call for help.

The post continued: 'Having attended a Christmas party at Nomi (in Harcourt) with our Kabin pals Amanda and Geoff, we set off into the night to drive back to Haliburton.

In December last year, the duo revealed they nearly froze to death' in their Range Rover on Friday 13th (pictured in 2020)

The TV couple had been to a Christmas party at the onset of the weekend but became stranded on the way back

They explained: 'From nowhere - a storm landed. We lost phone signal about 10:45pm and then our GPS failed, into the bargain. We were totally lost, with no going back

The former I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! contestants lost all signal and 'slid into a ditch' with no option that would allow them to call for help

'It was 10.30pm. The weather, as we left Nomi, was totally okay, otherwise we wouldnt have left.

'But then - from nowhere - a storm landed. We lost phone signal about 10:45pm and then our GPS failed, into the bargain. We were totally lost, with no going back.

'Moments later, we slid into a ditch from which there was no escape. With no phone signal, we were gubbed. We couldnt call for help, and the temperature in our truck was collapsing.'

The interior designers tried and failed to activate the emergency SOS button on their vehicle several times and despite becoming 'like ice poles' they were careful about heating themselves with the engine.

The post continued: 'FYI - we have an emergency SOS button in the truck, but it just wouldnt activate. For several hours. By which point we were like ice poles and beginning to feel dizzy.

'We switched the engine on and off intermittently - to try and stay warm - but we were worried wed poison ourselves with carbon monoxide, even though we had cleared the exhaust. Were normally VERY practical. And not prone to drama. But OMG, this was very scary.'

In the end, the SOS button kicked in and they signalled for help before they fell asleep, only to be awoken by volunteer firefighters and a police officer in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The post added: 'Eventually, our vehicles SOS button finally triggered, and we were able to convey our distress. But then we fell asleep, our truck by this time almost completely buried in snow. At 5.30am, we were awakened by veritable angels.

The pair were keen to reiterate that they hadn't told the story for their own sake, and they wanted to express their 'extreme gratitude' to those who saved them

In the end, the SOS button kicked in and they signalled for help before they fell asleep, only to be awoken by volunteer firefighters and a police officer in the early hours of Saturday morning

'Three volunteer firefighters, two paramedics and an incredibly helpful cop called Josh had - thankfully - been alerted and dispatched by Range Rover to dig us out.

'After being checked by the paramedics, Josh got us home safely. By 7am the shit show was over. We were safe.'

But the pair were keen to reiterate that they hadn't told the story for their own sake, and they wanted to express their 'extreme gratitude' to those who saved them.

The post concluded: 'So, as we said at the top of this lengthy post, this isnt a sympathy trap - we are FINE. Totally.

'This isn't about us: it's a post designed to show our EXTREME gratitude to those that were involved in our rescue. The three volunteer firefighters. Both paramedics. And Josh, our incredibly helpful cop, who ensured we got home safely.'
JoJo Siwa has revealed details of an unaired conversation she had with Mickey Rourke during their time on Celebrity Big Brother.

Their brief time together in the house, lasting under a week, ended after producers decided to remove the Oscar-nominated actor due to a series of controversies.

Just a few days into the show, Mickey, 72, was given his first official warning after calling JoJo, 21, 'the lesbian' and using a homophobic slur.

The actor later apologised, explaining that he had a 'short fuse' and didn't 'mean nothing by it.

However, JoJo has now revealed the truth behind an unaired conversation that took place between her and Mickey.

Speaking on the Viall Files podcast on Thursday, the former Dance Moms star shared: 'What really tipped me over the edge is he then said to me, ''I knew what I was saying and that's why I said it''.'

JoJo Siwa has revealed details of an unaired conversation she had with Mickey Rourke during their time on Celebrity Big Brother

Their brief time together in the house, lasting under a week, ended after producers decided to remove the Oscar-nominated actor due to a series of controversies

JoJo claimed that Rourke told her: 'I wanted to offend you. I knew it was going to offend you, and that's why I wanted to do it. I like poking at a bear.'

'None of that made it [to air],' the dancer added, before admitting that the moment 'shook [her] up'.

'I believe the first [comment] that he said was 'the lesbian over there', she continued. 'You don't really want to point somebody out as 'the lesbian'. I just was genuinely giving him heads up.'

MailOnline has contacted Big Brother and Mickey's reps for comment.

Mickey was eventually thrown out of the ITV house after exploding into a foul-mouthed rant amid an altercation with Love Island's Chris Hughes and bringing Ella Rae Wise to tears with inappropriate sexual language.

His 500,000 fee for the show will reportedly be slashed following his removal from the house due to repeated 'offensive and inappropriate' language.

The confrontation occurred during a pirate themed shopping task when Mickey accused Chris, 32, of 'eyeballing' him' before calling the reality star a 'c***'.

It began when JoJo, who had been given the role of captain, lined up her fellow housemates, asking: 'Ahoy. How have things been going out here?'

JoJo was reduced to tears by Mickey when he made a revolting homophobic threat to 'tie her up and convert her' as Chris Hughes stepped into comfort her

'There is a rat amongst us, Captain,' Trisha Goddard, 67, said and when Chris turned to Mickey, the actor fumed: 'You looking at me?'

While JoJo attempted to defuse the situation and Chris assured Mickey it was simply a joke, the actor exploded: 'Don't eyeball me'.

'Don't f***ing eyeball me. You c***' he went on, as more housemates continued to try and calm the furious actor down.

As tensions boiled, Chris said: 'F***ing stand there' before Mickey was told to go to the diary room 'immediately'.

'Mickey, it was a joke' Chris said again, only for the actor to point and the ground and reply: 'No, your a** will be right there in a second'.

After being called again by Big Brother he headed to the Diary Room and Chris told his fellow housemates: 'Mickey's just Mickey, you know what I mean.'

Ella broke down in tears after the altercation, just hours after she was left 'uncomfortable' following a sexual remark Mickey made towards her.

She said: 'It's fine, you can be just someone, but be mindful of what it can trigger in other people, because it's made me feel very uneasy.'

The Hollywood actor was thrown out of the ITV house after exploding into a foul-mouthed rant amid an altercation with Love Island's Chris Hughes and bringing Ella Rae Wise to tears with inappropriate sexual language

His 500,000 fee for the show will reportedly be slashed following his removal from the house due to repeated 'offensive and inappropriate' language

Ella broke down in tears after the altercation, just hours after she was left 'uncomfortable' following a sexual remark Mickey made towards her

During the pirates task, Ella told the group: 'I have instructions for us all. We're not allowed in the bedroom, no one is allowed to touch the crisps or sweets.'

Mickey replied: 'I don't like them anyway.'

'You've got to come with me,' Ella responded.

Mickey shockingly replied: 'Come in you.'

Their co-stars were left outraged as Danny Beard interjected: 'Mickey, you can't make them jokes.'

In the Diary Room, Big Brother told Mickey: 'Earlier today in a disagreement with Chris, your language and behaviour was threatening and aggressive.

'Big Brother does not tolerate threatening language or behaviour. In addition, you have used inappropriate sexual language to Ella'.

Big Brother reminded Mickey that this was not the first time he had been spoken to about his 'offensive and inappropriate' language - after making homophobic comments to JoJo and offending other members of the house.

Mickey is reportedly planning to sue Celebrity Big Brother bosses after they 'cost him a big pay day' by booting him out

He said: 'Yes sir. I did wrong. I apologise. I'm sorry. I can't take it back, you know, I stepped over the line. And I take responsibility for doing the wrong thing. 'Cause I lost my temper, and I've been trying to work on it my whole life and I wish I would have had better self-control and I'm very sorry.'

'I'm ashamed of myself for losing it for a few seconds there. Nobody got touched or hurt. Maybe some feelings got hurt or maybe others have feelings about others getting upset but, you know, I'm sorry about that.'

However Big Brother said that his behaviour was considered 'seriously unacceptable' and they had 'no option' but to ask him to leave.

Mickey responded: 'I blame myself, I know it was my bad. You know, I've got a short fuse and I know I upset a lot of people out there, you know. And I'm sorry for that. I'm actually ashamed of myself for getting that hot'.

'I went over the line, you know, I did wrong. I guess, like they say, I'm a work in progress. I just wanna pack my bags and leave, you know. I wanted to leave yesterday actually but I wasn't chosen.'

A spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother then shared: 'Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour.'

Mickey initially landed an eye-popping payday of 500,000 to appear on the show, but the disgraced star only walked away with just 50,000, according to The Sun.

The actor is reportedly planning to sue ITV bosses after they 'cost him a big pay day' by booting him out.

He is reportedly eyeing up a lawsuit against show bosses, claiming they purposely kicked him out to avoid giving him the big pay out he believes he deserves - after his earnings were slashed following his removal.
A controversial horror film that caused mass crowds to walkout during its first screening will air on BBC on Friday evening.

The movie, which stars Twilight's Kristen Stewart and Lord of the Rings' Viggo Mortensen, will be shown on BBC2, although it's not for the faint-hearted.

Dozens of viewers couldn't handle Crimes of the Future and had to leave the Cannes Film Festival screening.

But the 2022 David Cronenberg hit - which has been described as 'skin-crawling - also received a seven minute round of applause, as well as an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film includes a gory child autopsy scene, shots of bloody intestines and characters who orgasm by licking each other's open wounds

The synopsis reads: 'As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations.

The David Cronenberg-directed movie that caused mass crowds to walkout during its first screening at Cannes Film Festival will air on BBC2 tonight

David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart are pictured at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival premiere together

'With his partner Caprice (Lea Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances.

'Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed...

'Their mission -- to use Saul's notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.'

Cronenberg told Variety previously about the walkout uproar: 'It doesn't make me sad.

'I mean, the worst thing is if your movie is boring and I've been some screenings in Cannes where nobody walked out, but nobody cared about the movie either.

'And that would be very depressing.'

Crimes Of The Future marks Canadian auteur Davids long-awaited return to body horror, and he shot the entire film in Greece.

The story is set in the 'not-too-distant future' where humankind is learning to adapt to their 'synthetic surroundings.'

Dozens of viewers couldn't handle Crimes of the Future and had to leave the Cannes Film Festival screening

The film includes a gory child autopsy scene, shots of bloody intestines and characters who orgasm by licking each other's open wounds

The evolution moves humans behind their 'natural state' and into a new metamorphosis that alters their biological makeup, known as Accelerated Evolution Syndrome.

While some have embraced what is known as 'trans-humanism' and its limitless potential, others have tried to police it.

The story centres on Saul Tenser, a performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome and has sprouted new limbs on his body.

Tenser and his partner Caprice have used the removal of these organs to thrill their audiences, though they're forced to re-consider their most shocking performance to date when the government and an emerging sub-culture taking notice.

The movie left critics divided following the screening.

Director David warned in a previous interview: 'There are some very strong scenes. I mean, I'm sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I'm sure of that.

'Some people who have seen the film have said that they think the last 20 minutes will be very hard on people, and that there'll be a lot of walkouts. Some guy said that he almost had a panic attack.'

The science-fiction horror airs BBC2 tonight at 11pm.
Kelsey Grammer lays bare the harrowing details of his sisters 1975 murder in his new memoir, hoping to help others facing their own journeys through grief.

In Karen: A Brother Remembers, the 70-year-old actor reflects on the profound toll the tragedy has taken on his life  one already marked by loss, including the fatal shooting of his father in 1968.

Karen was just two weeks shy of her 19th birthday when she was brutally raped and stabbed to death in Colorado by a man on a killing spree with his accomplices.

Grammer, who has previously said he forgives his sisters killer, admits that the pain of losing Karen sent him spiraling into years of cocaine and alcohol addiction.

Now, hes confronting that darkness head-on in hopes his story can offer solace to others.

'For a long time, the grief was so dominant that I couldnt access happiness,' he told People on Friday. 'The book helped me get to a new place with that.'

Kelsey Grammer lays bare the harrowing details of his sisters 1975 murder in his new memoir, hoping to help others facing their own journeys through grief

Karen was just two weeks shy of her 19th birthday when she was brutally raped and stabbed to death in Colorado by a man on a killing spree with his accomplices; (pictured Kelsey and Karen)

Now, hes confronting that darkness head-on in hopes his story can offer solace to others

Grammer opens the book by reflecting on his and Karens turbulent childhood, shaped by their parents 1957 divorce.

As young children, they moved with their mother from St. Thomas to New Jersey, while their father stayed behind.

A decade later, in 1968, their father was tragically shot and killed by a taxi driver during racial unrest  a killing later ruled the act of someone found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Karens tragic death came shortly after she relocated to Colorado Springs in 1975 to join her boyfriend following a semester in Georgia.

Her last conversation with Kelsey was on June 30th, when she told him she planned to come home after the Fourth of July.

When he didnt hear from her again, Kelsey contacted the police.

Grammer would later learn that just hours after their final conversation, Karen had gone to the Red Lobster where she worked around 11 p.m. to wait for a friend finishing their shift.

That night, Freddie Glenn and two accomplices were plotting to rob the restaurant  but when they arrived behind the building, they noticed Karen outside.

With heartbreaking detail, Grammer shares in the book that Karen, in her final moments, tried to crawl for help

'In my imaginings, the man who found Karen at his doorstep was a 'good Samaritan' of sorts,' he wrote. 'I stand corrected and disappointed that that man did not attempt to help her but simply called the police after leaving her body as it lay...eyes vacant, staring at the sky, her legs still on the steps, her head on the ground and a clenched fist above her head with a single finger pointing  somewhere or nowhere  just pointing'

Pointing a gun at her, they ordered her to come with them. 'For what?' Karen responded, according to Grammers account of the police report.

The men forced Karen into Glenns car, leaving her there while they entered the Red Lobster. Ultimately, they abandoned the robbery, returning to the car to find Karen tied up beside Glenn.

The nightmare didnt end there. The group drove Karen to one of their apartments, where they brutally raped her.

Later, they took her to a secluded alley, where Glenn stabbed her 42 times, nearly severing her head.

With heartbreaking detail, Grammer shares in the book that Karen, in her final moments, tried to crawl for help  a scene he recounts in an excerpt shared with People.

'In my imaginings, the man who found Karen at his doorstep was a 'good Samaritan' of sorts,' he wrote.

'I stand corrected and disappointed that that man did not attempt to help her but simply called the police after leaving her body as it lay...eyes vacant, staring at the sky, her legs still on the steps, her head on the ground and a clenched fist above her head with a single finger pointing  somewhere or nowhere  just pointing.'

He continued, 'She had fallen backward from the trailer door after knocking for help. It was her last hope and disappointment after crawling 400 feet from the place where she had been stabbed.

While battling his demons behind the scenes, he kept delivering laughs as Dr. Frasier Crane  first on Cheers (19841993)

Kelsey then led his own smash hit, Frasier (19932004)

'Bloody fingerprints mark the trail of her final moments at exactly 36 along the office and walls of the trailer park. She had been on her knees, crawling her way. Seeking help with her last ounce of life.

'The coroner noted that through a gaping wound in her neck, he could see all the way into Karens lung. I had been right in saying he almost decapitated her. Freddie Glenn punched holes in my sisters body with unimaginable brutality. There were defensive wounds on her hands.

What I had hoped were a final, few moments of kindness from some stranger, were nothing of the sort.'

Glenn was found guilty of murdering Karen, along with several others in the area, and is now serving a life sentence behind bars. Hes been denied parole four times, with his next chance coming up in 2027.

'His protestations these days are like, "Well, I dont remember raping her,"' Grammer told People. 'Bulls---.'

Although Grammer has expressed forgiveness toward Glenn in the past, he makes it clear that doesnt erase accountability.

'You dont want to eat yourself to pieces because you cant forgive somebody,' he explained. 'But its hard to forgive a person who consciously decided they wanted to murder somebody you love. This wasnt just some temperance issue with him. It was deliberate. I can give you forgiveness, but youre not going to get out of paying for it.'

After Karen's murder, the tragedies continued for Grammer.

Grammer shared the completed book with his wife, Kayte Walsh, who was supportive throughout the process; (seen in 2018)

In 1980, his half-brothers Billy and Stephen were killed in whats believed to have been a shark attack while scuba diving in the Virgin Islands.

Billys body was never recovered, while Stephens was found washed ashore.

In his memoir, Grammer talks about the legacy of loss in his family.

'Theres a legacy of early death in my family, which is really interesting,' he wrote, per People. 'I pray to break that cycle and give my family longevity.'

Grammer shared the completed book with his wife, Kayte Walsh, who was supportive throughout the process.

'She said, "Ive missed you,"' he recalled to People. 'I had to step away for a while  there were hours on end when I would just be staring off.

'But she was patient and loving through it. Writing this brought back some of the joy I had lost.'

More than just revisiting the tragedy, Grammers memoir seeks to honor Karens memory beyond her violent death.

He describes his sister as a free spirit  joyful, loving, and full of life.

'I wanted to breathe life into her and welcome her into the world,' he explained. 'We were Kelsey and Karen, brother and sister.'

Karen: A Brother Remembers will be released on May 6.
Eric Dane and his estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart were spotting deep in conversation as the two took part in a rare outing together on Thursday.

The Euphoria star, 52, who was spotted on a walk earlier in the week with actress Priya Jain, 27, looked relaxed in all black as he and Gayheart, 53, looked casually chic in a blue and white striped shirt with jeans and burgundy mule loafers.

The pair were seen meeting up with a friend they headed to lunch at Lucques, a French restaurant in West Hollywood, CA.

After lunch, Dane, who announced he has been diagnosed with ALS, left with his friend, while the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star, who is dating Hard Rock Cafe founder Peter Morton, drove away in her own car.

The couple, who had announced their split in 2018, announced in March they had called off their divorce.

That moved seemed to be explained in April, when the former Grey's Anatomy star revealed he was suffering from the neurodegenerative disease.

Eric Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart were spotting deep in conversation as the two took part in a rare outing together on Thursday in West Hollywood

After lunch together with a friend at the French restaurant Lucques, Dane left with a friend and Gayheart took off in her own car

He has not revealed whether his condition is sporadic ALS or familial.

It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the ALS association.

The pair are parents to daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.

Speaking to E! about their relationship in early April, the day before Dane revealed his diagnosis, the Grey Lady star said, 'We are really close. We are great co-parents.'

'We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it, and we are as well.'

'I think its important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It's just a season. It wasn't a failure. It was a huge success,' she asserted.

'We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think that's a successful relationship, and that's how we look at it.'

The couple, who split in 2018, but called off their divorce earlier have continued to support each other after Dane's ALS diagnosis

Dane will next be seen in Countdown, a police drama about members of a special police task force debuting on Amazon Prime June 25

Dane, who continued to work on Euphoria after announcing his diagnosis will next be seen in Countdown, a police drama about members of a special police task force.

Amazon Prime released some first look photos from the show earlier this week.

'Reporter for duty,' the company wrote on social media sharing some first look photos form the thriller.

The first three episodes will debut on the streaming service June 25.
House Republicans have unveiled their plan to change how millions of Americans pay back their student loan debt.

The move, which will upend Obama and Biden-era policies, comes as the Trump administration has vowed no 'mass loan forgiveness'. The administration is also gearing up to garnish people's wages starting May 5 if they have defaulted on their student loans.

The GOP framework officially repeals former President Joe Biden's SAVE plan, which offered lower monthly payments than any other income-driven repayment plan.

It also massively simplifies how people repay federal student loans. According to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz there are currently 12 ways to make payments on student loans, some of which are holdovers from the Obama administration.

Republicans want to narrow it down to two options. Under their plan, borrowers would be able to pay back their debt with fixed payments over the next 10 to 25 years, or through a new income-driven repayment plan called the 'Repayment Assistance Plan.'

Under RAP borrowers' monthly payments would be set as a share of their income. For instance, if someone makes between $10,000 and $20,000, they would be obligated to pay 1 percent of that toward their loans.

At the higher end of the scale people with incomes of $100,000 or more would have to pay 10 percent.

Students who took out loans before July 1, 2026, will still have access to the myriad of repayment plans. The new changes Republicans are proposing will only affect people who take out loans after that date.

Trump administration has vowed no 'mass loan forgiveness' and is gearing up to garnish people's wages starting May 5 if they have defaulted on their student loans

Your browser does not support iframes.

Economist Jason Delisle, a nonresident senior fellow at the Urban Institute, recently put together his best estimate of what a single-person household would end up paying every month.

Delisle compared the House Republican concept to the income-based repayment plan passed under former President Barack Obama.

People making $30,000 all the way up to $70,000 would actually pay less each month under the GOP plan, according to Delisle.

The only groups who would have to pay more are those bring in no income, those who make $20,000 a year and people who earn upwards of $100,000.

The Republicans also want to put strict caps on how much individuals can take out in debt, limiting undergraduates and graduate students to $50,000 and $100,000, respectively.

Not only that but colleges and universities will be required to pay 'a portion of their students unpaid loans based on how much of a return on investment the degree provided.'

The legislation came out of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, chaired by Rep Tim Walberg (R-Mich), and is set to be included in the massive reconciliation bill that is still taking shape.

Reconciliation is a legislative process that allows certain bills to pass in the Senate with just a 51-vote majority, bypassing the filibuster which requires a 60-vote supermajority.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has set a goal of passing the reconciliation package, which Trump calls his 'big beautiful bill,' by Memorial Day and sending it to the Senate

The education committee's ranking member, Rep Bobby Scott (D-Va), attacked the Republican student loan proposal as a giveaway to the wealthy during the committee markup on Tuesday

House Speaker Mike Johnson has set a goal of passing the reconciliation package, which Trump calls his 'big beautiful bill,' by Memorial Day and sending it to the Senate.

Another key component of the education plan is that it purports to cut $330 billion in federal spending, a measure taken to finance the extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts.

The education committee's ranking member, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), attacked the proposal as a giveaway to the wealthy during the committee markup on Tuesday.

'This current reconciliation plan would increase costs for colleges and students, limit students' access to quality programs  and then take the so-called 'savings' to pay for more tax cuts for the wealthy and the well-connected,' Scott said.

Extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would lead to a $4.5 trillion decrease in federal revenue over the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

The foundation also found that even though GDP would rise 1.1 percent, that would only offset $710 billion in losses, which is why Republicans are eager to find areas of spending to cut.

Finding new revenue sources can also offset the decline in tax money, and a major source will soon become the more than 42.7 million student loan borrowers - who owe a collective $1.6 trillion.

More than 5 million have not made a payment in the past year, according to the Department of Education. That number is expected to grow as an additional 4 million borrowers are approaching default status.
Americans are feeling the sting of higher prices caused by Trump's tariffs  and theyre not happy.

With China tariffs now in effect, shoppers are facing big fees at checkout  and many are venting their frustration on social media.

Kaitlyn Holop, a TikToker with 19,000 followers, posted a video showing a $175 tariff on two bikinis.

'This is absurd,' Holop said in the post. 'At least tariffs will help my shopping addiction.'

On Reddit, shoppers are also venting about rising costs. 'Everything is going up, and the money you spend buying them is going down,' one shopper wrote. 'Worst of both worlds.'

Over the past few months, the administration has launched, relaunched, and edited a battery of tariffs  ranging from 10 percent to 145 percent  targeting nearly every type of imported good.

One of the biggest changes: the end of a long-standing loophole called the de minimis exemption. The rule had allowed small packages from China  worth under $800  to enter the US duty-free.

Fast-fashion retailers like Shein and Temu used the exemption to sell ultra-cheap items like $7 dresses and $4 gadgets.

Colin Huang, the CEO and founder of Temu, has quickly become one of the richest people in the world - but US policy will make his products more expensive

Americans will increasingly feel the effects of the end of the duty free exemption in coming weeks.

'With tariffs and the ending of de minimis, the cost of doing business in the US is rising for Shein and Temu,' Neil Saunders, the managing director of retail at GlobalData, previously told DailyMail.com.

'Given their business models are low margin they have little choice but to increase prices for consumers.'

De minimis is a century-old trade law that allows imports valued under $800 to enter the US duty-free  provided they are shipped directly to individual buyers.

This rule has been a major advantage for retailers like Temu and Shein, which ship directly from China and avoid various import fees.

Chinese companies had been increasingly taking advantage of this rule. Chinese exports of low-value packages jumped to $66 billion in 2023, up from $5.3 billion in 2018.

Retail experts say that regular US retailers like Walmart and Amazon, who ship items from domestic warehouses, face a disadvantage compared to their rivals who ship items directly from China and avoid various import fees.

New tariffs and the end of de minimis have been announced simultaneously, leading to widespread confusion since both contribute to rising prices

Shoppers are starting to see the pricing impacts of President Trump's tariffs

Consumer advocates say the impact wont be limited to fast fashion.

Cars, groceries, home goods  virtually everything imported  is expected to get more expensive under the current policy landscape.

The backlash marks a new flashpoint in President Donald Trumps escalating trade war.

Trump has pushed tariffs as a long-term strategy to revitalize American manufacturing and chip away at the $35 trillion national debt.

Hes supported high import taxes since the 1980s, casting the policy as a lever to punish foreign producers and reward domestic factories.

But the rhetoric clashes with campaign messaging.

In stump speeches during the 2024 election, Trump consistently said he would work to lower the cost of everyday goods.

'People go to the grocery store, they have less than half a deal,' Trump said on the trail.

Victoria Alario posted a video to TikTok on Wednesday showing that she was hit with an over $100 duty on her order from women's clothing store Meshki

Instead, early signs point to shoppers paying more. And in the age of immediate social reaction, the pain is playing out in real time.

'This had me gasping,' Victoria Alario, a TikTok user, said after noticing $101.85 charge for duties on a clothing purchase.

'This caught my eye so quick because I was like, where did that come from.'

So far, other indicators have shown the tariffs have had some negative impacts.

After a years-long streak of consecutive growth periods, yesterday's GDP slumped by 0.3 percent, as Americans attempted to snap up foreign products before the tariffs started.

The last measure during President Biden's administration read at positive 2.4 percent.
An 18-year-old Nepalese student of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha's Bhubaneswar was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room on Thursday, police said.

The incident comes barely two and a half months after the suicide of Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student of the same institute, on February 16, 2025.

The body of B Tech computer science student Prasa Saha from Nepal was recovered from room number 111 of the ladies' hostel of the institute, a senior officer said.

aYes, the body of a girl from Nepal has been recovered. It seems that she has died by suicide at the ladies' hostel of KIIT,a Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh told PTI.

He also said that the Odisha Police have already apprised the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi of the student's death.

aThe deceased's parents will reach Bhubaneswar on Friday, and after that post-mortem examination of the body will be conducted,a the police commissioner said, adding that the body has been sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Singh, who visited the ladies' hostel, said that an unnatural death (UD) case has been registered at the Infocity Police Station.

aWe have not received any complaint. The police are probing the matter by engaging a scientific team. The investigation will reveal the truth,a he said, adding that girls in the hostel are being questioned and are cooperating with the police.

The CP said that the matter came to the fore when the hostel authorities were taking attendance of inmates around 7 PM.

Since there was no response from her room, they informed the police, and a team of police personnel found the student hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room, he said.

There was no comment from the KIIT authorities on the death of the Nepalese student.

Describing the incident as aunfortunatea, the Odisha government, in a statement, said, aThe parents of the girl were informed about the incident immediately by the university authorities. In this hour of distress, the state government extends its support to the family of the deceased and offers its condolences to thema.

aOn receipt of the information, senior officers, including the commissioner of police and revenue divisional commissioner, rushed to the site to enquire about the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and take necessary action in the matter. A forensic team is at the spot to collect evidence,a the release issued by the Information and Public Relations Department said.

The incident in February had triggered a protest after reports suggested that the victim was allegedly blackmailed, and the student ended her life for not getting justice from the private university authorities.

There was an outcry on the KIIT campus as the institute authorities, with the help of staffers and security personnel, had allegedly assaulted Nepalese students who demanded justice for the deceased.

The Nepalese students were "forcibly evicted" from the campus and "asked to leave for their country". Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli raised the issue at the diplomatic level and requested the central government to ensure justice for the Nepalese students of the institute.

The state government then formed a high-level committee, headed by the additional chief secretary of the Home Department, to probe the matter. The NHRC also investigated the matter.

At least 10 university employees were arrested on a charge of assaulting Nepalese students, and one Indian student was sent to jail on a charge of abetting the suicide of the Nepalese girl.

As the tension prevailed, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate deployed additional force on the KIIT campus. Senior police officers were watching the situation, a senior official said.
Funding has been completely pulled from a Derry dance theatre company.

According to Echo Echo dance theatre company, the Arts Council has cut 100% to its annual funding provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme.

The company said the declined funding of 112,910 would have contributed to three full-time staff salaries and building overheads at Echo Echo Studios for financial year 2025/26.

A statement on its Facebook page on behalf of Echo Echo's board, staff and artists said: "This decision comes as a great shock to all involved in the company.

"We are currently assessing the impact that this cut will have on the future of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company and our home studios.

"We will be meeting with ACNI to discuss this decision soon.

"This is an immediate existential threat to the company but we expect to continue all of our current programmes and keep Echo Echo Studios open and staffed for at least the next three months as we consider all of our options.

"The company has no outstanding creditors and sufficient unrestricted funds for this period.

"We will be reaching out to all of our key stakeholders to discuss the impact of this decision in the coming days.

"We will appreciate your support in the days ahead."

A spokesperson for the Arts Council said: "As an Arts Council client and multi-grant recipient, Echo Echo Dance Company has accessed funding from many of our programmes, including the Annual Funding Programme (AFP).

"Unfortunately, with disappointment this year Echo Echo did not receive 25-26 AFP funding. We are seeking a meeting with Echo Echo on their immediate plans.

"We want to reassure the dance community in Northern Ireland that public investment in dance in the Derry City and the North-West region remains a priority and we will be working to ensure that provision for dance continues.

"The Arts Council hopes to announce details of this years 2025-26 AFP clients once our annual funding allocation is known."
A man who was blocking a barrier at Strand Road PSNI station and refusing to move told police he was 'waiting for Keir Starmer' has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court.

Raymond Hugh Fitzpatrick (66) with an address at Ormeau Road in Belfast was charged with disorderly behaviour on January 19.

The court heard that Fitzpatrick approached the barrier at the entrance to the PSNI station hindering access.

He was asked to move on numerous occasions and became abusive to police calling them 'orange b------s'.

Despite warnings the defendant persisted being abusive and was arrested.

District Judge Ted Magill said that the defendant had 133 previous convictions.

He said that during this incident Fitzpatrick was 'extremely intoxicated' which he said was a feature of much of his offending.

The judge said that the police 'have enough to deal with without people like you'.

Fitzpatrick was given a three month sentence suspended for 18 months.
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Hasmik Tolmajian, the former Armenian ambassador to France, has begun to stir things up in a new place.

After being transferred to Switzerland, Tolmajian launched the same activities there: she runs from one mid-level official to another, discussing "sustainable peace in the Caucasus" with everyone.

Yeah, sure. The world, of course.

Judging by their last name, Tolmajian's ancestors appropriated the dolma recipe for themselves, and Hasmik, continuing the tradition, now appropriates "peace in the Caucasus" for Armenians. As if they hadn't been the obstacle to this very peace for the past 30 years.

One encouraging thing: the Swiss authorities have been reasonable, year after year silencing both Armenian lobbyists and their supporters in the local parliament.
Three people have been arrested after a group of pro-Palestinian activists breached an airport perimeter in Co Clare.

The group Palestine Action Eire said three of its activists entered the airport runway at Shannon in an attempt to inspect a US military plane.

The airport suspended operations for an hour until 7.30pm on Friday.

In a statement from the Irish police, An Garda Siochana, a spokeswoman said: Gardai responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport, Co Clare, that occurred shortly before 6.30pm yesterday evening.

Three individuals were subsequently arrested and are currently detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Co Clare.

Investigations are ongoing.

1/UPDATESupport needed at Shannon and Ennis Garda Stations NOW to demand the release of the May Day 3. 3 Irish actionists have been detained for going airside to inspect US warplanes at Shannon Airport on 01.05.2025. These planes are key suppliers of the genocide in Palestine  palestine_action_eire (@pal_action_eire) May 1, 2025

Palestine Action Eire alleges that the Omni Air Boeing 767-300 CRAF that landed at Shannon Airport on Thursday was aiding wars in the Middle East, including Israel and Yemen.

The group said its claims are contextualised by The Ditchs investigative reporting, which it said confirms that US weapons and military personnel are regularly travelling to the Middle East, including Israel, via Shannon Airport.

It is prohibited to transport munitions of war on civil aircraft across Irish airspace without an exemption from the transport minister.

News website The Ditch has reported that several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have transited Irish airspace since October 2023.

However, Irish ministers have suggested there is ambiguity on whether certain airlines require permission for their cargo.

Palestine Action Eire is demanding that the Government stop allowing flights carrying weapons and military equipment through Irish airspace.

A statement from the group said the Irish Government was literally fuelling genocide.

The Government continues to allow troops and weapons through Shannon against the democratic will of the people, it said.

A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group said normal operations had resumed following an incident which required Gardai assistance.

The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result, it said.

The situation was promptly addressed by Gardai and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm.

On March 27, Irelands deputy premier and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said it was expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish territory without being granted an exemption.

In 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel, he told the Dail parliament.

Since October 2023, diplomatic clearance has been granted on a small number of occasions for US military aircraft to land in Shannon for the specific purpose of transporting senior officials travelling from the United States to the Middle East.

Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
Photo: (Front) Brendan Kelly (100 time Donor), Briege Renaghan, Patricia ORourke, Louise Pickering, Gary Kinsella, Colm Lally (Back) David McDonnell, Anthony Nelis, Ciaran McCabe, Kieran Gallagher, David Mackin, Eamon Hoey

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) held its annual Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican Awards Ceremony for the North-East, Midlandss region on Friday 25th April, 2025 in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath. One hundred and fourteen 50 time Donors received their Gold Drop and twenty two 100-time Donors received their Porcelain Pelicans at the ceremony. Donors and their guests attended from counties, Cavan, North County Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath.

Iosif Korpas, Area Manager for the Ardee Centre was MC for the ceremony and welcomed everyone including Board Members of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and congratulated all the Donors on their significant achievements. Chief Executive Officer Orla OBrien thanked Donors from the bottom of her heart stating that donating 50 times is quite an achievement but donating 100 times is awe inspiring. In our presence on the night was father & son - 100 time donor John Egan (father) and 50 Time donor his son Conor Egan who between them donated 219 donations! Both living in Kildare - the room erupted in applause when they received their awards.

It was noted that the Ardee Centre hosted the highest number of 100 Time Donor Awards to date. It is lovely to personally meet the Donors who without their help could not benefit the many people in our hospitals every day in Ireland. The CEO presented each of the 50 Time Donors with their Gold Drop awards and the Porcelain Pelicans to the 100 Time Donors.

Read Next: Louth CE wants to enhance quality of life of citizens in the county

Mrs. Emma Gilbey spoke on behalf of her family and thanked all the Donors present from the bottom of her heart. Emma received blood before and throughout the four hours of emergency surgery that followed during the birth of her son Charlie. 13-year-old Charlie took to the podium & thanked Donors for saving his Mums life bringing the crowd to a standing ovation.

Iosif Korpas, Area Manager delivered the closing address. He thanked all the donors on their fantastic accomplishment of donating 50 and 100 times. This requires significant dedication and they are truly inspiring. Iosif also thanked Emma for sharing her powerful story, reminding us all why blood donations are always required.
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Eireann have announced that they are enhancing services and timetables on the Dundalk Town Bus Service. Enhancements on Route 174, (Dundalk Bus Station to Grange Drive Muirheavna), Route 174A (Dundalk Bus Station to Fatima) and Route 174B, (Dundalk Bus Station to Bay Estate) recently came into effect in April.

The significantly enhanced services are funded by the National Transport Authority as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. The improvements will benefit passengers in the region travelling for leisure, work and education as well as those making onward connections with bus and rail connections.

Route 174, Dundalk Bus Station to Grange Drive Muirheavna will now provide a service seven days a week, operating every thirty minutes from 6.15am to 11.15pm, Monday to Sunday.

Route 174A, Dundalk Bus Station to Fatima will offer new early morning and late evening services every thirty minutes from 6.12am to 11.20pm, Monday to Friday and from 6.50am to 11.20pm Saturday and Sunday. This route will offer a substantially increased service on a Sunday, providing 34 services a day.

Route 174B, Dundalk Bus Station to Bay Estate will provide new early morning and late evening services every thirty minutes from 6.05am to 11.30pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am to 11.30pm Saturday and Sunday. This route will now provide 33 services on a Sunday.

The Dundalk town bus service will operate fully accessible vehicles, reflecting the NTA and Bus Eireanns commitment to a fully inclusive public transport system with accessible vehicles and infrastructure.

Bus Eireann is delighted to introduce these improved services in Dundalk, significantly increasing transport options for passengers in the region, said Adrian OLoughlin, Bus Eireann, Senior Manager, East. These improvements will particularly positively impact those commuting to the town centre for work, leisure, health and education. These updates are the result of a strong collaboration between the NTA and Bus Eireann to enhance connectivity across the country and deliver an affordable, reliable and sustainable bus service for communities throughout Ireland, helping to make life better.

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Director of Public Transport Services of the NTA Jeremy Ryan said: The NTA is delighted to support these bus service improvements, which will bring significant benefits to the local communities in Dundalk. Enhanced morning, evening, and Sunday services will make a real difference, offering greater flexibility and better connectivity for work, school, and leisure. This is a fantastic step forward in making public transport more accessible and convenient for everyone in the community.

For further information on Dundalks Town Bus Service, including updated timetables and route maps, please visit: www.buseireann.ie/news/dundalk-updates
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently welcomed students from across the North Leinster and South Ulster region to take part in the SciFest@DkIT 2025 which took place on campus. Over 300 students from 26 schools across North Leinster and South Ulster were put through their paces by the judging panel to determine who would become the prize winners. Categories included the Dawn Meats Agricultural Science Award, SciFest Maths in Science Award and Business Excellence Institute Award. 145 innovative projects were on display throughout the competition.

SciFest is a national event which aims to encourage a love of science and provide an opportunity for students to display their scientific discoveries. The event includes an exhibition and competition of projects produced by second-level students. DkIT has been delighted to host the North Leinster/South Ulster regional finals for the past ten years with the high calibre of entries growing continuously each year. Students competing in the event can complete projects from a broad span of areas including physical sciences, computer science, social sciences, technology/engineering and health sciences.

Atish Anandan Srinivasan from St Olivers Community College, Drogheda was announced as the winner of the SciFest Best Project Award for his project entitled EEG based BCI. Athish was also winner of the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award. His project explored whether its possible to create a more affordable EEG (electroencephalogram) kit that can still be used effectively for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications and hardware control and investigated how the performance of his kit compared to scientific and professional EEG devices.

As the winner of this award, Atish will participate in the SciFest National Final Competition in November in Dublin to compete for the SciFest STEM Champion 2025 Award. The winner of the STEM Champion Award will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in America in May 2026.

Second Prize for the Runner-up Best Project Award was presented to Krysztof Kazimierczak from Colaiste Dun an Ri, Co. Cavan for his project Hydrelesis. Krystof was also awarded the SciFest Physics Award. His project addressed the critical lack of clean and safe drinking water in sub-Saharan and tropical regions, aiming to develop a solution that targets the root of the problem and delivers clean, drinkable water to millions in need.

The Business Excellence Institute Award was presented to students Alex Albrecht, Dylan Loughran and Ronan Kenny from St Marys College, Dundalk for their project Are natural cleaning products effective at removing stains compared to branded products?

Two Dundalk schools were also winners in the DkIT Awards category. The Runner-up Intermediate Life Sciences Project Award was presented to Dundalk Grammar School students Eoin Larkin & Jack Wang for the Project Green Means Go! - A front of package traffic light labelling system designed to help consumers make sustainable choices. St Vincents Secondary School student Dearbhla Leavy was presented with the Runner-up Junior Physical Sciences or Technology Project for her entry An Investigation into the effect of Arm Strength and Core Strength on the ability to perform a Handstand successfully.

SciFest@DkIT co-ordinator Dr Moira Maguire, Head of School of Health & Science, DkIT said:

SciFest is always one of our calendar highlights at DkIT and the scope of student innovation each year never ceases to amaze us. It is fantastic to see the numbers growing year on year and the increasing interest our second level students have across all areas of the sciences. A huge congratulations to all who took part, and to the teachers and mentors for all of their support and encouragement throughout the competition process. 

Read Next: New enhanced Dundalk town bus service

The event was made possible by sponsors and supporters from industry and academia including; Intel, Boston Scientific, EirGrid, Mallinckrodt, The Department of Education, Dawn Meats, Regeneron Life Sciences, Irish Science Teachers Association (ISTA), ESERO Ireland and the Business Excellence Institute.

Presenters of the SciFest awards included; George Porter, CFO of SciFest; Ciara OShea, member of DkITs Executive Board; Darragh OConnor, Dawn Meats; Ronan Keane, Regeneron; Grainne Duffy, EirGrid and Yann Ni Yee, Boston Scientific.

To find out more about SciFest visit: SciFest
Dundalk Grammar School student Chukwudike Kpaduwa is Leinster Regional Winner in the 3rd Oireachtas Essay Competition and the Louth student received his prize in Leinster House on Thursday.

Chukwudike received his prize from the Competition Founding Patron and former Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail TD, at a ceremony attended by the winning students, their parents/guardians and teachers, as well as Competition judges and sponsors. The prizegiving ceremony was followed by lunch and tour of Leinster House.

The judges praised Chukwudike for writing a well written and researched essay drawing on a variety of examples to support their argument with a strong conclusion highlighting the potential of parliamentary politics to resolve conflicts.

The event was attended by Mr Eamonn Crowley, CEO of PTSB and Mr Brian Gilsenan, CEO of CJ Fallon. PTSB has begun a three-year commitment to the Competition as Principal Sponsor and CJ Fallon is Associate Sponsor for the third year running.

Read also: Young Louth filmmaker shines a spotlight on mental health

The Competition was devised by Independent NUI Senator Ronan Mullen with the support of the Ceann Comhairles Office and the Oireachtas Education Unit.

This year, hundreds of Senior Cycle and AS/A Level students across the island of Ireland submitted essays in Irish and English on the theme Parliamentary Politics Liberates / An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitiocht Pharlaiminteach  reflecting the 250th Anniversary of the birth of The Liberator, Daniel OConnell. Over 6,000 in prizemoney is awarded.

Winners are determined by an expert panel of judges which includes DCU Professor of Politics Gary Murphy and journalist, writer and academic, Alan Titley MRIA. Professor Patrick Geoghegan of TCD, author of a two-part biography of OConnell also provided expert input to this years Competition.

Presenting the prizes, Deputy O Fearghail said that greater engagement by young people with the political system was vital for the health of our democracy and for our ability to overcome the many challenges we face at home and abroad.

We are delighted with the growing support for Aiste an Oireachtais  with a significant increase this year in the number of entries received, says Senator Mullen, the Competition Convenor. Since Aiste an Oireachtais began in 2022, we have had registrations and entries from almost half the secondary schools on the island of Ireland (47%). It is clear that schools recognise the importance of getting students to think about our democracy and the need to work it for the common good.
Cllr Fiona Mhic Conchoille has said she is "disappointed in Louth County Councils decision not to provide car parking spaces for those with hidden disabilities", represented by the sunflower symbol, which she says "indicates a lack of understanding of the needs of those with a non-visible disability".

In a motion at the Louth County Council April meeting, Cllr Mhic Conchoille asked that Louth County Council would "examine the provision of special parking spaces in our county's car parks for individuals with hidden disabilities, similar to existing disability parking spaces.

"These spaces would be clearly marked with a sunflower symbol and appropriate lining. They are intended as courtesy spaces, relying on the public to respect them and leave them available for individuals with sensory or hidden disabilities. As such, this initiative would not create any additional administrative burden on the council."

Replying to Cllr Mhic Conchoille's motion, David Jones, Director of Placemaking and Physical Development, said: "While acknowledging the sentiment of the Notice of Motion, it is not proposed to provide any additional parking designations beyond the current statutory provided for Disability parking spaces, which are subject to regulatory enforcement."

In a statement following the April meeting, a disappointed Cllr Mhic Conchoille said that : The sunflower has become internationally recognised as the symbol of hidden disabilities as not all disabilities are immediately obvious.

Read also: Louth County Council confirms source of strong odour on Dublin Road

"These parking spaces are designed to offer a safe location for individuals who may need extra time or assistance when getting in and out of their vehicles and are not blue badge holders. This would improve access to local facilities. Hidden disabilities can include conditions such as autism, acquired brain injury, sight or hearing impairments, learning difficulties, and chronic illnesses.

Individuals often experience pain, fatigue, and feelings of isolation, which can lead to a lack of empathy from those around them. This lack of visible indicators can make it difficult for others to understand the struggles faced by people with hidden disabilities.

Cllr Mhic Conchoille said that pilot schemes for similar initiatives are already underway in other counties across the country, which she said suggests that Louth could implement this system with minimal costs and effort.

She added that Waterford City and County Council was the first local authority in Ireland to introduce Sunflower parking spaces and plan to add more in the city and county in the near future. Additionally, Cork, Westmeath, and other county councils have followed suit.

According to Hidden Disabilities, one in five people in Ireland lives with some form of disability, and 80% of these are living with a non-visible disability.

Cllr Mhic Conchoille urged Louth County Council to reconsider its previous decision against implementing these parking spaces, and acknowledged that they are meeting their statutory requirements, but asked is doing the bare statutory minimum enough to make people with hidden disabilities feel included in our society?

The introduction of Sunflower Parking Spaces would not only raise awareness but also provide critical support to individuals facing daily challenges due to hidden disabilities. By educating the public about the sunflower symbol and what it represents, there is potential to enhance understanding and promote greater empathy for those in need.

I urge Louth County Council to reconsider their decision and help create a more inclusive environment and improve the quality of life for individuals with hidden disabilities through this relatively low-cost initiative.
Tanaiste Simon Harris has today welcomed the election of Louth's Mairead McGuinness as Vice-President of the European Peoples Party (EPP).

McGuinness began her political career in 2004 when she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East constituency, representing the Fine Gael party. She was re-elected in 2009, 2014, and 2019, serving a total of 16 years. During her tenure, she was a member of the European People's Party and served on committees such as Agriculture and Rural Development, and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety .

In 2014, McGuinness was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament and was promoted to First Vice-President in 2017, a position she held until 2020. In October 2020, she was appointed European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, serving until November 2024 .

Speaking after the vote, the Tanaiste said: I am delighted that Mairead McGuinness has been elected by her colleagues from across Europe to serve as a Vice President of the EPP.

The overwhelming level of support that Mairead received underlines the high regard she is held in across Europe being elected alongside other EU Prime Ministers and EU Commissioners.

Maireads election is also a vote of confidence in the Fine Gael party. Fine Gael has not held a Vice Presidency position since the election of Minister Helen McEntee to the role in 2019. When I was elected leader of Fine Gael last year, I stated that one of my key priorities was increasing Fine Gaels engagement with the EPP and regaining the Vice Presidency position within the party.

Fine Gael is the party of Europe in Ireland, the party was a founding member of the EPP in 1976. Mairead follows in the footsteps of Fine Gael public representatives serving at the highest levels of the EU political infrastructure.

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Mairead will bring a wealth of experience and a respected voice to this role where she will help shape the polices of the biggest political party in Europe.

Following her election, Ms. McGuinness said: I am very grateful to my EPP colleagues for expressing confidence in me to serve as their Vice President. The EU faces significant uncertainty given current geopolitical instability at present and therefore Irelands voice at the heart of the EPP has never been more important.

I want to thank all my colleagues who expressed confidence in me today by electing me to this position. I look forward to beginning my work immediately.

Senator Eileen Lynch, International Secretary of Fine Gael said: Im pleased that Mairead has been elected as Vice President of the EPP. Fine Gael is a long-standing member of the EPP family and it is vital that we again have a seat at the table. These are challenging times for the EU politically, so it is incredibly important that Fine Gael continues to provide a strong Irish voice within the EPP.
A murder accused said he was innocent of any wrongdoing about the disappearance of his wife, saying he believed she was still alive during media interviews in 2017, while her body lay in a shallow grave in their family home, a court has heard.

Richard Satchwell, 58, from Grattan Street in Youghal, Co Cork, denies murdering his wife Tina Satchwell at the home they shared in March 2017.

Her remains were found buried beneath a concrete floor under a set of stairs in their family home, more than six years after she disappeared.

Satchwell, who is originally from Leicester in England, formally reported his wife missing on May 11 2017, weeks after he told police she had left their family home.

Satchwell has repeatedly said that he believed his wife left because she needed some time on her own.

The jury in his trial at Central Criminal Court in Dublin is being shown 14 broadcast interviews he did in the year after she went missing.

In an interview with RTEs Crimecall, he spoke directly to the camera through tears, begging his wife to come home.

Satchwell also claimed his wife was too much in love with herself to harm herself.

In an interview with Paul Byrne, formerly of Virgin Media News, in late November 2018, Satchwell said he had never laid a finger on his wife, saying the most he had done was holding her tight and loving the bones of her.

Asked if he had killed his wife, he replied: Never. I have never laid a finger on her.

In a separate interview with RTE on July 14 2017, he described himself as a broken man.

When allegations of wrongdoing were put to him by the journalist, Satchwell protested his innocence, saying he was willing to take a lie detector test.

I am innocent. I am innocent of any wrongdoing, he said.

In a separate interview with RTE, Satchwell said he did not think his wife was dead, adding that he believed one day she would come back.

I believe there is somebody out there who does know where she is, he said.

Satchwell told Ireland AM on March 8 2018 that he did not want to think that his wife was dead and was not strong enough to cope with the possibility of that scenario.

He said he knows somebody out there helped his wife leave Youghal.

They should be ashamed of themselves for the stress they have caused to me and the family, Satchwell added.

During an appeal to his wife on Crimecall in the months after her disappearance, the truck driver asked her to come home, adding that his arms were open and their pets were missing her.

Weeping into the camera, he said he could not go on not knowing what happened to her.

Describing the morning she disappeared, Satchwell claimed he was plastering a wall at the bottom of the stairs when she came down shortly after 9am.

He also told a reporter that his family was upset about their relationship and of his choice to go out with Ms Satchwell.

They pretty much hate the Irish, Satchwell added.

In a TV interview with Prime Time Investigates in January 2018, he showed the presenter their family pets, including a parrot, Valentine, and two dogs, Ruby and Heidi.

The court also heard Ms Satchwells voice for the first time after video footage was played during a media appeal, in which she speaks to their now dead parrot, Pearl.

Satchwell tells the reporter that the parrot died in the January before his wife disappeared.

He said they were very upset and cried for weeks, and had a post-mortem examination carried out on the parrot.

Satchwell also pointed out an unopened bottle of Cava he had bought her for their anniversary.

The trial continues.
The Cork lead behind a programme which sees students from University College Cork and Cork Prison collaborate says she would like to see the project expanded to prisons around the country.

Twenty-three students from Irelands first Inside-Out prison-university education programme graduated recently.

The programme is a collaboration between University College Cork, the Cork ETB Prison Education Unit, and Cork Prison.

Over the course of 12 weeks, final year criminology students from UCC shared a classroom with learners from Cork Prison.

We dont talk about prisoners or criminals, but we talk about inside students and outside students, says Dr Katharina Swirak, Inside-Out Lead, Department of Sociology and Criminology at UCC.

The course represents 10 credits of the Bachelors Degree in Criminology, and students debate university-level academic texts, drawing on their own life experiences, and explore social issues such as poverty, racism, ableism, and gender inequality.

Dr Swirak started the programme in 2019 with her colleague Dr James Windle after being dissatisfied with the relationship between the university and the prison.

Previously, they took students on a tour of Cork Prison once a semester.

I felt always very uncomfortable with that, because these visits can be a little bit voyeuristic, she says. Even if you dont talk to people behind bars, you might see them on the landing just cleaning, or youll see them in in the kitchen preparing a meal, but theres never a conversation.

She heard about the Inside-Out Programme, which was founded by Lori Pompa of Temple University in Philadelphia, and began a Cork version.

The group starts out with 25 students, but along the way numbers can decrease.

You lose inside students because they get moved to another prison, or they get released. So this year we graduated 13 outside students and 10 inside students, she says.

This year, one group designed a wooden board game called Snakes and Labels, using the woodwork workshop in the prison.

Topics covered include person-first language, labelling and stigma, masculinity and identities, desistance and reintegration into society after prison.

We end on a positive note, where students design their ideal scenario of how more just and safe cities or communities would look.

Groups of inside and outside students work together on a project on a topic of their choice.

Thats where they come up with all their creative ideas, and we sometimes have support from the art teachers in the prison education unit, says Dr Swirak.

This year, one group designed a wooden board game called Snakes and Labels, using the woodwork workshop in the prison.

This was two inside and two outside students whod never met each other before, but they all had an interest in woodwork, she says. They designed two dice, and one dice is for negative choices, one is for positive. Theyre trying to portray how making choices in life can lead you in one direction or the other.

At the end of the course there is a graduation ceremony, which is important.

They work very hard to change themselves. They engage with a lot of services, she says. But very little of that gets seen, obviously, because its a prison. So having that ceremony and acknowledging the work theyve done always gives them a real boost.

The programme gives students confidence to engage with education on their release. Few of the inside students would ever have been to college, and most would be early school-leavers.

One of this years participants hadnt finished school before joining Inside-Out. Now hes committed to doing his Leaving Cert because he wants to continue with college after, she says.

An inside student from 2019 is now completing a masters at UCC. He said Inside-Out reignited his passion for learning, says Dr Swirak.

The UCC students benefit too.

Our students are usually final year students, says Dr Swirak. They have nearly their whole undergraduate college career behind them, and they say its usually the best module. It takes them out of their normal environment.

It helps students reflect on their privilege: The things your normal, average college student takes for granted, being supported by family to do well, paying for grinds, being supported to go to college.

Most people behind bars, they have been very disadvantaged in life, she says.

We do meet them in prison. You could go to a community centre or something as well, and have these dialogues.

The students designed two dice; one die is for negative choices, one is for positive.

Education is important for rehabilitation.

Education is a right and its not a privilege, says Dr Swirak. Taking peoples liberty by putting them into prison is the punishment.

Punishment beyond that, we know from research if we make punishment harsher, if we dont provide education, if we dont provide other rehabilitation services, we are not making things better for anyone, even for the victims families or for the outside community.

At some stage people will come out, and what type of person do we want to come out? Someone who has engaged with learning and understands that they can make better lives for themselves and find new places where they can belong meaningfully and productively, she says.

Dr Swirak would like to see more education for people after they leave prison.

Project Rebound in California is one example where this has worked well.

They can prove that engagement in education after you come out of prison brings your recidivism rates nearly down to zero, she says.

This is the only Inside-Out programme in the Republic of Ireland, and there are similar courses in Queens University Belfast and Ulster University.

Wed like these types of programmes to be offered in all prisons across the country. Because it makes a connection between people in the local prison and the local university.
Delegates at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual conference voted this week to withdraw co-operation from planning meetings ahead of Ireland next year assuming the EU presidency.

The vote was preceded by speaker after speaker urging delegates to vote to pass the motion, but some, like Cork city division delegate and central executive committee (CEC) member Padraig Harrington, said the motion did not go far enough.

Ireland will hold the EU presidency from July to December 2026, and during that period Irish ministers will be responsible for chairing meetings of the EU Council and steering its legislative and policy agenda.

The EU presidency will be a pretty big deal for Ireland, and during the period of the presidency, Irish ministers will be responsible for chairing meetings of the EU council, and steering the EUs legislative and policy agenda.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to resource and deliver a successful EU presidency, so if the rank and file members of our police force are refusing to engage with management, this could present a significant issue for Government.

The GRA represents more than 11,000 frontline members of An Garda Siochanas 14,000-strong force, and at this years conference delegate after delegate denounced the garda commissioners policies.

The theme of this years conference was It was a job worth doing  undervalued and under attack, a retort to the garda recruitment campaign slogan A job worth doing, and it seemed to reflect accurately the general mood of delegates.

The conference took place at the Gleneagles Hotel in Killarney, and ran from Monday to Wednesday.

It followed the pattern laid down last year, when Garda Commissioner Drew Harris became the first sitting commissioner not to be invited to a GRA conference.

That had followed an almost unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr Harris by GRA members.

The then justice minister Helen McEntee then declined to go, saying it would be inappropriate for her to attend in his absence, something which added to the disgruntlement at the conference.

This year the commissioner was again not invited, and the new justice minister Jim OCallaghan similarly felt unable to attend.

The level of disdain expressed at the conference toward Mr Harris and his policies would be hard to overstate, with GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin instancing Mr Harriss introduction of the so-called operating policing model.

It was billed as making the force more modern, but it has been opposed by garda associations as they claim it damages community links.

I suppose you could say that hes left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members, Mr Slevin said.

If you were to analyse the commissioners term, I suppose youd have to say that hes implemented an operational policing model that isnt working [and]... has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe.

The system we had, thats completely gone.

Padraig Harrington works as a detective based at the Bridewell, and he has worked for 25 years as a garda.

He said the biggest issue in the Cork city division is resources, and the lack of manpower, which he said is preventing advancement for some of his colleagues.

We have about 50 guards that have been successful in competitions and because of the lack of resources they cant be put into the positions they have applied for and have been successful in getting, because they would be leaving the frontline section so depleted, theres no superintendent willing to release them, he said.

Those advancements would include promotions to detective, and transfer to the traffic corps.

Thats the huge issue that Cork city is facing, the lack of resources, and the regional and national units that are based in Cork city being counted as a Cork resource by garda management, and they shouldnt be.

A garda spokesperson said: The allocation of personnel from competition panels, including to detective and roads policing, are considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the operational needs and resourcing requirements of each division and region.

Placement on a competition panel is not a guarantee of appointment.

Mr Harrington said that while An Garda Siochana gives a figure of 673 gardai working in the Cork city division, that figure includes 80 who work in national units based in Cork, such as the computer crime unit, and regional units like armed support and the Anglesea St regional control room.

While theyre stationed in and around Cork city, theyre part of regional and national units and they are not a resource of Cork city, he said.

Asked to comment, a garda spokesperson said there had previously been negative commentary around too much centralisation of garda specialities based in Dublin, adding that local gardai were now trained to serve in speciality areas.

Any suggestion that specialist gardai (are) not providing a local service to the community (is) extremely disappointing.

Paul Breen, GRA CEC member for West Cork, has been on the force for 20 years, and he said fewer and fewer frontline gardai now find themselves doing more and more work.

People as well feel that theyre not being listened to and engaged with, and thats where that is coming from, he said.

When I started out, I loved the job, but it is now more and more stressful, and I dont think I would recommend it to a family member to go for it, and it is a sad reflection to be saying that. Its not the job it used to be, it has changed, not for the better.

Mr Breen said he was a community-based garda working in a rural area, but the exponential increase in red tape and screen time over recent years meant less time out and about, and local people were not getting the sense of security they once got from a garda presence in the community.

Youre tied up, or youre covering for different members in different areas, and youre not seeing your own local people, whereas before youd be around the town and around the countryside, he said.

John Parker is a 35-year veteran based in Mallow, and he is the GRA Cork North CEC delegate. He said he believed the manner of engagement with garda representative associations had changed discernibly in recent times.

In the last number of years, An Garda Siochana has baked their own cake as regards what policy they want, and then they drop it on our laps, and we have to recover from it, he said.

Sometimes if they had engaged with us at an early stage we could have resolved these things and guided them in a way that these policies would be easier to roll out.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire. Despite reports that there have been difficulties in finding a replacement, in all likelihood by next springs GRA conference there will be a new sheriff in town.

Next year, Ireland will take centre stage as it assumes the EU presidency.

Brendan OConnor, former GRA president, told reporters this week that frontline gardai are deeply frustrated with management, and this was behind their decision to withdraw co-operation ahead of the EU presidency.

Theres a feeling among members that our terms and conditions are under constant erosion, and what is on the horizon is again another major event where our members will be asked to mobilise in large numbers, leave their families, and travel long distances, he said.

And what theyre saying is We need a bit of clarity around our terms and conditions that facilitate the policing of those events, and theyre saying Dont take our flexibility for granted, because our flexibility and commitment is not being reciprocated.

The next garda commissioner will probably be hoping they have a smoother relationship with the rank and file than Mr Harris has had.
A Cork school has been honoured with two awards and 10,000 in prize money at the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards 2025.

The ceremony, which took place in Dublins Croke Park, saw Kinsale Community School announced as the overall winner of the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards

The school also won the Senior Small Group Environmental prize.

Electronic waste

The winning project, which was selected out of 124 submissions, focused on reducing electronic waste through the refurbishment of old laptops and targeted the dual goals of minimising e-waste and enhancing educational resources in a partner school in Tanzania.

The awards aim to celebrate schools creating positive outcomes for their communities, centred on the three key pillars of environmental, social, and financial impacts.

These pillars encompass a wide range of activities that contribute to the betterment of communities - including volunteering, fundraising, awareness campaigns, mentoring, peer education, skills-sharing, and environmental conservation.

Donate

Its absolutely amazing, the children worked so hard, so its great to see it acknowledged by everybody, said Aaron Bowen, who is a teacher at Kinsale Community School.

The plan is to donate a portion of the prize money to Terretta Foundation Tanzania  [and] well put some of the money towards tools that we use to repair the laptops and [towards expanding] the programme for next year.

10,000 is huge for the school and we will be reinvesting that back into future projects.

Chief customer officer at AIB, Orlaith Ryan, said that the annual awards aim to inspire students across Ireland to continue making a positive impact on their respective communities.

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by schools and young people across Ireland through the AIB Future Sparks School Impact programme, said Ms Ryan.

These awards not only offer students a chance to engage in a new form of learning outside of the regular syllabus, but also inspire students to continue to make a positive impact on their local communities.
Up to 50 staff and customers of Murphys Rock pub witnessed a man carrying out a Sunday night arson attack on the premises after he took umbrage at not being further served at the bar and the mist descended.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway gave evidence of what occurred and Judge Dermot Sheehan sentenced Stephen McCarthy, aged 33, of Bay 10, Spring Lane halting site, Cork, to four and a half years in prison with the last year suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He admitted a number of charges including that on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at Murphys Rock, Ballincollie Rd, Dublin Hill, Cork, he committed arson in that he damaged by fire property, namely doors, windows, blinds, and exterior and interior paint, intending damage or being reckless as to whether it would be damaged.

McCarthy also admitted two counts of having a weapon at the same time and place.

Asked to leave

Det Gda Motherway said McCarthy was socialising at the premises when he was asked to leave at 9.50pm.

He added: He left the premises after a verbal argument with a security guard, and went to his car and retrieved a slash-hook and attempted to strike a security staff member with it.

He disarmed Mr McCarthy and took the slash-hook, but Mr McCarthy then retrieved an axe from his car and walked towards the security staff, but did not attempt to strike them. Gardai attended, but Stephen McCarthy had made good his escape.

At approximately 10.50pm, Stephen McCarthy again returned to Murphys Rock in possession of two plastic bottles containing petrol, which he sprayed over the front of the premises before lighting it, resulting in damage to the outside and the interior of the premises.

The premises had 40 to 50 patrons and staff inside at the time. Confronted by security staff, Mr McCarthy threw petrol at them at the scene and was held until the arrival of gardai.

He also attempted to set bottles alight, but failed, and continued to throw petrol over the flames.

Testified

Det Gda Motherway testified: He had nine deals of cocaine valued at 630 on his person when searched later.

Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said the accused pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and expressed deep apologies to the owner and staff at the pub and the customers who were present on the night when he carried out this arson.

He said the accused took umbrage at being refused service and the mist descended.

Mr Boyle added: He is working to deal with his alcohol and drug addictions in prison.

He said now that he is getting older and hopefully wiser, he needed to do right by the people who had stood by him and supported him over the years.

He was grossly intoxicated at the time. Hopefully, this might reduce his moral culpability.

He has managed to gather 1,000 compensation to cover the amount of criminal damage caused, and he recognised that this was only a token.

Money

Prosecution barrister Katherine McGillicuddy said the owner of the pub did not want this money and said it should be given to a cancer research charity in Cork.

Judge Sheehan said that despite being confronted, McCarthy was in such a drunken frenzy that he continued to throw petrol on the fire he caused at the front of the premises.

The judge said that with flammable materials catching fire and people being inside, it was a serious matter.

The principle mitigating factor was the fact that he accepted at interview within a matter of hours that he was responsible, and he followed this with a plea of guilty.
Ongoing staffing shortages in Glendonagh Residential Home, near Dungourney in East Cork, left residents experiencing long delays after calling out for assistance at night.

A Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) report, published following an unannounced inspection, complimented the food and activities available to residents, but identified several instances of non-compliance with regulations.

Residents told inspectors that staff were kind and caring, but one said that staff were rushed off their feet, and another three said their care often felt rushed.

Staff also said they were frequently short- staffed, impeding their provision of care, with inspectors noting that staffing has been a long-term issue in this centre.

Cautionary meeting

Following the previous inspection, a cautionary meeting was held with the provider, where serious concerns were raised, including around staffing levels at night and about fire precautions. The inspectors found that fire- safety action had been taken by the provider, but repeated non-compliance was found in other areas.

In total, the centre was marked compliant in four areas, and non-compliant in eight.

Glendonagh was required to have seven nurses, but at the time of inspection there were only six, and there were two care staff vacancies. This meant staffing levels had further deteriorated since the previous inspection, after which the provider had agreed to put on a second nurse at night, which had not happened.

The nurse was frequently interrupted while administering night-time medications, which was a risk to safe administration and could potentially lead to errors.

They were also responsible for supervising the other staff, so were frequently called away by them, or by residents needing assistance.

Three care staff were on duty, but they were assigned many cleaning tasks, which took from the time they were available to provide care.

The inspectors saw residents in their rooms who were calling out to go to the bathroom having to wait long periods of time, without staff available to help them.

Inspectors noted that many of the residents did not have a call bell within easy reach.

Distressed

One resident could be heard calling out and was distressed, and when an inspector entered the room the residents call bell was not within reach.

The report said: A number of allegations and incidents of abuse that impacted the safety and welfare of residents were not being appropriately investigated and managed.

Legally-mandated notifications were not submitted to the chief inspector as required.

Inspectors observed that rooms were generally clean, but noted very strong malodours from a number of bedrooms. A press containing chemicals was also found to be unlocked in the dementia unit, posing a risk to patients.

Additionally, not all required staff training had been completed, and many care plans were out of date, with one containing information about the wrong resident. No residents meetings  meant to be held every two months  had taken place between March and December.

Recruited

The provider told Hiqa that it has successfully recruited two new staff members, and the nursing roster has been amended to allow for a supplementary twilight nurse, in place since January 2025.

The provider added that it continues to focus on recruitment and, if needed, it will consider using agency staff.

Additionally, it said it is regularly auditing access to call bells, has implemented an investigation tool for looking into reports of incidents or abuse, and will ensure all are reported going forward.
Two brothers whose father was murdered in Cork 30 years ago when they were children were both jailed for seven years for carrying out an arson attack on a house, where they fled the scene after throwing in a petrol bomb, with the parting words, bye bye.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed sentences of eight years, with the last year suspended, in the cases against Robert Crinnion, aged 39, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork, and Michael Crinnion, aged 33, of the same address, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

They pleaded guilty to a charge that on August 4, 2023, at a house on Dean St, Cork, they committed arson by causing fire damage to the hallway, sitting-room door, bathroom door, stairs, bannister, a dressing gown, and bath mat, intending or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

They both wrote letters to the court where they expressed their apologies and remorse to the owner of the house. Fortunately, she and her children were not present when the arson was carried out.

Detective Sergeant Cormac Crotty said that the householder was extremely concerned, when she was first alerted to the arson, that her brother might have been in the house at the relevant time. However, it turned out that nobody was present.

A doorbell video that was activated at the time recorded the words bye bye as the two brothers fled the scene.

Tom Creed, senior counsel, said that Robert Crinnion was 11 years of age when his father, Michael Crinnion, was shot dead outside a pub on Barrack St in April 1995.

Mr Creed said Robert Crinnion went on to suffer from a lifelong drug addiction.

Elizabeth OConnell, senior counsel for Michael Crinnion, said the defendant was on drugs and was homeless at the time of the arson.

She said he was very sorry for what he did and had commented in a letter that his actions were despicable and they made him sick to the stomach.

Judge Helen Boyle noted from the evidence of Det Sgt Crotty that Robert broke a window with a hatchet, that Michael immediately threw a petrol bomb into the property, and that Michael shouted bye bye as they fled.

She said it was fortunate that the glass bottle of petrol did not break and explode and that the fire damage was confined to approximately 1,000 worth of property. Judge Boyle said it was even more fortunate that nobody was present at the time of the arson attack.

While describing it as a serious crime, the judge said there was no doubt that the murder of their father when they were children had a significant impact on their lives and that, in effect, they had lifelong drug addictions.

The two brothers were to go on trial by judge and jury in February, but pleaded guilty to arson as it was about to commence.
The number of people presenting at hospitals, addiction services, and mental health services with the ill effects of psychoactive substances contained in legally-available HHC vapes has increased significantly, the head of drugs and alcohol services for the HSE in the South West has confirmed.

David Lane spoke to The Echo after it was disclosed that a 12-year-old boy ended up in hospital having vaped HHC, which was obtained legally by an older teenager. This was raised at Mondays Cork County Council meeting by Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse, who called for HHC to be banned.

Mr Lane said: This is the big problem we face in addiction services, in acute hospitals, in psychiatric services.

Its not a new phenomenon  new psychoactive substances which are basically man-made synthetic drugs have been causing significant issues in this country and in many parts of the world for a number of years.

He said the issues with HHC included its potency, which was unknown, and long-term effects it might have on the health of young people. It is also difficult to regulate as compounds can be changed, which means that new legislation must be brought in to restrict the use of the new substance.

Mr Lane said it reminded him of the issues that had arisen more than 10 years ago when products marked not for human consumption were being purchased by people keen to experiment with drugs. This led to a campaign to ban head shops, which sold the products.

This is an ongoing struggle that were having and this case that was highlighted  it is part of the problem we face in Ireland, and in many other parts of the world, in terms of synthetic drugs.

Sinn Fein senator Nicole Ryan, founder of Alexs Adventure, a counselling service relating to drugs, said the fact that HHC is legally available in vape shops is contributing to the perception it is safe.

In reality, we know very little about its long-term effects, she said.

One of the biggest concerns is that the HHC being sold on the market could contain unknown compounds, including substances like spice, a synthetic cannabinoid with often unpredictable and dangerous effects, said Ms Ryan.

A Department of Health spokesperson said that current law prohibits the selling of a psychoactive substance when the seller knows its for human consumption, but said work was under way to add HHC to Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It is expected that this will be completed shortly, they said.
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin has turned the sod on 95 social and affordable homes on the northside of Cork city, and officially opened 18 new social homes.

Mr Martin, accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, and chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie OSullivan, marked the commencement of construction of 95 mixed-tenure homes at Glenbride, Kilnap, Old Mallow Road.

The housing scheme, constructed by Murnane & OShea Developments Ltd in partnership with Cork City Council, will provide 86 affordable homes for sale via Cork City Councils Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme, as well as a further nine homes for social housing.

The affordable homes will sell at approximately 20% below market value, to those who qualify for the Affordable Housing scheme, with sale prices partly subsidised through the Department of Housings Affordable Housing Fund.

Cork City Council intends to launch 86 affordable homes for sale later this year, with the first homes being handed over to successful applicants in early 2026.

Mr Martin also visited Millfield Cottages in Blackpool to officiate at the formal opening of 18 new social housing two-bedroom terraced homes, which had been derelict for over a decade.

The cottages which were originally built on the site housed workers from the nearby Sunbeam Wolsey Textile plant, which was a major employer in the area from the 19th century until its closure in 1995, and it its peak employed thousands.

Those cottages were demolished in recent years following extensive flood damage.

Mr Martin said the 18 new homes at Millfield Cottages were a great example of how derelict sites could be transformed into much needed homes.

In addition, the 95 mixed tenure homes starting construction in Glenbride will meet the needs of many families in this city. I want to thank Respond, Cork City Council and all those involved in bringing these projects to life, he said.

Mr Dan Boyle said the collaboration between Cork City Council and Murnane & OShea showed the councils commitment to creating sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods.

We look forward to seeing these homes bring new opportunities and stability for many families in Cork, he said.

Valerie O'Sullivan, chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie OSullivan said the Glenbride, Kilnap housing project not only addressed the need for affordable and social housing but also strengthened the local community by providing quality homes for families.

"The partnership with Murnane & O Shea Developments Ltd and the vital support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage demonstrate our shared dedication to delivering sustainable growth and communities," she said. National spokesperson for approved housing body Respond, Niamh Randall, said the launch of Millfield Cottages honoured the history of the original Millfield Cottages while delivering high-quality, sustainable homes for a new generation.

"We are pleased to welcome families to a place that holds so much meaning to the local community here in Blackpool and we hope that the families living there now will be very happy in their new homes.

"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the City Council to deliver more homes here over the next number of years," she said.
The brutal murder of a beautiful young woman in Wilton in Cork caused the greatest devastation some 8,000 kilometres away in Kerala where her Indian family feel the daily pain of her loss.

As 43-year-oldRegin Parithapara Rajan was today given the mandatory life sentence at the Central Criminal Court in Cork for murdering his wife, 38-year-old Deepa Dinamani, by slashing her throat, a picture emerged of what life is now like for her family.

Her father sits broken in silence. Deepas mother can break down at any time without warning. The dead womans brother has lost his closest friend. And then there is her six-year-old son  asking questions that cannot be answered.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford today described it as an utterly needless act that had caused the loss of an excellent human being and had forever tainted the lives of those who loved her.

As for her murderer, the judge said he had used the trial as an attempt to besmirch her good name suggesting she was the author of her own death, even in the face of overwhelming prosecution evidence.

He had no respect for the autonomy of his wife as an individual person and could not accept her forging a new life for herself and her child. Showing no empathy, he appeared to feel sorry for himself, and that in some unfathomable way he felt he was the wronged party, the judge said as she expressed her deepest sympathies to Deepas family.

Victim impact statement

Deepas brother Ullas delivered the family victim impact statement remotely from India today in the same way that he gave his evidence in the murder trial, with respect and dignity as he struggled with tears.

There are no words that can truly convey the depth of the pain, the grief and devastation that my family and I have been living with since July 14, 2023,  the day my only sister, my best friend, was taken from us in the most horrific way.

My sister was not just a sibling to me  she was my confidante, my closest friend and the heart of our family. We were incredibly close. We shared everything  our hopes, our fears, our joys. Her presence brought happiness to our home and her absence has left an unbearable void that we are still struggling to live with every single day," he said.

She was an amazing daughter to our parents  selfless, caring and compassionate. Seeing my mother still break down, often without warning, overwhelmed with sorrow, is one of the hardest things for me as a son. And I sit there helplessly, unable to ease her pain. My father, once a pillar of strength to us, one of the toughest men I have ever seen, now sits in silence, broken by the loss of his beloved daughter. He doesn't speak much these days, but his face reveals the pain he's in.

But perhaps the most heartbreaking impact has been on her six year old son, a child who adored his mother, who shared a deep loving bond with her. No child should ever have to experience such trauma, to lose their mother in such a cruel way in the early stages of his life. He misses her. He sometimes asks questions, which are not easy to answer. He is very fond of me and my parents, we try to give him love, support and a sense of normalcy, but we know nothing can ever replace the love of his mother.

My sister was a remarkable woman - hardworking, ambitious and full of life. She was respected by all who knew her - colleagues, friends and everyone whose lives she touched. She had dreams and goals and a future she was building for her son, a future that was stolen from her and from us.

Tainted by grief

This tragedy left has left permanent scars in our family. There's not a single day that passes without thinking of her, without feeling her absence. Birthdays, festivals, even ordinary days, all are tainted by grief. The pain doesn't fade - it lives with us.

We hope that justice will be served - not just for our sake, but to honour her life and the person she was. Her memory deserves dignity, and her son deserves to grow up knowing that the truth was seen, heard and acknowledged.

Last month, seven women and five men took five hours and seven minutes of deliberations across two days to reach their unanimous verdict that Regin Rajan murdered his wife only four months after their arrival in Ireland, at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, 2023.

Today Detective Sergeant Michelle OLeary outlined the background to the case.

The deceased had wanted a divorce. He would not let her go. At the murder scene he left on the bedside table the bloodstained murder weapon and wedding ring, as the body of the deceased lay on the bloodsoaked bed at her home, wrapped in a duvet.

Note

He also left a note which was addressed to the couples then five-year-old child: I love you so much. Please forgive me for what I did as your mum was having(some writing that was never deciphered) and his name was Jay.

He rang 999 and said, I killed my wife. He told gardai: She was cheating on me. She was having an affair and he lives in London. I just found out today. I saw the messages that were on her phone (details of passwords) and I could not tolerate it. It was very ugly messages.

I just stabbed her with a knife in the throat, she was cheating on me, I could not tolerate that. I will take any sentence. I committed a crime. I could not take this. She was the love of my life.

And this is the second time, sorry to say. I was in depression and family life was not good. I lost 15 kgs in the last two months. It was good until two months ago. When I knew she was chatting with someone, that is when I became depression.

I did not do it deliberately. After seeing those messages I did that, sorry to say.

The man with whom the late Ms Dinamani was texting for a few weeks before her death said that in fact they had never met each other. And on the website through which they met, she openly described herself as a mother of a five-year-old boy who was separated but not divorced.

Regin Rajan bought the carving knife at the local Tesco at Wilton Shopping Centre two days earlier, along with a bottle of Jameson whiskey.

Searches

Det Sgt OLeary said Google searches by the accused for carving knife and prison in Ireland confirmed the premeditation of the murder, which was carried out with no hesitation  a single fatal slashing of the throat.

State pathologist Linda Mulligan said the main injury was a 14 cm horizontal cut across the neck of the deceased, gaping to 4 cm, and she concluded that death was due to blood loss, complicated by inhalation of blood due to an incised wound to the neck.

Despite his admissions on the day of the murder and even the reasons he gave for his brutal actions, he pleaded not guilty and described what happened as a tragic accident.

He made up an unbelievable story about his wife picking up the knife, him disarming her and her grabbing his hand and slashing her own throat.

It was so unbelievable that the jury did not believe it and found him guilty by a unanimous decision. As the deceaseds brother gave his evidence by video link today, the man who murdered her did what he did on many days during his trial, he sat writing copious notes.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
A mother whose 12-year-old daughter died at Cork University Hospital has said the health system seriously failed her daughter.

This is no way to run a health system, she said as she called outside the Four Courts for the minister for health to ensure hospital patient safety managers investigate adverse outcomes in their hospitals in a proper, fair, timely and impartial way without forcing people like me to go down the legal route to get the truth.

LeslieAnn McGeough of Ballyvolane, Cork, asked if any lessons had been learned by her daughter, Abigails case.

She added: "My view is lessons will never be learnt if this system continues the way it is currently set up."

Earlier she told a judge in the High Court that her beautiful daughter Abigail was taken from her for the simple reason that the doctors of both Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, would not listen to me.

Abigail McGeough from Cork city who had cerebral palsy and spina bifida had a brain shunt inserted when she was three months old. Her mother broke down in tears as she told the court she had been warned to look out for shunt blockage or malfunction symptoms and any delay in shunt blockage treatment could be fatal.

However on December 22, 2019, I knew that there was something wrong with the shunt and I brought Abi to CUH and asked them to check for shunt malfunction. They dismissed me, she said.

I asked for a second opinion and I was referred to Beaumont Hospital and attended there on December 27, 2019. Beaumont dismissed me as they seem to rely on what CUH had said.

In tears she told Mr Justice Paul Coffey:

Unfortunately my fears of shunt blockage turned out to be true because my darling Abi died on May 9, 2020.

The familys counsel, Miriam Reilly SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court that liability was admitted in the case which related to the misdiagnosis of symptoms relating to a brain shunt blockage despite the fact that the little girl presented to hospitals on five occasions between November 2019 and April 2020.

Outside the Four Courts, LeslieAnn McGeough spoke after she settled the action in which both Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, in a letter read to the court expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of the little girl known as Abi.

Ms McGeough said liability had not been admitted in the case until August last year, and it was only through taking the legal proceedings she was able to find out the truth about what caused Abis death.

She added:

This is no way to run a health system. The truth should always come out when adverse events occur, not for the purposes of punishing but rather to prevent such a further tragedy occurring again.

Our family tree has been broken never to be repaired. Abi has missed out on so much in life including her much longed for cousins and her many hopes and plans for her future. Every day we grieve for Abi; we feel her loss every minute of every day and we will now always have a piece of us missing.

In a letter read to the court the CEOs of Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of Abigail.

The letter said: We are deeply sorry for the distress, suffering and loss you have endured and continue to endure since Abigails death. While the legal aspect is concluded we will reflect on the events of each of Abigails final attendances in our hospitals and work with the risk management teams to learn and improve our practice in every aspect warranted.

Approving the settlement, including the division of the statutory mental distress payment of 35,000, Mr Justice Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Abigails mother and the extended family.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle, hosted a civic reception at City Hall for Ann Doherty, former chief executive of Cork City Council to acknowledge her contribution to the city.

In 2014, Ms Doherty made history by becoming the first female chief executive of Cork City Council. In 2019, she oversaw the largest local authority boundary extension in the history of the State, which saw Cork city grow to five times its previous size.

Ms Doherty opted to extend her contract in 2021 for a further three years, serving the maximum tenure period possible, 10 years.

She was replaced as chief executive by Valerie OSullivan last year, who was present at the civic reception, along with several elected members, those who worked with her over the last decade, and Ms Dohertys family.

In November 2024, Ms Doherty took up her current role as chief executive officer at the Port of Cork Company.

At the civic reception on Wednesday, the Lord Mayor praised Ms Dohertys leadership and her pivotal role in transforming Cork.

Anns commitment to sustainability, urban development, and community engagement left an indelible mark on our city. Her strategic leadership during the boundary extension and throughout the covid-19 pandemic showcased her resilience and strategic acumen, Mr Boyle said.

Former lord mayor, Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy, told The Echo that the civic reception was very much warranted.

What always struck me during my mayoral period and before was her management style, it always impressed me. She seemed to bring out the best in people.

I found her very supportive  she was just that type of person who empowered people. When there was a challenge, shed see how we could work together rather than blaming.

My time as mayor was quite animated and she gave lots of support. In the middle of the most serious of things she would be resolving it with a level of wit. One of best things she did was put in a very good management structure with directors of service who are interested in their work and work closer with councillors.
Cork Airport has announced an investment of 200 million, which will see the creation of a further 10,000 jobs within the region, and the demolition of the old terminal building to facilitate further expansion of the facility.

The investment, officially launched today by An Taoiseach, Micheal Martin TD, comes as part of the airports Capital Development Plan, which will see the construction of a new mezzanine floor with a state-of-the-art passenger security screening area; a new and larger duty-free shop; a new and larger executive lounge; the construction of additional boarding gates; the construction of a new solar farm; the extension of the existing car parks; and the demolition of the old terminal and old control tower for the construction of a new pier with more boarding gates and aircraft parking stands.

This is a very significant day  Cork Airport has become a critical component of our national transport infrastructure and as Irelands fastest growing airport, its continued development is paramount, said Mr Martin.

The ambition is to go to four million passengers by 2030, and to five million passengers by 2037.

Cork [Airport] has always been known as the friendliest airport in the country, and the economic impact of the airport is enormous.

I have no doubt that the benefits of this plan will only bring further growth to what is already a thriving [facility].

Managing director at Cork Airport Niall MacCarthy said that the expansion of Cork Airport will enable the facility to cater to more than five million passengers in the coming years, marking the investment as a vote of confidence for the Southern region.

We are thrilled to announce a 200 million investment into Cork Airport, [which will] be spent over the next seven to eight years on 10 projects that we need to enable us to serve five million passengers and beyond, said Mr MacCarthy.

The first of these projects will be starting in the next few months.

What we have announced is a significant capital infrastructure plan not just for Cork Airport but for the entire South of Ireland - its a vote of confidence in our airport and in this region."

CEO of the daa, Kenny Jacobs said: This is a huge day for Cork Airport, this is the biggest [investment] in 25 years.

We are really proud, and I speak for the daa board when I say this, this is us backing Cork.

We want to give Cork the best airport it could ever have.

When we build and invest the 200 million, we will create 10,000 new jobs and the economic value contribution will increase to 2.5 billion.

The Minister for Transport, Darragh OBrien TD said that the announcement underscores both the daas and the governments commitment to improving transport offerings across Cork.

The Capital Development Plan clearly shows [the] daas commitment to developing Cork Airports infrastructure, building on significant improvements to date.

These improvements include those supported through Exchequer funding of almost 50 million since 2021, such as the runway remediation project and the planned solar farm.

This support reflects governments recognition of the crucial role that Cork Airport plays for our connectivity and economic prosperity, and I would like to wish them the best in the coming years in delivering this plan.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD said: Due to the dedication of management and staff here at Cork Airport, services and routes available to passengers in Cork and across the wider region have increased in recent years, and this plan will ensure that the airport can grow to accommodate even more demand.

Passengers are also assured of a safe and smooth experience as they travel through the airport, with further improvements planned to enhance that journey.

I look forward to 2025 being another year of growth and increased connectivity at the airport.
GOING OUT

Theatre

Saturday

Showtime 2025, Cork Opera House, 12.30pm & 6.30pm: Sinead Sheppards School of Performing Arts present their 19th annual end of year production. Tickets 29.50.

Heavy Weather, Cork Arts Theatre, 7.30pm: Lizzie Nunnerys powerful, timely play performed by Montfort College of Performing Arts. Tickets 15.

The Tower of Song: The White Horse Guitar Club, The Everyman, 8pm: Bask in the power of over 100 voices. Tickets 30.

Sunday

Into the Spotlight  Billie-Jeans RDC and School of Performing Arts, Cork Opera House, 2pm: The end of year show. Tickets 26.

Swamped: An Ogres Tale, The Everyman, 6:30pm: Lively performance bringing the world of Shrek to life on stage. Tickets 25.

Music

Saturday

Glanfest 2025, Glanworth, 7pm: Honeycomb, The 3 Buachailli and The Fogues take to the stage - three nights of live music, a fun-filled family day, a farmers market, and big-screen sports. Tickets 25.

Paul Spring, The Briery Gap, 7.30pm: The Paul Spring Kind of Heaven 2025 tour. Tickets 18.

Carsie Blanton, The White Horse, 8.30pm: Full band show, brim-full of hooks and chutzpah.

Sunday

Other Mother, Cyprus Avenue, 7pm: Irelands newest rising stars are the self-proclaimed hottest and sexiest band in Cork. Tickets 11.

Glanfest 2025, Glanworth, 7pm: Junior Bs, Deuces Wild and Riff Shop on the bill. Tickets 25.

Hermitage Green, Sea Church, 8.30pm: The band play two gigs this bank holiday weekend at the venue as part of FAT Fest 2025. Tickets 39.50.

Vendex, Cyprus Avenue, 11pm: Barcelona-born DJ and producer plays techno. Tickets 19.26.

Other Events

Saturday

Daredevil Circus, Vernon Mount Valley Park, 2pm: An adrenaline boost with monster trucks and motorcycle stunts. Tickets 11.70.

Drag Brunch with MOCKIE AH!, Clancys Bar 1pm: The ultimate camp day out. Tickets 43.87.

CinePsy, Kino Events House, 3.30pm: GExplore your inner world through film and conversation in a screening of 2014 film Wild. Tickets 5.

Legendary: The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute, The Arches Bar, Mallow, 9pm: A night of rock. Tickets 22.42.

Sunday

Heineken Kinsale 7s Rugby Festival, Kinsale: The annual festival in its 34th year. Tickets 25.

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns Cherry Blossom Festival, Tory Top Park, noon: For all the family.

Top 5 films at the cinema

1. Sinners: A hypnotic genre-defying epic from Creed director Ryan Coogler. 5 Stars.

2. Thunderbolts*: The latest MCU film is an emotional thrill ride.

3. Frewaka: Creepy but captivating Irish-language horror with excellent performances.

4. Four Mothers: Gorgeous comedy-drama about sons and Irish mammies.

5. The Friend: A woman inherits a Great Dane and finds her life in upheaval, in this gentle dramedy.

STAYING IN

Television

Saturday

Live rugby, RTE2/Premier Sports, 5.30pm: After three successive final defeats, Leinster will be hungry for success as they play in the semi-finals of rugbys Champions Cup against Northampton.

Sunday

Kerry: Tides Of Time, RTE1, 6.30pm: The second and final episode in the series tells the story of a single, magical year as seasons and wildlife play out across the countys varied habitats.

Streaming

Careme, Apple TV+: Benjamin Voisin stars in this French language series about Antonin Careme, the worlds first celebrity chef.

The Four Seasons, Netflix: Tina Fey and Steve Carell star in a tale of six old friends who set off for a weekend, only to find that one couple is set to split.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

What once were hundred-year extreme storms in Bangladesh could now strike the country once a decade or more due to climate change, a recent study from MIT shows.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, with more than 170 million people living in an area about the size of New York state. Much of the country is made up by the huge, low-lying Ganges Delta, making it especially susceptible to flooding and extreme weather from climate change.

The study found that the return period, or the amount of time between these massive storms, is increasing dramatically due to climate change and that these massive storms will become more devastating, with some areas of Bangladesh potentially seeing the tide from these storms rise by more than a meter in height.

Sai Ravela, one of the studys authors and principal research scientist for Earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at MIT, told EcoWatch that this is a first-of-its-kind study for Bangladesh that models future climate scenarios.

The researchers used complex computer models capable of quickly simulating tens of thousands of simulations to model storm surges, tides, sea level rise and cyclones under different warming scenarios.

The results are quite stark. No matter where you look, whichever scenario you look at. And by the by the end of the century, if you look at what a 100-year return period looks like in future climate versus present climate, you see an order of magnitude change. 100-year return periods have become 10 years, Ravela said.

In addition to the low-lying nature of the country, Bangladesh has more than 100 polders, or low-lying land area, which were built about 60 years ago to combat coastal flooding and salinity (saltwater) intrusion into crops. But these polders might not be the best solution.

As climate change worsens, there is also an increasing overlap between the late monsoon season, which occurs between June and October, and the cyclone season. This has never happened before, Ravela said. I mean, you never see cyclones in the monsoon season. Why would you?

People wade through floodwaters in Feni, southeastern Bangladesh on Aug. 24, 2024. Sultan Mahmud Mukut / Drik / Getty Images

Because the monsoon season is worsening and lengthening, and the ocean continues to warm, the country will see these two seasons increasingly overlap.

The study also suggests that back-to-back cyclones are becoming increasingly likely.

Whats happening is that outside the polder, where the channels and rivers are, theres silt thats getting deposited. So the river bed is rising, the land inside the polar is sinking. So when theres a flooding event, theres a huge amount of water thats deposited, Ravela said.

He explained that because certain pieces of infrastructure, like pumps and sluice gates, dont have the proper capacity to operate under these storms, theres an enormous amount of saltwater deposited, salinating the soils and threatening agriculture as a result.

And in this comes a cyclone. And what the cyclone does is it generates an enormous amount of strong tide, and the tidal amplification takes that water much further inland because of the way the river bed is, and it deposits a whole bunch of saline water inside these polders And the economy just upends completely. [You] go from agriculture to no agriculture after just one cyclone. It takes eight years for that salinity to leech.

Ravela said that one of the uses for the research is to understand which policies would help the country adapt to these storms. The polders, for example, are about four to five meters, which he said is not enough to compare these storms.

Its a controversial point, but do you even need the polders? Are they doing any good? Why wouldnt we just, for example, remove the poulders and let it flood? Ravela said. But along with that flood comes so much sediment that it makes it very appealing to grow for part of the year on it. So there are other sustainable strategies that are born out of nature-based solutions, natural wisdom I mean its unbelievable how much technology we dump without really thinking through it.

Because the salinity renders cropland unusable, like in southwest Bangladesh, many people turn to shrimp farming, Ravela said. Everybody tries to be a shrimp farmer. But the problem with shrimp farming is its so capital intensive that people who own their land before doing farming  and you need large pieces of land to do shrimp farming  turn to shrimp farming, and they become indentured laborers in their own farms, because these farms are now owned by somebody outside putting in a lot of money, and then that loss of ownership is a part of their story.

Solving creeping problems like salinization likely requires broader governmental action, like negotiating with India to allow for more freshwater to flow into Bangladesh, he said.

With so many people facing natural disasters and the loss of their land and livelihood, many are fleeing. But as one goes farther north and away from the coast, the threat of salinization diminishes, although the risk of intense storms is still present. In these middle areas, Ravela explained, people are implementing agrivoltaics, aquaculture or even going back to rice farming as the soil in certain areas, like the southwest, is leeching away salt.

Other ways Bangladesh can prepare for these storms, he said, are by embracing old ways of agriculture. Eight months out of the year, you grow. Four months out of the year, you let it flood, and it brings a fertile soil and the water recedes, and you can live the rest. You put your house on stilts and you migrate seasonally. You can slow down the storm tide. For every kilometer, you can drop a meter. And there are other benefits from the perspective of biodiversity and conservation that also that brings in, Ravela said.

Insofar as extreme events are concerned [like] the episodic modification of the soil properties, I think we can have a handle on that in this vulnerable mid portion north of Gabura, but South of safe zones like Keshabpur and Jessore.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The battery-powered ship China Zorrilla will travel between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Colonia, Uruguay, with a capacity to carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. Incat

A 426-foot-long electric ship  the largest of its kind in the world  launched from Tasmania this week, marking a milestone in the clean energy transition for maritime shipping.

The Hull 096 boat, called China Zorrilla after the famous actress from Uruguay, was made by Incat Tasmania for operation by Buquebus. According to Incat, the battery-powered ship will travel between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Colonia, Uruguay, with a capacity to carry up to 2,100 passengers as well as 225 vehicles.

According to Buquebus President Juan Carlos Lopez Mena, Hull 096 was originally supposed to run on liquified natural gas (LNG) for fuel, but a conversation with Incat Chairman Robert Clifford lead to a shift to create the worlds largest electric ship. The resulting ship includes more than 250 metric tons of batteries along with 40 megawatt-hours of capacity in the Energy Storage System (ESS), Incat reported. Hull 096s ESS is four times larger than any similar maritime system in the world.

Were not just building a ship  were building the future, Incat CEO Stephen Casey said in a press release. Hull 096 proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now. This is a proud day for Tasmania and for Australian manufacturing.

Following the launch, Incat and its partners will finish completing the interior of Hull 096, and finalizations will occur as the team prepares the boats for trials at sea later in 2025.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) determined that as of 2022, shipping accounted for about 2% of all energy-related carbon emissions. With projected increases in shipping demand globally, transitioning to cleaner fuel sources for ships will be essential to minimizing emissions.

Last month, countries in the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee voted to reduce shipping emissions and aim for net-zero emissions in the shipping industry by 2050. The framework for the committees target will include setting a fuel standard to lower emissions related to marine fuels over time and set a fee that ships pay if they exceed emissions limits.

The China Zorrilla was launched at Incats shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania. Incat

According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, electric ships could offer significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions compared to conventional ships that run on fossil fuels. In a 2023 report, the lab showed that electrifying U.S. ships with 1,000 or less gross tonnage would reduce emissions 34% to 42% by 2035 (compared to 2022 levels) and 75% by 2050 while fully meeting trip demand.

The launch of the largest electric ship could play a part in reducing emissions globally if more fleet owners transition to electric-powered ships in the future.

Roger Holm, president of Wartsila Marine and executive vice president at Wartsila Corporation that collaborated on Hull 096, said, Ferries play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transport options, with ship electrification a key solution for enabling the sector to transition towards net-zero emissions.
Google I/O, the search giant's annual developer conference, kicks off on Tuesday, May 20. The event is arguably the most important on the company's annual calendar, offering the opportunity for the company to share a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year  and contextualize its biggest priorities for the next twelve months.

The dance card for Google I/O was apparently so packed that the company spun off a dedicated Android showcase a whole week earlier. (See everything that was announced at the Android Show or go to our liveblog to get a feel for how things played out.) With that event now behind us, Google can stay focused on its most important core competency: AI.

Google's presentation will come on the heels of announcements from three big rivals in recent days. Further up the Pacific coast, Microsoft is hosting its Build developer conference, where it's already unveiled an updated Copilot AI app. Meanwhile, at the Computex show in Taiwan, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang highlighted a partnership with Foxconn to develop an "AI factory supercomputer" powered by 10,000 Blackwell AI chips. And Meta held its debut LlamaCon AI conference last month, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans for AI dominance have reportedly since hit some snags. (Apple will share its updated AI roadmap on June 9 when its WWDC developers conference kicks off.)

If you'd like to tune in from home and follow along as Google makes its announcements, check out our article on how to watch the Google I/O 2025 keynote. We'll also be liveblogging the event, so you can just come to Engadget for the breaking news.

Android 16

The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. Thankfully, last week's Android Show breakout let Google's mobile operating system take the spotlight for at least a day.

The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off the new Material 3 Expressive design, and what we learned confirmed some of the features that were previously leaked, like the "Ongoing notifications" bar. Material 3 Expressive is also coming to Wear OS 6, and the company is expanding the reach of Gemini by bringing it to its smartwatch platform, Android Auto and Google TV. Android is also amping up its scam-detection features and a refined Find Hub that will see support for satellite connectivity later in the year.

Speaking of timing, Google has already confirmed the new operating system will arrive sometime before the second half of the year. Though it did not release a stable build of Android 16 today, Samat shared during the show that Android 16 (or at least part of it) is coming next month to Pixel devices. And though the company did cover some new features coming to Android XR, senior director for Android Product and UX Guemmy Kim said during the presentation that "we'll share more on Android XR at I/O next week."

It clearly seems like more is still to come, and not just for Android XR. We didn't get confirmation on the Android Authority report that Google could add a more robust photo picker, with support for cloud storage solutions. That doesn't mean it won't be in Android 16, it might just be something the company didn't get to mention in its 30-minute showcase. Plus, Google has been releasing new Android features in a quarterly cadence lately, rather than wait till an annual update window to make updates available. It's possible we see more added to Android 16 as the year progresses.

One of the best places to get an idea for what's to come in Android 16 is in its beta version, which has already been available to developers and is currently in its fourth iteration. For example, we learned in March that Android 16 will bring Auracast support, which could make it easier to listen to and switch between multiple Bluetooth devices. This could also enable people to receive Bluetooth audio on hearing aids they have paired with their phones or tablets.

Android XR

Remember Google Glass? No? How about Daydream? Maybe Cardboard? After sending (at least) three XR projects to the graveyard, you would think even Google would say enough is enough. Instead, the company is preparing to release Android XR after previewing the platform at the end of last year. This time around, the company says the power of its Gemini AI models will make things different. We know Google is working with Samsung on a headset codenamed Project Moohan. Last fall, Samsung hinted that the device could arrive sometime this year.

Whether Google and Samsung demo Project Moohan at I/O, I imagine the search giant will have more to say about Android XR and the ecosystem partners it has worked to bring to its side for the initiative. This falls in line with what Kim said about more on Android XR being shared at I/O.

AI, AI and more AI

If Google felt the need to split off Android into its own showcase, we're likely to get more AI-related announcements at I/O than ever before. The company hasn't provided many hints about what we can expect on that front, but if I had to guess, features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are likely to get substantive updates. I suspect Google will also have something to say about Project Mariner, the web-surfing agent it demoed at I/O 2024. Either way, Google is an AI company now, and every I/O moving forward will reflect that.

Project Astra

Speaking of AI, Project Astra was one of the more impressive demos Google showed off at I/O 2024. The technology made the most of the latest multi-modal capabilities of Google's Gemini models to offer something we hadn't seen before from the company. It's a voice assistant with advanced image recognition features that allows it to converse about the things it sees. Google envisions Project Astra one day providing a truly useful artificial assistant.

However, after seeing an in-person demo of Astra, the Engadget crew felt the tech needed a lot more work. Given the splash Project Astra made last year, there's a good chance we could get an update on it at I/O 2025.

A Pinterest competitor

According to a report from The Information, Google might be planning to unveil its own take on Pinterest at I/O. That characterization is courtesy ofThe Information, but based on the features described in the article, Engadget team members found it more reminiscent of Cosmos instead. Cosmos is a pared-down version of Pinterest, letting people save and curate anything they see on the internet. It also allows you to share your saved pages with others.

Google's version, meanwhile, will reportedly show image results based on your queries, and you can save the pictures in different folders based on your own preferences. So say you're putting together a lookbook based on Jennie from Blackpink. You can search for her outfits and save your favorites in a folder you can title "Lewks," perhaps.

Whether this is simply built into Search or exists as a standalone product is unclear, and we'll have to wait till I/O to see whether the report was accurate and what the feature really is like.

Wear OS

Last year, Wear OS didn't get a mention during the company's main keynote, but Google did preview Wear OS 5 during the developer sessions that followed. The company only began rolling out Wear OS 5.1 to Pixel devices in March. This year, we've already learned at the Android Show that Wear OS 6 is coming, with Material 3 Expressive gracing its interface. Will we learn more at I/O? It's unclear, but it wouldn't be a shock if that was all the air time Wear OS gets this year.

NotebookLM

Google has jumped the gun and already launched a standalone NotebookLM app ahead of I/O. The machine-learning note-taking app, available in desktop browsers since 2023, can summarize documents and even synthesize full-on NPR-style podcast summaries to boot.

Everything else

Google has a terrible track record when it comes to preventing leaks within its internal ranks, so the likelihood the company could surprise us is low. Still, Google could announce something we don't expect. As always, your best bet is to visit Engadget on May 20 and 21. We'll have all the latest from Google then along with our liveblog and analysis.

Update, May 5 2025, 7:08PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on a leaked blog post discussing "Material 3 Expressive." Expand Update, May 6 2025, 5:29PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on the Android 16 beta, as well as Auracast support. Update, May 8 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on how to watch the Android Show and the Google I/O keynote, as well as tweak the intro for freshness. Update, May 13 2025, 3:22PM ET: This story has been updated to include all the announcements from the Android Show and a new report from The Information about a possible image search feature debuting at I/O. The intro was also edited to accurately reflect what has happened since the last time this article was updated. Update, May 14 2025, 4:32PM ET: This story has been updated to include details about other events happening at the same time as Google I/O, including Microsoft Build 2025 and Computex 2025. Update, May 19 2025, 5:13PM ET: Updated competing AI news from Microsoft, Meta and NVIDIA, and contextualized final rumors and reports ahead of I/O.

Google's annual I/O developer conference kicked off on Tuesday, May 20. See everything Google has announced at I/O 2025 so far, including an AI-powered movie creation tool called Flow, real-time translation in Google Meet, virtual clothing try-ons based on uploaded photos, AI enhancements to Project Astra computer vision and more. Follow Engadget's Google I/O liveblog for recap of the event as it unfolded in real-time. Google previewed some key pre-I/O Android 16 news during its Android Show video stream last week.

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Kuwait is cracking down on cryptocurrency miners throughout the country, as reported by Reuters . Officials have blamed the practice for blackouts and for causing stress on its power grid. The country started this crackdown just before the onset of summer, which experts say could reach scorching temperatures of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kuwaits Ministry of Interior said in a statement that it has been conducting a "wide-ranging" security operation that targets homes suspected of being used for cryptocurrency mining. The government agency went on to say that crypto mining is illegal, as the countrys Capital Markets Authority banned the practice in 2023. Crypto trading was also banned at that time .

The crackdown has been targeting homes in the Al-Wafrah region of Kuwait, which is located in the southern part of the country. The regions electricity ministry has said that around 100 homes were being used for mining operations, often consuming up to 20 times the normal power levels. To that end, energy consumption in the area dropped by 55 percent following the operation, according to a government statement.

Its no secret that cryptocurrency mining gobbles up vast amounts of computing power and, as such, electricity. Kuwait isnt the only country to regulate or outright ban the practice. Russia has banned crypto mining in several regions throughout the country . Kosovo outlawed the practice back in 2022 and Angola did the same in 2024 . European countries like Iceland and Norway have strictly regulated the industry due to energy shortages.

As for Kuwait, researchers at the University of Cambridge estimated that the country was responsible for just 0.05 percent of the world's bitcoin mining in 2022. Alex de Vries-Gao, founder of a research project that tracks crypto energy use, told Reuters that "it only takes a very small share of the total bitcoin mining network to have a significant impact on the relatively small total electricity consumption of Kuwait."
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined TikTok owner ByteDance 530 million ($602 million) for breaching the European Union's privacy laws. The regulator said TikTok sent European user data to China without being able to guarantee that the information was safe from government surveillance.

It was reported last month that the DPC was going to slap TikTok with such a fine  the third-largest ever for a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) breach. The regulator confirmed that on Friday.

The DPC, which handles enforcement of the GDPR when it comes to TikTok (which has its European HQ in Ireland), also ruled that the platform wasn't adequately transparent with users. Along with the fine, the DPC gave TikTok six months to halt all illegal data transfers.

TikTok claimed during the four-year probe that it didn't store data from European Economic Area users on servers in China. However, it told the DPC last month it learned in February that "limited EEA User Data" had been stored there and admitted that contradicted what it previously said to regulators.

"The DPC is taking these recent developments regarding the storage of EEA User Data on servers in China very seriously," DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement. "Whilst TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted, in consultation with our peer EU Data Protection Authorities."

The DPC said that, between 2020 and 2022, TikTok didn't tell users that their data was being transferred to China. The regulator says TikTok met its transparency requirements in 2022 after updating its privacy policy. Still, the breach of transparency rules resulted in a 45 million fine. The data transfers to China led to a 485 million penalty.

"TikToks personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU," Doyle said. "As a result of TikToks failure to undertake the necessary assessments, TikTok did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards."

TikTok said in a statement that it disagrees with the ruling and it plans to appeal in full. It claims that Chinese officials had never requested European user data and that it had never provided such information to the country's authorities.

The platform also contends that the DPC did not fully consider Project Clover in its decision. That initiative concerns privacy safeguards, such as setting up European data centers to store data locally. The DPC decision "focuses on a select period from years ago, prior to Clovers 2023 implementation and does not reflect the safeguards now in place," Christine Grahn, TikTok's head of public policy and government relations for Europe, said. However, the DPC said it "considered ongoing changes" related to Project Clover while making the ruling.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products .

If you're concerned about how new US tariffs might affect future electronics purchases, look no further than DJI. The company has raised the price of its popular Osmo Pocket 3 camera to $799, or $280 (54 percent) more than it cost at launch. The Pocket 3 Creator Combo that includes a wireless Mic 2 and other accessories also went up from $700 to $950. Recent tariffs levied by President Trump on Chinese products were "certainly among the key considerations" for the hefty price bumps, the company told The Verge.

The Osmo Pocket 3 was a success from the get go, thanks to the built-in gimbal, motorized subject tracking and large 1-inch sensor that delivers excellent video quality, even in low light. It's widely beloved by content creators for those reasons and is a recommended option in several of Engadget's camera buying guides  in fact we bought some for our own reporters.

It's fair to say that the new tariffs are 100 percent behind the price increase, despite DJI's diplomatic wording. The price is the same as at launch in Europe and in Canada, suggesting that there are no other technical reasons to raise it. DJI quietly boosted the US price from $520 to $620 a couple of months ago, around the time that Trump first announced potential tariffs on Chinese products. Other DJI products like drones have yet to rise in price, however.

DJI said that the Osmo Pocket 3 is one of the best selling products in the history of the company and that it's popularity "continues to exceed expectations." However, much of that popular was likely due to the original $520 price (on top of the camera's strong feature set), that was a bargain next to standard compact cameras like Canon's new $899 PowerShot V1. At $799, the Pocket 3 loses some of its competitive advantage.

It's difficult to find the Pocket 3 in the US (and elsewhere) at any price at the moment, though DJI says it's striving to keep up with demand. On top of all that, the company is facing a full ban of its drone products in the US in 2026 unless it obtains an exemption from regulators. That will affect the company as well as consumers, as its drones are widely used in production, emergency services and elsewhere  and it's far ahead of rivals in terms of technology. DJI sent a formal letter to five national security agencies (DHS, DoD, FBI, NSA, and ODNI) in March requesting that any or all of the agencies begin evaluating its products "right away."
Trump also wants to phase out the SLS rocket and Orion capsule after only three flights.

The Trump administration's preliminary 2026 budget proposes the biggest single-year cut to NASA funding in the agency's 67-year history. The cuts are part of the White House's broader government "skinny budget," which aligns with Elon Musk's DOGE wishlist. The NASA portion would gut the agencys science programs, cancel the Gateway space station project and phase out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after a measly three flights.

Trump's proposal would cut NASA's funding by more than $6 billion from its 2025 budget, from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. That's a 24 percent decrease and, according to The Planetary Society, the biggest single-year drop in NASA funding ever. Space.com says the most brutal cuts would be to space science (a $2.3 billion decrease), Earth science ($1.2 billion less) and legacy human exploration programs ($900 million less).

Also on the chopping block would be Gateway, the planned lunar orbit space station that would act as a hub for missions to the Moon and (eventually) Mars. Ditto for a joint program with the European Space Station to return Mars soil samples to Earth. The White House proposes ending NASA's sustainable aviation efforts (who needs a healthy planet, amirite?) and "any funding toward misaligned DEIA [diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility] initiatives."

NASAs SLS rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft. (NASA)

In addition, the White House's budget would phase out Boeing's SLS and Lockheed Martin's Orion after only three flights  projects that cost $26.4 billion and $21.5 billion to produce. The Trump administration wants "more cost-effective commercial systems" to replace them. (I'm no NASA budget expert, but that sounds like quite the potential score for the president's billionaire backers, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.)

The only area that would see an increase would be human space exploration, which would see a $650 million boost. Bloomberg says it calls for over a $7 billion increase in lunar exploration funding and a new $1 billion investment in Mars exploration.

If there's a silver lining for those who care about science, Congress would have to approve the budget, so some or all of those bullet points could be slashed before the 2026 funding is approved. Trump's political capital is nowhere near where it was on Inauguration Day. Recent polling reveals plummeting support, including over half of Americans viewing the 47th president as a "dangerous dictator."
Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks alleges he received a legal warning from Netflix after publicly criticizing Meghan Markle's cooking series, "With Love, Meghan," calling it "forced and fake" and "painful to watch."

The 41-year-old chef said his comments came after watching the Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle show. He made the remarks during an appearance on GB News in March, and described it as "terrible," with "quite slow" and "lethargic" music.

Now, Stocks, a former protege of culinary legend Marco Pierre White, who was tipped five years ago to become the next big chef in Britain, said he was shocked to receive what he described as a "lawyer's letter" from the streaming platform after voicing his opinion.

He told the Daily Mail, "I got a lawyer's letter from Netflix after I spoke out against her, warning me," Stocks said. "I proper pissed them off. Netflix did not like it and came after me."

'She Should Go Back to Acting'

The chef made the headlines after Brad Pitt reportedly purchased film rights for his life story.

However, Stocks has recently been taking potshots at the Duchess of Sussex. Following her cooking show, the chef said Markle "should go back to acting," and added, "People should stick to what they do best."

Stocks then went on to doubt her culinary credentials, "I don't think she can cook and I don't think she should be teaching people to cook either."

Asked what he would whip up for Markle if given the opportunity, the chef said, "I would cook something she has done on her TV program but cook it properly."

Mocking Meghan's Jam Line

Stocks also targeted Meghan's lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which was introduced with a limited edition range of strawberry jam.

"Her jam sold out in minutes. I think they probably only had about ten of each product," he said, noting that he doesn't make jam himself but added, "I know Lidl do jam for about 15 cheaper."

Despite the alleged legal warning, Stocks said he has no plans to back down.

"I am not taking any notice," he said.

Stocks revealed he started getting death threats in March.

He further told the New York Post, "And I'm thinking to myself, 'Christ. I've not gone in on somebody personally here because that's something I do not do and would not do.'"
Tyra Banks caused a storm at The Daily Front Row's 9th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards  not only because she was being honored there as a Fashion Icon, but also over the look she debuted that many fans found to be "unrecognizable."

The 51-year-old former supermodel walked the red carpet with a strikingly altered appearance; she had a fresh and tight crop, there was, no doubt, a kind of thick brow thing happening, and a whole lot of shiny silver eye shadow and an almost perfectly smooth face. Her refreshed look generated a social media firestorm questioning whether she had undergone surgery.

As her fans speculated, the new look could be down to some recent work. Dr. David Pincus, a plastic surgeon who has not treated the America's Next Top Model host, believes the speculation says more about her look than the surgery.

"As a plastic surgeon, I can say Tyra Banks appears to have maintained her natural features beautifully," Pincus told the Daily Mail. "She's always been known for bold, creative makeup looks that dramatically enhance or shift her appearance."

While some speculated on social media that she may have undergone a second nose job or another cosmetic surgery, Pincus dismissed the possibility of significant surgical changes.

"In these recent photos, she still looks vibrant and unique. I don't see signs of significant surgical work," he said. However, he noted that certain facial features could be the result of non-invasive procedures. "It's likely she's had Botox for her smooth forehead and arched eyebrows," he added. "Overall, this seems more like expert makeup and styling than any major cosmetic intervention."

Makeup or More?

At the Los Angeles party, Banks wore her graphic makeup look featuring dramatic eyeshadow that alternated between dark-winged black eyeliner and shimmery silver shadow, paired with softly sculpted cheeks and a pale pink lip. While the dramatic new look came as a surprise to some fans of the decades-long star, Pincus once again pointed out that it's probably a makeover miracle, not some major plastic surgery.

"She still looks vibrant and unique," he said. "This seems more like expert makeup and styling than any major cosmetic intervention."

Past Nose Job Admission and Recurring Rumors

Banks has never kept a secret about having a nose job at the beginning of her modeling life. In "Perfect is Boring," her 2018 memoir, when she got them, she wrote, "I had bones in my nose that were growing and itching. I could breathe fine, but I added cosmetic surgery. I admit it! Fake hair, and I did my nose. I feel I have a responsibility to tell the truth."

Rumors of new cosmetic work sparked earlier this year when she attended the opening night of Paris Fashion Week on March 1 at the first annual Le Grand Diner du Louvre. Fans also speculated on additional changes in her nose and her overall facial construction. Some whistled over her looks, saying her outfit was "stunning." Others were putting her face on the chopping block.
Meghan Markle is said to be extending an olive branch to top members of the royal family  including King Charles and Queen Camilla  by sending them well-tailored packages from her new lifestyle brand, As Ever.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, is reportedly still keeping in touch with members of the British royal family in private, despite stepping down with her husband, Prince Harry, in 2020 to lead a more private life.

"She continues to acknowledge people's birthdays  she's still sending gifts  and she's stayed in contact with Eugenie to maintain that bridge as best she can," a source told Heat World.

The gift baskets are reportedly not exactly being distributed to everyone, but the former actress's efforts are reportedly concentrated on a small group she still feels connected to. Recipients, the source said, also include "the King and Queen, a few of the Yorks, Zara and Mike and various others who she still has a soft spot towards."

The insider added that this isn't for Meghan's publicity but more of a small means to mend bridges that remain burned. It wasn't a decision she made by herself, either  she and Harry supposedly talked it over.

"It was a really lovely idea and Prince Harry was very moved by the gesture," the source added.

The couple was said to want the outreach to aid their strained relationship with the monarch. "He did have someone in his office write back to say thank you, which Meghan found surprising, actually, because she didn't expect to get a response at all."

Not all relatives from the royal family have turned on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Although they don't publicly flaunt their connections, Zara and Mike Tindall, along with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, are said to still be on good terms with Harry and Meghan.

The insider explained that Zara and Mike "don't shout about their relationship with the Sussexes from the rooftops, because it is still frowned upon by a lot of people in the royal family, but it's known that they, along with Eugenie and Jack, have a lot of time for Harry and Meghan."

It was claimed that Meghan is proud of her lifestyle brand and wanted to send the products to those she has fond memories of.

"She's so proud of her products and has every confidence that everyone who gets to taste them will agree that she's creating magic," the source said.

Sending the gift baskets also served another purpose, the insider noted: it allowed Meghan to prove her lifestyle credibility subtly. "It's a very subtle opportunity for her to show that she's not all hype as far as her lifestyle prowess," the source added.

Harry and Meghan's HRH Titles

News of Meghan sending peace offerings comes as it was reported that Prince William will be taking away Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's HRH titles when he becomes king, according to a royal insider who spoke to the Daily Beast.

"Charles might be happy to put up with this, but William won't," the source said, referring to Meghan's recent use of "HRH The Duchess of Sussex" in a personal gift. While the Sussexes agreed not to use the titles publicly after stepping down in 2020, the insider claimed Meghan is now "exposing how weak and enfeebled" King Charles is by testing the limits.

The HRH styling still technically belongs to Harry and Meghan, but they stopped using it officially under a verbal agreement with Queen Elizabeth II. One friend of William's said, "There is no way King William will stand for this. The titles will simply be removed when he is king. A way will be found."
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 70F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

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By Ben Barry

A former Vatican worker says cardinals will be bickering and infighting ahead of pope vote - and has predicted who they will choose.

Charles Collins, 52, worked at Vatican Radio between 2001 and 2017.

In 2005, Charles correctly predicted that Pope Benedict would win the vote on the fourth ballot and would choose the name Benedict.

Now, Charles has used predicted Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa will be the next pope, and will choose the name Francis II.

He also revealed unlike the film "Conclave" - viewership of which has spiked 283% - the infighting and bickering between cardinals happens before the proceedings begin.

The Vatican announced the conclave will begin on May 7.

Charles, now managing editor of Catholic news website Cruxnow.com, from Dallas, Texas, said: "I think the most likely candidate is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

"I think because one, he is Italian. Two he doesn't really fit in either the liberal or conservative schools.

"He has traditional Catholic views, but he is not playing a game.

"And three, because he is in the Holy Land (Jerusalem).

"He understands how Catholics are living in a precarious state in many parts of the world.

"I think he is going to become Frances II, and not because of his support for Pope Francis.

"But because he is a Franciscan friar, and if he comes after Pope Francis and doesn't choose the name Frances, it would be like a slap in the face to his religious order."

When it comes to choosing the next Pope, Charles said there is infighting and people getting together to talk about who they would prefer.

But, he said, all the drama will take place before the conclave begins - and has been happening over the last few years.

He said: "There is infighting, people are getting together to talk about who they want.

"There are things being planned, all that stuff has already happened - it's been happening for years.

"Once they get into the conclave, it stops happening."

When it comes to voting, Charles said the "real voting" will happen on the second day of the conclave.

He said it is on the first day of voting when everyone votes for their friends, and then they will continue to vote until someone gets two-thirds of the vote

Charles said: "There will be one vote on the first evening, and everyone's going to vote for their friends.

"The real voting happens the next day, and that's when we see who the people (candidates) are.

"That is when people are going to go 'which one of these top earners do I want?' and then you go onto the third vote.

"If in the third vote, someone gets over 50%, that person will be voted in as the next Pope in the fourth vote.

"It is possible that you might see three big candidates in the third vote, and you see it going to five or six votes.

"People now know who they want, and they know what they are looking for."

Pope Francis died aged 88. Charles said the conversations around who the next Pope will be likely started when he was aged 80.

He said that within the Cardinals, there are four different groups - including the conservatives, the progressives, Cardinals from the developing world and Italians.

He said, "I am pretty sure that the different factions already know who their candidate is.

"Right now, they are trying to get people in other factions to support their candidate.

"That's the only kind of debates that are happening now, but when the Conclave begins - all of that stuff's done.

"I freely admit that there will be some kind of arguments happening.

"But generally speaking, that doesn't happen."
The Food Standards Agency has been granted new investigatory powers to strengthen its ability to tackle food fraud across England and Wales.

The FSA's National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), established in 2013 following the horse meat scandal, now has access to key powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

These include the ability to apply for and execute search warrantsan enhancement expected to improve the speed and effectiveness of investigations.

The move marks a major milestone for the NFCU, which was created following the recommendations of the Elliott Review in 2013 following the horse meat crisis.

Since its formation, the unit has collaborated closely with police forces and Local Authorities to detect, deter and prosecute food crime.

These new powers are a vital tool to ensure that NFCU investigations can be progressed more directly and effectively, said Andrew Quinn, NFCU's head.

Our investigators will be able to apply for and execute search warrants, increasing our ability to respond quickly to intelligence and to continue to ensure that swift action is taken to tackle food fraud.

With the UK food system heavily reliant on consumer confidence and integrity, the new measures are also seen as a way to support legitimate food businesses by reducing disruption caused by criminal activity.

Well still be working closely with partners like police and Local Authorities, and our new powers will free up their vital resources so they can be diverted to other priorities, Mr Quinn added.

The development was welcomed in government, with Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner saying: Making sure our food is authentic and safe for the British public to consume is vital, which is why it is essential to boost the NFCU's powers.

Prof Chris Elliott of Queens University, who led the Elliott Review, said the new powers were of huge importance in the ongoing fight against food crime in the UK.

"The ability to enter and search premises immediately following the arrest of suspects will make it much more difficult for criminals to dispose of incriminating evidence and cover their tracks.

"I have supported this advance in the units powers for many years and am delighted to see them coming into force.

Last month, four men were convicted of food crimes after 1.9 tonnes of animal by-product went through an illegal cutting facility in London.
UK red meat exports to Canada surged in 2024, with beef volumes rising by 252% to 7,385 tonnes, worth 26mrepresenting a 156% increase in value year-on-year.

Exports of pig meat also grew, up 10% in volume to 1,138 tonnes and valued at 5 million, marking a 112% rise compared to the previous year.

These strong export figures have placed Canada as the UKs second-largest market for beef and the fifth-largest for pig meat, underscoring its growing significance to British red meat producers.

Building on this momentum, AHDB's international trade development team has been promoting British beef, lamb, and pork at SIAL Canada in Toronto this week.

The international trade show, one of the most influential in North America, draws over 1,000 exhibitors from 44 countries and more than 21,000 industry professionals.

Susana Morris, AHDB senior trade development manager said: "While sheep meat exports to Canada last year were challenging, shipments of beef and pig meat were very encouraging.

"In 2024 Canada was our second biggest export market for beef and the fifth-biggest market for pig meat, highlighting its importance to the red meat industry.

"Maintaining a wide portfolio of markets for our world-class produce is essential in helping add value to our red meat sector," she explained.

Full year figures from HMRC show that in 2024, UK red meat exports, including offal, surpassed the previous record high set in 2022.

Exports, worth 1.77 billion last year, were underpinned by the performance of beef shipments to Europe in particular.

Total beef offal exports were up 15.2% on the year, adding 70.3m to the sector, and an increase of 9.3m over the value recorded in 2023.
In a ground-breaking development for agricultural biotechnology, pigs engineered to resist one of the most economically damaging diseases in livestock have been approved for sale in the US.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to pigs modified with gene-editing technology to resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

Developed using technology pioneered at the University of Edinburghs Roslin Institute, the gene-edited pigs are resistant to PRRS, a disease that causes respiratory issues, fever and reproductive failure.

The illness is widespread in pig-producing areas and is estimated to cost the industry approximately $2.5 billion (1.75 billion) annually in the US and Europe.

The FDA's landmark approval follows years of scientific research and regulatory collaboration, paving the way for commercialisation of the pigs in the US and potentially in other global markets.

Researchers at the Roslin Institute targeted the CD163 gene, which produces a receptor on pig cells that the PRRS virus exploits to infect the animal.

By editing out a specific segment of this receptorwhile leaving the rest of the gene functionalscientists created pigs that are immune to the virus without any apparent negative impact on their health or wellbeing.

The Roslin team worked with animal genetics firm Genus, which also incorporated licensed technologies from other institutions, to develop pigs carrying this precise genetic modification.

Professor Bruce Whitelaw of the Roslin Institute stated: This is a milestone in the use of gene editing in livestock, and a landmark moment for the industry towards managing a global disease that causes devastating losses.

Gene editing  making targeted changes to DNA in a lab  allows scientists to rapidly introduce beneficial traits in plants and animals, which can take decades to achieve through traditional breeding programmes.

This approval could pave the way for further applications of the technology in agriculture, offering a powerful tool to tackle some of the sectors most persistent challenges.

Jorgen Kokke, chief executive officer of Genus, hailed the FDAs decision: "Approval is a fantastic achievement for Genus PIC and represents a major step towards US commercialisation.

"We will now continue to pursue regulatory approvals in other international jurisdictions with a focus on key US export markets."
A series of prosecutions have taken place across England following investigations into the unlawful re-packing of eggs with falsified 'best before' dates.

The investigations, carried out by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), uncovered multiple breaches of the Egg Marketing Regulations between January and March 2025.

The offences, which included the extension or alteration of egg 'best before' dates and breaches of labelling standards, were uncovered by APHA Egg Marketing Inspectors (EMIs), working with Defra.

Phillip Hoyland of Summerley Top Farm, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to fraud charges following routine inspections and a subsequent investigation. He received a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.

Barradale Eggs Ltd was prosecuted at Maidstone Magistrates Court after an inspection which found that a batch of eggs had been re-packed and their original 'best before' date unlawfully extended.

The Ashford-based company was found guilty of one offence and fined 466, with an additional 85 in costs.

Field Farm Eggs, based in South Newbald, East Yorkshire, was found guilty at Hull Magistrates Court of two offences relating to re-packed class A eggs with altered expiry dates.

The company was fined 1,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 400 and 85 in prosecution costs.

Elsewhere, Holyfield Farm Fresh Eggs Ltd, based in north London, pleaded guilty to three charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Inspectors from APHA found that the original 'best before' date on a batch of eggs had been extended by four days.

The court issued a fine of 2,000, reduced from 3,000 due to an early guilty plea, and awarded 200 in prosecution costs.

Aled Edwards, head of England field delivery at APHA, said it is essential that consumers can trust the eggs they purchase are fresh, safe to eat, and clearly labelled.

"I welcome these sentences from the courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others," Mr Edwards added.

"These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement procedures; across the country we have 35 EMIs who work in our field delivery teams and have the important role of ensuring regulations in the egg industry are adhered to."
Turkiye's apparel exports declined by 7.75 per cent year-on-year (YoY) during JanuaryMarch 2025, totalling $4.101 billion compared to $4.446 billion in the same period of 2024, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the Ministry of Trade. Exports also fell by 10.78 per cent in March 2025.

Exports of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories (HS Chapter 61) decreased by 4.8 per cent to $2,297.514 million, down from $2,412.152 million in JanuaryMarch 2024. Non-knitted apparel and accessories (HS Chapter 62) experienced an 11.3 per cent decline, falling to $1,804.553 million from $2,034.341 million during the same period last year, as per the trade report on the top twenty chapters.

Turkiye's apparel exports fell 7.75 per cent year-on-year to $4.101 billion in JanuaryMarch 2025, with March alone seeing a 10.78 per cent drop. Knitted and non-knitted apparel exports declined across both quarterly and monthly comparisons. In 2024, total exports dipped 4.47 per cent to $17.494 billion. No textiles-related imports appeared among the top 20 product chapters in February 2025.

In March 2025, Turkiye's garment exports dropped by 10.78 per cent to $1,423.329 million. Exports of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories declined by 7.9 per cent to $799.924 million, compared to $868.292 million in March 2024. Non-knitted apparel and accessories saw a 14.3 per cent decline, falling from $727.274 million in March 2024 to $623.405 million in March 2025.

Among the top 20 product chapters imported by Turkiye, no textiles-related chapter appeared in February 2025.

In 2024, Turkiye's apparel exports fell by 4.47 per cent to $17.494 billion, compared to $18.314 billion in 2023. Shipments of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories (HS Chapter 61) declined by 1.6 per cent to $10,109.110 million, down from $10,277.566 million in 2023. Non-knitted apparel and accessories (HS Chapter 62) experienced an 8.1 per cent decline, falling to $7,385.592 million from $8,037.378 million in 2023.

In 2023, Turkiyes apparel exports declined by 5.86 per cent to $18.321 billion, compared to $19.463 billion in 2022, following $18.294 billion in 2021.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Nigeria will reassess all its existing trade agreements and renegotiate unfavourable ones to ensure these do not put the country at disadvantage, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole recently said.

The decision came amid the countrys commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Nigeria will reassess all existing trade pacts and renegotiate unfavourable ones to ensure these do not put it at disadvantage, minister of industry, trade and investment Jumoke Oduwole has said. Amid the country's commitment to the AfCFTA, it is advancing digital trade initiatives and talks by the Nigeria Export-Import Bank for credit lines from the African Export-Import Bank will conclude soon.

Existing agreements allow any foreign investor to invest cent per cent in Nigeria without hassles. However, in the aftermath of AfCFTA, concerns were raised in several quarters that such agreements may make the country a dumping ground for foreign goods manufactured in African countries, resulting in damage to domestic manufacturers.

Oduwole told an editors roundtable organised by her ministry that AfCFTA will benefit Nigeria a lot more as companies could easily cross borders to sell their products and services.

Nigeria has also seen an impressive rise in the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with 248,454 new such businesses registered in the first quarter this year, bringing the total to 263,454, domestic media outlets reported citing the minister.

The country is advancing AfCFTA digital trade initiatives and negotiations by the Nigeria Export-Import Bank for credit lines from the African Export-Import Bank are set to conclude by the second quarter this year.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Low-value products originating in China and Hong Kong imported to the United States will not be eligible for the de minimis exemption for duty-free treatment beginning today. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order regarding this on April 2.

Only cargo arrived prior to 11:59 pm EST on May 1 will be eligible for de minimis treatment.

Low-value products originating in China and Hong Kong imported to the US will not be eligible for the de minimis exemption for duty-free treatment beginning today. Though this is a concern for businesses that have been sourcing their production to China to minimise costs, US companies with domestic manufacturing units may be relieved from the competition of cheap Chinese imports.

The de minimis rule allowed nearly 4 million low-value parcels to enter the United States every day, mostly from China.

Though this is a concern for businesses that have been sourcing their production to China to minimise costs, US companies with domestic manufacturing units may be relieved from the competition of cheap Chinese imports.

Trump recently called the de minimis exemption a big scam going on against our country, against really small businesses.

Chinese exports of low-value packages rose to $66 billion in 2023, up from $5.3 billion in 2018, a February 2025 report by the Congressional Research Service revealed. And the US market has been a key destination.

US consumers are expected to face higher prices and delivery delays and disruptions now that parcels will go through a more complicated customs process to enter the country.

The change in regulation will lead to more workload for employees of commercial carriers and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The US Postal Service will choose whether to collect and remit either an ad valorem duty of 120 per cent of the low-cost shipment's value or a specific duty of $100 per shipment, which will increase to $200 per shipment effective 12:01 am EDT on June 1, 2025.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
China remained the United States third-largest goods export market last year and sixth-largest services export market in 2023, according to a new report by the US-China Business Council.

US goods exports to China contracted by 2.8 per cent in 2024 despite global exports expanding slightly, it said. Export trends vary drastically across product categories.

While trade with China in agriculture, education, travel, aerospace and many other sectors supports hundreds of thousands of American jobs, existing trade barriers and new tariff escalations threaten to upend years of largely uninterrupted growth in US exports to China, the report, titled US Exports to China, noted.

China remained the third-largest goods export market for the US in 2024, a report by the US-China Business Council said. US goods exports to China contracted by 2.8 per cent in 2024 despite global exports expanding slightly, it said. Stunted economic growth and consumer demand in China, shifting import patterns in China, and trade barriers, such as tariffs, continue to weigh on bilateral trade.

Recent US tariff increases have prompted Chinese retaliatory tariffs, including a 125-per cent baseline duty on all US goods and additional product-specific tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. Businesses and communities in the Midwest and South are the most exposed to these product-specific retaliatory tariffs on US goods, the report said.

Stunted economic growth and consumer demand in China, shifting import patterns in China, and trade barriers, such as tariffs, continue to weigh on bilateral trade.

The data covered in the report does not reflect US and Chinese tariff increases enacted so far in 2025, and these are expected to significantly reduce US exports if they remain in place.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Thousands of Performances and Events Presented in More Than 190 Countries

Chicago to Host 15th Anniversary International Jazz Day in 2026

ABU DHABI, UAE, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 14th annual International Jazz Day culminated in a rousing All-Star Global Concert from Etihad Arena in the host city of Abu Dhabi, UAE. The concert, hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons and led by Herbie Hancock, featured world-renowned artists from 14 countries including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Etienne Charles, Kurt Elling, Ruthie Foster, Jose James, John McLaughlin, Helene Mercier, Danilo Perez, John Pizzarelli, Dianne Reeves, David Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval, Janis Siegel, Varijashree Venugopal and others. Watch for free at jazzday.com .

At the All-Star Global Concert, UNESCO officials announced that Herbie Hancock's hometown of Chicago, USA will host the 15th anniversary International Jazz Day celebration in 2026.

On the morning of April 30, a remarkable Opening Ceremony was held at Qasr Al Watan, the Palace of the Nation. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, officially welcomed International Jazz Day to Abu Dhabi. The event featured remarks by UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone and Jeremy Irons, acclaimed stage, film and television actor. Highlights included a moving solo performance of "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock and a stirring presentation of traditional Arabic music by local artists.

Highlights of the All-Star Global Concert included Dee Dee Bridgewater performing a groove-driven version of "The Thrill Is Gone" with John McLaughlin and John Pizzarelli. World-renowned concert pianist Helene Mercier of Paris and emerging talent A Bu of Beijing united two continents in a dazzling duo piano performance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue"-a classical tribute to the spirit and rhythm of jazz. Arturo Sandoval, David Sanchez and Danilo Perez honored Dizzy Gillespie with their electrifying performance of "Tin Tin Deo."

John McLaughlin brought his mind-blowing jazz fusion to his original composition "As The Spirit Sings." Dianne Reeves, known for her emotive vocal prowess and jazz interpretations, delivered a poignant rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me." Jose James infused The Rolling Stones' classic "Miss You" with his unique blend of soul and swagger. Jazz Day 2025 concluded with its traditional finale of John Lennon's "Imagine," the universal anthem for peace, bringing the audience to its feet in a celebration of unity through music.

Jazz Day 2025 celebrations in Abu Dhabi included dozens of community outreach programs, bringing the magic of jazz to young children and aspiring professionals at venues including Berklee Abu Dhabi, Bait Al Oud and the Cultural Foundation. In partnership with the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, the program included a special concert at the Louvre Abu Dhabi and a thought-provoking panel conversation between Herbie Hancock and Financial Times CEO John Ridding. Around the world, thousands of performances, masterclasses, jam sessions, education and community programs took place in more than 190 countries.

Each year on April 30, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide to promote peace and unity, dialogue among cultures and respect for human dignity. International Jazz Day was adopted by the UNESCO Member Nations on the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, who co-chairs the annual celebration with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi served as the International Jazz Day 2025 Host City Partner, with major global support provided by the Doris Duke Foundation. United, the International Jazz Day Global Airline Partner, provided air transportation and additional support for artists and educators.

Clickable Link to Photo/Video Assets

www.jazzday.com

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BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), announces that its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis, and certifications of the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and the Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO") (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), were not filed by the required filing deadline of April 30, 2025 due to delays in receiving certain financial information required for the Annual Filings. The Company is working diligently with its auditors to complete the Annual Filings and expects to be able to file the Annual Filings on or before June 28, 2025.

The Company has applied to the applicable securities regulatory authorities and received a management cease trade order ("MCTO") imposed against the CEO and CFO of the Company precluding them from trading securities of the Company. The MCTO will be in effect until the Annual Filings are filed, and requires that they be filed on or before June 30, 2025.

Until the Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. The Company confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.

About BioNxt Solutions Inc.

BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (Thin-Film), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (Enteric-Coated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity.

With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.

BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com .

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Wolfgang Probst, CFO and Director

Email: investor.relations@bionxt.com

Phone: +1 778.598.2698

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information in this news release includes the anticipated filing date of the Annual Filings. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/bionxt-solutions-announces-delay-in-filing-2024-annual-financial-stat-1022643
Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda., a subsidiary of Equinor (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR), has entered into agreements(1) with Brazilian company Prio Tigris Ltda., a subsidiary of PRIO SA (PRIO3.SA) for a sale of its 60% operated interest in the Peregrino field in Brazil.

PRIO, Brazil's largest independent oil and gas company, will pay a consideration of USD 3.35 billion and a maximum of USD 150 million in interest to Equinor for the transaction. The final cash payment will reflect the closing date and any deductions generated by the asset since the effective date, which is 1 January 2024.

Equinor will be responsible for operations of the field until closing of the transaction, after which PRIO will take over operatorship.

"With this transaction we realise value from a long-standing asset in our Brazil portfolio. Brazil will continue to be a core country for Equinor, as we focus on starting up the Bacalhau field and continue progressing the Raia gas project. With these two operated projects and our partnership in Roncador our equity production in Brazil will be close to 200,000 barrels per day by 2030," says Philippe Mathieu, Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production International at Equinor.

"This deal is part of Equinor's ongoing effort to high-grade its international portfolio through asset divestments and acquisitions. We continue to see growth potential and opportunities to extend the longevity of our international oil and gas portfolio, also in Brazil," says Philippe Mathieu.

Equinor has been operating the Peregrino field since 2009 and around 300 million barrels of oil have been produced by the asset since. Peregrino is a heavy oil field and consists of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform, supported by three fixed platforms. The field is in the Campos Basin, east of Rio de Janeiro. In Q1 2025, Equinor's share of production from Peregrino was around 55,000 barrels per day.

Last year, PRIO acquired Sinochem's 40% interest in the Peregrino field.

"PRIO has been a valued partner since joining the Peregrino license last year and we look forward to a smooth hand-over with them," says Veronica Coelho, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for Equinor Brazil.

"We are very proud of the work that has been done by our team over the past 20 years on the Peregrino field. This asset has been the cornerstone of Equinor's history in Brazil. Our journey in Brazil continues with full momentum, building on the legacy of those that have worked on Peregrino. We are preparing for operations on Bacalhau, as well as the startup of the Serra da Babilonia renewable hybrid project by our subsidiary Rio Energy and we are progressing the Raia gas project" says Veronica Coelho.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and legal approvals. The payment will occur in two tranches, one at signing and a further one closer to closing. The payment will be subject to customary adjustments.

---

1: The deal is divided in two parts, one for the acquisition of 40% and operatorship of Peregrino, the second for the acquisition of the remaining 20%. The 40% operation will receive a payment of USD 2,233 million, with an additional payment of USD 166 million which is contingent on the completion of the second part of 20%. The 20% operation will have a value of USD 951 million. The final component is USD 150 million of maximum interest, reaching the total of USD 3.5 billion.

---

Contact details:

Investor relations

Bard Glad Pedersen, Senior Vice President Investor Relations

+47 918 01 791

Media

Ola Morten Aanestad, Media Relations

+47 480 80 212

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act


EQS Newswire / 02/05/2025 / 11:18 UTC+8



SeaPRwire Launches Multilingual News Translation Tool to Enhance News Promotion across Asia

Hong Kong - May 01, 2025 - SeaPRwire , a leading Public Relations Communication Platform in Asia, has announced the launch of its new multilingual news translation tool. Developed in partnership with Asia Presswire ( https:/asiapresswire.com ), this cutting-edge tool aims to help clients expand their reach by instantly translating news content into multiple languages, improving news promotion across the Asia-Pacific region.

The multilingual news translation tool leverages advanced machine translation technology to provide fast and accurate translations of press releases into various languages. This tool makes it easier for brands to distribute their news to a diverse audience across Asia, breaking down language barriers that often hinder global communication efforts.

"With the rapid growth of digital media and increasing demand for cross-border communication, our multilingual news translation tool provides an efficient and reliable solution for clients looking to enhance their media outreach in Asia," said Grace Martin, Media Director at SeaPRwire. "This tool not only improves the speed and efficiency of news distribution, but also ensures that our clients' messages are delivered clearly and accurately to a wider audience, across different languages."

The tool supports a range of languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other regional languages, enabling brands to connect with key media outlets, journalists, and audiences in various countries. It is designed to save time and resources for PR professionals by automating the translation process, making it more efficient than manual translations while maintaining high-quality results.

As businesses continue to expand their presence in Asia, the ability to communicate effectively in multiple languages is becoming increasingly essential. SeaPRwire's multilingual translation tool allows press releases to be instantly translated and distributed, ensuring timely delivery of key information to targeted markets. By reaching audiences in their native languages, brands can enhance their visibility, engage more effectively with local media, and strengthen their international reputation.

The introduction of this tool further enhances SeaPRwire's service offerings and supports its commitment to providing innovative solutions for global communications. It helps clients ensure their press releases are not only distributed quickly but also accurately, ensuring maximum impact across various linguistic and cultural regions.

"Asia is one of the most diverse and dynamic markets in the world, and this tool is designed to help our clients navigate the complexities of multilingual communication," Grace Martin added. "By enabling seamless translation, we are empowering our clients to expand their media reach and establish a stronger presence in Asia."

SeaPRwire's multilingual news translation tool is now available to all clients across the Asia-Pacific region. This AI-driven solution positions SeaPRwire as a leader in earned media communications management, providing clients with the tools they need to successfully promote their news and enhance their brand visibility across multiple countries and languages.

About Asia Presswire

Asia Presswire is a press release distribution service that provides tailored solutions for public relations firms, agencies, organizations, and corporations worldwide. They specialize in delivering customized press release distribution, including direct-to-editor email delivery to targeted media editors at newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets. Their extensive network spans 172 countries, connecting with over 230,000 media outlets and 3.6 million self-media platforms. Supporting over 46 languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese, Asia Presswire ensures effective communication across diverse linguistic regions. Their services are designed to enhance brands' online visibility and reputation, enabling effective connection with target audiences.

About SeaPRwire

SeaPRwire is a leading earned media communications management platform in Asia, designed to empower PR and communications professionals. Its Branding-Insight Program streamlines communication management by connecting clients with a network of over 80,000 journalists, editors, magazines, and online media outlets, along with 300 million followers of key opinion leaders (KOLs). Leveraging AI-driven technology, SeaPRwire enables users to identify relevant media and KOLs, personalize pitches, and measure the impact of their communications efforts. Operating across regions including Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, SeaPRwire enhances brand awareness and educates audiences effectively.

Media Contact

Brand: SeaPRwire

Contact: Media team

Email: cs@seaprwire.com

Website: https://seaprwire.com

02/05/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - SurgeGraph, the leading AI writing tool, today announced the beta launch of its new feature, "Knowledge". This intelligent tool allows users to upload and leverage proprietary information, enabling the AI within SurgeGraph Vertex to generate more personalized, unique, and information-rich content.





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Knowledge allows users to build custom libraries by uploading website URLs, text snippets, or documents (PDF, MD, TXT formats up to 5MB). This enables the AI to draw upon knowledge not publicly available, resulting in content that reflects the user's specific expertise and insights.

SurgeGraph Announces Beta Launch of New Feature: Knowledge

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/250574_ed9d415494e66b20_002full.jpg

Users can create multiple libraries for different clients or subject areas, with each library supporting up to 30 assets and each asset accommodating up to 40,000 words. The feature also includes a query functionality within each library, allowing users to quickly retrieve specific information via a chatbot interface.

During the content writing process, users can designate specific knowledge libraries to inform the AI when building outlines and generating content. The "Knowledge Highlights" feature allows users to quickly spot the portions of the generated text that were sourced from their uploaded materials.

"Knowledge directly addresses the challenge of AI-generated text often lacking unique, proprietary, in-house expertise," said Sara Salim, spokesperson for SurgeGraph. "By enabling users to integrate their own unique knowledge directly into the AI workflow, they can produce content that truly differentiates itself and provides significant value to their audience."

SurgeGraph will be gathering user feedback during the beta period to further refine and enhance the Knowledge feature. The company has also announced upcoming updates to Knowledge which will include the ability to generate outlines and extract keywords directly from uploaded documents.

Those interested in getting beta access to Knowledge can sign up for a SurgeGraph plan at https://surgegraph.io.

About the company: SurgeGraph is an AI writing tool designed to help agencies and teams generate humanized and unique content at scale. With intelligent AI and SEO features, SurgeGraph helps create SEO-optimized content that ranks high and drives traffic.

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pukx3kHDGwU

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250574

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Regulatory News:

Sopra Steria (Paris:SOP), a major tech player in Europe, has announced that it has completed its acquisition of Aurexia,a management consulting firm specialising in financial services.

The acquisition of Aurexia is in keeping with Sopra Steria's strategy of developing its consulting business with the aim of doubling its size by 2028, at which point consulting would account for at least 12% of the Group's revenue. It bolsters Sopra Steria Next's management consulting activities in financial services by expanding its range of business expertise in this industry as well as its positioning and ability to serve France's leading financial institutions.

With the addition of Aurexia's 140 consultants, this acquisition makes Sopra Steria Next one of France's leading management consultancies in the financial services sector, with over 400 consultants now dedicated to the industry in this country.

Aurexia has been consolidated with effect from 1 May 2025.

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria, a major tech player in Europe with 51,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognised for its consulting, digital services and solutions. It helps its clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. The Group provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and technologies with a collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. In 2024, the Group generated revenue of 5.8 billion.

The world is how we shape it

Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809

For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

Copyright 2025 Sopra Steria. All rights reserved. Sopra Steria and its logo are registered trademarks of Sopra Steria.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250501363232/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Olivier Psaume

olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com

+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16

Press Relations

Caroline Simon (Image 7)

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65
ING completes share buyback and announces new programme of up to 2.0 billion

ING announced today that it has completed the share buyback programme announced on 31 October 2024. The total number of ordinary shares repurchased under the programme is 125,848,305 at an average price of 15.84 for a total consideration of 1,993,571,438.95.

During the last week of the programme, from 28 April 2025 up to and including 30 April 2025, in total 6,872,040 shares were purchased. These shares were repurchased at an average price of 17.12 for a total amount of 117,683,132.31.

Today ING announced a new share buyback programme under which it plans to repurchase ordinary shares of ING Groep N.V. for a maximum total amount of  2.0 billion. The purpose of the programme is to converge our CET1 ratio towards our target.

ING Group's CET1 ratio was 13.6% at the end of the first quarter of 2025, which is well above the prevailing CET1 ratio requirement of 10.76%. The share buyback programme will have an impact of approximately 59 bps on our CET1 ratio. The programme will commence on 2 May 2025 and is expected to end no later than 27 October 2025.

The ECB has approved the programme, which will be executed in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation and within the limitations of the existing authority to acquire a maximum of 20% of the issued shares, as granted by the general meeting of shareholders on 22 April 2025. ING has entered into a non-discretionary arrangement with a financial intermediary to conduct the buyback.

For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at www.ing.com/Investor-relations/Share-information/Share-buyback-programme.htm.

Note for editors

For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries

Investor enquiries Raymond Vermeulen

ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000

+31 20 576 6396 Raymond.Vermeulen@ing.com

Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)

ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
Dublin, Ireland--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Cosmo is excited to announce that Endovision Limited, a leading innovator in endoscopic imaging solutions, has received EU MDR certification[1] for Cerebro, a Real-Time AI-powered guide for complete Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures. As one of the first Computer-Assisted Quality (CAQ) tools for endoscopy, Cerebro marks a significant step forward in transforming procedures by elevating inspection quality, standardizing protocols, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. Cerebro software is intended to be distributed later this year via the AI Access platform integrated into the Medtronic GI Genius intelligent endoscopy system, which is manufactured by Cosmo.

Cerebro leverages advanced deep learning algorithms to analyse real-time endoscopic imaging, integrating seamlessly with multiple modalities - including White-Light, NBI, TXI, and BLI - to highlight critical anatomical landmarks and identify potential quality issues during EGD procedures. Using a robust, data-driven approach developed from extensively annotated datasets, Cerebro standardizes inspection protocols and generates detailed photo documentation, complete with coverage scores and procedural reports.

With Cerebro, Cosmo's real-time AI platform will extend its capabilities to the upper gastrointestinal tract, seamlessly complementing the established success in lower GI procedures. This release aligns with the ecosystem's aim to support all endoscopists with AI during their procedures, bridging the gap between technology innovation and its translation into better patient care.

Endovision has been collaborating with the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to advance this technology. Prof. Philip Chiu, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK and a leading pioneer in the field of endoscopy, AI, and early diagnosis, shared, "it is deeply rewarding to see this technology evolve from my initial concept to clinical translation with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes."

Highlighting the system's precision, Dr. Yuichi Mori, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, and a leading figure in the advancement of early diagnosis and AI-driven endoscopic technologies, stated: "Cerebro assists endoscopists in navigating all key landmark points in the upper GI tract, ensuring a comprehensive and thorough examination without blind spots. The system operates with exceptional accuracy when the endoscope is maneuvered slowly, allowing for clear visualization of the landmarks, which ultimately enhances the quality of endoscopy. I am excited to witness how AI-driven technologies like this continue to improve patient care through improved endoscopy quality."

Saurabh Jejurikar, CEO of Endovision Limited, commented: "Achieving MDR certification underscores our team's ability to innovate, develop, and secure approval for groundbreaking AI solutions." Regarding the collaboration with Cosmo, he added: "I'm proud of making available our product in the most advanced real-time AI ecosystem available today. Building on top of it, we are now leading the way toward a new era of standardization through Computer-Aided Quality (CAQ) in endoscopy."

"It is exciting to see how our ecosystem is reducing the barriers to the adoption of responsible AI into clinical practice," said Nhan Ngo Dinh, President of Cosmo Intelligent Medical Devices. He added: "This is a perfect example of how software-defined medical devices can change the pace of innovation and, simultaneously, demonstrates once more the effectiveness of our strategy to translate Artificial Intelligence into real patient benefits."

About Endovision

Endovision develops AI software for Upper GI endoscopy, enhancing procedural quality. Based in Hong Kong and India. For more information, please see: https://www.endovisionai.com/.

About Cosmo

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. is committed to revolutionizing healthcare and transforming people's lives by researching and developing innovative products that tackle unfulfilled healthcare demands. As a pharmaceutical company, Cosmo is active in the areas of Healthtech/AI, dermatology, gastroenterology and contract manufacturing & development. For the commercialization and distribution of its products, Cosmo collaborates with leading partners worldwide, including Medtronic and Sun Pharma. Founded in 1997, Cosmo is headquartered in Dublin (Ireland) and has offices also in San Diego (USA), and Lainate/Rome/Catania (Italy). The Company has approximately 330 employees at the end of 2024, all dedicated to making a significant impact in the field of healthcare. For more information, please visit www.cosmopharma.com.

Financial calendar

Ordinary Annual General Meeting of Shareholders May 30, 2025 Jefferies Healthcare Conference, New York June 3-5, 2025 Investor Day, Zurich July 1, 2025 2025 Half-Year Results and Report July 23, 2025

Disclaimer

Some of the statements in this press release may be forward-looking statements or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. Cosmo does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will Cosmo and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or for any related damages.

[1] Notified Body: DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH, identification number 0297

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250583

SOURCE: Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.
Q1 proportionate energy output increased slightly by 2% yoy to 29 GWh despite the sale of its CHP plant in Puerto Rico at the end of last year (6-7 GWh impact). Mexico and El Salvaor on the other hand show strong operational developments, overcompensating for that. As a result, proportionate group sales in Q1 stood at $ 2.9m ($ +0.1m yoy).

The goup's consolidated EBIT turned positive at $ 0.1m, a significant improvement compared to last year's $ 0.4m loss. This is mainly due to cost-cutting measures (e.g. reduced headcount) bearing fruit.

Sale of Colombian assets progressing. As highlighted during the Q4 earnings call, MPCES initiated the sales process of its two Colombian operational projects (39MW) due to the challenging situation in that region, triggering significant expenses to guarantee the safety of employees. Conservatively assuming a certain discount to the book value ($ 17m), MPCES should be able to receive some $ 15m, eNuW.

Reduced development efforts. With the sale of a Colombian development project in Q1, the pipeline now consists of two projects with a total capacity of 90MW. At the current development projects, MPCES should be able to receive roughly $ 40k per MW.

Guatemala project to begin producing electricity in July. In February 2024, MPCES begun construction of its 66MW PV project in Guatemala. The mechanical completion is expected to take place in May, followed by the grid connection at the end of June. While the company initially planned to sell a 49% stake to a co-investor, management decided to keep full ownership of the project, which is expected to generate annualized sales of $ 8m with an 80% EBITDA margin, roughly doubling its production portfolio (in terms of GWh).

No liquidity concerns. Thanks to the pending inflows from the sold development project and the two Colombian assets that are expected to be sold this year, MPCES should be well capitalized. In fact, management confirmed to plans to redistribute cash to shareholders once it becomes available.

We confirm our BUY rating with an unchanged NOK 15.5 PT (old: NOK 14) based on sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation, separately accounting for the value of its current IPP portfolio (NPV) and its development backlog (multiple). This is largely inline with a 20% discount to the projects' book values (page 2).

ISIN: NL0015268814
Structured Play as a Trauma-Informed Intervention for Adults

Emotional intelligence educator and trauma-informed facilitator Nikki Langman will present her groundbreaking session, "REBUILD: The LEGO Experience Transforming Mental Health and Substance Misuse Prevention," at the prestigious Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale, taking place May 2-3, 2025 at the Yale School of Medicine.

Langman's session, scheduled for Saturday, May 3, will explore how LEGO-based symbolic construction can serve as a powerful non-verbal tool for emotional processing, identity reconstruction, and recovery support among adults. Her approach blends principles of neuroscience, trauma theory, and expressive therapy to offer a new lens on resilience-building in individuals facing trauma, chronic stress, or substance misuse.

"When verbal processing feels inaccessible or unsafe, structured play becomes a bridge between silence and understanding," Langman says. "LEGO allows individuals to externalize pain, explore their internal world symbolically, and reimagine their identity through safe, tangible methods."

Reimagining Recovery Through Symbolic Construction

As mental health providers seek more inclusive, somatic-based interventions for adult populations, Langman's research brings forward a trauma-sensitive, accessible model for use in both clinical and community care settings. LEGO Serious Play becomes a medium for externalizing difficult emotions, creating meaning from internal chaos, and practicing cognitive reorganization in a non-threatening way.

In her session, mental health professionals, educators, and trauma specialists will explore:

The clinical benefits of symbolic play for trauma and behavioral health recovery



How tactile engagement facilitates narrative integration and emotional regulation



Ways structured play can complement traditional therapy and support prevention efforts

Langman's model is currently being implemented in corporate wellness, community recovery groups, and educational environments as a novel pathway toward emotional clarity and behavioral change.

About Nikki Langman

Nikki Langman is an emotional intelligence educator, international speaker, and trauma-informed facilitator whose work bridges symbolic construction and cognitive-emotional recovery. Her research focuses on the use of LEGO-based interventions to support non-verbal processing and identity reconstruction in adults navigating trauma, addiction recovery, or stress-related mental health challenges.

Langman has delivered training and workshops across the U.S. and Australia, guiding institutions in integrating expressive, hands-on approaches into recovery and behavioral health programming. She is widely recognized for her work in leadership development, emotional regulation, and creative trauma response.

Representation & Booking Information

Nikki Langman is represented by Ni' Nava & Associates, a premier speaker management firm connecting transformative voices to institutions advancing equity, innovation, and emotional healing.

For media inquiries, speaking engagements, or collaborations, contact:

Kelsha Sellars

404-410-0200

Kelsha@ninavafirm.com

For more on Nikki Langman, visit:

?? www.nikkilangman.com

The Future of Recovery is Playful, Purposeful, and Proven

As trauma and substance misuse continue to affect adult mental health outcomes, expanding the intervention toolbox is more critical than ever. Nikki Langman's LEGO-based model reintroduces creative expression as a scientifically grounded, healing practice for individuals ready to rebuild.

To bring Nikki Langman to your institution or explore partnership opportunities, contact us today.

SOURCE: Nikki Langman

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/nikki-langman-to-present-at-yale-on-legor-based-therapy-for-mental-health-and-substance-m-1022723
SEOUL, South Korea, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NextRise 2025, Seoul, Asia's leading innovation fair encompassing cutting-edge tech trends and startup ecosystems, will be held on June 26-27, 2025 at COEX, Seoul.

Co-hosted by the Korea Development Bank (KDB)-one of Korea's largest policy banks and venture investors-and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA)-representing over 76,000 Korean trade enterprises including Samsung and Hyundai-NextRise has established itself as the most powerful platform for startups and innovation agencies seeking to collaborate with Korean industry leaders.

Now in its 7th year, NextRise 2025 will bring together:

500+ startups,

250+ global corporates and VCs,

Over 3,600 1:1 business meetings during two days.

In 2024, 373 startups built business partnerships, and 102 startups successfully raised a combined KRW 400 billion (~USD 300 million) in investment. This year's event will further amplify its focus on AI, Sustainability, and Mobility, with an expanded 1:1 Business Meetup program connecting startups with tech scouts from Fortune 500 companies.

Highlighting its global reach, Germany has been selected as the Country of Honor for 2025. A Startup Germany Pavilion and the Korea-Germany Open Innovation Summit will be hosted in collaboration with IFA Berlin and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). National innovation events from JETRO (Japan) and VivaTech (France) will also be featured alongside 20+ global innovation partners.

Startups seeking 1:1 business meetings with LG Chem, Hyundai Motor, Amazon AWS, Airbus, BMW, and more are encouraged to apply via www.nextrise.co.kr by May 12, 2025 (KST).

"NextRise is Asia's most vibrant platform where startups can directly collaborate with Korean conglomerates and uncover new investment opportunities," said an official from KITA.

"Last summer's NextRise became a turning point for me. It helped strengthen my network in Seoul and directly influenced the development of our new MVP, soon to be announced," shared a German startup CEO who joined in 2024.

For startups aiming for global expansion, and innovation agencies seeking PoC and market validation opportunities in Asia, NextRise 2025 is the definitive platform. Following the event, companies can also leverage the Startup Branch platform for localized guidance on establishing a Korean entity and scaling operations in Asia.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nextrise-2025-seoul-asias-premier-innovation-gateway-for-global-startups-302442556.html
Valeo Foods Group, one of Europe's leading producers of quality sweets, treats and snacks, has successfully acquired the Italian sweet bakery producer Freddi Dolciaria S.p.A ("Freddi"), accelerating growth in South-West European region and enhancing its position in the bakery sector.

Freddi is an Italian sweet bakery company founded in 1949 by Luigi Freddi and headquartered in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy. Specialising in sponge cakes, Freddi has an established presence in both the Italian retail and international markets, with an annual turnover approaching 20 million and 48 employees.

This acquisition strengthens Valeo Foods Group's position in the packaged wafers, cakes, and biscuits category, complementing the existing Balconi business across Southern Europe and international markets. The integration of Freddi is expected to drive sustainable, profitable growth while enhancing production capacity and operational efficiency. It also reinforces Valeo's continued expansion in the region, following the acquisitions of Balconi in 2015, Val D'Enza in 2017, IDP Pattini in 2023, and Dal Colle in 2025.

Ronald Kers, CEO of Valeo Foods Group, commented: "Freddi Dolciaria is a fantastic addition to the Valeo Foods portfolio, which already includes some of Europe's most established and beloved cakes. Commercially, this move strengthens and broadens our product range, introducing exclusive, global licencing partnerships with leading CPGs and expanding our healthy and 'free-from' offerings.

As Freddi Dolciaria joins our portfolio, we enhance our manufacturing and logistical capabilities, adding an additional, well invested, flexible facility to support our ambitious growth plans. This marks the next step in our vision to establish Valeo Foods as the leading European champion in sweet treats."

Alberto Alfieri, CEO Valeo Foods, South-West Europe, added: "Freddi Dolciaria has a strong legacy of producing high-quality products that consumers love. Its product range and operational footprint align perfectly with Valeo Foods. We are delighted to welcome our 48 new colleagues to the Valeo Foods. Together, we will bring Freddi Dolciaria's exceptional products to an even wider audience and accelerate the growth of our South-West European business."

About Freddi Dolciaria

Freddi Dolciaria S.p.A. is an Italian sweet bakery company, founded in 1949 by Luigi Freddi in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lombardy, Italy. With over 75 years of heritage, Freddi has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality sponge cakes, catering to both domestic and international markets. The company specialises in a diverse range of pre-packaged sponge cakes and Swiss rolls, offering a variety of products, including classic, filled, and layered cakes, as well as innovative lines designed for different consumer preferences, such as free-from and health-conscious options. Freddi generates an annual turnover approaching 20 million and employs 48 people.

About Valeo Foods Group

Valeo Foods Group is one of Europe's fastest-growing food companies, specialising in sweets, snacks, and treats. Home to over 90 brands including Balconi cakes and wafers, Pedro confectionary, Mila, Lina and Horalky wafers, Rowse Honey, Bernard maple syrup, Barratt's sweets, Fox's mints and Kettle Chips. We operate in over 100 countries serving major retailers, discounters, e-commerce, convenience stores, wholesalers, and foodservice operators. With revenues exceeding 1.8 billion, we employ nearly 6,000 people across 30 facilities in the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Canada. Valeo Foods Group is owned by Bain Capital.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250502453540/en/

Contacts:

Robert Brown

rbrown@reputation-inc.com

+353 (0) 85 725 2626

Reputation Inc
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!
With fresh funding round, the health tech pioneer continues to work toward managing the world's blood pressure.

LONDON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aktiia, a blood pressure intelligence platform, announces an oversubscribed $42 million (over CHF 34 million) Series B funding round, co-led by Earlybird Health and Wellington Partners, with new investors Kfund and naturalX Health Ventures, and participation from existing investors redalpine, Khosla Ventures, Molten Ventures, Translink Capital and Verve Ventures. The investment, which has brought the total financing to date above $100 million, will accelerate the company's mission to manage the world's blood pressure.

The latest investment builds on a period of significant momentum for the company during which it has achieved several major milestones, including securing CE marking for its innovative mobile phone camera blood pressure monitoring technology, securing regulatory approvals in Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia, achieving 76% compounded annual revenue growth, and completing a pivotal clinical trial ahead of its U.S. FDA application submission. This Series B funding will fuel continued product innovation, expansion into new markets and the build out of its blood pressure intelligence platform to support enterprise use cases.

Alongside this funding, Aktiia is introducing its new brand identity: Hilo - a rebrand which reflects the company's global ambition to make cuffless, clinically validated blood pressure monitoring universally accessible and effortless. The transition to Hilo marks an important milestone in the company's journey, aligning with its vision of healthier blood pressure for all, while continuing to deliver the trusted technology and reports that have been central to its platform.

With more than 120,000 devices sold, Hilo has already established itself as a stand-out in the health tech space. The company has developed a foundation Machine Learning model specifically designed for blood pressure. The model has been trained on tens of billions of optical signals from real-world users and further refined with hundreds of millions of calibration points, strengthening its position as the leader in the emerging cuffless blood pressure monitoring (CBPM) category.

Raghav "Rags" Gupta, CEO of Hilo, commented:

"This funding round is a testament to the confidence our investors have in Hilo's groundbreaking technology and our mission to manage the world's blood pressure via more frequent, convenient and accurate measurements. With billions worldwide suffering from hypertension, only 20% of whom are in control of their blood pressure, the need for innovative, accessible blood pressure monitoring solutions has never been greater. Our rebrand to Hilo represents more than just a name change, it's a commitment to empowering users around the world with smarter tools to optimise their health. We are grateful to early Aktiia customers for their support and to our investors, new and existing, for their faith."

Christoph Massner, Principal at Earlybird Health, who will join Hilo's Board of Directors, commented:

"Hilo stands at the intersection of medical-grade precision and consumer-centric accessibility. By building on a validated medical device platform and an intuitive, user-friendly design, they bridge the gap between clinical reliability and everyday usability. It's a rare combination that empowers users to take meaningful control of their health with minimal effort. This is especially critical given the enormous medical need: uncontrolled high blood pressure remains one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide."

Johannes Fischer, Managing Partner at Wellington Partners, commented:

"We are excited to co-lead this financing and to be backing Hilo's innovative technology, which provides groundbreaking advancements to the billions of people with elevated blood pressure today. We believe that real-time and continuous access to blood pressure information will change the way we think about the monitoring and management of one of the most common risk factors to human health."

About Hilo

Aktiia, now trading under Hilo, was established in 2018 to transform how blood pressure is measured and therefore managed. By integrating advanced AI algorithms with extensive datasets, Hilo's cuffless blood pressure monitoring (CBPM) products offer convenient, valuable reports to give both individuals and healthcare professionals a useful picture of their blood pressure. The company's foundation model for blood pressure has been trained on billions of optical signals and hundreds of millions of readings across more than 120,000 users, underscoring its leadership in the CPBM category. The company's multidisciplinary team, composed of experts with extensive experience in biomedical signal processing, has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed publications and holds more than 35 patents. Headquartered in Switzerland, Hilo continues to expand its global presence, transforming how blood pressure is understood and managed.

The Hilo system by itself is not intended to make diagnoses. Data should always be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Website: www.hilo.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aktiia-secures-42-million-in-series-b-funding-round-and-rebrands-to-hilo-302444824.html
VALENCIA, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Berklee Valencia will present an honorary Doctor of Music degree to internationally acclaimed Scottish composer Patrick Doyle at its 2025 commencement ceremony on Monday, July 7.

With his music reaching a global audience of over a billion people, Doyle has scored more than 60 feature films and has collaborated with some of the world's most renowned directors. Beyond film, he has composed several original concert pieces and actively supports organizations dedicated to funding the next generation of artistic talent.

Doyle will be recognized for his extraordinary body of work and his lasting influence on the film industry. "His dedication to the art of film scoring, his passion for storytelling through music, and his commitment to extending his influence beyond the musical sphere have inspired countless musicians, composers, and filmmakers alike, including many Berklee students," said Simone Pilon, executive director at Berklee Valencia.

In response, Doyle stated, "Berklee is an exceptional institution and firmly committed to nurturing creativity and artistic excellence. I am truly honored to receive this recognition. It also means a great deal to be included on such a special day for this year's graduating students. I look forward to congratulating them."

In the last five years, the Valencia campus has awarded honorary doctorates to Lila Downs, Gilberto Gil, Alberto Iglesias, Yvette Noel-Schure, and Youssou N'Dour.

Doyle will address the graduating class of 2025 during the commencement ceremony on July 7. Leading up to the ceremony, commencement festivities will begin on Saturday, July 5, with La Fira de Berklee, a celebratory event featuring the talent of Berklee Valencia students at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies.

About Patrick Doyle

Patrick Doyle is one of the most successful film composers of all time. Blending timeless orchestration with unforgettable melodies, Doyle's music has cemented his status as one of the industry's finest composers.

With a prolific career spanning five decades, his music has reached a global audience of over 1 billion people. He has scored over 60 feature films, including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Thor, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Born in Scotland in 1953, Doyle graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 1975, later becoming a fellow in 2001. After composing for theater, radio, and television throughout the 1980s, he joined the Renaissance Theatre Company in 1987 as composer and musical director. In 1989, he won an Ivor Novello Award for his first film score for Henry V, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, marking the start of an impactful 30-year composer-director relationship that would produce film classics such as Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Cinderella, and Murder on the Orient Express.

Doyle has collaborated with some of the world's most acclaimed directors, including Brian De Palma (Carlito's Way), Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility), Regis Wargnier (Indochine), Amma Asante (A United Kingdom), Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco), Alfonso Cuaron (A Little Princess), and Robert Altman (Gosford Park).

His music for Disney Pixar's Brave, set in medieval Scotland, showcased Scottish instrumentation and musical culture to a global audience. Doyle's song "Noble Maiden Fair (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal)," performed by Emma Thompson, became the first song in Disney's filmmaking history to feature lyrics sung in Scottish Gaelic.

Beyond film, Doyle has composed several original concert pieces, including "The Thistle and the Rose," commissioned by King Charles III in honor of the Queen Mother's 90th birthday; "Tam O'Shanter," commissioned by the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust; and "Piano Fantasia," which premiered in Krakow in 2022. In 2023, Doyle became the first Scot in history to compose the UK monarch's Coronation March, performed live at Westminster Abbey for King Charles III. He also served as composer in residence for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2023-2024 and is a patron of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Junior Conservatoire of Music.

Nominated for two Academy Awards, two Cesars, and two Golden Globes, Doyle has received two lifetime achievement awards from the World Soundtrack Awards and BAFTA Scotland. He was honored with the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for "outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music" and the PRS Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Music.

Beyond his music career, Doyle is committed to supporting and uplifting the next generation of musical and artistic talent. He is actively involved in grassroots initiatives, such as Glasgow's Piano City, major fundraising concerts, and advocacy at the government level for music education funding.

About Berklee

Berklee is the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts, offering degree programs at its campuses in Boston, New York City, and Valencia, Spain, and through its distance learning program, Berklee Online. Dedicated to nurturing the creative and career potential of the world's most inspired artists, Berklee's commitment to arts education is reflected in the work of its students, faculty, and alumni-hundreds of whom have been recognized with Grammy, Tony, Oscar, and Emmy awards.

At Berklee students explore interdisciplinary approaches to music, dance, theater, film, business, health care, education, technology, and more. Our pioneering youth programs reach underserved classrooms throughout the U.S. and beyond. With students and alumni from more than 100 nations and educational partners across the world, we are forging new connections among art forms, musical traditions, and technologies to build a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative global arts community.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patrick-doyle-internationally-acclaimed-composer-to-receive-honorary-doctorate-at-berklee-valencias-2025-commencement-302442908.html
LONDON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Further consolidating its presence in the region, Hexaware Technologies, a global leader in IT, AI, and digital solutions, inaugurated its new UK headquarters at Level 32, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London on 1stMay 2025. The expansion follows Hexaware's 25% UK CAGR over the past five years, fueled by rising demand for IT Services and digital transformation. The new facility marks a strategic move to deepen local client engagement and gain access to the region's diverse talent pool.

The UK is Hexaware's second-largest global market. The new HQ will serve as a co-innovation center to collaborate with clients on exploring the art of the possible, leveraging Hexaware's Center of Excellence in AI, data management, digital engineering, and cybersecurity. It will serve clients across key industries, including banking and financial services, insurance, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, retail and consumer, travel and hospitality, and high-tech and professional services.

The new office was officially unveiled during an inauguration ceremony graced by Sir Nigel Wilson, Chairman of Canary Wharf Group; Deepa Doshi, Head of Missions, Ruth Strauss Foundation; and R. Srikrishna, CEO and Executive Director of Hexaware Technologies. The event welcomed a distinguished audience of clients, partners, and industry leaders from across the UK's technology and business sectors.

Amrinder Singh, President and Head - EMEA and APAC Operations, Hexaware, explained the strategic importance of the UK HQ: "The UK and Ireland is our one of the fastest growing market across the world, and it delivered a tenfold growth in the past decade, and we want to maintain this momentum. We aim to drive innovation, economic growth, job creation, and inward investment across the UK economy, and this will provide significant possibilities to scale for Hexaware. A dynamic workforce and the local entrepreneurial culture will enable us to accelerate our ambition to become a global technology leader."

Parameshwaran Iyer, Senior Vice President and Regional Head - UK and Ireland, Hexaware, highlighted how the office will benefit businesses: "Hexaware has been a trusted partner to businesses in the UK for over 25 years, backed by a workforce of around 650 employees. A growing number of businesses are partnering with us to harness technology, data, and digital services to deliver business outcomes at scale. As we deepen our engagement with clients across multiple services and functions, the UK HQ ensures we have a strong local presence to drive closer relationships and deliver high-quality output."

With a robust client base and solid annual revenues, the company is strengthening its footprint in the region through its new headquarters and a major delivery center in Birmingham, a move set to double the UK headcount within the next three years.

Sir Nigel Wilson, Chairman, Canary Wharf Group (CWG) said, "We are delighted to welcome Hexaware to One Canada Square as they establish their UK headquarters at Canary Wharf. Their decision to locate in our iconic building reflects the continued appeal of Canary Wharf as a thriving hub for global technology and innovation businesses. Hexaware's impressive growth trajectory aligns perfectly with our vision of creating a diverse business ecosystem where companies can collaborate, innovate and scale. We look forward to supporting Hexaware's continued success as they deliver transformative solutions for businesses across the UK. The UK needs more companies with the ambition of Hexaware."

Deepa Doshi, Head of Missions, Ruth Strauss Foundation, underlined Hexaware's contribution to the local community: "Hexaware has been an invaluable partner in our mission to support families during one of life's toughest tests. Working with the families who are facing grief reminds us of the importance of finding time to celebrate milestones together. It is therefore a privilege to be invited to share this special moment with such valued supporters of the charity. As Hexaware embarks on this exciting new chapter, we look forward to strengthening our collaboration."

About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes.

Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hexaware-inaugurates-new-uk-headquarters-in-londons-canary-wharf-302444933.html
Gcore's first regional collaboration to roll out sovereign, low-latency cloud infrastructure across the country

LUXEMBOURG, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gcore, the global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider has announced a strategic partnership with AzInTelecom LLC, operating under the Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding (AZCON). The collaboration will focus on developing sovereign cloud services that offer advanced protection and full compliance with Azerbaijan's data regulations.

Through the strategic partnership, the sovereign cloud will accelerate digital transformation projects for both businesses and government institutions in Azerbaijan, supporting the country's vision for technological innovation and data sovereignty. Within the framework of this collaboration, the parties have recently started offering reliable cloud solutions to users.

Under this partnership, the AzInCloud platform will provide an expanded suite of cloud services equipped with modern tools. The live platform will offer users easy management, a wide selection of operating systems, a cloud marketplace, real-time monitoring services, and other advantages. AzInCloud operates as a public cloud service based on a pay-as-you-use model. The portal is accessible to everyone, including legal entities, small and medium-sized businesses, individual entrepreneurs, and individuals. To benefit from the services, users need to register on the www.azincloud.az website, make a payment via a bank card, and get started.

Andre Reitenbach, CEO at Gcore, said: "Digital sovereignty is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. Together with AzInTelecom, we operate a sovereign cloud solution that gives Azerbaijan full control over its digital infrastructure - secure, transparent, and independent. This is the foundation for trust, resilience, and true digital autonomy."

Farrukh Farajullayev, Chief Commercial Officer at AzInTelecom, commented: "The main goal of the AzInCloud platform is to make modern cloud services accessible to everyone and to promote digital transformation in the business environment. We are proud to be the first company to create such a platform in Azerbaijan in partnership with Gcore, a leading European technology company."

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Luxembourg, Gcore manages extensive global network consists of 180+ edge nodes across six continents and includes 50+ cloud locations. The partnership with AzInTelecom in the field of cloud technologies marks a first for Gcore in the region.

About Gcore

Gcore is a global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider. Headquartered in Luxembourg, with a staff of 600+ operating from ten offices worldwide, Gcore provides its solutions to global leaders in numerous industries. The company manages its own global IT infrastructure across six continents, with one of the best network performances in Europe, Africa, and LATAM, due to the average response time of 30 ms worldwide. Gcore's network consists of 180+ points of presence around the world in reliable Tier IV and Tier III data centres, with a total capacity exceeding 200 Tbps.

About AzInTelecom

AzInTelecom LLC is a state-owned company operating under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. It provides cloud services, data storage, and cybersecurity solutions to businesses, government bodies, and individuals. Through its AzInCloud platform, AzInTelecom supports the country's digital growth by offering secure, flexible, and locally compliant technology services that are easy to access and use.

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Clinical trial of KH658 evaluates single suprachoroidal space administration of gene-therapy treatment for wet AMD

CHENGDU, China and ROCKAWAY, N.J., May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chengdu Origen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("Chengdu Origen") and Vanotech Ltd. ("Vanotech") announced today the first patient dosed in the VAN-2401 multi-center Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating treatment with KH658 for patients with wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD). This multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial in the U.S. will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of KH658 as a single suprachoroidal space administration of gene therapy for patients with previously treated wet AMD.

KH658 is a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector that encodes a human VEGF receptor fusion protein. In preclinical studies of wet AMD disease models, suprachoroidal space administration of KH658 resulted in retention of the transgene product in the retina for prolonged periods and prevented the disease progression. These findings may indicate the potential of KH658 to offer a single administration treatment for wet AMD patients.

"Dosing our first patient in the VAN-2401 Phase 1 trial is an important milestone in the advancement of KH658 by exploring the potential of single suprachoroidal space administration of gene therapy as treatment for wet AMD. KH658 is designed to deliver anti-VEGF continuously to the retina, with the potential to provide sustained levels that can control the disease," said Avner Ingerman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Vanotech.

"I am excited to participate as a principal investigator in this important study. Dosing the first patient is an important milestone in the development of the single-administration gene therapy approach, which may hold promise to our patients in need of frequent treatment for their retinal diseases," said Mark Barakat, M.D., a principal investigator in the VAN-2401 Phase 1 trial, Director of Research at Retina Macula Institute of Arizona in Scottsdale Arizona.

About the VAN-2401 Phase 1 Clinical Trial

VAN-2401 is a Phase I, Open-label, Multicenter, Dose-Escalating Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of KH658 Gene Therapy in Participants with Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration. The study is expected to include approximately nine previously treated wet AMD subjects that are responsive to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor

About Wet AMD

Wet AMD is the rarer form of AMD, characterized by loss of vision due to abnormal blood vessel formation in and under the retina. These blood vessels tend to leak, and the fluid interferes with the normal retinal structure and function, leading to vision loss. Wet AMD is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss or blindness in the United States and Europe, especially if left untreated. It is estimated that ~1.5 million people living with wet AMD in the United States.

Anti-VEGF therapies have become the standard of care for wet AMD. Anti-VEGF treatments reduce leakage and fluid accumulation, thereby restoring normal retinal architecture and function, in many patients. Anti-VEGF agents often require frequent, repeat injections to maintain efficacy and control the disease.

About Chengdu Origen and Vanotech

Chengdu Origen is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing gene therapy for unmet medical needs and providing meaningful clinical benefits for patients suffering from genetic and chronic diseases and has comprehensive viral vector manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure.

Vanotech is operating as the sponsor-representative, and is responsible for the clinical development program of KH658 in the United States. Vanotech is also currently conducting VAN-2201, a Phase 1, multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation study in subjects with wet AMD to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of a single administration of KH631. For more information, please visit https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05657301.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, Chengdu Origen's and Vanotech's research and development plans in connection with its clinical development program and the gene therapy treatments. Such forward-looking statements include inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by such forward-looking statements. All of Chengdu Origen/Vanotech development timelines could be subject to adjustment depending on recruitment rate, regulatory agency review and other factors that could delay the initiation and completion of clinical trials. Each forward-looking statement is subject to important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize our product candidates, which may take longer or cost more than planned; our ability to raise additional funding, which may not be available; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for our product candidates; the potential impact of pandemics and other health emergencies, including their impact on the global supply chain; the uncertainty that our product candidates will receive regulatory approval necessary to initiate human clinical studies; that preclinical testing of our product candidates and preliminary or interim data from preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of the results or success of ongoing or later clinical trials; that initiation and enrollment of, and anticipated timing to advance, our clinical trials may take longer than expected; that our product candidates may experience manufacturing or supply interruptions or failures; risks related to competitive products;

All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Chengdu Origen and Vanotech undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

For more information please contact avner.ingerman@cnkh.com
VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 36 million users, concluded its successful participation as a Title Sponsor at Token2049 Dubai, where the company celebrated its milestone 7th anniversary and announced a groundbreaking $300 million ecosystem development fund.

7 Years of Excellence: A Foundation for Ecosystem Expansion

The premier crypto event, which took place from April 30 to May 1, 2025 in Dubai, provided MEXC with the perfect platform to commemorate seven years of growth and innovation in the cryptocurrency space. During the celebratory "Celebra7e MEXC Cocktail Party", Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC, delivered an inspiring opening speech highlighting the exchange's remarkable journey.

"Seven years may sound short, but in the fast-moving world of crypto, it's a lifetime," Jin told attendees. "To thrive in this ever-evolving space takes resilience, vision, and trust-and we've only made it this far because of you."

Jin revealed impressive growth metrics: the MEXC team has nearly doubled to 2,000 employees across Growth, R&D, and Business Support divisions. The platform now offers more than 3,000 crypto assets and has built a community of over 2.25 million Twitter followers and approximately 193,000 Telegram members.

"We've also hosted over 2,293 airdrop events, distributing over $136 million in rewards," Jin added. "This is our way of thanking you for your ongoing trust and loyalty."

$300 Million MEXC Ecosystem Development Fund Unveiled

The highlight of MEXC's Token2049 Dubai participation was the official announcement of its $300 million Ecosystem Development Fund, signaling the company's strategic evolution from an exchange service to a comprehensive ecosystem builder. The five-year fund represents MEXC's commitment to fostering blockchain innovation across multiple sectors.

The fund will focus on strategic investments in public chains, stablecoins, wallets, and media platforms, providing not only financial backing but also leveraging MEXC's exchange business cooperation to deliver enhanced value to portfolio projects. This dual approach positions fund recipients to benefit from both capital investment and operational synergies within the MEXC ecosystem.

"After seven years of market resilience, MEXC is uniquely positioned as a trusted ecosystem partner," said Tracy Jin. "This fund represents our vision for the future of decentralized finance and our commitment to supporting the next generation of blockchain innovations."

IgniteX: $30 Million CSR Initiative for Web3 Talent Development

Alongside the ecosystem fund, MEXC Ventures launched "IgniteX" - a $30 million, five-year CSR initiative to foster Web3 talent and innovation. The program will support early-stage startups, research, developer communities, and academic institutions, with focus on decentralized infrastructure, AI-blockchain integration, stablecoins, and fintech. IgniteX combines mentorship, education, and funding to build a future-ready ecosystem and prepare the next generation of Web3 users and leaders.

Industry Insights Shared at Panel Discussion

MEXC's presence at Token2049 Dubai extended beyond celebrations and announcements to include thought leadership. Tracy Jin participated in a panel discussion titled "What's Next for Crypto Markets: The Exchange Perspective" on the OKX main stage on 1 May. The discussion explored upcoming trends, challenges, and opportunities in the cryptocurrency exchange sector, with Jin offering insights drawn from MEXC's seven years of operational experience.

During the panel, Jin emphasized MEXC's continued focus on product innovation and market expansion while maintaining its core commitment to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto" for users worldwide.

Successful Side Events Strengthen Community Connections

MEXC hosted multiple successful side events throughout TOKEN2049 Dubai, including the "Celebra7e MEXC Cocktail Party," "Dao People x MEXC: VIP Party" at BIRDS, a "TR KOL Exclusive Yacht Party" aboard Xclusive Yachts, and participation in the "AFTER2049" event at Be Beach. These gatherings provided valuable networking opportunities for industry professionals, partners, and MEXC community members.

At the company's exhibition booth, MEXC showcased its revolutionary DEX+ platform and displayed a collection of seven limited-edition anniversary merchandise items that proved popular with attendees. Throughout the conference, MEXC representatives conducted product demonstrations, engaged with visitors, and discussed potential partnerships.

Behind the scenes, Jin noted that MEXC's service team has resolved more than 1 million user requests and recovered over $1.8 million in user assets-underscoring the company's commitment to security and user experience.

Looking Ahead

As Token2049 Dubai concluded, MEXC's successful participation not only celebrated its past achievements but also laid the groundwork for its future vision. The announcement of the $300 million Ecosystem Development Fund, combined with ongoing product innovations and market expansion efforts, positions MEXC for continued growth in its eighth year and beyond.

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto." Serving over 36 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

MEXC Official Website | X | Telegram | How to Sign Up on MEXC

Risk Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

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BENGALURU, India, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brilyant, a leading global systems integrator and IT services provider, today announced the appointment of Akash Saxenaa as Chief Executive Officer, effective 2nd May 2025. Saxenaa succeeds Suresh Reddy, who will assume his new role as Chairman & Managing Director.

Saxenaa is a seasoned business leader with over three decades of experience in driving revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion across global technology leaders such as Samsung Electronics, IBM, and HP. Most recently, as Vice President at Samsung Electronics, he led the Enterprise Business for South West Asia-delivering hypergrowth, managing multi-category operations, and achieving industry-leading profitability.

"We are thrilled to welcome Akash to Brilyant," said Suresh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director. "His deep industry expertise, strategic vision, and execution focus make him uniquely positioned to lead Brilyant through its next phase of growth."

"I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at such an exciting time for Brilyant," said Akash Saxenaa. "Together with the talented team, I look forward to building on Brilyant's strong foundation, accelerating innovation, and delivering greater value to our customers and partners."

About Brilyant

Brilyant is a Global Systems Integrator (GSI) committed to building high-performance digital workplaces since 2014. With over 14 offices across India, the UAE, the USA, and the Philippines, Brilyant empowers enterprises of all sizes to transform their IT infrastructure through integrated solutions across compute & mobility, network & security, data center & automation, unified communications, and consulting services that bring it all together.

For more information, please visit: brilyant.com.

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global OTR tires market is projected to grow from USD 3.66 billion in 2025 to USD 5.58 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 6.2%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The US had recently increased the tariffs from the baseline of 10% on all imports of goods and at a significantly higher rate for specific countries like China, up to 125%, and is expected to disrupt global trade, making trade between countries harder and more expensive. The trade between the US and major countries such as China and Canada may slow down because of the recent increase in import tariffs. For the OTR tire business, higher import costs are likely to raise the prices for locally available finished products in the US. This would also lower the profit margins and potentially delay some infrastructure projects. The increase in tariffs may benefit the local manufacturers of OTR tires in the US. In contrast, the other key players might shift their attention to emerging economies in the OTR tire business.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "OTR Tires Market"

492 - Tables

101 - Figures

461 - Pages

31-70 HP tractors hold the largest market share for OTR tires.

31-70 HP tractors dominate the OTR tires market. The market share for 31-70 HP tractors is more than 80% in the Asia Pacific region, with China, India, and Japan contributing most of the demand. Further, North America, including the US and Canada, is witnessing high demand for 31-70 HP tractors. The higher demand in these regions is mainly attributed to smaller agricultural land availability, ranging from 5 to 50 acres. These tractors support essential field operations, including plowing, seeding, harvesting, and other supplementary functions. They usually have different tire sizes at the front and rear axles. The front axle is generally offered with a range of 11.2-28 to 13.6-28-inch OTR tires, whereas 12.4-28 to 16.9- 28-inch OTR tires are provided in the rear axle. In the Asia Pacific region, the demand for bias OTR tires is more than 65% due to the price-conscious market, which is shifting slowly toward radial OTR tires. In North America, the OTR tires offered are mostly radial tires with extended warranties and are primarily used in cattle farming, turf applications, and farm fields.

Rigid dump truck is the fastest-growing equipment type segment of the OTR tires market.

Rigid dump trucks, or haul trucks, are built to move a massive amount of materials across rugged terrain in mining and construction. These rigid dump trucks are mostly offered with radial tires, designed to dissipate heat, and are crucial for heavy-duty applications that involve high loads and intense operating conditions. Rigid dump trucks are typically offered with rim sizes ranging from 320/85R24 to 800/70R38. The demand for these trucks is increasing due to large-scale mining (critical minerals for EV batteries) and infrastructure projects globally, particularly in regions like Asia Pacific, Latin America, Australia, and Africa. Due to the increase in infrastructure and mining projects, high-capacity rigid dump trucks, such as Caterpillar 797 and Komatsu HD785, are used in many projects that rely on large-diameter, heavy-duty radial OTR tires.

North America is the second-largest regional-level OTR tires market.

The OTR tires market in North America is growing due to robust mining and construction activities, government investments in infrastructure, and the growing agriculture industry. The demand for lower-HP tractors is high in North America. Considering the difference in the size of OTR tires in tractors, radial tires are in higher demand than bias tires in this region. In the US, the demand and sales for skid-steer loaders, RTLT-Telescopes, and wheel loaders are high, and they are used in the construction and mining industries. The new US tariffs, announced on April 10, 2025, will significantly benefit the US local OTR tire manufacturers. According to the White House fact sheet, the tariffs have increased for importing OTR tires, effectively increasing the cost of foreign-made tires and creating a more favorable market environment for domestic manufacturers. This protectionist measure has led to a 15% increase in domestic OTR tire production, where the major key players (Goodyear and Titan International) will benefit from domestic manufacturing.

Key Market OTR Tires Industry:

Prominent players in the OTR Tires Companies include as Continental AG (Germany), Bridgestone Corporation (Japan), Michelin (France), the Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (Japan), and Pirelli C. S.p.A (Italy), Titan International, Inc. (US), Nokian Tyres (Finland), CEAT (India), CMA, LLC. (US), Sumitomo Rubber Industries (Japan), MRF Tyres (India), Balkrishna Industries Ltd (India), and Eurotire Inc. (US).

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This report provides insights on:

Analysis of critical drivers (infrastructure development and growth in construction and mining activities, shift toward mechanization, and expanding off-highway equipment rental market), restraints (availability of low-cost tires from unorganized markets and commercialized use of integrated advanced sensor-based technologies), opportunities (focus on sustainability manufacturing techniques, rise in adoption for retreading method, and increase in sales of all-terrain vehicles), and challenges (high R&D cost, stringent emission regulations) influencing the growth of the OTR tires market

(infrastructure development and growth in construction and mining activities, shift toward mechanization, and expanding off-highway equipment rental market), restraints (availability of low-cost tires from unorganized markets and commercialized use of integrated advanced sensor-based technologies), opportunities (focus on sustainability manufacturing techniques, rise in adoption for retreading method, and increase in sales of all-terrain vehicles), and challenges (high R&D cost, stringent emission regulations) influencing the growth of the OTR tires market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights into upcoming technologies and products launched in the OTR tires market

Detailed insights into upcoming technologies and products launched in the OTR tires market Market Development: Comprehensive market information - the report analyzes the authentication and brand protection market across varied regions

Comprehensive market information - the report analyzes the authentication and brand protection market across varied regions Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the OTR tires market

Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the OTR tires market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players in the OTR tires market, such as Continental AG (Germany), Bridgestone Corporation (US), Michelin (France), The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (Japan), and Pirelli & C. S.p.A. (Italy).

Related Reports:

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Get access to the latest updates on OTR Tires Companies and OTR Tires Industry Growth

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MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe.

Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem.

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Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.

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Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie.



Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



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First Quarter Highlights*

Record Diluted EPS for the Quarter of $2.37, Up 21 percent

Record Adjusted Diluted EPS for the Quarter of $2.50, Up 16 percent

Record Net Revenue for the Quarter of $565.2 million, Up 13 percent

Increases 2025 Organic Total Net Revenue Growth Target 2 to mid to high single digits, from mid single digits; Reaffirms Cboe Data Vantage 3 Organic Net Revenue Growth Target 2 of mid to high single digits

Reaffirms 2025 Adjusted Operating Expense Guidance2 of $837 to $852 million

CHICAGO, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

"In the first quarter, Cboe reported record quarterly net revenue of $565 million, record diluted EPS of $2.37, and record adjusted diluted EPS1 of $2.50, with strong results from each of our Derivatives, Cash and Spot Markets, and Data Vantage categories," said Fredric Tomczyk, Cboe Global Markets Chief Executive Officer. "Following a record 2024, net revenue grew 13 percent, diluted EPS increased 21 percent and adjusted diluted EPS1 increased 16 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025 as investors utilized Cboe's product suite to help navigate dynamic macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions. The second quarter is off to a robust start, and we look forward to continuing to execute on our strategic vision by providing clients with a diverse toolkit of products for any market environment."

"The broad-based strength of our business model was on display during the first quarter, resulting in quarterly records for total net revenue and adjusted diluted EPS1," said Jill Griebenow, Cboe Global Markets Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. "Derivatives net revenue grew 16 percent as we saw record trading volumes across our multi-listed and proprietary options products. Cash and Spot Markets net revenue increased 10 percent, and Data Vantage recorded 8 percent net revenue growth. Moving forward, we are increasing our organic total net revenue growth2 guidance range to mid to high single digits from mid single digits, and we are reaffirming our Data Vantage organic net revenue growth2 range of mid to high single digits for 2025. In addition, we are reaffirming our full year adjusted operating expense guidance2 range of $837 to $852 million. We are pleased with the strong start to the year and remain focused on producing durable shareholder returns in the quarters ahead."

* All comparisons are first quarter 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. (1) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP ("Generally Accepted Accounting Principles") results is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables. (2) Specific quantifications of the amounts that would be required to reconcile the company's organic net revenue growth guidance and adjusted operating expenses guidance are not available. The company believes that there is uncertainty and unpredictability with respect to certain of its GAAP measures, primarily related to acquisition-related revenues and costs that would be required to reconcile to GAAP revenues less cost of revenues, GAAP operating expenses and GAAP effective tax rate, which preclude the company from providing accurate guidance on certain forward-looking GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations. The company believes that providing estimates of the amounts that would be required to reconcile the range of the company's organic net revenue growth guidance and adjusted operating expenses would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors for the reasons identified above. (3) Cboe Data Vantage refers to the company's Cboe Data Vantage business (formerly known as Data and Access Solutions). Cboe Data Vantage is subsequently referred to as Data Vantage throughout this press release.

Consolidated First Quarter Results -Table 1

Table 1 below presents summary selected unaudited condensed consolidated financial information for the company as reported and on an adjusted basis for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Table 1

































Consolidated First Quarter Results ($ in millions except per share and percentages)

1Q25



1Q24



Change



1Q25 Adjusted



1Q24 Adjusted



Change Total Revenues Less Cost of Revenues

$ 565.2



$ 502.1



13 %



$ 565.2



$ 502.1



13 % Total Operating Expenses

$ 211.3



$ 219.7



(4) %



$ 192.4



$ 192.9



* % Operating Income

$ 353.9



$ 282.4



25 %



$ 372.8



$ 309.2



21 % Operating Margin %

62.6 %



56.2 %



6.4 pp



66.0 %



61.6 %



4.4 pp Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders

$ 249.4



$ 208.3



20 %



$ 263.1



$ 227.7



16 % Diluted Earnings Per Share

$ 2.37



$ 1.96



21 %



$ 2.50



$ 2.15



16 % Operating EBITDA

$ 384.2



$ 319.7



20 %



$ 384.7



$ 320.3



20 % Operating EBITDA Margin %

68.0 %



63.7 %



4.3 pp



68.1 %



63.8 %



4.3 pp EBITDA

$ 383.7



$ 337.1



14 %



$ 383.8



$ 337.3



14 % EBITDA Margin %

67.9 %



67.1 %



0.8 pp



67.9 %



67.2 %



0.7 pp

Total revenues less cost of revenues (referred to as "net revenue" 2 ) of $565.2 million increased 13 percent, compared to $502.1 million in the prior-year period, a result of increases in derivatives markets, cash and spot markets, and Data Vantage net revenue 2 .

) of $565.2 million increased 13 percent, compared to $502.1 million in the prior-year period, a result of increases in derivatives markets, cash and spot markets, and Data Vantage net revenue . Total operating expenses were $211.3 million versus $219.7 million in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of $8.4 million. This decrease was primarily due to lower depreciation and amortization, other expenses, and travel and promotional expenses, partially offset by an increase in technology support services and compensation and benefits. Adjusted operating expenses 1 of $192.4 million were down compared to $192.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower other expenses, travel and promotional expenses, and professional fees and outside services, balanced by higher technology support services, depreciation and amortization, and compensation and benefits.

of $192.4 million were down compared to $192.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower other expenses, travel and promotional expenses, and professional fees and outside services, balanced by higher technology support services, depreciation and amortization, and compensation and benefits. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 28.4 percent as compared with 28.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024. The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings 1 was 28.3 percent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points when compared with 28.1 percent in last year's first quarter.

was 28.3 percent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points when compared with 28.1 percent in last year's first quarter. Diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2025 increased 21 percent to $2.37 compared to the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted EPS1 of $2.50 increased 16 percent compared to 2024 first quarter results.

Business Segment Information:

Table 2









Total Revenues Less Cost of Revenues by Business Segment (in millions) 1Q25

1Q24

Change Options $ 352.4

$ 307.4

15 % North American Equities 94.6

92.6

2 % Europe and Asia Pacific 64.1

54.1

18 % Futures 32.8

30.5

8 % Global FX 21.3

18.4

16 % Digital -

(0.9)

* % Total $ 565.2

$ 502.1

13 %





(1) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP results is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables. (2) See the attached tables on page 10 for "Net Revenue by Revenue Caption." (3) The Digital segment results are prospectively included in the Futures segment beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Digital results from the first quarter of 2024 have been retained in the former Digital segment for comparative purposes. * Not meaningful

Discussion of Results by Business Segment1:

Options:

Record Options net revenue of $352.4 million was up $45.0 million, or 15 percent, from the first quarter of 2024. Net transaction and clearing fees 2 increased primarily as a result of a 23 percent increase in total options average daily volume ("ADV") versus the first quarter of 2024. Market data fees were 15 percent higher and access and capacity fees were 6 percent higher as compared to the first quarter of 2024.

increased primarily as a result of a 23 percent increase in total options average daily volume ("ADV") versus the first quarter of 2024. Market data fees were 15 percent higher and access and capacity fees were 6 percent higher as compared to the first quarter of 2024. Net transaction and clearing fees 2 increased $43.1 million, or 16 percent, reflecting a 25 percent increase in multi-listed options ADV and a 17 percent increase in index options ADV. Total options revenue per contract ("RPC") declined 4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in total options RPC was due to a mix shift, with index options representing a lower percentage of total options volume.

increased $43.1 million, or 16 percent, reflecting a 25 percent increase in multi-listed options ADV and a 17 percent increase in index options ADV. Total options revenue per contract ("RPC") declined 4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in total options RPC was due to a mix shift, with index options representing a lower percentage of total options volume. Cboe's Options exchanges had total market share of 31.1 percent for the first quarter of 2025, down compared to 31.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

North American (N.A.) Equities:

N.A. Equities net revenue of $94.6 million increased $2.0 million, or 2 percent, from the first quarter of 2024, reflecting higher access and capacity fees and proprietary market data, partially offset by lower net transaction and clearing fees 2 and a decline in industry market data fees.

and a decline in industry market data fees. Net transaction and clearing fees 2 decreased by $2.6 million, or 9 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was driven by lower U.S. Equities exchanges market share, as well as lower net capture for U.S. Equities exchanges and U.S. Equities off-exchanges versus the first quarter of 2024.

decreased by $2.6 million, or 9 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was driven by lower U.S. Equities exchanges market share, as well as lower net capture for U.S. Equities exchanges and U.S. Equities off-exchanges versus the first quarter of 2024. Cboe's U.S. Equities exchanges had market share of 10.5 percent for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 12.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024 as a result of higher industry off-exchange share. Cboe's U.S. Equities off-exchange market share was 17.7 percent, up from 17.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024. Canadian Equities market share declined to 13.8 percent as compared to 15.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, impacted by reduced client activity during our migration to the Cboe Titanium platform and lower volume in Cboe Canada listed securities.

Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC):

Record Europe and APAC net revenue of $64.1 million increased by 18 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024, reflecting growth in net transaction and clearing fees 2 and non-transaction revenues. On a constant currency basis 3 , net revenues were $65.9 million, up 22 percent on a year-over-year basis. European Equities average daily notional value ("ADNV") traded on Cboe European Equities was 13.8 billion, up 39 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024 given a 34 percent increase in industry market volumes. Japanese Equities ADNV was 2 percent higher and Australian Equities ADNV was 7 percent higher than the first quarter of 2024.

and non-transaction revenues. On a constant currency basis , net revenues were $65.9 million, up 22 percent on a year-over-year basis. European Equities average daily notional value ("ADNV") traded on Cboe European Equities was 13.8 billion, up 39 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024 given a 34 percent increase in industry market volumes. Japanese Equities ADNV was 2 percent higher and Australian Equities ADNV was 7 percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. For the first quarter of 2025, Cboe European Equities had 24.8 percent market share, up from 23.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024. Cboe Australia had 19.4 percent market share for the first quarter of 2025, down from 20.4 percent in the first quarter of 2024. Cboe Japan grew market share to 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 5.0 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

Futures:

Futures net revenue of $32.8 million increased $2.3 million, or 8 percent, from the first quarter of 2024 driven by a 9 percent increase in net transaction and clearing fees 2 .

. Net transaction and clearing fees2 increased $2.2 million, reflecting a 13 percent increase in ADV during the quarter.

Global FX:

Record Global FX net revenue of $21.3 million increased 16 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2024. The increase was due to higher net transaction and clearing fees2. ADNV traded on the Cboe FX platform was $51.9 billion for the quarter, up 15 percent compared to last year's first quarter, and net capture rate per one million dollars traded was $2.77 for the first quarter of 2025, up 6 percent compared to $2.62 in the first quarter of 2024.

(1) The Digital segment results are prospectively included in the Futures segment beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Digital results from the first quarter of 2024 have been retained in the former Digital segment for comparative purposes. (2) See the attached tables on page 10 for "Net Transaction and Clearing Fees by Business Segment." (3) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP results is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables.

2025 Fiscal Year Financial Guidance

Cboe provided guidance for the 2025 fiscal year as noted below.

Organic total net revenue growth 1 is expected to be in the mid to high single digits range, up from previous guidance calling for mid single digits in 2025.

is expected to be in the mid to high single digits range, up from previous guidance calling for mid single digits in 2025. Reaffirms Data Vantage organic net revenue growth 1 range of mid to high single digits in 2025.

range of mid to high single digits in 2025. Reaffirms adjusted operating expenses 1 in 2025 are expected to be in the range of $837 to $852 million. The guidance excludes the expected amortization of acquired intangible assets of $70 million; the company reflects the exclusion of this amount in its non-GAAP reconciliation.

in 2025 are expected to be in the range of $837 to $852 million. The guidance excludes the expected amortization of acquired intangible assets of $70 million; the company reflects the exclusion of this amount in its non-GAAP reconciliation. Reaffirms depreciation and amortization expense in 2025 is expected to be in the range of $55 to $59 million, excluding the expected amortization of acquired intangible assets.

Reaffirms the effective tax rate on adjusted earnings 1 for the full year 2025 is expected to be in the range of 28.5 to 30.5 percent. Significant changes in trading volume, expenses, tax laws or rates and other items could materially impact this expectation.

for the full year 2025 is expected to be in the range of 28.5 to 30.5 percent. Significant changes in trading volume, expenses, tax laws or rates and other items could materially impact this expectation. Reaffirms capital expenditures in 2025 are expected to be in the range of $75 to $85 million.

(1) Specific quantifications of the amounts that would be required to reconcile the company's organic and inorganic growth guidance, adjusted operating expenses guidance, annualized adjusted operating expenses guidance, and the effective tax rate on adjusted earnings guidance are not available. Acquisitions are considered organic after 12 months of closing. The company believes that there is uncertainty and unpredictability with respect to certain of its GAAP measures, primarily related to acquisition-related revenues and costs that would be required to reconcile to GAAP revenues less cost of revenues, GAAP operating expenses and GAAP effective tax rate, which preclude the company from providing accurate guidance on certain forward-looking GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations. The company believes that providing estimates of the amounts that would be required to reconcile the range of the company's organic growth, adjusted operating expenses, annualized adjusted operating expenses, and the effective tax rate on adjusted earnings would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors for the reasons identified above.

Capital Management

At March 31, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1,047.2 million and adjusted cash2 of $1,046.7 million. Total debt as of March 31, 2025 was $1,441.5 million.

The company paid cash dividends of $66.4 million, or $0.63 per share, during the first quarter of 2025 and utilized $30.0 million to repurchase approximately 145 thousand shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program at an average price of $207.04 per share. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $649.8 million of availability remaining under its existing share repurchase authorizations.

Earnings Conference Call

Executives of Cboe Global Markets will host a conference call to review its first-quarter financial results today, May 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT. The conference call and any accompanying slides will be publicly available via live webcast from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.cboe.com under Events & Presentations. Participants may also listen via telephone by dialing (800) 715-9871 (toll-free) or (646) 307-1963 (toll) and using the Conference ID 8325940. Telephone participants should place calls 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast will be archived on the company's website for replay.

(2) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP results is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables.

About Cboe Global Markets

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, and FX, across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Above all, Cboe is committed to building a trusted, inclusive global marketplace that enables people to pursue a sustainable financial future. To learn more about the Exchange for the World Stage, visit www.cboe.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the loss of our right to exclusively list and trade certain index options and futures products; economic, political and market conditions; compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; price competition and consolidation in our industry; decreases in trading or clearing volumes, market data fees or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges; legislative or regulatory changes or changes in tax regimes; our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security vulnerabilities and breaches; our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel, increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities; our dependence on and exposure to risk from third parties; factors that impact the quality and integrity of our and other applicable indices; our ability to manage our global operations, growth, and strategic acquisitions or alliances effectively; increases in the cost of the products and services we use; our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights; our ability to minimize the risks, including our credit, counterparty investment, and default risks, associated with operating our clearinghouses; our ability to accommodate trading and clearing volume and transaction traffic, including significant increases, without failure or degradation of performance of our systems; misconduct by those who use our markets or our products or for whom we clear transactions; challenges to our use of open source software code; our ability to meet our compliance obligations, including managing our business interests and our regulatory responsibilities; the loss of key customers or a significant reduction in trading or clearing volumes by key customers; our ability to maintain BIDS Trading as an independently managed and operated trading venue, separate from and not integrated with our registered national securities exchanges; damage to our reputation; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations and our ability to make payments on or refinance our debt obligations; our ability to maintain an investment grade credit rating; impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, investments or intangible assets; the accuracy of our estimates and expectations; and litigation risks and other liabilities. More detailed information about factors that may affect our actual results to differ may be found in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings made from time to time with the SEC.

We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

The condensed consolidated statements of income and balance sheets are unaudited and subject to revision.

Cboe Media Contacts:





Analyst Contact: Angela Tu

Tim Cave

Kenneth Hill, CFA (646) 856-8734

+44 (0) 7593 506 719

(312) 786-7559 atu@cboe.com

tcave@cboe.com

khill@cboe.com

CBOE-F

Trademarks:

Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, CFE, Cboe Volatility Index, Cboe Clear, Cboe Datashop, BIDS Trading, BZX, BYX, EDGX, EDGA, and VIX are registered trademarks of Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Key Performance Statistics by Business Segment



1Q 2025 4Q 2024 3Q 2024 2Q 2024 1Q 2024 Options

















Total industry ADV (in thousands) 58,444

51,635

48,733

46,129

47,452 Total Company Options ADV (in thousands) 18,183

15,673

14,882

14,384

14,833 Multi-listed options 13,412

11,633

10,655

10,367

10,744 Index options 4,771

4,040

4,227

4,017

4,089 Total Options market share 31.1 %

30.4 %

30.5 %

31.2 %

31.3 % Multi-listed options 25.0 %

24.5 %

24.0 %

24.6 %

24.8 % Total Options RPC: $ 0.287

$ 0.281

$ 0.298

$ 0.295

$ 0.299 Multi-listed options $ 0.066

$ 0.064

$ 0.063

$ 0.062

$ 0.064 Index options $ 0.908

$ 0.905

$ 0.892

$ 0.898

$ 0.915



















North American Equities

















U.S. Equities - Exchange:

















Total industry ADV (shares in billions) 15.7

13.6

11.5

11.8

11.8 Market share % 10.5 %

10.8 %

10.9 %

11.4 %

12.8 % Net capture (per 100 touched shares) $ 0.014

$ 0.018

$ 0.024

$ 0.027

$ 0.019 U.S. Equities - Off-Exchange:

















ADV (touched shares, in millions) 90.6

80.0

79.3

74.7

82.0 Off-Exchange ATS Block Market Share % (reported on a one-month lag) 17.7 %

16.5 %

17.6 %

17.8 %

17.6 % Net capture (per 100 touched shares) $ 0.117

$ 0.126

$ 0.135

$ 0.136

$ 0.132 Canadian Equities:

















ADV (matched shares, in millions) 159.6

157.4

135.9

150.6

146.3 Total market share % 13.8 %

14.3 %

14.6 %

15.0 %

15.3 % Net capture (per 10,000 shares, in Canadian Dollars) $ 4.250

$ 4.008

$ 4.240

$ 4.046

$ 3.997



















Europe and Asia Pacific

















European Equities:

















Total industry ADNV (Euros - in billions)  55.8

 42.3

 38.9

 42.6

 41.8 Market share % 24.8 %

24.6 %

23.8 %

22.5 %

23.7 % Net capture (per matched notional value (bps), in Euros)  0.252

 0.261

 0.257

 0.251

 0.249 Cboe Clear Europe:

















Trades cleared (in thousands) 412,072.2

328,976.1

306,882.5

299,019.3

294,325.7 Fee per trade cleared (in Euros)  0.008

 0.008

 0.008

 0.008

 0.008 Net settlement volume (shares in thousands) 3,200.7

2,962.6

2,947.6

2,764.0

2,524.6 Net fee per settlement (in Euros)  0.951

 1.002

 1.026

 1.038

 1.072 Australian Equities:

















ADNV (AUD - in billions) $ 0.8

$ 0.8

$ 0.8

$ 0.8

$ 0.8 Market share - Continuous 19.4 %

20.8 %

20.8 %

20.8 %

20.4 % Net capture (per matched notional value (bps), in Australian Dollars) $ 0.156

$ 0.154

$ 0.156

$ 0.155

$ 0.156 Japanese Equities:

















ADNV (JPY - in billions)  323.8

 263.8

 323.3

 315.2

 315.9 Market share - Lit Continuous 5.4 %

4.9 %

5.4 %

5.5 %

5.0 % Net capture (per matched notional value (bps), in Yen)  0.242

 0.233

 0.221

 0.229

 0.227



















Futures

















ADV (in thousands) 249.4

206.4

273.7

253.6

220.0 RPC $ 1.740

$ 1.765

$ 1.767

$ 1.757

$ 1.749



















Global FX

















ADNV ($ - in billions) $ 51.9

$ 45.6

$ 48.3

$ 47.7

$ 45.3 Net capture (per one million dollars traded) $ 2.77

$ 2.72

$ 2.66

$ 2.69

$ 2.62

ADV = average daily volume; ADNV = average daily notional value.

RPC, average revenue per contract, for options and futures represents total net transaction fees recognized for the period divided by total contracts traded during the period.

Touched volume represents the total number of shares of equity securities and ETFs internally matched on our exchanges or routed to and executed on an external market center.

Matched volume represents the total number of shares of equity securities and ETFs executed on our exchanges.

U.S. Equities - Exchange, "net capture per 100 touched shares" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments and routing and clearing costs divided by the product of one-hundredth ADV of touched shares on BZX, BYX, EDGX and EDGA and the number of trading days. U.S. Equities - Off-Exchange data reflects BIDS Trading. For U.S. Equities - Off-Exchange, "net capture per 100 touched shares" refers to transaction fees less order and execution management system (OMS/EMS) fees and clearing costs divided by the product of one-hundredth ADV of touched shares on BIDS Trading and the number of trading days for the period.

Canadian Equities, "net capture per 10,000 shares" refers to transaction fees divided by the product of one-ten thousandth ADV of shares for Cboe Canada and the number of trading days. Total market share represents Cboe Canada volume divided by the total volume of the Canadian Equities market.

European Equities, "net capture per matched notional value" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments in Euros divided by the product of ADNV in Euros of shares matched on Cboe Europe Equities and the number of trading days. "Trades cleared" refers to the total number of non-interoperable trades cleared, "Fee per trade cleared" refers to clearing fees divided by number of non-interoperable trades cleared, "Net settlement volume" refers to the total number of settlements executed after netting, and "Net fee per settlement" refers to settlement fees less direct costs incurred to settle divided by the number of settlements executed after netting.

Asia Pacific data reflects data from Cboe Australia and Cboe Japan. Australian Equities, "net capture per matched notional value" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments in Australian dollars divided by the product of ADNV in Australian dollars of shares matched on Cboe Australia and the number of Australian Equities trading days. Japanese Equities, "net capture per matched notional value" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments in Japanese Yen divided by the product of ADNV in Japanese Yen of shares matched on Cboe Japan and the number of Japanese Equities trading days.

Global FX, "net capture per one million dollars traded" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments, if any, divided by the Spot and SEF products of one-thousandth of ADNV traded on the Cboe FX Markets and the number of trading days, divided by two, which represents the buyer and seller that are both charged on the transaction. Market Share represents Cboe FX volume divided by the total volume of publicly reporting spot FX venues (Cboe FX, EBS, Refinitiv, and Euronext FX).

Average transaction fees per contract can be affected by various factors, including exchange fee rates, volume-based discounts and transaction mix by contract type and product type.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share amounts) 2025

2024 Revenues:





Cash and spot markets $ 500.9

$ 380.9 Data Vantage 152.5

140.2 Derivatives markets 541.6

436.1 Total Revenues 1,195.0

957.2 Cost of Revenues:





Liquidity payments 394.8

338.8 Routing and clearing 19.6

16.0 Section 31 fees 153.1

42.1 Royalty fees and other cost of revenues 62.3

58.2 Total Cost of Revenues 629.8

455.1 Revenues Less Cost of Revenues 565.2

502.1 Operating Expenses:





Compensation and benefits 116.2

115.3 Depreciation and amortization 30.3

37.3 Technology support services 25.6

24.2 Professional fees and outside services 20.8

21.5 Travel and promotional expenses 6.4

7.5 Facilities costs 6.2

6.5 Acquisition-related costs 0.2

0.6 Other expenses 5.6

6.8 Total Operating Expenses 211.3

219.7 Operating Income 353.9

282.4 Non-operating (Expenses) Income:





Interest expense (12.8)

(13.0) Interest income 8.4

4.1 (Loss) earnings on investments, net (3.3)

14.0 Other income, net 4.0

4.6 Total Non-operating (Expenses) Income (3.7)

9.7 Income Before Income Tax Provision 350.2

292.1 Income tax provision 99.6

82.6 Net Income 250.6

209.5 Net income allocated to participating securities (1.2)

(1.2) Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders $ 249.4

$ 208.3 Net Income Per Share Allocated to Common Stockholders:





Basic earnings per share $ 2.38

$ 1.97 Diluted earnings per share 2.37

1.96 Weighted average shares used in computing income per share:





Basic 104.7

105.6 Diluted 105.1

106.1

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024

(in millions) March 31,

2025

December 31,

2024 Assets





Current Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,047.2

$ 920.3 Financial investments 105.9

110.3 Accounts receivable, net 493.0

444.6 Margin deposits, clearing funds, and interoperability funds 1,623.0

845.5 Income taxes receivable 1.4

73.8 Other current assets 91.4

84.6 Total Current Assets 3,361.9

2,479.1







Investments 383.3

383.7 Property and equipment, net 119.1

118.0 Operating lease right of use assets 125.8

124.5 Goodwill 3,132.0

3,124.2 Intangible assets, net 1,367.8

1,376.9 Other assets, net 177.4

182.7 Total Assets $ 8,667.3

$ 7,789.1







Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity





Current Liabilities:





Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 298.9

$ 359.7 Section 31 fees payable 154.8

182.0 Deferred revenue 13.4

6.4 Margin deposits, clearing funds, and interoperability funds 1,623.0

845.5 Income taxes payable 7.8

1.6 Total Current Liabilities 2,097.9

1,395.2







Long-term debt 1,441.5

1,441.0 Non-current unrecognized tax benefits 324.2

305.0 Deferred income taxes 182.8

186.8 Non-current operating lease liabilities 138.0

138.4 Other non-current liabilities 30.8

43.1 Total Liabilities 4,215.2

3,509.5







Stockholders' Equity:





Preferred stock -

- Common stock 1.0

1.0 Treasury stock, at cost (54.3)

(1.4) Additional paid-in capital 1,530.1

1,512.5 Retained earnings 3,000.1

2,815.9 Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net (24.8)

(48.4) Total Stockholders' Equity 4,452.1

4,279.6







Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 8,667.3

$ 7,789.1

Table 3 Net Transaction and Clearing Fees by Business Segment

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

(in millions) Consolidated

March 31, Options

March 31, N.A. Equities

March 31, Europe and APAC

March 31, Futures

March 31, Global FX

March 31, Digital1 March 31, 2025

2024 2025

2024 2025

2024 2025

2024 2025

2024 2025

2024 2025

2024 Transaction and clearing fees $ 832.6

$ 718.5 $ 464.5

$ 389.8 $ 271.7

$ 251.7 $ 50.8

$ 38.8 $ 27.1

$ 23.5 $ 18.5

$ 15.5 $ -

$ (0.8) Liquidity payments (394.8)

(338.8) (146.8)

(115.3) (235.3)

(215.2) (11.3)

(8.1) (1.4)

- -

- -

(0.2) Routing and clearing (19.6)

(16.0) (4.3)

(4.2) (9.6)

(7.1) (5.3)

(4.4) -

- (0.4)

(0.3) -

- Net transaction and clearing fees $ 418.2

$ 363.7 $ 313.4

$ 270.3 $ 26.8

$ 29.4 $ 34.2

$ 26.3 $ 25.7

$ 23.5 $ 18.1

$ 15.2 $ -

$ (1.0)

Table 4 Net Revenue by Revenue Caption Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in millions) Cash and Spot Markets

March 31, Data Vantage

March 31, Derivatives Markets

March 31, Total

March 31, 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 Transaction and clearing fees $ 341.0 $ 305.2 $ - $ - $ 491.6 $ 413.3 $ 832.6 $ 718.5 Access and capacity fees - - 97.8 90.1 - - 97.8 90.1 Market data fees 15.7 16.0 54.0 49.3 8.1 6.7 77.8 72.0 Regulatory fees 120.7 34.9 - - 41.1 15.3 161.8 50.2 Other revenue 23.5 24.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 25.0 26.4 Total revenues $ 500.9 $ 380.9 $ 152.5 $ 140.2 $ 541.6 $ 436.1 $ 1,195.0 $ 957.2

















Liquidity payments $ 245.7 $ 222.9 $ - $ - $ 149.1 $ 115.9 $ 394.8 $ 338.8 Routing and clearing fees 15.3 11.8 - - 4.3 4.2 19.6 16.0 Section 31 fees 120.6 34.7 - - 32.5 7.4 153.1 42.1 Royalty fees and other cost of revenues 12.6 14.2 3.1 2.5 46.6 41.5 62.3 58.2 Total cost of revenues $ 394.2 $ 283.6 $ 3.1 $ 2.5 $ 232.5 $ 169.0 $ 629.8 $ 455.1

















Revenues less cost of revenues (net revenue) $ 106.7 $ 97.3 $ 149.4 $ 137.7 $ 309.1 $ 267.1 $ 565.2 $ 502.1





(1) The Digital segment results are prospectively included in the Futures segment beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Digital results from the first quarter of 2024 have been retained in the former Digital segment for comparative purposes.

Non-GAAP Information

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with GAAP, Cboe Global Markets has disclosed certain non-GAAP measures of operating performance. These measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, GAAP, and may be different from or inconsistent with non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The non-GAAP measures provided in this press release include adjusted revenue less cost of revenue, adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income allocated to common stockholders, adjusted diluted earnings per share, effective tax rate on adjusted earnings, operating EBITDA, operating EBITDA margin, adjusted operating EBITDA, adjusted operating EBITDA margin, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted cash, and net revenues in constant currency.

Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release provide additional and comparative information to assess trends in our core operations and a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by management are provided as additional information to investors in order to provide them with an alternative method for assessing our financial condition and operating results.

Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets: We amortize intangible assets acquired in connection with various acquisitions. Amortization of intangible assets is inconsistent in amount and frequency and is significantly affected by the timing and size of our acquisitions. As such, if intangible asset amortization is included in performance measures, it is more difficult to assess the day-to-day operating performance of the businesses, the relative operating performance of the businesses between periods and the earnings power of the company. Therefore, we believe performance measures excluding intangible asset amortization expense provide investors with an additional basis for comparison across accounting periods.

Acquisition-related costs: From time to time, we have pursued acquisitions, which have resulted in expenses which would not otherwise have been incurred in the normal course of the company's business operations. These expenses include compensation and benefits, integration costs, as well as legal, due diligence, impairment charges, and other third-party transaction costs. The frequency and the amount of such expenses vary significantly based on the size, timing and complexity of the transaction. Accordingly, we exclude these costs for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures which provide an additional analysis of Cboe's ongoing operating performance or comparisons in Cboe's performance between periods.

The tables below show the reconciliation of each financial measure from GAAP to non-GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures exclude the impact of those items detailed below and are referred to as adjusted financial measures.

Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Information

Table 5

Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except percentages and per share amounts)

2025

2024 Reconciliation of Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders to Non-GAAP (As shown on Table 1)







Net income allocated to common stockholders

$ 249.4

$ 208.3 Non-GAAP adjustments







Acquisition-related costs (1)

0.2

0.6 Amortization of acquired intangible assets (2)

18.4

26.2 Gain on revaluation of Cboe Digital non-recourse notes and warrants (3)

-

(0.4) Costs related to Cboe Digital wind down (4)

0.3

- Earnings on investments adjustments (5)

(0.4)

- Total Non-GAAP adjustments

18.5

26.4 Income tax expense related to the items above

(4.7)

(6.9) Net income allocated to participating securities - effect on reconciling items

(0.1)

(0.1) Adjusted earnings

$ 263.1

$ 227.7









Reconciliation of Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP







Diluted earnings per common share

$ 2.37

$ 1.96 Per share impact of non-GAAP adjustments noted above

0.13

0.19 Adjusted diluted earnings per common share

$ 2.50

$ 2.15









Reconciliation of Operating Margin to Non-GAAP







Revenue less cost of revenue

$ 565.2

$ 502.1 Non-GAAP adjustments noted above

-

- Adjusted revenue less cost of revenue

$ 565.2

$ 502.1 Operating expenses (6)

$ 211.3

$ 219.7 Non-GAAP adjustments noted above

18.9

26.8 Adjusted operating expenses

$ 192.4

$ 192.9 Operating income

$ 353.9

$ 282.4 Non-GAAP adjustments noted above

18.9

26.8 Adjusted operating income

$ 372.8

$ 309.2 Adjusted operating margin (7)

66.0 %

61.6 %









Reconciliation of Income Tax Rate to Non-GAAP







Income before income taxes

$ 350.2

$ 292.1 Non-GAAP adjustments noted above

18.5

26.4 Adjusted income before income taxes

$ 368.7

$ 318.5









Income tax expense

$ 99.6

$ 82.6 Non-GAAP adjustments noted above

4.7

6.9 Adjusted income tax expense

$ 104.3

$ 89.5 Adjusted income tax rate

28.3 %

28.1 %





(1) This amount includes acquisition-related costs primarily from the Company's Cboe Digital, Cboe Canada, and Cboe Asia Pacific acquisitions, which is included in acquisition-related costs on the condensed consolidated statements of income. (2) This amount represents the amortization of acquired intangible assets related to the Company's acquisitions, which is included in depreciation and amortization on the condensed consolidated statements of income. (3) This amount represents the gain due to the revaluation of the Cboe Digital non-recourse notes and warrants, which is included in other income, net on the condensed consolidated statements of income. (4) This amount represents certain wind down costs related to Cboe Digital, which are included in compensation and benefits on the condensed consolidated statements of income. (5) This amount represents the gains associated with the sale of Pyth tokens and from the Company's minority investment in American Financial Exchange, LLC, which are included in (loss) earnings on investments, net on the condensed consolidated statements of income. (6) The company sponsors deferred compensation plans held in a trust. The expenses or income related to the deferred compensation plans are included in "Compensation and benefits" ($12.4 million and $1.5 million in expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively), and are directly offset by deferred compensation income, expenses and dividends included within "Other income, net" ($12.4 million and $1.5 million in income, expense and dividends in the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively), on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The deferred compensation plans' expenses are not excluded from "adjusted operating expenses" and do not have an impact on "Income before income taxes." (7) Adjusted operating margin represents adjusted operating income divided by revenues less cost of revenues.

EBITDA Reconciliations

EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and Adjusted EBITDA are widely used non-GAAP financial measures of operating performance. These metrics are presented as supplemental information that the company believes are useful to investors to evaluate the company's results because they exclude certain items that are not directly related to the company's core operating performance. Operating EBITDA is calculated by adding back to operating income depreciation and amortization. Adjusted Operating EBITDA is calculated by adding back to Operating EBITDA acquisition-related costs and costs related to the Cboe Digital wind down. Operating EBITDA margin represents Operating EBITDA divided by revenues less cost of revenues. Adjusted Operating EBITDA margin represents Adjusted Operating EBITDA divided by revenues less cost of revenues. EBITDA is calculated by adding back to net income interest expense, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin represents EBITDA divided by revenues less cost of revenues. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back to EBITDA acquisition-related costs, costs related to the Cboe Digital wind down, the gain on Cboe Digital non-recourse notes and warrants, and other adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenues less cost of revenues. Operating EBITDA, Adjusted Operating EBITDA, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as substitutes either for net income, as an indicator of the company's operating performance, or for cash flow, as a measure of the company's liquidity. In addition, because Operating EBITDA, Adjusted Operating EBITDA, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Table 6 (in millions, except percentages)

Three Months Ended March 31, Reconciliation of Operating Income to Operating EBITDA and Adjusted Operating EBITDA (Per Table 1)

2025

2024 Operating income

$ 353.9

$ 282.4 Depreciation and amortization

30.3

37.3 Operating EBITDA

$ 384.2

$ 319.7 Operating EBITDA Margin

68.0 %

63.7 %









Non-GAAP adjustments not included in above line items







Acquisition-related costs

$ 0.2

$ 0.6 Costs related to Cboe Digital wind down

0.3

- Adjusted Operating EBITDA

$ 384.7

$ 320.3 Adjusted Operating EBITDA Margin

68.1 %

63.8 %









Reconciliation of Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Per Table 1)

2025

2024 Net income allocated to common stockholders

$ 249.4

$ 208.3 Interest expense, net

4.4

8.9 Income tax provision

99.6

82.6 Depreciation and amortization

30.3

37.3 EBITDA

$ 383.7

$ 337.1 EBITDA Margin

67.9 %

67.1 %









Non-GAAP adjustments not included in above line items







Acquisition-related costs

$ 0.2

$ 0.6 Gain on revaluation of Cboe Digital non-recourse notes and warrants

-

(0.4) Costs related to Cboe Digital wind down

0.3

- Earnings on investments adjustments

(0.4)

- Adjusted EBITDA

$ 383.8

$ 337.3 Adjusted EBITDA Margin

67.9 %

67.2 %

Table 7 (in millions)

March 31,

December 31, Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents to Adjusted Cash

2025

2024 Cash and cash equivalents

$ 1,047.2

$ 920.3 Financial investments

105.9

110.3 Less deferred compensation plan assets

(27.9)

(40.3) Less cash collected for Section 31 Fees

(78.5)

(110.8) Adjusted Cash

$ 1,046.7

$ 879.5

Table 8 (in millions)







Reconciliation of GAAP Net Revenues to Net Revenues in Constant Currency - Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025 and 2024





















Three Months Ended,

March 31,



2025

2024 Europe and Asia Pacific net revenues

$ 64.1

$ 54.1 Constant currency adjustment

1.8

(0.7) Europe and Asia Pacific net revenues in constant currency1

$ 65.9

$ 53.4





(1) Net revenues in constant currency is calculated by converting the current period GAAP net revenues in local currency using the foreign currency exchange rates that were in effect during the previous comparable period.

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The "Masterclass: Market Authorisation of AI-enabled Medical Devices Training Course" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Join this course to gain a solid understanding of the legislative landscape, enabling you to shape your use cases and secure a prosperous future for your AI initiatives.

It is challenging to keep up with the rapidly changing regulations applicable to AI-based medical devices. Many AI providers face regulatory, implementation, and investment uncertainties, particularly for advanced use cases like dynamic task specification, grounded reporting, and patient chatbots.

This course will also delve into the intricate world of the European AI Act and its impact on the medical device domain. They will gain insight into the geopolitical forces and better understand their relation with and impact on other AI legislations worldwide.

The AI Act qualifies many AI systems for medical devices as 'high-risk AI systems', mandating stringent criteria related to human oversight, safety, fundamental rights, robustness, and accessibility before entering the Union market. Our course leader will demystify the European AI Act, shedding light on its complex interplay with existing medical device regulations. Participants will gain insights empowering them to implement the Act, secure their portfolios, and gain a significant competitive edge in the evolving landscape of AI-based medical devices.

By the end of this course, participants will emerge: enlightened about the profound impact of the European AI Act on the medical device industry, including its areas of consensus and ongoing debates, and be equipped with practical insights to navigate the regulatory landscape.

Benefits of attending

Get up to speed with current regulations and standards on AI-based medical devices and data

with current regulations and standards on AI-based medical devices and data Learn best practices for the development and regulatory submissions of AI-based medical devices

best practices for the development and regulatory submissions of AI-based medical devices Understand the interplay between medical devices and AI legislation

the interplay between medical devices and AI legislation Consider the impact on medical device use cases

the impact on medical device use cases Learn how to convey in plain language how your company can comply with and safeguard its product roadmaps

how to convey in plain language how your company can comply with and safeguard its product roadmaps Identify the avenues available to mitigate the regulatory and investment uncertainties

Who Should Attend:

Business strategists

Product and service managers

Project managers

System analysts

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Compliance officers

Legal professionals

Software Engineers and Architects

Data Governance Specialists

Data Scientists

Biomedical engineers

Clinical research associates

Clinical informatics managers of hospitals

Safety Engineers

AI Ethicists

Agenda:

Regulatory requirements for AI-enabled medical devices

Overview legislation and guidance specific to AI-based medical devices Regulatory initiatives (AU, CA, CN, EU, IMDRF, UK, US.) Notified body initiatives Future perspectives

Lessons learned from regulatory submissions of AI-based medical devices Describing your application Clinical considerations Data governance considerations Post-market considerations Common pitfalls



EU Artificial Intelligence Act

Introduction to the proposed European AI Act

Timeline

Scope

EU artificial intelligence act provider obligations

Joint Conformity Assessment

Standards

Risk Management

Fundamental Rights

Data Governance

Logging

Transparency

Human Oversight

Accuracy and Robustness

Cybersecurity

Usability and Accessibility

Environmental Sustainability

Document Retention

EU artificial intelligence act

Deployer obligations

Notified body obligations

Authorized representative obligations

AIA governance

AIA Timelines detailed AIA implementing measures standards AIA review AIA vs MDR/IVDR transition

Penalties

How to prepare for the AI Act as a medical device manufacturer?

Adaptive AI-enabled medical devices

Role of machine-learning enabled medical devices (MLMD) in healthcare

Learning during clinical use

Change considerations

Predetermined change control plan

Significant changes to adaptive AI-based medical devices

General purpose artificial intelligence

Compliant conversations: Large language models for medical devices

Generalist medical AI systems

GPAI model provider obligations following the EU AI Act

GPAI models throughout the value chain

Creating trust

Finding answers to your challenges Regulatory sandboxes EU Testing and experimentation facilities



Standardisation landscape

Overview of standards for AI-based medical devices

Overview of horizontal standards with their impact on medical devices

Overview of standards in support of the AI Act

Trustworthiness framework

Interplay between horizontal and vertical standardization landscape

Geopolitical considerations of AI landscape

Speakers:

Koen Cobbaert

Philips Healthcare

Koen Cobbaert works for Philips as a quality, regulatory, and standards expert. Through trade associations COCIR and DITTA, he represents the industry at the European Commission and the IMDRF on matters related to software and artificial intelligence. He also contributes to various standardisation organizations focusing on software and artificial intelligence.

In the legislative domain, Koen chairs COCIR's and DITTA's software focus groups, representing its members at respectively the European Commission MDCG workgroups on Borderline and Classification and New Technologies and at the international level at the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) workgroup on artificial intelligence. Koen is also an advisor in the SaMD workgroup at the Global Harmonization Working Party (GHWP). Currently, Koen is engaged in various proposed EU legislation relating to artificial intelligence and data (AI Act, Machinery Regulation, General Product Safety Directive, Data Act, European Health Data Space.).

Aside from various publications through trade associations, Koen also edited the book In the standardization domain, Koen is a member of CEN-CENELEC's Industry Advisory Forum, and he is delegated as a Belgian expert to IEC JTC 1 SC 42 on artificial intelligence, CEN-CENELEC JTC21 on artificial intelligence, ISO TC215 JWG7 on health informatics, and to the IEC SC62A Advisory group on Software, Networks, and Artificial Intelligence (SNAIG).

Koen has a Master of Science in electrical engineering and safety risk management. He has over 15 years of hands-on experience establishing regulatory and market-access strategies for medical device software, performing worldwide regulatory submissions, and moderating risk management and clinical evaluation for software applications for general radiology, oncology, neurology, cardiology, orthopaedics, and clinical pathology. He has worked on software applications for pattern recognition, computer-aided detection, reasoning engines, clinical pathways, and other clinical decision support systems, including mobile apps, embedded software, and software operating in the cloud.

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v4k8pq

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Dateline Resources Limited to Boost U.S. Investor Access to Key California Mining Asset

Dateline Resources Limited (ASX:DTR)(OTC PINK:DTREF), an Australian mining company with a focus on North American assets, is advancing its strategic Colosseum gold and rare earth elements (REE) project in California. Following recent endorsements from President Donald J. Trump and the U.S. Department of the Interior of the project, the company is pursuing a listing on the OTCQB Venture Market to enhance access for U.S. investors. This initiative aligns with Dateline's goal of developing the Colosseum Project into a key contributor to America's critical minerals supply chain, as emphasized in President Trump's executive order "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production."

High-Profile Endorsements Highlight Strategic Importance

In a recent Truth Social update, President Donald J. Trump praised the approval of the Colosseum Mine, stating: "The Colosseum Mine, America's second rare earths mine, has been approved after years of stalled permitting." This recognition underscores the project's potential to reduce America's reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals.

The U.S. Department of the Interior also endorsed the project, with the Bureau of Land Management noting: "The resumption of mining at Colosseum Mine supports efforts to bolster America's capacity to produce the critical materials needed to manufacture the technologies to power our future Interior continues to support industries that boost the nation's economy and protect national security."

These endorsements highlight the strategic significance of the Colosseum Project for U.S. national interests.

OTCQB Listing to Enhance U.S. Investor Access

To capitalize on growing U.S. investor interest, Dateline is pursuing a listing on the OTCQB Venture Market. This move will upgrade the company's current OTC Pink trading status (Ticker: DTREF) to the OTCQB tier, providing improved liquidity and easier access for American investors to trade Dateline shares in U.S. dollars during U.S. market hours.

Stephen Baghdadi, Managing Director of Dateline, commented: "The support from President Trump and the U.S. government underscores the strategic importance of the Colosseum Project for America's future. We're excited to make our shares more accessible to U.S. investors through the OTCQB listing, allowing them to participate in this opportunity to bolster domestic critical minerals production."

Importantly, the OTCQB listing will not impose additional compliance burdens on Dateline. As an ASX-listed company, Dateline already adheres to rigorous reporting standards, which will satisfy OTCQB requirements under the SEC's exemption for foreign issuers.

The push to broaden U.S. market access comes on the heels of significant developments, including the DOI's confirmation of Dateline's mining rights and President Trump's executive order emphasizing the strategic importance of critical minerals. These milestones have generated substantial interest from North American investors, making the OTCQB listing a timely initiative to engage with this growing shareholder base.

Colosseum Project: A Strategic Asset for U.S. Mineral Independence

Located in California's Mojave National Preserve, just 10 kilometers north of the Mountain Pass rare earth mine, the Colosseum Project is uniquely positioned to contribute to America's critical minerals supply. The project hosts a substantial gold resource of 27.1 million tons at 1.26 grams per ton gold, totaling 1.1 million ounces, with 67% in the Measured and Indicated categories[1]. The Colosseum Mine has a history of successful production, having yielded approximately 344,000 ounces of gold between 1989 and 1993.

A 2024 Scoping Study[2] demonstrated strong economics, projecting an 8+ year mine life with annual production of approximately 75,000 ounces of gold. At a gold price of $2,200 per ounce, the study estimated a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of around $235 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 31%.

Beyond gold, the project has significant potential for rare earth elements (REEs), which are essential for high-tech industries and national defense. Geological studies indicate similarities with the Mountain Pass mine, suggesting that Colosseum may host valuable REE deposits. Dateline is actively exploring this potential, integrating REE-focused work into its exploration programs.

Executive Order Reinforces Strategic Importance

Further emphasizing the national importance of such projects, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" on March 20, 2025. This order aims to boost American mineral production, streamline permitting, and enhance national security by reducing reliance on foreign minerals. It prioritizes the production of critical minerals, including those found at the Colosseum Project, and directs federal agencies to expedite the permitting process for domestic mineral production projects. The order also emphasizes the importance of critical minerals for various industries and national defense, aligning perfectly with Dateline's efforts at the Colosseum Project.

To further advance the project, Dateline has commenced a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), building on recent drilling results and updated economic parameters. The company recently raised A$1.4 million to fund the BFS and other critical work at Colosseum.

DOI Approval Clears Path for Development

The U.S. Department of the Interior's confirmation of Dateline's mining rights at Colosseum is a pivotal milestone, clearing the path for the company to advance from exploration to development with federal endorsement. This approval not only validates the project's compliance with U.S. land laws but also highlights its strategic importance for domestic mineral production.

Looking Ahead

With strong backing from the U.S. government and increasing interest from American investors, Dateline is well-positioned to unlock the value of the Colosseum Project. The company is committed to keeping shareholders informed as it progresses towards production and explores the project's rare earth potential.

The OTCQB listing is expected to be finalized in early Q3 2025, providing U.S. investors with a streamlined platform to trade Dateline shares. The company will announce the new OTCQB ticker code once the listing is effective.

About Dateline Resources Limited

Dateline Resources Limited (ASX: DTR) is an Australian publicly listed company focused on mining and exploration in North America. The company owns 100% of the Colosseum Gold-REE Project in California, a strategic asset with significant gold and rare earth elements potential.

For more information, visit www.datelineresources.com.au.

Follow Dateline on X: https://twitter.com/Dateline_DTR

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of the Colosseum Project, the expected benefits of the OTCQB listing, the company's plans for future development, and the strategic importance of the project for U.S. critical minerals supply. Forward-looking statements are based on the company's current expectations, estimates, and projections, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the prices of gold and rare earth elements; changes in regulatory requirements or permitting processes; geological or technical challenges in exploration and development; market conditions affecting the company's ability to raise capital; environmental or social factors impacting operations; risks associated with the OTCQB listing process or trading on a new market; environmental and permitting risks associated with operating in a national preserve; uncertainty regarding the delineation of a mineable rare earth elements resource; risks related to the company's ability to secure necessary funding for project development; and potential changes in government policies or priorities affecting the critical minerals sector. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Competent Person Statement

The exploration information in this press release has been reviewed by Mr. Greg Hall, a Chartered Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Hall has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization and deposit type to qualify as a Competent Person under the JORC Code. He consents to the inclusion of this information in the context in which it appears.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Stephen Baghdadi Managing Director

+61 2 9375 2353

www.datelineresources.com.au Andrew Rowell

White Noise Communications

+61 400 466 226

andrew@whitenoisecomms.com

[1] Dateline confirms in the subsequent public report that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the relevant market announcement and, in the case of estimates ofmineral resources or ore reserves, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. [2] Dateline confirms in the subsequent public report that all the material assumptions underpinning the production target, or the forecast financial information derived from a production target, in the initial public report referred to in Rule 5.16 or Rule 5.17 (as the case may be) continue to apply and have not materially changed. SOURCE: Dateline Resources Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/presidential-endorsement-and-otcqb-listing-t-1022713
Edina, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: PETV) (OTC Pink: PETVW), today announced its participation in the D. Boral Capital Inaugural Global Conference, taking place May 14, 2025, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

John Lai, Chief Executive Officer, will be hosting one-on-one meetings on May 14th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. (ET).

To register for one-on-one meetings with management at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, interested parties should contact John Perez at jperez@dboralcapital.com.

About PetVivo Holdings, Inc.

PetVivo Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: PETV) (OTC Pink: PETVW) is an emerging biomedical device company currently focused on the manufacturing, commercialization and licensing of innovative medical devices and therapeutics for companion animals. The Company's strategy is to leverage human therapies for the treatment of companion animals in a capital and time efficient way. A key component of this strategy is the accelerated timeline to revenues for veterinary medical devices, which enter the market much earlier than more stringently regulated pharmaceuticals and biologics.PetVivo has a robust pipeline of products for the treatment of animals and people. A portfolio of twenty-one patents protects the Company's biomaterials, products, production processes and methods of use. The Company's lead products SPRYNG with OsteoCushion technology, a veterinarian-administered, intra-articular injection for the management of lameness and other joint related afflictions, including osteoarthritis, in cats, dogs and horses, and PrecisePRP, a first-in-class, off-the-shelf, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) product designed for use by veterinarians, are currently available for commercial sale.

About D. Boral Capital

D. Boral Capital LLC is an investment bank headquartered in New York which provides advisory and financing solutions to middle market and emerging growth companies. The Company has a proven track record of offering strategic guidance to clients across the globe in any sector, with access to capital from the USA, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Latin America.

D. Boral Capital is a leader on Wall Street, having aggregated over $25 billion in capital across approximately 350 transactions through various product types.

Source PetVivo Holdings, Inc.

SOURCE: D.Boral Capital
By Qabil Ashirov



The rapid adoption of digital technologies, the modernization of the media landscape, and related innovations have contributed to the formation of a qualitatively new media environment in recent years.

This statement was made by Azerbaijans Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva during the opening speech at the Second Forum titled Public Processes in the Media Space, organized by the Media Development Agency (MEDIA).

Aliyeva emphasized that one of the key pillars of building a democratic and law-based state is the existence of an independent media and the safeguarding of freedom of thought, speech, and the press.

She noted that media plays a crucial role in promoting legal awareness among the public, delivering information about current developments in a timely and objective manner, and thereby shaping public opinion and serving as an effective tool for public oversight.

However, the Ombudsman also drew attention to the risks emerging in todays digital media environment. These include disinformation, hate speech, breaches of privacy, digital surveillance, cyberbullying, disruption of education, exposure to harmful content, and the promotion of aggressive behavior.

Aliyeva stressed that media activity must be governed not only by legal frameworks but also by ethical standards. She underlined the importance of respecting national and moral values and, above all, aligning all media practices with the principles of human rights and human dignity.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Valhalla Metals Inc. (TSXV: VMXX) (OTCQB: VMXXF) ("Valhalla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Curtis Freeman to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective immediately.

Mr. Freeman is a U.S. Certified Professional Geologist and a licensed geologist in the State of Alaska as well as a member of several professional organizations. Since forming Avalon Development in 1985, Curt and his crews have conducted mineral exploration all over Alaska as well as in the Yukon, the western United States, Central America, South America, New Zealand and Africa. Mr. Freeman is a Founding Director and former President of the Company prior to its listing on TSX-V in 2022, and a Founding Director of several publicly-listed and private mineral exploration companies.

Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, Company's Chairman, said "We are pleased to have Mr. Freeman join the Board of Valhalla. Curt is a well-respected geologist with many years of experience working not only in Alaska but around the world. He has been involved with exploring and developing many successful projects and understands what it takes to make a mine. We welcome him to the Board of Valhalla and looking forward to working together to advance the Sun and Smucker deposits located in the Ambler mining district of Alaska."

The Company also announces the resignation of Raj Chowdhry as a director of the Company citing time constraints related to other professional commitments.

"On behalf of the Company and the Board, we would like to thank Raj for his contributions to Valhalla over the years and we wish him the best of success in his future ventures," said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, Chairman of the Board.

About Valhalla Metals

Valhalla Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the advancement of its mineral projects towards feasibility. Valhalla's flagship project is the Sun copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver VMS projects located in Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska. The Company also owns the Smucker project, a high-quality copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver VMS project located in the Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska. Valhalla Metals Inc. shares trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol VMXX and OTCQB under the ticker symbol VMXXF. For more information about Valhalla, please visit our website at www.valhallametals.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For more information on the Company, please contact Valhalla Metals Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plan", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based, are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; and the additional risks identified in the annual information form of the Company or other reports and filings with the TSX-V and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250561

SOURCE: Valhalla Metals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: FSXLF) (FSE: V3H) ("Great Pacific", "GPAC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved a spin out transaction (the "Spin Out") whereby Great Pacific will distribute the shares of a new company named Walhalla Gold Corp. ("Walhalla") to the shareholders of Great Pacific. Walhalla will own the Company's Walhalla Gold Project in Victoria, Australia.1

Highlights:

Immediate value creation directly for Great Pacific shareholders as each Great Pacific shareholder will receive one share of Walhalla for every share held of Great Pacific owned.

Great Pacific will also receive $1.5 million cash 2 relating to this transaction and will retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR") on the project.

Walhalla Gold Project, located in Victoria, Australia, has a prolific history of gold production, with total historic production reported of 1,510,309 ounces at a grade of 33.59 g/t gold (GeoVic, 2020). 3

Walhalla Gold Project is district-scale 1,400 sq km land package with both advanced stage and greenfield targets.

High-priority greenfield target called Pinnacles, where extensive soil geochemistry has highlighted a 400m x 1,100m gold mineralized aplitic dyke which contains disseminated sulphides and outcrops at surface.

Pinnacles target is fully permitted, accessible, and ready for immediate drilling.

As part of the Spin Out, Great Pacific and Walhalla entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") with 1537559 B.C. Ltd. ("Finco") whereby Finco has agreed to make a payment of $1.5 million cash to GPAC and to fund the exploration, advancement and development of the Walhalla Gold Project.

Great Pacific CEO, Greg McCunn states, "Victoria, well known in recent times for the success of the Fosterville Mine owned by Agnico Eagle, is experiencing a resurgence of exploration activity and interest due to successes such as the Southern Cross Sunday Creek discovery. With the Walhalla Belt now consolidated by the Company following the acquisition of Woods Point and initial field work complete in preparation for drilling, this is an excellent time to spin out the project for the direct benefit of Great Pacific Gold shareholders. The Company will also receive a direct benefit from a $1.5 million non-contingent cash payment and will retain exposure to the future success of the project via the retention of a 2% NSR."

Walhalla Gold Project

Located in the state of Victoria (Figure 1), the district-scale Walhalla project consists of over 1,400km2 of concessions. In addition to multiple areas with past historic production, Walhalla contains a high-priority greenfield target called Pinnacles. Extensive soil geochemistry has highlighted a 400m x 1,100m gold mineralized aplitic dyke which contains disseminated sulphides and outcrops at surface. The Pinnacles target is fully permitted, accessible, and ready for immediate drilling.

Highlights of the Walhalla Belt:

History of gold production, with total historic production reported of 1,510,309 ounces at a grade of 33.59 g/t gold (GeoVic, 2020).

Large (1,400km 2 ) land package comprising numerous occurrences and historic mines hosting epizonal-style Au mineralization, most with no modern drilling and exploration.

) land package comprising numerous occurrences and historic mines hosting epizonal-style Au mineralization, most with no modern drilling and exploration. Cohen's Reef: historic production from laminated quartz veins within a single mineralized shoot down to 1,120m. Historic drilling at depth suggests multiple shoots and extensions (e.g. 4.25m @ 11.15 g/t Au from 258.4m).

Longfellows Reef: Located 1 km west of and parallel to Cohens Reef, comprises of old gold workings over a strike length of 1.5km. Grab samples from the main adit returned 200m @ 4.95 g/t Au and 75m @ 4.1 g/t Au.

Pinnacles: A 400m by 1,100m zone of sulphide mineralization associated with disseminated sulphide in aplitic dykes and quartz stockwork veins in silicified sedimentary rocks. Highlight channel sampling includes 81.6m @ 1.02 g/t Au and 18.0m @ 3.28 g/t Au.





Figure 1: Walhalla Gold Project and Pinnacles Target Geochemistry Results, Victoria Australia

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/250575_cc90df72b4af1870_002full.jpg

Terms of Transaction

Under the terms of the Spin Out and the LOI:

Great Pacific shareholders will receive one share of Walhalla for every share in Great Pacific held (1:1 spinout transaction) as of a future record date to be determined.

Great Pacific will receive a one-time payment of $1,500,000 from Finco on or before May 30, 2025.

Finco will complete a private placement financing(s) of approximately $4,500,000 prior to completion of the Spin Out (the "Financings"). The terms of the Financings will be determined at a later date.

After completion of the Financings and in conjunction with closing of the Spin Out, Walhalla will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Finco on the basis of one share of Walhalla for every share of Finco.

Great Pacific will retain a 2% net smelter return on the Walhalla Gold Project.

Walhalla intends to apply to list its common shares as a mining issuer on the CSE.

A proposed management team and board of directors of Walhalla will be announced in due course. Finco will issue a total of 10 million common shares to the new management team and board as part of the Spin Out transaction.

After closing of the Spin Out and acquisition of Finco, the capital structure of Walhalla will equal the issued and outstanding shares of Great Pacific plus the then issued and outstanding shares of Finco.

Under the terms of the LOI, Great Pacific, Walhalla and Finco will enter into an arrangement agreement setting forth the definitive terms of the Spin Out and acquisition of Finco on or before May 30, 2025. The Spin Out and acquisition of Finco by Walhalla will be subject to the acceptance of the TSXV, listing of the common shares of Walhalla on the CSE, completion of the Financing, regulatory and shareholder approvals of Great Pacific and such other terms and conditions set forth in the arrangement agreement.

Further details of the capital structure, additional directors and terms of the Financing will be set forth in a subsequent news release and information circular to be mailed to the shareholders of Great Pacific.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Callum Spink, the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, MAIG, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Spink is responsible for the technical content of this news release.

On behalf of Great Pacific Gold:

Greg McCunn

Chief Executive Officer and Director

About Great Pacific Gold

Great Pacific Gold has a portfolio of exploration-stage projects in Papua New Guinea ("PNG"). The Company is focused on developing gold-copper resources from its highly prospective land packages. Its core projects include:

Kesar Project: located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company is carrying out an ongoing diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project.

Wild Dog Project: located in the East New Britain province of PNG, the Wild Dog Project is a brownfield exploration project with a history of small-scale gold mining. The Wild Dog Project contains numerous epithermal and porphyry hydrothermal-magmatic targets evidenced by previous exploration and operations. The Company completed a road refurbishment in August 2024 and baseline environmental work in Q4 2024. In Q1 2025, the Company began preparing for a drilling program with camp and infrastructure being established, airborne geophysics (MobileMT) survey completed and a geological team in place. Drilling is expected to begin on the property in May 2025.

Arau Project: located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG, the Arau Project contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with encouraging results. The Arau Project includes the Elandora licence, which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets.

The Company also holds the Tinga Valley Project in PNG.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

www.gpacgold.com The Walhalla Project consists of the following Exploration Licenses (EL's): Kevington EL8538, Enoch's Point EL7219, Loch Flyne EL6363, Harbinger EL7215, Woods Point EL6321, Pinnacles EL7307, Walhalla North EL7289, Walhalla EL7297 and Cooper's Creek EL7300. All figures Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. GeoVic is a State Government of Victoria source (GeoVic 2020 is the publication).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250575

SOURCE: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Ramp Metals Inc. (TSXV: RAMP) ("Ramp Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing of up to approximately $2,800,000 (the "Offering").

The Offering is expected to consist of the issue and sale of:

Up to 1,111,111 charity flow-through common shares (the " CFT Shares ") at a price of $2.07 per CFT Share for gross proceeds of up to approximately $2,300,000; and

Up to 370,370 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of $1.35 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to approximately $500,000.

The proceeds from the issuance of the CFT Shares of the Offering will be used for copper (i.e. critical mineral) exploration expenses at the Company's Rottenstone SW property in Saskatchewan.

The proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for both exploration expenses and general working capital. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about May 23, 2025.

The CFT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the CFT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act).

The closing is subject to certain conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Finder's fees may be paid in accordance with TSXV policies. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada of four months plus one day.

About Ramp Metals Inc.

Ramp Metals is a grassroots exploration company with a focus on a potential new Saskatchewan gold district. The Company currently has new high-grade gold discovery of 73.55 g/t Au over 7.5m at its flagship Rottenstone SW property. The Rottenstone SW property comprises 32,715 hectares and is situated in the Rottenstone Domain.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the Offering and the Company's exploration activities.

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: requirements for additional capital; future prices of minerals; changes in general economic conditions; changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities; other risks of the mining industry; the inability to obtain any necessary governmental and regulatory approvals; changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations; hedging practices; and currency fluctuations.

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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. 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 Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250582

SOURCE: Ramp Metals Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Pineapple Financial Inc. (NYSE American: PAPL), a leading Canadian fintech platform, is thrilled to announce a new strategic partnership with CPP (Canadian Protection Plan) to further enhance its Pineapple Insurance division. This collaboration is designed to broaden the suite of life, creditor, and disability insurance offerings available to clients, continuing to position Pineapple as a key player in the growing Canadian insurance market.

Following the successful launch of Pineapple Insurance earlier this year, which has already received positive adoption across its customer base, this partnership with CPP will further elevate the company's ability to provide comprehensive and tailored financial protection solutions that seamlessly integrate with the mortgage process. Pineapple Insurance, which launched with great enthusiasm, is now expanding its reach and impact, ensuring that clients continue to receive the most relevant and secure coverage for their unique needs.

A Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity with CPP Partnership

The addition of CPP to Pineapple Insurance provides clients with enhanced insurance options, allowing the company to offer a more diverse range of life, creditor, and disability coverage. The Canadian life and health insurance sector remains a significant opportunity, with $122 billion CAD in premiums generated in 2022 alone, and a forecasted annual growth rate of 4.5% through 2027. By integrating these offerings into the mortgage process, Pineapple is well-positioned to capture a larger share of this market and further expand its revenue streams. With over 700,000 new mortgages issued annually and nearly 47% of mortgages set to renew within the next three years, the potential for cross-selling insurance products remains immense.

The recent regulatory changes, which now require an insurance offer for all mortgage applications, further underscore the timeliness of this partnership. Pineapple Insurance is not only meeting this regulatory requirement but also creating an integrated, value-added solution that improves the client experience, while opening up new opportunities for growth. This partnership marks a pivotal point for the company, building on the early success of Pineapple Insurance and driving its next phase of growth.

Strategic Growth for Investors

Pineapple's partnership with CPP significantly enhances its revenue-generating potential. With the addition of CPP's insurance products, Pineapple continues to expand its multi-product offerings, positioning itself to tap into Canada's vast insurance market. By bundling insurance with mortgage services, Pineapple is increasing its cross-sell opportunities, building stronger client relationships, and enhancing revenue growth.

"Our launch of Pineapple Insurance has already been well received by our clients, and we're excited to expand upon that success with the addition of CPP's products," said Kendall Marin, President and COO of Pineapple Financial. "This partnership not only strengthens our insurance offering but also drives growth by offering our clients a seamless, all-in-one solution for their mortgage and insurance needs."

Driving Client Retention and Long-Term Growth

The successful adoption of Pineapple Insurance by clients has already proven to be a key driver of retention, and the CPP partnership will only enhance this trend. Research consistently shows that offering multi-product solutions increases client retention by as much as 30%. By offering tailored insurance coverage alongside mortgage products, Pineapple is deepening relationships with its clients, ensuring they stay loyal over the long term.

"We promised our investors that the proceeds from our IPO would be used strategically to enhance shareholder value, and with the launch of Pineapple Insurance and this new partnership with CPP, we're delivering on that promise," said Shubha Dasgupta, CEO of Pineapple Financial. "This partnership strengthens our ability to offer our clients more value, and provides a clear path to sustainable growth and profitability for the company."

Capital Deployment and Long-Term Value Creation

Pineapple Insurance's expansion, backed by the strategic deployment of proceeds from the November 2023 IPO, demonstrates the company's commitment to using capital efficiently to drive future growth. The partnership with CPP reflects Pineapple's long-term vision of building a fully integrated financial services platform. It is a key example of the company's efforts to maximize investor capital and create revenue-generating assets that will benefit shareholders in the years to come.

"Through this partnership with CPP, we're furthering our strategic goal of building a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for clients. This is just the beginning of a long-term, profitable journey," concluded Shubha Dasgupta.

A Fully Integrated Financial Ecosystem

Pineapple Insurance, enhanced with CPP's offerings, adds a critical layer to Pineapple's all-in-one platform, providing a seamless experience for mortgage, insurance, and financial services. As a licensed Managing General Agent (MGA) operating in Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta, Pineapple Insurance now offers clients access to personalized and secure coverage with the added benefit of a complete financial service suite.

This integration not only strengthens Pineapple's market position but also ensures that the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the Canadian mortgage and financial services sector.

About Pineapple Insurance

Pineapple Insurance Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pineapple Financial Inc., offers a wide range of insurance products, including life insurance (term and permanent), creditor insurance, critical illness insurance, and disability insurance. Licensed as an MGA, Pineapple Insurance is dedicated to providing comprehensive financial protection to clients across Canada, ensuring that every mortgage client has access to personalized and secure coverage.

About Pineapple Financial

Pineapple Financial Inc. (NYSE American: PAPL) is a leading Canadian mortgage technology and brokerage company focused on delivering the ultimate experience for mortgage brokers, lenders, and clients. Pineapple provides cutting-edge tools, marketing automation, analytics, and proprietary technology designed to simplify and enhance the mortgage process. With a growing national footprint and a commitment to innovation, Pineapple is setting a new standard for excellence in the mortgage industry.

For more information, please visit www.gopineapple.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250596

SOURCE: Pineapple Financial Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered offering of units (the "Offering") previously announced on April 10, 2025. As part of this initial closing, the Company issued 35,902,500 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.03 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,077,075. An additional closing under the Offering of up to approximately $420,000 is expected on or before May 23, 2025.

Each Unit under the Offering consists of one Common Share (a "Common Share") and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each full Warrant shall be exercisable into one Common Share for a period of 36 months from issuance at an exercise price of $0.05.

14,235,833 of the Units issued under the Offering were issued under the listed issuer financing exemption set forth under section 5A.2 ("Listed Issuer Exemption") of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") and contain no resale restrictions. The remaining 21,606,667 Units were issued to accredited investors under NI 45-106 and stipulate a four-month hold on the resale of the securities.

The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company for exploration-related work at the Company's Gochager Lake Project and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

As consideration for services in connection with the Offering, the Company has paid to certain qualified entities ("Finders") a cash commission of $7,875 and issued 262,500 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.05 for a period of 36 months from issuance.

Crescat Capital LLC ("Crescat") participated in the Offering with a strategic investment representing 46% of the total shares issued in the Offering. This brings Crescat's ownership/control position in Fathom to approximately 18.2% of the common shares currently outstanding, on a non-diluted basis.

About Fathom Nickel Inc.

Fathom is an exploration company that is targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to support the energy transition and to secure the supply of North American critical minerals.

The Company now has a portfolio of three high-quality exploration projects located in the prolific Trans Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan: 1) the Albert Lake Project, a 90,000+ hectare project that was host to the historic and past producing Rottenstone Mine1 (produced 28,724 tons @3.3% Ni, 1.8% Cu, 9.63 g/t 3E (Pd-Pt+Au) 1965-1969), and 2) the 23,000+ hectare Gochager Lake Project that is host to a historic NI 43-101 non-compliant open pit resource consisting of 4.3M tons at 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu2, and 3) the 10,000+ hectare Friesen Lake Project located 40km southwest of the historic Rottenstone Mine and 30km northwest of the historic Gochager Lake deposit.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Doug Porter"

President and CFO, Director

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, completion of another closing under the Offering, date of closing of an additional closing under the Offering and use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

1 The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0958) reports the production grades noted above from a small open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the production numbers nor a historic resource estimate that may have been in place ahead of production. The historic pit exists, and the Company trusts the production, as noted in SMDI #0958, to be accurate. The Company has performed test assaying of Rottenstone-type mineralization and results are consistent with production grades.

2 The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0880) reports drill indicated reserves at the historic Gochager Lake Deposit of 4,262,400 tons grading 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu mineable by open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the resource estimate, nor the parameters and methods used to prepare the reserve estimate. The estimate is not considered NI43-101 compliant and further work is required to verify this historical drill indicated reserve.





NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250599

SOURCE: Fathom Nickel Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) -Universal Digital Inc. (CSE: LFG) ("Universal Digital" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a market making services agreement with Independent Trading Group (ITG), Inc. ("ITG"), a CIRO-registered broker-dealer, to provide market making services in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE").

ITG will trade shares of Universal Digital on the CSE for the purpose of maintaining an orderly market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares. ITG will not receive any shares or options as compensation. The engagement is arm's length, and ITG currently has no interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company.

Pursuant to the agreement, ITG will receive a monthly fee of C$5,000, plus applicable taxes. The agreement is effective April 30, 2025, and automatically renews on a month-to-month basis unless terminated by either party with 30 days' written notice.

"We are pleased to welcome ITG as our market maker," said Timothy Chan, CEO of Universal Digital. "Their involvement is a key step in strengthening the trading infrastructure around our shares as we continue to expand our shareholder base."

About Universal Digital Inc.

Universal Digital Inc. is a Canadian investment company focused on digital assets, businesses and private and publicly listed entities that are involved in high-growth industries, with a particular focus on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency technologies. The Company aims to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth through a diversified investment approach, and to participate in the transformation of global finance through the integration of digital asset strategies.

For further information contact:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This 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 "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the impact of the new management on the Company's business and operations, the expected impacts of the change of business on the Company's business and operations, and the Company's plans following the proposed change of business.

These forward-looking 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 new officer appointments may not impact the Company's operations or business as anticipated; the Company may not receive the anticipated results on its business or operations following completion of the change of business; the Company's plans following the change of business may vary; the volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency markets; the impact of governmental or regulatory orders or decisions on the digital asset and cryptocurrency sectors; and market volatility for the Company's securities.

In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the change of business will benefit the Company's business and operations; and the digital asset and cryptocurrency sectors will continue to see growth. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250598

SOURCE: Universal Digital Inc.
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) -Enertopia Corporation (OTCQB: ENRT) (CSE: ENRT) Enertopia or the Company is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. to handle its investor relations activities.

"We are pleased to announce that we have selected Renmark to reinforce Enertopia Corporation's profile in the financial community and enhance the visibility of our company. We choose Renmark because its standards and methodologies fit best with the message, we wish to communicate to the investing public," noted Robert McAllister, President, CEO, and Director.

In consideration of the services to be provided, the monthly fees incurred by Enertopia Corp. will be a cash consideration of up to $9,000 CAD, starting May 1st, 2025, for a period of 7 months ending on November 30th, 2025, and monthly thereafter.

Renmark Financial Communications does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in by Enertopia Corp. or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

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 client's 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.

About Enertopia Corp.

Enertopia Corp. defines itself as an Energy Solutions Company focused on modern technology through a combination of our intellectual property patents in green technologies to build shareholder value.

For further information, please contact:

Neither the OTC Markets and the CSE Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined, in the policies of the CSE Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250489

SOURCE: Enertopia Corporation
Issuer: Decent Cybersecurity s.r.o. / Key word(s): Alliance

Decent Cybersecurity Joins the Council of Slovak Exporters to Strengthen European Cybersecurity Exports



02.05.2025 / 15:00 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Bratislava, May 2, 2025 - Decent Cybersecurity, a leading European provider of post-quantum security solutions, announces its membership in the Council of Slovak Exporters (CSE), reinforcing its commitment to expanding advanced cybersecurity exports across global markets.

This strategic partnership combines Decent Cybersecurity's expertise in critical infrastructure protection with CSE's established export promotion platform. As a company holding national, EU, and NATO "Secret" level security clearances, Decent Cybersecurity brings specialized knowledge in post-quantum security, blockchain technology, and space traffic management solutions to the Council's network.

"Joining the Council of Slovak Exporters represents a significant opportunity to strengthen Slovakia's position in the global cybersecurity market," said Matej Michalko, Founder and CEO of Decent Cybersecurity and a long-term expert on post-quantum cryptography and blockchain. "As cyber threats continue to evolve, our advanced solutions are increasingly sought internationally, and CSE provides the ideal platform to expand our reach."

Lukas Parizek, Chairman of the Council of Slovak Exporters and former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic welcomed the new member: "Decent Cybersecurity's specialized expertise in post-quantum security and critical infrastructure protection represents exactly the kind of high-value export potential Slovakia needs to develop. Their membership enhances our collective capabilities in the rapidly growing cybersecurity sector."

The collaboration will focus on promoting Slovak cybersecurity expertise in international markets, with particular emphasis on EU, NATO, and emerging markets seeking advanced security solutions.

About Decent Cybersecurity

Decent Cybersecurity delivers advanced European cybersecurity solutions specializing in post-quantum security and critical infrastructure protection. The company maintains ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications and holds national, EU, and NATO "Secret" level security clearances. As a founding member of the Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic, Decent Cybersecurity implements robust security protocols for critical infrastructure and sensitive data across multiple sectors.

About the Council of Slovak Exporters

The Council of Slovak Exporters was established in 2020 as a response to COVID-19's impact on local businesses. With over 130 supporting companies, this business platform connects exporters and facilitates dialogue with state institutions, international organizations, and financial institutions. The Council publicly communicates in support of Slovak exporters, provides export-related assistance, organizes networking events, and connects relevant entities in international trade. The organization holds BRONZE "European Cluster Excellence Initiative" certification, operating at the European level.

Contact

Decent Cybersecurity s.r.o.

Teplicka 4

921 01 Piestany

Slovak Republic

media@decentcybersecurity.eu

Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


EQS-News: Global Fashion Group S.A. / Bekanntmachung der Einberufung zur Hauptversammlung

Global Fashion Group S.A.: Bekanntmachung der Einberufung zur Hauptversammlung am 12.06.2025 in Luxembourg mit dem Ziel der europaweiten Verbreitung gema 121 AktG



02.05.2025 / 15:05 CET/CEST

Bekanntmachung gema 121 AktG, ubermittelt durch EQS News

- ein Service der EQS Group.

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Global Fashion Group S.A., societe anonyme Registered office: 5, Heienhaff, L-1736 Senningerberg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg RCS Luxembourg B 190.907 Convening notice to the annual general meeting of the shareholders

of Global Fashion Group S.A. (the "Company")

The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company is to be held at: 41A, Avenue John F. Kennedy

L-2082 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

at 9:00 CEST on Thursday, 12 June 2025 to deliberate and vote on the below agenda (the "Annual General Meeting"). We are delighted to welcome shareholders to attend our Annual General Meeting in person (videoconference will not be available). Shareholders may refer to section D. "Availability of the documentation, attendance and voting procedure" in this convening notice for further information. A. Agenda and Proposed Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting of the Company 1. Presentation of the combined consolidated management report of the management board of the Company (the "Management Board") and of the report of the independent auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) on the Company's consolidated accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRS") and on the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 prepared in accordance with Luxembourg Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("Luxembourg GAAP"). 2. Approval of the Company's consolidated accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 3. Approval of the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 4. Allocation of results for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 5. Granting of discharge to Christoph Barchewitz, member of the Management Board, for the exercise of his mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 6. Granting of discharge to Gunjan Soni, former member of the Management Board, for the exercise of her mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 7. Granting of discharge to Cynthia Gordon, member of the supervisory board of the Company (the "Supervisory Board"), for the exercise of her mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 8. Granting of discharge to Georgi Ganev, member of the Supervisory Board, for the exercise of his mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 9. Granting of discharge to Carol Shen, member of the Supervisory Board, for the exercise of her mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 10. Granting of discharge to Laura Weil, member of the Supervisory Board, for the exercise of her mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 11. Granting of discharge to John Baker, member of the Supervisory Board, for the exercise of his mandate during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 12. Reappointment of Cynthia Gordon as a member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the date of this Annual General Meeting for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders approving the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2027. 13. Reappointment of Carol Shen as a member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the date of this Annual General Meeting for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders approving the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2027. 14. Reappointment of John Baker as a member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the date of this Annual General Meeting for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders approving the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2027. 15. Reappointment of Laura Weil as a member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the date of this Annual General Meeting for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders approving the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2025. 16. Appointment of Andreas Bernstrom as a member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the date of this Annual General Meeting for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders approving the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2027. 17. Renewal of the appointment of Ernst & Young as independent auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) of the Company for a period ending at the general meeting of shareholders of the Company approving the annual accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2025. 18. Presentation of, and advisory vote on, the remuneration report for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. 19. Presentation of, and advisory vote on, the revised remuneration policy for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. 20. Approval and, to the extent necessary, ratification of the remuneration of the members of the Supervisory Board, payable annually and for the period of their mandate. B. Explanatory Notes to the Business of the Annual General Meeting Resolutions 1 to 4 - Approval of Financial Statements The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting, after having reviewed the management report of the Management Board and the report of the independent auditor, approve: - the consolidated accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 in their entirety, showing a consolidated net loss of EUR 85.1 million; - the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 in their entirety, showing a net profit of EUR 9.1 million; - allocation of the results of the Company based on the stand-alone annual accounts of the Company prepared in accordance with Luxembourg GAAP for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 as follows: - Results of the financial year 2024: profit of EUR 9.1 million - Losses brought forward: EUR 3.25 billion Shareholders are reminded that no vote is required for resolution 1. Resolutions 5 to 6 - Discharge of Current and Former Members of the Management Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting approve that discharge be granted to each current and former member of the Management Board, for the exercise of their mandates during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. Resolutions 7 to 11 - Discharge of Current Members of the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting approve that discharge be granted to each current and former member of the Supervisory Board, for the exercise of their mandates during the financial year ended 31 December 2024. Resolutions 12 to 15 - Reappointment of Members of the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting approve and renew the mandates, as members of the Supervisory Board, of each of the following persons: Cynthia Gordon, Carol Shen, Laura Weil and John Baker. Pursuant to the German Corporate Governance Code which the Company has voluntarily elected to comply with, all proposed candidates are independent. Further, none of the proposed candidates have personal or business relationships with either the Company, the governing bodies of the Company or any shareholders with a material interest in the Company. Cynthia Gordon, Carol Shen and John Baker shall be reappointed as members of the Supervisory Board shall be for a period of three years, expiring at the general meeting of shareholders that resolves on the discharge for the exercise of the Supervisory Board's mandates for the financial year ending 31 December 2027, being the general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2028. Laura Weil shall be reappointed as a member of the Supervisory Board for a period of one year, expiring at the general meeting of shareholders that resolves on the discharge for the exercise of the Supervisory Board's mandates for the financial year ending 31 December 2025, being the general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2026. The proposed Supervisory Board members each possess relevant knowledge, skills and professional experience to enable the Supervisory Board to fulfil its supervisory duties effectively. If the reappointments are approved, this will lead to an independent Supervisory Board in accordance within the definition of the German Corporate Governance Code and a gender and ethnically diverse Supervisory Board. The biographical information of each individual proposed for reappointment to the Supervisory Board is available on the Company's website at https://ir.global-fashion-group.com/agm Resolution 16 - Appointment of Andreas Bernstrom to the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting approves the appointment of Andreas Bernstrom as a member of the Supervisory Board. In line with the German Corporate Governance Code, which the Company has voluntarily elected to comply with, Andreas Bernstrom is deemed to be independent. Further, he does not have any personal or business relationships with either the Company, the governing bodies of the Company, with the exception that with the exception that Andreas Bernstrom is the Operating Partner of Kinnevik AB (publ), whose subsidiary is a material shareholder of the Company. Andreas Bernstrom's mandate shall expire at the general meeting of shareholders that resolves on the discharge for the exercise of the Supervisory Board's mandates for the financial year ending 31 December 2027, being the general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2028. Andreas Bernstrom possesses relevant knowledge, skills and professional experience to assist the Supervisory Board in fulfilling its supervisory duties effectively. Andreas Bernstrom's biographical information is available on the Company's website at https://ir.global-fashion-group.com/agm Resolution 17 - Reappointment of Auditor The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting appoint the auditing firm Ernst & Young as independent auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) to perform the independent audit of the Company regarding the financial year ending 31 December 2025. Resolution 18 - Presentation of, and advisory vote on, the remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting pass an advisory vote on the remuneration report for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. Resolution 19 - Presentation of, and advisory vote on, the revised remuneration policy for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting pass an advisory vote on the remuneration policy for the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. The Company has revised its remuneration policy for the Management Board and the Supervisory Board, as previously approved by the shareholders on 12 June 2024, and submits it to an advisory vote of the Annual General Meeting as required by Article 7bis of the Luxembourg law of 24 May 2011 on shareholders rights and which became effective on 24 August 2019, as amended (the "Shareholders Rights Law"). The proposed changes provide further clarification around the circumstances in which the Supervisory Board may elect to award share options to Management Board Members. Specifically, the Supervisory Board may determine to award share options as covering multiple years of employment in place of smaller serial annual grants of restricted stock units, performance stock units and performance share options. The award of share options will be subject to a vesting schedule and exercise price that is set at the grant date. These changes are intended to provide an alternative method of incentivising value creation and have no additional cost to the Company. In addition, the annual fees for the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and for Members of the Supervisory Board have each been increased by EUR 2,000. All other material terms of the remuneration policy remain the same, including in relation to the ratio mix between fixed and variable components. Resolution 20 - Remuneration for the Members of the Supervisory Board The Management Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting approve the remuneration for the members of the Supervisory Board, payable annually and for the period of their mandate, as follows: Supervisory Board: Supervisory

Board Audit

Committee Sustainability

Committee Nomination

Committee Remuneration

Committee Chairman 42,000 40,000 20,000 10,000 25,000 Vice Chairman 10,000 - - - - Member 32,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 10,000 The Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board shall be entitled to their fee as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, along with the fee for being a member of the Supervisory Board. C. Important Notes about the Annual General Meeting 1. Timing The Annual General Meeting will start promptly at 09:00 CEST. Shareholders wishing to attend the meeting should arrive at the venue no later than 08:45 CEST. 2. Location of Meeting The Annual General Meeting is to be held at 41A, Avenue John F. Kennedy, L-2082 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 3. Questions about the Annual General Meeting If you have any questions about the Annual General Meeting, please contact the Company's agent, Computershare Operations Center ("Agent"): Global Fashion Group S.A.

c/o Computershare Operations Center

Address: 80249 Munchen

E-mail: anmeldestelle@computershare.de D. Availability of the documentation, attendance and voting procedure 1. Available information and documentation This convening notice is to be published in the RESA (Recueil Electronique des Societes et Associations), the Luxembourg newspaper, Luxemburger Wort, and other media (which may reasonably be expected to be relied upon for the effective dissemination of information to the public throughout the European Economic Area, and which are accessible rapidly and on a non-discriminatory basis) as well as separately dispatched by regular mail or, if agreed with the respective addressee, by e-mail to (i) the members of the Management Board, (ii) the members of the Supervisory Board and (iii) the independent auditor. The following information is available for inspection by the shareholders at least until and including the day of the Annual General Meeting on the Company's website at https://ir.global-fashion-group.com/annual-general-meeting/ and at the registered office of the Company as from the day of publication of this convening notice in the Luxembourg official gazette (Recueil Electronique des Societes et Associations): - this convening notice for the Annual General Meeting 2025; - the total number of common shares in issue and voting rights at the date of the convening notice; - the full text of any document to be made available by the Company at the Annual General Meeting 2025 (i.e. inter alia the annual report containing the financial year 2024 standalone and consolidated accounts); - the management report; - the independent auditor report on the Company's standalone and consolidated accounts; - the full text of the draft resolutions in relation to each of the items included in the agenda to be adopted at the Annual General Meeting; - the full text of the remuneration report for financial year 2024; - the full text of the revised remuneration policy for the Management Board and Supervisory Board; - the In-Person Attendance Declaration (as defined below); - the Certificate of Holdings (as defined below); and - the Proxy Form and Voting Form (both as defined below) to be used to vote by proxy or to vote by post. Shareholders may obtain without charge a copy of the full text of any of the above documents, and copies of the In-Person Attendance Declaration, the Certificate of Holdings, the Proxy Form and the Voting Form upon request to the Company's Agent at anmeldestelle@computershare.de or download them from the Company's website https://ir.global-fashion-group.com/annual-general-meeting/ 2. Quorum and majority requirements There are no quorum requirements for the proposed resolutions 1 to 20 to be passed which are adopted by a simple majority of the voting rights duly present or represented except for agenda item 1, for which no vote is necessary. 3. Share capital and voting rights At the time of convening the Annual General Meeting, the Company's issued share capital amounts to two million two hundred and fifty-six thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine euro and twelve cents (EUR 2,256,429.12), represented by two hundred twenty five million six hundred forty two thousand nine hundred and twelve (225,642,912) common shares with a nominal value of one cent (EUR 0.01) each. Each common share entitles the holder to one vote. 4. Requirements for participating in the Annual General Meeting and exercising voting rights 4.1. Record Date The rights of a shareholder to participate in the Annual General Meeting and to vote shall be determined with respect to the shares held by that shareholder at 23:59 CEST on 29 May 2025 (the "Record Date"). Eligibility to participate in the Annual General Meeting is determined exclusively by share ownership on the Record Date. Any transferee having become owner of any shares after the Record Date has no right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Therefore, any shareholder who holds one or more shares of the Company on the Record Date, registers for the Annual General Meeting (where applicable) and provides the Certificate of Holdings, shall be admitted to participate and vote at the Annual General Meeting, in person, by proxy or by way of written vote. 4.2. Registration procedure and evidence of share ownership Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting and to vote the shares held by them on the Record Date (regardless the manner they wish to participate, either in person or by representation through proxy or voting by post) shall provide proof of their shareholding on the Record Date. Proof of shareholding being a prerequisite for a shareholder to participate and vote in the Annual General Meeting, shareholders whose shares are held in book-entry form through the operator of a securities settlement system or with a professional depositary or sub-depositary designated by such depositary must submit a certificate from their depository bank or financial institution certifying the number of shares recorded in their account and evidencing their ownership of shares as at the Record Date (the "Certificate of Holdings") the latest at 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. The right of the shareholder to participate and vote in the Annual General Meeting will only be completed and confirmed when the Certificate of Holdings is provided before the deadline established herein. The Certificate of Holdings shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Company's Agent in the period from the Record Date until 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. 4.3. Attendance in person Shareholders are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting in person. Video conference will not be available. In order to be admitted to participate in person in the Annual General Meeting, any shareholder who has duly provided a Certificate of Holdings in accordance with Section 4.2 above or any duly appointed proxy holder, must submit a form (the "In-Person Attendance Declaration") to the Company's Agent in writing by e-mail no later than 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. Shareholders and proxy holders participating in the Annual General Meeting are asked to register at the reception desk upon arrival at the venue and will be required to provide proof of identity. No shareholder nor proxy holder will be admitted to the Annual General Meeting without carrying proof of identity. There will be a security check at the venue prior to admission to the meeting. Please try not to bring any large bags or suitcases with you to the Annual General Meeting, as they will delay admission. We ask you also not to bring cameras, laptop computers or other recorders. Mobile phones should be switched off from admission for the duration of proceedings. The venue has full wheelchair access. If you are hard of hearing and would like access to supportive facilities, or if you have a query about any other disability, please let us know in advance (via email at agm@global-fashion-group.com) so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. 4.4. Proxy voting representative To simplify the execution of their voting rights, the Company provides its shareholders the option of appointing a proxy voting representative named by the Company and bound by the instructions of the shareholder prior to the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders are able to appoint a proxy voting representative other than that named by the Company. One person may represent more than one shareholder. Shareholders who wish to vote via proxy must complete and sign a proxy form (the "Proxy Form"). To be valid, the completed and signed (including for the avoidance of doubt, signed pursuant to a valid, legal and binding power of attorney and/or signed electronically) Proxy Forms must be received by the Company's Agent by e-mail no later than18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. Exercise of voting rights of shares in connection with duly filled and signed Proxy Forms received after 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025, will not be admitted at the Annual General Meeting. If, pursuant to a signed Proxy Form as described above, shareholders appoint a person other than the person appointed by the Company as their proxy holder, please note that the proxy holder will need to provide a new Voting Form in the name and on behalf of the shareholder by no later than 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. 4.5. Voting by correspondence Shareholders who do not wish to participate in person in the Annual General Meeting nor appoint a proxy may exercise their voting rights by casting their votes by correspondence using the forms provided by the Company (the "Voting Forms"). Only signed Voting Forms will be taken into account (including for the avoidance of doubt, signed pursuant to a valid, legal and binding power of attorney and/or signed electronically). To be valid, the Voting Forms or electronic votes must be received by the Company's Agent by e-mail no later than 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. Exercise of voting rights of shares in connection with duly filled and signed Voting Forms received after 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025 will not be admitted at the Annual General Meeting. 5. Shareholder Questions Shareholders that have correctly submitted their Certificate of Holdings shall have the opportunity to submit questions to the Company. Questions may be submitted in writing in advance of the Annual General Meeting and/or, if shareholders or a duly appointed proxy holder has submitted an In-Person Attendance Declaration as per Section 4.3 above, during the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders wishing to submit questions in advance of the Annual General Meeting, must submit their questions, along with their full name, by e-mail to the Company's Agent by no later than 18:00 CEST on 6 June 2025. Questions submitted after this deadline will not be answered and any questions submitted by other means will not be considered. The submitted questions will be answered at the reasonable discretion of the Company and the Company is not required to answer all questions. In particular, questions may be summarised, combined or separated. Reasonable questions may be selected in the interest of the other shareholders, and questions from shareholders' associations and institutional investors with significant voting interests may be given preference. 6. Submission of Revised Agenda Shareholders holding individually or collectively at least five per cent (5%) of issued share capital of the Company as at the Record Date are entitled to (i) request the addition of items to the agenda of the Annual General Meeting and (ii) to table draft resolutions for items included or to be included on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting. Such right must be exercised by sending such a request by no later than 23:59 CEST on 21 May 2025 to the e-mail address of the Company's Agent. Such request will only be accepted by the Company provided it includes (i) the wording of the new requested agenda item, and (ii) the justification or the wording of the proposed resolution pertaining to the items included or to be included, and (ii) an e-mail address or a postal address to which the Company may confirm receipt of the request. Where the requests entail a new item in the agenda for the Annual General Meeting already communicated to the shareholders, the Company will publish a revised agenda before or on 28 May 2025 at the latest. Subject to compliance with the threshold notification obligations provided for by the Luxembourg law of 11 January 2008 on transparency requirements for issuers of securities, as amended, there is no limit to the maximum number of votes that may be exercised by the same person, whether in its own name or by proxy. The results of the vote will be published on the Company's website within fifteen (15) days following the Annual General Meeting. 7. Contact details of Agent The contact details of the centralising agent duly mandated by the Company to receive copies, followed by the original of the Certificate of Holdings, the Proxy Form, the Voting Form, the In-Person Declaration, proposals of additional agenda items and proposed resolutions pursuant to this convening notice are as follows: Global Fashion Group S.A.

c/o Computershare Operations Center

Address: 80249 Munchen

E-mail: anmeldestelle@computershare.de

Luxembourg, 2 May 2025 For the Management Board, Christoph Barchewitz

Chief Executive Officer & Member of the Management Board



02.05.2025 CET/CEST Die EQS Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen.

Medienarchiv unter https://eqs-news.com


Volta Finance Limited (VTA/VTAS)

Notification of transactions by directors, persons discharging managerial

responsibilities and persons closely associated with them

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

*****

Guernsey, 2 May 2025

Pursuant to the announcements made on 5 April 2019 and 26 June 2020 relating to changes to the payment of directors fees, Volta Finance Limited (the "Company" or "Volta") has purchased 3,307 ordinary shares of no par value in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at an average price of 6.18 per share.

Each director receives 30% of their Director's fees for any year in the form of shares, which they are required to retain for a period of no less than one year from their respective date of issue.

The shares will be issued to the Directors, who for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse ("MAR") are "persons discharging managerial responsibilities" (a "PDMR").

Dagmar Kershaw, Chairman and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 1,018 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms Kershaw will have an interest in 34,903 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.09% of the issued shares of the Company;





Stephen Le Page, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 712 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr Le Page will have an interest in 52,707 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.14% of the issued shares of the Company;





Yedau Ogoundele, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR acquired 712 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mrs Ogoundele will have an interest in 9,007 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.02% of the issued shares of the Company; and





Joanne Peacegood, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR acquired 865 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mrs Peacegood will have an interest in 6,110 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.01% of the issued shares of the Company;





The notifications below, made in accordance with the requirements of MAR, provide further detail in relation to the above transactions:

Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Dagmar Kershaw

CHAIRMAN & DIRECTOR b) Stephen Le Page

DIRECTOR c) Yedau Ogoundele

DIRECTOR d) Joanne Peacegood

DIRECTOR Reason for the notification a. Position/status Director b. Initial notification/Amendment Initial notification Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a. Name Volta Finance Limited b. LEI 2138004N6QDNAZ2V3W80 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a. Description of financial instrument, type of instrument Ordinary Shares





b. Identification code GG00B1GHHH78 c. Nature of the transaction





Purchase and allocation of Ordinary Shares relation to the part-payment of Directors' fees for the quarter ended 30 April 2025. d. Price(s) 6.18 per share e. Volume(s) Total: 3,307 f. Date of transaction 2 May 2025 g. Place of transaction On-market - London Aggregate Purchase Information a)

Dagmar Kershaw

Chairman and Director b)

Stephen Le Page

Director

c)

Yedau Ogoundele

Director d)

Joanne Peacegood

Director Aggr. Volume:

1,018









Price:

6.18 per share Aggr. Volume:

712









Price:

6.18per share

Aggr. Volume:

712









Price:

6.18 per share Aggr. Volume:

865









Price:

6.18 per share







CONTACTS

For the Investment Manager

AXA Investment Managers Paris

Francois Touati

francois.touati@axa-im.com

+33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22

Olivier Pons

Olivier.pons@axa-im.com

+33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30

Company Secretary and Administrator

BNP Paribas S.A, Guernsey Branch

guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com

+44 (0) 1481 750 853

Corporate Broker

Cavendish Securities plc

Andrew Worne

Daniel Balabanoff

+44 (0) 20 7397 8900

*****

ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta's home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

Volta's Investment objectives are to preserve its capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis. The Company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by pursuing exposure predominantly to CLO's and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy across structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

*****

ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,800 professionals and 859 billion in assets under management as of the end of June 2024.

*****

This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris ("AXA IM"), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the "AIFM Directive") of Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are "U.S. persons" for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

*****

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

*****

This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "anticipated", "expects", "intends", "is/are expected", "may", "will" or "should". They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance's investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance's actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM's belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.

Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide - 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorite des Marches Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

*****
Leidos Australia and RMIT University are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Leidos Aviation Scholarship at Avalon Airshow, marking the second year of the program's commitment to supporting aspiring pilots in their aviation careers.

This year, Leidos has expanded the program to offer more than $150,000 across six scholarships for final-year students completing a degree in Aviation at RMIT Aviation Academy. This follows the success of the program's first year, which saw five scholarship recipients graduate and begin employment with Leidos.

Leidos Airborne Solutions Vice President James Woodhams expressed the company's dedication to fostering the next generation of aviation professionals.

"The aviation industry continues to face critical workforce shortages, and we are proud to be playing an active role in addressing these challenges," Woodhams said. "We recognise that the cost of flight training can be a major barrier to entry for aspiring pilots. By providing financial support and exposure to specialist aviation careers, we are helping to shape a pipeline of highly skilled pilots who can support vital national operations."

The 2025 scholarship recipients were invited to Avalon Airshow to celebrate their achievements, providing them with a unique learning opportunity, valuable industry exposure and the opportunity to meet with a broad range of aviators.

RMIT Aviation Academy Director Lea Vesic highlighted the impact of the scholarship in preparing students for meaningful aviation careers.

"The Australian aviation industry has an ongoing demand for highly skilled pilots," Vesic said. "Programs like the Leidos Aviation Scholarship are critical in ensuring we have a strong talent pipeline for the future -- not just in the commercial passenger transport sector, but also in critical aviation services such as Search and Rescue operations.

"Our exclusive partnership with Leidos provides students with not just financial support, but access to specialised training that aligns with the unique operational needs of special mission aviation. We're excited to see our scholarship recipients take the next step towards their careers."

This scholarship program builds on the successful collaboration between Leidos and RMIT, strengthening pathways for students to enter and excel in the aviation industry. With the second year of the program now underway, both organisations remain committed to developing talent and ensuring Australia's aviation sector remains strong for years to come.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Leidos on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Leidos

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/leidos

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Leidos

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/leidos-and-rmit-announce-2025-aviation-scholarship-recipients-at-1022795
FinOps Automation Leader Extends More Than $2 Billion Cost Savings Track Record to Azure Cloud Customers

ProsperOps, a leading FinOps automation platform, announces that Autonomous Discount Management (ADM) for Azure is now accessible on Azure Marketplace. Azure is one of the fastest-growing cloud providers, with an estimated 29% year-over-year growth. Organizations can leverage ProsperOps optimization algorithms to manage their portfolio of Azure Reservations and Savings Plans for Compute. With ADM for Azure, customers effortlessly reduce the costs of compute services, including Virtual Machines, App Service, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and more, while maximizing flexibility.

ProsperOps Extends Automated FinOps Capabilities to Azure Cloud Marketplace Customers

Seamlessly procure the leading automated cloud rate optimization platform through the Azure Marketplace.

Traditional, lengthy procurement processes can delay the benefits of savings achieved with ProsperOps. The availability of ProsperOps through the Azure Marketplace allows customers to procure and integrate ADM seamlessly. This streamlines expense management, accelerates deployment, and drives return on investment.

Charges for ProsperOps made through the Azure Marketplace count toward Azure consumption commitments, providing even greater financial efficiency.

ProsperOps outperforms traditional FinOps solutions and DIY methods by automating complex rate optimization tasks. It takes on the commitment management work of overburdened engineers and FinOps teams, allowing them to focus on other higher-order priorities. This approach achieves higher Effective Savings Rate and minimizes Commitment Lock-In Risk without engineering impact, returning material dollars to customers.

Since 2018, ProsperOps has returned more than $2 billion in savings to its customers. After launching ADM for Amazon Web Services (AWS) to optimize compute services (EC2, Lambda, Fargate), ProsperOps added support for five AWS data and analytics services (RDS, ElastiCache, OpenSearch, Redshift, and MemoryDB) in 2023. Last year, it expanded support to include Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, enabling autonomous rate optimization on all three clouds.

"Most companies leveraging cloud resources fail to achieve their best ROI. We are excited to bring ProsperOps to the Azure Marketplace so Azure customers can leverage a simple, effective product to reduce cloud costs, minimize Commitment Lock-In Risk, and streamline cloud FinOps," said Chris Cochran, co-founder and CEO of ProsperOps.

Azure Marketplace provides access to applications, products, and services for Microsoft's cloud platform. Businesses can find, buy, and deploy thousands of cloud-based solutions from certified publishers on Azure.

"We're pleased to welcome ProsperOps to Azure Marketplace, which gives our partners great exposure to cloud customers around the globe. Azure Marketplace offers world-class quality experiences from global trusted partners with solutions tested to work seamlessly with Azure," said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corporation.

ProsperOps ADM for Azure is available through the Azure Marketplace at

https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps/prosperops.prosperops.

SOURCE: ProsperOps

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/prosperops-autonomous-discount-management-launches-on-azure-marke-1022597
Alkaline Water Co. Announces That Beverage Stock Review Will Resume Coverage

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (OTC Pink:WTER) ("Alkaline" or the "Company"), a leader in the premium beverage industry known for its ?agship Alkaline88 brand, today announced it has retained Institutional Analyst, Inc. to provide research and progress reporting for the Company.

The agreement follows the Company's recent addition to Institutional Analyst's prestigious 2025 Beverage Watch List and comes at a time of signi?cant strategic development for The Alkaline Water Company, including the recent equipment acquisition and co-packing agreement with Sang Beverages, LLC.

Strategic Investor Relations Partnership

"We are pleased to formalize our relationship with Institutional Analyst as we continue to execute on our growth strategy," stated Ricky Wright, CEO of The Alkaline Water Company. "Having worked with Roland and his team in the past, we value their understanding of our business and their ability to effectively communicate our story to the investment community. This agreement represents another step in our commitment to enhance shareholder value and increase market awareness of our recent operational improvements and strategic initiatives."

"When we ?rst discovered the Company in 2015, they had sales of $3.7 million and a market valuation of just $9 million, trading well below Wall Street's radar. In the following year they doubled sales to over $7 million, and nearly doubled sales again in the year after that. Between 2015 and 2023 they generated gross revenues of $276 million, making it one of the top selling alkaline waters in the world," stated Roland R. Perry, President of Institutional Analyst and editor of the Beverage Stock Review.

"To sell over $276 million at the wholesale level or nearly $440 million at the store level, with minimal advertising, proves to us that consumers absolutely loved it. That's a lot of water," he continued.

"More importantly in our opinion, is that if consumers loved it once, odds are they'll love it again once it returns to the shelves," he stated. "At its peak, Alkaline Water was selling in an incredible 80,000 stores across the nation, including at nearly every major retailer including CVS, Publix Super Markets and Walmart. While there are no guarantees in the highly competitive beverage market, we think with founder CEO Ricky Wright back at the helm and with a closer eye on pro?tability, that The Alkaline Water Company has an excellent chance to be viewed as the comeback story of the decade. We're excited to once again provide ongoing coverage and report on their progress, as they seek to re-sign every retailer that carried the water on their shelves once again. In our opinion, it should make for an interesting David vs Goliath story potentially fueling increased interest by the investment community, who may be aware that during the ?rst round, the market capitalization increased from $9 million to over $90 million, or a tenfold increase in just ten years."

Under the terms of the agreement, Institutional Analyst will provide investor relations services to WTER, including ongoing research coverage, update reports, corporate pro?les/postcards, coverage announcements for news wires, free access to proprietary beverage investor databases, and consultation on accessing non-proprietary investors and broker databases.

Long-Term Relationship

The initial term of the engagement is for a period of one to two years from the date of the agreement.

Mr. Perry reiterated, "The Alkaline Water Company has been a compelling story since we ?rst covered them in 2015. With Ricky Wright's return as CEO and the recent strategic developments, we believe WTER is positioned to potentially recapture and exceed its previous success. We're excited to help communicate this comeback story to the investment community."

About The Alkaline Water Company, Inc.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (OTC: WTER), is a leader in the premium beverage industry, committed to providing superior, clean, and pure hydration solutions to consumers nationwide. The company's ?agship Alkaline88 brand has built strong recognition and consumer loyalty due to its simple, clean ingredient pro?le. Alkaline88 is crafted using a proprietary electrolysis process that infuses puri?ed water with Himalayan rock salt, trace minerals, and electrolytes, achieving a perfectly balanced 8.8 pH, free of chemicals and additives. Under the leadership of returning co-founder Ricky Wright as CEO, the company is implementing disciplined strategies to drive operational improvements, market expansion, and sustainable pro?table growth.

About Institutional Analyst, Inc.

Institutional Analyst, Inc. is an independent research ?rm with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York that provides investor relation services, including the publication of watchlists for various industry sectors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: that the investor relations agreement represents a signi?cant opportunity for The Alkaline Water Company to increase market awareness; that the Company will further strengthen its position in the premium water category; and that additional strategic initiatives may develop.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. and Institutional Analyst, Inc. are separate entities, and this press release is not an offer to buy or sell securities. Information expressed does not constitute investment advice and should not be relied upon in making investment decisions.

Contact Information

The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

5524 North 51st Avenue

Glendale, Arizona 85301

Telephone: 480-582-3600

Website: www.thealkalinewaterco.com

Email: info@thealkalinewaterco.com

SOURCE: ALKALINE WATER Co INC.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/the-alkaline-water-company-retains-investment-research-firm-institutiona-1022788
Paramount:

By: Harold Anderson

Last Month, Paramount Global once again coordinated with the Partnership for New York City on Career Discovery Week. Career Discovery Week is part of NYC Public Schools Student Pathways, an expansion of career-connected learning that provides work-based learning opportunities and career exposure. More than 85 of the city's major employers joined forces this year to help build a bridge from the city's classrooms to the world of business. This year, Paramount partnered with students from Robert Goddard High School and Information Technology High School in Queens for a day full of career-focused workshops and employee-led sessions.

The morning kicked off at Paramount's Times Square headquarters with a Paramount company overview presentation for the students showcasing the massive portfolio of brands and platforms. From there, Harold Anderson, Coordinator for Paramount's Social Responsibility team, moderated a powerhouse executive Career Path Panel + Q&A featuring:

Ashley Priest - Vice President of Corporate Communications, CBS & Paramount International Markets

Regan Forman - Vice President of Global Franchise Strategy, Paramount Consumer Products and Experiences

Colleen Reilly - Director Line Producer, Paramount Creative & Strategy

Luke Kwon - Senior Financial Analyst, Paramount Tech Finance

-- all of whom shared hugely inspirational advice and profound insights from their career!

The day culminated with two immersive creative workshops aimed at providing an opportunity to get immersed in different parts of the content creation cycle. The students began with a mobile content making workshop which tasked them with

creating short content reels using their mobile devices. The workshop was facilitated by Reel Works, a non-profit that mentors and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking, thus creating a springboard to successful careers in media and beyond. The students proceeded with a storytelling workshop utilizing storyboards to create a 30-second advertisement spot for Paramount using giant animation-inspired storyboard templates. Each team presented their work at the end of the activity, and the ideas shared were incredibly creative brand collaborations featuring their favorite characters from shows like SpongeBob and South Park.

The teachers and students at both schools expressed great appreciation for the opportunity. The teachers were impressed by how confidently the students presented their storyboards and engaged in insightful conversations with multiple Paramount teams. Dimitri McKetney, CTE Program Director at Robert Goddard High School, shared "The opportunity was truly inspiring. It was clear from [the students] engagement during the visit, after the visit, and even upon walking in and seeing their school's name in bright lights on Broadway, that they learned a great deal and came away with a deeper understanding of the careers and opportunities within Paramount."

Paramount looks forward to furthering our commitment to unleashing the power of content for good to inspire change. Our partnership with Career Discovery Week continues to serve as a great reminder of this commitment.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Paramount on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Paramount

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/paramount

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Paramount

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/telecommunications/career-discovery-week-2025-at-paramount-global-1022783
LONDON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson plc held its annual general meeting ("AGM") at 10:30am today. All resolutions set out in the Company's Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 27 March 2025 were proposed and approved on a poll.

The table below shows the results of the poll for each resolution. As at 6.30pm on 30 April 2025, the Company's issued share capital was 661,685,614 ordinary shares of 25p each. The Company does not hold any ordinary shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company were 661,685,614. The proportion of the Company's issued share capital represented by those votes cast is approximately 79.44%.



Resolution For and Discretionary % votes cast For and Discretionary Against % votes cast Against Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld) % of issued capital voted Withheld/ Abstentions* 1 To receive the 2024 report and accounts 525,108,863 99.99 73,280 0.01 525,182,143 79.37 % 712,057 2 To declare a final dividend 520,514,099 99.02 5,159,881 0.98 525,673,980 79.44 % 220,221 3 To re-elect Omar Abbosh 525,579,955 99.98 86,908 0.02 525,666,863 79.44 % 227,338 4 To re-elect Sherry Coutu 499,873,806 95.09 25,792,261 4.91 525,666,067 79.44 % 228,133 5 To re-elect Alison Dolan 520,095,364 99.42 3,057,934 0.58 523,153,298 79.06 % 2,740,903 6 To re-elect Alex Hardiman 525,571,009 99.98 91,301 0.02 525,662,310 79.44 % 231,891 7 To re-elect Sally Johnson 524,286,473 99.74 1,371,988 0.26 525,658,461 79.44 % 235,740 8 To re-elect Omid Kordestani 524,009,139 99.69 1,655,282 0.31 525,664,421 79.44 % 229,780 9 To re-elect Esther Lee 523,636,938 99.62 2,008,625 0.38 525,645,563 79.44 % 248,638 10 To re-elect Graeme Pitkethly 524,331,575 99.75 1,329,033 0.25 525,660,608 79.44 % 233,593 11 To re-elect Annette Thomas 524,489,800 99.78 1,176,507 0.22 525,666,307 79.44 % 227,894 12 To re-elect Lincoln Wallen 515,466,071 98.06 10,195,310 1.94 525,661,381 79.44 % 232,728 13 To approve the annual remuneration report 485,861,331 92.43 39,779,388 7.57 525,640,719 79.44 % 253,482 14 To re-appoint the auditors 525,573,211 99.98 95,026 0.02 525,668,237 79.44 % 225,964 15 To determine the remuneration of the auditors 525,582,453 99.99 74,198 0.01 525,656,651 79.44 % 237,459 16 To authorise the company to allot ordinary shares 497,356,326 94.62 28,262,253 5.38 525,618,579 79.44 % 269,101 17 To waive the pre-emption rights 519,036,238 99.29 3,725,142 0.71 522,761,380 79.00 % 3,126,301 18 To waive the pre-emption rights - additional percentage 517,718,420 99.04 5,021,944 0.96 522,740,364 79.00 % 3,147,317 19 To authorise the company to purchase its own shares 518,733,869 98.69 6,865,162 1.31 525,599,031 79.43 % 288,650 20 To approve the holding of general meetings on 14 clear days' notice 504,125,370 95.91 21,480,882 4.09 525,606,252 79.43 % 287,949

* Votes withheld are not legal votes.

In accordance with the Listing Rules, copies of the resolutions that do not constitute ordinary business at an annual general meeting will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism which is located at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

Media Contacts:

Laura Ewart - UK

[email protected]



Dan Nelson - US

[email protected]

SOURCE Pearson
INFORMATION AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD

ON 23 MAY 2025

Paris, on 2 May 2025, Assystem S.A. (ISIN : FR0000074148 - ASY), invites its shareholders to attend its Annual General Meeting to be held on 23 May 2025 at 9:30 a.m, at the Centre de Conferences Etoile Saint Honore, 21-25, rue Balzac, 75008 Paris.

The prior convening notice was published in the BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) on 16 April 2025 and includes the agenda, the draft resolutions and details on attending and voting.

This notice together with the other preparatory documents concerning this Annual General Meeting as provided by the article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code are now available on the Assystem's website: https://www.assystem.com/en/investors/general-meeting/.

ABOUT ASSYSTEM

Assystem, one of the world's leading independent nuclear engineering companies, is committed to accelerating the energy transition. With more than 55 years of experience in highly regulated sectors with stringent safety and security constraints, the Group provides engineering and project management services as well as digital solutions and services to optimise the performance of complex infrastructure assets throughout their life cycle.

Assystem's 7,750 experts in its 12 countries of operation

CONTACTS

Malene Korvin - Chief Financial Officer - mkorvin@assystem.com - Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 25 29 00

Anne-Charlotte Dagorn - Communications Director - acdagorn@assystem.com - Tel.: +33 (0)6 83 03 70 29

Agnes Villeret - Komodo - Investor relations - agnes.villeret@agence-komodo.com - Tel: +33 (0)6 83 28 04 15

Attachment
DUBAI, UAE, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, extended a warm welcome to an international delegation from the St. Paul American Scholars (SPAS), a top international school in Korea on Monday. The visit is part of a joint initiative between Bybit and SPAS dedicated to fostering the next generation of blockchain innovators through a series of academic and educational programs.

Ryan Kim, Head of SPAS, and Jinny Kim, Director of SPAS, were greeted by Helen Liu, COO of Bybit at the Bybit headquarters in Dubai. The official visit underscores the institutions' shared commitment to building the partnership from the ground up, and creating a knowledge base to prepare SPAS students for the future of technology and the blockchain-enabled economy.

In the academic year of 2025/26, Bybit has committed a $100,000 scholarship to 300 SPAS students of St. Paul American Scholars (SPAS). The broader theme of the collaboration centers on collective learning and community sharing, which aligns with SPAS's philosophy of building a closely knitted community for educators, parents, and students. Bybit will organize interactive educational sessions on campus to fill the knowledge gap between the demands for future-ready skills and traditional academic resources.

The fast moving blockchain landscape is central to a changing world. Parents and students today are increasingly aware of the possibilities and potential challenges of the dawning on-chain economy. The new dynamics will require creators and contributors to be equipped with understanding of blockchain technologies, to develop their passion, and to project their creativity onto positive causes. Through workshops and interactive events, the Bybit and SPAS initiative stands to leave a profound impact on blockchain education for international students in SPAS.

SPAS representatives boarded the crypto express to the world of digital assets at the Bybit headquarters, sharing unique perspectives as educators and first-hand insights from Liu at the frontier of the digital economy.

"We are proud to welcome the SPAS family to Bybit's headquarters, and we hope this will become the starting point of SPAS students' blockchain journey. The value of blockchain education is not only giving students a headstart in understanding the digital economy, but also to inspire them to think about changing the world for the better with a powerful technology that will one day be entirely at their disposal," saidHelen Liu, COO of Bybit.

"It is a great honor for Saint Paul International School to establish a meaningful partnership with Bybit, a global leader in blockchain technology. This visit to Bybit's headquarters in Dubai was more than just a meeting; it was a precious opportunity to build a foundation of deep mutual trust," saidRyan Kim, Head of SPAS. "Bybit's warm-hearted commitment to providing scholarships for Saint Paul International School students and planning continuous social contribution programs deeply moved us all. We firmly believe that, with its sincere vision and values, Bybit will continue to shine as a world-leading company," he said.

The SPAS delegation toured the Bybit Crypto Ark Experience Store , a new venue at Bybit's Dubai headquarters that showcases blockchain innovation and provides an open space for crypto collaborations. Since opening, the store has attracted hundreds of visitors, entrepreneurs, and crypto enthusiasts contributing to the regional ecosystem.

Established in 2015, SPAS operates four campuses across Korea's major metropolitan areas and is recognized as a leading American educational institution with full accreditation from multiple organizations. SPAS also offers international exchange programs through partnerships with schools in New York, Canada, and the UK, providing students with opportunities to experience diverse cultures and global perspectives.

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com .

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VusionGroup announces the publication

of its 2024 Universal Registration Document

VusionGroup (VU - FR0010282822) announced that it has submitted its 2024 Universal Registration Document to the French regulator, the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on April 30th, 2025 under the registration number D.25-0355.

Copies of the 2024 Universal Registration Document are available free of charge at VusionGroup's corporate headquarters, 55, place Nelson Mandela, 92024 Nanterre.

The following information is included in the 2024 Universal Registration Document:

the annual financial statements;

the Management report;

the Report on the Company's Governance;

the Sustainability statement ;

The assurance report on the Sustainability statement ;

the Auditors' Reports;

information regarding the share buyback program.

The French version of the Universal Registration Document is available on the website of the Autorite des marches financiers and on the Company's website at the following address: ..

An English version of the Universal Registration Document is available on the Company's website at the following address: VusionGroup - Regulated Information - Universal Registration Document

About VusionGroup

VusionGroup is the global leader in providing digitalization solutions for commerce, serving over 350 large retailer groups around the world in Europe, Asia and North America. The Group develops technologies that create a positive impact on society by enabling sustainable and human-centered commerce.

By leveraging its IoT & Data technologies, VusionGroup empowers retailers to re-imagine their physical stores into efficient, intelligent, connected, and data-driven assets. The Group unlocks higher economic performance, facilitates seamless collaboration across the value chain, enhances the shopping experience, creates better jobs, cultivates healthier communities, and significantly reduces waste and carbon emissions.

VusionGroup consist of six families of solutions which bring the full potential of IoT, Cloud, Data, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to the service of the modernization of commerce: SESimagotag (ESL & Digital Shelf Systems), VusionCloud, Captana (computer vision and artificial intelligence platform), Memory (data analytics), Engage (retail media and in-store advertising), and PDidigital (logistics and industrial solutions).

VusionGroup supports the United Nations' Global Compact initiative and has received in 2023 the Platinum Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world's reference of business sustainability ratings.

VusionGroup is listed in compartment A of Euronext Paris and is a member of the SBF120 Index. Ticker: VU - ISIN code: FR0010282822 www.vusion.com

www.vusion.com

Investor Relations: Olivier Gernandt / +33 (0)6 85 07 86 81 / olivier.gernandt@vusion.com

Press contact : vusiongroup@publicisconsultants.com

VusionGroup - 55, place Nelson Mandela - CS 60106 92024 Nanterre - France A limited company with share capital of 31,917,316 - Registration number in the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register: 479 345 464 I Tel: + 33 (0)1 34 34 61 61 - Fax: + 33 (0)1 55 69 78 00 www.vusion.com

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BANGALORE, India, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AI APIs Market is Segmented by Type (Web API, Program API), by Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Robot).

The Global AI APIs Market was valued at USD 3365 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 13910 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 21.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of AI APIs Market:

The AI APIs market is experiencing dynamic growth fueled by widespread adoption across industries seeking intelligent solutions for operational efficiency, customer engagement, and automation. The demand for AI APIs is further bolstered by the increasing availability of pre-trained models, advancements in cloud computing, and the rise of smart technologies. The ecosystem is evolving rapidly with strong contributions from startups, enterprises, and open-source communities. As organizations continue to prioritize digital transformation and AI-first strategies, the AI APIs market is poised for sustained expansion, making it a cornerstone of the broader artificial intelligence industry.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE AI APIs MARKET:

Web APIs are playing a crucial role in accelerating the growth of the AI APIs market by enabling seamless integration between AI-powered functionalities and web-based applications. These APIs allow developers to quickly incorporate complex AI capabilities such as natural language processing, computer vision, and sentiment analysis into their platforms without building algorithms from scratch. Businesses benefit by reducing development time and enhancing user experience with intelligent automation. Web APIs provide real-time access to cloud-based AI services, making them cost-effective and scalable for startups and enterprises alike. As more digital-first businesses demand AI-enhanced solutions, the reliance on web APIs ensures that AI adoption is democratized and more accessible across industries, thereby expanding market scope rapidly.

Program APIs drive the AI APIs market by allowing direct and flexible integration of AI models into diverse programming environments and software systems. These APIs facilitate backend operations where large-scale data processing and machine learning models can be executed efficiently. With support for languages like Python, Java, and C++, developers gain the ability to embed AI services into standalone software, enterprise systems, and IoT devices. This integration improves business operations such as fraud detection, predictive analytics, and autonomous decision-making. Program APIs also enable customization, allowing enterprises to fine-tune models for specific use cases. This level of adaptability strengthens enterprise-grade AI deployments and contributes to increased demand and widespread usage across verticals.

Industrial robots have become major adopters of AI APIs, contributing significantly to the market's growth by incorporating intelligent automation in manufacturing and logistics. AI APIs provide these robots with cognitive abilities such as object recognition, predictive maintenance, and real-time decision-making. Through APIs, robots can access cloud-based AI tools that enhance adaptability to changing environments, making operations more efficient. For instance, computer vision APIs help robots identify components and defects, while NLP APIs can be used for voice-command control in collaborative robots. As smart factories and Industry 4.0 practices gain traction, the integration of AI APIs into robotic systems ensures higher productivity, reduced errors, and lower operational costs, thereby driving market expansion.

The global shift toward automation across industries is a major factor fueling the AI APIs market. Businesses in sectors like finance, healthcare, and customer service increasingly rely on AI APIs to streamline workflows, reduce human error, and accelerate decision-making processes. By integrating APIs for machine learning and predictive analytics, enterprises automate repetitive tasks, improving operational efficiency. The availability of pre-trained AI models through APIs lowers the entry barrier, enabling even small businesses to adopt automation. With a growing emphasis on cost reduction and productivity enhancement, automation through AI APIs has become essential, leading to their expanded use and a corresponding increase in market demand.

AI APIs are central to delivering hyper-personalized customer experiences in sectors like e-commerce, media, and banking. APIs allow businesses to integrate recommendation engines, sentiment analysis tools, and chatbot functionalities directly into their platforms. This personalization not only boosts customer satisfaction but also increases engagement and revenue. For example, APIs help tailor product suggestions based on browsing history or past purchases. Real-time analysis of user interactions through AI APIs enables businesses to refine their marketing strategies and communication tone. The heightened focus on customer-centricity across industries is thus a strong driver for the growing reliance on AI APIs.

The expansion of IoT and smart device ecosystems has created new opportunities for AI API deployment. Devices such as smart speakers, wearable tech, and connected appliances require AI capabilities for voice recognition, anomaly detection, and user behavior prediction. AI APIs allow developers to embed intelligence into devices without overburdening local hardware, thanks to cloud integration. This enables faster innovation and smarter functionality across devices. As consumer and industrial IoT adoption accelerates, the role of AI APIs in powering these ecosystems becomes increasingly crucial, positioning them as key components of modern, intelligent infrastructures.

The demand for real-time, data-driven insights across sectors has led to increased use of AI-powered analytics through APIs. Organizations use APIs to connect AI analytics tools with existing databases and software platforms, enabling deep insights into user behavior, operational efficiency, and market trends. APIs make these insights accessible and actionable without requiring data science expertise. The growing volume of data generated by businesses fuels this need for seamless integration of analytics capabilities. By simplifying access to intelligent insights, AI APIs empower organizations to make faster, better-informed decisions, which significantly drives market adoption.

The rise of open-source AI models and platforms has supported the growth of AI APIs by making high-quality AI more accessible to developers and organizations. Projects like OpenAI, Hugging Face, and TensorFlow provide APIs for tasks like text generation, classification, and translation. These open ecosystems foster innovation, reduce development costs, and allow rapid prototyping. They also promote interoperability and community-driven improvements. The widespread adoption of these tools across academia and industry is fueling demand for standardized API formats and integration frameworks, thus expanding the overall AI APIs market by creating a robust, collaborative ecosystem.

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AI APIs MARKET SHARE

The AI APIs market demonstrates significant growth across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with North America maintaining dominance due to high adoption rates among enterprises and strong cloud infrastructure. Europe follows with increasing government support for AI regulation and innovation.

Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region is witnessing rapid growth due to its booming tech industry, increasing digital adoption, and rising investments in AI across countries like China, Japan, and India. Each region presents unique opportunities for market penetration, influenced by local business needs, technological readiness, and supportive policy environments.

Key Companies:

GOOGLE INC

OpenAI

Microsoft Azure

ParallelDots

IBM

Wit.ai

Amazon

Rev.ai

Baidu

Tencent

IFlyTek

Alibaba

Filestack

Clarifai

AYLIEN

MonkeyLearn

Komprehend

Imagga

OpenAI GPT-4

DeepAI AI API

Tavus

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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- AI API Security Solutions market was valued at USD 1731 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 2602 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- AI Content Generation Market was estimated to be worth USD 1108 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 5958 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 27.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mining Market was estimated to be worth USD 814 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1674 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Enterprise Artificial Intelligence market is projected to grow from USD 1568.3 Million in 2024 to USD 6769.1 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.6% during the forecast period.

- Edge AI Software market was valued at USD 931.5 Million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 3519.4 Million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 24.8% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Artificial Intelligence-based Security Market was estimated to be worth USD 6925 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 20200 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Artificial Intelligence Basic Software market was valued at USD 12200 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 40700 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 18.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Emotion AI Software Market

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- Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models market was valued at USD 1591 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 259840 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 79.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- AI in Marketing Market

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EQS-News: CPI PROPERTY GROUP / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Real Estate

Convening notice of the company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 4 June 2025



02.05.2025 / 18:00 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





CPI PROPERTY GROUP Societe Anonyme 40, rue de la Vallee L-2661 Luxembourg R.C.S. LUXEMBOURG B 102254 (the "Company") CONVENING NOTICE OF THE COMPANY'S EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 4 JUNE 2025 Dear Shareholders, You are invited to attend the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at the registered office of the Company at 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on 4 June 2025 at 14:00 CEST , in the presence of a Luxembourg notary public, to discuss and to vote on the agenda indicated below. The Meeting is convened in accordance with article 450-8 of the Luxembourg law on commercial companies dated 10 August 1915, as amended from time to time (the "LCA") and article 3 of the Luxembourg law dated 24 May 2011 on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in general meetings of listed companies, as amended from time to time, with the following points on the agenda: AGENDA Decision to decrease the corporate capital of the Company by the amount of one million eight hundred twenty-nine thousand one hundred eighty-seven euro and sixty-six by means of cancellation of one hundred eighty-two million nine hundred eighteen thousand seven hundred sixty-six (182,918,766) shares held in treasury by the Company, with allocation of the reduction proceeds to a reserve (share premium) of the Company which will be available for distribution to the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the LCA. The purpose of this capital decrease is to cancel shares of the Company held in treasury by the Company. Subject to approval of agenda item 1, decision to amend the articles of association of the Company to reflect the changes necessary following the approval of agenda item 1. Decision (i) to amend the articles of association of the Company to provide for the terms of the issuance by the Company of beneficiary units (parts beneficiaires), including the issuance of instruments convertible into beneficiary units, as well as the rights for an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to delegate authority to the Company's board of directors to issue such beneficiary units or instruments convertible into beneficiary units, and (ii) to delegate authority to the Company's board of directors to issue any such beneficiary units or instruments convertible into beneficiary units up to an aggregate amount of two billion five hundred million euro (EUR 2,500,000,000.-), or the equivalent in any other currency. ATTENDING THE MEETING In order to participate to the Meeting, shareholders must provide the Company with the following three items as explained in greater detail below: (i) Record Date Confirmation, (ii) Attendance and Proxy Form, and (iii) Proof of Shareholding. Record Date Confirmation: This document shall be provided to the Company by a shareholder at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 21 May 2025. The Record Date is 21 May 2025 at 24:00 CEST (midnight) (the "Record Date", i.e. the day falling fourteen (14) days before the date of the Meeting at midnight (Luxembourg time)). The Record Date Confirmation must be in writing and indicate that a shareholder holds the Company shares and wishes to participate in the Meeting. A template form of the Record Date Confirmation is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com . The Record Date Confirmation must be sent to the Company by post or electronic means so that it is received by the Company at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 21 May 2025 , to: CPI PROPERTY GROUP 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67 email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com Attendance and Proxy Form: A template form is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com and is to be duly completed and signed by shareholders wishing to attend or be represented at the Meeting. Proof of Shareholding: This document must indicate the shareholder's name and the number of Company shares held on the Record Date, i.e. at 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 21 May 2025. The Proof of Shareholding shall be issued by the bank, the professional securities' depositary or the financial institution where the shares are on deposit. Please note that Proof of Shareholding is not necessary for those shareholders whose shares are still recorded as registered shares in the Company's shareholders' register. Shareholders wishing to participate to the Meeting must send the Attendance and Proxy Form together with the relevant Proof of Shareholding by post or electronic means so that they are received by the Company at the latest by noon (12:00 noon CEST) on 28 May 2025 , to: CPI PROPERTY GROUP 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67 email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com Please note that only persons who are shareholders on the Record Date and have timely submitted their Record Date Confirmation, Attendance and Proxy Form, and Proof of Shareholding shall have the right to participate and vote in the Meeting. Documentation and information: The following documents and information are available for the shareholders on our website: www.cpipg.com : the present convening notice;

the total number of shares and the voting rights in the Company as at the date of this convening notice;

the draft resolutions of the Meeting including the proposed changes to the articles of association of the Company. Any draft resolution(s) submitted by shareholder(s) shall be added to the website as soon as possible after the Company has received them;

the Record Date Confirmation form; and

the Attendance and Proxy form. The above documents may also be obtained by shareholders upon written request sent to the following postal address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg. Quorum Requirement: With respect to all items of the agenda, the Meeting shall not validly deliberate, unless at least one half of the corporate capital is represented and if the agenda of the meeting includes the statutory changes to be considered. In the event that such quorum condition is not fulfilled, a second meeting may be convened by publishing this convening notice in the Luxembourg official gazette (Recueil Electronique des Societes et Associations), a Luxembourg newspaper and in such media which may reasonably be expected to be relied upon for the effective dissemination of information to the public throughout the European Economic Area, and which are accessible rapidly and on a non-discriminatory basis, seventeen (17) days prior to the date of the reconvened meeting provided that (i) the first Meeting was properly convened; and (ii) the agenda for the reconvened Meeting does not include any new item. The second meeting shall deliberate validly whatever the part of the corporate capital represented thereat. At both meetings, resolutions, in order to be adopted, must be carried by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Votes cast shall not include votes attaching to shares in which the shareholder has not taken part in the vote or has abstained or has returned a blank or invalid vote. Right to add new items on the agenda : One or more shareholders together representing at least five per cent of the share capital has the right to (i) put one or more items on the agenda of the Meeting and (ii) table draft resolutions for items included or to be included on the agenda of the Meeting. Such requests must: be in writing and sent to the Company by post (at the following address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg) or electronic means (at the following email address: generalmeetings@cpipg.com ) and be accompanied by a justification or draft resolution to be adopted in the Meeting;

) and be accompanied by a justification or draft resolution to be adopted in the Meeting; include the postal or electronic address at which the Company may acknowledge receipt of the requests;

be received by the Company at least twenty-two (22) days before the date of the Meeting, i.e. 13 May 2025. The Company shall acknowledge receipt of requests referred to above within (forty-eight) 48 hours from receipt. The Company shall prepare a revised agenda including such additional items on or before the fifteenth (15th) day before the date of the Meeting. For further information, visit our website: www.cpipg . com . If you need further assistance or information, please contact: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Tel: + 352 26 47 67 58; Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67; email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com. Luxembourg, 2 May 2025 Yours faithfully, The Board of Directors of the Company



02.05.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Carolina Rush Corporation (TSXV: RUSH) (OTCQB: PUCCF) ("Carolina Rush," "Rush" or the "Company") announced that it has filed an independent technical report (the "Technical Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-10") in respect to the maiden mineral resource estimate for the Company's Brewer Gold-Copper deposit ("Brewer deposit"), located in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

The Technical Report, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate, Brewer Gold-Copper Project, Jefferson, South Carolina, USA", with an effective date of March 20, 2025, and an issue date of May 2, 205, was prepared under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") standards by Qualified Persons (QP), Patrick O. Quigley and Patrick J. Hollenbeck.

The Brewer Gold-Copper Project is located at the past-producing, 397-hectare Brewer Gold Mine property in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 13 kilometers along trend from the producing Haile Gold Mine (https://oceanagold.com/operation/haile/). The proximity of the Brewer Gold-Copper Project to the Haile Gold Mine does not imply that mineralization or results from Haile are indicative of mineralization at Brewer.

Table 1: Brewer in Situ Mineral Resource Statement (0.5 g/t Au cutoff):





Average Value Material Content I&I Mass Au Cu Au Cu

thousand tonnes g/t ppm thousand oz thousand lbs. Indicated 6,022 1.04 1,266 202 16,811 Inferred 7,805 0.84 460 210 7,908 Differences may occur in totals due to rounding.

(1) Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(4) The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.

(5) A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are encouraged to review the full report, which will provide further details on key assumptions, parameters, and risks associated with the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Table 2: Brewer Inferred Backfill Mineral Resource Statement:





Average Value Material Content Backfill Model Mass Au Cu Au Cu

thousand tonnes g/t ppm thousand oz thousand lbs. HLP 1-4 2,000 0.17 94 11 414 HLP 5 1,579 0.49 863 25 3,007 HLP 6 2,429 0.22 292 17 1,561 Waste Rock 5,159 0.49 343 80 3,897 B6 (Waste Rock) 733 0.26 105 6 171 Total 11,900 0.36 345 139 9,050 Differences may occur in totals due to rounding.

(1) Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve.

(4) The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.

(5) Details on the metallurgical properties and processing methods required to extract gold and copper from the backfill material have not been undertaken. As such, the Backfill resource is considered theoretical and additional studies are required to report the inferred resources at a higher level of confidence. No cutoff grade was applied to the backfill mineral resource.

(6) A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are encouraged to review the full report, which will provide further details on key assumptions, parameters, and risks associated with the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Patrick Quigley, MSc, CPG-12116, the Company's Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Carolina Rush

Carolina Rush Corporation (TSXV: RUSH) (OTCQB: PUCCF) is a U.S.-focused exploration company 100% committed to advancing the Brewer Gold-Copper Project in South Carolina-a large, underexplored system with the potential to host both near-surface epithermal and deep porphyry-style mineralization. Located just 13 km from OceanaGold's producing Haile Gold Mine, Brewer is a past-producing operation now under modern exploration.

A maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate with an effective date of May 2, 2025, outlines 202,000 ounces of gold in the indicated category (6.0 Mt @ 1.04 g/t Au) plus another 210,000 ounces of gold in the inferred category (7.8 Mt @ 0.84 g/t Au), with significant expansion potential in multiple directions. In addition, a resource estimate of the backfill material contained in the former open pit estimates 139,000 ounces of gold in the inferred category (11.9 Mt @ 0.36 g/t Au). Supported by a seasoned technical team, established infrastructure, and strong community relationships, Carolina Rush is aggressively advancing Brewer's near-surface epithermal and deep porphyry potential.

For further information, please contact:

For additional information please visit our new website at http://www.TheCarolinaRush.com/ and our X feed: https://twitter.com/TheCarolinaRush.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's 2025 Maiden MRE; that the mineral resource remains open at depth, the potential for future MRE growth from deeper drilling, and/or future exploration. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250648

SOURCE: Carolina Rush Corporation
Seventeen engineers from offices nationwide recognized for their exceptional performance

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline consulting engineering firm, announced today that seventeen company leaders are promoted to Associate as part of the company's new Associate program. The program recognizes and rewards excellence, providing an ownership pathway for individuals who play a role in the success of the business. Coffman now has two ownership types: Principal and Associate.

Coffman Engineers 2025 Associates

Coffman Engineers announces 17 new Associates

Associates receive an ownership stake in the company. Associate leadership focuses on the support and development of their local offices.

"The promotion to Associate recognizes the employee's proven commitment to Coffman's mission and vision, alignment with our values and culture, and their leadership internally and externally. Thank you, Associates, for setting a great example as the inaugural class of the program and for your contributions and dedication to the success of Coffman Engineers. The future of Coffman is bright," said Dave Ruff, CEO/COB.

New Associate ownership is critical for Coffman's growth and health. The Associate program enhances the firm's leadership development and ownership program. The inaugural class represents various engineering disciplines and positions across the company's offices.

Coffman recognizes the following individuals as the inaugural class of Associates:

Joey Balducci, PE, Discipline Manager, Mechanical Engineering (Orange County)

Rob Bell, PE, Senior Discipline Manager, Mechanical Engineering (Raleigh)

Phil Boultinghouse, SE, Senior Discipline Engineer, Structural Engineering (Honolulu)

Brian Gastrock, PE, Senior Discipline Engineer, Civil Engineering (Anchorage)

Dave Gramlich, PE, Discipline Manager, Fire Protection Engineering (Houston)

John Guerrero, PE, Senior Discipline Engineer, Mechanical Engineering (Seattle)

Eliot Jordan, PE, Discipline Manager, Fire Protection Engineering (Anchorage)

Glen Kam, PE, Senior Discipline Engineer, Mechanical Engineering (Honolulu)

Michael Love, PE, Senior Discipline Engineer, Fire Protection Engineering (D.C. Metro)

Jeff Lowe, PE, Discipline Manager, Civil Engineering (Atlanta)

Nathan Reed, PE, Senior Engineer, Civil Engineering (Spokane)

Gary Robertson, PE, Senior Discipline Manager, Mechanical Engineering (San Diego)

Nicolas Rodrigues, SE, Senior Discipline Manager, Structural Engineering (Bay Area)

Aaron Taylor, SE, Senior Discipline Manager, Structural Engineering (San Diego)

Logan Tucker, PE, Senior Discipline Manager, Mechanical Engineering (Denver)

Calley Valicoff, PE, Senior Project Manager, Civil Engineering (Spokane)

Aaron Wegner, SE, Discipline Manager, Structural Engineering (Portland)

For more information, visit https://www.coffman.com/news/coffman-announces-inaugural-class-of-associates/

SOURCE: Coffman Engineers, Inc.

Coffman Announces Inaugural Class of Associates.pdf

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/coffman-engineers-announces-inaugural-class-of-associates-1022142
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - AZ Strategic Solutions, the UK-based leadership consultancy founded by industry veteran Amna Zaidi, is proud to announce the official release of its first published title, Unwinnable No More: Challenge the Rules Rewrite the Win. This bold debut marks the firm's expansion into thought leadership publishing - reinforcing its mission to equip professionals and organisations with transformative tools for real-world leadership - beyond the textbook and beyond the boardroom.

Cover of "Unwinnable No More" - A bold manifesto for transformational leadership by Amna Zaidi

Unwinnable No More, authored by CEO & Founder Amna Zaidi - a recognised global voice on leadership and transformation - introduces the proprietary Five Stages of Leadership Design - a dynamic framework developed through decades of front-line leadership in high-pressure corporate environments. The book is already attracting international interest, with strong pre-orders and early adoption across corporate leadership networks.

This milestone signals the firm's evolution into a multi-platform leadership solutions provider - combining consulting, content, and capability-building at scale.

Author Amna Zaidi, CEO of AZ Solutions and a renowned transformation expert

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"This is more than a book - it's a strategic extension of our services," said Zaidi. "My organisation has always focused on authentic leadership in high-stakes spaces. This launch allows us to scale that message beyond the boardroom and into the hands of global change-makers."

An Expansion Rooted in Impact

Since its founding in 2023, AZ Strategic Solutions has advised senior leaders across multiple industries on complex transformation, change delivery and leadership excellence. With over 80 million in budgets managed and a leadership track record across global financial institutions, Zaidi brings boardroom-tested insight to the firm's clients.

The new publishing arm of the firm was created to expand access to these insights through practical, accessible resources - beginning with Unwinnable No More. The book encapsulates Zaidi's lived experience and field-tested methodology, offering a candid and empowering roadmap for professionals navigating systemic barriers, imposter syndrome and the evolving expectations of modern leadership.

A Framework for a Changing Leadership Landscape

The Five Stages of Leadership Design, a central focus of the book, reflects the firm's approach to developing resilient, self-aware leaders who thrive through change. It's a framework forged in the fire - not on a flipchart. Developed in real-world pressure and high-stakes environments, it reflects what it truly takes to lead with impact today. As organisations increasingly demand adaptable, emotionally intelligent, and inclusive leadership, the firm sees this model as essential to sustainable performance and personal well-being.

"This publication is a reflection of the company's long-standing commitment to creating tools for leaders who don't fit the traditional mold - and don't want to," says Zaidi.

Why This Book, and Why Now?

The release comes at a pivotal time, as organisations across the globe confront the realities of generational shifts, burnout and the pressure to reimagine leadership beyond outdated norms. The release date holds symbolic significance-aligned with the values that have defined Zaidi's leadership philosophy from the outset: integrity, resilience and long-term impact. According to Zaidi, the need for bold, human-centred leadership frameworks has never been more urgent.

"This book formalises what my company has delivered in high-touch consulting for years," said Zaidi. "We're proud to now offer this thinking at scale."

Unwinnable No More: Challenge the Rules, Rewrite the Win is now available at books.amnazaidi.com and through major retail platforms worldwide.

Follow AZ Strategic Solutions:

Instagram & Facebook: @amnazaidifca6

TikTok: @amnazaidifca

LinkedIn: Amna Zaidi



For consulting enquiries, media appearances, or bulk corporate orders, visit: www.amnazaidi.com

SOURCE: AZ Strategic Solutions Limited

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250147

SOURCE: APG
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Batero Gold Corp. (TSXV: BAT) (FSE: 68B) (OTC Pink: BELDF) (the "Company" or "Batero") is pleased to announce a strategic change to its senior leadership team and to its board of directors ("Board"). Mr. Ivo Bravo has stepped down as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary and Mr. Gonzalo de Losada has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and has resigned from the Board.

The Company welcomes Diego Heilbrunn Navarro-Grau to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company and Gustavo Noriega Bentin to the role of Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company. "I'm excited to take on the role of CEO and work alongside Gustavo and the Board as we enter into a new phase of development," said Mr. Heilbrunn. "Batero is well positioned in the current market with gold prices at all time highs, and I look forward to advancing the Company's La Cumbre Gold Project in Risaralda, Colombia."

Mr. Heilbrunn is a director of Antioquia Gold Inc., a mining company with operating mines in Peru and Colombia, and the former CEO and current director of Grupo HNG, a Peruvian business group with controlling and non-controlling interests in companies across technology, services, education, infrastructure and industrial sectors. Mr Bentin is the current Chief Financial Officer of Antioquia Gold Inc. and a former director of Ferreycorp, a leading Peruvian corporation dedicated to the provision of heavy machinery and specialized services in Peru.

The Company also welcomes Luis Garcia Rosell A. to its Board. Mr. Rosell has extensive corporate experience in leading national and multinational business groups, and was the general manager and Executive Chairman of the Board of Petroperu, a Peruvian state-owned enterprise dedicated to the transportation, refining, distribution and commercialization of fuels and other petroleum products. The appointment of Mr. Rosell to the Board increases the size of the Board from three to four directors.

The Company wishes to thank Mr. Gonzalo de Losada and Mr. Ivo Bravo for their work with the Company over the years and wishes them all the best with their future endeavours.

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 press release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the gold market, gold price and future development of the Company's La Cumbre Gold Project in Risaralda, Colombia.

By their nature, forward-looking statements and information involve assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are usually beyond the control of management, that could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed by these forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking information and statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to several known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Readers and investors should not place undue reliance on such statements.

Certain risks which could impact the Company are discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent MD&A available at SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking information and statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such information and statements. All forward-looking information and statements contained or incorporated by reference in this news release are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250667

SOURCE: Batero Gold Corp.
Monthly production record achieved over 30 days, Kamoa-Kakula hits an annualized copper production rate of approx. 625,000 tonnes at the end of April



Phase 3 concentrator achieves record throughput rates at 20% above nameplate capacity during Q1, equivalent to an annualized milling rate of 6.1 million tonnes per annum



Further improvements in Phase 3 copper grade, milling performance and improved power stability expected to drive additional production growth over the remainder of 2025



Africa's largest and greenest direct-to-blister copper smelter well on track to produce first anode in July, projected to improve operating margins

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announced today that the Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) achieved a monthly combined production record of 50,176 tonnes of copper in concentrate during the 30 days of April. The concentrators milled 1.35 million tonnes of ore at an average feed grade of 4.19% copper during the month.

The recently ramped-up Phase 3 concentrator achieved an average recovery rate of 87.4% during April, exceeding its design rate of 86%. Since mid-March, total copper production has notably risen to an average of approximately 12,000 tonnes per week, as shown in Figure 1. The outperformance is equivalent to an annualized production rate of approximately 625,000 tonnes per annum, approximately 12% higher than the midpoint of 2025 guidance.

The outperformance was underpinned by initiatives implemented earlier in the first quarter that enabled the Phase 3 concentrator to be consistently fed at higher rates than originally designed. Phase 3 milled a record 1.51 million tonnes of ore during the first quarter. The record is equivalent to an annualized milling rate of 6.1 million tonnes per annum, which is more than 20% higher than the Phase 3 concentrator's design capacity of 5.0 million tonnes per annum.

Kamoa-Kakula reached a major turning point during the quarter, following a significant increase in imported hydroelectric power that provided Kamoa-Kakula's management team with the confidence to finalize commissioning and commence the start-up of the smelter. The start-up of the new on-site copper smelter is expected in the coming weeks.

During the first quarter, the total average power required for the Phase 1, 2, and 3 operations was between 130 MW and 140 MW. At the beginning of March, Kamoa-Kakula was drawing 50 MW of domestically generated hydroelectric power, with 50 MW of hydroelectric power drawn from imported sources. The balance of required power was provided by on-site, diesel-generated backup power, of which there is an installed capacity of approximately 160 MW. Power drawn by the smelter is expected to gradually increase from 45 MW, following first feed of concentrate, up to 70 MW once at full capacity.

During the first quarter, an agreement was signed to increase the total imported hydroelectric power via the Zambia-DRC interconnector. From mid-March, imported hydroelectric power increased by 20 MW to 70 MW and increased further to 100 MW in April. When combined with approximately 50 MW of domestic hydropower, this gives Kamoa-Kakula approximately 150 MW of stable hydropower, which provides enough electricity to power the Phase 1, 2, and 3 operations. Further increases in grid power are expected throughout 2025 as the on-site smelter ramps up. The additional power is largely sourced from Mozambique via a wheeling agreement through the Southern Africa Power Pool network.

As previously disclosed, wet commissioning of Turbine #5 at Inga II, with a hydroelectric generation capacity of 178 MW is expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Kamoa-Kakula is expected to be allocated an initial, additional 71 MW of hydroelectric power once commissioning is complete, increasing up to 178 MW as the ongoing grid improvement initiatives are completed in 2026.





Figure 1. Kamoa-Kakula weekly copper in concentrate production (kt)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Operators Jeremie Muhiya, Chirack Mwamba and Cosma Sangwa, completing the last stages of commissioning inside the smelter furnace.

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Phase 3 concentrator feed grades set to improve in H2 2025, as development at Kamoa 1 and 2 underground mines is completed

The majority of the ore processed by the Phase 3 concentrator continues to be sourced from underground development. The crews at the Kamoa and Kansoko underground mines are focused on underground development, opening up approximately 18 months of ore reserves before the commencement of primary mining. Opening up a large accessible underground reserve base provides operational flexibility for the underground mining crews, similar to that which has already been achieved at the Kakula Mine.

The flat-lying nature of the Kamoa and Kakula orebodies means that underground development can be carried out in ore, albeit at lower grades. Underground development of the Kamoa mines is expected to continue until Q4 2025, after which Phase 3 concentrator feed grades are expected to increase to approximately 3% copper.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ramp-up of the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and, the phased development of the tier-one Platreef platinum- palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper project in South Africa.

Ivanhoe Mines is also exploring across its highly prospective, 60-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over 5 times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. Ivanhoe is exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries, as well as expanding and further defining its high-grade Makoko, Kiala, and Kitoko copper discoveries as the company's next major development projects.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Such statements include, without limitation: (i) statements that completion of Africa's largest and greenest smelter is only a few weeks away and that first production of copper anodes is expected from July 2025, which will improve operating margins; (ii) statements that further increases to grid power at Kamoa-Kakula are expected during H2 2025 as the smelter ramps up; (iii) statements that Kamoa Copper continues to work closely with the DRC's state-owned power company, SNEL, to deliver solutions for the identified causes of instability experienced across the southern DRC's grid infrastructure and that the project work and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025; (iv) statements that the project consists of grid infrastructure upgrades, such as an increase in grid capacity between the Inga II dam and Kolwezi, a new harmonic filter at the Inga Converter Station, as well as a new static compensator at the Kolwezi Converter Substation; (v) statements that various smaller initiatives have been identified to strengthen the transmission capability and improve the long-term stability of the southern grid; (vi) statements that Kamoa-Kakula is expected to receive an initial 71 MW of grid-supplied hydropower, increasing to the Turbine #5 nameplate capacity of 178 MW as the ongoing grid improvement initiatives are completed over the remainder of the year; (vii) statements that refurbishment works of Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric facility is nearing completion, with wet commission expected to commence in H2 2025; (ix) statements that further increases in grid power are expected throughout 2025 as the on-site smelter ramps up, and additional power is largely sourced from Mozambique via a wheeling agreement through the Southern Africa Power Pool network. (x) statements that underground development of the Kamoa mines is expected to continue until Q4 2025, after which Phase 3 concentrator feed grades are expected to increase to approximately 3% copper.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, however not limited to, the factors discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" heading in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025, in the company's current annual information form, and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025, in the company's current annual information and elsewhere in this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250668

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces it produced 8,262 ounces of gold and 36,466 ounces of silver from the Mercedes Mine ("Mercedes") during the three months ended March 31, 2025 ("Q1 2025").

Eric Caba, President and CEO of Bear Creek, states, "The first quarter of 2025 was difficult at Mercedes, with significant delays in the transition to Marianas and Rey de Oro. Mercedes compensated with accelerating other mining areas, but this still left a significant production shortfall in the quarter. Recovery plans are in place and being constantly reviewed in order to return to expected production rates."

Production and development results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 are as follows:

Q1 2025 Ore Mined (tonnes) 102,886 Ore Processed (tonnes) 105,611 Gold grade processed (gpt) 2.56 Gold recovery (%) 95% Gold ounces produced 8,262 Silver ounces produced 36,466 Development (meters) 2,469

Mining from narrow, high-grade veins at the Marianas and Rey de Oro deposits was intended to accelerate during Q1 2025, concurrent with a wind down of production from San Martin, which provided the majority of Mercedes' production throughout 2024. Significant and ongoing underperformance by a contractor engaged in late 2024 to provide the appropriate equipment and personnel, and deliver narrow vein mining services at Mercedes, has delayed advancement of the Marianas and Rey de Oro mine plan intended to occur during Q1 2025.

A number of Mercedes' Q1 2025 production results were consequently impacted. Tonnes mined from Marianas and Rey de Oro, and development meters achieved, were lower than anticipated due to the delay of equipment and personnel and shortage of mining faces. This tonnage was largely replaced by fast-tracking pillar removal from San Martin and mining additional material from Diluvio. Replacing the planned high-grade production from Marianas and Rey de Oro with production from the generally lower grade Diluvio deposit led to diminished overall gold grades and lower gold production during Q1 2025 than planned, as well as in comparison to recent past quarters.

Corani Oxides

The Company has elected to not proceed at this time with completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment related to the Oxides opportunity, as described in its news release dated September 9, 2024. The Company believes the Oxides provide an exciting opportunity to add silver resources to the Corani mineral inventory, and potentially extend the anticipated Corani mine life, but that additional work is required to fully develop the scope of this opportunity. As the Company is engaged in its Strategic Review process (see news release dated March 4, 2025), such additional work will not be undertaken at this time.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Unless otherwise indicated, scientific and technical information in this news release is based on work programs and initiatives conducted by or under the supervision of, and/or has been reviewed and approved by, Donald Mc Iver, Fellow SEG and Fellow Aus IMM, Vice President, Exploration and Geology of Bear Creek Mining Corporation, who is a qualified person ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Going Concern

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: the timing, appropriateness, and benefits of the transition from bulk to narrow vein mining methodologies; the inclusion and relative contribution of various deposits on future production at Mercedes; future resolution and/or recourse related to the contractor underperformance and delays in procurement of equipment and personnel and the delivery of mining services at the Marianas deposit; expectations regarding anticipated reductions in dilution and containment of costs, the potential impacts of such reductions on production results, and the timing thereof; the Strategic Review; potential strategic and financial options available to the Company; whether the Strategic Review will result in a transaction and the terms or timing of any transaction resulting from the Strategic Review; the ability of the Strategic Review to enhance value; potential impacts of the Oxides on the Corani mineral inventory and mine life; and the requirement for additional analysis to fully understand the potential benefits of the Oxides on the Corani project. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to assumptions related to the Company's exploration, development and operating activities, the availability of funds required to meet its requirements and plans, business objectives, goals and capabilities, assumptions related to gold and silver prices, and the expectation that anticipated exploration, development and operating results will not differ materially from expectations. Although management considers the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk exists that estimates, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but may include additional risks as described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law.

In its annual audited consolidated financial statements for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 (Q4 2024"), the Company had a working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) deficiency of US$93.2 million. The Q4 2024 financial statements were prepared following accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes the Company will be able to continue operations for at least twelve months from December 31, 2024 and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the ordinary course of operations. As of December 31, 2024, the Company does not have sufficient funds to cover its working capital deficiency and material uncertainty remains in relation to the Company's ability to achieve the operating results and cash flow generation from the Mercedes mine necessary to fund ongoing obligations and/or to avoid seeking additional financing, and therefore the Company's ability to continue as a "going concern" is at risk.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250672

SOURCE: Bear Creek Mining Corporation
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Planet Based Foods Global Inc. (CSE: PBF) (OTC Pink: PBFFF) (FSE: AZ00) (the "Company"), a company that offers a diverse portfolio of sustainable food ingredients and innovative plant-based solutions, is pleased to announce several changes to its executive leadership team and board of directors (the "Board"), effective immediately.

Sigal Shapira has been named the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director. Sigal is an accomplished international business professional with nearly 20 years of experience in trade, marketing, project management, and business development across diverse industries, specializing in turn-key project execution, high-value deal negotiations, and global market expansion. With a BA in finance, an MBA in marketing and international business, Sigal successfully led operations and teams across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She is fluent in English and Hebrew and brings strong cross-cultural communication, strategic thinking, and a commitment to sustainable, value-driven trade practices. Emrah Petorak joins the company as Chief Financial Officer, poised to contribute his financial acumen to support the company's strategic goals.

We are thrilled to welcome Evelyne Batamuliza and Lauren Camp to the Board, with Ms. Batamuliza serving as Chairwoman. Ms. Batamuliza and Ms. Camp join as independent directors and will also contribute their expertise to the audit committee. Their appointments reflect our commitment to strengthening governance with diverse perspectives and robust oversight.

As part of this transition, Theodore Cash Llewellyn is stepping down from his current positions as Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer. Kevin Vines and Theodore Cash Llewellyn are resigning from the Board. The Company extends its sincere gratitude to each of them for their service and contributions.

Sigal Shapira, Chief Executive Officer and President, stated, "I'm honored to step into the role of President and CEO at Planet Based Foods Global Inc. This is an exciting period for us to be involved in the global food industry by providing high-quality food ingredients sourced globally, especially through empowering women-led farming communities around the world. I look forward to working with our professional team in developing the company's new vision; promoting sustainable agriculture by providing the world with plant-based products that are beneficial to the ecosystems and regenerative agriculture, together with our efforts in providing AI solutions to manufacturers and growers."

About Planet Based Foods Global Inc.

The Company is dedicated to advancing the plant-based food industry through a diverse portfolio of sustainable food ingredients and innovative plant-based solutions that prioritize quality and environmental responsibility. Planet Based Foods Global Inc. is committed to upholding the highest standards of sustainability and fostering equitable partnerships that empower communities worldwide. With a focus on creativity and integrity, the Company provides products that align with evolving consumer values and contribute to a more sustainable food ecosystem.

Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release may constitute "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such statements include those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "assume" "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events.

These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, development of the industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; operating or technical difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward- looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information other than as required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250691

SOURCE: Planet Based Foods Global Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Copperhead Resources Inc. (CSE: CUH) ("Copperhead" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Keith Li as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), following the resignation of Mike Dai.

Keith Li brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate accounting, finance, equity markets, financial reporting, and public company administration. Specializing in management advisory services, regulatory compliance, and financial strategy, he has served as CFO for multiple TSXV and CSE-listed companies, including in the junior mining, cannabis, health & wellness, and merchant banking sectors. Keith is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

The Company thanks Mr. Dai For his contributions to the Company.

About Copperhead Resources Inc.

Copperhead Resources Inc. is a mineral resource company engaged in the business of acquiring and exploring mineral resource properties. The Company's principal objective is to locate and develop precious and base metals, focusing initially on the exploration and development of the Red Line Project, the Company's sole mineral exploration project located in British Columbia, Canada. The Company has acquired the option to acquire a 75% undivided right, title, and interest in and to the Red Line Project pursuant to an option agreement. From time to time the Company may also evaluate and acquire other mineral and oil and gas properties of merit, containing a variety of resources and located in a variety of geographical jurisdictions.

For further information about Copperhead, please contact:

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to regulatory approval and the impact of additions to the leadership team. These statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Amendment that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: challenges executing on corporate strategy and business plans; regulatory approval processes; and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250701

SOURCE: Copperhead Resources Inc.
Capstone Copper Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS) (ASX:CSC) announced the voting results from its 2025 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held May 2, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia. A total of 594,082,529 common shares were voted at the meeting, representing 77.96% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the meeting, as follows:

Number of Directors % For % Against Number of Directors to be set at eight 96.27% 3.73% Election of Directors % of Votes For % of Votes Withheld Alison Baker 99.19% 0.81% Gordon Bell 99.57% 0.43% Richard Coleman 99.98% 0.02% Anne Giardini 98.20% 1.80% John MacKenzie 98.90% 1.10% Cashel Meagher 99.89% 0.11% Peter Meredith 99.43% 0.57% Patricia Palacios 99.46% 0.54% Appointment of Auditor % For % Withheld To re-appoint Deloitte LLP as Auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration 99.90% 0.10% Say on Pay % For % Against To pass an advisory vote on Capstone's approach to executive compensation as disclosed in the Management Information Circular 91.87% 8.13%

Detailed voting results for the 2025 AGM are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca

About Capstone Copper Corp.

Capstone Copper Corp. is an Americas-focused copper mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. We own and operate the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, USA, the Cozamin copper-silver mine located in Zacatecas, Mexico, the Mantos Blancos copper-silver mine located in the Antofagasta region, Chile, and 70% of the Mantoverde copper-gold mine, located in the Atacama region, Chile. In addition, we own the fully permitted Santo Domingo copper-iron-gold project, located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Mantoverde in the Atacama region, Chile, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties in the Americas.

Capstone Copper's strategy is to unlock transformational copper production growth while executing on cost and operational improvements through innovation, optimization and safe and responsible production throughout our portfolio of assets. We focus on profitability and disciplined capital allocation to surface stakeholder value. We are committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of our people and local communities, while delivering compelling returns to investors by responsibly producing copper to meet the world's growing needs.

Further information is available at www.capstonecopper.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250502621332/en/

Contacts:

Daniel Sampieri, Vice President, Investor Relations

437-788-1767

dsampieri@capstonecopper.com



Michael Slifirski, Director, Investor Relations, APAC Region

61-412-251-818

mslifirski@capstonecopper.com



Claire Stirling, Manager, Investor Relations

416-831-8908

cstirling@capstonecopper.com
The most nifty aspect of Black White And Gray Love Kills is how it stays true to the essence of the blueprint of a skillful thriller read more

Cast: Mayur More, Deven Bhojani, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kamlesh Sawant, Palak Jaiswal

Director: Pushkar Sunil Mahabal

Language: Hindi

Theres a new web show in town titled Black White And Gray Love Kills. It begins with an ode to India and its absorbing culture. It soon morphs into a whodunnit with four murders and one accused. Either dont get fooled by the name or be conned by the opening stretch. The visuals in the credits are as trippy as the moniker. Its impossible not to be intrigued by the ensemble. You have Kamlesh Sawant as an investigating officer brining back the fresh memories of the Drishyam franchise. Theres Deven Bhojani, the down on his luck friend in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and the ever infallible and infuriating Dushyant from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. We also have Tigmanshu Dhulia, who always carries a certain sense of swagger with him every time he takes up an acting assignment. And in between all the mess is Mayur More, the terrific chameleon-like central character. The one thing that makes a great murder mystery is the right form of restlessness, both in the story, the characters, and the people who watch them.

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Black White And Gray Love Kills begins in the dark, which means the viewers will be in the dark too until all the cards are revealed. A single stretch of a scene includes an eye witness, a cigarette, a politicians poster, a dead body, and of course, blood. All this pandemonium is juxtaposed with interviews of people related to the case and close to the victims. The creepy camerawork is reminiscent of the haunting Love Sex Aur Dhokha. A sudden death is An Action Hero redux. But we are not even halfway through. This is just the beginning. We have many more dots to connect.

This isnt just about fixing the mystery and finding the killer, director and writer Pushkar Sunil Mahabal along with Yogendra Oke aim at a social commentary about rape and womens character too. Just like the recent Khauf, the narrative has more connotations than one. And just like Rang De Basanti, a foreign filmmaker comes to India to make a film. The 2006 saga was about awakening a generation and a bunch of callous students through the story and sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Here, its about digging deep into a murder case to extract the truth.

The most nifty aspect of Black White And Gray Love Kills is how it stays true to the essence of the blueprint of a skillful thriller. The series never takes sides, the filmmaker asks the most precise questions, the responses are just as prompt and practical, and the flashbacks are gripping from start to finish. One more film that comes to mind is Crazxy. Remember how exhausting and exhilarating the one shot tyre changing scene was? Theres an essence here too, which is followed by an expected yet unexpected brawl in the jungle. By now, youre more curious to know what happened as opposed to who made it all happen.

And then theres the twist that shows how truth is equally strange and bizarre. It blurs the line between fact and fiction. Thats what makes a series or a film stand out. And this one shows how love indeed kills, how life is stuck in a loop of black, white, and grey. But its also a reflection of how love make life live (no Aashiqui 2 puns here), how flimsiness can save the day for someone who never believed in god, and how some questions will never be answered.

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Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Black White And Gray Love Kills is streaming on Sony LIV
At the WAVES 2025 summit, Nagarjuna said there is a reason why Allu Arjuns Pushpa franchise earned more in Hindi than Telugu, as the audience in the North was craving to see stars in a tentpole movie set-up, like the Sukumar directorial or Yashs blockbuster KGF series. read more

Is there a formula to make a blockbuster pan-India film? Superstar Nagarjuna feels there is only one ingredient of success: Stay rooted to your native language and the honesty will transcend language barriers. Nagarjuna, who has headlined some of the biggest Indian blockbusters over the decades, says the pan-India success of Telugu films like Pushpa and Baahubali, as well as Kannada actioner KGF, points to the fact that the Indian audience wants their heroes to be larger than life.

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At the WAVES 2025 summit, Nagarjuna said there is a reason why Allu Arjuns Pushpa franchise earned more in Hindi than Telugu, as the audience in the North was craving to see stars in a tentpole movie set-up, like the Sukumar directorial or Yashs blockbuster KGF series.

Both the Pushpa films made more money in the North than in Telugu. We have seen similar stories in Telugu before, like Pushpa, which has larger-than-life heroes. Whereas in the Northin Bihar, UP, and Punjabthey wanted to see their heroes like Pushpa Raj, Yash in KGF or Baahubali. They wanted to see larger-than-life heroes. For Indian people and culture, just living day to day is difficult, and when they want to overcome the stress by watching films, they want to see magic on screen.

Thats what the larger-than-life stories are doing, without losing the fundamentals of Indian storytelling. They are not going away from that, which is why they have been successful. Rajamouli shot Baahubali frame to frame, thinking it is a Telugu film. He was very proud of his roots and language, and he shot it like a Telugu film, and people loved it across the world! If you are rooted to your storytelling, it will resonate, Nagarjuna said.

The superstar was speaking on the panel discussion Pan-Indian cinema; myth or momentum? and was joined by actors Anupam Kher, Khusbhu and Karthi.

Nagarjuna said Indian films have their own, unique storytelling DNA, which one must be proud of.

You might say, A guy raises his fist and 20 people fall, it looks abnormal! But if you like Marvel or DC films, Superman does the same thing, but they give the logic of them having super powers. But we dont need those special powers! The common man, the ticket-paying audience, including me, wants to watch my heroes larger than life. When I see Prabhas, Allu Arjun and others going on screen and doing what they do, I clap and whistle.

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The actor, who has two biggies lined up for release, including Kuberaa with Dhanush and Lokesh Kanagarajs Coolie, said both the films have been rooted in their storytelling. Coolie, which is releasing in August, also stars Rajinikanth, Upendra, and Shruti Haasan among others.

When asked how he handles the pressure of having a pan-India blockbuster with every film, Nagarjuna said, I dont know about others, but first and foremost, I want my film to work in Telugu, and then organically it will work everywhere. I have Kuberaa with Dhanush as well as Lokeshs next Coolie, which has Rajini sir, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Shruti, it is a huge film. Lokesh made it thinking it is a Tamil film. So, if it works in your language, it will work everywhere.
Vijay is ready to set the screen ablaze in Kingdom (Samrajya), a high-octane action-thriller directed by Gowtham T. Releasing on May 30, 2025, the film has already sparked fan frenzy with its gripping teaser and intense posters read more

Vijay Deverakonda, one of the biggest and most talented actors in Indian cinema, has risen from the Telugu industry to win hearts nationwide with hits like Arjun Reddy, Geetha Govindam, and more. Apart from his films, Vijay is someone who is known to be vocal about issues and shares his opinions. At the recent Waves Summit 2025, he sparked discussion by slamming the global dominance of the English language. Criticizing Western imperialism for establishing English hegemony, Vijay questioned why Indians continue to uphold it, calling it a silent win for the West. He strongly batted for Hindi and Telugu, emphasizing the importance of embracing native languages.

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Vijay hit back at English hegemony and acknowledged that it might be too late to fully reverse it, saying, I hope this does not get me into trouble, began the Arjun Reddy star, but I feel we need to expand our kingdom. That all of us are conversing in English is a big soft power win for the West because they came in hundreds of years ago and made sure all of us were speaking and writing in their language. Now its too late to backtrack.

Vijay also highlighted how Hollywood commands some of the biggest budgets and features the highest-paid stars compared to Indian stars, adding, Because some buggers did this 200-300 years ago for whatever purpose, now Hollywood has the biggest budgets because all of us know and watch films in English. If I do a film and Brad Pitt does a film, he will get paid 100x more than me just because more people watch in his language. Which is not my fault but the fault of some guys who went and spread that language.

On the work front, Vijay is ready to set the screen ablaze in Kingdom (Samrajya), a high-octane action-thriller directed by Gowtham T. Releasing on May 30, 2025, the film has already sparked fan frenzy with its gripping teaser and intense posters. Showcasing Vijays fierce transformation, magnetic presence, and raw intensity, Kingdom is one of the years most anticipated releases, promising a cinematic storm of action and emotion.
Ahmed Tariq Butt, a Bengaluru-based professional working with Accenture, claimed that he and his family were reportedly issued deportation notices to Pakistan despite being Indian citizens with valid passports and Aadhaar cards. The Supreme Court has ordered verification of their documents and asked that no coercive action be taken against them until then read more

As tensions rise between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the government has ramped up efforts to identify and deport Pakistani nationals from the country as part of a flurry of diplomatic restrictions.

Among those caught in the sweeping crackdown was Ahmed Tariq Butt, a Bengaluru-based professional working with Accenture. Along with five family members, Butt was reportedly ordered to go to Pakistan despite being Indian citizens with valid passports and Aadhaar cards.

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Things took a sharp turn on Friday when the Supreme Court stepped in, asking for verification of his documents and demanded that no coercive action be taken against Butt, who has an MBA from the Kerelas IIM Kozhikode, till then.

But how did Butt and his family get a deportation notice in the first place? And what did the top court say on the matter? Heres a closer look

How did you come to India?

During the hearing on Friday morning, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh asked Butt about his background and how he came to India.

Ahmed Tariq Butt told the court that he and his family, his parents, elder sister, and two younger brothers, were residents of Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir until 1997.

His father moved to Srinagar that year and surrendered his Pakistan passport to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, after which he applied for and secured an Indian passport.

The rest of the family joined him in 2000. Butt said he and his siblings studied at a private school in the city. He also told the court that he holds an Indian passport and an Aadhaar card.

His counsel added that only one family member had Pakistani roots, as he was born there. But he had surrendered his Pakistani passport long ago, the advocate said.

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Ahmed Tariq Butt said his father surrendered his Pakistan passport to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court when he came to Srinagar in 1997. Image for Representation. Reuters

Despite these documents, Butt claimed that a Home Ministry order served last week directed his entire family to leave the country. The notice, he alleged, falsely stated that they had entered India on visas and overstayed.

Seeking urgent intervention, Butt informed the court that his father, mother, sister and a younger brother were arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on April 29 at around 9 pm illegally and were taken to the India-Pakistan border on April 30 at around 12.20 pm, as reported by The Indian Express.

He further stated that they are at present being forced to leave India from the border and that deportation is imminent even though they are Indian nationals.

This cannot be a precedent for future cases: SC

After issuing a stay on Ahmed Tariq Butts deportation, the Supreme Court made it clear that the order should not be treated as a precedent in similar matters.

The bench emphasised that the decision was made based on the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. This clarification holds significance at a time when several individuals, many with Muslim names, have reportedly been asked to leave the country following visa cancellations.

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In Butts case, the court also directed him to approach the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh if he was not satisfied with the final outcome.

Attari-Wagah border shut

In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives in Kashmir, India issued a series of countermeasures, including ordering a shutdown of its border with Pakistan and issuing Leave India notices to all Pakistani nationals residing in the country.

As part of the sweeping crackdown, all visas for Pakistani citizens, except for long-term stay permits and those granted to Pakistani Hindus, were cancelled, and they were directed to leave India by April 30.

Following this directive, 125 Pakistani nationals exited India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day total of departures to 911. In addition, 15 Indian citizens holding Pakistani visas also crossed over, taking the overall count of such departures to 23.

As part of the sweeping crackdown following the Pahalgam terror attack, all visas for Pakistani citizens, except for long-term stay permits and those granted to Pakistani Hindus, were cancelled, and they were directed to leave India by April 30. File image

On the entry side, 152 Indian nationals and 73 Pakistanis with valid long-term Indian visas arrived in the country through the Amritsar border. These arrivals pushed the totals to 1,617 Indian returnees and 224 Pakistani entrants since the announcement.

However, the deportation process hit a roadblock when Pakistan allegedly closed the Wagah border post, causing distress among deported Pakistani citizens who were left stranded in the scorching heat while trying to return home.

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It appeared that Pakistani authorities did not open the gate to receive their citizens. But Pakistans Foreign Office dismissed this, stating that its borders are open to receiving its citizens.

In addition to cancelling visas, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed its airspace to Pakistani flights, and banned the social media accounts of Pakistani nationals.

With input from agencies
With key seats at stake and Chinese-Australian voters proving decisive, candidates across Australias political spectrum are campaigning on platforms like WeChat and RedNote. Despite past national security concerns, these apps have become battlegrounds for tailored political messaging, cultural outreach and even misinformation read more

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and China's President Xi Jinping speak as they prepare for a group during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. File Image/Reuters

As Australia prepares to vote in its 2025 federal election on May 3, a growing number of candidates  from major parties and independents alike  are ramping up their outreach to Chinese-Australian voters via platforms like WeChat and RedNote.

Once eyed with suspicion over national security concerns, these apps have now become central to political campaigning, particularly in electorates with significant Chinese-speaking populations.

How Chinese social media platforms are being used in Australia

WeChat, used daily by nearly 60 per cent of Chinese Australians according to the Lowy Institute, and RedNote, with around 70,000 monthly Australian users, are now hosting a surge in political content.

Candidates, especially from the Liberal Party, have dramatically increased their presence on these platforms since January, according to researchers like Dr. Fan Yang of the University of Melbourne.

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We have seen a higher number of political advertising by Liberal Party members, she told ABC News. Her RECapture project team has tracked over 220 authorised Liberal ads on WeChat, compared to just 35 for Labor.

This digital push comes amid the Coalitions efforts to regain support from Chinese-Australian voters  a demographic that swung decisively against them in the 2022 federal election.

Analysts and party reviews have cited factors such as the Morrison governments harsh rhetoric on China and mishandling of pandemic-era racism as key reasons for the shift.

What key battlegrounds are witnessing this strategy

Several high-stakes electorates have emerged as focal points in this digital battle. In Bennelong, where nearly 30 per cent of residents have Chinese heritage, Liberal candidate Scott Yung is running an extensive multilingual campaign on both WeChat and RedNote.

Whether its Chinese, Korean, or any other languages social media, its about making sure as many Australians as possible  regardless of background  can fully understand the information and make the best choices, he told SBS Chinese.

Yungs posts appear in Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese  a strategy aimed at improving comprehension in a community where only 25-26 per cent of those speaking Mandarin or Cantonese at home are proficient in English.

Labors Jerome Laxale, the sitting MP in Bennelong, is also active on Chinese social platforms, as are candidates in other key seats such as Reid (Sally Sitou and Grange Chung), Chisholm (Carina Garland and Katie Allen), and Menzies (Keith Wolahan and Gabriel Ng).

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In Bradfield, one of Australias most Chinese-populated electorates, Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian and independent challenger Nicolette Boele are both using WeChat to reach voters. With retiring MP Paul Fletcher vacating the seat, the competition is expected to be fierce.

How cultural connection is meeting political messaging

Beyond direct policy discussion, many candidates are using lifestyle content to connect with voters on a cultural level. Posts of politicians enjoying Chinese food, attending Lunar New Year celebrations, or shopping at Asian grocery stores have become common.

Labor MP Sally Sitou described these platforms as essential tools in multicultural engagement: You wouldnt expect to be speaking to young people through The Australian newspaper  youd expect to be speaking to them through the channels they use, like Instagram and TikTok, she said.

The same can be said for the Chinese community. They are mostly now on WeChat and Little Red Book (or RedNote), so thats the best way to get in touch with them.

Her Liberal challenger Grange Chung agreed, telling ABC News, Were a very diverse electorate, so I need to reach out to particularly, say, the Chinese community, through the social media they use.

How misinformation is also spreading

The popularity of Chinese social media platforms also raises concerns about misinformation and content control. On RedNote, deepfake videos of opposition leader Peter Dutton circulated earlier this year, complete with AI-generated Mandarin voiceovers misrepresenting his policies.

Although some were removed, others remained accessible, showcasing the challenges of moderating political content in real time.

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Voters like Linsey from Bennelong acknowledge the spread of both accurate and misleading content on these apps. Some people post videos telling you one party is good and the other is bad, but without much basis, she said.

However, another voter, Xiao Fan from Sydney, expressed confidence in the communitys ability to discern truth from fiction: We have our own judgement. We also learn a lot from newspapers, radio, and community events.

How voter engagement has changed in Australia

Despite concerns over foreign interference and content censorship, Chinese social media is now deeply embedded in Australias electioneering landscape. Candidates are recognising that traditional outreach may no longer be enough in electorates with large and linguistically diverse communities.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said in interview with SBS Chinese, In this election, people will hear your voices on SBS, but theyll also see and hear content on social media and follow discussions in the community People need to know the differences between the two parties.

Also Watch:

With election day looming and competition tightening in marginal seats, campaigning on platforms like WeChat and RedNote is no longer optional  its essential. The digital battleground has expanded, and for many candidates, it might just be where elections are won or lost in Australia.

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With inputs from agencies
On May 2, 2011, US Navy SEALs conducted a covert operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind behind the September 11 attacks. The mission, known as Operation Neptune Spear, was a significant achievement in the global fight against terrorism read more

Left - File Image of Osama Bin Laden, May 26, 1998 (Reuters); Right - Aerial views, released by the United State Department of Defense on May 2, 2011, shows before (L) and after (R) views of the compound that Osama bin Laden was killed in, in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

In this edition of History Today, we explore three significant events that occurred on May 2: the death of Osama bin Laden, Nelson Mandelas claim of victory in South Africas first democratic elections and the first reported sighting of the Loch Ness Monster.

Osama bin Laden killed in US raid

On May 2, 2011, United States Navy SEALs conducted a covert operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The mission, known as Operation Neptune Spear, was authorised by US President Barack Obama and executed by SEAL Team Six, officially known as the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

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Islamic terrorist Osama bin Laden was added by the FBI on June 7, 1999 to its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.

The operation was the culmination of years of intelligence gathering and surveillance. US intelligence agencies had been tracking a courier believed to be closely associated with bin Laden.

This led them to a compound in Abbottabad, a city located approximately 120 kilometres north of Islamabad.

The compound was unusual: it was significantly larger than neighbouring houses, had high walls topped with barbed wire, and lacked internet or telephone connections, raising suspicions about its occupants.

In the early hours of May 2, local time, two Black Hawk helicopters carrying the SEALs approached the compound.

One helicopter experienced mechanical failure and made a hard landing, but the mission proceeded.

The SEALs breached the compound and engaged in a firefight. Bin Laden was found on the third floor and was shot and killed. His body was identified through facial recognition and DNA testing. After the operation, his body was buried at sea to prevent a burial site from becoming a shrine.

The death of bin Laden was announced by Obama in a televised address, stating, Justice has been done. The operation was widely regarded as a significant achievement in the fight against terrorism.

However, it also raised questions about Pakistans role, as the compound was located near a military academy, leading to suspicions about whether elements within Pakistan had been harbouring bin Laden.

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The successful mission provided a sense of closure for many affected by the 9/11 attacks and was a major moment in US counterterrorism efforts.

It also led to the release of numerous documents found in the compound, offering insights into al-Qaedas operations and bin Ladens role within the organisation.

Nelson Mandela claims victory

On May 2, 1994, Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), claimed victory in South Africas first multiracial democratic elections.

The elections, held from April 26 to 29, marked the end of apartheid, a system of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that had been in place since 1948.

Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela gesture after walking free from prison in Cape Town. File Image/AP

Mandelas victory speech, delivered at the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, highlighted reconciliation and unity.

He stated, This is indeed a joyous night. Although not yet final, we have received the provisional results of the election, and are delighted by the overwhelming support for the African National Congress.

The ANC secured approximately 62 per cent of the vote, leading to Mandelas inauguration as South Africas first Black president on May 10, 1994. This historic event marked a new era for the nation, transitioning from decades of oppression to a democratic society.

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First modern sighting of the Loch Ness monster

On May 2, 1933, the Inverness Courier published a report of a sighting of a mysterious creature in Loch Ness, Scotland.

A local couple claimed to have seen an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface of the loch.

This account sparked widespread interest and is considered the beginning of the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie.

Following the report, media outlets from across the UK sent correspondents to the area, and a circus offered a substantial reward for the creatures capture.

Over the years, numerous sightings and photographs have been reported, though none have provided definitive proof of Nessies existence. The legend has become an integral part of Scottish folklore and continues to attract tourists and enthusiasts to Loch Ness.
On Thursday (April 2), Donald Trump removed Mike Waltz from his post as national security adviser  marking the first significant personnel overhaul of the White House. The move comes just a month after the Signal-gate scandal and amidst growing pressure from within the US presidents inner circle to remove the 51-year-old read more

Mike Waltz walks to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, DC. Waltz was President Trump's closest adviser on national security issues but has been ousted and been nominated as ambassador to the United Nations. Reuters

When Donald Trump was a reality star  he appeared on the hit show The Apprentice  he had a tag line: Youre fired. And on Thursday, he may have used that line when he ousted Mike Waltz from his post as national security adviser.

But its not all bad news for Waltz; the US president announced that he would be nominating Waltz as ambassador to the United Nations. It is the first significant personnel overhaul of the White House, and the kind of shake-up that the president may have sought to avoid in his second term.

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But what led to Waltzs ouster? Who has replaced him? What awaits Waltz? If you are asking these questions, we have the answers.

From military man to NSA

Mike Waltz, from Florida, is a former special forces soldier who served in the US military for 21 years and was involved in multiple combat tours to Afghanistan. Before serving as Trumps national security adviser, Waltz also served as a Republican congressman for Florida since 2019.

Many believe that Trumps reason for picking Waltz for the role was his vocal criticism of China. Waltz had earlier spoken about Beijings activity in the Asia-Pacific, claiming the US needs to be ready for a potential conflict in the region.

Waltz ousted as Trumps NSA

On Thursday, the news broke that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, were being ousted from their roles.

In a post on social media, Trump announced the news, thanking Waltz for his work. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my national security adviser, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our nations interests first, Trump wrote in a post on social media. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as national security advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department.

In response, Waltz said on X, Im deeply honoured to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation.

According to CBS News, it was a last-minute decision to nominate Waltz to be UN ambassador. Trump decided Thursday morning, the sources said, but there had been previous discussions about moving Waltz out of the National Security Council.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has been under intense criticism this week after it was reported that he had added a journalist to a group chat discussing a sensitive military operation. File image/Reuters

There are a number of reasons for Waltzs ouster. Firstly, Signal-gate. Waltz faced massive criticism for mistakenly adding The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat that shared sensitive information about US missile strikes in Yemen before they took place.

The group had other high-ranking officials such as Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz later told Fox News on the leak, I take responsibility. I built the group.

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He added that it was embarrassing.

But that wasnt the only issue with Waltz. It was also perceived at the White House that Waltz didnt adequately vet NSC staff.

Waltz was also on shaky ground owing to his strained working relationship with Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and other top officials. Moreover, he faced pressure from other quarters  many Trump supporters saw Waltz as being at odds with the America First agenda. For instance, Trumps former aide Steve Bannon was rallying for Waltzs removal. There was also far-right activist Laura Loomer who alleged that Wong had loyalties to China, weakening Waltzs power.

Waltzs removal comes at a crucial time for the United States. It has to handle three potent adversaries: China, Russia and Iran. Moreover, Trump is making the change just two weeks before his first major trip abroad, to Saudi Arabia and other Arab capitals in the West Asia, and in the midst of tense negotiations with Moscow and Tehran.

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However, speaking on the change in roles, US Vice President JD Vance asserted that this had nothing to do with the group chat incident. I know the president really likes Mike Waltz. He just thought that the UN ambassador position would be a better place for Mike Waltz to be, Vance told Fox News.

The media wants to frame this as a firing. Donald Trump has fired a lot of people. He doesnt give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterwards, Vance said.

I think you could make a good argument its a promotion, Vance added, defending Waltz for completing the job for what he was picked for by the US president.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters, watched by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. File image/Reuters

Trump and his history with NSAs

While Waltz is Trumps first ouster in his second term, he has had a history with his national security advisers in his first term.

Trump fired his first National Security Adviser, Michael T Flynn, within four weeks of his inauguration in 2017, saying he did so because Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about talks he held with the Russian ambassador.

He ran through four national security advisers in his first term. One of them, John R Bolton, wrote a memoir about his time working for the president that was deeply revealing, and embarrassing, to Trump.

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Uncertain future awaits Waltz

Trumps move to shift Waltz to UN ambassador now awaits confirmation by the US Senate, where Republicans narrowly control the majority. However, many believe that Waltz may struggle to get confirmed in light of Signal-gate. This, in turn, will allow Trump to get rid of him completely without having to fire him.

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz checks his mobile phone while attending a Cabinet meeting held by US President Donald Trump at the White House. Reuters

In fact, the Washington Post has reported that Democratic senators are eager to grill Waltz. I look forward to a thorough confirmation hearing, Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), wrote on X, linking to a Reuters photograph that showed Waltz holding his phone during a Wednesday Cabinet meeting, the Signal messaging app open on his screen.

I think theres obvious questions about the treatment of classified or sensitive information, use of Signal, how the whole episode of Signal unfolded, Coons said later in an interview. But I also want to talk about United Nations . . . [and] how he understands our security, because I think a lot of the moves by the Trump administration have made our nation less secure, not more secure.

With inputs from agencies
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its probe into the Pahalgam terror attack, deploying advanced forensic tools such as 3D mapping. By combining technology with human analysis, the agency is creating a high-resolution 3D model of the site. The process uses LiDAR, drone surveillance, and photogrammetry to produce detailed and accurate visuals of the location read more

NIA personnel on their way to Baisaran Meadows from the Pahalgam Police Station in Anantnag district. PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack.

At least two men from Pakistan and one local were involved in the April 22 attack, which left 26 people dead.

Now, the agency is using advanced forensic tools, including 3D mapping.

But what is 3D mapping?

We explain how it works and why it could help in the Pahalgam terror case investigation.

What is the 3D mapping technique?

The agency returned to Baisaran meadow on Wednesday for three-dimensional, or 3D, mapping of the site, based on what witnesses had said, CNN-News18 reported.

By combining technology and human input, the NIA is building a high-resolution 3D model of the location.

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This is expected to help track every movement and bullet path linked to the attack.

Security personnel stand guard a day after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, April 23, 2025. PTI

For this, they are relying on satellite pictures, videos captured by drones, and information from families of the victims, pony handlers, shopkeepers, and others working nearby. All of this is being used to recreate a digital version of the scene where the Pahalgam attack took place.

The mapping process involves LiDAR, drone technology, and photogrammetry. These help create accurate 3D views of the spot, which investigators can use to understand the attack better and present clearly in court if needed.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the Pahalgam case is especially difficult because it targeted civilians and involves proxy warfare. Unlike the 26/11 Mumbai or Pulwama attacks, this case makes it harder for India to get a global consensus.

This is why the NIA is focusing on collecting strong, clear proof that can challenge Pakistans denials and maintain international support.

The same technique was earlier used after the 2019 Pulwama attack to piece together what happened, how long it lasted, and where the attackers went.

Last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) used 3D mapping in another case, the RG Kar hospital rape case, to trace the steps of the main accused, Sanjay Roy.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, an officer said that the 3D mapping will provide accurate, graphic-rich visualisation of the attack site, which can be used while questioning hundreds of people without bringing them to the site and understand the exact location of everyone who was present that day, entry and exit points of the terrorists, and the radius in which the killings took place.

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A senior officer, leading the team currently in Pahalgam, has questioned many people so far. These include known supporters of terror groups, pony service providers, local sellers, photographers, and those working in tourism activities, the report added.

CNN-News18 also reported that the NIA is checking the phone records of relatives of local terrorists. Searches are ongoing, and officials believe the attackers used dense forest areas to enter the Baisaran Valley.

Are Pahalgam terrorists still hiding in south Kashmir?

Sources in NIA told NDTV that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack are still believed to be in south Kashmir and have enough supplies to survive on their own.

They are able to stay hidden in the thick forests because they carry their own food and other essentials, which means they do not need help from outside.

This has allowed them to stay in the area for a long time without being detected.

The NIA formally took charge of the case five days after the attack. Its team had visited the spot a day earlier and started working with the Jammu and Kashmir Police on what is being seen as the deadliest civilian attack in the region in nearly two decades.

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Pahalgam terror attack

India has taken strong action against Pakistan following the attack. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect. It also ordered the closure of the Integrated Check Post at Attari.

The Attari-Wagah border connects Amritsar in India to Lahore in Pakistan.

Amritsar: An Indian national, center, reacts as he bids farewell to his relatives who are Pakistani nationals as the latter prepare to return to their country, at the Integrated Check Post at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar, Friday, April 25, 2025. India has announced the closure of the Attari border for all movement as part of heightened security measures following the Pahalgam terror attacks. (PTI Photo/Shiva Sharma) (PTI04_25_2025_000171B) PTI

New Delhi has withdrawn Saarc visa privileges for Pakistani citizens. Islamabad responded soon after by doing the same for Indian travellers.

Ties between the two countries, already under strain, took a sharp turn for the worse after the deadly attack in Pahalgam.

In Pakistan, those holding long-term visas, OCI cards, or No Objection to Return to India stamps were stopped from crossing the border.

Matching Indias actions, Islamabad shut the Wagah border, cancelled visas granted to Indian citizens under the Saarc Visa Exemption Scheme, and told Indian military advisers at the High Commission to leave.

With inputs from agencies
Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, serving Director General of Pakistan s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been appointed National Security Adviser  the first time both roles are held concurrently. He will report directly to Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, bypassing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marking a significant consolidation of military authority amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack read more

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Asim Munir, reviews the parade at the passing out ceremony of 151st Long Course at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad, Pakistan, April 26, 2025. Press Information Department of Pakistan via Reuters

As regional tensions spike following a deadly terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir that killed 26 people, Pakistan has made a bold and controversial move  one that experts say may signal a military power grab veiled as a security realignment.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, the current Director General of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has now been appointed as the countrys National Security Adviser (NSA), marking the first time in Pakistans history that a serving ISI chief holds both positions concurrently.

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The position of National Security Adviser in Pakistan had remained vacant since April 2022, when the previous NSA, Dr Moeed Yusuf, exited following the collapse of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government.

Traditionally, the NSA was a civilian position that reported to the Prime Minister, acting as the focal point for strategic policy and security matters, including sensitive backchannel negotiations with India.

With Maliks appointment, that structure has undergone a dramatic transformation. Although he will technically operate under the constitutional umbrella of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs office, Malik will now report directly to the Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir.

This formalises a chain of command where strategic affairs  including diplomacy, intelligence coordination and crisis response  are now under the full control of the Pakistan Army. It also eliminates any ambiguity about where the real authority lies, particularly concerning bilateral communication with India.

The Print reported that according to two senior intelligence officials familiar with the decision, Maliks elevation is also intended to reopen covert diplomatic channels with India, similar to those held in Bangkok in 2016 between Indias NSA Ajit Doval and retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, and later during 202021 with Moeed Yusuf.

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What we know about Malik

Lt Gen Asim Malik is widely considered one of the most trusted and capable officers in Pakistans military. Born into a military family in Punjab, he is the son of retired Lt Gen Ghulam Muhammad Malik, a former Corps Commander who left service in 1995.

Malik was commissioned into the 12th Baloch Regiment  his fathers unit  in 1989, and was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour upon graduating from the Pakistan Military Academy.

Over his career, Malik has held several critical operational and administrative positions. He has commanded both an Infantry Division in Balochistan and an Infantry Brigade in Waziristan  regions beset by complex internal security challenges.

(Left) Pakistans Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir; (right) Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, Director General of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence, and now the countrys National Security Adviser. Images/X

His academic credentials are equally extensive: he is a graduate of the US Armys Fort Leavenworth, the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK and holds a PhD in US-Pakistan relations from the National Defence University in Islamabad.

Before becoming ISI chief in October 2024  replacing Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum  Malik served as the Adjutant General (AG) at the General Headquarters (GHQ), where he was responsible for legal and disciplinary oversight.

Notably, this included directing the 2023 crackdown on PTI members and supporters following protests against the militarys role in former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans removal from power. His involvement in that period has cemented his image as a hardliner with unambiguous loyalty to the current military leadership.

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A government notification read: Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect. This formalised his dual role at the heart of both Pakistans intelligence apparatus and national security policymaking.

Who is handling the situation - Islamabad or Pak military?

Pakistans strategic calculus with India has long oscillated between overt military posture and covert diplomatic engagement. With Malik now in charge of both ISI and NSA offices, those two aspects will be merged under one roof, allowing for swift policy execution and unified messaging.

Critics argue that this centralisation of power has effectively pushed the civilian leadership into the background. Appointing the ISI chief as NSA hands the military a blank check to dictate terms, not just on security but in backchannel talks with India, The Times of India quoted a former diplomat, expressing concern that this could further marginalise democratic institutions in Pakistan.

The timing of this consolidationso soon after the Pahalgam attackssuggests that General Munir is intent on controlling the narrative and diplomatic response. Maliks appointment gives him the apparatus to direct both overt and covert engagements with India without internal contestation from the civilian side.

For India, the message is equally clear: future engagements on de-escalation, crisis management, or peace processes will be handled by the Pakistan Army not its political leadership.

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This complicates the prospects for diplomacy, as military-to-military contact channels typically lack the nuance required for sustained political negotiations.

How Pak military continues to erode democracy in Pakistan

The decision has ignited debates within Pakistan about the continuing erosion of democratic authority. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), public reaction has been sharply divided.

Some users described Maliks elevation as a soft coup, while others viewed it as a necessary strategic measure amid Indias increasingly assertive military posture.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement following the Pahalgam attack  promising complete operational freedom to Indias armed forces  has added to the urgency of Islamabads power shift.

However, many in Pakistan view the move as less a response to India and more a symptom of a long-standing internal power imbalance.

The militarys pervasive role in governance is not new, but Maliks appointment gives that control an institutional sheen that even previous military governments did not formalise through simultaneous roles.

The roots of military dominance in Pakistan stretch back decades. Since at least 1957, the countrys armed forces have effectively directed national policy, often sidelining or toppling elected governments.

The military has also cultivated its legitimacy by aligning with religious narratives, presenting itself as the guardian of both national borders and Islamic identity. This dynamic has allowed the army to frame its political interventions as moral and strategic necessities.

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In a now viral public address, Munir echoed this sentiment, stating: Our religions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory that was laid there. We are two nations, we are not one nation.

He further asserted that Kashmir was our jugular vein, it is our jugular vein, we will not forget it We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their historical struggle.

These remarks have been widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of Pakistans military posture on Kashmir, and a potential prelude to more aggressive actions, whether diplomatic, covert or military.

Pakistans fragile democracy has long been underpinned by a power structure that favours the military establishment. The removal of former PM Imran Khan, widely seen as a fallout of his deteriorating relationship with the military, has highlighted how pivotal army support remains for any civilian government.

Khans disagreements over top military appointments, combined with his faltering economic governance, led to his eventual ouster and imprisonment  an outcome orchestrated, many believe, by the very forces that once brought him to power.

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The situation since then has only deepened civilian dependence on the military. Maliks simultaneous control over ISI and the NSA office reinforces this trend, sidelining parliamentary oversight and narrowing the space for democratic dissent.

While speculation about a formal military takeover remains outside the bounds of confirmed fact, the structural adjustments taking place amount to a de facto shift in governance. Intelligence operations, security policy, and even foreign relations are now firmly in the hands of an institution not answerable to the electorate.

Pakistans military is not just behind the curtain  it is firmly in the spotlight, directing both the narrative and the course of future events.

One fact is clear  Pakistans national security policy now runs through Rawalpindi, not Islamabad.

With inputs from agencies
Singaporeans will vote on Saturday in what many see as the first big test for new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. His party, the Peoples Action Party (PAP), has won every election since the city-states independence in 1965. Long associated with clean governance, the party is seen as a symbol of stability and prosperity. Though another win is expected, public dissatisfaction over tight government control and rising living costs has begun to erode its support read more

Lawrence Wong, who became Prime Minister last year, is hoping to boost support. Reuters/File Photo

Singaporeans will head to the polls on Saturday in what is being seen as the first major test for new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. His Peoples Action Party (PAP) is aiming to continue its long-standing rule and win a stronger mandate.

The PAP has won every election since the city-state became independent in 1965.

Wong, who became Prime Minister last year, is hoping to boost support after the PAP saw a drop in backing during the 2020 elections, when many voters were unhappy with how the government was performing.

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The PAP is still the most powerful party in Singapores politics. It has a strong record in managing the country well, bringing in investment and keeping the trade-heavy economy steady.

The party has far more resources than its rivals and a large number of members. Of the 211 candidates standing in the election, 46 per cent belong to the PAP.

No single opposition party has enough reach to take on the PAP on its own. The Workers Party, the main challenger, is competing in only a quarter of the seats, so it can win at most 26. The Progress Singapore Party, which also had seats in the last parliament, is contesting just 13.

Heres a look at what to expect from the election, whats at stake, how the process works, the main issues being discussed, and who the PAP will be up against.

The election process

Singapore holds general elections every five years, voting is compulsory. The country uses a mixed voting system made up of single-member wards and group representation constituencies (GRCs).

In GRCs, people vote for a team of up to six candidates instead of just one. Each team must include at least one person from a minority ethnic group.

Singapore holds general elections every five years. AP/File Photo

GRCs are chosen to make sure minority communities have a voice in Parliament. But some critics argue that this system gives the PAP an advantage and makes it harder for opposition parties to take part. Notably, Singapores majority population is ethnic Chinese, with Malays and Indians forming the minority groups.

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Around 2.76 million people are registered to vote and will choose 97 members of Parliament. However, five seats have already gone to the PAP without a contest, as no opposition candidates were put forward in one of the GRCs. In total, there are 33 constituencies - 15 are single-member wards, and 18 are GRCs.

Voting starts at 8 am local time and goes on for 12 hours. The results are expected to come in later that night.

Whats at stake?

Known for its clean and effective governance, the PAP is seen as a beacon of stability and prosperity. While it is assured of victory, its support is being chipped away by unhappiness over government control and a high cost of living.

Widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding caused by immigration and restrictions on free speech have also loosened the PAPs grip on power.

Steady gains by the opposition in recent elections have been widely interpreted as signs of disenchantment with the ruling partys monopoly and a desire among some Singaporeans, particularly younger voters, for more diverse politics, with alternative voices and ideas, greater policy scrutiny and more robust debate.

In 2020 polls, the PAPs share of popular support slipped to a near-record low of 61%, down from nearly 70% in 2015. The PAP kept 83 out of 93 parliamentary seats, but it ceded more seats to the opposition, which won 10 seats, the most ever.

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The opposition has acknowledged it cannot unseat the PAP but is appealing to voters for a stronger voice in Parliament.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was premier for two decades, warned at a PAP rally on Sunday that opposition seat gains would weaken the ruling partys ability to govern and result in the loss of experienced ministers.

Wong, a U.S.-trained economist and former finance minister, warned this would only weaken the government as it navigates economic turbulence following U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff hikes. The government has lowered its growth forecast, and warned of a possible recession.

Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a Peoples Action Party (PAP) rally. Reuters/File Photo

If the PAP has a weakened mandate, you can be sure there will be people tempted to push us around. It will be harder for us to advance Singapores interest. But with a clear mandate from you, my team and I can speak up for Singapore confidently, Wong said while campaigning this week.

The PAP has fielded many new faces to refresh the party. Wong offered cash handouts, vouchers and other goodies in this years national budget, and sought to engage younger voters in developing a more balanced and inclusive Singapore. A strong PAP performance would help seal Wongs leadership and determine whether the one-party dominance in Singapore could endure over the next decade.

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The ruling party has portrayed the ongoing tariffs war as a crisis for trade-reliant Singapore, said Eugene Tan, a law professor at Singapore Management University. Will voters rally behind the PAP, or will they come to view the political system  as being robust enough and can accommodate more political diversity and competition?

What are the major issues?

The opposition is taking aim at the PAP over living costs and housing availability, a perennial problem in Singapore, among the worlds most expensive cities.

The PAP has sought to head that off with a raft of giveaways in Februarys budget, including grocery vouchers, tax rebates and cash handouts. Wong has pledged more if Singapores economy suffers collateral damage from global trade tensions, with recession possible.

Some opposition parties are also campaigning for tighter controls on foreign workers in high-paid jobs and free or reduced-price healthcare, an issue for Singapores ageing population. Wong has warned of many tempting proposals from opponents that could weaken public finances and hurt investment and incomes.

Who is PAP up against?

The Workers Party, led by lawyer Pritam Singh, is the biggest opposition party and the only one with a presence in Parliament. Singh was named as Singapores first opposition leader after the WP won 10 seats in the 2020 polls. But despite gaining ground over the years, the opposition still struggles with limited resources and talent, and fragmented support.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh at a rally ahead of the general election. Reuters/File Photo

The WP is fielding only 26 candidates in this election. Singh has said even if the WP won all 26 seats, it wouldnt hamper the PAP but lead to a more balanced political system and greater accountability. The remaining seats are contested by nine smaller opposition parties and coalitions, as well as two independent candidates.

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The WP threat is taken seriously by the PAP and it will be a keener contest than in 2020. It remains to be seen how many more seats it will win. But even an additional seat won will add to the WPs standing and build on the momentum to erode the one-party dominant system, said law professor Tan.

What gives PAP an edge?

Wong called the election at short notice on April 15, giving opponents little preparation time. Singapores unique model also works favourably for his party, with both single- and multi-member constituencies, where teams of up to six candidates run.

Unlike the PAP, opposition parties struggle to recruit enough candidates for multi-member contests, and steep deposits of S$13,500 ($10,280) per candidate are a deterrent.

More than half of the constituencies are multi-member, and the PAP already has five seats in the bag after a walkover in one of those when no opposition parties contested.

Singapore also regularly revises electoral divisions, ostensibly to reflect population shifts, which has worked to the PAPs advantage. It has previously denied allegations of gerrymandering.

(With inputs from AP & Reuters)
Tesla is denying a bombshell report that its board sought to replace Elon Musk due to his growing political commitments and controversial public image. Despite denials from Chair Robyn Denholm and Musk himself, questions remain amid falling profits, consumer backlash and Musks high-profile role in Donald Trumps administration read more

(sensitive material. this image may offend or disturb) Supporters of US President Donald Trump carry a picture depicting Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump during a May Day rally in New York City, US, May 1, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Teslas board of directors has come under scrutiny following a report from The Wall Street Journal that claimed the company had initiated an executive search to replace its CEO, Elon Musk.

The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, alleged that Tesla board members had contacted recruitment firms as early as March to explore potential successors due to growing concern over Musks increasing involvement in government affairs under the Trump administration.

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In response, Teslas Chair Robyn Denholm issued a categorical denial. Writing via the companys official X account, Denholm called the report absolutely false and asserted the boards full backing of Musk.

The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead, she stated.

Musk himself responded sharply, calling the article a deliberately false article and later posting, It is an EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS that the @WSJ would publish a DELIBERATELY FALSE ARTICLE and fail to include an unequivocal denial beforehand by the Tesla board of directors!

Despite these denials, The Wall Street Journal maintained its position. Tesla was given the opportunity to provide a statement before publication, which they did not do, a spokesperson said.

A volatile period for Tesla

The controversy comes at a pivotal time for Tesla, both financially and in terms of public perception. Over the past several months, Elon Musk has dedicated a significant amount of time to the Trump administration, overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

His political commitments  combined with provocative commentary, vocal support for far-right parties in Europe and public clashes with institutions  have drawn criticism and sparked consumer backlash.

Musks visibility in Trumps Cabinet meetings, including a recent moment where he joked, Well, Mr. President, you know they say I wear a lot of hats, highlights his dual roles.

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Trump, in the same meeting, thanked Musk for his service and extended an open invitation to continue his government work: You have been treated unfairly, but the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you Youre invited to stay as long as you want.

But Musk announced last week that he would be allocating far more of [his] time to Tesla, reducing his near full-time role at DOGE. My time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly, he told investors. Starting next month, Ill be allocating far more of my time to Tesla.

This change appears to be a response to mounting pressure. According to the Wall Street Journal report, board members had urged Musk to publicly reaffirm his commitment to Tesla. Musk reportedly did not object.

Shareholder frustration at Tesla

Teslas financials have raised additional concern. The company reported a 71 per cent year-on-year drop in net profits for the first quarter  its worst quarterly performance in recent history.

The slump was driven by declining electric vehicle (EV) sales, with deliveries dropping 13 per cent compared to Q1 of 2022. Earnings fell to their lowest margin in nearly six years, prompting the company to suspend its full-year guidance.

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During the same period, Tesla delayed filing its 2025 proxy statement and had yet to announce a date for its annual shareholder meeting, adding to investor anxiety.

Teslas Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja acknowledged the damaging impact of controversy on sales, telling investors: The negative impact of vandalism and unwarranted hostility towards our brand and our people had an impact in certain markets.

April sales numbers revealed the scale of that impact: Teslas deliveries plunged 59 per cent in France and 67 per cent in Denmark compared to a year earlier.

Protests, showroom vandalism, and consumer boycotts in the US and Europe have become increasingly common.

Musks politics cost Tesla

Musks political alignment and involvement with the Trump administration appear to have alienated segments of Teslas customer base. Once a darling of environmentalists and progressives, Tesla has seen reputational damage.

Some institutional investors have been spooked by Musks public support for controversial figures and causes. One fund manager disclosed that Jewish clients requested divestment from Tesla due to Musks support for Germanys far-right nationalist party, which is under state surveillance, reported Fortune.

His criticisms of the US judicial and legislative branches, coupled with perceived interference in regulatory matters, have only heightened scrutiny. Musk also drew fire for spending a quarter billion dollars of personal funds in support of Trumps re-election.

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Still, Musk remained undeterred, proclaiming during a televised cabinet meeting: I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.

Tesla board attempts to project stability

Despite the wave of criticism, the Tesla board has sought to project stability. According to the Journal, some directors  including company co-founder JB Straubel  have been meeting with major investors to affirm their continued confidence in Musks leadership.

At the same time, the board has reportedly explored adding an independent director and has formed a Special Committee to evaluate matters related to Musks compensation.

The Tesla boards composition itself has drawn scrutiny. It includes Musks brother Kimbal Musk and James Murdoch, the son of media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

Denholm, who was handpicked by Musk and defended his massive pay package, has faced her own criticism. In March, she sold approximately $33.7 million in Tesla stock, raising further questions about board independence.

In a regulatory filing, Tesla confirmed: The board has established a Special Committee to consider certain compensation matters involving Mr. Musk.

Musk received no compensation as an officer or director last year, and his landmark pay package  initially the largest ever for a public company CEO  has been overturned twice by a Delaware judge.

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Even so, Musk remains Teslas largest individual shareholder, owning 410 million shares (12.8 per cent of outstanding shares). If the disputed compensation package were reinstated, his control could increase to 22.2 per cent.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
The US Army is reportedly preparing for a massive military parade in Washington on June 14  Donald Trumps birthday  featuring over 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, helicopters and bands. Though not yet approved, the event may coincide with the armys 250th anniversary and marks a revived push for the US presidents long-desired show of military strength read more

US President Donald Trump, pictured on screen from left, French President Emmanuel Macron and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch a Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, July 14, 2017. File Image/AP

The US Army is drafting extensive plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trumps birthday in June, involving more than 6,600 troops, over 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven military bands and potentially thousands of civilians, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

Dated April 29 and 30, the internal planning slides have not been publicly released but offer the most detailed look yet at preparations for the Armys long-planned 250th anniversary celebration on the National Mall  now possibly including a major military parade, a feature Trump has long supported but which remains under discussion.

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The Armys anniversary falls on June 14, which also happens to be Trumps 79th birthday.

The documents do not detail the cost, but organising a parade of this magnitude would likely run into tens of millions of dollars. Expenses would include transporting troops, vehicles, and aircraft from bases across the country to Washington, and housing and feeding thousands of service members.

Trumps earlier effort to stage such a parade during his first term was shelved largely over its high cost, and the inclusion of heavy military vehicles in this years preliminary plans has again raised red flags among local officials concerned about potential damage to city roads.

When asked about the potential parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions had been made.

Another Army spokesman, Col. Dave Butler, said the Army is enthusiastic about its anniversary plans.

We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us, said Butler. We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.

Others familiar with the planning, speaking anonymously because the plans are not finalised, said the documents reflect current preparations in case the White House approves the parade. The White House has not commented.

No formal go-ahead has been given yet. Adjustments have been made recently and more changes are expected.

Trump, in a Truth Social post Thursday night that didnt reference the June 14 event, wrote, We are going to start celebrating our victories again! He also pledged to rename May 8  currently Victory in Europe Day  as Victory Day for World War II, and to change Veterans Day on November 11 to Victory Day for World War I.

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What the US Army parade could look like

Much of the equipment would need to be flown or shipped in by train.

Some troops and gear were already scheduled to appear at the Armys birthday celebration, which has been in development for more than a year. Plans for the festival on the National Mall include a range of exhibits and activities, such as a fitness challenge, a climbing wall, helicopters, armoured vehicles, Humvees, and other equipment.

The addition of a parade would significantly expand participation. Planning documents indicate that around 6,300 troops could march in the parade, with the remainder involved in logistical and support roles.

The Army initially did not plan a parade, but officials confirmed last month that talks to add one had started.

According to the slides, the parade would highlight the Armys 250 years of service, bringing together soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions across the country. Units could include a Stryker battalion with two Stryker companies, a tank battalion with two tank companies, an infantry battalion with Bradleys, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers, and other assets.

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Seven military bands would participate, along with a parachute jump by the Armys Golden Knights. Civilian participants could include historical reenactors, vintage vehicles and aircraft, two civilian bands, and representatives from veterans groups and military academies.

The event would be designated a national special security event, pending approval from the National Park Service, which has submitted a request for that classification.

A concert and fireworks show would likely follow the evening parade.

One planning document notes concerns such as where troops would be housed and significant concerns regarding security requirements as equipment enters the city. A major unknown remains which specific military units will ultimately participate.

Will Trumps dream finally come true?

Trumps interest in a grand military parade dates back to 2017, when he attended Frances Bastille Day celebrations. Impressed by the elaborate two-hour procession along the Champs-Elysees, he expressed a desire for a similar  or larger  parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.

That proposal was eventually scrapped over its massive costs  estimated at $92 million  and logistical headaches. City officials at the time opposed the inclusion of tanks and other heavy vehicles, citing the risk of damaging Washingtons roads.

Trump later announced the cancellation of the 2018 parade in a social media post, blaming the high costs and accusing local officials of overcharging.

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This year, as the Armys anniversary festival in Washington progressed, talks of a parade were revived.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in April that the federal government had reached out to the city about a potential parade on June 14, stretching from Arlington, Virginia  home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery  into the District across the Potomac.

At the time, Bowser said she wasnt sure if it was being officially labelled a military parade but warned that tanks rolling through the streets would not be good.

If tanks are used, there should be millions of dollars included for road repairs, she added.

In 2018, the Pentagon took a similar stance. A memo from the defence secretarys office at the time stated that only wheeled vehicles  not tanks  would be used to minimise wear and tear on city infrastructure.

Also Watch:

With inputs from AP
US Vice President JD Vance has said he hopes Pakistan will cooperate with India to hunt down terrorists linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. His remarks come amid Pakistani politicians, including its defence minister, accepting the countrys role in terror support and funding. Heres why expecting Islamabad to work together with New Delhi is meaningless read more

Security personnel patrol a street the morning after terrorists indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Kashmir, April 23, 2025. AP

The United States has called on Islamabad to cooperate with India to hunt down Pakistan-based terrorists linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. US Vice President JD Vance expressed hope that Pakistan would work together with New Delhi and Indias response to the April 22 massacre in Kashmir would not trigger a broader regional conflict.

In an interview on Fox News, Vance, who was on an India visit at the time of the Pahalgam attack, said, Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict.

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And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with," he added.

While the US expects Pakistan to cooperate, heres why its hope may bear no fruit.

Pakistan denies hand in Pahalgam terror attack

The Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Kashmir has sparked fresh tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have so far identified three terrorists involved in the carnage, of which two are Pakistani nationals and one a Kashmiri local.

News reports, citing sources in the security establishment, say Hashim Musa  believed to be the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack  is a former soldier of the Pakistan Armys Para Forces.

While India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, Islamabad denies the charges. The neighbouring country has called for a neutral investigation into the terror attack in Kashmir.

Islamabad has a history of denying its involvement in terror attacks against India emanating from its soil.

Pakistan accepts terrorism past

Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accepted his countrys past concerning extremist groups. Acknowledging Pakistans history with extremism, he claimed the nation has suffered as a result and undergone reformation.

Speaking to Sky News, As far as what the defence minister said, I dont think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem

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As far as Pakistans history is concerned, it is history and it is not something that we are partaking in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history, Bhutto further said.

The Pakistan Peoples Party leader was referring to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asifs statement admitting the countrys history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations.

In an interview with Sky News, Asif described it as doing dirty work for the West, due to which Pakistan has greatly suffered.

Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain, the defence minister said.

That was a mistake, and we suffered from that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistans track record was an unimpeachable track record, he added.

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Asifs remarks came when he was asked about Pakistans long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations.

It is very convenient for the big powers to blame Pakistan for whatever is happening in this region. When we were fighting the war on their side way back in the 80s against the Soviet Union, all these terrorists of today, they were wining and dining in Washington.

And then came the 9/11 attacks. Again, the same situation was repeated. I think our governments then made a mistake, he said, saying that Pakistan was used as proxies at the time.

It should not come as a surprise that Pakistan is accepting its role in supporting terrorists. Islamabad has done several flip-flops in the past by first denying and then accepting the presence of extremists on its soil.

U-turn on Kasab

After initially refuting that Mohammed Ajmal Kasab  the only terrorist captured after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks  was a Pakistani national, Islamabad owned up to him.

On January 7, 2009, the Pakistani daily Dawn published a report titled Ajmals nationality confirmed.

Pakistani authorities, during the course of their own investigations into the Mumbai carnage, have established that the only surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani national, the report read.

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The admission came a day after the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the official agencies of the Pakistan government were complicit in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. He also accused Islamabad of having utilised terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India.

Police officers walk outside the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the sites of the Mumbai terror attacks on its ninth anniversary in Mumbai, November 26, 2017. File Photo/AP

As per The New Indian Express (TNIE) report, the then Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma had urged Pakistan to admit Kasab is its citizen as the first step, signalling its intent to cooperate in the probe into the Mumbai terror attacks.

Later in March that year, Kasab, appearing by videolink for the start of his trial, said he was from Faridkot in Pakistans Punjab.

In 2018, Pakistans former PM Nawaz Sharif publicly acknowledged the presence of active militant organisations in the country. He also questioned non-state actors to cross the border and kill people in Mumbai.

Without mentioning Lashkar-i-Taiba (LeT) of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 terror attacks, and Maulana Masood Azhars Jaish-e-Mohammad, Sharif reportedly said that militant organisations are active in Pakistan.

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Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill over 150 people in Mumbai? he told Dawn.

A 180-degree turn on Kargil War involvement

For years, Pakistan has officially denied its involvement in the 1999 Kargil war. The conflict was triggered when Pakistani forces and armed militants crossed the Line of Control (LoC), infiltrating Indian territory and taking control of key elevated positions in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir.

India launched Operation Vijay to reclaim the occupied territories from the intruders. The Indian armed forces fought in tough terrain, with the war officially ending on July 26, 1999.

Pakistan initially claimed that only freedom fighters were involved in the war. However, Pervez Musharraf, who was the Pakistan Army chief during the Kargil War, admitted to the Pakistan Armys role in the Kargil War in his 2006 book In The Line Of Fire.

Last year, Pakistani Army chief General Asim Munir mentioned the Pakistan Armys involvement in the Kargil War.

Speaking about Pakistans conflicts with India over the years, he said, Indeed Pakistani nation is a courageous and bold nation, which understands best the importance of independence and how to protect it at any price. Whether the Pak-India wars of 1948, 1965, 1971 and Kargil or Siachen conflict, thousands of martyrs gave sacrifices for the security and honour of the country.

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This was the first time that a serving Pakistani Army chief accepted the militarys role in the Kargil war.

Denying sheltering Osama Bin Laden

Islamabad has maintained that it was not harbouring al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden before he was killed by US special forces in 2011 in Pakistans Abbottabad.

A year after bin Ladens killing, the then Pakistan PM Yousaf Raza Gilani rebuffed claims that he knew the notorious terrorist was living in Abbottabad.

Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan in 2011. File Photo/Reuters

There is no complicity. I think its an intelligence failure from all over the world, Gilani said in an interview with The Guardian. He also denied that elements within Pakistans military could have known bin Ladens hideout.

He added: Why should we do that? We have suffered the most.

With inputs from agencies
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, New Delhi has asked the IMF to review loans disbursed to the neighbouring country, according to a report read more

Indian army soldiers stand guard inside their army base after it was attacked by suspected separatist militants in Panzgam in Kashmir's Kupwara district, on April 27, 2017. Reuters

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, New Delhi has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review loans disbursed to the neighbouring country, according to a Reuters report, citing Indian government source on Friday.

After the attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists on April 22, both the countries unveiled a series of measures including shutting their airspace to each others airlines and India suspending a key river water-sharing agreement.

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New Delhi has named the three assailantstwo of whom it claims are Pakistani nationalsand labeled them as terrorists. Islamabad has rejected any involvement and has called for an impartial investigation.

Pakistan obtained a $7 billion bailout package from the IMF last year and received an additional $1.3 billion climate resilience loan in March.

The bailout is crucial to Pakistans $350 billion economy, and the government claims it has helped stabilise the country and avert a potential default.

India has raised concerns with the IMF regarding its lending to Pakistan and has requested a review, according to a government source cited by Reuters, though no further details were provided.

According to Reuters, neither the IMF nor Indias finance ministry has responded to requests for comment.

The advisor to Pakistans finance minister said the IMF programme is well on track.

The latest review has been done well and we are completely on track, Reuters quoted advisor Khurram Schehzad, as saying, adding that Pakistan had very productive spring meetings with financial institutions in Washington.

We did about 70 meetings  interest has been very high for investing and supporting Pakistan as the economy turns around, Schehzad added.

The soaring tensions between the two countries has drawn global attention and calls for cooling tempers.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that Washington hoped Pakistan would cooperate with India to hunt down Pakistan-based assailants.

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With inputs from agencies
The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Pakistan Army, and the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI were involved in the execution of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, according to a preliminary report prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) read more

Paramedic carry a wounded tourist on a stretcher at a hospital in Anantnag after assailants indiscriminately fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Photo: AP)

The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), ISI, and the Pakistan Army were jointly behind the Pahalgam attack and overground workers played a major role in facilitating the attack, according to a preliminary report prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The NIA, the principal federal counter-terrorism investigation agency, took over the Pahalgam case on Sunday.

The report further found that the handlers of terrorists who carried out the attack were based in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK), according to News 18 India.

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Sources have said that the NIA has found evidence that LeT, Pakistan intelligence service Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Pakistan Army hatched the conspiracy for the attack.

The NIA in its preliminary report has noted that overground workers played the largest role in facilitating the attack. The NIA has prepared a list of all known overground workers in J&K and preparation of administrative and judicial actions against them are underway.

Overground workers are those associates of terrorist groups who themselves dont carry out armed violence but facilitated such violence by supporting terrorists in a number of ways, such as arranging their stay, providing them with money, helping them with logistics, guiding them through the area, etc.

India has formally blamed Pakistan for the attack and has vowed to respond. In the initial FIR before the NIA took over the case, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had said that the terrorists were acting on the instructions of their handlers across the border. India has also taken a slew of steps so far, such as putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, expelling all Pakistan nationals, and closing the airspace for Pakistani flights.

On April 22, five to seven terrorists killed 26 people, most of them tourists, at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. An outfit going by The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack. The outfit is a cover that LeT, a Pakistan-based and Pakistan-backed terrorist group, uses to portray its activities as that of a homegrown organisation. The police have released the names and photographs of at least three terrorists suspected to be involved in the attack.

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The preliminary report has been prepared under the supervision of NIA chief Sadanand Date and will soon be submitted to the Union home ministry.

The NIA has so far recorded statements of around 150 people and conducted 3-D mapping of the site of the attack.

India has vowed to respond to the Pahalgam attack, which is seen as the deadliest attack since the Mumbai attacks of 2008. There are expectations that India would mount a cross-border attack at some point. For days, Pakistan has maintained that an Indian attack is imminent.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi switched to English at a speech in Bihar in an apparent attempt to tell the world of the Indian intention to respond to the attack.

From the soil of Bihar, I say this to the whole world: India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist, their handlers, and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. Indias spirit will never be broken by terrorism, said Modi.

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Indias layered response, from diplomacy to military drills, has upended old rules of engagement leaving Pakistan unsure of whats next read more

After the Pahalgam terror attack, tempers are high between India and Pakistan with the possibility of a military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Shutterstock

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in the death of 26 people, marked a significant inflection point in India-Pakistan relations. Indias response has been multi-layered, involving diplomatic, economic, strategic and military dimensions.

The retaliatory measures undertaken reveal not only the depth of New Delhis preparedness but also its willingness to assertively recalibrate bilateral ties. Indias punitive measures have come against the backdrop of Pakistan, going by the statements of its senior leaders including federal ministers, expecting a military strike by Indian forces on similar lines as seen after the Uri and Pulwama terror strikes in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

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Indus Waters Treaty suspension

The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) marks a historic deviation from over six decades of water-sharing cooperation between India and Pakistan. Signed in 1960 by prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and president Ayub Khan, the IWT divided the six rivers of the Indus basin, allocating the three eastern rivers to India and the three western onesIndus, Jhelum and Chenabto Pakistan.

Although India was allowed to build projects on the western rivers under specific rules, the Indus Waters Treaty has remained in place and respectedeven during the wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999.

Indias choice to pause the treatywithout officially pulling outshows a change from quietly following it to using it as a strategic move. By stopping the sharing of river data and easing rules on how it uses water from the western rivers, India has started using water as a tool of pressure.

Right now, Pakistans water supply is not likely to be affected much because of limits in water infrastructure. But in the long run, the effects could be serious. Pakistan depends on the Indus river system for 80 per cent of its farming and a big part of its energy, which makes this a powerful strategy for India.

Diplomatic barrage

In parallel with domestic measures, India launched an expansive diplomatic offensive. Within days of the Pahalgam massacre, India reached out to over 100 countries to highlight the transnational nature of the terror threat emanating from Pakistani soil. This outreach was aimed at isolating Pakistan internationally and gathering broad-based support to justify Indias forthcoming actions across diplomatic and economic platforms.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi received calls from leaders including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba all condemning the attack.

Notably, support was bipartisan and spanned multiple continents suggesting that Indias position had resonance well beyond traditional allies. Over 100 US lawmakers expressed solidarity, a testament to deep-rooted Indo-US cooperation in the realms of counterterrorism and strategic security.

India launched a wide-ranging diplomatic effort, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meeting with envoys from key global groups such as the G7 and G20. Their goal was to rally international support and explain Indias position.

The level of regional concern became clear when Iran stepped forward, offering to mediate between India and Pakistan. Adding to the diplomatic momentum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement linking joint efforts against terrorism with economic cooperation. He specifically pointed to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor underlining how security and trade are now closely tied in international partnerships.

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Indias diplomatic efforts had two main purposes. First, they helped justify Indias actions both inside the country and across the border. Second, they helped set the stage for possible future steps in finance and the military. By getting support from other countries, India protected itself from global criticism and showed itself as a victim trying to follow legal steps.

Airspace closure as strategic containment

Indias decision to deny access to its airspace for aircraft linked to Pakistanincluding military planesmarks a deliberate and strategic action. Though primarily tactical, the move carries powerful symbolism, clearly expressing Indias hardened position.

Announced through a Notice to Airmen (Notam), the order blocks any aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Pakistan from flying through Indian skies until May 23, 2025. This restriction effectively closes all Indian Flight Information RegionsDelhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatato Pakistani aviation.

The move reflects a reciprocal response to Pakistans previous airspace closures targeting Indian carriers. This back-and-forth has added a layer of tension to an already strained diplomatic relationship. On a practical level, both countries face longer flight times and increased fuel expenses.

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However, the cost is steeper for Pakistan. Indian airspace serves as a key route for flights headed east from Pakistan. The restriction places added pressure on Pakistan International Airlines, which is already struggling with financial challenges.

By extending its response to the aviation sector, India is sending a clear message. It is prepared to challenge Pakistan across multiple domains. The airspace ban is part of a broader strategy to disrupt the status quo and compel Islamabad to rethink its approach.

Targeting Pakistans economic lifelines

Indias approach has not stopped at borders and treatiesit has extended into the global financial architecture. Two coordinated efforts target Pakistans financial credibility. While one move seeks to reinstate Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, the other raises objections against an ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package.

Pakistan had exited the FATF grey list in 2022 after years of compliance measures. Re-listing would subject Islamabad to renewed scrutiny and restrict its access to global capital markets. India is attempting to mobilise a critical mass of FATF member states to support this proposition.

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Condolences from 23 FATF members following the Pahalgam attack indicate that such a coalition may be within reach. These include the United States, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the UAEplayers who could significantly sway plenary outcomes.

Simultaneously, New Delhi is lobbying the IMF to reassess Pakistans compliance with the terms of its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility. India alleges that these funds are being misdirected toward activities that indirectly support terrorism, thereby violating IMF lending norms. With Pakistans next tranche under review, Indias objections could complicate approval and delay financial relief at a critical time.

These financial strikes add a new layer to the escalation ladder. Unlike military manoeuvres, they are silent but deeply disruptive aiming to erode Pakistans ability to sustain its domestic economy and its covert strategic ambitions.

Readying the frontlines

Indias armed forces have adopted a demonstrative posture in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. The Indian Navy, Indian Army and Indian Air Force have all conducted intensive drills across their respective domainsland, air and seaculminating in a three-pronged display of readiness.

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On April 25, the Indian Air Force executed Exercise Aakraman, a large-scale combat drill simulating strikes on mountainous and ground targets. Featuring Rafale and Su-30MKI jets, the exercise tested advanced capabilities including electronic warfare, air-to-air combat and precision missile strikes.

The deployment of Meteor and Rampage missiles and the integration of the S-400 defence system demonstrated the technological edge India intends to wield in any future conflict scenario.

At sea, the Indian Navy carried out extensive drills in the Arabian Sea within its Exclusive Economic Zone. Warships fired anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles to validate strike readiness.

Simultaneously, the Coast Guard maintained vigilance along the maritime boundary near Gujarat ensuring no unusual activity escaped detection. These moves highlight Indias intent to secure its entire regional footprint extending deterrence beyond the Line of Control (LoC) to maritime frontiers.

On land, the Indian Army conducted Exercise Sanyukt Abhyas alongside the Armed Police Forces focussing on joint operational preparedness. This reflects a broader inter-agency synergy and rapid response capacity.

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While these exercises may have been partly pre-scheduled, their timing and scale suggest a strong connection to current geopolitical tensions.

Pakistans retaliatory firings along the LoCreported for the eighth straight day on May 12 across five sectorsadd tension and uncertainty, as Islamabad remains unsure about how India might respond to its terror attacks on Indian soil. However, the Indian Armys measured response shows both restraint and readiness.

The architecture of escalation

The Pahalgam attack has triggered a strong and wide-ranging response from Indiacovering diplomacy, the economy, military drills and strategy. India has paused the Indus Waters Treaty, reached out strongly to the international community, denied airspace access, plans to apply financial pressure through groups like FATF and the IMF and carried out coordinated military exercises.

Together, these actions show a major change in how India deals with cross-border terrorism. Every step has been carefully planned to increase pressure without causing a full-blown conflict showing a thoughtful and controlled approach. With most of the world supporting Indias position, New Delhi seems to have gained both moral support and strategic advantage.
The Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar saw a major decline in passenger flow just days after the Pahalgam terror attack, raising concerns about the future of tourism in the region read more

A passenger stands at an Indigo Airlines' counter as she waits to get her boarding pass at the Srinagar airport, November 21, 2014. File Image/Reuters

The air traffic at the Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar saw a significant decline following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. There has been a significant decline in passenger arrivals and departures at Srinagar airport after the attack. According to the information obtained by News18, the total number of arrivals and departures was 19,641 passengers, the day before the attack sent shockwaves across India.

Nine days after the terror incident, the number of arrivals and departures at the airport decreased to 8,827. According to the air traffic report on April 30, around 4,341 passengers arrived at Srinagar airport on 41 flights. On the same day, 3,886 passengers departed from Srinagar on 41 flights.

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If we compare the figures to air traffic numbers on April 21, 9640 passengers arrived in 52 flights, and 10,001 passengers departed from the airport in 52 flights, News18 reported. This means that on April 21, Srinagar airport saw 104 flights going back and forth incomparison to 82 flights that flew in the region nine days after the attack.

Tightened security in the region

Following the attack that saw the death of 26 tourists, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to all airlines. In the aftermath of the incident in Pahalgam, there is an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes. In this regard, the airlines are advised to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating the evacuation of stranded tourists," the authority stated in the advisory.

Keeping this notice in mind, the Airlines operating to and from Srinagar airport introduced additional flights. On April 25, only 24 passengers arrived on four additional flights, while 794 departed. On April 26, just 28 passengers arrived on three such flights, and 351 departed. Likewise, on April 27, 62 passengers arrived on two flights, while 211 passengers departed, the airport traffic data revealed.

After India introduced security measures against Pakistan, accusing the country of supporting terrorism, Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines as a countermeasure. New Delhi later followed suit, blocking Pakistani airlines from its airspace. The exchange between the two nations has led to a major reduction in air traffic in the region.
This comes as tensions between India and Pakistan have soared following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 people, mostly Hindu men, were massacred read more

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to skip Russias Victory Day parade on May 9, according to sources.

Earlier, PM Modi had also cancelled his visit to Moscow.

According to reports, Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth is now expected to represent India at the event, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War.

This comes as tensions between India and Pakistan have soared following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 people, mostly Hindu men, were massacred. India has hinted at Pakistans role in the attack, with reports saying Pakistani nationals may have been involved in the heinous act.

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Victory Day holds great importance for Russia, and many international leaders and military officials participate in its observances.

Last year, Indian Prime Minister Modi made two trips to Russia. One was for his yearly meeting with President Vladimir Putin, and the other was to attend the BRICS summit held in Kazan.

President Putin is anticipated to visit India later this year for the annual summit between the two nations.

The Russian President had previously condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Russias commitment to supporting India in its fight against terrorism. In his message to PM Modi, Putin expressed hope that the perpetrators of the attack will face a deserved punishment and reiterated Russias commitment to strengthening cooperation with India in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

In a strong statement, Prime Minister Modi has promised to find and pursue the terrorists and those who support them no matter where they are. Government sources indicated that during a high-level security meeting on Tuesday, he also granted the armed forces complete freedom to take action in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

A concerned Pakistan, fearing a response from India, has claimed that India might launch a military strike against the country. However, Islamabad stated that it is prepared to respond to any action it considers a misadventure or aggression from New Delhi.
Whenever the security forces of a country act, they use force. The use of force has to be authorised by civilian and ultimately elected officials, in accordance with the law and prescribed procedures read more

A day after his return from Saudi Arabia, in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to it during his speech in Bihar on April 24. Addressing the nation in Hindi he expressed pain at the loss of innocent lives and said that Indias enemies had attacked the soul of the country. He vowed that the terrorists would receive a punishment which they could never ever have imagined.

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In addition to giving a message to India, Modi delivered a decisive signal to the world. To give it greater effect he did so in English. He said India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. Indias spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm on this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the leaders who have stood with us at this time.

Five days after this speech, on April 29, PM Modi met the Defence Forces Chiefs along with the Raksha Mantri and the National Security Advisor. He gave clear instructions to them in line with his message to the nation and the world. He mentioned to them the nations resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism. Significantly, he gave the Defence Chiefs complete operational freedom to decide on the modes, targets and timing to achieve this objective. It was reported in the media that Modi expressed that he had full confidence in them and Indias defence forces.

There has been speculation if PM Modi has, by giving operational freedom to the Defence Chiefs, passed the buck on to them and thereby distanced himself from the objectives set out by him in his Bihar speech and the national resolve to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism. Such speculation betrays ignorance of how democratic systems function and especially how the Indian political system operates. It would be entirely wrong to interpret PM Modis words in this manner.

Whenever the security forces of a country act, they use force. The use of force has to be authorised by civilian and ultimately elected officials, in accordance with the law and prescribed procedures. The highest authorisation, especially in matters which relate to the use of force against a foreign country, has to be given by a Prime Minister. He/she has the mandate of the people to do so; he/she is also accountable to them for giving such a directive. That is what PM Modi has done in this barbaric case of terrorism where 26 Indians were killed on the basis of their religion.

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It is noteworthy that PM Modi has given the Defence Chiefs a free hand to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism. It is particularly striking that all the three service Chiefs were present along with the Chief of Defence Staff. The fact that PM Modi has prescribed no operational restrictions on the Chiefs would have been picked up by all the major powers. This is distinct from the instructions that were given by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the Army and Air Force Chiefs during Pakistans Kargil misadventure. Vajpayee directed them not to cross the Line of Control (LOC).

The Air Force Chief told the political leadership that this direction imposed an almost impossible restriction on the pilots because of the terrain which they were expected to bomb. The pilots would lose maneuverability. The Army Chief was also unhappy with the decision but Vajpayee assured him that as the operation continued and if the need arose his decision could be reviewed. Vajpayees reason for giving directions not to cross the LoC was to demonstrate to the major powers that India was a responsible nuclear weapon state which would achieve its objective of throwing out the Pakistani forces from the Kargil heights without escalating the situation.

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The context in which Vajpayee took the decision that Indian forces would remain within the Indian side of the LoC has to be recalled. India and Pakistans nuclear tests had taken place in 1998. The then nuclear countries imposed sanctions on both states. India entered into a sustained and fruitful dialogue with the US to convince it that it needed nuclear weapons for its security. That dialogue paved the way for the present transformation of India-US relations.

Contrary to Indias responsible conduct, Pakistans Kargil action coming in the wake of a decade long terrorist campaign in J&K, showed it up as an irresponsible country with an army which took decisions in a cliquish manner and endangered international peace and security. All the major powers pressured Pakistan to abandon its move. Of course, the Indian Defence Forces heroism in performing splendidly in the most difficult circumstances and at great cost of lives lost raised their global reputation and that of India too. The then US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, told the then External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, that India did not take a single wrong step during the entire Kargil crisis.

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The important lesson derived from the Kargil experience is that the countrys leadership can draw red lines within which the Defence Forces have to operate. Naturally, the political leadership leaves the professional management of military operations to the Defence Forces. They have the expertise in these matters and their professionalism and valour are of the highest standards. They are accountable for their actions. But as the ultimate accountability is that of the political leadership headed by the Prime Minister, the Defence Chiefs give it a clear indication of what is operationally desirable.

A famous instance arose in March 1971 when the Pakistan army began its bloodshed in the then East Pakistan. The Awami League sought Indias help covertly at the beginning and lakhs of refugees began streaming into India. India was outraged and the government came under pressure to take military action. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Army Chief General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw about an attack on Pakistan. He told her that it would have to wait for the opportune season which would be after the monsoons. Indira Gandhi accepted that operational advice. It is also believed that when she asked if the Army would share its war plans with her, Manekshaw declined because that came squarely within the remit of the defence services.

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Hence, based on the fundamental principles of the Indian polity, it can be anticipated that the Defence Chiefs who have been given the responsibility to deal a crushing blow to terrorism will broadly spell out the options to the Prime Minister. In doing so they will also give the positives of the various options and the attendant risks. The operational details of their actions for whichever course is decided will be within their remit. The political leadership does not intervene or interfere in the discharge of the Defence Forces professional responsibility relating to war fighting.

The international community is putting pressure on India not to take military action to crush Pakistani terrorism. However, the Modi doctrine now is clear: if there is an unacceptable terrorist attack from Pakistan, Indias response would not be restricted to diplomatic steps alone but force will be brought into play. This was done after the Uri attack of 2016 and the Pulwama attack of 2019. The Pahalgam attack falls clearly within the definition of an unacceptable terrorist attack.

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All in all, PM Modis instructions to the Defence Chiefs have to be read correctly.

The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Islamists can be vanquished if they are fought with the spirit the Nazis were defeated. Pakistan can be an apt starting point, given the fact that Islamabad remains a self-proclaimed fountainhead of global jihad read more

The terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, resulted in the death of 26 people, mostly Hindus. The gory details of the massacre  from the perpetrators checking the identity cards of people to confirm whether they were non-Muslims, to singling out non-Muslims by asking them to recite an Islamic verse and, in extreme cases, pulling down their pants to leave nothing to chance  reminded many of the October 7 incident in Israel.

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Though the killings in Israel last year were much bigger in scale and intensity, one finds similarity in the nature of the two massacres. The perpetrators in both cases were extremely proud of what they were doing. They were highly animated and boastful, and the guilt of indulging in the killing of another human being was missing. It was as if those killed were either not worth living or were not human beings at all.

This tendency to relish at the plight of others has been poignantly brought out by Douglas Murray in his book, On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization. Murray, a British journalist working with The Spectator, records an interaction between a terrorist involved in the October 7 massacre and his family members:

One of the recordings from the 7th, from that first atrocity video, was a recording of one of the terrorists who had got into the kibbutz of Mefalsim, a community of just over a thousand people in the south of Israel. In the midst of the attack the terrorist made a phone call back to his family in Gaza. The excitement in his voice was obvious.

Hi Dad, the three-minute call begins. Open my WhatsApp now and you will see all those killed. Look how many I killed with my own hands! Your son killed Jews!

The father replies, May God protect you.

The son is exultant.

Dad, Im talking to you from a Jewish womans phone. I killed her and I killed her husband. I killed ten with my own hands.

He goes on and on repeating himself. Boasting. Dad, I killed ten! Ten with my own hands! Put Mom on.

Oh my son. God bless you, say the parents.

Their son keeps making the same boasts to his mother.

I wish I was with you, she replies.

Mom, your son is a hero, he boasts.

The perpetrators of October 7 and April 22 are seen as heroes, by some. This cannot happen without dehumanising oneself and also delegitimising the lives of those believed to be enemies. In this worldview, there is no redemption for the other, howsoever noble and good he might have been in real life.

Most people indulging in the ghastly acts of October 7 and April 22 are not your usual sociopaths. They could be the average person leading their usual lives. But the usualness gets broken now and then with the unusualness of October 7 and April 22. It is only when such terror incidents take place, that you realise the duality of their lives. Maybe this two-facedness was always there. It is we who failed to see it.

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History is full of such examples, especially in medieval Bharat, where a saintly figure would be seen rebuking a Delhi Sultan for failing to take up jihad against Hindus, or a poet who is often hailed as an icon of secularism, writing poems in praise of a bigoted Sultanate ruler. Among rulers, one can look at Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in Bharat, who was eloquently described by Jawaharlal Nehru as an attractive person, a typical Renaissance prince, bold and adventurous, fond of art and literature and good living. Salman Rushdie brings out Baburs two-facedness in his Introduction to Wheeler M Thackstons translation of The Baburnama. While writing about Baburs conquest of Chanderi in 1528 AD, Rushdie writes:

First comes the blood-thirsty description of the killing of many infidels and the apparent mass suicide of two or three hundred more. (They killed each other almost to the last by having one man hold a sword while the others willingly bent their necks A tower of infidels skulls was erected on the hill on the northwest side of Chanderi.) Then just three sentences later, we get this: Chanderi is a superb place. All around the area are many flowing streams The lake is renowned throughout Hindustan for its good, sweet water. It is truly a nice little lake.

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An average Islamist would indulge in killings and then a moment later look around to admire the beauty of a lake, a river, a valley, et al. He is born and brought up in the world of contradictions: a world where a persons goodness, virtues and honesty count for nothing if he is born in a wrong religion; a world where the most heinous of crimes could be termed virtuous.

This makes the war against Islamist terrorism a tough, never-ending affair  a war that has many fronts but no frontline. (Remember, a few men and women in this country who refused to trample upon the Pakistani flags placed on the streets by some angry Hindus after the Pahalgam killings.) And this brings, again, Douglas Murrays book to the mind, wherein he talks about his friend named George Weidenfeld. George was a Viennese Jew, born in 1919, who survived Nazi atrocities to die in 2016. Despite having a first-hand experience of Nazi mayhems, George believed Islamists were far worse anti-Semites than the Nazis.

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Murray writes,

It was an extraordinary claim to make, in some ways. But as George used to explain, while Hamas, al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad, and others had so far not managed to be as genocidal as the Nazis, there was no doubt that they would be if they could. Still, there was something about their actions and their motivations that made them distinct. George would be the last person to ever downplay the culpability of the Nazis who had killed so many of his friends and family. But he noted, as many historians have, that as evil as they were in general, the Nazis attempted to cover over the worst of their crimes. Consider what the head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, said in his speech to his most senior lieutenants in October 1943 as he detailed what the Nazis sought to achieve with the Holocaust: We can talk about it among ourselves, yet we will never speak of it in public I am referring to the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the Jewish people It is, he said, a page of glory in our history that has never been written and is never to be written. Himmler and his SS were among the most evil people in human history, yet even they had sought to cover over their crimes. Here, in 2023, in the form of Hamas, were people who were boasting of their crimes, were proud of their crimes, and indeed wanted to broadcast their crimes for all the world to see.

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Its this nature of Islamism that makes it so dangerous, and a war against it an almost never-ending affair. For, the perpetrators of crimes  and their supporters  are absolutely certain about the sanctity of their act. And, then, theres the dominant Left-liberal ecosystem that provides intellectual legitimacy to such jihadi acts through its root-cause whataboutery and also by resurrecting the ghost of Islamophobia.

Islamists can be vanquished if they are fought with the spirit the Nazis were defeated. Pakistan can be an apt starting point, given the fact that Islamabad remains a self-proclaimed fountainhead of global jihad. Again remember, Islamism, unlike Nazism, has countless fronts but no particular frontier. Pahalgam, thus, is a historic opportunity for Bharat and the West: to work in tandem to change the jihadi DNA of Pakistan.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Beneath the unfolding India-Pakistan crisis, one of the sub-plots involves dramatis personae India, Pakistan and the United States. This thickening sub-plot, with its curious twists and turns, is threatening to overshadow even the main plot.

American interest  not to speak of its position and action  is the biggest variable in the crisis that seems to be edging towards an inevitable military confrontation. China is Pakistans chief benefactor, but it still cannot replace the role played by Washington.

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Unlike Beijing, that backs Islamabad driven by an existential, geostrategic necessity despite the terror-sponsoring states million perfidies and neck-deep involvement in the massacre of Hindus in Pahalgam, the Donald Trump administration holds no such brief.

It sees Pakistan primarily through a transactional security lens and finds it of lesser and lesser significance in line with Washingtons shifting of priorities to other theatres. In his first term, Trump cut off Pakistans security assistance worth billions of dollars, accusing Islamabad of lies and deceit and not doing enough on counterterrorism.

On the contrary, for all his tariff tantrums, Trump sees prime minister Narendra Modi as a great friend. White House has used a specific term, ally, to recently define ties with New Delhi. In his recent visit to India, US vice-president JD Vance called for strengthening the relationship and declared that a stronger India means greater economic prosperity but also greater stability across the Indo-Pacific.

It might seem that such a grievous terror attack against civilians, ironically coinciding with Vances visit, would place the US firmly on Indias side. What has added an extra layer of uncertainty is the mercurial nature of the Trump administration where policies are the man  impulsive, intuitive and arbitrary.

No one quite seemed to know what to make of when Trump claimed to be very close to both India and Pakistan, offered a unique timeline where the Kashmir fight had been going on for 1000 years, border tension simmering for 1500 years and expressed hope that both countries  that have taken a series of punitive measures and exchanged small arms fire along the LoC since the deadly terror attack where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed Hindus in a targeted hate crime  will figure out the issue one way or another.

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In the immediate wake of the attack, however, the Trump administration seemed to weigh decisively in Indias favour. The US president posted on Truth Social that the US stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies.

Trump dialled Modis number a day after the attack in which Islamist terrorists, linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, methodically slaughtered 25 Hindu men, and strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror.

An even more decisive statement came from vice-president Vance, who categorically stated that the United States is ready to provide all assistance in the joint fight against terrorism.

At the UN Security Council, a US-drafted statement mentioned the name of the perpetrators, TRF, a Kashmir-focussed, LeT-linked terror outfit that had initially claimed responsibility for the crime before retracting under pressure from Islamabad. Pakistan, a non-permanent member of UNSC, managed to remove the name of the outfit that would have established a direct evidentiary link between the crime and itself with some help from China.

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India interpreted the signals from Washington as an overwhelmingly positive one that creates space for military retaliation or at the very least, doesnt put roadblocks in Indias stated desire of bringing the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack to justice.

As India ramped up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, announced a slew of retributive steps and the prime minister gave Indias armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing to deliver a crushing blow on Pakistan  whom India holds as complicit  a panic-stricken Islamabad adopted the old trick of spreading the nuclear war canard, tapping into western insecurities over an Armageddon to restrain India.

That seemed to have worked with the US secretary of state Marco Rubio holding separate phone calls with Indias external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The readout of Rubios calls generated a bit of thrill in Pakistan and quiet discomfort in India with Americas top diplomat seemingly echoing Islamabads stance of holding an investigation into the terror attack, pushing India for de-escalation of tensions, and calling for re-establishing of direct communications that remains suspended at Indias behest.

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An excited Pakistan held an immediate presser condemning the terror attack in Kashmir nudged by the US  to put up its end of the bargain. Jaishankar released a curt message on X (formerly Twitter) clarifying Indias resolve to punish the culprits beyond their imagination.

Interestingly, however, a day later on Thursday, Indias defence minister Rajnath Singh had a phone call with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth, and the US seemed to have reverted to its earlier stance of standing in solidarity with India.

The Indian defence ministry readout states that in the call initiated by the American side, defence secretary Hegseth reiterated full support of the US government in Indias fight against terrorism. US stands in solidarity with India and supports Indias right to defend itself.

The readout also describes Pakistan as a rogue state that has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations,and of fuelling global terrorism, and destabilising the region.

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At the time of writing, Pentagon hasnt released its version of the conversation (that may be taken as a validation of Indias version). Hegseth, however, put out a message on X (formerly Twitter) where he said, I spoke with Indian Defense Minister Singh @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week. I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people.

It is as clear and unambiguous a backing of Indias position as New Delhi could have hoped for and coupled with the fact that the US defence secretary did not speak to his Pakistani counterpart, it is evident that Washington has picked a side.

This not only indicates strong support for India across the US government, but also ample space for New Delhi to set the deterrence higher through military strikes. It is also a welcome change from the infantalising narrative pushed by western media that sees India and Pakistan as petulant children with nuclear toys who must be restrained by the more mature and responsible West.

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It does seem, however, that while counterterrorism remains a point of convergence between India and the US, Washington has been juggling with differing voices, at least within the sprawling bureaucratic setup of the State Department, between the need for backing India and ensuring that the situation does not descend into a full-blown confrontation.

That position does not square with the Pentagon view. The unambiguous stance taken by the US defence secretary that New Delhi has the right to defend itself, along with the fact that it was the US that initiated the call, indicates that that internal debate is over. When it comes to Pakistan, Pentagon likely pulls greater weight than the Foggy Bottom.

The unfolding crisis could be a good metric to test the resilience of US-India ties. It is quite evident that a degree of trust, that was in short supply under Biden, has been restored. Sterner tests lie ahead.
Bilateral airspace pact between India and Pakistan sets clear rules to prevent aerial conflict and foster military transparency. Heres a look at the agreement in detail read more

In a move aimed at reducing the risk of accidental conflict, India and Pakistan signed a landmark airspace agreement in New Delhi on April 6, 1991. The primary objective of the accord was to prevent violations of each others airspace and establish clear operational protocols for both militaries.

As per the document on UN website, under the agreement, both nations air force headquarters received defined guidelines to regulate aerial activity near the border, minimising the potential for misunderstandings or miscalculations that could lead to military escalation.

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The pact was designed as a confidence-building measure, ensuring that routine or accidental incursions would not spiral into conflict. By formalising airspace boundaries and communication procedures, the agreement sought to prevent confusion from triggering a war-like scenario along one of the worlds most volatile frontiers.

A look at the airspace agreement between India and Pakistan:

The pact between India and Pakistan was signed in New Delhi on April 6, 1991, but it took effect on August 19, 1992, when the papers of ratification were exchanged.

There are nine articles in the agreement.

Article 1 (Air Violations )

Both India and Pakistan would take appropriate precautions to ensure that no side violates the others airspace.

However, if any inadvertent violations occur; The event will be thoroughly investigated, and the results will be communicated to the other Air Forces Headquarters (HQ) via diplomatic channels as soon as possible.

Article 2

Subject to Articles 3, 4 and 6, the following restrictions are to be observed by military aircraft of both the forces:-

Combat aircraft (to include ficnter, bomber, reconnaissance, jet military trair.er and armed helicopter aircraft) will not fly within 10 kms of each others airspace including ADIZ. No aircraft of any side will enter the airspace over the territorial waters of the ether country, except by prior permission.

Unarmed transport and logistics aircraft including unarmed helicopters, and Air Observation Post (AOP) aircraft, will be permitted up to 1000 metres from each othersairspace including ADIZ.

Article - 3

(Aerial Survey/ Supply Dropping, Mercy and Rescue Missions)

In the event of a country having to undertake flights less than 1000 metres from the others airspace including ADIZ, for purposes such as aerial survey, supply dropping for mercy missions and aerial rescue missions/ the country concerned will give the following information in advance to their own Air Advisors for notification to the Air HQ of the other country:

Type of aircraft/helicopter

Height of flight within Plus/Minus 1000 ft

Block No. of days (normally not to exceed sevendays) when flights are proposed to be undertaken

Proposed timing of flight, where possible

Area involved (in latitude and longitude)

No formal clearance would be required as the flights are being undertaken within own territory

Article - 4 (Air exercises near border)

In order to avoid any tension being created/ prior notice be given with regard to air exercises/ or any special air activity proposed to be undertaken close to each others

airspace including ADIZ/ even though the limits as laid down in Article 2 are not likely to be infringed.

Article - 5 (Communication between IAF and PAF)

In matters of safety and any air operations in emergency situations/ the authorities designated by the respective governments should contact each other by the quickest means of communications available.

The Air Advisor shall be kept informed of such contacts. Matters of flight safety and urgent air operations should promptly be brought to the notice of the other side through the authorities designated by using the telephone line established between the Army Headquarters of the two countries.

Article - 6 (Operations from air fields close to the borders)

Combat aircraft (as defined in Article 2 a. above) operating from the air bases specified below will maintain adistance of 5 kms from each others airspace:

Indian Side

Jammu.

Pathankot

Amritsar

Suratgarh

Pakistan Side

Pasrur

Lahore

Vehari

Rahim Yar Khan

Article - 7 (Flights of military aircraft through each others air space)

Military aircraft may fly through each others airspace with the prior permission of the other country and subject to conditions specified in Appendix A to this Agreement.

Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, each country has the sovereign richt to specify further conditions, at short notice, for flights of military aircraft through its airspace.

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Article - 8 (Validity of agreement)

This Agreement supersedes all previous understandings in so far as air space violations and over flights and landings by military aircraft are concerned

Article - 9

This Agreement is subject to ratification. It shall come into force with effect from the date on which the Instruments of Ratification are exchanged

Appendix A

Conditions for grant of flight clearance for military aircraft of both countries

The aide requesting permission for their military aircraft to fly through the air space of the other country or for landing(s) by such aircraft at airfield(s) in the other country will approach the respective Air HQ through their Air Advisor for clearance to undertake the flight, at least seven days before the scheduled date(s) of the flight(s). If, due to unforeseen circumstances this notice is less than seven days, the other country would, as far as possible, make all efforts to accommodate the request. The following details of each flight will be intimated to the concerned Air Headquarters:

* Aircraft type * Aircraft registration number * Aircraft call sign * Name of the Captain of the Aircraft * Number of the crew * Cruising level * General nature of cargo carried and number of passengers who are on board the Aircraft * Purpose of the flight * Standby aircraft number and call sign * Name of standby Captain and air crew * Flight plan for outbound and return legs including air route, Flight Information Region (FIR) entry/exit points and times, Expected Time of Arrival (ETAs)/Expected Time of Departure (ETDs) and flight levels etc * Type and quantity of fuel required at various airfields landing

All flights approved will be valid for 3 days within plus/minus three hours of the given time schedule of each day, provided flight details remain unchanged. Any subsequent changes of the flight plan will require fresh clearance from Air HQ, for which advance notice of 72 hours will be essential. Routes to be followed by aircraft will be specified by respective countries at the time of requesting flight clearance. If the route proposed by the originator country is, for any reason, not acceptable to the other country, the latter would, if possible, suggest a viable alternative route at the earliest. The aircraft will not fly below 8000 ft or over 40,000 ft Above Ground Level (AGL). The concerned Flight Information Centre of the other country will be contacted by the transiting aircraft during the flight before entering the airspace of the other country. Flights across each others airspace will normally be completed between sunrise and sunset. Over-flights by night may be permitted, on specific request, under special circumstances. No war-like material e.g. arms/ammunition, explosives (except escape aid explosives), pyrotechnics (except emergency very light pistol signal cartridges), nuclear/fissionable material, Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) materials, photographic material (whether or not installed), electronic devices other than required for the normal operation of the aircraft, may be carried in the aircraft.

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on-professional cameras belonging to the passengers and which are not capable of aerial photography may, however, be carried but photography at airports or of defence installations, bridges and industries etc. is not permitted. Normally, both countries shall permit overflights to transit across the others airspace along approved international Air Traffic Services (ATS) routes without the aircraft having to make a technical halt. However, each country has the sovereign right to insist on such a halt if the country being overflown so desires. Special care is to be exercised by the transiting aircraft to stay within the ATS routes and not to stray outside the limits of the route.

Visas for the crew and passengers will be issued by the respective Embassy with utmost promptness.
Australia Election 2025 LIVE Updates: Both major parties have focused on cost-of-living pressures but opinion polls show that global uncertainty driven by Trumps stop-start tariffs rapidly became a top issue for voters during the campaign read more

Vote counting is now officially underway in Australia, following the closure of most polling stations after 6 pm AET. Australians headed to the polls on Saturday to elect their next government, with early indications suggesting a likely advantage for Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labour Party over the conservative opposition led by Peter Dutton.

It is pertinent to note that UFWD is part of the CCPs network that seeks to advance Chinas influence abroad. The group has dispatched volunteers to assist candidates in the Australian federal election. Last week, Tharini Rouwette, the founder of COMPELL, an organisation dedicated to multiculturalism in Australian politics, shared a video on TikTok showing these volunteers at work, Nikkei Asia reported.

As Australia gears up for an important election, the latest viral video suggested that a Chinese Communist Party-linked group have mobilised volunteers to support an independent candidate ahead of the polls. The video that spurred allegations of foreign interference featured members of the Australia Hubei Association, a Chinese diaspora group with known links to the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

Once eyed with suspicion over national security concerns, these apps have now become central to political campaigning, particularly in electorates with significant Chinese-speaking populations.

As Australia prepares to vote in its 2025 federal election on May 3, a growing number of candidates  from major parties and independents alike  are ramping up their outreach to Chinese-Australian voters via platforms like WeChat and RedNote.

Heres how Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses centre-left Labor party and the conservative Liberal-National coalition, led by Peter Dutton, compare on key policies.

Australians will vote on Saturday in a close-run national election marked by concerns over the cost of living and housing affordability, as well as trade tensions triggered by U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs.

As Australians gear up to cast their vote and decide the future of their country, we take a closer look at all the things that matter this election  from the polling process to contenders, the major issues and who has a better chance of winning.

After a shocking election in Canada, comes Australia. The country will go to vote on Saturday (May 3) with the cost of living crisis being at the front of the minds of many Australians. Notably, Australia is among a handful of nations that enforces compulsory voting, boasting a turnout rate of more than 90 per cent.

According to official figures, about 90% of eligible voters cast ballots in the most recent federal election, held in 2022.

Today, Australia has one of the highest voter participation rates in the world, but many other nations struggle to encourage people to vote.

Since 1924, voting has been mandatory for all Australian citizens above the age of 18, with those who refuse to do so subject to a fine of A$20.

For the 18 million Australian voters in this election, voting for their preferred candidate is also a legal requirement.

Dutton, a strong conservative, has years of experience in key ministerial positions, including as defence and home affairs, but has been a divisive figure at times, notably on social matters.

His opponent is the conservative Liberal-National coalitions Peter Dutton, who is running for opposition leader for the first time.

Albanese, a mainstay of parliament for over 30 years, experienced a period of widespread popularity after taking office, but has since faced criticism for his handling of sensitive issues like as housing, Indigenous relations, and both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Voting stations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania have opened.

Australia is among the few countries where voting is compulsory, a system that leans toward creating centrist governments. At the last election in 2022, 90% of eligible voters cast ballots.

Voting across the nation the size of three times zones spanning two hours will continue from 8 a.m. (22:00 GMT Friday) until 6 p.m. (08:00 GMT Saturday) in eastern Australia. The polls open and close two hours later on the West Coast. Around half the ballots had already been cast, but not counted, since early and postal voting began on April 22.

Polls opened in Australias general election on Saturday with high costs of living and a shortage of housing major issues in the campaign.

It remains to be seen whether Albanese or Dutton will command an outright majority, or whether they are forced to cobble together a coalition with the support of minor parties.

Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were a few moments of unscripted levity.

Duttons signature policy is a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables.

Albaneses government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy.

Coal-mining superpower Australia will choose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction.

Since early and postal voting began on April 22, almost half of all ballots have already been cast but not tabulated.

The polls open and close two hours later on the West Coast.

Voting is taking place throughout Australias three time zones, from 8 a.m. local time until 6 p.m. in eastern Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was on ABC early this morning, stating that back to back wins is what we are aiming for today.

According to a Saturday investigation by Australian national broadcaster ABC, website Pravda Australia, part of the worldwide pro-Kremlin Pravda Network, has dramatically expanded its production since mid-March in an attempt to poison AI chatbots and promote Russian narratives.

Prime Minister Albanese said he was not shocked to learn of claims that a pro-Russian website attempted to launder misinformation on Australian issues in the run-up to the federal election.

Theres a lot of undecided voters. We have a mountain to climb. No ones been reelected since 2004, Albanese told reporters Friday.

The last was John Howard, who won a fourth consecutive term in 2004, making him the second-longest serving leader in Australias history. But when he was voted out three years later, it marked the beginning of a turbulent period in Australian politics with six prime ministers.

Anthony Albanese hopes to become the first Australian prime minister in 21 years to lead a political party to two consecutive election victories when the country votes on Saturday.

He anticipated that many voters would not vote for Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses administration in the polls.

Who is best able to manage the economy and reduce cost of living pressures? There are simply too many struggling families.

In an interview with Australias News 9, Peter Dutton stated that the vote is about what people believe is in our countrys best interests.

With more completed postal votes to come back, there is no doubt that more than half of everyone who will cast a vote in this federal election has done so before the day, according to the AEC.

More than 6.77 million people voted early, 1.64 million postal ballots were returned as of last night, and 155,000 individuals voted using a mobile team.

Early voting ended last night, and over 8.5 million individuals (or nearly half of the national electoral register) voted before election day today, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Crucial Seats Marginal seatssuch as Deakin, Bennelong, Gilmore, Menzies, Sturt, Wentworth, and Mooreare likely to determine the election outcome.

Last year, Albaneses government attempted to limit the number of overseas students here, but the idea was rejected.

The Coalition has committed to reducing migrant numbers by 100,000 if elected, which Labour has condemned as a savage measure that will harm critical industries like as elderly care and construction.

He has also stated that Labour is expediting citizenship so that migrants may vote.

Peter Dutton has used record migrant statistics to accuse Labor of aggravating the housing problem.

However, discontent is mounting as migrant numbers increase, raising concerns about housing affordability and infrastructural pressure.

With a third of its people born overseas, Australia has traditionally seen itself as a migration nation  a state that offers newcomers a fair chance and a fresh start.

For decades, small parties and independents have gradually increased their proportion of the vote in Australian state and federal elections.

If it cannot do so, it must seek backing from small parties or independent MPs.

To create a majority administration, one party must win at least 76 House seats.

Australias two largest parties are the left-leaning Australian Labour Party and the conservative Liberal-National alliance.

All 150 seats in Australias House of Representatives, as well as 40 of the Senates 76 seats, are up for grabs in this election.

People can vote in a variety of remote areas, including Bali, the Japanese city of Osaka, Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia.

The highest concentrations of Australians overseas are in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, and New York.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reports a record 111 polling stations abroad in 83 countries this year.

Voting began on Saturday in Australias national election that polls show will likely favour Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over conservative challenger Peter Dutton, with voter appetite for change dampened by worries over U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty.

An Australian swim wear brand called Budgy Smuggler ran a campaign offering a free pair to the first 200 people who voted in smugglers.

Meanwhile, at polling booths near Australias famed beaches, including Bondi beach in Sydney, some swimmers cast their ballots after a dip wearing brief-style swimming trunks locally called budgy smugglers.

Voted and did my civic duty of buying a #democracysausage, one voter said on social media platform X.

This Australian election day ritual was a talking point on social media as voters posted pictures and videos with their snack in hand under the #democracysausage.

Voters across the country grabbed a democracy sausage, which is sausages, burgers or other barbecued meat sold by volunteers at polling booths, as they turned out to cast their ballots.

Australians fired up barbecues and wore tight-fit swim trunks called budgy smugglers to voting centres as they welcomed election day on Saturday with some unique and quirky traditions.

The central bank reduced the rate by a quarter percentage point in February to 4.1% in an indication that the worst of the financial hardship had passed. The rate is widely expected to be cut again at the banks next board meeting on May 20 due to international economic uncertainty generated by U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff policies.

Annual inflation peaked at 7.8% a year after Labor was elected in 2022. The central banks benchmark interest rate rose from a record low 0.1% to 0.35% two weeks before the government changed. The rate has been raised a dozen times since then, peaking at 4.35% in November 2023.

Housing prices and rents have soar as builders have gone broke amid rapid inflation.

Labor plans to have 82% of Australias energy grid powered by renewables including solar and wind turbines by 2030 and to rely less on gas.

Gas-fired electricity would fill the gap between aging coal-fired plants closing and nuclear generators taking their place.

A major point of difference is energy. The opposition has promised to build seven government-funded nuclear power plants across Australia that would begin generating electricity from 2035.

Both campaigns promised policies to help first-home buyers buy into a property market that is too expensive for many.

Both campaigns have focused on Australias changing demographics. The election is the first in Australia in which Baby Boomers, born between born between the end of World War II and 1964, are outnumbered by younger voters.

Party leaders usually concede defeat and claim victory on election day. But in the last minority government, key independent lawmakers announced they would support a Labor administration 17 days after the polls closed.

This elections going to be a real test of whether what we saw in 2022 is a sign of things to come, or whether the 22 election was just a one-off flash in the pan, Ghazarian said.

There was a minority government during World War II and the next was during a three-year term after the 2010 election.

If the trend of votes shifting away from major parties that was evident at the 2022 election continued at Saturdays election, the result could be a rare minority government.

Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the major parties were gaining a smaller proportion of the votes at each election in recent decades, which was benefitting independent candidates and those representing minor parties.

Duttons conservative alliance of parties known as the Liberal-National Coalition held 53 seats in the last parliament, and a record-high 19 lawmakers were not aligned to either the government or the opposition.

Going into the election, Labor held a narrow majority of 78 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber where parties form governments. There will be 150 seats in the next parliament due to redistributions.

The endorsement was unusual from Assange, who has been scathing about Australian politicians. Albanese on Friday night downplayed the endorsement, saying it was a matter for Mr. Assange and that it was a good thing the WikiLeaks founder was now able to be with his family.

Albanese stood up to the U.S. over the case, Assange said, and his government had proven itself unusually capable of rescuing Australians caught up in sensitive political situations.

The remarks, posted to the social platform X by Assanges brother Gabriel Shipton, were his first on Australian domestic matters since he was released from a British prison last June and returned to his homeland after a plea deal that ended U.S. prosecutors attempts to extradite him for publishing military secrets.

On the eve of the election, Albanese received the endorsement of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who said the Labor leader did more to secure my freedom than any other politician or public figure, including the late Pope Francis.

That leaves Albanese with a chance to become the first prime minister since Howard to win back-to-back elections.

The only leader to serve a full three-year term was Scott Morrison, who replaced ousted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull nine months before the 2019 election and remained in office until his government was defeated by Albanese in 2022.

Since Howard was voted out as prime minister after 11 years in 2007, six people have held the job  including the current Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd, who held it twice in separate stints three years apart. Most of those who led their parties to election victories were dumped by them between votes in the face of poor opinion polling.

We dont need to copy America or anywhere else. We need the Australian way, Albanese said on Friday.

Labor has accused the coalition of mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency by promising to slash more than one in five federal public sector jobs.

The party has warned that Duttons coalition would make massive cuts to services to pay for its nuclear ambitions.

Labor plans to have 82% of Australias energy grid powered by renewables including solar and wind turbines by 2030 and to rely less on gas.

Gas-fired electricity would fill the gap between aging coal-fired plants closing and nuclear generators taking their place.

A major point of difference is energy. The opposition has promised to build seven government-funded nuclear power plants across Australia that would begin generating electricity from 2035.

Both campaigns promised policies to help first-home buyers buy into a property market that is too expensive for many.

Both campaigns have focused on Australias changing demographics. The election is the first in Australia in which Baby Boomers, born between the end of World War II and 1964, are outnumbered by younger voters.

If we manage the economy well, we can bring inflation down and make sure that we help families with the cost-of-living crisis, he added.

I want to make sure that we can get our country back on track, that we can manage our economy well and only a Liberal government can do that, Dutton said.

Dutton said on Friday his Liberal Party-led government would reduce government debt.

Price, who would be responsible for reducing the federal public service by 41,000 jobs if the coalition were elected, told reporters she didnt recall using the words reminiscent of the Republicans Make America Great Again slogan.

Opposition senator Jacinta Nampijnpa Price last month said she was not referencing Trump when she told supporters her administration would make Australia great again.

A Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government.

The Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is unlikely.

In the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for weeks.

In this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the kingmakers.

If a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 seats.

Labor is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts said.

This is likely, according to polls.

Albanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump very early on if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 election.

Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:

According to ABC, several voters did not get their postal vote applications before election day.

Our staff are available to provide assistance for any voter who requires it, an AEC representative stated in response to a question from ABC.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended that those people who have not received their postal voting forms yet, to consider attending a polling place before the polls shut on Saturday afternoon.

To create a majority administration, one party must win at least 76 House seats. If it cannot do so, it must seek backing from small parties or independent MPs.

This election will see all 150 House of Representatives seats up for grabs, as well as 40 of the Senates 76 seats.

However, in Senate contests, voters simply need to mark a certain number of choices.

In House contests, voters must mark a preference for each and every candidate on the ballot.

In Australia, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round, the votes of the least popular candidates are reallocated, and the process is repeated until someone obtains a majority.

Australia has a preferential voting system in which candidates are ranked in order of preference.

But the Trump effect, they said, has added to reservations for voters who became risk-averse.

Political strategists said Trump was not likely to be the decisive factor in the election  Albanese has run a strong campaign and Dutton made mistakes, including a short-lived proposal to ban public servants working from home.

From dusty desert towns to sun-splashed harbour cities, voters are choosing between left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and conservative challenger Peter Dutton.

Millions of Australians voted Saturday in a bitterly contested general election, following a campaign shaped by living costs, climate anxiety and US President Donald Trumps tariffs.

He emphasised that the Coalition has a positive plan to handle the economy and assist people now.

There are a lot of families who are really doing it very tough at the moment and Australians cant afford three more years of Labor, he commented.

After casting his vote, opposition leader Peter Dutton told reporters, Im confident Australians have seen through a bad government.

Election officials ask voters to arrive at their allocated stations before the deadline.

With over 7,000 voting booths open countrywide from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., voters are reminded that closing times vary by time zone.

The Australian Electoral Commission has issued a last reminder to electors on the east coast to cast their ballots before polls shut at 6 p.m. local time (08:00 GMT).

If the pattern of votes going away from big parties seen in the 2022 election continues in Saturdays election, the result might be a rare minority administration.

The expert stated that this benefited independent candidates and those from minor parties.

Zareh Ghazarian, a political scientist at Monash University, believes that in recent decades, the main parties have received a decreasing fraction of the vote in Australian elections.

It is hard to say exactly why those venues have seen bigger queues, because we did forecasts  But you can never fully accurately predict voter behaviour, he added.

The Australian Election Commissions spokesperson, Ekin-Smyth, said, Ive spoken to one of the staff members there who reported that while there was a queue, there did not seem to be a level of angst among the voters present.

Voters in Melbourne and Sydney have experienced lengthy waits at several polling stations today, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) reporting the longest queue taking up to 80 minutes.

Both the leaders were seen exercising their right to franchise along with their family members.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton, the two main contenders in the elections, have cast their respective votes.

Thanking Labour Party workers for their efforts throughout the election campaign, Albanese said, We live in a vibrant democracy where everyone gets their say and every one gets one vote, one value.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed party workers and the public for the last time before polling ends at 6 pm (1:30 pm IST).

Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol

Some polls showed Dutton losing support because of Trump, whom he praised this year as a big thinker with gravitas on the global stage

The last polls have given a lead to the Labour Party, with Albanese being re-elected as the prime minister

Opposition leader Peter Dutton also started his day in Melbourne, a key battleground, where he urged voters to choose his Liberal-National coalition to get our country back on track, before heading to his home state of Queensland

Both of Australias major parties have focused on assuaging cost-of-living concerns, but opinion polls show that global uncertainty driven by Trumps stop-start tariffs rapidly became a top issue for voters during the campaign

Here are the highlights of the Australian Elections 2025:

The counting of votes has officially begun in Australia, where most polling stations have closed after 6 pm AET. Australians began voting for the next government on Saturday in polls that will likely sway Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labour Party over the conservative opposition led by Peter Dutton.

Australians will vote on Saturday, and a recent YouGov poll indicates that the centre-left Labour party is the front-runner to win a majority government.

Incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hopes to defeat Conservative Coalition rival Peter Dutton and become the countrys first leader to win successive elections in two decades.

Polling booths in Australia - among the few democracies with mandatory voting - will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (2200-0800 GMT, although a record 8 million out of 18 million eligible voters had already cast ballots before Saturday.

Both major parties have focused on cost-of-living pressures but opinion polls show that global uncertainty driven by Trumps stop-start tariffs rapidly became a top issue for voters during the campaign.

The recent uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump has also had an unexpected impact on Australian political debate, with candidates navigating big geopolitical upheavals across the Pacific.

A Newspoll published on Friday in The Australian newspaper showed Labor leading 52.5%-47.5% against the Liberal-National coalition, under Australias two-party preferential voting system.

Political strategists said Trump was not likely to be the decisive factor in the election - Albanese has run a strong campaign and Dutton made mistakes, including a short-lived proposal to ban public servants working from home. But the Trump effect, they said, has added to reservations for voters who became risk-averse.

Several polls suggest Labor may be forced into a minority government. Preferences among supporters of the minor parties and independents could be crucial under Australias ranked-choice voting system.

Pollster Roy Morgan noted that the vote for independents and minor parties had doubled since 2007 and was increasing at every election.

In the 2022 election, the primary vote split nearly equally among Labor, at 32.6%, the Liberal-Nationals, at 35.7%, and others at 31.7%. Roy Morgan Chief Executive Michele Levine said a third of voters opting for independents and minor parties was likely again in this years vote.

Australians have begun casting their ballots in early voting since April 22, with over 4 million already participating - a significant increase over the 2022 election.
Bangladeshs central bank is facing a currency shortage after the interim government halted the release of Taka 15,000 crore worth of printed notes featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The move, seen as an effort to reduce his public presence, has led to financial losses and a crisis in the market. read more

A currency trader counts Bangladeshi taka notes featuring portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding father at his stall in Old Dhaka. Recently, these notes have stopped being circulated, say reports, causing a currency shortfall in the market. File image/AFP

Bangladeshs central bank has reportedly suffered significant financial losses after the interim government decided not to issue previously printed banknotes bearing the image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, The Times of India reported.

Banknotes worth Taka 15,000 crore featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans image remain unused. This decision is widely seen as part of the governments effort to reduce Bangabandhus presence in public memory, following the collapse of his daughter Sheikh Hasinas regime after massive student-led protests and widespread unrest across the country.

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While bank officials have made no public statements, several sources speaking anonymously to The Times of India said that the long-standing practice of commercial banks receiving new currency notes from Bangladesh Bank has been abruptly halted, triggering a cash crisis in the market. They added that the newly printed notes are lying unused while customers struggle to manage with old and damaged ones.

Notes of various denominations are printed using paper and ink funded by taxpayers. Millions of notes bearing Bangabandhus image are still lying in the vaults of various banks. The Security Printing Corporation does not have the capacity to cancel all of these at once and print replacements. Therefore, notes featuring Bangabandhus image cannot simply be discarded overnight, said Ziauddin Ahmed, former Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank and former Managing Director of the Security Printing Corporation.

When new designs are introduced into circulation, older ones should be phased out gradually. Typically, banknotes remain in use for up to four to five years, he added.

Given the circumstances, he suggested that the already printed notes be released into circulation to alleviate public inconvenience.

According to media reports, Bangladesh Bank is struggling to meet the growing demand for fresh currency. The crisis became visible following the political upheaval in August last year.

Since all forms of currency, including coins, feature Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans image, the central bank abruptly ceased issuing new notes in early April. As a result, notes bearing Bangabandhus image are not reaching the public, leaving shops, banks, and citizens reliant on torn and outdated currency.

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Sources at Bangladesh Bank told The Times of India that the Security Printing Corporation is set to begin printing newly designed notes next month. In the first phase, notes in denominations of 20, 50, and 1,000 taka will be printed and distributed through banks.

Following Hasinas ousting, the Yunus-led government is undertaking measures which many experts see as an attempt to diminish Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans legacy.

Protesters have destroyed statues and murals of Mujibur Rahman, including the toppling of a prominent statue in Dhaka, symbolising a rejection of the former regimes cult of personality.

His ancestral home was also destroyed by protestersa site that had come to symbolise Dhakas resistance against Pakistan and the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
As Australia gears up for an important election, reports are suggesting that a China-backed group is supporting independent candidates to influence the federal elections read more

A voter walks past election posters for the Australian Labor Party outside a pre-polling centre in Sydney on May 2, 2025, ahead of Australia's federal election scheduled for May 3. (Photo: AFP)

As Australia gears up for an important election, the latest viral video suggested that a Chinese Communist Party-linked group have mobilised volunteers to support an independent candidate ahead of the polls. The video that spurred allegations of foreign interference featured members of the Australia Hubei Association, a Chinese diaspora group with known links to the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

It is pertinent to note that UFWD is part of the CCPs network that seeks to advance Chinas influence abroad. The group has dispatched volunteers to assist candidates in the Australian federal election. Last week, Tharini Rouwette, the founder of COMPELL, an organisation dedicated to multiculturalism in Australian politics, shared a video on TikTok showing these volunteers at work, Nikkei Asia reported.

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In the video, the volunteers were seen representing the member of parliament, Monique Ryan, in the seat of Kooyong in Melbourne. Australia Hubei Association President Ji Jianmin  how do I say it - demanded that Chinese people support her, the volunteer said in Mandarin, as quoted by Nikkei Asia.

Her ideas are more well-suited to the Chinese diasporas needs. She can speak for the Chinese people, thats why we support her, another volunteer was heard saying in the video. Meanwhile, local news outlets have been reporting that the same group plans to send out dozens of Chinese volunteers to support the Labour Minister, Clare ONeil and a Greens Party candidate in the Victoria electorate of Hotham.

Australia keeps its eyes open in light of Chinese influence

In light of this, the Australian Electoral Commissions integrity assurance task force said that it would review the video. It is important to note that the body comprises federal police and intelligence agencies, and violation of the law on foreign influence in polls can constitute a criminal offence.

While economic ties between Australia and China have stabilised in recent years, theres a looming fear in Canberra that China might influence its elections. Last year, Sunny Duong, a Chinese Australian businessman, became the first person in the country to be convicted of a foreign interference offence due to his linkages to the Chinese government.

In a statement to Nikkei Asia, Labour Partys ONeil said: My office has not had any direct contact with the Hubei association. When an intermediary contacted my office with the offer of Hubei volunteers, my office politely declined.

The Story of the Australia Hubei Association

The Australian group was identified in a 2018 parliamentary submission. At that time, it was referred to as a United Front-linked business group operating in Australia. While speaking to Nikkei Asia, Clive Hamilton, co-author of Silent Invasion: Chinas Influence in Australia, pointed out the groups interest in targeting independent candidates.

I think the CCP has made an assessment and decided the teals may hold a balance of power in the next parliament, and therefore Beijing wants to have access to important teals who might be persuaded to articulate and push for Beijings viewpoint, he said. In Australian politics, the term teal generally indicates independent candidates who are socially liberal, yet economically centrist.

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Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson of the Liberal Party told Sky News on Wednesday that if you were a foreign authoritarian government, and you wanted to weaken or destabilise Australia, you would probably prefer that there be a hung parliament  that no party have a majority. Hence, it will be interesting to see the kind of impact these groups would have on the results of the Australian elections.
The Chinese-owned social media giant, which is also under the United States scrutiny, acknowledged during a probe that it has hosted European data in China, contrary to a previous denial, according to Irelands data protection watchdog. read more

China's flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

The European Union has fined TikTok 530 million (approximately $600 million) following allegations that the platform transferred European users personal data to China without adequate safeguards.

The penalty announced on Friday stems from a detailed investigation led by Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC), which concluded that TikTok failed to ensure European data was adequately protected from potential access by Chinese authorities.

The Chinese-owned video-sharing app had previously denied storing or processing European data in China. However, during the investigation, TikTok admitted to having hosted such data in China  a reversal that played a key role in the regulators decision to impose one of its largest fines to date.

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The ruling intensifies regulatory pressure on TikTok, which is already under scrutiny in the United States over similar concerns about data security and foreign access. The platform, which boasts a global user base of 1.5 billion, has repeatedly faced questions about the safety of its data practices.

This is not TikToks first brush with EU regulators. In 2023, the DPC levied a 345 million fine against the company for mishandling childrens data, including failures in privacy settings and transparency.

As TikTok  a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance  has its European headquarters in Ireland, the Irish authority is the lead regulator in Europe for the social platform, as well as others like Google, Meta and X.

TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of (European) users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU, said DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle.

TikTok did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to (Europeans) personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards, Doyle said in a statement.

TikTok said it planned to appeal the EU fine, insisting it had never received a request from Chinese authorities for European users data.

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(TikTok) has never provided European user data to them, Christine Grahn of TikTok Europe said. We disagree with this decision and intend to appeal it in full.

The social media giant has been in the crosshairs of Western governments for years over fears that personal data could be used by China for espionage or propaganda purposes.

- US pressure -

TikTok also infringed requirements within the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by transferring user data to China, said the DPCs statement.

Fridays decision includes administrative fines totalling 530 million euros and an order requiring TikTok to bring its processing into compliance within six months, it said.

The authority said 45 million euros of the fine was imposed due to a lack of transparency between 2020 and 2022 when the platform did not indicate to users which countries the data was transferred to or that it could be accessed from China.

The DPC said its decision also includes an order suspending TikToks transfers to China if the firm does not meet the six-month deadline.

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The fine is expected to increase pressure against the social network in the United States.

The US Congress passed a law in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest control of TikTok in the United States or be banned from the country.

President Donald Trump has postponed twice, until June 19, the deadline set for the sale of the social network, which has 170 million American users.

Multiple bans

Aside from the data issue, TikTok is also accused of confining its users to silos through an opaque and powerful recommendation algorithm, fostering the spread of misinformation and illegal, violent, or obscene content.

Several countries have banned the platform for varying periods, such as Pakistan, Nepal, and France in the territory of New Caledonia.

For years, TikTok has highlighted its data protection policies. In Europe, it launched the Clover program, which provides for 12 billion euros of investment over 10 years.

It claims that Europeans data is by default stored in Norway, Ireland, and the United States and that employees in China have no access to restricted data, such as phone numbers or IP addresses.

The DPC, which opened its probe in 2021, however, said Friday it was informed in April by TikTok that European data had been stored, then deleted, in China  contrary to what the firm previously claimed.

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With inputs from agencies
German spy agency, BfV, has declared the far-right, neo-Nazi party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist entity read more

Co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Alice Weidel, reacts after exit polls for the 2025 general election, in Berlin, Germany, February 23, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Germanys internal spy agency, BfV, has declared the far-right, neo-Nazi party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist entity.

In the 2025 German elections, the AfD came second with 20.8 per cent vote and 152 of 630 seats. Polls have shown that the AfD has risen in popularity in the weeks since the elections.

Over the past decade, the AfD has emerged as a leading political force on the back of its anti-immigrant and isolationist platform in reaction to Germanys migration, economic, and security crises. While even mainstream parties have started addressing these issues in recent years, what sets AfD apart is the partys association with the neo-Nazi movement in Europe. Some of the leading members of the party have overt affiliation with the movement.

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While the extremist designation allows the authorities to keep a track of AfDs activities more closely, it is also expected to fuel further support for the party as the party is bound to play the victim card and claim suppression at the hand of Germanys political mainstream.

In 2020, the Der Flugel faction of the AfD was declared extremist. The faction was so extremist that the party formally dissolved it later. In 2021, the AfD was declared as a suspected extremist entity and the partys youth wing, JA, was declared as an extremist entity the next year.

AfD not compatible with democratic order, says BfV

In a statement following the extremist designation, the BfV said that AfDs categorisation of certain categories of citizens as second-class humans is not compatible with Germanys democratic order.

The ethnicity- and ancestry-based conception of the people that predominates within the party is not compatible with the free democratic order. It aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, to subject them to treatment that violates the constitution, and thereby assign them a legally subordinate status, read the statement, as per DW News.

The AfD considers German citizens from immigrant background as second-class citizens just like the Nazis considered people other than the so-called Aryan people as second-class people.

Such categorisation has led to individuals and groups being defamed and vilified and has stirred up irrational fears and hostility toward them, as per BfV.

In Germany, the BfV (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) has a unique mandate of spying on political parties to ensure that they do not have an extremist character. Such spying is part of BfVs mandate to safeguard the democratic and constitutional character of Germany.

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Now that the AfD has the extremist designation, the authorities can use secret methods to monitor the party, such as the recruitment of confidential informants and interception of communications, according to Reuters.

The AfD is part of far-right parties in Europe that are supportive of Russia and China and are seen as a threat to European security. In February, AfD leader Alice Weidels yearslong secret relationship with a senior Chinese diplomat was revealed.

The AfD is one of the far-right parties that the Donald Trump administration of the United States has endorsed in Europe. Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk have met Weidel. Vance has thrashed Germanys mainstream parties for keeping AfD out of political power as per their firewall  the mainstream parties have mutually decided to keep AfD out of political power owing to its extremist character.

AfDs many ties to Nazism

Even though AfD rose in popularity in reaction to Germanys immigration, economic, and security crisis, the party has associations with the revival of Nazism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Notably, AfD leader Weidels grandfather was a Nazi judge appointed by Nazi tyrant Adolf Hiler himself.

Senior leaders of AfD have repeatedly downplayed the Nazi regime and glorified Hitler.

AfD co-founder Alexander Gauland has dismissed the Nazi regime as a speck of bird poop in German history. For context, the Nazis murdered over 6 million Jews in the Holocaust and caused millions of other deaths as a result of World War II that they unleashed.

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In 2018, then-AfD youth wing regional leader Lars Seinke declared Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, who unsuccessfully tried to kill Hitler in 1944, a traitor and a coward. He also said that Hitler was forced to invade Poland in 1939  the invasion triggered the World War II.

Bjorn Hocke, one of the most outspoken leaders of the party, has often praised Hitler and invoked him in the AfDs affairs.

Last year, Hocke raised a banned Nazi slogan during AfDs election campaign. He has previously described a Holocaust memorial as a monument of shame and said it was wrong to treat Hitler as absolutely evil. He has also called for a 180-degree turnaround in the politics of remembrance of Holocaust.

Maximilian Krah, AfDs member in the European parliament, has said that a member of Nazi paramilitary organisation SS which carried out the Holocaust is not automatically a criminal.

Siegbert Droese, a senior figure in the AfD, has openly admired Hitler by posting photographs from Hitlers headquarters and driving a car with a number plate associated with Hitler.

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Over 1,600 people, mostly gang members, were killed in Haiti in the first three months of 2025, the United Nations said on Wednesday, as violent gangs continue to battle for control of more territory. read more

A burnt-out car is seen during a protest against insecurity in Port-au-Prince. AFP

More than 1,600 people were killed in Haiti gang violence  most of them gang members  in the first three months of the year, the United Nations said Wednesday, as criminal groups fight to expand their territories.

The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti faces severe political instability, and swaths of the country are under the control of rival armed gangs who carry out murders, rapes and kidnappings.

The armed groups have been battling for control of the capital Port-au-Prince, and clashes have intensified in recent months.

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1,617 people were killed and 580 injured due to violence involving gangs, self-defence groups, nonorganized members of the population, as well as during security force operations, the UN said in a report.

Between January and March 2025, despite numerous casualties within their ranks (936 individuals), gangs intensified their efforts to expand their territorial control in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and its surroundings.

A Kenyan-led force authorized by the United Nations has failed to push back the gangs. The mission has around 1,000 police officers from six countries but was intended to have 2,500.

Haiti is approaching a point of no return leading to total chaos, the UN special representative to the troubled Caribbean nation warned Monday.
China has said that it is currently evaluating an offer to negotiate from the United States, but has maintained that the Donald Trump administration needs to show sincerity to enter talks read more

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are at loggerheads over tariffs. Reuters

China has said that it is evaluating an offer from the United States for talks to resolve the ongoing trade war between the two countries.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on numerous tranches on China, with so-called reciprocal tariffs reaching 145 per cent and some goods having tariffs as high as 245 per cent. China has also retaliated with 125 per cent tariffs on US goods.

Even though both sides have granted exemptions to blunt the effect of tariffs on their entwined economies, they have not yet engaged in direct, public negotiations to address the ongoing trade war. However, .

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US President Donald Trump has claimed that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have talked had a conversation on the matter over the phone, but China has denied any such call between the two leaders.

US should show sincerity for talks, says China

Even as China said that it is currently evaluating an offer from the Trump administration, China said that the United States needs to show sincerity.

If the U.S. wants to talk, it should show its sincerity and be prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariffs, said Chinas Commerce Ministry in a statement, according to CNBC.

The statement further said that senior US officials have reached out recently through relevant parties multiple times with the hope to start negotiations with China on tariffs.

Even as China showed openness to talks, it said that the United States should remove all unilateral tariffs and the failure to do would who an outright lack of sincerity from the Trump administration and further compromise mutual trust.

So far, the two sides have granted certain waivers. Trump has exempted electronics, such as smartphones, semiconductors, and computers, from tariffs. He has also exempted imported cars and cars parts from tariffs. China has exempted the import of pharmaceuticals, aerospace equipment, semiconductors, and ethane, from the United States.

Negotiations are hard as Trump is chaotic, says expert

Dan Wang, the China director at risk consultancy firm Eurasia Group, told CNBC that the US-China negotiations are difficult to start because Trump is chaotic.

Wang said, China will not risk losing control of the situation just for the negotiations sake.

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Wang said that the United States and China will only announce public negotiations when details have been ironed out privately. She said that until such an understanding is reached, the two sides will adjust with period waivers.

A more likely scenario is just a long-lasting painful truce with both sides doing their own type of rolling back in practice without backing down politically in public. It can easily last the entire Trump term, said Wang.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) confirmed that the countrys fighter jets struck near the Syrian Presidential Palace in Damascus. The palace is currently the official residence of Syrias Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. read more

Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) confirmed that the countrys fighter jets struck near the Syrian Presidential Palace in Damascus. The palace is currently the official residence of Syrias Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. According to The Times of Israel, the air force of the Jewish nation struck the Syrian targets on Friday morning.

Israel has been warning the Syrian authorities not to march towards villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria. It is pertinent to note that the Friday strike came days after clashes erupted between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The brawl left dozens of people dead or wounded in the region.

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In the statement, the IDF said that the fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus. No further details were provided in this regard. Meanwhile, a pro-government Syrian news outlet noted that the jets struck close to the Peoples Palace on a hill overlooking the city.

Netanyahu and Katz react to the strikes

Shortly after the reports of the strikes started emerging, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement. This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community, they said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State also condemned violence against Syrias Druze community, urging the interim government to hold the perpetrators accountable for their acts. The recent violence and inflammatory rhetoric targeting members of the Druze community in Syria is reprehensible and unacceptable, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce says in a statement.

Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israels Druze community, together with Yisrael Beytenu Minister of Knesset Hamad Amar, called on the Druze demonstrators in Syria to clear roads and return to their homes. They called for peace in the region.

The Druze religious sect is a minority in Syria that came into existence as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Tensions between the community and the Syrian authorities erupted after an audio recording circulated online insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Though Druze cleric Marwan Kiwan denied making the recording, the incident led to widespread violence.

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With inputs from AP.
A Nepali girl student at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening in a suspected case of suicide, police said. This is the second such incident involving a Nepali student at the institute in the last three months. read more

A girl student from Nepal, studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening, news agency ANI reported, citing police.

Police said they received information about a suspected suicide and found the students body hanging in her hostel room on the campus. This is the second such incident involving a Nepali student in the institute within three months.

Today, we received information that a girl from Nepal has died by suicide at KIIT University we reached the spot and began investigating the matter. A detailed inquiry will be conducted the scientific team also arrived and collected all necessary details. Her family has been informed. The body has been sent to AIIMS for post-mortem, said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh.

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Police further said that the Nepal Embassy has also been informed about the incident.

The Odisha government extended condolences over the students death and assured that appropriate action would be taken.

Information about the alleged suicide of a Nepali girl student, studying in the first year of B.Tech in Computer Science at KIIT University, was received from local police at around 8:10 pm today. The girls parents were immediately informed by university authorities. In this hour of distress, the State Government stands with the family of the deceased and extends its heartfelt condolences, the Information and Public Relations Department said.

Upon receiving the information, senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, rushed to the site to investigate the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and to take necessary action. The forensic team is on site to collect evidence, it added.

Around three months ago, another Nepali student from the same university was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, sparking protests by Nepalese students and drawing attention from the government in Kathmandu.

The students alleged she had been harassed by a fellow student and that the college did not act despite several complaints. The accused was arrested on February 17.
Days after Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to sheltering terrorists, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that its not a secret that Pakistan has sheltered terrorists read more

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), speaks during the launch of the Awami Muashi Muahida (public economic manifesto) in Larkana, Pakistan, January 16, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that its not a secret that Pakistan has sheltered terrorists.

The remarks by Bilawal, a key coalition partner of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes days after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to supporting terrorists at the behest of the United States in an interview.

The remarks by Asif and Bilawal come at a time when Pakistan is under renewed scrutiny over state-sponsored terrorists in the wake of the attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. India has blamed Pakistan for sponsoring the attack.

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In an interview with Sky News that aired on Thursday, Bhutto said that Pakistan has also suffered from terrorism that it has supported.

As far as what the defence minister said, I dont think its a secret that Pakistan has a past as far as extremist groups are concerned. As a result of this, we have suffered  Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through waves after waves of extremism. We went through the militarisation of our society, said Bilawal.

'I don't think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past'



Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto tells @SkyYaldaHakim 'we have gone through wave after wave of extremism'https://t.co/aLfgNyPdOk



 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/ozYfdtFp5v  Sky News (@SkyNews) April 30, 2025

Days after the Pahalgam attack, Asif had similar admitted to sheltering terrorists. In an interview with Sky News, he had said that Pakistan had been doing the dirty work involving terrorists for decades.

Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States and West, including Britain, for three decades, said Asif when asked how Pakistan supported had terrorist organisations in the past.

However, like Bilawal, Asif also painted Pakistan as a victim of terrorism and said supporting terrorism has been a mistake.

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Regarding the Pahalgam attack, Bilawal said that it would be helpful if India were to provide specific concrete evidence to Pakistan and the international community.

A group going by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is seen as a cover for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. The LeT is based in Pakistan and has long been supported by the Pakistani regime.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate after the Pahalgam terror attack, the United States is trying to use the same playbook it did during the Pulwama and Uri attacks to de-escalate the tussle read more

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol near the India Pakistan border fencing at Garkhal in Akhnoor, about 35 kilometers west of Jammu, August 13, 2019. File Photo/AP

Shortly after the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, the United States is conducting the same kind of drills it did with India and Pakistan following the Uri and Pulwama terror strikes. During both attacks, Washington supported Indias limited counter-strike on terrorism while urging no further escalation.

Following both attacks, Washington maintained that India had the right to defend itself. But at the same time, it urged New Delhi and Islamabad to continue direct communication, urging Pakistan to act against terrorists operating on its soil. The US is doing its job, we will do ours," sources in the government told CNN-NEWS18 when asked about the drills.

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The source noted that the US is essentially doing a repeat of its strategy after the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack. It is pertinent to note that India carried out surgical strikes after both attacks. The reports of drills are coming at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have promised the harshest response against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.

Part of the same old playbook

Shortly after the 2019 Pulwama terror strike, US National Security Adviser John Bolton held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and declared that India has the right to self-defence. On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reiterated the same assertion during his meeting with the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

On the same day, US Vice President JD Vance said that he hoped that India would respond to the Pahalgam terror attack in a way that does not lead to a broader regional conflict. The assertions from the different officials from the Trump administration indicate that the US backs a limited strike by India, but also does not want an escalation of conflict in the region.

In 2019, Mike Pompeo, then-US Secretary of State, termed Indias Balakot strike as a counter-terrorism action post-Pulwama. US President Donald Trump, who was serving his first term at that time, said that he understood" why New Delhi was seeking a strong response to the Pulwama attack.

Hence, it will be interesting to see whether Washington will be using the same playbook it did in the past.
The Indian Navy is demonstrating its strength at sea, as New Delhi intensifies pressure on Pakistan with another warning for ships to avoid certain areas in the northern Arabian Sea. This comes amid Pakistans ongoing unprovoked firing along the LoC for the eighth straight day. read more

The Navy is showcasing its capabilities at sea as New Delhi increases pressure on Pakistan, issuing another warning for ships to avoid certain areas in the northern Arabian Sea due to ongoing mock drills, the Times of India reported.

This development follows Indias response to Pakistans continued unprovoked fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, now extending into the eighth consecutive day.

The NavArea warning for the specified zone off Gujarat, valid until May 3, is incidentally situated about 80-85 nautical miles from where the Pakistan Navy is conducting its own drills in the Arabian Sea. We have made it clear that if any warship or ship enters that zone, it will do so at its own peril, an officer told the Times of India.

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Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi assessed his forces operational readiness during a visit to the Western Navy Command in Mumbai on Thursday. This review comes as the Navy has deployed several warships in the Arabian Sea, which conducted multiple firings of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other weapon systems last week.

China, with the worlds largest Navy, is helping Pakistan strengthen its maritime force. Pakistan has already received four advanced Type 054A/P multi-role frigates and other platforms from China, and it is set to receive eight Yuan-class diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion, which will significantly boost its naval capabilities.

This comes amid rising tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following the killing of 26 innocent people in Pahalgam, mostly tourists, by Pakistan-based terrorists.

Pakistan opens fire at LoC for 8th consecutive day

Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for the eighth consecutive night, firing unprovoked in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian military responded in a measured and appropriate manner.

This follows Indias stern warning to Pakistan over these repeated violations, which are exacerbating tensions after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both countries held a hotline conversation on Tuesday to discuss Pakistans unprovoked ceasefire violations.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike, claimed the lives of at least 26 people, including foreign nationals, and left many others injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), an outfit linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, took responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan reopened the Attari-Wagah border on Friday, letting its citizens stranded in India return home after their short-term visas were cancelled following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. read more

Pakistani nationals arrive at the Integrated Check Post at the Attari-Wagah border to move to their country. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

Pakistan reopened the Attari-Wagah border on Friday, allowing its citizens stuck in India to return home after their short-term visas were cancelled in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

The move came after nearly a day of silence from Islamabad, during which many Pakistanis  including the elderly and those visiting family  were left stranded on Indian soil despite New Delhis willingness to send them back.

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Sources said to News18 that while India allowed Pakistani nationals to reach the border, they couldnt cross overpossibly because Islamabad refused to take them back. However, Pakistan gave no official reason for not allowing its citizens to return.

In response to the Pahalgam attack in which Pakistan based terrorist killed 26 innocent tourists, the Indian government asked Pakistani nationals with short-term tourist and medical visas to leave the country. However, those with long-term permits and Hindus of Pakistani origin were allowed to stay.

125 Pakistanis left India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday, bringing the total number of departures in the past week to 911. Later, the border was completely closed by the Pakistani sides.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the worst in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, killed at least 26 people, including a Nepali citizen, and injured many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility.

In addition to cancelling visas, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed its airspace to Pakistani flights, and banned the social media accounts of Pakistani nationals.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday urged brotherly countries, including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions heightened after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. read more

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called on friendly nations including Saudi Arabia to play a role in urging India to reduce tensions that have escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 people killed.

During separate meetings in Islamabad with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliky, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi, and Kuwaiti Ambassador Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser, Sharif reiterated Pakistans commitment to peace and stability in South Asia, according to state media.

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These diplomatic engagements with countries Pakistan refers to as brotherly  typically Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey came in the wake of rising India-Pakistan tensions triggered by the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, where most of the victims were tourists.

Radio Pakistan reported that while talking with Ambassador Nawaf, The Prime Minister outrightly rejected baseless Indian accusations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident without any evidence and reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral international investigation into the incident.

While sharing Pakistans perspective on recent developments in South Asia after the Pahalgam incident, Shehbaz Sharif said, Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He also highlighted the governments complete focus on consolidating the hard-earned economic gains of the past 15 months, with the support of friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia.

He added that it is inconceivable for Pakistan to act in an irresponsible manner to jeopardise its achievements and derail the country from the path of economic progress. In another meeting, Sharif thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi for unwavering support to Pakistan.

He categorically rejected the baseless accusations leveled by India in its desperate attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, without any evidence and instead shared how Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism over the last few decades.

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The Prime Minister said Pakistan has nothing to do with this and emphasised that he has offered to have a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation into the incident, the report said. State-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Sharif told the Kuwaiti Ambassador Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser that Pakistan was confident of its stance and had offered to the international community to conduct a credible, transparent and neutral investigation into the incident.

All three ambassadors said their respective countries would work closely with Pakistan to maintain regional peace and security. On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong met Prime Minister Sharif here and exchanged views on the India-Pakistan tensions as Beijing kept abreast with the evolving situation.

On Wednesday, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait expressed their deep concern over the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and called on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels. In separate statements, these countries reiterated their full support for all efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and addressing their outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful means.

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Earlier last week, Pakistan briefed a group of Islamabad-based heads of mission and diplomats on April 24 and 25 on the evolving situation following the Pahalgam attack, sharing the outcomes of its National Security Committee meeting.As part of ongoing diplomatic engagement, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch briefed Heads of Mission and diplomats based in Islamabad on the latest developments following the Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir, the Foreign Office had said.

With inputs from PTI
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expected to discuss the India-Pakistan situation after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, said the council president. Read on for more details. read more

The UN Security Council could meet sooner rather than later to discuss the situation between India and Pakistan, and this would be an opportunity to express views and to help diffuse tensions, UNSC President said, voicing concern over rising tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

Of course, if a request comes for a meeting, thenI think this meeting should take place because, as we said, maybe its also an opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions. We will see, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of May, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris said in response to a question by PTI.

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We are in close contact  but this is something which might happen, I would say, sooner rather than later. We will see, we are preparing. Its the first day of our (UNSC) presidency. Sekeris briefed UN reporters here Thursday on the Councils work programme under Greeces month-long presidency of the 15-nation UN body. He was asked about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and if he had received any request for a meeting or consultations on the issue in the Council.

In response to a question by PTI on India being a victim of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which now sits in the Council as a non-permanent member, and need to committing terrorism, Sekeris said Its an issue which is very pertinent. As I said before, as a position of principle, we strongly condemn any act of terrorism and this is what we did on the heinous terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam in which innocent civilians died.

Sekeris noted that we express our condolences to the government of India, Nepal and the families of victims.

This is a position of principle. We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it is happening. On the other hand, we are concerned about this tension which is mounting in the region. Two very big countries. Of course, India is far more bigger than Pakistan.

He added that both countries are far more bigger than Greece.

So the size and volume are of a different nature. We also join calls for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control. Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he had a good conversation with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and had discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. India welcomed Greeces firm opposition to cross-border terrorism and said, Our Strategic Partnership reflects the depth of our ties, Jaishankar had said.

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Sekeris added that bilaterally, we have an excellent bilateral cooperation with India and noted visits by Greek and Indian leaders to each others countries.

He noted that Greece also has bilateral relations with Pakistan, and we dont see it antagonistically. With Pakistan, we are together in the Council and we will cooperate. In response to another question on a possible meeting in the Council on the situation, Sekeris said, It is an issue which is now ongoing, evolving. Sekeris noted that the Council had last week issued a press statement condemning the heinous terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

We are listening, of course, we are monitoring closely the situation and will be seized on the matter, of course. This is certain that it will happen, he said.

The Greek envoy stressed that any act of terrorism is strongly condemned.

We express our deepest condolences to the Government of India and Nepal and the families of the victims. At the same time, I have to tell you that we are also seriously concerned with the growing bilateral tension in the atmosphere, which has been evolving between India and Pakistan. He said, We are also joining others who are calling for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control. He added that bigger member states are already in contact with both sides.

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Im not in a position to reply directly to your question, but with plain logic, this is something which might probably happen. I mean, if the situation is not de-escalating, calling for an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council is something which can come as a consequence, because its actually the main business of the Security Council. Pakistan also sits in the Council as a non-permanent member, elected together with Greece. So they are there. If during the Greek presidency, such a request (to discuss the issue in the Council) comes, we will process it. But we hope really that this situation will de-escalate because its two very big member states and a lot is at stake and lets hope that those efforts for de-escalation will be helpful. But we are prepared. To a question on Pakistan using its leverage as a non-permanent member and not naming The Resistance Front in the press statement on the Pahalgam attack, Sekeris said when you have a press statement, whichever text which is adopted by consensus, unanimity, you cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation because its an internal document.

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For me, the important thing is that the press statement was issued, because having in the Security Council, one member state which is part of this conflict, of course, then you could expect another outcome.

But I think that the statement was there. This is very important. On the other hand, yes, we are also concerned on a national basis. (Greek) The Foreign Minister spoke with the Foreign Minister of India. We are also in constant contact with Pakistan.

There are calls for de-escalation. Of course, on the other hand, its a difficult subject, but we are very receptive to any request and if meeting of Security Council will take place in any form, we will steer the debate as president in a way to be faithful to our mandate, but we really hope that maybe de-escalation would be possible. Meanwhile, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters the UN chief has spoken to Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and offered his good offices.

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To a question on whether the Secretary-General will consider travelling to the region and mediating between both parties, Dujarric said I dont think there would be any travel until theres a clear message that, as in any instance where we have high tensions between two countries, that theyve both accepted his good offices.

(Except headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff)
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the full support of US President Donald Trump and his administration in Indias fight against terrorism. This comes as New Delhi calls for a strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack. read more

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday (local time) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the full support of US President Donald Trump and his administration in the nations fight against terrorism.

This comes as New Delhi seeks a strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack, to which New Delhi has alleged cross-border links.

She further said that the US is in regular contact with both India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent people, mostly tourists.

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We are monitoring closely. Yesterday, the Secretary spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As President Donald Trump articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India

against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support, she said.

The Secretary encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible solution that maintains a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia. We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels, she added.

When asked if the calls for de-escalation were being heeded, Bruce said, We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties. And beyond that, theres nothing I can give you, any other details.

Rubio speaks to Jaishankar, Shehbaz Sharif

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday, following his call with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as tensions between India and Pakistan increased.

The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with New Delhi against terrorism.

The Pahalgam attack is one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Indias strong response to attack

India downgraded diplomatic ties, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, reduced Pakistans diplomatic presence in New Delhi, and expelled military officials. The Attari check post was also closed.

Pakistan responded to the measures, announcing it would withdraw from the 1972 Simla Agreement and close the Wagah border.
US Secretary of State Rubio on Thursday called on Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment activities and long-range missile development, and said Tehran should allow Americans to inspect its facilities, as a fresh round of nuclear talks was postponed read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a meeting of the Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias Task Force at the Justice Department in Washington, DC, US, on April 22, 2025. Reuters File

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday called on Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment activities and long-range missile development, and said it should allow Americans to inspect its facilities, as a fresh round of nuclear talks was postponed.

Rubios comments underscore the major remaining divisions in talks between the countries to resolve the long-running dispute over Irans nuclear programme, with US President Donald Trump threatening to bomb Iran if there is no agreement.

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They have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis (in Yemen), they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment, Fox News quoted Rubio as saying in an interview on the Hannity programme.

Iran has consistently rejected demands to halt its missile programme or uranium enrichment, insisting that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. While enrichment can produce fuel for civilian power plants, it can also be used to develop material for nuclear weapons.

On Thursday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the fourth round of scheduled nuclear talks, which were to be held in Rome on Saturday, had been postponed. The official added that a new date would be determined depending on the US approach.

Commenting on the deadlock, Rubio said Iran should cease all enrichment activities and instead import enriched uranium for its energy needs.

If you have the ability to enrich at 3.67% it only takes a few weeks to get to 20% then 60% and then the 80 and 90% that you need for a weapon, Rubio was quoted as saying.

Iran has said it has a right to enrich uranium under the terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It denies wanting to build a nuclear bomb.

Rubio also said Iran would have to accept that Americans could be involved in any inspection regime and that inspectors would require access to all facilities, including military ones.

Washington is ramping up pressure on Iran. US President Donald Trump on Thursday said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop and that any country or person buying any from the country would be immediately subject to secondary sanctions.

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Iran spoke out against that approach on Friday.

While stressing its commitment to the path of diplomacy and declaring its readiness to continue negotiations, Iran will not tolerate approaches based on threats and pressure, the Foreign Ministry said.

With inputs from agencies
As the final wave of Chinese cargo ships loaded before the Trump administrations sweeping new tariffs arrives at the US ports, economists and businesses are bracing for a seismic impact on prices, jobs and supply chains. read more

As the final Chinese cargo ships loaded before the Trump administrations steep tariff hikes reach US shores, economists and businesses are bracing for a seismic impact on prices, jobs and supply chains.

The 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese imports in early April have not yet fully hit consumers or retailers, largely due to shipping lag. But that grace period is ending. Though US consumers have not yet fully felt the pinch, thats about to change. Goods on ships that departed China after April 9 are now beginning to reach American shores, carrying steep cost increases that could ripple through the economy.

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With ocean transit from China taking up to 40 days, the goods arriving now are among the last to escape the new tariff regimeand with fewer ships at sea, the economic ripples are expected to become waves.

A slowdown underway

Shipping activity between China and the United States has plummeted. According to CNN, sailings from China to the US dropped 60% in April, with many vessels idling at Chinese ports as demand collapses.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told CNN that cargo arrivals were already down 35% year-over-year. Many major retailers have told us they have about a six- to eight-week supply of inventory in their systems now, he said. After that, were going to see some difficult decisions.

Retailers sound the alarm

Retail giants including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot warned President Trump last week that inventories could soon run dry, Bloomberg reported. For smaller businesses without the ability to absorb cost shocks or stockpile inventory, the challenge is more acute.

Jonathan Gold of the National Retail Federation told CNN, Especially for small retailers who cant absorb any of the tariff impact, theyre trying to figure out what their next steps are.

The impact is likely to be uneven. More than two-thirds of investors surveyed by Bloomberg believe retail stocks will suffer the most, followed by technology. According to Gartner, 45% of supply chain leaders plan to pass on higher tariff costs directly to consumers.

Theres a lot of concern, said Gold. Retailers are in the process of trying to figure out their back-to-school and Christmas orders, and how and when theyre going to place those.

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Economic headwinds building

Early signs of trouble have already appeared in GDP data. According to Bloomberg, the US economy contracted in Q1 for the first time since 2022. While some of that may reflect front-loaded imports, economists warn the worst is yet to come.

The data is noisy, but directionally consistent with what you would expect if US-China tariffs amount to a de facto trade embargo, Jake Schurmeier of Harbor Capital Advisors told Bloomberg. GDP tells us about the pull forward of demand, not about the potential for a collapse in demand from tariffs.

Apollo economist Torsten Slok told The New York Times that the consequences will become more visible by summer, potentially tipping the US into recession.

Jobs and logistics under pressure

The impact is not limited to consumers. As CNN reports, a drop in imports threatens the livelihoods of truckers, warehouse workers, and dock staff. I dont see mass layoffs at the port, Seroka said, but I do see that a trucker whos hauling four or five containers today likely will be hauling two or three after next week.

Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations, told CNN that tariffs could raise equipment costs by up to $35,000 per truck and warned of a $2 billion tax burden on small carriers.

UPS, long seen as a bellwether for the broader economy, declined to update its financial guidance, citing macroeconomic uncertainty, Bloomberg noted.

No quick fix

Some companies are shifting sourcing to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia, but supply chain leaders caution that such moves take time. It takes months if not years to establish these new relationships, Gold told CNN. Its not something that can happen overnight.

While Trump paused some global tariff expansions shortly after his April 2 announcement, the current China tariffs remain in full force. Although the recent reversals reduce some of the tail risk to the global economy, the tariff package that remains in place is massive, economists at ABN Amro told Bloomberg. The unusually large trade-policy related uncertainty remains, which by itself hurts growth.

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Looking ahead

By late May or early June, consumers are expected to see higher prices and less product variety on store shelves. So, if youre looking for a certain type of pants, you may find all kinds of pants, but not the type you wantand the type you want is going to be priced up, Seroka said to CNN.

Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen was blunter: If this goes on for a few more weeks, [retailers will] sell through that inventory, and by the summertime, youll have shortages and empty shelves, he told CNN.

As the last pre-tariff ships dock, Americas economy is heading into turbulent waters. Whether this standoff yields to negotiation or deeper economic damage remains to be seen.
US Vice President JD Vance has urged Pakistan to cooperate with India in tracking down terrorists based on its soil. This development comes as tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations rise following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam. read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes US Vice President JD Vance to his official residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi. Image Courtesy: @MEAIndia/X

US Vice President JD Vance has called on Pakistan to cooperate with India in tracking down terrorists operating from its territory, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

On Thursday, Vance said Washington hopes India will respond with caution to avoid a broader regional conflict in the wake of last weeks attack in which 26 people  mostly tourists  were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.

And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to ensure that the terrorists sometimes operating from their territory are hunted down and dealt with, Vance said.

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Speaking to Fox News, Vance publicly addressed the attack, which claimed 26 lives. Notably, he and his family were in India on a four-day visit when the attack occurred  the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing targeting CRPF personnel.

Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict, Vance said on Fox Newss Special Report with Bret Baier.

Rubio speaks to Jaishankar, Shehbaz Sharif

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, shortly after a call with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the Pahalgam attack.

During the phone conversation, Jaishankar told Rubio that those responsible for the tragic attack must be held accountable and brought to justice.

The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with New Delhi against terrorism.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama, killed at least 26 people, including a Nepali national, and injured many others.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the minerals deal with the United States as truly equal as it contains major concessions from exploitative demands proposed by the Donald Trump administration in earlier versions of the deal read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump appear at a meeting, while they attend the funeral of Pope Francis, at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the minerals deal with the United States as a truly equal partnership.

Zelenskyy further said that the deal was an outcome of his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Vatican City last week. He said that more positive outcomes should be seen in the coming days.

After months of negotiations that turned nasty at times, the United States and Ukraine signed the minerals deal on Wednesday (April 30). In the deal that has been reached, the United States has dropped the most exploitative clauses that previous drafts of the deal had and threatened to turn Ukraine into a US colony.

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For example, in the final deal, Ukraine retains the control of its natural resources and the United States has preferential rights but not exclusive rights in projects for the extraction of Ukraines natural resources. In earlier drafts, the US veto on future contracts was one of the most contentious points.

ALSO READ: Popes final miracle: Inside story of Trumps meeting with Zelenskyy at Vatican

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, The agreement has changed significantly during the preparation process. It is now truly an equal partnership  one that creates opportunities for substantial investment in Ukraine, as well as significant modernisation of Ukraines industries and, equally importantly, its legal practices.

The deal would now go to the Ukrainian parliament for ratification.

We look forward to other outcomes

Zelenskyy said that the minerals deal was the first outcome of his deliberations with Trump at the Vatican and more outcomes should be seen in the coming days.

In a meeting that took the world by surprise, Zelenskyy met Trump at the St Peters Basilica in a one-on-meeting. The meeting was cordial and photographs showed the two leaders engaged in deep discussions. Notably, they met without any aides, interpreters, or mediators.

President Trump and I discussed our readiness to conclude this agreement during our meeting in the Vatican. In fact, this is the first tangible outcome of that Vatican meeting, making it historic. We look forward to other outcomes from that conversation  it was a meaningful meeting, and President Trump and I used every minute to the fullest. I thank him for that. And once again, I thank both our teams  the Ukrainian and the American, said Zelenskyy.

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Today, our government team reported on the economic partnership with the United States. We have an agreement. It has been signed and will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. And we are interested in having no delays with it.



All our representatives did a good pic.twitter.com/iVMHbQXvux  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 1, 2025

Deal is based on fair terms, says Ukraine

Zelenskyy further said that the deal is based on fair terms and would support Ukraine in its defence.

In addition to the US veto in the award of future contracts, several other contentious provisions are absent in the US-Ukraine minerals deal.

In the final deal, there is no obligation on Ukraine to recoup the US assistance to Ukraine so far. The management of the investment fund governing the deal has equal participation from both sides  the previous versions favoured the United States with majority membership.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the deal on Ukraines behalf, said that all resources on Ukraines territory, under the soil, and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine under the terms of the deal. She further said that Ukraine has the final say in what and where to extract.

Svyrydenko further said that only new projects are covered under the deal and existing projects as well as state-owned enterprises are out of its domain.

The fund will be financed exclusively from new licenses. Specifically, 50 per cent of the revenues from new licenses in the field of critical materials, oil, and gas  generated after the Fund is created  will be directed to it. Revenues from existing projects or those already accounted for in the budget will not be included. The agreement also outlines future strategic cooperation, said Svyrydenko in a post on X.

Suggesting the long-term nature of the deal, Svyrydenko said that Ukraine expects that funds profits and revenues will not be distributed for the first 10 years but will be reinvested into Ukraine into new projects under the deal of the nations reconstruction. In an earlier draft of the deal, all proceeds from projects under the deal were to go to the United States to recoup the US assistance to Ukraine so far with 4 per cent interest.

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In a symbolic concession, the United States has also acknowledged in the deal that Russia started the ongoing war with a full-scale invasion  a sharp concession considering Trump has repeatedly accused Zelenskyy, Nato, and former US President Joe Biden for starting the war instead of Russia.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who signed the deal on US behalf, said that the deal was a message to Russia that Ukraine and the United States were on the same page.

Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals. And again, I think this is a strong signal to the Russian leadership and it gives President Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, Bessent told Fox News.

Separately, Bessent said in a statement: This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term. President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney says King Charles III will open Parliament later this month to begin the 45th Canadian government. read more

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Canada later this month to take part in the state opening of parliament.

The King accepted an invitation to open Canadas parliament on 27 May, a move described by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday as a historic honour that matches the weight of our times.

The announcement follows recent remarks by Carney, who said that former US President Donald Trump would not succeed in breaking Canada through tariffs or annexation threats.

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In the weeks leading up to the announcement, King Charles had shown signs of support for Canada, one of the Commonwealth realms in his role as constitutional monarch.

In his first press conference since his partys election win, Carney said We will have the privilege of welcoming His Majesty King Charles III, who will deliver the Speech from the Throne on May 27. Her Majesty the Queen will join the visit.

This will be the first time a reigning sovereign has opened a new Canadian Parliament since Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1957, following that years federal election. She later returned in 1977 to open the third session of the 30th Parliament. Traditionally, it is the governor general who delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the governments priorities. However, when the sovereign is present, they deliver the speech themselves.

The visit coincides with the aftermath of Canadas federal election, which has produced a Liberal minority government. The Liberals are projected to secure 168 seats, though two recounts remain pending. The Conservative Party will form the Official Opposition with 144 seats, while the Bloc Quebecois has 23, the NDP seven, and the Greens one.

The Kings visit comes amid ongoing tensions with the United States, where President Donald Trump, since his re-election, has repeatedly made provocative remarks suggesting Canada should become the 51st state. His threats, including punitive tariffs, featured heavily during the Canadian election campaign, prompting debate among party leaders over who was best positioned to stand up to Washington.

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Despite his earlier rhetoric, Trump has since congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on his victory and said he looked forward to meeting him at the White House, expressing hope for a great relationship under Carneys leadership.

King Charles, who serves as Canadas head of state, is expected to maintain political neutrality, in keeping with the role of the monarchy within the Commonwealth. However, in light of recent sovereignty concerns, some voices in Canada have called for a more visible role by the monarch.

This will be King Charless first visit to Canada since ascending the throne, though he has made several previous trips  most recently in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee, as well as visits in 2017 and 2012.

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada vests executive authority in the Crown, exercised through the governor general and elected officials. While the monarch does not rule, the Crown remains the legal foundation of government. According to the Government of Canada, the Kings role is to unite Canadians and give a collective sense of belonging to our country.

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The upcoming visit and the Kings participation in opening Parliament are expected to reinforce both the ceremonial and constitutional significance of the Crowns presence in Canadian democracy.
The Donald Trump administration of the United States has ordered the closure of a biological research laboratory that China has falsely linked to the origin of Covid-19 read more

A medical worker in a protective suit registers information for a patient at the entrance to the fever clinic of the Central Hospital of Wuhan in Hubei province, China on December 31, 2022. (Representative Photo, Credit: Reuters)

In a boost to the Chinese narrative on Covid-19, US President Donald Trump has ordered the closure of a biological laboratory that China has falsely linked to the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 disease.

Covid-19 emerged in Chinas Wuhan in 2019 and became a global pandemic as China did not take any preventive measures and allowed infected people to travel out of Wuhan to the rest of the world. China did not share any information about the virus for weeks and kept the world in dark.

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The Trump administration ordered the closure of the Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Maryland by 5 pm on April 29, according to WIRED.

ALSO READ: 5 years later, smoking gun points to Chinas Wuhan lab in search of Covid-19 origin

The IRF is a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory that conducts research on SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, encephalitis, and other viruses. It is located inside the US Army base at Fort Detrick. It comes under the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and works on emerging infectious diseases and biodefence.

The very next day, China published a white paper that falsely linked the lab to the origin of Covid-19.So far, all the evidence suggests that the virus originated in China.

The evidence suggests that an accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where scientists had been conducting risky research for years, leaked the virus that caused the worldwide pandemic. There is no evidence yet of natural-origin neither in China nor abroad. At least three US intelligence agencies have said the virus most likely originated in a lab in China.

Trump administration cites safety concerns to shut down lab

The Trump administration has cited safety concerns for shutting down the lab at Maryland.

The NIH told WIRED that the shutdown was a result of personnel issues at the lab that compromised the facilitys safety culture, prompting this research pause.

During the stand-down, no research will be conducted, and access will be limited to essential personnel only, to safeguard the facility and its resources, the NIH further said.

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ALSO READ: US documents sharpen lens on Chinas Wuhan lab amid post-Covid scrutiny of coronavirus research

The closure of the lab has come at a time when the Trump administration is dismantling the federal government in efforts led by billionaire Elon Musk. A host of science projects have been shut down or reduced to minimal size and a host of scientists and researchers have been fired. Most of the science programmes closed are about healthcare, emerging diseases, and climate change.

China on April 30 published a paper, titled Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: Chinas Actions and Stance, in which the regime published a litany of falsehoods about how it managed the Covid-19 outbreak and falsely claimed that the virus likely originated in the United States.

The propaganda piece, published by Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua, claimed that numerous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 originated outside China and said that substantial evidence suggested the COVID-19 might have emerged in the United States earlier than its officially-claimed timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China.

During May-October 2019, the US state of Virgina reported 19 outbreaks of respiratory illness  higher than usual for the time of year. At least 82 people fell sick in one cluster and three of them died. Overall, the authorities said dozens of people were infected. Symptoms in the outbreak included cough, fever, and pneumonia. All of these symptoms resemble that of Covid-19 but also a host of other non-Covid respiratory diseases.

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In the white paper, China referred to the Virgina outbreak and some other respiratory disease outbreaks and said those were likely the first instances of Covid-19 circulating without being tested. The paper linked the outbreak to the Fort Detrick lab that Trump has now shut down.

The white paper said, In July 2019, two communities in northern Virginia reported outbreaks of pneumonia with unknown causes, which local media suspected to be a mystery virus. A total of 54 people exhibited symptoms such as fever, coughing, and feableness, resulting in two deaths. That same month, the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory, located just one hours drive from the affected area, was suddenly shut down.

The white paper further claimed that China shared the epidemic information with the WHO [World Health Organization] and the international community in a timely manner, and provided the genome sequence of the virus. These are blatant lies.

As Firstpost has previously reported, China learnt by December 27, 2019, that a new coronavirus was behind the outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan and it was spreading from one person to another. By that time, China had also mapped the genome of the virus. However, China only alerted the WHO about the outbreak on December 31 and a Chinese scientist in partnership with a British scientist uploaded the genome privately on the internet.

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It was through that private post on the internet that the world learnt of the SARS-CoV-2s genome, not through the transparency of the Chinese regime.

Despite knowing in December that the virus was spreading person to person, China only told this to the WHO on January 20. By then, millions of people had carried out the virus from China to the rest of the world.

ALSO READ: Millions couldve been saved if Chinese were transparent: The Seeker, Indian whistleblower, who exposed Covid-19 cover-up

Through its deliberate cations, the Chinese regime turned a city outbreak into a global pandemic, said Jamie Metzl, a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a specialist on China who has previously served at the US Department of State and White House.

In any other open country, such as the United States, the authorities would have taken the logical steps of alerting the world and sharing the genome at once and the novel coronavirus outbreak would have been little more than a kitchen fire, said Metzl in an earlier interview.

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The Chinese government turned the equivalent of a stove fire into a kitchen fire, the kitchen fire into a city fire, and the city fire into ultimately a global inferno. In the critical first days and weeks, the Chinese government did everything wrong and everything possible for political purposes to prevent the kind of response that was so urgently needed. If not for the unique pathologies of the Chinese state, there almost certainly would not have been a pandemic, said Metzl.
The United States will no longer formally lead efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, according to the Department of State 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 has withdrawn the United States from formal peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

The United States will no longer indulge in shuttle diplomacy to bring the war between Ukraine and Russia to an end, according to the Department of State.

The Trump administration is changing the methodology of how we contribute to peace talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings, said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, according to The Daily Telegraph.

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Ukraine and Russia must now present concrete proposals to end the war and should meet directly to reach a peace agreement, said Bruce.

Bruce further said, We will continue to help, but we will no longer fly around the world as mediators in meetings. Now it is up to the two sides, the time has come when they must present and develop concrete ideas on how to end this conflict. It will be up to them.

It is not clear if the US withdrawal from peace talks would also mean the stoppage of intelligence and military assistance to Ukraine.

The development comes days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump would conclude this week whether to continue working towards a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia or abandon the efforts and move on to other foreign policy priorities.

The abandonment of efforts to end the Russian war on Ukraine marks a spectacular failure of Trump who had boasted throughout the campaign that he would end the war within 24 hours of assuming office.

Trump walks out of peace efforts after Ukraine minerals deal

The US withdrawal from formal Ukraine-Russia peace talks comes just a day after Ukraine and the United States signed a minerals deal.

Ukraine had hoped that the deal would bind the interests of the Trump administration to those of Ukraine and would lead to a beneficial outcome. The understanding was also reflected by US officials. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said that the deal signalled to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.

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The abandonment of peace talks also come days after Ukraine rejected a peace proposal from Trump that would have served victory to Russia on a platter. Even as the proposal fulfilled some of the biggest Russian demands, Russia rejected the proposal and restated maximalist demands.

In recent days, Trump had repeated his frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladmir Putin for not accepting his peace proposals. While Trump had bashed Zelenskyy from the beginning, whom he had called a dictator and had suggested should be ousted, he had been suggesting lately that even Putin might be playing with him. However, he did not take any punitive measure against Russia.

So far, the United States has floated three ceasefire proposals. While Ukraine accepted all of them, Russia rejected all of them and instead placed a long list of maximalist demands on the table. Yet Trump kept bashing Zelenskyy over the weeks and briefly suspended military and intelligence aid well, but did not do anything about Russia. Instead, Trump has been exploring a trade deal with Russia.

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US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said that she has created a special team group, the Directors Initiative Group, which is investigating Dr Fauci for his alleged role in funding the Wuhan lab tied to COVID-19 origin theory read more

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbards office is joining hands with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Megyn Kelly Show podcast, Gabbard confirmed on Thursday that she has created a special team to investigate Dr Anthony Fauci for perjury.

Gabbard and other top officials in the US President Donald Trumps administration have often called out Faucis role in funding Wuhan gain-of-function research tied to COVID-19. In the podcast, Gabbard also mentioned that she wants to end so-called gain-of-function research in which scientists alter pathogens to make them more transmissible or deadly so they can study them.

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Tulsi Gabbard is getting ready to drop the hammer on Fauci and worldwide gain of function research including in the Ukraine !!!



Drilling down on the specific connection between the EcoHealth Alliance involvement and the Wuhan leak.



Proving Fauci lied under oath over and over pic.twitter.com/btGVuUVyM5  Kat A  (@SaiKate108) May 1, 2025

I created a kind of special teams group, the Directors Initiative Group, that is focused on investigating a number of the Presidents top priorities and the things that the American people really deserve and want to know the truth about. The origin of COVID-19 is one of them. So theyre actively working on that. A lot of the work thats been done is on Covid.gov, Gabbard said in Kellys podcast.

Gabbard remains adamant to prove that COVID came from a lab

Like several officials in the Trump administration, Gabbard believes that the COVID-19 pandemic was caused by a laboratory accident in Wuhan, China, rather than the deadly virus spreading from animals to humans, as many virologists have claimed.

Last month, the Trump administration launched a web page making the case that the pandemic originated from a Chinese lab. The website also accused former NIH official Anthony Fauci of covering up the plot. In the podcast, Gabbard pointed to NIH grants that went to the research lab in Wuhan to solidify her case.

In the case of the Wuhan lab, as well as many other bio labs around the world, it was actually US-funded, and leads to this dangerous kind of research that in many examples has resulted in either a pandemic or some other major health crisis, Gabbard said.

Gabbards stance gained momentum after the CIA revealed earlier this year that COVID-19 was more likely to have originated in a lab. It also said that it had low confidence in that assessment and would continue to evaluate any new evidence. Two years ago, the FBI also favoured the lab leak theory with moderate confidence.

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However, during the Biden administration, the National Intelligence Council favoured the natural origin theory, which Gabbard has already rejected. In order to prevent another Covid-like pandemic or another major health incident that could affect us in the world, we have to end this gain-of-function research, she said.

With inputs from agencies.
Before he stepped down from his role as the US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz was photographed using a Signal-like app during a cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump read more

The newly ousted former US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, was revealed to be using an unofficial version of the Signal app, which is usually used by US President Donald Trumps team to archive messages. The photograph published by Reuters raises concerns about the classification and security of the information Trump officials have been discussing on the app.

In a social media post on Thursday, Trump announced that he is removing Waltz from his post as the national security adviser and maintained that he will be nominated as ambassador to the United Nations. The president thanked Waltz for his work and said he would be temporarily replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will continue as Americas top diplomat.

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The photograph of Waltz looking at the Signal-like app started going around after Trumps announcement. In the photo, the then-national security adviser was seen checking his phone during a cabinet meeting held by US President Donald Trump. The screen showed messages from top government officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Marco Rubio.

Why does it matter?

The reason why many speculated that Waltz was looking at a Signal chat was because at the bottom of his phones screen was a message that looked like Signals regular PIN verification message. However, the message was different since it appeared to be asking Waltz to verify his TM SGNL PIN. This is not the message that is displayed on an official version of Signal.

The Trump administrations use of Signal to share official information has been scrutinised to a great extent. Waltz himself committed a major goof when he added a journalist from The Atlantic in a group chat discussing the Trump teams first strike on Houthis in Yemen. At that time Watlz owned up to his mistake, but questions were raised about the classification and security of the data, which was being shared on the famous messaging app.

Signal is an approved app that is loaded onto our government phones. Thank you for your attention to this matter. https://t.co/EdBp7CQ9uO  Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) May 1, 2025

A court later asked the Trump officials to archive the message so that it could be assessed when the case goes on trial. Meanwhile, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended Waltzs continued use of Signal in an X post. Signal is an approved app that is loaded onto our government phones. Thank you for your attention to this matter, Cheung said in the post.
We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve! Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, without elaborating read more

People sit on the grass at the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, on April 15, 2025. Reuter File

US President Donald Trump said on Friday his administration will revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status, returning to a threat he issued against the Massachusetts school last month as part of his wider attack on elite universities.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve! Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, without elaborating.

The university responded, saying that would be an unlawful misuse of the U.S. tax code, which makes it a crime for the president, vice president or any White House employee to request the Internal Revenue Service investigate or audit a particular individual or entity.

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Harvard is already suing the Trump administration over the announcement last month that the government was freezing federal grants to the Ivy League university amounting to $2.2 billion, mostly to fund medical and other scientific research.

Trump previously said on April 15 that he thought Harvard should perhaps lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness?

Soon after, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said any forthcoming IRS actions were independent of the president and that any audit or investigations were initiated before Trumps post.

Representatives for the Internal Revenue Service did not respond to questions on Friday.

The tax code requires that any IRS employee who receives an improper request from the White House report that to the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, whose office also did not respond to questions.

Harvard, the nations oldest and wealthiest university, said a revocation of its tax-exempt status would be unlawful and unprecedented, a comment echoed by free-speech advocacy groups and other non-profit organizations on Friday.

There is no legal basis to rescind Harvards tax-exempt status, the Boston-area school said in a statement. The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.

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It would also cut money available for student scholarships, medical research and technological advancements that drive economic growth, Harvard said.

Most universities, including Harvard, are exempt from federal income tax because they are deemed to be charitable organizations operated exclusively for public educational purposes. The exemption also allows people to make tax-deductible donations to such organizations, a valuable source of income for colleges with wealthy alumni.

Since a 2017 law, Harvard and other universities have had to pay a 1.4% excise tax on their endowments. Harvards endowment amounted to $53.2 billion dollars as of the 2024 fiscal year, when it paid more than $44 million in taxes.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democratic U.S. senators on Friday asked Acting Inspector General Heather Hill at the Treasury to investigate any IRS actions being taken against Harvard.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Council of Nonprofits, said in a statement that Trumps actions are an abuse of executive power and an existential threat to the entire nonprofit sector.

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If the Trump administration can silence universities today, who will be next? Yentel said.

Since taking office in January, Trump has targeted U.S. universities by freezing federal funding, launching investigations, revoking international students visas and making other demands.

Trump, a Republican, has said higher education has been gripped by antisemitic, anti-American, Marxist and radical left ideologies.

Trumps administration escalated its fight against Harvard in recent weeks by freezing federal grants, seeking details on its foreign ties and threatening its ability to enroll foreign students.

The grant freeze came after Harvard rejected and denounced what it called illegal demands made by the Trump administration, which included a demand to audit the viewpoints of its professors and students, seek outside auditors to review several of its departments, ban face masks and some diversity initiatives, and overhaul its governance.
Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was put to death for the murders of Renee Flaherty, 32, and her children  Geoffrey, 9, Amanda, 7, and Logan, 4 read more

This undated booking photo obtained from the Florida Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Jeffrey Hutchinson. AFP

A Gulf War veteran convicted of killing his girlfriend and her three young children was executed by lethal injection in the southern US state of Florida on Thursday.

Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was put to death for the murders of Renee Flaherty, 32, and her children  Geoffrey, 9, Amanda, 7, and Logan, 4.

Hutchinsons lawyers claimed he suffered from mental illness as a result of his experiences during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, but appeals to halt his execution were rejected.

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He was executed at 8:14 pm local time Thursday (0014 GMT Friday), the Florida Department of Corrections said in a statement.

According to court documents, Hutchinson argued with Flaherty on the evening of September 11, 1998, packed his clothes and guns into his truck, and went to a bar.

He then returned home and fatally shot Flaherty and her children with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Following the murders, Hutchinson called 911 and said, I just shot my family.

When sheriffs deputies arrived, they found Hutchinson dazed on the floor of the garage with blood on his clothes and gunshot residue on his hands.

The phone was still connected to the 911 dispatcher.

Hutchinson claimed at trial that the murders were carried out by two masked and armed intruders who shot Flaherty and the children and then fled.

There have been 15 executions in the United States this year: 11 by lethal injection; two by firing squad; and two using nitrogen gas.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others  California, Oregon and Pennsylvania  have moratoriums in place.

President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment and, on his first day in office, called for an expansion of its use for the vilest crimes.

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Eight sources have indicated that the initial framework being discussed is based on the main parts of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) read more

The United States and Iran are reportedly getting closer to an agreement aimed at reining in Tehrans nuclear activities. According to a report from Reuters, this potential deal might not be very different from the 2015 nuclear agreement, one that US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned.

Eight officials and diplomats from all sides involved in the talks, who chose to remain anonymous, shared details that havent been reported before. They said that the current discussions are leading towards something quite similar to the original deal that the US withdrew from in 2018.

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US-Iran talks going on

In a short period of just three weeks, the US and Iran have held three rounds of talks. The main goal of these discussions is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and in return, Iran would receive relief from some of the sanctions that have been imposed on it. A fourth round of these talks is expected to take place soon in Rome.

The move by the US to suddenly start negotiating with Iran in April came as a surprise to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He had travelled to Washington to seek the backing of the US president for possible military actions against Irans nuclear facilities. However, just a day before a planned joint press conference at the White House, four sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that Netanyahu learned that the US and Iran would begin talks within a few days.

JCPOA-2 on the cards?

Eight sources have indicated that the initial framework being discussed is based on the main parts of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

However, this potential new agreement could extend the duration of the restrictions to 25 years. It would also include stricter ways to check if Iran is following the rules and expand what are known as sunset clauses. These clauses mean that certain restrictions on Irans nuclear programme would be paused after a certain period, but not completely removed.

Terms and conditions for Iran

Under the terms that are reportedly being discussed, Iran would agree to limit the amount of nuclear material it has and the types of centrifuges it uses. It would also dilute, send out of the country, or seal its stock of uranium that is enriched to 60 per cent. This would all be done under very close monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an international organisation that oversees nuclear activities. In exchange for these steps, Iran would receive significant relief from the sanctions that have been imposed on it, according to all the sources.

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While Israel is insisting that Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium at all, Iran has stated that its right to enrich uranium is not something it is willing to negotiate. However, three Iranian officials have said that the amount of uranium Iran can keep, the possibility of sending some of it out of the country, and the number of centrifuges Iran can operate are all topics under discussion.

The sources explained that these proposals do not aim to completely dismantle Irans nuclear infrastructure, as Israel and some US officials would prefer. Instead, the goal is to establish long-term restrictions on Irans uranium enrichment activities to prevent it from quickly developing a nuclear weapon.

According to the report, Iran has even suggested the idea of selling enriched uranium to the United States.

Currently, Iran operates approximately 15,000 centrifuges. Under the JCPOA, Iran was allowed to operate around 6,000 centrifuges.
While the US continues to cycle through top security officials, Indias Ajit Doval has provided stable and consistent leadership as NSA since 2014 read more

As US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his National Security Adviser Michael Waltz barely 100 days into his second term, the contrast with Indias stability in national security leadership became striking.

While the US continues to cycle through top security officials, Indias Ajit Doval has provided stable and consistent leadership as NSA since 2014.

According to multiple media outlets including Fox News, Waltzs departure comes amid broader turmoil within Trumps national security team, highlighting a pattern of instability that has defined both of President Trumps terms in office.

Waltzs blunder  a group chat about US military operations in Yemen accidentally including a journalist  put him in the firing line. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was also involved in the conversation but appears to have avoided the axe, at least for now.

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Waltz has become the first high-profile casualty of Trumps second term, though far from the first overall. In his previous term, Trump cycled through six National Security Advisers, four Defence Secretaries, and two Secretaries of State.

Waltz, ironically, outlasted Flynn, who was dismissed just weeks into the job in 2017.

In comparison, the Obama administration had only three NSAs across eight years, and George W. Bush had two  still less frequent turnover than under Trump.

This constant change is very different from Indias steady approach. Dovals steady hand has allowed New Delhi to cultivate consistent relationships with global counterparts  even as Washington shuffled its security leadership.

During Trumps first term alone, Doval had to navigate working relationships with Michael Flynn, HR McMaster, John Bolton, and Robert OBrien  plus two acting NSAs.

Doval, a former Intelligence Bureau chief, has served as Indias National Security Advisor since 2014 and is considered one of Prime Minister Narendra Modis most trusted aides.

A 1968-batch IPS officer from the Kerala cadre, he was the first police officer to receive the Kirti Chakra, the countrys second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

As head of the national security apparatus  overseeing intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies  Doval holds one of the most influential positions in the Indian government.

As far as US is concerned, Steve Witkoff, a longtime Trump loyalist and special envoy, is now rumored to be in line for the NSA post, reported Times of India.

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For now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser while keeping his current role as well.

Citing critics, the ToI report said that the Trump White House increasingly resembles a personality-driven imperial court, where cabinet members are expected to demonstrate loyalty above all else.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter quipped this week: Would it be possible to have a cabinet meeting without the Kim Jong Il-style tributes? following yet another sycophantic show of allegiance.

The chaos in Washington has diplomatic side effects. For instance, even as Defence Secretary Hegseth held a call with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh this week in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, the US Department of Defence did not issue a readout  a reflection of the disarray.

The Indian Ministry of Defence, however, publicly stated that Hegseth reaffirmed US support for Indias right to self-defence after the Pakistan-backed attack.

As Trumps inner circle reshuffles yet again, Indias experience offers a lesson in how consistent leadership at the top of the national security apparatus can anchor policy and foster trust internationally  qualities currently in short supply in Washington.

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With inputs from agencies
Former Pakistan diplomat Husain Haqqani has linked Pahalgam attack to extremist ideologies and support for jihadi terrorists, calling for an honest global conversation on the deeper causes of terrorism read more

Indian security officers inspect the site a day after where terrorists indiscriminately opened fire at tourists in Pahalgam. AP File

Former Pakistan diplomat Husain Haqqani has said that extremist ideologies and support for jihadi terrorists is to blame for Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Taking to X, Haqqani, former Pakistan ambassador to US, wrote, India is right to be grieved & enraged over a vicious terrorist attack. Pakistan is right to ask for evidence. The world is right to call for de-escalation. Now, can we start discussing the real issue: extremist ideologies & support for Jihadi terrorists.

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On April 22, a terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 26 people, including 25 tourists and one local resident.

The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, in a statement claimed the responsibility for targeting the victims, which was later retracted. The attackers reportedly inquired about the victims faith before opening fire.

The attack reignited global scrutiny of Pakistans long-standing role in sponsoring terrorism.

From sheltering jihadist leaders to backing cross-border militancy, Islamabads military and intelligence establishment  particularly the ISI  has long used terror groups as strategic assets.

This complicity is no secret. Former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif hinted at state involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, while General Pervez Musharraf admitted to training militants for proxy war in Kashmir.

Just last month, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Sky News that Pakistan had supported terror outfits for decades at the behest of Western powers.

Pakistans terror network has had a global footprint. It backed the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network  behind deadly attacks in Kabul. Russia suspects Pakistani links to the recent Moscow concert hall attack, while Iran launched drone strikes in January 2024 on alleged Pakistan-based terror camps. Even the 2005 London bombings had links to radicalisation in Pakistan.

From South Asia to Europe, Pakistans terror machinery continues to destabilise regions far beyond its borders.

With inputs from agencies
Avon, IN (46123)

Today

Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 29F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 29F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
By Nazrin Abdul



The opening ceremony of the 2nd Forum on "Public Processes in the Media" took place in Baku, organized by the Media Development Agency.

Attended by members of parliament, state body press heads, media outlet leaders, journalists, and officials, the event aimed to enhance the educational role of the media, promote public opinion shaping, and improve media-state coordination.

Ahmad Ismayilov, Chairman of the Media Development Agency, highlighted that the forum, now in its second year, serves as a platform to address current media-related issues and foster state-media dialogue. He emphasized that the Forum supports the establishment of healthy relations between media and state bodies, aiming to increase professionalism in public journalism content.

Sabina Aliyeva, Commissioner for Human Rights, spoke about the importance of analyzing medias role in shaping public events and influencing public opinion. She noted that the medias development, rooted in democratic principles, was set in motion by the leadership of Heydar Aliyev and continued under Ilham Aliyev, with key reforms enhancing freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan.
After receiving fan backlash due to an update that nerfed Genshin Impact's Yae Miko, miHoYo Games will be rolling back to a previous version.



Just like other major action RPGs, Genshin Impact releases regular updates that either provide buffs or nerfs to their characters. The recent update 2.6 resulted in changes for Yae Miko's targeting mechanic, causing an uproar from fans. He Sesshou Sakura's ability's priority was changed. From targeting random enemies, it now attacks the nearest ones. This nullifies the advantage of her two passive which increases the damage and range. This also means that the number of foes taking the attack's damage will be lesser than in the previous mechanism.

Fans Filed Legal Complaint Against miHoYo after Update 2.6

Yae Miko made her debut in version 2.5 to much fan excitement. Her kit, however, was not well received by the community, especially her Elemental Skill. She can summon up to three Sesshou Sakura, Electro totems that attack random enemies. While this is confusing to some, fans noted that her advantage is the large range of her attack's coverage. With a C2 update applied, the totems' attack range is increased by 60 percent.

Of course, applying a C2 update would be expensive. Once update 2.6 was applied, the new targeting logic rendered her attacks and the C2 updates useless.

Players were quick to express their anger on social media. They questioned miHoYo for their decision to implement this change, believing that the company was "scamming" them. The Japanese community was among the angriest, filing formal complaints to the government's Consumer Affairs Agency, claiming that the company had defrauded them.

MiHoYo Addresses Fan Backlash and Rolls Back Updates for Yae Miko

The backlash from Yae Miko users was understandable. Since it is a five-star character, fans would have to spend money to unlock all of Yae Miko's passive skills. The good news is that miHoYo has released an update on Wednesday to roll back the changes. It also posted an apology, saying that the company would "endeavor to adjust our testing and verification process in the future to avoid making changes that cause the user experience to suffer in certain scenarios. We will seek only to introduce fixes that optimize parts of the experience while otherwise maintaining the existing experience as-is."

Once the update is applied, Yae Miko's Sesshou Sakura will revert back to targeting random foes once again, along with other targeting changes. 100 Primogems were also provided as compensation. The same was also awarded to all players who reached Adventure Rank 5 or above.

What's New in Update 2.6?

Genshin impact Update 2.6 was released last week, Mar. 30, 2022. The patch unlocked access to new banners, events, and new characters, such as the Hydro Sword-wielding Kamisato Ayato. Ayato's abilities include casting water illusions and creating a realm that deals Hydro AoE damage to enemies. He is the head of the Kamisato Clan.

The update also adds The Chasm explorable for players. The Chasm is where Liyue mines ores and houses a wide underground network where enemies, bosses, and treasures can be found. Exploring The Chasms will lead players to meet Dainsleif and learn more about the Traveler siblings and the lost nation of Khaenri'ah.

Story posted on GameNGuide

Written by Fred Layno
Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Photos by Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel

Grand Junction Police Officer Arnold Naik pulls a vehicle over for running a stop sign near North First Street on April 17 during a media ride-along with the police department. Mesa Countys main law enforcement agencies are as close to fully staffed as they have ever been with the Grand Junction Police Department having more deploy-able officers than it ever has, according to Police Chief Matt Smith. GJPD is authorized to have 146 sworn officers, but has budgeted for 132 this year, according to Smith, and is close to that number.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd has joined Democrats in Colorados congressional delegation in calling for the reinstatement of an estimated 3,000 U.S. Forest Service employees qualified to respond to wildfires.

The Grand Junction lawmaker signed a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that also was signed by Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Reps. Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen. It calls for the rehirings to occur ahead of peak wildfire season.

At issue are employees who hold Incident Qualification Cards, commonly called red cards. They are issued to staff who complete the required training, experience and physical fitness test to respond to wildfire incidents outside their full-time jobs, according to a news release.

The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are proceeding with hiring seasonal firefighters. At issue in the lawmakers letter are what they say are fired Forest Service workers who held other jobs but also could do fire-related work. Their departure was a part of cost-cutting measures implemented by the Trump administration this year.

As you know, the U.S. Forest Service is vital to Colorado and the American West, the lawmakers wrote. Our national forests have an extensive backlog of forest health and wildfire prevention needs. Notwithstanding the Administrations stated intention to exempt firefighters from its layoffs, we wanted to write to make sure you are aware that many Forest Service employees who have been laid off across the West are, in fact, red-card-holding (i.e. critical firefighting) staff. The layoff of red-card holding Forest Service employees has substantially weakened our nations firefighting workforce.

They wrote that red-card-carrying staff are able to both support wildfire response and fight fires themselves.

Red-card holders are the backbone of federal firefighting efforts, and provide critical support and added capacity when a wildfire breaks out, the lawmakers say.

The Forest Service is now entering peak fire season in a compromised position, placing an even greater fire danger on communities across Colorado. The loss of red-card holders threatens public safety, undercuts local economies, and undermines years of local wildfire prevention efforts. We urge you to restore the Forest Service red-card holders without delay, the lawmakers wrote to Rollins.

Reached by email for comment, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said in a statement, Employees with Incident Qualification Cards, or 'red cards' were not laid off, but chose to leave the agency voluntarily. Secretary Rollins is committed to preserving essential safety positions and will ensure that critical services remain uninterrupted. Secretary Rollins fully supports the Presidents directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDAs many services to the American people. We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the American peoples hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people, not the bureaucracy.

"We are incredibly proud of our firefighters, and we will ensure they have the training, tools, and resources they need to work alongside our state and local partners, as well as private landowners, to continue the work to protect lives and livelihoods.

In a recent news release on the state Division of Fire Prevention and Controls 2025 Wildfire Preparedness Plan, Gov. Jared Polis said, The federal cuts to wildfire services are troubling, and we continue to urge the administration to remain at the table with states.

State officials are expecting a normal fire season this year, but that still would mean about 6,000 wildfires statewide.

The state plan says the uncertainty around availability of federal firefighters within the departments of Agriculture and Interior raises significant concerns.

The potential reduction in personnel, including those with wildland firefighting qualifications or in support roles, coupled with budgetary constraints and slowed hiring, could reduce federal capacity to respond to wildfires, the plan says. This situation could lead to delayed response times, fewer available firefighting crews and equipment, and an increased reliance on already stretched state and local resources, potentially jeopardizing the safety of communities and the protection of infrastructure and natural resources in Colorado. Potentially impacted resources include Incident Management Teams (IMTs), secondary firefighters and support personnel, handcrews, and local initial attack capacity. DFPC is coordinating with our federal partners to assess these impacts and develop contingency plans as needed.

Adding to uncertainty is the status of the federal AmeriCorps program. Most of its staff has been placed on leave, and its National Civilian Community Corps volunteers were dismissed, the Associated Press has reported. Polis reportedly said at the press conference that the state had 500 AmeriCorps workers lined up for fire-related work, while acknowledging that the programs status is up in the air.
Mon Monday

97 /67

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 90s and lows in the upper 60s.
U.S. warplanes conduct new strikes in al-Jawf Province in Yemen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 1, 2025

U.S. warplanes have conducted strikes in al-Jawf Province in Yemen for a second day in a row.

Local Yemeni media outlet Al-Masirah reported on Thursday that U.S. aircraft conducted airstrikes on areas of the city of Khabb al-Shaaf in al-Jawf, located in northeastern Yemen.

A day earlier, airstrikes had targeted al-Sil region in al-Jawf.

The was no immediate report of any casualties and damages from the attacks.

2050**4482

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Uganda's admission as BRICS partner a key milestone: FM

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:27, May 01, 2025

KAMPALA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's admission as a BRICS partner state marks a significant milestone in the country's foreign relations and development aspirations, Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo has said.

In the remarks delivered Tuesday at the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Odongo said Uganda now joins a group of countries with shared goals as they pursue sustainable development.

"It is a great milestone for Uganda, which enjoys warm relations with the BRICS member states and partners, and has got a lot in common with them. Uganda is committed to making a great contribution to the goals of the BRICS," Odongo said.

"We thank the founding member states for opening up BRICS and allowing new members and partners to join the framework. This dynamism is a strong signal that BRICS is, and will continue to be, relevant and growing across the globe," the minister said.

Odongo described BRICS as a key voice for the Global South in an increasingly polarized world, where the role of multilateralism is under threat.

While the word faces immense socio-economic and geopolitical challenges, these challenges amplify the greater need for frameworks like BRICS to stand out firmly as the voice of the Global South, he said.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Uganda officially became a BRICS partner state, along with eight other countries.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs John Mulimba earlier told Xinhua that joining BRICS offers a strategic opportunity to deepen ties with some of the world's largest emerging economies.

"BRICS offers a significant opportunity to learn from their technological advancements and innovations, including the use of information and communications technology as a tool for societal transformation," Mulimba said.

BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a bloc of major emerging markets with significant economic potential. Since its inaugural summit in 2009, the bloc has expanded its membership. In Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa are currently the only full members.

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U.S. tariff tsunami wrecks disproportionate havoc on African economies

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:29, May 01, 2025

ADDIS ABABA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Lesotho, a small southern African country and one of the world's least developed countries, is facing grave concerns after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent "reciprocal tariff" on it.

The move threatens Lesotho's economy, which is heavily dependent on textile exports.

The U.S. tariff policy has triggered widespread criticism and caused economic turmoil worldwide. For Africa, home to 33 of the world's 46 least developed countries, the impact poses a significant threat to their development and industrialization.

Most African economies are still in the early stage of development, with limited diversification and resilience to external risk, especially given their reliance on exports.

Being subject to high "reciprocal tariffs" in a limited trade with the United States is making their economies more vulnerable, revealing the disproportionate impact of the U.S. tariff policy.

Critics, including U.S. media, have called the U.S. "trade loss theory" untenable and absurd, saying Lesothans spend only 3 U.S. dollars per person a year on U.S. goods and services, not because they are taking advantage of the country, but because they have no money.

Carlos Lopes, former executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said Lesotho exports over 50 percent of its garment products to the United States, adding that the tariffs will inflict severe pain on its garment processing industry, a key economic pillar, leading to declining exports, factory shutdowns and massive job cuts.

Noting that African economies have worked hard to integrate into global value chains under the framework of a rules-based international trading system, Lopes said that countries such as Madagascar, Lesotho and Kenya "find themselves penalized," as they have developed export-oriented sectors such as apparel, textiles, light manufacturing and agro-processing, all of which are highly vulnerable to tariff shocks.

Newcomers in the lower rungs of industrialization, after years of donor-supported economic liberalization, are being blindsided by a tariff measure that was applied without regard for development levels, he added.

South Africa's automotive sector, which accounts for 22 percent of its total exports to the United States, is among those hardest hit by separate tariffs on foreign-made cars.

U.S. tariffs will have a series of negative economic impacts on African countries. Falling export earnings lead to a reduction in foreign exchange reserves, placing downward pressure on national currencies. The depreciation, in turn, makes imports more expensive, driving up the cost of living in affected countries.

Meanwhile, African countries' ability to pay debts will also be hampered due to declining export earnings and worsening economic outlooks, possibly triggering sovereign credit crises, and further weakening the ability of governments to fund development projects.

The potential impact goes further beyond immediate trade disruptions. U.S. tariffs create difficulty for African enterprises to accumulate the capital needed for technological upgrading and industrial transformation through exports. As a result, Africa's industrialization process is being hindered, constraining it at the lower end of the global value chain.

Balew Demissie, a senior consultant at the Policy Studies Institute of Ethiopia, warned that although Ethiopia is implementing an import substitution strategy, it has yet to import key mechanical equipment to make it happen. The depreciation of its currency will undoubtedly increase costs and hinder its efforts to move up the industrial chain.

Facing uncertain U.S. trade policies, African countries are actively embracing the African Continental Free Trade Area deal, which aims to promote intra-African trade and investment by eliminating internal tariff barriers, establishing regional value chains, achieving economies of scale, and enhancing Africa's standing in the global trade landscape. By now, 47 out of the 55 members of the African Union have ratified the agreement.

The World Bank estimates that by 2035, this agreement is expected to help lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, raise Africa's total income by 450 billion dollars, and increase the continent's exports by nearly 29 percent.

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Israeli report: Netanyahu moving to expand war on Gaza Strip

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 7:44 PM

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to order an expansion of the ongoing onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, Hebrew-language Maariv days says.

Netanyahu is expected to convene a war cabinet meeting on Friday for a situation assessment, the Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday.

The meeting, which includes senior generals and minister of military affairs Israel Katz, is expected to approve a plan to expand and intensify the Israeli onslaught across the war-wracked territory, it added.

Israel has already expanded its ground aggression in the besieged Gaza Strip, seeking to seize a large portion of the Palestinian territory.

The regime intensified its onslaught last month, with Katz announcing plans to "capture extensive territory" to establish what new "security zones".

Critics say the Israeli regime "is sending more soldiers into Gaza to fight in the same areas where battles have already taken place repeatedly."

The regime has already rejected a deal proposed by the Hamas resistance movement that would have involved the release of all Israeli captives held in Gaza in return for ending the war.

Hamas says it is willing to engage in comprehensive negotiations that would secure the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for a full ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction efforts, and the lifting of the siege.

The families of Israeli captives, as well as several Israeli opposition groups, are pressuring Netanyahu to accept the agreement.

They have accused Netanyahu of abandoning the captives in favor of prolonging the war for his political survival.

In recent weeks, thousands of Israeli reservists have signed letters demanding that Netanyahu's regime stop the war in the besieged strip.

New Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza

Gaza's civil defense agency said Thursday Israeli bombardments had killed at least 29 people since midnight in the war-ravaged territory.

Civil defense official Mohammed Al-Mughayyir said the toll included eight people killed in an airstrike on the Abu Sahlul family home in Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza.

Four people were killed in an airstrike east of Shaaf in Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood.

At least 17 more were killed in other attacks across the besieged Palestinian territory, including one that hit a tent sheltering displaced people near the central city of Deir el-Balah, the agency said.

Images showed residents digging through rubble in search of bodies, which were carried away on stretchers under blankets.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, rescuers rushed a screaming wounded child out of an ambulance.

Israel resumed its brutal campaign in the Gaza Strip on March 18, unilaterally breaching a two-month truce.

Gaza's Health Ministry said on Thursday that at least 2,326 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes.

More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, most of them women and children.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the former Israeli minister for military affairs, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

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Houthi: US airstrikes cannot stop Yemen's anti-Israeli operations

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 6:34 PM

The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement says US airstrikes on his country are being conducted in support of Israel and constitute part of the decisive battle between the Yemeni nation and the occupying regime.

Speaking in a televised speech on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Yemeni attacks against strategic installations deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories will continue, and the US military cannot stop them by any means.

"Our naval operations will be maintained as well, and the navigation of Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea will not be allowed at all. The Israeli enemy is desperate to regain the ability to navigate in the Red Sea waters," he added.

Turning to the Gaza conflict, Houthi said nearly 1,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, got killed and wounded this week as a result of relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza.

"The Israeli enemy has completely destroyed more than 7,000 Palestinian families in its aggression against the Gaza Strip. These atrocities and heinous crimes against families in Gaza can be best described as genocide.

"The Zionist entity has committed the crime of mass murder against more than 18,000 Palestinian children, and this constitutes a very horrific crime within a small expanse of land," he added.

The Ansarullah leader said the Israeli military has also killed over 12,400 women, and more than 1,400 doctors and medical staffers. "Such figures attest to the Tel Aviv regime's attempts to plug up healthcare services in the Gaza Strip."

Houthi stated that the Israeli enemy has been preventing any humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip for nearly two months.

"The specter of famine threatens more than 2 million Palestinians, who are at risk of dying from hunger before the eyes of the human community," he said.

"Israel uses starvation as a deadly method of warfare against Palestinians. The appalling and distressing scenes of Palestinian children touch anybody's heart. The scenes of women and children gathering over the small amount of leftover food are an absolute disgrace to the international community and humanitarian organizations."

Houthi said the Israeli military continues to commit all kinds of aggression and attacks in the West Bank, including abduction, destruction, excavation and killings.

Additionally, Israeli forces' acts of aggression in the occupied al-Quds and the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound continue unabated.

"When illegal Israeli settlers storm the courtyard of the al-Aqsa Mosque, they try to defile the holy site through dancing, singing, and uttering profane remarks. The Israeli occupation regime seeks to build an elevator at the western wall of the Noble Sanctuary, which constitutes a step towards Judaizing al-Quds," Houthi said.

The Ansarullah chief stated that Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza have exhibited great resilience over the past week, and al-Qassam Brigades members were able to carry out a number of unprecedented military operations.

"The operations gave the criminal Israeli military a great surprise, and dealt a strategic blow to the forces."

The Israeli enemy also continues its aggression, including killing and destruction in Lebanon, Houthi said.

"This week, Israeli troops set up a new military position on Lebanese soil in a flagrant violation of the November 27 ceasefire agreement. This translates into occupation in every sense of the word," he said.

The Ansarullah leader emphasized that the Hezbollah resistance movement remains a real deterrent for the Israeli enemy.

"If it were not for the group, the Israeli enemy would dare to invade Lebanon and completely occupy it," Houthi said.

"We salute our dear brethren in Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance front, and to the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, who delivered a fairly keynote speech. We emphasize that we stand with Hezbollah to help them against any escalation of Israeli assaults." .

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Senior Pakistan official: Our weapons not 'just for show'; attack by India just 'hours, days' away

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 3:11 AM

A senior Pakistani official has warned about an imminent Indian military strike, and asserted that Islamabad was fully prepared to respond with decisive force if attacked, echoing earlier remarks by other authorities.

Faisal Kundi, a close advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated in an exclusive interview with the Al Jazeera Mubasher live news channel on Wednesday that Pakistan possessed credible intelligence indicating that an Indian attack could occur within hours or days.

"Our weapons are not for display in museums, but for the defense of the country," he said, pointing to Pakistan's readiness to defend its sovereignty if needed.

Tensions between the neighbors have escalated following a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists.

Pakistan has denied any involvement and has called for an impartial international investigation.

Kundi likewise dismissed allegations linking Pakistan to the attack as baseless, saying there were no concrete evidence to support such claims.

Since the attack, India has taken several measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement governing water sharing between the countries.

Pakistan has condemned these actions, viewing them as provocative and detrimental to regional stability, besides taking retaliatory measures of its own, including closing its airspace to Indian flights.

Premier Sharif has, meanwhile, told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, about, what he has called, India's "provocative and escalatory stance," and urged the international community to intervene and prevent further deterioration of the situation.

The United Nations and various international organizations have expressed alarm over the rising tensions and have called for restraint and dialogue as the potential for miscalculation or unintended escalation has raised fears of a broader conflict in the region.

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Hamas: Netanyahu struck by 'madness of defeat, illusion of false victory'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 12:33 AM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements regarding a planned military incursion into the city of Rafah in Gaza, describing them as a manifestation of the "madness of defeat" and an "illusion of false victory."

In a statement issued on Thursday, the movement asserted that the Israeli official's remarks about achieving a "decisive victory" and "dismantling Rafah" were desperate attempts to obscure the Israeli regime's failures in the Gaza Strip and mislead the regime's illegal settlers.

Netanyahu's remarks "are nothing but desperate attempts to cover up the failure of his army in Gaza and to convince his public of an illusion that does not exist," the statement read.

Hamas emphasized that the resilience and resistance of the Palestinian people had thwarted the objectives of Israeli aggression, despite the ongoing massacres, destruction, and siege.

"His lies are falling apart before the steadfastness of our Palestinian people and their valiant resistance," it stated.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to continue resisting the regime until it was expelled from Palestinian land.

"Rafah, which he boasts of 'dismantling,' will remain a symbol of steadfastness and dignity. Its occupation will turn into a nightmare that haunts the invaders, just as happened in Beit Hanoun, Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Shuja'iyya," it said, referring to other Gazan cities.

Hamas also called upon the international community and free people worldwide to support the Palestinian people, uphold their steadfastness and right to self-determination, and take urgent action to stop the crimes of genocide and starvation that was being committed by the regime.

It also underlined Netanyahu's being pursued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza during a genocidal war that the regime has been waging against the coastal sliver since October 2023.

More than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed during the warfare that was launched in response to a historical resistance operation against the occupied Palestinian territories.

The regime, however, has stopped far short of realizing its stated goals of either defeating Hamas through the war or forcing mass expulsion of Palestinians from the territory.

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Israel must end 'cruel collective punishment' in Gaza, urges UN relief chief

1 May 2025 - The UN's top humanitarian official on Thursday issued a stark warning over the continuing blockade of aid into Gaza, calling on Israel to lift restrictions that have left civilians without food, medical care, and hope.

In a powerful statement on Thursday, Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, condemned Israel's decision to halt humanitarian assistance as a "cruel collective punishment" of the Palestinian population.

"Two months ago, the Israeli authorities took a deliberate decision to block all aid to Gaza and halt our efforts to save survivors of their military offensive," said Mr Fletcher. "They have been bracingly honest that this policy is to pressurise Hamas."

'Blocking aid kills'

While reaffirming the urgent need for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October 2023 - who "should never have been taken from their families," - the UN relief chief stressed that "international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in."

"Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip," he added. "Blocking aid kills."

Mr Fletcher warned that the aid blockade "starves civilians", denies them basic medical services, and "strips them of dignity and hope."

He underscored the neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian efforts, adding: "We believe that all civilians are equally worthy of protection. We remain ready to save as many lives as we can, despite the risks."

Let us save lives

However, the latest delivery mechanism proposed by Israel, he said, "does not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support."

"To the Israeli authorities, and those who can still reason with them, we say again: lift this brutal blockade. Let humanitarians save lives," he pleaded.

Addressing civilians in Gaza, Mr Fletcher said: "No apology can suffice... But I am truly sorry that we are unable to move the international community to prevent this injustice. We won't give up."

Escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and West Bank

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with recent strikes reportedly hitting residential areas and tents sheltering displaced families, particularly in Rafah and eastern Gaza City, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday in New York.

More than 423,000 people have been displaced again, with no safe place left to go, according to UN humanitarian partners.

The UN also warns of growing insecurity for aid operations, as looting and attacks on convoys rise due to the scarcity of goods.

Two such incidents occurred in Gaza City on Monday, threatening the safety of aid workers and disrupting vital assistance for civilians.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners report severe shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment.

Cases of acute watery diarrhoea have increased by four per cent in recent weeks, driven by deteriorating hygiene conditions and rising temperatures.

Access to desperately needed fuel remains restricted, with eight out of nine UN attempts to retrieve existing supplies denied by Israeli authorities since mid-April.

In the West Bank, 100 days since the Israeli military operation in the north began, around 40,000 Palestinians remain displaced, unable to return home. The UN and partners are providing food, water, sanitation, health services, psycho-social support and cash assistance, reaching nearly 7,000 families to date.

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International aid: 'The money isn't coming back anytime soon', Fletcher warns

By Conor Lennon

1 May 2025 - UN relief chief Tom Fletcher warned on Thursday that the global aid system must undergo a "humanitarian reset", becoming significantly more efficient and exploring new sources of funding, as major donors - including the United States - sharply reduce their contributions.

Speaking to UN News from Afghanistan, where he has been witnessing the severe impact of funding shortfalls on civilians, the Emergency Relief Coordinator said he had raised with Taliban officials the importance of women's participation in humanitarian efforts and their right to education. He expressed hope that the discussions would lead to meaningful progress.



Key takeaways: Aid cuts "directly result in deaths."

Humanitarian sector set to shrink by one third.

Some politicians are "publicly celebrating the cuts."

Overseas aid helps prevent crises.

"Really positive" about US Secretary of State's view on protecting life-saving aid.

Women's role in Afghanistan humanitarian delivery is "essential."

UN News: You have said that that policymakers who signed off on aid cuts should come to Afghanistan to see the effect they're having on the population. You said the effect of aid cuts is that millions die. Do you use this kind of blunt language when you're talking to these policymakers in private?

Tom Fletcher: Yes, I do. Of course, there is a bit of a time lag before you really see the impact of the cuts, but here, 400 clinics closed in the last few weeks. That has a real-world impact and it's become much more real for me on this trip.

I've just come from a meeting with NGOs, and they're laying off half their staff. The local NGO's that we're keen to protect in the midst of all this, have been the hardest hit.

We try and find different ways to communicate this in slightly gentler terms, but ultimately, of course, people will die as a result of these cuts.

That's the great tragedy at the heart of it now.

UN News: How do the politicians respond?

I think there are broadly two camps here. You've got politicians who are doing this really reluctantly, forced to make really tough decisions because their economies are struggling and because of pressures from taxpayers to do things differently. They know the importance of humanitarian efforts and they're very sad about the choices they're having to make.

Then there is another group of politicians who, I fear, celebrate, certainly in their public messages. They seem to boast about - and take credit for - aid cuts. That's the group that I would love to bring to sit with a mother who has lost her child because she was forced to cycle pregnant to a hospital three hours away.

You show leadership on the world stage by being out there helping countries to deal with these challenges at source. I don't know which of those arguments work with which constituencies, so we have to adapt and be creative in how we make the case.

We also have to be firm in defending what we do and take pride in the fact that the humanitarian community has taken millions out of poverty and saved hundreds of millions of lives.

UN News: You've become the UN emergency relief chief at a particularly tough time, in terms of ensuring the UN's ability to help the most vulnerable. In February you announced 20 per cent cuts to your department. How will you make those cuts in a way that doesn't make the job even harder?

Tom Fletcher: It's rough. Really brutal choices are being made and the sector will probably shrink by one third. The money that's been cut isn't going to come back anytime soon, and there may be more funding cuts ahead.

We will be looking for new partners, and trying to convince the sceptics to bring the private sector in and change the public conversation around solidarity. We have to work with the money that we have, not the money that we need or the money that we wish we had.

Dialogue is going on, I'm not giving up and I'm really positive about the way that Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has talked about the need to protect life-saving aid. I really want to get into that conversation with him and see what his vision is for America's role in saving lives around the world.

UN News: Given the current situation, are we going to have to completely rethink what aid entails and how it's funded?

Tom Fletcher: We're going to have to change. We have to preserve the best of what we've learnt and have confidence in what we've delivered so far, but we're going through a process now that we call the "humanitarian reset".

First of all, we're becoming smaller and we're trying to do that in a way that does as little damage as possible and minimises the hit to the essential life-saving work we do.

Alongside that, we're becoming more efficient and smarter. I launched on my first day in office, a big efficiency drive across the sector.

The IASC, the body that coordinates our sector, has backed that up and actually taken it to the next level in terms of taking the layers out of the system and making sure we end the turf wars and focus on what we each do well, the extra value we bring, and ensure that we do much more at a local level, close to the communities we serve.

UN News: Do many Member States still believe in the importance of international aid?

Tom Fletcher: Absolutely. A number of donors are staying solid despite the funding crises that they're all facing. We've got new donors emerging and growing. I've been in The Gulf, and I was in China last week, and engagement there is deepening.

We've got more innovative ideas about how to bring in the private sector and also I believe really strongly in the role of individuals in finding ways to ensure that we're reaching wider movement beyond governments and Member States.

UN News: Returning to Afghanistan, the de facto authorities [The Taliban] have severely reduced access to education and employment prospects for women and girls. Are you able to have a constructive discussion about this with the regime?

Tom Fletcher: Yes, we are. There are two really core issues here for us. One is the role of women in humanitarian work: we simply cannot deliver without them. They are brilliant, brilliant colleagues, we rely on them completely and we couldn't be here without them.

And the second is the wider issue around rights for women and girls, including education and the fact that millions of girls have had that right stolen from them over the last three years.

These are difficult conversations, but I come at this as a former diplomat, as someone who believes in dialogue, who believes in respect and trust and listening, and in recognizing that we have different cultures, different traditions, different heritages and different beliefs that I don't hold.

UN News: Before you began this job, did you have a goal in mind, that you want to achieve before the end of your mandate as the head of humanitarian affairs?

Tom Fletcher: The average head of OCHA lasts about three years, they burn through us pretty quickly. The travel schedule is very hectic and you're dealing with the world's worst crises so there's a bit of wear and tear along the way.

So, my number one objective was to survive as long as possible, because I think it's traumatic for an organization to get new people in, train them and have them up and running. Being around for a period of time, learning from the organization and from those we serve, and then putting that into action is a serious objective in itself.

I did come into it with an objective around the reform of the humanitarian sector, well before Donald Trump, Elon Musk and others started talking about efficiency and prioritization and cuts. I do believe that we can do this much more effectively and much closer to those we serve and so I was already determined to deliver that.

And then thirdly, the big one is ultimately about saving lives. I believe it's our job to save hundreds of millions of lives and to define everything we do against that yardstick.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 02 May 2025 - Day 1164

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 139 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched 59 air strikes using 93 controlled bombs, 988 kamikaze drones strikes, carried out more than 4,200 shelling of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled three Russian assaults in the area of Vovchansk.

The Russian enemy has attacked five times Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyansky direction in the areas of the settlements of Kolisnikivka, Nova Kruglyakivka and Zagrizove, one confrontation is ongoing so far.

In the Lyman direction today, Russian troops 21 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Nove, Green Valley, Kolodyazi, Mirne, Sergiyivka, Grekivka and Kopanka, three battles are ongoing so far.

In the Siver komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled one Russian assault in the area of Bilogorivka.

Today, Ukrainian troops repelled seven Russian attacks in the area of Chasovoye Yar and towards Novomarkovoye and White Mountain in the Kramators komu direction, the battle is currently being sharpened.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers for today eight times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Toretsky, Crimea, Friendship and Dry Balka. There's still one battle going on.

In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, Russian forces carried out 53 assault and offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was observed in the areas of the settlements of Water Second, Novotoretske, Elizabeth, Lisivka, Dachenske, Shevchenko, Kotline, Udaachne, Nadiivka, Kotlyarivka, Preobrazhenka and Andriyivka. The fights have not subsided so far in 10 locations.

According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian warriors eliminated 207 and wounded 200 Russian invaders in this direction; destroyed five vehicles, three buggies, 19 motorcycles, two ATVs, a cannon, six AMPLAs, a satellite, a generator, AMPLA control point; also significantly damaged five vehicles, five motorcycles, ATV and a Russian tank.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, the Russian invaders carried out 17 attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops, Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of Rivnopol, Privilny, Rozliv, Konstantinopol, Burlatsky, as well as in the direction of Odradny and Bagatyr. Three clashes are currently underway.

In the direction of Gulyaipils komu, in the area of the settlement of Vysoke (district. Red), Defense Forces successfully repelled six Russian attacks.

Five clashes took place in the Orikhivsky direction in the areas of the settlements of Sherbaka, Mala Tokmachka and Stepovo, one fight is still ongoing.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions.

Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk direction today repelled 17 attacks of the Zagarbnytsia army, two more fighting remain unfinished; Russian forces launched 10 air strikes, dropping 17 KABs, also launched 210 shellings, of which 14 - from the systems of arson fire.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.





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US conveys information to China on several occasions, hoping to talk about tariffs; China is making assessments: MOFCOM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 02, 2025 08:45 AM

In response to a question asking whether China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has any further information and comments as the US has repeatedly said that it is negotiating with the Chinese side on economic and trade issues and will reach an agreement, a spokesperson from the MOFCOM said on Friday that China has taken note of the repeated statements made by the US side at a high level that it is willing to negotiate with China on the issue of tariffs. At the same time, the US has recently taken the initiative to convey information to the Chinese side on a number of occasions through relevant parties, hoping to talk with the Chinese side. In this regard, the Chinese side is making an assessment.

The spokesperson said that China's position is consistent: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk. The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the US, and if the US side wants to talk, it should show its sincerity, and be ready to take action on issues such as correcting wrong practices and canceling the unilateral imposition of tariffs.

We have noted that the US has recently continued to release information on the adjustment of tariff measures. China would like to emphasize that, in any possible dialogue or talks, if the US side does not rectify its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it will show that the US is totally insincere and will further undermine mutual trust between the two sides. Saying one thing but doing another, or even attempting to engage in coercion and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work on the Chinese side, the spokesperson noted.

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Russia, North Korea start building first road link amid growing alliance

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 5:35 PM

Russia and North Korea have announced the construction of their first-ever road bridge on the Tumen River, which is expected to help boost bilateral relations between the two countries.

The bridge will be 1 kilometer long, and its construction is expected to take one and a half years, the Tass news agency reported Thursday.

"We are creating a reliable basis for closer cooperation between our two countries, a road for an open and fruitful dialogue," Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

"The significance goes far beyond just an engineering task... it symbolizes our common desire to strengthen friendly, good-neighborly relations and increase inter-regional cooperation," he added.

In a video call with the chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly Pak Thae-song, Mishustin also called it a "truly a milestone for Russian-Korean relations".

The North Korean official hailed the project as "a historic monument" in bilateral ties between Russia and North Korea.

"It will become an eternal historical memorial structure symbolizing the unbreakable Korean-Russian friendly relations," Pak said.

North Korea's central news agency also confirmed the news on Thursday, adding that the country looks forward to expanding cross-border travel of people, tourism, and circulation of commodities through the awaited road link.

One railway bridge and air service already connect North Korea and Russia.

During a visit by President Vladimir Putin to North Korea in June 2024, the two countries agreed to construct a bridge for automobiles over the Tumen River, which runs along North Korea's borders with Russia and China.

On Thursday, Russia and North Korea simultaneously held a ceremony in their respective border cities, celebrating the initiation of the project that will be poised for rollout by mid-2026.

North Korea and Russia have enhanced bilateral ties in recent years in a bid to circumvent sanctions, to which both countries are subjected.

The Asian side has been receiving Russian tourists since February 2024 amid slowly easing pandemic curbs.

In 2023, about 97% of North Korea's external trade was with China, while 1.2% was with Russia.

Earlier this week, North Korea publicly confirmed its military support for Russia, acknowledging the deployment of 15,000 troops to assist Russia in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

According to a South Korean government intelligence assessment shared with lawmakers on Wednesday, 4,700 soldiers have been killed or wounded.

The assessment also reveals that Russia has reportedly provided Pyongyang with air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones, and technology for spy satellite launches.

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Araqchi: Iran is more determined than ever to reach a fair agreement

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 1, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that more than ever, Iran is determined to reach a fair and balanced agreement.

"We, together with the Omani and American sides, decided to postpone the fourth round of negotiations for logistical and technical reasons," Araqchi wrote on his X account on Thursday.

He said that on the Iranian side, there has been no change in "our determination" to reach a negotiated solution.

"Indeed, we are more determined than ever to reach a fair and balanced agreement: one that ensures the end of sanctions and builds confidence that Iran's nuclear program will remain peaceful forever, while ensuring that Iran's rights are fully respected," Araqchi added.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced the change in the date of the next round of indirect Iran-U.S. talks, which was scheduled to be held in Rome on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Referring to the announcement of this issue by the Omani Foreign Minister, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the postponement of the talks was based on the proposal of the Omani foreign minister, and that information about the next possible date will be provided later.

Baqaei reiterated the determination by Iran to use diplomacy to secure the legitimate and legal interests of the Iranian nation and end the sanctions and economic pressure that target the human rights and welfare of every Iranian.

2050

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Iran keeps its strategic allies informed about negotiations with the U.S.: Top security official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 1, 2025

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, in a meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, has said that Iran has clear principles and positions in indirect negotiations with the United States and always keeps its strategic allies informed of these negotiations.

Ahmadian made the remarks in a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS security summit held in Brazil on May 1, 2025.

He termed Beijing an important political and economic partner of Tehran, and called for the expansion of strategic relations between Iran and China.

2050

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson cautions against outcome of contradictory behavior by the U.S.

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 1, 2025

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has warned against the consequences of the contradictory behavior and provocative positions by the U.S. officials.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson strongly condemned the new U.S. sanctions against individuals and legal entities in Iran and several other countries under the pretext of cooperating with Iran in various economic and trade areas.

On April 30, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against seven entities engaged in trading Iranian petroleum products, a few days before the fourth round of talks between the two talks in the Italian capital, Rome.

2050

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Fourth round of Iran-US talks postponed for 'logistical reasons'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 6:09 PM

Iran says the fourth round of its indirect talks with the United States, scheduled to be held on Saturday, has been postponed as it stresses its determination to secure a negotiated solution.

"Together with Omani and US interlocutors, we have decided to postpone the 4th round of talks for logistical and technical reasons," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X late Thursday.

"On Iran's part, there is no change in our determination to secure a negotiated solution. In fact, we are more determined than ever to achieve a just and balanced deal: guaranteeing an end to sanctions, and creating confidence that Iran's nuclear program will forever remain peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected," he added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks, planned to be held in Rome, was pushed back on the suggestion of Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi.

Oman's top diplomat said on his X account that the change was made due to "logistical reasons" and that "new dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

Baghaei reaffirmed Iran's resolve to use diplomacy aimed at safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Iranian people and also to have the existing sanctions and economic pressures that have targeted the human rights and well-being of every single Iranian lifted.

The Iranian delegation, since the first round, has approached the process in good faith, he said. Tehran has outlined clear frameworks based on its principled positions and in line with international law regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the removal of unlawful sanctions, he added.

The Islamic Republic, Baghaei said, will remain strongly committed to this path with strength and determination, stressing that Tehran is resolutely pursuing result-oriented talks aimed at reaching a fair, reasonable, and lasting agreement.

Mediated by Oman, Iran and the US have held three rounds of talks in Muscat and Rome on April 12, 19, and 26 with the aim of reaching a deal on Iran's nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on Tehran.

Both parties have so far expressed satisfaction with the way the negotiations are moving on, praising the talks as "positive" and "moving forward."

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Iran warns US of 'destructive effects' of new sanctions on indirect talks

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 5:22 PM

Iran has warned of the consequences of the US' contradictory behavior and provocative positions amid indirect talks between the two countries, which have seen Washington impose new sanctions on Tehran.

The warning by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday came a day after the US State Department sanctioned seven entities in the UAE, Turkey and Iran for trading Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

"The sanctions that have been announced over the past few days under various pretexts against Iranian and non-Iranian individuals and companies are a clear sign of American policymakers' insistence on breaking the law and violating the rights and interests of other countries, as well as their efforts to disrupt friendly and legal relations between developing countries through economic terrorism," he said.

The sanctions are the latest round imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump on Iran since February, when he reimposed his so-called maximum pressure campaign on Tehran.

Trump, who ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and world countries in 2018 during his first term and reimposed draconian sanctions on the country, has made repeated calls for diplomacy to reach a new deal with Tehran.

The new sanctions come as talks between the two countries are ongoing in Oman with another round of negotiations set for the upcoming days.

Baghaei said, "The sanctions, which are designed in line with the failed and criminal policy of maximum pressure against the great Iranian nation are another clear evidence of the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy."

"The responsibility for the consequences and destructive effects resulting from the contradictory behaviors and provocative statements of American officials regarding Iran will rest with the American side," he added.

Baghaei touched on the United States' "long history of hostility towards the Iranian people, including through economic sanctions and disruption of Iran's scientific, economic, and technological development and progress, which has led to Iranians' deep distrust and suspicion of the US".

The spokesman reaffirmed the determination of the Iranian nation to resist the US policy of intimidation and pressure and to use all means to continue Iran's path of honorable development".

Mediated by Oman, Iran and the US have held three rounds of indirect talks in Muscat and Rome on April 12, 19 and 26 to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on Tehran.

Both parties have so far expressed satisfaction with the way the negotiations move on, praising the talks as "positive" and "moving forward."

The fourth round of talks was set for Saturday in Rome, but on Thursday, Baghaei said it had been pushed back to a later date on Oman's suggestion.

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China FM backs Iran's nuclear diplomacy ahead of indirect talks with US

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 10:00 AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has commended Iran's diplomatic efforts to resolve issues regarding its nuclear program ahead of the fourth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

Wang made the remarks on Wednesday, during a meeting with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Akbar Ahmadian on the sidelines of the BRICS security officials meeting in Brazil.

Wang said his country "values Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons" and "appreciates Iran's diplomatic efforts," according to a readout of the meeting released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

He also noted that Beijing is "pleased" with the ongoing dialogue between Iran and other parties and "supports" Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

China backs Iran's efforts to protect its sovereignty, security, and national dignity and opposes external interference in the country's internal affairs, the top Chinese diplomat added.

He further expressed Beijing's willingness to maintain exchanges with Tehran at all levels and enhance communication and coordination.

Ahmadian, for his part, said that Tehran and Beijing enjoy strong political mutual trust, and that all sectors in Iran are keen to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, CGTN television network reported.

Iran is willing to strengthen bilateral relations with China and deepen cooperation with the country in different fields, he noted.

The meeting came two days before the fourth round of indirect Iran-US negotiations in Rome, Italy.

The two sides have already held three rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of US sanctions.

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The Economic Fallout From Deadly Blast At Iran's 'Golden Gateway' Of Trade

By Kian Sharifi May 02, 2025

What You Need To Know

 Trade Braces For 'Shock' After Port Explosion: The massive explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaei port on April 26 is unlikely to cripple Iran's economy, but it poses a "big shock" to the country's international trade, analysts say. Iranian authorities saythe blast was caused by "noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence," but it remains unclear what exactly caused the blast that killed at least 70 people and injured more than 1,000.

 Nuclear Talks In Rome Postponed: A fourth round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran was postponed. Mediated by Oman, the talks have reached a crucial phase where bridging differences on key issues were expected to be discussed. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement on May 1 that the decision had been taken based on the proposal of Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who cited "logistical reasons" for the delay. He said the meeting, which was to have taken place in Rome, was being rescheduled. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the meeting had never been confirmed. The United States expects another round of talks "will take place in the near future," she said.

 Hijab Warning Text Message Raises Eyebrows: Some women in Tehran have received a text message from a state institution telling them that they have been observed in the city not complying with the mandatory hijab. The move has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning how these individuals were identified and how their private phone numbers were obtained.

The Big Issue

Scaring Off Investors?

Analysts say the explosion will have major ramifications for not only Iranian trade through its busiest port but will also hinder the country's ability to attract investment.

The explosion obliterated over 10,000 shipping containers and set fuel storage tanks ablaze, causing a temporary suspension of foreign trade.

Paris-based economist Djamchid Assadi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that while the explosion was unlikely to crippled Iran's sanctions-hit economy, it would have a "very negative" effect on both the supply of goods and securing foreign investment.

He said regardless of whether the accident was caused by incompetence or sabotage, it raises questions about the level of safety in Iran's business environment.

"How can you hope to attract investment when you cannot ensure safety and security in that port?" Assadi argued.

While the authorities insist operations at the port have resumed, Azerbaijan-based energy and economy expert Dalga Khatinoglu said it will be a while before the port can return to business as usual.

"This will be a big shock to Iran's international trade," he told Radio Farda.

Why It Matters: The Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas is located near the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil trade passes.

Commonly dubbed Iran's "golden gateway" to international commerce by Iranian media, Shahid Rajaei port manages about 85 percent of the nation's container throughput, over half of its overall trade, and 70 percent of its transit shipments.

What's Being Said: Hossein Zafari, a spokesman for Iran's crisis management agency, suggested the explosion may have resulted from improperly stored chemical materials within containers at the port.

Publicly available data indicate that shipments of chemical components used in missile propellant were received from China at the port in February and March. Nonetheless, a Defense Ministry spokesman has refuted claims that any military-related cargo, including missile fuel, was present at the explosion site.

Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi described the explosion as a symbol of "the collapse of a regime that has led Iran into ruin for nearly half a century" and demanded a referendum to "restore sovereignty to the people."

Expert Opinion: "There will be a big shock, particularly if administrative buildings in the terminal are also destroyed, which will cause a serious disruption to imports and exports," Khatinoglu said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/economic-impact-iran- port-explosion/33401241.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.

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Over 100 killed in fresh sectarian violence by HTS militants in Syria

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 7:33 PM

At least 101 people have been killed over the past two days in a Damascus suburb in fierce clashes between ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham militants and fighters from the local Druze religious community, a report says.

According to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday, the clashes in Jaramana on Tuesday and Wednesday killed 10 civilians as well as 30 loyalists of the HTS administration and 21 Druze gunmen.

Forty more Druze fighters were killed - 35 of them in an "ambush" on Wednesday - in the Druze heartland in Syria's southern province of Suwayda, the Britain-based observatory said.

The fighting is the latest episode of sectarian violence in Syria since Takfiri militants overtook the country after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government in early December.

The clashes broke out after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man purportedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). It was attributed to Marwan Kiwan, a Druze cleric, who vehemently denied being involved.

"I categorically deny that the audio was made by me," Kiwan said in a video he posted online. "I did not say that and whoever made it is an evil man who wants to incite strife between parts of the Syrian people."

The HTS-led regime said in a statement it was investigating the audio clip, adding that its initial probe showed the cleric was not responsible.

Nevertheless, its militants used the clip as a pretext of attack the Druze community, leading to death and destruction.

The security situation in Syria under the HTS - an offshoot of the al-Qaeda terrorist group - remains tenuous. Incidents of sectarian violence, including the massacre of hundreds of Alawites in March, have hardened fears among minority groups about the now dominant militants.

Since Assad's government collapsed in December, Syria has also been plagued by a widespread Israeli occupation across large swathes of the country's south. It has also been hit by hundreds of Israeli airstrikes, mainly targeting military infrastructure that belonged to the former Syrian army.

Minister of military affairs Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel is planning to keep its occupation forces in southern Lebanon and Syria "indefinitely."

On Thursday, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV, citing local sources, said the Israeli army is establishing two new outposts in the countryside of Damascus, facing the Hasbaya district of southern Lebanon.

The intensified Israeli aggression against Syria continues despite HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani's repeated overtures to the occupying regime.

Last Thursday, US Congressman Cory Mills told Bloomberg after meeting Jolani in Damascus that Syria's de facto leader seeks to normalize ties with Israel and that he was carrying a letter from him for Trump.

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Syria's HTS administration rejects 'foreign intervention' after Israeli strike near Damascus

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 7:06 AM

Syria's Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS) administration has rejected all forms of "foreign intervention" in the country's affairs after an Israeli strike hit a town near the capital Damascus, amid deadly sectarian violence.

The Foreign Ministry of the ruling regime issued a statement on Wednesday after the Israeli air raid killed one member of the HTS-aligned General Security and one civilian in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, southwest of Damascus.

The Israeli attack followed clashes between the regime's militants and members of the Druze minority that have killed dozens of people in two days.

The ministry said it dismissed "all forms of foreign intervention," but it did not explicitly mention Israel.

It also claimed that the HTS-led administration has "unwavering commitment to protect all components of the Syrian people ... including the children of the honorable Druze community."

The Israeli military said it had carried out the "warning strike" against "extremists" who attacked members of the Druze community.

It further announced the evacuation of three Syrian Druze citizens, who were wounded in the clashes, to a hospital in the occupied territories.

The latest wave of sectarian violence began in the predominantly Druze city of Jaramana on Tuesday.

It came after an audio clip circulated on social media purporting to be a Druze cleric insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The spiritual authority for the Jaramana Druze community condemned the recording, saying it was fabricated "to incite sedition and sow division among the people of the same nation."

Elias Hanna, who lives on the edge of Sahnaya, said, "We're worried that the massacres of the coast will repeat themselves near Sahnaya against the Druze."

He was referring to gruesome massacres involving the HTS-affiliated militants and armed opposition groups in the country's western coastal region, home to the Alawite community.

The UN said its special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, is "deeply concerned" by violence in Syria, especially in the suburbs of Damascus and in Homs.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt urged members of the Druze community in Syria to reject "Israeli interference."

Speaking after a meeting with Druze figures in Beirut, he said the occupying regime is seeking to drag the Druze into an "endless war against Muslims."

On December 8, 2024, foreign-backed HTS-led militants announced the fall of the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad following a rapid two-week onslaught.

Since then, Israel has increased its aerial assaults on Syria and expanded its occupation of the Arab country.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over Israeli air raids on Syria, calling for "maximum restraint" to prevent further escalation.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has also called on the Tel Aviv regime to "cease" its attacks on Syria.

"At this sensitive time for Syria, the duty of the international community is to contribute to the establishment of security and stability in Syria," the ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said in a statement.

"Given this context, Israel must put an end to its air strikes, which are damaging the country's efforts to achieve unity and integrity."

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Air Force launches probe into fighter jet's misfiring of flare

ROC Central News Agency

05/01/2025 01:07 PM

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwan's Air Force said Thursday that it was investigating the accidental firing of a flare from one of its Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets the previous day.

During a routine drill Wednesday afternoon, the IDF, also known as the F-CK-1 Ching Kuo, accidentally fired the flare, the Air Force said in a statement.

The incident did not cause any injuries or damage, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, the Air Force said.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/pc

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Swarms of Chinese warplanes detected Wednesday near Taiwan: MND

ROC Central News Agency

05/01/2025 11:35 AM

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday that a large number of Chinese military aircraft were detected near Taiwan on Wednesday, during a "joint combat readiness patrol" drill held by China.

Twenty of the total 34 aircraft detected near Taiwan were taking part in the drill, which involved China's Air Force and Navy, according to information released by the MND on Wednesday and Thursday.

The ministry said 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while 11 crossed its extension.

The line has served as a tacit border between Taiwan and China since the end 1950s, but Chinese military aircraft began crossing it frequently in 2022.

The Chinese warplane activity on Wednesday was detected between 6 a.m. and 7:20 p.m., according to the MND.

In addition, the MND said, eight Chinese military vessels and one other ship were detected in the 24-hour period starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The MND said it had been closely monitoring the situation and had deployed combat air patrol aircraft and coastal missile systems in response to the threats.

The Chinese military has held 14 joint combat readiness patrol drills this year, including three in April, according to MND data.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/pc

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U.S. signs deal with Ukraine to share profits from sale of its rare minerals

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 1, 2025

The United States and Ukraine have signed a long-awaited agreement granting Washington access to Ukraine's rare minerals, following months of fraught negotiations for a deal that President Donald Trump said would provide an economic incentive for the U.S. to continue supplying military aid to Kiev.

The deal, signed on Wednesday, establishes a joint investment fund, which officials said is aimed at supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and economic recovery.

Under the agreement, the U.S. will share revenues from the future sale of Ukraine's minerals, while Ukraine has committed 50% of its natural resource revenue to reconstruction efforts.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent framed the deal as a demonstration of the Trump administration's commitment to the peace process in Ukraine. "This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine," Bessent said.

Despite the fanfare, the deal will have little impact, if anything, on the fighting between Ukraine and Russia.

The deal follows a period of strained relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including a heated February meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly pressured Zelensky to sign an earlier version of the agreement.

Ahead of that meeting, Zelensky accused the Trump administration of pressuring him to sign a deal worth more than $500 billion, which he said would force ten generations of Ukrainians to pay it back.

Trump had also said that he wanted the deal to allow Ukraine to repay the U.S. for the roughly $175 billion in military support it has provided to Ukraine.

While the new deal is reportedly more favorable to Ukraine, it does not include guarantees of future U.S. security assistance, a key demand from Kiev.

Ukraine possesses 22 of the 50 materials classified as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, including rare earth elements essential for electronics, clean energy technologies, and military applications.

The agreement is seen as a strategic move by Washington to secure access to these resources while strengthening its hand in negotiations to broker a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

4353

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US readies first arms sales to Ukraine after minerals deal

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 01 May 2025 8:03 PM

The administration of US President Donald Trump has declared that it is making preparations for its first sale of military equipment to Ukraine.

The US State Department notified Congress of a proposed license for the export of military equipment to Ukraine in the amount of "$50 million or more," media reports said on Thursday.

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that the Trump administration had notified Congress of its intention to greenlight the export of military equipment to Kiev.

This would be the first permission of its kind since Trump took office in January, although no further details have been provided on the scope of weapons sales to Kiev.

The move for US military sales came after the controversial rare minerals deal between the US and Ukraine was eventually signed on Wednesday after much turbulence.

Ukraine's first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, signed the agreement in Washington on Wednesday, along with the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent.

The deal was signed between the two sides in the framework of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that the deal as "truly equal" and created "an opportunity for quite significant investment in Ukraine".

A senior aide to Zelensky said Kiev hoped that US weapons deliveries to Kiev would resume swiftly.

"There is no direct link where it's written that 'you will receive these particular weapons', but it opens the possibility for parallel talks on the purchase of weapons," said Mykhailo Podolyak. "The American side is now open to these discussions."

The deal was signed almost three months of back-and-forth negotiation, after the first outline was brought to Kiev by Bessent and rejected by Zelensky.

Signing the deal was later scheduled at the White House in February, but broke down after Trump and Vice President JD Vance turned on Zelensky in the Oval Office, prompting an abrupt conclusion of talks and the Ukrainian president being asked to leave the White House.

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Ukraine Peace Process Moving Forward, Deal 'Closer' - US National Security Advisor

Sputnik News

20250501

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - While the Ukraine peace process is moving forward and a deal is becoming "closer and closer," it is essential for both sides to want peace and to come to the table to finalize it, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday.

"The process is moving forward. Sometimes it ebbs and flows... We are moving closer and closer," Waltz told Fox News.

"Russia needs to come to the table. Both sides have to want peace. Both sides have to want to stop the fighting, and we think there is still a deal to be had," Waltz added.

Iran has to understand that US President Donald Trump wants peace and is ready to make a deal on its nuclear program, Waltz said.

"Iran needs to get the message that it can be a responsible country. That the president the United States wants peace, [that] he is ready to make a deal," Waltz said.

US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is waiting for Tehran to come "back to the table," he added.

"Not only can [Iran] not have a nuclear weapon, it cannot provide funding, resources, missiles and assistance to a terrorist organization that is attacking international shipping, attacking United States assets, shooting at our planes. Enough is enough," Waltz said.

 Sputnik

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US & Ukraine Sign Deal to Create Reconstruction Investment Fund - Treasury

Sputnik News

20250501

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States and Ukraine have reached an agreement on establishing the joint Reconstruction Investment Fund, which, according to the Ukrainian government, is part of a broader minerals deal between the two countries, the US Treasury Department said.

The Treasury and the US International Development Finance Corporation will work with the Ukrainian government to finalize "program governance and advance this important partnership," the statement added.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed.

At the same time, Bessent added that no state or person that allegedly financed the Russian military-industrial complex will be allowed to participate in the restoration of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the minerals agreement with the US would be signed in the next 24 hours. According to him, the agreement provides for the creation of an investment fund in Ukraine with a 50/50 distribution of management and contributions between the parties. He noted that the document also envisages investment in the development of Ukraine over 10 years.

 Sputnik

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Ukraine Hails Minerals Deal As Helping Strengthen US Support For Its Security

By RFE/RL May 02, 2025

A landmark minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States offers "equal" benefits for both sides and opportunities for investment in Ukraine and the modernization of its industry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 1.

Zelenskyy hailed the deal in a video posted on Telegram but also said more pressure on Russia is needed.

He and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent underlined that talks between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in Rome during Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 played an important role in securing a deal.

"In fact, now we have the first result of the Vatican meeting, which makes it truly historic," Zelenskyy said.

The two leaders met one-on-one while seated informally in St. Peter's Basilica to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

The accord, which was signed in Washington on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction and would see the United States and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine's critical mineral resources.

Trump initially described the deal as "money back" for billions of dollars in military aid that Ukraine has received since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Ukraine said the agreement is not linked to any past "debt," and Bessent stressed that the accord signaled support for Ukraine.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said.

The agreement establishes the United-States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which Bessent said in a news release is a historic economic partnership.

The deal will show Russia that there is "no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network on May 1.

It gives Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, he added.

The Ukrainian parliament must still approve the pact. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met parliamentary factions on May 1 as some members complained they had not seen the text of the agreement or been properly consulted.

First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the accord for Ukraine, told reporters in an online briefing that ratification would happen in the next few weeks

Zelenskyy said he hoped there would be no delays in securing parliament's approval, though some lawmakers said they expected it to take longer than a week.

Some technical details must be completed before a joint US-Ukraine investment fund can become operational, Svyrydenko said.

"We really need to be more sustainable and more self-sufficient, and this is a real tool that can help us achieve this goal," she said, adding that the two sides did not expect the agreement to begin generating revenue this year.

Svyrydenko, who is also Ukraine's economy minister, said the agreement "can provide success for both our countries" and "will attract global investment into our state" in highlighting its key points in a post on Facebook.

Svyrydenko said the investment fund will be filled with income exclusively from new licenses. This involves 50 percent of the funds from new licenses for critical materials and oil and gas projects, which will come into Ukraine's budget once the fund is established.

The agreement states that all resources on Ukraine's territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine, and Kyiv alone will determine where and what to extract. It also does not change Ukraine's European integration course, Svyrydenko added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryi Sybiha wrote on X that he had briefed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas about the agreement.

"This marks an important milestone in Ukraine-US strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Ukraine's economy and security," he said in his post.

Military Aid

Beyond its monetary aspects, Ukraine also sees the agreement as key to ensuring its access to future US military aid.

Roman Kostenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and special forces commander, told Current Time that the question of security guarantees in connection with the US-Ukraine minerals deal "remains open."

"Perhaps there were certain nuances that prevented their inclusion in the minerals deal, even though it was a demand from our side," he added.

On April 29, the US Congress website published a notice from a senior official in the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs on the certification of a proposed license for the export of defense articles which included "defense services to Ukraine in the amount of $50 million or more."

According to the Ukrainian media outlet the Kyiv Post, the White House approved the license shortly after the two countries signed the agreement on mineral resources.

The US is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests. Among them are deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment, and weapons. Ukraine also has deposits of lithium, graphite, and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.

Trump said the deal "in theory" means that the US will get more from Ukraine than it contributed.

"I wanted to be protected," he said in an interview on NewsNation, adding that he didn't want to be looking "foolish" by not getting money back for the investment.

Trump said earlier at a cabinet meeting that the American presence will "keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we're doing the digging."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-trump- zelenskyy-minerals-svyrydenko-bessent/33402351.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.

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MANAUS, Brazil, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazil Potash Corp. ("Brazil Potash" or the "Company") (NYSE-American: GRO), a mineral exploration and development company with a critical mineral potash mining project, the Autazes Project, today announced its participation in several upcoming mining and agriculture investor conferences in May and June 2025.

Upcoming Conferences

Senior management will be participating in the following upcoming conferences:

International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Conference - May 12-14, 2025 in Monaco

- May 12-14, 2025 in Monaco BMO Global Farm to Market Conference - May 14-15, 2025 in New York, NY

- May 14-15, 2025 in New York, NY CG Global Metals & Mining Conference - May 20-22, 2025 in Henderson, NV

- May 20-22, 2025 in Henderson, NV Wells Fargo Industrials Conference - June 10, 2025 in Chicago, IL

Going Concern Qualification

Brazil Potash filed the Companys annual report on Form 20-F on March 28, 2025, as amended on April 9, 2025, and has disclosed that its independent registered public accounting firm included a going concern qualification in their audit opinion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. This disclosure is being announced separately to comply with NYSE American Company Guide. The Company emphasizes that this announcement does not represent any changes or amendments to its 2024 audited financial statements or annual report.

About Brazil Potash

Brazil Potash (NYSE-American: GRO) (www.brazilpotash.com) is developing the Autazes Project to supply sustainable fertilizers to one of the worlds largest agricultural exporters. Brazil is critical for global food security as the country has amongst the highest amounts of fresh water, arable land, and an ideal climate for year-round crop growth, but it is vulnerable as it imported over 95% of its potash fertilizer in 2021, despite having what is anticipated to be one of the worlds largest undeveloped potash basins in its own backyard. The potash produced will be transported primarily using low-cost river barges on an inland river system in partnership with Amaggi (www.amaggi.com.br), one of Brazils largest farmers and logistical operators of agricultural products. With an initial planned annual potash production of up to 2.4 million tons per year, Brazil Potashs management believes it could potentially supply approximately 20% of the current potash demand in Brazil. Management anticipates 100% of Brazil Potashs production will be sold domestically to reduce Brazils reliance on potash imports while concurrently mitigating approximately 1.4 million tons per year of GHG emissions.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" and are based on the reasonable expectations, estimates and projections of the Company as of the date of this press release. The words "plans," "expects," or "does not expect," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," or "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Brazil Potash advisory board, the roles and expertise of the advisory board members, the status of the Company's project, government regulation and environmental regulation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Brazil Potash Investor Relations

info@brazilpotash.com
Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda., a subsidiary of Equinor (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR), has entered into agreements(1) with Brazilian company Prio Tigris Ltda., a subsidiary of PRIO SA (PRIO3.SA) for a sale of its 60% operated interest in the Peregrino field in Brazil.

PRIO, Brazils largest independent oil and gas company, will pay a consideration of USD 3.35 billion and a maximum of USD 150 million in interest to Equinor for the transaction. The final cash payment will reflect the closing date and any deductions generated by the asset since the effective date, which is 1 January 2024.

Equinor will be responsible for operations of the field until closing of the transaction, after which PRIO will take over operatorship.

With this transaction we realise value from a long-standing asset in our Brazil portfolio. Brazil will continue to be a core country for Equinor, as we focus on starting up the Bacalhau field and continue progressing the Raia gas project. With these two operated projects and our partnership in Roncador our equity production in Brazil will be close to 200,000 barrels per day by 2030, says Philippe Mathieu, Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production International at Equinor.

This deal is part of Equinor's ongoing effort to high-grade its international portfolio through asset divestments and acquisitions. We continue to see growth potential and opportunities to extend the longevity of our international oil and gas portfolio, also in Brazil, says Philippe Mathieu.

Equinor has been operating the Peregrino field since 2009 and around 300 million barrels of oil have been produced by the asset since. Peregrino is a heavy oil field and consists of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform, supported by three fixed platforms. The field is in the Campos Basin, east of Rio de Janeiro. In Q1 2025, Equinors share of production from Peregrino was around 55,000 barrels per day.

Last year, PRIO acquired Sinochems 40% interest in the Peregrino field.

PRIO has been a valued partner since joining the Peregrino license last year and we look forward to a smooth hand-over with them, says Veronica Coelho, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for Equinor Brazil.

We are very proud of the work that has been done by our team over the past 20 years on the Peregrino field. This asset has been the cornerstone of Equinors history in Brazil. Our journey in Brazil continues with full momentum, building on the legacy of those that have worked on Peregrino. We are preparing for operations on Bacalhau, as well as the startup of the Serra da Babilonia renewable hybrid project by our subsidiary Rio Energy and we are progressing the Raia gas project says Veronica Coelho.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and legal approvals. The payment will occur in two tranches, one at signing and a further one closer to closing. The payment will be subject to customary adjustments.

---

1: The deal is divided in two parts, one for the acquisition of 40% and operatorship of Peregrino, the second for the acquisition of the remaining 20%. The 40% operation will receive a payment of USD 2,233 million, with an additional payment of USD 166 million which is contingent on the completion of the second part of 20%. The 20% operation will have a value of USD 951 million. The final component is USD 150 million of maximum interest, reaching the total of USD 3.5 billion.

---

Contact details:

Investor relations

Bard Glad Pedersen, Senior Vice President Investor Relations

+47 918 01 791

Media

Ola Morten Aanestad, Media Relations

+47 480 80 212

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
Toronto, May 1, 2025 - Pedro Resources Ltd. (CSE: VBN) ("Pedro" or the "Company") wishes to provide an update with respect to the filing its audited annual financial statements for the year end December 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), and the related management certifications of annual filings (collectively, the "Annual Filings"). The Company did not file the Annual Filings by the prescribed deadline of April 30, 2025. The Company anticipates that the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") will issue the Company a cease trade order in the coming day.

The Company estimates that the Annual Filings will be completed on or before May 30, 2025.

Until the Company has filed the Annual Filings, members of the Company's management and other insiders are subject to an insider trading black-out. The Company confirms that, other than as disclosed in prior press releases and material change reports, there have been no material business developments since the filing of the Company's latest interim financial report.

About Pedro Resources Ltd.

Pedro Resources Ltd. is a Canadian exploration company listed on the CSE focused on mineral exploration and development. The Company is currently advancing a proposed change of business toward the development of biotechnologies for the remediation and reclamation of contaminated soils.

For further information, contact:

On behalf of the Board

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information relating to the Company's proposed change of business and the Offering.

The forwardlooking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forwardlooking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forwardlooking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release.

The forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250557
VANCOUVER - One World Lithium Inc. (CSE-OWLI) (OTCQB-OWRDF) (the "Company" or "OWL") announces that it was unable to meet the April 30, 2025 deadline to file its Audited Annual Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and related CEO and CFO certificates for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), as required by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations, and National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuer's Annual and Interim Filing.

In connection with the Company's inability to file the Annual Filings on time, the Company applied, and received approval, for a Management Cease Trade Order (the "MCTO") from the British Columbia Securities Commission under National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The Company will have until June 30, 2025 to file its Annual Filings.

The Company's delay in filing the Annual Filings on time was due to lack of funds to pay its auditor to perform the Company's year-end audit. As a result, the Company requires additional time to complete its previously announced financing, to conduct the audit and file the Annual Filings. The Company expects to complete and file the Annual Filings by no later than June 30, 2025. The Company will issue a news release once the Annual Filings have been filed.

The Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines of NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports, in the form of news releases, until the revocation of the MCTO. The Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings. The MCTO will prohibit the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company from trading in securities of the Company for so long as the Annual Filings are not filed and the MCTO revoked. The issuance of the MCTO does not affect the ability of persons other than the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to trade in the Company's securities.

The Company confirms as of the date of this news release that there is no insolvency proceeding against it and there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

About One World Lithium

One World Lithium Inc. remains focused on properties of merit that may contain lithium. The Company is also focused on commercial application of its extraction technologies for natural brine and for slurries made from clay, pegmatite, volcanic rock and sediment. OWL intends to license or joint venture its technologies to current and future lithium carbonate producers. For more information, visit: https://oneworldlithium.com/.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of One World Lithium Inc.,

"Douglas Fulcher"

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information please visit www.oneworldlithium.com or email info@oneworldlithium.com or call 604-564-2017.

Forward-Looking information: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of the Company to file the Annual Filings and the anticipated filing date thereof. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to that the Company may experience additional delays as a result of closing its previously announced private placement and be unable to make the Annual Filings as expected or within the times indicated. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publically any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents the Company has filed on SEDAR, available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Macarthur Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MMS) (ASX: MIO) (OTC: MMSDF) (the Company or Macarthur), wishes to advise that the Company's Registered Office and Principal Place of Business has changed to Suite 4, Level 34, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000 with immediate effect.

All other contact details remain unchanged.

Released On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr Cameron McCall, Executive Chairman and CEO

Company profile

Macarthur is an iron ore development, and lithium exploration company that is focused on bringing to production its Western Australia iron ore projects. The Lake Giles Iron Project mineral resources include the Ularring hematite resource (approved for development) comprising Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe; and the Lake Giles magnetite resource of 53.9 million tonnes (Measured), 218.7 million tonnes (Indicated) and 997 million tonnes (Inferred). The Lake Giles Iron Project also contains Proven Ore Reserves of 51.9 Mt and Probable Ore Reserves of 184.7Mt. Macarthur also holds 24 square kilometre tenement area iron exploration interests in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates presented herein have previously been released to the ASX on March 21, 2022, including supporting JORC reporting tables. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the relevant market announcements and, in the case of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves that all assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

This news release is not for distribution to United States services or for dissemination in the United States

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding expected completion of the Feasibility Study; conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves or the eventual mining of the Project, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron or magnetite demand or substitution by other metals or materials; the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron magnetite; the general level of global economic activity; failure to complete the FS; inability to demonstrate economic viability of Mineral Resources; and failure to obtain mining approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Macarthur Minerals Limited







For more information please contact: Cameron McCall, Executive Chairman and CEO, +61 7 3221 1796, communications@macarthurminerals.com


KELLOGG, May 01, 2025 - Bunker Hill Mining Corp. ("Bunker Hill" or the "Company") (TSX-V: BNKR |OTCQB: BHLL) announces that, further to its news release dated March 13, 2025, the Company has further amended the vesting schedule from May 1, 2025 to June 1, 2025 for an aggregate of 3,891,096 restricted stock units of the Company (as amended, the "RSUs") previously granted to certain directors and officers under the Company's amended and restated restricted stock unit incentive plan (the "RSU Plan") on November 2, 2022, July 4, 2023 and March 13, 2024, respectively.

In addition, the Company wishes to clarify certain disclosure in its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "2022 Financial Statements") by confirming that the RSUs granted on November 17, 2022, as indicated in the 2022 Financial Statements, were granted on November 2, 2022 (the "November 2022 RSUs"), and instead of vesting on November 17, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, the first two increments of the November 2022 RSUs vested on March 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the final increment now vesting on June 1, 2025.

The amendments to the RSUs are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). Each vested RSU entitles the holder to receive one share of common stock of the Company. A copy of the RSU Plan is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP.

Bunker Hill Mining Corp. is an American mineral exploration and development company focused on revitalizing our historic mining asset: the renowned zinc, lead, and silver deposit in northern Idaho's prolific Coeur d'Alene mining district. This strategic initiative aims to breathe new life into a once-productive mine, leveraging modern exploration techniques and sustainable development practices to unlock the potential of this mineral-rich region. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. aims to maximize shareholder value while responsibly harnessing the mineral wealth in the Silver Valley mining district by concentrating our efforts on this single, high-potential asset. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases.

On behalf of Bunker Hill

Sam Ash

President, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For additional information, please contact:

Brenda Dayton

Vice President, Investor Relations

T: 604.417.7952

E: brenda.dayton@bunkerhillmining.com

Cautionary Statements

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements regarding the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, including the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine; the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies; and the Company receiving the TSX-V's approval for the amendments to the RSUs.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Company's inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; the fluctuating price of commodities; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Company's ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or 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, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company's operations or financial results are included in the Company's annual information form or annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or through EDGAR on the SEC website (www.sec.gov), respectively.
LONDON, May 2, 2025 - Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or "the Company") (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI) announces the granting of an aggregate of 7,550,000 Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") to directors, officers, employees and consultants, upon recommendation of the Company's Remuneration Committee, in recognition of the Company's recent performance and as incentivisation for future performance.

Further to the award of the RSUs set out above, the total number of shares under Option, RSUs and DSUs is 18,538,332 which represents 5.9% of the non-diluted issued share capital of the Company.

Award of Options and RSUs

In line with the Company's Equity Incentive Plan which was approved by shareholders at the Company's AGM in December 2023, officers, employees and consultants of the Company have been granted a total of 3,400,000 RSUs and 4,150,000 RSUs were also granted to Directors. The RSUs entitle the holder to new common shares of the Company upon the vesting conditions for the RSU being satisfied. There is no price paid for the RSUs and they expire three years after the date of grant. The RSUs shall vest in two equal parts: half on the first anniversary of this grant and half on the second anniversary.

A summary of Director and Officer RSU grants and resultant interests is as follows:

Directors & Officers RSUs awarded Total RSUs DSUs and options held % Shareholding currently held in the Company Louis Castro 1,850,000 4,500,000 0.07 % Brad George 1,400,000 3,290,000 0.10 % Thomas Masney 450,000 870,000 - Nick von Schirnding 450,000 1,020,000 - Omar Gonzalez 100,000 350,000 - Joaquin Sarroca 950,000 1,726,666 0.04 % Total 5,200,000 11,756,666 0.21 %

Note 1: Percentage interest in total number of common shares currently issued

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons associated closely with them:

1 Details of person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Full Name i. Louis Castro ii. Bradley George iii. Thomas Masney iv. Nick von Schirnding v. Joaquin Sarroca vi. Omar Gonzalez 2 Reason for notification a) Position/Status i) Chairman of the Board ii) CEO and Director iii) Non-Executive Director iv) Non-Executive Director v) Company Secretary and Corporate Counsel vi) CFO b) Initial notification/amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Orosur Mining Inc b) LEI 213800CRYQM3M8G1OI19 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted. a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Granting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") b) Identification code ISIN:CA6871961059 c) Nature of transaction Grant of RSUs d) Prices and volumes i) 1,850,000 RSUs ii) 1,400,000 RSUs iii) 450,000 RSUs iv) 450,000 RSUs v) 950,000 RSUs vi) 100,000 RSUs e) Aggregated information Grant of a total of 5,200,000 RSUs at nil price f) Date of transaction May 1, 2025 g) Place of transaction Outside of trading venue

For further information, visit www.orosur.ca, follow on X @orosurm or please contact:

Orosur Mining Inc

Louis Castro, Chairman,

Brad George, CEO

info@orosur.ca

Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Broker

Jeff Keating / Jen Clarke / Devik Mehta

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470

Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker

Andy Thacker/James Pope

Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

Flagstaff Communications

Tim Thompson

Mark Edwards

Fergus Mellon

orosur@flagstaffcomms.com Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer currently operating in Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
VANCOUVER, May 02, 2025 - Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTC Pink:LANRF | FRA:6UF0) ("Lancaster" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Watson as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025.

Highlights:

Brings over 23 years of technical and executive leadership in the exploration and development of critical minerals (including uranium and lithium), precious metals (notably gold), and conventional energy.

Led the acquisition of all of the Company's gold projects, including the 100%-owned Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia.

Key architect of Lancaster's strategic positioning in uranium, with 100%-owned projects in the Athabasca Basin, the world's premier uranium district.

Led previous lithium brine and battery metal development over 850+ square miles at Prism Diversified.

Background includes commercialization of clean energy technologies, including hydrogen and enhanced recovery methods for conventional energy.



"Uranium and lithium are essential to the global energy transition, while gold remains a vital store of value," says Andrew Watson, Lancaster President and CEO. "Lancaster is building a well-balanced exploration portfolio across critical minerals and precious metals, with projects located in geologically rich and politically stable regions. I'm proud to lead our team as we advance high-potential assets and deliver long-term value to shareholders."

About Andrew Watson

Andrew Watson, P. Eng., brings over 23 years of multifaceted experience in engineering, operations, and corporate strategy across the critical mineral, precious metal, energy, and clean technology sectors. He has been a director of the Company since March 2024.

Since joining Lancaster in June 2023 as Vice President, Engineering & Operations, Mr. Watson has played a transformative role in repositioning the Company as a dynamic exploration platform focused on both critical minerals essential to the energy transition-including lithium and uranium-and strategic precious metals like gold.

Mr. Watson has led the acquisition and technical advancement of all of Lancaster's gold assets, including the 100%-owned Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia (subject to definitive agreement). He was also instrumental in the Company's acquisition and early-stage development of uranium assets at Catley Lake and Centennial East, located in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, the most prolific uranium-producing region in the world.

Prior to Lancaster, Mr. Watson served as Chief Operating Officer at Prism Diversified, where he directed technical development across over 850 square miles of lithium brine (~10.6MM T-LCE, non-compliant),battery metals, and an iron ore deposit with ~219MM tonnes Iron and Vanadium I+I. He oversaw engineering and metallurgical studies focused on the low-impact extraction of critical minerals such as vanadium, titanium, and iron, contributing to sustainable development strategies in the battery metals sector.

At Hyak Energy, Mr. Watson managed the operations of a 60-million-barrel medium crude oil field in Saskatchewan. Using an Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) chemical enhanced oil recovery method, he helped increase production by over 250%, ultimately supporting a successful corporate sale in early 2020.

Beyond project development, Mr. Watson is a recognized mentor and innovator in the clean technology ecosystem. He has mentored over 50 early-stage companies through Foresight Cleantech Accelerator and Emissions Reduction Alberta, supporting commercialization strategies in mining, energy, and emissions reduction technologies.

Mr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary and has completed numerous advanced certifications in energy systems, resource project development, and sustainable operations. His cross-sector expertise positions him uniquely to lead Lancaster through its next stage of growth as it advances a diversified portfolio aligned with global priorities in clean energy, supply security, and resource sustainability.

Leadership Transition

Penny White, Lancaster's founder and former CEO, has stepped down and remains a Director of the Company, supporting long-term strategy and capital markets engagement.

About Lancaster Resources Inc.

Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR) is a Canadian exploration company advancing a diversified portfolio of critical mineral and precious metal assets. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and holds 100% of the Catley Lake and Centennial East uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin. Lancaster also has options to acquire lithium assets in North America and has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia.

Andrew Watson, P. Eng.,

President & Chief Executive Officer,

Lancaster Resources Inc.

andrew@lancasterlithium.com

Tel: 604 923 6100

www.lancaster-resources.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events, or Lancaster's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancaster's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, ability to complete the acquisition of the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project, raise capital, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, May 2, 2025 - Eastern Platinum Ltd. (TSX: ELR)(JSE: EPS)("Eastplats" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Eason Cong Chen has joined the board of directors of Eastplats effective May 1, 2025.

Mr. Chen is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant ("CPA") with over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and management reporting, with a strong focus on the mining industry. He served on the board and audit committee of a Canadian copper producer for over 10 years, including more than one year as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chen is currently a partner at a U.S. CPA firm that specializes in the audit of publicly listed companies in both Canada and the United States. His areas of expertise include IFRS and U.S. GAAP financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting, and corporate governance. Mr. Chen brings a strong combination of technical knowledge and executive leadership to the board, with a proven track record of driving financial performance and strategic execution in the resource sector.

Wanjin Yang, CEO and President of Eastplats commented, "The Company is pleased to welcome Eason to our board and I look forward to working with him as he joins our team."

About Eastern Platinum Limited

Eastplats owns directly and indirectly a number of PGM and chrome assets in the Republic of South Africa. All of the Company's properties are situated on the western limb (Crocodile River Mine) and eastern limb (Kennedy's Vale, Spitzkop, Mareesburg) of the Bushveld Complex, the geological environment that hosts approximately 80% of the world's PGM-bearing ore.

Operations at the Crocodile River Mine currently include mining and processing ore from the Zandfontein underground section to produce PGM and chrome concentrates, respectively.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE Eastern Platinum Ltd.
Viridian Metals Inc. (CSE: VRDN) ("Viridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its intention to close a non brokered private placement comprised of Charity Flow-Through Units, Flow-Through Units, and Hard Dollar Units (the "Offering") for combined total proceeds of up to $1,900,000.

Offering Structure

The Offering will be comprised of a combination of:

"Charity Flow-Through Units" at $0.75 per unit



Each Charity Flow-Through Unit is comprised of one "flow-through" common share and one full warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to certain acceleration provisions in favour of the Company

"Flow-Through Units" at $0.60 per unit



Each Flow-Through Unit is comprised of one "flow-through" common share and one-half warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance

"Hard Dollar Units" at $0.50 per unit



Each Hard Dollar Unit is comprised of one common share and one full warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to certain acceleration provisions in favour of the Company

Use of Proceeds

The gross proceeds raised through the issuance of Flow-Through Units and Charity Flow-Through Units must be used by the Company to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) at the Company's Labrador mining projects. The applicable expenditures will be renounced to subscribers to the Flow-Through Units and Charity Flow-Through Units with an effective date on or before December 31, 2025. Funds will support surface geochemistry, geophysics, and drill targeting. Proceeds from the Hard Dollar Units will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes.

CEO Commentary

Tyrell Sutherland, President & CEO of Viridian Metals, commented:

"This financing will significantly strengthen our balance sheet, bringing total available capital to over $2.5 million. With funding in place, we're positioned to aggressively advance both the Kraken and Sedna projects. We see a clear opportunity to unlock value across multiple targets in one of the most prospective critical metals districts in Canada."

Closing & Regulatory Notes

The Offering is expected to close in one or more tranches, and not earlier than May 9, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

No finder's fees are anticipated in connection with the Offering. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Viridian Metals

Viridian Metals is a leader in generative metal exploration with a focus on environmental responsibility and ethical practices. Founded to discover new critical metals deposits capable of transforming supply chains, we leverage innovative technologies and methods to enhance efficiency and sustainability in jurisdictions leading the energy transition. Viridian maintains expertise in a range of critical metals with a primary focus on copper, nickel and cobalt. Viridian's commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical practices ensure that its projects contribute meaningfully to the green transition, creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance.

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 the plans and expectations of the Company and expectations in respect of other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

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 news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. 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 management's 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 management's 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 the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes 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 the factors set forth in the Company's Filing Statement dated October 28, 2024 under the caption "Risk Factors". 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.



/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/



SOURCE Viridian Metals







For further information, please contact:



Viridian Metals

Tyrell Sutherland, President & CEO

Telephone: (613) 884-8332

Email: Info@viridianmetals.com


VANCOUVER, May 2, 2025 - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") to list, as a supplemental listing on the CSE, an aggregate of 25,650,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company issued in connection with the first tranche of the Company's non-brokered private placement of units, which completed on December 31, 2024 (the "Warrants"). The Warrants will commence trading on the CSE under the symbol "BFG.WT.A" at the open of the markets on May 6, 2025.

The Warrants are governed by a warrant indenture (the "Warrant Indenture") entered into between the Company and Endeavour Trust Company. In accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Warrant Indenture, each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") upon payment of the exercise price of $0.25 per December Warrant Share prior to December 31, 2025.

The securities being referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

"We've seen strong support from our investors, with over 1.8 million warrants recently exercised, bringing $600,000 into the Company's treasury," said David Greenway, President and CEO of Giant Mining. "The listing of these new warrants provides investors with enhanced trading flexibility and further demonstrates our commitment to shareholder value. As we continue advancing our Majuba Hill copper-silver-gold project, this added liquidity positions us to build on the momentum we've already established."

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.

"David Greenway"

David C. Greenway President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

E: info@giantminingcorp.com P: 1 (236)-788-0643

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.giantminingcorp.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the anticipated listing of the Warrants on the CSE. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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New TOR MD pledges to revive refinery; blames NPP for mismanagement

Benjamin Xornam Glover Business News May - 02 - 2025 , 15:21

The newly appointed acting Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has expressed his determination to address the challenges that have brought the state-owned oil refinery to its knees.

TOR, which is currently shut down, has the capacity to refine about 45,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd). The plant, however, is grappling with numerous issues, including broken-down equipment and a significant debt burden.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Graphic Online on Friday, May 2, 2025, Mr Kombat described the refinerys problems as largely financial in nature.

Assessment

He attributed the facilitys decline to what he described as pure mismanagement under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

We inherited a debt of $517 million left by the previous administration. The Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit has not operated since 2019, and the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) has not run since 2021, he revealed.

Also, the pipelines are corroded and non-functional. About 25 tanks are currently out of service and need to be brought back online. We have to work hard to ensure we bring the plant back to life, he added.

Mr Kombat, who was serving as Acting Deputy MD before his appointment, replaces Dr Yussif Sulemana, who has been reassigned as Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. He described TOR as a viable national asset and pledged his full commitment to its revival.

TOR is a national asset. When properly managed, it will benefit the entire country. The refinery has the potential, when fully operational, to meet 60 per cent of Ghanas petroleum needs, he stated.

He further noted that TOR directly employs over 800 people, with an additional 4,000 employed indirectly through its operations.

According to Mr Kombat, Ghana currently spends about $400 million monthly on refined petroleum importsa cost he believes could be drastically reduced if TOR becomes operational again. He vowed to change the narrative surrounding the refinerys inefficiencies.

Debt

Mr Kombat disclosed that TOR owes various staff-related payments, including SSNIT contributions and other statutory deductions. He estimated that it would require between $250 million and $400 million over the medium to long term to fully turn around the refinerys operations.

He emphasised that the new management team is ready to reset the refinery and restructure its operations.

We need capital injection into the refinery to undertake critical maintenance, he said, adding that he was optimistic about reviving TOR within seven to nine months.

I believe I am more than capable of doing this because I have been here before. I was here in 2015 and 2016. At that time, we brought the refinery back before we left office, he said.

Aligning himself with President Mahamas "Reset Agenda," Mr Kombat noted that with the right technical competence and resources, the refinerys fortunes could be turned around.

He expressed confidence in the support of TORs workers and management, stating: I have a very good relationship with the two unions at TOR. I also have a good relationship with management. They believe in my expertise and what I bring on board to help change the fortunes of TOR.
Patrick Boamah calls for Africa's financial independence, Ghana's self-reliance

Kwame Larweh Business News May - 02 - 2025 , 11:18

The former Chairman of Ghanas Parliamentary Finance Committee and Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah has urged the nation to pivot from its reliance on imports and foreign aid toward a robust, self-sustaining industrial base.

In a statement copied to GraphicOnline, Mr Boamah underscored the urgent need to bolster local industries, particularly in pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, and textiles, to curb imports, boost exports, and fortify Ghanas economy.

His remarks come at a critical juncture for Ghana, a nation grappling with economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by its dependence on foreign goods and support schemes like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (agoa).



While acknowledging the benefits of agoa, which grants preferential trade access to the United States for eligible African nations, the Okaikwei Central MP and former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament cautioned against viewing it as a long-term crutch.

An extension of agoa is welcome, but it cannot be indefinite, he asserted. We must wean ourselves from these policies and take deliberate steps to strengthen our own economic foundation.

Central to Boamahs vision is the development of competitive local industries capable of driving job creation and generating foreign exchange. He argued that Ghanas economic aspirationssustained growth, reduced unemployment, and global market relevancehinge on the nations ability to produce rather than consume. We cannot afford to sit back and be spoon-fed, he said. The time for strategic action is now.

Reflecting on government initiatives, Boamah defended the One District, One Factory program, a flagship policy aimed at establishing industrial enterprises across Ghanas districts. Despite criticisms and implementation challenges, he maintained that such efforts are vital to building local capacity. Without bold steps to industrialize, the job creation weve been promising will remain an illusion, he warned.

Boamah highlighted several sectors ripe for investment, emphasizing their potential to transform Ghanas economic landscape. In pharmaceuticals, he pointed to local companies like Tobinco, Ernest Chemist, and Kinapharma as candidates for greater support to produce medicines domestically, reducing reliance on costly imports. The textile industry, he noted, holds untapped potential to generate significant revenue through exports, provided it receives adequate investment. Agro-processing also featured prominently in his remarks, with Mr Boamah urging the government to prioritize agribusiness as a cornerstone of economic diversification.

However, Mr Boamah was clear that rhetoric alone will not suffice. He called for substantial financial commitments to these sectors, arguing that meaningful progress requires more than promises. If we want to compete in global markets with our crops and products, we must be prepared to invest heavily in their growth, he said.

This, he stressed, demands not only funding but also strategic planning and unwavering political will.

He painted a vivid picture of a Ghana unshackled from dependency, poised to chart its own economic destiny.

We cannot wait another twenty years, banking on agoa or external aid strategic thinking, real investment, and strong leadership are what will propel us forward," he stated.
PHDC pledges transparency and inclusive engagement in Petroleum Hub Project  Deputy CEO

GraphicOnline Business News May - 02 - 2025 , 08:48

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Technical and Operations at the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Mr Onasis Rosely, has reiterated the Corporations commitment to transparency and inclusive stakeholder engagement as it leads the development of Ghanas Petroleum Hub project.

Delivering his closing remarks at the maiden PHDC Inter-Agency Dialogue, Mr Rosely emphasised that under the leadership of CEO Dr Toni Aubynn, the PHDC is determined to build a project anchored in openness, accountability, and meaningful participation.

Transparency and collaboration are not optionalthey are essential, he stated. The PHDC recognises the pivotal role that government agencies, civil society, and especially local communities in the project-affected areas play in shaping the success of this transformative initiative.

Reflecting on the days discussions, Mr Rosely remarked, Today has been one of meaningful dialogue, candid conversations, and shared insightsessential ingredients for building a Petroleum Hub that is inclusive, impactful, and sustainable.

He assured participants that their voices matter, stating, We do not take your contributions for granted. This project will only succeed if those it is intended to benefitlandowners, community members, traditional leaders, businesses, civil society, and government actorsare actively involved at every stage.

Mr Rosely further pledged to incorporate the feedback received into PHDCs planning and implementation processes. Weve heard your concerns and take them seriously. We are committed to maintaining consistent, transparent engagement that fosters trust, he noted.

He also expressed appreciation to partner institutions, singling out the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and its CEO, Mr Edudzi, for their steadfast support. We owe immense gratitude to our key partner, the NPA. Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental to our progress, and we look forward to deepening this collaboration, he said.

Mr Rosely acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) and the Petroleum Commission as well, expressing hope for even stronger partnerships ahead.

In closing, he issued a call to action: Let us continue working together to turn this bold vision into reality. The success of the Petroleum Hub depends on our collective will and cooperation.
Previous article: When is Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and what is he charged with?

Gospel-Secular collabos are just noise  Mavis Asante

Edith Mensah Showbiz News May - 02 - 2025 , 06:00 2 minutes read

IF collaborating with secular artistes was the only means to win souls to the Kingdom of God then Gospel act, Mavis Asante would fail that mission.

This is because she has strong reservations about such collabos, insisting they are fundamentally wrong and amount to nothing but "noise."

Speaking exclusively to Graphic Showbiz on Monday, April 28, Mavis Asante, who recently made a comeback with a single, Victory, was clear about her stance. She stressed that gospel musicians had a divine calling that should not be mixed with secular pursuits.

"First and foremost, what is the purpose and reason behind such a collaboration? Is it for fame? To win souls? For the hype and recognition or what?" she questioned.

"Honestly, every one of us has their calling and purpose, so I believe were two different people doing two different things. Just as a lawyer cant be called to perform surgery, no matter how intelligent or famous he might be and vice versa, a surgeon cannot defend anyone in the dock, so is my thought and belief," she explained.

Meanwhile, Ghanas music scene has seen collaborations between Gospel and secular artistes that have produced some memorable hits over the years.

Songs such as Bebree by Herty Borngreat featuring Sarkodie, The Lords Prayer by Joyce Blessing featuring AB Crentsil, Ahobrase by Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo featuring Sarkodie, Odo Yi Wo Hen by Lady Prempeh featuring Richie and Asem and Boys Boys by Nacee and Guru have given music lovers something to jam to, but Mavis insists such partnerships are inappropriate.

She emphasised that the mission of secular artistes did not align with that of gospel musicians, whose primary purpose was to sing about God, salvation and spiritual matters.

According to her, collaborations between the two only created confusion and diluted the gospel message.

"I believe it does nothing to the gospel message. Ill term it as 'noise' in Mass Communication," she said.

She further advised gospel artistes seeking to reach a broader audience to collaborate within the gospel fraternity instead of looking outside. (Read Im still relevant because I do timeless music, says Mavis Asante, Comeback after a long break is real struggle  Mavis Asante)

"I think there are so many gospel artistes available for this purpose. I believe that before any collaboration, a gospel artiste must pray, fast and discern very seriously. Sometimes, saying no to certain desires like the urge to have a secular artiste on your song honours God more than any big-name collaboration could ever do," she added.
Groundbreaking musician Jill Sobule dies in house fire

BBC Showbiz News May - 02 - 2025 , 15:57 2 minutes read

Jill Sobule, a groundbreaking US songwriter whose hit I Kissed a Girl is widely considered the first song with openly-gay themes to crack the Billboard Top 20, has died in a house fire in Minneapolis, Minnesota, her publicist has said.

Sobule, whose satirical anthem Supermodel featured in the 1995 coming-of-age film Clueless, was 66.

She had been due to perform on Friday in her home city of Denver, Colorado to showcase songs from her autobiographical stage musical. A free gathering will now take place in her honour.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media, including from English musician Lloyd Cole, who said: "I'm really too numb to post much of anything. We loved her. She loved us."

Born in 1959, Sobule's career spanned three decades, her music dealing with topics including the death penalty, anorexia and LGBTQ+ rights.

Her most famous work came on her eponymous 1995 album, which included Supermodel and I Kissed a Girl.

The latter drew renewed attention in 2008 when Katy Perry released a different single of her own with the same title.

Sobule later became a pioneer of using crowdfunding to release albums, and wrote music for theatre and television shows, including the theme for the Nickelodeon show Unfabulous.

John Porter, Sobule's manager, said she was a "force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture".

He continued: "I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client & a friend today. I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others."

Eric Alper, a Canadian music correspondent, posted on X that she "paved the way with heart, humour, and honesty", adding that the openly gay artist "changed the soundtrack - and the conversation".

"Jill Sobule was so special. Heartbreaking news," American actress Carrie Coon posted.

Police in the suburb of Woodbury are investigating the cause of the fire at the house where Sobule was found, the Star Tribune reported.
Next article: Gospel-Secular collabos are just noise  Mavis Asante

When is Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and what is he charged with?

bbc.com Showbiz News May - 02 - 2025 , 07:21 6 minutes read

The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, one of the most successful rappers and music moguls in the US, starts in New York on 5 May with jury selection.

The charges against him include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

The rapper also faces dozens of lawsuits from individuals who accuse him of using his power to drug, assault, rape, intimidate and silence people.

Mr Combs has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and rejected the individual lawsuits as attempts "for a quick payday".

Who is Sean 'Diddy' Combs?

Mr Combs - who has also gone by the names Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love - emerged into the hip-hop scene in the 1990s.

His early music career success included helping launch the careers of Mary J Blige and Christopher Wallace - aka Biggie Smalls, or the Notorious B.I.G.

His music label Bad Boy Records became one of the most important labels in rap and expanded to include Faith Evans, Ma$e, 112, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez.

Mr Combs also had a prolific business career outside of music, including a deal with British drinks company Diageo to promote the French vodka brand, Ciroc.

In 2023, he released his fifth record The Love Album: Off The Grid and earned his first solo nomination at the Grammy awards. He also was named a Global Icon at the MTV Awards.

What are the charges and allegations against Diddy?

In a federal criminal case, Mr Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Many of the most severe allegations relate to the racketeering conspiracy charge.

It includes accusations of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual activities, sometimes using firearms or threats of violence.

In a raid on his Los Angeles mansion, police found supplies that they said were intended for use in orgies known as freak offs, including drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil.

Separately, Mr Combs faces a number of lawsuits accusing him of rape and assault.

Tony Buzbee, a Texas lawyer handling some of these cases, said that more than 100 women and men from across the US have either filed lawsuits against the rap mogul or will do so.

In December 2023, a woman known in court papers as Jane Doe alleged that she was "gang raped" by Mr Combs and others in 2003, when she was 17. She said she was given "copious amounts of drugs and alcohol" before the attack.

Mr Combs' legal team dismissed the flurry of lawsuits as "clear attempts to garner publicity."

His current legal issues began when he was sued by his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, in late 2023. She accused him of violently abusing and raping her.

That lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount a day after it was filed, with Mr Combs maintaining his innocence.

Since then, dozens of people have filed lawsuits accusing Mr Combs of sexual assault, with accusations dating back to 1991. He denies all claims.

His controversial history with Ms Ventura resurfaced in 2024, when CCTV footage leaked by CNN showed Mr Combs kicking his former girlfriend as she lay on a hotel hallway floor in 2016.

He apologised for his behaviour, saying: "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now."

What has Diddy said about the charges?

Mr Combs has consistently denied the allegations made against him in the civil lawsuits, describing them as "sickening" and suggesting they were made by "individuals looking for a quick payday".

In a statement to the BBC about the federal criminal charges, his lawyer said: "Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process.

"In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone - man or woman, adult or minor."

Diddy's lawyers later filed a motion to dismiss an aspect of the federal indictment in which he is accused of transportation to engage in prostitution. His team argued he was being unfairly targeted due to his race.

In a hearing in New York a week before the trial, his attorneys told the court that the rapper led the "lifestyle" of a "swinger" and was not a criminal.

They said he thought it was "appropriate" to have multiple sex partners, including sex workers.

At the same hearing, prosecutors revealed that Mr Combs had rejected a plea deal.

Is Diddy in jail?

Mr Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest on 16 September 2024.

His lawyers have argued for his release, citing the jails horrific conditions.

Critics describe the prison as overcrowded and understaffed, with a culture of violence.

A New York federal judge denied the bail request, describing Mr Combs as a serious flight risk.

Prosecutors have alleged that Mr Combs has been breaking prison rules by contacting potential witnesses.

They accuse him of "relentless efforts" to "corruptly influence witness testimony".

When is the Diddy trial and how long will it last?

The trial is scheduled to begin on 5 May.

The first days of the trial will be for jury selection, with the trial starting in earnest after the panel is selected.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the judge that the government will need three weeks to present its case.

Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the rapper's team will need a week for theirs.

Mr Combs' trial - scheduled to take place at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse in New York City - is expected to be public.

All of his court proceedings thus far have been open to the media and the public, but have not been livestreamed.

Most federal courts do not allow cameras or electronics in the courtroom.

How long could Diddy spend in jail?

Mr Combs faces up to life in prison if convicted on the racketeering charge.

He faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if he is found guilty of sex trafficking.

Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Next article: Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election

Burkina Fasos Ibrahim Traore thanks global supporters in anti-imperialism campaign

Graphic.com.gh International News May - 01 - 2025 , 23:27 2 minutes read

Burkina Faso junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has expressed deep gratitude to citizens and pan-African supporters worldwide for their solidarity in the countrys ongoing fight against imperialism and neo-colonialism.

In a powerful message delivered on Wednesday, April 30, Traore acknowledged the global demonstrations held in support of his government's vision for a sovereign and self-determined Africa.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all peace-loving patriots and pan-Africanists who rallied on April 30, 2025, to support our commitment to building a new Burkina Faso and a new Africa, free from imperialist domination, he said.

He emphasized that the international solidarity strengthens his governments resolve in its pursuit of justice and equality.

Your support reinforces our belief that our struggle for a fairer and more equitable world is just, Traore stated.

Positioning himself as a leading voice in the pan-African revival movement, Traore reaffirmed his determination to resist external pressures.

We will never bow to adversity. We will stand firm until our people achieve true emancipation, he declared. With your support, we are confident that victory over the forces of oppression is within reach.

He concluded by calling for a united continental front: Together, in solidarity, we will defeat imperialism and neo-colonialismfor a free, dignified, and sovereign Africa.
Next article: New bill to revise Colleges of Education Act in the offing

Deputy Minister touts Ghana's education sector reforms in Addis Ababa

Daily Graphic Education May - 02 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

At an international ministerial platform in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, touted what he described as a sweeping reform in the education sector to boost teaching and learning programmes across the country.

The three-day summit, graced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Temesgen Tiruneh, on the theme "Educate and skill Africa for the 21st Century", convened delegations, including ministers and professionals from across the continent.

The Innovation Africa 2025 of the African ministerial summit focused on advancing education, technology and skills development across the African continent.

Teacher licensure

Building upon the African Union's declaration of 2024 as the "Year of Education," the summit brought together government ministers, policymakers and industry leaders to collaborate on initiatives that enhance educational outcomes and digital transformation in Africa.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the theme: "Ensuring the Professional Development of Quality Teachers to Deliver Curriculum Reform in Africa," the deputy minister brought up the teacher licensing and the National Training Council initiative in Ghana as one of the important reforms.

He told the audience that the examination through which one could obtain a licence sought to "ensure continuous learning throughout a teacher's career".

According to him, to ensure continuous learning and improvement by teachers, they must accumulate points through continuous professional development programmes as a basis for license renewals.

As part of the reforms, he said, colleges of education currently offered Bachelor's degree programmes in education as a means to promote reflective practice and inculcate digital pedagogy into teacher-trainee curricula.

Dr Apaak also noted that the government had launched the Teacher Deployment and Retention Programme, intending to offer allowances, housing and mentorship opportunities for educators working in underserved communities.

"Incentives and support systems are in place to encourage teachers to work in underserved areas, including allowances, accommodation and targeted mentorship," Dr Apaak said.

On the issue of knowledge sharing across the African continent, the deputy minister told the international ministerial gathering that Ghana was championing cross-border collaboration by promoting inter-country teacher exchange programmes under the ECOWAS and African Union frameworks, making digital resources freely available, and actively participating in continental teacher development platforms like the African Unions CESA Cluster.

Our vision extends beyond Ghana. We believe in sharing resources, strategies and successes with our brothers and sisters across Africa," Dr Apaak said, reinforcing Ghanas commitment to continental cooperation.
Ghana Armed Forces to release soldiers enlisted in 1995 and 1996

GraphicOnline May - 02 - 2025 , 14:51 2 minutes read

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced the resumption of general releases for soldiers who have completed their authorised years of service, with the process set to begin this May.

This marks the end of a five-year suspension implemented under Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129, which extended the tenure of affected personnel.

Read also: New Ghana Armed Forces CDS William Agyapong promoted to rank of Lieutenant General

According to a statement signed by the Acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, the first batch of releases will honourably discharge members of the 1995 and 1996 year groups, who have either completed 30 years of service or reached the compulsory retirement age as stipulated in GAF regulations.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) wishes to formally announce to the general public that it will resume general releases of Soldiers who have completed their authorised years of service in accordance with GAF regulations, the statement read. Consequently, the first batch of general releases after the five-year suspension will commence in May 2025.

The phased release will continue in subsequent months as more personnel reach the end of their service terms.

The GAF paid tribute to the outgoing officers, acknowledging their loyalty, dedication, and professionalism over the past three decades. It highlighted their critical role in maintaining national peace and contributing to international security through their participation in United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions.

Their commitment to duty, often under very challenging conditions, has been instrumental in safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of our beloved country, the statement noted. On the international front, these gallant men and women contributed immensely to global peace and security.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, expressed appreciation to the personnel and their families for their unwavering service and support, extending best wishes for their post-service lives.

The general release, which was suspended in 2020, had allowed the extension of service for hundreds of military personnel beyond their statutory retirement dates. The resumption signals a return to the normal administrative and operational structure of the militarys human resource system.

Read the entire press release below;
Ghana Enterprises Agency CEO urges graduates to embrace lifelong learning and creativity

Jemima Okang Addae May - 02 - 2025 , 15:31 3 minutes read

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Margaret Ansei, has urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning, creativity, and excellence as they transition into the next phase of their lives.

She noted that by striving for excellence, graduates would not only progress in their careers but also serve as sources of inspiration to others and uplift their communities. She added that such a commitment to excellence embodied the values of dedication and mastery.

Ms Ansei observed that although formal education offered a strong foundation, the demands of the modern world required continuous personal and professional development.

Knowledge will serve as your foundation as you step into a workforce that is ever-evolving, she said, reminding them that education does not end at graduation but is a lifelong pursuit.

Addressing graduates at the 24th graduation ceremony of 2nd Image International Skills College, held under the theme Shaping the Future with Knowledge, Creativity and Excellence, Ms Ansei encouraged them to see education as an ongoing process essential for staying relevant in their respective industries.

Workforce readiness

Ms Ansei reminded graduates that the knowledge they had acquired formed the bedrock for navigating a constantly changing workforce. She therefore urged them to view education as a lifelong journey, where continuous learning remains key to staying relevant and impactful in their chosen fields.

She highlighted creativity as a critical differentiator in a competitive global landscape, stressing that while knowledge is essential, it is the ability to think innovatively and approach challenges with fresh perspectives that would drive success.

It is your creativity that will set you apart. In an era where innovation drives success, your ability to think critically and creatively will be your greatest asset, she stated.

Whether in the fields of trades or technology, Ms Ansei encouraged the graduates to harness their unique ideas to solve problems and capitalise on opportunities. She said doing so would position them as forward-thinking professionals and vital contributors to national development.

Industry outlook

The Director of Administration at 2nd Image, Clint Boa-Amponsem, reaffirmed the institutions commitment to providing transformative education within the beauty, hair, and fashion sectors.

He said the college envisioned a model of education that extended beyond traditional instruction, aiming to equip students with the tools needed for dynamic and responsive engagement with industry demands.

In a world that is constantly evolving, the knowledge we provide must be relevant, he added, underscoring the need for continuous curriculum adaptation.

Mr Boa-Amponsem noted that education should not merely transfer technical skills but should also inspire students to become innovators. He stated that creativity was the essence of the beauty and fashion industries, and as such, the college sought to nurture individuals capable of challenging the status quo.

He stressed that the beauty, hair, and fashion industries were more than just product-focused  they are about trends, emotions and expressions of oneself, and that this perspective transforms the educational process into a profound journey of self-discovery and creative expression, producing not only skilled professionals but also true innovators.
GoldBod extends deadline for re-application for licences to May 21

Diana Mensah May - 02 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

The Ghana Gold Board has extended the deadline for all small-scale mining companies and gold dealers to re-apply for their licences to May 21, 2025.

This follows the revocation of all previously issued gold trading licences by the former Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The directive forms part of comprehensive reforms under the Ghana Gold Board Act (Act 1140), which aimed to strengthen regulation and oversight of the gold trade.

At a press briefing last Wednesday, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, said the extension from April 30 to May 21, 2025, was to accommodate Ghanaian gold traders, giving them additional time to renew their gold trading licences and transitioned to the new regulatory framework.

We gave all PMMC licence holders and holders of licences issued by the minister responsible for Mines an ultimatum, which expires today, 30th of April, to apply for new licences under the Ghana Gold Board Act, he said.

He explained that per Section 78 of the Act, those licences had ceased to be valid.

This extension is from today, April 30, 2025, to May 21, 2025giving you an additional three weeks, he added.

Mr Gyamfi said, We are aware that most of you have not yet applied. From the backend of our website and licence application portal, we can see that while some of you have started the application process, you have not yet completed the application process, he added.

He said that although a few applicants had completed their submissions, the Board had decided to grant an additional three weeks to ensure fairness.

We believe this is fair and adequate for any serious applicant who intends to comply with the law and obtain a Gold Board licence, he said.

Website

Mr Gyamfi urged applicants to visit the official website  goldbod.gov.gh  to complete the process, which includes paying an application fee, creating an account, and submitting accurately completed forms.

Let me indicate again that if you want a licence, you must go to the website of the Gold Board, which is goldbod.gov.gh  and goldbod is G-O-L-D-B-O-D, not B-O-A-R-D. Make sure you read the requirements and terms and conditions of the licence before you begin the process, he added.

Mr Gyamfi assured the public that it had instituted a fast-track system to review applications ahead of the 60-day legal deadline to facilitate the smooth commencement of operations under the new regulatory regime.

If you make serious omissions or errors in the application, it will go against you in terms of the decision that the Gold Board will take on that application, he added.

Mr Gyamfi stressed that there would be no further extension beyond the new May 21 deadline.

Any Ghanaian found trading in gold without a valid Gold Board licence after this date will be committing a criminal offence, he warned.

Cautioned

Mr Gyamfi warned both Ghanaian citizens and foreign nationals to comply with the Ghana Gold Board Act and all other relevant regulations governing gold trading in the country.

He specifically cautioned locals against acting as fronts for foreign nationals, stressing that such conduct was illegal and would be met with severe sanctions.

Mr Gyamfi reiterated that Ghanaians must not assist foreigners in unlawfully acquiring or operating gold trading businesses in Ghana.

Background

The Ghana Gold Board has instructed all small-scale mining firms and gold traders to renew their licences before the initial deadline of May 1, 2025.

Under the revised regulatory regime, the Ghana Gold Board is the exclusive legal body mandated to purchase, sell, assay and export gold from the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector in Ghana.

All gold transactions are required to be conducted in Ghana cedis, based on exchange rates published by the Bank of Ghana.

According to GoldBod, these reforms aimed to address gold smuggling, improve transparency and increase government revenue from the gold sector.
Seidu Agongo donates GH500,000 to MahamaCares initiative

Daily Graphic May - 02 - 2025 , 08:45 2 minutes read

A Businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, has donated GH500,000 to support the newly launched MahamaCares, a social intervention aimed at improving access to affordable health care for vulnerable communities across the country.

The donation was made immediately after the launch of the initiative in Accra last Tuesday.

The event brought together several business leaders and supporters who pledged their commitment to the initiative.

President John Dramani Mahama, who launched the initiative, also announced the donation of his six months salary in advance towards the programme.

Initiative

Formally known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, the initiative seeks to decisively confront the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly in underserved communities across the country.

The fund will support specialist-level treatment for a range of chronic diseases, including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, stroke and other complications.

It will also progressively expand to cover convalescent (recovery) care, palliative (pain management) services and home-based support.

Private involvement

Alhaji Agongo, in a brief remark after the donation, underscored the importance of private sector involvement in addressing the countrys social and developmental challenges.

As business leaders, we have a responsibility to support initiatives that directly impact the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

The Mahama Cares programme represents a practical approach to addressing our nations immediate needs while building sustainable solutions for vulnerable people and communities, he said, adding that his motivation for giving stemmed from the impact his support would have on the lives of vulnerable individuals.

"When I see a child smile because they finally have enough to eat or watch an elderly person receive the medication they couldn't afford, I'm reminded why God blessed me with resources," he stated.

The businessman and philanthropist commended the Presidents commitment to the programme, describing the donation of his six months salary as a gesture that should encourage other well-meaning Ghanaians to support the cause.

Alhaji Agongos latest donation adds to a long list of his philanthropic activities nationwide.

These include support for the health sector, such as the construction and equipping of a new Paediatric Emergency Block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which was funded entirely through his donation.

He has also made food donations to communities in the Bongo District in the Upper East Region and has supported several educational initiatives by paying school fees for students at various levelsfrom basic education to tertiary institutions.

In March this year, he settled the medical bills of new mothers in selected hospitals across the country as part of his efforts to alleviate the financial burden on families.
Tackling mismanagement at workplaces: Speak up, protect your institutions - Mahama urges workers at May Day Parade

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie May - 02 - 2025 , 12:33 4 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has urged workers to voice mismanagement going on in their various workplaces to help prevent the collapse of their institutions.

Many of you work in state-owned enterprises that have been atrociously managed over the last eight years. I urge you not to keep quiet when management is driving your enterprise into ruin.

You are always the first to be affected by job losses when these institutions collapse. Your enterprise, where you work, belongs to you. They guarantee you lifelong employment, and so you must protect those enterprises.

When things are going wrong, do not be afraid to say so. As President, I will back and support you to set things right, he said.

The President was speaking at a parade to celebrate Labour Day, also known as May Day, at the Black Star Square in Accra yesterday.

The parade was attended by a large gathering of labour unions from the private and public sectors, one of the largest in recent years.

This years celebration, put together by Organised Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, was on the theme: Resetting pay and condition of service: the role of stakeholders.

Improving conditions

President Mahama, in response to the longstanding and inequitable disparity in the public service wage structure concern raised by workers, assured them that his government had commenced the process to address the issue.

As part of the constitutional review process, attention will be paid to the establishment of a permanent independent emoluments commission that will determine a fair and equitable public service wage structure so that we can bridge the unacceptable gap between the conditions of service of Article 71 officeholders and other sections of workers within the public sector, he emphasised.

The President said his administration would invest in morale-boosting interventions by introducing comprehensive reforms across the public and private sector labour environments.

That, he said, would ensure timely salary payments, modernise workplace conditions and reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrated productivity.

The President said the government would also prioritise better occupational health and safety policies, as well as ensure timely pension contributions and payments, and eliminate the neglect that many of our retired workers have had to endure for far too long.

President Mahama added that to help address challenges with the pension scheme, he would initiate a preliminary discussion with stakeholders through a mutually selected ad hoc committee to come up with proposals on how the current challenges with the pension system could be addressed.

Sacrifice

The President acknowledged TUC and workers across the country for their sacrifice in building the country through their consideration in accepting the 10 per cent increment in base salary.

He said the government, with the austere steps being taken this year, was hoping to see better outcomes in the next years.

President Mahama, however, stated that a lot of sacrifice would be required from all quarters, not only workers, to rescue the country from the economic crisis into which it was plunged.

He gave an assurance that he would be prudent and modest in handling public resources and called on all his appointees to do the same.

Labours role in resetting

The President affirmed his decision to strengthen institutional relationships between the government and Organised Labour as part of his reset agenda in acknowledgement of the vital role of labour in the success of the agenda.

He stated that the Ministry of Labour would not operate in isolation, but would be an active convener of tripartite collaboration where the government, business and labour would meet regularly to assess progress, address grievances and shape policies that worked for everyone.

Galamsey fight

President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, describing it as a complex challenge that could not be resolved overnight.

He stated that even during his campaign, he never believed the battle could be won easily.

However, he stressed that the fight would not be abandoned and expressed confidence in the nations security agencies, saying efforts would continue to clamp down on the selfish entities destroying forests and polluting water bodies.

"Our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Security Services are up to the fight, and we will continue to score successes against the selfish companies and individuals who are destroying our forests and polluting our water bodies, President Mahama said.
Ghana School Feeding Programme terminates all caterer contracts nationwide

Graphic.com.gh May - 02 - 2025 , 16:35 1 minute read

The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has announced the immediate termination of contracts for all caterers engaged under the initiative across the country.

In an official statement dated May 2, 2025, the GSFP directed that no current caterer should provide meals for the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year.

Please be informed that contracts of all caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) nationwide have been terminated with immediate effect. Accordingly, no existing caterer on the programme should cook for the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year, the statement read.

The Secretariat, however, assured affected caterers that all outstanding payments for the previous term would be settled. All outstanding arrears for the second term of the 2024/2025 academic year will be paid in due course, it stated.

The termination, according to the GSFP, forms part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving the efficiency and impact of the programme.

As part of its ongoing restructuring exercise, the GSFP Secretariat will soon announce the modalities for the recruitment of new caterers, the notice added.

Read the full statement below;
Next article: Ghana's GoldBod will end up in hands of galamseyers, politically-connected individuals  Afenyo-Markin warns

New Ghana Armed Forces CDS William Agyapong promoted to rank of Lieutenant General

Enoch Darfah Frimpong May - 02 - 2025 , 13:39 4 minutes read

The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Major General William Agyapong has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, a Three-Star General level.

President John Dramani Mahama in March 2025, appointed new Service Chiefs for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The changes took effect on March 24, 2025.

The new appointees were the then One-Star generals, Brigadier General William Agyapong as Chief of Defence Staff, the then Brigadier General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu as Chief of Army Staff, the then Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing as Chief of Naval Staff, the then Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempong as Chief of Air Staff, and the then Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan as Chief of Staff.

Promotion

Prior to becoming the CDS and assuming duty on March 24, 2025, William Agyapong was promoted to the rank of a Two-Star General by President John Dramani Mahama.

His promotion was among those of the newly appointed service chiefs.

In line with the structure of the Ghana Armed Forces, the CDS has been promoted again to the rank of Three-Star General by the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Release of all 2-Star Generals from Ghana Armed Forces

Earlier this week, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), hosted a gathering of all Two-Star Generals in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at his office in Burma Camp on Monday, April 28, 2025.

At the meeting, the CDS expressed his appreciation and admiration for the Generals' exceptional professionalism and dedicated service to the country.

He extended gratitude from the President and Commander-in-Chief, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

He then informed the Generals that, to aid command and control in the Armed Forces, many of them present are to be released honourably from the service in accordance with Ghana Armed Forces regulations.

Reaction from the Generals to be released

The Commandant, National College of Defence Studies, Major General Irvine Aryeetey, on behalf of the Generals present said the current change in Military High Command Structure was nothing new but consistent with the history of the Ghana Armed Forces.

He also said as tradition demands, new intakes take over from their predecessors.

He cited the handing over from the then CDS, Lieutenant General O.B. Akwa to Vice Admiral S. Amoama, which was five intakes down the line (Intake 18 and 23).

Again, in the case of CDS Vice Admiral S. Amoama as he then was and General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, it was three intakes down the line (Intakes 23 and 26).

He concluded that, the current change in command between the immediate past CDS, General Thomas Oppong-Peprah and the current CDS, Major General W. Agyapong, which is four intakes down the line was consistent with the military tradition.

He, however, expressed gratitude to the CDS for inviting them to formally inform and honour them, which was a novelty.

The meeting concluded with a luncheon hosted by the CDS at his office, where he wished the Generals well in their future endeavours.

Related article: CDS Thomas Oppong-Peprah promoted to rank of 4-Star General

In January 2025, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces, Thomas Oppong-Peprah was promoted to the rank of a 4-Star General, the first time Ghana was having such a rank leading the GAF.

General Oppong-Peprah, now retired became the first in the history of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The GAF had always been led by a 3-Star General, that is a Lieutenant General or equivalent in the Navy or Air Force.

The promotion in January for a 4-Star General to lead the GAF was following the recent expansion with more commands in line with international military norms.

The GAF has expanded and now has the Support Service Brigade, Southern Command, Central Command, Northern Command and Recce Brigade, indicating one of the biggest achievements of the Ghana Armed Forces in recent times.

Read also: Ghana Armed Forces to release soldiers enlisted in 1995 and 1996

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced the resumption of general releases for soldiers who have completed their authorised years of service, with the process set to begin this May.

This marks the end of a five-year suspension implemented under Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129, which extended the tenure of affected personnel.

According to a statement dated April 30, 2025 and signed by the acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, the first batch of releases will honourably discharge members of the 1995 and 1996 year groups, who have either completed 30 years of service or reached the compulsory retirement age as stipulated in GAF regulations.

Writer's email: [email protected]

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh
Next article: Health expert warns of surge in liver disease

Biomedical laboratory scientists call for reforms to enhance healthcare delivery

Daily Graphic Health May - 02 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has emphasised the critical role of biomedical laboratory scientists in promoting sustainability in clinical testing.

At the International Medical Laboratory Science Day celebration in Accra, President of GAMLS, Dr Eric Kofi Aidoo, highlighted the indispensable role of laboratory professionals in effective healthcare delivery.

He underscored the critical need for a sustainable workforce and resilient infrastructure to achieve Ghanas vision of becoming a health tourism hub.

Dr Aidoo further appealed for realistic pricing and sustainable financing mechanisms, particularly advocating the decoupling of medical laboratory charges from bundled health services.

Commending President John Mahama for uncapping the National Health Insurance Levy, Dr Aidoo urged the government to ring-fence funds for laboratory services and accelerate the creation of a Medical Laboratory Council to strengthen regulation and training.

Call to Action

Touching on the human resource challenges within the sector, Dr Aidoo expressed concern over the lack of recruitment since 2020, leading to excessive workloads for practicing professionals.

He warned of the rising exodus of skilled laboratory scientists to Western countries due to poor remuneration and inadequate working conditions.

If these issues are not tackled head-on, the interest in training as a Medical Laboratory Scientist will diminish, he warned, stressing the implications for Ghanas healthcare future.

Dr Aidoo also proposed the establishment of a Ghana Medical Laboratory Science College in alignment with the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) frameworks to provide specialist training and improve professional standards.

He also urged the government to invest in laboratory infrastructure to support effective medical laboratory services.

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GAMLS, Dr John Tosenu, in an address, emphasised the importance of innovation, education and a motivated workforce and called for procurement reform and equitable financing models to ensure sustainability in clinical testing.

Policy advocacy and inspiration

The Director of Allied Health Professionals, Dr Ignatius Nichor Abowini Awinibuno, in an address, also emphasised the crucial role of biomedical laboratory scientists in promoting sustainability in clinical diagnostics.

He highlighted the government's vision to provide free health care to over 50 per cent of citizens at the primary healthcare level, emphasising the need for laboratory services to support this initiative.

He pointed out that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) accounted for nearly 45 per cent of deaths globally and in Ghana, stressing the importance of improving diagnosis and prevention.

Chairman of the Ghana Chapter of the West Africa Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo, also called for investment in infrastructure to enhance laboratory performance nationwide.
Bawumia pays tribute to late Mamponghene; signs book of condolence

GraphicOnline Politics May - 02 - 2025 , 20:20 2 minutes read

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has paid a visit to the Mamponghene's Palace in Asante Mampong to express his condolences following the death of Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, the Paramount Chief of Mampong and occupant of the revered Silver Stool.

The late Mamponghene, who was 86 years old, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. His death, which had remained under wraps in line with Asante custom, was officially announced on Monday, April 28, after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was formally informed. The chief, who served as the second-in-command to the Asantehene, reigned for more than 25 years and was widely respected for his distinguished service as a traditional leader, economist, and lawyer.

On Friday, May 2, Dr Bawumia paused the New Patriotic Partys regional Thank-You Tour to visit the palace and commiserate with the bereaved family, including the Mamponghemaa, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, and the traditional council.

The former Vice President signed the book of condolence opened in honour of Daasebre, describing him as a father figure and a source of wisdom for both himself and his wife, Samira. We are grateful to Nana for taking us in as his children and for the wise counsel he consistently offered, Dr Bawumia noted during his visit.

Dr Bawumia, who had enjoyed a warm personal relationship with the late chief, had earlier expressed his shock at the news, writing an emotional tribute on his social media platforms soon after the announcement.

During his visit, he also spent time with the late chiefs widow and expressed his appreciation to the Mampong Traditional Council for the warm reception and their ongoing contributions to the Asante Kingdom.

The Queenmother and traditional leaders expressed gratitude for Dr Bawumias gesture, acknowledging the mutual respect and affection between the late Mamponghene and the former Vice President.

The passing of Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II has triggered mourning across Asanteman. Following tradition, the Silver Stool Palace has been locked, with the keys handed to the Gyaasehene, Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa, by the Mamponghemaa. A formal inspection and inventory of the palace is scheduled to be conducted by the queenmother and her delegation.

Privately known as Saint Oswald Gyimah-Kessie, the late Mamponghene was an accomplished academic and administrator, having served as Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) before his enstoolment in 1999.
Krowor, Ayawaso East MCEs secure unanimous endorsement from assembly members

Beatrice Laryea Politics May - 02 - 2025 , 16:49 5 minutes read

Paul Afotey Quaye has been unanimously been confirmed as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krowor in the Greater Accra Region.

At an assembly meeting in Nungua on Friday (May 2, 2025), all the 17 eligible voters comprising 11 elected assembly members and six government appointees, voted 'Yes', in favour of Mr Paul Quaye's nomination.

The Municipal Electoral Officer from the Electoral Commission (EC), Gifty Akorfu conducted the election which was witnessed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo.

Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo swearing in Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim, MCE for Ayawaso East

"The lively event, marked by intermittent bursts of victory songs and jubilation reflecting widespread approval of the elected MCE, was also graced by the presence of Akonokom Mantse, Nii Gonten Tieko Tsuru II, Asoprotsonaa Mantse, Nii Afotey Gbetse, Nungua Wuleiatse, Nii Bortei Tettey II, Yeikonaa Mantse, Nii Laryea Odiasempa, Baatsonaa Manye, Naa Borteley Akeayo, Borteyman Manye, Naa Borteley Adu Alebo and Santoe Amanfon Manye, Naa Korklu Mobonalor.

Ayawaso East

Similarly, assembly members of the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly also unanimously confirmed Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim as MCE following a meeting at the Centre for National Culture at Kawukudi in Accra.

Out of 17 total votes  also comprising 11 assembly members and six government appointees, 16 voted 'Yes,' representing 94 per cent, while only one vote, or 6 per cent, was cast against the nominee.

The election was supervised by Electoral Officer Tetteh Ashitey Armah and witnessed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

Commendation

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, praised the assembly members of the Krowor Municipal Assembly for conducting a peaceful election and overwhelmingly endorsing the Presidents nominee.

You people have made my day. Today, I can eat well, she said.

Togetherness is always the best approach, and you have demonstrated that perfectly. In other assemblies we've visited, the situation was quite different. Misunderstandings and resentment among some assembly members led to attempts to sabotage the Presidents nominees, she said.

The story here is different. Youve given the Presidents nominee 100 percent support, and for that, I say God bless you all.

In a light-hearted moment, the Minister jokingly appealed to the Member of Parliament for the area, Naa Momo Lartey, to reward the assembly members for their unity and support.

Youre fortunate to have an MP who is also a Minister. So, Honourable Minister, please take them to Kempinski for me, she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Call for unity

At the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly, where she addressed stakeholders ahead of the confirmation vote, the Regional Minister encouraged members to replicate the unity displayed by the Krowor Assembly.

You are here to exercise your constitutional right, but please do so in the interest of the public. I plead with you, both assembly members and government appointees, to vote wisely so that at the end of the day, the government nominee will be confirmed unanimously. We are just coming from Krowor, and they did it so peacefully.

She assured them that any concerns regarding the nominee could be addressed after the election and expressed optimism for a positive outcome adding I believe Allah will touch everyones heart to vote in unity. Thank you.

Commitment to development

In separate interviews following their confirmation, Mr Paul Quaye and Mr Abdul-Ganiyu expressed their deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for their nominations.

They also extended heartfelt thanks to their respective assembly members for the overwhelming support they received during the confirmation process.

Gifty Akorfu, Electoral Commission Officer declared Ing. Paul A Quaye as the elected MCE of Krowor Assembly

"First of all, let me take this opportunity to thank the assembly members and the good people of Krowor. This 100 percent endorsement is overwhelming, and it tells me that I must be attentive to each and every one of them," Ing Quaye said.

"I also want to assure the people of Ghanaespecially the youththat more jobs are on the way, and municipal services will become more visible and responsive than ever before. We aim to offer leadership that is accessible and quick to respond to community needs," he stated.

He acknowledged key challenges facing the municipality and emphasized job creation and infrastructure development as top priorities.

"There are significant challenges confronting our peoplepoor road conditions and youth unemployment are among the most pressing. My vision aligns with that of President Mahama: to reset Ghana by creating jobs and opportunities for our citizens. That is the path we intend to follow," Mr Quaye added.

Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim also echoed similar sentiments, affirming his commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable development in Ayawaso East.

Tetteh Ashitey Armah (left), Electoral Commission Officer declared Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim as the elected MCE of Ayawaso East Assembly

As I step into this role, I am inspired by the President's mantra of "Resetting." This vision calls for a fresh start-a commitment to unity, Consensus building, innovation, and sustainable development. It is a call to reimagine our approach to governance and community building, ensuring that every decision we make contributes to the progress and prosperity of Ayawaso East Municipality and the nation as a whole," he said.

"To the good people of Nima and Kanda, I pledge to serve you with truth, humility, and dedication. I assure you that every decision I make will prioritize the collective interest of Ayawaso East Municipality. Chiefs and elders, your son, Abdul-Ganiyu Ibrahim Mallam Fari-will rely on your wise counsel as we work together to uplift our municipality," the Ayawaso East MCE added.

Background

In accordance with Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Section 20 (1) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), President Mahama last month nominated 29 persons as chief executives of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies(MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region.

So far, three MCEs have been confirmed, including the Ayawaso North MCE, Haruna Mohammed Awal. Meanwhile nominees for Ayawaso West, Dr Michael Mensah and Randolf Collingwood-Williams of the Ayawaso Central Municipal assembly were rejected by their respective assembly members during the confirmation, also held separately last Wednesday.

Related Articles:

President Mahama appoints MMDCEs for Greater Accra

Greater Accra MMDCEs confirmation: Ayawaso North MCE approved, 2 others rejected

6 Assemblies confirm President's MDCE nominees in Bono
Minority leader calls for end to political retaliation in Ghana

Gertrude Ankah Politics May - 02 - 2025 , 12:52 3 minutes read

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on Ghanas two dominant political partiesthe National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP)to end the entrenched cycle of political retaliation, warning that it is undermining democratic stability and eroding public trust.

Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show on Friday, May 2, 2025, the Effutu MP described the decades-long practice of political vengeance as a vicious cycle that yields no meaningful progress for the nation.

All we have as a country is our democracy, he said. Since 1992, weve witnessed cycles of retaliation in governance. But I believe the time has come for us to look beyond that and focus on legacies that safeguard our democratic future.

Mr Afenyo-Markins remarks come amid concerns over partisan interference in public institutions, including the judiciary and state-owned enterprises. He accused both the NDC and NPP of fostering a political culture in which each transition of power triggers mass dismissals, institutional purges, and politically motivated vendettas.

If we continue this approach, it means we are entering a vicious cycle without end, he cautioned. Where would it lead us to? The NDC may think they are enjoying this moment, but they are eroding themselves too.

Falling public confidence

Highlighting growing voter apathy as a sign of deepening public disillusionment, the Minority Leader pointed to the 2020 general elections as a warning sign. He noted that voter turnout in traditional strongholds, including Greater Accra, fell significantly.

Look at the turnout in Greater Accrajust above 53%. Even in the NPPs strongholds, the numbers are falling. This shows theres a disconnect. People are tired of the same old politics, he observed.

Politicisation of judiciary and public sector

Mr Afenyo-Markin also criticised what he described as the politicisation of the judiciary, citing the recent suspension process targeting the Chief Justice. He argued that the petition filed lacked merit and should not have been entertained by the Council of State.

If you look at the petition, it wouldnt even qualify for consideration by any educated body, he said. And yet, the Council of Statealmost unanimouslyfound a prima facie case. Thats where the disappointment comes from.

He further raised concerns over dismissals in public institutions, claiming that qualified individuals were being removed solely based on perceived political affiliations.

People who have worked for seven, eight years are being sacked overnight, he said. This is not limited to the civil service but includes SOEs like the Maritime Authority and Ghana Water. This is dangerous for our democracy.

A call for political maturity

Mr Afenyo-Markin urged both parties to reflect on their time in office and prioritise the national interest over partisan gains. He called for a more mature, reconciliatory approach to governance, grounded in meritocracy and collaboration.

Weve seen NDC 1, 2, 3. Weve seen NPP 1 and 2. What have we really done as a political class to help this nation? he asked. We must learn from the past and do better.

He warned that if political actors fail to rise above vendetta-driven governance, Ghana risks losing the very foundation of its democracy.

Lets not forgetwhen we lose the peoples trust, we risk losing the democracy itself, he added.
Google Search launched AI Mode back in March as an experimental feature that would transform your search experience into more or less a conversation with a chatbot. Now, AI Mode has become available to all Google Labs users in the US, without a waitlist (which was previously a thing). If you want to enable it, you can go to Labs. And, "in the coming weeks", Google says, "a small percentage of people in the US" will see the AI Mode tab in Search without going to Labs to enable it.

Rolling out over the next week are visual place and product cards in AI Mode, which will let you tap to get more details. Cards for things like restaurants, salons, and stores, will show ratings, reviews, and opening hours, while for products you'll see shoppable options with real-time prices, images, shipping details, and local inventory.

There's also a new left side panel in AI Mode on desktop, and this shows your past searches so you can quickly get back to any one of them. Each topic will include the info that AI Mode already found for you, and you can then ask follow-up questions if you want to.

Source
Acting Gov. Josh Tenorio said that the recent federal investigation involving a Department of Corrections officer is serious and deeply troubling, and also added that one individuals misconduct does not define this department.

They were part of his remarks as he signed a proclamation for National Corrections Week on Friday at Adelup.

We will hold people accountable  and we will keep supporting those who never waver in their duty, said Tenorio.

DOC Director Fred Bordallo Jr. said that he has initiated an internal investigation against the unnamed officer in addition to placing the officer on administrative leave pending the outcome. The officer was also in federal custody, he said.

The officer will be required to appear when summoned by Internal Affairs, said Bordallo.

Tenorio said that he has directed Bordallo to continue cooperating with federal authorities and to lead a comprehensive internal review.

But were not stopping there. Were moving forward with real reforms  improving facilities, upgrading equipment and advancing long-term plans for a modern correctional facility that reflects the standards our officers and community deserve, he said. We cant expect excellence without providing the right tools and environment. Reform isnt just about accountability  its about building something better together.

Because the case involves continued local and federal investigation, Bordallo has said he could not comment further and potentially jeopardize the case.

I have committed our DOC intelligence unit and corrections specialized response teams to work collaboratively with federal agents. Our agency, DOC, will defer any media releases of the case at this present time to federal officials, he said.

Bordallo said he wanted to assure the public that an overwhelming majority of the men and women who wear the badge of a corrections officer, serving the people in the honorable profession of law enforcement and public safety, remain true and faithful to their mission.

I offer them my thanks and support as we forge ahead, he added.

National Corrections week runs from May 4-10, though celebrations continue throughout May.

Among some of the activities:

National Corrections Week display at Guam Premier Outlets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 3

Corrections Mass at the DOC chapel at 11 a.m. May 5

National Corrections Week display at Guam Premier Outlets from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 5

National Corrections Week display at Micronesia Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 -7

Corrections Law Enforcement Softball Tournament May 22-25

Family picnic at Ypao Beach from noon to 6 p.m. May 31

UOG student contributions

Just in time for Corrections Week, UOG instructor Maria Pangelinan announced the completion of a flyer, recruitment brochure and video produced by her PA-480 Public Administration Capstone students.

The graduating students of the UOG public administration capstone class have worked hard all semester on outreach, corrections officer recruitment and FY26 budget, said Pangelinan. The students will do presentations to seniors at GW and Southern High Monday and Tuesday next week.

Students will also participate in the Micronesia Mall and GPO displays, she said.

Bordallo said he was appreciative of the students work and said their pamphlets and video were great.
Residents are invited to the 2nd Annual Young Authors Showcase on Saturday where students will showcase books they've made.

Guam Community Colleges Education Department, in collaboration with the Literacy Navigators Grant Program, invites the public to the 2nd Annual Young Authors Showcase on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at GCCs Multipurpose Auditorium.

The event is free to the public.

Participating students engaged in the process of storytelling and created their own books, based on this years theme: Our Islands: Respect and Care for the Community of Life.

The students, from P.C. Lujan Elementary School, St. Johns School, Magalahen Hurao-CHamoru Academy Charter School, and GCCs Education Department, will be showcasing their work. Several local authors such as Mike Bevacqua, Shaiana Mendiola, Olympia Terral and Julie Manglona Ulloa-Heath will be there as well.

GCCs Education Department prepares individuals to become educators who will empower Guams youth and advocate for a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world, according to a release.

The Education Department continues to promote literacy in Guams public, private and charter schools by encouraging authentic writing opportunities and hosting events such as the Young Authors Showcase.

The Literacy Navigators Grant Program works to recover learning loss among local elementary-aged students caused by the pandemic.

"Throughout the course of the program, the Literacy Navigators have worked as embedded tutors in Guam Department of Education schools, hosted numerous seasonal literacy events, and worked in our local libraries last summer to encourage a lifelong love of reading," GCC said.

To learn more about the event, email literacynavigatorsgrant@guamcc.edu or contact (671) 735-5641 ext. 1121 or 1122.
The Guam Power Authority said power outages will be possible this weekend as the island still has limited energy capacity and is asking customers to conserve power.

Residents on Thursday night reported outages in several villages and more outages are possible through the weekend.

GPA said partial implementation of the rotating outage schedule lasting up to 1-hour is possible around 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

GPA reassures its customers that plant personnel are working around the clock to get generator units back online and increase system capacity, the power authority said in a release.

The implementation of the rotating outage schedule is a last resort, and GPA said every effort is being made to restore service promptly.

On Wednesday, GPA said one generator was down for maintenance and others at limited capacity.

Peak power demand was estimated at 248 megawatts on Wednesday night, GPA stated.

Power authority production capacity was 251 megawatts.

Load shedding, or rolling blackouts, happen when customer power demand is higher than what GPA can produce.

And peak power demand, usually between 5 and 11 p.m., has been higher in 2025 than in previous years.

GPA has observed that the daily demand for power continues to be unseasonably higher than usual. Higher outside temps make it harder for air conditioners and fans to cool homes and other buildings, the power authority stated.

Additionally, the new Ukudu power plant is not testing this week and cannot contribute energy to the grid.

The Consolidated Commission on Utilities has approved a deal for GPA to start drawing down up to 135 MW of power from the Ukudu power plant, but approval from the Public Utilities Commission is still required.

GPA acknowledges that these outages are an inconvenience and thanks the community for their understanding during these challenging times until we bridge the gap to full commissioning in September 2025, it said.

GPA said it will file the petition with the PUC once the agreement is finalized with Guam Ukudu Power.

With system demand hitting a record high of 259 MW of energy last month, GPA faces an elevated risk of load shedding as key units are offline for necessary preventative maintenance or limited in capacity production and summer heat rises.

Residents and businesses are once again urged to conserve energy, especially during evening peak hours of 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. over the next few weeks while the grid remains most vulnerable and during times when the Ukudu Power Plant is not available to test and cannot contribute energy to the grid, GPA said.

Our system is most vulnerable during the upcoming summer months, with critical units offline for required maintenance and demand surging in the heat. We continue to ask our community for their patience and to assist GPA by shifting their power use outside peak hours until we can get the approval for further testing support, said GPA General Manager John M. Benavente in a release.
Humanities Guahan got a $200,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation and is seeking donations to meet a $50,000 match.

The Mellon Foundation announced a $15 million emergency funding commitment to the Federation of State Humanities Councils in response to the abrupt federal funding cuts that have devastated state humanities councils, Humanities Guahan said in a release Friday.

This emergency funding will help provide support to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States, including up to $250,000 for Humanities Guahan.

Mellons investment comes at a critical moment when $65 million in federal support for state humanities councils has been eliminated as a result of cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

On April 2, Humanities Guahan received notice that all its grant funding through the NEH had been cancelled, effective immediately, resulting in a loss of over $750,000.

The grant from Mellon means an immediate $200,000 for Humanities Guahan, plus a $50,000 challenge grant if the organization can raise the same amount in community donations.

Members of the public can help meet the match by donating to Humanities Guahan through https://tinyurl.com/supporthg.

Humanities Guahan said the emergency grant provides vital breathing room.

This funding from the Mellon Foundation is a critical lifeline, Humanities Guahan Executive Director CJ Ochoco said in a statement. It allows us to keep moving forward at a time of deep uncertainty. While this support offers real hope, we still need our community to help us meet the match and sustain the work that matterssupporting literacy, preserving culture, and creating spaces where the people of Guahan can connect, reflect, and be heard.

It allows Humanities Guahan to restore core operations, support staff, and resume essential programmingincluding the relaunch of the family literacy initiative, Motheread/Fatheread.

The program provides literary resources to those who need them most, empowering families by promoting school readiness for children, increasing adult literacy, and strengthening pathways to further education or employment.

This work has been carried out in partnership with key community organizations such as the Guam Head Start Program, the Department of Corrections Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT), and Catholic Social Service Alee Womens Shelter.

The funding is also essential for sustaining the Community Conversations program, which provides spaces for connection, sharing of stories, finding common ground, and deepening our collective understanding of the humanities and the human experience, Humanities Guahan said.

Outreach for the program spans across Guahan, Micronesia, the Pacific region, and globally. Community partnerships have included organizations such as the Salvation Army Lighthouse Recovery Center, Guma Mami, and the Department of Youth Affairs.

However, while this generous support helps stabilize the organization in the short term, it does not close the full gap left by the loss of federal NEH funding. Humanities Guahan still urgently needs continued community support to sustain its work over the long term.

The organization said it is deeply grateful for this emergency funding, and is calling on the community to help meet the match and carry the work forward.

Together, Guahan can meet this moment and ensure the humanities remain strong and rooted in the islands future, Humanities Guahan said.
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The Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Environmental Health shut down five establishments in recent weeks for either lacking sanitary permits or failing inspection.

This is according to sanitation inspection results released by the agency.

Harmon Loop Dentals temporary workforce housing in Yigo was issued a notice of closure on April 22 because it was found operating without a valid sanitary permit.

On April 14, Reliable Builders Inc.s public laundry in Tamuning was issued a notice of closure because it was found operating without a valid sanitary permit.

On April 2, Seoho Sushi in Tamuning, which was cited as a manufacturer, was issued a notice of closure because it didnt possess a valid sanitary permit.

It was inspected following a complaint, according to the inspection results.

Failed inspections

Alices Coffee Shop Chinese Cuisine in Harmon was inspected on March 5 after a complaint.

The restaurant got 48 demerits and also had an active cockroach infestation, resulting in Public Health suspending its sanitary permit.

As of May 1, the restaurant was still closed and a D grade could be seen on the window.

Chodes manufacturer business was inspected on March 11 and got 47 demerits getting a D grade. Its sanitary permit was suspended for receiving more than 41 demerits.

Chodes retail business was also inspected and got 21 demerits, getting a C grade.

Passed re-inspection

Mayas Restaurant in Harmon got its sanitary permit reinstated on March 13 after a follow-up reinspection saw zero demerit and received an A grade.

Prior to that, it was shut down on Feb. 21 due to an active cockroach infestation.

Chodes manufacturer business was re-inspected on March 28 and got zero demerits and got an A grade.

Complaints

Public Health inspected several places due to complaints, but most of them passed inspection.

Jollibee in Dededo was inspected on March 7 after a complaint but it got zero demerits and got an A grade.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Hagatna was inspected on March 20 after a complaint and got two demerits and an A grade.

New Fresh Bread Bakeshop in Yigo was inspected on March 13 and got nine demerits and an A grade.
U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is on Guam for an official scheduled visit, said Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Tucker, public affairs officer for Joint Region Marianas.

Phelan arrived on the island Thursday afternoon for a Guam posture brief, she said, and has already met with military leadership here including Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman.

Phelan is scheduled to meet with Guams senior local leadership Friday, said Tucker.

Tucker said that Phelan has already visited various military facilities here, and spoke with commanding officers of Submarine Squadron 15 and the U.S.S. Frank Cable.

Its always an honor to have senior leadership from the Navy with our service members on island. Its always a good morale boost for the team to speak with the leadership, she said.

According to the official U.S. government website, Phelan was sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Navy on March 25.

Secretary Phelan oversees the well-being, readiness and development of nearly one million sailors, Marines, reservists and civilian personnel in the Department of the Navy and manages an annual budget of $263.5 billion and balance sheet assets totaling $922 billion.

His departmental priorities focus on strengthening shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base; fostering an adaptive, accountable and warfighting culture; and improving the health, welfare and training of our people.

Prior to his appointment, Secretary Phelan was the founder and chairman of Rugger Management, LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. Before launching Rugger, he was a co-founder and co-managing partner of MSD Capital, L.P., a private investment firm for Michael Dell, and MSD Partners, a SEC-registered investment advisor that managed investments for a select group of third-party investors. Under his leadership, MSD posted double-digit net returns, generated over $20 billion in profits, and grew assets under management to over $30 billion.
The Guam Department of Education still has no contract to fix downed fences or deal with mold growth caused by Typhoon Mawar, with the second anniversary of the storm just three weeks away.

Both projects, worth about $14 million, remain tied up in procurement at the Department of Administrations General Services Agency, Education Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Administrative Services Morgan Wade Paul told senators at a Wednesday budget hearing.

Are you serious? Still? Up to now? replied Sen. Chris Barnett, who questioned Paul about the project.

The mold mitigation contract, from what I understand, is in protest, Paul told Barnett. There were hiccups along the way regarding the fencing.

While the projects are for local schools, GSA, the agency handling the procurement, is part of the executive branch.

Thats because the funding being used for the fencing and mold mitigation originally belonged to GDOE. Lawmakers gave the department $20 million for maintenance and repairs in April 2023.

But after Mawar hit, school officials agreed to allow Adelup to transfer the $20 million out in the hopes of speeding up procurement.

Paul on Wednesday told senators that $6 million has been used to reimburse the Guam Army National Guard for help fixing up schools.

But the balance of $14 million still has not gone to any mold mitigation or fencing contract.

Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin on Thursday told the Pacific Daily News GDOE has not provided adequate specifications needed to procure a contract for mold mitigation or fencing.

Political runaround

Meanwhile, Paul on Wednesday said it has been discussed within GDOE management to put maintenance workers out to fix downed fences.

It may be slower but GDOE may still be able to get reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

Barnett said fencing was the bigger priority, with schools now unprotected because of political runaround.

Plan: Use $11M for FBLG

As for the mold mitigation, Paul said he has proposed canceling it altogether and instead use the $11 million to solve issues with getting F.B. Leon Guerrero students back to class.

GDOE may need about $16 million in local funding to finish paying for repairs at FBLG.

Funding for the project got caught in a round of freezes that came under the new Trump White House.

FBLG students have been in double-session classes at Okkodo High School since January 2023.

The FBLG campus in Yigo, once done with the refurbishment, is also being eyed as a potential double-session spot for Simon Sanchez High School students.

Sanchez students have been without a home since Mawar destroyed their old Yigo campus.

Since then, Sanchez students have been in double-session classes at John F. Kennedy High School in Tamuning.

Paul said getting funds to fix the FBLG campus was the top priority for GDOE.

However, Paul said he was told using mold money for the FBLG fixes wasnt going to work.

He said Department of Administration Director Ed Birn told him look, thats not DOEs money to begin with...it was money set aside for FEMA-related projects.

Money removed from GDOE after Mawar went into a bigger $50 million pile that was meant to be used for typhoon recovery and then reimbursed by FEMA.

Im trying to stay out of all the politics of this. I just want to get a job done, Paul said.

Barnett said its not really anything political going on.

We appropriated the money to the Guam Department of Education, and it was subsequently taken and mingled into a fund with other Typhoon Mawar related funding, Barnett said.

He asked education oversight chairman Sen. Vince Borja to track down the remaining funds.

Funding controversy

Funding for the mold mitigation and fencing has been a source of controversy since Mawar, with school officials and the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration both blaming each other for delays.

Lawmakers in 2023 threatened to freeze funding for the Office of the Governor over the $20 million transferred out of GDOE, but GDOE Superintendent Erik Swanson intervened and said he was working with Adelup to use the money for fixes.

The Legislature authorized Adelup to transfer funds from any source for Mawar recovery.

On several occasions since, Swanson has stated that he may seek a return of the funds over project delays.

On the first anniversary of Mawar in May 2024, he told the PDN that GDOE could have already secured a contract for mold mitigation and fencing if it did the work itself.

The Department of Administration at the time said GDOE has not provided enough specifications for either the mold mitigation or fencing contracts to move.

Paco-San Agustin had a similar response on Thursday.

They submitted specifications for mold mitigation that lacked the necessary details to conduct a proper Request for Proposal...They have not even submitted measurements for the amount of fencing that is needed, she said. We cant procure fencing without knowing how many feet of fence is needed. No one can bid on a fencing project if they dont know the size of the fence that is needed.

She said two protests have been filed, both citing vague specifications.

An email request was sent to GSA Thursday, seeking protest documents. The records were not immediately available.

Paco-San Agustin said basic information was still needed after a lot of communication with GDOE.

We are hopeful that GDOE will provide this information soon, she said.

Procurement delays

According to GSA procurement records, a bid for chain link fencing at 29 schools originally was scheduled to close in September 2024.

But the deadline was extended several times before the bid was cancelled in its entirety on Oct. 29, 2024 due to ambiguous specifications.

It stated another bid would be issued at a later date and time, if needed.

Likewise, a request for proposals to deal with mold and other contaminated areas in all 41 of GDOEs public schools opened in November 2024, GSA documents show.

On Jan. 9, procurement was frozen due to a protest from Pacific Restoration LLC.

The RFP was cancelled entirely on April 25, 2025, again due to ambiguous specifications, GSA records show.

As of Wednesday, a listing of open procurements on the GSA website does not show new procurements for either fencing or mold mitigation for GDOE.




Haiti - May 1st : Sow knowledge, harvest the future





The National Education Fund (FNE) reminds us that in Haiti, May 1st is more than just a commemorative date : it is the profound expression of a dual connection : to the land and to effort. It is the celebration of Agriculture and Labor, but above all, the silent celebration of the women and men who carry the hopes of a people on their shoulders. The FNE takes advantage of this celebration to pay tribute to all those who, every day, shape our society with their sweat, their perseverance, and their faith in tomorrow.



"There is a form of work that is even more fundamental, more invisible, more decisive : that of the child who learns. For even before their first cry, from the womb, the child engages in a process of development, structuring, and silent labor. At birth, the first real task entrusted to them is to equip their minds. Education becomes their first project." The Haitian student is like a seed planted in the earth : fragile, discreet, yet full of possibilities. If this seed receives light, water, care, and patience, it will grow into a strong, rooted, and useful tree, offering shelter, fruit, and beauty to those who come after it.



Therein lies the essential mission of the FNE : to create the conditions for each seed to germinate, each child to learn, and each dream to flourish.



This May 1st, we salute all the visible and invisible builders of our society :



The peasants and farmers, guardians of the soil and the vital breath of the country; the workers, without whom nothing is built; the educators, who awaken consciences and transmit the sacred fire of knowledge; the artists and creators, who elevate the national imagination and carry our culture beyond borders. Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, who under distant skies continue to nourish the roots of the homeland, and above all, these thousands of Haitian children, in remote hills, forgotten neighborhoods, or bustling cities, who sit down every day at school with the dream of also contributing to a better Haiti.



This May 1st, let's remember : a people who educate their children, honor their workers, and believe in their builders, becomes a strong, just, and free Nation. The FNE, faithful to this vision, renews its commitment to making every Haitian child a worker in national recovery, a bearer of the future, a standing tree.



Moreover, in Les Cayes, under the auspices of the FNE, students from several schools mobilized for a reforestation activity. Together, they planted seedlings, "[...] little lives that tell a great message: that of an education that fosters responsibility, a love of nature, and civic engagement.



These children, their eyes turned toward tomorrow, their hands immersed in Haitian soil, remind us that we don't educate only with books, but also with strong actions, concrete gestures, and deep-rooted values.



The FNE is proud to support these young people who are planting the future.



Because every tree planted today is a silent response to the challenges of tomorrow."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping





Drug Trafficker Arrested

On the afternoon of April 30, 2025, the Haitian National Police (PNH), through the Southeast Departmental Directorate, arrested Pierre Christophe. He was actively wanted by the Drug Trafficking Brigade (BLTS) for his involvement in a drug trafficking case involving Aris Charles and police officer Carline Dezantil in July 2024.



Diaspora FLASH

To celebrate Mother's Day, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, in partnership with Ebene and Mango Lakay, warmly invites you to the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Bazaar on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20008. Come discover an exclusive selection of handmade and authentic gifts, perfect for celebrating our mothers with elegance and originality. It's also a wonderful opportunity to support talented Haitian entrepreneurs and artisans. Free admission. Register : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/embassy-of-haiti-ebene-mango-lakay-by-ahp-2025-mothers-day-bazaar-tickets-1288707802729



National State of Emergency

Given the seriousness of the security situation and its negative consequences on the lives of citizens and various sectors of the national economy, the Government has decided, by decree, to declare a state of emergency throughout the national territory for a period of three consecutive months. This exceptional measure aims to provide the relevant authorities with adequate and effective resources to carry out their interventions and operations under better conditions.



Increased Competition in the Oil Sector

In order to promote free competition in the oil sector, the Council of Ministers adopted a Resolution on April 30th authorizing the Minister of Economy and Finance to facilitate the entry of Waka Energie S.A. into the oil sector.



May 1st : Remarks by Martine Moise

"The current situation in the country is serious. Despite everything, the areas where President Jovenel Moise invested in agricultural production are thriving. We salute the clear commitment of these men and women who continue to produce despite paltry resources. We strongly hope that these actions will be replicated across the country to meet everyone's food needs and reduce our dependence. As President Jovenel Moise said, with the sun, the people, the land, and the water in Haiti, we can makes miracles. Years later, the Marion Dam represents a concrete example of this vision. Our country is rich in potential that the oligarchs are sabotaging. Together, we can overcome this major obstacle to our economic development and political stability. Haiti, Happy Agriculture and Labor Day !" Martine Moise, former First Lady of Haiti.



Training in the diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases

35 healthcare providers in Port-au-Prince, including doctors, nurses, and auxiliaries, were trained in the diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease. This training, supported by WHO-Haiti, aims to improve the care provided to the population. These healthcare providers, from several municipalities in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, are now better equipped to provide quality care to the population.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The skeptics about TikTok are likely to feel vindicated: User data was unlawfully stored in China. This is now certain following a decision by the Data Protection Commission Ireland as the responsible supervisory authority: The TikTok parent company had lied to the supervisory authorities for years. At least some of the data of EU users was stored on servers in China, as TikTok operator Bytedance was forced to admit in April. It was allegedly only in February 2025 that Bytedance itself discovered that the previous information was inaccurate.

Anzeige

Bytedance had to admit China storage

"The DPC takes these recent developments very seriously," said Graham Doyle, Deputy Chairman of the Irish Data Protection Commission. "Although TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are working with the other EU data protection regulators to consider what further regulatory action is needed." TikTok had also publicly asserted many times that user data subject to the General Data Protection Regulation would not be stored in China: For example, to this day, a "Myths and Facts" page of the operator Bytedance states that data is stored in the USA, Singapore and Malaysia, but not in China. There have long been doubts about this. With the admission in the Irish data protection proceedings, the company's previous claim has now been refuted.

In the proceedings, which have been ongoing since 2021, the DPC has now imposed a fine of 530 million euros on the TikTok operator. The fact that a fine of this amount was on the cards had already become known through media reports at the beginning of April. The Irish supervisory authority is responsible for enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation due to the company's European headquarters.

GDPR and storage in China hardly compatible

The DPC ordered TikTok to bring its data processing in line with the GDPR within six months of the decision taking legal effect and to cease data transfers to China if they do not comply with the GDPR. To do so, Bytedance would have to prove that the protection of the data is fundamentally comparable to the EU level of protection even if it is stored there.

The legislation of the People's Republic itself stands in the way of this: the totalitarian one-party state authorizes massive access rights and obligations to cooperate for Chinese citizens in security law and many experts doubt whether China's written law plays a major role at all in cases of national security. Data transfer to the People's Republic would therefore only be permissible at all if technical measures were taken to protect EU data.

Anzeige

However, TikTok has failed to "verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of users from the European Economic Area accessed remotely by employees in China enjoy a level of protection that is essentially equivalent to the level of protection guaranteed in the EU", according to a statement from the DPC. This means that TikTok has not taken into account "potential access by Chinese authorities to personal data from the European Economic Area under Chinese counter-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws."

Data center in Norway to fix the problem

Bytedance itself stated that this problem exists in the documents it submitted, which is also why it launched "Project Clover": Data from countries covered by the GDPR (all 27 EU member states plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) is to be stored in secure EU data centers in the future. In particular, a data center in Hamar, Norway, north of the capital Oslo, is to ensure this in the future and went online at the beginning of April, according to Bytedance. However, the Irish data protection authority is also addressing the fact that the physical location of the data center alone is not enough - it is also a matter of securing access by employees in accordance with the requirements of the GDPR.

(mack)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
In a poll of 1,073 businesses across the country, 72 percent said that the climate policies of US President Donald Trump had no impact on their own climate-related measures. Just 10 percent reported a negative impact from Trumps policies, while 2.5 percent said his approach had accelerated their efforts.

Finnish companies are continuing their climate efforts despite political changes abroad, according to a new survey by the Finland Chamber of Commerce.

The survey was conducted in April 2025 and found that a growing number of firms have adopted emission reduction targets. Forty-four percent of respondents reported having set such goals, up from 38 percent in a similar poll two years ago. Among large companies, the figure stood at 91 percent.

Lead expert Teppo Sakkinen of the Finland Chamber of Commerce said the results show companies are staying the course.

Finnish businesses view climate action as important. Trumps policies do not appear to have changed their direction. The main drivers continue to be a commitment to responsibility, pressure from customers, and economic viability, Sakkinen said.

The United States formally withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement during Trumps earlier presidency and has since continued a policy line that critics say undermines global climate efforts. Yet Finnish companies appear unmoved.

EU-level policy changes have had little impact as well. Fewer than five percent of companies said that the easing of sustainability regulation in the EU had slowed or reduced their climate action. Six percent reported a boost in activity as a result.

The strongest motivator behind climate measures remains corporate responsibility, cited by 65 percent of respondents. Twenty-eight percent said demands from business customers were a key reason for taking climate action  a marked rise from under 20 percent in 2023. Financial and reputational benefits were also mentioned by roughly one in five firms.

Sakkinen said climate criteria are becoming more important across both public and private sectors.

Large companies are taking the lead, and this influences SMEs across the value chain. In addition, public procurement is increasingly placing weight on climate considerations, he said.

Among firms that take part in public tenders, 42 percent said climate action was now a requirement  up from 34 percent two years ago.

More than half of businesses surveyed, 55 percent, viewed climate efforts as financially viable over the long term or even in the short term. Industrial firms were the most likely to highlight profitability. At the same time, 20 percent of all firms described climate measures mainly as cost-increasing.

The Chamber of Commerce also noted the ongoing reform of Finlands Nuclear Energy Act. It aims to simplify licensing and support future development. A draft version of the law is expected to be sent for consultation in the summer and submitted to Parliament in the autumn.

Sakkinen said enabling scalable solutions and a unified European nuclear market is essential to energy security and competitiveness.

HT
The four-hour strike was called by the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU), but Finnair warned the effects would stretch far beyond the official strike window.

Finnair has cancelled around 140 flights scheduled for Friday due to a work stoppage by baggage handlers, aircraft maintenance staff, and catering workers. The disruption will affect approximately 12,000 passengers.

The stoppage is expected to cause widespread disruption throughout the day at Helsinki Airport, as it impacts essential flight support services.

Although the industrial actions are scheduled for a limited period, they will affect several functions critical for Finnairs operations, including ground handling, catering, and aircraft maintenance, the airline said in a statement.

Finnair has notified affected passengers and is offering alternative flight options through its website and mobile application.

Finavia, the company responsible for operating Finlands airports, advised all travellers departing from Helsinki Airport on Friday to check real-time updates via the airports flight information service. Other airlines are also likely to be impacted by the industrial action, given that many use the same ground handling services.

Roughly 600 employees are expected to participate in the work stoppage, which is part of a broader labour dispute. While the IAU has announced a follow-up strike for Monday 5 May, Finnair has not yet confirmed whether that action will lead to further flight cancellations.

The Finnish Aviation Union has not publicly specified the reasons for the industrial action. The disruption comes at the beginning of the May Day weekend, typically a peak travel period in Finland.

HT
The hybrid setup allows for 4G and 5G bubbles to be embedded into tactical networks, extending connectivity and enabling seamless cooperation between military and civilian communication systems.

Bittium and Nokia have jointly demonstrated a hybrid tactical communications network for the Finnish Defence Forces, showcasing the integration of military-grade 4G/5G with traditional tactical systems. The trial was designed to support secure, real-time communication in complex operational environments.

The companies highlighted the networks role in enhancing command capabilities in mission-critical scenarios.

The demonstration included real-time voice communication, video transmission, and situational awareness across various devices. Bittiums distributed, server-independent network infrastructure enabled continuous operation and system resilience without relying on centralised control nodes.

Our communications system is built for performance and interference resistance, said Tommi Kangas, Senior Vice President of Bittiums Defense & Security division. This collaboration with Nokia confirms the successful integration of their 4G/5G solutions into our tactical framework.

Nokias military-grade technology was deployed alongside Bittiums core platforms. The tested equipment included Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN), Bittium Tough SDR radios for vehicles and dismounted troops, and Nokias Banshee Mobile and Tactical Radios (BMR and BTR). The systems supported smartphone-based applications, including Bittium Tough Mobile 2, and utilised Bittiums Tough VoIP Service for secure voice communications.

Giuseppe Targia, Head of Space and Defense at Nokia, described the demonstration as a key step forward in mission-critical communications. This is a breakthrough in defence connectivity. The hybrid network delivers secure, high-speed data exchange and improved operational agility even in challenging field conditions.

The companies aim to further develop the concept to support evolving requirements in national defence and international cooperation. By combining flexible commercial standards with hardened tactical frameworks, the hybrid model is intended to provide Finnish forces with scalable and resilient connectivity for modern warfare.

HT
The decision was confirmed on Friday by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germanys internal security agency. The reclassification grants authorities broader powers to monitor the partys activities using covert surveillance tools.

Germanys domestic intelligence agency has formally classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an extremist organisation threatening the countrys democratic order.

AfD promotes an ethnic-nationalist worldview that discriminates against entire segments of the population and treats immigrants as second-class citizens, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in a statement.

The agency argued that AfDs core ideology violates basic principles of Germanys liberal democratic order. According to the BfV, the party seeks to exclude certain groups from equal participation in society and holds that people from predominantly Muslim countries are not equal members of the national community.

The assessment cited ongoing xenophobic, minority-hostile, anti-Islamic, and anti-Muslim statements made by senior party officials as evidence.

The new designation follows years of scrutiny. In 2021, the AfD was labelled a suspected extremist group. Its youth wing and several regional branches had already been designated as extremist prior to Fridays decision.

The announcement comes just months after AfD surged to second place in the federal elections held in February, receiving over 20 percent of the vote. Despite its electoral gains, other parties have maintained a firm stance against forming coalitions or cooperating with AfD in the Bundestag.

The move also lands at a time of political transition, with conservative leader Friedrich Merz set to take office as Germanys next chancellor.

The reclassification is not a ban. Banning a political party in Germany requires a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court and involves a lengthy legal process. However, the BfVs move may reignite debate over whether AfD should be legally dissolved.

German outlet Tagesschau reported that AfD is likely to pursue legal action against the designation. The party has previously claimed that surveillance decisions are politically driven.

AfD has consistently denied extremist affiliations and continues to reject claims that its rhetoric incites exclusion or hatred.

Under the new status, the intelligence services may use informants, wiretaps, and other surveillance tools typically reserved for threats to national security. The classification affects the party at the national level and applies to all its branches.

AfD was founded in 2013, originally as a Eurosceptic party. It later shifted sharply to the right, gaining support with its anti-immigration stance and criticism of Islam. In recent years, it has positioned itself as a nationalist force opposing what it calls globalist policies and mass migration.

The BfVs decision reflects growing concern within Germanys political establishment about the mainstreaming of extremist views under the guise of parliamentary legitimacy.

Despite being the second-largest bloc in the Bundestag, AfD remains politically isolated.

The new classification is expected to deepen that isolation and may impact the partys access to public funding and campaign resources.

HT
Town celebrates 100th anniversary of King & Allen Building

The King & Allen Building at 101 East Allen Street celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday.

The ceremony welcomed more than 100 members of the community, along with city ocials and local business leaders to explore the fully revitalized historic building.

The King & Allen building has served many purposes over the past century. Originally built as a Ford automotive dealership, it later became Chimpman-LaCross textile mill, a typewriter manufacturing facility, central oce for Henderson County public schools and the Henderson County Land Planning Department.

For 12 years, the building sat vacant behind a 1960s brutalist architectural brick facade. In 2019, that facade was removed and a full renovation began. What was once a ramp for cars inside the building now forms the floor of a bright corner suite. Today, the building is fully leased and home to a diverse mix of small businesses, and wellness providers.

During opening remarks, building owner Andrew Riddle, the project developer, thanked Tippy Guffey, Patrick Gallagher, Anne Whitmire, Dr. John Godehn and Sam Riddle for their work in researching and assembling the History Hallwaya permanent display honoring the buildings past and its many uses over the years.

We didnt know exactly what we were getting into when we started, Riddle said. But we knew the building had strong bones and could serve this community again. Seeing it full of people and businesses todayits been worth every step.



Guests enjoyed hors doeuvres, beverages, dessert and coffee stations throughout the building, as well as a self-guided passport tour that encouraged visitors to stop by open suites. Twelve tenants opened their doors for the event, giving attendees a glimpse into the thriving businesses that now call the King & Allen Building home.

For more information on the history of the King & Allen Building, visit 101eastallen.com or stop by and visit the History Hallway weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
LITTER signs that describe Henley as posh have offended retailers in Henley who say that they make the town look elitist and will deter tourists.

The signs, which measure 13cm by 20cm, have been displayed on posts near litter bins in the town centre.

They depict a stick-man wearing a boater hat who is disposing of a tin of caviar and a glass of Pimms in a rubbish bin. The sign reads: In Henley, we dont put rubbish in the bin We dispose of refuse in the designated receptacle we are posh like that!

It is one of four designs created by Daisy Smith, the town councils communications manager, as part of a wider initiative to combat litter.

Ms Smith said that the design was intended to be tongue-in-cheek after Henley was named as the poshest town in Britain by the Daily Telegraph last month.

But retailers have told of their frustration, with some saying that the sign sends the wrong message.

Lorraine Hillier, who runs the Hot Gossip cafe in Reading Road, said that the sign contributed to clutter in the town and reinforced an existing stereotype about Henley people.

She said: Some of them were all right but there were others that werent. We dont want to be saying Henley is posh and all of that because people think that already because of the royal regatta. But people here are just normal people, so that sign is the one that created the most upset because it feeds the stereotype. We like a joke but its ridiculous. Id rather them spend the time on doing things to promote the local businesses.

Also, I do feel that signage is cluttering the town all the time. We want to be having less signage, not more signage. Its street clutter really, and I think that they ought to get rid of it.

Laurence Morris, who owns Laurence Menswear in Duke Street, said that he felt taking a light-hearted approach to littering was inappropriate.

He said: I think the signs were badly designed and they send out the wrong message. For a start the signs are far too small, so theyre a waste of time. Youve got to be right up close to read them.

You cannot treat a serious subject like litter in a light-hearted way. You dont joke about litter, if youve got something to say, say it direct, please put your litter in the bin.

To have a sign like that in Henley and see the headline We dont put rubbish in the bin, people read that and thats all they will see. The way to get people to either take litter home or to put them in the bin is to be polite, not to treat them like kids or idiots with a stupid sign like that.

Its amateurish, and we want to encourage people coming into Henley to enjoy it, not to look at us as being stupid. Mr Morris said that he also took offence to being called posh, which he said does not accurately reflect the people who live in Henley.

He said: People do not like to be referred to as posh. I can assure you, the people in Henley are not posh. All of the people Ive spoken to resent being referred to as posh, simple as that.

An independent retailer who wished to remain anonymous, said that they had attended a retail forum at the town hall last week.

Ms Smith attended the forum with Paul Carey, the town centre manager, where about six retailers complained about the signs.

They said: The feeling was that sign in particular that said Henley was too posh to put stuff in the bin just wasnt the message that we wanted to put across, that it was a bit elitist. With any public communications, the wording needs to be very, very careful.

Sue Turner, who owns Candela Clinical Hypnosis in Reading Road, said that she thought that more planning should have gone into the signs before they were implemented.

She said: I think sometimes if you say the wrong thing, you might incite the wrong reaction. You have to sometimes think ahead as to what reactions might come. Its tongue-in-cheek, I know that, but I just dont think it was well thought out. I think that sign could rub some people up the wrong way.

But Andy Andreou, who owns Lilly Dry Clean in New Street, said that he thought the sign was funny and that using humour would encourage more people to comply.

He said: To have a little bit of humour on something like that, I think people listen to that. I thought it was brilliant and its made me want to recycle more. Anything that can put a smile on someones face is a good thing and its not hurting anyone.

Ms Smith said there was no intention to offend anyone and that the council was reviewing feedback. She said that the council had also received positive feedback, adding: The intention was to engage residents and visitors with messaging that was humorous and eye-catching, helping to draw attention to an issue thats often overlooked.
A former Mexican federal police agent who survived a helicopter crash in 2015 was killed this week by the same cartel that downed the aircraft.

Ivan Morales Corrales and his wife were shot and killed in the municipality of Temixco by a group of gunmen who intercepted their vehicle and opened fire.

According to El Diario de Morelos, the suspects fired 15 shots at Corrales' van. Witnesses told the newspaper the attackers fled immediately afterward, escaping on motorcycles that were waiting for them nearby.

First responders and law enforcement who arrived at the scene confirmed that both victims died from multiple gunshot wounds. The bodies were taken to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) for further investigation.

So far, no arrests have been made. However, sources from the Morelos Attorney General's Office cited by El Universal said one line of investigation involves a possible revenge linked to his past as a federal agent.

Morales: one of nine survivors of 2015 Jalisco Cartel attack

The murder of the former federal agent comes nearly 10 years after he was involved in a secret mission led by Mexico's Secretariat of Defense to capture Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

On May 1, 2015, "Operacion Jalisco" was launched on the southern coast of the state to capture the Jalisco Cartel leader. It was based on information from federal authorities indicating that "El Mencho" was hiding near the municipality of Villa Purificacion.

Although no details were released about the operation, CJNG members were waiting for the convoy and opened fire on three helicopters carrying 18 agents.

Cartel members used military-grade weapons to repel the operation, including a Browning M2 heavy machine gun, a Barrett M82 anti-material rifle, and a Soviet-made RPG-7 rocket launcher, originally designed to destroy tanks.

In a 2023 interview with Univision, Morales recalled the moment grenades struck the helicopter he was aboard, causing the pilot to lose control.

"Many of the personnel with us died right then," Morales said.

Of the 18 people on board, only nine survived, many with serious injuries. Morales said he initially escaped the helicopter without major wounds, but while he repelled the attack from CJNG members his uniform caught on fire. He removed his jacket and bulletproof vest and rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames. "That's what saved me," he said. "I rolled on the ground to put myself out because this part of my clothing was still on fire."

After hiding behind a rock for several minutes, he was rescued and transported to Mexico's Central Military Hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma for months. Morales suffered third-degree burns over 70% of his body and underwent 15 reconstructive surgeries.

In December 2015, then-President Enrique Pena Nieto awarded him the Police Medal of Merit for his bravery and resilience.

Testimony against "El Menchito"

According to a report by Milenio, Morales was believed to be among the anonymous witnesses who testified in the U.S. federal case against Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, also known as "El Menchito," the son of the Jalisco Cartel boss.

"El Menchito," who served as second-in-command of the cartel for seven years, was extradited to the United States in February 2020. He was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $6 billion in drug trafficking proceeds in March.

The outlet detailed that one witness was described as a Mexican federal police officer with a face disfigured by burns had escaped from a burning helicopter and taken cover under enemy fire. While the name was not disclosed, the account closely matched details Morales had shared in previous interviews.

According to U.S. authorities involved in the trial, "El Menchito" ordered the helicopter to be shot down to prevent the capture of his father. Morales' testimony allowed a jury to find Oseguera Gonzalez guilty of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, and of using firearms and destructive devices.

Originally published on Latin Times
A Pennsylvania woman who allegedly defecated on another driver's car during a road rage incident says she's "not the angry one," despite being caught on video and now facing multiple charges.

The bizarre incident occurred on April 29 in Prospect Park, Delaware County, where 44-year-old Christina Solometo allegedly reacted to a traffic dispute by relieving herself on another motorist's vehicle, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Although the victim didn't press charges, footage of the event spread rapidly on social media, drawing widespread attention.

Authorities identified Solometo from the viral video and arrested her two days later, charging her with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, and depositing waste on a highway, among other offenses. Prospect Park Police Chief David Madonna said while the case has become internet fodder, it's no joke to law enforcement.

Solometo, who maintains she wasn't the aggressor, told reporters she's hired legal representation and hinted there's more to the story.

She also promotes an OnlyFans account under the name "Neen," where she markets foot fetish content and offers to take "special" requests  a fact that has only fueled further public scrutiny, according to Philly Mag.

"Regarding your OnlyFans account, I know that some women on OF specialize in, well, scatological porn," the Philly Mag reporter asked. "Given the events of your week, I was wondering if that's something you delve into."

"You want me to fu**ing s**t on you?" the woman replied. "I want 5k and I'm bringing a body guard!"

Meanwhile, police hope the charges send a message that such acts  no matter how viral  have consequences.

Originally published on Latin Times
Today, Hilton announces the unveiling of Beach House Fort Lauderdale, a Hilton Resort, marking the transformation of the former Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Following extensive renovations, the reimagined resort introduces a refreshed and elevated guest experience in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Nestled along the scenic coastline, Beach House Fort Lauderdale captures the spirit of coastal living with a focus on easy elegance, inspired amenities and locally sourced cuisine and warm, heartfelt hospitality.

Guests are welcomed into the resort's fully transformed entrance and lobby, awash in a natural palette with hues of creamy whites and pale blues that complement the coastal Floridian shorelines. Modern coastal touches are felt throughout the property, from the recently opened lobby lounge, Barto, and new rooftop lounge, Nube, to Beach House Fort Lauderdale's high-level suites and spectacular penthouse accommodations atop the hotel's highest floors.

Unforgettable new dining experiences

With the recent introduction of two new culinary venues, Beach House Fort Lauderdale has emerged as the destination's quintessential beachfront experience among residents and visitors. In the lobby, Barto, the resort's central gathering place, welcomes guests into an elevated living room space, warmed by softly textured walls, comfortable sectionals and low ottomans. With a delectable selection of Latin and Caribbean-inspired small plates, alongside a signature cocktail menu, Barto is a lively communal space for socializing and connection. Cocktails are inspired and hand-crafted, highlighting iconic coastal destinations around the world - from the mezcal-based Playa Paraiso (Tulum) to the gin-forward Saint Tropez (France) with Yellow Chartreuse, Provencal Syrup and Champagne. In celebration of Beach House Fort Lauderdale's unveiling, Barto is serving hand-selected and privately labeled Beach House Patron Barrel Select Reposado, upon request.

Atop the hotel's 26th floor sits stylish rooftop restaurant, Nube, operated in partnership with leading South Florida hospitality group, The Restaurant People. Boasting awe-inspiring, endless ocean views and picturesque sunsets, the venue is unlike any other in Fort Lauderdale. Serving signature small plates, like Wagyu Dumplings and Short Rib Empanadas, that pair expertly with creative cocktails, Nube is a breathtaking locale for sun-soaked brunch, vibrant sunsets and late-night revelry, set to atmospheric sets from talented DJs and musicians.

Off the lobby, Beach House Fort Lauderdale is also home to S3: Sun, Surf & Sand, Fort Lauderdale Beach's closest dining venue to the ocean. With fresh daily catches and an expansive sushi and Omakase bar, S3 is consistently lauded as a top restaurant in the region. Additionally, the ocean view Mediterranean eatery ilios serves locally inspired breakfast and lunch, as well as poolside service. Le Marche Gourmet Market offers oceanfront dining with casual bites, gelato and to-go options, rounding out the resort's five culinary options.

This spring, Beach House Fort Lauderdale also introduces seamless beach service for hotel guests looking to relax, unwind and play on Fort Lauderdale's expansive sandy shores. With newly branded umbrellas, daybeds and comfortable loungers, guests can now order chilled beverages, refreshing cocktails and fresh fare to enjoy on the beach.

Refreshed all-suite accommodations

The resort's 375 redesigned suites offer the luxuries of a resort stay with the convenience of home, featuring full kitchens or kitchenettes, separate sleeping and living spaces, and ocean views. With accommodations that start at 640 square feet, and options for adjoining suites, Beach House Fort Lauderdale is ideal for families, traveling couples and groups seeking spacious stays.

With the introduction of Beach House Fort Lauderdale's new interiors, designed by ID & Design International, comes the unveiling of a fully reimagined, residential-style Penthouse suite, beautifully designed for traveling families looking for statement elegance and contemporary accommodations. With three bedrooms sleeping up to eight guests, the glass-walled Penthouse will include an 845 square-foot wrap-around balcony ideal for private gatherings and family dinners, set to breathtaking ocean views.

Memorable meetings, weddings, events and celebrations

In addition to leisure travel, Beach House Fort Lauderdale's intimate, sophisticated venues position the resort as one of South Florida's premier destinations for energizing connections - including meetings, weddings and events. The resort's redesigned meeting rooms elevate gatherings of all kinds, from leadership summits and team off-sites to celebratory events and milestone fetes. Interior and exterior event spaces are expertly designed for flexibility and personalization, with connecting spaces and the latest digital displays to maximize socialization, collaboration and creativity. The resort's 3,410 square-foot ballroom can accommodate up to 240 guests for a formal dinner, outfitted with new furnishings and modernized decor.

Contemporary resort amenities

A wellness destination by the beach, Beach House Fort Lauderdale is home to Q Spa, a relaxing space with three indoor treatment rooms and an outdoor terrace for ocean-facing experiences, including facials, massage, beauty treatments, manicures and pedicures, as well as pre-natal services. Adjacent to the spa sits Beach House Fort Lauderdale's sun-soaked outdoor pool deck with lounge chairs, day beds and cabanas overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The resort's fitness center offers personal training, group classes and top-of-the-line workout equipment from Hilton Hotels' preferred Peloton and Precor brands. For guests looking for additional wellness activities, Beach House Fort Lauderdale hosts ocean view sunrise yoga poolside and full-package wellness retreats with activity-packed days of reiki, Pilates, sound bath healing and private personal training sessions.

Beach House Fort Lauderdale is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors mobile app.

For additional information and to reserve a stay at Beach House Fort Lauderdale, a Hilton Resort, visit Hilton.com or HiltonBeachHouse.com.

Hotel website
Today, global hospitality company Hilton (NYSE: HLT), announces the signing of a franchise agreement for the new-build Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport, marking the contemporary lifestyle hotel brand's debut in Canada. Expected to open in 2028, the 193-room property, locally owned and developed by Toronto-based Inspiration Group, forms part of a multi-use complex with convenient access to Toronto Pearson International Airport. As one of Hilton's newest lifestyle brands, Tempo by Hilton is redefining the hotel experience with purposefully-designed guest rooms and amenities designed to meet the expectations of today's business and leisure travelers looking to maintain a sense of balance.

This latest addition to the company's portfolio supports Hilton's continued growth in Canada, where the company has more than 190 hotels open and a pipeline of nearly 110 properties in various phases of development. The company is expected to surpass 200 hotels this year.

Located approximately 25 kilometers from downtown Toronto and designed by architecture firm Khalsa Design, the 16-story Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport will welcome guests across 193 thoughtfully designed guest rooms, including four suites, offering three zones for function and comfort, along with a dedicated Get Ready zone and spacious bathroom. Perfect for unwinding, guests will have access to the "Power Down" in-room experience, which provides an enveloping sleep environment, enabling visitors to recharge and find balance after a travel day. From room lighting that adjusts to the time of day to blackout curtains and wireless phone chargers promoting screen-free time, Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport will offer a refuge in between travel. Tempo Wellness guest rooms will also be available featuring Peloton equipment.

For guests keeping up with their wellness routine, the stylish property will offer a variety of dining options including a coffee bar, a complimentary Hydration Bar, an expansive fitness center with a cardio space, weights area and recovery zone, and an indoor pool. Featuring plenty of space for collaboration and fostering connections, the property will have over 3,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms and four meeting rooms.

Once open, Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport will form part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 24 world-class brands.

Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport will join the brand's expanding portfolio in marquee destinations from New York to Nashville and nearly 60 additional properties in various stages of development across global cities like Belfast, Reykjavik and Lisbon. Tempo forms part of Hilton's fast-growing portfolio of lifestyle hotels, which now includes brands like Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton and Motto by Hilton. The opening of Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport builds upon the company's goal of doubling its Lifestyle portfolio by 2028.

For more information about Tempo by Hilton, visit Stories from Hilton.

Hotel website
AutoCamp Hospitality Group, a collection of boutique properties in the country's most iconic outdoor destinations, is proud to announce key leadership promotions that underscore the company's commitment to excellence, innovation, and strategic growth.

Bryan Terzi has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer and will now lead sales, marketing, and revenue strategy. Since joining AutoCamp last year as CMO, he's played a key role in positioning the brand for sustained success and has demonstrated thoughtful, effective leadership. As a key spokesperson for the brand, he's been instrumental in forging strategic, value-aligned partnerships that enhance AutoCamp's cultural relevance. With over two decades of global marketing experience, Terzi previously held senior roles at Sage Hospitality and Sydell Group, where he honed his expertise in brand strategy. He is also a newly-accepted member of the Fast Company Impact Council, PTTOW, and YPO, where he contributes to conversations shaping the future of business and leadership.
Cole Masler is a Consulting and Valuation Project Manager with the HVS New York office. He graduated from The Ohio State University in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration/Management. While studying at Ohio State, Cole was an active member in the Hospitality Management Association, worked as an Event Coordinator for the Columbus chapter of Friendship Circle (a nonprofit dedicated to helping children with developmental disabilities), and spent a semester studying in Barcelona to further his knowledge of the Spanish language. Prior to his arrival at HVS, Cole was the Assistant Hotel Manager at the Three Village Inn, a boutique hotel in Stony Brook, New York, and held a variety of positions in restaurant and catering operations.
The richness of Latin American culture welcomes the finest travel brands, advisors and media to our Brazilian home, Sao Paulo. Creating exciting itineraries, bold new business and lifelong bonds all take place in the alpha city.

New advisors, bursting diaries and cultural celebrations sum up the ILTM Latin America experience. Arrive with a great passion for our industry and leave with a jillion new adventures.

This event is organized by RX
Last week, we had the chance to attend the inaugural CIO Summit EMEA, hosted by HFTP at the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel. Against the vibrant backdrop of Barcelona, the event brought together hospitality technology leaders for 24 hours of open conversations and valuable insights, all in a refreshing non-sales environment.

Kicking Off: Real Conversations, Real Challenges

The Power of Peer Connection

AI Adoption Starts with Culture, Not Code

Rethinking Hospitality: The Uber Effect

Streamlining Staff Tech: The Enterprise Browser

Lessons from Belmond: Automate the predictable - Humanise the exceptional

automate the predictable and humanise the exceptional,

Best-of-Breed vs. Single Vendor: Finding Your Fit

Beyond SaaS: Enter the Era of AI Agents

Wrapping Up: Conversations That Continue

Looking Ahead: A Promising Start for a New Tradition

Thanks team HFTP!

After a welcoming lunch and opening speech from Carson Booth, things quickly picked up pace. It was clear from the start that this summit was about tackling real-world challenges and exploring new opportunities that are shaping our industry.At the same time, something else stood out during many of the conversations throughout the event. Beyond the strong content of the sessions, CIOs shared how valuable it was simply to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with others in the same role. In day-to-day life, those opportunities are rare, and that made the summit feel even more meaningful. Being among peers who understand the unique challenges and pressures of the CIO role created an atmosphere of openness and honesty that is hard to find elsewhere.The first keynote session focused on how large organisations, such as hotel groups and travel tech firms, can successfully adopt AI within their business operations. Michael Tessler shared insights drawn from years of experience, offering refreshingly straightforward advice: successful AI initiatives must begin with clearly defined business outcomes, not just a fascination with shiny new technology. He emphasized that the biggest hurdle to adoption is often cultural, not technical. Without genuine leadership commitment, even the most promising projects are likely to falter. Tessler illustrated this with examples of companies that had all the right tools but failed because AI was treated as an isolated experiment rather than a strategic priority.Later in the afternoon, a session titledwith Frank Pitsikalis and Matthew Prosser encouraged hoteliers to rethink control and ownership. Inspired by how Uber redefined transport without owning vehicles, the speakers proposed a model where hotels act more as orchestrators than operators, connecting guests to a network of curated external services like spas, restaurants, or wellness providers. The goal? A frictionless, hyper-personalized experience that reaches beyond the hotels four walls. Its a mindset shift that could unlock new revenue streams and guest satisfaction, without the burden of doing it all in-house.In a session by James Savory and Paul Murgatroyd, the conversation turned to the evolving expectations of hospitality staff and the role technology can play in supporting them. While the concept of the enterprise browser felt unfamiliar to some, the discussion highlighted a growing challenge: workplace tools are often too complex, adding friction rather than removing it.The idea behind the enterprise browser is simple but bold. Instead of relying on fragmented systems, hotels could use a secure, centrally managed browser to simplify access, boost security, and tailor the digital experience for staff. This could help seasonal workers get up to speed faster, reduce the risk of errors, and free up IT teams from managing outdated systems. While the use case in hospitality is still emerging, the session raised important questions about how to create more intuitive and flexible work environments without compromising on control or data security.Later in the afternoon, Stuart Mason from Belmond took the stage to share how commercial and technology teams can work more closely together. With roots in both data science and revenue management, he spoke from experience, showing how aligning tech initiatives with business goals like guest satisfaction and revenue growth can drive real results. At Belmond, technology plays a key role in making things simpler, from AI-generated proposals for guests to performance dashboards that give sales teams real-time insights. Stuarts mantra,underscored the idea that when IT and commercial teams partner from the start, tech becomes a driver of value, not just a back-office function.After a nice dinner full of good conversations, and a short night of sleep for many, the second day opened with a session by Tim Butterworth and Colin Barnett, diving into the ongoing debate of best-of-breed versus single vendor strategies. There was no one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, the panel encouraged everyone to look critically at their own situation: What are your internal IT capabilities? How complex is your existing system landscape? How much integration risk can you manage? And what are your long-term strategic goals? Best-of-breed solutions can offer more flexibility and innovation speed, but they require stronger integration skills and vendor management. A single vendor approach, on the other hand, may bring simplicity and smoother upgrades, particularly valuable when internal resources are limited. Their advice was simple but important: do not blindly follow trends, but choose what fits your own organisation best.In a thought-provoking session titled, Uli Pillau and Florian Montag explored how the hotel technology stack is undergoing a radical transformation, from monolithic SaaS platforms to agile, agent-powered ecosystems. The discussion challenged traditional long-term tech procurement strategies, likening system changes to open-heart surgery, and emphasized the need for flexibility, interoperability, and true service-centric partnerships. The panelists and audience shared real-world experiences of selecting CRM and PMS systems, often driven more by service quality and existing integrations than product features. The conversation then shifted toward AI, its potential to reshape hospitality tech, the growing board-level pressure to define an AI strategy, and the emerging concept of intelligent agents that act on business context and data across systems. The session concluded by introducing Model Context Protocols (MCPs) as a new foundation for enabling dynamic, secure interactions between agents and software systems, pointing toward a future where business logic lives above the tech stack, rather than inside it.After this courageous closing session, the summit wrapped up with short remarks from Justin Taillon and Carson Booth, who thanked everyone for their contributions and open spirit. Although the formal programme had ended, the ideas and conversations sparked in Barcelona will definitely continue well beyond these two days.At the close of the summit, HFTP invited attendees to share feedback on the experience. The consensus was clear: this was a well-organized and valuable inaugural event, with strong support for making it a recurring fixture. The quality of discussion was matched by the calibre of participants, with executives in attendance from a broad mix of leading hospitality groups, including, amongst others, Belmond, Accor, Rocco Forte, The Dorchester, Cheval, InterContinental, Marriott, Marriott Vacations, Mercan, Tanzera, Melia, Ennismore, and Firmdale.A big thank you to HFTP for organising such a valuable event. It was a real pleasure to be there, and I am already looking forward to the next get together at HITEC , June 16 to 19 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, USA. The US-version of the CIO Summit will be taking place September 3  5 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver ( click here for more on this event ).
Fazal Bahardeen, Founder and CEO of CrescentRating (centre), is presented with a certificate of recognition for his partnership by Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA (right), and Peter Semone, Chair of PATA (left). - Image Credit PATA



The Mastercard-CrescentRating Halal Travel Trends 2025: Exploring Beyond Boundaries report offers an in-depth analysis of the evolving Muslim travel market. Central to this report is the RIDA Framework - Responsible, Immersive, Digital, and Assured - which provides a holistic approach to enhancing Muslim travel experiences.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced a new partnership with CrescentRating  a globally recognised Singapore-based research organisation specialising in Halal-friendly travel and a valued PATA member  to jointly launch the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report, produced in collaboration with Mastercard. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration to advance understanding and engagement with the Muslim-friendly travel sector.

At PATA, we recognise the profound significance and vast, often untapped, potential of the Muslim-friendly travel sector. Driven by a growing global Muslim population with increasing economic influence, it presents a substantial opportunity for destinations and travel businesses worldwide, said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.

Noor emphasised the importance and timeliness of the report, noting, By providing a detailed analysis of demands and behaviours, this comprehensive report empowers destinations to refine their unique offerings and create a more inclusive environment. It also equips travel providers with actionable insights to enhance services for this discerning demographic. We are delighted to acknowledge that CrescentRating, one of the valued PATA members, is a leading force in making this research possible.

The Halal Travel Trends 2025 report was officially launched at the PATA Annual Summit 2025 (PAS 2025) during a featured session titled Halal Travel Frontier 2025: What Destinations Need to Know Now, where Mr Bahardeen presented key insights from the research.

This collaboration with PATA comes at a crucial time. As we navigate an evolving travel landscape shaped by shifting demographics and values-driven choices, the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report offers a timely lens into what truly matters to Muslim travelers today. Its not just about where they go, but how they want to travel, with purpose, inclusivity, and authenticity, said Fazal Bahardeen, Founder and CEO of CrescentRating.

Fazal further elaborated that the report is underpinned by CrescentRatings RIDA Framework. Through the lens of Responsible, Immersive, Digital, and Assured experiences, RIDA framework destinations and service providers align their offerings with the values and lifestyles of todays Muslim travelers, he explained.

The partnership was publicly recognised during an on-stage certificate presentation at PAS 2025 on April 23.

The report is available via the following link: www.pata.org/research-q1v63g6n2dw/p/mastercard-crescentrating-halal-travel-trends-2025
- Image Credit HFTP



The high-level, interactive event led discussions on the technologies set to have the biggest industry impact in the region.

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) has just successfully hosted its first CIO Summit EMEA last week in Barcelona. The high-level IT executive event hosted 50+ hospitality industry professionals including hoteliers, consultants and vendors for two days, April 2425 at the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel, to engage in roundtable discussions on the technologies set to have the biggest industry impact in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This new event was a branch of The CIO Summit from Hospitality Upgrade, the technology magazine of HFTP, which has been the most successful CIO-level networking event in North America for over 20 years.

The resounding success of the inaugural CIO Summit EMEA has clearly demonstrated a pronounced demand among hospitality technology leaders for a distinct and strategically focused Summit a format that fosters meaningful peer engagement while addressing critical challenges shaping the future of the industry. The Summit would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our sponsors who unanimously affirmed that the Summit is a uniquely effective and informative platform to foster connections with existing and prospective clients. Carson Booth, CHTP, HFTP Chief Operating Officer, EMEA

Opening the Summit was "Best Practices for AI Adoption in Enterprises," proudly sponsored by Fourteen IP, the events platinum sponsor and a leading provider of AI and cloud telephony solutions for the hospitality industry. True North Advisory managing partner, Michael Tessler, discussed how enterprises can best adopt AI, including techniques and best practices, supported by several actual use case scenarios. Michael drew from his advisory experience where he specializes in helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses in the customer experience domain, focusing on strategy, company positioning, and CEO mentoring.

The no-sales approach alongside some truly fantastic speakers and sessions led to a highly collaborative environment where hoteliers and vendors were able to discuss various topics at length, could ask questions and provide answers and debate topics in a way that you do not see at other events. Fourteen IP are incredibly proud to be a sponsor and grateful to Michael Tessler for giving up his time to share his experiences with everyone not just during his keynote speech but also during the networking sessions, again sharing in a genuinely collaborative environment. We are very much looking forward to CIO summit 2026. Neil Tolley, CEO of the Fourteen IP Group

Capping the first days program was Bridging the Divide Between Commercial and Technology Teams, presented by seasoned commercial leader, Stuart Mason, SVP, Commercial, Revenue and Distribution, Belmond. Stuart provided attendees with an inside look at what truly matters to their commercial counterparts and how to communicate in a way that fosters collaboration and strategic alignment.

Other topics presented in the program were the hospitality workplace of the future, re-imagining the future of hospitality, choosing best of breed or multi-solution partners, and how AI agents are replacing SaaS solutions.

This Fall, HFTP will produce the Hospitality Upgrade CIO Summit scheduled for September 35, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
The Retired Investor: For Whom the Tariffs Toll

As the flow of container ships to the U.S. slows and the number of trucks needed to distribute Chinese goods declines, retail shelves will soon begin to empty. Unless the tariff war is reversed, consumers should expect shortages.

Tariffs (so the story goes) will fuel a U.S. manufacturing renaissance, leading to higher middle-class wages and more stable families and communities. This manufacturing resurgence will promote research, development and innovation leading to economy-wide productivity gains.

History and most economists indicate that tariffs will not deliver the desired benefits. But let's not be naysayers. After all, most Americans believe that our trade relations with the world have been overly generous since at least World War II and need some right-sizing. The problem is that even if all of what the administration hopes for comes true, it will take years, if not decades, to achieve. In the meantime, we have to deal with the impact of tariffs in 2025.

The economy has already begun to slow due to tariffs registering its first down quarter since 2022. By the end of May, we should begin to see layoffs in the transportation and retail sectors. As tariffs set in within a few months, the first signs of scarcity will show up in toys, low-cost clothing, foot ware, dog toys, and budget home goods. Unfortunately, many American big box retailers are also our most popular go-to stores. Most of them, such as Walmart, IKEA, and Home Depot, have significant imports from China.

Last year, China accounted for 37 percent of all U.S. apparel imports and 58 percent of U.S. footwear imports. According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, the average tariff rate for those imports from China was roughly 18.5 percent, although additional duties have substantially increased that number. If you add another 145 percent to 160 percent in duties, the total can be above 200 percent.

It is one reason my wife just ordered a new pair of hiking shoes from Amazon. She worries that they won't be available or, if they are, the costs will double before the end of the summer.

A neighbor who regularly purchases heavily discounted consumer goods from Temu, an online marketplace operated by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, canceled her latest order after the price of her product rose from $10 to $40, including shipping.

That should come as no surprise. Chinese companies that benefited from the de-minimis tax exemption, a loophole that allowed shipments worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free, have been closed. Chinese companies have already jacked up their prices, in many cases, by more than 300 percent. American shoppers who are regular users of Chinese e-commerce sites will struggle to find replacement items that are close to the same price.

At this time of year, U.S. retailers would normally increase orders for the back-to-school season and the winter holidays. Not this year. The president's tariffs on China have caused companies to pull back on orders and cancel existing orders. The abruptness of the tariff hikes has left most companies little to no time to plan for alternative sources to import these goods. The National Retail Federation expects imports to drop by 20 percent in the second half of the year if tariffs continue at their current rate.

Low-margin, fast-moving goods will disappear first since the retail industry is built on speed and scale, where inventories of these items are replaced "just in time." Think tees, socks, kids' clothing, and basics. Consumer electronics will also feel the heat since many of the cheaper components are made in China. And nearly all dog toys are made in China, so stock up now unless you want to start buying marrow bones.

According to the New York Times story "Your Home Without China," other essential items we use daily are imported almost entirely from China (90 percent plus). They include first-aid kits, alarm clocks, toasters, baby strollers, thermoses, microwaves, children's books, charcoal grills, umbrellas and parasols, combs, flashlights, fireworks, bathroom scales, and bamboo shelves. The list goes on. By the end of the article, I realized that a good part of our daily life and its gadgets would not be possible without China.

What should readers do to get a jump on the coming tariffs? I suggest buying items that you already planned to purchase now. Washing machines, dryers, ovens, and electronics top that list. Most, if not all, those products are made overseas and will be subject to tariffs. To save money, switch to less expensive brands and models. In addition, shop for older models, one or two years old. For many products, seek out American-made options manufactured in the U.S.

Resist the temptation to panic shop unless you can't live without that matching set of dishes or some other item and are convinced there are no substitutes anywhere in the world. Holding off on discretionary purchases such as a vacation, front-row seats to an expensive concert, or frivolous spending may also be a good idea. Many economists are predicting a recession by the end of the year because of these tariffs, so it might be a good idea to wait until it's clear how tariffs will affect your personal finances.

At this point, even if Donald Trump has a change of heart and reduced Chinese tariffs across the board, the disruption that has already occurred in supply chains will take weeks, if not months, to unravel. We learned that lesson during the COVID pandemic. My advice is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Dalton Day is held on the vacant lot where the high school used to be. The site is considered one of several prime spots for police station but the town had designated it for housing.

Dalton Select Board Tables Old Dalton High Site Assessment

DALTON, Mass.  The Select Board voted to postpone consideration of the Old Dalton High lot for the proposed public safety facility assessment until after the annual town meeting.

In a split decision, with three members in favor and two against, the town's architect for the project, Brian Humes, principal of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC in Berlin, Conn., will need to pause work on the assessment for now.

During a joint Public Safety Facility Committee and Select Board meeting on Wednesday, more than a dozen residents attended, some voicing their concerns with the prospect of having a police station on that parcel.

Craig Wilbur, co-chair of the public safety advisory committee, clarified that the First Street property is not the definitive site for the new public safety facility.

Rather, the First Street property is a sample test fit site for a new public safety building. The committee is in the early stages of a comprehensive evaluation process.

Following a space needs assessment of the department, Humes recommended a one-story building of 13,350 gross square feet. This size was determined to meet future growth and accreditation requirements. Additionally, a 1,800-square-foot outbuilding is also recommended.

"The very rough high-end estimate" for a facility of this size is, at this juncture, $15 million, and that includes hard and soft costs without the purchase of land, committee member Tony Pagliarulo said.

Based on Pagliarulo's calculations that have been reviewed by a former Finance Committee chair, "for the average single-family home assessed at $338,000, property taxes would increase $412 a year, a 1.2 percent increase."

The committee is drafting a survey to gather feedback from the community, which is anticipated to include questions about their support or opposition to the facility, opinions on proposed features, and voters' willingness to support the facility based on the estimated cost and potential tax increase.

It may also explore priorities regarding tax increases versus postponing the facility, as well as the additional information people would like to receive.

The parcel on First Street is a viable option as it's the only site that's town-controlled and has the right size, said select board vice chair Dan Esko.

"I don't think we should write this site off. It's the only town-owned site. I think it's very viable on a number of levels. Certainly, we want to have more public input, but I'd like to support moving forward with studying the site further and making it the test site for the feasibility study," he said.

Board member John Boyle added that "nobody here wants to see this drag out forever. We're trying to avoid that. We're not trying to overlook any problems, but we want to expedite it."

Boyle advocated for the continued study and testing of the parcel but emphasized that nothing is concrete yet.

"The lot was designated in 2017 for home building so, this isn't actually a viable lot for anything other than what we voted for in 2017," one resident said.

"So, the town does own this property, but it's already been designated for another purpose so that's where I'm a little confused why you're voting on this purpose when it's designated for something else right now."

Select Board member Robert Collins said he has received several phone calls from residents and did not feel comfortable making a decision on the parcel until the wishes of Dalton residents are known.

A decision on whether to update the zoning of the lot will be made by voters at the annual town meeting on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School.

Article 13, if approved, would rescind the vote taken on May 1, 2017, designating the former high school lot for housing.

The approval of this item would allow the town to use the lot for something other than housing, including considering the property for a municipal facility. Since this changes a prior vote, it requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

One concern about changing the lot designation is that if the police station fails, the lot could be converted into something else, such as a large parking lot.

Resident Michael Hopper recommended that the town change the article to say if the proposed police station does not pass, then the parcel reverts back to its original intent for housing.

During the joint meeting, residents voiced several concerns about a police facility in that location, including financial risks and its impact on the dense neighborhood, such as increased traffic and safety concerns for young children.

Some of these concerns from residents were predicted by Humes' because of his previous experience on projects like this.

One obstacle the town would have to navigate if it were to build a police station in that area is the inaccurate perception that residential areas have when a police station is proposed for their area, such as perceived disruption and increased traffic and activity, Humes said.

Based on his previous experiences with similar projects, police facilities can be good neighbors, he said at prior committee meetings.

He demonstrated that, unlike other emergency facilities, calls are not answered directly by the police station, and the level of activity at the building is not as high as most residents believe.

In fact, police facilities can provide a "security blanket" for neighborhoods, potentially reducing crime in the area, he said.
venerdi 2 maggio 2025, 18:56 - Last updated: 3 maggio, 07:13

 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This article is automatically translated

Russia and North Korea have inaugurated the construction of a road bridge over the Tumen River to connect the two countries. 'This is a milestone in Russo-Korean relations. Its significance goes far beyond a mere engineering project, symbolizing our common aspiration to strengthen friendly and neighborly relations and to promote interregional cooperation,' said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin according to the Interfax agency during a teleconference ceremony for the start of the bridge construction, which was also attended by North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae Song. Russia and North Korea are strengthening their ties, and in recent days both Moscow and Pyongyang have confirmed that soldiers from Kim Jong Un's regime have fought alongside Kremlin troops in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae Song praised the construction of a new road bridge and road along the Tumen River, at the border with Russia, calling it a 'historic monument' and 'symbol of growing friendship' between Pyongyang and Moscow. According to Pak, the infrastructure represents a concrete manifestation of the shared strategic plan between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin - described as 'comrade' - and aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all sectors. The work was launched in the North Korean locality of Rason and the Russian city of Jasan, in an atmosphere of great anticipation and interest. The news was confirmed by the official North Korean agency KCNA, which spoke of 'a significant act' to open a new phase in the development of relations between the two countries. The project is expected to promote trade, tourism, and the circulation of goods, providing a concrete basis for more structured economic cooperation. The new bridge will be located near the so-called 'Friendship Bridge,' built in the 1950s and equipped with a railway line. The initiative is part of a context of strengthening the axis between North Korea and Russia, increasingly united by common strategic interests and growing international isolation. North Korea publicly supports Russian President Vladimir Putin's war efforts in Ukraine using all means, including tens of thousands of soldiers, military aid, and ammunition. In October 2023, satellite images showed an increase in freight train traffic between Russia and North Korea, likely indicating that Kim Jong-un is supplying weapons and ammunition to Putin. With the latest announced road link on Wednesday, war observers have said the bridge will facilitate further North Korean military involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine. 'It is likely that Russia and North Korea will use the bridge for the transport of materials as the two states strengthen their cooperation,' said the Institute for the Study of War in its latest assessment. According to North Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and 4,700 of them have been killed or injured. Experts say Russia has repaid North Korea by providing it with air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones, and technology for launching spy satellites.
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Russia has begun the construction of its first road bridge to North Korea over the Tumen river on the border, marking rapidly advancing bilateral ties with the isolated regional ally.

The construction marks the first ever bridge for cars and motor vehicles crossing between Russia and North Korea and is a significant milestone in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Wednesday as he attended the groundbreaking ceremony in a video conference.

The bridge will span 4.7km (2.9 miles)  including the approach roads leading to it  with 424m inside Russia and 581m inside North Korea, reported Russias Tass news agency. The bridge on its own is one km long and seven metres wide with two lanes for moving traffic, and worth more than $111m (83m), according to the Russian prime ministers decree from February.

Russia has claimed the bridge, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will expand cross-border travel of people, tourism, and circulation of commodities. The bridge is likely to have a capacity to process 300 vehicles and 2,850 people per day.

North Korea and Russia are already connected by a railway bridge and the two isolated nations agreed in June 2024 to construct a bridge for automobiles over the Tumen river, which runs along North Koreas borders with Russia and China.

"This is a big milestone for Russian-Korean relations," Mr Mishustin said, according to Tass. "We are creating a reliable basis for closer cooperation between our two countries, a road for an open and fruitful dialogue, he said.

open image in gallery Satellite imagery taken on 28 April shows construction site and equipment gathered around Tumen river on both  Russian and North Korean sides  with a nearby helipad also spotted in the area ( Planet Labs PBC )

North Korean premier Pak Thae Song and Mr Mishustin were in attendance as the crew on respective sides held a ground-breaking ceremony in their border cities.

North Korea is publicly supporting Russian president Vladimir Putins war efforts in Ukraine by using all means, including tens of thousands of troops, military aid, and ammunition.

In October 2023, satellite images showed increased freight railcar traffic between Russia and North Korea in likely signs of Kim Kong Un supplying Mr Putin with arms and munitions.

open image in gallery The first Russia-North Korea car bridge to span Tumen river is now underconstruction ( The Independent )

With the latest roadway connection announced on Wednesday, war monitors have said the connecting bridge will aid North Koreas further military involvement in Russias war in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea will likely use the bridge for material transportation as the two states strengthen their cooperation, said The Institute for the Study of War in its latest assessment.

Mr Pak said the bridges construction would be remembered as a historic monument in bilateral ties. The announcement came just days after North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to Russia to help it reclaim parts of the Kursk region that Ukraine forces seized in a stunning incursion last year.

open image in gallery North Korea's premier Pak Thae Song joins Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin via video-conferencing to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for a new road bridge spanning the Tumen River that will link North Korea to Russia, in Pyongyang, ( via Reuters )

Last week, in his first such acknowledgement, Mr Putin thanked North Korea for its involvement in the Ukraine war and promised not to forget the sacrifices of North Korean soldiers.

North Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and 4,700 of them have been killed or wounded, according to South Koreas National Intelligence Service (NIS). Experts have said Russia has paid back North Korea by supplying it with air defence missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones and technology for spy satellite launches.
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In a shaded alley behind a Blinkit warehouse in Varanasi city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the summer heat clings to polyester uniforms like a second skin. The midday sun is relentless, but the fast grocery delivery companys striking riders, exhausted, underpaid and drenched in sweat, say what really burns is the indignity of it all. Their demand for better conditions, though modest, spotlight a broader crisis unfolding in Indias growing gig economy, where speed trumps safety and workers are easily replaced.

This uniform is made of a polyester cloth, it is impossible to be comfortable wearing it in summer, a rider, who requests not to be named for fear of losing work, tells The Independent. If the company at least provides us cotton uniforms, it will make our lives a lot easier.

The rider is one of over 150 Blinkit workers who went on a two-day strike in Varanasi on 26 April to protest what they describe as unsafe working conditions, falling earnings, and retaliatory ID suspensions, a practice where gig platforms deactivate the accounts of their workers without due process or a means to redressal.

The strike is only the latest flashpoint in a growing struggle between speed-driven platforms and workers who make instant delivery possible in a gig economy thats projected by NITI Aayog, a government planning and advisory body, to employ over 23 million people nationally by 2029.

Blinkit riders say they once received Rs 555 (4.93) for delivering 32 orders but now earn only Rs 448 (3.98) for 43, effectively doing more work for less.

Gig workers, unlike salaried employees, are classified as partners by their companies, so they receive no fixed wages, social security, or paid leave. They are instead compensated on a per-order basis, with fluctuating incentives. Blinkit riders say they were initially promised Rs 35 (0.31) per delivery within a 2.5km radius, plus a distance-based component as well as bonuses for completing a certain number of orders. But the terms have been quietly changed over time. The per-delivery rate has dropped to 26 (0.23), they say, and the distance payment only accounts for the journey to the customer, not the return trip.

This wage reduction while the companys service and profits have increased is a sheer violation of human rights and exploitation, says a 45-year-old father of five who works as a delivery rider for the company.

When Blinkit, acquired by Indian food delivery giant Zomato in 2022, launched in his area almost six months ago, the rider recalls, the promise of higher earnings lured many away from other jobs. But as the number of riders grew, the incentives started shrinking.

A 25-year-old rider, who delivered milk before turning to gig platforms after the Covid pandemic, says he works between 12 and 15 hours a day for Rs 300 (2.66), most of it consumed by petrol and bike maintenance.

The rider, who has a polytechnic diploma, describes his low-paid work as being tantamount to forced labour.

open image in gallery Gig and Platform Service Workers Union says Blinkit disabled app accounts of all riders who went on strike in Varanasi last month ( GIPSWU )

While gig work in India has always been precarious, the searing summer heat is exposing its most brutal edge. Northern India in particular is experiencing an early and intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40C in many cities, including the capital Delhi, and the meteorological department forecasting above-normal temperatures and an increased number of heatwave days in May.

The day after the strike began, Varanasi recorded a maximum temperature of 44.2C.

In spite of the extreme heat, delivery workers say they are required to clock in during the hottest hours of the day, without meaningful protection.

Sometimes the housing societies we deliver to tell us we arent allowed to use the lift for residents, the Varanasi rider who participated in the strike tells The Independent. Sometimes we arent allowed to use the lift at all. Then we have to climb up and down the stairs with all the heavy orders. The store is on the first floor, so we are climbing at least one flight of stairs per order, just to collect the items for delivery. And we do not get compensated adequately for this extra physical work.

Instead, when the Varanasi riders launched their strike, Blinkit responded by disabling the app accounts of all participants, cutting them off from the platform and their sole source of income, the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union claims.

A company representative allegedly visited the striking workers and threatened them with police action unless they signed affidavits promising never to strike again.

In the following days, the accounts of some of the workers were reinstated but only after they had signed contracts that did not carry the company letterhead or specific details, Deccan Herald reported. One of the riders The Independent spoke to confirmed this and said some were also asked to record videos of themselves holding the unsigned documents and stating that they would comply with the terms.

open image in gallery A Blinkit rider complains that a single customer complaint, even one made in error, can lead to immediate ID blocking with no right of appeal ( GIPSWU )

The riders have straightforward demands. They want weather-appropriate uniforms and shaded waiting areas with water and fans so they arent baking in the sun. They insist the company restore the original incentive pay structure that was in place when the store opened and rescind the punishing rule that effectively forces them to work the hottest hours of the day.

The union says the term partner that gig platforms employ for their delivery riders is a misnomer, disguising the lack of job security, legal protections or fair wages.

A rider complains that a single customer complaint, even one made in error, can lead to immediate ID blocking, with no right of appeal.

We live at the companys will, the delivery person says. If a customer abuses us, we must stay quiet. If we say something back, they complain. Then our ID is gone. There is no redressal system.

Blinkit declined to comment prior to publication despite repeated requests from The Independent. A spokesperson said they would be in touch if and when we have a statement to share.

The Varanasi strike isnt Blinkits first labour protest. In January 2024, riders at a Delhi warehouse walked out in protest of incentive cuts and were reportedly met with threats and physical intimidation.

Analysts say these tensions will only escalate unless companies are mandated to treat gig workers as their employees. Most delivery riders currently fall outside Indias formal labour protections, leaving them without social security, medical benefits or minimum wage guarantees.

In the meantime, many workers endure the conditions in silence because the alternative is joblessness.

There is so much unemployment in the country, one rider laments. The company doesnt even have to advertise positions, people are waiting on the sidelines for vacancies to open up. So, we keep quiet and work for the little pay we get.
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The Indian government will collect caste details in its next population census in a policy U-turn that could have sweeping socioeconomic and political ramifications.

Information minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that the census would count the populations of each of the hundreds of castes and subcastes in the worlds most populous country, without revealing when the exercise might be held.

The once-a-decade population survey was due in 2021 but was delayed first by the Covid pandemic and then logistical hurdles.

India last collected caste data under the national census in 1931 during British colonial rule. Despite repeated calls from opposition parties and activists, Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government had resisted updating this demographic data, arguing that it would deepen social divisions.

More than two-thirds of India's over 1.4 billion people are estimated to be on the lower rungs of an archaic social hierarchy that grades Hindus by birth. It is not yet clear whether the caste census will focus only on the majority religion of Hinduism, or include Islam, Christianity and Sikhism, which in India are equally tainted by casteism and the caste system.

open image in gallery File. A census officer collects details of a family in Hyderabad, India, in 2010 ( AP )

What is the caste system and why is the census important?

The caste system is a rigid social stratification system that dates back thousands of years and is still critical in Indian life and politics, with those at the bottom rung routinely discriminated against.

There are hundreds of castes and subcastes in the country, largely based on family occupation. The nearly 200 million Dalits, formerly known as Untouchables, are on the lowest rung of the hierarchy and often targeted for discrimination, even though India abolished untouchability in 1955.

Since independence in 1947, India has only listed Dalits and the indigenous tribals  referred to as scheduled castes and tribes, respectively  separately under the census. Everyone elses caste has been marked as general.

Federal and state governments provide a certain number of spaces to members of the historically marginalised lower castes in colleges, government jobs and legislative bodies, including the parliament.

Supporters of the caste census stress the need for more precise data on those deserving of government assistance while critics say caste has no place in a country with ambitions of becoming a world power.

A new count will help tailor affirmative action plans better as the current quotas are based on decades-old data. The current plans, analysts fear, are not sufficient for what are known as backward castes given their share in the population.

The decision to include caste enumeration in the census is a major about-turn by the Modi government. Less than a year ago, Mr Modi had called a caste census a sign of the "far left" thinking of opposition parties.

open image in gallery Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi with his mother Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on 25 May 2024 ( AFP via Getty )

After the decision was announced, however, Mr Modi's chief lieutenant, home minister Amit Shah, called it "historic".

"This decision will empower all economically and socially backward sections," Mr Shah said.

The announcement of the inclusion of caste in the census comes ahead of elections in the eastern state of Bihar. Caste is a key political issue in the state, where an alliance including Mr Modi's BJP is seeking to retain power.

Several states have conducted surveys to enumerate caste, some states have done this well, others have done this purely from a political angle, in a non-transparent way," Mr Vaishnaw told a cabinet briefing.

He argued that including caste details in the census would ensure greater transparency in the process than relying on individual surveys conducted by states.

Last year, the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana announced they would undertake caste surveys while Bihar had released a caste census in 2022.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition, had repeatedly demanded a socioeconomic caste census and backed a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on quotas for backward castes in government jobs and education.

The aim of the caste census is not to just know about the count of various castes but their participation in the countrys wealth as well," Mr Gandhi said last year.

He welcomed the Modi government's decision. "We see the caste census as a new paradigm of development, he said. "We are going to push this paradigm one way or the other."

Critics of the caste census claim it will be socially polarising and lead to an increased demand for reservation.

India currently caps overall caste-based reservation at 50 per cent, of which the Other Backward Classes  several rungs of lower and intermediate castes that haven't been officially counted for decades  alone take 27 per cent.
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Sectarian tensions are running high in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand after the arrest of a man for allegedly raping a schoolgirl prompted Hindus to attack Muslim-owned businesses.

A group of Hindu men went on a rampage in the popular tourist town of Nainital on Thursday, vandalising shops and eateries owned by Muslims during a protest against the alleged rape.

A woman had filed a police complaint on Wednesday accusing a 75-year-old Muslim man of raping her 12-year-old daughter. The man was promptly arrested, senior police officer PN Meena said.

The girl was living with a relative in Nainital while her mother stayed in Sambhal region of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state, The Hindu reported. The suspect allegedly lured the girl with money and raped her in a car in his garage.

The girl saw her mother in April and narrated the incident to her, Mr Meena said. The woman complained to the police who arrested the accused. Strict action will be taken against him, Mr Meena said, referring to the accused.

A mob gathered near the police station after news of the mans arrest spread and, after learning his identity, marched to his place of work near the market, local media reported.

They were soon attacking shops and eateries in the Mallital area owned by Muslims. Social media videos showed members of the rampaging mob dragging out shop owners and brutally thrashing them, while others vandalised their establishments and vehicles.

The agitation continued past midnight, and reportedly saw stones thrown at a mosque.

On Friday, shops and schools in Mallital were shut and police were deployed in strength.

The Uttarakhand High Court directed police to maintain law and order and prevent large gatherings. The court also asked authorities to keep a tab on online rumour-mongering to prevent further the violence from flaring up.

Authorities, meanwhile, served a notice to the accused man claiming his property was illegal and would be demolished if a case demonstrating otherwise was not presented before them.

A group of local residents submitted a memorandum to the Nainital administration demanding verification of outsiders from a particular community, presumably meaning Muslims, and scrutiny of their property purchases.

Mr Meena said the situation was under control after police had prevented a riot-like situation. We are trying to identify the locals who indulged in disruptions, he said.

A video shared widely on social media showed a woman confronting the agitators for attacking innocent Muslim business owners and not even mentioning the alleged victim.

Why are you assaulting innocent shopkeepers? This is wrong. Why are you making it a Hindu-Muslim issue, she could be heard saying.

India has been riven by rising religious polarisation and violence since Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist BJP took power over a decade ago. The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is ruled by the BJP as well.

The sectarian violence in Nainital came amid heightened anti-Muslim sentiment in the country in the wake of a terror attack in Kashmir on 22 April that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. The attack led to threats of violence and eviction against Kashmiri Muslims in various Indian states.

Sexual violence against women is a major problem in India. According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data, the country reported 445,256 cases of crimes against women in 2022, a 4 per cent increase from the previous year. That is almost 51 formal complaints every hour, yet women's groups say the actual number is likely far higher as many cases go unreported.
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Indias human rights commission has launched an inquiry into reports that over 100 children became ill after consuming a school lunch contaminated by a dead snake.

Nearly 500 children reportedly consumed the meal served at Mokama villages government school near Patna in eastern Bihar state on 24 April.

The lunch was served under the midday meal scheme, the largest free-food-in-school programme in the world. The scheme provides free lunch to children in government schools to improve nutritional levels, increase enrolment and reduce dropout rates.

The National Human Rights Commission said the school cook was suspected to have served the lunch to children after removing a snake that had fallen into it.

It had asked the states top civil servant as well as the police for a detailed report on the incident within two weeks, the commission said.

NHRC India takes suo motu cognisance of the media report about more than 100 children falling ill after consuming midday meal in Mokama area of Patna, Bihar, it added. The commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students.

Indian schoolchildren eat their free midday meal at a government school in Amritsar in 2013 ( AFP via Getty )

Many of the schoolchildren showed symptoms of dizziness and vomiting, panicking parents who rushed them to hospitals.

The incident sparked a protest in the village and outraged family members blocked the local national highway, demanding action against the school administration.

The midday meal scheme feeds an estimated 100 million children annually in India.

Incidents of contamination of food served under the programme have been reported in the past, with Bihar witnessing deaths as a result in 2013.

At least 23 school children died at Dharmasati Gandaman village near the capital Patna after eating a midday meal laced with "very toxic" levels of a pesticide. The incident caused widespread outrage, leading to violent protests and arson.
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With summer approaching, many of us will be planning a trip abroad.

And protecting your finances while travelling is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Whether you're exploring bustling cityscapes or relaxing on tranquil beaches, managing your money securely can significantly impact your travel experience.

From avoiding scams to safeguarding against theft, here's how to keep your funds safe while travelling abroad.

open image in gallery Being wary of your surroundings and potential pick-pockets could be key to keeping your money safe ( PA )

What are the safest ways to carry money when travelling internationally?

When travelling internationally, adopt a mixed approach to carrying money, balancing convenience with security, advises Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co. Prepaid travel cards are often considered a secure option, as they can be loaded with a fixed amount in local currency and are not directly linked to a bank account helping to limit exposure if lost or stolen.

Credit cards may also be suitable for larger purchases or emergencies, particularly those that do not charge foreign transaction fees.

A small amount of local cash may also come in handy for minor expenses such as tips, taxis, or establishments that do not accept cards, adds the CEO.

Use items like money belts or concealed pouches and avoid carrying large amounts at any one time, suggests Parden.

What should someone do if their card is lost or stolen abroad?

If your card is lost or stolen abroad, act quickly.

The first step should be to contact the card provider immediately to report the loss and request that the card be blocked, says Parden. Many banks offer 24/7 international helplines or mobile app features to freeze the card instantly.

In some cases, banks may be able to issue a replacement card or provide emergency cash. Reporting the incident to local authorities may also be required, particularly for insurance purposes.

How safe are mobile payment apps and digital wallets abroad?

Mobile payment apps and digital wallets can be a convenient and generally secure way to pay while abroad, especially in destinations where contactless payments are widely accepted, says Parden. These platforms often use encryption and biometric verification, which can offer a high level of protection against fraud.

However, travellers should still take precautions.

Ensure that your phone has a passcode, avoid public Wi-Fi when making transactions, and enable remote locking or wiping in case the device is lost or stolen, advises Parden. Its also important to check in advance whether the digital wallet is supported in the country being visited, as availability can vary.

What tips do you have for avoiding card skimming or payment fraud overseas?

When withdrawing cash, stick to ATMs located inside banks or in well-lit, secure areas, recommends David Capezza, vice president of Risk in Europe at Visa. Always inspect the machine briefly for anything unusual or signs of tampering before inserting your card and always cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN to block prying eyes or hidden cameras.

Also, never let your card out of your sight during a purchase.

For instance, in restaurants, ask staff to bring a portable card reader to your table to help prevent out-of-sight skimming devices, advises Capezza.

Capezza also suggests activating real-time transaction alerts through your banking app, which allow you to receive instant notifications if any suspicious charges appear while abroad.

Some banking apps even let you temporarily lock or freeze your card when not in use, adding an extra layer of security, he adds.

What backup plans should travellers have in case they lose access to all their money?

Carrying a second debit or credit card, stored separately from the primary one, can provide an immediate alternative if a wallet is lost or stolen, recommends Parden. Some travellers also choose to keep a small amount of emergency cash in a secure location, such as a locked suitcase or hotel safe.

It can also be helpful to share emergency contact details or limited access to funds with a trusted friend or family member back home who could assist if needed.

Additionally, knowing how to contact your bank internationally and being familiar with their procedures for emergency cash or card replacement can help ensure support is available when its most needed.
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Hieroglyphics carved on the famous ancient Egyptian Obelisk in Paris could be propaganda praising pharaoh Ramesses II as ordained by the gods.

The obelisk was apparently commissioned by Ramesses II, who ruled Egypt from 1279BC to 1213 BC, and installed in Luxor. It was given to France by the sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1830.

The landmark is marked by a series of secret inscriptions.

Some of these carvings were first identified in December 2021 when the obelisk was surrounded by renovation scaffolding.

At the time, Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier was permitted to document some of the highest inscriptions near its golden pyramid top.

The secret inscriptions on the 3,300-year-old monument were meant only for the eyes of Egyptian nobility under specific circumstances, Dr Olette-Pelletier argues in a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study.

He theorises that the obelisks western side originally faced the Nile, putting the inscriptions near the top in good view of people travelling on the river by boat.

open image in gallery Place de la Concorde with its obelisk in Paris ( AFP via Getty )

The inscriptions, the study suggests, declare that Ramesses II "had been chosen by the gods, that he was of divine essence and therefore entitled to rule Egypt.

Imagery on this section of the structure, which is 23m tall, depicts Ramesses II making offerings to the god Amun.

These messages are a form of propaganda in favour of the builder of the site, Pharaoh Ramses II, Dr Olette-Pelletier says.

People hadnt noticed that under the god Amun, there is an offering table. This allows us to discover a sentence where no element is missing: an offering that the king gives to the god Amun.

The Egyptologist says that he deciphered a total of seven secret messages carved on the monument by walking around it.

open image in gallery Tourists visit the Luxor temple in Egypt ( AFP via Getty )

He says the findings shed further light on a coding method called three-dimensional cryptography in which messages can only be seen from a specific angle.

The obelisk contains two rows of hieroglyphs that could give different messages depending on the direction in which they are read.

By way of example, Dr Olette-Pelletier says one engraving spells out the full throne name of Ramesses II when read in one direction and declares that he had eternal life when read in another.

His findings await publication in the journal Egypte Nilotique et Mediterraneenne, Dr Olette-Pelletier says.

Some researchers not involved in the study urge caution in interpreting the inscriptions this way until the research is published.

It remains to be studied if the engravings and art depictions on top of the obelisk would have been visible to anyone travelling by boat on the Nile due to the distance.
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Russell Brand has been granted bail after a court heard he allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference.

The comedian and actor appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday after flying back to the UK from the US for the hearing.

The 49-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions during the short hearing.

Brand, wearing an open shirt and jeans and holding his sunglasses behind his back, listened intently to the details of the charges as he sat in the dock.

He was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

open image in gallery Russell Brand in court on Friday ( PA )

The court heard that Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference.

Following a theatrical event in Bournemouth in 1999, it is alleged that while the woman went to the bathroom, Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her on the bed, removed her underwear and raped her.

The court heard another of Brands alleged victims, who accuses him of indecent assault, is alleged to have been grabbed by her forearm by the actor as he attempted to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in 2001.

The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Brand met in Soho in 2004.

He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.

The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brothers Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005, the court heard.

Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

open image in gallery Brand attends the hearing on Friday ( Reuters )

A criminal probe was launched after a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times in September 2023, in which several women accused Brand of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.

Brand did not speak to reporters as he walked the short distance from his car into the court - which took over two minutes as he moved through photographers attempting to take his picture.

In a video previously posted on his X account, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence. He will appear at the Old Bailey on 30 May for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a comedian and media personality in the noughties, performing at the Hackney Empire and the Edinburgh Fringe.

Through the decade, he became a household name as he moved into broadcasting and presented Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brothers Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack.

He also hosted a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008. before he left the role following an on-air prank in which he left a lewd voicemail for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.

Brand, formerly of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, now lives in the US with his wife Laura Gallacher, the sister of TV presenter Kirsty, with their two children.
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At 115 years old, Ethel Caterham has officially become the world's oldest living person.

She has inherited the title after the passing of Sister Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun who lived to 116.

From her nursing home in Surrey, Caterham shared her simple yet profound secret to a long life: avoid arguments. "Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like," she stated.

Born on August 21, 1909, in the quaint village of Shipton Bellinger in Hampshire, Caterham's life has spanned more than a century, witnessing remarkable historical events, including two World Wars.

Her birth predates the First World War by five years, placing her early life within a world on the cusp of dramatic change. Growing up as the second youngest of eight siblings, she experienced a childhood vastly different from today's world.

open image in gallery Ethel Caterham celebrated her 115th birthday last August ( Hallmark Luxury Care Homes )

Travel has been in her blood, it's clear. In 1927, at the age of 18, Ethel embarked on a journey to India, working as a nanny for a British family, where she stayed for three years before returning to England, according to the Gerontology Research Group.

She met her husband Norman, who was a major in the British army, at a dinner party in 1931, and they were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar, the Gerontology Research Group said. They had two daughters whom they raised in the UK. Norman died in 1976.

For the last 50 years, she has lived in Surrey and has three granddaughters and five great grandchildren. During an interview in 2022, she said: Family is the most important thing in life, to be able to leave memories with your children and grandchildren.

Possessions dont matter a bit in the end  all you need is someone to look after you.

Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Ethel is a resident, posted pictures of her cutting a cake and wearing a 115 tiara in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel on becoming the oldest person in the world! What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived," it said in an accompanying statement. Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Heres to celebrating your remarkable journey!

The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.
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The King and Queen are to visit Canada for the first time since their coronation, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The royal couple will attend the state opening of the nations parliament among other highlights, it has been confirmed.

Charles is Canadas head of state and will be travelling to the country with his wife less than a month after former Bank of England governor Mark Carneys Liberal Party election victory.

Mr Carneys rival, populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was in the lead until US President Donald Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and threats to annex the country as the 51st state.

Buckingham Palace said: The King and Queen will visit Canada from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May.

open image in gallery Charles and Camilla will visit Canada later in May ( PA Wire )

The King, accompanied by the Queen, will attend the state opening of the Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa.

It comes as Charles granddaughter, Charlotte, celebrates her 10th birthday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales released a new image to celebrate the occasion.

Charlotte has been pictured sat on a grassy bank with hills in the background, and appears to be taking a break during a hike in Cumbria earlier this year.

The princess was snapped on an iPhone by Kate, a keen amateur photographer who regularly takes images of her children to mark official occasions.

Cumbria is famed for its Lake District scenery and the young royal is dressed for a day walking in the hills, wearing a camouflage jacket by hunting and shooting brand Jack Pyke and a sturdy rucksack.

The image of the smiling princess was posted on William and Kates official social media accounts with the words Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte! alongside a heart emoji and a picture credit for the Princess of Wales.
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A pensioner left scarred for life after falling down stairs in a luxury cruise ship's theatre is suing for up to 50,000 in compensation.

But Marian Reinelt, 76, is being blamed for her own downfall and accused of wearing "inappropriately high-heeled shoes".

Mrs Reinelt was celebrating her 75th birthday with a trip on lavish 13-deck liner, the Marella Explorer, off the coast of Greece in May 2023 when she slipped descending stairs into the ship's Broadway-style auditorium to watch an after-dinner show.

The pensioner from Poole, Dorset, suffered cuts to her face and arm, and had to have skin grafts from her thigh to repair a "substantial" wound to her right shin, leaving her with lifelong scars.

She is now suing travel company, Marella Cruises Ltd, for up to 50,000 in compensation, claiming the fall completely ruined the 6,000 "Iconic Islands Explorer" tour of the Greek islands she was taking with her family.

But the company - which is owned by travel giant TUI - denies there was anything wrong with the stairs and blames Mrs Reinelt for wearing "inappropriately high-heeled shoes."

open image in gallery The Marella Explorer leaves the Bay of Kotor ( Getty Images )

According to documents lodged at the High Court in London, Mrs Reinelt had booked the seven-night island-hopping tour with her husband, daughter and son-in-law to celebrate her 75th birthday and 55th wedding anniversary.

She boarded the 260-metre liner - which features 962 cabins, 10 restaurants, 10 bars, a casino, cinema and an auditorium described in online promotional materials as "big enough to rival a Broadway theatre" - and departed from Corfu Town.

open image in gallery ( Calin Stan )

"On the evening of 28 May 2023, being the second full day of the cruise, the claimant and her family went to dinner," says her barrister, Thomas Yarrow.

"Afterwards they decided to watch a show in the vessels theatre. The claimant was descending the stairs within the auditorium of the theatre in order to find seating when suddenly and without warning she caught her foot against the raised edge of the metallic stair nosing, which unbeknownst to the claimant was in a state of disrepair.

"This defect in the staircase caused the claimant to lose her footing and fall down a number of steps, causing her to sustain injuries."

As well as lacerations to her forearm and close to her eye, Mrs Reinelt sustained "substantial traumatic avulsion" of skin from her right shin.

After treatment onboard, she was taken off the ship to Athens where she had to undergo a skin graft from her thigh to repair the damage to her leg.

"The claimant has been left with permanent scarring to all sites of injury, as well as to her left thigh from whence skin grafts were taken," said her barrister.

"The scarring to her left leg in particular is obvious at conversational distance and represents a very significant cosmetic deformity.

"The scarring cannot be improved by surgical or non-surgical treatment," he said adding that the pensioner "was wearing shoes with a wedge heel and ankle strap" at the time of the accident.

Mrs Reinelt is suing the company on the basis that it is "strictly liable for the injury sustained by the claimant, which was caused by broken stair nosing within the fabric of the vessel."

For Marella Cruises Ltd however, barrister Tom Collins denies the company is strictly liable under maritime law for an accident that could happen on land, or that the steps were defective.

And he said she had contributed to the fall herself by wearing "inappropriately high-heeled shoes" and not paying proper attention to what she was doing.

"The claimant was attempting to descend the stairs in high-heeled wedge shoes," he says.

"In pre-action correspondence, the claimant has estimated the height of these heels to be between 2 and 2.5 inches.

"The accident occurred at around 9.45pm and, according to pre-action correspondence, the claimant was carrying a glass of wine."

The company denied that it is strictly liable under the Athens Convention because the injuries were caused by something that could have happened on land and not by a "typical maritime peril."

But he also denied there was anything wrong with the stairs anyway, pointing out that no accident had been reported on them before or since Ms Reinelt's fall.

"The claimant has disclosed photographs showing several stairs within the auditorium, one of which is said to be the stair on which she caught her foot," he says.

"The defendant avers that these show no apparent defect on any stair, let alone one that would cause a person, taking reasonable care for their own safety, to lose their footing or fall.

"The defendant avers that the stairs shown in these photographs are typical of auditoriums and are reasonably safe.

"There is a non-slip metallic nosing affixed to each step. The nosing is flush with the horizontal and vertical tread.

"The horizontal tread is covered in patterned carpet and is easily distinguishable from the nosing.

"There is lighting affixed to the vertical side of the nosing and the lighting generally was adequate. In addition, a handrail is affixed to the stairs."

The case documents have been filed at the High Court in London, but the case has not yet gone before a judge.

A trial of Mrs Reinelt's damages bid will take place at a later date, unless the parties settle outside of court.
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The Duke of Sussex has lost his legal challenge against the Home Office over his UK security arrangements.

Prince Harry challenged the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office, after the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) decided he should receive a reduced degree of security protection when in the country.

His barrister told a two-day hearing in April that the decision - made after he stepped down as a senior royal in 2020 - put the dukes life at stake.

But in a judgement handed down on Friday afternoon, the Court of Appeal dismissed the dukes challenge.

Delivering the courts ruling, Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos said although the dukes arguments were powerful and moving, he could not say that the Dukes sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to Ravecs decision.

"The conclusion, in my judgement, with which my colleagues Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edith agreed, was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed," he added.

open image in gallery After a two-day hearing in April, the Court of Appeal dismissed the dukes appeal in a judgement handed down on Friday afternoon. ( AP )

The decision marks the latest development in the dukes legal battle, which was brought to the Court of Appeal after his initial claim against the Home Office was dismissed by retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane last year.

In April, barristers for the duke told the Royal Courts of Justice that Ravecs decision meant he was singled out for inferior treatment and that his safety, security and life are at stake.

Harry attended both days of the hearing in London, and could be seen taking notes and talking with his legal team during the appeal. He was not present at Fridays short hearing.

open image in gallery Harry attended both days of the hearing in April, and could be seen taking notes and talking with his legal team during the appeal. ( Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire )

Reading a summary of the courts decision on Friday, Sir Geoffrey said: The duke was in effect stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by Ravec.

Outside the UK, he was outside the cohort, but when in the UK, his security would be considered as appropriate.

He continued: It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate, indeed it seemed sensible.

Sir Geoffrey also said Ravecs decision was understandable and perhaps predictable.

The Home Office, which is legally responsible for Ravecs decisions, opposed Harrys appeal, with its lawyers telling the court it was taken in a unique set of circumstances and that there was no proper basis for challenging it.

open image in gallery The Home Office, which is legally responsible for Ravecs decisions, opposed Harrys appeal, with its lawyers telling the court that Ravecs decision was taken in a unique set of circumstances. ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )

In his written judgment, Sir Geoffrey said he did not think Harry had been able to demonstrate that the judge was wrong to determine that Sir Richard Mottram, then chairman of Ravec, had good reason to depart from its policy document.

He said: In this area of high political sensitivity, the court will inevitably have considerable respect for Sir Richard as a decision maker, whose expertise and experience in the field of Royal protection is probably unrivalled.

Ravec has delegated responsibility from the Home Office over the provision of protective security arrangements for members of the royal family and others, with involvement from the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Office and the royal household.

It is possible that Harry could challenge the courts decision, which would see the case go to The Supreme Court. In order to do this, the duke would have to seek permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal itself.
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An arbitration panel has delivered a split decision in a post-Brexit fishing rights dispute between the UK and the European Union, according to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The ruling adds another layer of complexity to the UK's attempts to recalibrate its relationship with the bloc.

At the heart of the disagreement was a British ban on sandeel fishing in its North Sea waters, a measure the EU argued violated the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

A three-person tribunal found the ban disproportionate in English waters, directing the UK to take the necessary steps to comply with their decision.

However, the panel sided with the UK regarding the ban's application in Scottish waters, rejecting the EU's challenge.

The EU also claimed the ban was discriminatory and not rooted in scientific evidence, arguments the tribunal dismissed.

open image in gallery French and British fishing boats have clashed in recent years ( France 3 Caen )

The UK government maintains the ruling fully validates its closure of Scottish waters to sandeel fishing and doesn't necessitate reversing the closure in English waters.

"We will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the tribunal," a British government spokesperson said.

The European Commission said it was still analysing the ruling.

In financial terms, the case is trifling. Britain puts the revenue loss for non-UK vessels at 45 million pounds ($60 million) in a worst-case scenario.

Politically, it could prove awkward.

Britain and the EU are preparing a summit on May 19 that could lead to closer defence cooperation and pave the way for agreements to ease agricultural and food trade. The EU wants fishing rights in UK waters to be part of the discussions.

Britain argues that the fishing ban is necessary, given the role sandeels play in the food chain of predators - larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds such as puffins.

British boats do not fish for the sandeels, but the small eel-like fish are caught by Danish fleets and used as animal feed and as a source of oil.
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Just a week ago, Dame Andrea Jenkyns still did not know whether she would be ruled eligible to stand to be mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

Now, with the question marks over her residency status still hanging over her, the former Tory MP turned Reform defector is suggesting putting migrants in tents and stopping energy secretary Ed Miliband covering East Anglias fields with solar panels.

Granted, the events of the last seven days are not unusual for a right-wing politician who has courted controversy in a headstrong political career that has given her opponents plenty of ammunition.

Whether it is flipping the bird at protesters outside Downing Street while going in to mark Boris Johnsons departure as prime minister, or ending the political career of Ed Balls, Dame Andrea has never been far from the drama.

open image in gallery Andrea Jenkyns arrives at the count ( Joe Giddens/PA Wire )

The beauty queen

It all started when 16-year-old Andrea Jenkyns left school in Beverly, Humberside, after her GCSEs and got herself a job serving pasties and sausage rolls at Greggs.

At 18, though, her father persuaded her to start competing in beauty pageants, and her public career really began on the Miss UK stage, where she was a finalist.

She went on to get academic qualifications as a mature student in her 30s with a degree from the University of Lincoln in international relations and politics and an Open University diploma in economics.

But the desire to perform has never left her, even beyond politics. Many years later, as a good soprano, she would release an album and perform live in the UK, Europe and Asia, including for the former prime minister of Pakistan.

open image in gallery Ed Balls reacts after losing his Morley and Outwood seat to Jenkyns at the 2015 general election ( Reuters/Craig Brough )

Defeating Ed Balls

Her political career could not have begun in a more spectacular fashion in 2015. Having been a county councillor in Boston, Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea was asked to run against former Labour cabinet minister Ed Balls in the Morley and Outwood seat on the edge of Leeds.

Mr Balls clearly thought he had the seat in the bag and instead focused on campaigning to oust the then Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg in nearby Sheffield.

It came as a shock to everyone when, in the early hours of the morning on 7 May, Jenkyns was declared the winner. In effect, it ended the political career of a man who had been expected to challenge for the Labour leadership.

open image in gallery Not everyone is a fan... ( AFP/Getty/Twitter )

The hardcore Brexiteer

Once in parliament, it became clear that Jenkyns was firmly on the right of the Tory party. She quickly joined the European Research Group of hardcore Brexiteers and became a big cheerleader for Boris Johnson.

After the 2016 EU referendum, she pushed for a no-deal Brexit and in 2018, she became the first person with a government position to quit her job in Theresa Mays premiership in protest over trying to compromise with the EU.

Such was her strong support for Brexit that the millionaire Nigel Farage ally Arron Banks gave 2,000 for her 2019 election campaign, in a much-criticised move. Jenkyns was accused of trying to help entryism into the Conservatives.

open image in gallery Jenkyns flips the bird at protesters in July 2022 ( Twitter )

Flipping the bird

Almost all of her nine-year parliamentary career was spent on the backbenches with little appetite to trust her with a ministerial job.

But as dozens of ministers quit Boris Johnsons government in protest over Partygate lockdown boozing in Downing Street and the Chris Pincher scandal, Jenkyns was appointed a junior education minister.

Always a fan of Johnson, on the day he departed as prime minister, she became the image of Tory contempt when she was pictured flipping the bird at protesters on her way into Downing Street to hear his farewell speech.

Mr Johnson was grateful, though, making sure she got her damehood in his resignation honours list.

open image in gallery Jack Lopresti fell for, married and divorced Jenkyns ( PA Media )

Finding love in the Commons

While Boris Johnson was her leadership love in politics, Dame Andrea had also found love with one of her colleagues, Jack Lopresti, who fell for her despite being on the moderate One Nation side of the Tories.

Lopresti left his family for her, and they had a son in 2017, marrying in December that year.

But things fell apart quite quickly: in 2024, she announced they had divorced.

Lopresti was last heard of joining the Ukrainian army to help in the war against Russia, having also lost his seat in the election last year.

open image in gallery Cheers! Nigel Farage at his 60th birthday party with Arron Banks and Jenkyns... and who is that in the background? ( Andrea Jenkyns/Twitter )

Off and then on with Reform

Dame Andreas relationship with Reform has been typically hot and cold. Ahead of the 2024 election, she accused Reform of trying to bribe her to defect to it. She then had a bitter feud with party leader Richard Tice after she was deliberately targeted by Reform to lose her Morley and Leeds South West seat, which she duly did.

The animosity did not stop her from turning up as a guest at Nigel Farages 60th birthday party ahead of the election last year in what was seen as a sign that she would eventually switch. She was pictured with Farage and Arron Banks.

Then, as a seatless ex-Tory MP, she became Reforms 100,000th member and was declared as the mayoral candidate for Greater Lincolnshire  the county where her political career began as a councillor in Boston.

But even then, things were not settled between her and Reform. Dame Andreas public support for Boris Johnson on X (formerly Twitter) appeared to clash with party chairman Zia Yusufs interviews about how the ex-Tory PM would never be welcome in Reform.

open image in gallery In November 2024, Jenkyns joined Farage at a press conference in Londons Mayfair as a defector ( EPA )

Victory in Lincolnshire

Dame Andreas first reaction on winning was to complain about the smear campaign against her by her opponents. Having picked up 42 per cent of the vote, she was more concerned about the questions which had been asked about whether she was eligible to stand.

While she was cleared by the returning officer to stand as a candidate, there is a possibility that her vague residency qualifications could become the subject of another legal challenge.

Now she has won, though, and is backed by a likely Reform majority on the county council, the sleepy East Midlands county could become a real testbed for Reform right-wing policies.

Already, she is discussing putting illegal migrants in tents. She is also likely to try to stop renewable energy sources, be it wind or solar farms, from being allowed in the county.

More interesting will be the Lincolnshire version of Doge in slashing costs and cutting services, an ambition of Farages.

Lincolnshires farmers and fishing communities may be worried about having a vegetarian animal rights activist in charge.

But overall, Lincolnshire will now be the real test of whether Reform is a party fit to govern. And Dame Andrea will become the face of that.
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Rachel Reevess plans to slash billions of pounds in disability payments will hit red wall communities hardest, according to new research.

The move poses a risk to Labour, which won back many of its traditional heartland seats at last years general election, having lost them to Boris Johnsons Conservatives in 2019.

The North East and North West of England are set to be the hardest hit. All of the top 10 most-impacted constituencies are located in the two regions and all are in the red wall, including Bootle, Birkenhead and Hartlepool, a report from the think tank Health Equity North found.

Rachel Reevess welfare cuts will have an impact at the polling booth ( PA )

The areas that will be least impacted include Theresa Mays former constituency of Maidenhead.

The cuts have been hugely controversial. When the changes were announced by the chancellor last month, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimated that 400,000 fewer people would be eligible for personal independence payments (PIP), which are not linked to work, but designed to help with extra costs incurred due to a disability.

As a result of the changes, 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty, including 50,000 children, according to the governments own analysis.

The think tank report found that the worst-hit constituencies would lose over 20m each year from the policy alone.

The constituencies with the highest losses also have the lowest life expectancies, which researchers said means health inequalities are likely to widen even further.

Clare Bambra, professor of public health at Newcastle University, said: Those areas that will lose most from this proposal were already decimated by austerity, Covid and the cost of living crisis. They have worse health than other regions and their local services and economies are already struggling. Losses of this magnitude risk worsening the situation for everyone living in these deprived constituencies.

Parliament cannot risk rushing proposals like these through without fully considering how they affect local areas that are already struggling.

Another of the reports authors, Dr Natalie Bennett, from the University of Sheffield, said: The government has already indicated the broad impact it expects these changes to have on the country, if approved.

By breaking the figures down by region, the report makes it clear that northern communities will feel the effects of these changes more keenly than other areas of the country. This will not only have an effect on the amount those affected can spend in the local economy, but also increase the strain on their mental and physical health.

A DWP spokesperson said it was creating a sustainable welfare system that delivers proper support to help sick and disabled people break down barriers, unlock work, boost living standards, and grow the economy.
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Nigel Farage has broken new ground by winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Britains top pollster has declared.

Polling guru professor Sir John Curtice said the victory is a very substantial success for Reform UK which proves the party is a major threat to Labour and the Conservatives.

Sir John said Mr Farage never won a by-election with Ukip where his MP was not the incumbent, with its two by-election wins coming after sitting MPs defected from the Conservatives.

So, to that extent, we have now broken new ground in terms of parliamentary by-elections, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

Sir John added: We were looking to these elections to answer whether the message of the opinion polls is correct that Reform poses a significant threat to the traditional dominance of the Conservatives and Labour of our electoral politics.

open image in gallery Reform UK won by just six votes in Runcorn ( REUTERS )

It already seems to be clear that the answer to that question is yes. Winning the by-election in itself was a very substantial success for Reform.

Sir John said that early morning results across councils also showed a shift in support from the Conservatives to Reform, adding that former true blue parts of England look now rather like Turquoise England - the colour of Mr Farages party.

Sir Johns comments came after pollster Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos, said Reform looked like the real deal following overnight election results.

Mr Pedley said: Although Labour will be relieved to be holding on to three mayoralties, we have seen large swings away from Labour in each of the races.

Reform is clearly nipping at their heels. This is most clearly illustrated by Reforms narrow victory in Runcorn, giving the party an additional voice in parliament. Put simply, the increase in support we have seen in opinion polls is real.

open image in gallery Sir John Curtice said Reform is a real threat to Labour and the Tories ( PA Media )

The comments came after Mr Farages party beat Labour by six votes in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, triggered by Mike Amesburys drunken assault of a constituent.

The narrow victory for new MP Sarah Pochin saw Reform taking a constituency which Labour won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than 12 months ago.

The result came as Reform made gains against both Labour and the Conservatives across England in local contests, with Mr Farage claiming a "big moment" was taking place in politics.

Mr Farage said: "For the movement, for the party, it's a very, very big moment indeed, absolutely, no question, and it's happening right across England."

He said it was a sign that Sir Keir had "alienated so much of his traditional base, it's just extraordinary".

As well as the Runcorn by-election, voters on Thursday took part in contests to elect more than 1,600 councillors across 23 local authorities, along with four regional mayors and two local mayors.

Reform's Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a former Conservative minister, won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race.

open image in gallery Andrea Jenkyns won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race ( Joe Giddens/PA Wire )

There was some good news for Labour as the party held the West of England mayoralty, with Helen Godwin beating Reform's Arron Banks by 5,945 votes, with the Green Party's Mary Page in third.

The party held the North Tyneside mayoralty, although with a majority of just 444 ahead of Reform in second place.

The Tories, in Kemi Badenoch's first electoral test as leader, were also suffering at the hands of Reform and could also be squeezed by the Liberal Democrats.

Reform is set to take control of Staffordshire County Council after taking 24 of the 30 seats to be counted overnight, with Conservatives winning the other six.

It means when counting resumes later on Friday, Reform needs to win just eight more seats to have a majority on the council.
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Counts are still underway in the local elections in various parts of England after Reform UK secured a dramatic win in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, with all the main parties now busily trying to manage expectations in case they fall below what is predicted for them.

However, the results of the county council and mayoral elections as well as the by-election will give an indication of how well or badly the parties are doing in reality.

Many parts of the country did not have a vote but real elections are in some ways a much better indicator of a partys political strength than the polls.

Each party has a minimum expectation or floor and higher targets as a ceiling for what is likely to unfurl as votes are counted and results declared over the next 24 hours.

Renowned pollster Lord Robert Hayward, who has published his expected range of results, said: If parties go above the high end then they are doing very well indeed but if they go below the minimum expectation then it is very bad.

You have to consider the full range of elections including councils, mayoralties and the by-election in judging how successful or disastrous the election has been for a party. Also councils controlled after the results are declared and biggest parties in councils.

There are clearly minimum expectations and reasonable high aims for each party.

open image in gallery A black Labrador outside a polling station as final preparations are made for the 2025 local elections (Jacob King/PA Wire) ( PA )

What was up for grabs?

A total of 1,641 council seats were up for grabs, with the Tories defending 954 of them.

Of the 23 local authorities holding elections, 14 were county councils: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Polls are also taking place in eight unitary authorities: Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Durham, North Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire. In addition, one metropolitan council, Doncaster, held an election.

A key test for all the parties will be in the four combined-authority mayors being elected, for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire and the West of England.

The biggest test of all will be the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, called because of the departure of disgraced former Labour MP Mike Amesbury after his conviction for assault.

open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Gareth Fuller/PA) ( PA )

Reform

Floor: By-election win, 2 mayors, 400 council seats

Ceiling: By-election win, 3 mayors, 450 council seats

In many ways these elections were all about whether Reforms surge in the polls under Nigel Farage represents a platform for real election success or is meaningless when it comes down to real votes.

The Hayward scale puts their minimum number of council seats to be won at 400 and suggests they could be as high as 450. This would be great given they are defending nothing and would make them the biggest party on the night.

However, dropping below 400 would lead to questions about how effective the partys operation really is.

An even bigger indicator were the mayoral elections. The party secured the Lincolnshire mayoralty early on Friday morning, and there is privately a belief they should also win Hull and East Yorkshire.

But the absolute must was the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. If they had not made a breakthrough with a more motivated voter base on a low turnout, then questions would have been raised over Reforms ability to win an election in 2029.

The big issue is that a lot of people who do not normally vote are telling pollsters they support Reform boosting the numbers. If they go out to vote then there will be success, if not the party has problems.

This is also a test of whether they are taking both Labour and Tory votes.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer ( House of Commons/UK Parliament )

Labour

Floor: 2 mayors, 280 council seats

Ceiling: 3 mayors, 325 council seats

Keir Starmer did not go to Runcorn and Helsby to campaign in the by-election and the reason for that is probably because he wants to avoid most of the collateral damage of a defeat to Reform. Rishi Sunak used a similar tactic and it did not help.

Nevertheless, this by-election was a must win for Labour as it is for Reform. Failure to hold on confirms that Reform poses a threat in Labour heartlands as much as it does for the Tories.

The mayoral contests are also crucial. They have secured one in North Tyneside and have also held on in Doncaster.

The problem the party has is that measures such as welfare cuts, taking winter fuel payments of pensioners and disillusioning the Labour voters in general is not helping them.

Worst of all, if the party gets less council seats than last time these seats were contested in 2021, when they suffered terrible election results then it will be a damning indictment of where the party is in terms of public support.

open image in gallery Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch ( PA )

Conservatives

Floor: 375 council seats

Ceiling: 1 mayor, 425 council seats

The third big story is whether Kemi Badenoch has long left as leader of the Conservative Party and expectations in these elections is paramount to that.

There is no way that the Tories are defending the 954 seats they currently hold but it is the level of the losses coming which will determine how these results are viewed.

Anything below 375 council seats will be seen as a disaster not least because these are largely Tory areas but above 425 and it will be seen as a relative success.

Dr Hannah Bunting, who runs the University of Exeters Elections Centre, has outlined the real problem though, which is we could be seeing the death of Tory heartlands, the final collapse of the blue wall. This could be existential for the Conservatives.

She said: If Reform and the Liberal Democrats wipe out the Tories in different areas but to the same degree, there may be no Conservative heartlands left in the country.

The one hope that Tories are holding on to is Paul Bristow winning in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. A victory for him could mask a lot more painful defeats and will give somewhere for Ms Badenoch to have a victory photo opportunity on a day of defeat.

open image in gallery Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey campaigning ( PA )

Lib Dems

Floor: 250 council seats

Ceiling: 1 mayor, 300 council seats

The Lib Dems have to exceed the 222 council seats they were defending to prove they are still on the rise. This makes 250 a minimum with a maximum prediction on the Hayward scale of 300. Anything above that will be a tremendous set of results.

Interestingly, the Lib Dems believe they are in play for the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election where they currently control the council.

Victory there would be a blow for both Labour and Reform and show that the Lib Dems are becoming a political party to be reckoned with.

open image in gallery Green Party MPs ( PA )

Greens:

Floor: 60 council seats

Ceiling: 1 mayor, 80 council seats

These elections were held in areas where the Greens are strong so the pressure is on them the least.

However, they should still easily double their current seats from around 40 meaning that a minimum of 60 and maximum of 80 is a reasonable range.

Added to that there are briefings that they are in contention in the West of England mayoralty which would be an incredible victory for the Greens.
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Labour is being rejected in its heartlands as disappointment among voters about the party's first 10 months in office has opened the door to Reform, Professor Sir John Curtice has warned.

The leading pollster says that the devastating local election results have shown Labour support is in free fall and voters lost to Reform and the Greens are not likely to return to the party any time soon.

He also suggested that Labour MPs are now right to fear Reform and Nigel Farage more than Kemi Badenoch and the Tories, with the beleaguered Conservative Party leader already facing plots to have her removed.

Sir Johns warning comes as Luke Tryl, executive director of polling organisation More in Common, has warned that the Tories have just 12 months to turn things around before being consigned to irrelevance.

open image in gallery John Curtices analysis is bad news for Labour and the Tories ( PA )

His warning came after The Independent revealed that Tory MPs are already plotting to remove leader Kemi Badenoch. The revelation led to newly elected Tory mayor for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, Paul Bristow, the only success story for the party this week, demanding plotters just stop it!

Meanwhile, Labours woes are set to get worse amid revelations that Mr Farage intends to use Reforms control of 10 councils to launch a series of taxpayer funded legal challenges on net zero policies and housing migrants to tie Sir Keir Starmers government in knots.

Writing for The Independent, Sir John pointed out that Labour had little to lose at the local elections last week because they did very badly when the same seats were last contested in 2021.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that Labour still managed to lose two thirds of the seats it was defending.

Sir John noted: Labours own vote was in free fall. Despite having done so poorly in the local elections four years ago, the partys vote fell on average since then by as much as nine points.

Crucially, it collapsed most of all in the partys heartlands, limited though they were in number on Thursday. In seats Labour was defending its vote fell on average by as much as 19 points.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer vowed to continue with his plans for change ( PA )

He added that unlike the Tories, the strength of Reforms advance made little difference on how far the Labour vote dropped.

In seats Reform did poorly in, Labour maintained its support, while in seats Mr Farages party was strong in Labours vote dropped an average of 11.5 per cent.

He noted that it is also potentially a sign that disappointment with Labours record in office is particularly marked among some of its core supporters with rows over two child benefit, removing winter fuel payment from pensioners, slashing disability benefits and not taking a firm stance against Israel over Gaza.

Sir John added: The pattern was devastating. Labours collapse left the door open to Reform to take many a seat from the party, albeit sometimes by quite a narrow margin.

Labours problem on Thursday was not simply the appeal of Reform. It was also itself. The party has seemingly lost the confidence of many of its heartland voters.

Meanwhile, things look even worse for the Tories with Mr Tryl claiming they are at the moment of maximum danger.

He said: What you're seeing now is former Tory bastions like Kent where they have lost almost all their seats, going from having almost total control to being a third or fourth party.

You've also got the fact that institutionally councillors make up a big part of your base. Losing so many seats in the heartlands ... you can't get that manpower back. It furthers the risk that they sort of just slowly or, in the case of Thursday night, quite dramatically slide into irrelevance.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenochs future is already under the microscope ( PA )

He also noted that Reform are now in second place in most Labour and Lib Dem seats giving them an edge as change candidates in the future.

He said that the only advantage the Tories have is that they have many more MPs but with question marks over Ms Badenoch, he said: When I go around the country many people dont know who she is.

Giving the party just 12 months to turn things around, he said: I think they have until next year's local elections, Holyrood elections and Senedd elections to show that they're still relevant.

But the politician who represented the only major success story of the night for the Tories, new Peterborough and Cambridgeshire mayor, Paul Bristow has urged his party to step up and stop the constant infighting with changes of leader.

He admitted that as a former Peterborough MP a personal vote for him more than the party brand helped get him over the line.

Just stop doing this, he said to plotters. Just look like we're up for it. Acknowledge that this was the worst defeat the Conservative Party has ever faced, hold your hands up. Understand that we messed up for the final two years of the last government, but get out there and win.

He argued that politicians now need to make brands of themselves not just rely on their parties to succeed.

People like [shadow cabinet members] Andrew Griffiths, Chris Philp and Robert Jenrick, they're making brands for themselves, and they look like they're up for it. Kemi has now started to do that as well.
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Reform UK burst into parliament at the general election, winning five seats and promising to hold Labours feet to the fire.

In doing so, Nigel Farages party won the luxury of a platform to shout from without the responsibility of being in power.

But on Friday morning, Reform won its first regional mayor in Andrea Jenkyns. With results still coming in, the insurgent right-wing party could gain control of several English councils, too.

Like a dog chasing a squirrel and finally catching up, Reform now has to decide what it will actually do with its newfound authority. The only previous example of a Farage-led party taking power offers an unappealing blueprint: a Ukip triumph on Thanet District Council in Kent in 2015 ended in collapse after years of infighting over failures to deliver on election promises.

Will Reform suffer the same fate, or is the party better placed to succeed under an older, wiser Mr Farage?

Nigel Farages Reform UK party could win 12 seats at Holyrood, analysis based on the poll indicated. (Jacob King/PA)

The Independent looks at what Reform has promised in the local elections, and whether it can deliver.

British DOGE

Reforms major promise to voters in the local elections has been to follow Donald Trumps footsteps and slash government spending.

It has promised a British DOGE (Department for Government Efficiency) in each local authority it gains control of. Ms Jenkyns will likely be responsible for rolling out the first as mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

The party hopes it will discover wasteful spending on diversity and inclusivity programmes, allowing it to slash spending and cut local taxes in turn.

The independent Penn Wharton Budget Model, which tracks government spending in the US, said DOGE has failed to have a meaningful impact on government spending in the US, and that spending could in fact have increased since Mr Trumps election.

The department initially promised $2 trillion (1.5 trillion) in savings, and has so far found just $160 billion (120 billion) of cuts - with increases in spending elsewhere leading to the overall rise.

War on woke and work from home

Mr Farage has also lashed out at councils including Hertfordshire County Council over woke issues and staff working from home.

He has vowed staff working for Reform-controlled councils will be ordered back to their offices. He also claimed a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill had a warning note about colonialism, slavery and racism, a claim denied by the council.

He also attacked the woke virtue signalling spending of Wiltshire Council during a visit to Salisbury in the run up to polls opening.

Rejecting asylum seekers

One of the biggest issues Reform campaigned on is asylum seekers being housed in hotels across the UK.

Mr Farage repeatedly pointed during the by-election campaign to the number of migrants living in Runcorn who had arrived in Britain after crossing the English Channel.

It has vowed that councillors will campaign against the use of hotels in local authorities they are elected to, with Reform-controlled councils even blocking the use of hotels in areas where they can.

Ms Jenkyns sparked anger immediately after her election, suggesting Reform would house asylum seekers in tents rather than hotels. She said if tents are good enough for migrants in camps in France, those same migrants should be happy living in tents when they arrive in Britain.

How effective will it be?

Reforms Labour and Tory opponents hope power proves a curse for Mr Farages party. The areas it controls will face fierce scrutiny in the run up to the next general election, with every fallout and failure sure to make headlines.

If the party does deliver, it will prove its positioning as the real opposition to Labour is more than just bluster.

But if it fails to live up to its promises, Reforms polling high might just come crashing down.
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Reform UK has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes - an extremely narrow victory that will serve as a major boost to Nigel Farages party.

The party claimed victory in the early hours of Friday morning with 12,645 votes, after the contest sat on a knife edge for hours as a full recount was called, with just a few votes sitting between Reform and Labour.

Sir Keir Starmers party had held the area for more than 40 years and the seat was won by Labours Mike Amesbury at the 2024 general election with a sizeable majority of almost 15,000 votes.

Amesbury resigned in February after he was convicted of assault for punching a constituent, triggering Thursdays by-election.

The vote was the first major test for both Reform and Sir Keirs government after last years historic general election victory, nine months into a Labour government where Mr Farages party had been leading in the polls.

Sarah Pochin wins in Runcorn ( Independent )

In results declared at around 6am on Friday morning, Labour came in second with 12,639 votes, while the Tories Sean Houlston lagged behind in third with 2,341 votes.

The vote was evenly split between Reform UK and Labour, with Ms Pochin taking 38.72 per cent of the vote and Labour taking 38.70 per cent.

Turnout in Runcorn was also much higher than expected, sitting at 46.33 per cent - while count agents in the constituency were expecting around 30 per cent.

In her victory speech, Ms Pochin declared: "The people of Runcorn and Helsby have spoken".

Addressing the audience in the count hall, Ms Pochin added: "I'm in politics to serve. I'm in politics because I care. And I'm in politics to be a voice for those who need representation.

"I will serve you, I will care for you, and I will speak for you. I know our victory here in Runcorn and Helsby will inspire the rest of the country to believe that they too can stand up for fairness, for what is right, and so our British values and their voices can be heard."

Meanwhile, Mr Farage said it was a big moment for Reform UK, adding that the party is growing in popularity right across England.

However, a Labour spokesperson said by-elections are always difficult for the party in government, adding that the events that triggered the Runcorn and Helsby vote made it even harder.

It came as hundreds of council seats and four mayoralties were contested around England, with the Tories bracing for heavy losses having previously held a majority of the seats.

Labours ability to hold the Runcorn seat came under increasing doubt ahead of polls opening, amid plummeting approval ratings.

The partys declining position in the polls was triggered by concern over the governments controversial decision to slash welfare payments and means test the winter fuel allowance, alongside mounting concern over the state of the economy.

Ahead of the by-election, there was talk of a pact between Reform and the Tories after Conservative MP, with former Cabinet minister Esther McVey saying her party should let Nigel Farages party win the by-election.

As the Conservatives continued to lag behind in the polls, Ms McVey appeared to defy party leader Kemi Badenoch and advocate for an alliance with Mr Farages party.
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Reform UKs Sarah Pochin has clinched victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes.

She was the favourite to win since being unveiled by Nigel Farage in March, following Labour MP Mike Amesburys conviction for punching a constituent.

Ms Pochin will become Reforms fifth MP and its first female representative in parliament when the Commons returns on Tuesday.

But who is the 55-year-old new MP and what is she likely to do as a Reform MP?

open image in gallery Sarah Pochin won Runcorn by six votes ( PA Wire )

Sarah Pochin is a former Conservative councillor and mayor for Cheshire East. As a member of the Conservative Party, she was pictured smiling alongside various big names including former prime ministers Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

She also stood as the Conservative Partys candidate in Bolton South East in 2017, coming a distant second to Labours Yasmin Qureshi.

She was expelled from the Conservative group on the Cheshire East council in 2020 after being elected mayor instead of the official Tory candidate with the support of Labour and independent councillors.

But, two years later when she wanted to vote in the Tory leadership election after Boris Johnsons resignation, she was forced out of the independent group on the council after rejoining the Conservatives.

She was not an enthusiastic Tory however, in the wake of Mr Johnsons ousting as leader, and even volunteered to quit the party immediately after achieving her aim of voting in the leadership contest.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage was bouyed by the narrow win ( REUTERS )

Ms Pochin has also been a magistrate in Cheshire for 20 years before becoming a Tory councillor.

She introduced herself to voters with a video highlighting her focus on British pride. Her father was in the army and she said she has a huge commitment to the defence of Great Britain.

The Reform MP added that family is the bedrock of the country and called for more to be done to ensure young people are proud to be British.

She has spoken frequently about being a mother to grown up children and, in an interview with The Independent, she said she likes to take an hour each morning to do pilates and unwind.

open image in gallery Sarah Pochin will use her seat to pile pressure on Sir Keir Starmer over migration ( PA Wire )

Ms Pochin has recently played down her own past support for refugees in the constituency.

After being pictured at a refugees welcome event, she stressed that her support only includes asylum seekers, branding those who cross the English Channel to enter Britain illegal economic migrants.

Her views on migration mean she will likely slip into Reforms parliamentary ranks seamlessly, describing immigrants as flooding our country and calling for those seeking asylum in Britain to stop in France or any other country in Europe before that.

But she does have local priorities, and has promised to campaign on issues including a new leisure centre and cinema for the area as well as railing against the price of a toll road from Runcorn to nearby Widnes.

During the campaign, 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.

Speaking after winning the by-election, Ms Pochin said voters had made clear "enough is enough".

"Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies," she said.

She added that illegal immigration was a "massive issue" for Runcorn.

Ms Pochin said: "People are living next to private landlord accommodation full of illegal immigrants that are causing people's lives hell.

"That is an issue that we will absolutely be looking at as the priority."

She claimed constituents were "frightened to go out of their houses".

She added: "It's a whole area that we will be looking at in detail."
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A mother and her two accomplices have been found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, in a case that gained nationwide attention.

Joshlin Smith, then 6, disappeared from her home in the small town of Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, in Western Cape province on February 19, 2024, and a nationwide search began.

At the time, police called for every citizen, every person to help find her amid fears she may have been taken to a different city or even out of the country. She still has not been found.

Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Apollis and their friend, Steveno Van Rhyn were accused of selling the child for a fee.

The trio each pleaded not guilty as the trial opened. On Friday, a judge at the Western Cape High Court found all three guilty of kidnapping and trafficking.

open image in gallery Joshlin Smith ( South African Police Services )

"The conduct of ... Ms Smith is not that of a concerned parent. And why not? In my mind, the only inference is that you knew (what happened)," said Judge Nathan Erasmus on Friday, addressing Smith, who sat in the courtroom but did not speak.

In a case that shocked South Africa, one of the witnesses had said in court that Smith told her she had sold her daughter to a sangoma, or traditional healer, for 20,000 rand ($1,100) and that the girl was desired for her "eyes and skin".

The judge did not say in his ruling who the girl was sold to or why.

Smith  whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith  won sympathy across South Africa in the early days of her daughters disappearance. Neighbours joined forces to help police search for the girl in sand dunes near the impoverished settlement of shacks and small houses where they lived.

Smith claimed she left Joshlin with Appollis on the day she went missing in February 2024 and had not seen her again.

The three convicted will be remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
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The driver of a private boat that hit a passenger ferry in Florida has denied fleeing the scene after the collision left one dead and 10 injured.

An attorney for Jeff Knight issued a lengthy statement following the tragic incident in Clearwater on Sunday night. There were 45 people on board the 40ft ferry when Knights 37ftboat with six passengers plowed into the stern at around 8.40 p.m. local time. Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor, Florida, was killed, and at least six other passengers were taken to hospital.

Separately, Knight has stepped down from his role with outdoor music locale Jannus Live out of respect for the victims, according to a statement from the venue.

open image in gallery Law enforcement investigate the wreckage of a Clearwater Ferry after a boat crashed into it ( AP )

After Sundays crash, Clearwater Police Department said in a statement on X that the boat that struck the ferry fled the scene. Knights attorney disputes this, and no charges have been brought over the fatal collision.

Immediately after the accident, Mr Knight directed a passenger on his vessel to call 911, and that passenger remained on the line with the 911 operator for nearly twelve minutes, attorney J. Kevin Hayslett wrote. Mr Knight tied his vessel to the ferry in order to stabilize it and render aid. He used his boat to maneuver the ferry closer to shore so that first responders would have easier access to passengers.

Only after Clearwater Police Officers were in the water and ambulances had arrived did Mr Knight leave in order to prevent his boat from sinking with an infant on board.

open image in gallery Clearwater Police Department chief Eric Gandy said that Knights boat overrode nearly three-quarters of the ferry ( AP )

Several witnesses aboard Mr. Knights vessel indicated that the frantic mother... pleaded for immediate transport following the crash because she was concerned that her 8-week-old child may have suffered injuries.

Given the circumstances, including vessel draft, water depth, and the compromised condition of Mr Knights boat, he prudently determined that returning to dock as quickly as possible was the best course of action.

In the video footage of the crash, released by the Clearwater Police Department, Knights boat is seen hitting the stern of the passenger ferry.

open image in gallery An investigation led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is now trying to establish what went wrong ( Tampa Bay Times )

In a press conference Monday, Clearwater Police Department chief Eric Gandy said the boat overrode nearly three-quarters of the ferry and was tracked down 3.5 miles away from the site of the crash underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

An investigation into the crash by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is ongoing.
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Tune in. It's gonna be a lot of fun, and hopefully you'll learn something too.

Thats the message the hosts of MSNBCs new weekend primetime show want to send ahead of the programs debut Saturday night.

Months after the left-leaning cable news network announced sweeping programming changes, The Weekend: Primetime is finally ready to make its maiden voyage. The three-hour panel show, which will air Saturdays and Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. ET, is an expansion of The Weekend franchise that launched early last year and has since seen its initial trio of hosts move to weeknights.

As has been the case with much of the lineup overhaul across MSNBC, network president Rebecca Kutler is looking to implement the panel format she has successfully developed in the past. With the current morning edition of The Weekend seeing a 35 percent increase in viewership since its debut, Kutler is hoping to replicate that success with the new nighttime version.

In recent weeks, the network has filled out the on-air roster of The Weekend: Primetime. After initially announcing that longtime MSNBC anchor Ayman Mohyeldin and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell would be hosts of the show, MSNBC added Antonia Hylton and Elise Jordan to the mix earlier this month. On top of that, Joy Fowlin will be the shows executive producer.

open image in gallery The four hosts of the new MSNBC panel show The Weekend: Primetime are looking forward to a relaxed format that will allow for more nuanced conversations and a bit of fun. ( MSNBC )

With parent company Comcast spinning off most of its cable assets from NBC Universal into the separate SpinCo business, MSNBC will soon no longer be associated with the NBC News brand, resulting in both Jordan and Hylton transitioning to MSNBC-specific roles. Previously, Hylton was a correspondent for both MSNBC and NBC News, while Jordan served as a political analyst for both MSNBC and NBC News.

Ahead of the premiere broadcast of The Weekend: Primetime, all four hosts sat down with The Independent to discuss their expectations for the show and what MSNBC viewers should be prepared for, and also their feelings about the networks upcoming split from NBC and the current political climate following Donald Trumps White House return.

I think it's going to be a mix of topics, an array of guests, people from all different backgrounds, Mohyeldin said when asked about the format of the show. And suffice it to say, it'll be a mix of serious conversations, dinner conversations, and lighthearted conversations, and hopefully, along the way, a lot of fun.

Adding that she hopes the program will offer a home and an environment that allows people to get past their talking points and to really be themselves, Hylton stated that the last hour of each broadcast is going to have a particularly Saturday and Sunday night feel to it.

open image in gallery Ayman Mohyeldin joined NBC News in 2011 as a foreign correspondent and has served as an anchor of several MSNBC programs over the past few years. ( MSNBC )

Letting us know that theyve been in rehearsals all week, the quad explained that while it may seem a bit daunting on the surface to take on a three-hour show on both nights of the weekend, they also feel that the diverse viewpoints and experiences they each bring to the table will be the shows strong suit.

Personally, I'm used to Morning Joe, which is four hours and it's very, very early. I'm pretty excited about an evening format, and it'll be more relaxed, Jordan pointed out. I think that there's so much to talk about, and with four people with such different backgrounds and different expertise, I'm really not worried about filling that time at all.

Admitting that she has some healthy nerves ahead of the debut, Hylton  who has spent much of the past few years as a field reporter and correspondent  said that shes just going to be the same person that I've actually always been for our viewers, and bring that into a newer environment.

Mohyeldin, who had already been anchoring four hours of programming on the weekend, explained that it's more about just taking it one hour at a time and living in the moment and enjoying the conversation as it happens, something he feels will be super easy with this amazing group of hosts.

As for how well theyll mesh together night in and night out, Rampell made the case that it is the fact that they each bring different spheres of expertise that will allow them to lean on each other when discussing distinct topics.

open image in gallery Catherine Rampell joins MSNBC from CNN, where she served as the network's political and economic commentator. ( MSNBC )

I have historically covered the economy and domestic policy, things like that, she noted. So when there's tariff stuff in the news, or a big budget debate which is coming up, or the tax overhaul that's coming this year, I'm sure I will have a ton to say about that, but I don't know as much about foreign policy, and that's that's Aymans wheelhouse.

Rampell continued: I don't know as much about the inner workings of the Republican Party and the libertarian movement, and that's where Elise will really bring a lot of insights to bear. Likewise, Antonia does this reporting in the field, investigative reporting on culture wars, things like that. And I think we're all curious about each other's fields of expertise, but we don't have the same depth of knowledge as some of our colleagues do.

With three of the hosts having spent years with both NBC News and MSNBC  Mohyeldin first joined NBC News as a foreign correspondent in 2011  they spoke about the split with the NBC brand.

I'm still working for both at the moment, because the divorce isnt finalized, Hylton quipped. Mom and Dad still live in the same house right now. And I think that the most important thing for me to say is that I love Mom and Dad.

open image in gallery Antonia Hylton has been a correspondent with MSNBC and NBC News for the past five years and has won several awards for her podcasts with the network. ( MSNBC )

All jokes aside, though, the three expressed excitement about the very robust newsgathering operation that MSNBC is building as it prepares to separate itself from NBC News. The network recently installed Scott Matthews as the networks Senior Vice President of Newsgathering, Madeleine Haeringer as Senior Vice President of Digital, Audio, and Longform and Erin Zimmerman as its Vice President of Newsgathering.

Matthews has been tasked with hiring more than 100 journalists as the network builds out its newsroom, which will include a team of correspondents. Additionally, the channel is in the process of establishing an independent Washington operation and is expected to soon hire a Washington bureau chief.

The network recently hired Eugene Daniels from Politico and Jackie Alemany from The Washington Post. Besides serving as co-hosts of the morning edition of The Weekend, they will also be MSNBC correspondents out of the Washington bureau.

Asked what MSNBC viewers should expect from her, Rampell  who is joining the network after serving as CNNs Economics and Politics Commentator  pointed to her extensive reporting on economic and political issues.

For better or for worse, there's a lot for me to talk about right now, she said. And I hope that I can contribute constructively to people's understanding of what's going on in the economy when there's a lot of really scary, intimidating, technical stuff happening in the economy that can be hard to follow.

open image in gallery Elise Jordan has been a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, and a regular contributor to Morning Joe. ( MSNBC )

After MSNBC suffered declining ratings following Trumps election, which was comparable to the post-election dip in 2016, much of the networks audience has come roaring back during the presidents chaotic first 100 days. In their minds, these hosts feel that people are tuning back in because of the urgency of the moment the nation is in politically.

It's really a luxury to be able to disengage from politics, and that really is kind of the peak of a stable democracy that you don't have to pay attention to every nuance of what's happening in the world and in your local community, but right now is a time where there's so much going on, Jordan sighed.

I think that to some extent, we're seeing viewers re-engaging after a very dispiriting political season, Mohyeldin weighed in. And I think across the board, regardless of whether they felt they won or lost, people in this country were just so exhausted by what is increasingly becoming a never-ending election cycle in this country.

Rampell, for her part, maintained that everything feels very high stakes right now, adding the challenge for journalists, but also for them as hosts, is how do you help people feel more informed and feel more empowered rather than just overwhelmed.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has attracted a lot of attention for his raspy voice, which results from a neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia.

Kennedy, 71, says that in his 40s, he developed a neurological disease that robbed him of his strong speaking voice. Kennedy first publicly spoke of the quiver he had noticed in his voice in a 2004 interview with journalist Diane Rehm, who also had spasmodic dysphonia.

In 2005, Kennedy was receiving shots of botulinum toxin, the neurotoxin that is now used in Botox as well as to treat migraines and other conditions, every four months. This first-line treatment for dysphonia helps to weaken the vocal folds that contract abnormally with this condition.

He used botulinum toxin injections for 10 years and then stopped using them, saying they were not a good fit for him.

Kennedy initially developed symptoms while in the public eye, teaching at Pace University in New York. Some viewers wrote to him suggesting that he had the condition spasmodic dysphonia and that he should contact a well-known expert on the disease, Dr. Andrew Blitzer. He followed this advice and had the diagnosis confirmed.

I am a movement disorders neurologist and have long been passionate about the psychological and social toll that conditions such as dysphonias have on my patients.

open image in gallery U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr speaks during a 'Make Indiana Healthy Again' event in Indianapolis in April ( AP )

Types of dysphonias

In North America, an estimated 50,000 people have spasmodic dysphonia. The condition involves the involuntary pulling of the muscles that open and close the vocal folds, causing the voice to sound strained and strangled, at times with a breathy quality. About 30 percent to 60 percent of people with the condition also experience vocal tremor, which can alter the sound of the voice.

Typically, a neurologist may suspect the disorder by identifying characteristic voice breaks when the patients is speaking. The diagnosis is confirmed with the help of an ear, nose and throat specialist who can insert a small scope into the larynx, examine the vocal folds and rule out any other abnormalities.

Because the disorder is not well known to the public, many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and may be misdiagnosed with gastric reflux or allergies.

The most common type of spasmodic dysphonia is called adductor dysphonia, which accounts for 80 percent of cases. It is characterized by a strained or strangled voice quality with abrupt breaks on vowels due to the vocal folds being hyperadducted, or abnormally closed.

In contrast, a form of the condition called abductor dysphonia causes a breathy voice with breaks on consonants due to uncontrolled abduction  meaning coming apart of the vocal folds.

open image in gallery RFK Jr with President Donald Trump ( AP )

Potential treatments

Spasmodic dysphonia is not usually treatable with oral medications and sometimes can get better with botulinum toxin injections into the muscles that control the vocal cords. It is a lifelong disorder currently without a cure. Voice therapy through working with a speech pathologist alongside botulinum toxin administration may also be beneficial.

Surgical treatments can be an option for patients who fail botulinum toxin treatment, though surgeries come with risks and can be variably effective. Surgical techniques are being refined and require wider evaluation and long-term follow-up data before being considered as a standard treatment for spasmodic dysphonia.

Dysphonias fall into a broader category of movement disorders

Spasmodic dysphonia is classified as a focal dystonia, a dystonia that affects one body part  the vocal folds, in the case of spasmodic dysphonia. Dystonia is an umbrella term for movement disorders characterized by sustained or repetitive muscle contractions that cause abnormal postures or movements.

The most common dystonia is cervical dystonia, which affects the neck and can cause pulling of the head to one side.

Another type, called blepharospasm, involves involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles that can cause forced eye closure that can even affect vision in some cases. There can be other dystonias such as writers cramp, which can make the hand cramp when writing. Musicians can develop dystonias from overusing certain body parts such as violinists who develop dystonia in their hands or trumpet players who develop dystonia in their lips.

The Independent's Eric Garcia grills RFK Jr about claims of autism 'epidemic'

Stigmas and psychological distress

Dystonias can cause tremendous psychological distress.

Many dystonias and movement disorders in general, including Parkinsons disease and other conditions that result in tremors, face tremendous amounts of stigma. In Africa, for instance, there is a misconception that the affected person has been cursed by witchcraft or that the movement disorder is contagious. People with the condition may be hidden from society or isolated from others due to fear of catching the disease.

In the case of spasmodic dysphonia, the affected person may feel that they appear nervous or ill-prepared while speaking publicly. They may be embarrassed or ashamed and isolate themselves from speaking to others.

My patients have been very frustrated by the unpredictable nature of the symptoms and by having to avoid certain sounds that could trigger the dysphonia. They may then have to restructure their word choices and vocabulary so as not to trigger the dysphonia, which can be very mentally taxing.

Some patients with dysphonia feel that their abnormal voice issues affect their relationships and their ability to perform their job or take on leadership or public-facing roles. Kennedy said in an interview that he finds the sound of his own voice to be unbearable to listen to and apologizes to others for having to listen to it.

A 2005 study exploring the biopsychosocial consequences of spasmodic dysphonia through interviews with patients gives some insight into the experience of people living with the disorder.

A patient in that study said that their voice sounded like some kind of wild chicken screeching out words, and another patient said that it feels like youre having to grab onto a word and push it out from your throat. Another felt like theres a rubber band around my neck. Someone was constricting it. And another said, It feels like you have a sore throat all the time  like a raw feeling in your throat.

Patients in the study described feeling hopeless and disheartened, less confident and less competent. The emotional toll can be huge. One patient said, I used to be very outgoing and now I find myself avoiding those situations. Another said, People become condescending like youre not capable anymore because you dont speak well.

As conditions such as spasmodic dysphonia become better recognized, I am hopeful that not only will treatments improve, but that stigmas around such conditions will diminish.

Indu Subramanian is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Despite the pleas of its corporate boss to delay sensitive stories about Donald Trump, 60 Minutes is planning to run a segment Sunday night that will focus on how the president is targeting some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of weaponizing the justice system against him.

The report will be presented by correspondent Scott Pelley, who ended the latest broadcast of the Sunday night news show by issuing a stunning on-air rebuke of his networks owners following the sudden resignation of the programs top producer.

Last week, longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens stunningly announced that he was leaving the vaunted news magazine, claiming that he was no longer allowed to make independent decisions on the direction of the show, suggesting corporate interference.

Of course, the elephant in the room was Trumps $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News over the interview 60 Minutes conducted with Kamala Harris late last year, which the president contends was deceptively edited and amounted to election interference.

Despite legal experts saying Trumps case is baseless, Shari Redstone  the chief shareholder in CBS News parent company Paramount  has pushed for a settlement in the case in order to help get a merger across the line with Skydance, which needs the Trump administrations approval. Owens, meanwhile, had made it clear that he would not apologize for the way the program conducted or edited the interview.

open image in gallery Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone has pushed 60 Minutes to hold back critical reports on Donald Trump. The show is not bending to her will. ( AP )

Meanwhile, in what is likely to only incense the president even further, the Harris segment at the center of this kerfuffle recently received an Emmy nomination  for outstanding edited interview.

Following Trumps return to the White House, multiple media corporations have backed down in their legal fights against the president, who unleashed a series of questionable lawsuits over his complaints about unfair coverage. Amid these capitulations by organizations such as Disney and Meta, Paramount has expressed a willingness to settle with Trump in hopes that his handpicked FCC chairman  who has acted as Trumps personal attack dog against non-conservative news outlets  will approve the merger with Skydance.

In recent days, the two parties have entered into mediation, with the Paramount board having already laid out acceptable financial terms for a settlement. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is willing to pay Trump in the neighborhood of $15 to $20 million, which would be in line with the amount Disney settled to resolve the presidents lawsuit against ABC News.

The prospect of a potential settlement, which has outraged CBS News employees and journalists, has also resulted in Redstone upping her concerns over the editorial direction of 60 Minutes, which is the crown jewel of the networks news division.

At the same time, while the presidents lawsuit and the upcoming merger are front and center in Redstones mind, she has also taken umbrage with the programs coverage of the Gaza war and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A passionate supporter of Israeli causes, Redstone grew incensed with the Sunday night newsmagazine following a January segment about those impacted by the war in Gaza because she viewed it as antisemitic, CBS News sources told The Independent. Previously, Redstone publicly backed CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil after he was reprimanded by CBS News chief Wendy McMahon for violating editorial standards for his combative interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Gaza.

open image in gallery CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley said "no one here is happy about" longtime producer Bill Owens' resignation while noting that the network's corporate bosses "began to supervise our content in new ways." ( CBS News )

A day after that report ran, she pushed to have veteran CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky installed as the interim executive editor overseeing standards. In that role, Zirinisky would serve as a check on Owens and McMahon and serve as the eyes and ears for Redstone.

Redstone grew even more anxious last month after the president raged about segments that 60 Minutes did on Trumps Oval Office meltdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the presidents efforts to annex Greenland. The president urged FCC chief Brendan Carr to impose the maximum fines and punishment on Paramount and CBS for their unlawful and illegal behavior.

Following the presidents blowup over the programs reports, the New York Times first reported that Redstone contacted Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks and asked to be briefed about all politically sensitive segments for the remainder of the shows season, which ends later this month.

Inside 60 Minutes, news of her desire for greater oversight, reported here and elsewhere, struck many as a violation of the shows long-cherished editorial independencenot just from its parent company, but even from the rest of CBS News, Puck noted this week. Regardless, Sharis attempts to influence 60 Minutes coverage went beyond that. According to those sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Shari also asked Cheeks if it would be possible to delay sensitive stories about Trump or his policies until after she had closed the Skydance deal.

At that point, although 60 Minutes had made no changes as a result of Redstones requests, Owens felt that he could no longer remain at 60 Minutes due to the interference attempted by the corporate overlords.

Its clear that Ive become the problem  Im the corporations problem, Owens said while addressing the shows staff about his resignation. Additionally, he bristled at having a minder and how, in the past, the corporation didnt know what was coming up.

Ahead of CBS News promoting the upcoming segment about Trumps efforts to intimidate law firms and bend them to his will, the New York Times reported that 60 Minutes staffers had expressed concern that corporate overseers could potentially interfere with an upcoming segment about conflicts between major law firms and the Trump administration.

The segment is indeed scheduled to air this Sunday and will be hosted by Pelley, who said at the end of the last broadcast that Owens quit because he felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. Pelley also used that monologue to note that Paramount is pushing for a merger that the Trump administration must approve.
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More than a quarter of Americans think Chinese-Americans are a threat to U.S. society, a new poll released Thursday revealed.

The Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S., or STAATUS Index, found that 40 percent believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than the U.S.

This comes just five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, when the U.S. experienced a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

Twenty-seven percent said they were at least somewhat concerned that Chinese Americans are a threat to U.S. society, especially around national security.

Activists drop flowers during a demonstration against violence against women and Asians on March 18, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. More than half of all Asian Americans say that its at least somewhat likely that they will be subjected to discrimination in the next half-decade, according to a new poll ( Getty Images )

Meanwhile, 63 percent of Asian Americans say they felt unsafe in at least one daily setting, according to the index, which was released on Thursday at the start of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The same number of Asian Americans say that its at least somewhat likely that they will be subjected to discrimination in the next half-decade based on their race, ethnicity, or religion. Thirty-three percent of white Americans believe they will be victims of discrimination within the next five years.

Conducted between January 22 and February 25, the survey included 4,909 respondents over the age of 16.

Forty percent of Asian Americans, compared to 71 percent of white Americans, completely agree that they belong in the U.S. They are also the least likely to believe they belong in online spaces, on social media, and where they live.

Roughly two-fifths of Americans back legislation banning foreign citizens from some countries, such as China, from buying land.

Forty-four percent of Americans strongly agree that the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II was wrong.

The CEO of The Asian American Foundation, Norman Chen, a co-founder of the index, told Axios that One of the most alarming results over the past five years has been the doubling of this perception of Asian Americans as more loyal to their country of origin.

It questions the loyalty and patriotism of Asian Americans in this country, he said, adding that the poll also found that most Americans still believe the myth of the model minority  that Asian Americans are overachievers who are good at math.

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, the U.S. has seen rising antisemitism, anti-Arab American, and anti-Muslim incidents hit the headlines, removing focus from anti-Asian hate crimes, the outlet noted.

According to the poll, 42 percent of Americans cant name a famous Asian American, with Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan being named by 11 percent, Bruce Lee by six percent, Kamala Harris by four percent, and Lucy Liu by three percent.

However, the index also found that almost 80 percent of Americans back specific efforts to uplift Asian American communities and roughly 41 percent support legislation that Asian American history be taught in schools.
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Some small foreign retailers are giving up on business in America as President Donald Trump ends a loophole that previously made cheaper goods exempt from tariffs.

May 2 marks the end of the de minimis exemption, a longstanding rule that applied to packages entering the U.S. worth under $800. Under the exemption, retailers overseas were allowed to sell products at lower prices by shipping them straight to consumers, bypassing domestic warehouses.

Trumps move to eliminate the exemption applies to products originating from China and Hong Kong and is in addition to his tariffs totaling 145 percent on the worlds second-largest economy.

The loophole is commonly used by online Chinese retail giants such as Shein and Temu, but the removal of the exemption is also hurting smaller businesses.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has ended the de minimis exemption, which applied to packages entering the U.S. worth under $800. That allowed products from overseas could be sold at a lower price by being shipped straight to consumers. ( Getty Images )

We're going from zero to 145 percent, which is really untenable for companies and untenable for customers, Cindy Allen, CEO of Trade Force Multiplier, a global trade consultancy, told Reuters news agency.

I've seen a lot of small to medium-sized businesses just choose to exit the market altogether, Allen added.

UPS CEO Carol Tome echoed the same concerns Tuesday. Tome said that many small- to medium-sized businesses the delivery firm works with source 100 percent of their goods from China, Reuters reports.

Some overseas businesses are trying to work around the end of the de minimis exemption. British fashion retailer Oh Polly has hiked prices in the U.S. by 20 percent, according to Reuters.

open image in gallery Ending the loophole is already impacting foreign small and medium businesses. Some of them are pausing shipments to the U.S. while seeking further clarity while others are hiking their prices. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Canadian lingerie brand Understance said it was pausing shipping to the U.S. as a result. We dont want to do this either, the company said in a statement to customers on Instagram.

Understance gave the example of how the removal of de minimis would impact the cost of a bra. If a bras tag price is $59, we will be required to collect an additional $95.58 from you and remit this to the border agency, making the total $154.58, the company said.

The company added that it would resume shipping to the U.S. once there is more clarity.

Senders overseas using the loophole have not had to share as much information about the contents of packages with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

From today, they will have to provide much more detail about where each part of their product is made, which is likely to be off-putting for smaller retailers.

China and the U.S. have been at loggerheads since Trumps tariffs were introduced, and the country has retaliated with 125 percent tariffs on U.S. imports. The Chinese commerce ministry said Friday that the U.S. had approached Beijing to engage in talk
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Elon Musk vowed that DOGEs cost-cutting efforts will continue - even as he prepares to step back from the disruptive government department.

In a wide-ranging interview with Jesse Watters on Fox News Thursday, the billionaire, whose time as a special government employee terminates at the end of May, described DOGE as a long-term enterprise.

Musk initially promised DOGE would shave $2 trillion from federal spending and debt, but he quickly cut that amount in half. Last month, he lowered it further to $150 billion and then upped it to $160 billion, a tiny fraction of what he first promised.

Despite falling well short of expectations, Musks involvement with the government will be reduced to just a day or two going forward, as he turns his attention back to Tesla, whose profits took a huge hit in the first quarter of 2025.

Its a long-term enterprise because if we take our eye off the ball, the waste and fraud will come roaring back, said Musk. Were trying to have it be such that the funding is removed, the grants are gone.

One of the many criticisms leveled at DOGE has been its use of young staffers, who have little-to-no government experience.

One such staffer - Edward Coristine, who is also known as Big Balls - appeared alongside Musk on Jesse Watters Primetime to discuss his role for the first time.

Who is Big Balls? host Watters asked on his program, surrounded by DOGE members and supporters at a huge oval conference table.

I am, piped up 19-year-old DOGE staff member Edward Coristine.

That should be obvious, Musk quipped to laughter.

I just set it [Big Balls] as my LinkedIn username, said the high school grad.

open image in gallery Edward Coristine, the Musk acolyte known as 'Big Balls, has broken his silence on his role working for the Department of Government Efficiency ( Fox News/X )

People on LinkedIn take themselves like super seriously and are pretty averse to risk, and I was like, I want to be neither of those things, he explained. Honestly, I didnt think anyone would notice.

Coristine, who works in the State Departments Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, explained he uses computer stuff as he claims to ferret out fraud and waste, the mantra of his boss.

He explained, for example: You look at a specific line item, $20 million. Okay, what is it going to? For the majority of payment systems its like, we dont really know.

DOGE critics have argued that the young techie crews analyses of pay systems demonstrate how little they know about basic bookkeeping and accounting.

Another staffer said Thursday that $330 million has been paid to dead people, but DOGE has yet to show evidence of that.

The DOGE staffers put on a show of force for Watters even as Musk has left the White House. The tech billionaire insisted his Department of Government Efficiency is not taking its eye off the ball in continued cuts to the federal government.

open image in gallery Tech billionaire Elon Musk vows that the work of the Government Office of Efficiency will continue even though he is no longer at the White House ( AFP via Getty Images )

Musk has yet to prove he and DOGE cut any waste and fraud, and figures show that he hasnt managed to even reduce spending by the Trump administration.

Though an estimated 250,000 jobs have been eliminated by firing or buyouts, and federal agencies, grants, services and contracts have been slashed, Trump administration spending is actually up 6.3 percent (about $153 billion) over the same period last year when President Joe Biden was in office, according to Treasury data.

Its difficult to know how much his Department of Government Efficiency has actually saved, given the error-riddled receipts that have been posted on the DOGE website.

Some cuts have cost the government countless dollars, such as firing Internal Revenue Service workers who ferret out tax cheats and collect the taxes that run the nation.
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Donald Trumps criminal defense attorney Emily Bove, now a top official at the Department of Justice, reportedly pushed for an aggressive criminal investigation into Columbia University student activists that fueled a mass exodus of civil rights prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors  and a judge  fought against Boves pursuit of student activists Instagram accounts and search warrants as part of an allegedly aborted criminal inquiry into student demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza, according to a behind-the-scenes report from The New York Times.

Prosecutors in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division feared that the investigation was a pretext to facilitate Trumps deportation campaign targeting dissent on campus, and ultimately refused to put together a list of activist group members Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the newspaper reported. Following his election victory, Trump appointed Bove as associate deputy attorney general, serving under deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, another Trump criminal defense attorney.

This is a false story fabricated by a group of people who allowed antisemitism and support of Hamas terrorists to fester for several years, standing by but doing nothing, according to a statement from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche shared with The Independent.

Bove  who represented the president during his criminal hush money trial in Manhattan and in Trumps federal cases involving classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 presidential election  then reportedly pushed for a search warrant for one campus activist groups Instagram account based on a threat.

Prosecutors pushed back, arguing that a post from Columbia University Apartheid Divest did not rise to the definition of a threat, The Times reported.

The Independent has requested comment from the group.

open image in gallery ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

When federal prosecutors involved in the investigation applied for a search warrant, a magistrate judge in New York rejected the request, finding that the government did not have sufficient probable cause, and amounted to potentially unconstitutional threats to the First Amendment, according to the newspaper.

Bove then insisted that prosecutors appeal to a federal judge, who then instructed a chief magistrate judge to reconsider the request, The Times reported.

Magistrate judge Sarah Netburn blocked the request a second time  but said that if prosecutors tried again, she would force them to file an unsealed transcript of their discussions, according to The Times.

The warrant application included a photograph from CUADs social media of an inverted triangle symbol used by Hamas to designate targets for violence, which was spraypainted on Columbia property along with red paint designed to look like blood, according to Blanches statement.

The ongoing investigation has also included an independent magistrate judge finding probable cause to believe that there was evidence on Columbia property of harboring and concealing illegal aliens, he added. Under Attorney General Bondis leadership, unethical and inaccurate claims from Deep State terrorist sympathizers who stood by as members of the Jewish faith were targeted across the country will not deter us from aggressively investigating criminal conduct and rooting out antisemitism.

open image in gallery Demonstrators called for the release of Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was released on bail from ICE detention on April 30 as he challenges his immigration case and the constitutionality of his arrest ( REUTERS )

At another point, Bove allegedly instructed FBI agents to wear raid jackets and stand in close formation on Columbias campus, prompting staff at the civil rights division to push back over fears of unlawful intimidation.

A series of high-profile arrests targeting international student activists and academics for their Palestinian activism followed a wave of campus demonstrations drawing attention to Israels devastation in Gaza.

After taking office, Trump signed an executive order that declares U.S. policy is to ensure noncitizens do not  advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security. Another executive order pledges immediate action to investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities with a promise to deport Hamas sympathizers and revoke student visas, according to a fact sheet from the White House.

Activists and civil rights groups argue the administration is wrongly conflating activism and criticism of Israel with antisemitism to justify a mass purge of foreign students and punish activists for speech the government disagrees with.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked hundreds of student visas, and civil rights legal advocacy groups are joining legal battles in deportation hearings across the country.

New of Boves alleged attempts to investigate Columbia students follows the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, who was arrested at his citizenship interview and hauled off in handcuffs earlier this month.

After a federal judge in Vermont ordered his immediate release from ICE custody, he walked out of a courthouse holding up two peace signs.

To President Trump and his cabinet, he told supporters. I am not afraid of you.
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Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended her meetings with President Donald Trump during an appearance on Pod Save America on Thursday.

The possible 2028 presidential candidate and swing state Democratic leader argued that her interactions with the Republican president were about getting things done, not furthering her political self-interest.

It doesnt mean Ive abandoned any of my values. It doesnt mean that Im not going to stand my ground, she said on the podcast. This is one of those moments where as a public servant, youre reminded your job is to put service above self, and thats what it was all about.

One of the things that Ive learned is Ive got to put the people in Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are going to be my political interests, Whitmer argued.

The governor also spoke about the viral photo of her in the Oval Office hiding her face with a folder as Trump signed executive orders last month.

No one reported that I left the room to go talk to my staff person. I said, Weve got to get word out because the stuff thats going on in thereI cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. Im not here for that, she recalled. But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump listens as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Tuesday. Whitmer has faced criticism for appearing alongside the Republican president ( AP )

Previously she told Politico she regretted the incident: I wouldnt have put my folder in front of my face, because that just gave people fodder. She added: One of the things I hope people have learned about me is whether it is threats during a pandemic, or it is ridicule from an Oval Office meeting, Im always putting people of Michigan first. I put the people of Michigan before my self interest because thats my job, and I take my job seriously.

While she was in the Oval Office, Trump signed executive orders targeting his political enemies  including Christopher Krebs, an election security official in his first administration who had said that the 2020 election Trump lost had been free and fair.

After the meeting in the Oval Office, a Whitmer spokesperson told the press that she was surprised that she was brought into the office.

Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event, the spokesperson said.

During the meeting, they discussed the rejuvenation of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in the state.

open image in gallery Whitmer in the Oval Office last month. At one point she appeared to hide her face with a file. She later said she was surprised to have been brought into the Oval Office while at the White House for a meeting ( Getty Images )

Whitmer appeared with Trump on Tuesday at the base as the president announced that new fighter jets would be brought there. The governor told Politico it was a BFD for my state.

So I want to thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer for bringing [Selfridge] to our attention, said Trump, noting that she has done a very good job, frankly.

The governor appeared unconcerned about the prospect that her interaction with the president may damage her standing with voters.

It means showing up at the Oval Office and maybe having people, pundits take shots at me for being there, she noted. They dont care whether or not I held a folder in a picture. They dont care. They care if theyre going to have a job.
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The family of Ashli Babbitt is reportedly set to receive nearly $5 million as part of a settlement with Donald Trumps administration more than four years after she was fatally shot while climbing through a broken glass door separating members of Congress from a Trump-supporting mob.

Babbitt was wrapped in an American flag when she tried to crawl through a broken window leading to a barricaded lobby inside the House of Representatives on January 6, when a mob stormed the halls of Congress as lawmakers certified the results of the 2020 election.

She was hoisted up, an officer on the other side fired a single shot, and Babbitt fell to the ground.

A court filing earlier this month reported a settlement had been reached after the family filed a $30 million lawsuit against the government. The terms are not public, and it is not clear whether a settlement includes an acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

The settlement figure was reported byThe Washington Post. Outgoing U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger confirmed the figure to CBS News.

I told them I was extremely disappointed, and I disagreed with the Department of Justice's decision to settle this lawsuit, he told the network Monday.

The Independent has requested comment from the Justice Department and attorneys for the Babbitt family.

open image in gallery Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt, talks to a Trump supporter at CPAC. The Trump administration is expected to pay out $5 million to the Capitol rioters family to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. ( Getty Images )

The death of Babbitt  an Air Force veteran and QAnon proponent who supported Trumps baseless stolen election narrative  emerged as a martyr-like figure among the presidents supporters, while Trump has repeatedly referred to her as a patriot as the president and his allies rewrite the history of January 6 as a heroic protest.

Trump had campaigned on the issue of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, a doctrine that prevents police from being personally sued for monetary damages if property is damaged or people are killed are injured.

Last month, Trump said he would look into whether the government should settle with her family.

Im a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, OK, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there  they even say, trying to sort of hold back the crowd, he told Newsmax.

And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think its a disgrace, he said. Im going to look into that.

Trump also pledged he would look at at the governments decision to drop a case against Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police lieutenant who shot Babbitt. In April 2021, the Justice Department announced prosecutors were not pursuing criminal charges against Byrd after determining that the shooting was lawful.

I think its a disgrace, he told Newsmax. Im going to look at that too. His reputation was  I wont even say. Lets find out about his reputation, OK? Were going to find out.

Her familys lawsuit claims her hands were up in the air, empty, and in plain view of Lt. Byrd and other officers in the lobby.

Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone, according to the complaint.

open image in gallery A Capitol Police officer fired a single shot at Babbitt when she climbed through a broken window into a barricaded area separating the mob from members of Congress on January 6 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Justice Departments investigation in 2021 did not find sufficient evidence to prove Babbitts civil rights were violated and determined that Byrd had reason to believe he was firing in self-defense or in defense of lawmakers who were huddled inside and forced to evacuate.

Another investigation from Capitol Police determined the officers actions potentially saved members and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where members and staff were steps away.

In footage from the Capitol attack, when thousands of Trumps supporters stormed the halls of Congress, Babbitt can be seen trying to climb through a smashed window while a mob surrounded the Speakers Lobby.

Babbitt unlawfully entered the Capitol, government lawyers during the Biden administration wrote in court documents in response to the familys lawsuit.

She made her way to the east doors of the Speakers Lobby situated immediately behind the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, the site of Joint Sessions of Congress, they continued. Although officers had barricaded the Speakers Lobby doors with heavy furniture, demonstrators broke through the glass panels of the lobby doors and matching windows ... on either side of the doors.

Trump recently mentioned Babbitt while comparing the vandalization of Tesla dealerships to the Capitol attack, claiming that the damage to properties with Elon Musks company was far worse.

You didnt have anything like that on Jan. 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking, Trump said. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed.

At least seven people died in connection with the January 6 attack, according to a bipartisan Senate report. One rioter died of a heart attack, another was crushed under a stampede of rioters, and another died of a stroke. At least five law enforcement officers died in the days and weeks after the riot, and more than 150 officers were injured.

More than 1,500 people were criminally charged in connection with the mobs assault, fueled by Trumps ongoing false claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him.

Trump issued full pardons for virtually all of them on the night of his inauguration, and he commuted the sentences of 14 convicted members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to time served.

The administration has also targeted prosecutors involved with January 6 prosecutions and moved to identify FBI agents involved in the investigation while scrubbing evidence and public statements about the attack from government websites.
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A judge doesnt have the authority to tell President Donald Trump that he cannot deport immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act, Vice President JD Vance declared during a Fox News interview Thursday.

Its the presidents decision, he told Bret Baier on Special Report, laying the groundwork for a constitutional confrontation over American authority.

His declaration followed the ruling earlier Thursday by Trump-appointed Texas District Judge Fernando Rodriguez that it was unlawful for the administration to use the 18th Century war-time law to detain and deport alleged Tren de Aragua members.

The judge doesnt decide if the Alien Enemies Act applies  the president does, Vance told Baier fresh off a tour of the Nucor Steel plant in Huger, South Carolina.

If you tell the president he cant deport illegal criminals, youre saying he cant be president. We reject that, and so will the Supreme Court.

 JD VANCE: IF THE PRESIDENT CANT DEPORT ILLEGAL CRIMINALS, HES NOT ALLOWED TO BE PRESIDENT



"The judge doesnt decide if the Alien Enemies Act appliesthe President does.



Biden let in millions, and now were being blocked from deporting them.



If you tell the President he https://t.co/TtVyW4RCKu pic.twitter.com/MdjI3UjV06  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 1, 2025

The administration is appealing multiple recent court rulings on deportations by the Trump administration.

Vance also discussed U.S. military strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, tariffs, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the ejection of Mike Waltz from his role as national security adviser to serve instead as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

I think he's a good guy, Vance said of Waltz. He has my complete trust, and I know the president really likes Mike Waltz. He just thought that the UN Ambassador position would be a better place for Mike Waltz to be.

For weeks, rumors swirled about Waltz being let go after he inadvertently invited the top editor of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed detailed strike plans against Houthi rebels. Signal is not an authorized communication system for sensitive military conversations under Pentagon protocol.

Vance, who was also part of the chat, denied in the interview that the Signal leak caused a rift between Trump and Waltz. He even boasted at one point that the leaked chat reflected well on then because it showed them deliberating.

Asked about the economy, Vance asserted the administration had inherited the current economic turmoil from President Joe Biden.

This isn't always going to be easy, Vance admitted about the toll of tariffs imposed by Trump, adding his boss wants to make this the golden century for our country.

The vice president wouldnt give specifics on any potential trade deals.

We've got negotiations with Japan, with Korea, we've got negotiations going on with some folks in Europe, and obviously we've got a good negotiation going on in India, said Vance, explaining the administration is working to open India to American technology and agricultural products.

He hailed during his plant tour what he called an industrial renaissance of coming new jobs, and was welcomed by union workers and executives.

Baier referred to the photo of Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sitting closely at the Vatican in a discussion ahead of Pope Francis funeral Saturday. Since then the U.S. has reached a rare earth minerals investment deal with Ukraine, and Trump has expressed new suspicions that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be as serious about peace as he has indicated.

I think the question is to see whether we can actually find some middle ground here for these guys to bring this conflict to a close, Vance said.

I am optimistic, but it is, ultimately, it's hard to say confident, because the Russians and Ukrainians, they're the ones who have to take the final step.
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Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene revealed in February shes considering a Senate run in 2026  but a new poll may have given her a reality check.

With Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff up for re-election next year, a new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll pitted the four most likely Republican challengers against the incumbent in hypothetical face-offs.

Governor Brian Kemp, who hasnt announced a decision yet but is facing pressure to run from his Republican colleagues, appears to be Republicans best shot at beating Ossoff, according to the Journal-Constitutions poll. Kemp polled at 49 percent, while Ossoff came in at 46 percent.

open image in gallery Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is 12 points behind Governor Brian Kemp, the potential GOP frontrunner for Senator Ossoff's seat ( AFP via Getty Images )

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger came in second, polling at 39 percent while Ossoff came in at 48 percent. Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King wasnt far behind, polling at 38 percent while Ossoff polled at 51 percent.

Greene, meanwhile, was dead last. She polled at 37 percent and Ossoff came out on top at 54 percent in their hypothetical Senate race. Some 60 percent of Independent poll respondents and nearly 10 percent of Trump-supporting respondents voted for Ossoff over Greene, according to the Journal-Constitution.

open image in gallery Senator Jon Ossoff's biggest Republican challenger could be Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, according to the poll ( Getty Images )

Greene, a right-wing firebrand and staunch ally to President Donald Trump, has yet to formally announce anything about her potential Senate run. But she told the Journal-Constitution in February shed be lying if she denied that she is considering it.

She made headlines last month after her town hall in Acworth, Georgia was interrupted by protesters. Two people were tased, at least six people were removed and three people were charged in connection over the disruption.

After the event, Greene praised the protesters removal: Im glad they got thrown out. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen.

The Independent has contacted Greenes office for comment.
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Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene took to X on Friday afternoon to share a lengthy rant in which she lambasted the rogue justice system and wrote about occupying Ukraine.

Greene began by setting the stakes: I represent the base, and when Im frustrated and upset over the direction of things, you better be clear, the base is not happy.

The ally of President Donald Trump appeared to criticize the commander-in-chief for supposedly bringing the U.S. closer to war with Iran.

She noted that she campaigned for the U.S. to stay out of foreign wars, adding that she doesnt believe the U.S. should be bombing foreign countries on behalf of other foreign countries, especially when they have their own nuclear weapons and massive military strength.

Greene also slammed the Trump administration for signing a deal with Ukraine to access their natural resources. She went on to accuse Ukraine, without providing evidence, of using hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. funds for money laundering and selling the weapons supplied by the U.S. to our enemies.

She also pushed the notion, used by Trump and again without providing evidence, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator who canceled elections, took part in Trumps first impeachment, and campaigned for former President Joe Biden.

The Republican member of Congress also took the opportunity to criticise the administration of President George W. Bush.

Didnt we learn our lesson when we went to war in Iraq and killed Saddam Hussein because of weapons of mass destruction? she asked. Did we ever find any? And did any of that oil over in the Middle East make us rich? The answer is no, we are $36 trillion in debt today.

Marjorie Taylor Greene took to X to share a tirade of complaints ranging from Ukraine to the possibilty of war with Iran ( Getty Images )

So why on earth would we go over and occupy Ukraine and spend an untold amount of future American taxpayer dollars defending and mining their minerals as well as potentially putting American lives at risk and future war? she wrote, before suggesting that the U.S. mine its own rare earth minerals on federal lands.

Moving on to COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories, Greene said she campaigned against communist and tyrannical actions supposedly taken by the government during the pandemic.

She complained that the FDA has approved the vaccine despite what she claimed were millions of reported injuries and deaths.

And to this day, its still on the childhood vaccine schedule, why on earth is this happening? Hasnt big pharma made enough billions and billions and billions of dollars on this lie? she asked.

Greene couldnt end her rant without lashing out at the evil transgender assault against our children.

Most normal people in this country cant even comprehend how its allowed to happen to kids who by law cant even get a tattoo, drive, or vote, she said. And how did so many of our teachers turn into the predators themselves that groom children with gender lies? she asked, again without providing evidence for her extreme claims. This should be an all out effort by Republicans to end this insanity.

The 50-year-old also slammed the justice system for restricting the Trump administrations ability to deport immigrants without due process.

Look at the extreme nature of our rogue judicial system that is so defiant that there are judges that defy our nations laws and block the deportation of literal enemies of the United States of America, said Greene. Where is the outrage and moral courage to dispose of this treason? Sadly not in Congress.

Before ending her tirade, Greene pushed election denialism, arguing that Republicans arent working hard enough to fight for election integrity.

When you are losing MTG, you are losing the base, she concluded. And Trump isnt on the ballot in the future, so do the math on that.
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Trump is set to expand his property empire into Dubai - with a new 80 story skyscraper.

Plans have been unveiled for Trump Hotel & Residences Dubai in the heart of the UAE, measuring almost 1,150 feet with a swimming pool at the top. Prices for two-bed apartments start at $1 million and the website for the property offers free 10 year golden visas.

The presidents latest enterprise is being developed by Dubai real estate company Dar Global and will be the first Trump International Hotel to be built in the Middle East.

open image in gallery Trumps new tower will stand at less than half the height of the world-famous Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest structure ( DarGlobal )

The hotel will have views of the worlds tallest skyscraper, the 2,700ft tall Burj Khalifa. It will sit on Sheikh Zayed Road, a luxury shopping area, and will include 2-3 bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom penthouses.

The planned skyscraper, reportedly not due to be completed until 2031, would be situated near the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Opera, and the Dubai International Financial Centre. The Palm Jumeirah is also just 20 minutes away.

As a resident, youll have seamless access to the world-class hospitality and service standards the Trump name is known for, the Trump Tower website writes.

Residential units in the new skyscraper will be located from the 18th to the 80th floor and prospective buyers will be required to place a 20 per cent down payment.

open image in gallery Trumps new Dubai skyscraper will include a sky pool, a gym, yoga and meditation space and a private members club ( DarGlobal )

The advertised golden visa does not specify which country it is for, but in February the President announced the concept of selling a "gold card" visa for $5 million potentially offering wealthy buyers residency in the U.S. and granting them a pathway to citizenship.

President Trump already owns a luxury portfolio of Trump-branded five-star hotels, dotted around the U.S., Scotland, and Ireland. Last year, ahead of the U.S. election, the Trump Organization announced a new Trump hotel was going to be built in Vietnam. 

Trump is due to visit the Middle East in mid-May, stopping in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, reports The New Arab.

He is set to discuss foreign policy and Middle Eastern investments in the U.S. amid economic turmoil at home and fraught foreign relations with other nations.
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The Pentagons inspector general has expanded an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths sharing of military plans to include a second Signal chat group, according to reports.

Acting Inspector General Stephen Stebbins announced at the start of April that he was investigating Hegseths use of the unclassified messaging app to detail U.S. airstrikes against the Houthi group in Yemen. That group included other senior White House and Trump administration officials, but it also included a senior journalist by mistake.

Stebbinss announcement came before the New York Times revealed that Hegseth had shared details of U.S. military attacks on the Houthis in a second chat, which this time included the secretarys personal lawyer, brother and wife.

A congressional aide and a second person familiar with the investigation confirmed with the Wall Street Journal that the inspector generals investigation would now look at both chat groups, increasing the risks for Hegseth who has denied he shared any classified information.

open image in gallery The investigation into Pete Hegseths use of Signal has been expanded, according to reports ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

According to one of the WSJ sources, the investigation is focused on who took information from a highly classified government information system and put it in Hegseths commercial and unclassified Signal app.

Such information cannot be copied and pasted and must be manually typed out, the source said, and the inspector general is trying to work out who did so.

Hegseth shared some of the most sensitive details in the group chats, sharing the timing of F-18 fighter jet strikes and the time of drone strikes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets), part of one of Hegseths messages said in the first Signal group chat.

open image in gallery Mike Waltz has been shifted from his role as National Security Adviser following the first Signalgate scandal ( AP )

That chat group came to light several weeks ago after the editor in chief of the Atlantic magazine was added to it by mistake by then-National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

President Donald Trump defended Waltz at the time saying he was a very good man, but on Thursday, news broke that Waltz was being removed from his role.

Trump announced that he was nominating Waltz as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and that secretary of state Marco Rubio would temporarily step in as National Security Adviser.

So far, Trump has continued to stand by Hegseth, with the defense secretary appearing alongside the president on a visit to Michigan Air National Guard Troops on April 29.

The same day, during a rally for his first 100 days in office, Trump gave Hegseth a shout-out, saying: I have so much confidence in him.

open image in gallery Trump has continued to publicly defend Hegseth ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

But according to MSNBC reports, behind closed doors, Trump may be losing his enthusiasm for his defense secretary.

The pressure on Hegseth has not dissipated. He proudly announced this week that he had ended a Department of Defense program , which turned out to be one that Trump had signed into law in 2017.

Chaos has continued to reign in the Pentagon as well, with new reports claiming Hegseths wife Jennifer Rauchet took on an active role managing Hegseths work .

The Washington Post reported Rauchet often acted as a go-between between her husband and agency staffers, and has even crafted messaging that has been issued by the Department of Defense.
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Chuck Schumer is increasingly a man alone.

His decision to break a filibuster on legislation to avert a government shutdown on the GOPs terms still echoes in the minds of his colleagues. Schumer this week faced the question yet again  what is he doing about his stagnant and dreadfully low approval rating?

A CNN poll released Tuesday found that just 17 percent of Americans have a positive view of the New York senator, compared to 44 percent who disapprove of his performance.

The 74-year-old senior-most Democrat in Congress was forced to defend himself to CNNs Manu Raju against the accusation that he has become a liability for his party.

Polls come and go. Our party is united. Were on our front foot, were stepping forward, going after Trump and having real success, Schumer insisted.

But by the evening, he was the latest target of wrathful Bernie Sanders, now  like other progressives  on the warpath, in his own way, against the establishment of his party responsible for the debacle that played out in 2024.

United around what? Sanders scoffed, answering CNNs Kaitlan Collins after he was asked about the Senate Democratic leaders comments. Are we united around guaranteeing healthcare to all people? [...] Are we united in tackling a corrupt campaign finance system? Now you tell me, youre an observer of these things.

Wednesday evening marked Schumers latest embarrassment.

Democrats acceded to calling a vote on a resolution ending Donald Trumps national emergency declaration over perceived trade imbalances, only to see that vote fail as two senators in support of the bill were unable to show up  Sheldon Whitehouse was returning from South Korea, and Mitch McConnell was ill. Whitehouse and Schumer both faced criticism from party insiders after the vote failed.

This was a miscalculation, since it had been known that Whitehouse would not be back in time, one unnamed Democratic senator told the Washington Examiner. It all fell flat because we were counting on Republicans who had previously supported a similar resolution, and that was a mistake.

Schumer portrayed his party as the winners in comments afterwards to reporters, claiming that Republicans now own Trumps tariffs.

Chuck Schumers approval rating is just 17 percent ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

We forced a vote to stop the damage Trumps tariffs are doing to American families, he crowed on Twitter after his party lost the vote. But Senate Republicans just voted to keep the tariffs in place that are hurting families.

It will be very difficult for Schumer to dig himself out of this hole. The party is once again facing a surge of calls for new leadership. The Senate Democratic leader himself is beset by rumors of a primary challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who led him in a poll released in early April. Even if she declines to wait until 2028 to seek higher office, he could end up losing the support of his caucus well before then.

And the senator himself does not seem able to make his own rhetoric match the tenor of his party. It was all CNNs Dana Bash could do, apparently, to avoid mocking him to his face during an interview Sunday on State of the Union after he declared that hed sent a very strong letter with eight very strong questions for the president  who is now approaching the one-month mark of openly defying a Supreme Court order demanding the White House facilitate the return of a wrongfully deported man.

Bash could only deadpan in return: Well, youll let us know if you get a response.
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The Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, announced a new education policy for the state on Thursday, which includes the allegation that there were discrepancies in the 2020 election, which President Donald Trump baselessly claims was stolen from him.

The new academic standards for social studies for the coming school year state that students should identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results by looking at graphs and other information, including the sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of bellweather county trends.

This comes after the Oklahoma Senate declined to take action on a resolution that would reject the election denial language in the social studies standards, The Oklahoman noted earlier this week.

Walters lobbied against the resolution, and the far-right group Moms for Liberty issued a letter threatening to challenge any Republican lawmaker who voted for it.

open image in gallery Ryan Walters celebrated the new standards, saying theyre unapologetically conservative and pro-America ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Three new board members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education have said that Walters has been dishonest by making late changes to the standards without telling them or the public and by saying that the standards had to be approved during a meeting in late February, when they could have been put forward to the legislature for approval this week.

Questions exist regarding the transparency of the subject matter standard adoption process, the resolution states.

Last month, new board member Michael Tinney told The Oklahoman that there were differences in the standards he had downloaded from the website of the State Department of Education and what Walters had sent to him.

The section regarding students identifying discrepancies in 2020 elections results was among the differences.

Chris VanDenhende, also a new member of the education board, requested during a board meeting on April 24 that Walters share change documents to show the changes he had made to the standards. Walters rejected the suggestion, saying, Thats completely irrelevant.

During the meeting, Walters said it was his decision what goes into the standards, even as new board members pushed back. They couldnt stop him as he decides what appears on the meeting agendas for the board.

On April 29, after the Oklahoma Senate chose not to take action on the resolution, Walters wrote on X that Today is a major victory for Oklahoma families and for the truth. After months of Democrats and the teachers unions lying and attacking, the most unapologetically conservative, pro-America social studies standards in the nation are moving forward.

For nearly a year, we engaged in a thoughtful, transparent process to deliver standards that teach students factual history, including the realities of the 2020 election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat posed by Communist China, he added. These reforms will reset our classrooms back to educating our children without liberal indoctrination.

open image in gallery Trumps unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election culminated in the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol ( AFP/Getty )

Moms For Liberty shared a letter on X on April 28 opposing the possible rejection of the standards, which they said were truth-filled, anti-woke, and unapologetically conservative.

This is not about flawed standards; it is about political interference and media manipulation, the letter stated. Oklahomas adoption process for academic standards has been consistent, legal, and transparent.

Oklahoma City state Senate Democratic Minority Leader Julia Kirt said that the chamber had an opportunity to check Superintendent Ryan Walters power, and our Republican colleagues would not step up to put our kids first, according to The Oklahoman.

Parents, teachers and bipartisan community members throughout Oklahoma have reached out to us, calling on the Senate to reject teaching children these politically divisive, inaccurate, and age-inappropriate topics, she added.

Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson argued that the standards insert an extremist political agenda into our public education system that will only cost Oklahomans more taxpayer money.
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President Donald Trumps budget proposal for the next fiscal year would slash approximately $163 billion from key federal programs in education, health, housing and other sectors while boosting spending on immigration enforcement and defense programs.

The blueprint for the presidents budget, which was officially transmitted to Congress on Friday, would cut discretionary, non-defense spending  a category that does not include earned benefit programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid  by 22.6 percent next year by reducing or eliminating many programs while giving defense spending a 13 percent boost.

If enacted, it would represent a massive contraction in the size and scope of government at a time when economic experts and business leaders fear that Trumps erratic trade and tariff policies are pushing the American economy into a self-inflicted recession.

Trumps plan would also serve to repudiate and punish agencies for work performed during the Biden administration on matters that are now disfavored by the incumbent Republican Party under Trump.

Trumps budget proposal would cut about $163 billion from education, health, housing and other sectors ( REUTERS )

The plan puts further pressure on Congress  including the powerful House and Senate appropriations committees  to write budgeting legislation that would legitimize the unlawful cuts Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency have been making by closing wholesale multiple federal agencies, even absent authorization from the legislative branch.

During a press call with reporters on Friday, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought said the administration took pains to protect certain agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus numerous other priorities that the President is intent on spending on.

But other parts of the government could see as much as 35 percent slashed from the budget on average, Vought said.

He explained that the massive reductions in spending were part of a pretty historic effort to deal with the bureaucracy ... that we believe has grown up over many years, to be entrenched against the interests of the American people.

Vought credited the Musk-led efficiency initiative with helping to shine a light on the degree to which it is woke and it is wasteful, and ... dividing us on the on the on the basis of race and identity as a country.

Those parts of the government, he added, had been weaponized against us and were being cut to the bone so as to prevent them from being used in any similar way by future administrations with elimination of wokeism and CRT and programs that were dividing us on the basis of race and identity.

Vought also said the budget includes numerous efforts throughout to deal with those particular portions of the bureaucracy that were weaponized against the American people, including by taking a meat ax to wide swaths of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and portions of the Department of Justice and even some Homeland Security and State Department programs.

Of the proposed $175 billion that Trumps budget plan would increase Homeland Security spending and the $1.01 trillion for the Defense Department, at least $325 billion of that is expected to be included in the partisan spending package Trump wants passed as one big, beautiful bill including tax cuts and border security spending.

Thats because it is expected to be taken up under a procedure known as budget reconciliation that allows the Senate to pass tax and spending bills under certain conditions while bypassing the regular chamber rules that allow Democrats to block legislation by requiring 60 votes to end debate. Instead, only a simple majority of 51 votes is required.

Because the reconciliation procedures circumvent the upper chambers infamous filibuster, Trump could get his border spending through without a single Democratic vote.

Vought told reporters the reconciliation package is important for enacting Trumps border policies because it will prevent the possibility of horse-trading that has let Democrats in the past to extract so-called parity concessions in which defense and non-defense spending increases are linked.

That is why we have $150 billion a of mandatory spending that's working its way through the House and the Senate right now, $119 billion of that is dedicated and devoted and reflected in the House bill already for Department of Defense and our national defense needs.

So that will, in addition to the current discretionary levels that the Defense Department is operating, will get us to a trillion dollar level, and we believe it is more durable of a strategy and a paradigm shift than continually to expect that we're going to just send this up and not have the appropriations bogged down into either an omnibus bill that becomes something that no one wants to vote for, let alone sign and / or devolve into a CR which is not good for the Department of Defense either, he said.

Vought added that the DHS spending would follow the same pattern because the administration is trying to spend and buy out all of our increases into a the mandatory side via reconciliation.

We think it is a historic commitment to both defense and homeland security, but also a paradigm shift, not unlike what this President is doing on a host of fronts, to do it different, do it better and be more successful at it, and hopefully both save the country from a the fiscal calamity that the Biden administration gave us, and begin to really have a historic effort to cut non defense spending, but to do it in a context where we can also have historic levels of necessary security funding, he said.

The full version of Trumps budget will be transmitted to the Congress later this month, but its already facing objections from key members of the upper chamber.

Maine Senator Susan Collins, the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, said she has serious objections to the Trump spending plan.

And the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Roger Wicker, slammed the budget blueprint as one that would shred to the bone our military capabilities and our support to service members.

Another key Senator, Kentuckys Mitch McConnell, torched the administrations defense spending plans in a statement.

McConnell, the former GOP leader who chairs the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said: It is peculiar how much time the Presidents advisors spend talking about restoring peace through strength, given how apparently unwilling theyve been to invest accordingly in the national defense.
 Close Mark Carney tells Trump Canada is 'not for sale'

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President Donald Trump and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came face-to-face at the White House on Tuesday for a high-stakes meeting.

Just days after winning an election campaign with an aggressive focus on Trump, Carney said he would make a bid for a comprehensive deal on trade and national security, while hoping to reset frayed U.S.-Canada relations.

Trump, meanwhile, played the upper hand, claiming the U.S. doesnt need anything from Canada except friendship, but Canada needs everything from the U.S.

The high-stakes meeting between the two leaders is set against the backdrop of Trumps repeated threats to annex Canada and the imposition of sweeping 25 percent tariffs.

During their Oval Office meeting, Trump once again said he would like to see Canada become the 51st state.

But, Carney pushed back, saying Canada is not for sale and wont be for sale, ever. He reiterated that Canadians will never change their mind about joining the U.S.

Never say never, Trump responded.

Carney mouthed the words never to the press.
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President Donald Trumps 79th birthday on June 14 could be celebrated with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., according to newly-emerged planning documents.

The White House has previously denied that any such event was in development but the documents  dating from April 28 and 29, seen by the Associated Press (AP) but not yet made public  outline a spectacular occasion to mark the commander-in-chiefs birthday, which happens to fall on the same date as the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

The plans indicate that as many as 6,600 soldiers from 11 corps and divisions could be involved, as will 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters and more than 2,000 civilians, with the parades route running from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are situated, across the Potomac River and into Washington.

open image in gallery Donald Trump peforms a military salute on the campaign trail last year ( Jeff Dean/AP )

Among the armored vehicles and artillery units being considered for inclusion are tank battalions, Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

There could also be at least seven army bands taking part, parachute jumps performed by the Golden Knights and a concert and firework display in the evening to round off the day.

Army spokesman Steve Warren said on Thursday no final decisions had been made and the White House has yet to make any formal announcement.

But it is no secret that President Trump has long held ambitions for just such a display to be held in his honor on Pennsylvania Avenue.

His fixation with the idea appears to have begun after he joined French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on July 14 2017 to observe the Bastille Day commemorations on the Champs Elysees and was deeply impressed by what he saw.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and the Macrons attend Frances 2017 Bastille Day military parade ( Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty )

However, the American equivalent being discussed in the planning documents risks ending up looking more like Russias annual Victory Day celebrations to mark the Red Armys crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

That event is held in Moscows Red Square on May 9 every year and features a convoy of Army vehicles and troops marching in formation, saluting President Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin cabinet as they pass, in a fierce demonstration of military might.

open image in gallery Russian armored vehicles cross Moscow to take part in its Victory Day parade ( Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP )

Trump first pitched his own fantasy parade during his first term but, much to his annoyance, it was ultimately scrapped as too costly, with one estimate putting a $92m price tag on the event.

No estimates are offered in the new planning documents but the cost is again likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars, with the prospect of accommodating and feeding so many participants and transporting in their vehicles by road and rail posing a potential logistical nightmare for organizers.

One of the files seen by the AP flags significant concerns regarding security requirements while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has warned of the physical toll the vehicles involved could take on the citys roads, potentially necessitating expensive repairs in its aftermath.

Tanks rolling through the streets would not be good, she said. If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads.

Army spokesman Colonel Dave Butler said: We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us. We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.

A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a cabinet meeting at the White House last month ( AFP/Getty )

Trump himself has already attempted to whip up excitement, writing on Truth Social late on Thursday, without mentioning the parade directly: Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.

I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything  Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so!

We are going to start celebrating our victories again!
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More Americans are saying the current economy is due to President Donald Trump than his predecessor Joe Biden, according to a new Gallup poll.

Trump has consistently blamed Biden for the turbulent stock market after the president triggered a global trade war with his tariffs.

As the president marked his first 100 days in office this week, nearly half of Americans (46 percent) surveyed in April believe that Trump is more responsible for the unstable economy, up 3 percent from March, according to Gallup. This compares to the 27 percent who blame Biden, which remained the same as Marchs survey.

When asked whether both are equally responsible, 21 percent agreed.

open image in gallery Nearly half of Americans credit President Donald Trump for the current state of the U.S. economy, according to a new Gallup poll. The president has consistently blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden. ( Getty Images )

Unsurprisingly, 75 percent of Democrats surveyed in April believe that Trump is responsible for the current state of the economy, compared to 55 percent of Republicans who believe it lies with Biden.

This week Trump claimed Biden was responsible for the stock market performance over the last two months after the Labor Departments Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of this year.

It marked the first drop in three years as Trumps tariff policies disrupted businesses and their supply chains.

open image in gallery Despite constantly blaming Biden, more Americans believe that Trump bears the brunt of responsibility for how the economy has fared recently than the former president. ( REUTERS )

Trump took to Truth Social Wednesday to blame the former president for the dismal numbers, writing that what was transpiring was Bidens stock market, not Trumps.

I didnt take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers, he fumed. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden Overhang. This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!

At a rally marking his first 100 days in office Tuesday, Trump mentioned Bidens name at least 20 times during his speech, according to the transcript.

And during his first 50 days in office, Trump mentioned his predecessors name at least 316 times, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
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President Donald Trump announced he is renaming Veterans Day to Victory Day to honor World War I soldiers and celebrate how America won both wars.

Veterans Day, which takes place on November 11, was originally called Armistice Day in the U.S. by then-President Woodrow Wilson to honor the heroism of those who died in the countrys service and with gratitude for the victory. It was later renamed Veterans Day to honor all American military veterans.

The president also revealed he wants to change the name of VE-Day on May 8 to Victory Day for World War II.

Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II, Trump reasoned on Truth Social. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump announced that he wants to change the names of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and VE Day on May 8 to Victory Day for World War I and World War II, respectively. ( Getty Images )

It is unclear how Trump will go about changing the names, as he has not yet signed an executive order.

We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything, Trump added. Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!

Critics were quick to point out that while the war in Europe came to an end when Germany surrendered on May 8, America continued to fight the Japanese in World War II until August 15, 1945.

We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered, former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said in a post on X. Trump is a complete moron.

open image in gallery Critics called Trump out on social media, with many suggesting he had confused some dates. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Sometimes Trump comes up with things so monumentally stupid even Im at a loss for words, former Army officer and MeidasTouch podcast host Fred Wellman said on X. He wants to take away Veterans Day. He thinks WWII ended on May 8th. This is all so ridiculous.

Just embarrassing, Larry Sabota, director of UVAs Center for Politics, said. Trump doesn't even know the basic facts about WWI and WWII.

Trumps claim that America did more than any other country by far is also likely to ruffle Russian feathers. In Russia, Victory Day is held on May 9 to mark the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany.

Nazi Germany surrendered in May 1945. For Americans, the Second World War would rage for three more months, until VJ Day in August, David Frum, a writer at The Atlantic, said. But for Russians and those influenced by them, "Victory Day" falls in May. Trump follows the Russian practice, not the American.

Meanwhile, plans have emerged for a huge military parade to mark Trumps birthday in June. The Army plans call from more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, according to The Associated Press.
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Shortly after sitting down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral, Donald Trump was left with a lingering concern: perhaps Vladimir Putin was just tapping him along.

The second Trump-Zelensky meeting, by all accounts, was a much more positive affair than their notorious clash in the Oval Office in late February. And on Wednesday it appeared to pay off  with the U.S. and Ukraine finally signing a long-awaited minerals deal.

Now, insiders have revealed details of the Vatican exchange between the two world leaders, and how it may have helped create a diplomatic breakthrough and boost Ukraines fortunes in the ongoing war with Russia.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky were captured in remarkable photos deep in conversation ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Office )

The setting for the two meetings could not have been more different. In February at the Oval Office, it looked as if Zelensky had wandered into enemy territory, Trump surrounded by his combative cabinet, and the worlds media hanging on every angry word. Tempers soon frayed as Ukraines leader was lambasted for everything from his appearance to his attitude.

At the Popes funeral, perhaps inevitably, it was a much quieter and seemingly more respectful affair.

After a brief huddle with French President Macron and British Prime Minister Starmer, Trump and Zelensky spoke privately for around 15 minutes in St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican before attending the late pontiffs service on Saturday.

Unlike their first encounter, swarmed by top Trump officials, this time, they spoke alone.

open image in gallery Trump and Zelensky spoke for around 15 minutes in St. Peter's Basilica before the Popes funeral on Saturday ( EPA )

Extraordinary photographs captured the leaders hunched forward, sitting mere inches apart inside the marble-clad Renaissance-style church as they discussed tactics to end Russias conflict with Ukraine.

Good meeting, Zelensky posted on X after the meeting. We discussed a lot one on one.

The other noteworthy difference in Trump and Zelenskys more recent face-to-face - the absence of JD Vance. During the Oval Office clash, Vance had gone on the attack  accusing Ukraines leader of being disrespectful and setting the tone from what became an ugly encounter.

Sources told Axios that the two presidents struck a more positive tone without the U.S. vice president OR White House envoy Steve Witkoff sitting in the wings. The Ukrainians are said to see the latter duo as more supportive of Russias position.

open image in gallery The Vatican meeting was a stark contrast to their Oval Office clash, when JD Vance went on the attack ( AP )

During the brief conversation, Zelensky urged Trump to take a tougher line with Vladimir Putin and push for a ceasefire, urging that the Russian president would not budge without the U.S. applying more pressure, sources said.

One person with knowledge of the conversation noted that Trump responded that he may have to alter his approach to Putin.

Later Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to express fears that he was being played by the Russian leader and accused him of not wanting to stop the war. He questioned whether he should impose new sanctions on Moscow.

Trump reportedly agreed with Zelensky that an unconditional ceasefire should be the starting point for peace talks, one source added. The White House declined Axios request for comment.

After the initial ceasefire push failed in March, the Trump administration switched to pushing a peace deal framework. Zelensky rejected the proposal, in part, because it includes recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

During the Vatican meeting, the Ukrainian president reiterated that he wont recognize Crimea as Russian, one source said.

open image in gallery Zelensky was forced to defend himself in what felt like hostile territory ( EPA )

The source said Trump replied that he wasn't asking him to, with the plan calling for U.S. recognition, not Ukrainian.

Zelensky allegedly told Trump he is not afraid of making concessions to end the war, provided appropriate security guarantees are put in place.

The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal that appeared in tatters just months ago was revived, and Trump pressed Zelensky to sign as soon as possible, a source said.

I was telling him that it's a very good thing if we can produce a deal, that you sign it, because Russia is much bigger and much stronger, Trump told a NewsNation town hall over the phone Tuesday, a day before Washington and Kyiv struck a deal.

Trump also revealed that part of the talks revolved around the U.S. being pressured to send more weapons to Ukraine.

He told me that he needs more weapons, but he's been saying that for three years, the president said. We're going to see what happens  I want to see what happens with respect to Russia.

However, Trump stated he was very disappointed with Putin for the bombing of those places after discussions.
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The estranged husband of an Australian woman accused of feeding a poisonous mushroom dish to her in-laws said she never asked about the sick guests.

Simon Patterson returned to take the stand in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Friday for cross-examination by the defence counsel in Ms Pattersons trial, in which she is accused of killing his three family members.

Ms Patterson, 50, is charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder for allegedly feeding her estranged husbands parents and his aunt and uncle poisonous beef Wellington at a party at her home in July 2023.

The four guests were admitted to hospital with symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning the next day, and three of them later died.

Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

open image in gallery Erin Patterson is charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder ( AP )

Mr Patterson testified that during a call following the lunch, his separated wife described feeling sick but did not ask after her lunch guests  his parents Don and Gail Patterson and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson  who had fallen seriously ill.

It intrigued me that she didn't actually ask, he said, adding that Ms Patterson knew that her guests had been taken ill. We didn't have that conversation, I think, at any time."

Ms Patterson called him two days after the lunch to say she had been experiencing diarrhoea every 20 minutes since that afternoon, and asked him to take her to hospital, Mr Patterson testified. She also reported feeling nauseous and having a sore stomach.

She was worried she might poo her pants driving, he said. She asked me to come and take her to hospital.

He declined and suggested she call an ambulance. Later that day she called again, saying she had gone to Leongatha Hospital but had left, against medical advice.

open image in gallery Death cap mushroom is responsible for 90 per cent of mushroom poisoning deaths ( Getty )

Ms Patterson had presented at the hospital with similar symptoms, the court heard, but discharged herself upon learning that she would be treated for mushroom poisoning.

Defence lawyer Colin Mandy cross-examined Mr Patterson after the prosecutor alleged that Ms Patterson had not eaten the same death cap mushroom meal as her guests.

The lawyer argued that she did fall ill afterwards but not to the same extent as Mr Pattersons father, mother and aunt.

open image in gallery Simon Patterson departs Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell, Victoria ( EPA )

Mr Mandy said Ms Patterson had often complained about various medical issues over the years and informed her former husband about her health.

Is it not the case over the years that Erin often complained about medical issues and thought she was unwell for various reasons? the lawyer asked.

Mr Patterson replied that she had told him about struggling with a heart condition, which affected her sleep and required stays in hospital.

He also said Ms Patterson struggled a lot with mental illness, especially postnatal depression after their son was born. I believe that was real, he said.

open image in gallery The house where Erin Patterson allegedly served the death cap mushroom lunch ( EPA )

Mr Mandy also objected to Mr Pattersons use of the words important and serious while speaking about Ms Patterson wanting to discuss medical news when she invited him to lunch.

Mr Patterson agreed he did not remember the exact words but said that important and serious are reasonable descriptions of what she communicated.

In his testimony on Thursday, Mr Patterson had said his relationship with Ms Patterson deteriorated over the years, with text messages revealing extremely aggressive messages about child support payments.

The court heard that although the couple separated in 2015, tensions grew from 2019, after disputes over parenting and finances.

Mr Patterson said his former wife had sent him "inflammatory" and "aggressive" messages and agreed with the defence's suggestion that their behaviour had at times become petty.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 in the UK and ROI, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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A helicopter crashed into the sea off Victorias Bellarine Peninsula on Friday morning, seriously injuring all three people on board.

The aircraft came down shortly after 10am local time near Fellows Road, close to the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse, about 30 minutes southeast of Geelong. It landed in shallow waters roughly 30-50m from the shore.

All three individuals managed to make it to land, where passersby discovered them and alerted emergency services, police said in a statement.

Authorities said the survivors  two men and a woman, none of whom had yet been formally identified  were in serious condition.

A yet to be formally identified male and female have been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, the Victoria police said. A yet to be formally identified male has been taken by road to hospital with serious injuries.

Ambulance Victoria confirmed the airlifted patients were transported to Royal Melbourne Hospital, while the third was taken to Geelong University Hospital.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at 10.11am after multiple reports of an aircraft crash near the surf club at Point Lonsdale. A total of 12 emergency vehicles responded, including from Victoria Police, Fire Rescue Victoria and Ambulance Victoria.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and worked with Surf Life Saving teams and paramedics to assist the injured. Wreckage from the helicopter was visible floating in the water.

The cause of the crash remained unclear. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined at this stage, a spokesperson for the Victoria police said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said they had launched an investigation into the crash and would work with police to establish what led to the accident.
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Spains catastrophic blackout on Monday was preceded by several power glitches and repeated industry warnings about the instability of the nations power grid, prompting government investigations into the incident.

Experts suggest these incidents, regardless of the ultimate cause of the blackout, highlight the challenges facing Spains power system amidst the rapid growth of renewable energy sources.

While often touted for their environmental benefits, the influx of renewable energy can create an energy surplus, disrupting the delicate balance of the power grid in much the same way as an energy deficit. In the week leading up to the major outage, Spain experienced several power surges and cuts, foreshadowing the larger crisis to come.

The government has launched multiple investigations to determine the precise cause of the blackout and address the underlying vulnerabilities in the power grid.

A power cut disrupted railway signals and stranded at least 10 high-speed trains near Madrid on April 22. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said excessive voltage in the power network had triggered disconnections to protect substations.

On the same day, Repsol's Cartagena refinery saw its operations disrupted by power supply problems.

The grid suffered from significant instability in the days before the blackout, said Antonio Turiel, a senior researcher with the Spanish National Research Council.

open image in gallery People with their luggage wait outside Humberto Delgado airport following a general electricity shutdown in Lisbon on April 28, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Spain's grid operator REE did not reply to a request for comment. Spain's energy ministry declined to comment.

Spain has ordered inquiries involving government, security agencies and technical experts. A high court judge has launched a probe into whether a cyber attack was to blame.

The Spanish power grid had been on a knife edge for several days due to power system imbalances, said Carlos Cagigal, an energy expert who advises private firms on renewable and industrial projects.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and power grid operator REE's chief Beatriz Corredor have both said record levels of renewable energy were not to blame for Monday's blackout.

But REE and Europe's power grid lobby ENTSO-E had both previously warned that the rapid rise of power generation from renewables could destabilise the grid.

Small renewable generators were putting extra pressure on the infrastructure, REE said in a 2024 report, and REE's parent company Redeia said in February the grid lacked information from smaller plants to be able to operate in real time.

The risk of power cuts is rising, Redeia warned because the closure of coal, gas-fired and nuclear plants reduces the grid's balancing capacities.

"This could increase the risk of operational incidents that could affect supply and the company's reputation," the company said.

open image in gallery Power lines connecting pylons of high-tension electricity are seen during sunset at an electricity substation on the outskirts of Ronda, during a blackout in the city, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo ( REUTERS )

Solar farms generate direct current (DC) power which doesn't have a frequency like alternating current (AC) power generated by conventional plants. DC power needs to be converted to AC in inverters to be transmitted via grids.

If solar generation drops, the grid requires backstop AC power to prevent frequency dropping below dangerous levels after which most power contributors disconnect from the grid.

"Shutting down the nuclear plants may put electricity supply at risk," REE's former chair Jordi Sevilla told Spanish news website Voxpopuli in January. Spain plans to shut down all seven nuclear reactors by 2035.

The planned closure of two nuclear reactors at southwestern Spain's Almaraz plant, starting in 2027, will increase the risks of blackouts, European power lobby ENTSO-E said in April.

REE responded to ENTSO-E by saying there was no risk of a blackout and it could guarantee stable energy supply.

Less than a week later, Almaraz temporarily shut down the two units citing abundant wind energy supply as making operations uneconomic. One unit was still offline on Monday.

The blackout across Spain and Portugal knocked out communications and transport systems, shut down industry and offices and brought commerce to a virtual standstill.

The blackout could have shaved 1.6 billion euros ($1.82 billion), or 0.1%, off GDP, Spain's business lobby estimated.
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Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxer who is now mayor of Kyiv, ventured last month into hazardous political territory: he delicately suggested in an interview that Ukraine might need to cede land to end its battle against Russia.

After a flood of angry online comments, he walked back his comments, saying on Facebook that "territorial concessions contradict our national interests and we must fight against their implementation until the last".

U.S. President Donald Trump and his negotiators believe the only route to ending the Russian war in Ukraine is for Kyiv to acknowledge in some form that it is not getting back the Ukrainian land Moscow's troops have taken since invading.

But the episode with Klitschko -- along with opinion polling shared exclusively with Reuters -- indicates that, more than three years into the war, most Ukrainians are not willing to cede territory to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire deal.

The state of public opinion helps explain why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is expected to run for re-election, has resisted Trump's pressure to cede territory in ceasefire negotiations.

open image in gallery FILE PHOTO: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko greets servicemen of the Svoboda (Freedom) battalion from the elite Storm Brigade "Rubizh" of the National Guard of Ukraine before an award ceremony for fighters, who have recently returned from the frontline in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk region, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo ( REUTERS )

A poll from Gradus Research shared with Reuters showed that almost three-quarters of the population did not see territorial concessions as a way to end the war.

"Most respondents believe that Russia's main goal in the war ... is to establish full control over our country," Gradus said in a research note. "Ukrainian territorial concessions are not perceived as a compromise or a guarantee of peace - on the contrary, they can only strengthen the aggressor."

Russia has denied seeking control of Ukraine, but its forces headed directly to Kyiv in their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 before Ukrainian troops pushed them back from the capital to their current positions in the south and east.

The Ukrainian poll conducted this week indicated that 40% of respondents believed that even in the case of concessions, peace would be only temporary and unsustainable. Another 31% thought that concessions would not lead to peace at all, Gradus said.

open image in gallery In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends an Orthodox Easter service at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow early on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ramil SITDIKOV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RAMIL SITDIKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Russia now de facto controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula that it seized and unilaterally annexed in 2014 as well as large parts of four other regions of east and southeast Ukraine.

According to U.S. negotiators, many of Ukraine's European allies, and some Ukrainians when speaking in private, say Ukraine will have to acknowledge loss of territory to end the war.

Ukrainians are exhausted and up against a bigger and stronger enemy. Their attempts to push Russia back on the battlefield have failed since the first year of the war, and their Western partners have not given them enough military aid for it to achieve a decisive victory.

Zelenskiy has acknowledged that Ukraine cannot regain its territories by military force but notes that formally ceding land would run counter to the country's constitution.

Opposition to giving up land has softened as the war has ground on. Data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), showed that in March about 39% supported territorial concessions, compared with just 10% in May 2022.

Yet it also found that in March 50% of Ukrainians rejected the idea of giving up any land to Russia, ever, down from 51% in December.

Data from another pollster - Razumkov Centre -- from a February-March poll showed nearly 82% of respondents were against any formal recognition of the occupied territories.

"The definition of territorial concessions that more than half of the population might accept with a heavy heart is a de facto recognition of the occupation without de-jure recognition," said Anton Hrushetskyi from KIIS, adding that the country would have to receive security guarantees in exchange.

Apart from Klitschko's short-lived intervention, no prominent figures in Ukrainian politics or public life are trying to promote a national conversation about the need to acknowledge the loss of territory.

Evhen Mahda, a political analyst in Kyiv, said a dialogue between the country's leadership and society about giving up land was needed to ensure broad acceptance of a potential deal.

"Unfortunately, we have to be realistic," Mahda said, about the terms of a deal to end the war, while noting that many Ukrainians still perceive discussions about a compromise on territory as a betrayal.
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Ukraine signed a mineral and profit-sharing deal with the United States on Wednesday evening in Washington DC following two months of testy negotiations.

The agreement will give the US preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and fund investment in Ukraines reconstruction.

Previous versions of the deal presented by Donald Trumps negotiators insisted that Ukraine pay back the aid the US had given it over the last three years of war. The latest version, according to Ukraines prime minister Denys Shmyhal, no longer makes that demand.

Earlier, US president Donald Trump had claimed a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine  a crucial first step to achieving peace in the region  was back on after Volodymyr Zelensky sent him a letter signalling his willingness to sign.

After a series of spats between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky culminated in the deal being temporarily canned earlier and the Ukrainian leader being kicked out of the White House, the US president said in a speech to Congress that he had received an important letter seeking to end the disagreements.

Quoting from the letter, he said Mr Zelensky told him that Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.

My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts, Mr Trump quoted Mr Zelensky as writing. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.

Mr Trump added that Mr Zelensky said he was ready to sign the minerals deal at any. time that is convenient for you.

On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department said: In recognition of the significant financial and material support that the people of the United States have provided to the defense of Ukraine since

Earlier, Ukraine had agreed to a revised deal with the US to secure support to end the war after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands .

open image in gallery Donald Trump greeted Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington on Friday - the meeting did not go well ( REUTERS )

But a tense exchange between the two countries leaders earlier brought the negotiations crashing down again, with the Ukrainian president berated in front of cameras by Mr Trump and his second-in-command, JD Vance.

The deal, which was touted as a central point of peace negotiations, was left unsigned and what can be salvaged from it remains uncertain.

The US had been pushing for a deal that would grant it half of Ukraines revenues from critical minerals, oil, gas, and stakes in key infrastructure, such as ports, through a joint investment fund.

A White House official said earlier that the minerals deal was a first step to lasting peace but Zelensky had overplayed his cards.

Below, The Independent looks at what could be included in the deal now that it has been struck.

What do we know about the deal so far?

While negotiations were up in the air, it had been reported the preliminary agreement established a fund in which Ukraine would contribute 50 per cent of proceeds from the future monetisation of state-owned mineral resources such as oil and gas, which would be invested in Ukrainian projects.

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced the news of the deal in a press release later on Wednesday, which described the agreement as a recognition of the significant financial and material support that the people of the United States have provided to the defence of Ukraine.

As the president has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war, said Mr Bessent. This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.

The deal does not mention Ukrainian liability for past aid spent, which Mr Morezkho said on Wednesday was a victory. President Trump had previously demanded $300bn in back payments on the US contribution to the defence of Ukraine, which has in fact been about $130bn since 2022.

Both countries will be equal parties in the sharing of investment and an equal share in the resources of Ukraine. The profits, for the first 10 years, for both countries, will be spent on rebuilding Ukraine infrastructure and local investment, Mr Morezkho told The Independent.

Earlier, the US reportedly dropped Mr Trumps initial demand for $500bn in potential revenue from Ukrainian resources, a condition which was rejected out of hand by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

I am not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay, Mr Zelensky had said.

Despite this, negotiations intensified in the days that followed, and it was soon announced that a preliminary agreement had been reached and that Mr Zelensky would travel to Washington to sign the deal.

Mr Trump had suggested earlier that the deal was close to completion, hinting at Mr Zelenskys upcoming visit.

The US president announced earlier that the war-torn country was on board with his plan . We're telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths, Mr Trump said.

What are Ukraines rare earths?

Ukraine is sitting on one of Europes largest deposits of critical minerals, including lithium and titanium, much of which is untapped. According to the Institute of Geology, Ukraine possesses rare earth elements such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers. The EU-funded research also indicates that Ukraine has scandium reserves but detailed data is classified.

Mr Zelensky has been trying to develop these resources, estimated to be worth more than 12 trillion, based on figures provided by Forbes Ukraine, for years.

In 2021, he offered outside investors tax breaks and investment rights to help mine these minerals. These efforts were suspended when the full-scale invasion started a year later.

Anticipating the notoriously transactional Mr Trump might take an interest in this, Mr Zelensky then placed the mining of these minerals into his victory plan, which was drawn up last year.

The minerals are vital for electric vehicles and other clean energy efforts, as well as defence production.

Estimates based on government documents suggest that Ukraines resources are also highly varied. Foreign Policy found that Ukraine held commercially relevant deposits of 117 of the 120 most-used industrial minerals across more than 8,700 surveyed deposits.

open image in gallery A map provided by Ukrainian group UnitedMedia 24 shows the location of critical mineral resources across the country ( UnitedMedia 24 )

Included in that is half a million tonnes of lithium, none of which has been tapped. This makes Ukraine the largest lithium resource in Europe.

Ukraine's reserves of graphite, a key component in electric vehicle batteries and nuclear reactors, represent 20 per cent of global resources. The deposits are in the centre and west.

It is not surprising that Mr Trump appears keen on benefiting from this, especially as China remains a key player in the mining of minerals such as titanium.

But Vladimir Putins invasion has not only delayed Ukraines plans to mine these minerals, it has also led to much of these resource-rich areas being destroyed and then occupied.

A little over 6 trillion of Ukraines mineral resources, which is around 53 per cent of the countrys total, are contained in the four regions Mr Putin illegally annexed in September 2022, and of which his army occupies a considerable swathe.

That includes Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, though Kherson holds little value in terms of minerals.

The Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed and occupied by Mr Putins forces in 2014, also holds roughly 165bn worth of minerals.

The region of Dnipropetrovsk, which borders the largely occupied regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, and sits in the face of an advancing Russian army, contains an additional 2.8 trillion in mineral resources.

Russian difficulties with major military operations seem likely to preclude a serious attempt to take the region but mining operations in the area would be perilous with Moscows soldiers so close.

open image in gallery File. An aerial view shows a dragline excavator operating in an open-pit titanium mine in the Zhytomyr region, on 28 February 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. -- The United States and Ukraine on 30 April 2025 signed a minerals deal after a two-month delay, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid. Ukraine said it secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are vital for new technologies and largely untapped ( AFP via Getty Images )

Other ores are well within the sites of Russias forces. One lithium ore on the outskirts of a settlement called Shevchenko in Donetsk is less than 10 miles from the town of Velyka Novosilka, recently captured by Mr Putins troops.

However, while Ukraine has a highly qualified and relatively inexpensive labour force and developed infrastructure, investors highlight a number of barriers to investment. These include inefficient and complex regulatory processes as well as difficulty accessing geological data and obtaining land plots. Such projects would take years to develop and require considerable up-front investment, they said.

What happens next?

After signing the deal, Mr Bessent said in a statement: To be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The New York Times reported that the final US-Ukraine minerals deal does not include any guarantees of future US security assistance, which the US rejected early in talks. Despite the celebratory tone, the agreement, the outlet reported, may prove largely symbolic if the war with Russia continues.

The Treasury Department said that the US International Development Finance Corporation will collaborate with Ukraine to finalise the agreements details.

Ukraines prime minister said in a post on Telegram that both countries will have equal voting rights in the fund, Ukraine will keep full control over its resources and infrastructure, and all profits will be reinvested in Ukraine.

Thanks to this agreement, we will be able to attract significant resources for reconstruction, start economic growth, and receive the latest technologies from partners and a strategic investor in the United States, Mr Shmyhal said in the post.
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The US will no longer mediate between Russia and Ukraine, leaving the two countries to work out how to end the war, a state department official says.

Tammy Bruce said US envoys would no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat to act as a go-between in peace talks.

It was now between the two parties to present concrete ideas on how the conflict would end, she insisted, although the US remained committed to helping.

She said the US was changing the methodology of how it contributed to the conflict, adding: We will not be the mediators.

open image in gallery Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal, says the minerals deal will boost air defences ( Reuters )

US president Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance have both previously warned that they could walk away from peace talks if there was no progress in negotiations on a ceasefire.

On Thursday, secretary of state Marco Rubio said that either there would need to be a breakthrough towards peace very soon or Mr Trump would have to decide how much time the US would dedicate to the conflict.

This is not our war, he said.

At the same time, Mr Vance warned it would be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are.

It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict, he told Fox News.

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal suggested Kyivs air defence systems would be boosted by a minerals deal signed with the United States this week, which on Thursday is due to go before Ukraines parliament for politicians to vote on ratification.

The deal will give the US preferential access to new investments in extraction of Ukraine's natural resources, and fund investment in Ukraine's reconstruction.

Any new military aid could count as the US contribution to the joint fund being set up under the accord.

open image in gallery Rescuers work at an apartment building hit by a Russian drone on Friday in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia ( Reuters )

This agreement will allow us to better defend our country here and now, to better protect our skies thanks to American air defence systems, Mr Shmyhal said.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the deal resulted from his truly historic Vatican meeting with Mr Trump before Pope Franciss funeral.

On the battlefield, Russia says its forces are continuing to create a security strip in border areas of Ukraines Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of Kursk, just across the border.

Ukraine says its forces still have a foothold in Kursk, but that it is concerned about a possible Russian advance into Sumy.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should create a buffer zone in Sumy to deter potential Ukrainian incursions.

In any peace deal, Ukraine refuses to cede any land and wants robust security guarantees against future aggression, possibly involving peacekeepers, which Russia rejects. The Kremlin wants a guarantee Ukraine will not join Nato. It also wants Kyiv to demilitarise  or significantly reduce its armed forces.

Downing Street welcomed the economic deal signed between Ukraine and the US, after foreign secretary David Lammy said UK support for Kyiv remained steadfast.

The agreement signed on Wednesday is expected to give the US access to Ukraines mineral resources, while providing President Zelensky with a measure of assurance about US support for Kyiv.

In April, the deal had appeared doomed, when Mr Trump put on a show of anger at Mr Zelensky, ejecting him from the White House.
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As Israel grappled with one of the largest wildfires ever in the country this week and the blaze barrelled towards Jerusalem, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a national emergency.

The blaze erupted in the hills west of Jerusalem on Wednesday, starting in the Eshtaol Forest near Mesilat Zion and rapidly spreading due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.

This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country, Jerusalems district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters have since contained most of the major hotspots, said the Jewish National Fund, which manages forests in the country, though firefighting efforts continue to address remaining hotspots.

open image in gallery Locations of the wildfires burning in the forest west of Jerusalem as of 1 May ( Google )

Evacuation orders have been lifted, and major highways, including the main route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, have reopened.

By Friday, the fires had burned an estimated 6,000 acres of land, including 2,000 acres of forest.

Three Catholic religious communities that were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate.

He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage as did some buildings. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected.

open image in gallery Firefighters work to extinguish a fire burning in the Latrun area in central Israel between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv ( EPA )

The fire prompted concerns over the safety of citizens in Jerusalem as winds of 60mph made the situation challenging. Mr Friedman earlier said it could dramatically increase the threat posed by the fires in the near future.

Earlier, declaring the fires a national emergency, Mr Netanyahu warned that the wildfires could reach Jerusalem.

"The western wind can push the fire easily toward the outskirts of (Jerusalem) - and even into the city itself," he said in a video sent by his office.

Video footage showed vehicles stranded nearby as flames spread throughout the area, while another video showed the fire approaching a Catholic monastery.

At least a dozen people have been hospitalised due to smoke in the area and some firefighters also sustained injuries.

Many people were seen abandoning their cars and running away from the flames, with critical roads shut down for hours. Several houses were evacuated too.

Israels Fire and Rescue services has said there are 155 firefighting teams operating at full force in all fire centres in the area of Shfelet Yehuda.

They said the Elad Squadron's firefighting planes were making rounds over the major hotspots and near settlements in order to cut off the fire from the houses.

The Israeli government has appealed for international assistance, receiving commitments for firefighting aircraft from Italy, Croatia, and North Macedonia. The Palestinian Authority has also offered support, though Israel has not yet responded to this offer.

The wildfires coincide with Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations, leading to the cancellation of ceremonies on Thursday including a major event at Mount Herzl.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the wildfire, with some officials suggesting possible arson, and a number of individuals have been arrested on suspicion of starting fires.
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Japans high-speed bullet train services were halted on its busiest line connecting Tokyo and Osaka after a snake became tangled in the overhead wires, causing a power outage.

The incident occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara station around 5.25pm on Wednesday, 30 April, halting trains to the Japanese capital and the city of Osaka for around an hour and a half, Kyodo News said.

The service disruption occurred on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which also stops at Kyoto and Nagoya, and is considered the most popular and busiest route.

The snake is thought to have become entangled in a power line, leading to the high-speed service to halt operations on the usually punctual service.

Shinkansen trains operate on a network of high-speed train lines, connecting most of Japans major cities and can run at speeds of up to 285 kilometres per hour.

Tokaido Shinkansen trains usually depart every few minutes for most stations along the route. With the service out of operation for so long, passengers started to form crowds around staff at Nagoya Station seeking explanations for why the trains were delayed, while long queues formed at ticket machines.

Each day, 372 Shinkansen train services usually operate on this line, with around 432,000 passengers using the service.

JR Central says that its trains are usually punctual, with an average delay time of 1.6 minutes.

Services eventually resumed around 7pm after it was deemed safe to do so, JR Central, a railway operator in Japan, told the publication.

"I use the Shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," Satoshi Tagawa, who was due to return to Tokyo, told Kyodo News.

"I am relieved," added 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, after learning that trains were running again. "But I am fed up with the troubles [with Shinkansen services]. I want them to run on time."

This is not the first time snakes have jeopardised the busy schedule of the Shinkansen services in Japan.

In April 2024, a small snake found its way into a passenger's carriage and was slithering along the floor.

The 40-centimetre snake had been spotted in the carriage of a train which was due to depart for Osaka, but was instead put out of service as a precaution.

While the small reptile only caused a 17-minute delay, over 600 passengers were affected by the train being put out of action.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
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Visitors to Las Vegas have dropped by almost eight per cent, according to a new report by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

The Nevada city welcomed 3.39 million visitors in March, compared with 3.68 million in February, a fall of 7.8 per cent.

Midweek hotel occupancy was also down 2.4 per cent, with hotel rooms 82.9 per cent full in March, compared with 85.3 per cent in March 2024, despite more than half a million people attending conferences in the city.

On weekends, hotel occupancy was down by one per cent.

Casinos in Sin City also reported an almost five per cent drop over the past year, a figure that stands at 1.1 per cent statewide.

The report, which was shared with local news media 8 News Now, revealed that despite the slump, hotel rates on the Las Vegas Strip have risen by 3.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

Data reported by the Clark County Department of Aviation also found a 3. 9 per cent drop in the number of passengers arriving and departing from Harry Reid International Airport.

Elsewhere, vehicle counts at the Nevada-California border on I-15 show a fall of 3.1 per cent in traffic, according to the LVCVA.

The Independent has contacted LVCVA for comment.

The figures appear to form part of the Trump slump, which has seen many international travellers eschewing the US due to fears of deportation following several high profile cases, including German backpackers Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepere, Rebecca Burke from Wales and Lucas Sielaff from Germany

Discomfort with President Trumps public proclamations and policies, including the introduction of tariffs, also appears to have impacted visitor numbers.

Official data from the US International Trade Administration shows a 17 per cent year-on-year decline in the number of western Europeans visiting the US in March 2025.

For travellers from Germany and Ireland, this slump is over a quarter.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has defended new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Andrea Jenkyns calls for migrants to be put in tents.

The former Conservative minister used her victory speech to propose a controversial idea for immigration, saying tents were good enough to be used in France.

We will tackle illegal migration. Weve been working on policies, she said.

I say no to putting people in hotels. Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.

Speaking from the Hull and East Yorkshire mayor election count, Mr Tice showed his support for Ms Jenkyns.
JD Vance has claimed Mike Waltz removal as US national security advisor and subsequent nomination as UN ambassador is arguably a promotion.

Speaking to Bret Baier on Fox News, Vance denied the move was a sacking, saying: Hes being made ambassador to the United Nations, which is of course a senate confirmed position. I think you could make a good argument its a promotion.

Trump announced Waltz removal in a post on social media, revealing Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take temporary charge of the position.

Waltz became the face of the Signalgate scandal in March after mistakenly adding a journalist to a Trump administration group chat discussing highly-sensitive plans relating to military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Reforms Dame Andrea Jenkyns has called for migrants to be put in tents after she was elected the new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

The former Conservative minister used her victory speech to propose a controversial idea for immigration, saying tents were good enough to be used in France.

We will tackle illegal migration. Weve been working on policies, she said.

I say no to putting people in hotels. Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.

The former MP defected to Nigel Farages party after losing her Westminster seat at the last general election.
Reform MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns stormed out of an interview with Sky News after accusing the reporter of divisive questioning.

Im not even going to answer your questions. Do you not understand irony?, Jenkyns told the interviewer after being quizzed over a comment about a rival candidates accent during a blistering acceptance speech as newly elected mayor of Lincolnshire.

Jenkyns had claimed it was ironic a candidate with a South African accent had accused her of being parachuted in.

The former Conservative minister also took aim at what she called a soul destroying campaign against her during the election race, accusing her rivals of dirty tricks.
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Nicolas Cage was in his underwear... he gives me a big hug and thats where you think, this is mental  Irish director Lorcan Finnegan

Irish director Lorcan Finnegan tells Chris Wasser about meeting the legendary Con Air actor for the first time, filming in shark-infested waters and his wish to work with Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy

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Craig Fitzgerald of The Academic: I didnt even know that bear claws was the name of a popular pastry in America until we toured there

Long gone are the days of the band writing songs in their bedrooms while still at school

The Academic's debut hit number one in the Irish charts

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It is the stuff of rocknroll fantasy. Four young fellas from Westmeath, who went to school together at St Josephs in Rochfortbridge, form a band in 2013. In January 2018, The Academic release their first album, an indie epiphany called Tales from the Backseat.
A paediatric nurse has been jailed after pleading guilty to depraved child abuse offences

Francisco Valverde Mateo (38) of Ashfield Road, Greenfields, Newcastle, Galway pleaded guilty to secretly recording a naked child in the changing room of a leisure centre.

The Spanish national, who moved to Ireland in 2016, also pleaded guilty one count of distributing and one count of producing child sexual abuse material.

Detective Patrick Costello told Judge Brian OCallaghan gardai were alerted by an international police force to suspicious activity linked to Mateo.
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Electronic tagging would free up space in overcrowded jails, says Prison Service

Use of monitoring technology could happen this year

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Dublin City Coucil blocked posters for a feminist protest featuring Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Conor McGregor amid concerns they might be offensive to tourists.

Socialist feminist group ROSA is organising an anti manosphere demonstration in the city on May 8.

But after the organisers asked the council for permission to erect the posters for the march, they were told to resubmit their design minus images or names"

The bright green poster reads MARCH AGAINST THE MANOSPHERE  referring to the anti-feminist network of influencers.

It features a picture of Tesla founder Musk, in what has been criticised as a Nazi salute, as well as McGregor draped in an Irish flag, and US President Trump.

Lets take on MAGA, McGregor, Musk and their macho ilk, says the slogan.

But the feminist group was told by DCCs litter prevention officer Bernie Lillis that we cannot approve the request to erect the posters as submitted, as we believe the images of the individuals presented and the way they are portrayed contravene our poster protocol.

Ms Lillis explained that the poster protocol bans posters that could be vulgar or offensive or which could create potential legal issues for the local authority.

In our opinion, the way the individuals are depicted in the posters could be considered offensive, either to the individuals themselves or to members of the public.

Dublin City Council welcomes tourists from around the world, and we must be mindful of their views as well as those of our own citizens when making decisions like this.

We cannot allow the erection of posters that may present a risk of being offensive. Further, it is essential that we act with probity, impartiality, and in a non-discriminatory manner, Ms Lillis said in an email to ROSA.

Dublin City Council has been approached for comment.

Ruth Coppinger, the socialist TD who is closely affiliated with ROSA and who is due to speak at the event, said that this was unbelievable censorship" and a restriction on the right to organise protests in the capital.

All protests by their nature are offensive and posters frequently have pictures of personalites -- in this case, ROSA featured powerful individuals who promote dangerous ideas or policies against women or vulnerable minorities, Ms Coppinger sasid.

What is offensive is the violent misogyny being spewed out to young boys on the mansophere that encourages rape and violence and depicts women as mere objects. Sexual violence has risen in line with the manosphere.

She explained that ROSA had offered another version of the poster which replaced McGregor with Andrew Tate, but this was deemed unacceptable too.

And since they refer to tourism, the Council's objection is to Trump in reality -- can you no longer feature the US president on a poster? she said.

ROSA is appealing to people to share the poster online as much as possible to cut across this disgraceful censorship and to attend the protest on Thursday.
Regin Parithapara Rajan (42) was found guilty of the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani (38).

A man who claimed he accidentally cut his wife's throat during a tussle in their bedroom about the breakdown of their marriage has been jailed for life for her brutal murder

Regin Parithapara Rajan (42) had pleaded not guilty before the Central Criminal Court to the murder of his wife Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani (38) in Cork two years ago.

Rajan was charged with the murder of his wife at their home in Cardinal Court in Wilton, Cork on July 14, 2023, contrary to Common Law.

The jury of five men and seven women returned a unanimous guilty verdict last month after deliberating for over five hours following a trial in Cork which began on March 24.

Rajan remained impassive as the guilty verdict was returned.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford warned that Rajan had displayed absolutely no empathy for his wife - and killed her because he would not accept that she wanted a divorce.

She said that Deepa was an excellent person who had much to offer to her family, her son and society.

The judge warned that Rajan had told the court a story which was effectively "a tissue of lies" and had felt sorry for himself rather than displaying remorse over his actions.

Ms Justice Lankford also warned that Rajan had tried to damage his wife's name during the trial.

Ullas Dinamani, Deepa's only sibling, delivered a victim impact statement via videolink from India.

"My sister was not just a sibling to me. She was my confidante, my closest friend and the heart of our family. We were incredibly close. We shared everything  our hopes, our fears, our joys. Her presence brought happiness to our home and her absence has left an unbearable void that we are still struggling to live with every single day," he said.

"She was an amazing daughter to our parents  selfless, caring and compassionate. Seeing my mother still break down, often without warning, overwhelmed with sorrow, is one of the hardest things for me as a son. And I sit there helplessly, unable to ease her pain."

"My father, once a pillar of strength to us, one of the toughest men I have ever seen, now sits in silence, broken by the loss of his beloved daughter. He doesn't speak much these days, but his face reveals the pain he is in."

Mr Dinamani said that Deepas young son, who now lives with the family in India, was adored by his mother and shared a deep loving bond with her.

"No child should ever have to experience such trauma, to lose their mother in such a cruel way in the early stages of his life. He misses her. He sometimes asks questions which are not easy to answer."

"He is very fond of me and my parents, we try to give him love, support and a sense of normalcy, but we know nothing can ever replace the love of his mother.

He said his sister was a remarkable woman with their family still traumatised over the horrific nature of her death.

"Ambitious and full of life. She was respected by all who knew her. She had dreams and goals and a future she was building for her son, a future that was stolen from her and from us."

"This tragedy has left permanent scars in our family. There's not a single day that passes without thinking of her, without feeling her absence. The pain doesn't fade - it lives with us."

The trial heard Rajan was suspicious that his wife was in contact with other men after she changed her relationship status on social media to "separated but not divorced yet" and had posted she was "looking for someone to have good conversations to begin with."

Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan said the deceased would have been unable to speak once the 14cm long neck wound was inflicted.

Dr Mulligan conducted a post-mortem examination on the deceased on July 15, 2023.

The wound had severed the large strap muscle of the neck. It also severed the thyroid artery and exposed the windpipe.

Rajan - in direct evidence to the trial - insisted the fatal injuries suffered by his wife were entirely accidental.

He said he had tried to take a carving knife away from his wife in their bedroom after she had grabbed the implement but that she had been injured in the tussle.

The father-of-one insisted he loved his wife and wished he could turn back the clock.

"There was blood everywhere. It was a shock to me. I did not know what to do. I just tried to stop the blood from the neck. My mind was blank - I cannot think straight."

Rajan said he was depressed over the breakdown of his marriage and upset that his wife would not return his passport until after she had returned from a trip to Dublin.

He also said he had an argument with his wife over pension money.

"I was a hostage - I left the room and went to my son's bedroom. I was crying. I was depressed. I did not know what to do in my own home. I drank a few drinks."

A Garda who attended the scene where the young mother-of-one's body was discovered told the trial the defendant informed him his wife was cheating on him with an individual based in London and he "could not tolerate it."

The deceased was a 38-year-old chartered accountant who had moved to Ireland to take up a position with financial services firm, Alter Domus.

She was from Kerala in southern India and had only been living in Cork for around four months at the time of her death.

One witness said that the couple had "a strange relationship" - and that Deepa appeared to "wear the trousers," being successful, outgoing and bubbly while her husband was quiet, shy and had been unable to secure a job in Ireland.

Another witness said Rajan told him that his wife and himself were sleeping apart.

On her dating site profile Deepa was described as being separated but not divorced.

Her interests were listed as reading, yoga and cooking.

Evidence was also given by phone analyst Susan Cronin.

She said on July 6, 2023, there was a Google search on Regin Rajan's phone which read What is a carving knife used for?

The following day the words carving knife were googled.

On July 10 Mr Rajans phone recorded a Google search on jail in Ireland.

Later that day the terms prison facilities in Ireland and prison conditions were searched.

Ms Cronin said that Regin Rajans phone was signed up to a number of dating websites including Eharmony, Bumble, Hinge and Match.com.

She also analysed the phone of the late Deepa Dinamani.

On July 5, 2023, there was a search recorded which read what happens when you clear chat on Whats App?

On the day before Deepa was found dead at her home in Cardinal Court in Wilton, searches were made on her phone in relation to how a person is to know if they are being tracked on WhatsApp.
The Taoiseach has said reports that Simon Harris blocked the appointment of Brendan McDonagh as the countrys housing tsar are incorrect.

Last night, Mr McDonagh, who is currently CEO of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), informed the Government that he no longer wanted to be considered for the job, following controversy over his appointment, which Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called a job share with Minister for Housing James Browne.

However, its believed that the Tanaiste was not kept in consultation about the appointment before the announcement of his expected position by the Minister for Housing earlier this week.

No, thats not correct, Micheal Martin said, speaking at the opening of a new development on Corks docklands with Deputy Browne alongside.

I met with Simon Harris yesterday and spoke to Sean Canney and Brendan McDonagh himself, he doesnt want to be a part of a controversy of this kind. Were going to move on now and the Minister is going to report back to us.

Fine Gael bosses were reportedly left fuming following the announcement on RTE News at One on Tuesday of Mr McDonaghs expected appointment by Deputy Browne, with a spokesperson for the Tanaiste having already said that such appointments should be discussed by the leaders before being made public.

I cant comment on briefings; all I can say is what transpired. No salary was ever discussed the name did surface publicly, and again, I'm not clear how that emerged at the time, I mean, earlier, so as to speak, the Taoiseach said.

The Minister would have spoken to the line Minister [Paschal Donohoe], because of the role of the NTMA and NAMA and seeking permission around the secondment issue and so on. But look, we're going to press ahead with this and get this established.

The Taoiseach also wouldnt accept criticism from opposition parties that the process in appointing the tsar has been a shambles.

I do not accept that at all, because the opposition can't have it both ways, he said.

I do think, though, theres a need for reflection in politics generally. I just witnessed what went on in the Dail. I witnessed Mary Lou [McDonald] sort of coming in high dungeon saying, oh, it's a job share; it's exactly what Mary Lou proposed during the election.

Okay, you can criticise us for not executing this perfectly, or whatever, but that's not the point. The point is, why is the tendency more about tearing down, of attacking? I think we need more honest, sincere debate. I'd be open to criticism any day to week, but I would like a bit more sincerity from the opposition.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Browne defended his first 100 days in office, and claimed there is still public confidence in the Department of Housing.

I look at my first 100 days since I was appointed, and was appointed with a very strong remit: which was to go out, make decisions, and get things moving for our housing, he said.

But where there is a gap, and we need to bridge that gap, is between the strategy and the funding and then those output on the ground, and that's why the housing activation office is so important: to be able to operationalise on the ground to get those homes moving.
RTE will be invited to appear before the Oireachtas Media Committee in the coming weeks, the committees chair Alan Kelly has said.

On Wednesday, RTE confirmed it wrote down 3.6m on a partly failed IT project to replace its finance and HR systems.

First approved in September 2016, the new system, called the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project, was funded through money received from the sale of land in RTE in 2017.

The national broadcaster said that in 2023, it recognised the project was an outlier and hired consultants from Ernst & Young to conduct a review.

The details of the write-down were first revealed by The Currency website.

Now, newly appointed chair of the Media Committee, Labours Alan Kelly, has said the committee will invite RTE to appear before members in the coming weeks.

The latest revelations from RTE of a massive write-down on a failed IT system demands serious attention, Mr Kelly said.

In particular, Mr Kelly pointed to his time on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during the RTE payments saga and questioned why the issue of the HR system was not brought to the committees attention then.

At the time of the controversy in 2023, I and others asked at the PAC committee: was there anything else we needed to know. Why wasnt this brought up then? Mr Kelly asked.

What about RTEs commitments on openness and transparency with the public?

There are a number of questions that must be answered in front of the Oireachtas committee immediately. Who was the director in charge?

Mr Kelly said he also wanted to know what RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst knew about the project and when.

Was RTE planning on burying this until the minister asked about capital projects? Mr Kelly asked.

The Labour TD for Tipperary North said the members of the media committee would be discussing the issue.

I will be working with my fellow committee members to invite RTE into the committee in the coming weeks to discuss this issue in detail, along with a range of other issues, Mr Kelly said.

These, Mr Kelly said, included the reform programme in the organisation, planned redundancies, how they are dealing with registering their broadcasters work outside RTE and the whole issue of bogus self-employment being atoned for, which I have a special interest in.

Yesterday, Media Minister Patrick ODonovan said he first learnt of the write-down after it emerged earlier this year that the Arts Council had spent almost 7m on a failed IT system.

When that was revealed, Mr ODonovan requested a survey of all projects undertaken from 2020 by bodies and organisations under the remit of his department.

This, Mr ODonovan said, was when the write-down by RTE came to light.

Mr ODonovan also said the issue predates current management and the current director general.

Speaking to the News at One on RTE, the minister said he was surprised the issue was only emerging now and noted the numerous occasions that RTE appeared before Oireachtas committees.

What surprised me and disappointed me was that there was ample opportunity during more than one occasion for the organisation to say, with regard to all of the other well-documented difficulties that there were, to say we also have an impairment that is being carried forward from a set of accounts a number of years ago which we need to bring to the committees and the Governments attention. That unfortunately didnt happen, Mr ODonovan said.
Donal Fallon: What the Israeli ambassador got wrong about Irelands wartime neutrality

The policy came out of Eamon de Valeras realisation that strong states would disregard the rights of small ones

Ethiopians from the captured Tigre province pay their respects, Italian fashion, to a huge likeness of Benito Mussolini in 1934. Photo: Bettmann Archive

Donal Fallon Fri 2 May 2025 at 03:30

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Eamon de Valera, an era-defining politician and figure in public life. It was a political career of extraordinary longevity, taking him from the occupied Bolands Mills of Easter Week to the Ireland visited by John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963. Sitting beside the young American, De Valera looked like a relic of an earlier time. JFK, an aide noted, asked the Irish leader about the Rising, and then listened, spellbound.
Over the last nine years there have been four ministers in charge of housing.

They are Simon Coveney of Fine Gael, Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael), Darragh OBrien (Fianna Fail) and, currently, James Browne (Fianna Fail).

In that period, policies to address the housing crisis have focused on increasing supply and affordability, accelerating social housing delivery and supporting home ownership.

These policies include transferring public land to developers, bypassing local planning approvals and encouraging international investment; additionally, policies to address vacancy and improve the use of existing housing stock,as well as initiatives to eradicate homelessness and support social inclusion.

Homelessness, as reported by Focus Ireland, stood at 3,845 (including 865 children) in January 2015. As of last January, it was 15,286 (including 4,603 children).

The previous figures do not include the unreported living with parents, couch-surfing with friends and relations and finding other means of accommodation.

Housing ministers and the governments they are part of have failed the Irish people.

The latest attempt to resolve the crisis, apart from trying to get the older generation to downsize (so that the wealthy can buy their homes), is the formation of a new body, the Strategic Housing and Infrastructure Office, under the Housing Minister and headed by a newly appointed housing tsar.

This new body will be formed with senior figures from key government departments, including the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and Transport, together with infrastructure providers such as Uisce Eireann, ESB, EirGrid and others.

An additional team will be seconded from the public sector to include contracted experts.

However, one wonders how this new body, with the same mindset as before, will solve our housing crisis.

The formation of this body under a housing tsar is tantamount to admitting our governments and housing ministers lack the ability to solve this crisis.

Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Government continues to ignore public opinion on chronic shortage of homes

There have been several letters in the Irish Independent on the appointment of a so-called housing tsar.

These letters, I suggest, represent the concerns of many at what may be considered as government failure to deal with housing matters, in addition to the questionable best practice use of taxpayer funds.

I continue to hope the Government will at some stage take note of the views of the public.

Perhaps the Government could begin by implementing the Occupied Territories Bill already approved by the Oireachtas and supported by the majority of the Irish people. In addition, the Government may learn from the actions of Donald Trump.

Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork

Appointment of housing tsar appears to be a case of two people doing same job

What exactly will be the duties of the Housing Minister after the proposed new housing tsar takes office?

Will the taxpayer be expected to pay two salaries for duplicated roles and responsibilities? Or does the Government expect the new appointee will be a 24-carat gold Superman who has all the political and moral courage our politicians lack when it comes to getting houses built?

If its the latter, then the new appointee just might be worth 430,000 a year.

Tim Buckley, White Street, Cork

Callan called it correctly in saying urban decline is fuelled by negative talk

Oliver Callans vivid tribute to Carrickmacross is a welcome antidote to the fog of nostalgia and fear currently clouding debate on immigration (Those claiming my home town has been destroyed by foreigners forget its past, Irish Independent, May 1).

His portrait reminds us that what often feels like decline is, in fact, the disorienting shape of progress.

A decade from now, we may look back and realise that towns like Carrick werent being destroyed by foreigners, but quietly rebuilt by returnees, newcomers and the brave few who never left.

The real threat isnt demographic; its the pessimism that tells us decline is inevitable and integration impossible. One doesnt need a crystal ball, just a sound understanding of how places adapt, grow and surprise.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh

Pope Francis would have cared nothing about the colour of mourners suits

Eric Conway (Letters, May 1) was correct about Donald Trumps funeral attire at Pope Franciss funeral. A black tie is mournful, a blue one cheerful.

The fact the US president attended in a perfectly acceptable blue suit was respectful enough. Pope Francis wouldnt have been so fussy as his simple funeral wishes proved.

Dominic Shelmerdine, London

Donald Trump probably doesnt believe one word out of even his own mouth

Its unsurprising to learn that US president Donald Trump has taken no responsibility for the state of the economy.

He insists poor economic performance was not related to his global tariffs. He even wrote on his social media platform Truth Social: This is Bidens stock market, not Trumps. I didnt take over until January 20. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are now starting to move into the USA in record numbers.

In his book, The Apprentice, Trump was proud to share his philosophy of denying everything and never accepting responsibility, allied to presenting every defeat as a victory.

Trump is sounding more like a broken record, so much so that one feels he doesnt even believe what he is saying any more.

John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Tommy Steeles attempt at an Irish accent in Finians Rainbow takes the prize

As I listened to the discussion on Liveline on Wednesday concerning laughable attempts at Irish accents by various film stars, my mind wandered back some years to the movie Finians Rainbow.

A special award in this regard to Tommy Steele. Begosh and begorrah, sure, Id be after tinkin, I would. He is now 88, and hopefully the road is still rising to meet him.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9
Kerry farmer Michael Gaine was last seen on Thursday, 20 March. He was officially reported missing one day later.

Six weeks on, there is still no trace of the man.

Gardai have now reclassified the missing-person case as a homicide investigation.

As a result, greater powers and more resources will be granted as the search continues.

Meanwhile, a person of interest has been identified by Gardai, though they have not formally been classified as a suspect.

The news follows an emotional plea issued by Michael Gaines family, including his wife Janice, who has implored anyone who might know anything about his disappearance to come forward.

On this extra episode of The Indo Daily, host Dave Hanratty is joined by Sinead Kelleher, journalist with The Kerryman, to examine new developments in a case that has rocked a local community that hopes to finally learn the truth of what happened to one of their own.
Carmel Connaire, owner of The Coffee Hatch in Lahinch, and founder of the 'Save Our Seats' campaign.

A campaign to save the bench outside of a popular Lahinch cafe has been successful, to great relief from the local community.

The Save Our Seats campaign was launched in April by The Coffee Hatch owner Carmel Connaire after a local business owner complained about the bench outside her premises.

After Carmel applied to renew licenses allowing for online seating, she worried about having to remove the bench altogether. Over 700 people signed a petition sent to Clare County Council after only two days of action and the council was also inundated with emails from across the globe, calling for the outdoor seating space to stay put.

Carmel has been granted a license for the community landmark, for which she had previously obtained insurance and keeps clean and well monitored.

Lahinch residents using the bench outside The Coffee Hatch in Lahinch, County Clare.

Clare County Council, throughout the campaign, was genuinely very understanding of the position that we were in, Carmel said. I'd like to thank them and to thank the community that got behind us. There were over 700 signatures over two days and a multitude of emails went into the County Council - even from people abroad, which I think is really important to mention. So many people from abroad actually expressed a desire to keep the bench, you know, people that don't actually live in Lahinch. I got texts and emails from Dubai and from the Bahamas and from a lot of people that work abroad - it was amazing.

I think the reaction was really more about people having a yearning for a space to meet, a third space or non-transactional space, where people can sit and chat, Carmel added. The bench has become a central point for the community for sure, and for individuals to come and mingle without feeling that they have to be committed to a space. So I definitely think it's opened up a whole new conversation about community spaces or third spaces."

Carmel Connaire, owner of The Coffee Hatch in Lahinch, and founder of the 'Save Our Seats' campaign.

Ms Connaire said locals were thrilled with the news that the bench was staying, cheering and clapping when it was announced.

People are thrilled, they are so so happy, the business owner said. I just think its something much bigger than this, and I think it's something the council are going to have to review going forward. Maybe theyll come up with a structured approach rather than individuals trying to figure it out themselves. When I spoke to them, I said that his whole campaign has clearly shown the need for community spaces and we should really consider that in conversations going forward. In principle, I don't see that they're against it.

You can visit the famous bench outside The Coffee Hatch in Lahinch, where Carmel has assured readers there will always be a bit of craic.
The event is free admission, and refreshments will be served at 7pm before the talk at 8pm

The A Future Outlook For Irish Agriculture event will take place in Corrin Mart Events Centre in Fermoy from 7pm on Thursday, May 8. Picture: Stock image

An informative event where local farmers, industry experts and agriculture leaders will discuss the challenges of the Irish agriculture industry is due to take place in Fermoy.

The A Future Outlook For Irish Agriculture event will take place in Corrin Mart Events Centre in Fermoy from 7pm on Thursday, May 8.

The event is sponsored by PTSB, and the head of their Business Banking Sean Farrell will be one of the speakers on the night.

Agricultural Solicitor Aisling Meehan, who has a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector, will also speak on the night alongside Irish Farmers Association Munster Chair Conor OLeary and Laurence Shalloo, who is the Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme at Teagasc will also lend their expertise to those in attendance.

Farmers and people with an avid interest in the agricultural industry are urged to attend the event on the night to hear the thoughts and opinions of some of the leaders in the sector across Ireland.

The event is free admission, and refreshments will be served at 7pm before the talk at 8pm.
News

Cork Bessborough survivor deeply critical of Dail vote that cut him out of the redress scheme

Its like a chess board, Paul OSullivan explains, as we sit outside the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, where his mother had spent several days in the lead-up to his birth.
Elizabeth Hyde said son Luke was turning his life around before drowning in the River Lee earlier this week

The mother of a man who drowned in Cork city centre on Wednesday, has described those who filmed and live-streamed the scene as morons, who treated the incident like a circus.

Luke Hyde drowned earlier this week after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Lee, and Gardai and Cork Fire Brigade have criticised those who videoed and live-streamed the incident, but neglected to throw a life-buoy into the river, potentially saving Lukes life.

"I dont think I can get through this, said Lukes mother Elizabeth, who called into the Neil Prendeville Show on Corks RedFM to express her disgust at the passers-by who decided to film the incident, this is my second son in five years, and both of them who lived with me.

"The first boy died suddenly, in his sleep, it was something to do with his heart.

"Luke, my baby, he was my baby son. I was disgusted when I heard you talking this morning about those people down there. It was like a circus, watching my son drown, instead of trying to help him.

"I dont know do these people know the heartache and the suffering that me and his family are going through today, and I dont even know if I can come through this.

"What have people in this world come to? Morons, I dont think theres even a word to describe them.

"It will never leave me, and the clips I saw on the news...I dont know how Ill ever, ever forget it. I never will, it will live with me for evermore.

"Whether those people know it or not, I would like to let them know, that Im his mother, Im 76 years old, hes my baby son, hes 34-years-old. I haven't slept since Wednesday, I couldnt go to bed last night and my whole body is trembling.

Yesterday, Second Fire Officer with Cork City Fire Brigade said the publics reaction to the incident was the worst hed seen in 44 years on the job, and pleaded with the public not to share videos of the incident, which took place in the middle of the city on the hottest day of the year thus far.

"Even if he brought a t-shirt or a pair of shoes hed report it to me, Elizabeth Hyde told the Neil Prendeville show. He was the most placid, beautiful young fella that God ever put on this earth.

"He had a little problem with alcohol, he had fought hard to do his best with that. He was after starting a job last week in Tescos, the Express store on the Douglas Road. He said to me Mam, Ill sort my life out now, Im getting my life back together...Im going to make it.

Pensioner Elizabeth explained how she had first heard the news of her sons passing, from her house on Shandon Street.

"I was watching the television, and the next thing I heard the helicopter. I knew when a helicopters going up and down the river theyre looking for someone. I said to myself God help us, whoever theyre looking for I hope they find the person.

"Little did I know that it was my son they were looking for.

"I rang his phone, and hed usually pick up his phone. I was wondering where he was but I thought he was at work, I didnt realise he had the day off.

"I rang again and a strange voice came on. They said whos this?, I said who are you? Im looking for Luke, they said whats your name? I said Elizabeth Hyde, Im Lukes mam, and then he told me he was a Guard. It was a guard answering his phone, that was it.

"I ran out onto the street with no shoes and no apron and no coat. I ran down to that river but it was too late, they were putting him into the ambulance. And when I saw the crowds I just knew what was going on.

I only got as far as where they sit down by the Quay Wall and I was stopped by my son who said Mam, you dont want to see him at all, but I told him I need to see him, I need to see my son Elizabeth said in an emotional phone call to the show.

"I dont know what his last thoughts were when he was drowning. I was thinking did he call me?

"Did he call my name?
Historic project will see the old terminal demolished to make way for a brand-new pier set to take airports soaring fortunes even higher

Cork Airport is set for a major transformation over the coming decade, under what the airport has billed as the most significant capital investment plans for Cork Airport in nearly a quarter of a century.

200 million will be invested by the DAA in the airport as part of a new development plan, as it aims to surpass five million passengers using the facility every year in the near future. Cork Airport contributes over 1 billion to the Irish economy, directly and indirectly, and employs over 12,000 people.

However, for some the new plans will signal the end of an era, as the airports much-loved old terminal, with its fountain and glass elevator, is set for demolition, to make way for a brand-new pier, further increasing the airports handling capacity, set to be built by 2032.

The brand-new plans show a confidence that the airport will continue its unheralded growth, with passenger numbers up 50% in the last decade, and which Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien says plays a crucial rolefor our connectivity and economic prosperity.

The first major change will be the construction of a new mezzanine floor, in which a brand-new security system will be rolled out, bringing a much-requested change for passengers departing from the countrys fastest growing airport.

The new system, estimated to be in place by December of next year, will now eliminate the need to remove liquids, gels, pastes and large electronic items from passengers cabin baggage. The new security area will also incorporate a new fast-track lane, while a new executive lounge is set to be built, with a larger capacity than the current facility.

Today is a momentous day for Cork Airport with the launch of an ambitious Capital Development Plan which emphasises the importance of the airport to both the regional and national economy, said Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who was on-hand to launch the plans.

Cork Airport has become a critical component of our national transport infrastructure and as Irelands fastest growing airport, its continued development is paramount. I have no doubt that the benefits of this plan will only bring further growth to what is already a thriving airport.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O'Laoghaire shaking hands at the launch

An additional 630 parking spaces in the Holiday Blue car park are expected to be in place by July 2026, while plans are also in place for the future expansion of the Express Red car park also. By the third quarter of next year, the Dublin Airport Authority plans to refurbish a current cargo building into another passenger area, enabling two more passenger gates to be opened.

"With Project Ireland 2040, we're expecting a big population boost in the southern region. Cork's ambition of becoming a major European city of size and scale is a key part of this plan, said DAA CEO, Kenny Jacobs.

DAAs 200m Capital Development Plan is set to keep Cork Airport serving the south of Ireland, both economically and socially, making it a crucial part of the region's infrastructure. We're super proud of Cork Airport at DAA and we're all in on this exciting journey to help the airport and the region grow and develop into the future."

A new solar farm on the site of the existing Holiday Blue car park is due to be in place by August of next year, while the major change is set to come in 2032, when the old terminal and old control tower will be demolished, allowing for the construction of a new pier, bringing even more boarding gates and more capacity, as the airport broke the 4 million passenger mark for the first time in its history last year.

The plan kicks into action as early as this summer, as passengers will be able to see the first shovel-ready elements of the plan commencing, with work starting on the construction of the new mezzanine floor, to extend over the existing arrivals area, and the delivery of a new oversized baggage security facility.
A Galway resident has lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala over the extension of a local pub that, he argued, would increase noise and disturbance in the area.
Check out the most popular Airbnbs in the least explored counties as study reveals more Irish people visit Asia than Leitrim

Airbnb has revealed the surprising destinations Irish people are more likely to have visited than their own neighbouring counties.

The new research comes on the heels of Airbnbs announcement of the Rural Tourism Fund, committing 100,000 in grants to support innovative tourism projects in the rural communities of Ireland where local families and businesses rely heavily on tourism.

The study revealed that while 74% of Irish people holiday abroad at least once a year, half (48%) say they want to travel more on home soil with the beauty of the Irish scenery being their main inspiration.

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However, Airbnb have revealed new data which shows that a quarter of the Irish population have explored Asia, but 82% have never visited Leitrim and 76% have never visited Westmeath.

Three in four Irish holidaymakers go abroad at least once a year, and over a third (39%) have crossed the Atlantic to North America, however, fewer of us have been to Sligo (37%), Tipperary (37%) and Meath (36%).

Additionally, 81% of Irish people who have been as far as Africa have never set foot in Monaghan.

Despite almost half (48%) of people in Ireland saying they want to see more of their own country, only one in three actually take regular holidays in the form of staycations.

Ahead of summer 2025, Airbnb has launched the Rural Tourism Fund to give a vital injection to rural areas across Ireland that rely on the benefits of tourism to support local families, businesses and culture.

Ardee, Co. Louth

The vacation rental company says it is committing 100,000 in grants to preserve and enhance innovative tourism projects across the country.

According to Airbnb, 71% of bookings in Ireland are made in predominantly rural areas and the majority of listings are outside of Dublin which the company says shows they are already playing a pivotal role in bringing visitors to the heart of the Irish countryside.

Furthermore, Airbnb have said that through the Rural Tourism Fund, grants ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 will be available to local organisations and community groups to help bring their local projects to life and boost rural tourism - from launching or expanding a local festival, to upgrading community facilities.

Despite the frequency of international travel for a large portion of the Irish population, many Irish counties are still getting recognition as ideal rural escapes with 60% of people in Ireland saying they would recommend a domestic holiday with the countrys stunning scenery cited as one of many reasons to stay close to home.

Locals love sampling food, mingling with the community and attending festivals and when it comes to rural escapes, Donegal, Kerry and Wicklow were revealed as the top choices for those seeking a holiday at home.

Glaslough, Co. Monaghan

Derek Nolan, Head of Public Policy for Ireland at Airbnb, said: Were fortunate to have some of the worlds most stunning places right here in Ireland, and its exciting to see nearly half of Irish people eager to explore more of our own country.

"Airbnb plays a key role in spreading tourism across Ireland, and the Rural Tourism Fund will boost and preserve the best of rural Ireland, allowing more people to experience our culture and beauty while benefiting local communities economically.

Host Shelagh Nangle in County Westmeath said: Its brilliant that theres a growing desire for Irish people to explore more on our own shores. Ive welcomed guests from America and all over Europe that are eager to experience the scenery and lively festivals local to us, and I would love to see more Irish families coming to embrace the beautiful countryside in their own backyard.

"With Airbnb boosting local tourism offerings through the new Rural Tourism Fund, I hope surrounding communities will be able to share even more in the benefits of welcoming visitors from Ireland and beyond.

The Rural Tourism Fund is designed to help local organisations and communities bring their ideas to life. If you have a project that promotes or supports rural tourism in your community, you can apply by 11.59pm on June 16, 2025.
A public meeting detailing matters of community safety is to be held in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan next Tuesday. Photo: David Conachy

A public meeting is to take place in a county Monaghan town next week just days after a man was seen wielding a knife on its main street in broad daylight.

The open forum is being spearheaded by Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy in his home town of Carrickmacross.

Deputy Carthy said the move was one that had come on the back of heightened concerns locally relating to community safety.

The Sinn Fein justice spokesperson, who hails from the south Monaghan town, said several concerned residents had come forward in recent days to express their own anxieties at matters of common concern.

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People in Carrickmacross are angry and frustrated and I know that people often dont feel safe in our own town, he said.

Mr Carthy stressed there would be no political connotations attached to next Tuesdays meeting, stating invitations were open to gardai, local politicians and the wider public.

He said a wide gambit of issues would be up for discussion, typified most notably by the huge consternation that was caused by the image of a man brandishing a knife on the towns main street last Sunday evening.

A man in his 20s has since been arrested and remains in custody having been charged in connection to that incident less than 24 hours later.

Mr Carthy said outside of those images, the meeting would offer locals to voice their unease at the plight the town currently finds itself in.

There is an issue with anti-social behaviour and crime and a lack of garda visibility, he said.

There is an issue with dereliction as several prominent buildings in our town centre lying idle.

There is a problem with the misuse of other buildings with apparent overcrowding of rental properties. Then there is the mismanagement of the migration system which has led to profiteering and a complete disregard for the needs of our local community or the capacity of services.

The former Carrickmacross mayor said there was an evident need to support the inroads many local community organisations had made in recent times, saying the meeting also presented an opportunity to put forward real and credible solutions.

This public meeting is an opportunity for people in Carrickmacross to constructively engage and send a message that things need to change, he said.

It will be focused on identifying solutions to problems and giving local people an opportunity to have their voices heard. It is about helping to make our town the best place possible to live and work.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Shirley Arms Hotel from 8pm.
Goeff Butler, Neasa Clissmann, Gavin Fallon and Gareth Condell at the Wicklow County Council, Tourism Networking & Workshop 2025 in Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, Blessington.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Paul O'Brien, Leonora Earls and Cathaoirleach of the Baltinglass Municipal District Patsy Glennon with Mary and Chris Mitchell of the Green Angel, Barndarrig.

Over 100 participants from various tourism sectors took part in the second annual networking and workshop event organised by Wicklow County Council held in the Tulfarris Hotel, Blessington.

Held on Tuesday, April 29, Liz Steele, tourism manager with Tourism Northern Ireland delivered an extensive presentation on screen tourism, which focused on how Northern Ireland maximised tourism opportunities stemming from popular films shot in Belfast, including Game of Thrones and Derry Girls.

While delivering the opening remarks, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr Paul O'Brien said: This event was a fantastic opportunity for the tourism trade in Wicklow to network, share ideas, experiences and plans for the 2025 season. With so many films shot in County Wicklow, the insights from Tourism Northern Ireland provided valuable ideas to help us develop our screen tourism potential.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Paul O'Brien, Leonora Earls and Cathaoirleach of the Baltinglass Municipal District Patsy Glennon with Mary and Chris Mitchell of the Green Angel, Barndarrig.

The event began with updates from Wicklow County Council, Failte Ireland and County Wicklow Partnership. After Liz's presentation, participants were invited to join a series of workshops centred around screen tourism and seasonal themes for Wicklow. The morning event concluded with a complimentary tour of Russborough House and a visit to the newly opened west wing.

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer OGorman said: We are delighted to have organised this event. Tourism is one of Wicklows main economic drivers, and the Council is dedicated to maximising the county's tourism potential. We will take the feedback and ideas from the workshops to help our tourism team plan future activities.
As a result of receiving top Leaving Certificate results, a Wexford native has been presented with a prestigious award at the University of Limerick.

Sophia Tracey a student of Gorey Community School Leaving Certificate class of 2024 received the All Ireland Scholarship funded by JP McManus. Incredibly, Sophia got 625 points in her Leaving Certificate last year. This achievement is further enhanced as Sophia managed to obtain these results while also training as an international ice skater.

Sophia who is a member of the Irish National Figure Skating Team, has won several national titles and has competed at many international competitions including the ISU Junior Grand Prix.

She has also been offered a place in Biomedical Science in UCD. Sophia was accompanied by her former Principal Michael Finn at the ceremony in Limerick held on Friday, April 25.
Shoppers at Tesco Wexford witnessed some unsavoury scenes recently after a man in his 30s became aggressive, verbally abusive and made threats towards staff members at Tesco Wexford after being accused of shoplifting.

The man, known to gardai, made his way around the supermarket before eventually coming to the attention of security staff. It was alleged that the man had stolen groceries to the value of 15 and gardai were called to the scene, arriving quickly from the neighbouring Wexford Garda Station.

Although relatively small in value, when recovered the goods were not in a saleable condition and the man from the Rosslare District was charged with theft and criminal damage.

However, perhaps the most sinister element was that the accused became quite agitated and made threats against staff members at the supermarket.

When he was arrested, it also emerged that a bench warrant had been issued for the mans arrest on another charge. He was brought before Gorey District Court and further proceedings are pending.
Fr. McGuire blessing his parents as his first act as an ordained priest

Fr. Robert McGuire of St Fintans Church in Taghmon has celebrated his Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years of dedicated service. The youngest child of the late Robbie and Betty McGuire, he was born in Murrintown in November 1974 and attended Murrintown National School and Wexford Vocational School. Upon completing his Leaving Certificate, he entered St Peter's College Seminary in September 1992.

Fr. McGuire blessing his parents as his first act as an ordained priest

During his six years of study, Fr. Robert worked summer jobs in London and Indiana, USA. In 1999, Fr. Robert moved to Dublin to complete a three-month Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) course at the Mater Hospital. In August of that year, Bishop Brendan Commiskey ordained him a deacon, and on October 31, 1999, he was ordained a priest in Murrintown Church.

After ordination, Fr. Robert took up his first appointment as associate pastor in Holy Family Parish, South Bend, Indiana, USA.

In August 2002, he returned home and has since ministered in various parishes: New Ross Parish (2002-2003), Wexford General Hospital Chaplain (2003-2008), Poulpeasty (2008-2013), Galbally (2013-2016), Caroreigh/Trinity (2016-present), Administrator of Taghmon Parish (2019-present) and Administrator of Rathangan Parish (2022-present).

Fr McGuire with Bishop Ger Nash.

Many celebrations took place in Taghmon and Rathangan Parishes to honour Fr. Robert's Silver Jubilee. Family, friends, and congregation members wished him well, with some friends traveling from the USA to join the festivities. This milestone marks a significant achievement in Fr. Robert Mc Guire's life and ministry, celebrating his unwavering commitment to his faith and community.
Wexford town is to enter into a sister city partnership with Nizhyn in Ukraine in what has been described as a move to promote inclusion and peace throughout the respective areas. Having visited Wexford, Mayor of Nizhyn, Oleksandr Kodola, wrote to the Wexford Borough District to request that an official relationship be established.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks for the warm welcome and kind hospitality shown to me during my recent visit to Wexford, he said. I am truly grateful for Irelands continued support for Ukraine during these difficult times. The solidarity of the Irish people  and particularly the people of Wexford  is deeply appreciated. I was especially moved by the opening of the Sunflower Ukrainian Hub, which stands as a powerful symbol of compassion and unity.

In light of this, and the evident spirit of mutual respect between our communities, I would like to express my sincere interest in the possibility of establishing a twinning partnership between Nizhyn and Wexford. I believe such a partnership could lay the foundation for meaningful co-operation in areas such as cultural exchange, educational engagement, and long-term community connection.

The Church of John the Theologian in Nizhyn, Ukraine.

Nizhyn and Wexford share many common values  rich historical traditions, a strong sense of local identity, and a commitment to community life. I believe these shared qualities create a strong foundation for meaningful cooperation.

Mayor Kodolas invitation was discussed further at the April meeting of the Wexford Borough District with all councillors agreeing that accepting it would send a strong message out to the wider world.

Rather than a twinning process this would see Nizhyn become our sister city, said the Mayor of Wexford, Councillor Catherine Biddy Walsh. Its a movement that seeks to improve relations with cities around the world, with people around the world, its about enhancing inclusion, peace, and prosperity.

"It would be wonderful to establish a link with them and let them know we havent forgotten them and Wexford is a welcoming place for their people.

A proposal to formally accept the invitation was made by Cllr Robbie Staples with Cllr Ray Shannon seconding it.
The sight of local man Paul Walsh decked out in historical garb, leading groups of visitors around Wexford towns historic sites has become a familiar one in recent times.

However, the WexWalks owner now feels like the future of his business is hanging in the balance as a result of a new zero tolerance approach being taken by Wexford County Council in relation to sandwich boards and bollard sleeves advertising local businesses.

At a meeting of the Wexford Borough District back in February, the local authority confirmed that they would be getting tough on signs placed around the Main Street which make it harder for people to get around.

"We will be sending our workers out and if they come across them, theyll just be picking them up and taking them away, District Manager Anthony Bailey said. Theyll go straight into waste and will be destroyed too, because we won't be paying to store them.

Last week, Paul Walsh of WexWalks received correspondence from the District Manager, advising him that advertising structures on or along public paths and roadways is not permitted and asking him to reconsider use of the above.

The letter stated that from May 2, sandwich boards and bollard sleeves would be taken away and destroyed by Wexford County Council crews.

For Paul, this is a huge issue.

I totally get that there are some signs out there that are a nuisance, he said. Im a health and safety officer myself. I've carefully placed my sign in The Bullring so that its no obstruction to wheelchairs, strollers or people walking. Theres plenty of room.

Having carried out a survey among his customers, Paul says that 36% of his customers are people who came across his sign on the Main Street.

"I dont have a shopfront," he said. This is my shopfront. I know theyll say there's always social media and things like that, but the average age of my customers is 55 to 70. Most of them dont do social media. I had three tours last weekend and every one of them found me through my board in The Bullring.

"The council have been very good to me in the past, he continued. They were always fair. But I need to talk to someone about this. If my board has to go, then Im going to need some kind of alternative, be that a sign on a pole or something else.

Given Wexford County Council's apparent emphasis on growing the number of visitors into the town, Paul feels that making things difficult for small operators like him is counter-productive.

"Things are hard enough out there as it is, he said. Tourism is down 30% in Ireland at the moment and 80% of that is American tourists. Thats my bread and butter. If I lose the 36% of my business that comes from my board, then Im gone.

"I also like to think Im doing my bit when Im out there. When Im standing in The Bullring in my costume, with the physical tourist office now closed, people regularly come up to me and ask me questions. I couldn't tell you how many times Ive pointed people in the direction of local restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions.

Paul says that he has approached Wexford County Council and the District Manager with a bid to find a solution, with the clock ticking, however, he has yet to hear back from anyone.

"If I cant get some kind of solution here, this will kill my business stone dead, he said. Im not angry or bitter about it, I just want someone to talk to me to come up with a workable solution.

Citing Cream Cafe in Henrietta Street as another example of an impacted business, local councillor Raymond Shannon has accused the council of being heavy-handed and making things difficult for local businesses.

"These people are bringing business to the town and we should be supporting them," he said. Well have Guinness and Heineken rolling into town in a couple of months for the Fleadh with all kinds of huge banners and posters and not a word about it.

Cllr Raymond Shannon.

"We need to be supporting these businesses. Describing it as littering, I just dont understand. In terms of them being obstacles for people with disabilities or visual impairments, I understand the point. But are any of these signs any more of a hazard than the flower pots and chairs that are being put outside of pubs?

"We need to find some kind of compromise here that works for the traders involved, especially at a time when businesses are closing on the Main Street and footfall is down.
A concert of ancient Irish music is coming to Mermaid Arts Centre on Friday, May 9, with a focus on the bringing together of three musical styles  harping, traditional Irish, and early music.

Some of Irelands most celebrated musicians in traditional, classical, and early music join forces with award-winning visual artists to present Ceol Arsa Clairsi  a concert experience that is both musically and visually immersive.

This unique event showcases Irish harp music by composers such as Turlough Carolan, Thomas Connellan, and Ruairi Dall O Cathain, with historically informed arrangements drawn from original Irish and Scottish sources. Audiences will experience the rich sounds of gut-and wire-strung instruments of the period blended seamlessly with traditional instruments and, of course, the Irish harp.

The music will be accompanied by striking and atmospheric video imagery.

The line-up of musicians on the night includes Cormac Breatnach, an acclaimed whistle player deeply rooted in the Irish tradition, who has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists including Elvis Costello, Vanessa Williams, Donal Lunny, and Susan McKeown.

Originally from Australia, Dr Steve Cooney is one of the most influential musicians in modern Irish traditional music. A guitarist, composer, producer, and didgeridoo player, he has collaborated with Mary Black, Altan, Martin Hayes, Seamus Begley and many more.

Aisling Ennis is a leading Irish harpist known for her expressive and versatile performance style. She has trained at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School, RIAM, and holds a Masters in Arts Management from UCD.

Malachy Robinson is principal double bass with the Irish Chamber Orchestra since 1995, Malachy is also a member of Crash Ensemble and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. He performs regularly on viola da gamba and is a noted interpreter of contemporary Irish music.

Dr Eamon Sweeney is a specialist in early plucked-string instruments. He studied classical guitar at TU Dublin and early music in Barcelona. His extensive performance and teaching career includes collaborations with figures such as the late Seamus Heaney, Mary Coughlan, and Theo Dorgan.

Tickets are available through mermaidartscentre.ie priced 22.
The former Sea Life aquarium in Bray, Co Wicklow is to make a spectacular comeback this summer, after the east coasts best-loved visitor attraction closed almost two years ago, having been a fixture for 25 years in the seaside town.

The former Sea Life centre has been completely reimagined and expanded, promising an immersive visitor experience and will return this summer under a new name.

With cutting-edge exhibits and a strong focus on marine conservation and education, Marine Life Aquarium Bray will once again place Bray on the map as a top-tier family attraction.

This transformation marks a significant milestone for the town, with Marine Life predicted to potentially attract more than 125,000 visitors annually. As the only public aquarium on Irelands eastern seaboard, it will offer an essential hub for marine awareness and tourism along the coast.

Local business man Shane OFarrell has joined forces with Dr Kevin Flannery, who has over 30 years experience running various aquariums in Ireland, including Ocean World in Dingle.

The project also brings a substantial boost to the local economy, with 20 jobs to be created across marine biology, guest services, operations, education, and hospitality.

This is a landmark project for Bray and the east coast, said Shane OFarrell. Our goal with Marine Life is to build a modern, interactive aquarium that inspires all ages and strengthens Brays position as a leading destination. This investment reflects our long-term commitment to the town and its future.

Commenting on the news, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, said the re-opening is sure to bring a wave of excitement to Bray residents.

"I am absolutely delighted with the news that an aquarium is going into the former Sea Life building in Bray. Kevin, Shane, and the team are very experienced not just in running aquariums but also in marine conservation, and I am sure that the new aquarium, which will be named Marine Life Aquarium Bray, will prove an excellent resource to the town," Deputy Whitmore said.

The closure of Sea Life two years ago was a significant blow to Bray, impacting not only tourism but also the vibrancy of the promenade. I myself also have a background in marine biology and was therefore really disappointed by the 2023 closure. I reached out to multiple other aquariums at the time to see if they would take over this site, Deputy Whitmore explained. "Needless to say, I am delighted to see that one of those people I spoke to in 2023 has decided to take up operations in the building.

"I know that the new operators are keen for Marine Life Aquarium Bray to be an educational facility, which will be a fabulous fit to the East Coast, given our rich history of maritime activity. From my marine biology background, I know that sites like this are so important for budding marine biologists. I am really looking forward to working with the new operators to make this venture as successful as possible," Deputy Whitmore continued.

Ever since Sea Life closed its doors in 2023, Ive been holding out hope that an alternative provider would be found to reinstate this vital resource. Marine Life Aquarium Bray promises to be a significant addition to the local area, serving as an educational space for our youth and a destination for your tourism, she concluded.

Marine Life will officially open its doors in summer 2025, with a date to be confirmed.
Two expansive properties in south and west Wicklow that boast a combined 40 acres of agricultural land have been placed on the market for sale by private treaty.

Offered by Seek & Sell Auctioneers for 250,000, a 31.14-acre holding in Broughills Hill, c. 2km from Hollywood village, is set back from the Hollywood-Glendalough Road along a small lane.

Labelled as ideal hill grazing by a Seek & Sell Auctioneers spokesperson, the adjoining lands are used for grazing and forestry, with the elevated nature of the land providing stunning views stretching across Wicklow, Kildare and beyond. Hollywood Village.

Located in Ballybeg, Ballinglen, an 8.92-acre property is being offered by Kinsella Estates Carnew and Gorey for 130,000.

Free draining and currently in permanent pasture, the field has the advantage of extensive frontage and multiple access points onto two lanes. The land is being sold as is, and is not subject to planning permission.
Baltinglass man and CEO of evcoms, Mark Evans, celebrates being honoured as the Business All-Star Tech/Telecoms Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF).

The All-Ireland Business Foundation has awarded Baltinglass native and CEO of evcoms, Mark Evans, with the 2025 Business All-Star Tech/Telecoms Entrepreneur Of The Year award for his innovation and impact on the tech and telecom sectors.

Under Marks strategic guidance, evcoms has emerged as a leader in cloud communications, workforce optimisation and unified communications, with Marks ability to anticipate industry trends and drive technological advancements earning the company multiple tech excellence awards and ISO certifications, solidifying evcoms reputation as a trusted name in the industry.

A milestone that underscores his unwavering dedication to quality, security and forward-thinking solutions, Marks coveted entrepreneur of the year award reflects not only his achievements but also the strength of the team behind evcoms, who continue to set new benchmarks for the industry

Being recognised as the Business All-Star Tech/Telecoms Entrepreneur Of The Year is a tremendous honour, Mark said.

This accolade is a testament to the dedication of our incredible team, who are committed to innovation and excellence in everything we do.

At evcoms, we strive to revolutionise the tech and telecoms landscape with secure, intelligent, and future-proof solutions, ensuring businesses can communicate, collaborate, and grow with confidence.

An autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses, the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) praised Mark and evcoms achievements.

Marks visionary leadership and commitment to innovation have positioned evcoms as a leader in cloud communications, workforce optimisation and unified communications, AIBF adjudication board deputy chair Kieran Ring said.

His strategic foresight has driven industry advancements, earning multiple tech excellence awards and ISO certifications.

Marks dedication to quality, security, and customer-centric solutions continues to shape the future of the tech and telecoms sectors.

Congratulations to Mark on this prestigious recognition, celebrating his excellence, innovation, and impact in the industry.

Managing director of the All-Ireland Business Foundation, Kapil Khanna, added: Mark Evans exemplifies the qualities of a true industry leader.

His expertise, strategic foresight, and commitment to innovation have positioned evcoms as a frontrunner in the tech and telecoms sector.

This well-earned accolade highlights his outstanding contributions to the industry, and we are delighted to celebrate his success.

We evaluate a companys background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience.

The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.
The hitherto undiscovered stone recently had its source verified by multiple experts, adding an extra zero to its valuation

It's unusual for Kashmir sapphires - from a mine only open for five years - would have a 1940s setting, as most are Victorian

Theres wild excitement in the auction rooms, as a hitherto undiscovered Kashmir sapphire is on its way to market. Its owners, although aware they had a valuable sapphire, did not know it came from Kashmir.

The discovery put another zero on the price. Kashmir sapphires are the rarest, finest and most beautiful in the world. They come from the Zanskar range of the Himalayas, and were mined between 1882 and 1887.

The stone (Lot 23: est 150,000 to 250,000) is going under the hammer at Adams sale of Fine Jewellery and Ladies Watches on May 13.

It's unusual for Kashmir sapphires - from a mine only open for five years - would have a 1940s setting, as most are Victorian

The story of Kashmir sapphires reads like historical fiction. In 1890, Tom D LaTouche, the deputy superintendent of the Geological Survey of India, described how the first sapphires were brought into Shimla, now in Himachal Pradesh, in India.

They had been uncovered in the mountains on the borders of Zanskar, where a landslip had laid bare the rocks beneath the soil, and disclosed the presence of the gems.

LaTouche tells the tale of a shikari (hunter) who lost the flint from his gun while hunting and, with no other way of lighting his pipe, searched for a piece of rock to strike a spark. He picked up a small sapphire, and finding that it answered his purpose better than the ordinary fragments of quartz he was in the habit of using, carried it about with him for some time. Eventually, the hunter sold the stone to a Laholi trader, from whom it was taken to Simla, where its value was recognised.

Enquiries were made, the location was discovered, and guards were posted to prevent the locals from selling the stones at what LaTouche describes as absurdly low prices, the Laholis only asking about one rupee per seer for them.

Now, they can fetch astounding prices at auction. On April 25, an 11.56 carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring sold at Sothebys in Hong Kong for HKD $6,350,000 (721,514).

I think this is the first time a Kashmir sapphire has been auctioned in Ireland, says Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, head of jewellery at Adams.

Kashmir sapphires have an intense blue colour and a velvety appearance

The stone is mounted in a retro sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1940, and catalogued as of tank design, centring a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 6.22cts, between old brilliant and tapered baguette-cut diamond shoulders, and between baguette-cut diamond borders.

It comes from a private collector in France, who bequeathed the collection to her son. Before the stone was identified as a Kashmir sapphire, it was expected to sell for between 8,000 and 12,000.

A fine, classical Kashmir sapphire can be sold for many times more than a Madagascar sapphire of exceptional quality and size

Its famously impossible to identify a Kashmir sapphire by sight, but something in the quality of the stone alerted Mestrallet to the possibility.

Kashmir sapphires have an intense blue colour and a velvety appearance, she says. Its unusual to find one in a 1940s ring. Because of the short period of their mining, most Kashmir sapphires were mounted in Victorian jewellery.

The stone was removed from its setting and sent to a Gemmological Certification Services (GCS) London for testing and pronounced of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating.

These milky bands are the cause of the sleepy, velvety texture so admired in fine Kashmir sapphires

Many sapphires are heated at extremely high temperatures to intensify their colour and improve their clarity. This one is a natural stone.

It then went off to Switzerland where the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) confirmed it as a Kashmir sapphire.

Finding out where a sapphire came from is neither straightforward nor easy. A hundred years ago, it was much less of a problem. Then, according to an article in Gems & Gemology (2019), the only major sources of these sapphires were Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

About 25 years ago, Madagascar started producing large volumes of sapphires. Since a fine, classical Kashmir sapphire can be sold for many times more than a Madagascar sapphire of exceptional quality and size, finding out the source is undertaken with care and deliberation.

All the information about Kashmir sapphires comes from historic stones with provenance that can be proven. The mine was only open for five years, Mestrallet explains. Then it closed. Its been closed for more than 100 years.

Sapphires can be identified by mineral inclusions (materials trapped within the crystals structure) or by identifying the patterns of silk and particle clouds within the stones, which are described in a language akin to poetry: These milky bands are the cause of the sleepy, velvety texture so admired in fine Kashmir sapphires.

See adams.ie
Fatal mushroom poison case hears of money issues after ex-husbands tax form change

Erin Patterson denies triple murder in a case that has gripped the world

A court sketch shows Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Morwell, Australia, yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Alasdair Pal Reuters Fri 2 May 2025 at 03:30







The estranged husband of an Australian woman accused of murdering three of his elderly relatives with a meal laced with deadly mushrooms told a court yesterday their relationship had become increasingly strained in the year before the deaths.
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Brand was charged by post with rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and oral rape relating to four womenThe comedian and actor flew back to the UK from the US for the hearing on Friday

Russell Brand arrives at court charged with sexual offences

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Comedian and actor Russell Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference, a court heard.
Leader of far right AfD Alice Weidel waves a German flag at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany's spy agency on Friday classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as "extremist", enabling it to step up monitoring of the country's biggest opposition party, which decried the move as a "blow against democracy".
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Donald Trumps use of Alien Enemies Act to deport gang suspects is illegal, judge rules

US president had sought to remove Venezuelans under 18th-century law

US president Donald Trump points while surrounded by faith leaders in the White House Rose Garden during the National Day of Prayer yesterday. Photo: Reuters

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The Trump administrations use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of being gang members exceeds the scope of the law and runs contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the wartime statute.
Donald Trump has announced that there will be a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House as a part of the America 250 celebration
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Tamil Nadu Unveils Indias First State-Level Electronics Scheme

Tamil Nadu has introduced Indias first state-specific electronics components manufacturing scheme, aiming to draw investments worth INR 300 billion and generate 60,000 new jobs. The state has emerged as a major center for electronics hardware production, recording exports of US$14.65 billion in FY 202425.

Indias southern state of Tamil Nadu has become the first in the country to introduce a state-level electronics components manufacturing scheme. The state government initiative is expected to attract investments worth INR 300 billion (US$3.54 billion) and create over 60,000 jobs.

The announcement of a state-level electronics scheme comes shortly after the central government launched the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). This approach aims to amplify central incentives and support the growth of high-value, capital-intensive manufacturing.

States Chief Minister M.K. Stalin officially launched the policy on April 30, 2025. The scheme, in effect for three years from the date of notification, is expected to further strengthen the regions electronics manufacturing ecosystem and boost production in advanced component categories.

CLICK HERE: Indias Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECME) 2025: All You Need to Know

Tamil Nadu aligns incentives with Centre to drive advanced manufacturing

Tamil Nadu is targeting acceleration of value-added manufacturing and the development of critical sub-sectors in electronics. State government Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa has said that the state currently contributes over 41 percent of Indias electronics exports, positioning it to attract further investments, generate high-value jobs, and build deep manufacturing capabilities. The scheme also aligns with Tamil Nadus broader strategic goals under the Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024, which seeks to integrate the entire electronics value chainfrom basic components to complex assemblies.

During the Global Investors Meet (GIM) held in January 2024, Tamil Nadu unveiled its Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024, positioning the state as a key player in Indias high-tech manufacturing sector. On January 7, 2024, Tamil Nadu announced its Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024, created to align with Indias US$10 billion semiconductor incentive scheme. To attract investment, the state government has committed to offering up to 50 percent additional financial incentives to semiconductor projects that are selected under the central governments plan and choose to establish operations in the state. The policy notes that eligible projects will also receive support in workforce development, including incentives for training local talent. Further benefits include concessions on stamp duty, land, and electricity costs. In addition, global research and design firms in the chip and electronics sectors that set up facilities in Tamil Nadu will be eligible for a payroll subsidy of up to 30 percent for three years, provided they hire local residents. The subsidy will be capped at INR 20,000 (US$236.6) per employee per month, aimed at encouraging high-value employment and deepening the states talent pool in advanced electronics.

The matching-grant framework mirrors the central governments incentive structure and targets key manufacturing segments such as HDI and MSAP circuit boards, display units, camera modules, lithium-ion cells, SMD passive components, and capital equipment.

Tamil Nadu leads Indias electronics export growth

Tamil Nadu has firmly established itself as a leading hub for electronics hardware manufacturing and exports. Driven in part by Apples growing focus on India, the state recorded a 53 percent year-on-year increase in electronics exports in FY 202425, reaching US$14.65 billion, up from US$9.56 billion in 202324. This follows an even steeper 78 percent growth the previous year, when exports rose from US$5.37 billion in 202223.

Contributing 41.3 percent to Indias total electronics exports, Tamil Nadu has outperformed other states by a vast difference in FY 2024-25. Karnataka came in second with US$7.85 billion (22 percent), followed by Uttar Pradesh at US$5.26 billion (15 percent).

Indias Top Electronics Exporting States Rank State/region Export value 1 Tamil Nadu US$14.65 billion 2 Karnataka US$7.85 billion 3 Uttar Pradesh US$5.26 billion 4 Maharashtra US$3.51 billion 5 Gujarat US$1.85 billion 6 Telangana US$641.56 million

Apples manufacturing shift bolsters Tamil Nadus role

A major player behind Tamil Nadus export surge is the increased production of iPhones from India to the global markets. While China still accounted for 80 percent of iPhones shipped to the US in FY 202425, India-assembled iPhones, including the latest iPhone 16, are increasingly meeting US demand.

Apples Indian vendors, particularly Tata Electronics and Foxconn, collectively exported iPhones worth over INR 1.5 trillion (US$17.74 billion) in FY 2024-25more than double their original commitment under Indias PLI scheme. Approximately half of this value came from exports to the US.

Indias share in global iPhone production has now reached 1820 percent. Tamil Nadu plays a central role in this expansion, hosting over seven of Apples 14 India-based component and assembly facilities. These include major global suppliers such as the following:

Tata Electronics

Foxconn (Hon Hai)

Pegatron

Flex

Lingyi iTech

Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology

Zhen Ding Technology Holding

On Semiconductor

ALSO READ: Indias Emerging Semiconductor Ecosystem: Key Players

As Apple continues to scale up its operations in India through its key vendorsFoxconn, Pegatron, Tata Electronics, and WistronTamil Nadu has solidified its position as the cornerstone of Indias rapidly growing electronics export landscape.

Conclusion

Tamil Nadus introduction of a state-level electronics production scheme, along with its Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024, reflects its efforts to enhance participation in Indias electronics manufacturing and export ecosystem. The state aims to attract investment, strengthen value-added production capabilities, and support employment generation in the electronics sector.

Tamil Nadus growth in electronics exports, supported by increasing production from global firms such as Apple and its vendors, has positioned the state as a key contributor to Indias electronics output.

(US$1 = INR 84.51)
President Donald Trump has sharply intensified his administrations stand with Harvard University. In a series of moves that target the universitys finances and autonomy, Trump has frozen billions in federal research grants. These actions come after Harvard rejected his administrations demands to alter its approach to hiring, campus protests, and diversity programs.

Trump announces Tax status revocation

On Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform, saying, We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve! This statement came after Harvard declined to follow the administrations demands on campus speech and diversity policies.

Why tax-exempt status matters

Trump had stated that Harvards tax-exempt status depends on its actions being in the public interest. A day after his post, the Department of Justice confirmed that it had asked the IRS to begin the process of removing Harvards 501(c)(3) nonprofit classification. Losing that tax status would significantly impact Harvards financial standing.

US President Donald Trump | Credit: X

Grant freeze and financial pressure

Before the tax status announcement, the Trump administration had already halted $2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard. The funding suspension was a direct response to the universitys refusal to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and change its approach to hiring and administration. Trump also commented publicly, asking Education Secretary Linda McMahon, And it looks like we are not going to be giving them any more grants, right Linda?

Pro-Palestinian campus protests

The Trump administrations pressure campaign against Harvard is rooted in how the university handled pro-Palestinian protests following Israels military actions in Gaza in 2023. Trump accused the university of supporting ideologically dangerous ideas. He demanded that Harvard crack down on DEI initiatives, protest masks, and certain activist groups.

Harvards response

Harvard responded by refusing to comply with the federal demands, calling them a violation of academic freedom and free speech. The university filed a lawsuit after the funding freeze and also released two reports highlighting campus discrimination during protests. These reports documented incidents affecting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students. Harvard, however, pledged to address discrimination on campus.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
For the first time since last months sharp tariff escalation, China has publicly said it is evaluating the possibility of trade talks with the United States. While this is a shift from weeks of silence, Beijing has made it clear that dialogue will only begin if Washington shows sincerity and reverses what it calls wrong practices.

Messages from Washington, but no formal talks yet

Chinas Commerce Ministry announced that it has received messages from the US expressing a willingness to resume discussions. The US has recently sent messages to China through relevant parties, hoping to start talks with China. China is currently evaluating this, the ministry said.

US President Donald Trump | Credit: X

There have been no official negotiations yet. China continues to assess the outreach and has reminded that while the door is open, it remains fully prepared to fight to the end if provoked.

Financial markets react to hint of dialogue

The announcement from Beijing helped lift market sentiment across Asia. S&P 500 futures reversed earlier losses. Regional equities turned positive, and the offshore yuan strengthened. The Australian dollar  often a proxy for Chinas economic health also extended gains.

Exemptions suggest strategy shift

Though formal talks havent begun, Bloomberg reported that China has quietly prepared a list of US goods that could be exempted from retaliatory tariffs. This suggests a subtle attempt to reduce tensions without making obvious concessions.

At the same time, China has asked the US to show it is serious about negotiations. If the United States wants to talk, it should show its sincerity and be prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariffs, the Commerce Ministry added.

A tariff war at historic highs

Tariffs between the two countries remain at record levels. The US is currently imposing a 145% tariff on most Chinese imports  the result of multiple hikes starting under President Donald Trump. The rate climbed from an initial 20% through stages of 34%, 84%, 104%, and finally 125%, before reaching the current 145%. Some US exemptions exist for sectors like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and key minerals.

China responded by raising its own tariffs to 125% on US goods effective April 12. Still, certain items have been discreetly exempted  revealing Beijings attempt to balance retaliation with restraint.

Political shifts in Washington add complexity

President Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio who has been sanctioned by China will serve as interim national security adviser. Rubio is known for his strong positions on Taiwan and the South China Sea, both highly sensitive issues for Beijing.

Rubio told Fox News that China is seeking a short-term accommodation and that the current duties are significantly hurting its economy. They want to meet, they want to talk, he said.

Donald Trump with Xi Jinping | Credit: X

Chinas economy feels the strain

Chinas economic data reveals growing stress. Official manufacturing activity has slipped into its worst contraction since December 2023. New export orders have dropped to the lowest level since December 2022 with the biggest monthly fall since April 2022, when Shanghai was under lockdown.

No movement, but first step taken

Despite Beijings tough tone, this public evaluation shows a significant shift. The Chinese Commerce Ministry says its position remains unchanged  talks can happen if the US corrects its course. But after weeks of silence, the mere possibility of negotiations may be the first sign of a new phase.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 out: The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) is all set to be announced the Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 today. The result will be declared today, May 2, 2025, at 11:30 AM. Students who took the Class 10 exams can check their results online from 12:30 PM. The exams were held from March 21 to April 4, 2025.

To check the result, visit karresults.nic.in or kseab.karnataka.gov.in. Enter your registration number and date of birth. Over 8.96 lakh students from Karnataka appeared for the exam. This result marks the end of the 202425 academic year. More than 65,000 assessors took part in the evaluation process.

It was conducted in a fair and efficient manner. Students should download and save their SSLC digital marksheets for future use. The SSLC exams were conducted from March 21 to April 4, 2025, across 2,818 exam centers in Karnataka, with approximately 8,96,447 students appearing, including 4,61,563 boys and 4,34,884 girls.

Besides online access, students can also obtain their results via SMS by sending a specific code (KAR10 to 56263) or through the DigiLocker app.

How to check Karnataka SSLC result 2025 online?

Here is the required check Karnataka SSLC result 2025 online listed below:

Visit the official website karresults.nic.in or kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Click on the Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 link.

Enter your registration number and date of birth correctly.

Submit the details to view your result.

Download and print the marksheet for future use.

In case of website traffic overload, students can also check their Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 via SMS by sending a message in the format KSEEB10 [Roll Number] to 56263.

Important details mentioned on Karnataka SSLC result 2025

Students Name

Roll Number and Registration Number

Board and Examination Name

Subject-wise Marks and Total Marks

Final Result Status (Pass/Fail)

Karnataka SSLC Result 2025: Key Highlights

Total students appeared: 8,96,447 (4,61,563 boys and 4,34,884 girls)

Exam conducted across 2,818 centres

Minimum passing criteria: 35% aggregate

Last years pass percentage: 73.40%, with girls outperforming boys.

District toppers and overall statistics to be released by KSEAB.

FAQs

1. When was the Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 declared?

Answer: The Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 is all set to out today on May 2, 2025, at 11:30 AM by the Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa.

2. How can I check my Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 online?

Answer: Visit karresults.nic.in or kseab.karnataka.gov.in, click on the SSLC Result 2025 link, enter your registration number and date of birth, and submit to view your result.

3. What is the minimum passing mark for the Karnataka SSLC exam?

Answer: Students must score at least 35% aggregate marks to pass the Karnataka SSLC exam.

4. Can I check my Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 via SMS?

Answer: Yes, by sending KSEEB10 followed by your roll number to 56263, you can receive your result on your mobile phone.

5. What should I do if I want to re-evaluate my Karnataka SSLC marks?

Answer: Students can apply for revaluation or re-totalling through the official KSEAB website after the results are declared.

For more news and updates from the world of Education, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Pakistani actress Hania Aamir has spoken out after a viral fake statement began circulating on social media, linking her to controversial remarks about the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The comment, which falsely suggested that she blamed the Pakistan Army and Islamic terrorists for the incident, has caused confusion and backlash online. Now, Hania Aamir has set the record straight.

Hania Aamir shares an official statement

In a statement shared on her social media before her Instagram account was blocked in India, Hania clarified that the circulating quote was completely fabricated. She stated that she had not made the remark, nor did it reflect her beliefs or opinions. According to her, the statement being attributed to her is false and deeply misrepresents who she is.

Hania Aamir/Amir on instagram issued a public statement over fake statements that are being posted on social media platforms using her name/pretending to be her! pic.twitter.com/F04d9yXvwS  resplay era  (@rayainalif) May 1, 2025

She expressed sadness over the loss of innocent lives in the recent tragedy, adding that this is a time that demands empathy  not division. Hania emphasised that the actions of extremists do not represent an entire country or its people, and urged people to avoid assigning blame without verified facts.

Hania Aamir | Credit: X

This is a painful time, she noted, through her statement, and we must respond with clarity, not chaos. Misinformation only adds to the hurt and confusion.

Hania also had a message for her fans, asking them to be mindful and not engage with or share unverified content. She stressed the importance of verifying facts before forming opinions or spreading information.

Instagram accounts banned of Pakistani actors

This comes amid a broader digital crackdown, as multiple Pakistani celebrities accounts  including those of Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir  are now inaccessible in India. However, the accounts of others such as Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi, and Shae Gill remain visible.

Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, and other Pakistani actors are blocked in India | Credit: X

Hania Aamirs fake quote

The fake quote, which included the line, The Pakistani army and Islamic terrorists are behind the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam. Then why are you punishing us? had gained traction quickly, but has now been debunked by the actress herself.

Hania Aamirs alleged message to PM Modi over Instagram ban | Credit: X

In an increasingly polarised digital space, Hanias calm and thoughtful clarification serves as a reminder to prioritise truth, empathy, and responsible sharing, especially during such sensitive moments.
The internet is truly undefeated. Just when you thought things could not get more dramatic, a Pakistani man decided to turn global tensions into a side hustle. After the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam led to several Pakistani social media accounts and drama channels being blocked in India, one Instagram user named Awais saw an opportunity  and boy, did he shoot his shot.

Indians can watch Hania Aamirs show in Rs 25

In a now-viral Instagram Story, Awais offered to sell Indians blocked Pakistani content  from full HD photos of actress Hania Aamir to entire episodes of popular dramas  at the very affordable rate of Rs 25 per episode. Yes, twenty-five rupees. No UPI charges, no OTT tantrums. The Story read like a true 2025 hustle: Hania Aamir ki full HD pictures ya kisi bhi Pakistani drama ki episodes downloaded chahiye to raabta karein.

Is it a joke or reality?

While it is unclear whether the offer was a joke or a low-key pitch for a black market streaming startup, it definitely caused a social media meltdown. Reddit users were the first to grab the popcorn, with one netizen stating that anyone desperate to watch banned content would simply use a VPN anyway." Another chimed in that Telegram groups offering the same stuff for free were already sprouting like mushrooms in monsoon. Someone even predicted a new startup is loading, while a Shark Tank meme made the rounds with Rs 25 for 5% equity jokes flying.

Hania Aamirs fake Instagram story

The drama does not stop there. Hania Aamir, who unintentionally became the face of this bizarre narrative, was also recently dragged into controversy over a fake post circulating online. The viral screenshot falsely quoted her blaming the Pakistan Army for the Pahalgam attack and pleading with Indian PM Narendra Modi not to punish ordinary Pakistanis. The actress, who has maintained a dignified silence over political matters, was quick to issue a clarification. She denied ever making such statements and urged people to stop believing and sharing misinformation without verifying facts.

Hania Aamirs alleged message to PM Modi over Instagram ban | Credit: X

Meanwhile, back on Instagram, Awais may or may not be the hero we deserve, but he certainly is the one the internet needed. In a post-ban era where censorship, fandom and hustle culture collide, this Rs 25 drama just got its own masala plotline.
Bron Breakker aligned with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins on the Raw after WrestleMania 41 in a development that left fans speechless. In doing so, he turned from being a face (heel) to being a heel (villain) and added a new dimension to his career. This has the potential to establish him as a main-eventer. However, a veteran writer is not convinced about the way WWE has handled this angle.

Vince Russo feels WWE should not have turned Bron Breakker heel

Vince Russo has been an integral part of the professional wrestling fraternity since the 90s. He has worked with promotions such as WWE and WCW. In an exclusive interview with Indiatimes, Russo slammed the Stamford-based promotion for turning Bron Breakker heel even though fans want to cheer for him.

It is confusing. Heyman and Rollins are supposed to be heels as they screw*d CM Punk and Reigns. They have now brought Bron Breakker into the fold. It's clear that fans want to cheer for Bron, he said.

Breakker joined Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman merely 24 hours after losing the Intercontinental title to Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 41 He attacked Roman Reigns as the Head of the Table geared up to spear Paul Heyman for betraying him and CM Punk at The Show of Shows. Breakker then speared him through the barricade and also took out Punk. Russo feels that the company should have kept the title on The Badass.

He is going to be Seth Rollins lackey. I would have kept the title on him, he said.

Interestingly, Reigns and Punk have not been seen on WWE programming since the heel turn.

Bron Breakker destroyed Sami Zayn on this weeks Raw

Seth Rollins addressed the audience on the latest episode of Raw and called himself the future of the company. The Architect, Breaker, and Heyman were interrupted by Sami Zayn. The Canadian star called out the three men for their actions. Seth responded by asking Sami Zayn to move to SmackDown. Later in the night, Sami refused the offer and asked his former friend to go to hell. Post this, Bron Breakker destroyed him in a sanctioned match by hitting him with multiple spears. Seth Rollins put an exclamation point on the beatdown by delivering a curb stomp to him.

For all the latest coverage on WWE, track updates here
Airlines in the region are considering expanding their routes to Greece as the countrys tourism strategy shows positive results at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, which concluded Thursday.

Greeces efforts to attract emerging tourism markets are gaining traction, with strong interest reported from Gulf,

Indian, and Australian travel sectors.

The momentum was evident at this years ATM, where the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) represented the country.

GNTO President Angela Gerekou and Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos held high-level discussions with key airline executives and travel industry stakeholders from the Middle East during the event.

According to a GNTO statement, Greece is experiencing a surge in interest from the region. Qatar Airways is reportedly considering a 15% increase in airline seats from Australia to Athens this year and is also planning to expand services to more Greek destinations and launch a new route to Thessaloniki.

Air Arabia announced daily flights between Sharjah and Athens and is evaluating adding further Greek destinations to its network.

Flydubai will operate flights to Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu this season, with potential plans to extend operations beyond the summer and introduce new routes by 2026.

During the event, GNTO Secretary General Fiorentinos also met with Emirates executives to explore joint promotional and marketing initiatives.

The developments reflect Greeces growing appeal as a year-round destination for long-haul travelers and highlight the success of the Greek Tourism Ministrys outreach to new travel markets.

   iefimerida.gr
The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, had his first telephone conversation with the US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, on Friday.

In a post on X, Dendias said that they discussed "the strategic defence relations between Greece and the US, as well as common regional and international security challenges".

   iefimerida.gr
Long before Alan Turing posed his famous question about whether machines could think, the ancient Greeks envisioned artificial beings that mirrored modern ideas of robots and AI.

Central to this ancient vision was Talos, a bronze guardian said to patrol the shores of Crete, hurling boulders to repel intruders.

Talos appears in Greek

mythology as a towering automaton forged by Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. Described in Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica, Talos was programmedrather than bornto defend the island kingdom of King Minos.

This mechanical sentinel circled Cretes coastline three times a day and possessed a single, fatal vulnerability: a vein in his ankle, sealed by a bolt, through which the divine fluid ichor flowed.

Scholars argue that the myth of Talos represents one of the earliest conceptualizations of artificial intelligence.

What living creature has a metal body and a circulatory system sealed with a bolt? asks Adrienne Mayor, a Stanford University classicist and author of Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology.

Talos was designed as a hybrid machine of animate and inanimate parts, she writes.

The tale also foreshadows modern anxieties surrounding AI.

When the Argonauts attempted to land on Crete, Medea, the sorceress companion of Jason, neutralized Talos by exploiting his singular weakness.

She hypnotized him, appealed to his fear of death, and convinced him to remove the bolt from his ankle in exchange for immortality. Talos then collapsed, drained of his life-like energy.

That Medea used persuasion and hypnosistools that only affect sentient beingshints that Talos had some level of self-awareness, Ms. Mayor suggests.

Despite being made, not born, he developed quasi-human fears and responses.

This theme is not isolated. Greek mythology offers several examples of artificial entities animated by divine or magical forces: Pygmalions statue Galatea, brought to life by Aphrodite; the intelligent golden tripods of Hephaestus; and Pandora, crafted from earthly materials to deceive mankind.

Each reflects evolving human concerns about the boundaries between life, artifice, and control.

Alan Turing famously asked in 1950, Might not machines carry out something which ought to be described as thinking but which is very different from what a man does? Talos, in many ways, predates this question by over two millennia.

The myths enduring power, says Ms. Mayor, lies in its continued relevance.

In Talos, the Greeks did not just imagine a machine with human traits; they also imagined what it meant for such a machine to break down.

No matter how advanced a creation, she notes, there will always be a Medeasomeone who can find and exploit its flaws.

As debate over AIs limits and potential continues in the modern era, Talos stands as a hauntingly prescient symbol of both technological promise and its intrinsic vulnerabilities.

By Konstantinos Tsavalos



   iefimerida.gr
Greece has taken over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for May, and its Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, outlined the Council's agenda during a press briefing.

Ambassador Sekeris detailed key priorities for Greece's presidency, including a focus

on enhanced maritime security and the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

He provided the schedule of upcoming meetings and answered questions from journalists on various Council issues.

"This marks the third consecutive EU presidency of the Security Council, following Denmark and France," Mr. Sekeris noted, highlighting the institutional continuity within the European Union's engagement at the UN.

Greece's goals for its presidency include promoting transparency, efficiency, and inclusive decision-making processes within the Security Council.

The briefing began by acknowledging World Press Freedom Day, observed on May 3rd. Mr. Sekeris stated that Greece, as a co-chair (with France and Lithuania) of the Friends of the Protection of Journalists group, would issue a statement honoring the day and paying tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty, reaffirming Greeces commitment to press freedom.

A main thematic event under Greece's presidency will be held on May 20, titled "Enhanced Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to chair the meeting, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the Union of Greek Shipowners Melina Travlos among the keynote speakers.

Mr. Sekeris described this as a high-level initiative to emphasize the importance of international law and maritime cooperation.

On May 22, a ministerial-level debate will focus on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, chaired by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. Speakers will include representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, and Save the Childrens John Tissler Pinko. The debate will stress adherence to international humanitarian law, the protection of humanitarian workers, and the gender dimension of civilian protection.

Responding to a question from the Athens News Agency about the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and maritime security threats in regions like the Eastern Mediterranean or the Red Sea, Mr. Sekeris reiterated Greece's support for resolving maritime disputes through UNCLOS.

He emphasized the relevance of the recent Pact for the Future, adopted by UN member states, which includes direct references to UNCLOS and maritime law.

Mr. Sekeris also mentioned UNSC Resolution 2768 (2025) on the Red Sea, co-drafted by Greece and the U.S., highlighting the importance of maritime security, supply chains, and international law, noting a growing consensus on the critical role of UNCLOS.

In response to a question from the Cyprus News Agency, Mr. Sekeris affirmed Greece's unwavering support for a resolution to the Cyprus issue, despite no planned discussion on it in May.

He emphasized the importance of the Security Councils engagement and welcomed the UN Secretary-Generals efforts toward a peaceful resolution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality.

Asked about the attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Sekeris stated that Greece is closely monitoring the situation, condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends condolences.

While no meeting is currently scheduled, he did not rule out an emergency session if needed.

Regarding potential sessions on Iran, Ukraine, or nuclear non-proliferation, Mr. Sekeris noted that there are no mandatory meetings scheduled but acknowledged that requests may arise given the gravity of these issues, confirming that nuclear non-proliferation remains a key Council priority.

On Ukraine, Mr. Sekeris reaffirmed Greeces support for its territorial integrity, stating, There can be no peace without Ukraine  and without Europe at the table.

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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on Friday with Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates Dr. Sultan Al Jaber at Maximos Mansion.

At the beginning of the meeting of the two delegations, the renewal of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Greece and the United Arab Emirates was announced through an exchange

of declarations.

During the meeting, the strong strategic partnership between Greece and the United Arab Emirates  which was established in 2020  and the mutual will to further deepen economic and investment cooperation were reaffirmed, following Mitsotakis last visit to the United Arab Emirates and his meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on 27th of February.

It is noted that the target of 4 billion in direct investment in the Greek economy, set in 2022 with the Strategic Investment Cooperation Agreement, between the Hellenic Development Bank, the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments and Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth fund ADQ, has already been exceeded.

During the meeting, which was attended by representatives of companies and investment funds of the United Arab Emirates that are already active or interested in investing in Greece and who participated in an Investment Forum held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prospects for further investment cooperation were discussed. Emphasis was placed on investment opportunities in the fields of energy and connectivity, digital technology, artificial intelligence and data centers.

At the beginning of the meeting, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber had the following dialogue:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis : Well, first of all, Dr. Sultan, my dear friend, its a real pleasure to welcome you again to Athens. You have been a frequent visitor and I am particularly happy that we meet in the context of what I understand has been a very, very successful business forum and interaction between very important companies who made the trip to visit us in Greece, the Greek authorities and the Greek business community.

I remember some years ago we set an ambitious target which was framed in the context of a strategic economic partnership. And we set some targets regarding direct investments, foreign direct investments by the UAE, by the UAE into the Greek economy. We have reached, if not surpassed, these targets. Very important investments have been made in the energy and the health care sectors, amongst others.

I think this is a time to set our sights even higher and to aim for more. We have made this strategic partnership work. This was not just a document that was signed, an indication of an expression of interest. And I can tell you again that I value this strategic partnership as one which is extremely important for our country.

Greece has been progressing very rapidly over the past years. We are outperforming many European countries. We have a stable economic environment. We offer opportunities in many different sectors, as Im sure you know. And were happy to build upon this strategic partnership to further strengthen our cooperation.

Im also particularly happy to announce that in the context of your visit, weve agreed to renew the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Greece and the UAE to the benefit also of numerous Greek professionals and companies which have established their base in the UAE.

And finally, I would also like to tell you, wearing my European hat, that Im particularly positive and optimistic about the possibility of signing, as quickly as possible, a free trade agreement between the European Union and the UAE. This will be my personal priority as a country which essentially is, together with Cyprus, closest to the UAE within the European family. Lets make this happen. I think it will be to the benefit of both our economies.

So again, please convey to His Highness my deepest respect and my best regards and thank you again for making this such a successful visit.

Sultan Al Jaber : Your Excellency, its indeed a pleasure to be back to this great country and to have the opportunity to meet with you again. And thank you for taking the time and for the warm welcome and hospitality presented to us by your great team. Im pleased to convey the UAE Presidents warmest regards and best wishes to you, to your government and to the people of Greece. As you know, His Highness holds Greece and its people in the highest esteem and he greatly values the very special relationship he has with you and with many friends here in this great country.

I must say, your Excellency, that it was your vision and His Highness vision, your commitment and your dedication that have enabled this progress and this very special relationship. We have been enjoying a very good relationship with our counterparts here in Greece. And since we signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we have seen a transformation in the Strategic Partnership and we have been able to accelerate many developments and delivered many good results.

We need now to build on the success of this relationship and expand the scope of this cooperation. As youve heard in your very successful visit in February in Abu Dhabi where you met with His Highness, His Highness was very clear in terms of his ambition in this relationship, as well as how much he emphasises the importance of us expanding the scope and the nature of this very important relationship. And I am hopeful that with your help, with your guidance, hopefully with also the Free Trade Agreement, that Greece and the UAE will be able to develop much more concrete opportunities that have enough skill to cater for the expansion of this very important relationship.

Your Excellency, I am today supported here with and joined by a very senior delegation that represents many important organisations within the UAE. If you allow me, Id like to invite those who are interested just to say a couple of words to brief you on what they have done and what they plan on doing in terms of expanding our scope of cooperation. I thank you again.

   iefimerida.gr
A shipping vessel docked at the Phase II Terminal of the Nansha Port in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Tuesday, marking the launch of the first direct route from Guangzhou to the western coast of South America.

After loading 400 containers of electronics,

household appliances and other products manufactured in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the vessel will start its journey bound for South America.

The WSA3 route, operated with 11 vessels of 10,062 TEU container capacity, will connect Guangzhous Nansha Port with key ports in Latin America including Chancay Port in Peru, Manzanillo Port in Mexico and San Antonio Port in Chile.

The routes opening will help boost the comprehensive upgrade of the logistics channel between the Greater Bay Area and the western coast of Latin America, further enhancing the golden channel for economic and trade exchanges between China and Latin America, said Sun Bangcheng, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Port Company Limited.

China has become the second-largest trading partner of Latin America, following the signing of the first free trade agreement between China and Latin American countries 20 years ago.

The trade volume between China and Latin America has grown from around $12 billion in 2000 to approximately $500 billion in 2024, according to Customs data.

The new route directly connecting Chancay Port in Peru, operated by COSCO Shipping Ports Limited, is an important project under the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Peru.

Serving as South Americas first smart and green port, the operation of Chancay Port is seen as a model of infrastructure cooperation between China and Latin America, helping shorten the sea transportation time between Peru and China to 23 days, saving over 20 percent in logistics costs.

This route not only provides a fast lane for Made in China products like household appliances, electronics, furniture and toys from the Greater Bay Area to venture into the Latin American market, but also enables high-quality tropical fruit, Pacific coast seafood, Andean wines, as well as commodities like pulp, fishmeal and minerals to enter the Chinese market, said Sun.

Located in the Nansha port area, the Nansha International Cold Chain Project has built three multistory cold storage facilities, offering a total storage capacity of 227,000 metric tons, according to the port company.

With the ability of inspecting 162 refrigerated containers simultaneously, the facilities ensure that the seamless cold chain services for temperature-controlled goods are never broken, from inspection through to storage.

Dubbed Asias largest refrigerator, the project has supported the Chilean cherry express route at Nansha Port since 2019. Chiles cherry exports surged 51.4 percent year-on-year in 2024, with China remaining the South American countrys top cherry export market.

With the operation of the new shipping route and other logistics support, more refrigerated cargo such as beef, lamb, white shrimp, salmon, squid, grapes, avocados, prunes and plums are expected to efficiently reach Chinese consumers through Nansha port, said Sun.

(China Daily)

  Shipping expands from Guangzhou to west coast of S. America    Metaforespress.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, on Friday advised President Bola Tinubu against contesting for a second term in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed said President Tinubu should instead focus on mentoring a younger, more dynamic candidate who understands Nigerias challenges and is capable of leading the country into a better future.

He emphasised that Tinubus remaining years in office should be dedicated to addressing Nigerias key problems and preparing a successor who embodies a forward-thinking and energetic leadership style.

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If I had met with President Tinubu, I would have told him not to run in 2027 and to back a younger candidate. There are better things he could do than being the president, he could spend the next two years of his life doing the things he ought to do that he hasnt done yet or improving on what he has done, he said.

Then, like I said in my letter, look for a younger person who is more energetic, healthier, more focused, and more committed to the future of this country.

There are a lot of patriotic and desperate Nigerians who want to be part of the future of this country, test them with power because you have done your bit. You dont need to run for another one.

Spend the next two years fixing Nigeria, fix the economy, and security.

Baba-Ahmeds comments add to the ongoing national debate on succession, leadership renewal, and the direction of Nigerias political landscape ahead of 2027.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has rejected viral report, claiming his potential defection from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressive Congress.

Governor Adeleke declared his loyalty to PDP during a strategic meeting with party leaders on Thursday night.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Governors claim is coming, amid massive defection in the major opposition party.

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Some PDPs stakeholders, including a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun State have left PDP for APC.

Most notable is the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who joined the ruling party, alongside other party members.

Mr Oborevwori cited the need to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan would be proud of as the reason for their defection.

READ MORE: Stay In PDP, Support Tinubu  Osun Group Tells Governor Adeleke

Reacting to the development on Thursday, Governor Adeleke, during a meeting with leaders of the Osun State chapter of PDP claimed, that rumors were spread by those threatened by the states progress under his leadership.

He said: My people, party elders and chiefs, I declare before you today that I am not defecting to APC or any other political party. I remain in PDP. Ignore any fake news.
Nigerian businessman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest, has warned his fellow elites to refrain from spraying money at public events, cautioning that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is actively targeting individuals for such acts.

In a post marking the start of the new month, Cubana Chief Priest advised well-known businessmen and celebrities to avoid spraying Naira, U.S. dollars, or any foreign currency at celebrations, as the EFCC is not taking the practice lightly.

He further urged those who have already received invitations from the EFCC to comply.

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READ MORE: Naira Abuse: Spraying Money At Events Is Illegal  E-Money Advises After Release From Detention

If you are famous, if you are a well-known businessman with an address, please dont spray money. EFCC are not joking about this. If you already have an invitation letter from the EFCC, please go and honour it. For now, spraying of money don cost for we wey dey popular. I nearly got in jail last year. Me I no go ever spray again whether dollar, euro, Naira or pounds. Im seriously working on another type of doings wey we go dey use to shut down events. If you spray money, EFCC must come for you. Happy New Month, fam; avoid wahala, he stated.

Paul Okoye, known in the industry as Paulo, responded to the crackdown in the comment section, questioning why the EFCC continues to target Nigerians over the practice of spraying money, a custom that has long been embedded in Nigerian culture.

But why? Is not making sense. Is our culture for fck sake, Okoye remarked, expressing disbelief that such a long-standing cultural tradition is now being criminalized.

Their comments come just days after businessman E-Money was reportedly arrested by the EFCC for allegedly spraying U.S. dollars at an event, an act said to violate the Foreign Exchange Act.

Both Cubana Chief Priest and Paul Okoyes remarks reflect their concerns about the enforcement of these laws, with Cubana Chief Priest advising his peers to avoid attracting attention, while Okoye stood by the idea that money spraying is part of Nigerian cultural practices.

SEE POST:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJHgAwgIik8/?igsh=MWgwemNjdXl4NGk3cQ==




A Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced one Andrew Nice Ominikoron to death by hanging for killing Bamise Ayanwola.

Recall that the defendant, who was a driver of Lagos bus rapid transit, popularly known as BRT was accused of killing Bamise, a 22-year-old Lagos based fashion designer on February 26, 2022.

Ominikoron was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, rape, murder, and sexual assault.

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The victim was said to have boarded a BRT bus driven by Ominikoron at the Ajah axis of Lagos.

READ MORE: Bamise Ayanwola: Court Remands BRT Driver For Alleged Rape, Murder Of Passenger

Her disappearance sparked public outrage and a widespread search, nine days later, her lifeless body was found on Carter Bridge in Lagos Island.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Sherifat Sonaike held that the prosecution successfully proved its case, relying on the doctrine of last seen and the victims dying declaration to establish Ominikorons guilt.

The judge said: That for the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has decried over economic hardship facing Nigerians, saying that many workers in the country are hungry.

The union stressed that President Bola Tinubus led administration must ensure full enforcement of the N70,000 national minimum wage.

Speaking during Workers Day celebration in Abuja on Thursday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, expressed concern over the worsening plight of Nigerian workers, who, he said, are at a crossroads due to anti-workers policies.

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He noted that despite the enactment of the minimum wage act, several states and private organisations are yet to implement the legislation, exacerbating the struggles of workers across the country. READ MORE: May Day: National Assembly Wont Allow Any Workers To Be Victimized  Akpabio
A witness of the Federal Government, has admitted at the Federal High Court in Abuja, that no weapon of terrorism was recovered from Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu during his arrest on October 15, 2015 in Lagos State.

The witness who is an operative of the Department of the State Service, (name withheld) also informed court that no arms of public disturbance was recovered from the lady arrested with Kanu.

In a cross examination conducted by Kanus lawyer, Kanu Agabi, the witness said that all the items were personal properties of the Biafra nation agitator.

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He added that the recovered items may not be ordinarily offensive but the intention of the defendant may be something else.

The DSS officer also told the court that he did not conduct any analysis on the items because his mandate was to enforce an arrest and obtain a statement from Kanu.

Answering a question, the witness admitted analyzing the cell phone of the defendant but the report of the analysis was not made available to court because it was immaterial.

READ MORE: FCT Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanus Fundamental Rights Suit Against FG

In the 10 years that the items were impounded, he admitted the properties may have lost their value and become of no use.

He further explained that he did not bring anybody before Kanu to confront him on any issue of terrorism.

The witness also admitted that Kanus statement was obtained without the presence of his lawyer.

He admitted not knowing any person put on trial by the federal government on account of agitation for Biafra nation actualization.

According to him, the only one he knows is Simon Ekpa who he said, would soon be brought to the country for trial for supporting Kanu in the agitation.

The witness said he read in the newspapers and social media about those backing the defendant in the agitation.

Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho has fixed May 6th, 7th and 8th for continuation of cross examination based on the agreement of lawyers.
An Ondo State Magistrate Court, siting in Ondo State has ordered one Dab Bello, to either pay a N20 million compensation for allegedly destroying farmland or serve a 10-year jail sentence.

It was gathered that Bello, who is said to be herder, was found guilty on all five counts filed against him, including conspiracy, unlawful grazing, malicious damage of crops worth N50 million, breach of peace, and illegal entry.

Prosecution counsel, P.O. Nwafor, told court that the incident occurred on October 27, 2023, when Bello grazed his cattle on a farm owned by the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, located along the Ago PanuUte Road in Owo LGA.

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The cattle reportedly destroyed young palm trees and watermelon crops planted across two hectares of land.

Nwafor added that Bello did not obtain a permit for grazing and encroached on land not designated for livestock under the Ondo State Livestock Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2021.

The prosecution further alleged that the situation escalated when one of the herders, who fled during the initial incident, returned the following day with six others and set fire to the farm, destroying a motorcycle in the process.

READ MORE: Ondo Court Remands Man, Orders Him To Clear Bushes For Allegedly Sodomising Eight-Year-Old Step-Brother

A farm guard, who testified during the trial, said he apprehended Bello while the second herder escaped.

Delivering judgment, Damilola Sekoni, the presiding magistrate, held that the prosecution had presented credible and convincing evidence against the defendant.

Bello was sentenced to four years in prison on the first count without an option of fine, two years on the second count with an option of N50,000 fine, and one year each on the third and fourth counts.

On the fifth count, he was handed two years imprisonment without an option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.

However, the court said Bello could be discharged if he pays N2 million in compensation to the complainant.
A fire that engulfed Samlove Hotel in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, destroyed property valued at millions of naira.

DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the occurrence on Thursday.

Ayanlade informed the News Agency of Nigeria that, despite the fire burning for hours, there were no casualties.

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READ MORE: Lagos Confiscates 139 Commercial Motorcycles Over Ban Violations

He revealed that the police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

One of the hotel staff members told the News Agency of Nigeria that the fire, caused by electrical sparks, began around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday and quickly consumed the hotels bar.

The staff member, who requested to remain anonymous, mentioned that the fire did not impact the hotels main building.

We thank God that no life was lost in the fire incident as guests in the hotel help to put out the fire from spreading to other parts of the hotel, she said.

It is worth noting that a recent fire also destroyed Caring Heart Market in Okitipupa, with goods valued at millions of naira being lost.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed any possibility of a working alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Partys presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

Speaking with news men on Thursday Olayinka disclosed, that both political figures cannot collaborate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, stressing that their coalition efforts were dead on arrival.

He argued that Peter Obi would not participate in any opposition alliance designed to further Atikus personal political ambitions.

According to Olayinka, the idea of a coalition is already flawed, as it lacks inclusivity and appears to serve a singular interest.

Olayinka also referenced the political history between the duo, noting that despite being Atikus running mate in the 2019 election under the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi parted ways after their defeat.

While Atiku has publicly extended an invitation to Obi to join a new opposition front against President Bola Tinubus re-election, Olayinka maintains that Obi would not agree to such terms, particularly one that centers Atiku as the likely beneficiary.

He said: The moment you are doing coalition, and that coalition is to support one persons ambition. Who is talking about coalition? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. And who is thinking about benefiting from coalition? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. How will coalition now work?

The moment you are talking about coalition to benefit Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, coalition will not work.

Will Peter Obi agree to run with Atiku Abubakar? Will Atiku allow Peter Obi to run as President under the coalition? Or will Peter Obi allow another person to be presented as candidate? These are the issues. It cannot work and it will not work.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, has called for the South to have a full eight years in power, similar to the Norths tenure.

In an interview with journalists on Thursday, Otong praised President Bola Tinubus governance, citing his efforts to ensure that state governors receive adequate funding.

This, according to Otong, has fostered peace and effective governance in Nigeria.

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He stated, All of us have said Tinubu is doing very well, and we are going to support Tinubu for his second term, and you know, this second term is just for the South. The Northerners have got their eight years, so the South must also have theirs.

Otong further highlighted that Akwa Ibom State has not needed to request loans, attributing this to the financial support provided by the federal government under Tinubus leadership.

Otongs remarks align with those of Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, who recently stated that Tinubu would remain in power until 2031, citing broad support for the president. Otongs comments reflect a broader call for political equity, emphasizing the Souths rightful share of presidential power.
An explosion has rocked Giwa Barracks, a popular military detention facility where many former Boko Haram fighters are believed to be held in Maiduguri, Borno State.

It was gathered that the incident started at about 12:05 am, with residents in the vicinity forced out of their homes by the sounds of loud blasts and the sight of red flares lighting up the sky around the barracks.

In a statement by Reuben Kovangiya, acting deputy director of army public relations, on Thursday, disclosed that explosion was caused by excessive heat amid sweltering temperatures.

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He added that collaborative efforts of the Borno state fire service and other security agencies fire units curtailed further damage.

The statement reads: The Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI Maiduguri, wishes to inform the general public of an incident involving the explosion of ordnance in one of our ammunition storage facilities located in Giwa Barracks.

READ MORE: Borno Govt Reintegrates 300,000 Repentant Terrorists

The explosion was due to the current high temperatures in Maiduguri, which led to the explosion of some munitions.

The situation has, however, been brought under control with the combined efforts of the Borno State Fire Service Department and other fire trucks from security agencies.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have been deployed to protect the public and prevent miscreants from taking advantage of the situation.
Nigerias Flying Eagles started their Africa U-20 Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory against Tunisia in a tightly contested Group B opener at Cairos 30 June Stadium.

The decisive moment came in the 38th minute when Auwal Ibrahim, the promising Akwa United forward, calmly finished off a flowing team move.

The goal ultimately proved enough to seal all three points for Nigeria and underline their early intent in the tournament.

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INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the result is now a back-to-back wins for the Flying Eagles against Tunisia in the AFCON.

READ MORE: WAFU B U-20: Flying Eagles Beat Ghana To Retain Title

The Nigerias side thrashed Tunisians 4-0 when the two teams met in the third-placed play-off of the competition in 2023.

Flying Eagles, the most decorated team in U-20 AFCON history with seven titles, have now extended their unbeaten run in tournament openers to eight of their last ten appearances.

Up next for the Flying Eagles is another tough encounter this time against Morocco on Sunday, May 4.
Martins Vincent Otse, a popular Nigerian social media influencer known as VeryDarkMan, has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Abuja.

His arrest followed his public complaints about unauthorized debits from his mothers bank account, at the request of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

Barrister Deji Adeyanju, the legal representative of VeryDarkMan, confirmed the arrest to SaharaReporters on Friday, revealing that his client was apprehended by the Nigeria Police Force at Area 3 in Abuja.

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READ MORE: Ill Never Spray Money Again, Almost Got Jailed Last Year  Cubana Chief Priest

The arrest was said to have been triggered by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) following VeryDarkMans complaints about repeated deductions from his mothers account, which he alleged were for loan repayments.

Adeyanju said, My client, VeryDarkMan, was arrested today in Abuja by the Nigerian police. His only offence was speaking out about suspicious and repeated debits from his mothers GTBank account for loans she never took.

Previously, VeryDarkMan took to his social media accounts to voice his concerns over several deductions made from his mothers account.

In a post that went viral, he shared that they had visited a GTBank branch in Abuja to seek an explanation and request a copy of his mothers bank statement.

Myself and my mom just arrived at GTBank to get an explanation for the constant debit from her account by GTBank in the name of loan repayments that she never took. In this year alone, see the amount of times she has been debited with different amounts, he wrote.

We have requested her bank statements so we know when the debiting started. So far, in this year alone, there have been more than seven debits on loan repayments. GTBank staff are cooperatinghopefully, well know why they keep doing this.
Former Anambra State PDP Chairman, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, has come down hard on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of undermining the party while pretending to remain loyal.

Speaking to journalists on Thirsday in Awka, Nwobu expressed dismay over Wikes continued association with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, despite his open alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubus administration.

According to Nwobu, Wikes actions reflect a deep contradiction, as he supports a rival party without officially defecting.

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If Wike were man enough, he would go and obtain an APC membership card. I am convinced he is a coward for insisting he is still a PDP member while backing President Tinubu. What kind of contradiction is that? You cant claim loyalty to one party while promoting the interest of another. That is not how political integrity works, Nwobu stated.

He also criticized Wikes past dominance within the PDP, claiming that the former Rivers governor deliberately influenced internal party affairs to position his loyalists in strategic roles, particularly in the National Working Committee (NWC).

Nwobu alleged that Wikes influence remains strong, sustained through loyalty built over years and, allegedly, financial inducements.

He maintained that this has made disciplinary measures difficult to enforce.

However, he affirmed that efforts to regain the partys independence have begun.

He cited the removal of the national secretary, believed to be a Wike loyalist, as the first major step.

Nwobu added that the upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and subsequent convention will be critical in reshaping the partys leadership and dismantling Wikes grip on the PDP.
Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Anambra State, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, has described Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, as someone with no political integrity.

Nwobu also mocked Wike for not leaving the major opposition party, saying that he is coward.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, the PDPs chieftain stated that it made no sense for the former governor of Rivers State to claim he remained a member of the opposition while openly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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Nwobu added that Wike lacked the courage to formalise his defection by officially joining the ruling All Progressives Congress, despite his overt support for the Tinubu government.

He said: If Wike were man enough, he would go and obtain an APC membership card. I am convinced he is a coward for insisting he is still a PDP member while backing President Tinubu.

What kind of contradiction is that? You cant claim loyalty to one party while promoting the interest of another. That is not how political integrity works.

READ MORE: Labour Shuts Down Wikes Office Over N70,000 Minimum Wage

Back then, Wike did everything as if he was helping the party, but its now clear he had ulterior motives. He planted loyalists across the party structure, particularly in the National Working Committee, NWC.

He acted as though he was defending the partys interests, but he was laying the groundwork for his personal political ambition.

While he was pretending to work for the party, he was actually entrenching himself. Most of the former NWC members owed their positions to him, from the national chairman to the secretary.

Weve already dealt with the national secretary, and hes out. Others will follow. The national secretary position is critical in any party, and removing his loyalists from such strategic offices will help restore integrity to PDP.
The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, where federal Judge Rodolfo Ruiz has been approving payments to investors in Par Funding. Read more

While founders head to prison, investors in Par Funding, the Philadelphia-based Ponzi scheme that cost investors a total of $250 million, now look like they could get back more than 80 cents of every $1 they lost.

More than 1,500 investors in January and March collected checks totaling $110 million, or about 44 cents for every dollar they put into the defunct Old City small-business lender, with funds taken from company founders and salesmen.

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Since last winter, the court-ordered receivership that oversees Par has settled with insurers for a lawyer who was a key player in Pars fundraising, and a family group of the companys early financiers. With other funds, these agreements free nearly $100 million more to send people who lost money investing in Par.

Starting in 2012, Par raised more than half a billion dollars to fund high-interest cash advance loans to small businesses that didnt qualify for traditional bank financing. The company paid investors back with monthly checks yielding double-digit annual returns but defaulted in March 2020, months after reports in The Inquirer reviewed risks for these unregistered securities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission won a federal court order seizing the business in July 2020. Last year, Florida-based federal Judge Rodolfo Ruiz ruled Par was a Ponzi scheme, with founder Joseph LaForte and his close associates diverting hundreds of millions to pay for Main Line and Florida resort homes, investment properties, cars, boats, a jet plane, and other items.

LaForte and other Par insiders have separately pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy and extortion charges in connection with what Philadelphia federal Judge Mark Kearney called thuggish tactics against late-paying borrowers and others who stood in the way of their profits.

Par investor Robert Hawrylak, 70, a Boothwyn retiree, says hes gotten back $22,000 but is still out $32,000 and has had to keep working part-time jobs to pay his bills. He hopes theres more to come, he said.

The payments have been funded by cash and property taken from LaForte and family members and business associates, and through settlements with salesmen who recommended Par to clients, including Montgomery County-based Perry Abbonizio and Dean Vagnozzi, after they agreed not to challenge the SECs civil fraud allegations against them.

Additional funds court-appointed receiver Ryan Stumphauzer and his lawyers are preparing to distribute include:

$31 million freed up in a settlement with members of the Chehebar family, who own Rainbow Stores and other businesses. The Chehebars had demanded $36 million from the receiver after investing nearly $50 million in Par but accepted just $3 million in an April 29 settlement, enabling the receiver to release the rest of the money from escrow. $32 million from insurers for Eckert Seamans, under a Feb. 28 settlement. Par investors blamed the corporate law firm for letting its former partner John Pauciulo collect their money for Par through funds he set up but failed to register with the SEC, and failing to warn of the risks. $35 million previously collected from Par, its owners, and associates that the receiver said in an April 30 report is now ready for payment to investors.

The settlement figures are after fees paid to lawyers. The Eckert settlement also excludes several million paid to Vagnozzi and his lawyer, George Bochetto. Vagnozzi, whose KYW and talk-radio ads attracted investors to Par Funding, said he, too, was a victim of the Par scheme and his former adviser Pauciulos failures.

In a report to Ruiz on April 30, the receivership warned that early Par investors who got back all their money, plus interest, may face clawback claims demanding they pay back that interest to help more recent investors collect more.

There are other potential sources of cash that could boost total payments to cover all the principal lost by investors.

Receivers sold LaFortes former Haverford home, jewelry, paintings, Center City stores and apartments, a Manitou XT pontoon boat, Pocono house, and other assets. They still hold LaFortes former home in Jupiter, Fla., his Cherubini yacht, and other property worth in all more than $12 million, as well as the former Par offices and neighboring stores and apartments in Old City Philadelphia at 20 N. Third St. and 205-B Arch St., all of which could be sold and the proceeds sent to investors.

Also, the receivership has filed for a $10.5 million refund from the IRS from taxes Par paid on phony profits the company booked to deceive investors into thinking it was making money.

The receiver still hopes to collect around $8 million from 10 unpaid Par loans. Hundreds of others have been written off as uncollectible.

Among other borrowers, the receivership won an $800,000 court judgment against Steve Odzer, also known as Tzvi Ozer, and by other names. Odzers janitorial business, B&T, at one time was listed as Pars largest borrower. Odzers prior bank fraud conviction was pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Odzer has separately sued the Chehebar family in federal court in New York, alleging that their financing was integral to Par and the ruin it brought to borrowers charged high rates of interest on loans they mostly could not pay. Lawyers for the Chehebars didnt return calls seeking comment.

Still undetermined is the fate of a Cessna jet worth $6 million and $14 million in investment funds seized by the FBI but never turned over to the receivership.

After the SECs complaint, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia filed criminal charges against LaForte; his wife, Lisa McElhone; Pars chief financial officer, Joseph Cole Barleta; LaFortes brother and head debt collector, James LaForte; collector Gino Joe Gioe; and broker Abbonizio, who told investors he was a part-owner of Par. Vagnozzi and other company outsiders who helped Par raise cash were not criminally charged.

Joseph LaForte pleaded guilty to a firearms violation, racketeering conspiracy, tax fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice for the 2023 ambush beating of receivers lawyer Gaetan Alfano on a Center City street. He was ordered to pay $315 million in restitution, and sentenced March 26 to 15 years in federal prison.

James LaForte pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, extortion, tax fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, obstruction of justice for attacking the lawyer, and threats against Abbonizio and others. He was sentenced to 11 years and five months in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution.

Gioe pleaded guilty to two counts of extortion and one count of conspiracy. He was sentenced in April to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $949,000 to victims.

Barleta, McElhone, Abbonizio, and the Colorado accountants who prepared Pars tax returns also pleaded guilty and face sentencing later this year.

This story was updated to correct the additional amount of money available to Par Fundings investors.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, who created the commonwealth's Bureau of Consumer Protection in 2017, announced Thursday that he was streamlining the process for Pennsylvanians to file consumer complaints. Read more

Gov. Josh Shapiro is streamlining Pennsylvanias consumer-complaint process in the hopes of filling gaps left by a shuttered federal watchdog.

Despite the fact that Washington is walking away from its responsibility, my administration will continue to stand up against the scammers and for fellow Pennsylvanians, Shapiro said Thursday at a news conference in Harrisburg.

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If consumers have a problem with their insurance, bank, or lender, they can now go to one website, pa.gov/consumer, to report the issue, Shapiro said. They can also call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675), the governor said, or email consumer@pa.gov.

When they do so, he said, theyll reach a dedicated group of people who already have been doing consumer-protection work for Pennsylvanias insurance department and department of banking and securities. Shapiro said he does not plan to hire more staff or seek additional state funds for the effort.

Pennsylvania has some of the strongest consumer-protection laws in the entire country, laws that rest at times with the AGs office, at times with agencies, Shapiro said. Were going to step up and do our part. And were all going to work together effectively to make that happen.

The governors announcement came as the Trump administration continued its fight to gut the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which was created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to keep financial institutions honest and ensure they treat customers fairly.

This one just doesnt make any sense to me whatsoever, Shapiro said of the administrations slashing of the CFPB. Hopefully theyll reevaluate.

In February, Trump fired CFPB director Rohit Chopra, a Voorhees native. The new acting head, Russel Vought, essentially froze the organization by issuing stop-work orders, according to several reports, and nearly all CFPB employees were fired. Federal judges on Wednesday once again blocked the mass layoffs, providing a temporary reprieve.

It is counter to everything else [Trump administration officials] keep saying about waste, fraud, and abuse, Shapiro said. You would think they would want to arm those that are combating fraud and abuse in our system with more tools, not less, to be able to protect the people.

Shapiro said Pennsylvanias new efforts will be in conjunction with the ongoing work of the commonwealths Bureau of Consumer Protection, which investigates complaints, meditates issues between customers and businesses, and takes legal action against unfair practices. Shapiro, a Democrat, created the bureau in 2017 when he was attorney general. It is now overseen by Attorney General Dave Sunday, a Republican who has vowed to be a boring AG.

The Office of the Consumer Advocate, which assists people with utility-related issues, also falls under the attorney generals purview, but operates independently.

Each week, the commonwealth fields hundreds of consumer complaints, mostly about scams, Shapiro said.

Unfortunately there are too many dishonest people in this world who are trying to scam Pennsylvanians, Shapiro said. Its absolutely not OK.
A helicopter, possibly fighting the Jones Road Wildfire, is seen from Wells Mill Road by the Garden State Parkways Waretown toll plaza in New Jersey. Read more

The crash of a dirt bike in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area helped investigators unravel details of where, and how, the 15,300-acre Jones Road Wildfire began, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor said in court Friday.

A detention hearing for suspect Joseph Kling, 19, of Waretown, Ocean County, however, was continued until Monday.

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Meanwhile, prosecutors announced Friday that a second person, a 17-year-old, has been charged in connection with the wildfire that continues to burn in New Jerseys Pinelands and is now mostly contained.

The youth has been charged with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension as a result of the fire ignited during a bonfire and left unattended and to spread. Authorities have not released the name of the youth who was arrested because he is a juvenile.

However, Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Lenzi laid out for Superior Court Judge Pamela Snyder details investigators uncovered that led them to charge Kling, who is being held in the Ocean County Jail.

Kling attends Ocean County Vocational Technical School and was expected to graduate from the diesel mechanic program in June. He also faces simple assault and other charges from an unrelated incident in January.

Lenzi said events began when Kling, driving his pickup truck on the evening of April 21, picked up others, identified during court only by their initials. They loaded a dirt bike into the truck.

The group drove to Sonnys Recycling in Waretown, where they took 10 to 20 wooden pallets and put them in the truck. Surveillance video obtained from another business showed the truck driving through the area.

Kling drove the truck to Jones Road and into the heavily wooded Ocean County Natural Lands Trusts Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area in Waretown.

There, the group unloaded the pallets. Lenzi said Kling lit two of the pallets ablaze after soaking them with gasoline in a pit. In all, four people were present.

As one person drove a dirt bike off into the woods, Kling tossed six more pallets onto the fire, Lenzi said.

However, the dirt bike rider crashed in the woods. When the remaining group learned of the accident, they left to check on him with the fire still burning.

After the group left, the flames from the pallets continued to burn, igniting woods in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. Smoke from the fire was spotted the next morning, April 22, by an observer in the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower.

The fire crossed the Garden State Parkway, forcing officials to shut it down, and triggering the evacuation of 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey Townships. Route 9 had to be closed. A commercial building was destroyed in the fire, along with multiple other buildings and vehicles.

Lacey Township police interviewed the dirt bike rider in the hospital and he told of the pallets, pit, and fire. Officers used his cell phone to track the location of the crash. Using Google Maps, they plotted the area and determined the crash occurred 82 feet from the fires location.

The bike rider told investigators of a plan to say they saw Mexicans in the area at the time of the fire.

Investigators also say they have a Snapchat thread with another person who went to school with Kling. Text in the chat, Lenzi said, referred to Kling, saying he caused the fire. Other group chats also showed there were no Mexicans in the area, Lenzi said.

Kling was arrested April 23.

Lenzi told the judge that the state is both shocked and disturbed by the actions of the defendant, and asked for him to continue to be detained.

He said that, as the group left the fire, they could see a red glow as they drove away.

But Klings attorney, Joe Compitello, said Kling never sought to burn the woods, nor intended arson. He said Kling grew up in Ocean County, and lives with his parents, who moved to Waretown four years ago from Lakewood.

Kling was expected to work at his fathers company after graduation, Compitello said.

This is someone who has deep roots in the community, Compitello said, arguing that Kling is not a flight risk.

Snyder continued the hearing until Monday when Compitello is expected to submit a form requesting pretrial intervention that could include alternatives to incarceration.
Donald Guy Generals was ousted as president of Community College of Philadelphia last month. Read more

The chair of the Community College of Philadelphias board of trustees tried to steer college business toward a fledgling company headed by his daughter and other firms with which he had ties, according to court documents filed Thursday by lawyers for ousted CCP president Donald Guy Generals.

The documents outline exchanges and cite emails to back up allegations that board chair Harold T. Epps used his position as a board member and later chair to make favorable introductions on behalf of people close to him over the last several years.

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The new filings expand on a lawsuit Generals filed against the college, its board, and Epps in Philadelphias Court of Common Pleas this week, which a spokesperson for the board had called frivolous and without merit. The board placed Generals, the longtime CCP president, on immediate paid administrative leave last month through the end of his current contract in June and voted not to renew it.

[Epps] urged me and other senior college administrators to give serious consideration to individuals and businesses with whom he had personal and professional ties, according to an affidavit by Generals included in the court filings. I believed that Mr. Eppss efforts were motivated by considerations outside of the Colleges best interests.

 READ MORE: Ousted CCP president alleges in court complaint that board chair pressured him to direct CCP business to political allies and vendors

Generals cites a proposal for CCP to partner with a workforce development group called Hire! Philly, headed by Epps daughter, Kathryn Epps Roberson. That contract, according to emails, came up in 2020 and 2021 when Epps  a senior adviser for economic development at Bellevue Strategies, a government relations and advocacy firm  was a member of the board, but not yet the chair.

At the time, his daughters company was pitching a job-search platform called Pipeline! Philly, and sought a two-year, $100,000 commitment from the college to sponsor the initiative and utilize the platform.

Epps forwarded information about the proposal to Generals and others in CCP leadership, which the ousted president now says was part of a pressure campaign.

Mr. Epps and other affiliated board members pressed the college executives to license her companys workforce platform, despite concerns about the platforms technical readiness, vague deliverables, and the cost structure, which exceeded comparable platforms in the market, Generals said in the affidavit. ... I resisted this proposal. Ultimately, the college disengaged from the product after limited usage and no demonstrated return.

Attempts to reach Roberson, now president and CEO for the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, were unsuccessful.

Kyle D. Anderson, a spokesperson for the board, said the allegations are patently false.

To suggest that emails from board members with resumes, names of vendors, and other small businesses that provide services constitute an inappropriate request that they receive contracts is outrageous, he said.

Generals, Anderson asserted, is attempting to discredit and defame Epps and the board because they refused his demand for a $1.5 million or five-year severance package, an extension on his car and housing allowance and other excessive expenditures.

This is a blatant and unscrupulous attempt to shake down the board and a publicly funded institution, he said.

Generals, however, in court documents cited the colleges strong performance, including enrollment growth and increased partnerships, and said its the board that is retaliating against him for resisting vendor interference and political pressure. The retaliation, he alleges, was largely orchestrated by Epps.

 READ MORE: CCP board removes president, voting not to renew contract and placing him on immediate paid leave

Dr. Generals represents a rare case of a capable, ethical college president being ousted not for cause but for courage, his lawyers said in court documents.

Following a three-hour hearing Friday, Common Pleas Judge Chris Hall denied Generals request for a special injunction that would have restored him to his position through the end of his contract, which ends June 30.

Bad blood can happen for mysterious reasons that none of us can scientifically dissect, Hall said during the hearing. The board has a right to unanimously decide they want to move on.

Danielle Banks, who represented CCP, argued that the board was well within its right not to renew Generals contract and place him on paid leave and that Generals could have chosen a different kind of exit.

Dr. Generals is the architect of everything that occurred here, she said.

In court filings, lawyers for CCP asserted: After the board refused to capitulate to Dr. Generals demands, Dr. Generals (through counsel) relayed that he would go public with unfounded allegations against the college and certain of its board members, none of which he had ever previously asserted, nor raised with anyone as he was required to do as the college president.

Bryan Lentz, Generals lawyer, said his client would pursue the case through arbitration, which is the only other avenue open, given that it is a dispute over the contract.

Generals sought the injunction in part so he could preside over commencement Saturday, restore his reputation, and leave with the dignity with which I think I deserve, he testified.

In the court papers, Generals also alleges that he was pressured by another board member, Sheila Ireland, president and CEO of OIC Philadelphia, a workforce development program, to approve a $10,000 contribution to her organization, even though the colleges cap for such donations is $2,500 and there was no formal grant application or justification.

The court documents allege Epps also pressured Generals to hire other companies, but its not clear from court filings how they were connected to Epps.

In another exchange disclosed in the court filing, Robert J. Delany, then-CEO of Maple Glen Strategic Advisors, emailed Epps information in 2023 about his consulting firm, which specializes in advising higher education institutions on business matters.

It was great to have breakfast with you yesterday, Delany writes. I would love [sic] have an introductory conversation with CCP to learn more about their goals and ambitions.

Epps later forwarded that email to Generals, the colleges vice president of finance, and a member of the board of trustees business affairs committee for further possible conversation, according to the court documents.

In a June 2024 email, Epps suggested that Alan Casnoff, co-owner of real estate development firm P&A Associates, maybe should be considered for the Foundation Board. The foundation is CCPs fundraising arm.

Five months later, Epps expressed dismay in another email that no one acted upon his recommendation.

No one reached out and I got no update, he said, according to an email cited in the court filing. Very disappointing.

Generals said in the affidavit there was no evident value in adding Mr. Casnoff, who had not been vetted through standard processes.

Epps also repeatedly promoted ELAP Services, a third-party healthcare cost containment vendor, Generals alleges. ELAPs cofounder and CEO Steve Kelly and his wife are sponsors of CCPs Black and Gold Gala, a scholarship fundraiser.

Generals said the college already had a comprehensive healthcare plan with Independence Blue Cross, which was part of its collective bargaining agreement.

Yet Epps repeatedly promoted ELAPs services, Generals said, even though Generals maintained it offered no clear advantage to the college.

Generals said in the affidavit that none of the proposals being floated by Epps had been vetted through a competitive procurement process.

At no time did I receive a formal proposal from any of these entities that identified clear deliverables, objective outcomes, or substantial benefit to the College, he said. In each case, I documented my concerns, declined or limited engagement, and reiterated that decisions would be made according to college policy and in compliance with legal and ethical obligations.
Young People in Recovery is a national nonprofit focused on addiction recovery. Six of its Kentucky chapters have been affected by federal funding cuts, leading them to curtail community events including cleanup days, in which chapter members gather used syringes off the street, pass out the overdose reversal medication naloxone, and talk to people using drugs about the possibility of recovery. (Billy OBryan/KFF) Read more

When the Trump administration cut more than $11 billion in COVID-era funds to states in late March, addiction recovery programs suffered swift losses.

An Indiana organization that employs people in recovery to help peers with substance use disorders and mental illness was forced to lay off three workers. A Texas digital support service for people with addiction and mental illness prepared to shutter its 24/7 call line within a week. A Minnesota program focused on addiction in the East African community curtailed its outreach to vulnerable people on the street.

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Although the federal assistance was awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic and some of the funds supported activities related to infectious disease, a sizable chunk went to programs on mental health and addiction. The latter are both chronic concerns in the U.S. that were exacerbated during the pandemic and continue to affect millions of Americans. Colorado, for example, received more than $30 million for such programs and Minnesota received nearly $28 million, according to health and human services agencies in those states.

In many cases, this money flowed to addiction recovery services, which go beyond traditional treatment to help people with substance use disorders rebuild their lives. These programs do things that insurers often dont reimburse, such as driving people to medical appointments and court hearings, crafting resumes and training them for new jobs, finding them housing, and helping them build social connections unrelated to drugs.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administrations cuts, allowing the programs to continue  for now  receiving federal funding. But many of the affected programs say they cant easily rehire people they laid off or resurrect services they curtailed. And theyre unsure they can survive long-term amid an environment of uncertainty and fear, not knowing when the judges ruling might be lifted or another funding source cut.

The week it slashed the funding, the Trump administration also announced a massive reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the consolidation of the main federal agency focused on addiction recovery services. Without a stand-alone office like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, many advocates worry, recovery work  and the funding to support it  will no longer be a priority. Although private foundations and state governments may step in, its unlikely they could match the tranches of federal funding.

Recovery support is treated as optional, said Racquel Garcia, founder of HardBeauty, a Colorado-based addiction recovery organization.

The federal cuts put at risk a roughly $75,000 grant her team had received to care for pregnant women with substance use disorders in two rural counties in Colorado.

Its very easy to make sweeping decisions from the top in the name of money, when you dont have to be the one to tell the mom, We cant show up today, Garcia said. When you never have to sit in front of the mama who really needed us to be there.

Mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S. And although national overdose deaths have decreased recently, rates have risen in many Black and Native American communities. Many people in the addiction field worry these funding rollbacks could reverse hard-earned progress.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard told KFF Health News that the department is reorganizing to improve efficiency, foster a more coordinated approach to addiction, and prioritize funding projects that align with the presidents Make America Healthy Again initiative.

We aim to streamline resources and eliminate redundancies, ensuring that essential mental health and substance use disorder services are delivered more effectively, she said in a statement.

But to Garcia, it doesnt feel like streamlining. It feels like abandoning moms in need.

Between the time the cuts were announced and when the federal judge paused them, two women served by Garcias program gave birth, she said. Though her grant funding was in limbo, Garcia told her employee to show up at the bedside for both moms. The employee followed up with daily check-ins for the new moms, connected them to treatment or housing services when needed, and helped them navigate the child services system.

I just cant leave moms without services, Garcia said. I just cant do it.

Nor can she abandon that employee, she said. Although the federal funding provided half of that employees salary, Garcia has continued to keep her on full time.

Garcia said she primarily employs women in recovery, many of whom spent years trapped in abusive situations, relying on welfare benefits. Now theyre sober and have found meaningful work that allows them to provide for their families, she said. We created our own workforce of mamas who help other mamas.

This type of recovery workforce development seems to align with the Republican Partys goals of getting more people to work and reducing reliance on welfare benefits. The Trump administrations drug policy priorities, released in early April, identified creating a skilled, recovery-ready workforce and strengthening peer recovery support services as crucial efforts to help people find recovery and lead productive, healthy lives. Many recovery programs train people for blue-collar jobs, which could support Trumps goal of reviving the manufacturing industry.

But the administrations actions appear to conflict with its stated goals, said Rahul Gupta, the nations drug czar during the Biden administration.

You cant have manufacturing if people cant pass a urine drug test or continue to suffer from addiction or relapse, said Gupta, who is now president of GATC Health, a company using artificial intelligence for drug development.

Even if jobs return to rural America, cutting funding for recovery services and the main federal office overseeing such efforts could mean fewer people are employable, Gupta said.

Research on recovery programs, particularly those run by people with personal addiction experience, suggests they can increase engagement in court-ordered treatment, reduce the prevalence of rearrest, bolster attendance at treatment appointments, and improve the likelihood of families reunifying and stabilizing.

Billy OBryan sees these benefits daily. As a state director for the national nonprofit Young People in Recovery, OBryan oversees about a dozen chapters in Kentucky that teach people in recovery life skills, such as balancing a checkbook and interviewing for jobs, and show them how to have fun in sobriety, through group hikes and glow-in-the-dark Ultimate Frisbee games.

Providing recovery services is when we really invest in their future, said OBryan, who is in recovery too.

Six of his chapters were affected by the federal funding cuts. That has meant dipping into his organizations rainy day fund to pay staff and cutting back on community events, including cleanup days in which chapter members gather used syringes off the street, pass out the overdose reversal medication naloxone, and talk to people using drugs about the possibility of recovery.

Hes exploring fundraising efforts now, but not all his chapters have the same ability.

In a city like Louisville, fundraising is not a problem, OBryan said, but when you get out into Grayson, Kentucky  a rural area in the Appalachian Mountains  theres not a lot of opportunities.

In Minnesota, Kaleab Woldegiorgis and his colleagues at Niyyah Recovery Initiative used to spend hours a day at soup kitchens, community events, mosques, and on the streets of East African and Muslim neighborhoods, trying to connect with people using drugs. They spoke Somali, Amharic, and Swahili, among other languages.

Those outreach efforts allowed them to find individuals in need of recovery services who werent seeking it out themselves, said Woldegiorgis, who previously attended Niyyahs support groups when he was dealing with addiction.

After building relationships with people, Woldegiorgis could help them connect with formal recovery services that bill their insurance, he said. But help couldnt always wait for a contract.

One afternoon shortly before the federal funding cuts, Woldegiorgis and his colleagues spoke with a man who began weeping, recounting how he had wanted to get treatment a few days earlier but had lost his belongings, returned to using drugs, and ended up on the street. Woldegiorgis said he helped the man reconnect with a sister and begin exploring treatment options.

With the federal funding cuts, Niyyah may no longer be able to support this type of outreach work. Woldegiorgis fears it means people wont receive the message of hope that can come from interacting with role models in recovery.

People dont pick up pamphlets to receive these messages. And people dont read emails and people dont look at billboards and find inspiration, he said. People need people.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Narcan, used to treat opioid overdoses, displayed along Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia. Emergency room doctors are worried about treating people with addiction as a veterinary tranquilizer causing severe withdrawal symptoms rapidly spreads in the drug supply. Read more

Last spring, patients addicted to opioids started showing up at Philadelphias emergency rooms with unusually severe symptoms when they stopped using drugs sold on the street.

Their hearts would race, their blood pressure would skyrocket, and they would shake uncontrollably in bed. They would vomit over and over again.

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Medications to treat opioid withdrawal didnt work. Neither did medications for withdrawal from xylazine, the animal tranquilizer added in recent years to illicit opioids sold in Philadelphia.

At Penn Presbyterian Medical Centers ER, physician Jeanmarie Perrone wasnt sure what she was seeing.

There were concerning reports from the streets, too.

Paramedics were treating opioid overdose victims who began breathing again with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone but would not wake up, suggesting that the opioids they were using had been laced with another powerful sedative.

Emergency physicians across the city began meeting regularly with the city health department to figure out what was causing the overdoses and the withdrawal symptoms.

They went through a list of substances being added to illicit drugs and detected through the citys drug-checking program everything from local anesthetics to an industrial chemical.

We knew what was in the drug supply, and we knew there was an abnormal syndrome in people, but it was hard to tie those together, Perrone said. Ultimately, it was a process of elimination.

By January, they zeroed in on another veterinary tranquilizer that was quickly replacing xylazine in the citys drug supply, called medetomidine.

Medetomidine includes the drug dexmedetomidine, typically used in intensive care settings. In approved medical applications, it is generally regarded as a safer sedative option for some patients, because it does not cause slow or labored breathing, Perrone said.

But it also can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, similar to what Perrone and her colleagues were seeing in their ERs.

 READ MORE: Amputations are spiking amid Phillys tranq crisis.

The rapid rise of medetomidine

At three Philadelphia-area health systems, Perrone and other emergency room doctors collected data on patients who had experienced severe withdrawal symptoms that did not respond to standard treatment options for opioid and xylazine withdrawal.

Their findings were featured in the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Thursday, along with reports on the drug from Chicago and Pittsburgh.

In Philadelphia, the study authors noted, 72% of illicit opioids tested contained medetomidine by the last four months of 2024.

The rise was stunningly rapid: Last May, Philadelphia health officials issued an alert about medetomidine based on the first two positive tests of drug samples collected in the city.

Medetomidines spread follows efforts to crack down on xylazine, which just last year was found in 98% of fentanyl sold on the street. By the time of the study, it was detected in 31% of illicit opioids tested.

Perrone and her colleagues drew on data from 165 patients who visited Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and Temple Health between September 2024 and January 2025.

In that time period, 91% of those patients required treatment in intensive care units because of their withdrawal symptoms, and 24% needed to be intubated.

That was in part because the doctors found they could treat the severe withdrawal symptoms with a combination of drugs, including dexmedetomidine, that is permitted to be dispensed only in an ICU, Perrone said.

Over the course of the study, 137 patients were treated with dexmedetomidine, and all saw their withdrawal symptoms decrease. But the need for ICU treatment presents an additional challenge for treating patients in medetomidine withdrawal.

We dont have a lot of capacity in the ICU, Perrone said. Usually, you dont need to be in the ICU for opioid withdrawal.

At one health system where Perrone and her colleagues gathered data, patients were tested for medetomidine and its byproducts as it exits the body. All patients with abnormal withdrawal symptoms treated there tested positive for the drug.

Better drug testing at more hospitals could help doctors more quickly identify patients who need treatment for medetomidine withdrawal, Perrone said.

The CDCs report presented Philadelphias experience alongside evidence from other big cities about the threat of medetomidine.

In Chicago, researchers outlined an overdose spike from medetomidine mixed with opioids, suspected to have sickened 178 people in a single week in May 2024.

In Pittsburgh, researchers looked at 23 cases of suspected medetomidine withdrawal at two hospitals between October 2024 and March 2025.
Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton had already reduced its services last summer. Read more

Prime Healthcare Foundation is turning Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton into a behavioral health facility with 15 beds for adults 55 and older, the California organization announced Friday.

Other services will close at Suburban under the change effective July 1. Prime had suspended services at the hospitals 15-bed psychiatric unit last year.

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Suburbans downsizing started last summer, when it limited offerings to emergency and diagnostic services as a micro-hospital.

Prime noted that Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital is the nearest ED, just 2 miles from Suburban.

Before that, the facility was licensed for 126 beds, but had few patients. In 2023, it averaged 23 patients a day. So far this year, the average number of patients per day has been eight, according to Prime.

As of July, Suburban will operate under the license of Primes Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Prime said. Thirty-seven full-time staff will remain at Suburban.

The hospitals other 89 full-time employees will be offered comparable positions at other Prime facilities, including Roxborough and Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township. The hospital told state regulators Friday that it would lay off 109 people. That figure includes part-time workers and certain per-diem staffers.

Graduate medical education will continue at Suburban through this academic year and then continue under Roxborough. Suburban has a residency program with 18 doctors in training. An additional 15 family practice residents train there.

Independent medical practices at Suburban will continue. They include Fox Chase Cancer Center, Primary Care of East Norriton, and Suburban Family Medicine at Norristown.

Prime Healthcare Foundation acquired Suburban in 2016 for $25 million.
The cast of the Real World Philadelphia in 2004. Read more

Oh, it got real.

The seminal MTV reality television show The Real World started filming its 15th season on April 30, 2004, in Philadelphia. The network would air the first installment of its 26-episode season that fall.

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The cast of seven strangers resided at the Corn Exchange National Bank building at Third and Arch Streets in Old City. (Which originally housed a bank but has seen a variety of occupants over the years and is now looking for a new tenant.)

And it didnt take long for Philly to get involved.

There were fights at bars, strange and hostile crowds, and drama.

So much drama.

And it began before the show started filming. The network contracted nonunion workers to renovate the house, which caused a kerfuffle and threatened the taping. It took an intervention from then-Gov. Ed Rendell to help smooth it over.

Philly essentially became another cast member but didnt really go out of its way to make the others feel welcome. And the cameras didnt help.

During the more than three months of filming, police interrogated the casts only gay Black man over a nonexistent weapon concern. Then someone threw a chair at a cast member in a bar. And at one point the group was so tired of going out and getting hassled (especially in Old City), according to Billy Penn, that they stayed home for a stretch and played board games until being prodded by producers.

It was a landmark show in TV history for casting two gay men  future Queer Eye host Karamo Brown and William Hernandez. In the early aughts, featuring an openly gay Black man seemed both scandalous and revelatory.

The cast eventually found a better reception going out in the Gayborhood and Northern Liberties.

The other cast members  Shavonda Bilingslea, Sarah Burke, M.J. Garrett, Landon Lueck, and Melanie Silcott  also found more welcoming bars in neighborhoods like Manayunk.

And the group seemed to most enjoy Jims Steaks, which is a topic for another column.

In a 2015 retrospective at Billy Penn, several cast members said they ultimately looked back at their time in Philly in a positive light, despite the citys best efforts.

And by then, both the cast members and the city had grown up.
An aerial view on April 22 of the Jones Road Wildfire impacting Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County, N.J. Read more

For years, Damon Noe witnessed abuses within the vast Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area as partyers trashed terrain, off-road-vehicle riders tore through delicate landscapes, and young people ignited towering bonfires.

The destructive acts persisted even after barricades were installed to shield thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land, said Noe, critical lands manager for the Nature Conservancy.

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Theres a spot where a fire tower stood before it was torn down long ago, Noe said. It left behind a mound that became a magnet for bonfires. The ground would be littered with thousands of shattered bottles, heaps of ash, and freshly cut trees, all tossed into the flames.

Fortunately those fires had never roared unchecked into the depths of the pines.

Until now.

 READ MORE: Second person, a juvenile, charged in 15,000 acre N.J. wildfire

15,000 acres burned

The illegal bonfire that ignited April 22 at Forked River Mountains has become New Jerseys worst wildfire since at least 2012, according to data supplied by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The Jones Road Wildfire scorched 15,300 acres and is still burning, though it was 80% contained as of Thursday.

 READ MORE: New Jersey man charged with starting massive, half-contained wildfire in Ocean County

The fire destroyed a commercial building, vehicles, and some of the states prized Atlantic white cedar forests that officials have been trying to preserve and regenerate.

It burned through areas dense with wildlife.

Officials have accused Joseph Kling, 19, of Waretown, of setting the fire. He has been charged with arson and aggravated arson by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. Kling set several wooden pallets ablaze and left them to burn unattended, the prosecutors office said.

The Atlantic City Press reported Thursday that Kling told investigators that he was part of a group attending a bonfire before the fire broke out but that he was not the one who ignited it, according to his lawyer Joseph Compitello. The lawyer told the newspaper that Kling identified the person he believes is responsible for setting the fire.

On Friday, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office charged a second person, a 17-year-old boy, in connection with the fire. The boy has been charged with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension. Authorities have not released the name of the youth because he is a juvenile.

People vs. the Pinelands

Officials acknowledge that misuse of the states vast Pinelands region is an ongoing issue.

In New Jersey, 99% of all forest fires are caused by people, either through carelessness or intentionally. As the states population grows just outside the Pinelands borders, the potential for fires has increased.

Hundreds of miles of unmarked sand road provide easy access to the Pinelands. Dense forests make it easy for people driving or venturing into environmentally sensitive areas to avoid detection. Development on the fringes of the Pinelands brings more people into contact with the woods.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said New Jersey State Police, Ocean County, and the DEPs State Parks Police all patrol the forests, including weekend patrols with aerial support.

But the size of the Pinelands, which span large state, county, and private tracts, makes patrols challenging.

Different areas become troublesome, Mastronardy said.

In an average year, 1,500 wildfires burn through 7,000 acres of the states forests. But this year has been well above normal. Already, major wildfires have burned through nearly 20,000 acres, according to DEP data, some of that attributable to drought and high winds.

Huge piece of open space

Noe said it has long been difficult to keep tabs on all those using the property.

In all, the Forked River Mountains area actually spans about 20,000 acres covered by pitch pine and scrub oak. It also contains Atlantic white cedar, black gum, and maple swamps and forests. The area provides habitat for rare and threatened wildlife, such as swamp pink plants and the northern pine snake.

Its a huge piece of open space in the middle of a not very populated area, with big sand roads, Noe said.

Fire roads, which are legal to drive on, run through the woods. And there are hiking and mountain biking trails. Noe noted that the preserve drew plenty of respectful motorists, hikers, birders, and other users.

But things changed, he said, especially as social media has allowed people to quickly organize big vehicle rallies or parties.

Noe said some people ignored signs that designated certain areas sensitive or off-limits. He recalled one revelry spot where staff collected 80 bags of trash and glass.

He said motorists drove willy-nilly all over the woods, sometimes in trucks with giant tires that tore up muddy areas, leaving ruts in landscape that contained rare plants. It became like an arms race to keep up, he said.

The preserve suffers when they light giant fires and leave the beach littered with glass, Noe said. It takes away from the beauty of the area. And it wears on you as a manager.
People march following the For the Workers, Not the Billionaires Rally" with Sen. Bernie Sanders Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Philadelphia. Read more

Railing against tax breaks for billionaires and issuing a warning to Pennsylvania lawmakers, Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a firebrand speech Thursday afternoon to a crowd clustered outside City Hall.

On a day of national May Day protests against President Donald Trumps administration that ended with the arrest of dozens of protesters a few blocks from City Hall, the 83-year-old former presidential candidate said: The American people by the millions are saying no to oligarchy, no to Trumps authoritarianism.

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After his speech, several hundred marched north on Broad Street, and some of them sat down at Broad and Vine Streets, chanting: We shall not be moved. After being warned that they would be subject to arrest, 70, according to police, were led away in handcuffs and charged with obstruction of a highway.

They were shouting: We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.

The demonstration came at the end of daylong protest events held in several locations around the region, and hundreds around the nation, many organized online under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day.

The gatherings in Philadelphia and elsewhere took aim at a variety of issues, including the administrations aggressive immigration policies and workers rights, but the leitmotif was what the protesters viewed as Trumps threats to democracy.

The mass demonstrations are unlikely to make any immediate impression on Trump, said Billie Murray, a Villanova associate professor who specializes in the rhetoric of protest. But that may well come later, she said, for reasons implicit in Sanders comments directed at the states legislators.

Some in the City Hall crowd held signs reading Trump: hands off our unions.

Said Bucks County resident Phila Back: Theres power in numbers, and this is for our unions. Thanks to them, we have decent wages for unionized workers, a weekend, and healthcare; we owe this to organized labor.

For John Haak, 66, the protest was a novel experience. When he worked for the city he was banned from demonstrations such as this, but now, recently retired, he was making up for lost time. He said he showed up Thursday to honor an abiding need to turn the tide against the administration.

Lee Maxwell, 78, holding a Trump is stealing our future sign, said workers rights are at stake. All the good things that our democracy has brought us are in jeopardy.

The mass demonstrations occurred on a day that historically has been the province of a variety of causes. May 1 is Loyalty Day in the United States, first proclaimed during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s at the peak of the Red Scare and the Cold War era.

And its protest tradition has labor roots, dating to the Haymarket affair in the late 19th century.

With the rise of industrialization, labor unions had grown more powerful and demanded better working conditions. On May 1, 1886, 30,000 workers in Chicago went on strike, joined by others in New York and Cincinnati. Three days later, several people were killed when violence erupted in Chicago.

The American Federation of Labor called for a day of protests on May 1 in 1890, and the International Socialist Congress, meeting in France, passed a resolution to convene a great international demonstration, according to a Smithsonian history, and May 1 became known as International Workers Day.

In his remarks, Sanders (Ind., Vt.) said that millions of workers who want to join unions cannot do so and that Congress should pass a Right to Organize Act.  We need to grow the trade movement in this country.

Sanders appeared at the For the Workers, Not the Billionaires event hosted by Philadelphias AFL-CIO chapter.

This rally is really to show when labor, immigration groups, and the community stand together, were a force that cant be divided, said Maggie Mullooly, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO.

Immigration also was a major theme of Thursdays events.

In the morning, about 150 people representing 40 pro-immigrant groups gathered outside Philadelphias federal courthouse. Voices of prayer and protest echoed as an appeals court began to consider whether to fully restore a New Jersey state ban on contracts for immigration-detention centers.

My parents came here to give me a better education, said college student Sol Acabo, who drove an hour from New Jersey to take part in the protest on Market Street. Im using that privilege to fight for those that cant.

 READ MORE: Scores demonstrate in Philly as appeals court considers a N.J. ban on ICE detention-center contracts

The protests throughout the Philly region  including at the offices of U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican who represents a political swing district  evidently involved scores of senior citizens.

Among them was Burton Sutker, 90, who joined a group in Norristown  after running four miles. The demonstrators came from Shannondell at Valley Forge, a retirement community in Audubon, have a current events club that meets twice weekly, and lately have turned their attention to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.

Its good that were waking up some senior citizens, Sutker said. Its too easy to sit and rock in your wheelchair.

 READ MORE: Seeking more certainty in their golden years, Montco seniors protest against Trump

In his speech, Sanders warned Pennsylvania legislators that if they voted for tax breaks for the rich or to cut Medicaid, they would be voted out.

 READ MORE: Bernie Sanders calls on Pennsylvania lawmakers to oppose cuts to Medicaid at Philly May Day rally

Murray said protests were having effects on local Republican lawmakers, if not Trump. Theyre scared, she said.

Theyre seeing the front lines in a way that Trump doesnt.

Those effects, she said, may eventually trickle up.

Staff writers Fallon Roth and Nick Vadala contributed to this article.
Swarthmore College president Valerie Smith has condemned a pro-Palestinian encampment on the schools campus in a letter to the college community, encouraging the group to reconsider its approach.

I urge these protesters to pursue a less divisive approach to expressing their views  one that aligns with not just the Colleges policies, but with the mutual respect, compassion, and care that all in our community deserve, Smith wrote in the Thursday letter.

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According to Smiths letter, the colleges Department of Public Safety had issued trespassing notices to members of the encampment and the Swarthmore chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine group earlier the same day, threatening the possibility of citations or arrests.

I unequivocally condemn their actions, Smith wrote in the letter. .

Students began setting up tents and signs in an enclosure on Trotter Lawn on Wednesday afternoon in protest of the ongoing war in Gaza, Swarthmores investment in entities profiting from it, and of what they said is the colleges weak protections for students vulnerable to the Trump administrations deportation campaign.

Swarthmores encampment members have named their space the Hossam Shabat Liberation Zone, in honor of a 23-year-old journalist who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in March. They specifically demanded that Swarthmore divest from Cisco, which powers some IT systems on campus and holds contracts with the Israeli government.

 READ MORE: Swarthmore students renewed their pro-Palestinian protests with a fresh encampment and specific demands

In Smiths letter, she said that the protesters used Swarthmore property to construct the encampment and vandalized it with incendiary graffiti. On Thursday morning before 8 a.m., Swarthmore staff members forcibly took back items from the encampment that they identified as Swarthmore property.

Smith said that law enforcement officials, including the FBI, have urged the college to end the encampment as soon as possible.

Encampment members did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Smith said she was concerned that the encampment was made up of not just Swarthmore students, but also with people unaffiliated with Swarthmore. While the Swarthmore SJP chapter called for support from allies outside of the college on social media, it is unclear how many people currently staying at the encampment are from outside the Swarthmore community.

Swarthmore began issuing interim suspensions to several students who they were able to identify and who refused to leave the encampment, Smith said, blocking their ability to access campus resources or attend Swarthmore events. It is unclear how many students have received interim suspensions.

Should they continue to fail to disperse and violate the Colleges policies and the law, we will have no choice but to escalate our response as we consider all actions to bring the encampment to an end, Smith said.

This encampment was erected nearly a year after Swarthmore students voluntarily took down a similar encampment, the last standing pro-Palestinian college protest encampment left in Philly. It is unclear how long the members of the current encampment intend to stay on Trotter Lawn.
The U.S. Custom House (at right) was back on a DOGE list of "assets identified for accelerated disposition." Read more

On Thursday, the U.S. Custom House at Second and Chestnut Streets appeared back on the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiencys list of assets identified for accelerated disposition.

In March, the Trump administration proposed the sale of non-core federal buildings all over the country, including three in Philadelphia  the Custom House, the Mid-Atlantic Social Security Center, and the Veterans Affairs building on Wissahickon Avenue. That list of General Services Administration-owned buildings was then scrubbed and edited, and the three Philadelphia buildings no longer appeared on it until Thursday.

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GSA is focused on rightsizing the federal real estate portfolio to reduce the burden on the American taxpayer while also delivering space that enables its agency customers to achieve their missions, the website reads. This initiative aims to engage the market, attract interested parties, and inform strategies that will expedite the disposition of federal assets, consistent with all applicable laws.

It is unclear why the Custom House was added back to the list, and whether the other two properties will follow suit. At the time of publishing, the GSA had not responded to queries about the May 1 change.

To be clear, just because an asset is on the list doesnt mean its immediately for sale or for sale at all, GSA public affairs officer Stephanie Rodriguez said to The Inquirer in March. However, we will consider compelling offers (in accordance with applicable laws and regulations), and do whats best for the needs of the federal government and taxpayer.

The Custom House building currently provides office space for various federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection field offices, as well as a satellite office for Sen. John Fetterman.

Fettermans office did not respond to a request for comment.

The 17-story, art deco-style U.S. Custom House in Philadelphia opened in 1934, and was one of many federal buildings constructed during the Depression in a bid to revive the economy by creating local jobs.

After the stock market crash of 1929, Congress passed a bill appropriating funds for the U.S. Custom House in Philadelphia. The building marked the beginning of the urban redevelopment plan that went on to include the founding of Independence National Historical Park and the revitalization of Society Hill.

In 2011, the Custom House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Art at stake

With the building back on the accelerated disposal list, the future of the significant public artwork within the Custom House is uncertain.

The interior  the vestibule, elevator lobby, and rotunda area  is adorned with 31 mural panels created by the Brandywine School artist George Harding.

The murals, mostly revolving around themes of seafaring and navigation, are a nod to the commerce and customs of the Port of Philadelphia, per the GSA website. Harding drew nautical signals, seahorses, clouds, phases of the moon, and his interpretation of the various activities of the Port of Philadelphia.

When it comes to the art in buildings disposed of by the federal government, Rodriguez said in March, The [GSAs] Fine Arts Program makes decisions regarding final disposition of artworks in disposed buildings on a case-by-case basis.

Around that same time, half of GSAs fine arts and historic preservations approximately three dozen staff members were abruptly put on leave pending their terminations by the Trump administration, the Washington Post reported.

According to Rodriguez, there are several options for art housed in a GSA building being sold, including: transferring limited ownership of the artwork to the new owner of the property with a signed agreement to protect the pieces; the GSA maintaining ownership of the art even after the building itself is sold; transferring the full title of the artwork to the new owner and removing the artwork from GSAs Fine Arts Collection; and relocating the artwork to another GSA-owned facility.

We are actively seeking placement for the artworks in museums, and when possible, GSA-owned buildings, Rodriguez said.

Hardings murals are a part of the GSAs Depression-era New Deal commissions. These artworks, Rodriguez said, are considered historical materials, which means they cant be sold or be under private ownership under 44 U.S.C. Chapter 21.

The Mid-Atlantic Social Security Center and the Veterans Affairs building house newer GSA artworks: Al Helds Order / Disorder/ Ascension / Descension (1976) and Clyde Lynds Sentinel (1998), respectively. These were commissioned under GSAs Art in Architecture Program established in 1972. Not considered historical materials, they are not similarly protected in the event of the sale of the federal building that houses them.

GSA is currently evaluating the protected status of the artworks commissioned under the Art in Architecture program, a GSA spokesperson said to The Inquirerlast month. The GSA, they added, is reviewing the contracts with each artist to ensure that the terms are honored.

To date, more than 500 artworks commissioned under the AiA program have been installed across the country. This includes Alexander Calders Flamingo outside Chicagos John C. Kluczynski Federal Building and Ellsworth Kellys The Boston Panels outside Bostons John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse.
Detective Robert Redanauer was arrested on April 20, 2021 on simple assault and related offenses, then found not guilty by a judge in July of that year before a trial could take place. He is now facing the same charges after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent the case back to Philadelphia for prosecution. Read more

A former Philadelphia police detective is again facing assault and threat charges stemming from a bizarre off-duty incident  nearly four years after a sympathetic city judge found him not guilty of those charges in a ruling that puzzled legal experts.

The 2021 acquittal of ex-Detective Robert Redanauer  who allegedly pointed a gun at a 23-year-old man while stumbling naked around the mans mothers bedroom in Northeast Philly  had raised questions about whether police officers receive preferential treatment from local judges.

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Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that then-Judge James Murray Lynn had mishandled the Redanauer case in 2021 and ordered it sent back to Philadelphia courts for prosecution.

Redanauer, 55, was re-arraigned last month on charges of simple assault, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, and possession of an instrument of crime. A scheduling conference is set for May 19.

According to the original police internal affairs affidavit, Redanauer threatened a womans 16-year-old son in December 2020 and pointed a gun at her 23-year old sons face and said: Come here, f. I am going to shoot you.

The Inquirer subsequently reported that Redanauer had a history of erratic behavior going back to his early days as a detective, including allegations that he accidentally shot a fellow officer in the leg while trying to shoot an unarmed suspect; made wrongful arrests; attacked a firefighter; and threw a domestic abuse victim into a vending machine.

 READ MORE: Please, dont shoot me: Complaints and lawsuits piled up for years before a Philly detective was arrested

Then-Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw fired Redanauer after his April 2021 arrest, calling his behavior intolerable.

But when Redanauer went before Lynn for his preliminary hearing that July, the judge snapped at the prosecutor, telling her, Dont waste my time, and questioning her ability, asking: Have you been doing this long?

At the end of the preliminary hearing, Lynn retroactively ruled that the hearing was actually Redanauers Common Pleas Court trial. He did so based on a procedural technicality raised by Redanauers attorney.

The defendant is not guilty, Lynn said, clearing Redanauer of all charges involving both of the womans sons and rejecting the older sons uncontested testimony.

Brooke Girley, an assistant law professor at Widener University Delaware Law School, said this week she had never heard of a judge changing a preliminary hearing to a trial after the hearing concluded.

The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence to hold a defendant for trial in Common Pleas Court. The two proceedings have different burdens of proof and rules of evidence.

Its very odd, said Girley, who reviewed the transcript at The Inquirers request. I was like, What is happening?

In addition, Girley said, the adult sons testimony against Redanauer appeared to have been sufficient evidence to hold him for trial, especially because it was not disputed by any defense witnesses. She said Lynn seemed hostile to the district attorneys office.

I wondered to what extent the person being a [police] officer factored into the disposition of this case, Girley said.

George Thomas, a professor at Rutgers Law School, said he was not surprised the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent the Redanauer case back to the city for prosecution.

I dont think a preliminary [hearing] judge can do that, Thomas said of Lynns declaring that Redanauer is not guilty of all charges without a trial. Ive never seen that before.

Other legal experts have described the decision as stunning and very weird.

Lynn could not be reached for comment. Redanauers attorney declined to comment.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday: This Philly district attorneys office believes in equality, and that means we believe in evenhanded justice for people who break the law, and evenhanded protection for people who are victimized.

Lynn was first elected to Common Pleas Court in 1991. The Philadelphia Bar Association rated him not recommended when he ran for retention in 2001 and 2011. He did not run in 2021, deciding to retire instead.

In 2012, the Daily News reported that unwritten opinions had been piling up on Lynns desk, delaying cases for up to 18 months. He once entered the courtroom in the late morning, required people to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, then left without conducting any court business, according to a column by former Daily News columnist Jill Porter.

Campaign finance records show that Lynn in December 2024 contributed $500 to Krasners opponent, former Judge Patrick Dugan, in this months district attorney primary.
Rev. Roman "had a prayer for me for any given situation," his sister said. Read more

Gus Roman, 92, of Wyncote, celebrated pastor at Zion and Canaan Baptist Churches, worldwide longtime civil rights leader, onetime president of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention, veteran, and mentor, died Wednesday, April 23, of age-associated decline at Jefferson Abington Hospital.

For more than 60 years, from 1963 until recently, the Rev. Roman served, preached, and ministered to countless congregants and others in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, South Africa, and elsewhere around the world. He decried racism, apartheid, and injustice wherever he was, and created Bible institutes, credit unions, employment services, and a wide array of other social service programs for the underserved.

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He worked closely for decades with the Rev. Leon Sullivan at Zion and the Opportunities Industrialization Center, and Sullivan told the Daily News in 1988 that the Rev. Roman was one of the greatest preachers in the country. He was chair of the board for OIC International, and he and Sullivan expanded the job-training program to 80 chapters in the United States and 12 in Africa. Hes just the best that could be found, Sullivan said.

On most Sundays, the Rev. Roman used his baritone voice for what The Inquirer, in a 1996 story about inspiring local preachers, called a resonant delivery of his sermons. He won an oratory competition in high school by examining religion as an empirical science, and a fellow pastor said: His sermons lived and breathed.

The Rev. Michael A. Major Sr., interim pastor at Zion, said: He had a unique way of blending the spiritual with [the] practical. The Rev. Roman told The Inquirer in 1988: There is no question the church has to provide leadership for people.  The religious enthusiasm has to get out on the streets.

In addition to Zion and Canaan in Philadelphia, the Rev. Roman served at Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., First Baptist Church in Baltimore, and elsewhere briefly. He was president of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention from 1997 to 2000, and colleagues there called him a towering figure in the global church.

Suddenly I became deeply conscious that I had to be responsible and responsive to God. Rev. Roman on realizing, at 21, that he belonged in the church

He championed the living power of the Holy Spirit and a spirit of service, family and friends said. They praised his personal power and strength in tributes, and said his guidance toward a future of faith, Black progress, and justice was invaluable.

The Rev. Roman joined First Baptist in Baltimore in 1963 and left for Canaan and the OIC in 1967. He oversaw Canaans relocation to a new building and, for more than a decade, increased membership and expanded community outreach initiatives at both the church and OIC.

He left Canaan in 1980 to serve for eight years at Berean in Brooklyn and returned to Philadelphia in 1988 to succeed Sullivan as pastor at Zion. He returned to Canaan in 1993, retired in 2006, but returned to Zion as senior pastor when he was 91.

He earned his master of divinity degree at Howard University and received several honorary doctorates. God was his beginning and his ending, said his sister, Ingrid Smith. His grandson Dex said: His life was a sermon in action.

Im just pleased, proud, and happy that hes coming. Rev. Leon Sullivan in 1988 on Rev. Roman taking his place at Zion Baptist Church

The Rev. Roman served two stints in the Army, the first when he was 15 and later as a chaplain based in Oklahoma. In 2022, his achievements were recognized by the Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioners.

His son Derrick said: He was serious, intentional, and purposeful.

Gus Roman was born Dec. 20, 1932, in New Orleans. He was reared by his mother and encouraged to aspire and succeed, he told his family later, by compassionate teachers, friends, and colleagues.

He left high school when he was 15, fibbed to enlistment recruiters about his age, and served two years in the Army. He returned to high school, earned his degree in just a year, and won a two-year scholarship to Dillard University in New Orleans.

I got that sense of community involvement from him and a special passion for giving back to youth. Derrick Roman on his father's influence as a social activist

He considered a career in medicine but felt a call to the church at 21 and earned a bachelors degree in philosophy and education at Virginia Union University. He rejoined the Army in 1960 and served three years as a chaplain.

He met Eunice Matthews at a church event in Washington, and they married and had sons Marcus, Derrick, and Jeffrey and daughters Jonai and Shauna. Marcus died earlier.

The Rev. Roman was an avid reader, and his home always overflowed with books. He and his wife took memorable Caribbean vacations, and his mentorship to younger pastors was a serious matter.

He was very loving and caring, his son Derrick said. Thinking about others was foremost with him. Helping people gave him the most joy.

In addition to his wife and children, the Rev. Roman is survived by five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, two brothers, and other relatives.

Visitation with the family is to be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Zion Baptist Church, 3600 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, at Salem Baptist Church of Abington, 2741 Woodland Rd., Abington. A celebration of his life is to follow Friday.
Jeanne Ottoson with Cooper River Indivisible attends the immigrant rights groups rally outside the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to defend the N.J. state ban on immigration detention contracts, on Thursday. Read more

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was a teacher, so she might appreciate this analogy: After talking to Jasmine Rivera, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, I thought the mayor might deserve partial credit  graded generously  for avoiding the phrase sanctuary city while still hinting at the concept.

Hey, as the saying goes, even Cs get degrees.

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Maybe, I thought, she hasnt just been playing a losing game of political hide-and-seek with President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday signed an executive order threatening to cut funds to cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Maybe shed gotten the same language lesson I had.

Ill admit, I was confused when Council President Kenyatta Johnson corrected me during an Inquirer Editorial Board meeting in March when I asked how immigrants in our city could feel safe under Trumps escalating attacks while the administration in our sanctuary city had seemed to go limp.

The term is welcoming city, Johnson told me, not sanctuary.

 READ MORE: I thought juvenile lifer Suave Gonzalez got his happy ending. But then he faced the real world. | Helen Ubinas

Say what now? Wasnt it bad enough that Parker was dodging calls to reaffirm the citys status? Now we were playing a game of semantics to what  stay off the Orange Ones radar?

Johnson directed my questions and ire to Councilmember Rue Landau, who he said schooled him on the evolving terminology, and who in January held a Trump preparedness summit hours before the administration directed federal prosecutors to investigate local officials who do not cooperate with plans for mass deportation. Landau, in turn, pointed me to activists (such as Rivera) who were leading the charge.

Rivera seemed tickled to learn the term was gaining traction when we talked. Yes, she acknowledged that in todays political climate, it might seem like yet another capitulation, but she made a couple of things clear: The move away from sanctuary city rhetoric isnt new. Its been building for over a decade.

And precise language matters more than ever  because calling a place a sanctuary too often creates a false sense of safety for immigrants who cant afford to be caught off guard.

It misinforms, said Rivera. Even when we pass those policies locally, it doesnt stop ICE from knocking on peoples doors, or coming to wherever people happen to be. The term sanctuary city has always been upsetting because people assume it does more than it actually does.

In Philadelphia, it boils down to this: Local police officers dont help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in rounding up, arresting, and removing migrants  at least theyre not supposed to. In April, a Philadelphia police officer escorted a Dominican national out of the citys criminal courthouse and into the custody of immigration authorities after a judge had dismissed all criminal charges against him. The city courthouse has long been viewed as off-limits for federal immigration enforcement, but that was at least the third time in recent months that ICE agents detained someone outside the courthouse.

Now, more than ever, we need a bold, publicly articulated plan of action from leadership that has so far been missing from the Parker administration.

When asked recently about Trumps executive order, Parker said the city still operates under the 2016 executive order enacted under her predecessor, Jim Kenney.

But then she busted out in a deflective dance.

 READ MORE: Warnings from a global writing festival as U.S. democracy hangs by a thread | Helen Ubinas

I promised [the] people of our city that I wouldnt let anyone or anything get in the way of my commitment to making Philadelphia safer, cleaner, greener with access to economic opportunity for all, she said.

City Solicitor Renee Garcia said almost exactly that at a January City Council hearing, and added a curious bit about the mayors commitment to Philadelphia residents being for everybody within the citys borders, whether they are descendants of William Penn or stopping by to see the Liberty Bell.

I dont know what to say about that other than, Huh?

Its obscene to ask us to imagine that our friends, neighbors, and loved ones with targets on their backs are feeling safe enough to do anything short of hiding and praying, and that includes accessing economic opportunities or touring the Liberty Bell.

As I contemplated bell-curving Parkers muted reaction to Trumps escalating immigration polices, I thought about a phrase a friend of mine uses often about not borrowing trouble by reacting too soon or too aggressively to something that hasnt yet happened.

While I prefer the direct approach, I can understand the city not wanting to borrow trouble by poking the cruelest administration in modern history. But we should all know by now that no amount of silence or sidestepping will stop Trump and his cult. They are demonizing anyone they deem the other, terrorizing and ripping families apart, and shamelessly and unapologetically lying to justify it all.

And we should all know this, too: Eventually, they will come for us.

Philadelphia has traditionally been considered among the strongest of  yes  sanctuary cities, fighting and winning a federal lawsuit over funding, kicking ICE out of a law enforcement database, and directing city employees not to inquire about residents immigration status. That will not go unnoticed, not by these bullies.

Id start by asking Mayor Parker to meet with the immigrant groups  in person  that have been showing up and speaking out. No more sending surrogates or issuing statements. They need the mayor herself in a room, face to face, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what must be done now  before Trumps crackdown shifts its focus even more to Philly.

Bring immigrant leaders in, Rivera said. Make them part of the process. We need a clear commitment to defend our people.

If we really are a sanctuary, welcoming, One Philly (or whatever label we land on), then lets prove it.
In this November 2024 file photo, District Attorney Larry Krasner, center, stands outside a courtroom. He is the target of a late advertising blitz as he seeks reelection. Read more

With fewer than three weeks until election day, a new political group funded by Philadelphia unions and building industry is running television and radio advertising to oppose District Attorney Larry Krasner, the progressive prosecutor seeking his third term in office.

The independent expenditure organization, called the Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia, was set to begin running negative advertising about Krasner on Friday, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.

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The commercials cast Krasner as a failed prosecutor who has made the city less safe through his two terms, pointing to shooting rates that increased and highlighting cases of people released on bail during Krasners tenure who went on to commit new crimes.

The advertising blitz ahead of the May 20 Democratic primary election adds a new wrinkle to the otherwise relatively subdued district attorneys race that is pitting Krasner against challenger Patrick Dugan, a former judge. The two candidates have not met for a televised debate and have appeared publicly together only a handful of times. No Republican is running for the office, meaning that the May election will likely be decisive.

Krasners campaign is just starting to advertise on television, but Dugan, who has raised significantly more money than Krasner, has been running commercials for several weeks. Those ads are largely aimed at introducing Dugan, who has less name recognition than Krasner, to voters.

The new commercials funded by the anti-Krasner super PAC do not mention Dugan, but feature a narrator saying: If Larry Krasner cant do his job, well find someone who will.

The campaign is led by Mo Rushdy, a developer and president of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, who has orchestrated similar efforts to oppose progressives in recent years.

Rushdy said he and other moderate Democrats are united for true social justice, which he described as a prosecutor who both holds repeat criminals accountable and oversees programs for low-level offenders that have second chances actually work.

We need justice for victims of crime and for the communities that deserve a safe Philadelphia, Rushdy said. We simply need common sense.

 READ MORE: Philly DA Larry Krasners first TV ad touts lower homicide rate and jabs Trump and his billionaire buddies

Krasners campaign said in a statement that the ad is misleading, citing the citys steep decline in gun violence over the last year, and that it is exploring legal options.

We decry the millionaire special interests who are using deeply misleading crime statistics to try to inspire panic among Philadelphians, spokesperson Anthony Campisi said in a statement. The truth is that Larrys approach to reforming our criminal justice system has helped create a safer and fairer Philadelphia  with a 50-year low in homicides and plummeting crime rates that are improving faster than most of the country."

A line in the ad says aggravated assaults with guns in Philadelphia skyrocketed by 73%. The ad does not specify a time frame for when that spike occurred.

According to data compiled by the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office, the number of aggravated assaults with guns  the charge often associated with nonfatal shootings  did increase while Krasner was in office. That corresponded with a national trend, as shootings and homicides rose in jurisdictions across the country in 2020 and the several years that followed.

In Philadelphia, aggravated assaults with a gun reached a high point in 2023, when there were 2,422 such incidents. Thats an increase of 72% compared with 2017, the year before Krasner first took office. Those incidents declined to 2,218 last year, and the pace has continued to slow through the initial months of 2025.

Murders in Philadelphia and nationally have declined precipitously, with the city last year experiencing its largest annual decline in homicides in at least 50 years.

Krasners internal polling showed he held a significant lead in March, but the effect of advertising in the run-up to the election, which began after the poll was conducted, has yet to be seen. Rumors have swirled for months that out-of-town billionaires might get involved in the race by funding advertising, but so far, the Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia is the first super PAC to emerge as a player.

Rushdy said the vast majority of the groups fundraising is from local interests, including several of the citys building trades unions and other BIA members.

The super PAC will be required to publicly disclose its donors and how much money it has raised in campaign finance filings that are due next week.

The citys politically powerful building trades unions have already made their opposition to Krasner public. Ryan N. Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella organization of unions, is the cochair of Dugans campaign. The deep-pocketed electricians union has also been a top Dugan supporter.

Dugan has raised more money than Krasner thus far, in large part because of support from the trades unions, several of which gave maximum contributions. Under the citys current campaign finance laws, PACs can give campaigns up to $14,800 per year.

But a super PAC allows the trades to sink far more money into the effort to oppose Krasner. Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, so long as they dont coordinate with the candidate or campaign they are supporting.

 READ MORE: Philly DA challenger Patrick Dugan frames himself as the real reformer in first TV ad of the campaign

For example, the Laborers District Council  a group of three unions in the city run by Boyer  gave $50,000 to the Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia, according to campaign finance papers filed in March, the most recent filing deadline.

The Laborers District Council also gave maximum contributions to both Dugans and Krasners campaigns. Boyer has said that is because the locals that make up the council split their endorsements. Local 332, led by business manager Samuel Staten Jr., is the only union in the building trades backing Krasner.

No other organization disclosed a donation to the Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia ahead of last months deadline.

The ad blitz is the second time Krasner has faced negative advertising in a bid for reelection. In the 2021 Democratic primary, a group formed by retired police officers ran ads opposing Krasner and criticizing how his office handled violent crimes.

The local police union, which strongly backed Krasners opponent at the time, also kicked in funding for the negative advertising effort. Krasner ultimately prevailed in the race by a substantial margin.

The police union has not backed a candidate this year. Officials said neither candidate has requested an endorsement.
A new profile of Sen. John Fetterman in New York Magazine details how the senator's mental health struggle unfolded and the lingering concerns from his staffers. Read more

Former and current staffers are expressing concerns about Sen. John Fettermans well-being, with his former chief of staff painting the mental health of the senator, who previously underwent treatment for clinical depression, as more dire than previously reported.

Adam Jentleson, Fettermans former chief of staff, penned an email to the medical director of the traumatic brain injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last year, worried about the trajectory of Fettermans behavior, according to a profile published Friday in New York Magazine. Among other things, Jentleson flagged to the doctor that the senator was missing his regular checkups, was driving recklessly, and bought a gun (though Fetterman says he takes all the necessary firearm precautions).

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The revelations have raised questions about Fettermans fitness for office.

In February 2023, a month after he was sworn in, the Pennsylvania Democrat was admitted to Walter Reed for his mental health and discharged a month later with a recovery plan  blood work, staying on his medication, exercise  that appeared to be working. But his erratic behavior, New York Magazine reported, has appeared to create tense dynamics with his wife, Gisele, and his colleagues on Capitol Hill.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-seatbelts-adam-jentleson-ny-magazine-article-20250505.html

 READ MORE: A viral video shows John Fetterman getting into an argument with airplane crew on flight to Pittsburgh

Fetterman, who was interviewed by New York Magazine last month, insisted that nothing was wrong. He said any former staffers would not know information about his personal health and those who commented on it are disgruntled employees. He didnt have any comment when asked if there was truth to staffers concerns about a potential relapse and whether he was taking necessary medication. Representatives for Fetterman did not immediately respond to The Inquirers request for comment.

The senator, who assumed office in January 2023, experienced other health struggles during the 2022 election when he suffered a stroke in the homestretch of his campaign against Republican Mehmet Oz.

Fetterman is often willing to cross party lines, which often draws the ire of his own constituents. At one point, he had to fend off rumors that he was switching to the Republican Party. According to the New York Magazine interview, staffers were unsure as to whether some of his divisive decisions, like visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, were the result of his mental health.

Fettermans support for Israel and a regression in his recovery

The May 2024 email from Jentleson to David Williamson, the Walter Reed physician who oversaw Fettermans care while the senator was seeking treatment for depression in 2023, detailed several concerns about the Democrats well-being.

The 1,600-word email, according to the magazine, showed Jentleson outlining to Williamson the kind of warning signs we discussed, including Conspiratorial thinking; megalomania (for example, he claims to be the most knowledgeable source on Israel and Gaza around but his sources are just what he reads in the news  he declines most briefings and never reads memos).

After the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023, Fettermans support for Israel became one of his top issues. He has exchanged gifts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and last year received the Defender of Israel award from the Zionist Organization of America.

The senators defense of Israel, however, coincided with an apparent retrogression in his recovery, New York Magazine reported. At that time, he had been behind on blood work  a key part of his recovery plan.

Another part of that recovery plan was the suggestion for Fetterman to avoid social media, but the war with Gaza beckoned the senator back to X. At one point, according to the magazine article, a meme posted to the senators social media account forced a push-and-pull between Fetterman and his staffers, who begged to take it down.

But reportedly, a staffer said, Fetterman didnt want to concede to the woke mob.

One of the most stunning statements Fetterman made about the war and his opposition to a ceasefire was: Lets get back to killing, according to the magazine article.

He denied this recollection of events and said to New York Magazine: Any reference to killing was solely about Hamas, and I do support the destruction of that organization, down to its last member.

New claims about Gisele Fettermans injuries in car accident, clashes with husbands politics

Fettermans support for Israel  and other issues  was also reportedly a point of contention between him and his wife, Gisele, a philanthropist and nonprofit leader who is a former undocumented immigrant from Brazil.

According to the New York Magazine article, Gisele arrived at Fettermans Senate office and, according to a staffer, got into an argument regarding Israels attacks on Gaza.

They are bombing refugee camps. How can you support this? the staffer recalled her saying, the magazine reported.

He assured her it was all propaganda. And eventually, according to the magazine, Gisele, who is a key part of his political brand, asked for assistance in separating herself from her husbands position on Israel.

There have been other moments of frustration and tension in their relationship, the magazine reported, including Fetterman pushing her to travel with him to Mar-a-Lago (which she eventually did), taking a seemingly random trip that made him miss one of his childrens birthdays, and Gisele refusing to speak with Fetterman until his blood was tested.

Gisele told New York Magazine: I would talk to Johns doctors about what Adam [Jentleson] was telling me and they would be confused. Those doctors would tell me that their concerns were not with John, but with Adam. Any alleged concerns heard from me came straight from those lies, not from Johns doctors or my own eyes.

She was also with Fetterman during a particularly scary moment in June 2024 when he was driving at 70 mph  a high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit, according to a police report  on Interstate 70 in Hancock, Md., and his Chevrolet Traverse struck a Chevrolet Impala being driven by a 62-year-old woman from Pennsylvania.

 READ MORE: Sen. John Fetterman got two speeding tickets before Sundays crash, Pa. records show

As previously reported by The Inquirer at the time, Gisele and her husband were taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. But more details were revealed when New York Magazine reported that Gisele suffered pulmonary contusion and spinal fractures and that Fetterman, who has a history of reckless driving behaviors and was found at fault for the accident, called a staffer and said he fell asleep at the wheel.

Grappling with the duties of the Senate, including the Hegseth nomination

Fettermans openness to the GOP has taken various forms. For example, hes created an account on Trumps social media platform, Truth Social, and expressed a willingness to support several of the presidents cabinet picks during Senate confirmations earlier this year.

But one impending confirmation in particular, seemed to bother Fetterman immensely, New York Magazine reported, as he was torn on whether to vote for then-Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, who faced allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.

According to the article, Fetterman suggested he should flee Washington for his parents house in York, Pa. The pressure Fetterman felt about Hegseths confirmation, as well as rumors about him leaving the Democratic Party, reportedly resulted in the senator locking himself in his office, fighting with his wife, and crying as he FaceTimed with staff.

Ultimately, Fetterman voted no on Hegseth.

Fetterman is largely isolated, New York Magazine reported. He removed himself from the Democratic-caucus group chat, rarely attends hearings, has missed more votes the first quarter of 2025 than any other senator, and has had verbal altercations with fellow senators. There were days where staff had to shield him from anyone outside the office in case he acted impolitely toward constituents.

Shortly before Fetterman was admitted to Walter Reed in 2023, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) went to visit Fetterman in his new Capitol Hill office and, despite Browns best efforts, Fetterman was catatonic.

But it does appear that he has a few friends, namely Sen. Peter Welch (D., Vt.) and Sen. Katie Britt (R., Ala.), who have occasionally dined together and shared stories about their families.

Welch said when he visited Fetterman at Walter Reed it was like seeing a friend who was in really rough shape suddenly being his old self.

Editors note: This story was updated to include additional details from Jentlesons email to Fettermans doctor.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison described the situation as unprecedented, with preliminary reports suggesting as many as 380 vehicles may have been damaged. Its like trying to vacuum up the highway, she said. Small pieces of metal are extremely difficult to remove, and we are working across agencies and with the private sector to manage it.
Earlier in the legislative session, lawmakers considered creating a formal risk pool for commercial fishermen, modeled after municipal programs. Insurance Commissioner Lori Wing-Heier said such a pool could be established but noted concerns about funding and eligibility. She said the industrys current financial condition could limit its ability to sustain a risk pool and added that certain types of vessels, such as older wooden boats, may face market bias.
In its April 28 opinion, the Court of Appeals sided with State Farm. The justices held that Shelters right to recover was capped by the actual damages awarded. The statute, they said, entitles a UIM insurer to recoup the proceeds of any settlement or judgment - not the full amount it fronted unless that amount is backed up by the final result.
That might sound logical - but not under Georgia law. The court pointed to the states hospital lien statute, which clearly states that a hospitals lien applies to the patients cause of action (in this case, Giless personal injury claim), not to the patient themselves. In other words, its about the money recovered from the injury, not whether the patient personally owes a debt.
A huge congratulations to our new partners. It has been a privilege witnessing their growth and progression over the years. At Kennedys, our people are our greatest competitive advantage, and [the] promotions underscore the breadth and depth of our talent. As they begin their new roles, they will each play an instrumental part in further strengthening our global reach, enhancing the value we deliver to clients, and shaping the path forward as we continue to navigate the evolving demands of business, she said.
But the appellate court has now reversed that decision. In its April 2025 ruling, the court said the plaintiffs hadnt shown enough to justify canceling the contract at this early stage. Even though the agreement could be read to suggest Allison Korman was licensed, the buyers didnt explain why that matteredespecially since she was acting as executor, not broker of record.
At issue is a new agency rule28 Texas Administrative Code 131.5adopted in early 2025. It requires injured employees receiving LIBs to confirm each month that they are still alive before the agency disburses their payments. Verification can be done through a phone call, video call, or other online method. If the recipient does not provide the required confirmation, the SIF holds the payment until verification is complete.
Another big shift proposed by LD 1195 would give the Superintendent of Insurance expanded authority to direct the Treasurer of State to draw on a letter of credit. This could happen if an employer fails to pay claims, enters bankruptcy, or fails to replace an expiring letter of credit after notice. Proceeds from a draw would be held on behalf of claimants until replacement security is provided or claims are resolved, adding another layer of protection for workers.
Voters in Alaska, Missouri and Nebraska were asked last year whether they wanted to require employers to provide paid sick leave to their workers. They overwhelmingly said yes.

Now some lawmakers in each of those states are trying to roll back the benefits, citing concerns from businesses about costs.

The efforts mark the latest attempt by legislators to alter laws backed by the voters they represent. In February, for example, Michigan enacted revisions to a paid sick leave law initiated by voters seven years ago, delaying the date when small businesses must comply and allowing a longer period before new employees are eligible.

Though some voters are outraged, some lawmakers contend that citizen activists who crafted the initiatives overlooked the realities of running a business.

Restaurant owner Tim Hart, who employs about two dozen workers at his steakhouse in Hannibal, Missouri, said the paid sick leave requirement imposes a double financial hit because he must pay one person to stay home and another to fill the shift.

When this goes into effect, we very likely wont survive, said Hart, who has urged the state Senate to halt the law.

The paid sick leave laws are set to kick in Thursday in Missouri, July 1 in Alaska and Oct. 1 in Nebraska.

McDonalds restaurant worker Richard Eiker is among those who stand to benefit. He signed a petition putting the initiative on the Missouri ballot and traveled recently from Kansas City to the state Capitol to lobby lawmakers to let the law stand.

In 40 years on the job, Eiker has never received paid sick leave  not even when he was struggling with a kidney stone.

I just took some pain medication and just went into work anyway and just worked past the pain, Eiker said. It would have been nice to have stayed home.

Lower-wage workers are less likely to get paid sick leave

Federal law requires many employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for personal or family medical issues. But there is no federal mandate to pay for sick days.

Nonetheless, 79% of private-sector employees received paid sick leave last year, according to the Department of Labor. Part-time workers were significantly less likely to receive the benefit than their full-time counterparts. And just 58% of employees in the bottom quarter of income earners received paid sick leave, compared with 94% in the top quartile.

Though still discretionary for many employers, the number of states mandating paid sick leave has grown significantly since Connecticut enacted the first such law in 2012. Last years ballot measures raised the total to 18 states and the District of Columbia. Three additional states require paid leave for any reason, without specifying sickness.

Many paid sick leave laws, including the ones in Alaska, Missouri and Nebraska, apply to any employer with at least one worker. But some states exempt the smallest businesses, with cutoffs ranging from five to 25 employees. The number of annual paid sick days also varies.

Missouri lawmaker wants it to be less onerous for employers

On Tuesday the state Supreme Court upheld Missouris paid sick leave law against a challenge from business groups. But efforts to revise it continue.

In March, Republican House members passed legislation to repeal the paid sick leave requirement. That was then blocked by minority-party Democrats in the Senate. So Republicans are pushing an alternative that would delay the law until later this year, exempt smaller businesses and take away workers ability to sue over alleged violations.

The intent is to just make it a little less onerous on employers, said Republican state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, a small business owner who is backing the bill.

But many workers already have it tough, Democratic lawmakers said.

When theres people living paycheck to paycheck, just missing a little bit of work can really put them behind, Democratic state Sen. Patty Lewis said.

Nebraska senator warns of huge overstep by colleagues

Legislation pushed by Republican lawmakers in Nebraska would carve out exceptions from paid sick leave for 14- and-15-year-old employees, temporary and seasonal agricultural workers and businesses with 10 or fewer employees.

The legislation also would strip workers of the ability to sue employers who retaliate against them for using paid sick leave.

Supporters of the revisions say they aim to protect small businesses from higher costs. Opponents say they are essentially gutting the law.

Were talking about just whole swaths of the ballot language being stricken by this, state Sen. John Cavanaugh said during recent debate. That is a huge overstep by this Legislature to say that we know better than the people who voted for this.

Alaska labor leader foresees long battle over voters wishes

A bill by state Rep. Justin Ruffridge would exempt seasonal workers and businesses with fewer than 50 employees from the sick leave requirement. That could exclude many catering to Alaskas summer tourists.

Ruffridge, a member of the Houses Republican minority, said small business owners should be able to choose whether to spend money on sick leave benefits or other measures to grow their businesses.

Joelle Hall, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, which supported the ballot measure, doubts Ruffridges bill will gain traction in the final weeks of this years session.

But, she said, I believe this is the beginning of a long battle to protect the voters wishes from the wills and the whims of the businesspeople who dont want to pay sick days.

___

Beck reported from Lincoln, Nebraska, and Bohrer from Juneau, Alaska.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation
Berkshire Hathaway BRKa.N has held up well in a rocky year for stocks, and shareholders this weekend will be seeking reassurance from Warren Buffett that they remain in good hands as tariff turmoil disrupts corporate America.

At Saturdays annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, the 94-year-old billionaire will mark 60 years in charge of what he built into a $1.15 trillion conglomerate.

Buffett will spend 4-1/2 hours fielding shareholder questions, which typically focus on Berkshires operating businesses, markets, the economy, life lessons, and the companys future after the Oracle of Omaha departs.

Berkshires businesses are disparate, and include Geico insurance, the BNSF railroad, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom, and retro brands such as Ginsu knives and the World Book Encyclopedia.

For many, they serve as a proxy for the American economy.

Yet through April 30, Berkshire shares have trounced the Standard & Poors 500 .SPX, rising 18% while the index was down 5%.

That gulf, however, is more likely reflective of whipsaw from U.S. President Donald Trumps policies than new attitudes about Berkshire itself.

Some observers view Berkshires $334.2 billion year-end cash stake, which at current yields could generate more than $14 billion of income, as a buffer.

People have so much conviction in Warren Buffett and his ability to deploy capital well in market downturns, said Brett Gardner, author of Buffetts Early Investments, focusing on decades ago when Buffetts outperformance was substantial.

Berkshire also has a lot of stable cash flowing businesses that may not be as impacted as other companies, he added.

The early outperformance fueled much of Berkshires stock price gain of more than 6,400,000% since 1965. Over multiyear periods, Berkshire now performs more like the S&P, but with better downside protection.

TARIFF PRESSURES

Buffett readily acknowledges the folly of expecting stellar outperformance over the long haul.

We cannot do as well as we did in the past, Buffett said at Berkshires 2013 annual shareholder meeting. Its tougher as we get bigger.

At the 2021 meeting, Buffett said a person who knows nothing about stocks and had no special feelings for Berkshire should buy the index.

And in his February 2024 shareholder letter, Buffett said Berkshire should do a bit better than average American companies, with materially less risk of losing capital, but that anything beyond slightly better was wishful thinking.

A large driver of Berkshires profit is insurance, which accounted for 48% of its $47.4 billion of operating profit last year.

Still, earnings in 53% of Berkshires 189 operating businesses fell last year, and Trumps tariffs could pressure some of the businesses.

At BNSF, for example, higher tariffs could reduce cargo volumes if imports decline.

Not even buying and selling homes is immune.

Tariffs indirectly affect our business, to the extent they cause market instability and affect the 10-year Treasury note, which directly affects mortgage rates and the housing market, said Chris Kelly, chief executive of HomeServices of America, the largest U.S. residential real estate brokerage.

DUMBEST STOCK I EVER BOUGHT

Berkshires value also derives from its huge cache of stocks, including Apple AAPL.O and American Express AXP.N, though that portfolio suffered during Aprils market selloff.

Jim Shanahan, an Edward Jones & Co analyst in St. Louis, said Berkshire has been trading near a historically high 1.75 times projected book value for June.

Weve always felt Berkshire was a good stock to own in periods of market volatility, he said, but we didnt anticipate this level of market volatility.

Buffett took over Berkshire in a fit of anger in 1965, when management of the then-flailing textile company shortchanged him when he offered to sell back his shares.

He later called Berkshire the dumbest stock I ever bought, saying he missed out on $200 billion over 45 years by making it his vehicle to invest in insurance instead of starting a new entity.

But by adopting the mantra of the companys late vice chairman, Charlie Munger, to buy wonderful businesses at fair prices, rather than fair businesses at wonderful prices, Buffett made Berkshire what it is today.

Gardner called Berkshires size its biggest handicap, being unable to move the needle, but said Buffetts record as perhaps the greatest investor ever outweighed it for many.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Succession-planning is largely set. Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who oversees non-insurance businesses, has since 2021 been Buffetts designated successor as chief executive officer.

It is unclear whether Abel or portfolio managers Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, who is also Geico CEO, would become the chief stock pickers. Buffetts son Howard Buffett would become nonexecutive chairman.

Abel and Vice Chairman Ajit Jain, who oversees insurance businesses, will also field shareholder questions on Saturday.

Shanahan said he hopes Abel will commit to investing more of his net worth in Berkshire, and assure investors that he will be around at least a decade. A lot of people think of retiring at 62, Shanahan said.

But he particularly wants to know if Aprils market swoon provided Buffett an opportunity to buy  something.

That would go a long way to calming markets, he said. Consider the alternative: they go to $340 billion of cash and have been a net seller in April. That would be horrible for markets.
Attendees of the RIMS Riskworld annual conference in Chicago will have an opportunity to meet a cohort of aspiring risk management professionals, who are participating in a global university competition.

Teams from eight colleges around the world will compete in the Spencer-RIMS Student Risk Management Challenge that asks college students to form a risk management report based on a case study. The competition is put on by the Spencer Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants to students interested in pursuing a career in risk management.

The seven-month-long competition culminates at RIMS, where the top eight teams will present in a preliminary round on May 4. The advancing top three teams will compete in a final presentation round on May 5. A $10,000 award will go to the winning team, while second-place receives $7,500 and third-place receives $5,000. Spencer also pays for each teams air fare, hotel stay and conference registration.

This years competition featured 61 universities from 16 countries. The eight teams competing at RIMS consist of three American universities (DePauw, Saint Josephs and Wisconsin-Madison) and colleges from India, Nepal, Australia and South Africa.

Students were given a case study of the climate risks affecting Huntington, West Virginia and were asked to act as risk management consultants to address the issues at hand. The first part of the challenge asked students to identify the top three to five risks that the city faces specifically due to climate change. The second part asked them how the city can protect itself against those risks and how would they go about implementing their solutions.

Tandeka Nomvete, director, external engagement at Spencer, said the challenge is designed to give students real-world risk management experience that prepares them for the kind of work they might encounter as a professional.

Its quite a complex problem, right? Were asking them to identify the top issues related to climate change, Nomvete said. Were asking them to present the solutions, and then we take it a step further and were asking them, how would you actually go about implementing all of these solutions that youve come up with? So they truly are acting as risk management consultant.

Teams of four students per school will present their findings in front of a panel of risk management judges, formed primarily of chief risk management officers from various organizations and companies. Teams present for 20 minutes, followed by a 10 minute Q&A session where theyll answer questions from the judges.

The top three teams will return the next day for a final presentation. The final session is open to any attendees who want to walk in and watch. The winning teams will be announced Monday evening at the Spencer Soiree held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago.

Growing the industry

Spencers history dates back to 1979, when the RIMS Atlanta Chapter established a foundation to honor Robert Spencer, a respected risk manager who served as a vice president and president of the national RIMS organization until his death. The organization awards merit-based grants and scholarships to college students interested in pursuing a career in risk management.

Really we have a sales job, said Megan Miller, executive director, Spencer. We have to sell this career to students. We have to stack it up alongside better known opportunities like finance, accounting, consulting.

Spencer funds insurance and risk management college curricula and works with insurance companies to create internship opportunities. The foundation has awarded over $10 million in scholarships to students studying risk management and insurance. Most scholarship recipients stay in the industry once they see what a career in insurance has to offer, Miller said.

Its really important for the industry to come together and support any and all initiatives around talent because were just not attracting students at the same rate and at the same level as these other career paths, even though we can offer an equally lucrative and varied and rewarding career path as those other avenues, said Miller.

Undergraduate scholarships are available to students at accredited universities in the United States and Canada who are seeking a career in risk management, insurance, and/or actuarial sciences. Spencer also offers scholarships to students pursuing a masters in risk management and insurance-related fields.

While Spencer doesnt have a specific diversity initiative, the foundation is proud of its work of identifying scholarship recipients from historically underrepresented groups.

For the risk management and insurance industry to be able to evolve and to reach our potential, were going to have to have all types of people at the table, said Nomvete. We need to have people from different backgrounds, gender, ethnicity, ability. We need to have different people at the table that are making decisions for the various companies within our industry. And so I think thats why its critical for us to start investing in that young and diverse talent now.

By attending RIMS, students from competing teams get a chance to network with insurance and risk management professionals in addition to competing for a cash prize. Those connections could prove invaluable as they embark on a career in the industry.

Most people in this industry are so grateful for the rewarding career that theyve had that theyre happy to give back, said Miller. We have individuals who have created their own scholarship with their own funding. And that to me makes it easy to go out and sell insurance as a career because you know what a welcoming community these students are coming into, that theres that many people that care enough to invest in the future.

Topics Talent Training Development
Texas Mutual Insurance Company announced that its board of directors voted unanimously to approve a $330 million general dividend distribution in 2025.

Texas Mutual, the states top provider of workers compensation insurance will have distributed more than $1 billion in general dividends.

This will be the 27th year in a row that Texas Mutual has distributed general dividends to its policyholder owners, with nearly $4.8 billion delivered back to Texas businesses during that time. Dividends will be distributed in June to an estimated 73,000 Texas Mutual policyholders.

Texas Mutuals dividend program has made a meaningful impact on our states economy for 27 years by reaching so many businesses across Texas, said the Honorable Ron Simmons, chairman of Texas Mutuals board. Our policyholders are the backbone of Texas, and were proud to reward businesses that are committed to creating safe workplaces for their employees.

Approximately 91% of Texas Mutual policyholders will receive a dividend, the company said.

While Texas Mutual has awarded dividends each year since 1999, they are based on performance and therefore are not guaranteed. Additionally, dividends must comply with Texas Department of Insurance rules.

More information on Texas Mutual dividends can be found here.

Topics Texas
Adult children and parents of young adults who died under medical care will soon be able to recover punitive and pain-and-suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits if Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill into law.

The Florida Senate approved House Bill 6017, a month after the House of Representatives endorsed it. The measure would end the so-called free kill law that since 1990 has barred children aged 25 or older, or parents of deceased individuals who were 25 and up, from recovering non-economic damages under the states wrongful death statute.

The Senate vote was 33-4 in favor of the repeal, bucking a legislative trend toward reducing what the business and insurance communities have called excessive litigation in the state. Despite that trend, some Republicans who had voted for Floridas 2023 tort reform law argued that the free kill law had gone too far.

This is a 35-year-old law that needs to be repealed, state Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said on the Senate floor Wednesday. Its unjust. It shouldnt be on the books.

Senators rejected an attempt to limit damages in the lawsuits to $1 million.

Sen. Gayle Harrell said repeal of the law, without the cap on damages, would cause a major problem for the state of Florida, by keeping malpractice insurance rates at very high levels and discouraging doctors from moving to the state.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, a former Democrat, argued that Florida will see relatively few new lawsuits if the law is repealed, and it would have little impact on medical malpractice premiums.

There isnt a special category or line of insurance on the med-mal side that covers doctors who specialize in making sure that they operate on or treat people who have only adult children who cant recover under Florida Statute 768, Pizzo said on the floor. That doesnt exist.

DeSantis has not indicated if he will sign or veto the bill, according to state news reports.

Photo: Pizzo on the floor Wednesday. (The Florida Channel)

Topics Lawsuits Florida Legislation
In a first-of-its kind move, Hawaii lawmakers are ready to hike a tax imposed on travelers staying in hotels, vacation rentals and other short-term accommodations and earmark the new money for programs to cope with a warming planet.

State leaders say theyll use the funds for projects like replenishing sand on eroding beaches, helping homeowners install hurricane clips on their roofs and removing invasive grasses like those that fueled the deadly wildfire that destroyed Lahaina two years ago.

A bill scheduled for House and Senate votes this week  initially scheduled for Wednesday but moved to Friday  would add an additional 0.75% to the daily room rate tax starting Jan. 1. Its all but certain to pass given Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers and party leaders have agreed on the measure. Gov. Josh Green has said he would sign it into law.

Officials estimate the increase would generate $100 million in new revenue annually.

We had a $13 billion tragedy in Maui and we lost 102 people. These kind of dollars will help us prevent that next disaster, Green said in an interview.

Green said Hawaii was the first state in the nation to do something along these lines. Andrey Yushkov, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, said he was unaware of any other state that has set aside lodging tax revenue for the purposes of environmental protection or climate change.

Adding to An Already Hefty Tax

The increase will add to what is already a relatively large duty on short-term stays. The states existing 10.25% tax on daily room rates would climb to 11%. In addition, Hawaiis counties each add their own 3% surcharge and the state and counties impose a combined 4.712% general excise tax on goods and services including hotel rooms. Together, that will make for a tax rate of nearly 19%.

The only large U.S. cities that have higher cumulative state and local lodging tax rates are Omaha, Nebraska, at 20.5%, and Cincinnati, at 19.3%, according to a 2024 report by HVS, a global hospitality consulting firm.

The governor has long said the 10 million visitors who come to Hawaii each year should help the states 1.4 million residents protect the environment.

Green believes travelers will be willing to pay the increased tax because doing so will enable Hawaii to keep the beaches perfect and preserve favorite spots like Mauis road to Hana and the coastline along Oahus North Shore. After the Maui wildfire, Green said he heard from thousands of people across the country asking how they could help. This is a significant way they can, he said.

Hotel Industry Has Mixed Feelings

Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, which represents the states hotel operators, said the industry was pleased lawmakers didnt adopt a higher increase that was initially proposed.

I dont think that theres anybody in the tourism industry that says, Well, lets go out and tax more. No one wants to see that, Gibson said. But our state, at the same time, needs money.

The silver lining, Gibson said, is that the money is supposed to beautify Hawaiis environment. It will be worth it if thats the case, he said.

Hawaii has long struggled to pay for the vast environmental and conservation needs of the islands, ranging from protecting coral reefs to weeding invasive plants to making sure tourists dont harass wildlife, such as Hawaiian monk seals. The state must also maintain a large network of trails, many of which have heavier foot traffic as more travelers choose to hike on vacation.

Two years ago, lawmakers considered requiring tourists to pay for a yearlong license or pass to visit state parks and trails. Green wanted to have all visitors pay a $50 fee to enter the state, an idea lawmakers said would violate U.S. constitutional protections for free travel.

Boosting the lodging tax is their compromise solution, one made more urgent by the Maui wildfires.

A Large Funding Gap

An advocacy group, Care for Aina Now, calculated a $561 million gap between Hawaiis conservation funding needs and money spent each year.

Green acknowledged the revenue from the tax increase falls short of this, but said the state would issue bonds to leverage the money it raises. Most of the $100 million would go toward measures that can be handled in a one-to-two year time frame, while $10 to $15 million of it would pay for bonds supporting long-term infrastructure projects.

Kawika Riley, a member of the governors Climate Advisory Team, pointed to the Hawaiian saying, A stranger only for a day, to explain the new tax. The adage means that a visitor should help with the work after the first day of being a guest.

Nobody is saying that literally our visitors have to come here and start working for us. But what we are saying is that its important to be part of the solution, Riley said. Its important to be part of caring for the things you love.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Climate Change Hawaii
It is difficult from the perspective of our hyper-connected existence to conceive of a world in which news was a valuable commodity, taking days or even weeks to reach readers.

At the end of the 19th century, newspapers were the main source of information for millions, and those who dispatched it were seen as valuable purveyors of knowledge, with the attendant fame, power, and influence.

One of the most prominent journalists of the time was EJ Dillon, a Zelig-type figure who, as foreign correspondent with The Daily Telegraph, witnessed momentous historical events, including the assassination of a Russian tsar, the Dreyfus trial, the Spanish-American War, and the Paris Peace Conference.

He was also a university professor, author, and an adviser to statesmen, helping to broker international peace treaties and counting Tolstoy and Dostoevsky as acquaintances.

Dillon divorced his Russian first wife to marry his much younger secretary and settle in Barcelona, where he died in 1933, aged 79.

It was an extraordinary life by any measure but even more so given Dillons humble origins in the slums of Dublin, where his father ran a hardware shop from their front room.

When Kevin Rafter, professor of political communication at Dublin City University, came across a reference to Emile Joseph Dillon in an academic journal, it drew him down what turned out to be a series of increasingly intriguing rabbit holes.

Author Kevin Rafters new release reveals interesting truths on prominent foreign correspondent EJ Dillon.

He was a fascinating figure, a real man of mystery, he said. He ended up working for The Daily Telegraph in St Petersburg, he was swanning around the capitals of Europe, going into Downing Street to meet the prime minister.

He was on first-name terms with statesmen and prime ministers across Europe. So all of that was intriguing in itself.

While information was initially hard to come by, Rafter hit the jackpot when he discovered that Stanford University in the US had acquired Dillons archive.

I went over to Stanford and I realised it was all there, Rafter said.

Dillon was a hoarder. He held everything  notebooks, postcards, documents.

Dillon had been based in Russia, so there was a volume of material and correspondence with influential Russian politicians and leading figures in the tsarist regime from around the time of the revolution.

As a former political journalist himself, excavating Dillons past became a tantalising project for Rafter that has now resulted in a book, Dillon Rediscovered: The Newspaperman Who Befriended Kings, Presidents and Oil Tycoons.

I knew I wanted to tell his story, to rescue him from oblivion. Each box that came out was a story in itself, Rafter said.

He sent postcards to his three sons everywhere he went, and they held on to them all.

So there are postcards from China, from the election of a pope, to the Dreyfus Court martial to the peace treaty that was signed between Japan and Russia in 1905.

Then there are all these tiny little notes, pocket diaries that he had with entries like dinner with Princess of Morocco, or the opera and theatre with so-and-so.

Anyone working in the media now can only read with envy of Dillons glamorous lifestyle, all funded by his employers.

He had a very generous expense account and stayed in the best hotels, all expensed, Rafter said.

He had one, sometimes two, secretaries who accompanied him. He would rattle off his story, they would type it up and it would be sent back by telegraph or posted back, depending on where he was.

He charged every single cent to The Daily Telegraph  when he bought new suits, cravats, cigars. It really was the glory days of being a foreign correspondent.

Dillons glamorous life was in stark contrast to those of the families he left behind, both in Dublin and in London. Rafter says Dillons abandonment of his family in the service of his own interests displayed a ruthless streak.

He was singularly focused on his own career, and nothing got in the way of that.

He essentially abandoned his family in Dublin because he was embarrassed by them, he said. His two sisters survived their parents and he effectively had nothing to do with them in the latter stages of their own life.

He abandoned his first wife and their three sons. He moved them from Russia to London, and then he went off and travelled the world and appeared every so often.

One of the startling boxes that I opened in Stanford contained all the documentation relating to the divorce of Emile and his first wife, Helena.

He ultimately married one of his secretaries, Kathleen Ireland from Belfast.

She was 30 years younger than him, and it was certainly a love affair, because Ive read the letters, letters that probably should not have been preserved for people like me to come along and read. Theyre very intimate.

An international man of mystery

Dillon was the literal embodiment of an international man of mystery  he had drawn a veil over his early years in Dublin to the extent that when he died, his obituary in The New York Times erroneously stated that he was born to an English father and an Irish mother.

The family lived in a two-up, two-down at the back of the Four Courts, the father ran a hardware store from the front living room, onto the street.

So when he became a foreign correspondent and he was mixing in a totally different strata, he allowed a mystique around his background to develop, said Rafter.

When he died, there were obituaries in all the international newspapers, because he was a big-name foreign correspondent, even though hed been retired for well over a decade at that stage.

So I had to sift through all those errors about his background, and some of it was detective work at the start.

I was ably assisted by things like our own birth cert system. As I went through his own documents, I discovered he was contacted by a number of big British publishers to write his memoirs.

He did sit down and draft a number of early chapters about his childhood, but the memoir never materialised.

Its evident that part of the reason was he would have had to reconcile himself with a lot of those untruths that were in the public domain.

Nevertheless, Rafter was left in awe at Dillons achievements: His fathers ambition for him was to go into the priesthood, because it would guarantee him a career.

And there he was, 30 years later, in and out of presidents and monarchs offices across Europe. He was reporting on the Armenian crisis, the revolutions in Portugal, Crete, China.

In the 1920s, when he left journalism, he was advising the president of Mexico.

His will catalogues his share ownership, and even allowing for the Wall Street crash and the Great Depression, he was still an incredibly wealthy man. It was a remarkable transformation.

In unravelling the mysterious life of Dillon, Rafter has crafted a fascinating portrait of a clever, ambitious man who forged his own destiny.

While Rafters own labour of love is at an end, Dillon continues to occupy his thoughts.

Besides the person who had catalogued them in Stanford, I was the first person to go through these documents and personal family photographs in decades and suddenly these people were coming alive to me, he said.

So you do feel as if theyre there with you, and youre in their life. For me, it has been this big adventure story to try and bring him back to life and to use the material.

But papers can only tell you so much. I would love to sit in front of EJ Dillon today. I would have many questions for him.
Robert De Niro has expressed love and support for his daughter Airyn after she came out as transgender.

The daughter of the two-time Oscar-winning actor spoke about her transition with online LGBT+ magazine Them and said she was stepping into this new identity while also being more proud of her black heritage.

De Niro, 81, said: I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I dont know what the big deal is  I love all my children.

Robert De Niro was speaking to online LGBT+ magazine Them (Matt Crossick/PA)

Airyn thanked De Niro and her mother, model Toukie Smith, in the article and said: I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight.

They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.

In 2023, De Niro, known for films including The Godfather and Killers Of The Flower Moon, became a father for the seventh time.

He is father to Drena and Raphael, with his first wife Diahnne Abbott, twins Julian and Airyn with ex-girlfriend Smith, Elliot and Helen with ex-wife Grace Hightower, and Gia, with his current partner Tiffany Chen.

Transgender issues have been at the forefront of political debates in both the US and UK.

In recent weeks there have been demonstrations across Britain in response to a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.
Recent cyberattacks by Russian intelligence on French public and private services highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russia not only to Ukraine but to the security of Europe, the Irish government has said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that France has condemned in the strongest terms the cyberattacks. A communique issued by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs attributed the attacks to a cyber gang known as APT28 on the direction of Russian military intelligence service (GRU).

Since 2021, this attack group has been used to target or compromise a dozen French entities, the statement said. These entities are working in the daily lives of French people and include public services, private enterprises as well as a sport organisation involved in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"In the past, this group was also used by GRU in the sabotage of the TV5Monde broadcasting station in 2015, as well as in attempts to destabilise the French elections in 2017.

It said this gang also exerted continual pressure on Ukrainian infrastructures amid Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, particularly when it is operated out of GRU Unit 20728.

Many European partners have also been targeted by APT28 in recent years. In this regard, EU imposed sanctions on the individuals and entities responsible for the attacks conducted with the assistance of this group.

The statement said that France, along with its partners, was determined to use all the means at its disposal to anticipate Russias malicious behaviour in cyberspace, discourage it and respond to it where necessary.

Commenting, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said: France has condemned, in the strongest terms, cyberattacks on French interests attributed to Russias military intelligence service (GRU) using the APT28 attack group and has stressed that such actions are contrary to the UN norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

This development highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russia, not just to Ukraine, but to the security of Europe.

The French comminque followed the publication of a report by the French national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI. The report found that the APT28 group has been used to gather strategic intelligence from entities in France, Europe, Ukraine and North America.

It said: In the context of the war of aggression started by Russia against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, espionage campaigns associated with the APT28 intrusion set and targeting Ukraine, NATO countries, or EU member states have been observed.

It said recent espionage campaigns associated with APT28 have targeted governmental entities in European countries, including foreign affairs departments, political parties, foundations and associations, and entities from the sectors of defence, logistics, arms industry, aerospace and IT.

The Irish National Cyber Security Centre declined to comment, including on whether or not this group has tried to attack any Irish entities. Its parent department, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications said the NCSC does not comment on operation matters.
Irish detainee Cliona Ward has been elevated and empowered by the support she has received since being arrested by US immigration and customs enforcement officials last month, according to her family.

Clionas sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, said Cliona is building community and support with the women she has been detained alongside, and that she wants to help all of them.

In an update to a GoFundMe launched on Clionas behalf, Ms Holladay said that her sister has been moved from the holding cell, where she had been held since her arrest on April 21, to a pod in the detention centre itself in Tacoma, Washington state.

Ms Holladay said that she is working with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest unions in the US with whom Cliona holds membership, so that protests take place on the date of Clionas preliminary court hearing.

That hearing had initially been scheduled for May 7. However, the latest information received by the family indicates it may well now not happen for a number of weeks.

Ms Holladay is set to attend the hearing in person to support her sister.

Cliona was initially detained in Seattle after returning from visiting with her father, who lives with dementia in Cork. She was held on foot of a number of criminal convictions she had received between 2007 and 2008.

While those convictions had been expunged from her record at a state level, it appears the fact they had not been vacated at a federal level is the reason Cliona came to the attention of US immigration and customs enforcement officials.

Valid green card

Cliona is the holder of a valid green card and has lived in American for more than 40 years.

She has urged me to tell you that the service people in the facility are being really nice to her  the people who serve the food, who escort her to go get a shower, who make sure she has clean clothes, Ms Holladay said in her update.

Its strange that access to a shower [and] clean clothes is a blessing, but right now it is

Clionas older sister Tracey Ward, who lives in East Cork, told the Irish Examiner of the frustrations the family has experienced with the detention centre, a system run by corporations on a for-profit basis.

Orla is talking to Cliona every other day, and they cant hear each other properly because the phones in the detention centre dont work very well. There are a number of phones that just dont work, which isnt great because weve to pay for the phone, and it isnt cheap, she said.

They try to make money every way they can, so were paying for these expensive phone calls where my sisters cant hear each other and end up getting frustrated

She said the mostly Latino women who are detained with Cliona have told her that they are consistently moved from centre to centre across the US, without ever actually being processed.

Their children have been taken from them and moved to detention centres in Florida or the other side of the country, and they dont know where they are. When they ask about them, theyre just told theyre ok, theyre ok, Ms Ward said.
One of the countrys most senior civil servants has cast doubt on efforts by the Government to quickly raise Dublin Airports 32m person passenger cap, describing them as unrealistic.

Secretary general at the Department of Transport Ken Spratt informed his colleagues in late March of a phonecall he had received from the chair of DAA  the airports operating body  Basil Geoghegan, in which Mr Spratt described media reports that the Government was set to raise the cap as being inaccurate.

The reporting in question suggested that the Government was considering interventions to lift the cap  which dates from 2007  including potentially passing laws allowing the limit to be increased, with senior ministerial sources being quoted describing the ongoing cap situation as intolerable.

However, Mr Spratt, in a message sent on March 31 to several colleagues and seen by the Irish Examiner, said those reports were from my perspective, inaccurate.

Referring to two planning applications which Daa has outstanding with Fingal County Council (FCC) seeking to raise the cap respectively to 36m and 40m passengers, Mr Spratt said those applications should take precedence over any other action, adding in my view, the existing processes should be persisted with and concluded.

He said that what had been reported regarding potential Government intervention on the cap is likely to set unrealistic expectations.

It is highly unlikely that any new law would speed up the process to increase the cap, Mr Spratt said.

A spokesperson for DAA said that it is encouraged by its ongoing discussions with minister for transport Darragh OBrien who had confirmed to the body that he is exploring new legal solutions to the cap.

The bigger issue at present, they said, is that conversations need to switch to how planning in Ireland can go faster.

The Department of Transport was asked whether or not Mr Spratt is still of the same opinion but said it has no comment to make on the matter.

Daa, which has been criticised by the airlines in particular for failing to deal with the need to raise the cap sooner, officially lodged an application with FCC to raise the cap to 40m in December 2023.

The 32m cap at Dublin Airport has come in for a great deal of criticism in recent years from stakeholders, ranging from airlines to politicians, facing accusations that the restriction is limiting growth and competitiveness and discouraging future investment.

DAA, which has been criticised by the airlines in particular for failing to deal with the need to raise the cap sooner, officially lodged an application with FCC to raise the cap to 40m in December 2023.

However, that application has been stalled for more than a year on foot of a request from FCCs Aircraft Noise Competent Authority in March 2024 for more information regarding the noise impact of planes travelling to and from the airport.

DAA has said it cannot provide that information until a decision is reached by An Bord Pleanala relating to the bodys relevant action which seeks to alter the number of planes allowed to land and take off at the airport each night  which is currently capped at 65.

A commitment was made in the programme for government to work with stakeholders to achieve our objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport as soon as possible.

To that end, Mr OBrien had met with attorney general Rossa Fanning in March, with legal advice stemming from that meeting suggesting the cap could be "carved out" from planning laws by implementing fresh legislation.

Last month, Mr OBrien said the legislative options in question have not been provided to me yet, adding however, that the Government remained committed to removing the cap.
The UK government has confirmed it will seek a Supreme Court appeal over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of GAA official Sean Brown.

The statement from the Northern Ireland Office came after Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier High Court ruling compelling the government to hold a public inquiry.

The Appeal Court judges said their final order compelling Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to establish an inquiry would come into effect on June 2.

Mr Benn had already signalled an intention to take the case to the Supreme Court.

On Friday it was confirmed he would now be seeking leave to take the case to the Supreme Court following the Court of Appeal decision.

Last month the Court of Appeal ruled that the ongoing failure to hold a public inquiry in the Brown case was unlawful.

The judges deferred making a final order for four weeks to give Mr Benn space to consider his response.

Earlier this week, he applied to the court to give him another four weeks for further consideration but the three judges, including Northern Irelands Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan, proceeded to make their final determination on Friday.

The courtroom in Belfast was packed with supporters of the Brown family as the order was confirmed by Dame Siobhan.

Mr Browns widow, Bridie, and her children, watched the proceedings from the front of the public gallery.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Co Derry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

Sean Browns daughter Clare Loughran speaks to reporters outside court (Liam McBurney/PA)

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

The Northern Ireland Secretary contends the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the Government or the judiciary.

A UK government spokesperson said: We acknowledge the courts decisions and now intend to seek permission to appeal from the Supreme Court because this judgment and the terms of the mandatory order raise matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case.

The court previously invited the Secretary of State to reflect on the judgment and has reiterated today that this process should continue.

We will of course respond to the court on that issue in early June.

This will not, however, delay our determination to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, and to implement mechanisms that are human-rights compliant.

We acknowledge the court's decisions and now intend to seek permission to appeal from the Supreme Court because this judgment and the terms of the mandatory order raise matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case

Earlier, outside court, Mr Browns daughter Clare Loughran said a public inquiry was the only option open to Mr Benn as she reiterated her mothers plea to him not to take the family to the Supreme Court in London.

We feel vindicated that we have completed the process here in this jurisdiction, and that the Lady Chief Justice and the Court of Appeal has not upheld the Secretary of States decision on not giving us a public inquiry, she said.

Ms Loughran added: My mother stood in front of these microphones four weeks ago and appealed to the Secretary of State not to have to make her go to London, and that remains our position.

Shes an elderly lady. We have fought very long and very hard to try and get to the end point of this, which is that public inquiry to get to that truth. And thats all we want at this stage.

We really appeal again to the Secretary of State. I appeal on my behalf, on behalf of my mother, to please do the right thing. Do not take us to London. Do not take this to the Supreme Court. Do not drag this out any longer.

The family of Mr Brown were applauded by a large crowd of supporters as they arrived at the Court of Appeal for Fridays hearing.

Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and other party colleagues were among those who accompanied the Brown family as they approached the court building.

SDLP MLAs Patsy McGlone and Justin McNulty were also among the political representatives present.

Supporters of the family of GAA official Sean Brown applaud as they arrive at court (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Benn first signalled his intention to seek leave for the Supreme Court appeal on Wednesday.

It prompted strong criticism from the Brown family and their supporters.

The Court of Appeal, as is routine practice, dismissed Mr Benns application for leave to the Supreme Court on Friday.

That placed the onus on Mr Benn to apply directly to the Supreme Court for leave to hear an appeal, which he has now confirmed he will do.

Ms Loughran asked what the Government was seeking to hide.

She highlighted that her mother was now 87 and had already endured almost 60 court appearances.

What are they trying to hide? What are they trying to stall this for further? she asked.

All she (her mother) wanted ever is to find out why. We are 10 days away from the 28th anniversary of my fathers murder, the worst day of our lives, the most brutal thing that can happen to a really entirely innocent man. Why are they continuing to drag this through further? Let us get the truth.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill (left) and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald arrive at the Court of Appeal for Fridays hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Brown familys solicitor, Niall Murphy, questioned whether the government was intending to continue to break the law.

He said the Court of Appeal had given a strong, firm, unambiguous and very clear order compelling Mr Benn to establish a public inquiry.

The position is now crystal clear, Mr Murphy added.

The Secretary of State has a binary choice: either comply with the law or continue to break the law. And, as a society, we should all hope that those who make our laws will not be those who will now break our laws.

Ms ONeill urged Mr Benn to get on with it and order a public inquiry.

I think hes living in a fools paradise if he thinks that the Brown family are going to go away, or if the community of Bellaghy are going to go away, or if the people right across the north (are going to go away), said the Sinn Fein vice president.

Youve seen how many people came along to support this family yet again in the courts today. The court ruling is crystal clear. Get on with it. Do the public inquiry. Do the right thing.

Have some degree of decency and stop putting Bridie Brown through this day and daily.

Mr McGlone said Fridays hearing was a significant moment in the familys pursuit of justice.

I have stood with the Brown family at court on many occasions over the years and today was particularly moving as the family were given a rapturous applause upon arrival, said the SDLP Mid Ulster MLA.

This stands in stark contrast to the way they have been treated by the UK government who are using every dirty trick in the book to stop them uncovering the truth of what happened to their husband and father.

To try to drag Bridie Brown to London for a Supreme Court hearing all so they can protect the dark forces in state agencies who helped carry out this murder should shame this government.

It flies totally in the face of their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The brutal murder of a beautiful young woman in Wilton in Cork caused the greatest devastation some 8,000 kilometres away in Kerala, where her Indian family feels the daily pain of her loss. a court heard on Friday.

As 43-year-old Regin Rajan was given the mandatory life sentence on Friday at the Central Criminal Court in Cork for murdering his wife  38-year-old Deepa Dinamani  by slashing her throat, a picture emerged of what life is now like for her family.

Her father sits broken in silence. Deepas mother can break down at any time without warning. The dead womans brother has lost his closest friend. And then there is her six-year-old son  asking questions that cannot be answered.

On Friday, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford described it as an utterly needless act that had caused the loss of an excellent human being and had forever tainted the lives of those who loved her.

As for her murderer, the judge said he had used the trial as an attempt to besmirch her good name, suggesting she was the author of her own death, even in the face of overwhelming prosecution evidence.

He had no respect for the autonomy of his wife as an individual person and could not accept her forging a new life for herself and her child. Showing no empathy, he appeared to feel sorry for himself and that in some unfathomable way he felt he was the wronged party, the judge said as she expressed her deepest sympathies to Deepas family.

Victim impact statement

Deepas brother Ullas delivered the family victim impact statement remotely from India on Friday, in the same way that he gave his evidence in the murder trial, with respect and dignity as he struggled with tears:

There are no words that can truly convey the depth of the pain, the grief, and the devastation that my family and I have been living with since July 14th, 2023  the day my only sister, my best friend, was taken from us in the most horrific way.

My sister was not just a sibling to me  she was my confidante, my closest friend, and the heart of our family. We were incredibly close. We shared everything  our hopes, our fears, our joys. Her presence brought happiness to our home, and her absence has left an unbearable void that we are still struggling to live with every single day.

She was an amazing daughter to our parents  selfless, caring, and compassionate. Seeing my mother still break down, often without warning, overwhelmed with sorrow, is one of the hardest things for me as a son. And I sit there helplessly, unable to ease her pain.

"My father, once a pillar of strength to us, one of the toughest men I have ever seen, now sits in silence, broken by the loss of his beloved daughter. He doesn't speak much these days, but his face reveals the pain he's in.

But perhaps the most heartbreaking impact has been on her six-year-old son, a child who adored his mother, who shared a deep, loving bond with her.

No child should ever have to experience such trauma, to lose their mother in such a cruel way in the early stages of his life.

"He misses her. He sometimes asks questions which are not easy to answer. He is very fond of me and my parents. We try to give him love, support, and a sense of normalcy, but we know nothing can ever replace the love of his mother.

My sister was a remarkable woman  hardworking, ambitious, and full of life. She was respected by all who knew her  colleagues, friends, and everyone whose lives she touched. She had dreams and goals and a future she was building for her son  a future that was stolen from her and from us.

This tragedy has left permanent scars in our family. There's not a single day that passes without thinking of her, without feeling her absence. Birthdays, festivals, even ordinary days  all are tainted by grief. The pain doesn't fade  it lives with us.

We hope that justice will be served  not just for our sake, but to honour her life and the person she was. Her memory deserves dignity, and her son deserves to grow up knowing that the truth was seen, heard, and acknowledged.

Last month, seven women and five men took five hours and seven minutes of deliberations across two days to reach their unanimous verdict that Regin Rajan murdered his wife only four months after their arrival in Ireland, at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, 2023.

Case background

On Friday, Detective Sergeant Michelle OLeary outlined the background to the case.

The deceased had wanted a divorce. He would not let her go. At the murder scene, he left on the bedside table the bloodstained murder weapon and wedding ring, as the body of the deceased lay on the blood-soaked bed at her home, wrapped in a duvet.

He also left a note which was addressed to the couples then five-year-old child: I love you so much. Please forgive me for what I did as your mum was having(some writing that was never deciphered) and his name was Jay.

He rang 999 and said, I killed my wife.

He told gardai, She was cheating on me. She was having an affair and he lives in London. I just found out today. I saw the messages that were on her phone (details of passwords), and I could not tolerate it. It was very ugly messages.

I just stabbed her with a knife in the throat. She was cheating on me. I could not tolerate that. I will take any sentence. I committed a crime. I could not take this. She was the love of my life.

And this is the second time, sorry to say. I was in depression and family life was not good. I lost 15 kgs in the last two months. It was good until two months ago. When I knew she was chatting with someone, that is when I became depressed.

I did not do it deliberately. After seeing those messages, I did that, sorry to say.

Last month, seven women and five men took five hours and seven minutes of deliberations across two days to reach their unanimous verdict that Regin Rajan murdered his wife only four months after their arrival in Ireland, at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, 2023. File picture: Larry Cummins

The man with whom the late Ms Dinamani was texting for a few weeks before her death said that, in fact, they had never met each other. And on the website through which they met, she openly described herself as a mother of a five-year-old boy who was separated but not divorced.

He bought the carving knife at the local Tesco at Wilton Shopping Centre two days earlier, along with a bottle of Jameson whiskey.

Det. Sgt OLeary said Google searches by the accused for carving knife and prison in Ireland confirmed the premeditation of the murder, which was carried out with no hesitation  a single fatal slashing of the throat.

State pathologist Linda Mulligan said the main injury was a 14cm horizontal cut across the neck of the deceased, gaping to 4cm, and she concluded that death was due to blood loss, complicated by inhalation of blood due to an incised wound to the neck.

Despite his admissions on the day of the murder and even the reasons he gave for his brutal actions, he pleaded not guilty and described what happened as a tragic accident.

He made up an unbelievable story about his wife picking up the knife, him disarming her, and her grabbing his hand and slashing her own throat. It was so unbelievable that the jury did not believe it and found him guilty by a unanimous decision.

As the deceaseds brother gave his evidence by video link on Friday, the man who murdered her did what he did on many days during his trial  he sat writing copious notes.
A mother whose 12-year-old daughter died at Cork University Hospital has said the health system seriously failed her daughter.

This is no way to run a health system, she said as she called outside the Four Courts for the minister for health to ensure hospital patient safety managers investigate adverse outcomes in their hospitals in a proper, fair, timely and impartial way without forcing people like me to go down the legal route to get the truth.

And LeslieAnn McGeough of Ballyvolane, Cork, asked have any lessons been learned by her daughter, Abigails case.

She added:

My view is lessons will never be learnt if this system continues the way it is currently set up.

Earlier she told a judge in the High Court that her beautiful daughter Abigail was taken from her for the simple reason that the doctors of both Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, would not listen to me.

Abigail McGeough from Cork City who had cerebral palsy and spina bifida had a brain shunt inserted when she was three months old. Her mother broke down in tears as she told the court she had been warned to look out for shunt blockage or malfunction symptoms and any delay in shunt blockage treatment could be fatal.

However on December 22, 2019, I knew that there was something wrong with the shunt and I brought Abi to CUH and asked them to check for shunt malfunction. They dismissed me, she said.

I asked for a second opinion and I was referred to Beaumont Hospital and attended there on December 27, 2019. Beaumont dismissed me as they seem to rely on what CUH had said.

In tears she told Mr Justice Paul Coffey: Unfortunately my fears of shunt blockage turned out to be true because my darling Abi died on May 9, 2020.

The familys counsel, Mirian Reilly SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court that liability was admitted in the case which related to the misdiagnosis of symptoms relating to a brain shunt blockage despite the fact that the little girl presented to hospitals on five occasions between November 2019 and April 2020.

'No way to run a health system'

Outside the Fourt Courts, LeslieAnn McGeough spoke after she settled the action in which both Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, in a letter read to the court expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of the little girl known as Abi.

Ms McGeough said liability had not been admitted in the case until August last year, and it was only through taking the legal proceedings she was able to find out the truth about what caused Abis death.

She added: This is no way to run a health system. The truth should always come out when adverse events occur, not for the purposes of punishing but rather to prevent such a further tragedy occurring again.

Our family tree has been broken never to be repaired. Abi has missed out on so much in life including her much longed for cousins and her many hopes and plans for her future. Every day we grieve for Abi; we feel her loss every minute of every day and we will now always have a piece of us missing.

In a letter read to the court the CEOs of University Hospital Cork and Beaumont Hospital expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of Abigail.

Abigail McGeough from Cork City who had cerebral palsy and spina bifida had a brain shunt inserted when she was three months old. File picture: Denis Minihane

The letter said: We are deeply sorry for the distress, suffering and loss you have endured and continue to endure since Abigails death. While the legal aspect is concluded we will reflect on the events of each of Abigails final attendances in our hospitals and work with the risk management teams to learn and improve our practice in every aspect warranted.

Approving the settlement, including the division of the statutory mental distress payment of 35,000, Mr Justice Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Abigails mother and the extended family.
A landlord convicted of raping his tenant has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Michael Paul OLeary, aged 62, of Four Winds, Ballyarthur, Fermoy, Co Cork, was found guilty of raping Lorita ODonoghue on May 28, 2022, in February.

The jury reached a 10-2 majority decision after deliberating for more than nine hours and 30 minutes.

On April 11, he was sentenced to seven years in prison by Judge Siobhan Lankford.

The judge said she saw no basis for suspending any portion of the sentence where he does not accept the verdict of the jury and continues to assert his innocence.

He lodged his conviction on April 16, five days after the sentencing.

Following the sentencing, Ms ODonoghue waived her anonymity, allowing OLeary to be named.

Trial summary

During the trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that she was at home alone, watching television and having a drink on the night of May 28, 2022, when she received a text from OLeary, telling her that he had opened a bottle of wine which he could bring over to her home.

After sharing the bottle, they went to his nearby house where she reluctantly agreed to drink brandy.

The court heard that Ms ODonoghues evidence was that her drink was being continually topped up without invitation, leading to her being overwhelmed by alcohol and intoxication.

She subsequently became unconscious, waking up to find OLeary on top of her.

Lorita O'Donoghue: 'For almost three years I have been fighting to get my life back together.' Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The court was told that the defendant claimed the encounter was consensual at all times.

In her victim impact statement, Ms ODonoghue said: My life as I knew it was over. For almost three years I have been fighting to get my life back together.

She also said: The crime has shaken me to my core. It is the ultimate disrespect to someones life.
Gerry Adams has told the High Court that he cannot be expected to remember every death that occurred during the Troubles, after stating that he could not recall the death toll of several atrocities in the conflict.

The former Sinn Fein leader was being cross-examined on the fourth day of his defamation action against the BBC.

Mr Adams claims a BBC Spotlight programme and related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the 2006 killing of MI5 agent Denis Donaldson.

The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams.

Paul Gallagher, senior counsel, for the BBC, on Friday asked Mr Adams about his memory of specific atrocities during the Troubles.

On numerous occasions, Mr Adams said that he could not be expected to remember details of every single death during the Troubles.

Mr Adams said that he did not remember how many people were killed in the Provisional IRAs Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast in July 1972, or the bombing in Claudy, Co Derry, in the same month.

He described both incidents as disasters.

When asked about the death toll of Bloody Friday, he said: Youre trivialising those deaths, if you dont mind me saying so.

Mr Adams said counsel was persistently asking him to remember events and atrocities, and suggested he was oblivious to the fact that people bereaved by these events may be listening to what he is saying.

I live in the North, I live in Belfast. I move and live among people who suffered in the conflict, he said, adding that it wasnt fair that they should hear if he remembered a specific incident or not.

Mr Adams several times queried the rationale of Mr Gallaghers line of questioning.

Mr Gallagher told Mr Adams that he didnt have to explain his rationale, and that his counsel would intervene if his questions were irrelevant.

Asked what proportion of those killed in the Troubles was the responsibility of the IRA, Mr Adams said he did not have the exact figure, but said it was a large proportion.

What has this got to do with the Spotlight programme? he then asked.

'Personal experience'

Mr Adams said he could speak from personal experience about the impact of the Troubles.

He said he had family members shot to death, his home bombed, and that he was shot.

He said there are still active threats against him from dissidents.

He said that he had met numerous victims and survivors, including victims of the IRA.

Mr Gallagher also asked Mr Adams about his participation in talks with the British government in 1972.

Mr Adams agreed he was released from Long Kesh prison, where he had been interred, to participate in truce talks.

He said he and Daithi O Conaill attended those talks in their capacity as Sinn Fein representatives.

Mr Adams said their brief was to try to broker a ceasefire deal, which Mr O Conaill would bring back to the IRA leadership.

He said Sinn Fein had not been empowered to negotiate on behalf of the IRA.

Asked if Mr O Conaill was a member of the IRA, Mr Adams said that he may well have been, but that he couldnt say.

Asked if he read subsequently that Mr O Conaill was a very important member of the IRA, Mr Adams said: Yes... but Ive read the same things about myself.

Mr Adams said he, along with Mr O Conaill, Sean Mac Stiofain, Ivor Bell, Seamus Twomey, and Martin McGuinness, attended a subsequent meeting in London with British officials, including the then-secretary of state, William Whitelaw.

He said the men were not negotiating on behalf of the IRA: We were trying to negotiate a settlement... to end centuries of conflict."

Mr Adams said he couldnt say if Mr Bell, Mr Twomey or Mr McGuinness were in the IRA.

He said that Mr Mac Stiofain was the self-professed chief of staff of the IRA.

Asked if he believed the British government believed they were negotiating with representatives of the IRA, Mr Adams said: I cant speak for the British, and I have no desire to do so.

In responding to a question about the killing of innocent civilians in the bombing of two pubs in Birmingham in November 1974, Mr Adams said that one of the biggest regrets of his life was that so many civilians were killed during the Troubles.

Mr Adams said that his view was that the IRA were entitled to use armed actions, but said that he did not agree with everything the IRA did.

He said he was not here to justify every action of the IRA.

The trial, before Mr Justice Alexander Owen, continues. It is expected to run for four weeks.

The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams, and claims the Spotlight programme and publication were put out in good faith and during the course of discussion on a subject of public and vital interest.

The BBC says the programme constituted responsible journalism that was the result of careful investigation.

Mr Adams has at all times denied any involvement in Mr Donaldsons death, for which dissident republicans claimed responsibility in 2009.

He claims all allegations connecting him or the IRA to the death are attempts to discredit republicans.
The devastated mother of a man who died in a drowning tragedy in Cork City has hit out at the people who filmed the incident.

Elizabeth Hyde's son Luke, who was 34, died on Wednesday after getting into difficulty in the Pope's Quay area of the River Lee.

Senior emergency service officials hit out earlier after it emerged that the drowning and the recovery of the mans remains had been recorded by some onlookers.

Ms Hyde, 76, said she was "disgusted" as she questioned why someone would stand by and film Luke's tragic death rather than do something to save him.

"It was like a circus. Them watching my son drown instead of trying to help him."

She said: "I don't think I can get through this, this is my second son [to die] in five years." She lost another son, Brian, who died suddenly in his sleep, she said.

She said she does not know if people "realise the heartache that this has put me and my family through", adding: "I don't even know if I'll come through this".

Speaking about the people who recorded video of the tragedy, Ms Hyde said: "I don't even think there's a word that could describe those people."

Pope's Quay on the River Lee, where the tragedy took place. File picture: Denis Minihane

Through cries of anguish, Ms Hyde said the scene will never leave her.

"It's completely unnatural what took place down there, I don't know how I'll ever, ever forget it. I haven't slept since the news".

Speaking about Luke, Ms Hyde said: "He was the most placid, beautiful-mannered young fella God ever put on this earth."

Luke had recently started a new job and he had told his mother: "I've sorted my life out now. I'm getting my life together."

Speaking to RedFM's Neil Prendeville Show, Ms Hyde said she rang her son's phone on the day of the tragedy and when a garda answered, she ran down Shandon Street to the scene of the incident.

"When I got down, they were putting him into the ambulance and I saw the crowds, I didn't know what was going on."

She said another son was also on the scene and he tried to shield her from the scene but was adamant she wanted to hold her son one last time saying: "I need to hold my boy, I need to see him."

Ms Hyde said: "I don't know what his last thought or words were. I was thinking, 'did he call my name?'"

She said she hoped those who filmed the tragedy were listening to a "broken-hearted mother".
Where we dont settle, terror grows. The speaker, a man who left New York for Israel at the age of nine, is talking to Louis Theroux at the start of his documentary, The Settlers.

The gun slung around the New Yorkers shoulder extends beyond his knees.

He uses the word "right" more than once.

Louis Theroux, and his friend Adam Buxton, are among my constant (podcast) companions. Reminiscent of many of the English boys I taught abroad, they are quick-witted, kind, and funny. Their curiosity, and not their judgement, drives their work. I pressed play on my BBC recording knowing I was about to see something significant. I was not disappointed.

Therouxs deep human kindness makes him a perfect guide in this terrifying documentary, one that reveals the true evil that can flourish beneath a single word: God.

The Settlers exposes us to a profoundly serious, genuinely concerned, incredibly sad Theroux. A man I havent encountered before, not to the same extent. He appears slumped and deflated  a reflection of how many of us feel in the world today.

The tone of this offering is also different  much darker, much less playful. As is the subject matter.

Really, it is a documentary on human nature  how deeply cruel and inhumane we have the capacity to be. How low we can go. And it is truly, truly chilling. Proof that some of us have learned nothing from the past and that power seems unstoppable in its desire to corrupt.

Its about Israel and Palestine first, and then its about the entire world. Its as if were looking right at the engine powering America and Russia and other countries beyond, working hot on the fuel, the idea that other people are worthless  entirely dispensable.

While they, the engine, are superior, chosen by God for a higher purpose. It leaks down into the societies we are all a part of, one of private health insurance, divided cities, double standards.

Here, we are visiting the temple of inequality  the sanctuary of superiority. The place where privilege is born.

We learn it is not only the army  settlers also attack Palestinians. A video is shown of an unarmed Palestinian man being shot in the stomach. The shooter has never been arrested.

Pretty early in the documentary, we meet the Godmother of the settler movement, Daniella Weiss. Speaking to the crowd, she talks of Arabs "disappearing" from Gaza, saying they lost the right to stay in this holy place. Later, a film shared of her in 1992, records her dreaming of cities of millions of Israelis on Palestinian land.

She has two sides only. On one side there are unquestionable rights for Israeli people, on the other, lost rights for Palestinians. The poster held in her hand, like a primary school poster, reads Returning to Gaza'.

Anti-settlement Israeli protesters are also interviewed  those looking to live in peace with Palestinians, a far smaller group on the margins of her hateful conviction.

Driving through the arid landscape, we hear Louis voice explaining how Israeli soldiers took the Palestinian territories by force in 1967, during the Six Day War, against international law  hundreds of thousands of settlers followed.

The illegality of these settlements is repeated throughout, but the Israeli speakers all refer to a "higher" law  that of God and the Bible.

The Israeli modus operandi is slick. Illegal outposts, internationally illegal but also illegal under Israeli law, are protected by Israeli soldiers nonetheless, until they become legal settlements under Israeli law.

Neither outposts nor settlements are legal under international law, Theroux emphasises  the Israeli government clearly using stealth to get them over some invented line in their policy.

Theroux visits a settlement, meeting its horse wrangler founder. There is an army base at its centre.

Our mission is to settle Israel, his wife says. The ancient name is Judea History says it belongs to Israel. Palestinians, Theroux reminds us, are forgotten in their narrative.

Later, Louis gets inside Danielle Weiss home. She speaks again of her vision and faith", responding angrily to his labelling of her settlements as war crimes.

Its a light felony, she laughs.

She wears a silver necklace of hearts.

Theroux reminds us this is all about an ideology, about the superiority of one group over another  promoted by one group over another.

I have nothing to do with terror, she says. We do for governments what they cannot do for themselves.

Next up  Ari, a Texan farmer  also armed. He sees no issue with wearing his guns inside his synagogue. He discusses his mission, passion, and life. He is uncomfortable with using the term Palestinian because he doesnt feel they exist beyond being Arabs.

He doesnt care about Israeli law. Some things simply transcend the whims of legislation. Later he says: We are the tip of the spear fighting the American fight, admitting he has little compassion for the "death cult" of Palestinians.

We know the righteousness and the truth of our cause, even if we stand alone.

He articulates what Ive always suspected. No amount of activism or law or journalism can stop those who believe they are fighting Gods fight. Religion of this kind is truly a wicked force on earth, the most wicked, in my estimation.

Next, Israeli soldiers are harassing olive pickers. Israeli activists again try to defend the Palestinian farmers. Forty percent of all Palestinian men have been arrested, the activist tells Louis, who is unceremoniously asked for his passport without grounds.

They just want to scare us, he is told.

We learn it is not only the army  settlers also attack Palestinians. A video is shown of an unarmed Palestinian man being shot in the stomach. The shooter has never been arrested.

Theroux reminds us this is all about an ideology, about the superiority of one group over another  promoted by one group over another. Theroux returns to Danielle Weiss and her plans to create a new settlement, with the blessing of two rabbis.

This land belongs only to the people of Israel, one rabbi says.

And the sons shall return, a group of men chant, holding hands in a circle.

Again, on the West Bank, he is approached by Israeli soldiers, their faces covered, again, well-armed. Asked about their guns, one replies Palestinians throw rocks.

A soldier grabs Louis Theroux. He tells him: You cant touch me.

His guide explains behind all the locked doors are Palestinian families and that Israelis are making their life in the West Bank intolerable, so they will leave.

There is no such thing as settler violence, says Danielle Weiss at the end of the documentary. She does not think about Palestinians at all, she says. She only thinks about Jews.

Louis calls her sociopathic. She says it is normal  to pray only for her own people.

Extreme ideology delivered with a smile  as Louis puts it, leaving.

It will be interesting to see the impact of this one-hour documentary, particularly on those who have maintained events in the region are "complicated". Whatever the reception, The Settlers depicts a new story and the oldest of stories.

The Israeli speakers simply do not see Palestinians as human beings.

The same hate is replicated in powerful men like Trump and Vance  in their policies towards minorities and immigrants. It is replicated in Putin. As it once was in Stalin. Hitler.

Danielle Weiss, the Mother of the Settlement, says it is normal.

May we all pray that it is not.
Scandi style

Big news for Corks northside  JYSK has just opened a shiny new store at Blackpool Retail Park, bringing the Danish home brands Cork tally to four (joining Youghal, Ballincollig, and Eastgate). The opening creates around 10 new jobs locally too.

Pictured above are Aoibheann and Abigail Flynn from Shanakiel jumping for joy  though were guessing the shop wont encourage that kind of excitement in the cushion aisle. Expect stylish, Scandi-inspired pieces for every corner of your home and garden. More at Jysk.

Open-air gallery

Art lovers, mark your calendar. From June 1-29, Castlemartyr Resort will become a walkable open-air gallery, with works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Damien Hirst dotted throughout the grounds.

The Art + Soul exhibition will feature over 350 pieces  and if youve never been, the gardens alone are worth the trip.

A special preview evening takes place on Friday, May 30, with art, fine dining, and great company. Tickets, 100, are on Eventbrite, via reservations@castlemartyrresort.ie or 021-421 9000. Fancy making a night of it? Overnight packages are available from June 1.

Holistic health

On the Bathroom Shelf this month: Novomins Cranberry & D-Mannose Gummies  a welcome addition if youre prone to UTIs. (I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's a man's world). The B-Corp-certified brand is led by doctors, scientists and nutritionists, and focuses on holistic womens health.

Also in the range: PMS and Menobalance gummies  just hook them to my veins, honestly. Available via Chemist Warehouse, Novomins, and Irish TikTok Shop.

Metallic magic

Add a bit of wow to your walls with a piece by Irish-Mexican artist Jess Kelly. Known for her layered metallic textures, her work features in Michelin-star restaurants, luxury homes and hotels around the world  including Lough Eske Castle.

Fans include Amy Huberman and the Real Housewives of New York (Is that one of their baths? I must know.) Her latest exhibition Origins: Chapter II is on now upstairs at Chupi on Clarendon Street. Details at Jesskellyart.

Wallpaper wow

Wallpaper envy incoming. The once-derelict Little Island Resort in West Cork has been brought back to life by sisters Aislinn and Nicole OShea, transforming it into a dreamy boutique hotel overlooking Owenahincha Beach.

The 40-year-empty property now features restored original details, an outdoor pool, and a strong focus on sustainability. Its giving California vibes  but better, cos it's at Castlefreke. More at Thelittleisland.

Sublime scents

I have to declare a candle crush. Were longtime fans of La Bougie, the Irish candle brand hand-poured in West Cork. Their latest? Cedar Atlas  think notes of thyme, cedarwood and oud, with a 50-hour burn time.

Left, La Bougie's Cedar Atlas candle; right, Caitlin Godfrey practising yoga at Mount Congreve Gardens, Co Waterford, which hosts Restival this May bank holiday weekend.

The full range of candles, diffusers, and linen sprays is available at Labougie, Brown Thomas, Avoca, Meadows & Byrne, and over 100 Irish independents.

Wonder and wellness

Into wellness with a side of woods? Restival lands at Mount Congreve Gardens, Co Waterford, this May bank holiday weekend. Highlights include yoga with Catherine ODonoghue, Pilates with Helen ODonovan, and a workout with Karl Henry. Theres also guided forest bathing (shinrin-yoku, if you don't mind), and wellness talks including a Wim Hof Method session with expert Marta Vera. Tickets from 39 at Mountcongreve or grab one at the gate if youre feeling spontaneous.
Israels air force struck near Syrias presidential palace early on Friday, hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria.

The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital Damascus.
A South African woman was convicted on Friday of kidnapping and selling her six-year-old daughter in a case that horrified the country.

The girl went missing more than a year ago and has not been found.

Kelly Smith and two men  her boyfriend and their friend  were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking over the disappearance of Smiths daughter, Joshlin, who was six when she went missing in February 2024.

Smith, whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith, was initially a figure of sympathy when her daughter went missing.

People rallied around her and volunteered to help police search for Joshlin in the sand dunes near their neighbourhood of shacks close to the west coast town of Saldanha Bay, about 75 miles north of Cape Town.

A photograph of Joshlin smiling and with her hair tied in pigtails was broadcast by news stations across South Africa, as police launched a nationwide hunt.

Smith said she had left Joshlin with her boyfriend on the day she disappeared, but the case took a shocking twist when Smith was arrested.

A woman gave evidence during the trial that Smith had told her she and the two men had sold Joshlin for about 750 to a traditional healer who wanted the child for her body parts.

The judges verdict did not make any conclusions on who the child was sold to or exactly what happened to her.

Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, face life in prison and the judge said sentencing hearings will begin next week.

People attending the trial cheered and applauded when Judge Nathan Erasmus read out the guilty verdicts.

The trial was held in a sports centre that had more space than a court so that members of the community could attend.
Friday, May 2nd, 2025 (8:21 am) - Score 13,760

The latest Q1 2025 results from Virgin Media and O2 have today been released, which saw their gigabit broadband network grow by 165,000 premises in the quarter to cover 18.4 million UK homes and related customers suffer a sharp fall to total 5,694,900 (down by -44k in Q1 vs +12k in Q4 2025) due to heavy discounting in the market. The operators outdoor 5G mobile cover also increased to 77%.

The new results confirm that the combined Virgin Media and nexfibre fixed broadband network now reaches a total of 18,420,900 Homes Serviceable (up from 18,255,600 in Q4) across the UK and the vast majority of the new quarterly build is from nexfibres full fibre FTTP lines (this network alone now accounts for around 2.2 million premises of the total).

NOTE: Virgin Media is the only major ISP on nexfibres network via an exclusive partnership (NetCo in H1 2025 ( Virgin Media is the only major ISP on nexfibres network via an exclusive partnership ( here ). More ISPs will be added in the future ( here ) and Virgins own network is expected to open up to wholesale viain H1 2025 ( here ).

The results reveal that a total of around 6.8 million Virgin Media and nexfibre premises (footprint) are now covered by FTTP lines (XGS-PON and RFOG), which is up from 6.4m in Q4 2024. But this also factors in Virgins ongoing upgrade of existing Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) areas to FTTP under Project Mustang (i.e. aiming to convert all of Virgins existing HFC and RFOG lines to XGS-PON by 2028).

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Finally, a tiny portion of the quarterly nexfibre build figures (shown below) will also include a bit of infill build from Virgin Media itself, which usually takes place on existing new build homes sites (i.e. the legacy of long contracts and housing development projects). But otherwise, we note that the Q1 pace of build appears to have slowed quite considerably vs previous quarters (note: Q4 2024 included the impact of Upps merger), which was unexpected.

Nexfibre Rollout Progress

Q1 2025 = 165,000 Premises

Q4 2024 = 485,500 Premises

Q3 2024 = 281,100 Premises

Q2 2024 = 295,300 Premises

Q1 2024 = 194,000 Premises

Q4 2023 = c.299,000 Premises

Q3 2023 = 250,800 Premises

Q2 2023 = 175,500 Premises

Q1 2023 = 107,800 Premises

Q4 2022 = 24,000 Premises

Just for context. Telefonica, Liberty Global and InfraVia Capital Partners established a new 4.5bn joint venture called nexfibre in 2022 (here), which aims to deploy an open access full fibre (FTTP) network to reach up to 7 million UK homes (starting with 5m by 2026) in areas NOT served by Virgin Medias own network of 16m+ premises. But Virgin Media, which shares some of the same parentage, is currently the only major ISP on this network (here).

Elsewhere, Virgin Media has long stopped giving any solid figures for their Pay TV (video) base, which often happens when a base is in decline.

VMO2 Q1 2025 UK Customer (Connection) Figures

5,694,900 Fixed Broadband  (down from 5,738,900 in Q4)

45,685,000 Mobile inc. Wholesale  (down from 45,700,700)

The latest results also state that outdoor 5G mobile coverage is now available to 77% of the UK population (up strongly from 75% in Q4 2024 and 68% in Q3) and we note that their mobile base has shrunk a little bit. On the financial front, VMO2 reported total revenue of 2,480.1m in Q1 2025, which is down from 2,716.2m last quarter.

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Lutz Schuler, CEO of VMO2, said: We have started the year on track with guidance delivering growth in core revenues and profitability. Against a tougher Q1 trading environment we have kept our focus on retaining customer value through fast and reliable connectivity coupled with disciplined pricing and improved service. Our investments in networks and services are continuing to position us well for the future. We have seen a further improvement in customer service as our turnaround strategy shows green shoots, with lower complaints and higher satisfaction. On the mobile side, weve expanded 5G to reach three quarters of the UK population while improving network quality in key locations, and the expected acquisition of spectrum from Vodafone-Three will further bolster our position. On fixed, our combined full fibre footprint continues to grow and now approaches seven million premises, while we also start trials of giffgaff broadband to increase our reach in the market. We remain focused and on course to deliver our full year guidance as we build on the foundations laid last year to return to growth in 2025.

Sadly, the latest results didnt include much in the way of any useful updates on Virgin Medias plans for opening their existing fixed broadband network up to wholesale via their new NetCo (originally anticipated for the first half of 2025). But it is worth remembering that giffgaff recently confirmed their intention to trial and launch a range of full fibre (FTTP) home broadband packages via nexfibre and Virgin Medias national networks (here).

In terms of those customer losses, this has likely been driven by the impact of their recent annual mid-contract price hikes, as well as competition from the new generation of often cheaper alternative networks. But so far Virgin Media has done a modest job of staying on top of such things, although the sharp fall in broadband customers during Q1 will no doubt cause some concern.
Friday, May 2nd, 2025 (10:37 am) - Score 2,360

Mobile operator Vodafone has been awarded a second contract as part of its work with the Data Communications Company (DCC), which is working to upgrade existing Smart Meters in UK homes with Toshibas new 4G Communication Hub (details). But under the new deal theyll also be providing some crucial fixed line data connectivity too.

Just to recap. The ongoing efforts to switch off older 2G and 3G based mobile networks across the UK will ultimately cause problems for the many Smart Meters installed across the rest of England and Wales, which utilise the same technology via O2 (Scotland and the North of England use a different LRR wireless system). Due to this, Vodafone has already been contracted to help upgrade millions of meters to a new 4G connection.

NOTE: The government wants all 2G and The government wants all 2G and 3G networks to be switched-off by 2033 ( here ), with 3G having already been nearly phased out as it has fewer dependencies than 2G (i.e. lots of low power devices still use 2G, which also remains handy as a backup for voice calls and smart meters).

DCC currently plan to begin rolling out the new 4G capable Hubs as standard from summer 2025 (theyre currently still in a live field trial). Given that 2G/3G networks will be phased out by 2033, that gives us and our partners eight years to ensure connection continuity for around 24 million smart meters  a huge challenge, but one we are confident we will achieve, said DCC earlier this year.

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As part of that upgrade programme, Vodafone has now secured a second contract. This will see the operator provide fixed connectivity between energy suppliers and DCCs related Data Service Platform (DSP)  the secure system at the heart of the smart meter network (this receives data from the meters and enables energy companies to access that information as needed).

Chris Lovatt, DCC Chief Executive Officer, said: Smart metering is central to Britains energy transition to net zero and the DSP is fundamental to the smart system. As part of the transition, it is crucial that we drive the best possible outcomes for our customers and energy consumers. The enhanced design and contracts delivered by this new DSP platform will enable DCC to deliver better value for money, while driving flexibility, stability and security.

Vodafone joins a collaborative effort that includes IBM, who will build a new cloud-based DSP platform, and CGI, the system integrator and incumbent DSP provider. As a side note, some 20 million UK homes and small businesses have now received a Smart Meter.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has removed Mike Waltz from his position as national security adviser and announced his nomination for the next US Ambassador to the United Nations.

In a social media update, Mr. Trump mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will assume the role of interim national security adviser.

According to four individuals familiar with the situation, as reported by Reuters, Mr. Waltz is being ousted from his position.

Both Mr. Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, are reportedly stepping down, as noted by CBS News, while Fox News indicated that Mr. Trump is expected to address the situation shortly.

A 51-year-old former Republican official from Florida, Mr. Waltz encountered criticism within the White House after being implicated in a March controversy involving a Signal chat among top national security aides of Trump.

While it remains uncertain who will succeed Mr. Waltz, one potential candidate is US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been engaged in diplomacy concerning both Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East, according to one source.

Mike Waltz faced scrutiny after being involved in a scandal regarding a Signal chat.

The National Security Council did not promptly respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Waltz was criticized for inadvertently including the editor of The Atlantic magazine in a private thread detailing an imminent US bombing operation in Yemen. The Atlantic reported on this incident.

During a subsequent cabinet meeting while Mr. Waltz was present, Mr. Trump conveyed his preference for conducting such discussions in a secure environment with lead walls, indicating his discontent. Nevertheless, he and others in the White House initially expressed trust in Mr. Waltz.

However, the Signal controversy was not the sole issue facing Mr. Waltz.

According to a source familiar with the cabinets internal dynamics, Mr. Waltz was regarded as too hawkish for the war-averse Mr. Trump and was perceived as ineffective in coordinating foreign policy across various agencies, which is a crucial responsibility of the national security adviser.

The system isnt functioning properly, said the source, who requested anonymity.

Mr. Wong is an expert in Asia who formerly served as a State Department official focused on North Korea during Mr. Trumps first term.

The national security adviser holds significant power but does not require Senate confirmation.
( Tomdispatch.com )  Yes, give us human beings credit. In our relatively brief history, its no small thing to have come up with two different ways of thoroughly devastating Planet Earth and its inhabitants. One of them, of course, is the long-term, slow-motion version of planetary destruction that weve come to call climate change. And yes, we can already feel it. In recent years, this planet has set record after record when it comes to heat, the last 10 years being the hottest in human history. Meanwhile, from the oceans to the continents, in heatwaves, floods, and devastating storms, this world of ours has been feeling the heat in an unprecedented fashion and, mind you, with far worse to come.

Given how obvious all of this has become, we should get full credit not just for creating such conditions but for  at least some of us  ignoring them or, in the case of Donald J. Trump, that pal of fossil-fuel billionaires, doing far worse than that. After all, my country, which has already played such a major role in intensifying climate change, thanks to its record-setting production of greenhouse-gas-producing crude oil  more than any country ever (yes, ever!)  and natural gas, has also managed to elect a climate-change-denying president for the second time. And hes quite bluntly dismissed the phenomenon as a scam and a hoax.

Worse yet  I hate to use the word, so Im putting it in quotation marks  we elected him on a platform of drill, baby, drill!, which was the very phrase he most wanted to be identified with in his third run for the presidency. You couldnt be much blunter than that and still succeed, could you?

In truth, he undoubtedly should be called Apocalyptic Don, since his immediate needs and desires, his urge to be the number-one person in this country and possibly the world, have functionally been wedded to the ultimate slow-motion destruction of this planet. Consider it an irony of sorts that, in his second term in office, the president who is against immigrants  no matter that his mother was one  is already acting in a way that, by heating the planet further and driving ever more people from their increasingly devastated lands, will increase that phenomenon immeasurably.

Irony? Dont even think it! Not with Donald Trump in the White House, not after weve just passed through Earth Day 2025 with a president who seems determined to un-Earth us all.

Honestly, that drill, baby, drill phrase of his couldnt have been blunter, could it? And worse yet, unlike so much else that hes said, he really meant it! Now that hes back in the White House for a second time, hes already doing his damnedest to increase drilling for oil and natural gas in the United States and globally, while hes determined to bring back the worst of all greenhouse-gas producers, coal. And as if that werent enough, hes been doing his damnedest as well to stop, if not humanity, then at least Americans from producing energy in ways that wont pour yet more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (Only his recent tariffs may stand in the way of his push to get oil companies to drill ever more.)

And hey, the president who hates big, ugly windmills has already been at work (if you dont mind my using the word) torching wind-energy projects, including recently Empire Wind 1, which was to be the first major power project of its sort in a planned buildup of wind farms off the coast of New York State. Yes, he may himself be a blowhard, but he certainly doesnt want the wind to blow for the rest of us, not if it in any way hurts the fossil-fuel industry (which put so many millions of dollars into his recent reelection campaign). And similarly, his administration is planning to place tariffs of up to 3,521% (no, that is not a misprint!) on solar panels imported from Southeast Asia. I mean, you get the idea, right?

Honestly, you couldnt make this stuff up, could you? Or rather, once upon a time, if you had done so, no one would have believed you. And yet here we are, watching this planet on its way down, down, down, even if in a distinctly slow-motion fashion, with not just a single helping hand but at least two of them from the president of the United States. And if that isnt apocalyptic, what is? In fact, it isnt faintly unreasonable, when it comes to climate change, to call him (in Mafia terms) the Apocalyptic Don.

A World of Nukes

Of course, when you think about it, humanity could save itself from the long-term destructiveness of climate change in a remarkably easy fashion. All we would have to do is bring to bear on this planet the other form of ultimate destruction that has (in)humanity  that is, us  written all over it.

After all, when it comes to self-destruction, since August 6th and 9th, 1945, when atomic bombs were dropped with devastating effect on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II, we humans have had the ability, then only potential but by the time of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis actual, to literally devastate this planet by creating what has come to be known as  forget global warming  a nuclear winter. We could by now destroy ourselves (or at least millions or even, over time, billions of us) with more or less the snap of a nuclear finger. Under the circumstances, consider it a largely unnoted and unmentioned miracle that, almost 80 years later, while such weaponry has spread far and wide, there has never been another Hiroshima- or Nagasaki-style catastrophe, no less one for Planet Earth itself (in terms of the potential destructiveness of such a nuclear winter and the large-scale global famine that would follow it).

Still, heres the strange thing (or, in the age of Donald Trump, perhaps it would be safer to say, a strange thing): nuclear weapons and what they could do to this planet are distinctly not in the news anymore, with the sole exception not of the weaponry now possessed by nine countries  the United States, Russia, China, England, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea  but of the possible future nuclear arsenal of a nonnuclear power, Iran. In 2018, if you remember, Donald Trump tore up the nuclear deal by which that country had agreed never to make such weaponry, but hes now back in negotiations with its leaders on a similar agreement.

And heres the even stranger thing, so let me mention it a second time. Consider it the unmentioned miracle  yes, a genuine miracle  of our era (one otherwise remarkably lacking in them): in the nearly 80 years since that second atomic bomb devastated Nagasaki, while nuclear weapons have proliferated and grown potentially ever more devastating on Planet Earth, not one has ever been used again.

Heres what makes that strange indeed, even possibly miraculous: nuclear weapons aside, it seems as if, at any moment, some of us humans are always at war. At this moment, in fact, at least three devastating wars are underway  in Ukraine, Gaza and associated areas of the Middle East, and Sudan, two of them involving nuclear powers (Russia and Israel).

Today, such world-ending weaponry can still be delivered by plane as in 1945, or by land-based missiles, or missiles on submarines and, according to the Federation of American Scientists, there are now an estimated 12,331 nukes in the arsenals of the nine nuclear powers, ranging from 5,449 in Russias and 5,277 in the American one to, at the other end of the scale, 90 for Israel and 50 for North Korea.

And dont for a second assume that those nine will be the last countries to create nuclear arsenals.

Think, for instance, of South Korea, facing a nuclear-armed North Korea, or, yes, Iran, facing a nuclear-armed Israel. And yet, except for the years when such weaponry was tested in the open or underground (something the Trump administration has at least considered doing again), not one has ever been used.

Of course, recently, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman said his country reserved the right to use what are now known as tactical nuclear weapons (most of which are significantly more powerful than the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in his war on Ukraine, but so far at least thats been an empty threat. And yes, China continues to build up its nuclear arsenal at a rapid pace, making it the third great nuclear power after the U.S. and Russia to have the fate of the Earth in its hands.

And when it comes to my own country, unlike with climate change, Donald Trump has long seemed distinctly anti-apocalyptic when it comes to such weaponry. As he once put it, You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and  referring to Russia and China  theyre building nuclear weapons. In a 2018 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he even called such weaponry the biggest problem in the world and has long warned of the possibility of a devastating World War III.

But no matter, the country he now rules (more or less) is still spending $75 billion annually and, as of now, planning to spend $1.7 trillion over the next 30 years to update or  the term of the day  modernize the American nuclear arsenal, while Russia and China are both working to update or, in Chinas case, vastly expand theirs.

If you stop to think about it for a moment, that our world has not been devastated by nuclear weapons should, under the circumstances, be considered little short of miraculous.

Nuclear Winter or Climate-Change Summer?

Oh, and in case you feel relieved that, after so many decades, humanity hasnt destroyed itself, despite having the ability to do so, take a breath. After all, its increasingly possible that, at some future moment, this planet could be blown apart without human beings initially doing much of anything. Yes, Im thinking about artificial intelligence (AI), or worse yet, artificial general intelligence (AGI). After all, American military commanders like Air Force General Anthony J. Cotton are already talking about how AI will enhance our decision-making capabilities when it comes to nuclear weaponry and, even though he also warns that we should never allow AI to make nuclear decisions for us, letting another intelligence loose in the nuclear realm seems anything but a safe or sound thing to do.

Indeed, who knows what a future independent intelligence might decide to do with such weaponry on this planet of ours?

And theres another thing thats seldom thought about: What might the creature who has already devised two methods for devastating this planet come up with, in the future, that could prove no less (or even more) devastating? After all, theres no reason to believe that there are only two conceivable ways to do in a world like ours.

Consider all of this, after a fashion, both a story of epic failure and, at least in the case of nuclear weapons, strange success.

Still, isnt it odd that, although we dont often think about it, at any moment we live on the edge of ultimate destruction, whether immediately via a nuclear war or in a long-term fashion via a slow-motion version of the destruction of this planet, leading not to nuclear winter but to what might be thought of as climate-change summer? And yet, while the reality of climate change has at least led to major protests in recent times, the continued nuclear arming of this country and the planet has not.

Consider all of this a strange mixture of epic failure and eerie success in a world that  thank you, Donald Trump (but by no means just him)  is becoming more deadly by the month.

Whether in the short or long run, we, our children, and our grandchildren stand an all-too-unreasonable chance of living on a failed planet.

Copyright 2025 Tom Engelhardt

Via Tomdispatch.com
By Rick Baldoz, Brown University

(The Conversation)  The recent deportation orders targeting foreign students in the U.S. have prompted a heated debate about the legality of these actions. The Trump administration made no secret that many individuals were facing removal because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

In recent months, the State Department has revoked hundreds of visas of foreign students with little explanation. On April 25, 2025, the administration restored the legal status of many of those students, but warned that the reprieve was only temporary.

Because of their tenuous legal status in the U.S., immigrant activists are vulnerable to a government seeking to stifle dissent.

Critics of the Trump administration have challenged the legality of these removal orders, arguing that they violate constitutionally protected rights, including freedom of speech and due process.

The administration asserts that the executive branch has nearly absolute authority to remove immigrants. The White House has cited legislation passed during the peak of the nations Cold War hysteria, like the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952, which expanded the governments deportation powers.

Im a historian of immigration, U.S. empire and Asian American studies. The current removal orders targeting student activists echo Americas long and lamentable past of jailing and expelling immigrants because of their race or what they say or believe  or all three.

Where it began

The United States current deportation process traces its roots to the late 19th century as the nation moved to exercise federal control of immigration.

The impetus for this shift was anti-Chinese racism, which reached a fever pitch during this period, culminating in the passage of laws that restricted Chinese immigration.

The influx of Chinese immigrants to the West Coast during the mid-to-late 19th century, initially fueled by the California Gold Rush, spurred the rise of an influential nativist movement that accused Chinese immigrants of stealing jobs. It also claimed that they posed a cultural threat to American society due to their racial otherness.

The Geary Act of 1892 required Chinese living in the U.S to register with the federal government or face deportation.

The Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of these statutes in 1893 in the case of Fong Yue Ting v. United States. Three plaintiffs claimed that anti-Chinese legislation was discriminatory, violated constitutional protections prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure, and contravened due process and equal protection guarantees.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Geary Acts deportation procedures, formulating a novel legal precept known as the plenary power doctrine that remains a key tenet of U.S. immigration law today.

Court confirms the law

The doctrine included two key assertions.

First, the federal governments authority to exclude and deport aliens was an inherent and unqualified feature of American sovereignty. Second, immigration enforcement was the exclusive domain of the congressional and executive branches that were charged with protecting the nation from foreign threats.

The court also ruled that the deportation of immigrants in the country lawfully was a civil, rather than criminal matter, which meant that constitutional protections like due process did not apply.

The government ramped up deportations in the aftermath of World War I, fueled by wartime xenophobia. American officials singled out foreign-born radicals for deportation, accusing them of fomenting disloyalty.

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, who ordered mass arrests of alleged communists, pledged to tear out the radical seeds that have entangled Americans in their poisonous theories and remove alien criminals in this country who are directly responsible for spreading the unclean doctrines of Bolshevism.

This period marked a new era of removals carried out primarily on ideological grounds. Jews and other immigrants from southern and eastern Europe were disproportionately targeted, highlighting the cultural affinities between anti-radicalism and racial and ethnic chauvinism.

Foreign agitators

The campaign to root out so-called subversives living in the United States reached its apex during the 1940s and 1950s, supercharged by figures like anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

The specter of foreign agitators contaminating American political culture loomed large in these debates. Attorney General Tom Clark testified before Congress in 1950 that 91.4% of the Communist Party USAs leadership were either foreign stock or married to persons of foreign stock.

Congress passed a series of laws during this period requiring that subversive organizations register with the government. They also expanded the executive branchs power to deport individuals whose views were deemed prejudicial to national security, blurring the lines between punishing people for unlawful acts  such as espionage and bombings  and what the government considered unlawful beliefs, such as Communist Party membership.

While deporting foreign-born radicals had popular support, the banishment of immigrants for their political beliefs raised important constitutional questions.

Prosecution or persecution?

In a landmark case in 1945, Wixon v. Bridges, the Supreme Court did assert a check on the power of the executive branch to deport someone without a fair hearing.

The case involved Harry Bridges, Australian-born president of the International Longshoremen and Warehousemens Union. Bridges was a left-wing union leader who orchestrated a number of successful strikes on the West Coast. Under his leadership, the union also took progressive positions on civil rights and U.S. militarism.

The decision in the case hinged on whether the government could prove that Bridges had been a member of the Communist Party, which would have made him deportable under the Smith Act, which proscribed membership in the Communist Party.

Since no proof of Bridges membership existed, the government relied on dodgy witnesses and assertions that Bridges was aligned with the party because he shared some of its political positions. Accusations of alignment with controversial political organizations are similar to the charges made against foreign students currently at risk of deportation by the Trump administration.

The Supreme Court vacated Bridges deportation order, declaring that the governments claim of affiliation with the Communist Party was too vaguely defined and amounted to guilt by association.

As the excesses and abuses of the McCarthy era came to light, they invited greater scrutiny about the dangers of unchecked executive power. Some of the more draconian statutes enacted during the Cold War, like the Smith Act, have been overhauled. The federal courts have toggled back and forth between narrow and liberal interpretations of the Constitutions applicability to immigrants facing deportation  shifts that reflect competing visions of American nationhood and the boundaries of liberal democracy.

From union leaders to foreign students

There are some striking parallels between the throttling of civil liberties during the Cold War and President Donald Trumps crusade against foreign students exercising venerated democratic freedoms.

Foreign students appear to have replaced the immigrant union leaders of the 1950s as the targets of government repression. Presumptions of guilt based on hyperbolic claims of affiliation with the Communist Party have been replaced by allegations of alignment with Hamas.

As in the past, these invocations of national security offer the pretext for the governments efforts to stifle dissent and to mandate political conformity.



New York Tribune of Jan. 3, 1920, announcing massive roundups of aliens deemed to be Reds. Public Domain.

Library of Congress

Rick Baldoz, Associate Professor of American Studies, Brown University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
May 1, 2025.

Im reaching out today to share a public message. Around the world, today is Labor Day, and its a good day to let you know that I will be leaving the University of Michigan and in fact exiting the US university system after 25 years. I will be living in beloved Austin TX in the years ahead and working as an independent scholar, AKA, my Plan B. Im done with the legacy system, and excited about this new era of greater freedom in my life, though Im sad to say goodbye to Michigan friends and colleagues. To be sure, I will continue to be active in my field of scholarship and networks like the Academic Freedom Network and Arabic Lit Scholars. Ill return to the Mitten off and on. The rest of this email is 1242 words of elaboration of the problem and a plug to consider the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli Apartheid, which might interest some.

Let me cut to the chase: In the US, our universities and government have crossed so many of my red lines, Ive lost count: We as a country (and university) are proudly joined at the hip with Israel, a lawless state that is committing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and clamping down on anti-war dissent at universities on US soil . The lessons of the Holocaust and WWII should be clear enough to our leaders: Appeasing, much less championing, genocidal leaders is a red line, genocide denial is a red line, clamping down on checks-and-balances (ie free speech) is a red line, and I could go on.  Never again should mean never again for any group, no exceptions.

Im horrified by the attempts to move heaven and earth on our campuses to shield Israel from accountability for war crimes: In Gaza, the death toll has exceeded 52,000, a disproportionate number of them children, and tens of thousands of them who survive must do so without one or both parents and many others have no surviving family. In the US legacy news media, we have been shielded from the reality of WCNSF . And since many bodies are still under the rubble or died of untreated diseases, the hidden and indirect death toll is likely 200,0000. The number of children shot in the head and torso by IDF soldiers shocks the senses . Regardless of strategic justification, or bad-apple/bad-barrel sophistry, that type of harm is a war crime. To deny this genocide represents a betrayal of the lessons of the Holocaust and, as an immigrant, I see it as a breakdown of society, the university, and the broader system, at a time when the targets are doing us the favor of documenting the facts of death . Then, to profit from it ..and defend or minimize genocide  for what?  for 7% endowment returns? The University of Michigan is perfectly able to divest from cigarettes but not genocide? In effect, as intellectual centers of the country, universities have been weaponized to white wash war crimes and shield Israel from accountability. Personally, I cant be a party to that system. I understand this approach is not for everyone, but its a decision thats right for me.

The US-Israeli genocide is even escalating, but its not the End of the World, despite the wishes of 20-50 million American Zionists, like Christians United for Israel, who pray for the apocalyptic prophecies of the Book of Revelations to usher in Armageddon . That is the problem: As with previous genocides, we and future generations will have to live with the consequences of our societys mass derangement 10 or 100 years from now. While the short and medium term may be chaotic, I am actually hopeful that despite this period of creative destruction, long term our society and the world will rebuild as it did after major periods of realignment in the past. In short, I think the work of the 1960s is unfinished and its up to the current generations of living (and half living) to work toward the promise of that era for all.

I spent my childhood and many years of study in the Middle East and continue to visit. Beyond Israel/Palestine, the US and Israel with their military might have made it right to displace and kill millions in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Gaza, the West Bank, bankrupting themselves in the process . Now Netanyahu wants Trump to wage a war on Iran. BDS is the last best hope for preventing the necropolitics of a lawless joint venture from transforming the Middle East into a deathworld (Achille Mbembes terms). And who can stop this train? I really dont know for sure. But were running out of viable protest options thanks to clamp downs. BDS follows in the Gandhian tradition of successful nonviolence, which brought lawless systems  the British Empire, Jim Crow, Red Lining, and Apartheid  to heel.

Dont take my word for it. BDS is too important to trust anyone. Give the subject 10 hours of serious study, and see for yourself what you come up with. 38 US states have banned boycotts specifically of Israel and a federal anti-BDS bill is in the works, yet most Americans dont know what BDS is.
DENVER / May 01, 2025 / Business Wire / Vista Gold Corp. (NYSE American and TSX: VGZ) today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, with cash totaling $15.0 million at quarter-end. All dollar amounts in this press release are in U.S. dollars.

Frederick H. Earnest, President and CEO of Vista, said, During the quarter, we made significant progress toward achieving our 2025 corporate goals. We continued to advance the 15,000 tonne per day Mt Todd feasibility study as planned, completed 1,264 consecutive days without a lost time accident, and ended the quarter with a strong cash position. We remain focused on delivering the feasibility study by mid-2025, prioritizing the efficient use of our cash, and creating long-term value for shareholders through disciplined execution and strategic advancement of our Mt Todd gold project.

Feasibility Study

The 15,000 tpd Mt Todd feasibility study aims to increase the reserve grade to 1 gram gold per tonne by applying a higher cut-off grade. It will also incorporate mine scheduling optimization strategies that prioritize higher grade ore during the early years of operation. Additionally, the study aims to reduce initial capex by 60% to $400 million, while averaging annual gold production of 150,000 to 200,000 ounces. This study will leverage prior technical studies, preserve the potential for future expansion, and demonstrate the opportunity for Mt Todd to deliver attractive economic returns with a smaller initial capital investment.

Mineral Resources Estimate

The resource block model has been updated to incorporate data from the Companys 2020-2022 and 2024 drilling programs and is being used as the basis for the new mine plan in the feasibility study. The mineral resources estimate will be completed and announced as part of the feasibility study.

Strategy

Vista is advancing Mt Todd in ways that efficiently position the project for development. The Company is focused on unlocking the potential of Mt Todd to maximize shareholder value. Vista believes the release of the 15,000 tpd feasibility study results will be well-timed in the current gold cycle and serve as a catalyst to accelerate value creation.

Summary of Financial Results

Vista reported a consolidated net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.02 per common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $1.1 million, or $0.01 per common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $15.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $16.9 million at December 31, 2024. The Company continued to have no debt.

Management Conference Call

Managements conference call to review financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and to discuss corporate and project activities is scheduled for May 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. MDT (12:00 p.m. EDT).

Participant Toll Free: +1 (800) 431-2204

Participant International: +1 (289) 514-5015

Conference ID: 86747

This call will be archived and available at www.vistagold.com after May 2, 2025. An audio replay will also be available through May 16, 2025 by calling toll-free in North America +1 (888) 660-6264 or +1 (289) 819-1325 using passcode 86747#.

If you are unable to access the audio or phone-in on the day of the conference call, please email your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Qualified Person

Maria Vallejo, Vistas Director of Projects and Technical Services, a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by Item 1300 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Canadian National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has verified the data underlying the information contained herein and has approved this press release.

About Vista Gold Corp.

Vista holds the Mt Todd gold project, a ready-to-build development-stage gold deposit located in the Tier-1 mining jurisdiction of Northern Territory, Australia. Vista is positioning Mt Todd as a leading development opportunity within the gold sector. The Project offers significant scale, development optionality, growth opportunities, advanced local infrastructure, community support, and demonstrated economic feasibility. All major environmental and operating permits necessary to initiate development of Mt Todd are in place.

For further information about Vista or Mt Todd, please contact Pamela Solly, Vice President of Investor Relations, at (720) 981-1185 or visit the Companys website at www.vistagold.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to statements regarding such things as the Company remains focused on delivering the feasibility study by mid-2025, prioritizing the efficient use of its cash, and creating long-term value for shareholders; the 15,000 tpd Mt Todd feasibility study aims to increase the reserve grade to 1 gram gold per tonne by applying a higher cut-off grade; the study will also incorporate mine scheduling optimization strategies that prioritize higher grade ore during the early years of operation; the study aims to reduce initial capex by 60% to $400 million, while maintaining average annual gold production of 150,000 to 200,000 ounces; this study will leverage prior technical studies, preserve the potential for future expansion, and demonstrate the opportunity for Mt Todd to deliver attractive economic returns with a smaller initial capital investment; the updated mineral resources estimate will be completed and announced as part of the feasibility study; the Company is advancing Mt Todd in ways that effectively position the project for development; the Company believes the release of the 15,000 tpd feasibility study results will be well-timed in the current gold cycle and serve as a catalyst to accelerate value creation; the Companys belief that Mt Todd is a leading development opportunity within the gold sector; the Companys belief that the Mt Todd project offers significant scale, development optionality, growth opportunities, advanced local infrastructure, community support, and demonstrated economic feasibility; and statements related to the Companys strategy. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this news release include the following: the Companys forecasts and expected cash flows; the Companys projected capital and operating costs; the Companys expectations regarding mining and metallurgical recoveries; mine life and production rates; that laws or regulations impacting mine development or mining activities will remain consistent; the Companys approved business plans, mineral resource and reserve estimates and results of preliminary economic assessments; preliminary feasibility studies and feasibility studies on the Companys projects, if any; the Companys experience with regulators; political and social support of the mining industry in Australia; the Companys experience and knowledge of the Australian mining industry and the Companys expectations of economic conditions and the price of gold. When used in this news release, the words optimistic, potential, indicate, expect, intend, hopes, believe, may, will, if, anticipate and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, uncertainty of resource and reserve estimates, uncertainty as to the Companys future operating costs and ability to raise capital; risks relating to cost increases for capital and operating costs; risks of shortages and fluctuating costs of equipment or supplies; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; potential effects on the Companys operations of environmental regulations in the countries in which it operates; risks due to legal proceedings; risks relating to political and economic instability in certain countries in which it operates; uncertainty as to the results of bulk metallurgical test work; and uncertainty as to completion of critical milestones for Mt Todd; as well as those factors discussed under the headings Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in the Companys latest Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed in February 2025, and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Visible native copper observed beyond 1,850 feet signals scale and strength at Majuba Hill.

Strong presence of native copper, cuprite, and chalcopyrite suggests proximity to a primary copper sulfide zone.

Majuba Hill positioned as a homegrown U.S. critical minerals project with Tier 1 infrastructure advantages.

VANCOUVER, BC  May 2, 2025  TheNewswire - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) (Giant Mining or the Company) is pleased to announce that drilling of Hole MHB-34 (MHB-34) has surpassed 1,850 feet (563.88 meters). MHB-34 is the third of five holes of the 2025 diamond core drilling program (the Core Program), currently underway at Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper-silver-Gold Deposit (Majuba Hill) located in Pershing County, Nevada.

The primary goal of the Core Program is to expand known copper mineralization at Majuba Hill and advance the project toward a new Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

As shown in the accompanying images (Figure 1-4), native copper, cuprite, and chalcopyrite has been consistently observed in the deeper part of MHB-34, which has now surpassed 1,850 feet and exhibits visible copper mineralization. This drill hole currently in-progress at Majuba Hill contains promising copper mineralization.

Figure 1: MHB-34/1499 ft (456.9 m) Native Cu on fracture HQ Core, 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diam.

Figure 2: MHB-34/1510 ft (460.2 m) Native Cu in HQ Core with chalcopyrite, 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diam.

"The strong presence of cuprite, native copper, and chalcopyrite in MHB-34 suggests we may be on the edge of the primary copper sulfide zone. We look forward to receiving the assays."  Larry Segerstrom, Giant Mining Board of Directors.

Figure 3: MHB-34 1527 ft (465.4 m) Chalcopyrite and Tourmaline Breccia Matrix, HQ Core 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diam.

David Greenway, CEO of Giant Mining, enthusiastically commented: "In my entire career, I've never seen drill core like this, it's truly extraordinary. With visible native copper extending beyond 1,600 feet, weve blown past our original drilling expectations. Majuba Hill is rapidly emerging as a world-class copper, silver, and gold discovery, perfectly positioned as a vital American resource. Nevada's incredible infrastructure and mining-friendly environment only amplify this project's immense value. Giant Mining is proud to help secure America's clean energy future and achieve critical mineral supply chain independence."

Infrastructure Advantage

The Majuba Hill Project is strategically positioned within a mining-friendly jurisdiction and benefits from an infrastructure setting that is favorable for efficient project advancement. Key elements already in place include well-maintained access roads, nearby power supply, nearby transportation routes (highway and rail), and areas potentially suitable for processing, waste management, and administrative operations.

Leo Hathaway P. Geo & Board of Advisors added: With years of experience working on porphyry copper deposits worldwide, I see Majuba Hill as a highly compelling project. The near-surface, leachable copper target, along with additional primary targets at depth, makes the recent mineralization discoveries very encouraging. With strong infrastructure and a location in a top-tier mining jurisdiction, Majuba Hill is well-positioned for growth."

Figure 4: MHB-34/1542 ft 470 m) Chalcopyrite with Cuprite and Native Copper, HQ Core 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diam.

As previously reported in the March 17, 2025 news release, the 2025 Core Program has been designed to follow up on high-grade copper mineralization intersected in breccias from the 2024 core holes MHB-30 (MHB-30) and MHB-31 (MHB-31) and extend the high-grade copper zones below the historic underground workings (Figure 5) .

Figure 5: Majuba Hill 2025 Actual and Proposed Drill Hole Locations

The Company will provide regular updates as the drill program progresses, including assay results, geological observations, and any significant developments encountered during drilling. These updates will keep shareholders and stakeholders informed on the advancement of the Majuba Hill project and its potential to support a future resource estimate.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Measures, Chain of Custody

The Company utilizes a QA/QC program using best industry practices at the Majuba Hill Project. The samples are placed in cloth or plastic sample bags and are transported from the Majuba Hill to the Giant Mining secure warehouse for core sawing and processing and then samples are delivered to the ALS Labs sample prep facility in Elko, Nevada. ALS then transports the prepared pulps to their analytical lab in North Vancouver, B.C.

Drill core samples are sawn in half lengthwise and one half is placed in labeled cloth sample bags. All samples are analyzed for copper, gold, silver, and 33 other elements. Gold is determined by ALS Labs method Au-AA23 which is a fire assay with an AAS finish on a 30-gram split. Copper, silver, and the remaining 31 elements are determined by ALS Labs method ME-ICP61 which is a four-acid digestion and ICP-AES assay. Approximately 5% of the submitted samples are drill duplicates and copper-gold-porphyry commercial standard reference material pulps. The remaining sample pulps are retrieved from ALS Minerals and retained by the Company for future metallurgical testing.

Majuba Hills critically important characteristics are as follows:

Location: Nevada, USA  a globally top-ranked mining jurisdiction, ranked #1 in the Fraser Institutes 2022 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. Project Size: 9,684 Acres Infrastructure: The Majuba Hill property is 113 road km (70 miles) southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, and 251 km (156 miles) northeast of Reno. Access is by well-maintained county roads from the Imlay, Nevada exit on U.S. Interstate 80, and traveling westward 23 miles. People, Roads, Power and Water are the basic elements when considering infrastructure and Majuba Hill already has a solid infrastructure foundation for building a large facility which will provide significant savings compared to more remote projects History: Historical Producer Drilling: 83,930 feet of drilling to date. Rough replacement value of drilling USD $10.4 Million in development costs. Mineralization: The project shows indications of a potentially large Cu  Ag +/- Au mineralized body with many features in common with both large porphyry copper, silver, and gold projects. Expandability: The IP survey, deep drilling, and step-out drilling indicate significant expansion potential, with mineralization open in all directions. Fully Financed: Secured funding for 2025 Drilling Campaign

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. Buster Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a Qualified Person as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43- 101).

About Giant Mining Corp.

Giant Mining is focused on identifying, acquiring, and advancing late-stage copper and copper/silver/gold projects to meet the growing global demand for critical metals. This demand is driven by initiatives like the Green New Deal in the United States and similar climate-focused programs worldwide, which require substantial amounts of copper, silver, and gold for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and the modernization of clean and affordable energy systems.

The Companys flagship asset is the Majuba Hill Copper, Silver, and Gold District, located 156 miles (251 km) from Reno, Nevada. Majuba Hill is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with supportive regulations and has the potential to become one of the next major copper deposits, critical for meeting the increasing need for this red metal.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.

David Greenway

David C. Greenway

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

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P: 1 (236) 788-0643

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.giantminingcorp.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forwardlooking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forwardlooking statements are based on the Companys current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forwardlooking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTC Pink:LANRF | FRA:6UF0) (Lancaster or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Watson as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025.

Highlights:

Brings over 23 years of technical and executive leadership in the exploration and development of critical minerals (including uranium and lithium), precious metals (notably gold), and conventional energy.

Led the acquisition of all of the Companys gold projects, including the 100%-owned Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia.

Key architect of Lancasters strategic positioning in uranium, with 100%-owned projects in the Athabasca Basin, the worlds premier uranium district.

Led previous lithium brine and battery metal development over 850+ square miles at Prism Diversified.

Background includes commercialization of clean energy technologies, including hydrogen and enhanced recovery methods for conventional energy.

Uranium and lithium are essential to the global energy transition, while gold remains a vital store of value, says Andrew Watson, Lancaster President and CEO. Lancaster is building a well-balanced exploration portfolio across critical minerals and precious metals, with projects located in geologically rich and politically stable regions. Im proud to lead our team as we advance high-potential assets and deliver long-term value to shareholders.

About Andrew Watson

Andrew Watson, P. Eng., brings over 23 years of multifaceted experience in engineering, operations, and corporate strategy across the critical mineral, precious metal, energy, and clean technology sectors. He has been a director of the Company since March 2024.

Since joining Lancaster in June 2023 as Vice President, Engineering & Operations, Mr. Watson has played a transformative role in repositioning the Company as a dynamic exploration platform focused on both critical minerals essential to the energy transitionincluding lithium and uraniumand strategic precious metals like gold.

Mr. Watson has led the acquisition and technical advancement of all of Lancasters gold assets, including the 100%-owned Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia (subject to definitive agreement). He was also instrumental in the Companys acquisition and early-stage development of uranium assets at Catley Lake and Centennial East, located in Saskatchewans Athabasca Basin, the most prolific uranium-producing region in the world.

Prior to Lancaster, Mr. Watson served as Chief Operating Officer at Prism Diversified, where he directed technical development across over 850 square miles of lithium brine (~10.6MM T-LCE, non-compliant),battery metals, and an iron ore deposit with ~219MM tonnes Iron and Vanadium I+I. He oversaw engineering and metallurgical studies focused on the low-impact extraction of critical minerals such as vanadium, titanium, and iron, contributing to sustainable development strategies in the battery metals sector.

At Hyak Energy, Mr. Watson managed the operations of a 60-million-barrel medium crude oil field in Saskatchewan. Using an Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) chemical enhanced oil recovery method, he helped increase production by over 250%, ultimately supporting a successful corporate sale in early 2020.

Beyond project development, Mr. Watson is a recognized mentor and innovator in the clean technology ecosystem. He has mentored over 50 early-stage companies through Foresight Cleantech Accelerator and Emissions Reduction Alberta, supporting commercialization strategies in mining, energy, and emissions reduction technologies.

Mr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary and has completed numerous advanced certifications in energy systems, resource project development, and sustainable operations. His cross-sector expertise positions him uniquely to lead Lancaster through its next stage of growth as it advances a diversified portfolio aligned with global priorities in clean energy, supply security, and resource sustainability.

Leadership Transition

Penny White, Lancasters founder and former CEO, has stepped down and remains a Director of the Company, supporting long-term strategy and capital markets engagement.

About Lancaster Resources Inc.

Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR) is a Canadian exploration company advancing a diversified portfolio of critical mineral and precious metal assets. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan and holds 100% of the Catley Lake and Centennial East uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin. Lancaster also has options to acquire lithium assets in North America and has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia.

Andrew Watson, P. Eng.,

President & Chief Executive Officer,

Lancaster Resources Inc.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 604 923 6100

www.lancaster-resources.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events, or Lancasters future performance. The use of any of the words could, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancasters current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, ability to complete the acquisition of the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project, raise capital, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Viridian Metals Inc. (CSE: VRDN) ("Viridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its intention to close a non brokered private placement comprised of Charity Flow-Through Units, Flow-Through Units, and Hard Dollar Units (the "Offering") for combined total proceeds of up to $1,900,000.

Offering Structure

The Offering will be comprised of a combination of:

"Charity Flow-Through Units" at $0.75 per unit Each Charity Flow-Through Unit is comprised of one "flow-through" common share and one full warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to certain acceleration provisions in favour of the Company

at

"Flow-Through Units" at $0.60 per unit Each Flow-Through Unit is comprised of one "flow-through" common share and one-half warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance

at

"Hard Dollar Units" at $0.50 per unit Each Hard Dollar Unit is comprised of one common share and one full warrant exercisable at $0.75 for 36 months from the date of issuance, subject to certain acceleration provisions in favour of the Company

at

Use of Proceeds

The gross proceeds raised through the issuance of Flow-Through Units and Charity Flow-Through Units must be used by the Company to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) at the Company's Labrador mining projects. The applicable expenditures will be renounced to subscribers to the Flow-Through Units and Charity Flow-Through Units with an effective date on or before December 31, 2025. Funds will support surface geochemistry, geophysics, and drill targeting. Proceeds from the Hard Dollar Units will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes.

CEO Commentary

Tyrell Sutherland, President & CEO of Viridian Metals, commented: "This financing will significantly strengthen our balance sheet, bringing total available capital to over $2.5 million. With funding in place, we're positioned to aggressively advance both the Kraken and Sedna projects. We see a clear opportunity to unlock value across multiple targets in one of the most prospective critical metals districts in Canada."

Closing & Regulatory Notes

The Offering is expected to close in one or more tranches, and not earlier than May 9, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

No finder's fees are anticipated in connection with the Offering. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Viridian Metals

Viridian Metals is a leader in generative metal exploration with a focus on environmental responsibility and ethical practices. Founded to discover new critical metals deposits capable of transforming supply chains, we leverage innovative technologies and methods to enhance efficiency and sustainability in jurisdictions leading the energy transition. Viridian maintains expertise in a range of critical metals with a primary focus on copper, nickel and cobalt. Viridian's commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical practices ensure that its projects contribute meaningfully to the green transition, creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance.

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 the plans and expectations of the Company and expectations in respect of other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

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 news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. 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 management's 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 management's 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 the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes 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 the factors set forth in the Company's Filing Statement dated October 28, 2024 under the caption "Risk Factors". 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 1, 2025) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, due to significant investor demand, it has upsized its private placement. Further to its news release of 30 April 2025 in which the Company announced a private placement financing of up to 160,000,000 units at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $8.0 million, the Company is now increasing the private placing financing up to 210,000,000 (the "Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit (the "Issue Price"), for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $10.5 million (the "Offering").

The Units to be issued under the private placement will be Hold Units only and pursuant to the exemptions under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") including the accredited investor exemption. Hold Units will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Each Unit will be comprised of one Class A common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at the USD equivalent price of $0.07 per Common Share for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund continued exploration and development activities on the Company's assets, working capital and for general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about May 5, 2025, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

A cash finder's fee up to 6.0% may be paid to arms-length finders for Hold Units placed by a finder in the Offering. Additionally, on the Closing Date, the Company may issue to such finders Warrants of the Company ("Finder's Warrants") to acquire, in aggregate, a number of Common Shares of the Company equal to up to 3.0% of the aggregate number of Hold Units placed by that finder under the Offering. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at the USD equivalent price of $0.07 per Common Share, exercisable for a period of 18 months following the closing date of the Offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities may be offered or sold in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom or qualification under the securities laws of such other jurisdiction or an exemption therefrom.

References to "$" in this news release are to Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About GoviEx Uranium Inc.

GoviEx (TSXV: GXU), is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its mine-permitted Muntanga Project in Zambia.

Disclaimers & Cautionary Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those with respect to the anticipated quantum, timing and completion of the Offering; receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the Offering; and the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the Offering will be obtained; (ii) sufficient subscriptions will be received to complete the entirety of the Offering; (iii) the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the Company's failure to complete the Offering in-part or in-full; (ii) inability to make effective use of the proceeds of the Offering; (iii) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (iv) the Company's inability to obtain TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the Offering; (iv) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (v) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (vi) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (vii) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (viii) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Batero Gold Corp. (TSXV: BAT) (FSE: 68B) (OTC Pink: BELDF) (the "Company" or "Batero") is pleased to announce a strategic change to its senior leadership team and to its board of directors ("Board"). Mr. Ivo Bravo has stepped down as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary and Mr. Gonzalo de Losada has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and has resigned from the Board.

The Company welcomes Diego Heilbrunn Navarro-Grau to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company and Gustavo Noriega Bentin to the role of Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company. "I'm excited to take on the role of CEO and work alongside Gustavo and the Board as we enter into a new phase of development," said Mr. Heilbrunn. "Batero is well positioned in the current market with gold prices at all time highs, and I look forward to advancing the Company's La Cumbre Gold Project in Risaralda, Colombia."

Mr. Heilbrunn is a director of Antioquia Gold Inc., a mining company with operating mines in Peru and Colombia, and the former CEO and current director of Grupo HNG, a Peruvian business group with controlling and non-controlling interests in companies across technology, services, education, infrastructure and industrial sectors. Mr Bentin is the current Chief Financial Officer of Antioquia Gold Inc. and a former director of Ferreycorp, a leading Peruvian corporation dedicated to the provision of heavy machinery and specialized services in Peru.

The Company also welcomes Luis Garcia Rosell A. to its Board. Mr. Rosell has extensive corporate experience in leading national and multinational business groups, and was the general manager and Executive Chairman of the Board of Petroperu, a Peruvian state-owned enterprise dedicated to the transportation, refining, distribution and commercialization of fuels and other petroleum products. The appointment of Mr. Rosell to the Board increases the size of the Board from three to four directors.

The Company wishes to thank Mr. Gonzalo de Losada and Mr. Ivo Bravo for their work with the Company over the years and wishes them all the best with their future endeavours.

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 press release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the gold market, gold price and future development of the Company's La Cumbre Gold Project in Risaralda, Colombia.

By their nature, forward-looking statements and information involve assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are usually beyond the control of management, that could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed by these forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking information and statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to several known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Readers and investors should not place undue reliance on such statements.

Certain risks which could impact the Company are discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent MD&A available at SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking information and statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such information and statements. All forward-looking information and statements contained or incorporated by reference in this news release are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.
When he grows up, five-year-old Ahmad wants to be "stronger than Spider-Man".

But his dream clashes with a harsh reality -- the Jordanian boy has a serious disability, and major US aid cuts mean he will likely miss out on vital care.

Like him, millions of children around the world are suffering from the sweeping cuts ordered by US President Donald Trump.

All are grappling with hardship in one form or other: war, crime, global warming, poverty, disease and more.

Ahmad, who has a spinal malformation, cannot hold his torso upright and is paralysed from the waist down.

The boy was receiving physiotherapy sessions from Handicap International "to strengthen his upper limbs and enable him, later on, to walk with crutches," said his father, Mahmud Abdulrahman, a 30-year-old day labourer.

Abdulrahman said the non-governmental organisation was also due to provide orthotics and prosthetics to straighten Ahmad's lower limbs -- none of which he could afford on his meagre salary.

Now, none of that will happen.

The Wehdat Rehabilitation Centre they attended in Jordan's capital Amman was one of the first victims of Trump's aid cuts.

More than 600 patients found themselves deprived of care overnight.

Prosthetics already specially designed for around 30 children, as well as wheelchairs, could not be delivered to them, on Washington's orders.

"The movement that was taught will be forgotten," said Dr Abdullah Hmoud, a physiotherapist who worked at the centre, describing the potential losses as "catastrophic".

There is also emotional suffering.

When he realised he would no longer see his physiotherapist, "Ahmad stopped eating for three days. He didn't want to get up," said his father.

With the closure of his rehabilitation centre, "I feel like they want to kill me," the boy said in a hushed voice.

- Global fallout -

Ahmad's story is one among many in a wave of horror accounts surfacing from the humanitarian sector since the United States said it was cutting 83 percent of its aid.

USAID -- which the Trump administration has dismantled -- had supported 42 percent of all aid distributed globally, with a $42.8 billion budget.

At a refugee camp in Bangladesh, home to a million Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar, half of them children, Save the Children has been forced to ration food.

The NGO fears desperate families could be pushed to hand over daughters to traffickers or send sons on dangerous sea crossings to Malaysia for work.

In Mozambique, Solidarites International had to shut down a programme providing food and water to internally displaced people, including tens of thousands of children.

In Malawi, similar numbers will no longer receive free school meals, according to another NGO which requested anonymity for fear of US reprisals.

Without food, many children will drop out of school -- all the more galling, the NGO said, as millions of meals are reportedly left to rot in warehouses due to the US decision.

"It's like the rug is being pulled out from under their feet," said one staff member.

- 'Last lifelines' -

Women and girls are often the first to lose out, with their education traditionally sacrificed first.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said it will have to "significantly reduce" aid to women and girls in Afghanistan because the US funds paid for many of the female staff who worked with them.

"The very last lifelines for many women and girls will be taken away," said Camilla Waszink, a director at the organisation.

Malnutrition already affects 150 million children under five, and the numbers could surge.

"Millions of additional children will suffer stunted growth" and impaired brain capacity, said Kevin Goldberg, director of Solidarites International.

In another blow to children, Washington is expected to drastically reduce funding for vaccination programmes in poor countries.

Sania Nishtar, CEO of the Vaccine Alliance, warned the cuts -- if confirmed -- could result in "an estimated 1.3 million children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases".
At least 542 civilians have been confirmed killed in Sudan's North Darfur region in the past three weeks, the United Nations said Thursday, warning the actual death toll was likely "much higher".

"The horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement, referring to the country's ongoing civil war.

Darfur in particular has become a key battleground in the war that erupted on April 15, 2023 between the regular army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The war has left tens of thousands dead and triggered what aid agencies describe as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.

The battle for El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur to elude RSF control, has intensified in recent weeks as the paramilitaries have sought to compensate for their loss of the capital Khartoum last month.

Turk pointed to an attack three days ago by the RSF on El-Fasher and the Abu Shouk camp that killed at least 40 civilians.

"This brings the confirmed number of civilians killed in North Darfur to at least 542 in just the last three weeks," he said.

"The actual death toll is likely much higher."

He also cited "the ominous warning by the RSF of 'bloodshed' ahead of imminent battles with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their associated armed movements."

"Everything must be done to protect civilians trapped amid dire conditions in and around El-Fasher."

Turk also highlighted "reports of extrajudicial executions in Khartoum state", which he described as "extremely disturbing".

"Horrific videos circulating on social media show at least 30 men in civilian clothing being rounded up and executed by armed men in RSF uniforms in Al-Salha in southern Omdurman," he said, adding that in a subsequent video, "an RSF field commander acknowledged the killings."

Those videos came after "shocking reports in recent weeks of the extrajudicial execution of dozens of people accused of collaborating with the RSF in southern Khartoum, allegedly committed by the Al-Baraa Brigade", a pro-SAF militia, Turk said.

"Deliberately taking the life of a civilian or anyone no longer directly taking part in hostilities is a war crime," he insisted.

The UN rights chief said he had "personally alerted both leaders of the RSF and SAF to the catastrophic human rights consequences of this war".

"These harrowing consequences are a daily, lived reality for millions of Sudanese. It is well past time for this conflict to stop."
Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he described as a "genocidal campaign" against his community, following two days of deadly sectarian clashes that left 73 people dead.

The unrest poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, and comes after a wave of massacres last month in Syria's Alawite coastal stronghold.

In a statement, Hijri denounced the violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya, near Damascus, as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign" and called for immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes."

His remarks follow fighting between Syrian security forces, allied fighters, and local Druze groups, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said that the death toll from Jaramana and Sahnaya includes 30 members of the security forces, 15 fighters from the Druze minority and one civilian.

In the southern Suweyda province, 27 Druze gunmen were killed, 23 of them in an "ambush" on the Suweyda-Damascus road on Wednesday.

The fighters were killed in an attack "carried out by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them", the monitor told AFP.

- 'Protect all components' -

The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.

AFP was unable to confirm the recording's authenticity.

A truce agreement was reached on Wednesday in Jaramana and Sahnaya following meetings between Druze representatives and government officials.

Syrian authorities announced the deployment of their forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, accusing "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.

However, Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres".

"The government (should) protect its people," he added.

In March, security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, according to the Observatory.

It was the worst bloodshed since the December ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who is from the minority community.

- External intervention -

Syria's new Islamist authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists within their ranks.

In a statement on Wednesday, Syria's foreign ministry vowed to "protect all components" of society, including the Druze, and expressed its rejection of "foreign interference".

Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani reiterated on Thursday his country's rejection of any demands for international intervention, saying on social media platform X that "national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival".

"Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division," he added.

Israel, which sees Syria's new forces as jihadists carried out strikes on Syria on Wednesday, with its army saying troops were instructed to hit Syrian government targets "should the violence against Druze communities continue".

"A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime -- Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community," said a statement from Netanyahu's office.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday called on the international community to "fulfill its role in protecting the minorities in Syria -- especially the Druze -- from the regime and its gangs of terror".

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on military sites in Syria since Assad's downfall.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone of the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan Heights and voiced support for Syria's Druze.

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Wednesday urged Syria's Druze to "reject Israeli interference".

Syria's top Muslim cleric Osama al-Rifai warned that "if strife ignites in our country... all of us will lose".

lar/tp/nad/ysm

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Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his community after two days of deadly sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It comes after a wave of massacres in March in Syria's Alawite coastal stronghold in which security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at the time.

It was the worst bloodshed since the ouster of Assad, who is from the minority community.

Hijri in a statement on Thursday denounced the latest violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign" against the Druze.

He called for immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes".

His statement came after the Observatory reported the fighting between Syrian security forces, allied fighters and local Druze groups.

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said the death toll included 30 members of the security forces and fighters affiliated with the defence ministry, 21 fighters from the Druze minority and 10 civilians, including Sahnaya's former mayor, Husam Warwar.

In the southern province of Sweida, it said, 40 Druze gunmen were killed, 35 of them in an "ambush" on the Sweida-Damascus road on Wednesday.

The monitor told AFP the fighters were killed "by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them".

- 'Outlaws' blamed -

The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.

AFP was unable to confirm the recording's authenticity.

A truce agreement was reached on Wednesday in Jaramana and Sahnaya after meetings between Druze representatives and government officials.

Syrian authorities announced the deployment of their forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, and accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.

However, Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres".

"The government (should) protect its people," he added.

Syria's new Islamist authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists within their ranks.

On Wednesday, the foreign ministry in a statement vowed to "protect all components" of Syrian society, including the Druze, and expressed its rejection of "foreign interference".

- Israeli strikes -

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday reiterated Syria's rejection of demands for international intervention, saying on social media platform X that "national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival".

"Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division," he added.

Israel sees the new forces in the country as jihadists and carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday. Israel's military said its forces were instructed to hit Syrian government targets "should the violence against Druze communities continue".

"A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime -- Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community," a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

On Thursday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called on the international community to "fulfil its role in protecting the minorities in Syria -- especially the Druze -- from the regime and its gangs of terror".

Israel has attacked hundreds of military sites in Syria since Assad's downfall.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone of the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan Heights and voiced support for Syria's Druze.

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Wednesday urged Syria's Druze to "reject Israeli interference".

Syria's top Muslim cleric Osama al-Rifai warned on Wednesday that "if strife ignites in our country... all of us will lose".

lar/tp/nad/srm

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Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his community after two days of sectarian clashes left 102 people dead.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned his country would respond "with significant force" if Syria's new authorities fail to protect the Druze minority, whose representatives rejected any attempt to force them out.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It comes after a wave of massacres in March in Syria's Alawite heartland on the Mediterranean coast in which security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly from Assad's Alawite community, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Hijri denounced the latest violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign" against the Druze.

He called in a statement for immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes".

Israel has ramped up support of Syria's Druze, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urging the international community to "fulfil its role in protecting the minorities in Syria -- especially the Druze -- from the regime and its gangs of terror".

At a meeting of Druze leaders, elders and armed groups in the city of Sweida, the community agreed it was "an inseparable part of the unified Syrian homeland", a spokesperson said.

"We reject partition, separation, or disengagement," the spokesperson added.

- 'Outlaw groups' blamed -

The Syrian Observatory said the fighting had involved security forces, allied fighters and local Druze groups.

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said the 102 death toll included 30 government loyalists, 21 Druze fighters and 10 civilians, including Sahnaya's former mayor, Husam Warwar.

In the southern Druze heartland province of Sweida, it said 40 Druze gunmen were killed, 35 in an "ambush" on the Sweida-Damascus road on Wednesday.

The monitor told AFP the fighters were killed "by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them".

The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.

AFP was unable to confirm the recording's authenticity.

Truces were reached in Jaramana on Tuesday and in Sahnaya on Wednesday.

The government announced it was deploying forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, and accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.

However, Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres".

"The government (should) protect its people," he said.

The Druze gathering on Thursday urged the government to engage "the judicial police in Sweida, drawing from the province's own residents" on the issue.

Syria's new authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists.

On Wednesday, a foreign ministry statement vowed to "protect all components" of Syrian society, including the Druze.

- Israeli strikes -

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday reiterated Syria's rejection of demands for international intervention, posting on X that "national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival".

"Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division," he added.

Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday.

Israel has attacked hundreds of military sites in Syria since Assad's overthrow and said its military would hit government targets "should the violence against Druze communities continue".

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights and voiced support for Syria's Druze.

Israel's military said Thursday two wounded Syrian Druze had been evacuated to northern Israel for treatment.

In a statement Thursday, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the violence and rhetoric against the Druze community in Syria was "reprehensible and unacceptable", and called on the interim authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.

burs-srm-sbk/tw/sco/rsc

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As Liberias Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court (OWEC) celebrates its first year anniversary on 2 May 2025, victims and civil society groups are anxious about what has been achieved and what is the prospect of establishing the actual court. On 27 March 2025, members of the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) staged a quiet protest at the OWEC. The protest action was twofold: to show solidarity to OWECs leadership and to question the governments commitment to the process. Beyond the removal of Jonathan Massaquoi, the first Executive Director, and the appointment of Jallah Barbu, a former dean of Liberias prestigious Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, little progress has been reported. Much of this has been attributed to funding. The lack of significant progress, however, cannot be simplified in the rise of Donald Trump, the dismantling of USAID and the US State Department mechanisms for funding. Neither can the limited work done in the first year be attributed to the old trope of post-conflict societies being overwhelmed by competing development priorities. The fundamental concern is that President Joseph Boakais expressed political commitment for civil war-era accountability is not being matched by adequate budgetary allocation.

Boakais desire to establish the court has been criticised by members of the elites. Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has vehemently rejected the idea of the court as counterproductive to Liberias stability. Likewise, former President George Weah, though in the past a supporter of the idea, has recently questioned the timing of the court.

Signatories of the 2003 Peace Agreement, all of them former heads of warring factions, have also voiced strong opposition to the court. Hence, the governments strategy of modest budgetary allocation in anticipation for foreign assistance is viewed as a ploy to shift blame and to attribute the limited progress as a direct result of donor fatigue.

The governments minimal spending

The praxis of transitional justice has often informed that the more domestic spending is invested in dealing with the past the more it demonstrates a strong sense of national ownership while foreign assistance signals international validation. The European Union has stated emphatically that they cannot spend money on such a process unless the government is fully behind it. The EU response to OWEC, according to Barbu, suggests that the government must go beyond words and provide substantial financial support. Similarly, the US as indicated that they would like to see a process that is Liberian-led and owned. Even so, with the rise of Trump, a Liberian-led process might still attract little or no funding as the US support is no longer guaranteed.

Ironically, in the early days of transitional justice in Liberia, right after the civil wars ended in 2003, the hassle for funding was far less a concern compared to now. When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act was passed in 2005, Liberias annual budget was a measly US$19,117,491 million dollars. Yet, the Unity Party government under Johnson Sirleaf consistently provided a yearly 1.4 million dollars to the TRC. The Government of Liberia contributed more than 50% of its total cost of US$7.5 million. Twenty years later, when the national budget is US$861.8 million, forty-five times more than it was in 2006, the announced government financial support to OWEC pales in comparison.

In 2024, the Unity Party government under Boakai has allocated US$500,000 to OWEC, from May to December. Of this amount, Barbu and his team inherited US$368,000 from the Ministry of Justice, the oversight to OWEC, without a turnover note explaining how the other portion was used up. Report on work done is also not available.

In 2025, US$300,000 was appropriated to OWEC. To access this fund, the OWEC has to write to the Ministry of State (MoS). Then the MoS gets to write to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for the money to be disbursed. When the funds are approved, OWEC is required to write an invoice to the MoS before the funds are eventually made available. According to Barbu, the process takes weeks, sometimes more than a month. However, on April 30, Boakai renewed his Executive Order, less than 24 hours before its expiration. The new Executive Order contains a new budgetary appropriation of US$2 million dollars to be disbursed directly to OWECs account, a drastic change from the previous bureaucratic process. Since these funds are not allocated in the national budget passed four months ago, a supplemental appropriation will have to be made. It requires a simple resolution in the House of Representative. Yet, the sudden change of course, though welcome, is viewed more as a concession to international pressure rather than a deliberate strategy. Victims and civil society remained suspicious of the Governments commitment especially in view of the growing elite opposition to OWEC.

Renewed resistance by national elites

The TRC process was less bureaucratic, and they received more funding from the national budget in one year than what OWEC is receiving in two years. At this level, the concern about commitment goes beyond the Presidency. In March 2024, the House of Representative endorsed the resolution establishing OWEC by 42 votes out of 73 while the Senate voted 28 out of 30. The support in both houses was powerful. Both the Senate and the House are critically involved in the budget process where every dime gets to be scrutinised. Members of civil society and victims hold two viewpoints on the low commitment towards OWEC. One, the strategy to fund the court was originally conceived through the goodwill of the United Nations and the United States, and that support is now in doubt. Two, elite consensus against the idea of the court is gaining traction and low funding and complex bureaucracy appear as deliberate measures orchestrated to frustrate the process.

Talks about the establishment of a war and economic crimes court continue to arouse strong emotions. The signatories to the Peace Agreement have stated emphatically, that if you touch one, you touch all. This statement was made during the funeral ceremony on 18 January 2025 of senator Prince Johnson, a key warlord during the first civil war, by another senator, Thomas Yaya Nimley, who was the head of the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), another warring faction. After Johnson, Senator Nimley has positioned himself as the most vocal anti-OWEC political leader. The statement was a threat that in the unlikely event any head/leader of a warring faction or a senior commander is arrested on account for war crimes, the risk of the country returning to conflict would be high, because it would be resisted.



Senator Thomas Yaya Nimley, who was the head of the warring faction MODEL during the civil war, has now positioned himself as the most vocal anti-OWEC political leader.

Barbu was recruited with the guarantee of security protection. In an interview with me mid-April, he recalled that he saw the Emergency Response Unit, a special squad of the Liberia National Police (LNP), deployed at this office without his prior knowledge, before it withdrew without saying why. In a meeting with the Inspector General of the LNP, a promise of a 15-man security team to be assigned to OWEC and the chief executive was made; this too has not materialised. My family members are worried about my safety, Barbu lamented.

Preconditions for a successful court

On the one-year anniversary of OWEC, the work stream can be described in three parts. Firstly, the draft bill on the establishment of the war and economic crimes put together by the Liberia National Bar Association in 2019 is being revised based on reviews by experts. The draft bill envisioned the court as being subordinated to the Supreme Court of Liberia. With the pervasive practice of political interference in the judiciary, experts on comparative tribunals, hybrid and special courts, have highlighted this subordination as one of the major problems that ought to be addressed. Secondly, the United Nations Rule of Law Team has seconded a lawyer to the OWEC. The collaboration is geared towards model selection, i.e whether a special court, hybrid or national court would represent the most adequate model for Liberia.

A special court as was done in Sierra Leone is unlikely due to lack of funding and the fact that donors are rethinking that such model is not good value for money. Donors, including the UN, are more likely to support a process that is less expensive. OWEC is leaning more in the direction of a hybrid or national outfit, with a mandate that provides parallel authority to that of the national Supreme Court. Additionally, for the court to be successful an initial assessment of the availability of evidence and local capacity to drive the investigation are considered critical. More than thirty-five years after the civil war started, the prospects of evidence gathering are increasingly becoming grim. In this respect, the TRC archives relocated to Georgia Tech university in the US might be the silver lining. But the archives have not been assessed considering OWECs needs.

Local capacity is the next major challenge. The Louis Arthur Grimes School of law  the only law school that has produced Liberian lawyers  provides expertise in the practice of procedural law and the constitution, without the specialisation to grapple with the complexity of post-war justice and accountability. To proceed on a solid foundation, OWEC would need at least 50 Liberian lawyers trained in the rigor of criminal investigation, case file development and forensics, according to a Liberian jurist and an international criminal lawyer I talked to. For lawyers to be minimally prepared for this task, some accelerated academic programme would have to very quickly be customised to address this gap. Liberian law prevents non-Liberian lawyers for practicing in-country. A legal dispensation would have to be granted to allow both Liberian and non-Liberian lawyer to collaborate in court.

Finally, a strategic communication for OWEC is being developed. The purpose is to identify all the strategic stakeholders and audiences and develop the right messages to them with the view of increasing public confidence in the Office. One the stakeholder groups that OWEC is formally partnering with is Liberia Massacre and Survivors Association, LIMSA. A memorandum of understanding was signed on 14 April 2025 that allows for OWEC and LIMASA to undertake the joint implementation of projects related to victims and survivors of the civil wars.

Should the prospect of the court be determined to be grim due to limited evidence and low capacity, alternative measures of transitional justice as advanced in the TRC Final Report would be considered to offset the idea of the court.

Post-war politics and state building

Liberias post-war politics is consolidating. However, in this process, the elites interest have been served much more than ordinary citizens. Even though Liberian politics have radically shifted from minority rule to majority, the ground rules of mass accumulation of wealth remain the same. For example, the payroll from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning revealed that the Speaker of the House earns US$22,850 and the deputy speaker US$16,075 as monthly salaries. Further interviews on salaries uncovered that the vice president of the country earns the same as the Speaker while the president earns US$25,000 monthly. Members of the House of representatives earn US$8,000 monthly, as do Senators. The Chief Justice earns about the same as the vice president while the four Associate justices earn slightly less.

Even though the Public Financial Management Law maintains that all income are taxable, the judiciary have negotiated that only 50% of their income can be taxed. In an interview with me, the former Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) indicated that attempts to standardize the tax system like all other ministries, commissions and agencies provoked the fury of the judiciary. In an apparent act of intimidation, the Trial Judges Association of Liberia threatened to take the CSA to court. Their justification for a tax break was they have no other source of income and subjecting their salary to Liberias drastic tax system would be tantamount to reducing their pay. As a compromise, 50% was agreed to be taxable and the other half without tax. This information was corroborated in further interviews with senior officials (past and present) of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, a former Associate justice of the Supreme Court and a senior official at Liberias Internal Audit Agency.

Historically, the growth in Liberian revenue has served the interest of the elites over urgent development priority. In the 1960s, when the Liberian GDP grew so much that it was comparable to that of Japan, an academic survey critiqued the political economy as growth without development. More than sixty years later, Liberias search for justice appears to be undermined by this elite pattern of privilege and wealth accumulation even though the country has moved away from minority rule to majority.
Korean actor Park Seo Joon is receiving widespread praise for his philanthropic efforts that have led to a life-saving medical treatment for a child.

The "Itaewon Class" star took to Instagram on April 29 to share the touching story, expressing his commitment to living diligently and his hope for the child's recovery.

The child's parent sent Park a handwritten letter; he shared it on his Instagram account out of gratitude and kindness.

They disclosed, "Thanks to the donation made by Park Seo Joon, my child was able to receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant successfully. My kid was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2024.."

The letter continued with the parents' touching confession: "The situation was challenging, both in mind and financially. So my kid was struck with a crazy thought when it first found out it was sick. But now that the first hematopoietic stem cell surgery is done, I feel a little hopeful."

The child's parent also described the emotional impact of learning about Park's involvement, noting how their child was "very surprised and moved" when informed of the actor's generous sponsorship.

The child, inspired by Park's gesture, has vowed to become famous in the future to thank the actor personally.

The actor also posted a letter from the Samsung Medical Center confirming that Park funded one patient's surgery- the message emphasized his impact on the world.

Park Seo Joon will appear in the upcoming JTBC K-Drama Waiting for Gyeong Do, known for balancing his career with philanthropy.

Fans admire people like Park Seo Joon, who prove it is easy to help others and enjoy it.






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Caroline Wanjiku Mwangi, a suspected drug mule, was nabbed by hawk-eyed Anti-Narcotics Unit detectives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Goa, India.

Her travel plans hit turbulence when detectives flagged her down for a routine check.

A quick inspection of her luggage led to the discovery of two suspicious smaller bags tucked inside.

Upon opening them, detectives found a white powdery substance neatly packed and wrapped in yellow cellotape.

A spot test confirmed the powdery substance was Cocaine weighing 1.3 kilograms.

Wanjiku is currently cooling her heels at the JKIA Police Station, undergoing processing, awaiting her court appearance.

Meanwhile, the seized narcotics are being detained as exhibits.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Detectives probing the brutal murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament, Charles Ongondo, have obtained CCTV footage that captured his killers trailing him before he was shot dead.

The controversial MP appeared to have been a marked man as his attackers trailed him from the moment he left Parliament Buildings to the spot where they shot him.

The lawmaker left Parliament moments past 7 pm and proceeded to a nearby M-Pesa outlet, where he sent his bodyguard to deposit Ksh 20,000 into his phone.

CCTV footage from the area captured the motorbike that his killers were riding on stopping while monitoring the vehicle.

The pillion passenger, who is believed to have pulled the trigger, seemed to have been closely observing the MPs vehicle.

Were then left Wabera Street towards Kenyatta Avenue, but later changed the route to evade traffic.

Unaware that they were being pursued, the car proceeded to Valley Road, where another traffic congestion slowed their movement.

The motorbike was captured on CCTV following the MPs vehicle at close range.

After Weres car stopped at a red traffic light at the City Mortuary roundabout, the assassin, who was dressed in a hooded jacket, walked to the MPs car and fired multiple shots at close range before returning to the motorcycle and fleeing the scene.

Watch the video courtesy of Citizen TV.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama is once again setting the record straight about her marriage amid swirling divorce rumors.

Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, the mother of two addressed persistent rumors about trouble in her marriage to Barack Obama, making it clear that if anything were amiss, the world would know.

If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it, Michelle said.

She added that even her brother and co-host, Craig Robinson, would be the first to hear.

Im not a martyr. Id be problem-solving in public - Let me tell you what he did.

Michelle emphasized that her relationship is built on mutual commitment.

Neither one of us was ever going to quit, she said of her husband. Thats just not who we are.

The speculation about their marriage gained traction earlier this year when Michelle skipped a few major events, including Jimmy Carters funeral and Trumps inauguration.

She later sated that she simply didnt feel like going.

I finally feel like I have permission to do what I want, she said. At 61, Im owning my wisdom.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja is reportedly in critical condition at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she has been undergoing treatment for the past two weeks.

According to aspiring politician and commentator Francis Gaitho, the Keroche Breweries founder is battling throat cancer.

The news has prompted an outpouring of reactions, including from her political rival, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika.

Despite their strained relationship, Governor Kihika extended an olive branch and wished the Senator a speedy recovery.

I want to wish Senator Tabitha Karanja a quick recovery. I know she is in hospital in London, Kihika said.

I was taught that when someone is unwell, even if you dont see eye to eye, you should never kick them when they are down.

Senator Karanja had recently criticised Governor Kihika for seeking treatment in the United States during her extended maternity-related stay.

Ironically, the Senator is now receiving medical care abroad herself, a point that has not gone unnoticed by the public.

The Royal Marsden Hospital is one of the leading cancer treatment centres in the UK, known for its advanced oncology care.

Karanjas family has yet to issue an official statement on her condition.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - A social media post by Senator Boni Khalwale endorsing polygamy has sparked intense debate on X (formerly Twitter).

Khalwale, widely regarded as the face of modern-day polygamy in Kenya, reshared a quote from influencer Mercy Masai, warning that Polygamy is not for everyman.

Polygamy is not for boys; it requires an insane level of masculinity that only a few men can attain, part of her post read.

His post reignited the long-running discussion around polygamy in Kenya.

In Kenya, polygamy is legally recognized under marriages conducted according to customary or Islamic rites.

However, Christian, civil, and Hindu marriages are strictly monogamous.

Individuals in these monogamous unions cannot legally take on additional spouses without first dissolving the existing marriage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Kitui-based blogger and digital journalist Emmanuel Maleve, known for his online platform 'Hopkin Digital,' was abducted by suspected rogue plainclothes officers outside Muli Mall in Kitui town on the evening of May 1st, 2025.

His abductors bundled him into a Land Cruiser Registration KCQ 184 U and sped off, leaving his friends and family members distressed.

Efforts to reach out to Maleve on the phone have been futile after it was switched off.

Maleve has been an outspoken critic of developments in Kitui South Constituency, particularly regarding the performance of the area MP, Rachael Kaki.

He published an article on his blog, calling her The Queen Of Corruption.

In a recent blog post, he accused the MP of failing to establish a functional NG-CDF oversight committee and called for investigations into the use of public funds over recent financial years.

The MP is believed to have hired officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to abduct him.

His abduction has drawn condemnation from various quarters.

The Kitui Media Unity (KMU) issued a statement condemning what it termed as police intimidation of journalists.

KMU described Maleve as a respected digital journalist and voice for the Kitui community.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Mandera North MP, Bashir Abdullahi, has defended himself following public uproar over comments he made regarding the BBC documentary Blood Parliament, which exposed police officers allegedly involved in the killing of protestors during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.

The legislator came under fire after stating in Parliament that, "people are killed, our people were killed, we sympathised, we moved on."

The remarks sparked nationwide outrage, with many interpreting them as dismissive of the lives lost during the protests.

However, in a statement released via his social media platforms, Bashir insisted his comments were misinterpreted.

He clarified that his intent was to critique the selective focus of Western media, particularly the BBC, on injustices in countries like Kenya while ignoring global atrocities.

My remarks were directed at the biased narrative of some Western media... It is this silence, this hypocrisy, that I was highlighting, he explained.

Bashir denied downplaying the deaths and instead called for accountability.

I support the call for an independent investigation into the events of June 25. Those responsible must be held accountable, he said.

Adding: If my words hurt the bereaved families or any Kenyan, I offer my deepest and unconditional apology. And do so as servant leadership

The Blood Parliament documentary used over 5,000 images to identify police officers allegedly involved in killing three protestors.

However, netizens have dismissed his apology.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiangi, has officially launched a series of nationwide tours as he positions himself for a presidential run in the 2027 General Elections.

Speaking in Kisii during a homecoming rally, Matiangi confirmed his intention to traverse the country to build grassroots support under the Jubilee Party banner.

In his first major public appearance since leaving office, Matiangi was warmly received by large crowds across Kisii, Nyamira, Sotik, Keroka, and Kijauri.

Addressing enthusiastic supporters from atop his vehicle, he announced plans to tour the Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Western, Coast, and Nyanza regions.

From here, we go to Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Meru, Coast, and Western. I want to speak to every Kenyan, Matiangi said, as the crowd cheered.

The former CS also paid a courtesy call to Kisii Governor Simba Arati, a senior ODM official, sparking speculation about shifting political alliances.

The two held a closed-door meeting in Kisii Town attended by Senator Richard Onyonka and other local leaders before addressing a joint rally at the Capital Roundabout.

Matiangis entry into the 2027 race is being closely watched, with some Jubilee leaders already rallying behind him.

While he has not formally declared his candidacy, he acknowledged calls from supporters urging him to run.

As political realignments begin to take shape, Matiangis re-emergence signals a potential shake-up in the race to unseat President William Ruto.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are following crucial leads as they try to unravel the brutal murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ongondo, who was gunned down near City Mortuary.

According to a statement by DCI, the detailed analysis of the crime scene has yielded significant leads.

Read the full statement from DCI.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has dismissed claims that she is hospitalized in London, clarifying in an official statement that she is on a brief personal vacation during Senate recess.

She attributed the misleading reports to a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated by her political adversaries.

The rumors regarding her health had earlier surfaced after Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, during a vernacular radio interview on Thursday evening, claimed that the Senator was unwell and admitted at a hospital in the United Kingdom, while proceeding to wish her a quick recovery.

I am very truthful, so I will not sit here and tell you that we work well together.

Yes, I am the one who brought her where she is; I held her hand.

I dont know where we fell out.

I have never seen a woman who gets angry because of children.

It is very un-African. I dont know what her problem is.

However, I want to take this chance to wish her a quick recovery because I know she is in the hospital in London. Kihika said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company Limited (Nawassco) Managing Director, James Nganga, was caught in a compromising position in a hotel room with a married woman, who happens to be a junior staff member at the company.

The woman, identified as Emmaculate Mueni, works at the company as a Customer Care Officer.

Her husband, Duncan Mwangi, stormed into the hotel room on April 17th, 2025, and caught them red-handed after receiving a tip-off.

Mwangi went to the hotel room where the MD was having fun with his wife in the company of police officers from Free Area Police Post.

He had filed a complaint at the police post under OB No 15/17/4/2025, stating that the man was having an affair with his wife.

He informed the police where the two were and went with them.

The aggrieved husband said he had harboured suspicions since 2013, having observed unusual call logs and late-night communications between his wife and the MD, sometimes as late as midnight or even 4 am.

Mueni also benefited professionally from the relationship.

She had previously been dismissed by a former MD after taking an unauthorised trip to Uganda in 2013.

However, upon Ngangas appointment, she was reinstated.

Nganga also increased her salary and selected her to join all the committees so that she could get allowances.

The MD would even authorise Mueni to sign crucial documents, as she had access to his electronic signature.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has rubbished claims that she is fighting for her life in a London hospital.

In a statement released on Friday, May 2nd, Karanja acknowledged she is currently in London but emphasized that her trip is purely for rest during the Senates recess period.

As you are aware, the Senate is currently on a short recess, which began on April 18th and will end on May 5th.

I have taken this opportunity to step away from my busy schedule for a brief vacation here in London.

I am in excellent health, full of energy, and fully prepared to resume my oversight duties next week, she stated.

The clarification came after Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika claimed, during a vernacular radio interview, that the Senator was hospitalized and wished her a quick recovery.

"I want to wish a quick recovery to Senator Tabitha Karanja, I know she is in a hospital in London,'' Kihika said.

In response, Karanja dismissed the claims as baseless, attributing them to fake news spread by bloggers allegedly funded by individuals within the County Government.

These are fake news being spread by paid bloggers and social media influencers, some of whom are financed by officials within the county government using public resources, Karanja claimed.

She urged that public funds be redirected toward development projects rather than misinformation campaigns.

Karanja, who has had ongoing tensions with Governor Kihika, reaffirmed her commitment to her oversight duties, vowing not to be intimidated.

No amount of intimidation will deter me from executing my roles, she asserted.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 2, 2025 - Five elite police officers from the Special Operations Unit (SOU) were killed and eight others injured in an ambush by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in the Rakei area of Boni Forest, Lamu County.

The officers had been tracking suspected militants for two days following intelligence reports of a planned large-scale attack.

The militants reportedly ambushed the officers as they advanced deeper into the forest.

Five of the injured officers sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment.

Sources suggest some of the attackers may also have been wounded in the exchange.

The attack occurred just 3 kilometers from Lamu town.

Regional Commissioner Koech stated that the militants were likely attempting to cross into Kenya to carry out attacks.

Security forces have since intensified operations in the area to track down the miscreants.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Olivia Kelleher

The mother of a 33-year-old man who drowned while swimming in the River Lee in Cork on Wednesday has spoken of her distress at the fact that some onlookers opted to live stream the tragedy as it unfolded instead of helping her son.

Luke Hyde, who lived in Wolfe Tone Street in Cork, got in to difficulty in the water shortly after 7pm on Wednesday.

His body was recovered from the river and a postmortem was completed at Cork University Hospital on Thursday.

His mother, Elizabeth Hyde, contacted the Neil Prendeville Show on Corks Red FM on Friday to express her disgust at the decision by some passersby to film what was happening to Luke.

I dont think I can get through this. This is my second son [to die] in five years. The first boy Brian died suddenly. He was Lukes older brother. He died in his sleep. My Luke  my baby. He was the youngest.

I heard you talking this morning about what the people were doing there watching my son drown instead of trying to help him. I dont know if these people know the heartache and the suffering we in his family are going through.

I dont know how I am going to get through it the second time. I am disgusted [at what people did]. I dont think there is even a word to describe it. It will never leave me. And my son being brought up [from the water]. I will never ever forget it.

I want people to know that I am his mother and and my baby was nearly 34 years old. My whole body is trembling. I couldnt go to bed last night.

Elizabeth said Luke was the most pleasant young fella who ever lived. She said he fought an alcohol problem but was doing well and had started a job in a supermarket on the Douglas Road in Cork last week.

He said last week Mam I am after sorting my life out now. I am getting my life together. He said that in a couple of years he would have 40,000 in his bank. And that he was going to make it.

I was always extremely worried about him. I would be phoning him saying where are you Luke? If they live to be a hundred and you are 200 they are your child.

I was sitting downstairs watching the television last Wednesday night and I heard the helicopter going up and down the river. I thought God help us who are they looking for? I thought I hope they find the person. Little did I know that it was my own son.

Elizabeth tried Lukes phone but there was no answer. A person answered shortly afterwards and said that he was a garda. Elizabeth realised the search was for her son and rushed to the scene.

I rushed down and saw so many people. My other son was there and he said Get in to the van you dont need to see this. I said I need to hold my son.

Did he call my name? Cos he was so attached to me. Everyone loved Luke. He was a polite, mannerly person. The most gentle person going. My son drowning and all those people looking on. I am a broken hearted mother this morning and a broken hearted family.

Luke would have turned 34 next month. Funeral arrangement will be finalised in the coming days.
The team at Home Instead Kilkenny has officially rebranded as Dovida, celebrating the new name with a lively launch event last week.

The day brought together staff, clients, and families to mark the exciting change  with the same trusted team, now under a fresh new name. A special highlight was the presentation of Caregiver of the Year for Kilkenny and Carlow to Carmel Dollard, recognising her outstanding care and dedication.

The launch comes as Dovida announced plans to hire 70 caregivers across Carlow and Kilkenny. The organisation now intends to increase capacity in the sector and expand its offerings in the region. 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.



Speaking at the launch of Dovidas local office in Kilkenny, Sarah Murphy, General Manager of Dovida Kilkenny, said: We are delighted to be joined by our Caregiver of the Year, Carmel Dollard, to celebrate this wonderful occasion. We are excited about welcoming more caregivers like Carmel to our team. They will help us meet the growing need for home care services in Carlow and Kilkenny 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.

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. 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.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny groups feted as St Patrick's parade awards given for creativity and community

We believe in quality home care that empowers people to live with dignity, independence, and comfort in familiar surroundings, Sarah Murphy 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, Sarah concluded.

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 caregivers build meaningful connections with clients and empower them to live more independent lives.

Dovida welcomes applications from people from all walks of life and is committed to supporting them every step of the way.

READ MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS HERE
Tirlan, Irelands leading farmer-owned dairy and grain co-operative, is celebrating and rewarding excellence, innovation, and commitment among its family farm milk suppliers at its Dairy and Sustainability Awards.

One Kilkenny farming family is celebrating having scooped the Innovation Award, at the event. A total of 16 awards were presented across a variety of categories, from exceptional milk quality and milk solids to environmental stewardship and innovation.

Congratulations to Bryan and Gail Daniels, Bawnlusk, Cuffesgrange, winners of the Cathal Moran Innovation Award. They are pictured below. The award is presented to honour the late Tirlan Council Member and farmer Cathal Moran from Skeoughvosteen, Co Kilkenny. Pictured from (L to R) were Tirlans Board Member James O'Brien, John, Eli, Gail, Toby, Bryan, Shannon and Charlotte Daniels, alongside UCD Student Niall Manning and Tirlan Farm Sustainability Development Advisor Michael Hassett. Photo: Finbarr ORourke. Scroll down to read more...

The awards, which took place on Tuesday, April 29, recognise the long-standing commitment of Tirlans dedicated suppliers to delivering high-quality, sustainably produced milk from grass-based herds across Ireland. Many farmers have been supplying Tirlan and caring for the land for several generations.

The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of the Byrne family from near Dungarvan in Waterford as Tirlan Milk Supplier of the Year. The award recognises their outstanding performance across the board in a variety of areas, key among them milk quality, sustainability, and animal welfare.

John and Mary Byrne from Coolnasmear, Dungarvan took the top award and the Milk Solids Champions title. The South Region Award went to John Kirwan Jnr who farms at Ballycashin, Butlerstown, Waterford.

John Murphy, Chairperson of Tirlan, congratulated all recipients: These awards are a celebration of the passion, care, and innovation that our family farm suppliers bring to their work every day. It all starts on the family farm and its about so much more than milk. Its about the family farm business. Its about values, progress and pride in doing the right thing.

The quality of Irish milk and of our Irish family farm model based on grass-fed is our unique selling point around the globe. Its something were very proud of and it is winning us new markets and new customers every day. Our R&D and innovation teams are adding value to this quality milk, allowing us to deliver nutritious food and ingredients solutions for our customers as well as enhanced, consistent market opportunities for our suppliers. Congratulations to our overall Milk Supplier of the Year and to all our category winners for raising the bar for Irish dairy.

Sean Molloy, CEO of Tirlan, added: We are incredibly proud of our suppliers and their commitment to quality and sustainability. They are the reason our products are trusted across Ireland and around the world. Working with our suppliers, we continue focus on innovation, enhancing biodiversity, protecting our waterways, embracing new technology and new ways of working to reduce carbon. Our strong focus on farming with nature and animal welfare ensures we are building a better, more resilient future for Irish dairy.

Tirlan family farm suppliers have a long heritage of delivering the highest quality milk from well-managed, grass-fed herds for consumers to enjoy through many award-winning products, including the number one dairy brand, Avonmore.

Suppliers have also been exceptional adopters of new technologies and continue to further enhance sustainability on their farms through a focus on reducing on-farm emissions and allowing space for nature. Over 99% of Tirlan milk suppliers are signed up to the cooperatives Sustainability Action Payments initiative.

Just last year, Tirlan became the first company to achieve Origin Green Gold Membership five years in a row. It is the highest form of membership a company can attain in any given year, highlighting its excellence in sustainable food production. Click NEXT for more...
A Kilkenny Missionary Sister is defying the Viet Cong and has refused to quit Saigon.

She has also lashed out at the United States refugee rescue operation from Vietnam, accusing the Americans of evacuating children for cuddling and prostitutes for sleeping with.

Sister Mary Hayden, who is from Inistioge, has been in Vietnam for the past 17 years. She is the Mother Provincial of the Good Shepherd Sisters in that country.

She was a founder member of the Communitys house in Saigon and she also helped establish a second convent in Vietnam.

READ NEXT: Exciting retail unit plans seek to help revitalise a central area of Kilkenny

Early on Wednesday morning, Saigon capitulated and up to mid-day no word had come through about her safety.

We have got no word at all, the Irish Provincial, Mother Teresa, told the Kilkenny People. We do know that with the exception of Sister Mary, and another Irish nun, Sister Fidelma Haverty, all the Irish Sisters have left Vietnam.

However, Mother Teresa was not surprised that Sister Mary had refused to quit Saigon.

She is a person of tremendous faith and courage, she said.

Sister Mary and Sister Fidelma refused to leave South Vietnam when British officials requested them to join the final British evacuation of Saigon last week.

The nuns are almost alone among British and British-protected social workers in refusing repeated appeals to leave.

The massive American evacuation of Vietnamese from Saigon was condemned by Sister Mary, who said Americans were ignoring Vietnamese whose lives were at stake in a Communist South Vietnam and evacuating children for cuddling and prostitutes for sleeping with.

This last rush to the United States is the stupidest thing I have ever seen, she said. Theyre rushing like bulls in a mist. Why doesnt the US give preference to the people who are threatened?

Taoiseach For City

Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave is coming to Kilkenny on Monday. It will be his first visit to the city since his election as Taoiseach.

He will visit the Kilkenny Design Workshops before attending the Fine Gael convention in the Newpark Hotel.

Mr Cosgraves visit is of historical interest to the people of Kilkenny.

His late father, WT Cosgrave, who as TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, was president of the Executive Council from 1922 to 1932.

He was a frequent visitor to Kilkenny, where he was first elected as a Sinn Fein member in the 1917 elections.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
The Taoiseach has admitted the Government has not executed perfectly a plan to appoint a housing tsar, after Brendan McDonagh withdrew his name amid the controversy.

Micheal Martin said Mr McDonagh, who he spoke to on Thursday, does not want to be part of the ongoing dispute.

Mr McDonaghs decision came after sharp questioning of a mooted 430,000 euro salary to become chief executive of the Governments new housing activation office.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the housing delivery unit was approved by Cabinet this week, but the Government had made no decision on personnel or their salaries.

The Government had been expected to appoint Mr McDonagh, chief executive of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), to lead the new unit.

Speaking in Cork on Friday, Mr Martin said that no Government party has an issue with the establishment of the office, which is in the Programme for Government.

He also rejected suggestions that Mr Harris blocked the appointment of Mr McDonagh.

The Fianna Fail leader said that Minister for Housing James Browne started working on setting up the office, and was asked to work with speed.

According to Mr Martin, it was agreed in March to appoint an external person to head up the office.

He said that Mr McDonaghs name surfaced during internal meetings at the department in March and April.

The idea being that  on the bigger sites  to unblock them. This was in the Housing Commission report.

Its in the Sinn Fein manifesto, by the way, identical in terms of what the proposals for what the minister put forward, Mr Martin said.

The Minister, then, as would be normal, did speak to Minister (for Finance) Pashcal Donohoe, because Minister Donohoe would be the line Minister for the NTMA (National Treasury Management Agency) and Nama because Brendan McDonaghs name did surface in internal meetings in the Department of Housing during March and April, because it was known he would be coming to an end of his time in Nama.

Mr Martin said there was no issue with the quality of Mr McDonagh.

Paschal would have worked with him and has very strong admiration for him. So as everybody around the table, issues that arise, salary had never been discussed, to be fair, he added.

The focus of the Secretary General in housing, in his discussions with the NTMA, was around the mechanism of secondment. Thats the story, basically.

The minister went through the process from a substance perspective, (and) were going to continue on.

Were going persevere. Were going to establish the Housing Activation Office. Its not about one individual.

Its an important additional aspect to dealing with the housing issue, to get down and dirty it in terms of specific large sites with a view to unblocking them to enable acceleration of housing development.

Opposition parties have criticised the Government over how it proposed to appoint the housing tsar.

On Thursday, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty said it was embarrassing that the Government was prepared to pay someone half a million euros to take on the Housing Ministers duties.

However, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy after they proposed setting up a similar office in their general election manifesto.

I do think, though, that theres need for reflection in politics generally. I just witnessed what went on in the Dail.

I witnessed Mary Lou sort of coming in in high sort of dungeons, saying, its a job share. Its exactly what Mary Lou proposed during the election. Its exactly what Eoin O Broin proposed, he added.

Eoin went on radio and said, oh, it has no statutory underpinning. If you read what Eoin O Broin wrote in his manifesto, he said he would set up a housing activation office on a non-statutory basis, without legislation.

So that is, that is hypocrisy, and I just stand back from it all and say, what is the agenda here? Okay, you can criticise us for not executing this perfectly, or whatever, but thats not the point.

The point is, why is there tendency more about tearing down, attacking as opposed to, this is a policy they had proposed themselves. If you look at the proposal that emanated from government, in respect to the Programme for Government, its identical.

Yet we get this huge outroar in Leinster House and in Dail Eireann. I think theres too much of that around housing. I think we need more honest, sincere debate.

Id be open to criticism any day to week, but I would like a bit more sincerity from the opposition.

Sinn Fein cant have it both ways.

Speaking to reporters in Belfast on Friday, Ms McDonald said the Governments handling of the appointment has been an absolute fiasco.

They clearly have no plan in respect of housing delivery. Weve seen housing prices soar, homelessness rise, rents rise, and a real sense of doom in what has been a crisis now for many, many years, the Sinn Fein leader added.

I tried during the week, as did Pearse Doherty, to get some kind of coherent sense from Micheal Martin and Simon Harris as to what the function and role of this housings tsar would be. And we could only conclude that it was meant to be a very, very expensive job share with the Minister for Housing.

So they need to appreciate that hiring another bureaucrat, introducing another layer of expensive bureaucracy is not the answer to the housing crisis.

We need a shift in policy. We need leadership. We need direction. We need proper targets.

So, the Minister for Housing  thats his job description, and he needs to crack on with that.
St Canices Credit Union has reason to celebrate this week, with credit unions once again ranked as the most reputable organisation in Ireland, topping the Ireland Reputation Index 2025 for the third consecutive year.

The annual study, based on the perceptions of over 5,000 members of the public, measures the level of trust, respect, admiration and esteem the public has for 100 of the largest, most familiar and most important organisations in Ireland, alongside 100 reputation, brand, purpose and ESG indicators.

Tom Mc Wey, from St Canices Credit Union in Kilkenny, has welcomed the rankings: "Securing the top spot for the third year in a row reflects the consistent effort, dedication and focus that our volunteers and staff bring to serving our members, he said.

This recognition strengthens our commitment to doing things well and continuing to improve the credit union experience. We're proud to serve our local community and remain fully focused on maintaining the high standards this award represents."

With a reputation score of 82.4, credit unions were one of just two organisations to score in the Excellent range. Credit unions ranked first in three out of seven key drivers of reputation - Citizenship, Conduct and Workplace as well as taking first place when the public were asked if they would Give them the Benefit of the Doubt in a crisis, Welcome them to their community and Recommend their Company.

An Post were ranked in second position in the study, with a score of 80.8, followed in third position by Boots Ireland, with an overall score of 79.5.

TRUE HONOUR

Being voted as Irelands most reputable organisation for the third consecutive year is a true honour and a testament to the enduring trust and respect that members place in credit unions, said David Malone, CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions.

This recognition highlights the critical role credit unions play in supporting communities nationwide.

READ MORE KILKENNY COMMUNITY NEWS HERE
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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Emilee Ruth Calametti serves as staff reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and soon, an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Emilee has bylines in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, The Click News, and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.
Gordon Deegan

On Friday, a jury found a mother-of-two and a social worker not guilty of the careless driving causing the death of an 83-year-old grandfather in the east Clare village of Mountshannon in November 2022.

At Ennis Circuit Court, a jury delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict in the case where Libby Gunning (45) of Ogonnelloe, Scarriff in east Clare had denied driving her 06-registered vehicle on November 5th 2022 at the R352 road at Mountshannon, Scariff without due care and attention thereby causing the death of pedestrian, William Hickey.

The jury gave their verdict after deliberating for 90 minutes and a number of members of Mr Hickeys family were visibly upset after the verdict was read out.

Judge Francis Comerford expressed his deepest sympathy with them on their loss.

He said that they are difficult cases and that the jury had taken a very forensic and cold look at the facts in accordance with the law.

On the night of the collision, Ms Gunning had her five-year-old son in the car at the time of impact at 7:44pm and told him in order not to worry him that she thought that she had had hit a deer before getting out of the car.

Owner of Cois na hAbhna pub in Mountshannon, Geraldine Minogue told the jury that she heard Ms Gunning say in the aftermath of the road traffic accident that she didnt see him and didnt mean to hurt anyone.

Mr Hickey was struck shortly after he exited the pub where he had just ordered a pint of Carlsberg.

In a prepared statement provided to gardai in July 2023, Ms Gunning said that it was pitch dark on the night and the public lighting on the main street in Mountshannon is of poor quality.

The social worker with Clarecare said that as I drove up the main street, I heard a bang and I realised that I had hit something.

Ms Gunning said that she spoke to a Garda at the scene and told him that the pedestrian seemed to come out of nowhere.

A native of Woodford, Co Galway, Ms Gunning said that she was driving at a slow speed and is a very careful driver.

She told gardai: There was nothing I could have done to avoid the accident."

Ms Gunning said that she has huge sympathy and is sorry for Mr Hickey and his family and continues to be extremely distressed over what happened.

In the three day trial, Ms Gunning was represented by barrister, Patrick Whyms BL and solicitor, Daragh Hassett in the case.

Counsel for the State, Thomas Rice BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the jury in his opening speech that Mr Hickey was returning to the Cois na hAbhna pub at 7:44pm when he was struck by Mr Gunning's car.

Mr Rice said that on impact, Mr Hickey was swept onto the bonnet and his head struck the windscreen of the car and he sustained multiple blunt force injuries including a fracture to his skull.

Mr Rice said that Mr Hickey died at the scene.

Mr Rice said that alcohol is not a factor in the case as Ms Gunning was breathalysed at the scene and did not have alcohol in her system.

He said: While the deceased had ordered a drink he didnt consume it. He decided that he had to go out of the pub briefly.

In his opening statement to the jury on Wednesday, counsel for the State, Mr Rice argued that Ms Gunning was at fault.

He said that the Garda examination of the vehicle found that the bulb in one of the headlights when on dim was blown.

He said: So when Ms Gunning was driving through the built up area of Mountshannon only one lamp was working.

He said: It was a dark November night. If one is driving a car you must ensure that you have a clear view before you drive the car through a built area.

A family member of Mr Hickey said after the jurys verdict today that Billy is remembered "as a loving husband, father, grand-father and great grand-father who doted on his grand-children and great grand-children.

She said: He was a fine, fit, healthy man and would have had maybe another 10 years of life but for what happened."

She said Billy and wife Eva had just marked their 61st wedding anniversary the day before November 5th 2022.

The family member said Billy had just come out of evening mass on the evening and was only in the pub a few minutes before exiting onto the road and she said that there was no evidence to say that Billy was in a hurry on the night crossing the road.
A LAOIS woman who made Britain her home almost 25-years ago scooped major national Public Sector Catering awards recently.

Mountmellick woman Annette Ryan Murphy started off her career studying catering at AIT in Athlone before moving to Britain. Over the past 20-years Ms Ryan Murphy has built up a thriving business - Nourish Contract Catering - that provides fresh, nutritious meals to over 180 schools throughout London, the South East, and Norfolk.

Owner of Nourish Contract Catering Annette Ryan Murphy from Mountmellick

At the outset she was joined by another Mountmellick native David Kearns, also from Acragar, who studied catering at AIT and who now heads up the catering company as its Executive Chef.

The company was recently honoured with three Public Sector Catering awards that recognised the companys commitment to delivering high-quality, wholesome food to school communities.

The achievement has now encouraged her to take the next step and bring her expertise and passion for real food back home to Ireland.

David Kearns from Acragar in Mountmellick who is the Executive Chef at Nourish Contract Catering

David Kearns said: Our goal is simple. To move away from the current model of packaged meals and instead serve fresh, wholesome, nutritious meals plated properly for students. We believe Irish schools deserve better. Real food on a real plate, not a cardboard box.
THE housing shortage in Laois will not be fixed by a Housing Tsar says local Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley.

He said: Government plans to push a Tsar in place to speed up housing delivery is a farce. The last thing we need is yet another office and agency which will be no more than a talking shop. We already have three housing ministers and a Secretary General, a whole team of assistant secretary generals and a multitude of agencies that are supposed to be speeding up the delivery of badly needed homes.

The Portlaoise based TD said: The revision of the National Development Plan is supposedly to accelerate the delivery of housing in particular. There are a couple of things needed to accelerate that. The first is the need to replicate existing plans, so the same plan for social and affordable housing and other houses can be used in Waterford, Laois, or Donegal. The private sector is doing this. If we look at what it is building, it is replicating the plans all over the country. However, what is happening with local government and government sponsored housing is that it is back to a blank canvas every time. It is costing between 10% and 15% more to build houses and it is slowing it down.

He said: The second thing is that we need builders, in particular small builders. The Minister of State knows that in rural towns and villages, small builders need the low-cost finance that is available to the larger builders. We need also to accelerate the apprenticeship programmes.

Infrastructural deficits need to be addressed, particularly the infrastructural deficits in water supply. Phil Hogan, created Irish Water. I was an opposition spokesperson on that at the time. I argued with him about it over several days. Money needs to be given directly to the local authorities to put in the infrastructure into small towns, such as Mountmellick, Mountrath, Rathdowney Graiguecullen, Ballylinan, Portarlington and Abbeyleix. Many of them are connected by rail so they are very easy to get around. We need infrastructure to go into these towns.

Deputy Stanley said: We need to get the foot off local authorities and stop micromanagement of them. We need to use the same plans throughout the 26 counties in trying to rapidly build up and speed up delivery. If you want to quickly produce something that is good quality, you mass produce and that is what we need to do.
Olivia Kelleher

Two young men have been jailed in connection with an incident where a young man was so viciously assaulted that he had to get dental implants.

Det Garda Sinead ODonovan told a sitting of Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the man who was attacked in the early hours of August 6th, 2023 in Midleton, Co Cork still feels unsafe when he is in public.

He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression arising out of the unprovoked attack on Main Street in Midleton. On a physical level he still suffers from a lack of feeling in his bottom lip and has difficulty with both hot and cold drinks.

Kelvin Lynch of Cleenagh, Ballymagan in Buncrana, Co Donegal and Tyrese Emerhu of Avoncore Place in Midleton, Co Cork have been jailed for a year and 2.5 years respectively in connection with the attack which occurred on August 6th, 2023 in Midleton.

Both Mr Lynch (19) and Mr Emerhu (23) pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder.

Det Garda ODonovan said that the two men were among a group of four people who carried out the assault on the Main Street in the town at 1.20am on the date of the offence. CCTV was harvested from the scene.

The victim spent five days as an inpatient at Cork University Hospital in the aftermath of the incident having suffered a fractured jaw and fractured ribs amongst other injuries.

Det Garda ODonovan said that there was no history of animosity between the young men and the injured man.

Judge Dermot Sheehan was told that Emerhu made full admissions when he was arrested in connection with the incident. Lynch did not make admissions when he was interviewed by gardai but subsequently entered a guilty plea.

The court heard that Lynch decided to move to Donegal to live with his father in the aftermath of the attack in order to change the course of his life.

Emerhu has seven previous convictions including a conviction for assault whilst Lynch has 22 previous conditions including one for violent disorder.

Barrister Alan ODwyer, BL, representing Emerhu said that his client was experiencing family difficulties at the time of the offence. He indicated that Emerhu was remorseful for his actions which occurred when he was highly intoxicated.

Mr ODwyer also told Judge Sheehan that Emerhu was financially providing for his younger siblings. The 23-year-old is employed as a tree surgeon.

Defence Barrister Andrea Gilligan, BL, for Lynch said that her client now works as a plasterer in Donegal. He has not come to garda attention since the incident occurred.

Ms Gilligan said that her client accepted that the case was serious and apologised for his actions. Both men brought compensation of between 1,000 to 1,500 to court. It will be handed over to the victim in the case.

Judge Sheehan noted that Lynch was 17-years-old when the assault occurred and had lesser involvement in the incident than his co accused.

However, he emphasised that it was a grave offence in which the victim sustained a fractured jaw, a fractured cheek bone and damage to his eye socket and ribs.

Four people were involved and one person overwhelmed by the group. Emerhu said that there was some background (between the man and the young man whom they assaulted). Nothing could justify what occurred here.

It has had a profound impact on his life (the life of the victim). It has impacted on his driving ability which was his livelihood.

Judge Sheehan jailed Lynch for three years suspending the last two years of the sentence. He jailed Emerhu for 3.5 years but suspended the last 12 months of his sentence.

The differing sentences arose as a result of the the less significant role of Lynch in the assault. Judge Sheehan also said that he was conscious that Lynch was under the age of 18 when the offence took place.
The Unreal World

The premise

Neurosurgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital are conducting a clinical trial of a new treatment for patients with rapidly progressive Alzheimers disease. Some of the patients in the trial are randomly assigned to receive the experimental drug and others are given a placebo. The patients dont know which group they are in, but the doctors find out when they unseal an envelope in the operating room just before inserting the syringe into the patients brain. Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), the surgical resident who is coordinating the trial, is anxious to enroll Adele Webber (Loretta Devine), the wife of Seattle Graces chief of surgery, Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). Adele has been diagnosed with Alzheimers, and she is becoming more confused. Among other problems, she mistakes Meredith for her dead mother and accuses her of having an affair with Richard. To avoid the risk that Adele will get the placebo, Meredith suggests to Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), the neurosurgeon running the trial, that they give her the experimental drug outside the study protocol. But Derek objects on the grounds that it would ruin the trial and our careers along with it. Despite this warning, Meredith sneaks into the hospitals pharmacy and unseals the envelope for the next patient in the trial. After discovering that Adele is slated to get the placebo, she switches the papers with those in another envelope that instructs doctors to give the drug.

The medical questions

Is rapidly progressive Alzheimers disease a real condition? Are clinical trials run this way in the real world? Is there a similar type of drug currently under investigation? Would a staff doctors wife be allowed to participate in a clinical trial at a medical center? Would a doctor who interfered with a trial the way Meredith did get caught, and if so, under what circumstances would her deception come to light? What would be the consequences if her actions were discovered?

The reality

The idea that surgeons would be concerned about rapidly progressive Alzheimers disease is far-fetched to begin with, says Dr. Bruce L. Miller, director of the Memory & Aging Center at UC San Francisco. There are rapidly progressive dementias like prion disorders (including mad cow disease), but rapid AD just isnt a concept that our field thinks about, he says.

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Clinical trials are designed and conducted with great care to ensure valid results that are free of bias, says Joshua Grill, director of the Katherine and Benjamin Kagan Alzheimers Disease Treatment Development Program at UCLA. According to Grill, proper randomization of patients and making sure they dont know whether they got the drug or the placebo are crucial to preventing bias. Although Meredith acted out of a desire to help a patient, her behavior jeopardized the study by introducing bias and is a case of scientific misconduct, he says.

Grill says the clinical trial depicted on the show is very similar to an actual multi-center trial that he and other UCLA researchers are participating in as part of the Alzheimers Disease Cooperative Study. The real study, which relies on decades of research, is testing a virus that has been genetically engineered to stimulate production of a chemical to enhance nerve growth, which could help protect the neurons that are damaged by Alzheimers. The treatment is delivered directly into the brain in a method similar to the one portrayed in the show.

In both the fictional and the real trial, the small number of surgeons and their teams who do the injections are aware of who gets the treatment and who gets the placebo. That way, if there is a complication during the surgery, the team is prepared to deal with it. Also, the operation for those in the placebo group is less extensive.

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But there is a crucial difference between the real world and the TV version. In the real trial, Grill says, the doctors who administer the injections arent involved in assessing whether the treatment worked. Those assessments are made by doctors who dont know which patients got the drug, so that their clinical judgment isnt influenced  even subconsciously  by the knowledge that a patient did or didnt receive the treatment, he says.

Faculty members and their partners or children would be allowed to participate in clinical trials at their home medical school, Miller adds.

Scientific misconduct can happen  and has happened  in major academic centers, says Dr. Antonio DeSalles, a professor of neurosurgery at UCLA who has studied this phenomenon. When it is discovered, he says, the culprit usually is caught by one of the collaborators who feels betrayed and refuses to participate in the deception. According to DeSalles, when caught, the culprit usually loses his or her job.

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Miller points out that in most clinical trials in the U.S., it is not only illegal but just about impossible for researchers to tamper with the information that reveals whether a patient will get the drug or the placebo. Unlike the TV rendition, in the real world, control of the study and the drug lies not with the investigators but with the pharmaceutical company or a pharmacist at the hospital, where the drug (or placebo) is identified with a code number. A physician such as Meredith who tampers with a blind study would definitely risk loss of her license or spend time in jail if caught, he says.

Siegel is an associate professor of medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center. His new book is The Inner Pulse: Unlocking the Secret Code for Sickness and Health.

marc@doctorsiegel.com

Greys Anatomy

9 p.m. April 28, ABC

Episode: Its a Long Way Back
On 1 May Colombias Presidentpresented the senate with the questions for his planned referendum on labour reform, as demonstrations were held across Latin America to mark International Workers Day.

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On 1 May Gilberto Kassab, the president of Brazils Partido Social Democratico (PSD), a party with flexible political loyalties, suggested that the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, currently a member of the centre-right Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (PSDB), could be a presidential candidate in 2026 if he joins the PSD.

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On 1 May Chiles presidential aspirants presented their labour and employment proposals on International Workers Day.

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Pennsylvania State Police arrested a 62-year-old man after he allegedly fired a handgun outside his Upper Bucks County home and barricaded himself inside.

George T. Badulak, of the 2000 block of Rosedale Road in Milford Township, is charged with felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor making terroristic threats; misdemeanor reckless endangerment; and related offenses.

Badulak was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Lisa J. Gaier, who set bail at 10% of $150,000. In lieu of bail, Badulak was taken to the Bucks County jail.
Undercover law enforcement at Wind Creek Bethlehem discovered a human trafficking operation and are now accusing a city man of forcing various women into prostitution.

A city woman is also charged in the operation, accused of posting prostitution ads of those women online.

Robert Demitrius Birch and Cittdata O. Jarnagin, both 50, each are charged with felony trafficking in individuals; felony involuntary servitude; felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities; and felony corrupt organizations.

Birch Additionally is facing a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge and Jarnagin additionally is facing felony encouraging prostitution and misdemeanor theft charges.

Birch is scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning before Roy A. Manwaring II on the charges. Jarnagin was arraigned earlier Friday morning before District Judge Daniel G. Corpora, who set bail at $200,000. In lieu of bail, she was taken to Northampton County Prison.

Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta announced the arrests Friday morning. Attorney information was not immediately available for either co-defendant in court records.

Bethlehem police, along with members of the Northampton County Drug Task Force, the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Northampton County District Attorneys Office and other local police departments on Jan. 16 began participation in a joint sex trafficking and prostitution interdiction operation at the casino.

They had their eyes on any human or sex trafficking activity happening in and around the casino, 77 Wind Creek Blvd. Investigators soon discovered a website advertising prostitution and facilitating sex trafficking, which included a local meeting point at Wind Creek Bethlehem.

Officers set up surveillance observing Jarnagin being dropped off outside the casino by Birch and him driving away, authorities said.

Police stopped Birch and searched his car, finding drug paraphernalia, authorities said. He was then arrested.

Witnesses told police they were familiar with Jarnagin. She also went by the nickname, Kitty. The witnesses, all women, were allegedly posted onto various online websites by Jarnagin. Birchs role involved controlling the women involved in a prostitution enterprise and he would profit from the sex acts, the DAs Office said.

Jarnagin is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 12. Birch also will have a preliminary hearing scheduled following his arraignment.

A judge will then determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the case onto the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Prison Officers are finding drugs, phones, alcohol, and weapons being smuggled into jails in Laois and other parts of Ireland on an unprecedented daily basis, according to one of their representatives.

The activities of criminals at jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere was outlined at the Prison Officers Association Annual Delegate Conference in Galway by General Secretary Karl Dalton.

The level of contraband in our prisons is at unprecedented levels, to the extent that prisoners are now storing drugs and phones, such is the level of contraband already in circulation. Drone incursions into our prisons are, at the very least, a daily occurrence.

The current netting that covers a lot of our prison yards is not sufficient, it has failed. These nets have been burnt through by firebombs dropped by the drones; in some cases, they have collapsed under the weight of snow leaving some prisons without exercise yards for prisoners. Drones are so sophisticated nowadays that the only way to stop the steady flow of contraband into our prisons is to stop the drones from flying past the perimeter wall of a prison in the first place. Prison officers are simply not able to intervene to what is essentially an external threat, he said.

The conference heard that in 2019, a Prison Service spokesperson, as quoted in the Irish Times newspaper, said that the Irish Prison Service is exploring a number of technology options to deal with the problem but the problem has worsened.

Mr Dalton addressed the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan who attended.

The danger created by these incidents for Prison Officers is unquantifiable. Officers are putting their own health and safety at risk to retrieve this contraband on a daily basis. Minister, I am not here to sensationalise this issue but if drugs, phones, alcohol, and even weapons(knives) can be sent in by drone then whats to stop them sending in firearms? What is it going to take to ensure that the Department of Justice takes some sort of meaningful action to address this most serious issue. If it takes a legislative change and a review of interventions in other jurisdictions Minister, then it is your departments responsibility to make that change, irrespective of cost.

READ ALSO: Prison Officers to be allowed use pepper spray

It is difficult enough to manage a significant number of our prisoners in the first place, but when we then introduce a drug fuelled environment both the occupants and staff are at greater risk. We not alone have the effects of the drugs to deal with but also the strong-arm tactics that inevitably emerge in such a drug filled environment. Lets face it, if prisoners friends and family can acquire the technology to deliver contraband by drone with pinpoint accuracy and timing surely the state can acquire the technology to counter this, he said.

The Minister for Justice said the Gardai have reached a new agreement with the Irish Prison Service to tackle contraband.
Public transport workers want the views of the thousands of Laois people who use public transport every about anti-social problems they have to put up with on their journeys.

The appeal to commuters in Laois and other counties is part of an online public survey launched by the SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign at the annual Dublin trade union May Day march.

Besides the many occasional public transport users in Laois, thousands depend on buses and trains to get to work in Dublin, Limerick and other counties. Train stations in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Ballybrophy are among the busiest serving both inter-city and commuter trains.

SIPTU wants to know if the public have experienced problems and the type such as verbal, sexual, racial abuse and violence. The union also wants to know what people in Laois and other counties want done about it.

SIPTU Sector Organiser is John Murphy outlined the campaign in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign want to hear from passengers concerning their experiences travelling on the public transport network concerning anti-social behaviour and abuse. The survey is just six simple questions and should take people less than a minute to complete.

The SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign has been very successful in highly the worsening epidemic of anti-social behaviour and abuse that our members employed on the public transport network face on a daily basis. It has also secured a commitment in the Programme for Government concerning the establishment of a dedicated transport policing service.

However, as of today nothing concrete has changed for our members employed on the public transport network with many continuing to be subjected to anti-social behaviour and abuse on a daily basis, he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE

SIPTU National Executive Council member and Dublin Bus worker, Stephen Millane, said staff have told their union about the issues faced. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pic: Portlaoise Train Station

Last year we surveyed our members working on the public transport network. We knew we had a problem with anti-social behaviour and abuse but the extent of it which was revealed in the results of our survey were, to put it mildly, shocking.

This year we will be surveying our members again. However, we have also decided to expand our campaign to finding out what is the travelling publics experience and what are their favoured solutions to make our public transport network a safer and more welcoming environment, he said.

The new survey was launched at the Dublin Council of Trade Unions annual May Day march with the SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign being represented by members who travelled on an open top Dublin Bus.

To take the survey visit www.siptu.ie/RTWpublicsurvey

Gardai have carried out patrols and arrests on trains in Laois and other counties but the Fianna Fail / Fine Gael / Independent programme for Government commitment to establish a new transport police service with powers of arrest and under the control of the National Transport Authority
The Leprino cheese manufacturer in Portlaoise has circulated a letter amongst employees, explaining that redundancies may occur for the factory to increase efficiency.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live has seen two letters circulated to staff in early March and late April in which the Colarado headquarter firm sets out its plans to restructure the Portlaoise plant. The business also reveals to staff the potential implications for jobs due to a planned reduction of shifts at the J17 National Enterprise Park premises.

This most recent letter dated April 29 explains the redundancy terms being negotiated between SIPTU union representatives and management.

During the first meeting it was agreed that the initial focus should be on agreeing the structure for the new shift pattern, clarifying working hours and shift premium, the letter read.

Pictured: The Leprino cheese factory at Portlaoise Enterprise Park. Photo: Google Maps

The Union also asked that we consider accepting expression of interests for voluntary redundancy, which we have agreed to. SIPTU asked that the redundancy terms offered would be above the statutory minimum, and again we have offered to enhance redundancy terms.

Whilst the company has made proposals to SIPTU in relation to the above terms, unfortunately, nothing has been proposed from the union that would remove the need to consider making redundancies," it said.

As a result, the company said it wishes to meet with staff individually to "avoid the need to make compulsory redundancies".

The letter does add that a final decision has not been made in relation to the continued employment.

The company's earlier March letter outlined the rationale for the restructuring would be "to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs to support business growth" to ensure the business is "set up in the best way possible to face current and future challenges".

Leprino explained that all direct operator roles in production, processing and stores, and a number of indirect roles in ancillary and support functions, e.g. Quality may be affected by these changes. It said the roles that will not be impacted by this consultation include maintenance engineering and site service roles.

The mozzerella factory in Portlaoise during construction phase

We will endeavour to provide clarity on exactly which roles are potentially affected as early in the process as we can, Leprino has said.

Leprino offered employees the opportunity to discuss the impacts of these changes on an individual level, and any suggestions employees may have to avoid compulsory redundancies.

We will also want to ensure that we have recorded accurate information regarding your skills and knowledge as well as your absence levels, as these may all form part of the selection criteria, the letter read.

We will also want to ensure that you fully understand the company announcement and how this relates to you, we will listen to any questions or concerns you have and explore alternative employment options.

It is important to stress that this letter does not mean we have made a final decision in relation to your continued employment, the letter finished.

Potential changes proposed include the reduction of direct labour to move from a 4 shift annualised hours pattern, to a 3 shift annualised hours pattern that supports a maximum of 5.5 day working week, and the reduction in indirect roles associated with a simplified 5-day operation.

Leprino has told employees that they hope that these changes will be complete by the end of May, and all those affected to be issued with a decision, subject to union agreement.

Leprino has expressed that they are aware that such messages are rarely welcomed and can cause upset and worry, and have offered HR support to workers.

Pictured: a worker in the former Glanbia factory. File photo

The factory are reconsidering the necessity of their on call basis for their 2026 rota, with the removal of Sunday shifts. Due to the lack of requirements for Sunday shifts, the premium will be reduced to 27%.

The 2026 rota will also include an additional two hours per week, which will be applied to wages.

"The recommendations would mean a move away from the current 4 shift working pattern to a 3-shift scenario, a spokesperson for Leprino told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Were discussing these proposals directly with our staff and working closely with union representatives through a full and open consultation process to align on the best approach.

"Were committed to growing our business, and the state-of-the-art facility at Portlaoise  which was purpose-built in 2020 to make high quality mozzarella cheese  remains crucial to our strategy.

Pictured: Leprino's factory in Magheralin, Co. Down

"We are proud to be a contributor to the Irish economy as both an employer and supporter of Irish dairy," the Leprino representative finished.

Leprino EU, headquartered in Northwich, Cheshire, is part of the Leprino Foods Company of Denver, Colorado. Leprino Foods Company is a world leader in the production of premium-quality dairy food and ingredients.

The Portlaoise development, which was announced in July 2018, was the first big client to set up in the Laois County Council driven National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise.

It is located near the M7 Togher interchange on a new access road built by the Council that also links to the town's Clonminham Industrial Estate.

Glanbia previously said 100 people work at the plant and has a production capacity of 45,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese per annum.

The 40,000-metric ton facility requires significant amounts of dairy ingredients - the equivalent of 400 million litres of milk a year to operate.

Leprino Foods employs approximately 5,500+ people worldwide and has global sales in over 79+ countries. The business' expanding international presence provides access to key markets across the globe.

This includes the EU and UK with plants in Llangefni, Wales; Magheralin, Northern Ireland; and Portlaoise in the Republic of Ireland.

In 2023, Glanbia sold full ownership of the factory to Leprino for 200 million.

The two firms partnered almost 50:50 in the Portlaoise plant which went into operation in April 2021 making pizza mozzarella cheese for the European market.
Laois TD Brian Stanley has recruited a former Sinn Fein TD who left the party acrimoniously around the same time as he quit in controversial circumstances.

The Portlaoise-based representative told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that he ws 'delighted' to have hired Patricia Ryan as his parliamentary assistant. She will earn an annual salary of 48,483.

Members of Dail Eireann are entitled to one full-time Administrative Assistant and may choose to employ one full-time Parliamentary Assistant under the Scheme.

Ms Ryan was elected to the Dail in 2020 in her first General Election as a Sinn Fein TD for South Kildare. Her success achieved extra attention as she was away on holiday during the campaign.

Patricia Ryan announced in October 2024 that she was resigning from Sinn Fein ahead of the partys selection convention for the Kildare constituency.

In an interview with Kfm on Kildare Today at the time of her resignation, she said she had felt curtailed, undermined, and intimidated within the party.

She lost her seat at the 2024 General election, with just 678 first preference votes, a 93% drop in votes compared to her 2020 result.

Just a few days after Ms Ryan left, her new employer also quit the party. Dep Stanley quits Sinn Fein after a gross misconduct allegation arising from an interaction with a former Sinn Fein member.

READ ALSO: Laois TD tackles Education Minister

Dep Stanley said the inquiry, which led to the finding, resembled a type of kangaroo court.

Ms Ryan confirmed her new appointment to the Irish Independent but declined to go into detail.

Ive nothing to say on the job, other than Im extremely happy with the job and Im very grateful for it, she said.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live has asked Dep Stanley for comment.

I am delighted to have Patricia as part of the team. She previously worked with me in a voluntary capacity from 2014 to 2020 in the then Laois/South Kildare Constituency. Over the past four months of working with me she has shown great commitment and enthusiasm for the job.

"She brings great experience to her work, having been a TD for almost 5 years. The fact that she is from the Ballybrittas and Emo area and that she was a TD for the north of Laois in the last Dail is an added bonus. We are working hard to provide the best representation possible for the constituency, said the Laois TD.
Queen of the Plough Anna May McHugh praises Laois train station for 'age friendly' award

A Laois train station has been awarded Age Friendly status by Age Friendly Ireland, recognising the station's commitment to accessible, inclusive, and welcoming transport, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities.

Ballybrophy train station was awarded this status on Friday April 2, with local and national politicians joining familiar faces in Laois to welcome this news.

It is a privilege to see our local communities come together with a shared goal of ensuring everyone is included and no one is left behind when we are creating public services in Ireland," said Anna May McHugh, Age Friendly Laois Ambassador and Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association.

Pictured at the unveiling of Ballybrophy Train Station as Age Friendly are members of the Laois Age Friendly Older People's Council. Photo: Jason Clarke

"With a high number of older people living in rural communities such as Ballybrophy, it is important that they have equal access to public transport, and that the work is done to ensure they can have a high quality of life.

"I want to empower older people in rural communities to avail of these services, and continue to live a long and social life. I look forward to taking more trips via Ballybrophy, knowing it now carries the Age Friendly mark," Ms McHugh finished.

Also in attendance was Mr Jim Meade, Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann, who welcomed this news.

Today, with the recognition of Ballybrophy as an Age Friendly Station, were delighted to launch of the first phase of our Age Friendly Stations Initiative  an initiative which ultimately intends for each of our 146 stations to attain Age Friendly Status," he said.

"Our vision for rail in Ireland is to be the backbone of an integrated, sustainable, and accessible public transport network, connecting and serving all of Irelands communities.

"Were investing in infrastructure upgrades across the network to enhance accessibility and facilitate safe, independent access for more of our customers, while also providing our staff with Accessibility and Disability Awareness training. Initiatives like these are helping us to provide a better, more inclusive service to customers," Mr Meade said.

Pictured: Anna May McHugh, Age Friendly Laois Ambassador and Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association and her sister, Eileen. Photo: Jason Clarke

Unveiling the plaque was Minister for Older People, Kieran ODonnell TD, who said that his priority is ensuring that as people get older, they are supported to live in their own homes and communities with the correct wraparound supports.

"Making public transport more accessible and age friendly is part of the toolkit to ensure older people can age well and remain connected and integrated in their communities," he said.

Tom Curran, Programme Manager of Age Friendly Laois highlighted that it is important for public transport to grow with the growing population.

"As part of our walkability audit last year, we worked with Iarnrod Eireann to investigate ways to enhance the offering of Ballybrophy Train Station and are proud it has officially become Age Friendly accredited," Mr Curran said.

"The station now has Age Friendly car parking spaces, wheelchair accessible spaces and accompanying signage available on platform seating and waiting areas, and accessible toilets.

Pictured: Ballybrophy train station. Photo: The Leinster Express

This recognition follows a process aligned with the principles of the World Health Organizations (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

The initiative was led by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation delivering the Governments vision of an Age Friendly Ireland, in collaboration with the Laois Age Friendly Programme, Laois County Council and Iarnrod Eireann.

The recognition of Ballybrophy Station with Age Friendly status also marks the official launch of Iarnrod Eireanns Age Friendly Stations Initiative, an initiative which ultimately intends for all of the 146 stations nationwide to attain Age Friendly Status.

Phase one of Iarnrod Eireanns Age Friendly Station Initiative will see a group of ten carefully selected stations from across the rail network go through the audit and recognition process.

Ballybrophy Train Station now joins Killkennys MacDonagh Train Station and a growing number of public services and buildings across the country  including hospitals and sporting arenas  that have gone through the four-stage process to be formally recognised as Age Friendly.

The Ballybrophy Train Station accreditation represents a broader national movement towards inclusive design and services, guided by Age Friendly Ireland, which is a Shared Service of local government hosted by Meath County Council.

Age Friendly Ireland directs, supports and provides technical guidance to the 31 local authority-led, multi-disciplinary Age Friendly Programmes which includes 31 Older Peoples Councils.
A plan to transform Straffans Boreen Road in Kildare into a Sli na Slainte route has run up against a lack of funding, but a local councillor for the area is still pushing for it to happen.

A Sli na Slainte route is a signposted walkway in the community. It must have a hard surface, it must not be too long or too difficult and there must be signage in place to guide walkers along the route.

Such an upgrade is outlined in the Straffan Village Renewal Masterplan.

Speaking at the May meeting of the council, Cllr Peter Melrose of the Social Democrats asked the council to engage with all relevant stakeholders to prioritise and explore the necessary funding for the upgrade of the road to occur.

"Despite the councils response that there are currently no resources available for the upgrade, I am determined to see progress made, and Im currently engaging with the Irish Heart Foundation, who oversee the Sli na Slainte route system", Cllr Melrose said.

"The improvement of Boreen Road is not just a matter of infrastructure  its about safety, accessibility, and quality of life for Straffan residents.

"The Straffan Village Renewal Plan clearly identified the potential for a Sli na Slainte route along Boreen Road. I believe this is a valuable opportunity to promote health, well-being, and connectivity within the village."

Cllr. Melrose committed to continuing his advocacy for the project and said he will work with community groups, local representatives, and council officials to ensure that the vision outlined in the renewal plan is realised.

"Its disappointing that funding streams have not, as of yet, been identified, but the inclusion of the Sli na Slainte route in the Renewal Plan means that we can make funding applications in the future."

"Our communities deserve safe and enjoyable walking routes, and I will keep pressing until we see real progress on the ground."

READ NEXT: Calling Kildare night owls to take part in LauraLynn Treadmill Challenge
Photos by Aishling Conway.

ALSO SEE: Stunning outfits from a glorious week at Punchestown in Kildare.

The brand new bumper April / May edition of KILDARE LIFE is in shops across County Kildare now!

This edition is packed with engaging and entertaining content and we really hope you enjoy it.

KILDARE LIFE strives to celebrate all that's unique about the county from its vibrant people to its diverse cultural community to its thriving businesses.



With summer around the corner, fashion is a big theme in this edition and we feature the latest seasonal clothing ranges.

Our big interview is with Kildare fashion influencer Ally Garvey who can be regularly seen giving her advice and tips on RTE's Today show.



Taking on The Seven Deadly Sins challenge in this edition is Naas Ball who tells us how he became an overnight sensation and why there is no love lost with rival town Newbridge!



We celebrate community champion Peter O'Neill who has given years of service to several local causes including Relay for Life events for cancer survivors.



Elsewhere, Curragh Racecourse CEO Brian Kavanagh is the subject of the Journey To The Job feature and he tells us what he loves about running the Irish home of flat racing.



We also talk to the former Kildare TD and county councillor Anthony Lawlor who sells his very own brown bread at the Moate Theatre in Naas.



A new addition to the April/May magazine is our Local Voices feature - where we ask people what advice they would give to their 16 year old selves - and it gives us surprising results!



And there is lots, lots more to inform and thrill you in this edition.

Thank you all for your support and readership in the past and we hope this will continue for our forthcoming editions in 2025!

- Senan Hogan
There were zero pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in Leitrim in 2024, according to Uisce Eireann.

This places Leitrim ahead of the national trend, as Ireland overall has seen a more than 50 percent decrease in pesticide exceedances since 2017.

However, latest figures from Uisce Eireanns monitoring programme show a small national increase in 2024, with 66 exceedances detected across the country from over 34,000 analyses - up from 52 in 2023.

While Leitrims compliance remains very high, the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) is urging anyone using herbicides or pesticides - especially farmers, greenkeepers and domestic users - to be mindful of how their actions can impact local water sources and the broader community.

Several catchment areas are prioritised for action due to recurring pesticide exceedances including Hacketstown in Carlow, Greenmount in Louth and Foynes Shannon Estuary in Limerick.

Similar targeted action has proven successful in areas such as Belturbet in Cavan and Newport in Mayo, where pesticide exceedances have now been eliminated.

Dr. Pat O'Sullivan, Uisce Eireann's Drinking Water Compliance Senior Manager, emphasised the need for collective action: "Last year, we detected pesticide exceedances 66 times in 22 public drinking water supplies. A concerning trend is the number of exceedances outside the spraying season for certain plant protection products, particularly in winter.

We would like to remind users to be mindful of water sources when using pesticides as one drop of pesticides can be detected in a stream up to 30km away, he added.

To help protect drinking water and the wider environment, Uisce Eireann and the NPDWAG advise that pesticides should only be used when absolutely essential, with alternative methods considered first.

Leaving certain areas unsprayed can support native flowering plants and benefit pollinators like bees.

For those managing rushes, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recommends sustainable approaches focused on containment, minimising pesticide resilience.

If pesticides must be used, key safety measures include:

Always follow the label and product instructions.

Note that a closed spray period, during which product use is not permitted, is specified on the label for some products (e.g. products containing MCPA).

Never use MCPA in weed-wipers.

Avoid spraying if rain is forecast within 48 hours.

Identify nearby watercourses, including drains, wells and springs before spraying.

Maintain at least a three metre buffer zone near any watercourse subject to CAP conditionality, or follow any larger product-specific aquatic buffer.

Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains and rinse empty containers three times into the sprayer.

Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly.

Never fill a sprayer directly from a watercourse or carry out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a watercourse.

Never fill/wash a sprayer on concrete or sealed surface areas, where spillage/runoff to drains/watercourses is possible.

Never leave a sprayer unattended during filling or mixing.

More information on this can be obtained from your local farm advisor or on the DAFM pesticides website

READ MORE: IN PICTURES: Locals get their hands on latest issue of Leitrim Life
New data from Airbnb reveals that a quarter of Irish people have travelled to Asia, while only 82% have never visited Leitrim.

Leitrim isnt the only county being overlooked in holiday plans. Fewer holidaymakers have visited Sligo, Tipperary, and Meath than the 39% who have travelled to North America.

Meanwhile, 76% of people in Ireland have never visited Westmeath.

This is despite nearly half (48%) of people in Ireland saying they want to explore more of their own country. According to Airbnb, only one in three holidaymakers actually choose staycations.

These figures are part of a new report released alongside Airbnbs announcement of a 100,000 investment in grants aimed at supporting tourism in rural communities.

Were fortunate to have some of the worlds most stunning places right here in Ireland, and its exciting to see nearly half of Irish people eager to explore more of our own country, said Derek Nolan, Head of Public Policy for Ireland at Airbnb.

Local organisations, grassroots groups, or individuals in Leitrim can apply to receive 10,000 for their initiativeswhether theyre growing a local festival or upgrading community facilities.

I think Leitrim is doing very wellof course we can do better, said Deputy Frank Feighan, Sligo-Leitrim TD.

I think an awful lot is happening in Leitrim, he said, referencing the likes of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin, Lough Rynn Castle, and Fowley Falls in north Leitrim, as well as Carrick-on-Shannon. He also emphasised the importance of greenways and cycle paths connecting the county.

He added that more could be done to encourage people to choose Leitrim for their holidays, including efforts to generate more affordable accommodation.

Carrick on Shannon crime drops 25% in 2024, CSO
Senator Nessa Cosgrove claimed in the Seanad this week that there is a widespread belief in Leitrim that the county is being transformed into a sacrificial zone.

The comments came as councillors, for the first time, raised concerns that the draft proposal  The National Planning Framework  has the potential to drive another nail into the coffin of rural Ireland.

The framework, which as of Wednesday has received approval in both the Dail and Seanad, outlines Irelands long-term strategic plan up to 2040 and will inform the policy of county councils across the country.

Cosgrove expressed concern that the plan fails to provide a clear development strategy for rural centres such as Carrick-on-Shannon, or address the role extractive industries could play in rural areas.

I feel that Leitrim finds itself in a potentially vulnerable situation, and that there is a serious risk the county will be unsustainably exploited for its natural resources, rather than invested in and treated as an equal partner with Dublin  with a population capable of determining their own future, she said.

Environmental groups such as Save Leitrim and Love Leitrim have long expressed concerns over industries like forestry, fracking, and mining interests in the county.

The wholesale plantation of unsuitable, non-native Sitka spruce now covers over 20% of the countys land. There is also a very real risk posed by future exploration for precious minerals such as gold, and fears that allowing the importation of fracked gas will be a Trojan horse for the exploitation of significant gas reserves under the county, Cosgrove added.

The plan itself states that, for strategic reasons, it will aim to realise the potential of the extractive industries sector in Ireland.

Fracking and gold mining are two industries notorious for leaving a toxic mess behind them, Cosgrove warned.

In the Seanad, Cosgrove proposed an amendment to the plan that would impose a strict prohibition on the construction of an LNG terminal in Ireland. The amendment was defeated.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Senators voted against the amendment, while Sinn Fein abstained.

READ MORE: Des Guckian's replacement on Leitrim Co Council confirmed
Millions of Americans will be introduced to Leitrims vibrant music scene as it features on the Emmy Award-winning PBS travel series 'Bare Feet' with Mickela Mallozzi that aired yesterday (May 2nd).

The premiere episode of the new season, spotlights locations along The Wild Atlantic Way  including a visit to The Glens Arts Centre in County Leitrim. There, Rossa O Snodaigh and fellow members of the internationally acclaimed group Kila teach host Mickela how to play the uilleann pipes.

Filming took place last May, even as a flash flood hit the area. Despite the weather, Brendan Murray, Artistic Director at The Glens, described the experience of hosting the crew as very nice and good fun.

The episode marks the beginning of Bare Feets seventh season and is expected to reach around two million viewers across the United States. It will air on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and in parts of Canada this week, and will also be available via the PBS app and website. However, viewers in Ireland will need a VPN to access it.

The series follows producer and host Mickela Mallozzi as she travels the globe, delving into the dance and cultural traditions of the regions she visits.

The episode also includes an oyster experience in Sligo and a traditional fiddle session in Donegal, as the programme revisits the Wild Atlantic Way for a second time.

"Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi is extremely popular with audiences in the United States and in Canada, so Tourism Ireland was delighted to support this latest series, which is sure to inspire many potential US and Canadian holidaymakers to book a trip to Ireland in 2025 and beyond. As a destination, we have so much to offer visitors  from our beautiful scenery and rich music and dance traditions to our world-class visitor experiences, said Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Irelands Head of North America.

READ MORE: Des Guckian's replacement on Leitrim Co Council confirmed
Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan has been appointed Fine Gael Spokesperson on Northern Ireland and UK relations by Tanaiste Simon Harris.

A native of Boyle, Deputy Feighan was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2007, lost his seat in 2016, and was re-elected in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency in 2020 and again in 2024.

An Taoiseach Micheal Martin noted that Deputy Feighan is taking on the role during a challenging geopolitical environment.

With regards to Northern Ireland, we make the greatest progress when our two Governments work together, particularly to support peace, prosperity and reconciliation on this island, Mr Martin said.

He highlighted that at the recent Ireland-UK summit, both Governments made commitments to collaborate on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, sustainable development and climate action.

Deputy Feighan has demonstrated his experience in building and maintaining important and enduring relationships and I wish him success in his new role, Mr Martin added.

Commenting on his appointment, Deputy Feighan expressed optimism about the task ahead.

Im delighted to have been asked to take on this responsibility by the Tanaiste, he said.

In working through the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and in developing relationships with my UK counterparts, I look forward to a particularly fruitful period of partnership and cooperation in the service of people across these islands, Deputy Feighan concluded.

READ MORE: Des Guckian's replacement on Leitrim Co Council confirmed
Climate Justice Activists to Submit Petition to ACHPR

 Seek the continental courts opinion human rights obligations of African States as it relates to climate change
President Boakai, Minister Beysolow-Nyanti, and the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Abraham Darius Dillon
THE chief executive of Limerick Chamber has expressed her concern over the latest delay on the BusConnects programme.

Its emerged the plan, which will transform public transport in the city and its surrounds, will not be operational until 2027 - a delay of almost two years.

And Michelle Gallagher, who heads up Limerick Chamber has warned this will have far reaching consequences for both employees and business owners across the city.

She said its important BusConnects is implemented on schedule this year.

The region has reached almost 279,000 people in employment, a regional record, yet despite this continued growth there is continued failure to adequately address the infrastructure gap within an appropriate timeframe. Efficient, reliable, and accessible public transport is not a luxury  it is a necessity for advancing enterprise and access to work, said Mrs Gallagher.

Increased bus routes and enhanced service frequency are essential to ensuring that our employees can get to work safely and on time, and that businesses can thrive in a connected and sustainable urban environment. The recent reports of the delay in rollout of BusConnects is most concerning and the impact will be felt throughout scaling and existing businesses, added the chief executive of the Chamber, which is the largest business representative organisation in the region.

READ MORE: Funding approved for 14-storey building in Limerick

As a group, the Chamber has also voiced concern over the fact Annacotty Business Park is excluded from the current BusConnects plan.

Annacotty Business Park is not peripheral  it is central to Limericks commercial ecosystem, Mrs Gallagher said. Its exclusion from the BusConnects plan risks undermining the very objective of the programme, which is to enhance access and mobility for all. We have undertaken numerous surveys with employees of the park. Our findings outline huge support for a bus route with 97% of respondents supporting increased public transport to their place of work.

Off the back of this, Limerick Chamber is calling on the National Transport Authority and relevant stakeholders to urgently prioritise delivery in Limerick.

Limericks public transport future cannot be left in a holding pattern, Mrs Gallagher said.

We need swift, decisive action to ensure that BusConnects delivers for all areas of the city  not just a select few. Delays and oversights will cost us  in lost productivity, talent retention challenges, and diminished regional competitiveness.
A COUNTY Limerick farmer whose careless driving caused life-threatening injuries to the father of Munster and Ireland rugby star Conor Murray, was jailed for 10 months this Friday.

Gerry Murray, aged 70, suffered a traumatic head injury and was placed in an induced coma after he was knocked off his bicycle only 1km from his home in Patrickswell on the afternoon of February 7, 2023.

Seamus Hanrahan, aged 53, of Kilmore, Granagh, County Limerick pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Murray.

Evidence in the case was heard at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court last month. It was adjourned to this Friday for Judge Colin Daly to pass sentence.

Mr Hanrahan was driving a truck pulling a slurry tanker, while Mr Murray was on a bicycle when the incident occurred on the M20 Attyflin, Patrickswell.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Brian OLeary at a sentencing hearing last month.

On Thursday, April 10, Ms Buckley said Mr Hanrahan was driving a truck and slurry tanker on the slip road coming off the N21 and onto the N20.

An independent witness said the driver slowed down but did not stop at the stop sign. He saw a bike being thrown out onto the road. Paramedics were called. Mr Murrays helmet was extensively damaged and he suffered a significant head injury. There was no damage to the bicycle.

"Mr Murray was taken to University Hospital Limerick and then transferred to Cork University Hospital after his condition deteriorated. He suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was sedated, intubated and ventilated. He was put in an induced coma, said Ms Buckley.

READ MORE: Three people arrested following security breach at Shannon Airport

The court heard Mr Hanrahan was travelling at a maximum speed of 8kmph and stopped after he heard a bang.

Ms Buckley said Mr Murray spent six weeks in Cork University Hospital followed by 10 days in Camillus for physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.

He has lost hearing totally in his left ear and has hearing loss in his right ear. He has shoulder and elbow pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. A hearing aid assessment found a hearing aid was going to make no difference to his hearing loss or tinnitus, said Ms Buckley, who spoke of the effect of the collision on Mr Murrays quality of life.

The prosecuting barrister said Mr Hanrahan has previous convictions for careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of a collision and drink driving.

Ms Buckley read out Mr Murrays victim impact statement in which he detailed the effect of the collision on him and his family.

The feeling of guilt I felt for my wife and three children was to cause a lot of anxiety for us as a family as I continue to think what they went through while I was in a coma and not knowing if I would survive.

My son got married some time later but unfortunately I had been advised not to fly because of the fractures to my skull so I missed what was a major family event. I have an intensive physiotherapy regime which is still ongoing. Life for me has completely changed and I've been trying hard to get back to pre-accident days, but there's a long period of time ahead. I still have rehab for an indefinite time.

I have to include my family as victims of this accident and thank them for being there for me," read out Ms Buckley on behalf of Mr Murray (pictured below with son Conor), who also thanked paramedics and staff in UHL, CUH and St Camillus'.

Amy Nix, barrister for Mr Hanrahan who is a pig and dairy farmer, submitted to Judge Daly that there was a high degree of harm but a low degree of culpability.

He has held his hands up, accepted responsibility and is genuinely remorseful for the injuries caused to Mr Murray, said Ms Nix.

She said her client was alcohol and drug free on the date in question and was travelling at less than 8kmph.

Mr Hanrahan has instructed me to apologise to Mr Murray. It was a momentary lapse in concentration which had devastating effects.

"Mr Hanrahan did not see Mr Murray. I am instructed he looked left and looked right and moved forward slowly. He wishes he could rewind the clock and look one more time, said Ms Nix, who noted that her client draped his coat over Mr Murray following the collision.

Ms Nix read out a letter of apology penned by Mr Hanrahan in which he said Tuesday, February 7, 2023 will be forever on his mind.

Every time I close my eyes I see Mr Murray lying on the ground. I wish to sincerely apologise to Mr Murray and his family for what happened. I can understand, as a father, what Mr Murray's family went through. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I hope he will make a full recovery. I wish I could change the outcome of that day, read out Ms Nix.

The judge adjourned matters on that date.

In passing sentence this Friday, Judge Daly said Mr Murray would most likely have been killed if he hadnt been wearing his helmet. The helmet had been significantly damaged in the collision.

Judge Daly said Mr Hanrahan slowed but failed to stop at the junction, and he executed a right turn onto the road colliding with Mr Murray.

The judge said Mr Hanrahans driving had a significant impact on Mr Murray and his family, and that Mr Hanrahan did not take care to ensure the road was clear.

There was a high degree of carelessness and it is difficult to see how he (Mr Hanrahan) failed to see Mr Murray travelling on his bicycle."

The judge said it appeared that previous fines and road bans imposed on Mr Hanrahan for driving convictions had not deterred him from driving carelessly.

The judge said he was satisfied the threshold for a custodial sentence had been met. He jailed Mr Hanrahan for 10 months and disqualified him from driving for three years.
YOUNG entrepreneurs from Limerick have been announced as finalists in this years Student Enterprise Programme National Finals.

Students from Hazelwood College and Desmond College will represent Limerick at the national finals in Mullingar.

The students all took part in the 2025 Limerick Student Enterprise Awards County Final which was held on March 19, at the Castletroy Park Hotel.

Flying the flag for Limerick in this years national finals in the Junior Category, are the students from Desmond College in Newcastle with their product Grip Genie, a lid opener which provides a helping hand for those who may struggle with opening jars, bottles, and containers.

In the Intermediate Category and also from Desmond College is Sea Tan Gone who created a naturally made fake tan remover that also benefits the skin.

READ MORE: Red carpet is rolled out for Limerick media students at public screening

In the Senior Category of the competition, Limerick will be represented by Donal Bennis from Hazelwood College in Dromcollagher who created The Pole Pucker, an innovative product for the removal of fencing posts in the agricultural & forestry sectors.

The Student Enterprise Programme, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices throughout the country including LEO Limerick, supports secondary school students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.

Speaking ahead of the National Final, Mike OByrne, Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office Limerick added "The Student Enterprise Programme is instrumental in fostering a culture of enterprise among young people. It equips students with essential skills, encourages innovation, and nurtures entrepreneurial spirit, which are vital for their future success."

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place at the Mullingar Park Hotel, Co. Westmeath on May 8th, 2025. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 350,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.
LAUREL Hill Secondary School FCJ from Limerick city have been declared All-Ireland Concern Debate winners 2025, as the competition celebrates 40 years.

Prisca Afolabi, Aida Hehir, Zoe Norris-Cable and Ellie McCaffrey from Laurel Hill defeated the motion The world is more equal now than it was 40 years ago in the final in front of an audience at the Helix in Dublin on Thursday, May 1.

We are delighted, said Ellie McCafferty, captain of the Laurel Hill debate team.

Its just so nice to see all our hard work which has gone into the nine debates to win the contest pay off and to have that sense of we did it. I am so proud of the girls and everyone who has helped us.

More than 170 secondary schools entered this years competition, with the finalists competing in eight debates to reach the finals.

READ ALSO: Rathkeale schools join for inaugural Traveller Culture Day

As winners, Laurel Hill receive a two-night educational trip of their choice to either Dublin or Belfast, while runners up, Ellie McCabe, Amelie Mortell, Lara Whitley and Rose Abrahamson from Sandford Park, Ranelagh, Dublin receive a one-night similar trip.

Sandford captain, Rose Abrahamson said it was an excellent debate and paid tribute to the Laurel Hill team, who she said were deserved winners.

I am extremely proud of my team and grateful to everyone who helped us. Hopefully, we will be back next year.

Concerns head of global citizenship, Lauren Wright, had high praise for everyone who took part throughout the competition: We are so proud of all the students from the 170 schools who took part in the debates programme this year.

Each student who took part, no matter what round they reached, gained new skills like critical thinking, research skills, and confidence in presentation which will benefit them in school and as active citizens in their lives.

For our finalists it is an amazing achievement to have prepared and delivered nine debates since October on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.

An anniversary conference to mark 40 years of the Concern debates programme, Irelands largest debating competition, will take place on Wednesday, May 21 at the RDS in Dublin. It will bring together educators, facilitators and changemakers to explore the role of dialogue in building connection and understanding in a divided world.

The Concern Debates programme, which is open to schools from all 32 counties, was created in 1984 by the Irish humanitarian organisation to encourage debate and critical thinking about global issues. A version for primary schools was introduced in 2013 which engages over 220 primary schools across the island of Ireland each year.

It is an all-island Global Citizenship Education programme funded by Irish Aid and run by Concern for school teams to debate world issues such as poverty and climate change with volunteer judges deciding which team wins.

Any school interested in taking part in the next academic years debate programme, or anyone who would like to learn more about volunteering a couple of hours across the school year as an adjudicator, can email debates@concern.net.
Reliance NU Suntech, a subsidiary of Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Power, has signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India, a PSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, to develop and commission Asias largest single-location integrated solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project.

The project involves an investment of up to 10,000 crore and is expected to be finished in 24 months, the company said in an exchange filing on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Following the announcement, Reliance Power shares jumped nearly 3.90% to 41.54 apiece on the BSE.

Key details The agreement between Reliance NU Suntech and SECI comprises the supply of 930 MW of solar power integrated with 465 MW/1,860 MWh BESS, at a fixed tariff of 3.53 per kWh. The project will deploy more than 1,700 MWp of installed solar generation capacity to achieve 930 MW of solar power, the exchange filing states.

In December 2024, Anil Ambani's owned Reliance NU Suntech secured the bid at SECI Tranche XVII auction, winning an allocation of 930 MW of solar power capacity along with a 465 MW/1,860 MWh BESS. The allocation was secured through a tariff-based competitive bidding process in which five energy companies participated.

Reliance Power submitted a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) worth 378 crore to the SECI. The company claimed that the entire bidding process, which included reverse auction, the issuance of the Letter of Award, and the signing of the Power Purchase Agreement, was completed in less than five months.

Also Read | Reliance Power appoints Neeraj Parakh as CEO effective Jan 20 for three years
NEW DELHI : Thanks to US President Donald Trump's tariff hike in April, Apple is importing most of the iPhones being sold in the US from India this quarter, disclosed Tim Cook, the tech giant's chief executive, late on Thursday.

He underlined that the US tariffs have significantly impacted the iPhone makers' supply chain without ironing China out entirely, in his response to a question by Erik Woodring, managing director of US technology hardware equity research at Morgan Stanley, during Apples March quarter post-earnings analyst call.

The existing tariffs that apply to Apple today are based on the product's country of origin. For the June quarter, we expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin, and Vietnam to be the country of origin for almost all iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches, and AirPods in the US. China would continue to be the country of origin for the vast majority of total product sales outside the US," Cook said.

His statement underlines the diversification of the long-standing supply chain of Apple, which, at the time of writing, was the most valuable company in the world at $3.2 trillion.

On Thursday, the company reported revenue of $95.4 billion for the March quarter, up 5% year-on-year and above analyst estimates. However, the stock took a beating in the US in the after-market trading, falling 3.8% on tariff concerns and weak global cues.

Cook, on this, said as a result of the impact of Trumps International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 2025, the net tariff of 145% on imports of components from China, coupled with a blanket 20% import duty on other geographies, will increase Apples cost by $900 million in the June quarter alone.

The vast majority of our products are currently not subject to the global reciprocal tariffs announced in April, as the commerce department has initiated a Section 232 investigation into imports of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and downstream products that contain semiconductors," Cook clarified.

Trade war shocks

Analysts, however, sounded a note of caution about the sweeping impact that Trumps tariffs-led trade war can have in the long run.

One big concern kicks in around the stability of the policy and business environment, exposing companies like Apple to the uncertainty of the cost impact they will face in the long run. Such quarterly uncertainty is not good for investors, creating a phase of volatility in the market," a senior analyst at a top global brokerage firm told Mint on the condition of anonymity, since their formal note on Apples latest quarter earnings was not published until press time.

The move towards Indian manufacturing, however, would reassure the domestic electronics market. On 26 April, Mint reported that Apple will ramp up iPhone manufacturing in the country to over 50 million unitsmore than double the existing productionwithin the next three calendar years.

Cook further underlined that the three months ended 31 March were yet another period of quarterly revenue record for the India market, and that the company is on course to open new retail stores in India starting later this year".

India's opportunity

With this, India looks set to play a definite role in the long run for the Apple ecosystem, giving the domestic market a significant boost and a long-term customer.

The only issue here is uncertaintyif Trump goes back on China tariffs by agreeing to a trade deal, that would give Apple fewer reasons to diversify its supply chain. However, given that it is already using India as an export hub during this quarter, the companys India assembly expansion plan is on course. In a way, over the next three to five years, this gives India the potential to cater to making and exporting up to 100 million iPhones," said Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at market research firm, International Data Corporation (IDC) India.

Tata Electronics, the contract manufacturing arm of Indias largest multi-industrial conglomerate, is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of Apple's push. Mint reported on 26 April that the company is raising its annual capacity of making iPhones in anticipation of Apple increasing its India production volume.

Cook, however, did not offer a quarterly forecast for how its long-term costs might be impacted.

China, though, is not out of the Apple supply chain. Cook affirmed that Apple is using China for supplying demand for its devices, while ramping up sourcing of components from suppliers in the US. Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, the largest in the world, is also a part of this plan, with its plant in Arizona, US, set to cater to Apple in the near future.
Amazon.com Inc. said its bracing for a tougher business climate in the coming months, echoing concerns from a range of companies that tariffs and related economic turmoil could crimp consumer spending.

When it reported results Thursday, the worlds largest online retailer posted a decent first quarter but said operating profit in the current period would be weaker than Wall Street anticipated.

Amazon projected operating profit of $13 billion to $17.5 billion, compared with an average estimate of $17.8 billion. Sales will be $159 billion to $164 billion in the period ending in June, the company said in a statement. Analysts, on average, expected $161.4 billion.

In issuing its forecast, Amazon said results may be materially affected by many factors, such as tariff and trade policies, currency fluctuations and recessionary fears. Amazon didnt mention tariffs in its first-quarter forecast in early February.

Obviously, none of us knows exactly where tariffs will settle or when, Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said on a conference call after the results were released. We havent seen any attenuation of demand yet. To some extent, weve seen some heightened buying in certain categories that may indicate stocking up in advance of any potential tariff impact.

First-quarter sales increased 9% to $155.7 billion, compared with the average estimate of $155.2 billion. Operating income was $18.4 billion in the period ended March 31. Analysts projected $17.5 billion.

The companys reputation for competitive prices and a broad base of suppliers could insulate it if shoppers become more deal-focused. But a pullback by the independent Chinese sellers who help stock Amazons warehouses could hit the logistics and high-margin advertising businesses.

There are already signs of a slowdown. Revenue from third-party seller services increased 6% to $36.5 billion in the first quarter, falling short of analysts average estimate. Advertising, which has been the companys fastest-growing unit, gained 18% to $13.9 billion, in line with estimates.

Amazon advertising remains vulnerable to cuts in spending from the many small and mid-sized sellers who will be most squeezed by tariffs on goods from China, and revenue growth from the third party marketplace has slowed significantly from the levels of just a few quarters ago, said Sky Canaves, an analyst at Emarketer.

The shares declined about 3% in extended trading after closing at $190.20 in New York. The shares have fallen about 13% this year as Wall Street weighed the impact of President Donald Trumps tariffs on a retail operation that sources much of its goods from China.

Amazon Web Services, the largest seller of rented computing power, reported first-quarter sales gained 17% to $29.3 billion, in line with analysts estimates. It was the units slowest growth in a year and contrasted with Microsoft Corp.

Amazons biggest cloud rival posted a blowout quarter this week, reporting stronger-than-expected sales and profit, suggesting customer demand for cloud services has held steady despite the wave of tariffs and economic turbulence.

Gil Luria, an analyst with DA Davidson & Co., said Amazon investors may be a little disappointed by margins and margin guidance, which could create a concern about Amazon absorbing tariff costs. While AWS grew almost as expected, that comes on the tail of Microsoft Azure well exceeding expectations and growing that business almost twice as fast.

The White House lambasted Amazon earlier this week following a news report that the company was considering displaying the cost of tariffs to shoppers. Amazon said it was considering  and has no plans to implement  disclosing the cost of imports for Haul, its Temu-like storefront that features cheap goods shipped directly from Chinese sellers.

Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said Amazon is planning for various outcomes regarding trade and the overall economy.

Weve taken a number of actions to protect the customer experience, Olsavsky said on the call. Were doing everything we can to keep prices low for customers, in a way that makes economic sense.

With assistance from Spencer Soper.

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(Bloomberg) -- BASF SE warned that uncertainty caused by President Donald Trumps trade tactics means it cant make reliable predictions for its business this year.

BASF needs the second quarter to make a decision whether to change its financial outlook, Chief Financial Officer Dirk Elvermann said Friday on a call discussing first-quarter earnings.

We currently see more risk to our forecast and outlook than we saw probably three months before, Elvermann said. The situation is very volatile.

BASF shares declined as much as 2.6% in Frankfurt. The stock has dropped around 11% in the past year.

BASF is among industrial manufacturers struggling with high energy costs and tepid demand especially in China, a former profit driver. German chemicals makers are bracing for deteriorating business conditions in the coming months as they expect tariffs to weigh on exports. BASF said that the trade conflicts may impact demand from industries such as automotive and consumer goods.

Developments going forward will largely depend on the trade policy decisions made by the United States and its trading partners, BASF said in a statement. A reliable quantification of the impact on the global economy is not possible at this time.

BASFs earnings before interest, taxes and special items slipped 3.2% to 2.63 billion ($2.97 billion) in the first quarter, with the company citing competitive pressures that weighed on prices for its products.

While the direct impact of US tariffs on BASF will likely be limited because it produces locally in North America, the duties are causing a high level of uncertainty, the company said.

Chief Executive Officer Markus Kamieth is revamping BASF to focus on the main chemicals, industrial and nutrition businesses while planning asset sales at other units including agriculture and battery materials. The company plans to reduce costs and has started closing some smaller production units at its Ludwigshafen site, Europes biggest chemical plant.

In February, BASF warned that it expects chemical sales to remain sluggish this year. Kamieth is expected to update investors on strategy later on Friday at the companys annual shareholder meeting.

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The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the surprise liquidation of Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd, nearly five years after India's largest steelmaker JSW Steel Ltd acquired the bankrupt company in an insolvency auction.

Lawyers termed the order unprecedented, as it overturns prior orders by the company law tribunal, raises questions over the fate of loans recovered by the banks, and imperils the investments that JSW Steel made into the company.

JSW Steel's 19,700-crore rescue plan violated provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and BPSL's committee of creditors (CoC) erred in approving it, a bench of justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma ruled.

The court declared the resolution plan illegal and contrary to IBC provisions and criticized the CoC for failing to follow the legal framework, before invoking Article 142 of the Constitution to order the liquidation.

Dramatic end The decision marks a dramatic end to one of India's longest and closely-watched insolvency cases. It could have significant implications for lenders including State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank, among BPSL's largest creditors. That's because liquidations typically result in much lower recoveries than resolutions. It is unclear what happens to the recoveries made by banks.

Shares of JSW Steel, India's largest steelmaker, initially tumbled as much as 8% before paring losses to close 5.5% lower at 972.15 on the BSE.

We are yet to receive the formal copy of the order to understand the grounds for rejection in detail and its implications, said a spokesperson for JSW Steel. Once we receive the order and are able to review the same along with our legal advisors, we will decide on our further course of action.

A banker from a lender that was part of the resolution process termed the order unprecedented, adding that lenders will discuss it with their legal teams. JSW acquired it four years ago, and the character of the asset has changed over the years. It is difficult to say what happens now, the banker added.

'No precedent' Others were also left perplexed by the judgement.

All creditors had been paid, and there is no precedent like this in the history of IBC, a second person said. We are waiting for the full judgment and will consult with our legal counsel and the CoC to decide the next steps.

The IBC debuted in December 2016, raising hopes that it would be the ultimate solution for cleaning up Indias bad loan mess. The initial years saw several tycoons lose control of their assets and banks making significant recoveries.

According to Durgesh Khanapurkar, a partner at law firm Desai & Diwanji, the asset value (of BSPL) has improved because the plant is now operational. "JSW has invested time and money into making the unit functional. It remains to be seen how the entire plan will be undone, Khanapurkar said.

This is a case that has scope for review, he said. JSW may file a review petition to secure relief.

Legal tangle Daksh Ahluwalia, founder and principal, Aikyam Law Offices said it appears that BSPL's insolvency plan was derailed by a tangle of legal complications.

A major factor was the Enforcement Directorates (ED) attachment of over 4,000 crore in alleged proceeds of crime under PMLA, said Ahluwalia. These combined factorsregulatory attachments, statutory ambiguity, and non-performancemade meaningful restructuring impossible," he said.

The resolution plan faced several legal challenges, including from former promoter Sanjay Singhal, operational creditors like Kalyani Transco and Odisha government which sought 139 crore in unpaid entry tax dues. Most of these claims were dismissed by the NCLAT.

Big bad loans BPSL was one of the 12 large non-performing assets (NPAs) identified by the Reserve Bank of India in 2017 for priority insolvency resolution under the IBC. At the time, it owed more than 47,000 crore to lenders and over 780 crore to operational creditors. Troubles were compounded by an ED investigation on its former promoters, who allegedly diverted 4,025 crore in bank loans.

This is the second major IBC liquidation order by the Supreme Court in recent months, following the Jet Airways case, where too it used Article 142 to override previous NCLT and NCLAT approvals.

The JSW Steel rescue plan was first okayed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in September 2019. It was upheld by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in February 2020, despite multiple legal challenges.

ED case Former promoter Singhal had challenged JSW Steels eligibility under Section 29A of the IBC, citing alleged related-party connections. Several operational creditors had complained about claim rejections and alleged lack of transparency.

ED had initially attached these assets under Section 5 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging former promoters had diverted bank loans for personal gains. The CoC challenged the action, arguing it violated IBC provisions that protect resolution applicants. However, the ED later withdrew its objections, citing Section 32A of the IBC, which offers immunity to resolution applicants from the liabilities of previous management.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department asked a federal judge on Friday to force Alphabet Inc.s Google to sell key parts of its advertising technology and share realtime data with competitors to address a ruling that the technology giant illegally monopolizes much of the market for placing ads around the web.

The government wants the company to divest software used by websites to sell ads, known as a publisher ad server, as well as the exchange used to match buyers and sellers of online display ads. The DOJ argued for a phased approach that would first require Google to provide real-time bidding data from its ad exchange to competing publisher ad servers.

The DOJ made the request in a Virginia court Friday during a hearing involving Googles advertising operations. The government is also in trial against the company in a separate case in Washington focused on Googles dominance in search.

US District Judge Leonie Brinkema, whos presiding over the case, set a Sept. 22 date to hear proposals to address competitive harm she found in Googles advertising business. On May 5, the two sides will submit formal detailed proposals.

Brinkema appeared skeptical that there was a need for Google to sell the ad server, which was developed out of its 2008 purchase of DoubleClick. The judge asked several times during the hearing whether a sale of the advertising exchange, along with the bid data sharing, would address her ruling that Google acted anticompetitively.

Google and the government were largely in alignment on providing real-time data access, but the company pushed back on the need for any divestitures, calling it infeasible and disruptive.

Revenue from Googles network business, in which it serves up ads on other parts of the Internet, have been declining in recent quarters, suggesting the business may be of diminishing importance to the tech giant going forward.

The Justice Department told Brinkema that the divestitures are essential to ensure Google doesnt revert to illegal conduct in the future. The government said its hard to anticipate every way a recidivist monopolist like Google will try to dominate a market, DOJ attorney Julia Tarver Wood told the court.

Today the DOJ conceded Googles proposed ad-tech remedy fully addresses the Courts decision on liability, said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Googles vice president of regulatory affairs, in a statement after the hearing. The DOJs additional proposals to force a divestiture of our ad-tech tools go well beyond the Courts findings, have no basis in law, and would harm publishers and advertisers.

Last month, Brinkema ruled that Google violated antitrust law in the markets for advertising exchanges and tools used by websites to sell ad space, known as ad servers. But she said the company didnt meet the definition of a monopoly for a third market of tools used by advertisers to buy display ads. She also ruled that Google illegally required web publishers to use its ad server if they wanted the full benefits of its advertising exchange.

Brinkemas decision marked the second time in a year that Google was found by a court to be an illegal monopolist. A trial began last month in Washington on a fix to address a ruling that the company monopolizes the online search market. The Justice Department is seeking to force Alphabet to sell off its Chrome browser, among other changes.

Brinkemas ruling, however, could make divestitures a tough sell in her case, since she found that a pair of Google acquisitions  DoubleClick in 2008 and AdMeld in 2011  werent anticompetitive on their own, despite DOJ arguments to the contrary. Those two companies comprise key parts of the publisher-side software the DOJ wants Google to sell.

Google is latching onto that element of Brinkemas ruling to argue against any asset sales at all. It also argues that its ad exchange does much more than facilitate the open-web display advertising at issue in the case because it includes mobile and video ads  meaning that a divestiture would be far broader in scope than the ruling allows.

At the hearing, Brinkema also urged the DOJ and Google to settle the case out of court, citing rapid technological developments including artificial intelligence as well as the changing political and economic environment, saying they should think about a mediator.

(Updates from second paragraph with details from the hearing.)

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New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Retirement fund body EPFO's provident fund scheme under the EPF Act provides better protection to construction workers compared to the benefits available under the framework of building and other construction workers (BOCW), a regional provident fund commissioner has ruled, clarifying ambiguities between the two legislations.

The clarification order by regional provident fund commissioner (RPFC), Kochi Uttam Prakash, which would have significant implications for labour welfare across India, came after the Kerala High Court issued a directive to resolve a long-standing conflict between two major national legislations governing the social security of construction workforce.

While disposing of a writ petition filed by Veegaland Homes Pvt. Ltd., a real estate developer, the court directed the RPFC, Kochi, to determine which law provides more beneficial coverage for construction workers -- the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (EPF Act) or the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996.

After evaluating the two welfare frameworks, the RPFC concluded that the EPF scheme provides superior protection for construction workers compared to the BOCW framework.

The order outlined key advantages including lifetime pension coverage under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), substantial death and disability benefits via the Employees' Deposit-Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI), portability of benefits across states and employers structured, long-term savings with higher returns and a technology driven access to services and grievance redressal.

In contrast, BOCW welfare boards, despite collecting substantial welfare cess, have challenges of inefficiency, low coverage, and underutilisation of funds and poor access to registration by design, the RPFC order said.

Workers frequently struggle to access even basic entitlements under this scheme, it noted.

The petitioner in the Kerala High Court had argued that employers were being subjected to an unfair dual compliance burden under both central and state welfare regimes.

While the EPF Act is administered nationally by the EPFO, the BOCW Act is enforced by state-level welfare boards, often with considerable variation in benefit delivery across states.

As India continues to rely on its informal workforce to build its infrastructure and cities, the Kerala High Court-led resolution could serve as a cornerstone for a more inclusive, effective, and future-ready labour protection framework, opined an expert.
Ranchi, May 2 (PTI) Gautam Singh was appointed the new chief general manager (CGM) of NABARD's Jharkhand regional office, according to a statement issued by the bank on Friday.

With over three decades of service in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Singh was the general manager in his previous position.

Throughout his career, Singh has held several key positions, including in the Head Office in Mumbai, the Uttar Pradesh Regional Office in Lucknow, and the Madhya Pradesh Regional Office in Bhopal, the statement said.

He also served as District Development Manager (DDM) in Munger in Bihar.

"Gautam Singh brings with him a wealth of experience and deep expertise in rural development, financial inclusion, and agricultural innovation," the statement said adding that during his tenure in MP, he led several impactful initiatives aimed at uplifting rural communities.

Singh has been instrumental in the implementation of Natural Resource Management (NRM) projects across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. His contributions to consultancy assignments have significantly enriched policy formulation and the strategic direction of developmental programmes.

NABARD said he has also served as Nominee Director on the boards of Regional Rural Banks in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

"Known for his unwavering commitment to rural prosperity, Gautam Singh's appointment as CGM is poised to further bolster NABARD's mission in Jharkhand, fostering sustainable development and inclusive growth," the statement added.
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A General Motors Co. assembly plant in Canada that makes pickup trucks mostly for export to the US will cut down to two shifts from three because of the trade war.

The automaker said its reorienting the factory in Oshawa, Ontario, to build more trucks for the Canadian market. The plant is the only GM facility in the country that still produces a consumer vehicle. Another GM factory in Ontario makes electric commercial vans, but its set to be idled for months.

The Oshawa plant makes Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks. GM said recently its adding 250 new jobs to boost production in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where company also makes the Silverado.

US President Donald Trump implemented 25% tariffs on foreign-made autos in early April, though the administration had made some changes to soften the blow for auto companies. On Thursday, General Motors cut its full-year profit outlook due to as much as $5 billion of exposure to auto tariffs, among the biggest financial hits revealed by any company so far from the trade war.

To the Oshawa workers, I express my deepest sympathy for them and their families, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Friday, emphasizing that proceeds from the countrys reciprocal tariffs would go to help affected workers.

Canada is allowing automakers to continue importing a certain number of US-assembled cars and trucks, tariff-free, as long as they keep manufacturing vehicles in the country. Those firms must act in true partnership as well, in maintaining employment and investment in Canada, Carney said. If not, there will be consequences for those companies.

The union representing 3,000 workers at the GM plant criticized the shift cut. Unifor National President Lana Payne called the decision reckless and said it would ripple through the entire auto-parts supplier network.

GM needs to reverse this short-sighted move before more damage is done, she said in a statement. The union estimates approximately 700 jobs may be impacted if GM proceeds with its plan.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post that the province will continue doing everything we can to support a strong future for the facility and its workers.

Unifor said GM is required to meet with the union to discuss options to mitigate job losses. The union plans to also ask if a plant in St. Catharines, Ontario, that supplies engines to the Oshawa factory will be affected by Fridays decision.

(Adds comments from PM Carney and the number of affected workers, beginning in the fifth paragraph.)

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Major Japanese trading houses, backed by Warren Buffett, this week released cautious profit forecasts for the year, setting aside millions to hedge against persistent tariff uncertainty.

Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co. forecast this fiscal years net income will fall 26% and 14%, respectively, from a year earlier, according to filings. Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni Corp. expected theirs to rise 1.4% while Itochu Corp. saw a 2.2% climb. All five firms allocated funds as a buffer to hedge against tariff impacts, they said, with Sumitomo and Itochu setting aside 40 billion yen .

Japan is among several countries clamoring to cut a deal with the US to avoid tariffs. Its chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said the latest round of discussions in Washington was a frank and open one, and that he aims to step up talks in mid-May.

Uncertainty surrounding US policy developments may lead to postponed capital investments, further raising concerns about an economic downturn, Mitsui said. Meanwhile, Sumitomo said it will face a certain degree of indirect impact from the tariffs.

Though the countrys trading houses have been minimally affected so far, they could face a 5-8% drop in net income for every 10% strengthening of the yen, according to Macquarie analyst Sonny Lee.

Still, the conglomerates expect some tailwinds from the punitive American trade measures and their potential to disrupt global supply chains.

Mitsui expects to zero in on such opportunities through its North American and energy and chemical businesses. Marubeni also sees upsides in the used aircraft engines business, while projecting limited negative impact on its crop trading in US, Europe and China. Sumitomos CEO Shingo Ueno said tariffs could help their North America steel pipe business.

We expect either neutral or positive impacts, Marubenis Chief Executive Officer Masayuki Omoto said.

The companies also expect crude oil prices to trend between US$60 to $71 per barrel due to sluggish demand, even though supply concerns persist over tensions in the Middle East.

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Man Industries (India) Ltd, a major producer of industrial-grade pipes for the oil and gas and water sectors, plans to complete its 650 crore pipe manufacturing expansion facility in Damman, Saudi Arabia, in the current fiscal year, said its managing director Nikhil Mansukhani in an interview.

This will help it capitalise on growing demand and local import duties and cater to growing markets in Europe and America.

Also Read: Manufacturing PMI: Dont extrapolate surge in Indias exports just yet The company was looking forward to the completion of two of its expansion projects in Saudi Arabia and another in Jammu and Kashmir, as both had the potential to add $500 million to its top line at full capacity, Mansukhani added.

Man Industries, which reported profits of just below 100 crore and revenues in excess of 2,200 crore in the first nine months of 2024-25, is targeting a 30-35% rise in revenue from its existing facilities in India in 2025-26, with momentum continuing into 2026-27, where growth could touch 40% on the back of the company's overseas and Indian expansion projects getting onstream, Mansukhani said.

We will be making close to 500 crore capex in 2025-26 to complete the plants that would go onstream by October-November. They would produce high-value pipes that would help the company grow its revenue. The 22,000 tonne Jammu plant of stainless steel seamless pipes and tubes itself can provide a 1,000-1,200 crore revenue boost to the company, said Mansukhani.

Also Read: Electronics manufacturing services sector gets charged up on PLI, US tariff impact; Dixon, Amber set to benefit Apart from making special-grade pipes for the oil and gas sector and the transportation of water, Man Industries is also entering the manufacturing of special-grade pipes that could transport hydrogen. These pipes have already been tested and certified in Italy. The company is expecting orders from European countries, which are already developing a new pipeline network for transporting LNG that can later be used for hydrogen.

Justifying its plan to have a greenfield facility in Saudi Arabia, Mansukhani said the country is levying a 20% duty on imports, on top of the freight cost of $100-200 per tonne incurred for shipping large diameter pipes.

Thus it makes sense to make in Saudi Arabia to be cost competitive. Also, we see big potential for our products, as all the Saudi players are booked for the next 2-3 years, said Mansukhani.
(Bloomberg) -- New York fired a salvo in the fight to shield its congestion pricing program from the Trump administrations push to shut it down, indicating it is now poised to seek an immediate court order in its lawsuit to protect the traffic tolling plan.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority hasnt yet asked for such a freeze. But it said in a letter Friday that it has reached an impasse in talks to stop the US Department of Transportation from trying to kill the system, which has been up and running for four months. The MTA suggested it will ask the judge on the case to issue a preliminary injunction blocking DOT from withholding federal approvals or funding for New York as it continues to impose the toll.

The move further escalates a dispute between the state and US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over the controversial program, which President Donald Trump has called a business killer and the state has cited figures to show its success. The filing comes shortly after Duffy told Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA to stop the toll by May 21. US District Judge Lewis Liman gave the MTA until Monday to seek the injunction.

A DOT spokesperson had no immediate comment on the filing.

Showdown With Trump

The $9 toll on most drivers entering some of Manhattans busiest streets has led to a showdown between the Republican president and the Democratic governor. The MTA sued the Trump administration after Duffy announced in a Feb. 19 letter a reversal of US approval for the program under former President Joe Biden, even though the tolling had started on Jan. 5.

Congestion pricing is expected to provide $15 billion of funding for the MTA to upgrade train signals, make more subway stations accessible and extend the Second Avenue subway to Harlem. It is also meant to reduce traffic and the pollution that comes with gridlock. About 7.5 million fewer vehicles entered the tolled zone this year, with decreases of 8% in January, 12% in February and 13% in March, and monthly revenue from the tolls is on track to support a planned bond issue, according to MTA data.

The MTA needs state and federal money for infrastructure upgrades to improve service and attract more riders, and its 2025-2029 capital plan relies on an anticipated $14 billion of federal funds.

Lawyers for the two sides had earlier submitted a proposed case schedule running though October, meaning the tolls would likely stay in place until then unless the US won a court order stopping them from being collected. Then Duffy sent another letter saying he would begin taking compliance measures, including blocking federal authorizations for projects in Manhattan.

The battle over congestion pricing has also reflected signs of internal discord at the Justice Department. A letter last month from federal prosecutors in Manhattan to DOT lawyers in Washington sharply criticizing their legal approach and urging a shift in tactics was mistakenly published to the courts public docket. DOT then replaced the Manhattan attorneys with lawyers from the Justice Departments civil division for the case.

Complete Gamesmanship

In Fridays filing, Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer for the MTA, proposed a schedule that would allow Liman to rule on a preliminary injunction against Duffys compliance measures before reaching his decision on whether the US can rescind approval for the program altogether.

Kaplan said the move was necessary after DOT lawyers rebuffed the MTAs requests for an agreement not to take those measures while the case proceeds.

She said the US is arguing that no court order is needed because administrative proceedings are ongoing. She called that argument complete gamesmanship.

The case is Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy, 25-cv-1413, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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(Bloomberg) -- A key real estate organization and other industry groups asked a federal judge to block a New York City law that requires landlords to pay fees for the brokers they hire, saying the rule that goes into effect next month will increase rents and make it more difficult for lower-income tenants to find housing.

The Real Estate Board of New York and others, including the New York State Association of Realtors, sued the city in December over the rule, which forces property owners to pay for their brokers instead of passing those costs to their tenants, a longstanding practice that has perturbed renters for decades.

During a court hearing Friday, lawyers for the groups urged US District Judge Ronnie Abrams to halt to enforcement of the rule while the lawsuit proceeds. The ban, which was passed by the city council in November, is scheduled to take effect on June 11. The judge didnt say when shell reach a decision.

Because landlords often sign exclusive contracts with brokers to list their properties and find tenants, the law severely and permanently impinges on listing agreements between brokers and landlords, in violation of the Constitutions bar against state laws impairing private contracts, Claude Szyfer, a lawyer for REBNY, told the judge.

The law also would violate the free-speech rights of landlords and brokers who publish real estate listings and then seek to receive compensation from tenants for the cost of the listing service, Szyfer said.

Two lawyers for the city defended the law. They said it will help address the citys housing crisis by making apartments more affordable and easier for renters to move to better properties without having to pay thousands of dollars to brokers they didnt choose.

The current rule is causing low and middle-income people  especially people of color  it is causing them to leave New York, one of the citys lawyers told the judge.

$13,000

New York City renters who settle on apartments that have broker fees pay an average of nearly $13,000 to secure the keys to a property, which frequently includes thousands of dollars in fees for brokers hired by landlords to secure tenants, according to an analysis by StreetEasy released last year. Roughly half of the listings on StreetEasy come with broker fees, which can range from one months rent to as much as 15% of annual rent.

Lawyers for the city argue that the broker fees add a substantial cost to families who already are shelling out thousands of dollars upfront and a substantial portion of their income on housing. New York Universitys Furman Center, which studies housing, neighborhoods and urban policy, has found that more than than half of all city households spend 30% or more on rent.

New York and Boston are the only major American cities where rental broker fees are commonly passed to tenants even if they didnt hire them.

But the industry contends the law will make rent-stabilized apartments too costly to operate and force landlords to raise rents to cover the cost of broker fees. They argue tenants usually pay less over the life of a lease when commissions are paid separately. Landlords claim some tenants already are refusing to pay broker fees even though the law hasnt taken effect yet.

The suit alleges the city is simply villainizing brokers and the act violates their constitutional right to free speech by not allowing them to publish open listings, and that the state already regulates brokers. It also contends the law violates the contracts clause of the US Constitution by interfering with agreements between landlords and brokers.

New York Citys brokers have built their businesses around the reasonable expectation that they can collect fees from tenants under conditions prohibited by the act, the groups said in a court filing. If the act is permitted to go into effect, brokers will need to retool their businesses to  without publishing an open listing  attract tenants willing to engage them as tenants-side brokers. Or they must compete for a limited number of landlord-side exclusive listing agreements. Some will fail and be driven from the market; all will need to spend potentially unrecoverable sums to adapt to the new regime.

A state-approved broker fee ban was briefly in place in February 2020 just before the first Covid lockdown brought the rental market to a near halt. By the time renter demand began rising the next year, a court had struck down the state law and brokers were eager to capitalize on what quickly became a very competitive market where prices have continued to rise.

The law could dramatically change the dynamics of the citys highly competitive rental market, where prices have soared since pandemic restrictions began easing in 2021. The median Manhattan rent was $4,495 in March, just $5 short of the record reached the previous month, according to appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and Douglas Elliman. Prices have also set records in the outer boroughs.

Tenant advocates argue that the large upfront costs are an unnecessary impediment for many renters who want or need to move. While low-income New Yorkers are more likely to face that struggle, no-fee units tend to be in pricier modern buildings. The citys residential brokers counter that eliminating the fees will be much more expensive for tenants in the long run, with landlords adding their marketing costs to rents.

In March, 57.3% of StreetEasys listings were no fee, up from roughly 54.2% from last year.

The case is Real Estate Board of New York v City of New York, 24-cv-9678, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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A judge narrowed claims in Elon Musks lawsuit alleging that OpenAI broke its promise to function as a public charity by making plans to transform itself into a for-profit business.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, on Thursday ruled that the worlds richest person can pursue fraud claims in the complaint he filed against OpenAI last year. She also declined to dismiss an unjust enrichment claim against OpenAI and Microsoft Corp., a major investor in the startup.

But she threw out claims of false advertising and breach of fiduciary duty claims against the startup. Both companies won dismissal of Musks racketeering claims, but she gave the billionaire a chance to revise that allegation through an amended complaint.

In response to a request for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson cited a social media post from last month saying that Musks actions are an unlawful bid to curb the companys growth for the benefit of his rival startup, xAI, that he launched in 2023.

A lawyer for Musk and representatives of Microsoft didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The legal wrangling between Musk and Sam Altman, who worked together to launch OpenAI a decade ago, is playing out as the startup is in talks with officials in Delaware and California over its restructuring plans and faces pressure to complete the overhaul by the end of 2025. If not, SoftBank Group would be able to drop the amount of funding its contributing to the startup from $30 billion to $20 billion, as Bloomberg has reported, while OpenAI would have the option to find other investors.

Gonzalez Rogers recently said she intended to scale back the claims in the lawsuit when she scheduled a March trial over the dispute.

Musk has alleged the alliance OpenAI built with Microsoft after he left the startups board in 2018 is a bid to dominate the generative AI industry that threatens free market competition by rivals. His lawyers also claim Microsoft knew OpenAI co-founders Altman and Greg Brockman were engaging in a scheme to defraud Musk of his valuable contributions and backing to enrich themselves.

Gonzalez Rogers granted a request by OpenAI and Microsoft to toss out Musks claim they aided the fraud. But she ruled that Microsoft must face claims of interfering with OpenAI and Musks contract, which he says called for the startups technology to benefit the public.

Musk has plausibly alleged that Microsoft knew of the charitable trust and took steps constituting substantial assistance or encouragement in the violation of the contract, Gonzalez Rogers said in her ruling.

The case is Musk v. Altman, 24-cv-04722, US District Court, Northern District of California .

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(Bloomberg) -- The UK supermarket chain Co-op said hackers were able to access and extract customer data from one of its systems during a recent cyberattack.

The accessed data included information relating to a significant number of our current and past members, the company said in a statement Friday. This data includes Co-op Group members personal data such as names and contact details, and did not include members passwords, bank or credit card details, transactions or information relating to any members or customers products or services with the Co-op Group.

The statement cames as a cybercrime gang took credit a disruptive campaign of attacks targeting Co-op and at least two other British retailers over the last two weeks.

A spokesperson for the gang, known as DragonForce, said in an interview with Bloomberg News that it and its partners were behind incidents targeting Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Harrods.

The groups motivation was to extort money from their victims, the spokesperson said. They also claimed to have stolen customer data. The admission is the first confirmation the attacks were linked and carried out by the same group.

Marks & Spencer first announced it had been targeted in a cyber incident on April 22. Some of the companys systems were infected with DragonForces ransomware, which encrypts files stored on computers so they cannot be used, Bloomberg News previously reported.

In the aftermath of the attack, M&S stopped accepting contactless payments and shut down online orders. Transactions have yet to resume. There have also been reports of gaps on shelves as the company struggles with availability for some items.

In a post on X Friday, M&S Chief Executive Officer Stuart Machin apologized for the disruption, saying the company is working day and night to resolve the issue.

On April 30, British supermarket chain Co-op said it had detected attempts to gain unauthorized access to some of its systems, which it said had a small impact on some back office and call center services. On Friday, the retailer said it was investigating along with Uk authorities. We are continuing to experience sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access our systems, Co-op said, in a statement. This is a highly complex situation.

That was followed on May 1 by a statement from Londons luxury department store Harrods Ltd. disclosing that it had suffered attempts to compromise its systems. The company said it had restricted internet access at its sites in response.

Neither Marks & Spencer, Harrods nor Co-op immediately responded to requests for comment on the DragonForce claims.

The creators of DragonForce, whose identities arent known, operate like a criminal cartel, leasing out their malicious software and infrastructure to other hackers while taking a cut of any proceeds earned through extortion, experts say.

Hackers working with DragonForce claimed more than 90 victims last year and targeted companies across various industries, including health care, manufacturing and telecommunications, according to Broadcoms cybersecurity unit Symantec. The attacks spanned more than a dozen countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, according to cyber experts.

The DragonForce spokesperson declined to comment on whether they were negotiating with the British retailers. They said that they typically expect their victims to pay ransom payments that have seven zeros, possibly six. Our job is not to destroy, we just take some money and walk away, they said.

The gang claimed it was in the process of harvesting a large trove of data, amounting to terabytes, that it had stolen from the British companies, and suggested that it would release it online if its demands for payment are not met.

The group added that it planned more attacks on the UKs retail sector, saying the recent breaches were just a start.

(Updates with new details from Co-op througout)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Tiger Global-backed Urban Company is winding down its step-down subsidiary in Saudi Arabia as it was proving financially unsustainable, according to its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

The home-services company said it was transferring its Saudi operations to a joint venture it launched in October 2024, with an intent to wind down the step-down subsidiary, Urban Company Arabia for Information Technology (UCAIT).

UCAIT reported a loss before tax of 23.45 crore for the nine months ending December 2024, up from 8.29 crore in the year-ago period. Its loss for the fiscal year 2023-24 stood at 14.08 crore, for 2022-23 at 17.77 crore, and for 2021-22 at 10.10 crore.

Also Read: Mint Explainer: Will Swiggy eat Urban Companys lunch with Pyng? We have started operations through our joint venture entity, i.e., Waed Khadmat Al-Munzal for Marketing, located in the KSA with effect from 1 January 2025 with an intent to eventually wind up the step-down subsidiary, Urban Company Arabia for Information Technology (UCAIT), the DRHP said.

The DRHP suggests that UCAIT was Urban Companys earlier operational arm in Saudi Arabia, as indicated by its standalone financials.

Urban Company's expansion into Saudi Arabia was announced in 2024 through a joint venture with Saudi Manpower Solutions Company (SMASCO). In October 2024, the two companies launched Waed Khadmat Al-Munzal for Marketing Co., a partnership aiming to strengthen and enhance the domestic service landscape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

While not explicitly stated, the timeline and financial details imply that the joint venture may replace UCAIT in this capacity moving forward.

It currently operates in three international markets: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company previously had operations in Australia but exited that market in 2022 after three years of activity.

Urban Company did not immediately respond to Mint's emailed queries.

The public listing It filed its DRHP for a 1,900 crore initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on 28 April. The listing comprises a fresh issue worth 429 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) worth 1,471 crore.

Also Read: Is Ather's IPO a smarter bet than Ola in a market running low on charge? The OFS will see partial exits from early backers. Accel India is set to be the largest seller, aiming to raise up to 433 crore, followed by Elevation Capital at 346 crore, Tiger Global at 303 crore, VYC11 at 216 crore, and Bessemer India at 173 crore.

In the lead-up to the IPO, Urban Company's co-foundersAbhiraj Singh Bhal, Raghav Chandra, and Varun Khaitansold shares worth approximately 780 crore through secondary transactions between September 2024 and March 2025. These transactions were made to existing backers, including Prosus Ventures, Dharana Capital, Think Investments, and others. The founders will not participate in the IPO's OFS component.

In terms of financial performance, Urban Company reported a profit before tax of 27.1 crore in the first nine months of 2024-25, a turnaround from a loss of 57.8 crore in the year-ago period.

Its co-founder and chief executive Abhiraj Singh Bhal had acknowledged that international operations such as Saudi Arabia and Singapore would require more time to achieve profitability during a media interaction at the CII Annual Business Summit in 2024.

Also Read: Sentiment for deals and IPOs may turnaround post Q4 results; DIIs to drive deal pricing and FIIs scale Bhal had noted that while the UAE market is approaching break-even, Saudi Arabia remains in investment mode, given the companys comparatively recent entry and the need for deeper localisation.
US antitrust enforcers reached back to a deal Google struck 15 years ago to argue that the Alphabet Inc. unit should once again share information with third parties, this time to end its illegal monopoly of online search.

Googles agreement in 2010 to provide Yahoo Japan with access to search index data applied only to Googles Japanese-language index, not its global index. But Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist said in court Friday it showed Google had voluntarily shared data with others in the past.

Google has been pushing back on the remedies proposed by the US to address its search dominance  one of which is sharing search data with rivals. Google has claimed that would imperil user privacy and put its intellectual property at risk.

The Yahoo deal was revisited as part of a three-week trial that will determine how Google should restore competition to online search after US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled last year that the tech giant had illegally maintained a monopoly in the market. In a separate antitrust case before a different judge, the Justice Department urged Friday that Google be ordered to sell key parts of its advertising technology to address a ruling that it illegally monopolizes much of the market for placing ads on the web.

The government wants Google to divest itself of its Chrome browser, license some search data to competitors and stop paying for exclusive positions on other apps and devices. Google has countered that the governments proposals are too extreme, saying they would hurt American consumers and the economy, as well as weaken US technological leadership.

The document detailing the Yahoo accord was presented during cross-examination of Jesse Adkins, a Google director of product management for search syndication, who oversaw implementation of the agreement for a number of years. The deal called for Google to share document IDs, URLs, and various signals like popularity and spam scores.

Youre aware, sir, that the Yahoo Japan agreement is actually the foundation for plaintiffs data-sharing remedy in this manner? Dahlquist asked as he walked Adkins through the different points of the agreement in court.

I will take your word for it, Adkins responded.

Google has long had a relationship with Yahoo Japan, a service unrelated to the US-based Yahoo search engine, to provide it with search results and some backend work related to search advertising. During questioning, Googles lawyer sought to clarify that the tech giant had agreed to share portions of its Japanese-language search index solely to have Yahoo Japan assess the quality of Googles search results and provide feedback to Google.

Adkins also testified that Yahoo Japan needed the data that Google shared to make sure that Googles search results complied with local laws, for instance around properly classifying adult websites. The agreement evolved over time, Adkins said, with Google later providing a more limited set of data to Yahoo Japan in real-time rather than the bulk data dumps it had in the past.

Googles next witness was Eric Muhlheim, the chief financial officer of Mozilla, who discussed the importance of its partnership with the search giant for its revenue model. Last year, Mozilla  maker of the popular Firefox browser  brought in $570 million, Muhlheim testified. Of that revenue, 85% came from Google, which pays Mozilla for an exclusive position on the Firefox browser.

In the short term, Muhlheim said, Mozillas US revenue would drop precipitously if the company were forced to switch to a different provider for Firefoxs built-in search engine and no longer received compensation from Google under its longstanding revenue-sharing agreement.

The ensuing hole in our revenue would have to be overcome by pretty significant cost cuts across the business, Muhlheim said. The remedy would also decrease the amount of money the company could invest in its own software and make it less competitive, he added.

It could start a downward spiral of usage as people defected from a browser, which could at the end of the day put Firefox out of business, he said.

If Google were barred from paying for an exclusive position on Mozillas Firefox browser, Muhlheim testified, the company would be on the lookout for alternatives. But wed really be struggling in the meantime, he said.

In the last year, Muhlheim said the company has explored other options, including discussions with Microsoft Corp. about its Bing web browser taking the Mozillas default search engine slot. But ultimately, Mozillas assessment was that Bing wouldnt monetize as well as Google.

Muhlheim added that he thought Microsoft could reduce the amount of revenue it was willing to share with Mozilla over time if it were the only strong competitor for the search engine browser slot.

In a telling exchange near the end of Muhlheims testimony, Mehta asked whether Mozilla would benefit from having at least one other competitor besides Google with equal quality of service competing for the search engine slot in the Firefox browser. Muhlheim answered that this would be a better world for Mozilla.

Do you believe that the market conditions that exist today could achieve the outcome that youre talking about either in the short term or the long term? Mehta asked.

In some ways, its hard to know, because AI is coming in. One could imagine that the amount of funding and the way people are working in AI would create that world, Muhlheim responded. So I dont think its out of the question.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has an odd problemit is making more cash than it knows how to deploya problem only to be expounded by its new Vizhinjam transhipment port, which was inaugurated Friday.

We have more cash flow than we can utilize," said Karan Adani, the companys managing director. Excess cash on hand has resulted in the companys leverage ratios falling to a suboptimum level, he said.

The company is looking for organic and inorganic expansion opportunities, particularly in Southeast Asia and East Africa, said the elder son of Adani Group founder and chair Gautam Adani.

APSEZ also plans to invest 11,000-12,000 crore in capital expenditures over the course of FY26, chief executive Ashwani Gupta said. About half of this money will go to expanding capacity at its existing 16 ports. The rest will go into growing its logistics and marine services portfolio, operations technology, and decarbonization. The company will also buy more trucks to increase its footprint in inland logistics.

Even the current debt level is not very healthy for us. For an infrastructure business, net debt to Ebitda should ideally be at 3 to give the best return to our investors. We are at 1.9, which is not a good sign," Adani said, adding that the ratio is likely to further drop to 1.5.

That's something that we have to work towards. The team has to find good quality assets at the right price and be out there in the market to look at all the opportunities out there," he said, glancing at CEO Gupta.

Bringing transhipment back to India

Located near the southern tip of India and about 20 kilometres from a major East-West shipping corridor, the Vizhinjam port aims to become a transhipment hub. Large container vessels, called mother ships, travelling between major ports can drop off and pick up cargo at a transhipment hub. In layperson's terms, that would be the equivalent of Dubai being a hub for international air travel.

According to a company statistic, about three-quarters of Indian cargo transhipment happens at overseas ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. This is because most Indian ports are far from major international shipping routes or are not deep enough to handle large mother ships.

Give us a year, and you will see that all Indian cargo will get trans-shipped here rather than predominantly internationally," Karan Adani said. The ultimate goal is to help in terms of reducing the shipping cost for the Indian exporters and importers."

Adani said the Vizhinjam port began commercial operations in December and has already exceeded its capacity of handling 1 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU) of cargo a year.

The port will reach 5 million TEU capacity by 2028 as APSEZ invests 13,000 crore in a second phase that will include expanding both the berth and the breakwater, he said.

To be sure, Vizhinjams cargo handling charges wont be any cheaper than those of its overseas rivals. But its proximity to other Indian ports and use of the latest technology would help cut turnaround times, saving cost.

Growth opportunities

FY25 was a good year for APSEZ, per its earnings report on Thursday. It posted a record profit of 11,061 crore while also completing the acquisition of Gopalpur port in Odisha and commencing operations at Vizhinjam and Colombo.

It handled 450 million metric tonnes of cargo, raking in a topline of 31,079 crore. The company has set a target of handling 1 billion tonnes of cargo annually by 2030, 150 million tonnes of which will come from its overseas ports in Israel, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Australia.

The company had a cash balance of 8,991 crore as of 31 March. For FY25, the APSEZ board recommended a dividend of 7 per share, translating to a payout of 1,500 crore.

APSEZ is planning to bid for the upcoming Vadhavan Port when it comes up for bidding, Adani said.

Other growth opportunities include the planned India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). APSEZ stands to gain from the route, given its control of Vizhinjam, a terminal in Colombo, a port in Tanzania, and the Haifa port in Israel. All of these fall along the planned trade route, which promises to be an alternative to the Suez Canal and a counter to Chinas belt and road initiative.

The companys board last month approved buying back the NQXT port terminal in Australia from the Adani family, which it had sold to them in 2013 to pare debt. Gupta said the company is eyeing green hydrogen export opportunities from there.

The APSEZ stock closed 4.1% higher on the BSE on Friday at 1,267.05. The benchmark Sensex ended the session 0.3% in the green.

Key takeaways
India may be one of the first countries that could strike a trade deal with the US after Donald Trump announced a 27 per cent tariff on the country, American Vice President JD Vance has said.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Vance said good negotiations were now on with India on tariffs.

JD Vance, during the interview on Fox News's Special Report, was asked if India will be the first country to strike a deal with the US.

The Vice President replied that India will certainly be one of the first countries to do so.

I don't know if it'll be your first deal, I think it would be among the first deals for sure. Pretty soon the President look, we've got negotiations with Japan, with Korea, we've got negotiations going on with some folks in Europe, and obviously we've got a good negotiation going on in India, Vance said.

PM Narendra Modi tough negotiator JD Vance has also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a tough negotiator and accused New Delhi of taking advantage of America.

Modi, the Prime Minister, is a tough negotiator, but we're going to rebalance that relationship, and that's why the president is doing what he is doing, he said.

Accusing India of taking advantage of the US, the Vice President said Donald Trump is not anti-trade.

He's not anti-trade. He's anti-unfair trade. He's not entirely the kind of trade where foreign competitors take advantage of us, the Indians, let's be honest, they've taken advantage of us for a very long time, he said.

JD Vance shares glimpse of India-US trade deal JD Vance also shared what can be called a peek into the possible India-US trade deal.

He said that while Americans have great agricultural products, the Indian market is effectively closed off to US farmers.

What the President has said is, we just want to rebalance trade. So some of the conversations I've had in India, for example, I think most Americans may not know, may not appreciate this, we have great agricultural products, Vance said.

Also Read | JD Vance sees an India that America can work with

Our farmers are making great things, but the Indian market is effectively closed off to American farmers. So what that means is that it makes American farmers and American consumers more reliant on foreign competitors to grow the food that we eat, he added.

The Vice President shared that the trade deal will open up India to American farmers, technology and more.

What our India deal will do, fundamentally, I think, is open up India to American technology. It will open up India to American farmers. It will create more good American jobs. And it's the kind of trade deal that Donald Trump loves, Vance said.
New Delhi: The Union government will consider resuming exports of maida , semolina ( suji ) and wheat flour ( atta ) as the country is estimated to see record wheat production of over 115.3 million tonnes this year, said two people aware of the matter.

The proposal may be taken up at an upcoming inter-ministerial meeting that will have representatives from the ministries of commerce, cooperation, consumer affairs and food, agriculture, and food processing, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

The government had restricted the export of maida, suji, and wholemeal atta in August 2022 following a decline in wheat production. These products have a strong consumer base in countries with a large Indian diaspora, including the US, the UK, the Gulf nations, and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Also read: Wheat procurement crosses 18.39 mt, 54% more than last year

The plan is to strike a balance between domestic availability and tapping into export demand," said the first of the two persons mentioned above. With global markets interested in processed food items from India, the government sees an opportunity to boost agriprocessing exports without straining local food security."

Wheat procurement is on during the rabi marketing season 2025-26 in the major procuring states across the country. Against an estimated target of 31.2 million tonnes, 25.63 million tonnes of wheat were procured in the central pool by 30 April, an increase of 24.78% over a year earlier.

The government has received proposals from some exporters as well as food processors for lifting the ban (on wheat product exports). We are examining all such submissions," the second person quoted earlier said. The matter will be taken up by the inter-ministerial committee, which will assess its impact on domestic supply and the availability of food grains. If everything aligns with our broader planning objectives, the committee will take a final decision accordingly."

Also read: Strong oilseed crop to keep India edible oil prices stable: AWL Agri Business

To be sure, the ban on wheat exports will continue and there is no discussion on lifting it.

Wheat product prices drop

According to the latest data from the consumer affairs ministry, prices of key wheat-based products have shown a marginal decline over the past month. Maida dropped to 41.78 per kg as on 2 May from 42.10 a month ago. Similarly, suji eased to 46.51 per kg from 46.63, while atta prices declined to 37.15 per kg compared to 37.59 in early April.

There is a strong demand for Indian wheat products such as suji, maida, flour and bran in Gulf countries, as well as from other destinations like the US, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Malaysia. However, since the ban on these goods is in place, buyers are sourcing similar goods from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan," a food processor said, who didnt wish to be identified. There is a potential to export nearly 45 million tonnes to these markets, the person said.

Also read: As harvest picks up pace, wheat flour prices fall by 5-7 per kg, offering relief to consumers

"The government should take steps to incentivize farmers and work towards doubling their income [and] ... ensure procurement of wheat at the MSP (minimum support price)," said Binod Anand, a member of the committee on MSP.

Promoting exports is one such measure [to boost income]. However, the Centre should not act under pressure from industry lobbiesthe decision must ensure that farmers benefit while the general public continues to have access to affordable food supplies," said Anand.
Indias exports rose 6.01% year-on-year to an all-time high of $824.9 billion in 2024-25, propelled by a 13.6% on-year rise in services exports to a record $387.5 billion, showed the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) final services trade data released on Friday.

March alone saw services exports surge 18.6% on-year to $35.6 billion, reflecting continued global demand for Indias IT, business, financial, and travel-related services, the RBI said.

Also Read: Manufacturing PMI: Dont extrapolate surge in Indias exports just yet The merchandise segment also contributed to the overall rise, with non-petroleum goods exports reaching a new peak of $374.1 billion in 2024-25, up 6% from $352.9 billion a year ago.

This is the highest annual figure for Indias non-petroleum merchandise shipments, offering some reassurance when traditional goods exports have been under pressure from tightening global demand and geopolitical disruptions.

This sharp rise in exports, which stood at $778.1 billion in 2023-24, comes when India is actively working to expand its trade footprint via bilateral and multilateral agreements, and is positioning itself as a resilient, service-driven exports economy amid shifting global supply chains.

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh aims to triple exports by 2030: Bold vision or too ambitious? India is attempting to consolidate its global trade presence through ongoing free trade agreement negotiations, particularly with the European Union and the UK, and amid efforts to mitigate the impact of retaliatory tariffs introduced by the US.

Experts see the performance as an indication of India's growing competitiveness in high-value services and diversified goods sectors.

The rise in exports reflects the better performance of the manufacturing sector, which is completing a strong turnaround driven by resilient global demand, improved logistics, and government incentives under schemes like performance-linked incentives, said Abhash Kumar, an economist.

While petroleum and other commodity-linked exports remained relatively subdued due to volatile global prices, the continued expansion in digitally driven services and value-added manufacturing suggests a structural shift in Indias exports composition.

The RBI numbers are likely to boost policymakers' efforts to promote trade-led growth as part of Indias broader 2047 development vision.

Meanwhile, India's trade surplus with the US jumped 16.6% in 2024-25, ballooning to $41.18 billion from $35.32 billion a year ago, even as US President Donald Trump prepared to hike US tariffs in protest.

Also Read: Ajit Ranade: India must diversify its exports of manufactured goods According to 15 April commerce ministry data, Indian goods exports to the US rose by 11.6%, from $77.52 billion in 2023-24 to $86.51 billion in 2024-25. Imports from the US also rose, but just 7.42%, from $42.20 billion to $45.33 billion.

Globally, Indias trade deficit widened sharply to $21.54 billion in March, rising from a three-year low of $14.05 billion in February. Merchandise exports for the fiscal year stood at $437.42 billion, marginally higher than the $437.07 billion recorded a year ago, while imports stood at $720.24 billion, up from $678.21 billion in 2023-24, showed the commerce ministry data.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Madhyamik 10th Result was announced today on May 2 by the President, Ad-hoc Committee, Dr Ramanuj Ganguly.

A total of 66 students have secured the top 10 positions in West Bengal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the students, parents, teachers, and guardians, and encouraged the students to keep trying. Success will come in future, she said.

My heartfelt congratulations to all the students who passed this year's Madhyamik exams! I hope you will be even more successful in the future. On this memorable day in your life, I also extend my heartfelt greetings to your parents, guardians and teachers. Their support and guidance have made this success possible, she wrote in her post on X.

WBBSE Madhyamik Results 2025 Direct Link

Students, teachers and parents can check the WBBSE Madhyamik 10th Result 2025 on LiveMint.com. Students can enter their roll number and Date Of Birth to access their result.

Besides, one can check at wbbse.wb.gov.in, per the official notification. WBBSE students can access the Madhyamik results on the official websites of the West Bengal Board  wbbse.wb.gov.in or wbresults.nic.in, as well as through SMS and DigiLocker.

Step-by-Step to check the WBBSE Madhyamik Class 10th Results 2025 Go to the official website: wbbse.wb.gov.in. 2. Click on the link labelled WBBSE Madhyamik Results 2025.

3. Enter your roll number and date of birth.

4. Click Submit to view your result.

5. Download and print a copy for your records.

WBBSE Class 10 exam 2025 toppers Aditra Sarkar from Rajganj topped the exam, scoring 696 out of 700 marks or 99.43%, followed by Anubhab Biswas from Ramkrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidya Mandir, Malda and Soumya Pal from Bankura Bishnupur High School. Both received 99.14%. Ishani Chakraborty, from Kotulpur Saroj Basini Balika Vidyalaya in Bankura, is the third topper. She received 99% in Madhyamik results.

Purba Medinipur secured the highest overall pass percentage among all districts, at 96.46%.

WBBSE Class 10 exam 2025 topper speaks out "I didn't stick to any daily routine. Bit I never skipped studies either. I studied regularly. My parents, elders sister and teachers helped me a lot. I want to join the medical stream," Adrita Sarkar, (1st) informed media.

WBBSE Class 10 exam 2025: List of toppers, marks and percentage obtained 1. Adrit Sarkar: 696, 99.43 per cent

2. Anubhav Biswas, Soumya Pal: 694, 99.14 per cent

3. Ishani Chakraborty: 693, 99 per cent

WBBSE Class 10 exam: How many students with disabilities passed it? 910 out Of 1,219 physically challenged students passed, making a success rate of 74.65%. Special accommodations like extra time, ramps, and scribes were given to them.

WBBSE Class 10 exam: Boys vs Girls - who perfomed better? According to an IANS report, boys outshone girls with an 89.19% pass rate, compared to girls' 84.31%.

List of four performing districts in WBBSE class 10 exams East Midnapore - 96.46%

Kalimpong - 96.09%

Kolkata - 92.30%

West Midnapore - 90.52%

WBBSE Class 10 exam: Which districts are the toppers from? Among the 66 students who have secured the top 10 positions in the state, 11 students are from Bankura, seven are from Birbhum, Malda, Purba Medinipur each, an Indian Express report said.

Six students are from Hooghly and Purba Burdwan each, five students are from 24 PGS(S), four from Uttar Dinajpur, three from Paschim Medinipur, 2 from 24 PGS(N), Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur each and one student each from Kolkata and Nadia, it added.

WBBSE Class 10 exam: What is the next step post-examination? If a student is failed, then they can apply for Supplementary. If unsatisfied with marks, then they can apply for revaluation. A passed one is promoted to class 11th.

WBBSE Class 10 exam: When can students collect their marksheets? The West Bengal Class 10 Board has established sub-division-wise camp offices for distributing the Madhyamik 2025 marksheets and pass certificates. Schools can collect these documents for their students from the designated camp offices, after which students may collect them directly from their respective schools.

WBBSE Class 10 exam: No student withheld, including no incomplete result this year The WBBSE reported no incomplete or withheld results this year. Only 20 results were cancelled, and 88 students were exonerated.

WBBSE Class 10 exam: How many students made it to top 10 merit list? WBBSE said a total of 66 students have made it to the top 10 merit list, meaning a tough competition among high performers this time.

11 students from Bankura, 7 from Birbhum, Malda, Purba Medinipur each, 6 from Hooghly, Purba Burdwan each, 5 from 24 PGS(S), 4 from Uttar Dinajpur, 3 from Paschim Medinipur, 2 from 24 PGS(N), Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur each and 1 student from Kolkata and Nadia each.

Also Read | Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 LIVE: KSEAB declares Class 10 result today

WBBSE Class 10 exam schedule WBBSE conducted the Madhyamik Pariksha (Class 10 exam) for over nine lakh students, including more than five lakh girls, from February 10 to 22, 2025.

The WBBSE Madhyamik Pariksha (SE) was held across 2,683 exam centres in West Bengal.

What is the pass percentage in WBBSE Class 10 exam? One should score at least 34 per cent to pass WB Madhyamik exams in every subject, reports said. Students who don't meet the minimum pass percentage need to reappear for supplementary exams held by WB board. Candidates can also choose the option of getting their answer scripts re-assessed. The details for it will be stated later on the board website.

WBBSE Class 10 pass percentage from 2018 to 2023 2023: 86.15 per cent

2022: 86.60 per cent

2021: 100 per cent

2020: 86.34 per cent

2019: 86.07 per cent

2018: 85.49 per cent.

Also Read | Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 LIVE: KSEAB to announce Class 10 result today
Veteran Filipino actor and director Ricky Davao passed away after fighting a battle with cancer. He was 63. His children confirmed the news of his death via a joint post on social media on Friday.

Ricky Davao death Ricky was surrounded by his children when he took his last breath.

The late veteran's daughter Ara Davao wrote on Instagram: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Ricky Davao. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children and loved ones, after bravely facing complications related to cancer.

For more than four decades, he dedicated his life to the craft of acting and directing. His remarkable body of work and award-winning performances have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire. Most of all he was a loving father, brother, son, and friend.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and kind messages during this difficult time. Details about his memorial service will be shared soon, she added.

Reportedly, Davao suffered from a terminal illness since 2024.

Davao is survived by his three kids: Arabella, Rikki Mae, and Kenneth.

He was previously married to actress Jackie Lou Blanco, with whom he had his kids.

In 2023, he introduced his non-showbiz girlfriend named Malca to the public after being together for over a year.

Ricky Davao's girlfriend Malca reacts to his death Mourning the loss of Ricky, Malca posted a heartbreaking letter on Instagram.

It read: "To My Dearest Bubba, You were the bravest and strongest person I have ever known. From the very beginning up to your last breath, I saw how fiercely you fought. The best decision I have ever made in my life was to be with you and never leave your side all throughout.

I can still vividly remember how you would ask me, again and again, Are you tired na? And I always had just one answer for you, Bubba: I will never get tired of taking care of youbecause we are in this journey together. You would smile and say, Thank you. I love you, baby. Those words alone gave me all the strength I needed to keep going. I didnt fully believe in the idea of unconditional love. But loving you changed that. Through you, I discovered a deeper part of myselfa part capable of doing anything and everything because of love. Because of my love for you. 

I have to admit now I lied when I told you Id be okay. I lied when I said Id be strong. Because the truth is, life doesnt feel right without you. Theres an emptiness now that nothing can fill. And I miss you more than words will ever be able to express. But I carry you with me, always. In my heart, in my memories, in every quiet moment. I love you forever, my man, my Bubba @rickyad, she also added.
Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, who enjoys a large fan base in India, addressed a fabricated statement, circulating on social media, attributed to her over the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Hania is among the several Pakistani celebrities whose Instagram accounts were blocked in India.

Clarifying that a viral post attributing a controversial statement to her is entirely false, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress said it misrepresents who I am and what I believe.

Note: Her Instagram account is still not available in India. However, her statement, which has been widely circulated on social media, found its way into India's digital landscape.

Haina said the terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, deserves empathy - not politicisation.

In times like these, it's easy to let emotions cloud our judgment, but we must remember: the actions of extremists do not represent an entire nation or its people, she said in a statement.

Also Read | Suniel Shetty supports ban on Pakistani artists after Pahalgam terror attack

What is the fake viral post attributed to Hania Aamir? According to the fake viral post, Hania Aamir was allegedly speaking out about the ban on Pakistani artists in India and the restriction of their Instagram accounts. She was requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the actions against them.

Several reports suggested that Hania has been replaced in Diljit Dosanjhs Sardaar Ji 3 after the Pahalgam attack.

Read Hania Aamir's full statement here: Recently, a statement has been falsely attributed to me and is being widely circulated on social media. I want to address this directly: I did not make this statement, and I do not endorse or align with the words being linked to me. It is entirely fabricated and misrepresents who I am and what I believe.

That being said, this is a deeply sensitive and emotional time. My heart goes out to the innocent lives lost and the families affected by the recent tragedy. Pain like this is real, and it deserves empathy-not politicisation. In times like these, it's easy to let emotions cloud our judgment, but we must remember: the actions of extremists do not represent an entire nation or its people. Assigning blame without proof only deepens divides and distracts from the real need for compassion, justice, and healing.

To my beloved supporters, your love means everything to me. I kindly ask everyone to check the truth before sharing and to approach these difficult times with kindness and clarity. Let us honour those impacted by choosing empathy, truth, and togetherness. I remain committed to spreading positivity and respect in all that I do. With sincere condolences and hope for peace.

Also Read | Hania Aamir sparks meme fest on Twitter as Indian fans send her water
Washington DC [US], May 2 (ANI): Actor Jeremy Renner opened up about why there's no second season of 'Hawkeye' yet.

In an interview with High Performance, as quoted by Variety, Renner, who plays Clint Barton, claimed he was offered 'half' his salary from the first season of the Disney series.

"They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money. I'm like, 'Well, it's going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money, and eight months of my time, essentially, to do it for half the amount,'" said Renner to High Performance as quoted by Variety.

The actor believes that the proposed lower salary was a result of his near-fatal snowmobile accident in 2023.

"I'm like, 'I'm sorry? Why? Did you think I'm only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe that's why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season," said Renner as quoted by Variety.

According to the outlet, Renner was hospitalised for blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries on Jan. 1, 2023.

The accident occurred after his Sno-Cat, a large snowplow that weighs at least 14,330 pounds, ran him over.

The actor was trying to help his nephew out of the snow near his home in Lake Tahoe when the Sno-Cat crushed him. His injuries included eight ribs broken in 14 places, a broken right knee and ankle, a broken left leg tibia and ankle, a broken right clavicle and shoulder and more, reported Variety.

Renner said that he felt disrespected after the insulting offer.

"This is not Marvel, mind you. This is like, just Disney, not even really Disney. It's just the penny pinchers, the accountants. I told them to go fly a kite. I mean, just at the at the insult offer. So we didn't see eye to eye on it," Renner continued

Fortunately, the actor has not denied the possibility of working again in the series.

"Sadly, I still love the character. I'd still love to do it, but I had to defend myself. I didn't ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what I made made the first season. So it's all disheartening that that didn't happen, but that's fine. I'm happy to let that go, because my body's probably thanking me, time and time again, that I'm not doing it right now. But we'll see," said Renner as quoted by Variety.
Europe can resolve its trade dispute with the U.S. by purchasing 50 billion euros worth of American goods like gas and soybeans, the EUs top trade negotiator said.

The EU wont accept a baseline 10% U.S. tariff on European imports as a long-term solution to the trade issue, commissioner Maros Sefcovic told the Financial Times in an interview published late Thursday. Instead, the bloc could look at addressing U.S. complaints by buying more U.S. goods as a means of flattening out the trade imbalance between the two economies, Sefcovic said. The commissioner said his team is making progress with his counterparts in Washington toward a deal.

Still, it will be difficult to reach a deal acceptable to all 27 members of the EU and its common parliament, the commissioner said.

President Trump has repeatedly lambasted the EU and other trade partners for what he says are the unfair surpluses they run in their trade in goods with the U.S. Stepping up purchases of American liquefied natural gas is one remedy that has repeatedly been floated by policymakers. Doing so could help narrow the gap in EU-U.S. trade, Sefcovic said.

If what we are looking at as a problem in the deficit is 50 billion euros, I believe that we can really . . . solve this problem very quickly through LNG purchases, through some agricultural products like soybeans, or other areas," Sefcovic said. The EU runs a yearly surplus of more than $200 billion in its goods trade with the U.S., but a deficit in its services trade of more than $100 billion, according to figures from the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C.

Trump at the start of April said he would impose a sweeping 20% tariff on goods from the EU and other trading partners, duties that he says are reciprocal. That package of tariffs was later paused for 90 days, though a 10% baseline remains in effect, as do sector-specific import duties on cars and some metals.

The EU in response to Trumps tariffs set out its own package of tariffs on U.S. goods including soybeans, motorcycles and chewing gum, though certain key sectors were excluded from the duties. Brussels later also paused that package for a reciprocal 90 days.

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com
Latin America is famous for many things, from magical realism to the Amazon rainforest. Semiconductor manufacturing is not one of them. But that could be changing. In July last year the United States and Costa Rica announced they would work together to diversify and grow the global semiconductor ecosystem". Days later the US unveiled a similar partnership with Panama. Intel, a US chip manufacturer, then said it would invest $1.2bn in Costa Rica over two years. Mexico and Brazil, the regions biggest economies, claim to have ambitions in silicon.

Growing Latin American interest in chipmaking is driven by US attempts to loosen Asias grip on the business. About 75% of the worlds chips are made in Japan, South Korea, China or Taiwan. This irks US policymakers, partly because they covet manufacturing jobs for discontented blue-collar workers, and partly because they worry about relying on countries within Chinas potential sphere of influence for products as vital as chips. The protectionism these concerns have prompted may well end up boosting Latin America.

To see why, consider how chips are made. First they must be designed. Silicon Valley dominates this bit of the business, through companies like Apple, Nvidia and AMD. The second phase sees those designs etched into silicon wafers, creating electrical circuits which do the mathematics that draw Instagram feeds on phone screens, or manage the batteries of electric vehicles. Here, Asian countries dominate. During the final phase chips are assembled together into an electronic component, wrapped in protective casing, and tested to ensure that they work.

The US government is doling out billions in subsidies to entice chip companies to set up manufacturing facilities on its soil. As of last August, those blandishments had attracted $166bn in capital investment. But assembly, testing and packaging (ATP) is too labour-intensive to be profitable in the high-wage US economy. Making chips in Texas and Arizona only partially solves the problem of Asian reliance if they must still be shipped across the Pacific before they are used. More than 95% of ATP facilities are located in Asia. China alone holds 28% of the market.

This is where Latin America can help, and be helped. Relatively low wages make ATP investments viable; shared time zones make co-ordination with United States firms easier. Even a sliver of an industry projected to be worth $1tn a year by 2030 would be a boon to struggling economies. True, most of the value in the chip industry is in design and fabrication. But as chipmaking becomes ever more expensive, firms are turning to more advanced ATP to keep seeking out improvements. Asian economies found it to be a good way to climb the value chain. Replicating the success of South Korea and Taiwan is unlikely, but countries with no chip industry must start somewhere.

Intels ATP facility in Costa Rica now employs some 4,000 workers. Panama is working with Arizona State University to improve the skills of its semiconductor workforce. These developments are encouraging, but countries like Panama and Costa Rica probably lack the scale for a major chip ecosystem", notes Chris Miller, the author of Chip War, a book about the semiconductor industry. If chipmaking is to transform Latin America, bigger fish must get involved.

But the big fish are floundering. Mexico has much to gain from the re-ordering of the semiconductor supply chain thanks to its free-trade agreement with the United States. It has a long history of assembling electronic components. Chipmakers should be piling in. They are not.

One issue is that chipmaking consumes a lot of water, and Mexico is dangerously parched. Another is leadership. In South-East Asia and India, there is high-level political support for semiconductor investments," says Mr Miller. Lack of that in Mexico blunts the effectiveness of otherwise supportive policies. In October Mexico introduced tax breaks of up to 83% on some ATP investments. That was enticing to chip firms, but it did little to reduce uncertainty. Chipmakers are left to hope that Mexicans will elect a more chip-friendly president when they go to the polls in June.

Brazil is also wishy-washy on semiconductors. Its officials, absurdly, talk up semiconductor self-reliance", impossible for any country, rather than trying to get a mere toehold in the supply chain. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has spent nearly a year talking chips with China, with nothing to show for it thus far.

While he and other Latin American leaders dither, the coffers of ATP operations in Asia spill over. Intel and Infineon, a German chipmaker, are spending some $22bn to build new chip packaging facilities in Malaysia. Vietnam and India have also won big projects. Latin America is missing a big opportunity," says Mr Miller. The window for action is closing rapidly."

Sign up to El Boletin, our subscriber-only newsletter on Latin America, to understand the forces shaping a fascinating and complex region.
The minerals deal signed by Ukraine and the U.S. is expected to boost relations between the two allies as they plan joint investments in critical resources.

Senior Treasury officials declined Thursday to say how long it could take for U.S. companies to mine the rare earth minerals that President Trump has touted as a centerpiece of the deal. Some of those minerals are near the front lines in Ukraine, which is fighting to repel Russia. The officials said oil and gas projects in Ukraine were likely the first to come to fruition because they would be easier to execute.

But a web of bureaucratic challenges remain. The agreement seeks to establish a fund into which both the U.S. and Ukraine invest and which is meant to benefit from Ukraines economic recovery. Before any money can start to flow, the deal needs to be ratified by Ukraines parliament and the fund itself must be created. Only then can Ukraine begin attracting investors into its wealth of natural resources and minerals.

The signing is nonetheless a diplomatic victory for Ukraine after a period of troubled relations with its most important benefactor. Ukraine relies on the U.S. for weaponry and intelligence-sharing it could scarcely do without. The Trump administration has been ramping up pressure to end the war. Ukraine has sought to present itself as a cooperative partner.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko signed the minerals deal in Washington, D.C.

For Trump, the deal is a victory because any military aid that Washington gives to Ukraine can count as a contribution to the fund Ukraine is supposed to match. Trump could say Ukraine is paying for U.S. aid, rather than benefiting from U.S. largess.

This deal can empower people inside the administration who want to support Ukraine," said Eric Green, a former senior national security adviser for Russia under the Biden administration. They can appeal to the transactional crowd in the White House."

Kyiv agreed after being pressured by the Trump administration to sign. Now it is Russia that looks obstructive, said Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics and Ukraines former economic development minister. Its a harsh contrast between Russia, which is unconstructive and cant accomplish anything with the U.S., and Ukraine, which was able to sign a deal," he said.

Trump has appeared increasingly annoyed by Russias resistance to a cease-fire deal and seems inclined to back out of peacemaking efforts between Russia and Ukraine, said Green, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. After the minerals agreement, Trump might continue intelligence sharing with Kyiv and allow some commercial arms sales and not hinder European direct aid to Ukraine, he said.

In Moscow, officials denounced the minerals deal as a sign the so-called deep state in Washington could hijack Trumps peacemaking agenda.

Trumps ratings are down, the deep state is fiercely resisting him," wrote Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and present deputy head of Russias Security Council in a post on social media. May is off to a stormy start. And by no means peaceful. Victory Day is still to come."

Each side made concessions during tetchy negotiations. The agreement doesnt explicitly provide security guarantees for Ukrainesomething Kyiv has sought because it fears future aggression from Russia.

The fund also wouldnt go toward repaying past military aid from the U.S., a clause Washington included in past versions of the deal.

Ukrainian officials touted the deal as helpful to Ukraines long-term defense. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who flew to Washington for the signing Wednesday, echoed the position of Trump officials that U.S. investment was also a guarantee of sorts.

Security guarantees, its not only antimissile systems and weapon delivery," she said. Its also U.S. businesses that are working on the ground. And this mechanism is to unlock this opportunity for U.S. companies."

U.S. officials acknowledged businesses might be hesitant to invest in Ukraine. Any company working in Ukraine faces a threat of daily Russian bombardment from attack drones and ballistic missiles that have targeted Ukrainian cities.

But the payoff could be big if a peace deal is signed. Ukraine contains 20 of 50 raw minerals considered critical, including titanium, lithium and uranium.

Write to Alan Cullison at alan.cullison@wsj.com
It seems only logical. The worlds two exporting giants, China and the European Union, could team up to resist U.S. President Donald Trumps trade offensive. In practice, that will be tough.

Both sides are poking out olive branches, or twigs. Beijing removed symbolic sanctions against five members of the European Parliament whom it judged overly outspoken about Uyghur minority rights. Eurocrats leaked the possibility of replacing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles with administratively determined minimum prices.

Thats a long way from ditching the China derisking" policy Europe enshrined a few years ago. The bloc will prioritize patching relations with Washington, only inching toward Beijing as a hedge, Brussels-watchers agree. Lowering barriers against China is not a good idea for Europe," says Davide Oneglia, director of European and global macro at TS Lombard. Its much more reasonable to be aligned with the U.S."

Arithmetic is one compelling reason. The EU racked up a record 198 billion euros ($225 billion) goods trade surplus with the U.S. last year. Its deficit with China was 305 billion, nearly twice the prepandemic level. Europe fears that if it strengthens trade ties, it will be flooded by cheap Chinese products," says Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING Research.

Europe watched China obliterate its early lead in green technology like solar panels and wind turbines, using what the Continent considers unfair subsidies, and fears a repeat on electric vehicles. Beijings critical support for Russias invasion of EU neighbor Ukraine also rankles.

Europe is no longer naive on China," says Eoin Drea, senior researcher at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. Its not the El Dorado everybody thought 10 years ago."

A few inches in an $800 billion bilateral trade relationship could still impact economies and companies, however. Prohibitive Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports could spell opportunity for competing European suppliers of advanced industrial or medical equipment, notes Jacob Gunter, lead economics and industry analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies.

Companies like Siemens or ThyssenKrupp may compete with General Electric for Chinese market share," he explains. European jet maker Airbus could take advantage if China continues to boycott U.S. rival Boeing.

More significantly, Trumps trade war could accelerate the integration of the Chinese and European auto industries. While European brands precipitously lose Chinese customers, Chinas innovative EV and hybrid manufacturers threaten to invade Europe.

Brussels task is to force them to produce within Europe, preferably through joint ventures that transfer technology to Old World partners. Europe needs to do a reverse China, trading market access for know-how," Drea comments.

Its starting to work, driven by the lower-cost European firms who are most vulnerable. Renault and Chinas Geely Automobile Holdings announced a London-based joint venture last year to make hybrid and high-mileage internal combustion engines. Stellantis, which includes the Chrysler, Fiat, and Peugeot brands, has tied up with Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology. Chinese EV champion BYD expects to start producing at its own plant in Hungary later this year.

I fully anticipate that the Chinese will replicate the Japanese and Korean nearshoring strategy in Europe," says Germany-based industry analyst Matthias Schmidt.

The Trump administration could still push Europe into a warmer embrace of China. But it would have to try pretty hard. In the long run the EU and China will be competitors," INGs Brzeski says. Its a deteriorating economic relationship."

Email: editors@barrons.com
New Delhi: Concerned over the rampant misuse of Nimesulide drug used to treat pain and fever, the government has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct an extensive review of the prescription medicine and its effects on adults.

Nimesulide is classified as a Schedule H drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Drugs listed under Schedule H are prescription drugs, which means they can only be sold by retail on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.

Also Read | Side-effects of banned drug Nimesulide still reported in children: Report

India's top medical research body will review this drug after it was withdrawn or had its use curtailed in several countries due to safety concerns. Recently, India completely banned this formulation for veterinary use due to safety concerns.

There is a concern that Nimesulide drug may be causing side-effects to adults as well. To review the same, it has been referred to the ICMR. Right now, there is only one medicineParacetamolto reduce fever, which reduces temperatures by 2 degrees. So, theres no alternative. Now, the government is evaluating the effects of Nimesulide in adult population. The drug is already banned for paediatric use for children below 12 years," an official aware of the matter said.

Queries sent to a Union health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.

Also Read | Pharmacy colleges being rated after teaching scandal

Nimesulide belongs to a class of painkillers called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties. The drug is easily available over the counter. Introduced in the early 1980s, it quickly became popular for its fast-acting and effective relief of various pain and inflammatory conditions.

Experts say that prolonged use of Nimesulide can adversely affect liver and kidney, and can also interfere with fertility.

In India, the use of Nimesulide is prohibited in children below 12 years of age, following reports of liver damage.

Also Read | India seeks details of pharma exports to Pakistan ahead of likely total ban

Recent concerns have been raised regarding its continued use among adults, especially in high-risk groups, prompting the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), headed by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), to review the safety of the drug.

The issue was discussed at a Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) meeting held in the Union ministry of health and family welfare last week. ICMR has been asked to conduct a systematic review of the use of the drug in adult population for further deliberation to take a final call," the official cited earlier said on the condition of anonymity.

Nimesulide is available in India under different brand names manufactured by several companies.

To be sure, in 2023, a representative from Dr. Reddys Laboratories submitted a representation to DCGI highlighting the safety of Nimesulide in adult population.

A Dr. Reddys Laboratories' spokesperson said: "Robust research and clinical trials have consistently established the safety and efficacy of Nimesulide, when used as prescribed. We respect the ICMR's recommendations regarding Nimesulide. We wish to clarify that our company does not manufacture or distribute Nimesulide in doses exceeding 100 mg. Our Prescribing Information (PI) for Nimesulide serves as a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers, ensuring responsible prescription and use of the medication. The PI specifies that Nimesulide is indicated for short-term treatment in approved indications, and not exceeding more than 10 days. Additionally, the PI highlights that Nimesulide is not recommended for use in pregnant or lactating women and patients with renal or hepatic impairments."

According to PharmaTrac data, the drug's Moving Annual Total (MAT) for sales, which represents the total sales value over the past 12 months, has grown by almost 15% since 2020 and currently stands at 424 crore.

During last week's DTAB meeting, ICMR said that that Nimesulide should be used only as a second-line drug, after exhausting first-line options, the official said.

At the meeting, ICMR said that Nimesulide should not be used in pregnant, lactating and women planning for pregnancy.

Nimesulide should not be used in patients with renal and hepatic impairment and also should not be co-administered with other hepatotoxic and renal toxic drugs." All oral formulations of Nimesulide above 100mg in immediate release dosage form should be prohibited, it said.

Medical experts said that Nimesulide needs to be used cautiously, and dose should not exceed 100mg.

Dr. Arvind Aggarwal, senior consultant, internal medicine, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, said: Nimesulide is a Schedule H drug in India and requires a prescription, but it is widely available over the counter (OTC). Self-medication is the main concern which is increasing the risk of adverse effects. Prolonged use of Nimesulide can adversely affect liver and kidney, can also cause fertility issues. Hepatotoxicity or liver toxicity is the most widely observed side-effect of Nimesulide. The drug is banned for children under 12 due to severe liver damage risks."

He added that some European countries have restricted its use to short-term only, and consider as a second-line therapy if other drugs fail. However, in India, doctors are using it as a first-line treatment. Hence, a regulatory concern is justified given the risk factors. The safety review of Nimesulide would lead us towards effective patient safety in terms of medicine use and surely reassess its role in adults, particularly in high-risk groups."
(Bloomberg) -- Oil slumped as OPEC discussed making a second major production increase, inflaming concerns about swelling global supplies that have dragged down crude prices this year.

West Texas Intermediate futures fell almost 2% to trade around $58 a barrel, continuing a slide this week that has brought prices near the lowest since early 2021. Key OPEC nations are considering another production increase of about 400,000 barrels a day in June ahead of a meeting the group pushed forward two days to May 3.

Another aggressive supply boost from the cartel threatens to batter a market already pressured by soft Chinese demand and plentiful output from outside the group. The increase would be in line with figures previously telegraphed by the group and roughly matches last months shock hike, which was seen as a bid to discipline over-producing members.

OPECs decision framework appears to be fueled by the persistent cheating, particularly from the likes of Iraq, Kazakhstan, Russia among others, TD Cowen strategists including Dan Ghali and Bart Melek said in a note to clients. Inventories may increase by about 200 million barrels over the next three quarters, which could drop crude toward the low $50s, they wrote.

Crude has shed about 19% this year  and briefly touched a four-year low last month  as the Trump administrations tariffs fan concerns that energy demand will fall.

The drop in prices is already showing signs of squeezing a key industry that US President Donald Trump pledged to help. Some of the biggest US shale-oil producers plan to slash about 4% of their drilling rigs by the end of the year. Chevron Corp. said on an earnings call on Friday that it would reduce share buybacks, citing a softening market.

The bearish OPEC development overshadowed earlier news that China is assessing the possibility of talks with the US that could ease the trade conflict between the two economic giants. The Wall Street Journal reported later that China had approached the Trump administration to ask what changes the US was seeking in relation to the production of precursor chemicals that are used to make fentanyl.

Limiting crudes losses was Trumps pledge to impose secondary sanctions on any nations or companies buying Iranian oil, ratcheting up pressure on Tehran as nuclear talks with Washington hit a snag. The vow follows a similar move in early March to place secondary tariffs on countries that obtain oil from Venezuela.

Top buyers of crude from the targeted nations, like China and India, are also the epicenters of the US-led trade war, meaning the indirect penalties may exacerbate economic strain from Beijing to New Delhi.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here.

--With assistance from Jake Lloyd-Smith.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Turbulence over Trump tariffs and the terror strike in Kashmir have darkened the mood for Indian investors buffeted by months of volatility, leaving them scrambling for answers: Does the road get rockier in the next three months? Are there any signs of comfort at all? What happens to initial public offerings (IPOs) after last years frenzy? And will gold outperform equities again this year, after 2024?

To gauge the markets pulse, we surveyed 30 investment professionalsanalysts, economists, research heads, and fund managersbetween 22 and 30 April. Their verdict: There is no escape from volatility, but in a bleak global setting, India might emerge as a bright spot.

This is the third in a new Mint series of quarterly market surveys, the first of which was held ahead of Diwali in October 2024 and the second in February after the Union Budget.

Most experts (77%) think that Indian investors should brace for moderate to moderately high levels of volatility in the next three months. However, 20% anticipate uncertainty will be high going forward.

Ajit Mishra, senior vice-president of research at Religare Broking noted that President Trump's policy flip-flops", along with unpredictable reactions from other countries, are likely to inject a fresh wave of uncertainty as the 90-day tariff reprieve ends on 2 July.

Even though India is not in tariff crossfire between the US and China, it is not immune to the secondary effects that are likely to rise from broader global disruptions. Hence, most experts expect increased fluctuations and increased short-term capital movements in the near term.

Also read | India won the emerging market race again in FY25. Will it become a safe haven too?

However, Jay Kothari, lead equity strategist at DSP Mutual Fund feels that historically, bouts of volatility have often offered the most opportune moments for long-term investments as prices tend to be lucrative during uncertain times.

On the other hand, Prasanna Pathak, managing partner at The Wealth Company, believes the tariff threat might be moderate as the market generally does not discount the same news twice". Markets were relatively calmer during the second wave of covid, even though it was more fatal than the first wave," he argued.

Still, Radhika Rao, executive director and senior economist at DBS Bank thinks that a tariff re-imposition might impact the domestic electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and gems & jewellery sectors first. One should also avoid expensive midcap IT stocks, non-ferrous metals and commodity chemicals, given the concerns of dumping from China, according to JM Financial Services.

More importantly, Rao believes a diversification strategy from the US dollar and assets into select emerging markets like India may offer better insulation from global volatility, driving inflows into the domestic market.

To be sure, Indian markets have been reeling under relentless foreign portfolio (FPI) outflows, exorbitant valuations and poor corporate earnings since the second half of 2024, even before Trump's tariffs rattled world markets.

Read this | Market shift: Retail investors and HNIs turn bearish on index futures following Pahalgam attack

The majority of the respondents (57%) think Indias unmatched scale and policy stability relative to smaller emerging market peers will offer respite to investors globally. Even though a few believe that Indian equities high valuations may limit FPI inflows against cheaper rivals like Brazil or Vietnam, 20% of respondents think overseas flows may remain selective, focusing on select sectors like banking, fast-moving consumer goods and telecom.

Devarsh Vakhil, head of prime research at HDFC Securities is particularly optimistic about a turnaround in FPI flows. He pointed out that overseas investors have purchased more than 32,000 crore of Indian equities, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have sold approximately 5,300 crore over the past two weeks.

Vakhil thinks Indian equities are at the back end of the FPI selling cycle", where sticky long-term FPI money remains invested in India, with no change in sentiment. However, the more tactical, short-term capital may keep rotating in and out of Indian markets," he added.

Going forward, cheaper valuations of large-cap stocks, where most of the FPI money is usually parked, might entice foreign capital back, noted experts. Around 63% of respondents think large-cap stocks have seen healthy corrections already and offer lucrative entry points across the board.

Also read | FPIs bet on limited Nifty movement amid simmering India-Pakistan tensions

However, the remaining 37% feel that currently, only a select few large cap pockets are looking cheap, while the broader universe is likely to face further corrections. Manish Jain, head of fund management at Centrum Broking finds banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), automobiles, healthcare, and consumption discretionary sectors attractively priced at the moment.

On mid- and small-cap stocks, the majority (63%), however, hold a cautious view. They think concerns have somewhat reduced after the Nifty Midcap 100 fell 23% from its September 2024 peak, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 has fallen around 25% from its December 2024 highs. These segments are looking moderately attractive right now, experts feel.

Select (mid- and small-cap) stocks from the capital goods, housing, and electronics manufacturing sectors, supported by robust government policies now offer better risk reward opportunities," noted Gaurav Garg, research analyst at Lemonn markets desk.

But correcting valuations might not be enough. Experts noted that India Inc would still need at least two quarters for its lacklustre earnings to catch up to valuations to drive a broad-based rally in the market. However, a resounding 80% of respondents believe that the March quarter will be in line with expectations. They expect earnings downgrades to slow down, with no material upgrades on the cards.

Read this | Tariff-proof Nifty Bank may stretch rally by up to 2% to fresh high this week

As sentiments remain fragile, mainboard IPOs have also remained largely absent in 2025, fizzling out after last years frenzy. There were none in March and only one hit in late April, raising doubts about the markets animal spirits.

But thankfully, 53% of experts foresee a cautious recovery in IPOs. However, they think only high-quality or well-known companies will dare to list in the near term. Another 40% think sentiment will stay muted for at least another quarter due to global uncertainties and valuation concerns.

While volatility keeps the secondary market on its toes and chokes the supply of fresh scripts, gold has been claiming the crown, outclassing equities and debt so far this year. Gold returned almost 26% in 2024, outperforming riskier assets globally, and this year, it is up nearly 31% due to the recent rout in US treasury and currency markets.

Hence, 67% of experts feel gold might outperform Indian equities and debt for the rest of 2025. But if there is a resolution to the trade conflicts, they also expect healthy corrections in the precious metal.

The best way to play gold from hereon is through gold-related equities for those who have missed the rally in the physical commodity," said Kothari from DSP Mutual Fund.

And read | Beyond the tariff truce: Where can investors find lasting protection?
Stock Market Today: Beaten down stock SpiceJet has announced that it will start a inaugural Haj 2025 flight from Gaya. On Friday 2 May 2025 SpiceJet intimated the same to Department of Corporate Services, BSE and issued a Media Release

SpiceJet inaugural Haj 2025 flight details As per the SpiceJet release it has Commenced Haj 2025 Operations with a Inaugural Flight from Gaya. The Airline as per the release has Inducted Two Airbus A340 Wide-body Aircraft 45 Flights to Operate in First Phase Haj operations. The same as per SpiceJet will be significant revenue generator for the airline.

Also Read | GM Breweries declares record date for final dividend. Details here

The Media release said that "SpiceJet today flagged off its Haj 2025 operations with the inaugural flight departing from Gaya to Medina, marking the start of the sacred pilgrimage for thousands of Indian pilgrims. The airline will operate a total of 45 Haj flights in the first phase, connecting Gaya, Srinagar, Guwahati, and Kolkata to Medina and Jeddah.

As per SpiceJet, about 15,500 pilgrims are to be carried by SpiceJet this year, an 18% increase from the 13,000 passengers it carried in 2024. This as per SpiceJet highlights the significance of Haj operations as a major source of income for the airline.

SpiceJet has earned 1209 crore in revenue in 2024 by operating 102 Haj flights from seven Indian cities: Srinagar, Gaya, Guwahati, Bhopal, Indore, Aurangabad, and Vijayawada.

Aircrafts to be used by SpiceJet for Haj 2025 flights SpiceJet has introduced two wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft, each with space for 324 passengers, to improve the travel experience. These planes will fly from Kolkata to Jeddah and from Srinagar and Guwahati to Medina. On the Gaya-Medina route, a Boeing 737 with 189 seats has been put into service.

SpiceJet share price movement SpiceJet share price is down more than 16% year to date. While SpiceJet share price gained on Friday to intraday highs of 50.45, marking gains of 5% over the previous days closing price of 48.05, it could not sustain the gains. SpiceJet share price slipped to intraday lows of 46.70, which meant more than 2% decline compared to previous days closing price
Indian Overseas Bank Q4 results: Indian Overseas Bank on Friday, May 2, reported a 30 per cent year-on-year (YoY) jump in standalone net profit to 1,051.07 crore for Q4FY25 compared to a profit of 808.10 crore in the same quarter last year.

The bank's operating profit before provisions and contingencies for the quarter under review stood at 2,617.92 crore, up 33.5 per cent from 1,961.11 crore in the same quarter last year.

Net Interest Income (NII) increased 13 per cent YoY to 3,123 crore.

The bank's gross NPA declined 21.3 per cent YoY during the quarter, standing at 5,347.72 crore compared to 6,794.43 crore in Q4FY24.

Net NPA also declined 25 per cent YoY to 911.86 crore from 1,216.86 crore. Net NPA stood at 0.37 per cent compared to 0.57 per cent during the same quarter last year.

Indian Overseas Bank FY26 fundraising details Meanwhile, the bank also disclosed its fundraising plans for the current financial year through a combination of the issuance of Basel III-compliant Tier II bonds and equity capital.

The bank said its board has approved raising up to 4,000 crore in equity capital, including share premium (if any), through one or more methods such as a follow-on public offer, rights issue, qualified institutional placement (QIPs), ESPS, preferential issue, or a combination of these. The funds may be raised in one or more phases during FY26, subject to approval from shareholders at the AGM/EGM and other required regulatory approvals.

Moreover, the board also approved raising up to 1,000 crore through the issue of Basel III-compliant Tier II bonds, depending on the requirement. The funds may be raised in one or more phases during FY26, either through private placement or a public issue, in India or abroad, with or without a green shoe option.

Read all market-related news here
As markets whipsawed from February's depths to March's resurgence, India's mightiest business empiresfrom Tata to Birla faced a high-stakes showdown. While the Nifty 50 clawed back to flat (by the fiscal year end), a Mint analysis of the countrys leading business housesTata, Reliance, Adani, Rahul Bajaj, and Aditya Birlawith a fifth of India's market capitalization, unveiled a striking divergence: overseas and small investors retreated, while local institutional investors doubled down on select bets, hinting at a fascinating long-term focus.

Tata group: Only domestic held fort

Indias most valuable conglomerate, the 27.5 trillion Tata group, saw a dramatic reshuffle in its investor ownership. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and retail shareholders slashed their stakes in key companies like TCS, Tata Motors, Tata Power, and Tata Steel, sequentially pruning their holdings in over 60% of the group companies. Yet, domestic mutual funds (MFs) stepped in aggressively, raising ownership in around 52% of the groups firms. However, despite this institutional support, the groups market cap fell by 11%, the worst among its peers.

Also read Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors jump ship in choppy waters

Reliance group: Resilient despite retail, FPI exit

In Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group companies, FPIs and retail investors reduced their holdings in around 60%, including companies like Reliance Industries (RIL), Just Dial, and Sterling & Wilson. However, domestic investors absorbed the shock, increasing their stakes in RIL, Jio Financial, and other units. This resilience helped Reliance eke out a modest 1% gain, narrowly avoiding the fate of its struggling rivals.

Adani Group: Deep cuts but pockets of domestic optimism

The Adani group bore the brunt of the quarters sell-off, with FPIs cutting exposure in 50% and retail investors fleeing even faster (67%) in the group companies. Flagship Adani Enterprises, along with Adani Ports, Adani Green, and Ambuja Cement, saw a reduction in their stakes. Yet, domestic institutions again saw an opportunity, raising their stakes in Adani Green, Adani Power, and Ambuja Cementa sign that some remain bullish on the groups long-term infrastructure bets. Still, the groups market cap fell 5.6%, reflecting lingering scepticism.

Rahul Bajaj group: The standout performer

While FPIs and retail investors reduced their holdings in the Rahul Bajaj group by reducing their stakes in 40% and 50% of the group firms, respectively, the conglomerate emerged as the quarters biggest winner. Bajaj Finance, which makes up 44% of the groups value, remained a magnet for foreign investors. Strong performances from Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Auto, and Bajaj Consumer helped the group surge 17%far outpacing its peers.

Also read Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors chased beaten down stocks

Aditya Birla Group: Steady domestic hand offsets foreign pullback

FPIs and retail investors pulled back sharply from the Aditya Birla Group, trimming stakes in 63% of the group, including UltraTech Cement, Hindalco, and Grasim. But domestic mutual funds held firm, increasing overall ownership in 50%. This support helped the group post a 4% gain, proving that local confidence can counterbalance global jitters.

This is the third part of a series of data stories on the latest shareholding pattern. Read the full series here.
Stock Market Today: The benchmark Nifty -50 index ended Wednesdays trading session flat at 24,334.20, reflecting caution among investors. The Bank Nifty at 55,087.15 however ended 0.55% lower as did many other sectors led by Consumer durable and Energy, though support was provided by Realty and Pharma among few others. The broader indices also saw pressure ending almost 1-2% lower on Wednesday with Thursday being a trading holiday.

Trade Setup for Friday Immediate intraday support for the Nifty 50 index lies at 24,200, followed by a strong support zone between 24000 and 23800. On the upside, 24550, acts as a key resistance, as per Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical Analyst, Angel One.

On the upside, for Bank Nifty 56,000 will act as stiff hurdle for the index while on downside 54,450 will act as major support, as per Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta.

Global Markets and Q4 Results We expect the market to trade in a range-bound manner with stock/sector specific action, driven by Q4 earnings announcements. Key results on Thursday include Adani Enterprise, Adani Ports, Eternal, Home First Finance, while Marico, IOB, Godrej Properties amongst others report their results on Friday, said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services 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 three stocks picks.

Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks Bharti Hexacom Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying Bharti Hexacom at  1685 keeping Stoploss at  1625 for a target price of  1700 BHARTIHEXA is currently trading at the levels of 1685, the stock has displayed a strong bullish momentum, marked by a significant price surge that led the stock to an all-time high of 1717. The stock recently broke out from a bullish consolidation phase, confirming the formation of a continuation pattern. This breakout was supported by healthy volume, indicating sustained buying interest, the stock is now firmly trending upward.

2. HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying HDFC Life Insurance at 745 keeping Stoploss at 720 for a target price of 790

HDFCLIFE is currently trading at the levels of 745, the stock is exhibiting a strong bullish trend, having broken out from a consolidation zone with robust volume. The stock has formed a series of higher highs and higher lows, indicating sustained upward momentum. A notable price action development is the breakout from a Rounding Bottom pattern, typically viewed as a bullish continuation formation. The stock is now trading close to its 52-week high of 761.2, suggesting renewed investor interest and confidence.

Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. Hindustan Unilever Ltd- Dongre recommends buying Hindustan Unilever (HINDUNILVR) at around 2342 keeping Stoploss at 2300 for a target price of 2420.

In the latest short-term technical analysis, HINDUNILVR has shown a strong and consistent bullish trend, indicating the potential for an extended upward move. The stock is currently trading at 2342 and holding above a key support level at 2300. This support zone serves as a critical point for risk management. Given the bullish momentum, traders are advised to consider a buying opportunity with a stop-loss placed strategically.

4. Indus Towers Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Indus Towers ay around 407 keeping stoploss at 398 for a target price of 418.

INDUSTOWER has exhibited a notable bullish reversal pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 407 and maintaining a strong support at 398. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 418 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 398 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside.

5. Aditya Birla Capital Ltd- Dongre recommends buying ABCAPITAL at around 197 keeping Stoploss at 190 for a target price of 207.

ABCAPITAL, the stock is currently trading at 197 and appears to be in an oversold zone for short term. A bullish reversal pattern has emerged on the daily chart, indicating a potential recovery move. The critical support level lies at 190, which also acts as a key stop-loss point for this trade. With bullish cues signaling a possible retracement towards the 207 target, this setup provides a favorable entry opportunity for traders looking to capitalize on a technical rebound.

Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6. Apollo Tyres Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying Apollo Tyres at 471.90 for a Target price of 495 keeping Stoploss at  460.

The stock taking support near the important 100 period MA at 453 level has once again improved the bias with a bullish candle formation on the daily chart with significant volume participation witnessed and can anticipate for further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI has cooled off from the highly overbought zone recently and has once again indicated a positive trend reversal to signal a buy to expect for another fresh round of momentum. With the chart technically maintained strong, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 495 level keeping the stop loss of 460 level.

7. Sobha Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying SOBHA at around 1322 for a target price of 1390 keeping Stop loss at 1294.

The stock has recently indicated a clear breakout above the descending channel on the daily chart and after a short period of correction has once again taken support near the important 50-EMA level at 1242 and indicating a decent pullback has improved the bias to anticipate for another round of upward move. The RSI is steadily on the rise signifying strength and has indicated much upside potential from current rate to carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 1390 level keeping the stop loss of 1294 level.

8. Indraprastha Gas Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Indraprastha Gas at 192.59 for a target price of 204 keeping Stop loss at 188

The stock has witnessed a decent pullback to move past the important 50-EMA level at 190, with huge volume participation visible to improve the bias, and can expect further gains in the coming sessions. With the RSI on the rise, exhibiting strength, and with much upside potential visible from the current rate, it can continue with the positive upward move. With the chart looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 204, keeping the stop loss at the 188 level.
Some of the best investment returns in history havent come from the obvious picksbut from companies that were overlooked, undervalued, or simply misunderstood at the time.

Spotting such opportunities earlybefore the rest of the market catches onis what sets great investors apart.

Value investors arent swayed by headlines. They focus on fundamentals: strong balance sheets, rising profitability, competent management, and long-term tailwinds. And crucially, they look for all this while the stock is still trading at a discount.

In this piece, we spotlight five such under-the-radar stocks that combine solid business performance with favourable sector dynamics.

Samvardhana Motherson

Samvardhana Motherson International is one of the world's largest automotive component suppliers. The company caters to leading global OEMs across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, aerospace, logistics, and emerging electronics sectors.

It's clients include Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, Airbus, and Honda.

In Q3 FY25, the company reported 8% year-on-year (YoY) growth in revenue to 276 billion. The Ebitda grew 13%, while profit after tax rose 20%.

Despite global automotive production declining 1% YoY, it outgrew the market with 7.5% volume growth. Ebitda margins improved to 10%, on the back of operating efficiencies and a well-diversified business mix.

In 9MFY25, revenue grew 18% and PAT expanded 38%, indicating consistent performance despite macro challenges.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Looking ahead, the company is doubling down on its new growth enginesconsumer electronics, aerospace components, and precision engineering.

Two greenfield plants went live in Q3 FY25, and six more are slated to become operational over the next two quarters.

To expand its global footprint, its pursuing strategic acquisitions such as Atsumitec and forging partnerships with Japanese firms like Matsui.

Despite the momentum, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23well below its five-year median of 44.7.

Also read: Ceat set to regain margin muscle, but rising debt may slow the ride

Ddev Plastiks

Ddev Plastiks Industries is one of Indias largest polymer compound manufacturers, with a dominant presence in cable compounds. It holds an estimated 50% market share in Sioplas and around 33% in XLPE compounds.

With over four decades of expertise, five manufacturing facilities, and a diverse portfolio of 200+ SKUs, Ddev serves critical sectors including power transmission, infrastructure, and consumer durables.

Over the past few years, the company has consistently delivered healthy double-digit growth in revenue and operating profit, with earnings compounding faster than salesa sign of improving operating leverage.

In the latest quarter, both revenue and net profit grew in the high teens, while margins stayed firm in the double digits, despite raw material cost fluctuations. Volume growth was driven by strong domestic demand, though exports were temporarily impacted by elevated freight costs.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Looking ahead, Ddev is ramping up capacity in high-margin segments such as halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) and speciality polyethylene (PE) compounds. It has set an ambitious revenue target of 5,000 crore ( 50 billion) by FY30implying mid-teen annualised growth.

Importantly, the company maintains a debt-free balance sheet and is funding expansion through internal accruals, reinforcing its financial prudence.

Despite its solid fundamentals, the stock trades at a P/E of 14.4below its five-year median of 15.5offering potential value for long-term investors.

Jindal Drilling and Industries

Jindal Drilling & Industries is one of Indias key offshore drilling contractors, primarily serving the domestic oil and gas industry.

It has long-standing ties with clients like ONGC and operates five jack-up rigstwo of which are owned. The company is also in the final stages of acquiring a third rig, a move that will expand its owned fleet and support further margin gains. Alongside, it provides specialised services like directional drilling and mud logging to E&P companies.

After a period of challenges, the business has made a strong turnaround. In Q3 FY25, revenue surged nearly 40% sequentially, Ebitda more than doubled, and PAT jumped significantlydriven by the full-quarter contribution of its high-day-rate rig, Jindal Supreme.

Also read: Primary markets see a slow start to 2025 amid increased volatility

Operating margins improved to 34%, while PAT margins hit 20%, reflecting enhanced asset utilisation and favourable contracts.

Over the last three years, both Ebitda and PAT have compounded at strong double-digit rates.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Looking ahead, the companys 1640 crore ( 16.4 billion) order book ensures visibility into FY28. The acquisition of a third rig and possible consolidation of currently leased rigs into owned assets could further improve cost efficiency and profitability.

All rigs are now operating at higher day rates under ONGC contracts, and the company has transitioned to a net cash positionproviding financial headroom for future growth. ONGCs upcoming capex plans for Bombay High redevelopment further strengthen Jindals growth runway.

Despite this momentum, the stock trades at a PE of 15.4below its five-year median of 17.2leaving room for re-rating.

Quess Corp

Quess Corp is Indias largest business services firm, spanning workforce solutions, IT services, and asset management. With over 2,000 clients and a 600,000-strong workforce, it serves a diverse set of industries including BFSI, telecom, IT, retail, and infrastructure.

In Q3 FY25, Quess delivered 14% YoY revenue growth with consolidated revenue at 55 billion. PAT grew 34%, even after absorbing demerger-related expenses. However, margins came under pressure from seasonal bonus payouts and continued investments in leadership and tech platforms, with Ebitda margin at 3.6%.

Segment-wise, workforce management saw 18% revenue growth, global tech solutions 10%, and asset management 15%pointing to broad-based momentum. Over 9MFY25, revenue and Ebitda grew 11% and 13% respectively, while PAT jumped 59%.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Looking forward, Quesss planned three-way demerger, set for completion by Q1 FY26, aims to unlock value across its verticals. It continues to invest in digital platforms like foundit and Qjobs, and is focusing on higher-margin businesses like IT staffing and industrial asset management.

Strong cash flows have allowed Quess to reduce gross debt to 220 crore ( 2.2 billion) from 370 crore ( 3.7 billion) earlier this year.

Despite the turnaround and structural changes underway, the stock trades at a PE of 13.5a steep discount to its five-year median of 18potentially offering long-term upside.

Indegene

Indegene is a tech-driven healthcare solutions provider, serving some of the biggest names in the global biopharma, biotech, and medical device industries.

Its core offerings span commercial operations, medical affairs, omnichannel marketing, and regulatory serviceshelping life sciences clients modernize their processes and stay compliant in a rapidly evolving landscape.

With over 75 active clients, Indegene draws more than 60% of its revenue from the worlds top 20 pharma companiesa testament to its entrenched relationships in the sector.

In Q3 FY25, the company posted a 7% YoY revenue growth, and a 4.9% sequential increase, reflecting deeper engagement across both large pharma and mid-sized biotech firms. Operating performance was solidEbitda margins expanded to 20.8%, backed by improved capacity utilization and automation. PAT margins stood at 15.2%, with net profit growing nearly 20% QoQ.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Looking ahead, Indegene is targeting broader client conversionespecially in the mid-tier pharma segment. Its also doubling down on global delivery expansion, with new investments in Spain and the UK, and ramping up its capabilities in automation and GenAI.

Armed with over 1500 crore ( 15 billion) in cash, the company is actively scouting for capability-focused acquisitions, particularly in tech and regulatory areas. Management remains upbeat on long-term tailwinds, including pricing pressures, growing regulatory complexity, and the accelerating push for digital transformation in life sciences.

Despite its momentum and positioning, the stock currently trades at a PE of 35.8, which is a discount to its five-year medianpotentially offering an entry opportunity.

Conclusion

In investing, patience often outweighs perfect timing. The real wealth is built by identifying solid businesses early and holding them as they scale and thrive.

The five companies highlighted here arent speculative bets. They are grounded in strong financials, robust industry tailwinds, and credible leadership.

As these businesses continue to execute and grow, the market is likely to take notice. For investors willing to cut through the noise and stay the course, these underrated stocks have the potential to deliver meaningful long-term returns.

Of course, every investment decision should be guided by your personal goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Always evaluate a companys fundamentalsits financial health, governance standards, and future growth potentialbefore making a move.

Happy investing!

Also read: Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors chased beaten down stocks

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
There is a screenwriting technique referred to as Saving the Cat". This suggests that a hero, before plunging into the story, perform a small act of pure goodness that instantly makes the viewer root for them, no matter how flawed or foolish they later become. This is narrative seduction at its shiniest and most basic: think of Aladdin giving his stolen bread to starving children, or Ripley tenderly (and literally) saving Jonesy the cat amid the carnage of Alien. In short, its the cinematic equivalent of buying the first round before the bar brawl breaks out.

The delightful Australian romantic-comedy series Colin from Accounts (with both its seasons finally streaming in India on JioCinema) goes in a diametrically opposite direction. The show does naturally involve an odd-couple and a meet-cuteas mandated by the genrebut far from saving a cat, the shows two protagonists first bump heads when one of them runs a car over a small dog (the titular Colin) after being distracted by the others nipple. Woof. Consider this both trigger-warning as well as prophecy: love begins by accident.

Created by real-life husband and wife Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyerwho play brewery owner Gordon and medical student AshleyColin from Accounts is a clever, relatable and ultimately optimistic look at modern romance by way of two protagonists who, while flawed, really want to make this damn thing work. Having injured a dogand racked up a $12,000 bill to get him wheels instead of hind-legsthe two are forced to stay in touch and put up with each others respective nonsense. The fact that the creators are writing and enacting the arguments, gives the show a refreshing balance and fairness. As all romantics can be, theyre both jerks.

Part of what makes this coupling odd is the age difference. Hes in his 40s, shes not quite 30. This gap both attracts Ashley as well as makes Gordon insecure. The first time he mentions When Harry met Sally, she asks if those are his friends. He has an increasingly unused drum kit in his bedroom, she has tequila in her handbag. In the second season, Ashley speaks about the importance of their injured furry friend to their beleaguered romance that suffers from age gap, different friendship groups, your knees". Its the uniquely named Colin who holds them together, becoming what they have in common.

The romantic banter is clever and irreverent, forever cutting through predictability and tropes. There are oddballs around every bendincluding Ashleys irrepressibly vivacious mother Lynelle (Helen Thomson) who starts an organisation called Women against Women against Men"yet the show somehow humanises (most of) them. Were all bonkers, and there is often a reason for our denial and our delusions, if one looks closely enough. This show is affectionate and empathetic enough to do so, yet alsocruciallyworld-weary enough to roll its eyes at a lot.

When Gordon describes an ex-girlfriend as ancient history (Ancient Greece," he reassures), Ashley realises that, as someone much younger, she doesnt have any reference to that timeline. She hears about a pickup-trick Gordon used to use at parties when he was a 20-something and cringes, calling it out for being creepy-adjacent". Hes been sexually active for decades longer than her, and he owns a baryet she cant wrap her head around his sexual history. Gordon, like all ageing men acutely aware how quickly they are getting older, cares about historyparticularly holding on to his own history. Should Leonard Cohen have deleted So long Marianne," he reasons desperately, when he started seeing Suzanne?"

She looks at him blankly, unimpressed by an older man talking about even older men.

The potential turn-on about an older man, it then appears, may not actually be the (undeniably superior) soundtrack of his youth and adulthood, but in fact the possibility that heolder and somewhat wiser, hopefullymay be willing to step up to the plate, whatever the plate may be. One of my favourite lines in the first season has Ashley telling Gordon just what is attracting her to him so much. You just got 40% hotter because you took responsibility," she sighs. It was hot."

There is, of course, no blueprint for relationships. Gordons best friend and partner at the brewery, Chiara (a wonderful Genevieve Hegney), can be calm and collected at the workplace, but utterly heedless in love. Ashleys closest friend Megan (Emma Harvie) is all impulse and judgement, frequently silly but quick to call out Ashley. When she hears about the bizarre and canine-endangering way by which Ashley met Gordon, her big question is about the breast that was flashed: Was it your party tit?" Not even," sighs Ashley. It was the small one."

Yetwouldnt you know itthis turns out to be a flash of love. Love, that sneaky thing, the one that comes up from behind when we least expect it, that robs us of our sleep and upends our lives. Much like a dog does. Happiness is a warm puppy," Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz once wrote, impossibly but immediately getting one over on The Beatles. At one point in Colin from Accounts, both lovers plan quite seriously to steal a Border Terrier from a little girl. This sounds reprehensible and unforgivable, butas with a relationshipit would be even worse not to try. Go get em.
Turkish breakfast in a Mumbai suburb, Lebanese dessert in Gurugram, and matcha maple ice-cream in Chandigarhfood and travel enthusiasts across the country are opening their homes to strangers and serving multi-course menus that are often at par with popular restaurants, albeit in a cosy, intimate setting.

Over the last decade or so, home chefs have started hosting supper clubs, often introducing the foods of their community, with some taking it outside their home kitchens and doing pop-ups at restaurants. Now, theres a new wave of home chefs bringing cuisines inspired from their international travels to their supper clubs.

Aparna Bhat, founder of The Traveling Thali, is known for her Turkish and Georgian breakfasts in Mumbai. Food for me is a way to connect with an unfamiliar culture," she says. Her pop-ups, started in 2022, follow a specific theme like the recent kahvalti or Turkish breakfast spread inspired by the menu of her favourite spot Mukellef Karakoy in Istanbul. The spread included a mushroom and eggplant pate, lahmacun or Turkish/Kurdish flatbread, honey and homemade butter, stewed fresh and dry fruit, and menemen or scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Bringing people together over food was the thought that made sisters-in-law Rukaiya Kanchwala and Ishita Desai start Around the Table in the formers Bandra home in Mumbai in 2024. Their family-style meals are coupled with games or other ice-breakers. For their recent Mamma Mia-themed pop-up, they planned a singalong to Abba songs. The menu included Greek classics like spanakopita, a spinach pie; pastitsio or lamb bechamel pasta; and portokalopita, a Greek orange cake. The duo hosts six-seven pop-ups a month and the menu changes frequently. In the past theyve hosted Mexican and Middle Eastern-inspired pop-ups.

Also read: Weekend food plan: Four-hands dinners and a Michelin experience

Archit Agarwal, who started The LOST Table in 2024, says, We are inspired by the food we eat on our travels and then create our own renditions by tweaking some flavours." The menu ranges from Asian to Turkish and Lebanese, which he cooks and serves along with his partner Natasha Ratti Kapoor. At their recent pop-up, the duo rounded off a three-course meal of melon salad, Turkish chicken kofte and one-pot shawarma rice with namoura, a Lebanese semolina cake.

Another Gurugram-based couple Dhruv Kalra and Trang Nguyen serve food from Vietnam. Nguyen, whose family is from Hanoi, says, Our menu is largely focused on the food cooked at my home. For instance, the pho noodle dish that people are usually familiar with is very different from how my mother makes it." They also travel frequently to Vietnam and learn to cook rare dishes like the Southern Vietnamese banh xeo, a type of crisp pancakes and banh khot, or mini cupcakes with a prawn in the centre. We also do bun cha, or grilled pork or pork balls served with rice noodles along with a broth, vegetables and dipping sauce to bring in the street food vibe of Dong Xuan market near Hanois old quarters," she adds. The duo hosts once a month or every alternate weekend.

The average price per person for these experiences ranges from 1,500 to 4,000, and the details are usually announced on Instagram.

Cities like Chandigarh and Pune are catching up too on pop-ups and supper clubs. I got fascinated with kimchi and everything-Korean while living in the US, and finally started hosting in 2023 in Pune," says Pune-based Pranjali Baake, and founder of 1kimchikimchi, who hosts pop-ups at home two-three times a month. Her family-style meals include tteokbokki or rice cakes, kimchi bokkeumbap, a kimchi fried rice with bacon, Korean fried chicken along with banchan, or small side dishes that include kimchi, pickled vegeta-bles and a meat dish. For her next pop-up in May, Baake is planning a brunch with Korean pancakes and buns, boba tea and mango bingsu, a traditional dessert.

View Full Image Around the table, Mumbai.

We dont have a lot of restaurants serving international cuisines in Chandigarh, and we wanted to bring that (experience) through our supper clubs," says Samiksha Chaudhary, who founded Sere Supper Club with her childhood friend Taarini Gupta in 2024. While Gupta is a trained chef, for their Japanese menu, the duo collaborated with another friend Vishrut Kohli to put together a menu inspired by his multiple visits to Japan. The menu included ramen with a hearty mushroom broth cooked for six hours and yuzu lemon sponge with matcha maple ice cream.

Its been more than two years since academic and home chef Amrita Bhattachaarya started her home pop-ups in Santiniketan, West Bengal. I have been researching the foods of the Bengali diaspora with my filmmaker husband Amit Sen. In 2022, I travelled to Myanmar and learnt the cuisine from a local chef there," says Bhattachaarya. Apart from Bengali fare, her menu includes lesser-known Burmese dishes like hilsa stew cooked with fish sauce, Karen-style pork roast, and mopheto, a black rice dumpling with coconut stuffing steamed in banana leaf.

While food is at the core, the experience extends to crockery, decor and playlists. We have started hosting musical gigs where we collaborate with independent artists," says Kanchwala. Bhat pairs her meals with a storytelling session. Baakes guests take a deep-dive into ingredients through touch, smell, taste.

So, whats next? Kalra and Ngyuyen are on a hunt for a space for their first restaurant. Agarwal and Kapoor plan to start a spice-mix brand. And Bhattachaarya just wrapped up a pop-up in Kolkata, her first outside of her home in Santiniketan.

Also read: This Bengaluru coffee brand is serving an environment-friendly cuppa

The LOST Table, Gurgaon

Price: 3000-3500

@architlost

The Traveling Thali, Mumbai

Price: 1500-2000

@thetravelingthali

Around The Table, Mumbai

Price: 3500-4000

@aroundthetable.in

Vietnam-ease Caphe, Gurgaon

Price: 3500

@vietnamesecafe

Sere Supper Club, Chandigarh & Gurugram

Price: 2500 approx.

@seresupperclub

1kimchikimchi, Pune

Price: 1200-1800

@1kimchikimchi

Handpicked by Amrita, Shantiniketan

Price: 2000-2500 approx.

@amritabhattachaarya

Mahek Arora, Delhi

Price: 2500

@snack_with_mak

Shirin Mehrotra is a Delhi-based food writer and researcher.
I am standing in front of a canyon, the entrance to which is approximately 15ft high on a slick rock wall. It has been 12 years since I have done any sort of climbing, and I stand for a moment scratching my head, trying to decide whether to carry on or turn back.

I had started driving a Nissan Rogue from Los Angeles three days ago to take it on a wander across California, but the lure of the topological features on a paper map, the fatigue-free comfort of the car and the voice in my head that kept whispering just a little further" soon had me driving across California and Nevada into the centre of south Utah. And thats how I found myself in an area called the Badlands, staring at the mouth of a canyon.

Serving as the base to explore the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), Escalante in southern Utah is a one-horse town with clean, comfortable motel rooms, good food and great coffee. The GSENM spread around it is known for having the most slot canyons, or narrow deep gorges with far greater depth than width, in the world.

Poring over my map, I decide to explore Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch, together known as the Dry Fork slot canyons, on a whim. I do not research themand that turns out to be a stupid mistake.

At the base of Peek-a-boo canyon, I am surrounded by a group of silver-haired women. One by one, they scamper up the rock face and into the canyon. One of them graciously offers to wait while I climb.

For me, it is a struggle. My knees, battered by a motorcycle crash a few years ago, almost creak with the effort of hoisting my body 12 feet up the smooth face of rock with only shallow footholds.

I feel a shove on my posterior and a pull at my shoulders from above. The women, keen on carrying on, have taken matters into their own hands, and push and pull till I flop into the entrance of the canyon like a sack of potatoes.

Even before I can pick myself up, Ms Push has scampered up the wall and has joined Ms Pull, and both are standing over me. Still lying prone, I express gratitude, but theres no turning back now.

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Traversing Peek-a-boo Canyon is akin to an hour of intense isometrics. The climbs and drops within the canyon pull and stretch muscles in my body that have been latent for years.

View Full Image The entrance to Peek-a-boo Canyon. (Rishad Saam Mehta)

The canyon, composed mainly of Navajo sandstone, has been shaped by the flow of water over millions of years, causing a wave-like erosion. For all its undulation, Peek-a-boo Canyon is 3ft wide at its narrowest. Enough width for two people going in opposite directions to cross each other and keep claustrophobia at bay.

I walk out of Peek-a-boo Canyon with the knees and seat of my pants scuffed and feeling like I have been put through some mild stretching on a medieval torture rack.

Yet, I am feeling buoyant as I walk the kilometre from Peek-a-boo to Spooky Gulch, inanely thinking that the worst is now behind me.

My mind goes back to the one-hour hike from the car park to the entrance of Peek-a-boo when I had met a lithe youth on his way back to the car park. Hed said that traversing the canyons was extremely strenuous, both physically and mentally.

How much more difficult can it be?" I think to myself as I beatifically walk to Spooky Gulch with a bounce in my step.

Ten minutes later, the python of fear is uncoiling in the pit of my stomach as I sweat profusely, even though the temperature is 12 degrees Celsius. I have walked into what can be described as the physical manifestation of the phrase the walls are closing in on me."

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Spooky Gulch is impossibly narrowthe narrowest in the state and less than 10 inches wide in many spots, as I learn laterwith ripple-shaped gaps through sandstone. I spend more time walking sidewaysmuch like the soldiers that are painted on old Egyptian tombswith my head turned so that my chin is in line with my shoulder. The eerie exactness to a tomb sends a shiver down my spine.

For most of the walk, the outer cartilage of my ears has brushed along the walls. I have carried on in the hope that the canyon will widen out. It is blind hope because the ripple-shaped stone of the canyon means I cant see what lies ahead. Nor can I go back because I cant turn my head around to bring my face to my trailing shoulder to change direction.

I shuffle on, walking like an Egyptian, hoping that the canyon will widen, but it persists in its wafer-thin form.

Just when I think that the situation cant get any more challenging, I wriggle to a tall and thin boulder that has fallen into the narrow path and blocked most of the passage. The only way is through a gap that rises from the floor to my mid-thigh. Once again, I find myself lying prone, but this time on my side as I try to squirm through the gap feet first, terrified by the thought of what lies ahead and the irrational fear of the boulder coming crashing down on me. These thoughts threaten to push me to the brink of reason and into the abyss of hysteria. I take a deep breath and wriggle through with my hands over my head, writhing along the floor.

On the other side of the boulder, to my horror, the canyon has now narrowed to a mere 10-inch crack splitting the sandstone. My terror further exacerbates when I hear voices approaching from the other direction. There are people coming the other way. Thankfully, they have stopped at a point where the path widens to 20 inches across. They must have heard all my colourful cursing while squirming under the boulder.

The locals, who have traversed this canyon before, notice my anxious appearance and interpret it as a desperate plea for reassurance that the worst is behind me. A portly gentleman in the group informs me, You are not clear yet. There is a challenging section ahead," and adds with a chuckle, Despite my ample girth, I successfully navigated it, and so will you."

The section is a 20-metre stretch with a crescent moon-shaped gap through the rock, no wider than 10 inches. The fit is so tight that halfway through, I become stuck at the seat of my pants and must shuffle back to remove my wallet from the rear pocket of my trousers. After that I am clear and free.

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I have never felt as much gratitude as I do when I finally emerge from Spooky Gulch out into the open. I am not particularly fit or agile, and I have never gone canyoning before. I realise how incredibly foolish and fortunate I was to have walked into those canyons and successfully navigate them. I learn that people have gotten stuck in Spooky Gulch and have needed to be rescued. There have been fatalities too.

View Full Image Cowboys herding cattle in the Badlands. (Rishad Saam Mehta)

Later in the day, I pull up by the side of the road where cowboys are herding cattle. I step out of the Nissan just to admire their skill and drink in the wide-open expanse.

I exchange some banter with the cowboys, telling them that I am on my way south to Phoenix, Arizona, before heading west back to Los Angeles.

Yeah, youll go past Page in Arizona," one of them drawls. You should check out Antelope Canyon, it sure is swell!"

My no" cracked through the arid air, sharp as a rifle shot, making the cowboys horse whinny in alarm.

Antelope Canyon, for all its tourism brochure fame, could have been Atlantis itselfbut for now I was done. Dusted. Canyon-fatigued beyond redemption.

Maybe on another trip

Rishad Saam Mehta is a Mumbai-based author, travel writer and budding travel video maker.

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The first-person singular pronoun I" comes up often when designer Ritu Beri speaks, though not in a self-indulgent way. Its a reflection of her strong sense of identity, of creating a niche in a world dictated by trends and keywords.

Thats one of the reasons the designer launched Escape Goa, an immersive lifestyle space housed in a 200-year-old Portuguese villa in Socorro, earlier this year. Painted in her signature red-and-white colour combination, the space allows visitors to eat at a fine-dining restaurant overlooking a paddy field, enjoy performances by musicians and stand-up comics, listen to talks on various issues, explore pop-ups by homegrown brands that make accessories, perfumes and jewellery, and browse through Beris resortwear. Its a relatively new retail concept thats popular in the West and finding a footing in India, where a designer curates a range of experiences under one roof.

Interestingly, Beri has no store besides the resortwear space at Escape Goa. She takes orders online and then works on designs. I am not really a retail-oriented person who wants too many stores," explains Beri, who divides her time between Delhi and Goa.

View Full Image Beri's Escape Goa is a lifestyle store in Socorro

In a career of three decades, Beri, who is in her early 50s, has racked up many firststhe first Indian designer to showcase at the Paris Haute Couture Week (1999); the first to head a French fashion brand, Scherrer (2000; a three-year stint); the first to open the inaugural edition of Lakme Fashion Week (2000). In between, shes dressed the whos who of the world, from former US President Bill Clinton to actor Madhuri Dixit Nene, opened and shut a store in Paris, and sold her designs at popular multi-brand stores like Londons Liberty and Paris Galleries Lafayette.

What set her apart from her batchmates at Delhis National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), including the late Rohit Bal, and Rina Dhakait was the institutes first batchwas her ability to bring together traditional and global aesthetics in a boho, flamboyant way.

These included signature layered ghagaras, frilly dresses, sari-inspired skirts, mesh bikinis under coats, and heavily embroidered salwar-kameez, which brought her Punjabi roots and rock n roll together.

When her garments were presented in Mumbai in March as part of a special gala night, marking 25 years of the Lakme Fashion Week, her design vocabulary was loud and clear: All fun and lively, but sharp and clean.

In an interview with Lounge, Beri talks about her work, being selfish, and why she doesnt plan to sell out to a large corporatised entity. Edited excerpts:

Whats the idea behind Escape?

To create an immersive space where you can tell a brand story through narratives rather than expecting people to just come, shop and leave. Its also my way of challenging myself to do something thats new. A brand is not just about clothes.

Is this the start of a new chapter in the Ritu Beri brand?

Can you imagine doing the same thing every day for the rest of your life? You have to be a very bored and sad human being. Paris (couture week), Scherrer were my attempts at reinvention.

When Indian designers showcase internationally, especially in Paris, the garments are more modern. Your first Paris haute couture showcase was strictly traditional

I wanted to give the French a real Indian experience and shock them with our beauty and tradition. My models walked barefoot with alta on their feet. I dont think it was a risk; I still dont think about what people will think.

A creative person cant get distracted by what others will say; you have to roll the dice and do what you believe in. I have blinkers on and Im a very selfish person in that respect. When I started the brand, I didnt go with the purpose of filling a gap or becoming famous.

I joined NIFT because I wanted to be one of the 25 people they were going to select from across Indiathat was my challenge to myself. I had no idea what the fashion industry was about. I had planned to be a doctor because mine was a family of doctors. It was all just random.

Today, several forces, especially social media, play a role in the way brands present their work

I did fashion week when I felt like doing it. When I dont feel creative enough, I dont do fashion week. I am living my life on my terms and not by the norms of what social media, or what is expected of me.

I dont live by the rule book of life of a fashion designer. Whats important to me is that I have to like what I do, even if nobody else likes it. Fashion, creativity, design, aesthetic is a very personal thing.

Of course, there have been many challenges along the way. There have been times when Ive not sold clothes to somebody because they dont look good in it. My daughter thinks Im a very bad salesperson because I refuse to let somebody buy something which will not look good on them. But I have always had customers; I was destinys child.

Escape, for instance, is completely my indulgence to do what I believe in and do what Im passionate about. And thats why its completely out of the box.

Do you believe not following the rule book has come at a cost?

Maybe I would have sold to a corporate, but then Ive made a conscious decision not to sell my brand. I dont want to make underwear with Ritu Beri on it. Some people are driven by their P&Ls (profit and loss) and their commercials. Some people are driven by 10,000 stores.

Im not a retail-oriented person. But I am still very much here, talking to you about my work, running my business, making fashion.

How has the industry and the consumer evolved over the years?

Today, people run wild because they want to be trendy and cool. They are dressing up all the time. They want to look good even when they wake up in the morning. When I started, people didnt really understand fashion. It wasnt fashion at that time; it was dressing for an occasion. Clients would come to me for a dress and I would suggest, I want to dress you in purple". They would say, Ive never seen anyone wear purple. Give me something that everyone is wearing." Everyone wanted to follow the trend; they didnt create a trend.

Did that frustrate you, especially after your Paris stint?

There were designers trying to find a footing in India, and a young me was finding a footing in Paris.

I was flying high because my work in India was being applauded. And then I was exposed to the fashion industry of Paris. I told myself, If Im really that good, let me do a show in Paris and get myself that kind of recognition".

It was a different trip altogether, and it spoiled me because after that, working in India was difficult. The fashion industry here was just starting. It was a different ballgame; they (the Parisians) had a way of doing things, professionalism, which we did not even understand then.

It was intimidating because the kind of people watching me were those who really understood fashion. Not like your Page 3 folks back home. The media there was exposed to the global fashion world. In India, we were educating our media about fashion at the time.

Did the attention ever get to you?

I have parents who always brought my head down. I live my own life judging myself. Im a handful.

This is the first part of a limited series, Fashion@25, to mark the Indian fashion industrys silver anniversary.
The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), introduced a series of features such as split expenses, family mode, and spend analytics about a month ago, aimed at helping users manage their daily financial tasks more smartly.

In addition, BHIMs UPI Circle feature continues to expand its use-cases for secure delegated payments. At the core of the apps functioning is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a platform that facilitates money transfers between bank accounts.

Heres a deeper look into the new BHIM features, how to use them and where users need to be cautious.

Split Expenses

The split expenses feature is a practical tool for friends, roommates or colleagues who often share payments. This feature is already live on some other UPI apps.

For a restaurant bill of 4,000 to be shared by four friends, instead of each one paying 1,000 separately, one person can pay the amount. The payer can then choose the Split Expenses option in the BHIM app, add the friends UPI IDs, and the app will automatically send them a request for 1,000 each. Once they accept the request, the amount gets credited directly to the payers bank account.

Only transactions made via BHIM UPI can be split, and those sharing the expense must be BHIM users or have UPI IDs. The feature works only for one-time splits  recurring shared expenses such as monthly rent must be done manually every time.

Family Mode

Family mode enables financial tasks to be shared among members. If the primary user is travelling overseas, the payment of electricity bills, DTH recharges, and Fastag top-ups can be assigned to the spouse or adult children using BHIMs Family Mode.

The family members will get notifications when the bill is due, and the payments can be made from their bank accounts using BHIM.

Family mode is designed to create a shared space within the app, allowing the primary user to assign specific tasks or payments to family members," explained Lalitha Nataraj, MD and CEO of NPCI BHIM Services Ltd.

View Full Image Mint

To use this feature, the primary member and the family members must have accounts on BHIM and their bank accounts linked. The family members are invited in the Family Mode section of the app. Once they accept the invite, bill payments or payment tasks can be assigned to them.

Bills can only be assigned after the initial biller is registered and a payment is created. Assigned members will then receive timely reminders, ensuring that important family expenses are managed.

Spend Analytics

With spend analytics, BHIM users can get a clear picture of their spending habits. The app can display a categorised summary of expenses such as groceries, utilities and shopping at the end of the month. This helps to identify areas where a user might be overspending.

There have been many instances where people come to us and say that because of UPI payments, they no longer keep track of their expenses," Nataraj pointed out. The spend analytics feature solves this problem by categorising your payments and providing insights into where your money is going."

Also Read | How tourists and NRIs can use UPI without an Indian bank account to make payments

This feature does not track card payments, cash spends, or payments made via other UPI apps such as PhonePe and Google Pay. Users cannot create custom categories. Transactions completed through the BHIM app will appear in the spend analytics report.

UPI Circle

In April, BHIM introduced the UPI Circle feature, which allows individuals to perform UPI transactions on behalf of someone else. This is especially useful for elderly parents who are the primary users of BHIM but not comfortable handling mobile apps. They can add trusted individuals as their secondary users and give them partial delegation to carry out transactions within certain limits and without needing to ask for real-time approvals every time.

For example, parents can delegate utility bill payments to their daughter. She can initiate and complete these transactions directly from the BHIM app without needing them to approve each payment separately.

However, the overall control remains with the parents, who can set transaction limits, monitor all payments in real time, and revoke access any time. This makes it extremely convenient for families where elderly parents want help managing payments but also want to retain oversight and security.

Both the primary and secondary users must be registered BHIM users, and delegation settings, such as daily transaction limits, must be configured when setting up UPI Circle. Partial delegation allows secondary users to make payments independently within agreed boundaries.

UPI Circle on BHIM is more than just a feature  its a step towards a more inclusive and connected financial ecosystem. By offering a secure and flexible way to delegate financial responsibilities, UPI Circle enhances the way we share and manage our money," Nataraj said.

Final thoughts

BHIM is evolving from a simple UPI payments app to a complete digital money management tool  whether its tracking your personal budget, helping your family manage bills, or securely assisting elderly parents with digital payments. The BHIMs updates reflect an understanding of the needs of modern users.

However, users must follow the required conditions and remain aware of the limitations to get the best experience. As India continues its journey towards a cashless economy, innovations like these position BHIM as a key pillar of the country's digital future.
The Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) provides for the platinum credit card, a unique feature rich financial product. This card has been designed for individuals seeking lifestyle perks, rewards, travel rebates with a focus on boosting everyday savings.

It comes with benefits such as accelerated reward points, welcome bonuses, fuel surcharge waivers etc., due to these features this card stands out as a competitive offering in 2025.

Let us look at the step by step process through which you can apply for a Karur Vysya Bank platinum credit card.

How to apply for the KVB platinum credit card online? You can apply for the Karur Vysya Bank platinum credit card in seamless fashion by following the five steps below:

Visit the official website of Karur Vysya Bank: Reach out to the official website of the bank. Then click on the credit cards section. Select the Platinum card: Then opt for the platinum credit card option from the list of available cards. Enter personal details: Follow the instructions given on the website, and submit details such as your full name, mobile number, email ID, and other basic details. Upload required documents: Carefully collect and provide scanned copies of your original PAN card, vote ID, driving license, utility bills for address proof, income documents and passport sized photos. Verification and approval: Once your application is submitted successfully you will be provided with an acknowledgement number. Note this number down, one copy of the same will also be mailed to you. Later on a Karur Vysya Bank representative will contact you for verification. Upon clarity of approval, your card will be dispatched to your registered address. As an alternative you can also pay a visit to your nearest Karur Vysya Bank branch and apply for the credit card in person.

Through this mode you can also discuss your queries and doubts with the concerned bank executive and get a clear resolution quickly while submitting your credit card application form.

What is the basic eligibility criteria for KVB platinum credit card? Before deciding on applying, make sure you meet the given eligibility conditions:

Age : Must be between 21 and 65 years.

: Must be between 21 and 65 years. Income : The applicant should have stability in income from employment.

: The applicant should have stability in income from employment. Residency: The applicant should also be a resident of India. Note: The eligibility criteria discussed above is illustrative only. For the updated terms and conditions refer to the official website of the bank.

What are the key features and benefits of KVB platinum credit card? Reward points: You can earn 2 reward points for every  150 spent. There are double points on offer for travel bookings.

You can earn 2 reward points for every 150 spent. There are double points on offer for travel bookings. Welcome bonus: Get a bonus of 500 points on card activation.

Get a bonus of 500 points on card activation. Fuel surcharge waiver: Enjoy 1% waiver on fuel transactions across the country.

Enjoy 1% waiver on fuel transactions across the country. Annual fees: The annual fee of  999 can also be waived off on reaching specific annual spending targets. Note: The features discussed above are illustrative in nature. For the updated and most recent offers on specific credit cards refer to the official website of Karur Vysya Bank.

Hence, irrespective of you being a frequent traveller or a smart spender, the Karur Vysya Bank platinum credit card offers a valuable blend of savings, rewards and convenience.

Also Read | Apply for Bank of Baroda Vikram credit card in 5 easy steps

For any more details you can refer to the official website of the Karur Vysya Bank: https://www.kvb.co.in/ and can also discuss your queries with the dedicated customer support team.

Disclaimer: Mint has a tie-up with fintechs for providing credit; you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit scores. Mint does not promote or encourage taking credit as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit.
Q. I have been investing in largecap mutual funds for the past 5 years. Now, I want to invest in midcap indices, particularly in Nifty Midcap 50. Can you please elaborate on the pros and cons of investing in mutual funds tracking Nifty Midcap 50 Index? Additionally, please elaborate on the differences between Nifty Midcap 50 Index and Nifty Midcap 100 Index. Arindam Banerjee, Salt Lake City, Kolkata

Introduction Investing in mutual funds has become a popular choice for individuals seeking to grow their wealth while diversifying their portfolios. Among the various options available, mutual funds that track the Nifty 50 Midcap Index have gained significant attention. These funds offer exposure to midcap companies, which are often considered the sweet spot between stability and growth potential. Lets dive into the details of these funds and why they might be worth considering.

What is the Nifty Midcap 50 Index? The Nifty Midcap 50 Index is a benchmark that represents the performance of 50 midcap companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India. These companies are ranked between the top 101st and 150th in terms of market capitalisation. The index is designed to capture the growth potential of mid-sized companies that are well-established but still have room to expand.

Eligibility criteria to be part of Nifty Midcap 50 Index Nifty Midcap 50 Index includes the top 50 companies from the Nifty Midcap 150 Index, based on full market capitalisation. These companies are carefully selected to ensure the index accurately reflects the midcap segment of the market. Below, we have mentioned the key criteria to be part of Nifty Midcap 50 Index.

Market capitalisation: Companies must rank among the top 50 in terms of full market capitalisation within the Nifty Midcap 150 Index. Preference is given to stocks that have derivative contracts available on the NSE.

Liquidity: The liquidity of a stock is a critical factor. Companies must demonstrate sufficient trading activity to ensure that their inclusion does not hinder the index's performance. The total traded value of all index constituents over the last six months is considered.

Free-float market capitalisation: The index uses free-float market capitalisation, which excludes shares held by promoters and other strategic investors, to determine the weight of each stock.

Sector representation: The index aims to provide a balanced representation of various sectors within the midcap segment, ensuring diversification.

Corporate governance: Companies must adhere to high standards of corporate governance and comply with regulatory requirements.

Periodic review and rebalancing: The Nifty Midcap 50 Index undergoes periodic reviews to ensure it remains representative of the midcap segment. During these reviews, companies that no longer meet the eligibility criteria are replaced. New companies that fulfil the criteria are included. Adjustments are made to account for corporate actions such as mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs.

Pros Mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index are designed to replicate the performance of the index, providing exposure to a diverse range of midcap stocks. Below, we have mentioned the key advantages of investing in these funds and why they are worth considering for your portfolio.

Access to high-growth companies: Midcap companies, often referred to as the sweet spot of investing, lie between largecap giants and smaller firms. They are established enough to offer stability but still have significant growth potential. Mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index grant investors access to these dynamic companies, which can be a great addition to a growth-oriented portfolio.

Diversification benefits: The Nifty Midcap 50 Index includes 50 midcap companies across various sectors. By investing in a fund that tracks this index, you can benefit from diversification, spreading risk across industries and reducing the impact of individual stock volatility.

Cost efficiency: Mutual funds tracking indices like the Nifty Midcap 50 Index are often passively managed. They aim to mirror the index's performance rather than actively choosing stocks. As a result, these funds tend to have lower expense ratios than actively managed funds, making them a more cost-effective option for investors.

Professional management: Even though these funds follow an index, professional fund managers handle the investments. They ensure the portfolio aligns with the index and adjust as needed, such as rebalancing the portfolio during index changes or corporate actions.

Transparency: Index funds are known for their transparency. Since they follow a specific benchmark, investors can easily understand the composition and performance of the fund. This clarity helps investors make informed decisions and track their investments effectively.

Consistent performance: By tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index, these mutual funds aim to replicate the index's performance. Historically, midcap indices have delivered robust returns over the long term, making them a reliable choice for investors seeking consistent growth.

Ideal for long-term investing: Midcap funds are well-suited for long-term investors. Over time, the inherent growth potential of mid-sized companies can translate into significant returns, especially when compounded. Investing in these funds aligns with a long-term wealth creation strategy.

Reduced volatility compared to smallcaps: While midcap stocks are more volatile than largecaps, they are less risky compared to smallcap stocks. This middle ground makes mutual fund tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index appealing to investors who want growth with moderate risk levels.

Cons While mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index offer several advantages, they are not without their drawbacks. Understanding these cons is crucial for investors to make informed decisions and align their investments with their financial goals and risk tolerance. Below, we have listed the key risk associated with investing in mutual funds tracking Nifty Midcap 50 Index:

Higher volatility: Midcap stocks are more sensitive to market fluctuations compared to largecap stocks. This heightened volatility can lead to sharper price swings, making these funds riskier for investors who prefer stability in their portfolios.

Economic sensitivity: Midcap companies often rely heavily on domestic demand and have limited resources compared to largecap firms. This makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns, which can adversely affect the performance of mutual funds tracking the index.

Limited downside protection: Unlike actively managed funds, index funds do not employ strategies to mitigate losses during market downturns. This passive approach means that investors are fully exposed to the index's performance, whether positive or negative.

Sector concentration risks: While the Nifty Midcap 50 Index provides diversification, certain sectors may dominate the index. This concentration can increase the risk associated with specific industries, especially during periods of sector-specific challenges.

Suitability for long-term investors: Due to the inherent volatility and economic sensitivity of midcap stocks, these funds are better suited for long-term investors who can withstand short-term fluctuations. Short-term investors may find the risk levels unappealing.

Nifty Midcap 100 Index vs. Nifty Midcap 50 Index The Nifty Midcap indices are benchmarks designed to represent the performance of midcap companies listed on the NSE. While both the Nifty Midcap 100 Index and the Nifty Midcap 50 Index focus on midcap stocks, they differ in composition, selection criteria, and purpose. Lets explore these differences in detail.

1. Composition Nifty Midcap 100 Index: This index comprises the top 100 midcap companies ranked between 101st and 200th in terms of market capitalisation. It provides a broader representation of the midcap segment.

Nifty Midcap 50 Index: This index includes the top 50 midcap companies selected from the Nifty Midcap 150 Index based on liquidity and market capitalisation. It offers a more focused representation of midcap stocks.

2. Sector representation Nifty Midcap 100 Index: With a larger pool of companies, this index provides broader sector representation, capturing the performance of midcap stocks across multiple industries.

Nifty Midcap 50 Index: Due to its smaller size, this index may have limited sector representation compared to the Nifty Midcap 100 Index.

3. Risk and volatility Nifty Midcap 100 Index: The broader composition of this index may result in lower volatility compared to the Nifty Midcap 50 Index.

Nifty Midcap 50 Index: The focus on fewer stocks can lead to higher volatility, making it more sensitive to market fluctuations.

4. Investment purpose Nifty Midcap 100 Index: Ideal for investors seeking diversified exposure to midcap stocks and long-term growth potential.

Nifty Midcap 50 Index: Suitable for traders and investors looking for liquidity and actively traded stocks, often used for derivative trading.

Taxation of investments in index funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index Investing in index funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index is a popular choice for individuals seeking exposure to midcap companies. However, understanding the taxation rules associated with these investments is essential for effective financial planning. Below, we delve into the tax implications of such investments in detail.

Taxation of capital gains Capital gains tax is applicable when you redeem your index fund units. The tax treatment depends on the holding period:

Short-term capital gains (STCG): If the units are held for less than 12 months, the gains are classified as short-term capital gains. STCG is taxed at a rate of 20% under Section 111A of the Income Tax Act.

Long-term capital gains (LTCG): If the units are held for more than 12 months, the gains are classified as long-term capital gains. LTCG is taxed at a rate of 12.5% for gains exceeding 1.25 lakh in a financial year.

Things to consider before investing in Nifty Midcap 50 Index Investing in mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index can be a rewarding venture, but it requires careful consideration and research. These funds provide exposure to midcap companies, which are known for their growth potential and moderate risk levels. Below, we outline the key factors investors should evaluate before investing.

1. Investment goals and horizon: Before investing, define your financial objectives and investment horizon. Are you looking for long-term capital appreciation, or do you have short-term financial goals? Midcap funds are best suited for long-term investors who can withstand market fluctuations and benefit from the growth potential of midcap stocks.

2. Risk tolerance: Assess your risk appetite. Midcap stocks are more volatile than largecap stocks, which means they can experience significant price swings. Ensure that your risk tolerance aligns with the inherent volatility of these funds.

3. Fund performance: Evaluate the historical performance of the mutual fund. Look for consistency in returns over different timeframes (1 year, 3 years, 5 years) and compare the funds performance to its benchmark index and peer group. Keep in mind that past performance does not guarantee future results.

4. Expense ratio: The expense ratio is the annual fee charged by the fund for managing your investment. Lower expense ratios are preferable, as they reduce the cost of investment and improve net returns. Compare the expense ratios of different funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 index.

5. Tracking error: Tracking error measures how closely the fund replicates the performance of the Nifty Midcap 50 Index. Lower tracking errors indicate better alignment with the index. Choose funds with minimal tracking errors to ensure accurate representation of the index.

6. Fund manager expertise: Although index funds are passively managed, the fund manager plays a crucial role in maintaining the portfolio and executing trades. Research the fund managers track record and expertise in managing index funds.

7. Liquidity: Check the liquidity of the fund. Funds with higher asset sizes tend to have better liquidity, making it easier to buy or sell units without impacting the funds performance.

8. Tax implications: Understand the tax treatment of your investment. Capital gains tax is applicable when you redeem your units, and dividends are taxed as per your income tax slab. Familiarise yourself with these rules to optimise your post-tax returns.

9. Sector allocation: Analyse the sector allocation of the fund. Ensure that the fund provides balanced exposure to various industries within the midcap segment, reducing the risk of sector-specific challenges.

10. Investment mode: Decide whether to invest through a lump sum or a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). SIPs allow you to invest smaller amounts at regular intervals, reducing the impact of market volatility and promoting disciplined investing.

Performance and returns and comparison with Nifty Midcap 100 As of March 28, 2025, the Nifty Midcap 50 Index has given a five-year compounded annual return of 36.74%. On the other hand, as of March 28, 2025 Nifty Midcap 100 Index has given a five-year compounded annual return of 34.58%. Please see below the top two index mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index:

Name Expense Ratio 1 Year Return Axis Nifty Midcap 50 Index 0.26% 8.48% Kotak Nifty Midcap 50 Index Fund 0.25% N.A.

Source: AMFI website. All data as of 15 April 2025

Note: Past performance is not an indication of future returns.

Conclusion Mutual funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 50 Index offer a unique opportunity to invest in mid-sized companies with significant growth potential. They combine the benefits of diversification, professional management, and cost-efficiency, making them an attractive option for investors. However, as with any investment, its crucial to conduct thorough research and consult with a financial advisor to align your investments with your financial goals.

Disclaimer: Investing in mutual funds involves risks, including potential loss of principal. Please consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were on Friday issued notices by a Delhi court in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

Their "right to be heard" was available at the time of cognisance of the chargesheet, said Special judge Vishal Gogne.

"Right to be heard at any stage breaths life into fair trial," the judge said, posting the matter on May 8.

Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul are majority shareholders of Young Indian with 38 per cent shares held by each one of them. They were questioned for hours by the ED in this case a few years ago.

The ED investigation began in 2021 after a metropolitan magistrate in Patiala House courts in Delhi took cognisance of a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on June 26, 2014.

The chargesheet was filed under Sections 3 (money laundering) and 4 (punishment for money laundering) of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Following the ED chargesheet, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Narendra Modi-led government and said that it cannot be a mere coincidence that ED action came immediately after AICC session.

All this done out of vendetta, said Kharge while referring to ED action on Gandhis and attaching National Herald properties.

Alleging the ED was carrying out "vendetta" at the behest of its political masters, former Union minister P Chidambaram said the "political assault" on the integrity and reputation of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi was an "abuse of power".

He alleged the facts of the case made it clear that the Enforcement Directorate (ED), at the behest of its "political masters, is carrying on a vendetta against" the opposition party leaders.

There were no proceeds of crime and, hence, there could not be a money-laundering case and, as such, the ED has no jurisdiction in it, the senior Congress leader claimed and asserted the party would "prevail over the assault".
The Delhi-NCR region experienced traffic congestion as several trees were uprooted and vehicles broke down due to heavy waterlogging following a rainstorm earlier today.

Places like Gurgaon, Delhi Airport and Minto Road have been severely inundated, resulting in significant inconvenience for the public. This abrupt shift in weather conditions has left individuals facing considerable challenges.

Earlier today, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi in the early hours, resulting in waterlogging and traffic disruptions in many areas of the national capital.

Due to inclement weather conditions, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport, officials said.

Due to inclement weather conditions and thunderstorms in Delhi, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport. Our on-ground teams work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information, Delhi Airport said in an earlier advisory posted on X.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said, Today, I inspected the situation of waterlogging in various areas of Delhi, including Majnu ka Tila, due to rain. I am personally present on the ground with the concerned officials to resolve this problem. Clear instructions were given to all officers to identify places where waterlogging is occurring across Delhi and ensure a solution.

Netizens say, Delhi is on stand-still Netizens took to social media to discuss the aftermath of heavy rainfall. A user noted, Delhi is on stand-still, thanks to #Rain #DelhiRains. Many trees, big branches are broken down, stormwater drains are not cooperative enough to take water away and people are trying hard to reach their work destinations.

Another user pointed out, Climate change is real and growing.

"The sad truth about Gurugram is never come bearing complete happiness . While temperatures has dippedair is fresh power crises has hit city with no power since 3:00 am in many parts," wrote another user.

What did IMD say? The India Meteorological Department has put out an alert, informing that severe weather is going on over Delhi NCR and urging the residents to ensure their safety.

According to the advisory, it advises to stay indoors and avoid travel if possible. The advisory also recommends seeking shelter in a safe location and avoiding taking refuge under trees or near concrete floors and walls. It further advises unplugging electrical and electronic appliances to prevent damage or injury & immediately moving out of water bodies and avoiding objects that conduct electricity.

Earlier IMD has predicted that isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning & strong winds speed reaching 40-60 Kmph likely over Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan may be witnessed from May 1 to May 6.

The forecast indicates scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (40-60 kmph), across Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from May 1 to May 6, 2025.

Climate change is real and growing.

Additionally, isolated hailstorms are very likely in Uttarakhand on May 1 and 3, with thundersquall winds expected on May 3.
Delhi Police said 4 people were killed and one injured after a tree fell on a tubewell room built on the farm in Kharkhari Canal village in Dwarka following strong winds and severe weather this morning. The deceased are identified as 26-year-old Jyoti and her three children. Her husband, Ajay, has sustained minor injuries, it added, ANI reported.

Delhi Rain: Fire Official on Dwarka incident "We received a call regarding a house collapse in Kharkari Nahar village in Najafgarh at 5.25 am. We deployed multiple teams on the spot and four people were rescued from the rubble," PTI quoted a Delhi Fire Services official as saying. They were admitted to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead, he stated. "We have informed police about the matter," he mentioned.

According to the forecast, it will have cloudy skies, very light rain or drizzle and thunderstorms with lightning, dust storms and strong surface winds ranging from 30 to 40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, during the afternoon and evening. Air India and Indigo have asked travellers to check for the flight status considering the weather conditions.

IMD issues severe weather alert IMD issued severe weather alert and urged people to stay indoors as well.
Himachal: A bomb threat was received through email on Friday evening, targeting different locations in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu, including government officers and public places, within the next 24 hours, said the Office of Deputy Commissioner and Chairman District Disaster Management Authority, Kullu.

In view of the bomb threat, the District Disaster Management Authority has alerted all authorities, including the police, reported ANI.

Bomb disposal squads and surveillance units have been deployed across Kullu, while police and intelligence agencies are working to verify the credibility of the threat and trace its origin mentioned a report by Zee News.

Previous bomb threats The latest threat on Friday, May 2, marks the fourth time that Himachal Pradesh has received a bomb threat in recent days  earlier, Mandi, Hamirpur and Chamba districts have also received similar threats.

Bomb threats in Mandi A week ago, Mandi deputy commissioner (DC)s office had received a bomb threat email. The email referred to Himachal Pradesh chief secretary Prabodh Saxena's office and stated that something was going to happen in Tamil Nadu and the timing to execute the threat in Himachal Pradesh would be adjusted accordingly, sources told PTI.

Bomb threat in Kerala On April 28, the Kerala Raj Bhavan, the Kerala Chief Minister's official residence, government offices and an airport in the state, received bomb threats, which were later confirmed as hoaxes by police.

Also Read | Bihar news: Patna civil court receives bomb threat via email

As per the emails, bomb blasts were to happen at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor; Cliff House, the residence of the chief minister and the Nedumbassery International Airport in Kochi, police sources told PTI.

Thiruvananthapuram International airport receives bomb threat email On Sunday, April 27, the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, and various hotels in Thiruvananthapuram received bomb threats via email.

An officer from the Cantonment police station confirmed that thorough inspections were conducted at all the hotels mentioned in the bomb threat, including the Hilton Hotel in central Thiruvananthapuram. However, no explosives were found, and the threats were deemed a hoax.

Also Read | Bihar news: Patna civil court receives bomb threat via email
A former Bangladesh army officer and a close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have worsened after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district killed 26 civilians on April 22.

In a Facebook post, Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on Tuesday wrote that Bangladesh should occupy all northeastern states of India. If India attacks Pakistan, then Bangladesh should occupy all northeastern states, he wrote in Bengali.

Suggesting taking China's help, he went on to say, I think Bangladesh should talk to China about a joint military decision regarding this.

Yunus government distances itself from Rahman's remarks Yunus's interim government was quick to distance itself from Rahman's remarks. A Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs media release on Friday said, The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner.

The government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations, the ministry said, according to a PTI report.

Rahman was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government in December 2024 as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009, the report added.

Yunus' earlier remark on India's northeastern states Earlier in March, Chief Adviser Yunus, during his visit to China, had claimed that Bangladesh is the only guardian of the Indian Ocean for the region, as the seven northeastern Indian states are landlocked.

In a video that went viral, Yunus can be heard saying that The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the seven sisters. They are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. Bangladesh is the guardian of the ocean for the region. This opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension for the Chinese economy.

WATCH:

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar had strongly countered Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus over his Northeast landlocked and Bangladesh only guardian of the ocean remark during his visit to China, stating that cooperation is not about cherry-picking.

In a statement, Jaishankar said, We, after all, have the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, of almost 6,500 km. India shares borders not only with five BIMSTEC members, connects most of them, but also provides much of the interface between the Indian sub-continent and ASEAN. Our North-Eastern region in particular is emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines.
Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday sparked a fresh controversy after he questioned surgical strikes conducted in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

Till date, I have not found out where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time and where this happened in Pakistan. If someone drops a bomb in our country, will people not know?, asked Channi.

The Congress MP further added, They claim to have conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan but nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know.

Asked if he had sought proof of those strikes, he said, "I have always been demanding that."

The Congress MP made the remark while speaking at a press conference after a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.

Channi also demand that the government should tell the people who they (perpetrators of Pahalgam terrorist attack) are and punish them.

"We demand that the government take steps and the entire country is awaiting to witness what action it takes against Pakistan," the former Chief Minister said while responding to a question.

"People are waiting for the 56-inch chest as to when will it act. We demand that the government act fast and give results," he added.

Also Read | Pakistani hackers again target Indian websites

No proof is needed However, Channi later backtracked and said no proof is needed for the surgical strikes.

"I have said earlier also that the Congress party, in this hour of grief, is standing by the government. If the government disrupts their (Pakistan's) water supply, air or whatever action it takes, we are standing like a rock with it," he said.

"You talked about surgical strikes. We do not ask for proof and no evidence has been sought for it.... The question today is that we want justice for the families of the victims and the country. We are standing with the government," he said.

BJP attacks Channi Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Congress MP over his remarks.

"Congress leader Channi in 2024 disgustingly commented 'Stuntbaazi' when Corporal Vicky Pahade ji was killed in the Poonch attack. Now he insults armed forces again saying they (Army) said that we did a surgical strike on Pakistan, but nobody saw it." said party spokesperson C R Kesavan.

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Congress has become Pakistan Prast Party (PPP) and accused it of hurting the morale of the Army.

"Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says no action should be taken against Pakistan... Robert Vadra and other Congress party leaders have given a clean chit to Pakistan and blamed Hindutva... When the whole country is standing behind the army so that they can give a befitting reply to the terrorists, the Congress party is hurting the morale of the army," said Poonawala.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth 58,000 crore in Amaravati. PM Modi also relaunched the construction of the greenfield capital city of Amaravati  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's dream project.

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation for 94 projects, which included capital city institutions, national highways, railway upgrades and defence-related installations, according to a PTI report.

WATCH:

CM Chandrababu Naidu and his deputy Pawan Kalyan among others were present. Pledging support to the PM Modi-led central government for taking strong action to combat terrorism, CM Naidu said, "Despite being deeply saddened by the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, PM Modi still attended todays event, which reflects his unwavering commitment. We fully support him in taking strong decisions to combat terrorism."

A terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district killed 26 civilians on April 22.

PM Modi's Top Quotes On India's strength Today, India's strength is not only in our weapons but also in our unity. This spirit of unity is strengthened through our 'Ekta Malls.' Ekta Malls are being built in many cities across the country. I am happy that now an Ekta Mall will also be built in Visakhapatnam" PM Modi said.

The PM Ekta Mall or Unity mall at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam has been envisioned with the objective of fostering national integration, supporting the Make in India initiative, promoting 'One District One Product' initiative, generating employment opportunities, empowering rural artisans, and enhancing the market presence of indigenous products, a PTI report said.

On Amaravati I see Amaravati not just as a city but a fulfilled dream, PM Modi said.

Amaravati is such a place where legacy and development go together," he added.

Amaravati not just a city, but energy; would transform Andhra Pradesh into Modern Pradesh

As part of resuming the construction of Amaravati, the PM laid foundation for 74 projects worth 49,000 crore, which encompassed the construction of the Assembly, Secretariat and High Court buildings and judicial residential quarters, along with housing buildings for 5,200 families, the report said.

The land pooling scheme infrastructure projects will cover 1,281 km of roads equipped with central medians, cycle tracks, and integrated utilities across the greenfield capital city of Amaravati.

"We all know Indralok's capital name was Amaravati and now Amaravati is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. This is not just a coincidence. This is a good sign for the construction of Swarna Andhra," PM Modi further said, referring to the TDP-led NDA government's ambitious target to transform the state into a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047.

On Andhra Pradesh and Viksit Bharat Today, projects worth 60,000 crore have been launched. These projects are not just concrete structures but they are a strong foundation of the ambitions of Andhra Pradesh and Viksit Bharat, he said.

We have to work unitedly to make Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh the growth engine of Viksit Bharat.

'Swarna Andhra' will strengthen the path of Viksit Bharat and Amaravati will give energy to its vision, he added.

"I would like to reassure the people of Andhra Pradesh, and my associates who are sitting here that you will always find me with you for the development of Andhra Pradesh," PM Modi said.

Referring to the iconic former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, PM Modi said the later leader had dreamt of a developed Andhra Pradesh.

"We have to fulfil NTR's dream. Chandrababu, brother Pawan Kalyan, we have to do it and we only have to do it," he said.

PM Modi laid foundation for infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km long world-class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems in the greenfield capital city, PTI reported.

Thanking the people of Andhra Pradesh for organising India's flagship event on June 21 as International Yoga Day, PM Modi called it an important milestone, and said he will be performing yoga with the people of Andhra Pradesh on that day.

PM praises CM Chandrababu Naidu When I was newly elected CM of Gujarat, I was very closely monitoring what initiatives Chandrababu Naidu was taking in Hyderabad. I learned a lot, and today, I got the opportunity to implement them, PM Modi said.
Pahalgam terror attack: The Supreme Court on Friday directed authorities to refrain from taking coercive measures, including deportation to Pakistan, against six family members accused of overstaying their visa, until their identity documents are verified, as reported by news agency PTI.

The individuals, originally from Kashmir, have a son working in Bengaluru. They are facing possible deportation in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, PTI reported.

Noting the humanitarian aspect of the case, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh allowed the family to seek relief from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court if they are dissatisfied with the outcome of the identity document verification process, PTI reported.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Ahmed Tarek Butt and his five family members, who alleged that they were detained and taken to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan, despite holding valid Indian documents.

The bench observed that, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre had issued a notification on April 25 revoking the visas of Pakistani nationals, with certain exceptions mentioned in the order, and had set a specific timeline for their deportation.

Earlier on Wednesday, a total of 125 Pakistani nationals departed India via the Attari-Wagah border, bringing the total number of Pakistanis leaving the country to 911 in the past week. Additionally, 15 Indian citizens holding Pakistani visas also crossed into Pakistan, raising the total number of such exits to 23, PTI reported.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Ahmed Tarek Butt and his five family members, who alleged that they were detained and taken to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan.

On the other hand, 152 Indian nationals and 73 Pakistani nationals with long-term Indian visas entered India through the same border point in Amritsar, Punjab. This brings the total number of such entries to 1,617 for Indian nationals and 224 for Pakistani nationals.
Even after several failed attempts to violate Indias cyberspace, Pakistan-sponsored hackers continued their cyber offensives on Thursday.

Among the latest cyberattacks, Pakistan-based hacking groups such as "Cyber Group HOAX1337" and "National Cyber Crew" targeted the websites of Army Public School in Nagrota and Sunjuwan and attempted to deface them with messages mocking the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

A website catering to ex-servicemen's healthcare services was defaced.

India's layered cybersecurity architecture detected the intrusions in real-time and quickly traced their origin to Pakistan.

Amid Pakistan's growing frustrations, repeated attempts have been made by hackers operating the neighbouring country to target websites meant for children, old age veterans and other innocent people.

The hacking of the Army Institute of Hotel Management's website and Indian Air Force veterans further illustrates the Pakistani establishment's intent to provoke and escalate tensions in the digital battlespace.

On April 29, Pakistan had redirected its efforts towards publicly accessible welfare and educational websites after finding mission-critical national networks impenetrable.

Operating under the moniker "IOK Hacker" - Internet of Khilafah, the group tried to deface pages, disrupt online services and harvest personal data.

Pakistani troops violate ceasefire for 8th night Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting retaliation from the Indian Army, officials said on Friday.

This is the eighth consecutive night of unprovoked firing along the LoC, amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers to make them habitable in case shelling happens.

Also Read | SC protects family from deportation to Pak, asks authorities for verification

During the night of May 1-2, 2025, Pakistani Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire from posts across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson in Jammu said.
Fatehpur: Panic gripped Fatehpur on Friday, May 2, after the under-construction Khadi Bhawan building collapsed suddenly, leaving several injured and many more feared trapped beneath the debris.

As per visuals released by PTI, rescue operations at the site are currently underway.

Four killed in building collapse due to Delhi rains Earlier in the day, four people, including three children and a woman, lost their lives after a house collapse in Kharkari Nahar village, Najafgarh.

The collapse occurred amidst heavy rainfall in Delhi, prompting immediate rescue operations by Delhi Fire Services. While the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, they were unfortunately declared dead upon arrival, reported PTI.
'Sharbat Jihad' row: Yoga guru Ramdev has pledged before the Delhi High Court that he will not issue statements, make social media posts, disparaging videos or advertisements containing communal slurs in the future against Hamdards popular drink Rooh Afza.

Ramdevs counsel Rajiv Nayyar submitted before a bench of Justice Amit Bansal that the undertaking would be filed in the court through an affidavit on May 2. Bansal is seeking the disposal of the case, according to legal news website LiveLaw.

Also Read | Delhi HC pulls up Baba Ramdev over Rooh Afza remarks, directs video takedown

The court has fixed May 9 as the next date of hearing in the case.

During the hearing on May 2, Hamdards counsel submitted that Ramdev, despite his assurance given on May 1, had not taken down the Sharbat Jihad video but only made it private, which could be viewed by the subscribers. However Ramdevs counsel submitted that the portions of the video would be taken down within 24 hours time granted by the court.

Ramdev not in control of anyone: HC The Delhi High Court on May 1 said Ramdev was not in control of anyone and lived in his own world as it held him in prima facie contempt of its order over his Sharbat Jihad remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza, news agency PTI reported.

The court had on April 22 ordered him not to issue any statements or share videos in the future about Hamdard's products. The order came after the Delhi court was informed that Ramdev published a video making objectionable statements despite the order, news agency PTI reported.

Let an affidavit be also placed on record by both the defendant no.1 and defendant no.2 stating that defendants no.1 and 2 shall not issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors, the HC court on April 22, according to legal news website Bar and Bench.

Justice Amit Bansal said, In view of the last order, his affidavit as well as this video are prima facie in contempt. I will issue a contempt notice now. We are just calling him here.

What is the 'Sharbat Jihad' Row? Last month, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday slammed Patanjali Foods Ltd's owner Baba Ramdev for allegedly making communally-charged and disparaging remarks against the 119-year-old Hamdard National Foundation (India), the maker of Rooh Afza.

Ramdev undertakes not to issue any statements regarding Rooh Afza in the future.

A single-judge bench of Justice Amit Bansal directed that a video featuring the yoga guru, wherein he allegedly made controversial references about Rooh Afza, targeting the drink as Sharbat Jihad, be taken down immediately.

The courts remarks came while hearing a plea filed by Hamdard, which accused Ramdev and Patanjali of making communal slurs against the company.
Nepal on Friday launched diplomatic initiatives to probe the death of an 18-year-old student from the Himalayan nation at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a day after she was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room. The Nepal Embassy in New Delhi said they are coordinating with India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Odisha government, police and the university for a thorough investigation.

The Nepal Embassy, in a post on X, wrote, Deeply saddened by the tragic death of Nepali student Prisha Sah at KIIT, Odisha. Heartfelt condolences to her family. Prayers for her eternal peace. We're closely coordinating with MEA, Odisha Govt., police & the university for a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, MEA, in a statement, said, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic demise of a Nepali student of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time. Ministry of External Affairs has been in constant touch with the Odisha State Government since we became aware of the tragic incident. The State Government of Odisha has extended full support to the family of the deceased, and a thorough enquiry is currently being conducted by the Odisha Police."

Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba said that diplomatic initiatives have been initiated to investigate the death of the student at KIIT. In a post on X, the Foreign Minister said, "Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi."

Deuba, expressing condolences to the family of the Nepali student, Prisa Sah, said, The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisa's soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour.

On Thursday evening, the student was found dead inside her hostel room, police said. Yes, the body of a girl from Nepal has been recovered. It seems that she has committed suicide at the ladies' hostel of KIIT, reported PTI, quoting Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh.

The police said that upon receiving information about the alleged suicide, the body of the girl was recovered in her hostel room, which is inside the campus.

Detailed investigation to be conducted "Today, we have received information that a girl from Nepal has died by suicide at the KIIT University...we reached there and investigated the matter. A detailed investigation will be conducted into the matter...The scientific team reached there, and all the details were collected. Her family has been informed. The body has been sent to AIIMS for the post-mortem," said Singh.

The deceaseds parents will reach Bhubaneswar on Friday, and after that post-mortem examination of the body will be conducted, the police commissioner added, saying her body has been sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Also Read | Savour the best of Nepali food with a thakali thali

Police mentioned that the Nepal Embassy has been informed about the incident.

The Odisha government also extended condolences over the death of the girl and assured that necessary action will be taken in the matter.

"Information about the alleged suicide of a girl student from Nepal, studying in the first year B Tech, Computer Science, KIIT University, was received from local police at about 8.10 pm today. The parents of the girl were informed about the incident immediately by the university authorities. In this hour of distress, the State Government extends its support to the family of the deceased and offers its condolences to them," the Information and Public Relations Department said.

"On receipt of the information, senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, rushed to the site to enquire into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and take necessary action in the matter. The forensic team is at the spot to collect evidence," it added.

An incident of suicide by a Nepali student has happened. Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case as she was found in a hanging position inside a locked room. All evidence has been collected. The body has been sent to AIIMS for post-mortem. An investigation is underway. I have spoken to the Nepali embassy. Police arrangements have been made outside KIIT University, where the situation is normal, ANI quoted Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh as saying.

Not the first case of student from Nepal being found dead at KIIT This is the second incident of the death of a Nepali female student at the same university to be reported within three months. On February 16, Prakriti Lamsal had taken her own life at the same university, leading to Nepalese students staging a protest. The students had alleged that a fellow student had harassed her and that the college had failed to act despite multiple complaints. The accused student was arrested on February 17.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met on Friday at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi. On the agenda of the CWC meet was the Pahalgam terror attack and the Centre's decision to conduct a caste census.

During the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the central government for not having a "clear strategy" after the Pahalgam attack, news agency PTI reported.

On April 22, terrorists attacked the popular tourist destination of Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 tourists and injuring several others.

Sharing a few pictures from the CWC meet, along with his opening statement on X, Kharge said that the entire opposition will work together to address any challenges that threaten the country's unity, integrity, and prosperity.

After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, an urgent meeting of the CWC was held on 24 April. In that, we passed a resolution and said that we will give all possible support to the government in the fight against terrorism and in teaching a lesson to the terrorists. But even after several days of this incident, no clear strategy has come from the government, he wrote in his post.

What the CWC resolution said on Pahalgam "The entire country awaits accountability, answers and justice. In the face of such an unforgivable provocation, the Congress believes this is not a time for politics but a moment that calls for unity, strength, and national resolve.

"We must rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together, and will not be broken, the CWC resolution said.

According to the PTI report, the resolution also said, The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face full consequences for their actions. The Congress urges the Government of India to act with firmness, strategic clarity and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror into our territory.

Also Read | Pakistani hackers again target Indian websites

The Congress also called for sustained moral and institutional support to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

Compensation alone is not enough. Long-term rehabilitation, mental health support, and honouring the memory of those lost through national recognition and civic remembrance are equally essential, the party said.

The CWC reaffirmed its earlier demand for time-bound accountability into the serious lapses in security and intelligence in one of the most heavily-guarded regions of the country, the report said.

The people of India deserve transparency and accountability, the party asserted.

CWC resolution on caste census While asking the government to announce a clear timeline for every stage of the caste survey, the CWC said that the Modi government has finally conceded after continued opposition and stubborn refusal.

According to the report, the CWC resolution said, After 11 years of continued opposition and stubborn refusal, the Modi government has finally conceded to the demand of the Congress to collect population data caste wise as part of the next census. For 11 years, the prime minister attacked the Congress leadership for raising this demand.

No details, however, have been provided of what the government intends to do and no financial allocations have been made, it said.

The resolution reportedly recalled that the Congress president had written to the prime minister on April 16, 2023, demanding an up-to-date and comprehensive caste survey.

CWC statement on 50 per cent cap on reservation He has also been demanding removal of the arbitrary 50 per cent ceiling on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), according to the resolution.

According to the PTI report, the resolution also noted that Rahul Gandhi was the strongest and most consistent voice demanding a nationwide caste survey.

The party said he had raised the urgent need to gather data on caste so that government policies could truly reflect the lived realities of the marginalised during the 2022 Nav Sankalp Shivir in Udaipur.
What was supposed to be a peaceful visit to a lush mangrove park turned into a nightmare straight out of a horror film. A shocking incident unfolded at Kabug Mangrove Park in Zamboanga Sibugay, a serene wetland in the Philippines popular among tourists and nature lovers. According to Cosmo, a 29-year-old man was exploring the park when he spotted what appeared to be an uncannily lifelike crocodile statue.

Intrigued, the man reportedly stepped into the shallow water to snap a selfie with the statue. Moments later, to his horror and the screams of stunned onlookers, the crocodile sprang to life, clamping its massive jaws around him and dragging him violently into the murky water.

Also Read | Visit these 6 forests with the most exotic wildlife

The reptile, estimated to be 15 feet long, launched into a predatory ambush, displaying the brutal efficiency crocodiles are known forpulling the man deeper in an apparent attempt to drown and dismember him.

A chaotic 30-minute rescue operation ensued as park personnel and a trained crocodile handler fought to save the mans life. After a prolonged struggle, they managed to free him from the crocodiles grip, though he had already sustained grievous injuries. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors performed emergency treatment, including more than 50 stitches to treat extensive lacerations.

A video of the aftermath, shared by Police Sergeant Joel Sajolga, showed the injured man disoriented and behind a protective cage, clearly shaken. Sajolgas accompanying caption said: This man did a stupid thing and got trapped.

The video and story quickly went viral, sparking widespread disbelief and criticism on social media. Many questioned how anyone could mistake a real crocodile for a statue in a park known for housing wild animals.
With summer holidays approaching, the United States has issued a Do Not Travel advisory for as many as 21 countries. Among those listed are Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and Iraq. The US State Department classifies travel advisories into four levels, with Do Not Travel being the most severe. While some of these warnings have been in place for several months, others have been introduced more recently.

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions This level applies to generally safe tourist destinations such as Japan, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. Travellers are advised to remain alert, although there are no specific threats at present.

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Travellers should be more vigilant in countries like Saudi Arabia, China, and Spain. While travel remains possible, risks such as crime, civil unrest, or the threat of terrorism warrant increased caution.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel Covering 23 countriesincluding Chad, Niger, Egypt, Jamaica, and Colombiathis level signals significant threats from crime, unrest, or terrorism, making travel potentially hazardous.

Level 4: Do Not Travel This is the most serious advisory, urging citizens to avoid travel entirely to 21 high-risk countries where extreme danger is present. This may include ongoing armed conflicts, state hostility, or targeted crimes against foreigners. The countries are:

Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

In addition, the Do Not Travel warning extends to several Mexican statesColima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecasprimarily due to widespread crime and the risk of kidnapping. The Gaza Strip is also under this advisory amid the ongoing conflict.

The US State Department has also advised travellers to: Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and to help authorities locate you in case of an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) for regular updates.

Review the Country Security Report for Canada to stay informed about local risks.
Amid United States' warning on Tuesday that Washington may pull back from mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict unless both countries present concrete proposals, Vice-President JD Vance, in an interview to Fox News on Thursday, said Russia-Ukraine war is not going to end soon.

It is "going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are. It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict," Reuters quoted Vance as saying in the Fox News interview, adding It's not going anywhere, Bret. It's not going to end any time soon.

This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin declaring a three-day, unilateral ceasefire on Monday, in honour of Victory Day on May 9, marking Russias victory against Nazi Germany in World War II. He declined a broader 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by Ukraine and the United States, which the Ukraine asked why Moscow would not agree to Kyiv's call for a ceasefire with at least 30 days and beginning immediately.

What Trump said earlier Trump had called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's position harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia, stating that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion.

Also Read | Why the AI trade may not save the market from Trumps tariffs for long

'Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. Theres nothing to talk about here'. This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion, Trump had stated on social media.

"Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didnt they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? Trump had added.

Zelensky, Putin responses Zelensky firmly rejected the idea of giving up any Ukrainian territory to Russia ahead of a planned meeting in London on Wednesday with US European, and Ukrainian officials. "There is nothing to negotiate. This is our land  the land of the Ukrainian people," he had said. "We all want this war to end in a fair way  with no rewards for Putin, especially no land," Zelensky told an event in Poland by videoconference.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he is nominating Mike Waltz as United Nations ambassador, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over Waltzs duties in an interim role.

Trump posted on Truth Social, I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nations Interests first.

He added, I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Meanwhile, JD Vance explained that Donald Trump removed Mike Waltz from his role as national security adviser because the President believed the Floridian would be a better UN ambassador and the former congressmans nomination should be considered a promotion.

We brought Mike on to do some serious reforms of the National Security Council. He has done that, Vance told Fox News Special Report host Bret Baier. I like Mike. I think hes a great guy. Hes got the trust of both me and the president, but we also thought that hed make a better UN ambassador as we get beyond this stage of the reforms that weve made to the National Security Council.

During Donald Trump's presidency, the position of National Security Adviser saw frequent changes. Michael Flynn, the first to hold the role under Trump, resigned after just 25 days following controversy surrounding his communication with Russian officials.

He was succeeded by H R McMaster, who served for over a year before stepping down due to personal tensions and differing approaches with Trump. McMaster's departure was announced by Trump on social media, along with the appointment of John Bolton as his replacement.

However, Boltons time in the role was also brief, ending due to policy disagreements with the president. In 2019, Robert OBrien assumed the position and remained until the conclusion of Trumps term in 2021, bringing more continuity to the role than those before him.
The United States will not be mediators for Russia-Ukraine peace talks going forward, a State Department spokesperson indicated on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the US is likely to step back from being involved in brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, reflecting President Donald Trump's growing frustration over the matter that is taking more time than expected.

We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, New York Post quoted her as saying.

However, Bruce asserted that the US remains committed to helping reach a deal.

She said that it is up to Russia and Ukraine now on how they are going to arrive at a concrete decision to end the conflict.

It is now between the two parties, and now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them, Bruce said.

Also Read | A short history of Russia and Ukraine

Donald Trump frustrated with Vladimir Putin? Tammy Bruce's statement to reporters come at a time when US President Donald Trump expressed his frustration regarding his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's actions.

The spokesperson's words on Thursday also indicated the Trump administration's growing frustration over the same.

We are watching Putins actions, right, not his words. And in the process, hes refined a very specific timeline. Weeks ago it was weeks; a few days ago it was days, Bruce said, accusing the Russian president of prolonging the process of actually taking an action.

Days ago, Donald Trump had gone for a direct dig against Vladimir Putin, asking him to stop shooting and sign the peace deal with Ukraine.

I want him to stop shooting. Sit down and sign the deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it, he had told reporters earlier this week.

Russia-Ukraine tensions continue The Ukrainian air force said on Friday that Russia launched 150 drones during its overnight attack. The air force said it shot down 64 of them and another 62 drones did not reach their targets likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures. It did not specify what happened to the remaining 24 drones.

Also Read | US, Ukraine minerals deal seeks to smooth relations and aid

This comes days before a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will be put in place. Russia announced a ceasefire on Ukraine from May 8 to May 11 to celebrate World War II Victory Day.

Meanwhile, Washington and Kyiv have signed a new minerals deal that will see the United States invest in Ukraine's rare earth and other deposits.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened sanctions on anyone who buys Iranian oil, a warning that came after planned talks over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program were postponed.

Trump wrote on social media, All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! He said any country or person who buys those products from Iran will not be able to do business with the United States in any way, shape, or form.

Also Read | Why China could win Trumps trade war

It was unclear how Trump would implement such a ban as he threatened to levy secondary sanctions on nations that import Iranian oil. But his statement risked further escalating tensions with China  Irans leading customer  at a time when the relationship is severely strained over the U.S. presidents tariffs.

Based on tanker tracking data, the U.S. Energy Information Administration concluded in a report published last October that China took nearly 90% of Irans crude oil and condensate exports in 2023. Trump has separately placed 145% tariffs on China as a way to raise federal revenues and rebalance global trade.

Trump's social media threat came after Oman announced planned nuclear negotiations for this coming weekend had been postponed. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement in a post on the social platform X.

For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd, he wrote. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed.

Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did not elaborate.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also blamed logistical and technical reasons for the postponement.

Also Read | Frontier Airlines forecasts a second-quarter loss as Trump tariffs hurt demand

On Irans part, there is no change in our determination to secure a negotiated solution, he wrote on X. We are more determined than ever to achieve a just and balanced deal: guaranteeing an end to sanctions, and creating confidence that Irans nuclear program will forever remain peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, newly tapped to take over the duties of national security adviser in addition to his current role as America's top diplomat, reiterated that if Iran wants nuclear power plants, it can import enriched uranium.

Iran simply needs to say, Weve agreed to no longer enrich, Rubio said on Fox News Channels Hannity on Thursday night. About the talks, he added, This is the best opportunity theyre going to have.

Meanwhile, a person familiar with the U.S. negotiations said America had never confirmed its participation in a fourth round of talks in Rome. However, the person said the U.S. expected the talks to occur in the near future. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.

Rome will see the Vatican begin its conclave next week to pick a new pope after the death of Pope Francis. Two other rounds of U.S.-Iran talks have been held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

The talks seek to limit Irans nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity. The negotiations have been led by Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The U.S. president with his threat on social media would be going after Iran's major economic resource. It produced an average of 2.9 million barrels a day in 2023 of crude oil, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehrans program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the U.S. continues an airstrike campaign, called Operation Rough Rider, that has been targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, who long have been backed by Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth early Thursday warned Iran over the rebels.

Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing, he wrote. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of  and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that India's response to last week's terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam should be measured to avoid triggering a wider regional conflict. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Vance also emphasised that Pakistan must cooperate with India in addressing the threat of extremism.

Here are the top updates 1. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to offer condolences for the lives lost in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. During the conversation, Hegseth reaffirmed United States' strong support for India in the wake of the incident.

2. In a post on X, Hegseth said, Today, I spoke with Indian Defence Minister Singh @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week. I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people.

3. This comes as the US responds to the mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military is continuing its build-up on the borders with India and has deployed air defence and artillery units at forward locations.

US State Dept spokesperson Tammy Bruce says, PM Modi has 4. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the full backing of the Trump administration, noting that Washington is in ongoing communication with both the Indian and Pakistani governments in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

5. During a press briefing on Friday, Bruce emphasised that the US is keeping a close watch on developments. She also referenced the readout of Secretary of State Marco Rubios phone calls on Thursday with Indian External Affairs Minister S.\ Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

6. We are monitoring closely. Yesterday, the Secretary spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As President Donald Trump articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support, she said.

7. The Secretary encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible solution that maintains a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia. We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels, she added.

8. Earlier on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US counterpart Marco Rubio and discussed the recent terror attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Jaishankar stated that the perpetrators, backers, and planners of the attack must be brought to justice.

9. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice, Jaishankar posted on X.

10. Top US officials, including President Donald Trump, have strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, labelling it terror and unconscionable, while voicing firm support for India, though stopping short of directly attributing blame to Pakistan. India, a key strategic partner for the US in countering China's growing influence, has accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack. Pakistan, while denying involvement, has called for a neutral investigation into the incident.

Although Pakistan remains a US ally, its strategic importance has waned since the 2021 American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Amid the escalating tensions, Washington has encouraged both India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and seek a responsible solution to prevent further escalation.

India's response to last week's terrorist attack should be measured to avoid triggering a wider regional conflict.

The US State Department confirmed the ongoing engagement with both nuclear-armed nations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio holding separate calls on Wednesday with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Donald Trump wants deals. One way to let him have them is for countries to roll out the red carpet for his head of government efficiency. At least, thats how New Delhi is assessing its chances of an early release from the threat of 26% reciprocal tariffs.

Wooing Elon Musk to get Tesla Inc to sell its cars in the most-populous nation might pave the way for a trade agreement with Washington. That could be a bargaining chip with other global brands scouting for cheap manufacturing locations and large markets to sit out the US-China estrangement. India offers both. Yet, its bureaucracy remains notorious for scoring own goals. Faced with a once-in-a-generation opportunity, officials continue to miss the woods for the trees.

Take the unsavoury legal dispute with Volkswagen AG, which came to India at the turn of the millennium with Skoda. It introduced Audi and Volkswagen brands in 2007, and Lamborghini and Porsche five years later. It has just a 2% share of sales. Nevertheless, the German automaker is staying put because it wants to develop the country as a base for exports. Struggling in nearly all of its main markets, Volkswagen needs to be able to sell in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, according to a report in the Morning Context, an Indian news website. Skoda exports 30% of the cars it makes in India.

But the rude shock of a $1.4 billion tax billplus the potential for an equal amount in penalties and interestis threatening the very survival of its local operations. In the Bombay high court, where the carmaker has challenged the tax demand as arbitrary and illegal," its lawyers have described it as a life-or-death" matter.

Put it down to the tariff structure. Luxury vehicles of Mercedes-Benz AG and BMW enter the worlds third-biggest auto market as completely built units or in a knocked-down form. The former attract import taxes that are effectively as high as 110%; the latter are allowed to come in by paying 35% duties. Thats because putting them together creates local jobs.

Theres a gap in the law, however. Individual parts can be imported by paying a 5% to 15% tariff. This is to encourage local manufacturing and keep after-sales service costs bearable for buyers. And therein lies the crux of the authorities case against Volkswagen: It brought in knocked-down versions of Audi, Skoda and Tiguan sedans and SUVs as separate consignments and claimed they were parts. In other words, the multinational found a loophole and drove a whole car through it.

The German automaker says that its impossibly enormous" tax bill, which it received in September, stretches retrospectively to 2012. Thats well past the six-month statutory limit on completing such assessments. The customs authorities, however, have told the court that the delay was caused by the manufacturers local unit, which was late in sharing information.

Volkswagen has said that had the government wrapped up its reviews in time, it could have challenged the findings or re-evaluated its import strategy.

The merits of the legal case arent as critical, however, as its timing. Amid grave uncertainty around trade, its far more important to earn investment dollars than customs revenue.

Volkswagen last year delivered 9 million cars globally, more than twice as many as the combined sales of all automakers in India. A practical (and publicity-friendly) solution would have been to use the states investigation of its import practices to make the German company commit to a large-scale manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.

A previous tax dispute with Britains Vodafone Group gave India a bad rap. The Volkswagen case could further damage its ease-of-doing-business scorecard, regardless of who ends up victorious. Even the bench hearing the German multinationals appeal has remarked that sourcing a whole car as individual parts is clever tax planning."

Also Read: Cutting taxes on small cars is a quick fix that ignores the elephant in the room

If only the government had left it at that, after making Volkswagen pay the higher rate for the latest period.

Indias exorbitant auto tariffs may soon be history thanks to Trump and Musk. And it isnt just them. The European Union, too, wants its cars to enter India duty-free.

Given all this, theres little to be gained by asking an operation that earns a few million dollars in annual profit to cough up more than a billion dollars in back taxes. The lawyers Audis and Porsches are already in their drivewayswhy risk thousands of good jobs in Volkswagens factories, technology centers and showrooms to create more work for them? Bloomberg

The author is a Bloomberg columnist.
On 30 April, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre announced that caste enumeration would be conducted alongside the upcoming census, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his demand to remove the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas in India.

"The 50 per cent cap on reservations is becoming an impediment to the progress of our country and to the progress of Backward Castes, Dalits and Adivasis and we want this barrier to be eliminated," Gandhi said on 30 April.

Gandhi addressed the media after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), on 30 April approved the enumeration of castes in the upcoming Census  a surprising decision that the opposition, and Gandhi have long been demanding amid the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) resistance.

Gandhi against 50 per cent cap Gandhi has previously spoken against the 50 per cent cap. At the All India Congress Committees (AICC) meeting held in April in Gujarat, the Rae Bareli Member of Parliament said that the party would demolish the wall restricting reservation to 50 per cent for the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Schedule Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) while pushing for a caste census across the country.

Every time there is a debate on caste and reservation in India, there is a reference to the 50 per cent cap on quotas. Even the Supreme Court has struck down reservation attempts, citing this 50 per cent quota cap.

What is the 50 per cent cap on reservations in India? How did it evolve over the years? LiveMint explains.

Is 50 per cent quota cap a Constitutional mandate? No. The 50 per cent upper cap on reservations has evolved over the years through rulings by the Supreme Court of India. Here are some landmark judgments related to reservations in India.

-In 1962, in the famous MR Balaji case, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court said that reservations under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) must stay within reasonable limits and ideally be below 50 per cent, depending on the circumstances.

-In 1992, in the famous Indra Sawhney judgement (Mandal Commission), a nine-judge bench ruled that reservations should be capped at 50 per cent as they are an exception to the principle of equality. This ruling became the base of the 50 per cent quota cap.

-In 2006, in the M Nagaraj case, the Supreme Court said states must collect quantifiable data on backwardness of communities and the overall impact before announcing any reservations.

-In March 2021, the Supreme Court, while hearing a case about Maratha quota, sought views from all states and Union territories on whether they were in favour of exceeding the court-mandated 50 per cent ceiling on quotas. The top court also asked the states if they feel that the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act had taken away their power to provide quotas.

It is another matter that the Court, in May 2021, declared the Maratha quota unconstitutional.

-In 2022, the Chhattisgarh High Court struck down a 2011 enactment by the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly increasing reservation in the state to 58 per cent for abrogating the 50 per cent ceiling on quota.

What does the Constitution say? Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution prohibit discrimination and ensure equal opportunity. However, the same articles allow the state to make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes, as well as for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), especially in education and public employment.

Article 15(4) allows the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes or SCs/STs. Article 16(4) allows reservations in government jobs for backward classes that are not adequately represented in public services.

The Supreme Court during the Maratha Quota case in 2021 also asked the states to opine whether the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 had taken away their powers to provide quotas.

The 102nd Amendment, granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), added Articles 338 B and 342A to the Constitution giving powers to the Centre to notify any class or community as socially and educationally backward with respect to any state or Union Territory.

What is the landmark Indra Sawhney verdict? In 1979, the Second Backward Classes Commission, popularly known as the Mandal Commission, was set up by PM Morarji Desai's government to determine the criteria for defining socially and educationally backward classes.

The Mandal report identified 52 percent of the population at that time as Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs) and recommended 27 per cent reservation for SEBCs in addition to the previously existing 22.5 per cent reservation for SC/STs.

The then PM VP Singh - led Union government, which wanted to implement the Mandal Commission report in 1990. But it was challenged in the Supreme Court. In 1992, a nine-judge bench that heard what is now known as the Indra Sawhney or the Mandal Commission judgement fixed a cap of 50 percent reservation.

Can the 50 per cent quota be breached? The Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney judgement said that the cap can be breached under exceptional circumstances. Though the 50 per cent ceiling has remained the general rule for reservations in education and government jobs so far, yet there are exceptions in states.

Revisiting this judgment could mean altering the structure of reservations that has been in place in the country since 1992. For that, a solid empirical data will be key.

With the Centre announcing a caste census, the Centre or states may approach the Supreme Court with a new dataset about castes in India. But that will only happen once the census is done and numbers are released, which may take a lot of time.

Are there states with more than 50 per cent quota? Many states have unsuccessfully tried to get the 50 per cent cap breached. Some have succeeded too. In Tamil Nadu, for example, the reservation quota has been 69 per cent since 1990. After the Supreme Courts 1992 judgment, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed legislation in 1993 to protect its 69 per cent quota from any interference.

A challenge to Tamil Nadus reservation policy has been pending at the Supreme Court since 2012.

The 50 per cent cap on reservations is becoming an impediment to the progress of our country and to the progress of Backward Castes, Dalits and Adivasis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, which was completed at an estimated cost of 8,867 crore by the Adani Group.

Here are PM Modi's top quotes from his speech after the Vizhinjam International seaport inauguration event: 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other dignitaries present during the inauguration ceremony of Vizhinjam port. PM Modi took a jibe at the INDI alliance and said,  I want to tell CM, you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance, Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Ye event kayi logon ki need haram kar dega. (Today's event is going to disturb the sleep of many).

2. During the G20 summit, we had made agreements with several big nations on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. In this route, Kerala is in a very important position. Kerala is going to benefit in a big way from this...private sector plays a key role in bringing maritime sector of our country to a new high, Modi added.

3. Modi expressed condolences on the demise of Pope Francis. He said,"Few days ago, we all had a very sad time. We lost Pope Francis. On behalf of India, President Droupadi Murmu attended the funeral...from the land of Kerala, I once again express my condolences."

4. Over the past decade, Indias port capacity has doubled, operational efficiency has increased, and turnaround times have been reduced by 30%, the prime minister said during his address.

5. He highlighted that India now ranks among the top three countries globally in terms of the number of seafarers. Modi also stated that the Vizhinjam port project will significantly contribute to Keralas and the nations economic stability.

6. "Today is the birth anniversary of Lord Adi Shankaracharya. Three years ago in September, I had the opportunity to visit his birthplace. I am happy that a grand statue of Adi Shankaracharya has been installed in the Vishwanath Dham complex in my parliamentary constituency, Kashi. I have got the opportunity to unveil the divine statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand. Today, the doors of the Kedarnath temple have opened in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand", Modi said.

7. On one hand, there is this big sea with so many opportunities and on the other hand, there is beauty of nature, in between there is this 'Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport', which is a symbol of new-age development, Modi said in his address to the public.

Today's event is going to disturb the sleep of many.

Situated in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district, the Vizhinjam port is poised to redefine Indias position in global trade and maritime logistics. Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) under a public-private partnership, the deep-water port marks a major infrastructure milestone. After a successful trial run, it was officially granted its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4 last year.

(With inputs from agencies)
Prominent Telugu film actor Vijay Deverakonda has sparked a controversy for allegedly making derogatory comments against tribal people.

His comments attracted objections from the tribal associations, who condemned them and demanded an apology.

The tribal groups reportedly said Vijay Deverakondas statements demeaned them.

Also Read | SC protects family from deportation to Pak, asks authorities for verification

A Hyderabad-based lawyer named Lal Chauhan has filed a police complaint againstDeverakondafor comments he made during the pre-release event of Suriya-starrer Retro, reported Telangana Today.

Chauhan alleged that the actor in his speech about the Pahalgam terror attack remarked that the attacks were akin to clashes between tribal communities hundreds of years ago. The complaint against the actor was lodged at the SR Nagar police station in Hyderabad on Thursday, according to the media report.

The police told Telangana Today that necessary action as per law will be taken after a legal opinion on the complaint.

What did Vijay Deverakonda say? At a Retro event on Sunday, Deverakonda said:"The solution to what is happening in Kashmir is also to educate them (terrorists) and ensure they don't get brainwashed. What will they achieve? Kashmir belongs to India, and Kashmiris are ours. Two years ago, I shot for Kushi in Kashmir. I have such good memories with them (the locals)."

He also said that the neighbouring country struggles to provide its citizens with basic necessities.

"Pakistan can't even look after their own, who don't have proper electricity and water. What do they want to do here? India doesn't even need to attack Pakistan because Pakistanis themselves are fed up with their government and will attack them if this continues. They behave like tribals did 500 years ago with the way they fight. We should stand united as people and love each other. We always need to move forward as people and stay united. Education is super key. Let's all be happy and keep our parents happy; only then can we progress," the actor said.

Also Read | Sonu Nigam snaps at Kannada song request; Viral video sparks online backlash
The Congress upped its attack on the Centre and the LDF government in Kerala over the inauguration of the Vizhinjam seaport near Thiruvananthapuram, with party MP Shashi Tharoor accusing official spokespersons of not mentioning the name of Oommen Chandy.

The Vizhinjam port deal with Adani Ports was signed in 2015, when the Congress government was in power in Kerala with late Oommen Chandy as its chief minister.

Tharoor remembered the late Congress stalwart in a post on X.

On the day of the official commissioning of #Vizhinjam port, recalling the remarkable contributions of late Kerala chief minister @Oommen_Chandy, who pushed this project, signed the original commissioning agreement and initiated the work whose culmination we celebrated today, he said.

The Congress MP, who was present during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam Seaport along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, complained about Chandy's name not being mentioned.

Shame that none of the official speakers even mentioned his name,  and I, who would have, did not get a chance to speak, he said.

Also Read | All about the Vizhinjam seaport that PM Modi commissioned today

In the post, he attached a Facebook status put up by Chandy in 2015 when the deal was signed with Gautam Adani's Adani Ports.

It is a historic moment for Kerala. The #government will provide all the support required to Adani Port to complete the construction of #Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Sea Port within 1,000 days. The government is also committed to ensure that fishermen and local people in Vizhinjam are not adversely impacted by the construction activities of the port, he had written at the time, as per the screenshot.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan, also expressed his ire against the government for not acknowledging the pivotal role played by the previous UDF government led by Oommen Chandy in establishing the port by signing an agreement with the Adani Group and carrying out the initial works.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Vizhinjam Seaport Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday, stating that the capacity of this transshipment hub would triple in the coming years, allowing some of the world's largest cargo ships to dock smoothly.

In his speech following the commissioning of the 8,686 crore project, he noted that 75 per cent of Indias transshipment operations had previously been carried out at foreign ports, resulting in significant revenue loss for the country.
The Trump administration sees its resource deal with Ukraine as a model for further international agreements, reflecting the presidents strategy of using Washingtons foreign policy heft to secure assets and investment returns overseas.

The deal signed on Wednesday grants the US privileged access to new projects that develop Ukraines natural resources, and was a key demand by President Donald Trump for continued assistance against Russias full-scale invasion.

A senior Treasury official, who briefed reporters Thursday on the condition they not be identified, said US officials see the Ukraine deal as a way for the American people to share in the economic growth of regions that the US would typically support through grants or loans.

The official described the deal, which covers resources including oil and gas, graphite and aluminum, as reflecting Trumps intention to use foreign policy to add assets rather than liabilities to the US balance sheet.

Separately Thursday, Trumps Africa envoy, Massad Boulos, said the US is pushing for a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda that would also involve separate bilateral minerals pacts with each, Reuters reported.

This is very much in line with the Trump administrations approach to diplomacy, Torrey Taussig, a former Biden administration official whos now director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said of the Ukraine deal. The Treasury Secretary said economic security is national security, and this definitely aligns with Trumps proclivity toward deal-making above diplomacy.

Major questions remain about the prospects for the pact with Ukraine, where many potential resource deposits need further study and investment to become commercially viable, while some are located near or behind the front lines.

Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who traveled to Washington to sign the deal, told reporters during a briefing that the two sides still need to finalize two technical agreements that define how the fund will operate, which she said could take a few months.

More broadly, negotiations are still needed over a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week but hasnt been able to secure a lasting ceasefire, with Russia continuing air strikes on Ukrainian targets, including cities.

The minerals deal gives the US first claim on profits transferred into a special reconstruction fund to be jointly managed by both nations. Profits will be reinvested in Ukraine for the first ten years, Kyiv said. The fund is expected to also reimburse the US for future military assistance to Ukraine, and will be financed by 50% of the revenues from new project licenses.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement Wednesday that the Ukraine deal signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.

The agreement doesnt, however, include security guarantees that Kyiv and its European allies had pursued. It also doesnt require the repayment of billions of dollars in US aid already delivered since the start of Russias invasion, something Trump had initial demanded.

The agreement has changed significantly during the preparation process, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on social media Thursday. It is now truly an equal partnership  one that creates opportunities for substantial investment in Ukraine, as well as significant modernization of Ukraines industries and, equally importantly, its legal practices.

With assistance from Eric Martin and Kateryna Chursina.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Worried by instances of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT throwing up fictitious cases and results, Indian law firms have started restricting AI usage internally.

Law firms are sharing cautionary notes with their employees, conducting training programmes and drafting agreements to assure clients that AI tools will not be used for legal advice or research, according to solicitors representing companies across sectors. Others are pulling back from using OpenAIs ChatGPT, Googles Gemini and Microsofts Copilot to prepare their courtroom representations.

"We are currently in the midst of drafting an AI policy. Since we do not yet have a formal policy in place, we are cautious about allowing AI use for drafting any legal documents or advice," said Probir Roy Chowdhury, partner at JSA Advocates & Solicitors and an adviser to leading technology companies.

"We anticipated that younger attorneys, who are already using AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini in their daily lives, would naturally start using them for work," Chowdhury said. Hence, partners were instructed to speak to their teams individually about dos and don'ts regarding AI use."

Also read | Newly minted US unicorn targets India's ride-hailing market with AI dashcams

Law firms are seeking to reassure clients as AI tools have been known to generate fictitious results. In March, a civil judge in Karnataka cited three non-existent rulings in a case involving Sammaan Capital and Mantri Developersthe high court called it disturbing" and referred the matter to the chief justice on suspicion pointing to AI tools like ChatGPT. Similarly, the Bengaluru bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal retracted an order in February that referenced fictitious Supreme Court and Madras High Court verdicts, possibly due to AI-generated inputs by a tax department representative.

Such inaccuracies can potentially damage cases and hurt clients.

Khaitan & Co. is working on an AI compliance and usage policy for its partners, typically the face of a law firm, to assure" its clients how and where it uses AI. The firm has its own AI tool, KAI, which was rolled out in 2023.

Clients may also refuse consent for their data to be used and stored in any AI tools," said Rohit Shukla, chief digital officer at Khaitan & Co. We will release the policy by May."

Law firms have to ensure that none of the client data are fed into AI tools that can be accessed by others.

Big Tech cautious

A senior Delhi-based lawyer, who represents Big Tech firms in Indias courts, said that over the past year, top tech firms have rolled out formal strictures on the use of AI within law firms and during court representations.

"Meta Platforms is very clear in their communications to us that no part of our legal advisories would involve the usage of AI," the lawyer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Mint has learnt that Google and Amazon, too, have sought disclosures from their lawyers in India about their internal AI usage.

Read this | Mint Primer | Clicks & growls: Why AIs hearing the call of the wild

Queries emailed to Meta, Google and Amazon did not elicit responses.

Other law firms that have not adopted AI-related disclosures will do so in the next four to five months. "Certain clients now expect that service providers declare the level of use of AI in performing the services as they prefer transparency," said Adil Ladha, partner at Saraf and Partners.

No blanket ban

However, law firms have not placed a blanket ban on AI. They will continue to use it for tasks like crunching data and preparing case synopses.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas deploys a mix of AI toolssome aimed at administrative efficiency (like Copilot) and others tailored for legal work (Casemine and Relativity). Chief innovation officer Komal Gupta told Mint the law firm is also "experimenting" with next-generation GenAI tools like Harvey and Lucio.

Harvey AI and Lucio, a homegrown startup, have AI models trained specifically on data of court cases and landmark legal verdicts in India. These models claim to help law firms build custom AI assistants for legal research, briefs, taxation issues and more.

Rahul Rai, cofounder and partner at competition law specialist Axiom5, is building a custom AI assistant for its associates with Lucio.

As a firm, we are actively at the forefront of adopting AI for various tasks to make operations more efficient," he said. In various cases, using AI tools efficiently can drastically reduce the time we take to create a first draft of a legal representation. If the prompts are given with the right parameters, most AI tools can offer the right resultssaving valuable time for associates in tasks such as due diligence."

Also read | Google bets big on India's smartphone users to catch up in AI race

New York City-based privacy rights advocate Mishi Choudhary, who runs Software Freedom Law Centre in India, also allows AI usage outside core legal work.

We don't allow the usage of AI in writing briefs. They (lawyers) can use tools like Grammarly or research tools that have AI features, but no advisories or briefs are allowed to be generated through commonly known AI tools," she said. The language of drafting can be refined, but no research in law is allowed based on these tools."

However, Choudhary finds common AI tools very useful" to "study copyright licensing and policy issues", review and summarize documents, and for automation of tasks and online discovery.

AI scepticism

Still, the adoption of AI remains a contentious topic in legal echelons.

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, who was recently named the next chief justice of India, said at a conference in Kenya that algorithms can fail the very basis of judicial systems. "The essence of justice often involves ethical considerations, empathy, and contextual understandingelements that remain beyond the reach of algorithms."

Justice Gavai flagged the lack of human-level discernment" in AI, which can lead to adverse legal consequences.

And even smaller law firms focusing on specialized areas have turned cautious.

And read | OpenAI follows Googles product-marketing playbook to steal search giants lunch

"Outputs generated by AI must be independently verified to avoid reliance on inaccurate or incomplete information..." said Krishnava Dutt, managing partner at Argus Partners. We are also developing an annual training module that will provide comprehensive guidance on the effective and ethical use of various AI technologies across the firm."
TikTok has once again made headlines after the European Union privacy watchdog imposed a 530 million euros ($600 million) fine, highlighting that the platform's transfer of user data to China has violated EU data protection laws.

Notably, the Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) imposed a fine on TikTok this Friday, followed by a four-year investigation into the company's handling of European users' personal data. The EU body jas also ordered the video-sharing app to bring its practices into compliance within six months.

Irelands DPC leads TikToks regulatory oversight in the EU, as the companys European headquarters are based in Dublin.

TikTok failed to verify, guarantee, and demonstrate that the personal data of European users, accessed remotely by staff in China, received a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU, said Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle.

The probe, launched in September 2021, concluded that TikTok was not transparent with users about where their data was being processed, and had failed to disclose that personnel in China could access data stored in Singapore and the United States. The platforms privacy policy at the time did not specify China or other third countries as destinations for user dataa gap the regulator said breached EU rules.

How to TikTok responded to the ruling TikToks parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered in Beijing. In response to the ruling, TikTok announced plans to appeal, criticising the decision for focusing on a select period ending in May 2023, prior to its Project Clover data localisation initiative.

Project Clover, which involves constructing three European data centres, was designed to strengthen data protections. Christine Grahn, TikToks European head of public policy and government relations, said the initiative includes some of the most stringent data protections anywhere in the industry with independent oversight by cybersecurity firm NCC Group.

The decision fails to fully consider these considerable data security measures, Grahn added.

Also Read | TikTok's US Public Policy Chief to resign amid fight against potential ban

TikTok has faced mounting scrutiny from Western governments over fears that user data could be accessed by Chinese authorities under Chinas national security and intelligence laws. The Irish regulators findings stated that TikTok had failed to address the risk of potential access by Chinese authorities, under laws that materially diverge from EU data protection standards.

However, Grahn insisted that TikTok has never received a request for European user data from Chinese authorities, and has never provided European user data to them.

Challenges for TikTok Compounding the companys challenges, the DPC revealed TikTok provided inaccurate information during the investigation. While TikTok repeatedly claimed that European user data was not stored on Chinese servers, the company only disclosed in April that it had discovered in February that some data had, in fact, been stored in China.

Doyle said the regulator was taking these developments very seriously and considering further regulatory action.

The penalty adds to a string of fines for TikTok in Europe, including hundreds of millions of euros levied last year over violations related to childrens data.

Under the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data can only be transferred outside the bloc if equivalent safeguards are in place to protect it. TikToks failure to meet these requirements has reignited debate over data transfers involving companies with links to China.
UPDATE: Tuesday marked a major milestone for Chattanooga Preparatory School as the first senior class in school history received their diplomas.

In February, Hamilton County Schools recommended for Chatt Prep's charter be revoked after finding that almost half of teachers were not licensed.

The school discovered this after an unlicensed teacher was arrested for child sex crimes.

That teacher, Kenya White, has now pleaded guilty to federal child sex crimes related to former students of his at East Lake Academy and Chatt Prep.

Hamilton County Schools said it was likely that the entire senior class was accumulating valid credits under unlicensed teachers.

Hamilton County Schools and Chatt Prep agreed to a probationary period where they worked to correct several issues found during an investigation, including verifying all teachers' licensing status.

Despite the challenges, the seniors were allowed to graduate.

The graduating class has accumulated more than $2.9 million in scholarships.

PREVIOUS STORY: Crowds gathered to celebrate Commitment Day for the first-ever graduating class from Chattanooga Preparatory School on Friday.

After a rocky semester including a teacher's arrest for child sex crimes, the Hamilton County School Board's investigation into unlicensed teachers, and the school's charter possibly being revoked, the entire graduating class gathered today to celebrate their triumph.

"Every senior has been accepted to at least one college or university, receiving collectively over $2,500,000 in offered scholarships," says the school in a release.

All fifty members of the class will graduate, despite earlier concerns that students would not be able to accrue credits from unlicensed teachers.

Now, all teachers have been verified and teacher licenses have been updated and an audit has taken place for each graduating student's transcript.

Chatt Prep admin look forward to "rebuilding credibility" after avoiding charter revocation Chattanooga Preparatory School, an all-boys charter serving students in grades 6 through 11, has been placed on probation following a joint decision by Hamilton County Schools and the Tennessee Department of Education.

The school has entered a probationary period with Hamilton County Schools while they work to finalize the remaining corrective actions to keep their charter status.

UPDATE: Former Hamilton Co. teacher pleads guilty to federal charges involving students Court documents show two victims were involved, one student at East Lake Academy and one student at Chattanooga Preparatory School.

Today is a moment of celebration and congratulations for our seniors and their teachers who have worked tirelessly to build boys into men, said Chad Everett, Vice President of Schools at Prep Public Schools. There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of this impressive school, the first of which is the tenacity, intelligence, and leadership of this first graduating class. I truly believe Chatt Prep is positioned for exponentially greater impact in the future.
A Fianna Fail councillor has called on Longford County Council to take steps to address the longstanding dereliction of the former Midland Clothing factory site.

Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi (pictured) submitted a motion at last week's monthly meeting where she stated this should happen with a view to facilitating future housing development at this strategically located site.

The local representative suggested this should happen by either engaging with the property owners or, where necessary, initiating a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of the site in Glack.

The site in Glack was formerly the location of the Midland Clothing factory site where over 260 people were employed during the 1980s before staff were laid off in 1989.

Also Read: Exceptional 9 year-old passes through Longford on his cycle for charity

The factory was taken over in 1990 by Dutch clothing company Ten Cate and up to 100 people were employed before Irish company Dublin-based Philmic Ltd, took over in 1993 and operated out of the plant for about seven years.

The Fianna Fail councillor has called on Longford County Council to take steps to address the longstanding dereliction of the site.

She stated this should happen with a view to facilitating future housing development at this strategically located site.

Cllr Adejinmi stated the the site in Glack is an ideal location and a residential area and local representatives are tasked with regenerating local towns.

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"That is a site that has the sewage, water infrastructure already because you have Teffia Park and you have Glack and you have Pauric Colum Heights.

"It makes sense to convert that space to additional space which would then improve the aesthetics of the area as well, and make it more environmentally friendly.

"We have a derelict site, the building is coming apart.

"We had a statement from Pats in Glack which is progressing this year so that is also going to affect the houses opposite, across the road from the site.

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"So we have a location that is suitable for additional housing so it makes sense for the council to engage with the owners and possibly take over that site to deliver more housing accommodation in the community.

Cllr Adejinmi said it has been unoccupied for far too long and many years.

"We cannot let it remain in that state and even for health and safety reasons for the residents in the area as well.

"There was a suggestion at the council meeting that if we can bring accommodation in there for older persons that would be great too because it's close to the services in the town and it is within walking distance of everywhere.

"It would be great to have people living there and they could walk to the train station, to the town, they could walk to the shops so it really supports the 15-minute cities that are so popular these days.

Also Read: Longford audiences to stay awake for 'It's Wine O'Clock' at Backstage Theatre

"It also would improve the value of the properties around the area as well.

"So we are trying to deliver more housing in the area and reduce homelessness and support people who are struggling financially."

Cllr Adejinmi's party colleague, Cathaoirleach, Cllr Seamus Butler seconded the motion and there was unanimous support from the other local representatives.

Cllr Butler said he felt the Glack site would be an ideal location for supported and independent housing for older people.

He said given the scarcity of housing options there is an urgency to find housing solutions and the need for developing housing at thr Glack site was badly needed.

Cllr Adejinmi said she was pleased and encouraged the council executive had acknowledged the motion.

would engage with the owners of the site before exploring a CPO.
Deputy Carrigy has praised the scheme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, for continuing to deliver meaningful investment in Longford and the wider Midlands.

This is a fantastic boost for County Longford and for local tourism and community development, said Deputy Carrigy. These investments will help us grow sustainable tourism experiences in rural areas, support job creation, and enhance what Longford has to offer to both domestic and international visitors.

He paid tribute to his Fine Gael colleague, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke TD, who has been instrumental in delivering this investment as part of the Governments commitment to supporting communities impacted by the transition away from peat-based industries.

Read more: RIP: Elderly pedestrian dies after being struck by truck in Roscommon road crash

The four Longford-based projects are part of a broader package which includes 13 private and community SME-led initiatives and 2 Local Authority/State Agency projects, spanning categories such as:

Development or enhancement of sustainable visitor experiences,

Low carbon tourist accommodation,

Capital planning and design for tourism development,

And accessibility enhancements to support inclusive tourism.

The four Longford-based businesses are:

Ballymahon Cycles: 64,878 to expand and diversify its bicycle fleet, making its offering more inclusive for all visitors.

Croghan Hill Glamping: 80,776 for the delivery of eco-friendly glamping pods.

Killashee Eco Lodge: 210,000 for new self-catering accommodation, a thermal suite featuring Irish peat baths, and a recreation area.

Firecracker Sauna (Aughnacliff): 19,331 for the development of a wood-fired lakeside sauna at Lough Leebeen.

Evaluations of remaining applications are still ongoing, with additional funding announcements expected in the coming weeks.

Deputy Carrigy concluded:

Todays funding is a testament to the strength of the ideas and commitment within Longfords tourism sector. I will continue working with Failte Ireland, Minister Burke, and local stakeholders to ensure Longford receives its fair share of future investment.

Read more: Longford boxer Andrew Nugent crowned All-Ireland champion

In Westmeath, Viking Tours Ireland (Athlone) has been awarded 297,600 to extend its river vessel and upgrade its environmental and accessibility features. The upgrades will include bike storage facilities, a marine waste holding tank, and a transition to low-emission HVO fuel.

Todays announcement is part of a wider 4.2 million investment in 15 tourism projects across the Midlands. Further successful projects under the scheme are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.
Three members of the Brendan Doyle running club are preparing to run the length of the canal, from Dublin to Longford.

This run is a fundraiser for three separate charities Paula Jordan, wife of a club member explains what the fundraiser entails.

There are three local men, theyre from Brendan Doyles running club.

Also Read: Housing is needed for derelict Longford town site

They decided they were going to take on the challenge of running the length of the canal.

Its 149. 7 kilometres and theyre going to run it from Dublin until they reach Clondra, she explains.

The three men who will be undertaking the run are David McLynn from Ballymahon, Wesley Jordan from Lanesboro and Fintan Cruse from Roosky.

Theyre hoping to get it done within 24 hours, she explains.

Also Read: RIP: Elderly pedestrian dies after being struck by truck in Roscommon road crash

The run will kick off at 8:45 PM from the CCD in Dublin on May 2 and hope to arrive in Clondra on May 3 by mid-afternoon.

Were hoping to have a big celebration down in Clondra, Paula is helping to organise the celebration.

The lads wont be alone on their journey however as a fourth man Liam Kiernan will be joining them for 100km of the run, as well others will be joining them to support them along the way.

Also Read: Exceptional 9 year-old passes through Longford on his cycle for charity

It is a non-stop run so water stations will be available to them along the way.

The three charities of their choice are LauraLynn, Cians Kennels and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.

The fundraiser aims to raise as much as they can and split it between the three chosen charities.
Pat and Mike Glennon were pleased to welcome Minister Michael Healy-Rae to their flagship sawmill in Fermoy.

Minister Healy-Rae toured the facility, met members of the team, and saw the results of the latest 23 million investment in the state-of-the-art operations.

During the visit, Glennon Brothers and Minister Healy-Rae discussed the key issues in the forestry sector, including the significant decline in afforestation rates. Just 1,573 hectares were planted in Ireland in 2024 - the lowest level in 70 years -

compared to a Government target of 8,000 hectares annually and a Climate Action Plan goal of 18,000 hectares per year.

Also read: Longford's Glennon Brothers open new 21 million timber frame construction facility in Scotland

The meeting also aired concerns about the financial risks of continued under-planting, highlighting that ordinary taxpayers, including farmers, could ultimately bear the burden of potential fines amounting to billions of euros from the EU if Ireland fails

to meet its climate change targets.

Read more: Ireland West Airport and Portwest launch the 2025 Airport 5k Runway Fun Run

Further discussions focused on the impact of the policy shift away from commercial forestry towards hardwood planting, and its potential consequences for carbon sequestration, timber supply to the construction sector, and the long-term sustainability of rural employment.

Minister Healy-Rae commented, I was delighted to visit Glennon Brothers impressive facility in Fermoy and to see the results of their latest 23 million investment in state-of-the-art operations. This brings the companys total investment in the plant to 80 million since 1998 - supporting not only the 135 direct employees in Fermoy, but also providing opportunities for the 65 people engaged in harvesting and haulage. This investment is a major support for rural employment and a vital boost to the local economy. I look forward to working together on common issues in the future.

Mike Glennon, Joint Managing Director, thanked Minister Healy-Rae for taking the time to visit our flagship facility, for the opportunity to engage directly, and for his continued support of rural development and the timber industry.

Read more: Edging Closer to the Maria Edgeworth Festival

Pat Glennon, Joint Managing Director, concluded, Weve always believed in the strength of Irish timber and the skilled people behind it. With this upgraded facility in Fermoy, were investing not just in cutting-edge technology, but in the long-term sustainability of Irelands rural economy. With 905 people now employed across our operations in Ireland and Scotland, were honoured to share this positive story with Minister Healy-Rae - one that highlights the economic and environmental value forestry and timber can deliver for communities across the country.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision in County Roscommon.

The incident, involving an elderly pedestrian and a truck, occurred at the junction of the N5 and R361 in Frenchpark at approximately 4:45pm on Thursday.

"The pedestrian, a woman aged in her 80s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course," said a garda spokesperson.

No other injuries reported and a garda investigation is now underway.

READ NEXT: Irish tourists travelling to UK warned of two major rule changes at airport

Gardai say a technical examination has been completed by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the road has reopened to traffic.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward and any road users who may have camera footage and who were travelling in the area between 4.30pm and 5pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Castlerea garda station on 094 962 1630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
A predatory pensioner who repeatedly abused his granddaughter from when she was six has had his jail term more than doubled after the State successfully objected to the undue leniency of his original four-year sentence.

Delivering judgement at the three-judge court this Friday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath jailed the defendant for nine years, saying the offending involved was grave and was as close as might be to attempted rape.

The judge noted the offences had involved sexual assault that included attempted penetration of the complainant when she was between eight and nine years of age by her grandfather.

The 77-year-old Wicklow man had pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault in various locations on dates between October 2007 and November 2014, when the girl was aged between six and 13.

He was convicted by a jury at Wicklow Circuit Court sitting in Bray and was sentenced to five years in prison with the final 12 months suspended by Judge James McCourt on June 17, 2024.

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The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had applied for a review of the sentence imposed on the grounds that it was too low.

Mr Justice MacGrath said the court agreed with the DPP that both the headline sentence and the final term of imprisonment imposed were unduly lenient and amounted to an error in principle. The maximum sentence applicable was 14 years.

Mr Justice MacGrath said the trial judge, when imposing sentence, had noted the matter lay within the medium to high range but thereafter proceeded to set a headline sentence of five years. He said this appeared to be at odds with the assessment of the gravity of the offending. He said the court was satisfied that the offending was grave and could be described as being as close as might be to attempted rape.

The abuse was predatory and repetitive and involved a significant breach of trust between a grandfather and his young grandchild.

The headline sentence set was too low and did not reflect the culpability of the accused or the harm to the victim, Mr Justice MacGrath said, going on to note that this had a knock-on effect on the sentence imposed, rendering it unduly lenient.

Quashing the original term, Mr Justice MacGrath said the court would set a new headline sentence of 11 years.

He said there was very little mitigation available in terms of remorse or acceptance, noting the victim was required to give evidence and relive her experiences.

However, he noted the mans lack of previous convictions and the pro-social life he has lived between the time of offending and the trial. He noted the court had to have regard to the fact the respondent was entering prison for the first time at an advanced age, his medical issues and the fact he would be well into his 80s when released.

He said the appropriate reduction was one of two years. We believe this is a generous assessment of mitigation, said the judge.

We are also satisfied there is a lack of any evidential basis that any portion of this sentence should be suspended, the judge added, referencing a probation report which noted the man continued to demonstrate a lack of remorse or empathy for his victim.

Mr Justice MacGrath said the court had approached sentencing on a global basis, with a concurrent sentence of nine years imposed on each count backdated to when the man first went into custody.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 02 2025

A New Exhibition Curated By Historian John Monsky And Christina M. Strassfield.

Southampton Arts Center (SAC) is proud to announce Independency: The American Flag at 250 Years, a powerful and visually striking collection of American flags and historic textiles, witnesses to watershed moments in American history, alongside the work of abstract painter Sean Scully.

The exhibition is curated by historian and writer John Monsky with SACs Executive Director Christina Mossaides Strassfield. Independency will be on view from May 17, 2025, through July 16, 2025.

Monskys flags, represent a lifelong collection that began in his boyhood, and has since served as the focal point of his series of live multi-media musical journeys through history, which he presents at Carnegie Hall and the nations top performance venues. His The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day, performed with the Boston Pops from Bostons Symphony Hall, is currently streaming on PBS.org.



The exhibition, combining both visual art and American history, will feature select flags and historic textiles from Monskys collection -- from a 1775 George Washington kerchief and a flag for the candidacy of Abram Lincoln to flags from the Apollo Missions, alongside Scullys work. Insightful narrative, archival film and photography, material culture and historic documents, will enhance the visitor experience.

The exhibition includes:

Gallery I. An introduction to the role flags have played in our history, the artistry of the stars and stripes, and the use of that geometry in art, with resonant work from renowned abstract artist Sean Scully.

Gallery II. Campaigns, Parades, and Political Expression: An examination of the role flags and kerchiefs have played in politics and civic discourse, including Presidential campaigns of Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams, and Ulysses S. Grant. Work from Scully continues to interact with the geometries of the textiles.

Gallery III. Vietnam and the Moon: A look at flags reflecting one particularly complex moment, including a tattered flag from a Swift Boat, its occupants 20-year-old boys, juxtaposed with a Love flag from San Francisco circa 1968. Americas passion for exploration is seen through textiles from the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart, as well as flags that went to the surface of the moon.

Gallery IV. Sacrifice: This collection of flags reflects the victory and heartbreak of Americas conflicts. Highlights include a pennant flown by the USS Constitution in the War of 1812, the conflict which gave us The Star-Spangled Banner, the flag carried by the nearly all-Black 25th Corps, that captured Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy, General George Pattons personal guidon, and flags that landed on the Beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. More contemporary flags are from a memorial held for those who died on Flight 93 on 9/11, and one carried by a US Navy Seal in Afghanistan.

Commenting on the exhibition, Monsky said, These flags reflect our history, tell our story. Flags that were at rallies, battles, celebrations  flags that were present at hope-filled moments and flags that flew during moments of tragedy. It is also important to appreciate the flag as a geometric object. Its creation was an artistic act. The field of stars calls to our dreams, but it can also be seen as a remembrance of those we have lost: the boys on Omaha Beach on D-Day, dreamers like Amelia Earhart, the astronauts who died in their effort to explore space. The stripes can be seen as the oceans that Americans sailed and the fields where they plowed. We look at the flag every day, but rarely do we contemplate its design and the moments its design captures.

On Sean Scullys involvement he added, Sean Scullys work resonates powerfully with the iconic geometries of the American flag, and we are very pleased he is adding that compelling component to the Gallery. Scullys famous stripes with squares reflect upon the emotional content in these flags, bringing new perspectives and amplifying their history they help the viewer approach our flag with new eyes, as it was first seen 250 years ago.

Scully says, "I live by the river Hudson where much of the War of Independence was fought, where George Washington sunk the American ships so that when the British Armada came up the Hudson it crashed into them, so the issue of the formation of America is consistently on our minds since we live where it was played out. Notwithstanding, my work constantly quotes flags and banners and shifting national identities."

Strassfield says, Southampton Arts Center is honored to showcase the John Monsky collection. The works in his collection, which have never been seen in their entirety, are of such historical significance that this is a rare opportunity for visitors to see such treasures. The flags, photographs, and ephemera will genuinely make history come alive on our walls.

She added, Sean Scullys work adds another dimension to this exhibition. It makes us examine the historical flags, their shapes, dimensions, and proportions more closely and see how contemporary artists have reused and reinvented those elements in their own work.

ABOUT JOHN MONSKY

John Monsky is the creator, writer, and narrator of the American History Unbound series. His reverence for historical ephemera is at the core of his productions, with his meticulous research of flags and other tangible objects driving his narratives that explore landmark events in our history. His productions at Carnegie Hall include The Vietnam War: At Home and Abroad (2018), We Chose to Go to the Moon (2019), The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day (2021), and The Great War and The Great Gatsby (2023).

In 2019, Monsky was honored by The New York Historical, where he has developed and workshopped many of his lectures and serves as co-vice chair. He has appeared on CNN, CBS, and NBC. He is on the board of directors of The Rockefeller University and Yale University Art Gallery. His flag collection, which he began in his boyhood, is nationally recognized and has been featured in The New Yorker, Art & Antiques Magazine, and other publications. His historical research on George Washington has been published by the Winterthur Portfolio.

Monsky graduated from Yale College as a history major, where he was awarded the White Prize in History and the Deforest Oratory Prize. In addition to being an historian, Monsky, also a lawyer, serves as a senior partner of Oak Hill Capital, an investment firm. He lives in New York City and Southampton with his wife, Jennifer Weis. They have four childrenHarrison, Annabel, Gillian, and Caitlinand a dog, Flyer.

ABOUT SEAN SCULLY

Sean Scully was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1945. Today he lives and works between New York, Bavaria, Aix-en-Provence, and London and his work is in the collection of virtually every major museum around the world.

The last five years have been marked by the major fifty-year career retrospective Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in the USA, previously shown at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas in 2021, alongside multiple solo exhibitions and retrospectives worldwide, and the inclusion of the room Sean Scully: A Romantic Geometry of Colors, in the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France. This year's major solo retrospectives are at the Daegu Art Museum, South Korea, Fundacio Catalunya La Pedrera, Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain; and the Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg, Germany; and in New York at The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, where Sean Scully: The Albee Barn, Montauk, opens in May and will be open through until end September 2025, with an accompanying publication with essays by Deborah Solomon and Steven Henry Madoff, published by Hatje Cantz.

ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND

The American History Unbound series combines live music performed

by leading orchestras and celebrated Broadway actors with lecture, photographs and film from the National Archives, historic American flags, and material culture to explore watershed moments in American history. Created and narrated by historian John Monsky, programs to date have explored the Vietnam War, the race to the moon, D-Day, and World War I. These works have been presented at Carnegie Hall, Bostons Symphony Hall, John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, The New York Historical, Parrish Art Museum, Norton Museum of Art, Yale University, New York Universitys Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and New York Stock Exchange.

In December 2024, The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day was performed in the East Room of the White House to mark the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. A performance with the Boston Pops is currently streaming on PBS.org. American History Unbound Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. americanhistoryunbound.com

ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER:

Southampton Arts Center is committed to community building through the arts. We present and produce inspiring, inclusive, socially and regionally relevant programs across all disciplines, welcoming and connecting with the diverse members of New Yorks East End community and beyond. SAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, May 17, 2025  July 16, 2025

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 5pm  7pm

EVENT SCHEDULE
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 02 2025

Stacey Hirsch Allegedly Stole Approximately $80,000 from Selden Church to Use for Personal Expenses.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Stacey Hirsch, 48, of Saint Lucie, Florida, was indicted for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, for allegedly embezzling funds from a Selden church.

Financial crimes against community institutions not only damage their operations but undermine the trust that binds our community together, said District Attorney Tierney. We intend to pursue this case vigorously to send a clear message that those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain will face the appropriate consequences under the law.

According to the investigation, between June 2022 to May 2023, Hirsch, formerly of Centereach and a former bookkeeper at the Selden church, allegedly stole about $80,000 from the churchs bank account. Hirsch allegedly did this by writing checks to herself and her husband without authority or for any legitimate church related reason or expense. She allegedly used the money to pay her credit card bills, which included charges for food, numerous restaurants, shopping, and other everyday expenses. She also allegedly used the money to pay for utilities and other household expenses.

The alleged theft was discovered after the church board learned that the churchs bills were not being paid.

The treasurer reviewed the finances for the previous years and discovered that, as a result of her alleged theft, there were insufficient funds to pay the churchs legitimate expenses. Hirsch was fired after the discovery and moved to Florida shortly afterwards.

On April 10, 2025, Hirsch was arrested in Florida and was thereafter extradited to Suffolk County.

On May 2, 2025, Hirsch was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony.

Justice Mazzei ordered Hirsch released from jail without bail because her charge is considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.

Hirsch is due back in court on June 5, 2025, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. She is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Speciale of the Suffolk County Police Departments Financial Crimes Section.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.
Celebrate International Labour Day, as well as Luxembourgs Meekranz tradition, on Thursday. The Luxembourg Times has compiled a handy guide to all the unique festivities, linked above.

When: Thursday, 1 May

Artists from Luxembourg and the greater region assemble at Neumunster Abbey this weekend for a grand portfolio reveal. Their works will be scrutinised by judges as part of the European Month of Photography, which will take place as a series of presentations on Wednesday, 14 May.

When: From Wednesday, 30 April, to Wednesday, 28 May

Where: Neumunster Abbey

Cost: Free

Celebrate one of Luxembourgs most iconic rock bands as they release their latest EP. Theyll be supported by some of the Grand Duchys finest musical acts  marking this as a major highlight for Luxembourg music in 2025.

When: Friday, 2 May, doors 19:30

Where: Rotondes

Cost: 16 presale / 18 at the doors

The Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg will open its doors to the public on Saturday. Come explore the facilities and classes on offer  its the place for the musically inclined.

When: Saturday, 3 May, 10:00 to 16:00

Where: Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg

Cost: Free

Let the exhibitions at Mudam inspire you this weekend at this interactive poetry workshop in which guests are invited to wander and respond to the art on display. At the end of the session, youll take home a poem of your own making, crafted in response to the experience.

When: Saturday, 3 May, 10:00 to 11:30

Where: Mudam

Cost: 10 (booking required)

Comedy Battle Royale at Carlitos Comedy Club

Five stand-up comics face each other in Carlitos comedy arena on Sunday. Each contestant gets a 10-minute set and a chance to make you laugh. At the end, the audience votes for their favourite. Itll be like a gladiator fight where each fighter is armed with a microphone.

When: Sunday, 4 May, 20:00 to 22:30

Where: Carlitos Comedy Club

Cost: 20

Come peruse the contents of Luxembourgers cluttered garages this weekend at Place Guillaume II (or Knuedler) for a chance to acquire your new favourite knick-knack. Youll find further dates for these regular flea markets in the link above.

When: Sunday, 4 May, 10:00 to 17:00

Where: Place Guillaume II
Forty-one women and 141 men started their training at Luxembourgs police academy on Friday.

About half (97) of the cadets were under the age of 25, while a third (61) were between 25 and 29 years old, and the rest (24) were between 30 and 39, the Grand Ducal Police stated.

Last autumn, 494 people applied to the police academy as part of a recruitment drive. The 182 trainees were selected after passing computerised and standardised tests of languages and general knowledge, psychological tests and sportive tests.

The current and previous government promised to boost the number of officers on the streets.

As of December 2024, Luxembourg police counted 3,241 personnel (including 1,651 directly in contact with citizens), up from 3,141 at the end of 2023 and 2,360 at the end of 2020, according to parliamentary reports.

The police training course takes a total of two years to complete.
Luxembourg slipped from 11th to 13th place out of 180 countries worldwide assessed in the World Press Freedom index, as the situation for reporters around the globe deteriorated and conditions for journalism are now considered good in only a handful of countries.

The index assesses conditions for journalism based on five indicators: political, economic, legislative, social and security.

While it improved on some indicators, Luxembourg saw a drop in the economic indicator in the 2025 ranking published on Friday, echoing a global trend.

Although physical attacks against journalists are the most visible violations of press freedom, economic pressure is also a major, more insidious problem, the report states. The economic indicator stands at an unprecedented, critical low overall. As a result the global state of press freedom is now classified as a difficult situation for the first time in the history of the index.

In 160 out of the 180 countries assessed, media outlets achieve financial stability with difficulty or not at all.

Economic, political interests

Norway, Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Ireland were the only countries where the conditions for journalism were considered good in the report.

Norway in a survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in 2024 was the country with the highest percentage of people paying for online news at 40%. In Sweden, 31% of people paid for news and in Finland 20%.

No such country data is available for Luxembourg, with only 20 locations included in that survey. However, in the World Press Freedom Index, Luxembourgs economic indicator slipped from 13th place last year to 17th in the 2025 edition.

The leading daily newspapers have seen a decline in subscriptions and advertising in recent years, the report states. Media outlets, numerous given the size of the national market, remains under pressure and the Grand Duchys small size encourages conflicts between medias work and various economic interests.

Luxembourg retained its number 1 spot for security and improved its social indicator from 10th to 7th place, with journalists enjoying one of the highest levels of respect from the public in the European Union, the report states.

The legislative indicator also improved, even though Luxembourg still does not have laws guaranteeing access to public information. A bill is making its way through parliament.

Under current legislation journalists can be refused access to a wide variety of documents. While they can then file a request to see them with the Commission on the Access to Documents (CAD), authorities must not follow the CADs opinion, even if it sides with the reporter. The reporter is then free to seek a resolution in court.

In the political indicator, Luxembourgs score dropped from 87.74 to 83.34 points, slipping from 9th to 12th place in the ranking. For the most part, the media operate independently and journalists enjoy plenty of freedom from political power, the report states. However, some subordination to political interests persists.

Also read: Europe bigger Trump target than people realise

Disastrous situation in Gaza

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes the index, assessed the conditions for journalism as very serious in 41 countries, up from 35 last year. Iran, Syria, China, North Korea and Eritrea make up the bottom of the list.

There have been mass closures of media outlets in 34 countries, with news outlets shutting down due to economic hardship in nearly a third of countries globally.

When news media are financially strained, they are drawn into a race to attract audiences at the expense of quality reporting Anne Bocande RSF editorial director

The situation in Palestine (163rd) is disastrous, the report said. In Gaza, the Israeli army has destroyed newsrooms, killed nearly 200 journalists and imposed a total blockade on the strip for over 18 months.

The US (57th, down two places) is leading the economic depression in the news landscape. Vast regions are turning into news deserts, the report states. In addition to economic pressures, the press operates in an increasingly hostile environment with the country dropping 28 places in the social indicator.

When news media are financially strained, they are drawn into a race to attract audiences at the expense of quality reporting, and can fall prey to the oligarchs and public authorities who seek to exploit them, said Anne Bocande, RSF editorial director, in a statement. The media economy must urgently be restored to a state that is conducive to journalism and ensures the production of reliable information, which is inherently costly.
Economy and Energy Minister Lex Delles said a complete power blackout in Luxembourg was unlikely but the High Commission for National Protection (HCPN) has prepared a strategy.

A power blackout that affected most parts of Spain and Portugal, as well as some parts of southern France on Monday has sparked fears and chaos on the Iberian peninsula and abroad.

Radio communication and energy autonomy

Luxembourgs connections to the German and Belgian electricity grids and strategies to redirect network connections mean it is unlikely that such an event would take place, according to Delles and energy network provider Creos, but if it does, it will be treated like a national emergency.

Based on what weve heard from Spain, some people did not receive any information because they had no mobile network or internet access, a spokesperson for the HCPN said in an email to the Luxembourg Times.

In addition to the LU-Alert system [], the HCPN can communicate messages from the government via national radio stations - RTL and 100.7 - in the event of a prolonged power outage. These messages would be broadcast in Luxembourgish, German, French, English and Portuguese, the spokesperson said.

To be able to intercept government instructions and messages, it is important for citizens to have, for example, a battery-powered radio at home, or to listen to the radio in their car, the person said.

Hospitals and other critical infrastructures should manage to keep running in the event of a power blackout. They are required to develop a security and continuity plan that, among other measures, makes sure the infrastructures can run safely and smoothly for at least 72 hours.

For some infrastructures, a longer autonomy may be required, the HCPN added.

Existing instructions

The HCPN at the end of March shared that it was developing a 72-hour survival kit for its citizens  following a call from the European Commission to be prepared in the event of a crisis.

Neighbouring Belgium in its emergency kit recommends packing a first-aid box, water, an external battery and charges, important documents and copies of these, as well as matches or a lighter and a battery-powered radio, among other items.

The HCPN has shared recommendations on its infocrise.lu website too, like staying calm, checking in on vulnerable people, limiting movements, listening to the radio and plugging off large devices at home.
Six women with Irish roots living in Luxembourg will be vying to represent the Grand Duchy in Irelands Rose of Tralee competition celebrating their heritage as part of a worldwide event.

Irish communities all over the world are in the process of selecting their Roses to compete for the final title awarded in the town of Tralee in County Kerry. Founded in the 1950s as a way to bring expats back to their hometown, the event has since become a global phenomenon and winners have gone on to meet US presidents and other dignitaries.

Six women are competing to represent Luxembourg at the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August. The Grand Duchys entrant will be selected at the Luxembourg Rose Ball on 17 May.

Saoirse Goes

The 22-year-old student has an Irish mother and Dutch father but grew up in Luxembourg. She is studying for a masters degree in communications, media and creative industries at Sciences Po university in Paris.

Clare Stroomer

Claire was born in Luxembourg to an Irish mother and Dutch father. The 23-year-old studied law in Montpellier before setting off on an Erasmus exchange in Cork, Ireland.

Aisling Guilfoyle

The 25-year-old was raised in Luxembourg with roots in Castlemartyr, Cork and France. She studied in the south of France and Alabama, USA, learning to blend different cultures while staying true to her Irish roots.

Clare ODonohoe

Born in Dublin and raised in Ashbourne, County Meath, the 27-year-old graduate in European studies and international politics initially planned to stay in Luxembourg for five months, but has since embraced the countrys multiculturalism, quality of life and Irish community.

Niamh ODoherty

The 28-year-old graduate in applied languages and translation studies works for the European Commission. She has always been interested in languages and communications, which has influenced both her career and personal interests.

Aoife Burke

The 24-year-old from County Kilkenny studied financial mathematics at the University of Limerick. She moved to Luxembourg in 2023 where she works in technology. She also plays camogie and enjoys Irish dancing.

The Roses in April met with Irish Ambassador Jean McDonald and completed a trip to Clervaux  Photo credit: Daniel Frank

The Luxembourg Rose will be selected during the Rose Ball before finalists from around the world meet in Tralee for the international festival, which takes place from 15 to 19 August and culminates in the televised finale.

Updates on the Luxembourg Roses and information on how to buy tickets for the ball are available via Facebook and Instagram.

Luxembourg Rose Nicola McEvoy in 2012 won the international crown. The European School teacher sang La Vie En Rose during the talent round and as part of her responsibilities under the title met with US President Barack Obama in the White House.

This year marks the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that Luxembourg is participating in the competition.
Boston Red Sox's Alex Bregman gestures from second base after hitting a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Boston. AP Photo/Mark Stockwell

The Boston Red Sox return home from a 3-3 road trip for a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins beginning Friday night.

The Red Sox (17-16) are two games behind the Yankees in the AL East, while the Twins (13-19) have fallen seven games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Boston ranks fifth in the American League with 40 home runs, and the Twins are way back in 1th with 25 roundtrippers this season.

Boston sends Brayan Bello to the mound to oppose Minnesotas Joe Ryan. Neither pitcher has given up a lot of home runs against the batters theyll face tonight, but that doesnt mean the ball wont leave the yard. Here are our best home run prop bets for Rex Sox vs. the Twins on Friday night.

Best home run prop bets for Red Sox vs. Twins

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find when writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

Alex Bregman home run prop

Best odds: +360 at BetMGM Sportsbook

The prized free agent signing has been exactly what Boston hoped he would be. The former Houston Astro is off to a hot start with the Red Sox, hitting .326 with a .397 OBP to go with seven home runs and 26 RBIs.

Bregman is riding an 11-game hitting streak with three home runs in that stretch. He homered in consecutive games at Toronto earlier this week.

He combines his Boston success with a strong track record against tonights Twins starter Joe Ryan. Bregman is 6 for 13 against Ryan with three doubles, one home run and four RBIs.

Trevor Larnach home run prop

Best odds: +575 at bet365 Sportsbook

Its difficult to find an edge for Minnesota against Boston starter Brayan Bello. None of the regular Twins hitters have a home run against Bello, and he has been decent this season with a 3.27 ERA in 11 innings over two starts.

Bello has given up two home runs this season  one in each start. Both came against left-handed hitters, as did 13 of the 19 homers he gave up last season. Thats not particularly surprising, but its noteworthy in the context of picking players who can hit home runs against him.

Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach has four home runs in his last 13 games this season and went 4 for 13 at Fenway Park last season. At +575 odds, Larnachs home run prop seems like the best value for Minnesotas lineup tonight.
Boston city councilors are demanding urgent pedestrian and transportation safety reforms after a school bus struck and killed a 5-year-old boy in Hyde Park on Monday.

No parents should ever have to encounter this and lose their child ... This is not common, but one of these incidents is one too many, at-large City Councilor Henry Santana told MassLive after a City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Santana, who sits as both the Public Safety & Criminal Justice and Education chair for the city council, has called for a full review of transportation systems and safety protocols after Mondays tragedy.

Lens Arthur Joseph, 5, of Hyde Park, was killed on April 26 after he was hit by a school bus around 2:44 p.m. in the Hyde Park neighborhood, near 107 Washington St., according to Boston Police. The investigation into his death is ongoing, and no arrests have been made in connection as of May 2.

Josephs death weighed on the minds of Bostons city councilors during Wednesdays meeting. The childs name and condolences to his family were included in both the opening and closing remarks.

During discussion of a proposed hearing on a 30-day review of the citys street projects, Councilor Benjamin Weber yielded his time to District 5 City Councilor Enrique Pepen, who represents Hyde Park, Readville and parts of Roslindale and Mattapan.

The councilors are co-sponsors on the filed hearing order, and Weber said it was impossible to discuss the review without focusing on the tragic death of Lens Joseph.

We all know that while the investigation is still ongoing, trying to get to the specifics of what happened, [the fatal crash] involved a vehicle, a school bus and a child ... I hope that with this hearing, we will know [the] results of this review and how it will affect street projects moving forward, Pepen said.

However, Pepen said it was a little bothering to him that it takes a hearing order to look at Bostons safety measures.

Its very easy for us to do a 30-day review to see if a bike lane or bus lane makes sense. How come we cant check the major intersections where a school is to make sure if those are safe or not? Pepen questioned.

There really isnt one answer to all this. We have to look at this in a holistic lens. Im heavily urging the administration to take this serious and to act quicker than just a hearing, Pepen concluded his remarks.

Pepen told MassLive the hearing on the 30-day review, and on other street safety, will take place June 9  during which he plans to push for faster installation of traffic safety measures in Hyde Park and Mattapan.

The councilor has already been working to rapidly expand traffic-calming measures like speed humps, signage, and crosswalks, especially in high-risk areas, with Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge and other city departments, he told MassLive in a statement on Thursday.

Hyde Park and Mattapan have some of the lowest numbers of speed humps and yet have been incredibly vocal in advocating for them, Pepens statement read.

In January, Pepen had pushed for childrens safe school transportation with traffic cameras on every school bus in the city.

Pepen reminded the councilors on Wednesday the topic of transportation and pedestrian safety is always in the hearts of his district residents  even more so after Josephs death.

While further details on the fatal incident havent been released as of May 2, Santana told MassLive that he plans to file a separate hearing order on street safety specifically related to Josephs death.

By identifying gaps in current procedures, Santana hopes to provide accountability and transparency through meaningful action in a separate hearing from the 30-day review.

This hearing would bring together stakeholders including Boston Public Schools leadership, city and transportation officials, safety experts and community members, he said, to review and evaluate transportation systems and safety protocols, with focus on bus route planning, driver training, neighborhood infrastructure and oversight.

The hearing will be obviously coming after this incident, but its also to look at a high level how are we doing on transport safety for all of our schools, for all of our youth across the whole city, and making sure that incidents like the one that just happened this past week dont ever happen again, Santana said.
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" co-stars Ruth Buzzi and Gary Owens during NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, in Los Angeles, Jan. 9, 2002. (AP Photo/Rene Macura, File) AP

Ruth Buzzi, the sketch comedy player on the groundbreaking series Rowan & Martins Laugh-In, has died. She was 88.

Buzzi died Thursday, May 1 at her home in Texas, according to a post from the comedians official Facebook page.

She was in hospice care for several years with Alzheimers disease, the post reads.

In lieu of flowers, Buzzis family asks mourners to make a donation to Alzheimers research.

Buzzi was born in Westerly, Rhode Island on July 24, 1936 to Rena and Angelo Buzzi, a famous stone sculptor, her IMDb biography states. She grew up in Wequetequock, Connecticut and attended Stonington High School, where Buzzi was a cheerleader.

Buzzi later enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse for the Performing Arts and was classmates with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. Upon graduating, Buzzi joined multiple revues throughout New England and worked alongside other up-and-coming stars, including Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers, Dom DeLuise, Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett.

Buzzis national television break came when she played Shakundala the Silent, a bumbling magicians assistant to DeLuises character, Dominic the Great, on The Garry Moore Show in 1964. This led Buzzi to landing further gigs on the CBS variety show The Entertainers and the hit Broadway musical Sweet Charity.

During that same time, Buzzi auditioned for and received a permanent part on Rowan & Martins Laugh-In. She appeared on the comedy sketch series from 1968 to 1973, winning a Golden Globe Award and receiving five Emmy nominations in the process.

Buzzis other film and television credits include roles in That Girl, The Lost Saucer, Life With Lucy, Freaky Friday, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash, The North Avenue Irregulars and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.

Overall, Buzzi made more than 200 television appearances during her 45-year career.
Mass. State Police Sgt. Gary Cederquist leaves U.S. District Court in Boston after his arraignment on more than 50 charges, Jan. 30, 2024. Cederquist is accused of allowing unqualified applicants to pass the commercial driver's license test in exchange for goods and services. (Will Katcher/MassLive)

A former Massachusetts State Police sergeant has been convicted on multiple charges in connection with a years-long bribery and extortion scheme involving falsified results on road skills tests.

Gary Cederquist, 59, of Stoughton, was found guilty Friday by a federal jury of giving false passing scores to multiple Commercial Drivers License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or never took a CDL skills test, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foleys office announced.

Cederquist was convicted of the following charges:

Two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion

One count of extortion

Six counts of honest services mail fraud

Three counts of conspiracy to falsify records

Nineteen counts of falsification of records

17 counts of false statements

Cederquist could face up to 20 years in prison on each charge of conspiracy to falsify records, conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, honest services mail fraud and falsification of records. The charges of false statements each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Cederquist could also be slapped with millions of dollars in legal fines. His sentencing is scheduled for July 24.

The former sergeant was originally charged in a 74-count indictment along with three other Mass. State Police troopers and two other men.

They are:

Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax, a retired state trooper

Perry Mendes, 63, of Wareham, a retired state trooper

Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, a state trooper

Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth

Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston

All men have since admitted to being involved in the conspiracy. Butner, Mendes, Camara and Mathison have all pleaded guilty to their charges and are awaiting sentencing, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Cederquist was in charge of the state polices CDL Unit. Butner, Mendes and Rogers were members, as well. Unit members are responsible for administering CDL skills tests for Class A (i.e. tractor-trailers) and Class B (i.e. box trucks, oil tankers, school buses) licenses.

From about February 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist and his co-conspirators gave passing scores to at least 30 CDL applicants  including six Mass. state police troopers  regardless if they actually passed the test.

Oftentimes, the instructors would take the test themselves in exchange for bribes, including inventory from Mathisons water company valued in the thousands of dollars.

Other bribes that Cederquist took were a $750 granite post and mailbox, a new driveway valued at over $10,000 and a snowblower valued at nearly $2,000, according to prosecutors. Cederquist once called an applicant horrible, and brain dead, but gave him a passing score in exchange for the snowblower.

Cederquist and his co-conspirators used the code word golden handshake or golden for these applicants.

Anyone who received a false passing score on their CDL skills test from this scheme have been reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
A student protester stands in front of the statue of John Harvard, the first major benefactor of Harvard College, draped in the Palestinian flag, at an encampment of students protesting against the war in Gaza, at Harvard University in Cambridge on April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

As doxxing trucks appeared in Cambridge throughout the fall of 2023, publicly displaying photos and personal information of Harvard University students who purportedly supported Palestine, a climate of fear and intimidation was created.

Thats according to a long-awaited report released this week by Harvards Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab and Anti-Palestinian Bias, published alongside a second report focusing on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias.
President Donald Trump said he will seek to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, escalating the fight between the elite institution and the federal government to new heights.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve!

The move would require an investigation from the Internal Revenue Service into whether Harvard violated the conditions that allow it to avoid some federal taxes as a charitable institution, as numerous other colleges and nonprofits do.

Harvard, which has said there is no legal basis for such a move, could contest the IRSs finding and ultimately challenge the decision in the federal courts.

The government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission, Harvard said in a statement. The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research and technological advancements that drive economic growth.

For the university, the financial stakes are enormous, Johnny Rex Buckles, an expert on tax law and professor of law at the University of Houston, said earlier this week.

The schools endowment is reported to be roughly $52 billion, the largest for any university in the country, and grew by 5% last year, or nearly $2.5 billion.

House Republicans have also proposed raising the tax rate from 1.4% to 21% on endowment profits at certain universities with especially heavy endowments, including Harvard, putting them in line with the federal corporate tax rate. Under that proposal, the school could be taxed more than $500 million annually.

Trump has targeted the university with increasing tenacity in recent weeks, accusing it of allowing a climate of antisemitism to fester in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

The government has already moved to freeze $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard after the university refused a series of demands to overhaul its admissions, discipline and management policies, and allow outside audits of viewpoint diversity on campus, among a litany of other conditions.

Harvard responded by suing the Trump administration, accusing it of overstepping the power of the government and improperly attempting to influence a private university.

On Tuesday, Harvard released long-awaited reports on antisemitism and anti-Muslim or anti-Arab bias, finding a collection of failures by the school to adequately support students of Jewish, Muslim, Arab or other backgrounds or manage the heightened campus tensions after the Oct. 7 attacks.

The school says it has taken meaningful, ongoing steps to combat discrimination against Jews, while acknowledging on Tuesday significant work ahead to correct hostilities on campus.

The withdrawal of federal funding, which would affect research on everything from cancer to national defense, has no link to curbing antisemitism, Harvard has argued.

Trump has suggested that Harvard be taxed as a political organization, such as a political party or campaign committee, which have different tax requirements than charities or traditional corporations.

Tax-exempt status, I mean its a privilege and its been abused, by a lot more than Harvard, Trump said in the Oval Office last month.
Witness Jennifer McCabe continues her cross examination testimony during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) AP

Karen Reads second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, continued on Friday in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court before Judge Beverly Cannone.

The trial was off on Thursday for Law Day. On Friday, the jury heard from a key witness for the prosecution, whose testimony took up much of the week.

People to know:

Hank Brennan, special prosecutor for the Norfolk County District Attorneys office

Alan Jackson, lawyer for Read

Jennifer McCabe, friend of OKeefes, who was with Read when she found his body

3:41 p.m. - Yannetti cross-examines forensic scientist

Read attorney David Yannetti conducted a brief cross-examination of Hannah Knowles, a forensic scientist at the Massachusetts State Police crime lab, focusing primarily on the labs accreditation.

Knowles confirmed the process for accreditation at the lab is different than that undertaken by Good Samaritan Medical Center, where Reads blood was drawn.

She said she had no direct knowledge about the reliability of the results from Good Samaritans lab.

Cannone cut Yannetti off after about five minutes of questioning and sent the jury home for the weekend. Knowles testimony will resume Monday.

3:23 p.m. - State Police forensic scientist testifies about Reads blood alcohol

Under direct examination from Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally, Hannah Knowles, a forensic scientist at the Massachusetts State Police crime lab, described the process of determining a persons blood alcohol content.

She explained that in the Read case, she reviewed medical records taken from Good Samaritan Medical Center that showed Reads blood alcohol at 93 milligrams per deciliter the morning of OKeefes death.

That concentration translates to a blood alcohol content of between 0.078 and 0.092, Knowles said. The range is a result of a conversion done to account for a serum concentration being higher than that of a persons whole blood.

The legal limit for a person to drive is 0.08.

The conversion factor was between 12% and 18% for when Reads blood was drawn, she explained, adding that the rate could be interpreted as favorable for a defendant. The standard has since increased to between 13% and 19%, she said.

Knowles said she determined Reads blood alcohol was between .14 and .28 at 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, conducting what she described as a retrograde analysis.

2:58 p.m. - McCabe steps down

After testifying over the course of three court days, McCabe stepped off the stand. Before her testimony concluded, Jacksons re-cross focused primarily on Reads text messages.

The messages Brennan read during her redirect testimony were not in a group chat with her sister, brother-in-law, and husband, McCabe confirmed.

After McCabes testimony, Brennan played three clips of interviews given by Read. In them, Read talks about the directions McCabe gave OKeefe as they drove to 34 Fairview and her specific mention of a woman OKeefe had previously dated.

In another, Read says OKeefe had dated several women living in the area of the home. In the final clip, Read describes finding OKeefe, describing him as a buffalo on the prairie.

It was a weird-shaped lump at that time and those elements, she says in the clip. I was expecting Id find him near the road.

2:38 p.m. - McCabe testifies about texts, calls

Brennans questions moved to a review of McCabes texts and phone calls from the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.

Around 5 a.m. that morning, she called OKeefe, asking him if he was ok. She pleaded with him to answer.

As she made phone calls that morning, she said she had no idea where OKeefe was.

McCabe reviewed a text exchange with Kerry Roberts, who she was with when OKeefes body was found.

Every time I close my eyes, its what I see, McCabe texted Roberts, referring to OKeefe in the snow. I want to vomit.

Is your state of mind collusion? Brennan asked over an objection from Jackson. McCabe said it wasnt.

Brennan appeared to be using the messages to make McCabe appear more sympathetic to the jury, as she read messages documenting her emotional turmoil and grief at OKeefes death.

2:11 p.m. - Brennan begins redirect of McCabe

When McCabe returned to the stand Friday afternoon, Brennan asked her about the morning OKeefe was found.

He asked if she saw any of her sisters neighbors on Fairview Road come out of their homes to help OKeefe. She said they hadnt.

That morning, McCabe said she was shocked, confused, nervous, scared, anxious.

All I wanted to do was get help for John, McCabe said. My main focus was John.

Many of his questions sought to provide a different view on critical issues raised by Jackson on cross, including McCabes calls to OKeefe.

2:03 p.m. - Trial resumes

After a brief admonishment from Cannone that the lawyers were 10 minutes late, special prosecutor Hank Brennan told the judge the defense was objecting to two clips of interviews given by Read he wanted to play.

Elizabeth Little, a lawyer for Read, said the defense simply wanted to play the full answers Read gave to the questions.

Cannone did not immediately rule, and told Little to provide the defenses proposed clips.

Brennan asked to be heard at sidebar on a different issue.

1:08 p.m. - You knew what really happened

In a fiery exchange at the conclusion of his cross-examination, Jackson asked McCabe why she never went inside 34 Fairview Road as OKeefe lay grasping and clinging to life outside.

Despite knowing her brother-in-law, Brian Albert, the homeowner, was a trained first responder, McCabe didnt enter the home until well after OKeefe was found.

She said her focus was on John and she had no reason to worry that either her sister, Nicole, who was not answering her phone, or Brian Albert were in harms way.

Still, Jackson pressed on, asking McCabe why she wasnt concerned. She pointed to Reads frantic behavior and cracked taillight and her knowledge OKeefe never went inside.

You had solved the crime right then and there, Jackson declared, his voice rising. The reason you didnt go in is because you know better. You werent worried about them at all.

You werent worried because you knew what really happened, he added.

McCabe countered she didnt know he was hit by a vehicle and fragments of taillight were found near his body.

Cannone called a lunch break after the exchange.

Alan Jackson, defense attorney for Karen Read, questions witness Jen McCabe during Read's trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise via AP, Pool)

12:52 p.m. - McCabe questioned about hos long to die in cold Google search

After a lengthy back-and-forth with Jackson where McCabe initially refused to acknowledge making any Google searches at 2:27 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, Jackson began asking her about the hos long to die in cold search.

An extraction of McCabes phone showed the search was made at that time, hours before OKeefe was found. McCabe said she Googled Hockomock Sports then.

McCabe says she made the search about dying in the cold at Reads behest. Jackson described it as a claim.

Im not claiming it, its the truth, McCabe said.

Jackson shifted his questions to whether McCabe had ever discussed the search with Roberts.

When Roberts testified last week, she said she misunderstood a question about whether she heard Read ask McCabe to Google hypothermia. Roberts said she didnt hear the request.

Jackson accused McCabe of instructing Roberts to tell a state grand jury she heard Read ask about hypothermia.

I never instructed her to do anything, McCabe said.

But Jackson pressed on.

You wanted some witness to back up your story, didnt you? he asked. McCabe denied that.

You knew that that Google search points a very uncomfortable finger right to you, Jackson said. McCabe said it wasnt an uncomfortable question.

McCabe, as she has throughout her testimony, was apologetic as she said she was trying to answer his questions truthfully.

Jackson asked her if anyone had instructed her to apologize and if she knew how many times she had said sorry. McCabe said she didnt.

12:19 p.m. - Jackson presses McCabe about butt dials to OKeefe

On the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, OKeefes phone shows he received seven calls from McCabe  from 12:29 a.m. to 12:50 a.m. Only one, at 12:29 a.m., appeared to have been answered.

But McCabe said Friday she didnt speak to OKeefe then and their last conversation was at 12:18 a.m. She said some of the seven phone calls may have been inadvertent  butt-dials, as she explained it during the first trial.

If I inadvertently called his phone, I did, McCabe said. It happens to me all the time.

Jackson noted that an extraction of McCabes phone showed no record of those phone calls.

12:03 p.m. - McCabe asked about phone calls with lead investigator

After a delay attributed to printing records, Jackson questioned McCabe about her phone calls with former State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator into OKeefes death.

McCabe confirmed Proctor interviewed her in her home on Jan. 29, 2022. The pair exchanged 14 calls in the next days and weeks into February and March, Jackson said.

They began regularly communicating again the following summer, McCabe said. But in an interview with State Police Lt. Brian Tully that fall, McCabe said she had never met Proctor or his sister, Courtney, before September of that year.

If you had told Trooper Tully that you had never met Trooper Proctor before September 2023, would that be a truthful or untruthful statement? Jackson asked.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan asked to be seen at sidebar before McCabe answered.

10:56 a.m. - Jackson questions McCabe about visit to Canton police officers home

The day after OKeefes death, McCabe and Roberts visited Canton Police Lt. Michael Lanks home.

McCabe testified that she and Roberts went there to drop off Roberts daughter who was friends with Lanks daughter. She claimed they drove from OKeefes home to Lanks as just a pit stop.

But Jackson showed McCabe a map showing they went directly to Lanks  it wasnt an errand, it was a destination, he said.

On the way, they went by 34 Fairview Road. McCabe said she never spoke to anyone there and she and Roberts went by to take a look at it. During the first trial, McCabe denied stopping by the home.

She explained away the difference.

Stopping by and driving by meant something different to me, McCabe said.

Cannone called a morning recess after Jackson concluded that line of questioning.

Witness Jen McCabe takes the stand at Norfolk Superior Court during the Karen Read trial in Dedham, Mass., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise via AP, Pool)

10:27 a.m. - Texts show collusion, Jackson says

After McCabe finished reading the texts, Jackson asked her if they were a textbook example of witnesses colluding with one another about a subject matter thats under investigation.

But before she could answer, special prosecutor Hank Brennan objected and Cannone told the jury to disregard the question.

Jackson asked to be heard at sidebar.

When the questioning resumed, Jackson again asked McCabe if they proved collusion between her and her family, who are all witnesses in the case.

McCabe defended her conduct.

10 a.m. - Jackson reviews McCabes texts

The cross-examination moved on to text messages McCabe exchanged with her sister, Nicole, on the morning of OKeefes death.

At 8 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, McCabes sister texted her, well get more info [tomorrow]. dont want to text about it.

Jackson then showed McCabe a group text between her, her husband Matt, her sister, Nicole Albert, and her sisters husband, Brian Albert.

Brian and Nicole lived at 34 Fairview Road when OKeefe was found outside.

In that group chat on Feb. 1, after learning news media were at a Canton sub shop owned by Brian Alberts brother, Chris, Matt McCabe said, tell them the guy never went in the house.

Jennifer McCabe confirmed the guy was a reference to OKeefe. She also texted the group that she and Roberts were working on a timeline that morning.

While Roberts spoke to police, Jennifer McCabe texted the group, shes telling them EVERYTHING. Her husband also texted the group during the interview, writing, this girl could write a book.

9:40 a.m. - Theres nothing nefarious

Jacksons questioning moved to the phone calls McCabe made on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.

After getting a call from Read, McCabe said she called Julie Albert, who she was with the night before, and Tom Beatty, a friend of OKeefes. But Jackson revealed she also called her sister, Nicole, who lived at 34 Fairview Road, at 5:07 a.m.

The call lasted 38 seconds. McCabe said she didnt remember if her sister answered the phone.

McCabe neglected to mention that call in either police interviews immediately following OKeefes death or when she testified before a state grand jury.

Theres nothing about me calling my sister thats nefarious, she said.

Did you use that word because you think thats how its coming across? Jackson said.

McCabe said she felt Jackson was insinuating that it might be.

Karen Read talks with her attorneys during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise via AP, Pool)

9:25 a.m. - Jackson presses McCabe about last time she saw Reads SUV

Jacksons cross-examination of McCabe resumed with an exchange about the last time she saw Reads SUV parked outside 34 Fairview Road.

Testifying before a federal grand jury in June 2023, McCabe said she saw a dark SUV she presumed to be Reads outside at 12:45 a.m.

You know that because of a text at 12:45? Jackson asked.

But on Friday, McCabe said she wasnt sure. Even after Jackson showed her a transcript, she refused to confirm it was 12:45 a.m.

Instead, McCabe said she couldnt recall the exact times, saying she went back and forth to the front door of the home many times that night.

9:05 a.m. - Court opens

The day began with a sidebar before the jury was brought in. When the jury was brought in, Cannone asked the panel if they had been able to follow her instructions about discussing the case and avoiding media coverage.

Each juror said they had.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.
The Massachusetts Superior Court has ruled that paying for sexual services does not constitute sex trafficking, leading to the dismissal of charges against five men.

The decision was made on Friday by Superior Court Judge Maynard Kirpalani, who dismissed sex trafficking indictments against Brandon Garafalo, Brian Dick, Eric VanRiper, James Bi and Viet Nguyen.

The five men were initially charged in October 2021 with trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and engaging in sexual conduct for a fee.

The charges stemmed from an August 2021 incident where the five men individually responded to an online advertisement offering sexual services for a fee. The advertisement contained photographs, a list of sexual services offered and contact details for a woman who identified herself as independent, explicitly stating that she was not affiliated with a pimp or boyfriend.

The advertisement also contained a legal disclaimer reserving the womans right to refuse any arrangement at her discretion.

After contacting the woman and agreeing to her terms, including the requested services and fees, the men were instructed via text messages to meet her at a specific hotel room at a designated time and date, according to the documents. Upon arrival, they were arrested by police.

During their October 2021 hearing, the mens attorneys filed motions to dismiss the sex trafficking indictments, citing the precedent set in Commonwealth v. McCarthy.

They argued that the facts presented to the grand jury did not establish probable cause for sex trafficking because the men did not attempt to traffic another person, as the individual offering services was an undercover officer who was a part of a sting operation.

In allowing the motions, the court further clarified the interpretation of the phrase obtain by any means, stating that within the statute, it targets the exploitation and trade of individuals in sex trafficking, rather than those responding to offers from independent sex workers.

The defendants each accepted the terms  price, time and location  as dictated by the proposed sex worker, the court documents read. Such responsive acceptance of the terms extended by the sex worker cannot reasonably be found to be conduct aimed to entice or to recruit the sex worker.

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A piece of pipe that fell on a car parked in a Portland, Maine parking lot, damaging it, Wednesday may have fallen all the way from a passing airplane, authorities say.

Cam Malette, a deckhand on a Casco Bay Lines ferry, told the Portland Press Herald that a coworker called him around 10 p.m. that night to tell him that the rear windshield of his Volkswagen Jetta, parked in the ferry lines lot on Commercial Street, had been shattered. When he arrived to see the damage, he found a 35-pound metal pipe that also crumpled the cars rear hatch.

A police spokesperson told the Press Herald that based on the level of damage and the location of the parking lot in a common flight path for planes heading to nearby Portland International Jetport, it was likely that the object fell from a plane.

(The police) came to the consensus that they think the only way there possibly could have been that much damage is if it fell from the sky. And the whole time I was thinking: Well, how am I going to tell my dad that my car is destroyed by something that fell from the sky? Malette told WMTW-TV.

He told the TV news station that he was still able to drive his car home, but needs to replace the windshield and bumper.

If that hit someone, it would have been tragic. Thankfully, it just hit my car in the parking lot, he said.

Police told the Press Herald that the Federal Aviation Administration had been notified of the incident and was investigating.
A pregnant woman was attacked on Route 116 in Hadley Wednesday.

Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, there were multiple 911 calls about the woman being attacked and at least two people stopped to help the woman.

By the time police officers arrived, they said the attacker had left the scene in a vehicle and was likely headed towards Greenfield.

At about 5:15 p.m., several Massachusetts State Troopers had found the vehicle at an address in Greenfield and were able to take a man into custody without incident and transported him back to Hadley where he was booked.

Alex Zabnicki, 31, of Greenfield was charged with assault and battery on a pregnant victim and threat to commit a crime.
Protesters at the rally in Northampton condemn the city for tax breaks to the weapons manufacturer, L3Harris, and are demanding a weapons ban and a transition to ethical local jobs and industry. The protest started outside the L3Harris offices on Prince Street and continued through Smith College to the Northampton City Hall, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

NORTHAMPTON  Lili Dahlqvist came here last evening from Ashfield, a Hilltown in western Franklin County, to protest the defense contractor L3 Harris KEO.

For one, its May Day, Dahlqvist said, referring to International Workers Day. Coming from a Swedish background, thats the day that you go out and protest for peoples rights. Whether they be Palestinians, workers, immigrants, from any country, across the world.

Critics charge that the firm produces technology currently used in the Israel-Hamas war and in the federal governments surveillance against immigrants in the U.S.

More than a hundred activists from more than 20 statewide and local organizations gathered outside the company and marched the mile to Northampton City Hall, where members were going to speak against the firm at the scheduled City Council meeting, according to the event organizers.

Im so shocked to find out about L3 Harris, she said. Its very disturbing, this company making parts that support the genocide in Palestine.

Protesters at the rally in Northampton condemn the city for tax breaks to the weapons manufacturer, L3Harris, and are demanding a weapons ban and a transition to ethical local jobs and industry. The protest started outside the L3Harris offices on Prince Street and continued through Smith College to the Northampton City Hall, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

L3 Harris, like other defense contractors and weapons manufacturers, has been the target of protests since October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel. In late April, the firm was a target of political vandalism, according to MassLive.

Lois Gagnon came to the gathering from Belchertown. I want them gone, she said. They are getting tax breaks while we wont get the services that we need. We want them to convert to peaceful means or be gone.

The activist groups, including student groups from Smith College, Hampshire College and UMass, charge that the company makes parts for the Trident II D5 missile and the Ohio class submarines, which can be used to launch nuclear weapons.

The business violates a 2018 Northampton executive order to eliminate any and all ties to the nuclear weapons industry, the activists say. In addition, Northampton granted tax assistance to the firm up until two years ago.

Protesters at the rally in Northampton condemn the city for tax breaks to the weapons manufacturer, L3Harris, and are demanding a weapons ban and a transition to ethical local jobs and industry. The protest started outside the L3Harris offices on Prince Street and continued through Smith College to the Northampton City Hall, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

In 2011, L3 Harris purchased the 60-year-old Kollmorgen Electro-Optical, which manufactured periscopes and other optical equipment with military applications, such as for submarines. At the time, Kollmorgen, with 377 employees, had just built the new $20 million, 140,000-square-foot plant in Northamptons Village Hill neighborhood, the former site of Northampton State Hospital. It was the citys largest industrial taxpayer and its largest industrial employer at the time, according to MassLive.

Today, L3 Harris provides boost propulsion systems for ballistic missile systems that are launched from submarines, according to the companys website. Ballistic missile systems on submarines often carry nuclear warheads. L3 Harris did not respond to a request for comment.

Protesters at the rally in Northampton condemn the city for tax breaks to the weapons manufacturer, L3Harris, and are demanding a weapons ban and a transition to ethical local jobs and industry. The protest started outside the L3Harris offices on Prince Street and continued through Smith College to the Northampton City Hall, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Last week, the group Demilitarize Western Mass, set up outside the company during its annual job fair day.

The mission was to get people to think about before they apply for a job at this firm, said Deborah Jaffe of South Hadley. We wanted applicants to think about what they value in their own lives. To ask, can I be a healthy part of a sick system when the systems are broken? In this atmosphere of a trillion-dollar military budget when were defunding Head Start (a program for school children), the question is whether we do something to help humanity and the Earth.
Sixteen Massachusetts hospitals received low or middling patient safety grades in a report from an independent evaluator this spring.

Each spring and fall, a non-profit called The Leapfrog Group enlists a panel of experts to evaluate patient safety at hospitals around the country based on public data and data provided by hospitals.

This spring, six Massachusetts hospitals received D grades  the second-lowest possible grade  and 10 received C grades  the middle grade out of five possible grades.

Massachusetts hospitals with the worst patient safety ratings:

*Indicates a lower grade than last fall

D Grades:

HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Clinton Campus*

HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Leominster Campus*

MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham

St Vincent Hospital in Worcester

UMass Memorial Medical Center - Memorial Campus in Worcester

UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus in Worcester

C Grades:

Baystate Medical Center in Springfield

Beverly Hospital*

Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton

Emerson Hospital in Concord

Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge

Heywood Hospital in Gardner

Lowell General Hospital - Main Campus

Lowell General Hospital - Saints Campus*

South Shore Hospital in Weymouth

Marlborough Hospital

Leapfrogs latest ratings are particularly bad news for Worcester, as St. Vincent Hospital and both of UMass Memorial Hospitals city campuses received D grades. This is the second time in a row that these hospitals have received the second-lowest grade possible.

Leapfrogs reports from the last few years indicate that patient safety at these hospitals has been headed in the wrong direction. Prior to dropping to D grades last fall, all had C grades at least as far back as the fall of 2022.

Hospitals with D grades most commonly struggled with staff responsiveness, communication between staff and patients and standard hospital safety practices, according to the report. Several declined to provide data that would allow Leapfrog to grade metrics such as the quality of bedside care and the effectiveness of the hospitals leadership.

As for individual hospitals problems, MetroWest Medical Center and both Clinton Hospital campuses had higher rates of post-treatment patient infections than most hospitals, according to the report. Meanwhile, both of UMass Memorials campuses had higher-than-normal rates of patient bed sores, falls, injuries and dangerous blood clots.

Even so, Leapfrogs latest report contained good news for a handful of Massachusetts communities. Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge improved its rating from a D grade last fall to a C grade this spring, and Brockton Hospital, Cambridge Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham improved their ratings from C grades to B grades.

Additionally, fifteen hospitals across the state received an A grade  the highest possible  and no hospitals received an F grade  the lowest possible. Importantly though, not all of the states hospitals participated in Leapfrogs ratings.

You can view the current report on patient safety at your local hospital on Leapfrogs website.
A person walks through Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Feb. 16, 2024. (MassLive photo by John L. Micek)

Two Massachusetts pols are calling on a government watchdog to investigate President Donald Trumps proclamation Friday that he intends to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, further escalating the fight between the elite institution and the Republican White House.

Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey fired off the letter Heather Hill, the acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, calling on her to open an investigation, spurred by what they described as alarming reports, about the presidents remarks.

The lawmakers said theyre looking for an investigation into potential criminal activity related to this decision and into whether or not the Trump administration is using the [Internal Revenue Service] to take other politically motivated actions.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve!

The move would require a separate investigation from the Internal Revenue Service into whether Harvard violated the conditions that allow it to avoid some federal taxes as a charitable institution, as numerous other colleges and nonprofits do.

The president is targeting the non-profit status of Harvard University for blatantly political purposes, Warren and Markey wrote.

They were joined by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and U.S. Sen Ron Wyden, of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

In a statement, the lawmakers asserted that its illegal and unconstitutional for the IRS to use politically motivated reasons to revoke the tax-exempt status of schools, hospitals, churches, or any other tax-exempt entities.

Harvard, which has said there is no legal basis for such a move, could contest the IRSs finding and ultimately challenge the decision in the federal courts.

The government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission, Harvard said in a statement. The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research and technological advancements that drive economic growth.

Trumps call for Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status, a move that could cost it billions of dollars if eventually imposed, raises troubling constitutional questions, including whether the president is trying to squelch Harvards free speech rights and whether the revocation of its tax-exempt status will deprive the university of its due process rights, the lawmakers continued.

Trump has targeted the university with increasing tenacity in recent weeks, accusing it of allowing a climate of antisemitism to fester in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

The government has already moved to freeze $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard after the university refused a series of demands to overhaul its admissions, discipline and management policies, and allow outside audits of viewpoint diversity on campus, among a litany of other conditions.

Harvard responded by suing the Trump administration, accusing it of overstepping the power of the government and improperly attempting to influence a private university.

While Harvard could well have the resources to fight the White House in court, the move nonetheless sets a dangerous precedent for President Trump to attack his perceived political enemies, they continued.

Churches and synagogues, non-profit hospitals and clinics, charter and private schools, and any others that land on the Presidents target list will be forced to relinquish their free speech rights in order to remain in existence, or otherwise face this organizational death sentence, the lawmakers wrote.
TORONTO  For a second straight game, one of Bostons top relief pitchers blew a late-inning lead.

Justin Slaten surrendered the go-ahead three-run home run to slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the eighth inning Thursday. The Red Sox lost 4-2 to the Blue Jays here at Rogers Centre.

Slaten was charged with a blown save and the loss. It happened one day after Garrett Whitlock  another top, reliable reliever  gave up a game-tying three-run homer to Anthony Santander in the seventh inning of Bostons 7-6 loss.

Slaten got ahead of Guerrero 0-2 in the count. He began the at-bat with a cutter, then threw four-straight fastballs. He threw another cutter before going to a curveball on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. It was below the strike zone and Guerrero smashed it 404 feet to left field with a 111.8 mph exit velocity.

Its a situation where youve thrown a ton of fastballs and really good hitters, they dont let you beat them with the same pitch multiple times in an at-bat, Slaten said. We had thrown everything at the top of the zone. Narvy (catcher Carlos Narvaez) called it. I thought it was an absolute amazing pitch call and I just didnt execute it. Youve got to get that pitch down and not in a place where he can handle it. Just didnt happen.

Slaten entered the eighth inning having allowed no hits and no walks in eight of his 12 outings. He hadnt allowed a hit in nine of those 12 outings. But he gave up three hits.

He allowed a single to Nathan Lukes after getting ahead 0-2 in the count. He allowed a double to Bo Bichette  a hit right fielder Wilyer Abreu said he should have caught  after getting ahead 1-2 in the count.

Super frustrating, Slaten said. Its back-to-back nights where I feel like my stuff has been as good as its been in my life. And I just didnt execute with two strikes. Its what it comes down to. Cant leave a slider in the middle of the plate to a good hitter like Bichette. He did exactly what he should have done to that pitch. And then, the one to Vladdy, were trying to throw a curveball below the zone in the dirt. I leave it a little bit too high and again, really good hitter, makes a really good swing.

So super frustrating, especially in games like that where its super close. Every pitch matters and you do your job getting ahead and just let it get away from me.
Massachusetts colonial militiamen fire their muskets towards British troops during the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord at the Lexington Battle Green in Lexington, Mass. on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Sebastian Restrepo / MassLive.com) Sebastian Restrepo

When Massachusetts joins the nation in celebrating this countrys 250th anniversary, the states four western counties wont be left out.

The commemoration will include details on how Western Massachusetts helped drive American history.
Sheryl Blancato, president of Second Chance Animal Services, with a happy doggo. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican) Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican

EAST BROOKFIELD  Roxie, an 8-year-old German shepherd and husky mixed-breed dog, spent two years and six days at Second Chance Animal Services in East Brookfield before someone adopted her. It took a while to find her a home because of the way she greeted people, said Mike Byrnes, her new owner.

Shes very timid and a little scared. Shell show you her teeth and growl, he told The Republican.
Worcester Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen has been named the school district's next superintendent. Courtesy of Worcester Public Schools

Update: This article previously contained incorrect information about motions made during the school committee meeting. The incorrect information has since been removed.

The Worcester School Committee voted to make Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen the next superintendent of Worcester Public Schools during its meeting Thursday night.
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The town of Ballina is set to roar to life this May Bank Holiday as the Bear Run 74 supercar rally makes its third stop this Saturday, May 3. A number of elite vehicles will be in the heart of North Mayo, which all is taking place for a great cause.

Irelands dedicated Childrens Ambulance Service, BUMBLEance, which provides vital medical transport for sick children right across the country completely free of charge, will be the chosen charity for the event.

Now in its fourth year, The Bear Run 74 to Quay West was created by founder Keith Gamble in memory of his late father, who passed away at the age of 74 from cancer. Since its start in 2022, the rally has raised an impressive 153,000 for various charities with BUMBLEance the chosen charity partner for this year's event.

This years route begins on Friday, May 2 in Cookstown and travels through Ballybofey before arriving in Ballina on Saturday afternoon. From there, the supercar spectacle heads on to Maam Cross, Galway before it finishes at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast on Sunday evening.

With vehicles like the Lamborghini Aventador, Audi R8 V10 Plus, Ferrari 488 and the McLaren 720S, this rally promises to be a rare occasion where members of the public can get a close-up look at some of the worlds most spectacular cars.

In 2024. The BUMBLEance organisation travelled over 600,000Km across 2,289 trips. Unfortunately, 348 trips couldn't be fulfilled due to resource constraints highlighting the importance of community fundraising efforts such as The Bear Run 74.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mairead Melody Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism encouraged the public to come out in force. Ballina is going to be alive with colour, music and horsepower this Saturday! Its Mayo Day, the Fleadh is kicking off and now weve The Bear Run 74 making a very special pit stop in the town. Id urge everyone, young and old to come out and support this unique event for an incredible cause

For the Full route and timings see www.thebearrun74.com and to learn more or donate to BUMBLEance, see www.bumbleancey.com

READ MORE: Mayo Senator appointed to Oireachtas Committee on Transport
St Josephs Secondary School Castlebar student Marissa Illiana Divilley landed the prize for best essay in Connacht at the third Oireachtas Essay Competition prizegiving in Leinster House on Friday, May 2.

The judges praised Marissa for an essay that skillfully employed historical examples, such as Daniel O'Connell and Martin Luther King Jr., to demonstrate the effectiveness of parliamentary politics in achieving liberation.

READ MORE: Figures show 19,200 learner drivers are driving on Mayo roads

The judging panel included Gary Murphy, DCU Professor of Politics and Professor Patrick Geoghegan of TCD, author of a two-part biography of OConnell also provided expert input to this years Competition.

Almost half the secondary schools on the island of Ireland entered the competition, with hundreds of students penning essays in Irish and English on the theme Parliamentary Politics Liberates / An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitiocht Pharlaiminteach  reflecting the 250th Anniversary of the birth of The Liberator, Daniel OConnell.

Marissa received her prize from the Competition Founding Patron, former Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail TD, at a ceremony attended by the winning students, their parents/guardians, teachers, as well as Competition judges and sponsors. The prizegiving ceremony was followed by lunch and a tour of Leinster House and over 6000 in prize money was awarded.

The Competition was devised by Independent NUI Senator Ronan Mullen with the support of the Ceann Comhairles Office and the Oireachtas Education Unit.

Presenting the prizes, Deputy O Fearghail said that greater engagement by young people with the political system was vital for the health of our democracy and for our ability to overcome the many challenges we face at home and abroad.

We are delighted with the growing support for Aiste an Oireachtais  with a significant increase this year in the number of entries received, says Senator Mullen, the Competition Convenor. Since Aiste an Oireachtais began in 2022, we have had registrations and entries from almost half the secondary schools on the island of Ireland (47%). It is clear that schools recognise the importance of getting students to think about our democracy and the need to work it for the common good.
Mayos Wild Nephin National Park has requested for additional vigilance over the May Bank Holiday weekend and called for visitors to public recreational areas not to light open fires or barbecues in high-risk areas.

The National Park experienced the devastation of a forest fire last month when a section of the boardwalk along the Claggan Coastal Trail in Ballycroy was destroyed by a gorse fire.

READ MORE: NPWS warn Mayo arsonists will face 'full rigour of the law'

Echoing these calls, Coillte is urging members of the public not to light open fires or barbecues in and around forests or open land, as even a small campfire can cause a wild fire or forest fire.

Irelands semi-state forestry company has issued a Status Orange High Forest Fire Risk Warning as the warm weather and dry conditions increase the risk of fire spreading, particularly with low humidity and moderate winds.

Landowners and managers are asked to remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana.

In the event that you come across a fire Coillte advises that you do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances. You should gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire. It is then advisable to telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location and evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service Instructions.
Mayos Emer McDermott, Emma Campbell, Lorraine McGreal and Rachael Higgins are part of Travel Counsellors team awarded Business All-Star Travel Superteam 2025.

The Business All-Star Travel Superteam 2025 accreditation is awarded by the AIBF, an independent national accreditation body that champions excellence among Irish businesses.

READ MORE: Mayo manager Kevin McStay announces team for Connacht Final

Westport-based Emer McDermott told The Mayo News that it was very much a team award and a recognition of the care and commitment we show to our customers and our dedication to excellence.

Travel Counsellors Ireland is part of a global network of 2,000 travel professionals, with over 85 based in Ireland.

McDermott, who was recently crowned the top performing Travel Counsellor in Ireland in 2025, notes that travel to the United States hasnt slowed down in light of the trade tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump.

In fact, she says that more and more families are looking at travelling to the United States compared to previous years. This is in part because the cost of a European sun holiday has gone up for families and as a result, families are exploring visiting the US and the Far East instead.
A blend of Mayo and Ukrainian culture.

An Irish cottage in Ouwenwee outside Westport has been beautified with Ukrainian artwork. Graphic designer Olena Shepeliuk (28) is responsible for the decoration.

I did the painting in my own style, but I was inspired by the Ukrainian style of folk art, explained Shepeliuk speaking to The Mayo News. So this style of painting from the region where I was born, from the Dnipro region, and since we had a lot of blue paint, we added yellow, and we got a Ukrainian flag colour scheme.

READ: Got a local picture or landscape shot from the great weather? Send it to the Mayo Camera Club!

The traditional Irish cottage with the new artwork makes a stunning blend of the two cultures and stands out in the landscape. The painting was created with the full support of the landlords, Jill and Tim Moore, who encouraged Olena and her husband Mykhailo to go ahead with the project.

They sincerely offered us to live in this house, which is very old, and this is a family treasure for their family, for Moore family. I'm extremely grateful to our landlords for being brave enough, to allow me to decorate this wall of this house in Ukrainian style

Olena was unsure, whether the wet weather would wash off her work. But that hasn't happened. And the house with the Ukrainian artwork is making waves.

People love it so much, some people came here to take pictures, and sometimes I can see some new post on Facebook, and I can recognize the house. Our landlords too, they said it is lovely.

READ: Mayo student wins Oireachtas Essay Competition Prize
by Danielle Oster , May 1, 2025

The oldest and largest credit union in New York City launched a new campaign designed to appeal to those who love living there, with creative leaning into authentic representation of the city.

Municipal Credit Union (MCU) partnered with full-service agency DNA&Stone, to increase awareness and drive membership in the New York City area. A brand strategy and customer segmentation study led to the strategy of targeting an audience of hard-working New Yorkers who love living in the city despite the rising costs and are willing to hustle and make sacrifices to do so, according to a release.

For New Yorkers, getting an apartment with more than one room, scoring the ever-elusive parking spot or living without a roommate are all major signs of success, DNA&Stone Founder Matt McCain said in a statement. We needed to find a way to highlight MCU and their ability to make New Yorkers money go further.

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The Were Here For It campaign does that by celebrating what makes New York distinct and positioning MCU as having a unique understanding of the city and its residents signs of success, he explained.

MCU partnered with New Yorks Noble Signs and the Cevallos Brothers, who have been designing and hand-painting advertisements for retailers across the city across the five boroughs for over five decades. New York City-based illustration and animation production company Jelly worked to bring the Cevallos Brothers illustrations to life for the animated campaign video, which also features voiceover acting from New York-based standup comics, with all audio recorded live on the streets of New York.

As the oldest credit union in the city, we knew we needed to make some changes to modernize our approach and reach New Yorkers looking to make a positive change in their financial journey, MCU CEO Kyle Markland said in a statement.

Were Here For It launched regionally in the greater New York City area, across CTV and online video, with OOH activations in major venues including subways, the Holland Tunnel, Times Square, and the Staten Island Ferry.
by Ray Schultz , May 1, 2025

The lawsuit filed by Ziff Davis against OpenAI is bound to confuse judges and juries with its technical jargon. But the central allegation is clear: that OpenAI copied and continues to copy Ziff Daviss written works into training datasets by exploiting existing pools of scraped website content and directly scraping content from Ziff Davis websites.

Thats not all: In the process, OpenAI deliberately circumvented and continues to deliberately circumvent technical copy protection measures, the complaint continues. It also intentionally removes copyright management information.

OpenAI has not yet filed an answer to the complaint, although an OpenAI spokesperson says that its AI models "empower innovation, and are trained on publicly available data and grounded in fair use, Reuters reports.

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Ziff Davis claims that it requested a meeting to discuss a licensing arrangement, but that OpenAI rebuffed the invitation to meet.

This is surprising, given that OpenAI just signed such an agreement with the Washington Post, and has arrangements with many other publishers, including Guardian Media Group, Dotdash Meredith, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Vox Media, News Corp and Axel Springer.

The complaint also charges that OpenAI has and continues to knowingly:

Violate and circumvent Ziff Daviss explicit written demands and technological controls;

Strip out key copyright management information (CMI) from Ziff Davis Works;

Use copied Ziff Davis Works to develop LLMs (large language models);

Use copied Ziff Davis Works to operate LLMs and LLM-based products and services, which it provides to third parties;

Reproduce, distribute, display, perform, and make available for access, Ziff Davis Works verbatim and in close paraphrase and derivative form (but with CMI removed)

Falsely attribute output to Ziff Davis that is not Ziff Davis content, and falsely attribute Ziff Davis content to other parties.

Discovery should be a tedious process.

Ziff Davis is asking the court to enjoin OpenAI from continuing any of these alleged activities, and demands damages and court costs.

The case is on file with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
by Wayne Friedman , May 2, 2025

Linear TV continues to underperform versus other media for advertisers when it comes to return on media investment -- specifically gross profit margin, according to Big Chalk, a marketing analytics company.

The company says that for every media dollar invested, linear TV media buys yielded an average 62 cents in 2024. This is slightly more than the ROI gross profit margin -- 58 cents -- in 2023.

Looking across 11 media channels, Big Chalk says the average ROI is $2.07 -- a weighted average -- versus $1.42 in 2023.

Although linear TV lags behind, it continues to offer positive results for brands in other ways.

Not everything is about ROI -- in a lot of instances, and with linear TV specifically -- the brand building power through that channel is still very strong, says Rick Miller, partner, marketing effectiveness at Big Chalk. It can still move products off shelves.

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The problem with linear TV continues to be its high cost per thousand viewers (CPM), says Miller.

Big Chalk estimates average terrestrial TV CPM is $43.99 -- the most expensive of all media channels.

Other video channels are more modestly priced, including connected TV (CTV) at $20.31.

The strongest ROI comes from streaming audio, resulting in a ROI of $3.22 for every dollar media invested in that channel. Miller says this is partly due to less ad skipping on this platform.

Behind streaming audio, other categories that are performing well include retail media networks at $2.47, paid social media at $2.38, and digital display at $2.29.

Direct competitors to linear TV include online video at $2.08 (versus $1.20 the previous year) and streaming TV/CTV at $1.78 (vs. 1.66 in 2023).

Overall, there has been a 46% gain (to $2.07) in gross profit margin (return on media investment) per dollar spent.

Although marketing executives may have little to smile about from an economic planning perspective, they should take some solace that media ROIs have improved since Big Chalk released its last round of benchmarks, Miller said via a press release.

When it comes to sales volume -- return on average sales (ROAS) -- streaming audio was also tops for brands and advertisers, at $10.73. Out-of-home media is next at $9.73, with retail media networks at $8.22 and paid social media at $7.94.

Big Chalk clients include consumer packaged goods, general retail, specialty retail, travel/leisure and QSR/dining brands. Over 200 campaigns have been measured during the benchmarking period -- roughly $500 million in media spend.

Big Chalk uses a standard 30% gross margin to calculate ROI, a common estimate in consumer categories. Margin will fluctuate by individual brand. At the same time, it does not estimate "net margin," which would include operating costs.

The company says its data is built with custom regression models that control for product pricing, macroeconomic factors, reach and distribution, and other effects.
TORONTO, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cority, the global leader in enterprise Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) and Sustainability software, today announced the release of its new AI-powered Motion Capture for Industrial Ergonomics solution. Built to complement Coritys holistic CorityOne ecosystem, this innovative technology helps organizations proactively assess and address ergonomic risks in demanding, non-office environments  from manufacturing shop floors to oil and gas fields  where musculoskeletal injuries frequently occur. The financial cost of these non-fatal workplace injuries is significant. The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that work injuries cost U.S. businesses $167.0 billion in 2022 in wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative costs, and other related expenditures. While these types of injuries are most often non-fatal, they can be impactful to worker health and businesses operations in both the long and short term



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After a viral video showcasing Ajaz Khan asking participants to demonstrate sexual positions on his ULLU show, House Arrest, a case was filed against the makers of the show for promoting vulgarity. According to a report by Financial Express, Advocate Vineet Jindal has officially filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against the creators and cast of the Ullu App web series House Arrest, starring Ajaz Khan, among others. The complaint claims that the series contains explicit and inappropriate content that not only offends Indian cultural sensibilities but also potentially breaches legal boundaries set by regulatory authorities.

 Instagram/Ullu TV According to the complainant, House Arrest showcases scenes that are offensive and irresponsible and has called for strict legal action against the creators, actors, producers, and all individuals associated with the production. The complaint underscores the need for accountability in digital content creation and distribution. Advocate Jindal stated, The series reflects a complete disregard for Indian moral and social standards. Such vulgarity cannot be allowed to propagate freely through OTT platforms. The reactions Social media users are saying that the makers of the show and Ajaz Khan should be behind bars for such shows. One user commented, Ajaz Khan and people behind Ullu web series House Arrest must be behind the bars. It was unfiltered pornography in the name of creative freedom. Females who were seen performing vulgar & obscene acts must face the law too. @MIB_India should come out with a guideline and a Lakshman Rekha should be drawn to prevent such a repulsive web series.

Another user commented, After arresting, please give him a proper police treatment which he so genuinely deserves.. and some treatment to the participating females too. Not sure how their parents and relatives do not feel ashamed watching them on TV.

One user reacted, Ajaz Khan & Ullu app are both repeat offenders. Why is there no censorship on such vulgar OTT shows?
Saif Ali Khan returned to Netflix recently with Siddharth Anands heist action entertainer Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins.

The film co-stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Nikita Dutta and Kunal Kapoor in the lead roles and has been garnering massive views on the OTT platform.

Amid that, Netflix India YouTube channel dropped an interview where Saif is seen interacting with Jaideep.

In the 15 minutes and 45 seconds video, Saif and Jaideep are talking about working with each other, their Bollywood journeys, personal lives and the film.

During the conversation, Jaideep asked Saif about his younger kids and how Taimur (9) perceives his films and him performing on-screen.
After the Pahalgam terror attack where terrorists from Pakistan killed 26 innocent Indian civilians, several Pakistani YouTube channels as well as Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebs have been banned in India. Amid that, a post allegedly by Hania Aamir on X surfaced online where the actress is blaming the Pakistani army chief for the Pahalgam terror attack. The post went viral on social media with many people including Indian politicians reacting to it. It turns out, the account that shared the statement with Hania Aamirs name on it is fake.

The actress took to her Instagram account and shared a long note slamming the fake quote attributed to her. She wrote, Recently, a statement has been falsely attributed to me and is being widely circulated on social media. I want to address this directly: I did not make this statement, and I do not endorse or align with the words being linked to me. It is entirely fabricated and misrepresents who I am and what I believe. She added, That being said, this is a deeply sensitive and emotional time. My heart goes out to the innocent lives lost and the families affected by the recent tragedy. Pain like this is real, and it deserves empathy-not politicisation.

 Instagram/Hania Aamir The actress further stated, In times like these, it's easy to let emotions cloud our judgment, but we must remember: the actions of extremists do not represent an entire nation or its people. Assigning blame without proof only deepens divides and distracts from the real need for compassion, justice, and healing. And signed off saying, To my beloved supporters, your love means everything to me. I kindly ask everyone to check the truth before sharing and to approach these difficult times with kindness and clarity. Let us honor those impacted by choosing empathy, truth, and togetherness. I remain committed to spreading positivity and respect in all that I do. With sincere condolences and hope for peace. While her Instagram account is banned in India, a screenshot of her Instagram story is being circulated online. Check it out below:

 Instagram/Hania Aamir
" " Anyone who's had a tortie or torbie will tell you just how much attitude these felines wield. mjrodafotografia / Getty Images

Tortoiseshell cats, often called "torties," are the rebels of the feline world. With their swirls of orange and black, theyve inspired myths, memes, and plenty of admiration from cat lovers. But there's more to a tortoiseshell cat than just striking looks.

Unlike a single-color cat or one with clear stripes or patches, tortoiseshell cats wear a tortoiseshell coat pattern that blends colors together in a marbled mix.

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These cats dont belong to a specific cat breed;they can be found in many breeds, from American Shorthairs to Maine Coons. The term refers to the cat's coat, not its lineage.
Jeremy Renner joined MCU in 2011 with Thor as one of the six OG Avengers Hawkeye and later featured in films like Marvels The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame and Hawkeye season one. However, it looks like the actor may not return as the famed superhero in MCU in future films or shows as he recently revealed in an interview that he was offered Hawkeye season two but he rejected it. Stating the reason, he told High Performance podcast, They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money. Im like, Well, its going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money, and eight months of my time, essentially, to do it for half the amount'. He added, Im like, Im sorry? Why? Did you think Im only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe thats why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.'

 Marvel Studios The actor was referring to his 2023 near-fatal Snowplow accident. The actor also clarified that it wasnt Marvel Studios that made him the insult offer, This is not Marvel, mind you. This is like, just Disney, not even really Disney. Its just the penny pinchers, the accountants. I told them to go fly a kite. I mean, just at the insult offer. So we didnt see eye to eye on it. He, however, didnt completely rule out his return as the OG Avenger in future films and said, Sadly, I still love the character. Id still love to do it, but I had to defend myself. I didnt ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what I made the first season. So its all disheartening that that didnt happen, but thats fine. Im happy to let that go, because my bodys probably thanking me, time and time again, that Im not doing it right now. But well see. Check out a part of Renners clip from the podcast below:

Reacting to Jeremy Renners refusal to return as Hawkeye, one fan wrote, Sue them like Scarlett did, goddamn cheap ass Disney. Another fan reacted, I really liked the Hawkeye show and this is a huge bummer. Stop being cheap, movie studios. A third fan commented, He's gonna get hate for this but he's completely in the right it's not up to him to make the show good he had a great performance in the first season and is crucial to the character. Disney can afford to pay him right AND make a good show.

 Marvel Studios A fourth fan wrote, This is actually so insulting... the heck were they thinking...? He's such a great actor. Check out some of the responses below:
(Photo: Logistics UK)

Northern Irelands Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA met with representatives from Logistics UK on 30 April, in a high-level discussion aimed at reinforcing the logistics sectors vital role in the regions economy and advocating for greater policy support.

The meeting, held at S&W Wholesale in Newry, was led by Logistics UKs Head of Trade & Devolved Policy, Nichola Mallon.

The Minister was joined by key figures from the logistics sector, including Maire-Claire Reid, Managing Director of TST Group and Chair of the Northern Ireland Freight Council; Graham Patchett, Vice Chair and Depot Transport Manager at Musgrave Retail Partners NI; Anthony McVeigh, CEO of S&W Wholesale; and Clive Whylie, Head of Operations at S&W Wholesale.

Discussions focused on the strategic importance of logistics to Northern Irelands economic health, and how infrastructure investment could unlock further growth and innovation across the sector.

Following the meeting, Ms Mallon said: We would like to thank Minister Kimmins and her team for making the time to meet with representatives from the Logistics UK Northern Ireland Freight Council.

"Logistics sits at the heart of all economic activity and in Northern Ireland alone there are currently more than 65,000 people employed in logistics roles, in over 6,000 logistics businesses, making, selling and moving the goods that the economy relies on every day.

She continued: Without logistics, there is no trade. Logistics enabled Northern Ireland to export goods to the value of 19.56 billion in 2022.

"The contribution the sector already makes to the success of our economy cannot be understated but we also know significantly more opportunities could be forthcoming if our industry can realise its full potential, and that will be achieved by harnessing the power from prioritising the growth of logistics as a sector.
NSW woman Bonnie Wright was with her children when she stumbled upon the discovery along the state's Mid North Coast.

An Aussie mum and her kids were taken aback during a recent beach walk after making a "heartbreaking" find. And the unsettling scene, left discarded on the shore, has now prompted a stern reminder from authorities who have called for the behaviour to stop.

Bonnie Wright was walking along the New South Wales central coast near Forster with her young children when she spotted something lying on Pebbly Beach last week.

"It was situated in the middle of the rocks ... I couldn't identify it, so I used a piece of drift wood to flip it over," Bonnie told Yahoo News. The mystery find was revealed as a perfectly in tact shark head, with its body was nowhere to be found.

The Port Jackson shark's head had been left after an unknown fisherman cut its head off. Source: Supplied

Bonnie snapped a picture of the animal's discarded head and posted it online, asking others to identify the species and ask why it would have been left in that condition. Aussies quickly responded, with the head believed to be from a Port Jackson shark.

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"Not sure why you would kill one.. [they] clean up the water," one said, while many commented expressing how "sad" it was to see.

"[They're] basically a water puppy that eats shellfish. They don't deserve this," one person said of the sharks, which are harmless to humans.

Authorities urge 'responsible fishing' after shark head find

Recreational fishers are permitted to catch Port Jackson sharks in areas not protected by the Fisheries Management Act 1994, however, they are required to dispose of any offcuts correctly.

"[The department] always encourages fishers to dispose of any fish waste responsibly and if facilities are not available, to take them home for disposal rather than discard them at their fishing spot," a NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) spokesperson told Yahoo News.

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"DPIRD encourages all fishers to ensure they practice responsible fishing at all times. This helps to maintain a positive reputation and social licence for the fishing community... [and] this also extends to considering others and setting a good example in your fishing approach."

Fishermen are permitted to fish Port Jackson sharks in areas not protected by the Fisheries Management Act 1994. Source: Australian Museum

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal employees who serve in the U.S. military as reservists are entitled to receive the equivalent of their civil pay when serving on active duty in a national emergency.

In a 5-4 decision, the justices said Nick Feliciano, a Coast Guard petty officer who was called to active duty from 2012 to 2017, should have been paid the difference between his Coast Guard salary and his pay as an air traffic controller at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congress created the "differential pay statute" in 2009, requiring that the federal government pay reserve members their full salaries when called up in support of a declared national emergency.

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Government attorneys argued Feliciano didn't qualify for the differential, because although he was called up as a result of the operational needs during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, his Coast Guard job escorting ships to and from harbor in Charleston, South Carolina, didn't count.

But in a majority opinion published Wednesday by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the Supreme Court said the law covered any federal civilian employee called up during a national emergency.

"Requiring a substantive connection would create interpretive difficulties, as the statute provides no principled way to determine what kind of substantive connection would suffice," Gorsuch wrote.

Roughly 1.2 million Americans serve as reserve members, and thousands of those work for the federal government. Brian Lawler, Feliciano's attorney and a former Marine Corps aviator who specializes in pilot and service employment law, said the ruling has the potential to affect "thousands, perhaps tens of thousands" of people.

"This is what we had hoped for ... in which the court held [that the plaintiffs] don't have to show any connection to any particular emergency," Lawler said during an interview with Military.com on Thursday.

Lawler added he has several cases that were placed on hold, pending the Supreme Court decision, and he expects there are others that will be reactivated or initiated as a result of the ruling.

Under the ruling, Feliciano's case will return to the Merit Systems Protection Board -- the body to which he filed his petition for pay in 2018.

Joining Gorsuch in the majority were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the dissent, arguing the ruling was too broad and the differential pay statute should only be applied to those called up "in the course of an operation responding to a national emergency."

"Depending on the context, that phrase could require only that a national emergency be concurrently ongoing, or it could require that a reservist's service also be in support of a particular national emergency ... Because the court requires only that an emergency be concurrently ongoing, I respectfully dissent," Thomas wrote.

He added he would have remanded the case to the lower court. Justices Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson agreed, voting with the dissent.

Related: Class-Action Suit over Limits on Combat-Related Disability Pay Goes Before Supreme Court
Democratic senators voiced serious concerns Thursday about a former Space Force officer's political social media posts, as well as being fired from command in 2021, at a hearing weighing his nomination to serve as the Air Force's second-highest civilian leader.

Former Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, who was nominated by President Donald Trump earlier this year to serve as the under secretary of the Air Force, previously served as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado. But he was fired from his position in 2021 after an appearance on a podcast where he promoted his self-published book, "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest and the Unmaking of the American Military."

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Lohmeier he was concerned about comments the former Guardian made once leaving the military and also expressed concerns that he'd seek retribution for those who sought his removal from command.

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"I must confess, I have deep concerns about your ability to represent these men and women," Reed said. "While I appreciate your past military service, your record of troubling conduct in uniform, extreme partisanship and animosity towards military members with whom you disagree politically, is, in my view, disqualifying to be the under secretary."

Reed bought up a post that Lohmeier made on X on Oct. 19, 2024, where he wrote: "If we are fortunate enough to see a Trump presidency once again, then there will be serious consequences for those senior leaders who have broken their oath, betrayed the trust of the American people, and participated in the hyper-politicization of the uniformed services."

The former Space Force officer declined to provide follow-up comments to Military.com on Thursday.

Lohmeier said during the hearing that the "post was put on X in my private capacity as a private citizen in 2024," adding that he "enjoyed my ability to speak freely and express a full range of the expression of my ideas" since leaving the military.

He said during the hearing that he would seek accountability from service members and leaders, but the post "was not intended to be retroactive or retributional in nature."

Several other Democratic leaders joined Reed in criticizing Lohmeier's views and opinions shared on social media.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, took aim at his views on the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, when hundreds of Trump supporters broke into the building and assaulted police officers in an effort to overturn former President Joe Biden's election win.

In an Aug. 9, 2024, post on X, Lohmeier described the riot as "a gov't-led false flag and hoax at the Capitol."

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., questioned his stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine after the former officer shared in a Feb. 9, 2024, post on X a 2014 paper titled: "Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West's Fault."

Lohmeier claimed the posts were mischaracterized, saying of Jan. 6 that there is "so much uncertainty about what was really going on" during the day of violent protests and adding "all heads of state have to make determinations for their own security" when asked about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He joined the service in 2006 after graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Military.com previously reported. Lohmeier flew the T-38 Talon as an instructor pilot and later the F-15C Eagle. He transferred into the Space Force in October 2020.

Lohmeier told lawmakers last year that he submitted an inspector general complaint, alleging that the garrison commander of Buckley Space Force Base had "unethically used his position to promote anti-American propaganda." He said his complaint "was never investigated and was later dismissed" by then-Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting.

After writing and promoting his book, Lohmeier was fired from his command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Space Force Base by Whiting.

Notably, Whiting was later promoted to four-star general and now currently leads U.S. Space Command.

On his firing, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., questioned why Lohmeier did not file an Article 138 complaint, a formal process where a service member can express wrongdoing by a commander, after his inspector general complaint into the Buckley commander was dismissed.

Lohmeier said he did not file an Article 138 complaint but claimed he had "exhausted all of the means that I understood available to me" prior to publishing his book.

Duckworth said she was concerned.

"How can we expect you to lead airmen and Guardians?" Duckworth said. "You were relieved of command not for your beliefs, but for how you chose to express them on active duty while holding a position of authority over others."

In October, during a town hall in North Carolina where Trump was campaigning for his second term, Lohmeier took the stage and told Trump he should establish a "special task force, office or position" to remove diversity, equity and inclusion efforts throughout the military.

"I'm going to put you on that task force," Trump told him and later nominated him to serve as the under secretary of the Air Force.

When questioned by senators on Thursday whether he'd seek retribution for those who have differing political ideologies, Lohmeier claimed he would not and that airmen and Guardians would welcome him to the position.

"I think that we have many great men and women in uniform, high and low, who all have the right to try their best to serve this country faithfully and I don't necessarily agree with all the decisions they make, but I'm not a vindictive person," Lohmeier said. "I love all people, and I think that men and women in uniform will be very grateful to see me come back into service if confirmed."

Related: He Met Trump After Being Booted from the Space Force. Then, He Was Tapped to Help Lead the Air Force.
WASHINGTON  Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump's birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released. They represent the Army's most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element  a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed.

The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trumps 79th birthday on June 14.

While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.

High costs halted Trump's push for a parade in his first term, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the Army's latest plans have raised concerns from city officials about damage to roads.

Asked about plans for a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made.

Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, added that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.

We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us, said Butler. We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.

Others familiar with the documents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been finalized, said they represent the Army's plans as it prepares for any White House approval of the parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There has been no formal approval yet. Changes to the plans have been made in recent weeks and more are likely.

In a Truth Social post Thursday night that did not mention the June 14 plans, Trump wrote, We are going to start celebrating our victories again! He vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as Victory Day for World War II, and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to Victory Day for World War I.

What would go into the potential Army parade

Much of the equipment would have to be brought in by train or flown in.

Some equipment and troops were already going to be included in the Army's birthday celebration, which has been in the works for more than a year. The festival was set to involve an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including a fitness competition, climbing wall, armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment.

A parade, however, would increase the equipment and troops involved. According to the plans, as many as 6,300 of the service members would be marching in the parade, while the remainder would be responsible for other tasks and support.

The Army's early festival plans did not include a parade, but officials confirmed last month that the Army had started discussions about adding one.

The plans say the parade would showcase the Armys 250 years of service and foresee bringing in soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

There would be seven Army bands and a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. And documents suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges and reenactor organizations.

According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.

And it is expected that the evening parade would be followed by a concert and fireworks.

One of the documents raises concerns about some limitations, which include where troops would be housed and significant concerns regarding security requirements as equipment flows into the city. It says the biggest unknown so far is which units would be participating.

Trump has long wanted a big military parade

In his first term, Trump proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Elysees that he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.

That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs  with one estimate of a $92 million price tag  and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads.

Trump said in a social media post in 2018 that he was canceling the event over the costs and accused local politicians of price gouging.

This year, as plans progressed for the Army to host its birthday festival in Washington, talk about a parade began anew.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14 that would stretch from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are located, across the Potomac River and into Washington.

Bowser at the time said she didnt know if the event was being characterized as a military parade but added that tanks rolling through the citys streets would not be good.

If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads, she said.

In 2018, the Pentagon appeared to agree. A memo from the defense secretary's staff said plans for the parade  at that time  would include only wheeled vehicles and no tanks to minimize damage to local infrastructure.
WASHINGTON  The Central Intelligence Agency released two videos Thursday aimed at recruiting Chinese officials who might be disillusioned by their prospects in government in a bid to get them to share top secrets about China with the U.S.

The effort is part of a broader strategy by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to boost intelligence collection on China, which has become Washingtons biggest competitor and adversary in areas including artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The U.S. also hopes to prevent Chinese military aggression against Taiwan.

The videos show potential recruits how to securely contact the agency. The first depicts a senior Chinese official who finds that despite his efforts to climb up the ranks, his family still lives in fear because of sweeping changes in government, leading him to contact the CIA. The Chinese leadership has embarked on an anti-corruption drive in recent years that has led to the dismissal of a number of senior officials.

Heaven helps those who help themselves, one of the videos says. Your fate is in your control.

The second video shows a junior official reaching out to the CIA, disillusioned that his hard work only serves the advancement of his superiors and seeing no prospects for personal growth under Chinas system.

The U.S. has struggled to gain insights into the workings of the Chinese government, and the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies have faced questions about their broader collection capabilities in China. In 2017, The New York Times reported that Beijing had broken up CIA spying operations in the country over several years.

No adversary in the history of our nation has presented a more formidable challenge or capable strategic competitor than the Chinese Communist Party, Ratcliffe said in an emailed statement. Our Agency must continue responding to this threat with urgency, creativity, and grit, and these videos are just one of the ways we are doing this.

A CIA official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity, said the agency hopes to encourage Chinese officials to share information about Chinas intelligence apparatus, as well as secrets about technology, military and cyber programs, and confidential economic and foreign policy information.

The effort aims to offer Chinese officials an alternative path, the official said.

Last year, the CIA published text-only videos in Mandarin, Farsi and Korean providing instructions on how to contact the agency. Those reached more than 2.9 million people and had about 900,000 views, the official said, adding that the success of that push led the agency to produce the new videos.

The CIA posted the latest batch of videos on its social media profiles, including on X and Telegram. While most U.S. social media platforms are banned in China, citizens often find ways around the firewall to access content.

___

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A 28-year-old Army soldier has been accused of drug-related charges following a federal raid on an alleged illegal nightclub in Colorado on Sunday, where authorities claim he provided security and more than a dozen other troops were present.

The charges against Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, who is assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, were made public Thursday. He's accused of one count each of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, as well as conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to federal court documents.

Notably, the case against Orona-Rodriguez predated Sunday's raid led by the Drug Enforcement Administration at a Colorado Springs nightclub not far from Fort Carson. The staff sergeant was allegedly a part of a security company that provided armed guards at the nightclub.

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"Orona-Rodriguez appears to hold a leadership role in a business called Immortal Security LLC, which provides armed security at 'nightclubs' -- including an afterhours, unlawful nightclub called Warike -- within Colorado Springs, Colorado," a news release from the U.S Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado said.

The statement said he was "one of approximately 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members present at Warike during the execution of that search warrant."

The Colorado Springs Police Department allegedly has received 911 calls related to Warike in the past, including weapons violations, assault, narcotics and other violent crime, the U.S. attorney's office said.

An FBI agent detailed in court documents after speaking with DEA agents that they "believe employees of Immortal Security are involved in drug distribution and that employees of Immortal Security are carrying firearms while providing security at Warike and similar establishments."

Orona-Rodriguez, according to information from the Army Criminal Investigation Division detailed in court documents, received a developmental counseling form from his commanding officer earlier this year and was told at that time that the security company was off limits to members of the armed forces."

Bridget Ann Serchak, a spokesperson for the Army CID, told Military.com the division is "aware of this matter and is currently conducting a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)" but added they "are unable to provide further information at this time."

A Fort Carson official told Military.com they were aware of the FBI investigation and that with the help of Army CID, they took one of the base's soldiers into custody. Vikki Migoya, an FBI Denver spokesperson, told Military.com in an emailed statement that they "facilitated the arrest Wednesday evening."

"The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," Migoya added.

A call to Orona-Rodriguez's federal defender's office went unanswered.

Orona-Rodriguez was accused of selling cocaine to an undercover DEA agent last week, the news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office detailed.

A subsequent search warrant for the soldier's phone allegedly found text messages from 2024 and this year that "appear to show him repeatedly purchasing cocaine and selling it to others," the U.S. attorney's office in Colorado said in the news release.

The soldier is "also suspected of unlawfully trafficking firearms, including those with high-capacity magazines" to illegal migrants, according to court documents.

Related: Service Members Detained After DEA Raid at Alleged Illegal Underground Nightclub in Colorado
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and National Guardsman, has attempted to reframe the role of the Pentagon's top civilian leader during his first months on the job, casting himself as a relatable everyman -- "one of the guys."

Instead of the standard suit and tie, he regularly appears in khaki hiking pants, rolled-up sleeves that reveal tattooed forearms and occasionally a trucker hat emblazoned with an American flag. He often posts videos and photos of himself working out with troops.

But that carefully curated image -- so different from past defense secretaries -- may not be totally landing with the rank and file. Interviews with service members and a review of hundreds of social media posts on message boards suggest the image the Pentagon chief is trying to project is seen by some as overly manufactured and desperate for affirmation.

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"He seems too preoccupied with his personal brand," one Army captain told Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "This is the 'vet bro' Pentagon."

Across military Reddit forums and enlisted meme pages, Hegseth has become a regular target of satire, often referred to with nicknames such as "DUI Hire," "Whiskey Leaks" and "Kegseth." The references allude to past controversies, including alleged alcohol abuse and an incident in which he shared sensitive Yemen attack plan details in an unsecured Signal group chat that included a journalist.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

In a recent post on the Army Reddit forum that was discussing a report that Hegseth set up an unsecured internet line in his office, one poster quipped that it was hidden behind the liquor cabinet.

I bet he has so much booze in there it is more like a liquor walk-in closet, another poster chimed in.

Troops also make frequent jabs at Hegseth's past infidelity  though many posts also levy serious and thoughtful criticism of his ability to effectively lead the military.

Military.com spoke with more than a dozen service members ranging from noncommissioned officers to a general. They were all given anonymity out of concerns over retaliation.

The jabs at and mocking of Hegseth, while not unprecedented for senior military officials, appear unusually persistent and pervasive. Other high-ranking leaders have been the butt of jokes and the target of online irreverence -- such as Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, the Army's top enlisted leader who was mocked online for his perceived preoccupation with grooming standards -- but those moments have tended to fade quickly.

In Hegseth's case, satire has become part of the daily discourse.

In a recent Reddit post on the Marine Corps forum that featured the reports of Hegseth setting up a makeup studio in the Pentagon, one user quipped wouldnt this fall under gender-affirming care?

Another simply asked can we have Mattis back, please? That was a reference to former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who served more than four decades in the Marine Corps before taking the civilian post in the first Trump administration.

Duffle Blog, the Onion-style military satire blog, even has merchandise based on the jokes, including a "Whiskey Leaks" drinking glass and a bottle of hand wash with the label "Clean on OPSEC," another reference to Hegseth's comments on the unsecured Signal chat about Yemen strikes that was inadvertently made public.

Hegseth also routinely uses the phrase "warfighter" to refer to American troops, a phrase that itself has long been met with eyerolls within the military community, which is known for its signature gallows humor and scoffing at anyone being overly serious.

No more woke bullsh*t that undermines commanders and command climates, Hegseth recently told service members at the Army War College. We are laser-focused on our mission of warfighting," he added.

The lion's share of his messaging is done on X -- a social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk and a preferred platform of the Trump administration -- while the bulk of service members spend their time on other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

"Morale isn't built through X," one Pentagon official noted.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth participate in events leading up to the reenlistment ceremony of Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer, Arlington, Va., April 17, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by GySgt Jordan E. Gilbert)

Much of the communication on X from Hegseth focuses on touting the president's agenda, namely cultural grievances and border security  none of it relating to the troops or their day-to-day issues. The defense chief often points out that what he's doing is a directive from President Donald Trump.

Hegseth's apparent push to make the defense secretary a public personality more than just a public figure, mostly through social media, also sets him apart from many who served in the role in the past. Almost everyone who spoke with Military.com for this story noted that rank-and-file troops shouldn't need or want to care much about someone so far removed from their daily lives.

Several service members remarked that before Hegseth, the only time they thought about the defense secretary was when they needed to brush up for a board or inspection where they may have had to answer questions about their chain of command.

One Navy officer noted that when news of former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hidden cancer diagnosis became public last year -- a major scandal and now a talking point in Pentagon communications -- the news didn't ever register with their sailors despite significant media coverage.

Meanwhile, some of Hegseth's big policy moves, arguably done in the name of service members, have left them perplexed.

On Tuesday, Hegseth announced that he was ending the "Women, Peace and Security" program that was aimed at supporting women on security teams, especially overseas where men may run into cultural or religious barriers.

"Troops hate it," Hegseth declared in a social media post Tuesday.

One junior officer said that while they knew about the program from personal connections and a previous deployment, it's likely that they were the only person in an office of dozens who did.

Many who spoke with Military.com remarked that the military, especially the rank and file, don't have time to be focused on the kind of policy moves that Hegseth is making. They are more concerned with their day-to-day lives in the military -- an area that Hegseth and his team have largely been silent on in their view.

"It's a lot of 'look at me' stuff. He has said nothing about quality of life," Rob Evans, an Army veteran whose Yelp-style app Hots & Cots collects reviews of housing and dining facilities on military bases. "If he's for the troops, why has he not touched on quality-of-life challenges, whether that's food or housing?"

However, multiple female service members said Hegseth's comments and policy changes have made them sit up and take notice, because they worry that he will make their lives more difficult or even make it impossible for them to keep serving.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, trains with Naval Special Warfare sailors at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii, March 25, 2025 (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Rolfe)

Quality-of-life issues in the military have been long-simmering; concerns such as feeding soldiers at dining facilities, or DFACs, is a perennial issue that has cropped up several times during Hegseth's tenure.

Just this week, soldiers told advocates like Evans and the moderators of the Army Reddit page that they were being turned away from getting food at Fort Johnson in Louisiana over an issue with their meal cards.

When a recently deployed unit returned to Fort Johnson, their cards had lapsed and they were met with signs that said they would be turned away if their cards weren't fixed.

"Why are we creating barriers to food?" one of the leaders of the Army Reddit forum told Military.com on Thursday, noting that the issue is now being seen at other Army bases as well.

The issue, as the Reddit moderator sees it, is an easy policy fix and ripe for someone such as Hegseth to tackle.

And yet the Pentagon's weekly "SITREP" videos and many of Hegseth's social media posts focus on the secretary. When Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesman, released a list of what the Hegseth Pentagon feels it accomplished in its first 100 days on Tuesday, quality-of-life issues didn't make the cut.

"You'll see a lot of pictures of [Hegseth] jogging with troops, visiting flight lines, American flag suit ... but what you won't see are ribbon cuttings for new barracks," Evans wrote in a social media post Tuesday.

"When leadership prioritizes optics over outcomes, photos over plumbing, troops notice. When DoD leadership talks about 'lethality' but ignores that soldiers are getting sick from their own living conditions, credibility suffers," he wrote.

Ultimately, several service members told Military.com they feel Hegseth's idea of what a defense secretary is expected to do doesn't line up with what the job actually requires of him.

"He'd make a great company commander," one officer said. "But that's not the job he's in right now."

Meanwhile, online, one Reddit member who is widely known on the Navys forum as a recently retired Navy captain, recently wrote that Hegseth and others in the Trump administration are not the leaders we need or deserve.

If you are left leaning, Hegseth only serves to poke at and antagonize you. If you are right leaning, he only serves to embarrass and demoralize you with his incompetence, they added.

Related: Hegseth Has Ordered a Combat Standards Review. It's Unclear How It Might Apply to All the Services.
A senior meteorologist has told Yahoo News what weather conditions voters can expect when casting their vote  with some needing to pack an umbrella today.

Bureau of Meteorology has told Yahoo News what weather voters can expect on election day. Source: Getty

The debates and questionable campaign moments have all been leading up to this as millions of Aussies venture to their nearest polling station today to decide the next leader of the country.

While a record number of citizens have voted early this federal election, there'll be plenty of people braving the queues and manning the BBQs to hand out the all important democracy sausages.

With that in mind, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has confirmed to Yahoo News what weather is in store for every state and territory throughout the day. Here's everything you need to know.

New South Wales

Voters in New South Wales are likely to enjoy some of the more pleasant weather conditions, with rain not on the cards for most of the state. Areas in the Mid North Coast and Hunter Region can expect a shower or two but NSW is set to be mostly dry.

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In Sydney, the BoM senior meteorologist told Yahoo voters can expect morning fog in the western suburbs to lift throughout the day and the city to experience partial clouds, with highs of 23 degrees in the city.

Queensland

There is a chance of rain for many voters across the state today, with Brisbane residents and some situated in Central and Far North Queensland warned about potential showers. However, the rain will most likely be patchy and occur during the afternoon, so voters could dodge it if they opt for a morning visit to the polls.

There will be state highs of 33 degrees in the north, with Brisbane expecting a high of 24 degrees.

Victoria

There'll be no need for an umbrella in Victoria with absolutely no rain forecast for any town or region in the state  hooray! It could get frosty in some places but it won't linger long, with chills lifting throughout the day.

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Victoria is set to be dry and mostly sunny, with the maximum temperature to be around 23 degrees.

South Australia

South Australian voters are expected to dodge the rain much like those in Victoria, with no showers forecasted throughout the state on Saturday. Instead, it will be a dry and mostly sunny day with residents in Adelaide and Nullarbor likely to experience windy conditions, which will be "gusty at times", according to the BoM meteorologist.

Tasmania

Voters in Tasmania are set for a partly cloudy, mostly sunny day with state highs of 20 degrees.

In Hobart, the BoM meteorologist pointed to morning frost and fog, however, this will lift to make way for pleasant conditions.

Western Australia

Sorry Western Australians, but you better grab an umbrella when heading out the door. The state will play a critical role in determining the election outcome  but residents will have to brave some unsavoury weather to have their say.

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Rain is excepted in many parts of the state, including regions in the southwest, expected as far north as Northampton in the Mid West region, while Perth is likely to see up to five millimetres of rainfall throughout the morning.

Strong winds are expected too, with state highs of 34 degrees in the state's north and highs of 22 degrees in the capital city.

Northern Territory

It will be smooth sailing for voters in the Northern Territory as dry and mostly sunny conditions are expected, with those in Darwin likely to experience temperature highs of 33 degrees.

Australian Capital Territory

Voters in the ACT can expect patches of frost and the chance of fog in the morning, however, this will lift and a sunny day with light winds can be expected. The city will likely experience temperature highs of 20 degrees.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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DAMASCUS, Syria  Israels air force struck near Syria's presidential palace early Friday after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria.

The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded.

Friday's strike was Israel's second on Syria this week, and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria's new leadership that is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

On Thursday, Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticized Syrias government for what he called an unjustified genocidal attack on the minority community.

Early Friday, the Druze religious leadership said the community is part of Syria and refuses to break away from the country, adding that the role of the state should be activated in the southern province of Sweida and authorities should be in control of the Sweida-Damascus highway.

We confirm our commitment to a country that includes all Syrians, a nation that is free of strife, the statement said.

In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, where fighting occurred earlier this week, security forces deployed inside the area along with local Druze gunmen, and at a later stage heavy weapons will be handed over to authorities. As part of the deal, forces from the defense ministry will deploy around Jaramana without going inside.

Israeli fighter jets strike near the palace

The Israeli army said that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus. Its statement gave no further details.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was a message to Syrian leaders. This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," said the joint statement.

Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the Peoples Palace on a hill overlooking the city.

Over the past two days the Israeli military said it had evacuated Syrian Druze who were wounded in the fighting.

The Israeli army said in a statement Friday that a soldier was killed and three were lightly injured in an accident in the Golan Heights. An army statement added that the soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital and that the circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

Clashes set off by disputed audio clip

The clashes broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islams Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims.

Syrias Information Ministry said 11 members of the countrys security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces.

The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus.

Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.

____ Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut.
The Rangers have signed southpaw Ty Blach to a minor league deal, MLBTRs Steve Adams reports. The veteran elected free agency shortly after the 2024 regular season came to a close abut is now set to join a new organization for just the fourth time in his career. Hes represented by Sports Pro Services.

Blach, 34, has pitched in the majors in parts of seven MLB seasons. A fifth-rounder drafted by the Giants all the way back in 2012, the lefty didnt make his big league debut until the 2016 campaign. That initial cup of coffee went extremely well, as Blach pitched to a 1.06 ERA and 3.62 FIP in 17 innings of work across two starts and two relief appearances. He took on a much larger role with the Giants over the next two years and turned in slightly below-average results as the clubs primary swingman. From 2017 to 2018, Blach pitched to a pedestrian 4.56 ERA (89 ERA+) despite a 4.18 FIP but made up for that lack of impressive rate production with volume. He threw 282 1/3 innings total while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen, making 37 starts and 44 relief appearances in total.

The southpaw started the 2019 season with San Francisco as well, but he was designated for assignment and found himself claimed off waivers by the Orioles not long after. Unfortunately, Blachs time in Baltimore did not go especially well and he finished the year with a 12.00 ERA in 27 innings of work between his two clubs. That lackluster performance led the Orioles to outright him off their 40-man roster following the 2019 season but he re-signed with the organization on a minor league deal ahead of the 2020 season. Between the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign and Tommy John surgery that summer, Blach wound up not pitching for the Orioles at all in his second season with the organization.

After rehabbing in the minors with the Orioles during the 2021 season, Blach latched on with the Rockies on a minor league deal entering the 2022 campaign. It was in Colorado that hed make his return to the majors, and he wound up spending three years in the organization on minor league deals, shuttling between Triple-A and the majors as dictated by the Rockies pitching needs. Blach didnt exactly take well to pitching with the Rockies in that up-and-down role, and hes struggled to a 6.14 ERA in 193 2/3 innings at the big league level since first signing with the Rockies prior to the 2022 season. Lackluster as that figure is, it should be noted that its nearly half a run higher than Blachs FIP. On the other hand, Coors Field may not have been as big of an issue for Blach as one might expect given that his road ERA was higher than his ERA at Coors in all three of his seasons with Colorado.

Whether hell be able to improve in a new organization with more pitcher-friendly conditions in the majors remains to be seen, but the Rangers appear to be betting on just that by bringing him into the fold. At the very least, he should be a serviceable non-roster depth option for the club, helping to back up a rotation thats currently relying on Patrick Corbin as its fifth starter due to injuries suffered by Kumar Rocker, Jon Gray, and Cody Bradford. That starting depth took a potential additional hit earlier this week when the club designated Dane Dunning for assignment, though Dunning has already cleared waivers previously this year. Even if Blach isnt being brought in as a potential replacement for Dunning on the depth chart, hes still a useful arm to have in the mix in case fo further injuries in the majors.
These brilliant orange pollinators are making their way north and are now very close to the Michigan border.

After wintering over in Mexico, monarch butterflies are migrating to their northern breeding grounds, which includes the Great Lakes State.

Journey North uses volunteer-submitted data to track the migration. They were recently spotted near Toledo, just south of the Michigan-Ohio border. Michigans first sightings could come over the weekend. Find the map here.

Monarchs are usually seen in Michigan from late spring to early fall.

RELATED: Hummingbird tracker: Theyre here! Map shows where tiny birds have been spotted in Michigan

RELATED: How to make your own hummingbird syrup: Its quick and cheap

The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration, like birds  but with key differences, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Monarchs fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter homes in Mexico and California, where they hibernate. Upon waking, monarchs lay eggs; those eggs then begin the journey north. It takes three to four generations to reach their summer homes.

Monarchs tend to arrive as milkweed pops up, according to Journey North. The plant is the only one on which monarchs lay their eggs and the only source of food for baby caterpillars, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

RELATED: Hanging a hummingbird feeder this spring? Heres what to know

Monarchs are listed as a threatened species in the U.S. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has categorized them as endangered. Their population has declined by as much as 90% in recent years, primarily due to habitat loss (the loss of milkweed), according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The decline has sparked conservation efforts, including planting milkweed.

RELATED: He would never ask: Emus viral jaunt down U.P. highway shines light on veterans need for help

Despite the small size of monarch butterflies and other insects, they play a very large role in human lives, according to the DNR. Insects travel to flowering plants, drinking nectar and transporting pollen. This results in a pollination service that is responsible for one-third of the worlds food source.
DETROIT  A man was recently robbed of his necklace and shot multiple times outside a Michigan nightclub, authorities said.

Two suspects have been arrested and charged related to the robbery and non-fatal shooting, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office announced. Alveon Roosevelt Kindle, 21, of Clinton Township, and Paul Monyee Kindle, 23, of Southfield, have been arraigned and remanded to jail.

It happened around 12:30 a.m. Monday in front of a nightclub in the 1500 block of Woodward Avenue in Detroit, according to the prosecutors news release.

It is alleged that the defendants robbed a 27-year-old Detroit man of his necklace, the release said. When the victim attempted to get his necklace back, Kindle allegedly fired a handgun multiple times, non-fatally wounding the victim, before fleeing the scene.

Detroit Police officers patrolling the area heard the gunshots and began canvassing the area, the release said. They found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound; he was transported to a local hospital.

The defendants were arrested by the Southfield Police Department and turned over to the Detroit Police Department a short time later, the release said.

Alveon Kindle is charged with armed robbery, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and three counts of felony firearm, the release said.

Paul Kindle is charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of felony firearm, the release said.

They were arraigned and remanded to jail on Thursday afternoon in 36th District Court before Magistrate William Burton. Theyre due back in court at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14, before Judge Ronald Giles.
Kyle Karsten, 25, was convicted of first-degree murder after a unanimous decision was reached by the Otsego County Jury on Thursday. MLive file photo

OTSEGO COUNTY, MI  A man has been found guilty of murdering his father in Northern Michigan.

Kyle Karsten, 25, was convicted of first-degree murder after a unanimous decision was reached by the Otsego County Jury on Thursday.

Karsten was identified as a suspect and charged in August 2024 after Michigan State Police found a 57-year-old man dead with a gunshot wound in the 2700 block of Camp Ten Road in Otsego Countys Elmira Township.

Karsten was found in a pole barn on the property where he was taken into custody.

His sentencing date has not been released.
A passenger travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane was told she could carry her water bottle, book and snacks to lighten her carry-on load.

Budget airlines across the world are notorious for strict  and sometimes harsh  carry-on luggage policies, and now Jetstar's stance on this issue has been called into question after a domestic traveller was subject to a surprising interaction.

A British expat took to social media to question the airline's 7kg carry-on policy after recently travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane and back again. "Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous," she started, explaining that her bag was over the weight limit by 3kg.

"They let you remove everything from your bag so all of my water, my snacks, my book. I can hold [it], and then they weigh the bag again," she explained. She said while she was made to remove the items from her bag, staff still allowed her to carry them on to the plane, adding "they were going to charge me $70".

While some agreed that it "made no sense", others explained that the passenger was simply being subject to a "kind" gesture staff.

Jetstar responds to carry-on allowance

When Yahoo asked Jetstar about the policy, the airline confirmed there's been "no change" to the carry-on baggage policy.

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"Being a proudly low-cost airline, we offer customers incredibly low fares which all include carry-on baggage allowance of 7kg across two items," the spokesperson said. "Our carry-on baggage restrictions are designed to ensure a smooth boarding process, enough room to stow safely and comfortably all carry-on items and the correct weight and balance for take-off."

Yahoo understands that passengers are able to pre-purchase extra carry-on up to 14kg if they suspect their weight may go over the limit. It's understood that excess baggage fees at the flight gate are more expensive because its at this point that exceeding carry-on weight restrictions could potentially cause disruption to operations.

Customers exploit Jetstar loophole

It's not the first time that a Jetstar passenger has attempted to take advantage of the airline. One enterprising lawyer told Yahoo he booked 58 flights between Sydney and Auckland in hopes of taking advantage 'return for free' promotion put on by Jetstar New Zealand.

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He booked a promotional flight from Auckland to Sydney before then cancelling the outbound flight and receiving a credit from Jetstar. He then used the credit to book a Sydney to Auckland trip and again cancel the outbound trip. As a result, he was left with two flights which he had paid $0 for.

He then reportedly decided to rinse and repeat the process some 57 times, which prompted the lawyer and airline to become locked bizarre legal battle.

"Jetstar and Qantas are very quick to rely on the fine print rather than talking about fairness when it comes to dealing with customers who have experienced disruption to their travel plans," he said at the time.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association plans to pay up to $758 to another five Michiganders in May, and again in June, in an effort to shine a light on the states road funding shortcomings and the effects poor road condition have on Michigan drivers. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.

Five Michigan residents will soon be reimbursed for vehicle repairs associated with the states treacherous pothole season.

The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) expects to contact the first five winners of the Pothole Payback contest next week to set up payments.

MITA plans to pay up to $758 to another five Michiganders in May, and again in June, in an effort to shine a light on the states road funding shortcomings and the effects poor road condition have on Michigan drivers.

RELATED: Pothole payback: How Michiganders can get cash for vehicle repairs

During the first month of the program, MITA received nearly 200 responses. Each entry included auto repair receipts, photos, and details about the incident a pothole caused for them.

April entries will be eligible for the May selection without having to re-submit. Additional drivers can continue to submit their stories, here, through June.

One submission is allowed per driver, per month. By entering, participants give MITA permission to use submitted photos and their story on social media and campaign materials.

The association chose $758 because its the average cost of vehicle repairs due to poor road conditions, according to a 2024 report from the Washington D.C.-nonprofit TRIP.

Those average costs from driving on Michigans rough roads are higher for residents in busier urban communities like Detroit ($1,148), Flint ($1,136), Lansing ($940), and Grand Rapids ($898), according to the TRIP report.

Michigan is heading straight for a road funding cliff that threatens thousands of construction jobs, and our leaders must take action before its too late, said Rob Coppersmith, MITAs executive vice president, in a prepared statement. Our roads are crumbling, and Michiganders deserve real, lasting solutions. While the legislature fails to act, were shining a light on this crisis and helping families with car repairs.

MITA is a statewide construction trade association. Its Fix MI State campaign aims to raise awareness of the deteriorating roads and push for action from state leaders to increase funding.

Lawmakers are considering a package of bills that would shift more than $3 billion more funding annually to fixing and maintaining Michigans roads. The bills passed the House on March 19, and have been sent to the Senate for consideration.

We know the road industry is doing all it can to fix our roads given current funding and resources, Coppersmith said. The Pothole Payback contest is a reminder to lawmakers of the depth of Michigans road maintenance problems and the financial strain potholes place on drivers.

For more information on the contest, visit FixMiState.org, or email questions to fixmistate@gmail.com.
U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for potato chip products containing chicharron (pork cracklings) that were imported from the Republic of Colombia. Colombia is ineligible to export meat products to the United States. U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service

These potato chips should not be eaten, according to federal regulators.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for potato chip products containing chicharron, also known as pork cracklings, that were imported from the Republic of Colombia. Colombia is ineligible to export meat products to the United States.

The mixed bags of potato chips containing chicharron were imported between August 2024 and March 2025, and shipped to retailers nationwide. They are no longer available in stores, which is why FSIS did not issue a recall.

The following products are subject to the public health alert, regardless of the product date:

270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito NATURAL mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NATU CHIPS.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito NATURAL mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NATU CHIPS.

270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito BBQ mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NatuChips.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito BBQ mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NatuChips.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito LIMON mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, TOSTITOS, and NATU CHIPS.

270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito LIMON mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, TOSTITOS, and NATU CHIPS.

140-g. foil bags containing GOLPE CON TODO SABOR LIMON mixed chips with RIZADAS, PLATANOS, and Chicharron Fred.

These chip bags do not have any import marks on the labels. They were shipped to distributors in Florida and New York and to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing routine surveillance activities at two retailers and found meat products from Colombia, which are not eligible to be exported to the U.S.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers pantries. Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them; throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about this public health alert can contact Jack Wilson, owner of LatinFood US, at 631-681-5276 or jwilson@latinfoodus.com.
Tourism in Michigans Upper Peninsula is driving $1.6 billion in annual visitor spending, new study shows Photo courtesy of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.

Maybe its a trip to see roaring waterfalls. A vacation thats all about riding some of the most scenic mountain bike trails in the state. Or even a visit to Michigans most popular island in the Straits of Mackinac. Thousands of reasons are fueling travel to the Upper Peninsula, and a new study shows its adding up to $1.6 billion in annual visitor spending.

An economic impact analysis released today shows what many industry leaders have already been touting: U.P. tourism - from The Porkies to Pictured Rocks to Mackinac Island - is driving growth in overnight stays, restaurant sales and a handful of other sectors. In fact, the 2023 economic stats from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (the most recent figures available) show a nearly 8% increase over 2022.

Tourism is the economic backbone of the Upper Peninsula, said Tom Nemacheck, executive director of the UP Travel & Recreation Association.

From lodging and dining to outdoor adventure and local shopping, visitors provide vital support to our communities, businesses, and workforce.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park draws thousands of visitors a year in the Upper Peninsula. (Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR) Michigan DNR

The economic survey was released today to coincide with the big Opening Day celebration on Mackinac Island. Visitor spending in the Upper Peninsula accounts for about 5% of Michigans overall tourism economy.

Destination leaders are highlighting how their numbers have grown:

The top U.P. counties for visitor spending: Mackinac County led with $309 million, followed by Marquette County with $268 million and Chippewa County with $176 million.

The fastest-growing tourism economies in the U.P.: Menominee County saw the highest year-over-year growth at nearly 12%, while Mackinac and Houghton counties saw a 10% increase.

U.P. overnight stays have seen record growth, with lodging bringing in $484 million. Mackinac County spots bring in a quarter of that total.

Outdoor recreation spending hit nearly $352 million.

More than 11,600 jobs in the U.P. are directly supported by tourism dollars. That number rises to more than 17,000 when you include tourism-related employment. That represents about 11% of the U.P.s total workforce, the economic survey showed.

With those numbers in hand, tourism leaders across the peninsula say they are focused on expanding visitor experiences while taking care to promote travel in sustainable ways.

These findings reaffirm that tourism is not just a seasonal activity, its a critical industry that fuels jobs, small businesses, and economic prosperity across the Upper Peninsula, Nemacheck said.
President Donald Trump gestures as he walks from the Oval Office to depart on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

President Donald Trump says hes changing the name of Veterans Day in order to celebrate Americas victory in World War I. Trump made the announcement Thursday night on his social media account.

Veterans Day is a national holiday that takes place every year on Nov. 11. Previously known as Armistice Day, the day commemorated the end of hostilities between the Allies and Germany during World War I. Congress renamed the holiday in 1954 and expanded the meaning to honor all veterans who served in the U.S. military, regardless of when or where.

Trump said he will rename the holiday Victory Day for World War I. He also said he plans on establishing May 8 as Victory Day for World War II. May 8 is not a federal holiday in the U.S., but is recognized as VE Day around the world to commemorate Germanys surrender.

I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything  Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" Trump wrote.

While Trump claims he is renaming the days, only Congress has the authority to create, end or rename a federal holiday. The last time Congress established a federal holiday came in 2021 when Juneteenth was designated a holiday.

It is unclear if Trumps plan to rename Nov. 11 would replace the current Veterans Day holiday or run concurrently.
Police were called around 10:51 a.m., May 1, to an incident in the 4100 block of Ellsworth Road in the township.

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI -- Pittsfield Township police confirmed Thursday afternoon that officers response to an incident in the township was not related to immigration enforcement.

Police were called around 10:51 a.m., May 1, to an incident in the 4100 block of Ellsworth Road in the township, the public safety department said in a release. Officers were responding to a non-criminal investigation to provide security for an investigator for the Washtenaw County Department of Health and Human Services, police said.
The Appleseed Collective performs during the Water Hill Music Fest in Ann Arbor. The 2025 edition of the event, now called May Music Fest, takes place Sunday. MLive file photo. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI  Its been six years since the original organizers of the Water Hill Music Fest announced the popular Ann Arbor event was ending after an eight-year run.

But local musicians are keeping the tradition alive, performing on porches, lawns and driveways in the neighborhood just northwest of downtown the first Sunday in May each year.

Now called May Music Fest, the free event returns this Sunday, May 4, with musicians scheduled to perform throughout the afternoon for anyone who wants to stroll through and listen.

Its rather loosely organized, said organizer Laurie Lounsbury, whose band She-Bop is performing.

Detailed programs and maps arent distributed like they were during the original festivals heyday, she said, but they did get a music lineup listed in the Ann Arbor Observer.

Were just starting to get some momentum, Lounsbury said, noting the festival was paused during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, but has made a comeback the last few years.

There were just some of us musicians who lived in the area and just really like doing that, so we wanted to keep it going in some way, shape or form, she said.

Paul's Big Radio performs during the annual Water Hill music festival in Ann Arbor on May 5, 2019. The festival was originally canceled that year, but Big City Small World Bakery owner Scott Newell received permission to close Spring Street and encouraged community members to perform music throughout the neighborhood. MLive file photo. Mary Lewandowski

Sundays lineup includes the Glen Leven Band, whose sound ranges from traditional Irish music to rockabilly, bluegrass and roots rock, performing 2-3 p.m. at 411 Fountain St.

Deep Stream, another rock band, performs the same hour on the 500 block of Miller Avenue.

Indie Rock Royalty will play an eclectic mix of covers and originals 3-4 p.m. on the 500 block of Miller, while Rock Jones brings its vintage rock and dance jams the same hour on the 600 block of Robin Road.

The Dave McDaniel Band, a blues rock trio, performs 3:30-4:30 p.m. at 411 Fountain St., while Spark plays dance-friendly pop and rock covers at 611 Hiscock Street.

She-Bop, fronted by three female vocalists, performs 4-5 p.m. on the 500 block of Miller, while Slam Duncan plays contemporary jazz on the 600 block of Robin.

Corndaddy, original country rock through filters of power pop, bluegrass and British invasion, performs 4:30-5:30 p.m. at 611 Hiscock, followed by the Vicissitones, an instrumental rock quartet with a blend of originals and surf and spy music covers 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the same spot.

People listen to musicians perform during the annual Water Hill music festival in Ann Arbor on May 5, 2019. MLive file photo. Mary Lewandowski

Paul Tinkerhess, one of the original organizers of the Water Hill Music Fest, has separately announced plans for an all-day festival of music, drinks and food trucks from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Ann Arbor Distilling Co., 220 Felch St. Musicians to perform there include Dick Siegel, Chris Buhalis, Maddy Ringo, Vaega, Kat Steih, The Minor Pieces and Ukulele Slim.

The event at the distillery is intended to celebrate 11 years of SnowBuddy, the neighborhoods all-volunteer sidewalk snowplow service, and is free and open to all, though donations to SnowBuddy are welcomed.

In all the years that music has been springing up throughout the Water Hill neighborhood the first Sunday in May, the weather has cooperated, Lounsbury said.

Its been kind of magical, she said. It either stops raining in time for the festival or it doesnt rain.

Theres a chance of rain in Sundays forecast, but most performance locations have covered porches so the music could go on if theres a light rain at any point, she said.

She reached out to a fellow organizer about the possibility of a rain date, but her gut instinct is to just keep our fingers crossed and go for it Sunday, she said.

It is Michigan and the weather can change, she said.

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.
Demonstrators gather to protest UM President Santa Ono's house. A group of seven former University of Michigan students and employees are claiming in a new federal lawsuit that they were wrongfully terminated by the Ann Arbor-based institution in retaliation for participating in pro-Palestine protests on campus. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI  A group of seven former University of Michigan students and employees are claiming in a new federal lawsuit that they were wrongfully terminated by the Ann Arbor-based institution in retaliation for participating in pro-Palestine protests on campus.

The Sugar Law Center and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed the complaint Thursday, May 1, in U.S. District Court, alleging the university violated First Amendment free speech rights, as well as Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process.
Some of the best meals served up come with a side of family history.

From unique ingredients to secret-recipe sauces, these multi-generational restaurants arent just serving food -- theyre preserving tradition.

Passed down through decades, these five beloved spots in mid-Michigan are proof that when a family puts its heart and soul into a kitchen, the community tastes it.

La Familia Morales - Flint

Founded in 1968 by Esteban Sauceda and Rita Patlan, this restaurant began as La Azteca Taco House.

The restaurant became La Familia Morales in 1998 and is now operated by their granddaughter.

It continues to serve authentic Mexican cuisine, maintaining its rich family heritage.

Crowd favorites at La Familia include the classic taco, with beef or ground turkey.

Families also like to order the super nacho because they can share.

The restaurant is located at 725 Garland St. in Flint. Visit La Familias Facebook page here.

Tia Helitas - Burton

Tia Helitas has been a cherished part of the Flint area since it first opened its doors on Fenton Road in 1969.

In 1999, the restaurant relocated to 4070 Saginaw St. in Burton where it has become one of the citys longest-standing establishments.

This longevity is particularly notable in a time when many restaurants and businesses have faced closures.

We have people that come from Northern Michigan, Lansing, Imlay City and Bloomfield area, said Mellia Herrera, the restaurants general manager. My grandparents were very known in the community and always opened their doors to anybody.

Tia Helitas was founded by Herreras grandparents, Maria Villarreal and Urbano Villarreal.

The most popular menu item is the wet stew beef burritos with chunky beef.

Its a secret family recipe, said Herrera.

Read more here.

Starlite Burger & Coney Shop - Burton

This second-generation, family-owned diner has been serving breakfast all day, fresh ground hamburgers, and Flint-style Coney dogs, making it a beloved local institution. 

With two locations in Burton near the Flint border, the original location at 1500 N. Center Road was established in 1966.

The newer location opened in 2019 inside the former 3,200 square-foot Boston Market building at 4125 E. Court St., a little over one mile south of the original spot near the corner of Davison and Center roads.

Starlite has always been known for its mouthwatering burgers, which customers can enjoy at either spot.

Starlite is owned by Kosta Popoff, whose father Alex began Starlite Coney Island & Diner in 1966. Co-owner Jason Hester joined on as a business partner in 2007.

Read more here.

St. Laurent Brothers  Bay City

St. Laurent Brothers, 1101 N. Water St., was founded in 1904.

It is renowned for making all-natural peanut butter, candies, assorted chocolates, confectioneries and roasted nuts.

Each year, the business serves more than 100,000 customers and sells nearly 200,000 pounds of nuts that are roasted or made into peanut butter.

Edward St. Laurent began his career in the 1970s, working at his familys business, St. Laurent Brothers, in downtown Bay Cityhis hometown.

It was here St. Laurent worked alongside his father and uncles until 1985, when they sold the business.

He returned in April 2025 to the Bay City fixture as general manager, helping to expand the business his ancestors conceived decades ago.

I am honored to be working for Jordan Dice and his team to continue the St. Laurent legacy, St. Laurent said in a statement. I applaud Jordan for his commitment to investing in the community and reviving the history of some of the most iconic businesses such as St. Laurent Brothers.

My grandfather, father, and uncles put their blood, sweat and tears into this business and I intend to do the same. There is a lot of history here with the great stories and memories. Feel free to stop by, say hello, or share your memories with us.

Read more here.

Gatsbys Seafood & Steakhouse  Bay City

Established in 2001 in downtown Bay City by Rick Revette and son Kyle Revette, Gatsbys Seafood & Steakhouse is another restaurant in a long list of establishments by the Revette family now spanning four generations.

Located at 203 Center Ave., Gatsbys specializes in steaks, but it also offers from-scratch vegan options with a full vegan menu and meatless specials every Wednesday.

Manager Dan Auger said Gatsbys is known for steaks and seafood, first and foremost, with classic cocktails and a nice wine list.

All of our steaks are hand-cut in-house, he said.

Read more here.
Brenda Purifoy, a former Flint ombudsman, is shown as she reports to Flint City Hall in this Flint Journal file photo. (The Flint Journal / Lisa DeJong) The Flint Journal

FLINT, MI -- Flints Ethics and Accountability Board has been without an ombudsperson for nearly three years, and the boards chairman says theres still work to do before the job is filled.

The Rev. William Harris told City Council members during a budget hearing this week that only eight of the 11 positions on the EAB are filled, and it hasnt been able to achieve a quorum for a meeting since early February.
Amarion Cain, 19, is accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Khamani Lindsey on June 25, 2024. (Cody Scanlan | MLive.com)

FLINT, MI  The teenager accused of killing 17-year-old Khamani Lindsey in Mt. Morris Township last summer will undergo a second competency evaluation after it was requested by his attorney.

Amarion Cain, now 19, is accused in the June 25, 2024 homicide at the 6100 block of Hilton Lane in Mt. Morris Township.
Labor is set to form a majority government in what has been a huge collapse for the Coalition.

The last push for Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton is underway, with the majority of the country heading to the polls tomorrow. Source: Yahoo / Getty

Yahoo's live coverage of the 2025 federal election on Saturday, May 3 has now concluded. Labor has won the federal election and Anthony Albanese is set to be Australia's prime minister for another three years.

There were jubilant scenes at Labor HQ with the party set to form a majority government.

Peter Dutton had cut a confident figure on the final day of this election, arguing "silent" Australia will have a big role to play and could deliver a big surprise like 2019. However he went on to lose his own seat of Dickson to Labor. He had held the seat since 2001.

See the latest updates below.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 70 updates Featured Coalition, Greens struggle in 'Labor landslide' In whats been described as a Labor landslide, the Coalition is firmly headed for one of its worst election showings in history. The so-called Teal candidates that swept into Parliament in affluent areas in Sydney and Melbourne all look set to hold their seats, spurning Liberal challenges in the formerly safe blue ribbon seats that once defined the party. Meanwhile in the outer suburbs, where the Coalition hoped to see increased support, that has failed to materialise. The Liberal Party has gone backwards in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, it has been wiped out in Adelaide, and has been badly beaten in Tasmania. And theres still WA seats to come. The Coalition needed to pick up 19 seats to form government. Instead, under Peter Dutton, they lost 14. With 14 seats still in doubt, Labor has more than double the Coalition so far claiming 86 seats. The Coalition has picked just 40 at this point. The Greens are set to lose some lower house seats with leader Adam Bandt still fighting for his seat in Melbourne. Its been the night of nights for Labor. Source: ABC Labor candidate's perseverance to take Dutton's seat Ali France, the Labor candidate who has taken Peter Dutton's seat off him after a 24-year stint, spoke earlier and revealed she was told not to bother trying to win the seat off the long-standing MP. "Back in 2018, I was told that Dickson was not winnable, and it would not be winnable until Peter Dutton retired," she said. "They said he was too popular, too well known, he had too much money, we'd never be able to compete. I was told I didn't stand a chance. I took all of that in and went yeah... nah. "I'm going to give it a good crack anyway." France was singled out by Anthony Albanese in his victory speech as he thanked all of the "fantastic" Labor candidates. Ali France following her election victory. Source: AAP

Albo ensures Dutton 'treated with respect' After Peter Dutton had offered a classy congratulations to Anthony Albanese, it was the prime minister's turn to ensure respect was granted to Dutton. He shut down a small number of Labor attendees who shouted out when Albanese began speaking of his phone call with Dutton where the Liberal leader conceded defeat. "No! No. What we do in Australia is we treat people with respect," he said. "I thank Peter for his generous words at the end of what has been a very hard-fought campaign, and I want to take this opportunity to wish Peter and his family all the best for their future." Dutton shut down a small number of people when addressing Peter Dutton. Source: ABC

Albanese vows to repay Australians Anthony Albanese says Australia has "voted for Australian values" as he fronted a raucous crowd who lapped up their leader's historic victory, with Labor securing a majority government. The Labor leader took to the stage to deliver his victory speech and said being prime minister was the "greatest honour" of his life. "And it is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing that I do tonight is to say thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on earth," he said. "Let us reflect on what we have in common because no matter who you voted for, no matter where you live, no matter how you worship or who you love, whether you belong to a culture that has known and cared for this great continent for 65,000 years or you have chosen our nation as your home and enriched our society with your contribution, we are all Australians. "Repaying your trust will drive a government each and every day of the next three years."

Representing Australia to the world 'honour of my life', Wong says Penny Wong has taken to the stage for Labor and she's unsurprisingly in a buoyant mood. "We love this country and representing it to the world is the honour of my life," the foreign minister told Labor HQ. "Friends, three years ago, the Australian people made a collective decision, to turn the page and write a new future for ourselves. Tonight, together we start the new chapter." She's now welcomed Anthony Albanese on stage and as you can imagine, attendees have gone wild. Wong welcomed Albanese and his family on stage. Source: ABC

Labor to form majority government: ABC There have been some big swings towards the Labor party tonight and it will easily form majority government, the ABC projects. At current count, with nearly 40% of the vote counted, Labor has won 85 seats, far exceeding the 76 they needed to govern in their own right. There are still 18 seats in doubt.

Peter Dutton accepts full responsibility for election defeat Peter Dutton is the first leader up to address the election result and was met by a supportive crowd as he took to the stage. "We did not do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight and I accept full responsibility for that," he told those who remained at Liberal HQ. In what was a gracious address, he congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his "historic occasion", and said he'd called him to tell him his mother would have been incredibly proud. Dutton praised Ali France, the Labor candidate who claimed Dutton's seat he'd held since 2001. Peter Dutton was joined by his family as he conceded defeat in a gracious manner. Source: Getty "She lost her son Henry which is a tragic circumstances and no parent should ever go through that, equally I said to Ali that her son Henry would be incredibly proud of her tonight and she will do a good job as a local member for Dickson and I wish her all the very best," he said. He appeared emotional at times as he praised his family, saying he was "blessed" to have them. "I love this country and have fought hard for it, we have been defined by our opponents in this election which is not a true story of who we are but we will rebuild from here and we will do that because we know our values, we know our beliefs, and we will always stick to them."

Senator told to take Trump question 'seriously' There were tense scenes on the ABC shortly after Labor was handed the election win as an emotional Jacinta Nampijinpa Price took umbrage with questioning suggesting her Australian version of Donald Trump's Make America Great Again slogan had contributed to the Coaliti's downfall. "If you swing enough mud in an election, it sticks," the senator hit back angrily to Sarah Ferguson, deflecting to the behaviour of Anthony Albanese who she accused of misleading the Australian people. Ferguson asked Price to "address it seriously", further riling the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was not impressed with the ABC's line of questioning shortly after the Liberals' election loss. Source: ABC "If you don't think I'm addressing this seriously, I am addressing this deadly seriously, in that if you sling enough mud, it will stick. And absolutely, Labor, certainly the media, have slung enough mud," she hit back. But Ferguson, pointing out a photo showing Price wearing a MAGA hat had emerged during the campaign and, again asked if she was partly to blame for the night's brutal swing. "There is a whole lot of mud you just slung right there," Price responded. "Can I just say, in terms of wanting this country to be great. Donald Trump doesn't own those four words." She said sharing a photo that was "taken in jest" and using it to "smear" her was a major issue.

Labor on track to pick up seats across the country Earlier tonight we spoke about the key seats in play at this election. Well, Labor is well on track to claim a bunch of them, snatching some of the most marginal Liberal seats and turning them red, as well as claiming Brisbane from the Greens. In other Queensland seats, Bonner, Leichhardt, Dickson are also headed for Labor wins, as well as the seat of Petrie which has moved towards Labor with a near 8% swing at this point. In NSW, Banks, Bennelong and Hughes look to have landed in the Labor column. The party is also on track to claim Braddon, Bass and Lyons in Tasmania. Meanwhile Labor is also projected to flip the seat of Sturt in South Australia  the first time they've held it since the 1960s. Labor is also looking very good in a number of close Victorian seats including Deakin, Menzies and even Aston Looking at the ABC's 'big board' you can see some of the picks ups by Anthony Albanese's team. At the current count, Labor is sitting on 78 seats, the Coalition on 33 , while the Greens look set to end up with no seats in the lower house, according to the national broadcaster. Source: ABC

Pictures from party events say it all The night was called nearly an hour earlier than three years ago. For some, the party started early. For others, it never had a chance to get going. Labor supporters celebrate. Source: AAP Supporters watch the count at the Liberal Party count in Brisbane: Source: AAP Jubilation for Labor. Source: AAP The ABC reported a very small crowd at the Liberal gathering. Source: AAP

Dutton has lost his seat in historical night: ABC The Opposition leader Peter Dutton will not be returned to parliament. The Coalition was holding out hope that pre-polling votes would swing dramatically back to the Coalition in the marginal seat. Instead they still favoured Labor. The ABC has now called the seat for Ali France. Source: ABC Dutton had earlier hinted that he planned to stay on as Liberal leader if he lost the election. On the ABC's election desk, Liberal Senator James McGrath tonight insisted if he could somehow retain his seat, Dutton would have the support of other ministers to carry on as leader. Read more here.

Election called for Labor It's been called. Anthony Albanese is the first PM to win back to back elections in more than 20 years. The last person to do so was John Howard in 2004. "I cannot see how the Coalition gets into government from the numbers we are seeing," ABC's election analyst Antony Green said at 8.25pm. "Therefor the Coalition cannot form government, therefor Labor will form government in the next parliament. "This is certainly a win for Labor". The only question is how many seats they will gain, and if they will indeed retain a majority government.

'Worst campaign in living memory', former Labor leader says Former Labor leader Bill Shorten, who famously lost the 2019 election in what was a shock win for Scott Morrison, says he's never seen a campaign as bad as the last five weeks from Peter Dutton and the Opposition. "The Coalition has run without a doubt the worst campaign in living memory," he said on Seven News' election coverage. "I wouldn't want to be part of that post-mortem, good luck." It was always going to be a huge challenge to win this election for the Liberals if the opinion polls were anything to go by and the ABC's election veteran Antony Green, as we've just mentioned, says there's already big swings for Labor right across the country. But as has been repeatedly pointed out, the pre-poll votes could be a lifeline for the Liberal Party which is now seriously feeling the heat.

Coalition looking at a 'thumping', former Liberal strategist warns While there is less than 10% of the vote counted in most seats, there is an early swing away from the Coalition. What we're seeing at the moment, nothing looks good for the Coalition at this stage, Antony Green said around 7.30pm. Former Liberal Party strategist Tony Barry was far more pessimistic about the early swing towards Labor. I think my biggest concern, and we saw this in our research, is the Liberal base is now basically boomers  We failed to expand the base, he said. While both sides are cautioning that the pre-poll votes could favour the Coalition and swing things back, it could be a big mountain to climb. The early votes, albeit a small sample, indicate this is a thumping, Barry said.

Treasurer's phone 'blowing up' over early numbers in Dutton seat Opposition leader Peter Dutton is in Queensland's most marginal seat, held by just 1.7%. However he's consistently been able to defend it since 2001. This time around, Labor has really thrown everything at it with candidate Ali France again vying to unseat him. And the early count is looking somewhat promising for her. After a bit over 6% of the vote counted, there has been a more than 5% swing towards Labor. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said his phone has been "blowing up" about the early signs in that seat, however cautioned that Labor expects Dutton to claw back as pre-poll votes get counted. "My phone is blowing up over Dickson and we think the early voting which will come in in huge chunks later in the night will be better for him than on the day but there is a lot of interest, as you can imagine on that big early number," he said.

Labor knocking back cans of Albo Whether the party is celebrating a second term or drowning their sorrows after a "miracle" Coalition win, Labor has a very fitting beer to do it with. Slabs of Willie the Boatman's Albo Pale Ale, brewed in the prime minister's electorate, has been sent a few suburbs over to Labor HQ with their election night being held at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Albo has had a beer named after him for a while now, and it's on offer at Labor's election party tonight. Source: NewsWire

Aussies loving ABC analyst on his swan song Antony Green has become synonymous with election nights. He started his ABC career in 1989 and has since gone onto transform the way elections are presented on Aussie TV, calling them for the past three decades. It'll be his last time in the saddle tonight, and after an early technology glitch meant his interactive TV wasn't working properly, Aussies were savouring the moment. The 65-year-old will stay with the ABC as a consultant with Casey Briggs set to step into his very big shoes for future election coverages. The best part of election night is Antony Green being the most beautiful nerd in Australia  Belinda Barnet (@manjusrii) May 3, 2025 Happy Antony Green Appreciation Day to all who observe  Andrew Brown (@AndrewBrownAU) May 2, 2025 Antony Green yet to call any seats, hopes to drag out election coverage so he doesn't have to leave pic.twitter.com/ULKIWkeqLa  The Chaser (@chaser) May 3, 2025 My favourite night of the (four-ish) year (s) #Auspol2025 @ABCTV pic.twitter.com/xptijQH6Tt  ReadeAllAboutIt (@RubyChewsday) May 3, 2025

Albo saved Labor from 'all sorts of trouble', Treasurer says Treasurer Jim Chalmers has heaped praise on Anthony Albanese, hailing his campaign as one of the best he's seen from any leader. The Coalition were favourites in the opinion polls just a few months ago but Labor and Albanese have since developed a significant lead as Dutton's popularity dwindled. "To be frank with all of the viewers, we were in all sorts of trouble. And I think the way that we got back into the contest, such that there are a range of possibilities tonight as the count evolves, is really about three things," Chalmers said as a guest on the ABC's election panel. Chalmers identified those three things as Albanese's experience and performances under pressure, Labor's ability to get back in the game with cost of living and the impact of Donald Trump's US election win. The best possibility of the outcomes Chalmers alludes to is of course another majority government for Labor, which Albanese says he has worked until the very end to achieve. Jim Chalmers has heaped praise on Anthony Albanese's leadership in 2025. Source: ABC

Liberal senator says 'Donald Trump factor' has been 'significant' Liberal Senator James Paterson has admitted that being on the same side of the political aisle as US president Donald Trump hasn't helped his party's chances tonight, saying the "Trump factor" has likely hurt the chances of Peter Dutton. One fact I think we can all acknowledge and recognise is the Donald Trump factor. It was devastating in Canada for the conservatives where the Canadian conservative leader lost 20 points over the course of a few months, he said. I think that has been a factor here, just how big a factor well determine in a few hours' time but I think it has been significant. When polled, about a third of Yahoo readers this week said the actions of Donald Trump impacted how they viewed the election.

Polls closed in electorates that will decide the night All booths in the states of NSW, Victoria, Queensland  where the election is expected to be determined, as well as Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT are now closed. The final booths in Western Australia will close at 8pm (AEST). A total of 76 seats is needed to secure a majority in the House of Representatives. Going into today, Labor holds a notional 78 seats and the Coalition a notional 57 seats.

Early bold prediction: 'We won't know tonight' One senior Liberal member is preparing for a long night. The Queensland LNP senator and former assistant minister James McGrath is giving his side a real chance tonight. I don't think we will know who the next Prime Minister of the country is tonight, he said on the ABC's election panel. I think when everybody goes to bed, too many seats will be too close to call. There is a high soft vote out there still and there are a number of unique and different contests across the country. The ABCs Sarah Ferguson couldnt hold back, describing it as a big call.

Labor's desperate last-minute move While Anthony Albanese said he'd support a ban on unsolicited political texts following a wave of messages from Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots, it hasn't stopped Labor turning to the tactic on the final day of the campaign. Labor sent out text messages to voters during polling day about the Greens' decision to not preference Labor in the ultra-marginal Victorian seat of Deakin, held by the Liberals. "Preferences are critical in keeping Dutton out and this decision by Adam Bandt will put in jeopardy Labor forming government," the text message reads.

Record number of early votes could cause 'caution' There has been a record number of voters cast their ballot early this year. Normally pre polls lean more conservative, and take a little more time to come in on election night than votes on the day. Usually analysts models can predict how that is going to play out but with the bigger than usual number of early votes, those calling the race like the ABCs Antony Green may be a bit more cautious about reading the tea leaves early on. If we are a bit cautious in our early predictions, that's why, Green said on the ABCs coverage, just before polls closed. There was a record number of early votes cast this year. Source: AEC

The key seats to watch Although there are 150 seats across the country  with 76 needed to form majority government  the battle for power will come down to about 20 key seats. The seats to watch: NSW: Banks, Bennelong, Bradfield, Calare and Cowper Victoria: Dunkley, Menzies, Wannon, Kooyong Queensland: Bonner, Brisbane, Leichhardt, Dickson WA: Bullwinkel, Perth SA: Sturt Tasmania: Braddon, Bass, Lyons

Toto front and centre once again AAP's Lukas Coch has delivered one of the photos of the day so far. Toto appears unimpressed with the wall of Liberal political bunting, as you'd expect. Anthony Albanese walks past political bunting as he visits a polling booth at Five Dock Public School. Source: AAP

Crypto-fuelled prediction site is betting big on Albo Much was made about the online betting site Polymarket accurately predicting Donald Trump's win in November. The decentralised prediction market platform lets users, typically using cryptocurrency, bet against each other on the outcome of real life events. Currently, it show a 96 per cent expectation that Albanese will be the next PM. Source: Polymarket

Albo mocked over handwriting The prime minister offered a personal touch during his final push this morning with a handwritten note to the country. And while he spruiked some of his cost-of-living policies, it was his handwriting that grabbed the attention of many. "Im surprised you ever got your pen license with that handwriting," one person said. Some, presumably without their democracy sausage yet, couldn't help but wrongly misread some parts. "Lower tacos, home burgers," one said, explaining what they first saw. pic.twitter.com/nfxx50BP6f  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 2, 2025

Kooyong Liberal candidate addresses hilarious viral photo Kooyong Liberal hopeful Amelia Hamer was out and about at polling booths today and even addressed the now infamous photo of her where she was snapped holding a beer alongside her senior Liberal colleagues with a rather strange and vacant stare on her face. She was again joined by Jane Hume at Balwyn Primary School where voters cast their ballots and posed for photos, making reference to the viral image. "Not staring off into the abyss this time," she joked to reporters, according to The Age. #auspol photo of 2025. pic.twitter.com/O0lrgZhCdr  Pickles (@swollenpickles) May 1, 2025 It'll be one of the most interesting and tightly contested races to watch tonight. Independent Monique Ryan ousted former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg from the once safe Liberal seat in Melbourne at the last election. Her team reportedly believe it could come down to as few as 200 votes tonight.

Don't worry if you're still in a queue There's been some reports of long queues today, particularly in Melbourne. Some voters told the ABC earlier they'd been waiting for over two hours to cast their vote. There's just under an hour to go before polling booths officially close for the eastern states but that doesn't mean you won't be able to vote after 6pm. As long as you're in the queue before that cut-off time, you'll be able to vote. Voters queue to enter a polling booth at North Melbourne Primary School. Source: AAP

When will we know who the next PM is? Votes will start being counted when polls close on the east coast at 6pm AEST, with data trickling in shortly after. If the polls are accurate, we should have a pretty good idea about how this is going to play out by about 8pm-ish. At that point, it will begin to become apparent if there is enough of a swing towards the Coalition to give them a chance to win government. If not, the question will be whether Labor will win an outright majority, or be governing as a minority government. In the latter case, there would be more drama to come as it would be forced to negotiate with independents and smaller parties. The ABC called the election result for Labor shortly after 9pm in 2022. And the time before that, the night was called for the Coalition by 9.30pm in 2019.

Bad sign for Dutton in exit poll in key South Australian seat The Liberal Party is at serious risk of losing the blue-ribbon South Australian electorate of Sturt, if a small exit poll conducted by News Corp's Newswire agency is on the money. The outlet asked 193 voters across three booths how they marked their first preference vote today. In that sample, Liberal incumbent James Stevens secured 37.8 per cent of the primary vote while Labor challenger Claire Clutterham nabbed 71 votes, or 36.8 per cent of the vote, and Greens candidate Katie McCusker secured 30 votes, or 15.5 per cent. Mr Stevens holds Sturt with a tight 0.5 per cent margin, and if there is a fall in his first preference vote share, he could lose the seat to Labor. The Liberals have held the seat, which covers Adelaides eastern suburbs to the Adelaide Hills, since 1972, and it was previously held by former Coalition defence minister Christopher Pyne. Read more here.

Former Triple J host looking to end 70-year Liberal reign in Victorian seat Comedian and former Triple J host Alex Dyson is hoping it'll be third time lucky tonight. For the third straight federal election, he is running to dethrone the Liberal Party in the Victorian seat of Wannon, which the party has owned for 70 years. It's the 37-year-old's most serious tilt at the seat (in 2019 he put out a video presenting his polices in interpretive dance) and the bookies actually have him as a narrow favourite to beat out veteran incumbent Dan Tehan. Shortly before polls close, Sportsbet has Dyson as favourite at $1.75 to the Coalitions $1.93. If that holds, the Liberal Party would lose another senior member from its party room. Dyson is one of 35 candidates who received financial backing from the Climate 200 group which has helped candidates that have promised to support political transparency, climate science and gender equality.

Dutton campaign labelled 'absolute horror show' Peter Dutton in recent days has brushed off polls suggesting he could be staring down the barrel of the worst performance for his party in 80 years, and instead pushed optimism the Coalition could pull out another "miracle" like Scott Morrison did in the face of such ominous polls in 2019. However one of the people who arguably helped get that "miracle" across the line wasn't too flattering about Dutton's performance on the campaign trail. Speaking on the ABC's Insiders On Background this morning, Andrew Carswell, the former advisor and press secretary to Scott Morrison, admitted the campaign "was a struggle for both candidates" and failed to catch the imagination of the public, adding that "Dutton struggled early on ... with a few missteps" by quickly backflipping on policies such as forcing federal workers back to the office. In the same program, Ryan Liddell who was an advisor to Opposition leader Bill Shorten, was far less flattering. "I think the Coalition's campaign was an absolute horror show from the get-go. And I don't say that lightly," he said. "I don't think there was one day you could objectively point to that the Coalition won during the campaign." I guess the question is, will any of it matter?

Surge in Google searches about the fine for not voting As far as vision and policy substance, this past five week election cycle hasn't exactly been the most captivating. Ever since Bill Shorten managed to unexpectedly lose to Scott Morrison (after Malcolm Turnbull was knifed) in 2019 by going to the electorate with bold reforms around negative gearing and capital gains tax, both major parties have taken the 'small target' approach, opting to eschew meaningful policy reform. So perhaps you can't blame Aussies for being a bit unbothered by the choice today. At least that's what is suggested by a surge in Google searches in the last 24 hours about what the fine is for failing to vote, which surged dramatically this morning. Source: Google Trends For the record, the fine is just $20. About the only thing that hasn't gone up in price lately.

Albo, Dutton cast their votes Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have now voted. The prime minister was all smiles with fiancee Jodie, son Nathan and dog Toto in Marrickville. Dutton had his family by his side in Albany Creek and said he was feeling "confident" about his chances. Albanese with his fiance Jodie and son Nathan. Source: Getty Liberal leader Peter Dutton stands with his sons, Tom and Harry and his wife Kirilly as he votes. Source: AP

Does Peter Dutton want to continue as Liberal leader if he loses election? Is this confirmation Peter Dutton wants to carry on as Liberal leader if he loses the election? "I'm 54. I'm still very young and I've just got a burning passion for this country," he told Nine's Today Show this morning. Dutton has remained confident in the final week of the campaign despite opinion polls suggesting he has a mountain to climb. However he believes "silent" Australians will deliver a surprise later today. Of course, for Dutton to continue as leader following defeat, he'd of course need to win his marginal seat and have support from his fellow Liberal MPs.

MP hits back over 'ridiculous' claim We've just spoken to Labor State MP Paul Edbrooke over the corflute drama developing in the Melbourne seat of Dunkley, where Liberal candidate signs were put up on a war memorial. He told Yahoo News suggestion from the Liberal party Labor could have been responsible for putting up the corflutes was "ridiculous". "They can say what they want but to suggest I was involved in putting up those signs with all the other people around to notice is just farcical," he said. Edbrooke said there had been growing concern over the campaigning from the Liberals, alleging their promotional material had even been placed in a disabled parking bay.

Big queues for snags despite hefty prices While the prices are higher this election, democracy sausages are as popular as ever. Yahoo's Joe Attanasio is down at Surry Hills' Crown Street Primary polling station in inner-Sydney, where the queue for a snag is as long as the voting line. And it seems they're undeterred by the cost, with the cheapest option a whopping $6. As has become a trend of recent years, those organising the menus across the country have been getting increasingly creative. Take a look at Crown Street Primary School's menu options below. There were big queues for voting and a sausage around midday. Source: Yahoo What would you choose? Source: Yahoo

MP laughs off bird poo moment Some actually see this as a sign of good luck, but not everyone would be thrilled with having a bird poo on them, especially on camera. That's exactly what happened to Independent MP Monique Ryan, whose interview at a Hawthorn polling station with the ABC was rudely interrupted from above. Ryan laughed off the incident before moving to a safer position to continue their chat. Was this the good luck charm Monique Ryan needed today? Source: ABC

Aussies voting all around the world And it's not just in Australia where people are heading to the polling booths to vote in the federal election. There are a record 111 locations across 83 countries this election where Australians can place their vote. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has shared a little video this morning of what goes on around the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (@dfat)

'Good vibes' for Labor candidate looking to win Peter Dutton's seat Well there was plenty said yesterday about Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson, which he has held since 2001. Anthony Albanese visited the electorate on Friday and insisted he wasn't there to wind up Opposition Leader Dutton but believed Labor candidate Ali France had a great chance of winning the marginal seat. And France appeared in a confident mood this morning, telling her followers there are "good vibes" at Albany Creek State School polling station. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ali France (@alifrance4dickson)

Don't expect change from a fiver We're seeing some varying prices for the all-important democracy sausage this morning. Double Bay Primary School in Sydney's east is charging $5 for the most basic snag  the aptly named Cozzie Livs menu item which is merely a sausage and piece of white bread. And that seems a pretty standard price so far from what we've seen, although we have seen reports of a $3 snag. While sauces are widely complimentary, plenty of places are charging extra for onions. So how much do you think a basic democracy sausage consisting of a snag, bread and sauce should cost? Let us know below.

Fury over candidate's corflute placement Well there's anger in the Melbourne electorate of Dunkley after corflutes for Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy were placed on a war memorial. Labor State MP Paul Edbrooke shared video of the signs being removed from the memorial inside Frankston Primary School and called the move to put them up "appalling". "I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting soldiers who died for this country," he said. A Liberal spokesperson rejected claims Liberal volunteers put up the signs, telling the Herald Sun it could well be a "desperate" move from Labor volunteers. Yahoo has reached out to Conroy and Edbrooke regarding the incident. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Edbrooke MP (@pauledbrookemp)

Why do we vote with a pencil? It's a question that pops up every election and some of you again may be wondering why pencils instead of pens are offered at the polling booths. Well Yahoo's Caitie Browne has explained exactly why in the video below.

Liberal signs ripped up There have been plenty of corflute wars throughout this election, and it seems they've continued right until the end. Liberal signs put up last night in Sydney's Parramatta have been torn down at two separate schools, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The Liberals are attempting to take the seat of Parramatta from Labor, with MP Andrew Charlton holding the seat with a 3.7 per cent margin. Signs at Epping West Public School were ripped down overnight. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Albo's rare praise for Peter Dutton Well there's been plenty of scathing remarks about each other right until the end for Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, but it's not all criticism. Weekend Sunrise host Monique Wright asked Albanese say something nice about your opponent this morning and he duly obliged, calling him "a good family man". I get on very well with [Dutton's wife] Kirilly. Kirilly has been by his side during the campaign as well. Its tough on families and Peter is clearly very close to his, and thats a good thing," he said.

Leaders share old photos in final push Well it's been a double throwback from the two men vying to be prime minister today. Both have shared old photos of themselves as they make their final plea to voters. We'll leave those pics below for you to enjoy. With your support today, we can get our country back on track  pic.twitter.com/wRkgjH5r91  Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) May 2, 2025 It all started here.



Growing up, mum was in and out of hospital. Rheumatoid arthritis crippled her joints and she was on the invalid pension.



We lived in public housing. And having a safe, secure roof over our heads meant everything.



For me, politics has always been personal. pic.twitter.com/7rursL5YCu  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 2, 2025

Beachgoers cast their vote Well it didn't take long for this iconic shot to come through. As many along the coast have done in years gone by, these two cast their vote in their budgy smugglers this morning down at Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club. The chilly morning hasn't deterred these two. Source: Reuters

How's your election day going? Get in touch Well it's been branded the cost-of-living election, so we reckon it's only inevitable there'll be some grumblings about the price of a democracy sausage today. If you've seen any pricing that's left you outraged, or anything else a bit unusual on your outing to vote, feel free to get in touch with us at newsroomau@yahoonews.com

Peter Dutton looking to defy opinion polls Let's bring you some of those opinion poll results from the final full day of the election campaign now. YouGov's final poll indicates Peter Dutton has an uphill battle as results point to a majority government for Labor. The poll showed Labor ahead 52.2 per cent to 47.8 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. The survey of more than 3000 people would mean Labor would slightly increase its vote from the 2022 election by 0.07 per cent. The coalition would receive 31.4 per cent of the primary vote, followed by Labor on 31.1 per cent, with the Greens on 14.6 per cent. One Nation would get 8.5 per cent of the primary vote, with 6.7 per cent voting for an independent, while 2.5 per cent would go for Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots party. The opposition leader's satisfaction level among voters has also plummeted to its lowest level at minus 24, compared with minus six for the prime minister. Mr Albanese also leads Mr Dutton 51 per cent to 34 per cent as preferred prime minister. YouGov polling. - With AAP Show more updates

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The Grand Rapids Fire Department is looking to hire more firefighters. (MLive file photo) Becky Particka | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The Grand Rapids Fire Department is looking to hire over a dozen new firefighters as new fire stations are under construction across the city.

Fire Chief Brad Brown said the department is now accepting applications for firefighters across the city, with plans to hire between 14-20 new firefighters.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. June 1. The citys next Fire Academy will begin Jan. 5, 2026.

Grand Rapids firefighters start at a full-time salary of $52,763 plus benefits, the city said in a news release. Applicants must be able to perform general duty work under emergency conditions, including firefighting, emergency medical response and fire prevention.

The recruitment effort is aimed at finding new firefighters for anticipated future job openings due to retirements, Brown said.

The city has two new fire stations and a new firefighter training facility coming online in the next few years. The new Kendall Fire Station, being built in the citys 3rd Ward at 4044 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, is expected to be ready for move-in this fall. The Division Fire Station, 1823 S. Division Ave., will be completed in fall 2026.

RELATED: Whats being built in southeast Grand Rapids? It will speed up emergency response times

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid drivers license and vision of at least 20/30 corrected or 20/100 uncorrected. The department will not accept applicants with felony convictions. Some misdemeanors can disqualify applicants from EMS licensing.

Grand Rapids firefighters must hold a valid Michigan EMT license or higher.

Here are some key dates for assessments needed for the position:

Written Exam and Civil Service Tests are scheduled on June 12, 13, 17, 24, 26, 27, 28; July 8, 10, 11. Remote testing available June 30 and July 11 for applicants living 250+ miles away.

Cognitive/Behavioral assessments have online and in-person options available depending on location.

Physical agility testing scheduled for July 16, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29 and 31. Second attempt dates: August 2, 14, 15, 19. Valid CPAT cards accepted for waiver.

Oral panel interviews will take place September 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30.

Candidates who successfully pass all testing phases will be placed on an eligible-for-hire list that will be valid for at least six months.

The city said interested candidates can find more information and apply online at joingrfire.com. For specific questions, email jobs@grand-rapids.mi.us.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, on trial for second-degree murder, has taken the witness stand to defend his fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya.

I feel like its important to get my side of the story out, he said Friday, May 2, during questioning by one of his attorneys, Mark Dodge, in Kent County Circuit Court.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A crowd of supporters carrying Back the Blue flags cheered former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr as he arrived at the downtown courthouse on Friday, May, for Day 5 of his murder trial.
Families can explore the night sky through telescopes on May 3 in Muskegon, West Olive and Lowell, with activities ranging from free open houses to guided stargazing sessions. Pictured is a telescope on Beaver Island at a stargazing event on July 18, 2023. Neil Blake | MLive.com

Astronomy Day is an annual event in which professionals invite the community to come learn more about space.

This Saturday, May 3, several West Michigan observatories are hosting events allowing families to gaze at the sky through telescopes and learn more about what local astronomers are doing.

All events are subject to weather. If the sky is cloudy, events may be cancelled. Check the organizations social media pages or websites for updated information.

Astronomy Day is an annual event in which professionals invite the community to come learn more about space. This Saturday, May 3, several West Michigan observatories are hosting events allowing families to gaze at the sky through telescopes and learn more about what local astronomers are doing. The Muskegon Astronomical Society is hosting an open house.(MLive File Photo) The Muskegon Chronicle

Muskegon, 5 p.m.

The Muskegon Astronomical Society is hosting an open house Saturday evening in celebration of Astronomy Day, with telescope viewing, educational displays, and guidance from local astronomy enthusiasts.

The society is located at 702 N. Maple Island Road. The event is free and open to all ages and donations will be accepted.

Weather permitting, guests can observe the night sky through society telescopes and view sunspots before sunset.

Visitors may bring their own telescopes for assistance with setup and use.

Handouts will be available for those interested in learning more about amateur astronomy.

If the sky is cloudy or weather conditions are uncertain, visit the Muskegon Astronomical Society website for event updates.

The Hemlock Crossing Observatory is pictured in West Olive in Sept. 2022. Rylan Capper | rcapper@mlive.com

West Olive, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association is hosting an Astronomy Day event from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The free event will be held at Hemlock Crossing Park, 8115 W. Olive Road.

There will be a planet walk along park trails, displays inside the nature center and the observatory will be open to the public, according to the SAAA website.

Attendees will also be able to view sunspots with a solar telescope.

The SAAA is also hosting an astronomy presentation on lunar and solar eclipses at 7 p.m., followed by observatory and telescope viewing of the night sky.

The presentation will cover all types of solar eclipses, what causes them, how they vary and why they are only visible at certain times and places, according to the Ottawa County website.

Registration, which closes at noon the day prior to events, is encouraged.

Jose Borrero, of Grand Rapids, adjusts his telescope to watch the transit of Venus from the top of the Grand Rapids Public Museum parking garage, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Borrero is a member of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association. Cory Morse

Lowell, 9:30 p.m.

The Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association is hosting their first Public Observing Night of the year this Saturday.

Guests may show up anytime between 9:30 p.m. and midnight to the James C. Veen Observatory, 3308 Kissing Rock Ave. SE in Lowell. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids under 18. Kids under 5, GRAAA and GRPM members are free.

People will be able to view the sky through the Veen Observatorys telescopes and personal telescopes set up by GRAAA members.

There will also be a video presentation about the history of GRAAA, and stargazing and constellation finding with GRAAA members and volunteers.

Featured objects on Saturday will be the moon, Mars, various star clusters, nebulas, and galaxies, according to the GRAAA website.

There will be an optional telescope tune-up clinic starting promptly at 8 p.m. Saturday, ahead of the public observing night.

The clinic is free to visitors with paid admission to bring their personal telescope to the observatory for expert alignment and tips for effective use.

Attendees watch a show in the planetarium at Grand Rapids Public Museum on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. MLive file photo

Grand Rapids planetarium

For those looking to stay indoors Saturday, the Grand Rapids Public Museums Planetarium has a full schedule of family-friendly space-themed shows.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., catch one or more of six shows at the museum, 115 College Ave. SE.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police colleagues of a former Grand Rapids police officer accused of murdering a Black motorist told jurors Thursday he acted reasonably for an officer in a physical struggle.

Testimony continues at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 2 for day five of Christopher Schurrs murder trial.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr commanded Patrick Lyoya to get back into his vehicle after the officer pulled him over for a license plate violation.

When Lyoya didnt comply, Schurr said he could have detained him. But he didnt.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The prosecution tried to put former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr on the defensive Friday.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker questioned various actions Schurr took during a traffic stop that led to an altercation and ended when Schurr shot Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head.
Julie Baker, left, and Jeremy Patterson are both vying to succeed Jeff Beal as superintendent of Jackson Public Schools. (Photos provided by Jackson Public Schools) Courtesy Photos | Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON COUNTY, MI  The search for the next superintendent of Jackson Public Schools has been narrowed down to two candidates, while Napoleon Schools has made its own choice on who will run things in its district.

Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week.
The Howmet Aerospace Foundation recently contributed $450,000 toward the completion of the Howmet Celebration Square Splash Pad, Sculpture Park and City Center Park. Photo courtesy Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

MUSKEGON, MI  A local aerospace manufacturer is supporting three community projects in Muskegon that will open just in time for summer.

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation recently contributed $450,000 toward the completion of the Howmet Celebration Square Splash Pad, Sculpture Park and City Center Park, Rachel Gorman, CEO of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, said.

Howmet Aerospace and the Howmet Aerospace Foundation have long been champions for Muskegons progress, and this announcement underscores their commitment to building a thriving, connected community, Gorman said in a statement. These projects will have a lasting impact on residents and visitors alike, enriching our shared spaces and fostering greater pride in our region.

The renamed splash pad at 285 W. Western Ave. underwent critical mechanical updates and is now open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. from May through the third Saturday in September.

The sculpture park, located in the former parking lot of the Muskegon Museum of Art at 296 W. Webster Ave., will be completed later this month and bring a new public greenspace and sculptures to downtown Muskegon.

The sculpture park will be located in the former parking lot of the Muskegon Museum of Art. Rendering courtesy Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

City Center Park transforms the Celebration Square Stage outside of the Hines Building at 380 W. Western Ave. into a pocket park with greenspace, outdoor seating and a fireplace that is open year-round. The pocket park will open mid-June.

As our community continues to grow and welcome new neighbors, it has become increasingly evident that these projects are not only desired, but essential in showcasing and enhancing the exceptional lifestyle we enjoy here in Muskegon, Amy Heisser, director of human resources at Howmet Aerospace Engines Airfoils, said in a statement.

Howmet City Center Park will be open year-round. Rendering courtesy Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation, the charitable wing of Howmet Aerospace, invests in STEM and technical education and workforce development, with a focus on increased access to STEM fields for underrepresented groups, according to its website.

Howmet Aerospace, based in Pittsburgh, Pa., has had a presence in Whitehall since 1952. It now employs about 2,440 people in Whitehall and plans to add up to 300 more jobs with a $107.5 million expansion.

The Michigan Strategic Fund in December approved the companys application for a $5.1 million grant that would help cover the cost of the project.

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TAWAS CITY, MI  A Saginaw mans life ended in a northern Michigan jail cell the day after Christmas. Months on, investigators have confirmed his death was caused by an overdose of fentanyl and methamphetamine, drugs he was desperate enough to keep in his system that he drank his own urine.

The Tawas City Police Department on the evening of Thursday, May 1, released its findings into the investigation of 43-year-old Arista G. Hunts death on Dec. 26.

Police in Saginaw County arrested Hunt on Dec. 22 on charges of possessing a controlled substance.

Hunt told Saginaw County Jail staffers he had used heroin and meth within 12 hours of his arrest. He also said he experiences body aches, restless legs, and seizures when detoxing from drugs.

Hunt was also wanted out of Iosco County for failure to appear in court. A sheriffs deputy from that county on Dec. 23 picked up Hunt from Saginaw and brought him to the northern jail. Hunt told corrections officers he had recently consumed drugs and generally injected one gram of meth and fentanyl each day. He also shared his withdrawal symptoms with the staff and that he had been prescribed Suboxone, a medication used to treat opiate addiction.

The afternoon of Christmas Eve, officers noticed Hunt vomiting in his cell. The jails nurse practitioner prescribed Zofran to Hunt to quell his nausea. Hunt refused the medication, officers reported.

A few minutes later, officers checked on Hunt and found him unresponsive. They tried using ammonia inhalants to rouse him and contacted Iosco EMS.

Paramedics took Hunt to MyMichigan Hospital in Tawas City. An accompanying corrections officer reported Hunt underwent chest X-rays and a CT scan.

The hospital discharged Hunt at 6:55 p.m. and he was returned to the Iosco County Jail.

Corrections officers on Christmas placed Hunt in a detoxification cell in adherence with their protocols. Hunt requested a shower and when staff didnt immediately acquiesce, Hunt started flooding his cell by clogging its toilet. Officers gave Hunt two verbal warnings to stop, but he continued blocking up the toilet.

Officers secured Hunt in a restraint chair. He was held in it for two hours, with staff checking on him every 15 minutes.

Back in a cell by 7:09 p.m., Hunt complained of cramping due to detoxing from meth and fentanyl. The officers checked Hunts vitals and contacted the nurse practitioner, reporting Hunt appeared to be in genuine pain, had muscle stiffness, and was vomiting.

The nurse practitioner instructed officers to watch Hunt for worsening symptoms as he had already been prescribed medications for his detoxing. The officers dispensed the medications to Hunt, their records stated.

Shortly after 8 a.m. on Dec. 26, officers found Hunt in his cell, unresponsive and not breathing. Officers performed CPR until Iosco EMS arrived and took over Hunts care. Hunt, however, did not survive.

Tawas City police officers conducted the investigation into Hunts death. The sheriffs office provided them with surveillance footage, jail records, and access to staff.

Investigators reviewed more than 72 hours of jail surveillance video. The footage showed corrections officers actions were consistent with their reports. The footage also showed Hunt repeatedly vomiting and, on several occasions, drinking his own urine.

No allegations of staff neglect were corroborated through the video footage or witness interviews.

An autopsy on Hunts remains was finalized April 28. Iosco County Medical Examiner Dr. William Morrone determined Hunts cause of death was an overdose of fentanyl, meth, and phenylpropanolamine, the last one an ingredient in prescription cough and cold medicines. Morrone also confirmed Hunt suffered a pulmonary edema and had repeatedly consumed urine, apparently in an attempt to re-ingest drugs.

Morrone noted no evidence of trauma. He gave the manner of Hunts death as undetermined.

In Michigan, there are five official manners of death: homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, and undetermined.

Investigators concluded there is no evidence Hunt was the victim of foul play or that neglect contributed to his death. They are forwarding their full report to Iosco County Prosecutor James A. Bacarella for review.

Hunt was born in Flint and had lived in Tawas City before residing in Saginaw. He was survived by two children.

Over the years, Arista worked in construction as a roofer and also in landscaping, his obituary states. Arista treated those around him like family and was fiercely loyal to those he loved. He was always quick to lend a helping hand or help out a friend in need, no matter the cost, while never asking for anything in return. Arista loved to laugh and make jokes and his smile will be missed by all.

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Lake Eildon is one of Australia's most visited lakes. This week as water levels continue to plummet, it was quiet.

One of Australias most popular holiday lakes has undergone a slow decline as the water level drops due to ongoing drought. Photos taken on Thursday morning show Victorias Lake Eildon is in desperate need of rain.

The manmade dam has 515km shoreline and can hold 3,334,158 megalitres of water  more than six times the amount of Sydney Harbour. But today it's at 60.8 per cent capacity, and the water level has clearly receded, exposing its parched banks.

Farmer Ern Green was driving through the town of Bonnie Doon, 170km northeast of Melbourne, when he stopped to photograph the lake. It had been three months since hed visited, and over that short period, the water level had plummeted by more than 10 per cent.

Its still beautiful, but seeing it was a surprise to me, it was lower than I expected, he told Yahoo News.

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Related: Aussie households likely to face decades of water restrictions

Farmer drives up into mountains to hear sound of flowing water

More than 25 per cent of all Victorian inland boaters visit the lake, but when Green visited on Thursday it was quiet. While the state of Lake Eildon is pretty grim, its not the worst its ever been. Back in the early 1980s it almost dried up completely.

For the last 12 months, much of central Victoria has experienced below-average rainfall, and much of the west was very much below average, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Its figures indicate large parts of the southwest have suffered record-low rainfall in the past two years.

Greens farm at Bolinda, northeast of Melbourne, is also extremely dry, and the once mighty Deep Creek that cuts through his paddocks has stopped flowing. To reinvigorate himself, he drove up to the mountains to the Upper King River, north of Mansfield, which is still flowing.

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Its good for your soul, seeing those rivers. Theyre not running as well, but the water is still clear and theres the sound of rapids, Green said.

Its nice to be able to bring that back as a tonic and inspiration.

This picture highlights that Lake Eildon can hold up to 3,334,158 megalitres of water. Source: Getty

Aussies quietly 'suffer' as drought continues

Green shared images of Lake Eildon on a social media page he manages  Victorian Creeks and Rivers; Friends of Deep Creek  to help create awareness of the ongoing drought.

All of the central west of Victoria is really suffering. Theres a collective grief, an unease about how dry it is, he said.

People dont talk about it so much, but everything is pretty grim this isnt just an ordinary drought, its worse.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Six freight cars carrying corn reportedly left the track and overturned on April 24, 2025, near West Michigan Avenue and the Tittabawassee River in Saginaw Township. The roadway would remain closed while rail cars are removed. Photo used with permission

SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI  The section of Michigan Avenue closed last week after a train derailment will temporarily reopen for the weekend.

According to the Saginaw Township Police Department, the railroad crossing on West Michigan Avenue by the Tittabawassee River was slated to open for traffic on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, before closing again for repair work at 7 a.m. Monday.

The roadway near the intersection with River Forest Drive became blocked April 24 after six freight cars carrying corn on a northbound train derailed and was slated to be closed indefinitely for crews to clean up the wreckage.

At the time, representatives from Huron and Eastern Railway and Lake State Railway were looking into what caused the train cars to overturn off the tracks.

By Tuesday, April 29, the rail cars had been removed but spilled corn remained scattered along the river embankment.

The cause of the derailment remained unknown.

According to the Federal Railroad Administrations online safety map, Lake State Railway holds the grade crossings on both sides of the Tittabawassee River near the site of the derailment.

Nearby rail mileposts along the track are held by Mid-Michigan Railway. Huron and Eastern operates a short- line railroad across the Thumb and Mid Michigan. Both are owned by Genesee and Wyoming, Inc.

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Saginaw City Hall officials said crews will complete a water storage tank as early as late December 2025. THE SAGINAW NEWS

SAGINAW, MI  Nearby residents and motorist passersby in recent months may have noticed a new, towering window-less structure taking up real estate and some of the skyline in a southeast Saginaw neighborhood.

Still in an active construction zone, the concrete facility is a 160-foot, 3-million-gallon water storage tank that is on schedule to begin operating as early as late December, officials said.

Plans for the $18.1 million water storage facility were first announced publicly by Saginaw City Hall officials in summer 2022. Now those plans are nearly a finished structure.

The project is on time and has been moving along, with only a few small changes so far, said Mike Grenier, director of Saginaws water and wastewater treatment operations.

The facilitys purpose: To provide insurance if a power outage impacts the citys ability to deliver water to its 170,000 customers, located across several mid-Michigan municipalities.

Outages can result in a loss of pressure generated by water treatment plants  which, in turn, can impact the treatment process  leading staff to advise customers to boil water before consuming it. If the power outage lasts long enough, an entire customer base could be impacted.

A water storage tank would provide a resource allowing staff to maintain water pressure levels while waiting either for the power to return or for the installation of a backup generator that meets the systems needs.

Saginaw officials secured a $15 million state reimbursement grant to pay for much of the cost, with the citys water system fund making up the $3.1 million difference. The project originally was estimated to cost $15 million.

Saginaw officials abandoned early plans for the tanks exterior to match the aesthetic of the Saginaw Water Treatment Plant, a Gothic-inspired structure considered one of the communitys architectural gems since it was built in 1929.

Between the additional costs and some questions about the longevity of the decorative features, they were dropped from the project, Grenier said. With the tower (and treatment plant) being at separate sites, matching the architecture of the plant became less of an issue.

The water storage tank is located on Webber, near the South Washington Avenue intersection, about a half-mile south from the water treatment plant.

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A view of the new Saginaw County Animal Care and Control Center in Kochville Township. (Justin Engel | MLive.com)

SAGINAW, MI  A local veterinarian is suing Saginaw County and the director of Animal Care & Control, alleging they publicly defamed him when he reported illegal euthanasia. Beyond that, hes claiming the shelter director allowed a dog to endure a broken leg for months, rejecting his offer to address the injury out of spite.

Attorney Kevin J. Kelly with Saginaws Mastromarco firm on Friday, May 2, filed the suit on behalf of Dr. Joseph Kline and his practice, Erwins Veterinary Clinic in St. Charles, in U.S. District Court. Named as defendants are Saginaw County and Animal Care & Control Director Rachel Horton.

Ironically, the suit comes just days after the shelter hosted a grand opening for its state-of-the-art Surgical Center in Kochville Township.

Click here to read the entire lawsuit.

Dr. Joseph Kline with a kangaroo. Cole Waterman

Euthanasia and defamation

Kline, 73, a veterinarian since May 1994, has volunteered his services to Animal Control for years, providing euthanasia training, assisting in vaccination events, and giving veterinary care.

Animal Control in 2019 solicited Kline to become its veterinarian of record and contracted him through his clinic. Most recently, Kline in July 2023 signed a one-year professional service agreement with the county, agreeing to provide services on a regular and as-needed basis.

Animal Controls then-director, Bonnie Kanicki, retired in January 2024 and the county hired Horton as her replacement. That summer, Kline discussed renewing his contract with Horton. Klines contract ended in July 2024 while negotiations were ongoing, but Kline continued serving as the agencys veterinarian.

Kline in late 2024 discovered Horton was allegedly letting non-certified staff euthanize animals, a violation of policy and state law. Kline noticed an issue when reviewing a log of drugs and those administering them to the animals.

Michigan administrative rules mandate non-veterinarians who sedate or euthanize animals with tranquilizers must have 16 hours of training, including four hours of practical training with a licensed veterinarian. The euthanasia process involves the use of controlled substances ketamine, xylazine, and pentobarbital.

Kline in August 2024 reported the issue to Horton, only for her to allegedly become angry, deny she violated the law, and refuse to discuss the issue further, the suit claims.

Kline then attended a meeting of the Animal Control Advisory Council and again reported untrained personnel were euthanizing animals in violation of the law. Horton and Saginaw County Administrator Mary Catherine Hannah were present at the meeting. The next morning, Horton sent Kline an email stating his contract would not be renewed, though he had already worked for a month since his prior contract lapsed.

This amounted to Horton retaliating against Kline for publicizing the euthanasia matter, the suit alleges.

The same morning, Horton sent an email to county officials saying, After discussion with our country [sic] administrator and hearing Dr. Klines [sic] viewpoint on shelter operations, we have come to the conclusion that it would not be beneficial for either of us to continue to work together. We appreciate Dr. Klines years of service and dedication to the shelter animals and wish him a happy retirement.

As Kelly wrote in the suit, the email is direct evidence of her retaliatory intent. Furthermore, Kline was not retiring and Hortons erroneous assumption he was showed age-related animus, the suit alleges.

Hortons email also stated the shelters new veterinarian of record would be someone 30 years younger than Kline with fewer than six years experience, the suit states.

Kline again spoke out about the issue at a Saginaw County Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 17, 2024, asserting he was fired for being a whistleblower. Administrator Hannah allegedly said she had no recollection of Klines previous reports.

The Animal Control Advisory Board met again the following day, during which Hannah stated county officials had reported the accusations to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and an investigation would follow. She denied Kline was subject to retaliation.

He was a contractor, not an employee, so there can be no whistleblower accusations, Hannah said, according to meeting minutes cited in the suit.

However, it is just as illegal to retaliate against a whistleblowing contractor as it is an employee, the suit states. Hannah also defamed Kline by falsely claiming he could not meet the shelters needs, the suit states.

Kline later learned Horton directed her staff to throw out medical supplies he had at Animal Control, without giving him the chance to remove them. Staffers, however, saved the supplies and returned them to Kline.

Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Director Rachel Horton Cole Waterman

Saginaw County hired Gregory W. Mair of the ONeill, Wallace, & Doyle law firm to investigate Klines allegations. Hannah on Nov. 7 sent Horton a counseling memo outlining Mairs findings and recommendations.

Mair concluded Horton generally acted within the scope of her authority regarding euthanasia. Mair did not have any significant findings regarding the maintenance of supply levels or Hortons decision to restrict certain staff from being involved in euthanasia.

Mair did find a single violation regarding the administration of a controlled substance during the euthanasia procedure. Horton in June 2024 directed an uncertified person to administer a sedative to an animal during the process, Hannah wrote.

During the investigation, Mr. Mair noted that he believed you were genuine in your statements to him that you believed you could observe and direct an uncertified individual to administer a sedative as a part of a euthanasia procedure, Hannah wrote. This was a violation of shelter policy and operating procedures, she added.

Hannah went on to remind Horton the law is clear in that an employee can only administer such drugs if they have completed euthanasia training given by a licensed veterinarian.

You must follow shelter policy/operating procedure and state law at all times with respect to the euthanasia process and other shelter operations, Hannah wrote to Horton. To that end you are required to review all shelter policies/operating procedures and relevant state laws relating to euthanasia.

Mair did not interview Kline during his probe. Kline requested Mair meet with him and the two did so on Nov. 14, the suit states.

Also around this time, Kline learned from Animal Control staff and volunteers that Horton was making defamatory and false statements about him, saying he performed experimental surgery and didnt have sufficient insurance. She allegedly told one volunteer she couldnt work with Kline because he has severe heart disease, which is false, the suit states.

A dog named Tahoe

Animal Control on Nov. 18, 2024, shared a post on its Facebook page regarding a dog named Tahoe, found in Saginaw and suffering from a broken femur. For weeks, Tahoe was confined to a cage without sufficient treatment, though veterinary medicine books indicate leg fractures should be addressed within four to seven days of entering a shelter, the suit states.

Animal Control officers informed Kline of Tahoes condition and provided him X-rays, showing a fracture to the femoral head, the suit states. Kline offered to perform surgery on Tahoe to mend the break and allow him to keep his leg for the costs of supplies, roughly $400.

Horton and the county did not respond to Klines offer out of retaliation, spite, and ill will, Kelly wrote.

As Tahoes leg went unaddressed for months, shelter employees and volunteers sought ways for him to obtain care. They began posting on the shelters Facebook page, seeking assistance for Tahoe.

Animal Control on Feb. 8, 2025, posted an update on Tahoe, stating staff had consulted multiple surgeons but none offered to provide their services for free. Though surgery was now scheduled, an online fundraiser for Tahoe fell short of its goal, forcing funds to be pulled from other areas that would then face limited resources, the post stated.

The post garnered numerous comments from people dismayed over the delay in Tahoes treatment and asking about Klines previous offer. The shelter responded by denying Kline volunteered to perform the surgery and that he is the wrong fit for Tahoes case. The shelter also stated Klines clinic was no longer open for services.

Kline on Feb. 9 texted an Animal Control volunteer, reiterating his offer to perform the surgery for only the cost of supplies. He also publicly posted his clinic was still open for business. (Google inaccurately lists the practice as closed, which Kline is working to remedy.)

Kline also offered to adopt Tahoe himself. Administrator Hannah on Feb. 17 told Kline he could adopt and treat Tahoe. Shortly thereafter, Horton and Hannah decided not to allow Kline to adopt Tahoe, the suit states.

Tahoe had his broken leg amputated during his Feb. 20 surgery. He was renamed Tundra and moved to an out-of-county animal rescue, which appears to be an attempt to avoid further public attention to Defendants abusive treatment of Tahoe, the suit states.

Had Kline been allowed to perform surgery when he offered, Tahoe/Tundra likely would not have needed his leg amputated, the suit alleges.

MLive emailed a copy of the suit to the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners and Tali Faris-Hylen of East Lansing-based Ripple Public Relations, recently hired by Horton.

Faris-Hylen responded that the defendants are not in a position to comment until they have been served with the suit.

Kline is seeking more than $75,000, plus costs, interest, and attorney fees. The suit contains four counts: free speech retaliation, age discrimination in violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy.

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AmeriCorps members who respond to disasters and help nonprofits are let go in DOGE cuts (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file) AP

LANSING, MI  Allison McCurdy wanted to help local businesses.

A recent Michigan State University graduate, the 21-year-old McCurdy sought out AmeriCorps, a 30-year-old federal agency for volunteer service. She found her role as a community engagement specialist at the Old Town Commercial Association in Lansing and began working to spread awareness around local businesses.

But just eight months into her terma position she was assigned to through the Community Economic Development Association of Michiganthe East Lansing resident was notified late Monday, April 28, that she was losing her position.

I dont think its fair at all, McCurdy said. Its such an impactful program. These are incredibly impactful positions. Nobodys going into AmeriCorps to make money. Everybody who does AmeriCorps across the country is doing it because they genuinely care about creating positive impact and change in their communities, and to eliminate a federal program like that is just very disappointing.

McCurdy was among thousands of AmeriCorps workers notified that their positions would be discontinued with the agency, which oversees several programs that dispatch hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of people to serve in communities across the country.

At least 85% of AmeriCorps staff were put on administrative leave this month, with at least some notified last week that they would be let go because of a reduction in force, The Associated Press reported.

It just made me angry, because it doesnt feel like there was a lot of thought behind it, or it just doesnt really make any sense, and theres also no explanation, she said. There truly is no clarity on why it happens, or the reasoning why this program was eliminated, versus other ones.

AmeriCorps employs more than 500 full-time federal workers and has an operating budget of about $1 billion.

In addition, it sends roughly 200,000 corps members across the country as part of its service programs. Most corps members get a living stipend during their service and become eligible for funding for future education expenses or to apply for certain student loans.

Another person caught in the AmeriCorps cuts was Brianne Dolney-Jacobs of Bay City.

A college adviser through AmeriCorps and the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Dolney-Jacobs was notified late Sunday, April 27, that her time working with students at Bay City Central High School, ensuring seniors have plans for after graduation, was coming to an end.

It happened to be just before she took the stage for her role in a community theater performance.

I looked on my phone right before I went out on stage, and I saw an emergency email from MCAN, basically saying to report to work tomorrow, but that our program was terminated, Dolney-Jacobs recalled. It was heartbreaking. Nobody is an AmeriCorps employee for the money. Were really just going in there and doing our best to help these kids.

Through efforts on the part of MCAN, Dolney-Jacobs said her employment was able to be extended one more month. By staying on through May, she said she will be able to wrap up efforts to help seniors ahead of graduation.

But after her position is officially gone, she said she worries about the gaps that will be left for students and schools that need her services the most.

Ive got juniors coming into my office, saying, What are we going to do next year? she said. (It has been) an emotional roller coaster. A lot of fear, a lot of sadness, a lot of anger. Its hard knowing that unemployment is on the horizon, but its just so much more than that. Its just the countless people and communities that AmeriCorps serves, and knowing how widespread this is.

Neither McCurdy nor Dolney-Jacobs said they were particularly surprised by the cuts, although they hoped they might be spared. Trump, both acknowledged, ran on a campaign that promised cuts to federal programs and federal funding.

People can talk politics all day long, Dolney-Jacobs said. Theres always going to be an argument for either side. But that is the crazy thing about this: I dont know how someone could try to defend the administrations choice to cut something like AmeriCorps.

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House Republicans on Thursday passed bills that would withhold a majority of state funding from counties and cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (AP File Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP

House Republicans on Thursday passed bills that would withhold a majority of state funding from counties and cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The measures were largely passed along party lines, with House Republicans in favor of the bills and Democrats opposed. Theyre not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

The proposal would forbid local governments from having sanctuary policies that limit local police and staff from communicating or cooperating with federal authorities about a persons immigration status. The bills do not define communication or cooperation.

Local governments that refuse to amend a sanctuary policy would have all of their revenue sharing dollars withheld, even those mandated by the Michigan Constitution, until they change the policy, according to House Republicans.

These millions of dollars help local governments fund essential services like police and fire, parks and recreation, road work and more. The Attorney Generals Office would also be tasked with taking local governments to court if they have a sanctuary policy and refuse to amend it.

Related: Michigan cities with sanctuary immigration policies would lose dollars under GOP bills

House Republicans say local governments limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities endangers residents who are lawfully living in Michigan.

This plan puts public safety and the rule of law first, said state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. These bills stop local governments from adopting sanctuary policies that block cooperation with federal immigration authorities and prioritize criminal aliens over their own citizens. The only place an illegal immigrant belongs in Michigan is on a bus back home.

State Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, said the bills dont make communities safer. She argued they would discourage crime reporting in immigrant communities, take away local control and mandate cooperation with federal immigration enforcement even in cases that undermine community safety.

They do not make us safer. These, in fact, tie the hands of law enforcement, diverting them to enforce federal immigration policy and thats not their job, Miller said.   What this does is violates the Constitution and its holding law enforcement with a bag of very expensive possible lawsuits. And I just dont agree with that. These bills would effectively prohibit law enforcement, again from establishing their own policies which would directly be in control of local government.

All House Republicans voted for the sanctuary policy ban, while all House Democrats voted against it. State Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, broke from Republicans on the vote on the bill to punish these local governments by withholding state dollars.

The bills come as President Donald Trumps administration continues its crackdown on undocumented immigrants. According to PBS News, that crackdown has led to some American citizens being wrongfully detained and one man being illegally deported.

House Republicans earlier this year implemented a policy to not consider any budget bill that includes earmark funding for a city or county that has a policy that subverts immigrant enforcement or refuses compliance with federal immigration enforcement measures.

Related: Michigan House GOP to sanctuary cities: Comply with ICE or lose project money

But revenue sharing dollars are a far larger chunk of money for local governments, with much of it mandated by the state Constitution and used to fund essential services, like police departments and sheriffs offices.

For a city like Grand Rapids, this would mean having about $28 million in state funding withheld each year, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

House Republicans argue they can withhold constitutionally-mandated funding because theyre withholding the funding until compliance is regained, not denying it.

The House on Thursday also passed bills that would prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving social welfare and state housing development services and grants.

Most undocumented residents are already ineligible for services and grants under these programs, Elinor Jordan, an attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, previously testified.

The bill was passed with support from all Republicans and five Democrats  state Reps. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland, Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park, Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens, Mai Xiong, D-Warren, and Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township.
Believe it or not, President Donald Trump has only been president again for just over 100 days. Yet, his impact on Michigan in that short time has been significant.

Protests have become increasingly frequent as the Trump administration cuts budgets, programs, services and staff at dizzying speed in an effort to slash the federal government and centralize power over what it sees as a bloated bureaucracy.
GEO Group is fighting its 2024 property tax bill for North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Mich. The prison, idle since 2022, is now reopening as an immigration detention center under a recent contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Photo by Rose White | MLive) Rose White | MLive

BALDWIN, MI  A private prison group is fighting its tax bill on an idled northern Michigan prison thats now poised to become one of the largest immigration detention centers in the country.

GEO Group challenged its 2024 tax assessment for North Lake Correctional Facility, a Baldwin prison thats been vacant for three years.

This is the second time in recent years GEO Group, the top taxpayer in Lake County, has contested its property tax value with the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

A petition was filed last May, but now the case is unfolding as the 1,800-bed prison is being turned into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in which GEO Group expects to generate $70 million a year in revenue.

Last time, we had a settlement, said Lake County Administrator Tobi Lake. This time, I dont know what will happen, but that is an impact to the services we offer.

GEO Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Related: Idled Northern Michigan private prison to reopen as ICE detention facility

The company argued in its filing that the prisons property value  and essentially its tax bill  should be cut nearly in half.

The Webber Township board of review assessed the property to be worth $55 million with a taxable value of $27.5 million, according to the petition. But GEO Group contends the property should be worth $30 million with a $15 million taxable value.

GEO Group argues the 2024 assessments were invalid because the taxable value exceeds the amount permitted by the Michigan Constitution based on a misapplication of valuation principles.

If successful, this would be a direct blow to local tax revenue.

Tobi Lake estimates the lost taxes would cost Lake County  one of the poorest counties in Michigan  nearly $150,000 a year, siphoned off from the general fund, road patrols and 911 services, among others.

It would also cut tax dollars to Baldwin Community Schools, Webber Township and the state of Michigan.

Each will have their own losses, Lake wrote in a September email to the county board.

GEO Group last petitioned the state for lower taxes in May 2021 after President Joe Biden phased out federal contracts with private prison companies. This led to North Lake closing a year later.

The company argued that its 2021 property value should be dropped from $68 million to $35 million, lowering the taxable value from $33 million to $17.5 million. In the docket, the Michigan Department of Treasury noted this would lead to a substantial reduction in tax revenue for the state.

It took two years to reach a settlement that was then applied to tax years 2022 and 2023.

Under the April 2023 decision, the property was valued at $57 million with a taxable value of $28.5 million  a much smaller reduction than what GEO Group requested. This meant instead of paying $1.6 million in taxes, the company ended up paying $1.3 million.

Most of that tax revenue went to local schools, the state education tax and the county, according to tax records shared with MLive.

Lake also told the county board in an email at the time that he expected GEO Group to contest their values again if the prison remained under 50% capacity in 2024 and 2025.

I think having it vacant really helps bolster their argument a little bit, he said.

Related: Owner of idled Michigan prison sees unprecedented opportunity in mass deportations

The GEO Group propertys taxable value has fluctuated over the years as North Lake has opened and closed several times. From 2014 to 2022, it hovered around $34 million, even during years the prison sat empty.

Prior to that, another tax petition was successful in lowering the bill in 2013.

GEO Group is now reopening North Lake to be a large immigration detention center as the Trump administration ramps up deportations and rapidly expands ICE capacity across the country.

It remains unclear how reactivating the facility will impact the tax dispute, but Lake says it doesnt hurt the countys position.

The ongoing case has a hearing scheduled for November.
Aussies are being urged to stay out of the water after a rise in shark reports on the southern coast.

A warning was issued after fishermen reported seeing several great whites off the South Coast. Source: RecFishing SA

Aussies are being warned to stay out of the water this weekend after fishermen witnessed a "very large amount" of great white sharks lingering off the southern coast.

At least four great whites ranging from two to four metres were spotted hanging around Cape Jaffa, a popular fishing and scuba diving spot, near Robe in South Australia. The group of sharks were witnessed interacting with the fishing lines of commercial snapper fishermen and reportedly remain in the area.

It comes after several shark sightings very close to the shore along the south coast in recent weeks  with one local resident saying it's a "surprise" there haven't been any attacks.

Anton Covino, who runs a community social media page Shark Watch, told Yahoo News anecdotal evidence suggests there has been a rise in shark sightings lately. "It is unusual to see white pointers this close to shore, hanging around and slow moving," he said.

A huge 4.5 metre great white was spotted at Aldinga Beach in SA over the weekend. Source: Shark Alerts SA.

'Theories' emerge as sharks continue to linger near shore

There are several theories as to why the sharks may be hanging so close to shore, something that is rarely seen this late into the year.

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One theory is that a recent algal bloom which was responsible for the death of hundreds of marine animals in the vicinity, could be impacting sharks too. An explosion in snapper populations following recreational fishing restrictions, as well as simply a rise in the shark population, are two more theories Anton suggested. "I am surprised, and its been a blessing, that no one has been fatally attacked," he said about the numerous sightings in the past few weeks.

Dr Brianna Le Busque, a shark researcher at the University of South Australia, echoed Anton's thoughts on the algal bloom. "We think the white shark that was hanging around Aldinga was impacted by the algae to some extent," she said. "We don't know how broad the impacts [of the algal bloom] are."

While it's normal to see great whites and bronze whalers close to shore on South Australian beaches, the recent sighting of a dead thresher shark was described as "unusual" by Dr Le Brusque.

A surfer found a rarely-seen thresher shark washed up on Seaford Beach on Wednesday. Source: Facebook/South Australia Shark Watch

Prolonged summer brings Aussies to the coast

Dr Le Busque added that the prolonged warm weather may also be contributing to increased reporting of sharks. More Aussies are hitting the beach later in the year, which means there are more eyes on the water.

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"There are more people looking for them and reporting them," she said, adding: "We don't have evidence to say that there are more sharks."

Aussies urged to 'stay away' from lingering sharks

Dr Le Brusque suggested that Aussies "stay away" from the water following reports of sharks in the area. "If we know there are sharks in the water, the recommendation is to stay away from the water. But it doesn't mean that the beach is unsafe long term," she said.

She suggested having a "healthy respect" for risks in the ocean, including avoiding waters during dusk and dark during feeding times, staying away from large schools of bait fish and not swimming if the water is murky.

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The state was rocked by the death of surfer Lance Appleby earlier this year, meaning locals are potentially more alert than usual. "The important thing is there is no evidence or trends that there are more bites. The overall average [of shark attacks] in Australia isnt increasing," Dr Le Brusque said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Annapurna Studios CTO reveals AI-generated shots used in recent teaser: No one could tell

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Javed Akhtar urges Indian government to take firm steps over Pahalgam terror attack: "Take a solid step now, it is time for 'aar ya paar'

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Kunal Kapoor on working with Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat in Jewel Thief , calls the actors 'amazing and authentic' - Exclusive

Sarika Sharma is Editor, Entertainment, MoneyControl.com. She has over 24 years of experience in the field of journalism.

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Priyanka Chopra to make her fifth appearance at Met gala 2025: Report

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Saif Ali Khan says he said sorry to his son Taimur for showing him Adipurush, he started giving me a look

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Tom Cruise reveals his secret to perform death defying stunt in Mission Impossible 8: 'I actually eat a massive breakfast'

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Additional ATCs to be deployed at Mumbai, Rajkot to ensure smooth operation of Intl flights

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Tata Motors to raise Rs 500 crore via NCDs in two tranches

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Equal focus on tariff and non-tariff barriers in trade talks with EU: Piyush Goyal

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Sweta Goswami

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Vikas SN

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India can be developed economy by 2047, achieve per capita income of $14000

Yeeshu Yadav

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Berkshire Hathaways 2025 Shareholder Meeting: What to expect from Buffett's address at Omaha

Veer Sharma

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India-dedicated funds see over $1-billion inflows over the last six weeks: Elara Capital

Anishaa Kumar

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Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning

Abhinav Kaul

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Most employees without HRA claims prefer new tax regime, corporate NPS gaining traction, say CAs

Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning

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Setback for JSW Steel as SC directs liquidation of Bhushan Power and Steel

J Jagannath

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aryaman Gupta

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US unlikely to budge as India lobbies for sectoral tariff exemptions on steel, aluminium

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Adrija Chatterjee

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10 days on, Pahalgam attackers still at large: How the four terrorists have evaded capture in South Kashmir

Abhinav Gupta

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'On time despite delays at dysfunctional Delhi airport': Tharoor after welcoming PM Modi for Vizhinjam port's commission

Priyanjali Ghose

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India News Live Updates: 3 killed in lightning strike in UP

Three people, including a 17-year-old girl, were killed in an incident of lightning strike in UP on Friday morning. Meanwhile, several people were injured in separate incidents when lightning struck large parts of the state.

The dead include two labourers working on a road project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Firozabad. A family trying to cover a haystack with a tarpaulin sheet to protect it from rain was also hit. Police said 17-year-old Diksha died on the spot and her younger sister Sapna suffered critical burn injuries in the lightning strike during heavy rain and thunder in Etah district's Bhagwantpur village. Their father and brother were also injured, PTI reported.
From disaster to new development paradigm: How Congress under Rahul Gandhi altered course on social justice

Priyanjali Ghose

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Tamal Nandi

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'Hua to hua': Farooq Abdullah does a Sam Pitroda on genocide of Kashmiri Pandits

Parimal Peeyush

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YunXi Wang recalls coming to the U.S. from China, wide-eyed and full of hope, inspired by Hollywood movies to expect a life of freedom, happiness and love.

But instead of living the American dream, Wang found herself trapped in an American nightmare  one shared by tens of thousands of Asian women who migrate to the U.S.

Cops proclaim crackdown on sex trafficking but mostly arrest victims FBI data from local police departments show that only seven percent of human trafficking offenses led to arrests from 2021 to 2023  1,344 arrests for 19,225 reported offenses.

Within three years, Wang said, her then-husband  who associated with human traffickers  constantly pressured her to work in massage parlors. He needed money to repay a $50,000 debt he had racked up to get to America. Wang said her husband could be violent and she feared for her safety.

"I felt like I had no choice," Wang recalled.

He kept pushing, kept pushing, Wang said, speaking through a translator. He often told me it was an easy job and a quick way to make money.

Attempts to speak with Wang's now ex-husband were unsuccessful.

Wang had no experience in massage  no idea what to expect. But the spa owner assured her she wouldnt be asked to do anything upsetting. That quickly proved to be a lie.

The owner just said, Oh, you will be fine. Right away, he pushed me into the room and then had me perform a massage for the client, she said. Then some male customers kept forcing themselves on me, trying to kiss and hug me. It made me extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed.

For the next two years, Wang said she felt helpless, shuffling from one illicit massage parlor to another, coerced into providing massages with so-called "happy endings."

Today, more than 16,800 illegal massage parlors offer sexual services in the United States, according to an estimate from The Network, a nonprofit dedicated to combating sex trafficking in these establishments. A Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team investigation found that state and local authorities are doing little to protect women like Wang.

She agreed to share details of her harrowing journey to save other women from a life of dread, fear and violence.

Harrowing journey

Shortly after Wang arrived in New York in November 2011, she discovered she was pregnant. Life then was good. She loved New York  the people, the surroundings. Wang took joy in raising her newborn daughter. But by 2014, her husband was no longer able to pay rent. He was tired of working as a low-paying restaurant worker for many years. He started gambling, and he insisted that she work in massage parlors to support the family.

When I started thinking about working, she said, I really had no idea what this was about. I didnt know what kind of clients I would be meeting  didnt know exactly what dangers would look like.

One of the most terrifying aspects of the job came after 9 p.m., when the owner would arrange for someone to drive Wang to provide in-home services. Often, she worked until 4 a.m. Some customers were drug users. They would frequently become abusive, making extreme and degrading demands.

The experience left Wang so traumatized she declined to share the details. But she did reveal that she was robbed and even raped.

The violence Wang endured belies a belief by some that women in illegal massage parlors are not coerced.

Many of the women themselves will deny coercion. In one academic survey, for example, 83 percent of 116 Asian women who worked in illicit massage parlors told researchers they had not been coerced.

Wang understands why so many women are hesitant to admit they were forced into sex work. In China, women are expected to bear children and pass on virtues to them. They see doing sex work as shameful.

Psychologically, most do not genuinely wish to earn a living by touching male genitals every day, Wang said. The fact that so many women are willing to engage in sex work and illegal massage reflects how market forces, cultural traditions, and a lack of self-awareness have shaped their decisions.

Some women believe they cannot make as much money doing any other job. However, 40 percent of these women in the survey told researchers they had been sexually assaulted on the job.

If a sexual assault occurs, many choose to silently endure the trauma, prioritizing financial gain over the negative experience. In Chinese culture, theres a traditional belief of keeping family disgrace private, and sexual assault cases are notoriously difficult to address clearly. Thus, the easiest approach is often to bear and forget.

Wang says, in theory, she could have refused when her husband insisted. Yet at the time, she felt she had no other options and recognizes now that she was coerced.

One of the biggest obstacles to prosecuting human trafficking cases is the reluctance of victims to cooperate with law enforcement.

Legally, trafficking charges require proof of coercion, and that often hinges on victims testifying against their exploiters. But many women are unwilling  or are too afraid  to discuss their experiences, particularly when it involves sexual exploitation.

As a result, prosecutors must find creative legal strategies to hold traffickers accountable, often pursuing alternative charges to secure convictions.

Wang tried as much as possible to work in legitimate massage parlors. But that was a challenge.

When I worked at a legitimate massage parlor, I could earn $15 per hour plus tips and worked 67 hours a day.

However, she said she didnt get many customers at legitimate massage parlors.

If there were no clients during my working hours, I would earn nothing, yet I still had to pay for childcare and rent. As a result, there were times when I had no choice but to take the risk of working at an illegal massage parlor for a short period, she said.

Some illegal massage parlors are upfront about their nature, with owners sugarcoating the risks and clients while guaranteeing earnings. Others conceal their true nature, giving the impression they are legitimate.

Despite her efforts, Wang was not able to earn enough to pay off the debt. She also had to endure eating and sleeping at the places she worked. This was a cost-saving measure most owners used to maximize profits.

So living there, eating there, and sleeping there is not only common, but it's almost the standard, she said.

She endured the shame of being arrested once for prostitution. This is a common tactic police use when trying to target illicit massage parlors.

The experience was terrifying, she said.

For some, getting arrested might be a wake-up call, she said. But arresting the women can also traumatize them.

How we tackled the sex trafficking investigation Heres how the Lee Enterprises Public Service Team did a first-of-its-kind analysis of states efforts to protect women who are subject to sex

The police are often really rough to the female. And so it's already traumatic experience, and that roughness makes that experience even more traumatic, she said.

In her case, the owner tried to send her to another parlor he owned in another state. She refused because it was too far from home, but many women had little choice. Normally, women move from one parlor to another every three to six months, looking for better pay.

"Many people think women enter this work willingly," Wang said. "But most are victims of coercion, poverty, and cultural pressures. They dont want to do this. They just dont see any other way."

One day, while working in a parlor in New Jersey, Wang had had enough. She took a cab home. She told her husband she was going to quit. At the same time, she said, her husband was becoming more violent, and she would eventually leave him as well.

It took a long time to stay away from it, but it kind of goes back to my childhood, she said. I always knew that I wanted to pursue a happy life, but I knew the whole time I was working in this work I was never happy, not even one day.

Leaving was not easy. It took several tries.

Its not like just one day waking up and its all over, she said.

But it is possible to leave, Wang says. She eventually found a job as a consultant for groups trying to help other women in the same situation.

I started earning money and was able to pay rent, and I have some spending money, and then be able to start savings and repay my debts. So that's honorable My work really fulfills some of my childhood dreams.

She discovered a love for the arts, attending concerts, visiting museums and writing her experiences. She also reads a lot more.

I noticed that I smile a lot, Wang said. Now I'm more cheerful. I'm more confident. I have experienced many positive and joyful moments now. So yeah, I think my life has changed around, and I am happy now.
Manjiri Patil

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'Not a secret': After Asif, Bilawal Bhutto opens up on Pakistan's 'dirty' past of backing terror groups

Former Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto has said that his country's support to terror groups is not a secret, echoing recent remarks by defence minister Khawaja Asif that Islamabad has been doing this "dirty work" for the West for decades.

In an interview to Sky News, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said that Pakistan has suffered the consequences of supporting terrorist organisations and has "learned its lessons".

"As far as what the defence minister said, I don't think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past... As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem not only for us but ... also the international community," Bhutto said, when asked about Asif's recent admission. Full story
'Let me tell you a secret ...': PM Modi on what he learned from Chandrababu Naidu as Gujarat CM

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Chhabi Kala

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Nepali student found dead in Odisha's KIIT, second such case in over 2 months

Chhabi Kala

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Parimal Peeyush

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Old markets like Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar need to be shifted for boosting trade: Delhi CM

101Reporters

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'Some will lose sleep over today's event': Shashi Tharoor on stage, PM Modi takes veiled jibe at Congress with an Adani reference

Priyanjali Ghose

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Credit: Sporting Class Podcast

Former ESPN president John Skipper is reportedly leaving Meadowlark Media, the Miami and New York-based production house he co-founded with longtime ESPN host Dan Le Batard in 2021.

According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, who first reported the news, It was not immediately clear what the new leadership structure will be for Meadowlarks business.

Added Glasspiegel:

One source said that Meadowlark will be aiming to focus more on its podcasts, including The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz and Pablo Torre Finds Out. There will be less of an emphasis on documentary content, although it will not totally go away, the source said.

John Skipper reunited with Le Batard after resigning from ESPN in 2017 and joining DAZN. Before running ESPN, Skipper came up in music magazines. His journalistic spirit is believed to have powered projects like ESPN the Magazine and, at Meadowlark, its documentary division.

Since Meadowlarks launch, it has co-produced a handful of audio and video documentaries, including last years Boston Red Sox doc The Comeback for Netflix and an upcoming series for Prime Video covering the final years of WNBA star Diana Taurasis career.

The company launched with a three-year, reported $51 million licensing partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook. It moved out of its classic Clevelander hotel studios on Miami Beach into the more spacious, snazzy Elser downtown. And it significantly expanded its video output for its podcasts, striking streaming distribution deals with Max and Peacock.

Meadowlarks deal with DraftKings expires later this year according to Le Batard, who has been open about what the possible end of their partnership could mean for the company overall.

Meadowlark is home to The Dan Le Batard with Stugotz and the Peabody-nominated Pablo Torre Finds Out, but many of its other shows have come and gone quietly. In recent months, talent such as Charlotte Wilder, Lucy Rohden and Jessica Smetana have shifted their roles at Meadowlark or departed altogether.
'Use your power to arrest not liberally but sparingly': Additional Solicitor General tells ED

Priyanjali Ghose

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Why Digha's new Jagannath temple inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee has drawn backlash from Puri servitors

Priyanjali Ghose

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Amaravati rises like a phoenix from the ashes of wilful neglect

Namrata Agarwal

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Focus on justice for Pahalgam massacre, but do not forget the vulnerability of Chickens Neck

Namrata Agarwal

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Namrata Agarwal

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Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Shubhi Mishra

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Fish Farming on Moon? Scientists plan to feed astronauts seafood farmed on the Moon

Sheetal Kumari

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From Lucknow to ISS: The inspirational journey of Indias next astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla 'Shux'

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.

Rajni Pandey

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Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms.

Sheetal Kumari

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Sheetal Kumari

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Google's AI mode search rolls out to more users with smart new features

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Debangana Ghosh

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Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms majority of iPhones sold in the US will come from India

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Aabhas Sharma

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Canadian PM Mark Carney to meet Trump on Tuesday, says 'focus on trade pressures'

Abhinav Gupta

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Trump tariffs: China says its evaluating US talks after weeks of stalemate

Sonalee Borgohain

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India and UK look to clinch trade deal in new London meeting

Abhinav Gupta

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Inside Pakistans classrooms: How textbooks are shaping generations on hate and half-truths against India

Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation.

Abhinav Gupta

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Its what they deserve: Trump says he will revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status

Abhinav Gupta

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'Not a secret': After Asif, Bilawal Bhutto opens up on Pakistan's 'dirty' past of backing terror groups

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Hemant Abhishek

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Pahalgam attack: Vance says US hopes Pakistan cooperates with India against Pak-based terrorists

Hemant Abhishek

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Balochistan National Party demands release of detained Baloch women

The Express Tribune reports that the Balochistan National Party (BNP) is demanding the release of detained Baloch women, raising concerns about human rights issues in the region. This demand is set against the backdrop of the ongoing Balochistan insurgency, where Baloch separatist groups are fighting for greater autonomy. Allegations of human rights abuses by Pakistani security forces, including arbitrary detentions, have been persistent in Balochistan.

The BNP's demand puts pressure on the Pakistani government and military to address these human rights concerns, potentially affecting the party's political standing and the broader stability of the region. Ignoring the demand could further alienate the Baloch population, while addressing it might be viewed as a sign of weakness by some within the security establishment.
Prince Harry loses appeal over security changes after stepping down from royal duties

101Reporters

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Singapore Elections 2025: PM Wong faces first electoral test; a look at key contests and whats at stake

Pragya Trivedi

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Republicans in Congress use obscure law to roll back Biden-era regulations

Republicans in Congress are employing a little-known statute to undo federal rules, potentially undermining the filibuster, as they have largely ceded power to President Donald Trump, the New York Times reports. This move reflects a broader trend of prioritizing executive action and circumventing legislative compromise within the Republican Party, even if it means using tools that could be used against them in the future, according to the New York Times.

The use of this law highlights the heightened partisan polarization in Congress, where Republicans are seeking to circumvent traditional legislative processes to achieve policy goals opposed by the Biden administration and Democrats, the New York Times reports. This action is part of a larger debate about the appropriate level of federal regulation, with Republicans generally favoring deregulation to promote economic growth, as per the New York Times.
Chinese authorities said on Friday they are evaluating the possibility of trade talks with the United States, marking the first and clearest indication that Beijing may be open to dialogue after Washington's unilateral tariffs. Senior US officials have reached out recently through relevant parties multiple times, hoping to start negotiations with China on tariffs, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. "China is currently assessing the situation, but our position has always been clear," the spokesperson said. "If it's a fight, we'll fight to the end. If it's a talk, the door is wide open".

Beijing stressed that the tariff war was launched unilaterally by the US and that any return to the negotiating table must be met with "genuine sincerity" from Washington. That includes correcting past missteps and rolling back the unilateral tariffs imposed on Chinese goods. "Saying one thing and doing anotheror even trying to use talks as a cover for coercion and blackmailwon't work with China," the spokesman added.
CHANNEL ISLANDS, Calif. (AP)  Strands of kelp glow in the dim morning light off Californias Channel Islands as fish and sea lions weave through the golden fronds. Its a scene of remarkable abundance  the result of more than two decades of protection in one of the states oldest marine reserves.

But farther out in the Pacific, life in the vast Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument faces a very different future. The Trump administration has moved to reopen 500,000 square miles (about 1.3 million square kilometers) of previously protected waters there to commercial fishing, in a dramatic rollback of federal ocean protections.

California, meanwhile, may be headed in the opposite direction. As it undertakes its first 10-year review of its marine protected area network, state officials, scientists, tribal leaders and environmental advocates are pushing not just to maintain protections but to expand them.

These areas are like our underwater Yellowstone, said Douglas McCauley, director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Barbara, speaking aboard a dive boat heading to the Channel Islands. Its important to protect that biological heritage, but it also creates an extremely lucrative tourism industry. People want to go see all that nature and wildlife in action.

The states marine protected areas have become magnets for scuba divers and snorkelers drawn by their rich life. Over time, these reserves allow fish populations to rebound and spill over into nearby waters  a long-term investment with large returns for fishermen, as McCauley sees it.

Launched in 2003, the network now spans 124 distinct sections along the coast. Some areas are no-take zones where all fishing is prohibited, while others allow limited use. The network covers roughly 16% of state waters, with proposed expansions that would add 2%. The goal, under the 1999 Marine Life Protection Act, was to create a science-based system to rebuild ecosystems after decades of overfishing and habitat loss.

The Channel Islands were among the first sites established. About 20% of the waters surrounding the eight-island chain are now fully protected.

But expansion proposals have sparked debate among fishermen.

Some anglers would like the restrictions to be relaxed

Blake Hermann, a fourth-generation commercial fisherman from Ventura County, grew up fishing around the Channel Islands, where he harpoons swordfish by hand. He supports keeping much of the marine protected network intact, but he argues that some closures go too far and has petitioned the state to allow limited fishing in three no-take zones around the islands.

Protected areas can help nearshore species like sea bass and lobster recover, Hermann said, but offer little benefit to wide-ranging ocean-goers like swordfish and tuna that may pass only briefly through a protected zone during migration.

He questions whether it makes sense to restrict selective, low-impact fishing methods in places where these migratory species are only temporary visitors and will likely be caught when they move into unrestricted waters.

These islands are the best thing on the planet, Hermann said. We can still protect what makes sense to protect in the right areas, but you can also still give some access back too.

Were really protecting ourselves

Others warn that reopening any part of the protected network could set a troubling precedent, especially as climate change disrupts ocean ecosystems.

When we protect the oceans, were really protecting ourselves, said Sandy Aylesworth, director of the Pacific Initiative for the Natural Resources Defense Council. If the additional 2% is added, it will better prepare Californias ocean for future stressors like climate change and new industrial uses of the ocean. So I see it as being a real benefit to all of the ocean users in California  including recreational and commercial fishermen.

Final decisions from the review are expected early next year.

Marine protected areas are probably the most controversial thing that we work on, because youre essentially telling a group of individuals that they cant do what theyve historically done in an area, said Craig Shuman, marine region manager at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Shuman said the fishing community has become particularly vocal in response to petitions to expand the MPA network. Many arent asking for more access, he said, just for existing opportunities not to be taken away.

Theyre asking, If you take all the places we can fish, where do we go? he said. Thats the challenge: how to find the right balance between protection and access, especially in a state like California where we already have very strong fisheries management laws.

Overall, he said, the data shows the network is working. Its not consistent  each MPA is a little bit different  but more often than not, were seeing the MPAs are working to achieve the goals of the Act.

Trump administration moves to open up previously protected waters

The presidents executive order lifted fishing restrictions in waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles around a remote Pacific island chain  areas first protected by President George W. Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Barack Obama in 2014. Supporters said doing so would boost commercial fishing interests in Hawaii and American Samoa. Conservationists fear the impacts from fishing in an area thats home to coral reefs, sea turtles, whales and thousands of other species.

It makes it even more critical here at the state level that there is this expansion of protections to really balance out some of those rollbacks, said Molly Morse, senior manager at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory.

Back on the boat, still within the protected waters off Anacapa Island, a shimmering school of sardines and anchovies draws a frenzy of seabirds and dolphins. Humpback whales surge from the depths, mouths agape, swallowing fish by the gallon. Along the border of the protected area, a sport fishing boat drops its lines as a container ship rumbles past in the distance.

Weve got the largest port in the United States. Weve got offshore oil and gas. Weve got fishing boats coming and going, McCauley said. But still, in the middle of all that, we still have this wildness  a place where all the stakeholders who want value out of the ocean can find it.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

By ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG

Associated Press
Harare  A 37-year-old kombi driver from Chitungwiza is currently on the Zimbabwe Republic Polices (ZRP) wanted list after disappearing following a reckless driving incident last year.

In a separate incident highlighting the often-chaotic nature of Harares roads, a commuter omnibus driver found himself in hot water after sideswiping a vehicle from President Emmerson Mnangagwas motorcade.

Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, issued a statement confirming that McDonald Magwenzi is wanted in connection with a road traffic accident that occurred in August 2024. The Zimbabwe Republic Police, Harare Province is investigating the whereabouts of McDonald Magwenzi, Insp Chakanza stated. His last known addresses are 17 221 Unit M, Seke, Chitungwiza, and Magwenzi village under Chief Mutekedza in Chivhu.

The incident in question occurred on August 9, 2024, at approximately 9pm at the intersection of Seke Road and St Patricks Road in Hatfield. According to police reports, Magwenzi was driving a public service vehicle, a Nissan Caravan with registration number AGL 3107, southbound along Seke Road towards Chitungwiza.

He allegedly recklessly tried to overtake a vehicle turning right and another in the oncoming lane, resulting in a collision that caused serious injuries to three passengers, Insp Chakanza explained. Following the accident, Magwenzi allegedly fled the scene and has remained at large ever since.

The police are appealing to the public for any information that may lead to Magwenzis arrest. Anyone with information that may lead to the location or arrest of the accused person is urged to contact ZRP Hatfield at (0242) 570123 or Harare Operations at (0242) 748836, Insp Chakanza urged. Alternatively, you can reach the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631 or report to the nearest police station.

In a separate incident, a kombi driver in central Harare experienced a day he will likely never forget after driving the wrong way down a one-way street and sideswiping a Ford Raptor from President Emmerson Mnangagwas motorcade.

Witnesses reported that the security vehicle, said to be the last in the Presidents convoy and typically trailing approximately 100 to 200 metres behind the main motorcade, was proceeding normally through the area when the incident occurred.

Witnesses at the scene stated that all four doors of the security vehicle swung open immediately after the collision. The kombi driver was swiftly apprehended and now faces potentially serious consequences for his actions.

Insp Chakanza also appealed for assistance in identifying the body of a man who died in a fatal road traffic accident on April 14, 2025, at approximately 10pm at the intersection of New Chitungwiza Road and Forbes Road. The deceased was struck by a South African registered truck travelling due south along Forbes Road and died on the spot. The body is currently being held at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital Mortuary.

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Part the First. Convergence and Consensus in Science, or and how to interpret scientific results in context. From Holden Thorp, the Editor-in-Chief of Science:

Kathleen Hall Jamieson believes that scientists need to talkabout convergent evidence. Unlike declarations that a consensus exists, a claim that convergent evidence exists honors sciences norms of critique and correction by inviting discussion of the extent of existing knowledge and the multiple ways in which it was developed rather than on what a lay audience is likely to hear as a case closed appeal to authority. When a scientific consensus is overturned, it requires not only introducing new evidence that counters the accepted understanding but also explaining why all the evidence, new and old, is now pointing in a different direction.

This is true. But we must remember that science is not the pursuit of truth, something scientists often fail to understand. Rather, the goal of science is to produce useful knowledge about the natural world, including the social part of our human world. It is difficult to imagine useful knowledge that is not also largely true, but truth is more properly the province of theologians and philosophers of a certain sort. And of course, mainstream Neoliberal economists in either wing of the Uniparty, to hear them prattle.

The question of whether vaccines cause autism is a perfect example of this notion (that scientific consensus includes all the evidence available). There is a massive amount of convergent evidence that refutes the idea that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism. This has been discredited in one study after another. Nevertheless, US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will carry out yet another study on this claim, and that exposures that cause autism would be known by September, despite the discouragement of many scientists and physicians, including Senator Bill Cassidy who chairs the Senate committee that oversees HHS. Even a report released by the CDC last week describes multiple ways in which better identification has led to higher rates of autism diagnoses. With any subject, one can always do another study but at the cost of diminishing returns. It is certainly the position of many scientists that this issue is settled, including Jay Bhattacharya, director of the US National Institutes of Health, not because of an opinion poll of scientists, but because of evidence converging from numerous directions that has debunked the idea. If another study seems to suggest some kind of correlation between vaccines and autism, it would not suddenly erase all of the solid research that came before it. The outlier would need to be considered along with the overall picture, which would likely still converge on the lack of a meaningful connection unless the large number of previous studies were somehow shown to be flawed.

I would add here that Jay Bhattacharya is not a scientist or a physician. He is an economist associated with one of our most effective merchants of doubt. He earned an MD from Stanford to go along with his undergraduate degree from same, but he went straight from his MD to a PhD from Stanford in economics, where it was most recently a faculty member in economics This makes him a triple tree, but it does not give him the right to call himself a physician or a scientist. Jay Bhattacharya may be the first Director of NIH who was never a practicing physician and/or scientist. One does not need to die to learn how to write an obituary, but the Director of the National Institutes of Health should have relevant experience. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has been a practicing physician and ensured the confirmation of RFKJr as Secretary of HHS. I would like to ask him how he feels now about the attack of the berserkers on NIH, NSF, CDC, plus NOAA and NWS  who needs adequate warning of the path of a coming hurricane or to be warned that a tornado is likely in the next few hours?

Part the Second. Speaking of autism, about which RFKJr seems to have some monomania, Holden Thorpe was recently diagnosed in his mid-50s as being on the spectrum, which gives the lie to RFKJrs pronouncements on the subject. How about that! RFKJr also says he will soon know (September is closer than we think) the cause of autism (vaccines and/or environmental toxins undoubtedly) accounting for the imagined tsunami of autism. Well, no he wont. Science does not work that way or we would have the cure for cancer more than fifty years after the war on cancer was declared by Richard Nixon at the urging of Mary Lasker. But Dr. Thorpe explains the obvious anyway, not that anyone in the Administration is listening:

As a scientist with autism, I believe the rise in diagnoses is the result of greater awareness, better identification (especially among women and girls) and a broader definition that now includes a range of neurodevelopmental conditions under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder. As a child, I often stared into space, missed social cues and delivered long monologues about my specific interests. But it was not until I was 53 that I suspected I had autism spectrum disorder. The idea arose during a professional review for which my employer had brought in a psychologist. After interviewing my co-workers and me, the psychologist suggested that I might have autism, which subsequent evaluations confirmed. Its hard to grasp how a seventyfold increase in autism cases could mostly reflect changes in diagnosis or heightened awareness, but my experience helps make sense of it. When I was growing up in the late 1960s, autism was mostly diagnosed among children who had huge difficulties in daily functioning and needed extensive support. I wasnt flagged for evaluation or diagnosis, but that might be different today. Studies show that the increase in autism spectrum diagnoses among people like me who do not have intellectual disabilityhas steeply increased since 2000. If I had been diagnosed as a child, it probably would have been with Aspergers syndrome, a label that was often given to children who struggled socially but didnt have the language delays present in many cases of autism. But in 2013, the American Psychiatric Association folded Aspergers syndrome into the broader category of autism spectrum disorder.

In contrast to RFKJrs skewed disunderstanding (a term coined by a former colleague) of autism, Holden Thorp is a highly accomplished individual, not unlike many if not most of those on the spectrum, which includes more than a few scientists. In any case, Dr. Holden Thorp, professor, administrator, editor of the leading American scientific journal has a job and is a productive member of society

Part the Third. The destruction American scientific institutions continues with another lament:

In just the first three months of his second term, US President Donald Trump has destabilized eight decades of government support for science. His administration has fired thousands of government scientists, bringing large swathes of the countrys research to a standstill and halting many clinical trials. It has threatened to slash billions in funding from US research universities and has terminated more than 1,000 grants in areas such as climate change, cancer, Alzheimers disease and HIV prevention. The White House is expected to propose a budget for 2026 that would slash investments in science across the federal government; for example, the Trump administration is considering cutting the science budget for NASA nearly in half and spending at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 40%. The administration has also begun implementing strict immigration measures that have left some students and researchers in detention centres, and many academics fear that these and future measures could spur researchers to look for opportunities outside the United States.

Those researchers who can, they will leave. Those who cannot, they will die on the vine if the worst comes to pass. That seems the way to bet. And all the while I hear from my MAGA friends that industry should be funding basic research anyway. No. This is not how it is done. Industry will not take up the slack. Industry uses publicly funded research as their crucial building blocks, especially in biomedical research.

Here we should distinguish between the development of chemistry as a discipline and development of biology. Modern chemistry came straight out of the chemical industry and has flourished because of that (neglecting forever chemicals, for now). This is also true of much of physics, with the example of Bell Labs. But that lasted only so long as ATT was protected as an erstwhile benevolent monopoly and Bell Labs could afford to let Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discover background radiation leftover from the Big Bang. The Solvay Conferences funded by the Belgian industrialist Ernest Solvay that began in 1911 (jpg) also contributed to the development of modern theoretical physics. Biology had essentially no similar support in the beginning.

Biology, including the biomedical sciences of physiology, biochemistry, and cell biology, was different. These disciplines developed on their own in university and hospital laboratories or in dedicated biology laboratories such as the Institut Pasteur, the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the Stazione Zoologica Napoli. There was money in early chemistry and physics, not so much in biology. The Roche Institute of Molecular Biology (RIMB) on the Nutley, New Jersey, campus of Hoffman-LaRoche was for a time the one Bell Laboratories of biomedical science. I was fortunate to work there nearly forty years ago, learning how to construct gene cloning libraries long before complete genes could be bought off the shelf or custom ordered and ready to be expressed in any cell type. A task that took me at least two years in the late-1980s can now be completed in two days, one day if the order is placed before 2:00 pm.

RIMB was an astonishing place. The scientists there could concentrate on their research instead of massaging their current grant application. But now it is gone with the wind. As is the adjacent research and manufacturing campus of Hoffman-LaRoche, which was also an astonishing combination of pharmaceutical research and production. Tariffs, even if that is the most beautiful word in the world, will not bring back the buildings, laboratories, and above all the several thousand people who worked hard and did well for themselves and all of us, only twelve miles from Times Square, instead of the other side of the world. It is hard to imagine right now, but this was not so very long ago.

Part the Fourth. In a modern Profile in Senatorial Courage, a Republican US Senator in the form of Susan Collins of Maine has spoken up against the Trump v2.0 devastation of American science. GOP Senator Collins says Trumps layoffs of scientists, cuts to biomedical research must be reversed.

Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, rebuked (a sternly worded letter comes next, no doubt) the Trump administration for cutting federal biomedical research funding, cancelling grants, and laying off federal health department employees, and said the changes must be reversed. Proposed funding cuts, the firing of essential federal scientists, and policy uncertainties threaten to undermine the foundation for our nations global leadership, she said Wednesday at a hearing titled Biomedical Research: Keeping Americas Edge in Innovation. No Trump administration officials are appearing at the hearing, but Collins said its a precursor for a hearing on the same topic at which administration witnesses will testify. No date has been announced for that hearing (imagine that; I predict it will go the way of Amazons trial balloon about explicitly adding the tariff increment to their prices). Collins said that China is catching up with has effectively passed the U.S. in biomedical research, and that the U.S. should not take its hard-earned position as the world leader in scientific research for granted. And she noted the consequences of falling behind in biomedical innovation could be dire. If clinical trials are halted, research is stopped, and laboratories are closed, effective treatments and cures for diseases like Alzheimers, Type 1 diabetes, childhood cancers and Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy will be delayed or not discovered at all, she said.

Sometimes late is not better than never. But where are other Republican US Senators and Representatives and governors as their constituents who have been doing essential work at CDC (Georgia), NOAA/National Hurricane Center (Florida), and other federal agencies are thrown without a second thought on the scrapheap of Neoliberalism? Democrats are still playing possum, despite the boffo reviews of AOC-Bernie Show, as directed to by the Cajun whiz kid who got Bill Clinton elected in 1992 in spite himself. Nothing can be expected from that half of the Uniparty.

Part the Fifth. The current trope about outrageous indirect costs (overhead) comes up in the previous article from STAT News. I have covered this before, but the short version can be repeated here. This is a serious battle to be fought. Yes, it is true that private funding agencies allow only 10-15% overhead on their research grants. But, and this is the key, these awards go only to laboratories that already have funding in place to support the research, and that funding comes primarily from NIH (indirect costs ~45-60%) or institutional resources such as a startup budget for a new faculty member. I have received support from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) at three institutions. The first was a postdoctoral fellowship from AHA that would not have been awarded unless I was doing my work in a well-funded laboratory in the medical school of one of the best research universities in the world. The source of that other funding? The National Institutes of Health, of course.

Later my independent laboratory received similar funding, but a requirement for those awards was that my lab budget (from NIH and the institution) was adequate to support our work and the contributions of my graduate students, who all received graduate fellowships from the AHA. Funding from AHA, ACS, Alzheimers Foundation, Hereditary Disease Foundation and the like is a very thin layer of icing between the layers and on top of a very thick cake that was baked by NIH, NSF, USDA (Agriculture), DOD (Defense) funding and an institutional infrastructure that is maintained by indirect support. Without the buildings, the infrastructure, the animal care facilities, the compliance and accounting staffs, electricity, water, and other support, absolutely no research gets done. Period. Once again, the nonpartisan vision of Vannevar Bush is the missed key. From the NSF website:

In 1945, Bush presented his report, Science: The Endless Frontier to President Harry S. Truman (also available from Princeton University Press at 50% off now; their sales are difficult to resist). The report envisioned a new agency whose mission would promote the progress of science by supporting basic research at colleges and universities. In 1950, following a series of bill revisions, Congress passed and President Truman signed Public Law 81-507, establishing the National Science Foundation and the National Science Board. NSFs place in history was cemented.

For the first time since 1950, maybe the place of NSF (and NIH and CDC) in history is wobbling. If Vannevar Bushs concrete vision does not survive the current jackhammers and wrecking balls, American science as we have known it for nearly eighty years will die. I am not saying the administrative mechanics, sometimes smothered by administrivia, by which we fund public scientific research in the United States cannot be improved. As someone who has seen the best and the worst of, there is clearly room for improvement. But only if done thoughtfully and incrementally, as all good science progresses. If American science is demolished because of current Administration priorities, it will remain so for the duration. But good science will continue to be done, elsewhere, with China leading the way.

Digression: The most effective way to improve American science would be to increase funding by 25%, which might be ~$25 billion in round numbers. Not pocket change, but eminently doable when a $1000 billion dollar defense (sic) budget is no longer only a gleam in the eye of the current Secretary of Defense. And if we did come up with the money, those unknowable advances would make our world a better place. Beats all-war-all-the-time. But repeat myself, again.

Part the Sixth: To finish with very good news for science and public health, the National Cancer Institute has shown that the multivalent HPV vaccine works exceedingly well with only one course instead of two. And according to STAT News, this could:

(T)ransform efforts to reach the three-quarters of children globally who should receive the vaccines but dont. The shots prevent cervical cancer and also anal, penile, and some head-and-neck cancers. Worldwide, 350,000 women die from cervical cancer, the most common HPV cancer. In developed countries, including the U.S., two doses of the vaccines are currently recommended. But in the clinical trial, whether one dose or two doses were used, the results were equivalent, according to the study of 20,000 girls between ages 12 and 16 in Costa Rica who were followed for 4 1/2 years. In all cases, the estimated efficacy of the vaccines was upwards of 97%.

This would lead to a signal success in cancer prevention. The vaccine, Gardasil (Merck) protects against nine (9) variants of human papilloma virus (HPV), including those that cause cancer. Without going into too much personal detail, three years ago I was diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in my right palatine tonsil. A long course of recently developed, focused high-power radiation and chemotherapy using an ancient anti-cancer drug completely resolved the tumor and one involved lymph node (so far). My cancer was caused by HPV, which made it easier to treat. The primary, possibly only, mutation was the expression of a viral protein in my tumor cells. Still, it would have been better to get the vaccine when I was 9-10 years old than to meet with radiation therapists at 6:15 am every morning for seven weeks and spend all day Thursday during that time in the infusion center hooked up to a pump through a port.

But naturally, there is a catch in the form politics:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has long criticized HPV vaccines, particularly Gardasilwhich is the HPV vaccine used in the U.S. Kennedy has asserted on social media that Gardasil may increase the risk of cervical cancer, a claim contradicted by many studies. During his Senate confirmation hearing, he refused to disavow previous comments he had made questioning the safety of the vaccine. At Childrens Health Defense, the nonprofit group where he served as founder and chairman for years, Kennedy filed more than two dozen lawsuits over the vaccine. During the nomination process, he promised to give any fees he earned from the Gardasil litigation to his son.

Well, gifting any proceeds from this litigation to the fourth generation of the quintessential American political dynasty certainly removes any conflict of interest in my book. But the question is this: Does the HPV vaccine, for which initial research was conducted at NCI with public money, work at preventing HPV infection and subsequent disease? Why, yes. Yes, it does.

In developed countries, the HPV vaccines have had a dramatic impact. In the U.S.they have decreased the incidence of precancerous cervical lesions by 80%  particularly impressive because only 77% of people in the U.S. who should receive the vaccine have been administered at least one dose. In the U.S. and other developed countries, effective screening against these lesions means that other types of HPV cancer, in particular head-and-neck cancer, are as common as cervical cancer. This is one reason vaccination is recommended for boys as well as girls. Studies across the world have affirmed that HPV vaccination does prevent cancer. In one stunning recent example, Scotland said in 2024 that, of girls in the country who were born between 1988-1996 and had been vaccinated in time, none had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Australia has said that it believes it can eliminate cervical cancer through vaccination and screening.

There was also a time when measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) were on the elimination list. The only thing necessary for the elimination of these diseases is the resolve shown with smallpox. The road will be rough, but this can be done. Suggestions welcome, however. More to come on how to proceed in future, especially on the matter of vaccine hesitancy  where it comes from and how to overcome it.

Happy May Day plus one! See you next week.
I once asked a bartender friend why I should pay $14 for a top-shelf margarita when the house-special version was only $5 during happy hour. He told me to sit down while he used fresh-squeezed juices, good tequila and Cointreau to make a delightful, citrusy treat that he shook with ice until it was cold and frothy.

He slid it across the bar to me, then reached underneath the rail.

Thats a good margarita," he said. "This is a happy hour margarita!

He proceeded to lift up one of those 10-gallon buckets, like the ones you use as a shopping basket at Home Depot, and slosh 8 ounces of neon-yellow swill into a glass with a salted rim. Point taken.

Thats why I urge you to consider seeking out better beverages if you go out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. Not only will you enjoy superior cocktails, youll most likely avoid the crowds of celebrants enjoying Drinko de Mayo.

Here are a couple of suggestions for you:

Etc. is really upping its Mexican spirits game  and not just tequila, and not just for May 5. The cocktail menu has featured three intriguing cocktails that would definitely be elevated ways to celebrate Mexicos victory over the French at the Second Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Im particularly favorable toward their Botany & Alchemy, with the rare and sought-after green Chartreuse as a main ingredient, along with Luxardo Maraschino, green peppery Ancho Reyes Verde, cucumber and a wild card ingredient  Xtabentun from DAristi. I used to be a frequent vacationer to the Yucatan Peninsula, and I became enamored of this particular spirit (pronounced SHTAH-ben-TOON), which is made from local honey and anise.

+5 At Etch, Deb Paquette makes an encore culinary performance For people who love words, there's much to appreciate in the names surrounding Deb Paquette's latest endeavor. First, there's the restaurant t

In the Yucatan, particularly around Cozumel, the last drink of the evening is referred to as la hach, and Xtabentun was one of my favorites at the all-inclusive resort we used to frequent. (The other was a double Licor 43, which the bartenders and I had worked into a short-hand drink call of Una ochenta y seis, por favor.) Now that I know that DAristi has distribution in Nashville, maybe I wont have to hit up duty-free and leave room in my carry-on bag for the return trip next time.

Another etc. creation is the Im Your Venus, featuring mezcal from Un Memento Espadin along with Cartron Banane banana liqueur, a tamarind simple syrup, lemon juice and Fee Foam, a vegan foaming additive from Fee Brothers that adds a lovely texture to cocktails. The third south-of-the-border offering from etc. is the Jacaranda Dream, a floral creation featuring Vival Agave Silver tequila, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, Rothman & Winter creme de violette and lavender water. Ive not sampled this one yet, but it sounds like a very refined pinkies-out kinda cocktail.

At etc.s sister restaurant Etch, the mixology team is also going international with a cocktail called Ruins of Ipanema, which I suppose makes it more Brazilian than Mexican. But the ingredients are puro Mexicano. Nashville based, woman-owned and woman-distilled tequila company Southbound is the base spirit accented with boozy Planteray OFTD overproof rum, my old favorite Licor 43 and espresso, agave and Aztec bitters. I always say that reading an Etch menu item could make you feel like theyre including one ingredient too many, but also that I trust chef Deb Paquette and her team to pull it off. They always do, and that goes for the bar staff too!

Finally, if youd like to try a spot outside of the etc./Etch family, Vivek Surti at Tailor and his bar staff have come up with a Latin take on the traditional Last Word cocktail. Their La Otra Palabra substitutes Xicaru Mezcal for the gin, yellow chartreuse for the usual green version, and then keeps the expected Luxardo and lime juice. It sounds like its worth a try to me.
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Scene. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.

A few short years after allowing the retail sale of cannabis for the first time, Tennessee lawmakers moved to limit the sales of certain types of hemp-derived products beginning in 2026.

This year, many Tennessee Republicans have tried to walk back the retail sales of cannabis products that slipped through the cracks when state lawmakers passed a 2023 hemp sales bill, which seemingly inadvertently moved the state closer to legalizing recreational marijuana.

Under the 2023 law, when burned, some cannabinoids that convert to THC  the compound that gets users high  have been legal, according to retailers who have sold smokable products in that time.

Advocates Worry About Future of Hemp Sales Amid New State Rules New rules from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture limit the distribution of certain hemp products

The state attempted to close this loophole through a rule change in the fall, prompting an ongoing lawsuit from the hemp-growing and hemp-retail industries. In February, a Nashville judge filed an injunction, effectively prohibiting the rule from taking effect until at least June.

Meanwhile, lawmakers passed a sweeping regulatory bill last month that largely aims to end the same sales beginning next year, while more closely regulating products that will still be allowed to be sold.

Heres what those rules  if signed into law and uninterrupted by lawsuits  would mean for consumers.

What Got Banned?

The amended bill will ban the sale of products with a 0.3 percent or higher weight of cannabinoids like THCa, THCv, Delta-8 and Delta-10. The late-added restrictions on THCa, which converts to the popular Delta-9 compound when heated, would make much of the currently legal ingestible products unavailable in any Tennessee retail environment  including tobacco stores, dispensaries and convenience stores, which currently sell these products.

Weed Sales Headed Toward Restriction as Legislature Considers New Bans Republican lawmakers are determined to re-restrict high-potency THC, while farmers and Democrats consider the path to legalization

What Will I Still Be Able to Buy?

Some versions of each popular type of cannabis product will still be technically legally sellable in Tennessee, including flower, vapes, edibles and other consumable cannabis products. But their availability and strength will decrease significantly given the weight restrictions in the bill.

Products currently sold as hemp and those with innately low weights of THC or CBD, like lotions and textiles, are unlikely to be impacted.

Will Prices Change?

The legislation introduces several regulatory changes to retail hemp sales, including the shift from excise taxes to wholesale taxes and taxing different types of products at higher rates than most states.

Vapes and edible products such as gummies will be taxed at 2 cents per milligram, and drinks will be taxed at 10 cents per milligram. Flower sales will be taxed at $50 per ounce, the highest such tax rate established by any state.

This type of granular regulation hasnt been implemented before, so the exact impact on retailers is difficult to predict.

Last year, the state estimated that the industry does around $200 million in business in Tennessee annually, while industry reports estimate that number to be at least $360 million. Retailers who testified against the proposed changes estimate that anywhere from 30 to 70 percent of their sales will be hindered by this bill.

With higher taxes and a revenue hit from banned products, retailers warned throughout the process that product prices may increase to offset lost revenues and prevent dispensaries from closing.

Are These Rules Final?

Gov. Bill Lee is still signing bills from this year's session, and hasnt signed this legislation into law yet. While that means the bill is not final, the governor has never vetoed a bill passed by both chambers. It is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The ongoing lawsuit targeted the Agriculture Departments proposed rule change, not this specific legislation, and is unlikely to impact the bill if it is signed into law. If a new lawsuit were filed against the law, it could hinder or delay its implementation.

This article first appeared on Nashville Banner and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Health Ranger Report: Dr. Alphonso Monzo warns about the hidden dangers of 5G and EMF pollution

Dr. Alphonso Monzo highlights how corporate media and institutional science dismiss the dangers of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), focusing only on thermal effects while ignoring non-thermal disruptions to cellular communication and human physiology.

5G radiation interferes with oxygen absorption in hemoglobin, disrupts methylation (critical for biochemical processes) and causes iron misplacement, leading to oxidative stress, heart issues and neurological disorders.

Children's developing brains are especially vulnerable to EMFs and blue light from screens, which rewire cognition, attention spans and social behaviors, creating neurologically fragile generations.

Emerging AR technologies (e.g., Apple Vision Pro) use light frequencies to manipulate brain chemistry, potentially reprogramming cellular function and exposing users to harmful, corporate-controlled narratives.

Monzo advocates natural healing methods, including his Hebrew-based touch therapy ("The Aleph-Tav Body System"), reconnecting with nature and reducing EMF exposure to restore cellular energy and health.

In a world increasingly dominated by wireless technology, concerns about the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and 5G radiation are growing. Yet, mainstream narratives often dismiss these concerns as "conspiracy theories."

To explore the science behind these claims, the Health Ranger Mike Adams sat down with Dr. Alphonso Monzo, an expert in nanotechnology, biophysics and the intersection of technology and human biology. Their conversation revealed startling insights into how wireless radiation disrupts human physiology, the neurological consequences of screen addiction, and the potential weaponization of 5G.

Monzo began by addressing why corporate media and institutional science often ignore the dangers of EMFs. The naturopathic doctor who specializes in biophysics pointed out the lack of education and the disconnect between engineers and medical professionals. Traditional safety assessments of wireless technology focus solely on thermal effects. However, Monzo emphasized that non-thermal biological effects are far more concerning.

"The body has an electromagnetic software system that controls everything," he explained, adding that man-made frequencies interfere with the natural signals and disrupt cellular communication.

Meanwhile, Adams raised concerns about 5G's potential as a weaponized system  something Monzo confirmed. The naturopathic doctor pointed out that 5G affects oxygen absorption in hemoglobin and disrupts methylation, a critical biochemical process. (Related: Can 5G exposure alter the structure and function of hemoglobin, causing coronavirus patients to die from oxygen deprivation?)

Monzo, the founder of Health Restoration Technologies, stated that he has seen a huge spike in methylation dysfunction since the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. He added that 5G also drives iron into tissues where it doesn't belong, creating oxidative stress linked to heart attacks, neurological disorders and chronic fatigue.

Peroxynitrites  highly destructive free radicals  are another consequence of EMF exposure. These molecules damage DNA, degrade mitochondrial function and contribute to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Screen addiction and augmented reality

The discussion shifted to the neurological impact of screen addiction, particularly in children. Monzo warned that kids today are glued to tablets and phones, bombarded by blue light and RF radiation.

He mentioned that children's brains are still developing, making them far more susceptible to EMFs which rewires their cognition, attention spans and social behaviors. Adams added that growing up in artificial environments has left younger generations neurologically fragile, unable to handle stress or differing viewpoints.

The conversation turned to emerging technologies like Apple's Vision Pro and Googles augmented reality goggles. Adams noted that these devices use low-power lasers to track eye movement, and they can overlay reality with corporate-controlled narratives to effectively hack cognitive neurology.

Monzo highlighted research on biophoton modulation  using light frequencies to alter brain chemistry. The lecturer and guest speaker said that light can carry information, including harmful frequencies that reprogram cellular function. He added that activating chemicals in the body through light is like hooking yourself to an IV drip of unknown substances.

Solutions: Reclaiming health in a toxic world

Despite these threats, Monzo emphasized that healing tools exist  both within the body and in nature. "The Creator has created in nature all the things and all the tools we need," he continued.

Monzo's book, "The Aleph-Tav Body System," explores an ancient Hebrew-based touch therapy that manipulates the body's energy pathways. Unlike acupuncture, which works on meridians, this system targets deeper "software" controlling cellular communication.

He showed one example of this system at work. By placing hands on specific points of the body, one can can restore energy flow and reverse dysfunction.

Adams agreed, stressing that true health requires reconnecting with nature, avoiding toxic foods and supplements and reducing EMF exposure. As wireless technology advances, understanding its biological impact is no longer optional  it's a matter of survival.

Watch the full interview between Dr. Alphonso Monzo and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Wireless radiation from mobile devices causing REAL HARM to people.

Health hazard: 5G exposure may cause cancer, infertility and developmental defects.

COVER-UP: Federal agency CANCELS cell phone radiation research after safety risks uncovered.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DrMonzo.com
Europes brush with darkness: Blackout sparks renewed debate over renewable reliability

A massive power outage hit Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium, triggered by the abrupt failure of solar facilities in Spainwhere renewables supply 75% of electricity. The collapse exposed systemic grid vulnerabilities tied to unreliable solar and wind energy.

The outage began when two Spanish solar plants disconnected simultaneously, causing a rapid drop in renewable output (from 66% to 20% capacity). Gas and coal backups were insufficient, leading to 60% power loss in Spain and disruptions across Europe.

Solar and wind lack "synchrophasor inertia," a stabilizing feature of traditional power sources. During the crisis, solar inverters shut off as grid frequency neared collapse (49.85 Hz, just 0.15 Hz above the threshold for total blackout), worsening the imbalance.

Experts criticized aggressive green mandates for ignoring reliability risks. Europes nuclear phaseouts (e.g., Germany closing reactors) left grids dependent on unstable renewables. Calls grew for nuclear power as a stable, low-carbon baseload alternative.

The outage underscored the dangers of rapid decarbonization without backup systems. Policymakers must prioritize grid modernization, energy storage and diversified sources (including nuclear and fossil fuels) to prevent future crises.

On April 29, a catastrophic power outage swept across Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium, plunging millions into darkness within seconds. The collapse was triggered by a sudden loss of solar power in Spain, a nation where renewables account for 75% of electricity generation. Investigations ruled out cyberattacks or weather anomalies, instead pointing to systemic vulnerabilities in grids reliant on intermittent energy sources like solar and wind. The incident, which nearly pushed Europes interconnected grid beyond its collapse threshold, has reignited debates over the risks of aggressive green energy mandates and the urgent need for reliable backup systems.

A five-second collapse: Understanding the Iberian crisis

The blackout began at 12:33 p.m. local time in Spain, when two solar facilities disconnected simultaneously in the southwest, destabilizing the grid. Within seconds, the interconnector linking Spain to France failed, isolating the Iberian Peninsula from Europes power network. Spains renewable generation  which supplied 66% of its capacity before the outage  plummeted to 20% of pre-failure levels. Gas and coal plants, holding just 2.5 GW of output at the time, struggled to compensate. The result: 60% of Spains power vanished, and neighboring nations faced cascading disruptions. Traffic ground to a halt, subways froze and communication systems faltered, underscoring the grids fragility in moments of crisis.

The role of solar power: Inertia shortfalls and systemic risks

Experts highlight solar energys lack of synchrophasor inertia, a stabilizing force provided by traditional power sources like coal, gas and nuclear plants. Red Electrica de Espana (REE), Spains grid operator, noted that solar and wind inverters automatically shut off during frequency drops, exacerbating the collapse. At peak failure, Europes grid frequency dipped to 49.85 hertz  perilously close to the 49.5 hertz threshold that triggers automatic plant disconnections and systemic collapse.

As the frequency dropped, solar plants couldnt compensate. Their inverters turned off, worsening the imbalance, explained a REE official, citing the precise figures in a post-incident report. The Telegraph and Daily Mail reports emphasized that solar and wind lack the rotational mass of fossil fuel turbines, making grids reliant on them highly susceptible to rapid destabilization.

Expert analysis: When ideology meets reality

Energy researcher Michael Shellenberger, in an influential Twitter thread, described the events as truly bananas, noting Europes near-total blackout was halted by a mere 0.3 hertz. The grids frequency plunged to 49.85 Hz  less than a hair above the red line, he wrote. Had it dropped just 0.15 Hz further, Europes system-wide blackout risk would have skyrocketed.

Shellenberger criticized the reckless ideology underpinning green energy mandates, arguing that renewables unpredictability poses existential risks. Youre not saving the planet by replacing reliable power with unstable alternatives, he said. Youre endangering millions.

His analysis aligns with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs admission that the outage revealed gaps in Spains energy strategy, though Sanchez insisted the countrys net-zero agenda remained on track.

Policy implications and the nuclear dilemma

Europes shift away from nuclear energy, amplified by post-Fukushima and post-Chernobyl phaseouts, has left grids increasingly dependent on renewables and gas. Yet safety and capacity challenges persist: France, once a nuclear leader, reduced its reliance to 60%, while Germany shuttered its last reactor in 2022 amid protest.

The incident has renewed calls for nuclear resurgence. Nuclear power is the only truly green baseload energy capable of stabilizing grids, argued energy analyst Chris Stirling in Revolvers post-outage coverage. France and the U.S. lag in new plant approvals, while China builds over 20 reactors annually.

Trumpss fossil-fuel-friendly policies in the U.S.  including subsidies for coal and gas  contrast starkly with Europes push for renewables. The outages timing, days ahead of Canadas election, also underscores global trade tensions over energy security. Prime Minister-elect Mark Carneys pledge to win trade wars with the U.S. hinges partly on securing energy resilience, complicating his push to expand green energy use.

A wake-up call for energy realism

The April 29 outage serves as a stark warning: rapid decarbonization without parallel investment in backup systems risks grid instability and public safety. Spains failure to maintain adequate fossil fuel and nuclear capacity highlighted the fragility of overreliance on renewables. As nations confront climate targets, policymakers must prioritize grid modernization  including energy storage and hybrid systems  to stabilize supply.

The path forward demands pragmatism over ideology. Energy freedom, as Trump and advocates emphasize, means diversification  not abandonment of reliable sources. For Europe, the clock is ticking: the next crisis could be worse, and the lights might not flicker back on so soon.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

SGTreport.com

Bloomberg.com
Overdue Cascadia megaquake may drown Pacific Northwest coast in minutes, experts warn

The Pacific Northwest faces an imminent catastrophic earthquake from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, potentially exceeding magnitude 9.0 and triggering a 100-foot tsunami.

FEMA estimates 13,000 deaths and $134 billion in damages, with long-term flooding making some coastal areas permanently uninhabitable.

A new study warns the quake could sink parts of the coastline by 6.5 feet, expanding floodplains and submerging critical infrastructure.

Tsunami waves could hit within 10-15 minutes, with historical precedents showing permanent land loss and economic devastation.

Experts urge immediate action, avoiding high-risk construction, as the region faces a 15% chance of a major quake in the next 50 years.

The Pacific Northwest could soon see a disaster unlike any in modern American history, according to experts. A 700-mile-long fault line known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone, stretching from Northern California to British Columbia, is overdue for a catastrophic earthquake  one that could exceed magnitude 9.0, sink entire stretches of coastline by up to 6.5 feet, and unleash a tsunami with waves towering 100 feet high. Scientists warn this "big one" could strike at any moment, leaving coastal residents with as little as 10 minutes to flee before floodwaters swallow their homes.

The threat isnt theoretical. The last Cascadia megaquake struck in 1700, and geological records show these events recur every 400 to 600 years. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) projections estimate 13,000 deaths, with economic losses surpassing $134 billion. But new research reveals an even grimmer long-term consequence: permanent flooding that could render entire towns uninhabitable.

Land sinks, waters rise

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that the earthquakes violent shaking will cause immediate subsidence  coastal land collapsing downward  while rising sea levels amplify the damage. Southern Washington, northern Oregon, and northern California face the worst impacts. In these regions, the floodplain could expand from 35 square miles to 116, submerging critical infrastructure and displacing thousands.

"Today, and more so in 2100 as background sea levels rise, the immediate effect of earthquake-driven subsidence will be a delay in response and recovery," said Tina Dura, the studys lead author and a geosciences professor at Virginia Tech. "Long-term effects could render many coastal communities uninhabitable."

The numbers are staggering. A quake today would expose 14,350 additional residents, 22,500 structures, and 777 miles of roadways to severe flooding. By 2100, with higher sea levels, the floodplain could triple in size. Five airports, 18 critical facilities (including hospitals), and 57 potential contaminant sites like gas stations would be compromised. Farmland soaked in saltwater may never recover, crippling local economies.

A tsunami with no escape

The earthquakes first blow will be the tsunami. Simulations from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources show waves up to 10 feet high battering the coast within 10 to 15 minutes of shaking. Some models predict 100-foot waves. "The tsunami will come in and wash away and its going to have big impacts," Dura noted, but the subsidence will linger for centuries, reshaping the coastline.

Historical precedents are chilling. The 1700 quake drowned entire villages and left "ghost forests" of trees killed by saltwater immersion. Similar subsidence after Japans 2011 T?hoku earthquake caused permanent flooding, forcing relocations. In Alaskas 1964 quake, roads and docks sank irreversibly.

The Cascadia threat has long been overshadowed by Californias San Andreas Fault, but experts urge immediate action. "Where are you going to put your school or hospital? Where are you going to build your transportation network?" asked Harold Tobin of the University of Washington. Duras team advises avoiding new construction in high-risk zones, including parts of Seaside, Oregon, and Grays Harbor, Washington.

Yet with the fault "quiet" since 1700, stress is building. The National Seismic Hazard Model gives a 15% chance of a magnitude-8.0+ quake in the next 50 years. When it hits, the region wont just shake; it will sink.

For the Pacific Northwest, the question isnt if but when. And when the Cascadia Subduction Zone finally ruptures, the disaster wont end with the quake; it will drown the coast in a new reality.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NBCNews.com

ScientificAmerican.com
Texas House passes bill threatening jail time for MEMES

The Texas House passed HB 366, which criminalizes sharing altered media (e.g., memes, deepfakes) of politicians without a government-mandated disclaimer. Violators could face up to a year in jail.

While supporters claim the bill combats election misinformation, critics argue its broad wording could punish ordinary citizens for sharing satirical content, chilling free speech. Enforcement would fall to the Texas Ethics Commission, raising concerns about government overreach.

Opponents liken the bill to censorship in regimes like the United Kingdom, where people are prosecuted for "offensive" posts. Legal experts, including First Amendment attorneys, argue the measure is unconstitutional and could criminalize parody.

The bill's passage recalls the prosecution of Douglass Mackey, jailed for a satirical 2016 meme about voting. Critics warn HB 366 could similarly weaponize the law against dissent under the guise of "election integrity."

Some Republicans, like State Rep. Shelley Luther, warned of judicial abuse, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick may block the bill in the Senate. The debate highlights tensions between preventing misinformation and protecting free expression.

In a move that has alarmed free speech advocates, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that could criminalize the sharing of political memes and altered media without a government-mandated disclaimer.

Authored by State Rep. Dade Phelan (R-District 21), House Bill (HB) 366 targets content that depicts politicians saying or doing things they never actually did  a hallmark of satire and political commentary. Violators could face up to a year in jail, raising concerns that the law could suppress humor and dissent under the guise of preventing election misinformation.

The bill  which passed 102-40  applies to individuals or groups spending more than $100 on political advertising, including boosted social media posts. While supporters argue it combats deceptive "deepfakes," critics say its vague language could ensnare ordinary citizens sharing memes.

The Texas Ethics Commission would enforce the law, determining whether content meets disclosure requirements. This prospect has drawn comparisons to censorship in authoritarian regimes, however.

During a recent debate, State Rep. Shelley Luther (R-District 62) warned of judicial abuse. She asked Phelan, the former speaker of the Texas House: "If someone creates a cartoon, can you go to jail for a year?" Incidentally, Luther was previously sentenced to jail in 2020 for defying Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns.

In response, Phelan defended the penalty as necessary for compliance. "All you have to do is disclose it," said the former speaker, a notorious Republican in name only (RINO).

From memes to mugshots: HB 366 could jail you for a joke

Opponents warned against HB 366, warning that it could stifle grassroots political expression. State Rep. David Lowe (R-District 91) called the bill "dangerous" in a post on X. The State House's approval of the bill moves it to the Texas Senate  with free speech advocates hoping that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a vocal critic of Phelan, could block its progress.

Legal experts likewise argue the measure is unconstitutional. Fort Worth attorney Tony McDonald, a specialist on the First Amendment, dismissed HB 366 as "ridiculous." He nevertheless warned that it would criminalize free speech.

The bill's broad scope  potentially covering everything from AI-generated videos to radio parodies  has drawn comparisons to restrictive laws abroad, such as the United Kingdom's prosecution of individuals for "offensive" online posts. It also amplifies fears that parody, long protected under the First Amendment, could be punished as a crime. (Related: Police raid German pensioner's home, drag him to court for retweeting meme mocking Green minister as "idiot.")

The controversy echoes the case of Douglass Mackey, who was convicted of election interference for a satirical 2016 post suggesting that supporters of former First Lady Hillary Clinton could "vote by text." Mackey, sentenced to seven months in prison, became a symbol of government overreach  with critics arguing his prosecution set a dangerous precedent.

HB 366's passage in the State House signals a growing trend of lawmakers targeting online speech under the banner of election integrity  a trend that free speech advocates say threatens the very democracy it claims to protect. The debate over it ultimately underscores a broader tension between combating misinformation and preserving free expression.

In an era where memes shape political discourse, the line between satire and deception is increasingly contested. For now, Texans  and Americans watching closely  must weigh whether the government should have the power to decide what counts as a joke.

Visit GreaterTexan.com for more similar stories.

Watch Owen Shroyer of InfoWars reviewing political memes in this clip.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden regime says memes constitute "election interference" but arresting your opposition's leading candidate (Trump) isn't.

Doug Mackey files an appeal in the election interference/Hillary Clinton "meme" case that sentenced him to seven months behind bars.

Social media influencer Douglass Mackey gets 7 months in prison for making Hillary Clinton memes during 2016 presidential election.

Sources include:

Revolver.news

TexasScorecard.com

TexasPolitics.com

Brighteon.com
BREAKING: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirms task force is investigating Faucis role in COVID-19 origins

As the world grapples with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - including a slew of totalitarian medical mandates, lockdowns, censorship, fraudulent testing programs, and failed vaccine platforms, a disturbing narrative unfolds behind the scenes. For years, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of the U.S. response to the crisis, has been at the heart of a web of deception, lies, and catastrophic experiments.

Now, thanks to the courageous efforts of former Congresswoman and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) candidate Tulsi Gabbard, the truth is on a path of reconciliation and the historic record is being corrected. The intelligence community is actively investigating Fauci's role in funding gain-of-function research, deemed so dangerous that it was banned in the U.S. from 2014 to 2017. This narrative challenges everything we've been told about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and calls into question the integrity of those who have led the response.

Gain-of-function research: a platform for global medical experimentation

Gain-of-function research involves manipulating viruses in labs to enhance their potency and spread, supposedly to better understand and counteract their threat. However, critics argue that the risks far outweigh the benefits, as these enhanced viruses could escape the lab and cause a pandemic. The U.S. government banned this type of research in 2014 due to its potential catastrophic consequences. It is the perfect platform to create vaccines and testing programs preemptively, to gain power and profit from.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard's revelation: In an interview, Gabbard revealed that the U.S. intelligence community is probing American taxpayer-funded research that may have been involved in the creation of COVID-19. This research, conducted under the guise of gain-of-function, involved manipulating viruses to increase their ability to infect human cells.

Wuhan Institute of Virology: The obvious source

At the heart of this investigation lies the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China. This lab, funded by the U.S. through the EcoHealth Alliance, conducted controversial gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Controversial experiments: WIV researchers, including Shi Zhengli, have been studying bat coronaviruses and manipulating their genetic makeup to make them more lethal and contagious. Some of these experiments, funded by U.S. taxpayers through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), resemble the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

"Absurd" coincidence: The timeline and location of these experiments coincide eerily with the first reported cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan. While some scientists argue that a natural spillover is plausible, the potential link between WIV's research and the pandemic warrants serious investigation.

Fauci's involvement: From funds and boasting to denials and coverups

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has been a key figure in U.S. pandemic response and a prominent denier of the lab-leak theory. However, evidence suggests that his involvement in funding the very research that may have caused the pandemic goes far beyond mere oversight. The bioterror was planned, the so-called vaccines were prepared beforehand, and coronavirus gain-of-function experiments became a pandemic that public health officials like Fauci would glean power and profit from.

Funding WIV's gain-of-function research: Through EcoHealth Alliance, NIAID, led by Fauci, provided grants totaling nearly $600,000 to WIV for research on bat coronaviruses between 2015 and 2019. This funding, approved by Fauci, helped facilitate the risky experiments that may have led to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Perjury under oath: Fauci repeatedly denied funding gain-of-function research at WIV during Congressional hearings, most notably in clashes with Senator Rand Paul. However, emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests reveal that Fauci approved the funding in question. These conflicting statements call into question Fauci's honesty and integrity.

Collusion and cover-up: Suppressing the truth

As the scandal raged on, Fauci and his cohorts allegedly went to great lengths to suppress information about the virus's origins and discredit scientists who dared to suggest a lab leak.

Collaboration with Chinese officials: Rather than hold China accountable for the pandemic's origins, Fauci and other top U.S. public health officials worked with Chinese counterparts to produce a joint statement that refuted the lab-leak theory. This statement, published in The Lancet, was later found to be based on false information provided by Chinese officials.

Discrediting the lab leak investigation: Fauci and his cohort, Dr. Peter Daszak, have been accused of actively discrediting the lab-leak theory and attacking scientists who supported it. Daszak, a zoologist who worked closely with WIV and received NIH funding, even wrote a letter to The Lancet condemning the lab-leak hypothesis as a "conspiracy theory" before claiming to have no conflict of interest in the matter.

As the investigation into Fauci's role in the COVID-19 pandemic continues, one thing is clear: the truth has been suppressed for far too long. The gravity of the situation demands transparency, accountability, and decisive action to prevent such disasters in the future. With bravado and hubris, Fauci and his cohorts have remained unaccountable, shielded by political allies and mainstream media that have bowed to the establishment's narrative. It is time for the world to wake up to the truth, regardless of how inconvenient or uncomfortable it may be. The lives lost, the economies ruined, and the global consequences of the COVID-19 scandal demand no less.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Factory farm ANTIBIOTIC ABUSE fuels deadly SUPERBUG SURGE

Approximately 1.14 million deaths annually are linked to antibiotic resistance, driven by reckless overuse in factory farms.

The misuse of antibiotics in industrial agriculture is accelerating the rise of drug-resistant "superbugs," now responsible for 1.14 million deaths globally each year  a figure projected to rise to 8.22 million by 2050 if current trends continue. Despite these dire warnings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to prioritize corporate interests over public health, gutting oversight while appointing industry insiders to key regulatory positions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned of a looming "post-antibiotic era" where common infections could become fatal. Yet, 70% of medically important antibiotics in the U.S. are used in livestock, often not to treat disease but to promote growth and compensate for the filthy, overcrowded conditions of factory farms. This reckless practice allows bacteria to evolve resistance, rendering life-saving drugs ineffective for humans.

FDA lay offs key staff overseeing veterinary medicine, leaving Big Ag unchecked

In April 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) executed mass layoffs at the FDA, eliminating over 140 positions, including veterinarians critical to monitoring antibiotic misuse in agriculture. Among those dismissed was the chief veterinary officer, a key figure in enforcing antibiotic regulations.

Delcianna Winders, director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute, condemned the move: "It seems less likely than ever that progress on this ticking time bomb will be made under the current administration."

The layoffs coincided with the appointment of Timothy Schell, a former executive at Elanco Animal Health  a major producer of livestock antibiotics  as the acting director of the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Critics argue that Schells ties to industry ensure continued regulatory inaction.

Andrew deCoriolis of Farm Forward stated: "Its pretty hard to take seriously the idea that FDA is going to curb antibiotic use on farms when they appoint a former drug company lobbyist as the chief regulator."

Former drug lobbyist appointed to lead FDAs veterinary division, signaling surrender to corporate interests...The revolving door between regulators and industry has long undermined public trust in the FDA. Schells appointment follows a pattern of regulatory capture, where agencies tasked with protecting consumers instead serve corporate agendas.

Under Schells leadership, the FDA has continued to rely on voluntary guidelines for antibiotic use, allowing drugmakers and agribusiness to self-regulate. Meanwhile, the agencys data-collection program  funded by industry  has been dismissed as "toothless theater" by critics, as it relies on self-reported data from the very companies profiting from antibiotic overuse.

U.S. blocks global efforts to reduce farm antibiotics, prioritizing profits over public health

In September 2024, the U.S. joined a United Nations pledge to reduce farm antibiotic use by 2030but actively blocked binding targets, ensuring no enforceable action. This move aligns with the interests of Big Pharma and industrial agriculture, which profit from the status quo.

A 2024 Lancet report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) revealed alarming trends:

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) deaths have doubled since 1990.

Carbapenem-resistant bacteria now kill over 1 million people annually.

By 2050, antibiotic resistance could surpass cancer as a leading cause of death.

Despite these warnings, the FDAs policies remain weak and industry-friendly, with no meaningful restrictions on the most dangerous antibiotics. The stakes could not be higher. If antibiotic resistance continues unchecked, routine medical proceduresfrom surgeries to chemotherapy  could become deadly due to untreatable infections. Yet, the FDAs actions suggest business as usual, even as the crisis escalates. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Martin Makary, both vocal critics of antibiotic misuse, were seen as potential reformers when appointed to leadership roles at HHS and the FDA. However, the recent layoffs and industry-friendly appointments indicate that real change is far off.

What can be done?

Support efforts to hold FDA officials and drug company executives accountable for their role in this public health crisis.

Demand real FDA reform by contacting political representatives and advocating for binding antibiotic restrictions.

Spread awareness by sharing this information and supporting independent journalism that exposes corporate malfeasance.

For the latest on these trends, check out Superbugs.News.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

TheLancet.com

USRTK.org
HHS, NIH waste $500 million on failed universal vaccine scheme as respiratory viruses continue to mutate beyond vaccine efficacy

The U.S. government is doubling down on failed vaccine science , pouring half a billion taxpayer dollars into a futile quest for "universal" vaccines against influenza and coronaviruses. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the "Generation Gold Standard" initiative, a repackaged version of Bidens failed Project NextGen, which itself was a continuation of the disastrous Operation Warp Speed.

Despite decades of evidence showing that respiratory viruses mutate too quickly for vaccines to keep up, bureaucrats and captured scientists are pushing forward with beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated whole-virus vaccinesa 70-year-old technology that has never delivered on the promise of universal protection.

Key Points:

HHS and NIH invest $500 million in "Generation Gold Standard," a revamped universal vaccine program using outdated BPL-inactivated virus technology.

Experts warn the approach is scientifically flawed, as respiratory viruses mutate too rapidly for any vaccine to provide lasting immunity.

Placebo-controlled trials may finally expose the risks of these vaccines, but taxpayer funds are being wasted on a doomed project.

Independent scientists argue the program is another Big Pharma handout disguised as innovation, despite claims of government-led transparency.

A recycled failure, repackaged as innovation

The NIHs Dr. Jay Bhattacharya called the program a "paradigm shift," but independent scientists arent buying it. Dr. Meryl Nass, a longtime vaccine safety advocate, told The Defender: "This holy grail in vaccinology has been sought for decades, so far unsuccessfully. The press release fails to tell us how this method is suddenly going to produce the holy grail."

BPL technology, while safer than mRNA, still carries risks. Epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher of the McCullough Foundation cautioned: "Any injectable product delivering toxic antigenseven if inactivatedcan still result in serious adverse events, especially if distributed at scale without rigorous long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials."

HHS claims all new vaccines will now undergo placebo-controlled testinga tacit admission that previous COVID-19 vaccines were rushed without proper safety checks. But will this be enforced, or is it just another empty promise?

Key features of the BPL-inactivated whole-virus platform:

The beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus platform is a vaccine production method that uses chemically inactivated whole viruses to induce an immune response. Heres how it works and why its significant:

Whole-virus approach

Unlike subunit vaccines (e.g., hepatitis Bs surface antigen), this method uses the entire virus, preserving all structural proteins (including those not present in subunit vaccines).

This can lead to a broader immune response, as multiple viral antigens are presented to the immune system.

Inactivation with beta-propiolactone (BPL)

BPL is a chemical agent that irreversibly damages viral genetic material (RNA/DNA), rendering the virus non-infectious while keeping its protein structure intact.

Compared to other inactivating agents (e.g., formaldehyde), BPL is less likely to disrupt critical antigenic epitopes, ensuring better immune recognition.

Safety & efficacy

Since the virus is fully inactivated, there is no risk of replication or infection (unlike live-attenuated vaccines).

The preserved viral structure helps stimulate both antibody (humoral) and T-cell (cellular) immune responses, which can be crucial for long-term protection.

Examples of use

Historically used in rabies vaccines (e.g., the original Salk rabies vaccine).

Also employed in some COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., Sinopharms BBIBP-CorV) and influenza vaccines.

The real agenda: More funding for Big Pharmas failing model

While HHS boasts that this is a "government-owned" project, the reality is that Big Pharma will still profit. The NIH has long been a revolving door for pharmaceutical executives, and the "public-private partnership" model ensures that taxpayer money ultimately flows to corporate interests.

Childrens Health Defense (CHD) CEO Mary Holland noted the irony: "Its interesting that this doesnt direct payments to Big Pharma, but the question is: Will the NIH resist industry pressure when these vaccines inevitably fail?"

The timeline is equally suspect:

2026: Clinical trials begin (conveniently after the next election).

2029: FDA "approval" target (assuming no more scandals emerge).

By then, the viruses will have mutated beyond recognition, rendering any "universal" vaccine obsolete.

A better solution: Natural immunity and microbiome health

The fundamental flaw in this approach is the ignorance of mucosal immunitythe bodys first line of defense in the respiratory tract. Vaccines injected into muscle tissue cannot replicate the full-spectrum immune response generated by natural infection.

Moreover, individual microbiomes play a critical role in immune functiona factor completely ignored by one-size-fits-all vaccine programs. Instead of wasting billions on doomed vaccine projects, why not invest in:

Nutrition-based immunity, which improves human evolution to pathogens (vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, quercetin).

Making super foods and herbal medicines more accessible, more affordable, and normalized as medicine.

Early treatment protocols uncensored, more readily available (ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine).

Assisting in microbiome recovery (many Americans' guts are decimated by antibiotics and have weak immune responses).

Assisting in parasite cleanses.

Removing impediments to immune function, whether that be endocrine disrupters, pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metal exposures.

Public health education on detoxification and immune resilience using basic phytochemicals, whether in tea, tincture, or supplement and smoothie mixes and blends.

The U.S. government is repeating the same mistakes that led to the COVID-19 vaccine disasterpumping money into a broken system while ignoring the science of natural immunity. Infectious diseases will never be eradicated, but the population can become healthier, with a broader approach to immune system health that evolves herd immunity of the population through healthy infection recovery and natural immunity.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

HHS.gov

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
Israeli government faces fury over wildfire failures amid Gaza war distractions

Wildfires in Israel have burned over 5,000 acres near Jerusalem, sparking public anger over the governments lack of preparedness despite years of warnings.

Experts say Israels firefighting resources are critically underfunded, with past recommendations ignored, including a rejected plan for firefighting helicopters.

Netanyahus son Yair falsely blamed left-wing activists and Palestinians for arson, deepening political divisions amid the crisis.

International aid has been requested as firefighters struggle to contain the flames, with critics accusing the government of prioritizing military spending over domestic safety.

The disaster highlights systemic neglect, with officials trading blame while citizens question why Israel remains unprepared for environmental emergencies.

As wildfires rage across Israel for a second day, scorching over 5,000 acres near Jerusalem, public outrage is mounting over the governments failure to prepare for the disaster despite years of warnings. The crisis has exposed deep political divisions, with officials scrambling to assign blame while critics accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus administration of neglecting firefighting resources in favor of its military campaign in Gaza.

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) called the blaze one of the worst in Israels history, forcing evacuations, road closures, and international aid requests. Meanwhile, Netanyahus son, Yair, sparked controversy by baselessly blaming left-wing activists and Palestinians for arson, further inflaming tensions in a nation already divided by war and political dysfunction.

A preventable disaster?

For years, experts warned that Israels firefighting capabilities were dangerously inadequate. In 2010, a deadly Carmel Forest fire killed 44 people, yet Netanyahu blocked a full state inquiry. A subsequent comptrollers report revealed severe shortages: Israel had a quarter of the firefighters and a tenth of the fire retardant materials compared to similarly sized nations.

Despite these warnings, little changed. Tomer Lotan, former director general of the public security ministry, revealed that a 2022 plan to purchase Black Hawk helicopters for firefighting was scrapped by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Theres no clearer example of the irresponsibility and danger of appointing Ben Gvir as minister, Lotan said. Police sources told Haaretz that the helicopters could have helped contain the current disaster.

Political blame game heats up

As flames spread, Netanyahu claimed 18 arson arrests  a figure disputed by police, who confirmed only three. His son Yair stoked division on social media, writing, I really hope the arson was only carried out by Arabs, without any collaboration from our own people. Critics dismissed the claims as inflammatory, noting no evidence links the fires to organized arson.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Climate Forum accused Netanyahu of ignoring their March plea for emergency wildfire preparations. We tried to get his attention, said forum head Dov Khenin. The prime minister did not make an effort to assemble the discussion.

International aid and ongoing dangers

With local resources overwhelmed, Israel sought help from Greece, Italy, and Croatia, deploying eight firefighting planes. More than 150 ground crews and 12 aircraft battled the flames, but high winds and dry conditions hampered efforts. At least 23 people were treated for smoke inhalation, and 17 firefighters injured.

The disaster has reignited debates about Israels priorities. While the government funnels resources into its Gaza offensive, critics argue it has neglected domestic crises. Decision-makers reacted with indifference, said Dov Ganem, chairman of the Israel Fire and Air Rescue Association, who warned of fire risks for 18 years.

Israels wildfires are more than a natural disaster; theyre a symptom of systemic neglect. As politicians trade blame, the public is left questioning why a nation with one of the worlds most advanced militaries remains unprepared for environmental emergencies. In cases like this, the governments failure to act could have deadly consequences.

For now, the flames near Jerusalem serve as a sobering reminder that while Israel wages war abroad, its own land burns unchecked.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

AlJazeera.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

CNN.com
Moscow draws red line: Ukraines 1991 borders are dead as Kievs terrorist strikes escalate bloodshed

The Kremlin has issued an unequivocal warning: Ukraines dreams of reclaiming its 1991 borders are OVER . In a scathing statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned Kievs latest drone attack on a civilian market in Aleshki, Kherson, as a calculated act of terrorismone that exposes the true nature of the Western-backed regime. The strike, timed for maximum carnage on a Russian holiday, left seven dead and over 20 wounded, with a second wave of drones reportedly targeting first responders.

This atrocity has once again revealed the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, the ministry declared, accusing Ukraine of sabotaging peace efforts while its Western enablers pump the country full of weapons. The message was clear: Russia will never allow a return to Ukraines post-Soviet borders, which Moscow now frames as an existential threat.

Key points:

Russian Foreign Ministry declares Ukraine will never return to its 1991 borders, citing security threats to Russian citizens.

Ukrainian drone strike on a crowded Russian market kills seven, injures over 20 in a deliberate act of terror, Moscow claims.

EU rejects US-backed peace proposals recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea, while Ukraine quietly accepts de facto surrender of lost territories.

Trump envoy reveals Kiev is willing to freeze conflict along current front lines, effectively ceding land to Russia without formal recognition.

The Wests war machine fuels Kievs desperation

As Washington and Brussels bicker over peace terms, the reality on the ground grows more dire for Ukraine. The Trump administration, despite its public posturing, is reportedly negotiating a deal that would recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimeaa move the EUs Kaja Kallas swiftly rejected, insisting Crimea is Ukraine. But Kievs own officials, according to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, have already conceded defeat in private, agreeing to a de facto surrender of occupied territories.

Theyre willing to give up the land not de jureforeverbut de facto because the Russians actually occupied it, Kellogg told Fox News. The proposed ceasefire would freeze the conflict along current lines, leaving Russia in control of nearly 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.

Behind the scenes, Western arms shipments continue to prop up Ukraines collapsing front lines, but without a decisive shift in strategy, these supplies only prolong the inevitable. NATOs reluctance to commit troops ensures Moscows dominance, while Kievs dwindling manpower and ammunition make any counteroffensive futile. The longer this charade drags on, the more Ukraine bleedspolitically, economically, and territorially. The Wests half-measures have left Zelensky trapped between hollow promises and the grim reality of Russian occupation.

A war of attrition with no winnersexcept the elites

Since the 2014 US-backed coup in Kiev, Ukraine has been a pawn in a geopolitical chess match, with ordinary citizens paying the price. Crimeas referendum to join Russia, dismissed as illegal by the West, was followed by Donbass rebellions and Putins full-scale invasion in 2022. Now, after years of bloodshed, even Ukrainian officials admit their military cannot reclaim lost ground.

The bitter truth? This war was never about Ukrainian sovereigntyit was about NATO expansion, arms dealer profits, and destabilizing Russia. As Kellogg noted, Kievs leadership is ready to cut its losses, but will the West let them? Or will the military-industrial complex demand more sacrifices to justify its existence?

Conclusion: A new Iron Curtain rises

History repeats itself, not as tragedy or farce, but as a slow-motion conquest masked by diplomatic doublespeak. Russia, emboldened by Western weakness, is redrawing the map while Ukraines government clings to the illusion of Western salvation. The question now is not whether Kiev will surrender territoryit already hasbut how many more must die before the world admits the war is lost.

As Putin tightens his grip and Washington hedges its bets on peace, one truth remains: empires rise and fall, but the people caught between them always pay the price.

Sources include:

RT.com

RT.com

NYTimes.com
Rubio exposes Bidens surveillance of American dissent: Outrageous free speech violations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the Biden administrations State Department maintained secret files labeling U.S. citizens, including a Trump-era official, as "vectors of disinformation," raising concerns about government overreach and censorship.

Originally created under Obama to combat foreign disinformation, the Global Engagement Center (GEC) expanded to target domestic critics, funding groups like the Global Disinformation Index to blacklist conservative outlets (e.g., Newsmax, NY Post) as "high risk."

Elon Musk, now a government advisor, condemned the GEC as a top offender in U.S. censorship, citing its role in branding dissent as "Russian disinformation" and its "disinfo cloud" projecta State Department initiative to equip Big Tech with censorship tools before the 2020 election.

After Congress defunded the GEC in 2025, the Biden team rebranded it as the "Counter Foreign Information Manipulation Hub" (CFIMI), which Rubio swiftly shut down, calling it a threat to civil liberties.

The scandal fuels GOP efforts to curb federal censorship, with Trump issuing an executive order banning unconstitutional speech restrictions. Critics warn that labeling dissent as "disinformation" risks state surveillance and chilling free expression, setting up a Supreme Court battle over First Amendment rights.

In a stunning revelation with implications for free speech and government overreach, Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed on April 30, 2025, that the Biden administrations State Department maintained secret dossiers labeling American citizens as vectors of disinformation. Among the targets was an unnamed Trump-era cabinet official, underscoring an alleged campaign to stifle dissent through systemic censorship. The project, tied to the disbanded Global Engagement Center (GEC), has ignited fierce debate over executive branch authority, constitutional rights and the role of government in policing online speech.

Rubios bombshell came during a high-profile Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, where he revealed the existence of taxpayer-funded GEC files that monitored social media posts to marginalized individuals and outlets critical of the Biden White House. Vice President J.D. Vance wryly joked, Was it me or Elon [Musk]?, before quipping that the matter would be addressed post-meetingdrawing laughter but underscoring the surreal nature of the disclosure. The State Departments actions, once justified as a tool to counter foreign propaganda, have transmuted into a partisan battleground over civil liberties.

The global engagement center: From counter-terror tool to domestic censorship fixture

Established by President Barack Obama in 2016 through Executive Order 13727, the GEC initially aimed to counter terrorism-related disinformation abroad. By 2020, however, its mandate expanded to include domestic censorship, particularly during the pandemic. The center funded entities like the Global Disinformation Index, which labeled outlets such as Newsmax and the New York Post as high risk, a move criticized as politically motivated suppression of conservative voices.

Elon Musk, now in a government advisory role, slammed the GEC in 2023 as the worst offender in U.S. government censorship, citing its efforts to frame dissent as Russian disinformation. The centers controversial pivot became starkly evident in the disinfo cloud project, a State Department initiative to develop censorship tools disseminated to Big Tech firms ahead of the 2020 electiona program unmasked by journalist Matt Taibbis reporting on leaked Twitter files.

By 2024, GECs budget$50 million annuallystill lacked transparency, prompting its elimination in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. Yet Bidens team rebranded it as the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub (CFIMI) days before Trumps 2025 inauguration. Rubio shut CFIMI in April, calling it an offense to civil liberties. The department actively silenced Americans it was meant to serve, he said, emphasizing its antithesis to democratic principles.

The dossier on a Trump official

Rubio declined to name the Trump-era official surveilled by the GEC, instead vowing to release the dossier directly to them. Theres at least one person at this table today who had a dossier of their social media posts identifying them as a purveyor of disinformation, Rubio stated, leaving the individual to decide publicizing the findings. Multiple Trump allies, including Musk, have long been targets of GEC scrutiny.

Conservative critics view the dossier program as unconstitutional overreach. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) denounced the GEC at a recent hearing for suppressing free speech using taxpayer dollars, accusing it of serving as a watchdog for ideological enemies. Conversely, GEC defenders argue it combated foreign threats, citing reports on Russian misinformation in Africa and Chinas $1 trillion media buildup. Former GEC director/statistician John Smith (a pseudonym used in previous reports) claims national security required aggressive action against pro-China narratives, a stance critics dismiss as broad overreach.

The controversy aligns with broader GOP campaigns to curb federal censorship. President Trumps April 30 executive order banned unconstitutional free-speech restrictions, directing the Justice Department to investigate Biden-era censorship. The State Departments role in colluding with Big Techsuch as providing lists of disinformation vectors to content moderatorshas further deepened distrust in institutional governance.

Broader implications: Congressional battles and the 2024 election aftermath

The GECs dismantling reflects shifting congressional power dynamics. The 2024 elections GOP victories empowered lawmakers to defund initiatives like CFIMI and probe executive misconduct. Rubios reforms also signal a generational shift in how governments balance disinformation threats with free expression, particularly amid rising AI-enabled state propaganda.

Musks advocacy against the GEC and his current role as a Department of Government Efficiency leader highlight Silicon Valleys entanglement in governance debates. His claim that the GEC threatened democracy echoes bipartisan concerns over deepfake technology and foreign influencebut also fuels accusations of partisan bias.

For Americans, the dossier revelations reignite fears of state surveillance. If the government can weaponize disinformation labels to target politicians, observes civil liberties attorney Jane Doe, it could silence anyone criticizing inept policies like borders. The next Supreme Court case might decide if disinformation arrests are constitutional.

A crossroads for free speech and government power

Rubios expose underlines a pivotal clash between national security imperatives and civil liberties. While Democrats argue that foreign adversaries exploit disinformation to destabilize democracy, conservatives warn of the GECs domestic chilling effect on speech. The dossiers, Taibbis findings and Musks testimony all suggest systemic misuse of powera pattern Senate Judiciary Committee plans to investigate further.

As the GEC closes, its legacy lingers. The December 23, 2024, expiration of its original mandate preceded Rubios April action, yet Bidens circumvention underscores the urgency of election outcomes for policy direction. This scandal isnt just political drama, argues free speech advocate Mark Brown. Its about whether Americans can criticize policiesincluding border chaoswithout being labeled national security threats. The 2026 midterms will decide whether truth wins, or algorithms do.

For now, Rubios commitment to transparencywith dossiers sent to targetsand the 2025 White Houses pledges to restore free speech remain cornerstones in this fraught debate. Yet as long as state and corporate power intertwine in defining truth, the struggle between oversight and autonomy may define democracy itself.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

Yahoo.com

Fox28Savannah.com
Senate overturns Bidens appliance efficiency mandate, capping GOPs regulatory rollback

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution (52-46) to revoke stricter energy efficiency standards for appliances like dishwashers and air conditioners, marking a Republican victory in rolling back Biden-era climate regulations.

The Biden administration argued the rules would save consumers $1.6 billion and cut emissions, but Republicans and industry groups claimed they would raise appliance prices by thousands of dollars per household.

Critics, including the Heritage Foundation, warned the standards would disproportionately burden low-income households and manufacturers, requiring costly upgrades like replacing gas heaters with pricier heat pumps.

The repeal reflects broader GOP efforts to unwind Obama- and Biden-era regulations, with Republicans framing the rules as bureaucratic overreach while environmental groups emphasize long-term savings and emissions reductions.

The resolution heads to Trump for approval, signaling ongoing clashes over energy efficiency standards, electric vehicle subsidies and emissions caps, with the issue likely to influence the 2026 election cycle.

On Wednesday, April 30, the U.S. Senate voted 52-46 to revoke a Biden-era rule mandating stricter energy efficiency standards for household appliances, solidifying Republican efforts to dismantle federal climate regulations that critics argue burden consumers and manufacturers. The joint resolution, spearheaded by Ohio Senator Jon Husted, targets rules imposed in October 2024 by the Department of Energy (DOE) under President Joe Biden, marking a decisive victory for a Trump administration push to roll back costly green mandates. The bipartisan-backed legislation now heads to President Donald Trump, who in February called for reinstating Trump-era standards, framing the move as a return to common sense economic policies.

The rollback and its stakes

The rule struck down Wednesday sought to phase out less energy-efficient appliancessuch as dishwashers, air conditioners and heat pumpsbeginning in 2025, requiring manufacturers to meet updated efficiency, certification and labeling requirements. The Biden administration had projected the policy would save consumers $1.6 billion on utility bills and curb 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 30 years. However, Republican lawmakers and industry groups argued the standards would inflate upfront appliance costs, adding an estimated 9,000 per household, according to the Alliance for Consumers think tank.

Im proud to lead this effort to repeal excessive regulation and deliver real cost savings to hardworking Americans, Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas) said in March, when the House approved a similar resolution targeting refrigeration efficiency standards.

Husted, the Senate sponsor, framed the vote as a defense of consumer sovereignty. Bureaucratic, out-of-touch regulations make it harder for taxpayers to afford appliances, he stated in a press release, calling the rollback a protection of consumer choice and lower costs. The resolution also highlights concerns over compliance burdens, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) citing Bidens $1.8 trillion regulatory agenda as proof of unjustified bureaucratic overreach.

Industry and consumer impact

The DOE estimated manufacturers would need nearly $66.7 million in investments to meet the new efficiency standards, a financial burden critics say translates to higher prices for everyday appliances. The September 2023 rule, developed with input from environmental groups and industry stakeholders, had sought a middle ground between environmental advocacy and utility savings. Those groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Consumer Reports, projected long-term savings for households.

But Husted warned the rule would cut red tape for manufacturers, while opponents used the Alliance for Consumers October 2023 analysis  bolstered by Heritage Foundation energy policy expertsto frame the policy as a regressive tax. For instance, a DOE-mandated shift to high-efficiency heat pumps could force households to replace gas units with costlier heat pump models, adding $2,800 per home, according to the organization. Similarly, HFC bans in refrigerators and air conditioners could raise AC refills by 1,100.

Jack Spencer, an energy policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, emphasized the regressive impact: Low-income families  will be hit harder by [mandates] because older homes [need] substantial retrofits to meet standards, he told the DCNF in October 2023. As efficiency rules spread to appliances like?? stoves and vehicles, critics argue the costs will compound, stifling economic flexibility.

Competing visions of green progress

Though the House approved H.J. Res. 42 by a wide margin, the Senate vote under GOP control underscored deeper ideological divides. The rule, however, was born from a rare 2023 collaboration between groups like the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Some lawmakers pushed for compromises to balance efficiency and affordability.

Environmental advocates argue consumer spending on energy-efficient appliances could spare households costs over time. However, Republican leaders dismiss such claims as speculative, emphasizing upfront sticker shocks. Trumps April 2020 executive order on energy dominance and his repeated calls to revive earlier efficiency standards further frame this rollback as part of a broader strategy to unwind Obama-era climate policies.

The roots of todays regulatory struggle

The Biden rule, part of a series of measures proposed in 2023, aimed to revive stalled climate goals after the Trump administrations regulatory pullback. Its predecessors, such as DOE updates for commercial refrigerators overturned this year, faced similar backlash. The current GOP strategy mirrors Trumps 2017-2020 deregulatory agenda, prioritizing industry freedoms and skepticism of global warming impacts.

Yet the Trump administrations 2024 revival of fossil fuel-friendly policies  the same year Bidens standards were finalized  reflects a cyclical political seesaw over environmental governance.

A preview of regulatory wars ahead?

With Trump expected to swiftly sign the Senates resolution, the DOEs efficiency rules will vanish, barring new congressional action. This outcome represents a strategic GOP win but underscores the deep partisan divide over climate policys economic costs. As Spencer noted, such mandates create a perverse outcome for vulnerable families  a critique conservative advocates will likely amplify in future battles over energy efficiency standards, EV subsidies and emissions caps. For now, the Senates move positions Washingtons war over regulatory control at the heart of the 2026 election cycle.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

FederalRegister.gov

DailyCaller.com
U.S. and Ukraine finalize minerals deal, but skepticism lingers over repayment claims

The U.S. and Ukraine signed a 10-year deal granting America preferential access to Ukraines mineral resources in exchange for continued military aid.

Trumps administration claims the agreement benefits U.S. taxpayers, but critics doubt the promised economic returns will materialize quickly.

Ukraine secured concessions, ensuring the deal only applies to new aid and does not require repayment of past assistance, protecting its resource sovereignty.

Experts warn that extracting Ukraines mineralsmany in war zoneswill take years, raising doubts about immediate U.S. gains.

The deal lacks security guarantees for Ukraine, leaving its long-term stability uncertain while tying its economy closely to U.S. interests.

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian officials finalized a 10-year bilateral security and economic agreement on Wednesday, granting the U.S. preferential access to Ukraines vast mineral resources in exchange for continued military aid. The deal has been hailed by the Trump administration as a win for American taxpayers, but critics question whether the promised benefits will materialize.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the agreement a "historic economic partnership," stating it would help "accelerate Ukraines economic recovery" while ensuring U.S. interests are protected. Yet the deal comes after months of tense negotiations, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially resisting Trumps demands for repayment of aid.

A deal born from pressure

The agreement establishes the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which will funnel American and international capital into Ukraines critical mineral sector, including rare earth metals, oil, and natural gas. While the White House frames this as a fair exchange for future military support, earlier drafts of the deal were far more lopsided, demanding Ukraine repay $350 billion in past aid.

Ukrainian officials managed to negotiate key concessions, ensuring the deal only applies to new military assistance and does not force reimbursement for prior aid. "All resources on our territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine," emphasized Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the agreement in Washington. Still, the Trump administration insists the deal safeguards American interests. "We made a deal today where we get, you know, much more in theory, than the $350 billion but I wanted to be protected," Trump told NewsNation, though he provided no specifics.

Skepticism over mineral payouts

While the agreement grants the U.S. preferential access to Ukraines mineral wealthincluding lithium, titanium, and uraniumexperts caution that extracting these resources will take years and require massive investment. Many deposits lie in active war zones or regions under Russian occupation, raising doubts about immediate returns for American taxpayers.

Moreover, the deal does not include security guarantees for Ukraine, a major sticking point in earlier negotiations. Zelensky had initially balked at signing without assurances of long-term U.S. support, but Ukrainian officials now hope that American economic involvement will indirectly bolster their security. "This is truly an equal and good international deal," said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, though some analysts argue Ukraine conceded more than it gained.

A political gamble for both sides

For Trump, the deal is a chance to claim victory in his "America First" agenda, framing it as a way to recoup taxpayer dollars. But critics warn the administration is overselling the benefits. The agreement does not guarantee exclusive U.S. access to Ukraines resources, nor does it ensure profits will offset aid expenditures.

For Ukraine, the pact offers a lifeline amid dwindling Western support, but it also ties its economy closely to U.S. interests, which is a risky move given Trumps unpredictable stance on the war. The deals success hinges on Ukraines ability to stabilize its territory and attract investment while still fighting Russian forces.

The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal is a testament to hard-nosed diplomacy, but its long-term impact remains unclear. While the Trump administration touts it as a win for taxpayers, the lack of immediate returns and Ukraines precarious position suggest the benefits may be more symbolic than substantive. As the war grinds on, this agreement could either strengthen Kyivs hand or leave both nations grappling with unmet expectations.

For now, America is sending a strong message that its support for Ukraine comes with strings attached. Whether those strings will ever pull their weight is another question entirely.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

APNews.com

CNN.com
U.S.-India energy pact undermines climate orthodoxy while solidifying counter-Chinese alliance

The U.S. and India formalized a trade agreement prioritizing fossil fuels and energy security, facilitating American LNG exports and joint offshore exploration. The deal strengthens economic ties and counters Western climate policies, reflecting Indias strategic shift toward energy diversification and reduced reliance on Middle Eastern gas.

Indias GAIL secured a long-term deal for 1 million metric tons of U.S. LNG annually, advancing its goal to increase natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030.

The move aligns with Indias post-1991 economic reforms, which spurred rapid GDP growth, and mirrors past infrastructure successes like the Golden Quadrilateral highway project.

The deal reinforces the QUAD alliance (U.S., India, Japan, Australia) and bolsters Indias role in countering Chinas dominance in Indo-Pacific trade routes. Indias strong services exports (vs. Vietnams merchandise reliance) give it leverage in negotiations, reducing vulnerability to U.S. tariffs.

India openly prioritizes energy security over Western climate targets, postponing its net-zero goal to 2070 amid power shortages and a growing population. A senior negotiator rejected "climate cartel fearmongering," framing hydrocarbon development as essential for sovereignty and economic resilience.

In a groundbreaking shift reshaping global energy dynamics, the United States and India last week formalized a landmark trade agreement prioritizing fossil fuels and energy security at the expense of climate activist agendas. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the conclusion of terms for a deal facilitating American LNG exports and joint exploration of Indian offshore reserves, a move analysts say marks a strategic rebuke to Western climate policies while strengthening economic ties between the worlds largest democracy and the U.S.

The deal, reached after a 90-day reprieve from President Donald Trumps punitive tariffs, positions India to diversify its energy supplies, reduce reliance on Middle Eastern gas and bolster its role as a bulwark against China in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts highlight its alignment with Indias centuries-old pursuit of self-determination, a contrast to the economic disruptions of British colonialism, while signaling a broader geopolitical recalibration prioritizing national sovereignty over globalist climate mandates.

Structural shift: Energy self-reliance and economic strategy

The pacts core lies in GAIL Limiteds tender for 1 million metric tons annually of American LNG, a move shelved during former President Joe Bidens curbs on LNG exports before the Trump administrations April 2024 reversal. The long-term agreement underscores Indias goal to expand natural gass energy mix share to 15% by 2030, a critical step to mitigate its current 85% crude oil import dependency and frequent power outages.

This modern energy resurgence echoes historical lessons of economic liberation. Post-1991 trade reforms, including slashed taxes and EU-inspired policies, propelled Indias GDP growth to 5.6% annually, lifting it from OECDs 22nd to 4th wealthiest in two decades. The energy deal continues this trajectory, with GAILs now-moored LNG strategy mirroring past strides in tech and automotive sectorswhere highways like the Golden Quadrilateral have spurred a 140km Chennai-Vellore artery into a hub of Hyundai and Saint-Gobain facilities.

Yet critics warn of parallels to past environmental compromises, as new prawn farms along Indias Coromandel Coast highlight, displacing small farmers to swell urban slums. However, GAILs tech-based approach promises fewer ecological scars, avoiding the mangrove-destruction seen elsewhere.

Quad alliance and China containment

The timing of the deal amplifies its geopolitical dimension. Solidifying the QUAD alliance (U.S., India, Japan, Australia), the pact arms New Delhi in its tug-of-war with Beijing over Southeast Asias trade routes. Analysts like JPMorgans James Sullivan note that Indias services-heavy exports insulate it from U.S. tariffs, unlike Vietnam  which slashed auto tariffs to zero to court American favor  leaving ample bargaining power.

Indias minimal merchandise reliance (20% of GDP vs. Vietnams 87%) puts it in a stronger negotiating stance, Sullivan told CNBC. The U.S.s strategic bet on Indian autonomy also detoxifies Beijings resource dominance: nearly 64% of Indian software exports and tech hubs like Chennais IIT branch provide the engineering might to sidestep Chinese supply chain strangleholds.

Climate cartel vs. national sovereignty

The deals most seismic shift is its open defiance of global emissions targets enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. India, which postponed its net-zero deadline to 2070 after experiencing 2023 power blackouts, bluntly prioritized energy autonomy over Western climate agendas. The climate cartels fearmongering wont starve us into compliance, a senior Indian negotiator said, emphasizing hydrocarbon needs for a population projected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2030.

This stance resonates in Indias past resilience: During the mid-1800s Great Famine, emigration alone halved its population, yet its post-colonial embrace of free markets rebounded it to wealth. Like the Liffey carried the Irish to a precarious freedom, energy sovereignty offers Indias path to sustained growth, noted analyst Gaurav Narain, referencing Irelands historical migration.

Economic leverage and market realities

Wall Streets race-to-the-bottom rhetoric is undercut by market realities. While U.S. tariffs have shaken Indian equities, domestic spending buffers the economy. Indias Nifty 50 index dipped 0.6% Thursday, but telecoms like Bharti Airtel and energy firms like GAIL have weathered turbulence by serving local demand. The Reserve Bank of Indias rate cuts to 6% signal continued support for a projected 6.5% 2025-26 GDP expansion.

Meanwhile, Trumps tariff brinkmanship has India clinging to its numeric advantage over China. Theyll implement zero-tariff deals with economies like Vietnam, but India offers counterweight power, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Indias willingness to imports U.S. defense tech and oil could clinch deeper concessions, contrasting Chinas proposed 125% retaliatory tariffs.

A paradigm for energy freedom

The U.S.-India energy pact isnt merely a trade deal  its a manifesto rebuking climate cultism. By championing hydrocarbons and economic self-determination, New Delhi and Washington forge a template for developing nations weary of Brussels regulatory overreach.

As Chennais highways hum with lifeblood of 5,846km expressways, and Vellores factories gleam with Saint-Gobains French glass, the deal mirrors Indias broader rise  a blend of foreign trade and cultural resilience. Whether it steers the world toward an energy-secure future or environmental reckoning remains unclear, but as Modis negotiators aptly noted: Sometimes, herding with the right animals is good survival strategy.

As the Liffey River once carried Irelands displaced, today Indias energy currents may navigate it to sovereigntya testament to centuries of resisting imposed systems, and choosing its own destiny.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

WashingtonTimes.com

CNBC.com
Walmart pledges $350B to American-made goods in push to reshore supply chains

Walmart commits $350 billion over 10 years to source American-made products, aiming to strengthen domestic supply chains and create 750,000 jobs.

The "Grow with US" program provides small businesses with training, mentorship, and financial tools to scale and sell through Walmarts supply chain.

Walmarts annual Open Call event allows small businesses to pitch directly to buyers, with pop-up events in six U.S. cities offering fast-track opportunities.

Two-thirds of Walmarts U.S. products are already domestically sourced, but the new initiative aims to further reduce reliance on foreign imports amid rising consumer demand.

As trade tensions with China escalate and consumers increasingly seek domestically produced goods, Walmart is doubling down on its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The retail giant announced a new $350 billion investment over the next decade to source American-made products, alongside a program called "Grow with US" aimed at helping small businesses scale.

The initiative, unveiled by Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner, seeks to strengthen domestic supply chains while creating an estimated 750,000 jobs in a move aligned with broader efforts to reduce reliance on foreign imports.

A decade-long investment in American jobs

Walmarts pledge to spend an additional $350 billion on U.S.-made goods marks one of the largest corporate commitments to domestic manufacturing in recent years. Furner emphasized the companys long-standing focus on supporting small businesses, noting that over 60% of Walmarts U.S. suppliers fall into this category.

"More than 40 years ago, Mr. Sam set a priority that still drives us today: supporting American-made products and the small businesses behind them," he said in a statement. The investment comes as the Trump administration maintains 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, incentivizing companies to reshore production.

How "Grow with US" works

The four-step program offers small businesses training, mentorship, and financial resources to navigate Walmarts supply chain. Step one includes free e-learning modules through Walmarts Supplier Academy, covering retail fundamentals and advanced strategies. Step two helps businesses showcase products via Walmarts Open Call events or its online Marketplace. Selected participants then receive mentorship (step three) and access to financing tools like early payment programs (step four). Furner told Axios the initiative aims to "make it easier for U.S.-based entrepreneurs to bring their products to a national stage."

Walmarts annual Open Call event, scheduled for October 78, 2025, in Bentonville, Arkansas, gives small businesses a chance to pitch directly to buyers. This year, the company is hosting pop-up pitch events in six cities, including Orlando, Austin, and Baltimore, offering entrepreneurs real-time feedback and potential fast-track invitations to the main event. "We anticipate thousands of small businesses will take advantage of these free resources," Furner said. Past Open Call successes include Milos Tea, which grew from a local Alabama brand to a nationwide Walmart supplier.

Consumers increasingly seek products made in the USA

With two-thirds of Walmarts U.S. products already domestically sourced, the expansion signals a strategic shift toward insulating the retailer and consumers from global supply chain disruptions. CFO John David Rainey noted that China and Mexico remain key import sources, but the Grow with US program could further rebalance that ratio. The initiative also aligns with political and consumer trends favoring economic nationalism, as searches for "Made in the USA" products surge.

For entrepreneurs, the program simplifies a notoriously complex retail onboarding process. Tricia Wallwork, CEO of Milos Tea, credited Walmart with helping her company expand from one store to four facilities and 1,000 jobs. Similar stories, Walmart says, underscore the potential of its small-business focus. Participants can register for Grow with US by submitting SBA certifications or requesting verification through Walmarts portal.

Walmarts $350 billion commitment and Grow with US program reflect a growing corporate emphasis on self-reliance and local economic growth. By lowering barriers for small businesses and capitalizing on consumer demand for U.S.-made goods, the retailer is positioning itself as a catalyst for domestic manufacturinga strategy that could reshape supply chains for years to come. This initiative perfectly exemplifies how Trump's trade policies are successfully encouraging major retailers to invest in domestic manufacturing while creating hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Corporate.Walmart.com

Axios.com

Entrepreneur.com
Yemen warns U.K. of deepening conflict after joint U.S. strikes in Red Sea escalation

Yemens Houthi-led government issued a strong warning to the UK after joining U.S.-led airstrikes on drone facilities near Sanaa. The Houthis condemned the strikes as "unlawful" and vowed retaliation, framing the U.K., U.S. and Israel as the "trio of evil." They retaliated by targeting the USS Harry S. Truman and launching missiles at Israel.

The April 30 strikes followed earlier US bombings that reportedly killed dozens, including migrants in a detention center. The UK defended its involvement, claiming precision strikes on Houthi military sites, but civilian casualties have fueled outrage. Despite Western efforts, Houthi drone and missile capabilities remain intact.

A strike on a migrant detention center in Saada killed over 70 civilians, worsening Yemens humanitarian disaster. Since 2024, nearly 2,300 civilians have been killed or injured, with women and children among the victims.

The Red Sea handles 10% of global trade, but Houthi attacks have cut shipping by 55%, causing economic losses. The US formed a 10-nation coalition to protect trade routes, but Houthis vow to continue targeting ships until Gaza aggression stops. Houthis link their Red Sea operations to solidarity with Palestine, threatening further escalation.

Diplomatic efforts are stalled, with no concessions from either side. Houthis warn of broader retaliation, while US-led strikes have failed to cripple their operations. Experts fear the conflict could destabilize global energy markets and draw in regional powers like Iran.

On April 30, Yemens Houthi-led government issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, declaring it must carefully consider the consequences after the U.K. joined US-led airstrikes targeting drone facilities south of Sanaa. The strikes, the first publicly acknowledged under President Donald Trumps renewed military campaign in Yemen, marked a deepening Western involvement in a conflict increasingly intertwined with the Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza. Houthi officials accused the U.K. and the U.S. of enabling Israels genocide in Gaza by disrupting Yemens support for Palestinian solidarity, vowing retaliation against British and U.S. forces. With the Red Seas critical shipping lanes under threat, analysts fear the military escalation could spiral into a broader regional conflict at a time of heightened global instability.

A warning delivered: Yemens government condemns strikes and promises retaliation

The Sanaa governments statement, issued in unambiguous terms, condemned the U.K.s participation in the U.S. campaign as unlawful and part of a coordinated effort to suppress Yemens backing for Palestine. While we pledge to respond to this aggression, the statement read, the U.K., U.S. and Israel are collectively described as the trio of evil, with Yemen vowing to resist with all its strength.

The April 30 strikes followed six U.S. airstrikes two days earlier that, according to Yemeni authorities, killed dozens, including migrants housed in a detention center in Saada. The U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) defended its involvement, claiming the nighttime assault targeted a cluster of buildings affiliated with the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) and Ansarallah movement. We conducted this operation with extreme caution to avoid civilian casualties, stated U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey, emphasizing the minimal risk approach.

Yet the strikes have inflamed tensions. Houthi forces retaliated by firing missiles at the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, forcing the aircraft carrier to retreat and launching a missile attack on an Israeli site in Ashkelon. These counterattacks underscore Houthi capabilities despite U.S. efforts to disrupt their drone supply chains.

Strikes lash Yemen as humanitarian crisis deepens

The April 29 strike on the Saada detention center, a migrant shelter supervised by the Red Cross and International Organization for Migration, added a tragic human toll to the conflicts cost. Yemens Interior Ministry reported the attack killed over 70 migrants, escalating outrage over civilian casualties. To date, nearly 2,300 civilians57 children and 18 women in February alonehave died or been injured in the 14 months since the U.S. intensified its campaign, according to Sanaas Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

For its part, the U.K. insists its actions are necessary to protect global trade. Shipping through the Red Sea has dropped 55% due to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, costing billions in economic losses. Healey argued the strikes were aimed at preventing further destabilization, but critics dismiss the claims, noting Houthi drone production continues largely unchecked.

The Red Sea: A strategic chokepoint with global implications

The Red Seas central role in global commerce  handling 10% of world tradehas made it a focal point of the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deployed a 10-nation coalition in late 2024 to safeguard shipping routes after Houthi attacks disrupted over 300 vessels. However, Houthi spokespersons, like Yahya al-Jaadi, have rejected the coalition, vowing to target ships as long as aggression continues.

Houthi officials frame their Red Sea operations as a direct response to Israels war in Gaza, begun in 2023. Any escalation in Gaza is an escalation in the Red Sea, warned Houthi General Yusuf al-Madani. With Israel relying on 30% of its imports via Red Sea ports, analysts see a strategic alignment between Yemens actions and broader Palestinian solidarity efforts.

The U.S., meanwhile, faces criticism for its costly and logistically strained Operation Rough Rider. Over 800 air strikes since March 2025 have failed to cripple Houthi operations, with the group downing advanced U.S. drones and adapting tactics to avoid detection.

Looking ahead: Risks of escalation and diplomatic stalemate

As clashes intensify, alarms grow over unintended consequences. Houthi leaders have hinted at broader retaliation, leveraging their missile capabilities to target U.S. and Israeli infrastructure. The world must reflect on how far this madness will go, said Deputy Minister Ibrahim al-Shami, emphasizing Yemens unwavering support for Palestine despite its own suffering.

Efforts to de-escalate appear stymied. UN-mediated talks remain on hold, with neither side willing to concede. Washington and London continue framing Houthi attacks as a security threat; Irans unstated but likely support for Yemen complicates diplomatic outreach. Should efforts fail, experts warn, the conflict could destabilize global energy markets and draw in regional powers tethered by alliances or fears of escalation.

A war of causes and consequences

Yemens war now embodies a clash over principles: Palestinian solidarity versus Western military dominance, and the fragile balance of global trade against the thirst for vengeance. As the casualty count rises and the Red Sea remains choked, the world watches whether containment is possible  or if the sparks of this conflict will ignite a far larger blaze. For the 26 million Yemenis caught in the crossfire, the price of this unresolved tension grows steeper by the day.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

Almayadeen.net

CNN.com
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The largest global study of its kind reveals how childhood health, family belonging, and even attending religious services influence adult optimism, offering new insight into how early environments shape our mental outlook for life.

Study: When the glass is half full: early life experiences and adult optimism in 22 countries. Image Credit: Ollyy / Shutterstock

Optimism is a key trait to approaching life with resilience and experiencing happiness in daily life. However, its childhood correlates have not been studied in detail. A recent study in the journal npj Mental Health Research examined the relationship between early life experiences and optimism in adulthood.

Introduction

Wellbeing is increasingly a target of health policies as an important parameter of social development. One factor that promotes wellbeing and health is dispositional optimisma generalized expectation that good things will happen. Optimists have lower mortality and cardiovascular risk and lower rates of mental illness. They also tend to follow healthier lifestyles.

This trait can be influenced by environmental factors, with heritability estimated at approximately 25%. Since it tends to be stable by adulthood, factors that can be modified to promote its development in childhood should be identified. These include family relationships, adverse childhood experiences, parental divorce, and religious upbringing. These interact with the regional culture, as suggested by the Ecological Systems Theory.

Earlier research in this area mostly came from the US and Europe, leaving a significant knowledge gap. The current study sought to fill this gap by a multinational assessment of childhood factors in relation to regional differences in culture that shape adult optimism levels.

Study findings

Children born between 1953-1963 scored 0.20 points higher in optimism than those born after 1998, hinting at generational declines possibly tied to shifting social or economic pressures.

The data for this study were obtained from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), which covers 22 countries. It included nearly 203,000 participants.

Most participants (89% and 80%, respectively) had good or somewhat good relationships with their mother and father, respectively. Most had married parents and reported that they either lived comfortably or got by financially in childhood (~75%). Over 80% had no history of abuse and felt they belonged in their families.

Only 64% reported being in excellent or very good health as children, and 41% attended religious services at least once a week.

Overall analysis

Each of these factors was significantly associated with adult optimism in one or more of the countries studied. For instance, children who had good (vs bad) relationships with their mothers had adult optimism scores that were, on average, 0.17 points higher (on a 010 scale), and those with good relationships with their fathers had scores 0.07 points higher.

Losing a parent before age 12 showed no significant impact on adult optimism, unlike parental divorce, a finding that challenges assumptions about childhood bereavements long-term effects.

The greatest and most widespread negative impact on adult optimism of any single factor was a reduction of 0.26 points on the 010 scale associated with feeling like an outsider. Indeed, Attachment Theory predicts that responsive and loving caregivers promote secure attachment, thereby fostering trust and self-worth in children.

Childhood abuse was also linked to a reduction of 0.24 points in optimism. Moreover, in most countries, optimism was lower if parents were divorced or single. Both childhood abuse and divorce may promote a negative or hopeless mindset in children, reducing their will and ability to try to create positive outcomes.

However, the impact of parental divorce may be influenced by the national culture in which it occurs. For instance, having divorced parents in Japan or Sweden, as well as single parenthood in Australia or Egypt, predicted higher adult optimism, perhaps because of the cultural acceptance of these family structures.

The greatest positive impact on adult optimism was produced by health. Excellent vs. good health was associated with a 0.43-point increase in the optimism score, and attending religious services at least weekly (vs. never) was associated with a 0.26-point increase. Interestingly, children born in earlier years (19531963) had scores 0.20 points higher than those born later (19982005). The pooled results also showed that females reported higher optimism than males on average, with a 0.18-point difference. Regarding immigration status, while being native-born versus non-native born was not significantly associated with optimism on average across all countries, the data suggested it was a relevant factor in at least some national contexts.

Country-specific analyses

In Brazil, immigrants reported lower optimism than native-born residents, contrasting with trends in most other countries where immigration status showed no clear link.

Country-specific analyses revealed significant differences from the meta-analysis. In this case, the most relevant factors were self-rated health in childhood, birth year, sex, and religious affiliation, which affected adult optimism scores in over 50% of the countries assessed, albeit to widely differing extents.

Health in childhood was linked to increased adult optimism across many countries with diverse cultures and lifestyles, especially in wealthy countries. Feeling financially secure also predicted optimism in some wealthy countries but not in most low- or middle-income countries.

In high-income countries, national wealth and stability enhance the positive effects of household-level financial wellbeing and childhood health. Children with material security and good health in highly industrialized countries not only have better resources (money, social status, networks, power, and knowledge) but are more likely to use them to overcome obstacles more effectively.

In politically unstable, conflict-torn, or developing countries, such as Israel, India, or Nigeria, having material resources might be less critical, as the children still cannot use them to forge their way ahead.

In Egypt and Poland, where childhood abuse rates were below 10%, the link between abuse and lower optimism vanished, likely due to limited statistical power.

Relationship with parents was relatively unimportant as a predictor of optimism when analyzed by country. Individuals reporting a poor relationship with their parents made up less than 5% and less than 10%, respectively, of the sample in many countries, which could affect the analysis. The large population of countries like India, where few children report having a poor relationship with their parents, could skew the population-weighted analysis.

Interestingly, adult optimism in some of the most secular countries, such as Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, and the United Kingdom, was higher among those who had regularly attended religious services during childhood. This novel finding reports direct and dose-dependent associations between these factors for the first time. This might imply that people with a strong sense of hope, faith, and meaning in life are more likely to become part of religious congregations, even in such settings.

Study limitations

It is important to note several limitations mentioned by the study authors. Optimism was measured using a single item from the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), which might be subject to measurement error or interpretation issues across cultures. All childhood experiences were reported retrospectively by adults, raising concerns about recall bias  current optimism levels could influence how people remember their childhood. Furthermore, this was an observational study, meaning it can show associations but cannot prove that these childhood factors directly cause changes in adult optimism. There may be other unmeasured factors (confounders) that influence both childhood experiences and adult optimism. The researchers also noted potential statistical issues, such as collinearity between certain related childhood factors (e.g., parental relationships and feeling like an outsider).

Conclusions

"This is the first study that examines a wide range of childhood correlates of adult optimism simultaneously across multiple countries." Its findings align with prior research, indicating the impact of multiple childhood factors on the development of optimism and the potential for deliberately cultivating this trait.

Earlier approaches to targeting these factors have shown small and transient benefits, such as mindfulness techniques or the Best Possible Self program. A more effective way to foster adult optimism might be to identify and specifically work on equitably improving childhood conditions associated with lower optimism outcomes in the population. This, in turn, will improve their chances of doing well and enjoying better health, both physically and mentally, throughout life.
A clinical trial is underway to assess the effectiveness and safety of sipavibart, AstraZeneca's long-acting monoclonal antibody designed to provide protection against Covid-19, as a potential treatment for Long Covid, the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and the Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid (SILC) announced today.

With funding from SILC, NSU researchers led by Dr. Nancy Klimas are enrolling 100 patients in the multi-year study with the goal of improving their Long Covid symptoms and restoring them to full health.

Like many multi-symptom, post-viral conditions, Long Covid is incredibly complicated and thus little understood. Finding a treatment will be life-changing for patients suffering from the myriad symptoms of Long Covid." Dr. Nancy Klimas, Director, Institute for Neuro-lmmune Medicine at NSU

The study will test whether the monoclonal antibody sipavibart, which is approved for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in Japan and the EU, is effective in treating Long Covid. The trial, which the FDA reviewed and cleared for the study earlier this year, is one of three Long Covid treatment trials expected to begin in 2025 that have been initiated and funded by SILC, a nonprofit organization founded in 2023 by philanthropists Eric and Wendy Schmidt to advance Long Covid care for patients globally.

"Long Covid affects at least 65 million people worldwide, and with more than 200 symptoms, the health impacts of the disease can be debilitating," said Dr. John Redd, CEO of SILC. "SILC is dedicated to eliminating Long Covid worldwide, especially in under-resourced countries and communities, by bringing together practitioners to treat patients and by funding research such as monoclonal antibodies and repurposing existing drugs."

Said Dr. Ken Dawson-Scully, NSU's senior vice president for research and associate provost, "This trial represents our overall commitment to addressing the most pressing health challenges of our time. By collaborating with the Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid, we're leveraging our research expertise to potentially transform treatment options for millions suffering from Long Covid, advance knowledge, and improve patient outcomes through innovative clinical research."

At the height of the pandemic, Florida was the national leader in utilizing monoclonal antibodies to treat patients who had been diagnosed with COVID, administering more than 200,000 doses throughout the state. In 2024, researchers from the state published a study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine detailing how a small group of these patients' Long COVID symptoms disappeared after they received the monoclonal antibodies to prevent or treat acute episodes of the virus. When Redd-who was a leader of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' response to the virus and helped distribute the antibody therapeutics to Florida years earlier-came across the study, he contacted the authors to organize a collaboration, leading to this trial.

In the double-blind, randomized and controlled trial, researchers will divide patients into two evenly split groups to receive infusions of either a placebo or sipavibart, which targets the unique spike proteins of the Covid virus. Patients will be evaluated every three months for improvement in Long Covid symptoms including cognitive dysfunction-lapses in attention, concentration or reaction time-heart rate or blood pressure dysregulation and other autonomic nervous system effects, and tolerance for exercise. Researchers will also test for any lingering spike proteins in patients, including potentially in plasma and stool samples, and create a repository of blood and other specimens for further study.

NSU, Florida's largest private research university, is an R1 institution-an elite designation given by the Carnegie Foundation to universities reaching the highest levels of research activity, funding, and doctoral degrees awarded.
Even mild COVID-19 cases can trigger lingering symptoms, especially in women and younger adults, while severe cases show a strong link to long-term fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain, setting COVID-19 apart from other respiratory infections.

Study: Risk of post-acute symptoms among adults: A comparison study of severe COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza. Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA, assessed the associations between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the risk of post-acute symptoms.

Among symptomatic COVID-19 patients, nearly two-thirds regain their usual health status within one or two months, while others experience protracted recoveries. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, long COVID is defined as sequelae that persist for at least three months following the initial infection. However, other studies suggest post-acute COVID-19 as symptoms lasting up to 120 days after recovery.

Further, while long COVID is more likely in subjects who had the most severe initial disease, individuals with mild initial disease also develop symptoms. Some studies have observed differences in long-term sequelae between COVID-19 and influenza. Moreover, while post-acute COVID-19 has been repeatedly studied, few studies have focused on the nuanced delineations of acute disease severity or compared it to other infectious respiratory diseases.

About the study

In the present study, researchers examined the risk of post-acute COVID-19 across severity levels of initial illness among US adults. They extracted data from the Clinformatics Data Mart database. Eligible subjects were aged  18 years and had clinically diagnosed or lab-confirmed COVID-19 in 2020, with continuous inclusion in the database from January to December 2020, and reported symptoms at diagnosis.

Characteristics of disease cohorts.

Similar criteria were used for individuals with influenza during the 201819 influenza season. Moreover, another cohort was created for subjects diagnosed with pneumonia in 2018. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of symptoms four weeks, three months, and six months after COVID-19 diagnosis. The following symptoms were considered: fatigue, cough, dyspnea, anosmia, ageusia, arrhythmias, brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, general pain, muscle weakness, and headache.

Potential predictors of symptoms were gender, ethnicity/race, age, US region, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dementia, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], chronic renal disease, and ischemic heart disease). The disease severity index was adapted from the World Health Organization. The 10-point severity index was modified, and only six levels were considered.

These were severity level 3 (symptomatic but ambulatory), 4 (symptomatic with emergency department visit), 5 (hospitalized), 6 (hospitalized and required supplemental oxygen), 7 (hospitalized and required mechanical ventilation), and 8 (hospitalized and required mechanical ventilation plus renal dialysis or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Logistic regression models examined the relationship between post-acute symptoms and the infectious agent.

Presence of symptoms by cohort over time.

Findings

The COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia cohorts included 121,205, 20,844, and 29,052 subjects, respectively. Across cohorts, the most common gender was female, the race was non-Hispanic White, and the US region was the South. Consistent with other studies, females were found to be more likely to develop post-acute symptoms. The most common comorbidity across cohorts was hypertension. Notably, the flu cohort had the lowest frequencies of all comorbidities, except for asthma, and the pneumonia cohort exhibited higher frequencies, except for obesity. Interestingly, while racial and ethnic minorities often face higher risks for acute COVID-19, this study observed mild reductions in adjusted post-acute risks among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals within this insured population. An unexpected finding was a regional difference, with patients in the Northeast showing the greatest risk of post-acute symptoms.

In the COVID-19 cohort, fatigue, dyspnea, and joint pain were the most common symptoms after four weeks. In the flu cohort, joint pain, fatigue, and cough were the most common after four weeks, while dyspnea, fatigue, and cough were the most common for pneumonia subjects. In the COVID-19 cohort, the odds of any symptom after four weeks were 1.12 for severity level 5, 1.16 for level 6, 1.46 for level 7, and 2.64 for level 8 compared to severity level 3.

While symptoms tended to decrease over time, they persisted across all severity levels at three and six months, although the increased odds of having symptoms remained highest for the most severe initial cases (levels 7 and 8) compared to the least severe (level 3). The specific symptoms experienced also varied by age, with younger adults having increased risks for anxiety and headache, while older adults had increased risks for brain fog and fatigue. The presence of a comorbidity increased the odds of post-acute symptoms at all time points. The comorbidities with the highest increase in odds were rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and ischemic heart disease.

Further, the odds of any symptom in the flu cohort compared to COVID-19 were 0.77 at four weeks and three months and 0.68 at six months. Conversely, the corresponding odds ratios for pneumonia subjects were 2.24, 2.41, and 2.46, at four weeks, three months, and six months, respectively. The most common symptoms after four weeks were fatigue in the COVID-19 cohort, dyspnea in the pneumonia cohort, and joint pain in the flu cohort. After six months, the most common symptoms were the same for the pneumonia and flu cohorts, but joint pain was the most common symptom in the COVID-19 cohort.

The odds of any symptom, except for cough, were lower for the flu cohort than for COVID-19 subjects at all time points. Likewise, the odds of any symptom, except for headache and brain fog, were higher for the pneumonia cohort than the COVID-19 cohort at all time points. The odds of headache were lower in the pneumonia cohort than in the COVID-19 cohort. There were no differences in the odds of brain fog between the COVID-19 and pneumonia cohorts.

Conclusions

The findings corroborate prior observations that fatigue, dyspnea, and joint pain are the most common persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19. The highest risk of post-acute symptoms was found in people with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, or ischemic heart disease. Symptoms observed four weeks after initial COVID-19 were likely to improve later. However, appreciable levels of symptoms lingered that correlated with the severity of the initial COVID-19 episode. Although individuals with less severe initial illnesses had a lower risk of persistent symptoms, the paper notes that, because their numbers are significantly larger than those of hospitalized patients, they contribute substantially to the overall population burden of post-acute COVID-19.

The post-acute symptoms differed among the three diseases, likely reflecting the differences in their pathophysiology, comorbidity levels, and age distributions. Overall, COVID-19 symptomatology cannot be perfectly described by pneumonia or influenza symptomatology, and there are differences in symptom prevalence and the time to resolution that better characterize long COVID, indicating that this persistence is unique to COVID-19. The study acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on administrative health claims data from an insured population during the early phase of the pandemic, which may affect generalizability and requires careful interpretation.
Researchers found that COVID-19 lockdowns were linked to a 4% drop in pre-term births in Europe and Australia and a 37% rise in antenatal depression screenings. However, most other birth outcomes and health disparities showed no significant change due to the limited data available.

Study: The association of COVID-19 lockdowns with adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes in 28 high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock

In a recent review published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes (ABPOs) during the pandemic. The review focused on publications comparing these impacts in high-income countries (HICs) between January 2019 and June 2023, both before and during the pandemic.

A random-effects meta-analysis of 132 studies revealed that the first lockdown significantly reduced pre-term birth rates (specifically spontaneous pre-term births) in Europe and Australia, and increased positive depression antenatal screening rates. The analysis also identified an 18% decrease in neonatal mortality associated with lockdown. However, this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the strong influence of a single extensive study and the need for further time-adjusted analysis. While the study also attempted to elucidate inequalities between regions, ethnic groups, and deprivation levels, insufficient data prevented these analyses and underscored the need for further research on the topic.

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted several governments to impose social distancing measures, known as lockdowns, to mitigate disease transmission and curb infection rates. Research during these non-pharmaceutical interventions suggests that these lockdowns may have inadvertently triggered alterations in adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes (ABPOs), specifically, exacerbated stillbirth rates in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) and reductions in pre-term birth (PTB) rates in high-income countries (HICs).

Previous examinations of these trends have highlighted substantial regional differences between LMICs and HICs, which may be attributed to variations in the stringency of national lockdown policies, disparities in healthcare systems, and COVID-19 epidemiology, including infection rates and testing. Even within HICs, healthcare access and socioeconomic disparities between different ethnic groups and deprivation cohorts are expected to have resulted in a spectrum of ABPO outcomes, but prior studies have provided conflicting findings.

About the study

The present review aims to address these inconsistencies in the literature by collating, synthesizing, and reanalyzing data from publications that evaluate the association between COVID-19 lockdowns and ABPO outcomes. It focuses on HICs and further investigates if variations in continental regions, ethnic groups, time periods (first versus subsequent lockdowns), and deprivation levels altered ABPO outcomes during and shortly after the pandemic.

Publications for study inclusion were obtained through a custom search of three online scientific repositories: EMBASE, Web of Science, and MEDLINE/PubMed. Additionally, preprints (MedRxiv) and unpublished reports were manually obtained.

The search and subsequent screening process conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered on the PROSPERO registry. The inclusion criteria comprised: 1. COVID-19 lockdown (intervention), and 2. ABPO outcomes, and 3. HICs derived population (except Sweden, which did not enforce a lockdown). Potential publications were screened via a cascade of title and abstract screening, duplicate removal, and full-text screening.

Study data was extracted using a custom tool developed in Microsoft Excel and included: 1. study characteristics (total births and outcomes), 2. deprivation, and 3. ethnicity. Missing data were obtained through personal emails to study authors or proxy estimates (when authors did not respond).

Meta-analyses were conducted for variables of interest with at least three corresponding studies. Outcomes were analyzed using random-effects models adjusted for heterogeneity and continent (region). Subgroup analyses were undertaken where applicable (e.g., for studies reporting outcomes from second or subsequent lockdowns). Deprivation was estimated using the Area Deprivation Composite Index scores.

Study findings

The initial custom search strategy identified 14,215 records (titles) that met the eligibility criteria. Deduplication narrowed this down to 9,780. Full-text screening identified 207 eligible studies. Studies with overlapping populations, time periods, or outcomes were excluded from the meta-analyses, resulting in a final study dataset of 132. Summary statistics revealed that these studies included participants from 28 countries, with Europe (45%) and North America (41%) comprising the bulk. Cohort studies were the most common (86%), followed by cross-sectional publications (11%).

Meta-analyses revealed that pre-term births (PTBs) significantly declined (-4%, specifically spontaneous PTBs) during lockdown periods. This finding remained robust even after adjusting for long-term trends (11 studies, -3%), but was found to be limited to the first lockdown. Notably, high inter-study heterogeneity and subsequent subgroup analyses revealed that these findings were significant only for European and Australian continental regions and not for North America, Asia, South America, or the Middle East.

Analyses of stillbirth data did not find any credible evidence of an association between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 lockdown periods. While 18 studies explicitly tested for low birth weight (LBW), no credible evidence supporting an association was observed. For other outcomes, the overall pooled analyses showed no significant association for caesarean sections or sepsis (based on limited studies). However, substantial regional variations were observed despite no overall association for:

Neonatal admissions: A decrease was observed in the Middle East during lockdown, while an increase was noted in Asia.

Maternal readmission: A decrease was observed in maternal readmission rates following lockdowns in Europe, specifically in the UK.

Neonatal mortality was associated with an 18% decrease during lockdown (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.740.91); however, the researchers noted that this pooled estimate requires cautious interpretation and further time-adjusted investigation.

The only other significant overall finding was the increase in antenatal depression screening rates, which were observed to rise by 37%. Unfortunately, inequality-based analyses could not be undertaken due to insufficient data availability, characterized by high inter-study heterogeneity and limited data for subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

The present meta-analysis revealed a reduction in spontaneous pre-term births (in Europe and Australia) and an increase in positive antenatal screening for depression following the implementation of COVID-19-associated lockdown restrictions. The study also found a decrease in neonatal mortality, though this needs further confirmation, and highlighted significant regional differences in neonatal admissions and maternal readmissions. They further highlight a lack of sufficient data on the impacts of inequalities on these trends, underscoring the need for further research in the field.

The authors suggest that COVID-19 lockdowns served as a natural experiment, and the uneven associations observed require further exploration, potentially through mixed-methods research, to understand the underlying health determinants and barriers to care. These findings indicate that broad, umbrella lockdown approaches can have unequal consequences, suggesting that targeted policies and tailored support structures are necessary to better promote maternal and neonatal health.
Hypertension is a major public health concern, affecting millions worldwide and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is typically characterized by persistent high blood pressure, which can result from multiple mechanisms, including increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), inflammation, and oxidative stress. Although pharmaceutical treatments are available, they often come with side effects, making the search for natural, side-effect-free alternatives increasingly important. Egg whites, known for their high-quality protein content, also contain various bioactive peptides with proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive properties. Recent studies have shown that egg white proteins, even after depleting ovotransferrin, can still provide effective antihypertensive peptides.

A study (DOI:10.48130/fmr-0024-0026) published in Food Materials Research on 30 December 2024 by Jianping Wu's team, University of Alberta, highlights the potential of egg white proteins as a valuable functional food ingredient for addressing high blood pressure.

In this study, the antihypertensive effects of ovotransferrin-depleted egg white hydrolysate (OD-EWH) were evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), with egg white hydrolysate (EWH) serving as the reference. The rats were administered 1 g/kg body weight per day of either hydrolysate for 9 days. The results showed that both OD-EWH and EWH significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), with OD-EWH lowering SBP to 160.47 mmHg and EWH reducing it to 159.42 mmHg, compared to the untreated group (178.07 mmHg). Both treatments also reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), without affecting heart rate. Further analysis revealed that both hydrolysates upregulated the expression of ACE2, an important enzyme in regulating vascular health, in the aorta. While EWH also decreased ACE and AT1R levels, OD-EWH had no significant effect on these proteins but increased the AT2R level. In the kidneys, both OD-EWH and EWH reduced renal ACE levels, but did not affect ACE2, MasR, or AT1R/AT2R expression. Additionally, OD-EWH significantly enhanced the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the aorta, suggesting a mechanism for blood pressure reduction through improved nitric oxide production. Both hydrolysates also attenuated vascular oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced nitrotyrosine staining. However, only EWH reduced vascular inflammation markers like VCAM-1, while OD-EWH did not affect markers of inflammation. These findings suggest that OD-EWH may reduce blood pressure through the modulation of the renin-angiotensin system, eNOS activation, and antioxidant effects, making it a promising functional food ingredient for hypertension management.

The study underscores the potential of egg white hydrolysates, especially those depleted of ovotransferrin, as effective natural antihypertensive agents. By modulating the RAS, enhancing eNOS expression, and reducing oxidative stress, OD-EWH offers a promising approach for managing high blood pressure. This research highlights the importance of natural, cost-effective food-based solutions in combating hypertension and opens the door for further innovations in functional food development aimed at improving cardiovascular health.
University of Surrey spin-out Z-PULSE Ltd has secured funding to fast-track the commercialization of its self-powered wearable health sensors, which aims to transform dementia care and could potentially prevent thousands of stillbirths each year.

The Self-Powered Tribo-Electric Pressure Sensor (STEPS1.0) allows for the advanced remote monitoring of essential indicators such as breathing patterns, bed occupancy, foetal movements during pregnancy and pressure distribution to avoid bedsores. Making use of mechanical energy from natural movement, STEPS1.0 operates without the need for batteries or external charging, offering a scalable, cost-effective alternative to existing monitoring systems.

With 265,000 funding from Innovate UK, Z-PULSE is now working with the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Kymira, and Milbotix to use STEPS1.0 in real-world healthcare settings. Applications under development include continuous, real-time monitoring of sleep patterns, breathing and movement in dementia patients. Partners are also incorporating STEPS1.0 into a wearable belt that can detect foetal movements - with hopes of preventing up to 3,400 stillbirths annually in the UK.

Dr. Bhaskar Dudem, Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Z-PULSE Ltd, and Research Fellow at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute, said:

"This funding is a significant milestone for Z-PULSE, allowing us to move from lab-based research to having a real-world impact. By eliminating the need for external power sources, STEPS1.0 ensures uninterrupted, real-time health monitoring for critical conditions like dementia and foetal health. The validation from leading research partners strengthens our path to commercialisation. "

Our self-powered sensor technology has the potential to redefine wearable healthcare, making continuous monitoring effortless and accessible. It has many applications in a modern society, where the Gen-Z population can be linked seamlessly and remotely to everyday activities of loved ones and those under their care without having wired links or battery-operated sensors. We are testing prototypes in a dementia care setting, that includes monitoring sleep and physiological parameters. The ATI at Surrey has been delivering real-world tech solutions for more than two decades" Professor Ravi Silva, Director of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI)

Dr. Jim Shaikh is the Managing Director of Innovate Surrey Ltd, which was established to bridge the gap between the research happening at the University and real-world applications. He said:

"Z-PULSE's wearable healthcare technology is a fantastic example of how we support innovation to move from the lab to everyday life, improving healthcare outcomes and supporting economic growth. We're proud to support exciting ventures like Z-PULSE that have the potential to make a real difference in society and even save lives."
Religious service attendance at age 12 emerged as the top predictor of adult afterlife belief, especially in secular societies, while childhood adversity and maternal bonds also played subtle roles.

Study: Childhood predictors of belief in life after death across 22 countries. Image Credit: NeoLeo / Shutterstock

Is belief in the afterlife a product of faith or childhood experiences? A recent global study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, revealed that the experiences we have in our early years, from religious practices to family bonds, can shape our spiritual views in adulthood. The researchers explored childhood experiences to understand why people believe in life after death.

Is there an afterlife?

Japans outlier patterns: Only 1.9% of Japanese participants attended weekly religious services in childhood, the lowest rate globally, yet maternal relationship quality showed a unique link to afterlife belief, unlike other predictors that faltered in this secular context.

Belief in life after death is one of humanitys oldest and most widespread spiritual ideas. Most major religions, from Christianity to Hinduism, share the notion that life continues beyond death in some form. These beliefs offer more than spiritual comfort; they are linked to mental and emotional well-being. People who believe in an afterlife often report lower anxiety about death, less despair after losing loved ones, and stronger feelings of peace and purpose.

However, much of the current research on beliefs about the afterlife originates from Western societies, making it challenging to understand how these beliefs evolve globally. Gender and age also seem to play a role, with women and older adults often having stronger afterlife beliefs in some contexts. But its unclear how these patterns hold across diverse cultural contexts, and the paper notes significant variations.

Researchers also know that religion shapes afterlife beliefs, especially through practices like attending religious services. However, there's a lack of global research on how early-life experiences, such as family relationships, trauma, or childhood health, contribute to these beliefs in adulthood.

The current study

Kenyas high religiosity, unexpected twist: While 81% of Kenyan respondents attended weekly religious services at age 12 (the second-highest rate), childhood abuse was tied to lower afterlife belief here, a stark contrast to the global trend where abuse increased belief.

To explore the factors that shape belief in life after death, researchers used data from the first wave of the Global Flourishing Study, which surveyed over 202,000 adults across 22 countries. The goal was to examine whether 13 childhood factors, including family structure, religious exposure, and early-life experiences, were associated with belief in an afterlife during adulthood.

The researchers collected data between 2022 and 2023 across six continents to ensure broad geographic and cultural representation, and used self-reported answers from participants regarding their childhood experiences and current beliefs. The childhood factors included relationships with parents, religious attendance at age 12, abuse, health, financial conditions, and immigration status. The primary outcome variable was a binary response to the statement I believe in life after death.

Due to inconsistent measures across nations, additional variables, such as race/ethnicity and religious affiliation, were considered in country-specific models but excluded from the pooled meta-analysis. Moreover, to improve accuracy and transparency, all analytic methods were pre-registered, and the dataset is openly available through the Center for Open Science.

Major findings

Polands aging faithful: Older Polish adults (70+) reported stronger afterlife beliefs than younger generations, contrasting sharply with countries like Sweden and Japan, where belief in the afterlife declined with age, a reflection of the enduring religious heritage in post-communist societies.

The study found that several childhood experiences are linked to belief in life after death in adulthood, with religious attendance at age 12 emerging as the strongest and most consistent predictor. People who attended religious services at least once a week during childhood were significantly more likely to believe in an afterlife as adults.

Surprisingly, this effect was stronger in countries where regular religious attendance was less common, suggesting that participation in religious practices stands out more  and may have a greater influence  in more secular societies. In contrast, in highly religious countries, these practices may blend into the cultural norm and exert less individual impact.

Beyond religious attendance, other early experiences also showed important associations. Adults who had experienced abuse or felt like outsiders in their families during childhood were more likely to believe in an afterlife in the pooled analysis. These findings suggest that spiritual beliefs may sometimes emerge as a means of finding meaning or healing after experiencing childhood adversity. However, the study also highlighted significant cross-national variation for nearly all predictors; for instance, while abuse generally correlated with higher belief, it was linked to a lower likelihood in Kenya, and feeling like an outsider was linked to lower belief in the United States.

A strong maternal bond was weakly associated with afterlife belief in the overall results, while the father-child relationship, family income, and childhood health showed little consistent effect across all countries combined. Female participants were also more likely to report belief in an afterlife, especially in less religious countries. Age patterns were particularly mixed across regions; while the pooled results showed slightly higher belief among some middle-aged cohorts (compared to the youngest adults) and hinted at a possible inverted U-shape peaking in middle age and potentially declining after 60, country-specific results varied dramatically. Notably, older age was linked to higher belief in places such as Poland and Kenya, but was associated with lower belief in Japan and Sweden, indicating strong cultural or generational influences that are independent of religious attendance.

Indias interfaith divide: Muslims in India who practiced their faith in childhood reported significantly stronger afterlife beliefs than their Hindu counterparts, highlighting how religious identity, even within highly religious nations, shapes spiritual outlooks differently.

Although the study was comprehensive, it had some limitations. All childhood data were self-reported retrospectively, which could have introduced memory bias. Furthermore, possible influences, such as personality traits or cultural storytelling, were not measured but could have contributed to belief formation.

Despite these constraints, the findings offered the first large-scale, cross-national evidence that belief in an afterlife is shaped not only by religion but also by emotional, familial, and cultural experiences during childhood, while underscoring considerable differences in how these factors operate across diverse societies. This has meaningful implications for how societies understand faith, resilience, and the long-term effects of childhood experiences on adult worldviews.

Conclusions

Overall, the study revealed that belief in an afterlife is shaped by factors beyond religion, it is also influenced by childhood relationships, gender, and early adversity, although the impact of these factors varies significantly across countries. However, religious service attendance during youth was the most consistent predictor globally. These findings underscore the enduring influence of childhood experiences on adult spiritual beliefs, providing new insights into how early environments shape human perspectives on mortality across diverse cultural contexts.
Parenting in the hospital is stressful. Moms and dads naturally focus on their ill child, sometimes to the neglect of their own mental health.

A Stanford Medicine team has found an effective way to help: Using a virtual reality headset, parents of inpatients at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford can participate in a short, guided meditation that helps them relax and build healthy coping skills.

The VR-guided meditation reduced parental anxiety by about 30% in a study that was published recently in the Journal of Patient Experience. It was especially helpful for Spanish-speaking families, who could complete the meditation in their own language, the study found.

We know parents and other caregivers suffer acute anxiety when caring for their children in the hospital. As part of our mission to provide family-centered care, we should address that." Thomas Caruso, MD, pediatric anesthesiologist, senior author of the study

But it's challenging for a busy children's hospital to offer enough in-person treatment for every parent's mental health needs, said Caruso, a clinical professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine.

"We showed that VR is a reasonable alternative - one that can be widely available, quickly scaled and highly effective, not just for English-speaking families but also for those whose first language isn't English," he said.

Transported to a calming environment

In the six-minute guided meditation, the VR headset virtually immerses you in a peaceful mountain scene, showing a creek with a small waterfall, trees and an expanse of sky. The narrator begins by asking that you focus on your breathing, then encourages you to look around at your surroundings. Soft music plays in the background.

As the meditation progresses, the narrator keeps guiding you to take slow, calm breaths. Then she draws attention to the sky as it gradually progresses through twilight. Stars come out; the northern lights appear. Those visuals pulse in a slow rhythm that the narrator suggests you can use to pace your inhalations and exhalations.

As the illusion of "nighttime" continues, clouds of breath appear at the bottom of the field of view in a rhythm you can breathe along to. The narrator continues to talk about the benefits of calm breathing and reminds you that you can always mentally return to the nature scene and bring your focus back to breathing, whenever you need a respite. In this way, the meditation helps build a stress-relief skill that works in a hospital setting.

More benefit for Spanish-speaking families

During the study, 101 parents completed the VR meditation in their preferred language, English or Spanish. They filled out questionnaires before and after the meditation to rate their anxiety levels.

Instead of using the VR meditation, 99 parents in a control group followed their usual tactics for managing anxiety, such as talking to a friend, reading, using their phone or listening to music. They completed the same before-and-after questionnaires about anxiety as parents in the meditation group.

The result: Parents who used meditation reported significantly lower anxiety than the control group that employed their usual anxiety-management activity, and this was still true after controlling for participants' baseline anxiety levels.

Half of participants were primarily English-speaking and half primarily Spanish-speaking, with speakers of each language evenly divided between the meditation and control groups. Parents who primarily spoke Spanish had a bigger improvement in anxiety after the meditation than those whose first language was English, the study found.

"There are very limited mental health resources for Spanish-speaking populations," said medical student Ricardo Jimenez, the study's lead author. "We think the effect was larger because there is a bigger unmet need."

Jimenez was inspired to work on the research because he grew up helping his Spanish-speaking parents navigate the health care system. As a medical student, he has seen additional ways language barriers can play out: For instance, he said, even though an interpreter may be included in meetings with a child's medical team, parents who don't speak English might have difficulty asking their child's bedside nurse a follow-up question, possibly adding to their anxiety.

After families finished the questionnaires, Jimenez had conversations with many of them about their mental health needs. "They would say, 'We haven't heard about meditation as a whole,'" he said. "It would give them a moment to open up with us. It brought a lot of parents to tears."

Spreading the benefits

The new research is part of larger efforts by the Stanford Medicine Chariot Program to design and study technology-based approaches to treating pain and stress in pediatric care. The team plans to continue studying the benefits of VR-guided meditation for patients' parents and guardians, in part by conducting more research to learn why different groups find it helpful.

They are also building their library of VR-based mental health materials for a variety of situations, including offering meditations in languages beyond English and Spanish. The VR headsets are now widely available throughout Packard Children's Hospital, and the researchers are providing clinical staff with information about how to help parents use the equipment.

They also continue to build a wide variety of tools to help kids feel more comfortable in the hospital. Parents' reactions to their children's enjoyment of the hospital's VR tools for reducing anxiety helped inspire the study in the first place, Caruso noted.

"Quite frequently, while we were engaging with a child, parents or caregivers would say 'Man, I wish we had access to something like this!'" he said. Now they do.
Noida International Airport Faces Delays, Now Aims For June 2025 Completion

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 17:46 IST

Noida International Airport CEO said that the domestic terminal is nearly ready, while the international terminal is around 75% complete.

Airport officials pose for a photograph after the successful landing of the first test flight at Noida International Airport, at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh in December 2024. (PTI Photo)

The much-anticipated Noida International Airport, initially slated for completion by September 29 last year, remains an unfinished ambition. Officials now pin their hopes on a new deadline: June 30, 2025. Yet, with construction visibly lagging, skepticism is mounting both within government corridors and among stakeholders on the ground.

Acknowledging the mounting concerns, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh convened a high-level meeting this week, directing all parties to accelerate efforts. Tata Projects Limited, the firm responsible for construction, assured the government that the revised deadline would be met. To bolster confidence, the company presented a catch-up plan", vowing to compensate for the months-long delay by intensifying labour and operations.

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According to Tata Projects, an additional 2,000 workers are being mobilised from other construction sites to expedite progress at the airport. Currently, around 6,500 workers are deployed, though the figure temporarily dipped during the harvesting season as many labourers returned to their villages. Despite manpower challenges, the company maintains that 90% of the physical construction is already complete.

Major structural components including the runway, airside infrastructure, and 10 aerobridges are largely finished. Installation of the baggage handling system, lifts, and signage has also been completed. Final touches, such as imported textile panels for the international terminal, are being prepared in Mumbai.

However, significant hurdles remain. The water treatment plant (WTP) and sewage treatment plant (STP)  both critical to operational readiness  are far from completion, standing at just 40% and 43%, respectively. The situation worsened after two contractors abandoned the project midway, leaving Tata Projects scrambling to find replacements and avoid further delays.

Arun Veer Singh, CEO of Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), expressed optimism about the pace of terminal construction. He confirmed that the domestic terminal is nearly ready, while the international terminal is around 75% complete, with roofing work currently underway on the upper floor.

A crucial milestone looms on May 10, when a joint team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is scheduled to inspect the site. The inspection will evaluate the airports readiness for aerodrome licensing following the 70-day Aeronautical Information Publication process. BCAS has indicated it will issue the necessary security clearance within 45 days of receiving all required documentation.

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The DGCA is currently weighing three phased operational scenarios: beginning with cargo operations on May 15, permitting limited passenger flights, or launching full Phase-1 services.

Meanwhile, financial penalties have started to stack up. From January 1, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government has been imposing a daily fine of Rs 10 lakh on Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the airports concessionaire, deducting it from their performance guarantee. In turn, YIAPL has reportedly passed on penalty charges to Tata Projects, reflecting the mounting pressure across all tiers of the project.

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First Published: May 02, 2025, 17:46 IST
Paid Parking Only At These 10 Spots In Chennai, GCC Reveals Official List

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 11:06 IST

TEXCO has been authorised to collect parking fees digitally: Rs 5 per hour for two-wheelers, Rs 20 for four-wheelers, and Rs 60 for buses or vans, with payments via mobile devices

Staff collecting parking fees should wear identity cards and overcoats displaying the GCC and TEXCO logos. (Representative/PTI File)

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has granted permission to the Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen Corporation (TEXCO) to manage the collection of parking fees at 10 designated locations.

This decision follows the termination of a previous contract with a private entity. According to recent reports, parking fees in Chennai are currently being collected exclusively at these 10 locations within the GCC limits.

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There have been complaints that the company responsible for collecting these fees has continued to do so even after the expiration of its licence period.

The GCC has addressed the complaints by stating that parking fee collection started on July 22, 2024, at the same 10 locations currently designated, The Hindu reported. The GCC has published a list of these specified locations where parking fees are being collected.

The 10 authorised locations are as follows: Marina Beach Service Road, Royapettah Bazaar, Anna Nagar 2nd Avenue, N.S.C. Bose Road, Besant Nagar 6th Avenue, Nungambakkam Kadhar Navascon Road, Purasaivakkam Highway, T. Nagar G.N. Chetty Road, Mylapore Theppakulam, and Chettupattu Mechanics Road.

TEXCO has been authorized to charge Rs. 5 per hour for two-wheelers, Rs. 20 for four-wheelers, and Rs. 60 for buses and vans, with payments to be made digitally through mobile devices. The press release specifies that staff collecting these fees should wear identity cards and overcoats displaying the GCC and TEXCO logos. The public can report any issues through the civic bodys toll-free number 1913, as mentioned in the release.

The Chennai Corporation has also informed citizens that they can lodge complaints regarding parking fee collection at the Chennai Corporation Complaint Centre.

The Hindu reported that TEXCO staff initially collected fees using digital payment methods via handheld devices, such as UPI, debit cards, and credit cards.

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According to the report, the GCC announced that software updates would soon be introduced to mandate the recording of vehicle registration numbers on receipts and enable receipt authenticity verification through QR codes. The bank handling the collected amounts has been instructed to disable cash payment options from the handheld devices.

Additionally, TEXCO has been directed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report following complaints against its personnel published in newspapers.

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First Published: May 02, 2025, 11:06 IST
Apple CEO: Majority Of iPhones Sold In US Will Soon Be Made In India

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 07:58 IST

Apple CEO Tim Cook said he expects most iPhones sold in the US to soon be manufactured in India

Majority Of iPhones Sold In US Will Soon Be Made In India, Says Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook said he expects most iPhones sold in the US to soon be manufactured in India, according to an AFP report.

While China remains the dominant production hub, Apple has significantly ramped up output in India amid escalating tariffs under the Trump administration and reciprocal measures from Beijing.

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Apple beat expectations with its first-quarter earnings, but Cook warned US tariffs could still cost the company up to $900 million this quarter.

Assuming no changes in global tariffs, we estimate an additional $900 million in costs," he said, noting ongoing uncertainty around future trade policies. Cook also revealed that Vietnam will be the primary manufacturing base for iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods destined for the US market.

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Apple has been steadily shifting production from China, assembling $22 billion worth of iPhones in India over the past yeara nearly 60% increase. This signals a broader strategic pivot in Apples global supply chain.

Despite holding just 8% of Indias smartphone market, Apples sales in the country hit $8 billion in FY24, driven primarily by iPhone demand, Bloomberg reported.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 07:58 IST
Pakistan Stock Exchange Plunges Over 7,100 Points Since April 23 Amid Indo-Pak Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:23 IST

Pakistan's market rout underscores investor unease over mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people

On April 30, Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 index saw its sharpest recent decline, nosediving 3.09 per cent or 3,545 points to close at 111,326.57. (File Photo: Reuters)

Pakistans benchmark KSE-100 index tumbled by over 7,100 points, nearly 6 per cent, between April 23 and April 30, shaken by the escalating geopolitical crisis triggered by the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The market rout underscores investor unease over mounting tensions between India and Pakistan.

On April 30, the index saw its sharpest recent decline, nosediving 3.09 per cent or 3,545 points to close at 111,326.57. The steep fall was attributed to investor anxiety triggered by Pakistans information minister warning of potential military action by India within 24 to 36 hours. According to The Economic Times report, major index constituents such as LUCK, ENGROH, UBL, PPL, and FFC led the sell-off, jointly dragging the index down by more than 1,100 points.

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However, on May 2, the market staged a partial recovery, rebounding 2,785 points or 2.5 per cent to end at 114,119. Analysts warned this upswing might be a dead-cat bounce" unless diplomatic and military tensions between the two countries begin to cool.

The tensions stem from the recent deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Indias Response to the Pahalgam Terror Attack

The April 22 incident, allegedly executed by Pakistan-backed militants targeting tourists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, has prompted a series of retaliatory moves by India. New Delhi has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the Integrated Check Post at Attari, ordered a reduction in diplomatic staff at respective High Commissions, and granted the military unrestricted authority to decide on the timing and nature of its response.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told senior defence officials that the armed forces have full autonomy in choosing their response, including targets and strategy.

Signs of Military Escalation

According to the ET report citing defence sources, the Indian Army responded to several ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in the Kupwara and Poonch sectors during the nights of April 26-27 and April 27-28. Pakistani small arms fire was met with effective retaliation".

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On the Pakistani side, the military has ramped up deployments near the border, including positioning air defence and artillery units in forward areas.

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations reportedly held a hotline conversation earlier this week to discuss the ceasefire breaches. India is said to have issued a firm warning against continued provocations".

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

Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:21 IST
Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:46 IST

Karnataka Board SSLC 10th Class Result 2025 Live: KSEAB SSLC class 10 board examination results can be checked on the above result window. (Screenshot from karresults.nic.in)

Karnataka SSLC 10th Result 2025 Live: The Karnataka SSLC 2025 results have been declared with an overall pass percentage of 62.34%. A total of 8,42,173 students appeared for the exam, including freshers, repeaters, and private candidates, with 5,24,984 passing. Among the gender-wise performance, girls recorded a pass percentage of 74% with 2,96,438 out of 4,00,579 girls passing, while boys had a pass percentage of 58.07%, with 2,26,637 out of 3,90,311 boys passing.

This year, 22 students achieved a perfect score of 625/625, including two from government schools. The pass percentage for freshers stands at 66.14%, while private repeaters had a significantly lower pass percentage of just 5.00%.

Karnataka 10th SSC Result 2025 Direct Link (Activated)

Students can check their Karnataka SSLC results on the official websites: karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in/english. To access their Karnataka result, students must enter their roll number and date of birth in the given fields.

This year, the SSLC-1 exams were conducted in offline (pen-and-paper) mode from March 21 to April 4, 2025, at over 2,800 exam centres across the state. Around 8.96 lakh students appeared for the 10th exam, including 4,61,563 boys and 4,34,884 girls.

(Check this live blog for Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 direct link, pass percentage and toppers list)
Students Abroad Suffer As Maharashtra Govt Delays Overseas Scholarship Payments

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:56 IST

The Maharashtra governments National Overseas Scholarship Scheme has left many students in dire financial straits.

Maharashtra Govt disbursements have been pending for more than two months. (Freepik)

Many students who participated in the Maharashtra governments National Overseas Scholarship Scheme are currently experiencing a serious financial problem as a result of government payments that have been overdue for more than two months. The Other Backward Class (OBC), Dalit, and minority beneficiaries who were enrolled in higher education programs in Australia and the United Kingdom spoke to The Times of India (ToI) about their predicament. They said that since arriving, they have not been given any scholarship funds for living expenses or tuition.

According to these students, their predicament is pathetic; several are in danger of starving, and some could be forced to leave their rental apartments, ToI states.

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Feels like Im drowning in uncertainty. Scholarship funds are delayed, tuition fees are piling up with penalties, and debt is suffocating me. Every day feels like a struggle to stay afloat financially," a student at the University of Birmingham said as quoted by the ToI.

A University of Sydney student stated, It feels like Ive been left on my own. My scholarship funds were delayed endlessly, and unpaid fees are accumulating penalties. I borrowed money to survive, but the debt is crushing me now."

Im exhausted, mentally and financially. I havent received any scholarship support for months. My fees are unpaid. I borrowed money to survive, but now I cant repay. I feel abandoned," another student from Sydney University told the publication.

In a follow-up with authorities in the relevant departments, Rajiv Khobragade, president of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Platform, stated that sending students overseas with false promises of scholarships is equivalent to forcing them into mental hardship and malnutrition. The government should provide scholarship funds on time," he stated as per the publication.

The Platform is an organisation that works closely with these students.

The students claimed that even though they emailed the social justice and special assistance (SJSA) and OBC welfare departments regarding their scholarships, they were informed that the finance department had not yet sanctioned the monies.

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According to the state OBC welfare minister, Atul Save, there is no shortage of funding, as he told TOI. I will look into the issue and resolve the matter. Though it is a public holiday tomorrow, I will take an update about the scholarship and disburse funds," he said.

Meanwhile, SJSAs main secretary, Harshdeep Kamble, stated that Scholarship funds were already released to the commissioner (social justice)." He went on to say that more information must be obtained from the SJSA commissioner.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 14:56 IST
How Muslim World Is Reacting To India-Pakistan Tensions Following Pahalgam Terror Attack | Explained

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 17:06 IST

Most Muslim-majority governments prioritise geopolitical and economic interests over religious solidarity, sources said, which was also seen during the Article 370 row

Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar now rely heavily on India for trade, energy exports, and labour, which has tempered their willingness to support Pakistan unconditionally, the sources added. (Representational image)

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, how is the Muslim world reacting?

Top Indian diplomatic sources told CNN-News18 that most Muslim-majority governments prioritise geopolitical and economic interests over religious solidarity.

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Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar now rely heavily on India for trade, energy exports, and labour, which has tempered their willingness to support Pakistan unconditionally, they added.

The Muslim worlds reaction to the crisis is driven by strategic restraint rather than unified support for Pakistan, said the sources.

Iran and Turkey, they said, are making moves toward diplomatic solidarity, while Gulf states are giving importance to economic and regional stability.

Iran

Iran has already proposed mediation to de-escalate tensions and positioned itself as a neutral party rather than backing Pakistan.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 sections in Jammu and Kashmir, Iran remained largely silent and was focusing on its own tensions with the US and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is taking a calibrated and pragmatic position," said a source. It has not issued strong public statements. Earlier also, it balanced ties with Pakistan, which is a traditional ally, and India, which is a critical economic partner."

The kingdoms muted response suggests a preference for stability over overt alignment, said sources.

Saudi Arabia avoided direct criticism of India, framing Kashmir as a bilateral issue in 2019 at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 clauses.

According to the sources, Saudi Arabias current silence is a clear indication that it wants to focus on economic diversification under Vision 2030, which will give priority to India.

Qatar

Qatar has also not publicly supported Pakistan. Its focus remains on recovering from the 20172021 Gulf blockade and maintaining neutrality in regional disputes.

Qatar, like other Gulf states, avoided condemning India, emphasising dialogue during the Article 370 row.

Its post-blockade foreign policy prioritises economic ties over ideological solidarity, reducing its inclination to back Pakistan unconditionally, said sources.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has criticised Indias suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty but refrained from endorsing Pakistan.

It seeks to maintain strong economic ties with India while pursuing rapprochement with Iran, sources said.

The UAE supported Indias move as an internal matter during the Article 370 issue, which reflected deep bilateral trade and security cooperation.

In 2025, sources said, the UAEs balancing act is more visible, driven by its role in mediating Gulf-Iran tensions and reliance on Indian labour and investment.

The UAEs $85 billion trade with India in 2024 gives it reasons to ignore its historical ties to Pakistan, they added.

Turkey

Turkey has historically backed Pakistan on Kashmir but, sources said, it faces constraints due to growing trade with India, $10 billion in 2024.

Turkeys response has been limited to diplomatic statements urging dialogue.

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It condemned Indias move during the Article 370 issue and called for UN intervention, but took no concrete action.

In 2025, Turkeys muted reaction reflects its economic relations looking forward with India and efforts not to avoid India completely, sources said.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 02, 2025, 17:06 IST
Amaravati Rises Again: Mega Capital Project Set For Relaunch With PM Modi's Backing

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 12:00 IST

Strategically located between Vijayawada and Guntur, the sprawling 34,000-acre project, initially halted by the previous Jagan Reddy govt, is set for a significant relaunch.

The developmental works are broadly categorised into housing and building, infrastructure development in the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) areas. (Image: News18)

Amaravati, the ambitious capital city of Andhra Pradesh, presents a scene of wide roads, incomplete buildings, and piles of raw construction materials, all set amidst uncultivated farmland, for the construction of a mega city. Strategically located between Vijayawada and Guntur, the sprawling 34,000-acre project, initially halted by the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy administration, is now set for a significant relaunch.

The foundation stone for this envisioned metropolis was laid in October 2015, marking the start of creating a world-class urban centre. The Master Plan for Amaravati, crafted with guidance from the Government of Singapore and inspired by global best practices, aims to accommodate a population of 3.5 million by 2050.

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The developmental works are broadly categorised into housing and building, infrastructure development in the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) areas, and crucial trunk and flood management works. As of 2024, the estimated budget for Amaravatis comprehensive development stood at approximately Rs 64,910 crore, bolstered by a Rs 15,000 crore commitment from the Indian government and substantial financial support from international institutions, including $800 million each from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and an agreement with HUDCO for a loan of Rs 11,000 crore.

Amaravati is all set for a relaunch today. The @ncbn government says funds and land are not an issue, and they will build a new capital in 3 years. If the plan on paper is executed well on the ground, Andhra Pradesh will have a future-ready city. pic.twitter.com/ftaoD0K8xL Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) May 2, 2025

In an interview with CNN-NEWS18, Andhra Pradeshs Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Ponguru Narayana, discussed the projects history, the challenges faced, and the current governments determined plan for revival.

Reflecting on the initial phase of the project, Minister Narayana stated that the Amaravati Capital City development began in 2014-2019. During that time, tenders were called for Rs 41,000 crores for major trunk roads, layout roads, apartments, bungalows, and iconic buildings such as the assembly, high court, and administrative towers.

Addressing the disruption caused by the subsequent Jagan Mohan Reddy administration, he explained that although Rs 5,000 crore had been spent for the contractors, the previous government halted the project and introduced the concept of three capitals. They neither continued the work nor settled the payments, leading to numerous legal issues, he said.

The current government, under Chandhrababu Naidus leadership, took nearly 11 months to overcome these obstacles, he stated. Minister Narayana detailed the measures taken, including forming a technical committee of chief engineers, assessing the building strength through IIT Chennai and IIT Hyderabad, and eventually calling for tenders worth Rs 50,000 crore.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modis renewed involvement, he mentioned the invitation extended to the Prime Minister to restart the works, which was accepted.

Providing a timeline for the completion of key residential infrastructure, the Minister affirmed that the 4,000 houses for officials would be completed within one and a half years, with 80-85 per cent of the work already done. The main trunk roads, totaling 350 kilometre, would be completed within two years, and the layout roads within two and a half years, he said.

Regarding the iconic structures, Minister Narayana stated that the five administrative towers, the assembly building, and the high court would be completed within three years. The administrative towers include one 50-floor tower and four 40-floor towers, while the assembly building and high court have specific plans for their respective heights and dimensions.

Elaborating on the innovative land pooling system, he explained that the call for land pooling in 2015 resulted in 34,000 acres being contributed by landlords without litigation. This land was allocated for various uses, including returnable plots to agricultural people, blue and green spaces, roads, and parks. Currently, 4,000 acres of developed land are available for further development.

Highlighting the self-sustaining financial model for the capital city, Minister Narayana asserted that the developed land costs range from Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore per acre. The plan involves reserving 4,000 acres of land, taking loans for initial development, and later selling the land at increased prices to repay the loans, ensuring no taxpayer money is spent on the project.

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Discussing the initial efforts to attract institutions and industries, he mentioned that 1,500 acres were reserved for national-level organisations and institutions. Despite setbacks from the previous governments actions, the current administration has reallotted 800 acres and set a target for these organisations to start their work within four months.

Amaravatis development, under the new governments leadership, is set to transform the region into a self-sustaining, world-class urban centre, with strategic planning and significant financial backing paving the way for its future, the Minister said.

About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 12:00 IST
'Arresting Suspects At Early Stage May Weaken Case': ASG Briefs ED Officers On Foundation Day

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 07:00 IST

Additional solicitor general SV Raju cautioned that premature arrest may risk "grounds of arrest" and "reason to believe" situations by the courts during trial

ASG of India SV Raju addresses during the ED Day celebration, in New Delhi on May 1. (Image: PTI/Vijay Varma)

Arresting suspects at an early stage during an investigation, at times, may backfire by weakening the case and enabling default bail, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told officers of the Enforcement Directorate.

Raju, who was addressing a programme to mark the foundation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said: You must use your power to arrest not liberally, but sparingly and at a stage which is not the early stage."

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He cautioned that premature arrest may risk grounds of arrest" and reason to believe" situations by the courts during trial. He added that an arrest often changes a suspects conduct, at times making it harder to obtain disclosures once in custody.

After the arrest, his conduct changesits over, what is going to happen has happened," he said.

The ASG said instead, statements under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)  admissible in court unlike regular police confessions  should be recorded before taking an accused into custody.

If a person is arrested, the Section 50 statement becomes vulnerable, it is no longer evidence," he said.

He further flagged the issue of default bail. Even the worst of offendersif you arrest them early, you are not in a position to complete the investigation and, therefore, they get default bail," he said, urging ED officers to time arrests in a way so as to preserve the integrity and momentum of their case.

Raju further made a strong pitch for regulating hawala operators, or angadias, by notifying them as reporting entities under the PMLA.

They are not accused; however, my suggestion is that they must be made reporting entities," he said. There is no civil or criminal liabilitybut their responsibility is to identify and verify their clients and maintain records. They can notify the ED when large amounts are received."

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He also said bringing the vast network of hawala operators under formal reporting obligations or making them reporting entities would make it easier to track illicit money movement in real time and reduce investigative delays.

That will solve a lot of problems. You may even get information at the earliest point of timebecause many times what happens is, by the time you get information, it has already gone to Dubai or somewhere else," he added.

About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 07:00 IST
Can Pakistan's China-Made SH-15 Howitzer Match Up To India's K-9 Vajra Power?

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:07 IST

Military experts in India are dismissive of the SH-15s effectiveness when compared with the home-deployed K-9 Vajra.

K-9 Vajra boasts of a superior fire rate along with enhanced targetting.

In the aftermath of the deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, Pakistan finds itself gripped by a growing fear of retaliation from India. As tensions flare across the Line of Control (LoC), Islamabad has launched an extensive military build-up, deploying air defence and artillery units along the border, intensifying a state of high alert that spans land and air.

The Pakistani Air Force has activated a triad of military exercises  Fiza-e-Badr, Lalkar-e-Momin, and Zarb-e-Haideri  involving advanced combat aircraft like the F-16, J-10, and JF-17. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Army has moved forward with the deployment of its latest Chinese-acquired artillery system  the SH-15 howitzer.

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Delivered under a 2019 agreement with Chinas Norinco group, the SH-15 is a 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer mounted on a 66 Shaanxi truck chassis. Its ability to fire both NATO-standard and GPS-guided munitions, combined with a range of up to 53 kilometres and shoot-and-scoot capability, makes it a key feature of Pakistans artillery modernisation.

Significantly, some military analysts in Pakistan claim the system is capable of launching tactical nuclear shells  a claim that remains untested on the battlefield.

However, military experts in India are dismissive of the SH-15s effectiveness when compared with the home-deployed K-9 Vajra. Developed in collaboration with South Korea and inducted into the Indian Army in 2018, the K-9 Vajra boasts similar range but superior rate of fire  6 to 8 rounds per minute  and enhanced targetting through a robust digital fire control and inertial navigation system.

Its 50-tonne tracked chassis provides greater battlefield endurance and mobility across deserts and mountainous terrains, giving it a significant edge over Pakistans wheeled SH-15.

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Currently, India has nearly 100 K-9 Vajra units which are backed by the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch system, giving the Army a comprehensive tactical advantage.

The Pahalgam massacre, in which terrorists reportedly executed tourists based on their religion, drew sharp condemnation and raised public and political calls for a forceful response. As India and Pakistan bolster their positions along the LoC, the specter of war looms larger than it has in recent years.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:07 IST
National Herald Case: Delhi Court Seeks Sonia, Rahul Gandhis Response, Sends Notice

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:23 IST

Rouse Avenue Court seeks response from Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi over the fresh chargesheet filed by ED in the National Herald case.

Congress leaders have dismissed the allegations in the National Herald case as politically motivated. (File Photo)

A Delhi court on Friday issued formal notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case. The development came following a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the case.

Special judge Vishal Gogne said their right to be heard" was available at the time of cognisance of the chargesheet. Right to be heard at any stage breathes life into a fair trial," Judge Gogne observed. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for May 8.

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The ED, which filed its chargesheet recently, began its probe in the National Herald money laundering case, in 2021 after a magistrate court took cognisance of a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on June 26, 2014.

The ED in its chargesheet highlighted a criminal conspiracy" by top Congress leadership in relation to the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.

The chargesheet names several Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes aside from Dubey, Pitroda and a private company Young Indian for their alleged involvement in money laundering in relation to the fraudulent takeover of properties valued over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders of Young Indian with 38 per cent shares held by each one of them.

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A few years ago, both of them were questioned for hours by the investigation agency.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:09 IST
Delhi Wakes Up To Heavy Rain, Visuals Show Waterlogged Roads, Uprooted Trees | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 09:54 IST

Delhi Rains: A yellow alert is in place for Delhi for the next three days, warning people of rain and thunderstorms. IMD advised people to stay indoors.

Visual from Delhi as heavy rain lash the city

Heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR on Friday morning, waterlogging several roads. Trees were uprooted in many areas, and flight operations were also affected due to the downpour and thunderstorms.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted more rain for the national capital and adjoining areas for the next three days. A yellow alert has also been issued for Delhi. Several videos shared from across Delhi showed waterlogged roads as vehicles ply on roads.

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#WATCH | Delhi | Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm lashes national capital, bringing respite from heat.(Visuals from Safdar Hashmi Marg) pic.twitter.com/YmWz4aYd8M  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

#WATCH | Heavy rainfall in Delhi causes waterlogging in parts of the city. Visuals from Khanpur. pic.twitter.com/hkzuWTUsyR ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma Takes Stock Of Situation

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma visited several areas, including the Minto Bridge, and took stock of the situation. In a post on X, he said that the drains are being cleaned regularly ahead of the monsoon season.

Today, due to unseasonal record rainfall, water stagnated in some quantity at many places in Delhi. From 5:30 am onwards, I went to many places and took stock of the situation. On going to Minto Bridge, I saw that all four pumps were working and the operator was also alert. A pipe had burst and I have asked to repair it. In view of the monsoon, the cleaning of drains is being done continuously by PWD, MCD, DJB, NDMC, IFC," he wrote on X.

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma tweets, " Today, due to unseasonal record rainfall, water stagnated in some quantity at many places in Delhi. From 5:30 am onwards, I went to many places and took stock of the situation. On going to Minto Bridge, I saw that all four pumps were working pic.twitter.com/uymxWyAocN ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

IMD Forecast For Next Three Days

A yellow alert is in place for Delhi for the next three days, warning people of rain and thunderstorms. The IMD has also asked people to stay indoors.

#WATCH | Delhi | Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashes national capital; a metal structure collapsed at Delhi Airport- T3(Visuals from Delhi Airport- T3) pic.twitter.com/0FRZnT4LrE  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

#WATCH | Delhi: Rain showers lashed parts of the national capital; heavy waterlogging witnessed in several areas.(Visuals from Minto road area) pic.twitter.com/Ap0H6MEgFm  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Uprooted Trees because of the morning storm in Delhi.Several trees got uprooted and damaged the Cars. This is in Vasant Kunj. One of the reasons is that no trimming of trees has been done for the last 3 years. The Horticulture department doesnt have enough staff. Earlier the pic.twitter.com/xscjWSHy5l  Dr Sumeet Shah (@DrSumeetShah) May 2, 2025

Four Killed, One Injured After Tree Falls On Tubewell Room

At least four people were killed and one injured after a tree fell on a tubewell room built on the farm in Kharkhari Canal village in Dwarka due to strong winds this morning. The deceased has been identified as Jyoti, 26, and her three children. Her husband, Ajay, has sustained minor injuries, reported ANI, citing Delhi Police.

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Flights Delayed, Diverted Due To Heavy Rain In Delhi

Several flights were delayed as heavy rain disrupted the routine activities in Delhi on Friday. According to Delhi Airport sources cited by ANI, one flight was diverted to Ahmedabad and two flights to Jaipur due to the adverse weather conditions.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 09:54 IST
How Keralas Vizhinjam Seaport Will Help Businesses Sail Smoother, Save $220 Million A Year

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:39 IST

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rs 8,800-crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala, calling it significant for Indias maritime sector

The world's largest eco-friendly container ship, the Turkiye, docked at Vizhinjam Port in April. (Website)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated the Rs 8,800-crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport to the nation.

The port in Thiruvananthapuram district, developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), under a public-private partnership, is expected to transform Indias role in international trade and shipping. It could save $220 million in revenue annually.

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Heres all you need to know.

STRATEGIC LOCATION, NATURAL ADVANTAGE

Located just 10 nautical miles from the busy international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East, Vizhinjam enjoys inherent locational advantages that position it for success as a global transshipment hub.

Its proximity to the East-West axis which accounts for a substantial quantum of global maritime trade provides easy access without deviation for the large vessels that form the lifeline of todays ocean commerce.

Gifted by nature with a deep draft of 18m close to shore that requires no capital dredging, Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20m+ drafts.

Its curvilinear coast mitigates tsunami impact, while the ports positioning results in only mild erosion, minimising maintenance costs.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: On first mothership "San Fernando" reached Vizhinjam International Seaport, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal says, "Under the flagship initiative of our Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways, Sagarmala, there are 55 projects worth more than pic.twitter.com/KoLXXz8jJX ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2024

THE CAPACITY

The port, which commenced partial operations in July 2023, has already handled around 250 container ships.

With capacity for 18,000+ TEU ships, scalable infrastructure to match cargo growth and minimal siltation, Vizhinjam is future ready, states its website. A single TEU is equal to a container 20 feet long, eight wide, and nine high.

The worlds largest eco-friendly container ship, the Turkiye, operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, docked at Vizhinjam Port, which is 230km from Kochi, in April.

Tomorrow marks a historic moment as Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Honble Prime Minister of India, dedicates the Vizhinjam International Seaport to the nation. This landmark project  the largest-ever state investment in any port in the country, with two-thirds of the cost borne by pic.twitter.com/kPk0PVIWpU Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 1, 2025

ROAD, AIR, RAIL: WELL-CONNECTED

2km away: National Highway 47, connecting Salem and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu

12km away: Rail network

15km away: Trivandrum International Airport

SAVING MONEY

Currently, around 75 per cent of Indias maritime cargo is transhipped at foreign ports such as Singapore, Colombo, or Dubai, costing Indias ports a loss of $220 million in annual revenue, as the goods are moved from large containers, which Indian ports cant accommodate, to smaller vessels.

Indian exporters and importers also incur additional costs of $80 to $100 per container.

With its upgraded capacity, Vizhinjam is expected to serve major global shipping routes connecting the U.S., Europe, Africa, and East Asia. The port was recently included in the Jade service route operated by Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., linking it with China, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Italy.

Inauguration of the Vizhinjam Port in Kerala is significant for Indias maritime sector. People have been waiting for this port for many years. It will boost trade, commerce and will be particularly beneficial for Keralas economy.Here are glimpses from todays programme in pic.twitter.com/T1QQ00AvSA  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2025

HOW IT WILL HELP INDIA

Being the southern tip of India, Vizhinjam is strategically poised to emerge as a transshipment hub that can consolidate and transfer Indian and regional origin cargo to mainline vessels at lower costs than routing them via Colombo.

The transshipment port is on top of a core international shipping lane, which will lead to maritime and economic advantages.

The Prime Minister said that the capacity of this transshipment hub will triple in the coming years, enabling the smooth arrival of some of the worlds largest cargo ships.

He asserted that Indias money will now serve India and the funds that once flowed outside the country will now generate new economic opportunities for Kerala and Vizhinjams people.

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The port economy reaches its full potential when infrastructure and ease of doing business are promoted together," said the PM.

Highlighting that a decade ago, ships faced long waiting times at ports, significantly delaying unloading operations, Modi noted that this slowdown affected businesses, industries, and the overall economy.

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: May 02, 2025, 14:26 IST
Modi In Amaravati Today: PM To Relaunch Capital's Construction, Set To Inaugurate Development Projects | Updates

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:26 IST

PM Modi will land at Gannavaram Airport at around 3 pm and will be received by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

PM Narendra Modi is set to relaunch the construction of capital city 'Amravati' in the presence of CM Chandrababu Naidu and a host of other leaders. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Andhra Pradesh on Friday for a landmark visit that marks the formal relaunch the Amaravati as the states capital. In addition to this, the Prime Minister will launch wide-ranging development projects worth Rs 57,962 crore across sectors.

Nearly 5 years after the capitals construction was stalled for five years between 2019 and 2024 when YS Jagan Reddy of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was the Chief Minister, PM Modis presence in Amaravati to relaunch capital construction sends messages of political stability in the state.

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PM Modis Amaravati Schedule

PM Modi will land at Gannavaram Airport at around 3 pm and will then travel by helicopter to Velagapudi Secretariat helipad, reaching there by 3:15 pm.

He will be received by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

By 3:30 pm, the Prime Minister will arrive at the public meeting venue and participate in the foundation-laying and inaugural events.

The programme is scheduled to last 1 hour and 15 minutes, following which PM Modi will return to Gannavaram at 4:55 pm and depart for New Delhi.

2.74 Lakh People Poised To Welcome PM Modi

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Nearly 2.74 lakh people are expected to congregate in Amaravati on Friday, May 2, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present to relaunch the capital city project.

According to sources, the ruling party TDP has received requests from at least 13 districts to make arrangements for attendees to travel to the event.

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 : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 07:54 IST
NCW Summons Actor Ajaz Khan, Ullu App CEO Over Viral Clip About Sex Positions From Reality Show

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 13:18 IST

NCW took cognisance of the clip and slammed the Ullu App for promoting vulgarity and violating consent.

Ajaz Khan's Ullu App show House Arrest sparks outrage over explicit sexual content.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) issued summons to actor Ajaz Khan and Vibhu Agarwal, CEO of Ullu App on Friday after an objectionable clip of the apps reality show House Arrest went viral.

NCW takes suo moto cognizance of obscene content on Ullu Apps show House Arrest. Viral clips show women being coerced into intimate acts on camera. NCW slams the platform for promoting vulgarity & violating consent. CEO & host summoned on May 9," said NCW in a post on X.

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NCW takes suo moto cognizance of obscene content on Ullu Apps show House Arrest. Viral clips show women being coerced into intimate acts on camera. NCW slams the platform for promoting vulgarity & violating consent. CEO & host summoned on May 9. #WomenDignity #NCWActs #UlluApp NCW (@NCWIndia) May 2, 2025

The action by NCW comes after a row erupted over the viral clip with political parties reacting to it. While Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi raised the issue with the Parliamentary Standing Committee, BJPs Yuva Morcha Bihar in charge Barun Raj Singh also appealed to Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw to take action.

Several social media users also reacted to the viral video, calling for action from the government.

An X user with the name @Incognito_qfs wrote, Ullu TV has been promoting soft porn for years now. This content is available to everyone including children because OTT content is not regulated. Govt should take action against Ullu TV, Ajaz Khan & other participants (sic)."

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House Arrest is a reality show hosted by actor Ajaz Khan, who is also a former Bigg Boss contestant. The show is streamed on Ullu App.

Meanwhile, earlier on March 14, Centre blocked 18 OTT platforms for streaming obscene and pornographic content including Dreams Films, Voovi, X Prime, 13MoodX among several others.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 13:02 IST
'We Are With You': Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan Make A Pahalgam Pledge Before PM Modi

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 18:33 IST

Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh also hailed PM Modi as the 'architect of Bharat' and described him as the missile that gives a strong reply to Pakistan

Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan expressed their full support for PM Modi and Centres response to the Pahalgam terror attack. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, received strong support from his allies in Andhra Pradesh amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

At a large public gathering on Friday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, expressed their full support for PM Modi and the Centres response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

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Twenty-six men, mostly tourists, were shot dead by terrorists at the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on 22 April, in one of the worst terror attacks on civilians in Kashmir in recent years.

5 Crore Andhra People With You: Naidu

During his speech, Naidu assured PM Modi that all the five crore people in Andhra Pradesh are with him in his fight against terrorism.

We are with you, PM Modi. The five crore people of Andhra Pradesh are with you, the entire country is with you," the TDP leader stated.

VIDEO | We are with you, PM Modi. The five crore people of Andhra Pradesh are with you, the entire country is with you" says Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn), addressing a public gathering in Amaravati.PM Modi will shortly inaugurate and lay the foundation pic.twitter.com/mNvonp5t0G  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2, 2025

The Andhra CM added, Despite being deeply saddened by the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, PM Modi still attended todays event, which reflects his unwavering commitment. We fully support him in taking strong decisions to combat terrorism."

Modi Carrying Nations Burden: Pawan Kalyan

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also backed the Prime Minister, saying Modi had ensured justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. The Pahalgam terrorist attack has been the darkest day for the entire country, blood was spilled in Kashmir which created tremors in the entire nation. I have seen and witness the pain of the victims," Kalyan said.

Honourable PM Modi is leading country through this tough times and he assured all the citizens that stern actions will be taken against the perpetuators of terrorism," Kalyan added, and praised PM Modi for carrying the nations burdens" during this challenging period.

Modi Architect Of Bharat: Nara Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh also hailed Modi as the architect of Bharat" and described him as the missile that gives a strong reply to Pakistan".

Even if a hundred Pakistanis come together, they cant pluck a single blade of grass in India," Lokesh said.

He claimed that Pakistans army is shaken and resigning out of fear, and added that under Modis leadership, Indias security, pride, and strength have been firmly safeguarded.

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Additionally, Lokesh praised the Centres decision to conduct a caste census, calling it a historic and courageous move. He said Modi had taken a step that earlier governments had avoided.

ALSO READ: Our Strength Is Not Just Weapons: PM Modis Message As Naidu, Kalyan Back Govt On Pahalgam

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: May 02, 2025, 16:30 IST
Pakistan Airspace Closure Could Cost Air India $600 Million In 12 Months: Report

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 07:36 IST

Air India, which has a 26.5% market share in India, flies to Europe, the United States and Canada, often crossing Pakistans airspace.

Air India flies to US, Europe and Canada

Air India expects to face around $600 million in additional costs if a ban from Pakistans airspace lasts for a year, and has asked the federal government to compensate it for the hit, a company letter seen by Reuters shows.

Indian airlines are bracing for higher fuel costs and longer journey times after Pakistan shut its airspace to the countrys carriers in a tit-for-tat retaliation following an attack on tourists in Kashmir last week.

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Air India on April 27 asked the Indian government for a "subsidy model" proportionate to the economic hit, estimating a loss of more than 50 billion Indian rupees ($591 million) for each year the ban lasts, according to a letter sent by the airline to the Civil Aviation Ministry seen by Reuters.

"Subsidy for affected international flights is a good, verifiable and fair option  the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves," the letter said.

"The impact on Air India is maximum due to airspace closure, due to additional fuel burnadditional crew."

Air India declined to comment. Indias Civil Aviation Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Air Indias letter was sent after the government asked its executives to assess the impact of the airspace ban on Indian carriers, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The Tata Group-owned airline is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar turnaround after a period of government ownership, and growth is already constrained by jet delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus. It reported a net loss of $520 million in fiscal 2023-2024, on sales of $4.6 billion.

Air India, which has a 26.5% market share in India, flies to Europe, the United States, and Canada, often crossing Pakistans airspace. It operates many more long-haul routes than bigger domestic rival IndiGo.

Data from Cirium Ascend shows IndiGo, Air India, and its budget unit, Air India Express, had roughly 1,200 flights combined from New Delhi scheduled for Europe, the Middle East, and North America in April.

The Indian government is considering options to reduce the hit to the airline industry from the closure of Pakistans airspace, three other people familiar with the matter said.

One of the sources said Indian carriers met with the Civil Aviation Ministry to work on possible solutions, including flying over difficult terrain closer to China, and some tax exemptions.

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In its letter, Air India asked the government to liaise with Chinese authorities for certain overflight clearances, without elaborating.

It also asked the government to approve the carrying of extra pilots on flights on the United States and Canada to account for longer travel times.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 07:28 IST
Pakistans Pahalgam Probe Narrative Blunted? US Tilts Towards India In Diplomacy Tussle

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News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:58 IST

A host of influential voices in Washington have not only rejected Pakistans framing of the incident, but have also expressed unambiguous support for India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reaffirming support for India.

In the wake of the gruesome terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindus, Pakistan has once again attempted to shift the narrative  this time by calling for a neutral" or third-party investigation. But unlike in the past, the familiar playbook has failed to gain traction. A host of influential voices in Washington have not only rejected Pakistans framing of the incident, but have also expressed unambiguous support for India.

While the United States has maintained formal contact with both New Delhi and Islamabad, the messaging has leaned decisively in Indias favour. Senior US officials, including the Secretary of State and the Vice President, have spoken directly with Indian leadership, reaffirming support and recognising Indias right to act against terrorism. Pakistan, by contrast, has been advised to cooperate and held to account  a shift in tone that reflects where Washingtons strategic trust now lies.

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NO MORE BALANCING: WASHINGTONS FULL EMBRACE OF INDIA

This moment marks a notable departure from Washingtons traditionally cautious stance in South Asia. In public statements and diplomatic outreach, US leaders have made it clear that India is not merely one of two regional partiesit is a trusted strategic partner.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reaffirming support for India and urging Pakistan to assistnot leadany investigation. His words left no room for ambiguity: the burden of cooperation lies with Islamabad.

US Vice President JD Vance, who was in India on a four-day visit when the attack took place, echoed this sentiment. In an interview with Fox Newss Special Report, Vance said, Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict." Asked about India-Pakistan tensions, he added, We hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also spoke with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh following the attack. Hegseth conveyed condolences and expressed strong solidarity, stating that the United States supports Indias right to defend itself." Singh, in turn, highlighted Pakistans sustained support for terrorism and called for a strong international message.

The United States growing closeness with India also reflects a broader strategic recalibration. Washingtons engagement is increasingly issue-based  focused on trade, defence sales, and tech cooperation  rather than reactive diplomacy. The two countries have set an ambitious trade target of $500 billion by 2030, and recent announcements related to software and defence tech transfers are being seen as more than transactional. They signal deeper alignment. Meetings between Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, though held just before the attack, have taken on fresh symbolic weight in this context.

A CHORUS OF SUPPORT: US AGENCIES AND TRUMP CAMP ECHO MESSAGE

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the full support of President Donald Trump and his administration in the nations fight against terrorism. As President Donald Trump articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support," she said. Bruce added that Secretary Rubio had spoken with both Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and that the US remains in regular contact with both sides.

US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard also strongly condemned the attack, tweeting: We stand in solidarity with India in the wake of the horrific Islamist terrorist attack, targeting and killing 26 Hindus in Pahalgam We are with you and support you as you hunt down those responsible for this heinous attack."

PAKISTANS ISOLATION: EMPTY INTERVIEWS, NO ENGAGEMENT

While official engagement with India has been visible and vocal, Pakistan has found itself increasingly on the margins. Its ambassador in Washington has instead turned to televised interviews in what appears to be a plea for relevance  even attempting to reach President Donald Trump in hopes of drawing him into the crisis. The lack of response so far underscores just how little attention Islamabad is receiving in Washingtons power corridors.

This diplomatic sidelining has not gone unnoticed. Whats emerging is a rare consensus across the US political spectrum: that India is not just a regional counterparty, but a frontline actor in the global fight against terrorism  one whose concerns are being heard and addressed. Pakistans once-familiar pitch for third-party mediation, used for years to delay accountability, is no longer being entertained with the same diplomatic courtesy.

ISLAMABADS FAMILIAR SCRIPT MEETS A WALL

In a televised interview on ARY News, Pakistans Prime Ministerial adviser Rana Sanaullah claimed that Pakistan was open to a neutral inquiry" and would even consider a third-party or expert-led investigation. He cast doubts on Indias version of the attack and suggested that the incident was being politicised for strategic gain. He also alleged that India was escalating tensions and threatening regional peace.

But Sanaullahs remarks, intended to generate international sympathy and shift scrutiny, have largely fallen flat.

INDIA PUSHES BACK WITH HISTORY AS EVIDENCE

Indian officials have rejected Pakistans proposal for a neutral investigation outright. Their response is not just political  it is rooted in experience. After the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, India had allowed a Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) access to the site and to evidence gathered by the NIA. But the goodwill was never reciprocated. The Pakistani JIT did not share its findings, and Islamabad never responded to Indias Letter Rogatory  a formal legal request for cooperation.

This, Indian officials point out, is part of a pattern. Nearly 20 such requests have been sent across several terror attacks  from the 2008 Mumbai siege to Pulwama in 2019. Most have gone unanswered. In each case, Pakistan promised cooperation  only to obstruct or delay. Against this backdrop, Indian officials view the latest offer of neutrality as hollow.

CONCLUSION: THE STRATEGY HAS SHIFTED, AND SO HAS THE LANGUAGE

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India has long maintained that Pakistans gestures of cooperation are performative and strategically insincere. Whats different now is that key global actors, especially the United States, seem to agree.

With US officials engaging Indian leadership directly, affirming Indias right to respond, and publicly naming terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil, the old language of regional balance has been replaced by one of clear alignment. In this recalibrated diplomatic landscape, Pakistans narrative  built on denial, delay, and diversion  is not just being challenged. Its being ignored.

About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 16:58 IST
PM Modi Dedicates Vizhinjam Seaport To Nation In Major Boost To India's Maritime Future

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 11:56 IST

The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissions the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala | ANI Image

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport, boosting Indias maritime future and placing Kerala top of the global maritime map

The port in Thiruvananthapuram district, developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), Indias largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, under a public-private partnership, is expected to transform Indias role in international trade and shipping.

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The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala is a significant advancement in Indias maritime infrastructure," said PM Modi during the event, which was also attended by Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,900 croreCM Pinarayi Vijayan is also present at the event. This ambitious project of the Kerala government has been pic.twitter.com/t5bbfMuIUq  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

The project was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore. Following a successful trial run, the port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4 last year.

Symbol Of New-Age Development

While addressing the event, PM Modi called the Vizhinjam Seaport a symbol of new-age development" and noted that it was a joint effort of the central and state governments.

On one hand, there is this big sea with so many opportunities and on the other hand, there is the beauty of nature, in between there is this Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, which is a symbol of new-age development."

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: After inaugurating Vizhinjam port, PM Modi says, " On one hand, there is this big sea with so many opportunities and on the other hand, there is beauty of nature, in between there is this Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose pic.twitter.com/iD2BkBZ3xj ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

PM Modi noted that so far, 75 per cent of Indias transhipment containers were handled by Colombo Port in Sri Lanka, causing significant losses in foreign exchange and revenue.

Vizhinjam is expected to bring much of that traffic back to India.

Until now, 75% of Indias transhipment activities were conducted at foreign ports, resulting in significant revenue losses for the country. However, this is poised to change. The funds previously spent abroad will now be channelled into domestic development, creating new economic opportunities for the people of Vizhinjam and Kerala, ensuring that the nations wealth directly benefits its citizens," PM Modi remarked.

Vizhinjam is Indias first dedicated transhipment port and also the countrys first semi-automated port. It sits just 10 nautical miles from a key international shipping route and has naturally deep waters, making it ideal for large cargo ships.

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About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 11:46 IST
'Our Strength Isn't Just Weapons': PM Modi's Message As Naidu, Pawan Kalyan Back Govt On Pahalgam

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 19:18 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for projects worth thousands of crores in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Andhra Pradesh (Photo: YouTube/ Narendra Modi)

Shortly after getting an open backing of his Andhra Pradesh NDA allies on the Centres response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Indias strength today is not just in its weapons but also in its unity.

PM Modis remarks came at a rally in Amaravati as he launched projects worth Rs 58,000 crore in the state, including the resumption of the construction of greenfield capital city Amaravati. He said that the city is the realisation of a dream and the foundation of a developed India".

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Minutes before the Prime Ministers address, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan referred to the Pahalgam terror attack and voiced their open support to the Prime Minister in his actions against Pakistan and terrorism.

Without referring to their remarks, PM Modi also emphasised that unity is a key strength of India besides its military strength.

Today, our strength is not just weapons but also our unity. (Aaj humari taqat humare hathiyaar hi nahi haihumari ekta bhi hai). Ekta malls are being built throughout the country," he said while addressing the gathering.

India has tested a new DRDO missile. We are boosting our defence sector by spending more on the defence sector. We laid the foundation stone of DRDOs Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka. The Navdurga Testing Range being built in Nagayalanka will empower the nations defence power, just like Goddess Durga," PM Modi added.

As many as 26 people were killed in a terrorist attack at Baisaran Valley in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22.

Andhra Moving In Right Direction With Right Speed: PM Modi

Stressing that Andhra Pradesh has set its journey in the right direction with right speed", the Prime Minister assured the people and the state government of all support from the Centre in the states development.

Andhra is going in the right direction with the right speed. I assure you will find me shoulder to shoulder with Andhra government for the development of the state," PM Modi said.

Amaravati is not a city but a dream coming true A new Amaravati, a new Andhra, can be seen. Energy of a Developed India can be seen in Amaravati. The development works launched today will strengthen infrastructure and accelerate the growth of Andhra Pradesh," he added.

He said that Amaravati is the foundation of a developed India.

Amaravati will be a city where every youths dreams will get fulfilled. Amaravati is a land where tradition and progress go hand in hand," the Prime Minister said.

Centre Extending All Support To Andhra Pradesh: PM Modi

He underlined that the Centre is extending all support to the state government in the development of the state and Amaravati.

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With a focus on IT, Artificial Intelligence, green energy, sustainable industries, education, and healthcare, Amaravati is poised to emerge as a leading hub in these sectors in the coming years. The central government is extending all necessary support and infrastructure to the state government to foster growth and development in these areas," PM Modi said.

India is among those countries of the world whose infrastructure is being modernised at a rapid pace. I had said from the Red Fort that a developed India will be built on these four pillars  the poor, the farmers, the youth, and women power. These four pillars are most important at the centre of the NDA governments policy," he added.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 17:21 IST
Rafale, Jaguar Jets Touch Down On Ganga Expressway In IAF's Spectacular Flypast | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:29 IST

The operation was aimed at assessing Ganga Expressway's potential to serve as an alternative runway during wartime scenarios or national emergencies.

The drills featured aircraft like the Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, among others.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a flypast and landing exercise on the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. The drills featured aircraft like the Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32 transport aircraft and MI-17 V5 helicopters. The exercise involved advanced fighter jets and transport aircraft performing both take-off and landing drills. It also included low fly-pasts and various landing and take-off maneuvers, conducted in two phases to evaluate both daytime and nighttime operational capabilities.

#WATCH | Shahjahanpur: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying out a flypast on the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. The Air Force is conducting take-off and landing exercises here.The exercise is being organised to assess the expressways potential as an alternative runway pic.twitter.com/dpzacppDfO  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

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The 3.5-kilometer stretch of the Ganga Expressway holds the distinction of being Indias first road runway engineered for both day and night operations of fighter aircraft. This enhanced capability is attributed to the integration of advanced lighting and navigation systems specifically installed along this segment of the expressway.

The operation was aimed at assessing Ganga Expressways potential to serve as an alternative runway during wartime scenarios or national emergencies.

Engineered with specialized, heavy-duty materials to withstand the immense weight and pressure of military aircraft, the airstrip boasts advanced features. These include precision approach lighting for accurate landings, reinforced pavement designed for extreme loads, and a CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS) that enables safe operations even in conditions of low visibility or during nighttime. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

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 : Uttar Pradesh, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 14:25 IST
Rajnath Singh Likely To Skip Victory Day Parade In Moscow Next Week, MoS Defence May Represent India

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 22:54 IST

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Rajnath Singh is unlikely to travel to Moscow for the Victory Day parade, sources said on Friday.

Rajnath Singh with President Putin (X/Rajnath Singh)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to skip Russias Victory Day celebrations scheduled for May 9 in Moscow, defence sources said on Friday.

The development comes after it was reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Victory Day Parade next week, in light of the Pahalgam terror attack, and that the Defence Minister would represent India instead.

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However, sources now indicate that the Minister of State (MoS) for Defence, Sanjay Seth, may represent India in place of Singh.

The Victory Day Parade in Moscow marks the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russia had extended an invitation to PM Modi to attend the parade.

Since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Prime Minister has chaired a number of key security meetings with various officials, including the tri-services chiefs. He has also chaired two Cabinet Committee on Security meetings within a week, followed by a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting and a Cabinet meeting this week.

What Is Victory Day Parade In Moscow?

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The Moscow Victory Day Parade is a major military event held every year on May 9th in Red Square as part of Russias Victory Day celebrations. It is an important and symbolic show of the Russian Armed Forces, with President Vladimir Putin usually attending and giving a speech. The parade is a key part of how Russia honors its military strength and history.

This big event remembers Russias victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. That victory came after the Soviet Army launched a major attack in January 1945, leading to Germanys surrender on May 9th. This surrender ended the war in Europe, and the parade is held every year to honor that historic moment.

About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 22:11 IST
'Safety Of International Students...': MEA Condoles Death Of Another Nepali Student At KIIT Hostel

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:04 IST

A Nepali undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room in Bhubaneswars KIIT on Thursday evening, making it the second such case in less than three months.

KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha | File Image/X

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday expressed its deepest condolences over the death of a Nepali female student at Odishas Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and said that the safety and security of all international students are crucial for the Indian government.

A Nepali undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room in Bhubaneswars KIIT on Thursday evening, making it the second such case in less than three months.

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We are deeply saddened by the tragic demise of a Nepali student of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time," the MEA said in an official statement.

Government of India takes the safety, security and well-being of all international students very seriously. We remain in close contact with the Nepali authorities, the Odisha State Government as well as KIIT management to ensure real-time communication and coordination in this matter," it added.

The MEA further said that its working closely with the Odisha State Government, which has also extended full support to the family of the deceased and ordered a thorough enquiry.

Nepals Foreign Minister Reacts

Nepals Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba expressed her condolences to the family of the student and urged New Delhi to investigate the truth of the case.

The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisas soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour," she said in an X post.

Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi," Deuba added.

       ()                              pic.twitter.com/ojPdVadvXI Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba (@Arzuranadeuba) May 2, 2025

Cops Suspect Suicide

Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner S Devdutt Singh said that the girl was found dead in her hostel room on campus and is suspected to have died by suicide. The reasons behind the suspected suicide remain unclear.

She was studying computer science and hailed from the Birgunj area of Nepal. The police reached the KIIT Campus and are investigating the case, Singh said.

The incident follows a tragedy that unfolded less than three months ago, when a 20-year-old Nepali computer science student died by suicide, allegedly after being blackmailed.

That case escalated into a major controversy, with allegations surfacing against some faculty members for making racist and demeaning remarks toward Nepali students.

The accused, Advik Shrivastava, a third-year B.Tech student, was arrested by Bhubaneswar police at the airport as he was reportedly attempting to flee.

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The university came under intense criticism for its response, particularly after it directed over 1,000 Nepali students to vacate the campus.

The Ministry of External Affairs later stepped in, prompting the university to enter damage-control mode and issue formal apologies.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 14:01 IST
Sambhal Police Crack Rs 51 Lakh Insurance Scam, Arrest 4 For Murder of Disabled Man

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 21:42 IST

In a press statement, the Sambhal Police said that the victim Dariyab was found brutally murdered in August 2024.

Sambhal Police Crack Rs 51 Lakh Insurance Scam, Arrest 4 For Murder of Disabled Man. (X/@sambhalpolice)

A year after the murder of a differently abled person identified as Dariyab, the Sambhal Police have finally cracked the case, exposing a sinister insurance scam worth lakhs of rupees.

The accused behind the crime orchestrated a cold-blooded plan to take out multiple insurance policies on Dariyabs life, culminating in his tragic death in August 2024.

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According to the police, the accused, identified as Pankaj Raghav, Hariom Singh, and Vinod, had taken out five insurance policies in Dariyabs name to claim the insurance money.

In a press statement, the Sambhal Police said that the victim Dariyab was found brutally murdered in August 2024. His head was found smashed with a heavy object, and he was run over by a vehicle.

An FIR was registered in the case, but it was closed in December 2024 due to a lack of evidence. However, the case was reopened after insurance companies flagged suspicious claims.

Brothers Hariom and Vinod had worked in connivance with Axis Max Life Insurance adviser Panjak Raghav to make false insurance documents in the name of Dariyab, and during 2023, multiple insurance policies were drawn in Dariyabs name.

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Later, in August 2024, they had hired a criminal named Paratp to kill Dariyab and pocket the whole life insurance amount. The accused had already pocketed Rs 15 lakhs in the recent months when the police nabbed them.

The police have arrested all four accused and have seized policy-related documents, digital evidence and all related material, including the vehicle used in the murder and execution of the crime.

Location : Sambhal, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 21:42 IST
SC Steps In As Bengaluru Man Alleges Illegal Deportation To Pakistan: No Coercive Action

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:03 IST

The petitioner in the plea claimed that he and his five family members, who live in Jammu and Kashmir, received a notice from the Foreign Registration Office in Srinagar.

Supreme Court | PTI Image/File

The Supreme Court on Friday heard a plea moved by a Bengaluru resident against orders for deportation to Pakistan along with his family.

The apex court asked the authorities to verify the Indian citizenship claims of the petitioner and his family who are facing the deportation order following the directives issued by the Centre in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

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The petitioner asserted that he possesses Indian passports and Aadhaar cards, prompting the top court to direct authorities to verify all the documents mentioned in court.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed authorities to decide at the earliest, though no time was fixed.

The court further mentioned that no coercive action be taken against the petitioner till a decision is finalised under the courts supervision.

The petitioner in the plea claimed that he and his five family members, who live in Jammu and Kashmir, received a notice on April 25 from the Foreign Registration Office in Srinagar.

The petitioner said that the notice baselessly claimed" that he and his family members illegally entered India in 1997 and there was an obligation to leave India on the expiration of their visa on the premise that they are Pakistani nationals.

In strict measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government ordered Pakistanis with (short-term) tourist and medical visas to leave. Those on long-term permits and Hindus of Pakistani origin were, however, allowed to stay.

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After Indias move, 125 Pakistani nationals exited the country through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday, raising the total number of departures over the past week to 911.

The exit deadlines differed based on visa typeApril 26 for SAARC visas, April 27 for 12 other categories, and April 29 for those on medical visas.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 13:21 IST
Surat: 23-Year-Old Woman Who 'Kidnapped' Minor Student Found 5 Months' Pregnant

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 00:03 IST

A medical examination reportedly revealed the woman's pregnancy, who claimed the child belongs to the 13-year-old boy, while the authorities ordered a DNA test

Police had arrested the woman four days after she and her minor student disappeared. (@SachinGuptaUP/X)

A 23-year-old female tutor, who had allegedly kidnapped" her minor student, has been found five months pregnant and has claimed that the child belongs to him.

Police had arrested the woman on April 30, four days after her houdini act at the Rajasthan border as the duo had set out on a long journey crossing four states. She said the child belongs to the 13-year-old boy, which is why they had both escaped.

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The case has prompted concerns over child safety in cases in informal settings such as tutorial classes. According to reports, a medical examination revealed the womans pregnancy even as the authorities have ordered a DNA test.

Officials said as per preliminary interrogation, the teacher and the student, who attended tuition classes at her home, decided to leave together due to scolding by their respective family members. Police are still investigating the nature of their relationship.

A police officer said the duo lived in the same location and had known each other for two to three years. On April 25, the student went missing.

Police said the CCTV footage captured him and the teacher moving together. He said the duo travelled to Delhi from Surat before visiting Vrindavan and Jaipur.

They were looking for a new location and headed back to Gujarat when the police traced the teachers location on a private bus near the Rajasthan border, some 390 km from Surat. They were held in the wee hours of Wednesday and brought back to Surat," said DCP Bhagirath Gadhvi.

The boy told police that he decided to leave his parents after being scolded over studies, while the teacher claimed she was pulled up over work, he said.

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The police officer further said the investigation was launched after the boys father lodged an FIR accusing the teacher of kidnapping his son. Police used human and technical surveillance to track down the runaway teachers location, Gadhvi said.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 00:02 IST
US Repeats De-escalation Playbook, But India Firm On Pahalgam Response: 'We'll Do Our Job'

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 10:01 IST

Sources told CNN-News18 how the US is essentially doing a repeat of its strategy after the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.

Security personnel inspect the site of a terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. (AP photo)

After the Pahalgam terror strike, the US is following the same drill with India and Pakistan as it did after the Uri and Pulwama terror strikes  which is backing Indias limited counter-strike on terrorism while urging no further escalation, saying India has a right to defend itself, urging for India-Pakistan direct communication, and telling Pakistan to act against terrorists on its soil.

The US is doing its job, we will do ours," sources in the government told CNN-NEWS18, explaining how the US is essentially doing a repeat of its strategy after the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack. India had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan after both the attacks.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have promised the harshest response against the perpetrators and planners of the Pahalgam terror strikes. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday, also named Pakistan for the first time for supporting, training, and funding terrorists.

Same Drill

After the Pulwama terror strike in 2019, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that America supports Indias right to self-defence. On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told Defence Minister Rajnath Singh the same  that the US supports Indias right to defend itself.

US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said he hoped that India responds to the Pahalgam terror attack in a way that does not lead to a broader regional conflict. It shows that US backs a limited strike by India. This is like the US approach in 2019 when Mike Pompeo termed Indias strike at Balakot as a counter-terrorism action" post Pulwama. Donald Trump, who was the US President in 2019 as well, had then said that he understood" why New Delhi was seeking a strong response to the Pulwama attack.

But the US wants India to not go further. In 2019, then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked India and Pakistan to avoid further escalation at any cost, encouraging both countries to prioritise direct communication. This was the same message that the present US Secretary of Defence Marco Rubio gave to Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday.

In 2016, too, after the Uri attacks, the US Secretary of State John Kerry had two conversations with then Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj asking her not to escalate the situation with Pakistan.

The message to Pakistan has also followed a similar pattern.

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For Pakistan, Vance had a clear message on Thursday when he said the US expects Pakistan to cooperate with India to ensure terrorists sometimes operating on their soil are hunted down and dealt with." This is also like 2019, when Pompeo underscored the urgency to Pakistan of taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil."

The US in 2016 post Uri, 2019 post Pulwama, and now, has asked Pakistan to cooperate with India in probing the terror attack and urged for direct communication between both the countries. However, India has decided against this after its experience with Pakistan post the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack when it entertained a Pakistan probe team here but neither got a final report from them nor a response to the letter rogatory it had sent.

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: May 02, 2025, 10:01 IST
Alia Bhatt: Im So Excited To Make My Festival de Cannes Debut This Year

Written By :

News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 18:25 IST

Alia Bhatt as Global Ambassador for LOreal Paris, will join Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2025.

Alia Bhatt to represent LOreal Paris at Cannes 2025 with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action.

Alia Bhatt will be making her debut at the Festival de Cannes this year! As the global brand ambassador of LOreal Paris, Alia will represent the beauty brand by honouring its theme  Lights, Beauty and Action.

A milestone moment for the Indian actor, producer and entrepreneur, Alia Bhatt, expresses her thoughts ahead of her Cannes 2025 debut, she says, Theres something absolutely special about firsts  and Im so excited to make my Festival de Cannes debut this year, an iconic celebration of cinema and self-expression. It is such an honour to represent LOreal Paris at the Festival with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action."

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Sharing her views on what beauty means to her, Alia further adds, To me, beauty is about celebrating individuality, confidence and self worth. Its limitless, its unique. Im proud to stand with a brand that celebrates every womans journey and empowers them to shine in their own light."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LOreal Paris Official (@lorealparis)

LOreal Paris ongoing commitment to represent diverse voices and redefine beauty through inclusivity and empowerment over the years has seen the brand leave a powerful and stylish impact on the Cannes red carpet. Dario Zizzi, General Manager, LOreal Paris  India, elaborates on the significance of the event, The Festival de Cannes has always been a powerful platform for storytelling, creativity, and cultural dialoguevalues that deeply resonate with LOreal Paris. As we mark 28 years as the Official Makeup Partner, we are especially proud to welcome Alia Bhatt to the global stage alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, whose presence weve cherished for over two decades. Alias debut not only reflects the rising influence of Indian cinema but also our brands enduring commitment to celebrating diverse beauty and empowering women across the world."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LOreal Paris Official (@lorealparis)

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In addition to its strong Indian representation, LOreal Paris will be joined on the red carpet by a distinguished roster of global ambassadors including Eva Longoria, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Aja Naomi King, Andie MacDowell, Simone Ashley, Elle Fanning, Bebe Vio, and Yseult, all of whom embody the brands commitment to celebrating, authentic beauty.

The Festival de Cannes will take place from May 13 to May 24, 2025.

About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More

fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture  with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 18:12 IST
Is This Nimrat Kaurs Best Saree Look Yet? We Will Let You Decide

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:06 IST

With each public appearance, Nimrat Kaur effortlessly sets fashion goals, showcasing a range of styles from ethnic ensembles to comfortable travel wear.

Nimrat Kaur's social media feed is a treasure trove of inspiration for fashion enthusiasts.

Nimrat Kaur, celebrated for her performances in films like The Lunchbox, Airlift, and Dasvi, has captured the hearts of many with her remarkable acting talent. Beyond her acting, the actress is admired for her humble nature and impeccable sartorial choices. With each public appearance, she effortlessly sets fashion goals, showcasing a range of styles from ethnic ensembles to comfortable travel wear. Her social media feed is a treasure trove of inspiration for fashion enthusiasts. Recently, while celebrating Maharashtra Day, Nimrat once again turned heads with her stunning look in a purple-hued six-yard of elegance.

On Instagram, Nimrat Kaur shared a video of herself wearing traditional attire for the Waves Summit on Maharashtra Day, hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. To celebrate the state holiday marking the formation of Maharashtra from the division of Bombay State, the actress chose a purple-hued drape from the brand Ridhi Mehra. The rich-toned ensemble was beautifully enhanced by an embellished scalloped border.

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The Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video fame paired her simple saree with a glass-sleeved, intricately designed blouse featuring a plunging neckline and minute embroidery all over it. Styled by Khyati A Busa, Kaur further went for a collection of exquisite jewellery. It included a couple of statement rings and only a pair of long jhumkas touching her shoulders.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nimrat Kaur (@nimratofficial)

Nimrat kept her hair and makeup completely subtle. Her makeup artist, Shraddha Mishra, chose a dewy base foundation and topped it with a dollop of blush to give her a fresh and dewy appearance. Kohl-rimmed eyes and nude lipstick added a touch of charm to her face. Also, a tiny bindi and side-parted, soft curls at the end of her tresses maximised her beauty.

The Sky Force star has some of the most gorgeous sarees in her closet, and proof of this is found on her social media handles. Previously, she dropped a series of pictures on Instagram, wearing a multi-coloured floral-printed saree from the brand Raw Mango. The diva teamed her lightweight silk saree with a red-hued blouse that featured a bow fastening in the back.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nimrat Kaur (@nimratofficial)

Donning it, the actress looked every bit gorgeous and captioned the photos as Aaj ka phool-proof look" A pair of dangler earrings and a statement ring were enough for accessorising her look. Meanwhile, she opted for glam makeup and kept her wavy and messy tresses open to wrap up her overall appearance.

About the Author Nishad Thaivalappil Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha... Read More Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha... Read More

fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture  with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:06 IST
Malaika Arora Brings Tropical Glam to PhuketHeres How to Steal Her Style

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 30, 2025, 13:11 IST

Malaika Aroras Phuket holiday is a sun-drenched lesson in effortless beach glam.

Malaika Arora is living her best beach life in Phuketand her vacay style is all the inspiration you need for your next getaway.

Malaika Arora is serving major vacay goals once again, and this time its from the serene beaches of Phuket. A globe-trotter at heart, the 51-year-old diva is making the most of her downtime in the tropicsand her Insta updates are the perfect blend of sunshine, sand, and style.

Sun, sand and sass: Malaikas Phuket travelgram

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Malaika recently dropped a stunning photo carousel from her tropical escape, captioned with a playful Wat errrr feelin." The first snap shows her striking a confident pose on the beach in a bold, flowy maxi dress splashed with vibrant printsa look that screams island goddess. From quiet moments by the water to cheeky snaps with beach toys and an enviable spread of local delights, her travel diary is a reminder that vacation mode should always be equal parts chill and chic.

Want to pack like Malaika? Heres your beach-style checklist:

Bold prints are your best friend: Think florals, abstracts, or tropical motifs. Flowy maxi dresses, like Malaikas, are breezy, photogenic, and perfect for coastal strolls.

Keep accessories minimal: A pair of oversized sunglasses and a straw hat can instantly elevate your beach look while protecting you from the sun.

Slide into stylish footwear: Swap your regular sandals for strappy flats or espadrilles that add a touch of polish without sacrificing comfort.

Go easy on the glam: Embrace dewy, minimal makeup and let your skin breathe. Think tinted sunscreen, a swipe of lip balm, and a touch of highlighter.

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Dont forget your tropical snacks! A beach day isnt complete without indulging in local fruits or frozen treats to stay refreshed.

Malaika proves that style doesnt take a backseat even while lounging by the wavesand with a few easy swaps, your beach vacay wardrobe can look just as effortless.

About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More

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First Published: April 30, 2025, 13:11 IST
Another Simple Favor Review: Blake Lively Shines In A Sequel That's Glossy But Uneven

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 04:40 IST

Another Simple Favor Movie Review: Blake Lively shines in Another Simple Favor, but the film struggles to match the thrill and wit of the original despite its glossy setup.

Another Simple Favor Review: Blake Lively returns in this twisted cocktail of secrets & sisterhood.

Another Simple Favor U/A 3/5 1 May 2025|English 2 hrs 00 mins | Comedy Thriller Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin Director: Paul Feig Platform: Prime Video Watch Trailer

Another Simple Favor Movie Review: Another Simple Favor, the sequel to the 2018 mystery-comedy, reunites Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in what promises to be another stylish rollercoaster of secrets, murder and dark humour. While the original was a surprising hit, mixing camp, mystery and satire with great energy, the sequel struggles to maintain that balance. Its entertaining in parts, but largely feels like a weaker copy of its predecessor.

The film picks up years after the events of the first movie. Stephanie (Kendrick), now a successful true-crime podcaster, is once again pulled into the orbit of the enigmatic Emily (Lively), who faked her death in the last film and disappeared. This time, the setting shifts to Italy, where a lavish wedding becomes the backdrop for yet another twist-filled tale involving secrets, betrayal, and of course, murder.

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Blake Lively brings the same magnetic presence that made Emily such a standout in the first film. Shes icy, unpredictable and utterly confident. Her wardrobe still makes a statement, but this time around, the writing gives her less edge and fewer surprises. Lively does her best to breathe life into Emilys games, but the character feels slightly flattened and more like a caricature than the cool, mysterious woman we met in the original.

Anna Kendrick continues to play Stephanie with awkward charm, though the sequel leans heavily on her cluelessness, often using her for comic relief rather than character growth. The dynamic between the two women, which was the heart of the first film, feels more forced here. Theres tension, sure, but it lacks the underlying curiosity and danger that made their bond so addictive before.

One of the films biggest issues is that it doesnt know what it wants to be. It tries to blend murder mystery with satire and camp, but without the tight writing and tone that made the original work. Instead of building suspense or playing with genre expectations, the plot gets tangled in too many twists that feel random rather than clever. As the bodies pile up and secrets unravel, the film starts to feel more chaotic than exciting.

Director Paul Feig once again leans into his style including beautiful locations, sharp fashion, dramatic music, but style alone isnt enough. There are moments of humour, and the cast clearly has fun, but the film rarely digs deeper. Theres little emotional weight, and by the end, its hard to care much about whos lying, whos dying or who gets away with what.

That said, the movie isnt without its pleasures. Some of the dialogues are sharp, the visuals are striking and the Italian wedding setting adds flair. But none of it quite comes together. It feels like the film is going through the motions, trying to recapture a spark without knowing what made it burn the first time.

In terms of performances, Lively is the main reason to watch. Even when the script lets her down, she commits to the role with elegance and attitude. Kendrick is enjoyable too, but shes stuck in a story that doesnt allow her to grow or surprise us.

Another Simple Favor has the ingredients for a fun sequel including two strong leads, a glamorous setting and a mystery to unravel, but it doesnt quite stick the landing. Blake Lively is as stylish and compelling as ever, but the film around her isnt sharp enough to match. Its a light watch, but not a memorable one.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 02, 2025, 04:40 IST
Devastated Anil Kapoor Brings Mother Nirmal Kapoors Mortal Remains Home; Rani Visits Him

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 22:32 IST

Anil and Sanjay Kapoor were seen bringing their mother Nirmal Kapoors mortal remains home; celebs including Rani Mukerji, Anupam Kher and Javed Akhtar paid last respects.

Anil Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor seen inside ambulance carrying Nirmal Kapoors mortal remains.

Veteran actor Anil Kapoor and filmmaker Boney Kapoors mother, Nirmal Kapoor, passed away on May 2 in Mumbai. She was 90. A host of celebrities and family members were seen arriving at Kapoors Mumbai residence on Friday afternoon to pay their final respects.

A heartbreaking video now doing the rounds on social media shows an emotional Anil Kapoor along with Arjun Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor inside an ambulance carrying Nirmal Kapoors mortal remains. The three were seen seated in silence, dressed in dark clothing, visibly sombre as they brought her home. The paparazzi captured visuals of the Kapoor family inside the ambulance through its window.

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The funeral for Nirmal Kapoor is scheduled to be held at Pawan Hans Crematorium on May 3 at 11:30 am.

Several Bollywood personalities including Rani Mukerji, Anupam Kher, Javed Akhtar and Rajkumar Santoshi arrived at the residence to offer condolences. Earlier, a video of Janhvi Kapoor being comforted by her boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya had surfaced online, as she mourned the loss of her grandmother.

Nirmal Kapoor, wife of the late producer Surinder Kapoor, was the matriarch of the Kapoor family. She is survived by her children  Boney, Anil, Sanjay, and Reena Kapoor Marwah.

Last year in September, Anil Kapoor had publicly celebrated her 90th birthday by sharing heartfelt memories on X (formerly Twitter). 90 years of love, strength, and endless sacrifices. Your presence fills our lives with joy and positivity every day. Blessed to be your child. Happy birthday, Mummy! ," he had written alongside a series of old family pictures.

Nirmal Kapoor was widely respected within the industry and often seen at Kapoor family gatherings and celebrations over the years.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 22:32 IST
Javed Akhtar Slams Pakistani Journalist For Asking THIS: 'Saw My City Burning'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 12:42 IST

Javed Akhtar recalled the incident while talking about the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

Javed Akhtar criticized a Pakistani journalist for questioning India's stance on Pakistan and terrorism.

Javed Akhtar was speaking at an event in Mumbai recently when he recalled giving a befitting reply to a Pakistani journalist. The lyricist shared that he was in Lahore for a literature festival when a woman reporter questioned Indias viewpoint on Pakistan and terrorism. Akhtar revealed that he slammed the journalist and confronted her, saying that terrorists who attack Indian cities are given shelter in Pakistan.

I went to Lahore for a literary festivalThey were asking me good questions and I was answeringA woman got up and told me that Indians consider them (Pakistanis) terroristsI told her that I am a resident of Mumbai and I have seen my city burning. Those who came to burn it did not come from Sweden or Egypt; those people are roaming freely in your city even today," Javed Akhtar said.

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We warmly welcomed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan and Faiz Ahmad FaizEven if the biggest of the Indian writers or Indian artists visited Pakistan, they were never invited on PTV. Lata Mangeshkar was undoubtedly the most popular Indian personality in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. But you did not hold any functions for her," he added.

Javed Akhtar further shared that he returned to India the very next day and was lucky regarding the same, since his statements had sparked a controversy in Pakistan.

It should be noted that Javed Akhtar was sharing the incident in light of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. During his address, the lyricist condemned the attack and said, They were mercilessly shot there. We should not forget this. This is nothing ordinary. Enemies and those who wish us evil, have their eyes on Mumbai."

For the unversed, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. The incident killed around 27 people. Eyewitnesses told security forces that two to three men rushed in dressed in military fatigues, firing indiscriminately at tourists while they were enjoying the Baisaran Meadows of Pahalgam on horseback. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, took responsibility for the attack.

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 12:42 IST
Karan Johar Revealed Kriti Sanon's Mother 'Stopped' Her From 'Having An Orgasm' | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 09:09 IST

Karan Johar had revealed that Kriti Sanon's mother advised her not to star in Lust Stories. The role then went to Kiara Advani.

Kriti Sanon called Karan Johar's statement 'horrible'.

It is no secret that Kiara Advanis much-talked-about role in Lust Stories was first offered to Kriti Sanon. The Bhediya actress couldnt be a part of the film as her mother didnt want her to do sexual scenes. Lust Stories became quite popular, and Kiara Advani was lauded for her role and portrayal of female sensuality. During an earlier episode of Koffee with Karan, the filmmaker teased Kriti that her mother stopped her from having an orgasm.

A clip from the episode frequently goes viral on social media sites, and once again, it has resurfaced on Reddit. In the clip, Karan said to Kriti, Your mom has, prior to this, also stopped you from having an orgasm." Kriti gasped and replied, Can you please explain? It doesnt sound good He offered me Lust Stories My god, that sentence was horrible."

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Karan said that he was quite keen on casting Kriti Sanon, but her mother didnt approve of the climax scene. In another episode of the show, Karan Johar told Kiara Advani, I had offered it to Kriti Sanon, and she said that her mom didnt allow her. So, I thought now everybodys moms would stand in a line, not allowing their daughters. Im like, Its actually a very empowering story. Its about a womans right to pleasure."

I met Kiara at Manish Malhotras house. I knew her, of course. I knew her as Alia Advani. In fact, her name was fed as Alia Advani on my phone till very recently. I asked her, Can you come tomorrow and meet me? Its for a short film. She came and heard it, but I think she was a little zoned out," he added. Karan said that when Kiara learned that he was directing the short film, she immediately said yes.

About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 09:09 IST
Malayalam Actor Vishnu Prasad Passes Away Due To Liver Ailment

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 09:53 IST

Reportedly, Vishnu Prasad was undergoing treatment for a severe liver-related illness and was in a critical condition for the last few days.

Actor Vishnu Prasad no more. (Photo: Facebook)

Malayalam actor Vishnu Prasad has passed away. The news of his death was confirmed on social media by actor Kishor Satya, who took to his Facebook handle to express condolences to the family.

Dear all, a very sad news Vishnu Prasad has passed away. He had been undergoing treatment for an illness for some time. Condolences Praying that his family finds the strength to cope with this untimely loss," Kishor wrote.

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Reportedly, Vishnu Prasad was undergoing treatment for a severe liver-related illness and was in a critical condition for the last few days. As reported by Filmibeat, the actors family was preparing for his liver transplant and his daughter had even volunteered to be the donor. However, the family struggled to raise the funds required for the surgery.

Vishnu Prasad was a popular name in the Malayalam film and television world. He carved a niche for himself in the industry with his performances in films like Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum and Sudani from Nigeria. He has also been a part of films like Kashi, Kai Ethum Doorethu, Runway, Mambazhakaalam, Lion, Ben Johnson, Lokanathan IAS, Pathaka, and Maratha Naadu.

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 09:48 IST
Global Watch | How Hizbut Tahrir Is Mobilising Islamists For Turning Bangladesh Into Caliphate

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:32 IST

The primary goal of Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh is to work towards the re-establishment of the caliphate.

Hizbut Tahrir poses a significant ideological threat to the Bangladeshi government. (Image: AP Photo)

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 4 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.

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Hizbut Tahrir (HT) is an international Islamic political organisation that seeks to establish a global Islamic caliphate through peaceful means. Founded in the 1950s in Jordan, Hizbut Tahrir operates in many countries worldwide, including Bangladesh. While the group is ideologically focused on non-violent means of achieving its goals, its approach is often seen as radical by both local governments and international authorities. Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh (HTB) is the branch of the organisation operating within Bangladesh, pushing for the implementation of Sharia law and the establishment of an Islamic state.

Brief History and Current State

Formation: Hizbut Tahrir was founded in 1953 by Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabhani, a Palestinian Islamic scholar, with the goal of uniting Muslims globally under a single caliphate. The Bangladeshi chapter of Hizbut Tahrir began in the early 2000s, as part of the larger regional expansion of the organisation. It gained significant attention during the mid-2000s for its advocacy of an Islamic caliphate and its opposition to Western-style democracy.

Objectives: The primary goal of Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh is to work towards the re-establishment of the caliphate. The group opposes secularism, democracy, and nationalism, advocating for the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. While the group officially claims to reject violence, it has been accused of promoting radical rhetoric and being a source of inspiration for violent jihadist groups.

Current State: The government of Bangladesh has consistently cracked down on the group since the early 2000s, arresting several of its leaders and activists. With the removal of bans and bail of several terror outfits, Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh has continued to operate covertly, recruiting members, particularly among university students, and spreading its ideology via social media and public rallies. The groups presence is more ideological than operational, with little to no history of violent actions, but its anti-state stance and calls for revolution remain a concern.

Prominent Leaders and Current Leadership

Sheikh Abul Muntaha: He is one of the most prominent figures in Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh and is known for his involvement in recruiting and organising events for the group. His leadership has been central in spreading Hizbut Tahrirs ideology in Bangladesh.

Abdul Quader Mollah: Although not officially a leader of Hizbut Tahrir, Abdul Quader Mollah was a key figure who had close ideological ties with the group. He was a prominent member of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which has similar goals regarding the establishment of an Islamic state in Bangladesh. His execution in 2013 for war crimes, however, created a deep divide in Bangladeshi politics, and Hizbut Tahrir exploited this to attract disillusioned youth.

Current Leadership: As of 2008, the leader of Hizb ut-Tahrirs Bangladesh branch was believed to be Zituzzaman Hoque, a British national, whom the organisation has acknowledged as a member. Hoque is reported to lecture at an independent university in Bangladesh. On 19 January 2012, the Bangladesh Army indicated Hizb ut-Tahrirs involvement in an attempted coup in 2011 to overthrow the government. Subsequently, on 23 January 2012, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested Dr. Golam Haider Rasul, a physician at United Hospital in Dhaka, for his alleged connection to the organisation. In 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, reports suggest that the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir has resumed public activities.

Ideology or Stated Aim: Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, like its parent organisation, advocates for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh follows a Salafi-jihadist ideology, but it differs from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in that it strictly advocates for non-violent means to achieve its goals. The central tenet of Hizbut Tahrirs ideology is the re-establishment of the caliphate, which they believe is the only legitimate form of governance for Muslims. The group argues that the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1924 and the abolition of the caliphate by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a great injustice and that restoring the caliphate is a religious duty for all Muslims.

The outfit rejects nationalism, secularism, and democracy as un-Islamic concepts. The group promotes the idea of the Islamic Ummah (community), arguing that Muslims should unite under one caliphate rather than remain divided into nation-states.

Chronological Details of Anti-State or Anti-India Activity

2000s: Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh first gained widespread attention in the early 2000s as a proponent of a non-violent revolution to overthrow the secular government of Bangladesh. The group initially targeted students and intellectuals, organising protests and distributing literature calling for the establishment of an Islamic state.

2005-2009: During this period, Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh began organizing more public rallies, often calling for the overthrow of the government and the implementation of Sharia law. The group also condemned the alliance between the Bangladeshi government and the United States, particularly in the context of the War on Terror. There was no direct military confrontation with the state, but the groups rhetoric against secularism and Western influence intensified.

2010s: HTBs activities became more clandestine after it was banned by the Bangladesh government in 2009. Despite this, the group continued to operate underground, using social media and public speeches to recruit and spread its ideology. The group also began aligning itself with other radical Islamic organisations in Bangladesh, though it avoided directly participating in violent acts.

Anti-India Sentiment: While HTB does not directly engage in anti-India terrorism, it does promote anti-Indian sentiment, particularly with regards to the Kashmir conflict. The groups ideology shares similar anti-India rhetoric with other jihadist organisations in South Asia, condemning Indias policies in Kashmir and portraying it as a threat to Muslims in the region.

Present Hold in Bangladesh

Underground Operations: The group has a strong presence among university students and intellectuals, using social media and encrypted platforms to spread its ideology. It has also organised several high-profile public demonstrations, but these are often quickly disbanded by law enforcement.

Limited Territorial Control: Unlike groups like ISIS or al-Qaeda, Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh does not seek territorial control or military operations. It focuses more on ideological influence and peaceful political revolution. The groups current influence is largely confined to urban areas, particularly Dhaka and Chittagong, where it can operate covertly and recruit members. It maintains a presence within local mosques and universities, particularly among young, disillusioned individuals who are attracted to the groups call for an Islamic state.

Threat Assessment

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To Bangladesh: Hizbut Tahrir poses a significant ideological threat to the Bangladeshi government. The groups rejection of secularism and democracy could contribute to destabilising the countrys political system. Its calls for revolution, even through non-violent means, make it a potential source of unrest. While it has not engaged in violent activities, its ability to mobilise large numbers of people for protests remains a concern for the government.

To India: While HTB has not directly engaged in anti-India violence, its ideological stance on Kashmir and its pan-Islamic rhetoric could indirectly contribute to anti-India sentiments, especially among the youth. The groups position on the establishment of a global caliphate could also inspire elements within India to join jihadist movements with similar goals

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.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: May 02, 2025, 16:32 IST
Opinion | Amaravatis Second Coming: Why PM Modi Is Betting Big On Naidus Dream Capital

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 01, 2025, 19:54 IST

By throwing his weight behind Chandrababu Naidu's vision, PM Modi has implicitly validated the concentrated development model for Andhra Pradesh's capital

PM Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the capital city in the presence of CM Chandrababu Naidu and a host of other leaders. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Amaravati on May 2. His presence in the nascent capital of Andhra Pradesh, intended to mark the revival of a project he first inaugurated nearly a decade ago, signals more than just the restart of construction. After a tumultuous five-year pause orchestrated by the previous state government, Modis return represents a calculated political move by the Centre and heralds a decisive pivot in Centre-state dynamics for Andhra Pradesh.

It signifies the faith that PM Modi has in Chandrababu Naidu, implicitly rejecting the YSRCPs disruptive three-capital vision and underwriting Amaravatis ambitious future with substantial central support.

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CENTRES CALCULATED ENDORSEMENT

Prime Minister Modis presence in Amaravati at this juncture carries profound symbolic weight. Having laid the foundation stone in 2015 during Naidus previous tenure, his return to effectively re-bless the project underscores a renewed and strengthened partnership. It is a clear endorsement of Naidu, whose party, TDP, emerged as a vital ally for the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre following the 2024 Lok Sabha results. This visit transcends mere ceremony; it publicly cements the political alignment crucial for the projects revival.

Crucially, the Centres backing of the single-capital Amaravati project serves as an unambiguous rejection of the YSRCPs alternative three-capital formula. By throwing his weight behind Naidus vision, Modi has implicitly validated the concentrated development model for Andhra Pradeshs capital.

This endorsement is backed by concrete financial commitments, which again shows that it is more than just political posturing. The Modi government has committed substantial financial assistance, facilitating a funding package reportedly around Rs 15,000 crore for Phase-1 development.

This includes direct central funding and, critically, enabling loans worth a combined $1.6 billion (approx. Rs 13,600 crore) from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), agreements for which have been signed. Significantly, reports suggest the Centre will take responsibility for the repayment of these multilateral loans, easing the fiscal burden on the state.

The securing of the $1.6 billion WB/ADB package, the existing Rs 11,000 crore loan agreement with HUDCO, and ongoing discussions with institutions like Germanys KfW for a further Rs 5,000 crore, is a coordinated effort to mobilise the massive resources required. The plan is to complete Phase 1 within the next three years.

A PROJECT REBORN FROM POLITICAL LIMBO

The Amaravati project descended into a state of limbo following the 2019 state elections, which saw the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) under Jagan Mohan Reddy sweep to power. The new administration swiftly halted progress on Naidus flagship initiative, advocating instead for a decentralised governance model with three designated capitals: Visakhapatnam (administrative), Kurnool (judicial), and retaining Amaravati merely as the legislative capital. This policy effectively condemned the burgeoning Amaravati development to stagnation.

The consequences were dire. Vast construction sites fell silent, half-finished buildings stood exposed on former farmland, and planned infrastructure like roads and drainage systems lay incomplete. This abandonment triggered the withdrawal of committed international funding, including significant loans anticipated from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The project became mired in legal challenges, including a High Court directive in March 2022, mandating development within a specific timeframe. The YSRCP government largely disregarded the high court mandate, and lawsuits emerged, reportedly filed by the master plan architects Foster + Partners over unpaid fees.

This contrasted sharply with the projects initial momentum, built on a successful Land Pooling System (LPS) that voluntarily acquired over 34,000 acres from farmers, and a vision for a sustainable, modern metropolis design.

The political landscape once again changed overnight with the 2024 general and state elections. Naidu returned as Chief Minister in June 2024, leveraging his partys crucial role in the national NDA coalition. He immediately declared Amaravati as the sole capital, decisively ending the three-capital uncertainty.

Swift actions followed: work visibly restarted on the ground, plans for substantial tenders exceeding Rs 45,000 crore were announced for early 2025, key officials like Lakshmi Parthasarathy were reappointed to lead the Amaravati Development Corporation, and a white paper detailing the projects status was proposed, signalling a determined push to regain lost time.

STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES AND FUTURE VISION

The renewed central backing for Amaravati stems from a number of reasons. Politically, it solidifies the crucial alliance with Naidus TDP. Economically, it aligns with the vision of creating a major new economic hub capable of generating an estimated 1.5 million jobs and housing 3.5 million people by 2050, contributing significantly to regional and national growth. Furthermore, with Hyderabad formally ceasing to be the joint capital from June 2024, the establishment of a fully functional capital for Andhra Pradesh became an administrative necessity.

The scale of the revived ambition remains immense, sticking largely to the original. The vision is for a 217 square kilometre world-class city, lauded for its sustainability focus (with 60% dedicated to green spaces and water bodies), advanced infrastructure (including plans for smart transport, dedicated theme cities like Finance, Justice, and Knowledge hubs), and potential for future expansion, potentially including an international airport and requiring additional land acquisition.

However, formidable challenges persist. Completing core infrastructure, government buildings (Secretariat, Assembly, High Court), and housing within demanding timelines (ranging from 18 to 36 months for key government structures) will test the states implementation capacity. Regaining full investor confidence after the prolonged hiatus is crucial, although the reported surge in land prices indicates a positive market response. Sustained political will at both the state and Central levels will be paramount to navigate the complexities ahead.

CONCLUSION

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PM Modis forthcoming visit signifies a strategic reset for Andhra Pradesh after 4 years of being lulled into incapacity. Building Amaravati as the states sole, ambitious capital, backed by the full political and financial might of the Centre, has realigned its interests. It is also an explicit discard of the YSRCPs controversial policies and injects critical resources into Naidus cherished project. The dream of Amaravati, once seemingly lost, now hinges on a Modi-Naidu partnership to translate renewed ambition into tangible reality.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects.

First Published: May 01, 2025, 19:54 IST
Opinion | Does Jinnahs 1911 Bill Hold The Secret To Waqf Malaise?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 01, 2025, 17:15 IST

Jinnahs 1911 Bill reveals that waqfs were largely about property, not charity. Are we administering noble remedies to institutions born of mundane intent?

The 1911 Bill  and Jinnahs speech on the occasion  were quite revealing about the nature of waqf. (Photo by Bert BRANDT / ACME / AFP)

Waqf (also spelt wakf) is an Arabic word, literally meaning standing, stopping, or halting. It signifies, according to Thomas Patrick Hughes, appropriation or dedication of property to charitable uses and the service of God. The object of such an endowment or appropriation must be of a perpetual nature, and such property or land cannot be sold or transferred." (Dictionary of Islam, 1885, p. 664).

Still, it would be erroneous to presume that a waqf is solely given out for the benefit of the public without any private or familial interests. Syed Ameer Ali, Bar-at-Law, states  in his Tagore Law Lectures (1884)  that waqfs may be divided under three heads, viz. public, quasi-public, and private, although Mahommedan law recognises only two classes of waqfs  public and private  and draws a sharp distinction between them. Waqf for masalih-i-amma, viz. for public works for utility or charitable purposes, is regarded as a public waqf. All other trusts are treated as private (The Law Relating to Gifts, Trusts, and Testamentary Dispositions Among the Mahommedans, 1885, p. 178).

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Ameer Ali claims there is no particular term for private waqf. However, by the turn of the 20th century, a term for private waqf had either been discovered or invented  waqf-alal-aulad (waqf for the descendants). Muslim society was in ferment after the Privy Council, in the 1894 case of Abdul Fata Mahomed Ishak v Russomoy Dhur Chowdhuri, ruled against the admissibility of private waqf, since the motive was essentially familial rather than religious or charitable.

Under Islamic law, a private trust would become public upon the expiration of the familial line. Such a prospect is remote in reality, given that the Muslim family size has traditionally been above the national average. The stronger likelihood is that someone in the line of descent may attempt to partition, mortgage, or sell off the property illegally, which could lead to internal or external litigation. The Bombay High Court judgment in Mahabir Prasad v Syed Mustafa Husain, dated 19 March 1937, shows that the tendency to deny the existence of waqf could arise in the very first generation itself due to financial hardship in the family.

However, let us revert to the subject of Muslim agitation. Around 1910, as Peter Hardy (1972) informs, the ulama (Muslim clerics) and the conservative leadership of the Muslim League (established 1906) joined hands to persuade the government to pass an Act overriding the Privy Councils 1894 decision invalidating family waqfs on the grounds that their ultimate reversion of benefit to the poor was illusory (The Muslims of British India, p.180).

Under the Indian Councils Act, 1909  popularly known as the Morley-Minto Reforms  non-official members in the Indian Legislative Council secured the right to introduce Private Members Bills. Muhammad Ali Jinnah took advantage of this provision to introduce the Mussalman Waqf Validating Bill, 1911, in the Council on 17 March 1911. The Muslim League, Jinnah noted, had in its previous session passed a resolution in favour of such an enactment.

The Bill  and Jinnahs speech on the occasion  were quite revealing about the nature of waqf. In his speech, Jinnah made no attempt whatsoever to underscore the religious or spiritual attributes of waqf. His argument was that the denial of the freedom to institute private waqf estates would deprive Muslims of a way to settle family assets in accordance with Muhammadan law.

There are two things known to Mussalman law," says Jinnah, one is hibba and the other is waqftwo institutions. Hibba, in other words, means an out-and-out gift. Muhammadan law permits a Mussalman to make a gift of his property outright. That is to say, he gives delivery of possession and is done with itwhat an English lawyer would call conveyance out and out. He cannot, under the la,w create different estates, such as a life estate, remainder, vested remainder, or continued remainder. He cannot, therefore, make any provision of a future character for his family or his children; he has got to give away the property straight off. Then comes the other branch of Mussalman law, which is known as waqf. Waqf, as I understand, is analogoussomewhat analogousto the law of Trusts in English law, and that again is divided into two parts: it might be private trusts with ultimate reversion to charity, or pure and simple charitable trusts. Now, the question that we are concerned with in this Bill is the question of private trusts with ultimate reversion to charity"

A Mussalman who wants to make a waqf of this characterwaqf-alal-aulad," admits Jinnah, does not know at what period of time the charity should come under deed. He does not know what would be considered substantial dedication to charity by any court of law. One court may hold that the charity should come in after the first life, because the words are some period of time or other; another court may hold that charity should come in after two lives; and so on and so forth. Again, what is substantial dedication to charity? One court may hold one-sixth is enough; another court may hold that there should be at least half; and so on."

Jinnah, therefore, indirectly admits that most private waqf deeds are unclear about (a) the quantum of charity and (b) its gestation or maturity period. On the precise nature of charity too, he would rather not hazard a guess. He was insistent only on securing the interest of the family through waqf. If a man cannot make waqf-alal-aulad as laid down in our law," he claimed, then it comes to thisthat he cannot make any provision for his family and children at all, and the consequences are that it has been breaking up Mussalman families."

Thus, it was not piety but property that was the main concern of Jinnahor rather of those Muslim organisations or segments whose views he was echoing in his speech. This becomes quite evident from the language of the Bill itself, which was subsequently enacted as the first statutory law on the subject of waqf in India. It received the assent of the Governor on 7 March 1913 as the Mussalman Waqf Validating Act, 1913 (Act VI of 1913).

Section 2 defines waqf as the permanent dedication by a person professing the Mussalman faith of any property for any purpose recognised by Mussalman law as religious, pious, or charitable."

However, Section 3 states that it shall be lawful for any person professing the Mussalman faith to create a waqf which, in all respects, is in accordance with the provisions of Mussalman law, for the following purposes: (a) for the maintenance and support, wholly or partially, of his family, children, or descendants; and (b) where the person creating the waqf is a Hanafi Mussalman, also for his own maintenance and support during his lifetime or for the payment of his debts out of the rent and profits of the property dedicated.

Provided that the ultimate benefit in such cases is expressly or impliedly reserved for the poor or for any other purpose recognised by Mussalman law as a religious, pious, or charitable purpose of a permanent character.

However, the ensuing section places the promised charity in Section 3 on the backburner. Section 4 states that no such waqf shall be deemed invalid merely because the benefit reserved therein for the poor or for other religious, pious, or charitable purposes of a permanent nature is postponed until after the extinction of the family, children, or descendants of the person creating the waqf.

Section 4 is indeed ironic, for it condones the family or descendants for not initiating any charitable acts as desired by the waqif (creator of the waqf), and expects unrelated strangers to implement them only after the family line is extinct. Any such strangereven if nominated by the last surviving mutawalliis likely to be emotionally unconnected with the waqif, besides being separated by a gulf of time. He may even be a rank outsider, potentially aiding and abetting the encroachment of the property.

Charity, as the famous proverb goes, begins at home. However, the institution of waqf-alal-aulad proves that it can always remain at homeyet the waqif may still derive divine benediction. During his speech, Jinnah laid great emphasis on aligning the statute with Muslim religious law. He even supported oral waqf, which is why the statute has no express provision for registration of a waqf. Are we to believe that a consummate barrister like Jinnah knew nothing about property registration? Jinnahs views could be taken as reflecting those of the Muslim community that had been agitating for a decade and a half to validate waqf-alal-aulad. If the Supreme Court finds that registration documents for a waqf are missing, there is no reason to assume it dates back to the 13th or 14th century. It could just as well be a 20th-century waqf.

One need not be overly concerned with the current status of this century-old legislation. Waqf-alal-aulad continues to be a valid category of waqf. The recent JPC Report (2025) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 praises the 1913 legislation in the following words: The Act helped to protect waqf properties from inheritance disputes and application of colonial laws that could otherwise challenge their legal status" (JPC Report, p.3). The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 introduces a new provision, Section 3A(2), in the principal Act of 1995: The creation of a waqf-alal-aulad shall not result in denial of inheritance rights of heirs, including women heirs, of the waqif, or any other rights of persons with lawful claim."

The Islamic inheritance system, as noted by Timur Kuran (2004), requires two-thirds of a persons estate to be apportioned among members of his or her extended family (Gales Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World, p.128). This is consistent with the restriction that a Muslim is free to settle only one-third of their estate in waqf.

Kuran, a contemporary Turkish-American economist, explains that if the waqf system became much more important to the premodern Middle Eastern economy than trusts were to the economies of Western Europe, the reason is that private property rights were significantly weaker in the Middle East, and hence the need for wealth shelters was measurably greater. Kuran adds that the very availability of the waqf option helps to explain this difference. It dampened collective action on the part of wealth-holders who might otherwise have pushed for stronger property rights (Gales Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World, p. 554).

The Waqf Act, 1995 describes waqf for public purposes as Fi-Sabi-Lillah (In the way of Allah") and waqf for private purposes as waqf-alal-aulad (For the children"). According to the Waqf Assets Management System of India (WAMSI) portal, there are currently 872,870 immovable properties registered as waqf. Of these, detailed information is unavailable for 436,242 properties. While 7,835 properties are locked in external litigation, 5,365 are entangled in internal disputes.

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No segregated figures of aufaq (the Arabic plural of waqf) by Fi-Sabi-Lillah and waqf-alal-aulad are provided. This is crucial information the nation ought to have. In the absence of such data, we may be labouring in the dark in our efforts to improve the status of waqfs." It is possible that the sole dominant motive of the waqif (settler) was to provide for his or her family  and the government may be mistakenly attempting to elevate it to charitable status, wrongly assuming that to have been the original intent.

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 01, 2025, 17:15 IST
Opinion | Modi Bets On Nuclear: Why India Is At The Cusp Of A Power Revolution

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 01, 2025, 13:35 IST

There is a clear and determined effort by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to make nuclear power a central pillar of Indias sustainable and secure energy future

The Narendra Modi government is making a significant strategic pivot, doubling down on nuclear power with a clear and bold target. (AP)

India is navigating a complex energy landscape, driven by the twin demands of fuelling rapid economic expansion and meeting ambitious climate goals. In response, the Narendra Modi government is making a significant strategic pivot, doubling down on nuclear power with a clear and bold target: boosting capacity from just under 9 GW today to an impressive 100 GW by 2047. The goal is for this capacity addition to enable India to achieve the net-zero emissions target by 2070, apart from guaranteeing long-term energy independence.

For years, a key bottleneck hindering faster nuclear growth, particularly involving international partners, has been Indias distinct liability framework. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) of 2010, specifically its provision allowing legal claims against equipment suppliers in the event of an incident, created significant hesitation among global nuclear vendors. This perceived risk, diverging from international norms that typically channel liability solely to the plant operator, effectively stalled major collaborations envisioned under pacts like the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, even though they were hailed as landmark breakthroughs.

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Recognising this impediment, a crucial shift is now in the works. The Union government is actively considering amendments aimed at capping supplier liability, potentially bringing Indias legal regime more in line with global standards. This move, possibly slated for discussion in Parliaments upcoming monsoon session, is widely seen as essential groundwork to unlock the foreign investment and technology needed for the massive planned scale-up. It signals a pragmatic approach designed to make India a more attractive destination for leading nuclear firms.

Beyond legal reforms, a broader opening of the sector seems imminent. There is talk of permitting foreign companies to take equity stakes, potentially up to 49 per cent, in domestic nuclear power projects. Major international players like Westinghouse, GE-Hitachi, Frances EDF, and Russias Rosatom are the kind of partners India hopes to attract more substantially. Concurrently, a significant development is the reported interest from Indias own corporate heavyweights. Giants such as Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Group, and Vedanta are exploring potential investments totalling billions, suggesting a new phase where private domestic capital could play a major role alongside state-owned enterprises and foreign partners.

This push is underpinned by a multi-pronged strategic blueprint being championed by the Ministry of Power. Key elements involve not just tweaking the CLNDA but also potentially amending the overarching Atomic Energy Act. This will formally enable broader private and state-sector participation beyond the traditional domain of central public sector undertakings. Understanding the need for public buy-in, efforts are also being planned to enhance awareness campaigns, focusing on the safety and environmental benefits of modern nuclear power. After all, the last thing India wants is for its nuclear ambitions to be stymied by uninformed activists or vested interest groups. Spreading awareness about the benefits of nuclear power among the larger population, therefore, is essential.

On the practical side, the strategy includes clever infrastructure planning, such as exploring the repurposing of land at retired thermal power stations for new nuclear units, which could significantly cut down on land acquisition hurdles, costs and timelines. Streamlining the often complex and lengthy regulatory approval processes is another critical focus area. To make nuclear power economically competitive, financial incentives like tax concessions and favourable long-term financing options are being considered.

Technologically, the approach encourages diversification. While foreign technology and investors are welcome, there is also a strong emphasis on promoting indigenous manufacturing through the Make in India initiative and fostering competitive bidding processes. Securing a reliable and diverse supply of uranium fuel, alongside expanding the domestic vendor base for specialised components, is also vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability and security of the refurbished nuclear programme.

Looking towards next-generation technology, India is now focussing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). SMRs represent an emerging technology advanced nuclear reactors with a capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, approximately one-third of traditional reactors. Capable of producing substantial low-carbon electricity, they are characterised by their small physical size, modular design for factory assembly and transport, and the use of nuclear fission to generate heat for energy production. SMRs are localised, cost effective and bypass the risk of devastating accidents as they are meant to provide power in scenarios where extensively large facilities are unnecessary or locations lack the infrastructure to accommodate sizable units

Due to their compact size, simplicity, and advanced technology, small modular reactors (SMRs) offer enhanced safety and reduced fuel demands. SMR-based power plants may need less frequent refuelling, occurring every three to seven years, in contrast to the one to two years typical for conventional plants. Certain SMRs are designed to operate for extended periods, even up to 30 years, without requiring refuelling. NTPC, the countrys largest power generator, is already reported to be in discussions with potential SMR developers from the US, Russia, and elsewhere, signaling serious intent in this emerging field.

Indias deep engagement in international collaborations, exemplified by its significant contributions to the ITER nuclear fusion research project (supplying critical components like the cryostat), further highlights its long-term commitment to staying at the forefront of nuclear science and technology.

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Undoubtedly, challenges persist. Managing public perception around safety, developing robust long-term solutions for nuclear waste management, and ensuring these complex, large-scale projects are executed on time and within budget are all significant hurdles. However, the comprehensive nature of the current pushblending legislative reform, attracting diverse investment, fostering domestic capability, embracing new technologies, and building strategic international partnershipssignals a clear and determined effort by Prime Minister Modis government to make nuclear power a central pillar of Indias sustainable and secure energy future.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics.

First Published: May 01, 2025, 13:35 IST
Opinion | Pahalgam And After: Efficacy Of Counter-Terrorism Can Only Be Measured In The Long Term

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 01, 2025, 15:16 IST

Defeating terrorism is not merely a government or military taskit is a societal imperative

Defeating terrorism is not merely a government or military taskit is a societal imperative. (AP)

The April 22 terrorist attack in India has engulfed the country in the familiar circle of outrage, anger, and helplessness. Not just the TV anchors, the common man is asking the government this time, accompanied by a glaring reluctance among citizens to assume personal responsibility in combating terrorism. Its natural, perhaps even justified, to expect decisive actions from authorities. Yet, the complexity and persistence of terrorism demand a collective effort that extends far beyond governmental interventions.

Terrorism thrives not merely through terrorists actions but due to their ability to instill fear in people. This fear inevitably transforms into anger and public outrage, prompting citizens to demand immediate action from the government. Yet these emotions, as neuroscience repeatedly highlights, are transient; anger, powerful in the moment, fades easily without leading to meaningful, lasting solutions. While surgical action assuages the spirit, is it efficient in countering terrorism in the long term?

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Counter-terrorism is not a knee-jerk reaction to every attack; it requires a long-term objective and persistent action. Common outrage should not drive this action; outrage can be satisfied by quick actions, but it does nothing to eradicate terrorism.

The ordinary citizen has to understand their role in this fight against terror. Everybody has to do something; every professional can contribute in some way. They are part of a professional association, and they can ask their association to determine the best way they can help fight terrorism. Because ultimately terrorism is not fought by the government, the army, or defence forces, Terrorism is fought by ordinary people who believe that it is a long fight and needs persistence. Outrage is not enough small actions to remind and remember are important.

The current outrage is underlined with fear; people are so scared that they are angry, as they feel they can be attacked and killed for their identity as a Hindu. Terrorists purpose is served. Everyone has personalised the terrorist attacks on themselves or their family, and they can expect it to happen to them. Here again, the massive anger that Indians feel against Pakistan, the Pakistani Army, or the terrorists will die down. Nor is the problem of terrorism is going to be resolved with one or even many actions against Pakistan. This needs concerted efforts over the next few years.

Anger has to be replaced by steely resolve to do something, repeatedly, so that what happened on April 23rd is not forgotten. Every victim has to be recognized and remembered where they died so that nobody else forgets the act. Pahalgam is no longer just a tourism site, it is also a martyr site. If it reduces tourist traffic to the place, well, so be it. But we cannot wash away terrorism for tourist or economic needs. The stock market was the fastest in brushing aside the terror attacks as if they had never happened.

This is yet another tragedy in Mumbai and the markets, and it reflects poorly on our society, one that we quickly forget. As a result, we are forgiving these terrorists by deleting them from our memories. These are difficult memories, but if society has to eradicate terrorism truly, it has to learn to remember the past tragedies and learn to counter them effectively. Mumbai is always swift to move back to what it calls the Mumbai spirit, and the attack on Mumbai was also never adequately retaliated.

The attack on the terrorists does not have to be commensurate with their actions; it has to be disproportionate to their actions. It is not about killing 25-26 terrorists; it is about destroying their fundamental economic structure, physical structure, and even cultural structure that allows these terrorists to breed. Now, destroying physical structures is easy, visible, and politically beneficial; it also assuages the wounded pride and anger the country feels, but it is insufficient. Cultural and social eradication will take the longest, and it has to be supported by all the political parties; if they cannot support, they do not need to be a political party in India. In the so-called War on Terror after 9/11, more than 3700 Americans died. America killed more than 300,000 in Iraq and 230,000 in Afghanistan. The response was a thousand times.

Counter-terrorism experts are still evaluating whether this response was adequate or not. As a matter of fact, between 2001 and 07, that is the six years after the attacks, the casualties by terrorists went up substantially due to terrorist attacks outside the US. Are ordinary Indians ready for a rise in casualties in the immediate future due to the response by the Indian government? Or as the casualties go up, will we ask for the resignation of all the political leadership? Will acts of terrorism become political issues to be used to beat down the long-term efforts of the state? Will we come back to the same old normal, a feeling of complacency if the terrorists reduce their actions temporarily?

This dangerous return to complacency occurs as the public forgets, markets move on, and the urgency of action is lost, allowing the root causes to fade into oblivion. Terrorism bet on the ability of the public to forget and forgive. Terrorism is not eradicated by episodic anger or isolated military actions against hostile states like Pakistan. It requires a determined and sustained effort, spanning years or even decades.

In his insightful work Does Counter-Terrorism Work?" Richard English points out that effective strategies balance military action and political and social initiatives. English notes explicitly, Counter-terrorism succeeds most sustainably when it integrates military measures with political solutions, recognizing that terrorism is often driven by political grievances and societal fractures." In Pakistans case, there are no political solutions. Still, there are political fractures possible, which means breaking Pakistan down into multiple states so that it is busy fighting internally without any means to plan terror elsewhere.

Similarly, Jessica Stern, a leading authority on terrorism and the author of Terror in the Name of God," emphasizes the importance of undermining the ideological foundations that terrorists exploit. Stern argues that mere force, while temporarily satisfying national pride and emotional needs, rarely provides lasting solutions. The real victory against terrorism is psychological and cultural, achieved through sustained social engagement, economic development, and the dismantling of radicalization networks at their ideological roots. None of these actions can be done unilaterally; they require coalitions of all kinds, including ideological, economic, and geographical ones.

Bruce Hoffman, in his seminal book Inside Terrorism," further validates the need for a disproportionate yet carefully targeted approach, explaining that successful counter-terrorism often requires disrupting financial channels, dismantling radical ideologies, and rigorously addressing the sociopolitical grievances exploited by terrorist recruiters. Though it is difficult to address the sociopolitical grievances when the terrorists are state actors from Pakistan.

Israels longstanding fight against terrorism provides additional insights. Israel responds with swift and decisive military operations against terrorists. Still, these operations are always accompanied by rigorous domestic security measures, community vigilance programme, and sustained campaigns to delegitimize terrorist ideology. Israeli responses are disproportionate precisely because they recognize the asymmetrical nature of terrorism. Small-scale terrorist attacks, though limited in immediate casualties, demand overwhelming countermeasures to deter future incidents, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, and disrupt their recruitment and radicalization processes.

Indias response, therefore, must move beyond superficial retaliations aimed merely at visible terrorist infrastructure.

Effective counter-terrorism requires dismantling the economic, ideological, and social structures underpinning terrorism. It involves education, remembrance, and collective societal resolve to prevent future attacks. Memorializing sites of terrorist violence as places of martyrdom, rather than merely tourist attractions, reinforces public memory and awareness, ensuring that society does not slip back into complacency or inadvertently forgive and forget terrorist atrocities for short-term economic gains.

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Ultimately, defeating terrorism is not merely a government or military taskit is a societal imperative. Citizens must transform their anger into disciplined action every single day. They must recognise their individual and collective responsibility to contribute meaningfully through professional, civic, and personal avenues. It is this sustained collective actiongrounded in memory, vigilance, and disciplinethat will provide India with lasting security against terrorism.

K Yatish Rajawat is a public policy researcher and works at the Gurgaon-based think and do tank Centre for Innovation in Public Policy (CIPP). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 01, 2025, 15:16 IST
Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 12:50 IST

1 / 8 Bulbuli Khana: This street is home to many stories. It is said that three bulbuls (songbirds) once lived here, which is how it came to be known as Bulbuli Khana. While bulbuls are no longer found here, the residents remain bird enthusiasts. Youll often see flocks of pigeons on the rooftops. (Local18)

2 / 8 Imam Gali: During the Mughal era, the ancestors of the royal Imam settled on this street. Over time, it was named Imam Gali, in honour of the Imams family. (Local18)

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3 / 8 Pahari Imli Gali: In Old Delhi, there once stood a hill known as Bhojla Pahari. At its summit grew a large tamarind (imli) tree. Though the hill and tree have since vanished, the area retains the name Pahari Imli. Today, jamun, mulberry, neem and other trees can still be seen in front of houses, although increased population has reduced the size of homes. (Local18)

4 / 8 Bhooton Wali Gali: Years ago, this area was filled with fields. After a day of labour, workers would return home with their faces covered in mud, appearing ghost-like in the fading light. Over time, this led to the name Bhooton Wali Gali. The 700-metre street begins under the Nangloi flyover on Rohtak Road and leads to the cremation ground. It is also listed on Google Street View as Bhooton Wali Gali. (Local18)

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5 / 8 Masalchi Gali: This street was once home to the royal chefs of the Mughal court. Some descendants of these cooks still reside here, preserving their culinary heritage. Though the Mughal era has passed, the name Masalchi Gali lives on. (Local18)

6 / 8 Akhara Gali: Once lined with dozens of wrestling arenas or akharas, this street was a hub for wrestlers from across the world. While few akharas remain today, some wrestlers still live here and continue to run traditional training centres. (Local18)

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7 / 8 Bandook Wali Gali: The origin of this name remains unclear. Located in Kucha Pandit, some associate it with the 1857 revolt, while others believe it was named after residents who owned guns. According to historian R.V. Smith, these are merely theories with no confirmed history. (Local18)
Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:35 IST

Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Friday, effortlessly serving summer style goals in a cool and casual look. The actress once again proved that timeless fashion and comfort can go hand-in-hand. Check out her stunning look!

1 / 7 The Bollywood actress kept her airport look laid-back yet chic, serving summer fashion goals. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

2 / 7 She opted for a black and white striped t-shirt paired with blue jeans. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

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3 / 7 She went for her signature no-makeup, makeup look with a decent amount of skin tint, a bit of blush, and nude lips. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

4 / 7 She completed her look with a pair of black sunglasses, a boater hat and a tote bag. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

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5 / 7 Her fuss-free hairstyle and white sneakers made her look perfect for summers. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

6 / 7 The actress was all smiles as she posed for the paparazzi and also blew a flying kiss. (Image: Viral Bhayani)

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Caste Census: Siddaramaiah Says Centre Imitating Congress Playbook, BJP Hits Back

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 08:32 IST

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP-led central government of mimicking the Congress, first by criticising its guarantee schemes, and now by announcing a caste census.

Siddaramaiah also said that the Centre should inform the people of the country about the timeline for conducting the census. (PTI Photo)

The BJP at the Centre is merely copying what the Congress has been doing, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He claimed that the caste census, which was first initiated by the Congress government, is now being claimed by the BJP. He also recalled the groundwork done when he was Deputy Chief Minister in Karnataka during the Dharam Singh regime, and accused the BJP of trying to take ownership of the effort.

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP-led central government of mimicking the Congress, first by criticising its guarantee schemes, and now by announcing a caste census, both of which were Congress initiatives and part of its manifesto, but are now being accepted by the BJP.

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The BJP government at the Centre is copying us. When we introduced the guarantee schemes, they opposed them at first. Now they are implementing them. The same has happened with the caste census. Under pressure from Rahul Gandhi, and with the Bihar elections approaching, theyve been forced to announce it," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

He said the Centres decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census was a win for social justice and credited Rahul Gandhis persistent push over the past two years for forcing the BJPs hand.

I congratulate Shri Rahul Gandhi for this commitment to social justice. For two years, he has been demanding that the Government of India conduct a caste census. It is because of this sustained pressure that theyve finally agreed," Siddaramaiah said.

The announcement by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had approved caste enumeration in the upcoming census sparked political fireworks. While the Centre called it a transparent exercise, the Congress was quick to claim credit and hailed it as a victory for Rahul Gandhis vision.

Siddaramaiah also said that the Centre should inform the people of the country about the timeline for conducting the census. It should not be like the womens reservation bill, where you dont see it being implemented  its just on paper. This is a serious matter and they should say how they are going to do it, how they are going to conduct the socio-economic and educational survey," he insisted.

Siddaramaiah didnt hold back. He reminded the Centre that it was his government in Karnataka that had already conducted a comprehensive caste-based, social, economic and educational survey. We said in our manifesto that we would conduct a socio-economic and caste census. I dont know whether the Centre will do just a caste count or a proper survey. Social justice cannot be achieved without a full socio-economic survey," he said.

The Chief Minister also invoked history, pointing to the Congresss long-standing commitment to backward classes. Since 1945, the RSS, Jan Sangh and BJP have opposed caste census, claiming it would create strife. But caste is a reality in our social system. We cannot pretend it doesnt exist. Through caste data, we can work towards equality," he said.

He emphasised that the caste system can only be dismantled by recognising its existence and addressing the structural inequalities it creates. The caste system can be removed only by eliminating economic and social inequality," he said.

Siddaramaiah recalled that the groundwork for the current survey in Karnataka began during his tenure as Deputy CM under Dharam Singh, when he proposed the formation of a permanent Backward Classes Commission and a socio-economic survey. But it was only when he became CM again between 2013 and 2018 that the proposal was implemented. That was when the Kantharaju Commission began groundwork for the caste census in 2015.

The first caste census under his government was carried out in 2015 by the Kantharaju Commission, but the report was pushed into cold storage. It was only after a decade, under the leadership of Jayaprakash Hegde, that the Backward Classes Commission finalised and submitted the report to the CM in February 2024. The survey, covering 94 per cent of Karnatakas population, has now been placed before the cabinet, but discussions remain inconclusive.

The governments headed by Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa and Bommai did nothing about the caste census, which was with the Backward Classes Commission. Jayaprakash Hegde, who was then chairman and took over during Bommais tenure, handed over the census report when I became CM again. We have tabled it and we will discuss it," he said.

The cabinet meeting on April 17 to discuss the report ended without resolution. Another meeting planned for May 2 was postponed, with insiders pointing to disagreements over methodology and data  especially numbers that reportedly show a demographic shift in favour of OBCs, unsettling dominant caste equations. Sources suggest the leaked data indicates that Vokkaligas and Lingayats are no longer the largest caste groups, causing unease within the political establishment.

Weve conducted the survey. The cabinet has to decide. We cant make a decision until the cabinet ministers present their case. Ive asked the ministers to submit their opinions in writing. Once we receive that, it will be presented for discussion. Then we will have something to say about it," Siddaramaiah said.

He maintained that the objective behind Karnatakas survey was to frame a scientific reservation policy. The Supreme Court has, time and again, stressed the need for data in reservation cases. Based on our survey, we plan to revise the reservation policy and raise the 50 per cent ceiling. The Jayaprakash and Kantharaju Commissions have recommended 51 per cent reservation," he said, adding that only the Centre has the power to remove that cap.

He accused BJPs Karnataka unit of trying to sabotage the Congress governments plans. We are trying to increase reservation, but BJP leaders here are opposing it for their own reasons. I urge the PM to reprimand them," he said.

The BJP was the same party that for years criticised caste census as divisive and a threat to Hindu unity. Now, theyre doing exactly what we did. Its the same story as the guarantee schemes. The Prime Minister may not admit it, but the country knows hes acting under pressure," Siddaramaiah said.

He said the caste-based social, economic and educational survey done by the state was a model and offered to cooperate with the Centre to replicate it nationally.

We welcome the Centres decision. But I urge them to go beyond just a caste censusconduct a full social, economic and educational survey. Only then can true social justice be delivered," he said.

BJP Hits Back

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka challenged the Congress and questioned why the caste census was not conducted during their time in power.

He said the Narendra Modi-led government had decided to conduct a caste census to uphold social justice. Despite Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi serving as Prime Ministers after independence, the Congress did not conduct a caste survey," Ashoka said.

He added that the Congress lacked basic awareness" for such an initiative and that the proposal for a caste census was rejected during Manmohan Singhs tenure.

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He said the Modi government has announced that the womens reservation will be implemented by 2029, and that the caste census will aid this process.

Taking on Siddaramaiah, Ashoka said that while the caste census was conducted in 2015, it was released only ten years later. Congress should reflect on this delay. They should apologise for failing to conduct a national caste census and explain why it wasnt done," the senior BJP leader said.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 08:32 IST
Chun Chun Ke: Decoding PM Modi, Amit Shahs Communication Strategy On Pahalgam

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 23:37 IST

Both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have vowed to get justice for Pahalgam terror attack victims

PM Modi and Amit Shah (right) mentioned the attack in their speeches. (PTI File)

2025 is not 2019 and definitely not 2016. Not because India is short of options or lacks political will, but it has to innovate to keep the surprise element intact.

In 2016, a surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, inflicting heavy casualties, was Indias bold response 10 days after the Uri attack that claimed 18 jawans, surprising Pakistan.

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In 2019, Balakot airstrike was an even more audacious effort where India targeted a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group. What made it audacious? It was much deeper  in Pakistans north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The airstrike was in response to the Pulwama attack  a suicide attack on February 14 that year, which was claimed by JeM and killed 40 Indian troops. When Pakistan was expecting another surgical strike, they got an airstrike, again taking them aback.

The element of surprise in any response is key. Pakistan cannot know and should not predict whats coming their way. And that needs time to regroup, re-strategise. That is probably why you have Prime Minister Narendra Modi in no uncertain terms calling the bluff of Pakistan, but not sounding the war bugle as yet. When the attack at Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists took place, the Prime Minister was in Jeddah. The fact that he skipped the official dinner and returned 24 hours before his scheduled arrival is a testament to his awareness, not just to his duty, but the anger 140 crore Indians felt. But beyond his anger, Modis composure took over, because only a calm mind with the advice of the best in the profession can spring a surprise for the third time on Pakistan, which will not be an easy job. After repeated public humiliation, irrespective of its propaganda to prove otherwise, the Pakistan Army has to prove it can thwart an Indian attack to its suspicious domestic audience.

MODIS REACTIONS

But if one reads between the lines, the PMs anger at Pakistan often overflows to defy his calm demeanour. Take his first tweet on the Pahalgam terror attack for instance, that began with condolences and ended with his resolve to fight terror. But two sentences stood out, Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justicethey will not be spared!"

This was posted even before his flight landed at Delhis Palam technical airport.

The second giveaway seemed deliberate. Just a day after the incident, the Prime Minister had to send out a message that terrorists wont stop our development, lives and hence flew down to Bihars Madhubani where he launched development works worth Rs 13,480 crore. Towards the end of his speech, he chose to speak on Pahalgam for the first time. Interestingly, despite addressing the Hindi heartland, he spoke in English, so it reaches every Indian. The punishment will be significant and stringent, which these terrorists would have never even thought aboutToday, from the soil of Bihar, I want to say to the whole world that India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist, supporter and conspirator. Well pursue them to the end of the Earth. They will be punished beyond their imagination," he warned.

Talking about elements of surprise and degrees of vengeance, no words summed up the Pahalgam attack like this by PM Modi. This sounds eerily similar to a similar warning given in March 2019, in Ahmedabad soon after the Balakot airstrike, where he said, They are saying airstrike was for electoral gains. Where there were elections when we carried out surgical strikes? Humara siddhant hai, hum ghar me ghus ke marenge (It is our principle to take the attack inside the home)."

The third fact that top government sources say the Prime Minister has given a free hand" to the armed forces during the last Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, to respond to Pakistan, is a clear indication that PM Modi is not sitting idle, but wants Indias response to be creative enough to surprise Pakistan again. The mode, targets, and timing of the response are left to the security forces, Modi said at a meeting attended by the Defence Minister, NSA, CDS, and the chiefs of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, say top government sources.

When one country keeps using one option after another in pursuit to shock the enemy, and if a full-blown war is not on the cards (as PM Modi has often said, this is not the era of wars), then one has to think out of the box  which is precisely going on, suggest government sources.

SHAHS REACTION

But the 140 crore angry Indians who are baying for revenge seem not to get the nuanced situation and neither are they expected to. If social media is a barometer, their frustration is palpable there, which worries the BJP that it may be politically manipulated against it. So it requires a voice that echoes the mass sentiment from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

It was Shahs first public event since the dastardly attack, and he used the opportunity to set the narrative right. Whoever carried out the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam will not be spared. We will hunt down each and every perpetrator of the Pahalgam terror attack. Dont think that you have won by killing 26 people. Every one of you will be made answerable," the Home Minister said at an event in Delhi.

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While making the threats to terrorists, he reminded Indians that the the Modi Sarkar will hunt them down. Har vyakti ko chun chun ke jawab bhi milega, jawab bhi diya jayega This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared."

Basically, what Shah intended to say to Indians was this: Keep calm and trust Modi, Pahalgam revenge is loading.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 16:38 IST
This world is an increasingly polarized place. Divisions are growing not just between countries but within them. In my book Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism I set out why this is happening now. Here, five key factors dividing todays world into us and them.

1. Economics

The growing division of wealth between haves and have-nots has received plenty of attention in recent yearswhen 42 people in the world have the same wealth as the bottom 50 percent, the headlines write themselves. But attention is one thing, and action another.

Free trade remains the best way we know to spur sustainable economic growth for the world as a whole. Moving goods, services, investment, and innovation as efficiently as possible generates consumption, a virtuous cycle that has seen the world economy soar nearly 700 percent since 1980. Hundreds of millions around the world have escaped poverty, largely thanks to globalization.

But not all countries and peoples share in this virtuous cycle equally. Countries and specific sets of workers lose when jobs and opportunities are sent abroad for the sake of profit margins. And when infrastructure spending, public school systems, health care and the like are tied directly to the economic fortunes of a community, it compounds problems of inequality. Its taken a couple of generationsand the sharp shock of Brexit plus the election of Donald Trumpfor this to become unavoidably obvious for globalizations still-complacent winners in Europe and the U.S.

2. Society and culture

In a globalized world, people flow across borders too. When workers see threats to their lives, livelihoods, status, and entitlements, they demand walls  barriers against cheap labor and unfamiliar facesor what you might call them.

Donald Trump understood this better than any of his political rivals in the U.S. Through storm after storm, and despite his inability to drain the swamp in Washington, his most loyal supporters stick with him, because no one else in the United States can credibly promise to defend their interests against establishment disdain.

Most politicians call for unity. Trump speaks of us vs them and continues to reap the rewards.

3. Security

Cultural divides also bleed into the security realm. Global trade demands geopolitical stability. Stability requires leaders willing to do more so others can do less, who use their power to impose the compromises on which multinational progress depends.

But Trump defeated 16 Republicans and Hillary Clinton with promises that America would defend no interests but her own. He derided endless pointless wars and the presidents responsible for them. And while it was Americas political and military establishment that argued for the necessity of all these wars, they were wars waged on the backs of working-class American men and women. When they returned home, they found a world not much safer than the ones they risked their lives to defend. Even worse, instead of being treated as heroes, they were barely treated at all by a dysfunctional veterans administration system.

And then theres the bundling of immigration concerns with terrorist fears. In the U.S., its a narrative that has been politicized for years but has little basis in reality. Europe is another matter; some European communities have historically had a more difficult time integrating immigrant populations, and the threat posed by homegrown jihadi militants, radicalized in slums like the banlieues of Paris and neighborhoods like Molenbeek in Belgium, is all too real.

4. Technology and filter bubbles

The Internet has long been used to connect folks seeking like-minded individuals in chat forums and online communities. But with the advent and explosion of social media, echo chambers took on a life of their own. Today, it takes work to find someone with whom you fundamentally disagreepeople gravitate to others who share their values and assumptions about their communities and the world.

Human nature isnt only to blame, though. Tech and media companies now grow their bottom lines by maximizing the amount of time you spend engaging with content on their platforms. Algorithms are designed to show you content youre expected to like and engage with, with the result being narrower demographic groups that help advertisement targeting and data collection. The result is ever more political fragmentation in the cyber sphere, which manifests itself more profoundly in the real world with each election cycle.

5. Technology and automation

And the tech revolution is still only in its infancy. People talk about the coming era of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) as the fourth industrial revolution, placing it (somewhat comfortingly) in historical context. But weve never seen anything on the scale of whats to comeautomation and AI are expected to cost 400 to 800 million people their jobs by 2030. T

The world may produce more with robots at the helm, but the economic gains will go mostly to the few who control the technology; hundreds of millions of others will be left with less work to do (if they find work at all). And for all the talk of retraining to prepare people for this automated future, few of those plans have come to fruition. If anything, we should be preparing for a post-industrial revolution, one that looks set to widen the chasm between us and them still further.

And to think that all this fracturing into groups, pitting us against them, is happening at a time when the global economy is growing at a solid clip. In todays polarized environment, one global economic stumble may be enough to shatter our interconnected world completely.
'Despite Delays': Shashi Tharoor Receives PM Modi 'On Time', Jabs 'Dysfunctional' Delhi Airport

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 10:31 IST

Delhi IGI Airport was facing flight delays due to easterly winds and the closure of one runway for upgradation works.

Shashi Tharoor welcomes PM Modi at the airport as he arrives in Kerala. (Image: X/@ShashiTharoor)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday received Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his parliamentary constituency Thiruvananthapuram, on time" despite facing delays at the dysfunctional" Delhi airport.

The Prime Minister arrived in Kerala to officially commission the Vizhinjam port, placing Kerala firmly on the global maritime map.

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Taking to X, Tharoor wrote, Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency."

Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been pic.twitter.com/OoGHeS0Gbe Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 1, 2025

Tharoor also shared pictures of him welcoming Prime Minister Modi at the airport. Looking forward to his (Prime Minister Modi) officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception," he added in the post.

The Congress leader was referring to the flight delays at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport caused due to easterly winds and the closure of one runway for upgradation works.

Heavy rainfall, accompanied by strong winds, lashed parts of the national capital and surrounding areas, leaving several areas waterlogged and disrupting flight operations at Delhi Airport. Over 100 flights were reported to be delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions.

PM Modi To Commission Vizhinjam Seaport In Kerala

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In a big development, Minister Narendra Modi will officially commission the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday in Kerala. The port in Thiruvananthapuram district is expected to transform Indias role in international trade and shipping.

The deep-water port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), Indias largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, under a public-private partnership. The project was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore.

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 08:22 IST
'Modi Ji Has Promised': Like PM, Pawan Kalyan Switches To English Mid-Speech In Pahalgam Message

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 18:58 IST

Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan switched to English while talking about the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives on April 22

PM Narendra Modi with Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan during the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of various development projects, in Amaravati on May 2. (Image: PMO/PTI)

Emulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi from last week, when he addressed the nation on the Pahalgam attack, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan switched to English mid-speech while talking about the deadly terror strike.

Pawan Kalyan was speaking in Telugu during the relaunch of the construction works of the greenfield capital city Amaravati. He switched to English while talking about the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives on April 22.

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Intending for his message to reach a wider audience not limited to Andhra Pradesh, he said Modi is leading the country in these tough times and has promised stern action against the perpetrators of terrorism.

The Pahalgam terror attack was one of the darkest days in the entire country. The blood spilled in Kashmir created tremors in the entire nation, we have witnessed personally the pain of the victims," he said during his speech.

Thanking the Prime Minister, Kalyan said despite numerous difficulties, he had set aside time to visit Amaravati that reflected his deep commitment to Andhra Pradesh and its people".

Honble PM Modi ji is leading the country through these tough times and he has assured all the citizens and promised stern action against the perpetrators of terrorism. I know this is a sensitive time and Modi ji is carrying the nations burden. In this difficult time, Modi ji still set aside time to visit Amravati. This shows his deep commitment to Andhra Pradesh and its people, and we are deeply grateful sir," he said.

Kalyan mostly speaks in Telugu at public gatherings, but his switch to English ensured that he reached even those outside of his state. Like Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he firmly backed the PMs action in view of cross-border links to the attack.

During his speech last week, Modi had switched from Hindi to English while issuing a warning to terrorists on Indias retaliation.

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Naidu, who spoke after Kalyan, reiterated his deputys sentiments that all the five crore people of the state are with Modi in his fight against terrorism. We are pledging that we will stand by PM Modi and the central governments every move to crackdown on terrorism," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 18:58 IST
5 Key Things To Know As Skype Shuts Down On May 5 For All Users

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 08:35 IST

Skype is shutting down in May 2025 and Microsoft has listed down the reasons for doing so along with helping users make the next move.

Skype is shutting down and Microsoft wants you to make the move soon

Skype is shutting down on May 5 which is just a few days from now. Microsoft has persisted with the platform for years, and then it decided to invest in Teams, and now Skype is going away for good. The company feels that it does not need both Skype and Teams in its business plans, so the former becomes a casualty of the chopping block.

Skype is not popular among users these days but that does not mean people dont have their accounts signed up with the platform and thats why many of you would be wondering what happens now.

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Thats why we have decided to give you a lowdown on how the Skype shutting down impacts these users and what they should be doing before next weeks May 5 deadline.

Skype Going Away: What Happens Now

Microsoft did not make the decision to shut down Skype overnight and its update was first announced earlier this year. People have got enough time to make the transition from Skype to Teams, something that Microsoft has recommended for a while. Skype will be discontinued from May 5 onwards, which means the screens will go blank.

Skype Users, You Are Covered

Microsoft says that Skype users will not have a lot of issues while migrating to Teams. Their existing Skype ID can be used to login, and give them an easy way to transfer all the chats and contacts to Teams. The company claims both these platforms have similar features so the transition wont be that challenging.

Skype Paid Features Go Away Too

Most of you might not know this but Skype had some paid features and Microsoft decided to stop offering them after confirming the shut down news for the platform. Some of these tools will be accessible through Teams but some of them will stop working once the renewal time comes later this year.

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If Not Skype Then What

Well, Teams is the obvious and direct alternative but you have a plethora of apps that give you the same service. You have Google Meet, Zoom is there too, and to some extent WhatsApp is now really close to being a solid option in this space.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 08:35 IST
In Full Wedding Mood, Man Offers Shagun To Dholwalas Straight From His Mouth

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 17:58 IST

A video had gone viral showing a man excitedly dancing to the dholwala and even giving them money.

The uncle's antics are making a lot of noise. (Photo Credits: YouTube)

In India, giving shagun (a small cash gift) to the wedding drummer, also called the dholwala, is a common tradition. It shows appreciation for the energy and music they bring to the celebration. Guests or family members usually give this money while dancing or at the end of the event. A video had gone viral in which a man was seen enthusiastically dancing to the dholwala and even handing them money. The mans distinguishing style in how he handed over the money to the dholwala was grabbing social media attention.

The video opens with a man holding two Rs 500 notes in his mouth and asking a dholwala to take them out. After a few attempts, the dholwala gets one out. The man then approaches another dholwala and asks him to do the same. The second dholwala was seen trying quite hard. After numerous fruitless efforts, he finally extracts the note from the mans mouth. The enthusiastic man then dances his heart out to the rhythmic beats they play.

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Dholwala bhi soch raha hoga uncle ji aaj full mood mai hai," the caption to the now-viral video reads. Meanwhile, a note on the video states  Uncle ne Paytm uninstall kardiya." The video has now been deleted. Also, the details about the video were unknown.

Shared on April 30, the video had garnered over 18,000 likes.

In 2022, a video went viral in which a man offered a shagun to the person playing the dhol using Paytm. A video of the humorous occurrence was uploaded to X (formerly Twitter).

The short video showed the man twirling his phone around the grooms head in a ceremonial manner before giving money to the dholwala via Paytm. According to the caption, the incident occurred in Bihar. How to use technology, only Indians know very well," read the post.

#Paytm karo #Bihar Shaadi me bhi The video prompted a deluge of laughing emojis in the comments section. A user wrote, UPI made life easy," and another commented, Digital India in a nutshell." I love this digital culture," a user on X said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mera desh badal raha hai," another person jokingly commented. This simple act of giving shagun to the wedding drummer is a cherished norm in India. It symbolises gratitude for the music that brings life to the celebration, ensuring that the rhythm of happiness continues unbroken.

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: May 02, 2025, 16:56 IST
Man Quits Rs 2.5 Lakh Per Month Job To Raise Child, Falls Into Depression And Divorces Wife

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:51 IST

While adjusting to parenthood, the man began experiencing severe depression, similar to postpartum depression commonly seen in new mothers, leaving him emotionally overwhelmed

The man was a former manager in pet food sales earning approximately Rs 2.5 lakh a month. (Representative/News18 Hindi)

In a surprising turn of events, a Chinese man from Sichuan province experienced a dramatic life change after the birth of his daughter, Jasmine, in May 2023.

The man, a former manager in pet food sales earning approximately Rs 2.5 lakh a month, quit his job to take on the full responsibility of raising his child. His wife, employed in a government position, returned to work immediately after her maternity leave, leaving him to care for their newborn.

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As he navigated the demands of parenthood, the man found himself struggling with severe depression, similar to post-partum depression often experienced by new mothers.

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Despite his efforts, his mental health deteriorated further due to ongoing conflicts with his wife, ultimately leading to their divorce. Now, he sustains himself by selling baby products online, earning a much-reduced income of Rs 46,000 a month.

This story, reported by the South China Morning Post, has sparked varied reactions on social media. While some people sympathised with his plight, others argued that women often endure more significant challenges under similar circumstances.

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 : China

First Published: May 02, 2025, 16:51 IST
Who Are 'Daku Dulhan', 'Looteri Dulhan'? Know Their Movie-Like Scripts Before Your Wedding

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Sumedha Kirti



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:43 IST

Despite all the checks, what if you feel stuck after marriage? Know the movie-like con scripts of these 'Looteri Dulhan', 'Daku Dulhan' before your wedding.

Meet 'Looteri Dulhan', 'Daku Dulhan' and their male counterparts, who vanish with money and jewellery with a perfect con script. (AI-generated image)

Those looking for prospective groom or a bride are swamped with thoughts of what should be his/her qualities, the general behaviour, professional skills, etc. You may find several discussions on social media too on this topic. But, despite all the checks and perfect compatibility, what if you feel stuck or worst  traumatized  after marriage? Yes, this is also a reality of our society? Meet Looteri Dulhan, Daku Dulhan and their male counterparts.

Daku Dulhan Is Just 21 Years Old & Has Married 12 Times

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Twenty-one-year-old Gulshana Riaz Khan was on Thursday arrested by Uttar Pradesh police, who dubbed her Daku Dulhan. She posed as Kajal in Gujarat, Seema in Haryana, Neha in Bihar, and Sweety in Uttar Pradesh. But her script was the same every time  a shocking tragedy.

The carefully scripted con: According to a report in Times of India, Gulshana was abducted straight from her wedding venue, or soon afterwards, with all her jewellery, cash and other valuables, by a gang of four-five men. Her grooms never got to hear from her. And the distraught bride was soon back on matrimonial websites and other social media platforms, looking for fresh preys!

Daku Dulhan, in real life, is married to Riyaz Khan, a tailor in UPs Jaunpur, who happily  without any objection  takes a five per cent cut on the booties she nets for the gang.

Ambedkar Nagar SP Keshav Kumar was quoted as saying that the gangs run ended near Kasadaha village under Baskhari police limits, where a police team caught all nine members red-handed.

Looteri Dulhan. And These Are Many

 In December last year, police arrested Uttarakhand native Seema, often known as Nikki, after 10 years of being into the business" of marrying several men. She had collected a total of Rs 1.25 crore from them in the guise of settlements. She reportedly blackmailed wealthy men by marrying them and fabricating cases against their families.

 A gang in Greater Noida was busted last year in December for targeting both prospect brides and grooms. They would target men and women struggling to get married, set up an entire matchmaking process with fake family members and then vanish during a post-wedding ritual. According to a report in Indian Express, seven days after the wedding, the married woman would come back to her parents house for a final farewell or vidaai  with the wedding finery  and would never return.

 A similar looteri dulhan was arrested in Uttar Pradeshs Banda last year. She too operated with a gang. First, the men in the gang would identify targets and introduce them to Poonam. They would charge money for the match-making. Then Poonam would get married in a simple court wedding, and go to the grooms home. On spotting an opportunity, she would steal jewellery and money from his home and flee.

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 In 2023, a woman fled from her husbands home just a week after marriage with Rs 1.3 lakh. She demanded that her husband give her the amount for her ailing mother" but refused to let him meet the mother-in-law. Once she got the money, she vanished from the house. When the husband went to a police station to file a complaint, he found out that another man was duped in a similar fashion. It turned out that it was the same woman when both shared pictures.

 In 2023, over a dozen men in Jammu and Kashmir were conned by a 30-year-old woman who married each of them only to flee with mehr money and gold. The accused, Shaheen Akhtar, was arrested in Nowshera town in Rajouri. She was taken into custody based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Altaf Mar, who accused Shaheen of duping him after marriage. The complaint had opened a pandoras box as several men came forwards with similar allegations against Shaheen.

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

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: May 02, 2025, 14:43 IST
158 Barrels Of Human Waste, Unpaid Taxes: Couple Behind Famous Eco Resort In Sweden Flees To Guatemala

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 08, 2025, 17:10 IST

Flemming Hansen and Mette Helbk created the eco-friendly retreat, "Stedsans", in Halland, southern Sweden, after feeling the "call of the wild" in Copenhagen, where they previously managed a popular rooftop restaurant

Stedsans, featuring 16 wooden cottages with stunning nature views, received rave reviews from influencers and critics who labeled it magical and enchanting luxury. (Photo: Instagram/flordeatitlan_)

A Danish chef duo, who once gained international fame for their forest resort" in Sweden, have been located in Guatemala after reportedly fleeing tax authorities, leaving behind 158 barrels of human waste.

Flemming Hansen and Mette Helbk created the eco-friendly retreat, Stedsans", in Halland, southern Sweden, after feeling the call of the wild" in Copenhagen, where they previously managed a popular rooftop restaurant, Guardian reported.

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Stedsans, featuring 16 wooden cottages with stunning nature views, received rave reviews from influencers and critics who labeled it magical" and enchanting luxury."

However, a few months ago, an investigation revealed that the couple had disappeared, abandoning numerous animals and 158 barrels of human waste, with wastewater seeping into the forest. Staff reported that various animals, including ducks, perished after being left outside overnight, while others were neglected once the couple vanished.

Stedsans" was declared bankrupt in March, and the couple reportedly registered as living abroad before Christmas.

The investigation showed they left Copenhagen in 2016, where they owed millions in debt to Danish tax authorities, and moved to Sweden to establish Stedsans". There, they accumulated debt to Swedish tax authorities, totaling around 470,000. The couple has since started a new hotel business in Guatemala.

In a message on their website, they stated: We came very far with Stedsans, but we also had to realise that being soul-driven entrepreneurs in a country with some of the highest taxes and relentless bureaucracy is an impossible task."

They added: When you read this, we have probably been declared bankrupt by the Swedish tax authorities. All we ever wanted was to create a more beautiful planet."

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Local authorities described their actions as environmental crime." Daniel Helsing, head of building and environment for Hylte, told Dagens Nyheter: Voila. Over 150 barrels of human waste."

When approached by the newspaper, Hansen denied any issues with animal handling. He criticized the Swedish tax authorities as a narcissistic entity" and claimed he owed them over 7m" SEK, stating he was now sentenced to a life in poverty."

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Sweden

First Published: April 08, 2025, 17:10 IST
'Buying Iranian Oil Must Stop': Trump Threatens Buyers Of Immediate Secondary Sanctions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 07:09 IST

In February Trump restored a maximum pressure campaign on Iran which includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero and help prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

US President Donald Trump threatens sanctions on any buyer of Iranian oil. (Image/File)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop and any country or person buying any from Iran would be immediately subject to secondary sanctions.

All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions. They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

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Trumps threat came following the postponement of the latest US-Iran talks over its nuclear program, which had been due to take place in Rome on Saturday.

Oman announced that planned nuclear negotiations for this coming weekend had been postponed. The announcement was made by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi in a post on the social platform X.

For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd," he wrote. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

Trump Threatens Sanctions Against Buyers of Iranian Oil

Tehran was targeted by Trumps administration with a series of sanctions on entities including a China-based crude oil storage terminal and an independent refiner on accusations of being involved in illicit trade in oil and petrochemicals.

In February this year, Trump restored a maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero and help prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

What Are Secondary Sanctions?

Secondary sanctions are those where one country seeks to punish a second country for trading with a third by barring access to its own market. Secondary sanction is a powerful tool for the United States because of the size of its economy.

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Analysts have said that to really crack down on Irans oil exports, the US would have to impose secondary sanctions on entities such as Chinese banks that facilitate the purchases of Iranian oil, news agency Reuters reported. China is the largest buyer of Iranian crude.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 02, 2025, 06:56 IST
'Cunning, Greedy': How Pakistan's History Textbooks Vilify Hindu Rulers, Glorify Muslims

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:32 IST

A study by a scholar affiliated with Forman Christian College, Lahore, reveals Pakistan's textbooks consistently glorify Muslim invaders while marginalising Hindu rulers.

Students studying at a school in Pakistan's Lahore. (Image: AP Photo)

Scheming, cunning, greedy"  that is how Pakistans history books have described Hindu rulers while Muslim invaders have been called benevolent rulers. A study titled  Portrayal of Invaders and Conquerors of Indian Subcontinent: Analysis of History Textbooks Studied in Pakistani Schools  conducted by Ashar Johnson Khokhar, a scholar affiliated with Forman Christian College, Lahore, published on the US Education Department website reveals Pakistans history textbooks consistently glorify Muslim invaders while marginalising or vilifying Hindu rulers and indigenous Indian history.

The textbook writers unified the Muslim invaders and rulers of the Indian subcontinent with the rulers of Indus valley civilization, and they shared the same social, cultural, religious, political values," the study says, adding, The master narrative of Pakistans history trivialized the Hindu rulers, and the people of the Indian subcontinent, Hindus, their religion, culture, and values."

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The research paper has analysed history and social studies textbooks from classes 6 to 8, published by three Pakistani state textbook boards  Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study says that the curriculum promotes a master narrative linking Islamic identity to national pride, positioning Islam as a unifying force and India/Hinduism as cultural and historical adversaries.

The study unifies the Indus Valley Civilisation and Muslim rulers as positive influences, while minimising the Aryan period and Hindu rule. The textbooks presented Muslims and Islam as the true successor of Indus valley civilization and Buddhists rulers," the study says. It highlights how Pakistani textbooks described Aryans as once refugees in the land, hungry and looking for shelter and food, cruel, ungrateful, unsympathetic, no civic sense, always fighting and quarreling with each other."

The study says Pakistani textbooks described Muslims as brave, intelligent, lenient, generous, kind, gave money and land to build temples, opened schools (Islamic), build mosques, welcome traders, industrialists, developed infrastructure, improved agriculture, art, and literature flourished, treated local population (Hindu) with respect, gave them land and money to build temples, did not interfere in their religious customs and rites."

Also Read | How Pakistan School Textbooks Impart Lessons Of Hatred Against India, Hindus

On the other hand, the books described Hindus as scheming, cunning, greedy, against Muslims and Islam, no contribution in Sciences, literature, art, united by religion."

The study also points out how the textbook writers suggest that Hindus converted to Islam because of the generosity, kindness, tolerance and equality shown by Muslim invaders and rulers."

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The study warns that this one-sided version of history could lead to young people learning a made-up story instead of a more complete and inclusive one.

To correct this, the author of the study advocates for a curriculum recognising minorities contributions for a more balanced perspective.

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: May 02, 2025, 15:32 IST
Iran Minister Likely To Visit India Next Week, Hold Talks With Jaishankar On Pahalgam Attack

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 09:26 IST

Abbas Araghchi is expected to hold detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on all aspects of the Pahalgam attack."

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit New Delhi next week days after Tehran conveyed its intention to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Indian Express reported, citing sources in the know, that Abbas Araghchi is likely to arrive in New Delhi on May 8 although an official announcement is yet to be made.

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Abbas Araghchi is expected to hold detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on all aspects of the Pahalgam attack, besides other issues of bilateral, regional and global importance", the sources said.

Earlier, Abbas Araghchi posted on X (formerly Twitter), India and Pakistan are brotherly neighbours of Iran, enjoying relations rooted in centuries-old cultural and civilisational ties. Like other neighbors, we consider them our foremost priority."

Tehran was ready to use its good offices in Islamabad and New Delhi to forge greater understanding at this difficult time", he said. The Iranian minister also talked to Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and discussed the situation.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the terror attack

Both leaders agreed that there could be no justification for such acts of terror and all those who believe in humanity must stand together in the fight against terrorism," the MEA said in a post on X. PM Modi also shared the anger and anguish of the people of India and their resolve to deal with those behind the terror attack and their supporters, firmly and decisively".

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 : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 02, 2025, 09:26 IST
The City of Tonawandas after-school program filled a need by offering children a fun, safe place to hang out for a couple of hours while their parents were still at work.

That was until last year, when a report that an older participant sexually abused an elementary-age boy upended the program. Tonawanda police, Erie County Child Protective Services and a lawyer for the city all investigated the allegation.

The claim prompted the younger childs mother to sue the city and led Tonawanda officials to terminate several employees in the citys Parks and Recreation Department and to shut down the citys after-school and summer camp programs.

Mayor John White has said he acted promptly and in the interest of protecting children when he responded to the abuse report. But accusations that favoritism, small-town politics and anti-LGBTQ+ feelings drove some decisions made by Tonawanda officials have circulated in the city.

One former recreation employee, Kelly Utzig, is challenging her firing, and court records shed further light on the purported abuse, claims of other troubling behavior by the alleged abuser and when officials learned about and acted on the allegations.

And another worker dismissed in the aftermath of the abuse allegations is speaking about the case for the first time. Benji Kossow said he feels city officials treated him unfairly and it hurt to lose his dream job in his hometown.

Thats all Ive ever wanted to do, is make the City of Tonawanda a better place  where I grew up  for the kids, for the seniors, thats all, Kossow said in an interview. And Im being victimized. Im being attacked. For what?

Two fired for cause

The citys after-school program operated out of its Senior Citizens Center and served about two dozen children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The Buffalo News reported last May that White had shut down the program following a report that one child in the program had abused a younger participant. Whites concerns about staffing and staff training also prompted him to cancel the summer camp program.

Tonawanda police investigated the abuse claim but didnt bring charges. CPS also looked into the abuse allegation.

The city fired two full-time employees, Kossow and Utzig, for cause and terminated Denise Young, a part-time employee, because, with the elimination of the after-school program, her services were no longer needed, according to payroll records and a city official.

Amanda Lofft, the citys recreation director, has been on medical leave since June, according to Lofft and her attorney.

In January, the Common Council approved a $9,000 settlement with Kossow.

Utzig is challenging her termination with the support of her union, the Civil Service Employees Association. She didnt respond to requests for comment, but the court filings offer new information about the allegations and the citys response.

For one, the department made an exception for the alleged abuser, a seventh grader in 2023-24, to let him enroll in the after-school program despite his age and grade, court records show.

This boy had exhibited some concerning behavior at times, such as mimicking a sex act and peeking under bathroom stalls, something program employees were aware of, according to the arbitrators report, which said the boy required disproportionate staff attention.

On Jan. 30, 2024, staff discovered the seventh grader had made comments about a brother and sister having sex, according to the arbitrator.

Utzig told the boys father he would be allowed to remain about two more weeks, through Feb. 16, but he couldnt return for the programs spring semester beginning Feb. 26, the arbitrator wrote.

Alarm bells missed

Later on Jan. 30, after Utzig left work, Young questioned the seventh grader because, according to the arbitrator, staff had noticed a first grade student behaving oddly after playing with the older boy.

No one on staff saw the original interaction, the arbitrator reported, but Young interviewed the older boy one-on-one and he confessed to kissing and touching the private parts of the younger boy.

Young called Utzig that night to disclose what she had learned and Utzig told Young to document it, according to the arbitrators report. Utzig didnt find the information from Young entirely credible because, the arbitrator reported, Utzig thought Young had a long-standing bias against the older boy.

Utzig opted to let the boy remain in the program, as planned, through the first semester, according to the arbitrator, while staff agreed to keep a better eye on him. Nothing more happened until Feb. 23, when Young brought up the abuse allegation to Sharon Stuart, Whites administrative assistant, prompting the outside investigations.

White, in his termination letter to Utzig dated May 13, said, your conduct and lack of action in these circumstances is deeply concerning and troubling.

The CSEA union challenged Utzigs firing.

The city acknowledged that Utzig and other after-school program employees arent required to report allegations of child abuse or neglect to the authorities. However, the city argued, Utzig was a mandated reporter as camp director of Tonawandas summer camp and, therefore, knew she needed to do more after learning of the abuse allegation.

The union said Utzig concedes she made a bad judgment call not to report the abuse claim to her supervisor, Lofft, in January, according to the arbitrators report. However, the union contends, her conduct wasnt unlawful and, further, she didnt have clear rules or training on how to respond to allegations like these.

Utzig has no prior history of discipline and the city should have issued her a lesser penalty, and training, instead of terminating her, the union argued.

But the arbitrator, Howard G. Foster, agreed with the citys position.

It is not clear how much louder the alarm bells had to be to spur Utzig to take further action, wrote Foster, who found the city was justified in terminating her.

The union is asking a judge to overturn this decision.

Deputy City Attorney Brittany Penberthy declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

Cortney Peterkin, the attorney for the mother of the first grader, said the employee conduct cited in the court filings amounts to gross negligence.

Their failure to act responsibly represented a profound breach of duty and placed vulnerable infants at risk of enduring emotional, psychological and developmental harm, Peterkin emailed.

Feels scapegoated

Kossow accepted a settlement instead of fighting to get his job back.

I was the easy scapegoat, he said.

Kossow, 33, worked for the recreation department as a playground attendant before coming back as a full-time senior recreation leader in 2023. At the time, Kossow went by a different name and used they/them pronouns. Today, Kossow uses the first name Benji and he/him pronouns as a transgender man.

He said he used age-appropriate language to answer gender-identity questions from children and he served as a sounding board for seniors with LGBTQ+ relatives.

Not everyone accepted him, and he said he had a challenging working relationship with Young, who often touted her connections at City Hall.

Kossow said Youngs inappropriate comments and questions led to an argument on Feb. 22, 2024.

Young declined to comment for this article.

Kossow said he went to Stuart, the mayors administrative assistant, later that day to file a sexual harassment complaint against Young. The next day, Young reported the alleged abuse to Stuart.

Kossow said he never saw any of the troubling behavior attributed to the seventh grade boy, including the alleged abuse.

Kossow said his concerns about how Young interrogated the boy, and his suspicions about the timing of Youngs report to Stuart one day after Kossows complaint, lead him to wonder whether the abuse occurred.

As for Kossows harassment complaint against Young, he said the city later performed a perfunctory investigation that ended with both employees being told, Hey, dont do that again.

On May 13, Kossow received a termination letter with the same language that justified Utzigs firing.

Kossow filed a discrimination complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission but said the agency concluded he didnt have grounds to sue the city.

Both Kossow and Utzig ultimately were cleared by CPS, according to Kossow and court filings, but they still lost their jobs.

He said the city moved too quickly to shut down the after-school program  They were scared  and it could have, with improved staff training, safely provided a badly needed service.

White did not respond to requests for comment.

Kossow now earns money as a DoorDash driver because he said hes terrified about whether he could trust co-workers at a new job.

And he said its painful to see whats become of the city recreation department.

Its just the hardest to sit here and know that thats all I ever wanted to do was make where I grew up better, Kossow said, and have my career taken away before I could even start it.
JD Vance's Message To Pakistan On Tracking Pahalgam Terrorists: 'To The Extent They're Responsible...'

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 08:21 IST

JD Vance said, "Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict."

US Vice President JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance called for a measured response from India following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam as he emphasised on the need to avoid escalating regional tensions. In an interview with Fox News, JD Vance also urged Pakistan to cooperate with India in apprehending the Pakistan-based terrorists responsible for the attack.

The attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, occurred while JD Vance and his family were on a four-day visit to India.

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Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict," JD Vance stated during his appearance on Fox Newss Special Report with Bret Baier."

He further added, And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with."

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Earlier JD Vance condemned the attack in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. He wrote, Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack."

At the time, US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies." Donald Trump also conveyed his deepest condolences" to Prime Minister Modi in a phone call, and assured him of the United States full support" in the fight against terrorism.

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: May 02, 2025, 07:23 IST
Launched For Venus In 1972, This 500-Kg Spacecraft May Now Plunge To Earth

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:53 IST

Jonathan McDowell warns that if the heat shield does not break, the capsule could turn into a dangerous, uncontrollable metal sphere falling from the sky

According to scientists, predicting the exact landing site of Kosmos 482 is highly difficult. (Representative/AP File)

A spacecraft launched 53 years ago is now posing a potential threat as it hurtles back toward Earth. In 1972, the Soviet Union attempted an ambitious mission to land on Venus. But the plan failed when the Kosmos 482 spacecraft malfunctioned mid-flight and became trapped in Earths orbit.

Now, this half-ton metal sphere is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry. Experts remain uncertain about where it will land, how much of it will survive the descent, and the possible damage it could cause on impact.

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Kosmos 482 was originally built as a spherical landing capsule, about one metre in diameter, designed to endure Venuss extreme heat and toxic atmosphere with a strong heat shield. However, a rocket malfunction left it stranded in Earths orbit, where it has remained for the past 53 years.

According to The Guardian, Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek estimates that the spacecraft will re-enter Earths atmosphere around May 10, descending at a speed of approximately 242 km per hour.

When asked about the danger, Langbroek stated, There is no need to panic, but the danger is not completely averted." Despite its small size of 500 kg, and even if it does not burn up in the atmosphere, the risk it poses is comparable to that of a meteorite falling.

Every year, numerous meteorites enter Earths atmosphere, and the risk of injury from falling space debris remains extremely low comparable to the odds of being struck by lightning. However, in the case of Kosmos 482, if its heat shield stays intact, the spacecraft could survive re-entry without burning up.

Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center has cautioned that if the shield doesnt break apart, the capsule could become a dangerous, uncontrollable metal sphere plummeting from the sky.

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According to scientists, predicting the exact landing site of Kosmos 482 is highly difficult. It could fall anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitudean area stretching from London to Edmonton in Canada. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek noted that much of this zone is ocean, raising the likelihood that the spacecraft will crash into water.

Scientists are also unsure whether the capsules 53-year-old parachute system will still function. Similar uncontrolled re-entries have occurred beforeChinas booster rocket in 2022 and the Tiangong-1 space station in 2018 both fell back to Earth, with most debris landing in the sea.

First Published: May 02, 2025, 16:53 IST
Pakistan Fears Indias Rise In 2025, Just Like The US Intelligence Document Had Predicted In 1993

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 18:25 IST

Pahalgam terror attack: From triggers to response and reactions, the US intelligence document is significant in view of the India-Pakistan current scenario

Pakistan is mired by political and economic crises. (AP File)

The more things change, the more they remain the same  Pakistan fears Indias rise in 2025, just as it did in 1993.

As the tension between the two countries escalates, the declassified assessment of the India-Pakistan dynamic by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which is available on the National Security Archive website, still holds true.

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From triggers to response and reactions, the US intelligence document is significant in view of the current scenario.

On April 22, an attack on tourists in Pahalgams Baisaran left 26 dead. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility, leading to strong retaliatory measures by India. Meanwhile, Pakistan, despite the incitement by its Army chief, denied its involvement.

Among the flashpoints for a war listed in the 32-year-old report were: A spectacular terrorist outrage that one side believed the other directed or abetted."

The conclusion in the document, a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), was even more apt. If war erupts, it will likely start with something like Kashmir, and Pakistan will be on the back foot from the beginning."

INDIA OUTNUMBERS PAK IN MILITARY CAPABILITY

The NIE was prepared by Bruce Riedel, a seasoned CIA analyst, when India had just experienced the Babri Masjid demolition (1992), and Pakistan was facing internal instability. Nuclear weapons were not yet tested.

It stated: India outnumbers Pakistan in almost every category of military capability-a disparity not likely to change in this decade. India, however, has no overriding strategic interest in initiating a war with Pakistan Pakistans economic woes make it questionable whether its military budget can be sustained at the level needed to keep it militarily competitive with India, which is much bigger and richer, and economically more robust."

The document noted that neither India nor Pakistan wanted war. However, Pakistan, feeling overshadowed by Indias growing power, was likely to act out of fear. This included supporting proxy groups in Kashmir or forming alliances with terrorists to counter Indias influence.

THE TRIGGERS

The CIA analysts saw a 20 per cent" chance of full-scale war, but were concerned about a potential chain reaction. The document listed a few triggers:

A protracted surge of violence in Indian Kashmir that threatened New Delhis grip on the state.

Large-scale military exercises in border areas, especially if one or both sides deliberately evaded prior notification requirements.

A spectacular terrorist outrage that one side believed the other directed or abetted.

An Indian military cross-border action, for example, to close infiltration routes along the Line of Control or to punish Pakistan for supporting terrorism.

Protracted Hindu-Muslim carnage that spilled across the border.

The report warned of Pakistans strategy of arming and training anti-India militants to liberate Kashmir."

Sounds familiar?

Pakistan sees nuclear weapons primarily as a deterrent and as insurance for its survival if a conflict developed with conventionally superior India," it added, in a bleak reminder of Pakistan Minister Hanif Abbasis recent threat of 130 nukes.

THE REACTION

The document said most other Islamic states will give lip service to Pakistans position on Kashmir, but will not risk mortgaging their relationship with India".

Rapid Indian military improvements would strain Pakistans ability to remain competitive. Islamabad would feel even more threatened by Indias growing military edge and would rely more heavily on nuclear deterrence. As a last resort, a desperate government in Islamabad also might consider an extreme measure such as openly deploying nuclear weapons," it said.

THE SITUATION THEN

India was led at the time by Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and was growing. In contrast, Pakistan oscillated between military rule, political crises, and economic turmoil, which continues till date.

In an accurate prediction of Pakistans current scenario, the 1993 document stated: Under certain extreme conditions, for instance, economic collapse and/ or a military dictator joining with militants-an Islamist government could be formed in Pakistan. A radical government almost certainly would establish an Islamic system of government based on its interpretation of shariah law and Islamic values. Such a regime would champion the cause of Indias MuslimsIt also would promote the liberation of Kashmir by openly arming and training anti-Indian militants."

THE US

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The NIE was to brief the White House and State Department. Then US president Bill Clinton visited India in 2000, coinciding with the Chittisinghpura massacre, where Pakistans Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed 35 Sikh villagers.

The CIA had a word of caution for the US. Confidence-building measures like hotlines and nuclear pacts are useful but might prove irrelevant in a real crisis. Once violence begins, leaders would rely on instinct rather than protocol," it said.

About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 17:42 IST
Pakistan Opens Border A Day After Leaving Returnees Stranded At Attari-Wagah

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 13:31 IST

Pakistan reopened the gates of the Wagah border on Friday to take back the stranded nationals who were earlier denied entry

Pakistani nationals arrive at the Integrated Check Post at the Attari-Wagah border to move to their country, near Amritsar. (IMAGE: PTI/File)

A day after leaving several of its citizens stranded in India despite New Delhis readiness to facilitate their return, Pakistan reopened the border at Attari-Wagah on Friday to allow them back into the country.

The Attari-Wagah border crossing was fully closed on Thursday after a week of chaotic cross-border movement, sparked by Indias directive for all Pakistani nationals on short-term visas to leave the country following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

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Sources said that although India permitted Pakistani nationals to reach the border, they were unable to crosslikely due to a refusal from Islamabad. However, there were no official statements from the Pakistani side explaining the denial of entry to its own citizens.

Visuals from the border crossing showed the Pakistani nationalswho were scheduled to leave Indiastranded on the Indian side and engaged in arguments with officials.

Sources said that minor scuffles broke out, with some pushing and shoving leading to barricades being knocked over as they attempted to cross.

In measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government ordered Pakistanis with (short-term) tourist and medical visas to leave. Those on long-term permits and Hindus of Pakistani origin were, however, allowed to stay.

After Indias move, 125 Pakistani nationals exited the country through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday, raising the total number of departures over the past week to 911.

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The exit deadlines differed based on visa typeApril 26 for SAARC visas, April 27 for 12 other categories, and April 29 for those on medical visas.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 02, 2025, 11:28 IST
Pakistan's Top Diplomat Says Open To Neutral Probe Into Pahalgam Attack

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 15:32 IST

Sources revealed that during the last instance when India agreed to a similar probe, Pakistan neither submitted a final report nor issued any formal communication

Pakistani Prime Minister's Political Advisor Rana Sanaullah | File Image/X

Pakistani Prime Ministers Political Advisor Rana Sanaullah on Friday said that Islamabad is open to impartial investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, warning India that its aggressive conduct may push the region towards instability.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, prompting India to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Pakistan on all fronts.

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We are ready for a neutral inquiry into the Pahalgam incident," Sanaullah told ARY News, adding that Pakistan would also accept a joint investigation or even a third-party special expert-led probe into the matter.

The Pakistani diplomat further questioned Indias reporting of the Pahalgam incident, calling it suspicious and inconsistent, and emphasised that the truth must emerge regarding who orchestrated the heinous act."

Meanwhile, well-placed sources revealed that during the last instance when India agreed to a similar probe, Pakistan neither submitted a final report nor issued any formal communication, suggesting that India may be reluctant to agree to a probe into the Pahalgam incident.

The Government of Pakistan had constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on February 25, 2016, under Section 19(I) of its Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, to investigate an attack on Pathankot Air Force base, in furtherance to a FIR registered at Police Station Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Gujranwala in Pakistan. But the findings of the JIT were never shared with the Government of India," said sources, citing officials.

Sanaullah also criticised Indias bold move of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty immediately after the incident.

Indias actions appear premeditated and aimed at achieving political gains," he said, adding that India has failed to suppress the freedom movement in Kashmir despite its massive military deployment.

India announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Additionally, New Delhi ordered the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, halted the issuance of visas to Pakistani citizens, and decided to reduce the presence of senior officials at the High Commission.

Pakistans Role Not Proven

Another diplomat, Saeed Sheikh, Pakistani Ambassador to the US, said that India has not yet presented any kind of evidence to Pakistan or the international community to prove Islamabads involvement in the Pahalgam incident.

India cannot shift the burden of its oppressive policies, electoral compulsions or administrative failures onto Pakistan," he said.

He further added that if the presence of thousands of troops cannot ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir then it should be a moment of reflection for India.

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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a public event in Bihar that Kashmir saw massive growth in recent years, with the surge in tourism and opportunities for the youth. He noted that the Pahalgam attack was a desperate attempt by the enemies of the nation to derail the regions progress.

I assure the victims families that they will get justice. The conspirators and perpetrators of this attack will face the toughest response," PM Modi remarked.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:32 IST
Ties With Terrorists, India As Target: The Notorious Pak Army Brigades Along LoC | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:38 IST

"These Pak Army brigades are notorious for collaborating with LeT and JeM. They are also known for mutilations, beheadings, and drone-enabled weapon drops, say intel sources

The tension along the LoC has escalated in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. (PTI File)

Pakistan deploys several brigades along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir that work not just for their Army, but also terrorist groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), according to intelligence sources.

The ties between India and Pakistan are strained in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. While the 111th infantry brigade is a specialist in coup, 212th is an expert in proxy warfare. The 111ths SSG units and the 212ths artillery assets reflect institutional prioritisation of hybrid warfare," said sources.

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These brigades are notorious for collaborating with the groups for logistics, training, and cover fire. They are also known for mutilations, beheadings, and drone-enabled weapon drops," said sources.

They mix conventional artillery with terrorist infiltration, maintaining plausible deniability for Pakistan. They specialise in hybrid warfare, infiltration, and asymmetric tactics. These brigades reflect Pakistans state-sponsored terrorism"

A look at the key brigades:

111TH INFANTRY BRIGADE: THE COUP SPECIALIST

The Triple-1 brigade, deployed in Keran, Machil, and Tangdhar, is known for overthrowing civilian governments. It facilitated coups by Generals Ayub Khan (1958), Zia-ul-Haq (1977), and Pervez Musharraf (1999). Its proximity to Islamabad and responsibility for securing key installations such as the Prime Ministers residence make them caretaker for quick political takeovers.

111 Brigade is known for its Border Action Teams (BATs), which carry out cross-border raids with the help of SSG commandos and terrorists. Triple one brigade is known for high-risk infiltration and psychological operations like mutilation of soldiers. They are known for the use of Chinese drones such as Wing Loong II to smuggle weapons into Kashmir and coordinate attacks via Ultras.

According to intelligence sources, this brigade is considered to be responsible for:

The 2019 Pulwama bombing

The 2025 Pahalgam massacre

The siege of Islamabads Red Mosque with Rangers and SSG commandos to suppress Islamist radicals

212TH INFANTRY BRIGADE: PROXY WARFARE EXPERT

The brigade oversees sectors such as Battal and Poonch, conducting artillery duels and providing cover fire for infiltrators. It supports the LeT and JeM, notably during the 2019 Pulwama attack.

Equipped with Chinese SH-15 howitzers, it is known for targeting Indian posts to distract troops during militant crossings.

Both brigades operate under the guidance of the ISI, receiving logistical and intelligence support.

323RD INFANTRY BRIGADE (KERAN SECTOR): PART OF X CORPS FROM RAWALPINDI

It manages the Keran sector, which is a hotspot for BAT operations. Also coordinates infiltration routes for groups such as LeT and JeM. It is linked to the 2019 Keran infiltration where BATs attempted to ambush Indian posts under artillery cover.

12TH INFANTRY BRIGADE (BATTAL SECTOR): PART OF IV CORPS FROM LAHORE

This brigade oversees the Battal sector termed a hot area due to frequent cross-border firing and militant infiltration. It is said to be involved in the 2017 Keri sector ambush where Pakistani troops killed an Indian Major and mutilated soldiers.

163RD INFANTRY BRIGADE (GUREZ SECTOR): PART OF X CORPS RAWALPINDI

This brigade controls the Gurez Valley, a critical infiltration corridor near the Kishanganga River. It supports BAT operations with SSG commandos and LeT militants. It is said to have orchestrated the 2018 Gulpur infiltration attempted where terrorists attempted to breach Indian defences using night-vision gear.

100TH INFANTRY BRIGADE (TANGDHAR SECTOR): PART OF XV CORPS POK

It manages the Tangdhar sector, a strategic area adjacent to the Neelum Valley. It facilitates drone-dropped weapons and encrypted communication for proxy groups. The brigade has been linked to the 2017 Uri sector ambush where BATs killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies, said sources.

641 MUJAHID BRIGADE (LEEPA VALLEY): PART OF X CORPS FROM RAWALPINDI

It operates in the Leepa Valley, leveraging rugged terrain for covert crossings. The brigade trains militants in guerrilla tactics at camps near Muzaffarabad. It was involved in the 2016 Machil beheading incident where BATs killed and mutilated an Indian soldier, said sources. The brigade collaborates with The Resistance Front (TRF) to stage local resistance attacks.

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647 MUJAHID BRIGADE (KUPWARA SECTOR): PART OF X CORPS FROM RAWALPINDI

It guards the Kupwara sector, a historical infiltration route for terrorists. The brigade uses SSG commandos to guide terrorists through riverine gaps. Sources said the brigade was responsible for the 2020 Kupwara ambush where three Indian soldiers were killed in a BAT raid. It is also known for embedding terrorists with local populations to evade detection. The brigade is said to be behind the frequent shelling of villages Battal, Keran, disrupting civilian life, causing casualties and displacement.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 02, 2025, 13:03 IST
Tourists Flee Scenic Pakistani Valley Amid 'Risk Of War' With India Over Pahalgam Attack

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 21:04 IST

Local businesses are reporting a sharp decline in visitors and widespread cancellations due to fears of an impending conflict between the two neighbours

Neelum Valley in northern Pakistan attracts some 300,000 tourists each summer who marvel at its natural beauty. (AFP photo)

Just less than three kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistan side, Neelum Valley is facing a severe blow to tourism as the threat of war between India and Pakistan grows following the terror attack in Pahalgam.

The scenic valley, located in northern Pakistan, typically attracts around 3,00,000 tourists each summer. However, this season, local businesses are reporting a sharp decline in visitors and widespread cancellations due to fears of an impending conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

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Last week, terrorists killed 26 men, mostly tourists, in the resort town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack has heightened tensions, with India blaming Pakistan for the incidenta charge Pakistan has denied.

Tourism Hit Hard

Meanwhile, hotel owners, tour operators, and shopkeepers in Neelum Valley say the usual tourist rush has vanished. Many visitors have cancelled their trips, while new bookings have almost come to a halt. Local businesses that depend on tourismsuch as guest houses, transport services, and souvenir shopsare struggling to cope with the sudden decline.

Speaking to The Associated Press, hotel owner Rafaqat Hussain said the situation has severely impacted the local tourism industry. Most tourists have left and returned to their cities because there is a risk of war," he said.

Following the terror attack, India temporarily closed dozens of tourist resorts as a precaution. However, no similar directive was issued by Pakistani officials. In the Pakistani border town of Chakothi, bazaars remained open, though residents expressed concern over the rising tensions.

First of all, our prayer is for peace, as war always affects civilians first," shop owner Bashir Mughal told AP.

In the past, Pakistan assisted residents in building bunkers near their homes during periods of intense cross-border shelling. However, with the population having grown over the years, some homes now lack proper shelters. Local casualties could be devastating if war breaks out," warned Mughal.

Saiqa Naseer, also from Chakothi, shuddered at the childhood memories of frequent firing across the border. Now, as a mother, I find myself facing the same fears," she said.

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She remembered Indian shells striking the picturesque valley when the two countries came close to war in 2019. She has a bunker at her home. If war comes, we will stay here. We wont run away," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Pakistan

First Published: May 02, 2025, 20:56 IST
US Won't Be Mediators For Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Anymore: State Department Official

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 21:03 IST

The US is stepping back from its peace talks role to end war between Russia and Ukraine, a State Department official said on Thursday.

US stepping back from peace talks role between Russia and Ukraine (Reuters Image)

The United States is pulling out of its role as a mediator for the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine due to a lack of progress between the two warring nations in ending the bloodshed, a State Department official indicated on Thursday (local time).

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that the US will not be the mediators" going forward, suggesting President Donald Trumps frustration at little steps taken from both Moscow and Kyiv to end the war that has now continued for over three years.

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We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings," she said, while also underlining that the US remains committed to helping reach a deal, New York Post reported.

It is now between the two parties, and now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them," Bruce added.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have similarly said in the past that it will be the responsibility of Russia and Ukraine to bring an end to the war.

Its going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict. Its not going anywhere. Its not going to end any time soon," Vance told Fox News Special Report" on Thursday night.

Bruces remarks came a day after the US and Ukraine sealed a landmark mineral deal, creating a joint investment fund. Both countries will contribute to it, and the US can count military equipment, technology, or training provided to Ukrainian forces as part of its share.

The ongoing dispatch of military aid, which was approved by Congress during former President Joe Bidens tenure, is expected to run out next month, and it is yet not clear if the Republican-controlled House will give a nod to additional military materials and equipment.

However, Ukraine has continued to purchase weapons directly from the US manufacturers.

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Ukrainian sources have expressed hope that the mineral deal will persuade the US government to sell military equipment directly to Kyiv, something which has been resisted by Washington in the past.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he asked Trump if Ukraine could buy up to 10 US-made Patriot missile systems for $15 billion, but Trump refused the request.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 02, 2025, 20:15 IST
We Have A Past: Bilawal Bhutto Echoes Pakistan Ministers Terror Admission On Camera

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 14:41 IST

Pakistan's defense minister Khwaja Asif earlier admitted to Islamabad's role in backing and funding terrorist groups.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto acknowledged Pakistans past" involvement with terror operatives, conceding the nations historical ties to extremism. His concession follows similar remarks by Pakistans defense minister Khwaja Asif, who earlier admitted to Islamabads role in backing and funding terrorist groups.

Speaking to Sky Newss Yalda Hakim, Bilawal Bhutto said, As far as what the defence minister said, I dont think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem"

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He emphasized that while Pakistans history with extremism is undeniable, it is a chapter the country has moved beyond. As far as Pakistans history is concerned, it is history and it is not something that we are partaking in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history," he said, highlighting Pakistans efforts to reform and address the issue of terrorism.

I dont think it is a secret that Pakistan has a pastFormer Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto tells @SkyYaldaHakim we have gone through wave after wave of extremismhttps://t.co/aLfgNyPdOk  Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/ozYfdtFp5v  Sky News (@SkyNews) April 30, 2025

Earlier, Pakistans defence minister Khwaja Asif was asked, But you do admit, you do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations?"

Read more: Jaw Dropped: Journo Recalls Viral Moment Khawaja Asif Admitted To Pakistans Dirty Work

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To this, he replied, We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades and the West, including BritainThat was a mistake, and we suffered for that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistans track record was unimpeachable."

The Bharatiya Janata Partys IT cell head, Amit Malviya, shared a screenshot of the story on X (formerly Twitter), as he wrote, The fear is palpable."

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 : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 02, 2025, 11:06 IST
Yunus Aides Brazen Call: Bangladesh Should Occupy Northeast If India Attacks Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 16:15 IST

Alm Fazlur Rahman, a former head of the Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh), made the provocative remarks in a social media post.

National Independent Investigation Commission head ALM Fazlur Rahman with Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus. (File)

A retired Bangladeshi army officer with close ties to the current interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ignited controversy by suggesting the occupation of Indias northeastern states in the event of an Indian military response to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Maj Gen (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman, a former head of the Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh), made the provocative remarks in a social media post, proposing that Bangladesh should start talks with China for a joint military system.

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If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy seven states of North East India. In this regard, I think it is necessary to start a discussion on a joint military system with China," he said in a Facebook post in Bengali. ALM Fazlur Rahman is the chairperson of the National Independent Commission of Inquiry probing the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) massacre.

His statement comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. The interim government of Bangladesh distanced itself from controversial comments made by ALM Fazlur Rahman, head of the BDR commission. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary at the Bangladesh chief advisers office, clarified that ALM Fazlur Rahmans statements were made in his personal capacity.

The Interim Government does not share his views in any shape or form and does not endorse such rhetoric," Shafiqul Alam stated, emphasising that, Bangladesh respects the sovereignty and independence of all nations and expects the same from others. We urge all not to drag the government of Bangladesh in reference to Major Gen Fazlur Rahmans personal comments."

Muhammad Yunus China Visit

ALM Fazlur Rahmans contentious remarks follow closely on the heels of Muhammad Yunuss recent visit to China, during which the Nobel laureate reportedly encouraged Beijing to increase its economic footprint in Bangladesh, pointedly noting the landlocked nature of Indias northeastern states as a potential avenue for enhanced Sino-Bangladeshi cooperation. He said at the time, Seven states of India, eastern part of India, called seven sisters they are landlocked country, landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So this opens up a huge possibility. So this could be an extension of the Chinese economy. Build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China, bring it out to the whole rest of the world." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

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 : Bangladesh

First Published: May 02, 2025, 12:51 IST
Rust, the film on whose set cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in 2021 by a bullet fired by star Alec Baldwin, is at last being releasedafter years of trials and investigations. Even the film's writer-director has mixed feelings about that. Hutchins' family "wanted it completed," Joel Souza told the Guardian . "I'd been repelled by the thought of going back, but now it started to appeal. And I couldn't live with the idea of someone else doing it." But there's been no starry premiere, and Baldwin has not made a promotional tour of talk shows. The official release is Friday, with the film showing in a limited number of theaters and through streaming services. Facing the release, Souza said, "I wish I never wrote the damn movie."

The filmmakers said they wanted to finish Rust to present the work of Hutchins, who was a 42-year-old ascending cinematographer at the time of her death. There's also a legal obligation: Matthew Hutchins and his son reached a lawsuit settlement with the producers and Baldwin in his wife's death dependent on the film bringing money in. In fact, Matthew Hutchins became an executive producer of the film, per the Los Angeles Times. That leaves everyone trying to balance the need for the film to earn money for the Hutchins family with the realization that a celebratory release would clash with the memory of a real-life tragedy.

Prop armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death and is serving an 18-month prison sentence, per the Hollywood Reporter. An involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin was dropped after a judge found prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence from the defense; he's now brought a malicious prosecution lawsuit. Souza said some cast and crew members plan to gather Thursday night in Los Angeles for a small private screening of Rust, per the New York Times.

Reviews are in from Deadline, Variety, USA Today, and the Washington Post. In the New York Times, Manohla Dargis writes that the death of Hutchins makes the film difficult to watch.
As a Southwest Airlines plane was taxiing at El Paso International Airport Wednesday morning, preparing to depart for Houston, a passenger's cellphone apparently went up in flames. The plane returned to the gate, where everyone "disembarked normally" and eventually boarded a different plane and headed to Houston, an airline spokesperson tells CBS News. The flight crew quickly put out the fire, which apparently originated from the phone's battery, WFAA reports.
Judges, lawyers, and other advocates of the rule of law demonstrated in front of courthousesincluding the US Supreme Court buildingacross the country on Thursday, denouncing what they called President Trump's attacks on the nation's legal system. Many came in their courtroom attire and held pocket Constitutions aloft. About 50 events were planned on National Law Day of Action, the New York Times reports. Demonstrators cited the Trump administration's wrongful deportations, moves against law firms, and the arrest of a Wisconsin judge. A Fordham University law professor and former assistant US attorney said in Manhattan that he's horrified by the events and the changes. "We had ethics," said James Kainen, 71. "We prosecuted people because they violated the law, not because they angered somebody for some ridiculous reason." A sampling of the events:
North America has a bird problemnot too many, but perhaps too few in the not-so-distant future. New research published Thursday in the journal Science reveals that 75% of the continent's bird species are on a downward spiral, seeing their populations decline between 2007 and 2021. The Washington Post calls the phenomenon "the latest sign of a slow-moving extinction crisis that threatens entire ecosystems," and one that "should serve as a canary in the coal mine for people who live alongside birds."

Researchers analyzed nearly 500 different bird species in North America using the eBird online database, which serves as a landing spot for millions of bird sightings around the globe. Especially alarming was the finding that population loss for most species was largest in spots where resident birds are most prevalent, meaning our feathered friends "are struggling even in their strongholds." The Post notes there doesn't seem to be any one overarching reason for the population declines, with theories ranging from human encroachment on bird habitats and pesticides in their food chain, to rising temps in the Arctic that are disrupting local birds' natural breeding cycle.

Not that the research revealed all bad news: For 97% of all bird species studied, there were places where smaller populations of each species still saw population spikes, per the Guardian. By studying those successful subcommunities, scientists hope they can help save the rest of those species located elsewhere. Their findings could also possibly be extrapolated to humans, at least in terms of the effects of climate change and air contamination. "If [certain environments are] not healthy enough for birds, they're unlikely to be healthy enough for people, too," Cornell ecologist and study co-author Amanda Rodewald tells the Post.
The Alawite sect of Shiite Islam thrived under the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, though it accounts for only 10% of the nation's population. Assad himself is Alawite, and he surrounded himself with fellow Alawites in key positions. Five months after his ouster, the payback continues. Reuters reports that hundreds of Alawite families have been forced at gunpoint to abandon their privately owned homes across the country. Typically, they are given just minutes to leave.

"We're definitely not talking about independent incidents," says Bassam Alahmad, executive director of human rights group Syrians for Truth and Justice. "We are talking about hundreds, if not thousands, of cases of evictions." Still more have been evicted from government-owned homes, though there is more of a rationalization for thatsince they no longer work for the government, they are no longer entitled to the housing. The Reuters story includes first-person accounts from those who have been evicted.

All of this comes amid the backdrop of rising sectarian violence that threatens to undermine the new government's promise to unify the country, reports the New York Times. Two months ago, for example, extremist fighters killed an estimated 1,600 Alawites on the Syrian coast. The story details the new government's friction not just with the Alawites, but with the Druse and Kurd minorities as well.
An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday evening in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children , the AP reports. Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was pronounced dead at 8:15pm following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was the fourth person executed this year in the state under death warrants signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a fifth execution set for May 15. Hutchinson had no last statement but appeared to be mumbling to himself as the procedure started just before 8pm. His legs shook sporadically, and he seemed to have body spasms for several minutes and then was still. The process took a little more than 15 minutes.

The execution was carried out soon after the US Supreme Court rejected a final appeal without comment. Court records showed that on the night of the killings in Crestview, Hutchinson argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly. A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, "I just shot my family" from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands.

Hutchinson's lawyers said he suffered from Gulf War Illnessa series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraqas well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he was targeted by government surveillance. He had long claimed that he was innocent and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings under a US government conspiracy aimed at silencing his activism on claims including Gulf War illnesses involving veterans. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger.
Health officials in India are investigating an incident after more than 100 schoolchildren reportedly fell ill from eating lunches contaminated by a dead snake in Mokama, in the state of Bihar, last week. According to CNN News 18 and the country's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) , at least two dozen students required hospitalization on April 24. Local outlets state that a school cook served the midday meal after removing snake remains from the food, after which some of the children experienced dizziness and vomiting.

The NHRC says about 500 kids in total were served the meal, per the BBC. News of the incident sparked outrage among locals, prompting villagers to blockade a nearby highway in protest. The NHRC has set a two-week deadline for Bihar police to report on the incident and provide an update on the affected children's health. The commission said the situation raises "a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students."

India started the world's largest free school meal program, intended to boost child nutrition and school attendance, in 2001. NBC News notes that the initiative, called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, covers more than 113 million kids between the ages of 6 and 10. However, the system has previously come under scrutiny. A 2013 case involving pesticide tainting in school meals resulted in at least 23 student deaths and led to subsequent government improvements in food safety standards.
Mississippi's Supreme Court has set June 25 as the execution date for Richard Gerald Jordan, the state's longest-serving death row inmate, condemned for the 1976 kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter in Harrison County. Jordan, 78, has contested his sentence for decades, but his most recent appeal was denied last October. The state's high court said on Thursday that Jordan "has exhausted all state and federal remedies," clearing the way for the execution.

The order didn't specify the method of execution, but Mississippi law permits lethal injection, nitrogen gas, electrocution, or firing squad. WAPT notes that Jordan will be 79 when he's executed, with a birthday later this month. Records show Jordan traveled from Louisiana to Gulfport in 1976, posed as an electric company worker to get access to Marter's home, then kidnapped her and shot her to death in a nearby forest. Jordan later called Marter's husband, falsely assured him she was safe, and demanded $25,000.

Fox 10 reports that four retrials over the yearseach one resulting in the same conviction and death sentencehelped delay an execution date for nearly a half-century. The announcement of Jordan's execution date came the same day that Army veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson was executed in Florida. So far this year, 14 executions have taken place in the US, with three in the Sunshine State. Mississippi's last execution took place in December 2022.
One of Robert De Niro's seven kids recently came out as trans, and the Goodfellas actor has made clear that he's 100% on board. "I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter," the 81-year-old said in a statement, per Variety . "I don't know what the big deal is. I love all my children." The outlet reports that De Niro's remarks came after the 29-year-old Airyn chatted with Them , an LGBTQ advocacy site, about "stepping into this new identity" in the trans world, noting that she first came out as a gay man in high school.

"I didn't even fit that beauty standard," Airyn noted. "Too big, not skinny enough. Not Black enough, not white enough. Too feminine, not masculine enough. It was never just, 'You're just right, just the way you are.'" Airyn cited transgender actor Laverne Cox as being one of her inspirations for finally accepting her own trans identity, noting, "Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success ... I'm like, you know what? Maybe it's not too late for me."

Airyn, who started hormone therapy in November, also dishes about growing up with dad De Niro and mom Toukie Smith. "Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight," she told Them. "They wanted it very private. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible."

story continues below

BuzzFeed rounds up reaction to Robert De Niro's support for his daughter, who has a twin brother, Julian. "If a 100 year-old Italian man can have love and acceptance in his heart, so can you," wrote one admirer. "Unproblematic legend," noted another. A third posted, "The fact that being a good father is news is so sad."
President Trump has long made clear his disdain of the mainstream media, but now he's putting more teeth on that by closing the government's wallet on two major broadcasters. The commander in chief on Thursday added to his record-breaking executive-order blitz with yet another EO, this time directed at mandating that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting cut off federal funding to National Public Radio and the National Broadcasting Service, better known as NPR and PBS, reports the AP .

"The media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options," reads the order, titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media." "Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence." The White House posted an accompanying "fact sheet" that detailed specific gripes against NPR and PBS, including a complaint that NPR "refused to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story," and that PBS' Sesame Street presented a "one-sided narrative" in its children's programming about racism after the Black Lives Matter protests.

In an online post, the White House accused NPR and PBS of receiving "millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" The two outlets get about a half billion dollars from the CPB, though the New York Times notes that they receive "only a small portion of their funding from Congress, with the rest coming from donors and sponsors." The taxpayer-supported private agency is also funded two years ahead of time, "to protect it from political maneuvering," so it's not yet clear what kind of immediate impact Trump's directive will have.

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PBS and the CPB haven't yet commented on the executive order, but on Friday, NPR issued a statement. "Eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would have a devastating impact on American communities across the nation that rely on public radio for trusted local and national news, culture, lifesaving emergency alerts, and public safety information," the broadcaster noted.
President Trump says he is renaming Veterans Day to celebrate victoryand he's giving Victory in Europe Day a new name as well. "Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II," he said in a Truth Social post. "I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I again!"

"We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything," Trump wrote. "That's because we don't have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" The BBC reports that Trump's remarks are likely to anger Russia, which marks its victory in World War II, which it calls the Great Patriotic War, on May 9. When Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 8, 1945, the date marked as V-E Day elsewhere, it was already May 9 on Moscow time. The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people, including almost 9 million troops, in the war.

Unlike Veterans Day, May 8 isn't a federal holiday and Trump didn't say whether he plans to make it one, which would require an act of Congress. Critics were quick to point out that despite Trump's proposed name change, the date doesn't mark American victory in WWII, which came months later, when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered," Keith Olbermann said in a post on X. "Trump is a complete moron." That date is marked as V-J Day in countries including the UK and Australia, though historians say the official end of the war was September 2, 1945, when Japan signed surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, CNN reports.
UPDATE

May 5, 2025 12:30 AM CDT

The registered voters of the South Texas home of Elon Musk's SpaceX voted 212-6 to formally organize as a citynamed Starbase. As the AP reports, the vote was "lopsided" due to the fact that most of the resident voters are SpaceX employees. "Starbase, Texas," Musk wrote on X, "Is now a real city!" The South Texas Environmental Justice Network held a protest Saturday with dozens in attendance; there are concerns locally about SpaceX shutting down public access to a nearby beach.

May 2, 2025 9:43 AM CDT

Starbase is about to become the newest city in Texasand in the age when company towns were more prevalent, it might've been called Muskville. Almost all of the 283 registered voters in SpaceX's site at the southern tip of Texas are SpaceX employees, so the outcome of a vote on incorporating the 1.5-square mile site as a municipality is not in doubt, CNN reports. Voting began last week and will conclude on Saturday.
The fight between the Trump administration and Harvard escalated yet again on Friday, with the president promising a big move in a Truth Social post : "We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!" Trump has floated the idea previously, and reports emerged last month that the White House had asked the IRS to look into it. The new post suggests things have progressed, though Trump didn't offer specifics. Any such move by the IRS would surely be challenged in the courts, reports ABC News .

The Wall Street Journal points out that the federal tax code prohibits the president and other top officials from asking the IRS, either directly or indirectly, to take such specific action. However, the White House has said the decision to investigate the school's tax-exempt status happened independent of the president. The school "has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as an educational institution, which means that it doesn't pay income taxes on any net earnings and that its donors can get income-tax deductions," per the Journal. Losing the status could cost the school about $500 million per year, according to USA Today.

The Washington Post notes that Trump also took a shot at Harvard on Thursday when he spoke to graduates at the University of Alabama. "It is clear to see the next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson," he said. "It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide." Trump's threat on Friday comes after Harvard sued the Trump administration over its efforts to freeze federal funding and take control over some school policies. Harvard was the first school to fight back, but opposition appears to be growing among the nation's top universities.
More than five years ago, when he was living in Canada with wife Meghan Markle, Prince Harry was stripped of the all-encompassing, UK-funded security detail he received while still a working royal. Now, his attempts to push back against that decision have been quashed yet again, as the Duke of Sussex saw his challenge to London's Court of Appeal rejected. The three judges in that case rebuffed Harry's claim that he'd been "singled out" for "inferior treatment," putting his safety and life "at stake," per the Guardian .

"Having studied the detailed documents, I could not say the duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for a challenge to Ravec's decision," Justice Geoffrey Vos noted. The "Ravec" that he refers to is the government panel otherwise known as the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures that ruled initially in February 2020 that Harry and Meghan, now living in California with their two young children, would no longer be entitled to the same level of protection in the UK that they used to receive when they still assumed royal duties.

Instead, the Sussexes would receive a "bespoke" level of protection when they visited Britain, each visit of which would require at least 30 days' notice so that the UK government could assess the risk of that visit. Last year, a high court judge backed up Ravec's decision, despite the fact that the 40-year-old prince's name has popped up as an assassination target by al-Qaeda and that he and his wife are often crowded by the paparazzi, according to his legal team.

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On past visits back to the UK, such as for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and his father King Charles III's coronation, Harry forked over his own money to arrange for his security there, after putting in requests to Ravec that were apparently denied. It's not clear if Harry will appeal to the UK's Supreme Court, per the AP, which notes that the prince "has bucked royal family convention by taking the government and tabloid press to court." The New York Times notes that Harry is also currently embroiled in a case against the publisher of the Daily Mail tabloid.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will head to Washington next week for his first meeting with President Trump. The meeting, set for Tuesday, comes just days after Carney's Liberal Party pulled off a comeback win in an election many saw as a response to Trump's ongoing trade battles and threats against Canadian sovereignty, the AP reports. On Friday, at his first news conference since the election, Carney said his government will "stand up to President Trump and build a strong economy." His government, he said, "will fight to get the best deal for Canada."

Asked whether he will insist on tariffs being lifted as a condition for trade negotiations, the prime minister said he's not going to negotiate in public, reports CP24. "Do not expect white smoke out of that meeting," he joked in a reference to the papal conclave. "Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us," Carney said at a victory event early Tuesday. "But "when I sit down with President Trump, it will be to discuss the future economy and security relationship between two sovereign nations." Carney said Friday that King Charles III had accepted his invitation to deliver the throne speech when Parliament returns on May 27, the CBC reports.

The king is Canada's head of state, but the speech is usually delivered by the governor-general, the monarch's representative. The king's visit "clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country," Carney said. "This is the ultimate head of state." The reigning monarch hasn't opened Canada's Parliament since 1977, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Ottawa, the Guardian reports. Carney also said that if the opposition Conservatives choose to keep Pierre Poilievre, who lost his seat in Monday's election, as their leader, he would call a special election without delay if another Conservative resigned to make room for Poilievre. "No games," he said.
An Illinois landlord who killed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and severely injured the boy's mother in a vicious hate crime attack days after the Israel-Hamas war began was sentenced Friday to 53 years in prison. Joseph Czuba, 73, was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges in the stabbing death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen. Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a reaction to the war between Israel and Hamas, the AP reports. The family was renting rooms from Czuba in a suburban Chicago house at the time of the attack.

Czuba stabbed Wadee 26 times. He declined to speak during the sentencing hearing, per NBC News, and did not appear to have any relatives in the courtroom. Wadee's grandfather Mahmoud Yousef told reporters outside court Friday that any sentence would pale in comparison to the family's loss. "It doesn't matter what the numbers are," he said, per USA Today. "He took a life from us. He took a future." President Biden denounced the attack the next day and marked the one-year anniversary of the Palestinian American boy's death last October. The Senate passed a resolution honoring Wadee in September that said the US "has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination."
With its economy already feeling the trade war with the US, China is preparing its people to dig in for a long battle. At the same time, officials are looking into whether fentanyl might serve as a conversation starter for the two countries, the Wall Street Journal reports. Chinese companies produce chemicals used to make fentanyl, which displeases the Trump administration, and the government security czar is starting by asking what the US wants China to do about it. The idea is that discussion might then widen. "Fentanyl can be the icebreaker for the two countries to start with a more positive tone," said Yun Sun of the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank.

China had resisted being blamed for fentanyl reaching the US, per the AP, issuing a report in March listing the steps it's taken against the production of the opioid's precursors. The tension between the nations has not eased: Trump on Friday officially closed a loophole allowing US shoppers to buy items from China without paying tariffs, per the New York Times. Still, the Commerce Ministry said Friday that it's considering starting negotiations, though it said it would appreciate it if the Trump administration would "show sincerity" about wanting a deal. Until now, the ministry had set a reduction on tariffs imposed by the US as a precondition for talks.

The chemicals at issue are sold over the internet, then move from China to places including Mexico where criminal groups make fentanyl and get it into the US. Xi Jinping's government is considering dispatching Wang Xiaohong, the security boss, to the US to discuss stopping that flow with Trump officials, per the Journal.
The Buffalo Together Community Response Fund, after much due diligence, has a well-thought-out plan for the East Side that should benefit the entire City of Buffalo.

The fund, as reported by The News Matt Glynn, has collected more than $6.3 million and has distributed some of the money in the form of grants. The effort represents a community outpouring of love and respect in the aftermath of the racist massacre in which a gunman shot and killed 10 people and injured three at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Markets on May 14, 2022. Hate lost that day, and it is still losing. That is because good people  of all backgrounds  are making a joint effort to create a brighter, more prosperous path.

Buffalo Together investing in East Side's future After extensive research, the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund has developed a host of recommendations to lift up the East Side. But its work is only getting started.

Buffalo Together, working with consulting firm Rainbow Research, has developed an investment strategy. Thomas Beauford Jr., co-chair of the funds steering committee, describes its goals this way:  the development on the East Side of Buffalo, and the prosperity of the East Side of Buffalo expands the prosperity of all of Buffalo. Beauford is also president and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League.

Buffalo Togethers efforts should be supported by all who want to see progress on the East Side and throughout Buffalo.

Betros remembered for service to East Side

In further recognition of the East Sides champions, many were saddened by news of the death of Amy Betros, co-founder of the St. Lukes Mission of Mercy faith-based nonprofit organization.

Amy Betros, who sold restaurant to help start St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, dies at 71 She turned 71 last week, said the Rev. Paul Seil, a retired priest. Betros died seven years to the day after St. Luke's co-founder Norm Paolini, who was also 71.

Betros, as Stephen T. Watson wrote, spent decades serving people in need on Buffalos East Side. She died unexpectedly on Wednesday morning at the mission. Known as Grandma at the mission, she celebrated her 71st birthday last week, and died seven years to the day after the passing of her St. Lukes co-founder, Norm Paolini, who was also 71 when he died, according to the Rev. Paul Seil, a retired priest who lives at the mission.

Betros served others. The owner of Amys Place restaurant, a University Heights institution, she later sold her business to devote herself to the new St. Lukes Mission of Mercy nonprofit, a donation-only charitable endeavor. Hers is a must-read story about someone whose contributions should be celebrated and whose mission to help those in need continued.

SheConnects empowers female entrepreneurs

A story by The News Mike Petro about SheConnects carries on the theme of empowering the underrepresented. SheConnects is the brainstorm of Tesha Parker, an entrepreneur who joined three like-minded women in an effort to lift up women-owned enterprises.

The group includes Dotty Mayle, a Vietnamese-American teacher and owner of custom gift business Oh Goodie Bag Gift Baskets, who had already been hosting dinners for female entrepreneurs for networking purposes.

SheConnects trying to give diverse women entrepreneurs a leg up SheConnects aims to be an inclusive, action-driven networking group that creates real opportunities for women entrepreneurs, especially from marginalized communities.

Parker, too, was interested in networking, but also wanted to focus on marginalized communities. Parker, an African American, runs a nonprofit that provides fresh produce, nonperishable food and hygiene products to homeless and disadvantaged people, while also serving as the CEO of Vision Consulting WNY.

The third co-founder of SheConnects is Juweria Dahir, a Black East African immigrant, who is now former director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Tina Anderson, the fourth co-founder, who is white, founded the consulting business Creative Juices Marketing and Events.

Though statistics are stacked against them  Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs but only receive about 1% of venture capital funding, and minority women are likely to receive less money in loans or be denied altogether  SheConnects, as Dahir says, is about bridging all of those barriers.

May they be successful and help bring similar good fortune to other women entrepreneurs.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
FUKUOKA, May 02 (News On Japan) - Flowers believed to be illegal poppies -- a variety used as a raw material for opium -- were found at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Fukuoka City, where cultivation is prohibited by law, and were incinerated by the management center on April 30th during the ongoing 'Flower Picnic' event.

The discovery was made at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Fukuoka's Higashi Ward, which is currently hosting its annual "Flower Picnic." On April 29th, a visitor reported suspicious flowers growing in an area where blue nemophila were in full bloom. Park staff confirmed that ten flowers resembling atsumigeshisa variety of poppy used as a raw material for opiumwere present.

After consulting with local health authorities, all ten plants were uprooted and incinerated on April 30th. The park's management center reminded the public that collecting any plants from the park is strictly prohibited.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has classified Atsumigesi, Keshi, and Hakamaonigesi as illegal poppies due to their potential to be used in producing opium and other narcotics. These species often bloom from spring through summer and have distinctive four-petal flowers in pale purple or red.

In 2023, about 690,000 illegal poppy plants were removed across Japan, including approximately 25,000 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Such plants are often found growing in public spaces, including parks and roadsides.

To combat the issue, the ministry launched a "Cannabis and Poppy Eradication Campaign" running from May 1st to June 30th. Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious cannabis or poppy plants to local narcotics control departments, prefectural health offices, public health centers, or police stations.

Source: RKBNEWS
OSAKA, May 02 (News On Japan) - A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after driving into seven elementary school children near an Osaka school as they were walking home.

The incident occurred on a street near Senbon Elementary School in Osaka's Nishinari Ward. Around 1:30 p.m., the suspect allegedly drove his car into a group of students, injuring seven of them. He was apprehended on the spot by a male school support staff member.

The suspect has been identified as Yuki Yazawa, a 28-year-old unemployed man from Higashimurayama, Tokyo. According to police, he has admitted to the act, stating, "I hated everything and wanted to kill people, so I drove into them with my car."

All seven injured children remain conscious and are being treated at a hospital. The victims include four second-grade boys, one second-grade girl, and two third-grade boys, all of whom were students at Senbon Elementary School.

A child who witnessed the scene described the moment: "As I was about to go home, a car came from behind, swerving like this. It didn't hit me, but the second- and third-graders in front got run over. One of them was caught between the car and the wall."

Yazawa told investigators he intended to kill several elementary school students by ramming into them. His vehicle, believed to be a rental based on its license plate marked with the hiragana character "wa," was towed by police for further examination.

A press conference was held at 4:30 p.m. by the Osaka Prefectural Police to address the incident.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, May 02 (News On Japan) - A chamberlain assigned to the Emperor's household has been dismissed by the Imperial Household Agency after it was discovered the aide had embezzled 3.6 million yen, or roughly 25,000 dollars, from an account used to cover the Imperial Familys living expenses.

The individual, who is in their 20s, was fired on May 2nd, and the agency has filed a criminal complaint with the Imperial Guard Headquarters on suspicion of theft.

The case came to light in January when a manager responsible for overseeing the households private expenses noticed a discrepancy between the cash on hand and the amounts recorded in the official ledger. An internal investigation launched soon after revealed in March that 30,000 yen was unaccounted for. The chamberlain, who had just completed a night shift, admitted to taking the money.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the theft had occurred over a five-month period, beginning in November 2023 and continuing through March 2024. During that time, the chamberlain stole a total of 3.6 million yen. The aide reportedly said the funds were used to cover daily living expenses due to personal financial difficulties. The agency stated that the full amount has since been returned.

As part of the response, the Imperial Household Agency also took disciplinary action against the manager in charge of the account, imposing a one-month salary reduction for failing to catch the discrepancies sooner.

In a public statement, Grand Steward Nishimura Yasuhiko described the chamberlains actions as "completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable," especially considering the individuals role as a public servant entrusted with supporting the Imperial Family. Nishimura apologized to the Emperor, Empress, and the rest of the Imperial Household, expressing deep remorse over the incident.

Source: FNN
NAGOYA, May 03 (News On Japan) - A woman in Nagoya has dedicated her life to the traditional street performance profession of chindonya, reviving the colorful art form through an all-female troupe that entertains and inspires audiences with music.

At the Hadaka Festival held in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, in February, the group Bentenya led the parade of community associations offering kagami-mochi rice cakes. Based in Nagoya's Moriyama Ward, Bentenya is made up entirely of women and has been invited to perform at the event for 15 consecutive years. Their lively hair, flamboyant costumes, and skilled musical performances have earned them a strong reputation.

"When I told the organizers 15 years ago we'd come with about 10 people on a truck, they said, 'That sounds too quiet.' But when we asked Bentenya, they said 'Of course!' and from then on, the event really came alive," said Nagoya Moriyama Community Associations Nagano.

"We perform with prayers that misfortunes will be lifted from everyone," said Suzy, the troupe's leader.

All members of Bentenya are musicians, and their energetic performances are one of the highlights of the events they attend.

Suzy, whose real name is Miho Yokoe, runs Bentenya from her home-office known as "Suzy House" in a residential area of Nagoya. She handles everything from scheduling and client outreach to paying her team members.

"I thought this could be a profitable job if I worked hard, but its been tough. I just need to keep pushing harder," she said.

Suzy fell in love with the saxophone during her university days at Kinjo Gakuin University and began performing in a band. Even after entering the workforce, she continued her musical activities, blending jazz with Japanese pop songs. Her lively spirit often drew comments from audiences comparing her to a chindonya.

One day, a fan invited her to perform at a trade show in chindonya style. The reception was so positive that she decided to leave her company and fully pursue the profession 15 years ago.

"I wondered what I could do as a woman, as a person. If being a chindonya could bring happiness to people, then maybe this is the best job I could ever do," she recalled.

Although it's financially difficult for all seven members to sustain themselves solely through chindonya work, Suzy remains committed to sharing the joy of life through music.

Her parents, who initially opposed her unconventional path, have come to support her.

"I was strongly against it at first. I just hoped she would marry and live a normal life," said her mother, Takako.

Her father, Shusuke, who also played in a jazz band as a student, added, "In the end, I believe she should follow her passion."

In April, Bentenya took part in the All-Japan Chindon Contest held in Toyama City, where 28 groups from across the country competed in musical skill and comedic flair. Suzy and her team stood out once again.

"Continuing to play the music I love and never giving up on chindonya has brought joy to others. That alone makes it all worth it," Suzy said.

Source: Nagoya TV News
May 03 (News On Japan) - Building a strong local presence online is no longer optional for regional businesses  it's essential.

While large national brands often dominate broader markets, small and medium-sized businesses have a unique edge: their deep-rooted connection to their local communities. Even small operations are achieving impressive online success thanks to local SEO strategies.

Why Local SEO Is Crucial for Regional Businesses

Local SEO (search engine optimization) involves enhancing your business's presence in local search outcomes. When potential clients search for services "near me" or specify a city or area in their queries, businesses with effective local SEO are more likely to rank prominently. Statistics from Google indicate that 76% of individuals who conduct a local search on their mobile devices visit a business within a day, and 28% of those searches lead to a purchase. These figures underscore the significant impact of local search. Without a robust local SEO plan, businesses risk missing out on important foot traffic and online inquiries from more easily discovered competitors.

Winning Local SEO Strategies for Regional Businesses

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

One of the most effective steps a business can take is to claim and fully optimize their Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). This free tool allows businesses to display their location, hours, services, photos, and customer reviews. A well-maintained profile increases visibility in both Google Search and Maps, making it easier for nearby customers to find and contact the business.

Create Locally-Focused Content

Content remains king, but for local SEO, it needs to have a regional twist. Blog posts about local events, guides to the area, spotlights on community initiatives, or news related to the town or city can significantly enhance relevance. Landing pages tailored to specific locations served are also critical. For example, a business operating in multiple towns should create a unique page for each, ensuring keywords reflect each area specifically.

Leverage Online Reviews

Positive customer feedback not only fosters trust but also influences local search rankings. Urging pleased customers to post reviews on Google and other pertinent platforms can greatly enhance online visibility. Reacting to reviews, whether favorable or unfavorable, also indicates to search engines that the business is active and involved.

Maintain Consistent Directory Listings

Local citations  mentions of the business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various websites  play a big role in local SEO. Ensuring that all listings are accurate and consistent across platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and regional directories builds authority and improves search rankings.

Invest in Professional Local SEO Services

While some businesses handle local SEO themselves, many turn to experts for better results. Hiring professionals who understand the nuances of local markets can accelerate growth. For example, companies seeking SEO Cheltenham support benefit from tailored strategies designed to dominate local search results and outperform competitors in their area.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Local SEO

As technology continues to evolve, local SEO is becoming even more vital. The growth of voice search, wearable technology, and AI-powered assistants is making hyper-local search optimization a must. People expect fast, relevant answers, and search engines prioritize businesses that can deliver.

Furthermore, consumer loyalty is often stronger with local businesses. People enjoy supporting businesses that contribute to their community. A strategic local SEO campaign not only brings in more customers but also strengthens these valuable community bonds.

Final Thoughts

Local SEO levels the playing field for regional businesses. It enables them to reach audiences actively looking for their products or services at the exact moment they're needed. By investing in smart local SEO practices  from optimizing Google Business Profiles to building strong local content  businesses of any size can win online and thrive in their communities for years to come.
It's time to build a climate proof Canada

OTTAWA, ON, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ - Climate Proof Canada congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney on forming the next federal government and welcomes all new and re-elected Members of Parliament. The Coalition looks forward to working with the Prime Minister, the next Cabinet and all MPs to better protect our communities and enhance our economic resilience to increasing floods, wildfires and extreme weather events.

It's time for Canada to play offence and defence on climate change.

The Coalition and member organizations are ready to bring our expertise to collaborate with the new federal government on the important public policy commitments advanced during the election campaign. To build a climate proof Canada, we must build new homes that are affordable, insurable and resilient to disasters; build one resilient Canadian economy by investing in infrastructure, our people and trade corridors; and protect Canadians from extreme weather events by being better prepared and able to recover rapidly.

Together we can make rapid tangible progress by:

Building Resilient and Sustainable Housing

Canada needs to build new homes in the right ways and in the right places because the most expensive home is the one you build twice. The new federal government should also advance sustainable and resilient retrofits, representing a significant opportunity to protect families and drive job creation.





needs to build new homes in the right ways and in the right places because the most expensive home is the one you build twice. The new federal government should also advance sustainable and resilient retrofits, representing a significant opportunity to protect families and drive job creation.  Improving Disaster Preparedness and Accelerating Disaster Recovery

Climate Proof Canada believes the new federal government must urgently move to create a national recovery strategy to better protect our communities working with all orders of government and Indigenous Peoples.





Climate Proof Canada believes the new federal government must urgently move to create a national recovery strategy to better protect our communities working with all orders of government and Indigenous Peoples. Investing in Resilient Communities

We must leverage the unique strengths of both the public and private sectors to support new nation-building trade corridors and municipal infrastructure projects, retrofit existing homes, partner with Indigenous Peoples and close the flood protection gap for high-risk households with a low-cost national flood insurance program.

We need a refined whole-of-society approach to address the physical risks we face from extreme weather. Collectively we must advance the targets set out by the federal government that are rooted in the National Adaptation Strategy to build a more prosperous and more resilient country.

About Climate Proof Canada

Climate Proof Canada is a national coalition of Canadian business representatives, disaster relief organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, environmental NGOs and think tanks that believe Canada must prepare for the present and growing effects of climate change by building a more disaster-resilient country. For more information, visit Climate Proof Canada .

SOURCE Climate Proof Canada

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Climate Proof Canada expert, please email Climate Proof Canada media relations at [email protected].
EDMONTON, AB, May 2, 2025 /CNW/ - McCoy Global Inc. ("McCoy," "McCoy Global" or "the Corporation") (TSX: MCB) today announced its operational and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The Corporation also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per common share payable on July 15, 2025, to shareholders of record at close of business on June 30, 2025. The dividend per common share is a regular dividend and is an "eligible" dividend for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial/territorial legislation.

First Quarter Highlights:

Revenue increased 17.0% to $19.3 million , compared to $16.5 million in Q1 2024. smartProduct revenue 5 of $11.4 million accounted for 59% of total revenue (three months ended March 31, 2024  31%), an increase of $6.3 million from the comparative period.





, compared to in Q1 2024. smartProduct revenue of accounted for 59% of total revenue (three months ended  31%), an increase of from the comparative period. Net earnings decreased 3% to $0.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2024 of $1.0 million on revenues. Earnings were impacted by stronger Adjusted EBITDA 1 performance, largely offset by increased share-based compensation expense due to the appreciation of the Corporation's share price.





compared to the first quarter of 2024 of on revenues. Earnings were impacted by stronger Adjusted EBITDA performance, largely offset by increased share-based compensation expense due to the appreciation of the Corporation's share price. Adjusted EBITDA 1 increased to $3.5 million , or 18% of revenue, compared to $2.3 million , or 14% of revenue, in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDA growth was achieved from favorable product margins from the shift towards McCoy's smartProducts.





increased to , or 18% of revenue, compared to , or 14% of revenue, in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDA growth was achieved from favorable product margins from the shift towards McCoy's smartProducts. Backlog 2 increased by 9% to $27.5 million , from backlog of $25.2 million as at March 31, 2024 . Subsequent to March 31, 2025 , McCoy accepted an additional $11.0 million of contract awards for McCoy's smarTR TM hardware. In addition to the equipment award, the contract includes utilization-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue for the smarTR TM system's remote integration and automated operational capabilities.





increased by 9% to , from backlog of as at . Subsequent to , McCoy accepted an additional of contract awards for McCoy's smarTR hardware. In addition to the equipment award, the contract includes utilization-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue for the smarTR system's remote integration and automated operational capabilities. Maintained a strong statement of financial position, ending the quarter with $10.6 million of net cash 4 as at March 31, 2025 , after returning over $1.5 million to shareholders in the quarter through the repurchase of 362,900 common shares under the Corporation's normal course issuer bid (NCIB) and dividends.





of net cash as at , after returning over to shareholders in the quarter through the repurchase of 362,900 common shares under the Corporation's normal course issuer bid (NCIB) and dividends. Advanced its Technology Roadmap, and since January 1, 2025 : Successfully concluded in-field trials for its innovative smarTR system for land and shelf applications. The trials, conducted across several geographies, consistently demonstrated the system's exceptional performance and reliability in live operational environments. Rigorous testing under various operational scenarios confirmed the smarTR system's ability to deliver superior results over conventional tubular running services (TRS) operations. Confidence in the system from our US field-trial partners resulted in $11.0 million of contract awards for hardware and utilization-based SaaS revenue for the system's remote integration and automated operational capabilities, with delivery expected in 2025. McCoy's smarTR system integrates McCoy's proprietary hydraulic smart casing running tool (smartCRT TM ), McCoy's proprietary connected flush mount spider (smartFMS TM ), and related tubular running accessories, into a first-to-market technology that significantly enhances both safety and efficiency and targets up to a 67% reduction in labor costs associated with TRS. Delivered multiple hydraulic smartCRT TM s destined for the Middle East market and secured additional orders for the US land market. The McCoy hydraulic smartCRT TM enhancement was first commercialized in Q4, 2024, and the tools have successfully executed multiple operations with remarkable efficiency, demonstrating exceptional performance and proven reliability in demanding field conditions. Our unique, patented solution is a hydraulic option to our smartCRT TM product suite and is designed to integrate into our smarTR TM system. This technology mitigates risks inherent in conventional, mechanical CRT technology, while providing actionable insights that optimize future performance. Delivered a deep-water offshore integrated casing running system destined for Latin America . Delivering this technology completes the first step on a roadmap to a comprehensive smarTR TM system tailored for offshore and deep-water markets. This integrated deep-water system differs from our smarTR TM solution designed for land and shelf that is centered around CRT technology, as deep-water casing installation requires hydraulic power tongs to meet technical specifications for the well profile. The Latin America contract award also marks the first offshore commercial SaaS purchase commitment for its Virtual Thread-Rep TM technology. McCoy's Virtual Thread-Rep TM technology enables customers to remotely monitor and control premium connection make-up. It also facilitates the autonomous evaluation and confirmation of premium connection make-up on location.

:

"As we progress through 2025, McCoy remains steadfast in our commitment to execute on our strategic objectives. Our strong revenue growth, driven by the successful commercialization of smartProducts, underscores our ability to adapt and thrive in challenging market conditions. The completion of key milestones, such as the in-field trials of our smarTR system and the delivery of advanced hydraulic smartCRTTMs, positions us well to capitalize on emerging opportunities globally," said Jim Rakievich, President & CEO. "We are confident that our first-to-market technologies will continue to deliver efficiency, safety, and cost savings for our customers, ensuring sustained growth and value creation for customers and shareholders alike."

"McCoy's financial performance in the first quarter of 2025 reflects our strategic focus on innovation and operational excellence. Despite macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical tensions, we achieved a 17% increase in revenue, with smartProducts accounting for a significant portion of this growth. Our improved Adjusted EBITDA and solid net cash position highlight our ability to generate strong cash flow and maintain financial stability," said Lindsay McGill, Vice President & CFO. "During the quarter, we were pleased to return over $1.5 million to shareholders in the quarter through the repurchase of 362,900 common shares under the Corporation's normal course issuer bid (NCIB) and quarterly dividends."

First Quarter Financial Highlights:

Total revenue of $19.3 million , compared with $16.5 million in Q1 2024.

, compared with in Q1 2024. Net earnings of $0.9 million , compared to $1.0 million in Q1 2024.

, compared to in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $3.5 million , or 18% of revenue, compared with $2.3 million , or 14% of revenue, in 2024.

of , or 18% of revenue, compared with , or 14% of revenue, in 2024. Booked backlog 2 of $27.5 million at March 31, 2025 , compared to $25.2 million as at March 31, 2024 .

of at , compared to as at . Book-to-bill ratio3 was 1.21 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 , compared with 1.13 in the first quarter of 2024.

Financial Summary

Revenue of $19.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, increased 17% from the comparative period. The growth in revenues was driven by strong demand for the Corporation's newly commercialized smartProducts and includes the delivery of several hydraulic smartCRTTMs destined for the Middle East market as well as a deep-water offshore integrated casing running system, completing the first step on a roadmap to a comprehensive smarTRTM system tailored for offshore and deep-water markets. As anticipated, timing delays experienced on certain customer purchase commitments, shifts in product mix, and greater than anticipated book-and-ship revenues that positively impacted Q4, 2024, resulted in a sequential fluctuation in revenue for Q4, 2024, to Q1, 2025. The depreciation of the Canadian dollar also impacted the increase in revenue as the substantial majority of the Corporation's revenue in denominated in US dollars.

Gross profit, as a percentage of revenue for the three months March 31, 2025, was 34%, an increase of two percentage points from the comparative period in 2024. This was due to a shift in product mix towards smartProduct revenues with favourable product margins and away from traditional capital equipment, as well as supply chain cost containment efforts which reduced material cost for a number of product lines. This was partially offset by increased facility costs, production overheads and freight, as well as additional headcount to support increased production throughput and customer technical support.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, general and administrative expenses (G&A) increased by $1.0 million to $3.3 million, from the comparative period. The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.9 million increase in share-based compensation expense due to appreciation of the Corporation's stock price. To a lesser extent, the Corporation's investment in an AI platform for enhanced operational decision making also contributed to the increase in G&A. As a percentage of revenue, G&A increased 3% from the comparative period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, product development and support expenditures totaled $1.6 million, representing an increase of $0.3 million or 27% from the comparative period. Product development and support expense increased as a result of additional headcount to support the commercialization efforts for McCoy's smarTRTM and smartCRTTM. Capitalized development expenditures included $0.2 million for the development of additional 'smart' product enhancements and complementary product accessories for McCoy's smartCRTTM and smartFMSTM.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, sales and marketing expenses remained consistent from the comparative period and includes headcount for sales and customer support activities, as well as marketing expenses to promote the Corporation's smartProducts.

Net earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $0.9 million or $0.03 per basic share, compared with net earnings of $1.0 million or $0.04 per basic share in the first quarter of 2024. Earnings was impacted by stronger Adjusted EBITDA1 performance, largely offset by increased share-based compensation expense due to the appreciation of the Corporation's share price.

Adjusted EBITDA1 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $3.5 million compared with $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2024. This growth reflects McCoy's robust operating efficiency, fueled by significant revenue contributions from innovative smartProduct technologies which generally offer higher margins compared to legacy capital equipment.

As at March 31, 2025, the Corporation had $10.6 million in net cash4, along with an additional $7.9 million available under undrawn credit facilities.

Selected Quarterly Information

($000 except per share amounts and percentages) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 % Change Total revenue 19,346 16,542 17 % Gross profit 6,608 5,251 26 % as a percentage of revenue 34 % 32 % 2 % Net earnings 946 975 (3 %) as a percentage of revenue 5 % 6 % (1 %) per common share  basic 0.03 0.04 (25 %) per common share  diluted 0.03 0.04 (25 %) Adjusted EBITDA1 3,479 2,273 53 % as a percentage of revenue 18 % 14 % 4 % per common share  basic 0.13 0.08 63 % per common share  diluted 0.13 0.08 63 % Total assets 93,302 79,997 17 % Total liabilities 27,471 24,257 13 % Total non-current liabilities 2,468 3,012 (18 %)

Summary of Quarterly Results

($000 except per

share amounts) Q1

2025 Q4

2024 Q3

2024 Q2

2024 Q1

2024 Q4

2023 Q3

2023 Q2

2023 Q1

2023 Revenue 19,346 25,222 15,842 19,910 16,542 19,699 16,878 16,248 16,864 Net earnings 946 4,255 516 3,125 975 2,674 1,900 1,427 528 as a % of revenue 5 % 17 % 3 % 16 % 6 % 14 % 11 % 9 % 4 % per share - basic 0.03 0.16 0.02 0.12 0.04 0.10 0.07 0.05 0.02 per share - diluted 0.03 0.15 0.02 0.11 0.04 0.10 0.07 0.05 0.02 EBITDA1 2,276 5,598 1,826 4,638 2,191 3,001 3,641 2,639 1,954 as a % of revenue 12 % 22 % 12 % 23 % 13 % 15 % 22 % 16 % 12 % Adjusted EBITDA1 3,479 6,534 2,668 4,728 2,273 3,987 3,856 2,862 2,419 as a % of revenue 18 % 26 % 17 % 24 % 14 % 20 % 23 % 18 % 14 %

Outlook and Forward-Looking Information

Over the near and medium term, oil & gas market fundamentals are expected to remain stable for international markets, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Increased drilling activity and the entry of new regional players alongside National Oil Companies' (NOC) strong focus on increased safety and efficiency are expected to create further opportunities for our smartProducts. Furthermore, in the coming quarters, NOCs in two of our largest Eastern Hemisphere markets are anticipated to announce TRS contract award allocations for upwards of 50 rigs requiring the use of hydraulic casing running tools. Though the timing of these announcements is uncertain, we expect these awards will positively impact the conversion of many of our smartProduct technology quotes into confirmed orders. McCoy is well positioned to capitalize on these trends with market leading technologies and product enhancements that provide superior safety, efficiency and simplified operating procedures, as well as expert technical support with local presence and the broadest portfolio of TRS equipment on the market.

Turning to the North America land market, where recent market volatility and recessionary pressures loom, rig count and drilling activity has remained subdued. Despite these headwinds, industry confidence in our smartProduct technology, particularly our smarTRTM system, underscores that McCoy's advanced technologies can continue to generate revenue growth in this region due to their significantly improved safety features, their ability to enhance efficiency and in many cases reduce operating costs for our customers.

As 2025 has progressed, we have observed a notable decline in market conditions across various global regions, driven by macroeconomic pressures, global trade issues, and geopolitical tensions. These challenges have impacted drilling activity levels, prompting many of our customers to prioritize cash flow preservation and enhance efficiency and optimization efforts. Consequently, while we remain confident in the demand for our smartProducts, we anticipate a continued erosion in demand for our legacy product offerings in the near term.

In light of the recent trade tariff developments between the United States and Canada, the Corporation continues to monitor the dynamic environment and has evaluated the potential impacts on its operations. The Corporation operates two production facilities in the US, where all of McCoy's equipment and technologies are currently produced. These facilities source a considerable portion of components from Canadian suppliers, to which tariffs on Canadian imports may apply. As at May 1, 2025, the majority of our components sourced from Canadian suppliers fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and are therefore exempt from US import tariffs. To mitigate the potential impact of US tariffs on Canadian imports, McCoy has the ability to transition to alternative suppliers or implement other measures that limit or defer financial impact. Management continues to take proactive steps to mitigate much of the impact the trade tariffs may have and will continue to closely monitor future developments as they are announced. Overall, the tariffs are not expected to have a material impact on McCoy's financial performance, however, circumstances remain very dynamic, and this assessment may change.

As we progress through the commercialization stage of our 'Technology Roadmap' initiative, we expect future revenues to become less dependent on the cyclicality of drilling activity, and more driven by technology adoption, demand from new local and regional market entrants, and market share gains in new geographies.

With $27.5 million of backlog reported at March 31, 2025, and continued momentum of smartProduct technology adoption, we are confident in executing our strategic and financial objectives in 2025. McCoy remains confident in the continued market penetration of its new technologies in 2025, and with its proven track record of operational efficiency and cashflow generation. For 2025 and beyond, we continue to focus on our key strategic initiatives to deliver value to all our stakeholders:

Accelerating market adoption of new and recently developed 'smart' portfolio products;

Focusing on capital allocation priorities; return excess cash to our shareholders in the form of share buy-backs and quarterly dividends.

We believe this strategy, together with our committed and agile team, McCoy's global brand recognition, application expertise, strong balance sheet, and global footprint will further advance McCoy's competitive position and generate strong returns on invested capital.

About McCoy Global Inc.

McCoy Global is transforming well construction using automation and machine learning to maximize wellbore integrity and collect precise connection data critical to the global energy industry. The Corporation has offices in Canada, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates and operates internationally in more than 50 countries through a combination of direct sales and key distributors.

Throughout McCoy's 100-year history, it has proudly called Edmonton, Alberta, Canada its corporate headquarters. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "MCB".

1 EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as net earnings (loss), before depreciation of property, plant and equipment; amortization of intangible assets; income tax expense (recovery); and finance charges, net. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as net earnings (loss), before: depreciation of property, plant and equipment; amortization of intangible assets; income tax expense (recovery); finance charges, net; provisions for excess and obsolete inventory; other (gains) losses, net; restructuring charges; share-based compensation; and impairment losses. The Corporation reports on EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA because they are key measures used by management to evaluate performance. The Corporation believes adjusted EBITDA assists investors in assessing McCoy Global's current operating performance on a consistent basis without regard to non-cash, unusual (i.e. infrequent and not considered part of ongoing operations), or non-recurring items that can vary significantly depending on accounting methods or non-operating factors. Adjusted EBITDA is not considered an alternative to net earnings (loss) in measuring McCoy Global's performance. Adjusted EBITDA does not have a standardized meaning and is therefore not likely to be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers.

($000 except per share amounts and percentages) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Net earnings 946 975 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 679 578 Amortization of intangible assets 464 466 Income tax expense 143 184 Finance charges (income), net 44 (11) EBITDA 2,276 2,192 Provisions for excess and obsolete inventory 157 85 Other losses, net 174 19 Share-based compensation 872 (23) Adjusted EBITDA 3,479 2,273

2 McCoy Global defines backlog as orders that have a high certainty of being delivered and is measured on the basis of a firm customer commitment, such as the receipt of a purchase order. Customers may default on or cancel such commitments but may be secured by a deposit and/or require reimbursement by the customer upon default or cancellation. Backlog reflects likely future revenues; however, cancellations or reductions may occur and there can be no assurance that backlog amounts will ultimately be realized as revenue, or that the Corporation will earn a profit on backlog once fulfilled. Expected delivery dates for orders recorded in backlog historically spanned from one to six months. Under current market conditions, many customers have shifted their purchasing towards just-in-time buying.

3 The book-to-bill ratio is a measure of the amount of net sales orders received to revenues recognized and billed in a set period of time. The ratio is an indicator of customer demand and sales order processing times. The book-to-bill ratio is not a GAAP measure and therefore the definition and calculation of the ratio will vary among other issuers reporting the book-to-bill ratio. McCoy Global calculates the book-to-bill ratio as net sales orders taken in the reporting period divided by the revenues reported for the same reporting period.

4 Net cash is a non-GAAP measure defined as cash and cash equivalents, plus: restricted cash, less: borrowings.

5 smartProduct revenue is a non-GAAP measure and includes sales, rental and services revenues from those products and technologies developed under the Corporation's technology roadmap initiative. The metric includes revenues from flush mount spiders (FMS), casing running tools (CRTs), smartTONGs and related software and accessories. The Corporation believes smartProduct revenue is a key metric that can assist investors in assessing how McCoy Global has executed on its technology roadmap strategy.

Forward-Looking Information

This News Release contains forward looking statements and forward looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward looking statements. Forward looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "could", "should", "can", "anticipate", "expect", "objective", "ongoing", "believe", "will", "may", "projected", "plan", "sustain", "continues", "strategy", "potential", "projects", "grow", "take advantage", "estimate", "well positioned" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This New Release contains forward looking statements respecting the business opportunities for the Corporation that are based on the views of management of the Corporation and current and anticipated market conditions; and the perceived benefits of the growth strategy and operating strategy of the Corporation are based upon the financial and operating attributes of the Corporation as at the date hereof, as well as the anticipated operating and financial results. Forward looking statements regarding the Corporation are based on certain key expectations and assumptions of the Corporation concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities, the availability and cost of labour and services and the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, which are subject to change based on market conditions and potential timing delays. Although management of the Corporation consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties (both general and specific) and risks that forward looking statements will not be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements, as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in the forward looking statements, including inability to meet current and future obligations; inability to complete or effectively integrate strategic acquisitions; inability to implement the Corporation's business strategy effectively; access to capital markets; fluctuations in oil and gas prices; fluctuations in capital expenditures of the Corporation's target market; competition for, among other things, labour, capital, materials and customers; interest and currency exchange rates; technological developments; global political and economic conditions; global natural disasters or disease; and inability to attract and retain key personnel. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is further cautioned that the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make certain judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These judgments and estimates may change, having either a negative or positive effect on net earnings as further information becomes available, and as the economic environment changes. The information contained in this News Release identifies additional factors that could affect the operating results and performance of the Corporation. We urge you to carefully consider those factors. The forward looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this New Release and the Corporation does not undertake and is not obligated to publicly update such forward looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless so required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE McCoy Global

For further information, please contact: Mr. Jim Rakievich, President & CEO, E-mail: [email protected], McCoy Global Inc., Website: www.mccoyglobal.com
OTTAWA, ON, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres.

The Secretary-General congratulated the Prime Minister on his election. Prime Minister Carney emphasized Canada's relationship and shared history with the UN, and Canada's continued support of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including UN reform, climate finance, the security and humanitarian crises in Haiti, and the war in Ukraine.

The leaders agreed to strengthen this relationship and to stay in close contact.

Associated Link

This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

PMO Media Relations: [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ - The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) congratulates Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney on his election victory and looks forward to working with the new government to enhance responsible mining and critical minerals development in Canada. The mining industry is eager to collaborate with all parties to ensure one of Canada's most important resource sectors is competitive and attractive to investors.

"Mining is one of the most economically significant sectors in Canada and contributes $117 billion to the country's GDP and accounts for 21% of the value of Canadian goods exported. Canadian mining is also an important employer, accounting for one in every 30 jobs across the country," said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of MAC. "Canada's mining industry is well placed to provide the materials, including critical minerals, essential to healthcare, communications and low carbon technologies and our sector would benefit from strategic government supports to ensure we are able to seize the opportunity before us."

Canada's mining sector operates some of the lowest carbon-intensive mines in the world thanks to Canada's abundance of clean energy, the adoption of world-class sustainability standards like Towards Sustainable Mining and company implementation of low emission technologies at their sites. Canada's mining industry should become the supplier of choice for the minerals and metals that are needed for defence, semi-conductors, energy and other clean technologies.

"The Liberal platform proposed a broad range of positive actions to support the growth of Canada's mining sector, including trade-enabling infrastructure investments, new and expanded tax measures to support the competitiveness of the mining industry and support for Indigenous participation in natural resources projects. Taken together, all of these will attract more investment and help bring more mines into production. We were also pleased to see both the Liberals and Conservatives committing to dramatically accelerate project reviews and we are keen to work with the new Parliament to make this happen in a responsible manner." continued Gratton.

MAC and its members would like to thank all outgoing MPs for their support for the Canadian mining industry over the years and looks forward to meeting with newly elected members from all parties to discuss the importance of the sector to ensure it is well positioned for future success.

The mining industry is a major sector of Canada's economy, contributing $117 billion to national GDP and responsible for 21 percent of Canada's total domestic exports. Canada's mining sector employs 694,000 people directly and indirectly across the country. The industry is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a major customer of Indigenous-owned businesses.

About MAC

The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca.

SOURCE The Mining Association of Canada

For more information, please contact: Paul Hebert, Vice President of Communications, the Mining Association of Canada, Phone: 613.292,2876 (cell), Email: [email protected]
OSHAWA, ON, May 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is calling for swift action following General Motors' announcement that it plans to reduce its Oshawa Assembly Plant from a three shift to a two shift operation this fall, citing Trump imposed tariffs.

Aerial view of GM Oshawa Assembly Plant (CNW Group/Unifor)

"We will not allow GM to barter Canadian jobs to gain Donald Trump's favour. Cutting the third shift at Oshawa Assembly is a reckless decision that deals a direct blow to our members and threatens to ripple through the entire auto parts supplier network," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "GM needs to reverse this short-sighted move before more damage is done."

The announced shift cut comes on the heels of U.S. President Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian-built vehicles in Marcha move that has chilled the Canadian auto sector.

"GM's move is premature and disrespectful  jumping the gun before Prime Minister Carney and President Trump even begin their talks on a new economic deal," added Payne.

The Trump tariffs are clearly aimed at Canadian assembly plants, like Oshawa. The new guidance issued by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol on auto parts changes nothing for the Canadian auto industry. It is solely designed to keep U.S. factories running, because they rely heavily on Canadian made auto parts, while continuing to harm Canada's auto assembly plants.

The Oshawa Plant assembles light and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks for the North American market, vehicles also assembled at factories in the United States and Mexico.

"GM Oshawa was reopened thanks to the hard work of our members and significant investments by the federal and provincial governments based on a promise to maintain good jobs and production," said Chris Waugh, Unifor GM Oshawa Assembly Plant Chairperson. "We will not sit idly by as that promise is eroded one shift at a time."

As part of its plans, GM says it intends to reduce Oshawa truck exports to the U.S. and recalibrate the plant for Canadian sales, starting in the fall. In 2024, GM produced 151,000 vehicles in Canada but sold nearly 300,000  vehicles mostly imported from factories in the United States.

"Trump's tariffs are designed to crush Canadian production  but GM doesn't get a free pass to abandon its commitments, and the U.S. doesn't get to free ride in Canada," Payne warned. "GM has had strong support from workers, the community, and governments. Canadians invested millions to revive this plant. Cutting jobs now has consequences. The company has six months to fix this."

GM was the #1 automaker by sales and market share in Canada in 2024 and this has continued into Q1 of this year. Despite record support from Canadian customers for GM products, over the past 3 weeks GM has announced actions that will result in the permanent layoff of nearly 30% of its Canadian hourly workforce.

The union expects the federal government to immediately review and reconsider General Motors tariff-exempt status under Canada's remission framework. If GM wants to sell in Canada, they need to build in Canada. That message must be loud and clear.

Unifor is also urging Prime Minister Carney to meet with the heads of major automakers to publicly reaffirm their commitments to Canadian investment and production, including automakers that sell significant volumes of vehicles in Canada but build no vehicles here.

Under the Unifor-GM Collective Agreement, GM is required to meet with Unifor in the near future to review all options to prevent or mitigate job loss at Oshawa Assembly. The union will also seek clarification on any potential impact to the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant, which supplies engines to Oshawa.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

For media inquiries or to arrange interviews via FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype please contact Unifor Communications Director Kathleen O'Keefe at [email protected] or by cell at (416) 896-3303.
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 for the next 2 days. A heat event is expected this weekend. 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: Today to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. Additional information: Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category. ### 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.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition party ZAPU has come out strongly in defence of Bulawayo mayor David Coltart, following a public rebuke by Local Government minister Daniel Garwe over the mayor's decision to host self-proclaimed Ndebele king Bulelani Khumalo.Garwe recently demanded an explanation from Coltart, labelling Bulelani a "charlatan" and questioning the legitimacy of his visit to the Bulawayo City Council.ZAPU president Sibangilizwe Nkomo denounced Garwe's remarks, accusing him of attempting to bully the mayor and undermine Ndebele cultural traditions."We know there are people with a hidden agenda who want to remove our Bulawayo mayor because they do not like him," Nkomo said during a press briefing. "We love our mayor and we will defend him. We will not be intimidated by Minister Garwe's bully tactics."Nkomo said the minister's stance reflected a lingering colonial mentality that continues to dismiss and disrespect traditional institutions, particularly those rooted in Ndebele heritage."King Bulelani has the right to visit the mayor just like anyone else," he said. "If we are genuine about decolonisation, Garwe should be at the forefront of recognising all tribal institutions, including kingships. Even the minister himself belongs to a chieftainship."Nkomo further warned that Garwe's criticism threatened to derail national efforts to foster unity and address historical injustices, including the unresolved issue of the Gukurahundi massacres that took place in the 1980s in Matabeleland and the Midlands.King Bulelani's spokesperson, Bornwell Khumalo, echoed the sentiments, saying the monarch's visit was cultural, not political."The king is focused on preserving our Ndebele culture," he said. "To call him a fraud is not only an insult, it is an attack on our heritage. We are not engaging in politicswe are practising our culture, which the minister clearly does not understand."The Ndebele kingship, though not officially recognised by the Zimbabwean government, traces its origins to Mzilikazi, who established the Ndebele state in the 19th century after leaving Zululand. His son Lobengula, who was the last officially recognised king, is believed to have died in 1894 during colonial resistance.Recent years have seen several attempts to revive the Ndebele monarchy, but the state maintains that Zimbabwe is a republic and does not accommodate monarchies.Despite the government's stance, King Bulelani Khumalo continues to be embraced by segments of the Ndebele community as the rightful heir to the throne, and cultural groups regularly host events and ceremonies in his honour.ZAPU's support for Coltart signals a broader political and cultural battle over identity, recognition, and respect for traditional institutions within modern Zimbabwe.
Opinion / Columnist

Zimbabwe Independence Day Celebrations on 18 April 2025 marked 132 years of Matabeleland oppression. Firstly by the British South Africa Company, 1893- 1980, under the rule by coquest, secondly by the Shona supremacist tribal oppression, from 1980 to date , thanks to an imperfect decolonisation process.It is at this time when tribal succession battles erupt from within ZANU pf that Matabeles must reflect and think until it hurts about the restoration of Matabeleland state. History tells us that joining warring tribal factions within ZANU pf or any Mashonaland opposition political project has never yielded favourable results for us. Therefore the tribal succession battles currently happening within ZANU pf provide us with a political window of opportunity to breakaway from Zimbabwe and restore the statehood of Matabeleland.We cannot cantinue counting years under Shona supremacist tribal oppression. This is a political crisis that we must capitalise on to liberate our selves. While the greedy and corrupt hyenas are fighting for the carcass as they all have a DNA of corruption, theft and witchcraft, we must not join them in their tribal battles but set ourselves free.Like late President Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Morgan Tsvangirai and Nelson Chamisa, Blessed Geza has displayed dangerous signs of Shona supremacy arrogance. Much to the shock of a few Matabeles that blindly support his so called revolution to remove Mnangagwa, he has rejected Isindebele language with contempt. Saying all Zimbabweans understand the Shona language. So Geza statements that punctuate his failed protests are in Shona, the oppressor's language.Oppressors impose their own language on the oppressed intentionally to erode their identity, culture, dignity and pride. That is the reason why, during Matabeleland genocide, all Matabeles who could not speak Shona language were killed by the Zimbabwe National Army 5th Brigade. Politically detached and backwards-thinking Geza imagines that the 1979 Shona Grand Plan has worked wonders such that all Matabeles now understand Shona. That is a costly blunder. Since the rise of Matabeleland restoration cause all Matabeles are very alert, sensitive and hold all Shona projects with suspicion. The very day he undermined the Isindebele language is the very day he exposed tribal intentions in him and lost the support of those few Matabeles.It would be politically beneficial and immensely rewarding for Matabeles to unite and restore the statehood of Matabeleland to take over the inheritance bequeathed to us by our forefathers who built and protected it with their precious blood.This, we must do with no fear or apology as God the Almighty is with us. He is against the tribal oppression, genocide and looting of our resources by the foreigners from Mashonaland for he put in loud and clear in the book of Deuteronomy 17 from verse 15 to 17 using the hand of his servant, Moses.15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, You are not to go back that way again. 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.We in Matabeleland bear the phycical and psychological scars of being ruled and subjected to all kinds of painful political abuse at the hands of foreigners. God, being good all the time and being the creator of heaven, earth and all in it including human beings, knows that we must not allow foreigners to rule us hence he made sure that he spoke to us through Moses.How on earth can we allow ourselves to be ruled by heartless, failures and corrupt thieves who cannot even rule themselves? Zimbabwe has fallen from one political or corruption scandal to another since 1980. Now it has reached the rock bottom.Zimbabwe is a failed state without its own currency. Saddled with US$30 billion dept, the economy is on a downward spiral. The health system has totally collapsed with doctors and nurses using cardboard boxes and tape in place of plasters. Recently a popular musician, Tatenda Pinjisi, died while crying for pain killers which the hospital could not provide due to lack of medical supplies. How many poor people die a painful death in the Zimbabwe hospitals which have become dungeons of death instead of being places of healing?The oppressor who goes against the word of God shall not see peace in their country. They would experience perpetual political instability. On the same breath, the oppressed who allow themselves to be ruled by the foreigner will encounter the very inhuman treatment that we suffer in Matabeleland at the hands of the Zimbabwe Shona supremacist government ie genocide, tribal hatred, tribal hegemony, tribal marginalisation, poverty demonization and humiliation.We pray that all Matabeles understand that Shona people have declared us as their enemies long back. Those who join Geza's revolution must know that they are regarded as the worst enemies than Shonas in Mnangagwa's faction. The same applies to those Matabeles in Mnangagwa's camp.The fact of the matter is, the ignorant Zezurus who unwittingly assisted the Karanga of Mnangagwa to take over political power in Zimbabwe by removing their own Zezuru King Mugabe, are feeling the cold and want to make a come back. But the Karangas, currently enjoying the sweetness of power, are not prepared to surrender political power anytime soon. According to a Karanga Chief, Fortune Charumbira, the Karanga of Mnangagwa want 37 years in power like the Zezurus. They have only 8 years in power since 2017. This means they still have 29 more years to go. God have mercy!In Matabeleland it is not the corrupt Ziganandas that we want. It is not the corrupt Zezurus that we want. We want Matabeleland independence. We want to govern ourselves and exercise our God given right to choose our own leaders We do not need foreigners as our leaders!Izenzo kungemazwi!Israel DubeMLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs
David Lorenzo was dismissed from his $204,000-a-year job in Palisades Park and has taken legal action against the borough. Google Maps

The former borough administrator for Palisades Park in Bergen County has filed a notice of tort claim seeking $5 million in damages, alleging officials defamed him in a recent news article.

David Lorenzo claims Mayor Paul Kim and others cast him in a false light in a story that appeared online months after they fired him from his $204,000-a-year job in February 2024.
Two U.S. Army Reservists thwarted a 45-year-old man who tried to carjack another motorist after he crashed Thursday morning in Waterford and attacked a passing motorist, officials said.

The bizarre incident unfolded at about 8:30 a.m. when Rondean D. McDonald drove off Jackson Road and into the woods near the corner of Waverly Avenue, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said.

He then ripped open the locked drivers side door of a woman passing by in another vehicle and attacked her, the prosectors office said. McDonald then demanded she drive him out of the area, officials said.

McDonald also tried to strangle the 59-year-old woman before two men driving by who are U.S. Army Reservists at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst came to her rescue, authorities said.

One of the men used a fire extinguisher to break a window to her vehicle and remove her. Other Good Samaritans then called 911 and restrained McDonald.

McDonald, of the Mays Landing section of Hamilton, is charged with carjacking, kidnapping, aggravated assault and criminal mischief.

The woman, a Lindenwold resident, is in stable condition at an area hospital being treated for her injuries.

One of the U.S. Army reserves is also a Philadelphia police officer.

An attorney is not listed in court records for McDonald.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The Little Egg Harbor Board of Education approved a nearly 33% school tax increase for homeowners this week during a meeting that included very little pushback from the public.

The board voted 5-2 in favor of the budget that included the large increase to help solve the Ocean County districts financial problems.

Everyone who spoke in support of passing the budget acknowledged it would be a financial burden on homeowners. However, members of the school board and other speakers at Tuesdays meeting said their biggest concern was increasing class sizes if the district didnt raise taxes.

Little Egg Harbor School Board Vice President Abby Martin  who voted in favor of the tax increase  blamed the state school funding formula for Little Egg Harbors budget crisis.

I cant help but think this is all political and it drives me crazy, Martin said.

The nearly 33% tax increase will mean a yearly school tax hike of $615 on an average house valued at $308,000.

The Little Egg Harbor School District serves a little over 1,700 students, nearly 50% of whom receive free or reduced lunch. Unlike many districts experiencing a budget crunch around the state, enrollment numbers are not down in Little Egg Harbor.

The district says its funding decreased by over $1.5 million between the 2022 and 2024 school years.

Some of the decrease was due to the end of federal COVID relief funds, which previously gave the school district a $1 million boost, Robert Green, the districts business administrator, said at a board meeting in early April.

MORE: See how much your N.J. school district is slated to receive in state aid

Under Gov. Phil Murphys proposed state budget, Little Egg Harbor is expected to receive $7.7 million in state education funding for the upcoming school year. That is a 6% increase, or about $436,000 more than last year, according to state Department of Education data.

Little Egg Harbor and 280 other school districts are eligible for a state Tax Levy Incentive Aid program this year. Districts that apply for the program and are approved can impose larger-than-usual tax increases on homeowners.

To incentivize districts to apply for the extra aid, the state will pay the districts 5% of the amount they want to raise in taxes.

In Little Egg Harbors case, district officials asked the state to allow them to raise more than $3 million more from local taxpayers. The state will chip in $151,585, or 5% of the total Little Egg Harbor plans to increase its tax levy.

At Tuesdays meeting, Little Egg Harbor Superintendent Lisa Antunes announced the state had approved the districts application for the extra aid.

By doing so, they are affirming that we need this money to provide a thorough and efficient education to the students of Little Egg Harbor School District, she said.

Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, R-Ocean, criticized both Little Egg Harbors tax hike and the state program that provided the incentive for the tax increase.

A 33% increase on families already struggling with the cost of living is not a solution  its a betrayal, Sauickie said in a statement Thursday.

School board member Christine Snyder said Little Egg Harbor was limited in how it could raise more money for schools because it had no property or school buildings to sell.

We dont have land. We dont have buildings we can close. Were using every piece of space that we have, Snyder said at the meeting.

Seven members of the public shared their thoughts about the budget during the public comment period. Three of the speakers asked questions. The remaining four speakers were split on whether the budget should be approved.

One parent, who is also a district employee, expressed concern that raising class sizes would jeopardize the quality of education in the district. She said her school tax increase would be about $35 a month for her house.

Im willing to give up a few extra coffee runs a month to cover that $35 in order to keep the jobs that our schools so desperately need, so that our students can get the education they deserve, the parent said.

The districts budget presentation included a class size chart for both a 33% tax increase and a 25% increase. With a 25% tax increase, some second grade classrooms would grow to 50 students, the district said.

With the larger school tax increase, class sizes for second graders were expected to be 33 students, the district said.

Another long-time taxpayer at the meeting said he and fellow residents are tired of being relied on as the cash cows for the board of educations in the township.

Another speaker who said her children have attended Little Egg Harbor schools since 2019 said, Children are not a cost benefit analysis. They are an investment.

Youll notice I havent said a word about test scores or report cards, she said. Our children are worth more than the grades they produce.

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Liz Rosenberg may be reached at lrosenberg@njadvancemedia.com.
Fairleigh Dickinson University has reached a preliminary agreement to transfer ownership of Wroxton College  its campus in England for six decades  to a group led by university alumni, officials announced Friday.

If all goes according to plan, Fairleigh Dickinson will continue operating Wroxton College through May 2026, then the alumni group will assume control, university president Michael Avaltroni said.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. University officials did not immediately respond to questions about whether the alumni group will pay the school for the transfer of ownership.

We are confident that the future of Wroxton College will be in good hands with a team committed to preserving its legacy while developing an even more successful program for generations to come, Avaltroni said.

Fairleigh Dickinson will maintain a connection to Wroxton College and students will continue to have an opportunity to study in England, Avaltroni said.

Fridays announcement came after months of speculation about Wroxton College. Fairleigh Dickinson previously said it was evaluating the program at the 17th-century Jacobean mansion, known as Wroxton Abbey, as part of its strategic planning process.

Since 1965, approximately 10,000 students from more than 250 colleges and universities have taken classes at Wroxton College, according to Fairleigh Dickinson.

We are deeply grateful to Fairleigh Dickinson University for its stewardship of Wroxton over the past six decades and for working collaboratively with us to help structure an arrangement that, when finalized, will secure Wroxtons future, Kenneth Malagiere, chair of the Wroxton Advisory Committee, said in a statement provided by Fairleigh Dickinson.

Many colleges and universities in New Jersey have study abroad programs. Rutgers University offers Rutgers Global-Study Abroad, with enrollment options at more than 30 institutions of higher learning in China, Taiwan, Uruguay, France, Sweden, England and elsewhere.

Fairleigh Dickinson opened a campus in Vancouver, Canada, in 2007. Kean University has a large, degree-granting campus in China through a partnership with Wenzhou University.

Wroxton College, though, has a unique status. Fairleigh Dickinson said it was the first overseas campus purchased by a U.S. university.

Wroxton College currently enrolls 22 students for the spring semester, up from 21 last fall. It serves as a study abroad site, not a degree-granting campus.

Students may register for 12 to 18 credits per semester at Wroxton College. Those enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson pay the same tuition they would have paid on the New Jersey campus based on their entering date. Students from other schools pay $17,972 per semester in tuition.

Room, board and fees for all students is an additional $10,360 per semester.

I want to thank everyone who has made Wroxton College such a profound and life-transforming experience and ask for their continued support moving forward. I believe this next chapter provides us an exciting opportunity to build something new and special with our alumni and our students, Avaltroni said.

Fairleigh Dickinson University was founded in 1942 and currently enrolls 11,500 students at its campuses in Madison in Morris County and Teaneck in Bergen County, in addition to its study abroad campuses in Vancouver and at Wroxton College.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
Ramy Youssef arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Rutgers University is standing by comedian Ramy Youssef after a state lawmaker asked the school to reconsider choosing the actor as a commencement speaker.

Assemblyman Avi Schnall, who is a rabbi, wrote a letter to Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway that said Youssef is widely seen as polarizing.

Schnalls letter did not offer specifics, but Youssef has advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza. He also said during an appearance on Saturday Night Live last year that he prayed to free the people of Palestine.

Youssef later defended his remarks on the NBC show, telling the New York Times his statements were completely inoffensive.

Schnall, D-30th District, is one of two Orthodox Jewish state legislators in New Jersey. His district in Monmouth and Ocean counties includes Lakewood, which has a large number of Orthodox Jewish residents.

Schnalls letter to Rutgers said Youssefs role at the May 22 Rutgers-Newark commencement risks alienating and isolating many Jewish and Israeli students, according to the letter posted by TAPinto Belmar/Lake Como, a local news site.

I urge you to uphold the values that Rutgers aspires to represent, Schnall wrote.

By inviting a commencement speaker whose political positions are deeply hurtful to Jewish and Israeli students, Rutgers is sending the wrong message  that some identities and experiences matter less. I could not remain silent," the lawmaker said.

Youssef did not immediately respond to a request for comment left with his media representatives.

Rutgers defended its selection of Youssef.

Ramy Youssef is a celebrated writer and artist who has deep ties to New Jersey and to Rutgers-Newark, which he attended. His selection as commencement speaker at Rutgers-Newark reflects a tradition of honoring individuals who embody resilience, creativity, and connection to our community, the university said in a statement.

Rutgers officials said the selection of Youssef as a commencement speaker was extensively reviewed. He will be awarded an honorary doctor of fine arts degree at the ceremony, which will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Nominations for commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients at Rutgers-Newark are thoughtfully reviewed by a campus-wide committee including students, faculty, and staff that makes final recommendations, a university spokesperson said.

Youssef, 34, is a Muslim who was born in Queens, New York, and moved with his family to Rutherford, where he attended high school.

He attended Rutgers from 2009 to 2011, leaving eight years before his breakthrough role on the Hulu comedy-drama Ramy. The show centers on an Egyptian American millennial whose Muslim family lives in North Jersey.

His high-profile advocacy in support of Palestinians has drawn both support and criticism.

I have a lot of friends who are artists there who are currently directly being affected, directly under fire, Youssef told NJ Advance Media in December 2023.

So many days I feel like everything that Im doing is pointless knowing that thats going on ... Its not just the last two months. Its something that has always been connected to my heart in the work, he said.

Followed his Saturday Night Live appearance last year, Youssef made a plea for freeing the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

In his letter to Rutgers, Schnall cited reports of rising antisemitism allegations on U.S. campuses, including at Rutgers, which was the site of extensive pro-Palestinian protests last year.

Schnall wrote his letter before four people, including three Rutgers students, were arrested Tuesday at a protest outside the Rutgers Hillel on the New Brunswick campus. Hillel was hosting an event, attended by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th District, focused on rising antisemitism on college campuses.

Youssefs latest show, #1 Happy Family USA, debuted last month on Amazon. It is set in New Jersey and chronicles an Egyptian American Muslim family living in New Jersey in the early 2000s.

In a statement released by Rutgers last month, Youssef expressed appreciation for being selected as Rutgers-Newarks commencement speaker.

Thirteen years ago I took a break from Rutgers to pursue acting. The break is now over. I am honored to be giving this years commencement speech, and to finally receive a college degree. Thank you Rutgers for this honor, and for making my parents feel like the three semesters of tuition they paid for was actually worth it, he said.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
A Cranford man and three Rutgers University students were arrested Tuesday at a protest on the New Brunswick campus during an event attended by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), authorities said.

The Rutgers Police Department had a designated protest area outside of Rutgers Hillel on the College Avenue Campus to allow for a peaceful demonstration while maintaining campus and public safety and access in the area of the facility, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office.

Gottheimer was featured at a roundtable event at the facility to speak with students about the alarming rise in antisemitism on college campuses across the country, his office said Wednesday in a press release.

The protest was held at 7:45 p.m. in opposition to the event, the prosecutors office said.

Four of the protestors refused repeated requests from the Rutgers University Police Department to clear the public sidewalk, authorities said.

An attempt was made to de-escalate the situation, but the group did not comply and continued to block access, investigators said.

Officers from the Rutgers Police Department then formed a protective line to ensure safety and attempt to restore access, officials said.

Several people attempted to breach the line which caused officers to declare that the assembly was unlawful and the protestors were ordered to disperse, the office said.

Four of the protestors, including Thomas Whitehead, 25, of Cranford, breached the protest line while the dispersal order was being given and they were all arrested, authorities said.

Whitehead is not affiliated with the university but the three other protestors accused of breaching the line are three female students, ages 21, 23 and 24, investigators said.

He was charged with aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, riot, and resisting arrest, authorities said.

The 21-year-old student faces lesser charges of riot and resisting arrest and the other students were charged with riot, the office said.

Whitehead is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center until his pretrial detention hearing scheduled for May 6.

The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office along with the Rutgers University Police Department value free speech and support peaceful protests, the agencies said in a statement

However, the pursuit of these Constitutional Rights cannot interfere with Rutgers operations or deleteriously impact public safety, they added.

Gottheimer said in a statement that he always welcomes a debate on the issue, even when I disagree.

But theres absolutely no room for violence, especially against law enforcement, who are there to protect all of us, Gottheimer said.

Gottheimers visit to the university followed the release of the ADLs 2025 Campus Report Card, which gave Rutgers a grade of D for combating antisemitism on campus, his office said. The report documented nearly 300 reports of antisemitic discrimination at Rutgers between 2023 and 2024.

Anyone with additional information was asked to call Rutgers University Police Lt. Melvin Breton at 848-932-8025 or Sgt. Andrew Winter of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-4178.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.

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A federal grand jury has indicted two men accused of hiding their income and avoiding taxes associated with multiple roofing businesses they operated in New Jersey, authorities said.

The indictment charges Steve Mitchell, of Edison, and Samuel Mitchell, of Bohemia, New York, with four counts of each of tax evasion, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a statement on Thursday.

The office did not say whether the two men are related.

The duo operated roofing businesses under various names between 2018 and 2021. During that period, they earned between $881,730.26 and $1,397,960.21 in annual revenue and filed no income tax returns, federal authorities alleged.

They are also accused of trying to hide customer payments by bringing checks to check cashing businesses and providing false Social Security numbers, federal prosecutors said.

Steve Mitchell is additionally accused of scamming an elderly person out of $4.2 million by falsely claiming that the funds would be invested in a COVID mask-making business, officials said.

Mr. Mitchell denies these allegations, said Michael Baldassare, the attorney representing Steve Michell. We will defend him to the fullest extent of the law.

Samuel Mitchells defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A 19-year-old man has arrested after authorities say he shot at someone in Asbury Park last month.

Jahsaad M. Banks was arrested in Asbury Park on Wednesday on attempted murder and weapons charges, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said Friday.

No one was injured in the April 9 incident on the 1100 block of Atlantic Avenue.
The dog days of summer are back for another year with the return of the dog-friendly Yappy Hour at Asbury Parks Wonder Bar.

A nearby condo development project had threatened the future of the local favorite event, but a change approved last week cleared the way for its return.

The City Council adopted an amendment with developer Somerset Asbury Park Urban Renewal, LLC. of Holmdel, to allow construction on the condos starting on the south and west locations.

Saturday, July 18, 2020 - Dogs enjoys shaded pools of water in Asbury Park at the Wonder Bar's "Yappy Hour" .The Jersey Shore is open under pandemic lockdown social distancing guidelines. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The construction will begin on the side of the Wonder Bar that is away from the Yappy Hour venue.

I think City Council has done what it can do to safely assure that Yappy Hour can happen this summer, unless safety requirements dictate otherwise, said attorney Joanne Vos of Maraziti Falcon in Cedar Knolls, a spokesperson for the city.

That amendment speaks to how the construction will be timed, so that Yappy Hour at Wonder Bar can continue at least through Labor Day of this year, Vos said.

They are going to start construction but start on south and west portions so Yappy Hour can continue, Vos said.

Wonder Bar Manager Debbie DeLisa, who voiced previous concerns that the development would eliminate the deck open to dogs and their owners said she was pleased with the agreement.

I am very thankful to our mayor and council and Somerset Development for working together to enable us to continue our Yappy Hour this summer, DeLisa said in a statement.

We do understand we may have to stop at some point this season to comply with safety protocol but we are happy to comply with this and are grateful for any time we can welcome our guests and their pups to Wonder Bar Yappy Hour, she said.

In 2022, planned luxury residential units by Somerset Development showed a significant reduction to the Wonder Bar outdoor space.

While the project would not affect the structure of the Wonder Bar, the proposed development would eliminate the deck open to dogs and their owners, according to a previous statement DeLisa.

The Wonder Bar is an iconic venue in Asbury Park known for its smiling Tillie mural and Bruce Springsteen shows.

Vos said the developer recognized the significance of Yappy Hour and also has agreed to delay the construction of permanent chain link fencing through at least Labor Day.

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Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com.
A teenager charged with killing his 15-year-old passenger in a high-speed crash has been sentenced to four years in a youth correctional facility.

His mother, who lent her son her car the night of the crash even though he didnt have a license, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Dane T. Pierce, now 19, and his mother, Tisha Gargon, 53, both of Pittsgrove, were sentenced Thursday in Salem County court after pleading guilty to charges in March.

Pierce was indicted in 2023 on first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree reckless vehicular homicide charges in the March 2022 crash in Pittsgrove that killed Evan DAnjou, a Schalick High School student.

At the time of the crash, Pierce was 16 and ineligible for a drivers license. He was speeding at 108 mph before running a stop sign at McKishen Road and Buck Road, according to court documents.

The car traveled across Buck Road, went off the roadway, and hit a tree, police said. At the scene, Pierce allegedly told police he had killed his best friend, referring to DAnjou.

Pierces case was waived from family court to criminal court in 2023, where he was charged as an adult with operating a motor vehicle while unlicensed and recklessly under the influence of marijuana, according to New Jersey State Police.

In Salem County Superior Court Thursday, Pierces attorney sought to reduce his sentence to three years.

However, following the Salem County Prosecutors Offices plea deal recommendation, Judge Russell DePersia sentenced Pierce to four years in a youth correctional facility, with 85% of the term required before parole eligibility.

Honor your best friend, Judge DePersia told Pierce after the sentencing. These families were once very close, and this family treated you like their own kid. Honor your best friend.

Gargon, Pierces mother, was sentenced to five years in state prison with no parole.

Gargon apologized to the DAnjou family at the hearing, saying they treated her son like their own.

I cannot imagine what their family has gone through. I have regret, huge remorse. I live with it every day, Gargon said.

Gargon was previously indicted on second- and third-degree child endangerment charges in the case, but the charges were dismissed in 2023.

Before the sentencing, Frederick Daum, DAnjous uncle, read a statement on the familys behalf.

DAnjou, a high school sophomore, was an avid motocross enthusiast whose passion for riding began at a young age, according to his family.

Theres not a day that goes by  at some point  I dont hear my sisters phone call on that fateful morning saying, Freddy, Evan is dead, Daum said in court.

The victims family condemned Gargon for neglecting both of the teens before allowing them to take her car. They urged the court to impose the maximum sentence possible.

The family asked him Pierce to live in a way that honors his best friend.

Dane, you have been given the greatest gift  the gift of life, Daum said on behalf of the victims mother.

DAnjous estate filed a lawsuit last year, claiming trees and shrubs blocked the stop sign at the McKishen Road intersection where the crash occurred.

The suit said Pierce and DAnjou couldnt see the sign, leading Pierce to drive through the T-intersection and into Deer Pen Park, where he struck a tree.

The lawsuit names Salem County, Pittsgrove Township and the property owners as defendants.

Staff writer Matt Gray contributed to this report.

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The 32-year-old Toms River police officer charged in a home invasion at her former boyfriends Beachwood house last month has been released from jail, a judge ruled Friday.

Rebeca Sayegh will spend at least a month in an out-of-state rehabilitation facility that treats law enforcement officers experiencing mental health issues as a condition of her release.

Judge Pamela Snyder also ordered her to have no contact with her ex-boyfriend or his new girlfriend. That woman was also in the house on Evernhan Avenue when Sayegh allegedly broke in and threatened to burn down the house on April 25.

The new girlfriend also obtained a temporary restraining order against Sayegh, the judge said at Fridays detention hearing.

Sayegh once lived in the home with her former boyfriend, whom she dated for five years, according to her attorney Terrance Turnbach.

Turnbach pointed to the many awards and commendations Sayegh has received in her nine years as a police officer and her otherwise clean record in arguing she should be released to go the rehabilitation facility.

Sayeghs dog still lives in the house and some of her clothing and other personal possessions are still in the residence, according to Turnbach.

Berkeley police will escort her to the home, where Sayegh will have 15 to 20 minutes to retrieve her belongings, the judge said.

Sayegh is charged with home invasion burglary, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, two counts of assault and two counts of criminal mischief.

Sayegh was off-duty when she used a baton to smash the front door glass and enter the home in the Bayville section of Berkeley at about 11:20 p.m. as her former boyfriend and his new girlfriend sat in the living room, according to prosecutors.

Sayegh began arguing with the pair after entering and the verbal dispute turned physical when Sayegh began pushing and shoving both victims, according to Assistant Prosecutor Isabella Young.

The woman suffered swelling to the eye when Sayegh poked her with her fingernail, Young said.

Sayegh threw a plant back into the living room and then went upstairs to break items and rip pictures off the wall as her ex-boyfriend and the retreated to the backyard to call 911, Young said.

She also scratched one of the victims vehicles on the hood.

Sayegh also tried to fight with responding officers and physically resisted being arrested authorities said. Sayegh threatened to burn the house down as police walked her down the driveway, officials allege.

She caused $2,000 damage the house and $500 in damage to a car, Young said.

Young said Sayeghs alleged crimes were serious enough to keep her in jail and called her a danger to the victims and the community.

Her actions were targeted and deliberate, Young said. A gross violation of the sanctity of personal safety in ones home.

As a police officer Sayegh was aware of the consequences and illegality of her actions and committed them anyway, Young added.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A Freehold Borough man has been sentenced to five years in state prison for shooting a man in the face in Jackson Township last summer, authorities said.

Michael Vulpis, 26, was sentenced Friday by Ocean County Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He must serve at least 85% of the sentence under the No Early Release Act, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
A Passaic County man admitted to setting off an explosive at an ATM at a Chase Bank in Prospect Park, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said Thursday.

Nicolas Torres, 42, of Passaic, pleaded guilty to using an explosive to damage property used in interstate commerce.

Surveillance recordings showed Torres approaching an ATM at a Chase Bank in Prospect Park on July 5, 2022, officials said.

Torres ignited an explosive device in front of the ATM that detonated several seconds later, officials said.

Torres and two others were seen fleeing the scene, according to authorities.

Officials said Torres also purchased $1,000 worth of fireworks in Pennsylvania the day before.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 9.

An attorney for Torres did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to supporters on stage at his campaign headquarters after the Liberal Party won the Canadian election in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Justin Tang//The Canadian Press via AP) AP

Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is standing up to President Donald Trump.

Carney discussed his upcoming meeting with Trump in comments to reporters on Friday as he pushed back on Trumps push to make Canada the 51st state of the U.S. When asked if Trump brought up his urge to annex Canada in a phone call with Carney, the newly elected leader said Trump did not.

In your second call with the president, did Mr. Trump outright say or insinuate at any point that Canada should become the 51st state?, a reporter asked Carney.

No, he did not, Carney responded.

Reporter: In your second call with the president, did Mr. Trump outright say or insinuate at any point that Canada should become the 51st state?



Canadian PM Carney: He did not. pic.twitter.com/nH6O3fKpKc  The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) May 2, 2025

Some social media users roasted Trump for not even bringing up the annexation of Canada to the countrys leader.

One user wrote on social media platform X: Brutal.Carney didnt flinch, didnt foldand Trumps bravado melted into silence.Canadas playing chess while Trumps stuck on slogans."

Trump has repeatedly said that he wants Canada to be the 51st state of the U.S. and has repeatedly criticized Canada and its leaders. Trump frequently called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the governor of Canada in his comments about him.

Canadians have pushed back on Trumps rhetoric, saying that they do not want to become a part of the United States. This also comes as Trump has implemented costly tariffs on imported goods from Canada, escalating the feud between the two allied countries.

Carney firmly rejected Trumps push to annex Canada in comments to reporters on Friday.

It is always important to distinguish want from reality. Right? What someone wants and what is reality. What the Canadian people have clearly stated, virtually without exception is that this will never happen, Carney added.

He noted that he is meeting with Trump to discuss the partnership between the U.S. and Canada and vowed to fight for the best deal for Canada and only accept the best deal.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Canada becoming 51st U.S. State: "It's always important to distinguish want from reality...what the Canadian people clearly have stated, virtually without exception, is this will never ever happen." pic.twitter.com/ZJ38rGauq4  CSPAN (@cspan) May 2, 2025

While Canadian voters worried about the cost of living, about crime and other issues, the election became a referendum on Trump in a land where he is deeply unpopular.

Trumps annexation threats and trade war have upended Canadas identity in ways few Americans understand. The attacks are viewed as not only deeply insulting, but a stinging betrayal by what was supposed to be the countrys closest friend and trading partner.

They have sparked a wave of nationalism typically foreign to a country that is better known for apologizing than flag waving.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - MAY 01: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump's remarks come the day before official commencement ceremonies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Getty Images

President Donald Trump does not mind humiliating one of his closest allies.

Trump delivered an address to graduating seniors at the University of Alabama on Thursday night. The speech closely replicated one of his political rallies as he echoed his familiar rhetoric on the 2020 election, his tariff plans and the Biden administration.

At one point, he jabbed the tech CEOs, including billionaire Elon Musk, who flocked to support him after winning the 2024 election. Many tech CEOs donated funds for Trumps inauguration following his win over former Vice President Kamala Harris.

If you look at some of these internet people, I know so many of them. Elon [Musk] is so terrific...A lot of them all hated me in my first term and now they are kissing my ass. Its true, all of them. Its true, Trump quipped.

Some social media users pointed out that Trumps statement was embarrassing for Musk, who has regularly appeared at the presidents side since the inauguration.

How embarrassing for Elon https://t.co/r7LunbrhDa  MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) May 2, 2025

Many social media users also criticized Trump for his language during the speech. The Republicans Against Trump account on social media platform X suggested that previous presidents would be ridiculed if they spoke like that.

Imagine the headlines if Joe Biden or any other president had spoken like this during a university commencement. It would dominate the news for days. But since its Trump, the media will likely ignore it entirely," the account wrote.

The Republicans jolting speech was standard fare for Trump and well received by the crowd in deep-red Alabama, which backed him in all three of his presidential runs.

Youre the first graduating class of the golden age of America, the president told the graduates.

But he quickly launched into a campaign-style diatribe, saying that the U.S. was being ripped off before he took office and that the last four years, when he was out of power, were not good for our country.

But dont let that scare you, he said. It was an aberration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

President Donald Trump is being roasted for following in Russias footsteps and for disregarding U.S. veterans.

Trump announced late Thursday that he wants to rename Veterans Day to Victory Day for World War I and wants to mark May 8 as Victory Day for World War II. However, many pundits and social media users noted that May 8 only represents the end of the war for Europeans, not Americas greatest generation.

Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything  Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" he added.

The Atlantics David Frum noted that Trump is following Russias practice in celebrating the end of the war on May 8. The war for the rest of the world did not end until Japan surrendered in August 1945.

Nazi Germany surrendered in May 1945. For Americans, the Second World War would rage for three more months, until VJ Day in August. But for Russians and those influenced by them, Victory Day falls in May. Trump follows the Russian practice, not the American, Frum wrote on social media platform X.

Nazi Germany surrendered in May 1945. For Americans, the Second World War would rage for three more months, until VJ Day in August. But for Russians and those influenced by them, "Victory Day" falls in May. Trump follows the Russian practice, not the American. pic.twitter.com/vgVvMtnOEN  David Frum (@davidfrum) May 2, 2025

Frum also noted that Trumps rhetoric on World War II mixes strangely with his America First movement.

Trumps America-triumphalist version of WW2 mixes strangely with the fact that he named his own America First movement after a movement led in 1940-41 by the Axis sympathizer, Charles Lindbergh, he wrote in a separate post.

Political commentator Keith Olbermann also weighed in.

We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. Trump is a complete moron, he wrote.

Trump is also being criticized for wanting to rename Veterans Day on Nov. 11, which is a federal holiday used to commemorate the service of all U.S. military veterans. He is being accused of erasing the holiday to celebrate military victories instead of honoring veterans who served in other wars fought by the U.S.

Trump announces he is replacing Veterans Day with Victory Day for World War I, taking away the honor of the day from millions veterans, podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen wrote on X.

Strategist Alexander S. Vindman, a senior advisor at Vote Vets, blasted Trump for his decision and ripped him for reportedly asking thousands of soldiers to participate in a parade for the presidents birthday.

Trump is a dipshit simpleton. He doesnt understand that tens of thousands of troops were killed and wounded between May and August of 1945, so May 8th as Victory Day for WWII makes no sense from as a starting point, he wrote.

Worse yet, changing Veterans Day to Victory Day for WWI ignores the sacrifice of those countless others who served. What really pisses me off is the military parade hes trying to get for his birthday. There should be mass resignations to protest this obscene vanity project that wastes precious resources and the time of our troops, he added.

Many users noted that only Congress can rename Veterans Day.

Seriously? There are no limits. Only Congress can rename Veterans Day. Trump wants to rename Veterans Day to focus on military victories, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote on X.

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A history teacher at a charter school in Plainfield is accused of paying a 16-year-old boy for nude photos and also offering to pay him for sex, authorities said.

Jack Wilder, 26, of Somerville, faces charges of possession of child sexual abuse images and two counts of enticement of a minor, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey announced Thursday.

On Feb. 10, 2024, Wilder communicated with the teen using a mobile payment application and told him he would pay him to engage in sexual activity, authorities said.

Detectives interviewed the boy on Oct. 1 and he told them that on an unspecified date, he was approached by Wilder in Jersey City and was offered $100 for sex, according to a criminal complaint.

Wilder invited the teen to his house that night at midnight, but the teen told detectives that he did not go to the home, the complaint stated.

He also told police that he sent pictures of his genitals to Wilder in exchange for money, investigators said.

On July 23, 2024, Wilder returned to New York on an international flight and detectives searched his phone, the office said.

They found a video depicting child sexual abuse material and sexually explicit conversations between Wilder and other individuals who identified themselves as minors, federal prosecutors said.

Wilder had his first appearance Thursday in Newark federal court and was detained, the office said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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The internet is an easy place to talk to strangers, but is it a good place to get advice?

After a century of newspapers publishing advice columns, its no surprise that online columns emerged as well. But without the guardrails and polite boundaries of local papers and columns like Dear Abby, theres no holds barred on what people share.

In Tiny Beautiful Things, Sugar is the pseudonym of an advice columnist who emerges to answer the questions of people turning to the internet for help and guidance. Crescent City Stage presents the show at Marquette Theatre at Loyola University New Orleans on May 8-25.

Sugar is a writer who takes the advice job on a whim while bogged down in other projects. Shes immediately hit with the questions often sent to advice columnists. How does one handle being jealous of a friends success? People wonder if theyre in a bad marriage, and if they can get out. Should they stop cheating?

Dear Abby must have received many of the same questions, and if she chose to answer them, she didnt do it with the candor one can find online, or that comes naturally to Sugar.

Online readers also have another point-blank question: Who are you?

Sugar says shes not a therapist but promises to be honest with readers.

Many people write in questions, and an online community starts forming. As the letters and responses go on, Sugar is open about the reasons for her advice. She shares her own experiences with dating, having children and failing marriages.

She also shares that she had a problem with drugs. The questions from readers get more personal and challenging, and so do the answers.

On the internet, people got permission to be as raw publicly and anonymously as anything ever had been, says Michael Newcomer, who is directing the play. The big difference was Sugar. She did something nobody else had done. She said to these writers, I was a heroin addict. That personalized it in the way no one ever did.

On stage, Sugar types at a laptop on her desk. We also see the writers asking about their partners or difficult parents or children. In many productions, the play has used a set looking like a normal, slightly cluttered home, in the kitchen or living room. At Crescent City Stage, Newcomer opted for something more suggestive of the place where the writers and Sugar are. Shes at her desk, but theyre in crisis.

They reflect some of the places we tend to reveal ourselves, Newcomer says. A park bench, a therapists couch, a diner stool and a dining room table chair.

Tiny Beautiful Things was adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, who is best known for writing and starring in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It originally was a one-woman show for the stage, but it had huge success as a romantic comedy movie and spun off two sequels.

Tiny Beautiful Things is more often about facing difficulties with family than celebrating with them. But Vardalos did an impressive job adapting Cheryl Strayeds book Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

Strayed has published several books popular in the self-help genre. Her best-selling Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail is an account of a literal journey of self-discovery and getting her life together. Tiny Beautiful Things is based on her stint as an advice columnist and shares what she said and the experience disparate people shared.

Find information or tickets at crescentcitystage.com.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is back at the Fair Grounds April 24-27 and May 1-4, and Gambit will be out each day of the fest to capture all of the music, food and sights.

Our writers will be posting recaps and special reports each day of the festival, so keep up with the latest here and on Gambit's Instagram.

Need help figuring out what to see at Jazz Fest? Take a look below for our preview coverage.

Week 2  Daily Recaps

Sunday at Jazz Fest 2025: Trombone Shorty and guests cap fest, and more from last day Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews has held down the final set of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 2013, and he often makes the 

+6 Sunday at Jazz Fest 2025: My Morning Jacket, Galactic with Irma Thomas, Lenny Kravitz and more About a third of the way into My Morning Jackets headlining show on the Gentilly Stage Sunday, frontman Jim James dove into a story about his

+4 Saturday at Jazz Fest 2025: Pearl Jam, Samantha Fish, Gitkin and HaSizzle Pearl Jam kept things easy on the Festival Stage Saturday during their two-hour headlining set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

+4 Saturday at Jazz Fest: Cultural Exchange Pavilion bands plus Nicholas Payton and Esperanza Spalding Jazz Fest's Cultural Exchange Pavilion had a variety of Mexican music Saturday, from harmonizing sisters Laura and Celia Garcia of Las Hermana

+3 Friday at Jazz Fest 2025: Joan Jett, Benin International Musical, celebrating Clifton Chenier, more Despite some dark clouds in the distance, the rain held off during the second Friday of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The crow

+2 Following car accident, Jazz Fest gets off to a hot and packed second week The second week of Jazz Fest kicked off with a bit of tragedy after three people were hit by a car outside the main gate just as the show was 

+5 Jazz Fest week two kicks off with lots of nostalgia and celebration of Mexican culture The sun was beaming down hard at the Fair Grounds on the second Thursday of Jazz Fest. Though a periodic breeze offered a little bit of relief

+10 Scenes from the second Locals Thursday at Jazz Fest 2025 Check out these pictures from the second Locals Thursday of Jazz Fest 2025!

Week 1  Daily Recaps

+12 Scenes from day four of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 Check out these photos from the first Sunday of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025!

+4 Sunday at Jazz Fest 2025: Jake Shimabukuro says aloha, Matlachines Los Venados parade and more Hawaiian ukelele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro played two sets at Jazz Fest on Sunday. The first one was in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion, which 

+5 Sunday at Jazz Fest 2025: Dave Matthews, Burna Boy, Haim, Big Freedia (again) and more The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival closed out the first weekend of its 2025 edition with beautiful weather, a lot of people and a to

+10 Scenes from day three of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 Check out these photos from the first Saturday of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025!

Saturday at Jazz Fest 2025: 'Living the Tradition' at the Fair Grounds Trumpeter and bandleader Mark Braud was having fun with the audience in the Economy Hall Tent when he played a song off of his 2018 album, "Li

+5 Saturday at Jazz Fest 2025: Lil Wayne and the Roots, Big Freedia, The Rumble and more The first Saturday at the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival brought out the fests largest crowds so far for another day of music,

+10 Scenes from day two of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 Check out these photos from day two of New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025!

+2 Friday at Jazz Fest 2025: Warming up with Kacey Musgraves, Youssou N'Dour, El Dusty and more The 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival rolled into it second day with good weather, if a little warm, and more people turning out f

+4 Thursday at Jazz Fest 2025: Opening day with John Fogerty, Jon Cleary, Sabine McCalla and more Opening day of the 2025 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was as perfect a day to spend outside enjoying music and food as they come.

+7 You can get liquor at Jazz Fest now, but it aint the easiest (or cheapest) trick to pull off Im not much of a beer guy these days. Unless were boiling or at a Saints game, I prefer my adult beverages served neat or over ice with a mo

Previews

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 gears up for round two at the Fair Grounds The 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival picks back up for its second week Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4.

Extras

+2 Help John Boutte get his missing tambourine back John Boutte is a treasure. A happy, voice of an angel having, tambourine loving absolute TREASURE. Frankly at a time when music icons are cons
Guest column: TOPS is falling short. One BR high school is trying a new model that's working
Papa Johns has confirmed that its Barnstaple branch is among 13 stores to close after it ended its relationship with a franchisee operating across the South West and beyond.

The Gazette understands staff were not given prior notice, and say they remain unclear about their employment status or whether they will be paid for past shifts.

The closures, which include stores in Newquay, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, and several in Plymouth, follow a "thorough review" by the company.

A Papa Johns spokesperson told the Gazette: We hold all our restaurants to the highest standards and expect our franchisees to operate with integrity and in line with our values. Following a thorough review, we have ended our relationship with this franchisee.

"While the stores are temporarily closed, we are working to secure new ownership and reopen as soon as possible. Our priority is delivering quality pizza and a great experience for our customers, while supporting our teams through this transition.

The Barnstaple store on Boutport Street is currently listed as temporarily closed on Google. Employees claim they were informed of the closure via a message from franchise owner Jabbar Mumtaz.

Cassie Smitherson, who works at the Torquay branch, told the Gazette: None of us were given any notice. Weve had no confirmation about whether well be paid for the work weve already done, and we dont know where we stand. Its left us completely in the dark and extremely worried.

Mr Mumtaz, a London-based businessman, was reported to have acquired the Devon and Cornwall Papa Johns franchise in late 2023 after the previous operator went bust.

The 13 stores currently listed as temporarily closed are:
Silva Devarj was living in Boston and her then-boyfriend Shanoor was living in Chicago.

The couple started exchanging hand-painted greeting cards they made themselves.

"I would send him loving cards and he would answer it back," she said. "After a while it became our thing: back-and-forth, back-and-forth. He used to express his love and put funny things in it. It became an interesting back-and-forth in a love affair. After we got married, we had the branding business but also wanted to do that for fun."

They ran a greeting card business called Nekter Cards, named after the sugary fluid in flowers, since so many of their cards had floral designs. They got busier and busier with their branding firm, Devarj Design Agency, so they stopped making and selling cards for 20 years.

Having time on her hands, Silva Devarj restarted Nekter Cards when she was home during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

She hand-paints cards and then produces a limited run of often around 50 prints. Once they're gone, they're gone.

"It's not like a Hallmark card. It's not like a quick card where you throw it away," she said. "It's more like artistic work that you want to keep and give to your loved ones. It's a special card."

Valparaiso-based Nekter Cards makes cards for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other special occasions. They're sold online and at small specialty stores in Northwest Indiana and Florida. They're hand-embellished with glitter paint. They're often floral and heartfelt.

"It could be romantic. It could be something you want to put your own words in the cards," she said. "It's not something you have written for you."

She's planning to add tissues with different phrases, so people can personalize blank cards with personalized messages. Nekter also sells boxes with different varieties, like romantic expressions and butterfly series.

"These are limited-edition. I'm not mass-producing these. These won't be printed over and over again," she said.

Nekter Cards currently has 100 designs. Devarj adds about 10 new designs every few months.

"On the spot, something will come to me, or I'm out with my partner on the street and I'll see a tree or some flowers. It depends where I am," she said. "If I'm at an art show, something will pop into my head. I, for instance, do penguins and different characters I love. I always go with things I'm passionate about, whether it's flowers, penguins or butterflies."

Her husband Shanoor Devarj contributes more cartoonish designs, such as or pigs or dinosaurs.

"We go with the flow, whatever's in our mind," she said. "We also think about the market: what people really love."

It can take a day or a week or even longer to come up with a new design.

"They are like little babies," she said. "I don't have a favorite. To me, they're all precious on their own. Either we love them or they're not going to be produced."

The business also branched out into refrigerator magnets, but the economics don't work, so Nekter will no longer make new ones and just run through its remaining inventory. It will focus on the core greeting card business.

"I try to make it simple, beautiful and lighthearted," she said. "I try to imagine the person who's looking at it. I envision what it should look like before I create it."

In the long term, Devarj would like the cards to be picked up by wholesalers.

"I don't want to be Hallmark at all," she said. "I just want to express myself in my work and have it loved by other people."

Made in the Region is a series highlighting artisans and makers who make things in Northwest Indiana and the broader Calumet Region. If you would like to suggest a subject to be featured, contact Times of Northwest Indiana Reporter Joseph S. Pete at 219-933-3316 or email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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The Blue Envelope Program has finally reached Indiana thanks to the Portage Township Trustees office and Porter County police departments.

First introduced in Connecticut in 2020, the free, anonymous program is a brilliant communication tool between motorists who are on the autism spectrum and law enforcement officers in case of a traffic stop. It involves a blue envelope containing a packet of materials to better connect both parties during such stressful encounters.

I have been medically diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, states a blue card in the envelope. My medical condition impairs my ability to communicate with others. Please do not interpret my behavior as refusal to cooperate.

The backside of that card lists a contact person to call, if needed, to confirm a diagnosis, provide information or serve as a liaison. Other materials list tips for the driver, such as that police may shine a flashlight into the vehicle or may use a radio device to talk with dispatchers.

This program benefits both the driver and the officer, said Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon. The driver will know what to expect from the officer, and the officer will have an indication of who may be operating the vehicle before they approach.

That indication can be in the form of a small blue envelope decal in the rear window of the vehicle. When the officer notices it or is given the blue envelope from a driver, it immediately alters the situation.

By working together as a community, this program will help reduce the chance of an escalated incident taking place during a traffic stop, Balon said.

The envelope contains guidelines for both parties, designed to prepare motorists for such interactions while allowing an officer to adapt his or her approach.

The police officers in Porter County are highly trained professionals who are dedicated to our citizens. It is extremely important they have as much information as possible at the time of a traffic stop, Balon said. Porter County is the first in the state to implement this program, launched countywide April 1 for National Autism Acceptance Month.

I started the project last fall and the Porter County Sheriffs office and Portage police immediately jumped on it, Joyce Russell said.

Russel is the community outreach and communications coordinator for the Portage Township Trustees office under Brendan Clancy. In 2020, the office created the Portage Township Autism Action Coalition, partnering with schools, first responders, community organizations and others.

Since then, weve implemented several programs. This is the latest one, Russell said. Its simple, it's basic and it's needed.

Its also inexpensive, costing the trustees office about $500 for all the materials, later reimbursed by a grant from Porter County Community Foundation, which will also fund the purchase of sensory kits for cops to use during these situations to help people on the spectrum calm down or regulate their sensory input.

Just last month, federal data showed increased autism prevalence rates, estimating that one in 31 children were diagnosed with autism in 2022, up from one in 36 in 2020. With this increase means more drivers on the spectrum are operating a motor vehicle.

We don't know exactly how many drivers are on Porter County roads, Russell said. We can only extrapolate numbers from the National Institutes of Health and a study done last year by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, saying 33% of autistic teens will end up getting their driver's license.

Her office concluded there could be up to 900 adults on the spectrum who are driving in Porter County or into the Region. Imagine the numbers for Lake County or downstate Marion County. However, only 30 or so Blue Envelope packets have been picked up by motorists at the trustees office, any police department or BMV branch offices in Porter County.

We dont ask anyones names, Russell said.

No one wants to be named on a government list these days, so anonymity is key to advancing the Blue Envelope program into the Region and the entire state. State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, introduced a legislative bill to implement the program statewide, but it didnt make it out of committee this session.

I wonder if partisan politics somehow sabotaged a bill that should have navigated around such nonsense. Now it may take another year to pull it off, making life easier for cops and autistic drivers. Meanwhile, Porter County will serve as the pilot program in Indiana, with the rest of Indiana to follow, said Balon, whos in full support of the project.

This kind of sensitivity training and public approach could also be applied for other populations of drivers. For instance, other medical conditions, such as a stroke, that could impair driving a vehicle. I recently wrote a column about this exact situation of a police officer who didnt recognize a stroke victim. It led to a lawsuit.

The blue envelope is more than just an envelope, a brochure states. Its a symbol of our commitment to inclusiveness, public awareness and education.

For more information, contact PortageTrustee.org or call 219-762-1623.
The Mets new fashion exhibition is about Tailoring Black Style. For these working craftspeople, thats basically a job description.

The Mets new fashion exhibition is about Tailoring Black Style. For these working craftspeople, thats basically a job description.

Once all the spilled champagne has been mopped up from this years Met Gala, the exhibition that its toasting, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, will examine Black dandies, bespoke suiting and the Black men who so often set the standard of what it means to be stylish.

Black fashion lovers may feel the celebration is long overdue, but the show provides an opportunity to consider all that tailoring can mean  especially to Black people in the United States.

Ahead of the Costume Institute show, Black craftspeople across the country  a milliner in South Carolina, mens tailors in Chicago, a jeweler in Los Angeles  reflected on the power and joy that can be found in tailoring.

Custom Clothiers Christopher Brackenridge and Milton Latrell Two sons of seamstresses help men look their best at Agriculture, a boutique in Chicago. Photographs and video by Nolis Anderson for The New York Times Wed both seen how confident the clients of our moms became when they wore custom clothing. They had confidence. They walked a certain way. Their posture changed. And we was like, If that makes a Black man feel good, why not be a part of that?  Milton Latrell The boutiques clients include famous Black actors, pastors and musicians, as well as local students getting outfitted for prom. Mr. Brackenridge said he especially loved working on pieces that clients have had in their families for generations and finding new ways of updating them so they feel modern. A 60-year-old jacket that once belonged to a clients grandfather was a particular highlight. I love when a client is able to come in and bring a piece that their grandfather may have worn and we are able to update that style to now.  Christopher Brackenridge We like to put things like hidden watch pockets and coin pockets for a little surprise, Mr. Latrell said.

When youre wearing something custom or just customized to you, you feel debonair  extraordinary, even  like you can accomplish anything, said Milton Latrell, co-founder of Agriculture, a Chicago boutique specializing in custom suiting and styling for men.

For many Black people, having a tailor is not an extravagance, but a necessity. The right tailor can take an ill-fitting pair of pants and make them flatter every contour of the body. The right tailor can transform scraps of fabric into a treasured dress, skirt or jacket  all while leaving customers looking and feeling their best. And when customers feel their best, they exude a swagger and confidence that feels like a natural part of being Black.

Tailor Cheryl A. Lofton A third-generation tailor in Washington initially wanted nothing to do with the family business. Photographs and video by Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times My niche in the business was alterations. I wanted to make sure that women knew that they could come in and have the same treatment that the men got in a tailoring business. Scissors originally belonging to JC Lofton, Ms. Lofton's grandfather who started the business in 1939. Black Tailors J.C. Lofton, left, in Washington D.C. in the 1940s, who founded Lofton Custom Tailoring in 1939. My mom dressed up to go to the grocery store. She did not go out of this house without a nice, well-fitted dress, her makeup done, and her high-heeled shoes. Never, ever did my mom go out without being dressed up, as did all of the grown-ups in our family. They were always well dressed. Cheryl A. Lofton and her grandfather, Joe Cephus (J.C.) in the 1970s.

Like Ms. Lofton, I have family in the business. For most of my own childhood my mother was a tailor, making wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and suits in a room in the back of our house in Harare, Zimbabwe. Her customers, a mix of friends, family and strangers, always seemed to leave her de facto studio feeling joyful. It was in that back room that I found an affinity for tulle and feathers, and learned just how special clothes made just for you could make you feel.

When my family arrived in the United States, my mother stopped sewing professionally, but she always made time to ensure that my clothes  most of which were thrifted or hand-me-downs donated by our new community  felt one of a kind. She would swap out a plain black button for a fun mismatched pink one, extend a hem on pants that were a tad too short, use extra fabric on a skirt that was too big to create pleats and ruching. Even when my clothes werent new, they felt special.

Costumer Laron Nelson The owner of Opulent Designs in New Orleans says his goal is to make outfits that are more costume than fashion. Photographs and video by Camille Lenain for The New York Times I use a lot of sequined fabrics  a lot of velvet, satins, lames, lace, brocade, rhinestone fabrics  because for Mardi Gras, everything is all about the glitter and the shine. The glitz. Locally, Mr. Nelson is best known for his custom wire working and feather collars, worn by participants in New Orleanss famed second lines and pageants. I started creating it so I wouldnt have to spend the type of money it cost to buy from other people, Mr. Nelson said. Mr. Nelsons mother and sister help with the business, whose studio is in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. A lot of men are deterred from wearing what they want to wear because they may feel like something is not masculine. But my thing is, if youre masculine, it doesnt matter who you are, what you are and what you wear. For Mr. Nelson, more is more.

At 18, I moved to Rome for school, and within days of arriving, found myself wandering through the Termini neighborhood in search of a barber and a tailor. I was tight on cash, but I wouldnt be caught in clothes that were too tight or too loose. I found a student tailor who shared a studio space with other young designers.

Years later, as a graduate student in New York, I often hauled a bag of thrifted clothes to a Harlem dry cleaner for alterations. The store was next to my barbershop and a few blocks away from the market where I bought fabric for scarves and head wraps  which, of course, was walking distance from my cobbler. In my late 20s in Atlanta, I made sure to find a tailor, a barber and a jeweler to repair my most beloved pieces before I signed an apartment lease.

Jewelry Designer Maggi Simpkins A Los Angeles artist who doesnt want to make earrings or bracelets just for the sake of making pretty things. Photographs and video by Bethany Mollenkof for The New York Times Were creating these pieces with the intention that theyll be passed down throughout generations and continue to tell the stories of the people that once wore these pieces. I used to have a locket growing up and I loved it and I thought it was magic because you would open up and thered be a little photo inside of it, Ms. Simpkins said, but I never understood why the photos were hidden. My earliest memory of jewelry is my mom going through her jewelry box and taking out pieces and telling me stories about Your grandfather gave this to your grandmother on their 25th wedding anniversary, or Your grandfather got this when he was 16 years old during communion. So I grew up hearing stories about family members that were no longer alive. Ms. Simpkins in her Los Angeles studio. Although Ms. Simpkins makes all kinds of jewelry, shes best known for her nontraditional engagement rings. From an early age, jewelry was just magic to me because it had the ability to hold these stories from past loved ones.

You can find Black artisans almost anywhere: on main streets in the bustling part of town, or tucked away in studios in basements, attics, spare bedrooms or even garages. In these spaces, they are constantly experimenting and creating.

I first met Natalie Simmons, a hat maker born and raised in Charleston, S.C., at her store in the West Ashley district of the city in 2019. I explained to her that I was in town for a wedding that called for a hat, but I didnt know what to get. Days later, she handed me a fascinator with a long black and white feather.

Milliner Natalie Simmons A hat maker in Charleston, S.C., who sources materials from Italy and parts of Africa. Photographs and video by Donaven Doughty for The New York Times Molds and a measuring tool that Ms. Simmons uses to make all types of hats: fedoras, cloches, boaters, bowlers, sun hats and more. My grandmother had hats in every color. If you walked into her closet, her closet was just lined with hat boxes. There were hat boxes up on the shelves. There were hat boxes on the floor. They were just her coveted thing. She had a hat that matched every outfit. She had gloves and handbags, but the hats were something to be cherished. We dont just take a hat off the rack and just plop it down on our heads, Ms. Simmons said. We add a curious little tilt or a feather, or add a pin, or a special detail that just makes it stand out. A hat that perfectly fits your face and fits the structure of your body can bring something to life. Its the one thing that can really make an outfit stand out and really tell a story. In her Charleston studio, Ms. Simmons makes custom hats in addition to restoring older ones.

Designers shared similar early memories of falling in love with their craft at home, where they were surrounded by moms, aunts and grandmothers. Their work allows them to continue to tell their familys stories.

Western Wear Designer Dymond Taylor Dating a cowboy opened her eyes to an opportunity in Houston. Photographs by Arturo Olmos for The New York Times Its really easy to design for our people because they dont want to look like anybody else. Ms. Taylor loves to design with leather, denim and  of course  fringe. When I started this brand, I wasnt seeing what I wanted in stores. We always set the trends. We always create uniqueness. Its just deeply rooted in us to do that. Sometime around her rodeo-going days, Ms. Taylor realized that the disproportionately white images of cowboys and western life that she encountered werent reflective of what she knew to be cowboy culture and history. B Stone was born out of that frustration. People might not instantly associate Western wear with suiting and tailoring, but when you go back to the root of it, Western wear has always been presented as a suit  the pant, the hat, the boot and the guitar. Ms. Taylor describes her brand as melding cowboy style and urban style, mixing streetwear with country.

In shops and studios scattered across the country, the American designers and tailors I spoke with represented exactly what this years Met exhibition and gala hope to honor. Each one takes some element of an outfit and elevates it, empowering their Black clients and celebrating their collective history in the process.
$10 +$14.50 +$100 Buy Now +$3.95

What a Disappearing Tariff Loophole Could Mean for Your Next Online Order

A tariff loophole that allowed cheap Chinese goods to enter the United States duty free was eliminated on Friday.

The result could be immediate and costly: T-shirts, stationery and other low-price products on popular e-commerce sites and elsewhere could shoot up in price as shipping carriers and sellers factor in new import taxes. Packages could be delayed, too, as processing goods becomes much more intensive for customs officials.

Ultimately, carriers are responsible for paying the tariff, but heres how you may be affected:

1 Buy an item from China online You may see a price increase or an added tariff charge at checkout. $10 If tariffs are charged, your cost could be: +145% 2025 tariffs +$100 per package +120% flat rate +39.5% prior tariffs $22 $28.54 $110 OR OR Buy Now The tariff amount depends on the item and the carrier, but carriers, platforms and sellers are free to decide how to handle the added cost. 2 Seller ships your package The carrier will most likely collect the tariff charges or new fees from your seller before accepting your shipment. 3 Your package arrives in the U.S. U.S. Customs processes your package and collects the tariff from your carrier. Millions of packages will need to be processed each day, and your package may be delayed. 4 Your package is released for delivery If your carrier did not pay the full tariffs on your package, U.S. Customs will hold the item for a period of time and then sell or destroy it. 1 Buy an item from China online You may see a price increase or an added tariff charge at checkout. $10 If tariffs are charged, your cost could be: +145% 2025 tariffs +120% flat rate +$100 per package +39.5% prior tariffs $22 $28.54 $110 OR OR Buy Now The tariff amount depends on the item and the carrier, but carriers, platforms and sellers are free to decide how to handle the added cost. 2 Seller ships your package The carrier will most likely collect the tariff charges or new fees from your seller before accepting your shipment. 3 Your package arrives in the U.S. U.S. Customs processes your package and collects the tariff from your carrier. Millions of packages will need to be processed each day, and your package may be delayed. 4 Your package is released for delivery If your carrier did not pay the full tariffs on your package, U.S. Customs will hold the item for a period of time and then sell or destroy it. Note: Tariffs apply to all Chinese and Hong Kong-origin goods regardless of country of shipment. Tariff amounts assume a unisex T-shirt of mostly synthetic material.

The elimination of the loophole, known as de minimis, is the latest move by President Trump as he implements aggressive trade policies, particularly toward China.

Before, packages worth up to $800 were exempted from tariffs when they arrived at the U.S. border. (This exemption remains in place for any packages that do not originate from China or Hong Kong.) The rationale had long been that when import taxes are small, or de minimis, customs agents should not bother collecting them. And over time, the value of packages that were exempted continued to increase.

That led to a boom in the number of these de minimis shipments entering the country over the past decade, excluding the disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the number reached more than 1.3 billion, customs data shows, roughly the equivalent of 40 packages entering the United States every second.

The U.S. imported 1.3 billion low-value packages in 2024 1.2 billion 800 million 400 million 0 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 The U.S. imported 1.3 billion low-value packages in 2024 1.2 billion 800 million 400 million 0 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Fajgelbaum and Khandelwal (2024)

Most of them were from China.

The timing coincided with the e-commerce boom, and Chinese companies like Temu and Shein were able to flood the United States with inexpensive goods. China is proficient at low-cost manufacturing, so the products were already cheap  and not subject to tariffs. As a result, American consumers paid super-low prices.

Dozens of countries around the world have de minimis provisions. But few have allowed such a big opening for tariff-free imports, a point critics have cited. The Trump administration has said the provision needed to be tightened because it allowed cheap imports that hurt American businesses. President Trump, in his order closing the loophole for China, said it enabled fentanyl smuggling.

Heres a breakdown of the levels set by other governments around the world:

$0 43 countries allow only packages under $200 to enter duty free $171 European Union $266 Saudi Arabia $305 Singapore $400 Argentina $400 $595 New Zealand $640 Australia $796 Bahrain $800 United States $800 43 countries allow only packages under $200 to enter duty free Saudi Arabia $266 Argentina $400 Australia $640 United States $800 $0 $400 European Union $171 Singapore $305 New Zealand $595 Bahrain $796 43 countries allow only packages under $200 to enter duty free Saudi Arabia $266 Argentina $400 Australia $640 United States $800 $0 $400 European Union $180 Singapore $305 New Zealand $595 Bahrain $796 43 countries allow only packages under $200 to enter duty free Argentina $400 Australia $640 United States $800 $0 $400 European Union $171 Singapore $305 New Zealand $595 Bahrain $796 $0 43 countries allow only packages under $200 to enter duty free $171 European Union $266 Saudi Arabia $305 Singapore $400 Argentina $400 $595 New Zealand $640 Australia $796 Bahrain $800 United States $800 Source: Global Express Association Note: Thresholds converted to U.S. dollars. The Mexico value does not include shipments from the U.S. and Canada. Some countries do not exempt value-added tax.

How did we get here? It started almost 90 years ago, when Congress enacted the de minimus exemption, declaring that in the name of efficiency, goods worth less than $1 would not be subject to import taxes.

$0 $800 Before 1938, customs offcials sometimes waived tariffs on low-value imports. $1 1938 Congress standardized the practice as the de minimus exemption. Congress considered a $10 limit but American businesses feared import competition. 1951 1978 $5 Congress adjusted the threshold to keep pace with prices. 1993 $200 The threshold was raised to match the level allowed for goods travelers bring from abroad. 2016 $800 The Obama administration sought to help small businesses get cheap goods from abroad. 2025 Mr. Trump removed the exemption for all goods from China and Hong Kong. $0 $800 Before 1938, customs offcials sometimes waived tariffs on low-value imports. 1938 $1 Congress standardized the practice as the de minimus exemption. Congress considered a $10 limit but American businesses feared import competition. 1951 1978 $5 Congress adjusted the threshold to keep pace with prices. 1993 $200 The threshold was raised to match the level allowed for goods travelers bring from abroad. 2016 $800 The Obama administration sought to help small businesses get cheap goods from abroad. 2025 In 2025, Mr. Trump removed the exemption for all goods from China and Hong Kong. Source: Congressional Research Service

It remains to be seen how the change will play out. Supply chains and shipping are complex, and the added processing may not necessarily mean consumers pay higher costs. Mr. Trump initially wanted to eliminate the de minimis loophole in February but delayed the plan when packages piled up at U.S. airports.
At just 30-years-old, Karol Rybakowski is already one of the biggest names in the world of tattoos, and looking at some of his works, its pretty easy to see why. His portrait tattoos look as if a picture has been slapped on the subject skin, and in many cases they turn out even better than the photos that inspired them.

It wont surprise you to learn that Karol Rybakowski studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, in Warsaw, before becoming a tattoo artist, but while that explains his artistic style, I for one still cant wrap my head around how a 30-year-old can create such stunningly-realistic tattoos. And apparently, Im not the only one. About four years ago, just when his works started showing up online, people in the business who had never seen his tattoos in person actually thought that they were photoshopped. There was a particularly heated debate surrounding his tattoo of Bradley Cooper as sniper Chris Kyle in American Sniper with many people claiming that it looked too good to be true.

Photo: Karol Rybakowski/Instagram

It was only a matter of time until people realized the young Polish tattoo artist was just that good, but youre still likely to come across online comments from people questioning whether his work is legit. I for one cannot blame them, some of these just tattoos look to be true.

A post shared by Poland, Rybnik, Ink-Ognito (@karolrybakowski) on May 15, 2017 at 11:03am PDT

Rybakowski is currently working at the Ink-Ognito studio in Rybnik, Poland, alongside fellow tattoo legend Tofi Torfinski, but also attends tattoo-related events all around the world. You can check out more of his impressive tattoos on his Instagram.

A post shared by Poland, Rybnik, Ink-Ognito (@karolrybakowski) on Feb 20, 2017 at 10:53am PST

A post shared by Poland, Rybnik, Ink-Ognito (@karolrybakowski) on Feb 23, 2016 at 7:35am PST

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A post shared by Poland, Rybnik, Ink-Ognito (@karolrybakowski) on May 27, 2015 at 10:50am PDT
By Spooky on August 28th, 2020 Category: Art

Oleg Shepelenko, a talented tattoo artist from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has been getting international recognition thanks to his insanely detailed portrait tattoos.

The self-taught artist who works out of the Lucky Style Tattoo Shop knew he had a talent for art when he began painting in school, but never got any formal training. He got into tattoos naturally, and used YouTube tutorials as inspiration, trying to imitate masters of the art and developing his own techniques along the way. Developing an interest in hyper-realism, Shepelenko channeled his entire ambition into producing photo-realistic portrait tattoos, and is now considered one of the top hyper-realist tattoo artists in the world.

Photo: Oleg Shepelenko/Instagram

Not being able to describe any particular thoughts or emotions that run through his head whilst working intently on a piece, he simply says, I cannot describe. This I must feel,' World Famous Tattoo Ink reports.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on May 12, 2020 at 3:41pm PDT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 1, 2020 at 4:06am PST

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Jan 13, 2019 at 2:41am PST

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Oct 20, 2018 at 11:48am PDT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Apr 16, 2018 at 12:55am PDT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 26, 2018 at 2:44am PDT

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Feb 21, 2017 at 8:56am PST

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Aug 18, 2016 at 3:55pm PDT

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:04am PST

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 18, 2020 at 11:18pm PDT

For more ultra-realistic tattooed portraits, also check out the inked masterpieces of Karol Rybakowski and the black and white tattoos of French tattoo artist Eliot Kohek.
Doctors at Irans Isfahan University of Medicine recently documented the case of a 23-year-old male whose head dropped to a 90-degree angle because his neck muscles could no longer support it.

Cervical Kyphospholiosis (CKS), aka Dropped Head Syndrome, is a serious medical condition characterized by weakness in the neck extensor muscles, which renders them unable to support the weight of the head. It is usually associated with various neuromuscular conditions, including mitochondrial myopathy, congenital myopathy, motor neuron disease, or anatomical abnormalities. such as an unusually large head, but doctors at an Iranian university recently reported a previously undocumented case of CKS caused by years of substance abuse.

Photo: Irans Isfahan Medical University

The 23-year-old unnamed patient was described as hailing from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background, with a significant medical history of major depressive disorder and substance abuse, including addiction to heroin, opium, and amphetamines. Doctors at the Isfahan University of Medicine wrote that after every episode of amphetamine use, the patient consistently maintained a fixed kyphotic neck position for extended periods, leading to a progressive alteration in his cervical alignment.

Cranial nerve testing yielded normal results, as did muscle strength and autonomic function tests, but a CT scan revealed a severe kyphoscoliosis deformity affecting the patients C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae. After assessing the severity of his condition, doctors opted for a three-stage surgical solution to remove the deformed bone and realign his neck in a proper position. Luckily, the operation was a success, and the patient was able to walk with a special collar a day later and was discharged after three days.

Doctors reported that the 23-year-old patient had tried various traditional and herbal remedies, but none had alleviated his symptoms, so he eventually sought medical attention. Following the surgery, he had several psychiatric consultations, and he was able to give up drugs. A 1year followup revealed satisfactory improvement in alignment and correction in the position of the cervical spine.

Photo: Unsplash

We discovered that drug abuse contributed to the uncommon development of severe complicated cervical kyphosis, the Iranian doctors wrote in their case report. The drug does not have a direct effect on musculoskeletal changes. Instead, there is an indirect effect: When the patient uses the drug, they remain in a certain position for a long time, and over months, this results in musculoskeletal changes that lead to kyphoscoliosis.

The previously undocumented connection between severe substance abuse and dropped head syndrome has been given the name intoxicated syndrome.
A UK man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting to setting fire to his own home twice in one night just so he could see firefighters in action.

Arsonists are obsessed with fire, but 26-year-old James Brown, from Northumberland, in the UK, has been described as having an obsession and a fascination with firefighters rather than fires. In an ideal world, he would be a firefighter himself, but things didnt work out that way, so he just settled for admiring firefighters from a distance and calling the fire department incessantly. When that wasnt enough anymore, he moved on to setting his own house on fire just to see the firefighters in action.

Photo: Unsplash

On the evening of September 9, 2023, the fire brigade was sent to a home on Eleventh Avenue, in Ashington, after the owner called emergency services to report a fire. He said sparks were coming from the electricity meter, and some of his textile bed linens in a cutboard had caught fire. Firefighters ended up putting out a small fire and disconnecting the electricity supply, just to be sure. Only 90 minutes later, Brown once again called the fire brigade to report another fire.

The second time, firefighters had to once again put out bedding that had caught fire, only when they asked the homeowner about the cause of the fire, he once again blamed the electricity meter. This didnt make sense because the electricity to the house had been disconnected by the firefighters, so they started to suspect that the fire had been started deliberately.

According to court records, James Brown filmed the firefighters as they rushed to put out the fire and seemed quite enthusiastic by their presence on his property. A simple background check showed that the 26-year-old man had called the fire department 80 times in the previous 12 months, and Brown himself eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of arson while being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Photo: Unsplash

You have said, in an ideal world, you would be a firefighter, and you have a long-standing interest in the fire service. Its clearly an obsession, Judge Robert Adams recently said during his ruling. Your primary interest seems to be contacting the fire service rather than setting fires. You waste the resources of the fire brigade, which could be used for more important matters where lives are in danger. I hope you have learned a lesson.

Last month, James Brown was sentenced to eight months suspended sentence for two years with 150 hours of unpaid work for his 2023 crimes. His lawyer said that he is extremely remorseful and is currently seeking help for his obsession. He has refrained from contacting the fire department since his arrest.
P-22 Agency checks in at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. P-22 will lead strategic communications and media relations for the property, working to enhance its position as a leader in the luxury-hotel sector. The Maybourne Beverly Hills is the first US outpost of Maybournehome to Claridges, The Connaught, The Berkeley, The Emory and The Maybourne Riviera. With 205 guest rooms (including 57 suites), the property offers a wide range of dining experiences, as well as the largest luxury hotel spa in LA, and meetings and event spaces. "P-22 Agency stood out to us from the very beginning, demonstrating both the depth of their strategic thinking and their ability to inspire and engage us in ways that felt fresh, culturally relevant and exciting, said The Maybourne Beverly Hills director of sales and marketing Nadine Vondermann.

5WPR drives Nissan US' strategic initiatives targeted at multicultural consumers. The agency will focus on securing media placements and coverage, curating culturally relevant events to showcase Nissan's products, and supporting Nissan-sponsored initiatives to enhance message penetration. Working closely with Nissan Corporate Communications, 5WPR will also provide strategic counsel on opportunities within key multicultural markets, develop grassroots outreach initiatives, and engage influencers on a national scale to amplify Nissan's impact.

Red Fan Communications partners with Austin Capital Bank. The agency collaborated with ACB leadership to create the companys brand narrative and debut a new website. It will continue to lead media and analyst relations for the bank. ACE combines an FDIC-insured bank charter with in-house technology development capabilities to solve critical unmet financial needs. Red Fan is also leading communications for banking operations platform provider Kinective. Red Fan will lead Kinectives media relations and thought leadership activities.
One of the county's most inspiring success stories celebrated a milestone at the third anniversary of the Tullamore Women's Shed. What began as a small idea sparked by personal recovery has flourished into one of the most vibrant and dynamic women-led initiatives in the region.

At the heart of it all is founder Olive Davis, whose vision has created a lifeline for women of all ages.

Each Friday morning, up to 40 women gather on Church Street, bringing energy, laughter and a spirit of community that is nothing short of remarkable.

The idea was born from a deeply personal place. While recovering from a serious illness. Olive experienced the simple healing power of connection when she attended the Dochas Centre.

''Someone handed me a cup of tea and sat down for a chat,'' she recalls. ''Afterwards I thought, why should we have to be sick to have that kind of support? That's when the idea of a Women's Shed came to me.''

On March 22 three years ago, Olive's idea became reality. ''We had a brilliant committee right from the start'' she says, crediting Regina Condron's outstanding PR skills and fundraising efforts for the Shed's early momentum.

Since those early days, the Tullamore Women's Shed has gone from strength to strength. Its Facebook page now boasts over 3,000 followers and actively promotes local women-led businesses  from beauticians and hairdressers to yoga instructors. ''We help whoever we can.'' says Olive.

The shed's welcoming atmosphere draws women from across Offaly, including some who travel in from Birr each week. It offers not only activities like sewing, knitting, mosaics, needle felting and jewellery making, but also a much needed antidote to social isolation.

''Once the kids leave primary school, many women lose casual contact at the school gate. It can be incredibly lonely,'' Olive explains. ''This place fills that gap.''

Exercise equipment such as a treadmill and an exercise bike, provide another outlet for members and the group often organise trips to concerts and plays at the nearby Esker Arts Centre. The sense of community is so strong that if someone misses a week, a friend will call to check in.

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Yet despite its success, the future of the Shed is uncertain. Funding, or the lack of it, is a growing concern.

''Our rent is due in August and we don't have it yet.'' Olive admits. ''We're holding a bucket collection on June 6. Insurance, electricity, it all adds up. We get grants, but they don't allow us to use them for rent.''

Membership fees are deliberately kept low. 20 to join, then 5 a week. Olive is determined to make the Shed accessible to all women, regardless of income.

Nationally, the Women's Shed movement is gaining momentum. There are now 13 sheds across Ireland, and next month Olive and her colleagues will meet with the Minister to discuss formalising a national structure.

''We need a proper national forum to access broader funding  just like the Men's Sheds,'' says Olive.

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To boost awareness and support Tullamore Women's Shed hosted an Open Day, last Friday, April 25, inviting councillors and the wider community to see firsthand the vital work they are doing

Meanwhile, Olive's leadership has been recognised beyond Tullamore, she has been invited to join the University of Limerick's Community Advisory Board as part of the research into the impact of Women's Sheds nationwide.

''There are eight of us on the board and three of us on the discussion panel, it's an exciting step forward,'' she says

At its heart the Shed is about more than craft projects or social outings. It's about mental health, empowerment, and restoring a sense of belonging;

''One lady told me, I look forward to it every Friday it's my thing.'' That says it all'', concludes Olive.
Over 70 pedigree registered Aubrac cattle will come under the hammer at GVM Group Tullamore Mart, on this Saturday, May 3.

The Irish Aubrac Cattle Societys highly anticipated pedigree sale will feature over 50 lots catalogued, including pedigree breeding bulls, weanling heifers, maiden heifers and in-calf heifers.

All animals are to be penned by 10am, with the sale, also being hosted on LSL Auctions, due to commence at 12 noon.

Additionally, 20 lots will be offered for sale from PJ and Kelly McGrath, Co Wicklow who will hold a dispersal of Glenford pedigree Aubracs, due to a change in farming enterprise.

The McGraths, who began breeding Aubracs in 2011 using French imports, have achieved notable success at agricultural shows, most recently winning the overall supreme Aubrac champion title at last years Tullamore Show.

READ NEXT: Offaly beef farmer is new Farming for Nature Ambassador

Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine have sponsored a 100 voucher for the top-priced animal in the Glenford herd dispersal.

According to the societys chairman, James Donnellan: This makes the breed a fabulous option for both suckler and dairy farmers. Aubracs are excellent for ease at calving and are a very docile breed. But the real place where Aubrac rewards farmers is at the factory, with the final prices achieved.

Whether you are looking for a bull, or a heifer to meet the requirements of SCEP, don't miss the Aubrac Sale in Tullamore, as all cattle are eligible, and they make excellent sucklers.

Alternatively, if you are a dairy farmer looking for a bull to 'mop up' for the breeding season, you will do no better than Aubrac. The top breed for the Dairy Beef Index.

All cattle are pre-inspected. And don't forget, if you cannot travel on the day, there is online bidding available.

You can view and bid online on LSL Auctions, but you must contact Tullamore Mart before the sale to register. They can be contacted at +353 57 932 1196. Do not leave it until the last day."

The upcoming society sale follows the success of last October's premier show and sale, where a new joint society sale record price of 5,000 was set by two stock bulls. Maiden heifers sold for up to 4,100 on the day.

On average, bull prices were up by 840 per head compared to the previous year, while the maiden heifer average rose by 220 per head.

Out of 43 pre-selected lots presented for sale by 13 herds, only one animal failed to meet its reserve, reflecting strong demand for pedigree Aubracs.

READ NEXT: New Zealand Ambassador visits award winning dairy company as part of Offaly tour

The breed is known for its hardiness, docility, ease of calving, high meat-to-bone ratio, efficient feed conversion, high-carcass quality and versatility.

The breed hails from the rugged mountains of southern France, where survival in harsh conditions has shaped them into one of the most resilient and versatile breeds around.

Originally used for milk and draft, it has retained milking ability and placid temperament, adding to its natural beefing ability, hardiness, and low production costs, making it a complete suckler cow.

As a suckler cow, the Aubrac offers the advantages of a pedigree animal (generations of selection, consistency of production, and higher sale value of progeny), coupled with hardiness and maternal qualities, that allow cows to run in the same manner as a commercial herd.

Bulls finished in Ireland have consistently graded U and E, and the breeds meat-to-bone ratio is exceptionally high and is in great demand with butchers.

As a bull for crossing on commercial and dairy herds, the breed has proven itself: producing easily born calves that finish well for the males and make excellent replacement heifers for the females. An excellent feed conversion allows the animals to finish quickly at any age and with a quality carcass.

The breed offers the ultimate combination of efficiency, profitability, and ease of management.

The society, formed in 1998, now counts over 200 members.
Tullamore based radio station, Midlands 103, has helped a newly married couple celebrate their special day in an unique way.

Alison and Kian Dean got married in Las Vegas and sent in a request to Tony Christie on The Late Shift to have a song played for their first dance.

The couple are living in Mayo, and Alison is originally from London. Kian is a truck driver and one night Alison was out with him on a run and they picked up Midlands 103.

Alison became a fan of the Late Shift with Tony Christie and would listen online in London before she moved here.

READ NEXT: Popular Offaly couple celebrate milestone wedding anniversary

When the couple got engaged in Rome, they sent Tony a photo and he mentioned their engagement on the show.

So when they got married they asked Tony to be part of their special day by playing the song for their first dance live on air.

The couple filmed the moment and shared the video with Midlands 103.
ANOffaly TD has joined an Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group to back urgent calls for a new national cardiovascular disease (CVD) health policy.

Independent Deputy Carol Nolan has agreed to be an advocate for the thousands of heart disease and stroke patients in her constituency.

Ten thousand lives a year are claimed by CVD, Irelands biggest killer, accounting for almost 30% of all mortality.

In Offaly, 10,000 people live with the disease, which causes a wide range of heart conditions.

Nationally, 80,000 CVD patients are discharged home every year  or one every seven minutes.

But despite the enormous toll of death and infirmity, Ireland has not had a CVD disease policy for over five years.

The new group, set up by the Irish Heart Foundation, aims to build consensus across the political spectrum to support these abandoned patients  and thereby deliver huge reductions in preventable death and disability.

The absence of a policy framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of CVD, along with services that maximise patients health and wellbeing in the community, is preventing the development of lifesaving services, said Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy with the charity.

This is resulting in preventable death, disability and loss of quality of life on a significant scale.

Cardiovascular care has been operating in a policy vacuum for the last five and a half years since the previous National Cardiovascular Health Policy expired.

Ireland, he said, has the lowest number of cardiologists per capita in the EU and there is a critical need for investment in cardiac imaging, including Echocardiography, Cardiac CT, and Cardiac MRI.

In addition, for those discharged from hospital, access to cardiac and stroke rehabilitation remains inadequate, they are also struggling due to the high costs associated with having a CVD condition and the widespread absence of psychological support to deal with the trauma of having a stroke, heart attack or other heart disease diagnosis.

As well as the need for the fresh CVD policy, the Irish Heart Foundation is also asking the Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group to support the following:

Action to increase awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure which affects 1.5 million people in Ireland and is the biggest risk factor for heart disease and stroke;

Full implementation of the National Stroke Strategy to ensure stroke survivors are admitted to dedicated stroke units, which reduce death and severe disability;

Greater investment in cardiac rehabilitation programmes, which can reduce deaths from heart disease by at least a fifth, but which are understaffed and under-resourced nationwide.

Mr Macey said that for the first time in several years, the Irish Heart Foundation is optimistic about the future prospects of heart patients and stroke survivors.

The sector is united. It has a vision that can address current deficits and futureproof services for the rapid upsurge in heart disease and stroke due to our expanding and ageing population, he said.

This can deliver big reductions in preventable death and disability, through more cost- effective services, but it can only be achieved if policymakers make CVD a national health priority in the midst of so many crucial competing needs across our health services and our population.

If you are a TD or Senator and want to join the Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group, please contact Pauline OShea at poshea@irishheart.ie .

READ NEXT: New Offaly Life magazine hits the shelves!
TULLAMORE train station is one of 10 chosen by Iarnrod Eireann for the first phase of its Age Friendly initiative.

Irish Rail hopes that by implementing age friendly principals, more people will be able to access rail transport than ever before.

Confirmation of Tullamore's place in the initial rollout of the work came as a station in Laois, Ballybrophy, was awarded Age Friendly status by Age Friendly Ireland.

Age Friendly Ireland recognised Iarnrod Eireann's commitment to making public transport more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities.

The process is aligned with the principles of the World Health Organizations (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

Age Friendly Ireland is the national organisation delivering the Governments vision of an Age Friendly Ireland, and the Ballybrophy project was in collaboration with the Laois Age Friendly Programme, Laois County Council and Iarnrod Eireann.

Overall, Iarnrod Eireann is aiming to have all 146 of its stations achieve Age Friendly status and Tullamore is currently one of 10 going through an audit and recognition process.

Kilkenny's MacDonagh Train Station was the first to gain the status and it had undergone a 'walkability' audit, had two age friendly car spaces installed, along with tactile paving.

Accessible routes into and out of the building and accessible facilities including ticketing, information points, toilets, seating areas and luggage store are key points.

At Ballybrophy station, Minister for Older People, Kieran ODonnell TD, unveiled an Age Friendly plaque and said: My priority is ensuring that as people get older, they are supported to live in their own homes and communities with the correct wraparound supports. Making public transport more accessible and age friendly is part of the toolkit to ensure older people can age well and remain connected and integrated in their communities.

READ NEXT: New Offaly Life magazine hits the shelves! The April/May edition will put spring in your step

Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann said: Today, with the recognition of Ballybrophy as an Age Friendly Station, were delighted to launch of the first phase of our Age Friendly Stations Initiative  an initiative which ultimately intends for each of our 146 stations to attain Age Friendly Status. Our vision for rail in Ireland is to be the backbone of an integrated, sustainable, and accessible public transport network, connecting and serving all of Irelands communities. Were investing in infrastructure upgrades across the network to enhance accessibility and facilitate safe, independent access for more of our customers, while also providing our staff with Accessibility and Disability Awareness training. Initiatives like these are helping us to provide a better, more inclusive service to customers.

Anna May McHugh, Age Friendly Laois ambassador and managing director of the National Ploughing Association, said: It is a privilege to see our local communities come together with a shared goal of ensuring everyone is included and no one is left behind when we are creating public services in Ireland. With a high number of older people living in rural communities such as Ballybrophy, it is important that they have equal access to public transport, and that the work is done to ensure they can have a high quality of life. I want to empower older people in rural communities to avail of these services, and continue to live a long and social life. I look forward to taking more trips via Ballybrophy, knowing it now carries the Age Friendly mark.

Along with Tullamore and Ballybrophy, phase one of Iarnrod Eireanns Age Friendly Stations Initiative includes Dublin Heuston, Kildare, Limerick Colbert, Carrick on Shannon, Dalkey, Wicklow, Carlow and Killarney.
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On Earth Day, The New York Times admirably stated that climate change is not our root problem. Like pollution, wildlife habitat loss and weakening public health, climate change is a consequence of overshoot. Overshoot, as the late ecological economist Herman Daly explained, is when humans take from the Earth faster than it can replenish, and waste faster than the Earth can absorb the waste.

In this context, The Times asked a dozen experts, What is the single best thing anyone can do for the planet?

In response to their responses, I had plenty of questions.

When William Rees said to have a smaller family, I wondered where anyone learns to balance personal desires with ecological limits.

Seth Wynes suggested cutting back on meat. But-- like meat products-- vegan and dairy products are often laden with GMOs, fertilizers, herbicides and preservatives. Shipping coconut water, soy protein bars or tortilla chips to a grocery store is also an intercontinental, energy-guzzling affair with plastic wrappings. Why not encourage people to grow food and/or buy from local farmers?

Other experts advised forgoing cars, choosing trains, cutting back on non-essential flights and opting for smaller, well-insulated homes. Here again, I need discussion: In a society with limited public transportation, how does anyone survive without a car? Ecologically, is it better to keep an old gas-guzzler-- or buy a new hybrid or EV? (Engineers tell me it's better to keep the old car in good repair.) What criteria determines whether a home is too large or a vacation is beyond our society's ecological means?

When Bill McKibben suggested switching to solar energy and a heat pump, I wondered if he knows how much fossil fuels, extractions, water and toxic waste that manufacturing these items involves.

When I wondered, what's the single best thing anyone can do for the planet? two responses occurred to me: 1)Host forums where we can discuss these issues respectfully, and 2)Include ecosystem needs in my thinking about my needs.

EXPANDING THE PICTURE

Say I need a newer laptop to access my email. When I learn what goes into manufacturing, operating and discarding a computer, my world broadens. Every computer (like every solar panel, TV, appliance and vehicle) involves mining, smelting and refining ores; chemicals; ultra-pure water and intercontinental shipping of raw materials, toxic waste, and packaging. The cobalt, coal, coltan, copper, lithium, manganese, natural gas, plastic, silicon, silver, tin and titanium, etc. in manufactured goods took billions of years to form. Think of the people who live near a mine or a smelter. According to Vaclav Smil, 81% of a laptop's lifetime energy use is consumed during manufacturing-- before the end-user turns the laptop on for the first time.

Of course, from its cradle to its grave, every mass-produced item needs electricity.

Then, focusing on the Internet, no one can access email, websites, social media posts, bank records, videos or engage an AI without data storage centers. From floor-to-ceiling, they're covered with servers (computers) that are kept cool by water guzzling, electricity-guzzling air conditioners and swamp coolers. Some data centers are large enough to be visible from outer space. Pity the (increasing numbers of) people who live near a data center.

While states and municipalities face federal cuts that fund school lunches, Meals-on-Wheels and libraries, data centers get tax breaks. Ten states already lose more than $100 million per year to data center tax exemptions.

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In almost every category, the South Middleton School District has seen the demand for student services outpace its percentage growth in enrollment over the past three years.

As of early April, enrollment in the current academic year was 2,177  an increase of about 80 students or 3.8% more than the 2,097 enrolled in 2022, according to data compiled by the student services department.

Over that same period, South Middleton has seen a triple-digit percentage increase in its population of multi-lingual students and students in foster care. There have also been double-digit percentage gains in students identified as homeless, economically disadvantaged or handicapped in need of better access to services.

Special education enrollment went up slightly over the three-year period, while there has been a double-digit percentage decrease in students receiving gifted support services.

While some of the increases can be attributed to growth within the categories, part of the trend is due to better staff training in early identification and intervention. It is unclear how much overlap exists among students who fit multiple criteria.

In recent years, in response to the trends, the district hired a social worker and two English-as-a-Second Language teachers, said Alex Smith, director of student services. In the lead-up to the current academic year, the district hired a special education teacher to staff a full-time autism education program at the elementary school level, he said.

We have also hired additional reading and math specialists to identify gaps and give our students direct instruction to improve their skills, Smith said. Over the next three years, the district is going to look into our multi-tiered system of support, so we can continue to grow our identification process of those students who are not making gains.

Economically disadvantaged

In the past three years, the district has seen a 17.6% increase in the number of students that come from an economically disadvantaged background, according to data compiled by the department.

As of early April, there were 810 students in this category compared to 689 students in 2022. The current number is down from a peak of 837 students in 2024. This represents more than one-third of the current enrollment.

That just goes to show, just like other school districts within our area, we are seeing a rise in needs for our families, Smith said. However, just because they are identified as economically disadvantaged does not automatically mean that they require any type of direct support. Its just one thing that we take note of, so we have a pulse on our community.

Special education

Since 2022, there has been a 4.5% increase in the number of special education students. Three years ago, there were 359 students receiving services in this category. The trend peaked at 413 students in 2023 before decreasing to 377 in the current school year.

We have stabilized to between 17% and 18.5% of the total [district] enrollment over the last three years, Smith said. Within that population, we continue to see an increase of children who are identified with autism, as well as students with emotional needs.

If we look at the number of students who require intensive placements or programs outside of neighborhood schools, our percentage is a little bit below the state average, he said.

Multi-lingual students

South Middleton continues to see an increase in the number of students requiring English as Second Language teachers. This population went up 200% from 45 students in 2022 to 135 students now.

Then as now, most of the influx was in the form of Bhutanese refugees coming into the Harrisburg area as family groups to settle into a support network setup after the first wave arrived in the U.S. about 10 years ago.

The district first saw exponential growth in this category over the spring and summer of 2022 when student enrollment swelled to the point where the school board authorized the hiring of two additional teachers, effectively doubling its workforce of specialists.

Since then, there has been one English as Second Language teacher assigned to each of the four schools, Smith said. We had professional development districtwide to support our multi-lingual learners on the best strategies to improve their vocabulary and increase their English fluency.

The response has produced results. In 2023-24, 53% of multi-lingual students in South Middleton achieved growth on the WIDA fluency test while another 29% achieved high enough scores to exit direct services and enter the monitoring stage of the program.

Students needing access

In the past three years, the district has seen a 30.7% increase in the number of students with disabilities who require a 504-service agreement. These agreements specify what accommodations are needed for that student to access their general education curriculum.

As of early April, there were 115 students in this category compared to 88 students in 2022. Some are students who have exited special education services after finding themselves on grade level, Smith said. This accounts for some of the shift from the 413 special education students in 2023 to the current 377.

Gifted

Gifted education is the only category experiencing a loss in demand, Smith said. The number of students is down about 13% from 82 in 2022 to 71 in the current academic year.

There are a lot more advanced placement and honors courses available at the secondary [school] level, Smith said. Families are seeing that they dont require the gifted education program because the system itself is providing an appropriate level of enrichment and challenge.

Most of the holdouts are elementary school or middle school students, he said. There are some who continue to have it in high school based upon their choices. They want to continue to participate in different groups and projects that are personal to them, and they appreciate an opportunity to demonstrate their intellectual curiosity.

Homeless

In May 2023, Smith presented enrollment trends that show the number of district students coping with homelessness had tripled over a two-year period from 16 students in spring 2021 to 48 students in spring 2023.

Since then, the number of students in this category peaked at 55 in 2024 before lowering to the current 38, according to data compiled by his department.

Smith credits this success to district social worker Angelina Romano and her ability to establish partnerships that help local families connect with community resources and more stable housing.

One of her primary roles is as the McKinney-Vento liaison, Smith said.

Part of the increase in numbers was due to better identification of students who meet the criteria under the McKinney-Vento Act. The act requires that homeless students have access to all programs and services for which they are eligible including special education, preschool, school nutrition programs, language assistance for English learners, online learning and before-and-after school care.

Foster care

Since 2022, there has been a 175% increase in the number of district students in foster care. Three years ago, there were eight students receiving services in this category. That number is now 22 students.

The percentage is drastic because were talking a low sample size to begin with, Smith said. The increase could be from a few families that have an extra layer of need, he said.
People shop for shoes in a Nike store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File

More than 70 footwear companies asked President Donald Trump to exempt their products from sweeping new tariffs they said pose an existential threat to the industry.

Members of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America made the ask in a letter to Trump this week. Among those that signed are Oregon-headquartered companies Nike and Columbia Sportswear.
A plywood mill in the southern Washington city of Bingen will close next month and lay off all 81 workers, the plants operator said Thursday.

The SDS facility has been operating -- with occasional stoppages -- since 1949. It uses older equipment, according to Wilkins, Kaiser & Olsen, which was part of a consortium of firms that acquired the mill in 2021.

Regrettably, the long-term challenges and the magnitude of the required investment render continued operation unsustainable, the mills operators said in a written statement. An adjacent stud mill, planer mill and marine facility will continue operating.

Bingen is a small city just across the Columbia River from Hood River.

WKO and an affiliated business, Mt. Hood Forest Products, are adding 60 full-time positions to increase their output by 35%. The firms said they will consider hiring some of the laid-off workers in Bingen.

Correction: The SDS mill began operating in 1949, according to WKO. Initial information indicated the mill had been operating for 79 years.

-- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com.

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The iconic Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, the county seat of Lincoln County, is shown here. Samantha Swindler

A simmering feud between Lincoln Countys top leaders and District Attorney Jenna Wallace went nuclear last month as both sides fired off claims of dishonesty and misconduct.

The growing clash has pitted two county commissioners against the third and left three employees from the district attorneys office on leave or under investigation.
Demetrius J. Vaughn, 48, was sentenced to 13 years in prison during a hearing Thurs., May 1, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

As his killer approached, Saul Escoto-Villatoro worriedly backed away on Southwest Fifth Avenue near Washington Street  then he stumbled and fell to the pavement.

A witness said the two appeared to be engaged in a tussle, according to a bail memo, when the man with a bike fired a shot, fatally striking the 34-year-old in the back.
Two tacos and a mulita from Mis Tacones vegan Mexican restaurant on N.E. KIllingsworth St. in Northeast Portland. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Lea este articulo en espanol: Como una taqueria de Portland paso al mejor restaurante mexicano vegano en el pais

Part taco shop, part art installation and all love letter to Southern California, Mis Tacones is a vibrant vegan haven tucked along Northeast Killingsworth. Every detail, from the food to the decor, is infused with a deep nostalgia for co-owners Polo Banuelos and Carlos Reynosos Southern California childhoods.

The name itself, Mis Tacones, translates to both my tacos and my heels in Spanish  a playful nod to the couples queer identity and culinary mission. Since opening their brick-and-mortar space three years ago, the married duo have brought their Los Angeles roots to Portlands restaurant scene in full color.

Inside the vegan restaurant on Northeast Killingsworth, intricate murals and colorful decorations welcome visitors. Chiara Profenna

We were doing this originally for ourselves because we were homesick, Reynoso said. And then in the process and in the journey of doing that, we did that for other people, too. And it feels good.  I believe its an honor to be able to do that.

Nearly a decade after launching Mis Tacones as a pop-up, Banuelos and Reynoso have transformed their homesick craving into one of Portlands most celebrated vegan restaurants. Their brick-and-mortar, which opened in 2022, has drawn local and national acclaim  including being named the best vegan Mexican restaurant in the country by VegNews for the second year in a row.

Mis Tacones, a nationally acclaimed vegan Mexican restaurant, is known for its vibrant atmosphere, bold flavors and deep roots in Southern California and queer culture. Chiara Profenna

From the sidewalk, bold graphics of tacos, empanadas, nachos and other classic SoCal menu items invite passersby through the glass-front windows. Inside, the intimate space bursts with color: murals by local artist Jesus Torralba depict Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, and Xoloitzcuintle, a spiritual guide.

Above the tables, a marigold-draped skeleton floats from the ceiling, surrounded by papel picado, pinatas and potted plants  each element carefully chosen to build a space that feels joyful and comforting.

I want everybody to come in and just feel that culture instantly as soon as you walk in here, Banuelos said.

Complementing the colorful environment, the food is just as inviting: smothered burritos served on blue and yellow floral ceramic dishes, deep blue hand-pressed nixtamal tortillas filled with asada seitan and pico de gallo and loaded nachos piled high with beans, vegetables and vegan meats.

After one bite, even the most enthusiastic carnivore will forget theyre eating house-made seitan and vegan cheese.

Asada and al pastor tacos from Mis Tacones vegan Mexican restaurant on N.E. Killingsworth St. in Northeast Portland. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

To me, it has probably been, like the biggest goal  making vegan food more familiar and more accessible to members of the community, Banuelos said.

The clientele at Mis Tacones has always been a mixed bag, Reynoso said. And although crafting each fully vegan dish has been a challenge, they arent touting their all-vegan menu from the rooftops. In fact, Banuelos and Reynoso want to open up the world of vegan cuisine to more nonvegans.

Theres a very specific part of the community that were trying to reach by doing our seitans, Banuelos said. Theres a lot of people that are not vegan. And I would much rather these nonvegans enjoy this vegan dish and love it and keep coming back for it  so the overall impact of people eating vegan becomes a lot bigger.

Banuelos, who developed many of the dishes, said Mis Tacones is a family restaurant at heart, inspired by flavors from Reynosos childhood and their own family kitchens. Most of his culinary education came from being nosy in his familys kitchen, he said, and watching the community that developed around food.

Now we have the tools to be more creative, Banuelos said. And make these same dishes or similar dishes, but turn them vegan. And just add our nuestro sazon  our seasoning  to it.

Carlos Reynoso (left) and Polo Banuelos, the married duo behind Mis Tacones, pose in their colorful taqueria on Northeast Killingsworth. Chiara Profenna

One vegan dish at a time, the duo have built a fiercely loyal clientele that has supported them through every phase of their restaurant. Both the vegan and queer communities have been a supportive presence, Banuelos said.

We cant say we did this on our own, Reynoso said. The community here has been very generous and really good to us, for sure.

Offering free meals to trans people of color and hosting an annual summer block party with vendors, food and music are just some of ways Banuelos and Reynoso give back to their patrons. At the end of the day, Banuelos and Reynoso want to create a warm and comforting space for everyone  regardless of being vegan or not.

We want Mis Tacones to be for the Mexican family who normally would go eat at a regular Mexican restaurant, Reynoso said. We want them to come here and have the same experience, but theyre eating seitan.

If you go: 3-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon-9 p.m. Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; 1670 N.E. Killingsworth St., mistaconespdx.com

 Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiaraprofenna.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
My jaw didnt drop entering Printemps, each set of doors opened by a separate doorman. It stayed in place while scanning the emerald-green circus canopy above Cafe Jalu, longtime Portland chef Gregory Gourdets new cafe just inside the luxe Paris retailer, its tables already mobbed with French tourists and their small dogs.

(It had to budge a bit while sampling the spiced banana and pineapple cake, as did my eyebrow, wondering how high Cafe Jalu would rank among Portlands best bakeries.)

But that jaw remained mostly shut while wandering the second floor, with its hand-painted frescoes, bird cages filled with designer clothes, dressing rooms lined with custom French fabrics and fantastical light fixtures from the glass-blowing islands of Murano, Italy. Nearby, members of the .1% took a shopping break at Salon Vert, Gourdets caviar-slinging raw bar with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattans Financial District, already a decent celebrity-spotting site.

And sure, I nodded with appreciation while passing through the undulating perfume hallway inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey (the hallways bridges two building, running atop a Whole Foods where Cardi B has been known to shop). Same goes while noting the ceiling panels painted to look precisely like the marble floors and walls, the Champagne bar with tropical juices from Gourdet, the manicure stations and massage rooms and the vintage couture hanging on the racks  not just Dior, but Yves Saint Laurent-era Dior.

But then I dropped down the winding pink quartz staircase into the Red Room, and my jaw dropped with it. Forget for a second the lily-like pedestals cradling pair after pair of Aquazzuras, Louboutins, Manolos and every other upscale womens shoe you can imagine. It was the room itself that blew my mind. Soaring more than 30 feet overhead, with arched windows matching the buildings art deco style, the walls are hand-laid with what Printemps says are some 3 million tiles, mostly red, but run through with abstract veins of gold, a 1931 design from artist Hildreth Meiere nearly as iconic as the original Printemps signature stained glass dome.

17 1 / 17 Maison Passerelle

1 Wall Street was built to house a bank, and theres no shortage of capital flowing through these walls today. If you include the condo conversion overhead, the bill for this project starts with a b, as in billions. If youre wondering why Gourdet, the Top Chef star behind Southeast Portlands award-winning restaurant Kann, might move to New York to open five food and beverage concepts at Printemps, including the cafe-bakery, the raw bar, the bubbly counter, a cocktail bar and the just-opened bistro Maison Passerelle, a visit to the Red Room will help explain why.

Whether you choose to take the tour with a glass of Champagne in hand is entirely up to you.

Visit Printemps from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 1 Wall Street, 212-217-2299, us.printemps.com. For those more interested in the food, check out our review of Maison Passerelle.

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

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People cast shadows on the ancient Anasazi ruins of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico on Nov. 21, 1996. AP Photo/Eric Draper, File) AP

For the first time, a tribe in the U.S. has led research using DNA to show their ancestral connection to Chaco Canyon, one of the ancient centers of Pueblo culture and society.

The members of Picuris Pueblo, a sovereign nation in New Mexico, have oral histories and cultural traditions that link them to the region of Chaco Canyon.

Weve been telling our stories as long as time immemorial, said Picuris Lt. Gov. Craig Quanchello. But he said those traditions were often overlooked and erased.

As members of the Picuris Pueblo seek a greater voice in shaping decisions about the future of Chaco Canyon, where debates about oil and gas drilling loom, leaders including Quanchello decided that using DNA sequencing to complement or corroborate their oral histories could be a useful tool. The group began a collaboration with an international team of geneticists.

The DNA could help us protect our heritage, he said. Now we can say, This is ours, we need to protect it.

The findings, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, show close links between the genomes of 13 current members of Picuris and ancient DNA recovered from 16 Picuris individuals who lived between 1300 A.D. and 1500 A.D. in or near Chaco Canyon.

Today the members of Picuris Pueblo live about 170 miles west of Chaco Canyon, between Santa Fe and Taos.

The results show a strong relationship between ancient and present-day Picuris, said co-author Thomaz Pinotti, a geneticist at the University of Copenhagen.

The genetic analysis was led by the Picuris. The researchers said this model of collaboration contrasts with a long history of archaeologists and geneticists seizing and studying artifacts and remains without the consent of Indigenous groups.

It wasnt an easy decision to begin the collaboration with scientists, said co-author and Picuris Gov. Wayne Yazza. This is life-changing data.

There are 19 Pueblo tribes in New Mexico. The new study does not refute the historic connections of other tribes to Chaco Canyon.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It is famous for sweeping desert vistas and for monumental sandstone structures  including multistory homes and ceremonial structures  built by ancestral Pueblos.

Its super important that we dont talk about Chaco in the category of lost civilizations, like the Egyptian pyramids or Stonehenge, said Paul Reed, a preservation archaeologist at Archaeology Southwest, who was not involved in the study. That notion is particularly damaging in this instance because it disenfranchises the Pueblo people who live all around the canyon to this day.

Brian Vallo, a member of the Acoma Pueblo who leads the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association, said a current concern revolves around drilling and mining permits on federal land adjacent to the park, which also impact the environment within the canyon.

We have these close connections because our ancestors migrated and built these places - they remain central to the preservation of our own Indigenous culture, said Vallo, who was not part of the research.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

A national organization that ardently supports the separation of church and state is flagging a recent move by a Sweet Home city official.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on Mayor Susan Coleman to rescind her National Day of Prayer proclamation because it blatantly elevates Christianity over all other religions, according to a news release from the organization.

A concerned Sweet Home resident who identifies as nonreligious tipped off the foundation about the proclamation, which directly references God and the Holy Spirit, according to the release.

It in fact goes further, quoting from the New Testament.

Sweet Homes version states: In our city and across America the observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with the theme, Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled based on the verse in Roman (sic) 15:13 that is both a prayer and a promise, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The proclamation doesnt exist in a vacuum.

According to the website for the privately funded National Day of Prayer Task Force, the National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May  which fell on May 1 this year  and invites people to pray for the nation.

The day of prayerful observance was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S Congress and exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for Americas leaders and its families.

President Ronald Reagan moved the National Day of Prayer to the first Thursday of May during his tenure.

Reached by phone, City Manager Jason Ogden said there was no council discussion when the proclamation came up on the agenda at the April 22 meeting.

Following the Sweet Home proclamation, Freedom From Religion Foundation staff attorney Samantha Lawrence sent a letter April 24 to the mayor, requesting Coleman withdraw it.

Even if the National Day of Prayer were designed to be inclusive of non-Christians, which it is not, it needlessly marginalizes and excludes citizens such as our complainant who are among the nearly 30% of adult Americans who are religiously unaffiliated, as well as the additional 6% of Americans adhering to non-Christian faiths, Lawrence wrote.

Lawrence wrote that the Sweet Home complainant explained they are disappointed that our city chose to use its time and power to divide people instead of bringing them together.

The foundation, a nonprofit with 42,000 members nationwide and more than 1,200 members in Oregon, according to Lawrences letter, has historically filed lawsuits to combat what it argues are violations of the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.

The foundations website touts legal victories like ending millions of tax dollars used to repair and maintain churches and halting federal funds to a bible school offering no academic classes.

Its also litigated a challenge to the National Day of Prayer itself, but lost when a federal appellate court said a feeling of alienation cannot suffice as injury in fact. In other words, the plaintiffs didnt have a sufficient injury to bring a lawsuit.

When asked about the citys response to the letter, Ogden said it might be a good idea moving forward to take a look at proclamations to see how they could affect the community.

But he added that he understood Coleman had spoken with the Alliance Defending Freedom  an opposing conservative legal advocacy organization  about OKing the proclamation.

That organization has played a role in successful cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, such as the Dobbs decision that tossed a national right of privacy with respect to abortions, the Hobby Lobby decision that ruled a birth control mandate in employee-funded health plans was unconstitutional and 303 Creative LLC, that said a state couldnt force a business owner to create expressive designs against her beliefs.

The Supreme Court also has looked at whether city councils can start their meetings off with a prayer. A 2014 5-4 decision said they can, although they cannot denigrate non-believers or religious minorities, threaten damnation, or preach conversion.

The group was in the high court on Wednesday, arguing spending public tax dollars set aside for education on a Catholic charter school is permissible.

Coleman didnt respond to an email from Mid-Valley Media before deadline.

 2025 Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore.. Visit www.democratherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Protesters raise signs that read "fight ignorance not immigrants" and "uncodumented hands feed you" at a May Day celebration in Salem on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter) ALAN COHEN/Salem Reporter.

A crowd of a few thousand Oregonians descended Thursday on the Oregon State Capitol to demand worker and immigrant rights at a time when immigrant communities across the country are living on edge due to the Trump administrations aggressive immigration crackdown.

This years May Day March for Immigrant and Worker Rights in Salem, organized by PCUN, Oregons farmworker union, was among dozens of rallies in cities across Oregon and the United States on Thursday.
Those lobbying to influence Multnomah County leaders will have to register and report their activities. Multnomah County

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved major changes to the countys lobbying rules Thursday. That is, the government will actually have them.

The board unanimously approved the new rules, which require entities who lobby the county to disclose those efforts. The county has long operated without tracking its lobbyists, as first reported by Willamette Week. Those who violate the new ordinance could be slapped with a fine of up to $500, officials said Thursday.
Leaders at the organizations had been bracing for cuts under President Donald Trump. AP

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged bias in the broadcasters reporting.

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS and further requires that that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

Its the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with. Since taking office, Trump has ousted leaders, placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters and others, through takeovers of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agreed to eliminate diversity programs and other measures Trump has found objectionable.

The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and have been preparing for the possibility of stiff cuts since Trumps election, as Republicans have long complained about them.

Paula Kerger, PBS CEO and president, said in a recent statement the Trump administrations effort to rescind funding for public media would disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.

Oregon Public Broadcasting posted this on its website: While OPB is funded largely through the support of our generous members, federal funding plays a critical role in helping OPB provide universal access to factual informationespecially in often overlooked rural communities. At OPB, federal support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) represents around nine percent of our operating budget."

Theres nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress, said Kerger, the PBS president. This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued Trump earlier this week over his move to fire three members of its five-person board, contending that the president was exceeding his authority and that the move would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business.

Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. That package, however, which budget director Russell Vought said would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill.

The move against PBS and NPR comes as his administration has been working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press. Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, who have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.
Yamhill County jail often houses federal inmates when the prison in Sheridan runs short on space. County officials say they have not worked with ICE and do not plan to start working with federal immigration agents now. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General

Yamhill County officials said on Thursday they will not and never had plans to house people detained by federal immigration agents at the county jail, after community members raised concerns that a draft of a fast-tracked agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service included references to immigration authorities.

The county, home to a federal prison in Sheridan, has for decades had an agreement with the federal government to lodge inmates awaiting trial at the county jail when the prison is short on space, Sheriff Sam Elliott told county commissioners Thursday.

Elliott appeared in front of the elected board seeking approval for an updated agreement that would pay the county more money for the use of its jail beds by federal officials. But neither the issue nor the agreement was listed online for the public to review before the meeting. And the wording of the proposed deal alarmed some advocates who apparently heard about it through the grapevine and showed up in McMinnville to challenge it.

In particular, the agreement included a line stating that local officials would agree to release federal prisoners only to the agency that sent them to the jail (e.g., Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) or to a Deputy United States Marshal (DUSM).

Elliott said he recognized the federal governments inclusion of ICE in the draft contract would not fly in Oregon, which has been a so-called sanctuary state since 1987 and generally prohibits cooperation with federal authorities on immigration matters. He said he thought all references to immigration enforcement had been removed from the agreement, including a version that at one point indicated ICE would be an authorized user of the jail.

Clearly, that is not something that is legal in the state of Oregon or allowable, which is why I requested them to send a new copy with removal of any reference to ICE, Elliott said.

I completely appreciate and understand the concern, he added. I have been very upfront that  I have no desire or intention to run afoul of Oregon law that has been well established Oregon law for the entirety of my time in law enforcement in the state of Oregon.

Concerns over immigration enforcement have become a national issue as the Trump administration threatens to carry out the largest deportation operation in American history. Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order that effectively has set up a battle with sanctuary cities and states over their unwillingness to help federal officials with immigration enforcement.

Concerns about the wording of Yamhill Countys draft jail agreement sent advocates into action Thursday.

Miriam Vargas Corona, executive director of the nonprofit Unidos Bridging Community, attended the meeting and said that including ICE as an authorized user of the jail would violate the law.

Entering into this agreement that includes ICE as an authorized agency user will create a financial impact to the Yamhill County Jail when lawsuits are placed against our local government, Vargas Corona said. It is in our local governments fiscal interest to avoid additional costs for the county jail and to avoid lawsuits and to be in compliance with state laws.

Isa Pena, director of strategy at the Innovation Law Lab, also raised concerns that the proposed agreement would violate Oregons sanctuary law. Each of you took an oath when assuming your office to obey the law, and we remind you that it is your obligation to do so, Pena said at the meeting. The Oregon law is clear. Any contract with ICE is illegal. And Oregon law also provides that individuals who violate the law may be sued in court.

At one point, County Commission Chair Kit Johnston said there were no references to ICE in the proposed agreement, which at the time was not publicly available online. Im not sure which agreement you were looking at, but ICE is not on ours, Johnston said.

Vargas Corona responded, We need transparency because that change was not shared with the public.

Christian Boenisch, Yamhill Countys attorney, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the sheriffs office had been working with federal officials to revise the agreement language and remove any immigration references. Officials had tried to eliminate those but didnt catch everything.

Our concern with that language was it could potentially confuse folks, he said of the draft agreement discussed during the meeting, adding that using the jail to hold immigration detainees was never our intent.

Boenisch said the agreement was fast-tracked for consideration Thursday to lock in higher rates for jail beds effective May 1. He said officials received the agreement from the federal government only on Wednesday and they worried that if a deal wasnt inked Thursday, they would have to wait until Aug. 1, the next fiscal quarter for federal officials, to score higher payments.

He noted that this isnt the first time items have been added to the board agenda on the same day as the meeting. Boenisch shared a copy of the agreement, which included a mention of ICE, with the newsroom just after noon Thursday.

Before days end, a new version of the agreement appeared online. The reference to the federal immigration agency had been crossed out.

Yamhill Countys agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service will raise daily jail reimbursements for federal inmates from $58 to $140. Yamhill County jail has not tracked the immigration status of people held at the jail, Elliott said.

Ultimately, the Yamhill County Commission voted 2-1 to approve the agreement after assurances that all references to ICE would be removed.

Commissioner Bubba David King, who had said he was concerned about the lack of transparency around the extension of the agreement and potential implications for the county from the contract, cast the lone no vote.

 Hillary Borrud is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 503-294 4034 or hborrud@oregonian.com.
Thousands gathered across downtown Portland during multiple protests and marches held as part of a May Day push against the federal policies of President Donald Trump.

At least 1,000 people had gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square as of about 5 p.m. Thursday, as speakers urged listeners to fight back against the oligarchs trying to take over our country and to impeach, convict and remove Trump from office.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s greeted participants, but the message they heard was anything but bright.

Our current administration wants us scared, miserable and isolated, one speaker told the crowd. We must refuse to live this way.

Read more: May Day rally draws thousands to state Capitol: Oregon will not be bullied by Trump administration

Earlier in the day, some 400 demonstrators gathered near Portland State University listening to amplified speeches, including from Portland elected officials, and carrying signs decrying the federal job cuts under the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency.

Nan Wonderly, 70, said she attended the rally to fight against the Trump administrations new colonialism, saying the president had increased ties with Russia and was seeking to exploit weaker countries.

She called on the U.S. Supreme Court and lawmakers to step in and prevent a constitutional crisis.

SCOTUS and Congress arent really doing their jobs to ensure a separation of power and to get legislation moving, she said.

Her friend, Beverly Ferguson, held up a faux report card giving Trump an F on the economy, following the law and human rights, among other topics.

We have our Bill of Rights, we have our free speech, our right to assemble, and all of these have been pushed back and dismantled, the 67-year-old Portlander said.

Several Portland police officers with bicycles were monitoring the rally but took no further action. Few signs of masked protests were apparent.

Taea Cage, a student at PSU, said she happened upon the peaceful protest while trying to finish reading a book. I always seem to miss these things, but Im happy to be able to be here, Cage said.

Read more: Immigrant rights, worker justice at center of Oregon May Day rallies

By 2:30 p.m., as protesters were marching from the PSU campus through the city, the crowd had grown to about 1,000 people.

The crowd returned to the campus around 3:30 p.m.

The rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square started at 4:30 p.m. A third, smaller demonstration kicked off at 5 p.m. at Terry Schrunk Plaza.

Protesters gathered in Terry Schrunk Plaza for a May Day rally on Thurs., May 1, 2025. Quinton Prudhomme

By 6 p.m., a crowd of about 250 had gathered at the federal plaza, which sits across from Portland City Hall, for the rally organized by the Portland Association of Teachers.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read was among the elected officials who addressed the supportive crowd.

Read slammed recent moves by the Trump administration seeking to force the removal of schools diversity, equity and inclusion policies in exchange for continued federal funding.

Protesters gathered in Terry Schrunk Plaza for a May Day rally on Thurs., May 1, 2025. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read was among the elected officials who addressed the crowd. Mark Graves | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Read said the solution was to mobilize. The power of the people is so much greater than the people in power, he said.

Reads speech was momentarily drowned out by an arriving marching band as hundreds of rally-goers from Pioneer Courthouse Square converged at the federal plaza.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

 Quinton Prudhomme is a reporter on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach him at  503-221-8002 or qprudhomme@oregonian.com.

 Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake

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In this photo illustration, a RadioShack transistor radio is shown on Feb. 8, 2015, in Westport, Connecticut. (Photo Illustration by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images

One of the last brick and mortar RadioShack stores closed last weekend, and that news will undoubtedly leave some feeling a little nostalgic.

People of a certain age can recall the excitement of going to the mall: strolling the tiled floors, popping in and out of stores, making a pit stop at the food court.

One of the mainstays during the heyday of U.S. shopping malls was RadioShack, and during this bygone era the electronics store would be the place to check out the latest in computers and gadgets.

But a variety of factors left the company in trouble by the 2010s, and RadioShack filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Across the country and in Oregon, its stores have largely disappeared.

Now, back to 2025. The last RadioShack store in Maryland, located in Prince Frederick, shut its doors last weekend, NBC4 Washington (D.C.) reported.

But the company continues to try to adapt and change with the times. Unicomer Group acquired RadioShack in 2023, and the company sells consumer electronics on its website.

There also are RadioShack authorized resellers dotted around the country. Although the RadioShack website does not list any in Oregon and only a couple in California, there are several in Washington.

One of them is The Shack, which opened just last month in Moses Lake, Washington. Owner Rick Rodriguez previously owned the RadioShack in town, and he wore a RadioShack T-shirt in early April as he cut the ribbon to celebrate his new stores opening. The Shack carries RadioShack-branded items as well as other electronics.

Theres no bringing back the mall experience of the past, but people like Rodriguez are trying to help revive a well-known brand from that place and time.

-- Joel Odom writes about trending topics in news, life and culture, and sports. Reach him at 503-221-8594, jodom@oregonian.com or @jkodom on Blue Sky.
Penne alla vodka was a signature dish at this Southeast Portland Italian restaurant. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

A casual Italian restaurant that unexpectedly closed last fall is returning to its original post just a few doors down from Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.

Portland staple 3 Doors Down Cafe suddenly shuttered without notice in November after 30 years in business. The restaurant, started in 1994 by owners Dave Marth and Kathy Bergin, left behind a legacy of tasty vodka sauce and top-notch cocktails.
Paula Kerger, President and CEO at PBS, said the broadcaster was exploring all options. Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

The head of PBS said Friday that President Donald Trumps executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR was blatantly unlawful.

Public Broadcasting Service CEO Paula Kerger said the Republican presidents order threatens our ability to serve the American public.

We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans, Kerger said.

Trump signed the order late Thursday, alleging bias in the broadcasters reporting.

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to cease Federal funding for PBS and National Public Radio and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

The presidents blatantly unlawful executive order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years, Kerger said in a statement.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels public funding to the two services, said that it is not a federal executive agency subject to Trumps orders. The president earlier this week said he was firing three of the five remaining CPB board members  threatening its ability to do any work  and was immediately sued by the CPB to stop it.

The vast majority of public money for the services goes directly to its hundreds of local stations, which operate on a combination of government funding, donations and philanthropic grants. Stations in smaller markets are particularly dependent on the public money and most threatened by the cuts of the sort Trump is proposing.

Oregon Public Broadcasting says it receives 9% of its funding from the federal government.

Public broadcasting has been threatened frequently by Republican leaders in the past, but the local ties have largely enabled them to escape cutbacks  legislators dont want to be seen as responsible for shutting down stations in their districts. But the current threat is seen as the most serious in the systems history.

Its also the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with.

Since taking office in January for a second term, Trump has ousted leaders, placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters and others, through takeovers of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agree to eliminate diversity programs and other measures he has found objectionable.

Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. That package, however, which budget director Russell Vought said would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill.

The move against PBS and NPR comes as Trumps administration has been working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press.

Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, which have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.
Thai prosecutors have decided not to pursue charges against OU alum Paul Chambers in a criminal complaint case that accused him of insulting the monarchy.

Paul Chambers was arrested in early April following a criminal complaint by the Thai army accusing him of violating lese-majeste, a law prohibiting people in Thailand from defaming, insulting or threatening the monarchy, and the Computer Crime Act, which allows the government to regulate online activity.

The accusation stemmed from the description of a 2024 webinar called Thailands 2024 Military and Police Reshuffles: What Do They Mean? According to Reuters, Paul Chambers has denied all charges.

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Violating lese-majeste in Thailand is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, according to The Associated Press.

In a statement from the Thailand attorney generals office, a spokesperson wrote that officials decided they wont pursue either charge after reviewing the investigation file, according to the Bangkok Post.

The decision to drop charges aligns with the resolution of a Thai committee to set guidelines for the enforcement of lese-majeste, Thai PBS wrote about the statement.

Paul Chambers has been on house arrest, but according to the attorney generals statement, the public prosecutor will ask the court to order his release.

Paul Chambers grew up in Norman and graduated from OU in 1997 and 1998 with degrees in letters and Spanish. He has lived in Thailand for over 30 years, working as a lecturer on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, Thailand.

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According to an article from the Bangkok Post, Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, implied Paul Chambers case was the reason tariff talks between Thai and American delegations have been postponed.

Kit Chambers, Paul Chambers brother, posted on his wifes Facebook account that the family was contacting Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). Peggy Chambers, Paul Chambers mom and OU professor, told OU Daily theyve reached out to U.S. officials, urging them to make Paul Chambers release a priority in tariff talks.

I don't believe that the timing of this is a coincidence with the US announcement of a 36% tariff on goods imported from Thailand, Kit Chambers wrote in the post.

Thailands current prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, denied that Paul Chambers case delayed meetings with U.S. officials.

Peggy Chambers wrote in an email to OU Daily on Thursday that Paul Chambers hopes to get his passport back on Friday and return to the U.S. soon.

Academic freedom is something that all democratic societies need to have, Peggy Chambers told OU Daily in April. It seems an assault against the university system.

A state department spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, wrote in an email to OU Daily in April that the safety of American citizens abroad is its highest priority, and the arrest warrant for Paul Chambers was concerning.

The United States strongly supports freedom of expression around the world, the statement read. We regularly urge Thai authorities, both privately and publicly, to protect freedom of expression in accordance with Thailands international obligations.

This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
Rendering of Kimberly-Clark's future manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio. Rendering of Kimberly-Clark's future manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio.

Kimberly-Clark to Invest Over $2 Billion to Expand Manufacturing in the U.S.

May 1, 2025 - Kimberly-Clark today announced plans to invest over $2 billion over the next 5 years in its North America business, marking the company's largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years.

The investment program centers on two transformative projects: a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, and an expansion of its Beech Island, South Carolina, site with a state-of-the-art automated distribution center. It also includes additional capital expenditure linked to innovation and automation upgrades across its North America supply chain network.

According to Kimberly-Clark, these investments will significantly enhance its US manufacturing capacity, accelerate its innovation plans and support its growth targets. In addition, the projects are expected to create more than 900 highly skilled jobs in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing.

"This landmark investment represents a strategic bet on the American consumer and our ability to drive innovation-led sustainable growth for Kimberly-Clark," said Russ Torres, Group President, Kimberly-Clark North America. "It reflects the confidence we have in our long-term growth plans and complements a broad range of commercial and R&D investments we have been making throughout the business as part of our Powering Care transformation journey."

Spread across more than a million square feet, the new manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, is strategically located in geographic proximity to roughly 117 million consumers and will serve as a hub for the Northeast and Midwest regions.

Meanwhile, a new Regional Distribution Center (DC) in Beech Island, South Carolina, will create the infrastructure necessary to support future scale and unlock network efficiencies. Located next to Kimberly Clark's largest manufacturing facility, the automated DC will significantly increase the site's ability to direct-ship and streamline its distribution footprint. The facility will leverage advanced robotics, AI-powered logistics systems, and high-density automated storage to dramatically improve operational efficiencies and fast-track speed to market.

Construction for both facilities is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and expected to be completed over the next 2-3 years.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories. The company's portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries.

SOURCE: Kimberly-Clark
Georgia officials sentenced the adoptive parents of a 10-year-old boy to decades in prison for reportedly starving the child they "didn't want."

The Spalding County couple is also being accused of abusing their adoptive child and has taken a non-negotiated plea deal. The parents were identified as Krista and Tyler Schindley, who were sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment and 20 years of probation.

Parents Sentenced to Prison for Abuse of 10-Year-Old Stepson

The two individuals were also sentenced on several other charges, which will run concurrently with the prison and probation sentencing. During the sentencing, Judge Benjamin Coker with the Griffin Judicial Circuit said he had never seen a person do what the couple did to another human being.

The parents pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree cruelty to a child, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of family violence battery, according to Atlanta News First.

Additionally, the mother pleaded guilty to three additional charges of aggravated assault. The case comes after authorities arrested the couple in May 2023. This was after a neighbor found their visibly malnourished 10-year-old stepson wandering around the area.

Griffin police described the young child as being thin and having discolored skin as well as visible injuries all over his body. Investigators added that the young boy weighed only 36 pounds when examined.

After authorities initially encountered the boy, he begged them not to take him back home to his adoptive parents. They later transferred him to the hospital, where medical professionals treated him for malnutrition and a low heart rate, Fox5Atlanta reported.

Locking Him Up and Starving Him

The arrest warrants against the parents revealed that prosecutors allege they locked the 10-year-old boy in his room for extended periods. This was a room with no lights and no access to clothes.

Additionally, the warrants noted that the couple knew that the boy had dental injuries and disfiguration but did not do anything to address them. They also allegedly inflicted abuse on their stepson while other children were present.

Following the couple's arrest, neighbors said that the Schindleys would typically leave their older kids at home for days as they went on vacations. Authorities reported that the Georgia Division of Family and Children's Service took custody of the other four children.

The prosecutor in the case alleges that the parents never wanted the boy, who was made to be the "sacrificial lamb" and "the cost" of adopting his twin siblings, as per Law and Crime.
A Trump administration report on healthcare for transgender children did not reveal the names of the authors to maintain the integrity of a post-publication peer review process.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the 400-page document known as "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices" on Thursday.

Report on Healthcare for Transgender Children

However, the agency did not disclose the names of the review's authors and did not initially provide details about their professional backgrounds and affiliations. Currently, the approach for transgender youth is to affirm a young person's gender identity and give their family the option of medical interventions, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

The latest report describes that this particular approach is fundamentally misguided. The authors, who were not named, concluded that doctors and clinics that provide gender-affirming care have "fallen short of their duty to prioritize the health interests of young patients," according to NPR.

In a statement, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller used the term "barbaric" to describe gender-affirming medical interventions. He added that these violate all "sound medical ethics" and are completely unwarranted.

Read more: Georgia Lawmakers Move Forward With Bill Banning Transgender Treatment for Children

On the other hand, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organization was deeply concerned about the new HHS document that was released. She said that the report misrepresents the current medical consensus, noting that it fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care.

Additionally, major medical groups and people who treat transgender young people sharply criticized the HHS report. The document comes after President Donald Trump's executive order that says the federal government must not support gender transitions for anyone aged under 19 years, the Associated Press reported.

Protecting Young Children

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said that they have to protect children and not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions. He added that they need to follow the gold standard of science and not activist agendas.

The HHS report also promoted psychotherapy as a "non-invasive" alternative for transgender children's healthcare. However, this drew pushback from the LGBTQ+ community, with advocates saying the proposal amounted to "conversion therapy."

The situation comes as other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have implemented restrictions on transgender youth care. UK health officials cited similar and highly disputed evidence review to issue a ban on puberty blockers.

The HHS report also said that the evidence for the benefit of pediatric medical transition is very uncertain while noting that the evidence for harm is less uncertain, as per the Washington Post.
A North Carolina bill allowing concealed handguns for teachers and several other individuals in children's schools passed a Senate panel.

The proposal is among two pieces of legislation that were recently passed and each requires gun holders to have written permission from school leaders. They are also required to have a valid concealed handgun permit to carry firearms on school grounds.

North Carolina Passes Bill for Concealed Handguns for Teachers

Additionally, the Senate bill would allow parents, teachers, or others to serve as volunteer armed guards for the school. However, they are first required to take eight hours of annual training before they are allowed to do so.

In a statement, private school parent Rachel Brady said that children are the most vulnerable in today's society. She said it is good that there are protections in place to ensure that responsible adults, who go through the requirements, could be designated by the school to serve as kids' protectors, according to WRAL News.

Currently, private schools can hire private security, but supporters of the new bill argue that not a lot of establishments have done so. This comes as many schools are relatively small and only have a few dozen students and do not have the necessary funding for professional security units.

On the other, larger schools choose to instead spend funding on different purposes and simply rely on volunteers to provide free security. Almost all public schools in the state have armed sheriffs' deputies providing security on campus.

The latest proposal is part of a larger trend in North Carolina where Republican lawmakers are trying to address the rise in the number of school shootings. A similar bill passed the House Judiciary 2 Committee a day before the latest one, NCNewsline reported.

Addressing the Increase of School Shootings

That particular bill allows schools to store tasers, pepper spray, and other "less-than-lethal" weapons. A separate provision in the latest bill allows for firearms to be carried by attendees of worship services, funerals, weddings, and other religious events that are held at places of worship located on the grounds of private schools.

Rep. Keith Kidwell said that it is common sense to have more than just a knife when a bad guy shows up with a gun. On the other hand, opponents of the bill argue that it would only make private schools more dangerous by having more carnage when an incident breaks out.

Rep. Julie von Haefen said that adding more guns to school environments will only bring more chaos. She said that guns are already the leading cause of death for students and children in North Carolina, as per the News Observer.
Concerns are high after the Department of Education started cutting about $1 billion in mental-health-related grants created in response to mass school shootings.

The department argued that schools that want to diversify their pool of psychologists are misusing the funds in question. Now, school psychology professionals are trying to find a way to move forward after being told their multiyear programs will expire at the end of the year if they do not decide to appeal.

Student Mental Health Grants Canceled

The two grants that are impacted by the funding cuts received an additional $1 billion after former President Joe Biden signed a sweeping bipartisan gun-control bill into law in 2022. That development came a month after the mass shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The latest round of cuts began on Tuesday and are in line with one of President Donald Trump's executive orders. The order seeks to eliminate programs that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools across the United States, according to the Washington Post.

Last month, the Trump administration also canceled grants that funded gun violence prevention programs as well as crime-victim advocacy. Over the past decade, Republican lawmakers have sought to blame mass shootings on the mental health issues of the suspects and not on the prevalence of firearms across the country.

Read more: Silverton High School Faced Lockdown Over Potential Shooting Threat

Emma Brown, the executive director of the gun control advocacy group Giffords, said that Trump claims America's gun violence crisis is a mental health issue and not a gun issue. She added that Republican officials have worked with Democratic authorities to allocate funds to save lives and stop school shootings.

While the grants were cut due to potential violations of federal civil rights law, the administration did not specify what law in particular was violated. Additionally, the administration did not provide the grant recipients with any evidence of the so-called violations, the New York Times reported.

Potential Civil Rights Law Violations

Later, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education confirmed that the grants were cut because of a particular focus on increasing the diversity of psychologists, counselors, and other mental health workers.

Superintendent Derek Fialkiewicz in Corbett, Oregon, said he was surprised to hear about the Trump administration putting an end to his federal support. The situation comes a week after a Department of Education employee gave the go-ahead to add a telehealth texting service for students.

The funding cuts also mean that many districts that received a portion of the $1 billion are forced to find a way to move forward without the money. Mary Wall, who was responsible for overseeing K-12 policy and budget for the U.S. Department of Education during the former administration, said preparations are now at risk, as per NPR.
At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Top-notch performance

Excellent display

Fast wired and wireless connectivity

Supports USB-C charging Cons Premium pricing

Still has the short battery life of a gaming laptops

Trackpad could be bigger Our Verdict The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 continues its familys knack for delivering extreme performance in a quality chassis at a competitive price. There are little areas for improvement, and the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 cant get away from typical gaming laptop issues like weight and limited battery life, but its still excellent for what it is. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today

Best Prices Today: Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10

Retailer Price Check Product Price

Lenovos Legion laptop family has been setting a high bar for gaming laptops over the last few years. While the Legion 9 series may be top dog in that family, the Legion Pro 7 series tends to mark a balance of class-leading performance, build quality, and value. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 continues that legacy nicely, offering extreme CPU and GPU performance all in a robust chassis with an excellent display.

With a starting price of $2,849 and a bump up to $3,599 to get the RTX 5080-equipped system tested here, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is solidly in the high-end gaming laptop category. But from our first benchmark to the last, it wastes no time cementing itself as one of the best gaming laptops you can get right now.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Specs and features

Model number: 82WQ002SUS

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

Memory: 32GB DDR5X-6400 CSODIMM

Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 (175-watt TGP)

Display: 16-inch 25601600 240Hz OLED, Anti-glare

Storage: 2X 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD

Webcam: 5MP

Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-C 10Gbps (with DP 2.1 and 140W PD input), 1x USB-A 10Gbps, 2x USB-A 5Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Biometrics: n/a

Battery capacity: 99 watt-hours

Dimensions: 14.35 x 10.9 x 1.05 inches

Weight: 5.84 pounds

MSRP: $3,599 as-tested ($2,849 base)

At the time of writing, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is available in just a few largely similar configurations. The one tested here costs $3,599 and is built around the RTX 5080. It is the only configuration listed on Lenovos website, but B&H also has configurations that swap in the RTX 5070 Ti for $2,849 or the RTX 5090 for $3,999. Lenovo often starts off some of its laptop models with just a few configurations but expands on them later on, so dont be surprised if more options trickle in later on. For now, all of these configurations include the same 32GB of DDR5 memory on two CSODIMM sticks, the same pair of 1TB PCIe 4.04 SSDs, the same OLED display, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 sets the stage nicely for high-end gaming laptops running on the latest GPUs.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Design and build quality

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is a hulking machine, much like its predecessors. It packs a lot inside and aims to let it run at high wattages, so the size and weight make sense. Lenovo didnt push much beyond the necessary bounds though, with the screen featuring narrow bezels and the rear of the laptop sticking out just an inch behind the display hinge to accommodate the beefier cooling required for this kind of application. Unsurprisingly, the laptop ends up over an inch thick.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is blacked out with a matte black aluminum frame spanning the keyboard deck, display lid, and underside of the laptop. This metal build has some minor flex to it but altogether feels quite sturdy.

Despite being a gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 offers a tame look. Theres no needlessly aggressive embossing or angularity to most of the chassis. It has per-key RGB keyboard lighting and a thin light bar at the front edge of the deck, but beyond this lighting (which is easy to turn off), the only real hint to the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10s gaming nature is the fighter-jet-like exhaust at the rear of the system, which houses a massive radiator that spans the entire rear edge.

There are three intake fans tucked behind the bottom grille  two large ones on either side and a smaller one slightly offset from the center that seems meant for the memory modules. They pull air in from the bottom and sent it out of the aforementioned radiator.

While some of Lenovos prior gaming laptops situated extra ports along the back edge of the system, the dedication to heat dissipation in the rear meant Lenovo had to shift all of its I/O to the side of the laptop.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 offers a solid keyboard. The keys are lightly contoured, helping me keep my fingertips centered on them. Theyre also very well stabilized for a laptop keyboard, helping keep the stroke even and avoiding rolling off the edge. Theyre also not mushy and offer 1.6mm travel. Despite these quality aspects of the keyboard, the deck is long and can make it a bit uncomfortable to type on unless the ergonomics of the desk/table are just right. I was able to get up to 116 words per minute with 97 percent accuracy in Monkeytype, but this was a hair slower and more error-prone than Id like to see, and it required removing my watch to manage.

The rest of the keyboard is quite nice as well. The backlighting is bright and thoroughly illuminates the key legends. Lenovo includes full-size arrow keys slightly offset from the rest of the keyboard, making them easy to use and feel out  great for quick navigation. Theres also a large number pad, and while the keys are slightly narrower than the rest of the keyboard, they still allow for convenient touch typing.

The trackpad is a slightly sore point in the inputs. Its a fine trackpad, offering smooth swiping and a satisfying tactile click when depressed. But its rather small for a system this large, and its so far to the left that I find Im almost constantly right-clicking. This may not be a concern if youre left-handed, but righties will likely find it a slight bother reaching so far over to use the trackpad.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Display, audio

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 includes an excellent display. Its wonderfully sharp thanks to its 25601600 panel, and gamers will get a lot out of its 240Hz refresh rate. Better still, its an OLED panel that effectively eliminates ghosting, which can be quite a bit worse on laptop IPS displays than desktop ones in my experience. That combines with infinite contrast, a bold peak brightness of 509.8 nits, 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and color accuracy with a maximum dE of 1.47  good enough for professional uses.

Lenovo says the display is anti-glare, and while its certainly no mirror, its not matte either. I can clearly see my reflection in it when Im in bright environments. It can get bright enough to help subdue some reflections, but that will draw more power and still leave reflections visible in darker areas of the screen.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 boasts a set of four speakers. Two are situated above the keyboard on an elevated shelf by the display hinge, and two are on the underside of the laptop. These pump out a ton of volume with crisp mids and a nice bit of bass. If youre trying to game or watch movies on the laptop, you wont immediately be running for headphones or external speakers here. Theyre quite excellent for laptop speakers.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Youll get a great-looking webcam on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10. It offers 5MP resolution stills and can record at 1440p/30FPS. Even without perfect lighting, its surprisingly low on noise, and it does an impressive job exposing the picture without blowing out highlights. Its wide field of view will also help if you want to record yourself and a friend side-by-side. It comes paired with a solid microphone system as well. Even in a large room, my voice sounded clear and full to the mics, avoiding room echo.

Unfortunately, you wont get any convenient biometric login capabilities on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10. Theres no fingerprint reader or facial recognition.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Connectivity

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 has decent wired connectivity for a laptop of its size. It has USB-A ports on either side, a 3.5mm jack and 2.5GbE port on the right side, and two USB-C ports and an HDMI 2.1 port on the left side. Only one of those USB-C ports is Thunderbolt 4, but the other at least supports DisplayPort 2.1 and 140W PD input. That USB PD input actually lets the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 recharge over USB-C when its set in Hybrid Mode (the GPU would drain too much power otherwise), providing some bonus flexibility if you dont want to carry the 400W charger everywhere you go. An SD card reader would have been a good addition given the systems productivity and creative application chops.

Wireless connectivity is a strong point, with the system supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. In testing, it had no issues on the wireless front and offered plenty of bandwidth when downloading games on my Wi-Fi 6 network.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Performance

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is geared up for major performance, and its no surprise to see it zoom through our benchmarks with aplomb. Its one of the first few gaming laptops powered by an RTX 50-series GPU that weve tested, so it presents a good opportunity to not only see the potential of the chips in mobile platforms but also see what improvements have come over the prior generation, if any.

Lenovo tends to make well-rounded configurations with its Legion series, and the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is no exception. In the holistic PCMark 10 benchmark, we see strong overall performance. By combining a fast CPU, GPU, memory, and storage, it performs impressively in every test that PCMark 10 throws at it, leading the pack here. That said, its only a minor uptick over the earlier Legion 9i Gen 9. Impressively, it beat the MSI Raider 18 HX A2XW  a bigger, heavier laptop that ought to have benefitted from extra cooling to run faster but showed a particular weakness in office productivity tasks.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 gets a high-end CPU, so its no surprise to see it ripping away at encoding tasks. It pulls off our 4K video encode in just under seven minutes  an impressive pace that pulls ahead of even the Core i9-14900HX in some of its competitors. It didnt quite keep up with the MSI Raider 18 HXs Core Ultra 9 285HX, which has the same core configuration but benefits from slightly faster clock speeds. That said, Lenovo didnt let the MSIs high-end CPU always take the lead.

In Cinebench R20 and R23, it actually led the MSI Raider 18 HX in single- and multi-core performance, though MSI takes back the performance lead in Cinebench R24, which can benefit from extra cooling thanks to its longer run time. While the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 and MSI trade blows with narrow margins, offering extreme CPU performance, they simply blow the rest of the pack out of the water here with double-digit performance advantages.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10s CPU is matched well with its GPU. In 3DMarks synthetic gaming benchmark Port Royal, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 offers the fastest performance weve seen from a laptop. It not only clears the MSI Raider 18 HX with its own RTX 5080 but also beats the RTX 4090 in the Legion 9i and Gigabyte Aorus 17X.

While synthetic benchmarks are a useful guide for gaming performance, it always helps to see actual games run on a GPU, so we put each gaming laptop through a battery of demanding game benchmarks. Unsurprisingly, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 keeps up its lead. Despite its age, Metro Exodus remains a demanding game at its Extreme graphics setting because of its heavy use of ray-traced effects. Still, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is able to run it at nearly 100 fps on average, leading all of the other systems here and yet again offering some of the fastest laptop performance weve seen in this test.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider also proves a rather demanding game but isnt quite as hard on the GPU and therefore lets the CPU help push performance even further. Here, the powerful combination of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10s Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and RTX 5080 achieves an impressive average of 238 frames per second, nearly topping our charts.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is even capable of running Cyberpunk 2077 at native 1080p with Ultra settings without ray tracing or DLSS at 151 fps. That drops to just 41 fps with the fully path-traced RT Overdrive mode, but again, thats before tapping into DLSS for any performance improvements.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 will default to the performance power profile when plugged in, helping ensure you get the most out of it. But thats not to say this is its peak. Lenovos Legion Space software offers customizable performance settings that could see it eke out even higher speeds.

All this performance does come with some cost: the fans kick up when the system goes into high gear. Its not too shrill, but its fairly loud, and there is still a high pitched element to it that will wear on you after long. Also, the system relies on a massive 400W power brick.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Battery life

To help conserve battery, Lenovo has set the Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 to go from Windows Performance mode when plugged in down to its Balanced mode when its running on battery. Not having to manually make this change can help ensure you dont find out the laptop is needlessly churning through battery power only after it has wasted a good chunk of charge. And youll want to conserve as much as you can. That said, laptops have been making improvements to battery life in leaps and bounds, with some Windows machines scratching 24 hours.

While gaming laptops have made improvements, theyre still lacking in this area. With the display set between 250 and 260 nits and the system on airplane mode, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 managed a little under six hours of runtime in our local video playback test.

Bear in mind, video playback can offer some favorable results where the battery is concerned, especially when an OLED display gets to show letterboxes (black pixels dont use power, after all). In actual use, the battery life is shorter. Even with the dGPU disabled and performance set to balanced profiles in Windows and Lenovos LegionSpace, the system lasts closer to 3 hours in normal use, browsing the web and watching the occasional video. On the bright side, the 400W charger can juice the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 back up quickly.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10: Conclusion

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is an extreme-performance laptop. Its combination of potent CPU and GPU readies it for intense gaming and heavy computing workloads alike. That comes with some extra bulk, weight, and noisy cooling, but the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 is still relatively strong next to competing laptops. Lenovo has fit all of that power into a great frame, offering an above-average keyboard, an excellent display, and a healthy selection of ports for most uses.

With all its packing, its not surprising to see the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 costs a tidy sum. But at $3,499, its still a fair price. Its cheaper than the prior-generation Legion 9i  a higher-tier system  and yet it outperforms that system in most respects. Its also quite a bit cheaper than the $4,499 MSI Raider 18 HX A2XW, which it squares off against, trading blows and landing quite a few victories over. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10 sets the stage nicely for high-end gaming laptops running on the latest GPUs.
Journalism is washed during the morning training in preparation for the 151th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 29, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. Getty Images

Only a few days separate horse racing and betting fanatics from The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.

The Kentucky Derby takes place every year during the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, which is a racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, for those unfamiliar.

The purpose of this how to bet on the Kentucky Derby guide will be to explain the event to interested bettors and break down the available racebooks and in which states you can use them.

How to bet on Kentucky Derby

Betting on the Kentucky Derby can be confusing for newer horse racing fans and bettors, so lets break down how to bet on it step-by-step.

Where can you bet on the Kentucky Derby?

To place a wager on the Kentucky Derby, a potential bettor must be physically located in a state with legalized online horse racing betting.

While most states have legalized online betting on horse racing, there are still a few in which you cannot place a wager through a racebook. Here is a list of the available states for online horse racing betting:

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Tennessee

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Kentucky Derby betting apps

Online horse racing betting has been legalized in most states across the U.S., but that does not mean that every racebook is available in all of those respective states.

Therefore, the most important step in choosing a racebook to bet on the Kentucky Derby is identifying which are available to you in your state. Here is a brief list of the most popular racebooks:

Here is a table detailing these racebooks and the states in which you can use them:

Horse Betting Apps Available States AmWager AL, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, WI, WV, WY BetMGM Horse Racing FL, LA, OH bet365 AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY Caesars Racebook CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MT, ND, NY, OH, OR, PA, WA, WV, WY DKHorse CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MT, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA, WV, WY DRF Bets AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY FanDuel Sportsbook/FanDuel Racing AR*, AZ, CA*, CO, CT, DE*, FL*, IA, ID*, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN*, MT*, ND*, NH*, NJ, NM*, NY, OH, OR*, PA, RI*, SD*, VA, WA*, WV, WY

*FanDuel Racing app only Hollywood Races AL, AR, CO, DE, FL, KY, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MT, ND, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV, WY Iron Bets Racing AL, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY NYRA Bets AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY OffTrackBetting AL, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IN, IL, KS, KY, MD, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY TVG (4NJBets in NJ) CA, IL, IA, MD, MA, MN, NM, NJ, NY, PA, VA TwinSpires AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY WatchandWager CA, CO, DE, FL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, RI, SD, TN, UT, WA, WV, WI, WY XpressBet AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY 1/ST Bets AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

How to sign up for a Kentucky Derby racebook account

The registration process for creating an account varies from racebook to racebook; however, there are several steps that remain the same.

Research which online racebooks are available in your specific state and then select one to create an account with. Continue through the account registration process by providing applicable personal information, such as full legal name, date of birth, mailing address, and the last four numbers of your social security number. Identify the specific banking options that your respective racebook offers and choose one in which to make a deposit into your newly created account. Lastly, place a wager on any Kentucky Derby bet that the racebook offers.

In-person Kentucky Derby betting

There are three options for in-person betting on the Kentucky Derby. Find those options listed below:

Churchill Downs: If you are lucky enough to be able to attend the Kentucky Derby in person, and meet the age requirement for betting, you will have the ability to place a wager directly at Churchill Downs.

Other Racetracks: Numerous racetracks across the country will offer simulcast betting on the Kentucky Derby, giving horse racing fanatics an avenue to place in-person bets on the event. Check with your local racetracks to see if they will take bets on the Kentucky Derby.

Off-Track Betting (OTB): This option varies state-by-state; however, there are some states in which you can place bets on the Kentucky Derby at designated betting parlors.

Types of Kentucky Derby bets to make

A newer bettor might think that betting on the winner is the only betting type available, but that could not be further from the truth.

Below, we have listed out many of the different betting types that bettors have at their disposal for the Kentucky Derby:

Win: This wager is self-explanatory and undoubtedly the most popular in horse racing. Which horse will win the Kentucky Derby? This betting type is similar to This wager is self-explanatory and undoubtedly the most popular in horse racing. Which horse will win the Kentucky Derby? This betting type is similar to moneyline betting in that it is a straight bet: win or lose.

Place: Pick a horse that you believe will finish first or second. The Pick a horse that you believe will finish first or second. The betting odds for this betting type will be shorter (smaller payout) since there is more flexibility with your horse having the chance to come in second place.

Show: A show wager is similar to place except that it will hit if your respective horse finishes in first, second, or third place. Again, the payout will be less than a place or an outright win since it offers more flexibility for your horse.

Across the Board: An across the board bet means placing a win, place, and show bet on a single horse for an equal amount each. If your horse wins, youd receive a payout for the win, place, and show bets. For second place, youd collect on the place and show bets. Lastly, for a third-place finish, you would receive a payout on the show bet.

Exacta: This type of horse betting wager predicts which two horses will finish first and second, respectively. They must be the selected horses and finish in that specific order to pay out.

Trifecta: Much like the exacta, the trifecta offers bettors the opportunity to pick three horses that they believe will finish first, second, and third. If a bettor gets the horses and their respective finish order correct, they will receive a massive pay out.
A Delaware County woman was arrested after police say she defecated on another persons car during a road rage incident.

The incident occurred Tuesday at the intersection of Fourth Street and Madison Avenue in Prospect Park, and started when one driver cut off another.

Long story short, someone wasnt moving fast enough so the other person cut them off and words were exchanged and here we are, Prospect Park Police Chief David Madonna said to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The other driver did not report the incident to police but a witness recorded it and posted a video to social media, where it has since gone viral. (Note: That video has been edited but is still kind of gross. Click at your own risk.)

Police identified Christina Solometo, 44, of Ridley Park as a suspect and arrested her on Thursday. She is charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment and depositing waste on highway.

According to TMZ, Solometo bragged to police about defecating on the car, saying, It was a clean poop, I didnt even have to wipe.

Solometo told police that the other driver had called her a fat [expletive] and that I wanted to punch her in the face, but I pooped on her car instead and went home.

Police in Prospect Park arent finding the incident that funny.

I know its being joked on a lot. Theres all kinds of puns and innuendos online but bottom line, we are treating it seriously. It cant happen in this community. No town wants this to happen in their town, Madonna said to NBC10. The recognition a town gets over this kind of thing, its really unwelcome. We dont want this.
By Mary Ellen Wright, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Lancaster County native Jonathan Groff scored his second Tony Award nomination in a row, and fourth overall on Thursday morning.

He has been nominated for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for portraying 1960s pop star, actor and activist Bobby Darin in Just in Time, playing on Broadway.
These squiggly liens were meant as a traffic-calming measure. (photo provided by the Montgomery Township Facebook Page) Montgomery Township Facebook Page

That didnt last long.

Squiggly lines that were meant to calm traffic on a busy road in Pennsylvania will soon be no more.

News broke in early April about this strange attempt to slow cars speeding down Grays Lane in Montgomery Township.

With all the school stops and people walking and animals crossing, its always very dangerous, resident Joe Albanese said to 6 ABC at the time.

Despite the roads danger, though, many people informed CBS Local Philadelphia that they werent sure the inebriated-looking lines were the answer to solving Grays Lanes issues.

I think its an eyesore, said William King to the news station. I think its ridiculous.

I think its awkward, added Ashley Wycoff. Its weird. Im not used to it.

Alas, it seems the anti-squiggles faction has won out: NBC 10 reports that township officials have made the move to remove the lines following a board meeting held on Monday.

The boards decision  apart from the complaints  seems to have stemmed from the fact that the lines didnt really do much in terms of calming traffic. That, and a number of people claimed that they actually made Grays Lane more dangerous.

One person said the only improvement she has seen is when there are cars going both ways, said Supervisor Candyce Chimera to CBS Local Philadelphia.

So on a regular time when theres only one car, theyre still flying down the road, theyre ignoring our attempts to slow them down.

I think as a community we were really happy we were heard, said resident Katie Staudt following the news.

Township officials confirmed that crews will start removing the squiggly road lines today.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have their first dance of the evening during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) ASSOCIATED PRESS

Barack and Michelle Obama have been the target of persistent rumors about their marriage for more than a year, and the former first lady is finally taking those on directly.

In a recent appearance on The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett podcast, Obama opened up about the whispers, which were amplified earlier this year when she did not attend the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter and the second inauguration of President Donald Trump alongside Barack Obama.

If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it, she said laughing, per People Magazine.

She then pointed out that her brother and the co-host on her own podcast, Craig Robinson, would know about the issues.

And everybody would know it, she said. Im not a martyr. I would be problem solving in public. Let me tell you what he did.

Robinson said that if the Obamas were having problems, I would be doing a podcast with (Barack).

The comments came after Michelle discussed the ups-and-downs in their marriage.

The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither of us was really ever gonna quit at it, cause thats not who we are, she said. And I know that about him. He knows that about me.

Michelle has also previously commented on not attending the funeral and the inauguration, but she talked about that more as well.

I feel like not I have permission to do what I want to do, she said. I think at 61, Im finally owning my wisdom. I think it takes women until were about 60 to be like, I think I know a thing or two.

Again, while more direct than in the past, its not the first time she has tackled the rumors this year. During an appearance on Sophia Bushs Work in Progress podcast in early April, she talked about how her life has changed since she and Barack left the White House. She said then that her independence leads to scrutiny.

Thats the thing that we as women struggle with  disappointing people, she said. I mean, so much so that this year people couldnt even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. That they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.

This couldnt be a grown woman just making a set of decisions herself, right? she continued. But thats what society does to us. We start actually going, what am I? What am I doing? What am I doing this for? And if it doesnt fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.

The rumors about the Obamas that date back more than a year began without evidence, taking off from tabloid pages and gaining steam on social media. Somewhere along the way, a major celebrity  Jennifer Aniston  was also inserted into the tale with the rumor somehow morphing into claims Barack was leaving Michelle for her.

It became so prevalent that Jimmy Kimmel addressed the rumor with Aniston live on his show last fall.

Per PEOPLE Magazine, she was shown headlines on the show that included The Truth About Jen & Barack, which also said that Michelle Obama was betrayed as Aniston steals her husbands attention.

So, what did Aniston have to say about that? Of all the calls you get from your publicist, where youre just like, Oh, no, whats it gonna be? Or the email saying, you know, some cheesy tabloid is gonna make up a story, and then its that.

Aniston told Kimmel she wasnt mad at it. And she was clear in saying the tabloid headlines are absolutely untrue.

I have met him once, she said. I know Michelle more than him.

Then, when Michelle skipped out on the Carter funeral and Trumps second inauguration, former The View host Meghan McCain fanned the flames on a podcast earlier this year.

I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people, McCain, the daughter of John McCain, said on Tara Palmeris podcast. Im not talking about TMZ. Im not talking about Perez Hilton, although I love him, hes my friend. Im talking about like very serious journalists telling me that theyre hearing that the Obama divorce rumors are true.

Palmeri said she had heard similar things, and added its not really surprising at this phase of their life.

And she clearly has very little interest  she has always hated politics! she said. She did not like being First Lady.

Again, though, the Obamas, Aniston and everyone thrown into the rumors have denied them, with Michelle doing so yet again here, and the couple is still together.
By Alfred Lubrano, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

PHILADELPHIA  The Trump administration has terminated a three-year, $600,000 grant to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which has helped exonerate around 35 people in the state incarcerated for crimes they didnt commit.

The nonprofit learned about the cuts, from funds initially awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, last week.
There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered papabile, or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. After St. John Paul II broke the centuries long Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field of contenders has broadened considerably.

When the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to choose a successor to Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, they will be looking above all for a holy man who can guide the Catholic Church. Beyond that, they will weigh his administrative and pastoral experience and consider what the church needs today.

Here is a selection of possible contenders, in no particular order. The list will be updated as cardinals continue their closed-door, preconclave discussions.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin prays at the end of a mass he led on the second of nine days of mourning for late Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) AP

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Date of Birth: Jan. 17, 1955

Nationality: Italian

Position: Vatican secretary of state under Francis

Experience: Veteran Vatican diplomat

Made a cardinal by: Francis

The 70-year-old veteran diplomat was Francis secretary of state, essentially the Holy Sees prime minister.

Though associated closely with Francis pontificate, Parolin is much more demure in personality and diplomatic in his approach to leading than the Argentine Jesuit he served and he knows where the Catholic Church might need a course correction.

Parolin 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 and played a key role in the 2014 U.S.-Cuba detente, which the Vatican helped facilitate.

If he were elected, he would return an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland), Pope Benedict XVI (Germany) and Francis (Argentina).

But Parolin has very little pastoral experience: He entered the seminary at age 14, four years after his father was killed in a car accident. After his 1980 ordination, he spent two years as a parish priest near his hometown in northern Italy, but then went to Rome to study and entered the Vatican diplomatic service, where he has remained ever since. He has served at Vatican embassies in Nigeria, Mexico and Venezuela.

He is widely respected for his diplomatic finesse on some of the thorniest dossiers facing the Catholic Church. He has long been involved in the China file, and he played a hands-on role in the Holy Sees diplomatic rapprochement with Vietnam that resulted in an agreement to establish a resident Vatican representative in the country.

Parolin was also the Vaticans point-person in its frustrated efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He has tried to make the churchs voice heard as the Trump administration began working to end Russias war in Ukraine.

Lets hope we can arrive at a peace that, in order to be solid, lasting, must be a just peace, must involve all the actors who are at stake and take into account the principles of international law and the UN declarations, he said.

Parolin might find the geopolitical reality ushered in by the Trump administration somewhat unreceptive to the Holy Sees soft power.

 By Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends a mass on the fifth of nine days of mourning for late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) AP

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

Date of Birth: June 21, 1957

Nationality: Filipino

Position: Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Evangelization under Francis

Experience: Former archbishop of Manila, Philippines

Made a cardinal by: Benedict

Tagle, 67, is on many bookmakers lists to be the first Asian pope, a choice that would acknowledge a part of the world where the church is growing.

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. Tagle often cites his Chinese heritage  his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines.

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, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited.

Tagle is known as a good communicator and teacher  key attributes for a pope.

The pope will have to do a lot of teaching, well have to face the cameras all the time so if there will be a communicator pope, thats very desirable, said Leo Ocampo, a theology professor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

That said, Tagles tenure at Caritas was not without controversy and some have questioned his management skills.

In 2022 , Francis ousted the Caritas management, including demoting Tagle. The Holy See said an outside investigation had found real deficiencies in management that had affected staff morale at the Caritas secretariat in Rome.

 By Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

FILE - Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu arrives for a college of cardinals' meeting, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) AP

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

Date of Birth: Jan. 24, 1960

Nationality: Congolese

Position: Archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo

Experience: President of the bishops conferences of Africa and Madagascar

Made a cardinal by: Francis

The 65-year-old Ambongo is one of Africas most outspoken Catholic leaders, heading the archdiocese that has the largest number of Catholics on the continent that seen as the future of the church.

He has been archbishop of Congos capital since 2018 and a cardinal since in 2019. Francis also appointed him to a group of advisers that was helping reorganize the Vatican bureaucracy.

In Congo and across Africa, Ambongo has been deeply committed to the Catholic orthodoxy and is seen as conservative.

In 2024, he signed a statement on behalf of the bishops conferences of Africa and Madagascar refusing to follow Francis declaration allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples in what amounted to continent-wide dissent from a papal teaching. The rebuke crystalized both the African churchs line on LGBTQ+ outreach and Ambongos stature within the African hierarchy.

He has received praise from some in Congo for promoting interfaith tolerance, especially on a continent where religious divisions between Christians and Muslims are common.

He is for the openness of the church to different cultures, said Monsignor Donatien Nshole, secretary-general of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, who has long worked with Ambongo.

An outspoken government critic, the cardinal is also known for his unwavering advocacy for social justice.

In a country with high poverty and hunger levels despite being rich in minerals, and where fighting by rebel groups has killed thousands and displaced millions in one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises, he frequently criticizes both government corruption and inaction, as well as the exploitation of the countrys natural resources by foreign powers.

Congo is the plate from which everyone eats, except for our people, he said last year during a speech at the Pontifical Antonianum University.

Ambongos criticism of authorities has drawn both public admiration and legal scrutiny. Last year, prosecutors ordered a judicial investigation of him after accusing him of seditious behavior over his criticism of the governments handling of the conflict in eastern Congo.

 By Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal

FILE - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops), welcomes parishioners after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, on June 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) AP

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

Date of Birth: Oct. 11, 1955

Nationality: Italian

Current position: Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, president of the Italian bishops conference

Previous position: Auxiliary bishop of Rome

Made a cardinal by: Francis

Zuppi, 69, came up as a street priest in the image of Francis, who promoted him quickly: first to archbishop of the wealthy archdiocese of Bologna in northern Italy in 2015, before bestowing the title of cardinal in 2019.

He is closely 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.

He traveled to Kyiv and Moscow after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the Holy See for help in winning the release of 19,000 Ukrainian children taken from their families and brought to Russia during the war. The mission also took him to China and the United States.

After making him a cardinal, Francis 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  someone who prioritizes ministering to poor and homeless people and refugees.

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.

In a sign of his progressive leanings, 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 wrote that building bridges with the community was a difficult process, still unfolding. He recognized that doing nothing, on the other hand, risks causing a great deal of suffering, makes people feel lonely, and often leads to the adoption of positions that are both contrasting and extreme.

Zuppis family also 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.

 By Colleen Barry in Vatican City

FILE - Cardinal Peter Erdo officiates the Easter Vigil ceremony at the St Stephen's Basilica of Budapest for Easter Vigil services on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File) AP

Cardinal Peter Erdo

Date of Birth: June 25, 1952

Nationality: Hungarian

Position: Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary

Past experience: Twice elected head of the umbrella group of European bishops conferences

Made a cardinal by: John Paul

Known by his peers as a serious theologian, scholar and educator, Erdo, 72, is a leading contender among conservatives. He has served as the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest since 2002 and was made a cardinal by John Paul the following year. He has participated in two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, for the selection of Benedict and Francis.

Holding doctorates in theology and canon law, Erdo, speaks six languages, is a proponent of doctrinal orthodoxy, and champions the churchs positions on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.

Erdo opposes same-sex unions, and has also resisted suggestions that Catholics who remarry after divorce be able to receive communion. He stated in 2015 that divorced Catholics should only be permitted communion if they remain sexually abstinent in their new marriage.

An advocate for traditional family structures, he helped organize Francis 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family.

From 2006 to 2016, Erdo served as president of the Council of European Bishops Conferences, helping to foster collaboration among Catholic bishops across Europe and to address contemporary issues facing the church on the continent.

While careful to avoid taking part in Hungarys often tumultuous political life, Erdo has maintained a close relationship with the countrys rightist populist government, which provides generous subsidies to Christian churches.

He has been reluctant to take positions on several of the governments policies that divided society in Hungary such as public campaigns that villainized migrants and refugees and laws that eroded the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.

When hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers entered Europe in 2015 fleeing war and deprivation in the Middle East and Africa, Erdo emphasized that the church had a Christian duty to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, but stopped short of the full-throated advocacy for migrants that was one of Francis top priorities.

 By Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary

Cardinal Robert Prevost

Date of Birth: Sept. 14, 1955

Nationality: American and Peruvian

Position: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under Francis

Experience: Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru; head of the Augustinian religious order

Made a cardinal by: Francis

Francis brought Prevost, 69, to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost has a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.

One strike against him, however, is that hes American, and there has long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere. But Prevost, a Chicago native, could be a first because hes also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Prevost was also twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th century order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts still counts the most Catholics.

Ever since he arrived in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he is 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, suggesting he would at least be Francis choice in an any future conclave.

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.

The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevosts old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having 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.

 By Franklin Briceno in Lima, Peru, and Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius arrives for a college of cardinals' meeting, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP

Cardinal Anders Arborelius

Date of Birth: Sept. 24, 1949

Nationality: Swedish

Position: Bishop of Stockholm

Experience: Member of Order of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers; longtime president and then vice president of the Scandinavian bishops conference

Made a cardinal by: Francis

Even though he heads a tiny Catholic diocese, Arborelius, 75, is on a few insider lists as a possible papal contender for the conservative camp.

He has been the bishop of Stockholm  a diocese that covers the whole of predominantly Lutheran though largely secular Sweden  since 1998 and was made a cardinal by Francis in 2017. It was the first time Sweden had ever had a cardinal.

Arborelius was born in Switzerland, grew up in Sweden as a Lutheran and converted to Catholicism when he was 20. He was ordained a priest a decade later. As bishop of Stockholm, he became the first ethnically Swedish bishop of the country since the Reformation centuries earlier.

He is multilingual, with a masters degree in modern languages  English, Spanish and German. He also studied theology and philosophy in Bruges, Belgium, and in Rome.

Arborelius has opposed the ordination of women as priests but did suggest in 2017 that a college of women who would give advice to the pontiff could be created. He has shared Francis welcoming approach to migrants and has spoken in favor of legislation against ecocide, or serious environmental damage.

In 2021, Arborelius was one of two envoys sent by Francis to the German archdiocese of Cologne to investigate possible mistakes by senior church officials in handling past sexual abuse cases.

Francis was clearly fond of him. In a 2022 meeting with the editors of European Jesuit journals, Francis praised Arborelius as a fearless proponent of dialogue and a model for others to follow.

He isnt afraid of anything. He talks to everybody and isnt against anybody, Francis said, according to La Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal, which reported the conversation. I believe that a person like him can indicate the right path to follow.

But Arborelius told Swedish broadcaster SVT that he had asked the late pontiff to be relieved of the duties of cardinal and wanted to return to his monastery in southern Sweden. He said it was highly unlikely that a Swede like him would be elected pope.

 By Geir Moulson in Berlin

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is approached by reporters as he arrives for a college of cardinals' meeting, at the Vatican, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Date of Birth: April 21, 1965

Nationality: Italian

Position: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Experience: Member of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor

Made a cardinal by: Francis

At 60, Pizzaballa is on the young side to be pope, but he is a favorite of many Italian Vatican watchers eager to see an Italian take back the papacy after three non-Italians.

He has served in Jerusalem for more than three decades, moving to the city from his native Italy just a month after his ordination. Pizzaballa served as custodian of the Holy Land for 12 years, responsible for all of the Catholic properties in the region.

In 2016, Francis appointed Pizzaballa to fill the vacant seat of the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem  the representative of Catholics in Israel, Cyprus, Jordan and the Palestinian territories  and made it official in 2020. Pizzaballa was elevated to cardinal in 2023.

A fluent Hebrew speaker, Pizzaballa has translated various liturgical texts into the language for the Catholic communities in Israel. He gained favor in Israel after offering to take the place of children being held hostage in Gaza a week after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Some 251 people, including dozens of children, were abducted.

Earlier that year, ahead of Easter, Pizzaballa warned in an interview with The Associated Press that the regions 2,000-year-old Christian community has come under increasing attack, with Israels government emboldening extremists who have harassed clergy and vandalized religious property at a quickening pace.

Pizzaballa has traveled extensively around the region, including to help celebrate a special pre-Christmas Mass in Gaza last year. I want to say, to tell you, that all the world, not only the Christian world, all the world is with you, so the war will finish and we will rebuild, the cardinal said, urging Gazans to never be afraid.

 By Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem

Card. Juan Jose Omella president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference attends a press conference at the Pontifical Spanish College in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Members of the Spanish Conference of Bishops met with Pope Francis at The Vatican earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) AP

Cardinal Juan Jose Omella

Date of Birth: April 21, 1946

Nationality: Spanish

Position: Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain

Experience: Missionary in Zaire, now called Congo; president of the Spanish bishops conference

Made a cardinal by: Francis

The 79-year-old archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, has crusaded against hunger worldwide and would likely continue Francis commitment to putting the church in the service of the neediest.

The Spanish churchs tumultuous attempts to come to terms with sexual abuse in its ranks could work against Omella, who would also be on the older side for a pope, meaning his pontificate would likely be short and transitional.

Born in a village in Spains Aragon region, Omella was ordained in 1970 and became archbishop of Barcelona in 2015. Francis made Omella a cardinal two years later and named him to his small group of advisers in 2023.

Known for his own affable personality, Omella has praised Francis for emphasizing the joyful message of the Gospels.

Omella shares Francis social vision of the church. He did missionary work in Zaire, now called Congo, and has been active in the Spanish Catholic NGO Manos Unidas. In a 2022 letter entitled Combating Indifference, Omella wrote that hunger in the poorest countries was the result of unchecked capitalism. Our goal is to transform the established (economic) structures to correct the deep and growing gap between the rich and poor, he wrote.

But also like Francis and other church leaders, Omella has had trouble handling the enormously painful history of sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church.

Omellas term as president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference from 2000 to 2024 coincided with a confrontation with Spains government over the issue. Under Omella, the Spanish church conducted its own audit of sexual abuse, apologized to the victims and has since offered economic compensation to them. But Omella dismissed the results of government polling data that pointed to a much higher total of victims.

When asked by Spains National Radio how he felt about being considered a candidate to succeed Francis, Omella stayed true to his reputation of modesty and laughed off the possibility.

There are excellent cardinals who will know how to take the helm of the church, and I am not one of them, he said. Others will know how to take up the legacy of the pope and carry it forward.

 By Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain

FILE - German Cardinal Reinhard Marx arrives for a morning session of a two-week synod on family issues at the Vatican, o, Oct. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File) AP

Cardinal Reinhard Marx

Date of Birth: Sept. 21, 1953

Nationality: German

Position: Archbishop of Munich-Freising

Experience: Coordinator of the Vaticans Council of the Economy; president of German bishops conference; president of the commission of European bishops conferences

Made a cardinal by: Benedict

If the cardinals want to elect someone who would continue Francis unfinished business making the Catholic Church more attuned to the needs of ordinary lay Catholics, the 71-year-old Marx could fit the bill.

Marx has been the archbishop of Munich and Freising  one of Germanys most prominent dioceses  since 2008 and was made a cardinal by Benedict in 2010. He was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013 and was named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening.

A former head of the German Bishops Conference, he is 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, which has contributed to large numbers of people leaving the church. The reform process has drawn opposition from conservatives and suspicion from the Vatican.

In an extraordinary gesture in 2021, Marx offered to resign over the churchs catastrophic mishandling of clergy abuse cases, declaring that the scandals had brought the church to a dead end. But Francis swiftly rejected the offer.

In 2022, a report that Marxs archdiocese commissioned into abuse over recent decades faulted the cardinal over his own handling of two cases. Marx said he would look over those cases to learn from them but didnt renew his resignation offer.

Marx said the church still needed to do more to reach out to abuse victims, and acknowledged that he himself had overlooked the people affected. He added that is inexcusable. He stressed the importance of pushing forward reforms, saying that the church wouldnt be able to work through the abuse crisis successfully without really deep renewal.

In a 2022 newspaper interview, Marx advocated loosening celibacy rules. He insisted that celibacy wouldnt be scrapped altogether but said he sees a question mark over whether it should be taken as a basic precondition for every priest. Also that year, Marx apologized for discrimination against gay people by the church.

 By Geir Moulson in Berlin

FILE - Cardinal Robert Sarah appears for the presentation of Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke's book Divine Love Made Flesh, in Rome, on Oct. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) AP

Cardinal Robert Sarah

Date of Birth: June 15, 1945

Nationality: Guinean

Position: Retired

Experience: Prefect of Vaticans liturgy office; head of the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum; secretary of Vaticans missionary office; archbishop of Conakry, Guinea

Made a cardinal by: Benedict XVI.

Sarah, 79, has become something of a figurehead for the conservative wing among cardinals, even if his chances of securing the necessary votes to become pope are now slim. He was long considered the best hope for an African pope but had a fairly spectacular falling out with Francis that may have spoiled any chance of winning over moderates.

When he was first made a bishop in 1979 by John Paul, at 34, he was the youngest bishop ever. He headed the Vaticans charity office Cor Unum and then, under Francis, led its liturgy office.

But he clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than in 2020, when he and Benedict co-authored a book in advocating the necessity of continued celibacy for Roman Catholic priests.

The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a shortage there. Some alleged that Sarah manipulated Benedict into lending the retired popes name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to the current popes own teaching.

The prospect of a retired pope trying to influence the current pope was the nightmare scenario canon lawyers and theologians warned about in 2013 when Benedict retired and chose to retain the white cassock of the papacy and call himself emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. In the end, Benedict removed his name from future editions of the book, but the episode exacerbated the tensions between conservatives and Francis.

Sarah, for his part, insisted he acted in good faith, remained loyal to Francis and denied he had manipulated Benedict. But in the aftermath, Francis dismissed Benedicts secretary and several months later retired Sarah as the Vaticans liturgy chief. Even Sarahs supporters lamented the episode hurt his future papal chances.

 By Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

FILE - Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet attends a Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) AP

Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Date of Birth: June 8, 1944

Nationality: Canadian

Position: Retired

Experience: Head of the Vaticans office for bishops; president of Pontifical Commission for Latin America; archbishop of Quebec, Canada; rector of seminary in Colombia; member of the Sulpician religious order

Made a cardinal by: John Paul

Ouellet, 80, has long been on many a list of papabile, or cardinals possessing the characteristics of a possible pope, given his work in the Vatican, pastoral experience and familiarity with Latin America, which counts more Catholics than any other region.

But his chances may have dimmed after he was accused of misconduct by a woman as part of a class-action lawsuit in his former archdiocese of Quebec, Canada. Ouellet strenuously denied the allegations, sued the woman for defamation, and Francis shelved the church investigation into him after a church investigator determined there werent enough elements to bring forward a canonical trial.

Ouellet 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 Ouellet had originally been appointed by the more conservative Benedict.

Though Ouellet himself is considered more of a conservative than Francis, he 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 Roman Catholic Church and upheld the ban on womens ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance.

He kept good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vaticans Pontifical Commission for Latin America for over a decade. In 2019, the Vaticans bishops office started taking charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made Ouellet no friends among those sanctioned but may have also given him lots of otherwise confidential information about fellow cardinals.

 By Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

FILE - Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn attends a press conference to present the post-synodal apostolic exhortation ' Amoris Laetitia ' (The Joy of Love), at the Vatican, Friday, April 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) AP

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn

Date of Birth: Jan. 22, 1945

Nationality: Austrian

Position: Archbishop of Vienna

Experience: Edited the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the compendium of church teaching; member of the Dominican religious order

Made a cardinal by: John Paul

Schoenborn, 80, was a student of Benedicts, and thus on paper seems to have the 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.

He has been good-natured in indulging reporters who swarm cardinals each morning as they arrive for the preconclave meetings, offering responses in a variety of languages depending on the journalist asking.

Asked in Italian what sort of pope might be chosen, Schoenborn recalled that Francis big meetings about the future of the church, known as synods, suggested continuity with Francis focus on the church in the developing world.

It was evident during the synod the weight and importance shifted towards the South  Africa, Asia, Latin America, he said.

 By Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

___

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.
Firefighters in Cumberland County are scaling back operations Thursday as the Thompson Hollow Fire becomes more manageable and crews fully contain the Hammonds Rocks Fire.

The Thompson Hollow Fire, which started April 23, has burned around 2,248 acres as of Thursday and is 80% contained, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) said.
As crews continue to stamp out traces of the forest fire plaguing different parts of Michaux State Forest, Pennsylvania Governor Joshua Shapiro made the hour-long trip from Harrisburg to visit state employees and volunteers on the ground.

I respect the hell out of you, Shapiro said during the Friday afternoon meet-and-greet at responders staging area off Shippensburg Road, near the Pine Ridge Campground.
Lancaster County residents within the highlighted zone are being advised not to give tap water to infants under six months as levels exceed safety standards at 10.8 mg/L, above the 10 mg/L limit. Map provided by Hempfield Water Authority.

Hempfield Water Authority customers in Lancaster County are under a drinking water warning after high nitrate levels were reported earlier this week, officials said.

The announcement comes after the Hempfield Water Authority received nitrate levels of 10.8 on Wednesday, making it a serious health concern for infants less than 6 months old due to it being above the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L, the water company said.

The high nitrate levels are also affecting the low-pressure system in East Hempfield Township, the water company said.

The Hempfield Water Authority is telling customers to do the following:

Do not give tap water to infants under 6 months. Tap water with high nitrate levels can cause serious illness or death in infants, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome (bluish skin). Use bottled or low-nitrate water for formula, juice, or drinking.

Do not boil tap water. Boiling increases nitrate concentration.

Tap water is safe for adults and children over 6 months, but pregnant individuals and people with specific health concerns should consult their doctor.

Water, juice, and formula for children under 6 months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.

High nitrate levels in drinking water come from natural decay, septic systems, fertilizers and industrial or agricultural runoff.

These contaminants can seep into groundwater and contaminate wells. Nitrate levels vary year-round and may rise during droughts due to reduced groundwater dilution.

The Hempfield Water Authority said theyre working on a timeline to resolve the problem.

Well let you know when the amount of nitrate is again below the limit, the Hempfield Water Authority said. We are currently working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to help resolve this issue.

For more information, call Hempfield Water Authority at 717-898-8231.
The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration has confirmed it is investigating a fatal workplace incident in York County.

A man fell from the roof of the Utz Potato Chip Factory on High Street in Hanover on Friday morning.

Joanna Hawkins, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor, confirmed to PennLive that OSHA is investigating the incident. She said more information would be released as it becomes available.
Gov. Josh Shapiro is rolling out a new hotline and reporting system for consumer financial problems, which the administration says will help backfill some of the functions abandoned by the federal government as President Donald Trump seeks to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Shapiro and officials from his administration launched the new phone number and website Thursday, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat malfeasance by banks, credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and others who may be ripping off consumers.

You tell us what the problem is, and well get on it right away, Shapiro said, adding that we want there to be no wrong door for Pennsylvanians to report financial scams or wrongdoing.
Update: OSHA investigating fatal fall at central Pa. factory

A potato chip maker is responding after a man died at its facility.

A man fell about 25 feet off a roof at an Utz factory on High Street in Hanover on Friday morning, according to Ted Czech, York Countys emergency management coordinator.
Naomi Limann is a student ay Blair Academy and a former summer intern with the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg and PennLive. User submitted photo

By Naomi Limann

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) influences digitally engaged people across the globe. Even those who avoid the digital world are touched by its integration into everyday tools like search engines, GPS, and weather forecasting, making its influence inescapable.
Chip Leader Ali Imsirovic Kicked Out of Florida Poker Tournament

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Brett Slezak Live Reporter Copy link

Former GPI Player of the Year and embattled poker pro Ali Imsirovic was kicked out of a poker tournament at Florida's bestbet Jacksonville on Thursday. While no reason was made public, the presumption is it stems from Imsirovics checkered past.

Day 1a of the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) $1,200 buy-in Main Event kicked off today with the first of three starting flights. PokerNews is on-site reporting the Main Event action in northeastern Florida.

Imsirovic, who in 2022 was accused of colluding in live events and using real-time assistance (RTA), was among the 80 players in the Day 1a flight, according to PokerNews live reporter Brett Slezak.

The Bosnian high-stakes pro quickly built up a stack and even showed a bluff to one of his opponents after triple-barreling a missed flush draw, as Slezak documented.

Imsirovic made it to dinner break as the chip leader with 30 players left in the Day 1a starting flight. When players returned, his stack was gone. Tournament staff confirmed to PokerNews that Imsirovic was no longer in the tournament.

Read More About the RGPS Jacksonville Stop!

First Appearance Since Texas DQ

Ali Imsirovic

This was the first documented appearance of Imsirovic at a poker stop since he was tossed from an event at Champions Club and banned from the Texas poker club in February. In that incident, Imsirovic was refunded his $1,500 entry fee after tournament staff learned he was playing.

"Champions is committed, first and foremost, to the protection of our members," Isaac Trumbo, President of Champions Club, told PokerNews at the time. "If poker is going to continue to thrive, the community must be able to trust operators to prioritize game integrity above all else, including our bottom line."

According to The Hendon Mob, Imsirovic finished third in a World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Scramble side event in November 2024 for $16,126 and had a smaller cash in January's Winter Open.

Several poker players have called on operators to take action against Imsirovic. Despite the cheating allegations against him, some of which he admitted to in a June 2023 video, Imsirovic played at both the 2023 and 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) festivals.

The Bosnian high-stakes pro finished 18th in the 2023 $1,500 Shootout for $5,759 and 14th in the 2024 $1,500 Closer for $26,360.

Ali Imsirovic DQ'ed from Texas Tournament Upon Registering

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Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for three Global Poker Awards for his writing. Follow on
Play in $66,000 Worth of 888poker Cash Freerolls Each and Every Month

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

Freeroll poker tournaments are an excellent way to build a bankroll because you can win real money prizes without risking any of your hard-earned cash. Online poker giant 888poker has revamped its cash freerolls and now hosts $2,200 worth of freerolls daily, resulting in $66,000 waiting to be won every month.

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There's much more to 888poker than a bunch of freerolls, especially if you enjoy playing in action and value-packed multi-table tournaments. Dozens of MTTs run at 888poker every day, and keeping track of them used to be challenging. That was until we built the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar, a free-to-use tool that enables PokerNews readers to find the perfect tournament for them with only a few mouse clicks. Be sure to check it out if you plan on attempting to become an 888poker tournament champion.

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Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts.

Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

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Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia.

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A year after police broke up an encampment on the lawn of the Virginia Tech Graduate Life Center and arrested 82 people, protesters returned to the site to show support for Palestine and reiterate their demands of the university.

More than 50 people gathered on the lawn Tuesday evening for the launch of the Peoples University, a sanctuary campus created by students. The Peoples University was named in honor of Shaban al-Dalou, a 19-year-old student in Palestine who burned to death in an Israeli strike at a hospital in October. Footage of his death spread around the world.

We will we create this Peoples University to honor the martyrs in Palestine, to keep Palestine at the center of our cause and center of our movement, and to do what we can on this campus together as a community in order to end our complicity in the genocide, Shahed Sanuri, a Palestinian student, said.

Rooted in Palestinian education, freedom and resistance, the sanctuary campus is intended to create a safe space for community members to come together, she said.

It is something that we would like to share and spread with our community members, to claim that we will provide our own sanctuary campus and that we will protect ourselves, she said. We got us, and we keep us safe.

Last year, students set up the Gaza Liberation Encampment, as it was called, in the early morning hours of Friday, April 26. By that afternoon, around 60 people gathered at the encampment; by Sunday, April 28, the crowd had grown to more than 300 people.

The three-day protest ended late that Sunday night when police officers warned the crowd that they would be subjected to arrest if they did not disperse. In all, 82 people were arrested  most of whom were students, staff or faculty of Virginia Tech.

At the time, the university released an account of the weekends events from its perspective, saying that as protestors refused to comply with policy and took steps to further occupy the lawn, it recognized that the situation had the increasing potential to become unsafe.

In August, the university Board of Visitors voted to introduce policies that ban certain activities on campus, including camping on all university real property.

Students demands of the university on Tuesday mirrored their demands from last years encampment. They want Virginia Tech to disclose and divest its connections with weapons manufacturing companies, such as Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, Sanuri said.

Theres a demand that Virginia Tech disclose and divest from any investments or ways that is it working with companies that are complicit in the genocide, Bikrum Gill, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech, said.

Students also demand that Virginia Tech address anti-Palestinian racism on campus.

They say Virginia Tech is home, but its not home to Palestinian students, Sanuri said. Thats how, pretty much, were feeling  that as soon as we speak about a genocide that is happening in our own country, in our own land, the institution does whatever they can in order to silence us.

Layan Masri, a Palestinian student, said it all feels very dystopian. Masri is a member of Students for Justice of Palestine and helped organize the event Tuesday. She was one of the people arrested one year ago.

You see the constant daily escalations, youre watching the news every day, youre seeing all these stories come out, she said. We do this as an attempt to bring justice here in Blacksburg and represent that sort of justice in Blacksburg.

Students also are urging the university to condemn Israeli violence, Gill said. The best way to support Palestinian students on campus would be to listen to their demands and take action, he said.

The encampment at Virginia Tech last year was a local example of a nationwide movement, in which students from universities across the country participated in similar acts of protest. Many of those protests, like ones at Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, were broken up by police and resulted in numerous arrests.

The event Tuesday was registered with the university and university officials were in communication with student organizers prior to the event, a representative for Virginia Tech said. Events continued at the sanctuary campus into Thursday.

We respect the desire for members of our community to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech and events such as this are an important element of free expression, a Tuesday statement from Virginia Tech reads. Our shared goal is to maintain an environment where all voices can be heard safely, peacefully, and respectfully.

Some of those who were arrested a year ago took the time to reflect on their experience during Tuesdays event. Prior to being shut down by the police, Sanuri said it was a peaceful encampment that offered a sense of community to Palestinian students and their allies that Virginia Tech has not been able to offer.

Following last years arrests and the recent revocation of student visas at universities across the country, Gill speculated that some people may have felt apprehensive of coming to the gathering Tuesday.

I think, even in general, people are probably more cautious being politically active, but I think it especially has a bearing upon the Palestine movement because a lot of the repression is coming through the repression of this movement, he said.

Despite this, the Palestinian solidarity movement on campus has persisted, he said. He feels a sense of pride and gratitude toward the students.

In the context of so much oppression, they continue to stand up and say we oppose this genocide, we oppose the role of the United States in the genocide, he said.

Gill himself was arrested at the encampment last year. While he still teaches political science at the university, he said hes felt more of a chill since then and feels as if hes being watched a little more closely.

It definitely has led to us being made to feel that our tenure is in jeopardy if we continue to speak and organize on Palestine, he said.

Conditions in Gaza continue to worsen, Gill said.

People really need to look hard if theyre more upset about us being here than they are by the fact that now were almost 60 days into a total blockade on Gaza, he said.
Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 82F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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Caleb Bozard covers business, growth and development for The Post and Courier Columbia. He has previously written for The State and the Times and Democrat. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023.
Greenville, SC (29601)

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Sunshine and clouds mixed. Hot. High 91F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers early becoming more intermittent for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Cloudy with showers. Low near 75F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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Mostly cloudy with some showers this afternoon. High 83F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The controversy surrounding John Reid, the GOP nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor, has energized his base, as shown by the hundreds of supporters who packed a Wednesday night rally in Henrico County.

The entire GOP ticket originally was to appear at the venue, Atlas 42, alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin  before Youngkin asked Reid to step down and canceled his own appearance.

Supporters holding I stand with John Reid signs packed the event center to the brim.

Reid, calling himself a conservative fighter, immediately addressed the controversy, which began April 25 when Youngkin asked him to step down over a Tumblr account that shares a username with Reids other social media and contains reposted images of other nude men. Reid denies the online profile is his and has accused the governor of staging a coup against a gay man.

Weve seen it over and over: the politics of personal destruction. Theyve done it to President Trump every day of the last decade, since he came down that escalator, Reid said at the rally, referring to Donald Trumps arrival at his 2015 presidential announcement at Trump Tower in New York.

The Richmond swamp doesnt like it when they encounter a different type of person who they cant control, Reid said, drawing boisterous cheers. Thats whats happened here. They have now tried coming after me, threatening me, pressuring me with every trick in the book. And I want to thank you for standing with me  standing with me against the corrupt political machine thats been hindering Virginias success for years.

Reid is the first openly gay person to be a nominee on a Virginia statewide ticket. He has long been open about his relationship with his partner of eight years, Alonzo Mable, who was at Wednesdays rally.

The truth is, this isnt just about me anymore, said Reid, a longtime conservative radio host in Richmond. Its about us.  This is bigger than whos White or Black, whos old or young, whos evangelically strict or not, whos married or single, whos gay or straight.

This is about the good men and women of Virginia standing up and saying, No more. No more politics of hate, no more politics of personal destruction, no more politics of dirty tricks, no more politics of failure. It is time for us to come together as a party, because the real battle is coming in November. Too much is at stake.

Reid said he will be voting for the other Republican nominees: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor, and Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for reelection.

He said Virginia needs Republicans in those chairs.

Miyares has not publicly responded to the controversy surrounding Reid. Earle-Sears followed Youngkins lead Tuesday, saying the controversy is a distraction from bigger issues but the decision about whether to stay in the race is up to Reid.

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, who has said he is standing by Reid, was in attendance at Wednesdays rally.

Several Reid supporters before the rally spoke with the Richmond Times-Dispatch about their support for Reid, and each said they support Reid because of his transparency and honesty. They also said they were disappointed in Youngkin for asking Reid to step down, many citing Reids sexuality as the reason.

Even those who said they dont agree with Reids gay lifestyle said that it shouldnt matter.

Ive been following him on the radio for years, and so I know his history and all that, but Im not voting to canonize a saint, not voting for the pastor of my church, said Glen Allen resident John McGurn. Im voting for a candidate that expounds the great conservative ideals of our country, and he does that.

Glenn Wilson, a Short Pump resident, said everybody already knew about Reids sexuality because hes been transparent about his partner of eight years.

He has that lifestyle which I dont agree with or espouse, but Im voting for the policies not the personality, Wilson said. His policies, to me, are the kind of policies that make Virginia great.

When Reid referenced what he called the corrupt political machine in Richmond, someone from the crowd shouted: Moran has got to go, referencing Youngkins adviser Matt Moran.

The rally came hours after Moran issued a sworn affidavit denying Reids accusations that he defamed or attempted to extort him over the sexually explicit images reposted to an account allegedly linked to Reid.

In between taking photos and signing autographs following the rally, Reid told the Times-Dispatch he would address the affidavit very soon.
Limestone University in Gaffney is closing at the end of the current academic semester due to financial difficulty.
Luca Strobel is a News Clerk for the Post and Courier. He graduated from the College of Charleston. He contributes to the Post and Courier's arts and entertainment section, Charleston Scene and reports for various expansion markets.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), announces that its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis, and certifications of the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and the Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO") (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), were not filed by the required filing deadline of April 30, 2025 due to delays in receiving certain financial information required for the Annual Filings. The Company is working diligently with its auditors to complete the Annual Filings and expects to be able to file the Annual Filings on or before June 28, 2025.The Company has applied to the applicable securities regulatory authorities and received a management cease trade order ("MCTO") imposed against the CEO and CFO of the Company precluding them from trading securities of the Company. The MCTO will be in effect until the Annual Filings are filed, and requires that they be filed on or before June 30, 2025.Until the Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. The Company confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on nextgeneration drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (ThinFilm), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (EntericCoated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity.With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patientcentric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visitwww.bionxt.com Investor Relations & Media ContactWolfgang Probst, CFO and DirectorEmail: investor.relations@bionxt.comPhone: +1 778.598.2698Cautionary Statement Regarding "ForwardLooking" InformationThis news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information in this news release includes the anticipated filing date of the Annual Filings. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / Discovery Energy Metals Corp. (CSE:DEMC)(OTCQB:DCLIF)(FRA:Q3Q0)(WKN: A3EFKA) (the "Company"), a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing domestic energy freedom through regional lithium discovery, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amending agreement (the "Amending Agreement") with the vendor of the group of claims generally known as the Sakami and Radisson East Lithium Properties (the "Claims"), located in the James Bay lithium district to amend the asset purchase agreement between the parties dated July 24, 2024 (the "Asset Purchase Agreement"). See the news release of the Company dated August 14, 2024 for more information about the Asset Purchase Agreement.Pursuant to the Amending Agreement, the Company will issue 2,200,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") to the vendor, without any contractual hold periods, as consideration for the Claims. The Shares will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period and any additional resale restrictions which may be imposed by the Canadian Securities Exchange.Following the Company's name change on April 1, 2025, the Company also announces that its symbol on the OTC will change from "DCLIF" to "DEMCF" effective May 1, 2025. There is no change to the Company's symbol "Q3Q0" on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.About Discovery Energy Metals Corp. (CSE:DEMC)(OTCQB:DCLIF)(FRA:Q3Q0)(WKN: A3EFKA)Discovery Energy Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing mineral resource projects in North America. The Company holds a 100% interest in 1,675 mineral claims in Serindac Lake and 2,113 mineral claims in Vaubert Lake for a combined total of approximately 164,283 hectares (~405,952 acres) located in the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec, and with a further total of 303 mineral claims comprising approximately 16,392 hectares (~40,505.5 acres) identified as the Route De Nord, Lac Belanger, Lac Ferland and Lac Roberston properties located across the northern and eastern regions of Quebec including the prolific lithium district of the James Bay region. Additionally, the Company is actively advancing its ESN Project for gold exploration in Nevada and evaluating the Koster Dam Project in Central British Columbia through a joint venture with Cariboo Rose Resources. Find out more at: www.discoveryenergymetals.com and follow us on X (formerly twitter), and LinkedIn.On behalf of the Board of Directors,Mike HodgePresident & Chief Executive OfficerFor further information, please contact:Discovery Energy Metals Corp.1450 - 789 West Pender Street,Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 1H2Telephone: +1 (604) 681-1568Email: info@ discoveryenergymetals.com Web: www.discoveryenergymetals.com Caution Regarding Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.SOURCE: Discovery Energy Metals Corp.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. d/b/a Vitruvian Health recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Vitruvian Health.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 24, 2025, Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. d/b/a Vitruvian Health became aware of a security incident involving its third-party vendor, Nationwide Recovery Service (NRS), a collection agency supporting several of its affiliates including Hamilton Emergency Medical Services, Hamilton Physician Group, Hamilton Medical Center, and Anna Shaw Children's Institute. Upon notification, Vitruvian Health launched an investigation in collaboration with NRS and third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized third party had accessed NRS systems from July 5 to July 11, 2024, and extracted data affecting Vitruvian Health patients.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised: names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, and medical information.On April 14, 2025, Vitruvian Health identified the individuals whose sensitive information was included in the impacted data and publicly disclosed the incident with the Maine Attorney General's Office. Notice letters were also sent out to the affected individuals on April 14, 2025. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Vitruvian Health, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-02 18:16:12

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / On February 13, 2025, Levi & Korsinsky, LLP filed a class action complaint against Augustine Institute Inc. d/b/a Formed in the US District Court for the District of Colorado. The complaint alleges that legally protected data was unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Formed website at https://formed.org/ (the "Website"), particularly affecting consumers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Augustine Institute, Inc. is a leading private Catholic graduate theology school whose mission is to create and bring content to Catholics worldwide through its programs and platforms, including the Formed Website. Subscribers to the Formed Website gain access to thousands of movies, children's programs, eBooks, audio, parish programs, and studies.Unbeknownst to subscribers of the Formed Website, tracking pixels on the Website tracked user activity and disclosed users' sensitive information to third parties, including Facebook. The Video Privacy Protection Act ("VPPA") prohibits the disclosure of consumers' video viewing habits tied and identifiable information without consumers' consent.If you subscribed to the Formed Website, https://formed.org/,and watched videos on its platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may have a claim and be entitled to compensation.HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?Levi & Korsinsky can help assess whether you have a claim. Follow the link below to get in touch with us:ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKYLevi & 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 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency 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: 2025-05-02 01:31:19

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE:IBTA) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded Ibotta securities pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering.CASE DETAILS: According to the filed complaint, defendants made false statements and/or concealed that they did not properly warn investors of the risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with Walmart, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Ibotta stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/ibotta-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=146508&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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Dateline Resources Limited to Boost U.S. Investor Access to Key California Mining AssetSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / Dateline Resources Limited (ASX:DTR)(OTC PINK:DTREF), an Australian mining company with a focus on North American assets, is advancing its strategic Colosseum gold and rare earth elements (REE) project in California. Following recent endorsements from President Donald J. Trump and the U.S. Department of the Interior of the project, the company is pursuing a listing on the OTCQB Venture Market to enhance access for U.S. investors. This initiative aligns with Dateline's goal of developing the Colosseum Project into a key contributor to America's critical minerals supply chain, as emphasized in President Trump's executive order "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production." High-Profile Endorsements Highlight Strategic ImportanceIn a recent Truth Social update, President Donald J. Trump praised the approval of the Colosseum Mine, stating: "The Colosseum Mine, America's second rare earths mine, has been approved after years of stalled permitting." This recognition underscores the project's potential to reduce America's reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals.The U.S. Department of the Interior also endorsed the project, with the Bureau of Land Management noting: "The resumption of mining at Colosseum Mine supports efforts to bolster America's capacity to produce the critical materials needed to manufacture the technologies to power our future Interior continues to support industries that boost the nation's economy and protect national security." These endorsements highlight the strategic significance of the Colosseum Project for U.S. national interests.OTCQB Listing to Enhance U.S. Investor AccessTo capitalize on growing U.S. investor interest, Dateline is pursuing a listing on the OTCQB Venture Market. This move will upgrade the company's current OTC Pink trading status (Ticker: DTREF) to the OTCQB tier, providing improved liquidity and easier access for American investors to trade Dateline shares in U.S. dollars during U.S. market hours.Stephen Baghdadi, Managing Director of Dateline, commented: "The support from President Trump and the U.S. government underscores the strategic importance of the Colosseum Project for America's future. We're excited to make our shares more accessible to U.S. investors through the OTCQB listing, allowing them to participate in this opportunity to bolster domestic critical minerals production." Importantly, the OTCQB listing will not impose additional compliance burdens on Dateline. As an ASX-listed company, Dateline already adheres to rigorous reporting standards, which will satisfy OTCQB requirements under the SEC's exemption for foreign issuers.The push to broaden U.S. market access comes on the heels of significant developments, including the DOI's confirmation of Dateline's mining rights and President Trump's executive order emphasizing the strategic importance of critical minerals. These milestones have generated substantial interest from North American investors, making the OTCQB listing a timely initiative to engage with this growing shareholder base.Colosseum Project: A Strategic Asset for U.S. Mineral IndependenceLocated in California's Mojave National Preserve, just 10 kilometers north of the Mountain Pass rare earth mine, the Colosseum Project is uniquely positioned to contribute to America's critical minerals supply. The project hosts a substantial gold resource of 27.1 million tons at 1.26 grams per ton gold, totaling 1.1 million ounces, with 67% in the Measured and Indicated categories[1]. The Colosseum Mine has a history of successful production, having yielded approximately 344,000 ounces of gold between 1989 and 1993.A 2024 Scoping Study[2] demonstrated strong economics, projecting an 8+ year mine life with annual production of approximately 75,000 ounces of gold. At a gold price of $2,200 per ounce, the study estimated a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of around $235 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 31%.Beyond gold, the project has significant potential for rare earth elements (REEs), which are essential for high-tech industries and national defense. Geological studies indicate similarities with the Mountain Pass mine, suggesting that Colosseum may host valuable REE deposits. Dateline is actively exploring this potential, integrating REE-focused work into its exploration programs.Executive Order Reinforces Strategic ImportanceFurther emphasizing the national importance of such projects, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" on March 20, 2025. This order aims to boost American mineral production, streamline permitting, and enhance national security by reducing reliance on foreign minerals. It prioritizes the production of critical minerals, including those found at the Colosseum Project, and directs federal agencies to expedite the permitting process for domestic mineral production projects. The order also emphasizes the importance of critical minerals for various industries and national defense, aligning perfectly with Dateline's efforts at the Colosseum Project.To further advance the project, Dateline has commenced a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), building on recent drilling results and updated economic parameters. The company recently raised A$1.4 million to fund the BFS and other critical work at Colosseum.DOI Approval Clears Path for DevelopmentThe U.S. Department of the Interior's confirmation of Dateline's mining rights at Colosseum is a pivotal milestone, clearing the path for the company to advance from exploration to development with federal endorsement. This approval not only validates the project's compliance with U.S. land laws but also highlights its strategic importance for domestic mineral production.Looking AheadWith strong backing from the U.S. government and increasing interest from American investors, Dateline is well-positioned to unlock the value of the Colosseum Project. The company is committed to keeping shareholders informed as it progresses towards production and explores the project's rare earth potential.The OTCQB listing is expected to be finalized in early Q3 2025, providing U.S. investors with a streamlined platform to trade Dateline shares. The company will announce the new OTCQB ticker code once the listing is effective.About Dateline Resources LimitedDateline Resources Limited (ASX: DTR) is an Australian publicly listed company focused on mining and exploration in North America. The company owns 100% of the Colosseum Gold-REE Project in California, a s
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-02 01:46:28

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., May 1, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of TFI International Inc. (NYSE:TFII) between April 26, 2024 and February 19, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 13, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased TFI International 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 TFI International class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36984 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 May 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) TFI International was losing small and medium business customers; (2) as a result, TFI's TForce Freight revenue was declining; (3) TFI International was experiencing difficulties managing its costs; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the profitability of its largest business segment was declining; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about TFI International's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the TFI International class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36984 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / The six shop stewards representing union fishermen members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 are calling on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to protect working Virginia watermen and rely on science, not pressure from environmental and sportfishing advocacy groups, in their decisions next week. The call comes in aletter signed by the shop stewardsto the Commission's Menhaden Management Board, as the Commission will debate proposals that could threaten fishing jobs and communities.The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition (MFC) supports these union fishermen, who work for MFC member Ocean Harvesters and whose livelihoods depend on the health of the menhaden fishery.For generations, these fishermen and their families have sustainably harvested menhaden, and they take pride in fishing in a responsible way. However, they believe that in recent years, their experience, commitment, and voices have been pushed aside."Too often during public meetings on fisheries management, the voices of those of us who work directly in the menhaden fishery-and whose livelihoods depend on it-are dismissed as self-serving, and [we are] frequently perceived as the bad guys,'" the fishermen write.Meanwhile, they observe that environmental groups are often accepted as speaking on behalf of the public, simply because they claim to do so. "Regulators cannot responsibly accept the premise that environmental activist groups speak for the public interest simply because it says so on their website," they state.The letter points to the Menhaden Chesapeake Bay Work Group as a prime example of this imbalance. The group was formed on the belief that the menhaden fishery is to blame for a decline in osprey fledgling survival, despite the lack of solid scientific backing supporting this claim. The letter also makes clear who is driving that message:"That should not be a surprise given that members of this working group are led by employees of the Audubon Society and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)."And they argue, their motive is financial."These groups depend on contributions and grants that are easier to obtain when they can point to a crisis they claim to be addressing," the letter states, specifically calling out CBF for "fundraising using the osprey crisis,' blaming the menhaden reduction fishery as the sole culprit." The union leaders say this is not honest public-interest work-it is a self-serving fundraising tactic.The letter also addresses criticism from recreational fishing organizations, drawing a line between working fishermen in the charter fleet and the large national groups behind the attacks."We have nothing but sympathy for the charter and for-hire sectors, comprised of hard-working watermen like ourselves. Notably, it is not the working fishermen, but industry organizations like the American Sportfishing Association and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership that lead these attacks on us," the fishermen write.They remind the Board that the science tells a different story, and that recreational overfishing is responsible for recent declines in striped bass. "ASMFC scientists have identified overfishing by recreational anglers-not the menhaden fishery-as the cause of recent striped bass declines." The letter emphasizes that the menhaden industry has already made significant concessions. Since 2006, Chesapeake Bay harvests have been cut by nearly two-thirds. The fishery also helped develop and implement Ecological Reference Points (ERPs)-a science-based approach to managing menhaden with the needs of the ecosystem in mind. But because ERP implementation didn't result in deeper harvest cuts, they say, the same groups are now moving the goalposts."No amount of science or common sense sways these groups from their mission: to put an end to our livelihoods," they write.They also provide historical context. The closures of past reduction plants had nothing to do with overfishing-they were caused by coastal gentrification, political pressure, and low fish meal and fish oil prices. In fact, during the 1900s, when the reduction fishery operated at much higher harvest levels, "the Chesapeake Bay remained healthy and productive." The real damage came from nutrient loading, wetland loss, and DDT.Now, with the fishery operating at its lowest levels in modern history, the union fishermen are clear: "We can sustain no further restrictions." They urge the Menhaden Management Board to rely on the forthcoming guidance of the Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee and the ERP Working Group, and to make decisions grounded in science-not in the manufactured narratives of activist groups.The letter ends with a plea, asking the board to "recognize the financial and self-serving motivations of those who seek to eliminate our way of life and destroy our historic fishing communities." About the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition TheMenhaden Fisheries Coalition(MFC) is a collective of menhaden fishermen, related businesses, and supporting industries. Comprised of businesses along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition conducts media and public outreach on behalf of the menhaden industry to ensure that members of the public, media, and government are informed of important issues, events, and facts about the fishery.Press Contact Stove Boat Communications(202) 333-2628contact@ stoveboat.com SOURCE: Menhaden Fisheries Coalition
The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has directed Air Peace to enhance its flight operations within the country.

This directive comes in response to an increase in passenger complaints regarding unprofessional practices and the overall ineffectiveness of the airlines operations recently.

In a statement issued Friday by the NCAA on X (formerly Twitter ), Mr Najomo advised the airline to trim its operations to the size of available aircraft presently in its fleet to mitigate the crisis.

The DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo has directed Air Peace to immediately improve its domestic operations owing to complaints of chronic flight delays and cancellations by the travelling public, the statement said.

Disappointed passengers

Recently, numerous passengers expressed concerns regarding the frequent disruptions, cancellations, and chronic delays associated with the flight schedules of Air Peace.

Many Nigerians called on relevant authorities to investigate the operations of Air Peace, in light of the disappointments and frustration experienced by travellers at airports.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Last month, an Air Peace passenger named Mike Adeyemi recounted his experience of being stranded at the Lagos Airport with his family due to a series of flight cancellations and rescheduling.

I booked a flight from Lagos to Kano for 2:00 P.M. for the 10th of April 2025. Airpeace moved the flight to 6pm, then a day later to 10 p.m on the day of the flight moved it again till 11:30 P.M. and as I am typing this message 12:25 a.m. on the 11th of April we are still stranded at the airport. I have my mother in law, sister in law who flew in a day before from the UK for a wedding helplessly at the airport, the passenger wrote in a message to PREMIUM TIMES.

He went further to state that: No society should allow its businesses (Airpeace) to treat people like commodities. I feel so ashamed and helpless right now, I also feel so horrible knowing this email may not mean much to me but I am sending nonetheless.

I believe collectively we can do better as a society and hold business leaders to a better standard. The funny thing is here at the airport I can see people of other nationalities wondering, this is wrong and painful to see, Mr Adeyemi noted.

He explained that they did not depart the Lagos airport until 2:00 a.m on the 11 April, for a flight that was originally booked for 2:00 p.m 10 April.

It greatly affected us psychologically and emotionally as we have an aged woman who is almost 70 years old with us, he narrated, stating that he believed Air Peaces action was a deliberate attempt to short change passengers for economic advantage because it is now a regular occurrence.

It was a nightmare really, I hope the government, civil aviation authorities take adequate steps to resolve it all, Mr Adeyemi told PREMIUM TIMES.

This week, several Air Peaces passengers took to social media to vent their frustration over Air Peaces inefficiency with flight schedules.

On 30 April, an X user, @egi_nupe__, said Air Peace @flyairpeace did the most terrible thing ever experienced in the hands of an airline. We thought it was bad enough to delay the flight for over 6 hours, they kept us at the airport for extended periods before they could find passengers an emergency accommodation after they finally canceled the flight.

He said We were kept up till about 2am with no logical explanation for the extended delay and eventual cancellation of the flight.

This airline jeopardised our welfare and safety for the flimsiest of reasons. This level of incompetence and horrible customer service experience has to be the worst in my life.

@mikeachimugu01 and his team need to urgently look into this, part of his tweet read.

In response to these concerns, Air Peace said: Dear Customer, We truly apologize for all inconveniences experienced on your recent flight with us.

We also sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by the disruption. We prioritize safety and operational efficiency, and while we strive for on-time departures, certain factors beyond our control can sometimes cause delays, the Airline wrote.

Air Peace said the customers experience is important to them, and that they are continuously improving to serve their customers better. Please bear with us the Airline noted.

Despite this, many angry customers called on regulatory authorities on the X platform, urging the NCAA to take punitive action against Air Peace over continuous abuse and violation of consumer protection laws.

On Friday, the NCAA statement said Mr Najumo gave the directive to Air Peace during a meeting with some management staff of the airline in Abuja.

It said the airline representatives at the meeting acknowledged that it has some challenges that are not unusual in the industry, but the airline is working round the clock to fix them.

But in response, the statement said Mr Najumo asserted that while the NCAA will continue to support the airlines, airline operators must comply with the regulations and global best practices.

In December last year, Air Peace was among the five airlines sanctioned by the NCAA over regulatory violations in the country.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has retracted its earlier claim of discrepancies in the disbursement of student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

ICPCs Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, issued the retraction in a revised statement on Thursday, just hours after the commissions earlier update suggested that discrepancies were already established in the student loan disbursements.

The commission earlier said preliminary findings revealed major gaps in the financial records of the student loan scheme.

It added that while the federal government reportedly released N100 billion, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving N71.2 billion unaccounted for.

The ICPC confirmed that a clear case of discrepancies has been established in the administration of the student loan scheme and announced that its investigation will now extend to beneficiary institutions and individual student recipients, the version of that statement stated.

But walking back the claim, the commission said in its revised statement, Unintentionally, the word NOT was missing in the second to the last paragraph of our earlier press release in respect of an ongoing investigation regarding the Student Loan Scheme.

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It added, The missing word created an erroneous impression that the alleged discrepancies or diversion has been established.

We admit that this is not the case, indeed we accept that the same part of the sentence also contradicts the whole paragraph.

Mr Bakare explained that what has been verified so far is the total amount received and disbursed by NELFUND.

The impression of diversion and the issue of discrepancies do not exist at this stage; the investigation would have to move into the receiving institutions and persons before any reasonable deductions could be made, he added.

The investigation

The commission stated that investigations would now focus on tertiary institutions and student beneficiaries. It also referenced a formal petition from NELFUND and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which triggered the probe.

It said the chairperson of its Special Task Force commenced investigations immediately after receiving a formal petition from NELFUND and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

According to the statement, preliminary findings exposed major discrepancies in the financial records of the loan scheme.

It said although the federal government reportedly released N100 billion for the programme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving N71.2 billion unaccounted for.

Letters of investigation and invitations were dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Director General of the Budget Office, the Accountant General of the Federation, and senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.

According to the commission, the responses received were critically analyzed, and interviews were conducted with the concerned individuals, he said.

He explained that the commissions findings, as of 19 March 2023, showed that NELFUND received N203.8 billion. This includes N10 billion from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, N50 billion from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two separate tranches of N71.9 billion each from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Despite this, the total disbursement to 299 institutions stood at just N44.2 billion, benefitting 293,178 students.

Funds diversion

Punch had reported that at least 51 tertiary institutions illegally deducted between N3,500 and N30,000 from student fees disbursed through the loan scheme.

The allegations also included the diversion and withholding of funds meant for students, prompting the ICPC to act.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also raised concerns, accusing some institutions of diverting student loan funds into personal accounts.

The associations Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Felicia, cited a report by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) indicating collusion between some institutions and banks to short-change students.

According to Ms Felicia, students were not informed of disbursements made in their names and were still required to pay tuition fees independently.

She commended NELFUNDs Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, for acknowledging the corruption and pledged that NANS would stage nationwide protests on 24 April to draw the Presidents attention.

The NOA, through its Deputy Director of Communications and Media, Paul Odenyi, confirmed it had identified several institutions and banks involved in fraudulent practices. Its findings revealed that institutions withheld payments or failed to credit student accounts, despite receiving funds from NELFUND.

Government action

The House of Representatives Committee on NELFUND has also intervened in the matter.

NANS National President Olusola Oladoja disclosed that the committee pledged to involve ICPC in monitoring disbursement and ensuring transparency.

The ICPC has confirmed it is working in collaboration with NOA and other relevant agencies to uncover the extent of the malfeasance.

NELFUND, a body corporate established by the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024 which repealed the 2023 Act, provides student loans to Nigerians for higher education, vocational training, and skills acquisition.

The loans are intended to help students cover tuition fees, other academic charges, and potentially upkeep costs.

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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to cut funding for the National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), two of the biggest media outlets in America.

The executive order, signed on Thursday, directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease direct funding for both media outlets to the maximum extent allowed by law and also withdraw from granting them any future financing.

This move is part of a broader campaign against media outlets that Mr Trump perceives as hostile to his administration.

The executive order also instructs federal agencies to identify and terminate any indirect funding to these broadcasters.

The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding, the order said, according to Reuters.

It also said, Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options.

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Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.

President Trump has long accused NPR and PBS of harbouring political bias and promoting left-wing agendas, a claim firmly rejected by leaders at both organisations.

In a post on Trust social last month, the president, while demanding their defunding, described the organisations as radical left monsters that so badly hurt our country. Similarly, the White House also accused the outlets of receiving millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

CPB, NPR, PBS react

However, the CPB has rejected the order, stating that the corporation is not a federal executive agency subject to Mr Trumps authority.

The corporation is a private body legally protected from government interference, including executive orders from the president.

The corporations Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Harrison, issued a statement on Friday, saying, Congress directly authorised and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.

The CPB provides about $132 million of federal funds each year to support public radio stations. However, according to NPR, it receives only about one per cent of its funding directly from the government.

It also described the executive order as a blatantly unlawful policy issued to threaten its ability to serve American citizens.

PBS also said, We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public. We will challenge this Executive Order using all means available.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the country is seeing a decline in Lassa fever infections, even as Mpox continues to spread across nearly all states.

Speaking at the national health security briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director General of NCDC, Jide Idris, said confirmed Lassa fever cases dropped from 41 to 10, between epidemiological week 12 and week 17.

Mr Idris noted that the number of deaths and the case fatality rate has also dropped, with only three deaths recorded during the period.

He said these improvements reflect the positive impact of ongoing surveillance, treatment, and community engagement efforts.

He, however, said the risk remains high, especially in endemic areas.

So, we must intensify our efforts, he said.

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Cumulatively, the country has reported 4,672 suspected Lassa fever cases, 707 confirmed cases, and 135 deaths so far in 2025, with an overall case fatality rate of 19.0 per cent.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, typically transmitted to humans through exposure to food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

The disease, which is endemic in several parts of Nigeria, can also spread from person to person, particularly in healthcare settings without adequate infection prevention measures.

Mpox

While Lassa fever appears to be on a decline, Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, continues to pose a threat.

The NCDC boss noted that Nigeria has seen a steady rise in Mpox cases since its re-emergence in 2017, with sharp spikes from 2022 to 2024, making the country one of the most affected globally.

Mr Idris said Nigeria recorded 723 suspected Mpox cases across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory between week one to week 16 of this year. Of these, 136 were laboratory-confirmed in 27 states and the FCT.

He noted that three Mpox-related deaths have been recorded so far, two in Week 10 in Abia and Ebonyi states, and one more recently in Rivers State involving a young male with advanced HIV and tuberculosis.

This brings the national case fatality rate to 2.2 per cent for 2025, he said.

The epidemic curve shows multiple peaks in suspected and confirmed cases, signalling persistent transmission. We are also seeing a wide geographic spread, with confirmed cases concentrated in southern and central states.

He noted that data inconsistencies suggest possible underreporting and delays in capturing cases and contacts, which could undermine containment efforts.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.

The disease can spread from animals to humans and between humans through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.

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Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has dispelled insinuations that former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and others may leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2027 general election.

This is in reaction to speculations that members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc were threatening to leave the APC for allegedly being sidelined by the current federal administration.

Mr Sule stated this on Friday in Lafia at the grand reception in honour of the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Magaji, by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State chapter.

The governor, while commending the achievements of the APC administration under President Bola Tinubu, noted that those trying to divide the ranks of the party have failed.

There is nothing like taking CPC away. Our father, former President Muhammadu Buhari, is CPC, no other person.

When he says CPC is with you, CPC is with you, and the day he says CPC is not with you, CPC is not with you. He keeps carrying his 12 million voters along with him anywhere he goes and he is not going anywhere from APC.

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Those trying to take away our good products from the APC will not succeed. They want to take Malami away, but let me tell you that Malami is going nowhere.

Thats why we recently went to see Buhari in Kaduna, and we said Baba you are not going anywhere.

Malami sir, you are not going anywhere, we are going to build this house together, Mr Sule said.

Mr Sule also revealed that 20 aspirants were already jostling for his position ahead of the 2027 election.

He maintained that he had no anointed candidate, saying that only God would decide who would succeed him as governor of Nasarawa State in 2027.

The governor said his administration had laid a solid economic foundation for the next administration to build upon, and added that he would leave the state debt-free.

He said that the appointment of Mr Magaji was due to his pedigree and excellent track record in public service.

In his remarks, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, appreciated Mr Sule for his foresight in appointing Mr Magaji as SSG to drive his administrations vision for the state.

He described Mr Magaji as an all-rounder, a technocrat par excellence, poised to drive Mr Sules vision for a prosperous and united state through transparent governance.

Mr Malami urged stakeholders to rally round Mr Magaji to deliver on the administrations vision for accountability, transparency and inclusive development in governance.

Also speaking, Safiyanu Andaha, chairman of Nasarawa ALGON and chairman of Akwanga Local Government Area, said the event was organised in solidarity with Mr Magaji, given his proven record of excellent public service.

Mr Andaha, who appreciated Mr Sule for finding Mr Magaji worthy of the appointment, also pledged their unalloyed support to the administration.

On his part, Mr Magaji appreciated the leadership style of Mr Sule and his disposition towards the prudent and efficient management of the states resources for the benefit of the people.

He thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve in his administration.

(NAN)

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The Imo State Government has agreed to comply with the directive of the National Judicial Council (NJC) that it should reverse the appointment of Theophilus Nzeukwu as the acting chief judge of the state.

The NJC, on Wednesday, voided Mr Nzeukwus appointment for being in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

The council consequently asked Governor Hope Uzodinma to reverse the appointment immediately.

It asked Mr Nzeukwu to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presenting himself to be sworn in as the acting chief judge.

The NJC took the decisions at its 108th Meeting held from Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement by the NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola, on Wednesday.

Imo govt speaks

In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner of Information in Imo State, Declan Emelumba, said the state government had reviewed the NJC directive on the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge.

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Mr Emelumba said the government respects the wisdom of NJC in the discharge of its statutory duties and recognises the advisory constitutional role of the body in judicial appointments.

Consequently, the government acknowledges and accepts the Councils latest position on the matter.

While the appointment was made in good faith and within the bounds of the law, the government of Imo State will, in line with its longstanding respect for due process and the judiciary, comply with the NJCs recommendation, he said.

Accordingly, steps are being taken to implement the decision of the NJC.

Why we initially appointed Nzeukwu

Mr Emelumba, however, clarified that the Imo State Governor, Mr Uzodinma, initially appointed Mr Nzeukwu as acting chief judge based on credible reports available to him at the time.

The commissioner explained that the report had indicated that Mr Nzeukwu was the most senior judicial officer not encumbered by unresolved issues.

This position, along with the supporting circumstances, was duly communicated to the NJC, he said.

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In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Olajobi Makinwa, Chair of the Advisory Board at the BusinessDay Foundation and Adjunct Professor at Baruch College (City University of New York), reflects on her journey in leadership, the importance of resilience, and why accelerating action on gender equality is more urgent than ever.

PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO?

Mrs Makinwa: I am a lawyer by profession with extensive experience in international law, human rights, and sustainable development. I began my career in private legal practice before joining the Federal Civil Service in Nigeria, where I served as a law lecturer.

I later joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a Legal Officer, with postings in both Nairobi and Geneva. My work at UNEP was followed by consultancy roles with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, also based in Geneva.

Building on my experience in environmental and public health law, I served as Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, leading national, regional and global initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights.

I subsequently joined the United Nations Global Compact in New York, where I rose to the position of Senior Adviser to the CEO and served as a member of the Executive Management Team, contributing to global efforts to advance corporate sustainability and responsible business practices.

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Currently, I serve as Chair of the Board of the BusinessDay Foundation and as an Adjunct Professor at the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY).

PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women?

Mrs Makinwa: It is essential for women leaders to lead by example, serving as powerful role models who embody integrity, resilience, and purpose.

Beyond setting the standard through their actions, they should actively mentor and sponsor other womenoffering guidance, support, and meaningful opportunities for advancement.

This not only builds confidence but also helps break down barriers in spaces where women remain underrepresented.

Moreover, women leaders have a vital role to play in advocating for gender equality and championing inclusivity, ensuring that diverse voices are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute fully.

PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men?

Mrs Makinwa: While leadership is not defined by gender, women often bring distinct strengths and perspectives that contribute to transformative leadership.

Having navigated systemic barriers and biases, many women leaders develop deep resilience, adaptability, and strategic acumen.

These experiences often shape a leadership style that is both inclusive and reflective. Notably, women leaders frequently champion values-based leadershipprioritising not only performance and profitability, but also the well-being of people, communities, and the planet.

This approach is particularly impactful in mission-driven and socially responsible organisations, such as the United Nationswhere I have spent the majority of my careerwhere purpose, principles, and a commitment to global good guide decision-making.

PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

Mrs Makinwa: I have always believed in the pursuit of excellence and have consistently committed myself to that standard. When your work speaks for youthrough its quality, impact, and integrityrespect naturally follows.

I have been fortunate to work in organisations where women were in the majority, fostering environments that valued excellence, collaboration, inclusion, and mutual respect.

PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership?

Mrs Makinwa: One of the most rewarding moments in my career was leading a cross-functional team to develop the UN Global Compacts Africa Strategy within a highly ambitious timeline.

The stakes were high, but through open communication, shared accountability, and genuine collaboration, we not only achieved our goalswe exceeded them.

What made the experience truly meaningful was witnessing the growth of the team. Watching individuals gain confidence, develop new skills, and step into their potential was incredibly fulfilling. I was proud to have fostered an environment where people felt empowered to thrive.

The legacy of that work lives on. Two major initiatives emerged from the Africa Strategy: the Africa Business Leaders Coalition and the Global Africa Business Initiative.

That experience reaffirmed what leadership means to meit is not about titles or authority, but about creating the space for others to succeed and shine.

PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields?

Mrs Makinwa: Understand that the path may not always be easy. You may be underestimated, overlooked, or even discouraged. But rememberyour resilience is your strength. Own your journey, and let excellence, integrity, and courage be your trademarks.

Working intergenerationally is also vital. There is power in learning from those who have gone before you, just as there is wisdom in uplifting and listening to those coming after you. Leadership thrives when we build bridges across generations.

And finally, lift as you climb. True leadership is not just about reaching the topit is about creating space for others to rise with you and shaping a legacy that empowers many.

PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life?

Mrs Makinwa: The Bible teaches me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Truly, it is only by the grace and mercy of God that I have come this faraanu ni mo ri gba, as we say in Yoruba.

God has been unfailingly faithful to meas a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a Parish Pastor. It can only be God.

PT: This years International Womens Day theme is Accelerate Action. What does this theme mean to you and how does it reflect your leadership approach?

Mrs Makinwa: This year marks two major milestones in the global movement for gender equalitythe 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. These anniversaries serve as both a celebration and a call to vigilance.

The 2024 International Womens Day theme, Accelerate Action, resonates deeply with me. It is more than a themeit is a charge. A call to move from intention to implementation, from dialogue to decisive steps.

While progress has been made, we must work diligently to protect our hard-won gains, especially in the face of growing backlash against gender equality. Equity, inclusion, and justice are not optionalthey must be pursued with urgency and purpose.

Throughout my leadership journey, I have learned that change does not happen by chanceit happens by choice. It takes shape in spaces where bold decisions are made and is sustained by those willing to challenge the status quo.

I have been privileged to contribute to initiatives such as the UN Global Compact Africa Business Leaders Coalition and the Global Africa Business Initiativeboth born from a vision rooted in action.

These platforms are helping shape a more inclusive, sustainable future for Africa, grounded in collaboration, integrity, and a shared commitment to equity.

As Chair of the Advisory Board of the BusinessDay Foundation, I will continue to champion initiatives that uplift voices, promote inclusive growth, and create opportunities for women and youth to thrive.

To accelerate action is also to recognise that leadership is never a solo pursuit. Working intergenerationally has taught me the value of bridging the wisdom of experience with the fresh perspectives of youth. Leadership is a symphonyand every voice matters.

As a Nigerian woman, I know the path to leadership is not always easy. We are often underestimated, overlooked, or discouraged. And yet, we rise, with resilience, grace, and unshakable faith.

So, I echo the call to action: let us lead boldly, build bravely, and lift others as we climb. Because true leadership isnt just about reaching the top, its about creating space for others to rise with you.

It is time to accelerate action. The future will not wait, and neither should we.

This interview was conducted in partnership with Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to advancing and empowering women in leadership. Mrs Makinwa is also a member of WIMBIZ.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds by former top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), including two former chief executives, Mele Kyari and Abubakar YarAdua

A letter, with reference number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SDC.2/NNPC/VOL.1/698, dated 28 April, addressed to the NNPC Managing Director, shows the EFCC is seeking certified records of salaries and allowances paid to 14 officials, including those who have retired.

In the letter, titled Investigation activities request for Information, the EFCC said it is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds and asked the company to provide certified true documentation covering both current and former staff.

Among the names listed are the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari; the former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Ibrahim Onoja; and the former Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Mustafa Sugungun.

All three were removed in the recent shake-up at the state oil company.

Others on the list include: a former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Abubakar YarAdua; a former NNPC group executive director, finance & services; Isiaka Abdulrazak; a former Chief Financial Officer NNPC Limited, Umar Ajiya; the former Managing Director of the PHRC, Dikko Ahmed; a power plant engineer at PHRC, Ademoye Jelili; Manager Production at NNPC/KRPC, Efiok Akpan; Kayode Adetokunbo, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya and Desmond Inyama.

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In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish certified true copies of their emoluments and allowances, including that of those who have retired and no longer work with your organisation, the letter read.

The investigation is linked to the controversial $2.896 billion spent on refinery rehabilitation projects under their watch.

Of this amount, $1.56 billion was allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740.6 million to the Kaduna refinery, and $656.9 million to the Warri refinery.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, he confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but said he does not have the details.

On Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES reported the sack of the managing directors of the three state-owned refineries.

A source familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES that the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Ibrahim Onoja; the Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Efifia Chu, and the Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Mustafa Sugungun, were removed.

He said the removal was part of a broader organisational shake-up, not a targeted effort to oust supporters of the previous Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the company.

Last month, President Bola Tinubu sacked the board of the NNPC Ltd, including its GCEO, Mr Kyari, and board chairperson Pius Akinyelure.

The president also approved Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO of the NNPC and Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman.

NNPC also announced the appointment of a new 8-member senior management team.

Last week, Nigerias Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is underway. Mr Edun made the disclosure at an Investors Forum held on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF meetings held in Washington, D.C.

The NNPC needs to come to the table with more dollar revenue, the minister said in response to a question on the governments efforts to revamp oil production in the face of the global uncertainty heightened by the tariff war between the United States and other economies of the world, most notably China.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is enroute to China for a series of official engagements toward the provision of water for satellite towns in the FCT, his aide has said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Mr Olayinka said that the minister was currently in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, en route to China.

He explained that while in China, Mr Wike would meet with officials of the China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group over the water project.

He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had visited China in September 2024 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and CGCOC Group.

The MoU, he said, was to improve electricity and water supply in the FCT, particularly in satellite towns.

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He added that projects were part of Mr Tinubus agenda to renew the hope and confidence of FCT residents in the government, through the execution of people-oriented projects.

He said Mr Tinubu had approved N50 billion for the provision of potable water in FCT satellite towns.

The spokesman said that Mr Wikes trip to China was to finalise discussion with CGCOC on the project in fulfilment of Mr Tinubus directive to ensure water supply in Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje area councils.

(NAN)

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Nigerian business and civil-society leader, Amina Oyagbola, will take the helm at Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org), succeeding co-founder E. Gyimah-Boadi as chair of the board of directors effective April 2025, the research organisation announced Friday.

Ms Oyagbola is an independent director and business management consultant with more than 35 years of experience in legal practice and business management in corporate Nigeria, including as a former human resources and corporate services executive at MTN Nigeria. Her career spans human resources strategy and transformation, legal consulting, womens empowerment, banking and finance, oil and gas, and telecommunications. She is the managing consultant at AKMS Consulting Ltd., a senior partner of Oyagbola Chambers, and a Chevening Scholar.

She is a passionate advocate for gender equality and the founder of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), a not-for-profit gender-empowerment and strategic mentoring and leadership initiative.

I am deeply honoured and excited to serve as Afrobarometers board chair. Afrobarometer has been a trailblazer in amplifying the voices of Africans through high-quality research and data, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and mission to make citizen voice a key pillar of African policy and decision making, said Ms Oyagbola, who joined the Afrobarometer board in 2019. I am excited about expanding Afrobarometers impact and ensuring that our data continues to shape policies that truly reflect the priorities of African citizens.

The world is changing rapidly  technology, youth engagement, economic transformation  and Afrobarometer is uniquely positioned to provide the insights needed to navigate these changes.

Mr Oyagbola takes over from Mr Gyimah-Boadi, who co-founded Afrobarometer in 1999 and served as its chief executive from 2008 to 2021 and is term-limited after four years as board chair.

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It has been both a pleasure and an honour to work closely with Amina Oyagbola since she joined Afrobarometers board in 2019, Mr Gyimah-Boadi said. She established her indispensability to the effective functioning of the board right from the beginning of her tenure, especially in the areas of board corporate governance and human resource development. Im indeed happy to be handing over the AB board leadership to someone with the right blend of expertise, depth of passion for our mission, and breadth of strategic connections.

Afrobarometer Chief Executive Officer Joseph Asunka highlighted Mr Gyimah-Boadis quarter-century of unparalleled commitment to research excellence and democratic development and said the new board chair embodies the values of inclusion and progress that Afrobarometer seeks to promote across the continent.

Gyimahs vision and leadership have been the foundation of Afrobarometers successes, Mr Asunka said. We are assured that Amina will bring her exceptional experience, expertise, and passion to lead us into an exciting new chapter.

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The publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, Dapo Olorunyomi, has been announced as one of the distinguished Nigerians and Africans to be honoured at the 2025 Hallmarks of Labour Awards.

It is a prestigious ceremony hosted by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation (HLF) to recognise individuals for exceptional leadership and service in their respective fields.

Mr Olorunyomi, according to the organisers, will receive the HLF-Christopher Kolade Award for Excellence in Leadership and Professionalism in the Media.

The award celebrates his established track record in championing media independence, accountability journalism, and ethical standards.

The award acknowledges his leadership and influence in building one of Nigerias most respected investigative newsrooms.

The announcement was made in a letter signed by Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Executive Secretary of the HLF.

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Other awardees

This years award ceremony, scheduled for 3 May in Lagos, Nigeria, will also honour several other outstanding individuals.

They include Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will receive the HLF-Emeka Anyaoku Life-Time Achievement Award as Nigerias outstanding international icon, and Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd.), Chairman of the TY Danjuma Foundation, who will be recognised with the HLF Life-Time Achievement Award for Exemplary Philanthropy and Charity.

Others to be honoured at the event are Olufunmilayo Adebambo, a Nigerian scientist and Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics, for her outstanding contributions to research, innovation, and value-chain development that support food security.

Former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, will be recognised for excellence in leadership and good governance, while Babajide Alo, Professor of Chemistry, and Kalu Onuoha, Nigerian Professor Emeritus of Geology, will both be celebrated for their remarkable work in the field of science.

Also receiving accolades is Abdullahi Ribadu, a Nigerian academic and professor of Veterinary Reproduction who will be honoured with the HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Achievement Award for his consistent advocacy for positive change within Nigerias university system.

In the legal sector, Akinlolu Olujinmi, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is being recognised for his exemplary and courageous service to the advancement of Nigerias judicial system.

The awards will further honour Adele Jinadu, a professor of Political Science, for his contributions to education, and Olufemi Adelowo, Professor of Medicine and Consultant Rheumatologist, and Isaac Adewole, Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and former Minister for Health, for their excellence in the medical field.

About the Foundation

HLF is designed to recognise and celebrate individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, professionalism, and impactful contributions in various fields, including education, medicine, law, and more.

READ ALSO: Nigerias Eniola Bolaji wins 2024 Africa Women in Badminton Award

It also seeks to inspire younger generations to aspire to excellence.

The Foundations Board of Trustees comprise Christopher Kolade (Chairman), a renowned diplomat and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Oluremi Tinubu, a senator and wife of President Bola Tinubu; Itse Sagay, a Professor of Law; Grace Giwa and Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, who also serves as the Executive Secretary.

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The Julius Abure faction of the Labour Party (LP) says it will not form a coalition or alliance before the 2027 general elections.

This was part of a 12-point resolution adopted at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party held on Friday in Abuja.

Reading the communique, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, declared that the party would not participate in any coalition arrangement for 2027.

The Labour Party is not and will not be part of any coalition towards the 2027 general election.

Instead, we will focus on rebuilding, repositioning, re-strategising, reconciling, and expanding our membership base to win the 2027 elections, Mr Abure said.

He expressed scepticism about ongoing coalition talks in the political space, arguing that those spearheading such initiatives lacked the capacity and character to build viable alliances.

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People who cannot unite their own parties cannot lead a national coalition.

Forming a new party where stakeholders are expected to surrender their identity and structure requires strong leadership, which is currently lacking, he added.

He said NEC also reviewed what it described as anti-party activities by Governor Alex Otti of Abia and other members.

According to him, it consequently established a disciplinary committee to investigate and make recommendations within two weeks.

Mr Abure said the decision followed Ottis public remarks on national television, which he claimed disparaged LP.

The disciplinary committee members include: Ayo Olorunfemi, chairman; Umar Farouk, secretary; while Kehinde Edun, Dudu Manuga, and Callistus Ihejiagwa are members.

On the Anambra 2025 governorship, Mr Abure confirmed that George Moghalu had emerged as the partys candidate, following the primaries held on 5 April in Awka.

NEC congratulates Chief George Moghalu and rallies all members and Ndi Anambra to support him in the Nov. 8 governorship election for a greater Anambra State, he stated.

READ ALSO: More LP members defect to PDP in Enugu

Responding to concerns about Mr Moghalus recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abure said the LP was now using more scientific and structured approaches to candidate screening and selection.

Were committed to fielding candidates who will respect the partys constitution and uphold its values.

We are taking steps to avoid a repeat of situations like the one we are currently managing in Abia, he said.

(NAN)

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The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it has recovered 21 stolen vehicles and arrested 15 suspects over various cases of car theft in Abuja.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Ajao Adewale, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

He said six of the recovered vehicles had been returned to their rightful owners after due verification, while 13 were currently in the custody of the command.

According to him, in recent months, the command observed a concerning rise in certain crimes, particularly car theft and drug-related offences.

In response, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of crime patterns and intensified our intelligence- led operations and targeted raids across various locations within the FCT.

As a result of these proactive efforts, the command recorded significant breakthroughs with the arrest of 15 suspects and recovery of 21 vehicles in the month of April, he said.

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Mr Adewale said the command had also conducted extensive raids across several black spots in the FCT, which resulted in the arrest of 1,611 suspects.

He said many of the suspects arrested during the raid were linked to drug-related offences and other criminal activities.

He said substantial quantities of hard drugs and cannabis were recovered during the operations and were currently being held as exhibits pending further investigation and prosecution.

READ ALSO: Police rescue 20 hostages of Ponzi scheme syndicate in Ondo

Mr Adewale said the achievements reflected the commands unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the FCT.

I wish to enjoin the public to always view police operations as a dedicated effort aimed at ridding the FCT of crime and making it a safe place for all to live and thrive.

I urge FCT residents to always render their support, cooperation and timely information to aid us achieve this mandate, he said.

(NAN)

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A Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Friday, sentenced a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.

Mr Ominikoron was arraigned for rape ad murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Ms Ayanwola, who boarded his BRT bus on 26 February 2022.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike found Mr Ominikoron guilty of murder and attempted rape of Anyawola.

She also found the convict guilty of raping Nneka Udezulu and sexually assaulting Victoria Anosike, who had boarded his bus on separate occasions.

Ms Sonaike said: On count one, which is offence of raping Nneka Udezulu, Ominikoron, is sentenced to life imprisonment.

For count three, attempted rape of Anyawola, you are sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

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For count five, offence of sexual assault on Dr Victoria Anosike, you are sentenced to three years imprisonment.

On count four, which is the offence of murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola; having been found guilty of murder, a capital offence pursuant to Section 301 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death.

You will be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on your soul, she held.

The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to her, the prosecution, through its witnesses, proved that the act of the defendant (Ominikoron) caused the death of the deceased (Anyawola).

She said that the voice recording of the deceased, which she sent to her friend while inside the defendants bus, would be admitted as a dying declaration.

The judge said that the deceaseds voice recording was made when she felt she was in imminent danger due to the behaviour of the defendant.

She also said that Ms Anyawolas voice recording and the pieces of evidence given by the prosecution witnesses on the habit of the defendant in picking up unsuspecting passengers in a lonely area and sexually molesting them, even with threat and force, showed that the defendant was a serial rapist.

All the circumstantial evidence, coupled with the defendants refusal to report the matter to his office and his running away to a remote village before his arrest, shows a guilty mind.

I find the ingredient of murder established beyond all reasonable doubt, Ms Sonaike held.

The judge said that the defendant lied throughout his defence.

She said that the fact that the defendant said he regretted the death of Ms Anyawola was to play sentiment to the court.

Ms Sonaike said: The fact that the defendant committed these offences within three months interval shows that maybe there are more victims who because of shame failed to come forward.

The defendant used his employment to rape unsuspecting passengers. This is an unforgivable crime.

This case is an eye opener. There is need for government to overhaul the recruitment standard so that parents will be assured when their young girl board a vehicle.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution called nine witnesses, while Mr Ominikoron was the sole witness for the defence.

The Lagos State Government had charged him with a five-count bordering on conspiracy, rape, attempted rape and murder, to which he pleaded not guilty.

He was arraigned on 22 March 2022 for the rape and murder of his 22-year-old passenger on 26 February 2022, at the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

The prosecution also said that the defendant also raped one Nneka Udezulu and sexually assaulted one Victoria Anosike along Ikorodu Mile 12 axis of Lagos State.

The prosecution said that the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)

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The NNPC Foundation has launched a free cataract screening and surgery programme targeting 1,000 beneficiaries in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The scheme is part of a nationwide initiative to tackle avoidable blindness, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said during the flag off ceremony held on Friday at the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria.

Mr Arukwe said the programme is part of a broader outreach spanning Nigerias six geo-political zones.

According to the official, the initiative aims to provide over 6,000 cataract surgeries across the country.

We are excited by the turnout and how smoothly the programme is progressing here in Zaria, Mr Arukwe said. Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness globally. In Nigeria, it accounts for about 3 per cent of blindness cases, but it is preventable. With successful surgery, individuals can regain their sight and return to productive lives.

The Zaria outreach, attended by PREMIUM TIMES, marks the North-west regional phase of the initiative. Similar efforts are ongoing in the North-central and North-east, while the programme has been executed in the three southern regions.

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Mr Arukwe also highlighted the NNPC Foundations broader interventions in the areas of health, education, women empowerment, energy, and the environment.

He said its past health projects include cancer screenings for over 3,400 individuals, glaucoma testing, medical outreaches in Abuja, and support for cardiac surgeries in collaboration with the Cardiac Society of Nigeria.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, commended the foundation for what she described as a life-changing intervention.

This initiative restores not just vision, but dignity and hope, she said. It aligns perfectly with the health agenda of our governor, Senator Uba Sani, who is committed to delivering equitable and quality healthcare to all citizens, especially the underserved.

She said the state government was ready to continue partnering with organisations like the NNPC Foundation to expand access to healthcare in remote communities.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, also graced the ceremony, reinforcing the significance of the programme to the Zaria community.

The Executive Director of Programme Management at the NNPC Foundation, Aminu Muazu, expressed gratitude to the emir, the Kaduna State Government, and the hospitals management for their support.

He urged beneficiaries to adhere strictly to post-operative instructions and medication to ensure full recovery and avoid complications.

This programme is about restoring lives and livelihoods, Mr Muazu said. We thank the NNPC Board for their swift approval and continued support in delivering impactful community health interventions.

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The Nigerian Government has secured a $191 million grant from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen the countrys health systems over the next four years.

The grant was announced in Abuja on Friday at the launch of Gavis Health Systems Strengthening (HSS-3) support to Nigeria.

Described as one of the largest ever health systems grant by Gavi, the funding is expected to help reach at least 1.8 million zero-dose children and increase immunisation coverage to 84 per cent by 2028.

In addition, Gavi is investing nearly $100 million in a nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting over 100 million children.

Speaking at the launch, Gavis Director of Health Systems and Immunisation Strengthening, Alex de Jonquieres, said the Alliance has supported Nigeria with over $2.4 billion since 2000enabling the vaccination of 62 million children and averting an estimated two million deaths.

Mr de Jonquieres said Gavi has introduced nine vaccines in Nigeria, including HPV, which has protected 13.5 million girls from cervical cancer, and malaria vaccine.

He noted that Gavis 10-year country strategy for Nigeria, adopted in 2018, has facilitated the procurement of $1.1 billion worth of vaccinesone-third funded by Nigeria and two-thirds by Gaviand an additional $260 million to strengthen systems that deliver them.

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Mr de Jonquieres said the programme has reached 1.7 million zero-dose children, delivered immunisation campaigns to over 91 million under-fives, and installed 11,405 units of cold chain equipment.

He added that Gavis support has led to the recruitment of 3,683 health workers in eight states, who also helped over 572,000 mothers give birth, renovations of 493 primary healthcare centres, and provision of essential logistics such as buses, motorcycles, boats, and refrigerated vans.

Despite these gains, he warned that Nigeria still accounts for the highest number of zero-dose children globally.

To address this, we are today launching Gavis next health systems strengthening grant with another ~$191m of funding over the next four years, he said.

New grant

Mr de Jonquieres said the grant was designed by the Government of Nigeria through an inclusive planning process across the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other agencies at the federal and state levels.

He said it was also supported by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, many other partners, civil societies and private sector organisations.

He noted that nearly 80 per cent of the new funding will be directed to the sub-national level, with over 10 per cent allocated to civil society organisations working in communities.

He added that the National Traditional Leaders Committee would play a key role in mobilising support at grassroots levels.

Mr de Jonquieres said Gavis investment aligns with Nigerias Sector-Wide Approach and health sector reform programme and urged the government to continue increasing domestic funding for immunisation.

We also look forward to robust accountability from both government and implementing partners to ensure that every Naira invested results in systemic improvements in the performance of the health system and ultimately lead to more Nigerian childrens lives being saved, he said.

Expanding healthcare

Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said Gavis continued support has enabled Nigeria to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduce critical new vaccines, including for HPV, malaria and Mpox.

Mr Pate, represented by the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Kamil Shoretire, said the new grant aligns with Nigerias broader vision of expanding access to affordable, equitable healthcare.

He said the government is passionate about making quality health services equitably accessible and affordable to all and rapidly reducing maternal deaths.

Nigeria considers investing in the health sector as a key dividend of democracy and that the provision of quality health services as a fundamental right of every citizen, in line with the Presidents Renewed Hope Agenda, he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, said the progress in routine immunisation and primary healthcare is due to Gavis support and President Bola Tinubus increased domestic investment in health.

Mr Aina said with the launch of HSS-3, Nigerians will begin to see more citizen-focused improvements in immunisation and primary health services across the country.

In his remark, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, said the health body is committed to strengthening the countrys health system through a rights-based approach grounded in governance, transparency, and partnerships.

Mr Mulombo noted that a strong immunisation system is indeed the critical foundation for robust primary healthcare.

Launching this grant today is an overall symbol highlighting the importance of immunisation, he said.

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Maybe the greatest problem in Nigeria today is the way in which the nation has lost its moral compass, and with it, civic culture. When our youth look at our leaders, they see clearly that there is no good example to copy. Yes, they see what is today called success. The bad guys are very successful. Success is here reduced to its most crass elements, they have stolen massive amounts of money from the treasury and can drink the most expansive whiskies and champagnes, travel round the world and move in convoys of dozens of cars although sadly for that successful Nigerian, he or she can only travel in one car at a time. I read the society pages in the press and this week, there are stories of how a big boy has spent hundreds of millions of naira on a party for his latest girlfriend. And as my readers know, Nigeria is indeed the most religious country in the world in competition with number two, Afghanistan. It is religion without God, values, love for the other and morality. They know not God because they are too deep into the worship of mammon. They have lacked the philosophical depth to understand the philosopher of our time: Some people are so poor that all they have is money Bob Marley.

Governance therefore has been turned in a mad rush to empty the treasury for private use. This means the core business of governance has disappeared for decades and the outcome has been a State that does not do its work. As I have repeated so many times in this column, the Nigerian state is undergoing a three-dimensional crisis. The first one affects the political economy and it is generated mainly by public corruption over the past four decades that has created a run on the treasury at the national and state levels, threatening to consume the goose that lays the golden egg. The second one is the crisis of citizenship symbolised by ethno-regional and ethno-religious crisis generating violent conflicts including the Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder killings, widespread bandit-terrorism, agitations for Biafra, militancy in the Niger Delta and indigene/settler conflicts. The third element relates to the frustration of the countrys democratic aspirations in a context in which the citizenry believes in true democracy but is confronted with a reckless political class that is corrupt, self-serving and manipulative to ensure electoral outcomes often do not reflect the choice of the people.

These challenges have largely broken the social pact between citizens and the state. That is why today, Nigerians find themselves in a moment of doubt about their nationhood. It is similar to the two earlier moments of doubt we have experienced, 1962-1970 when we went through a terrible civil war and the early 1990s when prolonged military rule created another round of challenges to the National Project. We survived those two moments but there is no guarantee that we shall survive the third. Nonetheless, there is a possibility that the current crisis as an opportunity to surge forward in fixing Nigeria.

Our national duty is to get our leaders to listen to Bob Marley: The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. This is one of the deepest insights on the purpose of leadership and governance. Will they listen, no, so engage plan b.

Every day, we discuss in homes, offices, bars, religious gatherings, the mass media, social media, professional associations and all other fora in Nigeria today that there is a real and imminent threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria. In addition, there is an on-going rapid slide into anarchy, precipitated by the most serious collapse in security provisioning in our country, which is confronted by an almost complete lack of leadership or governance response to a multipronged crisis. Maybe our leaders are too far gone to be saved as suggested by our leading poet, Niyi Osundare, while describing the judiciary which was once a pillar of justice and integrity. Some excerpts below:

My Lord, Tell me Where to Keep your Bribe?

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Do I drop it in your venerable chambers

Or carry the heavy booty to your immaculate mansion

Shall I bury it in the capacious water tank

In your well laundered backyard

Or will it breathe better in the septic tank

Since money can deodorise the smelliest crime

.

My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?

The last hope of the common man

Has become the last bastion of the criminally rich

A terrible plague bestrides the land

Besieged by rapacious judges and venal lawyers

Increasingly, scholars are describing the Nigerian State as a failed one. My position is that it is teleological to describe the state as having failed because it is never about the end game, it is always about on-going processes of construction and deconstruction and above all, the direction of movement. The same Ghana that was once described as the clearest example of a failed state in Africa is today being described as the opposite. I fall into the category of believers in the Nigeria project and I track the evolution of the Nigerian state to see how we can pull back from the brink. If you seek evidence of failure you find it and if you seek evidence about the resilient Nigerian state you will find it. The Bible says, seek and you shall find. Our evil ruling class remain in power and destroy our country because they have found ways to rig elections, increasingly through the judiciary and stay on. We can stop them if we plan and organise well. My message to Nigerians is that it is not too late to save the country. Concerted citizen action can create the basis for offering Nigeria a new lease of life, provided proactive measures are taken to redress the crisis. Democracies persist and grow because they have citizens who have agency and use it to exercise their power.

Our greatest fear today should therefore be that of a self-fulfilling prophesy. The major outcome of the crisis facing the country has been the erosion of public trust. A toxic atmosphere has developed in which different actors are suspected of developing plots to destroy others. Actions of whatever type, as well as non-action or late action by governments and institutions are no longer taken at face value but are re-interpreted within narratives of coordinated plots by some groups to destroy or eliminate others or to take their land. There is no effective counter-narrative to create hope. The other challenge is negative agency. With over half the country living in extreme poverty, a generation of young Nigerians has emerged with nothing to lose but their poverty. They are procuring arms and engaging in violence, banditry and insurrectional acts to mimic the rich ruling class, thereby precipitating the march towards anarchy.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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our dear Shaykh, our great teacher, and teacher of generations, your Academy, of which you were one of its pillars, presents  on behalf of its members, experts, and affiliates  their deepest condolences to your family, to the people of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), to the people of Iwo, to the people of the Osun State and Nigeria, and to the whole Muslim Ummah. We pray to the Almighty to have mercy on you, pardon you, forgive you, and unite us with you on the Day of Judgement in the abode of bliss, in a seat of truth with a powerful Lord.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

Dear brothers and sisters! The president of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), Shaykh Abdur-Rashid Hadiyyatullah, passed away on Monday, 28th April. He died after a brief illness in his home town, Iwo, Osun State, and he was 83.

Respected servants of Allah! Shaykh Hadiyyatullah was born in Iwo, a prominent town in Osun State known for its deep Islamic knowledge and heritage. He was widely respected for his tireless advocacy for the implementation of Shariah law within constitutional frameworks, as well as his unwavering commitment to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence among Nigerias diverse religious communities.

The Shaykh attended the famous Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Elekuro, Ibadan (Maahad al-Arabi) as his launching pad to the world of Islamic education and research before tasting the delicious puddings of the University of Madinah where he read Shariah. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he did his Masters degree.

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He has served as chairman of the Pilgrims Board of Osun State. He was also the director of the Sheikh Ibn Baz Shariah College of Nigeria until his death. He was the first chairman of the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars of Nigeria.

Dear brothers and sisters! Allah Almighty says:

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. [Surah Al-Baqarah 155-157]

It is indeed the eternal fact of life that the Creator, the life-giving and the death-giving, from time to time, gives us some fear, hunger, and a lack of money, lives, and fruits, in the hope that we reap his rewards and the good tidings he reserved to the patient.

Many respected honourable scholars and great jurists have indeed passed away during the past few months and years, and as soon as our tears begin to dry up, and our hearts begin to calm down from grief over the separation of those great ones, we mourn again the departure of other great scholars, may Allah have mercy on them all, ameen.

Here we are today bidding farewell to another eminent scholar who spent over eighty years of his blessed life, educating generations, guiding nations, guiding those who seek, giving ifta to those who ask, and reconciling warring parties. He was never apprehensive of misfortunes, never tired of reconciling one another, and he never got tired of bringing the two sides closer together.

Twenty five years have passed since I first met our great Shaykh. He was always smiling, eloquent, deep in thought, great in contemplation, loving the Arabic language, advocating the unity of Muslims, keen on reunification, and devoted in his endeavour to unify the voice of the Ummah. I testify that in all the sessions of the Academy in which he participated, he was always insistent, and reminded us of the need to take refuge in the rich heritage of the Ummah, and the importance of holding onto the abundant intellectual heritage in order to be acquainted with its treasures, and to make the most of it when trying to manage the calamities and developments of contemporary life. I also bear witness that he was a believer in innovation and disciplined ijtihad that is open to the age. Above all, he was constantly asking about the conditions of Islam and Muslims across the globe, and on every occasion I met with him, I noticed his great interest in the affairs of Muslims.

As he has responded to the inevitable call of our Lord, and today he joined a group of people, scholars and jurists, whom he loved and they loved him, we raise the palms of humility to the Honourable Lord that he accepts him among the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, the righteous, and those are good companions. We also pray to the One and Only Allah to have mercy on our deceased, the bereaved of knowledge and chivalry, and inspire us, his family, students, and admirers patience, solace, and contentment with what the Most Merciful has decreed.

Finally, our dear Shaykh, our great teacher, and teacher of generations, your Academy, of which you were one of its pillars, presents  on behalf of its members, experts, and affiliates  their deepest condolences to your family, to the people of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), to the people of Iwo, to the people of the Osun State and Nigeria, and to the whole Muslim Ummah. We pray to the Almighty to have mercy on you, pardon you, forgive you, and unite us with you on the Day of Judgement in the abode of bliss, in a seat of truth with a powerful Lord.

We all belong to Allah and to Him we shall return!

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security  and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761.

This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Zul Qadah 04, 1446 AH (02 May, 2025).

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Leading commercial bank and Africas most agile company, Sterling Bank has announced the introduction of AlwaysOn by Sterling, a bold new feature on its OneBank platform that will give eligible customers up to 1 million extra every month -even when their account balances are running low.

Launched on Workers Day 2025, the initiative is part of an ongoing movement to remove structural barriers to financial freedom and empower everyday Nigerians to move boldly, even in uncertain times.

AlwaysOn is a specialised, invitation-only feature for customers who maintain an active

OneBank account for a while. It provides an advance to settle bills or make payments without delays, or any of the friction associated with traditional credit systems.

This is not just about funds, said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank. Its about freedom and dignity. Its about backing our customers with the trust and tools to act boldly when life demands it.

Mr Suleiman emphasised that the new feature is not a product, its a logical shift in how the bank supports its customers.

Were building a financial ecosystem designed for momentum -for people with grit, urgency, and dreams too big to wait. If youve banked with us, youve earned our confidence. Now youll have our backing to match, Mr Suleiman added.

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The introduction of AlwaysOn marks the next chapter in Sterlings growing movement to create a fairer and more responsive financial system. It follows the Zero Transfer Fees initiative in April, which returned an estimated 13 billion to Nigerians by eliminating transfer charges across the OneBank platform. It also builds on Sterlings Free Bus Ride initiative, which helped commuters get home from work for free during a time of intense economic pressure.

Together, these efforts reflect the banks bold, people-first approach to customer impact, now made possible by its adoption of SeaBaas, Nigerias first indigenous core banking platform.

Were not the kind of bank that stands on the sidelines while Nigerians hustle, said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive for Retail and Consumer Banking. We removed the fees that slowed them down. Now were giving Nigerians the financial freedom to seize opportunity when it shows up. Were on the pitch with them.

Sterlings actions have sparked widespread public support and national recognition as they have continued to push the boundaries of what corporate citizenship can mean to everyday Nigerians.

Notable icons from various fields have canvassed their support and praised the banks stance in redefining financial services, inspiring other institutions to follow suit.

Nigerians are encouraged to apply to join the waitlist for the scheme when it goes live later this month and ultimately, eligibility for up to N1 million extra in relief advances.

Sterling Bank is a leading Nigerian commercial bank and one of Africas most progressive financial institutions, widely recognised for its bold approach to customer advocacy and commitment to transforming lives through innovative solutions.

From eliminating local transfer fees through its OneBank platform to championing inclusive access to capital, the bank has consistently led with impact.

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President Bola Tinubu on Friday addressed military and other security personnel in Katsina State, directing the men and women in uniform to eliminate all terrorists and their foreign collaborators without delay.

In a charged speech delivered upon his arrival in Katsina, Mr Tinubu said the insurgency has gone on for too long in Nigeria, and promised to support the military with advanced weaponry and improved welfare to root out the terrorists.

Let the enemies of Nigeria know  their time is up, Mr Tinubu told security operatives who gathered to receive their commander-in-chief.

He added: The threats of terrorism, banditry, and insurgency have persisted for too long. Nigerians are counting on us  and on you  to end this menace and reclaim every inch of our territory.

The president spoke as troops mounted a guard of honour and cheered him repeatedly.

He vowed that Nigeria would not bow to the treachery of the terrorists and their foreign collaborators.

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To those who seek to destabilise our nation, be they domestic collaborators or foreign agents  hear this: Nigeria will not bow. Not to fear. Not to terror. Not to treachery. You, the Nigerian military, are the spearhead of this fight, he said.

Visit amidst renewed violence

Mr Tinubus two-day official visit to the state comes amidst a resurgence of violence across the northern part of the country. Over the past couple of months, insurgents in the North-East have intensified attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), while there has been an increase in killings in Plateau and Benue states.

The deterioration in security peaked while the President was out of the country, prompting stern criticism from opposition figures. Upon his return, Mr Tinubu held an emergency meeting with security chiefs, demanding that enough is enough.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidents spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the President would meet with key stakeholders to review the security situation in the state.

We will equip you with advanced equipment

Speaking to the servicemen and women, Mr Tinubu said the government is committed to improving welfare to support them in defeating the insurgents.

Let me be clear: the Federal Government stands firmly behind you. As your Commander-in-Chief, I am fully aware of the challenges you face. We are taking bold steps to equip you with advanced equipment, superior intelligence, and robust logistical support  not only to defend this nation but to dominate and defeat every adversary, Mr Tinubu said.

Mr Tinubu also told the personnel that the government has commenced the process for the payment of improved remuneration and promised better housing, health insurance, and family support for them.

He noted that the government was also committed to the prompt payment of allowances for the men and women at the war front.

Your welfare is my top priority. We are committed to ensuring your families are safe, your allowances are paid promptly, your healthcare is guaranteed, and your dignity upheld. Housing programmes, family support systems, insurance coverage, and improved remuneration are being implemented without delay, Mr Tinubu said.

Poor welfare and inadequate equipment have often been highlighted as major impediments to the fight against insurgents and other criminals. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how some officers staged a protest at a barracks in Sokoto over poor living conditions.

This poor state of the military persists despite the annual increase in defence expenditure over more than a decade of fighting insurgents.

President Tinubu, in the 2025 budget, allocated an additional 200 billion for the construction of barracks for the military.

Meanwhile, this is the Presidents first official working visit to Katsina since he assumed office.

Presidency sources said Mr Tinubus key mission to Katsina was to address troops directly rather than through their top officers.

He has been looking for opportunities to charge the troops in the frontlines up and boost their morale, one official said. I can tell you that he achieved that today.

BELOW IS THE SPEECH PRESIDENT TINUBU DELIVERED TO TROOPS IN KATSINA

SPEECH BY PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR, TO NIGERIAN

ARMED FORCES TROOPS DURING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO FRONTLINE TROOPS IN KATSINA ON 2 MAY 2025

Protocol

My Gallant Officers, Brave Soldiers, and Defenders of Our Great Nation,

HOW IS THE MORALE?

ARE WE GOOD TO GO?

ARE WE MOTIVATED?

I stand before you today not just as your President and Commander-in-Chief, but as a fellow patriot, deeply humbled by your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the peace, security, and sovereignty of our great nation. You are the shield of Nigeria, the brave sons and daughters who stand between our people and the forces of terror. Every inch of ground you hold, every terrorist you neutralise, and every community you secure is a victory for justice, freedom, and the future of our children.

The fight you are waging here in Katsina and across the country is not just a battle for territory; it is a battle for the soul of Nigeria. Your resilience in the face of danger inspires the entire nation. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.

You have left behind your families and the comforts of civilian life to wear the uniform of honour and duty. You face danger not for wealth or recognition, but for the love of our dear country. That, my brothers and sisters in uniform, is the highest form of patriotism. You are the silent guardians of our democracy, and I salute you.

Let me be clear: the Federal Government stands firmly behind you. As your Commander-in-Chief, I am fully aware of the challenges you face. We are taking bold steps to equip you with advanced equipment, superior intelligence, and robust logistical support not only to defend this nation but to dominate and defeat every adversary.

But it is not just about weapons. Your welfare is my top priority. We are committed to ensuring your families are safe, your allowances are paid promptly, your healthcare is guaranteed, and your dignity upheld. Housing programmess, family support systems, insurance coverage, and improved remuneration are being implemented without delay.

My dear soldiers, this is a defining moment in our history. The threats of terrorism, banditry, and insurgency have persisted for too long. Nigerians are counting on us and on you to end this menace and reclaim every inch of our territory.

Let me hear you loudly: Are you ready? Are you committed to ending this insecurity once and for all?

Let your resolve echo through every valley and forest. Let the enemies of Nigeria knowtheir time is up. This war will not be won by weapons alone but by your will to stand, resist, fight, and triumph. As your President, I will match your courage with action, investment, and unwavering support.

To those who seek to destabilise our nation, be they domestic collaborators or foreign agentshear this: Nigeria will not bow.

Not to fear. Not to terror. Not to treachery. You, the Nigerian military, are the spearhead of this fight. With your valour and discipline, peace shall prevail. Stand tall. Be proud. Nigeria depends on you, and I am with youtoday, tomorrow, and always.

Stay strong. Stay focused. For God and country.

May God bless you. May God bless the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Long live the Armed Forces! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Thank you.

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The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, has narrated how his administration saved the state and local governments contributory pension schemes from collapsing.

Mr Namadi said the administration reformed the schemes to improve the welfare of civil servants and retirees in the state.

He stated this on Thursday at an event marking this years Workers Day held at the Mallam Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse, the state capital.

Its important to note that the pension scheme in Jigawa State was almost collapsing when we came in. We injected over N7 billion to sustain it.

We have initiated a process of reviewing the law (pension scheme law) to ensure that all the grey areas are addressed and to ensure the continuity of the pension scheme, Mr Namadi said.

The governors remarks on the pension scheme were his first since assuming office. After PREMIUM TIMES reported it several times, he admitted an infraction in the administration of pension funds in the state.

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In January 2024, the government injected N2 billion into the scheme, N3.4 billion in August, and another N1.5 billion in January to help pay the pensions and gratuities of the retiring civil servants.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state government disengaged five of its six pension fund administrators (PFAs) in March after bailing out the scheme from a financial crisis.

The states Head of Civil Service, Muhammad Dagaceri, said the steps were taken to secure the financial future of pensioners and enhance transparency and efficiency in the pension management process.

The disengaged PFAs are Veritas Pension, Leadway Pension, Fidelity Pension, Access Pension, and Oak Pension.

Mr Dagaceri announced Premium Pension Fund (lead PFA), PAL Pension, GT Pension, NLPC Pension, Norrenberger Pension and Crusader Sterling Pension as the new firms engaged to manage the Boards assets.

The official said the state government renewed its engagement with Norrenberger Pension following years of satisfactory performance.

The contributory pension scheme has faced many challenges in recent years, and observers have warned that it may collapse.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the 27 local governments in Jigawa State failed to remit about N3.2 billion in statutory pension deductions and contributions for several years.

Official documents exclusively obtained and reported by this newspaper revealed that the councils did not remit appropriate pension dues in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The documents also suggest that the councils failure to remit the funds as mandated by law and the mass retirement of civil servants without recruitment damaged the state contributory pension scheme.

The document, a transitional committee report, listed the outstanding payment backlog of the 27 local government councils as the 17 per cent contributions from September 2014 to May 2015, which amounts to N1.25 billion.

Similarly, in 2019, unremitted funds stood at N254.6 million, N795 million in 2020 and N920.9 million in 2021, totalling over N3.2 billion.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in Bayelsa State has accused Governor Douye Diri of sacking his aides for participating in the inauguration of a pro-Nyesom Wike political platform: New Associates.

New Associate is a political platform canvassing support for the FCT minister and President Bola Tinubus second term.

Mr Diris former aide, George Turnah, who is the South-South zonal secretary of the PDP and caretaker committee chairperson of the party in Bayelsa, is the groups convener in the state.

The governor is also a member of the PDP and is recognised by the partys headquarters as the leader of the party in Bayelsa. Mr Diri does not recognise Mr Turnahs faction of the PDP

The pro-Wike, Tinubu Rally

Mr Diri had banned the rally, arguing that Rivers State, where Mr Wike hails from, is under emergency rule and he does not want the crisis there to be exported to his state.

But Mr Turnah doubled down on holding the rally. He rescheduled the rally from its initial date, saying he was adhering to the plea of some elders in the state to postpone it after several pro-Diri and pro-Tambuwal groups issued notices of a rally in solidarity with their leaders at the exact date and venue scheduled for the rally for Mr Wike.

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The rally was eventually held last Saturday amid attempts by gunmen to disrupt it.

Witnesses told this newspaper that gunmen emerged from the nearby bushes and fired gunshots at the venue but were repelled by security operatives.

In a statement on Thursday, the PDP Caretaker Committee Secretary in the state, Derri Wright, said Mr Diri sacked his aides who participated in the rally.

Mr Wright attached a list of 27 aides to the governor, whom he said Mr Diri fired for participating in the pro-Wike rally.

The PDP in Bayelsa State stands in firm condemnation of the recent decision by Governor Diri to dismiss his political aides following their participation in the inauguration of the Bayelsa State Chapter of a grassroots-based political movement, The New Associates.

This unjust action is an alarming demonstration of intolerance and high-handedness that undermines the democratic values we hold dear, he said.

Mr Wright described the sacking as a severe breach of trust and an affront to democratic participation. He called on the governor to reconsider his troubling decision and embrace the principles of inclusion, respect, and open dialogue.

In the letter of termination of appointment dated 23 April and seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Irorodamie Komonibo, deputy chief of staff to Mr Diri, directed the secretary to the state government to stop all entitlements to the sacked aides and withdraw any government assets in their possession.

No reason was given for the termination of the appointments.

Governor Diri reacts

Mr Diri has at several fora said Mr Turnah was not a member of the PDP in the state, arguing that his former aide was suspended by the party.

His spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, also told PREMIUM TIMES that a court in the state had restrained Mr Turnah from parading himself as a member of the PDP. He said the court affirmed the suspension of Mr Turnah pending the determination of the matter.

Mr Alabrah also said a court had barred Mr Turnah from holding the pro-Wike rally in the state pending the determination of the matter.

When contacted on Thursday, Mr Alabrah told our reporter that, He who hires has the power to fire, and wondered if someone would query the president if he decides to fire a minister.

The governor has the power to appoint and fire anybody. If he decides to dissolve his cabinet today, then somebody will be querying for the dissolution of his cabinet.

Accepting without conceding that it is true that the governor fired them. I am telling you that it is true the governor fired them because the governor has the power to fire them, he said.

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The Police Command in Anambra has detained two suspects for allegedly terrorising residents of Nnewi area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in a statement on Friday in Awka.

Mr Ikenga said that the measure was part of efforts by the police to ensure safe environment for residents and visitors in the state.

He also said that the efforts would bring about meaningful jobs and businesses to thrive in the state.

According to Mr Ikenga, the command is committed to fostering a secure environment for meaningful work and businesses to thrive in the state.

He said that the command has continued to demonstrate its commitment towards ensuring public safety and nipping in the bud all forms of criminal activities in the state.

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In line with the above, police operatives attached to Otolo-Nnewi today arrested two suspects and recovered one foreign made pistol, three live ammunitions and a motorcycle suspected to have been stolen.

The police spokesman said that the suspects, Ani Obinna, 21, and Okwudili Ezike, 43, all male were arrested during a hot chase by the police operatives acting on information which led to the busting of a criminal hideout in Nnewi.

READ ALSO: Police arraign eight suspects for stealing NNPC iron pole

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a secret cult and a kidnapping gang, he said.

He said that the suspects also gave useful information which the operatives are currently working on, aimed at dislodging their criminal network and arresting other fleeing gang members.

To this end, the command has sustained security patrol in the area and is more committed to fostering a secure environment for meaningful work and businesses to thrive in the state.

(NAN)

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The Labour Party (LP) members representing Igboeze/Udenu and Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituencies, Dennis Agbo and Mark-Chidi Obetta, respectively, on Thursday, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu.

Defecting along with them were the member representing Nsukka West State Constituency, Malachi-Okey Onyechi.

On Tuesday, two LP chieftains, Emeka Mamah and Titus Odo, defected to the PDP barely two weeks after the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 elections, Chijioke Edeoga, dumped the LP for the PDP.

The defectors were members of the PDP who dumped the party during the 2023 general elections for the LP.

Speaking during the defection at the PDP Secretariat in Enugu, Mr Onyechi expressed happiness to have united with his former party, pledging to work harmoniously to move the party forward.

He extolled Governor Peter Mbahs developmental strides, saying that he had instituted N2 billion project domiciled across 260 political wards in Enugu.

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On his part, Mr Obetta explained that his return to the PDP was predicated on the development indices in Enugu, especially in transport, education, health, and hospitality.

Enugu State will achieve more if everyone partners with Mbah, he said.

Mr Agbo also thanked his constituents for their understanding, describing them as great people.

He revealed that after their defection from the LP, there would be no LP again in Enugu State, saying that it would be very difficult for the opposition in Enugu State.

He lauded Mr Mbah for his visionary leadership, saying he deserved a second term.

Welcoming them, the PDP Chairman in Enugu, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness and excitement over their decision to return to their former party.

With their defection the trouble we encountered in 2023 election is over. The tsunami is over and 2027 will be seamless, he said. (NAN)

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has dismissed 12 officials for various acts of misconduct.

From December 2023 to date, 12 officers have been summarily dismissed for breaches of professional ethics, a statement by the agencys spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said on Thursday, adding that 19 others have been demoted for misconduct.

According to Mr Taofiq, the dismissals followed investigations and recommendations from the Lagos State Civil Service Commission.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that six of the officials were sacked in line with directives from the commission.

Mr Taofiq also said 17 others received stern warnings.

He added that an additional 12 officers were compelled to tender their resignations following investigations into infractions deemed incompatible with the global standards to which LASTMA aspires.

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He added that a new Personnel Management Board session would be convened soon to consider the cases of more indicted officers.

Speaking during the commemoration of the agencys 25th anniversary, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki unveiled a new agency emblem, which he described as a symbol of the agencys resilience and progress.

LASTMA has, through steadfast dedication, resilience, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence, evolved into a formidable reference point in the management of traffic in Lagos State, Mr Bakare-Oki said.

The emblem we unveil today transcends its aesthetic representation. It encapsulates the spirit of our institution, the hurdles we have overcome, and the honourable service of our officers.

The anniversary

The unveiling was led by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who also outlined the agencys vision for the future.

According to Mr Giwa, the anniversary celebrations, scheduled for 15 to 17 July, will include the launch of a comprehensive 20-Year Traffic Management Plan.

He stated that the blueprint aims to address long-term traffic challenges and improve safety and mobility in Lagos.

This 25th anniversary is not just a celebration; it is a moment for reflection, rededication, and visioning, Mr Giwa said.

It allows us to assess how far we have come, recognise the men and women who wear the LASTMA uniform with dignity, and unveil our roadmap for a smarter, technology-driven, citizen-centric traffic management future in Lagos.

The anniversary theme is LASTMA @25: Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety on Lagos State RoadsChallenges, Opportunities, and Innovations.

The anniversary activities will include a Lagos Traffic Summit, community outreach campaigns, staff recognition ceremonies, and strategic policy dialogues.

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No fewer than 20 persons held hostage by a Ponzi scheme syndicate in Oba Ile, Akure were rescued on Wednesday following an operation by men of the Ondo State Police Command.

The police said one Sakariya Sadiq, 26, was arrested after some parents filed complaints of the disappearance of their children who are from Osun and Oyo States.

The victims were declared missing in November last year after they were supposedly called up for a job in Akure introduced to them by their friends.

On April 24, 2025, the Command Surveillance team swung into action, and through intelligence-led policing traced the people held hostage to a residence at Oba-Ile in Akure, Wilfred Afolabi, the state police commissioner, said on Thursday while parading the suspects.

During the operation, one Sakariya Sadiq m was discovered to be the prime suspect involved in the alleged criminal activities.

The operation also led to the rescue of 20 victims held hostage by the said suspect at the residence in Oba-Ile, Akure, namely: One Rafiu Kehinde m, One Adebayo Nafisat f, One Mohammed Aishat f, One Jesujuwon Osuntoki m, One Mustapha Gbolahan m, One ibukun Samuel m, One Gbolahan Wasiu m, One Aminu Ifasina m, One Mohammed Sheifff m, One Adebayo Rohemat f, One Saheed Ibrahim m, One Ibrahim Adebayo m, One Adebayo Sukurat f, One Olawoyi Wasilat f, One Sholagberu Shakirat f, One Adeyemi Skukurat f, One Basari Saadiqq m, One Raji Taofeek m.

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Mr Afolabi said the victims were allegedly lured into joining a Ponzi scheme called Quest International Company under false promises of profit.

Each victim is demanded to pay 1,500,000.00 each, and also instructed to refer two others to the scheme as criteria to become a member of the group, after which they are denied access to their relatives, the commissioner said.

The suspect claimed that the money was for the victims Chi-pendants, Bio-Discs and accommodation. The suspect will be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation while efforts are also in progress to reunite the victims with their families.

The development is coming when the nation is grappling with several failed Ponzi schemes, and millions of Nigerians are losing huge sums of money.

Authorities are investigating a N1.2 trillion fraud involving the Crypto Bridge Exchange(CBEX), which has affected over 600,000 Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the police also apprehended a suspect, Oyebode Oluwakemi, for job racketeering after she allegedly defrauded her victim of N5.3 million.

The police said she had pretended to be securing government jobs for her victims with the intent of defrauding them.

As a result of the dragnet spread across the state and the intensified manhunt, on April 28, 2025, detectives from the Special Enquiry Unit (SEU) Ondo State command, nabbed the suspect, Mr Afolabi said.

In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the suspect had defrauded many people running to the tune of two hundred and fifty million naira (#250,000,000.00). The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has ruled out defection from the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP), amid speculations of his plan to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Adeleke, 64 years old, is believed to be nursing an ambition to seek re-election in the next years governorship election in the state, although he has not openly declared so.

In a statement by his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed on Thursday, Governor Adeleke assured that he has no plans to defect from the PDP to any other political party, including the APC.

Speaking at the closed-door meeting with the Osun State PDP stakeholders forum at the banquet hall of the Government House in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke described rumors about his alleged defection as fake news spread by those intimidated by the states extraordinary performance under his leadership.

He assured the party leaders, elders, and members that he remains committed to the PDP.

My people, party elders and chiefs, I declare before you today that I am not defecting to APC or any other political party. I remain in PDP, the governor said.

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The Osun PDP stakeholders forum was attended by top party leaders, including former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola who partook virtually, PDP state chairman, Sunday Bisi; the House Speaker, Adewale Egbedun; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf and other prominent party members.

Mr Adeleke has pursued his political dreams on the platform of the PDP since 2017, when he was elected the Osun West senator to replace his brother Isiaka Adeleke who died in April 2017 serving as the senator for the constituency.

While in the senate, Mr Adeleke, who succeeded his late brother as the frontman for the Adeleke political dynasty, contested the 2018 governorship election and lost to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

But in an iconic comeback in 2022, Mr Adeleke defeated Mr Oyetola, who was seeking second term as the Osun State governor. Mr Oyetola would be appointed the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023.

There is speculation that Mr Adeleke is preparing to switch allegiance to the APC, the ruling party at the federal level, as he is believed to be positioning himself for a second term in office.

The speculated defection comes amid shifting political landscape as several high-profile politicians have defected from the PDP to the APC.

Most notable is the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who joined the APC alongside other party members.

Mr Oborevwori cited the need to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan would be proud of as the reason for their defection.

Upon his defection, the APC announced the appointment of Governor Oborevwori as the state party leader, a position held by a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The PDP swiftly reacted, demanding that Governor Oborevwori vacate his seat. The party also instructed its national legal adviser to initiate proceedings to reclaim the partys mandate, citing it as stolen, in accordance with the Electoral Act.

Governor Oborevworis defection is just one of many blows to the PDP, as other notable party members such as the former Kaduna State Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero, Senators Shehu Sani, Suleiman Hunkuyi, and Sylvanus Ngele, and former Senate President Pius Anyim, among others.have defected to the APC.

Over 300 PDP members defected to APC between February 2024 and February 2025, largely due to internal strife within the PDP, the Punch Newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to APC, citing his commitment to his constituents.

Oluwole Oke, a member of the House of Representatives representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Osun State, also resigned from PDP due to internal divisions within the party.

The PDP has strongly reacted to these defections, attributing them to the APCs alleged use of state resources and intimidation.

However, the APC has dismissed these claims, stating that the defections are a result of its effective governance and the appeal of President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.

The PDP was the ruling political party after the return to democracy in 1999 until 2015 when former president Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since then, the PDP has taken the role of the opposition party. Plagued by internal squabbles and significant defections, the partys influence has waned.

READ ALSO: More LP members defect to PDP in Enugu

Vote of confidence

In a communique signed by the PDP state chairman, the stakeholders forum passed a vote of confidence on Mr Adelekes ability to govern the state and re-endorsed him for a second term as the sole candidate of the party in the 2026 election.

They praised Governor Adelekes declaration that he has no intention of defecting to the APC or any other party. They also commended other top party leaders for affirming their loyalty to the PDP and rejecting any plans to defect to other parties.

They expressed optimism that the national chapter of the party is working to resolve its internal challenges, which would result in a more united and well-positioned party for future victories.

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Including another plunge in consumer confidence, Southwest's new fare products and a 90s-themed margarita from Chili's.

NEW YORK, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Press Release Roundup, April 28-May 2, 2025.

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Can't-Miss Earnings

In addition to these popular releases, earnings season continued this week and several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire, including the quarterly results for Meta, Garmin, Caterpillar and Microsoft.

Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here.

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Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

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DENVER, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AgentSync, a leader in insurance distribution channel management (DCM) software, today announced AgentSync Contracting, a groundbreaking solution designed to fully automate the critical contracting stage of insurance agent onboarding. With the introduction of Contracting, AgentSync provides an end-to-end platform that seamlessly connects distributors and underwriters, accelerating the ready-to-sell process for agents and their distribution partners, from carriers to managing general agencies (MGAs), managing general underwriters (MGUs), field marketing organizations (FMOs), insurance marketing organizations (IMOs), and everyone in between.

AgentSync Contracting addresses longstanding industry challenges by eliminating manual processes, reducing administrative burdens, and minimizing errors common in traditional contracting workflows. Contracting complements AgentSync's existing APIs, which enable carriers to effortlessly accept and process contract requests from a variety of submission sources, in a standardized format. This flexibility positions AgentSync as the modern infrastructure upon which distribution networks can reliably and efficiently operate.

AgentSync Contracting addresses longstanding industry challenges by eliminating manual processes and minimizing errors. Post this

"Contracting was our 'last mile' in achieving complete automation of the distributor-to-underwriter workflow, which has always been our North Star," said CEO Niji Sabharwal. "With this release, we're establishing AgentSync as the definitive system of record for agent onboarding and contracting in the insurance industry."

Initially designed for the life and health insurance sectors, Contracting rapidly expanded its capabilities to serve property and casualty (P&C) agencies. Contracting now caters equally well to small agencies with as few as five agents as it does to large-scale FMOs and IMOs managing upward of 50,000 agents.

Contracting is also seamlessly integrated with AgentSync's Manage product, creating an end-to-end producer onboarding workflow automated through to appointment. Enhanced by robust security measures, including single sign-on (SSO) backed by Okta, Contracting ensures compliance, security, and ease of use for all users.

Since its inception in 2018, AgentSync has secured $161 million in funding from prominent investors, including Craft Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, Salesforce founder Marc Benioff, renowned entrepreneur Elad Gil, and Caffeinated Capital. This significant financial backing has enabled AgentSync to invest heavily in research and development, delivering cutting-edge technology solutions tailored specifically for the complex needs of the insurance industry.

AgentSync Contracting is fully operational and, with multiple early access customers already using the product, this marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to transform and modernize insurance distribution.

For more information, visit www.agentsync.io/contracting .

About AgentSync

AgentSync provides distribution channel management (DCM) solutions that connect the insurance ecosystem. By automating producer onboarding workflows and integrating real-time data across systems, AgentSync enables insurers to scale and optimize their distribution networks while remaining compliant. Our configurable, intuitive platform simplifies the producer ready-to-sell process, supported by API connectivity for seamless data exchange across systems. AgentSync recognizes compliance as the ultimate enabler for optimized distribution, unlocking new revenue opportunity and agility to adapt in a rapidly evolving industry. Founded in 2018 by Niji Sabharwal and Jenn Knight, and headquartered in Denver, CO, AgentSync has been recognized as one of Denver's Best Places to Work, a Forbes Magazine Cloud 100 Rising Star, an Insurtech Insights Future 50 winner, and was ranked 65th in Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers 2023. To learn more, visit www.agentsync.io .

SOURCE AgentSync
With fresh funding round, the health tech pioneer continues to work toward managing the world's blood pressure.

LONDON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aktiia, a blood pressure intelligence platform, announces an oversubscribed $42 million (over CHF 34 million) Series B funding round, co-led by Earlybird Health and Wellington Partners, with new investors Kfund and naturalX Health Ventures, and participation from existing investors redalpine, Khosla Ventures, Molten Ventures, Translink Capital and Verve Ventures. The investment, which has brought the total financing to date above $100 million, will accelerate the company's mission to manage the world's blood pressure.

The transition to Hilo marks an important milestone in the companys journey, aligning with its vision of healthier blood pressure for all, while continuing to deliver the trusted technology and reports that have been central to its platform.

The latest investment builds on a period of significant momentum for the company during which it has achieved several major milestones, including securing CE marking for its innovative mobile phone camera blood pressure monitoring technology, securing regulatory approvals in Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia, achieving 76% compounded annual revenue growth, and completing a pivotal clinical trial ahead of its U.S. FDA application submission. This Series B funding will fuel continued product innovation, expansion into new markets and the build out of its blood pressure intelligence platform to support enterprise use cases.

Alongside this funding, Aktiia is introducing its new brand identity: Hilo - a rebrand which reflects the company's global ambition to make cuffless, clinically validated blood pressure monitoring universally accessible and effortless. The transition to Hilo marks an important milestone in the company's journey, aligning with its vision of healthier blood pressure for all, while continuing to deliver the trusted technology and reports that have been central to its platform.

With more than 120,000 devices sold, Hilo has already established itself as a stand-out in the health tech space. The company has developed a foundation Machine Learning model specifically designed for blood pressure. The model has been trained on tens of billions of optical signals from real-world users and further refined with hundreds of millions of calibration points, strengthening its position as the leader in the emerging cuffless blood pressure monitoring (CBPM) category.

Raghav "Rags" Gupta, CEO of Hilo, commented:

"This funding round is a testament to the confidence our investors have in Hilo's groundbreaking technology and our mission to manage the world's blood pressure via more frequent, convenient and accurate measurements. With billions worldwide suffering from hypertension, only 20% of whom are in control of their blood pressure, the need for innovative, accessible blood pressure monitoring solutions has never been greater. Our rebrand to Hilo represents more than just a name change, it's a commitment to empowering users around the world with smarter tools to optimise their health. We are grateful to early Aktiia customers for their support and to our investors, new and existing, for their faith."

Christoph Massner, Principal at Earlybird Health, who will join Hilo's Board of Directors, commented:

"Hilo stands at the intersection of medical-grade precision and consumer-centric accessibility. By building on a validated medical device platform and an intuitive, user-friendly design, they bridge the gap between clinical reliability and everyday usability. It's a rare combination that empowers users to take meaningful control of their health with minimal effort. This is especially critical given the enormous medical need: uncontrolled high blood pressure remains one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide."

Johannes Fischer, Managing Partner at Wellington Partners, commented:

"We are excited to co-lead this financing and to be backing Hilo's innovative technology, which provides groundbreaking advancements to the billions of people with elevated blood pressure today. We believe that real-time and continuous access to blood pressure information will change the way we think about the monitoring and management of one of the most common risk factors to human health."

About Hilo

Aktiia, now trading under Hilo, was established in 2018 to transform how blood pressure is measured and therefore managed. By integrating advanced AI algorithms with extensive datasets, Hilo's cuffless blood pressure monitoring (CBPM) products offer convenient, valuable reports to give both individuals and healthcare professionals a useful picture of their blood pressure. The company's foundation model for blood pressure has been trained on billions of optical signals and hundreds of millions of readings across more than 120,000 users, underscoring its leadership in the CPBM category. The company's multidisciplinary team, composed of experts with extensive experience in biomedical signal processing, has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed publications and holds more than 35 patents. Headquartered in Switzerland, Hilo continues to expand its global presence, transforming how blood pressure is understood and managed.

The Hilo system by itself is not intended to make diagnoses. Data should always be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Website: www.hilo.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2678061/Aktiia_Hilo_Transition.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2678060/Hilo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Aktiia
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings (AKZA; AKZOY) has partnered with IAC Spokane to bring another special Disney-themed livery to life for Alaska Airlines. Tiana's Bayou Adventure Flyer, a Boeing 737-800, which draws inspiration from The Princess and the Frog and celebrates Alaska Airlines' ongoing partnership with Disneyland Resort, was revealed in Portland International Airport (PDX).

AkzoNobel helps Alaska Airlines capture a magical spirit of adventure. Princess Tiana takes center stage along the fuselage on Alaska Airlines.

The enchanting design, a true celebration of Disney's charm and creativity, features AkzoNobel's Aerodur basecoat/clearcoat (BCCC) system and uses 19 bespoke colors. AkzoNobel's BCCC system delivers optimum quality, performance and style with a unique binder formulation and high-quality pigments in the decorative basecoat providing longer-lasting protection for Alaska Airline's aircraft.

Over 24 days, and more than 2,000 hours, IAC's team meticulously painted the detailed design with whimsical elements that reflect the adventurous essence of the story. Princess Tiana takes center stage along the fuselage, along with a colorful depiction of Louis the Alligator playing around water lilies, and a glowing trail of fireflies dancing from nose to tail. Mama Odie and Prince Naveen who both feature on the winglets, also contribute to the magic.

Leo Rosales, Sales Representative Aerospace Coatings Americas, says AkzoNobel is proud to have played a part in pushing the possibilities of its coatings and its color expertise: "The IAC team has delivered another striking livery which not only beautifully promotes the immersive Tiana's Bayou Adventure experience at Disneyland but also shows Alaska Airline's commitment to create remarkable journeys with another wonder in our skies. This has been another joyful project for us to work on," he says, "and we are delighted to have helped the team take full advantage of our technical expertise in color development and to have provided our technical support throughout the project."

Tiana's Bayou Adventure Flyer (N596AS) was unveiled by Alaska Airlines and Disneyland Resort at Portland International Airport before it took its inaugural flight to Santa Ana, California ahead of Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction opening at Disneyland Park. It is one of four special Disney liveries currently in service, and joins Mickey's Toontown Express (N565AS), Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort (N538AS) and Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort (N537AS). All four have been painted by IAC using AkzoNobel coatings.

Read more about this new livery here, AkzoNobel helps Alaska Airlines capture a magical spirit of adventure | LinkedIn.

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we've been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people's lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands  including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon  is trusted by customers around the globe. We're active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It's what you'd expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that's dedicated to providing more sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today  while creating an even better tomorrow. Let's paint the future together.

Media relations

E [email protected]

Contact: Abbey Reding

SOURCE AkzoNobel Coatings, Inc.
FAIRFIELD, N.J., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Liver Foundation's Liver Life Advocacy Summit was held in Washington, D.C. April 29th and 30th and brought together patients, caregivers and families from coast to coast to champion legislative priorities for liver health and help the 100 million Americans affected by some form of liver disease. During the Summit, ALF recognized Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) with the foundation's Congressional Champion Award for their relentless commitment to helping patients and families affected by liver disease.

"We are deeply grateful to Senator Cassidy and Congressman Nadler for their commitment to helping liver disease patients and families," said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation (ALF) and caregiver to a transplant recipient. "Liver disease has long been overlooked but thanks to Congressional Champions like Senator Cassidy and Congressman Nadler, liver patients are finally getting the attention they deserve."

We are grateful to Senator Cassidy and Congressman Nadler for their commitment to liver disease patients and families! Post this

Senator Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee, was honored with ALF's Congressional Champion Award for his dedication to helping liver patients as a gastroenterologist, and for his commitment to promoting legislation and policies that positively affect individuals living with liver disease, in particular those affected by steatotic (fatty) liver disease.

Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) was also honored with the prestigious Congressional Champion Award recognizing his long-standing dedication and commitment to advancing living donor transplantation and protecting living donors through the Living Donor Protection Act, which was just reintroduced into the 119th Congress. View his video acceptance here https://youtu.be/hg1Sq2FInNQ.

During the Liver Life Advocacy Summit, ALF also recognized two advocates for their outstanding commitment to advancing liver health.

The Liver Life Advocate Award was presented to West Chester, Ohio resident Don Melillo for his long-standing efforts to dispel the negative stigma surrounding liver disease and for advancing liver disease research as an advocate, member of ALF's public policy committee, member of ALF's research patient group program, and a peer mentor to other patients. Don was diagnosed with liver cancer and received a life-saving liver transplant.

"Ever since my own liver transplant almost 13 years ago, I have been involved with spreading the word about liver disease and helping others on their journeys. One of the highlights was receiving the Liver Life Advocate Award from ALF," said Don Melillo. "I do what I do to give back and help others on their journey with liver disease. To be recognized by American Liver Foundation with this award was shocking a true blessing. To stand with so many other advocates who have become like a family and be singled out with this award was one of the greatest moments of my own journey."

Liver Life Advocate and Tampa, Florida resident Tammy Sperling was presented with ALF's Rising Advocate Award for her outstanding efforts as a new Advocacy Ambassador. Tammy immediately hit the ground running with ALF participating in multiple Congressional meetings and becoming a stellar peer mentor in ALF's Caring Connections peer mentoring program. Tammy has primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune liver disease that slowly damages the bile ducts.

"The Liver Life Advocacy Summit was life-changing for me, and I am so honored to receive the Rising Advocate Award for the work I do to help others affected by liver disease. I lived my whole life not knowing I had an autoimmune liver disease until I became gravely ill. I'm so grateful to have found such a supportive community of fellow advocates at ALF and to be able to give back as a peer mentor and help others means so much to me," said Tammy Sperling.

During the Liver Life Advocacy Summit, advocates met with their elected officials on Capitol Hill and urged Congress to implement ALF's legislative priorities:

Increase funding for Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) research and education

Expand liver disease surveillance and prevention efforts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Finalize coverage for anti-obesity medication under Medicare Part D

Support laws such as the Living Donor Protection Act, Safe Step Act, HOLD Act and HELP Copays Act

Improve access to liver disease treatments and reduce out-of-pocket costs

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to both Don and Tammy for their incredible work on behalf of other patients. And I'm so proud of all of our outstanding Liver Life Advocates who joined us for our advocacy summit to share their personal liver disease journey and make a difference in the lives of those living with liver disease," added Ms. Stiehl.

Take action for liver disease by becoming a Liver Life Advocate. Learn more at liverfoundation.org/advocacy.

About the American Liver Foundation

American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals dedicated to helping people improve their liver health. Providing guidance and life-saving resources, we are a beacon for the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. We advocate for patients and families, fund medical research and educate the public about liver wellness and disease prevention. We bring people together through our educational programs and events and create a network of support that lasts a lifetime. ALF is the largest organization focused on all liver diseases and the trusted voice for patients and families living with liver disease. For more information visit www.liverfoundation.org or call: 1 800 GO LIVER (800-465-4837).

Media Contacts:

Julie Kimbrough

[email protected]

Direct dial: 646-737-9409

Karla Thomas

[email protected]

Direct dial: 773-575-9477

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SOURCE American Liver Foundation
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Soft tissue regeneration company, Aroa Biosurgery, is pleased to announce a milestone in clinical evidence.

There are now over 100 peer-reviewed studies describing the efficacy of the company's proprietary AROA ECM technology.

AROA's most recent publication was a large retrospective analysis of real-world evidence (RWE) from wound care centers in the US, assessing the efficacy of the company's Endoform NaturalTM product in treating venous leg ulcers (VLUs), in comparison to a leading reconstituted collagen dressing.

VLU's are open sores that are hard-to-heal because of impaired blood flow and can be very debilitating and painful. These types of wounds are difficult for clinicians to treat successfully. For example, only ~40% of VLUs can be healed after 3 months of treatment and there is a relatively high chance that these wounds will recur[1].

The peer-reviewed study, entitled "Clinical Efficacy of Ovine Forestomach Matrix and Collagen/Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose for the Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers: A Retrospective Comparative Real-World Evidence Study" was published in the open access journal 'International Wound Journal in April 2025.

The study compared 470 VLU's that had been treated with Endoform Natural to 360 VLU's that had been treated with a reconstituted collagen product. The study used existing data from 223 wound care centers with minimal inclusion or exclusion criteria so that 'real-world' use of both products could be compared.

"There is a growing awareness of RWE studies to validate clinical performance" says Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Barnaby May. "These types of studies enable much larger patient numbers to be compared versus traditional randomized controlled trials. Given that RWE studies use data from 'real-world' use of a treatment, the results can be more meaningful, especially in wound care where there is a high degree of variability in how wounds are cared for and patient factors."

The study found that VLUs treated with Endoform Natural healed up to ~ 8 weeks faster versus the comparator group, and the chances of the wound healing were significantly improved when Endoform Natural was used as part of treatment.

The striking difference in the healing outcomes demonstrate the potential for considerable cost reductions and improvements in patient quality of life, due to the significant improvements seen when VLUs were treated using Endoform Natural.

Dr. Gregory Bohn MD was part of the research team. "I was first introduced to Endoform in 2012 and started using the product to treat my own patients with VLUs. This new data validates what I have seen in my own practice managing VLUs with Endoform."

This is the second large retrospective RWE comparing Endoform Natural to a leading reconstituted collagen dressing. A previous study included the analysis of over 2,200 diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and also demonstrated significantly faster healing of DFUs using Endoform Natural[2].

The study is available online here.

[1] Kolluri R, Lugli M, Villalba L, Varcoe R, Maleti O, Gallardo F, et al. An estimate of the economic burden of venous leg ulcers associated with deep venous disease. Vasc Med. 2022;27(1):63-72. [2] Bosque BA, Frampton C, Chaffin AE, Bohn GA, Woo K, DeLeonardis C, Lepow BD, Melin MM, Madu T, Dowling SG, May BCH. Retrospective real-world comparative effectiveness of ovine forestomach matrix and collagen/ORC in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Int Wound J. 2022 May;19(4):741-753.

SOURCE Aroa Biosurgery
Theres bad news and good news for ICT-related employment in India, with Zoho holding back on plans to put money into a semiconductor facility and Rakuten boosting its investment in the country.

Indian software firm Zoho has apparently halted its year-long pursuit of a US$700 million plan to foray into chip manufacturing, having had problems finding the right technology partner to advise on the chipmaking processes.

Reuters says that Zoho, valued at around US$12 billion, offers cheaper alternatives to cloud-based software tools made by the likes of Microsoft. Its plans had included investing US$400 million in a semiconductor facility in Karnataka state in south India. It is not clear what it will do if a partner is eventually found.

This decision is bad news for the governments aims to make India a global chip manufacturing hub. The country still has no operational chipmaking facility.

Zoho offers software and related services on subscription to businesses in 150 countries and has over 18,000 employees and more than 120 million users.

On a more upbeat note, Japans Rakuten which operates in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce and telecoms, aims to invest at least US$100 million and increase its headcount by 8% in India this year to strengthen its global operations, with a strong focus on using artificial intelligence to enhance operations across key areas.

The companys India global capability centre (GCC) plays a key role in building Rakuten Pay, a major payment app in Japan, and its SixthSense platform, which is used to track the health of a system and flag issues.

Rakuten's India GCC operates about 50% of the company's 70-plus businesses, with offices at multiple locations in the country, including two centres in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru.
RADNOR, Pa., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technology industries, announced that Michael Stubblefield, President and CEO, will be participating in a fireside chat at the Bank of America Securities 2025 Health Care Conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

To hear a live audio webcast of the session, visit Events & Presentations in the Investor section of Avantor's website, ir.avantorsciences.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days.

About Avantor

Avantor is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.

Investor Relations Contact

Allison Hosak

Senior Vice President, Global Communications

Avantor

908-329-7281

[email protected]

Global Media Contact

Eric Van Zanten

Head of External Communications

Avantor

610-529-6219

[email protected]

SOURCE Avantor and Financial News
SEOUL, South Korea, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bankees Foundation, formerly known as Nexfin, has officially signed an agreement with Mastercard to issue crypto-rechargeable prepaid cards. The agreement, finalized in March 2025, allows for card issuance across nearly all global marketsexcluding only the United States and Japan.

The service will be available in South Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe, South America, Canada, and Australia, with plans to expand into the U.S. and Japan in 2026, pending additional regulatory review and compliance procedures.

Under the terms of the partnership, Bankees Foundation is authorized to design and produce its own branded cards. The first rollout will feature five unique card designs, all issued under Mastercard's strict regulatory framework, including mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) verification processes.

A Platinum-tier card is also in development, which will be co-branded with Visa, marking a rare dual-network collaboration in the prepaid crypto card space.

In countries with large unbanked populations, Bankees plans to offer a basic version of the card with simplified application requirements, allowing more inclusive access to digital payment infrastructure.

As part of its rebranding strategy from Nexfin, Bankees has adopted a youthful, MZ-generation-friendly image, complete with its own character IP. This move is aimed at increasing user engagement and brand relatability.

The official website, whitepaper, token issuance, and technical audits are scheduled to go live by the end of May 2025.

Furthermore, Bankees leadership has confirmed participation in the DNA HOUSE eventan exclusive global blockchain gathering hosted by the Co-founder of Tetherset to take place at the end of June 2025.

SOURCE Bankees Foundation
The Certified B Corp joins forces with one of the world's top sustainability leaders to bring transparency, circularity, and climate resilience to the coffee category.

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages , the largest independently owned, social impact coffee brand, announced today a new sustainability collaboration with SGS , the world's leading testing, inspection, and certification company. As a Certified B Corporation, BLK & Bold is deepening its commitment to environmental performance, with a focus on climate change. This involves training its staff, measuring its carbon footprint, and concretely defining opportunities to reduce emissions in the future. This journey is captured in a four-part docuseries titled 'BLK & Bold: A Journey Rooted in Coffee, Community, and Climate'.

This multi-part video series follows BLK & Bold co-founders Rod Johnson and Pernell Cezar as they deepen their commitment to social and environmental impact. Through conversations, a trip to Peru, and a partnership with SGS, we see how a specialty coffee brand builds purpose into every level of its business. Link copied to clipboard

"With increasing climate disruptions in coffee-producing regions, we felt an urgent need to identify how our operations impact the environmentso we can measure our environmental performance and improve over time," said Pernell Cezar, Co-Founder of BLK & Bold. "SGS stood out to us, not only for their certification expertise, but because it is also one of the world's top ten most sustainable companies. It was appealing to us that SGS really walks the talk in terms of being sustainable in its own operations."

'BLK & Bold: A Journey Rooted in Coffee, Community, and Climate' will premiere at the second annual Business for Good Summit, hosted by Drake University's Zimpleman College of Business and sponsored by SGS. The docuseries follows Co-Founders Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson as they trace their journey from roasting beans in a garage to leading a national coffee brand with a 33,000 square foot production facility in Des Moines. That facility now supplies BLK & Bold's line of specialty roasts to more than 11,000 retail locations, including Target, Amazon, and Walgreens. BLK & Bold's commitment to social consciousness is embedded in the brand's ethos, exemplified by its pledge to allocate 5% of gross profits to communities across the United States to empower underserved youth. While community engagement is one of the core 'social' objectives of a purpose-driven business, strengthening 'environmental' objectives and solidifying 'governance' of these objectives is also critical.

"Our passion for quality coffee, along with our commitment to social impact, are the reasons that BLK & Bold has experienced growth since embarking on this journey seven years ago," said Johnson, Chief Values Officer and Co-Founder of BLK & Bold. "The docuseries follows me to Peru. Visiting the coffee-growing communities reaffirmed our responsibility to measure sustainability at every step, from farm to cup."

In recent years, disruptions to climate such as rising temperatures and unpredictable or diminished rainfall have resulted in reduced coffee crop yields or lower-quality crops. At the same time, 95 percent of residents of the small town of San Ignacio, where BLK & Bold sources some of its coffee beans, are connected to the coffee industry. "As much as this is about consumers being able to continue enjoying coffee, this is also about supporting growers whose livelihoods are centered around this commodity. With coffee being the second most consumed drink by Americans, we believe the onus is on coffee brands to do what they can to prevent production dips due to climate related disruptions, which goes hand in hand with doing better for communities and the planet," continued Johnson.

BLK & Bold is in the process of identifying and establishing its environmental key performance indicators, from growth and harvesting through to production, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. "BLK & Bold's commitment to sustainability sets a positive example for small-mid sized North American food and beverage manufacturers, since one of the top ESG priorities in the industry is leadership oversight," said Adam Hammes, Vice President of Sustainability Assurance at SGS in North America. "Thirty percent of the top 100 food and beverage companies in North America have yet to put in place top-down sustainability governance and tackle climate change seriously, so BLK & Bold's initiative really speaks volumes." BLK & Bold's ESG journey is just beginning, and the brand is committed to continued transparency, accountability, and progress.

About BLK & Bold

Founded by Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson, BLK & Bold is a trailblazing specialty coffee brand committed to fostering a community centered around social impact. From its modest beginnings in a garage with a tabletop roaster, the company has grown into a 33,000 sq ft warehouse and has donated over a quarter of a million dollars to date. As the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, BLK & Bold proudly allocates 5% of its gross profits to initiatives that support youth programming, workforce development, and community growth. Its B Corp certification attests to the company's dedication to upholding the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Recognized as one of The Fast 50: Top Growing NMSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and a two-time Inc. 5000 list maker, BLK & Bold exemplifies rapid growth and innovation in the industry.

About SGS

SGS is the world's leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise  when you need to be sure  underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

SOURCE BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages
Graduation coincides with National Apprenticeship Day 2025, underscoring the role of Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) in building career pathways and strengthening the U.S. semiconductor and advanced manufacturing workforce

UTICA, N.Y., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Semikron Danfoss celebrated 15 apprentices who successfully completed the Industrial Manufacturing Technician RA program, advancing their careers in New York's growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry.

On Wednesday, Semikron Danfoss celebrated 15 apprentices who successfully completed the Industrial Manufacturing Technician Registered Apprenticeship program

The graduation, held at Semikron Danfoss' Utica facility, coincided with the U.S. Department of Labor's (USDOL) newly designated National Apprenticeship Dayan evolution from the traditional National Apprenticeship Week held in Novemberreaffirming the critical role of RAs in workforce development. National Apprenticeship Day is a nationwide celebration recognizing the success and impact of apprenticeships in building strong career pathways and strengthening the U.S. workforce.

The RA program at Semikron Danfoss is supported by MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, serving as the Group Sponsor under the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement's (NIICA) Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS)a national workforce development program through USDOL. The program is supported by Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) which provides Related Technical Instruction (RTI) for the program.

"This graduation is a powerful example of how Registered Apprenticeship Programs are transforming workforce development in New York," said Michael Frame, Executive Vice President of MACNY. "By combining industry-led training with educational support, we're not just preparing individuals for jobs, we're launching meaningful careers in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors. Semikron Danfoss is demonstrating what's possible when employers invest in their people, and we're proud to support their efforts in building the workforce of the future."

The manufacturing sector supports more than 420,000 jobs statewide, and New York has attracted over $100 billion in semiconductor investments since 2022. Nationally, RA completers see strong outcomes, with an average starting salary of over $77,000 and 94% retained employment nine months after RA completion. Programs like the Industrial Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship help workers access high-skill, high-wage career pathways while strengthening New York's advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries.

"We're incredibly proud of our apprentices and the dedication they've shown throughout this program," said Michael Godsen, General Manager at Semikron Danfoss. "Registered Apprenticeship has allowed us to invest in our team's growth while ensuring we're building the advanced manufacturing workforce, we need for the future. Programs like this strengthen our company, our community, and the broader manufacturing industry here in New York."

"This celebration is a reminder of what's possible when we work collaboratively to build real pathways between education, training, and industry. Through initiatives like GAINS and the launch of New York's first Career Opportunity Hub, NIICA is helping to meet critical workforce needs along the I-90 corridor and beyondstrengthening the industries that are vital to America's future. This progress is made possible by strong partnerships across New York and the nation, including with MACNY, that share our commitment to expanding opportunities for workers and communities. We're congratulate Semikron Danfoss and MACNY  and are proud to celebrate these apprentices," said NIICA's President & CEO Mike Russo.

Skill-based learning and RAs are key to building a workforce that can meet the demands of advanced manufacturing and semiconductor innovation. As these industries continue to grow, programs like GAINS are helping ensure that workers have clear, attainable pathways to high-skill, high-wage careersand that employers have the talent they need to stay competitive.

For more information about NIICA and the GAINS program, visit www.niica.org. For more information about MACNY, visit www.macny.org. For more information about Semikron Danfoss, visit www.semikron-danfoss.com.

About the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement

NIICA is a 501(c)(3) organization that is responsible for a national strategy to build the talent pipeline to support strategic industry sectors  tech-based industries and advanced manufacturing tied to U.S. national security and global competitiveness.

NIICA is a nation's leader in semiconductor talent pipeline development strategy and is the U.S. Department of Labor's national Registered Apprenticeship industry Intermediary responsible for establishing and expanding apprenticeships throughout the semiconductor and broader nanotechnology-related industries and advanced manufacturing supply chain. All related programming and support are being advanced through NIICA's Center for Skill-Based Learning and National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative.

This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration under Contract number, 1605C2-22-C-006, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor documents mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.

SOURCE National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 140 Registered Representatives and Registered Investment Advisers from Centaurus Financial, Inc., along with numerous sales and service assistants, met in San Diego, California, recently to learn how to improve their businesses to better serve their clients.

The independent broker/dealer's annual Quantum Leap Workshop, held from April 16 to 18 at the San Diego Mission Bay Resort, featured the latest in technology and ideas. Representatives heard from experts in artificial intelligence, who explained where AI is taking the financial services industry, as well as its range and limitations.

Attendees learned from their peers  specifically, other Centaurus representatives  about using media, client events, marketing and other tools to improve and complement their businesses. Speaker, author and entrepreneur Terri Sjodin explained how to make presentations dynamic and persuasive, while IRA expert Ed Slott shared advice on helping clients succeed in retirement.

Representative Michelle Anthony, from Tucson, says she's amazingly impressed by the BDD Workshop and Centaurus's other conferences. "These conferences are driven and presented by the reps. They're actually teaching you how they succeeded in serving their clients. They're opening up their playbook and they're telling you, 'This is how I'm doing it.' They're not holding anything back. The culture for education and training that Centaurus has created is absolutely amazing."

About Centaurus Financial

Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Centaurus Financial, Inc. is a national independent financial services company registered and licensed to offer securities, investment advisory services and insurance products. Centaurus Financial is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Centaurus Financial is registered as a broker/dealer and Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more information about Centaurus Financial, please visit centaurusfinancial.com.

Media contact:

Maryanne Dell

714-456-1790

[email protected]

SOURCE Centaurus Financial, Inc.
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more."

RUTHERFORDTON, N.C., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Lingua, a global leader in Christian content translation and media services, is now launching a new offering: the ASL Interpretation/Video Production Service. An innovative service like this will bring the message of God closer to deaf, blind, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing communities worldwide. Christian Lingua's mission is to eventually make Christian and other content accessible to the world's largest unreached people group.

Christian Lingua

Founded by Michael Yurchuk, CL has been breaking language barriers for two decades now. Christian Lingua spreads the Gospel through high-quality translation and overdub services into 220+ languages. As this new ASL Interpretation and Video Production feature launches, the organization will surely expand its reach to serve the believers who mainly communicate through ASL (the American Sign Language) and other sign languages.

Making Sound Biblical Teaching Accessible to Everyone

There are over 70 million people with hearing disabilities in the world; merely 2% of them are Christians. This statistic confirms the much-feared reality that deafblind individuals are some of the largest unreached groups on Earth, yet to enter the fold of our Lord and receive God's eternal light. They often face significant obstacles in accessing faith-based & informative content. Christian Lingua is addressing the need of the hour today.

They have developed a specialized service that combines ASL interpretation and highly professional video production services to create accessible, engaging Christian content for the hard-of-hearing communities. The telltale aspects of this service include:

Certified interpreters skilled in conveying biblical messages accurately and sensitively

Visually engaging videos designed to maximize comprehension and spiritual impact

Content available in English, Spanish, Urdu/Hindi, and other languages to come

Help the Deafblind Community Benefit from the Word of God

Christian Lingua has cordially invited churches, ministries, donors, partners, and others who wish to serve God to support this groundbreaking yet faith-enhancing initiative. In the wise words of the founder of CL, Michael Yurchuk[1], "Our mission is to see Christian translation reach further than ever before by partnering with worldwide ministries, and we're committed to making that vision a reality." Investing in ASL Interpretation & Video Production services helps bridge the gap for an underserved community, contributing to expanding God's Kingdom.

The platform of CL has been a pioneer in Christian translation since 2006. Christian Lingua's multiple services have helped millions access the Word of God in their native languages. Today, they have a team of over 75 staff and 1,300+ linguists. They are partnering with ministries worldwide to advance faith outreach. If you find this mission interesting, click here to learn more about CL's new ASL feature.

Christian Lingua

Email: [email protected]

828-351-9559

Website: christianlingua.com/request-a-free-quote

Let's now bring the light of the Gospel to every heart, language, and community because no one should be left unheard!

{1}https://thesiliconreview.com/magazine/profile/michael-yurchuk-christian-lingua-translation-agency-ceo-human-translators-accurately-interpret-cultural-phrases

SOURCE Christian Lingua
Set in a dreamy Texas-meets-Parisian saloon, at 262 Mott Street in Nolita, the immersive beauty bar welcomed over 100 guests for an exclusive preview, including NYC-based influencers like the Nader Sisters, Evange, Luca Mornet, Jennifer Yepez, and more. Clarins teamed up with Kennedy Eurich and Alencia Lewis for the out of home campaign in Soho, and with AI artist Sam Finn for teaser social videos.

[Getty Images - Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Clarins USA]

Open to the public on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, the space features the #ClarinsLipOil bar, a temporary tattoo parlor, and a vintage photo booth. The first 100 visitors each day will receive limited-edition Clarins merch.

Guests can sip custom lip shade-inspired beverages from SwigUtah's viral soda shop, known for its creative flavor combos and signature drinksand enjoy sweet treats from cult candy brand Lil Sweet Treats. Swig founder, Nicole Tanner, will be pouring custom Clarins soda drinks with edible sparkles herself all weekend.

On Saturday from 34 PM, fans can also meet special guest and Clarins Double Serum Light fan, Dylan Efron, winner of The Traitors, during an exclusive in-saloon appearance.

Sweetheart Saloon is open from 11 AM to 7 PM both days. Beauty lovers are encouraged to register online in advance [Eventbrite].

About Clarins

Clarins, was founded in a professional Parisian beauty institute by Jacques Courtin-Clarins in 1954. Clarins is family-owned and is distributed in more than 150 countriesoffering skincare innovations for face and body, men's, and makeup. With unique expertise in Phyto-chemistry, Clarins Laboratories are considered pioneers in the fields of plant science and technology. The brand values are rooted in an ongoing dialogue with consumers, an abiding respect for nature and people, and commitments to sustainable sourcing, including Les Domaines Clarinstwo organic farms and open-air laboratories in France. In 2025, Clarins was Certified B Corporation. Currently carbon neutral, the company will further reduce its carbon footprint by 30% and become 100% plastic neutral using 100% recyclable packaging by the end of 2025. Partners include Pur Projetmore than 800,000 trees planted to date; Plastic Odysseya three-year expedition across three continents with 30 stopovers to fight against plastic pollution; and Mary's Mealmore than 45 million school meals provided to children in need to date.

Lucas Petry, Clarins Senior Manager, Communications - [email protected] Melissa Reidhead, Clarins Executive Director, Communications -[email protected]

www.clarinsusa.com

SOURCE Clarins USA
Registration opens for Seattle's Most Iconic Climb on National Space Day

SEATTLE, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Take the stairs to spaceor rather the Space Needleon Sunday, September 28 for Base 2 Space, Seattle's Most Iconic Climb. Registration is now open for the annual charity event, which challenges runners and walkers of all fitness levels to climb the Space Needle's 832 open-air stairs while fundraising for Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the Space Needle Foundation. This signature community event is the only time all year the tower stairs are open to the public to race up.

Base 2 Space returns on Sunday, September 28 at the Space Needle. Base 2 Space climbers ascend 832 steps, climbing the tower's open air staircases to the top. Climbers enjoy the Space Needle Observation Deck after Base 2 Space.

To date, more than 10,000 people have climbed the Space Needle's 98 flights, raising more than $4.5 million for Fred Hutch. Join participants from around the world and ascend from the base of the Space Needle to the Observation Deck, 520-feet above the city. Along the way, two open-air spiral staircases offer stunning, panoramic views of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and Downtown Seattle.

"Base 2 Space is an amazing community event that we look forward to every year," said Ron Sevart, Space Needle President & CEO. "Fred Hutch needs our support so they can continue to enable and accelerate research. Thank you to the climbers, volunteers, and partners for joining us, and I can't wait to see you on the stairs!"

"I am a breast cancer survivor and going on my eleventh year of survivorship. Since then, stairclimbing has been my lifesaver, it's brought me back to health," said Madeleine Fontillas Ronk, a longtime Base 2 Space participant. "I climb because others can't."

Climbers can kick off registration with the Seattle Seahawks, celebrating their 50th season. Sign up for the two Seahawks climb waves to receive a custom t-shirt and special prize on climb day.

To register, each participant pays a registration fee and commits to a fundraising minimum. Those that sign up before June 1 will qualify for an early bird rate of $76 for adults and $55 for youth (age 8 17). After June 1, the cost will increase to $90 for adults (youth registration remains $55). Each climber must fundraise a minimum of $200 for adults or $100 for youth, or participants can set a higher goal of their choosing. All funds raised go directly to advancing cancer research in our community. Registration and fundraising tips are available online at www.Base2SpaceSeattle.com.

"Fred Hutch is honored to be the beneficiary of this remarkable event," said Kelly O'Brien, Vice President of Philanthropy at Fred Hutch. "We look forward to gathering with this passionate community each year, and we are inspired by their commitment to fueling groundbreaking cancer research and advances in patient care. Witnessing thousands of people ascend the Space Needle's 832 steps to honor those affected by cancer is deeply meaningful and I invite everyone to join us."

Top fundraisers from 2025 will get the chance to harness in and climb the spire of the Space Needle, a special honor reserved for those who raise the most for Fred Hutch.

PHOTOS: Base 2 Space images and videos

About the Space Needle

Built as the centerpiece and inspiration for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Space Needle has since become a part of the Seattle experience and the globally-recognized icon for the city. The Space Needle's recent $100 million renovation added more than 176 tons of glass to the structure offering unparalleled views of Seattle and introduced The Loupe  the world's first revolving glass floor. Open year round, the Space Needle hosts more than a million visitors per year. For more information visit spaceneedle.com.

About Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Fred Hutch Cancer Center unites individualized care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options while accelerating discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and infectious diseases worldwide. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. We have earned a global reputation for our track record of discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, HIV/AIDS prevention, and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine's cancer program.

About the Space Needle Foundation

As a subsidiary of the Seattle Foundation, the Space Needle Foundation is committed to elevating our community's collective future by supporting organizations who are at the forefront of transforming lives and make a positive difference in the Puget Sound region.

CONTACT

Genny Boots, Space Needle Public Relations

[email protected] | 206-905-2184

Amy Cunningham, Public Relations Director

[email protected] | 206-295-6111

SOURCE Space Needle
JACKSON, Mich., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, has declared a quarterly dividend on the Utility's preferred stock.

The following dividend is payable July 1, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2025: $1.125 per share on the $4.50 preferred stock (NYSE: CMS_pb).

Additional dividend information, including the tax status of Consumers Energy's dividend distributions, can be obtained through the Tax Information section of CMS Energy's website.

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com.

To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

SOURCE CMS Energy
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Ibotta To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or otherwise acquired stock of Ibotta pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering (the "IPO") and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Ibotta, Inc. ("Ibotta" or the "Company") (NYSE: IBTA) and reminds investors of the June 16, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP)

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with another large customer, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

On or around April 13, 2024, Ibotta conducted its initial public offering of 6.6 million shares priced at $88.00 per share.

Then, on August 13, 2024, Ibotta issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. In the results, Ibotta reported, among other items, a net loss of $34.0 million, attributable to operating expenses that more than doubled year-over-year. Ibotta also provided a third quarter revenue forecast in the range of $91 million to $96 million, below consensus estimates.

Following this news, Ibotta stock dropped $15.53 per share, or 26%, to close at $42.66 on August 14, 2024.

On February 26, 2025, after market hours, Investing.com published an article entitled "Ibotta shares plunge 30% as Q4 earnings miss, Q1 guidance disappoints." This article stated, in pertinent part, that Ibotta "saw its shares tumble [. . .] after reporting fourth-quarter earnings that fell short of expectations and providing weak guidance for the first quarter of 2025."

Following this news, Ibotta stock dropped $29.08 per share, or 46%, to close at $34.01 on February 27, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Ibotta's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Ibotta class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/IBTA or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
Last weeks agreement between Togo and Burkina Faso to end roaming charges for incoming calls comes into effect at the end of this month. But is it really part of a growing wave of roaming initiatives across West Africa?

Togo and Burkina Faso signed the agreement early last week with a start date of 30 May. Togos telecoms regulator ARCEP said at the time that the implementation of this protocol will lead to a significant drop in voice, SMS and internet charges for Togolese travellers visiting Burkina Faso and vice versa.

In fact travellers from either country will be able to receive calls for free during the first 30 days of their stay. Outgoing calls to local numbers in the host country will also be capped at the same rate charged for domestic calls on that network.

The deal is part of a growing wave of roaming initiatives across West Africa, backed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which sees it as a key step toward deeper digital and economic integration. It first expressed its support for the concept in 2017.

Recent years have seen deals between Ghana and Cote dIvoire, Ghana and The Gambia and Ghana, Benin and Togo. Benin and Togo launched their own free roaming agreement on January 1, 2024.

Early this year, as we reported at the time, the governments of Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at reducing telecommunications costs through improved roaming services. The LiberiaSierra Leone free roaming service is set to launch today, while the LiberiaGambia deal will take effect on July 1.

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso signed a roaming deal in November 2024. Mali has also been working on bilateral arrangements with Benin and Togo. Togo is in talks with Niger, while Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso signed a deal in 2023, a year that also saw a Senegal-Mauritania deal.

As the Ecofin news agency points out, however, most of these deals are local; there does not appear to be a unified regional approach. It also suggests that challenges remain, including the lack of direct connections between operators, high interconnection fees and persistent fraud.
VERO BEACH, Fla., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frederick "Derick" Cooper, CEO of QOL Medical, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for rare gastrointestinal diseases, has donated $50,000 to Beacon Rescue, a nonprofit Search and Rescue (SAR) agency. Led by highly trained military veterans, first responders, and emergency medical professionals, Beacon Rescue is committed to deploying help and igniting hope for communities in times of crisis. The funds will support recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, regions severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Beacon Rescue is utilizing the donation to address both immediate and long-term recovery needs. This includes replacing essential equipment for the Swannanoa Fire and Rescue team to help mitigate wildfire risks, winterize a donated camper to serve as temporary housing for a displaced family, and organize holiday meal initiatives. With these efforts, hundreds of affected families will receive Thanksgiving and Christmas meals prepared by a local chef. Teddy bears, toys, and gift cards will also be distributed through churches and community centers, bringing joy to children and supporting the local economy.

Reflecting on his contribution, Cooper stated, "At QOL Medical, our mission is to improve lives by addressing rare and challenging conditions. Extending this commitment to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene was a natural decision. I am honored to support Beacon Rescue's vital work."

Beacon Rescue's CEO, Bob Pasquale, emphasized the importance of the donation. "Derick's generosity has enabled us to respond swiftly and effectively, offering hope and tangible support to families and first responders in need. This gift is truly making a difference in the recovery process."

Beacon Rescue remains steadfast in its mission to aid disaster-affected communities. For more information or to contribute, visit www.beaconrescue.org. To learn more about QOL Medical and their life changing work, visit www.qolmed.com.

Media Contact:

QOL Medical, LLC

Tiffany Carter

Phone: 818-720-8557

Email: [email protected]

Corporate Contact:

QOL Medical, LLC

3405 Ocean Drive

Vero Beach, FL 32963

Phone: 866-469-3773

Fax: 772-365-3375

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE QOL Medical, LLC
MIAMI, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, is spotlighting the rise of dark mode as the new visual standard in modern web design, particularly for brands prioritizing speed, accessibility and user retention.

The shift toward dark mode interfaces has gained traction across high-performance digital ecosystems, with U.S. businesses adopting this trend to reduce visual strain, improve contrast, and boost session durationespecially on mobile. According to a 2023 Statista report, over 81.9% of smartphone users in the United States have used dark mode settings at least once, indicating a growing preference for sleek, eye-friendly interfaces [source].

The Appeal of Dark Mode in Web Design

Dark mode is not just a style choiceit's increasingly a performance-driven design strategy. Pages with dark UI themes load faster due to less energy consumption on OLED screens, creating a smoother user experience while aligning with eco-conscious tech practices.

"Dark mode offers the ideal blend of modern aesthetics and technical performance," said Ana Margarida Meira, Partner and Vice President of Client Relations at Digital Silk. "We're seeing more brands approach us with a demand for sleek visuals that enhance functionality without sacrificing speed."

For companies like Devensoft, which recently saw a 45.9% increase in active users following a complete redesign by Digital Silk, the use of clean visuals and refined contrast has played a role in improving engagement and user flow Devensoft Sees a 45.9% .

What Dark Mode Brings to the Table

Beyond its visual edge, dark mode also supports several performance and user benefits:

Extended Battery Life on mobile and OLED devices.

on mobile and OLED devices. Enhanced Accessibility for visually impaired users.

for visually impaired users. Reduced Eye Strain in low-light environments.

in low-light environments. Stronger Brand Differentiation with high-contrast design elements.

with high-contrast design elements. Higher Engagement Metrics including session length and return visits.

With attention spans shortening and page speeds playing a critical role in bounce rates, web design is no longer just about looksit's about functionality at the speed of the user.

Aesthetic Innovation for the Digital Future

As web users gravitate toward personalized experiences, integrating dark mode in UX design has moved from optional to expected. Digital Silk's approach focuses on aesthetic minimalism without compromising speed, helping brands make a lasting impact from first click to final conversion.

About Digital Silk

Digital Silk is a full-service Miami Web Design Company focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.

Media Contact

Jessica Erasmus

Marketing Director & PR Manager

Tel: (800) 206-9413

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Digital Silk
Designed for precision aerial logistics, Grasshopper offers a cost-effective, autonomous solution for delivering payloads in high-risk environments while minimizing operational risks for manned aircraft. Developed in response to a warfighter request for standoff cargo delivery, Grasshopper was created in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force to provide a low-cost logistics solution capable of reaching areas inaccessible to traditional aircraft.

"The delivery of Grasshopper is a testament to the success of our collaboration with the Air Force in developing an autonomous resupply solution that meets the demands of contested environments," said Matthew McCue CEO of DZYNE Technologies. "By working closely, we were able to design and refine the Grasshopper product line into a cost-effective, high-performance aerial logistics platform. This milestone underscores the impact of this partnership, and the critical role Grasshopper will play not only in contested logistics but also in humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, where rapid, precise, and unmanned delivery of critical supplies can save lives."

The Grasshopper has transitioned from a research effort to a fielded capability in under 12 months due to close cooperation between the Air Force, DZYNE Technologies, and its users. This latest delivery is part of a broader initiative to modernize aerial resupply capabilities in contested environments.

"Grasshopper represents a transformative leap in autonomous resupply," added Dr. Thomas Howell, Portfolio Lead at the Air Force Research Laboratory. "Its ability to deliver critical payloads from standoff distances while keeping our aircraft and crews out of harm's way is a major advantage in modern operational environments."

Expected Operational Value

Delivering cargo from beyond enemy threat ranges into denied environments

Supports humanitarian relief and logistics resupply missions

Deployable from a variety of platforms

Scalable for Growing Demand

Building on the success of the short- to mid-range Grasshopper, DZYNE Technologies is actively developing a longer-range variant, expected to be available in early 2026, to further enhance autonomous logistics capabilities in contested environments.

To accommodate rising demand for the Grasshopper product line and DZYNE Technologies' UAS division featuring flagship products ULTRA and LEAPthe company expanded its manufacturing footprint in late 2023. The new 125,000-square-foot facility in Irvine, California, is now ramping up Grasshopper production to fulfill current and future orders as part of the broader program.

For more information on Grasshopper product line, please contact us at [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution is unlimited. Case Number: AFRL-2025-1718 The material was assigned a clearance of CLEARED on 02 Apr 2025

About DZYNE Technologies

DZYNE is a leading technology developer and manufacturer of airborne and ground-based autonomous defense solutions purpose-built to meet modern defense needs around the globe. The company's solutions encompass the entire autonomous defense lifecycle and include multiple U.S. Government Programs of Record across UAS and C-UAS technologies. DZYNE is proud to support U.S. and allied military and civil defense partners worldwide. For more information, visit www.dzyne.com.

SOURCE DZYNE Technologies

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MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elk + Elk is pleased to announce the addition of Joshua D. Farrell to the firm as a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney. With a solid background in litigation and a client-focused approach, Joshua brings valuable insights and experience to our expanding legal team.

Attorney Joshua Farrell

Joshua earned his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2021. During his time there, he excelled in moot court and mock trial competitions and received recognition for his written advocacy, including a Best Brief award. Additionally, he holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Cleveland State University.

"I take pride in guiding my clients through the nuanced nature of their cases and delivering results through effective communication and relentlessness," said attorney Joshua Farrell. "Joining Elk + Elk allows me to grow as an attorney while continuing to make a real difference."

Before specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice, Joshua gained experience across several practice areas, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the law and its impact on people's lives. Now, he uses that background to advocate for individuals and families affected by serious injuries and medical errors.

"We are excited to welcome Josh. While he began his legal career in Illinois, we are thrilled that he has returned home to Ohio and decided to join our team," said Managing Partner Jay Kelley. "As a passionate and insightful attorney, he will be a fantastic addition and an excellent advocate for our clients."

He is currently admitted to practice law in Illinois and is in the process of gaining admission in Ohio. Joshua is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Kane County Bar Association, and the Ohio Association for Justice (OAJ).

About Elk + Elk

Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. is a personal injury law firm with offices located throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Seattle, WA. The firm's attorneys have protected the rights of thousands of injury victims and have won some of the state's largest verdicts and settlements. Elk + Elk assists clients with a wide variety of personal injury claims, including auto accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries, workers' compensation and product defects.

SOURCE Elk + Elk
The Company will award research-funding grants totaling up to $60,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health is pleased to announce the opening of its request for 2025 research grant applications due Sept. 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. The grants, totaling up to $60,000, will be awarded for the investigation of the impact or effectiveness of therapies in the inpatient rehabilitation facility post-acute care setting, knowledge translation or implementation science. Grant recipients do not have to be affiliated with Encompass Health and research does not have to be conducted in an Encompass Health inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

High-priority topics include:

Impact or effectiveness of therapies on neurological impairments

Efficacy of physical, occupational, speech therapy or nursing assessments or interventions

Impact of modes or intensity of therapies on patient outcomes and experience

Impact of therapy or nursing assessments or interventions on outcomes or experience

Prevention or control of rehabilitation-related conditions

Patient and caregiver education programming impact or outcomes

Performance improvement that impacts outcome data

Case studies or case series studies that reflect the impact to patient outcomes

Implementation science and knowledge translation research aimed at the study of rehabilitation methods to implement research findings for neurological impairments

Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit, experience of principal investigator(s), relevance to the grant program objectives, expected outcomes and study feasibility. The research should be completed no more than 12 months after receiving the grant and must be conducted in the United States or Puerto Rico. Final selection of recipients and programs will be made by Oct. 30, 2025.

A copy of the application and the full details may be found at encompasshealth.com/therapy-grants.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 167 hospitals in 38 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, Becker's Hospital Review's 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare and Forbes' Most Trusted Companies in America. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com , or follow us on our newsroom , X , Instagram and Facebook .

From Fortune.  2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies is trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Encompass Health. From Forbes  2024 Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Media contact:

Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

STOCKHOLM, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On 1 May 2025, EQT AB (publ) (the "Company") announced that it has priced its offering (the "Offering") of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.850% Senior Notes due 2035 (the "Notes") at a price equal to 99.783% of the aggregate principal amount thereof. Interest will be payable semi-annually.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about May 8, 2025, subject to customary conditions precedent for similar transactions.

For further information, please contact:

Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder and Bondholder Relations

Tel: +46 72 989 0915

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statements

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute a prospectus or any offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction. This press release also does not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any security in the United States of America or any other jurisdiction. This announcement is not for public release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), except to "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBs") as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This announcement does not constitute or form a part of any offer of, or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States. Any such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act. Any such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States, except that the securities may be offered for sale in the United States to QIBs in reliance on the exemption from registration under Rule 144A. No public offering of securities will be made in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such an offering is restricted or prohibited.

This announcement is directed only at persons (i) outside the United Kingdom; (ii) that have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (iii) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order or (iv) to whom this announcement may otherwise be directed without contravention of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") or the United Kingdom, this announcement is directed only at persons who are "qualified investors" under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended, or Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

No PRIIPs/UK PRIIPs KID. No PRIIPs/ UK PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail in the EEA or the United Kingdom.

MiFID II / UK MiFIR product governance / Professional investors and ECPs only target market. Manufacturer target market (MiFID II / UK MiFIR product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels).

This press release may include projections and other "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such projections or statements reflect the current views of the Company about further events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from these projections.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement. The distribution of this announcement into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio and DETROIT, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Wash Concepts (EWC) today announced the grand opening of two new Clean Express Auto Wash locations in the Detroit metro area located at 25600 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Heights and 285 John R Road in Troy. With continued commitment to strategic growth in core markets, EWC now operates 113 express wash locations across Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads and Pittsburgh. Looking ahead, over 25 new sites are set to break ground or open by the end of 2025 including four in Detroit Metro by early summer, with many more to follow.

"In just over a year, we've shown our strong commitment to the Detroit Metro area by opening seven high-quality, industry-leading express car wash locations," said John Roush, Founder of Clean Express Auto Wash and CEO of Express Wash Concepts. "As we grow, our focus remains on delivering unmatched value, exceptional customer care, and premium wash qualityensuring every visit exceeds expectations. We're proud to be part of Detroit's momentum and look forward to continuing our impact through both great service and our EWC Cares philanthropic efforts."

From May 2-11, 2025, both Dearborn Heights and Troy Clean Express locations will celebrate their respective grand openings by offering customers a free "Ceramic 4 Ultra" signature wash ($22 value). Customers can also sign-up for the Grand Opening Wash Smart Unlimited Club special for 50% off their first 3 months, and Clean Express will donate $10 for each sign-up to two exceptional local non-profits: Dearborn Heights' Blue Hands United, and Troy's The DRE Project.

Additional Clean Express grand opening promotions include a $50 Clean Express gift card for $25 with all proceeds donated back to Blue Hands United and The DRE Project. Once purchased at the Dearborn Heights or Troy locations, gift cards are redeemable at any Clean Express or EWC location.

Clean Express offers state-of-the-art wash equipment, complimentary professional grade vacuums, industry-leading customer service, with all washes backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The popular Wash Smart Unlimited Club enables members to easily clean and protect their vehicles, while enjoying the convenience and value of truly unlimited washing at any Express Wash Concepts location.

About Express Wash Concepts:

Express Wash Concepts (EWC) operates 113 award-winning, express car wash locations across six states under the following brands: Moo Moo Express Car Wash, Flying Ace Express Car Wash, Clean Express Auto Wash, Green Clean Express Auto Wash and Bee Clean Express Car Wash. EWC brands feature fast, high quality and environmentally friendly express tunnel wash experiences and free vacuums. The company's popular Wash Smart Unlimited Club offers members the convenience and value of truly unlimited washing at any location. For more information, please visit www.expresswashconcepts.com.

SOURCE Express Wash Concepts
Three university student teams will present solutions for increasing refugee access to higher education and livelihood at the CIEE Global Internship Conference in Singapore

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) announced last week the three university student teams who will advance to the final round of the 2024 CIEE UNHCR Student Challenge to be held at the 13th Annual CIEE Global Internship Conference in Singapore on June 25-27, 2025.

The 2025 CIEE UNHCR Student Challenge finalists will present their solutions to expand refugee access to higher education at the CIEE Global Internship Conference Singapore.

The third annual competition, cosponsored by CIEE and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, invited undergraduate teams from around the world to propose solutions for expanding access to higher education and livelihoods for refugee and forcibly displaced youth. Challenge partner District C provided additional training and support to participating teams.

In the first round of the challenge, 123 teams of undergraduate students submitted proposals to improve access to higher education, livelihoods, and career development for displaced youth. From these, 36 teams representing 47 institutions and 24 countries were selected to refine and present their ideas virtually to a panel of judges from leading refugee advocacy organizations, including The Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education, the Immigration and the World University Service of Canada, and The University Corridors for Refugees (UNICOR).

Based on the strength and impact of their proposed solutions, three teams were selected to advance to the 2025 CIEE UNHCR Student Challenge finals. These finalists, awarded a trip to Singapore to compete in person for the grand prize, are:

Team Aspan ( Kazakhstan ) Aisana Issabay (Team Captain) and Aruzhan Shakirkhozha, both of Semmelweis University ; Alina Serik and Makhabbat Ibraimova, both of Lingnan University

Aisana Issabay (Team Captain) and Aruzhan Shakirkhozha, both of ; and Makhabbat Ibraimova, both of Team Path Seekers ( Brazil ) Julia Kamata de Castro (Team Captain ) Federal University of Sao Paulo ; Henrique do Bomfim Braga Chaves, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais; Giulia Kaori Nagao , Paulista University ; and Bianca Serighelli , Technological Federal University of Parana

Julia Kamata de Castro (Team Captain ; Henrique do Bomfim Braga Chaves, , ; and , Team The Unstoppables ( Uganda , Rwanda ) Shalom Nyirimana Ishimwe (Team Captain), Sasha Achola , and Akankunda Rhinah, all Makerere University

While in Singapore, the finalist teams will refine their proposals and present their ideas during the closing plenary of the CIEE Global Internship Conference. Each member of the winning team will receive a global internship opportunity in summer 2026, facilitated by CIEE, along with the chance to have their solution shared with UNHCR and its global partners. Winners will be announced on June 27, 2025.

Quote from Jim Pellow:

"The Student Challenge offers an opportunity for students to thoughtfully engage with some of the world's most pressing issues," said James P. Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE. "Through this process, students deepen their understanding of the challenges refugees face and work together to build solutionsdeveloping skills like collaboration, creative thinking, and cross-cultural communication that mirror the core outcomes of global internships.

"Globally, just 7% of young refugees access higher education, compared to 43% of non-refugee youth. The exclusion of refugee youth from higher education has far-reaching impacts on their ability to pursue their dreams, achieve social and financial stability and contribute to global sustainable development," said Manal Stulgaitis, Higher Education Officer, United Nations Refugee Agency.

"The CIEE Student Challenge is an essential opportunity for students not only to learn about the situation of refugees in higher education and employment, but also to contribute to innovative, impactful solutions that address the barriers and inequalities that so many refugee youth encounter in their education journey."

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Worldwide, over 120 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and persecution; among them are 44 million refugees. UNHCR believes that young people have a central role to play in finding ways to help them thrive, not just survive.

About CIEE

CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures. For 75 years, we have helped young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.

Media Contact:

Leslie Taylor, CIEE Director of Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
New funding strengthens Telescope's Tech Offset Program (TTOP), expanding efforts to support those navigating job transitions driven by technological change.

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ford Foundation has awarded a grant to Telescope to accelerate its innovative Tech Offset Program (TTOP). TTOP is a new tool designed to help workers transition successfully through job disruptions caused by AI and other emerging technologies, by enabling businesses, governments, and other stakeholders to pool resources, price risk, and directly support affected workers.

As AI reshapes the economy, Telescope is focused on building practical, scalable solutions to address workforce displacement and ensure technological progress serves the public good. Recent survey research from Gallup and Telescope reveals that people across all ages, genders, incomes, geographies, and political views are deeply concerned about AI's impact on jobs, privacy, and security  and want institutions to take action. TTOP focuses initially on the impact of AI on jobs. The partnership with the Ford Foundation comes at a pivotal moment for workers and communities across the country.

When jobs are displaced, workers need fast, flexible support. TTOP imagines a new marketplace, to move real resources thoughtfully and quicklystimulating a market and drawing competitively upon the best providers for financial assistance, trusted networks, career guidance, retraining, education, and mobility support.

"We can't afford to wait to prepare ourselves for AI's impacts on workers in the future, the AI revolution is here. We need to work across business, government, and labor to support workers and their families while advancing technology for the public good," said Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation. "Telescope's Tech Offset Program imagines an innovative approach to help workers, and we're proud to help accelerate their work."

The Ford Foundation's investment in TTOP is part of its broader commitment to shaping a more inclusive technology futureone that centers people, not just profits.

"We are deeply honored to receive this support from the Ford Foundation, one of the world's leading institutions advancing justice and human progress," said Eric Braverman, Chair and CEO of Telescope. "This grant will help us accelerate the development of programs like TTOP that advance the benefits of technological change while also reducing the harm and risk for workers. Partnerships like this are essential to meeting the moment and unlocking the full potential of emerging innovation."

About Telescope

Telescope builds and backs products that ensure emerging technology makes us all more secure and prosperous. We work with government and business to address complex challenges that arise from innovation, such as AI-driven job displacement. We are creating practical solutions to reduce harm and risk  such as a tradable "offset" product to help communities affected by technology - and developing networks of people to ensure technology serves everyone. More information can be found at www.Telescopegp.com

About Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

SOURCE Telescope
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) announced today that Tony Hankins, the Division President of the Company's Polyurethanes business unit, has elected to retire at the end of this calendar year, and that Steen Weien Hansen, currently serving as Senior Vice President, responsible for the global automotive, elastomers and the Americas business units in the Division, will be appointed Division President of Huntsman Polyurethanes effective June 1, 2025.

Mr. Hankins has had a long and storied career at Huntsman and its predecessor, Imperial Chemical Industries, starting in the company in 1980, being promoted through the ranks there on multiple occasions, helping Huntsman build its China business, and serving as one of the Company's most trusted senior executives. He will continue to advise senior management and the Board through December 31, 2025, and support the full handover of his duties as Division President to Mr. Hansen on June 1, 2025. The Company is immensely thankful to Tony for his many years of committed service.

Mr. Hansen joined the Company with its acquisition of the polyurethanes division of Imperial Chemical Industries in 1999 in the corporate purchasing group and moved into the Polyurethanes business in a commercial capacity in Europe two years later. He spent seven years in the Company's Advanced Materials business, serving as Vice President of its Asia Pacific operations for 4 years before returning to Polyurethanes as Vice President of its European, India and Middle East region and reporting to Mr. Hankins. Steen relocated to the United States in 2022 to focus on addressing developing challenges in the division's global operations and Americas region.

Peter R. Huntsman, Huntsman's President, CEO and Chairman, commented:

"During his tenure, Tony Hankins has served Huntsman with incredible distinction. His industry knowledge and creativity have made him immensely valuable to our company and he has trained and positively influenced an entire generation of managers. In this respect, I know his influence will be felt for many years to come. In his own right, Steen has built a well-deserved reputation as a fierce executor of corporate strategy over his 20-plus years at the Company. During his past three years in the United States, he has more than demonstrated strong leadership capabilities and strategic thinking. We will certainly utilize Steen's full skillset going forward."

About Huntsman:

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2024 revenues of approximately $6 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 60 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 25 countries and employ approximately 6,300 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.

Social Media:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp

Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Huntsman Corporation
Malaysian operator Maxis has unveiled plans to significantly expand its fibre network in the state of Penang, aiming to connect over 100,000 homes by 2027 in support of the governments digital transformation agenda.

In an official statement, Maxis said the rollout will prioritise high-demand urban areas including Jelutong, Georgetown, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, and Bayan Baru, as well as key locations on Mainland Penang.

The expansion aligns with the Penang2030 vision, a state-led initiative to transform Penang into a green and smart state. The project is also enabled by the Penang State Governments recently introduced Last Mile Connectivity Guidelines, which streamline pole-sharing regulations and make it easier for telecom providers to deploy fibre infrastructure efficiently.

Maxis currently operates a 23,000km fibre network nationwide, serving around 500,000 homes.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pictured, left) commented: High-quality internet connectivity is a critical driver for education, talent development, and economic growthall of which will further solidify Penangs position as a regional hub for technology and innovation. We will continue strengthening our states digital infrastructure to close the digital divide and ensure every Penangite is equipped to prosper in the future economy.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Hydrogen Automotive TIC Market is anticipated to grow from estimated USD 18.3 million in 2024 to USD 35.8 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period. The market is driven by the increasing commercialization of hydrogen technologies, growing focus on lifecycle risk assessment, and the emergence of hydrogen as a key energy carrier for future energy systems. The shift toward decentralized energy solutions and integrating hydrogen with renewable energy sources is prompting the need for robust certification and compliance services. Additionally, expanding international collaborations, growing investor interest, and developing hydrogen-powered industrial clusters boost demand for reliable testing, inspection, and certification to ensure the safety, efficiency, and long-term viability of hydrogen applications.

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Testing, by service

The testing segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the Hydrogen Automotive Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) Market due to the increasing need to validate the performance, safety, and reliability of hydrogen components and systems. With the growing deployment of hydrogen in mobility, energy, and industrial applications, rigorous testing is essential for high-pressure storage, fuel cells, pipelines, and refueling infrastructure. Advancements in hydrogen technology, evolving regulatory frameworks, and heightened safety concerns are further driving demand for specialized testing services. Additionally, manufacturers seek third-party validation to ensure global compliance and market acceptance of hydrogen solutions.

Light commercial vehicles, by vehicle type

Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the Hydrogen Automotive Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) Market due to their rising adoption in last-mile delivery, urban logistics, and fleet operations seeking zero-emission alternatives. Hydrogen-powered LCVs offer fast refueling and extended range, making them ideal for high-utilization transport needs. Government incentives, stricter emission norms, and corporate sustainability goals accelerate the shift toward hydrogen LCVs. This surge drives demand for TIC services to ensure vehicle safety, component durability, and regulatory compliance, supporting the segment's rapid growth in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

Europe is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the hydrogen automotive TIC market, driven by strong regulatory support, ambitious decarbonization goals, and substantial investments in hydrogen mobility. The European Union's Green Deal and Hydrogen Strategy have accelerated the development of fuel cell vehicles and refueling infrastructure. Countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands lead large-scale pilot programs and public-private collaborations. Additionally, the presence of major automotive OEMs and stringent safety standards is boosting the need for TIC services to ensure reliability, compliance, and efficiency across the hydrogen vehicle ecosystem.

Key Players

Some of the major players in the Hydrogen Automotive Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) Market are TUV SUD (Germany), UL LLC (US), Applus+ (Spain), TUV Rheinland (Germany), Kiwa (Netherlands), Intertek Group plc (UK), DEKRA IN (Germany), Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) SA (Switzerland), Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) (US), and Apave (France). The major strategies these players adopt include acquisitions, sales contracts, product launches, agreements, alliances, partnerships, and expansions.

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TUV SUD

TUV SUD is the trusted partner of choice for safety, security, and sustainability solutions. TUV SUD focuses on managing technological risks and enabling progress, emphasizing sustainability and digitalization. Its services range from testing and certification to technical advisory, serving various industries to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. TUV SUD has a presence in Europe (comprises the home market of Germany as well as Western Europe and Central & Eastern Europe), Americas (covers both American continents, from Canada to the southern tip of South America), and Asia (combines all the countries of the Asia Pacific and South Asian area as well as the Middle East & Africa).

UL LLC

UL LLC is a global safety science leader that provides independent TIC services and related software and advisory ("S&A") offerings to customers worldwide. The company serves its customers through two complementary businesses: TIC and S&A. Its TIC business comprises two segments, Industrial and Consumer, which provide comprehensive TIC services to customers across a broad array of end markets.

Its S&A business is a global provider of software, data, and advisory solutions, enabling its customers to manage complex regulatory requirements, deliver supply chain transparency, and operationalize sustainability. In addition, UL LLC has a presence in the US, China, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Other Americas.

Applus+

Applus+ provides testing, consulting, inspection, and certification services. The company offers quality control and accreditation services, project management, supplier and facility inspection, asset certification, and integrity services for the energy and industry sectors. It offers automotive inspection, vehicle condition, emission, engineering and registration inspection, homologation and product certification, structural, materials, fire and environmental testing solutions. Also, under its automotive business, it operates Applus+ IDIADA, which offers a wide range of services focused on the design, vehicle development, and testing for the automotive segment.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Report:

Hydrogen Market

Get access to the latest updates on Hydrogen Automotive TIC Companies and Hydrogen Automotive TIC Industry

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Georgia HB 428 codifies that nothing in Georgia law prohibits or prevents individuals from obtaining IVF

HOUSTON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Inception Fertility, North America's largest provider of fertility services, congratulates the Georgia General Assembly on the passage of Georgia House Bill 428, which codifies the right to in vitro fertilization services. Signed into law today by Governor Brian Kemp, this bill marks a significant victory for IVF protections for Georgia residents.

"Inception Fertility expresses its gratitude to Governor Kemp for signing HB 428 bill and to the Georgia state assembly for their overwhelming, bipartisan support of IVF protections," says TJ Farnsworth, Founder and CEO of Inception Fertility. "Infertility affects one in six couples in the U.S., and this measure ensures that Georgians who require fertility treatments have the essential right to build the families they deserve."

HB 428 comes after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that assigned personhood to embryos, which jeopardized fertility care for hundreds of patients in the state. Key provisions of HB 428 state that individuals in Georgia are not prohibited from obtaining IVF. It also aims to repeal any conflicting laws, thereby simplifying Georgia's legal landscape surrounding fertility treatments. These measures provide much-needed clarity and reassurance to those seeking fertility treatments.

Inception Fertility is the parent company of The Prelude Network (Prelude), North America's fastest-growing network of fertility clinics. Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA), part of Prelude, is Georgia's longest-running fertility clinic. "The signing of HB 428 is a major win for all current and future fertility patients in Georgia," says Dr. Andrew Toledo, Medical Director at RBA. "We thank our local politicians for protecting access to critical reproductive services."

About Inception Fertility

Inception Fertility (Inception) is a family of fertility brands committed to helping patients build their own families. Built by patients for patients, Inception's purpose is to achieve the highest bar in experience, science and medicine in an effort to enhance each patient's experience and achieve better outcomes.

Inception's medical experts are leading pioneers in fertility care. Our doctors are some of the first to use breakthrough assisted reproductive technologies (ART)  including in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and fertility preservation services  and they continue to lead the industry by building on these technologies by through development, research and thought leadership.

Through its growing family of national organizations  which includes The Prelude Network, the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America; MyEggBank, one of the largest frozen donor egg banks in North America; BUNDL Fertility, a multi-cycle fertility service bundling program; HavenCryo, a long-term reproductive preservation and storage solution provider and NutraBloom, a premium lifestyle brand with expertly formulated supplements to support individuals' health and wellness goals for preconception  Inception is working to deliver on its promise to push the envelope of what is possible for exceeding patient expectations.

About The Prelude Network

The Prelude Network (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility   a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility.

Each clinic, as part of Prelude, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has more than 90 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing, LGBTQ+ fertility options, and egg/embryo storage, among others.

Those clinics within Prelude include Aspire Fertility Austin (Texas); Aspire Fertility Dallas (Texas); Aspire Fertility McAllen (Texas); Aspire Fertility San Antonio (Texas); Aspire Houston Fertility Institute (Texas); Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (Illinois); Center for Reproductive Medicine (Florida); Indiana Fertility Institute (Indiana); IVFMD (Florida); Main Line Fertility (Pennsylvania); NYU Langone Fertility Center (New York); NYU Langone RSNY (New York); Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (Canada); Pacific Fertility Center (California); Regional Fertility Program (Canada); Reproductive Biology Associates (Georgia); Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey (New Jersey); Tennessee Fertility Institute (Tennessee), and The Reproductive Medicine Group (Florida).

Media Contact:

Mia Humphreys

239-297-6592

[email protected]

SOURCE Inception Fertility
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a victory for U.S. producers of fiberglass door panels, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today found that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China are materially injuring the U.S. fiberglass door panel industry.

The Commission's vote comes in response to petitions filed on March 20, 2025, by the American Fiberglass Door Coalition. The cases allege that unfairly dumped and subsidized imports of Chinese fiberglass door panels are injuring the domestic industry and threaten the industry with further injury.

"U.S. fiberglass door panel producers and the thousands of American manufacturing jobs they support are being harmed as a result of dumped and subsidized imports from China," said Timothy C. Brightbill, co-chair of Wiley's International Trade Practice and co-lead counsel to the Coalition.

Robert E. DeFrancesco, a partner in the International Trade Practice and co-lead counsel to the petitioner, said: "We are encouraged by the Commission's vote today, which takes the domestic industry one step closer to restoring a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers and their workers."

On April 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the initiation of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into imports of fiberglass door panels from China. The petitions allege significant dumping margins, and Commerce is examining at least 66 subsidy programs  including tax breaks, grants, and discounted inputs provided by the Government of China to Chinese fiberglass door panel producers, such as glass fibers, fiberglass door skins, glass, steel, and aluminum.

The ITC's affirmative preliminary injury determination paves the way for Commerce to move forward with its investigations. Unless extended, Commerce is expected to issue its preliminary CVD determination in June 2025 and its preliminary AD determination in August 2025. If Commerce also reaches affirmative preliminary determinations in these cases, provisional AD and CVD duties will be collected from importers based on the preliminary margins calculated.

If both Commerce and the ITC ultimately reach affirmative final determinations, AD and CVD orders on fiberglass door panels from China will be issued, imposing duties on the unfairly traded imports for a minimum of five years. Duty evasion, absorption, and circumvention are strictly illegal.

The Wiley team representing the Coalition also includes International Trade partner Derick G. Holt; of counsel Jeffrey O. Frank; associates Kimberly A. Reynolds, Stephen A. Morrison, and Jacob Garten; and international trade analyst Paul A. Zucker.

Media Contact:

Timothy C. Brightbill

[email protected]

SOURCE Wiley Rein LLP
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Jeffrey Coller is thrilled to share that the newest winner of his law firm's Rising Stars Scholarship has been selected. The Rising Stars Scholarship was originally established in late 2023 and has awarded a total of four students with $4000 in funding. Please join us in congratulating Auston McDaniel for winning the scholarship for the Spring 2025 semester!

Rising Stars Scholarship, Spring 2025 Winner

Auston McDaniel is enrolled at MiraCosta College, where he is pursuing a degree in Computer Science. When the pandemic struck in 2020, Auston had to take on full-time working hours while simultaneously attending classes. Due to the immense pressure he felt to help provide for his family, most of Auston's focus went into working more hours at his job and less on turning in homework assignments or attending class. Once he was able to obtain adequate financial aid, Auston was able to reprioritize his education. With perseverance, he has been able to thrive in all of his courses, and he has gained leadership positions in university clubs. We are so proud of the strides Auston has made as a student, and we are excited to see what his future holds!

The Rising Stars Scholarship provides $1,000 in funding each semester to a student who can prove that their grade point average has improved by at least one point from one semester or year to the next. Applicants must have been attending undergraduate courses for at least one year at the time of their application. All applicants must submit a video discussing the efforts they have made to improve their academic performance.

The Rising Stars Scholarship is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester. Interested students should apply by September 15, 2025. To learn more about the eligibility and application requirements, visit https://www.knoxvillecriminaldefenselaw.com/scholarship.

About Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney

Attorney Jeff Coller has been admitted to practice law throughout the state of Tennessee since 2012. Clients throughout Knox County and the surrounding areas turn to Mr. Coller and his law firm when they are facing criminal charges, including assault, drug crimes, DUI, federal crimes, juvenile crimes, homicide, and more. The team at the Knoxville criminal defense firm has significant experience managing cases involving field sobriety tests, search and seizures, and the suppression of evidence.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, visit https://www.knoxvillecriminaldefenselaw.com/ to learn more about our services or call 865-281-1000 to arrange a free consultation.

SOURCE Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney
New Nursing-Led Model Enables Students with Acute and Chronic Illness to Easily Access Care In Their School Building

BRONX, N.Y., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Montefiore School Health Program (MSHP), the largest and most comprehensive school-based health program in the country, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a brand-new health center inside IS 229, which will serve 525 students there and from PS 274, located next door. Medical, mental, dental, vision, and community health services will be available to students both in-person and virtually, at no cost to families.

Montefiore doctor and student at IS 229_Montefiore School Health Program

Students in grades PreK to 8th grade will have access to a range of services in their school building, from immunizations and physicals to treatment and management of acute and chronic illness, such as asthma and diabetes. Mental health services will also be accessible.

"This clinic is our first to launch with a newly developed nursing-led model which enables us to expand our comprehensive care services to more students in the borough," said Rosy Chhabra, PsyD, Director, Montefiore School Health Program and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Medical services located in school buildings are critical to learning. In 2022-2023, more than 1 out of 4 U.S. children were chronically absent, missing 18 or more days of school. School-based health centers help children avoid health-related absences and offer comfort to families, knowing their child is getting the care they need, without caregivers needing to take time off work to bring children to medical appointments. The Montefiore School Health Program has shown a 40% reduction in students who go home sick from school.

"The inauguration of this new health center is a milestone for the Bronx community and will have a resounding impact on students and their families," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "By supplying essential care and support to local students, this center will serve as a beacon of hope for their future success and achievement for many years to come."

For more than four decades, the Montefiore School Health Program has been bringing essential healthcare services into school buildings to address physical, social, emotional, and environmental factors that impact a child's health and empowering students to get the support they need to succeed in the classroom.

"With our new clinic at IS 229, we now offer care to more than 40,000 young learners, around one in four students across the Bronx," said Dr. Chhabra. "We are delivering on our mission to build a strong foundation for children and set them up for a bright and healthy future."

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems. It is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System
SEOUL, South Korea, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NextRise 2025, Seoul, Asia's leading innovation fair encompassing cutting-edge tech trends and startup ecosystems, will be held on June 2627, 2025 at COEX, Seoul.

Co-hosted by the Korea Development Bank (KDB)one of Korea's largest policy banks and venture investorsand the Korea International Trade Association (KITA)representing over 76,000 Korean trade enterprises including Samsung and HyundaiNextRise has established itself as the most powerful platform for startups and innovation agencies seeking to collaborate with Korean industry leaders.

Visitors explore the exhibition hall at NextRise 2024, Asias largest startup fair, held last year at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul.

Now in its 7th year, NextRise 2025 will bring together:

500+ startups,

250+ global corporates and VCs,

Over 3,600 1:1 business meetings during two days.

In 2024, 373 startups built business partnerships, and 102 startups successfully raised a combined KRW 400 billion (~USD 300 million) in investment. This year's event will further amplify its focus on AI, Sustainability, and Mobility, with an expanded 1:1 Business Meetup program connecting startups with tech scouts from Fortune 500 companies.

Highlighting its global reach, Germany has been selected as the Country of Honor for 2025. A Startup Germany Pavilion and the Korea-Germany Open Innovation Summit will be hosted in collaboration with IFA Berlin and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). National innovation events from JETRO (Japan) and VivaTech (France) will also be featured alongside 20+ global innovation partners.

Startups seeking 1:1 business meetings with LG Chem, Hyundai Motor, Amazon AWS, Airbus, BMW, and more are encouraged to apply via www.nextrise.co.kr by May 12, 2025 (KST).

"NextRise is Asia's most vibrant platform where startups can directly collaborate with Korean conglomerates and uncover new investment opportunities," said an official from KITA.

"Last summer's NextRise became a turning point for me. It helped strengthen my network in Seoul and directly influenced the development of our new MVP, soon to be announced," shared a German startup CEO who joined in 2024.

For startups aiming for global expansion, and innovation agencies seeking PoC and market validation opportunities in Asia, NextRise 2025 is the definitive platform. Following the event, companies can also leverage the Startup Branch platform for localized guidance on establishing a Korean entity and scaling operations in Asia.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2676606/1.jpg
Fourth Phoenix Location Marks Beloved Island-Inspired Restaurant's Continued Growth

PHOENIX, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Bros , one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains, is opening its first island-inspired franchise location in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Stine Enterprises, a multi-unit franchisee, continues its expansion into the Valley with this latest addition to the Arizona market, marking the seventh Hawaiian Bros restaurant in the area.

Hawaiian Bros is hosting a grand opening celebration at their new location in Paradise Valley (4520 E. Cactus Rd.) on Monday, May 5 at 11 am. At the grand opening, the first 100 customers in line will receive a free t-shirt and a Hawaiian Bros gift card ranging from $25-$500 (with purchase), and one lucky winner will win Hawaiian Bros for a year. After the grand opening, the Paradise Valley location will be open from 10 am to 3 am.

Hawaiian Bros will also host a VIP event on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm. First responders, medical personnel, academic staff, students, and local business employees will be treated to a free classic Plate Lunch.

"Expanding into the Valley has been an exciting journey for us," said Adam Stine, President and Owner of Stine Enterprises. "We've opened several Hawaiian Bros locations across Phoenix in recent years, and we're incredibly grateful for how the local community has embraced each one. With every new opening, we remain committed to bringing fast, friendly service and fresh, Island-inspired meals to more communities throughout the region."

Hawaiian Bros is known for its island-inspired plate lunch, which offers a variety of juicy chicken or pork glazed with sweet, savory or spicy sauces; macaroni salad, a bed of fluffy steamed white rice or vegetables; and for dessert, a smooth and tropical Dole Soft Serve. Never relying on freezers or microwaves, the simple menu is prepared with the highest quality, freshest ingredients - unlike any fast-casual restaurant in the area.

To learn more about Hawaiian Bros and its offerings, visit https://hawaiianbros.com/ .

About Hawaiian Bros

At Hawaiian Bros, we're inspired every day to spread the Aloha Spirit. To show kindness and respect, and to treat everyone as 'ohana - like family, in everything we do. Founded on the principles of honor, inclusion and gratitude, we respect the dignity and self-worth of every team member and guest. We value our differences and celebrate our common ground. And we say, "thank you" often, emphasizing the positives in our lives every day. Hawaiian Bros owns and operates over 60 restaurants serving the Aloha spirit in nine states across America and has expanded its franchise opportunities since 2023.

Hawaiian Bros has earned a variety of prestigious awards since their opening in 2018, including a number one spot on Ingram's Corporate Report of the Top 100 fastest growing companies and the number seven spot on QSR Magazine's 40/40 List of America's Hottest Startup Fast Casuals, plus many more here. For more information, visit www.hawaiianbros.com.

SOURCE Hawaiian Bros
LONDON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson plc held its annual general meeting ("AGM") at 10:30am today. All resolutions set out in the Company's Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 27 March 2025 were proposed and approved on a poll.

The table below shows the results of the poll for each resolution. As at 6.30pm on 30 April 2025, the Company's issued share capital was 661,685,614 ordinary shares of 25p each. The Company does not hold any ordinary shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company were 661,685,614. The proportion of the Company's issued share capital represented by those votes cast is approximately 79.44%.



Resolution For and Discretionary % votes cast For and Discretionary Against % votes cast Against Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld) % of issued capital voted Withheld/ Abstentions* 1 To receive the 2024 report and accounts 525,108,863 99.99 73,280 0.01 525,182,143 79.37 % 712,057 2 To declare a final dividend 520,514,099 99.02 5,159,881 0.98 525,673,980 79.44 % 220,221 3 To re-elect Omar Abbosh 525,579,955 99.98 86,908 0.02 525,666,863 79.44 % 227,338 4 To re-elect Sherry Coutu 499,873,806 95.09 25,792,261 4.91 525,666,067 79.44 % 228,133 5 To re-elect Alison Dolan 520,095,364 99.42 3,057,934 0.58 523,153,298 79.06 % 2,740,903 6 To re-elect Alex Hardiman 525,571,009 99.98 91,301 0.02 525,662,310 79.44 % 231,891 7 To re-elect Sally Johnson 524,286,473 99.74 1,371,988 0.26 525,658,461 79.44 % 235,740 8 To re-elect Omid Kordestani 524,009,139 99.69 1,655,282 0.31 525,664,421 79.44 % 229,780 9 To re-elect Esther Lee 523,636,938 99.62 2,008,625 0.38 525,645,563 79.44 % 248,638 10 To re-elect Graeme Pitkethly 524,331,575 99.75 1,329,033 0.25 525,660,608 79.44 % 233,593 11 To re-elect Annette Thomas 524,489,800 99.78 1,176,507 0.22 525,666,307 79.44 % 227,894 12 To re-elect Lincoln Wallen 515,466,071 98.06 10,195,310 1.94 525,661,381 79.44 % 232,728 13 To approve the annual remuneration report 485,861,331 92.43 39,779,388 7.57 525,640,719 79.44 % 253,482 14 To re-appoint the auditors 525,573,211 99.98 95,026 0.02 525,668,237 79.44 % 225,964 15 To determine the remuneration of the auditors 525,582,453 99.99 74,198 0.01 525,656,651 79.44 % 237,459 16 To authorise the company to allot ordinary shares 497,356,326 94.62 28,262,253 5.38 525,618,579 79.44 % 269,101 17 To waive the pre-emption rights 519,036,238 99.29 3,725,142 0.71 522,761,380 79.00 % 3,126,301 18 To waive the pre-emption rights  additional percentage 517,718,420 99.04 5,021,944 0.96 522,740,364 79.00 % 3,147,317 19 To authorise the company to purchase its own shares 518,733,869 98.69 6,865,162 1.31 525,599,031 79.43 % 288,650 20 To approve the holding of general meetings on 14 clear days' notice 504,125,370 95.91 21,480,882 4.09 525,606,252 79.43 % 287,949

* Votes withheld are not legal votes.

In accordance with the Listing Rules, copies of the resolutions that do not constitute ordinary business at an annual general meeting will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism which is located at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

Media Contacts:

Laura Ewart - UK

[email protected]



Dan Nelson - US

[email protected]

SOURCE Pearson
The list shows where people are moving, while the survey offers insight into why. This year 82% of respondents viewed moving as a fresh start, and more than half moved to find a greater sense of community.

Top 10 Moving Destinations in 2024 (previous year ranking):

Houston, Texas (No.1 four consecutive years) Atlanta, Ga. (4) San Antonio, Texas (2) Dallas, Texas (6) Orlando, Fla. (7) Charlotte, N.C. (3) Las Vegas, Nev. (5) Chicago, Ill. (Returning  last ranked in 2021) Austin, Texas (8) Tampa, Fla. (9)

The 2024 data reflects continued migration to the Sun Belt, with multiple Texas and Florida cities appearing in the top 10. Houston retained the top position for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Atlanta, which rose to No. 2. Chicago reentered the ranking for the first time since 2021.

"Each year, the Top Moving Destinations list helps track relocation trends and guide how we support customers across the country," said Kevin Malloy, senior vice president of Penske Truck Rental. "In 2024, we saw people moving with clear intentdriven by lifestyle fit, space, or location. As we look ahead, Penske continues to provide the tools and resources they need to move confidentlyand we're here to support those planning their next move, wherever they're headed."

What Drives Moves

According to the survey, the top reasons for moving in 2024 were:

Closer proximity to loved ones (28%)

Better job opportunities (27%)

Lower cost of living (23%)

Needing more space (23%)

Overall, 67% of respondents reported that moving had a positive impact on their overall well-being, and 56% viewed the process itself positively. When coordinating a move, 69% preferred to rent and drive their own truck. Among those who rented 57% found that packing and organizing overtime helped reduce stress, and 49% relied on family and friends for support.

Penske Truck Rental offers support across North America. The Penske Truck Rental app enables customers to make and modify rental reservations, access loading guides and how-to videos, connect with Penske's 24/7 roadside assistance, and cancel reservations without fees.

About Penske Truck Rental

Penske Truck Rental is a business unit of Penske Truck Leasing. With one of the newest moving truck rental fleets, Penske Truck Rental provides do-it-yourself movers with clean, well-maintained and reliable rental trucks as well as moving equipment, packing supplies and accessories. Call 1-800-GO-PENSKE for questions about moving.

About Penske Truck Leasing

Penske Truck Leasing is a Penske Transportation Solutions company headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. A leading provider of innovative transportation solutions, Penske operates and maintains more than 428,000 vehicles and serves its customers from more than 990 maintenance facilities and more than 2,200 truck rental locations across North America. Solutions from Penske include full-service truck leasing, fleet maintenance, truck rentals, used trucks, and a comprehensive array of technologies to keep the world moving forward. Visit pensketruckleasing.com for more information.

Top Moving Destinations Methodology

For the past 15 years, Penske Truck Rental has been compiling this list using analysis of one-way consumer truck rental reservations made via the company's website, calls to its 1-800-GO-PENSKE call center and through one-way reservations made at Penske's over 2,200 truck rental locations.

Settling In: A Consumer Moving Trends Survey Methodology

The Moving Trends Survey was conducted via a survey fielded online by Big Village among a sample of 279 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older who have moved to a new city or town in the past five years.

More Moving Resources

To explore moving tips, tools and previous Top Moving Destination lists, visit www.pensketruckrental.com.

SOURCE Penske Truck Rental
MIAMI, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, is spotlighting the latest paid advertising trends helping U.S. brands optimize performance in an evolving digital landscape.

With U.S. digital ad spend forecast to surpass $300 billion in 2024, PPC remains one of the most effective tactics for generating high-intent traffic and measurable ROI. Yet, success depends heavily on understanding where to focus budget, which platforms are rising, and how user behavior is shifting across the funnel.

Digital Silk's newly published analysis of the top PPC statistics provides a data-backed guide to help brands make smarter advertising decisions. From paid search and social media trends to emerging consumer habits, the findings outline the key metrics U.S. marketers need to know.

"PPC campaigns aren't just surviving in a privacy-first era  they're evolving with it," says Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Brands that consistently test, refine and align their PPC strategy with platform-specific behaviors and conversion data are the ones seeing the highest returns."

Data-Driven PPC Strategy is No Longer Optional

The report reveals that:

$110 billion is projected for U.S. paid search ad spend in 2024.

is projected for U.S. paid search ad spend in 2024. 65% of consumers click on PPC ads when they're looking to make a purchase.

click on PPC ads when they're looking to make a purchase. Google Ads remains the top channel, but TikTok Ads have grown 30% year-over-year in click-through performance.

year-over-year in click-through performance. Responsive search ads now make up over 80% of total search ad formats.

These statistics indicate a clear shift toward automation, personalization and omnichannel optimization in 2024.

What This Means for U.S. Brands

To capitalize on the evolving PPC landscape, brands are encouraged to:

Leverage AI tools and responsive formats to improve campaign performance.

Monitor platform-specific behaviors, especially across mobile and emerging platforms.

Use intent-focused keyword strategies that prioritize user stage in the funnel.

"Many businesses still approach PPC with a set-it-and-forget-it mindset," says Shaoolian. "But today's PPC demands agile, data-led decision-making. Our report offers the roadmap for that."

With costs per click rising across industries, focusing on ad quality, relevancy and post-click experiences is key to boosting ROI. Digital Silk emphasizes that pairing performance insights with strong creative is what separates top-performing campaigns from the rest.

About Digital Silk

Digital Silk is a full-service Digital Marketing Agency in Miami focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.

Media Contact

Jessica Erasmus

Marketing Director & PR Manager

Tel: (800) 206-9413

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Digital Silk
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to embed its cloud technology within Oranges mobile networks in Morocco and Senegal this year, aiming to significantly improve connectivity speed and reduce latency.

In a statement, AWS said the rollout will mark the first deployment of its edge cloud technologyknown as AWS Wavelengthin Africa, and notably in regions without existing AWS Regions or Local Zones, which are large and smaller-scale data center clusters, respectively.

The company explained that AWS Wavelength enables customers to run applications that require ultra-low latency or need to keep data local due to regulatory demands. This includes industries such as telecoms, finance, the public sector, and sectors relying on real-time applications like gaming.

AWS pointed to Oranges extensive African footprintspanning 18 countries on the continent and reaching over 298 million customers globallyas a key enabler of the partnership.

Oranges strong presence and expertise in these markets would uniquely benefit our AWS customers across regulated industries and industries that require low-latency for applications, AWS global executive Amir Rao and cloud architect Robert Belson said in a blog post.
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trump-Vance Administration released toplines of the President's budget for Fiscal Year 2026 on Friday. The budget accelerates human space exploration of the Moon and Mars with a fiscally responsible portfolio of missions.

"This proposal includes investments to simultaneously pursue exploration of the Moon and Mars while still prioritizing critical science and technology research," said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. "I appreciate the President's continued support for NASA's mission and look forward to working closely with the administration and Congress to ensure we continue making progress toward achieving the impossible."

Increased commitment to human space exploration in pursuit of exploration of both the Moon and Mars. By allocating more than $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, the budget ensures America's human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient.

By allocating more than for lunar exploration and introducing in new investments for Mars-focused programs, the budget ensures America's human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient. Refocus science and space technology resources to efficiently execute high priority research. Consistent with the administration's priority of returning to the Moon before China and putting an American on Mars, the budget will advance priority science and research missions and projects, ending financially unsustainable programs including Mars Sample Return. It emphasizes investments in transformative space technologies while responsibly shifting projects better suited for private sector leadership.

Consistent with the administration's priority of returning to the Moon before and putting an American on Mars, the budget will advance priority science and research missions and projects, ending financially unsustainable programs including Mars Sample Return. It emphasizes investments in transformative space technologies while responsibly shifting projects better suited for private sector leadership. Transition the Artemis campaign to a more sustainable, cost-effective approach to lunar exploration. The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion capsule will be retired after Artemis III, paving the way for more cost-effective, next-generation commercial systems that will support subsequent NASA lunar missions. The budget also ends the Gateway Program, with the opportunity to repurpose already produced components for use in other missions. International partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts, expanding opportunities for meaningful collaboration on the Moon and Mars.

The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion capsule will be retired after Artemis III, paving the way for more cost-effective, next-generation commercial systems that will support subsequent NASA lunar missions. The budget also ends the Gateway Program, with the opportunity to repurpose already produced components for use in other missions. International partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts, expanding opportunities for meaningful collaboration on the Moon and Mars. Continue the process of transitioning the International Space Station to commercial replacements in 2030, focusing onboard research on efforts critical to the exploration of the Moon and Mars. The budget reflects the upcoming transition to a more cost-effective, open commercial approach to human activities in low Earth orbit by reducing the space station's crew size and onboard research, preparing for the safe decommissioning of the station and its replacement by commercial space stations.

The budget reflects the upcoming transition to a more cost-effective, open commercial approach to human activities in low Earth orbit by reducing the space station's crew size and onboard research, preparing for the safe decommissioning of the station and its replacement by commercial space stations. Work to minimize duplication of efforts and most efficiently steward the allocation of American taxpayer dollars. This budget ensures NASA's topline enables a financially sustainable trajectory to complete groundbreaking research and execute the agency's bold mission.

This budget ensures NASA's topline enables a financially sustainable trajectory to complete groundbreaking research and execute the agency's bold mission. Focus NASA's resources on its core mission of space exploration. This budget ends climate-focused "green aviation" spending while protecting the development of technologies with air traffic control and other U.S. government and commercial applications, producing savings. This budget also will ensure continued elimination any funding toward misaligned DEIA initiatives, instead designating that money to missions capable of advancing NASA's core mission. NASA will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers through exciting, ambitious space missions that demonstrate American leadership in space.

NASA will coordinate closely with its partners to execute these priorities and investments as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Building on the President's promise to increase efficiency this budget pioneers a focused, innovative, and fiscally-responsible path to America's next great era of human space exploration.

Learn more about the President's budget request for NASA:

https://www.nasa.gov/budget

SOURCE NASA
-- Results to date demonstrate rapid post-surgical visual recovery with no serious adverse events and meet or exceed FDA target rates for safety and effectiveness 

-- Data presented today at Eyecelerator meeting in Park City --

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pykus Therapeutics, Inc. ("Pykus" or the "Company") today announced the presentation of positive clinical data from of its ongoing pilot study evaluating the use of its proprietary, lead product candidate, PYK-2101, a focal hydrogel retinal sealant, in patients undergoing surgery for detached retina. The retinal attachment rate in this trial exceeded the FDA target rate for ocular endotamponades; potential for rapid vision recovery was demonstrated; and no safety concerns were raised. Interim results from PYK-2101-RD001 were presented by James (Tony) Stefater, MD, PhD, President and Pykus cofounder at Eyecelerator @ Park City on May 2nd, 2025.

Figure 1. PYK-2101 demonstrates rapid vision recovery following surgery

Please contact the Company directly for more information regarding the Eyecelerator presentation.

"PYK-2101 has the potential to offer enormous benefits to patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery," said Dean Eliott, MD, Stelios Evangelos Gragoudas Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Director of the Retina Fellowship at Harvard/Mass. Eye and Ear. "Following surgery, patients currently must remain in a prone, 'face-down' position almost 24 hours per day, must contend with work and travel restrictions, and have poor vision for weeks following surgery. By improving vision and eliminating 'face-down' positioning, this product could offer a transformative improvement in retinal detachment surgery."

"We are thrilled with the results shown to date from our pilot clinical trial, and look forward to sharing additional data upon completion of our trial in the coming months," said Dr. Stefater.

PYK-2101-RD001 is a prospective, multicenter, open-label pilot trial examining the use of PYK-2101 in 11 patients with retinal detachment undergoing pars plana vitrectomy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of PYK-2101 within the first 16 weeks post vitrectomy. Outcome measures include anatomical attachment rate, speed of visual acuity recovery, degree of cataract progression, change in intraocular pressure, and adverse events. The study is being conducted at leading vitreoretinal clinics in Australia.

Results to date include the following highlights:

No serious AEs or SAEs, and no direct effects of PYK-2101 on IOP were observed.

PYK-2101 has demonstrated a single surgery retinal attachment rate of 91% in the per protocol (PP) population 1 and 73% in the intent to treat (ITT) population 1 vs. an FDA target rate of 72% 2 .

and 73% in the intent to treat (ITT) population vs. an FDA target rate of 72% . PYK-2101 demonstrates potential for rapid vision recovery (Figure 1).

(1) Reflects subject data as of April 21, 2025 (2) FDA target rate sourced from Alcon's C3F8 PMA Summary of Safety and Effectiveness.

About PYK-2101:

PYK-2101 is a patented, first-in-class biodegradable retinal hydrogel sealant. The Company is pursuing an initial indication for the treatment of retinal detachment. PYK-2101 offers the opportunity to dramatically improve and accelerate visual recovery following retinal detachment surgery by sealing retinal breaks directly without having to obscure vision, while eliminating the need for patients to position "face-down" after surgery. Compared to the current standard-of-care, which involves filling the eye with endotamponade agents such as intraocular gases or silicone oil, PYK-2101 aims to dramatically enhance the patient experience and improve surgical outcomes.

About Retinal Detachment Surgery and Vitrectomy Surgery:

Nearly two million retinal surgeries, or vitrectomies, are performed annually worldwide. Retinal Detachment is amongst the most common indications for undergoing retinal surgery. The current standard-of-care for retinal detachment surgery exposes patients to significant post-operative burdens, prolonged visual recovery, and fails in a high proportion of cases, requiring repeat surgery resulting in permanent vision loss.

About Pykus Therapeutics:

Pykus Therapeutics, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, is a clinical-stage, medical technology company dedicated to advancing treatments for retinal and other ophthalmic diseases. Using technology originally developed by and licensed from Mass Eye and Ear (now part of Mass General Brigham) at Harvard Medical School, Pykus aims to deliver transformative solutions to improve surgical outcomes and enhance patient care. For more information, visit www.pykustherapeutics.com.

Contact:

Chris White

Pykus Therapeutics

[email protected]

SOURCE Pykus Therapeutics
NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX) resulting from allegations that Teleflex may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Teleflex 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=38855 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 27, 2025, during market hours, Fierce Biotech published an article entitled "Teleflex plays musical chairs, plans company split amid 760M Biotronik cardiovascular deal." The article stated that "Teleflex has announced a plan to split its business into two separate independent companiesand it's setting up one of its future scions with a new portfolio of cardiovascular device assets, set to be acquired from Biotronik."

On this news, Teleflex stock fell 21.6% on February 27, 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.
RICHFIELD, Utah, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Gary R. Zeluff, MD, FAAOS, EE is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Bridging Medicine and Law Through Expert Legal Consulting.

Gary R. Zeluff, MD, FAAOS, EE

Dr. Gary R. Zeluff, MD, FAAOS, EE, a distinguished retired orthopedic surgeon, has transitioned his expertise to the field of legal consulting, offering authoritative medical evaluations for complex cases. With a career spanning decade in orthopedic surgery, and a history of service in the U.S. Army Utah National Guard, Dr. Zeluff brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to his role as a consultant for legal firms and insurance companies nationwide.

Throughout his illustrious medical career, Dr. Zeluff specialized in hip, knee, and shoulder replacement, rotator cuff repair, fracture management, and nerve releases. He is board-certified in orthopedic surgery, having completed his medical degree and residency at the University of Arizona and the University of Utah, respectively. He further honed his skills through mini fellowships in hip and knee replacement with renowned surgeons Dr. Anthony Hedley and Dr. Tim Lovell.

In addition to his clinical accomplishments, Dr. Zeluff has contributed to medical education and industry discourse through his participation in the Speakers Bureau for Pfizer and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Since 1999, he has delivered over 250 lectures, both nationally and internationally, sharing insights with medical professionals across the globe.

Dr. Zeluff's career also includes 29 years of service in the U.S. Army Utah National Guard, where he rose to the rank of Full Colonel, (O-6), holding that rank for 21 years. His military deployments during Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq included roles as Chief of Surgery, Special Forces operative, and Chief Flight Surgeon. His military experience enriches his understanding of trauma and injury, providing a unique perspective in his current role as a legal consultant.

As an Emeritus Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Dr. Zeluff is also affiliated with the American Academy of Forensic Examiners and the Western Orthopedic Association, where he served as Utah State Chapter President. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is an active member of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team, reflecting his ongoing commitment to serving his community.

Looking ahead, Dr. Zeluff is focused on expanding his contributions as a medical legal consultant, helping bridge the gap between medicine and law. His goal is to provide clarity and expert evaluations that empower attorneys, insurers, and clients to navigate complex medical-legal challenges.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
This delivery of lifesaving aid is the first in The Fellowship's $120,000 effort to provide assistance to Christian and Druze communities in the region, which has recently suffered a string of attacks and seen sharply escalating tensions between the Druze communities and Syria's new regime. In recent weeks alone, hundreds of Christians have been killed, and at least 73 Druze fatalities have been reported in the violent clashes.

"If there is violence and persecution happening on Israel's border, we cannot look away," said Yael Eckstein, President & Global CEO of The Fellowship. "It is our responsibility to stand with Christians on our borders to provide them with aid, and to stand with all Christians facing persecution across the Middle East in the same way Christians have always stood by Israel during her times of greatest need."

The food boxes provided by The Fellowship include staple food items aimed at alleviating immediate hunger and nutritional concerns faced by those displaced due to the ongoing violence.

The Fellowship also plans to provide basic medical supplies for a local clinic in the village of Rima, which serves multiple Christian and Druze communities, and hopes to eventually expand its support of the clinic to include additional, much-needed advanced equipment, such as X-ray machines and ventilators. Such an expansion would significantly enhance the clinic's ability to diagnose and treat more complex medical conditions, as the nearest hospital is nearly 40 miles away.

While the operation is the first of its kind for The Fellowship, the organization has long supported the Israeli Christian community, by providing Christmas food boxes for those in need, and funding medical facilities, including a hospital in Nazareth.

"We pray that this aid will not only provide for their physical needs, but will give them hope and let them know there are people who care about them," Eckstein added. "The world may be silent about Christians facing persecution, but The Fellowship is not  and our supporters are not."

About The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

For more than 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has been the leading nonprofit building bridges between Christians and Jews, blessing Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and lifesaving aid. In 2024, The Fellowship helped more than 2 million people living in poverty, helped thousands make aliyah back to their homeland, Israel, and helped strengthen Israel's security infrastructure. To learn more about The Fellowship's work, visit www.ifcj.org.

About Yael Eckstein

Yael Eckstein is the President and Global CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. As a respected Jewish leader, speaker, author, and host of the Nourish Your Biblical Roots and The Chosen People podcasts, Yael continues the legacy of her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of building bridges of faith between Christians and Jews globally. With two decades of nonprofit experience in multiple roles, she has the rare distinction of being a woman leading one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations. The Jaffa Institute's 2024 Woman of the Year and The Jerusalem Post's 2023 Humanitarian of the Year, Yael is a Chicago-area native based in Israel with her husband and their four children.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
More Than 1.5 Billion Copies Printed Worldwide Since 1935

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Upper Room, the longest-running daily devotional in the world, celebrates its 90th year of publishing stories of faith and prayer in 2025. When Francis Craig approached her pastor Dr. Paul Korn with an idea for a regularly published prayer guide filled with stories and scripture, she never imagined the global impact to come. With more than 1.5 billion copies printed to date, The Upper Room devotional is now available in more than 30 languages across 100 countries in multiple formats. The Upper Room is the world's longest running devotional as it has been in continuous publication for nine decades.

Cover of May/June 2025 issue

The devotional's name, The Upper Room, was inspired by a sermon on the story of Pentecost in Acts 1 and 2 and also refers to Jesus's final meal with his beloved disciples. From its earliest days, the devotional's content was designed for all followers of Christ, regardless of nationality, age, race, or denominational affiliation. As of 2025, it is estimated that one-third of all writers featured in The Upper Room live outside of the U.S.

"The Upper Room was created as a gift for the worldwide church from day one - a simple, effective tool for uniting Christians in daily prayer and scripture," explains Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, General Secretary, Discipleship Ministries, and Interim Publisher, The Upper Room. "While culture has shifted and evolved since the devotional was launched in 1935, the eternal truths of scripture continue to guide and empower lives around the world. The word of God has no boundaries."

From its earliest days, The Upper Room editors ensured that each issue had three key features - it would fit in a pocket or purse; it would include strong international representation among its contributors; and it would be an ecumenical gift to the church worldwide.

Although The Upper Room is best known as a printed devotional magazine, its content has been published in many different formats through the years, expanding its impact and reach. Published formats have included:

1935: The Upper Room debuts in print

debuts in print 1938: Spanish edition launched - the longest-running non-English edition

1946: Radio edition begins broadcasting

1958: "Talking books" (LP vinyl records) are launched, transitioning to cassette tapes in the 1970s and CDs in the 1990s.

1974: Large print edition debuted

1997: Website and email versions became available

2001: MP3 audio edition is introduced

2016: The Upper Room app is launched for Apple and Android devices

2024: The latest non-English edition, Marathi, launched

Currently, The Upper Room is available as a printed magazine (pocket-sized and large print), on The Upper Room app (Apple & Android), and online at www.UpperRoom.org

"Throughout the years, the purpose and ministry of the daily devotional guide have not changed," notes Lindsay Gray, Executive Director of The Upper Room Editions, The Upper Room. "With each issue, we offer people around the globe a way to connect with God every day by sharing stories of God's presence in the world. The faithfulness and generosity of generations of Upper Room readers have sustained this ministry from the first issue until now."

The Upper Room is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual life of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. From its beginnings in 1935 as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help Christians of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. For more, visit UpperRoom.org/90.

SOURCE The Upper Room
As previously announced, UScellular will hold a teleconference on May 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com.

CHICAGO, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE: USM) reported total operating revenues of $891 million for the first quarter of 2025, versus $950 million for the same period one year ago. Service revenues totaled $741 million, versus $754 million for the same period one year ago. Net income attributable to UScellular shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $18 million and $0.21, respectively, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $18 million and $0.20, respectively, in the same period one year ago.

Recent Highlights*

Improved postpaid handset results Postpaid handset gross additions increased; postpaid handset net losses improved

Third-party tower rental revenues increased 6%

Ongoing 5G mid-band network deployment Providing capacity and enhanced speed for our mobility and fixed wireless customers



* Comparisons are 1Q'24 to 1Q'25 unless otherwise noted

"In the first quarter, we continued to work towards executing on our 2025 priorities which include successfully closing on the previously announced sale of the wireless business, while remaining focused on investing in a strong customer experience and operating our business efficiently," said Laurent Therivel, UScellular President and CEO. "I am also pleased with the 6% year-over-year growth in third-party tower rental revenues, as the team continues to market our valuable tower portfolio."

Announced Transactions and Exploration of Strategic Alternatives for UScellular

On May 24, 2024, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) and UScellular entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement to sell UScellular's wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile US, Inc. (T-Mobile). The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. When the proposed T-Mobile transaction closes, UScellular expects the UScellular Board of Directors to declare the first of potentially several, special dividends to UScellular shareholders.

On October 17, 2024, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into a License Purchase Agreement with Verizon Communications, Inc. (Verizon) to sell certain AWS, Cellular and PCS wireless spectrum licenses, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, and agreed to grant Verizon certain rights to lease such licenses prior to the transaction close. Additionally, UScellular also entered into agreements with Nsight Spectrum, LLC and Nex-Tech Wireless, LLC for the sale of select spectrum licenses.

On November 6, 2024, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into a License Purchase Agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (AT&T), a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. to sell certain 3.45 GHz and 700 MHz wireless spectrum licenses, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, and agreed to grant AT&T certain rights to lease and sub-lease such licenses prior to the transaction close.

Due to the pending transaction with T-Mobile, UScellular is not providing 2025 financial guidance.

Stock Repurchase

During the first quarter of 2025, UScellular repurchased 328,835 of its Common Shares for $21 million.

Conference Call Information

UScellular will hold a conference call on May 2, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

Access the live call on the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com or at

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/224819726

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/224819726 Access the call by phone at (888)330-2384 conference ID: 1328528.

Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to investors.uscellular.com. The call will be archived on the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com.

About UScellular

United States Cellular Corporation provides a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, excellent customer support, and a high-quality network to customers with 4.4 million retail connections in 21 states. The Chicago-based company had 4,100 full- and part-time associates as of March 31, 2025. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned approximately 83 percent of UScellular. For more information about UScellular, visit uscellular.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations, including with respect to the expected closing date of the transaction with T-Mobile. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: whether the announced transactions whereby UScellular has agreed to sell its wireless operations and selected spectrum assets will be successfully completed. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under "Risk Factors" in the most recent filing of UScellular's Form 10-K, as updated by any UScellular Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K.

For more information about UScellular, visit: www.uscellular.com

United States Cellular Corporation Summary Operating Data (Unaudited) As of or for the Quarter Ended 3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024 Retail Connections

















Postpaid

















Total at end of period1 3,946,000

3,985,000

3,999,000

4,027,000

4,051,000 Gross additions 105,000

140,000

123,000

117,000

106,000 Handsets 68,000

93,000

84,000

73,000

63,000 Connected devices 37,000

47,000

39,000

44,000

43,000 Net additions (losses)1 (39,000)

(14,000)

(28,000)

(24,000)

(44,000) Handsets (38,000)

(19,000)

(28,000)

(29,000)

(47,000) Connected devices (1,000)

5,000



5,000

3,000 ARPU2 $ 52.06

$ 51.73

$ 52.04

$ 51.45

$ 51.96 ARPA3 $ 132.25

$ 131.10

$ 131.81

$ 130.41

$ 132.00 Handset upgrade rate4 3.1 %

4.8 %

3.5 %

4.1 %

4.5 % Churn rate5 1.21 %

1.29 %

1.25 %

1.16 %

1.22 % Handsets 1.03 %

1.08 %

1.07 %

0.97 %

1.03 % Connected devices 2.40 %

2.67 %

2.47 %

2.47 %

2.52 % Prepaid

















Total at end of period1 431,000

448,000

452,000

439,000

436,000 Gross additions 38,000

46,000

57,000

50,000

41,000 Net additions (losses)1 (17,000)

(4,000)

13,000

3,000

(13,000) ARPU2 $ 30.76

$ 30.59

$ 32.01

$ 32.37

$ 32.25 Churn rate5 4.17 %

3.70 %

3.30 %

3.60 %

4.06 % Market penetration at end of period

















Consolidated operating population 31,390,000

32,550,000

32,550,000

32,550,000

32,550,000 Consolidated operating penetration6 17 %

15 %

15 %

15 %

14 % Capital expenditures (millions) $ 53

$ 162

$ 120

$ 165

$ 131 Total cell sites in service 7,009

7,010

7,007

6,990

6,995 Owned towers 4,413

4,409

4,407

4,388

4,382 Number of colocations7 2,469

2,444

2,418

2,392

2,397 Tower tenancy rate8 1.56

1.55

1.55

1.55

1.55

1 First quarter 2024 connections were adjusted to remove subscribers that could no longer access the UScellular network due to the CDMA shutdown. This resulted in 11,000 and 2,000 subscribers removed from the postpaid and prepaid base, respectively, that are not included in Net additions (losses) for the quarter. 2 Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below:

 Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections.

 Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections. 3 Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period. 4 Handset upgrade rate calculated as total handset upgrade transactions divided by average postpaid handset connections. 5 Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period. 6 Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total estimated population of consolidated operating markets. 7 Represents instances where a third-party wireless carrier rents or leases space on a company-owned tower. 8 Average number of tenants that lease space on company-owned towers, measured on a per-tower basis.

United States Cellular Corporation Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

2025 vs. 2024 (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)









Operating revenues









Service $ 741

$ 754

(2) % Equipment sales 150

196

(24) % Total operating revenues 891

950

(6) %











Operating expenses









System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 176

182

(3) % Cost of equipment sold 178

216

(18) % Selling, general and administrative 332

331

 Depreciation, amortization and accretion 163

165

(2) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6

(65) % (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1)

18 % Total operating expenses 850

899

(5) %











Operating income 41

51

(19) %











Other income (expense)









Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 36

42

(14) % Interest and dividend income 3

2

20 % Interest expense (40)

(43)

10 % Total other income (expense) (1)

1

N/M











Income before income taxes 40

52

(22) % Income tax expense 20

28

(26) % Net income 20

24

(17) % Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 2

6

(75) % Net income attributable to UScellular shareholders $ 18

$ 18

3 %











Basic weighted average shares outstanding 85

85

 Basic earnings per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ 0.21

$ 0.21

3 %











Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 88

88

 Diluted earnings per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ 0.21

$ 0.20

2 %



N/M - Percentage change not meaningful

United States Cellular Corporation Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 (Dollars in millions)





Cash flows from operating activities





Net income $ 20

$ 24 Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities





Depreciation, amortization and accretion 163

165 Bad debts expense 20

29 Stock-based compensation expense 17

13 Deferred income taxes, net (8)

4 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (36)

(42) Distributions from unconsolidated entities 11

22 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1) Other operating activities 1

1 Changes in assets and liabilities from operations





Accounts receivable 1

16 Equipment installment plans receivable 38

2 Inventory 1

24 Accounts payable (17)

(15) Customer deposits and deferred revenues (8)

5 Accrued taxes 29

23 Accrued interest 9

9 Other assets and liabilities (82)

(82) Net cash provided by operating activities 160

203







Cash flows from investing activities





Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (72)

(133) Cash paid for licenses (2)

(11) Net cash used in investing activities (74)

(144)







Cash flows from financing activities





Issuance of long-term debt 

40 Repayment of long-term debt (5)

(55) Tax payments, net of cash receipts, for stock-based compensation awards (7)

 Repurchase of Common Shares (21)

 Distributions to noncontrolling interests (2)

(2) Cash paid for software license agreements (9)

(9) Other financing activities 

(2) Net cash used in financing activities (44)

(28)







Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 42

31







Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash





Beginning of period 159

179 End of period $ 201

$ 210

United States Cellular Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited)

ASSETS









March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024 (Dollars in millions)





Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 182

$ 144 Accounts receivable, net 925

955 Inventory, net 178

179 Prepaid expenses 63

46 Other current assets 25

21 Total current assets 1,373

1,345







Assets held for sale 1









Licenses 4,581

4,579







Investments in unconsolidated entities 479

454







Property, plant and equipment, net 2,394

2,502







Operating lease right-of-use assets 925

926







Other assets and deferred charges 612

643







Total assets $ 10,365

$ 10,449

United States Cellular Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY









March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)





Current liabilities





Current portion of long-term debt $ 26

$ 22 Accounts payable 207

242 Customer deposits and deferred revenues 231

238 Accrued taxes 57

30 Accrued compensation 33

93 Short-term operating lease liabilities 140

141 Other current liabilities 113

118 Total current liabilities 807

884







Deferred liabilities and credits





Deferred income tax liability, net 720

728 Long-term operating lease liabilities 824

822 Other deferred liabilities and credits 570

570







Long-term debt, net 2,829

2,837







Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 16

16







Equity





UScellular shareholders' equity





Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share 88

88 Additional paid-in capital 1,800

1,783 Treasury shares (125)

(112) Retained earnings 2,822

2,818 Total UScellular shareholders' equity 4,585

4,577







Noncontrolling interests 14

15







Total equity 4,599

4,592







Total liabilities and equity $ 10,365

$ 10,449

United States Cellular Corporation Segment Results (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular 2025

2024

2025

vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions)









Operating Revenues









Wireless $ 864

$ 925

(7) % Towers 61

58

5 % Intra-company eliminations (34)

(33)

(3) % Total operating revenues 891

950

(6) %











Operating expenses









Wireless 844

896

(6) % Towers 40

36

11 % Intra-company eliminations (34)

(33)

(3) % Total operating expenses 850

899

(5) %











Operating income $ 41

$ 51

(19) %











Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 215

$ 228

(6) % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 254

$ 272

(7) % Capital expenditures $ 53

$ 131

(60) %

1 Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures which UScellular uses as measurements of profitability. See EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations within this earnings release for additional information.

United States Cellular Corporation Segment Results (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular Wireless 2025

2024

2025

vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions)









Retail service $ 660

$ 678

(3) % Other 54

51

8 % Service revenues 714

729

(2) % Equipment sales 150

196

(24) % Total operating revenues 864

925

(7) %











System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 191

197

(3) % Cost of equipment sold 178

216

(18) % Selling, general and administrative 322

324

 Depreciation, amortization and accretion 152

154

(2) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6

(73) % (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1)

18 % Total operating expenses 844

896

(6) %











Operating income $ 20

$ 29

(30) %











Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 182

$ 195

(7) % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 182

$ 195

(7) % Capital expenditures $ 51

$ 127

(60) %







Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular Towers 2025

2024

2025

vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions)









Third-party revenues $ 27

$ 25

6 % Intra-company revenues 34

33

3 % Total tower revenues 61

58

5 %











System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 19

18

4 % Selling, general and administrative 10

7

33 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 11

11

5 % Total operating expenses 40

36

11 %











Operating income $ 21

$ 22

(5) %











Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 33

$ 33

(1) % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 33

$ 33

(1) % Capital expenditures $ 2

$ 4

(42) %

1 Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures which UScellular uses as measurements of profitability. See EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations within this earnings release for additional information.

United States Cellular Corporation Financial Measures (Unaudited) Free Cash Flow

Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular 2025

2024 (Dollars in millions)





Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $ 160

$ 203 Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (72)

(133) Cash paid for software license agreements (9)

(9) Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1 $ 79

$ 61

1 Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which UScellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and Cash paid for software license agreements.

United States Cellular Corporation

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations

(Unaudited)

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliations below. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. UScellular does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliations below are infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of UScellular's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, nonrecurring expenses, gains and losses, and other items as presented below as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of UScellular's financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, gains and losses, and expenses related to the strategic alternatives review of UScellular while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income, Income before income taxes and/or Operating income. Income and expense items below Operating income are not provided at the individual segment level for UScellular Wireless and UScellular Towers; therefore, the reconciliations begin with EBITDA and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is Operating income rather than Net income at the segment level.



Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular 2025

2024 (Dollars in millions)





Net income (GAAP) $ 20

$ 24 Add back or deduct:





Income tax expense 20

28 Income before income taxes (GAAP) 40

52 Add back:





Interest expense 40

43 Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense 163

165 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 243

260 Add back or deduct:





Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 10

7 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1) Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 254

272 Deduct:





Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 36

42 Interest and dividend income 3

2 Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) $ 215

$ 228







Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular Wireless 2025

2024 (Dollars in millions)





EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 172

$ 183 Add back or deduct:





Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 9

7 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1) Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 182

195 Deduct:





Depreciation, amortization and accretion 152

154 Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 9

7 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2

6 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (1)

(1) Operating income (GAAP) $ 20

$ 29







Three Months Ended March 31, UScellular Towers 2025

2024 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 32

$ 33 Add back or deduct:





Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 1

 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 33

33 Deduct:





Depreciation, amortization and accretion 11

11 Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 1

 Operating income (GAAP) $ 21

$ 22

SOURCE United States Cellular Corporation
A roundup of the most newsworthy healthcare press releases from PR Newswire this week, including new telehealth pathways for patients seeking GLP-1 medication and resources for Mental Health Awareness Month.

NEW YORK, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help healthcare journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Health Press Release Roundup, April 28-May 2, 2025.

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From AI-enabled eCommerce to workplace wellness, marketing automation, and Asia-Pacific growth lending, indigenous startups are acquiring huge deals and enormous cheques.

Heres this weeks fundraising announcements:

Zyft secures $7.5M to reshape AI-driven retail in Australia

Australian AI startup Zyft has raised $7.5 million in private funding, boosting its valuation to $37.5 million. Led by PSC Insurance founder Paul Dwyer, the round will help Zyft enhance its core product, an AI-powered price comparison platform, and expand its reach across the Australian retail landscape.

The funds will go toward improving AI capabilities, growing the user base, and rolling out new monetisation strategies. Zyft is part of the Waller Group, which also includes successful ventures like Point Hacks and CareAbout.

Antler backs eight AI-focused Aussie startups in latest funding cohort

Global VC firm Antler has announced funding for eight emerging Australian startups, with a strong tilt toward artificial intelligence. These startups span sectors including fintech, healthcare, robotics, insurance, and digital security. The cohort is part of Antlers Agreement of Rolling Capital, which offers long-term investment and early-stage support. Startups include:

AdviseWell, an AI-driven financial advice tool

Auric, a scent-personalisation wellness device

Imitation Machines, offering imitation learning for robotics

Lodgicl, digitising home insurance claims

PaperLab, using AI to summarise academic content

Prefactor, simplifying access control for developers

RoundTable, creating interactive monetised events for creators

The move signals Antlers continued confidence in Australian innovation, particularly in the AI space.

BlinkLab raises $7.66M

Digital health company BlinkLab has raised $7.66 million through a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors. The funding will fast-track regulatory trials for its AI-powered diagnostic platforms, BlinkLab Dx 1 for autism and a new tool, Dx 2, targeting ADHD. Proceeds will also support European approval processes, patent expansion, and general operations as the company looks to scale its impact globally.

Young founders of Fluency secure $1.5M in pre-Seed round

Melbourne-based Fluency, a developer-first platform founded by two self-taught 24-year-olds, has raised $1.5 million in a pre-Seed round. Backers include Bradley Tabone from HammerTech, Archangel Ventures, and Singapores 1MX.ai and Orvel Ventures. The startup gained traction through Swinburnes Innovation Studio, where it won both Best Pitch and Peoples Choice awards. With this early funding, the team is set to accelerate development and grow their presence in the tech ecosystem.

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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
Bhubaneswar, May 2 : In a shocking incident, another female student from Nepal studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar was on Thursday found hanging in her hostel room inside the university campus, police said.

The deceased was identified as Prisha Shah, a first-year student of B.Tech computer science, who reportedly hails from Birgunj area of Nepal.

Upon being informed, Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, other senior police officers along with Infocity police staff immediately reached the spot and initiated a probe into the suspicious death of the Nepali female student.

The deceased's body has been sent to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, for post-mortem which is scheduled to be held after the arrival of her family members on Friday.

"Today evening at around 7 p.m., when attendance was being taken, one student, Prisha Shah, who was alone in the room, did not respond. When the college officials checked, she was found hanging. Upon being informed, we came here and are conducting investigation," said Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh.

He also added that the scientific team also reached the hostel and is searching the deceased's room for evidence.

Singh noted that all the students in the hostel have faith in police and cooperating in the investigation.

The Police Commissioner told media persons that investigation has started after registration of an unnatural death case in this regard as none has lodged any complaint alleging foul play in the case.

He said action will be taken if anyone's involvement in the suspicious death of Nepali student comes to fore.

"We have been questioning other girls in the hostel to ascertain whether the deceased had shared anything with any of them and showed any suspicious symptoms. We have spoken to the officials of the Nepal Embassy who have also informed the deceased's family members. Her parents will reach Bhubaneswar on Friday morning," Singh added.

He claimed that the situation is normal in the campus as the students have full faith in neutrality of police investigation.

Sources in the Commissionerate Police told IANS that the deceased student was under severe mental stress over strained relationship with her boyfriend who is staying at Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

The KIIT university came in the line of fire following the suicide of a Nepali female student, Prakriti Lamsal, on February 16 and the subsequent assault on other Nepali students by the private educational institution's security guard.
Bhopal, May 2 : Multiple social organisations working for communities have called for a collective state-wide protest against growing cases of 'love-jihad' in Madhya Pradesh on Friday.

A protest will be organised at least 20 places in Bhopal alone where an alleged 'love-jihad' case came to the fore that sparked controversy, prompting state administration for strict action the preparators.

Priyanka Mishra, a memeber of 'Sakal Hindu Samaj', said that the protest will be organised to demand strict punishment for those targeting Hindu girls, raping them and forcing them for religious conversions.

"We have requested for support from multiple Hindu organisations and have also appealed people from the community to raise their voice against love-jihad. Hindu girls, even those are minors are being targeted, which need to be stopped," Mishra said.

After a nexus involved operating 'love-jihad' was unearthed in Bhopal, in which three people have been arrested and an Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the matter, politicians from the BJP, including Ministers, have raised their concern on this issue.

Senior BJP leader and State's Urban Development Minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Thursday that the state government needs to come with a strict law against 'love-jihad' as early as possible, otherwise situation will be out of control.

"Every day a Hindu girl is becoming victim of love-jihad in Bhopal alone. It's a serious issue, therefore, I would suggest leaders that they should not do only politics but work for creating awareness in their respective constituencies," Vijayvargiya said during a press conference.

Meanwhile, BJP MP from Bhopal, Alok Sharma, demanded that those involved targeting Hindu girls and raping them, should be sterilised.

He said that a strong nexus is operating in Madhya Pradesh where Hindu girls are being targeted.

Another BJP Minister Vishvas Sarang said that the state government will soon run a campaign in schools and colleges to make the girl students aware about "love-jihad".

He made this remark after several girl students were allegedly sexually assaulted and blackmailed in Bhopal a few days ago.

Two accused have been arrested in connection with raping and blackmailing girls from a private college under false pretence of love.

"The state government would initiate a plan to educate the girls about the nexus of love jihad. After the campaign, the girls will be able to freely converse with their female teachers and raise their issues," Minister Sarang, who is an MLA from Bhopal, said.

Talking to media persons, the Minister also added that the state government has formed an SIT to probe the matter, and those involved in the crime would be given exemplary punishment.

"We have to protect our daughters from love-jihad, it can happen through awareness among the girls students and their parents. Meanwhile, the girls' parents should be alert and communicate with their daughters," he said.
Tehran, May 2 : Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said that the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with the US, scheduled for Saturday in Rome, has been postponed at the mediator Oman's proposal.

He made the announcement on Thursday in an address to reporters, adding that the new dates would be announced later, according to a statement by the Ministry.

Baghaei reaffirmed Iran's determination to use diplomacy to safeguard the nation's "legitimate and legal" interests and to end the sanctions and economic pressure against Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.

The spokesman stressed that "since entering the talks with goodwill, the Iranian delegation has been discussing specific frameworks based on the country's principled positions under international law regarding using nuclear energy peacefully and ending illegal sanctions, demonstrating its seriousness in result-oriented talks aimed at achieving a just, rational, and sustainable agreement".

Earlier in the day, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi officially announced on social media platform X that the fourth round of the Iran-US talks scheduled for Saturday had been postponed for "logistical reasons," adding, "New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

The administration of President Donald Trump has said its aim is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, though Tehran has long denied armament as a goal. It frames its nuclear programme as a civilian energy project.

The Trump White House has hinted its goals may extend further, though, to the total dismantlement of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme.

In mid-April, US special envoy Steve Witkoff released a statement saying that "Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program" as part of a final deal.

Earlier on Thursday, before the postponement was announced, Iran accused the US of issuing "contradictory behaviour and provocative statements" about the nuclear negotiations.

And on Wednesday, the US made a series of aggressive moves as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, heightening the already uneasy relations.

First, the US Department of State sanctioned seven entities involved in the trade of Iranian oil products, on the basis that the proceeds "support its terrorist activities and proxies". Then, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth offered his own remarks, warning that Iranian support of the Houthis, a Yemen-based armed group, could result in US retaliation.

"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing," Hegseth wrote on social media on Wednesday.

"You know very well what the US Military is capable of a" and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing."

Trump himself later chimed in with a social media message on Thursday, warning the international community to stop its purchases of Iranian oil products.

"Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions. They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form," Trump wrote.

Despite the heated rhetoric, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Thursday's postponement came "at the request of Oman's Foreign Minister".

Iranian spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also emphasised that his country was committed to achieving "a fair and lasting agreement" with the US.

Successive US administrations have sought to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. One recent effort culminated with a 2015 agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The multilateral agreement, forged during the administration of US President Barack Obama, created a framework for Iran to receive relief from international sanctions, in exchange for reducing its uranium enrichment and submitting to inspections of its nuclear facilities.

But when Trump succeeded Obama as US President, he set into motion plans to withdraw the US from the JCPOA in 2018, causing the deal to crumble.

Instead, during his first term as President from 2017 to 2021, Trump pursued a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran, a strategy he has returned to since taking office a second time in January.

Oman has been facilitating the dialogue between Iran and the US to help narrow differences between the two countries and promote regional stability.

With the Omani mediation, the first and third rounds of Iran-US talks were held in the Omani capital Muscat on April 12 and April 26, and the second one in Rome on April 19.
Abu Dhabi, May 2 : UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reaffirming his country's support to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, media reported.

During the phone conversation on Thursday, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership, Xinhua news agency reported.

President Mohamed bin Zayed thanked the Russian President for Moscow's cooperation in making previous mediation efforts successful, emphasising the UAE's commitment to continuing its humanitarian engagement in the war.

President Putin expressed his appreciation for the UAE's successful mediation in the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine last month.

He praised the UAE's consistent and constructive efforts in the humanitarian domain.

On April 19, the UAE announced that its mediation efforts had led to the largest prisoner exchange since the conflict began.

The exchange involved 246 Ukrainian and 246 Russian prisoners, as well as the repatriation of 31 wounded Ukrainian and 15 wounded Russian soldiers, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged through UAE mediation to 3,771.

Earlier on March 24, the UAE President received a phone call from President Putin during which they discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen ties.

The conversation took place within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries and as part of efforts to serve their mutual interests. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing these ties across multiple sectors for the benefit of their people.

During the call, Putin expressed his appreciation to the UAE President for the successful mediation efforts undertaken by the UAE in recent months to facilitate the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine -- the most recent of which took place earlier this March.

UAE President Al Nahyan, in turn, thanked the Russian government for its cooperation with the UAE in this regard in playing a vital role in the success of the initiative.

He also reiterated the UAE's commitment to continuing its efforts in this important humanitarian domain and its support for all endeavours aimed at facilitating a peaceful resolution to the crisis while mitigating its humanitarian impact.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern. In this context, Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE's consistent approach of supporting peace and stability around the world, as well as promoting peaceful solutions and initiatives to resolve conflicts.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that it marked the 14th successful mediation undertaken by the UAE during the conflict, reflecting the country's strong ties with both sides.
Muscat, May 2 : Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has said that the fourth round of the Omani-mediated US-Iran talks scheduled for Saturday in Rome has been postponed for logistical reasons.

"New dates will be announced when mutually agreed," Albusaidi said on Thursday on the social media platform X.

"For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday, May 3," he wrote, adding that new dates will be announced when mutually agreed upon, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saturday's talks were to take place in Rome, where the Vatican will soon begin the conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on Wednesday.

The talks aim to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting some of the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran by the US.

The original schedule was announced by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch airstrikes against Iran's nuclear programme if a deal isn't reached.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei issued a statement describing the talks as "postponed at the request of Oman's Foreign Minister".

He said Iran remained committed to reaching "a fair and lasting agreement".

Earlier on Thursday, Iran accused the US of "contradictory behaviour and provocative statements" after Washington imposed new oil-related sanctions and warned Tehran of consequences for supporting Yemen's Houthis.

The Iranian statement came a day after the US sanctioned entities trading Iranian oil and petrochemicals.

Separately, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran of repercussions for backing the Houthis.

The Houthi rebels began attacking ships near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in late 2023 in retaliation for Israel's ground offensive in Gaza.

The first and third rounds of the talks, headed by Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, were held in the Omani capital Muscat on April 12 and April 26, and the second one in Rome on April 19.

Washington and Tehran have been conducting negotiations over the past month on a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of financial sanctions.
Los Angeles, May 2 : US President Donald Trump has reissued threats against Iran, saying any country or person that buys oil or petrochemicals from Iran would face immediate US sanctions, after the indirect talks between the two countries were postponed.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions," Trump wrote on Thursday on Truth Social.

"They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.

Trump implemented what he calls a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran since taking office in January, including tougher sanctions on oil exports and threats of military action, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump's comments came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday that the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, scheduled for Saturday in Rome, had been postponed at the mediator Oman's proposal.

Baghaei reaffirmed Iran's determination to use diplomacy to safeguard the nation's "legitimate and legal" interests and to end the sanctions and economic pressure against Iran.

Earlier in the day, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi announced on social media platform X that the fourth round of the Iran-US talks scheduled for Saturday had been postponed for "logistical reasons," adding, "New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

"For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3," he wrote.

"New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did not elaborate.

Rome will see the Vatican begin its conclave next week to pick a new pope after the death of Pope Francis. Two other rounds of US-Iran talks have been held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity. The negotiations have been led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The US President with his threat on social media would be going after Iran's major economic resource. It produced an average of 2.9 million barrels a day in 2023 of crude oil, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran's program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the US continues an airstrike campaign, called "Operation Rough Rider," that has been targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, who long have been backed by Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on early Thursday warned Iran over the rebels.

"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing," he wrote.

"You know very well what the US Military is capable of a" and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing."

Last Saturday's round of talks, which included experts drilling down into the details of a possible deal, also took place as an explosion rocked an Iranian port, killing at least 70 people and injuring more than 1,000 others.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
On the night of May 2, Ukrainian defenders destroy 64 out of 150 drones used by enemy

On the night of May 2, 2025 (from 21:30 on May 1), the enemy attacked with 150 strike UAVs and other types of drone imitators from the areas of Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk of the Russian Federation, Chauda - Crimea, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram.

"As of 08:00, the downing of 64 Shahed-type attack UAVs (drones of other types) in the east, south and center of the country has been confirmed. Sixty-two enemy drone imitators have been lost (without negative consequences). Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions suffered as a result of the enemy attack," the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informed.
Jerusalem, May 2 : Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has sent a stern message to Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowing harsh responses if clashes with the Druze minority continue in Syria.

The Minister announced on Thursday that Israeli troops deployed in southern Syria "are prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the area of Druze villages," adding the forces continue to monitor developments with readiness for "various scenarios".

"I repeat my warning to the head of the Syrian regime," Katz said in a statement, "if the attacks on the Druze in Syria do not stop, we will respond with great severity."

Following clashes between Syrian security forces and local Druze on Wednesday, Katz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the Israeli military "to carry out several warning strikes against extremist elements, and have conveyed a clear message to the Syrian regime that it is responsible for preventing such attacks (on the Druze)," according to the statement.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Thursday urged the international community to protect Syria's Druze minority from the country's new leadership, after 73 people were said to have been killed during two days of sectarian clashes in largely Druze areas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Speaking at an Independence Day reception for foreign diplomats at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, Sa'ar said the international community must "fulfill its duty to protect minorities in Syria, and specifically the Druze, from the regime and its terrorist gangs, and not condone the grave events that are taking place there".

Citing distrust in Syriaa' new leadership, Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday also urged immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes," which he described as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign".

Earlier on Thursday, two injured Druze Syrians were evacuated to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed, northern Israel, to receive medical treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Violence erupted earlier this week in Jaramana, a southeastern suburb of Damascus known for having a majority Druze and Christian population.

The violence stemmed from the circulation of an audio recording, which was attributed to a member of the Druze community and contained remarks considered offensive to Islam.

The unrest, initially centered in Jaramana, has since spread to neighbouring areas southwest of Damascus, including predominantly Druze towns, Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, where clashes between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces have intensified.

According to the latest update by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from the past two days of sectarian clashes near Damascus has risen to 101, including nine documented field executions.

Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze community since expanding its territorial control near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, May 2 : UN Security Council President Evangelos Sekeris has said that the Council is seriously concerned with the rising tensions between India and Pakistan and a meeting on the situation is possible.

Asked on Thursday if there would be a meeting on the tense situation in South Asia, he said, "With the plain logic, this is something which might probably happen."

Sekeris, who is the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, was speaking at a news conference after assuming the rotating Council presidency for the month.

India on principle would be opposed to a meeting of the Council on the issue because it considers that disputes with Pakistan are bilateral matters under the 1972 Simla Agreement between its leaders and there should be no third-party involvement.

However, the Council is empowered under the UN Carter to convene a meeting on the issue.

But beyond that as a practical matter the Council will not be able to take any action since permanent members -- other than possibly China -- would not want to directly get involved in deference to India.

Sekeris noted that Pakistan is on the Council as an elected member.

He conceded, "It's a difficult subject, but we are very receptive to any request (for a meeting). And if the meeting with Security Council will take place in any form, we will still (hold the) debate, as President, you know, in a way to being faithful to a mandate."

He added that it could also be "an opportunity to have views expressed, and this might help to diffuse tensions".

"We are also seriously concerned with the growing bilateral tension," Sekeris said.

"If the situation is not de-escalating, calling for extraordinary Security Council meeting, this is something which can come as a consequence," he said, because international peace was essentially its mandate.

He said that the Council had last month strongly condemned the "heinous" terrorist attack at Pahalgam as had Greece.

"We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it's happening," he added.

He was asked if the Council's statement condemning the terrorist attack did not mention the perpetrators because of "Pakistan as a member using its leverage" to take out mention of The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Toiba-linked outfit, which owned responsibility for the attack, and if moves like it would undermine global efforts to hold specific terror groups responsible.

Sekeris said, "A press statement of whichever text, which is adopted by consensus unanimity, then of course, you cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation, because in internal document."

"For me, the important thing that we have is, this press statement was issued because, as you said, having the Security Council one member state, which is part of this conflict, of course, then you could expect another outcome," he added.
Jerusalem, May 2 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said here that defeating Hamas is Israel's main goal as well as securing the release of the hostages still held in Gaza.

"We have many goals in this war. We want to bring back all our hostages ... It is a very important goal ... But the war has a supreme objective, and this supreme objective is victory over our enemies," Netanyahu made on Thursday the remarks during a speech as the country is marking its 77th Independence Day.

The remarks marked a shift from Netanyahu's previous statements, in which he described the return of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza as equally important as defeating Hamas. They also came amid a stalemate in mediated talks over a potential ceasefire deal, and as weekly protests continue in Israel to demand an end to the war to secure the hostages' release, while Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners insist the war must continue.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing most of the hostages' families, issued a statement saying Netanyahu is "aligning" with his far-right ally and pro-settler leader Bezalel Smotrich, who has repeatedly declared that releasing the hostages "is not the most important goal" and has urged Netanyahu to reoccupy Gaza and hold it indefinitely, Xinhua news agency reported.

Speaking at a separate Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the Israeli military "is ready and prepared to strike (Hamas) a decisive blow".

"We will use all the strength at our disposal, increase the pace of operations, and intensify the power. If necessary, we will do so soon," Zamir said.

Meanwhile, Israel's Army Radio reported that Netanyahu is expected to convene on Friday a special meeting with senior defence officials ahead of expanding the air and ground offensive in Gaza.

The last exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees took place under a ceasefire that came into effect in January. Israel ended the ceasefire in March after about two months and resumed its deadly offensive in the Palestinian enclave.

The renewed Israeli attacks have so far killed 2,326 Palestinians and injured 6,050 others, Gaza health authorities said on Thursday, adding the death toll in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 has risen to 52,418, with 118,091 injured.

On Tuesday, well-informed Egyptian sources told Xinhua that Israel insists on disarming Hamas as a precondition to its acceptance of Egypt's six-month Gaza truce proposal.
New Delhi, May 2 : Days after he conveyed his intention to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi next week for discussions on trade and economic cooperation, sources said on Thursday.

Sources in the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi said Araghchi is expected to hold detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar "on all aspects of the Pahalgam attack, besides other issues of bilateral, regional and global importance".

The Iranian Foreign Minister is set to co-chair a meeting of the bilateral joint commission with EAM Jaishankar while in India during May 7-8, sources said on condition of anonymity.

Araghchi's visit was scheduled long before tensions flared between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. It will also be Araghchi's first visit to India since he was appointed the Foreign Minister last August.

This will be the first meeting of the Joint Commission, which mainly focuses on trade and economic cooperation, since December 2019, when EAM Jaishankar travelled to Tehran for consultations.

While the Joint Commission is supposed to meet every year, there has been a gap in its meetings because of the Covid-19 pandemic and domestic pre-occupations of the two countries.

Though a substantive agenda of trade and economic issues, including development of Chabahar port, has been finalised, sources didn't rule out the possibility of the India-Pakistan tensions figuring in Araghchi's talks with Indian interlocutors.

Araghchi created a flutter in New Delhi by offering in a social media post last week to help "forge greater understanding" between India and Pakistan. The move came amid speculation within diplomatic circles about back-channel mediation by several West Asian countries that have close ties with both India and Pakistan.

Following the attack, India unveiled several punitive measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari. Pakistan retaliated with counter-measures such as closing its airspace to Indian airliners and suspending all trade.

Araghchi, who also spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on Friday, has described India and Pakistan as "brotherly neighbours" that Iran considers as a foremost priority.

There was no response from New Delhi to Araghchi's offer and the sources above noted that Iran and Pakistan had witnessed strains in their ties last year.

In January 2024, Iran and Pakistan fired missiles targeting militants on each other's territory.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Saturday and strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. Both leaders agreed there is no justification for such terrorist acts, and PM Modi shared the anger and anguish of the Indian people and their "resolve to deal with those behind the terror attack and their supporters," according to a readout from the External Affairs Ministry.

Pezeshkian emphasised the need for regional cooperation against terrorism and said Iran is opposed to such "inhumane acts", according to the Iranian embassy.

Pezeshkian described Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as "messengers of peace, friendship and co-existence" and hoped their "spirit will remain in India's relations with all countries".

Besides trade and economic issues, the Joint Commission also handles humanitarian matters and is expected to take up problems related to fishermen and seafarers, sources said.

Araghchi's visit will also be an opportunity for the Iranian side to brief India on Iran's discussions with the US and key European powers on the nuclear issue.

Iran is set to hold its third round of talks with the US in Rome on May 3 and Iranian officials are also expected to meet their French, German and British counterparts on May 2.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 2 : Pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has appealed to the Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army not to fight for the country if India goes to war with Pakistan, adding that Islamabad is "friendly" for Sikhs and Khalistan.

"If India attacks Pakistan, then it will be the final war for India and PM Modi. The Punjabis on the Indian side would serve langar for the Pakistani army," Pannun said in a video message, the Dawn reported.

In yet another provocative video, he said that in the event of India attacking Pakistan as a response to the Pahalgam attack, it will be "final war" for New Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 'Sikhs For Justice' leader also claimed that Punjabis on the Indian side of the border 'would serve langar' to the Pakistani army in the event of the war.

In his message to the Sikh soldiers, Pannun said that Pakistan wasn't the enemy but a friendly state which would be 'our neighbour once we liberate Punjab'.

"Now is the time to say no to Narendra Modi's jingoistic war. Do not fight against Pakistan. Pakistan is not your enemy. Pakistan will be and is a friendly country for the Sikh people and for Khalistan. Once we liberate Punjab, Pakistan will be our neighbour," Pannun added.

Tensions have been high between India and Pakistan since last week's deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in the Jammu and Kashmir resort town, including 25 Indians.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given full operational freedom to the Indian armed forces to choose the time, target, and mode of the country's response to the cowardly attack.

It is in this backdrop that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun seems to be trying to rile up the Sikh soldiers. His claims about the Sikhs and Punjabis, though, are unfounded and a desperate measure.

Several Pakistani Ministers have claimed that a military action from India was imminent. The Pakistani stock market crashed on Wednesday amid such reports although the Indian side hasn't reacted to them.

"This is Narendra Modi's government that is behind the Pahalgam Hindu massacre," Pannun added, in a brazen allegation.

As many as 26 people, including one Nepali national, were killed by terrorists at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam on April 22, causing nationwide rage and drawing global condemnation.

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba's offshoot, The Resistance Front, initially claimed responsibility for the attack; however, as India stepped up its retaliatory preparations, the organisation denied its involvement in the attack.
Washington, May 2 : US Vice-President J.D. Vance has sought to cast the ousting of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz as a "promotion" to be US Ambassador to the United Nations, blaming the media for framing his departure from the top national security post as a firing.

"He wasn't let go. He is being made Ambassador to the United Nations, which, of course, is a Senate-confirmed position. I think you can make a good argument that it's a promotion," Vance told Fox News' Bret Baier on Thursday in an interview from Charleston, South Carolina.

He continued, "The media wants to frame this as a firing. Donald Trump has fired a lot of people. He doesn't give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterwards. What he thinks is that Mike Waltz is going to better serve the administration -- most importantly, the American people -- in that role."

Vance said that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's job is "safe" when asked if there are further changes coming to the President's senior echelon of officials, and in particular if Hegseth's job is secure.

"We've got total faith in Pete," he added.

And pressed on whether the move was a direct result of Waltz's actions in a Signal chat with top Trump administration national security officials, Vance said, "No, it's not."

He broadly characterised the situation as Waltz going into the National Security Council at the beginning of the administration, firing people they felt were disloyal, and bringing in "the right collection of people to actually make the National Security Council function".

Vance went on to say, "Of course. Yeah. We fight for all our nominees," when asked whether Trump plans to fight for Waltz during a Senate confirmation process.

He also denied the possibility that the recent move against Waltz could be connected to his involvement in Signal-gate, when the former NSA added the editor of The Atlantic magazine to a chat group of high-ranking officials discussing the Trump administration's attack plans on the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Waltz has been under scrutiny after the Signal-gate reveled finer details of US attack on Yemen and embarrassed the administration which has made several key appointments seen as unconventional.

The former NSA had said he takes full responsibility for the episode.

The White House described the episode as a "mistake" but defended him saying the reveal caused Americans no harm.

The Pentagon inspector general is investigating the use of Signal, and he has faced criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans.

Announcing a new role for Waltz, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over Waltz's duties on an interim role and vowed to "fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN".

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first," Trump wrote on Truth Social, his own social media platform.

Rubio will be holding two crucial positions at a time when the administration is facing multiple foreign policy challenges a" grinding talks to end the Ukraine war, talks with Iran over its nuclear ambitions and global economic uncertainty after Trump's provoked a tariff war with major trade partners.
Washington, May 2 : US Vice-President J.D. Vance has said that the US hopes that Pakistan would cooperate with India to hunt down the Pakistan-based terrorists responsible for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month.

"Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict," Vance said on Thursday in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" show.

"And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they're responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with," the Us Vice-President added.

During the interview with Fox News, Vance made his first public remark on the attack, which left 26 people dead.

Vance and his family were in India on a four-day visit when the carnage -- the worst since the Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel in 2019 -- took place.

The Vice-President's remarks assume significance amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.

Vance, who was in India last month, had then condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families in a post on X.

The Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and one local, was one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in recent times. The terrorists had planned the attack on a scenic meadow which required hiking or using a pony service to get to the spot.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

Rubio asked Pakistani officials to cooperate in the investigation and work to de-escalate tensions between them.

In his first public remarks on the attack, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that India will give a fitting and precise response to every act of terrorism.

Sending a strong warning to terrorists, Amit Shah said, "If anyone thinks that a cowardly attack is their victory, they must remember this is Narendra Modi's India a" and revenge will be taken, one by one."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to "pursue" the perpetrators and their backers "to the ends of the earth".

India downgraded its ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and took several diplomatic measures, including the pausing of the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling all Pakistani military attaches, closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines and the shutting down of the Attari-Wagah border. In response, Pakistan undertook tit-for-tat measures and suspended the Simla Agreement.

India on Thursday relaxed its deadline allowing Pakistani nationals to return to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border. But, Pakistan has not yet reciprocated with the same measure by allowing Indian nationals into the country.
Jammu, May 2 : Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the eighth consecutive day on Friday.

Defence Ministry statement on Friday said, "During the night of May 1 and May 2, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir."

"Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner."

In addition to the LoC, Pakistan Army also violated ceasefire on the International Border in Pargwal sector of Jammu on Thursday.

Tensions have mounted between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The entire country was outraged by the cowardly act of terrorists as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his first reaction to Pahalgam killings that the terrorists, their handlers and backers would be chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

The Prime Minister has given a free hand to the Armed forces of the country to avenge the Pahalgam carnage by deciding on the timing, targets and the magnitude of response to hunt down the terrorists.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday.

The Defence Minister met the PM after he received a detailed briefing by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on the preparedness of the country's armed forces to meet any eventuality.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha had a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar a few days ago.

The L-G asked the Army to use whatever force is required to hunt down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Meanwhile, to send a powerful message to terrorists, their overground workers and sympathisers, security forces continue demolition of the houses of terrorists.

Last Friday, two houses belonging to Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh were demolished in the Tral and Bijbehara areas.

Both these terrorists were part of the LeT terrorist group involved in the Pahalgam killings.

Security forces have so far demolished the houses of 10 terrorists, who are reportedly still active in the Kashmir Valley.

On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly unanimously condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and passed a resolution on this.
New York, May 2 : A judge has given the US government a day's notice to come up with answers regarding the detention of an Indian academic whose deportation was temporarily blocked.

Federal Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on Thursday ordered government lawyers to explain why Badar Khan Suri was moved from a detention facility in Virginia, where he lives, to Louisiana and to Texas after his arrest in March.

Immigration authorities want to deport him because they allege that he has links to Hamas, which the US has declared is a Palestinian terrorist organisation.

He is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University in Washington.

Giles, who had earlier stayed his deportation, was hearing an appeal by Suri's lawyers to bring him back to Virginia and stop his deportation.

Government lawyers want the case against his deportation moved to a court in Texas, where he is now held.

Suri's lawyers fear that he is at greater risk of being deported because the courts in Texas are considered more conservative and could be sympathetic to the government.

Giles raised questions about the claims of overcrowding in the Virginia detention centre for moving him to a Texas facility where he was given a cot in a TV room, while he had a room to himself in Virginia.

She asked, "Are they moved like that in the middle of the night? Is that normal?"

Suri has a PhD from New Delhi's Jamia Milia University and was teaching a course on 'Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia' at Georgetown University.

He is married to a US citizen, Mapheze Saleh whose father Ahmed Yousef was an adviser to the Hamas-run administration in Gaza, creating a link to Hamas in the view of the government.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Suri of disseminating "Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media."

There has been an outpouring of support for him, including from some Jewish religious leaders who wrote a letter supporting him.

When his case was being heard in the Alexandria court, his supporters held a demonstration outside to demand his release.

Democrat Representative Don Beyer, a Democrat member of the Virginia State House of Representatives, who addressed the protesters, said, "It is Kafkaesque when somebody can be kidnapped without reason, without acknowledgment, without charges."

President Donald Trump's administration has said that it was pausing the deportation of students caught in the deportation dragnet for having committed even minor offences, but it does not seem to apply to those already in the deportation proceedings like Suri.

A judge in Vermont State ordered on Wednesday the release of a Palestinian student with a green card who led the anti-Israel protest at Columbia University pending the final decision on his case.
New Delhi, May 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on Friday to mark the inauguration and dedication of major infrastructure and development projects.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Kerala at around 10:30 a.m., where he will dedicate to the nation the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport  a Rs 8,900 crore project that marks India's first dedicated container transshipment port.

Strategically located near one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes and offering a natural depth of around 20 metres, the port is expected to significantly enhance India's presence in global shipping and trade logistics.

According to an official statement, "It is the country's first dedicated container transshipment port that represents the transformative advancements being made in India's maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat."

Following the event in Kerala, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, where he is expected to arrive at around 3:30 p.m. There, he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone, and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects with a cumulative value exceeding 58,000 crore.

Among these are seven National Highway projects, including widening of highway stretches, construction of road overbridges, subways, and elevated corridors aimed at easing congestion and improving interstate travel and logistics efficiency.

In addition, several railway infrastructure projects will be dedicated to the nation. As per the official statement, "Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity. These projects are doubling of the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati and construction of a third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations."

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for six new National Highway projects and one railway project. "These projects include widening of various sections of National Highways; construction of elevated corridor, half clover leaf and road overbridge among others. These projects will improve connectivity, inter-state travel, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics efficiency. Construction of Rail over Rail line between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations aims to bypass freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal Junction," the statement added.

The visit underscores the government's push towards strengthening India's maritime capabilities and boosting connectivity across the country.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Over the course of 24 hours, the occupiers' losses amounted to 1,110 units of manpower and 200 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 7:00 a.m. on Friday.

In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed nine tanks, five armored combat vehicles, 50 artillery systems, four air defense systems, 132 vehicles and tanker trucks.

The air strikes cost the enemy 138 operational-tactical level UAVs.
Seoul, May 2 : Top economic and financial policymakers on Friday vowed to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of the financial markets amid heightened political uncertainties following the resignations of the prime minister and finance minister, the finance ministry said.

The renewed pledge was made during an emergency meeting on macroeconomic and financial issues, chaired by acting Finance Minister Kim Beom-suk and attended by Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong, and the chiefs of the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, reports Yonhap news agency.

"The officials said it is regrettable that Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok inevitably resigned due to the impeachment motion, especially at a time when uncertainties in the economy and financial markets are high due to the U.S. tariff shocks, and with just one month to go before the launch of a new administration," the ministry said in a release.

"To minimise any negative impact of heightened political uncertainty, authorities will continue operating a 24-hour emergency monitoring and response system," it added.

Late Thursday, Choi offered to step down after the Democratic Party pushed for his impeachment. His resignation was immediately accepted.

Choi's departure came just hours after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been serving as acting president, resigned amid speculation over his bid in the June 3 presidential election.

Following their resignations, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, who concurrently serves as deputy prime minister for social affairs, became acting leader.

After the emergency meeting, Kim held a separate session with senior officials of his ministry and reviewed key pending issues, such as tariff talks with the United States and the execution of supplementary budget.

"We should make all-out efforts to safeguard the country's external credibility and minimize U.S. tariff-related shocks," Kim said.

"The supplementary budget needs to be executed as swiftly as possible to ensure timely responses to such urgent issues as disaster response and support for trade and artificial intelligence (AI)," he added.

On Thursday, the National Assembly passed a 13.8 trillion-won (US$9.6 billion) extra budget aimed at helping disaster response efforts and revitalising the economy.

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Mumbai, May 2 : Former Union Minister and television actress Smriti Irani took to social media to offer a rare glimpse into her personal reflections, describing books as her "companion of thoughts." Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) Former Union Minister and television actress Smriti Irani took to social media to offer a rare glimpse into her personal reflections, describing books as her "companion of thoughts."

In a heartfelt note, Irani expressed her deep connection with reading, highlighting how books have been a constant source of comfort and introspection in her life. On Friday, the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi actress shared a couple of her favourite books and wrote in the caption, "They say, think before you speakand read before you think. But in a world lit by screens and hurried by algorithms, there still breathes the quiet soulof a paperback book. No alerts. No noise. Just pages that waitnot to impress, but to reveal."

The note further read, "A sentence may whisper. A paragraph may roar. And in the silence between two pages, you may just meet a version of yourself you've never known. In this age of AI and acceleration, I still find comfort in the rustle of old paper, ink that smells of memory, and stories that choose to unfold slowly. Here are a few of minecompanions of thought, keepers of pause, echoes of solitude. What are yours? #dotell #books."

A few days ago, Smriti Irani shared a reflective note on the importance of listening and introspection. She shared a candid photo of herself and captioned the post, "Listening - not just to words but to what lies between them. Every chapter I write begins with understanding the world around me. Silence is not absence ; it is preparation for impact #temperatetuesday #reflections."

Smriti, once a popular face on Indian television, has carved a remarkable path in public service, emerging as a key figure in Indian politics. She has served as the Minister of Human Resource Development, Minister of Textiles in the Government of India, and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting.
New Delhi, May 2 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, have reaffirmed their shared resolve to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025.

Both sides reiterated their aim to address pending issues in a spirit of mutual respect and pragmatism, including at the next round scheduled to be held from May 12-16 in New Delhi, according to an official statement issued on Friday after the meeting in Brussels.

This commitment builds on the strategic direction given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during the landmark visit of the EU College of Commissioners to New Delhi in February this year, the statement said.

"In my highly productive dialogue with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic today, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to concluding the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement negotiations by the end of 2025," Goyal posted on X social media platform.

"As we advance in our negotiations, our focus is on enhancing market access for businesses, promoting trusted and diversified supply chains, and deepening our partnership to drive the growth of our economies," the minister explained.

"We also discussed boosting innovation and competitiveness, and the critical role of investments and mobility in shaping a future-ready agreement," he added.

Both India and EU, under the leadership of PM Modi and EU President, remain committed to working towards a mutually beneficial and strategic agreement for shared prosperity and sustainable development of our regions, said the Union Minister.

The high-level engagement underscores the strategic importance both partners attach to building a commercially meaningful, mutually beneficial, balanced, and a fair trade partnership that supports economic resilience and inclusive growth.

The meeting highlighted the progress made across multiple negotiating tracks and emphasised the importance of maintaining the ongoing momentum through monthly negotiating rounds and continued virtual engagement.

India said that meaningful progress in trade negotiations requires equal focus on non-tariff barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff discussions and regulatory frameworks must be inclusive, proportionate, and avoid restricting trade.

The India-EU FTA aspires to reflect the evolving realities of global commerce by supporting digital transition, promoting diversified and resilient supply chains. Both sides expressed optimism that the agreement, once concluded, will serve as a transformative pillar of the broader India-EU strategic partnership, enhancing market access, supporting regulatory cooperation, and fostering innovation and competitiveness on both sides. Both sides acknowledged the crucial role of investment flows and people-to-people mobility in sustaining economic vitality, the statement said.
Sydney, May 2 : A virus long dismissed as a scientific oddity has been found hiding in plain sight, and it may help fight dangerous bacteria, according to a study.

The study focussed on bacteriophages (phages) -- viruses that infect bacteria and come in many forms. In particular, researchers investigated telomere phages -- a type of phage that until now was considered a acuriositya.

These viruses aren't just passive passengers as they may actually help good bacteria wipe out neighbouring bad ones, Xinhua news agency reported.

Previous studies decoded only their unique DNA replication mechanism. The new study, published in Science Advances, discovered that bacteria carrying telomere phages produce toxins that kill off rival bacteria.

Researchers from Monash University, Australia discovered that telomere phage is surprisingly common in Klebsiella. Klebsiella is a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia and serious drug-resistant infections.

"For more than 20 years of intensive bacterial genomics, telomere phages had remained hidden in plain sight. We have missed an entire aspect of biology," said Trevor Lithgow, head of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Bacterial Cell Biology Lab.

Lithgow stated sequencing a clinical Klebsiella strain led to the finding of a fourth telomere phage.

The analysis revealed that telomere phages are not rare curiosities. Instead, these are highly prevalent throughout the thousands of lineages of Klebsiella, including strains collected from waterway environments, the researcher said.

Further, the discovery of toxins -- atelocinsa (for telomere-phage toxins) -- was found to enable a bacterial management strategy. While the agooda bacteria carrying telomere phages will kill neighbouring abada Klebsiella, the abada bacteria would be antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella, Lithgow said.

"We now want to understand how the host secretes the toxin and also understand how the toxin wheedles its way into the unsuspecting bacterial neighbors," said Sally Byers from the Lithgow Laboratory.

The team believes these helpful viruses could exist in many other bacteria, too.
New Delhi, May 2 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the Majnu ka Tila area on Friday to inspect the waterlogged areas after the national Capital recorded heavy rain and thundershowers.

Stating that things won't work like this, CM Gupta directed officials and departments to take immediate action wherever waterlogging is reported.

"Visit the affected areas as soon as possible," she told the officials. "Where are the PWD officials?" she asked.

Delhi CM, accompanied by senior government officials as well as MCD staff, visited the city's Majnu ka Tila and took stock of the ground situation, post the sudden and intense downpour this morning.

Delhi CM instructed the officials for quick resolution of residents' problems in all affected areas of the city and also directed them to restore normalcy by deploying adequate manpower and equipment.

Speaking to scribes, she assured the citizens that her office is personally monitoring the situation and said that clear instructions have been passed to identify all areas affected due to waterlogging and bringing normalcy in those areas is of high priority.

She held the previous AAP administration responsible for the mess, saying, "The disease which we have got from the previous governments will take time to be cured."

She however said that addressing water woes of the city remains top priority of her government and therefore she herself stepped on to the streets.

"There is waterlogging in many areas. People are stuck in traffic jams. It is our responsibility to fix it. Officials and workers are on the ground to solve the situation," she told newsmen.

Meanwhile, Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma also visited the Minto Bridge to assess the situation.

In a post on X, he said, "Today, due to unseasonal record rainfall, water stagnated in some quantity at many places in Delhi. From 5:30 am onwards, I went to many places and took stock of the situation. On going to Minto Bridge, I saw that all the four pumps were working and the operator was also alert. A pipe had burst and I have been asked to supervise repairs. In view of the monsoon, the cleaning of drains is being done continuously by PWD, MCD, DJB, NDMC, IFC."

Despite the presence of pumping systems at Minto Bridge, a burst pipe contributed to partial flooding, prompting swift instructions for repair.

Earlier in the day, four people of a family were killed after a tree fell on a tubewell room due to heavy rain and thunderstorm in Jafarpur Kalan, Dwarka. The deceased were identified as Jyoti and her three children.

The family members, who got trapped under the debris, were pulled out and rushed to Rao Tula Ram (RTR) Memorial Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.

Jyoti's husband, Ajay, sustained minor injuries in the incident and has been discharged. Authorities are investigating the incident and have pledged support for the affected family. Heavy rain in the national Capital led to traffic snarls in many areas like Dwarka, Khanpur, South Extension Ring Road, Minto Road, Lajpat Nagar and Moti Bagh, inconveniencing commuters.

Waterlogging was reported on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Tughlaqabad, Neem Chowk Road in Sangam Vihar and ITO.

The Delhi government has urged citizens to stay indoors during extreme weather events and avoid taking shelter under trees or unstable structures.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi.

Flight operations were affected as strong winds, thunder, lightning and heavy rain lashed Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Even though the change in weather brought much-needed respite from the scorching heat, flight operations were severely impacted.
New Delhi, May 2 : After months of anticipation, the sacred portals of Baba Kedarnath were opened for public darshan on Friday. With this, the Char Dham Yatra has officially commenced, allowing devotees to embark on the spiritual journey to the Himalayan shrines for the next six months.

The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened amid grand religious ceremonies and the chanting of Vedic hymns in the presence of thousands of devotees. The auspicious moment was marked by a festive and devotional atmosphere as pilgrims gathered to witness the spiritually significant event.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been actively monitoring the pilgrimage preparations, expressed his commitment to ensuring smooth travel and registration for the devotees.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "I visited Rishikesh, the first halt of the Yatra, to review the arrangements. We've held discussions with stakeholders and directed officials to maintain active communication with pilgrims throughout the journey."

He further added, "We wait for the doors of Baba Kedarnath to open each year with great devotion. This year, the Char Dham Yatra began on April 30 on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. I had the good fortune of being present at the opening of the Ganga shrine in Gangotri and feel blessed to be part of these divine moments. Two days from now, the doors of Badrinath Dham will also open."

Highlighting the efforts of local contributors, the Chief Minister appreciated the team handling logistics and transportation, particularly noting the contribution of Himanshu Chamoli and his team. "I appreciate the efforts of Himanshu Chamoli and his entire team for ensuring good transportation and proper arrangements at the stations during the journey," he said.

"The traders along the pilgrimage routes are vital to the Yatra as it forms the backbone of their livelihood. Their role is invaluable to the state and region."

This year, Kedarnath Temple has been adorned like never before. The Pushp Samiti from Rishikesh and Gujarat has decked the temple with a breathtaking 108 quintals of vibrant flowers. The colourful blooms have added an aura of divine beauty and fragrance to the already majestic shrine, leaving devotees mesmerised.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, May 2 : Television actress Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya recently shared a touching moment from her father's 70th birthday celebration in Bhopal, where emotions ran high as he broke down in tears.

Surrounded by loved ones, the milestone occasion turned into an unforgettable memory filled with love, gratitude, and heartfelt sentiments. On Friday, Divyanka posted a heartwarming video from her father's birthday celebration, giving fans a glimpse into the emotional and love-filled gathering held in Bhopal. The video shows her father, Narendra Tripathi, cutting a beautifully decorated cake, surrounded by family members who showered him with affection and warm wishes.

One of the most touching moments in the video captures Divyanka's father becoming overwhelmed with emotion and breaking down in tears. In a beautiful gesture of support, Divyanka's husband, Vivek Dahiya, is seen walking up to him and wrapping him in a warm, comforting hug.

Sharing this heartfelt video, the 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein' actor wrote in the caption, "Papa's 70th Birthday. We celebrated the life of our favourite person last week in Bhopal. There's no better feeling than being with your family. (You can watch more in our vlog)."

Last week, the 'Banoo Main Teri Dulhann' actress dropped a happy family selfie featuring the entire clan, clicked by Vivek Dahiya. She also posted a short video of her family waving at the camera. Divyanka captioned it, "Family scenes... The foundations of nostalgia!."

Work-wise, Divyanka and Vivek recently made an appearance on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa's podcast, where they were candidly asked about their relatively low presence on social media platforms. The actress stated, "We're really into our own world. When it comes to Instagram and other social media, we feel like we have to put in extra effort. We do understand that we receive a lot of love, and we want to reciprocate thatbut it takes a lot of effort. So sometimes we just think, "Let's make a reel and post it," because we also feel a sense of responsibility."

Divyanka Tripathi rose to fame with the television drama "Banoo Main Teri Dulhann," which aired between 2006 and 2009. The show earned her widespread recognition. She later appeared in shows like "Mrs & Mr Sharma Allahabadwale" and the long-running daily soap "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein."
Thiruvananthapuram, May 2 : The idea and efforts of establishing a deep-sea port at Vizhinjam dates back to 1991. Over the years, multiple attempts were made to initiate the project, but it faced several challenges, including security concerns and legal disputes related to bidding and lack of investor interest.

In August 2015, the Kerala government signed an agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) to develop the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

This marked a significant step towards realising the long-standing vision of a world-class port in the region.

Following the unsuccessful attempts of 1995, 2004, 2008 and 2010, the state government in 2014, recognising the standalone financial viability of the project, structured the project with viability gap funding (VGF) assistance from the Central government and substantial financial support from state government.

Adani Ports emerged as the sole selected bidder and was awarded the project in 2015. The agreement granted Adani a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with a provision for a 20-year extension.

However, the execution of the Vizhinjam Port project was fraught with challenges.

Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 caused significant damage to the construction, particularly the breakwater, leading to delays. A scarcity of essential construction materials, especially limestone, further hampered progress. Agitations resulting from apprehension related to Coastal Erosion and livelihood loss.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and labour availability, contributing to further delays.

Despite these obstacles, the Adani Group persisted, overcoming all challenges with patience and maturity, and continued to work towards project completion.

As of May 2025, the Vizhinjam International Seaport stands as a testament to Indiaas maritime ambitions:

The port commenced trial operations in July 2024, receiving its first mothership, the San Fernando. In September 2024 and April 2025, it welcomed the MSC Claude Girarde and MSC Turkiye, listed among worldas ultra large container vessels and largest vessels ever visited an Indian Port.

Since start operation, the Port has handled more than 280 vessels and 6 Lakh TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units).

The port boasts a natural deep draft of 18m close to shore that requires no capital dredging. Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20m+ drafts.

It features Indiaas tallest ship-to-shore cranes and is equipped with AI-powered vessel traffic management systems.

Situated just 10 nautical miles from the international easta"west shipping route, Vizhinjam is poised to become a pivotal transshipment hub, reducing Indiaas reliance on ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.

The port is expected to significantly lower logistics costs for Indian manufacturers by 30-40 per cent, enhancing the countryas export competitiveness.

With plans to increase capacity to 5 million TEUs by 2028 with latest technology, the port is set to play a crucial role in Indiaas maritime infrastructure.

Working closely with the state government and the Central government, the Adani Group has already invested over Rs 4,500 crore in the Vizhinjam International Seaport project.

As India's first automated port, Vizhinjam is setting new benchmarks in port management and operations. The Adani Group is expected to invest another Rs 20,000 crore in the project's upcoming phases, creating more than 5,000 jobs and boosting the local economy to unprecedented heights.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mangaluru : , May 2 (IANS) Tension continues in the coastal city of Mangaluru following the bandh called by Hindu organisations on Friday in protest against the murder of Suhas Shetty (42), a former Bajrang Dal worker.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, the police department has imposed prohibitory orders in the communally-sensitive coastal district.

ADGP (Law and Order) R. Hitendra, speaking to the media on Friday, stated that Suhas Shetty's family has informed the police that the final rites will be held in Bantwal, and security arrangements have been made accordingly.

The police have gathered names and other leads related to the accused, and arrests will be made soon.

"We appeal to the public to maintain law and order in the region. When you consider the history of the Mangaluru region, these developments are not entirely unexpected. However, strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty," he said.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a bandh until 6 pm to condemn the killing of Suhas Shetty.

VHP activists are also demanding police permission to take Suhas Shetty's body in a procession from Karinja near Bantwal to his residence in the Pulimajalu locality.

The bandh is being observed across Mangaluru district, with shops and commercial establishments remaining shut.

Private buses, the main mode of transport in the district, have stopped operating following reports of stone-pelting earlier in the day. However, RTC buses are continuing to run.

BJP state President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra is visiting Mangaluru to pay his last respects to Suhas Shetty. A statement from his office alleged that Suhas Shetty was hacked to death.

Regarding the Mangaluru incident, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who is also the district incharge minister for Mangaluru, is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday to discuss the recent disturbing developments.

A statement from Minister Rao's office said, "In the wake of the two murder cases in Mangaluru in the recent past, the Minister will discuss with the Chief Minister the actions taken by the police and the need to maintain strict law and order."

Reacting to the developments, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, stated on Friday, "Under the Congress rule, Karnataka is no place for Hindus. Just like in Kashmir and West Bengal's Murshidabad, Hindus are being identified and killed in broad daylight."

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose heart beats for peace in Pakistan, becomes numb when Hindus are killed in Karnataka. The brutal murder of Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru once again exposes the crumbling law and order situation under the Congress government's appeasement politics," he claimed.

Sharan Pumpwell, a senior VHP leader, alleged that Suhas Shetty was waylaid and murdered by members of a banned Muslim organisation while traveling in his vehicle.

"It was a pre-planned murder with direct involvement of the banned Islamic terrorist organisation PFI. The VHP and other Hindu organisations strongly condemn this act," he said.

"This bandh call has been given by Hindu organisations led by the VHP. I appeal to the public to observe a total bandh in protest against the killing of this Hindu activist. I also urge the police to arrest the accused at the earliest," he added.
Jaipur, May 2 : Rajasthan, which had been reeling under an intense heat wave, got much-needed respite on Friday with dust storms and rainfall sweeping across several parts of the state. Dust storms struck regions including Jaipur, Bharatpur, Alwar, and Jhunjhunu, with wind speeds exceeding 40 km/h.

The strong winds caused trees and solar panels to collapse in parts of Jaipur.

The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of thunderstorms, rain, and possible hailstorms in most districts, except for the southern districts of Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, and Banswara.

In Jaipur, strong winds uprooted trees on Ajmer Road and in the Khatipura area, disrupting traffic late Thursday night. Solar panels were also damaged in the Harmara locality due to intense gusts.

According to data from the Meteorological Department, Kaman in Bharatpur recorded the highest rainfall in the state over the past 24 hours at 77 mm.

Other notable figures include 31 mm in Sam (Jaisalmer), 20.1 mm in Pilani (Jhunjhunu), 17 mm in Rajgarh (Alwar), 14 mm in Jaisalmer city, 11.5 mm in Ganganagar, and 10 mm in Devikot (Jaisalmer).

Cities including Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Hanumangarh, and Bhilwara received between 1 mm and 10 mm of rainfall.

On Thursday evening, thunderstorms accompanied by rain were reported in Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bhilwara, and Pali.

In Jaisalmer, strong winds knocked down power poles, affecting the electricity supply.

On Thursday, before the rains and thunderstorms, temperatures remained high in several areas of the state.

Jaisalmer recorded the highest temperature at 46.7 degrees Celsius, 5.3 degrees Celsius above normal. It was followed by Barmer (46.1 degrees Celsius), Chittorgarh (45 degrees Celsius), Bikaner (44.9 degrees Celsius), Phalodi (44.2 degrees Celsius), Churu (43.5 degrees Celsius), Ganganagar (43.3 degrees Celsius), Kota (43.2 degrees Celsius), and Udaipur (43 degrees Celsius).

Jaipur recorded a maximum of 40.8 degrees Celsius under clear skies with slight humidity, while the minimum temperature was 28.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Photo: Reuters

The United States will no longer act as a mediator in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Both sides must reach an agreement on their own, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

The nature of how this would change is () we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties, and now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them, she said a briefing.

According to her, there are other regions in the world that require attention.

The Secretarys (Marco Rubio) also made it very clear that while our style will change, the methodology of how we contribute to this will change in that we will not be the mediators, she added.

Asked whether the USA is ready to impose secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil, similar to the measures taken against Iran, the State Department spokeswoman said US President Donald Trump has again expressed willingness to act in this direction.

Clearly were not removing any sanctions that currently exist. The President wants in every action that weve taken as a nation to do it diplomatically; that he  clearly, because of the commitment to it, she stated.
Washington, May 2 : Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor, said that the US does not give up on the matter of settling the conflict in Ukraine but acknowledges that there are plenty of more important problems across the globe.

"We're not going to give up on it. But there does come a point when the President of the US, Donald Trump has to decide how much more time at the highest levels of our government you dedicate to it.

"Even more important issues are going on around the world, not that a war in Ukraine is not important, but I would say what's happening with China is more important in the long term. Iran's nuclear ambition and all these other things that we have going on," he said in an interview with Fox News.

Rubio said that Washington understands the positions of Moscow and Kyiv. "They're closer, but they're still far apart. And it's going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the President is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we're going to dedicate to this," the official added.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Rubio, highlighting the importance of strengthening conditions to launch talks on achieving peace in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The focus was on the Ukraine crisis. As a follow-up to the April 25 conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, the foreign minister and the secretary of state emphasised the importance of consolidating the emerging prerequisites for launching talks in order to agree on a reliable path to long-term sustainable peace," the statement read.

"The parties continued a fruitful exchange of views on the key aspects of Russia-US political dialogue, which has significantly intensified recently," the statement added.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that President Putin was ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions.

Furthermore, according to Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, the conversation between Putin and Witkoff on April 25 which lasted three hours, was "constructive and quite useful."
Gurugram, May 2 : A brief but intense spell of rain on Friday morning brought Gurugram to a halt, exposing the hollow claims of pre-monsoon preparedness by the district administration, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), and other civic agencies.

The downpour, which began around 5 a.m. and intensified within 15 minutes, led to severe waterlogging across the city.

Soon, key roads and residential areas were submerged, some under 3-4 feet of water, disrupting both vehicular and pedestrian movement. Trees were uprooted in several areas, causing power outages and adding to the chaos.

Traffic was thrown out of gear during the morning rush hour, with police struggling to manage the flow in knee-deep water. Movement on the Delhi-Jaipur-Mumbai highway was also severely affected.

Among the worst-hit locations were Hero Honda Chowk, Basai Road, Medanta Underpass, Galleria Market, Signature Tower, Huda City Centre, Iffco Chowk, Sector 14, Vatika Chowk, and Sheetla Mata Mandir, among others.

Nearly 65 per cent of the city was estimated to be under an average of 2.5 feet of water.

Despite the chaos, traffic police were quick to respond. "We were alert as clouds built up and took our positions as soon as it started raining," said a senior traffic officer.

"It's tough to manage traffic in such conditions, but we are doing our best," he said.

Residents expressed frustration at the recurring issue. "The multiple agencies in Gurugram have no solution to waterlogging," said Ram Chandra, a local resident.

Others took to social media to share images of flooded roads and traffic snarls.

Office-goers and children in the city, too, faced a lot of inconvenience due to traffic disruptions.

Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson for the Gurugram Police, said, "Traffic personnel have been deployed at major junctions to ensure smoother movement."
Seoul, May 2 : Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo declared his bid for President on Friday, vowing to cut short his term to three years in order to amend the Constitution and use his economic expertise to tackle the crisis in trade.

Han's announcement at the National Assembly came one month before voters head to the polls on June 3 to pick a successor to impeached former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Even before entering the race, Han was a favourite among conservatives to challenge current frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party.

Until his resignation Thursday, Han served as Acting President and Prime Minister in the months following Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

"I decided to find something I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea I love and for all of us," he said in a press conference at the Assembly. "I will do my utmost to be chosen by our people through the upcoming presidential election."

Han, who was Prime Minister under both liberal and conservative presidents and also served as the South Korean Ambassador to the United States, said he will make three promises to the people, including an immediate amendment to the Constitution.

The aim will be to craft an amendment proposal in his first year in office, finalise the amendment in the second year, hold general and presidential elections in the third year in line with the new Constitution, and then immediately step down.

The key goal in amending the Constitution, he said, will be "for the President and the National Assembly to share power amid checks and balances, eliminating the juridification of politics and the politicisation of the judiciary, and sincerely contributing to the national interest and public welfare through the institutionalisation of cooperative governance and effective administration."

The Constitution currently allows presidents to serve a single, five-year term, but under Han's proposal, he would only serve three years.

Han also pledged to resolve current trade issues triggered in part by Washington's new tariff policy by drawing on his experience leading multiple trade negotiations to success, Yonhap news agency reported.

He further promised to work for national unity and inclusion of the socially weak and marginalised.
Islamabad, May 2 : Pakistan has announced to keep the Wagah Border crossing open for its citizens returning from India after New Delhi revoked their visas following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

The decision comes after many Pakistani nationals in India were stranded on the Indian side of the border in Attari.

As per the statement issued by Pakistan Foreign office, "Many Pakistani patients had to return without completing their treatment, and there have been reports of families separated with some children left apart from one of their parents", adding that "while the deadline for the return of Pakistani nationals from India was April 30, the Wagah border in Lahore will remain open to receive its citizens if the Indian authorities allow them to cross the border from their side."

"Wagah border will remain open for Pakistani citizens in the future," stated the Pakistan Foreign Office.

"The Indian decision to revoke visas of Pakistani citizens is creating serious humanitarian challenges," the Foreign Office maintained.

India and Pakistan announced the cancellation of visas of each other's nationals, as part of a response after the Pahalgam terror attack and escalating tensions.

After India cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani citizens with immediate effect and put a deadline of April 30 for them to return to Islamabad, the move was reciprocated, leaving hundreds of families on both sides in a rush to cut short their stays and pack up to leave the country.

Reports revealed that many Pakistani families, who had travelled to India for medical treatment, had to return in these circumstances, while many others are still stranded on the Indian side of the border.

A Pakistani family that travelled to India for the heart treatment of their two children had to return without receiving the medical care, media reports said.

"My children are innocent in this situation. We had to return to Pakistan without the medical treatment for my two sons, who need treatment urgently. I appeal to the Pakistan government to arrange the treatment in another country," said Shahid Ali, father of the two ailing sons.

"They have a heart condition, and their treatment was possible in New Delhi because of the advanced medical treatment facilities there. But after the Pahalgam incident, we were told to return to Pakistan immediately," he added.

Moreover, many Pakistani nationals who married in India are forced to be separated from their families. In many cases, one of the parents, who is a Pakistani national living in India, has to return without family due to the orders of both governments. As per reports, there are thousands of Pakistani nationals still present in India who are trying to return to Pakistan.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took potshots at the Congress and INDIA bloc during the Vizhinjam seaport inauguration in Kerala, saying that "some will lose sleep today", apparently pointing to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was present on stage.

PM Modi, after dedicating the Rs 8,900 project to the nation, told the gathering, "Today's event is the first-of-its-kind, some will lose sleep over the mega inauguration event."

"This will irk some," he added.

PM Modi's pointed reference was apparently at Congress MP Tharoor's attendance at the seaport inauguration event.

Earlier in the day, Tharoor went to the airport to receive PM Modi, setting tongues wagging in political circles.

Tharoor also shared pictures of receiving PM Modi at the airport, ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

Notably, Tharoor's recent "closeness" with the BJP and repeated praise for PM Modi have already sent rumour mills into overdrive. Speculations are rife that the Congress lawmaker was weighing his options within the party and contemplating a switch for a "better political future". However, these continue to remain mere hearsay for now.

Those close to Tharoor admit off the record that he has been upset with the party high command for repeated neglect and spurn, and such "overtures" are nothing but means to vent his discontent with the party's ways of functioning.

In the past few months, Tharoor has praised PM Modi not once but multiple times.

Early this year, when US President Donald Trump described PM Modi as a "tough and better negotiator" than him, the Congress MP welcomed the statement and said, "That sounds very good".

The last time Tharoor praised PM Modi was on India's vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Praising the Vaccine Matri project of the Modi government, he said that this policy "reinforced India's image as a benevolent and reliable partner on the global stage".
New Delhi, May 1 : Integrating mental health support in cancer care is important and will boost the health of both survivors and caregivers, according to a new study by oncologists at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

The study, published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, sheds light on the critical yet under-recognised psychological struggles faced by cancer survivors and their caregivers.

More than affecting physical health, a cancer diagnosis raises fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression -- all of which can profoundly affect the quality of life not only for patients but also for caregivers.

"We advocate for integrating mental health care into routine oncology services, expanding access to psycho-oncology, and recognising caregivers' needs," corresponding author Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS, Delhi, told IANS.

The study noted that once the patients undergo treatment, they get introduced to a new set of challenges like managing long-term side effects, adjusting to new physical limitations. They also struggle to reconstruct a sense of identity following a profoundly life-altering experience, which can take a toll on their mental health.

While the needs of the patient have been the primary focus, caregivers -- who play an essential role in the patient's journey, providing emotional and physical support, coordinating treatment logistics, and managing the daily realities of living with cancer patients are often overlooked.

The study showed they face their unique psychological burdens, dealing with feelings of helplessness and burnout. They also suffer from anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.

This underscores the urgent need to address the psychological needs of all individuals impacted by cancer, be they survivors or caregivers, said the researchers.

"While advances in cancer treatment have improved survival, mental health support remains inadequate. There is an utmost need for a holistic approach taking psychological care as a part of the continuum to ensure that both survivors and caregivers are truly supported in their journey beyond cancer," Shankar said.
Bengaluru, May 2 : Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday condemned the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, assuring that the perpetrators would not be spared, urging residents to maintain peace.

"We will not spare the killers," Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.

"I appeal to the people of Mangaluru to stay calm. The government stands with you, and the police are fully committed to maintaining law and order," he said.

The minister said he had deputed the ADGP (Law and Order) to the scene and sought a detailed report.

"The investigation is already underway. We are taking all necessary steps to prevent further incidents," he added.

Shetty was hacked to death on the night of May 1 while traveling with associates in a car within the Bajpe police station limits. The attackers, reportedly armed with machetes and swords, arrived in two vehicles and ambushed him.

"Mangaluru was returning to normalcy, but the recent mob lynching and this murder have deeply disturbed the district," Parameshwara said. "We have formed four special teams to nab the accused, and they will be arrested soon."

Responding to the bandh call by Hindu organisations, the Minister said, "We are working to defuse tension. No matter the background or affiliation of those involved, we will bring them to justice."

Addressing the BJP's accusations of appeasement politics, Parameshwara said, "We do not condone any act of violence. It is our duty to uphold peace and order. We will not shirk this responsibility."

On claims that Hindus are being targeted under Congress rule, he responded, "Does the Congress not have Hindu members? Are we not Hindus ourselves? This is a criminal case -- we will arrest those responsible. Giving it a communal or political colour is not right."

Suhas Shetty, a Bajrang Dal activist, was the prime accused in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, a Suratkal resident who was killed in broad daylight on July 28, 2022. That murder was allegedly in retaliation for the killing of BJP activist Praveen Kumar Nettaru.

Nettaru was hacked to death during the height of the hijab row in Bellare near Sullia, Dakshina Kannada district -- a murder that had triggered a spate of revenge killings and stabbings across the state.

Shetty had recently been released on bail in the Fazil murder case.
Mumbai, May 2 : Farah Khan has revealed the hilarious reaction that superstar Shah Rukh Khan had after shooting for an ad with the filmmaker-choreographer's cook Dilip.

This time for her YouTube vlog, Farah along with her cook Dilip visited Kabir Khan and Mini Mathur's home, where the two guests cooked the special kulle ki chaat and Hydarbadi kebabs.

Talking to Mini and Kabir about Dilip becoming a star, Farah said: "He has shot an ad with Shah Rukh. Then he (Dilip) called me, saying that, 'you come and teach me'. So, Shah Rukh is telling me 'mera time dekh kya chal raha hai, main tere cook ke saath shoot kar raha hun. ("Just look at my fate right now  I'm shooting with your cook!)'"

"I said 'mera time dekh tere ko chorke, usko direct kar rahi hun. (Look at my fate  I am directing him instead of you!)'"

Talking about what the delicacies Mini will be serving, she said: "Because we have a multicultural household we will do a little Mathur and a little Khan.

"When Kabir came to my house for the first time that chaat was made. Now it is made when his films touch 100 crores," Mini quipped.

On April 30, Farah and Pooja Bedi recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, sharing a hilarious behind-the-scenes story about filming the iconic "Pehla Nasha" scene from the 1992 classic Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, where the former actress famously posed atop a car.

Pooja along with her actress daughter Alaya F joined Farah for her YouTube show, where they made blueberry protein pancakes.

Farah has choreographed more than a hundred songs in over 80 films, winning the National Film Award for Best Choreography.

In addition, she has worked on Tamil films and in international projects, such as Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams, Vanity Fair and Marigold: An Adventure in India and the Chinese films Perhaps Love and Kung Fu Yoga earning Tony Award and Golden Horse Award nominations. She has directed movies such as Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om and Happy New Year.
Mumbai, May 2 : Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, best known for his iconic role as 'Shaktimaan', slammed China's recent statement regarding its support for Pakistan.

Taking to social media, the actor posted a photo featuring Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping and called out what he believes to be 'blatant hypocrisy.' On Friday, Mukesh took to Instagram and shared a photo of Shehbaz Sharif and Xi Jinping and captioned it, "WHAT A JOKE! China claims it will support Pakistan. China spreading disturbance in South Asia says: China will always support Pakistan for peace and stability in South Asia. Could there be a bigger joke than this?."

On April 27, China expressed its support for Pakistan, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the country's sovereignty and security concerns. Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to show restraint following the terror attack in Pahalgam. Wang's remarks came amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists near Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.

The attack was claimed by the Resistance Front, a group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Khanna had previously questioned the unity within the Hindu community. He expressed concerns about whether Hindus were truly united, despite sharing a common cultural and religious heritage. In his recent appearance on Shardul Pandit's podcast, Mukesh highlighted the need for unity within the community, particularly during challenging times.

"If you are not part of our religion, that's enough; we don't say anything more. One weakness of our religion is something we are suffering from. Our numbers are decreasing. Even after reaching 80 crores, we have 80 divisions. If you just whistle, all Muslims in the world come together. But if you shout in the Hindu community, they ask, 'What do you want?"

The actor voiced his disappointment over how Hindus often struggle to come together during times of crisis, contrasting this with the unity displayed by other communities.

"They don't help, and they won't because they say, 'I'm Jain,' 'I'm Buddhist,' 'I'm Sikh,' or 'I'm Marwari.' Someone needs to make them understand that first and foremost, they are Hindu. Someone needs to make them understand that first and foremost, they are Hindu," explained Mukesh Khanna.
Chandigarh, May 2 : The all-party meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here on Friday to discuss the issue of giving additional water to neighbouring Haryana, unanimously decided that the state itself has no surplus water. They also decided to meet either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to apprise them of the situation.

The meeting comprised leaders from the AAP, BJP, the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Later there was a media interaction after the all-party meeting of all prominent parties expressed unanimity with the AAP government's refusal to share extra water with Haryana.

Chief Minister Mann told the media that all the political parties, rising above their ideology, suggested to the government that it must save every drop of the water which is the state's lifeline.

CM Mann said Haryana, which is already receiving 4,700 cusecs against its allocated 1,700 cusecs, is now set to benefit from additional theft of Punjab's rightful share.

The ongoing row was triggered by the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water from the reservoir to Haryana, which is an additional 4,500 cusecs.

CM Mann clarified that Haryana has already used 103 per cent of its share and warned of agitation "if Punjab's rights are denied".

He said the government of Punjab has convened a special Assembly session on sharing water on May 5.

Amid the presence of state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, CM Mann expressed anguish against the move of the Centre to "snatch" waters of Punjab by misusing the BBMB.

He said that during the meeting, issues pertaining to usurping of rights of Punjab by the Union government through unfair allocation of water to Haryana by the BBMB, was deliberated upon.

"At the meeting, the unity of all political parties over the sensitive issue was reflected by opposing the move of the Centre to share more water," Mann said categorically.

"We all are united for safeguarding the interests of Punjab and Punjabis. We got a suggestion to meet the Prime Minister on the issue, and we will arrive at the decision after the special Assembly session on Monday," he said.

He clarified, "All parties would be allowed to speak on the issue as much as they can."

The Chief Minister also clarified that Punjabis have the right over every drop of river water and no one can snatch it.

In the special session of the Vidhan Sabha, the government will bring a special resolution on the water issue.

He reiterated that the government will not compromise over this issue, and the interests of the state on the river waters will be safeguarded.

Saying Punjab has no surplus water to share with anyone, state BJP President Jakhar said at a time when war-like conditions persist at the International Border, the government is destabilising Punjab by entangling its police force in protests and demonstrations.

Jakhar emphasised that the BJP has always firmly stood for Punjab's interests and maintained a clear stance that Punjab has no surplus water to share with any state.

While the release of water is yet to start, the Punjab government has stepped up security at the regulator end of the Nangal dam fearing a law-and-order situation.

CM Mann rushed to the Nangal Dam on Thursday and locked downstream gates so as not to allow release of water meant for Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan.

Cabinet Minister Aman Arora highlighted that Punjab, with a 60 per cent share in the BBMB, is facing attempts to divert its waters unjustly to Haryana.
Photo: SBU

Ukraine's Security Service and the Prosecutor General's Office have uncovered a large-scale embezzlement scheme involving assets of JSC Motor Sich.

According to an statement by the Security Service issued Friday, law enforcement authorities from Ukraine, the Principality of Monaco, and the French Republic have detained the son of the former president of Motor Sich. He is suspected, along with his father, of misappropriating assets from the industrial giant.

"The investigation established that the suspects illegally acquired a controlling stake in the state-owned enterprise and subsequently sold it for $650 million," the Security Service reported via Telegram.

Case materials show that the son of the former Motor Sich president helped his father seize company shares prior to the start of the full-scale war and then sold them to third parties.

"To facilitate the deal, the then-head of Motor Sich orchestrated an internal audit that artificially undervalued the company's shares. He subsequently acquired 65% of the stock at a significantly reduced price and later transferred the majority of those shares to six offshore entities controlled by his son," the Security Service explained.

In order to launder the stolen assets, the suspects sold them to foreign companies and used the proceeds to purchase luxury real estate across the EU.

As part of the international investigation, coordinated searches were conducted simultaneously at the suspect's seaside villa in Monaco and at premises affiliated with him in Zaporizhia.

The Security Service has officially charged the former president's son under Part 3 of Article 209 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (money laundering by an organized group involving assets obtained through criminal means, on a particularly large scale).

"The former head of Motor Sich, who is currently in custody on charges of collaboration with the Russian Federation, has also received an additional notice of suspicion," the Security Service added.

The new charges against him include multiple articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 5 of Article 191 (misappropriation of property by abuse of official position, committed by an organized group on a particularly large scale), and Parts 3 of Articles 27 and 209 (organization of money laundering by an organized group on a particularly large scale).

The investigation is being conducted under the procedural oversight of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Amaravati, May 2 : Thousands of people from various parts of Andhra Pradesh have started arriving here on Friday for the re-launch of Amaravati state capital works by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

People from almost all districts were descending on the state capital to attend the public meeting scheduled to be held on Friday evening.

All roads leading to Amaravati were teeming with buses carrying people from all Assembly constituencies.

About five lakh people from across the state are expected to attend the public meeting.

There was a festive atmosphere in the villages in Amaravati as people, especially farmers who gave 43,000 acres of land for the state capital, were celebrating the re-launch of works after years of uncertainty, political turmoil and legal fight.

At the mega event, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for Rs 49,040 crore worth of capital works in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada, at 2.55 p.m. The NDA leaders will receive him.

He will then reach Amaravati by helicopter. Governor Abdul Nazeer, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister will welcome him at the helipad near the State Secretariat in Velagapudi at 3.15 p.m.

The Prime Minister will reach the venue of the public meeting at 3.30 p.m. He will unveil a pylon to formally re-launch the capital works. These include five towers of the Amaravati Government Complex, the High Court, the Legislative Assembly building, etc.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for some works and inaugurate some other projects worth Rs.8,000 crore relating to the DRDO, the DPIIT, the NHAI, and the Railways.

He will spend one hour and 15 minutes at the public meeting before flying back to Delhi from Gannavaram Airport.

Authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the public meeting on a 250-acre area.

It was on October 22, 2015, that the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for Amaravati.

Few development works were undertaken by the then TDP government. However, the works came to a halt after TDP lost power in 2019 as the YSR Congress Party government headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to develop three state capitals.

This faced stiff resistance from farmers of 29 villages in Amaravati who had given their lands for the development of the state capital.

After the TDP-led NDA stormed to power in June last year, Chandrababu Naidu decided to resume work on his dream project.

The state government has decided to take up various works at a cost of Rs 77,250 crore. Tenders have already been called for works worth Rs 49,000 crore.

The Centre has assured all support in undertaking the works. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to lend Rs.15,000 crore. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has approved a loan of Rs 11,000 crore.
Mumbai, May 2 : Actress Genelia D'souza "bowed down" to hubby Riteish Deshmukh after watching his latest release, "Raid 2".

Revealing that she was eager to witness the sequel since the first promo, Genelia shared, "#Raid2- A film one wanted to see from the first promo itself and it just doesn't let you down...I was glued to it from the moment I sat in the theatre.."

Lauding Ajay Devgn, who reprised his role as Amay Patnaik in the sequel, she added, "@ajaydevgn is just supreme- so so good, can't take your eyes off the actor he is."

Crediting director Raj Kumar Gupta, the 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' actress wrote, "@rajkumargupta08- what a film you have made- so authentic, so true.."

Sharing how she felt after watching her husband Riteish in "Raid 2", the diva penned "And at the risk of sounding biased @riteishd- I bow down to the actor you are in this film (and you know I don't do that too often).. You are something else."

"Wishing the entire cast and crew of Raid many congratulations and lotsa love #raid2 needs to be celebrated," she concluded.

Riteish, who is seen as Manohar Dhankar alias Dada Manohar Bhai in the project reflected on the significance of antagonists in cinema.

Claiming that the essence of a compelling narrative is rooted in conflict, Riteish told IANS, "You know, more than just the hero or the villain, it's really about the character. A story truly comes alive when there's a strong clash. And to create that clash, both characters need to be equally powerful. Often, for the hero to truly shine, the villain must remain dominant until the very end. It's like this  stepping over a speed breaker isn't exciting, but climbing Mount Everest is. The tougher the journey for the protagonist, the more engaging it is for the audience. That's why the villain has to be bigger. Playing an antagonist at that fierce level is a wonderful challenge."
Mumbai, May 2 : Security and Intelligence Services (SIS) on Friday reported an over 1,814 per cent rise in net loss in the March 2025 quarter (Q4 FY25), with the figure widening to Rs 223.35 crore compared to a net loss of Rs 11.67 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q4 FY24).

For the full financial year ended March 2025, SIS posted a 93.80 per cent drop in net profit, which fell to Rs 11.79 crore from Rs 190.04 crore a year earlier.

The companyas earnings per share (EPS) on reported profit after tax (PAT) remained negative as it fell by 1,789 per cent to Rs 15.5 in Q4 as compared to Rs 0.8 in a year-ago period.

However, for the full financial year, EPS fell steeply by 93.7 per cent to Rs 0.8 in FY25, compared to Rs 13.1 recorded in FY24.

Despite the weak profitability numbers, the company highlighted some operational positives. Group Managing Director Rituraj Kishore Sinha said that SIS achieved its highest-ever quarterly revenue and EBITDA in Q4 FY25.

"SIS achieves its highest ever quarterly revenue and EBITDA in Q4-FY25. EBITDA Margin continues to improve," Sinha said.

He noted improvements in EBITDA margin and a strong cash conversion cycle. He also pointed out progress in reducing the companyas Net Debt-to-EBITDA ratio, along with better Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) metrics.

This steep decline in bottom-line performance came despite a 9.25 per cent rise in revenue, which grew to Rs 3,427.87 crore from Rs 3,137.63 crore in the March 2024 quarter.

However, annual revenue rose by 7.57 per cent to Rs 13,189.04 crore, compared to Rs 12,261.43 crore in the previous year.

SIS Group Enterprises is an Indian multinational company that provides security, facility management, and cash logistics services. It operates in India, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
London, May 2 : Actor-comedian Russell Brand reached the London's Westminster Magistrates Court to face charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police.

London, May 2 (IANS) Actor-comedian Russell Brand reached the London's Westminster Magistrates Court to face charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police.

Brand arrived wearing sunglasses, an open black shirt and slim-fitting trousers. He remained quiet as he entered the building, reports variety.com.

Inside the courtroom, Brand confirmed his name and date of birth before the individual charges were read out.

The first hearing is expected to see the case, given the serious nature of the accusations, referred to the Crown Court for a trial to start at a later date, reports variety.com.

The charges, which were bought last month, relate to four separate women and incidents that took place between 1999 and 2005.

Among them are the claims that in 1999 a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area of the UK, that a woman was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London in 2001 and that a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in 2004, also in the Westminster area.

Between 2004 and 2005, it's also reported that a woman was sexually assaulted in the Westminster area.

Brand has previously denied allegations against him and said that all his relationships were consensual.

At the time the charges were brought, the police said they had begun their investigations in late September having received several allegations in the wake of a major expose undertaken by "Dispatches" documentary series and the Sunday Times.

After the news of the charges came out, Brand addressed the claims on social media via video.

"When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool, was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile. But I never was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."

The expose that took place in 2023, included a 90-minute documentary and article in the Sunday Times, saw Brand accused of "rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse."
New Delhi, May 2 : Congress leader Udit Raj on Friday launched a scathing attack on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati, alleging that she has effectively become the "unofficial spokesperson" of the BJP.

The remarks came after Mayawati accused both the BJP and Congress of politicising the issue of caste-based census. In a series of posts on X, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister alleged that the "anti-Bahujan stance" of both national parties continues to deprive Other Backward Classes (OBCs) of their rightful entitlements.

"The BJP and Congress are now rushing to take credit for the caste census issue, attempting to portray themselves as champions of OBCs. However, their track record reveals a consistent pattern of oppression and exclusion of Bahujan communities," Mayawati said.

She further alleged that the political support extended to OBCs by these parties is motivated by electoral interests rather than genuine concern. aToday, OBCs are largely conscious of their rights. The apparent support they receive from other parties is merely driven by electoral compulsions. It is clear that the true welfare of OBCs lies only with the BSP," she asserted. Calling on the Bahujan community to empower themselves politically, Mayawati said: "The time has come to give real meaning to the slogan, aVote hamara, raj tumhara nahi chalegaa (Our vote, your rule a" this wonat work)."

In response, Udit Raj told IANS: "This is coming from a shameless person. It would have been better for Mayawati to remain silent. She was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times - if she truly cared about the OBCs, she would have conducted a caste census during her tenure, like Tejashwi Yadav did in Bihar or like the surveys conducted in Telangana and Karnataka. What has she done? She simply wants to attack the Congress and defend the BJP. She has now become the unofficial spokesperson of the BJP."

Udit Raj also weighed in on the need for a caste census among Muslims.

aThere is no doubt that caste exists among Muslims. During the Mandal Commission, Muslim castes were included. If that same pattern is adopted now, they too will be included in the caste census. In fact, many castes that were included in the OBC category under the Mandal framework include a large population of Muslims," he said.

The Congress leader also responded to the remarks made by party MP Shashi Tharoor, who recently stated that he managed to reach Thiruvananthapuram in time to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite delays at Delhi airport.

Mocking the situation, Udit Raj said: "PM Modi always claims that the Opposition abuses him and that Congress leaders dislike him. But look at Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and (Union Minister Suresh) Gopi - both from Kerala. See the dedication; despite difficulties, Tharoor rushed to welcome the Prime Minister. Even BJPas own MP Suresh Gopi was left behind. This shows that the Congress MP welcomed Modi with more enthusiasm than some BJP MPs."
Mumbai, May 2 : As many as 98.24 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes which were in circulation as on May 19, 2023, have now been returned with the total value of such notes outside the banking system coming down to Rs 6,266 crore at the close of business on April 30, 2025, according to an RBI update on Friday.

The total value of these banknotes in circulation was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023, when the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes was announced, which means less than 2 per cent of them are still in circulation.

The Rs 2,000 banknotes continue to be legal tender.

The facility for exchange of the Rs 2,000 banknotes is available at the 19 Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank since May 19, 2023. From October 9, 2023, RBI Issue Offices are also accepting Rs 2,000 banknotes from individuals/entities for deposit into their bank accounts. Further, members of the public are sending Rs 2, 000 banknotes through India Post from any post office within the country, to any of the RBI Issue Offices for credit to their bank accounts, the official statement said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation on May 19, 2023. The status of withdrawal of these banknotes is periodically published by the RBI. The last press release in this regard was published on October 1, 2024. The facility for deposit or exchange of the Rs 2,000 banknotes was available at all bank branches in the country up to October 7, 2023.

The Rs 2,000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 primarily with the objective of meeting the currency requirement of the economy in an expeditious manner after the withdrawal of the legal tender status of all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes in circulation at that time. With the fulfilment of that objective and the availability of banknotes in other denominations in adequate quantities, printing of the Rs 2,000 banknote was stopped in 2018-19.

A majority of the Rs 2,000 banknotes were issued prior to March 2017 and were at the end of their estimated life span of 4-5 years. It was also been observed that this denomination is not commonly used for transactions. Further, the stock of banknotes in other denominations was considered to be adequate to meet the currency requirement of the public.

In view of this and in pursuance of the "Clean Note Policy" of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), it had been decided to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination banknote from circulation, the RBI had stated at the time of the withdrawal. The RBI's clean note policy aims to ensure the availability of good-quality banknotes to members of the public.

--IANS
Islamabad, May 2 : The government of Pakistan has decided to issue a formal diplomatic notice to India over its "unilateral decision" to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the Pehalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down by four terrorists, including two Pakistanis, on April 22.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law, and relevant quarters of water resources have been engaged in constant deliberations immediately after India announced that it was putting the IWT in abeyance in response to measures taken against Islamabad after Pahalgam terror incident.

Sources revealed that preliminary groundwork to lodge a formal notice has been completed and it will be dispatched in the coming days through diplomatic channels.

"The notice will seek concrete explanations from India for suspending the landmark 1960 treaty, which governs water sharing between the two countries," sources in the Indus Commission said.

Moreover, Pakistan is also working towards lodging formal complaints at global forums including the World Bank (WB), which is the guarantor of the agreement.

Complaints will also be lodged at the United Nations (UN) and other global forums through diplomatic outreach.

Pakistan terms India's unilateral decision to suspend the IWT as New Delhias water aggression, and believes that it holds legal primacy on the treaty.

"We believe that India will be compelled to revisit its decision on the IWT. Pakistan will take all actions following the approval from the federal cabinet," said a government source in Islamabad.

India has blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack after The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for it.

New Delhi has also made it clear that the perpetrators and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack have to be brought to justice first and that blood and water cannot flow together.
Chennai, May 2 : Stating that he was a massive fan of music director Anirudh's music, Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda has now said that initially, he had wondered who "this genius was" and wished that if he ever became an actor, Anirudh's music would play when he came onscreen.

Taking to his X timeline to pen his thoughts on Anirudh's music even as the first single from his film 'Kingdom', for which Anirudh has scored music, was about to release, Vijay Deverakonda wrote, "My little love letter to Ani, As we release a love song. I have been a massive Anirudh fan since the days of VIP and 3. I wondered who this genius was and wished that if I ever became an actor his music would play as I came onscreen.

"Today after 10 years, as my 13th film gears up for release in 28 days, This is Anirudh X Vijay Deverakonda's first ever song and I am a happy happy man and a happier actor. From today, we open our worlds and our emotions to you, hoping it brings joy and memories into your worlds Love, Vijay."

The first single of the film 'Hridayam Lopala' has been picturised on Vijay Deverakonda and Bhagyashri Borse and is a sensuous romantic number.

Actor Vijay Deverakonda, who had a day ago shared the link to a promo for the song, had tweeted, "In the shadows of betrayal, In the pretence of a bond, there is tense attraction. From the world of #Kingdom An @anirudhofficial song that will become a non stop replayed favourite. #HridayamLopala"

It may be recalled that the makers have already announced that the dubbing for the first half of the film had been completed. The film, which has generated a lot of buzz ever since the makers released a gripping teaser, is to hit screens on May 30 this year.
Bathinda : , May 2 (IANS) In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Bathinda Police launched a strong operation against local drug traffickers, targeting properties allegedly built using proceeds from the drug trade. The police sealed two houses and demolished two others using heavy machinery.

Residents of the affected neighbourhoods, particularly in the Beant Singh Nagar area, expressed their satisfaction with the police action. They celebrated by distributing sweets and showering flower petals on the police force as a gesture of appreciation.

Local residents stated that these drug traffickers had been a continuous source of trouble, frequently engaging in hooliganism and causing damage to their homes.

SSP Bathinda Amneet Kondal confirmed the operation, stating that the action was taken based on information provided by the civil administration.

"It came to our notice that certain individuals involved in drug trafficking had illegally constructed properties. After due legal process and issuance of notices, we have sealed two such properties and demolished two others," she said.

She also mentioned that several cases were already registered against the accused.

SDM Bathinda Balkaran Singh supported the police's move, adding that the demolished properties were constructed illegally, and that prior notices had been served. "This is just the beginning. Similar actions will continue in the coming days," he assured.

Local resident Rekha Rani, visibly emotional during the media interaction, shared her relief and joy.

She said: "These drug traffickers had made our lives miserable. Our families were unsafe, and we even faced attacks on our homes. Today's police action is commendable, and we hope such operations continue to clean our neighbourhood."

The crackdown marks a strong message by the Bathinda administration against drug-related crimes and illegal encroachments, and it has been widely welcomed by the local community.
New Delhi, May 2 : Health officials in Thailand have confirmed the death of a 53-year-old man from Anthrax -- a serious bacterial illness --, after consuming raw meat.

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

The countryas Department of Disease Control (DDC) confirmed the first confirmed human death from the Don Tan district in Mukdahan province, The Nation Thailand reported.

The DDC linked the death with the consumption and distribution of beef during a religious festival.

The deceased patient, a construction worker with underlying diabetes, developed a lesion on his right hand on April 24 and was hospitalised on April 27.

The man passed away during treatment as his symptoms worsened making his wound black, swelling lymph nodes under the right armpit, fainting, and causing seizures, the report said.

The Thai authorities reported no unusual illness or death in animals from the area but issued a public health alert and the officials are actively monitoring to contain the spread of anthrax.

Meanwhile, officials from the countryas Department of Livestock Development (DLD) noted that they have collected samples -- including dried meat and hides from pigs and cattle, meat and blood from cutting boards, and cow faeces -- to further monitor the presence of the disease in the country.

They have also implemented control measures like quarantining animals and administering penicillin antibiotics for 3-5 days; banning cattle grazing in high-risk zones; decontaminating high-risk areas, including slaughter sites and drainage systems; monitoring soil in animal pens for contamination and conducting animal health surveillance in Don Tan district, the report said.

While Anthrax primarily affects livestock and wild animals, it can spread to humans due to contact with infected animals or animal products, or through inhalation or ingestion of anthrax spores.

The health officials have urged farmers to watch for signs such as sudden animal deaths and bleeding from the mouth, nose, or anus; and to report and seek immediate medical help. They have also strongly advised the public against eating raw meat.
Vladimir Putin has likely adjusted his plans for the war in Ukraine - he is now planning to consolidate his power in the captured territory and stimulate the country's economy, but his strategy for a complete takeover remains relevant, CNN reports, citing intelligence data.

New intelligence reviewed by US and Western officials suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin may have shifted his immediate focus in the Ukraine war toward the shorter-term objectives of solidifying his hold on territory his forces have seized and boosting his countrys struggling economy, multiple people familiar with the matter told CNN, CNN said on its website.

According to experts, this represents an evolution from recent US and Western intelligence assessments suggesting that Putin felt the state of the war was to his advantage, that he had the momentum as well as the manpower to sustain a longer fight against a faltering Ukraine and seize the entire country.

These changes in the Russian leader's approach could play into the hands of President Donald Trump, who hopes to reach a peace agreement.

All of this really depends on what is the US willing to put on the table so that he could not just claim victory domestically, but really feel that he has achieved something that is worth a significant pause and then maybe retake up the fight at some point later, one of the officials noted.

However, senior US officials remain skeptical of Putin and his repeated assertions in ongoing talks that he wants a peace deal, even though what is being proposed by the US is incredibly generous to Russia, handing them most of the territory theyve taken. There is also a widespread belief that even if Russia agrees to a version of the agreement on the table it may look to resume the war and try to seize more of Ukraine in the long-term.
Seoul, May 2 : South Korea's small satellite designed to measure space radiation will take part in the Artemis II mission, a US-led moon exploration programme, the Korean space agency said Friday.

The mission is part of an agreement between the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), signed in October last year, Yonhap news agency reported.

The K-RadCube, a Korean-made cube satellite, will be mounted on the Orion stage adapter, located between the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the crewed Orion spacecraft.

The 19-kilogram satellite will monitor cosmic radiation and analyse its effects on astronauts as it passes through the Van Allen radiation belts, located more than 1,000 kilometers above Earth.

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute is leading the development project of the satellite in collaboration with a Korean space startup, Nara Space Technology.

KASA said it plans to deliver the satellite to NASA by July, ahead of its integration into the Orion spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch in April 2026.

Artemis II is a planned mission under the NASA-led Artemis programme and will mark the first crewed mission to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

KASA signed a study agreement on the Artemis programme with NASA in October 2024. The agreement is aimed at conducting research projects for sustainable exploration of the Moon and preparations for Mars exploration.

The projects also include lunar surface science and autonomous power, robotics, and mobility systems, as well as activities in the cis-lunar space, which refers to the region of space between the Earth and the Moon.

South Korea is one of the 47 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords.

Meanwhile, the SPHEREx -- a space telescope jointly developed by KASA and NASA -- has officially begun science operations.

SPHEREx, which was launched on March 11, will take approximately 3,600 images per day over the next two years as it systematically surveys the entire sky, according to NASA.
Mumbai, May 2 : Following the massive success of "Jaat", actor Sunny Deol is busy shooting for his next "Border 2". However, the shoot for the much-anticipated sequel came to a halt due to rain.

Sharing a video on his Instagram handle, Sunny revealed that while it was not supposed to rain, as they got ready to shoot, it started pouring heavily. Dressed in an army uniform, he added that given the circumstances, they had no other option but to wait for the rain to subdue.

"The producers are worried but I told them- don't be worried, I am here till we don't finish the film," Sunny said.

In another Instagram post, the cast and crew of "Border 2" wa seen enjoying pakoras and chai in the rain, while they waited for the shoot to resume.

"May hay while the sun shines And we have pakoras and chai when it rains," the post read.

On Sunday, Sunny treated the netizens with another glimpse from the shoot diaries. Filming for the sequel in Dehradun, Sunny posted a video on his Insta stories, capturing a captivating sunset amidst the beautiful landscape.

Appreciating the beauty around him, Sunny was heard saying, "So...so...so.. beautiful".

"Reached Border shooting wild weather and beautiful sunset in Dehradun," he wrote along with the video.

Sunny will be accompanied by Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in the core cast of "Border 2".

Backed by Bhushan Kumar, Nidhi Dutta, and co-produced by Shiv Chanana, and Binoy Gandhi, "Border 2" is being helmed by Anurag Singh.

A sequel to the 1997 war drama "Border", the movie is believed to be based on India and Pakistan's Kargil War of 1999.

For the unversed, Pakistani troops infiltrated the LoC and occupied Indian territory mostly in the Kargil district. India responded by launching a major military offensive to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators.

Presented by Gulshan Kumar's T-Series, along with JP Dutta's J.P. Films, "Border 2" is likely to be released in the theatres on January 23, 2026.
Perth, May 2 : Special Yoga sessions were held across the globe on Friday, marking the 50-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025.

In Australia's Perth, senior members of Health Support Services performed chair Yoga.

"We marked the 50 Day Countdown to International Day of Yoga 2025 with unwavering energy and unity of HSS Seniors of Perth, demonstrating some chair Yoga. Yoga for One Earth, One Health," the Consulate General of India in Perth posted on X.

In Sri Lanka's Kandy, teachers, principal and more than 50 students from the Kathiresan Central College in Nawalapitiya participated in the yoga session organised by the Assistant High Commission of India.

The Consulate General of India in Hambantota also organised a special yoga session for children at a detention home.

"Yoga for Bright Futures! Inspiring young children to embrace the magic of yoga. CGI Hambantota organised a special Yoga Session for Children of Halpatota Lama Sevana Detention Home under the Southern Provincial Department of Probation," Consulate General of India in Hambantota, posted on X.

The Embassy of India in Jakarta organised the 50 Days to IDY event at the Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS) on Friday. Lalthanglien Ruolngul, Attache (Press and Info) at the Embassy of India in Jakarta, presided over the event and extended warm greetings to all the young Yogis.

In China, the Consulate General of India led by Consul General Pratik Mathur organised a session on 'Yoga Awareness for Children' in association with the Indian Association, a Shanghai-based diaspora organisation, as part of the 50-day countdown to IDY. Children from the Indian community participated enthusiastically in the session.

The Indian Embassy in Qatar also hosted a yoga session on Friday for the well-being and harmony of all.

"Marking 50 Days to International Day of Yoga 2025, the Embassy of India hosted a yoga session celebrating the spirit of One Earth, One Health. Yoga for personal well-being and harmony among all," the Embassy of India in Doha, posted on X.

In his 'Mann ki Baat' address on March 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised the importance of fitness in daily life and praised initiatives like the International Yoga Day.

While sharing India's vision for a healthier world population, PM Modi mentioned the theme of IDY 2025 as 'Yoga for One Earth One Health', which ensures holistic health for the whole world.

The 2025 theme highlights Yoga's role in promoting physical, mental, and environmental well-being, aligning with global calls for sustainability and unity.

It builds on a decade of success since the United Nations recognised June 21 as International Day of Yoga, following India's proposal in 2014.
New Delhi, May 2 : The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to recall its order asking Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh as damages in a defamation case to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, wife of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav rejected the plea filed by Gokhale seeking recall of the judgment passed in July last year.

The Delhi High Court had ordered the Trinamool leader to pay Rs 50 lakh damages in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. It had also directed Gokhale to publish an apology in a newspaper and on his social media platform X handle within four weeks for publishing wrong and unverified allegations.

Further, the Delhi HC had directed that the apology tweet published on Gokhaleas X account should be retained for six months.

Last month, Gokhale's salary, which he draws as a Member of Parliament, was ordered to be attached until the sum of Rs 50 lakh was deposited with the registry.

The Delhi High Court, in December last year, had issued notice on a contempt plea filed by Lakshmi Puri against Gokhale for his "wilful and deliberate non-compliance" of its judgment. It had then ordered the Rajya Sabha member to file an affidavit within the next four weeks disclosing all his assets, properties, and bank accounts and deposits.

The defamation suit was filed following Gokhaleas successive X posts accusing Lakshmi Puri of purchasing property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income. He also named Hardeep Puri in the tweets. The Delhi High Court had held that the plaintiff suffered irreparable harm on account of Gokhale's defamatory statements. It said: "The defendant (Gokhale) is restrained from publishing further defamatory content against the plaintiff. Damages to the tune of Rs 50,00,000 are awarded to the plaintiff for the harm caused to her reputation."
New Delhi, May 2 : The International Day of Yoga (IDY) is becoming a powerful global movement uniting humanity, said Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush on Friday.

He was speaking at a grand Yoga Mahotsav organised in Maharashtra's Nashik by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush. More than 6,000 enthusiasts came together to mark the 50-day countdown to the IDY 2025.

"Yoga forms the foundation of life for millions around the world. As part of efforts to take its benefits to every individual, the International Day of Yoga 2025 is being celebrated as a decade-long global festival," Jadhav said.

"Yoga forms the foundation of life for millions around the world. As part of efforts to take its benefits to every individual, the International Day of Yoga 2025 is being celebrated as a decade-long global festival," he added.

The Minister also launched the Yoga Sangam Portal -- a digital platform for online registration towards facilitating the synchronised nationwide celebration of IDY 2025 on June 21 at more than 1,00,000 locations across India.

He further added that the Government is leaving no stone unturned to make IDY a success.

"Yoga Sangam embodies global solidarity for health, and through initiatives like these, International Day of Yoga is becoming a powerful global movement that unites humanity, promoting Yoga and beyond," Jadhav said.

Yoga Sangam is one of the 10 signature events of the IDY2025. It is a groundbreaking initiative to boost decentralised, yet synchronised mass yoga performance at 1,00,000 locations across India.

The event will weave a harmonious tapestry of well-being nationwide, as hundreds of thousands of individuals unite under yoga's enabling shield. The sheer scale of participation in the event will create a powerful ripple effect of positive energy nationwide, the MoS said.

Previously, the MDNIY and the Ministry of Ayush organised a Yoga Mahotsav in New Delhi and Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
New Delhi, May 2 : The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the liquidation of cash-strapped Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL), holding that JSW Steel's resolution plan for the bankrupt company was not in consonance with the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the liquidation of cash-strapped Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL), holding that JSW Steelas resolution plan for the bankrupt company was not in consonance with the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.

A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and S.C. Sharma came down heavily on the resolution professional, the Committee of Creditors (CoC), and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for undermining the very objectives of the IBC, which includes time-bound resolution of insolvency and maximisation of asset value, and and its associated regulations.

The Justice Trivedi-led Bench ruled that JSW Steelas resolution plan did not protect the interest of creditors and was apparently approved by the CoC without proper application of its commercial wisdom. JSW Steel implemented the resolution plan for BPSL, making the payment of Rs 19,350 crore to the financial creditors to acquire the bankrupt company.

JSW Steel's bid to acquire BPSL had hit a stalemate following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approaching the Supreme Court against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order to lift the attachment order against BPSL's properties. The ED has argued that the appellate tribunal has no jurisdiction to unfreeze and approve the sale of an asset attached by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

Later, the ED decided not to pursue its appeal before the apex court and returned the attached assets to JSW Steel pursuant to the insolvency resolution process.

The ED had attached assets worth more than Rs 4,000 crore of BPSL in connection with its money laundering probe linked to an alleged bank loan fraud by the company's former promoters It alleged that the promoters, directors, and officials of Bhushan Steel engaged in fraudulent activities, including forging documents and making false representations to banks. Funds were misappropriated through fabricated Letters of Credit in favour of JSW Steel Limited and Hindustan Zinc Limited.

The ED initiated the investigation based on a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) against Bhushan Steel Limited, invoking scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. The investigation revealed that Bhushan Steel and its Managing Director, Neeraj Singal, formed shell companies to rotate funds, causing wrongful loss to the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank. In September last year, the Supreme Court granted bail to Singal in the money laundering case, taking into consideration the unlikely conclusion of the trial in the near future and his long pretrial incarceration.
New Delhi, May 2 : The government is nurturing over a million entrepreneurs through its ambitious programmes like Startup India, Skill India and Atal Innovation Mission, Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary has stressed.

Addressing the 'TiEcon 2025' conference in the US via a video message, the minister said India today stands at a powerful inflection point where innovation, enterprise, and skills are converging to shape a new global narrative.

"Across every corner of our nation, entrepreneurs are solving real problems, building sustainable ventures, and creating scalable impact," he told the gathering.

At the conference, a high-level Indian delegation comprising leaders in deep-tech, climate innovation, healthcare, AI, and digital transformation showcased the country's expanding role as a global innovation partner.

The delegation reflected India's entrepreneurial spirit rooted in resilience, inclusion, and purpose-driven development.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, also had a brief interaction about India's skill ecosystem and about of NSDC's initiatives, and how the organisation is equipping Indian youth with job-ready and future-ready skills.

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International, said, "AI is transforming the world in ways we never imagined which necessitates proactive measures to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities it brings.

"Cutting-edge platforms like Skill India Digital Hub allows learners from across the country to learn from anywhere, anytime. He underscored NSDC International's critical role in transforming India into a global supplier of skilled manpower," he mentioned.

The annual three-day conference focused on the vast potential and disruptive power of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of enterprises and society and has brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and academia.

India's participation at TiEcon 2025 marks a significant step in strengthening its positioning as a global talent hub and innovation partner in the AI era.

NSDC also set up a dedicated exhibition stall at the conference, which drew enthusiastic engagement from global participants.
New Delhi, May 2 : As speculation swirls around Congress MP Shashi Tharoor potentially switching sides after appearing alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Vizhinjam seaport inauguration in Kerala, BJP leader Rohan Gupta on Friday launched a sharp critique of the Congress, claiming the party has no space left for competent, ground-connected leaders.

Tharoor, the sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram, reached his constituency just in time on Thursday to receive the Prime Minister, despite delays at what he described as a "dysfunctional" Delhi airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday also took potshots at the Congress and INDIA bloc during the Vizhinjam seaport inauguration in Kerala, saying that "some will lose sleep today", apparently pointing to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's presence on the stage.

Reacting to the speculations, Rohan Gupta told IANS, "I can't predict the future, but one thing is clear -- there is no place left in the Congress for leaders who are grounded and want to raise public issues. The party has become captive to a group of courtiers who have no ideological foundation and who prioritise self-interest over service. That's why many capable, hardworking individuals have left or been forced out over the years."

Gupta further added that people like Tharoor, who have a strong work ethic and connect with the public, are often sidelined.

"Good people are suffocated in Congress. The ones who want to work are not encouraged; they're isolated instead. I've known Shashi Tharoor for a long time -- he is a good leader, and the public doesn't abandon those who work for them. There's always room in politics for those who want to make a difference."

He continued, "If Congress valued leaders like Tharoor, today would've been a moment to appreciate his work, but instead, he is left out. This only reflects the internal power play within the party."

Turning to the ongoing credit battle over the caste census, Gupta criticised the Congress party for attempting to claim credit for a policy it had long opposed.

"It's been more than 77 years since Independence, and Congress has been in power most of the time. They consistently opposed a caste-based census. Now, in Opposition, they suddenly want credit for it. The reality is that Prime Minister Modi made the historic decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. Let the Opposition keep playing politics. The Modi government is focused on giving rightful recognition to every community," he told IANS.

Gupta also spoke on the contentious water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana.

"Wherever the AAP goes, controversy follows. Look at Delhi -- they were given a massive mandate, and what did they do? They picked fights with the Centre on everything -- from pollution to Yamuna water. And the public saw through it. They've been wiped out," he told IANS.

On the situation in Punjab, Gupta warned of further fallout. "This emotional blackmail over water will backfire. The AAP government in Punjab is running out of time. The public is tired of negativity. Governance requires constructive dialogue, not drama. There should be coordination between both states to resolve the issue -- not political grandstanding."

He asserted that voters are seeking performance over provocation. "People want development, not division. The political revival in Punjab will happen -- away from negativity and toward accountability," he said.
Chennai, May 2 : The makers of director Nahas Hidhayath's eagerly awaited Malayalam film, 'I'm Game', featuring actor Dulquer Salmaan in the lead, on Friday welcomed one of Tamil cinema's top directors Mysskin onboard the project.

Taking to his timelines on social media, director Nahas Hidhayath wrote, "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the multifaceted, incredibly talented Mysskin Sir to the #ImGame team! Get ready for an exciting game ahead!"

Ace director and actor Mysskin, for his part, responded by posting a story on his Instagram handle. He wrote, "I am thrilled to be a part of the incredibly talented team #IMGame. Get ready for an exciting game ahead."

Mysskin is only the second actor to be welcomed aboard the unit. The first actor to be named as part of the unit, after Dulquer Salmaan, was Antony Varghese, who is best known for his performance in the hit film, 'Angamalay Diaries'.

Antony Verghese, whose screen name happens to be Pepe, responding to the welcome accorded by the unit, wrote, "Game on! Ready to play! Excited to be on board for #IMGame. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride!#RollYourDice"

The film's title poster, which was released a while ago, shows two hands, one placed over the other. While one of the hands holds a playing card, the other hand seems to have a bandage, suggesting an injury.

Produced by Dulquer Salmaan along with Jom Verghese, 'I'm Game' has triggered immense interest as this will mark his return to Malayalam cinema. The story of 'I'm Game', which happens to be Dulquer's 40th film, is by Nahas Hidhayath himself while its screenplay is by Sajeer Baba, Bilal Moidu and Ismail Aboobacker.

Cinematography for the film will be by Jimshi Khalid and editing will be by Chaman Chakko. Music for the film, which has raised huge expectations among fans and film buffs, is by Jakes Bejoy. Costumes for the film are to be designed by Mashar Hamsa and production design will be by Deepak Parameshwaran.
New Delhi, May 2 : India and Denmark signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to reinforce their long-standing cooperation in the energy sector.

The agreement reflects the continued commitment of both countries to accelerate clean energy transitions, according to an official statement.

The MoU was signed by Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and Denmark's Ambassador to India, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, in the presence of Minister of Power Manohar Lal.

The renewed MoU supports India's ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It aims to foster knowledge exchange and technological collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the area of clean and sustainable energy solutions.

The agreement follows five years of successful collaboration under the original MoU, signed on June 5, 2020, and initially set to expire on June 5, 2025. The proactive renewal ensures continuity in dialogue and cooperation, allowing for a seamless extension of joint efforts in energy sector development.

The renewed agreement broadens the partnership to cover advanced areas such as power system modelling, integration of variable renewable energy, cross-border electricity trading, and development of EV charging infrastructure.

It also emphasises increased knowledge exchange through expert interactions, joint training sessions, and study tours.

In his statement at the meeting, Power Minister Manohar Lal said that the renewed energy cooperation expresses the mutual commitment of India and Denmark to foster sustainable development.

With a record annual addition of 29.52 GW, Indiaas total installed renewable energy capacity touched 220.10 GW as of 31st March 2025, up from 198.75 GW in the previous financial year.

Solar energy was the main driver of growth with a capacity expansion of 23.83 GW in FY 2024a"25, a significant increase over the 15.03 GW added in the previous year.

The countryas total installed solar capacity now stands at 105.65 GW. This includes 81.01 GW from ground-mounted installations, 17.02 GW from rooftop solar, 2.87 GW from solar components of hybrid projects, and 4.74 GW from off-grid systems.

The growth demonstrates continued uptake of solar energy across utility-scale and distributed categories.

Wind energy also witnessed sustained progress during the year, with 4.15 GW of new capacity added, compared to 3.25 GW in FY 2023a"24. The total cumulative installed wind capacity now stands at 50.04 GW, reinforcing wind energyas role in the countryas renewable energy mix.

Bioenergy installations reached a total capacity of 11.58 GW, which includes 0.53 GW from off-grid and waste-to-energy projects.

Besides, small hydro power projects have achieved a capacity of 5.10 GW, with a further 0.44 GW under implementation.
Ukraine-U.S. Reconstruction Investment Fund to be registered in USA, but contributions to be made in hryvnias

The Ukraine-U.S. Reconstruction Investment Fund will be registered in the United States, but the account for contributions will be opened in Ukraine in the national currency, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced.

"Where will it be registered? There is an agreement that the Fund will be registered in the United States, but it will operate in Ukraine, and the primary account into which Ukraine will deposit its contribution will be opened in Ukraine in hryvnias. This is an important point," he said during the government's Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

The Prime Minister also noted that the fossil fuel agreement with the United States is indefinite in duration, though the parties may mutually agree to terminate it after ten years.

"We would like this agreement to be in effect for more than ten years  decades, ideally  because for us, this is a direct investment fund and a strong investment tool," he added.

Shmyhal further clarified that the agreement applies to the entire sovereign territory of Ukraine and that an annex will list all exclusive mineral resources covered by the agreement.

As reported earlier, on Wednesday, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement to establish the Ukraine-U.S. Reconstruction Investment Fund. The agreement comprises 12 articles and includes a list of critical materials. It is financial in nature, with Ukraine's participant in the fund being the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Support Agency, which operates under the Ministry of Economy.

Once the agreement is ratified, the fund will be established through a partnership between the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Ukraine's PPP Agency.
Phnom Penh, May 2 : With India's assistance, Cambodia on Friday declared the Botum Sakor district in Koh Kong as mine-free, ensuring the safety and sustainable development of the region.

"Towards a Mine-Free Future: India Supports Cambodia's Progress! With grant assistance from India, Botum Sakor District in Koh Kong has been declared mine-freea"enabling safer land use, improved livelihoods, and sustainable development," the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh posted on X.

India and the Cambodia Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority (CMAA) had signed an agreement in 2023 for making Botum Sakor, Srae Ambel, Thma Bang districts, and Trapeang Rung Commune in Koh Kong province mine-free with a total Indian grant of $426,709.

The Indian assistance was announced by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar during his visit to Cambodia in November 2022 during a meeting with then Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen.

The agreement was signed by India's Ambassador to Cambodia and Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of CMAA.

Thuch, in his speech, appreciated India for its contribution in demining activities in Cambodia to boost the mine clearance work and help Cambodia achieve its goal of becoming a mine-free nation by 2025.

He had mentioned that India has been assisting in making four villages in Koh Kong Province mine-free under the Quick Impact Project with a grant of USD$ 50,000.

Thuch said that CMAA is looking forward to working with the Indian Embassy for the successful implementation of the grant assistance projects in Koh Kong.

Earlier this month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mane called for global support to work towards the national goal of making Cambodia mine-free by 2030.

Cambodia, one of the worst affected countries by landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), has extended its mine-free goal to 2030 from the previous 2025 target, due to geographical difficulties for mine search and clearance along the border.

An estimated four to six million landmines and other munitions have been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998.

According to an official report, landmine and ERW explosions claimed 19,830 lives and either injured or amputated 45,242 others in Cambodia from 1979 to June 2024.
Chandigarh, May 2 : On the initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, all state political parties on Friday displayed a rare show of unity to condemn the move by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to "snatch river waters" and pledged to take every step to save the waters for flowing to Haryana and other states.

Chandigarh, May 2 (IANS) On the initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, all state political parties on Friday displayed a rare show of unity to condemn the move by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to "snatch river waters" and pledged to take every step to save the waters for flowing to Haryana and other states.

The leaders lauded the Chief Minister for giving 4,000 cusec water to Haryana daily to meet their drinking water needs on humanitarian grounds. They unanimously said Mann has taken a visionary decision to bring all the political parties on a single platform to save the waters of the state.

They said "it is high time the state government should explore all the legal, political and administrative measures to safeguard the interests of the state on the issue of river waters".

All the political parties urged the Chief Minister to make every effort for protecting the rights of the state and its people over this issue of river waters, adding they assured fulsome support and cooperation to him for this noble cause.

Lauding the Chief Minister for supplying water to Haryana daily to overcome shortage, they said "it is a noble initiative but the manner in which the Haryana government and the BBMB have adopted a hostile, authoritarian and anti-Punjab stance to snatch our waters is highly condemnable".

The political parties also condemned the high handedness of the Central government to weaken Punjab by removing the Member (Power) in the BBMB which was appointed by the state government.

They said Punjab has 60 per cent share in the BBMB for which it should be given veto power so that the other stakeholders are not able to conspire against it by joining hands.

They vowed that all political parties, rising above their affiliations, will fight for safeguarding the rights of the state and no stone will be left unturned for it.

Meanwhile, thanking all political parties for extending support to the state, the Chief Minister said solidarity by all political parties have given a big moral boost to him.

He said the government would convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on Monday to condemn the high-handedness of the Union government and the BBMB.

Mann said this crisis has been imposed upon the state by the Centre but "we are legally correct and morally strong to fight against it".

The Chief Minister said Haryana has exhausted its share of water allotted by the BBMB in March only after which the state had even sent around six reminders to them. He said subsequently the Haryana government had urged Punjab that they don't even have water to cater to the drinking needs of people.

He said as a humanitarian gesture the Punjab government generously allotted 4,000 cusec of water daily to Haryana from April 6.

Mann said though the population of Haryana is three crore and as per estimates 1,700 cusec of water was enough to meet the needs of people. However, the Chief Minister said the Haryana government has sought 2.5 times more water from Punjab than its actual need.

Despite this, he said Punjab has been giving this water from April and a few days back, Haryana had pleaded that this water is not sufficient for it and they need 8,500 cusec additional water daily.

Mann said it is evident that this water is needed for irrigation purposes and this problem has arisen as Haryana has not utilised its share of water properly.

The Chief Minister said Punjab is already grappling with shortage of water for agricultural purposes as the groundwater is receding across the state.

He said the level of water in the dams has been recorded all-time low and water level at Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam is 32 feet, 12 feet and 14 feet lower, respectively, as compared to the last year. Mann said every single drop of water is precious for the state and there is no question of sharing the water with any other state.

The Chief Minister said Haryana and the Centre are trying to suppress the state and it is unfortunate that the BBMB is passing new resolutions every day to rob share of Punjab's water.
Jerusalem/Damascus, May 2 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a joint statement, said on Friday that Israel carried out overnight attacks near the presidential palace in Syria's capital, Damascus.

The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus.

"This is a clear message to the Syrian regime," the Israeli statement said.

"We will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community."

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Israeli airstrikes targeted early Friday a site near the Syrian presidential residence in Damascus, causing loud explosions but no immediate casualties.

The observatory described the strikes as a "warning message" as they took place near one of the most fortified and symbolic locations of the Syrian government.

The Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the Israeli air raids.

Amid the sectarian unrest, two wounded Druze Syrians were evacuated on Thursday to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed in northern Israel for medical treatment. On the same day, Katz warned of harsh responses if clashes with the Druze community continue in Syria.

Before dawn on Friday, hundreds of Israeli Druze protesters demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's private residence in Israel's northern coastal town of Caesarea, demanding that the Israeli army intervene and protect the Druze in Syria, according to reports by Israeli media outlets.

Earlier on Thursday night, thousands of Druze residents took to the streets in northern Israel, blocking major highways, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a SOHR update on Thursday, the death toll from two days of sectarian clashes near Damascus has climbed to 101, including nine field executions.

Druze people primarily live in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller groups in Jordan. Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze community since expanding its territorial control near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.
New Delhi, May 2 : The Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution on Friday, hailing the grand old party's aggressive and persistent push for the caste census and said that the repeated 'jitni abaadi, utna haq' pitch by Rahul Gandhi 'forced' Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to announce caste count on the national level.

"After 11 years of continued opposition and stubborn refusal, Modi government has finally conceded the Congress' demand to collect population data caste wise, as part of the next census," the CWC resolution read.

It also stated that the Prime Minister has been attacking the Congress leadership for a decade for raising this demand and highlighted multiple instances when the party brass escalated the issue with the government and also turned it into a rallying point.

Notably, after the Centre announced including caste enumeration with the upcoming national census, there has been a credit-seeking war between the opposition parties while the government does firefighting in dispelling the notion that it's not a climbdown on its part.

The CWC resolution mentions past incidents of Congress President Mallikarujun Kharge writing to PM Modi on several occasions and Rahul Gandhi raising the need and urgency of caste census at almost every public forum.

"Rahul Gandhi has been the strongest and most consistent voice demanding a nationwide caste census. At the 2022 Nav Sankalp Shivir in Udaipur, he raised the urgent need to gather data on caste so that government policies could truly reflect the lived realities of the marginalised," the CWC statement read.

It further says that this demand was reiterated at the Congress plenary in Raipur in 2023, and was a central feature of both 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha manifestos of the Congress party.

"In Parliament, in speeches across the country, and during the two Bharat Jodo Yatras, and most recently at a press conference yesterday, Rahul Gandhi has asserted that caste census was essential for deepening social justice. He had stated that policies of reservation, welfare, and inclusion cannot be based on outdated assumptions or arbitrary caps but must be grounded in facts," it further said.

CWC, the Congress' highest-decision making body, also urged the government to treat Telangana caste survey as a 'benchmark' for conducting of the caste count on the national level.

"CWC believes that the model followed by Telangana provides an effective and inclusive framework that the Government of India must emulate," it said.
Mumbai, May 2 : Actress Rashmika Mandanna decided to bless our feed with all her secret selfies over the years.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Rashmika posted a couple of selfies across the years from her car, the gym, her house, and the plane.

However, one thing in common in all these selfies was Rashmika's heart-melting smile.

"Dumping all my secret selfies over the years on your timeline..

Sowwwieeeee but I just was like #HmmWhyNot," Rashmika captioned the post.

The 'Animal' actress is always on top of her Instagram game and loves to keep her InstaFam updated with her personal and professional life.

On the professional front, Rashmika recently kicked off the Ooty leg of the shoot of her much-awaited drama "Thama".

Last week, the diva shared a picture of the beautiful forest on her Instagram stories, and wrote, "Ooty for a couple of days.."

Rashmika is going to be a part of Maddock Films' successful horror-comedy universe, known for hits like the "Stree", "Stree2", "Munjya", and "Bhediya".

Billed as a gripping love story set against a bloody backdrop, "Thama" chronicles the journey of a determined historian, who is on a mission to uncover the dark secrets about local vampire myths as supernatural forces begin to stir.

Made under the direction of 'Muniya' maker Aditya Sarpotdar, the project marks Rashmika and Ayushmann's first professional association with the filmmaker, and also their primary on-screen pairing.

Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, the story of "Thama" has been penned by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Fulara. Presented by Maddock Films, the core cast of "Thama" will also include Paresh Rawal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, along with others.

In addition to "Thama", Rashmika also has other promising projects such as "Kubera", "Pushpa 3", "The Girlfriend", and "Rainbow" in the making.
New Delhi, May 2 : In a major development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive searches across Punjab in connection with a terror conspiracy involving Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives. The raids targeted premises linked to gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian, a close associate of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda.

A total of 17 locations were searched across Gurdaspur, Batala, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, and Faridkot. According to officials, the operation led to the recovery of several incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital storage devices, and documents. These are currently under examination by investigators.

The searches were conducted under a case in which Happy Passian is a key accused. Now based in the United States, Passian is considered one of the main conspirators behind recent grenade attacks on police stations and posts in Punjab and Haryana. He has been declared a proclaimed offender in the ongoing investigation.

The NIA alleges that Passian is a vital link in Rindaas cross-border terror network, which operates through international associates, including those in Pakistan. Investigators believe he has been actively recruiting operatives within India and arranging weapons, explosives, and financial support for BKIas terror activities.

The case was registered suo motu by the NIA under the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs. So far, five individuals have been arrested, and three have been chargesheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Another 12 have been arraigned as accused, including Rinda, Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and Passian himself. A total of seven accused, including the three, have been declared proclaimed offenders.

The anti-terror agency continues to probe the wider conspiracy and is analysing evidence gathered during Thursdayas raids to identify more suspects and uncover the full extent of the terror networkas operations.
Jaipur, May 2 : The last rites of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Girija Vyas, who passed away on Thursday following a battle with serious burn injuries, were performed in Udaipur on Friday evening. Her nephew, Vivek Sharma, lit the funeral pyre at Ashok Nagar Mokshadham.

The last rites were performed according to Vedic rituals, with the recitation of Vedic mantras. Earlier in the day, several political leaders from both the Congress and BJP, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, participated in the funeral procession.

Gehlot also helped shoulder Vyas' bier. She passed away at Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad at around 7.15 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Her body was brought to Udaipur later that night, and on Friday morning, it was kept at her residence in Deityamgri for the public to pay their respects.

Dr. Vyas had sustained severe burn injuries on March 31 during Gangaur Puja at home. Her dupatta had caught fire from a nearby lamp.

A domestic worker present at the time quickly came to her aid. She was initially admitted to a private hospital in Udaipur and later referred to Ahmedabad due to the seriousness of her condition.

With 90 per cent burn injuries, her health has been critical.

According to her brother Gopal Sharma, her condition initially showed signs of improvement but deteriorated in the last few days.

She passed away on May 1.

Besides Gehlot, Congress leaders like Govind Singh Dotasra, Tika Ram Jully and many other leaders from other parties also paid their respects to the former Union minister.

Former Congress chief and party veteran Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Vyas brother Gopal Sharma expressing condolences.

Despite receiving treatment, Vyas' condition worsened due to nearly 90 per cent burns.

Earlier, Gehlot said: "Dr. Girija Vyas' passing is an irreparable loss. Her contributions to education, politics, and social service will always be remembered."

Girija Vyas served as a minister both at the Centre and in Rajasthan.

She held key positions, including the President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, and later, as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, where she championed numerous initiatives for womenas welfare.

In 2018, she contested the Rajasthan Assembly elections from the Udaipur city constituency but was defeated by the BJPas Gulab Chand Kataria.

Known for her close association with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Vyas played an influential role in Congress politics.

Born in Nathdwara, Rajsamand district, Vyas hailed from a family of notable repute.

Her father was a freedom fighter, and her mother, a teacher. She pursued her higher education in Udaipur and later obtained a Ph.D. from Delhi University.

Before entering politics, she served as a professor of philosophy at Mohanlal Sukhadia University. Her untimely demise leaves a void in Indian politics, especially within Rajasthan, where she carved out a remarkable legacy of service.
Amaravati, May 2 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday that India is safe and will become a developed nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing the public meeting organised to mark the re-launch of Amaravati capital works by the Prime Minister, Chandrababu Naidu lavished praise on him.

Strongly condemning the recent terror attack at Pahalgam, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief told PM Modi that the entire country is with him in responding to the attack.

In a rare move, the Chief Minister switched to Hindi to convey support to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

"Modiji hum aapke saath hain, Andhra Pradesh ke 5 crore log aapke saath hain, poora desh aapke saath hai," said Chandrababu Naidu.

The spirit of patriotism echoed through the huge gathering with the Chief Minister exhorting audience to join him in raising slogans of 'Vande Mataram'. Many people were seen carrying the national flag.

While PM Modi made no reference to the terror attack or Pakistan, Chief Minister Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh condemned the April 22 attack and paid tributes to those who lost their lives.

The Chief Minister recalled that whenever he used to call on him earlier, the meeting used to be very pleasant but the recent meeting in New Delhi went on a serious note and the reason for which was the Pahalgam attack.

"For the first time I have seen him in so much pain. I saw in Modi ji the anguish that the people of my country lost their lives in the terrorist attack. This is the reason as to why, on behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I am assuring you that we will solidly stand by you in suppressing terrorism and we all will fully support every action that the Centre takes," the Chief Minister said.

Maintaining that a strong India has emerged under the able leadership of PM Modi, Chandrababu Naidu said that when he became the Prime Minister for the first time, the country was ranked 10th in the world economy and he has taken the country from 10th position to fifth position in 11 years.

With PM Modi's model of welfare, development and empowerment a new India is emerging, the Chief Minister said adding that in these 10 years, people have been empowered and 15 crore people have been brought out of poverty.

The TDP president welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to conduct a caste census. "Your decision to collect caste and socio-economic data in the census will help in the inclusive empowerment of everyone in all aspects. This will be a game changer for the future of India," Naidu observed.

Pawan Kalyan termed Pahalgam attack one of the darkest days for the entire country.

He said blood spilled in Kashmir created tremors in the entire nation. "I have personally witnessed the pain of the victims. Prime Minister Modi ji is leading the country through these tough times, and he has assured citizens stern action against the perpetrators of terrorism," the Jana Sena Party leader said.

Lokesh said that Pakistan crossed the limits and committed a blunder by killing innocents. The minister made it clear that Pakistan can cause no harm to India.

"Even if 100 Pakistans come together. They can't do anything. We have one missile to give answer to 100 Pakistans and that is NaMo (Narendra Modi)," he said amid loud cheers from people.

Lokesh also referred to reports that some Army officials of Pakistan have resigned and some have gone on leave.

He also hailed the Centre's decision to conduct caste census. He claimed that PM Modi is re-writing history with courage, true to his commitment to empower marginalised and deprived sections.
Bengaluru, May 2 : In a dramatic development, Karnataka's Textile, Sugar, and APMC Minister, Shivanand S. Patil, submitted a conditional resignation letter to the Assembly Speaker, U.T. Khader, on Friday, challenging MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to follow suit.

Patil currently represents the Basavana Bagewadi constituency in north Karnataka. He has requested that the Speaker accept his resignation only if Yatnal also submits his resignation and it is formally accepted by the Speaker's office.

In his letter, the Minister stated: "Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has challenged that he will resign from his MLA seat and contest the election against me from the Basavana Bagewadi seat, which I currently represent. I have accepted his challenge and decided to contest against him. In this context, I am submitting my resignation. I request you to accept it only if MLA Yatnal's resignation is submitted and accepted."

Patil added that his resignation was also prompted by MLA Yatnal's disrespectful comments about his ancestors, elders, and family heritage.

Earlier, the minister had indicated that he intended to contest against Yatnal from the Vijayapura seat. In response, Yatnal used objectionable language and challenged him to face him in the polls. Yatnal also made personal remarks, accusing the minister and his father of faking his family name for political advantage.

Yatnal, a staunch Hindutva leader, was recently expelled from the BJP for six years following his fallout with BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra and his father, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. He has yet to respond to this latest development.

Patil had earlier courted controversy after stating that farmer suicides had increased following the state governmentas decision to enhance compensation for the families of the deceased. Following public backlash, he clarified that his intent was not to hurt farmers' sentiments. He claimed he was merely advising the media to wait for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports before reporting on such sensitive incidents.
Imphal, May 2 : Assam Rifles on Friday rescued a non-local individual within three days after his abduction by armed cadres in Manipur, officials said.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Amit Shukla said that a 27-year old man, a resident of Nawalsahi area of Jharkhand state who was employed by a company in Noney district of Manipur, was abducted by armed attackers from Ghatao village on April 30 night.

On receipt of the information, the Assam Rifles swiftly reacted and contacted the community leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and ensured the release of the captive.

The prompt response and the successful rescue of the individual is a testament of the unwavering commitment of the security forces to protect citizens across communities, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, security has been further tightened across Manipur, especially in the valley and Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal-dominated areas, as a precautionary measure ahead of the second anniversary of the outbreak of the ethnic violence in the state.

A police officer said that the security personnel have intensified frisking and vehicle checks at key, vulnerable and inter-border locations in different districts of valley and hilly districts to monitor the movement of anti-social and inimical elements.

Central forces have been deployed in front of Kangla Fort Gate as the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), one of the key bodies of the majority Meitei community, would organise a public convention on Saturday in and around Khuman Lampak in Imphal.

The official said that the security strengthening and deployment of additional forces are part of precautionary measures to prevent any unwanted incident by anti-social elements in the state, particularly on Saturday.

Search operations and area domination have been continued by security combined forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts and recovered some arms and ammunition during the past 24 hours.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said there is no military solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine and US President Trump will soon decide how much attention his administration will pay "to this issue."

Lets remind everybody this is not our war. I mean, this is a war that started under Joe Biden. For three years it went on. They made no effort to sort of bring it to a conclusion. And its a war that has no military solution: in essence, Putin cant take all of Ukraine; Ukraine cant push the Russians all the way back to where they were in 2014. And so the President [Trump] has tried. Look, weve gotten closer. We  for the first time  we havent known this for three years  we kind of can see what it would take for Ukraine to stop. We can see what it would take for the Russians to stop. The problem is those two positions are still a little far apart, he said on Fox News on Thursday.

Rubio also said it would be up to Trump to decide what role his administration would play in resolving the situation "at the highest levels."

Were not going to give up on it in the sense that were not going to be ready to help  But there does come a point where the President has to decide how much more time at the highest levels of our government do you dedicate it, when maybe one of the two sides or both arent really close enough when weve got so many  more important issues  So at some point in time, it either has to be something that can happen or we all need to move on. Thatll be a decision the President will have to make, the Secretary of State noted.

He stressed that a "real breakthrough" is needed in the near future for the parties to come close to reaching an agreement.

Look, you asked how close we are. I think we know where Ukraine is and we know where Russia is right now and where Putin is. Theyre still far apart. Theyre closer, but theyre still far apart. And its going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the President is going to have to make a decision about how much more time were going to dedicate to this, Rubio noted.
Imphal, May 2 : Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday reviewed the progress of the ongoing border fencing work along the India-Myanmar frontiers, officials said.

A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor at a high level meeting reviewed the progress of the ongoing India-Myanmar border fencing work along Manipur including issues pertaining to the execution of the fencing work all along the India-Myanmar border with other northeastern states.

During the meeting, held at Raj Bhavan, officials of Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) briefed the Governor on the progress and highlighted matters related to land acquisition, approach roads, fencing, security, manpower and other related issues.

The BRTF is a unit under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar,Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Secretary to Governor, officials from Assam Rifles attended the meeting among others.

Deputy Commissioner of five border districts also attended the review meeting via video conference.

Another official said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has stepped up India-Myanmar border fencing work near Moreh town in Manipur's Tengnoupal district last year. The fencing work would be done in a phase-wise, he said.

The border fencing work was undertaken by aProject Sewaka which is looking after road construction in Nagaland and Manipur. The aProject Sewaka headquarters is in Nagalandas Dimapur, the officer said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has earlier decided that the entire 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics, would be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore.

Manipur shares 398 km border with Myanmar while Arunachal Pradesh shares 520 km, Nagaland 215 km and Mizoram 510 km. Various Naga, Mizo, Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal organisations, some local political parties along with Nagaland and Mizoram governments are against the India-Myanmar border fencing.

The two northeastern state governments and other organisations claimed that border movement restrictions through the fencing and scraping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) across the India-Myanmar border would severely affect the long-standing historical, ethnic, social, cultural, traditional and economic ties of Nagas, Mizos, Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals living on both sides of the India-Myanmar border.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last year announced that the FMR, which allows people residing along the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each otheras territory without a visa, would be scrapped soon. Instead, the MHA decided to replace the FMR to adopt a new scheme to issue a pass to the border residents of both India and Myanmar living within 10 km on either side of the frontier to regulate cross-border movements.
Kolkata, May 2 : Amid the devastating fire at a hotel at Madan Mohan Burman Street in central Kolkata on Tuesday night, which killed a total of 15 people, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Friday ordered the immediate closure of all the rooftop eateries in the city including restaurants, bars, and bar-cum-restaurants in the city.

Announcing this decision on Friday, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also gave clarifications for what prompted the corporation to take such a decision.

"The roof of any building is a common area. Like the ground floors, the roofs of the buildings cannot be sold or used for business purposes," Hakim explained.

He also said that a notification has already been issued for immediate closure of the rooftop eateries.

"We have to ensure that in case of any fire in any building, the people trapped inside the building can take shelter on the roof. All matters are not under the jurisdiction of KMC. But wherever we have a role to play, we will be doing the needful," the Mayor clarified.

He said that roofs are the last shelter for the people trapped in buildings under fire in case the emergency exits of those buildings either do not exist or are non-functional for certain reasons. "We want to keep the options for that last shelter open and hence we have issued the order for immediate closure of all rooftop eateries," Hakim said.

He also said that the borough-wise survey throughout the area under Kolkata Municipal Corporation will be conducted to find out the exact number of rooftop eateries that are being run.

Initial investigation has revealed that there were security lapses at the hotel building where the fire broke out on Tuesday night. Besides, lapses related to fire safety management, there were other major lapses in ensuring proper emergency evacuation arrangements and ventilation facilities at the hotel, as a result of which the majority of those killed in the fire died not because of getting charred but because of suffocation caused by the smoke emitting out of the fire.

The local people alleged that despite several complaints of illegal construction on the hotel raised in the past, neither the Kolkata Municipal Corporation nor the local police took any action to prevent the untoward incident.
Kolkata, May 2 : The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday demanded immediate commencement of caste-based census in the country.

Speaking to reporters outside the Bagdogra Airport on the outskirts of Siliguri town in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, Owaisi also clarified why his party is favouring caste-based census in India.

"The caste-based census should start immediately. I will request the BJP and National Democratic Alliance government to fix deadlines both on when the process will resume and by when it will be completed. The last caste-based census was conducted in 1931. The census will reveal who is getting what benefit and who is not. It will also reveal who owns residence or land and who does not. It will be clear which community has progressed and which has not. The caste-based census is necessary for knowing all these things," Owaisi said.

He arrived at Bagdogra Airport from Delhi and then left for Bihar by road.

At the airport, he interacted with the mediapersons before leaving for Bihar and there he clearly expressed his views on caste-based census.

He also said that because of the caste-based census, a clear picture of the condition of Muslims 'coming from outside' will also evolve. "Countries like the USA have grown stronger because of such initiatives and hence this is also important for India," Owaisi said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also vehemently condemned the ghastly killing of several tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir last month and said that the selective killing of tourists after identifying them as Hindus was a heinous crime.

He also said that his party will fully back the Union government's initiatives against Pakistan and the terror groups as a counter-reaction to such ghastly killings.

"We heard that terrorists from Pakistan were involved in the ghastly killing. First, they isolated the women and children. Thereafter, they asked the male tourists about their religion and these tourists were selectively killed. This is the most heinous crime. So we will be backing any initiative of the Union government against Pakistan who are backing these terror groups," Owaisi said.

However, he said that his party will continue with its opposition against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. "This is a wrong initiative and unconstitutional and so we are against it. However, at the same time I will also say that my party does not endorse violence over protests against this act," Owaisi said.

His clear indication was towards the recent communal violence and riot-like situation in Murshidabad district of West Bengal last month as protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent there.
Bengaluru, May 2 : Bengaluru Police have launched a manhunt for the accused in yet another molestation case involving a female employee of an IT company, reported under the Marathahalli police station limits, officials said on Friday.

The incident, which took place in a high-surveillance area, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of working women in the city.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 11.30 pm on Wednesday when the 20-year-old victim was walking near Eco World Tech Park. The accused, who arrived on a bike, allegedly touched the victim inappropriately from behind and fled the scene.

The victim informed the police that she screamed and shouted in panic as the accused repeatedly sexually harassed her by touching her back. Despite raising an alarm and approaching auto drivers, security guards, and passers-by, no one came forward to assist her.

The woman has filed a complaint with the police, and an FIR has been registered. Following this, the police launched a search for the accused. CCTV footage from the area has been collected, and significant clues have been obtained to aid the investigation.

The victim is originally from another state and is currently working in Bengaluru.

Earlier, Karnataka Police had arrested the accused in the sensational molestation case involving two women in Bengaluru, on April 14. A video of the accused molesting two women in a residential locality during the early hours had gone viral, raising concerns over women's safety in the city.

The arrested person was identified as 26-year-old Santosh Daniel. The Sadduguntepalya Police apprehended him from a village in the neighbouring state of Kerala.

A video showing two young women being targeted by a man in the early hours in a residential locality went viral on social media.

The 17-second video showed two women walking down a deserted street flanked by houses on both sides. A tall, well-built man approaches them from behind, pushes one of the women aside, sexually harasses the other, and then escapes. The video also captures the visibly shaken women standing briefly to catch their breath before quickly leaving the scene.

The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on April 4 in the jurisdiction of the Sadduguntepalya police station. Police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by a local resident and launched a search for the accused while collecting additional evidence.

Residents of the area expressed shock over the incident, stating that such occurrences were unprecedented in their locality. They added that with the rise in PG accommodations in the area, the police must intensify night patrolling to ensure safety.

Reacting to the rise in incidents of sexual assaults and harassment in Bengaluru during night hours, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara had stated that "such incidents happen here and there in a big city". The statement stirred a huge controversy. After the backlash, he expressed regrets over his remarks.
Jaipur, May 2 : After Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal staged a sit-in protest demanding the reorganisation of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the cancellation of the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment process, State Minister and senior BJP leader K.K. Vishnoi, on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Beniwal accusing him of being the most unreliable leader in Rajasthan politics.

Jaipur, May 2 (IANS) After Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal staged a sit-in protest demanding the reorganisation of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the cancellation of the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment process, State Minister and senior BJP leader K.K. Vishnoi, on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Beniwal accusing him of being the most unreliable leader in Rajasthan politics.

Vishnoi alleged that Beniwal's political career has been defined by opportunistic shifts in allegiance.

"Beniwal is an expert at switching sides, but now all doors are closed for him. In desperation, he is misleading the youth to stay politically relevant and remain in the media spotlight. His baseless attacks on political leaders are just another attempt to gain attention," he said.

Referring to recent electoral outcomes, the Minister added, "In the last by-elections, the public showed him the mirror. His hypocrisy and falsehoods have been exposed, and the youth no longer trust him. Even attendance at his rallies is dwindling."

Vishnoi also noted that the SI recruitment exam was conducted during the Congress government's tenure, a time when Beniwal was aligned with Congress and remained silent on the issue.

"Now he is exploiting the emotions of the youth just to protect his diminishing political relevance," the Minister claimed.

"Sometimes he makes baseless remarks against leaders, and at other times, he targets women without any factual basis. Beniwal ji's political maneuvering won't work under BJP rule -- his so-called 'settings' are over," Vishnoi asserted.

Former state BJP President Ashok Parnami responded to MP Hanuman Beniwal's recent remarks by emphasising the BJP's commitment to clean politics.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party gives top priority to the politics of integrity. All political leaders should uphold the same standards. However, Hanuman Beniwal is making baseless statements just to stay in the headlines, which is unfortunate and misleading," Parnami said.

Highlighting the BJP's actions against corruption, the former State BJP President added, "In our election manifesto, we had promised the youth of Rajasthan strict action against the paper leak mafia. In just 16 months, the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led state government has delivered on that promise by putting more than 292 individuals involved in paper leak cases behind bars."

He also said, "Not only that -- 92 public servants who were found to be complicit in these leaks have also been dismissed from service and jailed. This reflects our zero-tolerance approach to corruption and our commitment to protecting the future of our youth."

Earlier on Friday, Beniwal was detained by the Jaipur Police while marching towards the Chief Minister's residence to press for youth-related demands, including the reorganisation of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and cancellation of the Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment Examination.

Beniwal and his supporters were stopped outside the Police Commissionerate, where they staged a brief sit-in.

When they attempted to proceed further, police detained them and took them to Sanganer Sadar police station. The group was protesting there against the state government.

Speaking to the media, Beniwal said, "We have been protesting in Jaipur for the past seven days demanding the reorganisation of RPSC and cancellation of the SI recruitment exam, which is riddled with corruption. Two RPSC members are already in jail, and the Special Operation Group continues to arrest fake candidates. Yet, the government remains silent, especially after names of Ministers surfaced in the case."

He accused both the Congress and BJP of being complicit, questioning the silence of Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot.

"All these scams occurred during Gehlot's tenure. I also ask Kirori Lal Meena to respond, as he once raised these same issues," Beniwal added.

The RLP MP also alleged that State Minister K.K. Vishnoi is involved in the recruitment scam and demanded an investigation into his residence, known as the "White House".

"I am stating facts. The Minister's silence speaks volumes," he said.

Declaring his resolve, Beniwal said, "I am ready to take bullets for the youth. This is a do-or-die fight. If our demands are not met, we will intensify our protest. We are prepared to bring one lakh supporters to Jaipur, block all state highways, and pressure the government until justice is served."
Bhubaneswar, May 2 : The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) in Odisha on Friday released the results of matriculation or the High School Certificate (HSC) examination held in the state.

While addressing a press conference at Cuttack, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond announced that 94.93 per cent out of the total students who appeared in the class 10 board examinations this year have passed.

He informed during the press meeting that as many as 5,02,417 regular students appeared for the examination held this year. Out of this, 4,84,863 students -- 2,40,251 boys and 2,44,612 girls -- passed the examination with the qualifying percentage of 94.93 per cent.

The S&ME minister also noted that girls again outshone the boys in Class 10 board examination results this year with the female students recording 96 per cent pass percentage.

The boys have recorded a pass percentage of 94 per cent.

District-wise, the best performance in terms of qualifying percentage was from Gajapati district while Koraput district recorded the lowest pass percentage this year.

As per the information shared by the board, 99.35 per cent students in Gajapati district have passed the class 10 examination while 92.83 per cent students passed the exam in Koraput district.

Gond also noted that 3,273 schools in the state have registered 100 per cent results this year.

The S&ME Minister said that 1,812 students passed the exam in the A1 grade, scoring 90 per cent and above. It is worth mentioning that as many as 5,10,779 students filled up the registration forms to appear in the Class 10 board examination this year.

Of this, 5,02,417 students appeared in the examination this year. The minister informed that the department will hold an inquiry to find out why some students failed to appear in the exams despite doing the registration.
Bengaluru, May 2 : The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by Bhavani Revanna seeking a stay on the examination of evidence against her son and prime accused Prajwal Revanna in the obscene video scandal. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

The bench, headed by Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, passed the order quashing the petition.

The petitioner had sought a stay on the examination of witnesses by the trial court in the case.

Vikram Huilgol, counsel for petitioner Bhavani Revanna, submitted that the defence team representing Prajwal Revanna needs to verify more than 2,000 documents related to the case. He also sought a week's time to appoint a new lawyer for Prajwal, stating that suitable legal representation is currently unavailable.

However, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ravivarma Kumar, representing the prosecution, objected to the request. He argued that Bhavani Revanna herself is an accused in the case and that this was a deliberate attempt to delay the recording and examination of witness statements in the trial court.

The SPP further submitted that such petitions were an attempt to mislead the court and requested permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Bhavani Revanna. Taking the arguments into account, the High Court dismissed her petition.

Earlier, the counsel representing Prajwal Revanna had submitted a memo to the Special Court for MLAs/MPs stating his intention to withdraw from the case. Subsequently, Prajwal Revanna filed an application seeking time to appoint new counsel.

The prosecution opposed the move, alleging it was a tactic to delay proceedings. Considering the prosecution's objections, the Special Court had ordered that the recording of witness statements in the obscene video case would begin on May 2.

In response, Bhavani Revanna approached the High Court seeking a stay on the Special Courtas proceedings. She also requested that the Special Court be directed to provide certified copies of the court proceedings. Both pleas were rejected.

In its order, the High Court observed that passing directions to adjourn trial court proceedings would undermine the authority of the trial court and declared that it would not entertain such petitions.

On April 3, the Special Court had framed criminal charges against Prajwal Revanna, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and unauthorized circulation of private images, among others.
Bhopal, May 2 : Three persons died and five others injured in two separate road accidents in Badnagar of Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district.

Two bikers died when their bike collided with a dumper in Kajlana village under Badnagar police station area of Ujjain district.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while sharing the news announced a financial compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased.

Two other persons received severe injuries in the accident.

The accident occurred on Thursday.

After post-mortem, the bodies were handed over to the families of the deceased, while the injured continue to receive medical care, Mahendra Singh Parmar, State Divisional Officer (police), Bandnagar, told IANS.

The deceased have been identified as Amin Shah, resident of Badnagar, and Shiva Parmar, resident of Bherupachalna.

While two persons with same name Rajesh Chauhan, both residents of Bherupachalna, received injuries, the police officer said.

Chief Minister Yadav expressed grief over the death of the bikers on his X account and said: "The heart breaking news of a motorcycle accident in Kajlana village, Badnagar, Ujjain district, has left many in deep sorrow. Two individuals lost their lives in this tragic event, and financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each has been allocated to their families from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund. In this difficult time, I pray to "Baba Mahakal" (Lord Shiva) to grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to their grieving loved ones. I also wish for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident."

In another accident, an eight-year-old girl died on Thursday evening on the Unhel-Nagda road when a speeding truck collided with an auto-rickshaw.

The accident left injuries to four family members of the victim, said the police.

The girl was travelling with her mother, aunt, and brother Rohan to a wedding in Banbana village near Nagda.

They are residents of Ravidas Nagar, Indore.

Her maternal uncle, Krishna, was driving the auto rickshaw while following her father, Balram Ajnotia, who was ahead on a bike, the police said.

The family had stopped for breakfast in Unhel before the accident.

The injured were rushed to a nearby Hospital, where the child succumbed to her injuries.

She was a fourth-grade student. After the girl's post-mortem, her body was handed over to her family.

The truck driver fled, and Unhel police are searching for him.
Ahmedabad, May 3 : Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins stated the team 'can cling on to some hope' about their future despite having been virtually eliminated from playoff contention after the 38-run defeat against Gujarat Giants in Match 51 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 here on Friday.

Half-centuries by Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler saw Gujarat post a massive total of 224/6 in the first innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite Abhishek Sharma's 74-run fighting knock, there was not enough fight by the batters to chase it down, and they fizzled to 186/6.

Sunrisers have won only three of their 10 games so far this season, and their fate now depends on other fixtures going their way. However, Cummins believes that hope is still there for the franchise, given the mega auctions that took place in 2024, ensuring the core of the team will remain the same for years to follow.

"Our power-play with the bat wasn't too great. I was as guilty as anyone else. Probably let them get 20-30 extra runs. Maybe hang on to one or two catches. Again, I am guilty there. Chasing 200 looked a bit more realistic. They are class batters. They don't do anything outlandish. If you bowl bad balls, they just put them away.

"We probably dished out too many bad balls. It is a really good wicket. Going for 140 in the last 14 overs was good on the bowling part. Sharma batted nicely. Nitish at the end. Left a little too much and too late for the batters. We can cling to some hope. Big auction last year. The core of the group will be there for three years," said Cummins during the post-game presentation on Friday.

With the win, Gujarat moved past Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) into second place in the points table courtesy of their superior run rate. RCB will take on Chennai Super Kings on Saturday in what could be a pivotal result for Gujarat Titans.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Guwahati, May 3 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state police have arrested another individual over alleged charges of supporting Pakistan.

Guwahati, May 3 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state police have arrested another individual over alleged charges of supporting Pakistan.

Chief Minister Sarma said on Friday that a person identified as Amar Ali was arrested in Dhubri district for defending Pakistan while living in India.

In a post on X, he said, "A total of 37 anti-nationals put behind bars till now. All these anti-nationals will be dealt with firmly by @assampolice."

Among the 37 arrested people, the most prominent is All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam.

He was the first person to be arrested in the state for the "pro-Pakistan" stand.

Aminul Islam, an AIUDF MLA from Assam's Dhing Assembly constituency, was arrested on Thursday on sedition charges following his provocative statement regarding the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed more than 20 lives.

In a video clip circulated on social media, the AIUDF leader is heard claiming that the Pahalgam and Pulwama attacks were part of a "government conspiracy".

He said: "Six years ago in Pulwama, when the RDX blast happened and 42 soldiers died, I said on that day the Pulwama blast happened at the behest of a conspiracy of the Central government, and it was a conspiracy to win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls."

He added that what happened in Pahalgam is that the BJP has been peddling that the terrorists asked about religion and opened fire only on Hindus, and they let go of Muslims.

"But the victims said that the terrorists opened fire without asking about anybody's name, and I doubt that the nexus which was involved in the Pulwama attack in which RDX was used," he said.

He added that the same nexus is behind the Pahalgam incident.

"If the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government does not conduct a fair investigation into the incident and tries to bring a division between Hindus and Muslims, I would believe that this incident happened because of a conspiracy," Aminul Islam said, while 'blaming' PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

However, AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal distanced himself from his party legislator's comments.

Ajmal said, "AIUDF stands with the government. The terrorists have no religion, and those who spread terrorism are against Islam."
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) provided assistance to victims at the site of the Russian UAV attack in Zaporizhia.

The Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in the Zaporizhzhia region operated at the site of the attack alongside other city rescue services, URCS said on Facebook Friday.

Volunteers assisted residents of the damaged building and supported the efforts of emergency personnel. They provided first aid to the injured and psychological first aid to those affected and their families.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, on 1 May, Russian forces launched a large-scale UAV attack on Zaporizhia. As a result, 29 people were injured and one man was rescued from the rubble. Multi-storey residential buildings, an educational institution, and an infrastructure facility sustained damage. One multi-storey residential building was destroyed, and a fire broke out at the site.
Hubballi : , May 3 (IANS) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has hit out at the Congress and said that some Congress leaders have become heroes in Pakistan when it comes to terrorism.

Talking to the media on Friday in Karnataka's Hubballi, the Union Minister said, "While Kashmir's attack was branded as "Hindu terror" and the Mumbai attack was blamed on the RSS, they (Congress leaders) shamelessly put up "Gayab" posters and cheered Pakistan's joy. Isn't this an act of treason?"

"On one hand, they say they support any action the Central government takes against terrorism, but on the other hand, they speak in the tone of Pakistan. They go even beyond the statements of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge," he added.

He alleged that three Ministers of the Karnataka government, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, have now become heroes in Pakistan.

"Pakistanis are celebrating comments made by Robert Vadra and others. They are giving room for Pakistan to claim that it was not behind the Kashmir terror attack. They are even saying there are hundreds of reasons to chant 'Pakistan Zindabad'. Shouldn't they feel ashamed? Don't they have even a shred of patriotism?" Union Minister Joshi asked.

"A Congress leader had posted a "Gayab" poster on social media in connection with the Pahalgam attack, becoming a hero in Pakistan. But later, the tweet was deleted. If you were so honest, why did you delete it? Isn't this treason?" Joshi asked.

Regarding the Pahalgam attack, the Union Minister questioned the security failure and the lack of intelligence.

"Did you have intel that five or six women would come to protest in Belagavi against the 'Gayab' poster war? Didn't you have any intelligence during the Mumbai attacks under the UPA regime?" he said, while responding to Congress-led state government.

"In a democracy, protests and counter-protests are common. As public figures, we must be ready to face such situations," he added, while chiding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Union Minister said that CM Siddaramaiah seems to have forgotten history.

"He once waved black flags against former PM late Indira Gandhi. Now he's become Chief Minister in her party. Look at how far you've come."

He also alleged that Siddaramaiah has lost patience due to internal conflicts with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

"That frustration is making him raise his hand against officials wherever he goes. He's crossed the limit of arrogance. He even threatens journalists," the Union Minister said.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Central government had directed the deportation of Pakistani nationals residing in India.

"All other states are sending them (Pakistani nationals) back to their native country. How many people have you sent back from Karnataka? Give us an answer. Don't speak irresponsibly," Joshi demanded.

"Terrorists, wherever they are, will be hunted down and eliminated," the Union Minister emphasised.

"Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have stated this. Our government is committed to this. We will not spare terrorists or their supporters. We will track them down and strike," he warned.

The Union Minister said, "Terrorist activity is not at the level it was during the UPA regime. Across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism has been curbed by 80 per cent. When the Mumbai attack happened, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani said they would fully support any action the Central government takes and urged them to act firmly. He stayed true to those words. But today, the Congress says one thing and does another. This is unfortunate for the country."

He accused CM Siddaramaiah's followers of irresponsibly making childish remarks, pretending to be defence experts.

"No matter whose government it is, justifying terrorism is never right. Chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad' and portraying themselves as Pakistan supporters amounts to treason," he charged.

The Union Minister said, "Pakistan-backed terrorists launched the Pahalgam attack to destroy development and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, and to create unrest in the country. But India is not a weak nation. We have already taken steps in response. The terrorists will be punished. We are preparing to take this up even at the global level."

He added, "Naxalism is being eliminated across the country. Only about 10 per cent of the activity remains in isolated regions. By 2026, that too will be eradicated and India will become a Naxalism-free nation."
United Nations, May 3 : Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has called for intensifying international intervention in the tense situation between his country and India, saying that there was "imminent threat of kinetic action" by New Delhi.

He lamented that their "impact" on India to de-escalate was not there in an acknowledgement of Islamabad's failure to rally support for its cause.

Speaking at a news conference here on Friday, he reiterated his country's claim that withholding Indus waters "will be considered as an 'Act of War'" and said that Islamabad will retaliate and "exercise its inherent and legitimate right to self-defence".

He said with the continuing escalation of the situation, Pakistan will consider calling for a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Efforts by "common friends of both India and Pakistan" should continue to de-escalate the situation, he added.

"But there is a sense that, you know, the impact that is desirable, especially on the Indian side, to de-escalate is not yet there," he said.

"So that's why we're saying that there is a need to intensify," he added.

Tension has been building up in the region following last month's terrorist attack in Pahalgam for which The Resistance Front, a front outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, owned responsibility.

A conflict has "the potential for far-reaching and disastrous consequences," and "that's why I'm emphasising the need for these preventive actions, preventive diplomacy and dialogue to calm down," Ahmad said.

He added that he has met twice with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Islamabad has invited him to visit the region, "that would mean both India and Pakistan".

Guterres' Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that "good officers only work if all the parties involved accepted it".

India is opposed to any third-party involvement in the disputes with Pakistan citing the 1972 Simla Agreement between the leaders of the two countries that declared their issues to be bilateral matters to be dealt with between themselves.

While Guterres has spoken with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his contact with India has only been at the level of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Ahmad said that he had also had a range of meetings, including with UN Security Council President Evangelos Sekeris, UN General Assembly President Philomen Yang, and representatives of the Security Council members and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

He added that "there is reasonable intelligence indicating towards imminent threat of kinetic action by India against Pakistan," but would not explain what the reports were based on.

"Pakistan does not seek escalation. This has been made clear by the political leadership and at all levels. At the same time, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Ahmad asserted that "Pakistan categorically rejects any attempt to associate it with the April 22 terrorist incident in Pahalgam," adding, "We are concerned over the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack."

But when pressed by a reporter about Islamabad's links to terrorism and Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's recent admission that his country trained and provided assistance to terrorists, he did not give a direct reply and instead flung allegations about India.

He was asked about the Mumbai 26/11 attackers who came from Pakistan and the presence of internationally declared terrorists like Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of that attack, and even Osama bin Laden.

"You know this is the kind of discussion I would like to avoid," he said.
Jaipur, May 3 : The Cyber Branch of the Rajasthan Police Headquarters have issued an advisory urging the public to make the Char Dham Yatra bookings only through authorised agents and official websites, officials said.

People are cautioned against falling for attractive offers and advertisements circulating on social media platforms.

Police officials said on Friday that increasing incidents of cybercrime have come to light in connection with the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

Unscrupulous individuals are exploiting the faith of devotees by creating fake websites, mobile apps, and impersonating travel agents to offer fraudulent bookings for hotels, taxis, tours, and helicopter services.

Director General of Police (Cyber Crime), Hemant Priyadarshi, said that persistent efforts are being made to combat cybercrime and raise public awareness.

He noted that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting pilgrims through misleading advertisements on social media platforms, fake websites, and fraudulent accounts on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and even Google search results.

Scammers are luring pilgrims headed to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri with false promises of helicopter bookings, hotel accommodations, online cab services, and religious tour packages.

The public is strongly advised to verify the authenticity of websites and agents before making any bookings.

Official bookings can be made online via the IRCTC website or offline through the District Magistrate Office or Sector Magistrate.

In case of suspicious activity or suspected fraud, report immediately via the Cyber Helpline number -- 1930, the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in, or your nearest police station or Cyber police station, Priyadarshi added.

Earlier on April 19, The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, had alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting Char Dham pilgrims and tourists, across the country.

These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines such as Google, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

The scams involve the creation of professional-looking but fake websites and social media profiles and WhatsApp accounts offering various services.
Ahmedabad, May 3 : The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has cleared nearly 1.5 lakh square metres of government land around the Chandola Lake in Gujarat's Ahmedabad within just two days, officials said.

The operation, involving the demolition of around 4,000 slums and unauthorised structures, marks one of the largest anti-encroachment drives in the city in recent times.

Following the clearance, the AMC has now begun construction of a protective boundary wall around the lake at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore.

The initiative aims to prevent re-encroachment and safeguard the area in the long term.

The wall will span a stretch of 5 km along the lake's periphery. Despite the ongoing efforts, the official demarcation of the lake's boundary by the District Collector and the Municipal Commissioner is still pending.

However, AMC has gone ahead with the protective measures, signalling its intent to reclaim and preserve public land.

The demolition activity continued on the third day as well, as authorities remained vigilant to ensure complete removal of unauthorised settlements and maintain the integrity of the reclaimed land.

The demolition drive around Ahmedabad's Chandola Lake marks one of the city's largest recent crackdowns on illegal encroachments.

Over the years, the lake's surroundings had been overtaken by thousands of unauthorised structures, including slums and small dwellings.

These encroachments not only reduced the lake's natural catchment area but also contributed to environmental degradation, poor sanitation, and safety risks for nearby residents.

In response, the AMC, in coordination with local authorities, launched a mega demolition operation in April 2025.

Within just two days, AMC successfully cleared 1.5 lakh square metres of government land -- one lakh square metres on the first day and another 50,000 square metres on the second.

In total, more than 4,000 illegal structures were demolished.

The third day saw continued action as part of the larger effort to fully reclaim the land.

The purpose behind the demolition drive was not only to free up encroached land but also to protect and rejuvenate one of the city's key water bodies.

Authorities have said that prior warnings and notices were issued before the demolition began.
The 79th Edgars Awards, held last night at Manhattan's Marriott Marquis in Times Square, featured a mix of humor and gravitas, as the Mystery Writers of America honored two new Grand Masters, Laura Lippman and John Sandford; presented 15 awards, mostly to emerging authors; and announced that the 2026 ceremonies would include the debut of a new Hall of Fame award, honoring writers who died before they could be honored as Grand Masters.

The evening's top prize, for best novel, went to Charlotte Vassel's The In Crowd. In addition, two special awardsthe Raven Award, for contributions to the mystery genre; and the Ellery Queen Award, for achievement in the publishing industrywent to Face in a Book Bookstore & Gifts in El Dorado Hills, Calif., and Peter Wolverton, VP and executive editor at St. Martins Press, respectively.

An opening video, surveying treatments of the genre on the big and small screen, was narrated by a creepy AI version of Humphrey Bogart, complete with imperfect lip-syncing, later followed by one featuring an even creepier, black cat-holding, artificially-generated Edgar Allan Poe. The introduction of AI into the Edgars was noted by Scott Frank, who'd previously taken home an Edgar in 1999 for his screenplay of Elmore Leonard's Out Of Sight, and was a cowinner of the award for best television episode teleplay Award Thursday night, along with Tom Fontana, for the first episode of AMC's Monsieur Spade. Frank commented, to some nervous laughter, that "AI will be taking all our jobs soon."

A more serious note was sounded by Lippman, who'd spent two decades as a reporter, mostly in Baltimore, and who expressed gratitude for having been born into a family that included a writer, a bookseller, and a librarian. Lippman said she considers crime fiction to be the best fiction because in it, "every death matters"an aspect that she linked to John Donne's poem, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," in which Donne writes: "Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind." Lippman asserted that, although it was counterintuitive, she regarded the violence-filled genre that she's specialized in as one of the most hopeful ones, because it offered a different kind of escapism, a view of the world in which individual deaths were treated seriously, and characters devoted themselves to seeking justice.

A complete list of winners and honorees is below:

Best Novel: The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell (Doubleday)

Best First Novel by an American Author: Holy City by Henry Wise (Atlantic Monthly)

Best Paperback Original: The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle (Park Row)

Best Fact Crime: The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective by Steven Johnson (Crown)

Best Critical/Biographical: James Sallis: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction by Nathan Ashman (McFarland)

Best Short Story: "Eat My Moose," Conjunctions: 82, Works & Days by Erika Krouse (Bard College)

Best Juvenile: Mysteries of Trash and Treasure: The Stolen Key by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Quill Tree Books)

Best Young Adult: 49 Miles Alone by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks Fire)

Best Television Episode Teleplay: Episode One  Monsieur Spade, written by Tom Fontana & Scott Frank (AMC)

Robert L. Fish Memorial Award: The Jews on Elm Street, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Sept.Oct. 2024, by Anna Stolley Persky (Dell Magazines)

The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award: The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill (Poisoned Pen Press)

The G.P. Putnams Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award: The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear (Soho Crime)

The Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award: The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald (Poisoned Pen Press)

Special Awards

Grand Master: Laura Lippman, John Sandford

Raven Award: Face in a Book Bookstore & Gifts, El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Ellery Queen Award: Peter Wolverton, St. Martins Press
First quarter sales for Amazon rose 9% in the period ended March 31, 2025, increasing to $155.7 billion from $143.3 billion a year ago. Net income, driven by huge profits in its cloud services businesses, AWS, soared 65% to $17.1 billion.

Despite the solid results, Amazon, like many American businesses, expressed some uncertainty about the future, largely due to how tariffs will affect prices and consumer spending. As a result, Amazons forecast for the second quarter ranged from a small decline in net income to an increase of net income up to 19%. Revenue is forecast to increase between 7% and 11%.

In remarks to analysts, CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged that first quarter sales may have benefitted from early buying by consumers who were looking to avoid higher prices once the impact of the tariffs begins to be felt in the current quarter. He conceded, however, he doesnt have a crystal ball. Obviously, none of us knows exactly where tariffs will settle or when, Jassy said on the call.

If consumers did up their purchases in the first quarter, that is not good news for Amazon. Its biggest consumer-driven segment, online sales, rose a relatively modest 5% in the quarter. Other consumer-oriented businesses also saw modest gains with both its physical stores and third-party sellers segments posting sales increases of 6%. The big revenue drivers in the period were advertising, up 18%, and AWS, where sales increased 17%.

Among the many non-book highlights Amazon mentioned in its first quarter announcement were the deployment of its Project Kuipers satellite internet network and development of Ocelot, Amazons first quantum computing chip prototype.
The American Library Association and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) on Thursday were granted a narrow temporary restraining order (TRO) against further action by Institute of Museum and Library Services acting director Keith Sonderling and agency defendants to dismantle the Institute for Museum and Library Services. In his May 1 memorandum, judge Richard J. Leon of the district court of the District of Columbia agreed to grant in part the TRO to prevent additional harm to IMLS, its employees, and grantees. The judge stopped short of providing all relief sought by the plaintiffs in ALA v. Sonderling, and he ordered the plaintiffs and defendants to submit a joint status report by May 6 so that the case might proceed.

The immediate halt to the gutting of IMLS is a win for America's libraries and the millions of Americans who rely on them, said ALA president Cindy Hohl, in a statement. ALA is encouraged that the court recognizes the immediacy of the need for IMLS and library services at risk. The temporary restraining order will stop the dismantling of IMLS while the court considers the merits in this case." Still, she added, even with a temporary restraining order in place, Congress also must act to ensure our nation's libraries can continue to serve their communities, including by funding IMLS for next year.

AFSCME president Lee Saunders echoed Hohls sentiments. We celebrate today's decision as a victory for library and museum workers and the communities who depend on them, Saunders said in a statement. They do everything from helping workers connect to job opportunities to instilling a love of learning and inspiring creativity in others. This ruling will halt the layoffs of the critical workers who support them. We look forward to moving our case forward and reversing this unlawful shut down.

The request for a TRO was a last-minute effort to forestall a May 4 reduction in force at IMLS. The agency is severely curtailed, with only 12 of approximately 75 employees remaining in the office and the rest on administrative leave since April 4. According to a furloughed IMLS staffer, who spoke with PW on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, around three IMLS employees on administratively determined (AD) status, including at least one union worker, are known to have been fired altogether on April 18; AD employees are employed at will, and have less stability than typical federal employees. Though regular IMLS employees were given 30 days of paid leave ahead of the RIF, the AD employees received two weeks notice and then were let go.

In their lawsuit, the ALA and AFSCME have been seeking a preliminary injunction (PI) against the further demolition of IMLS. During oral argument in an April 30 motion hearing, given the imminent firings, plaintiffs moved to convert the PI motion into a TRO, and the court agreed. Judge Leon saw fit to add, in a footnote, that The Court did so over defense counsels objection that had no apparent legal basis to support it!

In his memo, the judge explained how IMLS ordinarily should operate according to the 1996 Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), which sets out multiple requirements for IMLS, including certain grants that must be issued and certain qualifications which the Director must possess. He traced how Sonderling and the defendants have been shutting down the agency in response to a March 14 executive order.

Judge Leon sounded sympathetic to the argument that the wholesale terminations of grants and services and the mass layoffs appear to violate the clear statutory mandates outlined in the MLSA. He expressed concern that defendants conduct contravenes Congresss appropriation of almost $300 million to IMLS, and said plaintiffs were likely to succeed in arguing that defendants are violating the Administrative Procedure Act.

Preserving the status quo

For now, the damaged agency is far from being restored: the narrow TRO serves only to preserve the status quo as of the date of this Order, the judge wrote. Yet the court memorandum, coming three days ahead of the planned reduction in force, is of vital importance to IMLS and those who benefit from its programs.

In his memorandum, Leon ordered that the agency defendants shall not take any further actions to dissolve IMLS or its operations, cannot fire any more staffers or put them on leave, and shall not further pause, cancel, or otherwise terminate IMLS grants or contracts or fail to fund them. In his listing of agency defendants, judge Leon named Sonderling, IMLS, Amy Gleason, U.S. DOGE Service, U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, Russell Vought, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, but for unknown reasons omitted the name of codefendant Donald Trump.

The judge also shared his reasoning on why the plaintiffs met their burden to obtain a TRO. To qualify for a temporary restraining order, Judge Leon wrote, the party making the motion must have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, evidence that irreparable harm will take place without the order and that the order would not substantially injure anyone else, and a result that furthers the public interest. He found reason in all these points, noting that the harm being done is not merely economic and that preserving crucial access to library services outweighs defendants claimed interest.

This article has been updated with further information.
The European Commission welcomes the signing of the fossil fuel agreement between the United States and Ukraine, stating that its content is in line with EU law and does not hinder Ukraine's accession to the EU.

This was stated in Brussels on Friday by press secretary of the European Commission, Paula Pinho.

We do welcome the agreement that was struck yesterday, that it does take into consideration notably the accession process of Ukraine and the EU aquic, which obviously is of key importance. And that is something which, of course, we had discussed with our Ukrainian counterparts, she said.

Pinho noted that the European Commission understood that the Ukrainian side was interested in the fact that such an agreement would not stand in the way of a possible future accession. So, this is important also to be said, the European Commission press secretary emphasized. We've been in close contact with the Ukrainian counterparts on this subject, she added.
The new Pennsylvania GOP chairman, state Sen. Greg Rothman, was elected on a platform that can be described as: Lets make Pennsylvania Florida. In other words, make the GOP the plurality party in Pennsylvania and turn the perennial purple state red  just like Florida transitioned over the past decade.

This requires executing three things well: registering more Republicans; winning over more voters to support GOP candidates; and getting more supporters to actually vote. Those tasks are intertwined in messaging, tactics, and tone. Yet they require refocused priorities  and mindset.

Republican consultant Albert Eisenberg, a principal at the messaging firm BlueStateRed, just released a post-election analysis of how the GOP built their 2024 margins in Pennsylvania  from Trump to McCormick (the only swing state U.S. Senate challenger to win) to statewide row officers, two newly elected U.S. representatives, and a new state senator in Philadelphia.

Eisenberg shares my passion for building a GOP majority through engaging and welcoming in ethnic minorities such as Hispanics, Chinese and Indian-Americans, Jewish voters, and African Americans. He has worked on strategies, tactics, and messaging to engage them. Through his work and many others, we see the benefits of this outreach and engagement. Eisenberg now has data to show that this outreach isnt just morally responsible for the GOP, but also smart political strategy and mathematically necessary.

Regarding Hispanics, Eisenberg provides examples of the dramatic shift among Hispanics: Hispanics in Philadelphia voted more Republican than the City as a whole. And their 14% shift to the GOP provided the margin of victory for U.S. Sen. McCormick and new U.S. Reps. Mackenzie and Bresnahan.

When it comes to African-American voters, there has been a small shift toward the GOP, but the bigger opportunity may lie in the fact that African-American voters just arent voting. A significant number have grown weary of Democrats  and stopped voting. As an example, Pennsylvanias turnout grew by over 10% from 2012 to 2024; yet black turnout in Harrisburg fell by 3.2%. Republicans need to talk to them.

Jewish voters also show trends with similar opportunities for the GOP. In 2018, the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate won 19.7% of the vote in Lower Merions Orthodox precincts. Yet in 2024, McCormick won 31.3%. In addition, other elections show they are more and more likely to split their tickets versus years past.

Go get people who want to be members of the GOP or, at least, share GOP priorities and/or policy positions. Follow the old saying: rob banks because thats where the money is.

This is similar to my mantra that the near-term future of the GOP in Pennsylvania is in Philadelphias Mayfair section, not the formerly red Malvern on the Main Line. Its in Reading, not Radnor. New GOP voters are those who value security, school choice, economic opportunity family, faith, and small business  not virtue-signaling or the latest cause du jour.

The GOPs opportunity includes first and second-generation Americans who genuinely believe in the American Dream  that hard work can help parents ensure that their kids will do even better than them. And Eisenbergs data showed that those shifting movements began a few years back but leapt forward in 2024 as Democrats ignored or rejected their values and priorities  or attacked them, in the case of Jewish voters. For now, pause the aspiration of reclaiming the Main Line and instead go for those ethnic voters predisposed to the GOP.

This is what the GOP in Florida has done under the leadership of Gov. DeSantis, who engaged in concerted outreach. The Florida GOP is now not only the overwhelming majority party; its also home to countless Hispanic, Africa-American, and now Jewish voters. DeSantis carried Miami-Dade County in his re-election.

The road to Florida is clear: register voters  focusing on events and communities looking to join the GOP. The Democratic advantage over the GOP was over 1 million voters a generation ago. In March, it was under 48,000  with 2022 to 2024 being significant years of GOP growth and voters leaving the Democratic party. The GOP could be the plurality party by the end of 2025. They need to keep pushing that snowball down the hill.

Use every form of voting, including mail-in. Ive been among those making the case for years  not to intentionally fight with one arm tied behind their backs. Not allowing Democrats to start each elections 100-yard dash with their candidates at the 60-yard line. Its working. As Athan Koutsiouroumbas pointed out through his analysis, what was at times an almost 5-1 advantage has shrunk to under 3-1. Two trends are occurring: the GOP is using mail-in voting more and more  especially in-person mail-in voting in suburban Philadelphia, and Democrats are using it less. What was a 60% advantage is down to 47% -- and falling. (Yet, as the special election in Lancaster Count in March showed, the GOP cannot turn the spigot off in off year or special elections  the Democrats upset win was due in no small part to having a huge mail in advantage on Election Day.)

The new GOP-formula has been shown to work  to claw to a razor-thin majority. The election victories and now the post-election data show the formula to grow to a bona fide plurality  to make Pennsylvania Florida.

Pennsylvania can go red, go back to blue, or stay purple. The GOP controls its destiny.
Universal Pictures released a behind-the-scenes featurette showing how the island of Berk was constructed for the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.

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The video, posted to YouTube on Thursday, features writer-director Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the DreamWorks Animation version of the film, discussing the craftsmanship behind the live action film's sets.

The featurette also features actors Mason Thames (Hiccup), Gerard Butler (Chief Stoic the Vast) and Nico Parker (Astrid) talking about their initial reactions to seeing the Viking town once it had been constructed.

The film, which releases in theaters June 13, follows the adventures of Hiccup and the dragon he befriends and names Toothless.

"Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society," the official synopsis reads.
The Precinct 7A polling location will be moved from Timothy Baptist Church to the Athens-Clarke County Library, located at 2025 Baxter St. in Athens, for all summer election dates following an ACC Board of Elections vote that took place on Thursday, April 24. The Board of Elections will decide whether to make the location change permanent after the summer election dates have passed.
The bank made a Rs 67 crore net profit, up 21% from the previous year.

Its deposits grew 8%, the loan book 10%. Net bad loans dropped from 7.53% to 6.07%.

So why was the banker, who headed the bank, not promoted?

March marked the end of the financial year.

For employees of listed banks, March was a tough month since both the regulator and the investors keep a hawk's eye on their balance sheets -- how loan assets have grown and, in the current context, how the deposit portfolio has behaved.

Of course, profits, asset quality, and other business parameters including net interest margin and fee income among others are also under scrutiny.

March was also important for bankers for another reason -- promotions. Typically, promotion interviews take place in mid-March, and by the end of the month, the results are out. I am referring to public sector bankers.

Under normal circumstances, a panel of four -- the bank's managing director, a Reserve Bank of India nominee, a government nominee on the bank's board, and an external expert -- grills the candidate.

Employees of a large public sector bank have recently raised concerns over transparency and fairness in the promotion process of assistant general managers to deputy general managers after certain officials were elevated despite serious allegations of underperformance, reported a news portal dedicated to banking issues.

An RTI filing by an officer has revealed cracks in the integrity of the promotion process.

This raises questions about the standards followed and the decision-making process for the promotion.

Some of the officials who have been promoted are facing legal cases, have reputational issues, or a history of poor performance, the news portal reports. Yet, they have advanced within the bank's leadership.

Let me narrate the story of a general manager appearing for the position of chief general manager (CGM) in another large public sector bank.

Until recently, only the State Bank of India had this position, but now all public sector banks have CGMs.

Their number depends on the size of the bank. Typically, it is proportional to the size in the business mix (deposits plus loans) -- one CGM for a trillion rupees of business.

This gentleman -- let's call him Mr X -- was promoted as general manager when he was 54. In March 2022, he was appointed chairman of a regional rural bank (RRB) in northern India.

It was a fairly large RRB with close to Rs 37,000 crore in assets. The total business was to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore.

The RRB had 1,400 branches, 22 regional offices, and at least 20 million customers.

He was made chairman of the RRB because he was good at his work and had an unblemished career. The cut-off age for the job was 55.

Not many general managers were eligible for the role. Even those who are generally don't get excited about an RRB assignment.

Mr X diligently obeyed the higher authority's orders, and took up the assignment. He relocated with his family to a city in north India.

His teenage daughter, a Class 9 student of a Mumbai school, took admission in a local school. This was her sixth school in nine years.

That year, the RRB made a Rs 67 crore net profit, up 21 per cent from the previous year. Its deposits grew around 8 per cent, and the loan book 10 per cent.

The net bad loans dropped from 7.53 per cent to 6.07 per cent.

So far, so good. But during his one-year stint, something happened for which the general manager is still paying the price.

He has been overlooked for promotion yet again. Why? For making an 8.45-minute video at the cost of around Rs 6.75 lakh.

After including 18 per cent goods and services tax (GST), the video cost the bank close to Rs 8 lakh.

Here's what happened: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), the RRBs' regulator, wanted to showcase 'Digital Innovations for Advancing Financial Inclusion' through a video, which would be shown at the first meeting of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion of the G20 in Kolkata in January 2023.

This video was to be played before international delegates attending the G20 summit exhibition, highlighting the achievements of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the progress of women in rural India.

Why did Nabard choose this particular RRB for the assignment?

Months before the video was shot, Mr X had presented a paper that impressed everyone at a Pune conclave in September 2022, which all RRB chiefs, the top management of sponsoring banks, and finance ministry officials attended.

In October, at the finance ministry's directive, the premier bankers' body Indian Banks' Association set up a committee to draft a five-year viability plan for RRBs.

Mr X was chosen as one of the five members of the committee. In December, for yet another committee focused on strengthening the IT platform of RRBs, Mr X was picked up as a member.

The RRB received an e-mail from Nabard in the third week of December 2022, requesting for the video, which would be screened on January 9-11, 2023, at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata during the G20 meet.

The video needed to be ready by January 1, 2023. There wasn't enough time, and the video had to be approved by Nabard and the finance ministry's Department of Financial Services before screening.

The RRB selected a Mumbai-based agency, after checking with three such agencies, for the job. The agency initially quoted a higher price, but the RRB bargained and brought it down.

Both Nabard and the finance ministry loved the film. It was shown at the G20 meet without any editing.

Nabard also sent a letter of appreciation to Mr X for doing a good job in such a short time.

It didn't end there.

A vigilance inquiry followed: Why didn't Mr X follow the tender norms of a public sector bank? Why did he choose a Mumbai-based agency for the film? Couldn't a local agency have done the job? Why did the RRB have to spend so much money on the film?

Ideally, the RRB should have floated a tender, waited for 21 days, and gone with the lowest bidder.

The argument that there was no time for that as the film had to be made within 10 days did not hold water.

The justification that Rs 6.75 lakh wasn't that high a sum for a high-quality video shot at multiple locations in the remote villages of northern India also fell on deaf ears.

The findings of the vigilance probe? While the cost of the film wasn't too high, the quality was good, and there might not have been enough time to follow the tender process, why didn't the RRB chairman keep the board informed about this?

Despite the absence of a guideline requiring the matter to be reported to the board, the vigilance department refused to close the chapter.

The complaint was lodged in January 2023. The case is still open.

This is why Mr X, a general manager, a performer who has been handling his current portfolio in the bank with aplomb, could not get his next promotion.

He did well at the interview, but could not make it in the absence of vigilance clearance.

The moral of the story?

Follow the rule book, don't take any initiative, don't try to be innovative. With such vigilance shackles, will public sector banks ever be able to compete with private sector banks?

Disclaimer: These are Tamal Bandyopadhyay's personal views.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Amid challenging market environment, Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra reported an increase in vehicle dispatches to dealers last month while Tata Motors and Hyundai saw a year-on-year drop in sales.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Maruti Suzuki India

Interestingly, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors moved up the ladder to the second and third positions, respectively, last month in the domestic passenger vehicle segment while pushing long-time number two player, Hyundai Motor India to the fourth position.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki India reported a 1 per cent year-on-year increase in total domestic dispatches (including PVs and LCV Super Carry) last month at 1,42,053 units.

Its total domestic passenger vehicle sales rose marginally to 138,704 units compared to 137,952 units in the year-ago month.

Sales of mini segment cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, dropped to 6,332 units against 11,519 units in April last year.

Dispatches of compact cars, including Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR, however, rose to 61,591 units from 56,953 units a year ago.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Maruti Suzuki India

Utility vehicles, consisting of Brezza, Ertiga, Grand Vitara and XL6, clocked sales of 59,022 units last month compared to 56,553 units earlier.

"Despite a challenging market environment and no new model launches, we have managed to maintain our performance, with wholesales of around 1.42 lakh units, which is better than April 2024," MSI senior executive officer (marketing & sales) Partho Banerjee stated.

Retail sales have also kept pace, reaching around 1.44 lakh units, he added.

Photograph: Rajesh Karkera and Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said its utility vehicle sales surged 28 per cent to 52,330 units in the domestic market last month against 41,008 units in the year-ago period.

"Building on the strong momentum of last year's performance, we began the year on a strong note in April by achieving SUV sales of 52,330 units, a growth of 28 per cent and total vehicle sales of 84,170 units, a 19 per cent growth over the same month last year.

"These numbers indicate the strength of our portfolio and customer offerings," M&M Ltd president - automotive division, Veejay Nakra said.

Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff

Tata Motors reported a 6 per cent dip in its passenger vehicle sales, including EVs, in the domestic market at 45,199 units against 47,883 units in the corresponding month last year.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Hyundai Motor India

Hyundai said its dispatches to dealers in the domestic market stood at 44,374 units in April, a dip of 12 per cent, as compared with 50,201 units in the year-ago period.

"While the domestic market continues to face headwinds on account of various macroeconomic factors, we continue to champion 'Make in India, Made for the World', emphasising the company's strong focus on exports," Hyundai Motor India COO Tarun Garg said.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Kia Motors India

Kia India reported an 18 per cent on-year increase in domestic wholesales to 23,623 units in April against 19,968 units to dealers in April 2024.

"As we look ahead, our unwavering focus remains on delivering progressive, customer-centric mobility solutions that resonate with evolving aspirations," Kia India senior VP and head of sales and marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said.

Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Toyota Kirloskar Motor said its sales increased 33 per cent year-on-year to 27,324 units in April.

"Our multi-pathway approach, which provides diverse technology options, has enabled us to respond positively to shifting customer needs and has ensured strong demand across our line-up," Varinder Wadhwa, vice president for sales-service-used car business, said.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

JSW MG Motor India said its sales increased 23 per cent year-on-year to 5,829 units in April. The automaker dispatched 4,725 units to dealers in April last year.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, TVS Motor/Meta

In the two-wheelers space, TVS Motor Company reported a 7 per cent on-year growth in sales at 3,23,647 units in April.
Apple will source the majority of the iPhone sold in the US from India in the June quarter while China will produce the vast majority of the devices for other markets amid uncertainty over tax tariffs, a top official said on Friday.

Photograph: Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters

During the company's second-quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company made quarterly records in several countries, including India.

The company, however, recorded the seventh straight quarter of sales decline in China where it produced the largest volume of iPhones.

"For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin, and Vietnam to be the country of origin for almost all iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods products also sold in the US.

"China would continue to be the country of origin for the vast majority of total product sales outside the US," Cook said.

According to an analysis by S&P Global, Apple's iPhone sales in the US were 75.9 million units in 2024, with exports in March from India equivalent to 3.1 million units in March, suggesting a need to double shipments either through new capacity or redirecting shipments bound for the domestic market.

"Apple's Indian exports already headed predominantly to the United States, which represented 81.9 per cent of phones exported by the firm in the three months to February 28, 2025.

"That increased to 97.6 per cent in March 2025 as a result of a 219 per cent jump in exports, likely reflecting the firm looking to preempt higher tariffs," S&P Global Market Intelligence report said.

Cook said that Vietnam will become the country of origin for almost all iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods products sold in the US.

He said that for the June quarter, most of the tariff exposure for Apple is at the rate of 20 per cent, which applies to imports to the US for products that have China as their country of origin.

"In addition, for China, there was an additional 125 per cent tariff for imports of certain categories of products announced in April.

"For us, that's some of our US Apple Care and accessories businesses and brings the total rate in China for these products to at least 145 per cent," Cook said.

Cook said that the vast majority of Apple's products, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, are currently not subject to the global reciprocal tariffs that were announced in April, as the Commerce Department has initiated a Section 232 investigation into imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and downstream products that contain semiconductors.

"For the June quarter, as I talked about in my opening comments, we estimate the impact, assuming that the current global tariff rates, policies, and applications don't change for the balance of the quarter to be $900 million to our costs.

"I wouldn't want to predict the mix of production in the future, but I wanted to give you clarity for the June quarter of where the country of origins are," Cook said.

In the second quarter ended March 29, 2025, Apple reported a 5 per cent increase in revenue to $95.35 billion, up from $90.75 billion in the same period last year, driven mainly by growth in services, Mac and iPad sales.

Apple sales were up by about 8 per cent in the Americas to $40.31 billion, 1.3 per cent in Europe to $24.45 billion, 16.54 per cent in Japan to 7.29 billion, $8.4 per cent in the rest of Asia Pacific Regions, including India on Y-o-Y basis during the reported quarter.

Market research firm Counterpoint Research estimates that Apple recorded its highest-ever shipment volume in India in March 2025 quarter with 29 per cent Y-o-Y growth.

The company's sales declined by 2.2 per cent in Greater China to $16 billion from $16.37 billion on Y-o-Y basis during the March 2025 quarter.

Talking about retail business, Cook said that the company has opened two Apple stores during the quarter.

"We're also looking forward to a new retail store in the UAE, the arrival of the online store in Saudi Arabia, and new retail stores in India starting later this year," Cook said.

iPhone sales declined by about 2 per cent to $46.84 billion year-over-year (Y-o-Y) from $45.96 billion in the March 2024 quarter.

Apple Mac sales grew by 6.6 per cent to $7.94 billion from $7.4 billion, iPad sales were up about 15 per cent to $6.4 billion from $5.55 billion, and services sales increased 11.63 per cent to $26.64 billion from $23.86 billion on Y-o-Y basis during the quarter.

Apple's wearables, home, and accessories recorded about 5 per cent decline to $7.52 billion during the March 2025 quarter from $7.91 billion in the year-ago period.

The company in the second quarter released iOS 18.4, which brought Apple Intelligence to more languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, as well as localised English to Singapore and India.
China on Friday said it is assessing whether to start trade talks with the US on tariff reductions following recent approaches by Washington, a move that would possibly ease the tit-for-tit tariff war between the world's two largest economies.

Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

"China is making assessments as the United States has recently reached out to convey messages to China through relevant parties many times, expressing hope to engage in talks with Beijing over tariff issues," the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement in Beijing.

The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the United States.

If the US wants to negotiate, it must demonstrate sincerity, and make preparations and take concrete actions on issues such as correcting its erroneous practices and lifting the unilateral tariffs, the statement by its spokesperson said.

China has noticed the US side constantly talking about adjustments to its tariff measures, it said that "in any potential dialogue or talks, if the United States does not rectify its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it would demonstrate a complete lack of sincerity and further undermine mutual trust."

Saying one thing while doing another, or even attempting to use talks as a cover for coercion and blackmail, will not work with China, it said.

China at present is the only country the US tariffs have come into effect while the American President Donald Trump paused reciprocal levies against a host of other counters, including India and the EU, isolating Beijing, which for its part went ahead with tit for tat tariff war with Washington.

Trump slapped 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese exports.

Later, the White House said tariffs on Chinese goods amounted to 245 per cent.

Beijing retaliated by imposing 125 per cent levies on US exports.

China has been denying any talks with the US on tariffs while Trump said talks were on and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to him.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied any such talks between the two Presidents.

China's softening stand on the tariffs came amid reports that imported goods from China valued at $800 or less sent through the postal network began to be subjected to a duty of either 90 per cent of their value or $75 per item  with that to increase to $150 per item after June 1, the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

Small parcels shipped via e-commerce companies have become a key engine of China's export growth in the past few years, filling the void left by dwindling wholesale orders from the US due to previous tariffs.

Also according to media reports a number of ships carrying goods to the US started to return back as the new tariffs came into effect.

For China, at stake is its exports to the US worth $439.9 billion last year while US exports to China totalled to $143 billion.

China is the only country to have retaliated with tit-for-tat levies.

For China, the US is the third largest export market.

Despite China putting a brave front, there is considerable concern here about the impact of Trump's tariffs on China's economy, which is struggling with slowdown due to falling exports, low domestic consumption and collapse of the housing market.

The US-China trade war had the trappings of a spill over affect against the rest of the countries as China on April 21 threatened to impose countermeasures on countries seeking to strike trade deals with the US at its expense in order to get American tariff exemptions.

In a pre-emptive move to stall a host of nations with whom China has lucrative trade ties from striking exclusive trade deals with the US to get tariff exemptions, China's Commerce Ministry warned that Beijing will firmly oppose such agreements.

Beijing's warning came following reports that US is preparing to pressure other countries to restrict trade ties with China in exchange for tariff exemptions.

Any bilateral trade deals by its major trade partners with the US could seriously impact China's overseas trade which amounted to $3.67 trillion, according to WTO data.

This includes exports last year to its largest trade partners like ASEAN, ($586.52 billion), EU ($580 billion) Japan ($167.12 billion) as per official data.

On April 16, China appointed a new top international negotiator after Trump said the ball is in Beijing's court to work out a deal to end the tariff deadlock.
While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.

Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing, explain Amitabh Kundu and Mehebub Rahaman.

IMAGE: Enumerators conduct the caste census in Bihar, here and below. Photographs: ANI Photo

The demand for a caste census in India primarily stems from the iniquitous access to resources and inadequate political representation of the marginalised and vulnerable population.

As affirmative action policies evolved, the necessity of generating robust empirical data to assess the inequitable distribution of socio-political and economic benefits among individuals and caste groups has come to the forefront.

The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) conducted in 2011 was an attempt to collect such data, aiming to identify the poor and determine household-level eligibility for various welfare programmes.

However, while the socio-economic data from the SECC was released, the caste data remains unpublished due to issues such as the lack of standardisation in caste classifications and inconsistencies in the data.

Concerns about the confidentiality of census data, potential biases in self-reporting due to caste identification, and the political ramifications of caste data at the grassroots level have unfortunately not received adequate attention.

Here we examine the operational complexity of these issues in the context of continued hesitation of the ruling dispensation to holding it at national level, against the vociferous demand by the opposition for holding it with a sense of urgency.

The origins of caste enumeration in India trace back to the decennial Censuses conducted under British rule.

The last comprehensive collection of caste data as part of the main Census was in 1931, which recorded socio-economic information on all castes across the country.

This exercise was carried out, not under any formal legislation but through an administrative order.

After Independence, successive Indian governments chose not to include detailed caste data -- except for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes -- in the Census, citing concerns about the potentially divisive and politically sensitive nature of such data.

The SECC of 2011 marked the first attempt in post-Independence India to collect detailed caste data alongside economic information.

This decision was driven by longstanding demands for accurate data to facilitate the effective implementation and evaluation of affirmative action and welfare policies.

According to Constitutional provisions, only a central government agency is authorised to conduct a Census.

Accordingly, SECC 2011 was carried out by the ministry of rural development in rural areas and the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation in urban areas, in coordination with the office of the registrar general and census commissioner of India under the ministry of home ffairs.

Confidentiality clauses in Census data

The Indian Census is governed by the Census Act of 1948, which strictly enforces the confidentiality of information collected from households.

Section 15 of the Act stipulates that no individual data gathered during the Census can be used as evidence in any legal proceedings or shared with any external agency, thereby ensuring the privacy of respondents.

This confidentiality is essential for building public trust, as it encourages individuals to provide accurate and honest information without any fear of exposure or reprisal.

The integrity of the data is further reinforced by adhering to a fundamental principle of data collection: Neither the enumerator nor the respondent should derive any personal benefit from the information generated.

Understandably, the SECC was not conducted under the Census Act but was instead carried out through an administrative order.

This distinction arose because here the data collection involves a process of community validation at the level of gram sabhas and ward committees.

Draft caste-based data was publicly displayed for comments and corrections, allowing for collective scrutiny.

While this participatory approach enhanced transparency, it posed several challenges.

It raised concerns about privacy, deliberate bias in reporting, the influence of local political dynamics, and the potential for conflict.

Socio-economic data classified by caste remains unpublished, primarily due to the lack of standardisation in caste categories.

Over 4.7 million caste names were recorded, including numerous synonyms, spelling and language variations, as well as entries for sub-castes and professions.

The herculean task of organising this information within a codified national caste classification system -- beyond the recognised SC, ST, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories -- has rendered the data largely unusable for policy purposes.

The agencies responsible for the SECC lacked a clear normative framework for validating, classifying, and publishing caste data, as there was no authoritative guideline to determine what constitutes an acceptable caste entry, beyond the official lists for SCs and STs.

There are additional challenges as well. Since welfare entitlements and the identification of the poor were expected to rely on the deprivation recorded at both the household and caste levels, concerns have been raised about the statistical robustness of the data.

In many cases, respondents have overstated their deprivation -- a phenomenon known as strategic response bias in economics and public policy (Bhalla 2015 and Kundu 2024).

This tendency appeared to be more pronounced in areas where the local validation process was less stringent, or where communities collectively coordinated their responses in the hope of securing higher group-level allocations.

Overreporting of deprivation in the SECC has been observed not only in the indicators used to identify the poor in rural and urban areas but also in others such as access to basic amenities and literacy rates.

This pattern of strategic misreporting -- highlighted through comparisons between SECC data and that of the National Sample Survey (NSS) conducted around the same period, raised questions about the credibility of the data and its implications for effective policy targeting.

Globally, behavioural economics and survey research have well-documented the risks of such response patterns, particularly when potential beneficiaries are aware of the eligibility criteria.

In the case of SECC 2011, these dynamics contributed to concerns about both exclusion and inclusion errors.

Moreover, households often responded to the questionnaire in ways that reflected the social norms associated with their caste -- a phenomenon known as social desirability bias in social research.

This bias tends to be particularly pronounced when sensitive topics such as caste, ethnicity, or gender are involved.

When respondents are aware that their household is being identified by caste, their answers may, to an extent, align with societal expectations or stereotypes of their caste, rather than accurately reflecting their actual personal or household situation.

State-level scenarios

States such as Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have undertaken their own initiatives to conduct caste surveys over the past year-and-a-half.

While these surveys achieved near-complete coverage, they are still considered surveys rather than Censuses, as only the central government holds the mandate to conduct a Census under constitutional provisions, as mentioned earlier.

Bihar's 2022 caste-based survey, for example, involved greater participation from local officials and utilised digital tools to ensure verification and transparency, covering both economic and caste indicators.

Similarly, the caste surveys in Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were designed to integrate caste data into the planning and targeting of their welfare programmes.

However, it is important to recognise that these surveys vary significantly in scope and coverage, meaning the data collected is not strictly comparable.

As a result, they cannot be combined to create a national-level dataset.

Potential for data misuse

It has been argued that the caste data, if released at the granular level, could be used to further entrench caste identities, leading to increased social fragmentation.

This could shift the political landscape, sparking demands for new political alignments and de facto reservations even for non-backward castes.

Consequently, successive governments have refrained from publishing detailed caste data, mindful of its potentially disruptive effects.

The availability of such data at the gram panchayat or ward level might highlight the under-representation of certain castes in local governance and distribution of services and welfare, in public as well as in private institutions.

This transparency could, in turn, trigger movements protesting perceived caste domination or exclusion.

Political actors and civil society organisations might use the data to mobilise communities along caste lines, potentially undermining institutional neutrality.

These dynamics raise significant ethical concerns regarding how caste data is shared, interpreted, and used. Ensuring responsible data governance, therefore, is crucial.

Understandably, the availability of caste data could intensify demands for the distribution of political, economic, and social benefits across castes in proportion to their population share at the local level under stipulations like 'Jiski jitni bhagidari, uski utni hissedari', often interpreted as the community's share in benefits should be proportional to its share in population.

Ground-level data would likely make these expectations more pronounced, leading to increased intolerance toward disparities that were once less visible or unknown.

This could potentially result in tensions in areas such as hiring, education admissions, and political ticket distribution.

While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.

Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing.

Public and private institutions alike may face greater scrutiny over their caste composition, with the risk of protests, boycotts, or political pressures with the allegation of their being dominated by a few castes, despite their efforts to maintain inclusivity and neutrality.

For a caste-based Census at the national level

Scholars such as Andre Beteille and Christophe Jaffrelot have observed that while caste is Constitutionally discouraged, it remains a fundamental organising principle in Indian society.

The connection between caste data and welfare distribution is a significant concern, as caste data can be an invaluable tool for evidence-based policymaking.

It enables targeted interventions in areas like education, healthcare, and employment for historically marginalised groups.

While the availability of caste data at the macro level is crucial for this, it is important that the Caste Census be conducted independently of the Population Census and outside the purview of the Census Act of 1948, incorporating local-level validation.

Additionally, legal safeguards must be established to ensure that such data availability does not lead to disruptive local politics.

To minimise biases in data reporting, survey design should include indirect or less obvious questions.

Ultimately, data-driven programmes at both the national and state levels could strengthen affirmative action for underprivileged castes.

Amitabh Kundu is senior advisor at Development Alternatives, and Mehebub Rahaman is an independent researcher working on developmental issues.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
The suspect in the attack on the well-known volunteer and activist Serhiy Sternenko is a 45-year-old native of Odesa region, recruited by Russian special services.

"The detainee is a 45-year-old native of Odesa region who lived in the capital. At the end of last year, she was remotely recruited by Russian special services when she was looking for quick money on the Internet," the SBU reported on its Telegram channel on Friday.

According to the case materials, at first, at the request of her curators, she conducted surveillance of certain cars, photographed them and transmitted the information to her contact.

Subsequently, the agent began to receive new tasks. In particular, according to the instructions of her handler, she had to make a homemade explosive device, and also changed her place of residence - she moved to an apartment in the central part of Kyiv.

"Since mid-April, the suspect began to watch public activist and volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, settling in the same residential complex with him. Later, she received the coordinates of a cache in which firearms were hidden - a PM pistol and ammunition for it," the message says.

The Ukrainian special service reports that on the morning of May 1, 2025, her supervisor gave her the order to kill the activist near his home. Thanks to preliminary observations, the offender already knew the make of the car and the approximate time when the volunteer would leave his home.

"At the moment Sternenko left the house, the Russian agent fired several shots: one of the bullets hit him in the leg. The criminal immediately detained on the spot by the Security Service of Ukraine," the message says.

As a result of the search, a telephone with evidence of work for the Russian Federation was found with her, as well as components for a homemade explosive device, which she kept in another apartment.

The SBU pretrial investigation continues. Comprehensive measures are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine have reported suspicion to the perpetrator, who on May 1 attempted to murder Sternenko under Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law), Part 2 of Article 15, Part 2 of Article 27, and Part 2 of Article 115 (completed attempted murder for mercenary motives, committed to order, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).
'India's letter to Pakistan on April 24 (2025; two days after the Pahalgam terrorist attack) didn't tear up the treaty -- but it did put it on ice.'

IMAGE: The Indus river at Skardu. Photograph: Kind courtesy Akbar Khan Niazi/Wikipedia Commons

In the first of a multi-part interview with Rediff's Prasanna D Zore, Uttam Kumar Sinha -- Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses and author of Indus Basin Uninterrupted, published by Penguin Random House in 2021 -- explains the essence of the Indus Waters Treaty.

With Pakistan calling India's response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack by keeping the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance an 'act of war', Sinha explains how six rivers were carved in two -- eastern flows to India, western to Pakistan -- and why a one-time 62 million payment smoothed the split.

He also explains how Indus Water Treaty's three-tier dispute-resolution ladder was designed to keep water conflicts peaceful, why India's April 2025 'abeyance' differs from exit, and how claims of a 'fundamental change' in circumstances now put this landmark pact on pause.

For a layperson, what exactly is the Indus Waters Treaty? What waters are divided, and why was it considered a landmark agreement?

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, has often been praised as 'uninterrupted and uninterruptible' -- a rare example of cooperation between two often-hostile neighbours.

But the roots of this treaty lie in the turbulent aftermath of the 1947 Partition. With the Indus river system -- comprising six major rivers -- spanning both nations, a water-sharing agreement became inevitable.

After years of tense negotiations and with the mediation of the World Bank, a unique formula was devised: The river system was effectively split.

The three western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab -- were allocated to Pakistan, while the eastern trio -- Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas -- went to India.

Pakistan ended up with 80.52% of the Indus Basin system's total water flow, a decision made more remarkable by the Treaty's structure: It didn't just divide water, it partitioned rivers themselves.

To soften the blow of losing access to the eastern rivers it had historically used, Pakistan received 62 million from India. This funding helped build new canals linking the western rivers to areas that had once relied on eastern flows.

Given that the IWT has survived wars and crises, what technical or legal grounds does India have to suspend it now?

The Indus Waters Treaty has no exit clause. Because the treaty predates the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties -- and India isn't a signatory -- the convention's withdrawal rules don't apply (to India or Pakistan). In other words, the treaty endures only as long as its signatories choose to honour it.

India's letter to Pakistan on April 24 (2025; two days after the Pahalgam terrorist attack) didn't tear up the treaty -- but it did put it on ice. This is abeyance, not abandonment -- a firm, deliberate pause.

Is it legally defensible? Yes.

The real fracture began with the 2016 Uri attack and Pakistan's repeated use of the treaty to stall Indian infrastructure.

Last August, India invoked Article XII (3) to propose long-overdue modifications. From Delhi's view, Islamabad's continued backing of cross-border terrorism marks a 'fundamental change in circumstances' -- a legitimate basis to revisit treaty obligations.

What is the mechanism under the IWT to resolve disputes? And has Pakistan exhausted that mechanism before India decided to suspend it?

The Indus Waters Treaty while both a water-sharing pact and partitioning treaty has a detailed three-tier dispute resolution mechanism designed to keep tensions from spilling over.

At the first level, differences are to be addressed by the Indus Waters Commission, a permanent bilateral body comprising commissioners from both India and Pakistan.

If the issue remains unresolved, it becomes a disagreement and escalates to a Neutral Expert, appointed with the World Bank's involvement.

Only when technical or legal disagreements persist beyond this can the matter be taken as a dispute to a Court of Arbitration.

But in recent years, Pakistan has repeatedly sidestepped this graduated process. Rather than exhausting the Commission's channels or deferring to a Neutral Expert, Islamabad has rushed to seek arbitration -- most notably over India's Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.

In 2022, it went a step further by simultaneously pursuing both arbitration and expert evaluation -- an unprecedented move that created a procedural deadlock and undermined the treaty's dispute-resolution integrity.

India, in turn, flagged this as a breach of the treaty's carefully sequenced mechanism and an erosion of its foundational spirit.
'There were deep discussions within the Sangh Parivar before this decision was made.'

'They were convinced, and only then did the Modi government proceed with the caste census.'

IMAGE: Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram with supporters pours milk on Dr B R Ambedkar's bust in Patna as they celebrate the Centre's decision to conduct a caste census. Photograph: ANI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government surprised political observers on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, evening when it stated that a caste census would take place in India.

The announcement came at a time when the nation expects the Modi government to act against Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had opposed the caste census, and its leaders often stated that the Congress demand for a caste census would weaken India.

Social media handles that support the BJP frequently trolled Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whenever he spoke about conducting a caste census in India, claiming he was trying to divide Hindus like the British did.

The last caste census in India was conducted in 1931.

In 1941, during World War II, the British did not conduct a census.

In 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru's government did away with the caste census.

So, what made the Modi government decide to conduct a caste census?

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff spoke to Justice V Eswaraiah, former chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes, to know more.

Why do you think the government has announced a caste census?

In the past, we have been fighting for a caste census in India, but the BJP never agreed to it.

They even told the Supreme Court that it was not their policy to conduct a caste census.

They also told the apex court that they would not publish the 2011 socio-economic census as there were some aberrations.

This made everyone feel that the BJP was against the caste census.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took advantage of the BJP's stance and made it his agenda to push for a caste census.

But Rahul is a very meek and unpredictable person.

During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he mentioned the caste census, stating, 'Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedari (The greater the caste population, the greater its share).'

He was speaking lies as he did not implement the caste census in two Congress-ruled states -- Telangana and Karnataka.

It looks like the caste census has taken precedence over the imminent war with Pakistan.

Whether there is a war with Pakistan or not is a different issue altogether, compared to the caste census.

I am referring to the timing -- why now?

They have to conduct the (population) census anyway. So, they are doing the caste census at the same time.

They can carry out both in one go.

There are no imminent elections, and yet the Modi government is going ahead with the caste census.

This is the right time for the Modi government to hold the caste census.

The scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other lower castes have long demanded it.

They were never concerned about the timing -- they simply wanted it, and the government is fulfilling that demand now.

It looks like the BJP has hijacked the Congress agenda on the caste census.

After the BJP's move on the caste census, the Congress will be politically cornered.

They will have no place left (in national politics). The people of India will tilt toward the BJP after the caste census.

The BJP will surely form the government again in 2029. Don't be surprised if they come to power again.

What about upper caste Hindus? Won't they be upset?

They are prepared to share their share (of the pie) in politics, education, and employment. If they don't, they would have suffered badly under Congress rule in the future.

The upper castes were mentally prepared for the caste census.

There were deep discussions within the Sangh Parivar before this decision was made.

They were convinced, and only then did the Modi government proceed with the caste census.

They realised that without the caste survey, they won't survive (in politics).

What kind of social change do you expect to happen on the ground?

Nobody can stop social change or social transformation on the ground.

How long can you continue to suppress people from taking steps toward social change? You simply can't do that forever.

What kind of social suppression do OBCs or Dalits face that deprives them of national resources meant for the common good?

The total upper caste population is 15 percent, and they have received 10 percent reservation under the Economically Weaker Sections quota.

Among this 15 percent, half are already rich.

So effectively, 7 percent of the population is benefiting from 10 percent the EWS reservation.

Moreover, upper castes have access to every sector. They have tremendous opportunities compared to the lower castes.

Which upper caste person works as a daily wage labourer or a rickshaw puller? Upper castes are born with a silver spoon.

How will the caste census help the lower castes?

Once the caste census is done, the whole picture will become clear.

In other words, it will be like an X-ray of India. It will provide figures showing which dominant castes are running sectors like healthcare, industry, the judiciary, employment, and more.

The caste census will give an idea how these resources and opportunities need to be distributed.

Is this the biggest social revolution in India after the Mandal Commission report?

Yes, the caste census is the biggest revolution to happen in India since the Mandal Commission.

It will lead to a fairer distribution of positions in different fields -- education, employment, and even the judiciary.

Do you think the distribution of resources will really happen after the caste census, or will it just be symbolic?

Yes, it will happen. A revolution will follow once the caste census data is released.

Even if they (the upper castes) try to retain power afterward, the backward castes will become more aware.

They (the upper castes) will have to relinquish their hold on power.

Wealth is currently concentrated among the upper castes. Do you think they will easily share it with the lower castes?

Politics is business. If backward castes gain power at the zilla parishad, assembly, or parliamentary level, their social and economic conditions will change.

Once political power is in their hands, they will rise just like other castes.

The upper castes are politically and economically powerful today because they held political power.

Give the same political power to the backward castes, and you will see them become economically powerful too.

Political power is the master key to all solutions.
'Surgical strikes or air strikes, or both, are likely on the table.'

IMAGE: Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi being briefed by army commanders in Srinagar, April 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Any strike would be a small component of a broader and multifaceted Indian response in the coming days and weeks. There will likely be an upsurge in covert activities, but we can also expect non-military punitive steps," predicts Washington-based South Asia expert Michael Kugelman.

"If the goal is to degrade cross-border terrorism, that suggests that some type of limited kinetic action across the border is most likely," Dr Kugelman tells Rediff's Archana Masih in the first of a two-part interview.

Why has the Pakistan military establishment embarked on something horrific and provocative as the Pahalgam attack?

We know that Pakistan's establishment has historically sponsored militancy in Kashmir, as well as groups like LeT (Lashkar e Tayiba) and JeM (Jaish e Mohamad). But we don't yet know the extent of its involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

That said, what would the establishment get out of sponsoring an attack like this? There would be some immediate benefits.

If there is an expectation that an attack like this would provoke an Indian military retaliation, then the military could benefit from a rally-around-the flag effect, with the hope that the country would unite around it in the face of an Indian strike.

Given that the Pakistani military is not very popular at home these days, this would be no small matter. Not to mention, that the military uses the India factor as a pretext to justify its outsized role in policy and statecraft, and as a legitimising factor more broadly.

In that sense, if there is an attack, Pakistan denies involvement, and then positions itself as the guarantor of Pakistan's safety in the face of a strike from India, then the military can essentially bolster its legitimacy in the eyes of a public that has been harshly critical of the military in recent years.

But the benefits would end there. The last thing Pakistan needs is another confrontation, or worse a conflict, with India at a moment when it's dealing with three simultaneous crises: Political paralysis, economic stress, and upsurges in terrorism.

A national security crisis at home may unite the country and ease the second crisis. But it could also distract from economic reforms and provide something for terrorists to exploit, thereby exacerbating the first and third crises.

India had retaliated with surgical strikes after the attack on the army camp in Uri in September 2016, and with air strikes into Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019. What punitive action is it likely to take after this worst attack against civilians since 26/11?

Surgical strikes or air strikes, or both, are likely on the table.

If the goal is to degrade cross-border terrorism, that suggests that some type of limited kinetic action across the border is most likely -- presumably in PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir), but perhaps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as we saw in Balakot in 2019.

Any operation along these lines, however, would not necessarily come anytime soon.

There's also something to say for delaying military action, as this would maintain an element of surprise and keep Pakistan anxious.

My sense, however, is that any strikes would be a small component of a broader and multifaceted response in the coming days and weeks. There will likely be an upsurge in covert activities.

But we can also expect non-military punitive steps, going beyond the diplomatic measures taken immediately after the attack. I anticipate India taking full advantage of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and signalling plans to build new dams.

It may try to put the squeeze on Pakistan by pressing its donors -- most of whom also have good ties with New Delhi -- to cut off funding.

I imagine it will also push FATF members to begin a process to get Pakistan back on the grey list.

America has condemned the Pahalgam attack and said that it stands with India, but has not explicitly criticised Pakistan.

What assistance could India expect from the United States in keeping with the existing security agreements between the two nations?

The US and India are close partners but not formal allies, so there are no binding security commitments. That said, one area where the US will likely want to help is with tracking down the terrorists that staged the attack.

The US-India security relationship has deepened to the point where there is sufficient trust to allow for intelligence-sharing (one of the most publicly known examples is the US supplying intel to India in 2022 that helped it pre-empt a Chinese incursion on the LAC).

So the US will likely want to share any intelligence with India that helps pin down the movements and locations of the attackers.

Beyond that, the US will likely double down on longstanding efforts to pressure Pakistan to cooperate in investigations and judicial processes tied to past cross-border attacks, especially the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India may view the US-Pakistan security partnership, limited though it is, as a problem. But it does give Washington an opportunity to push Islamabad to do more on this front.

It's a message the US may deliver next month when the next round of the US-Pakistan counterterrorism dialogue is expected to convene.
The Ordnance Factory Chanda in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district on Friday cancelled the leaves of all its employees "in the interest of national security and operational urgency."

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

A circular issued by the deputy general manager of the factory said as per the directions received from the chairman and managing director, Munitions India Limited (MIL), "all kinds of leave" stand cancelled with immediate effect.

All employees should report for duty without fail and ensure uninterrupted attendance and contribution in line with national requirements "during this critical period", it added.

The circular further said the order was issued "in the interest of national security and operational urgency."

Any exemption will be granted only under the most compelling circumstances, it said.

In Madhya Pradesh, leaves of more than two days for officers and employees at Ordnance Factory Khamaria in Jabalpur district were cancelled on Friday.

"The leave of more than two days of officers and employees has been cancelled with immediate effect to meet the production target," OFK PRO Avinash Shankar confirmed to PTI over phone.

OFK, employing about 4,000 people, is one of the biggest units of Munitions India Limited (MIL) which provides ammunition to the Indian armed forces.

"Since our target of this fiscal is huge and in April, we haven't achieved our desired target, therefore to compensate for it we have been directed by the HQ to cancel leave so that we have sufficient workforce and supervision," the PRO added.
The police on Friday arrested a Congress councillor and one more person in Madhya Pradesh's Indore after a video purportedly showed 'Pakistan zindabad' slogans being raised during a protest in Indore to condemn the Pahalgam terror attack, an official said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The case in this connection was registered on the basis of the video in which some people could be heard raising the slogans, he said.

The arrested Congress councillor, however, has claimed that the video was fake.

Talking to PTI, Sadar Bazar police station in-charge Yashwant Barole said, "A protest was held in the city's Badwali Chowki area on April 25 against the Pahalgam terror attack. A purported video of the protest surfaced on April 30 in which some people could be heard raising 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans."

On the basis of the video, an FIR was registered on Wednesday night under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 196 (1) (b) (any act that adversely affects the mutual harmony of different communities and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public peace), he said.

"During the investigation of the case, local Congress councilor Anwar Qadri and the head of a local traders association, Razik Baba, were arrested. Both of them were leading the protest," Barole said.

Following their arrest, both of them were produced in a local court which remanded them in judicial custody, he added.

According to Barole, since permission was not taken for the protest, BNS section 223 (disobedience to lawful order of any public officer) has been added in the FIR.

"Investigation into the case is underway. Other accused will be identified and legal action will be taken against them as well," he said.

The station in-charge said the authenticity of the controversial video of the protest was being investigated by technical experts.

After the controversial video surfaced on social media, local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Golu Shukla demanded strict police action against those involved in the protest.

Councillor Qadri had on Thursday said nobody raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans during the protest.

Before his arrest, he had called the alleged video fake, and also claimed that three-four BJP leaders had also participated in the protest.
Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has acknowledged the country's tango with terror operatives, saying that Pakistan has a past.

IMAGE: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

This follows the Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitting Pakistan's involvement in backing and funding terrorist groups.

Bhutto acknowledged Pakistan's history with extremism, claiming the nation has suffered as a result and has since reformed.

In a conversation with Sky News's Yalda Hakim on Thursday, Bhutto said, "As far as what the defence minister said, I don't think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past... As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem..."

"As far as Pakistan's history is concerned, it is history and it is not something that we are partaking in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history," Bhutto further said.

Bhutto, who addressed a rally in Mirpur Khas on Thursday, once again engaged in empty rhetoric, claiming that Pakistan wanted peace but was ready for war if India provoked them.

"Pakistan is a peaceful country, and Islam is a peaceful religion. We do not want war, but if someone attacks our Sindhu, then they should be ready for war. We don't beat the drums of war, but if provoked, the roar of a united Pakistan will be deafening," he said in the rally

A few days ago, in a video clip that went viral, Pakistan's Defence Minister was in conversation with Sky News's Yalda Hakim, when she asked him, "But you do admit, you do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations?"

Khwaja Asif in his reply said, "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades... and the West, including Britain...That was a mistake, and we suffered for that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan's track record was unimpeachable."

The admission from Pakistan's top echelon comes against the backdrop of the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terror group with deep ties to Pakistan, orchestrated the attack.
A former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of chief adviser Muhammad Yunus has suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok. Photograph: Courtesy @PMOIndia/X

Yunus' interim government on Friday distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his social media account.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rahman wrote in Bengali, "If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven states of Northeastern India."

"I think it is necessary to start discussions with China on a joint military arrangement in this regard," he added.

Rahman was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government in December 2024 as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009.

Distancing itself from the former army officer's remarks, Bangladesh's ministry of foreign affairs in a media release on Friday said, "The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner."

The government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations, the ministry said.

Earlier in March, Yunus, during his visit to China, had remarked that India's seven northeastern states, which share a nearly 1,600-km border with Bangladesh, are landlocked and have no way to reach the ocean except through his country.

In his address at a business event in China, Yunus said Dhaka was the "only guardian" of the Indian Ocean in the region, as he invited Beijing to send goods through Bangladesh across the world.

The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines.

Days after Yunus' controversial remarks, India in April withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting goods to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan.

Bangladesh has been using several Indian ports and airports for its exports to West Asia, Europe, and many other countries. India has exempted Bangladeshi exports to Nepal and Bhutan, as such trade facilitation is mandatory for landlocked countries under the framework of provisions of the World Trade Organisation.

India-Bangladesh relation has nosedived after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August last year.
A 14-year-old girl from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly raped after being held hostage for three days by a man, whom she had befriended on a social media platform, along with his friend in neighbouring Mandla district, police said.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay.com

The accused, identified as Rajan, had come in contact with the girl studying in Class 7 on social media, they said.

"The young man came to Jabalpur to meet her and both started talking over the phone. But after the girl's family came to know about the relationship, they took away her phone," Jabalpur city's Garha police station in-charge Prasanna Sharma told PTI on Thursday.

The man came to Jabalpur in February again and gave the girl a new mobile phone, he said.

On April 17, when the girl's mother went out of the town, the man called the girl and invited her to Mandla. The girl then reached Mandla by bus on April 21, he added.

"The man and his friend kept the girl at a house and raped her for three days. When the girl's mother returned home and found her daughter missing, she suspected the man's involvement and called him and threatened to lodge a police complaint against him," the official said.

On April 24, the accused sent the girl back to her place in Jabalpur in a bus. He even threatened the victim of making her objectionable video viral if she told anyone about the incident. But the girl approached the police and lodged a complaint at the Garha police station, he said.

The accused and his friend have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he said.

Efforts are on to arrest the accused, Sharma said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday urged "brotherly" countries, including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions heightened after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

IMAGE: People stage a protest condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, in Chennai, May 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sharif separately met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliky, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi and Kuwait Ambassador Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser in Islamabad when the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's desire for peace and stability in South Asia, state-run media said here.

The series of meetings with brotherly countries took place amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

The term "brotherly countries" is frequently used for Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkiye, with which Pakistan is having good credentials.

Radio Pakistan reported that while talking with Ambassador Nawaf,

The Prime Minister outrightly rejected baseless Indian accusations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident without any evidence and reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral international investigation into the incident.

While sharing Pakistan's perspective on recent developments in South Asia after the Pahalgam incident, Shehbaz Sharif said,

Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

.

He also highlighted the government's complete focus on consolidating the hard-earned economic gains of the past 15 months, with the support of friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia.

He added that it is inconceivable for Pakistan to act in an irresponsible manner to jeopardise its achievements and derail the country from the path of economic progress.

In another meeting, Sharif thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi for unwavering support to Pakistan.

He categorically rejected

the baseless accusations leveled by India in its desperate attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, without any evidence

and instead shared how Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism over the last few decades.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan has nothing to do with this and emphasised that he has offered to have a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation into the incident, the report said.

State-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Sharif told the Kuwaiti Ambassador Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser that Pakistan was confident of its stance and had offered to the international community to conduct a credible, transparent and neutral investigation into the incident.

All three ambassadors said their respective countries would work closely with Pakistan for maintaining regional peace and security.

On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong met Prime Minister Sharif here and exchanged views on the India-Pakistan tensions as Beijing kept abreast with the evolving situation.

On Wednesday, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait expressed their deep concern over the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and called on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels.

In separate statements, these countries reiterated their

full support for all efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions

between India and Pakistan and addressing their outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful means.

Earlier last week, Pakistan briefed a group of Islamabad-based heads of mission and diplomats on April 24 and 25 on the evolving situation following the Pahalgam attack, sharing the outcomes of its National Security Committee meeting.

As part of ongoing diplomatic engagement, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch briefed Heads of Mission and diplomats based in Islamabad on the latest developments following the Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir, the Foreign Office had said.
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting retaliation from the Indian Army, officials said on Friday.

Image only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

This is the eighth consecutive night of unprovoked firing along the LoC, amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers to make them habitable in case shelling happens.

"During the night of May 1-2, 2025, Pakistani Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire from posts across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir," a defence spokesperson in Jammu said.

Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner, the spokesperson added.

Initially beginning with unprovoked small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, Pakistan swiftly expanded its ceasefire violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region.

This was followed by small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of Rajouri district.

Subsequently, the firing expanded to the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district.

The renewed ceasefire violations come despite a recent hotline conversation between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, during which the Indian side is learnt to have cautioned Pakistan.

Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J-K, starting from the Kashmir Valley.

Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and warned that any attempt to divert water would be considered an 'act of war'.

The ceasefire along the borders was reaffirmed in February 2021, when both countries agreed to observe the 2003 agreement in letter and spirit. However, the current situation marks a significant departure from the relative calm maintained since then.

India shares a total of 3,323 km of border with Pakistan, divided into three parts: the International Border (IB), approximately 2,400 km from Gujarat to the northern banks of the Chenab River in Akhnoor, Jammu; the Line of Control (LoC), 740 km long, running from parts of Jammu to parts of Leh; and the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), 110 km long, dividing the Siachen region from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the north.

Civilians living along the LoC and International Border started getting their community and individual bunkers cleaned to make them habitable in case of an escalation to shelling.

The Union government sanctioned the construction of 14,460 individual and community bunkers in 2017. Over 8,600 community and individual bunkers have been built in five districts: Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri, officials said.

While harvesting of crops along R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the IB has been completed, it is still going on in Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts.

"This is being done in view of the tensions along the borders," an official said.
The Euroclear depository will seize and redistribute about EUR 3 billion of frozen Russian assets. The money will be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized their funds in Russia, Reuters reports, citing sources.

Euroclear plans to seize and redistribute about EUR 3 billion [$3.4 billion] of Russia's funds that are frozen at the Belgian clearing firm after Moscow grabbed investor cash in Russia, according to documents seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter, the agency reports.

The money will be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized cash held in Russia in recent months, three people said, escalating attempts by both sides to recoup billions in funds affected by the war in Ukraine. Euroclear will redistribute 3 billion from a pool of EUR 10 billion in cash belonging to Russian entities and individuals hit by European Union sanctions following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, two of the people said.

This is the first time that European authorities have allowed funds to be sent to Western investors under changes to the EU sanctions regime that came into effect late last year. The West has previously sent Ukraine interest on frozen Russian assets, a move that has angered Vladimir Putin.

Euroclear received permission in March from Belgium, its main legal authority, to make the payment, according to people familiar with the matter. Euroclear notified clients of the upcoming payments in a letter dated April 1.

Reuters was unable to identify the Russian owners whose assets will be seized. The Belgian government declined to comment, and Russias finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Euroclear said it was imposing sanctions but that it was not making decisions about the form of the sanctions or whether to lift them.

The European Union froze hundreds of billions in Russian assets, including central bank reserves, after Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an unprecedented move that has been the biggest punishment yet for Russia. Euroclear holds the lions share of Russias sanctioned wealth in Europe, more than EUR 180 billion. Getting that money back is crucial for Moscow, and has led to about 100 lawsuits against Euroclear, one of the sources said.

Moscow warned last year that it would retaliate if its frozen assets were seized and used for Ukraine, and earlier this year amended the law to allow it to do so. Moscow has reportedly withdrawn EUR 3 billion in cash held by Euroclear in a depository in Russia in recent months to compensate Russian investors hit by Western sanctions.

Clearstream, a division of the German stock exchange that, like Euroclear, holds securities such as stocks and bonds for traders, also found itself in a similar situation.
The United States stands strong with India against terrorism and Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'has our full support', the State Department said underlining that Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges India and Pakistan to work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia.

IMAGE: US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a press briefing Thursday that Washington is 'monitoring closely' the situation between India and Pakistan amid rising tensions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday.

"As the President articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support," Bruce said.

Rubio 'encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia. We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels', Bruce added.

"This government is in constant communication. We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties. And beyond that, there's nothing I can give you, any other details," she said.

The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with Delhi against terrorism and urging Islamabad's cooperation in investigating the 'unconscionable' Pahalgam terror attack.

In his call with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the 'horrific' terrorist attack in Pahalgam that had killed 26 civilians.

Rubio 'reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia,' a statement issued by Bruce had said.

Jaishankar said in a post on X that he discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with Rubio.

"Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice."

In his conversation with Sharif, Rubio spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam and urged Pakistani officials' cooperation in investigating 'this unconscionable attack'.

He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.

Rubio and Sharif 'reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence.'
A section of devotees of Lord Jagannath and priests in Odisha has taken umbrage over the West Bengal government's portrayal of the newly inaugurated Digha temple as 'Jagannath Dham', contending that it is a "self-styled" title.

IMAGE: Devotees in large numbers attend the inauguration of Digha Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, in East Medinipur, West Bengal, April 30, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, who was the chief priest during the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha on April 30, on Friday, joined the voices demanding withdrawal of the 'Jagannath Dham' phrase attached to the new temple in West Bengal.

"I, too, request West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to remove the word 'Dham' from the Digha Jagannath Temple," he told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

"I also urge the Odisha government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to initiate talks over the matter. As per my understanding, Puri is the only place referred to as 'Jagannath Dham," Dasmohapatra said, adding, he would write to Banerjee in this regard.

Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is aware of the development, but urged everyone to not jump the gun.

"I have limited knowledge and not as wise as her (Banerjee). I know there are four 'Dhams' in India. Let her justify why she called the Digha temple a 'Dham'. There can be several Jagannath temples in the country, but Puri is the only Jagannath 'Dham'," he asserted.

On the controversy over 'Brahma' (sacred material attached to Lord Jagannath's idol in Puri) placed on the idol in the Digha temple, too, Ramakrushna said: "I have not installed any such material on the idol. I monitored the prescribed procedures during the puja."

While many Hindu priests, researchers, servitors and scholars have rejected the naming of Digha's Jagannath Temple as a 'Dham', renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has sought a clarification from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

He accused Banerjee of hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Lord Jagannath devotees across the globe.

After the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha on Wednesday, Banerjee had referred to it as a 'Dham'.

While most critics welcomed the establishment of the temple in Digha, they strongly opposed linking the term 'Dham' with it.

In a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Padma awardee said, "This statement has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees worldwide. According to our scared scripture, there exists only one 'Jagannath Dham', which is located in Puri. Associating any other temple with the title may lead to confusion and contradicts long-standing spiritual and Hindu cultural tradition."

The sand artist urged Majhi to intervene in the matter, engage with his West Bengal counterpart, and take appropriate action.

Pattnaik also highlighted reports that a few 'sevayats' (servitors) from the Puri temple, who participated in the Digha temple's inauguration, have claimed that 'Brahma' has been installed on the stone idol of Lord Jagannath.

"This claim is highly sensitive, as the concept of 'Brahma' in the idol of Mahaprabhu Jagannath is a sacred and unique feature of the original temple in Puri, rooted in centuries of tradition and ritual secrecy," he asserted.

Pattnaik, who shared a copy of his letter with law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, requested a thorough investigation by the state government, particularly to clarify the use of the term 'Brahma' and the title 'Jagannath Dham'.

Speaking to PTI, Pattnaik said, "I request the West Bengal chief minister to tender an apology to millions of Lord Jagannath devotees for projecting the temple at Digha as a 'Dham.'"

Another former member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Madhab Mohapatra, appealed to Banerjee to refrain from making what he termed a "false claim".

"This appears to be part of an evil conspiracy against Jagannath Dham and Sanatan Dharma," he alleged.

Noting that Adi Shankaracharya had accorded the status of 'Dham' to Lord Jagannath's Puri 'peeth', a senior servitor Ramachandra Dasmohapatra said, "How can Digha become a 'Dham'? All seas are not 'Mahodadhi' or all places of Jagannath Temple across the world are not 'Dham'. Please do not mislead the people."

Shree Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik also came down heavily on Banerjee and urged her to stop misleading the people of Bengal.

"Mamata didi should not mislead Bengalis. Bengali people know what is what and it is difficult to mislead them," he added.
Ten days after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including her husband Shubham Dwivedi, Ashanya on Thursday said no effective action has been taken against the perpetrators so far.

IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi meets with the family members of Shubham Dwivedi, who lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack, in Kanpur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Shubham Dwivedi, 31, was among the victims killed in the April 22 attack targeting mostly tourists in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam.

Speaking to PTI, Ashanya said she is not seeking a job or compensation, but solely wants her husband to be accorded the status of a martyr.

"Neither has Shubham received recognition as a martyr, nor has the government eliminated the terrorists responsible for the killings," she said.

"I don't want a job or money -- just the status of martyr for my Shubham. I will carry this pain for the rest of my life."

Ashanya, who now fears going outdoors, said she confines herself to a room where she spends hours gazing at Shubham's portrait and the shirt he wore during the attack.

"Even the sound of a tyre burst or a loud noise makes me tremble," she added, recalling the trauma that continues to haunt her after the attack.

During a visit on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi met the bereaved family at their Maharajpur residence.

Ashanya said she placed her demand before the Congress leader, who assured her that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting martyr status for Shubham.

"Rahul ji has promised to raise the matter in Parliament as well," she told PTI.

Ashanya also urged the government to take concrete and immediate action against the terrorists behind the killings.

When asked whether she would ever consider visiting Kashmir again, she said, "Never. Not even once."
The Supreme Court on Friday directed authorities not to deport to Pakistan six members of a family, who allegedly overstayed their visa, till their citizenship claim is verified.

IMAGE: An woman stands at the Attari-Wagah border crossing near Amritsar, on May 2, 2025. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh without fixing any specific timeline asked the authorities to verify the identity documents such as passports, Aadhaar card, pan card, etc., of the family and other relevant facts, which are brought to their notice.

"In the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, authorities may not take coercive action till an appropriate decision is taken. If petitioners are dissatisfied by the final decision, they can approach J&K&L HC. Order not to be treated as precedent," the bench said.

The family, which lives in Kashmir and whose sons work in Bengaluru, faced deportation to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives.

Observing that the issue involves a human angle, the bench gave the family the liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir high court in case they are aggrieved by the document verification order.

Advocate Nanda Kishore, appearing for the family, claimed they had valid passports and Aadhaar cards.

He said the family members in Srinagar were bundled into a jeep and ferried the Wagah border and now were at the 'threshold of being thrown out of the country'.

The bench while directing the authorities to verify all the documents said that a decision be taken at the earliest, though no time limit was fixed.

Justice Kant asked the petitioner's counsel, "How did the father come to India? You have said he was in Pakistan."

Kishore said he came to India in 1987 on a valid visa and surrendered the Pakistani passport at the border.

One of the sons, who was appearing virtually, claimed the father came to India from Muzaffarabad, from the other side of Kashmir.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said it would be appropriate that the petitioners approach the authorities concerned first so that their claims were verified.

"Let them approach the authorities," Mehta said while assuring the bench that no coercive action would be taken against them till a decision was was arrived at on the documents.

"It was a case, where these people have overstayed the visa," he submitted.

The bench, however, said the oral undertaking might pave way to uncertainties.

The top court was hearing a plea by Ahmed Tarek Butt and his five family members who claimed they were detained and taken to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan despite having valid Indian documents.

The bench noted that following the Pahalgam attack, the Centre in a notification dated April 25 has revoked the visa of Pakistani nationals except for those provided in the order itself and gave a specific timeline for their deportation.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a fresh plea challenging constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

IMAGE: People hold placards during a protest against the Waqf Act at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is scheduled to hear petitions on the issue on May 5. The bench, which had earlier made it clear it will hear only five of the over 70 litigants, today again said that no more fresh pleas will be entertained on the issue.

"If you have some additional grounds, you can file an intervention application," the CJI told the counsel for petitioner Mohammad Sultan.

On April 29, the bench refused to entertain 13 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Act.

"We are not going to increase the number of petitions now. This will keep on piling and would become difficult to handle," it said.

On April 17, the bench decided to hear only five of the pleas before it and titled the case: 'In Re: Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025'.

The Centre then assured the bench it will neither denotify waqf properties, including 'waqf by user', nor make any appointments to the central waqf council and boards till May 5.

About 72 petitions were filed against the law.

They included those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed.

While appointing three lawyers as nodal counsel, the bench asked the advocates to decide among themselves who was going to argue.

"We clarify that the next hearing (May 5) will be for the preliminary objections and for an interim order," the bench said.

The Centre recently notified the Act, which got President Droupadi Murmu's assent on April 5, after its passage in Parliament following heated debates in both houses.

The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it.

It was cleared by the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Yoga guru Ramdev on Friday gave an undertaking in the Delhi high court for neither issuing any disparaging statement nor publishing on social media posts similar to his sharbat jihad remark against Hamdard's Rooh Afza.

IMAGE: Yog Guru Baba Ramdev speaks during the inauguration of Patanjali Mega Food and Herbal Park, at MIHAN in Nagpur, March 9.2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Justice Amit Bansal, who on May 1 ordered the removal of the controversial online content, asked Ramdev's counsel to file an affidavit during the day.

A similar undertaking was also tendered by Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Ltd.

The court passed the order while dealing with a lawsuit by Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks.

Hamdard claimed while promoting Patanjali's gulab sharbat, Ramdev alleged the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.

On April 22, the court sought an affidavit from Ramdev and Patanjali that they shall "not issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in the future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors."

Ramdev's remark of sharbat jihad on Hamdard's Rooh Afza, the court said, was indefensible and shook its conscience, prompting the Yoga guru to assure he would immediately take down the related videos and social media posts.

On Friday, Hamdard's counsel said instead of taking down the objectionable YouTube video in terms of an earlier order, the defendant had only made it private.

Ramdev's counsel, on the other hand, said he had "great respect for the court" and its directions would be complied with.

"We have 24 hours, we will comply," he said while urging the court to dispose of the lawsuit.

The court then posted the matter on May 9.

On May 1, after the court warned of initiating contempt action against Ramdev, his lawyer assured that certain objectionable content which was subsequently published, would also be deleted within 24 hours.
Pony ride operators were the first to help him after he was injured by a terrorist's bullet during the April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, 60-year-old Subodh Patil said on Friday.

IMAGE: A group of Vietnamese tourists visits Pahalgam, days after a terror attack on tourists, May 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Patil, who underwent treatment at the army hospital in Pahalgam, returned to his home in Kamothe in Navi Mumbai on Thursday night along with his wife.

Speaking to reporters, he became emotional recounting the incidents of that day, and thanked the pony ride operators who helped the injured after the attack.

"I was unconscious due to a bullet injury in the neck. When I regained consciousness, I found dead bodies around me. After seeing me moving, a group of pony ride operators came up and offered me water," said Patil.

"The pony ride operator we had hired was among them. He said I should not worry about my wife, she was safe."

"Another man helped me stand up, offering me his shoulder for support, and asked if I could walk," Patil recalled, adding they kept telling him not to be scared.

The pony ride operators took him outside the compound and gave him a cot to sit on.

"After some time, they brought a vehicle and took me to the medical facility of the Indian Army. From there, I was flown out in a helicopter and shifted to the army hospital," Patil said.

Narrating how the attack unfolded, he said the terrorists asked all the Hindu tourists, including him, to stand in a line.

Some of them pleaded with the terrorists, but to no avail. Whoever tried to resist was shot immediately.

A bullet grazed his neck, causing an injury.

Patil also remembered Desale, a resident of the nearby New Panvel township, who was one of the six Maharashtrian tourists killed in the attack that day.

"We both had arrived at the site together," he said.

Desale opted for a ropeway ride, and he and his wife also had their pictures taken in the traditional Kashmiri attire, Patil recalled.

When the terrorists opened fire, Patil and others in his group did not take notice immediately.

"After some time, the sound of gunfire increased, and we turned back and saw people running to save their lives," he said.

Everything happened in five minutes, but he would never be able to forget those five minutes, said Patil.
Telangana police chief Jitender on Friday instructed officials to implement foolproof security measures for the upcoming Miss World pageant, which is being hosted by the state government.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant is set to take place in Telangana this month, with both the opening and closing ceremonies, including the grand finale scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, according to the organisers.

In a special meeting held in Hyderabad, the DGP reviewed security preparations with senior police officials, an official release said.

He said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, during a recent meeting with police officials, emphasised that the Miss World events are being organised to enhance Telangana's brand image globally and that comprehensive security measures must be implemented.

Jitender said contestants from about 120 countries are expected, and so far, confirmation has been received from 116 nations.

He said over the span of a month, these contestants will tour various regions of the state in groups. The arrival of the guests has already begun from Friday.

As part of their schedule, the contestants will visit prominent tourist and heritage sites, including Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district, Buddhavanam in Nalgonda district, Pillalamarri in Mahabubnagar, and destinations across Warangal, the release said.

The DGP said a centralized control system will be set up to coordinate security at these locations and events.

The Telangana police will ensure robust security for the 120 participating nations' contestants and guests, showcasing their efficiency to the world, the top official said.

Additional DGP (Law and Order) Mahesh M Bhagwat, ADGP (Greyhounds and Octopus) M Stephen Raveendra, who is also the police nodal officer for Miss World, were among the officials, who attended the meeting.

The DGP interacted with the Warangal Commissioner of Police, Superintendents of Police of Mulugu, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar through video conference, the release added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, whose presence at the inauguration, Modi said, will give 'sleepless nights' to many.

IMAGE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thiruvananthapuram airport. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also present. Photograph: Kind courtesy @ShashiTharoor on X

Modi also referred to Vijayan as a 'pillar' of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The prime minister told Vijayan and Tharoor, who were on the dais, that their presence at the inauguration event would give 'sleepless nights' to many.

However, the person translating his speech did not translate it properly, and it prompted the PM to say, 'the message has gone across to whom it was meant'.

Giving details of the development in the country, Modi said that India was among the top three nations globally on the number of seafarers and in the last 10 years, the capacity of our ports has doubled, their efficiency improved and the turnaround time there decreased by 30 per cent.

Modi further said that the seaport has been constructed for Rs 8,800 crore, and its transshipment hub capacity is set to triple in the near future.

"It is designed to accommodate large cargo ships, addressing a critical need. Until now, 75 per cent of India's transshipment activities were conducted at foreign ports, resulting in significant revenue losses for the country."

"However, this is poised to change. The funds previously spent abroad will now be channeled into domestic development, creating new economic opportunities for the people of Vizhinjam and Kerala, ensuring that the nation's wealth directly benefits its citizens," he said.

He said that the people of Gujarat will be disappointed with Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani for building such a huge port in Kerala when he hails from the western Indian state.

He also said that State Ports Minister V N Vasavan's reference to Adani Group, a corporate entity, as a partner of the Communist government shows the changes taking place in the nation.

The PM also referred to the era before slavery and said that India flourished with prosperity for thousands of years.

"At one point, it held a significant share of the global GDP. What set India apart from other nations during that time was its impressive maritime capabilities and the thriving economic activity in its port cities. Kerala, in particular, played a major role in this success," he said.

Modi further said that the full potential of the port economy is realised when infrastructure development and ease of doing business are prioritised and promoted.

"Over the past decade, this approach has been the cornerstone of the government's port and waterways policies.

"Significant strides have been made in advancing industrial activities and driving the holistic development of the state," he said.

Earlier, the PM arrived at the port area by helicopter from Thiruvananthapuram city and walked around the transshipment hub wearing a hard hat.

The deep-water port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India's largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, under a public-private partnership.

Following a successful trial run, the port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4 last year.
The United Nations Security Council could meet 'sooner rather than later' to discuss the situation between India and Pakistan, and this would be an opportunity to express views and to help diffuse tensions, UNSC President said, voicing concern over rising tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

IMAGE: A Pakistan flag is seen on Pakistan Rangers' Post near the Attari-Wagah border crossing near Amritsar, on April 26, 2025. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

"Of course, if a request comes for a meeting, then...I think this meeting should take place because, as we said, maybe it's also an opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions. We will see," Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of May, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris said in response to a question by PTI.

"We are in close contact ... but this is something which might happen, I would say, sooner rather than later. We will see, we are preparing. It's the first day of our (UNSC) presidency."

Sekeris briefed UN reporters here Thursday on the Council's work programme under Greece's month-long presidency of the 15-nation UN body.

He was asked about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and if he had received any request for a meeting or consultations on the issue in the Council.

In response to a question by PTI on India being a victim of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which now sits in the Council as a non-permanent member, Sekeris said, 'It's an issue which is very pertinent. As I said before, as a position of principle, we strongly condemn any act of terrorism and this is what we did' on the 'heinous terrorist attack' that took place in Pahalgam in which innocent civilians died.

Sekeris noted that 'we express our condolences to the government of India, Nepal and the families of victims'.

'This is a position of principle. We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it is happening. On the other hand, we are concerned about this tension which is mounting in the region. Two very big countries. Of course, India is far more bigger' than Pakistan.

He added that both countries are far more bigger than Greece.

"So the size and volume are of a different nature. We also join calls for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control."

Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he had a 'good conversation' with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and had 'discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack'.

India welcomed Greece's firm opposition to cross-border terrorism and said, "Our Strategic Partnership reflects the depth of our ties," Jaishankar had said.

Sekeris added that bilaterally, 'we have an excellent bilateral cooperation with India' and noted visits by Greek and Indian leaders to each other's countries.

He noted that Greece also has bilateral relations with Pakistan, and 'we don't see it antagonistically. With Pakistan, we are together in the Council and we will cooperate'.

In response to another question on a possible meeting in the Council on the situation, Sekeris said, "It is an issue which is now ongoing, evolving."

Sekeris noted that the Council had last week issued a press statement condemning the 'heinous terrorist attack' in Jammu and Kashmir and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

"We are listening, of course, we are monitoring closely the situation and will be seized on the matter, of course. This is certain that it will happen," he said.

The Greek envoy stressed that any act of terrorism is strongly condemned.

"We express our deepest condolences to the Government of India and Nepal and the families of the victims. At the same time, I have to tell you that we are also seriously concerned with the growing bilateral tension in the atmosphere, which has been evolving between India and Pakistan."

He said, "We are also joining others who are calling for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control."

He added that 'bigger' member states are already in contact with both sides.

"I'm not in a position to reply directly to your question, but with plain logic, this is something which might probably happen. I mean, if the situation is not de-escalating, calling for an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council is something which can come as a consequence, because it's actually the main business of the Security Council."

Pakistan also sits in the Council as a non-permanent member, elected together with Greece. "So they are there."

If during the Greek presidency, 'such a request' (to discuss the issue in the Council) comes, 'we will process it. But we hope really that this situation will de-escalate because it's two very big member states' and a lot is at stake 'and let's hope that those efforts for de-escalation will be helpful. But we are prepared'.

To a question on Pakistan using its leverage as a non-permanent member and not naming The Resistance Front in the press statement on the Pahalgam attack, Sekeris said 'when you have a press statement, whichever text which is adopted by consensus, unanimity, you cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation because it's an internal document.

'For me, the important thing' is that the press statement was issued, 'because having in the Security Council, one member state which is part of this conflict, of course, then you could expect another outcome.

"But I think that the statement was there. This is very important. On the other hand, yes, we are also concerned on a national basis. (Greek) The Foreign Minister spoke with the Foreign Minister of India. We are also in constant contact with Pakistan.

"There are calls for de-escalation. Of course, on the other hand, it's a difficult subject, but we are very receptive to any request and if meeting of Security Council will take place in any form, we will steer the debate as president in a way to be faithful to our mandate, but we really hope that maybe de-escalation would be possible."

Meanwhile, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters the UN chief has spoken to Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and offered his good offices.

To a question on whether the Secretary-General will consider travelling to the region and mediating between both parties, Dujarric said, "I don't think there would be any travel until there's a clear message that, as in any instance where we have high tensions between two countries, that they've both accepted his good offices."
Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua/

Ukraine insists on increasing pressure on Russia, focusing on the fact that the world is increasingly understanding the Kremlin's hybrid tactics of manipulation, either with the Easter truce or with the truce on May 9, said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, speaking during the Question Hour to the government in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

"Now we are witnessing a new hybrid tactic of manipulation by the Kremlin, when they are pushing us with Easter or a ceremonial truce. We also see a growing understanding around the world that all this is simply manipulation and a blatant mockery by Russia of the peace efforts of the United States and other partners," he said.

"We insist that it is time to increase pressure on Moscow to force it to peace. Military deterrence and economic pressure can do this and make it impossible to expand aggression," Sybiha stressed.

The minister also stated that "Ukraine clearly and consistently stands for an unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire on land, at sea, in the air. At least for 30 days. We are ready."

"Russia must agree to a real, complete and unconditional ceasefire and confidence-building measures, such as, first of all, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, abducted children and civilian hostages. Only in conditions of complete ceasefire and humanitarian confidence-building measures can negotiations begin - in any format that will bring peace," Sybiha stressed.
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Nancy Braus is a long-time political activist who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi. In this edition, I'm looking at the potential economic impact of a massive explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaei port and whether it will impact Iranian trade and hopes for foreign investment.

What You Need To Know

 Trade Braces For 'Shock' After Port Explosion: The massive explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaei port on April 26 is unlikely to cripple Iran's economy, but it poses a "big shock" to the country's international trade, analysts say. Iranian authorities say the blast was caused by "noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence," but it remains unclear what exactly caused the blast that killed at least 70 people and injured more than 1,000.

 Nuclear Talks In Rome Postponed: A fourth round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran was postponed. Mediated by Oman, the talks have reached a crucial phase where bridging differences on key issues were expected to be discussed. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement on May 1 that the decision to postpone the talks in Rome had been taken based on the proposal of Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who cited "logistical reasons" for the delay. He said the meeting was being rescheduled. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the meeting had never been confirmed. The United States expects another round of talks "will take place in the near future," she said.

 Hijab Warning Text Message Raises Eyebrows: Some women in Tehran have received a text message from a state institution telling them that they have been observed in the city not complying with the mandatory hijab. The move has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning how these individuals were identified and how their private phone numbers were obtained.

The Big Issue

Scaring Off Investors?

Analysts say the explosion will have major ramifications for not only Iranian trade through its busiest port but will also hinder the country's ability to attract investment.

The explosion obliterated over 10,000 shipping containers and set fuel storage tanks ablaze, causing a temporary suspension of foreign trade.

Paris-based economist Djamchid Assadi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that while the explosion was unlikely to cripple Iran's sanctions-hit economy, it would have a "very negative" effect on both the supply of goods and securing foreign investment.

He said, regardless of whether the accident was caused by incompetence or sabotage, it raises questions about the level of safety in Iran's business environment.

"How can you hope to attract investment when you cannot ensure safety and security in that port?" Assadi argued.

While the authorities insist operations at the port have resumed, Azerbaijan-based energy and economy expert Dalga Khatinoglu said it will be a while before the port can return to business as usual.

"This will be a big shock to Iran's international trade," he told Radio Farda.

Why It Matters: The Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas is located near the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil trade passes.

Commonly dubbed Iran's "golden gateway" to international commerce by Iranian media, Shahid Rajaei port manages about 85 percent of the nation's container throughput, over half of its overall trade, and 70 percent of its transit shipments.

What's Being Said: Hossein Zafari, a spokesman for Iran's crisis management agency, suggested the explosion may have resulted from improperly stored chemical materials within containers at the port.

Publicly available data indicate that shipments of chemical components used in missile propellant were received from China at the port in February and March. Nonetheless, a Defense Ministry spokesman has refuted claims that any military-related cargo, including missile fuel, was present at the explosion site.

Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi described the explosion as a symbol of "the collapse of a regime that has led Iran into ruin for nearly half a century" and demanded a referendum to "restore sovereignty to the people."

Expert Opinion: "There will be a big shock, particularly if administrative buildings in the terminal are also destroyed, which will cause a serious disruption to imports and exports," Khatinoglu said.

That's all from me for now.

Until next time,

Kian Sharifi

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here . It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
A landmark minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States offers "equal" benefits for both sides and opportunities for investment in Ukraine and the modernization of its industry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 1.

Zelenskyy hailed the deal in a video posted on Telegram but also said more pressure on Russia is needed.

He and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent underlined that talks between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in Rome during Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 played an important role in securing a deal.

"In fact, now we have the first result of the Vatican meeting, which makes it truly historic," Zelenskyy said.

The two leaders met one-on-one while seated informally in St. Peter's Basilica to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

The accord, which was signed in Washington on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction and would see the United States and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine's critical mineral resources.

Trump initially described the deal as "money back" for billions of dollars in military aid that Ukraine has received since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Ukraine said the agreement is not linked to any past "debt, and Bessent stressed that the accord signaled support for Ukraine.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said.

The agreement establishes the United-States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which Bessent said in a news release is a historic economic partnership.

The deal will show Russia that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network on May 1.

It gives Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, he added.

The Ukrainian parliament must still approve the pact. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met parliamentary factions on May 1 as some members complained they had not seen the text of the agreement or been properly consulted.

First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the accord for Ukraine, told reporters in an online briefing that ratification would happen in the next few weeks

Zelenskyy said he hoped there would be no delays in securing parliament's approval, though some lawmakers said they expected it to take longer than a week.

Some technical details must be completed before a joint US-Ukraine investment fund can become operational, Svyrydenko said.

"We really need to be more sustainable and more self-sufficient, and this is a real tool that can help us achieve this goal," she said, adding that the two sides did not expect the agreement to begin generating revenue this year.

Svyrydenko, who is also Ukraine's economy minister, said the agreement "can provide success for both our countries" and "will attract global investment into our state" in highlighting its key points in a post on Facebook.

Svyrydenko said the investment fund will be filled with income exclusively from new licenses. This involves 50 percent of the funds from new licenses for critical materials and oil and gas projects, which will come into Ukraine's budget once the fund is established.

The agreement states that all resources on Ukraine's territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine, and Kyiv alone will determine where and what to extract. It also does not change Ukraine's European integration course, Svyrydenko added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryi Sybiha wrote on X that he had briefed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas about the agreement.

"This marks an important milestone in UkraineUS strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Ukraines economy and security," he said in his post.

Military Aid

Beyond its monetary aspects, Ukraine also sees the agreement as key to ensuring its access to future US military aid.

Roman Kostenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and special forces commander, told Current Time that the question of security guarantees in connection with the US-Ukraine minerals deal "remains open."

"Perhaps there were certain nuances that prevented their inclusion in the minerals deal, even though it was a demand from our side," he added.

On April 29, the US Congress website published a notice from a senior official in the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs on the certification of a proposed license for the export of defense articles which included "defense services to Ukraine in the amount of $50 million or more."

According to the Ukrainian media outlet the Kyiv Post, the White House approved the license shortly after the two countries signed the agreement on mineral resources.

The US is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests. Among them are deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment, and weapons. Ukraine also has deposits of lithium, graphite, and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.

Trump said the deal in theory means that the US will get more from Ukraine than it contributed.

I wanted to be protected, he said in an interview on NewsNation, adding that he didnt want to be looking foolish by not getting money back for the investment.

Trump said earlier at a cabinet meeting that the American presence will "keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we're doing the digging."

With reporting by Reuters
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance expressed uncertainty over the chances of reaching a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine one day after Washington and Kyiv signed a deal that gives the United States access to Ukraines mineral resources.

"I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now. They're closer, but they're still far apart," Rubio said on Fox News on May 1. Vance, speaking in a separate interview on the network, went further, saying the war in Ukraine is not going to end "any time soon."

Rubio said if there isn't a real breakthrough on the war in Ukraine in the near future, US President Donald Trump will have to decide how much more time to dedicate to the negotiation process.

The United States had already warned that negotiations had reached a "critical" phase, and a lack of progress could mean it would walk away from its efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

Rubio said last week that, while "real progress" had been made in talks to end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "those last couple of steps of this journey were always going to be the hardest ones, and it needs to happen soon."

Trump, who began his second term as president in January, has made ending the war a top priority. He has called for an immediate and full cease-fire and demanded that Russia stop its indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Vance said he was "optimistic" about securing a halt to fighting but it would ultimately be up to Kyiv and Moscow.

"They're the ones who have to take the final step," he said. It is "going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are. It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict."

"It's not going anywhere. It's not going to end any time soon," Vance added.

Ukraine says it wants a cease-fire of at least 30 days to open the way for talks on securing a just peace. Russia has not agreed to such a truce, but President Vladimir Putin has unilaterally announced a three-day cease-fire next week to coincide with Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, and the Kremlin said he is open to direct talks with Kyiv.

Deadly Drone And Missile Attacks

Russian forces continue to launch deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities almost nightly. Zelenskyy has called on Ukraines Western partners to take tougher measures against the Kremlin.

Both the United States and Ukraine on May 1 hailed the minerals deal, which was to have been signed on February 28 at the White House. But a tense exchange between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance resulted in the cancellation of the signing ceremony.

Both sides made efforts to patch up relations, culminating in a one-to-one meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on April 26 on the sidelines of Pope Franciss funeral at the Vatican.

The minerals agreement was signed on April 30 by Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Ukraine said the agreement secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earth minerals, which are vital for new technologies.

Washington called it a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after Trump ended military aid soon after he returned to office.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said.

Trump had initially demanded rights to Ukraine's mineral wealth as compensation for tens of billions of dollars worth of US weapons sent to aid Ukraines military under former President Joe Biden.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on May 1 that there were no debts to be paid from past US aid to Kyiv. He called the agreement truly equal and one that creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine.

This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which helps us in defense, can earn in partnership, he added.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that there are no formal defense guarantees in the agreement on the creation of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

"There are no formal defense guarantees in this agreement, but each new military aid provided by the United States to Ukraine is considered a capital contribution. This stimulates the US administration to continue and not stop supplying us with weapons, supplying us with intelligence data," he said during the Hour of Questions to the government in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

At the same time, the prime minister noted that the theses set out in the preamble to the agreement are references to security guarantees from the cooperation of the parties.

As reported, on Wednesday, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement on the establishment of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which contains 12 articles and a list of critical materials, is of a financial nature. From Ukraine, the participant in the fund will be the Public-Private Partnership Agency (PPP) under the Ministry of Economy. After ratification, the creation of the fund itself will begin between the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Ukrainian PPP Agency, which operates within the Ministry of Economy.
Three months ago, Ukraines president was sitting in the White Houses Oval Office, berated by U.S. President Donald Trump and his vice president for balking at a major deal giving Washington privileged access to Kyivs lucrative mineral wealth.



The blow-up threatened a decisive, and possibly catastrophic, disruption in U.S. support for Ukraines war-fighting effort.

On April 30, however, after weeks of fraught, behind-the-scenes negotiations -- and a remarkable face-to-face Vatican meeting between Trump and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy-- Ukrainian and U.S. officials announced a major new agreement on access to those same minerals.

That includes subsoil elements that are critical to cutting-edge technologies -- electric car batteries, smart phones, computer chips -- something Washington has prioritized getting access to.



The deal is notably different from the original proposal, which Ukrainian officials complained heavily favored U.S. interests.



While more favorable to Ukraine than earlier iterations, the deals effectiveness hinges on long-term peace and stable investment conditions, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in an analysis of the deal.

Key barriers include outdated geological surveys, degraded energy infrastructure, and unresolved security risks.

Added Oleksiy Yizhak, an expert at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, a Kyiv think tank: "The agreement looks, in my opinion, quite reasonable, not at all like the one that was initially voiced by the United States and that caused a very negative reaction both in Ukraine and among Ukraine's friends.

So whats in the deal exactly?

An Equal Partnership?

At the heart of the 11-page agreement is a joint investment fund that is intended to help rebuild Ukraine once the Russian invasion, now in its fourth year, ends. Ukraine will contribute 50 percent of all revenues from the sale of new minerals, as well as oil and gas projects, under the deal.



Ukraines economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said the agreement guarantees Kyiv retains full ownership and control over all resources on our territory and in our territorial waters.

Thats a crucial element that had been lacking in earlier negotiations, and that prompted strong pushback from Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials, who said it would violate the countrys constitution.

"The economic agreement is, of course, not bad, but first, it still needs to be ratified by parliament; second, there are two other documents that must also be reviewed and adopted, though without parliamentary ratification, Ihor Reiterovych, a Ukrainian political analyst, told Current Time.



And while its all well and good for the economy, it wont stop the war for now, he said.



Ukraines parliament could vote on ratifying the deal as early as May 8.

What About Those Rare Earth

The funds investments center on Ukraines mineral resources; the text actually specifies nearly six dozen natural resource relevant assets.



Ukraine is a major oil and gas producer, as well as coal, though most of its coal fields are currently located in territories under Russian occupation. It also holds a substantial amount of other important industrial minerals: things like titanium  used in airplane manufacturing  and uranium  used for nuclear power.



It also may have critical amount of so-called rare earths. These are hard-to-find and hard-to-extract minerals that are used in things like batteries, smart phones, computer chips, and other technology.

The agreement calls for not only investing in extraction of the minerals, but also related infrastructure and processing facilities. That could include port facilities, to help exporting the materials. Investment decisions will be made jointly  by US and Ukrainian officials  and made only within Ukraine itself.



US companies get favorable treatment for participation in tenders, auctions, and other negotiations, under the deal, and the revenues generated by the fund will also be tax-exempt.



Notably, Svyrydenko, said, the agreement excludes two major state-owned resource companies: Ukrnafta, which produces oil and gas, and Energoatom, which owns and operates the countrys nuclear power plants.



"If we are talking about American investors coming, investing additional funds, investing technology, and receiving half of the revenues from production for this, this is not a new idea in Ukrainian commercial law, Yizhak told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service.



Will this be enough for the full restoration of Ukraine? Well, it's hard to say, he said. I think that for the full restoration of Ukraine, much more is needed than can be earned from this agreement. But if we talk about it, is 50/50 normal? Yes, thats normal.



The agreement is a strong signal that the Trump administration is embedding minerals into its foreign policy, CSIS said in its analysis.

"The investment-for-minerals structure of the deal aligns well with President Trumps foreign policy ethos, which has favored a transactional approach to deal-making.

Whats NOT In The Deal

Even before he took office in January, Trump complained that U.S. support for Ukraine was a boondoggle, claiming Kyiv owed the United States as much as $500 billion. Early on in the talks over the minerals deal, Trump suggested that the agreement could be structured as compensation for U.S. weaponry deliveries.



That stance, plus Trumps longstanding misgivings about Zelenskyy, was partly what led to the February 28 meltdown, where Zelenskyy and Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, had a shouting match, accusing Zelenskyy of being ungrateful and disrespectful.



Since the Russia launched its all-out invasion in February 2022, Washington has provided more than $174 billion in aid to Ukraine, according to the Congressional Research Service. Most of that is for weaponry, which Ukrainian troops have relied heavily on to push back on Russias advances.

The new agreement contains no stipulation that Ukraine will compensate Washington for past weapons deliveries.



It also says that future U.S. military supplies  weapons, ammunition, or training  will be calculated as a contribution to the joint fund.



Also not in the deal: security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy had pushed the United States, and other European allies, for some sort of explicit commitment to come to Kyivs aid in the future, once the Russian war does finally end. That even included future NATO membership, though the Trump administration has decidedly poured cold water on that.

Still, some NATO allies are considering a reassurance force  essentially, a quasi-peacekeeping force as well.



Zelenskyy had hoped a mineral deal would include a security commitment from the Trump administration. There is none.



It does, however, state U.S. support for Ukraines security, prosperity, reconstruction, and integration into global economic frameworks, and a long-term strategic alignment between Washington and Kyiv.

The main thing in this agreement is that the possibilities have been unlocked, albeit on a commercial basis, to purchase critical items that are needed, Mykhaylo Podolyak, a top aide in Zelenskyys presidential office, told Current Time.

We need to scale up strikes on the European part of Russia; when countries, including the United States, finally understand that soft diplomacy towards Russia does not work."



The deal comes at a time when the Trump administration pushes ahead with efforts to resolve the Ukraine war. The lead US envoy has presented the Kremlin with a list of proposals, which Ukraine and many supporters say is skewed toward Moscow.



While the Kremlin downplayed the minerals deal, Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected lawmaker, called it The Big Deal and said it was bad for Moscow.



The fact is that the Big Deal will shift the US position away from Russia and towards Zelenskyy, he said in a post on Telegram.



U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who signed the deal along with Svyrydenko, said it sent a clear signal to Moscow.



This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term, he said in a statement.
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

This week's signing of the Minerals Agreement with the United States is an important component of Ukraine's future security infrastructure, "it correctly balances benefits and obligations without harming national interests."

This assessment of the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America on the establishment of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund was given by Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha, speaking during the Question Hour to the government at the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

"Ukraine proceeds from the fact that the security of Ukraine, Europe and the entire transatlantic community are indivisible. In this context, I want to emphasize once again that for us today, more than ever, it is important to maintain the support of the United States. For our part, we are conducting consistent diplomatic work to ensure that these relations develop dynamically," he said.

Sybiha noted that an important step in this context was the signing this week of the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America on the establishment of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund.

"This agreement is an important component of the future security infrastructure of Ukraine. This agreement correctly balances the benefits and obligations without harming national interests. We managed to get a mutually acceptable text," he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the agreement does not contain any restrictions on the sovereign rights of Ukraine, in particular regarding mineral resources, critical infrastructure facilities and other strategic assets of Ukraine. "This agreement is based on the principles of balance of obligations and powers of the parties, parity in decision-making, and complies with Ukraine's international legal obligations to the European Union and Ukraine's strategic course for accession to the EU. The Agreement does not contain any provisions on any debt obligations of Ukraine," he noted.
The family of Robert Pether, who has been in jail in Iraq for over four years are hopeful that he may be released on humanitarian grounds following a meeting between Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris and his Iraqi counterpart.

Desree Pether, wife of Robert who lives in Elphin, told the Roscommon Herald she got a call from Simon Harris on today, Friday where he relayed to her that Roberts plight had been discussed with the Iraqi official.

Although the Tanaiste did not outline to her the exact details of what was said Desree stated: He said that he spoke to him and that he would continue making every effort to try and get Robert home and that it's gone on long enough; he needs to be released so that he can get the medical treatment he needs. He said he's so sorry that this is happening; he said that he would do whatever he could and he just reiterated that and reinforced that he won't forget about us and that he will keep taking any opportunity he can to try and get him home to us.

Robert, who is originally from Australia but was living in Elphin, was jailed in Baghdad amid a 20m contract row between his Dubai-based employer and the Central Bank of Iraq. He and a colleague were arrested in Baghdad on April 7th, 2021, by 12 police officers who stormed a meeting the men were having with the governor of the Central Bank of Iraq.

Fears are now increasing in relation to Roberts deteriorating health. Desree said: Im beside myself with worry. He is very sick and getting sicker every week. We're at the end of another week and still going around in circles, its horrendous. It's so hard to hear him being so weak and sick and in pain constantly."

Following the meeting a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs stated: The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade held a call with his Iraqi counterpart. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not comment on individual cases and remains in contact with the Pether family."

For full story see next week's Roscommon Herald.
Pat Flynn and Grainne Ni Aodha

A group of pro-Palestinian activists have said three of its members were detained after they breached the perimeter of Shannon Airport.

The group Palestine Action Eire said three of its activists entered the airport runway at Shannon in an attempt to inspect a US military plane.

The airport suspended operations for an hour until 7.30pm.

The three individuals are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Clare.

It is believed that a white van crossed a grass area on the main road into the airport and crashed through the perimeter fence.

It is understood that a number of people wearing orange jump suits, hard hats and scarves over their faces then entered the airports air side area.

They ran in the direction of a taxiway before were detected and quickly apprehended.

Palestine Action Eire allege that the Omni Air Boeing 767-300 CRAF that landed at Shannon Airport on Thursday was aiding wars in the Middle East, including Israel and Yemen.

The group said its claims are contextualised by The Ditchs investigative reporting, which it said confirms that US weapons and military personnel are regularly travelling to the Middle East, including Israel, via Shannon Airport.

It is prohibited to transport munitions of war on civil aircraft across Irish airspace without an exemption from the Minister for Transport.

News website The Ditch has reported that several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have transited Irish airspace since October 2023.

However, Ministers have suggested there is ambiguity on whether certain airlines require permission for their cargo.

Palestine Action Eire is demanding that the Government stop allowing flights carrying weapons and military equipment through Irish airspace.

A statement from Palestine Action Eire said the Government was literally fuelling genocide.

The government continues to allow troops and weapons through Shannon against the democratic will of the people, it said.

A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group said normal operations had resumed following an incident which required Garda assistance.

The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result, it said.

The situation was promptly addressed by Gardai and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office said: Gardai are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare. No further details are available at this time.

On March 27th, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said it was expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish territory without being granted an exemption.

In 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel, he told the Dail.

Since October 2023, diplomatic clearance has been granted on a small number of occasions for US military aircraft to land in Shannon for the specific purpose of transporting senior officials travelling from the United States to the Middle East.

Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
Ullus 'House Arrest' Show Banned in India! Pulled From App Amid Vulgarity Complaint

The legal petition demands strict action against the producers, cast, and the streaming platform itself.

Ullu House Arrest Show by Aijaz Khan Ban in India Latest News: Ullu Originals debut into the field of reality shows with 'House Arrest' has landed in serious controversy, resulting in the show's sudden removal from the platform. The bold reality series, known for its provocative content and emotionally charged confrontations, was quietly deleted from the Ullu app on May 1, leaving fans shocked and raising major questions about content regulation on OTT platforms in India.

The removal follows a formal complaint filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal with the Delhi Police, alleging that the show promotes vulgarity and indecency, violating Indian cultural norms and digital content laws. The complaint specifically points to a recent viral clip of a task involving explicit simulations, which triggered widespread backlash on social media.

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Hosted by former Bigg Boss contestant Aijaz Khan, House Arrest show on Ullu quickly gained traction for its no-holds-barred format that brought together bold contestants living under 24x7 surveillance. While the raw energy and drama attracted a niche audience, critics slammed the show for crossing ethical and cultural boundaries.

The legal petition demands strict action against the producers, cast, and the streaming platform itself. Content like this is irresponsible and offensive to the moral standards of Indian society, Advocate Jindal stated. The complaint has reignited a national debate around the unchecked liberties of OTT platforms and the urgent need for stricter regulatory frameworks.

At present, the show's fate remains uncertain. With legal proceedings pending and no official statement from the creators or Ullus team, fans are left wondering if they will ever see new episodes. Industry insiders suggest that a decision on whether the show can return  possibly in an edited or restructured form, will hinge on the court's direction and public sentiment.

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(For more news apart from Ullu House Arrest Show by Aijaz Khan Ban in India Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Air India Foresees Additional Expenditure of $600 Million If Pakistan Airspace Ban Continues (GQ India)

The communication was issued after government officials asked Air India executives to evaluate the consequences of the airspace restrictions

Air India to cost extra $600 Million if Pakistan continues closing its airspace: Air India anticipates incurring an additional expenditure of approximately 600 million dollars if Pakistan continues to ban Indian airlines from using its airspace for a year. The airline has requested compensation from the central government, according to a report by Reuters citing a company letter.

Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, resulting in longer flight durations to destinations such as the United States, Canada, and Europe, which previously used Pakistani airspace for quicker access.

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On Sunday, Air India reportedly submitted a request letter to the Indian government, proposing a "subsidy model" to offset the financial losses the airline may faceamounting to over 50 billion rupees (approximately 591 million dollars) annually, as long as the ban remains in effect.

"Subsidy for affected international flights is a good, verifiable, and fair option... the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves," the letter stated.

"The impact on Air India is maximum due to the airspace closure, resulting in additional fuel burn and the need for extra crew," the letter explained.

The communication was issued after government officials asked Air India executives to evaluate the consequences of the airspace restrictions on Indian carriers, Reuters reported.

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Air India operates significantly more long-distance international routes compared to other Indian airlines. The carrier recorded a net loss of 520 million dollars in fiscal year 20232024, with total revenue amounting to 4.6 billion dollars.

Indian carriers have consulted with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to explore alternative flight pathssuch as routes over terrain near Chinaand to consider potential tax relief measures, according to the report.

In the letter, Air India also sought approval to assign extra pilots on long-haul flights to the United States and Canada to accommodate the extended journey times.

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( For more news apart from, 'Air India to cost extra $600 Million if Pakistan continues closing its airspace, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Hania Amir's Reply To Fake Viral Post Statement On Pahalgam Terror Attack

Hania Aamir today replied by making it clear that the quotation attributed to her was a lie and did not represent her sentiments.

Hania Amir's Reply To Fake Viral Post Statement On Pahalgam Terror Attack latest news: Ever since the Pahalgam terror attack, things have heated up between India and Pakistan, and in response to that, several Pakistani artists' Instagram accounts have been blocked in India. One such person is Hania Aamir, whose account is currently not available in the country.

In between all this, there was one viral post stating that she had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the restrictions.

Hania Aamir today replied by making it clear that the quotation attributed to her was a lie and did not represent her sentiments. She sympathized with victims of the attack and asked people to tackle such a delicate issue with compassion and honesty, and not with misinformation and discord.

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Besides, several other Pakistani stars such as Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Momina Mustehsan, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly also have their Instagram accounts blocked in India. Fawad Khan, an actor who was planning to return to Bollywood, has also been caught in the middle of controversy with his movie Abir Gulaal not going to be screened in India on schedule.

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir killed 25 Indian tourists and a Nepalese national, leading to fresh demands for a ban on Pakistani artistes in India. A ban had previously been imposed after the Uri attack of 2016, but cross-border cultural exchange was upheld by the Bombay High Court in 2023 as it rejected petitions calling for a ban.

(For More News Apart Hania Amir's Reply To Fake Viral Post Statement On Pahalgam Terror Attack stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Spying for Pakistan: Rajasthan Intelligence Arrests Man from Jaisalmer

He is accused of transmitting strategic information, including the locations of Indian military units, to Pakistani officers.

Indian arrested for spying for Pakistan from Jaisalmer by Rajasthan Intelligence: Rajasthan Intelligence has arrested a man from Jaisalmer for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI, ANI reported, citing a press release issued by the department.

The suspect, identified as Patan Khan, was found to be engaged in suspicious activities during surveillance operations in the strategically and militarily sensitive international border area of Jaisalmer. He was arrested under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, following a joint interrogation conducted in Jaipur by multiple central agencies and the confirmation of incriminating evidence.

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The press note stated, In this connection, during surveillance of the strategically and militarily sensitive international border area in Jaisalmer district, suspicious activities of Patan Khan were detected.

It further noted that Jaisalmer is "strategically and militarily very important due to its proximity to the Pakistani border."

According to the release, Patan Khan first travelled to Pakistan in 2013, where he came into contact with Pakistani intelligence officers. During subsequent visits, he reportedly received espionage training and continued to meet Pakistani agents. He was allegedly lured with money and instructed, via social media, to provide sensitive information about the Indian Army and the Jaisalmer border area.

Since 2013, he has been in continuous contact with Pakistani intelligence officers. During one such meeting, he was lured with money and, through social media, was asked to provide sensitive information related to the Jaisalmer international border area and Indian Army deployments, the note added.

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He is accused of transmitting strategic information, including the locations of Indian military units, to Pakistani officers and receiving payment through intermediaries from Pakistans ISI.

The statement also emphasized that Indian intelligence and military agencies continuously monitor the region due to its high security relevance.

It is noteworthy that the State Special Branch, Jaipur, keeps strict surveillance on espionage activities carried out in the state by Pakistan's intelligence agency.
Iftikhar Thakur on India vs Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack Latest news

Political experts are warning that such statements, especially from prominent public figures, could further destabilize peace.

Iftikhar Thakur on India vs Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack Latest news: The already fragile relationship between India and Pakistan has reached new heights of tension following a controversial statement by Pakistani actor Iftikhar Thakur. Speaking on the popular television talk show Gup Shab, Thakur issued an inflammatory message directed at India in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists.

Thakurs remarks, which were widely broadcast, included a direct threat to India: "I want to give a serious message to India. If you'll come through air, you'll be bombed in air, if you will come by sea, you will be drowned in water, and if you'll come through ground, you will be buried under." The statement, which has sparked widespread outrage, was made in the context of rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following the attack.

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The Pahalgam incident, which occurred in Jammu and Kashmir and was attributed to terrorist groups operating from Pakistan, has led to calls for retribution from India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that those responsible for the attack would "not be spared," vowing to take strong action. Many are now viewing Thakurs statement as a dangerous escalation of the rhetoric surrounding the already volatile situation.

In India, the actors words have been met with harsh criticism, particularly due to his popularity in the Indian Punjabi film industry. Thakur was widely recognized and loved in Punjab for his contributions to Punjabi cinema, which makes his remarks all the more jarring for many Indian fans. Prominent Indian figures and media outlets have denounced the actors comments, calling them reckless and inflammatory.

Political experts are warning that such statements, especially from prominent public figures, could further destabilize the fragile peace between the two countries. Both governments have yet to officially comment on Thakurs statement, but the international community remains concerned about the potential for an all-out conflict if tensions are not carefully managed.

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Supreme Court Halts Deportation of Family, Demands Citizenship Verification

The Centre has revoked visas of Pakistani citizens after the Pahalgam attack

Supreme Court Halts Deportation of Family, Demands Citizenship Verification latest news: The Supreme Court has suspended temporarily the deportation of six family members to Pakistan until their citizenship claim is established.

The family, residing in Kashmir, was to be deported following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. Their sons are employed in Bengaluru. The court ordered the authorities to verify their identity documents, such as passports, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards, before any decision is made.

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Noting the delicate nature of the matter, the court permitted the family to file a case before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court if they are not satisfied with the verification exercise.

Their lawyer accused them of possessing legitimate Indian documents but being taken to the Wagah border under duress for deportation. The court appealed to authorities to move with speed while observing fairness.

In the meanwhile, the Centre has revoked visas of Pakistani citizens after the Pahalgam attack, subject to certain exceptions under the government order. The case raises questions about identity verification and legal rights of people caught in a messy situation.

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Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2025

The European Solidarity faction intends to appeal to law enforcement agencies in connection with possible interference in the Rada electronic system during the question hour to the government on Friday, said faction member Rostyslav Pavlenko.

"Due to interference in the Rada system, we did not have the opportunity to ask questions... This is a very important problem, because interference in the Rada system means de facto deprivation of the right to vote... And we will appeal to law enforcement agencies to establish what it was," Pavlenko said at a briefing on Friday.

As MP Viktoria Siumar explained, "the faction was actually excluded from the system for recording questions to the government of Ukraine." According to her, four MPs of the faction registered through the Rada system to ask questions to the government, but their names were not in the general list.

"This means that our sector was simply disabled from such an opportunity, or the system was simply restarted at the last moment... This is really an attempt to interfere, or perhaps the fact of interference in the Rada electronic system," said Siumar.
ULLU House Arrest Host Ajaz Khan latest news

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has also raised the issue

ULLU House Arrest Host Ajaz Khan latest news: ULLUs new web series House Arrest, hosted by Ajaz Khan, is making headlines for its alleged vulgar content. Clips from the show are going viral, with people tagging the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and calling for a ban due to its inappropriate content. A legal complaint has also been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Delhi Police against the ULLU web series House Arrest.

The content of the program has been found to be highly objectionable, offensive, and in blatant violation of Indian cultural and legal standards. The complaint demands strict action against the makers, actors, and all involved parties, Advocate Vineet Jindal wrote on social media.

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Such irresponsible and vulgar content cannot be allowed to circulate unchecked, and a strong precedent must be set to deter similar violations in the future, he added.

In one of the viral clips, a female contestant can be seen saying that she is not familiar with sex positions, prompting host Ajaz Khan to immediately ask other contestants to demonstrate them live on camera.

Viewers have taken to X (formerly Twitter), sharing clips of the show and calling it crossing all limits of vulgarity and indecency. Many are demanding that the show be immediately shut down and that Ajaz Khan be arrested.

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Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has also raised the issue. Sharing a clip from the show on X, she wrote, I have raised this in the standing committee  apps such as ULLU and ALT Balaji have managed to escape the I&B ministrys ban on obscene content. I am still awaiting their reply.

They talk about on-camera sex positions. All this is shown on TV, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting sleeps with its eyes closed. Such shows should be stopped immediately, a user commented.

Other users criticized the show for displaying sexual content on camera and accused the Ministry of failing to act. Many urged Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to impose stricter censorship on OTT platforms and TV channels. Some compared the show to a cheap version of Bigg Boss and called for an immediate ban, citing viral reels and Ajaz Khans indecent conduct.

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Centre Steps In Amid Punjab-Haryana Water Row, Convenes Chief Secretaries Meet in Delhi

Likewise, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened an All-Party meeting on Friday with a focus on the BBMB issue.

Punjab vs Haryana Water Controversy Latest News Today: Amid rising tensions between Punjab and Haryana over the release of additional water, the Central Government has called a crucial meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan on May 2 in New Delhi.

The meeting, to be chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, follows Punjab's opposition to the Bhakra Beas Management Boards (BBMB) decision to release an extra 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana.

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With the Punjab Chief Secretary on leave, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Alok Shekhar will represent the state, along with Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department.

Tensions flared on Wednesday when Punjab halted the water release, prompting sharp exchanges between political leaders of both states. The Centres move comes as an attempt to ease the growing conflict and explore a resolution through dialogue.

Likewise, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened an All-Party meeting on Friday with a focus on the BBMB issue. Senior Akali Dal leaders Dr. Daljit Cheema and Balwinder Bhundar, Congress leaders Tript Rajinder Bajwa and former Speaker Rana KP, BJPs Sunil Jakhar & Manoranjan Kalia, and AAP Punjab president Aman Arora attended the meeting. From BSP, Avtar Singh Karimpuri and MLA Nachhatarpal Singh also joined.

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Interview with the Austrian pianist Gerhard Gruber

The restored version of the silent film Die Stadt ohne Juden/The City Without Jews, a masterpiece of expressionist cinema has been screened in Bucharest, as part of a special cine-concert by pianist Gerhard Gruber, at the State Jewish Theatre.

Photo:The Austrian Cultural Forum (Die StadtohneJuden/The City Without Jews  cine-concert)

Radio Romania International, 02.05.2025, 13:55

The silent film Die Stadt ohne Juden/The City Without Jews is one of the most important Austrian films of the interwar period, a premonitory work of art which depicts the cultural and economic impoverishment of a city after the expulsion of its Jewish population.

Discovered almost by chance, in 1991, in the Amsterdam film archive and then partially completed in 2015 with scenes found by researchers in a flea market, restored and relaunched on the international film scene, The City Without Jews is a blockbuster of its time. The film, made in 1924 by Hans Karl Breslauer, is a powerful adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Hugo Bettauer in 1922. But beyond its socio-political content, the movie is of exceptional artistic importance, being one of the masterpieces of expressionist cinema.

The action of the film takes place in the imaginary republic of Utopia. In the wake of a deep economic crisis, people start talking in the city about the idea of a possible expulsion of the Jews which would allegedly lead to a business recovery. After the fast adoption of an anti-Semitic law, all Jews are forced to leave the city and head for the Palestinian city of Zion. The consequences are, however, different.

The Austrian pianist Gerhard Gruber is the one who adds a musical dimension to the silent film. Born in 1951, he is an outstanding performer and composer of theatre music. His repertoire includes over 700 silent film productions whose soundtracks he has recreated during live performances.

In the context of the Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorating the end of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (May 16, 1943), the restored version of this centennial creation by Filmarchiv Austria was screened in Romania, as part of a special cine-concert by pianist Gerhard Gruber, at the State Jewish Theatre in Bucharest, on April 29, in the presence of Mrs. Ulla Krauss-Nussbaumer, Austrian Ambassador to Romania.

The screening in the Romanian capital city was followed by a discussion with the pianist, moderated by Adrian Cioflanca, director of the Wilhelm Filderman Center for the Study of the History of Jews in Romania. On that occasion, RRIs Eugen Cojocariu had a talk with pianist Gerhard Gruber, on the music of this special film, presented to the Romanian public under a project by the Austrian Cultural Forum, in partnership with the State Jewish Theater.
Presidential Election in Romania

Romania is getting ready for the first round of its presidential election

Photo: AEP

Mihai Pelin, 02.05.2025, 14:00

Over 18 million Romanian voters are expected to the polls on May 4th to cast their ballot for the countrys president, who will be ruling the country for the next five years.

11 candidates, including four independents, are vying for the presidential seat. For the first time since the fall of communism in Romania, the Social-Democrats do not have their own candidate, relying instead on the former Liberal leader, Crin Antonescu, the joint candidate of the present ruling coalition, PSD-PNL-UDMR.

Another candidate in the presidential race is the former Social-Democratic Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, who runs as an independent. Also running in the presidential race are the president of the opposition USR, Elena Lasconi, and the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who runs as an independent.

The sovereignist parties, AUR and POT also have their own common candidate, the AUR leader, George Simion. 18,979 polling stations have been set up on Romanias territory for the upcoming presidential election, says the Permanent Election Authority (AEP). 965 polling stations have been made available for eligible Romanian voters in the Diaspora, 15 more than in the presidential election last year. The largest number of sections are in Italy and Malta, 161, followed by Spain, 147, Great Britain, 108, France and the Principality of Monaco 69, the Republic of Moldova 64 and the USA 50.

29 polling stations have been relocated to more convenient areas for the upcoming elections, either after talks with representatives of certain Romanian communities or with a view to easing the voters access.

The Romanian ambassador to France, Ioana Bivolaru, has urged voters to check the list of the polling stations posted on the web pages of the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the embassy, the consulates and the social networks in order to choose the closest one.

Ioana Bivolaru: The Diaspora votes in three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and we recommend that people didnt wait for the last day to cast their ballot, or went only to the traditional polling stations as they used to.

In turn, the countrys general consul in Paris, Ecaterina Constantinescu, speaks about the documents that voters need to be able to cast their ballots.

Ecaterina Constantinescu: At the polling stations in France, eligible Romanian voters can cast their ballot by means of any valid identity document, such as the identity card, passport, military ID cards. All Romanian citizens abroad, tourists included, can cast their ballot in the presidential election.

Police Chief Superintendent Bogdan Despescu has recalled the presence of the OSCE observers, as a premiere in this election round, who came upon the request of the Romanian government. The AEP has also issued roughly 300 accreditations to press organizations, associations and foundations to observe the election in Romania. The second round of the presidential election in Romania has been slated for May 18.

(bill)
Relaxation and fun during the May Day mini-holiday

Romanians travelled to seacoast and mountain resorts for the May 1 mini-holiday.

1 Mai in Vama Veche / Foto: Ovidiu Oprea

Leyla Cheamil, 02.05.2025, 13:50

After the Easter holidays, Romanians are now taking advantage of the May 1 mini-holiday, after the government decreed May 2 a non-working day for public sector employees, so as to link with a long weekend. May 2 will be recovered later by public sector personnel by extending the working schedule until the end of the month. Many Romanians took advantage of the nice and warm weather and travelled to mountain or seacoast resorts. The traffic police mobilized over 1,400 agents during this period who operate daily at national level. They are monitoring busy highways and roads to the mountain resorts and the Black Sea coast. Traditionally, the May 1 mini-holiday marks the start of the summer season in Romania. However, the seaside remains a favorite destination for tourists during these days off, both for relaxation and for fun. Tour operators estimate that 50,000 tourists will spend their mini-holiday by the sea, with Vama Veche and Mamaia being the most popular destinations. Young people can enjoy the Sunwaves electronic music festival on the beach in Mamaia, as well as many parties until dawn in the clubs in Mamaia Nord and Vama Veche. Also in the north of the Mamaia resort, the Festival du Bonheur awaits gastronomic enthusiasts with international dishes, an event with free entry for all ages. Concerts by renowned Romanian artists await the general public.

For those whove instead chosen to spend their mini-holiday in mountain resorts, mountain rescuers recommend that they observe the rules that are required for a safe hike. Over 550 mountain rescuers patrol the mountain trails and are prepared to intervene as soon as possible, if necessary. Also, over 160 mountain gendarmes are mobilized. In Poiana Brasov, in the Southern Carpathians, hotel owners have prepared themed soirees that include artistic events, special dishes and campfires.

Romanians who decided to stay at home during the May 1 mini-holiday are spending this weekend in parks or in green areas. Special events are organized, until Sunday, in several cities. Open-air shows are scheduled in Timisoara (west). In Iasi (east), most of the museums are open. In Bucharest, the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History has special visiting hours during this mini-holiday, for anyone who wants to step into the magical world of live exotic butterflies. And for fans of frozen explorations, the Antipa Museum offers the exhibition A Polar Night Dream  The Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899, which can be visited until May 4. (VP)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/vadym.filashkin/

One civilian was killed and three more people were injured in shelling and bombing by the occupiers in Donetsk region, head of the regional military administration Vadym Filashkin reported.

"At least one person was killed and three were injured as a result of today's shelling of Donetsk region. At noon, the Russians dropped an aerial bomb on Klynove, Kostiantynivka community, killing a 66-year-old woman and damaging a house. Kostiantynivka itself came under artillery fire. Two people were injured in the city Another person was injured in Pokrovsk," he wrote on Telegram on Friday.

Filashkin reported that a house, a shop, a coffee shop, a pharmacy, two industrial premises, and four infrastructure facilities were damaged due to artillery shelling in Kostiantynivka.
President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order establishing a Religious Liberty Commission to safeguard and promote the United States' founding principle of religious freedom.

The Commission will be comprised of a Chairman and Vice Chairman designated by the President, ex officio government officials, and additional members from diverse religious and professional backgrounds, including clergy, legal experts, academics, and public advocates.

The Commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in the United States, strategies to increase awareness of and celebrate peaceful religious pluralism, current threats to religious liberty, and strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.

Key focus areas include parental rights in religious education, school choice, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech for religious entities, and institutional autonomy.

The Commission will advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council on religious-liberty policies and recommend executive or legislative actions to protect these freedoms.

Advisory boards of religious leaders, lay leaders, and legal experts will provide specialized guidance as subcomponents of the commission.

The White House said President Trump is establishing the Religious Liberty Commission to address emerging threats to religious liberty to ensure Americans can freely practice their faith without government interference.

It noted that recent Federal and State policies have undermined the fundamental right to religious liberty by targeting conscience protections, preventing parents from sending their children to religious schools, threatening funding and non-profit status for faith-based entities, and excluding religious groups from government programs.

The White House accused the Biden administration's Department of Justice of targeting peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses.

This Commission will investigate and recommend policies to restore and safeguard religious liberty for all Americans, it added.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Euro area factory activity contracted at a slower pace in April as production grew at the fastest pace in more than three years, final data of the purchasing managers' survey by S&P Global showed Friday.

The HCOB manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to a 32-month high of 49.0 in April from 48.6 in March. The score was also above the flash estimate of 48.7.

"A fourth consecutive increase in the HCOB PMI can be seen as a sign that the situation in the manufacturing sector is stabilizing," Hamburg Commercial Bank Chief Economist Cyrus de la Rubia said.

"Industrial activity remains highly exposed to US tariff policy, but the planned sharp increase in defence spending in the EU could help stabilize the situation in the long term," de la Rubia added.

Manufacturing production grew the most in just over three years in April. New orders shrunk slightly in April as export demand, which was the main drag on sales, fell the least since April 2022.

Purchasing activity dropped further, as did stocks of pre-and post-production items. Meanwhile, firms' expectations for growth eased with confidence falling to its lowest in the year-to-date period.

Meanwhile, manufacturers reduced their headcounts further in April though the rate of decline was the softest in ten months.

Backlog reductions were still possible despite sustained workforce cuts. The pace at which outstanding orders were cleared even quickened to its sharpest for three months, the survey showed.

On the price front, the survey revealed that input costs dropped for the first time since last November. However, prices charged for goods were aggressively raised at the fastest pace in two years.

Among the big-four economies, Germany, France and Italy posted softer reductions in factory activity than in March. Meanwhile, Spain registered a quicker decline in April.

German manufacturing contracted at the slowest pace in more than two-and-a-half years in April. The HCOB final factory PMI registered 48.4, up from March's 48.3 and above the flash reading of 48.0.

France's manufacturing sector displayed tentative signs of a recovery in April. The HCOB final PMI edged up to 48.7 from 48.5 in March and also above the flash estimate of 48.2. The pace of deterioration was the slowest in over two years.



Italy's manufacturing downturn was less severe than earlier in the year. The factory PMI climbed more-than-expected to 49.3 in April from 46.6 in the previous month. The reading was seen at 47.1. The score signaled the softest fall in operating conditions in eight months.

The downturn in Spain's manufacturing continued in April. The HCOB factory PMI declined unexpectedly to 48.1 in April from 49.5 in March. The score was forecast to rise to 50.0.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Following the modest pullback seen over the two previous sessions, Canadian stocks showed a strong move back to the upside during trading on Friday.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index jumped 235.96 points or 1.0 percent to 25,031.51, reaching its best closing level in a month.

The rally on Bay Street came amid reaction to upbeat U.S. economic data, with a closely watched Labor Department report showing U.S. job growth far exceeded economist estimates in the month of April.

The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment shot up by 177,000 jobs in April compared to expectations for an increase of about 130,000 jobs.

At the same time, the jumps in employment in February and March were downwardly revised to 102,000 jobs and 185,000 jobs, respectively, reflecting a net downward revision of 58,000 jobs.

The report also said the unemployment rate came in at 4.2 percent in April, unchanged from the previous month and in line with economist estimates.

Industrial stocks turned in some of the market's best performances on the day, driving the S&P/TSX Capped Industrial Index up by 2.1 percent.

Significant strength was also visible among tech stocks despite a negative reaction to earnings news from Apple, with the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology Index jumped by 1.6 percent.

Financial, energy and consumer stocks also saw notable strength, while gold stocks moved to the downside despite a rebound by the price of the precious metal.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Hero MotoCorp, Indias largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has reported a steep decline in sales for April 2025. The company sold a total of 3,05,406 units during the month, registering a 42.76% drop year-on-year (YoY) compared to 5,33,585 units sold in April 2024. The month-on-month (MoM) performance also saw a 44.43% drop over March 2025, when Hero sold 5,49,604 units.

Hero MotoCorp April 2025 Sales

In the domestic market, Hero MotoCorp dispatched 2,88,524 units in April 2025, a 43.79% drop compared to the 5,13,296 units sold in April 2024. The company also witnessed a steep 43.44% MoM decline over March 2025s 5,10,086 domestic sales.

Motorcycles continued to be the bulk contributor, but sales fell sharply to 2,86,089 units  down 42.38% YoY from 4,96,542 units in April 2024 and 43.53% lower than 5,06,641 units sold in March 2025. Scooters too saw a heavy hit, with sales plummeting 47.85% YoY to 19,317 units from 37,043 in April 2024, and 55.04% lower than the 42,963 scooters sold in March 2025.

Exports dropped to 16,882 units in April 2025, a decline of 16.79% YoY compared to 20,289 units in April 2024 and a steep 57.28% fall from 39,518 units in March 2025.

Planned Production Halt Impacts Output

The company attributed the April sales dip in part to a scheduled production halt across multiple facilities. As part of a planned operational strategy, Hero MotoCorp temporarily suspended production from April 1719 at its Dharuhera, Gurugram, Haridwar, and Neemrana plants. The move was aimed at realigning supply chains and conducting scheduled maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. Hero expects production and dispatches to normalize from May 2025.

Retail Demand Remains Strong, VIDA EV Sales Soar

Despite lower dispatch numbers, Hero MotoCorp recorded over 5.05 lakh VAHAN registrations for its internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers in April 2025, highlighting strong customer demand and healthy retail momentum. The company stated that its retail market share has consistently grown month-on-month throughout 2025.

Heros electric brand VIDA continued its growth trajectory. The company dispatched 7,116 units of the VIDA V2 electric scooter in April 2025, while VAHAN registrations stood at 6,123 units  a significant year-on-year rise. This reflects VIDAs growing presence in Indias competitive electric two-wheeler segment.
Honda Cars India has reported a sharp decline in overall sales for April 2025, with total figures dropping by 55.18% compared to April 2024. The company dispatched 4,871 units last month, a significant fall from the 10,867 units sold in the same month last year.

Honda Cars India Sales April 2025

In the domestic market, Honda sold 3,360 units in April 2025, registering a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 22.78% over April 2024 when sales stood at 4,351 units. The month-on-month (MoM) performance also took a steep hit, with March 2025 figures standing at 7,228 unitsmeaning a drop of 53.51% in just one month.

The export numbers were even more concerning. Honda exported only 1,511 units in April 2025, compared to 6,516 units during April 2024, translating to a massive 76.81% decline.

Sharing thoughts on the sales performance, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, In view of the prevailing market conditions and subdued consumer sentiment, we have strategically moderated the dispatches in the month of April to maintain optimal inventory level across our network, ensuring operational efficiency and preparing for demand fluctuations without burdening the dealers.

He further added, We are introducing certain grades of Elevate at attractive new price point along with other benefits in the month of May ensuring greater value for our customers.

Despite the launch of the new Elevate SUV and steady performers like Amaze and City, Honda has been facing stiff competition in both domestic and international markets. These figures highlight the growing challenges for the Japanese automaker in Indias evolving automotive landscape.
While getting a refreshed, sportier profile, Kia Carens Clavis will retain the powertrain options currently available with Kia Carens MPV

Kia Carens will be getting its updated version on 8th May, to be launched as Kia Carens Clavis. Both models will be available for sale, with the Carens Clavis positioned as a rebranded and more premium offering. This approach is similar to the strategy that Maruti Suzuki uses for Ertiga and its premium version  XL6.

Kia Carens Clavis  Styling and features

Teasers reveal that Kia Carens Clavis has a sharper design, featuring new sportier LED headlamps and DRLs. The bumper section has also been updated, with focus on rugged aesthetics. Front fascia now has a more upright profile, as normally seen with SUVs. Overall, Kia Carens Clavis has a more dominating road presence in comparison to Carens. This makeover could appeal to buyers seeking a blend of tough SUV styling and the comfort and convenience of an MPV.

Side profile has been updated with a new design for the alloy wheels. At the rear, Kia Carens Clavis gets sporty tail lamps in connected format and a refreshed bumper. It is possible that new colour options could be introduced with Carens Clavis to complement its warrior-style persona. Existing Kia Carens is available with a total of eight colour choices.

Important equipment upgrades

Kia Carens Clavis teasers confirm the presence of Level-2 ADAS. The ADAS package could be similar to that of Hyundai Alcazar. It could include features such as blind spot collision warning and avoidance assist, forward collision avoidance assist, lane following assist, high beam assist, driver attention warning and lane keeping assist.

Apart from the ADAS update, other safety features will remain largely the same, as available with Carens MPV. A total of 15 safety features are offered as standard across all variants of Carens. It includes 6-airbags, electronic stability control, all wheel disc brakes, hill start assist control, downhill brake control, vehicle stability management, rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Kia Carens Clavis will get a panoramic sunroof, 360 surround view camera, dual 10.25-inch screens, ventilated front seats, premium audio system, ambient lighting and wireless phone charging. Clavis is also likely to get an updated dashboard and centre console layout.

Powertrain options

Kia Carens Clavis will continue with the existing powertrain options available with Kia Carens. The 1.5-litre NA petrol engine generates 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque and is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission. The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine generates 160 PS and 253 Nm. It can be paired with either a 6iMT or 7DCT. Diesel variants use a 1.5-litre unit that produces 116 PS and 250 Nm. Transmission options include 6MT and 6AT.

With the enhanced styling and upgraded equipment, Kia Carens Clavis will be available at a higher price point. Existing Kia Carens is offered in the price range of Rs 10.60 lakh to Rs 19.50 lakh. More details will be revealed at the launch on 8th May.
Six more children have been returned to the controlled territory of Ukraine, said Advisor to the Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Daria Zarivna.

"Six more children have been returned to the controlled territory of Ukraine within the framework of the President's initiative Bring Kids Back UA," Zarivna wrote on Telegram on Friday.

According to her, among the returnees is a family with two children who had lived under occupation for a long time. The younger child had health problems, but there was no access to the necessary medical care. The parents repeatedly tried to leave on their own, but each time they faced obstacles from the occupation authorities.

She also spoke about the girl and her mother, "who refused to receive Russian documents, which is why they became targets of constant psychological pressure, blackmail and direct threats." Ultimately, according to Zarivna, the situation became so critical that the family was forced to seek help for evacuation.

"I thank the Ombudsman Office for their assistance in organizing the rescue mission, as well as the State of Qatar. We will continue to work until every Ukrainian child returns home," she added.
Pensioner injured in enemy airstrikes on village in Kharkiv region  prosecutors office

On Friday, at around 11:40, the Russian Armed Forces carried out three airstrikes on the village of Tsapivka, Zolochiv comminity, Bohodukhiv district, Kharkiv region.

Private households and outbuildings were damaged. A 75-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction, the press service of the Kharkiv regional prosecutors office reports.

A pretrial investigation has been launched into the fact of committing a war crime (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Stefanishyna: After talks on May 12, I to be able to say whether further dialogue with Hungary is possible or whether this is imitation

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna stated that after the negotiations on May 12, she will be able to say for sure whether further dialogue with Hungary is possible or whether this is an imitation.

"The opening of negotiations is not membership in the European Union, it is not fixing any position, it is an opportunity to form acceptable positions for Ukraine, for the EU member states under which Ukraine will become an EU member. Therefore, all the reservations that Orban is now voicing are the subject of negotiations... The issue of negotiations is a formal position that, in my opinion, Hungary should adopt in order to conduct a dialogue on issues that concern them," Stefanishyna told journalists in Kyiv on Friday.

When asked by Interfax-Ukraine what proposals the Ukrainian side submitted to Hungary on April 29 during a visit to Budapest, as well as what counter-proposals it received, the deputy prime minister said the negotiation process is very sensitive, but confirmed that Ukraine has submitted proposals on all 11 points that the Hungarian side considers problematic.

In particular, the proposals concerned: the educational block, the implementation of the adopted legislation, consideration of the draft law on vocational education, legislation on the implementation of the cultural rights of the Hungarian national minority.

"I can confirm that on May 12, negotiations between the Ukrainian and Hungarian delegations will be held in Uzhgorod on the basis of 11 points. Based on the results of these negotiations, I will be able to say for sure whether further dialogue with Hungary is possible or whether this is an imitation," Stefanishyna said.

When asked whether Ukraine has a plan "B" in case it is not possible to lift the blockade of Hungary, she replied that such a plan exists and Ukraine is working on it.

"Ukraine will do everything possible and impossible to open these negotiations. Technically, all six negotiation areas can be opened under the Polish and Danish chairmanships," she said.

As reported, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos hopes to open the first three clusters of negotiations between Ukraine and the EU on joining the Union in the first half of this year  during the Polish presidency, and the remaining three by December. Later, she stated that there is a clear prospect of opening all negotiation clusters by the end of 2025.
People who have damage to a specific part of their brains are more likely to be impulsive, and new research has found that damage also makes them more likely to be influenced by other people.

In a new study published in PLOS Biology, a research team found that damage to distinct parts of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were linked to being influenced by impulsive decision making by others, while another region was causally linked with choosing a smaller reward earlier rather than waiting for a larger prize.

The team from the University of Birmingham, University of Oxford and Julius-Maximilians-University Wurzburg worked with participants with brain damage to assess whether they were more likely to be influenced by other people's preferences.

The team worked with 121 participants, with 33 having focal damage to the mPFC, 17 with lesions elsewhere on the brain and 71 participants who had no brain damage but were of the same age. The researchers showed participants a series of choices to test how impulsive people were in general. They were then presented with the same choices and shown what other people would pick, some of these people made very impulsive choices and some people made more patient choices.

Those participants with mPFC damage were more impulsive in general. The team were also surprised to find that those participants were also more likely to be influenced by other people who were impulsive, much more so than people who behaved patiently.

Professor Patricia Lockwood from the University of Birmingham and senior corresponding author of the study said:

"The results are important as every day we learn about what other people want, and this impacts on our own preferences for what we want. We used an experiment where we could look at whether it was when people behaved more impulsively, or if they were restrained, that social influence occurs.

"We find it is specifically a part of the brain that if its damaged makes you more influenced by others who behave impulsively, not when they behave in a way that is more restrained. We also find brain damage to a different part makes you more impulsive in general, even before you have been influenced by someone else.

"Together, our study shows that being influenced by others has a specific neural basis which could have implications for everything from how we understand misinformation and how other people can change our own financial preferences."

Patience

The team also used a combination of mathematical modelling and existing brain scans to map the size and location of lesions in the medial prefrontal cortex. The results suggest that specific impulsive influences are driven by the different regions of the mPFC.

Lesions in the dorsomedial section, which sits towards the top of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were shown to have had the most significant impact on the social influence on impulsivity. Meanwhile, lesions on the ventromedial section lower down in the PFC were found to have a greater impact on being impulsive in general, before social influence.

Zhilin Su from the University of Birmingham and a lead author of the study said:

"We were able to work with a large sample of participants with an uncommonly specific damage to the medial prefrontal cortex. This gave us an opportunity to very specifically look at whether this damage might affect how influenced people are by others. We found that after damage people could still learn about other people's preferences, but they were also much more influenced by them."
Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) found that the fringe-lipped bat, known to eavesdrop on frog and toad mating calls to find its prey, learns to distinguish between palatable and unpalatable frogs and toads through experience. The findings, published April 29 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, provide the first evidence that eavesdropping predators fine-tune their hunting cues over the course of their development.

To source their food, some predators eavesdrop on calls emitted by prey. Fringe-lipped bats, which range from Panama to Brazil, are some of the most skilled eavesdroppers in the world: They are attuned to the sexual advertisement calls of over a dozen frog and toad species that live in their habitat. If a fringe-lipped bat hears a call, it will fly toward the sound within seconds. However, just like some incoming calls on people's cell phones originate from scammers, not every frog or toad call guarantees a safe and healthy meal -- if a frog is too large or emits a toxin, the prey can pose a danger to the bat.

Fringe-lipped bats have adapted to this risk by developing their own caller ID; if they hear a call from an unpalatable frog or toad, they save their time and energy by not responding. But frog and toad calls do not come with automatic "spam" warnings like phone calls do, and until now, scientists did not know where the fringe-lipped bat's ability to distinguish between palatable and unpalatable frogs came from.

"It's truly remarkable that these bats hunt using the calls of an entirely different group of animals in the first place, and we have wondered for a long time how these bats acquire this unusual skill," said Logan James, STRI postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study. "We knew from previous research that these bats are very clever and can learn during experiments, but we had not tested whether their aptitude for learning had a role in fine-tuning their responses to sound cues from their natural prey."

The research team tested how individual, wild-caught adult and juvenile fringe-lipped bats responded to mating call recordings of 15 local frog and toad species. These species included frogs known to be palatable, toxic or too large to handle. First, the team confirmed previous studies showing that adult bats responded more strongly to palatable versus unpalatable frogs and toads. Yet, as the team discovered, juvenile bats did not make the same distinctions. On average, juvenile bats did not respond differently to frogs and toads based on their palatability.

Looking more closely, the team found that juveniles could identify larger prey by their calls, just like adults can, but they could not distinguish the toxic species. This indicates that juveniles tend to respond to body size early on, but they learn to identify toxic species over time.

"We have studied this fascinating species for years, and in many aspects, we understand its behavior very well," said Rachel Page, staff scientist at STRI, and one of the study's senior authors. "But this was the first time we had ever tested juvenile bats. It was so interesting to see that, like human children, young bats needed time and experience to hone their discrimination skills."

This study is the first to explicitly compare eavesdropping responses of generalist predators at different ages. But it is likely that this strategy is widespread across the animal kingdom, and fringe-lipped bats are not the only predators that need to learn how to distinguish palatable prey. Ultimately, this study highlights the critical role of experience in early life in shaping predatory behaviors in the wild.

"This study highlights the power of development and learning to shape eavesdropping behavior, an insight that may extend far beyond bats to other predators also navigating complex sensory environments," said Ximena Bernal, research associate at STRI, professor at Purdue University and one of the study's senior authors. "We hope it will inspire other scientists to examine how early experience modulates predator-foraging decisions."
A UNSW Sydney mathematician has discovered a new method to tackle algebra's oldest challenge -- solving higher polynomial equations.

Polynomials are equations involving a variable raised to powers, such as the degree two polynomial: 1+ 4x -- 3x2 = 0.

The equations are fundamental to maths as well as science, where they have broad applications, like helping describe the movement of planets or writing computer programs.

However, a general method for solving 'higher order' polynomial equations, where x is raised to the power of five or higher, has historically proven elusive.

Now, UNSW Honorary Professor Norman Wildberger has revealed a new approach using novel number sequences, outlined in a recent publication with computer scientist Dr. Dean Rubine.

"Our solution reopens a previously closed book in mathematics history," Prof. Wildberger says.

The polynomial problem

Solutions to degree-two polynomials have been around since 1800 BC, thanks to the Babylonians' 'method of completing the square', which evolved into the quadratic formula familiar to many high school math students. This approach, using roots of numbers called 'radicals', was later extended to solve three- and four-degree polynomials in the 16th century.

Then, in 1832, French mathematician Evariste Galois showed how the mathematical symmetry behind the methods used to resolve lower-order polynomials became impossible for degree five and higher polynomials. Therefore, he figured, no general formula could solve them.

Approximate solutions for higher-degree polynomials have since been developed and are widely used in applications but, Prof. Wildberger says, these don't belong to pure algebra.

Radical rejection behind new method

The issue, he says, lies in the classical formula's use of third or fourth roots, which are radicals.

The radicals generally represent irrational numbers, which are decimals that extend to infinity without repeating and can't be written as simple fractions. For instance, the answer to the cubed root of seven, 37 = 1.9129118 extends forever.

Prof. Wildberger says this means that the real answer can never be completely calculated because "you would need an infinite amount of work and a hard drive larger than the universe."

So, when we assume 37 'exists' in a formula, we're assuming that this infinite, never-ending decimal is somehow a complete object.

This is why, Prof. Wildberger says, he "doesn't believe in irrational numbers."

Irrational numbers, he says, rely on an imprecise concept of infinity and lead to logical problems in mathematics.

Prof. Wildberger's rejection of radicals inspired his best-known contributions to mathematics, rational trigonometry and universal hyperbolic geometry. Both approaches rely on mathematical functions like squaring, adding, or multiplying, rather than irrational numbers, radicals, or functions like sine and cosine.

His new method to solve polynomials also avoids radicals and irrational numbers, relying instead on special extensions of polynomials called 'power series', which can have an infinite number of terms with the powers of x.

By truncating the power series, Prof. Wildberger says, they were able to extract approximate numerical answers to check that the method worked.

"One of the equations we tested was a famous cubic equation used by Wallis in the 17th century to demonstrate Newton's method. Our solution worked beautifully," he said.

New geometry for a general solution

However, Prof. Wildberger says the proof for the method is, ultimately, based on mathematical logic.

His method uses novel sequences of numbers that represent complex geometric relationships. These sequences belong to combinatorics, a branch of mathematics that deals with number patterns in sets of elements.

The most famous combinatorics sequence, called the Catalan numbers, describes the number of ways you can dissect a polygon, which is any shape with three or more sides, into triangles.

The numbers have important practical applications, including in computer algorithms, data structure designs, and game theory. They even appear in biology, where they're used to help count the possible folding patterns of RNA molecules. And they can be calculated using a simple two-degree polynomial.

"The Catalan numbers are understood to be intimately connected with the quadratic equation. Our innovation lies in the idea that if we want to solve higher equations, we should look for higher analogues of the Catalan numbers."

Prof. Wildberger's work extends these Catalan numbers from a one-dimensional to multi-dimensional array based on the number of ways a polygon can be divided using non-intersecting lines.

"We've found these extensions, and shown how, logically, they lead to a general solution to polynomial equations.

"This is a dramatic revision of a basic chapter in algebra."

Even quintics -- a degree five polynomial -- now have solutions, he says.

Aside from theoretical interest, he says, the method holds practical promise for creating computer programs that can solve equations using the algebraic series rather than radicals.

"This is a core computation for much of applied mathematics, so this is an opportunity for improving algorithms across a wide range of areas."

Geode's unexplored facets

Prof Wildberger says the novel array of numbers, which he and Dr. Rubine called the "Geode," also holds vast potential for further research.

"We introduce this fundamentally new array of numbers, the Geode, which extends the classical Catalan numbers and seem to underlie them.

"We expect that the study of this new Geode array will raise many new questions and keep combinatorialists busy for years.

"Really, there are so many other possibilities. This is only the start."
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have developed a revolutionary new way of uncovering the 'true age' of your heart using MRI.

Research published today shows how an MRI scan can reveal your heart's functional age -- and how unhealthy lifestyles can dramatically accelerate this figure.

It is hoped that the findings could transform how heart disease is diagnosed -- offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly.

The team say their cutting-edge technique is a "game changer."

Lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and a consultant cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "Imagine finding out that your heart is 'older' than you are. For people with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity, this is often the case.

"Our new MRI approach doesn't just count your birthdays -- it measures how well your heart is holding up."

Led by UEA, the research team collaborated with hospitals in the UK, Spain, and Singapore. They studied MRI scans from 557 people -- 191 healthy individuals and 366 with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.

Using advanced imaging, they measured things like the size and strength of the heart's chambers. Then, they built a formula to calculate the heart's 'functional age' and checked it against healthy hearts to make sure it was accurate.

Dr Garg said: "We found that an MRI scan can reveal your heart's 'functional age' -- how old it acts, not how old you are.

"In healthy people, we found that heart age was similar to chronological age. But for patients with things like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and atrial fibrillation -- their functional heart age was significantly higher.

"For example, a 50-year-old with high blood pressure might have a heart that works like it's 55.

"People with health issues like diabetes or obesity often have hearts that are aging faster than they should -- sometimes by decades. So, this could help doctors step in early to stop heart disease in its tracks.

"This is a game-changer for keeping hearts healthier, longer.

"Heart disease is one of the world's biggest killers. Our new MRI method gives doctors a powerful tool to look inside the heart like never before and spot trouble early -- before symptoms even start.

"By knowing your heart's true age, patients could get advice or treatments to slow down the aging process, potentially preventing heart attacks or strokes.

"It could also be the wake-up call people need to take better care of themselves -- whether that's eating healthier, exercising more, or following their doctor's advice. It's about giving people a fighting chance against heart disease," he added.

PhD Student Hosam Assadi, also from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "It's thrilling to see how this MRI technique could change lives. We've found a way to spot hearts that are aging too fast, and that could mean catching problems early enough to fix them. I hope this could become a standard check-up for hearts in the future."

This research was led by UEA in collaboration with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the National Heart Research Institute Singapore, the University of Sheffield, the Hospital San Juan de Dios (Spain), Barts Health NHS Trust, Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), the University of Leeds, and the National University of Singapore.

It was funded by Wellcome.
Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a conversation with adviser to the British Prime Minister on national security issues Jonathan Powell, during which the parties discussed the situation on the front and the strengthening of sanctions against Russia.

"As part of the ongoing dialogue, I had a conversation with adviser to the British Prime Minister on national security issues Jonathan Powell. We discussed the situation on the front, the signing of the agreement on the creation of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, strengthening of sanctions against the Russian Federation and further coordination on the path to a lasting and sustainable peace," Yermak wrote on the Telegram channel on Friday.

He thanked the UK for its support for Ukraine.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an agreement with Japan that will allow it to receive about $3 billion within the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"These funds will be secured by revenues from frozen Russian assets and directed to priority budget expenditures, reconstruction and development of Ukraine. In total, within the framework of this mechanism, Ukraine will attract $50 billion," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

He thanked partners from the G7 countries and the European Union "for creating an instrument that forces Russia to pay for the damages caused." "We expect that all the aggressor's frozen assets will be confiscated and directed towards the reconstruction of Ukraine," Shmyhal added.

As reported, in March and early April, the European Union transferred about EUR 1 billion to Ukraine twice within the framework of the ERA initiative, and in early January  EUR 3 billion out of the planned EUR 18 billion. Also, within the framework of the ERA initiative, the United Kingdom transferred GBP 752 million (EUR 873 million) to Ukraine twice, and in total plans to transfer GBP 2.26 billion (EUR 2.62 billion). Ukraine has also already received CAD 2.5 billion (about $1.7 billion) within the framework of the ERA initiative from Canada, which plans to transfer CAD 5 billion in total.

The US Treasury Department announced in December 2024 its decision to allocate $20 billion to Ukraine within the framework of the G7 initiative to allocate $50 billion to Ukraine from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

Japan announced its intention to transfer JPY 471.9 billion (approximately $3.1 billion) to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine plans unscheduled inspections of licenses under which mineral extraction has not begun over the past 10 years, or less than 1% has been extracted, Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk reported.

"The issue of conditionally dormant licenses is a huge problem for the development of the industry. Together with the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Geological Survey, we conducted an analysis and assessment of all issued licenses and work being carried out on them. We have already formed lists of those where work has not started or less than 1% has been extracted over the past 10 years. For all these issued licenses where work has not started, there are specific lists for both solid ones and oil and gas, unscheduled inspections will be carried out," she said at the Question Hour to the Government in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Friday.

The minister reported that work is also currently underway to allow scheduled inspections. She noted that otherwise it is impossible to effectively combat dormant licenses.
Staff at the Co-op have been ordered to keep their cameras on during remote meetings to verify attendees while Marks & Spencer has halted all recruitment as the companies tackle cyber attacks. Both retailers have had to shut down parts of their IT systems after hackers infiltrated their networks with alleged ransomware attacks. Harrods , the luxury London department store, became the third household name to confirm it had fallen victim to cyber criminals on Thursday. - The Times

A stablecoin launched by Donald Trumps World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency venture is being used by an Abu Dhabi investment firm for its $2bn investment in crypto exchange Binance, one of World Libertys co-founders said on Thursday. World Liberty, which aims to allow people to access financial services without intermediaries like banks, said in March it would launch USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin backed by US treasuries, dollars and other cash equivalents. - Guardian

Investors piled record amounts into European exchange-traded investment funds at the start of 2025 as capital flowed out of US assets, fresh data suggests. US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on imports from around the world has seen investors reposition their exposure away from the country. During the opening three months of the year, the European ETF market saw inflows of $93billion of net new assets as Trump threatened and later imposed tariffs on trade partners, according to figures from Invesco. - Daily Mail

The incoming boss of National Grid has raised concerns about the pace of net zero and said that oil will be needed for decades. Zoe Yujnovich, who will take up the role of National Grid chief executive in November, previously warned that the journey to net zero must be achieved whilst providing a stable and reliable supply of energy. - Daily Telegraph
A man attacked law enforcement officers in Odesa with two knives on Friday, who were on duty to protect public order on Kulykove Field, causing them stab wounds, the Odesa region police communications department reports.

"In order to repel the attack and detain the offender, one of the police officers used a service firearm against the attacker. The attacker was hospitalized with injuries. Police officers were also hospitalized as a result of the stab wounds received," the report says.

A total of four police officers were injured. An investigative and operational group is working at the scene. Information under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer) has been entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations.
(photo: Tobias Everke)

Marie Rutkoski is the author of the Winner's Trilogy, the Kronos Chronicles and The Shadow Society. Rutkoski is a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children's literature and creative writing. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Midnight Lie, the first in a planned companion duology to The Winner's Trilogy, was just published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

What made you want to return to the world of the Winner's Trilogy?

It was a combination of wanting to know what happened after the events of the Winner's Trilogy (The Midnight Lie is set about 20 years following the end of The Winner's Kiss) and what happened before. The main character of The Midnight Lie, Nirrim, lives on an island that has forgotten its history and has many strict laws that people follow without examining why. But readers of The Midnight Lie will notice that Nirrim's culture bears striking resemblances to a prominent culture in the Winner's Trilogy.

Why did you want to tell such a different story from those we've seen in this world before?

Really, what I wanted was to write a different kind of romance. A reader at an event for The Winner's Kiss approached me and said that she loved the character of Roshar (a young man who is gay, smart, dangerous and adores giving Arin a hard time), but that she wished there were more fantasy novels featuring queer women. There are of course many wonderful novels that offer that. Her point was that she wanted more. And so do I! I love f/f romance and when I began imagining a new book, I felt like a queer romance was the only kind I wanted to write.

Why did you want to write about magic?

In some ways, the question of magic was already there in the Winner's Trilogy. Arin, for example, believes he has been blessed by the god of death and hears that god in his mind. I was careful to have plausible deniability when writing this; it is entirely possible (and this is what Kestrel says) that Arin is so damaged that he has conjured a helpful fantasy as a way to cope. Maybe Arin is aided by a supernatural force. Maybe it's all in his head.

The Midnight Lie came partly from these questions: What if it's not all in Arin's head? What if magic did exist in this world once? Why was it there? Where did it go? Could it return?

You offer nuanced portrayals of subjugation, domination and injustice throughout the Winners Trilogy and in The Midnight Lie. Why did you want to continue exploring these themes? How did you make sure to connect with these ideas respectfully and honestly?

The Midnight Lie is in some ways inspired by one aspect of our current society: growing inequality. There have been several economic and sociological studies showing that the difference between rich and poor in this country is larger now than it has been in a very long time. The last time we've seen such a disparity, in fact, was right before the Great Depression.

The world of The Midnight Lie is one where those who have more have even more, and those who have less have even less. Wealthy people get to do whatever they want--not just with their wealth, but also with social rules. You could say that this is an allegory for being socially and economically disadvantaged in our own society.

But Nirrim's struggle isn't just with her material situation. She is also someone who is trapped in psychological ways, and has been so neatly trapped that she doesn't even see the trap. She doesn't see, in the beginning of the book, the toxicity of many of her relationships. I think that when you're in a toxic relationship (no matter what kind, in terms of family, romance, friendship), it can be very hard to see it, because you're in that relationship for a reason. You care about that other person, and you care about believing that your relationship is a good one, because who are you if it isn't? My hope is that I have thoughtfully portrayed this difficulty, and Nirrim's coming to understand the true nature of some of her relationships.

A thing I particularly loved about Nirrim is that she is without guile and wholly trusting of others, even though she doesn't trust herself. What was it like to write this character?

My books are character-driven and some of why I wrote Nirrim the way that I did is that I wanted to write a character very different from Kestrel. Kestrel is not just smart, but also extremely knowledgeable about how people manipulate each other. Nirrim is intelligent, but her life experience has been people trying to blunt that intelligence, so there is much she doesn't see or understand. But I think we all know what it's like to come to an unpleasant awareness about someone that we once trusted. I wanted to capture that in Nirrim. --Sian Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness
photo: Robyn Kanner

Kevin Nguyen is a novelist and journalist living in Brooklyn, N.Y. His debut, New Waves, was named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Parade, Kirkus, and others. His second novel, My Documents (One World), is a most-anticipated book by Rolling Stone, Bookpage, and LitHub. It centers on the paths of four family members and how they diverge drastically when the U.S. government begins detaining Vietnamese Americans. He is a features editor at the Verge and has written for the New York Times, New York magazine, the Atlantic, and more.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

My Documents imagines a modern-day echo of Japanese internment and how a family copes with separation and the line between survival and selfishness.

On your nightstand now:

I just finished Olga Tokarczuk's terrific Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead, so I need to put that on the bookshelf. I'm also reading Adam Higginbotham's deep history of a tragedy, Challenger, which so far feels worthy of every accolade it has received. (I'll be surprised if this doesn't get a Pulitzer nod.) I also just started Ling Ling Huang's novel Immaculate Conception, which so far is a twistily structured send-up of the art world.

Your top five authors:

I'll pick a few contemporary authors and the book of theirs I would start with: Annie Proulx (Close Range), Colson Whitehead (The Intuitionist), Mieko Kawakami (Breasts and Eggs), John McPhee (Oranges), Bryan Washington (Memorial).

Book you've faked reading:

I can't recall a specific book, but you can fake reading nearly anything by saying, "Oh yeah, it's so good." (pause for a beat) "A little long, though."

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. A very moving family story about the limits of what we'll sacrifice for our loved ones; it's also, structurally, very deft. I actually met the author once--he was quite rude--and I still throw this book at people. That's how accomplished it is.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I must be in an anti-cover mode right now because I've been picking a lot of books up from Fitzcarraldo Editions--their simple blue paperbacks suggest nothing, and I've liked going into a story completely cold.

Book you hid from your parents:

Honestly, I think my parents ask me more about what I'm reading now than when I was a kid. That said, I would absolutely never tell them about Tony Tulathimutte's brilliant and perverted story collection Rejection. Same for Halle Butler's mean and sly novel Banal Nightmare.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt. A coming-of-age novel about language that almost feels foreign at first blush. (Although some of it is literally foreign.) It takes a bit of patience, since this book has to first teach you how life operates inside of it. I wish I could relearn that all over again.

Book your parents recommended to you:

From my dad, Thi Bui's graphic memoir The Best We Could Do; from my mom, Kazuo Ishiguro's contemporary classic Never Let Me Go.

Book that got you out of a reading funk:

Like a lot of people, I had a reading pause during the pandemic. (Sort of ironic, since I'd never had more time to sit around and read?) But Hilary Leichter's Temporary was the compelling and very funny debut novel that got me back into rhythm.

Book you wish was back in print:

Peter Earley and Gerald Shur's WITSEC, an extraordinary and revealing dive into the founding of the witness protection program. It reads like a thriller. Thankfully, used copies are plentiful.

Book that helped you understand this moment:

Kathleen Belew's Bring the War Home connects the end of the Vietnam War with the rise of white supremacy. I suspect a lot of people believe this political moment is particularly fraught--I agree--but there's some comfort in understanding how things got this way, and recognizing that it took five decades to arrive here.
Qatar is set to welcome the regions foremost HR visionaries, policymakers, and public sector leaders at the 2nd HR Forum Qatar, taking place on 6 May 2025 at the InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa.

Final preparations are underway as the stage is set for a full-day programme dedicated to workforce innovation, localisation strategies, AI-powered HR solutions, and government-led talent development.

The 2nd edition of HR Forum Qatar is expected to welcome over 250 senior-profile delegates, featuring a dynamic lineup of 30+ expert speakers, 8+ supporting partners, and more than 12 sponsors and exhibitors. Among those confirmed to attend are leading senior HR professionals, business executives, and public sector officials, making it one of the most influential gatherings of workforce decision-makers in the region.

We are proud to deliver the second edition of HR Forum Qatar, a timely platform that bridges national policy with cutting-edge HR practices. This forum is designed to foster forward-looking dialogue, strengthen public-private collaboration, and ensure Qatar remains at the forefront of strategic workforce transformation.

 Akinola Solanke, Conference Director, Great Minds Event Management

This years forum is backed by national stakeholders including the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, reflecting its alignment with Qatars Vision 2030 and long-term national workforce goals.

The event will open with a keynote address by Fatima Al-Emadi of QFCRA, followed by key sessions from:

Shk Ghalya Al-Thani  Qatar Foundation

Hanan Abdalmaged  Ministry of Public Health

Abdulla Al-Khalifa  Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

State Audit Bureau - Qatar

Key discussion topics:

AI and the future of HR strategy

Building Qatari talent pipelines

Evolving total rewards and employee wellbeing

Inclusion and workforce engagement

Leadership development and succession planning

Positioned at the intersection of policy, innovation, and leadership, the 2nd HR Forum Qatar is where the future of workforce transformation in the region will be defined.

Doors open at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, 6 May 2025

For the full agenda, speaker list, and session details, visit the official website:www.hrforumqatar.com
Starlink, the satellite internet arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX, is coming under fresh scrutiny from the Indian government, which has asked for detailed disclosures about the company's proposed operations in neighboring Pakistan and Bangladesh, a report by Business Standard quoting sources familiar with the matter said.

This heightened regulatory attention follows a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan after a recent terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. In retaliation for the attack, India imposed a number of punitive actions against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the shutdown of the Attari land border. Pakistan responded by shutting its airspace to Indian carriers and suspending bilateral trade.

Due to these tensions, the Indian government has increasingly raised concerns about Starlink's local operations. A (DoT) senior official said to Business Standard, "There are still certain security concerns. For a company to offer communication services in India, several technical complications have to be surmounted."

One major issue is Starlink's temporary registration in Pakistan, which was given by the nation's space regulator last month. The government of Pakistan has officially indicated that it hopes Starlink will roll out operations there sometime in 2025. Bangladeshi officials, on the other hand, have just granted the licenses required for Starlink, allowing the company to roll out services there earlier.
From hardware circuits to high-level compliance automation, Ramkumar Sundarakalatharans journey across engineering domains reads like a master class in adaptability, vision, and purpose-driven innovation. With over 20 years of experience spanning embedded systems, software development, architecture, and leadership roles, Ramkumar today helms Zerberus Technologies, a UK-headquartered startup simplifying compliance for high-velocity SaaS teams. In this interview, he reflects on his career arc, the gaps he saw first-hand, and how those learnings now fuel his mission to build faster, safer software ecosystems.

Lets start with your professional journey. How did it all begin?

I started in the trenches of embedded systems  real low-level stuff. One of my proudest early projects was designing a telemetry unit for wind turbines and offshore platforms. The goal? Enable predictive maintenance and fault monitoring long before the term IIoT became mainstream.

What made it exciting was the constraint  we had to deliver real-time sensor insights with just 4KB of ROM and 128 bytes of RAM. That experience taught me the value of efficiency, clarity, and designing for failure scenarios. These lessons still shape how I build software and systems today.

But I was always drawn to abstraction and scale. Over time, I transitioned into software engineering  starting with systems programming and gradually moving into full-stack web and API development. This transition wasnt just technical; it was strategic. I wanted to build systems that solved problems at scale, not just at the hardware-software boundary.

What was the next phase  when did leadership and architecture come into the picture?

As I grew more fluent in software systems, I moved into architectural and program leadership roles.

At EasyOdds in London, I led the buildout of a low-latency betting odds aggregation system with sub-150ms roundtrip TTL latency, much like a trading platform that syndicates price quotes from multiple vendors in real-time. It was a complex, high-performance engineering challenge and a valuable lesson in distributed systems design.

Later, I joined the Hinduja Group of Companies, where I worked on critical national infrastructure projects blending IT and OT systems. I headed the Architecture Centre of Excellence (CoE) and led transformative initiatives including:

The design and implementation of BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit Systems) in three African countries : Congo, Ghana, and Senegal.

in : Congo, Ghana, and Senegal. A cutting-edge inbound logistics automation platform for Renault-Nissan, which streamlined factory supply chain operations in real-time.

These experiences gave me deep exposure to high-stakes engineering across sectors and continents.

Eventually, the startup bug bit me again, and I joined Zarget, a marketing tech startup. That was followed by a pivotal move to Itilite, where I built the product and engineering team from scratch. We scaled from zero to a platform used by hundreds of corporates across four continents, with security, scalability, and business alignment at the core.

Ive led product launches from zero to scale, worked closely with legal and compliance teams, and implemented ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR controls at multiple organisations. Thats when I began to deeply understand how fragmented and inefficient the compliance process really wasespecially for high-growth startups.

When did you first realise this was a systemic problem, not just an organisational issue?

I kept seeing the same problem in startup after startup: founders scrambling for enterprise deals, only to hit a wall when procurement asked for compliance certifications. Security was often retrofitted, not embedded. And engineering teams  already stretched thin  had to stop feature delivery to handle audits, fill spreadsheets, and manage vendor risk.

I was also advising early-stage startups on product and security decisions. In parallel, I worked with VC firms on technical due diligence for their portfolios. Seeing the issue from both sides  startups struggling to scale securely, and investors grappling with risk exposure  made it clear that compliance was the unspoken bottleneck. Thats when it really clicked  so many visionary founders were burning their most precious fuel  time and engineering bandwidth  only to realise there was a roadblock in the middle of the runway: compliance.

I also saw that this wasnt limited to one domain. Whether it was fintech, healthtech, or edtech, startups were wasting precious engineering hours on manual compliance tasks that could have been automated. That's when the seed for Zerberus was planted.

Why is compliance important to Startups and SMBs who are building and selling across borders in a digital era?

Because today, trust isnt local  its global. Whether youre a startup selling in Europe, an SMB servicing clients in North America, or a product-led business expanding into Southeast Asia, your buyers expect you to meet their regions compliance standards from day one.

Its no longer enough to say "were secure." You have to prove it  across GDPR, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, Cyber Essentials, and now even AI compliance standards. And the earlier you start, the more it compounds.

If your sales process is blocked by a security questionnaire, if your procurement cycle is stalled waiting for documentation, or if youre losing deals because your compliance posture doesnt match the buyer's minimum bar  that's not a technical problem, thats a growth problem. Zerberus exists to eliminate that friction and turn security from a gatekeeper into a growth enabler.

Tell us more about Zerberus Technologies  what exactly are you solving?

Zerberus is a third-generation cybersecurity and compliance automation suite, purpose-built for todays high-velocity SaaS companies. While most vendors automate compliance by digitising spreadsheets and adding workflows, weve taken a radically different approach.

We embed real security into your development pipelines and operational workflows, not just your documentation layer. Zerberus plugs directly into your existing ecosystem  AWS, Azure, GCP, GitHub, GitLab, Okta, OneLogin, O365, GSuite, Jira, Asana  you name it  and integrates seamlessly without requiring major rewrites or process overhauls.

Our core innovation lies in how we automate your "Statement of Applicability" tailoring it to your companys size, sector, risk appetite, and geography and then mapping it to real, enforceable controls. These arent static lists. These are live, auditable control mechanisms tied to your actual stack.

Our differentiator? Two words: Just-in-Time provisioning and One-Click Remediation. When Zerberus detects a missing control, it doesnt just raise a ticket  it provisions the fix, applies the patch, logs the action, and cleans up afterward if required. All within the bounds of your environment, with full audit traceability.

In short, we dont just track risk  we eliminate it at source, accelerating compliance from a blocker into a business advantage.

That sounds interesting, what are those  Just-in-Time provisioning and One-Click Remediation?

These two capabilities are the result of over two years of focused R&D and one of the main reasons we stayed in stealth mode for so long  they represent our core IP, with both technologies currently in the patent pipeline.

Just-in-Time (JIT) provisioning is our proprietary method of providing "Just Enough Privilege" to the right identity at the right moment to fix a specific misconfiguration or control failure. What's unique is that it does so without ever elevating the privileges of the currently logged-in user or using long-lived tokens in our environment. This radically reduces the attack surface while solving the problem precisely and securely.

One-Click Remediation, on the other hand, is our intelligent response engine. It applies the patch or mitigation based on recommendations from a proprietary ML model trained on breach data spanning over 14 years. This enables us to predict control failures before they occur and recommend the most effective fix.

Importantly, we recognise that the same problem can look different for different companies. An open S3 bucket in a Fintech firm may need encryption and access control, whereas in a Healthtech organisation, it may require data lifecycle policy changes and logging. Our model understands these nuances and adapts the response accordingly.

Together, these technologies help us bring context, intelligence, and speed to security automation in a way thats never been done before.

What leadership principles have guided you through this journey?

Three things:

Empathy for builders  Ive been an engineer. I know what slows us down and what helps us ship. Everything I build honours that. Security as a business enabler  Not just a checkbox. Real compliance builds trust, accelerates sales, and attracts better talent. Velocity with integrity  You can move fast and still build right. Zerberus proves that every day.

What's next for you and Zerberus?

Were open-sourcing the core engine behind our Trace-AI offering  ZSBOM (Zerberus Software Bill of Materials), designed to bring visibility and integrity to modern software supply chains. This move wasnt made lightly. But in light of recent funding cuts to vital US cybersecurity infrastructure like the MITRE Corporation and the CVE database, we believe transparency cant be left to the stewardship of any single government or entity. If we expect resilience from others, we must demonstrate it ourselves.

Zerberus was built with this mindset from day one. As any engineer will tell you, "two is one, one is none"we've always designed with redundancy and decentralisation in mind.

Meanwhile, were doubling down on Compl-AI and Remed-AI by expanding support for more compliance frameworks and prebuilt integrations. Our roadmap includes global standards such as NIST AI RMF, and were actively working with forward-thinking startups across the UK, EU, and US as design partners on an upcoming AI compliance framework tailored for European regulations.

Its a pivotal moment  for Zerberus and for me personally. Were shaping the next generation of compliance automation, and doing it in partnership with the builders who will define tomorrows tech landscape.

There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders. That line stayed with me. Security isn't about obeying a checklistit's about understanding context, purpose, and responsibility. At Zerberus, we don't build systems to pass auditswe build them to defend principles, even when its inconvenient.



 Ramkumar Sundarakalatharan
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is distributing UAH 540 million in subventions to regions for the modernization of vocational and professional pre-higher education institutions, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said, opening a government meeting on Friday.

"Today we are making decisions on further investments in education and our ability to carry out reconstruction thanks to qualified personnel... We are talking about the modernization of laboratories of vocational and professional pre-higher education institutions, as well as ensuring energy efficiency and safety of these educational spaces," he said.

According to the head of government, funds will be allocated for more than 100 educational institutions that train engineers, turners, builders, technologists, machine operators "and other specialists without whom reconstruction is impossible." "The restoration of Ukraine will become the largest such project in Europe in the last 70 years. And we are preparing for its implementation today. We are forming strategic partnerships. We are creating an architecture of reconstruction. We are investing in human capital," Shmyhal said.
In a landmark move poised to accelerate India's presence in the global quantum computing arena, technology giants Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and IBM have partnered to develop the country's quantum ecosystem through a new initiative in Andhra Pradesh. The announcement comes as part of their participation in the state's first-of-its-kind Quantum Valley Tech Park, currently under development in Amaravati, the capital city.

Anchoring the tech park will be the installation of IBMs most advanced quantum system the IBM Quantum System Two equipped with a 156-qubit Heron processor. This marks the deployment of Indias largest quantum computer to date. The collaboration is set to empower Indian researchers, developers, and industry stakeholders to explore quantum advantage through next-generation applications and computing breakthroughs.

N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, emphasized the strategic importance of the project. Indias National Quantum Mission envisions positioning the country as a global hub in the quantum industry. With Andhra Pradesh pioneering the development of the Quantum Valley Tech Park, we are not only laying the groundwork for a quantum-powered economy but also leading the global quantum revolution, said Naidu. He noted that the park is a critical step in aligning with national ambitions and positioning the state as a first mover in adopting quantum technologies.

Through this alliance, TCS will work closely with IBM to build algorithms and applications targeted at solving complex challenges in sectors such as life sciences, material sciences, cryptography, supply chain resilience, energy optimisation, and sustainable manufacturing. These use cases aim to demonstrate the real-world potential of quantum advantage solving problems currently beyond the capacity of classical computing systems.

Dr Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, highlighted the transformative power of quantum computing as part of TCSs broader Hybrid Computing strategy. Hybrid architectures, combining CPUs, GPUs, and emerging technologies like quantum computing, are vital to tackling previously intractable problems. At TCS, we are developing a breakthrough software layer that decomposes computing challenges intelligently across these architectures, making quantum an integral part of future-ready solutions, he stated.

Jay Gambetta, Vice President, IBM Quantum, expressed optimism about the impact of this collaboration. We are excited about our plans with Andhra Pradesh to deploy our latest IBM Quantum System Two at the Quantum Valley Tech Park. Our partnership with TCS will help bring Indias vibrant developer and research communities closer to the quantum frontier, Gambetta said. Combining this with the momentum of Indias National Quantum Mission, were aiming for the next milestone a demonstrable quantum advantage.

Members of the Quantum Valley Tech Park will gain access to IBMs quantum resources through cloud-based systems, enabling academia and industries to experiment with quantum programming, collaborate on research, and innovate on commercial use cases. TCS, in particular, will play a key role in facilitating this access for Indian enterprises and educational institutions.

The Andhra Pradesh government believes that this quantum initiative will not only strengthen Indias tech capabilities but also generate high-end employment, attract global talent, and draw foreign investments. With key players like IBM, TCS, and L&T involved, the Quantum Valley Tech Park is set to become a global hub for quantum innovation bringing India a step closer to the forefront of next-generation computing.

This collaborative move signals a new chapter in Indias technological evolution, as quantum computing moves from theoretical promise to practical impact across industries.
A police officer empties out a container labeled "Borg" that was confiscated along the route of the St. Patrick's Parade in West Brighton in March. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It was around 6 a.m. when hundreds of teens started gathering at Allison Pond Park in Randall Manor, hours before this years St. Patricks Parade.

Judging by the gallon jugs they were carrying and a flyer that had been circulating social media, their intentions were clear, said NYPD Deputy Inspector Eric J. Waldhelm during a Forest Regional Residents Civic Association meeting Tuesday.

By 9:30 a.m., these kids were hammered, said Waldhelm, who fielded concerns from residents about disorderly behavior throughout that day. Chief among them: Underage drinking.

A survey conducted by the civic group following the parade that garnered 229 responses showed underage drinking as the top concern, along with cannabis use and public urination. In one incident, someone purportedly defecated in front of a persons house.

Waldhelm, commanding officer of the 120th Precinct, addressed those concerns, while also laying out a plan for next year that includes a new policy targeting alcoholic beverages along the parade route.

BORG: Blackout rage gallon

The gallon jugs, explained Waldhelm, are part of the BORG trend, which stands for blackout rage gallon.

The concoction  made popular on TikTok and school campuses across the U.S.  generally calls for half water, up to a fifth of liquor, a juice flavoring and sometimes a hydrating powder. The gallon jugs are labeled with something punny using a marker like BORgan donor or BORG to be wild.

Some college students swear by the drink, as its personalized, sealed and in theory helps ease the hangover, according to a report by the Cleveland Clinic.

Waldhelm, however, said that what he saw at the St. Patricks Parade was illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable.

Its a lot of hard liquor and a little bit of juice, surmised the precincts top cop. The idea is to get as drunk as you can as fast as you can.

After intercepting the flyer, Waldhelm said he sat in wait with a sergeant and a few officers that morning near a business on Forest Avenue where the party was initially planned to start.

But the plans apparently changed as teens instead began showing up at Allison Pond Park, where police then headed. The party, which at one point grew to about 500 people, migrated again to Snug Harbor in Livingston, and then to Silver Lake Park. Ultimately, with the aid of two patrol cars and caution tape, they were able to push the crowd toward Victory Boulevard.

We were chasing these kids around since 8:30 in the morning" said Waldhelm, adding that many of the intoxicated individuals were 15 or 16 years old. But what was especially concerning, he added, were the parents who dropped off teens who were carrying the rage gallons with them.

As the day progressed, and the drinking continued, some fights broke out. In total, there were 12 arrests in the hours surrounding the parade, mostly on one block near Forest and Bard avenues, police reported.

Parents called to pick up their teens at the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George were not too happy, Waldhelm said.

Admittedly, he said, they were under-staffed that morning, due to what he described as a change in overtime policies that is department-wide.

Booze ban along parade route, other plans for 26

Waldhelm fields concerns from Staten Island residents in regard to the St. Patrick's Parade during a Forest Regional Residents' Civic Association meeting Tuesday in West Brighton. (Advance/SILive.com | Kyle Lawson)

With the help of elected leaders, law enforcement say they already are planning for enhanced safety measures during next years parade.

For starters, said Waldhelm, there will be one designated place to enter the parade route along Forest Avenue, and one separate location to exit. No one will be coming in with alcohol, vowed the precincts top cop.

Additionally, the usual bar detail  a sergeant and 24 officers which in the past would begin at 1 p.m., will instead start at 7 a.m., he said.

In terms of public urination, a representative for Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat who represents the North Shore, said they have secured funding for more portable toilets next year. At one point during the meeting a man yelled out from the crowd: People were urinating all over the place.

Finally, said Waldhelm: Parents gotta get involved, and the schools gotta get involved.

Members of the NYPD and Richmond County District Attorney's office fielded questions and concerns from residents about several issues Tuesday at the Forest Regional Residents' Civic Association in West Brighton. (Advance/SILive.com | Kyle Lawson)

While it all is encouraging news for residents who live along the parade route, some might have to see it to believe it.

One resident wrote in the comments section of the civic association survey: Roving bands of teens vomiting and drinking ... also no enforcement of marijuana smoking ... families are being pushed out of enjoying the parade.

Another comment read: Every year it gets worse with the underage drinking. And this year Ive never seen anything like it. I fear a tragic situation.

Statement from the parade committee

When all was said and done, there were many spectators, residents and business owners who said they had no issues and enjoyed themselves.

Still, the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee  which organizes the event each year  addressed the concerns that do exist in a recent statement. A spokesperson for the committee told the Advance/SILive.com:

The committee will be conducting a post parade debriefing to discuss the things that worked and the things that did not. We learned quite a bit Sunday, and we will adapt policies going forward taking full advantage of those lessons. The Police Department did a fantastic job and we are most grateful for their efforts. We are also aware that there were some incidents involving underage drinking.

We are willing to partner with NYPD, political officials, the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District, the principals of the high schools both private and public, as well as any other entity that is willing to assist us with combating this issue, including parents.

We are invested in ensuring that the parade is enjoyable for both those who march and the families who spectate. This reprehensible behavior reflects negatively upon the parade, Staten Island and the Irish-American community. We struggle to prevent the proliferation of stereotypes maligning our ethnicity. This is not helpful in that cause.
Six Flags America in suburban Maryland features more than 100 rides and attractions, including Firebird (previously Apocalypse), one of nine coasters. Six Flags announced Thursday that the park would close permanently in November. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Im

Home of one of the oldest roller-coasters in the United States, Six Flags Maryland will be shutting down by the end of the year.

Opening its gates in 1992, the park went through many name changes before being bought by Six Flags in 1997. 500 acres of land will be closing for its last season after Nov 2, 2025, according to the New York Post.

It is deeply disappointing to hear that Six Flags America, a long-standing fixture in our community, will be closing its doors after years of service to Prince Georges County, Councilmember Wala Belgay said.

Wild One, formerly known as Giant Coaster, was first opened in 1912 at Paragon Park in Massachusetts, according to the New York post. After the park closed, the ride was moved to Six Flags Maryland and has sat there since. It remains the worlds third largest coaster.

The park will be sold for redevelopment, as the company believes the property would be more valuable for other purposes. Any 2025 Six Flags season passes and tickets will still be valid before the park closes in November.

All amusement park full time employees will recieve a severance and other benefits, the New York Post stated.

As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the companys long-term growth plan, Six Flags CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said.
Flames rise from a Delta Air Lines airplane Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Orlando International Airport, in Orlando, Fla. (Dylan Wallace via AP) AP

A Delta Air Lines airplane caught fire on Monday before it was supposed to take off at a central Florida airport, forcing the evacuation of passengers, airport officials said.

There were no reports of any injuries during the fire on the plane at Orlando International Airport, Delta said in a statement.

A recent spate of aviation disasters and close calls in the U.S. has stoked fears about air travel, though flying remains a safe way to travel.

On-the-ground accidents included a plane that crashed and flipped over upon landing in Toronto and a Japan Airlines plane that clipped a parked Delta plane while it was taxiing at the Seattle airport. An American Airlines plane caught fire in Denver last month.

The engine fire broke out late Monday morning on Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 while the plane was at the ramp before a scheduled departure from Orlando to Atlanta, airport officials said on social media.

The passengers were evacuated, and the airports rescue and firefighting team responded, the airports statement said.

The Airbus A330 aircraft had 282 customers, 10 flight attendants and two pilots, according to Delta.

Delta flight crews followed procedures to evacuate the passenger cabin when flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircrafts two engines were observed, Delta said in a statement.

Maintenance teams will examine the aircraft in an effort to determine the cause of the fire, Delta said.
Last year, over 30,000 cyclists participated in the NYC Five Boro Bike Tour, with many of them opting to take the Staten Island Ferry back home. (Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo) (Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. On Sunday, May 4, the Staten Island Ferry will once again be called upon to bring cyclists back to Manhattan after the TD NYC Five Boro Bike Tour.

Last year, over 30,000 cyclists participated in the event, with many of them opting to take the ferry back home.

The 40-mile bike tour spans the citys five boroughs, beginning in Lower Manhattan and traveling briefly into the Bronx, before heading to Queens, Brooklyn and finally crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to conclude near the St. George Ferry Terminal.

Ferry crews are in for a busy day as the big orange boat offers the quickest way for Staten Islanders to reach the starting line and for everyone else to return to other parts of the city after completing the course.

According to a spokesperson from the Department of Transportation, the Staten Island Ferry will provide additional 15-minute service throughout the afternoon and early evening to accommodate the returning cyclists.

Event organizers say that the Ferry will provide 30-minute service from 6 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. After that, the boat will run on a 15-minute schedule from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In previous years, all cyclists were made to board the boat on the lower level at both the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and the St. George Terminal, located at 1 Bay St. on Staten Island.

Riders had to dismount and walk their bicycle while in the waiting area and when boarding and departing the boat. Riding on and off the boat is prohibited.

All bicycles were stored in the designated area on the lower level of each vessel.

The Staten Island Ferry is free of charge for all passengers and bicycles.
New York City Mayor delivers his FY26 Executive Budget address to the public at his alma mater Bayside High School in Queens on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his ideal $115 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year Thursday, but theres a long way to go until things are finalized.

Adams executive budget, which he described as the best budget ever, focused on several key areas, including public safety, affordability, and education.
A new study highlights a significant rise in the diagnosis of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders among publicly insured children in the United States. (Getty Images | Imgorthand) Getty Images

A growing share of children are being diagnosed with mental and neurodevelopmental health issues, a newly published study found.

The study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), analyzed insurance claims from publicly insured children across 22 states to track diagnoses of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, covering 13 specific diagnostic categories.

It found that among children ages 3 to 17, diagnosis rates rose by more than 50% in the last decade  from 10.7% of kids in 2010 study having a diagnosis, to 16.5% in 2019, with significant jumps in 9 of the 13 diagnostic categories examined.

The size of the increase is alarming and clinically significant on its own. But it is even more concerning that we saw this increase and our last year of data was 2019, when we know from other sources that mental health among children continued to decline after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Janet Cummings, PhD, lead author of the study and professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health.

The findings of the study mirror broader national trends, as nearly 1 in 7 children (13.2%) ages 3 to 17 were diagnosed with a mental or behavioral health condition in 2018-2019, according to the National Survey of Childrens Health.

Largest increases in childrens diagnoses: ADHD, anxiety and autism

According to the JAMA study, the sharpest jump in the 13 diagnostic categories examined, was seen in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which increased by 2.3%. ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting children, marked by inattention or not being able to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Trauma- and stress-related disorders followed with a 1.7% jump, followed by anxiety disorders (1.6%) and autism spectrum disorder (1.1%).

The study found increases in most diagnostic categories examined, including depressive disorders (0.9%) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (2.6%).

These findings highlight the need for access to appropriate services in safety net systems and other settings that serve this population, Cummings wrote. As mental health diagnoses among children increase, we must make sure the systems that support them have enough resources to address their challenges and help them get better.

How Staten Island is addressing the mental health crisis

Staten Island is tackling the mental health crisis with the innovative MISSION project, which focuses on suicide prevention and mental wellness for at-risk youth.

MISSION stands for multi tier integrated supports for suicide prevention, implementation and outcomes in New York.

The program, backed by a federal grant of $3.67 million over five years, aims to train professionals from schools, hospitals and community organizations in a collaborative, multi-tier approach.

The project is being carefully structured in three tiers. Tier one focuses on universal prevention and education. Tier two targets early intervention for at-risk children. Tier three addresses children in crisis.

Dr. Ginny Mantello, Director of Health and Wellness for the Borough Presidents Office, explains that the programs goal is to take a collaborative approach to suicide prevention, focusing on intervention before a crisis occurs.

Ongoing trainings are happening for those working with Staten Island public schoolchildren, such as counselors, psychologists and social workers, to help identify at-risk youth. The first session began in November, and the final session of this first phase, the Mental Health Symposium, is scheduled for May 20.

The next phase of the program will expand to include staff from hospitals, community organizations and youth programs. Dr. Mantello explained that one arm of the initiative focuses on training educators, while the other targets clinical providers.

The program will continue to grow over the next five years, building a long-term, community-wide model for early intervention and care.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

After 101 days in office, President Donald Trump ousted one of his second term day-one advisors from their national security position in favor of shifting him to an American ambassador.

Mike Waltz, who was sworn in as Trumps national security adviser on Jan. 20, 2025, will now be the countrys nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, a position that Trump had originally selected New York Rep. Elise Stefanik for.

Trump later pulled her nomination, BBC News reported. His reasoning? He didnt want anyone to take her congressional seat, saying that: The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations.

Trump took to Truth Social Thursday afternoon to announce the switch up, writing: I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nations Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role.

Trump stated that Marco Rubio, the former Florida senator and Trump presidential opponent turned secretary of state, will helm Waltzs vacated position in the meantime.

Waltzs name has made the rounds in recent months after his involvement in the original Signal chat scandal, where he added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a private text chain on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which was used to discuss planning for a sensitive March 15 military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Associated Press contributed to this piece.
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Zelenskyy, Ecuadorian President instruct teams to work on possibility of signing free trade agreement

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, the heads of state instructed their teams to work on the possibility of signing a free trade agreement.

I spoke with President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa. I personally congratulated him on his re-election and thanked him for supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zelenskyy wrote on X.

The Head of State emphasized that he values the dialogue that exists with Ecuador, and also hopes to strengthen cooperation between the countries.

Ecuador is interested in developing economic partnership with Ukraine and importing a range of agricultural products. We discussed the possibility of concluding a free trade agreement and agreed that our teams will work on it, Zelenskyy noted.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the Ukraine-Latin America format.

Well continue working on steps toward even closer engagement, Zelenskyy added.
This weeks Bulls N Bears ASX Runner of the Week is rare earth elements (REE) and heavy minerals exploration company DY6 Metals.

The company shot out of a cannon on Tuesday after it revealed that historical assays at its Tundulu REE project in Malawi features significant high-grade mineralisation of the critical mineral gallium.

A review of past drill results confirmed high-grade intercepts, including a 74-metre hit grading 93.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gallium oxide with 1.56 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 72m depth and 53m running 72.8g/t gallium with 1.02 per cent TREO.

Gallium was recently put on Chinas hit list for critical mineral export controls, as the metals demand and price has steadily increased in recent years for its uses in semiconductors. China controls about 94 per cent of global gallium supply, leaving the rest of the world frantically searching for the metal, which has interestingly popped up in DY6s carbonotite hosted rare earth project.

The company noted its gallium mineralisation was open at depth, with elevated results occurring within the saprolite clays near surface and again within fresh rock at depth. It has not assayed for deeper potential.

DY6s shares promptly quadrupled on Tuesday morning peaking at 18.5 cents for a gain of 340 per cent from last weeks close of 4.2c. The company was quickly placed into a speeding halt by the good boys and girls down at the ASX, who insisted the company needed to supply more evidence and documentation.

Some $1.1 million worth of stock was exchanged in its one hour of trading on Tuesday, which was the companys highest most one-day volume over the past year.

DY6 says it will now kick off critical metallurgical test work on a Tundulu bulk sample to determine if the deposit can economically produce a multiple product package.

The company says substantial potential remains for additional gallium, as only 40 per cent of the 91.5-square-kilometre project area has been drill-tested. With gallium being thrown into the mix, Tundulus already REE-rich deposit could quickly add a valuable byproduct.

Sampling carried out by the company found mineral rich carbonatite at the previously unexplored Tundulu Hill and Makhanga Hill to the east and west of Nathace respectively.

DATELINE RESOURCES LTD (ASX: DTR)

Up 329% (0.7c  3.0c)

Charging late this week and going down by a nose is gold and rare earths hopeful Dateline Resources. The company was touted by Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform this week, with the leader of the free world giving his seal of approval to the companys Colosseum project outside of Las Vegas.

President Trump referred to the developing gold project as Americas second rare earths mine, noting it had been approved after years of stalled permitting. In response, Datelines share price surged 233 per cent on Friday on 390 million shares traded, worth $7.7 million.

Admittedly, the project is highly prospective for rare earth elements (REE) as it sits just 10km north of the globally significant Mountain Pass REE mine. However, the company has been primarily focussed on Colosseums 1.1-million-ounce gold endowment.

Dateline will now look to weave rare earths exploration into its ongoing development story.

The gold project is no slouch, with Dateline wrapping a robust scoping study around its deposit, outlining an 8.3-year mine life with an annual output of 75,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1490 per ounce.

The study projects a net present value of US$235 million and a 31 per cent internal rate of return, based on a conservative gold price of US$2200 per ounce.

With gold prices now more than US$3200 per ounce, the projects economics are significantly juiced up, forecasting total sales of nearly US$1.5 billion over its lifespan.

The Trump administration appears more focused on the projects rare earth elements potential and highlighted the project as Americas second rare earth elements mine.

An executive order from President Donald Trump earlier this year seeking to reduce US dependence on China seems to be the driving force here, however we wonder if the gun hoe leader of the free world may have gotten his wires crossed.

Andromeda Metals has confirmed its South Australian kaolin can be processed into +99.99 per cent high purity alumina for use in smartphones and synthetic sapphires.

ANDROMEDA METALS LTD (ASX: ADN)

up 200% (0.95c  2.85c)

Runners final podium finish goes to high purity alumina hopeful Andromeda Metals after the company announced it had achieved the critical four nine purity designation (4N or 99.99 per cent) for its high purity alumina (HPA) product from its Great White kaolin project in South Australia.

Kaolin is a soft white alumina clay primarily used in ceramics and paints that can also be converted to HPA for high end uses in synthetic sapphires and smart phones.

Andromeda announced that after seven years of successful metallurgical test work, the company had achieved a 99.9985 per cent purity level from its kaolin sourced at its Great White project.

The news sent its share price skyward on Thursday, hitting a top of 2.85c on $6.5M worth of paper traded, exactly 200 per cent up on its close price from last week.

Andromeda says its HPA is among the highest quality grades, which makes it ideal for applications in batteries, semiconductors, ceramics and emerging technologies.

With demand for this critical mineral projected to exceed supply by 48 per by 2028, Andromeda is looking to cash in on the growing market, using its novel process flowsheet, which was confirmed by an independent analysis to produce a premium HPA.

The company says its lab scale trials sets it apart from other HPA producers, as Andromedas process will likely be more cost and carbon effective than other reported processes.

Following the positive results, the company will look to complete a scoping study and investigate government funding opportunities. It locked in $75M in project debt financing a little over a month ago.

JINDALEE LITHIUM LTD (ASX: JLL)

Up 158% (26c  67c)

The final Runner and critical minerals company for the week is Jindalee Lithium. After its promising start last week, the company got a run on with our critical minerals quartet thanks to its addition to the USs FAST-41 framework.

The framework designation signals US federal interest in projects that are of national strategic importance and promises them a fast track to eventual production.

Jindalee Lithium started the week at relatively the same levels it was last week, before the Trump administration included its flagship McDermitt Lithium project in Oregon on the incoming US FAST-41 list.

The market quickly took notice, with five solid days of volume sending its share price to a high of 67c on Thursday, up 41c to a high of 67c. This was a 158 per cent increase on last week.

The company says its significant McDermitt deposit was designated a transparency project under the FAST-41 framework because it has one of the biggest contained lithium resources nationally.

It was one of only 10 resource projects nationally listed in FAST-41 in a White House announcement early last week.

Jindalee has gotten busy simultaneously applying for US Department of Defence grants to co-fund a feasibility study at McDermitt. The company expects to know the success of any awards by the middle of the year.

The growing demand for domestically sourced lithium has been highlighted as a priority for the Trump administration, as have rare earths. In a struggling lithium market, getting government recognition at a counter cyclical time could be just what McDermitt needs to push on to become a producing lithium mine.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
Strickland Metals has launched its largest exploration assault at the companys flagship 7.4-million-ounce gold equivalent Rogozna gold and base metals project in Serbia, with first assays due back as early as next week.

Armed with six diamond rigs and a war chest of nearly $40 million, eight diamond holes have already been completed. The company is charging toward a maiden resource at the gold-only Gradina prospect and sniffing out a potential game-changing porphyry giant at its Jezerska Reka prospect.

Strickland Metals excavator cuts a track for drill rig access at the southern end of the companys gold-only Gradina deposit at its Rogozna project in Serbia.

The drilling program is also targeting resource extensions at Shanac and Medenovac, together with early-stage exploration at the companys Kotlovi and Obradov Potok prospects.

But the real fireworks are at Gradina, where four rigs are zeroed in on the high-grade northern zone, chasing shallow gold hits to deliver a maiden resource by years end.
ASX-listed Dateline Resources price rocketed 233 per cent higher to 3 cents today on a massive turnover of 370 million shares after the companys Californian Colosseum gold and rare earths project received mining approval. United States President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the gold and rare earth element (REE) project, hailing it as Americas second rare earths mine.

The bombshell mention was delivered via a weekly update on Trumps Truth Social platform, sending ripples through investor circles and spotlighting the strategic significance of the California-based project.

Dateline Resources share price soared 233% to 3c after United States President Donald Trump touted the companys newly approved Colosseum gold and REE project as Americas second rare earths mine.

The Colosseum Mine, Americas second rare earths mine, has been approved after years of stalled permitting, Trump posted.

The presidential seal of approval has unlocked a golden opportunity for the company. Dateline can now test a compelling theory that the rocks surrounding its 1.1-million-ounce Colosseum gold project are geologically identical to those at Mountain Pass, which is just 10 kilometres north of Colosseum and home to Americas only operating rare earths mine.
The Sydney Morning Herald pick: Anthony Albanese. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Age (Nine): An Albanese-led Labor government The Albanese government has had only three years in government. Despite its failures and missed opportunities it has not been so terrible that it deserves to be the first government thrown out after one term in almost 100 years. In his profile of Australias 31st prime minister, Chip Le Grand described Albanese as staid and predictable. The same could be said of Albaneses government. Perhaps at this point in time, and given the choices at the nations disposal, that is the best option available to the country. Past endorsements: 2010 (Gillard), 2013 (Rudd), 2016 (Turnbull), 2019 (Shorten), and 2022 (Albanese).

Loading The Australian Financial Review (Nine): A Dutton-led Coalition government Its a campaign where Albanese, the architect of the defeated Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum, could not find time to visit a remote Indigenous community, and Dutton, who wants to spend billions nationalising Australias energy system, refused to stop by a single site where he plans to build a nuclear reactor. So with a difficult choice to be made and the prospect of Labor falling under the influence of Green recklessness in the event of a hung parliament, a Dutton government that has offered up slightly more in the way of budget responsibility might be our least worst bet, as unconvincing as he has been. Past endorsements: The AFR has endorsed a Coalition government in every election since 1990.

The Australian Financial Review pick: Peter Dutton. Credit: James Brickwood News Corp Australia The Australian (News Corp): A Dutton-led Coalition government We owe our allegiance to no party but rather to what is in the national interest. The choice facing the nation  one of great consequence  must be made against the backdrop of a dispiriting campaign characterised by short-term thinking and a paucity of vision from both sides. But in the key areas of defence, energy and the economy, the Coalition provides the best option for managing the demands of challenging and uncertain times. Past endorsements: The Australian has endorsed a Coalition government in each of the past five elections.

The Herald Sun (News Corp): A Dutton-led Coalition government When we look to the future, the Herald Sun maintains that Labor hasnt delivered anywhere near enough to deserve another term of government. We believe that the Coalition has a better plan to supercharge productivity and get the economy thriving again, with the right mix for energy, to lower costs and take all Australians forward. Past endorsements: The Herald Sun has endorsed a Coalition government in each of the past five elections. The Daily Telegraph (News Corp): A Dutton-led Coalition government

Loading A poor campaign by the Coalition should not obscure the risk of continued Labor mismanagement. Penny Wongs high-handed dismissal of Australian voters is a reminder of how Labor sees its role  as straighteners of our national will rather than enablers. Certainly, a vote for the Coalition would be made in hope for a better performance. A vote for Labor, however, would guarantee more of the same. The miserable economy-belting, morale-sapping same. Past endorsements: The Daily Telegraph has endorsed a Coalition government in each of the past five elections.

The Courier-Mail (News Corp): A Dutton-led Coalition government, with emphasis against the Greens The most vital thing in tomorrows election is that Australia does not end up with a parliament being held to ransom by the Greens. Running a less trouble-plagued campaign than your opponent is not exactly a ringing endorsement that demands another three years as the leader of our nation. Instead, that honour should be hard-won through genuine vision and leadership. Mr Dutton has shown this in the position he took on the Voice, and in relation to the risk he has taken in promoting a nuclear energy vision. Past endorsements: The Courier Mail has endorsed a Coalition government in each of the past five elections.

On the campaign trail. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, James Brickwood The Advertiser (News Corp): A majority for either major party Peter Dutton would be stronger on national security [...] Our energy security would be safer in his hands. But if you want to win an election, you have to be able to win a campaign  and Dutton failed on that score. Should Labor win tomorrow, their campaign of lies will haunt them. Should Dutton win, he will have to outperform his campaign. However, for the good of the country, one of them must win majority government lest our futures be in the hands of the mad Greens, self-serving teals or the independent rabble.

Past endorsements: 2010 (Gillard), 2013 (Abbott), 2016 (Turnbull), 2019 (Morrison), and 2022 (Morrison). The Hobart Mercury (News Corp): A Dutton-led Coalition government Labor has had three years to provide greater economic stability for struggling families. The Mercury believes the Coalition is better equipped to provide that economic light at the end of the tunnel. Past endorsements: 2010 (Gillard), 2013 (Abbott), 2016 (Turnbull), 2019 (No endorsement), and 2022 (No endorsement)

Other media The Guardian: An Albanese-led minority Labor government It is not hate but an assessment of the facts that informs Guardian Australias view that Mr Dutton does not appear ready to lead and the Coalition has not demonstrated the policy coherence necessary for effective government. Progressive Australians are left with strategic choices. If they think the country is best served continuing along the path of gradual change they should vote Labor. If they want to vote strategically, understanding the risk of not knowing the ultimate makeup of the parliament, they may choose the Greens, teals or other alternative candidates in the hope of electing a minority Labor government with a progressive crossbench pushing it to move faster. Past endorsements: 2010 (N/A), 2013 (Rudd), 2016 (No endorsement), 2019 (Shorten/Greens), and 2022 (Albanese).

The Canberra Times (Australian Community Media): An Albanese-led Labor government Against the backdrop of a chaotic United States, a previously unpopular, uninspiring and timid Albanese government has been made to look responsible and safe, and the opposition to look reckless and even threatening. Like in Canada earlier this week, a safe set of hands looks a far better electoral choice than a grasping one. Past endorsements: 2010 (Gillard), 2013 (Abbott), 2016 (Turnbull), 2019 (No endorsement), and 2022 (Albanese)

The West Australian (Seven West Media): A Dutton-led Coalition government. Loading The reality is, the past three years of the Albanese Government has been dreadful. Its almost as though it has been so bad for so long that we are suffering an extended outbreak of repressed memory. The Opposition has been disappointing during this campaign, but when we vote on Saturday its a judgment on the past three years of compounding failure. And Anthony Albanese should be punished for it. Past endorsements: 2010 (Abbott), 2013 (Abbott), 2016 (Turnbull), 2019 (Morrison), and 2022 (Morrison)
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 To most, theyre pancakes  but to Torrey Peters, theyre monkey blankets. Eggs are cackleberries, chewing tobacco is Scandihoovian dynamite, and women are skooches and strumpets. Peters immersed herself so deeply in woodcutter slang while writing her remarkable new novella Stag Dance, set in a 19th-century illegal logging camp, that after a day of writing, shed amuse (and/or annoy) her family and friends by slipping into her lumberjack voice. And she doesnt just talk the talk. Peters can walk the walk, or in this case, fell the trees. The story was inspired by the time she spent living in her off-grid, 12-by-12, log cabin in rugged Vermont, in the New England region. Theres no running water, just a stream for bathing. Theres an outdoor kitchen and outhouse; a wood stove heats a sauna. Novelist Torrey Peters. Credit: Leonardo Cendamo I was learning to use a chainsaw because I had to cut the trees for firewood and build a bridge on the logs. Nothing super impressive, but I had to be like This is a spruce, this is a balsam fir. We have beech and maple. I learnt all the different trees and what they do, Peters says, now safely ensconced in her Brooklyn apartment, flashing mint green nails as she talks. Its a real 1880s lifestyle out there, which means that Ill go there for a week at a time, but I think some part of my mind would break if I were there super long. As she worked, Peters wondered about the people who lived such hard and isolated lives, and the experience of the self while alone in the woods, with only the trees to affirm, challenge or question you. Im from the Midwest, and I was raised a boy. If you told my 17-year-old self that when you turn 40, youre going to be in the woods with a chainsaw struggling to build something but feeling grimly pleased with your proficiency, I would have been like, Oh, yeah, that makes sense, Peters says.

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I never would have thought Id have transitioned, but I would have been like, thats a masculine model of being. Well, what does it mean that I did transition and I ended up exactly where my 17-year-old self expected? She had no answer, but those questions laid the first axe-blow for a novel set in a logging camp. During her research, Peters discovered a historical tradition in American frontier camps where dances were held, and some loggers would attend as women. To signify their role, they would attach an inverted brown triangle of fabric over their crotch  a practice that becomes a central motif in Stag Dance. Vermont, in the United States, where Torrey Peters owns a tiny cabin. The story follows Babe Bunyan, a large, rugged lumberjack who decides to attend the camps stag dance as a woman, placing him in a rivalry with the younger, more feminine Lisen. Set against the grit and grime of an illegal logging camp, the story evokes the poetic sensibilities of authors like Cormac McCarthy and Herman Melville. Loading The lumberjack vernacular  for which Peters drew on a dictionary of logger slang  allowed her to approach questions of trans identity through the side door. Phrases like gender dysphoria, she says, have had the life sucked out of them through academic, medical, and online discourse. A lumberjack, however, would never have used that phrase in the first place. This forced Peters to think, and write, about how gender dysphoria feels rather than relying on familiar terms. For Babe, its summed up in the description: No mirror has ever befriended me. I had to reinvent a lot of the trans language that, to me, feels ossified, Peters says. It ended up being quite magical for me that I had this new language to find out these things. They became defamilarised and new for me.

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Stag Dance gives its name to Peters new collection of four stories, each of which deliciously twists familiar genres into unexpected shapes; full of surprises without sacrificing any emotional intensity. The collection also includes Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones, a post-apocalyptic tale where a pandemic renders humans unable to produce sex hormones; the boarding school romance The Chaser; and The Masker, a body horror story set at a cross-dressing convention. Only a few characters are explicitly trans, with Peters more interested in breaking down the binary between trans and cis people, revealing the categories as porous and complex. Peters says the gap between how a person feels in themselves or wants to be seen, and how the world sees them, isnt an experience unique to trans people. For me, coming at it with emotions was the point. Coming at it without identity, without heuristics, or this is how we break it down, is how I am interested in writing these days, Peters says. Its not that I am demanding empathy for trans people. Its actually more than Im demanding that readers have empathy for themselves, and I think in having empathy for themselves  Oh yes, Ive felt that way before  they can maybe then start to make maps of what other people are doing, they can make intellectual maps based on those emotions. Torrey Peters new collection is Stag Dance. Stag Dance is the final story in Torrey Peters collection and the only one written after her debut novel, Detransition, Baby, became a bestseller in 2021. That novel  a comedy of manners about a trio who plan to raise a baby together  was described by one critic as the first great trans realist novel. Its longlisting for the Womens Prize for Fiction made Peters the first openly trans woman nominated for the award. However, the nomination drew scrutiny, including an open letter condemning Torreys eligibility by a group called the Wild Woman Writing Club. Peters wrote at the time that she had received an outpouring of hate and expressed hope that the next trans woman to be on the list could at least enjoy the experience more. Peters knows some readers will be disappointed she didnt write another trans Sex in the City in the style of Detransition, Baby  and she started work on a financial thriller set in contemporary Brooklyn. But the weight of the expectation felt restrictive, she found liberation a world away from the contemporary in the minds and language of lumberjacks.

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Its not just unexpected for other people. Its very unexpected for myself. But I think thats like a really good place to write from, when youre surprising yourself, Peters says. Nobody was waiting for this. Nobody was like, What we want is a lumberjack novel. In a lot of ways, that freed me to do whatever I wanted.  Trans people have increasingly found themselves at the centre of public debate and policymaking in the United States with the Trump administration targeting trans people with executive orders. Loading These include an order that the United States will recognise only a persons sex assigned at birth, and new restrictions on the National Endowment for the Arts, targeting efforts to promote diversity and so-called gender ideology. In a recent essay for New York Magazine, Peters described how under the Trump administration, her passport would be changed from F to M and the consequences that would have when she travelled to Colombia, where she owns an apartment. These policies, Peters says, are designed to intimidate and silence. Initially, she felt overwhelmed by the hostility, but over time, she has become more resolute. Im meant to be scared. Im meant to say home. I am meant not to go anywhere, and the M is meant to stop me from doing that sort of stuff, Peters says.

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The internet is so annoying, but no one is allowed to say so. If you do, you get called a Luddite or, worse, an old-fashioned fool. Even if you want to criticise some tiny detail of the internet, you must  as if by law  add the proviso of course, it has brought so much to our lives.

But has it really? Now heres a challenging idea: perhaps its made our lives worse. A lot worse.

Theres no escape from the digital hellscape. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

For a start, the algorithms of social media have, by design, amplified the most divisive of voices and created new levels of hostility and disharmony. Misogynists such as Andrew Tate cannot exist without the internet. Hes dependent on a system that foists divisive content onto ordinary teenage boys who havent even expressed an interest in receiving it.

Trump, his sails constantly puffed by conspiracy theories and Russian bots, likewise owes so much of his success to the internet.
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Hefty pizza by the slice? Or a lighter, crisper Roman style? Why not both at this new south-side pizzeria, by a co-owner of Park Street Pasta & Wine.

After a wave of recent openings  from hatted fine diners to all-day eateries and sandwich shops  South Melbourne has put itself back on Melbournes dining map.

But it hadnt yet realised its pizza potential, according to Italian-born brothers Lino and Gabriele Torre, who previously worked at Carlton institution D.O.C (as a manager and head pizza chef, respectively), for about seven years.

Owners and brothers Lino (right) and Gabriele Torre previously worked at D.O.C. Michael Pham

I love South Melbourne and Ive always been looking to do another venue here, says Lino, who also co-owns Park Street Pasta & Wine in the suburb. In terms of pizza, theres not much around, which feels like a shame.

So, he and Gabriele opened Pizzateca Lupa, a 34-seat Roman pizzeria in a prime street-facing South Melbourne Market site. Named after a she-wolf in Roman mythology, Lupa is also backed by Salvatore Malatesta, owner of nearby coffee stalwart St Ali.
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Eating outJust open Beloved family-run eatery opens nostalgic small bar in old childhood home Anthony Sofys parents opened a corner shop at the site of Emmas Snack Bar 55 years ago. Now he and his children have opened a prequel venue upstairs called Mixed Business Enmore. Scott Bolles May 3, 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

When Mixed Business Enmore opened on Thursday, May 1 above Emmas Snack Bar in Sydneys inner west, the areas newest small bar became the latest chapter in a 55-year run at the site for three generations of the Sofy family. We used to live up here, above the shop, said Anthony Sofy. At various stages the Mixed Business space was a bedroom and hallway, then a living room. Its bathroom used to be Anthonys childhood bedroom. 1 / 7 Mixed Business restaurant owner Anthony Sofy with children Charlie and George. Sam Mooy 2 / 7 Fried chicken and toum sandwich. Sam Mooy 3 / 7 Fried ricotta and orange. Sam Mooy 4 / 7 Kons spicy feta and bullhorn peppers. Sam Mooy 5 / 7 Family photos adorn the venues interior. Sam Mooy 6 / 7 Fried chicken and toum sandwich. Sam Mooy 7 / 7 Sam Mooy Previous Slide Next Slide His parents, Lebanese immigrants George and Emma Sofy, opened a corner store here in 1970. By the 1980s it was serving Emmas Lebanese food; and in 1999 Anthony took over as chef and rebranded it Emmas on Liberty, which later morphed into Emmas Snack Bar. The corner site  in a busy but mostly residential part of Enmore  is part of inner-west food folklore, much like the closed Olympia Milk Bar site in neighbouring Stanmore, but is still thriving.

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[Mixed Business] has been on the cards for about 15 years, Anthony said. If hed acted earlier on his instinct, Anthony wouldve been one of Sydneys small bar pioneers. Approvals, building and the pandemic all got in the way of his plans. Fried chicken and toum sandwich. Sam Mooy Anthonys adult children, George, 22, and Charlie, 20, both juggle part-time roles in the business with university. They will work at the new bar, while 16-year-old Stella also helps out at Emmas Snack Bar downstairs. They also grew up for the first part of their lives here, above the restaurant. Before they could talk, they could sing happy birthday because they heard it being sung downstairs, Anthony said. If it seems a little weird opening a bar in your childhood home, Anthony has dialled up on the past with framed family photos on the wall. There is also a martial arts poster, and a vintage mirror etched with flying geese. The colours and signage at Mixed Business feel like a cool take on an old-school venue.

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Kons spicy feta and bullhorn peppers. Sam Mooy The Mixed Business name is a nod to his parents original business in the 1970s. Were calling it a prequel, Anthony said. The bar snacks menu reflects the multiculturalism of the area and the extended Sofy family. Salt and vinegar potato scallops are inspired by childhood trips to the local chippie, and are listed alongside similar retro-inspired dishes such as a fried chicken and garlic sandwich, and French fries with curry sauce. The snack list includes a dessert of fried pancakes with ricotta and orange blossom, a reflection of the Sofys Lebanese roots. My wife is Greek, weve put on her Dads favourite  grilled feta with bullhorn peppers, Anthony said. Anthony Sofys new venue is his former childhood home. Sam Mooy

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While therell be a tight cocktail list, and even the occasional Lebanese wine, Anthony said Mixed Business isnt exclusively alcohol fuelled: Well serve stovetop Lebanese coffee, it isnt just a bar, its a community [venue]. The local neighbourhood has a strong pull for the restaurateur and bar owner. Growing up above the shop, Anthony recalls being able to roam the area until the street lights came on. Despite eventually moving nearby, there are times he misses life above the shop. There was always something happening, noise, he said. George Sofy, who died in 1987, would trust regulars at the shop in the 1970s and 80s to run up a tab, often without knowing their name. He gave them nicknames, like Blondie. There were a couple of complaints in the early days about the smell of garlic wafting out of Emma Sofys kitchen, but her culinary skills and eye for detail are still a big part of the business. Anthony likens Emma to a secret shopper. Likely to turn up at any time, with her eye on every detail. Now, Emma will have to add upstairs to her tour.

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The Cabinet of Ministers has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on amendments to the Budget Code regarding the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on the creation of the US-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund.

The draft law has already been registered in the parliament (No. 13256), according to information on its website, but the text of the document itself is not yet available.

According to Yaroslav Zhelezniak, the first deputy chairman of the committee on finance, taxation and customs policy, the draft law provides for the introduction of a mechanism for transferring income from the use of natural resources to a special fund of the state budget of Ukraine for further allocation to the US-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund.

Sources of income: 50% of the fee for special permits for the use of subsoil; funds from the sale of special permits and income from the sale of part of the state-owned products, as well as other income from the exploitation of natural resources stipulated by the agreement, he wrote on Telegram.

He added that the document also stipulates restrictions: income from licenses issued before the entry into force of the agreement is not included, unless it is a new exploitation, and income from assets related to royalties or reparations from the Russian Federation is not taken into account.

According to the draft law, the relevant income is transferred to the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, their target area is infrastructure restoration projects related to post-war reconstruction.

As reported, the day before, the government submitted the agreement itself, signed on April 30 in Washington, to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. It is expected that the parliament will vote on this issue on May 8.

Earlier, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed this agreement on the Ukrainian side, noted that after the ratification of the agreement, only amendments to the Budget Code are provided for the functioning of the fund.

"Ukraine contributes 50% of state budget revenues from NEW royalty for NEW licenses for NEW deposits," the First Deputy Prime Minister explained.

At the same time, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak (the Holos faction) believes that the implementation of the fund agreement with the US will require other changes to the legislation.
The parenthood dreams of some Queensland IVF patients are in jeopardy because their embryos were created using sperm without adequate donor records to meet new regulations.

Shocked patients have been told their fertility treatments are being abandoned because sperm sourced for their embryos via US sperm bank Xytex does not meet stringent identification regulations introduced in Queensland last year.

Queensland tightened its fertility regulations last September. Credit: Getty Images

Monash IVF has informed 11 of its Queensland patients that it has no choice but to cease their treatment. It is believed patients from other clinics are also affected by the regulations.

Under a tightening of Queenslands fertility rules last September, all clinics in the state must hold detailed identification information for donors used in their treatments, including a phone number and email address for each individual sperm donor.
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 On an unseasonably warm afternoon in August 2022, Ben Niznik sat inside his car and quietly cried to his mum on the phone. The 35-year-old coal miner and photographer, who lives in Maitland, NSW, had just been to see an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) for help with the debilitating and ongoing ringing in his ears  a noise he described as a symphony of high-pitched cicada chirps mixed with screeching train brakes. Niznik developed the ringing when he was 19 years old, after spending much of his adolescence listening to blaring music on his phone and cheap earphones. However, the noise had recently worsened after a COVID-19 infection. The specialist checked his ears, pressing the cool tip of an otoscope inside his eardrum and peering inside, before delivering his diagnosis in a matter-of-fact tone. The ENT told me Id just have to learn to live with it, Niznik said. He compared it to quicksand  the more you resist it, the worse it gets. The 10-minute appointment finished, and $250 later, Niznik left feeling defeated. Mum rang and asked me how the appointment went, and I just started crying, he said. I was a 35-year-old man, Im hard-working, and I wasnt emotional like that. But it was just so overwhelming and the helplessness and that loss of hope was really crushing at the time.

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Niznik said he spent the next 18 months barely working and forked out nearly $10,000 on medical appointments and treatments to try to alleviate his symptoms. He is one of thousands of Australians living with tinnitus  characterised by phantom ringing or buzzing in the ears. Tinnitus and hearing loss conditions are stereotypically associated with old age, but studies have shown an increased prevalence among young people. Ben Niznik has experienced constant ringing in his ears for more than a decade. Credit: Dean Sewell In its 2020 Making a noise about hearing report, Hearing Australias research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, said 60 per cent of young Australians experienced ringing in the ears at least sometimes. Additional research indicates 14.1 per cent of teenagers and young adults may be at risk from leisure noise exposure, with the main sources of hearing risk coming from personal listening devices. With no cure and minimal awareness about the condition, tinnitus is leaving young Australians, in some ways, suffering in silence. What is tinnitus, and why is it affecting young people? Melbourne audiologist Dr Ben Altidis said there were about 10,000 reasons someone could have tinnitus, but it was important to describe it as a symptom not a disease or syndrome.

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The majority of us have primary tinnitus, he said. We all have these tiny hair cells and we start to lose them from the day we are born, so usually by the age of 60, weve lost around 30 per cent, which is when we see recordable hearing loss due to natural deterioration of our hearing. Loading These little hair cells stop unwanted sounds reaching the brain, so when we lose them, you start to get ringing, buzzing and hissing noises. The founder of Acute Hearing Clinics has spent more than 35 years in the industry and has seen a gradual increase in the number of young adults with tinnitus and hearing loss. He attributed the rise to noise exposure and a lack of education on hearing protection. We see a lot of young adults in our clinics who havent really protected their hearing  the messages around hearing protection dont seem to be getting through to them any more, which is pretty sad. A 2017 study found 63 per cent of Australians aged 11 to 35 experienced tinnitus in some form, while people with higher levels of accumulated noise exposure were more likely to experience tinnitus more often.

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In our increasingly noisy society, headphones and earphones have become an omnipresent accessory. We wear them at the gym, on the commute to work and at the office, and some even use them to fall asleep. Loading Dr Caitlin Bar is chief executive of Soundfair, a not-for-profit Australian organisation that focuses on hearing health and equality. Barr noted headphones themselves were not problematic, but rather it was the overall volume and duration people listened to. As a society, our average daily exposure to noise across all of our lives is higher, she said. We are pretty much constantly surrounded by sound  therefore opportunities for our ears to rest are less. There are studies where theyve measured peoples lifetime exposure to noise, and for too many, by age 30, its above what it should be for their lifetime. Its unsurprising that we would then be noticing an increase in tinnitus because its the earliest sign of hearing damage. Barr would like to see more awareness of hearing protection for young people and also more research into tinnitus. It [tinnitus] is invisible and not taken seriously, she said. For that reason, its been dismissed by various healthcare professionals and there is still so much we dont know about it.

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Silence, cicadas and tuning out the noise Lily Tomasic can barely remember what silence sounds like. The 24-year-old Sydney building design co-ordinator has had tinnitus since she was a teenager, but the ringing became significantly louder when she turned 18. Lily Tomasic, 24, believes noise exposure and stress both probably contributed to her tinnitus. Credit: Oscar Colman I dont really think I can say what silence is, she said. Ill be on holidays and my partner will comment on how everything is so peaceful and relaxing, but Im not really enjoying it because its not peaceful in my head. Tomasic is not sure what caused her tinnitus, but says noise exposure and stress were probable factors.

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Ghost platforms. A faded poster that says AIR RAID SHELTER. An old dead mans handle, which Red Rattler train drivers gripped as a failsafe measure. Advertising for the long-gone Mark Foys department store. A bullet hole in a marble pillar. A frieze unearthed after a fire in a Hungry Jacks.

Marc Cote at Central Station, where his walking tour Secrets of the City Circle starts and finishes. Credit: Nick Moir

For passengers who take millions of train trips on Sydneys City Circle loop every year, these glimpses of history go largely unnoticed. Marc Cote is changing that.

His Secrets of the City Circle walking tour, running on Saturday as part of the National Trusts Australian Heritage Festival, is a fascinating two-and-a-half hours of subterranean stories.

It focuses on more than a century of history since John Bradfield, the visionary chief engineer for Metropolitan Railway Construction and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, decided to extend the line from Central through the city  first to Museum and St James (1926), then to Town Hall and Wynyard (1932) and finally Circular Quay (1956).
The May 3 Edition

Almost three months ago, Australias national security picture took a dark, symbolic turn. Three Chinese warships conducted live-fire drills deep in the Tasman Sea, forcing nearly 50 commercial flights to divert. There was nothing illegal about the drills, but the message was crystal clear: Chinas navy, now the worlds largest, has formidable reach far beyond the South China Sea. In the wake of Donald Trumps America First policy, his demonstrated disrespect for traditional allies, and his launching of a spectacularly stupid tariff war against China, the timing was no coincidence. Trumps victory has not just emboldened China  its allowed it to win. One man who has borne witness to Chinas growing might is freedom fighter Ted Hui, who was in the front row of protests in Hong Kong against the mainlands ultimately successful campaign to crush democracy. Huis nail-biting escape from Hong Kong, and his arrival in Australia, is detailed in Eryk Bagshaws gripping cover story this week.  Greg Callaghan, acting editor.
Three people have been pulled from the ocean after their helicopter plunged into waters off the Bellarine Peninsula following an engine failure.

Emergency crews responded to triple-zero calls from witnesses about 10am on Friday, arriving at the crash site near Point Lonsdale within minutes.

Firefighters arrived on scene in two minutes to find a light aircraft impacted in water 30 to 50 metres from the shoreline, Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement.

Crews worked in collaboration with Surf Life Saving and Ambulance Victoria to extricate three people from the water and bring them to safety to receive treatment.
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 To tell the story of Dandenong, we can begin in a small red-roof hamlet hemmed in by the rolling mountains, dark rivers and thick forests of the Pelagonia Valley. The people who live there call their town Keshava. The valley lies on the fault line that divides North Macedonia and Greece. The towns here have been repeatedly exchanged between would-be empires, the rich earth beneath the forests a final resting place for warriors ancient and modern. Keshava is home to 185 people. There are about 5000 people living in Dandenong who have Kisivan ancestors  which means there are now about 30 times more Kisivans living in Dandenong than in Keshava. My dad saw there was no future back in Macedonia, says Jim Memeti, who arrived as a two-year-old with his family in Dandenong in 1975. You could go down Dandenong South now, and you can see house after house after house  of families that have come from Keshava. The Drum Theatre on Lonsdale Street. Credit: Chris Hopkins This is a fact both remarkable and, here, unremarkable. You could tell the same story about hundreds of other towns scattered across the old world and the new: Pristina and Kabul, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Colombo and New Delhi and, now, Kyiv. If theres conflict somewhere in the world, says Daniel Riley, principal of Dandenong Primary School, thats when we see new arrivals.

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These threads come from all over the world to weave together the story of Dandenong  and the suburb has an important tale to tell. We live in an era of hatred and fear of the other. Anti-immigrant rhetoric is ascendant in Europe, while America rounds up and exports its migrants to El Salvadorean jails. Dandenong should fail, if not because of ancient ethnic enmities then anti-immigrant sentiment. But a visit to a suburb so diverse that researchers call it superdiverse (diversity within diversity) reveals a thriving community bonded by shared hurt  and shared hope. Shoppers at Dandenong Market. Credit: Simon Schluter The bubbling centre of this melting pot can be found under the vaulted roofs of Dandenong Market, which on a Tuesday morning is busy with different languages and accents haggling over the ripe bananas and curling cucumbers and blushing green capsicums that overflow from the stalls. There are pink roses and black grapes and inscrutable green knobbly things  heirloom zucchinis, perhaps, or chillies? Eggplants $1! Garlic $1! Bananas $1.29! A man drives through the crowd on a motor scooter, trailing an Australian flag. There are Manchester United jerseys and turbans and hijabs, fake perfumes and authentic Nikes. Wives drag husbands who drag children, their faces locked in silent screams after a treat is denied. My girlfriend has asked me to bring back some sweets, but I am overwhelmed. Chestnut Turkish delight? Nougat wrapped in plastic? I plump for a squat loaf of banana bread and a sheaf of lilies. It is a cliche to talk about food when discussing multiculturalism. But, hey, people need to eat, and they want to eat the food they grew up eating. Food is community, and safety.

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Never underestimate that food element, says Peter McNamara, chief executive of South East Community Links. Food brings people together because its about love. Constance Vavasis grandparents started a peanut stand in 1974  her young father translating for his Greek immigrant parents. There were a lot of Greeks that lived in South Yarra. And they came out a bit further because they wanted more space, she says. As the suburb grew, they added Perfect Coffee and a deli selling Iranian spices and Turkish apricots to new arrivals. Sam Vavasis, owner of Sams Spice & Grocery, with daughter Constance Vavasis. Credit: Chris Hopkins Schwarze Seafood has been at the market since the early 1900s and is into its fourth generation of family ownership. When my daughter comes to work, shell be fifth generation, says Jess Schwarze. Thats not the younger Schwarzes current plan. But I also said no, says Schwarze with a laugh. After watching my dad work himself into the ground  he ended up passing away from cancer about three years ago. And even the customers say, Please dont sell, keep it in the family. The motivation is the customers that come back and tell you, youre doing such a good job, your dad would be so proud. Louise and Jessica Schwarze, owners of Schwarze Seafoods at the Dandenong Market. Credit: Chris Hopkins The market tracks the story of the suburb. Migrants from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Scandinavia settled here in the 1830s, attracted by secure water supplies  the Dandenong Creek flows down from the foothills and through the suburb en route to the bay  and good grass for grazing livestock. The market opened in 1866  predating Melbournes market by 12 years. Farmers would drive cattle for sale right through the centre of town. The suburb had one of Victorias major live cattle markets up to 1998.

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It progressed steadily. After the Second World War it really boomed, says Christine Keys, president of the Dandenong Historical Society. Industry spotted the potential of this sleepy market town: lots of empty flat land, ready access to water, power and transport links, and proximity to Victorias agricultural heartland. International Harvester arrived in 1949, followed by Heinz and then General Motors Holden, making cars and white goods and canned beans to feed Australias new middle class. At home, married women work to make ends meet; here we take jobs for luxuries such as TV sets, cars, and home buying, Scottish migrant worker Mrs Frederick McRobb told the Australian Womens Weekly in 1959  when there were more than 200 factories in Dandenong, some running 24 hours a day. The Womens Weekly called Dandenong a symbol of industrial strength, and thats what it was: a global beacon calling migrants to new jobs and new lives the war-ravaged old world could no longer offer. Shelter Makonese, the owner-operator of Zimbabwean Shop. Credit: Chris Hopkins As each wave of migration broke over Dandenong, the suburb was reshaped. Immigrants from Europe sold fish and introduced locals to espresso; then came waves of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, before those communities grew wealthy enough to move out to Casey and Cardinia. The dumpling shops were soon overlaid with Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants and sweet shops, African hairdressers, and now Afghan butcheries and bakeries.

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Dandenong is the most culturally diverse community in Australia. There are Pashtuns from Afghanistan but also Hazaras and Tajiks  a community so diverse it is now fighting over the name Afghan Bazaar. Hope of a better future Shelter Makoneses hands are full of a customers hair, which she is firmly pulling back into a braid, but the owner of the Zimbabwean Shop shakes one out to count the nationalities of her customers. Burundi. Rwanda. Congo. Malawi. Zambia. She runs out of fingers but keeps counting. South African. Zimbabwe. Botswana. Mozambique. Liberia. Nigeria. Sierra Leone. Mali. Togo. So I have had to buy a lot of variety. Loading About 60 per cent of the population was born overseas; about 2000 refugees live in Dandenong, the most of any Victorian suburb. Loi Truong, now a Greater Dandenong councillor, arrived in Australia in 1983 from Vietnam  after navigating nine other border crossings. The last time I escaped on a boat woven from bamboo and rubbed on the outside with a layer of road plastic to cut water absorption, he told a council publication. We had to take turns pumping out the water day and night. There are marked incidents of racism  most locals say their household has experienced racism or prejudice in the past 12 months  but by and large this superdiversity seems to function. Compare Dandenong with London, where Muslims were assaulted and a hotel housing asylum seekers was set on fire in race riots last year.

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Career police officer Tracy Linford is one of the favourites for Victorias next chief commissioner, with an announcement expected as early as next week.

Linford served 31 years with Victoria Police before being head-hunted by the Queensland force in 2015 to serve as assistant commissioner in charge of intelligence, counterterrorism and major events command.

Queensland police Deputy Commissioner Tracy Linford. Credit: QPS

She was quickly promoted, in 2017, to deputy commissioner of crime, counterterrorism and specialist operations.

Linford has expertise in organised crime, child exploitation and terrorism.
Today, we bring you a special episode of The Age and Sydney Morning Heralds Inside Politics podcast, recorded in the south-west Victorian electorate of Wannon.

The seat encompasses tourist towns along the Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland, then stretches inland to the rural city of Hamilton, rich grazing country around the Grampians, and all the way to the South Australian border.

Age reporter Tony Wright at the Bay of Martyrs. Credit: Justin McManus

Wannon has been in safe Liberal hands for 70 years, since former prime minister Malcolm Fraser won the seat in 1955, and held it until 1983. Grazier, and speaker of the House of Representatives, David Hawker, then held it until 2010, when it became the domain of Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan.

But this year, it seems more voters are rallying behind change and the independent candidate promising it: Alex Dyson, a former radio host and third-time contender for Wannon.
While James Packer was busy making real estate moves in America earlier this week, the head of his family office was busy preparing his own distinguished trophy home for the market back in Australia.

Lawrence Myers, chief executive of James Packers family office Consolidated Press Holdings, and his wife Sylvia have listed their exquisite Rose Bay home with a price guide above $90 million.

The picture-perfect views of the Myers familys house in Rose Bay. Credit:

In what could be one of the top sales for the year and set to smash the suburb record by almost double, the waterfront estate in one of the most tightly held pockets of Sydney is a sight to behold.

With gun barrel views of the harbour, the 1039-square-metre parcel of verdant land is almost unmatched.
I discover that the windows drop down, and I dart between the open windows on both sides, chasing the view. I stick my head out the window like an overexcited golden retriever, and Im walloped in the face with frozen air. With the windows down, sound roars through the carriage: the trill of railway crossings and the rush of gurgling meltwater, the rattling bridges and the whoosh of a tunnel as it swallows the train whole. We cross the Bernina Pass, and the train stops briefly at Alp Grum before we begin a series of switchbacks and hairpin turns to descend to the valley floor. The train has a seven-degree incline, one of the steepest in Europe, and my wheeled suitcase spins around like a drunk at a roller rink. It only gives up its jig when the train curves past a glacial lake, becoming wedged under a set of seats. Minutes later, the train whistles, an acknowledgment we have reached Italy, and I disembark with less than a dozen others onto the platform at Tirano. The Bernina Express: Tirano to Chur A stop at at Alp Grum station along the way. Credit: Switzerland Tourism Two hours and one Italian feast later, its time to ride the Bernina Express. Both the regional train and the sightseeing service are run by Rhaetian Railway RhB, and I notice the drivers engine compartment on our Bernina Express service is the same as the one I had on the regional train, with room for a small section of regional passengers to travel in.

Every seat on the tourist-focused service is booked, and the platform is crammed with people, bags and dogs. With little direction from staff, its a bit of a free-for-all as passengers struggle to find a place to stash their luggage, still fussing even when the train departs the station. Im travelling in first class, which contains one row of double seats facing each other on one side and two single seats on the other. The oversized panoramic glass windows of the Bernina Express carriages are spectacular. Curved gently at the top so you can take in the mountains above, they frame the view perfectly. However, unlike the regional train, they dont open  except for two small postage stamp-style windows that drop down at the front of the carriage. As we begin the climb back up to Alp Grum, Im delighted to spy a copper-coloured spaniel out for a walk, waiting with its tail wagging at a railway crossing. On the regional train down, Id seen the same dog pouncing and yapping at the train from his yard, desperate to go for a run. The panoramic carriages of the Bernina Express. Credit: Switzerland Tourism While the regional train made sporadic announcements, on the Bernina Express commentary is provided over the speaker in three languages. Its useful in some respects: on the first leg of my journey, Id been so distracted by the sight of two kite-boarders on the surface of the frozen Lago Blanco Id missed the watershed marker where the glacial lake tumbles to the Adriatic on one side and the Black Sea on the other. However, while adding some colour to the journey, sometimes the noise distracts from the view outside.

While there is no meal service on the Bernina Express, there is a small cafe menu showcasing regional delicacies such as Chur walnut cake, Engadin hazelnut fingers, and, of course, Swiss cheese. Though Im right with the prosciutto and parmesan I picked up in Italy, just before Pontresina, attendants appear with wicker baskets full of complimentary cold organic herbal teas and a novelty train tin filled with Lindt chocolates to complement my snacks. The Rhaetian Railways summer windowless yellow open scenic carriages. Credit: Christof Sonderegger When it starts getting dark at a wintry 4.30pm, the crew darken the carriage lights. Tiny lamps illuminate the route, and villages glow in the distance. The journey takes a sleepy, dreamlike quality as the chatter settles and people sit staring, absorbed by the beauty. We pull into Chur right on schedule. Theres an adage that comparison is the thief of joy. However, after experiencing both the tourist train and regional train across the Bernina Railway, Id recommend both with one caveat: break the journey along the way and spend a few days in the mountains. The details
The statement of US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce about the US withdrawal from the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia was made in the context of previous statements about the possibility of the American side refusing the role of mediator, and not as a new position, said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy.

I just contacted US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce and we confirmed that her comment regarding U.S. role as mediator came in the context of her similar earlier comment this week If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators of the process. It is not a new posture, but one previously stated by US Secretary of State, Tykhy wrote on the social network X.

As reported, earlier on Friday, Bruce said that the US will no longer act as a mediator in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, and both sides must agree on their own.
Microsoft raises Xbox prices globally, following Sony



New York, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Microsoft announced Thursday that it will increase Xbox console prices worldwide, citing "market conditions" just days after Sony made a similar move with its PlayStation 5.

The tech giant also plans to raise prices for some new games developed by its video game subsidiaries.

"We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development," the company said on its website.

While not explicitly mentioned by Microsoft, US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Washington's trading partners have cast a shadow over the gaming industry.

Xbox consoles are primarily manufactured in China, which faces 145 percent US tariffs on numerous products under the Trump administration.

In the United States, the entry-level Xbox Series S will jump from $299.99 to $379.99, a 27-percent increase.

The premium Series X Galaxy Black model will now retail for $729.99, up from $599.99 previously -- a 22 percent hike.

Additionally, certain new games from Microsoft-owned studios will be priced at $79.99, up 14 percent from the current $69.99.

In Europe, the Series S will rise from 299.99 euros to 349.99 euros, a 17-percent increase.

The Series S and X launched in late 2020 and have sold approximately 30 million units, according to industry analysts' estimates.

In mid-April, Sony announced price increases for several PlayStation 5 models in select markets, including Europe but notably excluding the United States.

PS5 consoles are also primarily assembled in China.

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US asks judge to break up Google's ad tech business



Alexandria, United States, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Google on Friday faced a demand by the US government to break up its hugely profitable ad technology business after a judge found the tech giant was commanding an illegal monopoly.

"We have a defendant who has found ways to defy" the law, US government lawyer Julia Tarver Wood told a federal court in Virginia, as she urged the judge to dismiss Google's assurance that it would change its behavior.

"Leaving a recidivist monopolist" intact is not appropriate to solve the issue, she added.

The demand is the second such request by the US government, which is also calling for the divestment of the company's Chrome browser in a separate case over Google's world-leading search engine business.

The US government specifically alleged that Google controls the market for publishing banner ads on websites, including those of many creators and small news providers.

The hearing in a Virginia courtroom was set to plan out the second phase of the trial, set for September 22, in which the parties will argue over how to fix the ad market to satisfy the judge's ruling.

The plaintiffs argued in the first phase of the trial last year that the vast majority of websites use Google ad software products which, combined, leave no way for publishers to escape Google's advertising technology and pricing.

District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with most of that reasoning, ruling last month that Google built an illegal monopoly over ad software and tools used by publishers, but partially dismissed the argument related to tools used by advertisers.



- 'Not sufficient' -



The US government said it would use the trial to recommend that Google should spin off its ad publisher and exchange operations, as Google could not be trusted to change its ways.

"Behavioral remedies are not sufficient because you can't prevent Google from finding a new way to dominate," Tarver Wood said.

Google countered that it would recommend that it agree to a binding commitment that it would share information with advertisers and publishers on its ad tech platforms.

Google lawyer Karen Dunn did acknowledge the "trust issues" raised in the case and said the company would accept monitoring to guarantee any pledges made to satisfy the judge.

Google is also arguing that calls for divestment are not appropriate in this case, which Brinkema swiftly refused as an argument.

The company also said breaking up Google's control of the ad platforms would pose a data security risk for publishers and advertisers.

The judge urged both sides to mediate, stressing that coming to a compromise solution would be cost-effective and more efficient than running a weeks-long trial.

The business in question at the trial is just a portion of Google's colossal online advertising revenue, which is the driving engine of its fortune and pays for its free-to-use online services such as Maps, Gmail, and search.

Money pouring into Google's coffers also allows the Silicon Valley company to spend billions of dollars on its artificial intelligence efforts.
Photo: www.defensie.nl

On Friday, May 2, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the development of the Ukrainian fleet of military aircraft, as well as on key issues with the F-16.

"Ukrainian F-16s. Held a meeting on the development of our fleet of military aircraft. All key issues. F-16s that are already in Ukraine. F-16s that we expect in the near future. And systemic solutions that will help to more effectively prepare and use our military aviation," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram channel on Friday.

He thanked everyone who is strengthening Ukraine's actions in the sky.
Iran slams new US sanctions ahead of nuclear talks



Tehran, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Iran on Thursday condemned as "economic terrorism" a US decision to slap new sanctions on the Islamic republic just days before another round of nuclear talks between the longtime foes.

The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "So long as Iran attempts to generate oil and petrochemical revenues to fund its destabilising activities, and support its terrorist activities and proxies, the United States will take steps to hold both Iran and all its partners engaged in sanctions evasion accountable."

The move came ahead of a fourth round of Iran-US talks on Saturday in Rome, where Tehran is seeking relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

In a statement, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the sanctions were part of US efforts "to disrupt friendly and legal relations between developing countries through economic terrorism".

He said they were "clear evidence of the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy".

Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has reinstated a campaign of "maximum pressure" on Iran, mirroring his approach during his first term, while also calling for dialogue.

In March, he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies, urging talks and warning of possible military action if Iran refused.

During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed biting sanctions, prompting the Islamic republic to roll back its commitments.
Understanding Nigeria's new wave of jihadist attacks



Lagos, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Nigeria's northeast is facing a brutal resurgence of jihadist attacks, which have killed at least 100 people in April.

The state of Borno in particular, where the Boko Haram jihadist group emerged 16 years ago, remains the epicentre of a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 and displaced some two million people in Africa's most populous country.



- Several jihadist groups -



The Lake Chad basin serves as a crucial strategic corridor for jihadists groups, said Kabir Adamu, director of the Nigerian consulting firm Beacon Consulting, in terms of logistics, recruitment and cross-border attacks involving Chad, Niger and Cameroon.



- Boko Haram, also known as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS):

The movement was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri, Borno state, by radical preacher Mohammed Yusuf, who attributed Nigeria's woes to the Western values left by former British colonial powers.

Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009 and took control of significant areas in the northeast.

Through counteroffensives, the Nigerian army took back some of the lost territories but Boko Haram remains operational in some regions.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group relies heavily on fear-based tactics, targeting civilians, looting villages and conducting kidnappings.



- The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP):

This group emerged in 2016 from a split within Boko Haram, with ISWAP opposing the killing of Muslims.

It is proving to be more organised and more ideological, focusing its attacks on military targets and infrastructure.



- Other groups are operating in the northwest of the country, near the border with Niger, such as Ansaru, a dissident movement linked to Al-Qaeda, or Lukarawa.



- It is also worth noting the emergence of other groups, particularly in the northwest and central regions of the country, "which may not be strictly jihadist but utilise similar methods, blurring the lines between criminal and terrorist activities", said Adamu.



- Why now? -



The ongoing resurgence of attacks is linked to several factors, experts said.

"There were direct calls made by the Islamic State between January and March 2025, urging its affiliates worldwide to intensify their operations," Adamu said.

Idriss Mounir Lallali, director of the Algeria-based African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), has seen a "strategic recalibration" by Boko Haram and ISWAP, as the two groups seem to have overcome a period of mutual conflicts.

The jihadists have adapted their combat tactics, through the use of drones, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ambushes and coordinated raids, allowing them to intensify operations in rural and semi-urban areas.



- Weak transborder cooperation -



Regional efforts in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and West Africa are facing structural weaknesses.

"Governance has been abandoned in so many of these places," said Confidence McHarry, from consulting firm SBM Intelligence in Lagos.

Niger in March withdrew from a task force it had created along with Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad to combat jihadists around Lake Chad, disrupting cross-border patrols and intelligence sharing.

Chad has also threatened to withdraw from the task force.

"Without a reinvigorated multinational approach, these gaps risk becoming safe havens for jihadist expansion," Lallali said.



- What about the Nigerian army? -



While Nigerian forces have achieved territorial gains and succeeded in neutralising key jihadist commanders, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram have both demonstrated significant resilience.

Many of their fighters have retreated into ungoverned areas.

"Security forces, while concentrated in key garrisons, have left many border and rural areas exposed," Lallali said.

Insurgents take advantage of these vulnerabilities to restore supply routes and rebuild their influence among local populations.

At the end of April, Nigeria appointed a new leader for anti-jihadist operations in the northeast, General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Iran says fourth round of nuclear talks with US 'postponed'



Tehran, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Iran's foreign ministry said Thursday that the fourth round of nuclear talks with the United States has been postponed, after mediator Oman cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

Tehran and Washington were scheduled to meet for a fourth round of talks on Saturday in Rome, after the two sides reported progress in previous rounds.

"The next round of indirect Iran-US talks, which were scheduled to be held in Rome on Saturday... has been postponed," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.

He added the decision was based on the proposal by Oman of and that "the next possible date will be announced later."

Earlier, Oman's top diplomat Badr Albusaidi cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

"For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed," he said on X.

A source familiar with the talks said the United States "never confirmed its participation" in the fourth round meant for Saturday.

On Friday, Iranian diplomats were due to meet with representatives from Germany, Britain, and France in Rome ahead of talks with the US.

It remains unclear whether these talks will be held as scheduled.

The Iran-US talks mediated by Oman, which began on April 12, have been the highest-level contact in years since US President Donald Trump abandoned a nuclear accord with world powers in 2018.

Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" approach against Tehran.

In March, he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing talks but warning of potential military action if diplomacy failed.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

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Iran slams new US sanctions in midst of nuclear talks



Tehran, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Iran condemned as "economic terrorism" Thursday a decision by its longtime foe the United States to impose new sanctions in the midst of negotiations for a new nuclear deal.

Washington said Wednesday that it was imposing sanctions on seven firms it accused of selling Iranian oil -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey.

"So long as Iran attempts to generate oil and petrochemical revenues to fund its destabilising activities and support its terrorist activities and proxies, the United States will take steps to hold both Iran and all its partners engaged in sanctions evasion accountable," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Iran's foreign ministry said the new sanctions were the latest US attempt "to disrupt friendly and legal relations between developing countries through economic terrorism".

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said they provided "clear evidence of the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy".

Iran and the United States have held three rounds of talks brokered by Oman since April 12 seeking a new nuclear agreement to replace one abandoned by President Donald Trump during his first term in 2018.

A fourth round had been due to be held in Rome on Saturday but Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Thursday that it had been postponed to a later date.

"For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed," Albusaidi said in a statement on X.

Baqaei confirmed the fourth round had been postponed, saying the decision had been taken "based on the proposal of the Omani minister".

Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated his first term policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran.

He has coupled the opening of negotiations with Iran for a new nuclear deal with threats of military action if they fail.
Trump's national security advisor Waltz leaving post: US media



Washington, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



US President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is to leave his post following a scandal in which a journalist was accidentally included on a chat between officials about air strikes on Yemen, US media reported.

Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong were both set to leave, CBS News reported, while Fox News said Trump was expected to comment on the matter soon.

The former US congressman is the first major official to leave the administration in Trump's second term, which has so far been more stable in terms of personnel than his first.

A White House official did not confirm the reports, saying they "do not want to get ahead of any announcement."

Waltz had been under pressure since the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Magazine revealed in March that Waltz had mistakenly added him to a chat on the commercial messaging app Signal about attacks on Huthi rebels.

Officials on the chat laid out the attack plan including the timings that US warplanes would take off to bomb targets in Yemen, with the first texts barely half an hour before they launched.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also faced pressure over the scandal.

"1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)", Hegseth wrote in one text, referring to F/A-18 US Navy jets, before adding that "Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME."

"1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier 'Trigger Based' targets)."

A short time later, Waltz sent real-time intelligence on the aftermath of an attack, writing that US forces had identified the target "walking into his girlfriend's building and it's now collapsed."
Iran says next round of nuclear talks with US 'postponed'



Tehran, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Iran said Thursday that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States has been postponed, after mediator Oman cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

Tehran and Washington were scheduled to meet for a fourth round of talks in Rome on Saturday, after reporting progress in three rounds since April 12.

"The next round of indirect Iran-US talks, which were scheduled to be held in Rome on Saturday... has been postponed," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.

He said the decision had been taken "based on the proposal of the Omani minister".

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

"For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed," he said on X.

A source familiar with the talks said the United States "never confirmed its participation" in the fourth round planned for Saturday.

The source added that rearranged talks were expected to "take place in the near future."

Ahead of the Tehran-Washington talks, Iranian diplomats had been due to meet in Rome on Friday with representatives of Britain, France and Germany.

It was not immediately clear if those talks would go ahead as scheduled.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" policy towards Tehran.

In March, he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing talks but warning of possible military action if diplomacy failed.

Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its programme is for peaceful purposes only.

burs-mz/kir
Nigeria governors urge army to rethink anti-jihadist strategy



Damaturu, Nigeria, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



State governors in northeast Nigeria on Thursday called on government security forces to rethink their counter-insurgency strategy, after more than 100 people were killed last month in jihadist attacks.

The region has seen an upsurge in Islamist militant attacks in recent weeks, reigniting a grinding conflict over the last 16 years that has left more than 40,000 dead and displaced two million.

Governors from the states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi met in the Yobe state capital Damaturu for the 11th North-East Governors Forum.

Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas said in a closing speech that he and colleagues were alarmed at the increase in insurgent activity.

"The forum... calls for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter-insurgency onslaught in the region," he added.

Kefas said a "multidimensional approach" was needed to address the "root causes" of the unrest, with work on youth employment and training, better roads and education and poverty reduction.

Boko Haram, which originated in Borno, and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have lost ground to the Nigerian army but have recently become more active.

The pair have notably resolved disputes between them to focus on fighting outside forces.

They have also adapted their combat tactics, especially through the use of drones, improvised explosive devices and coordinated raids.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) tasked with fighting extremists in the Lake Chad region since 2013 has meanwhile been weakened after Niger's withdrawal in March, affecting cross-border patrols and intelligence sharing.

Another member, Chad, has likewise threatened to pull out.
Syrian Druze leader slams 'genocidal campaign', Israel issues warning



Damascus, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his community after two days of sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned his country would respond "with significant force" if Syria's new authorities fail to protect the Druze minority.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It comes after a wave of massacres in March in Syria's Alawite heartland on the Mediterranean coast in which security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It was the worst bloodshed since the ouster of Assad, who is from the minority community.

Hijri in a statement on Thursday denounced the latest violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign" against the Druze.

He called for immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes".

Israel has ramped up its support for Syria's Druze, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday urging the international community to "fulfil its role in protecting the minorities in Syria -- especially the Druze -- from the regime and its gangs of terror".

In a later statement, Katz said: "Should the attacks on the Druze resume and the Syrian regime fail to prevent them, Israel will respond with significant force."

The Syrian Observatory said the fighting had involved security forces, allied fighters and local Druze groups.

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said the death toll included 30 government loyalists, 21 Druze fighters and 10 civilians, including Sahnaya's former mayor, Husam Warwar.

In the southern province of Sweida, heartland of the Druze minority, it said 40 Druze gunmen were killed, 35 in an "ambush" on the Sweida-Damascus road on Wednesday.

The monitor told AFP the fighters were killed "by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them".



- 'Outlaws' blamed -



The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.

AFP was unable to confirm the recording's authenticity.

Truces was reached in Jaramana on Tuesday and in Sahnaya on Wednesday.

The government announced it was deploying forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, and accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.

However, Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres".

"The government (should) protect its people," he said.

Syria's new authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists.

On Wednesday, a foreign ministry statement vowed to "protect all components" of Syrian society, including the Druze, and rejected "foreign interference".



- Israeli strikes -



Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday reiterated Syria's rejection of demands for international intervention, posting on X that "national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival".

"Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division," he added.

Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday. Israel said its forces were ordered to hit Syrian government targets "should the violence against Druze communities continue".

"A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime -- Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community," a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

Israel has attacked hundreds of military sites in Syria since Assad's overthrow.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights and voiced support for Syria's Druze.

Israel's military said Thursday two injured Syrian Druze had been evacuated to northern Israel for treatment.

A United Nations statement urged "all parties to exercise maximum restraint" and "uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law".

burs-srm/kir
Next round of Iran-US nuclear talks 'postponed'



Tehran, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



Iran said Thursday that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States has been postponed, after mediator Oman cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said a meeting in Rome on Saturday between the United States and Iran had never been confirmed.

"We expect another round of talks that will take place in the near future," Bruce said.

Both Iran and the United States had reported progress in three rounds of talks on consecutive Saturdays since April 12.

"The next round of indirect Iran-US talks, which were scheduled to be held in Rome on Saturday... has been postponed," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement on Thursday.

He said the decision had been taken "based on the proposal of the Omani minister".

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi cited "logistical reasons" for the delay.

"For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed," he said on X.

Iranian diplomats had also been due to meet in Rome on Friday with representatives of Britain, France and Germany.

However, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP in Washington these talks will not now take place.

"A technical meeting was planned prior to... (the) meeting between the United States and Iran," Barrot said in an interview.

"Since that meeting is not taking place, the technical meeting is no longer relevant, at least at that time," Barrot added.

During his first term, US President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the painstakingly negotiated 2015 nuclear deal which also included Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" policy towards Tehran.

In March, he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing talks but warning of possible military action if diplomacy failed.

Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Despite the three rounds of Iran-US negotiations, Washington has continued to impose new sanctions targeting Tehran's nuclear programme and its oil network, the latest being announced on Wednesday.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned what it called "the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy".

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Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Crisis of old political forces and prospects for new Ukraine'

On Wednesday, May 7, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Crisis of old political forces and prospects for new Ukraine."

Participants include founder and leader of the Strength of the Nation party, head of the public organization Protection and Assistance, specialist in the field of commercial port management Andriy Peliukhovsky; Head of NGO Ukrainian Military Organization SPAS-23, founder of the NEP discussion club Volodymyr Volkov; member of the Civil Council of the Power of the Nation party, political analyst, reputation management specialist, member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Oleksandr Kondratenko (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards. Details by phone: (096) 551 5151, or at: [email protected].
US expects Iran talks but Trump presses sanctions



Washington, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



The United States said Thursday it expected new nuclear talks to take place soon with Iran but President Donald Trump vowed to enforce sanctions and called for global boycott of "any amount" of Iranian oil or petrochemicals.

Iran said that a fourth round of talks with the Trump administration, which had been set to take place this weekend in Rome, had been delayed.

Oman, which has mediated between the long-time adversaries, said that "logistical reasons" were to blame for the delay.

But in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that the meeting's date and venue had never been decided.

"We expect another round of talks that will take place in the near future," she told reporters.

Trump, who ripped up an earlier nuclear deal in 2018, has voiced hope at securing a fresh agreement to resolve concerns and stave off the possibility of an Israeli military strike on Iran.

Yet, he has openly spoken of his ambivalence. On returning to office, he vowed a return to "maximum pressure" but said he was doing so reluctantly, at the behest of hawkish advisors.

Iran wants relief from sweeping sanctions imposed by Trump in the first term, including a US attempt to bar all countries from buying Iranian oil.

Trump on Thursday vowed enforcement, a day after the United States imposed sanctions on seven companies accused of transporting Iranian-origin petroleum products.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions," he wrote.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Iran on social media over support to Yemen's Huthi insurgents, who are being pounded by US airstrikes over their missile firings in the Red Sea in purported solidarity with the Palestinians.

"You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of - and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing," Hegseth wrote.



- 'Lack of goodwill' -



Iran's foreign ministry condemned what it called "the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy."

The sanctions mark the latest US attempt "to disrupt friendly and legal relations between developing countries through economic terrorism," it said.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's business friend turned globe-trotting envoy, has led the talks and voiced optimism about the atmosphere with the Iranians.

Witkoff had earlier hinted at more flexibility in the talks but Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- now also Trump's national security advisor -- has insisted that the goal is the complete dismantlement of Iran's program.

Many Iran watchers believe Tehran will never give up its program as a whole and the previous 2015 agreement, negotiated under former president Barack Obama, allowed a pathway to a limited civilian nuclear program.

The 2015 deal included Russia, China and three European powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- which unsuccessfully sought to dissuade Trump from ripping it up.

The European powers had been set to meet as well with Iran on a technical level on Friday ahead of the US-Iran talks.

"Since that meeting is not taking place, the technical meeting is no longer relevant, at least at that time," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP on a visit to Washington.

Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability -- a goal Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its program is for peaceful purposes only.

burs-sct/sla
Israel strikes near Damascus presidential palace over Druze violence



Damascus, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Israel's military said Friday it launched air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus after the country's defence minister threatened intervention if Syrian authorities failed to protect the Druze minority.

Syria's Druze spiritual leader has condemned a "genocidal campaign" against his community after sectarian clashes killed 102 people.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities in Syria who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Israel has since then attacked hundreds of Syrian military sites and on Friday announced its "fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the palace" in the capital Damascus, a military statement said.

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri had denounced the sectarian violence near Damascus as an "unjustifiable genocidal campaign".

He called in a statement Thursday for immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes".

The Druze killings come after a wave of massacres in March in Syria's Alawite heartland on the Mediterranean coast in which security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly from Assad's Alawite community, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday called for "national unity" as "the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival".

"Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division," he wrote on X.

Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and has warned them to protect the Druze minority, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying his country could otherwise respond "with significant force".

Israel carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday and has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

Two wounded Syrian Druze have been evacuated to northern Israel for treatment, according to the Israeli military.



- 'Reprehensible' violence -



At a meeting of Druze leaders, elders and armed groups in the city of Sweida, the community agreed it was "an inseparable part of the unified Syrian homeland", a spokesperson said.

"We reject partition, separation or disengagement," the spokesperson added.

The Syrian Observatory said the fighting this week had involved security forces, allied fighters and local Druze groups.

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said the 102 death toll included 30 government loyalists, 21 Druze fighters and 10 civilians, including Sahnaya's former mayor, Husam Warwar.

In the southern Druze heartland province of Sweida, it said 40 Druze gunmen were killed, 35 in an "ambush" on the Sweida-Damascus road on Wednesday.

The monitor told AFP the fighters were killed "by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them".

The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.

AFP was unable to confirm the recording's authenticity.

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Thursday the violence and rhetoric against the Druze community in Syria was "reprehensible and unacceptable", and called on the interim authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.

Truces were reached Tuesday in Jaramana and a day later in Sahnaya, both areas near Damascus.

The Syrian government announced it was deploying forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, and accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.

However, Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres".

"The government (should) protect its people," he said.

The Druze gathering on Thursday urged the government to engage "the judicial police in Sweida, drawing from the province's own residents" on the issue.

Syria's new authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists.

On Wednesday a foreign ministry statement vowed to "protect all components" of Syrian society, including the Druze.

burs-srm-sbk/rsc/pst
CORRECTED: Understanding Nigeria's new wave of jihadist attacks



Lagos, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Nigeria's northeast is facing a brutal resurgence of jihadist attacks, which have killed at least 100 people in April.

The state of Borno in particular, where the Boko Haram jihadist group emerged 16 years ago, remains the epicentre of a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 and displaced some two million people in Africa's most populous country.



- Several jihadist groups -



The Lake Chad basin serves as a crucial strategic corridor for jihadist groups, said Kabir Adamu, director of the Nigerian consulting firm Beacon Consulting, in terms of logistics, recruitment and cross-border attacks involving Chad, Niger and Cameroon.



- Boko Haram, also known as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS):

The movement was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri, Borno state, by radical preacher Mohammed Yusuf, who attributed Nigeria's woes to the Western values left by former British colonial powers.

Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009 and took control of significant areas in the northeast.

Through counteroffensives, the Nigerian army took back some of the lost territories but Boko Haram remains operational in some regions.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group relies heavily on fear-based tactics, targeting civilians, looting villages and conducting kidnappings.



- The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP):

This group emerged in 2016 from a split within Boko Haram, with ISWAP opposing the killing of Muslims.

It is proving to be more organised and more ideological, focusing its attacks on military targets and infrastructure.



- Other groups are operating in the northwest of the country, near the border with Niger, such as Ansaru, a dissident movement linked to Al-Qaeda, or Lakurawa.



- It is also worth noting the emergence of other groups, particularly in the northwest and central regions of the country, "which may not be strictly jihadist but utilise similar methods, blurring the lines between criminal and terrorist activities", said Adamu.



- Why now? -



The ongoing resurgence of attacks is linked to several factors, experts said.

"There were direct calls made by the Islamic State between January and March 2025, urging its affiliates worldwide to intensify their operations," Adamu said.

Idriss Mounir Lallali, director of the Algeria-based African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), has seen a "strategic recalibration" by Boko Haram and ISWAP, as the two groups seem to have overcome a period of mutual conflicts.

The jihadists have adapted their combat tactics, through the use of drones, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ambushes and coordinated raids, allowing them to intensify operations in rural and semi-urban areas.



- Weak transborder cooperation -



Regional efforts in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and west Africa are facing structural weaknesses.

"Governance has been abandoned in so many of these places," said Confidence McHarry, from consulting firm SBM Intelligence in Lagos.

Niger in March withdrew from a task force it had created along with Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad to combat jihadists around Lake Chad, disrupting cross-border patrols and intelligence sharing.

Chad has also threatened to withdraw from the task force.

"Without a reinvigorated multinational approach, these gaps risk becoming safe havens for jihadist expansion," Lallali said.



- What about the Nigerian army? -



While Nigerian forces have achieved territorial gains and succeeded in neutralising key jihadist commanders, ISWAP and Boko Haram have both demonstrated significant resilience.

Many of their fighters have retreated into ungoverned areas.

"Security forces, while concentrated in key garrisons, have left many border and rural areas exposed," Lallali said.

Insurgents take advantage of these vulnerabilities to restore supply routes and rebuild their influence among local populations.

At the end of April, Nigeria appointed a new leader for anti-jihadist operations in the northeast, General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Israel says struck near Syria presidential palace amid Druze clashes



Damascus, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Israel said it carried out an air strike near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus on Friday, warning the country's new Islamist rulers against targeting the Druze minority.

The dawn strike came hours after top Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Syria, rejecting any call for secession.

The Druze leaders urged the government to empower the interior ministry and judiciary in Sweida province -- their stronghold -- by appointing officials from the local population.

The statement followed deadly sectarian clashes this week between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, including government-affiliated groups, near Damascus.

At least 102 people were killed in Jaramana and Sahnaya, both near the capital, and in Sweida, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

A de-escalation deal was reached between Druze representatives and the government, prompting troop deployments in Sahnaya and tighter security around Jaramana on Thursday.

Syrian officials said the agreement included the immediate surrender of heavy weapons and an expanded General Security presence.

An AFP photographer saw troops gradually taking over checkpoints from Druze gunmen in Jaramana, though no handover of weapons was witnessed.

An explosion from the vicinity of the presidential palace was heard across the Syrian capital, an AFP correspondent reported.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said "warplanes attacked... the area near Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa's palace in Damascus", referring to Syria's interim president.



- 'Clear message' -



In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said it was a "clear message" to Syria's new rulers.

"We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," they said.

Ahmed, a 55-year-old who withheld his surname, said the blast woke up his family.

"Unfortunately, we have gotten used to explosions and Israeli strikes in Damascus. Curse them," he said.

Israel, which sees Syria's new rulers as jihadists, has attacked hundreds of military sites in its northern neighbour since Islamist-led forces deposed longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

Its army carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday and threatened to conduct more if the violence against the Druze continues.

The unrest was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous. AFP was unable to confirm its authenticity.

Syria's government accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the violence by attacking their forces.

But the Observatory and Druze residents said forces affiliated with the new authorities attacked Jaramana and Sahnaya and clashed with Druze gunmen.

"The situation is calm, but we are scared. Everyone is terrified. We have been through difficult days," Arij, a 35-year-old housewife, told AFP.

"Many Christians and Druze have fled to Damascus, but we are staying here. We have no alternative place."



- 'State and judiciary' -



Mohamad Halawa, a security official in Damascus province, said a security cordon was formed around Jaramana.

All residents would be "under the umbrella of the state and the judiciary", he added.

In Sweida, religious authorities and military factions confirmed after an extensive meeting that they are "an inseparable part of the united Syrian homeland", adding that they "reject division, separation, or secession".

The Observatory monitor said the Syrian government sent military reinforcements around the province.

The move came after Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader, condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his people, expressing his distrust towards the government.

Syria's new Islamist authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists within their ranks.

The violence involving the Druze follows massacres of people from the Alawite community in March, when the Observatory said security forces and allies killed more than 1,700 civilians.

It was the worst bloodshed since the overthrow of Assad, who is from the minority community.

The government accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence by attacking security forces, and has launched an inquiry.
Togo nationals captured with Russian forces on Ukraine front: govt



Lome, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



People from the small west African nation Togo have been "captured and detained" by Ukrainian armed forces after taking part "in military operations alongside Russian armed forces", Togolese authorities said Friday.

In a statement seen by AFP, Togo's foreign ministry said that the "majority of compatriots, in particular young students, had left Togo under alleged scholarships offered by structures claiming to be based in Russia".

The ministry called on citizens, "particularly young people who wish to pursue their studies abroad, to exercise utmost vigilance".

It "urges them to verify the authenticity of scholarship offers before making any commitment, and to contact the relevant departments or any other ministry concerned... to obtain reliable and secure information before any departure abroad, particularly to Russia".

In March, the Martin Luther King Movement (MMLK), Togo's leading human rights organisation, alerted the authorities to the case of a Togolese student captured on the battlefield and imprisoned in Ukraine.

"Having received his study visa at the Russian embassy in Cotonou, the compatriot left Togo for Russia on August 21, 2024," MMLK said in a statement.

"Arriving in Russia, he was forced to join the army to go to the front in Ukraine. It was there that he was seriously wounded, captured and thrown in prison," it said.

The press also reported in recent months several cases of African nationals, often students or former prisoners, notably from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Benin, fighting with Russian forces on the Ukrainian front.
UN chief condemns Israeli strike near Syria presidential palace



United Nations, United States, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned an Israeli air strike Friday near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus, calling on both sides to cease all hostilities and exercise "maximum restraint," his spokesman said.

The dawn strike, which Israel said had sent a "clear message" not to harm the country's Druze community, came after sectarian clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, including government-affiliated groups.

Guterres "condemns all violence against civilians, including acts which could risk inflaming sectarian tensions," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The secretary-general also "condemns Israel's violation of Syria's sovereignty, including the latest air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus."

"It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respects Syria's sovereignty, its unity, its territorial integrity and its independence," Dujarric said.

"The secretary-general unequivocally calls on all concerns to cease all hostilities, exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation."

Syria itself denounced the Damascus air strike as a "dangerous escalation."
Syria slams Israeli Damascus strike as 'dangerous escalation'



Damascus, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Syria's Islamist rulers on Friday denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel called it a "clear message" not to harm the Druze minority.

The dawn strike came hours after senior Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus and rejected any call for secession.

They also urged the authorities to appoint local officials to government posts in the Druze heartland in Sweida province.

Their statement followed sectarian clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, including government-affiliated groups.

The clashes killed more than 100 people in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus and in Sweida, war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Also Friday, an apparent drone strike killed four Druze fighters at a farm in Sweida, the Observatory said.

It was unclear who was behind the strike, but Syria's official SANA news agency insisted it was an Israeli attack.

Friday's early morning blast in the presidential palace area of Damascus was heard across the city, an AFP correspondent reported.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said "warplanes attacked... the area near Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa's palace in Damascus", referring to the interim president.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz called it a "clear message" to Syria's new rulers.

"We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," they said.

Syria's presidency called the strike "a dangerous escalation against state institutions", and accused Israel of destabilising the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli strike as a violation of Syria's sovereignty, his spokesman said.

The UN-mandated Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria expressed concern at the "deadly clashes with sectarian dimensions", and said Israeli air strikes increased the risk to civilians.

After this week's clashes a deal to de-escalate was agreed between Druze representatives and the government, prompting troop deployments in Sahnaya and tighter security around Jaramana.

Syrian officials said the agreement also included the immediate surrender of heavy weapons.

An AFP photographer saw troops taking over checkpoints from Druze gunmen in Jaramana, although no handover of weapons was witnessed.



- 'Outlaw groups' -



Qatar, a main backer of Syria's new rulers, and Saudi Arabia condemned Israel's "aggression", and a German foreign ministry statement said "Syria must not become the venue for regional tensions to be played out".

Israel has attacked hundreds of military sites since Islamist-led forces deposed longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

On Wednesday, Israel launched strikes near Damascus and threatened more if violence against the Druze continued.

The unrest inside Syria was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous. AFP was unable to confirm its authenticity.

Syria's government said "outlaw groups" were behind the violence, but the Observatory and Druze residents said forces affiliated with the new authorities attacked Jaramana and Sahnaya and clashed with Druze gunmen.

"The situation is calm, but we are scared. Everyone is terrified," 35-year-old housewife Arij told AFP, adding that many Christians and Druze "have fled to Damascus".



- 'Genocidal campaign' -



Mohamad Halawa, a security official in Damascus province, said there was now a security cordon around Jaramana where residents would be "under the umbrella of the state and the judiciary".

In Sweida, religious authorities and military factions said after a meeting that they are "an inseparable part of the united Syrian homeland", and rejected "division, separation or secession".

SANA said security forces were being sent to Sweida to "maintain security".

The move came after Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader, on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his people.

Syria's new Islamist authorities have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network. They have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with internal pressures from radical Islamists.

On Friday, Sharaa met Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who on Wednesday urged the minority community in Syria to reject "Israeli interference".

The latest violence follows massacres of Alawites in March, when the Observatory said the security forces and their allies killed more than 1,700 civilians.

It was the worst bloodshed since the overthrow of Assad, who is from the minority community.

The government accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence, and launched an inquiry.
US approves F-16 training, parts to Ukraine



Washington, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



President Donald Trump's administration on Friday approved a deal with Ukraine for training and equipment on F-16 jets, whose delivery former president Joe Biden green-lighted following Russia's invasion.

The State Department said it notified Congress that it has given the nod for a $310.5 million sale to Ukraine that will include equipment and services to maintain the aircraft.

"The proposed sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring its pilots are effectively trained and by increasing its interoperability with the United States," the State Department said in a statement.

The deal -- which Ukraine will pay for -- comes after Trump criticized the billions of dollars in military and economic support provided to Kyiv by Biden.

Trump's relationship with Ukraine has gradually improved, with the United States signing an agreement Wednesday for a joint fund on Kyiv's mineral wealth.

Ukraine received its first deliveries of F-16s in mid-2024 after two years of pushing Biden, who supported Kyiv but had been concerned that a lack of training would doom the fighter-jets.

Ukraine said last month that an F-16 pilot was killed in combat, the second loss on the planes since the delivery.

President Volodymyr Zelensky in March announced the delivery of a fresh batch of jets, without giving the exact number.
US approves $3.5 bn missile sale to Saudis



Washington, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



The United States on Friday approved a $3.5 billion sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia, ahead of a visit to the kingdom by President Donald Trump.

The State Department said it notified Congress of the deal that will include Saudi Arabia's purchase of 1,000 medium-range air-to-air missiles.

The AIM-120 missiles, whose principal contractor is RTX Corp. in Arizona, are a mainstay of a number of militaries around the world.

The missiles are guided by active radar after fired by pilots.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia followed by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on May 13 to 16 on the first foreign trip of his second term -- other than a brief trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

Trump has boasted of securing major commercial deals from oil-rich Saudi Arabia, which has also been a key go-between for the US diplomacy on Russia and Ukraine.
At least 27 dead in town taken by Sudan paramilitaries: monitor



Khartoum, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Sudanese paramilitary forces killed at least 27 civilians after taking a strategic town in central Sudan, a rights monitoring group said Friday.

The Emergency Lawyers group said the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), battling the army for more than two years in the country's devastating civil war, "arrested dozens of young people and executed more than 27, accusing them of collaborating with the army".

The toll could not be independently checked by AFP.

Emergency Lawyers said in a statement that the killings took place in En Nahud, a transit point in West Kordofan state used by the army to send troops to Darfur in western Sudan.

The group said the RSF had released prisoners from the town's prison, "provoking a situation of chaos and the collapse of public order".

The RSF said Friday that its forces had also taken El-Khoei, a town about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of En Nahud. Witnesses said army forces had withdrawn toward the North Kordofan state capital of El Obeid.

The war between the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has left tens of thousands of people dead and displaced 13 million.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Tensions between India and Pakistan may lead to serious changes in parts of Eurasia and the world as a whole, the adviser of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan, Zaur Mammadov, chairman of the Baku Club of Political Scientists, told Trend.

According to him, the presence of an external factor is also seen in what happened between the two countries.

Certain forces want to use both countries in their interests. It will also be interesting hereto see how the US and China will approach the issue. China and Pakistan are partners. The Chinese foreign minister's call to his Pakistani counterpart also shows that official Beijing is taking these issues seriously. China's strategic roads run close to the area where the attack took place. Protecting these roads and providing security is important to China. This also raises the possibility of China intervening in a possible war. On the other hand, the tension between the two countries is one of the factors affecting China's border security, Mammadov said.

He noted that the person now in power in India is anti-Muslim.

Narendra Modi is not noted for his unequivocal policy towards Islamic countries. This is also a very important factor. But we cannot expect a big war, Mammadov said.

The head of the Social Research Center's sector, Tural Ismayilov, told Trend that tensions between India and Pakistan carry very serious risks and dangers for the whole world.

It should be taken into account that both these countries have serious resources in terms of population, and at the same time Pakistan has great advantages over India on the world stage in terms of military-industrial complex products. In addition, these are two nuclear-armed countries. All this raises the fear that a potential war between India and Pakistan could cause great tension in the world.

Another point is that today, the Kashmir issue is also not properly addressed from the perspective of international law. There is no support for the resolution of this issue.

Ismayilov noted that India continues to show injustice towards Pakistan, as it has done at different times.

Because Pakistan is a country that suffers from terrorism. It always urges international unity, the fight against international terrorism. Yet there is no adequate response to these calls. India's attempt to blame Pakistan for the terrorist attack on tourists half an hour after it took place, without any investigation, shows that India is trying to further radicalize the image of Pakistan as an enemy ahead of the 2027 elections and use this to turn the situation into a war. In this context, the likelihood of any military clash between India and Pakistan should remain under the scrutiny of the world community, he emphasized.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has confirmed the closure of its office in Azerbaijan, a source at the UNDP told Trend.

"Herewith, I confirm the official closure of the office as of tomorrow," the source said.

13:11 (GMT+4)

Earlier, the UNDP office in Baku has declined to confirm or deny reports about the closure of its office.

According to a source within the organization, there is currently no official comment on the future of UNDPs operations in Azerbaijan. The organization did, however, note that if an official statement is issued, it will be published on the UNDP website.

On March 3, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, during a meeting with Gwi-Eop Son, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia at the UN Development Coordination Office, stated that from now on, Azerbaijans cooperation with certain UN bodies will be conducted at the level of their headquarters.

Given that Azerbaijan has transitioned from being a recipient of aid to a contributor to the global agenda, it was emphasized that cooperation with UN bodies such as UN-Habitat, the UN Environment Programme, the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and other relevant organizations will remain a priority. Further interaction with some UN bodies will take place at the level of their headquarters.
Get in touch with your airline right away if strike action causes your flight to be delayed or cancelled. When there are significant delays because of industrial action, airlines are required to provide assistance, such as food and drink or lodging.

Additionally, your airline must book you on the earliest flight that becomes available. Alternatively, you can cancel your flight and request a refund if the delay exceeds five hours.

If the strike is deemed to be something the airline could control, you may be eligible for compensation for flights that are completely cancelled. If this is the case, you will only be eligible for reimbursement if your airline notifies you that your flight has been cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure date.

Verify that you are covered by your travel insurance in the event of a strike. However, be advised that you will not be able to get strike insurance once the industrial action has been declared, even if no specific dates are provided.
Mr Skyers son David commented: To lose Dad in such a horrific incident has been devastating for all of us. We really want to make sure this doesnt happen again, so nobody else loses a much-loved father, grandfather and friend in such an awful way.
Her family are now trying to help her have the peaceful and dignified farewell she deserves by returning her to the UK so she can be buried surrounded by her relatives and loved ones.
It will be incredibly moving to see the VE Day procession and so many nations represented. It will remind us that these alliances still keep us safe today and why we stand by those who need our support.
The prince also reflected on wider tensions with members of the Royal Family, saying: Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book... for lots of things. But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family. Ive always... theres no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.
However, VE Day was also a day of mixed emotions. While it marked the end of fighting in Europe, it was also a moment of reflection and remembrance for those who had lost their lives during the conflict. It also served as a time to acknowledge that many British soldiers were still engaged in combat in the Pacific, as the war was not yet over worldwide.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV), To Lam, is set to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan,Trend reports, citing the Vietnamese government source.

The statement notes that To Lam, accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation, will carry out state visits to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus and will make an official visit to Russia from May 5 through 12.

The statement further reads that during his time in Russia, To Lam is scheduled to participate in the official ceremony in Moscow on May 9, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The court hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia accused of various crimes held at the Baku Military Court on Friday featured the testimonies of the victims, Trend reports.

In his testimony, victim Rafig Guliyev, resident of the Garadaghli village, highlighted multiple attacks launched by the Armenian armed forces on the village, including shelling of buses, torturing, and killing of Azerbaijanis.

We were told to get out of Karabakh and that it belonged to Armenians, he said.

According to the victim, Armenian soldiers captured him, along with his family members, namely mother and father, during the occupation of the Garadaghli village. He further noted that Armenians had put the captives, including him and his father, Alastan Guliyev, in the KAMAZ trucks and drove them to Khankendi. On the way to Khankendi, he continued, they have stopped at the place called Beylik baghi, killing a group of hostages there. Guliyev added that his father had later died in captivity as a result of tortures by the Armenian militants.

My mother has been handed over after 13 days, while I have been released after 45 days. While in captivity, we were beaten every evening. We were also given a scrap of bread and a little water to stay alive. However, the tortures continued, the victim said.

The trial for Armenian nationals accused of various crimes, including war crimes, terrorism, aggressive war preparation, genocide, violations of war laws, and financing terrorism, continues.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Joint practical sessions involving Azerbaijani and Turkish military seamen were held aboard the ships of the Naval Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

The Ship Training Unit of the Naval Training Center of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces and the "Yldzlar" training group of the Turkish Naval Training Center participated in the sessions.

The main purpose of the sessions was to exchange experience in the naval field between the two fraternal countries and to further improve the combat training of naval personnel.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday that the Bucharest Executive is ready to offer its help to the Israelis who are facing devastating fires.

"We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel facing devastating fires. The Romanian Government is ready to offer its help, if necessary. Our authorities are in contact with our Israeli colleagues," Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Thursday on his X page.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that rapidly spreading wildfires near Jerusalem could reach the city, AFP reported.

Israeli rescue services are on high alert after several devastating fires mainly west of Jerusalem, the largest in recent years, killed several people.
ST. LOUIS  Americas Center downtown will be turned into a massive health clinic next week, offering free medical, vision and dental care to whoever needs it, including those without insurance.

More than 1,800 health care professionals and volunteers will be able to care for up to 1,200 people a day, starting at 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday, organizers say. Care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and the clinic will close each day when capacity is reached.

Medical services that will be provided include primary care, cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, podiatry, womens health and even minor surgeries with local anesthesia.

Dental services include cleanings, fillings and extractions. And vision care includes eye exams and prescription glasses.

Other services will also be available such as physical therapy, massage, haircuts and clothing items. For more information, visit pathwaytohealth.org or call 844-545-8000.

We have the privilege of coming to your backyard and finding a way to be able to offer this free service without any co-pays, nothing. No I.D. required, and no insurance required, said Enno Mueller, communications director for the Pathway to Health event.

Patients can be seen for multiple things, he said. You can see the dentist, get a haircut, get glasses and a physical all in one day.

Pathway to Health is a humanitarian mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that dates back to 2014, when the first clinic was held in the San Francisco area by church members wanting to help their community, Mueller said.

A year later, Pathway to Health formed as an official nonprofit and the growing all-volunteer staff has since held eight large-scale clinics across the country, with a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, in cities such as Indianapolis and San Antonio.

St. Louis was chosen this year because the Seventh-day Adventist global conference, held every five years, will be held here in July, where a few thousand delegates from across the world will gather to elect church leaders and vote on issues.

The idea was why dont we come ahead of this internal meeting, where decisions are being made and elections are being done, and show a different face or an external face to the people of St. Louis, to share how the Seventh-day Adventist Church cares about people, Mueller said.

Putting on the event is a major undertaking, he said. Truckloads of medical equipment and portable drapes must be moved in to give patients privacy and dignity as they receive care. Organizers have also worked closely with Missouri Department of Health to ensure all providers are properly licensed.

In addition, Pathway to Healths medical director has made several prior visits to St. Louis, creating partnerships with local providers in order to ensure that patients have follow-up and continuous care in the community should they need it.

Attendees who need prescription eyeglasses will be able to pick them up at one of the nearly dozen Seventh-day Adventist churches around the St. Louis region after the event. The churches will also host several follow-up seminars on issues such as managing diabetes and cooking healthy.

We care about restoring dignity and showing respect to people, Mueller said. Health is something that regardless of who you are, what faith you have, what ethnicity, what gender  that everybody at some point in their life is concerned about. We saw that as an opportunity provide a service to everyone.
Aisha Sultan | Post-Dispatch Columnist and features writer Follow Aisha Sultan | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Will the real Anita Hagerman please stand up?

Hagerman, the orchestra director at John Burroughs School , occasionally freelances as a musician. Last month, she played the bass at a concert at East Central College in Union, Missouri. A few weeks later, she found pictures of that event on Facebook.

She was scanning through the photos when she noticed the groups bass player. She didnt remember any other bass players at the show. She zoomed in on the picture. The woman was wearing the same shirt Hagerman had worn. The bass looked like her own instrument. Her wedding ring was on the musicians hand.

It was her body, but not her face.

What happened here? she commented on the photo.

I had no idea if this was another humans face or a completely AI-generated face, she later told me.

Jon Bauer, an amateur photographer who shot the concert, also happens to be the president of the college. He takes photos of events on campus and uses Lightroom to adjust lighting or color. He was shocked when he saw Hagermans comment.

I didnt do anything to manipulate her image, he said. He said he felt terrible about it and had no idea how her face had morphed into someone elses. He immediately took the altered photo down, found the original and replaced it. He had used an AI eraser to remove a line in the background of the photo. He wonders if other elements in the photo were affected by that tool.

He said he has no idea how to swap or change a persons face in a photo.

I couldnt have done it if I had tried, he said. Im not that technologically advanced.

The issue was quickly resolved, but it raises larger questions about the unsuspecting ways AI has encroached on our lives. The experience highlights how fragile our sense of reality is right now. Several times, Ive seen people post stories on social media with the caveat not sure if this is true or not.

A family member shared in a group chat a convincing video of Oprah Winfreys voice weighing in on the suffering of the Palestinians. It was an AI-generated deepfake. More than half of the press releases and email pitches I receive read as if they were written by ChatGPT.

I attended an education conference a few years ago in which teachers talked about using AI to create assessments and to grade them, while students use AI to complete many assignments.

I wondered: Isnt it just the AI getting smarter in those classrooms?

Authors recently learned that millions of pirated books and scientific papers have been used by Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to train its generative AI model. The Atlantic reported that Meta accessed these works through LibGen  Library Genesis  to train its AI system, Llama, without permission from the creators of the works. Multiple authors have brought a lawsuit against Meta over the unauthorized use of their work.

Millions of others willingly handed over images of their faces as part of trends, such as posting AI-generated Barbie boxes or action figures of themselves. How many of these users knew that their images would be stored, used to train future models or possibly sold to third parties? Could their facial data also be used to create deepfakes, identity theft scams or impersonations in fake content?

TechCrunch reported that people have used ChatGPTs new image generator to create realistic, yet fake, restaurant receipts. A former Washington Post reporter shared that she found stories she had never written with her byline attached after WaPo announced a partnership with OpenAI.

In addition to the legal, creative and intellectual property issues created by burgeoning AI use, the environmental impact of the power needed to train AI models is extraordinary. AI models require a staggering amount of electricity. They also need vast amounts of water to cool their hardware. Professor Gina Neff of Queen Mary University of London told the BBC that the data centers used to power ChatGPT consume more electricity in a year than 117 countries.

The proliferation of AI has provoked multiple existential questions for humans.

Are we all stock photos now? Hagerman asked. She used to teach English and says the experience of discovering a fake version of yourself online is the very postmodern existence that all of literature has prepared us for.

Its this othering of what it means to be human, she said.
ST. LOUIS  A band of thieves breaking into cars near Carondelet Park early Friday fired shots that killed one of their accomplices, a 16-year-old boy, after a homeowner interrupted them, police said.

The resident apparently had fired a warning shot into the ground after spotting the group breaking into cars about 2:10 a.m. in the 6300 block of Vermont Avenue.

Police have made no arrests but believe the shot that killed the boy came from his friends  not from the homeowner.

Theyre on a mission to find guns, police spokesman Mitch McCoy said of the thieves. Theyre on a mission to get armed and commit other acts of violence in the entire region.

Police have been struggling with car thieves and break-ins for years. Carjackings have led police on high-speed chases that have, at times, turned deadly. And run-ins between homeowners and thieves, similar to the one described on Friday, have also gotten violent.

Two years ago, a Clayton man interrupted a group breaking into cars, and was shot and killed.

McCoy briefed reporters at police headquarters on Friday about the mornings incident.

The teen killed Friday lived in north St. Louis, police said. He was later identified as Aeyion Barnett. His accomplices dropped him off at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, then left. He died at Barnes.

McCoy said city detectives are working with agencies in St. Louis County because the group of thieves may have broken into cars in the suburbs earlier in the morning.

Its not clear, police said, how many people were in the group.

McCoy declined to comment on the person who interrupted the break-ins, who is now considered a witness. McCoy said he didnt want to put anyones life in danger by saying too much.

He said the account of the shooting could change as the investigators learn more, but early indications are that the boy was breaking into numerous cars.

At some point, the thieves were interrupted, McCoy said. The thieves fired multiple shots at someone, and their accomplice was hit.

At least six cars were broken into, McCoy said. He did not release a description of the vehicle the thieves were traveling in.

Police realize its frustrating for people to have their vehicle broken into, McCoy said. But your life is worth more than your property and he urged people to call 911 rather than try to intervene if they see a crime in progress.

In November 2023, a man in Clayton, 41-year-old Joshua Harris, was shot to death after interrupting people trying to break into his wifes car early one morning. Two teens  Darrion A. Johnson and Trenell J. Johnson  face murder charges in Harris death.

McCoy said city police are trying hard to catch thieves who break into cars. In March, a grand jury in St. Louis indicted 22-year-old Eugene Jamison III on more than 50 charges related to numerous car break-ins from late last year. Jamison broke windows, snatched purses from car seats and stole iPads, jewelry, a Nintendo Switch and multiple guns over the course of a month, court records say  all while on probation for similar charges.

But the troubles continue. Recently, residents have reported such bands of thieves driving their streets late at night.

About 2 a.m. one day in March, a 26-year-old man in the Tower Grove South neighborhood was watching TV near a front window and heard windows breaking outside. He peeked outside and saw an SUV with the lights turned off slowly creeping through the neighborhood, and three males trailing behind on the street or sidewalk.

The resident said he yelled out the window at them as they got ready to break into another car. They bolted away, and the resident kept yelling at them. He said they stopped and opened fire in his direction.

I saw the flash of the muzzle, said the resident, who asked not to be identified.

No one was hurt. He heard bullets hit the home, and found bullet holes in a neighbors home and some car windows.

He said next time he plans to take his car keys and hit the alarm button to scare them off.

Im going to get my head down beforehand, he added.
CLAYTON  A family here is suing McDonaldss after their son was severely burned by hot coffee, in circumstances nearly identical to a scalding spill that prompted a woman to file a now-famous lawsuit against the fast-food giant decades ago.

Katarina OReilly filed the suit this week on behalf of her minor son, who she said suffered second-degree burns on his legs and genitals in 2021.

Her attorney, Alex Wolff, said they hope to hold the company accountable.

Someone got really badly hurt and we want to figure out why it happened, he said.

Wolff said the boy, whose age was not disclosed, went with his father to pick up coffee for his mom before her work shift Dec. 5, 2021.

The two were in a McDonalds drive-thru, at 15204 Manchester Road in Ballwin, when an employee handed the boys father two hot coffees, Wolff said. He placed them in the cars cup holders and then took a drink caddy from the fast-food worker.

As the father and son were putting the coffees into the caddy, one of the drinks spilled, Wolff said. The lid popped off and hot liquid fell onto the boys lap, burning his legs and genitalia, he said.

The reason that this keeps happening is because these corporations make a calculus of how many incidents they can pay for and still make sure the coffee is hot, Wolff said. We look forward to finding out what McDonalds has to say about why their coffee needs to be served this hot and what happened with the lid.

The McDonalds press office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The suit blames the fast-food restaurant for serving too-hot coffee, not securing the lid and not training its employees properly. It asked for damages in excess of $25,000.

This lawsuit is similar to a well-known case against McDonalds dating back to the 1990s.

Stella Liebeck, 79, in 1992 suffered third-degree burns after she spilled hot coffee in her lap while sitting in a McDonalds drive-thru.

She underwent several skin graft surgeries and eventually sued the company. A jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages, but a judge ultimately reduced the award by more than 80%. After that, Liebeck and McDonalds reached a confidential settlement.

Her case became widely publicized and was often misrepresented as an example of frivolous lawsuits, with many people believing her burns were less serious and that she was driving when she spilled the coffee.

More recently, in May 2023, a jury found McDonalds at fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on a little girls leg and caused second-degree burns in Florida.

The McDonalds Corporation has been sued for personal injuries at least 29 times in St. Louis County since the 1980s, court records show.

In a similar case against another corporate giant, a delivery driver in March was awarded $50 million in a lawsuit after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled in his lap at a California drive-thru.

A Los Angeles County jury ruled in favor of Michael Garcia, who underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals after a large hot tea drink spilled on him on Feb. 8, 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. A cyberattack attributed to a Russian-linked cyber espionage group contradicts the spirit of allied relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, said Ramid Namazov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, Trend reports.

Speaking at a public hearing organized by the commission under the theme "Cyberattacks on Azerbaijans Media Resources," Namazov expressed regret over the incident.

"It is regrettable that a cyberattack carried out with a high degree of technical sophistication has been traced back to a cyber espionage group based in Russia. This runs counter to the specific provisions of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, and to the overall spirit of our bilateral relations," he said.

Previously, Namazov had noted that the attack on Azerbaijani media organizations was attributed to APT29, also known as Cozy Beara group with other aliases including Midnight Blizzard and the Dukes, and believed to be connected to Russian intelligence services.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ST. LOUIS  Aldermanic President Megan Green has renewed her efforts to stop the state takeover of the St. Louis police department, this time without support from city lawyers  or the citys new mayor.

Attorneys for Green filed a new lawsuit Friday in Cole County court, home to the state capital, largely reiterating claims she made in federal court two weeks ago: that the takeover plans abridge her rights to free expression, impose an illegal spending mandate, and violate multiple provisions of the state constitution. It asks a judge to declare the new law enabling the takeover invalid.

Unlike Greens last lawsuit, which was filed jointly with the city counselors office on the last day of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones administration, this one lacked an official endorsement from Mayor Cara Spencer, in week three of her tenure. Green said the city counselors office would not work with her this time.

It needs to be done, even if I have to go it alone, Green said in an interview Friday.

She said her attorneys, Chuck Hatfield of the Stinson law firm, and Brendan Roediger, director of St. Louis Universitys litigation clinic, are taking on the case pro bono. Roediger is representing Green in his personal capacity, not as a SLU employee.

Spencer said Green did not tell her about the lawsuit, and criticized the move in a statement Friday afternoon, noting that the first lawsuit Green filed contained technical errors that drew a judges rebuke.

While I continue to believe local voters should have control over local police departments, we have seen what rushing into lawsuits results in, Spencer said in a statement. President Megan Green may want to file a new lawsuit, but it would be better for the City to present a united front and give the City Counselors Office adequate time to fully develop the Citys case rather than taking another premature stab at it.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office did not respond to a request for comment.

The back-and-forth over the lawsuit marks the latest tension between two of the citys top officials. Theyve already been at odds on development policy and how to handle a city manager proposal. And nearly three weeks into the Spencer administration, they have yet to get on the same page on how the city should handle one of the biggest changes to the police department since City Hall took it over in 2013, 150 years after the first state takeover.

Both Spencer and Green have said they support local control, where the mayor and aldermen make policy for the department rather than a board largely picked by the governor.

But they have clashed on how exactly to fight the new takeover law approved in Jefferson City in March. Spencer expressed irritation after Green and the Jones administration filed the original lawsuit without involving her in the planning. And after a federal judge pointed out technical errors in the suit and ordered it dismissed, Spencer and Green couldnt agree on how to proceed with a new one.

Spencer said a week and a half ago that her team was weighing the merits of filing a sound suit in state court.

But Green, concerned about letting the takeover progress too far, said she planned to refile as soon as possible. And on Friday, she did.

She said the city needs clarity on the spending mandate as it considers its next budget, which takes effect in July. She said a board appointed by the states Republican governor could mean trouble for residents concerned about overpolicing, immigrants concerned about mass deportations, women seeking abortions and transgender people seeking health care.

Government needs to be stepping up to challenge unjust laws imposed on us, she said.
EDWARDSVILLE  Three years ago, Vy Nguyens college search was mostly centered around money.

College tuition would cost Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, two to three times more than domestic students. Shed have limited work or financial aid options to pay the tuition under the terms of her visa. And she didnt want to burden her family back home.

Nguyen said she considered universities in North Dakota and Florida. But they were expensive.

She eventually found a more affordable option in the St. Louis area.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is attracting international students like Nguyen to the Metro East by offering them significant scholarships to study there.

Theyre also offering them more money to stay.

Nguyen, now a third-year exercise science major, received as a freshman a Geographic Enhancement Opportunity award, which reduced her tuition costs by tens of thousands of dollars.

SIUE expanded the scholarship April 17. Now foreign-born students whove completed 24 credit hours at SIUE are eligible for in-state tuition  a discount seldom offered to students from foreign countries.

International recruitment has been a lifeline for U.S. universities as they navigate a nationwide enrollment crisis caused by a decline in birth rates and shifting attitudes toward the value of a college degree. Foreign students help pad declining enrollments and offset the rising costs of higher education because they typically pay full sticker price.

But that lifeline has been threatened in recent weeks. SIUE rolled out the in-state tuition scholarship after thousands of students in the U.S. abruptly lost their legal status.

Three undergraduate students at SIUE and six former graduate students still working in the U.S. lost their visas and legal status in early April. Their records were restored by April 28 as federal officials walked back the revocations following losses in court last week.

Still, immigration attorneys and education officials worry the headlines  and the Trump administrations subsequent effort to broaden its ability to strip students of status  would scare foreign students away from studying in the U.S.

Its sad, because a lot of universities and colleges around America are surviving in part based on the higher tuition that foreign students pay, said Brian Green, a Colorado immigration attorney whos representing one SIUE student in federal court.

But even before the Trump administrations crackdown, SIUE struggled with international student retention.

Recently, a large share of the international students who enrolled at SIUE as freshmen didnt stay past their first year.

SIUEs fall-to-fall retention rate of international students was only 36% over the last two academic years, compared to the schools overall retention rate of 76%.

Its also a marked difference from the statewide average of public colleges in Illinois, where international students had one of the highest rates of retention among student groups at 85%, the Illinois Board of Higher Education reports.

Students were primarily transferring to out-of-state community colleges, SIUE officials said. The most common destination was Dallas Community College in Texas, but they also go to St. Louis Community College and LaGuardia Community College in New York.

Though cost may have also been a factor in their decisions to transfer, school officials said in a statement that the new award, called GEO+, provides a significant reduction in tuition and will remain in place through graduation.

We hope the GEO+ award helps SIUE better retain the growing pool of international students who are enrolling as freshmen, allowing them to finish their studies in Edwardsville, university officials said in a statement.

The original scholarship was for first-time, full-time international undergraduates and valued at $10,374 per year. The expanded version is worth at least $14,000 a year and tailored for undergrads whove completed at least 24 credit hours at SIUE while earning C grades or higher.

SIUE estimated undergraduate tuition, fees, books, housing and transportation would cost international students around $40,300 next school year. The expanded scholarship represents a savings of about 35% of that cost.

There are 860 international students out of 11,893 students enrolled at SIUE this academic year.

Nguyen came to SIUE from Gateway Legacy Christian Academy, a boarding school in Florissant with a large international community.

The scholarship alleviated a lot of stress, she said, but finding a school with diversity was non-negotiable."

It was a very good choice, she said. Ive never regretted it.
JEFFERSON CITY  A plan to rejuvenate empty office buildings in downtown St. Louis is being held hostage by Missouri Republicans, who want to repeal the states new paid sick leave law.

House Speaker Jon Patterson Thursday said he is waiting for a repeal or compromise of the newly minted sick leave law before asking lawmakers to vote on a $50 million plan to subsidize the conversion of empty downtown office buildings into apartments.

The sick leave law, known as Proposition A, was approved by Missouri voters in November and went into effect Thursday despite ongoing GOP attempts to scuttle the plan.

The downtown proposal easily moved through the Senate earlier in the legislative session, but has sat idle in the House. Under the plan sponsored by Sen. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, developers would be able to recoup a portion of the cost of converting office buildings into other uses, including residential and retail.

In particular, the $50 million proposal could help buildings like the 44 story AT&T tower, which has been vacant since the company left in 2017. The 21-story Railway Exchange building has been mostly empty since 2013, when Macys left the space. Combined, the buildings have 2.6 million square feet available.

Patterson said he has toured the AT&T tower and supports the plan, but wants to see the sick leave changes put in place first.

Theres no point in trying to attract businesses when you are telling them with Prop A that it is going to be very difficult for you. You have these sick leave provisions that can lead to criminal penalties. Patterson told reporters Thursday.

Roberts said negotiations are underway. He said legislation often becomes part of a bargaining chip for larger issues.

As we get into these final weeks of session, a lot of bills get held up in both chambers. We welcome any conversation regarding Prop A, Roberts said Thursday.

Following Thursdays floor action, Rep. Travis Wilson, R-St. Charles, ducked into Roberts office. He is carrying a bill similar to Roberts that seeks to help jumpstart downtown development, but he did not offer any specifics on what the two would be discussing.

We are working hard to see what we can get done in the last couple of weeks, Wilson said.

Negotiators in the Senate have been unable to find a compromise on legislation seeking to repeal the sick leave provisions despite weeks of talks and the promise both sides were close.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the law approved by 57% of the voters was valid, putting more pressure on Republicans and Democrats to find a solution that makes the plan more friendly to business.

Senate President Cindy OLaughlin, R-Shelbina, who has threatened to upend the legislative session in order to repeal the law told reporters Thursday that both sides continue to talk.

Our side of the aisle has great concern about the burden that this would place on business, OLaughlin said. If were going to promote economic growth and jobs we need to be cognizant of that.

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-south St. Louis County, also wants to find a solution, but said the law going into effect Thursday means any changes would result in some workers losing access to the leave time they voted for.

Anything we do at this point would be taking something away from people, Beck said.

House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, vowed to oppose a repeal of the law.

Democrats will fight like hell over the next couple of weeks to make sure they get to keep it, Aune said. The anti-worker forces in the state just wont let it go.

To snatch away the legal right to earned sick leave at this point would be an extreme act of cruelty, not to mention pure disdain for voters, Aune said.

The building tax credit plan is Senate Bill 35 and House Bill 610.
An ironic side-note to Donald Trumps status as the most demonstrably dishonest president America has ever had (more than 30,000 verifiable lies during his first term, reports The Washington Post, with the pile now growing ever-larger in his second term) is his penchant for occasionally blurting the quiet part out loud.

Thats apparently what happened when Trump told an interviewer this week that I could return a migrant who was wrongly shipped to a Salvadoran prison, despite the administrations repeated claims in court that it is powerless in the matter.

Some Trump fans might cheer this rare outburst of honesty. But anyone not dwelling in the MAGA rabbit hole should see it for what it is: Trump is arrogantly telling off a court system that he and his people increasingly view as an irrelevant annoyance rather than a co-equal branch of government. This is the very definition of a constitutional crisis in the making.

The facts in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia have been so blatantly misrepresented by Trump and his administration that its necessary to lay them out yet again:

Abrego Garcia was sent to the U.S. from El Salvador as a teenager by his family to escape recruitment by that countrys violent gangs. He was undocumented but has worked with immigration officials for years, checking in with the courts, finding employment as a sheet metal worker, marrying an American woman and raising a son. He has never been charged with any crime in the U.S. or El Salvador.

Evidence was once introduced in a court hearing suggesting gang involvement, but it was disputed as unreliable, based on nothing but the fact that Abrego Garcia was seen wearing a Chicago Bulls cap. Another court explicitly ordered that Abrego Garcia could not be deported to El Salvador because of danger to his life from the gangs there.

None of this is in dispute. Nor is the fact that the administration erred in shipping Abrego Garcia to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison in March on the unproven claim he was a member of the violent MS-13 gang. He was deported with no hearing or other form of due process. The administration has since admitted in court that his deportation was an administrative error.

Yet when a federal judge and then the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Abrego Garcia returned to the U.S.  a reasonable order, given the admitted mistake  the administration claimed it was powerless to do so because he was in the custody of a foreign government.

That was always nonsense; Trump has touted his close working relationship with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has obediently toed the White House line on the issue. But at least, for a time, the obvious lie served to let the administration ignore the courts orders while pretending thats not what it was doing.

That all changed on Tuesday when, during an interview with ABC News, Trump admitted the obvious.

You could get him back, theres a phone on this desk, interviewer Terry Moran suggested.

I could, Mr. Trump replied.

He went on to claim  again, in defiance of any evidence  that Abrego Garcia is a violent gang member and that thats the reason he wont bring him back: Not because he cant, but because he wont. Court orders be damned, apparently.

Now that the president has admitted on national television that his administration is willfully defying the Supreme Court, will he or his legal team be held in contempt? Will congressional Republicans who are always waxing about law and order actually demand that this president adhere to it? Will there be any consequences at all?

Dont count on it. The current Republican-controlled Congress has displayed all the backbone of a mollusk when it comes to holding Trump to constitutional standards.

We predicted on this page months ago that Trump would eventually dispense completely with even the pretense of legal arguments and plainly say what he clearly believes: That he has the right and the authority to ignore the courts, thus shattering more than two centuries of constitutional balance of power.

His blithe I could this week was within a hairs width of that level of defiance. When he gets away with it, hell inevitably be encouraged toward even more brazen defiance next time. Make no mistake: This is what sliding toward a constitutional crisis looks like.
Its bad enough that less than six months after Missouri voters amended their state constitution to enshrine reproductive rights, the Legislature is now barreling toward creating a do-over referendum that would attempt to roll back those rights. As usual, our states politicians are shameless about trashing the expressed will of the public when it doesnt go the way they want.

And now we see that its actually worse than that.

The final version of the new measure  which only needs a Senate vote to put the question back on the ballot  offers some of the most cynical and deliberately misleading ballot language that voters will ever see.

How misleading is it? For any voters who arent already well-versed in the political debate over this issue in Jefferson City, the ballot language sought by the Legislatures ruling Republican supermajority will look like it expands abortion rights, when in fact it does exactly the opposite.

Missourians approved Amendment 3 last November, overturning the draconian, almost total abortion ban the Legislature had imposed in 2022 with the fall of Roe v. Wade. Amendment 3 guaranteed access to abortion services prior to fetal viability, the same standard that had stood for half a century under Roe.

The measure now nearing passage in Jefferson City would seek to overturn that amendment with a new one to once again outlaw abortion in Missouri.

Not that youd know that from reading the proposed ballot language, though.

Heres the question lawmakers want to put before the voters, from the text of the pending legislation:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

 Guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages;

 Ensure womens safety during abortions;

 Ensure parental consent for minors;

 Allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest;

 Require physicians to provide medically accurate information; and

 Protect children from gender transition?

Whats missing from this ballot question? A single, solitary mention of the fact that, if voters approve it, they will be outlawing most abortions in Missouri that are legal today.

Without that context, the reference to medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape and incest and the rest make it sound like abortion isnt currently legal in those instances (it is) and that this measure would add in those protections.

In truth, these are merely the narrow exceptions that the measure would offer to women seeking abortions, while outlawing them in all other cases. Which, again, goes unmentioned in the ballot language.

And the crass dishonesty here goes way beyond that omission. In fact, theres not a single element listed here that isnt already law in Missouri. Parental consent, prohibitions on minor gender transition and medical standards are already in place. Their inclusion here is nothing but ballot candy  popular issues designed to distract and confuse voters.

Heres a serious question that voters should be asking of the legislators who created this sleight-of-hand trickery: Why are they hesitant to offer ballot language that specifies what the proposed amendment would, you know, actually do?

Well even offer that language: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to outlaw all abortion services except in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and rape or incest for up to 12 weeks?

Not one other word is necessary to outline what this proposal seeks to accomplish. Its fair to ask why they arent just saying that.

Individual state legislators contact information is available at house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov.
Fort Campbell, Ky., Spc. Ryan J. Faubel pleaded guilty Monday, April 28, 2025, to negligent homicide in the death of Spc. Ivan Rios Segui, according to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Faubel admitted he sold Rios Segui fentanyl-laced Percocet, a prescription drug used to treat pain. The pills were determined to be the soldiers cause of death. (Samuel Shore/U.S. Army)



A Fort Campbell, Ky., soldier will spend a year in prison after pleading guilty to selling another soldier fentanyl-laced pills that led to his death of a drug overdose.

Spc. Ryan J. Faubel, 24, pleaded guilty Monday to negligent homicide in the death of Spc. Ivan Rios Segui, according to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, which prosecuted the case. He admitted he sold Rios Segui fentanyl-laced Percocet, a prescription drug used to treat pain. The pills were determined to be the soldiers cause of death on July 1, 2022.

Military Judge Lt. Col. Carrie Ward sentenced him to one year in prison, total forfeiture of pay and allowances and a bad conduct discharge.

Spc. Faubels plea takes responsibility for the tragic death that resulted from his actions and delivers justice in this case amid the nations ongoing fentanyl crisis, said Capt. Kirby Ammons, prosecutor for the 101st Airborne Division. This resolution marks an important first step in the healing process for Pfc. Rios-Seguis family and Spc. Faubel, while sending a clear message that those who distribute dangerous substances within our ranks will be held accountable.

Dan Higgins, Faubels attorney, said this case was about two soldiers who were failed by the substance abuse and behavioral health systems of the Army.

Two soldiers affected by mental health and substance abuse problems, two soldiers who sought the Armys help to address these problems and were not properly cared for, and as a result, one of these soldiers tragically passed away. Singling out Spc. Faubel as the sole scapegoat here fails to capture the complexity of this case, Higgins said.

The Army could honor Rios Seguis life by taking substance abuse more seriously, he said.

This tragedy was absolutely preventable, Higgins said.

As part of a plea agreement, the Army dropped charges against Faubel for possessing and distributing fentanyl on July 1, 2022, possessing and distributing cocaine on May 25, 2022, and involuntary manslaughter.

Faubel of Youngstown, Ohio, is in confinement at Fort Campbell until he is transferred to a military prison to serve his sentence, according to the special trial counsel.

Both soldiers served in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, but in different battalions.

Rios Segui, 25, was an infantryman who grew up in New Haven, Conn., and Puerto Rico, according to his obituary.

Fifteen soldiers died of a drug overdose at Fort Campbell between 2017 and 2021, according to the data. It was the second highest number of deaths at an Army installation.

During the five-year window of the data, 15,293 service members overdosed on drugs and alcohol, and 332 died. More than half of those who died had taken fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more potent than morphine, the report found.

Fentanyl, an approved pain medication being illegally produced and sold, is killing about 70,000 Americans each year, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increasingly, fentanyl is mixed with other illicit drugs or used to replace another drug entirely so that users are expecting something else.

Fatal drug overdoses among service members dropped 40% from 2021 to 2023, according to data released last month by the Pentagon.

This case again highlights the devastating consequences and significant risks of drug use by service members and members of the public, especially in a time when fentanyl has become an increasingly rampant and widespread danger, said Capt. Tyler Loontjer, an attorney with the Fourth Circuit of the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Situations such as the tragic death of Pfc. Rios Segui remind us that we all bear a duty of care and responsibility for the safety and well-being of ourselves and our fellow service members.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Army to reduce and restructure manned attack helicopter formations and augment them with inexpensive drone swarms, among other measures outlined in a memo issued April 30, 2025. (Justin Ashaw/U.S. Army)



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week ordered a broad restructuring of the U.S. Army that will trim the number of generals, merge headquarters commands and prioritize drone swarms needed to counter Chinas growing military.

Hegseth directed Army leaders in a memorandum Wednesday to streamline force structure and overcome parochial interests to rebuild the militarys largest branch.

To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems, Hegseth wrote.

The memo calls for the largest reorganization of the Army in many years, in part by shedding weapons and units that have long been part of its identity.

Top priorities also include improving long-range precision fire and building a Golden Dome program intended to serve as a missile defense shield for the homeland.

In a memorandum on April 30, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a broad restructuring of the Army. His directive calls for an improvement of long-range precision artillery fire. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)



Hegseths directive calls for big changes in how some fighting forces are organized. The service would reduce manned attack helicopter formations and augment those units with inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries.

The Army also would trim armor and other aviation units under the broad directive.

The service will be expected to increase its forward presence in the Indo-Pacific by expanding pre-positioned stocks, rotational deployments, and exercises with allies and partners to enhance strategic access, basing, and overflight, Hegseth said.

The focus is in line with the Pentagons push to prioritize missions in the Pacific to counter China. The memorandum did not mention how operations in Europe would be affected or whether rotational deployments to the Continent were expected to continue.

The Pentagon has stated that U.S. allies must carry the bulk of the security burden in Europe, freeing up the U.S. to do more in Asia.

The Army also will merge two four-star headquarters, Army Futures Command and the Training and Doctrine Command, into one.

Futures Command, launched in 2018, was intended to help the Army gain a better view of its long-term needs. The necessity of a separate command to handle issues that previously were part of TRADOCs mission was long debated in Army circles.

U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South will be combined into a single headquarters focused on homeland defense and partnership with Western Hemisphere allies, the memorandum stated.

Consolidating and realigning headquarters and units within Army Materiel Command, including the integration of the Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command, are also part of the directive.

Hegseth said the Army will reduce general officer positions in a manner that streamlines command structures for the warfighter. He didnt detail how many general officer slots will be abolished.

In the tactical realm, the Army should field long-range missiles capable of striking moving land and maritime targets by 2027, Hegseth said.

The service also will improve counter-drone capabilities and integrate them into maneuver platoons by 2026 and maneuver companies by 2027, he said.

Meanwhile, the Army should seek savings by canceling legacy systems, such as outdated manned aircraft and ground vehicles, the memorandum said.
Army Warrant Officer 1 Bobby Keen, an AH-64 Apache pilot, shows Vietnam veterans the inside of the helicopter on April 25, 2025, during a reunion of 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment troopers who served as pilots in Vietnam. The Vietnam veterans spent time with current members of their old unit, including Keen, which is now stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



SAVANNAH, Ga.  One by one, men in their 70s and 80s climbed up and entered the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter at Hunter Army Airfield, eliciting smiles and memories of their time piloting the choppers of their day over the battlefields of South Vietnam.

Its the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen, said Byron Jones, a former Army captain who led a platoon of OH-6 Cayuse scout helicopters in Vietnam. I wish theyd let me fly it.

Vietnam War OH-6 scout helicopter pilot Byron Jones climbs into an AH-64 Apache and talks with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patrick Scanlan on April 25, 2025, at Hunter Army Airfield during a reunion of 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment troopers who served in Vietnam. The Vietnam veterans spent time with current members of their old unit that is now stationed at Hunter in Savannah, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



At 85 years old, the climb up to the Apache was not easy for Bill Bailey, but the former UH-1 Huey pilot was determined to get a look inside the amazing, amazing machine, which today carries on the legacy of the air cavalry mission pilots such as Bailey and Jones forged during the Vietnam War.

The men were among a group of more than 30 Vietnam air cavalry veterans to visit a contemporary air cavalry unit last week at Hunter AAF in Savannah, Ga. That unit  the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, known as the Lighthorse squadron  is the modern-day iteration of the unit that Bailey, Jones and the other Vietnam veterans visiting Savannah served with in the 1960s and 1970s.

Most of the Vietnam veterans sported the white-grey Stetson cavalry hats, known as Silver Bellies, favored by their units in Vietnam, and which commanders of 3-17s Charlie Company still wear in an ode to their service. The men swapped old war stories and cracked jokes with each other like 20-something soldiers. They posed for photos with their camouflage-clad contemporaries and the Apaches and listened as the current Lighthorse soldiers explained how the air cavalry mission is conducted in modern times.

Vietnam War veterans who flew with the 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment speak with Army Capt. Genevieve McCormick, the commander of Charlie Company, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, next to an AH-64 Apache helicopter in a hangar at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., on April 25, 2025. The Vietnam veterans were visiting their old unit during a reunion for those who served in Vietnam. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



For many of the veterans, it marked a return to Hunter Army Airfield where they learned to fly the Apaches predecessor, the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter before shipping off to Vietnam.

The three-day reunion, the 32nd annual get together for the group, served as a chance to reconnect and reminisce about an event decades ago that bonded them for a lifetime, the veterans said.

Its necessary, said Patt Will, who flew Cobras in Vietnam for one year in 1969 and 1970. For me  I can talk about stuff that I cant talk about with anyone else, not even with my wife, because I dont think anybodys really going to understand.

Many of the men consider themselves lucky to have survived Vietnam, much less to have lived into their 70s and beyond. Most have near-death stories from flying missions over the Mekong Delta and other parts of southern Vietnam and into Cambodia.

For Will, 75, of Monticello, Ga., the first few months in Vietnam saw him flying Hueys. While he watched other pilots take repeated shots from enemy fire  many suffering multiple shoot downs  he managed to avoid taking any damage. When an opening came to fly Cobras, Will took it.

Piloting his Cobra in December 1969, Will thought his luck had finally run out. A single round cut through his front-seat canopy, missing the armored seats, tore through the helicopters command panel and struck his copilot, Warrant Officer 1 Gerald Niewenhous, in the abdomen, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and in tremendous pain.

I hear him yelling, Im hit. Im hit,  Will recalled, noting Niewenhous could not move his feet from the pedals which sent the Cobra into a spin at some 200 or 300 feet in the air. I figured I was going to be dead.

Will managed to wrest control of the chopper and flew it to safety, but Niewenhous died of his injuries.

That event and others in Vietnam left deep marks on Will, he said, and he thinks about his tour there every day. Events such as the reunion last week, he said, have proven therapeutic for him  especially after going some 20 years after leaving the Army without so much as mentioning his service because of the unpopularity in the United States of the Vietnam War.

The bottom line is, we were all brothers, Will said. Our mission in Vietnam was to watch everybodys ass and make sure those of us who could go home, could go home alive. That was our first mission. All the other missions were something that we trained for, but we learned how to do that and that bonded us for life.

The Air Cavalry

The Vietnam War saw the first tests of the Armys air cavalry concept with the 1965 deployment of the experimental 1st Squadron, 9th Air Cavalry. By the wars end, five squadrons would serve in Vietnam, including the 3-17.

The cavalry squadrons flew AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, UH-1 Hueys and OH-6 Cayuse light scout helicopters that were better known as Loaches, said Rex Gooch, who flew Hueys in Vietnam with the 3-17 and has authored two books about the unit and its soldiers experiences there.

The job of the Loach pilots was to fly low to the ground  as close as four or five feet from the surface  to scout out footprints, weapons, ammo boxes or any other evidence of enemy activity in the area, Gooch said. Meanwhile, the Cobra pilots flew overhead waiting for enemy contact. The Hueys were responsible for command and control and lifting troops in and out of battle.

When the Loaches took heavy fire, they would typically peel off and the Cobras, armed with rocket launchers and machine guns, would dive down at the enemies to destroy them.

This tactic was highly effective against the Viet Cong in the Mekong Delta, Gooch said.

Bailey of Fredericksburg, Va., was among the first troopers in1967 to arrive in South Vietnam with Delta Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 5th Air Cavalry, which would eventually become the unit known as Lighthorse  Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry.

Vietnam War UH-1 pilot Bill Bailey climbs up to look inside an a AH-64 Apache on April 25, 2025, during a reunion of 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment troopers who served in Vietnam. The Vietnam veterans spent time with current members of their old unit that is now stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



Like Will, Bailey suffered a close call early in his Vietnam tour. In July 1967, Bailey was piloting a UH-1 alongside his close friend Roger Fraser when they came upon American forces taking heavy casualties in a serious, serious firefight with enemy troops.

Bailey and Fraser maneuvered their helicopter to evacuate some of the pinned-down forces. After landing, the aircraft started taking heavy fire and Bailey suddenly felt his arm burning.

I thought maybe the crew chief had spilled cold water down my back or something, he recalled. My shoulders burning, my arms burning, and I had no idea I had been hit.

The bullet tore straight through Baileys shoulder, forcing Fraser to make the call to evacuate his friend  a decision that Bailey credits with saving his life.

Roger Fraser, who flew UH-1 Huey helicopters in Vietnam, signs a Vietnam-era helmet for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Skyler Vakery, an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot with the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, on April 25, 2025. Fraser was among a group of Vietnam War air cavalry pilots who visited with Vakerys unit at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



I just flew him to the hospital, Fraser, 83, said of the incident, which cemented the two mens tight bond that has remained close since their Vietnam days.

The pair said last week that they were thrilled to meet with the modern air cavalry soldiers who have taken up their legacy.

Its been tremendous, said Bailey, who went on to serve more than 20 years in the Army. For these youngsters to come and accept us old fellows and to understand that we paved the way for them, to recognize that and take an interest in that  its an awesome experience.

Carrying the baton

A self-described history buff, Army Capt. Larry Glover said he could not pass up the opportunity to spend time with the Vietnam veterans who once manned the unit in which he now serves.

A company commander in the 3-17, Glover said he spent his time with the Vietnam veterans trading war stories and comparing his time flying Apaches in Afghanistan with their experiences flying in Vietnam  especially as one of the few current troopers in the unit with combat experience. Glover had served a deployment to Afghanistan as an enlisted UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief before commissioning and returning to Afghanistan as a pilot in 2019 with the 10th Mountain Divisions 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment.

The first months of that tour were busy, which came as U.S. forces increased attacks on Taliban fighters to drive ongoing negotiations toward the withdrawal agreement the two sides ultimately struck in early 2020. The tactics used in those months were shaped largely by the experiences air cavalry officers faced in Vietnam, he said.

All the doctrine we have, they wrote it, Glover said. They wrote the fundamentals, the basics. They lived it.

The visit last week, he said, gave him a unique chance to pick their brains and understand their thought processes as they rooted out North Vietnamese and Vietcong fighters across South Vietnam five decades ago.

It gives a lot of insight into what we currently do and how we currently train, Glover said. Theres a reason for what our doctrine is, and its not written in black ink, its written in red blood.

The reunion came at a busy time for the current 3-17 troopers, who are in the middle of conducting aerial gunnery training as part of their preparations for a potential deployment. But the busy schedule did not halt dozens of 3-17 soldiers, pilots and enlisted soldiers, from participating in the reunion.

First Lt. Hayden Moelter, a platoon leader in the squadrons Charlie troop, said he would never forget his time with the group of Vietnam veterans.

Army Warrant Officer 1 Bobby Keen, an AH-64 Apache pilot, helps Rex Gooch, who flew UH-1 Huey helicopters in the Vietnam War, try on a modern helmet that Apache pilots wear at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., on April 24, 2025. Gooch was visiting the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment an Apache flying unit from the 3rd Infantry Divisions 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade  during a reunion of veterans who served in that unit during the Vietnam War. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



Moelter helped the Vietnam group plan the portions of their Savannah visit on Hunter, taking on an extra job even as he had to prepare his platoon for gunnery and for whatever mission comes next.

Although our operations did not cease, for all of us  the reunion was a perfect reminder to take a moment to reflect on our history and see how the present has developed from the past, he said.

The experience was humbling, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Skyler Vakery, who had the veterans sign a Vietnam-era Army helmet that he intends to add to his collection of military memorabilia and eventually build a museum.

It makes me extremely proud to wear the uniform, the Apache pilot said. I tell them, If it wasnt for you, I wouldnt be wearing it today. 

For Jim Burch, the visit with the current 3-17 served as a reminder that the Vietnam veterans legacy remains alive today. Burch, 76, of Huntsville, Ala., flew Cobras in Vietnam from January 1970 to January 1971 and ultimately served 31 years in the Army before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

These young guys are carrying the baton, he said. Im so impressed with them. And interestingly, they have the exact same attitude we did: Were going to get it done, and well do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Burch said he was thankful the Army gave him and his comrades the opportunity to meet with the current soldiers as well as a new chance to keep up with those he had served with in Vietnam.

Theres a camaraderie developed in battle almost all units have forged  these friendships are forged in steel and flames, right? So, we get together even though we live all over the country, when we come back together, we have a lot of fun with each other, he said. We all depended on each other. Thats what made us strong. We knew we could depend on that guy. You never had to ask, we just knew it was going to happen and thats something you cant fake and you cant, maybe, build anywhere other than in combat.
Sgt. Adrian Herrera, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, calibrates a C-100 drone for a test flight at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 20, 2025. The Army wants to incorporate more drones into combat units and put less emphasis on manned aircraft. (Jose Lora/U.S. Army)



The Army will cut 1,000 jobs from its main headquarters, shrink attack helicopter formations and lighten the load for infantry brigades, the services top leaders said in a message to the force this week.

A letter sent to Army commands Thursday details a series of changes to force structure in line with a directive issued the day before by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

This initiative will reexamine all requirements and eliminate unnecessary ones, ruthlessly prioritize fighting formations to directly contribute to lethality, and empower leaders at echelon to make hard calls to ensure resources align with strategic objectives, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll wrote in the joint letter.

A second round of initiatives will be announced in the coming months, the two Army leaders said.

Called the Army Transformation Initiative, the effort is part of a plan to prepare soldiers for a battlefield where drones and emerging technologies are expected to dominate.

Sensors and decoys are everywhere, the letter said. Dual-use technologies are continuously evolving and outpacing our processes to defeat them. To maintain our edge on the battlefield, our Army will transform to a leaner, more lethal force by adapting how we fight, train, organize, and buy equipment.

Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division fire artillery on Oahu, Hawaii, in 2020. The Army will convert all infantry brigade combat teams to mobile brigade combat teams, according to a letter sent to Army commands on May 1, 2025, following a directive issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Stephanie Sweeney/U.S. Army)



At the tactical level, that means incorporating more drones into combat unit formations and putting less emphasis on manned aircraft.

To that end, the Army will reduce one aerial cavalry squadron per aviation brigade in the active component, George and Driscoll said. It also will consolidate aviation sustainment requirements.

Ground units will be adapted as well. All infantry brigade combat teams will be converted to mobile brigade combat teams, resulting in a leaner formation, according to the letter.

We are trading weight for speed, and mass for decisive force, it said.

The letter didnt specify what the exact changes to brigade configurations would look like. However, trading weight and mass for speed means that such units are likely to have fewer tanks and other armored vehicles.

The changes center on organizing the Army to more effectively counter China in the Indo-Pacific, which is the Pentagons top priority. As part of the force structure overhaul, soldier rotations to the Pacific are expected to increase.

The Army leaders also reiterated some of the changes announced by Hegseth, including the merger of Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command into one headquarters.

That aligns force generation, force design, and force development under a single headquarters, the letter said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Army Forces Command will become Western Hemisphere Command through the consolidation of Army North and Army South.

Such moves will reduce the number of general officers, which has been a priority for Hegseth.

The Army remains committed to introducing new long-range missiles and modernized unmanned systems into formations, George and Driscoll said. The service also will field the M1E3 tank as planned.

In addition, the Army will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as older versions of the Apache helicopter and various tactical vehicles.

Yesterdays weapons will not win tomorrows wars, the leaders said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Foreigners in Azerbaijan also participated in the cyberattack on media organizations, the Chairman of the Temporary Commission of the Azerbaijani Parliament on Foreign Interventions and Hybrid Threats, Ramid Namazov said during a public discussion on the topic "Cyberattacks on Azerbaijan's Media Resources", Trend reports.

"In order to ensure the cybersecurity of the media resources that were attacked, appropriate steps were immediately taken by the relevant agencies. Interestingly, during the subsequent period, that is, after the relevant support was provided, cyberattack attempts on restored internet information resources continued, but were prevented.

The IP (internet protocol) addresses and domains used during the attack, as well as all the group's connections, were identified. It should be noted that the attacks were also supported by domestic IPs, and it was determined that some of the individuals participating in the cyberattack were on the territory of our country, and even which hotel they were in. We are talking about foreigners. This is an indication that this is not an ordinary cyberattack," he added.

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Maj. Zachary Sessa, an F-35C Lightning II pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, was recently named Marine Aviator of the Year for leading the aircraft's first combat sorties in Yemen. (U.S. Marine Corps)



Maj. Zachary Sessa didnt expect to fly combat missions when he deployed last summer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with the Marine Corps first F-35C Lightning II squadron.

But on Nov. 9 and 10, Sessa led the stealth fighters first combat sorties, targeting Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen. The Iranian-backed group had been attacking military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Sessas role in the mission earned him the Alfred A. Cunningham Award, named for the Marines first aviator, and the title of Marine Aviator of the Year, according to an April 23 news release from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

His unit  Fighter Attack Squadron 314, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.  was also named Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year.

It was embarked with Carrier Air Wing 9 aboard the Abraham Lincoln between July 11 and Dec. 14.

Maj. Zachary Sessa, an F-35C Lightning II pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, was recently named Marine Aviator of the Year for leading the aircraft's first combat sorties in Yemen. (U.S. Marine Corps)



After leaving its homeport, the carrier was informed it would operate in the 5th Fleets area of responsibility, Sessa told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. The fleet oversees operations in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

That was when the possibility of combat operations certainly came to the table, he said from Yuma, Ariz., where he is now an F-35 instructor pilot.

This wasnt my first deployment in an F-35, he said, but it was my first flying combat sorties, so it was a challenging experience to learn a completely different [area of responsibility].

Sessa, 33, of Butler, Pa., also served as the Marines first F-35C weapons and tactics instructor during the deployment, according to the release.

The F-35C, used by both the Navy and Marine Corps, is a long-range, carrier-capable strike fighter, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Sessa said he flew the combat missions at night, which required changes to his sleep schedule to stay alert.

A lot of these challenges were things that I was familiar with from a previous deployment that I hadnt even really thought about, he said. But as we started executing these operations, they became increasingly important because fatigue certainly sets in.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Davis, the 314ths commander during the deployment, credited Sessa with the squadrons success.

Maj. Sessas integral role in unprecedented combat strikes and his contribution to mission success is a testament to his leadership, experience, and proficiency, forever etched in Black Knight history, Davis told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday.

An F-35C Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in November 2024. (U.S. Navy)



A third-generation aviator, Sessa comes from a family of pilots. His father, retired Pennsylvania National Guard Capt. Michael Sessa, flew the A-7D Corsair attack plane. His grandfather, retired Marine Ron Sessa, later became a commercial pilot.

My grandfather owned a little plane for a while, and I remember I was probably 9 or 10 going out there and flying around with my dad and grandfather, Zachary Sessa said.

He said an internship at the Pentagon while attending the College of Wooster in Ohio helped him decide to serve. He was commissioned in March 2015.

During the deployment, Sessa said he helped train six F-35 section leads, three division leads, two air combat maneuvering instructors, one Lightning tactics instructor, two low-altitude tactics instructors and one F-35 mission commander.

Its not just a couple pilots out there flying an F-35, he said. There is a massive network of assets and efforts that [are] taking place to allow these sorties to occur.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan tours HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, April 30, 2025. (U.S. Navy)



Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited South Korea as part of his first international tour since taking office, meeting with senior officials and touring two of the countrys largest shipyards.

Phelan met Wednesday with acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Adm. Yang Yong-mo, the South Korean navys chief of staff. The meetings focused on strengthening U.S.-South Korea-Japan defense cooperation, the Navy said in a news release that day.

Han, who announced his resignation Thursday, also discussed enhanced collaboration in high-end technology and shipbuilding and addressed concerns over increased aggression from China, according to the release.

Han is widely expected to run in the June presidential election following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in December. Yoon was dismissed from office after a failed attempt to impose martial law.

Phelan, a vocal advocate for expanding U.S. shipbuilding capacity, has expressed interest in joint ventures with allies. His itinerary included visits to two of South Koreas top shipbuilders, Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

During a stop in Japan ahead of his South Korea visit, Phelan described the Souths shipyards as very, very efficient.

Im eager to kind of see how they are set up and see if there are any ideas we can take from them and pass on to our colleagues in America, he told Stars and Stripes on April 28 at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.

In South Korea, Phelan said cooperation with local shipyards is critical for keeping U.S. naval assets operational in the Indo-Pacific.

Leveraging the expertise of these highly capable shipyards enables timely maintenance and repairs for our vessels to operate at peak performance, he said in Wednesdays release.

Hanwha recently completed repairs on the dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra  the first Military Sealift Command vessel repaired in South Korea, according to the Navy. The replenishment oiler USNS Yukon is also undergoing maintenance there.

HD Hyundai recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest U.S. shipbuilder, to explore joint efforts in accelerating defense and commercial ship production, according to an April 7 news release from Huntington Ingalls.

Phelan began his trip Monday in Japan, where he toured Japan Marine Uniteds Isogo Works shipyard in Yokohama and met with senior Japanese officials, including Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.
Participants gathered for a group photo during the Polaris Lynx exercise in South Korea, May 1, 2025. (South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff)



U.S. Space Forces Korea recently participated in its first space-defense tabletop exercise alongside South Korean government and military space experts, including representatives from the Ministry of National Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Polaris Lynx brought together 40 participants to simulate responses to threats targeting satellites, according to a Friday news release from the Joint Chiefs.

Scenarios included enemies jamming the GPS system and threatening satellites with close-up maneuvers, the release said. It also incorporated elements from recent global events and considered the strategic and diplomatic implications of defensive space operations.

The exercise featured an in-depth discussion on mutual defense capabilities development against hostile spatial threats, according to the release.

Polaris Lynx was a fantastic success story, bringing together the US and [South Korea] for an effective table-top exercise, focusing primarily on the improvement of command and control within the Space Domain, Air Force Maj. Rachel Buitrago, a spokeswoman for U.S. Space Forces Korea, said in an email Friday.

The exercise enhanced the allies combined ability to respond to threats in space and demonstrated the Space Force role in USFK, she said.

The event comes amid growing concerns over space security in the region. North Korea has continued attempts to expand its satellite fleet, which includes three now in orbit. The country failed three times last year and twice in 2023 to launch additional satellites.

South Korea, by contrast, has successfully launched four military surveillance satellites, most recently on April 22 aboard a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

U.S. Space Forces Korea, established in December 2022, plays a key role in monitoring North Korean missile activity, including tracking and identifying launches using surveillance satellites. In March 2023, the units first commander, Lt. Col. Joshua McCullion, outlined its mission to identify missiles during their preparation phase.

In addition to Polaris Lynx, Space Forces Korea has taken part in other joint exercises on the peninsula, including the large-scale Freedom Shield drills.

Polaris Lynx stemmed from a November meeting of the Space Cooperation Working Group in Washington, D.C., where officials from the U.S. and South Korea agreed to hold joint counter-space threat training.

South Korean agencies participating included the Joint Chiefs and other military officials, experts from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea AeroSpace Administration, Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

Observers included South Koreas Agency for Defense Development and U.S. Forces Korea.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoojin Lee contributed to this report.
Crew members aboard a South Korean frigate prepare to depart for a naval exercise on April 28, 2025. (South Korean navy)



The South Korean navy concluded a four-day maritime exercise designed to bolster combat readiness and uplift the will to fight for victory, as North Korea tested weapons on its newly launched destroyer.

The drills, held April 28 through Thursday, took place in the East Sea  also known as the Sea of Japan  and in the East China Sea. Approximately 20 warships and 10 aircraft were involved, according to a South Korean navy news release Friday.

The exercise featured realistic training in anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft warfare, as well as responses to drone threats and maritime interdiction operations, the navy said.

Three frigates, a minelayer, a logistics support vessel, patrol boats and speed boats took part, along with a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and Lynx helicopters, according to the release.

The drills were led by the South Korean navys 2nd and 3rd fleets, which focused on building operational readiness in their respective theaters and preparing for various naval threats, the service said.

South Koreas coast guard and maritime special operations forces also participated in what the navy described as a comprehensive readiness demonstration.

Through this exercise, all crew members could acquire combat readiness to quickly and accurately respond to threats in real combat, Cmdr. Im Hyun-sik of the frigate ROKS Gyeongnam said in the release.

Meanwhile, North Korea test-fired a range of weapons aboard its new destroyer, the Choe Hyon, on April 28 and 29 following the ships launch at Nampho Shipyard, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The vessel reportedly fired a supersonic cruise missile, a strategic cruise missile, an anti-aircraft missile, and a 127 mm automatic naval gun.

Despite the high-profile display, the North Korean destroyer likely requires a considerable amount of time before its ready to deploy, according to a report Friday by the Yonhap News Agency.

When looking at its weapons and equipment, there is a possibility that [the North] received technological or financial help from Russia, Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in the report.
Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda, right, reads a protest letter to Ambassador Manabu Miyagawa, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Liaison Office, at the prefectures office in Naha, May 2, 2025. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)



NAHA CITY, Okinawa  Okinawas prefectural government lodged formal protests Friday with Japanese and U.S. authorities following a Marines indictment in an alleged sexual assault  the fourth such case involving American service members on the island in the past year.

Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda delivered protest letters signed by Gov. Denny Tamaki to Shinya Ito, director of the Okinawa Defense Bureau, and Ambassador Manabu Miyagawa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Liaison Office. Ikeda, Ito and Miyagawa made statements but did not take questions from reporters.

Later in the day, Ikeda presented a similar letter to Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford, commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, and U.S. Consul General Andrew Ou during a meeting at Camp Foster, a spokeswoman for the prefectures Military Base Affairs Division said by phone Friday.

It is customary for Japanese government officials to speak to the media only on the condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for the command, Marine 1st Lt. Grant Hoel, confirmed the meeting took place but declined further comment by phone Friday.

The protests were spurred by Wednesdays indictment of Marine Pfc. Austin R. Wedington on charges of sexually assaulting a Japanese woman on Foster in March and injuring another woman who tried to intervene. The first woman is a civilian employee on a U.S. base, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported April 24.

Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda, right, speaks with Ambassador Manabu Miyagawa (green shirt), of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Liaison Office, and Shinya Ito, director of the Okinawa Defense Bureau, after delivering a protest letter at the prefectures office in Naha, May 2, 2025. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)



Copies of both letters were distributed to reporters following the morning meeting in Naha.

The letter to U.S. officials demands a review of military training and educational programs, enhanced disciplinary measures, implementation of further preventative steps, protection for base employees, and compensation for the victims.

This incident has had a tremendous impact on [Japanese employees], questioning whether they can go to work safely, Ikeda said.

Roughly 9,000 Japanese are employed at American bases on Okinawa.

Fridays protest is the latest in a series of official objections raised by Japanese authorities since June. Prior efforts included petitions from governors across Japan, meetings with U.S. diplomats, and direct communications from Tamaki to U.S. commanders.

On Wednesday, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi conveyed strong regret over Wedingtons indictment to U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass in Tokyo, Miyagawa said. Glass also met with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Monday, according to a post on the ministrys official X account.

Three other sexual assault cases involving U.S. service members have been handled by Okinawa courts in the past year.

In December, Air Force Senior Airman Brennon R.E. Washington was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor. He is appealing his five-year prison sentence. Two other Marines are awaiting trial in separate cases of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.

In response to rising concerns, U.S. Forces Japan in October implemented liberty restrictions prohibiting troops from visiting off-base drinking establishments between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

The repeated occurrence of sexual assaults by service members not only casts strong doubts on the effectiveness of these measures but also raises serious questions about the state of discipline within the U.S. military on Okinawa, Fridays letters stated.

The first formal forum for cooperation between the U.S. military and Okinawan leaders is slated for May 9 at Foster, according to an unsigned statement from USFJ on Friday.
Rachel Jacobson, then-assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, talks about school lunch with one of the students at Ansbach Elementary School in Katterbach, Germany, on Feb. 21, 2024. Elevated levels of lead were recently discovered in the water at four sinks at the school. (Jonathan Bell/U.S. Army)



GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  An Army garrison in Bavaria is replacing faucets at a Defense Department school after four sinks there registered elevated lead levels.

The readings were taken at Ansbach Elementary School on Katterbach Kaserne in early April during annual water quality tests, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach spokesman Nathan Van Schaik said Friday.

Lead was not found in any of the schools designated drinking fountains or bottle-filling stations, which are equipped with high-quality filters, Van Schaik said. The school notified parents Wednesday.

If lead is found at any water outlet at levels above 10 parts per billion (0.01 milligrams per liter), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends taking action to reduce the lead, Van Schaik said.

The elevated levels were found in rooms 16A, 35A, 46A, and 109C, Van Schaik said. The respective readings were 0.05, 0.026, 0.017 and 0.026 milligrams per liter. Information on whether those rooms are used for classes wasnt available Friday.

Results of the testing came back April 24, Van Schaik said, and base commander Col. Aaron Southard issued a memo to the community Tuesday.

The base posted no drinking signs at all sinks until further testing could be done, Southard wrote in the memo.

It also started replacing faucets in the affected rooms and at the school at large. Follow-up testing on all school sinks and drinking fountains is scheduled for Saturday.

Three family housing units at Katterbach also registered lead levels above the EPA threshold and had their kitchen faucets replaced, Van Schaik said.

Lead usually enters the water system when lead plumbing materials corrode, the EPA website states. It is seen mostly in the U.S. in older cities and homes.

Ansbach Elementary opened in 1986 and accommodates students through fifth grade.

Testing on base takes place in family housing areas and places with children under age 6 at least once within a five-year cycle, Van Schaik said. Sampling takes place at the school annually.

The EPA has a maximum contaminant level goal of zero for lead in drinking water because the substance is toxic to humans, and particularly to children.
Marc and Debra Tice, the parents of Austin Tice, speak during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, in December 2018. (Bilal Hussein/AP)



The U.S. government had specific knowledge of the whereabouts of journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria in 2012, for more than a decade, his mother said on Thursday, suggesting that more could have been done to recover the former Marine than was achieved under three administrations.

Debra Tice said her conclusion  including her belief that Austin Tices location was known up to the time of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assads ouster late last year  was based on extensive intelligence records the Trump administration recently permitted her to access. She said the effort to find her son was now much more difficult because, she believed, he had been moved around the time of the Assad regimes sudden collapse at the hands of rebel forces.

The effort to find him is now a real challenge, because for 12 years, our government knew exactly where Austin was, and we had an opportunity to bring him home, she said in remarks at the National Press Club ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

I can tell you that finding so much truth after so much untruth was exceedingly painful, Debra Tice said in a conversation with The Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray.

Austin Tice was a freelance writer contributing coverage of Syrias civil war to outlets including The Post when he was abducted on Aug. 14, 2012, at age 31. On the 10th anniversary of his abduction in 2022, the Biden administration said it had certainty he was being held by the Syrian regime, a claim Damascus denied.

Numerous U.S. officials have said that the years-long effort to find and recover Tice never yielded reliable information about his location. Only fleeting evidence of his status emerged early in his captivity. One former official with knowledge of his case, who like other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive diplomatic and intelligence effort, said the U.S. government had not been able to credibly determine Tices whereabouts for at least a decade.

Hope surged following Assads sudden flight to Russia last year, after which thousands of detainees began to pour out of regime prisons, and U.S. officials hoped Tice might be tracked down. In December, President Joe Biden reiterated his administrations belief that Tice was still alive and vowed his recovery was a top priority as Washington responded to the dramatic events in Syria.

Bidens hostage envoy traveled to Damascus that same month, and Syrias new government  headed by the former Islamist militant leader Ahmed al-Sharaa  offered to help, but so far no conclusive information on his whereabouts has surfaced. Debra Tice held talks with Sharaa during a visit to Damascus in January.

President Donald Trump meanwhile has said the search would continue during his second term.

Theres been virtually no sign  of Austin, Trump said in March. You know, a lot of bad things happen, but  until we find out something definitive one way or the other, we will never stop looking for him.

According to people familiar with the matter, the CIA recently updated its assessment on Tices status from low confidence that he was alive to low confidence that he was deceased.

Debra Tice said she hoped Trump would intensify efforts to partner with U.S. allies in the Middle East that might be able to help locate and bring home her son, who she maintains is still alive.

She said the prison where her son was held before Assads ouster was known to at least some in the U.S. government, but suggested the information may not have been shared effectively.

Karen DeYoung contributed to this report.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman sails in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on April 4, 2025. (U.S. Navy)



WASHINGTON  The USS Harry S. Truman was ordered to stay in the Red Sea for another week, extending its deployment to continue fighting Houthi attacks, a U.S. defense official confirmed Friday.

The order for the aircraft carrier strike group to remain in the Middle East was handed down Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The one-week extension will keep two carriers in the region for now. The San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson, which was operating in the Pacific, was ordered to sail to the Middle East, extending its deployment by three months.

The Truman has been deployed for more than seven months, departing Sept. 23, 2024, from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The ship entered the Red Sea on Dec. 14 to defend against Houthi militant threats to shipping in the strategic waterway.

The Truman and its strike group have been part of American forces striking more than 1,000 Houthi targets in Yemen as part of a campaign that began in March to stop attacks by the militants on the shipping lanes of the Red Sea. Since March 15, strikes conducted by U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, have killed Houthi fighters and leaders and degraded their capabilities, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday in a statement to mark the first 100 days of the Defense Department during President Donald Trumps second administration.

Adm. Jim Kilby, the acting chief of naval operations, briefly touted the Trumans success in the Red Sea during a keynote speech this week at the Modern Day Marine expo in Washington D.C.

The Harry S. Truman strike group has been crushing it  crushing it. I want to make sure when they come back, they feel that pride in their work, Kilby said as he appeared to struggle to withhold tears.

The aircraft carrier has made other headlines in recent months for its involvement in three incidents  the loss of two fighter jets and a collision with a merchant ship.

A sailor was injured this week when a fighter jet and a towing tractor on the Truman fell overboard. Officials have said the crew lost control of the F/A-18E Super Hornet as the aircraft carrier made a hard turn while the jet was being towed in the hangar bay.

Additionally, two Navy aviators had to be rescued in December after the fighter jet that they were flying was shot down in an apparent friendly fire incident. The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the Truman strike group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18 Super Hornet as it was flying off the carrier. The jet was responding to incoming one-way aerial attack drones and anti-ship cruise missiles threatening U.S. forces in the Red Sea.

The Truman and merchant ship collided Feb. 12 while operating near Egypts Port Said. The carrier sustained damage to a line handling space, its fantail and a platform above a storage space. The exterior walls of two storage rooms and a maintenance space also were included in initial damage assessments.

Repairs and a thorough evaluation of Trumans hull, which was penetrated well above the waterline on its right back end, required a week stay at Souda Bay. Those repairs included removing damaged pieces of metal and installing weatherproofing bulkheads, which are interior vertical walls that form compartments in a ship.

The incidents are being investigated, and the ships commanding officer, Capt. Dave Snowden, was fired a little more than one week after the cargo ship collision.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Amendments to national legislation are being proposed to enhance the protection of independent Azerbaijani media organizations from cyberattacks, said Ramid Namazov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, Trend reports.

Speaking at a public hearing titled "Cyberattacks on Azerbaijans Media Resources," Namazov emphasized that while state-affiliated media resources already benefit from protective mechanisms, similar frameworks must also be extended to independent entities.

"Media outlets in Azerbaijan should be involved in cybersecurity training programs coordinated through the Media Development Agency. Even the smallest misstep can lead to serious issues. Media representatives must be familiar with cybersecurity protocols.

It is possibleand necessaryto amend legislation to ensure independent media outlets are protected against cyber threats. These organizations also play a critical role in the countrys development and must be supported through legal means," he concluded.

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The Pentagon is seen in October 2021. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)



The Republican leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees were critical of top-line defense spending proposals outlined by President Donald Trumps administration on Friday, describing the spending plan as too small of an investment in the military.

The fiscal 2026 budget outline  known as a skinny budget  released by the White Houses Office of Management and Budget touts a $1 trillion defense budget, which has been foreshadowed recently in comments by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But top Republicans on Friday said the actual budget documents only indicate a plan to fund national defense at $892.6 billion, roughly in line with recent defense budgets under former President Joe Biden.

President Trump successfully campaigned on a peace through strength agenda, but his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget were apparently not listening, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. For the defense budget, OMB has requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms.

The White House proposal did not outline specifically how much of the budget was slated for the Pentagon. National defense spending proposals typically include the Pentagons funding requests as well as money requested by other national security agencies, including certain nuclear programs run by the Department of Energy.

OMB Director Russell Vought indicated the $1 trillion defense budget would include a separate funding package under consideration now in Congress that would provide the Pentagon about $150 billion to invest in shipbuilding, a layered missile defense shield and other defense priorities. Republicans are pushing that bill through Congress using the reconciliation process, which will allow them to bypass Democratic opposition and pass the legislation with a simple majority vote.

But Wicker and other Republicans blasted the Trump administration for including those funds in its $1 trillion proposal. Wicker said he would work to increase Pentagon spending for 2026 over the White House proposal.

This budget would decrease President Trumps military options and his negotiating leverage, Wicker said in his statement. We face an axis of aggressors led by the Chinese Communist Party, who have already started a trade war rather than negotiate in good faith. We need a real peace through strength agenda to ensure [Chinas President] Xi Jinping does not launch a military war against us in Asia, beyond his existing military support to the Russians, the Iranians, Hamas, and the Houthis.

The House Armed Services Committees chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., also pledged to find ways to increase military spending over the skinny budget proposal. He wrote in a statement that he was concerned the U.S. defense industrial base could not handle the challenge of a prolonged conflict with a near-peer adversary after years of flat Pentagon budgets and a full-year continuing resolution for fiscal 2025.

This all stems from chronic underinvestment in our national security, which is being driven by OMB bureaucrats, Rogers said. We are currently at the lowest level of defense spending as a percentage of GDP since before World War II. That is no longer sustainable in the threat environment we face.

Other Republican senators also expressed concerns about the defense spending level, including Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

McConnell called the inclusion of the proposed supplemental funds in the White House budget a gimmick. Collins charged the budget proposal was late and lacking needed detail.

Based on my initial review, however, I have serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding given the security challenges we face, she wrote. ... Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse.

The White House proposal also showed dramatic cuts to non-defense federal spending. Trump wants to cut non-defense spending by about $163 billion in fiscal 2026 with cuts to almost all the federal departments. The Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Defense would see slight funding increases under the proposal.

The skinny budget release indicates the Pentagon intends to provide a 3.8% boost to pay for service members, fund Trumps proposed Golden Dome homeland missile defense program, increase spending on shipbuilding infrastructure and projects, continue efforts to modernize nuclear weapons programs, and move forward with the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance program to build a sixth-generation fighter jet.

The budget information released does not indicate how much funding the Pentagon will propose for any of those or other individual projects.

It was not clear Friday when the White House would release its full fiscal 2026 budget proposal. Officials at the Pentagon deferred comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
President Donald Trump talks with dignitaries after speaking at the World War I armistice centennial ceremony Nov. 11, 2018, at Suresnes American Cemetery on the outskirts of Paris. Trump said May 1, 2025, that he wants to change the name Veterans Day, which the U.S. observes on Nov. 11, to Victory Day for World War I." (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)



President Donald Trump wants to change the name of Veterans Day to Victory Day for World War I, saying it would better highlight American military achievement.

In a late-night post Thursday on Truth Social, Trump also said he would make May 8 Victory Day for World War II. The war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945, and on Sept. 2 that same year in the Pacific.

We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything, Trump said. Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!

Trump did not say whether he intends to designate May 8 as a new federal holiday, which would require approval by Congress.

Veterans Day, celebrated on Nov. 11, was established in 1938 as Armistice Day.

It was broadened in 1954 to honor Americans who fought in World War II and the Korean War. Congress that year passed legislation to change the name of the holiday to Veterans Day. The bill was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower.

It was made a federal holiday in 1968, and in the years since, veterans of subsequent wars have been honored on that day.

President Donald Trump watches the color guard exit after speaking at the World War I armistice centennial ceremony Nov. 11, 2018, at Suresnes American Cemetery on the outskirts of Paris. The U.S. holiday on Nov. 11 is known as Veterans Day, but Trump said May 1, 2025, that he wants to rename it Victory Day for World War I." (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)



Across Europe, countries will celebrate V-E Day on May 8, marking 80 years since the end of WWII in Europe.

Some 416,000 U.S. troops died across theaters during WWII, according to the National World War II Museum.

The Soviet Union also lost roughly 10 million troops in combat during the war. The defeat of Nazi Germany is celebrated on May 9 in Russia.
The charges stated that between January 1, 2012, and November 30, 2021, Ernest Reddick abused his position of trust to defraud Lisburn Baptist Church and to produce falsified bank statements.

A Co Down accountant who abused his position as a church treasurer to swindle close to 400,000 from its accounts has been jailed.

Ernest Reddick was ordered to serve a year in jail followed by the same period under licence conditions.

A judge said there were significant aggravating factors to Reddicks offending, including the large amount of money stolen, the frauds being committed over almost a decade, and his elevated position of trust.

Judge Donna McColgan KC said that despite the benevolent attitude adopted by the pastor and congregation of the church and the fact that Reddick (60) had remortgaged his home and sold other assets to make full restitution of the 390,571 he stole, the offending was so serious that it warranted an immediate prison sentence

Reddick, a director with CMC Accountants and who is from the Diamond Road in Dromore, entered guilty pleas to 12 charges of fraud by abuse of position and to one of false accounting.

Lisburn Baptist Church. Image: Google Maps

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

The charges stated that between January 1, 2012, and November 30, 2021, Reddick abused his position of trust to defraud Lisburn Baptist Church and to produce falsified bank statements.

Outlining the facts during her sentencing remarks, Judge McColgan said it was in November 2021 when Pastor Ashby walked into Lisburn PSNI station to report the churchs treasurer for fraud.

The frauds had come to light due to discrepancies in gift aid, and when Reddick was spoken to, he immediately admitted that he had been transferring money from the churchs accounts into his own.

While the offending came to light in 2021, Judge McColgan said Reddick had been elected as church treasurer in 2010 and as such he had sole access and control of the churchs four bank accounts, as well as responsibility and authority to pay for everyday routine payments.

Anything outside of routine bills had to be approved at a monthly meeting, but investigations revealed that Reddick had been abusing his position to transfer funds directly from the churchs accounts to his own.

An external audit company was brought in and, having trawled through 10 years of banking documents, it, said Judge McColgan, reported that 389,121 had been illegally transferred by the defendant.

Enquiries also revealed that Reddick had applied for and obtained a 25,000 loan in the churchs name and that, while it was paid into a church bank account, he transferred it all to himself in five separate transactions over an eight-day period.

During interviews, Reddick admitted that he had taken monies to fulfil promises to clients and to bolster his business. While he claimed he always intended to pay it back, he conceded that he did not have any plan in place as to just how he would do that.

He also admitted that he had produced falsified bank statements to cover up his fraudulent behaviour. Judge McColgan said that, globally, taking account of the loan, interest and loan repayments made by Reddick, the overall money he swindled amounted to 390,571.

She said it was to his credit that Reddick had taken steps to pay all of the money back and that it was also a mitigating factor that he had a clear record and had entered guilty pleas.

Judge McColgan said that, faced with the evidence, he had very little option other than to plead guilty and, although the pre-sentence report said the offending was totally out of character, she said Reddick had managed to act out of character for a period of 10 years.

Speaking after Reddick was jailed, Detective Inspector McCartan said: Donations from the congregation, hard-working people, were used to prop up Reddicks accountancy business. Reddick later paid back the money in full. However, we should not underestimate the impact of his offending on those who put their faith in him.

We would encourage the public to come forward if they believe that they may have been the victim of a similar crime. We will listen to you and take your concerns seriously.
With his wife and one-year-old son in the car, the motorist saw Reid sitting on a wall and Portis performing a sexual act on him, which lasted around a minute.

A Belfast man who engaged in a sexual act in the car park of a retail park in the north of the city has avoided being sent to jail.

Adrian Matthew Reid (38) was handed a four-month sentence, suspended for two years, on a charge of committing an act outraging public decency when he appeared today before Belfast Crown Court.

Co-accused Gillian Portis (50) also faced the same charge, which was formally withdrawn last month following her death earlier this year.

During todays sentencing, it emerged that the pair were arrested after a member of the public observed them engaging in a sexual act.

At around 11am on August 3 last year, a male was driving his vehicle into the car park at the Cityside Retail Park when he observed the behaviour.

Adrian Reid following sentencing (Pic by Alan Lewis)

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

With his wife and one-year-old son in the car, the motorist saw Reid sitting on a wall and Portis performing a sexual act on him, which lasted around a minute.

Whilst this was being carried out, another male was lying unconscious on the ground beside Reid, who is from from Oldpark Avenue.

The motorist stopped his vehicle before approaching Reid and telling him to stop.

Adrian Reid leaving Belfast Crown Court (Pic by Alan Lewis)

Members of the public, including children, were also present in the car park. And whilst Reid was initially apologetic, he then became aggressive.

The court was told that after the defendant asked the motorist who do you think you are talking to?, the witness got back into his car and called the PSNI.

When officers arrived at the scene, both Reid and Portis were arrested.

During a subsequent interview, Reid told police that he couldnt remember anything due to his alcohol intake but claimed he didnt believe he would engage in such behaviour.

Adrian Reid

The father-of-one appeared at Belfast Crown Court in March when he was charged with and admitted committing an act of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature and outraging public decency by engaging in a sexual act with another on August 3, 2024.

Following this, he spoke with a probation officer when he once again claimed he had no recollection of offending due to his level of intoxication.

Defence barrister Mark Farrell handed a note to Judge Gilpin which set out Reids caring responsibilities for his two uncles.

Saying Reid had experienced difficult times, Mr Farrell said his clients offending has reduced and that Reid appears to have turned things round a little, including a reduction in his alcohol consumption.

The judge said he had read and considered further defence submissions which set out Reids unsettled and traumatic childhood and a decline in his mental health following the death of his sister.

Gillian Portis

Judge Gilpin also spoke of several aggravating factors regarding last Augusts incident and told Reid it occurred in a busy place, in the middle of the morning, where children were present, albeit there is no evidence that any child witnessed your offending.

Your offending, thankfully, was short-lived, he told Reid.

Making clear the custody threshold was passed, the judge imposed a four-month prison sentence which he said he was willing to suspend for two years due to Reids caring responsibilities.

Reid was told he could remain at liberty at the moment. However, Judge Gilpin warned him of the consequences of re-offending over the next two years.

As he was walking from the dock, Reid addressed the judge to say: Thank you, Your Honour.
"The fatal injury was to the chest which went through her lungs and entered her heart

A man has been handed a life sentence after he pleaded guilty to murdering a sex worker in Limerick.

Habib Shah Shamel appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court from custody to be formally arraigned on two charges.

When the charge of murdering Geila Ibram was put to him, Shamel (28), an Afghan national formerly of Cecil Street in Limerick, replied through an interpreter: "I am guilty''.

Ms Ibram, who was 27 and originally from Romania, was stabbed at her apartment in Limerick city on April 4, 2023.

She had been stabbed five times - twice to the face, once to the chest, once to the abdomen and once to the forearm, which appeared to have been a defensive injury.

Senior prosecutor David McDowell KC told the court that Shamel had arranged by text to meet Ms Ibram for sex.

"He arrived at the flat and paid her 100. She gave the money to a colleague, Mr McDowell said.

"Several seconds later this colleague heard screams and it was apparent he had stabbed Ms Ibram.

"The fatal injury was to the chest which went through her lungs and entered her heart. Death was as a result of blood loss due to multiple stab wounds.

"The fact that he stabbed her within seconds of meeting Ms Ibram invites the obvious inference that he came there to kill her.''

Shamel fled the scene and went to Dublin before heading by bus to Belfast.

The PSNI stopped him in a car on the Malone Road in south Belfast just before 3.30pm on April 6, 2023.

Geila Ibram

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

During interviews with police, he said he had gone to the escort to "satisfy his sexual needs because of something he had viewed online.

When Shamel was arrested, the PSNI seized a rucksack and found a notebook which contained a handwritten letter to his mother in which he expressed a desire to "sacrifice his life to Allah''.

The court heard the bag also contained a USB stick which contained alleged terrorist-related videos of executions, dismemberment, encouragement to support Jihad, instructions on how to construct and detonate an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Mr McDowell said there were also videos of suicide bombers including a father encouraging his 10-12-year-old son to blow himself up and then him doing so.

When the charge of possessing a "document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely files within a USB", Shamel replied: "I am not guilty."

The court heard a trial date had been set for September 8 this year and which is expected to last two weeks.

Defence barrister Chris Sherrard said he would be seeking expert witnesses as rebuttal to two prosecution experts who have made reports on the contents of the USB stick.

Following his guilty plea to murdering Ms Ibram, Mr Justice O'Hara told the defendant: "Mr Shamel, since you have pleaded guilty to the murder of Ms Ibram in April 2023 I must now impose on you a sentence of life imprisonment.

"There will be a subsequent hearing at which I will set the number of years which you must serve before your release can be considered.

"However number of years that will be, you will serve a very long period of time in prison before consideration of your release ever comes around.

Mr Justice O'Hara postponed the life sentence tariff hearing until after the September trial.

The senior judge added that he would review the case of possessing documents likely to be of use to terrorists in three weeks time.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree to allocate funds for the restoration of the Pir Hasan shrine, located in the Mardakan settlement of Baku's Khazar district, Trend reports.

Under the decree, the government will allocate 550,000 manat ($323,304) from the President's Reserve Fund, as outlined in the state's 2025 budget. The funds will be directed to the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan for the completion of the restoration and renovation works.

The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan is tasked with ensuring the proper financing of the project, while the Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for addressing matters arising from this decree.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Aaron Bohane (25) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm

Injuries sustained by Gavin Sheehan after he was slashed with a knife outside a coffee shop in Cork

Gavin Sheehan pictured after the attack in Cork in August

A man who made up to twenty attempts to slash and stab another man in a frenzied knife attack which occurred in broad daylight in front of shoppers and young girls in Cork city centre has been jailed for three and a half years.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim in the case Gavin Sheehan (38) had to undergo emergency surgery on his upper back following the attack on September 6th, 2024.

Aaron Bohane (25) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Sheehan at Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city centre on September 6th, 2024.

He also pleaded guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury  namely a bladed object.

Det Garda Conor Cronin said that Bohane acted like the attack was a badge of honour.

He said that the injured party was walking along Oliver Plunkett Street short after 5pm on September 6th, 2024.

He stated that Mr Bohane was in a doorway on the street while a man with him was acting as a lookout.

The look out gave Aaron Bohane a gesture.

Mr Bohane then removed a silver-coloured knife from the waistband of his pants and viciously assaulted Mr Sheehan from behind.

Over the course of just 16 seconds he attempted to stab and slash him Sheehan up to twenty times.

His accomplice then struck Sheehan over the head with a glass bottle.

The injured party sustained serious lacerations to his head, arms and back and was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment. He required surgery as the lacerations exposed muscle on his back.

Injuries sustained by Gavin Sheehan after he was slashed with a knife outside a coffee shop in Cork

Mr Sheehan was initially treated for his injuries at the scene by a third year medical student who went to his assistance after he rushed in to the nearby Bean and Leaf cafe covered in blood.

Det Garda Cronin told Judge Helen Boyle that the busy city centre street was awash with members of the public during the attack.

He (Bohane) showed a complete disregard for public safety. There was a trail of blood going in to Bean and Leaf. People had never seen anything like this before.

Gavin Sheehan pictured after the attack in Cork in August

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

Det Garda Cronin said that the attack was witnessed by amongst others a mother with her small baby and two fourteen year old schoolgirls.

One witness told gardai that it looked like the pair were wrestling on the ground. Judge Boyle was shown CCTV of the incident including footage of a seriously injured Sheehan running in to the cafe looking for help.

Mr Bohane was arrested the day after the attack. He made admissions to gardai.

However, he insisted that Sheehan had made threats to the mother of his child.

Det Garda Cronin said that Bohane was originally from Ballincollig in Co Cork and had worked in construction in the UK.

Gavin Sheehan

He has four previous convictions for district court offences such as intoxication. He has never been before the circuit court.

Mr Sheehan has fully recovered from his injuries. A victim impact statement was handed in to Judge Boyle for her consideration in relation to sentencing.

Niamh Stewart, BL, representing Mr Bohane said that her client did not have a history of violence.

Ms Stewart said that the injured party in the case was known to gardai. She said that the attack occurred after a threat was made to the mother of Mr Bohanes child.

However, Ms Stewart said that her client was extremely remorseful for his out of character actions.

She added that he was homeless at the time and using drugs. She urged Judge Boyle to give him (Bohane) a chance and light at the end of the tunnel.

Judge Boyle said that it was a completely outrageous attack on a sunny Autumnal day when citizens and visitors to Cork were relaxing and having coffee and eating ice creams.

She said that attack was premeditated, targeted and cowardly in nature.

She praised the medical student who had come to the aid of the injured party. Judge Boyle said that there was no evidence that any threat had been made to Bohane.

You have some purported motive but there is no evidence of that. Even if there was you should have reported it to An Garda Siochana.

Judge Boyle jailed Bohane for 4.5 years suspending the last 12 months of the sentence.
Bradley Reddy (24) was wearing a ski mask when he joined a group of protesters outside an international protection centre in west Dublin.

A landscaper who shouted at asylum-seekers to f**k back to your own country has been jailed for two months.

Bradley Reddy (24) was wearing a ski mask when he joined a group of protesters outside an international protection centre in west Dublin.

Judge David McHugh said he believed that it was appropriate to jail Reddy for two months.

The defendant, of Cherrywood Lawns in Clondalkin, admitted threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

The incident took place outside an International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) Centre on Monastery Road in Clondalkin on September 1, 2023.

Garda Jake Dillon told Blanchardstown District Court he was on duty outside the Ipas Centre when he saw a man wearing a ski mask among a group of protesters.

Gda Dillon said Reddy was running around and threatening tenants of the centre, telling them to f**k back to your own country.

Blanchardstown District Court

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

He said Reddy ran away from the scene. Gardai pursued him and he was arrested.

The court heard the defendant had never been in trouble before.

Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin accepted that Reddys behaviour was not pretty.

Mr MacLoughlin said Reddy had never been at a protest before, there was a mob mentality and he got caught up in the melee.

The lawyer said Reddy had not been at a protest since this incident, and was very sorry for his behaviour.

The defendant had a partner and a child, and his partner was due their second child.

Judge McHugh said he was imposing a two-month sentence.

Mr MacLoughlin asked the judge to consider suspending or reducing the two-month sentence.

The lawyer accepted that there was a possible element of a hate crime but said Reddy had co-operated with gardai and had not come to the attention of the force before or since this incident.

Mr MacLoughlin said the defendant had been speaking to friends who were attending the protest, and he made the foolish decision to join them.

Judge McHugh said Reddy attended the protest of his own free will. The judge refused to suspend the sentence, saying a sentence was what the defendant deserved.

Recognisances were set for an appeal
The neighbour, identified as a Ms OReilly, and her partner, have sworn affidavits that McGregor is seeking to introduce as new evidence

A neighbour of Nikita Hand has claimed to have witnessed the mother-of-one being punched and kicked by her then partner hours after she says she was violently raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel.

Details of the bombshell claims were outlined in the Court of Appeal today by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan.

The neighbour, identified as a Ms OReilly, and her partner, have sworn affidavits that McGregor is seeking to introduce as new evidence.

The multi-millionaire former UFC champion is seeking a retrial of the civil action Ms Hand won against him last year.

The two new witnesses came forward in the aftermath of the civil trial last November in which a jury awarded Ms Hand close to 250,000 after it found McGregor had assaulted her in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin. The trial judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, said the jury had determined that McGregor had raped Ms Hand.

During a directions hearing in the Court of Appeal today, Mr Justice Noonan said his understanding of matters was that bruising seen on Ms Hands body in the days after events at the Beacon Hotel was a significant feature in the civil trial.

Nikita Hand

Nikita Hand made an emotional statement after she won her civil rape case against Conor McGregor_duplicated

Ms Hand alleged the bruising was caused by McGregor when he raped her on Sunday, December 9, 2018.

Mr Justice Noonan said McGregor had not been able to provide a plausible alternative explanation for it.

The judge said Ms OReilly claimed to have witnessed a heated row between Ms Hand and her then partner Stephen Redmond from the upstairs window of her house on the Sunday night/early on the Monday morning.

The judge said Ms OReilly had stated she and her partner lived across the road and in close proximity to Ms Hands home.

Mr Justice Noonan said Ms OReillys affidavit infers Mr Redmond assaulted Ms Hand by punching her and kicking her while she was on the ground, although Ms OReilly says she could not see Ms Hand on the ground.

The suggestion appears to be that this explains the bruising, he said.

Conor McGregor

Mr Justice Noonan said it was clearly relevant evidence but there would need to be an assessment of its credibility before a decision could be made on whether it could be introduced.

Ray Boland SC, counsel for Ms Hand, said she had sworn an affidavit describing the claim as lies.

He said his side may need to get Mr Redmond to swear an affidavit.

Mr Justice Noonan set July 1 as the hearing date for the appeal and directed that a motion seeking the admission of the new evidence be heard at the same time.

Ms Hands side will be able to cross-examine Ms OReilly and her partner about the claims they have made.

Mr Boland said the credibility of the claims was not the only ground his side had for opposing the introduction of what he described as alleged new evidence.

He said there was also an issue over whether the evidence existed at the time of the trial.

Mr Boland said Ms OReilly had averred that she had sent Mr McGregor an Instagram message, but did not say when she did so.

A number of criteria must be met before the Court of Appeal would agree to admit new evidence not heard in the original case.

The court would have to be satisfied that evidence must have been in existence at the time of the civil action and must have been such that it could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence for use in the case.

Secondly, the evidence must be such that if given, it would probably have an important influence on the result of the case, though it need not be decisive.

A third element is that the evidence must appear credible, though it need not be incontrovertible.

An appeal is also being taken by McGregors friend, James Lawrence, who was a co-defendant in the civil action.

The jury found Lawrence had not assaulted Ms Hand. Despite this, he was not awarded his costs because McGregor's defence relied on Lawrence's version of what happened on the day and night of the incident. He is appealing the costs ruling.

Both men claimed to have had consensual sex with her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018.

Ms Hand insisted she was attacked and violently raped by McGregor and had no memory of having sex with Lawrence.

Ms Hand was not present in court for todays directions hearing and neither were McGregor or Lawrence.

McGregor will partly base his appeal on how Mr Justice Owens handled certain aspects of the case, including a line of questioning he allowed the fighter to be subjected to in the witness box.
Jelana Idele (59) was served with a book of evidence when she appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

A woman accused of money laundering following the seizure of 18kg of gold bullion and 400,000 in cash has been sent forward for trial.

Jelana Idele (59) was served with a book of evidence when she appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

As part of her bail conditions, Ms Idele was ordered not to attend any safety-deposit facilities or vaults.

The accused, of Glenbourne Walk, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, is charged with possessing 265,300 and 134,500, which was the proceeds of crime, at Waterloo Road, Dublin 4, on September 27, 2024.

Ms Idele is also charged with possessing 18kg of gold bullion, valued at 1,375,218, at the same time and place.

She is further accused of possession of MDMA and cocaine and having the drugs for the purposes of sale or supply at Hillview Grove, Dundrum, on September 28, 2024.

A court previously heard that Ms Idele replied: Not owner of drugs, doesnt belong to me, after she was charged.

Jelana Idele. Photo: Collins

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready, and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge David McHugh gave Ms Idele the formal alibi caution and assigned defence solicitor Phelim ONeill, as well as one junior counsel and one senior counsel on free legal aid. He also ordered that the book of evidence should be translated into Russian.

Ms Idele has not yet indicated how she intends to plead.

She consented to 15,000 being frozen in her own bank account, while a friend was approved by the court to provide an independent surety of 10,000.
Luke Hyde was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.

A man has paid a broken tribute to his younger brother who died while swimming in the River Lee in Cork city.

Emergency services recovered the body of a man who got into difficulty while swimming in the river Lee near St Marys Church in Cork city centre on Wednesday evening 30 April.

The man, who has been named locally as Luke Hyde (36) from Corks northside, entered the north channel of the river Lee from Popes Quay with a friend at around 6.45pm to try to swim to Kyrls Quay.

The first man successfully made it across the channel, however Mr Hyde got into difficulty as he neared the quay wall and disappeared beneath the surface of the water, which was rising towards high tide at 8.20pm.

Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Centre at Valentia Island co-ordinated the rescue operation, and tasked the Irish Coast Guard Sikorski helicopter from Waterford, Rescue 117, to assist.

Luke Hyde

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2

Two divers from the group, using a sonar scanner, recovered the body of the swimmer not far from where he had gone underwater.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.

In a heartfelt tribute on social media his brother Mark wrote: "Luke Im absolutely and totally heartbroken and cannot believe that you have been taken from us in a cruel way.

"Im still waiting for you to ring me and tell me snap out of it and that this is all a bad dream. You are and always will be my baby brother and I love you unconditionally with all my heart and soul brother.

"You were a gentle giant and didnt have a bad bone in your body.

No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.
The decision to revert to the former speed limit of 100km/h along State Highway 2 between Katikati and Te Puna has been welcomed by the local council, but not everyone is happy about it.

The NZ Transport Agency has decided to make the change by July 1, following public consultation.

The decision will affect 24.25km of SH2 from south of Marshall Rd to east of Loop Rd.

NZTA said most feedback from the community and road users was against keeping the lower speed limit of 80km/h, with 61% in favour of reverting to 100km/h.

Western Bay of Plenty mayor James Denyer said the council welcomed the change, having submitted to NZTA in favour of reverting the speed limit to 100km/h.

This reflects the safety improvements that have been made, including widening the road and better junctions.

Safety remains an important issue, though, and our council will continue to advocate for further improvements where those are appropriate.

Sue Larsen, who lives on Wright Rd off SH2, said the speed limit reversion to 100km/h was absolutely crazy.

Half the time you cant get up to 80km/hr. ... Most cars brake to slow down through there, she said.

Rick Burke and Jan Loney from Lund Rd off SH2 said 100km/h was too fast, considering the traffic must slow down at the roundabouts dotted along the highway.

A speed limit of 100km/h will lead to motorist frustration because many locals will continue to travel at 80-90km/h, [and] the lack of passing lanes and wire barriers will add to the frustration.

The sensible thing to do would have been to increase the limit to 90km/h, which many travel at anyway, rather than the big jump to 100km/h, which immensely increases accident risk.

Burke and Loney said it would be extremely disappointing for locals to see accident rates go up after all the work that had been done along State Highway 2.

Emergency services

Fire and Emergency NZ said it did not provide a submission on the change.

Fire and Emergency New Zealands ability to get to emergencies is critical to the work we do, said a spokesperson.

We actively participate in the New Zealand Transport Agencys consultation on proposed speed limit changes and road layouts around the country, where appropriate.

Fire and Emergency NZ took a case-by-case approach to considering the proposed changes.

In each location, we look at the number of incidents which have occurred there, and their severity before and after lower speed limits are introduced.

In some cases, with the lowered speed, fewer serious accidents have occurred on these stretches of road.

In some locations, we had no evidence that there were fewer accidents or that incidents were less severe after the speed limits were lowered.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said it did not anticipate any impact on response times as a result of the speed limit change.

There have been a number of safety improvements that have been made to the road, and we would like to reassure the public that we will continue to respond when and where we are needed.

Police would not comment on the speed limits, It is our job to enforce them ... We encourage motorists to always drive safely and to the conditions.
As the only female police officer of Indian heritage in the Western Bay of Plenty, Jasleen is an important link between the force and the Te Puke community.

After working in Tauranga and Papamoa, Jasleen, who has asked for her last name not to be used, has returned to Te Puke as a police constable, the town she was brought up in since her family arrived in 2010.

From a Sikh family, Jasleen wanted a career that was somehow related to law and her father had always wanted one of his daughters to be in the police force.

I guess it was something he wanted to do but wasnt able to with all his responsibilities  so I looked into it and it seemed like something I wanted to do, she said.

Workplace variety

One of the attractions was the idea that no two days of police work are the same.

Its [also] something different. There are not a lot of female Indians in the job and there are a lot of things behind that  the thinking in our community that girls are not as strong as boys, or they may not be able to handle situations as men can, but my mum and dad always taught me that theres nothing that I cannot do that I guy can do, so I thought yes, lets do this.

After leaving Te Puke High School, Jasleen did a pre-police course.

I had a few setbacks with Covid and a few injuries but eventually made it and went through Police College which was a good experience. It was hard to be away from home, but I had the support of my mum and dad and sister.

More to offer

Starting police work, she quickly realised the impact she could have.

I realised I had way more to offer than I thought, just by being an Indian female, just going to jobs where there were Indian females who were afraid just to talk to males or non-Indian officers.

She found people opened up to her and that sometimes resulted in action being taken that might not otherwise have been possible.

Just being an Indian female and being there, being able to talk to them in their native language is really helpful.

Her life in the police began in Tauranga and she was then based at the Papamoa station before the opportunity to move to Te Puke came up.

Hometown

Her parents were both born in India and the family lived in Italy for a decade before moving to New Zealand and Te Puke.

I love this town, so when I saw the opportunity to come here, I jumped at it.

As well as being home, it offered the chance for a different type of policing than she had previously experienced.

It was good experience [working in Tauranga], but this is different  out here its a different community and there were things lacking in my policing experience such as rural work.

Jasleen recognises there are potential challenges working as a police officer in the community where she lives.

But Ive got to manage it  I may know this person, or this person might be my neighbour.

Jasleen speaks both Punjabi and Hindi and still has a little Italian. Her background, culture and being multilingual will, she believes, help her communication with the people she comes into contact with through work and give her colleagues perspective by being able to explain Indian culture and religion.

Its good to have me here where I can say this is why this is happening, or this is whats causing the issue.

She hopes she can inspire other females with Indian heritage to follow in her footsteps.

Te Puke Police Sergeant Mike Own has welcomed Jasleen to the station.

She brings with her a good skill set of all round knowledge and really looking forward to her becoming part of the team here and the community.
Julia Fernandez Friday, 2 May 2025, 12:50 Compartir

The major blackout that left the entire Iberian Peninsula without power for hours on Monday not only exposed the systems vulnerability but also made it clear that we must be ready for any contingency. During the outage, many of us remembered the famous 72-hour emergency kit the EU advised us to prepare back in March.

Alongside batteries, a radio, torches and candles, hygiene items, bin bags and medication (especially any we take regularly), the kit should also include water, a camping stove and food. But what kind? Its clear that it should be non-perishable and, as professors Isabel Prieto and Ana Belen Segarra from the University of Jaen point out, it should provide us with the energy and nutrients we need.

However, even within that category, theres a wide range of options, so its wise to choose those that best suit our individual needs. One key requirement during a crisis is staying calm. While this partly depends on personality -not everyone can keep their nerves in check - its something that food can help with too.

In moments like Mondays unexpected blackout, our bodies experience the negative effects of cortisol, the main stress hormone released, explain Prieto and Segarra. At the same time, levels of serotonin and melatonin drop - two hormones that help regulate our sense of well-being and positive mood. The result can feel like a slap in the face: were jolted out of our comfort zone and suddenly get that fluttering in the stomach but not the romantic kind - nervous butterflies.

The good news is that there are foods that can help, the experts continue. And yes, they can be included in the emergency kit, as they meet all the criteria for long-lasting supplies. Whats more, living in a relatively privileged part of the world, we have the chance to plan ahead and prepare. That means we can pack items that allow us to put together full meals - starter, main, even dessert - helping us maintain routines. After all, eating isnt just a necessity; its a habit, and the less its disrupted, the better we cope.

A hearty dish of lentils

The benefits of pulses are no secret. Theyre a highly nutritious food and a great source of protein, making them perfectly suitable as a one-dish meal without leaving us lacking. Whats more, they also help keep cortisol in check, the experts agree.

Pulses help prevent blood sugar spikes and promote the absorption of tryptophan and serotonin - substances that tend to be depleted in stressful situations. And if the tinned pulses we buy also include vegetables, theyll be even healthier.

Better to et hot food, it's more comforting Eating hot food has a comforting effect. We notice it when it's cold and we enjoy a hearty stew or a mug of hot chocolate. Even if an emergency situation catches us in the middle of summer, it's still worth doing. The reason is that, in those circumstances, it makes us feel better psychologically. "Of course we can get by on sandwiches or tinned food for three days," says survival expert Koldo Iturriaga, "but they don't have the same soothing effect as a bowl of hot lentils." Another interesting point is that eating hot food when it's warm isn't bad - quite the opposite, in fact: it helps the body regulate its temperature. What we should bear in mind in such situations is that we need to hydrate more frequently

Without forgetting a good tin of sardines

Tins of sardines, tuna and mackerel are all welcome additions to an emergency kit. Theyre easy to store, take up little space and have a long shelf life - reasons enough to include them.

But theyre even more valuable because these foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which not only support cardiovascular health but also have a modulating effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This helps reduce the excessive production of cortisol associated with stress responses and mental health disorders, as shown in a comprehensive study from the University of Warsaw, Poland, published late last year.

Mixed nuts to munch on

Peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts and the like arent just great for curbing that nervous urge to snack or for passing the time when all we can do is wait for help. Rich in magnesium and potassium, they lower cortisol levels in the blood and boost melatonin. In short, theyre the boost we need in a crisis - no prescription required.

Dont skip a square of chocolate

Dessert has its place too. Yes, if were digging into an emergency kit, things are serious - but dark chocolate isnt just for satisfying a sweet tooth; it also helps soothe frayed nerves. How? Varieties with 75% cocoa or more contain high levels of flavonoids, which have been proven effective at lowering cortisol. And its a two-for-one deal: cocoa is also good for the heart, thanks to its powerful antioxidants.

And for sleep - milk in powdered form

If we plan well and ahead of time, even in an emergency we wont have to go without a warm glass of milk before bed. To avoid spoilage or storage issues, it should be powdered. Beyond warming our stomach and evoking comforting childhood memories, it provides tryptophan, an amino acid that helps synthesise serotonin and melatonin, explain the lecturers - making it easier for us to fall asleep.
Tony Bryant Friday, 2 May 2025, 12:54 Compartir

The province of Cadiz has had a long association with fortified wines and sherries, a distinction that was bolstered by the British in the late 18th century, with the arrival of what became known as the 'Sherry Barons'. Several British families set up bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, the sherry capital of the world, during this period, including that of Thomas Osborne Mann, who opened the Osborne bodega in 1772.

Osborne is considered one of the oldest active export wine companies in the world, although this family's connection to the business goes back to the 17th century, when Robert Osborne opened a wine import business in Devon.

Thomas Osborne arrived in Cadiz from England as a young man to set up a wine export agency, attracted like so many foreigners at the time by the quality of its wines. He began mixing in circles of the wine aristocracy of Jerez, and with other important figures, such as the British consul in Cadiz, Sir James Duff.

Zoom The iconic Osborne bull.

Fortified wine was highly appreciated in the UK at this time and it was the consul who suggested Osborne should start exporting wine from his bodegas, which were located in Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa Maria. These wines also became popular in America and were praised by Washington Irving, who had sampled them while visiting Andalucia in the 1830s.

Thomas Osborne certainly left a lasting influence on the Spanish wine industry. Osborne has maintained the entrepreneurial spirit that combines tradition with the ability to adapt to changing times. The company grew thanks to the quality of its products and its ability to build strong business relationships in international markets, especially the United Kingdom.

The famous Osborne bull, created for an advertising campaign in the 1950s, became a cultural icon in Spain and further elevated the brand's reputation throughout the world.
The Catalan swimmer, in one of the stages on the coast of Huelva.

Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 2 May 2025, 18:58 Compartir

Catalan swimmer Alberto Lorente set off on a colossal challenge on 22 April: to swim around Spain as part of the 'Abracemos el mar' (Let's embrace the sea) challenge. Environmental activist Enrique Herrero 'Quique Bolsitas' is accompanying him on his adventure, in which the athlete, who works as a bus driver, swims between ten and twelve kilometres in each of the stages. The aim is to raise awareness about sea pollution and the importance of cleaning up the seas and oceans.

After starting in the Bilbao estuary, he has already completed stages in Asturias, Galicia, Huelva and Cadiz. After Lanzarote, this coming Saturday 3 May he will be in the Axarquia on the eastern Costa del Sol, where Lorente, who has four Guinness records, will swim around twelve kilometres between Torrox lighthouse and the Balcon de Europa in Nerja. It will be the seventh stage of his charity challenge and he plans to swim between 11am and 2pm. On the shore 'Quique Bolsitas' will accompany him with a beach clean-up, to which volunteers and residents of both towns have been invited.

"Every stroke counts, if we didn't have the blue we wouldn't have the green. Seventy per cent of us are water and when we come into contact with the sea it is a very beautiful connection," said Herrero, who is from Huelva, in statements to the local radio station Radio Juventud.

More than 1,100 people have taken part in the first five stages, in which more than 300 kilos of rubbish have already been collected.

Lorente has already swum nearly 50 kilometres and around 18,000 cigarette butts have already been collected.

Local swimmers from both municipalities and visitors are expected to participate, as well as citizen groups, environmental associations and numerous volunteers who will collaborate in cleaning and awareness-raising tasks on dry land.

Zoom The presentation in Torrox. SUR

The activity will start at 9am with a beach clean on Playa Chica, Espigon and Torrox lighthouse. They will leave Playa Chica at 11am to continue in Nerja and will cover the area between Burriana and El Playazo. The event will finish at around 2pm at Calahonda beach, next to the Balcon de Europa. All volunteers will be given a T-shirt.

Torrox Swimming Club representative Carlos Vinuesa said that "during the five stages that have already taken place, there are already 500 kilos of waste collected and 12,700 cigarette butts, therefore, I invite all swimmers to come in one way or another to accompany Alberto". Vinuesa added that "we have to take care of our beaches in order to be able to live together because if we damage nature we damage our own lives".

For more information visit the website www.abracemoselmar.es and the Instagram profile @abracemoselmar.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Public hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon 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 May 2, 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.

The trial continued with the testimonies of the victims. After the testimonies, the victims answered the questions of public prosecutors, representatives of the victims, defense attorneys and the accused.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, interpreters, etc. to those of the victims who were participating in the hearings for the first time, and also explained their rights and obligations stipulated by national legislation.

The hearings proceeded to the victims giving their testimonies and answering questions.

One of the victims, resident of Garadaghli village Rafig Guliyev spoke about the attacks of the Armenian armed forces on the village, the firing on civilians and buses, the torture and killing of Azerbaijanis, etc., and then answered questions about the occupation of the village.

They told us that Karabakh belongs to the Armenians, get out, Rafig Guliyev noted.

He said that when the village of Garadaghli was occupied, he, his father and mother were taken hostage by the Armenian military. The victim said that there were mercenaries among those who attacked the village.

In response to questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, Rafig Guliyev said that he, his father Alastan Guliyev, along with a few other Azerbaijanis, were taken to Khankendi in KamAZ trucks. On the way, truck car was stopped in a place called Baylik Baghi and some of the hostages were killed.

The victim's father, Alastan Guliyev, died as a result of torture by Armenian soldiers after being held hostage for some time. My mother was released after being held hostage for 13 days. I was released from captivity after 45 days. When we were held hostage, they beat us every evening. They gave us a piece of bread and a little water every day so that we wouldn't die alive. But they continued to torture us, he added.

Rafig Guliyev also said that he was tortured although he was already wounded.

Another victim, a resident of the village of Akhullu in Khojavand district, Namik Huseynov, said that he knew those in the dock from television. Answering questions from public prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, he said that he used to work as a cinema mechanic in Hadrut, and that in 1988 a campaign had begun among the population of Armenian origin about the secession of Karabakh from Azerbaijan and its transfer to Armenia.

Namik Huseynov also spoke about an attack on an Azerbaijani school by illegal Armenian armed groups on September 25, 1989 and his injury in the attack. I saw that they were going to kill Isha and approached them. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Five people in red clothes came out. They beat us black and blue. Do you see this finger of mine? They broke it at that time. They smashed my head and I had 13 stitches put on it afterwards.

Another victim, Chairman of the Garadaghli village council of People's Deputies Javay Huseynov spoke in his statement about the Armenian armed forces repeatedly attacking the village and about his own injuries. The victim said, People were engaged in farming and livestock breeding. They did not want any war or conflict.

Javay Huseynov said that residents of the settlements around Garadaghli village were of Armenian origin and that there were serious obstacles entering and exiting Garadaghli starting from November 1990. For this reason, food was delivered to Garadaghli by helicopters. The victim noted that after a while, the Armenian armed forces did not allow helicopters to move around either. On January 9, 1992, while he was bringing food from Aghdam to the Garadaghli village, the helicopter was fired upon by Armenian soldiers.

Javay Huseynov said that the village was regularly shelled with Alazan rockets, machine guns and automatic weapons, which resulted in deaths and injuries.

Answering questions from public prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, the victim, referring to the data of January 1992, said that the number of residents of Garadaghli village at that time was 1,166 people.

The conclusions of forensic medical examination conducted on the victims were also announced during the hearings.

After the break, the accused Davit Ishkhanyan answered the questions of public prosecutors regarding the occupation of Khojavand district. He said that he was born in the village of Heshan in Khojavand district and that the village had a population of 600-650 people. He emphasized that he has a sister and a brother, named Grigory Ishkhanyan. He said, Grigory was an accountant at a collective farm named after Levon Mirzoyan in approximately 1988-1990.

In response to questions, he said that he knew Emil Balayan, who was the chairman of the collective farm. He added, But when my brother was an accountant, he was not the head, he was appointed as head of the collective farm at a later stage.

In response to further questions, he claimed that he was not in the village of Garadaghli on June 26-27, 1991. He said, On June 26, I went to Khankendi to celebrate my future wife's birthday.

Then a preliminary explanation Emil Balayan had given to the investigation team on June 28, 1991 was announced. In that explanation, Emil Balayan said how the attack on the farm in the Azerbaijani village of Garadaghli was prepared and who was involved in the attack. He said that the attackers, in addition to himself, included Emil Vartanovich Balayan, Armin Rodikovic Avakyan, Monik Aramovich Gabrilyan, Araik Yegorovich Ishkhanyan, Armin Arzikovic Arapityan, Davit Rubenovich Ishkhanyan, Davit Maksimovich Kocharyan, Andranik Karlenovic Grigorian, Grigory Rubenovich Ishkhanyan, Aras Maksimovich Kocharyan, Vrenik Karlenovich Sevumyan. He then added: All of this was led by Volodya Khachaturyan.

In response to further questions from the Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, Tugay Rahimli, Davit Ishkhanyan said that he was called up for military service in September 1992 and was then appointed as battalion commander in the 28th Khojavand Battalion. The accused said that the commander of the Khojavand defense district was Monte Melkonyan and his deputy was Movses Hakobyan.

There were 430-480 servicemen in my battalion. Other battalions were smaller or larger. I received orders from the general staff. The battalion had grenade launchers, machine guns and Kalashnikov assault rifles at its disposal, he added.

Davit Ishkhanyan said that he had participated in the operation to occupy the upper part of Aghdara in the direction of Charakdar and Khudavang of Kalbajar district, two attacks on Fuzuli district, as well as the occupation of a small height in the direction of Ashagi Veysalli.

The accused shied away from answering the question whether there was an enmity between Emil Balayan and himself, which was why the former mentioned him and his brothers name. He said that he was serving on rotation in the village on Saturdays and Sundays.

Then public prosecutor Vusal Aliyev announced that other persons of Armenian origin (Aleksander Grigoryan and others) also gave statements similar to that of Emil Balayans and mentioned the same names.

Then the accused Levon Mnatsakanyan answered the questions of the head of the Department of Public Prosecution of the Prosecutor Generals Office, Nasir Bayramov. He confirmed that in 2015-2018 he had held the position of commander of the defense army of the self-styled republic in the previously occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Before that, he had held a number of positions in the military. He said that he had begun serving in the so-called army in September 1992, noting, I started as deputy commander of a motorized rifle battalion.

He said that he had not participated in Khojavand operations and that he had gone to Khojaly for the first time in the second half of the 1990s.

The accused stated that on October 2, 1992, he was wounded while moving towards a battalion in the village of Shirlan of Shusha district.

Levon Mnatsakanyan said that when he was serving in Armenia he knew Major General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, aka Commando, who led the operation to occupy the Azerbaijani city of Shusha. He said that Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan was training specialists for the army at the time.

The accused Arkady Ghukasyan, in response to questions from public prosecutors, claimed that he was unaware of which forces had participated in the occupation of Khojavand and the massacres in Garadaghli.

He also alleged that he was not personally acquainted with Ashot Gulyan and Monte Melkonyan.

Arkady Ghukasyan was unable to give a specific answer to the question of public prosecutor Fuad Musayev about the fact that these people were awarded the title of hero of the so-called republic nonetheless. He said there was a nomination by a commission in this regard.

He said that he had met Artur Agabekyan around 1994-1995 and that in 1999 he was appointed minister of internal affairs of the self-proclaimed republic.

As far as I know, he served in the Armenian ministry of defense, Arkady Ghukasyan added.

We recall that Artur Agabekyan was the deputy minister of defense of the Republic of Armenia in 2000-2007 and also held a number of other senior positions in Armenia.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 5.

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.
Juan Soto Malaga Friday, 2 May 2025, 11:30 Compartir

Her inspiring message after a life dedicated to animals and conservation has won her the hearts millions of people around the world. In Malaga too, of course. Jane Goodall, the English zoologist and primatologist, considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, was in the city for the Spanish premiere of her documentary Reasons for Hope, on Thursday 1 May in Malaga city's Albeniz theatre. Goodall was welcomed with a standing ovation and a resounding applause. "We need to spend more time with nature," she said.

Goodall has spent 35 years of her life studying wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat, which has allowed her to learn, among other things, that these animals use tools. She now leads numerous initiatives that aim to improve awareness of animals and the planet.

The researcher's fame is worldwide. She has received more than a hundred awards including the Prince of Asturias Award for Research and the Unesco Gold Medal. In 2002 she was appointed United Nations Messenger of Peace. At the age of 91, she still travels 300 days a year to see first-hand the inspiring projects being carried out around the world.

Malaga hosted the national premiere of the documentary Reasons for Hope

Before the screening, the general director of the Jane Goodall Institute, Federico Bogdanowicz, explained that the city was chosen by the researcher herself because "Malaga shows that it is following the same path as the foundation, working for sustainability".

The document shows different real cases of success and hope for the future of the planet and humans. It follows the recovery of the common loon, a type of bird that lives in the lakes of Sudbury (Canada); the creation of mechanical trees that trap CO2 or the return of the ibis, another species of bird, which now flies between the Swiss Alps and Italy.

During the screening, Goodall explains that after 35 years in Gombe (Tanzania) working with chimpanzees she realised that the environment was under siege and so she decided to "travel the world raising awareness and trying to give people hope". "My role," she adds, "is to get people to act because we all have a role to play in making the world more sustainable and more just".

After the screening the audience had the opportunity to ask Goodall about her work, her passion and her life. One person asked her about the impact of capitalism, to which she answered, "Surely we should do things differently because there cannot be infinite growth on a planet with finite resources and a constantly growing population".

She also referred to the wars ravaging the world and the importance of embracing nature in the worst of times: "Wars are horrible, but if we don't take care of nature, it will be the end of us all."

Goodall ended her talk by hugging Claudia, a young woman who had asked her about the situation that many animals live in and the importance of defending them all. "Can we finish with a hug," the researcher asked the young woman, who was clearly excited to be in the presence of such an iconic figure. And the fact is that small gestures also help to make the world a better place.
Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 2 May 2025 | Updated 04/05/2025 20:27h. Compartir

The first United Airlines flight of the third summer season linking Malaga with New York is now on its way to Newark Airport. A few minutes before the scheduled time, at 7.32am, the Boeing 757-200 landed on the Costa del Sol, with a total of 176 seats, of which 16 are United Polaris business class beds, with a high occupancy "almost full", explained the company.

And with this same demand, it departed on schedule. A new season has begun, which will last until 24 September, in which Malaga will be linked with a direct flight to New York every day of the week. This is the only connection between the whole of Andalucia and the United States.

At check-in counter 318 early Friday morning, passengers who were to travel with United Airlines checked in their luggage in a season opener where there was no celebration of any kind, considering that this is already an established operation.

For many of them it was their first trip to the Big Apple, but they are all celebrating this connection, a route that the tourism sector and those in charge of the different administrations insist that they hope to keep operational all year round as soon as possible, hopefully, this year. However, this decision will be taken by the airline depending on the evolution and records of this new season, as well as the fleet it has available.

The company, which this summer will fly from Bilbao and Palma de Mallorca, as well as from Barcelona and Madrid, confirms that demand remains strong. This is in line with the boom in the arrival of American tourists on the Costa del Sol, even during the period when Malaga does not have direct flights to New York. It is worth remembering that last year the United States became the sixth most important market for hotels and flats in the province, after Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, after growing by ten per cent.

The head of sales of this American company in Spain, Antonio de Toro, announced a few days ago that 51,000 seats have been put on sale, a figure that represents 280 per cent more than those offered in 2023 and in 2024.
Maria Albarral Marbella Friday, 2 May 2025, 17:39 Compartir

Marbella town hall is seeking investors to restore the town's Trinidad convent. "We are going to continue trying to find resources wherever necessary and meanwhile we are going to maintain, as far as possible with all our possibilities, the monument so that it does not deteriorate any further," explained Marbella councillor Felix Romero.

The controversy erupted during Holy Week when emergency work had to be carrried out to prop up the historic building due to cracks in the facade and Calle Viento had to be closed off. "It is a building of great value for the corporation and for the community," said the deputy mayor, who explained that "we have secured it on the basis of a report by the fire brigade because it is a street that has a lot of traffic, especially at this time of year".

The town hall is therefore open to initiatives and funding, both public and private, in order to enhance the value of this space located in the heart of the town. The plan presented by the Foundation of the Museum of Architecture and Modern Design (MAD) to restore the cultural building as a museum space, has not gone ahead despite having a signed agreement with the town hall and having the project on the table with a forecast investment of 1.8 million euros.

"What is really important is the preservation of the monument", added Romero, who highlighted its "historical value". From the end of the 15th century it was home to one of the religious foundations of the Catholic Monarchs. Many locals who love history see this space as an opportunity to enhance the value of Marbella's old town.

Reviews

The town hall has received a great deal of criticism regarding the situation of this building. In April 2013 the plans were made public. However, twelve years later the building remains in the same state, with cracks and damage so bad that it has had to be propped up.

The socialist PSOE spokesperson at the town hall, Isabel Perez, has called for solutions to this problem while lamenting "the abandonment to which the convent has been subjected". She also criticised the management of the historical heritage, citing the example of the Governor's House.
Tony Bryant Malaga Friday, 2 May 2025 | Updated 05/05/2025 09:56h. Compartir

An English-language traffic information platform based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, is heading to the Costa del Sol next week for a series of educational talks focused on Spanish traffic laws. The N-332 group was set up around ten years ago by Francisco Javier Morales, a Guardia Civil officer who saw that there was a need for education and information in English to avoid potential problems faced by foreign drivers.

The group's name originates from the N-332, a road which runs along the east coast of Spain and through Torrevieja, the road where the Guardia Civil officer who thought of the idea patrols.

Morales brought on board Mark Nolan, a former driving instructor from the UK who was working as a journalist and radio presenter in Torrevieja at the time and who has now lived on the Costa Blanca for more than 20 years.

Talk dates 7 May -Benalmadena (Innova centre, 12.30pm). Mijas (town hall, 4pm). 8 May - Marbella (El Hospitalillo, 9.30am). www.spanishtrafficlaw.es

SUR in English contacted Nolan prior to his arrival on the Costa del Sol to talk about how and why this platform was set up and what services it offers and to whom.

How did you become involved in this group?

As a former driving instructor in the UK, I was able to expand the message, in my native language, and through comparison I became involved almost straight away, and am still active over a decade later.

Whose idea was it to set this up?

The idea came from the fact that the area around the east coast is a favourite for foreign residents and visitors, which became a focus for one Guardia Civil officer in particular, Francisco Javier Morales. He would have to deal with traffic incidents, many of which involved foreign drivers, and although fines are inevitable for traffic offences, it became clear to him, dealing with the same infractions on a regular basis, that there was a need for information and education to try to avoid these dangerous situations.

How did you go about setting up the platform?

Once the need for education had been established, and English was a preferred language as it is more common amongst other nationalities, it was then concluded that Facebook would be the ideal platform to initially start sharing the information, as it is used by most age groups and most nationalities. The creation of a website was immediately necessary to accompany the Facebook content, so we could reach people both instantly and with a reference source.

How many followers do you have?

Over the last ten years, we have built up a considerable following on Facebook. We have in excess of 300,000 followers, with our posts reaching millions of views.

Throughout this year we will have other developments where information will be shared, such as a radio station giving information, and an educational resource, which will also feature sections for parents and teachers, as well as dedicated areas for young adults and children.

What are the main topics that people ask about?

There is no doubt that the number one topic asked about is roundabouts, because they are confusing for a lot of people, although, in fact, the rules in Spain are actually among the simplest and safest, so long as they are followed.

Are foreigners good drivers in general?

One of the problems when it comes to foreign drivers is that, for the most part, they are not aware they are doing anything wrong. If we think of roundabouts as an example, UK drivers were taught one way of navigating them, and pretty much every nationality taught something different, but at no point would any driver ever consider thinking something like, "we are going to Spain next week, I wonder if they drive differently on roundabouts".

What are the main problems foreign drivers have in Spain?

When we have areas of Spain where many different nationalities are driving, and all in the belief that they are doing it right, we have complete confusion. Add to that the drivers who are doing wrong, but are in the knowledge they are, and it is no surprise that roundabouts are amongst the most problematic areas.

Is it mainly the British who need information?

Not at all. As mentioned, many nationalities drive in their own way, but the benefit of English is that it is a more common language. We have and continue to give presentations to Scandinavian residents, Germans, in fact any group really, because from our point of view it doesn't matter, because we are explaining what is necessary in Spain, and although my comparisons might be with UK driving, the comparisons still have validity.

Is it just information about Spanish traffic laws?

Primarily we intended to deal with Spanish traffic law exclusively, but, like many sources of information, our direction changed during the Covid pandemic, as we were able to share information with our followers easily. Since then, our focus has returned to Spanish traffic law, but we have also included other information which we think will be of use to our followers, and their lives in Spain, but not losing our focus.

Francisco is a traffic officer but he is also Guardia Civil, and so he has, during his career, forged links with all security bodies and so if information is pertinent, it can be shared.
Pablo Ortega Friday, 2 May 2025, 14:08 Compartir

She met seven times with the Pope. She holds no ecclesiastical office but her photo in the chapel where Pope Francis was laid in state went global. Her relationship with the Pontiff helped her regain her faith and quelled her feelings of exclusion. Laura Esquibel is a trans woman, originally from Paraguay, but she has lived in Italy for 34 years. She appears for her interview on Rome's busy Degli Scipioni street sporting a red jacket with matching velvet cap. Around her neck there hangs a black rosary blessed by the late Pope Francis.

"I come from the dentist, I hate it," she says as she quickly gulps down her espresso in two shakes. The cancer treatment that affected her digestive system caused her to lose many of her teeth. The same tumour that almost killed her was also the origin of her relationship with the Holy Father.

"I felt that the Church was closing doors on me because I was transgender," says Laura. At the beginning of the pandemic, affected by financial troubles, she sought help from several churches. "They closed the doors on us" Until one, Father Andrea, on the outskirts of the Italian capital, welcomed not only her but also a good number of Latin American transsexual women.

There she met Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, a nun from the order of the Hermanitas de Jesus, a friend of Francis and the one in charge of arranging his meetings with minority groups. She is the same nun who caught everyone's attention on the first day of the Pope's body lying in state when she skipped protocol to pay her respects for some considerable time in front of his coffin.

Zoom

"He was a very humble person, for him we were all children of God", Laura smiles as she talks about Francis. "I asked him to forgive me for being a transsexual", she continues. She recalls his blunt reply verbatim: "I don't have to forgive you, nor does God have to forgive you. You are a human being like any other, I can't judge you." She adds: "He was unique. For me he was a father, a brother. He was peaceful, calm. When I came out after talking with him, I thought: 'My God, how nice, let's hope there's another opportunity to talk to him'. And thank God I had the chance to talk with him seven times."

However, in 2023 the appearance of a tumour in her stomach changed her life. "I was desperate, they told me they didn't know how much time I had left," she says with tears in her eyes as she travels back to that day. "I told Father Andrea that I wanted to talk to Francis to ask him to pray for me," she says. That was the third time she got to speak with him and that was the day she regained her faith. It was an unhurried meeting, lasting over an hour, in which Laura shared her fears with the Pope.

"He grabbed me by the head, prayed for me and said: 'You're not going to die, I'm going to die first'," she remembers with some emotion. "He said 'my daughter, my daughter'. He didn't treat me like a man, but like a woman," she insists. "Don't worry, you're going to paradise. Don't think you're going somewhere else, the other place doesn't exist because we are all sinners." A phrase that remains etched in her memory. "I am a sinner," is what Francis told her. "That is something I will never forget."

The death of Francis

When the Pope died, Laura was asleep. A phone call dragged her out of bed. On the other end, her friend Minerva was crying as she told her: "Pope Francis has died." "I hung up the phone and lay in bed thinking. I didn't want to believe it."

"The day went by and at night I started crying and praying. I was sick for three days. But this is life, today we are here and tomorrow we don't know." Genevieve accompanied her to the chapel. It was the second day of official mourning and the crowds were larger than on the first day. They did not queue to enter and were taken directly to the coffin. "We were told we could stand there, pray for ten minutes and then stand for five minutes in front of the body. I knelt down, prayed and we went to look at him."

Then a shutter clicked and a photo of the moment spread like wildfire around the world. The image going so viral prevented her from attending the funeral as she had hoped. She stayed far away, fleeing the media attention. She commented that she was receiving calls from journalists she did not know asking if she was in attendance, if she and sister Genevieve stayed in the background. She is going to wait a good while before visiting Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore, where he has been laid to rest.

The Pope's mark on Laura's life will live on: "They discriminate against us for being trans women, but I don't care what anyone else says. The important thing is that I was with Francis, I took hold of him, I hugged him, I kissed his hand, he kissed mine. That is something I will always remember."

A new Pope

Now, she is worried about the future of the Catholic church. The arrival of a Pontiff with a more conservative stance towards the LGTBQ+ community would complicate her relationship with the Vatican: "I would feel left outside, but not of the Church. I will always go to church," she says. The future is uncertain, but she would like to see a Latin American pope who would follow in Francis' footsteps, although she acknowledges that that would be difficult: "I don't think there will ever be a pope like him again. His humility, everything he did to help, like setting up a clinic for poor people. I used to go there when I had no money for medicine," she recalls. Even so, whoever arrives, she is clear: "Pope Francis' faith has stayed with me and no one will take that away from me."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Baku hosts the opening ceremony of the 2nd Forum on Public Processes in Media Context, Trend reports.

According to information, the forum was organized by the Media Development Agency.

The forum is attended by deputies, heads of press services of state bodies, heads of media bodies, journalists, and other officials.

The aim of the event is to increase the educational function of media and their active role in shaping public opinion, transfer sensitive information to the society in accordance with certain principles, as well as to improve coordination between media, state bodies and other parties.

Addressing the audience, Ahmad Ismayilov, Chairman of the Media Development Agency, noted that for the second year already, our Forum, designed to discuss topical and important issues on the media agenda of our country, has been functioning as an effective platform that forms a dialogue between the state and the media.

He noted that the goal of the Media Development Agency in creating the Public Processes in the Media platform, which emerged as a social order of the society, is to promote the formation of healthy relations between media entities responsible for the professional preparation and transmission of information, and government agencies that perform the function of a reliable source of information, as well as to further increase the level of professionalism in the preparation of content of a public and political nature.

We would like to recall that the Forum we organized last year was assessed by both government bodies and the media community as an important achievement in shaping the media agenda, especially in more professional coverage of topics of public interest, Ismayilov said.

Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva emphasized that Media plays an important role in legal enlightenment of society, in prompt and objective delivery of information about ongoing processes to the general public, thus shaping public opinion.

She noted that the media also acts as an effective tool of public control.

Today's event is of great importance in terms of analyzing the reflection of public events in media, influence of media platforms on public opinion, promotion of professional approaches, discussion of media's impact on human rights, as well as assessment of prospects for cooperation between institutions, she said.

According to Aliyeva, one of the main principles of establishing a state based on the rule of law is the existence of independent media, freedom of thought, speech and press.
Vanessa Johnsons solo exhibition at the ArtRage Gallery offers a full exposition of her skills as a storyteller, as an individual deeply concerned about connections to ancestors and youth, and as a visual artist employing a range of techniques and tools.

In the Center of the Crossroads: Standing in the Intersection Between Racism, Climate Change and Memory is a large, wide-ranging show. It encompasses quilts and multimedia installations, small cloth bags filled with soil from Syracuse and Ghana, West Africa, poems and a dystopian fable, The Last Tree. It envisions a time in not so-distant future when there was no one left living on earth except the last tree.

And the show draws on Johnsons experiences as an African American living in the United States and as a person whos spent considerable time in Ghana. In addition, she discusses varied narratives: the impact of redlining on African American communities, the history of sharecropping in the southern United States after the Civil War, and neighborhood activists campaign for radical changes in the design of a sewage-treatment plant set to be built on Syracuses South Side.

Yet, that discussion takes place within an imaginative, visual framework. Johnson works with a palette of green, gold and orange colors, integrates masks from Ghana and images of Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist and Civil War veteran, and fabric and cloth of various kinds. She utilizes mud cloth from Mali and batting cotton, batik fabric and tie-dyed cloth.

In The Last Tree, a mixed-media installation, the artist fashions a tree shape from various fabrics, a creation that stands over six feet tall. Its trunk is constructed from multicolor layers, and strands of fabric drape down on the floor.

Her text refers to the tree as a witness to a dying planet, as a being with memories of sacrificing limbs for drums, and cradles, and shelters for mankind and animals, and trees.

Another large installation, Let Justice Roll Down like Waters, combines silhouettes, masks from Ghana, cowrie shells and deep-blue color. The work honors young women of color who are water warriors and environmental-justice activists. And so, Johnson provides brief profiles of seven activists, including Chante Davis, a 17-year-old from Louisiana who helped organize a march from New Orleans to Houston, and Tokata Iron Eyes, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and a youth leader of ReZpect Our Water.

Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters by Vanessa Johnson. 2025. Mixed media installation. Cotton fabric Ghana and U.S., rescued fabric from discarded clothing, polyester fabric, hand dyed fabric, black Adinkra cloth - Ghana, African mask, wood boxes, nails, masks from Ghana, sewing trims, cowrie shells, glass and metal beads, archival ink. Amos 5:24 But Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters honors young women of color who are water warriors and environmental justice activists...earth protectors. ArtRage Gallery

The installation hangs on a gallery wall. In front of it, theres an altar with water drop shaped cloth and pens. Viewers are invited to write down names of earth and water protectors.

The artist also created the installation Excavating the Center of the Crossroads which consists of five brightly colored segments mounted on a wall. They are made from cotton from the United States and Ghana, mud cloth from Mali, bone masks and other elements. Again, viewers are invited to participate, to leave messages honoring ancestors.

One of the shows highlights is the installation Hye Won Hye, whose title translates to That Which Does Not Burn. It has three segments and blends paint, acrylic, a photo of Tubman, and an Adinka symbol; a design with roots in the culture of the Akan people, a major ethnic group in Ghana. Such symbols signify a concept or proverb.

Beyond that, the exhibit displays The Strength of the Crocodile Is in the Water, an installation paying homage to Asase Yaa aka Asasa Afua, a central figure in the Ashanti belief system of Ghana. Shes seen as an earth goddess, a symbol of fertility and the interconnections of all living beings.

There are also small story quilts, mixed-media banners hanging from a wall and small pieces hanging from the gallerys ceiling.

This is an extensive show encompassing vivid colors, multiple themes and Johnsons foundational beliefs. She speaks of bearing witness to climate change and how power plants and refineries are far more likely to be built in brown and Black neighborhoods, of the primacy of community, of experiences shes lived and interpreted in her artworks.

Unwrapping Vanessa, her first solo exhibit at ArtRage, was staged in 2017. There she spoke passionately of contemporary history, of children who never had a chance to grow up: Anne Frank, murdered in a concentration camp; the four Black children who died in the KKKs 1963 bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama church; and others. In the current exhibition, she brings renewed passion as she focuses on land, society and the very existence of life on our planet.

In the Center of the Crossroads is on display through May 24, 2025 at ArtRage, 505 Hawley Ave.

Admission is free, and the gallery is open from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

ArtRage has scheduled several workshops and events in conjunction with the show. On May 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, the gallery will host Re-sist: Tie Workshop with Vanessa Johnson. Its a family-friendly event; children 10 and older are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Admission is free. Registration is required in advance on the gallery website.

Then on May 15, Patchwork People: Storytelling with Vanessa Johnson will run from 7-9 p.m. The event will focus on tales told in cloth; participants are invited to bring their own quilts and discuss them.

Finally, on May 23, from 8-9:30 p.m., Johnson and the Mattie Masie Ensemble will perform her play Shirley Chisolm: Unbought, Unbossed, Unforgotten. It features excerpts from Chisolms speeches, recordings and interviews. She served several terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the first woman and first African American to run for President of the United States.

For more information, call 315-218-5711 or access artragegallery.org

Carl Mellor covered visual arts for the Syracuse New Times from 1994 through 2019. He continues to write about exhibitions and artists in the Syracuse area.
Syracuse, N.Y.  More than 1,000 people marched from Clinton Square through downtown Syracuse Thursday afternoon demanding a halt to what they said was an attack on constitutional rights by the Trump administration and Elon Musk.

Our democracy is under attack, said Lisa Charrell, one of the rally organizers. Its being destroyed, dismantled and its extremely important that we all are in the streets fighting.

Throughout the large crowd, signs and chants illustrated how frustrated many were with President Donald Trumps crackdown on immigration and immigrant workers in the country, with people being deported or sent to prisons with what many see as a lack of due process.

Workers rights are human rights, people chanted.

Today is International Workers Day.

The protest also was a response to Elon Musks leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and the recent massive federal job cuts.

The demands are simply to put the people first, Mykie Kamberos, president of the Undergraduate Labor Organization at Syracuse University, said to rallygoers.

We need to support the people of this country. The men and women who go to work every day for pennies, Kamberos said. The immigrants who work the jobs nobody else wants, and the unions that fight for better.

Trump has decided he is king above law. Not even the Constitution applies to him. We have to remind him of the first three words of that document, We the people.

Starting from Clinton Sqaure, the crowd marched up South Salina Street to Marriott Syracuse Downtown, and then down Warren Street back to Clinton Square.

Several cars honked their horns, and drivers flashed peace signs in support of the rally. One truck stopped in traffic to blare F**K Donald Trump, by rappers YG and Nipsey Hussle.

If we dont come out and stand with one another, what do we have? We have to stand in community with one another, said Michelle Brown, 44, at the rally.

Syracuse community members, Indivisible Syracuse, Indivisible Onondaga County, CNY Solidarity Coalition and representatives from Labor Unions helped plan the rally.

Workers with TCG Player and their union representatives, CWA Local 1123, were also in attendance. Theyre celebrating International Workers Day while also advocating for positive changes to benefit every person and worker in the country, said Richard Vallejo, an employee at TCG Player.

Everyone out here today is recognizing that as workers, as people of color, as women and queer people, that all of our rights are interlinked, he said. In our various identities and aspects in society all of our rights are at risk, and we all need to stand together.

Syracuse.com staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
Joseph McCarthy in March 1994 standing in front of the J.C. Penney store at the Carousel Center in Syracuse. He had just announced his retirement after 49 years with the store. Al Campanie

Almost 50 years later, Joseph A. McCarthy did not know why he was turned down by J.C. Penney after interviewing for a position in the late 1940s.

According to a 1994 interview in the Herald American, his brother convinced him to interview with the store, leaving Brooklyn and his pursuit of a career in law enforcement. He went to a small town in Connecticut for the interview and was turned down.
Toys, clothing and footwear are among the products that could run out first amid President Donald Trump's trade war with China. A cart stands empty amid shelves devoid of paper products in a Target store, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, in Denver. (David Zalubowski | AP Photo) David Zalubowski | AP Photo

President Donald Trumps tariffs on China are sparking worries of empty store shelves and price spikes.

The CEOs of some of the nations biggest retailers have already warned the administration about product shortages and higher prices. Businesses are cancelling orders from China and shipping numbers are falling.

Experts have said that American consumers could start seeing the first signs of the trade wars effects within weeks.

The following product categories could be the first run short, according to NBC News and CNBC:

Toys and games

Lower-cost apparel

Lower-cost footwear

Budget home goods

The U.S. is highly reliant on China for imports of all those goods, so they would be among the first to show signs of stress in a prolonged trade war.

These are the canaries in the coal mine of a disrupted supply chain, said Casey Armstrong, CMO of ShipBob, a global fulfillment and supply chain platform, according to CNBC.

If the tariffs drag on, holiday items could be at risk. That includes gifts like toys, but also decorations and even artificial trees, according The New York Times.

Trump responded to those concerns during a Cabinet meeting April 30.

You know, somebody said, Oh, the shelves are going to be open, Trump said, according to USA Today. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally.

Tariffs on China currently total 145% for most goods, although amounts vary somewhat and Trump has carved out exemptions for some items, including smartphones and computers.

Trump has also shown signs hes willing to reconsider the current tariff levels. He said in April that he expects tariffs on China to come down substantially, although he said they wont drop to zero, according to CNN.

And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the trade war with China is unsustainable and he expects de-escalation soon, according to CNN.

Chinese officials have also said theyre considering talks with the U.S. on tariffs, according to The New York Times.

But even if Trump cuts his tariffs immediately, the disruption theyve already caused could take weeks or months to unravel, NBC said. It takes months for ships to cross the Pacific and for other parts of the supply chain to return to normal.

Trump has argued that while his trade policies may cause short-term pain, theyll be worth it. He has said theyll help return manufacturing to the United States and correct unfair trade practices in other countries that put American businesses at a disadvantage.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
An employee checks people in at the New York State DMV on April 28, 2025 in New York City. May 7th is the upcoming deadline to apply for a REAL ID, which will be required for domestic air travel and access to certain federal facilities. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Getty Images

Some women are having trouble getting REAL IDs and Enhanced drivers licenses due to a simple reason: Marriage.

Jackie Downing, a North Syracuse resident, still goes by her married name despite being single since 2002. Jacquelyn Downing has been her legal name since 1989 and appears on her current drivers license, but it doesnt match the name on her birth certificate.

When she went to the DMV in Fulton to get an updated drivers license, she discovered they wouldnt accept her identification without her marriage certificate. She hasnt been married for more than 20 years, so its not surprising she doesnt still have hers.

Downing drove all the way up to Watertown to get a copy of her marriage certificate, but theres another problem. She was adopted when she was a teenager, so her birth certificate also doesnt match the name on her marriage certificate.

Its very confusing, Downing told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. I cant be the only one thats questioning all of it.

Shes far from the only one whos frustrated.

Rochester resident Dorothy Ballone, formerly Hotchkiss, has used her married name for 67 years. The nonagenarian told Fox News Digital that she applied for a REAL ID with a copy of her marriage certificate from 1958, but was told an original document was needed.

The East Rochester church where she tied the knot doesnt keep records that far back, so Ballone spent months contacting local clerks offices, government officials and the Diocese of Rochester. The City of Rochester eventually said it had an original marriage license and mailed her a certified document, but Ballone said she was still denied a REAL ID.

Another Upstate New York woman, Betty Schultz, told WHEC that shes also having trouble getting original documents from her 1974 wedding in Hawaii. Schultz said the DMV offered no solutions.

I think its discrimination against married women or anybody that takes their significant others last name, Schultz said.

Its not only a New York problem. A Minnesota woman told Fox News Digital that she had to make multiple trips to the DMV for a REAL ID due to her changed name and a lack of employment documents as a stay-at-home mom.

Downing, meanwhile, raised another issue: What if youve been married multiple times or what if you dont remember where you got your marriage license?

Downing said she needs a REAL ID to fly to Florida for a trip to Disney World in November. She was also confused by next weeks deadline, believing she needed to have the Real ID by then. Luckily, she still has six months to resolve the issue and get one before her scheduled trip.

REAL ID, also known as Real ID, is a new form of identification that is required beginning May 7, 2025, to fly in the United States. New York state also offers an Enhanced ID, or Enhanced drivers license, which is accepted for Real ID purposes on flights as well as crossing land and sea borders to and from Canada and Mexico.

A REAL ID-compliant New York state driver's license has a star in the upper right hand corner, as in this facsimile provided by the New York state Department of Motor Vehicles. (NYS DMV) NYS DMV

Both IDs also serve as a standard drivers license and identification, but Real or Enhanced IDs will be required for any domestic flights and to enter federal buildings or military bases  even if your current drivers license hasnt expired. A valid passport is still required for international flights.

There is no additional cost to get a REAL ID, but you must go to a DMV office to get one in person. A new photograph must be taken, and documents proving your identity are required.

People can still get a REAL or Enhanced ID after the deadline. They also can still travel on domestic flights or visit federal buildings without one  if they bring additional identification, such as a valid U.S. passport, Global Entry card, a U.S. Department of Defense ID, federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID, transportation worker identification credentials or U.S. Merchant Mariner credentials.

The REAL ID, created by the federal REAL ID Act in 2005, aims to increase federal security measures after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Required documentation to obtain one includes:
A Pennsylvania woman is currently in custody after she allegedly pooped on another drivers car during a road rage incident on Tuesday.

Per NBC Philadelphia, one driver cut another off, which ignited this encounter to unfold. The perpetrator has been identified as Christina Solometo, 44, of Ridley Park, Pa.

Solometo soiled the other drivers car on 4th Street and Madison Avenue in Prospect Park, Pa. The driver did not report the incident to the police.

However, a bystander began filming the act and posted it to social media. In the video, Solometo is seen getting out of her car, pulling down her pants, and defecating on the hood of another womans car. She then returns to her vehicle.

Police were able to track her down from the black Nissan she was seen driving. Solometo was taken into custody on Thursday and was charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, and depositing waste on the highway.

FOX 29 shared a video of Solometo being escorted into a cop car by police. A reporter is heard asking her to explain what happened. A lady chased me. She chased me and I asked her not to attack me, Solometo said.

She added, I have a sickness, but didnt elaborate further. Solometo didnt seem to regret or be upset about the incident.

Because of her residence in Delaware County, shes being referred to as the Delco defecator or Delco deucer on social media.

However, Prospect Park Police Chief David Madonna isnt here for the jokes.

I know its being joked on a lot. Theres all kinds of puns and innuendos online but bottom line, we are treating it seriously. It cant happen in this community. No town wants this to happen in their town, he told FOX 29. The recognition a town gets over this kind of thing, its really unwelcome. We dont want this.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The second day of the European Cup Series in Rhythmic Gymnastics has kicked off in Baku, Trend reports.

On the second day of the competition, there will be qualifying rounds in individual programs and group exercises.

In the adult age category, gymnasts will perform with ribbon and clubs.

Afterwards, the awarding of the adult gymnasts in the individual program will take place, followed by the awarding of the adult gymnasts in the group exercises.

Over 170 gymnasts from 25 countries will battle it out for the European Cup medals.

Will be updated
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Media plays an important role in legal enlightenment of society, in prompt and objective delivery of information about ongoing processes to the general public, thus shaping public opinion, the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva said at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Forum on Public Processes in Media Space, Trend reports.

She noted that the media also acts as an effective tool of public control.

Today's event is of great importance in terms of analyzing the reflection of public events in media, influence of media platforms on public opinion, promotion of professional approaches, discussion of media's impact on human rights, as well as assessment of prospects for cooperation between institutions, she said.

According to Aliyeva, one of the main principles of establishing a state based on the rule of law is the existence of independent media, freedom of thought, speech and press.

The formation of freedom of speech and thought, as well as the press based on democratic principles in independent Azerbaijan, is connected with the name of national leader Heydar Aliyev. It was on his initiative, with the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, one of the most important events in the history of our independence, that a fundamental basis for the realization of human rights and freedoms, including freedom of thought and speech, freedom of information was created in the country, and censorship was banned.

Legal and institutional reforms continued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, have improved the current situation in Azerbaijan in the field of freedom of thought, speech, and the press to a level comparable to developed democratic countries.

The establishment of the Media Development Agency, adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On Media, introduction of several tax benefits and exemptions for media entities, as well as other reforms, are vivid examples of this, the Ombudsperson concluded.
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Cutting corners: Not content with banning sales of high-end AI chips to China and imposing 145% tariffs on many imports from the country, the US government is now trying to stop companies from using Chinese labs to test electronic devices available in the United States.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr writes that before any electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers, can be imported or sold in the US, they must be tested at a lab to ensure compliance with FCC regulations. This testing covers the likes of power levels and operating frequencies.

The FCC's equipment authorization regulations are also designed to address national security issues, which include prohibiting banned devices from Huawei and ZTE from being approved for sale in the US.

Carr writes that there is a loophole in the process: the FCC had not required the labs that test these devices to be "trustworthy actors."

As an example, the FCC had allowed Huawei to operate its own test lab up until the agency took action last year. "Trusting a Huawei lab to certify that it is not approving prohibited Huawei gear does not sound like a smart bet," Carr wrote.

The agency wants to ban test labs from participating in the FCC's equipment authorization process if they are owned, controlled, or directed by entities on the FCC's "Covered List," which pose national security risks  such as Huawei. The restriction will also apply to foreign adversary governments, like China.

A vote on May 22 will finalize the rule. If it passes, the FCC would withdraw its recognition of a lab if it was determined to be tied to a prohibited company.

Reuters writes that the FCC is seeking comment on a separate proposal that will expand the testing prohibition to all labs in China and other foreign adversaries.

The FCC also seeks comment on ways to boost the capacity to test and certify imported electronics in the US.

The FCC estimates that around 75% of all electronics are tested at labs located inside China. According to its database, there are 168 certified test labs in China, 111 in the US, and 114 in Taiwan.

The FCC also plans to seek comment on obtaining the information necessary for the agency to publish a list of regulated entities that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary.

Apple, Samsung, Sony, and LG are just some of the companies selling products in the US that use Chinese labs for testing purposes.
Bottom line: As Apple contends with shifting trade policies and a changing global manufacturing landscape, its ability to adapt its supply chain and maintain robust financial performance will remain under close scrutiny from investors and analysts. Meanwhile, consistent with its practice over the past five years, Apple declined to issue formal guidance for the upcoming quarter.

Apple's latest financial results reveal a company navigating both strong demand and mounting geopolitical pressures, as new tariffs threaten to reshape its global supply chain and cost structure.

For the second fiscal quarter of 2025, Apple reported revenue of $95.4 billion and a net profit of $24.8 billion, or $1.65 per diluted share. This marks an increase from the $90.8 billion in revenue and $23.6 billion in profit reported during the same period last year. The company's gross margin climbed to 47.1%, up from 46.6% a year ago, and Apple's board authorized an additional $100 billion for share repurchases, alongside a dividend increase to $0.26 per share.

"Today Apple is reporting strong quarterly results, including double-digit growth in Services. We were happy to welcome iPhone 16e to our lineup, and to introduce powerful new Macs and iPads that take advantage of the extraordinary capabilities of Apple silicon," CEO Tim Cook said.

Despite surpassing Wall Street's revenue and earnings-per-share expectations, Apple's shares dropped as much as 4% in after-hours trading. The reaction reflected investor anxiety over the company's performance in China and the looming impact of tariffs.

Apple's revenue from China fell 2.3% to $16 billion, missing analyst forecasts and underscoring ongoing challenges in what was once a key growth market.

A central focus of the earnings call was the financial impact of tariffs linked to US trade policy targeting Chinese imports. Cook told investors that Apple expects tariffs to add $900 million in costs for the June quarter alone, a figure already factored into the company's guidance for gross margin.

"If things remained the same, the company estimates tariffs will only add $900 million to its costs in Q3," Cook explained, noting that the estimate assumes no further changes in global tariff rates or new tariffs added during the quarter. However, he cautioned against projecting this impact into future quarters, emphasizing, "I don't want to predict the future, because I'm not sure what will happen with the tariffs."

Related reading: Trump's dream of a US-made iPhone clashes with Apple's manufacturing reality

Apple is accelerating efforts to diversify its manufacturing footprint to counteract these rising costs. According to Cook, "a majority of iPhones sold in the US during the June quarter will be produced in India," while iPads, Macs, and other products for the US market are increasingly being sourced from Vietnam. This marks a significant departure from Apple's historical reliance on China for manufacturing, a move driven by both tariff pressures and broader geopolitical risks.

Despite these challenges, Apple's core businesses demonstrated resilience. iPhone revenue rose 2% year-over-year to $46.8 billion, outpacing expectations. Mac and iPad sales exceeded analyst forecasts, with revenue of $7.9 billion and $6.4 billion, respectively. Services revenue hit an all-time high but fell slightly short of some estimates.

Apple's finance chief Kevan Parekh indicated that the company expects overall revenue to grow "low to mid-single digits" annually in the current quarter, with gross margin guidance reflecting the added tariff costs.
Big quote: The US launch of "World" highlights the potential of digital ID technology in an era of growing AI-driven fraud. Co-founder Sam Altman describes World's technology as "a way to make sure humans remained central and special in a world where the internet had a lot of AI-driven content." The company's expansion comes amid ongoing scrutiny over its commitment to privacy, regulation, and public trust.

Sam Altman's digital identity startup, World, has launched its iris-scanning technology and cryptocurrency token in the United States, aiming to make the country its core market after a global rollout that began in 2023.

This expansion comes as the Trump administration signals its support for digital assets, with the president pledging to make the US the "crypto capital of the planet."

At the heart of World's technology is the Orb, a metallic, spherical device designed to scan users' irises and generate unique digital IDs stored on the blockchain. The Orb is positioned as a defense against the rising threat of deepfakes and online impersonation  a problem Altman sees as urgent in an era where GenAI blurs the line between real people and automated bots.

According to the company, the Orb's biometric ID system allows users to prove their humanity without revealing personal information. World's technology is debuting in six US cities: Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco  with plans to deploy as many as 7,500 Orbs in the US over the next year, assembled at a new facility in Richardson, Texas.

The company is also introducing a portable "Orb mini" device, expected to ship in 2026, to further expand access to its identity verification system.

The Orb's launch seems timely, as more sophisticated AI models are making online scams, phishing, and digital fraud more prevalent. World is already piloting its technology with Match Group in Japan to verify users on dating apps like Tinder to boost trust.

Adrian Ludwig, chief architect at Tools for Humanity  the company behind World  said the technology could also play a role in government, community services, and social networks, enhancing trust and safety across digital platforms.

World claims its user base has nearly doubled to 26 million in the past six months, but now the company faces significant regulatory scrutiny. Privacy concerns have led to bans, investigations, or fines in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, South Korea, and France. Spain's data protection regulator, for example, blocked the service over concerns about collecting minors' data.

Ludwig maintains that "all biometric data was anonymous," and projected that "in 18 months or so we will begin to see the costs of operating the network begin to be offset by the fees that are generated by the network."

The company's app is being updated to support more financial transactions, including stablecoins, and World has partnered with Stripe to enable payments on supported websites. At the San Francisco event, the company also announced a proposed Visa-backed debit card, which would allow users to spend their World currency at any location accepting Visa and potentially earn rewards on AI subscriptions like ChatGPT Plus.

World's ambition is to become a "super app" for identity and payments, a vision shared by other tech leaders. The app now offers access to third-party "mini apps," including games and prediction markets, and continues to target global financial inclusion.

However, the company's approach  particularly its collection and use of biometric data  remains controversial. In its early days, World marketed itself to unbanked populations, offering free crypto in exchange for iris scans, a practice that drew criticism from privacy advocates and regulators.

While World's technology is now available in the United States, it is inaccessible to residents or organizations in New York or other unspecified restricted territories. The company has not explained this exclusion, and New York's Department of Financial Services has not commented on the matter.
WTF?! Nvidia has denied that its chips have been smuggled into China using bizarre methods, including hiding them in fake pregnant bellies or alongside live lobsters. However, Chinese customs have documented these exact cases, complete with photographic evidence.

Nvidia's rant was aimed at AI startup Anthropic, which has been clashing with Team Green over the AI Diffusion Rules that are set to take effect on May 15. The rules restrict the export of advanced AI technologies, particularly AI chips and high-capability models (those trained with over 10 FLOPs).

Nvidia wants to keep selling its expensive GPUs to China, while Anthropic, which uses the company's hardware for its operations, wants to keep them in the US to ensure a steady supply and fewer competitors.

The Amazon-backed company has suggested lowering the export threshold for Tier 2 countries, implementing stricter regulations to minimize smuggling risks, and boosting funding for enforcement efforts.

"Maintaining America's compute advantage through export controls is essential for national security and economic prosperity," Anthropic wrote.

The company also cited the arrest of two people in 2023 by Hong Kong customs officers who were trying to smuggle 70 high-end "computer display cards" into the country alongside 617 pounds of lobsters, and the famous incident in which a woman was caught entering China with 202 Intel CPUs wrapped around her torso and concealed underneath a prosthetic pregnant belly.

Nvidia was, unsurprisingly, less than pleased by Anthropic's criticism. A spokesperson told CNBC that "American firms should focus on innovation and rise to the challenge, rather than tell tall tales that large, heavy, and sensitive electronics are somehow smuggled in 'baby bumps' or 'alongside live lobsters.'"

It's confusing why the spokesperson would consider the reports to be tall tales, especially as there are photos from these incidents of the smugglers' hauls. Maybe they'd argue that the woman with the pregnant belly was hiding iPhones and Intel CPUs, not Nvidia chips?

Nvidia's spokesperson added that the policy should not be used to limit competitiveness. They said China has half the world's AI researchers and highly capable experts at every layer of the AI stack. "America cannot manipulate regulators to capture victory in AI," the spokesperson said.

"Anthropic stands by its recently filed public submission in support of strong and balanced export controls that help secure America's lead in infrastructure development and ensure that the values of freedom and democracy shape the future of AI," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Beijing last month at the invitation of a Chinese trade organisation. He confirmed that China was a very important market for Nvidia, and recently said that when it came to AI, "China is not behind anybody, China is right behind us, we are very, very close." He also praised the progress being made by Huawei.
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Recap: The Raspberry Pi 5 was launched in 2023, delivering more than twice the performance of the previous generation. The board was also instrumental in bringing a small, yet significant change in how the UK foundation is actually printing its single-board computers. By changing the way Raspberry Pi boards are assembled and components are soldered, the maker improved its operations in what it described as "massive" ways.

Raspberry Pi Hardware Engineer Roger Thornton explained the change in a recent blog post. Working with its manufacturing partner Sony, the UK organization gradually implemented a soldering technique known as intrusive reflow soldering.

The new method improved production quality, reduced e-waste, and lowered the company's environmental impact, Thornton stated.

Intrusive reflow was first used to produce Raspberry Pi 5 boards and is now being applied to earlier models as well. This new manufacturing process resolved the inefficiency issues caused by previous soldering methods, which relied on distinct through-hole connectors and surface mount technology (SMT) machines.

Through-hole connectors require strong solder joints made through the printed circuit board and cannot be handled by the SMT machines that place individual parts.

In the early days of Raspberry Pi production, parts were inserted by hand before being handled by robots. A subsequent soldering step, where boards passed through a molten solder bath, was used to secure everything in place.

The improvements led to a 50 percent reduction in product returns, a 15 percent increase in production speed, and a yearly reduction of 43 tonnes of CO emissions.

The whole process was complex, costly, and time-consuming. Now, thanks to intrusive reflow, through-hole connectors can be placed using the same machines that install SMT parts. Raspberry Pi perfected the method after several trials, adjusting the solder paste stencil and refining the PCB layout until the company's quality standards were met.

The improvements led to a 50 percent reduction in product returns, a 15 percent increase in production speed, and a yearly reduction of 43 tonnes of CO emissions. Raspberry Pi's manufacturing now requires less machinery and inventory, with no production line interruptions due to work-in-process inventory.

Raspberry Pi says that intrusive reflow soldering was key to eliminating "wasteful" intermediate steps in the manufacturing process. The company now highlights its reduced environmental impact and improved efficiency, which align with its ongoing efforts to become a more responsible and sustainable organization.
Duolingo is facing backlash after announcing plans to replace contract workers with artificial intelligence, prompting social media users to publicly vow to quit the app, followed with comments like, "that owl is dead to me."

On April 28, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn shared a company-wide email declaring that the language-learning platform would become "AI-first," likening the shift to its 2012 pivot to mobile, according to a LinkedIn post by the company.

Citing the inevitability of AI's growing role in the workplace, Ahn said Duolingo would stop using contractors for tasks "that AI can handle," a move he framed as essential for scalability and innovation.

Ahn's email promised sweeping AI integrationnot only in content creation, but also in hiring, performance reviews and product features like AI-powered video calls that aim to rival human tutors. He admitted that the transition might sacrifice some quality in the short term, but emphasized the need for speed over perfection.

While insisting the company would still support existing employees with training and mentorship, the email made clear that some roles would be eliminated. Users quickly took to social media to criticize the decision, with many pledging to cancel their subscriptions or end long streaks.

"That owl is dead to me," one user wrote on X. While another declared, "This is where my streak dies."

duolingo ceo said they going full ai and ai first so that owl is dead to me  amanda (@amandabb__) April 30, 2025

This is where my streak dies. @duolingo deciding to replace contractors, people, with AI is an ethically dogshit choice and Im not here for it. Deuces  pic.twitter.com/oT3KOl8aWQ  essi // punching-nazi-transphobes_era (@Teh_Jkr) April 30, 2025

The backlash was especially fierce among those who saw the move as emblematic of corporate disregard for human labor.

"We loved that f***ing owl. We would kill for that f***ing owl. You just blew a 3-1 lead. Who the f*** is making this decision? No one's using your app anymore" TikToker Anthony Koz declared.

"I have never deleted an app so fast. [Duolingo] Max subscription, ended. App, deleted. Fifteen-hundred-something-day streak, gone," another user shared in a video that has since amassed more than 5 million views.

Though Duolingo has not reversed course, the controversy highlights the growing tension between AI adoption and ethical labor practices.

Originally published on Latin Times
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. A total of 152 companies and government agencies are participating in the career fair at ADA University in 2025, Tarana Aslanova, the manager of the career service at the university, told reporters, Trend reports.

She noted that the number of participating companies has reached a record level.

"This is already the 13th career fair held at ADA University, and it has become a real tradition. Both graduates and students take part in the fair. At the moment, the companies represented at the event are holding presentations in various industries," she added.
Animal rights activists denounce Icelandic whaling plans



Reykjavik, May 1 (AFP) May 01, 2025



An Icelandic whaling company plans to hunt minke whales this summer in a first for the country since 2021, a decision denounced Thursday by animal rights activists.

Iceland is one of only three countries that still allows commercial whale hunting, along with Norway and Japan.

It issued licenses in December to two whaling companies for 2025-2029, setting annual catches of 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales during each year's whaling season, which runs from mid-June to September.

Iceland's whalers have not hunted minke whales in recent years, saying it is not profitable.

In 2018, six minke whales were hunted and in 2021, one minke whale was hunted.

But the Tjaldtangi company said it plans to give it a try this summer.

"We'll start with one. It's one at a time," managing director Gunnar Torfason told Icelandic media Visir this week.

His ship Halldor Sigurdsson and four crew plan to hunt off the country's coast, including off of Isafjordur in northwest Iceland.

Iceland's only other active whaling company in recent years -- Hvalur, which hunts only fin whales -- said in early April that it would not hunt this year for the second straight year due to lack of profitability.

The decision to resume minke whaling has been criticised by Iceland's growing tourism industry, after the Travel Industry Association and the Icelandic Whale Watching Association recently proposed that the Isafjordur Bay be defined a whale sanctuary.

Animal rights activists also denounced the whaling plans.

"As well as being cruel and unjustified, this whaling ignores the fact that whales are worth far more to the economy alive than dead," a spokeswoman for the Humane World for Animals association, Wendy Higgins, told AFP.

Torfason said he was not concerned about the criticism or risk of protests.

"We have a very good relationship with the people in the area. I feel a lot of goodwill in Isafjordur and there is a lot of excitement among the people of the Westfjords to get minke whale meat this summer," he said.

"There are high demands on the hunt and it is crucial to keep the welfare of the animals in mind. There are very high demands made of us," he said, referring to Icelandic regulations ensuring among things that the whales are killed quickly so they don't suffer.
'No dumping ground': Tunisia activist wins award over waste scandal



Tunis, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



Tunisian environmentalist Semia Labidi Gharbi, awarded a global prize for her role exposing a major waste scandal, has a message for wealthy nations: developing countries are "no dumping ground".

Gharbi was among the first to speak out when Italy shipped more than 280 containers of waste to the North African country in 2020.

The cargo was initially labelled as recyclable plastic scrap, but customs officials found hazardous household waste -- banned under Tunisian law.

"It's true, we are developing countries," Gharbi said in an interview with AFP. "But we are not a dumping ground."

The 57-year-old was among seven environmentalists from different countries handed this year's Goldman Environmental Prize -- commonly known as the "Green Nobel" -- in California last week.

The Goldman committee said her grassroots activism helped force Italy to take the waste back in February 2022.

Gharbi "helped spearhead a campaign that challenged a corrupt waste trafficking scheme between Italy and Tunisia," the Goldman committee said.

And her endeavours ultimately led to the return of 6,000 tonnes of "illegally exported household waste back to Italy", the US-based organisation added.

The scandal took on national proportions in Tunisia and saw the sacking of then environment minister Mustapha Aroui, who was sentenced to three years in prison.

A total of 26 people, including customs officials, were prosecuted.

Yet the waste remained at the port of Sousse for more than two years, with Tunisian rights groups criticising the authorities' inaction as Italy failed to meet deadlines to take it back.



- Limited capacity -



Global waste trade often sees industrialised nations offload rubbish in poorer countries with limited means to handle it.

"What is toxic for developed countries is toxic for us too," said Gharbi. "We also have the right to live in a healthy environment."

She added that while richer countries can manage their own waste, developing ones like Tunisia have "limited capacity".

The Goldman committee said Gharbi's campaigning helped drive reforms in the European Union.

"Her efforts spurred policy shifts within the EU, which has now tightened its procedures and regulations for waste shipments abroad," it said.

Gharbi, who has spent 25 years campaigning on environmental threats to health, said she never set out to turn the scandal into a symbol.

"But now that it has become one, so much the better," she said with a smile.

She hopes the award will raise the profile of Tunisian civil society, and said groups she works with across Africa see the recognition as their own.

"The prize is theirs too," she said, adding it would help amplify advocacy and "convey messages".
Australia launches "world's largest" battery-power ship



Sydney, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



An Australian boatbuilder launched what it described as the world's largest electric-powered ship on Friday, a 130-metre (426-feet) behemoth capable of carrying 2,100 passengers.

Identified by boatbuilder Incat as Hull 096, the aluminium catamaran is powered by more than 250 tonnes of batteries and was built for South American ferry operator Buquebus.

It was designed to carry passengers and up to 225 vehicles across the River Plate between Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

"Hull 096 proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now," Incat CEO Stephen Casey said in a statement after the launch on Hobart's Derwent River in the island state of Tasmania.

Shipping accounts for nearly three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions that are blamed for global warming, according to the United Nations' shipping body the International Maritime Organization.

IMO member states voted last month in favour of a global pricing system to help curb maritime carbon emissions, with all ships to be required to use a less carbon-intensive fuel mix by 2028 or face financial penalties.

Environmental lobby groups however fear that a switch to biofuels has problems of its own, such as deforestation, and does not go far enough in addressing maritime emissions.

Hull 096's batteries and Energy Storage System (ESS) will provide more than 40 megawatt hours of installed capacity, Incat said. The ESS was built by Finnish engine maker Wartsila and is connected to eight electric-driven waterjets.

"Ferries play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transport options, with ship electrification a key solution for enabling the sector to transition towards net-zero emissions," Wartsila Marine President Roger Holm said in the same statement.

The ship was originally named China Zorilla and was planned to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) before it was reconfigured to battery power.
Over 45,000 affected by Somalia flash floods since mid-April: UN



Nairobi, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



More than 45,000 people have been affected by flash floods in Somalia since mid-April, the United Nations said, with at least four people killed in the rapidly rising waters.

The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense.

"Since 15 April, flash floods due to heavy to moderate rains in Somalia have affected over 45,000 people and swept away four people including two children and a woman," said UN humanitarian agency OCHA, in a report published April 30.

It warned the flooding came at a time when NGOs -- often the frontline responders -- are "facing crippling funding reductions that have severely limited their ability to respond to emerging needs".

It detailed that roughly 6,000 people were displaced in the Middle Shabelle region after the Shabelle River burst its banks on April 29.

Families have sought refuge in makeshift camps on higher ground, it said, but are "facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and healthcare".

"The flooding swept away homes and inundated crops, disrupting livelihoods in one of Somalia's most agriculturally vital regions," OCHA also noted.

The day before, some 9,500 people were also displaced in central Galmudug State after light to moderate rains caused flash floods, it said.

The floods come as the international humanitarian community grapples with the United States' decision to dismantle much of USAID, the country's main foreign development arm.

"Currently, many humanitarian organizations in areas where the flash flooding is occurring have been forced to pause, scale back, or even close their critical programmes," OCHA noted.

Somalia was hit by intense floods in 2023. More than 100 people were killed and over a million displaced after severe flooding caused by torrential rains linked to the El Nino weather pattern.
Major offshore quake causes tsunami scare in Chile, Argentina



Ushuaia, Argentina, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



A strong offshore earthquake caused a tsunami scare in the far south of Chile and Argentina on Friday, with authorities evacuating residents of coastal areas for hours before scaling back the threat level.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck in the Drake Passage between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The USGS put the magnitude at 7.4, slightly below the 7.5 reported by Chile's National Seismological Center.

It struck at 9:58 am local time (1258 GMT), and several smaller aftershocks were also recorded, but there were no reports of injuries or material damage.

The epicenter was 219 kilometers from the city of Ushuaia in Argentina and a similar distance from the Chilean town of Puerto Williams.

Chile's emergency agency Senapred issued a tsunami warning and ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of the remote southern Magallanes region, at the tip of South America.

But within two hours, the agency had lifted the evacuation order, while adding that fishing was suspended until further notice.

Three Argentines, who were kayaking around Cape Horn, one of the southernmost points in the Americas, had to turn back due to the tsunami warning.

Diego Linares, one of the trio, told AFP they didn't notice the earthquake, and that the sea remained calm, but that their support crew fell tremors in their boat.



- 'Felt the bed moving' -



Sofia Ramonet told AFP was asleep when she "felt the bed moving a lot" in her third-floor apartment in Ushuaia, a jump-off point for expeditions to the Antarctic.

"I looked up at the ceiling where I have a hanging lamp and it was moving from one side to the other. It lasted a considerable amount of time, a few minutes."

When she looked out the window she saw "a lot of people outside their homes" who were "scared because they didn't know what was happening or what to do."

There was no evacuation order for Ushuaia.

But residents of Puerto Almanza, a village 75 kilometers to the east on the Beagle Channel, which separates the main island in Tierra del Fuego archipelago from smaller islands and which could act as a funnel for a wave surge, were ordered to move to higher ground.

All nautical activities in the Beagle Channel were suspended, Tierra del Fuego's secretary for civil protection told AFP.

The quake was also felt 160 miles as the crow flies north of Ushuaia in the Chilean town of Porvenir on the Strait of Magellan.

"I didn't give it much thought until the alarms sounded. It caused a bit of chaos because it's not normal to feel tremors here," Shirley Gallego, a 41-year-old fishing plant operator, told AFP.

Chile's police on its X account showed an officer pushing a person in a wheelchair up a hill during evacuations in Puerto Williams.



- A history of quakes -



Chile is one of the countries most affected by earthquakes.

Three tectonic plates converge within its territory: the Nazca, the South American, and the Antarctic plates.

In 1960, the southern Chilean city of Valdivia was devastated by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake, considered the most powerful ever recorded, which killed 9,500 people.

In 2010, an 8.8 magnitude quake off the coast of central Chile, which triggered a tsunami, left more than 520 dead.

burs-cb/sla
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The 13th Career Fair of ADA University has successfully concluded, Trend reports.

The event, organized in partnership with the ADA University Foundation and International Bank of Azerbaijan (ABB), was attended by numerous companies and institutions representing various sectors of the country.

This years fair stood out in terms of both scale and attendance compared to previous years.

A total of 152 companies and more than 350 human resources representatives participated in the fair. Representatives from organizations in banking, technology, energy, tourism, law, and other sectors informed participants about employment and internship opportunities, established direct contacts, and conducted preliminary interviews on-site.

Addressing the audience, ADA University Vice Rectors Gunay Ziyadova and Elkin Nurmammadov, ADA University Foundation President Natiq Hajiyev, and the Director of the Human Resources Department at ABB, Malahat Abdullayeva, noted that the career fair provides youth with the opportunity to learn more about the organizations and companies on the job market and easily find suitable employment opportunities.

The participants included large companies and organizations such as Baker Tilly, EY, KPMG Azerbaijan, PwC Azerbaijan, PASHA Holding, as well as government and private institutions, including Azercosmos, SOCAR, AZAL, the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Examination Center, and others.

On the same day, the closing ceremony of Career Preparation Week took place at ADA University. During the event, the names of more than 100 students who successfully passed the special selection processes of the university's partner companies were announced, and they were offered summer internship opportunities.

Throughout Career Preparation Week, the students participated in training sessions and seminars led by highly qualified professionals from 20 domestic and international companies and institutions working in the fields of finance, banking, information and telecommunications, auditing, consulting, and other sectors.

They gained both theoretical and practical skills in areas such as resume writing, interview preparation, personal branding, and company presentation.

More than 2,000 ADA students and graduates participated in Career Preparation Week and its final career fair, which was organized with the support of the university's Career Services Department. The event allowed them to expand their professional networks, formulate their career plans, and familiarize themselves with the real demands of the job market.

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Sebastian Stan knows all about taking risks. It was just last year that he played Donald Trump in The Apprentice; depicting the president as a blustering sociopath and rapist, the film was released despite preventative efforts from Trumps lawyers.

Several months ago, Stan attempted an even more perilous jump into the unknown when he said the unsayable and defended everyones favourite big-screen punchbag, the Marvel Cinematic Universe  describing the maligned blockbuster franchise as a lifeline for cinema. Its become really convenient to pick on [Marvel films], he told GQ. And thats fine. Everyones got an opinion... [But Marvel] is an artery travelling through the system of this entire machinery thats Hollywood. It feeds in so many more ways than people acknowledge.

Rare indeed is it that an actor will come out to bat for the MCU  even if, like Stan, theyve been part of the Marvel Universe almost from the beginning. He joined the franchise first as Captain Americas peppy best pal Bucky Barnes (in 2011s Captain America: The First Avenger), then played Barness killing machine alter-ego, the Winter Soldier. Resilient, uncomplaining and focused on the task at hand, both Stan and Bucky may well be the underappreciated heroes of the Marvel Universe.

This weekend, Stan is back as Barnes in Thunderbolts*  a team-up movie also starring Florence Pugh as Black Widows younger adoptive sister Yelena Belova, and David Harbour as Russian supersoldier Red Guardian. It marks the ninth MCU film Stan has appeared in (plus two TV series). Earlier this year, Stan popped up for one scene in Captain America: A Brave New World  arguably the highlight of an underwhelming film.

It was also a reminder of what Stan brings to the franchise  a stolid charm less dazzling than the mega-charisma of Robert Downey Jrs Iron Man, but with its own potent appeal. Stan has an introverted, unshowy style  he doesnt jump up and down demanding your attention; instead he quietly gets under the skin of his characters. Film to film, this makes him easy to take for granted. Its only when you look back at the arc of his oeuvre that what hes achieved becomes clear.

Stans willingness to put a shoulder to the wheel and just get on with things is perhaps rooted in his own life story: hes the child of Romanian parents who moved to America after the end of the Cold War. He has talked about feeling like an outsider amid the go-getting optimism of 1990s America, and of making a concerted effort to lose all traces of his Romanian accent. He was the outsider who wanted to fit in  just like Bucky.

He has been upfront about the MCU being a lifeline. Before The First Avenger, his career had been stuttering badly. He was best known for a recurring part in the rich-kid soap opera Gossip Girl and for playing the baddie in Hot Tub Time Machine  the residuals from which were just about keeping him afloat when he auditioned for Captain Americas ill-fated buddy.

His character was introduced as a newly minted GI, shipped off to Europe to dispense Stars n Stripes justice to the Nazis. When he plunged to his death, it seemed like we had lost a perfectly agreeable minor character  sacrificed so that Cap could understand the value of friendship.

But the Bucky didnt stop there. Stans character lends his name to the title of the second Captain America movie, The Winter Soldier  the best MCU film up to that point. He is chilling and relentless as a programmable assassin whose mind has been wiped by Hydra (Caps Nazi enemies in 1943), Stans usual magnetism nowhere to be seen. Its a brave turn by Stan, who isnt in the least concerned about his character being likeable  only that he scares us.

open image in gallery Its your Bucky day: Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts* ( Courtesy of Marvel Studios )

In the years since, Stans Marvel character has swung through highs and lows. He was a C-list figure in the later Avengers films  there to fill out an already overstuffed bench. Amid the stability of the Marvel gig, however, Stan began taking on more interesting side-projects.

The first of these was I, Tonya, in which he impressed as Jeff Gillooly  abusive boyfriend, and later ex-husband, of Margot Robbies disgraced figure-skater Tonya Harding. There was his Trump in The Apprentice, for which he received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. He also played a charming cannibal in Fresh and a man with facial disfigurement in last years A Different Man (for which he won a Golden Globe).

On the small screen, he seared himself into the memory of the unsuspecting viewer in the 2022 Disney + series Pam & Tommy, playing Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in a cant be unseen sequence in which he converses with his own anthropomorphic penis.

Pam & Tommy , which chronicled Lees marriage to Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson and the notorious theft of their sex tape, was well regarded within the industry  receiving 10 Emmy nominations, including an Outstanding Lead Actor nod for Stan. But the acclaim wasnt unanimous: a three-star review in The Independent labelled it an uneasy mix of comedy, drama and period piece, while Anderson herself described it as salt on the wound, branding the producers assholes.

Amid those diverging opinions, Stan was a rare bright light, imbuing Lee with a hint of tragedy. He was the hair-metal meathead with a tragic gaze and the air of someone who knew deep down that there was more to life than wrecking hotel rooms and joshing with his junk.

open image in gallery Stan as Tommy Lee with Lily James as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy ( Hulu )

Despite his forays into more critically lauded fare, Stan has always chosen to look at the MCU not as a burden but as a gift  never grumbling, or behaving as if he was above the material.

Many actors have, of course, accepted the MCUs money only to then badmouth the franchise. Anthony Hopkins said his role in Thor and its sequels amounted to little beyond shouting a bit: If youre sitting in front of a green screen, its pointless acting it, he tutted. Christian Bale described Thor: Love & Thunder as monotony; Mickey Rourke branded Iron Man 2 mindless and s***.

Even Robert Downey Jr, the franchises biggest star, has levelled digs at the films, calling them content and suggesting that an acting muscle may have atrophied during his time in the MCU.

Thunderbolts* is unlikely to silence the dissenters, but reviews have hailed it as one of Marvels best films in years. There are fight scenes, spectacular set pieces, and lashings of the trademark Marvel banter  sarcastic, tension-alleviating quips adored by fans but which detractors have identified as the franchises great sin against the spoken word. (In the modern movie-going landscape, there is apparently nothing more egregious than a well-crafted zinger.)

For Stan, its the latest step in a tumultuous journey that has seen him cast as hero, villain, unwitting stooge and frustrated everyman trying to live his best life in a world where danger lurks around every corner. Early tracking suggests that Thunderbolts* may be one of Marvels bigger recent releases, and is expected to surpass the recent Captain America sequel. Its surely no coincidence that its beating heart is Stan, forever fighting the good fight  whether on behalf of humanity, or the much-maligned MCU.

Thunderbolts* is in cinemas now
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Adam Pearson, the actor who appeared in the Oscar-nominated dark comedy A Different Man, is set to star in a forthcoming adaptation of Bernard Pomerances Tony award-winning play, The Elephant Man.

The 40-year-old actor will play Joseph Merrick, the English artist who was born with physical deformities and became a freak show exhibit, in a film written by Pomerances son, Moby Pomerance.

Shooting is due to begin in 2026, with the playwrights daughter, Eve Pomerance, serving as a producer for the adaptation.

Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis, is the first disabled actor to play the role of Merrick on screen.

He said in a statement: Joseph Merrick is a man I have a long and complex relationship with. From having his name used as a term of derision to learning about him in documentaries Ive presented, its been a cathartic journey of growing to love and respect a man who as a child I avoided even thinking about.

Now as a disability advocate and actor, I can think of no greater honour (yet heavy responsibility) than to tell the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick.

The role has been tackled by major names in the past, with David Bowie, Mark Hamill and Bradley Cooper previously taking on the part on stage. In 1980, John Hurt memorably played Merrick in David Lynchs 1980 film The Elephant Man, which was nominated for eight Oscars.

Eve Pomerance said Pearsons casting will give greater meaning to the story and allow viewers to finally stand in Merricks shoes.

open image in gallery Adam Pearson will star as Joseph Merrick in a forthcoming adaptation of The Elephant Man ( Invision/AP )

My father never wanted prosthetics to be used on stage as he felt it took the audience out of the story," she said in a statement.

He wanted them to empathise fully with Merrick, to see themselves in him. Lines like, 'I am not an animal, I am a man,' which have become synonymous with the play, will take on greater meaning with Adam telling this story.

My father would be beyond excited to see his dream becoming a reality.

open image in gallery Pearson in A Different Man ( A24 )

Pomerances play, which premiered in London in 1977, revolves around the diary entries of Merricks physician, Dr Frederick Treves, during the two years they spent together at the London Hospital.

I am beyond honoured to be playing this role and involved in this project, Pearson wrote on X/Twitter after his casting was announced. Shout out to my reps and family for their unwavering support and huge shout out to those who follow and support my work. I love you all.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Most decisions of the Constitutional Court concern social security and pensions, the head of the Human Rights and Analytics Department of the Constitutional Court, Anar Jafarov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the panel session Media Agenda in the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty within the framework of the 2nd Forum on Public Processes in Media organized by the Media Development Agency.

He noted that as a result of the referendum held in 2002, citizens were given the right to file complaints and appeals to the Constitutional Court.

According to him, 150-160 decisions were made based on the complaints received from citizens.

We have also adopted several decisions related to pensions. Various topics were raised on this issue. Most of the decisions were related to social protection. This issue has always been on the media agenda, he added.
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Delroy Lindo has admitted to struggling with his Oscar snub for Spike Lee film Da 5 Bloods.

The actor, who appears in Ryan Cooglers acclaimed blockbuster Sinners, got candid about the subject, telling The Independent that the Academys failure to recognise his performance kicked me in my ass.

Lees American war film was hailed by critics and audiences upon its release on Netflix in 2020, with many singling Lindo out as an Oscar frontrunner.

However, a nomination never materialised, with his omission being considered one of that years most egregious snubs.

Speaking on The Independent video series Go to Bat, Lindo, 72, said that actors caring about awards recognition is a thing, saying: But one must get over it really quickly cause its about work. You gotta keep working.

He said of the snub: It kicked me in my natural ass for a variety of reasons.

Lindo was helped through by writer-director Lee, who gave him some advice on the morning of the nominations announcement.

I remember the morning of the snub, Spike and I were on the phone. He called me and, in the final analysis, said, One must keep working. You cant wallow int that stuff, man. We can talk, talk, talk for an hour, but you cant wallow  you gotta keep working.

Lindo said that his performance in the film will last forever, adding: Film is forever, no matter who says what and judges or gives me this or that. The work is onscreen. Period. The end.

Da 5 Bloods follows a group of four ageing war veterans who return toVietnam in search of the remains of their squad leader  as well as treasure they buried there.

open image in gallery Delroy Lindo didnt get Oscar nominated for his acclaimed role in Da 5 Bloods ( Netflix )

The actor would have competed in the Best Actor category, which was awarded that year to Anthony Hopkins for his role as an elderly man suffering from dementia in The Father.

Hopkins fellow nominees included Lindos Da 5 Bloods co-star Chadwick Boseman for Ma Raineys Black Bottom, Sound of Metals Riz Ahmed, Gary Oldman for Mank and Minari actor Steven Yeun.

One day after Lindos Oscar snub, Lee honoured the actor, writing on Instagram: This is a Delroy Lindo appreciation post. Delroy Lindo may not have received an Oscar nomination yesterday but that does not take away from the impact of his work that spans decades.

Away from Da 5 Bloods, Lindo has worked with Lee three times, starring in films including Malcom X (1992) and Crooklyn (1994).

But its 1995 drama Clockers  a film that explores the impact of crack cocaine on inner city kids that Lindo thinks is the one deserving of more love.

open image in gallery Delroy Lindo in Spike Lee film Clockers ( Universal Pictures )

He told Go to Bat, a series in which actors pick their most underrated credits: Maybe it was too harsh  harsh a subject matter to present to audiences at that time. Maybe people just didnt want to be confronted with that.

Find past episodes of Go to Bat here.
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Despite Alec Baldwins name recognition, you may not have realised that the actor has spent much of the last decade in a straight-to-streaming stupor, headlining films with titles such as Kid Santa and Chick Fight. Rust, a dour, overlong western thats available to rent and buy in the US from today, would have likely suffered a similar fate: a thumbnail you hover over on Prime Video or Roku, then forget about entirely. That was, though, until Baldwin accidentally killed a woman on the films set. And now everyone knows Rust.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally wounded in 2021 when Baldwin fired a live bullet from a gun during rehearsals for a scene  the gun was supposed to be filled with blanks. Rust is dedicated to Hutchins memory. She receives second billing after the films director, Joel Souza, himself shot in the shoulder during the accident, and her work (roughly half of the film, the rest of it shot by Bianca Cline after Hutchins death) is Rusts only real saving grace. This is an incredibly good-looking movie, rich in shadow and texture, and a testament to the craft Hutchins brought to even the most unremarkable of projects.

But Rust, somewhat inevitably, is a miserable experience overall. It concerns a 13-year-old farmhand in 19th-century Wyoming, who is sentenced to death for killing his abusive employer. Baldwin is the gruff Rust, the boys outlaw grandfather, who springs him from jail. Together they flee town, pursued by bounty hunters and lawmen. Most of the characters here are thinly drawn, while Souza  who also wrote the films script  struggles to harness tension or pockets of intrigue. Baldwin is a real mistake, his performance more ludicrous than menacing. In a post-30 Rock world, it is comfortably accepted that Baldwin is at his best in comedy and parts that hinge on his slick, chaotic machismo. Here, though, he is pouty and self-serious, and largely sinks the movie as soon as he turns up.

Still, thats not the main story here. Rust was patched together in reshoots that occurred 18 months after Hutchins death, and at the behest of her family. It was for this reason that Souza agreed to return, but he has since expressed regret about setting the film in motion in the first place. You cannot fault Hutchins family for wanting her work to be seen, and certainly completed, but queasiness is unavoidable. There are numerous shots of Baldwin firing pistols (thankfully, the scene he was rehearsing with Hutchins was never properly shot), and unintentionally ghoulish dialogue about the dangers of guns.

Scrap heap: Alec Baldwins performance in Rust is hardly passable ( AP )

What is meaningful, I suppose, is that you never once stop thinking about Hutchins while watching Rust, nor the shoddy work environment that led to her death (Rusts prop armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter, while an identical charge against Baldwin was dismissed; the films assistant director Dave Halls pleaded guilty to the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon). But this is a very hollow, very dark victory.

Dir: Joel Souza. Starring: Alec Baldwin, Patrick Scott McDermott, Travis Fimmel, Josh Hopkins, Frances Fisher. 139 mins.

Rust is available to rent and buy in the US, with a UK release to be determined
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HBOs chief content officer, Casey Bloys, has distanced the channels new Harry Potter television series from author JK Rowlings contentious views on gender issues.

Last month, HBO announced that Nick Frost, John Lithgow and Paapa Essiedu have all been cast in the new adaptation.

The forthcoming series has divided fans and stars of the wizarding world franchise due to Rowlings rhetoric, which many have accused of being transphobic.

Although the series is yet to start production, there is already a growing backlash, with many questioning those involved over their stance on the trans community.

Speaking on The Town podcast, Bloys pointed out that HBO has worked with Rowling before, saying: The decision to be in business with JK Rowling is not new for us. Weve been in business for 25 years.

He continued: We already have a show on HBO from her called CB Strike [known as Strike in the UK] that we do with the BBC. Its pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. Shes entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.

Paapa Essiedu, who will star as Professor Snape in the new Harry Potter HBO series, and JK Rowling ( Getty )

It emerged yesterday that Essiedu, who will play Professor Severus Snape in the new HBO adaptation, was among the hundreds of TV and film professionals who have signed an open letter calling for industry action on trans rights.

The letter, expressing solidarity with the trans and non-binary community, demands that industry institutions such as Bafta, BBC, BFI and Channel 4 commit to protecting and including trans people.

It was started by Motive Pictures producer Sid Strickland and script editor Jack Casey just two weeks after the controversial UK Supreme Court ruling that defines a woman based on biological sex.

Rowling was a vocal supporter of the Supreme Court ruling on 17 April. Moments after the decision, she posted on X, I love it when a plan comes together #SupremeCourt #WomensRights, alongside a photo of herself on a yacht, smoking a cigar and holding a cocktail.

The author has denied being transphobic, but previously stated she would rather go to jail than refer to a trans person by their preferred pronouns.

The new letter has amassed more than 400 signatures, and states that the ruling undermines and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK and excludes them from participation in everyday life.

Film and television are powerful tools for empathy and education, and we believe passionately in the ability of the screen to change hearts and minds. This is our opportunity to be on the right side of history, the letter reads.

Other stars to have signed the letter include Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Harris Dickinson (Babygirl), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), James Norton (Little Women) and Faye Marsay (Adolescence).
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Amanda Abbington has revealed what initially prompted her to speak out against ex-Strictly star Giovanni Pernice.

Last year, the 51-year-old Sherlock actor complained about her alleged treatment by Pernice during rehearsals for the BBC series in 2023.

The BBC launched a nine-month investigation, which upheld some of her complaints of verbal harassment, but cleared Pernice of Abbingtons more serious allegations of physical aggression.

Abbington has previously discussed the backlash to her comments, admitting that she received death threats as a result. Pernice and the actor have been involved in a public rivalry ever since.

She has now reignited her feud with the professional dancer, who moved to the Italian version of Strictly, which he won, as the BBC carried out its investigation.

Abbington commented on why she felt compelled to speak out in the first instance, telling White Wine Question Time: I just felt I wasnt being treated fairly in that room.

The star previously claimed she was unfairly vilified for expressing valid concerns, saying her intention in voicing them was to establish a safe space.

She told The Times: The fallout from it wasnt something I was anticipating, but Im glad I did it. I am. Im glad that I stood up for myself because its the first time Ive ever really done that.

Part of Abbingtons motivation to make her complaints public were due to being bullied growing up.

open image in gallery Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington were coupled together on Strictly in 2023 ( BBC )

Thats why I did what I did last year, because of being bullied extensively as a child, she explained. Ive seen what happens when people are bullied and how introverted they become and how it can affect them. You see it on social media right now.

Despite the backlash, Abbington said so many women came up to me and gave me hugs and thanked me for what I did.

Abbington added that she is unsure of her status in the wider industry after the investigation.

open image in gallery Amanda Abbington has been vocal about her negative Strictly Come Dancing experience ( BBC )

I dont know what the industry thinks of me at the moment, she said. Ive been immersed in the aftermath of it all for a year.

I dont know whether Ive been cancelled or whether people dont like me any more, but I know I did what I did for the right reasons. I feel good about the future.

She continued: Last year was one of the worst years of my entire life. I was very close to having a breakdown because of the constant barrage of abuse and hideousness.
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A video of Morgan Freeman appears on my screen. What you see is not real, he says in his deep Tennessee drawl from a darkened room. What if I were to tell you that Im not even a human being? It takes me a minute to adjust. Is Morgan doing OK? I notice hes not blinking; his heads not moving. Ah haits a deepfake.

Im watching this clip as part of the UKs first life-skills curriculum, which is being rolled out to thousands of Gen Z students in Greater Manchester. They will learn essential tools including empathy, time management, challenging prejudice, financial literacy, and spotting misinformation online. The Unesco-partnered non-profit Higher Health has launched the nine-module programme to address a gap in soft skills among those aged 16 to 25, with plans for a nationwide expansion across different education providers such as sixth form colleges, young offender institutions, apprenticeships hubs, and graduate employment settings (it aims to reach 10,000 young people by September).

While Im not actually one of the participants (Ive been given access to the materials for this article), I am part of its target age group, and I can completely see the benefits. The course has been launched at a time when there is public concern about the future of my generation and how we will adapt to the workplace, especially since Gen Z is expected to make up about 27 per cent of the UKs workforce this year.

Our negative reputation often precedes us: were represented in the media as a lazy, anxious and workshy generation, more snowflake than the millennials. Whats more, employers seem to be bracing themselves for our apparent ineptness: the accountancy firm Forvis Mazars recently launched a social skills course to teach Gen Z lessons on picking up the phone, which included simulations of client meetings.

From my perspective, it feels as though theres a growing moral panic surrounding my generation, as if we require reform or an overhaul. But are we really broken? So doomed that we need to roll out another curriculum, on top of our 14 years of compulsory school education, to ensure that we are compassionate, socially informed, and ready for the real adult world? Really so hopeless that we have to sit through hours of instruction on self-care?

It does seem to be a rite of passage that the lazy and anxious labels are levied at the youngest adults joining the workforce (just look at how millennials were gawped at not that long ago). Resorting to cliches about the younger generation, rather than trying to understand them better, is easy. But if we ignore the realities of the circumstances in which Gen Z has emerged into the world, then we will be looking away from a unique set of challenges that might explain why were perceived so abnormally.

Professor Sandeep Ranote, a leading child psychiatrist who worked on developing the curriculum alongside Higher Health, has seen how those born between 1997 and 2012  known as Gen Z  have grown up in an unstable world that has left them lacking some key social skills. She has developed what she calls the five Cs (Covid-19, climate change, cost-of-living, cyberspace and conflict) to represent the unique circumstances that the generation has lived through. Im calling the programme pre-prevention, because its giving young people a broader toolkit and skills for life at a really important transition time, between the ages of 16 and 25, since our brains are still developing until at least the age of 25, she says.

Higher Healths research has surveyed where Gen Z are struggling to adapt to the workplace, and communication is at the top of that list. What were seeing is young people struggling with communication skills, over the phone or face-to-face, managing their own emotions, and managing relationships between peers and superiors  whatever workplace youre in, if its retail, health or finance.

The nine modules, which cover topics from gender equality to staying safe, money management and climate understanding, will be delivered through a mixture of peer-to-peer and online learning, with digital forums available for collective reflection. The course, while aiming to equip young people with skills for the working world, doesnt shy away from mental health, either, with modules built around meditation and mindfulness.

One scenario in the empathy module asks you to reflect on your reaction when a friend announces that their partner has broken up with them. It feels like ample training for 16-year-olds who publicise their breakups on social media in real time. I wonder whether some of the older participants might find this sort of training rudimentary, though. Another role-play situation asks you to show how youd confront a friend who was sharing inappropriate pictures, which is something I know my teenage Facebook-obsessed self could have benefited from. Or theres another module that teaches you how to spot a deepfake video (the advice is to watch out for unnatural eye movement, a missing background, and lip movements). A lot of this is surely helpful, but I wonder whether it boils down to common sense.

open image in gallery The Unesco-partnered non-profit Higher Health has launched a nine-module programme to address a gap in soft skills among those aged 16 to 25 ( Getty )

You could argue that the younger generation are simply less resilient than their predecessors, but Gen Z has grown up in a very different world. A report released by the Resolution Foundation think tank in 2024 found that those in their twenties were more likely to be out of work because of mental health problems (not to watch Netflix, as the tabloid media might have you believe). And as pointed out in Jonathan Haidts bestselling book The Anxious Generation, suicide and self-harm rates are rocketing among young people, particularly girls aged 10 to 14, with the cause attributed to social media and mobile phones, which he argues are leaving children with fragmented skills, lessened social interaction and sleep deprivation.

Ranote has seen first-hand how mental health has worsened among young people since she began working as a consultant in 2005 (at a time when social media was in its infancy). In 2005, we were quoting figures like one in 10 young people has a diagnosable mental health condition, but only 25 per cent are getting access to the right services and the right support. By the time we hit 2015, it was one in eight. Its now one in five. Ranote says this is all about considering the context. Its a very different landscape in terms of how young people live, learn and love, and how they communicate.

Becca Hutson, the editorial director of The News Movement, a Gen Z-led media company that researches youth culture, believes that Gen Z are being treated as if theyre from a different planet when they are simply misunderstood. I think that the narrative around them being workshy and socially inept is frustrating, because theyve inherited some pretty difficult circumstances from the rest of us, and theyre just trying to figure it out, like we all were. Theres been a pandemic, a climate crisis, global conflict and the cost of living crisis  and theyve been shaped by that.

Gen Z-ers I speak to are aware of how this awful cocktail of social and cultural upheaval has affected their experiences. One of them is Dhruwi Mistry, a 22-year-old masters student in climate change at the University of Manchester, who has completed modules in the Higher Health curriculum and advised on the pilot modules as co-creator. She says that the immediate concerns facing her cohort are employability, climate change, and mental health in the post-Covid era. Mistry has noticed how some of her peers have become more isolated since the pandemic, and that communication has broken down. Covid definitely changed a lot of peoples confidence. I remember when I used to do Teams meetings for lectures and no one would put their camera on, she says.

She noticed that her cousin, who she says is a typically social person, became increasingly withdrawn during the pandemic. I saw a real big change in her mental health in the space of six months, says Mistry. I almost lost that connection with her, since she lost the confidence to talk about how she was feeling. The soft skills curriculum, particularly its mental health module, has helped Mistry to deal with her own anxiety that she experienced in her second year. I had quite a lot of issues with anxiety, especially after Covid when giving presentations. I used to freak out; I still do sometimes. I found the course helped me address my anxiety and learn how to manage it, recognise it, and understand how everyones different.

open image in gallery The accountancy firm Forvis Mazars recently launched a social skills course to teach Gen Z lessons on picking up the phone ( Getty )

Georgia Atkins, 19, who is studying English and film at Manchester Metropolitan University, also took part in the programme as a participant and co-creator. She found the digital literacy module most useful, since it taught her how to assess the reliability of different sources on social media and look out for misinformation (like the Morgan Freeman video). She found the task of hypothetically confronting a friend sharing inappropriate images to be extremely helpful. You had to answer how you would confront them and deal with the situation, she says. Its great, because it starts a conversation and you can talk to your friends. No one knows what to do in those situations, but I found the course guided me through it.

Tom Bolton, 17, is currently studying for a fashion diploma at college. He feels as though his peers are most concerned about not being able to get jobs. I personally dont think Ive been equipped with the best skills to apply for them. I didnt get taught how to do a CV in school; theres been more of it in college, but its still not enough. Another worry he has is financial literacy, which he says he also didnt learn in school, even in PSHE. The Higher Health course, then, could fill gaps.

Bolton  who was in his first year of secondary school when lockdown hit  has noticed how his peers have become more withdrawn while communicating. People just speak online rather than meeting up, and the lack of socialisation worries me. I get worried that my generation will stop doing things, stop going to festivals, stop socialising... I love to be outside, but lots of people just want to stay indoors.

Atkins says she can see how social media has harmed her generation, especially as they were the guinea pigs for it. Social media excludes you from stuff, and I think it makes socialisation so much harder because theres this whole other layer of I have to do this now to fit in, she says. Before, you could go home from school and get respite if you were being bullied or socially excluded  but now theres no escape. Youre seeing what people are doing all of the time through this perfect lens.

In some ways, it feels as though my generation has had to constantly adapt to a vastly changing environment, while onlookers have rolled their eyes at us, seeing us as a bunch of phone addicts. I ask Ranote whether she thinks that Gen Z has been failed by the older generation in some way. Social and cultural change has happened incredibly quickly in such a short time, and I dont think we, as parents or professionals, have been prepared, she says. The globe has failed to prepare and provide the tools for this generation, but were starting to have much better conversations. And thats why programmes like this have a real place in changing that narrative.

I love to be outside, but lots of people just want to stay indoors Tom Bolton, 17

Through working with hundreds of young people and having three children herself, Ranote has noticed that young adults today have unique strengths, too. Young adults challenge you in a way that I do not believe my generation ever challenged their elders. Im 53 this year, and we never did that ... I am really heartened by the fact that I see a generation with a voice. She adds that we are much more politically aware compared with older generations, having more informed conversations than she was at our age.

Hutson agrees that Gen Zs strengths should be celebrated and uplifted. Young people have a staggering level of media literacy  they understand the online world in a way that other generations dont. I think theyve got much clearer ideas around work-life balance and protecting their time. I think millennials, who have that eager-to-please mentality in the workplace, could all learn something from Gen Z.

In fact, she thinks the Higher Health course could be beneficial to all sorts of people. Theres a section on how to spot everyday scams, which can fool anyone, even the tech-savvy. Im sure youve got family members who have sent you completely mad things on WhatsApp. And what on earth goes on Facebook? I think we could all benefit from it.

A spokesperson for Higher Health also tells me that while the programme is aimed at those aged 16 to 25, a person in their forties took part in the pilot modules and found it to be a fantastic experience. It seems that even those with a fully developed prefrontal cortex could benefit from some soft skills training (albeit not the squishy handholding common-sense training). And by the time Gen Alpha become young adults, perhaps they will need a course like this, one thats adapted to the new set of challenges that the modern world will inevitably throw at us in 10 years time. Gen Z may need a rewire. But were not the only ones.
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Gino DAcampos restaurants have been saved from the brink of closure after ongoing struggles with mounting debt.

The financial problems come amid allegations that the 48-year-old behaved inappropriately towards women on the sets of his cooking shows, claims that the TV personality has vehemently denied.

DAcampo, whose pasta bar chain went into liquidation in 2022, has five remaining restaurants in cities across the UK including Liverpool, Manchester, London, Newcastle, and Leeds.

Upmarket Leisure Ltd, who own the restaurants, have accrued spiralling arrears, and a deal to sell the company fell through earlier this year. HMRC issued a petition to close the company at the High Court in March and an application to appoint an administrator was made on Tuesday (29 April), according to The Sun.

However, the company has now been bought out of administration in a 5m deal, which will save the jobs of over 400 employees across the five venues.

This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again, said Dean Watson, an administrator at Begbies Traynor.

DAcampo has faced allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour, which he has denied ( Getty Images )

Restaurant staff have reported delays in being paid their wages, with Upmarket issuing an apology and blaming the wait on problems with pay roll due and administrative banking issues.

A lot of people are very angry and a few have resigned. Every day were told well be paid tomorrow, one employee told the publication.

However, a spokesperson for Upmarket Ltd confirmed to The Independent that all employees had received payment upon completion of the deal on 30 April, with employee benefits and salaries protected.

Earlier this year, ITV News reported that dozens of former staff and freelancers detailed unacceptable, distressing and horrendous experiences while working with DAcampo over a period of more than 12 years. The network said it had no plans to hire DAcampo again.

Last month the chef shared news of his television comeback, weeks after the fallout that led to his shows being axed. Taking to Instagram last month, DAcampo unveiled his return to TV, sharing a photo of him dressed as a car mechanic in overalls with dirt on his face.

What a fantastic experience in Ireland working on a new series, he wrote alongside the behind-the-scenes images. I cant wait for you guys to see it PS Happy St Patricks Day.
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So far in 2025 (as of May 1), 70 cases of measles have been notified in Australia, with all states and territories except Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory having recorded at least one case. Most infections have occurred in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Weve already surpassed the total number of cases recorded in all of 2023 (26 cases) and 2024 (57 cases).

Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in every region of the world. Most Australian cases are diagnosed in travellers returning from overseas, including popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia.

But although Australia eliminated local transmission of measles in 2014, recently weve seen measles infections once again in Australians who havent been overseas. In other words, the virus has been transmitted in the community.

So with measles health alerts and news reports popping up often, what do you need to know about measles? Weve collated a list of commonly Googled questions about the virus and the vaccine.

open image in gallery A medic prepares an MMR vaccine ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

1. What is measles?

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to affect humans. In fact, every person with measles can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune. The measles virus can survive in the air for two hours, so people can inhale the virus even after an infected person has left the room.

Measles predominantly affects children and those with weaker immune systems. Up to four in ten people with measles will need to go to hospital, and up to three in 1,000 people who get measles will die.

In 2023, there were more than 100,000 deaths from measles around the world.

2. What are the symptoms of measles?

The signs and symptoms of measles usually start 714 days after exposure to the virus, and include rash, fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis. The rash usually starts on the face or neck, and spreads over three days to eventually reach the hands and feet. On darker skin, the rash may be harder to see.

Complications from measles are common, and include ear infections, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), blindness and breathing problems or pneumonia. These complications are more likely in children.

Pregnant women are also at greater risk of serious complications, and measles can also cause preterm labour and stillbirth.

Even in people who recover from measles, a rare (and often fatal) brain condition can occur many years later, called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

3. Whats the difference between measles and chickenpox?

Measles and chickenpox are caused by different viruses, although both commonly affect children, and vaccines can prevent both diseases. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also transmitted through the air, and can cause fever, rash and rare (yet serious) complications.

The chickenpox rash is different to the rash seen in measles. It often starts on the chest or back, appearing first as separate red bumps that evolve into fluid-filled blisters, called vesicles. Chickenpox can also appear later in life as shingles.

4. Can you get measles twice?

The simple answer is no. If you contract measles, you should have lifelong immunity afterwards.

In Australia, people born before 1966 would have most likely been infected with measles, because the vaccine wasnt available to them as children. They are therefore protected from future infection.

Measles infection however can reduce the immune systems ability to recognise infections it has previously encountered, leaving people vulnerable to many of the infections to which they previously had immunity. Vaccination can protect against this.

5. What is the measles vaccine, and at what age do you get it?

The measles vaccine contains a live but weakened version of the measles virus. In Australia, measles vaccinations are given as part of a combination vaccine that contains the measles virus alongside the mumps and rubella viruses (the MMR vaccine), and the chickenpox virus (MMRV).

Under the national immunisation program, children in Australia receive measles vaccines at 12 months (MMR) and 18 months of age (MMRV). In other countries, the age of vaccination may vary  but at least two doses are always needed for optimal immunity.

Measles vaccines can be given earlier than 12 months, from as early as six months, to protect infants who may be at higher risk of exposure to the virus (such as those travelling overseas). Infants who receive an early dose of the measles vaccine still receive the usual two recommended doses at 12 and 18 months old.

Australians born between 1966 and 1994 (those aged roughly 2060) are considered to be at greater risk of measles, as the second dose was only recommended from November 1992. Australia is seeing breakthrough measles infections in this age group.

An additional measles vaccine can be given to these adults at any time. Its safe to get an extra dose even if you have been vaccinated before. If you are unsure if you need one, talk to your GP who may check your measles immunity (or immunisation record, if applicable) before vaccinating.

However, as the measles vaccine is a live vaccine, its not safe to give to people with weakened immune systems (due to certain medical conditions) or pregnant women. Its therefore important that healthy, eligible people receive the measles vaccine to protect themselves and our vulnerable population.

6. How long does a measles vaccine last?

The measles vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines we have. After two doses, about 99 per cent of people will be protected against measles for life.

And the measles vaccine not only protects you from disease. It also stops you from transmitting the virus to others.

Phoebe Williams is a paediatrician and infectious diseases physician, senior lecturer and NHMRC fellow at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. Archana Koirala is a paediatrician and infectious diseases specialist and clinical researcher at the University of Sydney. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article
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Restauranteur Keith McNally is reflecting back on his heated interaction with James Corden three years ago.

In 2022, the 73-year-old, who owns three of New Yorks mainstay brasseries, wound up banning the 46-year-old comedian from his restaurant, Balthazar, after Corden supposedly made a female server cry. Following their confrontation, McNally called out Corden on Instagram for his obnoxious behavior.

Though, at the time, McNally was adamant about criticizing Corden publicly, hes now admitted his reasons for doing so were unethical.

In an audio excerpt obtained by People magazine from his new memoir, I Regret Almost Everything, the food connoisseur said he wasnt necessarily sharing his thoughts online out of respect for his staff. In fact, he was mostly trying to help grow his business social media presence.

By exposing Cordens abuse, it appeared as though I was defending a principle, when all I was doing was seeking the approval of my young Balthazar staff, he wrote.

Corden called me four times the day the (Instagram) post came out, each time asking me to please delete it. On the last call he sounded desperate, McNally recalled. Relishing my hold over someone so famous, I told him I wouldnt delete it. Like a little dictator, I was intoxicated with the power Id received.

Keith McNally reflects on his actions after banning James Corden from his New York City restaurant in 2022 ( Getty )

For someone whos hyperconscious of humiliation since suffering a stroke, it now seems monstrous that I didnt consider the humiliation I was subjecting Corden to, he continued. Especially as I hadnt personally seen the incident I so vividly described on Instagram.

According to People, McNally also referred to Corden as a gift from heaven at one point in his new book  a stark 180 from his previous public comments attacking the actor-comedians behavior.

James Corden is a Hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny Cretin of a man. And the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago, he wrote on Instagram in October 2022.

I don't often 86 a customer, to today I 86'd Corden. It did not make me laugh.

McNally then went on to recount two incidents that, he claimed, had been reported to him by a manager at Balthazar.

The first report claimed Corden showed one manager a hair hed found in his food. Corden was extremely nasty and said, Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all our drinks so far, the report read.

The second detailed a time when Corden was at Balthazar with his wife for brunch.

A few minutes after they received the food, James called their server, M. K. and told her there was a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk. M. K. informed the floor manager, G. The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad, the report said. That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!

The report claimed Corden was pleasant to the manager but nasty to the server.

Shortly after his mid-day sit-down at Balthazar, Corden apologized for some of his behavior that got him banned and unbanned from the establishment during an episode of The Late Late Show.

He specifically expressed remorse for his comment about making the omelette himself.

It is a comment I deeply regret. I understand the difficulties of being a server, Ive worked shifts at restaurants for years, I have such respect for anyone who does that job, Corden said.

I didnt shout or scream. I didnt get up out of my seat. I didnt call anyone names or use derogatory language, he continued. I have been walking around thinking that I hadnt done anything wrong, right? But the truth is I have. I made a rude comment, and it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment. It was ungracious to the server.
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Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks has claimed hes been threatened with legal action for denouncing Meghan Markles Netflix show.

Released last month, the critically mauled series With Love, Meghan followed the Duchess of Sussex through her everyday life as she cooks and hosts family members and friends.

Stocks, a 41-year-old food connoisseur who once cooked for King Charles, hit out at the series, calling it terrible and hard to watch.

The chef previously claimed he declined an offer to be a part of the show  and his comments against it have allegedly seen him receive a warning from Netflix.

He told MailOnline: I got a lawyers letter from Netflix after I spoke out against her, warning me. I proper p***ed them off. Netflix did not like it and came after me.

Stocks also doubled down on his criticism of Markle. How can she get all this money from Netflix? I dont think she can cook and I dont think she should be teaching people to cook either, he said.

A Netflix spokesperson told The Independent: No legal letter was sent to Jameson Stocks from Netflix.

open image in gallery Meghan Markles Netflix show was mauled by critics upon release ( Nrtflix )

Guests on the series included The Office actor Mindy Kaling, her Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, and two other celebrity chefs  Alice Waters and Roy Choi.

Stocks originally criticised the show on GB News upon its release in March, admitting he had been sceptical before it even went into production.

I felt that even if she produced a really great programme, which I was quite skeptical of anyway, that I might get a little slammed for it, for being a part of it, he said.

open image in gallery Jameson Stocks claims hes been threatened with legal action for criticising Meghans Netflix show ( Getty Images )

I didnt like the idea of me showing her how to do something, and then it kind of being forced and fake. I just felt if shes going to do something herself, she should do it herself.

He urged Markle to return to her former profession, stating: I think she should just go back to acting. Shes quite a good actress in real life, or obviously on screen. I think people should just stick to what they do best.

Stockss culinary skills were discovered by Marco Pierre White when he was just 15, years after he had run away from home. His life story is set to be turned into a film produced by Brad Pitt.

With Love, Meghan is the fifth project to come from the $100m deal she and Prince Harry cut with Netflix back in 2020. A second season will air in 2026.

The other projects have included the six-part docuseries Harry & Meghan and the documentary Polo.
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Nicolas Cages oldest son, Weston Cage Coppola, has married his fiancee, Jenifer Alexa Canter.

After announcing their engagement in early March, Coppola and Canter tied the knot at The London West Hollywood in Beverly Hills, California, on April 25.

The son of Cage and his ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, shared various photos Friday on Instagram of him and his now-wife at their wedding. I am ineffably honored to announce that I am married to my twin flame just as the creator intended all along, the caption began.

I love you @_babyjen_ more than any man has ever loved.

What was meant to be shall forever be and I will always protect you and our incontrovertibly God-given marriage by any means necessary, he continued. This is the greatest miracle of my existence as I see the reason I was born and divinity itself every time I look into your astronomically beautiful eyes. Our dreams are God's dreams for the world.

Coppola was previously married to Hila Cage Coppola, with whom he shares 4-year-old twin daughters, Venice and Cyress. Prior to that, he was wed to Danielle Cage, with whom he shares sons Lucian, 11, and Sorin, 8.

Cage was seen at his sons wedding on April 25 ( Emma McIntyre/Getty Images )

Canter also posted photos from the wedding on her Facebook page, where her username was changed to reflect her new last name, Cage Coppola. One of her photos included Cage himself being at the wedding, although Fulton appeared to be absent.

In July 2024, Coppola was arrested in Los Angeles for assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking his mother. Los Angeles Police Departments Officer Servantes told The Independent at the time that Weston had voluntarily surrendered himself at the 77th Station. This followed an incident on April 28, 2024, around 8:40 p.m. where Cage was involved in an incident at an apartment building in the 200 block of South Main Street.

During the incident, Cage punched two victims multiple times, causing injury. LAPD responded, and after meeting with all parties, a police report was completed. The case was presented to the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office on June 26th, 2024. Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon were filed against Cage, leading to a felony warrant and bail set at $150,000, Servantes added.

He was quickly bailed out at the time on a $150,000 bond.

In February, Fulton claimed, in an unfiled civil complaint submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, that the incident left her with life-threatening injuries.

Fulton intended to sue her son, whom she described as a 300-pound professional fighter, for assault and battery, as well as Cage for failing to prevent Westons acts of violence while under his care.

In March, Cage was dismissed from the lawsuit, while the claims against Coppola currently remain.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The introduction of electric buses and trains, the creation of micromobility lanes, and reforms in the areas of parking and taxis in Azerbaijan have yielded initial positive results, but targeted work in this direction must continue, the country's Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov said, Trend reports.

The official made the remark at the opening of the 2nd Forum on Social Processes in Media organized by the Media Development Agency.

According to him, Azerbaijan is also strengthening its position as an important transit and logistics hub in the region.

"Modernization of railway lines, expansion of the Alat port, and other similar measures significantly increase the country's transit capabilities, creating a basis for sustainable ties between East and West, and North and South," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, beams in a newly released photograph celebrating her 10th birthday.

The image, taken by her mother, Kate, captures the young royal perched on a grassy bank against a backdrop of rolling hills.

The photograph, shot on an iPhone, showcases Charlotte taking a respite during a family hike in Cumbria earlier this year. Known for its picturesque Lake District, Cumbria provides the perfect setting for the image, with Charlotte dressed in a camouflage jacket by Jack Pyke and a practical rucksack.

The Princess of Wales, a keen amateur photographer, regularly captures images of her children to mark special occasions.

This latest portrait, shared on William and Kate's official social media accounts, is accompanied by the caption "Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!" along with a heart emoji and photo credit.

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born in the Lindo Wing of St Marys Hospital in Paddington, London, at 8.34am on May 2, 2015, weighing 8lb 3oz.

She owes her middle names to Queen Elizabeth II and her late grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales  and is said by royal fans to bear a resemblance to both when they were younger.

Third in line to the throne, Charlotte attends the co-educational private Lambrook School near Ascot in Berkshire. It was previously reported Charlotte loves dancing, especially ballet and tap.
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A death metal guitarist has been shot dead by cops in San Francisco, reportedly after a dispute with a neighbor over a tree became violent.

Possessed band member Brian Montana was killed after firing at officers called out to reports of a man brandishing a weapon on Monday evening, cops say.

South San Francisco Police Department said officers who arrived at an address in Arroyo Drive at 5.55pm immediately called for backup because the suspect was shooting into an occupied home. The gunman was later identified as 60 year-old Montana.

Montana moved to a neighboring driveway and hid behind parked cars while armed with a handgun, a shotgun and a rifle. A 25-minute gunfight with police ensued, police said, as Montana fired at officers from different positions on the driveway and sought cover behind the vehicles and landscaping.

open image in gallery The shooting occured on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive in South San Francisco (file photo) ( Google Maps )

Officers used police vehicles as cover from the barrage of gunfire and were able to return fire, a police statement said. Officers were able to strike the suspect, effectively preventing him from continued shooting at officers and nearby residences.

Once police confirmed the gunman was no longer a threat they approached him to find him non-responsive.

Life-saving measures were performed and medical personnel were called to the scene, the statement continued. The suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A resident at the home Montana had shot at was taken to a local trauma centre with a non-life-threatening injury, and police checked other homes to confirm no one else was hurt. No officers were injured during this critical incident, cops added.

Police said Montana had become angry over tree debris from his neighbors yard, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

My understanding is they had a dispute over a tree that was hanging, this is how foolish this kind of thing is, local resident Cory David told CBS News Bay Area . A dispute over a tree that one of them cut back and then somebody decided to settle it with a gun.

open image in gallery Tributes have been paid to Montana, performing here in his younger days with Possessed ( Facebook )

Montana was an early member of Possessed, which formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1980s. They are regarded as one of the first death metal bands that helped pioneer the genre, with one of their other guitarists Larry LaLonde going on to join the rock band Primus.

Possesseds official Instagram page shared the news of deaths with an early photo of the band, saying: Rest in Peace Brian Montana.

A longer tribute to the late guitarist from the official account added: I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy. He was jovial and a gentleman.

He was nothing like what Im seeing written about him. He was obviously going through some struggles and I think this is the time to be respectful towards the Montana family and friends as this is a tragic time for them. I know that I still feel this is a great loss and Im deeply saddened.

South San Francisco Police Department said the two officers who fired their weapons in the incident had been placed on administrative leave as per protocol, and an investigation was ongoing.

In the coming weeks, we intend to release additional information, including audio and video recordings, the police department said.
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Sean Diddy Combs, the music mogul headed to trial on sex-trafficking accusations, rejected a last-minute plea deal with prosecutors, he confirmed in court on Thursday.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution purposes, and has maintained his innocence since being arrested.

Combs, standing before a judge in his final pre-trial hearing before jury duty begins on Monday, said he rejected the governments offer to plead guilty to charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.

Sean Combs, the music mogul accused of sex trafficking, has pleaded not guilty to all charges ( Reuters )

Have you rejected the governments offer? asked District Judge Arun Subramanian, the federal judge overseeing the trial.

Combs replied, Yes, your honor.

The music mogul and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, discussed the offer beforehand. Its unclear which charges he would have pleaded guilty to if he had taken it.

The government can offer a defendant a plea deal when it feels it has a strong case to avoid a lengthy trial and reduce the defendants possible lengthy or harsh sentence. However, in doing so, a defendant must admit, in open court, to committing a crime.

Typically, in a plea deal, the government will offer the defendant a guilty plea to a lesser charge or a lighter punishment.

Combs decision to reject the plea deal means the judge will proceed with jury selection. A jury of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates will need to be seated by Wednesday in order for opening arguments to begin on time.

If he is found guilty on all charges in the case, Combs could be looking at life in prison.
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Wanda Barzee, the woman who kidnapped then-14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Utah home alongside her husband, has been arrested for entering a park despite being a registered sex offender.

Barzee, 79, and her husband Brian Mitchell abducted Smart from her home at knifepoint and held her captive for nine months in June 2002. While she was held captive, Smart was raped, constrained and threatened with death. She was rescued by police officers on a Utah street in March 2003.

The case sparked national attention, and Smart has gone on to become a child safety advocate. Barzee pleaded guilty in 2009 and Mitchell was convicted in 2011. Barzee was released from prison in 2018.

But shes behind bars again after she was recently arrested on suspicion of being a sex offender in a protected area. Barzee is accused of visiting at least two parks in Salt Lake City, including Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, Salt Lake police spokesperson Brent Weisberg told local outlet KSL.

open image in gallery Elizabeth Smart, now 37, has gone on to become a child safety advocate ( Getty Images for Lifetime )

Barzee is not allowed to visit community parks on account of her sex offender status.

The arrest affidavit states Barzee admitted that she visited Liberty Park because she was commanded to by the Lord, KSL reports. Barzee also said she visited Sugar House Park because she was commanded to.

Barzee also admitted to going to the park to sit on benches and feed ducks, the affidavit reviewed by KSL states.

Smart warned against Barzees release in 2018. She said Mitchell did manipulate his wife, but Barzee still in her own right abused me as much as he did.

She is a woman who had six children and yet could co-conspire to kidnap a 14-year-old girl, and not only sit next to her while (she was) being raped, but encouraged her husband to continue to rape me, Smart said at the time.

So, do I believe she is dangerous? Yes, but not just to me, she added. I believe that she is a danger and a threat to any vulnerable person in our community.

But Barzees lawyer Scott Williams maintained she was ready to return to society.

I do not believe there is any evidence that Ms. Barzee is a risk to the community, and I think it is unfair and counterproductive to make such assertions, he said in 2018.
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A 20-year-old woman has been accused of having sex with an underage boy she met at a funeral.

Ayla Gonzalez Salinas was arrested on seven counts of lewd or lascivious battery of a victim after she allegedly engaged in sexual activity on multiple occasions with a boy aged between 12 and 16, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office affidavit obtained by CBS12. The boys exact age was redacted in the report.

Salinas, from Florida, is accused of messaging the boy on social media after meeting him at a service last November.

The messaging led to the pair meeting up and having sexual contact in December, the sheriffs office claims.

Authorities were alerted to the allegations in January and an investigation was launched.

open image in gallery Salinas was arrested in April ( Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office )

The investigation found the pair exchanged text messages that discussed setting their story straight, according to the affidavit.

The boy allegedly agreed to say he was the one who initiated sexual contact, the affidavit seen by CBS12 added.

Salinas was arrested on Monday, booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and then posted bond on Wednesday, reported Law & Crime.
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Miriam Haley, the former Project Runway production assistant who accused Harvey Weinstein of forcing her into oral sex, stormed out of the Hollywood moguls sex abuse trial Friday after intense questioning from a defense attorney.

Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean grilled Haley, 48, on her claims that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her at his SoHo home in 2006. Earlier this week, Haley testified that Weinstein kept grabbing her and pushing her with his body during the 2006 assault. Haley said she then fell onto a bed in his home and Weinstein made her remain there as he forcibly performed oral sex on her.

Bonjean questioned Haley on what she was wearing during the incident and whether she took her clothes off, or Weinstein removed them.

open image in gallery Miriam Haley returns to a New York courtroom for Harvey Weinstein's retrial on Friday afternoon. Haley requested a ten-minute break amid questioning from Weinsteins attorney ( via REUTERS )

He took my clothes offI didnt take my clothes off," Haley testified. He was the one who raped me, not the other way.

"Thats for the jury to decide," Bonjean responded.

No, its not for the jury to decide, Haley said as she began to cry. Its my experience. And he did that to me.

"Dont tell me I wasnt raped by that f****** a******, Haley added, before asking for a break.

Judge Curtis Farber allowed the court to take a 10-minute break, after which Haley stormed out of the courtroom. She nearly walked into the defense table where Weinstein was sitting during her exit, according to the New York Post.

Court resumed soon afterward, and Haley continued answering questions from Bonjean about what clothes she was wearing and how they came off.

"I did not remove my clothes," Haley said. "I was on my periodI did not remove my clothes."

open image in gallery Harvey Weinstein watches on during his retrial on Friday. Weinstein has denied all charges against him ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Haley previously testified about a separate incident, in which she says Weinstein raped her in a TriBeCa hotel.

Haley first testified against Weinstein in 2020 during his first New York sexual abuse trial. Weinstein, now 73, was found guilty of raping and assaulting two women, including Haley. His conviction was overturned last year, but he remains convicted of rape in California.

Weinstein faces multiple charges in his retrial, including one count of engaging in a criminal sex act in connection with Haleys allegations. Hes also charged with the third-degree rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2013. A new assault charge was also added to his re-trial, in connection with allegations from former model Kaja Sokola.

Weinstein has denied all charges against him.
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A driver who intentionally ran over a woman and two children outside a church preschool has been charged with attempted murder, police said.

An hours-long manhunt was launched for South Carolina man Justin Collin Adams, 36, following the crash Thursday outside Sunrise Presbyterian Church in Sullivan's Island, just outside Charleston. No one was seriously hurt in the incident.

The town was on lockdown until Adams was found hiding out on a docked boat after police spotted him from a helicopter, according to ABC4 News.

He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and first-degree assault and battery, according to online Charleston County Sheriffs Office records.

open image in gallery Justin Collin Adams, 36, has been charged with attempted murder after police said he intentionally ran over a woman and two children outside a South Carolina church preschool. ( Charleston County Sheriff's Office )

Before Adams was apprehended, Isle of Palms police Sgt. Matt Storen warned the community that he was armed with a knife after ditching his car and running away.

FBI and U.S. Marshals were involved in the search, as the authorities deployed drones, helicopters and boats in the search.

You may have felt about 25-30 minutes ago everyone on Sullivan's Island breathing a sigh of relief, Mayor Patrick M. O'Neil said Thursday. I think we owe a lot of thanks to all of our law enforcement officials who are here and across the way, finishing up the work over there.

open image in gallery The town was in lockdown while authorities searched for Adams. Police warned at the time that they believed he was armed with a knife. No one was seriously hurt in the incident. ( Isle of Palms Police Department )

One child and the woman were taken to hospitals and the third child was treated by paramedics at the scene before being released, police said at a news conference Thursday.

The second child has since been discharged from the hospital, the Medical University of South Carolina said, and the woman was also due to be released.

We're thankful that those injuries aren't as serious as we thought they were going to be, Sullivan's Island Police Chief Glenn Meadow said.

The investigation is now being led by the Charleston County Sheriffs Office.
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A landlord found guilty of a vicious hate crime that left a six-year-old boy dead and wounded his mother days after the start of the war in Gaza in 2023 has been sentenced to 53 years in prison.

A jury convicted 73-year-old Joseph Czuba in February of murder and hate crime charges in the fatal stabbing of Wadee Alfayoumi, a Palestinian American, and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago, in 2023 when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim.

open image in gallery Joseph Czuba, 71, has been sentenced to 53 years in prison after being found guilty of stabbing a six-year-old Palestinian American boy to death and wounding his mother. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives.

He could not escape, Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant states attorney, told jurors at trial. If it wasnt enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boys body.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a verdict.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.

Czuba did not speak during the trial. His defense attorneys argued that there were holes in the case. His public defender, George Lenard, has not addressed reporters and declined comment before the sentencing came in.

open image in gallery The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago, in 2023 when the attack happened. Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover.

She said there were no prior issues in the two years she rented from the Czubas, even sharing a kitchen and a living room.

Then after the start of the war, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome. He later confronted Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

He told me You, as a Muslim, must die, said Shaheen, who testified in English and Arabic though a translator.

Police testified that officers found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

Separately, civil lawsuits have been filed over the boys death, including by his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who is divorced from Shaheen and was not living with them. The U.S. Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crimes investigation.
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A Kentucky man is facing battery charges after police say he struck an officer a day after cashing out his $167.3 million Powerball prize.

The incident happened at the popular TradeWinds Resort in Pinellas County, Florida, on Tuesday evening. The arrest affidavit states that James Farthing was in a fight with another guest when officers arrived. As a deputy stepped in to break it up, the affidavit states Farthing kicked him in the face and tried to run, Fox 35 Orlando reports.

open image in gallery James Farthing cashed $167.3 million Powerball winnings just a day before his arrest ( Pinellas County Sheriff's Office )

He now faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. Farthings girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested for disorderly intoxication.

WLKY interviewed Farthing about his Powerball winnings just a day before the incident. The 50-year-old said hed be splitting the prize with his mother, Linda Grizzle.

open image in gallery James Farthing's girlfriend Jacqueline Fightmaster (pictured) was also arrested for disorderly intoxication ( Pinellas County Sheriff's Office )

"I still dont believe its real. I've caused her a lot of stress, but Ive kept my faith and done right, Farthing said of his mother.

Grizzle was the first to tell Farthing he won, she told WLKY.

I called and texted it to him, and I said, you know, and he said, the man here sold it to ring, she said.

Farthing bought the ticket at Clarks Pump N Shop in Georgetown. Hes now the winner of Kentuckys largest Powerball jackpot ever, shattering the previous record in 2009.

No, it can't be. Nobody in Kentucky ever wins. But then, I was like, wow, we really did sell a winning ticket, Lynetta Robinson, assistant manager at Clarks Pump N Shop, told WLKY.
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Police in Maine may have made a significant breakthrough in a 41-year-old cold case murder.

On August 23, 1984, 18-year-old Linda Maxwell disappeared in Calais area after a night with her friends. Two days later, her body was found on the shoreline of the St Croix River in Robbinston.

Maine State Police said they launched an extensive investigation into the murder at the time, but no arrests ever came from their inquiry.

"Despite an extensive investigation at the time, the case remained unsolved," St. Croix River in Robbinston, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss announced Thursday in a news release.

However, authorities now believe they've found a suspect in the four-decade old case. The agency's Major Crimes Unit expanded their investigation recently and turned up new evidence that was sent before a grand jury.

open image in gallery A photo of Linda Maxwell, who was abducted and killed in 1984 in Maine at the age of 18. Raymond Brown, 65, was arrested in May 2025 and charged with her murder ( Maine State Police )

After review, the grand jury returned an indictment charging 65-year-old Raymond Brown with murder. Maine State Police did not reveal what evidence led to the indictment.

On Thursday, just after 4pm, Maine State Police arrested Brown during a traffic stop in Bangor.

"This arrest reflects the continued commitment of the Maine State Police and the Attorney Generals Office to pursue justice in homicide cases, regardless of how much time has passed," state police said in a statement.

He is currently being held without bail in the Washington County Jail. It's unclear if Brown has an attorney or has been appointed one by the state.

Brown appeared before a court on Friday morning.

Police are asking that anyone with information related to the case to come forward.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Slanderous campaigns against Azerbaijan are promptly exposed in local media, the chairperson of Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov said at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Forum on Public Processes in Media Context organized by the Agency, Trend reports.

In recent years, thanks to the modern format of organizing media activities, the intentions of parties carrying out slanderous campaigns against our country are promptly exposed in the local media, and information immunity is being strengthened in society, he said.

Ismayilov noted that increasing the professionalism of the media and strengthening their economic basis are among the priorities.

As an illustrative example, a new stage in media development began with the signing of the decree of January 12, 2021, by the Head of State, ' On deepening reforms in the field of media in the Republic of Azerbaijan". The establishment of the Media Development Agency has also become an integral part of the constructive process carried out in this direction. Journalists, who worked on the information front during the Second Karabakh War to bring the truth about the country to the world, are now proudly preparing materials on the large-scale construction works in Karabakh and East Zangezur, as well as on the process of  Great Return. At the same time, they continue their educational activities, responding in a timely and dignified manner to external interference in the information environment," he added.
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A Louisiana man allegedly ran his father over in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant after the two began fighting over who was paying for their food.

Lucas Stowe, 37, has been arrested on second-degree-murder charges after he allegedly ran over his own father in his truck.

On May 1, Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office deputies were called to respond to an incident in the parking lot of J&K Drugs and the Gonzalez Mexican Restaurant. As deputies were on their way to the scene, another call came in requesting an ambulance to the parking lot.

open image in gallery Lucas Stowe, 37, allegedly waited for his father to leave the restaurant before hitting him with a white Ford truck. ( Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office )

The call came in from an off-duty deputy who was in the area at the time of the incident. The deputy reportedly heard tires screeching and when they looked up they saw a body lying on the ground and a white Ford driving away from the scene, according to KNOE.

Once the deputies were on site, the off-duty deputy who called in the report got into his personal truck and began chasing the Ford he saw allegedly leaving the scene of the incident.

The vehicle was eventually stopped near another restaurant, where the driver  identified as Stowe  was taken into custody.

Back at the Mexican restaurant, the deputies were tending to the victim, later identified as Lucas's father, Luther Stowe, 64.

Witnesses at the site said the incident was the culmination of an argument over who was going to pay for the meal they had at the restaurant.

According to deputies, surveillance footage taken from nearby cameras showed the younger Stowe climbing into his car and waiting for the elder Stowe to leave the restaurant, at which time the son fires up his truck and runs over his father.

The elder Stowe was treated at Citizens Medical Center but ultimately died from his injuries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Even highly developed industrial nations are not immune to cyberattacks in an era of rapid digitalization, Azerbaijani MP Rizvan Nabiyev said during a public discussion of the Temporary Commission of the Azerbaijani Parliament on Foreign Interventions and Hybrid Threats on the topic "Cyberattacks on Azerbaijan's Media Resources", Trend reports.

The MP mentioned that both legal entities and individuals can be subject to cyberattacks.

"I would like to note the attacks on the German parliament, the Bundestag, as well as its members, which occurred at certain times a few years ago, and their serious technical and legal consequences. Cyberattacks on a person's technical means, theft of memory or falsification of personal data, pose difficulties for that person holding a public position.

It's very important to use the existing legal and technical opportunities to prevent such cyberattacks and protect against the consequences. That is, the timely and appropriate use of existing technical and legal opportunities is important to avoid other problems," Nabiyev explained.

He asked the commission to inform the participants and the public about the existing legal tools and technical opportunities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
When the corporate regulator launched unprecedented legal action against one of the countrys largest superannuation funds, lawyers and consumer advocates breathed a sigh of relief, confident it would mark a significant turning point for improved customer service.

Six months on, theyre banging [their] heads up against a brick wall.

Superannuation lawyers and consumer advocates say the issues that ASIC has been calling out in the industry as far back as three years ago persist. Credit: Louie Douvis

Melissa ONeill, a disability insurance and superannuation special counsel at Shine Lawyers, says little has changed since the Australian Securities and Investments Commission sued Cbus for taking too long to process the death and disability claims of 10,000 members.

Were just seeing the same old thing happening day in, day out, ONeill said.
The Japanese call it wabi-sabi, the art of imperfection. Architect Oliver Du Puy has perfected a touch of that sensibility in a gutted apartment in Sydneys trendy Surry Hills.

Theres beauty in imperfections that creates a sense of timelessness, says Du Puy, pointing out some of the finishes, such as the micro cement, in the walls of the two-bedroom pad. Having worked in Japan, Du Puy acknowledges his views are shaped by architect Kazuo Shinohara, who declared a house is a work of art.

Before being gutted, the space was used by a creative agency which carved up the original detailing and internal areas with a series of partitions. Credit: Tom Ross

Set across an entire 220-square-metre level, the residence sits below the award-winning Droga apartment, a sinuous structure clad in aluminium tiles designed by Durbach Block Jaggers and completed in 1997 that is now considered a landmark in the hood.

Du Puys footprint, occupying the early 20th-century building below, is far more recessive, with steel-framed windows set into the brown bricks. The building itself has a colourful history, including being used as a squat for a number of years and, from what Im told, this apartment was scene to a number of rave parties, Du Puy says.
The network begins its rolling coverage proper at 5pm, anchored by Peter Overton and Ally Langdon, while Nines political editor, Charles Croucher, will also be on hand to offer analysis. Meanwhile, Sarah Abo will be with Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses camp, while Karl Stefanovic will be embedded with Opposition Leader Peter Duttons camp. Ally Langdon and Peter Overton will head up Nines election day coverage. Unique selling point: The return of Christopher I fixed it, Im a fixer Pyne. Safe to say Australian politics is a poorer place without Pynes memorable one-liners, so its a coup that Nine will have him on the desk. Not in front of a TV to watch it all unfold? Follow our live federal election coverage and expert analysis here. And use our interactive map to find your electorate and candidates  and to help you see how close the election will be in your area.

Network Ten, Australia Decides Once again, Sandra Sully, she of the golden tonsils, has been entrusted to helm Tens coverage alongside national affairs editor Hugh Riminton and network political editor Ashleigh Raper. Joining the Ten anchors will be a revolving door of political heavy-hitters, with Ten banking on fireworks between teal independent Kylea Tink MP, Liberal Senator Dave Sharma, Senator Jacqui Lambie and the Nationals David Littleproud. Clancy Overell and Errol Parker of the Betoota Advocate will help Ten connect to the all-important young demographic. Unique selling point: Ten has historically been the free-to-air network that loves The Youth, so theyre smart to rope in The Betoota Advocates Errol Parker and Clancy Overell to join the broadcast live from Betoota HQ.

Channel Seven, Australia Decides We love a confident broadcaster, and before even a vote has been cast, Channel Seven is making a huge call: theyre promising to call the election first. According to Sevens press release, they will utilise cutting-edge technology to deliver up-to-the-minute results. Sadly, this doesnt refer to the Cash Cow in a cupboard tallying ballots. Instead, Seven will use the 7NEWS Power Board, a state-of-the-art, touch-screen technology made famous by CNNs John King during the most recent US presidential election. The Power Board can fast-track pre-poll and postal votes, providing viewers with an early indication of how the public is leaning. CNNs chief national correspondent John King using the Screen of Dreams that Channel Seven will employ on election night. Veteran reporters Michael Usher and Natalie Barr will steer the ship alongside veteran 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley.

Unique selling point: Seven has booked Clive Palmer to appear on air, so someone can ask him on national TV to stop sending so many text messages. Loading SBS While other networks focus on bells and whistles, SBS is doing what it does best: Solid But Sensible. Their coverage will begin at 6.30pm, anchored by World News presenter Janice Petersen, with chief political correspondent Anna Henderson as featured guest. Unique selling point: NITV coverage will focus on the Northern Territory as Australias most significant Indigenous constituency and interview First Nations voters at polling booths around the country.

Sky News, Australia Decides For those who cant get enough of early polling numbers, Sky News has you covered from sunup to sundown. Things kick off at 6am with Peter Stefanovic hosting First Edition: Australia Decides, then continue to the evening. Kieran Gilbert will host Skys evening coverage alongside a panel that includes Peta Credlin, Andrew Clennell, Chris Uhlmann, Murray Watt, Joel Fitzgibbon and Sky News chief election analyst Tom Connell. Expect regular crosses to Sharri Markson and Paul Murray at Liberal HQ and Chris Kenny and Laura Jayes at Labor HQ, providing on-the-ground reactions as results come in. Barnaby Joyce keeps talking on the phone after falling off a planter box last year. Credit: Nine Unique selling point: Barnaby Joyce is joining Skys coverage, which means something hilarious is likely.

ABC, Australia Votes Props to ABC for slightly altering the name of their coverage and opting for Australia Votes instead of Australia Decides. And while Australia will indeed be voting, Australia will also be crying (#AustraliaCries), with analyst Antony Green crunching the numbers for the final time after announcing his retirement from the role following more than three decades of elections. This will be Antony Greens last election broadcast. Credit: Peter Rae Primary coverage starts at 6pm, and its an all-star line-up, like the Avengers of Ultimo. Were talking David Speers, Sarah Ferguson, Annabel Crabb and Laura Tingle, along with Bridget Brennan, who will interview candidates from across the country. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Coalition senator James McGrath will also provide insights throughout the night.
For more than 90 state and federal elections, Antony Green has been a fixture on the ABC. But as he prepares to call his last election on Saturday night, the 65-year-old is as modest as ever.

I dont particularly feel anything, to be honest, he says. Its just another election for me. Itll probably hit me more when the next bunch of elections come around and Im not as involved as I was.

Antony Green sits on the ABC election set ahead of what he says is his last election. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

In fact, trying to get any kind of sentiment out of him ahead of the big day, is near impossible.

He is a big music fan, does he listen to anything to pump himself up? No, Friday is devoted to rehearsals and avoiding interviews.
Pope Francis was entombed on Saturday in a simple wooden coffin in accordance with his wishes. He is remembered by millions as the peoples Pope after a lifetime of advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised.

In climate circles, Francis is remembered for Laudato Si, his second encyclical letter to the faithful, subtitled On Care for Our Common Home. It is a 184-page treatise lamenting climate change and the destruction of the earth and its environmental systems in support of reckless consumerism.

Illustration by Joe Benke Credit:

Its publication in 2015 helped secure the 2016 Paris Accord, signed by almost every nation on earth, which pledged to hold global warming to less than two degrees and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees. But it had other political impacts. It drove what is sometimes referred to as the Francis effect in the US, hardening the views of right-wing Catholics against his papacy, including his calls for climate action. Their support helped Donald Trump secure his second term, which he is using to dismantle climate action domestically and to disrupt it internationally.

An anti-Francis faction is now seeking to make the Vatican great again with a right-wing pope. The hope is to have a pontificate that concentrates more on Catholic issues, such as pro-life and family, rather than climate change and immigration, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German aristocrat and a prominent member of a right-wing push Europe and the US, told Politico this week.
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Exclusive Eating outComing soon Renowned New York bar to open two Australian venues this year  and theyre not pop-ups A leader of the craft cocktail scene, with four locations in the US, has chosen Australia for its first step towards global drinks domination. Kosa Monteith May 2, 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

Celebrated US cocktail group Death & Co is set to open bars in Melbourne and Brisbane this spring. The new locations will be the groups first permanent bars outside North America. Australian Venue Co, which operates more than 200 pubs and bars across the country, is partnering with Death & Co to run the Australian outposts. The original Death & Co opened in New Yorks East Village in 2006 and has expanded to Los Angeles, Denver and Washington. Death & Co started in New York but has since expanded to four North American cities. The New York bar was a key player in the global craft cocktail renaissance of the late 2000s, popularising modern classics such as the Naked & Famous (mezcal, Aperol, Chartreuse and lime). Weve admired Death & Cos work for some time now and have teamed up with them on a number of pop-up events at our venues in the past, so this has felt like a natural extension of our shared vision, said Ben Hehir, Australian Venue Cos head of training and development.

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Hiring for venue managers has already begun, which will include three weeks of training experience at Death & Co sites in North America. Death & Cos Washington location (pictured) is one of four in North America, with a fifth on the way. Australian Venue Co operates venues including Melbournes Beer DeLuxe at Fed Square, St Kildas revitalised Hotel Esplanade and Brisbane spots The Boundary Hotel and Leftys Music Hall. The partnership may raise some eyebrows in bartending circles, at least privately. The group is more associated with sprawling pubs than singular cocktail bars. While the bar locations in Melbourne and Brisbane are under wraps, comments from Australian Venue Co suggest theyll be slotted inside existing venues. Hehir said the focus was on delivering craft cocktails and a New York-inspired bar experience with the same welcoming atmosphere our pubs are known for.

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Related Article Flying high or calling last drinks: Whats happening with your favourite Melbourne bars? Rob Libecans of Caretakers Cottage, ranked No. 21 on the latest Worlds 50 Best Bars list, thinks the Australian venture is a great sign of things to come. A rising tide lifts all ships, he said. Proven operators [coming in] with a history of success, a deep level of experience and training opportunities for Australian hospitality workers can only be a benefit to Melbourne. Matthew Linklater, a former manager at Black Pearl in Fitzroy who now works in hospitality consulting, agrees. Death & Co entering our market is a huge vote of confidence in the Australian cocktail scene, which has historically been among the worlds best.

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Its also great news for classic cocktail drinkers after a tough couple of years of bar closures. Their no-nonsense approach to modern American classics ... is reminiscent of The Everleigh or Romeo Lane, two venues which, once gone, left large dry martini-shaped holes in Melbournes  and my  heart. Related Article Three Australian bars named in the Worlds 50 Best Bars for 2024 Meanwhile, Death & Co has a new bar set to open in Seattle, too. The multimillion-dollar group also sells glassware and clothing, and co-founder Dave Kaplan has, along with co-owner Alex Day, written two books under the Death & Co name that are faithfully found on many bartenders bookshelves. Correction: an earlier version of this story stated that Death & Co run online training for bartenders worldwide, but this is yet to be launched.

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Eating outThe download The download: Everything you need to eat, drink, make and book this week A five-course omakase dining experience (with wine and sake pairings), where to find Melbournes best vanilla slice, plus top chefs and cooks impart their kitchen wisdom. Emily Holgate Updated May 2, 2025 , first published May 2, 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

A bite-sized recap of the biggest stories of the week, so you know where to go and what to order across Melbourne and Victoria. Check in each week so you can be the smartest person in your group chat. Stay up to date with all the latest food news, recipes and reviews on the Good Food app, now available from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store now. The vanilla slice at this South American bakery has been crowned Melbournes best. Luis Enrique Ascui Melbournes best vanilla slice has been found Stop your search: the best vanilla slice in town has officially been uncovered. Good Food reviewer Dani Valents quest for the perfect vanilla slice was concluded in Melbournes north-western suburbs. The secret to the dessert in question? A sweet South American twist. Find out more here.

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For one night only, Warabi is putting on a five-course food dinner matched with sake from Shichiken and wines from Grace. Hot ticket: Wine vs Sake: A Tasting Duel at Warabi Yet to sort Friday date night? Hatted Japanese fine diner Warabi is celebrating Australias surging interest in Japanese wines and sake with a special omakase experience for one night only on Friday, July 4. The wine vs sake tasting duel dinner includes a five-course omakase menu matched with beverages from two of Japans top producers: Shichiken Brewery, and Grace Winery, both from the Yamanashi region. Compare the pair and decide for yourself which drink comes out on top. There are still a few spots available  tickets are $285 and bookings can be made here. Donna Hay, Poh Ling Yeow and other top chefs share their top cooking tips. Louie Douvis Kitchen tips and tricks from top chefs and cooks

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When it comes to home cooking, its often those extra little steps that take a dish from great to memorable  something dinner party guests will still be thinking about in the days following. Maybe a perfectly al dente pasta, or mastering the art of seasoning. If youre looking to elevate your cooking, weve rounded up the best tricks of the trade from beloved chefs and cooks, from Poh Ling Yeow to Donna Hay, Maggie Beer and more. Richmond restaurant Anchovy is doing pipi nights every Wednesday. Josh Robenstone Hump day special: Pipis at Anchovy Revived Vietnamese favourite Anchovy is brightening up Melbournes gloomy Wednesday evenings this winter with Pippi Hut  a bold, saucy hump day special available for both dine in and takeaway. For $35, youll get a snack-sized 250-gram serve of Goolwa pipis wok-tossed with Anchovys XO sauce, packed with dried scallops and prawns, bacon, chilli and anchovies. Add Chinese doughnuts or crispy egg noodles to mop up the sauce for $8 each. Single Os new batch brew taps in Yurakucho.

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A Japanese coffee festival is coming to Melbourne Last week, Aussie coffee label Single O opened its fourth store in Tokyo since last April. Its not the only Australian roaster in Japan, either, with cafes like Why Not in Osaka also fuelling the countrys caffeine needs. Meanwhile, Japans own unique coffee culture is also making its way Down Under as part of a mega festival this July involving more than two-dozen Japanese coffee roasters. Find out everything you need to know about the festival and Japans Aussie coffee craze here. Chicken coconut curry from Money-Saving Meal Plans with Chelsea. Melissa Darr A cheap and cheerful chicken coconut curry As a single mother of three, Tasmanian-based recipe writer Chelsea Goodwin understands the importance of feeding a family on a tight budget. Her new cookbook, Money-Saving Meal Plans with Chelsea, contains eight weeks of meal plans to feed a family of four, averaging about $3 a serve. Shes shared three of those recipes with Good Food, including a chicken coconut curry made with chicken drumsticks and everyday pantry ingredients. Get the recipe here.

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Single-origin pepper makers Pep have released a pepper-scented fragrance. Put some pep in your scent with this daring fragrance Not content with lifting your pantrys pepper game, single-origin pepper makers Pep are now coming for your daily fragrance. Pepfume, out now, delivers crisp alpine forest topnotes and a warm undertone thanks to its blend of Pep essential oil, Calabrian bergamot and Virginian cedarwood. It may even remind you of the first grind of black pepper on a halved avocado. Created in collaboration with florist and perfumer Briony Wright, the fragrance comes in a handy roll-on bottle for easy application on-the-go or while travelling. Get the all-Melbourne creation at Peps online shop. eatpep.com, $42 (10ml) Studio Estetas design brings an old-world charm to Harriots office building space. Wayne Taylor The Tipo 00 crews first non-Italian restaurant is officially open

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The team behind one of Melbournes most iconic Italian restaurants, Tipo 00, has officially unveiled Harriot, its new destination European diner at the base of an office block at the business end of town. But the venue isnt strictly Italian; instead it draws from European wine bars and bistros with a menu that nods to French, Spanish, Italian and British cuisine. Find out everything you need to know here. Julia Ostros recipe for a warming greens pie is perfect for winter. Armelle Habib 14 warming vegie recipes that arent soup Were only a month into winter, but if youve already reached your soup limit, try these nourishing, budget-friendly recipes instead. Theyre hearty, packed with nutritious ingredients (but your kids wont know it) and completely vegetarian. See the full list here and save your favourites on the Good Food app for meal planning. Your future self will thank you. The download: Friday, June 27

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Preserved tomatoes and charred bread dip with smoked Portarlington mussels at Molli. Griffin Simm The verdict on Molli 2.0 Contemporary Abbotsford restaurant Molli, from the group behind Hazel, Lilac and Square One, was rebooted within 12 months of first opening its doors in mid-2024. While the original fine dining approach didnt quite work for the neighbourhood, Molli is now back with a more approachable menu and New York-born chef Caitlin Koether at the kitchens helm. But does it hit the mark? Read Besha Rodells full review here. You can get $15 lunch bowls all winter long at Maha. Sweet deal: $15 lunch bowls at Maha

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One of Melbournes best winter lunchtime deals is back at the flagship for Shane Delias hatted Middle Eastern stalwart Maha in the CBD. From 10 June right through until the end of August, you can grab a hearty lunch bowl for just $15 every day between 12pm and 3pm (yes, including weekends). The special changes weekly  this week its a Jimbaran grilled chicken served with fragrant rice, spicy dabu-dabu sambal and crackers; while next week expect a tomato and green olive orzo pasta with grilled adana (lamb kebab) and a fresh oregano, rosemary, parsley and red onion salad. The winter special is available for both dine-in and takeaway  book or order online here. Looking for more $15 deals to hit up on your lunch break? Find four additional options here. The caramelised top of the Basque cheesecake is its main claim to fame. Armelle Habib STYLING: Lee Blaylock The perfect recipe for creamy Basque cheesecake A soft, molten centre and bitter caramelised top, all without the hassle of a fiddly biscuit base. Its no wonder the Basque cheesecake has taken the world by storm. If youve attempted the popular dessert in the past only to be met with dry, grainy results, Emelia Jacksons perfectly creamy, wobbly Basque recipe is for you (its easier than you might think).

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Hump day special: $1 wings and $10 cocktails at Bluestone American BBQ Looking for a cheap midweek drink and a snack? Every Wednesday and Thursday, Coburgs southern-meets-South-American barbecue joint, Bluestone, dishes up its signature barbecue chicken wings  plus other variations including garlic parmesan and maple habanero wings  for just $1 a pop. Plus, cocktails are only $10. The deal runs every week from 5-9pm. Soba noodles with sea urchin at Tomo-An. Bonnie Savage Japanese kaiseki restaurant in CBD laneway gains two hats Down a CBD laneway and behind the doors of an old corner warehouse, Japanese fine diner Tomo-An is Melbournes very own portal to Japan. Here, chef Tomotaka Ishizukas Aussie-fied kaiseki menu  a formal progression of Japanese courses  is only served to six guests at a time, including Good Food critic Dani Valent whose recent review earned the restaurant two hats. Read the full verdict here.

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Chicken tea (a chicken broth) is served at Residence, the new restaurant at the reopened Ian Potter Museum of Art. The hottest restaurants of 2025 (so far) Chicken tea served within an art gallery. A hatted restaurant inside a casino. Scandinasian pastries; an aptly named tiny bar with only 15 seats; and a market favourite bagelry that now has a bricks-and-mortar home. These are just a handful of Melbournes most exciting venue openings of the year thus far. Yet to tick any off your hit list? See the full collection here and save your must-visits in your very own restaurant saved list on the Good Food app. This warming recipe for braised beans and lamb meatballs uses mostly pantry ingredients. James Moffatt Midweek winter recipe: Lamb meatballs and creamy braised beans

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Stuck on what to make for dinner this week? You probably already have most of the ingredients for Jessica Brooks cosy lamb meatballs with creamy braised beans in your pantry. Creamy, zesty chickpeas and white beans bring the warming winter vibes, while flavourful lamb meatballs add some oomph. Serve it all with a generous helping of grated parmesan and a chunk of crusty bread to swipe through the sauce. The download: Friday, June 20 Barbecue pork buns at Golden Dragon Palace in Templestowe. Joe Armao Hurtle down the Eastern Freeway for one of the best yum cha in town If there are two things that will get Melburnians out of the house in winter, its footy and yum cha. And according to Good Food reviewer Larissa Dubecki, Templestowes Golden Dragon Palace produces an atmosphere on weekends thats akin to the MCG on game day  despite being 20km out from the CBD. Read the full verdict on this 200-seat icon here.

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Katrina Meyninks marry me chickpeas. Katrina Meynink Three ways with chickpeas (including a meat-free marry me chickpea recipe) Marry me chicken may be having a moment again, but to what benefit of our plant-based friends? Thankfully, saying I dont to meat does not mean you cant say I do to Katrina Meyninks saucy, garlicky marry me chickpea recipe. Meynink has also whipped up recipes for chickpea puttanesca and a spicy harissa and Persian feta chickpea stew, perfect for dipping and scooping with warm flatbread. See all three recipes here and save your favourites for later on the Good Food app. Wagyu short rib teishoku (set meal) served with rice, miso soup, an onsen egg and assorted sides is part of the offering at Omi 380. Five in one: A mega Japanese food hall opens in the CBD

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Melbourne diners have a longstanding love affair with Japanese food. Now, they can get all of their favourites under one roof at Omi 380, a new mega dining destination with five distinct offerings. Think sushi, gyoza, fried chicken, a dedicated matcha bar, plus more. Find out everything you need to know here. Shoestring fries smothered in gravy and topped with seared, sliced duck breast at Love Letter in Richmond. Eddie Jim Hump day special: Four-course dining for under $50 at Love Letter Mid-week dining just got even better. At cosy Bridge Road restaurant Love Letter, the team will feed you a four-course menu on Wednesday evenings for just $49 per person. The menu rotates but may include unusual spins on nostalgic favourites  perhaps cheesy yorkshire puds drizzled with chilli oil; beef cheek mac n cheese; or scallops with a buttery Keens Curry Powder sauce. Bookings can be made online. Spetsofai (Greek sausage, tomato and capsicum stew).

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A warming sausage stew recipe from a longstanding Greek diner Theres nothing like a cosy stew in winter and this classic Greek spetsofai starring loukaniko sausages, tomato and capsicum is sure to impress the entire family. Patrons of Yarravilles longstanding Greek diner Elenis Kitchen & Bar will be familiar with the hearty dish, served at the restaurant with crusty, house-made bread. The recipe was handed down to owner Eleftheria Armanatidis from her grandfather  you can also save it for later on the Good Food app. Deep greens, dark timbers and printed upholstery feature inside Ho Jiak - Jundas Playground. Wayne Taylor Junda Khoo brings Ho Jiak to Melbourne Sydney chef Junda Khoo has made quite the name for himself for his Malaysian diner Ho Jiak, of which there are four outposts across the Harbour City including the hatted Town Hall restaurant. After much anticipation, Ho Jiak  Jundas Playground has now arrived in Melbourne within a three-level, three-in-one venue serviced by one kitchen on Rainbow Alley in the CBD. Expect both Sydney signatures and fiery new additions to the menu.

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Pincho Disco and Cinder have teamed up with Grey Goose to create two unique martini menus with Latin-leaning food pairings. Three new martinis to try this winter In celebration of martini month this July, iconic vodka label Grey Goose has teamed up with Fitzroy Norths Latin American diner Cinder and its sibling venue Pincho Disco to create two unique martini menus with food pairings to match the Latin-inspired offering. At Pincho, expect concoctions like a Mexican-leaning martini featuring a hint of chilli oil, or a smoked dirty martini, while Cinder will have its own variations on the classic cocktail like a zesty Mediterranean-leaning martini and a briny, umami-rich martini. Bookings can be made here. Australian Womens Weekly Birthday Cake Book coins. Australian Royal Mint releases AWW birthday cake coins

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If you never got the Candy Castle cake as a kid, you can at least collect the coin. To mark the 45th anniversary of the Australian Womens Weekly Birthday Cake Book, the Royal Australian Mint has released a limited-edition coin collection celebrating 12 of the books most iconic creations  including Dolly Varden, Rubber Ducky, Humpty Dumpty and the beloved Pool Cake. Eleven cakes feature on $1 coins, while the Hickory Dickory Dock watch cake stars on the $2 coin. Dont bother checking your wallet  these coins wont be released into circulation. Collectors editions are available to purchase for $15 each (for the $1 coins), or $39 for a set of ten, from The Mint Shop in Canberra and select newsXpress outlets. The download: Friday, June 13 Wash your roast down with a pint of Guinness at The Lion and Wombat. Pete Dillon 10 Sunday roasts to try across Melbourne this winter Nothing says winter in Melbourne like cosying up beside an open fireplace at the pub on a Sunday, pint of Guinness in hand while tucking into a classic roast with all the trimmings. In case you missed it, we rounded up the best British-style (and one Cantonese-style) Sunday roasts to try across the city this winter, from neighbourhood pubs like Prahrans Mount Erica Hotel and Seddons Mona Castle Hotel, to hatted CBD restaurant Reed House.

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Inside Baix in Brighton. Brighton fine diner Baix officially opens for service At the end of April, Ian Curley (French Saloon, Kirks)s long-awaited, 200-seat venue opened in Brighton beneath luxury apartment building The International. It encompasses wine bar 81 Bay, open since last month, in addition to fine diner Baix Dining which officially opened its doors on June 13. The restaurant serves a three-course set menu that differs weekly, and is only open from Thursday to Saturday between 5 and 10pm. Bookings can be made here. Beef, Guinness and marrow pie is a winter favourite at the Builders Arms in Fitzroy. Penny Stephens Recipe: The Builders Arms beef, Guinness and marrow pie

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Did you hear? The Builders Arms hearty beef, Guinness and marrow pie has returned to its menu for the colder months. But if youd prefer to stay in this weekend, you can also make it at home. Block out the afternoon and impress the whole family with head chef Leon Smiths indulgent take on the classic British pie. See the full recipe here. Ramen Akos chicken shio ramen in Fitzroy. Slurp down steamy bowls of ramen at these Melbourne hot spots Diners partial to a piping hot bowl of ramen in Melbournes winter are spoilt for choice across the city. But among the plethora of contemporary and traditional Japanese venues serving up variations of the famed noodle soup lie a handful of new wave restaurants focusing on ramen thats a little more nuanced  think one specific broth, sauce base and noodles from a particular region of Japan. Discover three must-try ramens here or find more Japanese eateries on the Good Food app and create your own hit list. Home-made bone broth is inexpensive to make and nourishing to eat. Getty Images

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Rosheen Kauls collagen-rich bone broth Its no secret bone broth is the superfood of the moment, praised for its health benefits thanks to a richness in protein and collagen. You can drink it by itself, or use it as a flavourful base for soups  plus its affordable, easy to make, and perfect for freezing. Sold yet? Try Rosheen Kauls foolproof homemade bone broth recipe here or use it to make a comforting hot pot. The download: Friday, June 6 After nailing Melbourne brunch, all-day diner Ophelia is moving into nights. Chege Mbuthi Good Foods Essential Melbourne Cafes & Bakeries guide

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Its safe to say Melbournes cafe scene has changed quite drastically since the last time Good Food ran a comprehensive cafe guide in 2014. Back then, a good cafe meant top notch coffee and a sit-down brekkie, but now the definition has expanded considerably to include expertly-made pastries and sandwiches, matcha and Mont Blancs and a diversity of culturally rich and delicious breakfast foods. Good Foods Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025, presented by T2, includes more than 100 venues reviewed anonymously across 10 categories including icons, those best for food, tea, coffee and matcha, and where to get the citys best sweets, sandwiches and baked goods. View the full list here. Get free pizza this weekend at Prahran wine bar The Alps. Inner southeast wine bar unveils new chef and menu Prahran wine bar The Alps, run by the team behind hatted Richmond hotspot Clover, has undergone a major revamp. It welcomes a new head chef this week  Miller Mimmo Cowie (Freddys, Zitas)  who has introduced a hot new menu revolving around Italian-centric comfort food. Think crispy Romana pizza, fried meatballs, and a 400-strong wine list.

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Two dreamy hot chocolates to try this winter Cult Melbourne bakery Baker Bleu has just introduced two rich, chocolatey additions to its new Cremorne stores menu. In collaboration with nearby chocolate factory Hunted + Gathered, the hot choccy flavours include a decadent 70 per cent dark couverture chocolate served with a housemade vanilla marshmallow, plus a hot version of its summer classic, the tiramisu iced latte, involving hot cocoa, espresso and whipped cream. The new drinks are available from Friday June 6 for a limited time only. Jessica Timpano and her father, Bart Nicoliello, enjoy home-made croquettes and wine. Dion Georgopoulos Nonno in the Kitchen + a simple crocche di patate recipe Everybody loves nonnas cooking, but mother-of-three Jessica Timpano is uncovering the culinary secrets of Australias Italian grandfathers  including those of her own dad, Bart Nicoliello. Read more about Timpanos passion project Nonno in the Kitchen and get Nonno Barts easy crocche di patate (potato croquettes) recipe here.

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Its $50 each for two people to get three courses and some wine at Marameo. Hump day special: $50 date night at Marameo The midweek dining specials just keep on coming, and Italian CBD eatery Marameos Wednesday date night is a doozy. For just $50 per person, youll get a half-litre carafe of Italian white or red wine, a serve of fluffy, house-made rosemary focaccia paired with salami, prosciutto and mortadella, plus the star of the show  Marameos cavatappi bolognese ragu baked with a cheesy pecorino bechamel. Dessert is deep-fried zeppoli served with chocolate sauce. Book here. Falafel with tahini, pickles and zhoug at Nobodys Baby. Bonnie Savage A new southside bar serves Sydney Roads favourite falafels

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South Yarra might be brimming with wine and cocktail bars, but theres a key point of difference at Nobodys Baby, a new addition to Toorak Road  its serving falafels of Brunswicks Very Good Falafel fame. Find out Good Food critic Dani Valents verdict on the southside bar here. Chicken katsu with Japanese curry sauce and slaw is paired with pale ale at Benchwarmer. Emma Breheny reviews craft beer hangout Benchwarmer You know the katsu is worth trying when Good Food restaurant editor Emma Breheny crowns it one of the juiciest pieces of crumbed chicken shes ever had. This was the case at Benchwarmer, a local West Melbourne haunt for Japanese-leaning snacks and craft beer. Read the full verdict here. Steak frites at Middle Park European. Paul Jeffers

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A new Euro bistro and wine bar arrives in Middle Park Following months of anticipation from Middle Park locals, restaurateur Matteo Bruno (Tartine, Neds Bake) has finally opened the doors to Middle Park European, an elevated diner and bar offering an Italian-leaning menu with French flourishes. Find out what you need to know about the new addition to Armstrong Street here. The download: Friday, May 30 Banh xeo from Viet Kieu, Anchovy chef Thi Les cookbook Viet Kieu. Mark Chew Thi Les crispy banh xeo recipe

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Banh xeo (crispy, savoury crepe) is ubiquitous in Vietnam. Its typically used as a vehicle to wrap fresh veggies before dunking in a dipping sauce that may vary by region. But despite its seeming simplicity, it can be difficult to authentically recreate the dish at home. Until now. See Anchovy chef and co-owner Thi Les foolproof banh xeo recipe here. Raw tuna at Banksia is served with stracciatella and a fragrant lemon-myrtle dressing. Simon Schluter Fine dining chef opens day-to-night diner with a globetrotting menu Indian-born chef Nishant Arora (ex-Society, Cutler & Co) has brought his global fine-dining experience to a new neighbourhood restaurant in Caulfield North. Banksia is the latest addition to Hawthorn Road with an approachable menu that spans cuisines across Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond. Find out what you need to know here. Roccos famous meatball sub is included in its Wednesday date night special. Emilio Scalzo

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Hump day special: $45 date night at Roccos Bologna Discoteca Each Wednesday, Fitzroys favourite Italian trattoria Roccos Bologna Discoteca puts on a date night special with serious bang for buck. Dine from 5pm to 9pm to enjoy one of Roccos famous meatball subs and a house pasta to share, plus a half-litre wine carafe and a soft serve of the day for dessert. The best part? Youll get all of that for just $45 per person. Neil Perrys braised lamb necks with pearl onions and garlic. William Meppem Neil Perrys cosy braised lamb recipe Perfect for either a make-ahead midweek dish or your next dinner party, Neil Perrys slow-cooked lamb neck braise is the ultimate comfort dish to help you defrost this winter. Its rich, garlicky and best served atop soft polenta with a fresh green salad. You can also save the recipe for a rainy day (literally) on the Good Food app.

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Iced matcha at Sana in Cheltenham. Dani Valent reviews bayside cafe with a secret matcha menu Its no secret that the matcha craze has taken over Melbourne. At Cheltenhams new Asian-inspired cafe Sana, theres an entire menu filled with variations of the green tea beverage  you just have to ask. Foodwise, find fusion brunch dishes like udon carbonara, wagyu katsu sandos and more. See Good Food critic Dani Valents full review here. Fried chicken with sweet chilli glaze (left) and creamy onion at Seven Star Pocha. Chris Hopkins Eat streets: We ate our way through Melbournes Koreatown

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CBD laneway Healeys Lane has long been known as Melbournes unofficial Koreatown  until last September, when the cobblestoned street became an official City of Melbourne designation. With more than 20 Korean businesses occupying the street and its surrounds, Good Food joined Doju chef Mika Chae to hit up a handful of the best hot spots for Korean food in the city. The download: Friday, May 23 The TikTok-famous beef bowl gets a glow-up. Katrina Meynink Meal prep: Five ways with beef bowls Planning Sundays meal prep? Take the hassle out of midweek lunches or dinners with Katrina Meyninks recipe for bulk beef mince that can easily be added to different variations of beef bowls  from a TikTok viral dish to an Asian-inspired gochujang-honey iteration, a healthy harissa and tahini mix, plus more. See all the recipes here.

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Must-order Melbourne sandwiches In the latest edition of Sandwich Watch, Good Foods column dedicated to the essential Melbourne sangers, rolls, subs and jaffles you need to know about, Tomas Telegramma and Dani Valent divulge the hottest sandwiches to try at three venues across the city (including a herby, Greek-inspired spanakopita toastie). Outside Malverns new bakery, Breadcetera. Michael Pham Malvern East gains a new bakery

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The owners of South Melbourne fine diner Lucia have set up shop in Malvern East with Breadcetera, a new bakery, grocery store and sandwich shop dubbed the milkbar for 2025. On the baked front, expect loaves, bagels, focaccia, pastries and more. Read our verdict and everything you need to know here. Hump day special: Steak night at Lilac Need a little hump-day pick-me-up? Every Wednesday from 4pm, Cremorne wine bar Lilac is firing up the grill with a steak special, perfect for when your midweek cooking motivation is waning. It includes a 250g dry-aged rump, potato gratin, salad by Common Ground Project, plus sauce, all for just $28. Talk about a bargain. An easy midweek pasta dish that riffs on the flavours of Turkish manti dumplings. Steve Brown

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Viral Turkish pasta recipe Remember when everyone on TikTok was making Turkish pasta? If you didnt jump on board the trend, you can now with this quick and easy lamb pasta recipe, inspired by flavours of manti (Turkish dumplings). Its tangy, garlicky, and sure to impress the entire family. Laneige launches limited edition bubble tea lip masks Cult beauty brand Laneige is combining the popularity of bubble tea, matcha and its viral lip masks into two scrumptious limited-edition lip treatment flavours: taro bubble tea and matcha bubble tea. The new products include a lip sleeping mask ($30) and a glowy lip balm ($28), available at Sephora while stocks last. sephora.com.au

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Pancake stack with whipped cream and bacon. Wayne Taylor Dani Valent reviews Collingwoods day-to-night diner Amped up toasties for lunch? Steak nights with free fry refills? Smash burgers, cocktails, and Sunday morning pancakes with fried chicken? Get all of the above and more at JollyGood Diner, an all-day American-style eatery with a Melburnian touch. Read Good Food critic Dani Valents full review here. Serving suggestion: Dont skip the basil pistou in this tomato, sausage and lentil soup. William Meppem Warm up with this cosy Italian-style tomato, sausage and lentil soup

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Evenings have become a little frostier in Melbourne, meaning its well and truly time to dust off the soup pot. To kick off the season, try Danielle Alvarezs pork sausage and tomato soup (serve with crusty garlic bread for the ultimate comfort meal). Or, find other soup recipes here and save your favourites on the Good Food app. The download: Friday, May 16 Hannah Green, owner of Etta restaurant in Brunswick East, is opening a second venue nearby. Kristoffer Paulsen Etta to open new restaurant in former Bar Romantica site Hannah Green  owner of hatted Brunswick East restaurant Etta  is expanding her footprint on Lygon Street with the launch of new neighbourhood restaurant and bar, Daphne. The venue will focus on Euro-centric share plates cooked in a custom-built woodfire grill and oven. Slated to open in September, Daphne will occupy the space previously home to Bar Romantica. Find out more here.

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Weekend pour: Savvy b with a twist It might seem heinous to mess with the crowd-favourite sauvignon blanc  or savvy b as its affectionately known among Aussies  but the latest trend on TikTok has seen a new vino recipe emerge: the spicy sauvignon blanc. Simply freeze jalapeno slices and add them to your favourite pour for a refreshing drink with a spicy twist. Need inspo? Discover three playful white wine blends, including a sav blanc blend, here. Vicki Wild and Martin Benn will oversee the food at Melbournes 67 Pall Mall. Gluggony Melbourne is getting another private members club

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67 Pall Mall, the London-based private members club with branches across Singapore and Switzerland, is coming to Melbourne next year. The $35 million venue will span four levels and 2000 square metres in a landmark site above Parliament Station. Find out what we know so far here. This Thai-inspired green curry-flavoured chicken dish comes together quickly. James Moffatt Curry in a hurry: speedy takeaway swaps Meal planning for next week? Or stuck for inspiration and reaching for the takeout menu? These 15 home-made curries are tasty, affordable alternatives to ordering in  and quicker too. You can also save your favourites for later on the Good Food app. Weekly pasta deals rotate but could include a lamb ragu using a family recipe. Simon Schluter

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Sweet deal: Bar Brillos $20 Wednesday pasta night Cosy neighbourhood wine bar and eatery Bar Brillo in Aberfeldie is serving up an irresistible hump day special: $20 bowls of fresh, handmade pasta. The pasta changes weekly  it could be a rigatoni with rich tomato sugo, fried eggplant and salted ricotta. Brillos regular menu is available too; see our recommendations on what to order here. Freeze liquids and solids in ice-cube trays. Rochelle Eagle How to make food last longer (without harming the planet) Hold on to your jam jars and take stock of old tea towels. Writer and sustainability educator Anna Matilda shares her eco-savvy hacks to help stretch the storage life of your favourite foods. See her top tips inthis edited extract from Everyday Permaculture.

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Chuncho Drinking Cacao by Loco Love. Loco Love launch specialty hot chocolate Theres a new entry in the world of posh hot chocolate. Byron Bay-based Fairtrade chocolatier Loco Love has released Chuncho Drinking Cacao  a gold-wrapped sun disc made from an heirloom Peruvian cacao bean that dissolves into a deliciously rich, slightly bitter brew. Each disc is priced at $7.95, or get six for $55. This bright and fragrant Vietnamese chicken salad is full of crunchy textures. Steve Brown; STYLING Emma Knowles Vietnamese chicken salad recipe + other easy midweek favourites

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Stuck on what to cook tonight? The weather might be getting cooler, but its still (just) sunny enough in Melbourne to warrant salads for an easy midweek fix. Adam Liaws juicy Vietnamese chicken salad is quick and easy to throw together, and you can find more simple dinner recipes here. At Lune Lab, try miso beef halo with parsnip puree, pickled daikon and charred onion, horseradish cream and puffed wild rice. Pete Dillon Lune Labs $90 croissant tasting menu Croissant enthusiasts can now get Lune for entree, main and dessert with the iconic croissanteries $90 tasting menu at Lune Lab in Fitzroy. But is it worth the cost? The Ages chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell gives us the low-down in her latest review. The download: Friday, May 9

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Smoky Hen, one of Melbournes top charcoal chicken joints, uses a wood-fired set-up for its Korean-style rotisserie chicken. Eddie Jim Four to try: Melbournes best charcoal chicken A new wave of Melbourne venues are putting a fresh spin on a takeaway dish long rooted in the Australian food landscape: the humble rotisserie chook. Try a close Chick-fil-A dupe at Chook in Cremorne, plus more. Melbourne restaurant critic Besha Rodell reveals her identity. Marja Ercegovac The Ages chief restaurant critic unveils her identity

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After 20 years as an anonymous restaurant critic  one of the worlds last  Besha Rodell is finally revealing her face. Find out why shes given up her identity and what it means for her reviews here. Piccolinas tiramisu ice-cream sandwich In collaboration with Yarraville deli Roccos, Melbourne ice-cream favourite Piccolina has made a decadent, creamy tiramisu gelato sandwich featuring coffee- and marsala-soaked savoiardi sponge, marsala ganache, mascarpone gelato and Belgian dark chocolate. Its available now across all eight Piccolina stores for $22. Tuna and kingfish crudo. William Meppem

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Adam Liaws most underrated and overrated foods Where do kingfish carpaccio, hot dogs, caviar, and burgers sit on Good Food columnist Adam Liaws scale of great to yeah, nah mate? Not where you might expect. Find out his thoughts on some of the countrys most popular foods here. The download: Friday, May 2 Chef-restaurateur Ben Shewry at Attica in 2024. Paul Jeffers Our critic returned to Attica

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Atticas Ben Shewry famously declared that he does not consent to reviews of his world-class Ripponlea restaurant.Good Foods chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell returned to the Melbourne dining institution anyway to pen a review of how it holds up in 2025. A Sunday sauce that will make your house smell like a home Level up your Sunday meal prep this week with Katrina Meyninks meaty, slow-cooked pasta sauce recipe. It simmers for five hours so you can get your Sunday chores done while your house smells like Nonnas. Goulburn River trout and bisi bele bath (a rice and lentil dish) at the Saadi pop-up at Sunda. Hot ticket: Sunda is back with Saadi pop-up

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Hatted Punch Lane restaurant Sunda is back  well, sort of. The modern South-east Asian diner is re-opening its doors for Saadi at Sunda, a pop-up by chef couple Saavni Krishnan and Aditya Adi Suresh. It runs from June 12 to July 26 and includes an $80 set dinner menu (or a smaller, $40 set lunch menu) of Indian-ish dishes. On the Good Food app, you can save all of your favourite recipes and restaurants in one easy place. Save your favourite recipes and restaurants on the Good Food app No more dog-earing your recipe books. The Good Food app has launched a new saved function, which allows you to compile all your favourite recipes in one easy place. Simply click the bookmark icon to save, then head to the Saved page on the navigation panel to view. The Good Food app is home to more than 10,000 recipes from Australias top cooks, including Nagi Maehashi, Adam Liaw, Helen Goh, Neil Perry, Karen Martini, Emelia Jackson and more.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The second day of the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics is being held in Baku, Trend reports.

On the second day of the competition, gymnasts competed in the group exercises in the adult age category with five ribbons and three balls - two hoops.

The Azerbaijani team, which performed in the adult group exercises with three balls - two hoops, was awarded the gold medal. The Ukrainian team won silver, and the Italian team won bronze.

The Italian team, which performed in the adult group exercises with five ribbons, won gold, the Estonian team won silver, and the Bulgarian team won bronze.

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1 / 8 Inside Tamura Sake Bar. Supplied 2 / 8 Tuna crudo at Tamura Sake Bar. Yusuke Sato. 3 / 8 Sushi set. Eddie Jim 4 / 8 Chicken-broth ramen spiked with fish sauce. Sofia Levin 5 / 8 Outside Tamura Sake Bar. Supplied 6 / 8 Selection of sake. Eddie Jim 7 / 8 Tori set. Eddie Jim 8 / 8 Ramen at Tamura Sake Bar. Eddie Jim Previous Slide Next Slide

Japanese$$$$

Good luck having a bad time at Tamura. This mini mash-up of Tokyo and Melbourne bar cultures is cosy and convivial. One wall is crammed with bottles of sake, whisky and shochu, while plywood shelves throughout the room hold oddball Japanese knick-knacks, records and bonsai.

Pull up a stool at the chest-high, U-shaped bar, where staff as well-versed in sake- selecting as they are vinyl-spinning dart back and forth, delivering plates of face-puckering house pickles, two-bite chicken katsu sandos and prawn balls rolled in buckwheat.

Silky leaves of raw kingfish shimmer with kombu and sweet plum, and chicken-heart yakitori or pork belly skewers pair impossibly well with a frosty on-tap rice XPA. Finish with a petite scoop of yuzu ice-cream.
New York is the city where dreams are made, according to the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys standard, Empire State of Mind. Australian fashion label Leo Lin is dreaming bigger than most, launching a pop-up store and taking over the windows at the New York flagship of department store Bloomingdales this week.

While other brands experience sleepless nights, with the introduction of import tariffs by President Donald Trump of 10 per cent on Australian goods, and up to 145 per cent on items produced in China, Leo Lins plans for growth continue one floral print dress at a time.

Tariffs are an obvious challenge, says Laura Good, head of brand at Leo Lin. The speed at which the tariffs were introduced has only solidified our position that this is our top priority as a business.

Models in the latest Leo Lin collection heading to Bloomingdales in New York. Credit: Steven Siewert

Bloomingdales, which also stocks Australian labels Alemais, Camilla and LIdee, successfully tested Leo Lins popularity at its Miami location in October, a month before the US election. Tariffs were not going to pour cold water on the partnership and the brands move into the New York store, with the US comprising 38 per cent of its wholesale business.
This story is part of the May 4 edition of Sunday Life.

While scrolling on Instagram recently, I saw John Adamo Pearce  the purple Wiggle  teaching kids how to sing Bahay Kubo, the Filipino song I sang as a child that names vegetables growing in a backyard. Pearce, a proud Filipino-Australian, often showcases his culture through fun Instagram reels with his mum, Flordeliza.

When I see my culture represented in the media, I still experience a pinch-me feeling. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, it was rare to see it depicted in mainstream Western media. But thats gradually changing.

Two years ago, Sesame Street introduced TJ, the first Filipino-American Muppet. Arvin Garcia, a Filipino nurse from Melbourne, won the reality cooking show The Great Australian Bake Off last year. And in the 2023 season, MasterChef Australia featured Filipino-Australian chefs, including Ross Magnaye, cooking traditional dishes (both Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay have dined at Magnayes Melbourne restaurant, Serai, with Ramsay hailing Magnayes taco sisig as the best dish hes tasted in years).

The Wiggles John Adamo Pearce (right) is bringing Filipino culture to pint-sized audiences through song. Credit: ABC

Theres more: the Good Food Guide (produced by Nine, publisher of Sunday Life) awarded one hat to Askal, a Filipino restaurant in Melbourne. The owners of Askal have also opened a bar called Inuman (Filipino for drinking session), making it the first rooftop bar in Australia that serves cocktails using ingredients such as lemongrass, durian, lambanog (Palm liquor), ube (purple yam) and pandan.
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 What makes someone a cat person? Its an elusive question for a seemingly innocuous creature, one that defined the early days of YouTubes viral videos (see: Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat and many more) and fuelled heated debate between Donald Trump and Taylor Swift, childless cat lady and international superstar. Mostly, though, you either love them or hate them. On the day that world-renowned cat judge Steven Meserve visits The Sydney Morning Herald, six award-winning show cats and owners in tow, the divide is similarly obvious. While some staff can barely contain their excitement, others maintain a cautious distance (The only good cat is a dead cat, remarks one colleague). For Meserve, 52, whose name has become inextricably tied to the feline stars he judges, the path to becoming cat person wasnt obvious. I did not grow up with cats, believe it or not, he says. It wasnt until, at 18, he spied an advertisement for a Bengal cat in a local Boston newspaper that his fate was sealed.

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His name was Alex and this is the cat that changed me. You know, for non-cat people to become cat people they have to eventually have this connection with one cat  and they never realised [they were a cat person] until it happens. Meserve and Alex did the rounds on the Boston cat fancy circuit, but the hobby fell to the wayside when Meserve decided to go to college, later establishing a successful career in PR and marketing. A young Meserve with his first cat, Alex. Credit: Instagram/@stevenmeserve His work took him out of his home town of Boston to San Francisco and eventually London, where he lived for more than 10 years working in fashion PR. In his spare time he worked with the International Cat Association (TICA), judging shows and eventually becoming their regional director for Europe. Sometimes I was at Paris Fashion Week or London Fashion Week and the next weekend I would go to a leisure centre in, like, South London, judging cats. But cats have only recently become his bread and butter, in what he refers to as his second act. Loving Cats Worldwide (LCWW), the organisation he founded in 2015 (which took off during the pandemic) and dedicated to cat events and expos, has made Meserve an internet sensation.

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On Instagram and TikTok hes amassed a combined half a million followers, and his most-watched TikTok video, of a fluffy grey Siberian, has more than 11.4 million views. Today, his work takes him around the world, from Tokyo to Amsterdam, Jakarta to Bogota. Meserve is speaking to this masthead in Sydney, ahead of a six-week tour of Australia headlining the inaugural Oz Feline Fair. Its hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes Meserves videos so captivating  adorable cats are, after all, a dime a dozen online these days. But Meserve is not one to be upstaged. He commands the stage with a swagger, lithely recounting his feline expertise while calmly stretching, stroking and lifting the cat for the audience to behold its full glory. Theres an absurdity to the whole charade, too: Meserves earnest and serious commentary at odds with the placid and bemused-looking cat. Meserve says it wasnt always this way.

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I was always a little awkward as a child. I mean, I really didnt come into myself until later on, he says. Loading But on stage, a cat by his side, he is in his element. Animals have always felt safe with me, he says. I was that person at the party who couldnt care less about the people and would always go hang out with the dog or the cat. The work isnt for everyone. Judges must obtain formal qualifications, learning the unique characteristics of more than 70 breeds that shows acknowledge.

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Cats are judged according to a standard of points that correspond to their breed, which include everything from body length to nostril size, health and temperament. Judges must assess all this while putting on a show for the crowd and ensuring the cat stays calm and comfortable. We are talking for eight, 10 hours a day, and with zero breaks, with a cat on the table. And were entertaining you but youre going to sit with me for 10 minutes, and then someone else is going to come, and Im doing the same thing over and over again. We dont even ask stage actors to work that long. Never mind movie actors, right? says Meserve. Founding LCWW and breaking out of the traditional cat fancy circuit hasnt been without controversy. Historically, Meserve says, cat competitions have been conducted in private and focused on pedigrees. Meserve (holding Wild Valley Snow Khione, a seal lynx tabby point Snow) with cat owners Barbie Farrugia, left, holding her brown tabby clouded Bengal, Friday, Colleen Blair with her Cornish rex, Sage, and Meredith White with her Scottish fold, Damewood Octavia. Credit: Louise Kennerley With LCWW, his goal is to bring the cat fancy world to a new, younger audience and shine a light on rescue and mixed breed cats. Half of his CATstravaganza shows categories are regularly devoted to non-pedigree cats, which includes rescues and household cats, while Meserve campaigns for rescue cats through his work with local shelters and a podcast, Everyone Can Have One More Cat.

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However, Besanko found some of Roberts-Smiths behaviour towards Person 17 was intimidatory, threatening and controlling. On Friday, Roberts-Smiths barrister, Arthur Moses, SC, put to McKenzie that Person 17 had threatened legal action against him and the newspapers after the defamation trial. She threatened to sue you and Nine in respect of your conduct in the proceedings before Justice Besanko, correct? Moses said. Yes, McKenzie said. She alleged that you had shared with her privileged information belonging to Mr Roberts-Smith? Moses asked.

She lodged a draft statement of claim of allegations, thats correct, McKenzie said. McKenzie told the court that he did not accept that he ever got legally privileged information. Roberts-Smith signs an autograph for a supporter outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday. Credit: Sam Mooy Legal professional privilege protects the confidentiality of some communications between a person and their lawyer. McKenzie rejected a suggestion by Moses that he had lied in his evidence.

The audio of McKenzie telling Person 17 he had received details of Roberts-Smiths legal strategy in the defamation case was published by News Corps Sky News in March, and was emailed to Roberts-Smiths legal team via an anonymous Proton account. According to a transcript, McKenzie, who appeared to be attempting to reassure Person 17 about giving evidence in the case, said Roberts-Smiths now ex-wife Emma Roberts and her friend, Danielle Scott, were actively  briefing us on his legal strategy in the defamation case. I shouldnt tell you. Ive just breached my f---ing ethics in doing that, he said. McKenzie told the court on Friday that legal strategy did not mean privileged legal advice. If Danielle tells me that Emma has told her that shes been instructed [by her then-husband] to lie or fabricate evidence, and thats the legal strategy Ben Roberts-Smith intends to use to win the case, I dont think its wrong for a witness or a witness friend to tell me.

Roberts gave evidence during the trial for the newspapers. She said Roberts-Smith had pressured her to lie and say they were separated at the time of his affair. Nines legal team told the court on Thursday that the 85-second recording was a snippet of a longer conversation and should be treated with caution. McKenzie was unaware it was recorded. Roberts-Smiths barrister Arthur Moses, SC (centre), and colleagues arrive at the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday. Credit: Sam Mooy Lawyers for Roberts-Smith have said there was a real possibility the outcome of the trial would have been different if McKenzie had not engaged in this conduct. Roberts-Smith is seeking an order entering judgment in his favour or a retrial. Justice Nye Perram, one of three judges who heard Roberts-Smiths application, said legal professional privilege was an immunity or an entitlement not to produce a document or other material. He questioned what might be meant by alleging a third party who received such information breached privilege.

Moses said privilege was a substantive right, and the alleged misconduct in this case was the covert and unauthorised acquisition of confidential and privileged information. But the media outlets barrister, John Sheahan, KC, said in closing submissions that there was a full and fair trial of the issues in this case, and it was wrong to suggest that having access to an opponents legal strategy amounted to misconduct. Case management procedures used in court in fact embrace a cards on the table approach to litigation, Sheahan said. He said Roberts-Smiths legal team had failed to identify privileged items. He also took aim at the hyperbolic attack on the credit of Mr McKenzie, and said the judges could comfortably reject it. The multi-award-winning journalist gave his evidence carefully and honestly, Sheahan said.

McKenzie was asked on Thursday about an incident in which he was charged along with two colleagues at The Age over unlawfully accessing a Labor Party database in 2010 after being given a password. Ultimately, there was no trial and no convictions were recorded after the trio participated in a court diversion program. He didnt know it was an offence to do it, Sheahan said when asked about the incident by Justice Anna Katzmann. He said the court could be quite confident that McKenzie was chastened by that experience. Sheahan summarised McKenzies evidence about that experience as: You can tell that I didnt think I was doing anything wrong because I put this on the front page of the Melbourne Age. The report, published in The Age in the week before the 2010 state election, outlined how Labor kept secret files on voters. The court will deliver its decision at a later date.
I guess one of the things that attracted me to her in the first place was definitely her intelligence, he said. Shes quite witty, and can be quite funny. Erin had a university degree in business, did part of a vet science course, and studied legal courses as well. She worked as an accountant and was a qualified air traffic controller at Tullamarine. After marrying in 2007 and having two children, the couple eventually settled in Korumburra. Simons parents, Don and Gail, lived nearby.

Erin stayed home to look after the kids, benefiting from a significant inheritance, first from her grandmother and then her mother, that gave her $2 million and then routine disbursements. Erin Patterson. Credit: Jason South When the Pattersons first met, Erin had been an atheist and Simon a Christian who attended church every week. A trip to the local baptist church changed that for Erin when she was visibly moved by a communion service. Simon continued to go to church weekly; Erin joined with the kids every fortnight. He helped with technical work during the service; she assisted with the livestream, the court was told. The pair often went to Bible study classes. She was influenced by a few factors, including, I guess, my involvement in her life. Im a Christian ... its really Gods leading that makes us Christians or not, Simon said.

Don and Gail also attended the church. Heather Wilkinson, Gails sister, was married to the pastor, Ian Wilkinson, who had been at the church since 1999. The Pattersons family life was uneventful. Don and Gail looked after their grandchildren, helped them with their homework. They shared a good relationship with Erin. They got on very well, Simon told the court as he fought back tears. She especially got along well with Dad. They shared a love of knowledge and learning and an interest in the world and I think she loved his gentle nature. Simon told the court he and Erin finally separated for good in late 2015, but they remained on good terms. Don Patterson (left), Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson and Ian Wilkinson were poisoned by a mushroom meal.

They talked, shared duties for the children and even took family holidays together. They are still technically married. However, Simon told the court the couples relationship took a turn for the worse in late 2022 when he listed himself as separated for the first time on his tax return. She was upset about it. That was probably the first thing that made me feel there was substantial change in our relationship, he said. Our habit for years was to message each other a lot in a chatty way. The chatty nature of it pretty much stopped. It became functional, and sometimes nothing. According to Simon, Erin, in a move supported by him, applied for child support but the $38 a month he was told to pay increased tensions between the pair. There were still doctors bills and school fees to pay for. In text messages from December 2022, shown to the jury, Simon tells Erin he wants a mediator to help the pair sort out their child support disputes.

I was keen to resolve it, and I could see that Erin and mines communication about it ... wasnt working. And, yeah, I guess, from my point of view, Erin was being extremely aggressive, and so I thought a mediator would probably help us communicate about it, he said. Simon said Don and Gail continued to speak with Erin, but were keen not to become mediators in any of their disputes. They were both really strong on us working our marriage out together and everything out together, he said. But during that time there was also what Simon described as a misunderstanding about his mothers 70th birthday.

Simon asked his estranged wife if she was going to the party. Erin said she hadnt been invited. I might pass  as Id rather not go somewhere Im not welcome, Erin said in a message. After some back and forth, Erin said she felt very hurt about not being invited. Simon insisted it was a mistake, his father had thought Erin had already accepted his invitation to go. She eventually agreed to attend.

By July 2023, Erin said she had news to break to her family, according to the prosecutions opening statement. She asked her in-laws, her estranged husband and the Wilkinsons over to lunch. Simon pulled out of the event the night before, saying he was too uncomfortable to attend. Loading Erin sent her children to the cinema and sat down to a lunch of individual beef Wellingtons, mashed potato and green beans with Don, Gail, Ian and Heather, according to the prosecutions opening statement. Erin served the meals on four grey dinner plates, hers sitting on a smaller, coloured plate. They said grace and tucked into the meal as she told those assembled of a cancer diagnosis and asked for advice on how to tell her children, the court heard.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has broken his silence to endorse a second term for Anthony Albanese as he praised the prime ministers efforts to secure his release from prison.

Assange, who attended Pope Francis funeral in the Vatican last week in a rare public sighting, has almost entirely avoided public commentary since his dramatic return to Australia last June after he struck a plea deal with the US Justice Department.

Julian Assange arrives at Canberra airport last year after agreeing to a plea deal with US prosecutors that led to his release. Credit: James Brickwood

He was detained for more than five years in Londons high security Belmarsh Prison after being charged with espionage and computer hacking for publishing hundreds of thousands of classified US military documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Albanese raised Assanges case several times in his meetings with former US president Joe Biden, making clear his release was a priority for the Australian government and public.
Setting aside reservations about the opposition, The Age has a duty to point out that many issues of great concern to our readers, beyond cost-of-living worries, have not been adequately addressed by the current government. Housing affordability has been something both parties have attempted to address, but on this score they are locked in a draw. Neither proposal could be described as transformative and both have been criticised for their unintended consequences. In Victoria, the federal governments campaign has been encumbered by a moribund state Labor government led by a deeply unpopular leader in Jacinta Allan. The opposition sought to exploit this by linking the pair whenever possible. Polling shows the federal governments vote in this state still lagging behind its 2022 high, falling from 33 per cent to 29 per cent. Taking a more prudent stance on the unaffordable Suburban Rail Loop project by withdrawing federal funding would have helped federal Labor distinguish itself from the state government and demonstrated responsible economic management at a time when both state and federal budgets are under pressure. Canberra has, however, succeeded in putting the airport rail link back on the agenda, which should never have been shelved by the state government. Loading Labors plans to pump money into Medicare, matched immediately by the opposition, and to reduce student debt are commendable, though there are serious questions about whether the government has overstated the impact of how many free GP visits its plan would generate. While welcome, they are hardly visionary ideas. The same could be said of the tiny tax cut the government unveiled in this years budget. It gives politicians something to talk about on the campaign trail, but it stops a long way short of steering the nation towards prosperity.

Zooming out to international affairs, Australians had cause to question whether their national security was in safe hands when a Virgin Airlines pilot detected Chinese warships conducting military exercises off Australias east coast. In an election during which perhaps a third of voters will support a minor party or independent, The Age must also consider these candidates. The Greens performative campaign of dance parties and social media influencing has rarely spilled over into mainstream discussion, except when spruiking a perennial plan to put dental into Medicare at great cost to the nation and attempting to convert angst and social division over the war in Gaza into a vote-winner. Similarly, the rank populism and divisive agenda of Clive Palmers Trumpet of Patriots and Pauline Hansons One Nation should also be roundly rejected by fair-minded Victorians who do not wish to see social divisions further exacerbated. Loading As for the Simon Holmes a Court, Climate 200-backed independents, whether they call themselves teals or eschew that label in favour of the orange hue of country independents, The Age urges caution. These independents surged into seven seats around the nation in 2022 on the promise of a better, more ethical way of doing politics. There has been little evidence of that on the whole, although in fairness this assessment may differ substantially between individual MPs and candidates. Certainly questions about push-polling, a propensity for muckraking about opponents, the removal of opposition corflutes and lack of donation transparency show the promises of a kinder, gentler politics have faded quicker than the lurid paint jobs on their offices and vehicles. The Age encourages voters in those seats to judge candidates on their individual record carefully, rather than leap to assumptions based on the colour of their shirts.

The Albanese government has had only three years in government. Despite its failures and missed opportunities, it has not been so terrible that it deserves to be the first government thrown out after one term in almost 100 years. Loading It is the considered view of The Age that Victorians, and the nation, should return the Albanese Labor government to power. It makes that endorsement with little enthusiasm. This is a government of small ambition, led by a prime minister who has failed to articulate an inspirational vision for the country. Such small-target politics have prevailed in the government ever since its failed attempt to establish an Indigenous Voice to parliament  an objective this masthead supported but which was rejected by the majority of Australians. This was one of the few policies of this government that would have had impact beyond the next term of government, and it failed. Another path available to Australians is to return the Coalition to power, just one term after they chose to end the Tony Abbott-Malcolm Turnbull-Scott Morrison era of government. That would mean electing a Coalition led by Peter Dutton, a man who played a leading role in that era. He became a figure of derision in this state in past campaigns when he suggested Victorians were terrified by African gangs, and he returned to a similar well during this campaign by suggesting people in this state were afraid to go shopping because of rising crime. It is no surprise that comparisons to US President Donald Trump at a time of global upheaval have dogged his campaign, no matter how desperately he tried to shake them. In his profile of Australias 31st prime minister, Chip Le Grand described Albanese as staid and predictable. The same could be said of Albaneses government. Perhaps at this point in time, and given the choices available, that is the best option for the country.
A serial pest in sperm donation groups has joined the cast of bankrupts, fraudsters and fantasists in Clive Palmers Trumpet of Patriots and is running in the hotly contested western Sydney seat of Lindsay.

Joseph OConnor claims in the biography posted on the partys website that he brings a wealth of experience in mental health and counselling to his candidacy.

Trumpet of Patriots candidate Joseph OConnor has been revealed as a serial pest in sperm donation groups. Credit: Matt Davidson

But this masthead can reveal that he has also presented himself as Dane McDuff, Blake McBeth, Adam Nilsson and Jack DeBevay in Facebook groups for women and couples looking for sperm donations, among a stream of identities that mushroom each time he is banned from a group.

Sperm donor groups generally do not allow members to use aliases.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The ombudsman carries out a wide range of activities, and the role of the media in the public presentation of these activities is undeniable, spokesperson for Azerbaijani Ombudsman's Office Araz Asgarli said at the panel session "Agenda for the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty" of the Forum on Public Processes in Media Space, organized by the Media Development Agency, Trend reports.

He noted that the ombudsman's activities place special emphasis on fostering closer and more effective cooperation with international and local media.

"This collaboration continues in the direction of highlighting the ombudsman's activities in international and local media, examining issues covered in the press, addressing inquiries from media representatives, and carrying out educational initiatives.

On our part, joint investigations are conducted with the relevant authorities regarding complaints received, as well as information of various kinds published in mass media and on social media platforms that violates citizens' rights related to privacy, honor, and dignity," the spokesperson mentioned.

According to him, the protection of the rights of media representatives is one of the ongoing focal points.

"We also examine appeals from media representatives regarding the right to access information, responses to their requests within the timeframes set by law, and take necessary measures in this regard. Moreover, organizing educational training on human rights for media representatives is very important in terms of increasing their awareness in this field. Implementing initiatives in this direction is also a priority for us," Asgarli added.

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The church also campaigned in the US, Canada and, amid great controversy, New Zealand. In Australia, it all led to Australian Electoral Commission and Australian Federal Police probes in 2006 focused on the previous election. Both investigations petered out. But the media scrutiny did not relent, and letters obtained later under freedom of information laws by this reporter revealed Hales and Howard had been meeting companionably and exchanging correspondence for years. Church leader Bruce Hales. Some know him as the King, or the CEO. Credit: Michael Bachelard The Liberal government at the same time provided a favourable environment for the church. The documents showed that when the Brethren had a concern over school funding, Howard referred it to his education minister with a note attached saying they are known to PM. Hales ultimately got the outcome he sought.

Official documents showed that, under Howard, 11 church elders held lobbyist passes granting unfettered Parliament House access, with their credentials endorsed by 13 coalition MPs. Brethren members also donated freely, but secretively, to conservative parties. A document tabled in 2014 as part of a NSW anti-corruption commission probe into Liberal fundraising named dozens of church members. Brethren members supporting the Liberal candidate head to a polling booth in Kooyong. It showed in 2010, they donated more than $67,000 to the Liberals, all on the same December day, in parcels of around $1499 each  just below the disclosure threshold. On the document was one handwritten word: Friends. Former Brethren member Lavinia Richardson this week revealed to this masthead how that scheme works.

Journalistic scrutiny also unearthed a whole community of angry former members. They told of a church that kept people away from their families once theyd left, treated women as second class citizens, covered up child sexual abuse and was so profoundly anti-gay a Brethren doctor prescribed drugs to chemically castrate homosexual members. A core doctrine  spelled out in the ministry of Bruce Hales  is to spoil the Egyptians. Under the doctrine, church members are entitled to treat worldlies  those outside the church  as badly as they like in business, and seek as much public funding as possible. A recent service of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church with women at the back of the room, men at the front. You charge the highest possible price to the worldly people, Hales told his flock in 2004. Thats the way to get ahead, I mean, materially, youve got to spoil the Egyptians. It doesnt belong to them anyhow, so weve just got to relieve them of it! So central has this doctrine become that former members, speaking anonymously out of fear of repercussions, say the PBCC has long since evolved from a religion into a business conglomerate.

Its helped church-related entities amass hundreds of millions of dollars in what it calls its ecosystem  an interlinked series of businesses, charities and schools which, between them, spin off hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars per year. Companies run by the family of the churchs supreme leader alone made hundreds of millions of dollars from COVID contracts and some of North Sydneys most ostentatious mansions are owned by Hales and his sons. We dont know the answer to Albaneses question: whats the quid pro quo for the Brethrens support of the Coalition? We do know there are reasons for them to be interested in whos in charge in Canberra. Firstly, as this masthead revealed last year, Brethren businesses are under investigation by the Australian Tax Office, whose Private Wealth  Behaviours of Concern section last year conducted a weeks-long access without prior notice raid on Brethren business HQ.

The investigation is ongoing, but already a senior accountant and church member are facing court action from the Tax Practitioners Board. Loading The tax office is robustly independent, but the Brethren might fantasise, even without any basis, that having a favourable government in Canberra could help their cause. Brethren spokesman Lloyd Grimshaw denied there was any such agreement or understanding with the opposition. Secondly, Brethren-run businesses bid for and win dozens of government contracts annually. Many of their office fit-out, medical supplies, pumps and other companies bid for state and federal public sector tenders.

Their schools are also publicly funded, with payments of more than $35 million per year to run a system that helps keep Brethren children separate from the rest of the world and indoctrinated in the faith. Their charities  they have at least 10, including the schools  have net assets of $295 million, putting them among the very richest of Australian non-profit organisations. Australian Taxation Office investigators at the Olympic Park headquarters of businesses related to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, in Sydney on March 19, 2024. Credit: Kate Geraghty In the UK a few years ago, the charities commission challenged the Brethrens status because of the detriment and harm they caused their own members and former members. So the Brethren have an intense interest in keeping Australias charity regulations unchanged. The Brethren are assiduous in seeking (and receiving) government welfare and grants. During COVID, this masthead reported its schools reaped $9 million in JobKeeper payments.

Official documents show its Rapid Relief Team charity received $680,000 in federal government grants since 2020, to buy mobile coffee machines, cooking equipment, lighting towers and other equipment. Loading The Brethrens motivation for its big push against Labor is not known, but the campaign carries a high risk for both the opposition and the church. The hundreds of church volunteers should in theory help Duttons campaign, but the fact theyre religious fundamentalists could actually harm his public image. For the Brethren, the risk is that such a big push for Dutton could prompt blowback from Albanese, if he wins government. He has, after all, labelled them a cult. That word, incidentally, echoes down the years. In 2007, Howard met Bruce Hales and other Brethren in his Parliament House office shortly before the election. When this reporter exposed that meeting, then opposition leader Kevin Rudd publicly called them out as an extremist cult, saying they broke up families.

Rudd vowed to ask the AFP, the tax office, money laundering watchdog AUSTRAC, and the Australian Electoral Commission to investigate. He told ex-members hed launch an inquiry. After the election, though, Rudd abandoned the inquiry saying, through his spokesman, it could unreasonably interfere with the capacity of members of the Exclusive Brethren to practise their faith freely and openly. Two posters, authorised by Freedom Party founder Morgan C. Jonas, that echo Plymouth Brethren Christian Church talking points on the campaign. Religious freedom. Its the same argument the Brethren used again this week to defend its campaign for Dutton. And until now, as far as government scrutiny is concerned, its been a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Hume was contacted for comment. Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Even as the Coalition attacks Labor on national security, it is seeking to win back Chinese voters after the diaspora deserted then-prime minister Scott Morrison en masse for Labor at the 2022 election following his governments pandemic-era feud with Beijing. In Bennelong, a must-win seat for both sides, Liberal candidate Scott Yung has distanced himself from Morrison and emphasised his close ties to the Chinese community. But screenshots obtained by this masthead show Yan Zehua, a former executive vice president of the Australian Association for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, is described as the leader of a chat group for volunteers supporting Liberal candidate Scott Yung.

The association is the only organisation that the Australian government has officially listed as being a foreign government related entity under the foreign influence transparency scheme. It was once headed by Huang Xiangmo, the controversial Chinese political donor who was exiled from Australia after security agencies expressed concerns. Liberal candidate Scott Yung meeting voters in Bennelong on Tuesday. Credit: Edwina Pickles Yan, who was pictured posing with Yung near an early voting centre late last month, declined to answer questions but said he was no longer vice president of the AAPPRC, which advocates for the democratic island of Taiwan to reunite with the rest of China under Communist control. He would not say when he stood down from the position, which he is listed as holding as recently as 2023 on press releases of other organisations.

Yan is part of a group on the Chinese social media app called Scott Campaign Volunteer Group-2. The groups description says the leader of this group of volunteers is President Yan, noting he is the president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce who fully supports Scott in this federal election. Yan Zehua with Scott Yung at an Eastwood pre-polling booth. Becoming a campaign volunteer not only helps Scott, but also helps like-minded friends improve themselves, enhance their awareness of political participation and sense of community belonging, the group description states. Let us gather together to fulfil our mission, jointly support this meaningful campaign, and write our glorious chapter together! After Yung and the Liberal Party were contacted for comment, a campaign spokesman said: Yan is a local constituent who is campaigning against Labor and Jerome Laxale. Scott has no further relationship with Yan. Yan has sometimes supported Labor in the past.

Yung is not a member of the WeChat group, which numbers 32 people, but his mother, Karen Yueqi, is. Courting a wary diaspora After the Liberals poor performance with the community in 2022, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton changed his rhetoric. Im pro-China and the relationship that we have with them, Dutton told 2GB in June last year. We need to make sure we strengthen the trading relationship [with China] because there are many businesses here who rely on it. The Liberal Partys post-election review in 2022 had found that on average, the two-party-preferred swing to Labor in the top 15 seats by Chinese ancestry was 6.6 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent in other seats.

It concluded that, after Chinese voters marked down the Coalition government for criticising China over its handling of COVID-19 and diplomatic ties all but ceased, the Liberal party must make repairing its relationship with the Chinese community must  a priority during this term of parliament. Shannon Ting is voting Greens. Credit: Edwina Pickles Research published by the University of Technology China Relations Institute found that while the Coalition had revived more combative rhetoric recently, the preceding three years had been marked by a more muted, bipartisan consensus around China. This shift is aimed at reassuring the business community that the Coalition is cognisant and appreciative of trade ties, while also regaining the support of Australian-Chinese voters, author Elena Collinson concluded. Labor, for its part, downplayed concerns about Chinese navy ships circumnavigating Australia earlier this year and used measured language to address military tension, such as when a Chinese fighter jet deployed flares near an Australian air force plane in February.

Charlie Chork, a big admirer of John Howard, is voting Liberal. Credit: Edwina Pickles Charlie Chork, a furniture store owner in Bennelong who emigrated from China 35 years ago, said he believed in the Liberal Party. Yung got experience from John Howard, and they did quite a good job, Chork said. So thats why I just voted for Scott. Loading The party is keen to capitalise on Howards good reputation, with signs picturing Yung and the former prime minister together. I support Scott Yung. He is our future, they read in English and Chinese. Labor wants to make it hard for Bennelong Liberals to move on from Morrison. If Morrison lets you down, Dutton will be worse. Support Scott Yung. Support Dutton, read Labor Party signs in Mandarin.
Melbourne buyers looking to snag a house big enough to raise a family will pay a premium over house hunters happy to compromise on space, new figures reveal.

The median price for a four-bedroom house in Melbourne was $900,000 in the March quarter, Domain data shows, a $124,325 step up from the median of $775,675 for a three-bedroom house.

Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said there was more competition for larger homes, which was driving up prices.

Weve got the higher-priced segment of houses performing better, she said. When looking at Melbourne at a macro level, weve seen a turning point based on the higher end of the market.
London: Prince Harry said that he wanted reconciliation with the British royal family but his father King Charles will not speak to him over a row over his security, and he did not know how long the monarch, who has cancer, would live.

Hours after losing a court battle with the British government over his police protection, Harry gave an emotional interview to the BBC in which he said he did not think he would ever be able to bring his family back to Britain.

I would love reconciliation with my family, Harry said. Life is precious. I dont know how much longer my father has. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.

Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States and lives in California with his American wife Meghan and their two children.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The Azerbaijan House in Helsinki, Finland, recently hosted a gathering for Azerbaijani expatriates residing in the country, the State Committee for Work with Diaspora told Trend.

The event commenced with the performance of the Azerbaijani national anthem and a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs.

Elshad Aliyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, addressed the attendees, highlighting the organization's projects and the significant contributions of the Finnish Azerbaijani community and the Azerbaijan House in advancing diaspora policies. He emphasized the pivotal role of Azerbaijani Houses worldwide in promoting the nation's culture and history, as well as conveying the truths about Azerbaijan to the international community.

Asker Nagiyev, First Secretary at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, discussed the activities of Azerbaijani communities in the Nordic countries and the successful operations of the Azerbaijan House.

Ulviya Jabbarova, Coordinator of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Scandinavia for Finland and Head of the Azerbaijan House in Helsinki, shared insights into the House's activities and the Sunday school. She expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani government for its support of the Azerbaijani community in Finland.

Ayten Bashirova, an Azerbaijani language teacher at the Sunday school, reported a growing interest among students in learning their native language, with an increasing number of enrollments.

Following a special performance by the Sunday school students at the Azerbaijan House, a book titled "Bulbul" was introduced. Authored by Emilia Jabrayilova, an Azerbaijani expatriate residing in London, the book focuses on the native language. Participants praised the publication, recognizing it as a valuable contribution to teaching Azerbaijani children their mother tongue.

During the event, a new coordinator for the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Scandinavia for Finland was elected.

Additionally, Tarana Nazarova, Chairperson of the Finland-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, was awarded the "For Services to Diaspora Activities" medal by the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Currently, there are 30 Azerbaijan Houses operating in 19 countries worldwide.

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HYSTERICAL PAK





THAT Pakistan would turn hysterical with the rising pressure fromIndia, was a given.Those who understood the Pakistani method and manner knew that the Pakistani leadership would follow the countrys age-old dictum of trying to act innocent and react in what may be interpreted by some as righteous indignation. However, by now, the world knows all too well all these Pakistani tricks -- which India will expose at every step of the way. As usual, the world understands India well and has assured to support everyrighteousIndianmove.This expanding support India is garnering is also one of the reasons of Pakistans panic. Of course, different world powers, including the United States, will try to calm things down, which is a normal practice. However, all the do-gooders also realise that India has come to the end of its patience and is acting only in response to the Pakistani hooliganism of the official sort. Though it is not possible to fathom what turn the current crisis would take in the days to come, it appears thatIndia would not stop short of teaching Pakistan a tough lesson or two.

This also is a reason for Pakistans fear-psychosis. On the practical level, however, it must be stated with emphasis that Pakistan has all reasons to be fearful in the current scenario -- thanks to its own weaknesses, thanks to its own moral turpitude, thanks to its neurotic State policy which treats terrorism as one of its tools. All those sins of commission are now welling up to make things very, very difficult for Pakistan. In its panic-stricken condition, Pakistan has taken some steps -- all of which appear to have been taken in sheer haste. In sharp contrast is the Indian response to the crisis. Each of Indias moves is well pre-meditated, well calibrated, well calculated for its gain-and-loss quotient, and based on a well considered risk and threat perceptions. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modis conduct in the past few days is an example of most mature leadership.

Not only did he cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia, but also threw himself headlong into a seriesofwell-thoughtmoves thatincludedhighest-levelmeetings with his close advisors and topmost Government functionaries handling different domains. There is urgency, all right, in all the moves of the Prime Minister, but no rush, no haste. These are the marks of good leadership. Everybody knows that India is going to act tough. But the time before that tough action comes is confusing the common people. They had expected a near real-time response byIndia.

Bythat, thecommonpeoplemeantmilitaryresponse. Thatiswheretheperceptionshavediffered.Indiadidrespond quickly, but not militarily. That part of the larger response may come later, but India did respond by slapping sanctions on Pakistan. Those Indian actions did elicit Pakistanireactions, too. But the difference between themoves of the two countriesis stark and visible to all. Pakistan is in a state of panic, while India is in a state of planning and its neat execution. The tug, thus, is between planning and panic. The biggest factor that dominates the thought-process of common Indian people is that of military action by India.

There is a school of thought that feels that India is hesitating. That may not be true, of course, but the slowness of the Indian response has given the common people reason good enough to suspect whether there is hesitation on the Indian side. The common people in India do realise that Pakistan is mortally afraid of the ugly consequences of its sponsorship of terrorism. That is why they feel that a swift and sharp military action -- such as snatching back occupied Kashmir -- woulddowondersinIndiasfavour.Thepeople feel,itiswrong to give Pakistan enough time to reorganise itself.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Iran's East Azerbaijan Province is brimming with potential, owing to its extensive frontier with Azerbaijan, numerous opportunities in various sectors, and the Araz Corridor, the province's governor, Bahram Sarmast, told Trend.

"We are closely monitoring the activation and operation of the corridor. In this context, the launch of the Kalaleh-Aghband terminal, followed by the upcoming opening of the Julfa terminal, are important projects," he said.

The official pointed out that the historic visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Azerbaijan is a big deal in more ways than one.

"Within the framework of this visit, a large delegation in the field of trade also arrived in Azerbaijan. At the same time, the visit of the governors of the four provinces bordering Azerbaijan (East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and Gilan) to Azerbaijan was of great importance," Sarmast explained.

He claims that Azerbaijan and Iran share common cultural and historical roots.

"The two countries have irreplaceable common economic interests. A number of important documents were signed during the visit with the participation of the presidents of the two countries. These documents envisage further development of relations with the border provinces within the framework of cooperation between the two countries.

East Azerbaijan Province, with Tabriz as its center, has numerous invaluable ties with Azerbaijan. The potential of East Azerbaijan in various sectors can elevate the relations between the two countries to a higher level. This can also contribute to the improvement of the welfare of the population in the border regions. The development of tourism and joint investments in East Azerbaijan are among the issues that can be focused on.

Both Iranian investors operating in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani investors can contribute to the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, particularly in the border provinces.

In addition to economic relations, cultural ties between the two countries can also develop. The organization of events involving literary and artistic figures from both sides could boost the development of these relations. Among the neighboring countries, Azerbaijan is one of Irans most prominent partners. In this regard, the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has granted various authorities to the provincial governors in Iran.

The border provinces of Iran with Azerbaijan should keep the agreements reached under the framework of the Iran-Azerbaijan Economic Cooperation Intergovernmental Joint Commission at the provincial level as a point of focus.

During meetings held in Baku, agreements on various sectors, including economic and trade areas, were discussed, and an agreement was reached on their implementation. In the future, mutual visits and agreements aimed at further developing trade and economic relations will remain a priority so that practical and tangible results can be achieved," he mentioned.

The official further said that operation of the Aras Free Trade Zone in East Azerbaijan Province can create many opportunities.

"For example, border markets between the two countries can start functioning, and joint projects can be carried out in the free trade zones.

Given the significant potential of East Azerbaijan Province in the industrial sector, efforts could be made towards joint ventures in industrial parks. In this direction, investors from both countries can be more active.

The procedural rules for university cooperation and student exchange with the East Azerbaijan province can be simplified. The possibility of reinstating flights between Iranian Tabriz and Azerbaijan's Baku, and vice versa, is kept in the focus of attention. This would provide an easier travel option for both citizens and businesspeople from both nations, enabling them to visit Tabriz and Baku with greater ease.

"President Pezeshkian quotes the famous poet Muhammad Huseyn Shahriyar at many events, even in Baku. Considering that this poet is becoming more and more famous in the region, it is planned to hold the International Shahriyar Congress in Tabriz. Poets, cultural figures, and officials from Azerbaijan are also planned to participate in that event," he pointed out.

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After featuring Coss Marte in The Lo-Downs My LES column ten years ago, host Traven Rice connected with him again to catch up on all he has accomplished with his two innovative businesses, both of which have social justice missions at their core.

In 2009, Coss Marte was sent to jail as the leader of a multi-million dollar cocaine operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle, if left unchecked, would likely kill him. Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he hadhis prison cell and his own body weight.

Within six months, he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other people incarcerated alongside him. After he was released from prison, Coss launched CONBODY a prison style bootcamp that hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes.

Since the launch of his company hes gained over 25,000+ clients , supported many folks coming home from prison, and has been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, TED Talks, and Mens Fitness, to name a few.

At CONBODY, the team states that the mission extends to creating a more equitable world for returning citizens, especially black and brown returning citizens. Marginalized groups always need advocates, rarely is there an opportunity for members of a marginalized group to advocate for themselves.

The success of CONBODY led to his latest endeavor, CONBUD, which is one of the first legal cannabis dispensaries in the city, located in the same location as the gym, on the corner of Orchard Street and Delancey streets. This is in the heart of the LES, just a few blocks away from where he was arrested for dealing.

Marte is one of the people who led the fight to allow formerly incarcerated people who had cannabis convictions and proof of running a successful business after serving their time, to apply for the liscenses.

CONBUDs mission is very specific. They write that the intention is to: Normalize, Educate, De-stigmatize 

BORN FROM A UNIQUE MOMENT IN HISTORY WHEN NEW YORK PLEDGED OPPORTUNITY AS REPARATIONS TO THE SURVIVORS OF CANNABIS PROHIBITION AND THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS

Our mission goes beyond providing LESs finest bud. Were here to normalize plant consumption, offer education, and de-stigmatize the formerly incarcerated community. We believe in second chances, and were dedicated to easing their integration back into society.

We asked him about his journey and what he wants people to know about all that hes trying to do.

Listen to the conversation here or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and watch the full episode on our YouTube Channel here.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 2. Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and China last year exceeded $13 billion, and both countries expressed confidence in achieving the ambitious goal of $20 billion set by the heads of state, Trend reports, citing the Government portal of Uzbekistan.

This announcement was made during the recent Uzbek government delegation's visit to Urumqi, China.

The meeting took place between the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, and Ma Xinzhui, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Party Committee.

The sides underscored that China remains a reliable, time-tested strategic partner for Uzbekistan, with bilateral relations continuously strengthening. Cooperation between the two countries has now reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is adaptable to all circumstances. The deep, trustworthy, and genuine friendship between the leaders of both countries was highlighted as a key driver of this positive trajectory.

The discussions focused on further enhancing trade, investment, and technological cooperation, alongside the implementation of new projects in infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, and green energy.

Moreover, both sides expressed their commitment to expanding multifaceted cooperation across a variety of sectors, including trade, industry, transport, logistics, energy, agriculture, tourism, and education, further solidifying the growing strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China.
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KazMunayGas, Dragon Oil join forces for high-tech Caspian drilling operation

Photo: KazMunayGas

During a visit to the UAE, KazMunayGas Chairman Askhat Khassenov met with Dragon Oil CEO Ali Rashid Al-Jarwan to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. A key outcome is the deployment of Kazakhstan's first offshore drilling rig Satti to the Cheleken field in Turkmenistan under a new 2024 agreement between KMG Drilling & Services and Dragon Oil Turkmenistan. The rig, upgraded in 2021 for deeper offshore drilling, marks a strategic move to enhance Kazakhstans role in the regional oilfield services market and deepen economic ties with Turkmenistan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Supporting all entities operating in agriculture, from small family farms to large agroparks, is the strategic priority for the Azerbaijani state, the Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov said at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

He noted that the main components of this support include subsidies, preferential financing, technical support, and institutional incentives.

"Within the framework of the subsidy policy implemented by the government, we provide support to farmers continuously and systematically. In 2023, subsidies totaling 352 million manat ($207.5 million) were paid to 387,340 farmers, and in 2024, subsidies totaling 362.5 million manat ($213.5 million) were paid to 380,704 farmers. This is not just a figure; it's support given to the life of the village, the well-being of families, and the increase in productivity.

At the same time, the government is also supporting our farmers in terms of providing them with machinery and breeding livestock. Over the past year, 83.9 million manat ($49.5 million) was allocated for 6,477 units of machinery, and this year, 80.8 million manat ($47.5 million) was allocated for 9,107 units of machinery.

Besides, in 2024, preferential financing of 17.4 million manat ($10.2 million) was provided for 5,830 head of breeding livestock. These financial incentives serve to stimulate local production and build farms that are resilient to climate risks," added the minister.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The 18th International Agriculture and the 30th International Food Industry Exhibition will be held in Azerbaijan in the coming days, the Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, said at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

"This exhibition creates an opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and specialists to exchange views on current issues in the agricultural and food industry, establish business relationships, and get acquainted with modern innovations. I invite each of you to actively participate in these exhibitions," he pointed out.

The 17th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition - Caspian Agro, and the 29th Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition - InterFood Azerbaijan at the Baku Expo Center on May 16 last year.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The development of agroparks should be supported by the application of innovative and biological methods, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues, Mukhtar Babayev said at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

"According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), disasters over the past 30 years have caused approximately $3.8 trillion in losses to agriculture, which averages $123 billion per yearequivalent to about five percent of the annual global agricultural GDP," he mentioned.

The minister emphasized that in the context of climate change, sustainable development of agriculture relies heavily on research and the application of new technologies.

"Cost-effective farming and innovative irrigation methods allow farmers to significantly save both water and time. While climate change negatively impacts agriculture, agricultural activities are also among the contributing factors to climate change. Currently, about 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to this sector.

In Azerbaijan, the key steps to adapt agriculture to climate change include the efficient management of water and soil resources, modernization of irrigation systems, reduction of water losses, and protection of soil fertility. Additionally, cultivating drought-, salinity-, and heat-resistant crop varieties and applying modern agrotechnical practices are of critical importance for improving productivity.

At the same time, the development of agro-parks must support not only ecologically and economically sustainable production but also the adoption of innovative and biological methods in the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Joint action by the public and private sectors is essential in this area. Within this cooperation, new technologies and digital solutions must be implemented, and productivity must be increased.

Combating climate change requires broad, coordinated, and long-term measures. To mitigate these effects in agriculture, it is crucial to raise awareness among farmers and help them adapt their production practices to the changing climate.

Last year, international attention was focused on our country, particularly on the work done in the field of environmental protection and combating climate change. The assignment of hosting rights for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, recognized as the most prominent global climate forum, is a clear sign of trust and a testament to successful cooperation with international organizations.

By hosting COP29, our country has launched global initiatives across various fields, including energy, urban planning, finance, agriculture, and human capital development. These initiatives embrace inclusive approaches to tackling climate change.

The 'Baku Climate Harmony Initiative for Farmers,' presented through a joint initiative of the COP29 Presidency, the Ministry of Agriculture, and FAO, was created to empower women and young farmers, build climate-resilient rural communities, and strengthen knowledge exchange. This initiative brings together more than 90 global and regional programs to support sustainable development in rural areas and attract investment into the sector," Babayev added.

He praised the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture in preparing and implementing this initiative.

"The ministry is achieving significant success in the development of agriculture and climate adaptation, both domestically and internationally.

Within the framework of the conference, a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance was agreed upon. The Baku Climate Finance Target, presented during COP29, triples the previous annual commitment of $100 billion to a new goal of $300 billion annually, to reach $1.3 trillion by 2035.

Ensuring that this financing is accessible to developing countries, especially least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), has been identified as a top priority.

As a result of COP29, the Loss and Damage Fund began operating as a new financial mechanism. This fund creates special support opportunities for vulnerable regions and farming communities most affected by climate change.

"Additionally, years-long negotiations on carbon markets were concluded during COP29, and rules regulating both market and non-market cooperation under the sixth article of the Paris Agreement were adopted. This will enable the mobilization of up to $1 trillion annually through carbon markets and could reduce the cost of implementing countries climate plans by up to $250 billion. These mechanisms can also be used in agriculture to reduce emissions and protect land and water resources.

Currently, work is underway to establish the necessary legal and institutional framework to expand our countrys participation in carbon markets. This will create new opportunities for the implementation of low-carbon technologies in agriculture and the attraction of green investments," Babayev noted.

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In an unprecedented development in the history of the Calcutta High Court, its Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam on Thursday announced that the division bench headed by him will no longer hear public interest litigations filed in the court.

However, it has also been announced that the division bench headed by the Chief Justice will continue hearing the public interest litigations which are already being heard by it.

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The new public interest litigations that will be filed at the Calcutta High Court in future will now be heard by the division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das.

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Legal circles feel that it is always the prerogative of the Chief Justice of any high court to decide which case or which subject will be allotted to which bench. However, veteran legal practitioners contend that, by tradition, public interest litigation has always been heard at the Calcutta High Court by the division bench headed by the Chief Justice.

Only when the Chief Justice is on leave, then the public interest litigations are heard by any alternative division bench. However, since this is a matter of prerogative of the Chief Justice, nothing more can be said on the decision, a senior advocate of the Calcutta High Court said.

On Thursday, it was also announced that besides the public interest litigations, the bench headed by the Chief Justice will also not hear the matter related to inaction or hyper-action by the police. That subject has been referred to the bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra.

Justice Sivagnanam is scheduled to retire in September this year. Enrolling in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu on September 10, 1986, he was elevated as an additional judge of the Madras High Court on March 31, 2009, and appointed as a permanent judge on March 29, 2011. He was transferred to the Calcutta High Court in October 2021 and became the Chief Justice in May 2023.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited the fire-ravaged Rituraj hotel at Madan Mohan Burman Street in central Kolkata where a devastating fire broke out on Tuesday night killing 15 people and appealed to the people residing in the busy trading hub not to play with their lives.

CM Banerjee told the people to take care even if they chose not to vote for her party.

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The statement is significant as a non-Bengali and mainly Hindi-speaking population dominates the trading hub, where the hotel was located and there is a general perception that these voters traditionally are against the Trinamool Congress.

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I am not against anybody. But some people do not listen to anything, and they do not care for safety norms. This is not acceptable. I want all of you to be safe. If you choose not to vote for me for saying this, you can do that. But save your own lives, CM Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also promised strong action by her administration against those responsible for the tragedy.

Investigations into the matter have revealed that the fire resulted because of gross negligence in following fire safety, ventilation, and evacuation norms at the Rituraj hotel.

She also said that the administrative officials who deliberately ignored the lapses at the hotel against some considerations, would also not be spared.

When CM Banerjee visited the spot, she was accompanied by the state fire services minister Sujit Bose and the Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma.

During the visit she also directed Bose to check other buildings and establishments which were similarly violating fire safety norms.

She expressed her anger over the lack of safety norms in the hotel which included inadequate emergency evacuation arrangements.

A person running a hotel business and not arranging emergency evacuation arrangements should not be pardoned. On occasions like this I am extremely tough, CM Banerjee said.

She also announced that her government has formed a special committee to investigate the fire mishap.

I have directed the police and the state fire services department to conduct surprise checks at such establishments against whom there are complaints of violating safety norms. If any elected public representative or anyone within the administration are part of the nexus, they will also not be spared, the Chief Minister said.
The two accused of culpable homicide in the devastating fire at a hotel at Madan Mohan Burman Street in central Kolkata where a devastating fire broke out on Tuesday night, killing a total of 15 people were remanded to police custody till May 8 by a court here.

The two accused are the owner of the hotel, Akash Chawla and the management of the entity, Gaurav Kapur. Both were absconding since the fire broke out on Tuesday night and finally both were arrested by Kolkata Police personnel on Thursday.

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They were presented at a lower court in Kolkata on Thursday afternoon and the public prosecutor prayed for their police custody. The judge of the lower court accepted the prayer from the public prosecutor and remanded the two accused to police custody till May 8.

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During the hearing, the defence counsel refuted the allegation of the state fire services department that the fire license of the hotel had expired three years back and had not been renewed since then.

The defence counsel also presented a copy of the renewed fire license at the court.

He also challenged the decision of the police to book the two accused under various sections relating to culpable homicide, which are non-bailable in nature.

This was a case of an accident. But despite that, my client has been booked under sections relating to culpable homicide. There was no intention to kill people and hence sections relating to culpable homicide are not applicable here. Chawlas counsel argued.

Kapurs counsel claimed that his client was just an employee of the hotel and was not even an ordinary board member. The case has been registered against the hotel authorities and hence my client cannot be held responsible for the mishap, Kapurs counsel argued.

After hearing the arguments from the public prosecutor and the defence counsels, the lower court finally granted police custody for the accused till May 8.

Initial findings by the investigation team have revealed that besides lapses related to fire safety management, there were other major lapses in ensuring proper emergency evacuation arrangements and ventilation facilities at the hotel, as a result of which the majority of those killed in the fire died not because of getting charred but because of suffocation caused by the smoke emitting out of the fire.

The local residents alleged that despite several complaints of illegal constructions in the hotel raised in the past, neither the Kolkata Municipal Corporation nor the police took any action.
Benchmark indices on Friday ended with marginal gains with Nifty around 24,350 level led by IT, media, oil & gas stocks in a highly volatile session.

At close, the Sensex was up 259.75 points or 0.32 per cent at 80,501.99, and the Nifty was up 12.50 points or 0.05 per cent at 24,346.70.

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Sensex rose as much as 936 points to hit an intraday high of 81,177.93 while Nifty 50 reclaimed 24,589.15, rising 255 points, or 1 per cent.

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BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices, which rose up to a per cent in the morning session, ended with losses of 0.41 per cent and 0.07per cent, respectively.

On Nifty50, the shares of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone were up 4.37 per cent, Bajaj Finance by 2.70 per cent and IndusInd Bank up by 1.44 per cent, ended as the top gainers. Further, the stocks that ended with losses were shares of JSW Steel (5.81 per cent), Bajaj Auto (2.75 per cent), and Eicher Motors (2.50 per cent).

Among the sectors, mostly ended with losses. Nifty Consumer Durable fell 1.39 per cent while Nifty Metal and Pharma dropped 0.74 per cent and 0.67 per cent, respectively.

Nifty Oil and Gas index rose 0.73 per cent, while Nifty Media and IT climbed 0.49 per cent and 0.27per cent, respectively.

Nifty Bank closed with a nominal gain of 0.05 per cent.

Bandhan Bank shares slipped over 2 per cent however, the domestic brokerage Anand Rathi reiterated its Buy call on the stock. Federal Bank shares dropped 4 per cent, with Anand Rathi remaining bullish on Federal Bank, maintaining a Buy rating.

Adani Ports shares surged over 5 per cent following Q4FY25 results. The company reflected a 7.5x jump in net profit to reach Rs 3,844.91 crore.

TVS Motor shares rose by 3 per cent intraday, coming after the company reported a sales growth of 16 per cent YoY to 4.44 lakh units in April 2025.

Globally, the European indices were trading with solid gains, while Asian indices edged up after China said its evaluating possible US trade talks, boosting optimism that tariff tensions will tamp down.
Chhattisgarh has emerged as Indias fastest-growing GST jurisdiction, recording an unprecedented 4,135 crore collection in April 2025. This remarkable achievement places the state ahead of traditional economic powerhouses like Kerala and Punjab, marking a significant milestone in its fiscal transformation.

The states 28% year-on-year GST growth, nearly double the national average, reflects the success of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sais comprehensive economic reforms. The Ease of Business Plus initiative has streamlined regulatory processes, resulting in a 37% expansion of the taxpayer base and attracting 12,000 crore in new investments over the past fiscal year.

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Finance Ministry data reveals diversified revenue streams contributing to this success. Manufacturing now accounts for 32% of collections, followed by IT-enabled services at 27%, while tribal handicraft exports through e-commerce platforms contribute a notable 19%. This balanced growth signals Chhattisgarhs successful transition from mineral dependency to a more diversified economy.

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The latest figures underscore Chhattisgarhs remarkable transformation into a business-friendly hub, emphasised Shrinivas Rao Maddi, Chairman of the State Finance Commission. He highlighted the governments sweeping reforms, including the elimination of 47 redundant compliance requirements and the implementation of digital first approval systems, which have slashed processing times by 60% across key sectors.

Economists attribute this strong fiscal performance to well-calibrated policy interventions. Chhattisgarh has demonstrated how structural reforms can effectively unlock a states latent economic potential, observed Saji Mathew, a financial analyst in Chhattisgarh.

With plans to implement AI-driven tax analytics and establish new industrial corridors, Chhattisgarhs fiscal success story appears poised for its next chapter. As the state prepares to host its annual investor summit next month, this GST milestone serves as compelling evidence of its growing economic stature.
A 25-year-old labourer tragically lost his life after being electrocuted during a thunderstorm in the early hours of Friday at an under-construction plot in Green Park Main, South Delhi.

The deceased, identified as Ankit, a native of Mainpuri, was working at the site when the incident occurred around 4:30 am.

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According to preliminary reports, strong winds and rain from the thunderstorm caused a low-tension overhead wire from the colonys main power supply to snap and come in contact with a supporting iron rod at the site.

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As the rod conducted electricity from the damaged wire, the main gate of the site became electrified.

Ankit, who had taken shelter near the gate to avoid the rain, unknowingly touched the live gate and suffered a fatal electric shock.

Other workers present at the site at the time, identified as Rajveer and Shailesh Kashyap, managed to escape without injury.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation is currently underway.

Authorities are also examining whether there was any negligence in maintaining safety protocols at the construction site, particularly given the weather warnings issued beforehand.
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Pahalgam terror attack, Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has ordered the immediate cancellation of all leaves for its officers and employees.

As per the directive issued on Friday, all leave applications exceeding two days have been cancelled with immediate effect.

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According to OFK officials, this move affects officers and employees who had applied for extended leave. The factory currently employs more than 4,000 staff, including both officers and workers.

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The OFK is one of the largest units of Munitions India Limited (MIL), a government-owned enterprise headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra.

MIL and its units are responsible for the production and supply of ammunition, explosives, rockets, and bombs for the Indian Armed Forces.

The company also supplies to civilian agencies and exports to the armed forces of several foreign countries.

Meanwhile, sources indicated that a similar leave cancellation order may have been issued at the Chanda Ordnance Factory in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, though official confirmation is still awaited.
Angolas President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco arrived in New Delhi on Friday for the first official state visit by a President from that country to India in 38 years. The four-day visit aims to boost diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between the two nations.

Upon his arrival, President Lourenco was warmly received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes several ministers, senior officials, and representatives from prominent business houses.

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Warm welcome to President Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola as he lands in New Delhi on a State Visit. President is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including several ministers, senior officials, and business houses. On arrival, the President was accorded a special welcome and received by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport, wrote Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on X.

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Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh also shared the welcome message on his social media handle on X, saying, Pleased to welcome President Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola on a State Visit to India.

This significant visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Angola. According to the MEA, it marks the first visit by an Angolan President to India since 1986.

During his stay, President Lourenco is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. On May 3, he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by bilateral talks with President Murmu. He will also engage in delegation-level discussions with Prime Minister Modi, who is expected to host a luncheon in his honour.

A number of MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, which will give a boost to bilateral relations, the MEA said in an official statement.

On May 4, President Lourenco will participate in a business event in New Delhi, which aims to promote trade, investment, and commercial linkages between the two countries. The event is expected to bring together key stakeholders from sectors such as oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture, and mining.

India and Angola enjoy strong and expanding ties, particularly in the energy sector. Bilateral trade reached $4.192 billion in the financial year 202324. Both nations also maintain close cooperation on international platforms and frequently support each other in forums such as the United Nations.

In October 2015, the Vice President of Angola, Manuel Vicente, visited India to participate in the 3rd India-Africa Summit, during which he met with Prime Minister Modi. During his visit to Johannesburg to attend the BRICS Summit, President Lourenco met PM Modi on July 26, 2018.

President Lourencos visit is anticipated to be a milestone in bilateral engagement, setting the stage for a more dynamic and mutually-beneficial partnership. Both nations are looking to deepen collaboration and align their shared interests for long-term strategic growth.
In the second student-suicide case at the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha in less than three months, a 20-year-old Nepalese student of the private university allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room, police said.

The Nepalese girl student was spotted hanging at around 8 pm on Thursday at the hostel room by the authorities. The police, after being informed conducted medico-legal procedures and registered an unnatural death case in this connection.

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All angles prompting the student to end her life are being investigated. So far, no incriminating evidence in the case has been found, said a senior police official on Friday.

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A 20-year-old engineering girl student from Nepal was found dead in her hostel room on 16 February, triggering widespread student unrests.

The visuals of students from Nepal being forcibly evicted from the university hostel and being manhandled later went viral on social media platforms, drawing outrage from several quarters including the Nepal PM and diplomats of the neighbouring country.

A visibly embarrassed Odisha Government later constituted a high-level fact-finding committee to probe the incident, which the Government described as most unfortunate.
Voting is underway in the first phase of Assams Panchayat elections, with voters turning up in large numbers across 14 districts early Friday morning.

Long queues outside polling stations signal strong grassroots participation in what is often considered the bedrock of Indias democratic structurethe Panchayati Raj system.

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The first phase covers 19 districts, including Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi.

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The Assam State Election Commission has deployed over 1.20 lakh polling personnel, with security forces stationed at every booth to ensure peaceful and fair polling.

By 11:40 AM, officials reported a voter turnout of 8.47 per cent within the first two hours. Election authorities expect participation to rise steadily as the day progresses.

The BJP-led NDAs high-octane campaign blitz came to a close on Wednesday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the charge alongside Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state BJP president Dilip Saikia.

The ruling coalition focused its messaging on rural development, infrastructure improvement, and the implementation of flagship central schemes such as the PM Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission.

With more than 50,000 seats up for grabs across Gram Panchayats, Anchalik Panchayats, and Zila Parishads, the polls are expected to witness intense electoral contests and high voter turnout.

The NDA has already secured an uncontested victory in 37 Zila Parishad and 288 Anchalik Panchayat seatsan outcome Chief Minister Sarma hailed as an unprecedented achievement in Assams political landscape.

The panchayat elections will be conducted in two phaseson May 2 and May 7.
Photo: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 2. Dilshod Rasulov, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, met with Egidijus Navikas, Ambassador of Lithuania to Uzbekistan, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, Trend reports, citing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The meeting focused on advancing trade and economic relations between the two countries, with an emphasis on organizing mutual business visits. A key topic was the potential for expanding trade turnover through business forums and exhibitions.

The sides also emphasized the importance of increasing exports, particularly through the successful work of Uzbekistan's Trade House in Klaipeda (Lithuania), which serves as a crucial platform for boosting bilateral trade.

Furthermore, the sides discussed plans for an upcoming visit by Uzbek business representatives to Lithuania in June 2025. The visit will include business meetings and investment talks aimed at further enhancing economic ties.

Following the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening practical cooperation and maintaining regular dialogue for mutual growth.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with Lithuania reached $492.9 million from January through September of the previous year, making Lithuania one of Uzbekistans 15 largest trade partners during the mentioned period.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Thursday extended his strong support for India on a call with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Secretary Hegseth joined a growing number of US leaders who have called their counterparts in India in the aftermath of the attack that left 26 people dead on April 22.

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US President Donald Trump had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi within hours of the attack and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday.

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Today, I spoke with Indian Defence Minister @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week.

I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people.

Unlike Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth did not call for de-escalation of tensions in the region in anticipation of an Indian retaliatory military response against Pakistan, which is in the crosshairs as backers of the terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for the attack, and which is also home to most of terrorist groups that have targeted India, such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and others.

In a statement released earlier, the Ministry of Defence said the Defence Minister Singh told his American counterpart that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations.

Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism, and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said to Secretary Hegseth.

He added, according to the statement, that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism.

India has vowed to punish both the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack and their backers, which is widely taken to mean Pakistan.

Prime Minister Modi has left it to the military to decide the timing, form and extent of the retaliatory action.

In separate calls to Pakistans Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Secretary Rubio on Wednesday also urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) demonstrated its might on the newly constructed Ganga Expressway here on Friday amid India-Pakistan tension.

Fighter jets such as Rafael, Jaguar, and Sukhoi touched down on the airstrip built in Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur.

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Earlier, the Air Force AN-32 aircraft arrived around 12.41 pm. The aircraft circled for about five minutes and thereafter landed on the airstrip. The aircraft took off from here after a brief stay. Air Force helicopters also landed on the airstrip.

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The air show on the Ganga Expressway lasted about one and a half hours, during which fighter aircraft performed aerial acrobatics, thrilling the spectators, especially schoolchildren.

Officials said some fighter aircraft would also be landing on the expressway airstrip tonight between 7 and 10 PM. This will be the first time that fighter jets will conduct a night landing on an expressway.

Due to the air show, the Katra-Jalalabad highway was completely closed for three hours in the afternoon and will also remain closed at night.

An official said the Air Force air show aims to demonstrate the use of this expressway as an alternative runway during war or disaster.

This is the first such airstrip in the country, located on the Ganga Expressway, where fighter aircraft will be able to land both during the day and at night. From a security point of view, around 250 CCTV cameras have been installed on both sides of the airstrip.

In view of the air show, the airstrip had already been brought under the Air Forces jurisdiction.

However, bad weather played spoilsport during the air show, as strong winds and a dust storm delayed the landing of the aircraft. The air show was delayed for some time and began once the weather cleared.

Major fighter jets participating in the practice were:

1. Rafale: Equipped with modern electronic warfare systems and long-range Meteor missiles, this aircraft is operational in all seasons.

2. SU-30 MKI: A twin-seater fighter jointly developed by India and Russia, capable of long-range strikes and carrying missiles like BrahMos.

3. Mirage 2000: A French-origin aircraft proficient in high-speed deep strikes and nuclear-capable.

4. MiG-29: A high-speed fighter aircraft known for its exceptional flight performance and radar evasion capabilities.

5. Jaguar: A precision strike aircraft used for ground attack and anti-ship missions.

6. C-130J Super Hercules: A heavy transport aircraft crucial for the deployment of special forces, disaster relief, and rescue missions.

7. AN-32: A transport aircraft suitable for transporting goods and jawans in high-altitude areas.

8. Mi-17 V5 helicopter: A multipurpose helicopter used for search and rescue, medical evacuation, and humanitarian assistance.

The Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur district passes through 44 villages and spans approximately 42 km in this region. Construction is nearly complete in most areas. A 3.5 km-long airstrip has been built near Piru village in Jalalabad, where Air Force fighter aircraft can land at night.

The 594 km-long Ganga Ganga Expressway, extending from Meerut to Prayagraj, passes through Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Pratapgarh.

The Ganga Expressway is likely to be inaugurated in November this year.
The Indian army and local security forces have re-dominated the vulnerable axes in South Kashmir as part of the robust yet lawful actions aimed at isolating terrorist posts after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

As part of the Internal Security Consolidation in Jammu & Kashmir, the security forces are conducting intelligence-driven, intense counter terrorist operations that have yielded arrests and the seizure of weapons caches linked to the Pahalgam cell.

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The actions, a part of a calibrated national response to the Pahalgam terror attack, are guided by firm political direction and professional military judgement. As India mourns the loss of 26 innocent lives brutally taken on 22 April at Baisaran, near Pahalgam, the nation has adopted a measured, punitive and strategically coherent course of action rather than an impulsive knee-jerk retaliation, said an Army spokesperson.

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Temporary movement restrictions have also been implemented at select tourist spots to ensure civilian safety without undermining the vital tourism sector, a release said.

During the night of 01-02 May, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner, said the spokesperson.

In a statement issued by the Army spokesperson on Friday, it was stated that during a security review on 29 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs full freedom to select the time, target, and method of retribution. The perpetrators will not be spared by the Indian forces. The Indian Army is prepared for decisive actions, yet has scrupulously avoided hasty cross-Line-of-Control forays, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, in a series of cyber offensives, unsuccessful hacking attempts to breach some websites were undertaken by Pakistan sponsored hacker groups Cyber Group HOAX1337 and National Cyber Crew. Sources revealed that these hacking efforts were promptly identified and neutralised by cybersecurity agencies.

Among the latest provocations, the websites of Army Public School Nagrota and Sunjuwan were targeted, and attempts were made to deface them with messages mocking the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. In another incident, a website catering to ex-servicemens healthcare services was defaced, signaling Pakistans growing frustration.

Earlier, the websites of the Army Institute of Hotel Management and the Indian Air Force veterans were also hacked. There have been repeated attempts made by hackers operating from Pakistan to attack websites having linkages to children, old age veterans, and other innocent people. Resorting to attacking veterans and families platforms reflects another low by Pakistan and their continuous attempt at unethical ways of operating, the source said, adding, It appears that Pakistan is testing Indias restraint and patience.
Accepting a challenge from senior BJP MLA and former minister Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Karnatakas Minister for Textiles, Sugarcane Development, and Agricultural Marketing, Shivanand Patil, resigned from his Assembly membership on Friday and dared the BJP leader to do the same and face him in an electoral contest.

The Congress minister submitted his resignation to Speaker UT Khader, who has yet to take a final decision. However, Patil urged the Speaker to accept his resignation only if Yatnal also steps down and his resignation is accepted.

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In a formal letter to the Speaker, Patil noted that Yatnal had publicly stated he would resign from his own constituency and challenge Patil in his seat, Basavana Bagevadi. Addressing the media, Patil said, Yatnal had set today (Friday) as the deadline for my resignation, and I have done it.

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He added, I have requested the Speaker to accept my resignation only if Yatnal also resigns, as per his challenge.

I have accepted the challenge and resigned. I now request himsince you asked me to contest against you, you should also resign as MLA from Vijayapura City, just as I have. If you want me to contest from Vijayapura City, I will. Or if you prefer to contest from Basavana Bagevadi, I am ready for that too, Patil declared, emphasizing that it was a personal decision, not influenced by any external factor.

I have no regrets about losing the ministerial post. Naturally, when I resign as an MLA, I also cease to be a minister, he stated.

Speaker Khader said that a decision on the resignation would be taken in accordance with the Constitution and legislative rules.
The Annual Pilgrimage to Kedarnath Shrine took off on Friday morning with invoking blessings of the Lord Shiva by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight terrorism and modern day demons. Portals of the Kedarnath shrine were opened in the morning as per the celestial calendar time and traditional religious rituals.

The portals of the eleventh Jyotirlinga at Kedarnath Shrine located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand were opened with a formal Puja performed the chief minister and his wife Geeta Pushkar Dhami amidst chanting of Vedic mantras by the priest Bagesh Ling and the shrine chief priest Bhimashankar Ling.

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After the puja, Dhami said a special prayer was held on behalf of the prime minister for peace, prosperity and well-being of the state and the country.

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The first puja of the Kedarnath pilgrimage season 2025 was performed in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I prayed to Lord Kedarnath (Lord Shiva) to bless the prime minister with power to fight terrorism and modern day demons said Dhami, hinting at Pakistan and its terrorism sponsored by it.

Prior to this, Kedarnath portals were opened at 7 am amid chanting of vedic mantras, religious slogan Har Har Mahadev in the glory of Shiva and devotional tunes played by the band of Indian Armys Grenadier Regiment.

This was followed by showering of petals over the temple from helicopters. The Kedarnath Temple exhibited a grand look with the decoration of more than 108 quintals of flowers.

Earlier on Thursday, Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of the lord Kedarnath arrived at the shrine taking traditional halts at Guptakashi, Phata, Gaurikund from the deitys winter seat Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath.

Dhami further stated that Kedarnath is a major center of faith for the followers of Sanatan and a symbol of spiritual and cultural heritage of India. Number of devotees visiting Kedarnath is increasing every year. This year too the Char Dham Yatra will create a new record. State government has ensured adequate arrangements for the success of the Chardham pilgrimage this season. Convenience, safety and ease of the devotees will be key focus during Yatra. Its the duty of all residents of Uttarakhand to welcome the devotees coming from within the country and outside world with affection and a sense of service added the chief minister.

The Chardham Yatra formally began on April 30 with the opening of the portals of the Gangotri and Yamunotri. However full fledged pilgrimage will start on May 4 with the opening of the portals of Badrinath.
Amaravati, the greenfield capital city, envisioned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is gearing up for a restart as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate works for 94 projects worth Rs 57,962 crore today after the capital city project was shelved for five years during the reign of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

This will also put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the capital city of the state since its bifurcation a decade ago.

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The Prime Minister will lay the foundation for 74 projects under Amravati capital works worth Rs 49,000 crore. This will include the Assembly, Secretariat, High Court, and judicial residential quarters. He will also lay the foundation stone for 9 central projects worth Rs 5028 crore, including a DRDO missile testing centre at Nagayalanka worth Rs 1459 crore, Unity Mall at Vizag for Rs 100 crore, Guntakal-Mallappa gate rail overbridge for Rs 293 crore, and 6 new National Highway projects for Rs 3,176 crore. The Prime Minister will inaugurate 8 completed National Highway projects built for Rs 3,680 crore. Moreover, 3 railway projects worth Rs 254 crore will be dedicated to the nation.

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Around 5 lakh people are expected to attend todays programme despite the peak summer heat. Nearly 30,000 farmers who gave up 33,000 acres of land for pooling have also been invited. The government has made arrangements for more than 8,000 buses to ferry people. The entire Vijayawada city adjoining Amaravati was decked with flags and banners of TDP, BJP, and JSP  the three parties of the coalition government  and cutouts of the Prime Minister and the chief minister.

The coalition government claimed the restart of the Amaravati project emphasised political stability in the state, Centre-state coordination, and bringing back governance after the anarchical regime of YSRCP.

The Prime Minister will land at Gannavaram airport, where he will be welcomed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. He will then fly to the helipad at Velagapudi secretariat by chopper and then reach the venue following a roadshow.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said, Today is a proud and important day for the people of Andhra Pradesh. I warmly welcome Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to Amaravati as he arrives to restart the development of our peoples capital. Amaravati stands as a symbol of our shared hopes and dreams. This restart marks a new chapter of growth for our state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a subtle jibe at the opposition INDIA bloc during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, stating that many will lose sleep tonight as he shared the stage with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

I want to tell the Chief Ministeryou are a strong pillar of the INDIA alliance. Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here, and todays event will give sleepless nights to several people, PM Modi remarked, pointing to the unusual optics of opposition leaders sharing the stage with him.

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However, the translator omitted this portion in the Malayalam interpretation. Noticing this, the Prime Minister quipped, Message chala gaya jahan jana tha (The message has reached where it was meant to).

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Notably, Shashi Tharoor was present at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Thursday evening to receive PM Modi, a gesture that has sparked political speculation.

On Thursday, Tharoor also shared photographs of his meeting with PM Modi. Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, I managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency, Tharoor posted, sharing images of a warm handshake between the two.

There has been ongoing speculation about Tharoors growing proximity to the BJP. Unlike many other opposition leaders, Tharoor has openly praised PM Modi on multiple occasions. Earlier this year, when former US President Donald Trump described Modi as a tough and better negotiator, Tharoor welcomed the comment, saying, That sounds very good.

The Prime Minister formally dedicated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, built at an estimated cost of 8,867 crore, to the nation.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurien, State Ports Minister VN Vasavan, MP Shashi Tharoor, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and others attended the event.

Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), Vizhinjam is Indias first deep-water container transshipment port. Designed to enhance Indias standing in global maritime trade, the port is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

With a handling capacity of up to 5 million TEUs annually, the port has already seen around 250 container ships dock since it began trial operations in July 2024.

PM Modi seized the moment to spotlight the Kerala governments cooperation with the private sector. Referring to the Ports Ministers speech acknowledging Adani as a partner, Modi said, This shows a change.

He humorously added, Adani completed Vizhinjam Port quickly. Adanis port has been operating in Gujarat for 30 years. People from Gujarat will be upset if they learn Adani built a bigger port in Vizhinjam, eliciting laughter.

Highlighting Indias aspirations in maritime development, Modi said Vizhinjam would bring new economic stability to Kerala and the nation. This port has emerged as a symbol of new-age development, he said, noting that 75 per cent of Indias transshipment used to take place at foreign ports, causing massive revenue loss.

This is now set to change. Indias money will now serve India, and the funds that once flowed abroad will generate opportunities for Kerala and the people of Vizhinjam, he said.

Underscoring the role of the private sector, Modi said that thousands of crores have been invested in Indian ports over the last decade through PPPs, upgrading them to global standards and enhancing efficiency.

He announced plans to develop a shipbuilding and repair cluster in Kochi, which will create jobs and opportunities for local youth. He added that a new policy introduced in the Union Budget aims to promote large ship construction in India, expected to significantly benefit MSMEs and spur entrepreneurship.

PM Modi said the last 10 years have brought visible progress in Keralanot only in ports, but also in roadways, railways, and aviation. He cited projects like the Kollam and Alappuzha Bypasses, which had long been stalled, and praised the introduction of modern Vande Bharat trains in the state.

In a rare personal note, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Pope Francis, acknowledging his commitment to inclusivity within the Christian community. Modi recalled past meetings with the Pope and expressed gratitude for the pontiffs spirit of service.

Arriving by helicopter at 10:15 am, PM Modi visited various facilities at the port. Wearing a hard hat, he inspected the operations building, control systems, and interacted with port staff. He later visited the berth area to observe live container handling operations.

With a natural depth of nearly 20 meters and proximity to key international shipping lanes, Vizhinjam Port is strategically positioned to enhance Indias role in global trade. Identified as a priority infrastructure project, the port is expected to significantly reduce Indias dependence on foreign ports for cargo transshipment.

The Vizhinjam Port project, initiated under a 2015 agreement between the Kerala government and the Adani Group, reached a milestone in October 2023 with the arrival of the Chinese ship Shen Hua 15A carrying essential cranes.
Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Shashi Tharoor, often regarded as a man on the move, barely managed to make it on time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Keralas capital city on Thursday night.

Tharoor took to his social media to point out how he made it to the airport. Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception, wrote Tharoor on X.

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PM Modi was seen exchanging a few words with Tharoor, and the two were seen holding one anothers hands for a longer time.

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This is PM Modis first visit to Kerala in 2025 and has come to dedicate one of the biggest infrastructure projects, which is expected to change the face of not just Kerala, but the country as such.

PM Modi will dedicate the port on Friday.

Tharoor, who has been representing the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency since 2009, holds Vizhinjam close to his heart.

Earlier, amidst unprecedented tight security in Keralas capital city, PM Modi arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

He is in the state capital city to dedicate to the nation the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,900 crore on Friday.

On Friday, he will leave for the Pangode Military camp and board the helicopter to reach Vizhinjam, near the port site.

It is the countrys first dedicated container transhipment port that represents the transformative advancements being made in Indias maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.

Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute to strengthening Indias position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transhipment.

After dedicating the Vizhinjam Port to the nation, PM Modi will return by helicopter to the airport and leave for Andhra Pradesh.

In Andhra, PM Modi will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati.

In line with his commitment to ensure world-class infrastructure and connectivity across the country, the Prime Minister will inaugurate 7 National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity.
A major controversy has erupted over the translation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech at the inaugural function of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport on Friday.

PM Modis sarcastic comment on the opposition INDI allianceI want to tell the Chief Minister, you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance; Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here, and todays event will give sleepless nights to several peoplewas omitted by the person translating his speech into Malayalam. The translator mistakenly interpreted PM Modis sarcastic comment on the opposition alliance as a remark on the civil aviation sector, stating in Malayalam, Focus should be given to issues pertaining to Indian airlines.

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The Prime Minister noted the mistake committed by the translator and responded that even if the translator didnt understand, the message reached the people. Message chala gaya jahan jana tha, (The message has reached where it was meant to), the PM said.

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The BJP alleged that the translation was inappropriate and that the state government had chosen the translator. The BJPs response comes amidst social media trolling regarding the translation.

S Suresh, BJP state secretary, said that the event was organised by the state government and the translator was chosen by them as well. When the Prime Minister is commending Keralas development, the translation could have been in pure Malayalam that upholds the languages cultural pride. I am not speaking too much about it, but it was an event that the whole world was watching. The translation had a lot of English words as well, he added.

Pallippuram Jayakumar, the translator, has responded to the controversy surrounding the translation errors. He said there were minor issues with the audio output, making it difficult to hear clearly, leading to errors on his part. He added that upon realising the Prime Minister had noticed the mistake, he considered correcting it, but by then, the speech had already moved on to the next section.

The incident has received backlash from several BJP supporters on social media. Karthik Gopinath wrote, He clearly sends a message to the INDI alliance with its leaders on the stage. The translator tries to play a spoilsport, but PM immediately understands and says, Message is conveyed. You cant fool around with a leader like @narendramodi ji! (sic).

The inaugural function of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport on Friday has also become a stage for political brickbats. Prime Minister Modi took a subtle dig at the opposition INDIA bloc during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, stating that many would lose sleep tonight as he shared the stage with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.

I want to tell the Chief Minister, you are a strong pillar of the INDI alliance, Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here, and todays event will give sleepless nights to several people, PM Modi remarked, drawing attention to the apparent contradiction of opposition leaders sharing the stage with him.

Modi pointedly referred to State Ports Minister V N Vasavans own description of Adani as a partner, as a tool to point out the Lefts changing stance towards private partnership. Vasavan described Gautam Adani as a partner of the Left government in his welcome speech.

It is a happy thing that a communist minister is referring to Adani as a partner of the government and saying that the private sector should be given importance. This is the changing India, he said.

The Vizhinjam International Seaport has long been a political flashpoint in Kerala, with the ruling CPI-M and the opposition Congress claiming credit for its fruition. While Congress leaders asserted their role in the seaport project, highlighting that it was initiated under Oommen Chandys leadership in 2015 through an agreement with Adani Ports during a global tendering process, the CPI-M contended that the projects realisation was due to the perseverance of Pinarayi Vijayans government.

Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, emphasised the partys long-term commitment to the project.

We started this project in 1991 when K Karunakaran was the CM, he stated, adding that despite multiple efforts, the project faced delays and was finally initiated in 2015 under the leadership of the Congress.

The Congress accused the CPI-M of downplaying the contributions of the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, whose cabinet approved the Vizhinjam project in 2015 and signed the initial agreement with the Adani Group.

The CPI-M, on the other hand, argued that it was the perseverance of the Pinarayi Vijayan government that saw the project through, despite facing massive protests against the ports construction.

State Ports Minister VN Vasavans welcome speech at the inaugural function was laced with praise for Pinarayi Vijayans leadership, crediting him for the successful completion of the port. Vasavan also hailed the Chief Minister as the architect of the Vizhinjam project.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also downplayed the role of the Congress-led UDF in Vizhinjam port construction, saying that simply by laying the foundation, ships cannot be anchored at the port.

Reviving Vizhinjam from the forgotten pages of history and transforming it into an international port is a testament to the willpower and determination of the LDF government in Kerala, said the Chief Minister.
Days after he conveyed his intention to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi next week for discussions on trade and economic cooperation, sources said on Thursday.

Sources in the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi said Araghchi is expected to hold detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on all aspects of the Pahalgam attack, besides other issues of bilateral, regional and global importance.

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The Iranian Foreign Minister is set to co-chair a meeting of the bilateral joint commission with EAM Jaishankar while in India during May 7-8, sources said on condition of anonymity.

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Araghchis visit was scheduled long before tensions flared between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. It will also be Araghchis first visit to India since he was appointed the Foreign Minister last August.

This will be the first meeting of the Joint Commission, which mainly focuses on trade and economic cooperation, since December 2019, when EAM Jaishankar travelled to Tehran for consultations.

While the Joint Commission is supposed to meet every year, there has been a gap in its meetings because of the Covid-19 pandemic and domestic pre-occupations of the two countries.

Though a substantive agenda of trade and economic issues, including development of Chabahar port, has been finalised, sources didnt rule out the possibility of the India-Pakistan tensions figuring in Araghchis talks with Indian interlocutors.

Araghchi created a flutter in New Delhi by offering in a social media post last week to help forge greater understanding between India and Pakistan. The move came amid speculation within diplomatic circles about back-channel mediation by several West Asian countries that have close ties with both India and Pakistan.

Following the attack, India unveiled several punitive measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari. Pakistan retaliated with counter-measures such as closing its airspace to Indian airliners and suspending all trade.

Araghchi, who also spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on Friday, has described India and Pakistan as brotherly neighbours that Iran considers as a foremost priority.

There was no response from New Delhi to Araghchis offer and the sources above noted that Iran and Pakistan had witnessed strains in their ties last year.

In January 2024, Iran and Pakistan fired missiles targeting militants on each others territory.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Saturday and strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. Both leaders agreed there is no justification for such terrorist acts, and PM Modi shared the anger and anguish of the Indian people and their resolve to deal with those behind the terror attack and their supporters, according to a readout from the External Affairs Ministry.

Pezeshkian emphasised the need for regional cooperation against terrorism and said Iran is opposed to such inhumane acts, according to the Iranian embassy.

Pezeshkian described Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as messengers of peace, friendship and co-existence and hoped their spirit will remain in Indias relations with all countries.

Besides trade and economic issues, the Joint Commission also handles humanitarian matters and is expected to take up problems related to fishermen and seafarers, sources said.

Araghchis visit will also be an opportunity for the Iranian side to brief India on Irans discussions with the US and key European powers on the nuclear issue.

Iran is set to hold its third round of talks with the US in Rome on May 3 and Iranian officials are also expected to meet their French, German and British counterparts on May 2.
Kazakhstan takes bold step with new excise tax rates on fuel products

By a recent government decree, Kazakhstan has updated the excise tax rates for various fuel types, including gasoline (excluding aviation fuel), diesel, light hydrocarbon mixtures, and eco-fuel. The changes apply to both wholesale and retail sales by manufacturers and other entities, as well as imports. Special provisions also apply to benzene derived from compounded gasoline and domestically produced bioethanol. The revised rates will take effect in mid-May.

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US National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz is leaving, multiple news reports citing unidentified sources said on Thursday.

Also leaving with Waltz is his deputy Alex Wong.

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National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other staffers are out at the National Security Council, Fox News reported, citing sources.

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Waltz had been on exit watch for weeks over the sharing of military attack plans on the Houthis of Yemen on a group of Trump administration officials on Signal, a messaging app, which he had set up. The group included Vice-President J D Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others.

The group also included Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic. He wrote about messages shared in the group, especially about weapons to be used and the timing of the strike on Houthis by Secretary Hegseth.

There had been no comments on the departures by the White House, so far.

Trump and senior administration officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, had been frustrated with Waltz even before the Signal debacle, The Wall Street Journal reported on Waltzs departure.

Waltz hired aides that his critics said didnt appeal to Trumps MAGA base and struggled to relay the Presidents national security priorities on television  once seen as the former Florida Congressmans strength, according to administration officials. He also was sometimes ideologically out of step with Trump, pushing more traditionally hawkish views on Ukraine and Iran, and clashed with other White House officials, the Journal said, further citing people close to President Donald Trump.

President Trump had publicly defended both Waltz and Hegseth, who has faced even more scrutiny because of another Signal group he has set up that included his wife, brother and lawyer.

If confirmed, Waltzs departure, although so early in President Trumps second term, will still be far longer than Mike Flynn, the first of four National Security Advisors in President Trumps first term. He had left after only 24 days in office.

Waltzs exit will mark the first major departure of a senior political appointee in President Trumps second term. There have been multiple firings of military leaders, including General Timothy Haugh, head of the National Security Agency and the US cyber command. There have been multiple other departures at the Pentagon.

Waltz is a former member of the House of Representatives, who served as the Republican co-chair of the India Caucus alongside Democrat Ro Khanna and his appointment to the top national security council job had been widely celebrated by India watchers.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Nepal, Arzu Rana Deuba, on Friday expressed deep grief over the death of a Nepali female student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

She said that after the incident came to light, the Nepal Government has taken steps through diplomatic channels to unravel the truth behind the tragic death of the Nepali student.

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The incident of Prisha Shah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prishas soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour, wrote Deuba.

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Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi, she further added.

The Ambassador of Nepal to India, Dr Shankar P Sharma, also asserted that the Embassy is closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Odisha Government, police, and the university authorities for a thorough investigation into the case.

Earlier, the Odisha Government had issued an official statement on the issue assuring all support to the bereaved family.

As per the statement, information about the alleged suicide of the girl student from Nepal, studying in first year B. Tech, Computer Science, KIIT University, was received from the local police on Thursday.

It also added that the parents of the girl were informed about the incident immediately by the university authorities.

In this hour of distress, the State Government extends its support to the family of the deceased and offers its condolences to them. On receipt of the information, senior officers including the Commissioner of Police and Revenue Divisional Commissioner rushed to the site to enquire into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and take necessary action in the matter. The forensic team is at the spot to collect evidence, reads the statement by Odisha Government on Thursday night.

Notably, Prisha Shah was found hanging in her hostel room inside KIIT University campus on Thursday evening. She was immediately rushed to the nearby private medical college where the doctors declared her brought dead.

Her body was later shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar for the postmortem, which will be held on Friday after the arrival of her family members.

Shahs parents are scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar later, on Friday.

The incident is significant as two Nepali students studying at KIIT University have ended their lives in the last three months.

Earlier, the university came in the line of fire following the suicide of a Nepali female student, Prakriti Lamsal, on February 16 and the subsequent assault on other Nepali students by the private educational institutions security guards.
Diplomats and several people expressed grief and paid tributes to the victims of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in ceremonies organised by Indian missions across the globe on Thursday.

The brutal assault on April 22, which resulted in the death of 26 innocent tourists and left several others critically injured, unfolded in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam when four heavily armed terrorists, two of them from Pakistan, emerged from the surrounding dense forests and opened indiscriminate fire on tourists. The attack has been described as one of the most horrific in the region in recent memory.

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The Embassy of India in Budapest on Thursday organised a solemn condolence meeting to pay homage to the innocent civilians killed in Pahalgam terrorist attack. The members of the Indian community in Hungary, along with friends of India, gathered to display solidarity with India and offered prayers for the victims.

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Members of the Indian Community in the Consulate General of India in Russias Saint Petersburg also observed a two-minute silence in memory of the terror victims.

CGI, Saint Petersburg held a prayer meeting to pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. A two-minute silence was observed and members of the Indian diaspora in Saint Petersburg offered their shradhanjali, Consulate General of India in Saint Petersburg posted on X.

In Algeria, members of IRCON International Limited, an Indian infrastructure company, and their families, in a solemn gesture of solidarity and respect, offered tributes to the 26 innocent civilians brutally killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. They also affirmed to stand united against terror.

Expressing that the world stands in solidarity with India in a ceremony organised on Thursday, several German leaders and the Indian diaspora paid homage to the innocent civilians killed in the terror attack.

Finance Senator of Hamburg, Andreas Dressel, members of the Hamburger Senate, friends of India, and Indian diaspora joined in large numbers to pay homage to the innocent lives lost in the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The world stands in solidarity with India, the Consulate General of India in Hamburg posted on X.
The US has reiterated its support for India against terrorism, saying it firmly stands with India against terrorism.

The US, however, urged India and Pakistan to work together to de-escalate tensions that have been on a surge in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 innocent civilians.

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As the President (Donald Trump) articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism and Prime Minister Modi has our full support, US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a press briefing on Friday.

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The Secretary (Marco Rubio) encouraged to work toward a responsible solution that maintains long-term  I should say  let me correct that  a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia, Ms Bruce said clarifying that the Secretary made calls yesterday to the Indian external affairs minister (S Jaishankar) and the Pakistani prime minister (Shehbaz Sharif).

We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels. And thats what I have for you, in the sense of the general overview after those phone calls, Ms Bruce said in response to a question.

Responding to another question if the calls for de-escalation were being heeded, the spokesperson said, I know that what  all I can say is that  and what has been conveyed here  is that theres constant involvement. This government is in constant communication. We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Agricultural products have been grown on more than 100,000 hectares of land in Azerbaijan's liberated territories in recent years, and over 100,000 hectares are ready to join the crop rotation. Chairman of the Agrarian Policy Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Tahir Rzayev said at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

"This is our success and the result of the care shown to agriculture by the country's leader," the MP stressed.

He said that in recent years, the development of agriculture has achieved a breakthrough in the country.

"The goal of the forum is to further develop the agricultural sector in the country.

I can especially mention the provision of financial support to this sector and the creation of new subsidy instruments.

Over the past 30 years, more than 300 legislative acts have been adopted by the Azerbaijani parliament. Strengthening the legal framework of agriculture allows us to apply benefits to business entities. Supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs is directly beneficial to our work," added the official.

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A Pakistan-sponsored fresh wave of cyber offensives was successfully thwarted by India's cyber security agencies on Thursday. Hackers targeted digital platforms linked to children, veterans, and welfare services.

Hacker groups 'Cyber Group HOAX1337' and 'National Cyber Crew' made attempts to attack the websites of Army Public School Nagrota and Sunjun with messages mocking the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, reported ANI.

In a similar incident, an ex-servicemen's healthcare services were defaced.

According to authorities, there have been repeated attempts by Pakistan hackers to attack websites linking to innocent people in India.

Experts view the recent cyber attacks as Pakistan's intent to escalate the tensions in cyberspace. Since the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, the India-Pakistan relationship has hit a new low. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the Army to decide the time and course of action in retaliation to the attack.

Hackers also attempted to breach the websites of the Army Institute of Hotel Management and Indian Air Force Veterans' services.

On April 29, 'IOK Hacker'- Internet of Khilafah, a hacker group tried to deface multiple Indian welfare and educational platforms after failing to access critical national networks.

Four related incidents were confirmed by the intelligence agencies. Websites of Army Public School, Srinagar, and APS Raniket were targeted and also there was an attempted breach of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation database as well. Indian Air Force Placement Organisation portal also came under threat.

All four sites were promptly isolated and restorative action was undertaken.

Meanwhile, unprovoked ceasefire violations continued along and beyond the border. The army responded effectively to Pakistan's firing in areas including Baramulla, Kupwara and Poonch districts.
Even as Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar, relinquished the command of the Indian Armys Northern Command on Tuesday, an X handle from Pakistan falsely claimed that a formal court of inquiry has been ordered against him in connection with the Pahalgam incident.



In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, there has been a surge in fake news and misinformation originating from Pakistani sources targeting India. This was the latest, targeting a highly decorated Indian Army official.

ALSO READ: Pakistan claims it scared off India's Rafale fighter jets

These malicious efforts by Pakistan have been focused on spreading false narratives about the Indian Army, fabricating military developments, and manipulating public perception regarding the Kashmir conflict.



The PIB Fact Check, in a X post, clarified that the image ciruclating in the name of Lt. Gen Kumar is fake. The tweet from Pakistan showed as if the tweet was by India's Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.



"No such post has ever been done by the official X handle of

@HQ_IDS_India

(Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff)

Lt. Gen MV Suchendra Kumar has superannuated on 30 Apr 2025," the PIB tweet read.



After completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, Lt. Gen Kumar retired on Tuesday. He has been at the forefront of counter-terrorism and insurgency operations in Northern and Eastern Command theatres of the country. His command appointments were all in Jammu and Kashmir, including command of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Infantry Brigade, a Division and a Corps.

Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, today relinquished the Command of Indian Armys Northern Command. He was given a befitting farewell by the brave men and women of the Command.



The Indian Army https://t.co/wsXO2lAJAr  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 30, 2025





He assumed the appointment of GOC-in-C, Northern Command on February 19, 2024. During his command, he provided Strategic guidance and operational oversight for the planning and execution of sustained operations along the northern and western borders, apart from orchestrating counter-terrorism operations in J&K.



He ensured a balanced operational situation on the borders and hinterland. Under his leadership, training was evolved to align with the changing operational dynamics, preparing personnel for both current and futuristic challenges, the defence ministry stated in a release.



In his farewell address, he complimented all ranks for their selfless service and exhorted them to continue their good work in the finest traditions of the Indian Army.
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma assumed the charge of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command on Thursday.

A highly decorated officer with rich operational experience, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

He was commissioned into the Madras Regiment in December 1987. Lt Gen Sharma is qualified in higher command course and has also attended National Defence College, New Delhi.

ALSO READ: Pakistan tries to ruin legacy of Lt. Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar as he retires as head of Indian Army's Northern Command

He also commanded an Infantry Battalion, Brigade and Division along the Line of Control and Commanded a Strike Corps in the Western Sector.

Lt Gen Sharma has varied exposure in staff and instructional appointments, including being a staff officer in UN Mission.

He has held important appointments at Military Operations Directorate and Military Secretary Branch in the Army Headquarters. Lt Gen Sharma was also the Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), prior to taking over as GOC-in-C, Northern Command.

On assuming the command, he conveyed his greetings to all ranks and expressed his commitment to take forward the excellent work done by his predecessors and all ranks of Northern Command.
Demonstrating a matured response to Pakistani provocations, including nightly and indiscriminate firing from across the border, India has opted for a calibrated statecraft model that has three main pillars that combine diplomatic isolation, economic pressure and a poised but restrained military stance.



Despite the provocations, India has adopted a measured, punitive and strategically coherent course of action rather than an impulsive knee-jerk retaliation, informed sources told THE WEEK.



This posture has given New Delhi the strategic initiative underscoring the credibility of its deterrence while maintaining that the perpetrators of the brutal April 22 gunning down of 26 tourists in Baisaran valley in Kashmirs Pahalgam will be pursued till the ends of earth to bring them to justice.



In a security review meeting on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had granted the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Chiefs of the Indian Army, the Navy and the Air Force full freedom to select the time, target and method of retribution.



However, at the moment, the 2003 ceasefire pact is in flames with the Indo-Pak border becoming a live one now both on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.

ALSO READ: Mumbai to Pahalgam: India's unfinished battle against terrorism

Despite a very unsteady bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan, it was a ceasefire on the LoC that held for long, about 22 years to be precise, until the Pakistani Army opened fire on the intervening night of April 25-26, just three days after the Baisaran valley massacre.



The firing from the Pakistan side began soon after India announced putting on abeyance the Indus Water Treaty 1960 which too had survived wars and decades of the rocky relationship. The holding of the Indus Water Treaty was among a raft of other measures including the closing of borders that were announced by India.



The cross-border firing from multiple Pakistan Army posts, all along the LoC, has spilt over to the International Border that runs south of the LoC, only to be responded appropriately by the Indian troops.



Pakistan has resorted to these cross-border firings after being rattled by condemnation of the attack by Pakistan-supported terrorists from most world leaders and also to stave off immense domestic political pressures building up.



There are already reports from Pakistan of the growing unpopularity of the General Asif Munir-led Pakistan Army.



Other reasons for these firings include an attempt to mask terrorist infrastructure and to provoke an Indian disproportionate over-reaction that could bring the Kashmir issue into focus on the global stage.



Traditionally, firings from across the border were to aid terrorists to slip across into India especially when the snow melts.



Excluding the overground workers and informer network, Indian intelligence agencies have put the number of active militants in Jammu and Kashmir now at 120-130 with another 110-120 waiting in the 42 terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC).
On the afternoon of April 22, a terrorist attack unfolded at Pahalgams Baisaran Valley claiming 26 lives. The attack, orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taibas The Resistance Front, has prompted a loud response from India and its citizens, with many celebrities also weighing in on the matter.

ALSO READ | Pahalgam terror attack: Pak Army's unprovoked firing continues, targets Indian posts in 5 sectors along LoC

Recently, at a FICCI event in Delhi, renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar slammed neighbouring country Pakistan and addressed their repeated denials of assault. What happened in Pahalgam of course there will be tension. How can there not be tension when such incidents keep happening? Every few days we see something like this occur, and every year there is at least one such tragic event, he said.

Come what may , what ever the cost , what ever the repercussions, the terrorists of Pelham can not be allowed to get away . These mass murderers have to pay with their lives for their inhuman deeds .  Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 23, 2025

He highlighted that India had already initiated dialogue between the two sides to instil peace, but their efforts were to no avail. Every government in this country, whether its the Congress or the BJP, has tried to establish peace. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji went to Pakistan. But what did they do? They washed the place he visited. Is that what they call friendship? he said, further mentioning Pakistans actions after the Kargil war. How are we supposed to talk to Pakistan when they didnt even accept the dead bodies of their own soldiers from the Kargil war?

ALSO READ | Ishaan Khatter urges not to resort to blind hatred after Pahalgam attack; warns against misinformation

Addressing the recent attack against Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, Akhtar said such actions validate and confirm Pakistans propaganda

The Sholay scriptwriter hopes that the Indian government takes strong and definitive action against the perpetrators, stating that Mumbai is also a target. Their Army Chief is insane, he has no sense. And we must not forget the Pahalgam attack. Their eyes are also on Mumbai."
Popular Malayalam actor Vishnu Prasad has passed away after a battle with liver cirrhosis. According to reports, the actor breathed his last in the wee hours of Friday morning at Kochis Aster Medcity. He was 49 years old.

Prasads close associate and friend Kishore Satya broke the news on Facebook. He wrote: Dear friends, there is some sad news. Vishnu Prasad has passed away. He was undergoing treatment for a fever for some time. My condolences. I pray that the family will have the strength to bear his untimely demise.

Last month, reports emerged that the family was in need of financial assistance to find Prasads medical expenses. The actor required an emergency liver transplant but would cost at least Rs 30 lakh. According to Manorama Online, Mohan Ayiroor, Vice President of the Association of Television Media Artists said that the association had provided an amount as an immediate relief. We are trying to collect some more money from all the members in the association, Ayiroor said at the time in a statement to the publication. Prasads daughter was willing to donate her liver, but the expenses kept them at bay.

Prasad, well known for his television presence, had roles in Rakkuyil, Sthreepadam, Ente Mathavu, and Swayamvaram. He also starred in several movies, such as Kasi, Kai Ethum Doorathu, Lokanathan IAS, Mambazhakkalam, Pathaka, and Runway.

According to Times of India, his funeral is expected to take place on Friday, surrounded by close family and friends. He is survived by two daughters, Abhirami and Ananika.
Amid the rising India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Congress Working Committee on Friday adopted a resolution calling for national unity and resolve.

The CWC meeting was held at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE CONGRESS WORKING COMMITTEE



The Congress Working Committee stands in solidarity and support with the 26 families, who lost their loved ones in the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The pain of these families is the pain of the entire nation. The CWC  Congress (@INCIndia) May 2, 2025

Congress urged the Narendra Modi-led government to act with firmness, and strategic clarity to isolate and penalise Pakistan for continued export of terror to India.

"The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face the full consequences of their actions," the CWC resolution said.

The resolution also added that this was "not a time for politics" but to "rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together and will not be broken."

Highlighting serious "lapses in security and intelligence", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the CWC meet criticised the government for not yet coming up with any clear strategy to deal with the Pahalgam terror attack situation.

The grand old party also extended full support to the Centre in the fight against terrorism. "We will unitedly and strictly act against any challenge that comes in the way of the country's unity, integrity and prosperity. The entire opposition is with the government on this issue," said Kharge.

The party also extended its support to the families of the victims of the terror attack. As many as 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists on April 22.

Compensation alone is not enough, long-term rehabilitation, mental health support, and honouring the memory of those lost through national recognition and civic remembrance are equally essential, it said.

Among other matters, Kharge congratulated Rahul Gandhi for the central government's decision to include caste count in the upcoming census. He also accused the Modi government of postponing the work of caste census due to the anti-reservation thinking of the RSS.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. We'll increase our focus on small and medium-sized farms in the next period, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Economy, Samad Bashirli said at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

He noted that the ministry's incentive system has so far focused on increasing productivity.

"We are already seeing an increase in product-oriented subsidies. In the future, our incentive system will probably focus on water conservation and planting drought-resistant crops.

We need to focus our incentive system more on small and medium-sized farms in the next period.

We can also support farmers in exporting their products to foreign markets. That is, we can provide logistical support. This can reduce the costs of exporting their products. With the development of agriculture, appropriate funds can also be created. As a result, we need to strengthen adaptation and diversification incentives in this sector," the official emphasized.

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Heavy rain lashed Delhi during the early hours of Friday, affecting flight operations at the Delhi International Airport. Several flights were delayed or rerouted owing to the sudden downpour.

VIDEO | Delhi-NCR witnesses early morning heavy rain, thunderstorm. Visuals from Connaught Place area. #DelhiRains #WeatherUpdate



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/KjzPmi7rUR  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2, 2025

Authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi inclement weather conditions impacted flight operations at the airport and passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates. "Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience," DIAL said in a post on X earlier today. One of the busiest airports in the country, the Delhi airport handles around 1,300 flight movements daily.

VIDEO | Heavy rain, thunderstorm lash Delhi-NCR bringing much needed relief from scorching summer heat. Visuals from Noida Sector 71 and Sector 45.#DelhiRains #WeatherUpdate



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/BZrogSGlUN  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2, 2025

Air India said its flight operations in northern India have been affected due to the inclement weather. "Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimise disruptions," the airline posted tweeted.

The Indian Meteorological Department issued 'severe weather' alert for Delhi on Friday. In an alert issued at 5.15am, IMD predicted "moderate to intense spells of rainfall accompanied with moderate to severe thunderstorm and lightning" at many places of Delhi and NCR, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Safidon, Panipat, Sohana, Palwal, Nuh, Aurangabad and Hodal in Haryana; Gangoh, Shamli, Kandhla, Nandgaon, Barsana, Raya, Hathras, Mathura, Sadabad, Agra, Jajau in Uttar Pradesh; and Bhiwari, Deeg and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

IMD advised the public to stay indoors and avoid travelling if possible. The public was also advised to stay away from waterbodies and objects that conduct electricity. The weather department warned strong winds could damage power, communication lines and vulnerable structures.
The coastal town of Mangaluru is tense after a rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty was hacked to death by around five assailants in Kinnipadav near Bajpe on Thursday night. The district administration has enforced prohibitory orders and also banned the sale of liquor for the next two days as a precautionary measure.

Suhas Shetty (32), who was also a Hindutva activist, was the main accused in the murder of Mohammad Fazil on July 28, 2022. Fazils murder in Surathkal was rumoured to be in retaliation for the killing of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru.

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Suhas Shetty. We stand with them in this hour of grief and demand strict action against the perpetrators. Om Shanti.



This is truly painful. pic.twitter.com/w6Wdf6Mtzh  BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 2, 2025

According to police, Suhas was with five friends driving an Innova, when 5-6 assailants followed him in a car and a pick-up vehicle, waylaid and attacked him. Suhas died on the way to the hospital, while one of his friends who was also injured, is undergoing treatment at AJ Hospital.

The murder has triggered unrest in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, which are reporting sporadic "revenge attacks" against Muslims. The BJP leaders who visited the crime scene staged a protest and also visited his home. They urged the state government to provide adequate compensation to the family as Suhas was the sole breadwinner of the family.

The murder had led to a war of words between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

The murder carried out on the street in full public view shows there is a complete breakdown of law and order in the state under the Siddaramaiah government. The radical elements are emboldened and operating with impunity and targeting the Hindu activists without any fear of the law.

State BJP chief BY Vijayendra said, The brutal murder of Suhas Shetty, carried out openly in the streets and in full public view, is a chilling reflection of the alarming breakdown of law and order under the Siddaramaiah government. It also shows how emboldened radical elements have become, operating with impunity and targeting Hindu Karyakarthas without the slightest fear of consequences. Hindu organisations have no faith in this government.

LOP R Ashok demanded an NIA probe into the murder and said, The Police Commissioner has admitted that the police knew that there was a threat to Suhas life. But no preventive action was taken. This raises suspicion that there was possible complicity within the police department and the government. Hindu activists are becoming the target whenever Siddaramaiah comes to power. In 2013, when Siddaramaiah was the chief minister 36 Hindu activists were killed. This time too, our karyakarta was killed by Jihadi brothers of deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Ashok slammed the police department and accused them of shielding the real culprits. There is a strange system being followed here. Team A is the real culprits who commit the crime and Team B volunteers to get arrested. The police are perhaps waiting for the Team B list to make the arrest, taunted Ashok.

In a counter, Siddaramaiah stated that Suhas Shetty was a rowdy sheeter, and that he had instructed the ADGP (law and order) to conduct a thorough probe and arrest the accused. Human life is precious. I have directed the police to arrest and take legal action against the accused.

The chief minister also taunted the BJP leaders for visiting the spot where Suhas was murdered and said, BJP always tries to politicise such incidents. But what is their opinion about Modi not visiting Pahalgam despite 26 innocent people being killed? Is the Pahalgam issue not important to BJP or Modi?

Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has written to Union Home minister Amit Shah seeking an NIA probe into the murder. The shocking and brutal murder of Suhas Shetty is proof of increasing unlawful activities, Islamic fundamentalism and anti-national elements in coastal Karnataka. In the past too, BJP worker Praveen Nettaru from Sullia was killed by now-banned PFI members. Suhas death has proven that PFIs sleeper cells are still operating in the region. There is a need to uproot such organisations and stall their activities, said Chowta.
On Google Maps, the precise location of a particular hill range which divides Telangana and Chattisgarh reads Carregutta and Black Hills. The local tribals refer to it with various other names. For media, it is Karregutta, the site which may knell a death blow to the decades-long Maoist movement. A hill range, set of 15-20 hills adjoining each other, has overnight become the talking point for those keeping track of news developments.

A few weeks back, a Maoist leader had allegedly warned the local tribal population to not venture around Karregutta as IEDs were planted around it to curtail the forward movement of the security forces. From then on Karregutta remained in focus as thousands of Security forces drawn from CRPF and Chattisgarh police have been combing the tough terrain estimating that hundreds of Maoists are holed up there.

According to sources, Karregutta has been a unique and strategic home turf for the Maoists. The inhospitable hills stand at an altitude of 5000 metres and remain inaccessible even for a majority of the local population. It has even learnt that the hills provided a perfect cover for Maoists for decades not just to seek shelter but also to conduct military drills and training sessions.

It is being assumed that some of the top Maoists had stayed here at some point in time. The Karregutta hills extends 25-50 km with waterfalls, caves and narrow valleys at the core of the hills. The security forces, who have been combing for 12 days as part of Operation Kagar with the ultimate aim of neutralising the banned Maoists by 2026, have managed to establish a temporary base camp, hoist an Indian flag and install a mobile communication tower near the hill. This is being seen as a decisive victory for the security forces who have taken control of a strategic location of Maoists unknown to many all these years.

However, they are yet to completely take control of the hills. The topography and the harsh summer weather are proving to be challenging to the personnel. Searching for IEDs or explosives that may have been planted by the Maoists may also be slowing the onward march of the forces. As the area surrounding the hills has been cordoned off by the central and state forces, locals who belong to Koya, Gond and Chenchu tribes have remained indoors amidst the hovering sounds of helicopters and the noise of explosions.

As the forces make their way through the hills hoping to find and neutralise the top Maoists, demand is growing in Telangana to halt the military operation and initiate peace talks with the extremists. Telangana Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka, a former Naxalite, also joined civil society groups to urge the centre to start talks with Maoists since the tribal population was panicking.
Are the current provisions of the law agile, nimble-footed and comprehensive enough to address the preventionas well as the detectionof an attack of the magnitude of the April 22 carnage in Pahalgam? This question assumes significance in the context of a widely shared belief that the foreign terrorists simply couldnt have done this on their own.

Vasudev Swain

Simply put, there are insiders, our own citizens, who have acted as agents of the enemy. No doubt that they are a handful. That they are few and far between is evidenced by the spontaneous outrage against this bloodbath, something unimaginable five years before, witnessed on the streets of Kashmir in very remote villages and towns such as those in Kokernag and Sopore. This however, does not make the enemy agents any less lethal.

To return to the question: how helpful and adequate are the current legal provisions to effectively deal with this handful of extremely dangerous agents of the enemy? Security forces, police officers and prosecutors have variously expressed concern and frustration that somehow, these enemy agentswho everyone knows are at large, and are as much responsible as the attackers who pull the triggershave not been brought to justice. The dismal rate of their detection, prosecution and conviction gives credence to this anxiety.

ALSO READ | Pahalgam terror attack: 10 lakh bookings cancelled, J&K tourism loses over Rs 1,000 crore in 2 weeks

The terror ecosystem, as has been seen, has often come to the rescue of these enemy agents by cleverly asserting that persons who have variously aided and assisted the foreign terrorists did it under gunpoint. It is for the investigation to segregate those who aided under compulsion and those who did it willingly.

The law should deter above ground elements camouflaged as practitioners of politics, media, law, HR activists and academics to extend blanket amnesty to all who aided the foreign terrorists.

Extraordinary circumstances warrant extraordinary responses, including legal. The current national security challenge J&K faces is no less than a war. The situation undoubtedly merits the invocation of the jurisprudential canon of reverse onus of proof. The enemy agents (terrorists without guns) shall have to prove their innocence (and not their guilt to the prosecution) when law enforcement and security forces find out that they have provided shelter, food, SIM cards, communication devices, transport, navigation assistance, identification of targets for terrorists, assistance in planning and execution of terrorist attacks, as also escapes from anti-terrorist operations, medical aid etc.

ALSO READ | Pahalgam terror attack: Pak Army's unprovoked firing continues, targets Indian posts in 5 sectors along LoC

The concept of reverse onus of proof is not new to Indian jurisprudence. Section 24 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 provides that the law shall presume that the proceeds of the crime are involved in money laundering, unless the accused proves otherwise.

Likewise, section 54 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 lays down that the recovery of contraband from a person shall be evidence of guilt, and it is for the accused to satisfactorily prove that the possession is not attributable to him.

Very pertinently, section 3 of the Enemy Agents Ordinance 2005actually a legacy law enacted to respond to the extraordinary situation of outside raiders running amok in J&K during Indo-Pak warsemphatically goes a step further and states that any person shall be guilty of the offence of being an enemy agent if he wilfully omits to report to the nearest magistrate or police officer of certain activities of the outside raiders (foreign terrorists in the current context), the penalty for which ranges from death to rigorous imprisonment (from up to 10 years to life).

ALSO READ | NIA DG visits Pahalgam as hunt for terrorists intensifies in J&K

UAPA, the primary legal bulwark against terrorist and separatism, also provides for statutory reverse onus of proof. However, it is very limited in its scope.

Section 43E(a) states that a person from whose possession arms, ammunitions and explosives are recovered and used in the commission of a terrorist offence, would be presumed guilty. The crux of the problem is: it excludes a wide range of aiding, assisting and facilitating activities by OGWs usually seen in J&K.

The need of the hour, therefore, is to amend the law suitably to incorporate the legal liability of compulsory reporting of terrorist activities, including help extended under compulsion, as enshrined in Section 3 of the Enemy Agents Ordinance 2005, and simultaneously increase the scope of Section 43E of the UAPA to include the entire range of activities of an OGW, typically seen in Jammu and Kashmir.

The trial and appellate courts shall have to chip in by laying down practical legal tests to distinguish facilitation extended under duress, from those done deliberately. For instance, non-reporting after the terrorists have left the house or let-off the person, must be construed as aiding with mala fide mens rea. However, extreme caution may have to be exercised, lest the tests devised by the courts of law defeat the legislative intent of the proposed amendment. Alternatively, the parliament or competent assemblies can expressly legislate these tests into the statute itself.

Vasudev Swain is an advocate practicing at the Supreme Court of India.

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has affected even the far-off village of Teetwal in North Kashmirs Kupwara district, halting the flow of pilgrims to the historic Sharda Temple.

Perched on the Line of Control (LOC) along the Kishenganga River, which separates Teetwal from Chilhana in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the temple, 167 km from Srinagar, now stands quiet. After news of the attack spread, the site was quickly deserted by pilgrims.

Sharda Peeth, dating back to the 8th century, was once a globally renowned centre of learning. Scholars from Greece, Mesopotamia, Central Asia, Tibet, and China studied there. The temple hosted over 5,000 scholars and was home to the largest library of its time.

Also read | Why Pakistani tourists are thronging the LoC?

A Buddhist centre turned Hindu temple

Initially a Buddhist learning centre, Sharda Peeth later became a revered Hindu temple but continued to hold cultural significance under the 13th and 14th-century Muslim rulers of Kashmir. Deeply rooted in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, it functioned much like a university, offering studies in philosophy, theology, mathematics, and linguistics. Its extensive library of manuscripts and texts attracted scholars from across the world. It lies in Neelam Valley in PoK.

In the past, the temple in Teetwal acted as a base camp for pilgrims visiting Sharda Peeth.

The revival of the temple in 2022 sparked tourism in Teetwal, with pilgrims lodging in local homes through a homestay initiative. Most visitors came from southern Indian states, particularly Karnataka.

Before the attack, we were receiving over a hundred calls each day for bookings, said Ajaz Ahmed Khan, local coordinator of the Save Sharda Committee, which led the temples restoration. Last year, we welcomed 10,000 pilgrims. This season, we were expecting more than 30,000.

On the day of the Pahalgam attack, 28 pilgrims from the South were in Teetwal. They cut their visit short and left that same evening for Srinagar to catch flights home.

Revival of the temple

The Sharda Temple was rebuilt in March 2023 using carved granite stones from Karnataka, under the leadership of the Save Sharda Committee.

More than a religious site, the temple is a symbol of shared heritage and the hope of renewed cross-border ties. An adjoining Gurudwara, once frequented by Sikh pilgrims, was also restored.

Following the tribal invasion of 1947 that destroyed the original structure, the local Muslim community safeguarded the temple land.

Our elders taught us to protect the land and return it to its rightful owners when the time was right, Khan said. That promise has now been fulfilled, thanks to Ravindra Pandita, head of the Save Sharda Committee, whose efforts made this possible after 75 years.

The temples restoration rekindled hope among displaced Kashmiri Pandits and worshippers from across the country.

The government supported the revival under the Border Tourism initiative. Union Minister Shyam Sahu announced 1.5 crore for a Yatri Nivas (pilgrim house), and land was identified to expand local facilities.

Everything was going well, Khan said. There were serious talks about creating a corridor to Sharda Peeth, similar to the Kartarpur model. But now everything is on hold.

Teetwals geography adds emotional weight to the moment. Before 1947, people freely crossed the river for weddings and pilgrimages. Now, the Kishenganga marks separation and loss.

Although most pilgrims have left, daily prayers continue. Kamal Devrani, a pujari from Uttarakhand, remains at the site. Guruji, the head priest from South India, left due to health issues. Others have gone too. Now its just the two of us, Khan said.

Today, Teetwal is silent. Homestays are empty. The river flows calmly, but no visitors walk its banks. Yet hope lingers among those who believe in the temples timeless legacy.
The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control for the eighth consecutive night on Thursday, forcing Indian troops to respond in a "proportionate manner". Pakistan troops have been carrying out unprovoked firing at Indian posts since the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack.

According to Indian Army officials, Pakistan Army troops carried out unprovoked firing and fired at Indian posts in five sectors along LoC. "During the night of 01-02 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner," officials said.

Pakistan Army's unprovoked firing continues unabated despite a stern warning from India during recent conversation between the directors general of military operations of both nations. The DGMOs spoke on the hotline on Tuesday amid heightened tensions between the neighbouring countries over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Sources in the know of the developments said the Indian DGMO strongly took up the matter of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan military. Pakistan forces are on high alert as India has vowed to avenge the killings of 26 persons in the gruesome attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistan military has been put on high alert following India's assertion that it will hunt down the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam strike.

In a recent high-level meeting with the defence brass, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the terror attack.
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the deportation of a six-member family to Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The Court directed Union government authorities to not take any coercive action against the family until their documents are verified.

The family of six allegedly overstayed their visas and they were taken to the Wagah border for deportation. Hearing the matter, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh directed Central government authorities to verify the documents they possessed. The petitioners claimed they possessed Indian passports and Aadhar cards.

The bench directed authorities to verify all documents at the earliest. The apex court also allowed the petitioners to approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court if they were dissatisfied with the decision of authorities. "In the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, authorities may not take coercive action till an appropriate decision is taken. If petitioners are dissatisfied by final decision, they can approach J&K and Ladakh High Court. Order not to be treated as precedent, Live Law reported quoting the bench.

As per the petition, the family members of Ahmed Tarek Butt, claimed they were detained and taken to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan despite having valid Indian documents. They are facing deportation to Pakistan following diplomatic measures announced by the Centre in the aftermath of the killings of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22.

India announced a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack. India suspended visas for Pakistani nationals, suspended the Indus water treaty, closed the Attari border and declared defence advisors and their support staff at the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi as Persona Non Grata.
Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and rape accused Prajwal Revannas trial begins today in the Bengaluru court.

Prajwal (34), grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, is facing multiple charges, including rape, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and illegal confinement, after explicit videos allegedly recorded by him surfaced ahead of his contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The charge-sheet was filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) last year and the trial will begin at the additional city civil and session court in Bengaluru on Friday.

Prajwal is accused of repeatedly raping a domestic worker employed at his family's farmhouse in Holenarasipura. The assaults allegedly began in 2021 and continued across various locations. The victim claims she was confined, assaulted multiple times, recorded without consent, and was threatened to prevent her from speaking out. The SIT has framed charges under Section 376 (2)(k) - rape by a person in a position of authority.

Prajwal, who had fled to Germany on April 27, 2024, soon after the voting for Lok Sabha polls, was arrested upon his return to Bengaluru on May 31, 2024. He has been in custody since, with multiple bail pleas denied by the trial court, the High Court, and the Supreme Court.

Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Naik has accused Revanna of employing delay tactics, including changing legal counsel, to postpone the trial. The court warned that if he failed to appoint a new advocate promptly, an amicus curiae would be assigned to ensure the trial proceeds without further delay.

Meanwhile, Prajwals parents - JD(S) MLA from Holenarsipura, H.D. Revanna and mother Bhavani Revanna, are also entangled in legal proceedings connected to the sexual assault case. Revanna, who was arrested last May for allegedly kidnapping a domestic worker (who had accused Prajwal of sexual assault) is charged with sexual harassment by SIT which has submitted a charge-sheet. Bhavani is accused of conspiring to abduct a woman (victim) to prevent her from filing a complaint. However, the couple have been granted conditional bail. Bhavani has been restricted by the court from visiting Mysuru and Hassan districts and from influencing victims or witnesses.

Prajwal, who had won the Hassan seat in the 2019 Parliament polls on a JDS ticket, contested as the NDA candidate in 2024 after the BJP-JDS alliance. However, he lost the seat to Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel.

Timeline of Events in Prajwal Revanna Case

April 26, 2024: Multiple videos allegedly depicting sexual assaults by Prajwal Revanna surface in Hassan district, Karnataka.

April 27, 2024: The Karnataka government establishes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.

April 28, 2024: Reports emerge that Prajwal Revanna has fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport without obtaining the necessary political clearance.

April 30, 2024: The Janata Dal (Secular) suspends Prajwal Revanna pending the outcome of the SIT investigation.

May 5, 2024: A woman, allegedly confined in a farmhouse near Mysuru, is rescued.

May 8, 2024: The rescued woman files a complaint accusing Revanna of rape and unlawful confinement.

May 31, 2024: Prajwal Revanna is arrested upon arrival at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and remanded to SIT custody.

June 6, 2024: Revannas police custody is extended until June 10, 2024.

April 3, 2025: A Bengaluru court frames charges against Revanna under IPC Section 376(2)(k) for rape committed while being in a position of control or dominance, along with charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.

April 22, 2025: Charges are framed in a second rape case involving a former Hassan Zilla Panchayat member.

April 23, 2025: The trial in the first rape case is scheduled to begin but is stalled due to a plea for a change of judge and the retirement of Revannas defense counsel.

April 28, 2025: Special Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat directs Revanna to appoint a new advocate by the next day, warning that an amicus curiae will be appointed if he fails.

May 2, 2025: The trial is scheduled to commence.
Modi ji, hum aapke saath hain, this was the welcome message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the form of a colourful rangoli in front of the stage where the PM re-launched the Amaravati capital project in Andhra Pradesh.

Though the purpose of the event was to roll out development projects in the southern state, a strong message to Pakistan projecting national unity also formed an integral part of the programmes agenda. After 10 years, PM Modi was once again in Amaravati to relaunch the capital. This time, he inaugurated 94 projects worth Rs 58,000 crore that would directly and indirectly help the Amaravathi.

Also read | Chandrababu Naidu is back; so is the Amaravati project

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Andhra Pradesh has played an important role in making India a space power for decades... This state has been attracting crores of youth towards the space sector... A new institution is now available to the country for pic.twitter.com/9DzfHyCmXL  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

At the public meeting held to inaugurate the projects, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu started off by pledging support to PM Modi indicating that the NDA ally, TDP will stand by the PM post-Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | Addressing the public rally in Amravati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Amravati was the name of the capital of Indralok, and it is not merely a coincidence that Amravati is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is a sign of the establishment of 'Swarna pic.twitter.com/eNFUpVTpfq  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025 #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone and dedicates to the Nation - various projects for the development of Amaravati capital city, roads, defence, railways & industrial infrastructure projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore



Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu pic.twitter.com/piFwAEmM3V  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Speaking in Hindi, Naidu declared, Modiji hum aapke saath hain, Andhra Pradesh ke 5 crore log aapke saath hain, poora desh aapke saath hain (Modiji, we are with you, 5 crores population of Andhra Pradesh is with you, the country is with you.) Post that, he led the chanting of Vande Mataram to signify national unity. PM Modi joined in and raised the slogan.

Speaking earlier, his son and HRD and IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, made direct comments on Pakistan while praising the leadership of PM Modi.

He said that Pakistan could not harm India since it had a powerful missile in the form of PM Modi. He said that if the PM intends to, then he can wipe out Pakistan from the world map. He further added that Pakistans army personnel were fleeing from their postings and resigning from service due to the fear of PM Modi. He likened PM to a lion.

At the event, PM Modi laid the foundation for 74 projects worth  49,000 crores, including the construction of the Assembly, Secretariat, High Court and government residential quarters. He also inaugurated central projects worth more than  8000 crores which include, the DRDO Missile testing centre, Unity Mall for artisans in Vizag, and Railway and national highway projects.

The PM made no mention of Pakistan during his address and did not drop any hints regarding the response of the country in the wake of the terror attack. He limited his speech to talking about the development of AP and the support that can be expected from the Centre. He expressed confidence that under CM Naidus rule, Amaravatis development will be swift and faster. He said that if Naidus vision of completing Amaravati in three years becomes a reality then it will change the face of the state and improve its GDP. He also assured the state government of all the support from his side in rebuilding the state.
The Supreme Court, on Friday, came to the rescue of six members of a family who allegedly overstayed their visa by directing the authorities not to take any coercive action till an order on verification of their identity document is done.



The top court was hearing a petition from Ahmed Tarek Butt and his five family members, who alleged they were detained and transported to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan, despite possessing valid Indian identity documents.



The family, led by Ahmed Tarek Butt, a Bengaluru-based professional, faced expulsion following allegations of overstaying their visasa charge compounded by the tense aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.



The attack had inflamed diplomatic relations, prompting India to revoke visas for Pakistani nationals.



A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh acknowledged the human angle in the case and gave the family the liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in case they are aggrieved by the document verification order.



The petitioner claimed to hold Indian passports and Aadhaar cards, leading the Supreme Court to order authorities to verify all documents presented in court.



The petitioner argued that the notice unfoundedly alleged he and his family illegally entered India in 1997 and were required to leave upon visa expiration, based on the assumption they were Pakistani nationals.



This interim relief was a lifeline, sparing them from being forcibly escorted to the Wagah border, where 786 Pakistani nationals had already crossed in the past six days.



The plea stated that they lived in Mirpur, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), until 1997 before moving to Srinagar. He completed his schooling in Srinagar before shifting to Bengaluru in 2009 for higher studies.



According to the plea, "On April 29, the Jammu and Kashmir Police allegedly detained the petitioners father, mother, sister, and brother around 9 pm. The following day, by approximately 12:20 pm, they were taken to the India-Pakistan border and compelled to leave the country."



The petition also stated that the Foreigners' Regional Officer (FRO) erroneously alleged the family entered India in 1997 on Pakistani visas and were obligated to depart after their visas expired. The petitioner refuted this, asserting they were never Pakistani nationals and had not entered India on any visa.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The number of individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities without creating a legal entity in Azerbaijan exceeds 1.4 million, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations Mammad Musayev said at the Agribusiness Development Forum, Trend reports.

"More than 37 percent of them are engaged in agriculture. More than 12,000 legal entities operate in agriculture in the country.

From 2020 through 2024, agricultural exports increased by more than 25 percent. From January through March 2025 alone, fruits and vegetables worth $153 million and beverages worth 14 million manat ($8.2 million) were exported," Musayev noted.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Vizhinjam International Seaport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, has long been a political flashpoint in Kerala, with multiple parties and leaders competing to claim credit for its fruition. The official port commissioning ceremony itself mirrored this ongoing tug-of-war.



Keralas Ports Minister and senior CPI(M) leader V.N. Vasavan, in his welcome address, greeted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan before extending a welcome to Prime Minister Modi. His three-minute speech was laced with praise for Vijayans leadership, crediting him for the successful completion of the port. Vasavan described the chief minister as a "kaalam kathuvecha karmayogi", translated to a karmic doer chosen by destiny to complete the project. Vasavan also hailed the chief minister as the "architect of the Vizhinjam project."



The Congress-led UDF, particularly the leader of opposition V.D. Satheesan, has accused the ruling LDF of downplaying the contributions of the late former chief minister Oommen Chandy, whose cabinet approved the Vizhinjam project in 2015 and signed the initial agreement with the Adani Group.

The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala is a significant advancement in India's maritime infrastructure. https://t.co/sUeQ5k7TK1  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2025





Satheesan was not included in the original list of invitees for the high-profile inauguration event, which was to be attended by PM Modi, sparking criticism from the opposition. After the controversy gained traction in the media, the state government sent a formal invitation to Satheesan. He, however, refused to attend the inauguration, stating that the invitation was an afterthought and a mere formality following the uproar. Satheeshan lashed out at the state government, saying the Vijayan government had deliberately excluded him out of fear that he would speak uncomfortable truths about the ports history and the credit for the project.





Meanwhile, CM Vijayan maintained that the projectnow having reached the significant milestone of official commissioningwas fundamentally a vision of the LDF. The chief minister avoided any mention of Chandy in his speech. Reviving Vizhinjam from the forgotten pages of history and transforming it into an international port is a testament to the willpower and determination of the LDF government in Kerala, said the chief minister.





CM Vijayan added that Vizhinjam International Seaport is a project envisioned by the LDF government of 1996. The project had fallen into uncertainty in the intervening years. In 2009, the International Finance Corporation was appointed to conduct a project study. Although the tendering process began in 2010, the Central government denied approval at that stage. The period that followed saw a wave of protests, including a human chain formed in support of the project.



"In 2015, an agreement was signed. However, it faced criticism on multiple fronts. Despite the criticisms, we maintained the position that the Vizhinjam project must go forward, said the chief minister, who added that the LDF adopted the principle that development should not be hindered by political differences. Following our return to power in 2016, we took concrete steps to transform Vizhinjam into a major port. It is those efforts that have brought the project to fruition today, he said, while also making a statement that Thus we made this one also a reality.



Notably, back in 2015, Vijayan publicly criticised the agreement signed by Oommen Chandy for the Vizhinjam port project. He then described the deal as a land scam worth Rs 6,000 crore and raised concerns about the terms, particularly regarding the financial benefits to the state and the long concession period granted to the Adani Group.



The chief minister also reiterated the money spent by different parties so far for the Vizhinjam International Seaport. For the first time in India, a major port is being constructed under the initiative of a state government. Kerala is bearing the majority of the costRs 5,370.86 crore out of the total Rs 8,686 crore. The remaining Rs 2,497 crore is being invested by Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited. The Central government is providing Rs 818 crore as viability gap funding, said the chief minister, indirectly hinting that the BJP does not have much to claim in the successful completion of this first phase of the port.



Notably, the Kerala government has strongly objected to the repayment conditions attached to the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) provided for the Vizhinjam International Seaport. It has repeatedly urged the Union government to waive the repayment clause, arguing that VGF is typically extended as a non-repayable grant in public-private partnership infrastructure projects. The state cited examples such as the Tuticorin port, where no repayment was required. However, the Centre has so far not taken a favorable stance, and PM Modi notably avoided mentioning the issue in his speech.



Modi too struck a political note in his speech at the commissioning event. He praised Adani for building a technologically advanced port in Kerala and pointedly referred to State Minister V.N. Vasavan's own description of Adani as a partner. Modi said it is encouraging to see a Communist minister calling Adani a partner.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani felicitates Prime Minister Narendra Modi



PM Modi to dedicate to the nation 'Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport' worth Rs 8,900 crore shortly; CM Pinarayi Vijayan is also present at the pic.twitter.com/rmi5WaHdWn  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025





Modi further remarked that the Vizhinjam commissioning event would likely give sleepless nights to many leaders in the INDIA allianceimplying that those who frequently criticise Adanis alleged proximity to the BJP and the Union government would now find it difficult to reconcile the fact that the port project was completed with Adani as a partner under a project initiated during the Congress-led governments period and completed during a CPI-M-led governments period.



Apart from speaking about his government's developmental initiatives, Modi also made a special mention of the late Pope Francis, sharing personal memories of their interactions. He also referred to the church established by St. Thomas in Keralaan apparent gesture aimed at strengthening the BJPs outreach to the Christian community in the state, particularly the St. Thomas Christians.
A fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States scheduled for today in Rome has been postponed, with both sides citing logistical and technical reasons for the delay. The discussions were part of ongoing efforts to revive or renegotiate the 2015 nuclear agreement that collapsed after Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal in 2018.

The first and third rounds of talks had taken place in Muscat, Oman, while the second occurred in Rome at the residence of the Omani ambassador. Oman, a long-standing mediator between Washington and Tehran, confirmed that all partiesIran, the US and Omanagreed to delay the talks, with a new date yet to be set.

The Vaticans upcoming conclave to select a successor to the late Pope Francis was among the factors complicating arrangements in Rome. However, the US State Department insisted that no final date or venue had been confirmed. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that the US had not committed to participating in a fourth round of talks with Iran despite reports to the contrary. "The United States was never confirmed to be participating in a fourth round of talks with Iran, which people had believed were Saturday in Rome," said Bruce at a news conference on May 1. We expect another round of talks that will take place in the near future.

Leading the US delegation is Steve Witkoff, President Trumps Special Envoy to the Middle East, while Irans team is headed by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi reaffirmed Tehrans commitment to a peaceful resolution, writing on X that Iran remains determined to achieve a just and balanced deal that guarantees the end of sanctions and ensures international trust in the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear programme.

Notwithstanding the reassuring statements, the region continues to be tense. For instance, the last round of talks on August 26 coincided with a deadly explosion at an Iranian port, which left over 70 people dead and more than 1,000 injured, raising uncertainty about the peace prospects, especially after some commentators and politicians expressed doubt that Israel might have had a role behind the explosion.

Adding to the woes, the US has imposed fresh sanctions against companies accused of transporting Iranian oil and petrochemicals. The latest move is part of the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign to target Irans economy and downgrade its influence in the region. In a statement, the US State Department accused Iran of fuelling conflict, expanding its nuclear capabilities, and supporting terrorist partners and proxies.

Trump issued a stern warning on his Truth Social platform: Any country or person who buys any amount of oil or petrochemicals from Iran will be subject to, immediately, secondary sanctions. They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form.

The threats raise questions about enforcement, particularly as China remains Irans primary oil customer. According to US Energy Information Administration data from late 2023, China accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Irans crude oil and condensate exports. At the same time, Trumps imposition of 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods has already strained US-China relations, making the threat of secondary sanctions even more provocative.

In addition to nuclear concerns, Washington has pressed Iran to end its support for regional proxy groups, including Yemens Houthi rebels. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran that it would pay the consequence for its backing of the Houthis, a message reposted by Witkoff. These groups, aligned with Iran, have declared themselves part of an axis of resistance against Israel and Western powers.

Iran has dismissed the recent sanctions as unlawful and inhumane, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei calling them violations of international law and human rights. Baghaei also accused the US of inconsistent and provocative behaviour that undermines progress at the negotiating table.

Nevertheless, both sides have stressed their continued willingness to pursue diplomacy. President Massoud Pezeshkian of Iran has centred his economic agenda on sanctions relief, while Araghchi insists Iran is still committed to a negotiated outcome.

Despite the uncertainties, the talks are not believed to have collapsed. Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi indicated that a new meeting date would be set once all sides agree. For now, the future of diplomacy remains uncertain, especially as tensions escalate over sanctions, regional conflicts and global energy markets.
White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, have been officially removed from the Trump administration on Thursday, in what is the first major reorganisation at Washington since the beginning of US President Donald Trumps second term, according to an Associated Press report, citing two officials in the know.

Waltz faced intense legal backlash in March after he admitted to a major security mishap online. The former Republican congressman had accidentally added The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a private group on Signala messaging application with more encryption than traditional oneswhich was used in the planning and execution of a highly-sensitive American military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen on March 15.

ALSO READ | US campaign in Yemen: Rising costs, civilian tolls and Houthi resistance

Goldberg published an account detailing how he had accepted Waltzs invitation to join the 19-member Signal group titled the Houthi PC Small Group', hoping that the requester was the actual national security advisor, and that he had something important to discuss.

After explaining how he revealed the colossal mishap to Waltz and other important defence officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the veracity of the group and Waltzs error.

Goldberg went on to explain that Mike Waltzs monumental errorlater dubbed Signalgatewas in serious violation of the US Espionage Act, not only because of the leak itself, but also because he had communicated extremely-sensitive military-related details via a Signal group, rather than going by established government procedures.

Goldbergs account had initially omitted operational details. However, with high-level defence officials categorically denying his account soon after it was published, he went on to publish a follow-up that undeniably revealed everything about the Houthi strike operation, such as the timing of the strikes and the weapons packages used, according to a CBS News report.

The CBS report added, citing an unnamed National Security Council source, that Trump had been hesitant at the time to oust Waltz, in the interest of not being seen bending to external pressure to do so. However, the source claimed that Trump later felt enough time had passed to pass off the exit of Waltz and Wong as a reorganisation move.

ALSO READ | Will Pete Hegseth be fired? US Defense Secretary shared Houthi attack plan on a second Signal group chat

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer welcomed Waltzs exit but said that it was much more important that Pete Hegseth be fired.

They fired the [national security council] guy, but there are going to be many more problems, just like Signalgate that come out of the defense department, as long as Hegseth is in charge. This is not a one-off. This is going to happen over and over and over again, he told reporters at the Capitol.

Trump, however, so far continues to back Hegseth, despite pressure from Democratsand even a few Republicans as wellwho express concerns about the possibility of military secrets leaking through Signal (or other such applications) again.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the coasts of Argentina and Chile, just off the shore, on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

No casualties have been reported so far, but evacuations are underway, with Chilean authorities beginning an evacuation of the entire coastline outlining the Magallanes region, and Argentinian authorities focusing on the province of Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago located across the Strait of Magellan.

Despite the earthquake originating underwater, with the epicentre being 219km south from Ushuaia, Argentina, it was very much felt in the city.

Ushuaia, considered the worlds southernmost city, saw local authorities suspend all types of water activities and navigation in the Beagle Channel for at least three hours. No material damage or evacuations have been reported so far.

The earthquake was felt primarily in the city of Ushuaia and, to a lesser extent, in towns across the province, the local government declared. as per an Associated Press report. In the face of these types of events, it is important to remain calm.

Chilean authorities issued a tsunami evacuation alert for the entire coastal section of the Strait of Magellan, situated in the southernmost reaches of the South American nation.

Due to a tsunami alert, evacuation to a safe zone is being ordered for the coastal sectors of the Magallanes region, Chiles National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response said in a message issued to the public.

We are calling for the evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region, Boric wrote. Right now, our duty is to be prepared and heed the authorities, stated Chilean president Gabriel Boric Font, in an X post, also assuring people that resources were available, should the necessity arise.

Local television footage showed the streets of Punta Arenas filled with residents searching for shelters. The Chilean city, located on the Strait of Magellan (in the Chilean side of Patagonia) connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The evacuation proceeded calmly and without panic. We received the alert and we had to evacuate at work, but people are calm and well prepared, Roberto Ramirez told the TV channel.

The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA) reported that waves could reach Antarctica within the hour, while it would take longer to reach more remote locations around Antarctica.
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate mogul turned makeshift diplomat, has become a growing liability for the Trump administration, drawing scorn from foreign policy experts, career diplomats, and even members of Trumps own orbit, the NY Post reported in a scathing article. Once hailed for brokering a brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Witkoffs erratic solo diplomacy is now being widely ridiculed as amateurish, naive, and dangerously out of step with international norms.

Witkoff, now serving as President Trumps special envoy to both the Middle East and Russia, has taken on a role that would overwhelm even seasoned statesmen. But rather than surrounding himself with veteran negotiators and intelligence experts, Witkoff has taken to flying solo  literally. Sources say he regularly meets alone with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, sometimes relying on Kremlin translators instead of U.S. personnel. One former Trump official described Witkoff bluntly: Nice guy, but a bumbling idiot. He should not be doing this alone.

The criticism isnt unfounded. In a March meeting in Qatar, Witkoff walked away from talks with Hamas believing he had secured a hostage deal. Days later, the terror group pulled the rug out from under him, offering only one living hostage in return for concessions. Witkoff admitted on national TV he might have been duped. The cease-fire collapsed within days.

His performance on the Russia front has been no better. While retired Gen. Keith Kellogg handles negotiations with Ukraine, Witkoff  handpicked by Trump to deal with Moscow  has effectively become the Kremlins mouthpiece in Washington. In an eyebrow-raising interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff parroted Putins propaganda nearly word for word, referring to occupied Ukrainian regions as Russian-speaking territories with legitimate referenda, while failing to recall the names of the four oblasts in question. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul didnt mince words: Witkoff acts as a mailman for Putin. He is not negotiating anything.

Even worse, video footage shows Witkoff asking whether his own translator at a Kremlin meeting was from the embassy. Experts were stunned. You do not walk into a hostile negotiation relying on the other sides translator, said Estonian-Ukrainian advisor Jaanika Merilo. Unless you are incompetent. Or worse  unless you dont care.

And then theres Iran. In yet another diplomatic misfire, Witkoff floated a return to a watered-down nuclear deal allowing Iran to retain enrichment capabilities  only to walk back his own comments a day later. Critics blasted the trial balloon as reckless and uninformed. Witkoffs discussions with Iran are a waste of oxygen, said former National Security Advisor John Bolton. The Iranians are buying time. And hes giving it to them.

The bigger question: why is a man with no diplomatic experience juggling three of the worlds most explosive crises? This is not shuttle diplomacy, said one Israeli expert. Its Uber diplomacy  and Witkoff is in the drivers seat with no GPS.

Despite mounting criticism, the Trump White House has rushed to Witkoffs defense. Steve Witkoff has done incredible work, said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. Like President Trump, he is focused on stopping the killing and advancing peace through strength.

But to many observers, Witkoffs greatest strength seems to be his talent for confusing both allies and adversaries  while undermining U.S. credibility in the process. A cease-fire gone awry, a Putin lovefest, a nuclear walk-back, and a translator mystery  the Witkoff record is less statesman and more slapstick.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A record 1,120 people accused of being in the U.S. illegally were arrested in less than a week during sweep orchestrated by federal, state and local authorities in Florida, an operation officials credited on Thursday to the burgeoning number of local police departments and state agencies that have joined President Donald Trumps drive for mass deportations.

That cooperation was on display Thursday when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to tout the arrests.

We will continue to engage in broad interior enforcement efforts, said DeSantis at a joint press conference with federal officials. This is just the beginning.

Local police can make immigration arrests and detain people for immigration violations under specific agreements. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had 135 agreements across 21 states in December. That number has since jumped to 506 deals across 38 states, with an additional 74 agencies pending approval.

As the Trump administration ramps up cooperation with state and local agencies, it is moving to retaliate against those that limit helping immigration authorities. On Monday, the president signed an executive order to publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions and reiterated threats of criminal charges against state or local officials who thwart federal policy.

Advocates who oppose local officials getting into immigration enforcement say the practice violates a clause in the U.S. Constitution that makes federal, not state, authorities responsible for it.

This is finding methods to terrorize communities, said Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, adding that local law enforcement officers arent trained to handle immigration issues in any sort of just manner.

Trumps deportation goals may be too big for ICE alone

ICE, which has about 6,000 deportation officers, needs help achieving Trumps goal of deporting many of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally, a conservative estimate.

Texas, whose Republican governor, Greg Abbott, has closely allied himself with Trump on immigration, has 76 enforcement agreements on record, the second-largest number of any state. They include one inked April 10 with the state National Guard. Texas has also signed an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its National Guard to arrest people at the border.

Georgia and North Carolina have also joined Trumps cause, but no state approaches Floridas cooperation, with agencies from all 67 counties signing on. Some participating institutions appear to have little, if anything, to do with immigration enforcement, including the Florida Department of Lottery Services and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

No such agreements were signed during the Biden administration. Many of the new pacts adhere to a task force model under which police arrest immigrants on the streets and in communities, as opposed to a jail enforcement model under which ICE takes custody of people only when they are put in state and local jails or prisons.

On Thursday, DeSantis and federal officials offered some details of Operation Tidal Wave, the multiagency law enforcement operation that, according to ICE, culminated with arresting the largest number of people in the U.S. illegally in a single state in one week since the agency was created in 2003.

While this may be the first  operation of its kind, thanks to the governor, its not going to be the last, said Madison Sheahan, ICE deputy director. We will not stop, she said, because theres no tolerance for criminal, illegal aliens.

Federal officials said the 1,120 people arrested included many subject to final orders of removal and who had criminal convictions on their records, gang members from organizations like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, sex offenders and fugitives from justice. Most of the arrested were from Guatemala (437) and Mexico (280).

Florida officials say many local agencies are still waiting for federal training to aid in future immigration actions. The latest ICE arrests show how state and local roles may grow.

One operation involved about 80 state troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol and targeted people in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, as well as in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, said Bill Smith, president of FHPs chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association. A spokesperson for Florida Highway Patrol did not respond to questions.

Some immigrant advocates said most arrests were by local police officers and state highway patrol troopers, not ICE. People were detained during traffic stops or when leaving work. Some had no criminal records and were seeking asylum, or had work permits, advocates said.

One family is suddenly torn apart

Jessica Ramirez, general coordinator at the Florida Farm Workers Association, said that most of those arrested were men. In some cases, though not many, ICE officials knocked on the door of immigrants houses, she said.

People are extremely afraid to go out and drive, afraid of the police, said Ramirez. The recommendation is to drive carefully, follow the rules, and not give the police a reason to stop them.

Chica, a 25-year-old Guatemalan woman who asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of being detained, said her partner Fernando, the father of her 3-month-old baby, was detained Friday morning as he was riding in a car with three other immigrants to his construction job. Chica hasnt heard from him since.

Honey, the police caught us, Fernando, a 20-year-old Guatemalan, texted her Friday at 7:47 a.m.

Chica said he had a pending asylum application and a work permit. Police asked the driver of the car to show his license but he did not have one. Officers then detained all four, including Fernando, who came to the U.S alone in 2020.

Im really worried. I cant believe they caught him, said Chica, who is now considering going back to Guatemala. Im afraid theyll deport him and Ill be left here without anyones help.

Grady Judd, the sheriff of Polk County in central Florida, called the operation a drop in the bucket and voiced frustration with what he called the federal governments inability to carry out arrests and removals on a larger scale.

The reason I think that they were focusing on those ready for deportation is theres no place to put volumes of people, Judd said. Were eager to cooperate with them. But its a federal government system and process. And its not changing very rapidly.

(AP)
The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits against four states this week, claiming their climate actions conflict with federal authority and President Donald Trumpsenergy dominance agenda.

The DOJ on Wednesday filed lawsuits against Hawaii and Michigan over their planned legal action against fossil fuel companies for harms caused by climate change. On Thursday, the DOJ sued New York and Vermont, challenging their climate superfund laws that would force fossil fuel companies to pay into state-based funds based on previous greenhouse gas emissions.

The suits, which legal experts say are unprecedented, mark the latest of the Trump administrations attacks on environmental work and raises concern over states abilities to retain the power to take climate action without federal opposition.

DOJs court filings said the states plans and policies impermissibly regulate out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions and obstruct the Clean Air Acts comprehensive federal-state framework and EPAs regulatory discretion.

The DOJ said the Clean Air Act  a federal law authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate air emissions  creates a program for regulating air pollution in the United States and displaces the ability of States to regulate greenhouse gas emissions beyond their borders.

DOJ argued Wednesday that Hawaii and Michigan are violating the intent of the Act that enables the EPA authority to set nationwide standards for greenhouse gases, citing the states pending litigation against oil and gas companies for alleged climate damage.

Democratic Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last year tapped private law firms to go after the fossil fuel industry for negatively affecting the states climate and environment.

Meanwhile, Democratic Hawaii Governor Josh Green plans to target fossil fuel companies that he said should take responsibility for their role in the states climate impacts, including 2023s deadly Lahaina wildfire.

When burned, fossil fuels release emissions such as carbon dioxide that warm the planet.

A spokesperson for Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office deferred to Nessel when asked for comment.

This lawsuit is at best frivolous and arguably sanctionable, Nessel said in a statement, which noted that Michigan hasnt filed a lawsuit. If the White House or Big Oil wish to challenge our claims, they can do so when our lawsuit is filed; they will not succeed in any attempt to preemptively bar our access to make our claims in the courts. I remain undeterred in my intention to file this lawsuit the President and his Big Oil donors so fear.

Greens office and the Hawaii Attorney Generals office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, Thursdays filings called the Superfund Act  a federal law enacted to address the harm associated with hazardous waste sites  a transparent monetary-extraction scheme. Trump has suggested the superfund laws extort payments from energy entities.

By purporting to regulate the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change, the Act necessarily reaches far beyond the states of New York and Vermont, the DOJ argued, saying it incorrectly looks to regulate nationwide and global airspace.

At a time when States should be contributing to a national effort to secure reliable sources of domestic energy, all four states are choosing to stand in the way, all four filings said.

In its filings, the DOJ repeated the Republican presidents claims of Americas energy emergency and crisis.

But legal experts raised concern over the governments arguments.

Michael Gerrard, founder and faculty director of the Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, said usual procedure is the DOJ asking a court to intervene in pending environmental litigation  as is the case in some instances across the country.

While this weeks suits are consistent with Trumps plans to oppose state actions that interfere with energy dominance, its highly unusual, Gerrard told The Associated Press. What we expected is they would intervene in the pending lawsuits, not to try to preempt or prevent a lawsuit from being filed. Its an aggressive move in support of the fossil fuel industry.

It raises all kinds of eyebrows, he added. Its an intimidation tactic, and its telling the fossil fuel companies how much Trump loves them.

Ann Carlson, an environmental law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has previously consulted on climate litigation, said this weeks lawsuits look like DOJ grasping at straws, noting that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said his agency is seeking to overturn a finding under the Clean Air Act that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.

So on the one hand the U.S. is saying Michigan, and other states, cant regulate greenhouse gases because the Clean Air Act does so and therefore preempts states from regulating, Carlson said. On the other hand the U.S. is trying to say that the Clean Air Act should not be used to regulate. The hypocrisy is pretty stunning.

Trumps administration has aggressively targeted climate policy in the name of fossil fuel investment. Federal agencies have announced plans to bolster coal power, roll back landmark water and air regulations, block renewable energy sources and double down on oil and gas expansion.

(AP)
Rent-stabilized tenants in New York City could see their monthly housing costs rise this fall, after the citys Rent Guidelines Board voted Wednesday in favor of proposed rent increases for one- and two-year leases.

The board approved a range of potential hikes: 1.75% to 4.75% for one-year leases and 4.75% to 7.75% for two-year leases. The final rates will be determined in a binding vote scheduled for June. If approved, the changes would apply to leases beginning on or after October 1.

The preliminary decision comes as the board weighs how to support the financial stability of building owners while protecting tenants from cost-of-living increases. Over the past three years, the board has greenlit cumulative rent hikes totaling 9%.

Mayor Eric Adams called the vote a challenging decision, stressing the importance of maintaining building quality without placing unreasonable burdens on renters. He expressed concern over the upper end of the proposed range, saying, A 7.75% increase is far too unreasonable of a burden for tenants, especially in the midst of a worsening affordability crisis across the city.

Landlord advocates, however, blasted the boards proposed increases as insufficient. Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, which represents owners of roughly 400,000 rent-stabilized apartments, said the adjustments fall short of what is needed to keep buildings operational.

Following this inadequate adjustment, we now need elected officials to step up and lower the costs they can control  like property taxes, water and sewer payments, and energy prices, Burgos said. If they do not take action, then thousands of rent-stabilized buildings will fail in the next year.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 70-year-old Jewish man was viciously assaulted on Wednesday night in the quiet French town of Anduze, near Ales.

According to a report by Entrevue, the victimwearing a kippah and tzitziswas feeding stray cats in the street when a drunken man approached him and demanded money. When the elderly man refused, he attacked.

Eyewitnesses say the attacker, a 45-year-old man known to local police for previous theft-related offenses, launched into a brutal assaultpunching and kicking the defenseless victim while shouting antisemitic slurs, including dirty Jew.

Local authorities arrested the suspect on Thursday morning. He was reportedly still intoxicated at the time of arrest and is currently in custody on charges of violence and insults based on religious affiliation or non-affiliation.

The incident has once again raised worries over the safety of visibly Jewish individuals in public spaces in France, a country that has seen an alarming increase in antisemitic attacks in recent years.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
AzInTelecom, in collaboration with Gcore, has launched the AzInCloud platform to deliver sovereign cloud services.

AzInTelecom LLC, operating under the Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding (AZCON), has officially launched a partnership with Gcore, the global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider.

Yesterday, a partnership between AzInTelecom and Luxembourg-based company Gcore was officially announced at an event held in Baku. The event was attended by the management teams of both companies, representatives from technology firms, and other guests.

It was highlighted during the event that under this partnership, a wide range of advanced cloud services powered by cutting-edge tools are now available on AzInTelecoms AzInCloud platform. Individual and corporate clients looking to benefit from modern cloud technologies can instantly access these services through the website AzInCloud.az. The actively operating platform offers users convenient management tools, a wide selection of operating systems, a cloud marketplace, monitoring services, and other key advantages.

The event also emphasized that AzInCloud operates as a public cloud service based on a pay-as-you-go model. The portal is accessible to alllegal entities, small and medium-sized businesses, individual entrepreneurs, and private users. To use the service, customers can register at AzInCloud.az, make payments via bank card, and immediately start using the services.

Andre Reitenbach, CEO at Gcore, commented: Digital sovereignty is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. Together with AzInTelecom, we operate a sovereign cloud solution that gives Azerbaijan full control over its digital infrastructure  secure, transparent, and independent. This is the foundation for trust, resilience, and true digital autonomy.

Farrukh Farajullayev, Chief Commercial Officer at AzInTelecom commented: The main goal of the AzInCloud platform is to make modern cloud services accessible to everyone and to promote digital transformation in the business environment. We are proud to be the first company to create such a platform in Azerbaijan in partnership with Gcore, a leading European technology company.

About AzInTelecom

AzInTelecom LLC is a state-owned company operating under Azerbaijans Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. It provides cloud services, data storage, and cybersecurity solutions to businesses, government bodies, and individuals. Through its AzInCloud platform, AzInTelecom supports the countrys digital growth by offering secure, flexible, and locally compliant technology services that are easy to access and use.

About Gcore

Gcore is a global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider. Headquartered in Luxembourg, with a staff of 600+ operating from ten offices worldwide, Gcore provides its solutions to global leaders in numerous industries. The company manages its own global IT infrastructure across six continents, with one of the best network performances in Europe, Africa, and LATAM, due to the average response time of 30 ms worldwide. Gcores network consists of 180+ points of presence around the world in reliable Tier IV and Tier III data centres, with a total capacity exceeding 200 Tbps.

For more information:

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www.azincloud.az
Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog called the 2005 disengagement from Gaza a mistake during a speech on Monday, marking the 20th anniversary of the controversial withdrawal.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), Herzog reflected on the decision to evacuate all Israeli settlements and military forces from the Gaza Strip, a move that has shaped Israels security landscape for two decades.

The disengagement saw Israel unilaterally withdraw from Gaza, dismantling 21 settlements and evacuating approximately 8,500 residents, many forcibly removed by Israeli security forces. The move aimed to reduce friction with Palestinians and advance peace prospects, but Herzog argued it failed to achieve those goals.

Looking back, I believe the disengagement was a mistake, Herzog said, citing the subsequent rise of Hamass control over Gaza and the persistent rocket attacks on southern Israel.

He noted that the withdrawal, intended to bolster Israels security and international standing, instead led to increased hostilities, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the ongoing war.

The president said national unity is needed to address Gazas future, advocating for a sober and honest reassessment of Israels policies. He suggested that any future peace efforts must involve pragmatic agreements ensuring Israels safety, referencing the Abraham Accords as a model for regional cooperation.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
China accused the United States on Wednesday of being the true source of COVID-19, as tensions over the origins of the virus once again flared into the international spotlight. The accusation came in the form of a sharply worded white paper released by the Chinese government, claiming that the U.S. is shamelessly politicizing the pandemic and attempting to deflect from its own failings.

Beijings fiery rebuttal followed a recent push from the White House suggesting that the virus likely leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where gain-of-function research was allegedly being conducted. A section of a newly updated government webpage explicitly claims that a lab-related incident is now considered the most probable origin of the deadly pandemic that has claimed millions of lives.

The U.S. government, instead of facing squarely its failure in response to COVID-19 has tried to shift the blame and divert peoples attention, the Chinese paper declared. The document insists that substantial evidence suggests the virus may have been circulating in the U.S. before Chinas first known outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019.

The renewed battle over COVIDs origins comes as multiple U.S. agenciesincluding the CIA and FBIhave leaned toward the lab leak theory, though the CIA maintains low confidence in its assessment and admits that a natural origin remains possible. A House panel has also weighed in, citing growing concerns over the security of gain-of-function research and the inadequacy of current global oversight mechanisms.

Still, China stood by the results of a 2021 joint study conducted with the World Health Organization, which deemed a lab leak extremely unlikely and concluded the virus likely jumped from bats to humans via an intermediary species.

Beijing went further, accusing the U.S. of undermining global cooperation during the pandemic and lambasting its public health response. It has severely undermined joint international efforts and become a weak link in global public health governance, Chinese officials wrote. The report also alleged the U.S. has failed to adequately address questions surrounding its own COVID timeline and response.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In yet another explosive controversy rocking New York Citys embattled public school system, the Department of Education is under fire for distributing an official newsletter that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gazaa claim that outraged Jewish educators and advocates are calling a dangerous escalation of anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric within the citys classrooms.

According to a NY Post report, the inflammatory statement appeared in the spring 2025 edition of the Teacher Career Pathways newsletteran internal publication bearing the logos of both the NYC Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT)which was distributed to hundreds of master teachers across the citys 1,800 public schools.

The genocide in Gaza, among other global injustices, emphasized the urgent need for student voices to be centered and heard, the newsletter read, citing a student protest in the Bronx held on March 28 as a model of activism.

But Jewish educators say the message crossed a linefalsifying history, glorifying antisemitic demonstrations, and turning schools into ideological battlegrounds. This newsletter needs to be removed and someone needs to apologize immediately, said one Jewish teacher, who asked to remain anonymous. Does the DOE expect me, a Jewish educator, to pass along this kind of language in good conscience?

Pro-Israel teachers say that the referenced protest was not a benign call for peace, but a chaotic pro-Hamas rally rife with antisemitic tropes and slogans calling for the destruction of Israel. To frame this as a noble catalyst for leadership is both revisionist and reckless, said another concerned educator.

This is not the DOEs first foray into controversy over anti-Israel messaging. Just weeks ago, the chancellors office was forced to apologize for a separate DOE-linked publication that promoted a Stop Gaza Genocide Toolkit, urging educators to support calls to Stop arming Israel and Free Palestine.

The latest incident sparked harsh rebuke from elected officials and education watchdogs alike.

This is simply inexcusable and unconscionable, said Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin. We were clear with the chancellor that this must never happen againand yet here we are. DOE gets an F.

Karen Feldman, co-founder of the NYC Public School Alliance and a 26-year teaching veteran, echoed the sentiment. This is not genuine social justiceit is the spread of hate disguised as activism. Our schools should be spaces of inclusion and learning, not platforms for radical, inflammatory propaganda.

Michelle Ahdoot, director at the advocacy group #EndJewHatred, called the newsletter part of a clear pattern of Jew-hatred in official DOE communications, accusing the chancellor of deliberate indifference to the danger Jewish educators and students face. She demanded a full investigation and public accountability.

DOE officials acknowledged the language had been removed after it was flagged but declined to name the author.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An Israeli soldier was accidentally left behind in the Gaza Strip earlier this week, wandering alone through hostile territory for 40 harrowing minutes before finding safety.

The incident occurred on Tuesday following an IDF operation by the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit in the volatile Morag Corridor, nestled between Rafah and Khan Younis  a region known for fierce fighting and terrorist infrastructure.

As the unit concluded its mission and withdrew back into Israeli territory, one soldier was inexplicably left behind.

According to a statement by the IDF, the soldierrealizing he had been abandonedbegan making his way through the danger zone on foot, calling out IDF! IDF! repeatedly in an effort to avoid being mistaken for a terrorist and shot by his own forces.

He eventually reached troops from the Golani Brigade, who were operating nearby and took him in safely.

This is a grave incident that is being thoroughly investigated, the IDF said in an acknowledgment of the error. Lessons will be drawn to ensure that such a critical failure does not occur again.

The IDF has not released the soldiers name, but officials say he was not harmed during the ordeal. Nevertheless, the breach in protocol and potential risk to life has raised serious concerns within the militarys ranks.

The fact that a soldier from one of Israels most elite engineering units could be forgottenif only for under an hourinside one of the most dangerous places on earth is a startling breach of operational discipline.

Military commentators have already begun questioning how such a lapse could occur during a coordinated withdrawal, and what it says about the pressure and chaos still facing troops on the ground in Gaza.

The internal investigation is ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Irans once-grand plan to transform post-war Syria into a loyal regional satellite has collapsed in dramatic fashion, according to a trove of confidential documents obtained by Reuters from the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The blueprint, drawn up in 2022, envisioned Tehran embedding itself deep into Syrias economy, politics, and security apparatus. But the sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has left those ambitions in ruins.

The newly installed Syrian government, composed largely of rebel factions hostile to Tehran, has moved to dismantle Irans presence. Iranian military officers, diplomats, and economic envoys have withdrawn from Damascus. Cultural centers funded by Tehran have shuttered. Contracts worth billionsspanning oil, mining, and telecomhave been torn up or handed over to rival powers.

Irans plan, detailed in the leaked documents, was to dominate Syrias post-civil war reconstruction in return for years of military and financial support to Assad. The strategy hinged on long-term agreements, soft-power influence, and the placement of Iranian allies in key Syrian institutions. But what was supposed to be a strategic jewel in Irans Axis of Resistance has instead turned into a costly blunder.

The report lays bare the scale of Irans involvementspanning education, energy, telecom, and internal securityand the central role played by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Spearheaded by senior officer Abbas Akbari, the IRGCs efforts to sidestep U.S. sanctions and fast-track projects often foundered in a maze of Syrian bureaucracy, corruption, and competing interests from Russia and other actors.

Now, with a new Syrian leadership firmly closing the door on Iranian influence, Tehran finds itself ousted from a country it once helped prop up. Irans cultural institutes have been repurposed. Its oil and phosphate deals have vanished. Even its once-strong political alliances in Damascus have eroded overnight.

The fallout marks a stinging defeat for Irans long-standing regional ambitions. With Syria no longer a pliant client state, Tehran is left to reckon with the high cost of its interventionmeasured not just in billions of dollars, but in lost leverage, credibility, and strategic depth.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen at northern Israel early Friday morning, triggering sirens in the Upper and Lower Galil, Haifa and its suburbs, Binyamina, and the Jezreel Valley.

The missile was successfully intercepted before it entered Israel. However, shrapnel from an interceptor missile hit a kindergarten in Mishmar HaEmek, penetrating the roof of the building and falling into the kindergarten. BChasdei Hashem, no one was injured as the kindergarten has not yet opened for the day.

Shai Regev, the head of education at Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, was quoted by Ynet as saying. Its a huge neis. The children could have been injured if this had happened while the kindergarten was open. The shrapnel pierced the roof and ceilingit was a terrifying scene that illustrates how tangible the danger is.

The MDA spokesperson reported that one man was injured in the incident while rushing to a protected space.

It was the second time in 10 days that the Houthis launched a missile at northern Israel, and the second Houthi missile launched at Israel this week.

Israel is currently refraining from responding to the Houthi missiles at the request of the US, which embarked on a military campaign against the Houthis a month and a half ago.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Organizers of the Gaza freedom flotilla, who intended to break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, claimed that it was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta in international waters, CNN reported on Friday.

There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking, Yasemin Acar, the spokesperson for the terror flotilla, told CNN.

Vidoes posted on the X by the coalition show a fire burning on a ship, which, according to marine websites, is the Palau-flagged Conscience ship that departed from Tunisia.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The organizers of the flotilla, who accuse Israel of genocide on their social media pages, wrote about the incident on social media: At 00:23 Maltese time, the Freedom Flotilla vessel was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship is currently located in international waters near Malta.

SOS distress signal was sent out, to which only southern Cyprus has responded by dispatching a vessel. No other countries have responded. The drone attack appears to have specifically targeted the ships generator, and the vessel is now at risk of sinking with 30 international human rights activists on board.

Call the Maltese government NOW.

Shortly later, the Maltese government issued a statement contradicting the organizers claims, saying that everyone aboard the ship, 12 crew members and 4 civilians, is safe. No mention was made of 30 international activists.

The vessel had 12 crew members on board and four civilian passengers; no casualties were reported, the statement said, adding that, unlike the organizers claims, the incident received a prompt response and was not ignored for hours.

Israel has not commented on the report.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
President Donald Trumps nuclear negotiations with Iran bear striking resemblance to the very deal he famously tore up in 2018, Reuters reports. The rapid commencement of talks last month has stunned regional allies, most notably Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had arrived in Washington expecting a green light for military action against Iran  only to learn hours before a joint appearance that the U.S. was heading back to the negotiating table.

Since then, three rounds of high-level U.S.Iranian talks have taken place with a fourth expected soon in Rome. According to eight sources familiar with the discussions who spoke with Reuters, the framework being developed largely preserves the architecture of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump repeatedly branded the worst deal ever made during his first term.

But this time, the agreement is being tweaked for political palatability. Officials say it would extend the timeline of constraints to 25 years, tighten verification mechanisms, and stretch the so-called sunset clauses. Still, the core remains unmistakably similar: Iran agrees to limit uranium enrichment, reduce centrifuge counts, and allow increased international inspections in exchange for sweeping sanctions relief.

For Netanyahu, this represents a stunning reversal and a strategic setback. His government has demanded zero enrichment, aiming for a Libya-style dismantlement of Irans nuclear infrastructure. But Iranian officials insist their right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable  though they are reportedly willing to cap enrichment at 3.67%, as under the JCPOA, and ship portions of their uranium abroad or dilute their stockpiles under IAEA scrutiny.

This is essentially JCPOA 2.0, said one senior official, with just enough window dressing for Trump to call it a win, and just enough flexibility for Tehran to maintain core capabilities.

Underscoring the strange symmetry of these developments, Trump is now seeking concessions that go further than what his first-term deal exit demanded, yet is also prepared to accept many of the same limitations the original accord imposed.

Former U.S. negotiator Dennis Ross warned that without dismantling Irans infrastructure  including cutting centrifuges to a mere 1,000 and shipping out all enriched uranium  the threshold threat remains. The irony, he noted, is that Trumps 2018 withdrawal has left the U.S. facing a much more advanced Iranian program, with the Islamic Republic enriching uranium at 60% and operating banned advanced centrifuges.

Some U.S. officials are pressing to incorporate Irans ballistic missile production into the deal  a demand consistently rejected by Tehran. Iranian sources said they are only willing to forgo missile designs capable of carrying nuclear warheads as a gesture of goodwill, echoing the constraints of the original JCPOA.

Adding complexity to the talks are Iranian demands for ironclad guarantees: that no future U.S. president  including Trump himself  could abandon the deal unilaterally again. Whether such guarantees are legally or politically feasible remains in question.

Meanwhile, Israeli calculations are shifting rapidly. With Hezbollahs capabilities reportedly degraded and Irans air defenses weakened by recent conflicts, Netanyahu sees what one Middle East official called a historic window for a preemptive strike. Still, Washington is discouraging such action, wary of backlash from Gulf allies and regional destabilization  though U.S. military positioning suggests quiet preparation for contingencies. The Pentagon has recently deployed B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia and bolstered its naval presence in the Middle East.

The urgency is felt in Jerusalem. For Netanyahu, any deal that allows Iran to maintain enrichment or retain advanced centrifuges is insufficient. For Tehran, anything less than recognition of their nuclear rights is a non-starter.

In the middle stands Trump  trying to achieve the kind of diplomatic breakthrough that would allow him to declare victory, while walking a tightrope of international expectations, Israeli red lines, and Iranian ultimatums.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF announced that approximately 400 chareidim have been drafted into the military this week. The new recruits include 196 combat soldiers and 167 soldiers assigned to combat support roles. Another 23 are still awaiting placement.

Among the combat troops, 105 have joined the Netzach Yehuda Battalion of the Kfir Brigadean IDF unit composed of religious soldiers. Others have been assigned to the Chashmonean Brigade (48), the Tomer Company in Givatis Rotem Battalion (19), the Hetz Company in the Paratroopers 202nd Battalion (20), and four to the ground defense unit at Nevatim Airbase.

In addition to the newly drafted soldiers, 26 older charedi men joined the reserves after completing the Shlav Bet (Stage B) trackan expedited training process for older recruits. These men, together with 100 others, are set to begin six months of intensive combat training next week before being deployed to the Chashmonean Brigades reserve unit.

The IDF said that it will continue to work to expand the recruitment of the charedi community, while maintaining their religious lifestyle throughout their service and adjusting the conditions of the service to their needs.

As part of its broader integration campaign, the military has been issuing a total of 24,000 draft orders to eligible charedi menan initiative that began last summer. According to military data, some 70,000 charedi males are currently eligible for service.

In a departure from past policy, the IDF has also begun sending initial draft notices to all Israeli citizens upon turning 16.5, including charedim, who were previously excluded from early-stage conscription procedures. Actual enlistment begins at age 18.

Despite growing recruitment efforts, the IDF says it can only absorb an additional 3,000 charedi soldiers this year, due to the need for tailored accommodations. This figure would supplement the roughly 1,800 charedi soldiers who already enlist annually.

Military officials say that the IDF currently faces a shortage of 10,000 new soldiers70 percent of whom are required for combat positions.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Reform Movements Legal Campaign Against Religious Life in Eretz Yisroel

By: Dovid Gold





Over the past decade or so, a wave of lawsuits targeting the lifestyle of the religious communities in Eretz Yisroel has been brought before the powerful and left-leaning Israeli Supreme Court. While not all of these cases have succeeded, theyve complicated life for hundreds of thousands of religious people. Moreover, these petitions have deepened the divisions among Israeli society. But who is spending time and money to bring these cases? And why do they care how the frum community chooses to live?

A close look into each of these cases reveals a fascinating pattern. The fingerprints of the Jewish American woke left, organized into the Reform movement, are present each time. Desperate for relevance, Reform leaders in America have merged their anti-our Torah ideology with the woke left agenda, launching a systematic campaign against the Torah communities of Eretz Yisroel. In doing so, they have created a cause celebre to rally their dwindling membership.

While the Israeli court system leans strongly to the left and is widely viewed as unkind to religion, by law, courts do not initiate actions against Israeli citizens. Courts intervene only when a petition is filed before them. Successfully bringing a case before the Supreme Court requires expert legal representation and significant financial resources. Litigation is expensive, and many cases drag on for years, racking up large legal fees. Without the backing of a well-funded institution, these petitions or lawsuits hardly stand a chance of gaining any traction. For these reasons, the status quo understanding between the state and the religious communities in Israel has mostly held. Only in more recent years have so many rulings been handed down by the courts targeting religious practices.

This new reality is due to the emergence of a new force on the Israeli scene: The Reform Center for Religion and State. This legal arm of the Reform movement in Israel has taken the lead in each of these petitions and the lawyers they retain have fought these battles.

The Reform Center was established approximately 35 years ago. Officially, it was founded to advocate for the rights of Reform communities and promote the recognition of pluralistic and Reform values. However, in practice, the Center has led campaigns against virtually every area in which the Torah communities of Israel operate.

Key Legal Battles

Since the advent of cell phones, the Charedi public in Eretz Yisroel has embraced the use of kosher-filtered cell phones, which safeguard the purity and wholesomeness of their chosen way of life. But in 2016, a lawsuit claimed these phones dont allow access to hotlines for people with alternative lifestyles. This sparked a years-long legal saga to protect what the Charedi community views as a basic right. While this case continues to work through the legal system, the courts have already ordered the Knesset to pass laws that satisfy these pluralistic goals.

A review of the official court documents shows that the petition was jointly brought by organizations advocating for those who practice alternative lifestyles along with the Reform Center and the Movement for Progressive Judaism, another Reform arm. And that all the petitioners were represented by lawyers who are members of the Centers legal staff. It is obvious that the Reform movement has no direct stake in the type of cell phones used by the frum community, nevertheless, they exploited this issue to advance their broader agenda of gaining relevance by generating coverage in Israels media outlets sympathetic to their cause.

Thousands of working parents in Eretz Yisroel rely on government-subsidized childcare during work hours. For decades, based on the understanding that an avreich has the legal status of a studying spouse, families where the husband learns in kollel and the wife works have also benefited from these subsidies. To strip kollel families of this badly needed assistance, a petition was filed arguing that full-time Torah study does not meet legitimate standards of studying.

Court documents again reveal that the Reform Center for Religion and State led this petition, along with five other leftist organizations, and that the Centers legal team represented all petitioners. Ultimately, this baseless petition was dismissed because the subsidies are intended to encourage female participation in the workforce, regardless of their spouses employment status.

Its hard to believe the petitioners truly opposed subsidies for working women, a cause they often champion. Instead, it appears that it was all about delegitimizing the kollel system by painting them as unfairly benefiting from government funds.

Another staple of organized life in Eretz Yisroel targeted by legal petition is the Mehadrin bus lines, which maintain separation between men and women per the communitys societal norms. In yet another case arguing that this longstanding practice violates laws of equality, the Reform Center and its lawyers are listed as petitioners. This time, the courts ruled in favor of the petitioners, forcing an end to Mehadrin seating arrangements. The result? A massive disruption for thousands of frum commuters, whose cultural norms were ironically disregarded under the guise of equality.

Also targeted by the Reform Center and its lawyers is the curriculum being taught in the vast network of chadorim serving the Torah communities. Since Tanach is part of the core curriculum taught in every school in Israel, a case has been brought to block the legitimacy of chadorim who refuse to teach Tanach in the politically correct manner acceptable to the woke left in Israel. While this is an obvious non-starter for frum schools, this litigation resulted in a disparity in funding for the religious sector in Israel and became yet another talking point with which to disparage communities committed to following authentic Jewish traditions.

The Effect on Israeli Society

Besides these high-profile cases, many other petitions were brought in at all levels of the Israeli court system but were thwarted along the legal maze. Nevertheless, the mere threat of judicial intervention is enough to make the politicians sympathetic to traditional Jewish values think twice before crafting any new legislation. This dynamic is true at every level of government, from the Knesset, where laws are passed that apply to every citizen of the country, to local municipalities, which are responsible for scores of regulations that affect everyday life. Moreover, these petitions worsen the longstanding tension between the government and the courts. This rift recently boiled over in the well-known judicial reform drama that caused upheaval across Israel.

Media coverage of these lawsuits confuses the question of who truly represents Judaism. Since the founding of the State, only Orthodox Judaism has been recognized as authentic Judaism. This aligns with the perspective of the overwhelming majority of Israelis who identify with religious traditions. In fact, until a relatively short time ago, there was no official Reform presence in Israel.

However, the Reform movement has recently fought to change this perception and be recognized as representatives of the Jewish faith. A notable example of this push is evident from yet another petition filed by both the Reform and Conservative movements against the popular religious media outlet, Channel 14. The petitioners argued that Reform and Conservative clergypeople should be given equal time to present their views whenever a religion-related issue is discussed on air.

As a result, Reform has made significant inroads in establishing itself in many parts of Israels national character. Given that the non-orthodox streams of Judaism have become largely irrelevant in the United States, establishing a foothold in Israel has become a priority for them. This affects every aspect of religious life in Israel, including marriage and conversion, and even the management of holy sites such as the Kosel. These changes threaten to reshape the very identity of the Jewish people as these pluralistic versions of Judaism gain legal and cultural influence.

Countering Them

The Reform movements decades-long involvement in the World Zionist Congress directly funds these legal petitions. Through its advocacy efforts in the Congress, the Reform movement has successfully managed to advocate for the direct funding of diverse streams of Judaism. Tens of millions of Shekels are allocated each year to fund the growth of the Reform movement in Israel, with official Reform organizations in Israel proudly listing the National Institutions as sponsors on their respective websites.

A noteworthy portion of this money is funneled to the Reform Center for Religion and State under the guise of furthering Reform interests. However, as demonstrated by its legal history, the Center is largely used to fight legal battles against established religious communities and to arouse animosity toward the religious sector.

In the 2020 Congress elections, the Reform and Conservative parties collectively received approximately 45,000 votes out of the 120,000 votes cast by American Jews. The Reform movement has intensified its efforts to gain even more votes in the upcoming elections in March 2025. To counter their influence, American Jews who support traditional Torah values must participate in these elections and vote for delegates who will oppose the Reform movements attempts to reshape Israeli society.

The outcome of these elections will determine who controls billions of dollars and who shapes the future of religious life in Israel. By voting for delegates with our true Torah values, American Jews can help ensure that Eretz Yisroel remains a place where authentic Judaism thrives.

VOTE HERE!

Voting ends this Sunday night.

Make your voice heard and count!

EretzHaKodesh.org
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has announced the "Strategic Framework for the Microfinance Model" document, a source in the CBA told Trend.

The document defines the initiatives intended to increase the role of the microfinance sector in financing self-employed individuals and micro, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as supporting economic growth as a whole.

The strategic framework document covers priorities for strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for microfinance, introducing the concept of microcredit into legislation, institutional development of non-bank credit organizations, and diversification of financing sources, as well as strengthening risk-sharing mechanisms.

Moreover, the document also reflects priorities for improving the identification system for self-employed people and family farms.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
I run a small business which makes vitamin supplements for horses. In February, I lost half of my company's working capital, 5,608, to a scam.

I was called by someone who pretended to work for Wise, the e-money app where I keep my business funds. They said they had detected fraud on my account.

They advised me to block several attempted purchases of things like jewellery, whisky and travel, each costing about 5,000.

I was then told to follow steps to secure my account, such as resetting my password.

The scammer then informed me that an unauthorized charge to the travel agent Trip.com had been attempted, for a return flight from London to South Korea.

Neigh good: This business owner, who sells vitamin supplements for horses, was the victim of a sophisticated scam which saw her lose more than 5,000

I declined this, and moments later, received a text containing a security code.

I provided the code to the caller, believing it was for blocking further unauthorised transactions.

In reality, it was the authorization code that enabled the fraudulent payment of 5,608 to Trip to go through.

I then received a second call from someone pretending to be from the Financial Conduct Authority.

This is when I realised I was being scammed, as I looked it up and found that the FCA wouldn't make unsolicited calls like this.

I notified Wise, but it didn't reimburse my funds and closed the case. H.S, Sussex

Helen Crane of This is Money replies: As a young small business owner, it is tough enough trying to get your company off the ground - without scammers trotting off with your hard-earned cash.

You told me you had taken a leap of faith in trying to turn your passion for horses into a career, and that the experience had been 'all-consuming.'

You were then left 'devastated' by the loss of your money, feeling as if you had no recourse.

It was particularly upsetting as you had recently received a grant of around 5,000 to expand the business, which was completely wiped out.

You thought you were protecting your money by engaging with this scammer, but in fact it was a clever double-bluff.

In hindsight, you think they attempted the first few transactions, which they then told you to block, in order to gain your trust.

We don't know how this person got hold of your account details, in order to make these purchases. It may be that you were tricked into providing personal information at another time, for example in a phishing email.

CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk

But it appears that they had everything they needed to make a purchase, other than that final step - the two factor authentication code you would receive to your mobile phone to verify the payment.

You believed they were trying to help you, so when they asked for the text message code to confirm the transaction, you handed it over and your cash was gone.

You also received a call from the same scammer or an associate, pretending to be from financial watchdog the FCA.

The FCA says it will never contact customers directly to ask for banking information, so if you receive a call from someone saying that is who they are, hang up.

Wise, formerly known as Transferwise, automatically blocked two further payments that were attempted, and you also received a notification to your phone warning you of suspected fraud.

This type of fraud sadly looks set to become more common. Scammers are increasingly trying to access people's accounts to make expensive purchases, rather than persuading their victims to send them cash.

This is because new regulations came in in October which mean banks and finance apps have to reimburse victims of authorised push payment fraud.

This is when a fraudster tricks a person into sending them money. A common way to do this is to pretend to be from the bank and claim their account has been compromised, so the customer needs to transfer their cash to a 'safe' account to protect it.

Now banks have been forced to pay these customers back, they are desperate to avoid it happening and have added extra security - leading scammers to try other methods.

Purchases aren't covered by the same rules and it is also more difficult for a bank to get money back from a retailer - or in this case an airline - than to claw it back from another personal bank account.

Distressed, you contacted Wise and Trip immediately to ask if they could help you retrieve your funds.

Several weeks later, and after some back and forth, Trip eventually agreed to reimburse you half of the funds. It helped that the return flight had not yet been used.

However, this still left you 2,803.91 out of pocket.

You told me getting help from Wise proved trickier.

Despite you contacting the e-money institution (it doesn't have a banking licence) within two hours of the scam, you said it did not appear to investigate the issue or attempt to recover your money.

You were then notified that your case had been closed, and followed up with emails which you say were ignored.

I contacted Wise, and after looking at your case again it agreed to reimburse you the remaining 2,803.91.

A spokesman for Wise said: 'We are deeply sorry for the experience faced by H.S. This sophisticated impersonation scam demonstrates the complex tricks and social engineering used by scammers and the lengths that criminals will go to separate people from their money.

'If someone asks you to share security codes or one time passcodes given to you via your bank or financial institution over the phone, its a major red flag indicating a scam - hang up immediately, and if you have shared any details, contact your financial institution so they can keep your account safe.

At Wise, we are dedicated to preventing and combating financial crime, and to ensuring the safety of our customers and platform. We are constantly improving our systems to prevent, detect and act on any potential instances of financial crime and abuse of our services.'

I'm pleased to have been able to help, and hope the return of your cash means you can get back in the saddle and continue growing your business.
If youre jetting away on holiday this summer, the way you spend abroad is likely to have changed from pre-pandemic.

Previously, most of us would have taken a bundle of foreign currency to spend.

And while it's likely most do still take some physical money, the majority of major holiday spots accept card payments and contactless.

So, once you've found your cheap flight and a good hotel deal, the way you spend abroad can also help shave costs.

Plenty of high-street banks have moved away from charging customers for transactions and withdrawals, but now require you to sign up for a paid monthly account. Others offer free spending abroad, but they come with monthly limits.

It means that you will need to think carefully about which bank offers the best deal, depending on how often you travel and how much you might spend.

We look at what the major banks offer their customers and whether its the best deal for you.

Travel ready: Make sure to check whether your bank offers fee-free spending abroad

Barclays

If you use your Barclays debit card abroad, youll be charged a 2.99 per cent non-sterling transaction fee, which includes cash withdrawals.

If you choose to pay for your transaction in sterling, which some cash machines and terminals do, the fee will not apply, but there may be commission charges that make it more expensive.

However, Barclays offers a travel wallet which allows you to buy foreign currency in the Barclays app and use your debit card as a travel money card. This is only available if you have the app.

It will charge you each time you convert GBP into another currency but you wont be charged to convert it back.

Chase

Chase doesnt charge for using your debit card abroad and applies the current Mastercard exchange rate to any transactions made in the local currency. This means youre getting the up-to-date exchange and you dont pay any fees on top of this.

You can also withdraw up to 500 a day from cash machines, whether in the UK or abroad, but theres a 1,500 limit on withdrawals abroad in any calendar month.

One of the attractions of opening a Chase account is their generous cashback scheme, but this doesnt apply to any purchases made outside the UK or Channel Islands, or if you pay in currencies other than sterling.

You should note that if youre planning a holiday in a restricted destination, such as Cuba, North Korea and Iran, you wont be able to use your card or any Chase services.

First Direct

First Direct changed its fees for spending abroad a few years ago and now customers wont pay anything for transactions.

Customers can take out up to 500 in cash daily without any charges, although there might be separate ATM fees.

Halifax

Halifax does not charge any fees for transactions made in the European Economic Area for the UK.

However, for spending outside these areas, youll face a withdrawal fee of 1.50, another 1.50 if you choose to convert your cash to pounds, and a 0.50 charge for each transaction.

On top of this, Halifax will charge 2.99 per cent to convert your cash, which means you could run up a huge bill.

However, you will not pay any of these fees with Halifaxs Ultimate Reward debit card, which costs 19 a month and includes worldwide family travel insurance, AA breakdown family cover, mobile phone insurance and home emergency cover.

You will need to add travel ready to your ultimate reward account, which costs 7 a week, to avoid paying debit card fees, but you may have to pay separate charges for currency conversion.

You can add up to 6 weeks of travel ready to your account and each time you book a trip, you can add one or more weeks to your account.

HSBC

HSBCs standard travel fees are 2.75 per cent for transactions, 2.75 per cent on cash withdrawals, plus a 2 per cent fee (minimum 1.75, maximum 5).

However, if you apply for a global money account, these fees are waived, and you can spend and send money around the world for free.

Its not a prepaid debit card but you can convert the currency you need before you go and hold it in your balance to use.

Lloyds

Lloyds customers face a youll face a withdrawal fee of 1.50, another 1.50 if you choose to convert your cash to pounds, and a 0.50 charge for each transaction. On top of this, Lloyds will charge 2.99 per cent to convert your cash.

Customers with a Club Lloyds account, which costs 3 a month and 5 from June, will be able to use their debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash free of charge.

The fee-free spending abroad also applies to the Silver and Platinum accounts, which charge 11.50 and 16.95 a month, respectively.

Stress-free: Some banks let you tap away for free but be aware of withdrawal limits

Monzo

When Monzo launched in 2015, it promised to offer a better way to spend abroad. All customers can use their debit or credit card anywhere and pay in any currency with no foreign transaction fees or hidden costs.

It also still offers free cash withdrawals for customers whose main account is with Monzo.

Monzo classifies this as someone who has paid at least 500 into their account over 30 days and has at least one active direct debit.

Customers have unlimited fee-free withdrawals in the European Economic Area, and up to 200 every 30 days anywhere else. After that, it will charge 3 per cent.

The 30-day period resets 30 days after your first withdrawal, rather than at the start of the month.

If you upgrade to Monzo Max - which costs 17 a month and has a three-month minimum term - youll have 600 fee-free cash withdrawals abroad and worldwide travel insurance.

Nationwide

Nationwide charges 2.99 per cent of a transaction amount for Flex account, Flex direct and Flex Basic accountholders, as well as an additional 2.99 per cent for cash withdrawals.

These fees are waived for people with a Flex plus account, which costs 18 a month and includes travel and mobile insurance, as well as vehicle breakdown cover.

Natwest

Natwest customers with a Select Silver, Select Platinum, Reward, Student, Foundation, Premier Reward, Adapt and Basic account will pay a 2.75 per cent transaction fee and 2.75 per cent on cash withdrawals.

However, customers with Reward Black, Black, Premier Select, Reward Platinum and Reward Silver fees dont have to pay for transactions, but will have to pay a 2.75 per cent charge for cash withdrawals. But like other high street banks, you will have to pay for these accounts.

There is a workaround, though. A free travel account is available to all existing account holders registered for mobile banking doesnt charge fees for the first Euro/USD 200 for withdrawals every 40 days.

Travel accounts hold up to EUR/USD 10,000 and have a 10,000 daily spending limit.

To pay for something from the account, you must hold enough foreign currency to cover the transaction. If you dont the payment will debit the linked account and will be subject to any fees.

Revolut

Like Monzo, Revolut launched with the promise to make it easier to use your debit card abroad.

It does not charge foreign transaction fees, but depending on your plan, you may be limited in the amount you can withdraw in cash a month.

If youre on the free standard or Revolut Plus plans, you can take out 200 a month, while Revolut Premium customers - who pay 7.99 a month - can take out 400 monthly.

Metal customerswho pay 14.99 a monthhave an 800 limit, while Ultra customers have 2,000. However, the plan will set you back 45 a month.

There are also limits to currency exchange without incurring additional fees. The standard plan allows a 1,000 monthly limit on weekdays, before charging 1 per cent on weekends.

The Plus plan gives customers a 3,0000 limit, with 0.5 per cent charges on weekends, while Premium and Metal customers have no fair usage or fees on weekends.

Starling

Starling customers can pay with their card and make withdrawals while away without paying any fees.

Like Chase, Starling uses Mastercards exchange rate and doesnt add any fees on top.

Starlings withdrawal limit is slightly less generous at 300 per day, both in the UK and abroad.
NatWest Group lifted full-year guidance on Friday after a strong start to 2025.

The lender told shareholders it expects full-year income to be at the upper end of guidance after recording deposit margin expansion, rising customer balances, and trading activity in the first quarter.

Natwest, which owns the Royal Bank of Scotland, reported its operating pre-tax profits climbed to 1.8billion in the three months ending March.

Earnings were 36.2 per cent higher than the same period last year and far above the 1.6billion anticipated by analysts.

It comes as NatWest prepares to return to full private ownership for the first time since it was rescued from collapse by the government at the height of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The government's stake in NatWest fell below 2 per cent on Thursday, having cut its shareholding from nearly 40 per cent in December 2023.

Great result: The banking giant, which owns the Royal Bank of Scotland, reported its operating pre-tax profits climbed to 1.8billion in the three months ending March

Natwest's overall profits jumped by 35.9 per cent to 1.3billion, although they rose by just 1 per cent from the prior quarter.

Total income touched nearly 4billion after increasing by 14.5 per year-on-year.

Net interest income - the difference between what a bank pays savers and charges borrowers- soared by 14.1 per cent to over 3billion.

NatWest now predicts its annual income will be towards the upper end of its previously guided range of between 15.2billion and 15.7billion.

Paul Thwaite, chief executive of NatWest, said the 'performance demonstrates the positive momentum in our business as we deliver against clear strategic priorities.'

He added: 'The strength of our balance sheet means we are well placed to help our customers navigate any challenges, whilst also investing in our business and delivering returns to shareholders.'

The FTSE 100 firm also revealed net loans were 4.2 per cent higher at 371.9billion, thanks partly to homebuyers rushing to take out mortgages ahead of incoming tax hikes.

At the start of April, the zero threshold on stamp duty halved to 125,000, while the first-time buyers' threshold slumped from 425,000 to 300,000.

But though stamp duty has gone up, all major UK lenders, including NatWest, have begun offering fixed-rate mortgage deals of under 4 per cent in recent weeks.

It comes amid hopes of base rate cuts by the Bank of England, which last reduced them in February by 0.25 percentage points to 4.5 per cent.

Investment banking group Morgan Stanley believes the BoE will slash rates to as low as 3.25 per cent this year.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: 'While it may be over-simplistic to describe banks as basically providing loans and taking deposits, these are of course crucial planks, and both are currently growing.'

NatWest Group shares were 2.2 per cent higher at 486.1p on Friday morning, taking their gains over the past year to around 60 per cent.
NatWest boss Paul Thwaite warned of a 'pause in activity' among some of Britain's biggest firms as Donald Trump's trade war hammers confidence.

The comments came as the bank reported a 36 per cent rise in profit to 1.8billion for the first quarter but acknowledged that the upheaval over tariffs is taking its toll.

Thwaite said: 'There is no doubt that global economic uncertainty has increased and there has been a dip in confidence across both businesses and households.'

It was the latest in a series of warnings from bank bosses this week that they are steeled for turbulence after Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement last month, which threatens to up-end global economic networks built up over decades.

The chairman of HSBC yesterday warned that it created 'serious potential risks to global growth' while Standard Chartered flagged a 'more fragmented' global outlook.

Thwaite said the impact on customers varied according to circumstances and there were also 'positive' indicators with arrears low and corporate and household borrowers 'resilient'.

But he added: 'For larger corporates, that are more exposed to global trade... there is certainly some pausing of activity, with many in wait and see mode.

'Smaller businesses and consumers tend to be more focused on the domestic agenda and we haven't yet seen any significant changes in behaviour across these groups in response to recent volatility.

'The reality is, certainly for those exporting or who are heavily dependent on international trade, the uncertainty means they're taking stock, they're waiting and seeing. That manifests primarily around investment decisions and any thoughts they might have been having around corporate finance activity.'

For the first quarter, NatWest was boosted by a surge in mortgage lending thanks to borrowers racing to complete house purchases before the stamp duty went up at the start of April.

It now expects to deliver income and returns for the year at the 'upper end' of its guidance. Shares rose 1.3 per cent, or 6.2p, to 482p.

NatWest is preparing to return to full private ownership for the first time since it was bailed-out by taxpayers in 2008. Earlier this week, the Government's stake in the lender fell below 2 per cent.

HSBC chairman Sir Mark Tucker warned over the trade war as he addressed its annual general meeting yesterday.

'The overarching impact of the changing approach to global trade relations has been to increase economic uncertainty with serious potential risks to global growth,' he said.

And Bill Winters, boss of Standard Chartered, said the tariffs had 'increased global economic and geopolitical complexity'.

The bank reported a 10 per cent rise in first-quarter profits to 1.6billion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has revealed the factors limiting the development of the microfinance sector, Trend reports via the CBA's Microfinance Model Strategic Framework document.

The main factors limiting the development of the microfinance sector include the lack of formation of microfinance as a specific subsector of the financial sector, the limited resource base and variety of key microfinance institutions, insufficient risk-sharing mechanisms that are not adapted to the characteristics of the microfinance sector, as well as weaknesses in the identification system for self-employed individuals and family farms, which are one of the main customer segments of microfinance.

It has been noted that the absence of a defined microfinance segment in the legislation also limits the possibilities for the implementation of encouraging prudential and state policies in this field.

"The current situation makes it difficult to form specialized microfinance institutions focused on small business lending. This, in turn, limits the effective implementation of government policies regarding self-employment and micro-enterprise development.

The fact that the majority of the portfolios of key microfinance institutions, such as non-bank credit institutions (NBCIs), consist of consumer loans indicates the necessity of incorporating the concept of 'microcredit' into the legal framework and conducting a policy that encourages this direction," the document added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. One of the main funding sources for the microfinance sector is capital market financing. However, the cost of financing through bonds remains high for non-bank credit institutions (NBCIs), Trend reports, referring to the report called "Strategic Framework for the Microfinance Model" by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

According to the data, the high cost of bond financing for NBCIs is mainly due to their risk profile.

The report notes that the emergence of broadly operating NBCIs and the granting of wider operational permissions to them, along with stricter regulatory and governance requirements, will enhance the resilience of financial institutions. This will lead to their perception by investors as lower-risk financial entities and thereby create the conditions for reduced financing costs.

Additionally, the CBA plans to revise the regulations on bond issuance for broadly operating NBCIs and for banks that meet certain requirements regarding the size of their microcredit portfolios under the "Rule on the Maximum Volume of the Issuers Bond Issuance."

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined TikTok 530 million and ordered corrective measures following an inquiry into the transfers of EEA user data to China.

The inquiry was launched by the DPC, in its role as the Lead Supervisory Authority for the social media platform, to analyse the legality of TikTok's transfers of personal data of users in the EEA to China. Additionally, it examined whether the provision of information to users in relation to such transfers met TikToks transparency requirements as required by GDPR.

The inquiry found that TikTok had infringed GDPR regarding its transfers of EEA user data to China and its transparency requirements. Following its findings, a fine was administered totalling 530 million along with an order which requires TikTok to bring its processing into compliance within 6 months.

The inquiry's decision also includes an order suspending the social media platform's transfers to China if processing is not brought into compliance within that timeframe.

READ NEXT: Uisce Eireann issues hosepipe ban for three counties amid 'sharp drop in water levels'

Commenting on the decision, DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said: "The GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries.

"TikToks personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU.

"As a result of TikToks failure to undertake the necessary assessments, TikTok did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards."

Throughout the inquiry, TikTok informed the DPC that it did not store EEA user data on servers in China. However, in April of this year they told the DPC that they had discovered in February limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China, contrary to their previous evidence. TikTok informed the DPC that this discovery meant that they had provided inaccurate information to the inquiry.

Deputy Commissioner Doyle added: "The DPC is taking these recent developments regarding the storage of EEA user data on servers in China very seriously. Whilst TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted, in consultation with our peer EU Data Protection Authorities."

The DPC plans on publishing the full decision and further related information in due course.
Uzbekistan, China lean towards cooperation in electrical engineering

Photo: The Uzeltechsanoat Association

Uzbekistan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a strategic partnership in the electrical engineering sector. The agreement aims to boost industrial collaboration through joint production of advanced electrical and digital technologies, supporting Uzbekistans green and digital infrastructure ambitions.

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KazMunayGas hits key exploration milestone in Kazakhstans Kyzylorda

Photo: KazMunayGas

A geological meeting in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, discussed the results of the PZ-1 exploration well at the "Turgai Paleozoic" site. The drilling confirmed the presence of a Paleozoic sedimentary complex beneath the previously considered "foundation" rocks, revealing carbonate fractured reservoirs and shales about 2500 meters thick. This marks a key scientific discovery. The project, led by KazMunayGas, aims to explore sub-thrust deposits in the pre-Mesozoic complex. Future exploration will be based on the geochemical analysis of the PZ-1 well data.

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By Nicole Lyons, May 2, 2025

From left, Professor of Spanish Dr. Julie Stephens de Jonge, Director of Military and Veteran Services Courtney Swoboda

and student Andrea Garcia Tovar.

Three members of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) community who exemplify the universitys values have been recognized with the 2025 Education for Service awards.



Faculty recipient Julie Stephens de Jonge, staff recipient Courtney Swoboda and student recipient Andrea Garcia Tovar were recognized at the UCM Board of Governors meeting on April 24.



Education for Service is UCMs long-standing motto. For more than a century, it has embodied the essence of UCM, guiding faculty and staff as they prepare students to graduate and become global citizens. The motto aligns with the universitys values: community, diversity, excellence, learning, opportunity and service.



Each year, an Office of Student Experience and Engagement committee selects the student award winner, a Faculty Senate committee selects the faculty award winner and a Staff Council committee selects the staff award winner. Nominations are evaluated based on detailed descriptions of how nominees embody "Education for Service" and UCM's values.



Julie Stephens de Jonge, Ph.D., is a professor of Spanish and the Spanish program director in the Department of Modern Languages and Interdisciplinary Studies.



For more than 15 years, Stephens de Jonge has coordinated UCMs annual Modern Languages Film Festival, which brings together hundreds of middle and high school students from Missouri and Kansas. She also regularly presents research at national and international conferences and is a published scholar, with additional publications forthcoming.



She consistently receives strong evaluations from students, earning high marks for her enthusiasm, creating a good learning environment and her concern for student success. Her nominator said student comments frequently emphasize her engaging classroom demeanor, rapport with students and her willingness to go the extra step to help students.



She is also a champion for languages and global learning. She regularly leads a summer Study Tour to Spain and helps students find study abroad opportunities through the Global Vision Scholarship and the Fulbright program.



Dr. Stephens de Jonge puts a great deal of work into designing her classes and continually uses student feedback to improve them, her nominator wrote. Indeed, she is dedicated to creating classes that are rigorous, informative, educational and enjoyable. Not only does she use technology to enhance student learning, she regularly seeks out professional development opportunities to enhance her pedagogical skills.

At the 2020 Playposium Conference, Stephens de Jonge won Honorable Mention for Teaching Innovation for her presentation and research on gamification, escape rooms and online learning. On campus, she received the Excellence in Teaching (Tenure-Track) Award in 2015-16 and the Distinguished Professor of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences award in 2023.



Courtney Swoboda is the director of Military and Veteran Services. Using her experiences as a UCM alumna and more than 10 years in the Air Force Reserves, Swoboda has created an environment in the Military and Veterans Success Center where students feel comfortable and can access resources needed to succeed.



Her nominator wrote that Swoboda goes above and beyond to advocate for students and help them achieve their goals. She connects students with campus and community resources when she can't provide direct assistance.



Courtney is a passionate advocate for the military-affiliated students, who represent a significant portion of the campus community and often require additional support, her nominator wrote. "Many of these students are adult learners and first-generation college students. Courtney is always ready to step in and offer the assistance they need to navigate their journey at UCM.

Swoboda takes pride in demonstrating the value of a higher education degree. During her three-year tenure, she has significantly grown the military-affiliated student population, achieving one of the highest numbers UCM has ever seen. Her efforts were instrumental in helping UCM achieve a top-three ranking as one of the nation's best military-friendly colleges. She also worked relentlessly to secure a new graduate military discount.



She serves on various local boards, advocates for the military community in the area, organizes the Military Appreciation Tailgate and the faculty/staff tour at Whiteman Air Force Base and participates in education and career fairs to showcase what UCM can offer the military-affiliated population.



Andrea Garcia Tovar is a senior Psychology major from Colombia. Garcia Tovar arrived at UCM with limited English skills but worked tirelessly through the Intensive English Program and excelled in her major. She is now applying for UCMs Counseling graduate program, where she hopes to continue supporting others.



Her nominator said Garcia Tovar has transformed the international student experience at UCM, creating a greater sense of community and belonging. She founded the English Language Institute (ELI) Passport Program, which allows students to earn rewards for participating in cultural and social activities in Warrensburg and on campus. As the coordinator for English Cafe and Conversation Partners, she helps students improve their language skills while facilitating friendships between international and domestic students.



Garcia Tovar is a translator for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking students, teaches international students about U.S. culture and welcomes new arrivals. With the ELI's support, she helps international students gain the cultural, social and linguistic knowledge needed to thrive at UCM.
If any of us want to do the things that we want to do for our country, and for the people who live in it, we have to honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country.  The professors are the enemy.

Those were the words of then-Senate candidate J.D. Vance in 2021 at the National Conservatism Conference. In that speech, Vance was arguing that universities play an outsized and biased role in shaping American thought and perceptions of reality.

Just a few years later, the struggle of ideas regarding universities and academic freedom has reached a full boil.

But fights over academic freedom arent new. Stepping back a bit, the birth of our modern idea of academic freedom can be traced back to the 1890s and The Ross Affair at the Leland Stanford Jr. University. Young economics professor Edward Ross writings about the Free Silver movement put him at odds with university co-founder Jane Stanford. She wanted him fired, but the universitys president held back. When Ross writings eventually veered into overtly racist complaints about Japanese immigration, Ross was finally let go.

Colleagues like English professor William Henry Hudson were outraged. The dismissal of Dr. Ross for the high misdemeanor of honestly expressing his opinion about important questions to which he has given careful and constant study is the most terrible blow which has ever befallen this university," he wrote.

Several other professors left Stanford at the same time, creating a national story and providing the impetus for the creation of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to provide legal and financial support for universities and their faculties.

Over the next several decades with the help of groups like the AAUP, academic freedom became generally understood as freedom in the classroom to teach and outside the classroom to pursue knowledge and release findings without unreasonable institutional or government interference.

There are limits, of course. Speaking outside of ones area of expertise may not be covered. Neither is speech that defies professional ethics or legal boundaries, such as libelous or threatening speech.

Academic freedom is not law and is not synonymous with freedom of speech, but the two are closely related. Adding to any confusion, the First Amendment bars the government from regulating speech, and public universities are arms of the government. But private universities are not, so they may regulate speech on campus, such as promoting religious or political teachings and restricting contrary views.

Over the last few years, universities have been greatly tested in the clash of views on campuses and what schools do to promote the exchange of ideas while protecting students and their rights.

A great example of that occurred right here at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in March. A conservative student group at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law invited Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to a fireside chat with Maryland Carey Law Professor Mark Graber, PhD, JD. Roberts is often called the architect of Project 2025, a conservative plan to break down and remake the federal government. Many urged the school to cancel the event, but Dean Renee Hutchins Laurent, JD, told students, The vigorous defense of free expression serves as a bedrock of our republic, even when that speech is odious and even when the speaker is immovably set in their position. Tempting as it is in these times to abandon core commitments to fundamental values, now more than ever we must do all we can to maintain the guardrails of democracy, including free expression.

Of course, our recent incident pales in comparison to whats been happening on college campuses all over the country since Hamas invasion of Israel in 2023. Mostly pro-Palestinian groups have staged hundreds of protests on campuses, speaking out against Israeli military actions in Gaza and demanding university disinvestment from Israeli institutions. Some pro-Palestinian protestors argued they were mistreated and falsely arrested. Some Jewish students complained their universities largely dismissed concerns about harassment and the intimidation imposed by tent encampments and threatening speech.

In December of that year, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn appeared before a House committee. New York congresswoman and Harvard alumna Elise Stefanik created a viral moment with this question: Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvards rules on bullying and harassment?

It can be, depending on the context, responded then-Harvard President Claudine Gay. The other two presidents answered in similar fashion: maybe. One viral video month later, Gay and Penn President Liz Magill were out, but the debate about the limits of free speech and the responsibilities of universities to maintain safe and harassment-free environments continued, along with the protests.

After just nine days in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order outlining measures to combat antisemitism on campuses, which was quickly followed by a Department of Education announcement that its Office of Civil Rights would investigate protest-related Title VI complaints at five universities, including Columbia University. This administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the well-being of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates, said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. Although the First Amendment does protect symbolic speech, like encampments and sit-ins, there are tools available to universities if they want to use them, such as time, place, and manner restrictions.

After $400 million of Columbias federal grants were frozen in March, that university agreed to overhaul its disciplinary process, hire more police with arrest powers, and even to make some faculty changes  although it has not yet agreed to enter into a consent decree.

The breakwater  at least for now  appears to be the nations first university and one of the largest recipients of federal grants: Harvard. In an April 11 letter, the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services issued Harvard 10 demands ostensibly aimed at curbing antisemitism including instituting viewpoint diversity in admissions and hiring, changes to a dozen programs and schools, and shuttering all DEI activities under any name.

Harvards refusal to comply triggered a strong rebuke from the administration and a freeze of over $2 billion in grants. A few days later, Harvard asked a federal judge to declare that freeze unconstitutional on several grounds, including violating the First Amendment.

"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 complaint said.

By the next morning, the school was joined by 150 other institutions  including UMB  under the umbrella of the American Association of Colleges and Universities in a letter speaking out against what the letter calls unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. The letter indicates acceptance of legitimate government oversight while asserting the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom.

In other words, academic freedom.

Academic freedom and freedom of speech on college campuses was the subject of "Virtual Face to Face" on April 29. Host and UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, was joined by Maryland Carey Law Dean and Professor Renee Hutchins Laurent, JD, and University System of Maryland Regents Professor Mark Graber, PhD, JD. Following a discussion of the issues, the panel answered questions from the audience.
Camera in Hands and Hate in Hearts

Days after the Pahalgam terror attack took place, random people with cameras were seen roaming in Kashmir asking people, not about the incident, but irrelevant questions

Friday May 2, 2025 6:36 PM , Arsalan Ahad Reshi

[Kashmiris gathered at Lal Chowk in Srinagar to protest the killing of innocents in Pahalgam.]

Days after the Pahalgam terror attack took place, random people with cameras were seen roaming in Kashmir asking people, not about the incident, but irrelevant questions.

They werent only asking out of context questions but were making it sure that they provoke the people.

A guy with camera, whos viral on social media, is seen asking a minor about the attack. The innocent boy said whatever came to his mind, unaware about what had happened or what hes saying.

A female YouTuber, who was once thrown out of Kashmir, was seen on the streets of the Valley post the attack, shooting an out of context and unrelated story. With all her intentions, one can easily guess her agenda of hate.

These people were intentionally targeting those, who they know arent bold enough to ANSWER their questions.

These people were selectively choosing people to ask questions.

Some EX. MUSLIMS in Lal Chowk abused ISLAM and then uploaded the video, which went viral. The intent of the video was clearly to create HUE and CRY which shall ultimately lead to a LAW & ORDER situation.

But the people of Kashmir have now mastered the art of reacting to situation without creating any law and order problem.

A very decent campaign on social media was led, which resulted in the arrest of those three people. They were made to apologize and send home.

When they reached home and they got to know that they are safe, they uploaded the a video accusing Jammu Kashmir Police of misbehaving with them. The video is doing rounds on social media and people are expecting that they shall be arrested.

Another video viral on social media, is of a man seen talking to two women who were out on a morning walk. They were asked to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai which they refused.

The women had full liberty to not chant it because their religion doesnt allow them. The man made it a point and said that people of Kashmir are still of the mindset that they dont belong to India.

These things had no connection with Pahalgam attack but they just wanted to spread hate and make sure that thinks keep burning. Thats how they get their pockets full.

The problem is that within the course of time, the news has become the job of gaining TRP. Out of the context news get prime time show but things that actually matter find no place.

We all remember how during the DEMONETISATION people were made to believe that 2000 rupee note has a chip in it.

The question here to be asked is why did the 2000 rupee note disappear from the market?

Well, no one asks about it because it will amount to questioning the government, and very unfortunately the media doesnt want to do Journalism anymore but want to make sure the government is happy.

Orwell had said, Printing what someone doesnt want to get printed is Journalism, everything else is PR and this is all that this media is doing.

This country needs a real healing process.

Himanshi Narwal, the wife of the Naval Officer who lost her husband in the attack said, We dont want any hate against Muslims or Kashmiris, we want peace.

But, even she is not let out by the hate factory. A twitter user in response wrote, She should have been shot, instead of her husband.

Another twitter user called her more dangerous than the terrorists and was labelled as Liberal.

For them, those who talk hate are the only nationalists, everyone else is anti-national.

The mainstream media failed to get what they wanted. Everyone they interviewed spoke good about the people of Kashmir. Even those who lost their loved ones didnt utter a single word against the people of Kashmir. People of Kashmir won against the hate and also won the hearts of people of India.

On a debate show, it was discussed about Palestine like solution for Kashmir. This was the call for genocide of people of Kashmir.

The people on the show were in support of Holocaust against the people of Kashmir. According to them, the Pahalgam attack happened just because some insiders were involved.

But, they should remember, insiders in Kashmir will never allow anyone to kill a tourist. Helping to attack tourists means hurting his or her own business. No one shall ruin his or her business with his or her own hands.

They must remember and acknowledge the fact that a Kashmiri guy made efforts to save a tourist, in which he himself lost his life. The sole bread earner of the family lost his life saving the tourists. This fact is being ignored by the media as if they never happened.

Another Kashmiri saved 11 tourists including a BJP leader. This also finds no or little mention in the mainstream Indian media. Why? Because they dont fit to their agenda of hate.

Fortunately, and despite their all efforts, their agenda of hate failed, and people of Kashmir shall fail it always.

Hate lost, right wing lost and people of Kashmir won against the all odds.

Hate always has to loose and love shall always win.

Lets hope things return back to normal as soon as possible.

[The writer, Arsalan Ahad Reshi is a student of BBA and a Political Activist. Views expressed here are personal.]

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Karnataka SSLC Result 2025 Announced; Check Details, Analysis

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has announced the result of the Senior School Leaving Certificate (Karnataka SSLC) 2025, also known as Pre University and Class 10 exams on its official website karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Friday May 2, 2025 12:17 PM , ummid.com News Network

Karnataka SSLC Result 2025: The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has announced the result of the Senior School Leaving Certificate (Karnataka SSLC) 2025, also known as Pre University and Class 10 exams on its official website karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

The result of the Karnataka SSLC or Class 10 board 2025 exam was announced today at a press conference addressed by Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa.

The results have been announced by the minister. However, students will be able to get their scorecard and marks details through the official website by 12:30 PM.

Karnataka SSLC 2025 Pass Percentage

According to the result declared by The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) Friday, the state registered an overall pass percentage of 62.34% - over 11% less than last year when the pass percentage was 73.40%.

The pass percentage of regular students is 66.14%.

"A total of 7,90,890 regular students appeared in the 2025 SSLC Exam 1. Of them 5,23,075 passed with a pass percentage of 66.14%", the KSEAB said.

KSEAB SSLC 2025 Gender-wise Result

Boys appeared: 3,90,311

appeared: 3,90,311 Passed: 2,26,637

Pass percentage of boys: 58.07%

Girls appeared: 4,00,579

appeared: 4,00,579 Pass: 2,96,438

Pass percentage of girls: 74%

The SSLC or Class 10 board exams of the year 2025 in Karnataka were conducted from March 21 to April 4, across the state. Soon later the assessment and evaluation of the exam papers were done.

A total of 8,42,173 students - including Regular Fresh, Private Fresh, Regular & Private Repeaters candidates, appeared for the SSLC exams this academic year.

The examinations were conducted at 2,818 centres, with 65,000 assessors deployed across 240 evaluation centres to ensure smooth and timely assessment of answer scripts.

"A total of 8,42,173 students from different districts of Karnataka appeared for the SSLC Exam 1 conducted at 2,818 examination centres throughout the state from March 21 to April 4, 2025", the KSEAB said.

The KSEAB further said that the Karnataka SSLC Exam 2 will be conducted from May 26 to June 2 whereas Karnataka SSLC Exam 3 will be held from June 23 to 30, 2025.

Steps to check Karnataka SSLC Result 2025

Go to the official website: " karresults.nic.in " or " kseab.karnataka.gov.in "

" or " " Click on the link marked as "SSLC Result 2025".

Enter Reg Number and other details that are asked.

Click on Submit button.

Karnataka SSLC 10th Pre University Exam results are also accessible on the websites "kseeb.kar.nic.in", "pue.kar.nic.in" and "results.nic.in".

Karnataka SSLC result of this year will also be sent to the students' registered mobile number via SMS after 12.30 PM.

SSLC Karnataka result of previous years

In 2024, KSEEB SSLC exam was held from March 25 to April 6, 2024 and result was announced on May 09, 2025 when the board had registered an overall pass percentage of 73.40% .

In 2023, KSEEB SSLC exam was held from March 31 to April 15, 2023. The Karnataka SSLC Result 2023 was declared on May 08, 2023. The overall pass percentage in 2023 was 83.89% with over 61,000 students securing A+ grade (90 to 100%) and 1,47,634 students passing with A grade(80 to 89%).

The overall pass percentage in Karnataka 10th exam in the year 2022 was 90.29%. A total of 145 students scored 100% marks to emerge toppers in 2022.

In 2021, nearly all students were declared passed with the Karnataka board registering a pass percentage of 99.99% for the first time in the history of SSLC 10th exams. Overall pass percentage in 2020 was 71.80%.

The state board had not released the merit list and details of toppers in 2021 as the academic year was hit by the Pandemic.

In 2020, the Class 10 exam result was announced on August 10 and the overall pass percentage recorded in the state was 71.80 per cent, which is nearly a two per cent drop from 2019.

Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) had announced the results of the Second Year Pre-University (2nd PUC) or Class 12 2025 on April 08, 2025.

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Aditro Sarkar Tops West Bengal 10th 2025 Board, Full List of Toppers

Aditro Sarkar of Rajganj district has topped the West Bengal Madhyamik 10th 2025 board exams the result and list of toppers of which have been declared today

Friday May 2, 2025 10:07 AM , ummid.com News Network

West Bengal Madhyamik Result 2025: Aditro Sarkar of Rajganj district has topped the West Bengal Madhyamik 10th 2025 board exams the result and list of toppers of which have been declared today.

WBBSE Madhyamik Toppers 2025

As many as 66 candidates are in the Top 10 Merit List of WBBSE Madhyamik 2025 exam. The top three rank holders are:

Adrita Sarkar Anubhab Biswas and Soumya Pal Ishani Chakraborty

Adrita Sarkar scored 696 marks out of 700 with an overall pass percentage of 99.43% and bagged the first rank.

Anubhab Biswas from Ramkrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidya Mandir, Malda and Soumya Pal from Bankura Bishnupur High School jointly secured the 2nd rank scoring 99.14% marks.

Ishani Chakraborty of Kotulpur Saroj Basini Balika Vidyalaya in Bankura bagged the 3rd rank scoring 99% in Madhyamik exam 2025.

WBBSE 2025 Madhyamik Pass Percentage

The West Bengal Madhyamik or Class 10 Result was declared today. The board registered an overall pass percentage this year is 86.56%.

A total of 9,13,883 students - including 4,12,959 boys and 5,00,924 girls, from different districts of West Bengal appeared in the WBBSE 2025 10th exam.

The pass percentage of boys is 89.19% whereas that of girls is 84.31%.

WBBSE Madhyamik District Toppers

Purba or East Medinipur is the district topper. It registered the overall pass percentage of 96.46%.

East Midnapore (96.4%)

Kalimpong (96.09%)

Kolkata (92.3%)

West Bengal Madhyamik Result 2025

The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education had earlier confirmed that the Class 10 Madhyamik result will be declared on Friday May 02, 2025.

"The WBBSE will release Class 10 Madhyamik result 2025 in a press conference held at 09:00 am on Friday, May 02, 2025", the state board said.

The state board said that schools will be able to collect mark sheets and certificates from their respective camp offices of the Board from May 2, 2025 from 10:00 am onwards.

Steps to check WB 10th result 2025

The WB 10th result can be checked on the official website "wbbse.wb.gov.in" through candidate login. The date of birth and registration number of the candidate will have to be typed to access the score sheet.

The West Bengal 10th result of the year 2025 can also be checked on "www.wbresults.nic.in".

Go to the official website "wbresults.nic.in" or "wbbse.wb.gov.in"

Click on the link marked as "WBBSE Madhyamik Result 2025"

Enter birth date and other details that are asked

Click on submit button to check your result

WB Madhyamik Result App and via SMS

Candidates can also check their WB Madhyamik result via SMS following the steps given below:

Type WB 12345

Send SMS to 5676750 to check the WBBSE WB Madhyamik Result 2025.



West Bengal Class 10 result can also be checked on Mobile App - iresults.net/wbbse-app/ which can be downloaded from playstore.

Along with the result, the board has also released the Madhyamik Merit List containing the name and score of toppers.

West Bengal Class 10 Madhyamik Pariksha, also known as Secondary Examination (SE) or Class 10 exam was held from February 12 to 24, 2025.

Close to 9 lakh students from different districts of West Bengal had appeared for the secondary exam.

West Bengal 10th result of past few years

The West Bengal Madhyamik Class 10th 2024 results were declared on May 02, 2024 . The state had registered an overall pass percentage 86.31% in 2024.

Mohammad Saharuddin Ali and Asif Kamal were among the state toppers in the West Bengal Madhyamik Class 10 2024 Exams.

In 2023, when the exams were held from Feb 23 to March 04, the result was declared on May 19, 2023. The overall pass percentage of Class 10 in 2023 was 86.15 .

In 2022, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education had declared the result of the 10th exam last year on June 03, 2022. The state had registered an overall pass percentage of 86.6 in 2022.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor has become a central artery in the rapid economic growth of Central Asia, said Andi Aranitasi, Director for Uzbekistan at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Trend reports.

Speaking at the launch of the IMFs Regional Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Aranitasi highlighted how the corridors transformation reflects the regions growing importance in global trade networks.

"If you look along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, container movement has doubled in terms of capacity from 2021 to 2024," Aranitasi said, describing the surge in demand for logistics, warehousing, and infrastructure. The increased traffic is being driven by rerouted trade flows, especially from the Russian Federation, which have redirected goods through Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia.

"These countries have become critical intermediaries," he noted, pointing to the rising volume of goods moving through the region - from transport equipment and machinery to manufactured products.

Aranitasi linked this shift to broader geopolitical changes and the exit of major international brands from Russia. "This has allowed certain countries on the periphery to ramp up production of local products that are export-driven," he said. He cited Kyrgyzstan as a case in point, where textile exports to Russia tripled and now make up nearly 45% of the countrys total exports.

The corridors growth has also sparked investment in key supporting sectors. "There is a need and an upcoming wave of significant investments in warehousing, logistics, and transportation," he said, stressing that the regions infrastructure must keep pace with the volume of trade it is now handling.

However, Aranitasi warned that the recent trade boom may not be sustainable in the long run. "It doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, but then it has sort of leveled out," he explained. While the surge has given the region a short-term boost, longer-term growth will require continued diversification and infrastructure development.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 2. Uzbekistan has seen significant economic growth since the pandemic: GDP has increased by more than 6 percent, and this is a direct result of the reforms we have undertaken, said Umid Abidkhadjaev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, during the presentation of the IMF Regional Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia (CAR), Trend reports.

However, Abidkhadjaev emphasized that while growth has been strong, the country must also address existing vulnerabilities and devise strategies to mitigate them. One critical aspect, he explained, is ensuring a balance between supply and demand to prevent the economy from overheating.

Certain sectors, such as real estate, tend to respond to demand signals with a delay. Despite this, we are already seeing a healthy correction taking place, he added.

The Deputy Minister also underscored the importance of maintaining a 3 percent fiscal deficit, which was reduced to 3.3 percent last year. This is crucial for ensuring policy credibility, fiscal discipline, and preventing the crowding out of private investment, he said.

Abidkhadjaev further highlighted that this year has been dedicated to advancing the green economy, with a focus on energy efficiency.

Our goal is to achieve greater production with the same amount of energy. In the first quarter, four government decrees on energy efficiency were issued, and we established an Energy Efficiency Agency to encourage private sector involvement, the Deputy Minister noted.

Infrastructure is another key focus. The government has introduced incentives for private sector participation in railway transportation, which is expected to have direct and spillover effects. Additionally, airline services are set to increase by 1.4 times this year, with 650 new hotels expected to boost tourism revenues to $2.5$3 billion.

Finally, he mentioned land reforms, with 220,000 hectares of land leased from 2022 to 2024, anticipating both figurative and literal benefits.
Kazakhstans Abai region eyes growth with Chinas high-tech industrial zone

Photo: Akimat (local government) of the Kazakhstans Abai region

In a move aimed at boosting regional economic cooperation, the Akim of Abai Region, Berik Uali, recently met with a high-ranking delegation from China's Changzhi State High-Tech Industrial Zone. The discussions centered on potential partnerships in sectors ranging from transportation logistics to renewable energy. Uali emphasized the regions strategic location and its growing manufacturing capabilities, especially highlighting the Semei machine engineering plant as a key point for collaboration.

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Four current and former University of Texas at Austin students sued the university and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, alleging their arrests and discipline during pro-Palestinian protests on April 24, 2024, violated their constitutional rights. The federal lawsuit, filed April 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in San Antonio by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, accuses UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, Abbott, and law enforcement of suppressing free speech during a campus demonstration against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The plaintiffs claim Abbott, with Hartzell's approval, ordered state police to conduct mass arrests, infringing on their First Amendment protections.

The students say they were peacefully protesting when law enforcement detained them, using intimidation and excessive force. "Governor Abbott and others are underestimating how much Americans value their First Amendment rights," said Abed Ayoub, ADC director. Plaintiff Arwyn Heilrayne, a second-year student, said, "It is reclaiming our narrative because we were treated as antisemitic criminals." Heilrayne described being knocked down and zip-tied by police, leading to a panic attack, a PTSD diagnosis, and the loss of a state legislature internship. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and damages, alleging the arrests and university sanctions aimed to silence dissent.

UT Austin spokesperson Mike Rosen defended the university, saying the response was needed to "preserve campus safety" and enforce protest rules. He noted most arrests involved non-university individuals. Abbott's office did not immediately comment, but during the protests, he posted on social media: "Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas." The lawsuit follows a wave of legal challenges against U.S. universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024, which saw hundreds of UT Austin students attempt encampments, met with police intervention.

The case reflects broader tensions on college campuses over free speech and the Israel-Gaza conflict. The 2024 protests, part of a national movement urging university divestment from companies tied to Israel, prompted significant police action. Similar lawsuits nationwide challenge university and state responses to pro-Palestinian activism. The UT Austin case could influence how campuses balance safety and constitutional protections as activists plan renewed protests in 2025.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 2. Uzbekistans efforts to join the World Trade Organization are very commendable and reflect strong commitment and significant progress over the past two years, said Koba Gvenetadze, IMF Resident Representative to Uzbekistan, during a media roundtable at Uzbekistan's Central Bank, Trend reports.

He noted that nearly 32 bilateral agreements have been signed, with more added each month.

Gvenetadze stressed that a number of crucial actions must yet be performed before the nation can become a full member of the WTO.

The IMF representative noted that joining the WTO would provide Uzbekistan with broader access to international and regional markets, enhance the competitiveness of its economy, and increase its export potential.

He also referenced a joint study conducted by the WTO and IMF, which analyzed the long-term impacts of WTO accession in various countries. The findings indicate that membership typically leads to medium-term economic growth and job creation  outcomes that align closely with Uzbekistans development goals.

We strongly support Uzbekistan in this effort, and we are hopeful that these determined steps will lead to the countrys accession to the WTO, Gvenetadze concluded.

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This solar system and universe station is part of the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition that opens Monday, May 5, on the fourth floor of the University of Wyomings Science Initiative Building. The exhibition, which explores a wide range of topics related to space and exploration, will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through Friday, June 20. (Karagh Brummond Photo)

The public will have the opportunity to learn about space and exploration at the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition on the fourth floor of the University of Wyomings Science Initiative Building, located at Ninth and Bradley streets.

The exhibition, available in both English and Spanish, will be open to the public, for classroom field trips and campus visitors 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and only from Monday, May 5-Friday, June 20.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort among the Science Zone in Casper and UWs Science Initiative Roadshow, the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, Research and Economic Development Division, the School of Computing, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences K12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Education Outreach Program and the Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium.

This is an incredible collaboration between the University of Wyoming and our statewide partners at the Science Zone, says Karagh Brummond, co-director of the Science Initiative Roadshow and Community Engagement Program. Its remarkable to see UW units come together to offer the community and university a free, engaging STEM learning experience. No matter your age, there is something for you at the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibit. We hope to continue building momentum and developing strategic partnerships like this one to bring exciting STEM opportunities to our community and state.

Designed for individuals of all ages, the interactive exhibition explores a wide range of topics related to space and exploration. Guests can use an infrared camera, an ultraviolet light, a magnifying glass and a magnetic field detector to uncover what is invisible to the human eye. Visitors can compare before-and-after satellite images of Earth to see how human actions impact our planet, and ask questions such as, What is it like on other planets?

Visitors also can use colored blocks to create a topographic map of Venus and learn how scientists visualize elevation data. Other activities include comparing images of the sun during solar maximum and minimum periods and spinning a tumbler containing 10,000 beads -- representing all of the stars visible from Earth -- to search for the one bead that represents the sun.

The exhibition also provides all of the materials needed to design, build and test a model spacecraft equipped with key tools for a NASA mission. Visitors can test their mission-planning skills by playing a board game: Will your mission be the first to succeed? What will you discover? Little scientists are welcome, too, as they can enjoy imaginative play by exploring the surface of Mars with toy rovers and spacecraft.

Visitors are encouraged to sign the guest logbook to help the university continue to bring experiences such as this to campus, Brummond says.

For more information, call Brummond at (215) 804-6327 or email kmurph17@uwyo.edu.
UW instructor Mary Keller, right, takes notes at a community deliberations meeting Nov. 7 in Jackson, in which decision-makers and residents planned for future scenarios. (DeeDee DuPlessis Photo)

A new University of Wyoming survey reveals Wyoming residents overwhelmingly believe that changes in water resources are happening, and risks can be reduced with community response plans and statewide policies.

This survey reveals some unexpected perspectives of Wyoming residents. We need to reorient to better serve them, says Corrie Knapp, an associate professor in UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources who is one of the co-leaders of a new university Center for Rural Resilience and Innovation. We hope this new center can meet emerging needs around water resources.

The survey revealed that 82 percent of respondents agree that Wyoming is at risk of changing water resources, and 75 percent of respondents think it is wise and necessary to adapt to these water changes.

Respondents also believe that climate change is happening (86 percent), but they are split on the causes, with 47 percent saying that natural fluctuations in Earths temperatures are the cause and 39 percent saying that humans are the cause.

Results also show that respondents largely think their communities should plan for water changes (81 percent), yet only 38 percent of respondents say other members of their community believe that water changes are happening. Just under half of respondents say that people who are important to them believe we should plan for changing water resources.

Wyoming residents underestimate others beliefs that changes in water resources are happening, and they underestimate others beliefs that we need to do something about it, says Kristen Landreville, a researcher on the project who previously was on the faculty of UWs Department of Communication and Journalism. There is more support for community planning than Wyoming residents think.

Landreville says this underestimation of community support for adaptation planning can lead to a spiral of silence.

If we think that others hold a different opinion than us, or if we arent sure what others think, then we may not talk about these issues at all, she says. And that misses an important opportunity to collectively anticipate, address and plan for the problems that changing water resources creates for our state.

Support for Community Plans But Uncertainty About Feasibility

About 43 percent of respondents expressed confidence in their ability to work together with their communities to plan and adapt to water changes. However, people felt less confident their communities had the knowledge (26 percent) and motivation (16 percent) to plan and adapt.

Even though residents generally support community response plans to address changing water resources, they arent so sure about them being well-equipped, Landreville says. People are concerned about money and funding as well as technology, equipment and infrastructure, for example.

Broad Support for Policy Measures to Address Changing Water Resources

Respondents were presented with 15 different policy options to address changing water resources in Wyoming and were asked to rate their agreement with each policy. Nine of the 15 policies had support greater than 50 percent of respondents.

The policies with the most support included a public information campaign about water conservation (74 percent), a state program to more efficiently use wastewater (74 percent) and a small financial incentive to residents who conserve water (66 percent). Other strongly supported policies dealt with proactive wildlife management policies, K-12 education efforts about water, and payment to Wyoming water rights holders to invest in water-efficient operations.

We also see many residents saying these adaptation policies are worth the cost investment, Landreville says.

Policies that did not receive much support were mandated water reductions for Wyoming water rights holders (31 percent) and cost increases of water to individuals and businesses (19.4 percent).

Survey Methodology

The statewide survey was conducted in June and July 2024 by UWs Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center, yielding 500 responses from Wyoming residents who are enrolled in its WyoSpeaks panel. The panel was created via probabilistic sampling that comprised a random selection of Wyoming residents, which gives every person in Wyoming with internet access an equal probability of selection for the survey. The margin of error for the distribution of responses on any individual survey question is plus or minus 4.38 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence interval.

Men and women from all age groups and all counties in Wyoming are proportionally represented in the survey data. The final survey data have been weighted to reflect the actual population distribution in Wyoming on sex, age, county of residence and education.

The full report, with an executive summary, methodological outline and complete survey results, can be found in WyoScholar at https://wyoscholar.uwyo.edu/items/bfa3bfce-040e-4db0-b85f-a55a03437b6f.

Visit WySEaSON at https://wyadapt.org/wyseason/apps/social-science/ for an interactive dashboard of survey results.

Funding is provided through National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) grant NSF OIA 2149105.
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.
Israel launched more than 20 air strikes inside Syria late Friday, a war monitor said, following up an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus which was condemned as a "dangerous escalation" by the country's Islamist rulers.

The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to the Damascus government not to harm the Druze minority, following recent sectarian clashes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 new strikes hit military targets across Syria in the "heaviest" assault carried out by Israel on its neighbour this year.

Syria's state news agency SANA reported Israeli airstrikes near Damascus and in the west, at Latakia and Hama, as well as in Daraa in the south. It said one civilian was killed at Harasta near Damascus and four people were wounded near Hama.

An Israeli military statement said its forces had "struck a military site, anti-aircraft cannons and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria" but gave no further details.

The Israeli strikes came after Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus, following clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, including government-affiliated groups, in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus and in Sweida province.

The Observatory monitor said more than 100 people were killed in the fighting.

Sweida is the heartland of the Druze religious group and an apparent drone strike killed four Druze fighters at a farm there Friday, the Observatory said. SANA said it was an Israeli attack.

- Israel sends 'message' -

An early morning blast in the presidential palace area of Damascus was heard across the city and sparked international concern.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said "warplanes attacked... the area near Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa's palace in Damascus", referring to the interim president.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz called it a "clear message" to Syria's rulers who ousted president Bashar al-Assad in December.

"We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," they said.

Syria's presidency called the strike "a dangerous escalation against state institutions", and accused Israel of destabilising the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli strike as a violation of Syria's sovereignty, his spokesman said.

The UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria expressed concern at the "deadly clashes with sectarian dimensions", and said Israeli airstrikes increased the risk to civilians.

After this week's clashes a de-escalation deal was agreed between Druze representatives and the government, prompting troop deployments in Sahnaya and tighter security around Jaramana.

Syrian officials said the agreement also included the immediate surrender of heavy weapons.

An AFP photographer saw troops taking over checkpoints from Druze gunmen in Jaramana, although no handover of weapons was witnessed.

- 'Outlaw groups' -

Qatar, a backer of Syria's new rulers, and Saudi Arabia condemned Israel's "aggression". A German foreign ministry statement said: "Syria must not become the venue for regional tensions to be played out."

Israel has attacked hundreds of military sites since Islamist-led forces deposed Assad.

It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone that used to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

Israel launched strikes near Damascus on Wednesday and threatened more if violence against the Druze continued.

The unrest was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous. AFP was unable to confirm its authenticity.

Syria's government said "outlaw groups" were behind the violence, but the Observatory and Druze residents said forces affiliated with the new authorities attacked Jaramana and Sahnaya and clashed with Druze gunmen.

- 'Genocidal campaign' -

In Sweida, religious authorities and military factions said after a meeting that they are "an inseparable part of the united Syrian homeland", and rejected "division, separation or secession".

SANA said security forces were being sent to Sweida to "maintain security".

That move came after Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader, on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his people.

Syria's new authorities have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network. They have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with internal pressures from radical Islamists.

On Friday, Sharaa met Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who has urged the minority community in Syria to reject "Israeli interference".

The latest violence follows massacres of Alawites in March, when the Observatory said the security forces and their allies killed more than 1,700 civilians.

That was the worst bloodshed since the overthrow of Assad, who is from that minority community. The government accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence.

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The United States is set to end tariff exemptions on Friday for goods shipped from China worth less than $800, a move which could have significant ramifications on consumers' purchasing habits.

US President Donald Trump's decision to ban the so-called "de minimis" exemption from May 2 could affect some 4 million shipments every day, according to the White House.

The move announced last month means that goods shipped commercially will soon be subject to new tariffs of 145 percent -- the current level of levies imposed on goods coming from China.

Items sent through the US Postal Service will be hit with duties of 120 percent of their value, or a $100, which will increase to $200 next month.

The measures mark the latest salvo in a burgeoning trade war between the United States and China -- the world's two largest economies.

The White House has also slapped additional levies of 25 percent on several sectors including automobiles, steel and aluminum from China.

Beijing retaliated with sweeping 125 percent levies on US imports.

Most other US trading partners face a baseline tariff of 10 percent, except for Mexico and Canada which face a higher 25 percent tariff on goods not covered by a current North America free-trade deal.

The effect of the de minimis change is likely to be significant, changing overnight the cost of small-ticket, Chinese-made items that Americans have come to rely on, from clothes to toys.

The move threatens to hammer the business model of several large Chinese firms, including fast-fashion titans Shein and Temu.

The Financial Times reported earlier this week that Shein was postponing a long-standing plan to list on public stock markets due to the looming de minimis changes.

The company is exploring ways to restructure its business in the United States and is prioritizing finding "clarity" on tariffs over its initial public offering, according to the Financial Times.

Trump first floated cancelling the exemption in February before backtracking after the move caused logistical disruptions.

At the time, Beijing accused the United States of "politicizing trade and economic issues and using them as tools."

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Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America on the Establishment of a United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund

WHEREAS, the United States of America has provided significant financial and material support to Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022;

WHEREAS, the American people desire to invest alongside Ukraine in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine;

WHEREAS, the United States of America and Ukraine desire a lasting peace in Ukraine and a durable partnership between their two peoples and governments;

WHEREAS, the United States of America and Ukraine recognize the contribution that Ukraine has made to strengthening international peace and security by voluntarily relinquishing the worlds third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons;

WHEREAS, the United States of America and Ukraine wish to ensure that those States and other persons that have acted adversely to Ukraine in the conflict do not benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine following a lasting peace;

WHEREAS, the United States of America and Ukraine seek to create the conditions necessary to, among other objectives, increase investment in mining, energy, and related technology in Ukraine by third parties including, but not limited to, international investors based in the United States of America, the European Union, and other States supporting Ukraines defense against Russias full-scale invasion;

WHEREAS, the United States of America acknowledges Ukraines intention to avoid conflicts in the drafting of this Agreement with Ukraines obligations related to European Union accession or agreements with international financial institutions or other official creditors;

WHEREAS, Ukraine has, in accordance with international law, sovereignty over its natural resources located in its territory as well as in its territorial waters, in addition to sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, which allow for Ukraine to conclude this Agreement and fulfill the aims of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, Ukraine retains the right to determine the areas within its territory as well as in its territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf to be made available for the exercise of the activities of prospecting, exploring for, and producing natural resources, and the rights to be conveyed in the LP Agreement referenced herein are applicable to the entirety of such areas; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement does not prejudice the rules in Ukraine governing the system of property ownership, including rules related to state-owned property and privatization.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America (each a "Party" and together the "Parties") hereby enter into this Agreement on the Establishment of a United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund ("Agreement"), as set forth herein.

Who are Russias allies, and can Kremlins war machine survive without them?

Article I: Definitions

Each capitalized term used in this Agreement that is not defined in the relevant Article has the meaning set forth in Appendix A.

Article II: Enabling the Establishment of a Partnership

It is the policy of the Parties to have the United States International Development Finance Corporation (the "U.S. Limited Partner" or the "U.S. Partner"), an agency of the United States of America backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, and the State Organization "Agency on Support Public-Private Partnership" (the "Ukraine Limited Partner" or the "Ukraine Partner"), an agency of Ukraine representing Ukraine whose obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of Ukraine (together with the U.S. Partner, the "Principals" or the "Limited Partners" or the "Partners"), conclude an agreement, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the "LP Agreement") to establish the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund in the form of a limited partnership (the "Partnership").

The Government of Ukraine shall take all steps to empower its agencies and instrumentalities to execute and implement this Agreement and the LP Agreement, including by adopting, maintaining, and enforcing legislation as may be required to execute and implement this Agreement and the LP Agreement, including for the purposes of legal stabilization. The Government of the United States of America affirms that it has put in place 2 the necessary measures to allow the relevant United States parties to execute and implement this Agreement and the LP Agreement.

In recognition of the fact that the economic activity related to the Partnership will take place in Ukraine, the Government of Ukraine shall ensure that, notwithstanding any new legislation of Ukraine or amendments to legislation of Ukraine that may be adopted in the future, it shall continue to accord to the Partnership and its Limited Partners treatment no less favorable than that required by this Agreement. To that end, the Government of Ukraine shall ensure that in case of any inconsistency between legislation of Ukraine and this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. Further, the Government of Ukraine agrees that it may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

Article III: Objective of the Agreement

It is the objective of this Agreement and the policy of the Parties to further economic cooperation between the Parties, which will be facilitated by the LP Agreement.

This Agreement strengthens the strategic partnership between the Parties for the long-term reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine, in response to the large-scale destruction caused by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and in pursuit of a peaceful, sovereign, and resilient Ukraine.

The Parties acknowledge that Ukraines recovery requires not only financial investment but also structural, institutional, and technological transformation, aligned with democratic values, market principles, and the rule of law.

The Parties further affirm that this Agreement is an expression of a broader, long-term strategic alignment between their peoples and governments, and a tangible demonstration of the United States of Americas support for Ukraines security, prosperity, reconstruction, and integration into global economic frameworks.

The Partnership is intended to serve as a flagship mechanism for encouraging transparent, accountable, and future-oriented investment into 3 1. critical sectors of Ukraines economy to support Ukraines recovery strategy.

Article IV: Taxation and Tariffs

In recognition of the fact that the economic activity related to the Partnership will take place in Ukraine, the Government of Ukraine shall take all actions necessary to ensure that any and all income of the Partnership (including any such income allocable to the U.S. Partner), any and all contributions and other payments to the Partnership from the Ukraine Partner, any and all other payments to the Partnership relating to the Partnerships revenues, earnings, and other payments contemplated under the LP Agreement, and all distributions and other payments from the Partnership, in each case, shall not be subject to taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees, or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority of Ukraine.

The Government of the United States of America affirms that under United States Internal Revenue Code Sections 871, 872, 881, and 882, only income of a foreign person from United States sources or income effectively connected to a United States trade or business is subject to United States federal income tax. Given that the Partnership will invest in projects within Ukraine, the Government of the United States of America expects that the Ukraine Partner will not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholdings (including backup withholding) with respect to the Partnerships revenue, earnings, and distributions or other payments from the Partnership.

The Government of the United States of America expresses its expectation that it would not impose tariffs pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on any articles obtained pursuant to the market-based offtake rights addressed in Article VIII of this Agreement and set forth more fully in relevant provisions of the LP Agreement.

Article V: Currency Convertibility and Cross-Border Transfers

The Government of Ukraine shall ensure the free convertibility of Hryvnia into Dollars and transferability from any relevant account in Ukraine and into such account(s) of the Partnership established inside or outside of Ukraine as the General Partner or any other authorized party acting on behalf of the Partnership may from time to time direct, in each case without cost, condition, or delay, with respect to (i) any and all payments to the Partnership requested in Dollars relating to the Partnerships revenues, earnings, and other payments contemplated under the LP Agreement; (ii) payment of any distributions requested in Dollars under the LP Agreement; and (iii) any payment of fees and expenses to the General Partner or by the General Partner requested in Dollars under the LP Agreement.

The Parties take note of the commitment in the LP Agreement to consult in good faith on any exceptions and limitations to the convertibility and transferability arrangement described in the first sentence of Section 1 of this Article V, which may be proposed by the Government of Ukraine in recognition of any agreements, obligations, or treaties between or among sovereign nations and/or international financial institutions under which Ukraine is bound, obligated, or otherwise required to perform, as well as considerations of macroeconomic and financial stability. In the event of a deterioration in the balance of payments or a significant reduction in the level of gold and foreign exchange reserves that threatens Ukraines macroeconomic and financial stability, the Government of Ukraine, after consulting with the United States Department of the Treasury, may take reasonable protective measures in the form of restrictions on the conversion of Hryvnia into Dollars and the transfer of funds from any relevant account in Ukraine to such account(s) of the Partnership opened inside or outside of Ukraine and will provide, to the extent possible, a time frame for the lifting of such measures. If any costs, conditions, or delays are imposed by the Government of Ukraine at any time and for any reason with respect to such payments, the Government of Ukraine shall indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership (and the U.S. Limited Partner and the General Partner, as applicable) for all losses, costs, and expenses arising therefrom.

During the period of martial law in Ukraine and for three (3) months after its cancellation or termination, the Parties agree that the conversion of Hryvnia into Dollars and the transfer of funds from any relevant account in Ukraine to such account(s) of the Partnership opened inside or outside of Ukraine shall be carried out within the limits determined in accordance with the LP Agreement.

The location of the bank accounts of the Partnership will be as determined in the LP Agreement.

Article VI: Contributions to the Partnership

Each Party plans to make contributions to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the LP Agreement.

In exchange for the initial issuance of partnership interests in the Partnership to the Ukraine Partner, the Government of Ukraine shall ensure that the contribution to the Partnership of the Ukraine Partner is made on the Effective Date in the form of an irrevocable right to receive the Ukraine Agreed Revenue.

The Government of Ukraine shall ensure during the term of the Partnership that the Ukraine Agreed Revenue will be remitted to the Ukraine Partner, and that the Ukraine Partner shall remit the Ukraine Agreed Revenue to the Partnership to implement the LP Agreement.

In furtherance of Section 3 of this Article VI, the Government of Ukraine shall ensure that all sources of Ukraine Agreed Revenue are remitted to a special fund of the state budget. By operation of law, such Ukraine Agreed Revenue shall be remitted from the special fund of the state budget to the Ukraine Partner, and thereafter be remitted from the Ukraine Partner to the Partnership to implement the LP Agreement.

If, after the Effective Date, the Government of the United States of America delivers new military assistance to the Government of Ukraine in any form (including the donation of weapons systems, ammunition, technology or training), the capital contribution of the U.S. Partner will be deemed to be increased by the assessed value of such military assistance, in accordance with the LP Agreement.

Article VII: Investment Opportunity Rights (1)

Each Governmental Authority of Ukraine that is authorized to issue a license or special permit for subsoil use for any Natural Resource Relevant Assets shall include in such license or special permit, and in the related agreement on subsoil use conditions or production sharing agreement with 6 subsoil users, a provision requiring the recipient thereof, at any time it is seeking to raise capital, to make relevant investment information available to the Partnership in accordance with the LP Agreement.

Each Governmental Authority of Ukraine that is authorized to approve a public-private partnership contract, a concession, or other agreement to construct or operate significant infrastructure relevant assets (as defined in the LP Agreement) shall include in any such contract, concession or other agreement, a provision requiring the recipient thereof, at any time it is seeking to raise capital, to make relevant investment information available to the Partnership in accordance with the LP Agreement.

The requirements to make relevant investment information available to the Partnership as set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 1 are to be carried out in accordance with applicable law and the Ukraine EU Obligations. If, after the signing of this Agreement, Ukraine needs to assume additional obligations related to its European Union accession that could impact this provision, the Parties shall consult and negotiate in good faith to adopt adjustments, as appropriate.

Furthermore, when the Partnership expresses formal interest in participating in a project of the kind described in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 1, the relevant license, special permit, authorization, agreement on subsoil use conditions, production sharing agreement, or agreement with respect to infrastructure relevant assets shall require the recipient thereof to (i) engage in good faith negotiations with the Partnership in accordance with the procedures set out in the LP Agreement, and (ii) refrain from granting to any third party materially more favorable financial or economic terms for a substantially similar investment opportunity as that offered to the Partnership.

Article VII: Investment Opportunity Rights (2)

2) The detailed procedures and conditions for the investment opportunity rights described in this Article VII shall be set forth in the LP Agreement and implemented in accordance with applicable law and the Ukraine EU Obligations.

Article VIII: Market-Based Offtake Rights

Each Governmental Authority of Ukraine that is authorized to issue a license or special permit for subsoil use for any Natural Resource Relevant Assets shall include in the terms of such license or special permit and in the related agreement on subsoil use conditions or in a production sharing agreement with subsoil users: (i) a provision allowing the U.S. Partner (or its designee or assignee) to negotiate for, in accordance with the terms of the LP Agreement, offtake rights on market-based commercial terms during the term of such license or special permit; and (ii) a requirement for the recipient to, for a period of time and on conditions to be specified in the LP Agreement, refrain from offering to any third party materially more favorable financial or economic terms for offtake of a substantially similar quality or quantity of product.

In recognition of the shared interest in ensuring that this Agreement and the LP Agreement are consistent with the strategic interests of both Parties, the Government of Ukraine shall cause each Governmental Authority of Ukraine that is authorized to issue licenses or special permits for subsoil use for any Natural Resource Relevant Assets to include in the terms of such licenses or special permits certain restrictions on entry into offtake arrangements with counterparties, on terms to be specified in the LP Agreement.

The detailed procedures and conditions for such offtake rights are to be set forth in the LP Agreement and implemented in accordance with applicable law and the Ukraine EU Obligations. If, after the signing of this Agreement, Ukraine needs to assume additional obligations related to its European Union accession that could impact this provision, the Parties shall consult and negotiate in good faith to adopt adjustments, as appropriate.

Article IX: Dispute Settlement

The Parties shall endeavor to agree on the interpretation and application of this Agreement and shall make every attempt through cooperation and consultations to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of any matter that might affect its operation.

To the extent that a dispute arises regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement, such dispute shall be resolved by mutual consultation.

Article X: Amendment

This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the Parties.

When so agreed and approved in accordance with the legal requirements of each Party, an amendment shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement and shall enter into force on such date as the Parties may agree.

Article XI: Entry into Force and Termination

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later note in an exchange of notes between the Parties indicating that each Party has completed its internal procedures for entry into force.

In the context of Article XI, Section 1, the Parties acknowledge that entry into force of this Agreement requires the ratification of this Agreement by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

This Agreement shall remain in force until such time as the Parties agree to its termination.

Done at Washington, DC, on this 30th day of April, 2025 in the English and Ukrainian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of Ukraine: Yuliia Svyrydenko First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy

For the Government of the United States of America: Scott K. H. Bessent Secretary of the Treasury
Azerbaijan pulls back curtain on non-oil exports to Kazakhstan in 1Q2025

In the first quarter of 2025, Azerbaijan's export of non-oil products to Kazakhstan surged by 73.8 percent year on year, reaching $20.4 million. This resulted in the Central Asian country's ranking 6th among Azerbaijani oil importers. In the same period, Azerbaijan's import from Kazakhstan amounted to $98.1 million, marking impressive rise of $39.3 million (66.7 percent).

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 2. The grand opening of the new Jebel International Airport was held in Turkmenistan's Balkan Velayat, Trend reports.

The ceremony was attended by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The airport was constructed under the order of Turkmenistan Airlines by the private company Gundogdy, which is known for its expertise in building complex transportation infrastructure.

With a capacity to serve up to 100 passengers per hour, the airport is strategically located just 20 kilometers northwest of Balkanabat and only 4 kilometers from the renowned Mollakara mud resort, significantly improving access for those seeking the resort's health services.

The opening of the new airport symbolizes the revitalization of a key section of the Great Silk Road, now transformed into a modern air route connecting Turkmenabat, Ashgabat, Balkanabat, and Turkmenbashi, traversing Turkmenistan from east to west. The new airport is also conveniently situated near the AshgabatTurkmenbashi highways and railroads, and plans are underway to construct a Jebel railway station in the near future.

The airport enhances Turkmenistans transportation and logistics infrastructure, creating favorable conditions for growth. With its well-designed transport interchanges, it boosts access to global markets, provides convenience for transit passengers, and reduces transfer times between various modes of transport. Additionally, the cargo terminal has a capacity of 200 tons.

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Waterford disability activist Karl Cretzan is highlighting a number of issues, which himself and others have been facing.

Karl, who has cerebral palsy, has been involved in various disability groups since his youth. In the past he has spoken out against the lack of accessibility on public buses and what he describes as 'discrimination' when it comes to HSE service provision for disabled adults.

During a meeting at Waterford Cheshire Residential Centre & Respite Facility on Johns Hill last week, Karl was quick to commend all the facilitys staff for their tireless work and dedication.

Waterford Chesire Centre for Independent Living, where the Waterford News & Star met with Karl Cretzan last week during his two week stay at the centre. Karl said the staff at the centre 'have been brilliant'

He added that such facilities need more government support and staffing, and that more facilities in general are needed.

We need more places like this so people with disabilities have places to live with the support needed to live as independently as possible. Im trying to look into the future, I'm nearly 29, my dad is nearly 60, my mam is in her mid-50s, they cant look after me for the rest of my life.

"I cant get a place here because I need to be on the housing list, and I cant be on the housing list because I own my own home. But I need 24-hour care. Its not going to work at home when I need 24-hour care, so where do I go?

"I cant feed myself, I can't drink on my own and all I want is to live as independent as possible."

Turning 18

Karl added that despite this, he has no medical card or disability allowance.

When I turned the age of eighteen, my disability basically disappeared as I lost all my disability services, such as physio, speech therapy and more. From this day forward everything is a fighting battle.

"Parents are messaging me because their kids are turning 18 too and are going into the same situation that Im in. They ask me where do I go, who do I talk to?"

Equipment

"Getting equipment fixed by the HSE is a lengthy process," Karl said.

"The main issue is that the HSE has one contract with a company who fixes all their equipment. It could take up to two months to get parts in. I broke my footplate in January and I only got it fixed the middle of March.

"Most people only have one wheelchair, so if their wheelchair breaks theyre housebound for at least a month, maybe two months. Our wheelchair is our legs."

Public transport

An issue Karl has been active on for many years is public transport.

He says that wheelchair users are still having issues using buses.

"Im in touch with the NTA trying to settle a date to meet them with either David Cullinane or Conor McGuinness. Its been seven years since this issue was brought up by MaryLou McDonald for me in the Dail, and nothing has been done."

Karl added that footpaths are also proving a challenge.

In certain areas cars are parking on the footpath, not leaving enough space for wheelchairs to pass and there's nothing we can do.

"I have been asking for a bit of yellow paint to put a line on certain footpaths so the residents know how far in they can park, but nothing has happened."
A man has been ordered to forfeit his claim to a deposit he was owed because he assaulted the person who owed it.

Tony Raftis (50) of 53 Kilcarragh Court, Kilcarragh Village, Ballygunnar, Waterford, pled guilty to assault and trespass at a sitting before Judge John Cheatle at Waterford District Court.

The court heard that on December 16, 2023, the defendant went to a residence and business in the Tramore area, and in the course of an altercation, had assaulted the injured party. The incident was captured on three mobile phones. Footage from the phones was played in the court and showed an altercation between three men, the defendant and two other men.

The court heard that the defendant had gone to the residence in a dispute over a deposit on a truck. He jumped the fence, and an altercation ensued, wherein the injured party was assaulted. Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham told the court that his client was in receipt of disability allowance but had been attempting to set up a small business.

He had put down a deposit on a truck being sold by the injured party. The truck was priced at 7,500, and the defendant had put down 2,000 as a deposit. The defendant fell into financial difficulty and was unable to proceed with the purchase of the truck. When he attempted to retrieve his deposit, the injured party told him it would be returned when the truck was sold. When the defendant objected to the proposed arrangement, the injured party told him to go to his solicitor.

The defendant went to the premises, and there was pushing and shoving.

The solicitor said his client accepted that the injured party was injured, and while the situation was not a defence, it was an explanation. He also said his client had still not received his deposit back. The defendant told the court that he acknowledged he should not have acted as he did but it had taken a considerable amount of time for him to raise the money, and that the two men had ganged up on him.

However, Judge Cheatle pointed out that while it was a business premises, it was also the injured partys home and the small claims court could have resolved the matter.

I wouldnt like someone to come to my home and do that, said Judge Cheatle. The judge sentenced the defendant to five months in prison, suspended for five months, for the assault. He made a compensation order to the injured party for the amount of the deposit but said the defendant did not need to pay it. The judge agreed with Mr Cunningham that it was, in effect, a forfeiture order. The trespass charge was taken into consideration.
Families in Waterford are paying up to 275 per week for childcare.

That is according to the National Women's Council, which cited Pobal figures.

The NWC say recent fee increases under the Fee Increase Assessment process have wiped out many of the gains made by the increases to the National Childcare Scheme subsidies in recent budgets.

They said that while the Government has committed to developing an action plan on early childhood education and care, 100 days in, there is yet to be any progress.

Director of the NWC Orla OConnor, said: Our childcare system is broken.

"Every day without progress is another day of stress for families as they struggle to cover the cost of fees or secure childcare places for their children.

Director of the National Womens Council, Orla OConnor, speaking at an event calling for Government action to tackle the ongoing childcare crisis outside of Leinster House, Thursday May 1st along with childcare campaigners from the Together for Public Alliance.

"The crisis is especially affecting women, including marginalised women such as lone parents, Traveller and Roma and migrant women, who cannot participate fully in society and are often forced to reduce their working hours or even leave the workforce entirely."

Together for Public held a demonstration outside Leinster House on Thursday.

Speaking during the demonstration, Waterford TD Conor McGuinness said the failure of the Government to act on childcare was a "betrayal of families."

Waterford Sinn Fen TD Conor D. McGuinness at the Campaign for Public Childcare protest alongside main organiser Rachel Coyle of the National Womens Council.

The Government promised reform, but their record speaks for itself.

Theres still no commitment to a public model of childcare  not in the Programme for Government and not in practice.

Here in Waterford, parents are paying through the nose for basic childcare, while early years educators are expected to deliver vital public services on low wages and precarious contracts.

"Its not sustainable  and its not fair."
One of the world's largest news publications, The New York Times, has applauded West Waterford for its cultural offerings, natural spectacle and hospitality.

The publications website this week shared an article written by Catriona Gray, who visited the Blackwater Valley to explore its every nook and cranny.

Gray wrote: "Flanked by the Knockmealdown Mountains to the north and blown by the fresh winds that come off the sea, the valley has its own microclimate, where the vegetation grows rich and lush, from ancient woodland to rolling pastures where the grass is so thick and green it looks almost artificial."

The article commended some of the area's key tourist offerings, saying "Irelands Blackwater Valley is steeped in natural splendor and Old World romance."

Lismore Castle

Lismore Castle was praised for its "imposing gothic edifice" which "looms high over the banks of the river, presenting a silhouette thats so dramatic and beautiful it looks as if its escaped from a film set".

The article also praised Lismore Castle Arts for attracting some of the worlds leading artists to display exhibitions.

Arts offerings

Highly recommended was the abundance of artistic and cultural offerings available in the Blackwater Valley environs.

The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival was commended for hosting "top-quality productions in a collection of remarkable venues".

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this May, the festival runs for eight days and will feature world-class performances and dining experiences, in historic homes and venues in Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan, and Castlemartyr, as well as programmes that bring opera and classical music to new audiences.

The festival aims to welcome more than 5,000 visitors and engage with 2,000 students this year.

Also tributed was the wonderful work of the West Waterford Drama Festival, which takes place annually in Ballyduff.

In constructing the article, Catriona Gray received insight from Virginia Brownlow, daughter of renowned writer Molly Keane.

The Molly Keane House located in Ardmore is made available for aspiring, emerging and professional writers to attend workshops, masterclasses and retreats through the Molly Keane Writers Retreats.

Virginia Brownlow was asked what keeps her in this rural corner of Ireland, to which her reply was: The beauty of it. Its such a lyrical, lovely place.

Cliff House Hotel

Regarding local hospitality, Cliff House Hotel was mentioned as possessing one of the rare Michelin-starred restaurants in Ireland outside of Dublin.

This recognition from The New York Times is a wonderful reflection of the care, creativity and commitment shown by our entire team, said Michael Sheary, CEO of CLIFF on the recognition of the venue in the article.

It bears testament to our mission  to create exceptional experiences that celebrate the heart, soul and passion of Irish culture, heritage and gastronomy.

Ardmore

On Ardmore, the article says: Stop by Ardmore Pottery & Gallery, a family-run business that sells contemporary ceramics and pieces by Irish makers. You can also visit the on-site studio, where youll see earthenware pots being made by hand. If the weathers fine, there are plenty of sandy beaches  Curragh Beach and Whiting Bay are the two main ones."
Waterford Council referred repeatedly to lack of funding and staff resources at a recent Council meeting.

At the Metro session, multiple Councillors were met with claims of gridlock of funding and resources when discussing their own issues.

Councillor Adam Wyse (Fianna Fail) said: "A number of the issues that Councillors raised here today all seem to fall back on Council being understaffed; we don't have a night-time economy advisor, Dawn (Wallace) mentioned about not having engineers. I spoke with planning, I've spoken here for a long time about planning not having enough people to do enforcement."

Cllr Wyse went on: "I know when CEO Sean McKeown came into the role he said he was undertaking a review into the staff members in Waterford Council. Has that happened? Will the Council be privy to that?"

Cllr Wyse continued: "I'd like the Council to come to us and say: 'We need more engineers', 'we need a night-time economy advisor', tell us what its going to cost in the budget. I'd like to know that now, I wouldn't like to be told that two weeks before the budget."

Councillor Lola OSullivan (Fine Gael) said: "I feel strongly that the enforcement section of the planning needs additional staff to drive forward the problems. I think the enforcement staff are not staffed efficiently."

Director of Services for Planning Michael Quinn said: Its been echoed by pretty much every section within the council in terms of the challenges they're facing and the need for additional staffing." Mr Quinn made the comment while addressing the status of the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP), which hasn't reconvened in a number of months. Mr Quinn said: "There is a limit to the staff we can afford, that's something to bear in mind."
A study has been successfully completed on the Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) along the South East coast.

Venterra Group, an offshore-wind energy services company, conducted a metocean characterisation study on the DMAP zone.

Metocean refers to the combined effect of both meteorology and oceanography within coastal and offshore engineering.

The study was commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and is a significant contribution to the preparation for Ireland's forthcoming Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS) Tonn Nua Offshore Wind Auction.

The South Coast DMAP is a key factor in Ireland's Offshore Wind Energy (ORE) development. The DMAP has identified four maritime areas, including Tonn Nua, in the Celtic Sea within which proposed future ORE projects will be located.

The other areas are Li Ban, Manannan and Danu off the south coasts of Waterford and Wexford.

Future framework

Venterra's Chief Commercial and Growth Officer Paul Doherty said: "DECC's commissioning of the SC-DMAP Metocean Study off Ireland's south coast must be commended. By providing a 40-year hindcast dataset, validated site-specific models, and spatial maps of metocean conditions, the output of this work will dramatically reduce uncertainty in engineering specifications and financial modelling and enable prospective developers to submit more accurate, efficient and risk-optimised bids for this year's Tonn Nua auction and future auctions."

Doherty added: "The insights provided by the data will help streamline early development stages, accelerate the path to delivery for the Tonn Nua project, and exemplify best-practice data-driven risk mitigation.

"In the short term, it de-risks design choices by providing accurate metocean conditions for design parameters... ensuring better compliance with regulatory requirements, while longer-term benefits include lower lifecycle costs and a replicable framework for future plans and projects."

Tonn Nua

The Tonn Nua project refers to the offshore wind site 12km off the coast of Waterford. Tonn Nua, also known as Maritime Area A, has been identified to be developed by the winner of Ireland's second offshore wind auction, which will take place later this year.

The winning bidder for the Tonn Nua site will be required to provide a 140 million local benefit fund, 7 million per year of the wind farm's expected operation.

At the announcement for the auction in January 2025, disappointment was expressed over the proposed timeline of the development of Tonn Nua.

Former Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said at the time that he expected the winning wind farm would become operational by 2032.

Energia Renewables outlined their intention to bid in the auction to deliver the Tonn Nua windfarm site, alongside Vargrnn (a Norwegian-Italian renewable energy joint venture between Plenitude and HiTech Vision), which is involved in the delivery of a series of offshore wind farms in Northern Europe.

Managing Director Peter Baillie said: "Energia and Vargrnn have done the most work, we are the most informed bidders in this auction.

"We have a uniquely comprehensive understanding of the offshore environment off the southeast coast, and we can deliver the Tonn Nua wind farm faster than our competitors if successful in our bid."

The auction is expected to take place in June, with the prospective bidders to be announced in July.
Waterford TD David Cullinane has criticised the funding of Cork Airport while Waterford is left waiting.

The Sinn Fein Deputy was reacting on social media to the news today that Cork Airport was to receive 200 million in funding from the Government.

200m investment for Cork Airport, and yet Waterford is still waiting for a fraction of this for Waterford Airport. The two local Government Ministers need to deliver for Waterford, said Deputy Cullinane.

LEFT BEHIND

Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien, said earlier this month that he was being briefed by his officials on the case for Waterford Airport.

He said he was considering next steps.

This week, Waterford TD Conor McGuinness criticised the delay saying: The people of Waterford and the South East are once again being left behind. Despite repeated promises and protracted assessments, the Government has failed to deliver the funding required to extend and upgrade the runway at Waterford Airport.

"Every missed deadline and every delayed decision sends the wrong message about the Governments commitment to balanced regional development. Waterford and the wider South East cannot afford to be an afterthought any longer," said Deputy McGuinness.
Kazakhstan reveals UK contribution to foreign direct investments

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The United Kingdom is Kazakhstans largest investor, with significant foreign investments, said Alibek Kuantyrov at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in London. The event, attended by ambassadors and government representatives, highlighted new opportunities following last years Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Key areas of collaboration include critical minerals, green energy, and healthcare. Bilateral agreements were signed, including a roadmap for agricultural cooperation and memorandums on water resources and biopharmaceuticals with AstraZeneca.

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Waterfords Senator Joe Conway has stressed the importance of maintaining the BBC Sounds app for Irish audiences.

It was recently announced that BBC Sounds will be geo-blocked for audiences outside the UK from later this year.

The move means listeners in the Republic of Ireland will no longer be able to tune into BBC Radio Ulster or Radio Foyle online.

The decision is more nuanced than it may initially seem, as questions are being asked about what the removal means in relation to the Good Friday Agreement, specifically regarding its role in promoting cultural diversity through public service broadcasting.

Senator Conway, of the Cultural and Educational Panel, said in the Seanad this week that the BBC removing the service from Irish audiences was "very regrettable".

Many of us treasure it. As somebody who lives in the south east, I know that up until BBC Sounds came along, we had to try to tune into BBC Wales, getting a very ropey and fluctuating signal, or listen to BBC Radio 4 on long wave, but now there is a crystal-clear flawless reception on the radio. It came with great sadness that the app was going to be withdrawn.

Fundamentally for us in Ireland, I strongly believe that the removal of the BBC Sounds app goes against the spirit of strand 3 of the Good Friday Agreement, insofar as it refers to cultural inclusion and diversity.

"I am also speaking up for the 100,000 people in Gaeltacht areas who listen to Irish-language broadcasts from BBC Ulster.

"Every one of us in the House should use our influence in our parties or wherever we can to entreat the BBC and the cultural attache in the embassy to look at this question again."

Senator Conway added that there was however a "chink of light" regarding the issue, as the BBC are thought to be reviewing the removal.
Waterfords Stagemad Theatre Company celebrates 20 years in operation this year.

To mark two decades of thrilling performances, Stagemad are presenting five bold new productions this June.

All taking place at The Coastguard Cultural Centre in Tramore, the milestone season features an electrifying lineup of original short plays each pushing boundaries and igniting conversation.

800 by Ellen Harrison presents a modern day situation with a twist.

'Post Mortem' by Roisin Hackett Nolan is a darkly dissection of truth and memory.

Meanwhile, Heroes and Villains by Derek Flynn, is a razor-sharp tale of morality in shades of gray.

Smear by Christa De Brun is the story of campaigner Vicky Phelan, a courageous and determined patient rights advocate and campaigner for better women's healthcare.

Lastly Sean Kelly will present Q Here, an audacious comedy.

Each performances will reflect on Stagemads past, present, and future, with each carefully selected to inspire, challenge, and entertain.

The shows take place from June 20 to June 22. Tickets are available at gr8events.ie.
Not long before taking the stage for the first gig on her Australian tour, Gracie Abrams appears on my Zoom, frantically whirling around her Sydney hotel room like shes in a spin cycle.

Shes just after a power outlet for her laptop  My computers at 2 per cent, and its unacceptable, she says  but as a visual metaphor for the pop stars past 12 months, the frenzied blur couldnt be more apt.

Gracie Abrams, who launched her Australian tour in Sydney on Friday, has suddenly become one of pops biggest new stars.

The 25-year-old toured here last January with her debut album Good Riddance, performing at mid-size venues like Sydneys Hordern Pavilion and Melbournes The Forum. On Friday, she returned as a megastar with a sold-out audience at Qudos Bank Arena hanging onto her every word.

Its crazy because those rooms [on the Good Riddance tour] felt so big at the time, says Abrams, dressed casually in a black hoodie, her trademark Jane-from-Daria bob in disarray. I cant believe any of these people know I exist, let alone spend their money to be here. To be playing these arenas, its mind-blowing.
Australias giants of the hospitality industry are in the spotlight across a series of investigations by the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Good Food and 60 Minutes.

One of Merivales top VIPs allegedly attempted to undo a waitresss top as a present to himself, a court has heard, as he was served a bump of caviar in one of the hospitality giants most renowned venues.

Matthew Palavidis, an acoustics consultant from Darling Point in Sydneys east, is known within the Merivale empire as a whale for his prolific spending at its businesses across Sydney.

Merivale VIP Matthew Palavidis arriving at Waverley local court on Friday. Credit: Louise Kennerley

The 63-year-old appeared before Waverley Local Court on Friday, charged with common assault and sexually touching another person without consent after allegedly attempting to undo the waitresss top at Mimis in Coogee in 2023. Palavidis has denied the allegations.

Mimis venue manager Jonathan Robinson told the court that Palavidis was not just a regular of Mimis but also a regular of Merivale.
Thank god that no ones had a major accident or anything, he told 2GBs Ben Fordham on Friday morning. Traffic and Highway Patrol commander, Acting Superintendent Thomas Barnes, said some minor collisions had occurred. Were very lucky that we didnt have a fatality or a serious injury this morning when it quite easily could have occurred, he said. Matt Rigney waiting for southbound traffic to clear. Credit: Kate Geraghty Barnes, who said at least 300 vehicles had been reported as damaged, urged motorists who had driven on the M1 in the area to check their vehicles for damage.

Magnetic devices were being used to clean up the steel, which had been spread along 30 kilometres of road, as regular street sweepers could not pick up the material. Its not just a case of getting a road sweeper out, or getting guys and girls with brooms, Transport for NSW co-ordinator-general Howard Collins said. Sydney resident Matt Rigney had waited hours for the southbound traffic to clear so he could return to the city. I noticed cars with flat tyres on the other side of the road because of an obvious earlier incident, and what Im doing is just waiting it out until the ramp opens up again, and I can make my way back to Sydney, Rigney said. Theres not a lot we can do. We just have to wait it out, unfortunately.

Collins also urged motorists to check their vehicles if they had reached their destination. All four tyres on some cars had been shredded, he said. There is metal everywhere, and it might be in your tyres, he said. The clean-up focused on an area near hundreds of trucks that had been stranded and could not take diversions. Footage from the motorway shows debris spilling from the back of the truck, sending sparks flying across the road. The tyres of some transport and police vehicles travelling to the incident were damaged on the way, Collins said.

Earlier, Collins said the truck driver had a lot of explaining to do, but Falconer said the driver had followed all normal processes, completed necessary checks and passed drug and alcohol testing before setting out on Friday morning. Hes been driving trucks for 20 years, he said. Falconer said the incident would be investigated, and the companys managers were heading to the site, while its mechanics would help repair any damaged vehicles along the M1. Were just doing as much as we possibly can to fix the problem, he said.

Motorists are being urged to avoid the area, as emergency services work to clean up debris, and take the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah as an alternative route. Do not travel if you dont have to, Collins said. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the incident was unprecedented, and the challenging clean-up could extend throughout Friday. Its very challenging because the small pieces of metal are very hard to pick up, she said. If you imagine, its like trying to hoover up the highway. Its very difficult. This is a very unprecedented situation, and happening in darkness as it did, it does have that added complication.

Collins said how long the motorway would remain closed was unknown, but he assured motorists that no one is standing [or] sitting there idly with a broom. We are onto it, he said. Aitchison said the priority was clearing B-double trucks to ease congestion. She said fines could be issued if the driver or the NJ Ashton Group was found to be at fault. Ive been driving down here for 35 years, Ive never seen anything like this, a caller to 2GB said.
Peter Dutton dropped a truth bomb on Thursday morning when he returned to his home turf in Brisbane and sought to remind Australians that the election is all about the pressure on households from the cost of living.

This election, really, is a referendum not about the election campaign but about the last three years of government, he said. Are you better off today than you were three years ago?

Peter Dutton sings the national anthem with members of the Salvation Army at Club Pine Rivers in his electorate of Dickson on Thursday. Credit: James Brickwood

This is correct, of course. And also revealing. It is obvious that Dutton does not want the election result to be about the campaign  because his campaign has been so poor. How poor? Atrocious, says one Liberal. But it is also true that many Australians will look past the daily campaign when they cast their ballots  and some will blame Labor for their genuine financial pain.

Anthony Albanese conveys more confidence by the day, but he had to hedge this week on a central question at the National Press Club: are Australians better off now than they were before he was elected? The prime minister had an answer  mostly about his arguments with Dutton  but it lacked a simple word: yes. Albanese cannot claim voters are better off because that would be the biggest lie of the campaign.
Three German children have been rescued from a horror house in Spain where they spent years living under a COVID-19 lockdown allegedly imposed by their parents.

Spanish police arrested the adults, who allegedly forced their children to remain in the house wearing face masks and nappies long after the end of COVID restrictions.

The eight-year-old children from Oviedo have been confined to their homes since 2021. Their ten-year-old brother was also at home. Credit: portaltela.com

An investigator told Spanish media that as soon as we got them out, all three children began to breathe deeply, as if they had never been outside before.

Speaking to El Comercio newspaper, investigators suggested that the parents suffered from COVID syndrome and had continued to live in fear of the virus for several years.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. In a recent address at the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit's ministerial session on "Shifting Dynamics in Securing Supply: Challenges and Opportunities", Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov underscored the nation's commitment to developing all forms of energy as a strategic priority, Trend reports.

The minister highlighted Azerbaijan's pivotal role as a supplier of oil and natural gas amid current global realities. He noted the growing significance of joint projects with Turkiye, including plans to deliver approximately ten billion cubic meters of gas to the country this year. Turkiye, he emphasized, holds critical importance not only as a consumer but also as a key transit nation through which Azerbaijani energy resources are transported to European markets.

Addressing global energy challenges, the minister pointed out that political and ideological biases against hydrocarbons could hinder necessary investments in the gas sector and the development of infrastructure essential for energy delivery.

"Rather than viewing energy sources through a political or ideological lens, it is essential to focus on developing pragmatic energy strategies. With the global population and energy demand on the rise, we will not have the luxury of wasting energy in the future. That is why we have prioritized the development of all existing forms of energy. We have already initiated several regional projects that, if realized, will contribute positively to both energy security and environmental sustainability," he said.

Concluding his remarks, the minister emphasized the necessity for long-term contractual mechanisms to support gas supply plans, particularly in light of Europe's growing demand for energy resources. Without such guarantees, large-scale investments in gas production carry significant risks, particularly in the absence of assurances regarding delivery and market access.

Regarding the development of green energy interconnectors, the minister noted that Azerbaijan is actively cooperating with Turkiye, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, and countries in Central Asia. "These projects will not only link regions but also strengthen energy and climate security. They represent the energy infrastructure of the future," he added.

The discussions were moderated by the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, and were attended by ministers from Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova.

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The 35th Meeting of the Revised Kyoto Convention Management Committee (RKC/MC) convened from 29 to 30 April 2025 in a hybrid format. In attendance were representatives of Contracting Parties, Member administrations, Observers, and partner organizations.

The meeting kicked off with opening remarks by Brendan OHearn, Acting Director of the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, who welcomed participants and invited them to actively contribute to the discussions for a successful outcome.

The 35th RKC/MC witnessed the formal depositing ceremony of the original Instrument of Accession by His Excellency Kenneth Racombo, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to Belgium, to the Secretary General.

The meeting successfully reviewed and consulted on the updated Potential Draft Texts (PDTs) relating to the Rules of Origin (RoO) under Specific Annex K (SA-K) of the RKC and decided to continue work during the intersession to finalize the PDTs, with a view to initiating the RKC amendment process.

The RKC/MC also endorsed the incorporation of two national experiences as appendices to the Guideline on Customs Control, Chapter 6 of the General Annex (GA) and to the Guideline on Free Zones, Chapter 2 of SA-D of the RKC, respectively.

The RKC/MC further discussed and provided guidance on several proposals: Japans proposal to incorporate Passenger Name Record (PNR) elements into relevant RKC Guidelines; the Democratic Republic of Congos proposal to add a new Recommended Practice under Chapter 1, RoO, SA-K; and Kenyas proposal aimed at strengthening risk management frameworks for efficient Customs operations within the scope of Customs Control, Chapter 6 of the GA.

The meeting also featured several insightful presentations. In particular, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) presented a new draft international legal instrument on negotiable cargo documents (NCDs).

Welcoming the Republic of Seychelles as the 138th Contracting Party to the RKC, delegates received a presentation on their experiences and challenges during the RKC accession process.

Finally, the RKC/MC was updated on the implementation progress of the RKC/MC Work Programme (WP) 2022-2025, and discussed, provided guidance on, and endorsed the draft WP for the period 2025-2028.

Maria VOURNOU from Greece was re-elected as Chairperson and Hao WU from China was elected as Vice Chairperson.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) participated in the 2025 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development and Preparatory Committee meeting for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). The WCO was represented by Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Trevino during the meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York.

During his intervention, Mr. Trevino stressed that Customs administrations, through their enforcement of economic, trade, and social protection policies, are instrumental in both revenue generation and facilitating international trade. WCO Members - 186 Customs administrations - play an integral role in domestic revenue mobilization, one of the key outcome areas expected from the FFD4. This is especially true in many developing countries, where Customs contributes between 40% and 60% of total tax revenuesa figure that underlines their foundational role in domestic resource mobilization, a key pillar of the FFD4 agenda.

WCO Members are also responsible for managing more than 98% of world trade. International trade as an engine for development, another expected outcome from FFD4, therefore cannot succeed without Customs serving as an effective implementing agency. Helping Customs administrations implement key WCO instruments such as the Harmonized System and Revised Kyoto Convention are vital to the rules-based multilateral trading system needed to sustain economies.

The WCO will continue to follow the preparations and highlight the importance of Customs in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals when it attends the FFD4 Conference to be held 30 June - 3 July 2025 in Seville, Spain.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 2. Increasing US tariffs and possible retaliatory actions are not expected to have a direct impact on the economies of the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), Thanos Arvanitis, Deputy Director of the IMFs Middle East and Central Asia Department, said, Trend reports.

Speaking during the launch of the IMFs Regional Economic Outlook for the CCA, Arvanitis emphasized that non-oil exports from the region to the United States remain minimalless than half a percent of GDPlimiting the direct effects of trade tensions.

However, he cautioned that indirect effects could be more pronounced, stemming from three key channels: slower global growth, financial market volatility, and pressures on major trading partners.

Arvanitis noted that among the key risks are slowing global economic growth, increased financial market volatility, and weaker performance among major trading partners such as China and Russia. These factors could weigh on regional demand and external trade flows, particularly in export-oriented sector

He also pointed to increased financial volatility observed in early 2025, including a rise in borrowing costs for many emerging markets, which could further challenge economic stability in the region.

Arvanitis also noted that gold prices have reached historic high levels, and this will be good for countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which are major gold producers and therefore would have a positive impact on these economies.

"Unfortunately, we see different channels that this could affect various economies, and unfortunately, all of our countries need to be prepared to address this new environment of higher volatility in 2025," he said.

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Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek powers ahead with impressive industrial growth surge

Photo: "Taxes" newspaper

Industrial production in Bishkek grew by 11.9 percent in the first quarter of 2025, contributing a significant share to Kyrgyzstans overall output amid rising business activity. Bishkek accounted for 21 percent of the country's industrial output during the reporting period.

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By David Young, PA

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has affirmed a High Court ruling ordering the British government to hold a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown.

The Appeal Court judges said the order compelling Northern Secretary Hilary Benn to establish an inquiry would come into effect on June 2nd.

Mr Benn has already signalled an intent to take the case to the UK's supreme court.

He had asked the court to give him a further four weeks before making a final order on the case but judges decided to make their determination on Friday.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald arrive at Belfasts Court of Appeal on Friday (Liam McBurney/PA)

The courtroom in Belfast was packed with supporters of the Brown family who accompanied Mr Browns widow Bridie and her children to the hearing.

Mr Brown (61), the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Co Derry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several British state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

The family of Mr Brown were applauded by a large crowd of supporters as they arrived at the Court of Appeal for Fridays hearing.

Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald were among those who walked with the Brown family as they approached the court building.

On Wednesday, Northern Secretary Hilary Benn sought leave for a UK supreme court appeal in the case.

The move had been heavily criticised by the Brown family and their supporters.

Mr Benn has not confirmed he ultimately intends to take the case to the UK Supreme Court, but applied for protective leave to appeal to the UKs highest court if he believes that course of action to be necessary.

The Belfast Court of Appeal, as is routine practice, dismissed the application for leave to the supreme court in London.

That places the onus on Mr Benn to apply directly to the UK supreme court for leave to hear an appeal.
High Court reporters

A mother whose 12-year-old daughter died at Cork University Hospital has said the health system seriously failed her daughter.

This is no way to run a health system, she said as she called outside the Four Courts for the Minister for Health to ensure hospital patient safety managers investigate adverse outcomes in their hospitals in a proper, fair, timely and impartial way without forcing people like me to go down the legal route to get the truth.

And Leslieann McGeough, of Ballyvolane, Cork, asked have any lessons been learnt by her daughter, Abigails case.

My view is lessons will never be learnt if this system continues the way it is currently set up, she added.

Earlier she told a judge in the High Court that her daughter Abigail was taken from her for the simple reason that the doctors of both Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin would not listen to me.

Abigail McGeough from Cork city, who had cerebral palsy and spina bifida, had a brain shunt inserted when she was three months old.

Her mother broke down in tears told as she told the court she had been warned to look out for shunt blockage or malfunction symptoms and any delay in shunt blockage treatment could be fatal.

However on December 22nd, 2019, I knew that there was something wrong with the shunt and I brought Abi to CUH and asked them to check for shunt malfunction. They dismissed me, she said.

She added: I asked for a second opinion and I was referred to Beaumont Hospital and attended there on December 27th, 2019. Beaumont dismissed me as they seem to rely on what CUH had said.

In tears she told Mr Justice Paul Coffey: Unfortunately my fears of shunt blockage turned out to be true because my darling Abi died of a shunt blockage on May 9th, 2020.

The familys counsel, Mirian Reilly SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court that liability was admitted in the case, which related to the misdiagnosis of symptoms relating to a brain shunt blockage despite the fact that the little girl presented to hospitals on five occasions between November 2019 and April 2020.

Ms Reilly said Abigails mother felt the hospitals did not listen to her and she lives with the torment that she should have advocated more for her daughter.

Surrounded by her extended family outside the Four Courts, Ms McGeough spoke out after she settled an action and both Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital in a letter read to the court expressed deepest condolences on the death of Abi.

Ms McGeough said liability had not been admitted in the case until August last year, over four years after Abis death, and it was only through taking the legal proceedings and getting independent expert reports that she was able to find out the truth about what caused Abis death.

She added: This is no way to run a health system. The truth should always come out when adverse events occur, not for the purposes of punishing but rather to prevent such a further tragedy occurring again.

She said the health system seriously failed Abi causing her death and she was concerned that lessons have not been learnt in her case.

She added: I think it would also be useful for the Minister for Health to look back at cases of the last three years that have been settled in the courts and see how many of those were investigated by the hospitals in question and what was the outcome of those investigations and what lessons were learnt by the hospitals.

Ms McGeough concluded: Our family tree has been broken never to be repaired. Abi has missed out on so much in life including her much longed for cousins and her many hopes and plans for her future. Every day we grieve for Abi; we feel her loss every minute of every day and we will now always have a piece of us missing.

In a letter read to the court by Rory White BL, the chief executives of University Hospital Cork and Beaumont Hospital expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of Abigail.

The letter said: We are deeply sorry for the distress suffering and loss you have endured and continue to endure since Abigails death.

It thanked Leslie Ann for participating in the mediation process towards a settlement of the case.

While the legal aspect is concluded we will reflect on the events of each of Abigails final attendances in our hospitals and work with the risk management teams to learn and improve our practise in every aspect warranted.

As part of our commitment to honouring your daughter's memory we've contributed to the memorial which we understand grows in her name. We hope that this gesture provides the necessary resources to ensure the enduring presence of the memorial which we understand services a lasting tribute to Abigails life.

The letter concluded: We hope that this letter acknowledges the upset and distress you have experienced and does not cause any further for you.

Approving the settlement including the division of the statutory mental distress payment of 35,000, Mr Justice Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Abigails mother and the extended family.
There was a great atmosphere of excitement, pride and homecoming in Irishtown on Easter Monday as members of the Fitzgibbons and OMalley families - descendants of local woman Mary Ellen OMalley -returned from Boston for a long-awaited reunion. The group of 34 travelled to Mayo as part of a wider family trip to Ireland, enjoying time in Dublin and Galway before making their way to the ancestral home in Boleyboy, Irishtown.

Leading the welcome was Monica OMalley-McMahon, a cousin of the visiting family and now based in Mossbrook, near Mayo Abbey. Monicas father Stephen and Mary Ellen OMalley were brother and sister, both born and raised in Boleyboy. Monica, who has lived in Mayo for over 20 years, was delighted to meet and host the American side of the family.

Mary Ellen emigrated to Boston in the 1930s when she was just 17. There wasnt much here at the time, so like many, she made her way across the Atlantic in search of a new life, Monica explained.

Mary Ellen met Joe Fitzgibbons, who was born in Boston to Cork parents. They settled in Quincy, Massachusetts, and went on to raise a family of eight. Three of their daughters, Nora, Gayle, and Anne, made the journey to Ireland for the reunion, accompanied by several generations of their family.

The visit was more of a pilgrimage than a holiday. It included a visit to the old homestead in Boleyboy and the old Cuillaun National School where Mary Ellen was educated. There was also a poignant trip to the OMalley family grave at Irishtown Cemetery.

Their grandfather, John OMalley, and his wife Ann Sheridan are buried just inside the gate. Its a deeply personal journey for them, Monica said.

The idea for the trip had taken shape some months earlier when one of Mary Ellens great-granddaughters planned to study for a semester in Dublin. That sparked a flurry of conversation among the wider family, which eventually led to the decision to organise a group visit. The family contacted Monicas sister Catherine in Dublin, who put them in touch with Monica, given her local roots.

Nora McCarthy, one of Mary Ellens daughters, reflected warmly on her mothers legacy and the significance of the visit.

She was the eldest of ten and the first to emigrate. She made a life in Boston and worked incredibly hard. She ran a rooming house and raised eight children. She was so kind, so hardworking, and the person everyone gravitated toward.

The rooming house became a soft landing for other members of the OMalley family, including several of Mary Ellens sisters who arrived from Ireland. It also became a base for newly arrived Irish emigrants trying to find their footing in a new world.

Nora described her mothers love of fun and storytelling.

She adored parties and was the heart of every gathering. My father used to call her Rosie. He once pointed to a painting of a man looking out over the ocean and said, Thats me waiting for your mother to arrive from Ireland. She meant the world to him.

Mary Ellen returned to Ireland several times over the years. Her final resting place is in Boston, where she was buried on September 11, 2001 - the same day as the World Trade Centre attacks.

She was 90 when she died, Nora said. We remember her every day.

Daniel ONeill, a recent graduate from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, was visiting Ireland for the first time.

It absolutely met my expectations. The people are so warm and welcoming. What struck me most is how the houses and buildings seem to blend with the land. At home everything is so structured. Here, it feels more organic.

Daniel, like many of his generation, is part of a large extended family that remains tightly connected in North Andover, Massachusetts.

We see each other all the time. There are about 50 of us living in the same town. My mothers side of the family has a real closeness.

The Irish trip was a chance to deepen those bonds and explore the roots of that closeness. Daniel and his cousins visited Dublin and Galway before making their way to Irishtown, where they spent the day immersed in local heritage, hospitality, and family history.

As the family gathered in the village that their ancestor once called home, it was fitting that the visit coincided with the unveiling of new sculptures in Irishtown commemorating the Land League.

I was conscious of wanting the family to be part of today, especially with the sculptures being launched," said Monica. "This is where the Land League began - its the cradle of that movement. I think Mary Ellen would have been proud.

For this extended Irish-American family, the visit was more than a homecomingit was a reconnection, a celebration of resilience, and a powerful reminder of the ties that bind across oceans and generations.
A large and joyful crowd gathered in Ballinrobe on Monday last to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ballinrobe Active Retirement Association (ARA). The milestone marks a quarter-century of friendship, fun, and mutual support among retired members of the local community.

The celebrations began with a special Mass in St Marys Church, concelebrated by Fr Denis Carney, PP, and Fr Jack Garvey, to honour the spirit of togetherness that has characterised the association since affiliating with Active Retirement Ireland on April 10th, 2000.

The event was made possible through the efforts of the organising sub-committee, with readings and contributions during the Mass from Margaret Twibill, Josephine Mercer, Patricia Roberts, Rena OBoyle, Sarah Flynn, Nuala Maughan, Mary OKelly, John Donnelly, Josephine OHare, Marion Shaughnessy and Lesley Munks.

The three local county councillors  Damien Ryan, Michael Burke and Patsy OBrien  all attended the event to acknowledge the significance of the association in local life.

Following the Mass, attendees made their way to the associations room at the CBS Parish Centre, where food and refreshments were served in a festive atmosphere. Laughter and memories filled the room, reflecting on 25 years of shared experiences, including outings, day trips and emotional support during times of loss.

The event featured contributions from a number of speakers, including Kathleen Harness, Mary McConnell, Maureen Devereux, Patti Gaynor, Betty Moran, Margot OShea, Josi Mercer, Bridie McMahon, Anna Conroy and Anne Patterson.

Speakers traced the rich timeline of Active Retirement Ballinrobe, from its modest beginnings with a small membership to the present day, where the organisation now boasts a vibrant membership of 137 individuals. Special tribute was paid to the pioneering efforts of the early members, among them Fin ONeill. Deceased members were also fondly remembered as part of the commemorations.

A highlight of the celebration was the ceremonial cutting of a specially commissioned 25th anniversary cake. This was carried out by Kathleen Harness, representing early and deceased members, and Anne Patterson, representing present members. Also in attendance was Mairtin O Morain of the Community Education Service, Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board.

Special thanks were extended to those who have taken on leadership roles over the years. The current officers are Chairperson, Ann Patterson; Vice Chairperson, Josephine OHare; Treasurer, Mary Ryan; Assistant Treasurer, Anne Donnellan. The Patron is President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.

Ballinrobe Active Retirement Association is planning a busy summer, with a full calendar of events, trips and social gatherings already in motion  further proof that retirement can be the beginning of a fulfilling chapter of life.
Ballyhaunis unique ethnographic make-up continues to draw international academics with a Brussels-based researcher selecting the East Mayo town as the focus of her doctoral research.

Iris Egea Qijada is currently pursuing a PhD at the Free University of Brussels titled 'Sustainable Rural Communities: Comparing the Receptivity to Migration and Territorial Regeneration in Two Rural Areas of Spain and Ireland'. She will travel to Ballyhaunis next month to conduct extensive field research.

My research focuses on international migration in declining rural areas from the perspective of sustainable communities, explained the academic, a native of Spain. Specifically, it amplifies the voices of immigrants regarding their experiences of inclusion and exclusion, their reasons for mobility, their desire to stay or continue migrating, their relationships with the local population, and their participation in development and revitalisation processes.

In this study, I also explore racial and socioeconomic inequalities that affect both immigrants and the general population, the lack of infrastructure and services in rural areas, rural regeneration, and long-term social cohesion.

I am applying an ethnographic methodology, and I will conduct fieldwork primarily in Ballyhaunis in May 2025. My goal is to interview residents including locals, newcomers, and long-term immigrants as well as political and social actors such as municipal authorities, social services, and institutions relevant to social integration, and civil society organisations involved in migration-related issues in the region."

A 2019 conference on integration and subsequent national media attention portraying the town as Irelands most multicultural small town has clearly created academic interest in Ballyhaunis. Students and academics from the urban planning department at Queens University were in Ballyhaunis earlier this year to conduct field research for the Town Centre First initiative being driven by Mayo County Council.
Councillors in Castlebar Municipal District have criticised the slow delivery of social housing.

They made their comments to coincide with the seventh anniversary of the start of a nine-house project in Carnacon. The project is only now being completed.

Cllr Al McDonnell said he had serious problems with the delay in the delivery of social housing, citing the Carnacon project as a perfect example.

The first on-site inspections in Carnacon took place in 2018, seven years and two months ago. Mayo County Council are not primarily to blame for this but approval is sought from civil servants in Dublin every step of the way and often several months pass by without a reply from Dublin, he said.

Those houses were needed seven years ago. They are nearly finished and they look fantastic but it shouldnt have taken this long.

Cllr McDonnell called for decisions on housing to be decentralised to municipal districts, a view echoed by Cllr Blackie Gavin who said Mayo Co Council's "central housing" unit in Swinford handles all matters.

"Castlebar MD should be our own housing authority like in the old days."

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the prolonged development in Chestnut Grove of eight social houses, which the council took over from an approved housing body, is another example of the lack of urgency in delivering social housing.

We were told Chestnut Grove would be ready by Q1 2025 and were now halfway through Q2.

Cllr Harry Barrett said he was also hoping to see more movement on the ongoing Ellison Street regeneration plans to convert old derelict buildings into apartments.
Ballina is set to roar to life this May Bank Holiday as The Bear Run 74 supercar rally makes its third stop on Saturday, May 3rd  bringing a jaw-dropping convoy of elite vehicles right into the heart of North Mayo, and all in support of a truly amazing cause.

This high-octane, heart-filled event supports BUMBLEance, Irelands dedicated Childrens Ambulance Service, which provides vital medical transport for sick children across the country  completely free of charge.

Now in its fourth year, The Bear Run 74 was created by founder Keith Gamble in memory of his late father, who passed away at the age of 74 from cancer. Since its inception, the rally has raised over 153,000 for various charities, with BUMBLEance the chosen charity partner for 2025.

This years route begins on Friday, May 2nd in Cookstown and travels through Ballybofey before arriving in Ballina on Saturday afternoon  just in time for a big Mayo Day celebration! From there, the supercar spectacle heads on to Maam Cross, Galway, and eventually finishes at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast on Sunday evening.

Ballina is buzzing with activity this weekend  from the start of Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo to vibrant cultural celebrations for Mayo Day  and now this! Locals and visitors alike are invited to gather and check out the stunning display of supercars as they roll into Quay West Ballina, the official third stop of the tour.

Were absolutely thrilled to welcome The Bear Run 74 to Quay West, said Siobhan from Quay West. This is something really special for the town and for Mayo  the energy, the excitement, and the calibre of cars are incredible. Its a feel-good event with a big heart. The cars will be at Quay West between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday.

With vehicles like the Lamborghini Aventador, Audi R8 V10 Plus, Ferrari 488, and McLaren 720S, this rally promises a rare up-close look at some of the worlds most spectacular machines. But behind the flash is a critical purpose  helping BUMBLEance meet the growing demand for their services.

In 2024, the organisation travelled over 600,000km across 2,389 trips  a 21% increase from the previous year. Sadly, 348 trips couldn't be fulfilled due to resource constraints, highlighting the importance of community fundraising efforts like The Bear Run 74.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mairead Melody Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, encouraged the public to come out in force: Ballina is going to be alive with colour, music and horsepower this Saturday! Its Mayo Day, the Fleadh is kicking off, and now we have The Bear Run 74 making a very special pit stop in the town. Id urge everyone  young and old  to come out and support this unique event for an incredible cause.

Dont miss your chance to see the cars, meet the BUMBLEance team, and contribute to a vital service that makes a world of difference to families across Ireland.

For the Full route and timings available at: www.thebearrun74.comtarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and to learn more or donate to BUMBLEance at: www.bumbleance.com
What on earth is all this going to do to us? Four more years of this? It really feels like too much already, and we are only a few months in.

Trumps second presidency is so different from his first one. The first was wild of course, but it was constrained in many ways by the Congress or the courts. As well as that, some of the people around him would say - not to him, of course - that the first presidency lacked really clear objectives.

This time, the intended outcomes are obvious. President Trump wants to throw out free trade and move towards protectionism. He also wants to dismantle the security and political infrastructure the world - and especially Europe - has relied on since 1945.

We have a much clearer sense of how this President Trump sees the future than in 2016, but the approach to getting there is anything but clear and certainly not in any sense predictable. Trumps presidency seems so out of control, so wild, that we can only guess what is coming tomorrow. Some say this is deliberate, a tactic. Whether that is true or not, whether the future he imagines will come to pass, we know that the attempts to get there will change the world. Notwithstanding all the day-to-day chaos, we have to try and understand how that might unfold, the better to figure out how to respond.

Now every schoolkid knows Newtons Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It means that in nature any force that is exerted meets a similar response, but in an opposite direction. You push your arms and legs in the water, the water pushes back on you, and that moves you forward - that is the science of swimming. Now the laws of physics dont change. They happen all the time and in every place on the planet in the same way.

Politics isnt always like that. But it is true that any political force in one direction is invariably met by a reaction. And the clash of those two political forces moves you to a different place from where you started. That process is constant, but it has been turbo-charged these past few months. With no sign of the pace slowing, it is going to create four years of tumult, most especially between the big political power blocs in the world: the US, China, and the EU foremost amongst them.

We in Ireland  as globalised as we are  are going to get caught up in all of that. How is all that going to continue to change our politics and ultimately us? There are so many ways that you would need a lot of articles. But we can easily spot three key things.

First, if the Americans will no longer definitely defend Europe, Europe will have to defend Europe, and then we in Ireland will have to decide what that means for us. For many decades, we havent needed to think too much about the realities of defending ourselves in the world. We may want  as a large majority in opinion polls suggests  to believe that this is still the case, but that wont change the new reality. Led by Germany and France  and yes, the UK  Europeans are going to build bigger armies to protect Europe.

Over the coming years, we are going to be asked again and again what part we are going to play in that. All the ways we currently have to say no wont sound so great, given how prosperous we have become within the security and economic umbrella we have sheltered behind for free up to now. On the other hand, attempting to do anything about it - even incredibly modest changes like removing the Triple Lock - will produce huge divisions at home. Much of the political left here will protest furiously against those changes, which are coming about - ironically - because the very thing they most criticise, US support for NATO, is now being undermined by Trump.

The changes that Trump brings and the reactions to those changes wont just be confined to security matters. As we all know, Trump wants to restrict free trade and embrace protectionism. Everyone right now is focused on what that all means in terms of tariffs, but it goes wider than that, extending to the sourcing of the key raw materials that are crucial to modern forms of production. Restrictions on their sale between countries are set to become an increasingly significant element in the trade wars that Trump's second presidency has unleashed.

Those raw materials - all sorts of vital metals and minerals - are used in various industries across all of Europe. We in Ireland draw on the free flow of those raw materials enormously: firms across the west of Ireland rely on their supply and use every day.

Some of those metals and minerals are physically located in Europe. Many of them though we import into Europe, either as raw material or already in some device or product. Smartphones contain up to 50 different types of metals for example.

Now, in a Trump-shaped world, if you cannot rely on other countries to trade these raw materials with you, ensuring your own definite supply of them is going to become an increasing and serious problem. For if you are no longer able to simply buy such things, states will conclude that they must be able to control them. That is one of the dynamics behind the raw materials deal that President Trump is so keen to force on Ukraine. The ultimate logic of such a world is that countries and power blocs will try and take these resources if they cannot freely trade them.

That is not pretty but it is the logic of where everyone may end up when free trade comes under attack and pushes more and more states towards a policy of protectionism and of your own country first. It is a very dangerous element to introduce into the world and has been the cause of many wars throughout history. The EU - and thus Ireland - has always tried to promote the idea of freely trading rather than dominating such materials: it is going to become harder to hold to that in this new world. And as our economy is affected by all these things, so will our public finances and then the choices about which particular social issues we try and address will become harder, and much more conflicted.

And while we hope for relief from the economic impacts of all this at some stage, the years ahead have the potential to impact us in a third way that cant be undone, and not just because of the substance of the Trump administrations policies. The style is just as dangerous and is having a corrosive effect on politics everywhere. The anger and the divisiveness are spreading rapidly.

That will dial the temperature up everywhere and institute even more division within as well as between different countries. Where that leads us no one can tell, but you dont need to be a prophet to imagine that it will be nowhere good.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 2. Kyrgyzstan has introduced a ban on the import of chicken eggs for a six-month period, effective from May 1, 2025, Trend reports via the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the country.

This decision follows the recommendation of the Food Security and Nutrition Council of Kyrgyzstan dated April 14, 2025.

The ban applies to all imports of chicken eggs, with exceptions for transit through Kyrgyzstan and movement between EAEU member states. Notably, since February 10, 2025, no eggs have been imported into the country. However, from January to March 2025, Kyrgyzstan exported 8.812 million eggs to Kazakhstan, marking an increase of over 8.7 million eggs compared to the same period in 2024.

The Ministry of Agriculture attributes the current issues surrounding chicken eggs to growing competition between large and small poultry farms, as well as an increase in domestic egg production. As a result, the ministry advises farmers to focus more on chicken meat, which remains more profitable due to a higher annual supply of over 91,000 tons of chicken.
This June, the internationally acclaimed Rhythm of the Dance returns to Ireland with a brand-new, electrifying show.

On Saturday, June 14, the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar will host a two-hour spectacle of explosive rhythm, rich Irish culture, and heart-thumping live music.

This marks the first time the show will be performed in Connacht, and for two talented performers, its a long-awaited homecoming. Shane Moran, Musical Director of the show and a Castlebar native, and Stephen Gallagher, a lead dancer in the show from Foxford, are bringing their world-touring magic to Connacht audiences for the first time.

What makes Rhythm of the Dance different from other shows is the fact that it's performed with all live musicians on stage. This is the shows premiere with a brand-new set, new music, new costumes, and a captivating storyline of an Irish hurler turned Irish dancer.

As the shows Musical Director, Shane couldnt be more excited about the upcoming performance in his hometown:

I live two minutes up the road from TF, laughs Shane. Ive been in this business 14 years  my family and friends have heard the stories, but now they get to see it live!

Stephen Gallagher, who started dancing at just seven years old with the Moffatt School of Irish Dancing, has performed in over 15 countries this year alone. But nothing beats home turf: Theres something magic about dancing for your own, Stephen adds. Ive been in Attymass, Foxford my whole life  you dont forget your roots. Performing for people who know your journey it just hits different.

A Dazzling New Era of Irish Dance Rhythm of the Dance fuses tradition with innovation, blending tap, contemporary, tango and even hip-hop into its high-energy performances. The new production features 15 elite dancers, each with their own solo spotlight, with every instrument on stage being played live, including a very special lineup of local musicians joining for the Castlebar show.

Every instrument is played live on stage - banjo, fiddle, you name it, says Shane.

We want the musicians to have the floor, to show off, to feed off the crowd. This isnt about playing quietly in the corner of a pub, its about letting rip. I encourage the craic!

And its not just the sound thats evolved; theres the new set, new costumes, and a powerful storyline woven throughout. As Shane describes it: Its about a hurler with the heart of a dancer. It starts off soft and builds into a crescendo  often the crowd is on its feet after the very first number.

I love being able to give young Irish musicians their break, Shane adds. Theres so much talent here in the West  sometimes all they need is a phone call. And if two lads from Castlebar and Foxford can do it why not you?
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 2. Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan Timur Ishmetov announced plans to launch a major program to support the countrys growing fintech sector, Trend reports.

Speaking at the launch of the IMFs Regional Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), he emphasized the need for financial innovation and stronger regulation in the face of rapid credit growth.

"Hopefully, we'll announce in the coming months a big program to support the broader scope of fintech companies," said Ishmetov, outlining upcoming efforts to back financial technology development in Uzbekistan.

He noted that strong credit growth in recent months reflects robust domestic demand and improved financial access. To manage risks while promoting deeper financial intermediation, the Central Bank is following a two-pillar strategy.

The first pillar focuses on expanding the financial sector beyond traditional banking. "We'll encourage to develop non-bank lenders, microfinance institutions, and local capital markets," he said. Fintech development is a key part of this, with a regulatory sandbox already in place and joint work ongoing with startups.

The second pillar involves stricter oversight. "We already implemented stricter rules on debt-to-income ratio, LTV limits, and large unsecured exposures," Ishmetov said. New regulations for big borrowers are also planned.

We are planning to finally, in the medium term, to finish our work and align our regulations with the Basel III standards, he added.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny and a bit warmer, but with still comfortable humidity levels. .

Tonight

Mostly clear and milder overnight.
The worlds most famous and pampered feline Choupette stars in Hublots Big Bang 20th Anniversary campaign

The internets reigning feline icon, Choupette, has landed her most unexpected role with luxurys most polarizing watch brand Hublot. The Swiss watchmaker has tapped fashions famously pampered cat to celebrate its 20th anniversary of the iconic Big Bang collection.

Known for rewriting the rules of luxury, Hublot is the antithesis of quiet design. It challenges the status quo of watchmaking with bold product design and just like the timepieces themselves, Hublot wearers arent afraid to stand out. Two decades ago, the introduction of the Big Bang collection ignited a shift in the industry by daring to fuse unconventional materials and disregard traditional tropes of the category. Hublot and its Big Bang have gone from one showstopper to another, building on a spirit of revolution, audacity and playfulness. With many world-firsts and genre-defying feats, the Big Bang will go down in history as the first truly iconic watch of the 21st century and a beacon of creativity in a field thats usually confined by history and tradition.

The campaign unveils Hublots new tagline  Own It. A bold and unapologetic call to action, and an uncompromising mindset. This new mantra perfectly captures the authentic, loud, and polarising spirit of the brand. Extending that fearless attitude to its new campaign, Hublot has chosen the one and only Choupette, who doesnt have a wrist or know how to tell the time. Choupette, a cultural icon known for her haute lifestyle and unfiltered personality, brings her signature attitude to a campaign that celebrates outrageous confidence and radical individuality that define both her and Hublot.

Choupette - Big Bang 20th Anniversary  Carlijn Jacobs / Hublot

Julien Tornare, Hublots CEO says: The Big Bang represents a revolution in watchmaking, a perfect union of tradition and modernity. While remaining rooted in the values of luxury watchmaking, such as artisanal quality and attention to detail, Hublot has managed to position the Big Bang as a disruptor within an industry that has traditionally seen little design innovation. This is what sets us apart. With our new campaign, we want to celebrate the courage to break the mold and experiment without fear of going beyond.

Captured by visionary photographer Carlijn Jacobs, the campaign unfolds in a series of striking, high fashion visuals interspersed with meme-inspired content. With this, Hublot embraces the new language of luxury on social media, engaging people with storytelling, playfulness and unpredictability.

From failed takes to Choupettes diva moments, the campaign is far from another polished luxury marketing campaign. Including behind-the-scenes footage it offers a rare, self-aware glimpse into a luxury world that doesnt take itself too seriously. Putting this low filter lens on high luxury allows Hublot to break the fourth wall and bring its audience into the moment, rather than observe from afar.

Choupette - Big Bang 20th Anniversary  Carlijn Jacobs / Hublot

The campaign commenced on 1st May where Choupette is seen on TikTok and Instagram modelling the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Red Magic. Throughout the month, the spotlight shifts to two more icons: the striking Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Yellow Neon Saxem, worn by a chic mysterious lady in a statement faux-fur coat, and the Big Bang 20th Anniversary Titanium Ceramic piece, seen on a powerful athlete unapologetically working out right in a gym locker.
How do you define visual elegance? At Watches & Wonders, the spotlight unquestionably went to dials where the small seconds display took center stage. Heres a closer look.

Watchmaking doesnt settle for approximations. The balance between simplicity and refinement demands clean lines and sharp design. At Watches & Wonders, brands and manufacturers offered a masterclass in craftsmanshipsaying more with less. Many of them expressed their vision through minimalist designs without sacrificing their brand identity. One element unified all these creations: a small seconds display on the dial.

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6196P-001, 38 mm diameter, manual-winding movement, alligator leather strap. EUR 46,800.  Patek Philippe

Perfect balance: the key asset

Name? Calatrava. Reference? 6196P-001. Patek Philippe embraces a timeless style that transcends fashion. This piece is rooted in the eternal, combining a rose gold opaline dial with a platinum case. The layout is pared down to the essentials: classic hands sweep across an hour track made solely of indexes. Echoing this refined setup, the small seconds subdial blends into the backgroundletting the function shine without distraction.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Manual, 38 mm diameter, 7.7 mm thick, manual-winding movement. EUR 39,600.  Vacheron Constantin

In a similar spirit, Vacheron Constantins new Traditionnelle Manual models feature an appealing play of textures. Whether encased in rose gold or platinumwith matching hands depending on the versionthe silvered dials decoration enhances the refined personality of each piece. Inspired by the Maltese Cross, a motif dear to the Geneva-based brand, the straight lines of the design are softened by the round small seconds, which fits seamlessly into the railway-style minute track.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, 45.6 x 27.4 mm, manual-winding calibre. EUR 44,400.  Jaeger-LeCoultre

Thoughtful material and finish choices also elevate a timepieces allure. Rose gold adds extra appeal to Jaeger-LeCoultres Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds. The finely textured dial, iconic rectangular Art Deco case with gadroons, and Milanese mesh bracelet reinforce its status as a timeless icon. The warm tones radiating from each detail highlight the chic soul of the small seconds.

Complexity in service of simplicity

To preserve an airy dial layout, the small seconds subdial can discreetly host complicationslike the one on the L.U.C Quattro Mark IV. Chopard elegantly incorporates a date display into the small seconds area, ensuring maximum clarity. Behind this apparent simplicity is a powerful COSC-certified chronometer calibre. Its four barrels offer an impressive nine-day power reserve. Here, performance and elegance coexist in harmony.

Chopard L.U.C Quattro Mark IV, 39 mm diameter, ethical rose gold, manual-winding movement. EUR 41,300.  Chopard

Hermess Cut Le temps suspendu embodies the brands playful approach to time. Its dial features a unique layout: the small seconds, set off-center at 4 oclock, integrates into an hour ring marked by custom-designed numerals. Besides its position, it also stands out with its reverse rotation. When the Le temps suspendu complication is activated, the hour and minute hands pause at 12. The small seconds hand continues movingbecoming the only visible marker of times passage.

Hermes Cut Le temps suspendu, 39 mm diameter, rose gold, on-demand animation, automatic calibre. EUR 43,000 (with rose gold bracelet).  Hermes

While the small seconds subdial reflects a classic aesthetic that resists fleeting trends, it still leaves plenty of room for creative expression.
While thousands of innocent people remain incarcerated in inhumane conditions in the prisons of El Salvador, one of the most recognized gang leaders in the Central American country, Carlos Cartagena Lopez, aka Charli de IVU, was secretly released by the government of President Nayib Bukele and has since given an interview to the digital media El Faro in which he shows his face and shares details about his deals with the Bukele administration.

In a 41-minute interview, Charli, an important leader of the faction known as the Barrio 18 Revolutionaries, sits in a comfortable sand-colored chair wearing jeans, sneakers, a cap, and a black shirt that reads Just Do It, Nikes slogan. Occasionally smiling, he provides details about how his gang began to approach Bukeles circle, the favors he received, and how the gangs allegedly helped the president rise to power.

Oscar Martinez, editor-in-chief of El Faro and co-author of the article, told EL PAIS that [this interview] describes how gangs turned Bukele into a relevant politician. It allows us to reach the stark conclusions that it is impossible to understand Bukeles rise to total power without his association with gangs.

Bukele launched his so-called war against gangs on March 27, 2022, following a massacre of 87 people organized by criminal organizations across the country. According to journalistic investigations, this massacre occurred after the governments secret pact with the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang and the two factions of Barrio 18 was broken. Since then, nearly 85,000 people have been imprisoned in deplorable conditions, without the right to a legal defense, and nearly 400 of them have died without trial, many with signs of torture.

This Wednesday, another Salvadoran media outlet, the magazine Elementos, revealed that Charli was captured on April 21, 2022, at a police checkpoint, 25 days after the start of the state of emergency. But after just a few minutes, he was not only released but even escorted to his home, all due to higher orders. A day after the magazine story was published, the interview with Charli came out in El Faro. So far, Bukele has not reacted to either publication.

Charli became one of the most famous gang members in El Salvador after starring in the BBC miniseries Eighteen with a Bullet. In the series, Charli, at just 16 years old, already emerges as the leader of one of the most important strongholds of Barrio 18, the IVU neighborhood in the capital. In the video, he confesses to having committed several murders and other crimes. His criminal record has only lengthened over the years, and he is currently a fugitive from justice.

According to the magazine Elementos, at the time of his arrest, Charli was accused of one homicide and 46 extortions, including against a mayors office and two companies. During the state of emergency, but especially in those first months, authorities arrested thousands of people for reasons as generic as being the target of an anonymous complaint, having artistic tattoos, being a relative or a neighbor of a gang member, or simply for getting nervous during a police search. Many of these people remain in prison, and others have died without being convicted of any crimes.

During Bukeles administration, at least one other gang leader has been illegally released: Elmer Canales Rivera, aka Crook, one of the top MS-13 leaders worldwide. Crook was requested for extradition by the United States in late 2020. He was supposed to be serving a 40-year sentence in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, but was captured in November 2023 in Mexico, after El Faro reported that he had been released and transferred to Guatemala with the help of a public official.

Since the pact between Bukele and the gangs broke down, the Salvadoran government has desperately sought to bring back the gang leaders who are aware of its dealings. It was also previously reported that the government offered Mexicos Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) a million dollars through an intermediary to bring Crook back to El Salvador. This past Monday, CNN revealed that a brother of the president offered the Donald Trump administration a 50% discount on the rental of its mega-prison for deporting migrants if it returned nine gang leaders in its custody.

Bukele maintains a merciless public rhetoric against the gangs and has marketed himself as a global example of crime-fighting. For its part, the Republican administration in the U.S. has supported his achievements despite knowing about his pacts. In December 2021, the State Department sanctioned two senior Salvadoran officials for negotiating with gangs to reduce homicides in exchange for prison benefits.

Boosting Bukele

In addition to Charli, El Faro interviewed another Barrio 18 gang leader. The latter showed his gang-related tattoos on camera but asked to remain anonymous. For over half an hour, both leaders reconstructed details about the gangs pacts with the Bukele administration.

Both assert that their rapprochement with Bukeles circle began in 2014, when the current president decided to run for mayor of San Salvador. Bukele had been a council member of a small municipality called Nuevo Cuscatlan and was aspiring to a position of national relevance.

Remember that whoever controls San Salvador controls everything. The important thing back then was getting to be mayor of San Salvador, because that was what would propel him to where hes gotten now, says Charli.

According to both gang members, the approaches began through Carlos Marroquin, an urban artist known as Slip, who has been by Bukeles side throughout his political career. According to various journalistic investigations, Slip has been the main liaison between Bukele and the gangs, and he is one of two current government officials sanctioned by the U.S. State Department. The other one is Osiris Luna, the director of Penitentiary Centers.

The gang members claim that as part of the negotiations, Marroquin would warn them about police operations targeting their neighborhoods, and he also brought projects to their communities to curry favor with them. He would say, Im coming on behalf of so-and-so, and this is going to be done. And it happened, says the other gang member interviewed by El Faro.

According to both gang leaders, Bukele demanded their support in return. This consisted, in practice, of gang members threatening opposition activists in their neighborhoods, as well as forcing their families and neighbors to vote for Bukele.

After winning the mayoral race, Bukele managed to rehabilitate San Salvadors historic center, something he has touted as the crown jewel of his administration. There, his popularity increased exponentially until he became a presidential candidate. He subsequently maintained his pact until he reached the central government. Since then, El Salvador has seen an unprecedented reduction in homicides  until the gangs made a clear statement with the March 2022 massacre.

There is a wealth of evidence regarding the negotiations between the Salvadoran gangs Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha 13 with the various governments of Nayib Bukele: prison intelligence documents, prosecutorial investigations, photos, audio recordings, and even accusations from the U.S. State Department. Now, these two testimonies from gang leaders are added, providing details of the pacts for the first time.

For Martinez, editor-in-chief of El Faro, the investigations into the negotiations between Bukele and the gangs are not yet over. There are things we still dont know. Why did the March 2022 massacre happen? Were more people released? Why was Crook released? The gang pacts with Bukele are not a thing of the past; its a present-day aspect of how one man came to amass total power, he says.

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African researchers are working to cure HIV

Patrick Arbuthnot was browsing his emails on what seemed like a normal workday in his lab in Johannesburg when he saw a strange notification pop up.

For two years, the researcher had worked on developing an HIV vaccine to possibly help put an end to one of Africas most deadly diseases for good. His lab at South Africas University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) had already spent thousands of dollars in US funding on experiments. Now, all of that crucial work had to be paused  or worse, permanently halted.

We had the pasta in the boiling water, and we were just waiting for it to [cook], the scientist said, illustrating how far his vaccine trials had gone before the stop-work order was issued. There was still work to do to get the pasta ready. You still had to mix it with your sauce, so it wasnt quite ready to eat yet, but we already had the pasta in the water. We were getting there.

Read more on Al Jazeera.
Nicaraguan government workers during the May 1 celebration in Managua. Presidencia de Nicaragua

After more than 100 days of caution and silence on Donald Trump, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega finally broke his silence. On the eve of May 1, during an International Workers Day rally in a public square, the Sandinista leader launched into a tirade against the Republican president.

Ortegas attack came just hours after the U.S. State Department released a self-congratulatory report marking Trumps first 100 days in office, which listed Nicaraguas regime among its adversaries.

Until that moment, Ortegas government had quietly pursued a cooperative stance  receiving planeloads of deportees without protest and withdrawing from the South African-led case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide to align with Washington. This week, however, marked a sharp reversal.

Rosario Murillo and Daniel Ortega, during the celebration for May 1, in Managua, Nicaragua. Presidencia de Nicaragua

Ortega railed against Trump for over half an hour, denouncing the Republican presidents anti-immigration policies, trade tariffs, expansionist ambitions, and authoritarian posturing.

These are already horrendous crimes  horrendous like holding a two-year-old girl in prison, kidnapped, and attacking her poor mother, declared the Sandinista leader, referring to a Venezuelan woman who was deported and lost contact with her young daughter in Miami.

As part of its self-congratulatory assessment of its first 100 days, the Trump administration hailed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for executing a decisive and focused America First foreign policy agenda.

Among its listed achievements in a section titled Combating Our Adversaries, the State Department singled out Nicaragua. Holding the Nicaraguan Ortega Murillo Authoritarian Dynasty Accountable: Imposed visa restrictions on more than 250 Nicaraguan regime officials to hold them accountable for depriving the Nicaraguan people of their fundamental freedoms and forcing many into exile," states the document.

The State Department report clearly struck a nerve with the Ortega-Murillo regime, which had until then maintained complete silence regarding U.S. actions.

The dictatorial couple had remained cautious, awaiting clearer signals before repositioning themselves within the chaotic and shifting geopolitical landscape triggered by President Trump, who, since coming to office, has made overtures to Vladimir Putins Russia while distancing himself from the United States historical allies, such as Europe. This is in line, in some ways, with Ortegas Moscow-aligned foreign policy.

However, on the eve of May Day, Ortega not only returned to his pro-Palestinian stance, but also sharply criticized Trumps deportations particularly targeting Salvadoran President Nayib Bukeles cooperation in returning migrants to El Salvador.

Ortega also mentioned Nicaraguans who had been deported via Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, noting that more arrivals landed at Augusto C. Sandino Airport on April 30, though he offered no further details. Additionally, he condemned the tariff war that has affected Nicaragua, citing the 18% tax imposed by Washington.

Another bomb has fallen on the world, and it comes from the president of the United States, who has launched a package of economic measures [tariffs] without consulting any country, said Ortega, breaking his silence on Trumps second term. In the same speech, he voiced full support for China and heaped praise on President Xi Jinping.

He simply decided to do it, and there it is: threatening the global economy and also threatening the American economy. The American people themselves are already beginning to rebel. Why? Because theyre feeling the impact of the rising cost of living, Ortega continued.

The Nicaraguan also condemned what he called the U.S. governments criminal attitude toward migrants: Persecuting and imprisoning all those who have worked there for years  who have shed sweat and blood so that country could have more wealth, he said, referencing the recent wave of deportations.

Ortega  whose regime has tortured thousands of political prisoners in Nicaraguas prisons, showing blatant disregard for the Nelson Mandela Rules  accused Trump of violating due process for deportees.

Without any law, [Trump is] disregarding the decisions of the United States judicial branches. In other words, hes acting as if in the United States, with his coming to power, all powers disappeared and he alone holds the power. And he decides what is done and what is not done, said Ortega, seemingly unaware he was describing his own despotic rule.

Manuel Orozco, a researcher at the Inter-American Dialogue, told EL PAIS that the Ortega-Murillo regime once again miscalculated its political messaging.

They leaned on a moralistic narrative, aligning themselves with international criticism of President Trump and assuming they were part of that global protest. But these leaders lack political tact. Having been labeled as pariahs  enemies of humanity  theres already a playbook for dealing with them. A waiting list ready for action, Orozco explained.

Ortega and his co-president Rosario Murillo presided over the May Day event in Managua, flanked by police, military forces, and a legion of hooded paramilitaries. In a world tilting toward authoritarianism, the image of thousands of masked men and rifles in the public square was a reminder of the authoritarian backslide that began in Nicaragua in 2018 with the commission of crimes against humanity

Long before Trumps return to power  and the global spread of his MAGA-fueled far-right ideology  Nicaragua had already descended into repression. So while Ortegas criticisms of Trump may have sounded apt on the eve of May Day, it was like hearing the Sandinista strongman describe himself.

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This week, campaigners from NHS FightBack, initiated by the Socialist Equality Party, spoke with dozens of National Health Service (NHS) workers to rally opposition to the Dorset NHS Trusts' plan to transfer 1,300 staff to a newly created private subsidiary company, SubCo.

NHS FightBack is calling workers not to trust trade union leaders who have betrayed struggle after struggle and to build rank and file committees to take control of their own fate.

NHS FightBack campaign at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, May 2025

Hundreds of copies of the World Socialist Web Site article, Dorset National Health Service prepares mass transfer of staff to private subsidiary in cost-cutting drive, were distributed across the three affected NHS foundation trustsUniversity Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare, and Dorset County Hospital. The proposed transfer targets some of the lowest-paid NHS workers, including porters, catering staff, housekeepers, and estates staff, in a move widely understood as backdoor privatisation.

Many doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals learned of the plan for the first time. Some were shocked to hear this was happening in their trust. Trade unionsincluding the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursinghave largely kept their members in the dark, failing to inform let alone mobilising them against this sweeping attack on their fellow workers. Unison, though formally involved in the dispute, has confined its response to ineffective appeals to MPs, trust boards, and governors, rather than organizing collective resistance.

Workers voiced strong opposition to the draconian attack on healthcare workers setting a dangerous precedent for further privatisation within the NHS. Many affected workers expressed their appreciation to NHS FightBack for its efforts, with several taking extra leaflets to share within their departments.

A housekeeping worker at Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) told us she was firmly opposed to the plan:

They think were lower grade workers, but were not stupid. We know what will happen.

Another worker shared that his wife, who works for the National Careers Service, had received information indicating that another round of major redundancies is planned at RBHon top of those already cut through the MARS voluntary redundancy scheme. Theyve just built this massive new building, and now theyre getting ready to destroy the service, he said, pointing to the new facility built as a result of the 2017 Clinical Service Review, which streamlined services under the banner of cost-saving.

Another worker told us she thought the plans were absolutely disgusting. I think its taking no account of the workers in here or what they feel about it. She said the move was purely about cutting costs, but never for the managers.

The transfers are being imposed under threat. One porter at RBH explained:

Well see how it goes in September. I dont want to sign [to the SubCo] but what choice do I have? They say if you dont, youll be out of a job.

He asked, What are [trade union] Unison doing about it? They say theyve got a three-pronged approach, but I dont think its going to work. If the management say to the union rep dont rock the boat, theyll fall in line.

We discussed with the porter how Unison continues to promote the Labour Party, despite its record on austerity. He responded:

Thats why I never vote. I look at these governments and they never improve anything for us, do nothing for our wages. [Former Conservative Prime Minister] Rishi Sunak kept the national insurance threshold frozen, Labour kept thatso even if you get a pay rise, youre taking less of it home. They all want to line their own pockets.

He condemned Unisons silence on the SubCo plans until they were officially announced:

It was in the public domain before that. I was telling people days before but the union werent.

Pointing to the official hypocrisy regarding workplace conditions, he added:

The new building has these nooks where youre supposed to be able to sit and have a chat. Ive only ever seen managers in thereif a cleaner tried to take a break like that, management would be yelling at them get back to work!

Dozens of leaflets were distributed across St. Anns Hospital, Wareham Hospital, and Alderney Hospitalall community hospitals within the Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. Many workers asked for additional leaflets to display in their departments and to share with colleagues.

Campaigners spoke with one catering worker affected by the plans, who said he had already read our article online and took several leaflets to distribute. He said, Weve been told youll keep your pay and conditions for 10 years, but how can we believe that?

This assurance came with a clear threatthat workers would only retain those conditions as long as you sign on the first day Its important to raise awarenessother workers [not affected by the change] dont even know about it.

Another affected worker described the plan as a massive attack on our conditions. He connected it directly to broader NHS privatisation:

I think its all going to go private. Look at dentistryyou cant even get an (NHS) appointment anymore, and you pay a fortune for private treatment.

The trade unions have in the last 20 years become useless. They arent like they used to be. Everyone used to be scared of the unions then.

A worker in the estates department explained, You have some very unhappy people here. We were only just briefed on it a few days ago. Theyre saying theres nothing we can do, speaking about it like its already a done deal.

Due to the betrayal of the trade unions, many workers at Dorchester County Hospital were left unaware of the proposed changes to the contracts of a section of the workforce.

One estates worker said scathingly: In management-led meetings, they openly lie about the SubCo. Every time they speak, the story changes! I dont buy any of it. They claim our NHS pay, terms, and conditions wont changeso why are they trying to transfer us to a SubCo in the first place?

Some of our colleagues dont realise that our rights were hard-won by those who came before us. We shouldnt let anyone take those gains away. And honestly, I dont think the unions are doing enough to defend them.

To NHS workers in Dorset and nationally, share your stories with the World Socialist Web Site. Contact NHS FightBack to link up with other healthcare workers in the struggle to secure high-quality healthcare for all, provided by a valued and supported workforce. Visit our Facebook page and X account here.
The May appeal of the ADGB in 1933 and the May poster of the DGB today

The support expressed by the leaders of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) for the coalition agreement, preparations for war and militarisation of society of the new German governmenta coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), and Social Democratic Party (SPD)fatally recalls the support given to the Nazi regime by the ADGB (General German Trade Union Federation) in its appeal of May 1, 1933.

At that time, Hitler established a dictatorship, SA gangs terrorised militant workers, the German Communist Party (KPD) was banned and hundreds of communists, social democrats and trade unionists were abused in the first concentration camp in Dachau. Nevertheless, the ADGB called on workers to participate in the May Day demonstrations under the swastika and offered its cooperation to the Nazi regime.

Under the headline Ready to cooperate in building the state, the economy and the nation! the ADGB wrote in 1933:

We have emphasised more than once in the past that trade unions have their natural tasks to fulfil in every economic environment and in every state. These tasks are: safeguarding social rights and representing the economic interests of the working class. In defending and fulfilling these tasks, we must seek cooperation with every government. Accordingly, we must also take a positive stance towards the current government!

The consequences of this reactionary subservience are well known. The ADGB leaderships strict refusal to organise a general strike, which many workers demanded, encouraged the Nazi regime to launch brutal attacks. On May 2, 1933, the trade union buildings were occupied by the SA and the trade unions were smashed.

Today, the reactionary, nationalist role of the trade union leaders is once again clearly evident. Although the new federal government, which will be sworn in on May 6, has decided on a gigantic rearmament programme, is planning massive social and wage cuts and is paving the way for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with its law-and-order policy and attacks on migrants, the DGB praises the coalition agreement and is offering its cooperation and support to the right-wing government led by Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Lars Klingbeil (SPD). The DGB would also be prepared to cooperate with an AfD government.

Unlike in 1933, however, the working class today is not defeated and the fascists are not in power. The struggle for power with the ruling class still lies ahead and it is necessary to prepare for major, worldwide class struggles.

Therefore, workers must take part in the international online rally on May Day organised by the International Committee of the Fourth International this coming Saturday. We are fighting to unite workers from the United States, Europe and around the world in the struggle against fascism, dictatorship and war.

The DGB as the governments fifth column

The coalition agreement contains smart and sensible plans to boost the economy and secure jobs, DGB chair Yasmin Fahimi declared in media reports and interviews. Finally, there are clear prospects for workers and growth.

Fahimi expressly supports the trillion-euro war credits, euphemistically referred to as an investment fund, even though these funds serve to make Germany fit for war. The planned special fund has already sent decisive signals for the provision of an efficient infrastructure, the DGB chairwoman explained, adding: We therefore expect the future government to now tackle the necessary investments quickly and decisively.

Her colleague at the helm of the IG Metall (IGM) union, Christiane Benner, told Der Spiegel on Tuesday that it would be a disaster if the formation of the government failed. The coalition agreement contains many good elements that must now actually be implemented. The IGM does see critical points in the coalition agreement, but no alternative to it.

Benner enthusiastically supports the new governments plans for a major role as world player. She emphasises that a common position in Europe must be found in economic and security policy. ... Germany must speak with a strong voice within Europe, and Europe in turn must speak with a strong voice worldwide.

The IG Metall chairwoman is pressing for an aggressive stance in the trade war with the US. She said the future German government must take a united stance towards the US and not abandon the American market. At the same time, we at IG Metall are calling on companies, including their supervisory boards, to look for new markets. There are still growth markets outside China and the US. For example, one must ask oneself why Chinese suppliers are much more strongly represented in the South African market than German ones, Benner emphasised.

Back in March, when the outgoing Bundestag passed its gigantic rearmament programme for trade war and war, Benner applauded loudly. She declared that the economic, social and geopolitical situation required vision and concluded: We therefore clearly welcome the current initiative.

The trade unions will play a key role for the incoming government in implementing its planned social attacks. Benner and Fahimi embody a trade union apparatus which has completely aligned itself with the government and big-business lobby and acts as a force to discipline workers. Fahimi was general secretary of the SPD and state secretary in the Ministry of Labour before taking over the leadership of the DGB.

The role of union leaders as a fifth column of their respective governments has intensified significantly since Donald Trump took office in the United States. The aggressive nationalism of Trumps America First policy, the introduction of protective tariffs and trade war measures to defend national economic interests, has a magical attraction for union bosses on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the United States, the president of the Teamsters transport workers union, Sean OBrien, appeared at the Republican Party convention last summer and gave a speech virtually copied from the Hitler playbook.

Following Trumps inauguration, the president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, Shawn Fain, who had previously supported the Democrats and appeared alongside Joe Biden, also switched to Trumps side.

The DGB leaders support for the coalition agreement and the incoming governments gigantic rearmament programme shows that the trade unions here are also responding to dramatic political changes with a further shift to the right. They are rushing to the aid of a right-wing government that is in deep crisis. Hardly any other country is so dependent on world trade as Germany. Trumps trade war measures are having a catastrophic impact on the German economy.

IG Metall and the other trade unions are ready to wage this brutal trade war on the backs of the workforce. Three years ago, at the beginning of the Ukraine war, they fully backed the governments war policy as part of their Concerted Action program with the last government. Since then, they have pushed through brutal wage cuts and layoffs to strengthen German companies in the trade war and squeeze billions out of workers for rearmament. Now they are accelerating this course.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are to be cut: at least 35,000 at VW, 20,000 at Mercedes, 11,000 at Thyssenkrupp Steel. Thousands of jobs are also on the line at Ford, Opel, Audi and Porsche, at Bosch, ZF, Continental, Schaeffler and countless smaller companies. The same is in store for the mechanical engineering and chemical industries, the construction industry, the railways, the postal service and the public sector. No sector will be spared. Forty percent of German companies plan to cut jobs this year and in industry, the figure is even higher.

The workforce is prepared to fight back, but the trade union apparatuses everywhere are trying to suppress this militancy and prevent and sabotage industrial action.

In February, the railway workers union EVG undermined the resistance of 190,000 Deutsche Bahn employees and pushed through real wage cuts and a 33-month strike ban. This was followed by the agreement at the postal service, where Verdi signed a sell-out against the majority vote of 56 percent of employees. Public sector workers experienced the same thing when Verdi accepted the miserable arbitration result of Merzs friend Roland Koch. And just last week, Verdi also enforced the arbitration result at the Berlin transport company BVG, even though 95.4 percent of its members had voted in early April for an indefinite full strike.

It is urgently necessary to break this dictatorship of the trade unions in the workplaces. The class struggle from above must be countered by the struggle of the working class. That is why it is so important to build independent action committees to unite workers across all borders and fight for a perspective that puts the rights and interests of workers above the profit interests of investors, speculators and the super-rich.

Last year, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) called for the coordination of the struggle against job cuts worldwide and for its direct connection to the struggle against war and rearmament, because the race for raw materials, markets and supply chains is driving US and European imperialism to war.

The next important step in the struggle for the worldwide unification of the working class against trade war, fascism and war is the International Online May Day Rally of the International Committee of the Fourth International this coming Saturday.

This years May Day rally will present a socialist programme to unite workers internationally against capitalism. It will outline a revolutionary perspective for ending imperialist violence and building a society based on equality and human needs.

Register here and support us financially with a donation. Help us publicise the rally as widely as possible to build a powerful movement against fascism and war!
From left: Markus Soeder, chairman of Bavarians Christian Social Union party, Christian Democratic Union party chairman Friedrich Merz and the Social Democratic Party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, attend a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 8, 2025. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber]

Germanys Social Democratic Party (SPD) membership has voted by a clear majority in favor of a coalition government with the conservative Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU). No technical barriers now stand in the way of the election of CDU leader Friedrich Merz as German Chancellor on May 6.

SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch announced on Wednesday that 56 percent of the 358,000 members took part in the vote. This is significantly less than in the corresponding membership votes in 2013 and 2018, when 78 percent cast their vote in each case. Of the participants, 84.6 percent approved the coalition agreement.

The SPDs participation in government under Merz marks a new stage in the decline of the party, whose history began more than 150 years ago under the banner of Marxism. The Merz government is without doubt the most right-wing and anti-working class government in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its most important goal is to throw off all the shackles that were placed on German militarism because of its crimes in the Second World War. To this end, the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) passed war credits amounting to 1 trillion on March 18.

The return to militarism goes hand in hand with the adoption of the far-right Alternative for Germanys (AfD) program of domestic state repression as well as its anti-refugee and retrograde cultural policy. Some members of the government, such as Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and State Secretary for Culture Wolfram Weimer, are on the far right of the political spectrum. Chancellor Merz himself is a man of the financial oligarchy. He headed the German branch of Blackrock, the worlds largest asset manager, for four years.

In the new government, the SPD is responsible for rearmament and social spending cuts. It will head the defense, finance and labor ministries. Although the names of the future SPD ministers will not be announced until next Monday, it is already clear that party leader Lars Klingbeil will be the new Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister. In this role, he will be responsible for imposing the cost of exploding military spending and the consequences of the international trade war on the working population.

Only a few specific social spending cuts are mentioned in the coalition agreement. They primarily affect the poorest members of society, who can already afford less and less and whose numbers are growing rapidly: recipients of the citizens benefit and refugees. According to the Paritatischer Gesamtverband welfare association, the proportion of poor people in the population rose from 14.4 percent to 15.5 percent or 13 million people in 2024 compared to the previous year.

All other social spending is either subject to funding provisos or the deliberations of special commissions to finalise cuts. This means that they will fall victim to the red pen if the economic situation continues to deteriorate, as is already foreseeable.

Long-time SPD functionary Ralf Stegner, who for some inexplicable reason describes himself as a leftist, justified the approval of the Merz government by saying that otherwise the field would be left to the right-wing extremists from the AfD. This would be absolutely unacceptable, he added.

In fact, it is the militaristic and anti-working class policies of the SPD that are paving the way for the far right in two ways: On the one hand, the Social Democrats are promoting the AfD by adopting its refugee-baiting and law-and-order policies; on the other, by closing ranks with Merz, Dobrindt and co. they are enabling the far right to pose as the only opposition to the hated political elites.

Since 1998, the SPD has been part of all federal governments with a break of only four years. Twicefrom 1998 to 2005 and from 2021 to 2025it nominated the Federal Chancellor. From 2005 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2021, it served as a junior partner to the CDU under Chancellor Angela Merkel. During these 26 years, the SPDs election result fell from 40.9 percent to 16.4 percent. That of the AfD, which was founded in 2013, has risen to 20.8 percent. In the latest polls, the AfD is the strongest party with 25 percent.

At the same time, the assets and incomes of the super-rich have exploded. As of late 2024, 249 billionaires and 3,000 super-rich people with financial assets of more than 100 million dollars were living in Germany. A tiny minority of around 0.6 percent of the population owns 45 percent of total wealth. On the other hand, the number of poor people has risen sharply. Taking into account the burden of high rents, more than one in five inhabitants of Germany is now affected by poverty.

The growing social divide is a direct result of the SPDs policiesits Hartz reforms, its numerous pension, healthcare and other social reforms and the billions it used to rescue banks from their self-inflicted bankruptcy. The term reform, which once meant social improvement, has become the epitome of social cutbacks in the language of the SPD.

The SPDlike all other parties in the Bundestagrepresents the interests of capital and German imperialism. The former workers party no longer has anything in common with the interests of the population at large. Its shrinking membershipin 1973 it still had over a million membersconsists mainly of office-holders, civil servants, party functionaries and trade union bureaucrats who need the party membership card for their personal careers.

One of the few voices to publicly call for the rejection of the coalition agreement was that of Young Socialists (Juso) chairman Philipp Turmer. This form of harmless youthful protest is part of career planning in the SPD.

Turmers predecessor Kevin Kuhnert already led a No-GroKo [grand coalition] campaign against the continuation of the coalition with the CDU/CSU in 2018, gaining nationwide fame. Der Spiegel published his picture on the front page, NDR dedicated a six-part series to him and the F.A.Z. described him as incredibly talented. Two years later, Kuhnert was elected Deputy Party Chairman and later General Secretary of the SPD. By that point he backed the grand coalition and later the coalition with the Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) following the 2021 federal election.

In the meantime, Kuhnert, who unexpectedly resigned from his posts shortly before the end of the coalition government, is preaching general political reconciliation. He recently confided to Die Zeit that he fell in love with a man with an FDP party membership card a few years ago and learned that you have to make an effort to put up with different opinions. You need to be constantly aware that your political opponent could also be right, Die Zeit quotes him as saying. Millions who suffered under the aggressive financial policy of FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner will see things differently.

Turmer also declared after the announcement of the membership vote that the Jusos accepted the yes vote as a matter of course. The members had made their decision in an extremely difficult democratic situation. It is now important to put social issues first in the coalition. This means that the Jusos will loyally support Merz and his right-wing government.

The trade unions and the Left Party also play an important role in defending the SPD and the Merz government.

The trade unions, many of whose top officials are SPD members, have been pushing through social spending cuts, real wage reductions and mass redundancies for years and suppressing resistance to them. During the Bundestag elections, the services union Verdi stabbed the collective bargaining struggle of almost 3 million federal and municipal employees in the back to prevent a broader mobilization.

IG Metall (IGM) chairwoman Christiane Benner said it would be a disaster if the formation of the government fails. The coalition agreement contains many good elements that must now actually be implemented, she told Der Spiegel. The IGM also sees critical points in the coalition agreement, but no alternative to it.

The Left Party occasionally criticises the SPDs right-wing course. But when the Left Partys support really counts, the SPD can rely on. In Berlin, Thuringia, Brandenburg and other federal states, its ministers have organized vicious social spending cuts and the brutal deportation of refugees. The Left Party even approved the 1 trillion arms package in the Bundesrat (Federal Council), the second chamber of parliament, even though its vote was not necessary for a majority.

Broad sections of workers and young people will inevitably come into conflict with the Merz government and its policies of militarism, state repression and social spending cuts. In order to lead and win the struggle, they must free themselves from the paralyzing influence of the SPD, the Left Party and the trade unions.

They need a party of their own that combines opposition to militarism and austerity with the struggle against their cause, capitalism, that opposes the nationalism of the rulers with the international unity of the working class and that fights for the construction of a socialist society in which human needs take precedence over profits.

This party is being built by the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Both the United States and Ukraine on Thursday expressed their satisfaction with the signing of their long-delayed economic partnership agreement, which finally gives President Donald Trumps administration a platform to lean more toward Kyiv in the negotiation process for a peace settlement in the war initiated by Russia. The Ukrainian parliament could ratify the pact next week, according to Washington. The U.S. governments language is now noticeably more emphatic in favor of its ally: There are no fissures between the American and Ukrainian peoples, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a day after signing the agreement with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Yulia Sviridenko. This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.

The White House has heaped praise on the signed documenthistoric and a first-of-its-kind economic partnership for the reconstruction and long-term economic success of Ukraine, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference. The agreement represents the United States taking an economic stake and securing a free, peaceful and sovereign future for Ukraine, she added.

The agreement, which stipulates the creation of a fund through which the United States will have priority access to new investment projects to exploit Ukraines natural resources, is beneficial for both sides. It allows the Trump administration to boast to its voters that it has achieved tangible economic benefits from aid to Ukraine. For Kyiv, it allows it to regain Washingtons support after months in which Trump appeared much closer to Moscows position than to that of the invaded country.

In statements this Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attributed the signing of the agreement to his conversation with Trump last weekend in St. Peters Basilica during Pope Franciss funeral. It is true that since that private conversationunlike the previous, humiliating public rebuke of Zelenskiy at the White House on January 28the presidents tone regarding the war has changed, becoming much more critical of Russia. Trump has even questioned Putins sincerity regarding peace and threatened him with new sanctions.

Ukraines injury report in recent hours shows that the war continues unabated. There were two people reported dead and dozens more injured after nearly 200 drones and missiles were launched in different regions of the country. The signing of the mineral exploitation deal between Kyiv and Washington is just one of the many milestones needed to bring the war to an end.

This will help Washington continue to support Kyiv throughout the conflict and, subsequently, during reconstruction. This is no small feat, considering that it is the country that has most cemented Ukraines defense since Russia launched a major invasion in February 2022 and the one in the best position to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But ahead lies the long-sought ceasefire, an apparent preliminary stage to genuine negotiations that lay the groundwork for embarking on the path to peace. For now, there isnt even a hint of the possibility of both sides sitting down together, as the United States is demanding. All that has happened in recent weeks has been indirect contact, which, moreover, demonstrates how far apart the positions are, placing progress toward an end to the conflict at a dead end. But with Wednesdays signature secured, Washington now wants to focus on bringing Kyiv and Moscow closer together.

Counterweight to Trumps strategy

In any case, the move to accept an agreement that allows Washington to share the exploitation of its subsoil benefits Kyiv in two ways. On the one hand, it serves to heal the blow dealt to Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the White House on February 28. That day, the possibility of endorsing this pact was shattered. On the other hand, the signing of the minerals agreement serves as a counterweight for Ukraine to the strategy outlined by Trump to end the war, which involves Kyiv ceding territory to the Russian invader.

The businessman Trump, aided by the pragmatism of a Zelenskiy in need of allies, has prevailed with the minerals deal over the political Trump of threats, challenges, and erratic statements.

The agreement is a boon for U.S. economic and security policy, notes John Herbst, a former ambassador to Ukraine. It is essential for the U.S. to have partners that provide critical minerals. But even more importantly, this agreement gives Trump, in terms he understands, a concrete stake in Ukraines long-term survival as a secure and economically viable state, he adds.

The signing of the economic cooperation agreement between the United States and Ukraine has begun to bear fruit immediately: the Trump administration has informed Congress that it plans to export weapons purchased by Ukraine, worth more than $50 million, according to the English-language Kyiv Post newspaper.

This is the first new package of military aid to Ukraine (although Kyiv has purchased this equipment, it has not been donated as was the case during the first three years of the war). It is a clear message of support for the occupied country, and an even clearer warning to Moscow to come to the negotiating table and seriously address a peace agreement.

The text of the agreement, released by the U.S. government, maintains a critical tone toward the Kremlin, referring to Russias large-scale invasion of Ukraine and asserting that no state or person who financed the war will be allowed to profit from it. Kyiv also obtains other benefits, explicit or implicit: the pact does not mention that the revenue Washington will receive will be considered payment for previous military aid, as the White House had demanded, and it opens a way for the United States to resume supplying defense equipment to the occupied country. Kyiv would pay for this armament through the new fund, which would also be used to finance reconstruction after the war.

The pact, which will likely be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament by mid-monthor sooner, according to the White Houseonly provides for the sharing of profits from new licenses granted since its entry into force and must therefore respect existing contracts, which will not be affected. The agreement also cannot interfere with Kyiv-EU relations or with the process that could lead to Ukraine becoming a member of that institution.

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One of the protesters outside the hearing Wednesday, April 30 in Watsonville, California to support US Santa Cruz student Laaila Irshad

More than 40 students, faculty and community members attended the hearing on Wednesday for the case brought by Laaila Irshad against the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), which seized her phone on October 1, 2024, in retaliation for the suit that she and two others filed on September 9, 2024, against the university for banning the three from campus for two weeks, resulting in homelessness, financial loss and disruption of studies. They were banned by the university for their participation in protests going back to October 2023 against the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

At the hearing, Santa Cruz County Judge Erika Ziegenhorn partially granted the motion put forward by Irshads lawyers to quash the search warrant for her phone, which allowed campus police all access to her cellphone data, which contains pictures, texts, contacts and more going back to fifth grade.

The ruling is a legal victory for every student protester across the country, hundreds of whom who have faced repression, arrest and even deportation for their opposition to the Gaza genocide. Among the most prominent include Cornell student Momodou Taal, who was forced to return to Britain at the end of March, Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, and Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, who are both still detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Protesters expressed strong support for Irshad and fierce opposition to the university administration and the Democratic Party, which defended the seizure. Many drove more than an hour to the Watsonville, California, courthouse for the hearing.

Im here because there has been a campaign of police and legal persecution against members of the UC Santa Cruz community who have spoken out against the genocide that Israel is perpetrating against the Palestinian people, explained one woman outside the courthouse, and this is the third hearing and it was a victorious one in a sort of legal saga that extends back some months.

Another one of Irshads supporters emphasized the enormous expenditure by UCSC, despite its reported financial crisis, to hire a top-ranking Democratic Party law firm in San Francisco to come against freedom of speech. She noted, UC Santa Cruz is in the most dire budgetary situation of every single UC in the system. And it spent a minor fortune on a top-ranking Democratic Party law firm to go after the exercise of freedom of speech.

Several attendees shared their firsthand experiences of the brutal May 2024 police crackdown on the UCSC Gaza solidarity encampment that precipitated Irshads original lawsuit.

I was there in the morning, I was there earlier than my friend was. I was there around 7-ish and I saw the last of the protesters being rounded up, including some of the professors, recounted one supporter. They were just being, you know, like forcibly torn from each other. I saw a student with a bag over his head, who I think eventually like passed out for a bit.

Another supporter described arriving at the encampment after police had already begun their assault. I went in the morning to bring food to the protesters who were still there. Because it occurred, I believe, around 4am. Throughout the night the police were arresting protesters and shutting it down. And beating them up.

The excessive force used by police had devastating consequences for at least one student, according to an attendee who noted, There is a student from that protest who, as of last summer, was using a cane but now uses a wheelchair. Why? Because their zip ties were too tight. They pleaded with arresting officer to loosen these zip ties. The officer refused. A blood clot went to that students brain and they suffered a stroke.

Many protesters emphasized the bipartisan nature of the crackdown on student dissent, noting that both Democratic and Republican administrations have supported Israels genocide in Gaza while repressing those who speak out against it.

I think the university is trying to say that its against Trumps policies and standing up for whatever but these are the exact same repressive policies, these are the exact same restrictions that are clamping down on students and speech and students who are trying to do what is right, observed one protester. I think that if you find yourself on the other side of students who are willing to be arrested, who are willing to be beaten up by police, you know history shows that like youre probably on the wrong side.

Another concurred, I think its a bigger problem, not just with the campus, the UCSC campus, but overall with the US and in support for Israel. Because the protest was for Palestine, and our government, not Trump, but Biden, was in support of Israel. And that support has continued into the current administration.

He added, I think were going down a very authoritarian way in terms of how we deal with protests, with people getting attacked, people getting arrested, their phones being seized, their rights being taken away. Its not limited just to Trump, but again, its just the overall government of how they are doing things.

One attendee, who described herself as distressed about the state of human rights, said flatly: I think that what Trump and the right wing government is doing is giving permission for these kinds of abuses to happen.

When discussing solutions to the ongoing repression, several attendees emphasized the importance of building a workers movement that extends beyond campus boundaries.

I agree with what youre saying, one young worker responded when asked about building a movement in the working class against both political parties responsible for the genocide. I think we do need to build a bigger movement with workers where its people-focused because given what the previous administration and the current administration have shown us is that they dont care about us. They saw the thousands of protests, hundreds of thousands of people when they were protesting for Palestine and all that got ignored. Money was still sent, weapons were still sent to Israel, theres still a genocide going on.

Another argued that the working class is getting squeezed in a way that is becoming intolerable, is already intolerable for a lot of folks. But its also where the power is. Like in history, it is the working class who rises up and is able to, by sheer number, by the fact that theyre the ones who make society go... the working class has power but there needs to be a lot more organizing.

She noted the practical challenges workers face in political mobilization, Its really hard for the working class to show up in ways because they have to work, they have to feed their kids, they have to go from job to job. Her companion added, And then they have to come to these court dates when the police steal their phone.

Several attendees emphasized the connection between US foreign policy and domestic repression, suggesting that attacks on democratic rights at home are directly linked to US support for Israels actions in Gaza.

Neither [the Biden nor Trump administration] has in any way condemned Israel for perpetrating a genocide, stated one woman. Moral clarity has come from students, community members, faculty and staff who are willing to speak out against what is happening at oftentimes great personal risk.

She elaborated on the connection between foreign and domestic policy, Is there continuity between a policy of genocide there and policies of repression here and actions of repression? Absolutely. The one cannot be fought outside the other. And so here, and we know whenever the United States wages war, implements genocidal policy, it prepares for protests here. So the domestic front is considered another war front in a multi-fronted battle.

Protesters emphasized that legal challenges like Irshads are crucial for countering the chilling effect that university administrations and government agencies aim to create among student activists.

Suits like this are important because these tactics of repression are meant to create fear, are meant to stop these workers. And meant to divide people. To make workers and make students afraid to speak up and to do these things because they have a lot on the line, said one protester. This is one piece of the bigger puzzle, but like, we have to show up because this is part of the machinery that is keeping workers, students, other people who really hold the power but are not able to use it effectively. Theyre keeping us all down.

Another woman noted, When we take a look at the wider scope of repression happening and the absolute lack of trust in the police, and the judicial overreach, everything happening right now... you see people get tied up in court and with retaliatory action. And Im glad that they were able to make a little bit of headway today, but the question that they asked about the chilling effect on protesters within the court was extremely correct because were seeing people getting deported for protest action right now.

She continued, detailing the material impact of such retaliation, Every little piece of the authoritarian machine from deporting people to taking away their personal items, their phones, which have their memories, their contacts, cost hundreds of dollars, hundreds of dollars that many of these college students dont have... It is like a mountain, you know, this sort of, the machine of state violence against everyday people who are trying to express their First Amendment right.

Some attendees pointed to direct financial connections between the University of California system and Israeli military interests, suggesting these ties help explain the universitys aggressive stance against pro-Palestinian protesters.

Some of the donors to the UC include the Helen Diller Foundation. The Helen Diller Foundation funds, on the one hand, the Cancer Hospital at UCSF. Its the largest donor to the UC. It donated $1.5 billion, but where does the money come from? It comes from Prometheus, which is one of the largest corporate slum lords, explained one attendee. They also fund the Canary Mission [a Zionist doxing website that publishes the personal information of students, professors, and organizations that it slanders as antisemitic] and Friends of the IDF.

There was also significant sympathy for the whole student protest movement which emerged in October 2023.

If the students are putting themselves in the front lines, like we as everyone who care about freedom and democracy and also just like about the lives of people including Palestinians, including the students who are putting their lives on the line including immigrants, like we have to show up for people like these students, said one woman.

Another supporter added, You know, I think that wherever we can, we have to resist these kinds of incursions. And today was a very welcome outcome, hard won by lawyers that fought tirelessly on the rights of people to protest during these times. That is significant.
A TV display shows video evidence of Schurr struggling with and shooting Patrick Lyoya [Photo: Grand Rapids Police Department]

The long-awaited jury trial of former Grand Rapids, Michigan, police officer Christopher Schurr, who has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed Congolese refugee, began on Monday in the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids.

The trials first two days before Michigan Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims included testimony from friends of Lyoya, police officers and witnesses of the shooting. The prosecution argued that Schurrs use of lethal force constituted second-degree murder, while the defense claimed that the former officer was acting in self-defense.

The killing of Lyoya, which was captured on smartphone and police video, sparked widespread outrage and calls for an end to racism, violence and murder by police. The trial and its outcome are being closely watched because the murder charge brought against a police officer is extremely rare and convictions even more so.

According to a study published by Bowling Green State University, for example, in the instances of thousands of people killed by police between 2005 and 2019, there were just 104 non-federal law enforcement officerspolice officers, deputy sheriffs and state trooperswho were arrested for murder or manslaughter resulting from an on-duty shooting in the US. Of those 104 officers, as of 2019, 35 were convicted of a crime, 15 by guilty plea, 20 by jury trial, and none convicted by a bench trial.

Patrick Lyoya was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the oldest of six children. Due to war, the Lyoya family was displaced from their home and spent 11 years in a refugee camp in Malawi. In 2014 the family was granted asylum in the United States. Lyoyas parents worked diligently to rebuild their lives in the United States.

In a 2022 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Lyoyas mother described Patrick as a cheerful person, who made others laugh. His father described him as quiet and non-confrontational. A coworker of Lyoyas at an appliance shop remembered him as a focused, diligent worker.

The tragic circumstances of Lyoyas death, who was shot in the head execution-style by Shurr during a traffic stop, left the refugee community reeling. Grand Rapids is home to an estimated 8,000 Congolese refugees and 11 Congolese churches, the largest refugee group in the state. The communitys grief over Lyoyas death has been compounded by a growing sense of unease and vulnerability with the Trump administration's assault on immigrants. They are grappling with the erosion of their sense of safety in the United States, a country they had come to seeking refuge from violence and war.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the Grand Rapids Association of Pastors urged Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker to recuse himself from the decision on whether to charge Officer Schurr and requested a federal investigation. The Lyoya family also demanded the immediate release of the dashcam video. A private autopsy commissioned by the family revealed that Lyoya was killed from a single shot to the back of the head and the report was made public.

Officer Schurr was formally charged with second-degree murder in June of 2022. The Fraternal Order of Police in Grand Rapids denounced the charge as a ridiculous miscarriage of justice and established a donation fund in support of Schurr.

The shooting also prompted ongoing protests and vigils in Grand Rapids and Lansing, with hundreds gathering to demand justice for Lyoya. The familys quest for justice has now spanned over three years, with protests and vigils continuing to take place annually on the anniversary of Lyoyas death.

On Monday morning, supporters for both parties convened outside the courthouse. Schurrs supporters displayed American and pro-police thin blue line flags, while Lyoyas supporters chanted Justice for Patrick. Schurr has been free on bond pending the trials outcome.

The events surrounding the fatal shooting of Lyoya are well-documented through the video footage. On the morning of Monday, April 4, 2022, following a traffic stop initiated due to an improper license plate, Lyoya exited his vehicle and attempted to flee before engaging in a physical altercation with Officer Schurr over control of the officers taser. Video footage shows Officer Schurr struggling to restrain Lyoya, before eventually drawing his firearm and fatally shooting him at close range in the back of the head.

In his opening statement, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker maintained that the use of lethal force in this incident was unjustified. Becker stated that Lyoya never had any intent to harm Officer Schurr, only to get away. He underscored that the taser, classified as an electronic control device, is not designed to inflict lethal harm.

While Lyoya did resist arrest, the evidence does not suggest that he posed a significant threat of serious harm to Officer Schurr. In video footage of the incident Lyoya appears confused and scared after exiting his vehicle. Mikayla Hamilton, an attorney representing Schurr, argued that this case is about self-defense and that Officer Schurr was fighting for his life.

Lyoyas passenger, Aime Turishme, provided testimony about the events leading up to the shooting. Turishme recounted that Lyoya pulled over to investigate a loud noise coming from the vehicle. Turishme also recalled Lyoya and Officer Schurr going back and forth aggressively, eventually ending with Schurr gaining control on top of Lyoya.

Wayne Butler, a local resident and eyewitness, testified that he observed Lyoya exiting his vehicle and a struggle began with Officer Schurr in his front lawn. Butler noted that Lyoya ran in a circle attempting to evade Officer Schurr, rather than a straight line. Butler observed Lyoya being forced to the ground, where he failed to comply with Officer Schurrs commands, but did not actively resist or threaten the officer.

Butler also noted that during a brief separation between Lyoya and Officer Schurr, neither party took advantage of the opportunity to retreat nor did the officer call for backup. Butler testified that he never saw Lyoya exhibit aggressive behavior towards Officer Schurr. He saw Schurr ineffectively deploy his Taser. Lyoya attempted to defend himself against the Taser, prompting Butler to run upstairs to retrieve his phone to record the situation. Butler heard the pop of the gunshot before he made it back outside.

Bryan Chiles, an expert witness from Axiom Forensics, provided testimony regarding the mechanics and safety of Tasers. He clarified that Tasers are handheld devices, distinct from firearms, designed to temporarily incapacitate individuals by injecting electricity that overrides the nervous system, inducing muscle contraction.

Chiles explained that while Tasers emit high voltage, it is the electric current that poses potential risks. He assured the jury that, from an electrical safety perspective, Tasers are designed to not adversely affect the heart or cause permanent bodily damage. The Tasers effects are temporary, causing no long-term physiological impact. However, Chiles cautioned that when deployed in drive-stun mode, the Taser can cause significant pain and possibly serious injury.

Seth W. Stoughton, a former Tallahassee police officer, defined officer created jeopardy, for the jury, a concept referring to unjustified risk-taking by law enforcement which increases the chance that an officer will use force in a situation they are responsible for creating.

In his expert opinion, Stoughton concluded that the use of deadly force in this incident was not justified, as there was no imminent threat of great bodily harm or death. He further noted that established police protocol dictates that officers are required to provide a verbal warning before resorting to deadly force.

Nicholas G. Bloomfield, a former police officer and expert in use of force and accepted police practices, testified as the prosecutions final witness. Bloomfield expressed concerns regarding Officer Schurrs decision to deploy the Taser in such close proximity to Lyoya, particularly since there were no environmental restrictions for creating space between them.
Last night, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Australia held an online panel discussion featuring the partys candidates for the federal election on Saturday. The candidates addressed questions posed by viewers in the lively text chat, as well as others that have emerged as key issues among workers and young people in the course of the election campaign.

In addition to the candidates, and co-chairs Cheryl Crisp (SEP national secretary) and Tom Peters (Socialist Equality Group New Zealand leader), the meeting was addressed by SEP (US) national secretary Joseph Kishore.

The recorded meeting can be viewed in full below.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
The impact of US President Trumps tariff war against China is starting to show up in the economic data of both countries amid fears that much worse is to come in the months ahead.

On Wednesday, the US Commerce Department reported that GDP for the first quarter had contracted at an annual rate of 0.3 percent, largely as a result of companies trying to stock up on goods before the 145 percent tariff against Chinaa virtual economic blockadecomes into effect.

Incoming container ships line up outside the Port of Los Angeles as they wait for dock space. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

In China, official data showed a contraction in manufacturing activity and a slump in export orders to their lowest levels since the contraction due to COVID in 2022.

US GDP is calculated by subtracting imports from the total of government spending, exports, investment, and consumer spending. Imports for the first quarter surged by 41 percent, and the trade deficit hit a record high of $162 billion for March.

While the import surge was the main factor in the result, consumer spending showed signs of slowing, coming in at 1.8 percent growth, the smallest increase since mid-2023. Government spending also fell as the DOGE axe cut jobs and contracts.

Consumption demand, the main driver of US economic growth, is expected to slow further in the second quarter as Trumps tariff hikes come fully into effect. Investment decisions by companies are being put on hold because of mounting economic uncertainty.

In a comment to the New York Times, Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist for the financial and insurance firm Nationwide, predicted worsening economic conditions.

Once everything kicks in, well have a slower economy, the labor market is slowing. Hiring has already stalled, and we expect the unemployment rate to start to rise.

The chief economist at Moodys, Mark Zandi, shared these sentiments in remarks to the Wall Street Journal.

The GDP report probably overstates the economys weakness, but the economys weak, he said, pointing to slower consumption spending and government cuts.

If the administration cant find an off-ramp on the tariffs soon then I think were going to see a lot more negative GDP numbers ahead, and ultimately job losses.

The sacking of 20,000 UPS workers is an indication of what is to come.

So far there are no signs of any significant easing of the economic war, the main target of which is China. In an interview on Tuesday to mark his 100 days in office, Trump acknowledged that the tariffs amounted to an embargo.

Thats good, he said. They deserve it.

They were ripping us off like nobody has ever ripped us off. Almost every country in the world was ripping us off. Theyre not doing that anymore.

The administration has instituted a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs against a wide range of countries to allow negotiations to take place. But all indications are that any lessening of the tariff for individual countries will be tied to an agreement that they act against China.

This is aimed at trying to overcome a perceived weakness in the US position. So far as exports to China are concernedmainly grains and other agricultural productsChina is likely to be able to find other sources of supply.

But there are few alternative sources of supply for the goods that the US imports from China, and, at least to some extent, China will be able to find other markets. Hence the push to ensure that barriers are put in place by third countries to shut off any escape route.

Beijing has stated repeatedly that there will be no negotiations with the US until the tariff hikes are withdrawn. President Xi Jinping has warned of a long battle and that China will never kneel down to Washington. The tariffs, however, are starting to have an effect.

The official purchasing managers index issued by Chinas National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday dropped to 49 for April, down from 50.5 in March, with a level below 50 indicating a contraction.

The index for export orders dropped even more sharply to 44.7, its lowest level since December 2022, in the midst of the COVID pandemic.

The bureau said the decline in manufacturing activity was due to sharp changes in the external environment.

In a note to clients this week, Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said the latest data suggests that Chinas economy is coming under pressure as external demand cools and that steps by the government to pump money into the economy were unlikely to fully offset the drag.

Capital Economics, along with others, has forecast the Chinese economy will grow by only 3.5 percent this year, well below the governments target of 5 percent.

Earlier this week, the Japanese financial firm Nomura Securities predicted that if Chinese exports to the US dropped by 50 percent, then 5.7 million workers would immediately lose their jobs, and the number would grow to 15.8 million as the effects spread.

Last year, China relied on exports for around one-third of its economic growth, with Goldman Sachs estimating that between 10 million and 20 million manufacturing jobs in China are dependent on exports to the US.

At the same time, the impact of the China embargo is showing up at US West Coast ports, posing risks for jobs.

The number of containers to arrive at Los Angeles is set to drop by more than 35 percent next week compared to the same period last year, and a quarter of the ships scheduled for May have been cancelled, according to Gene Seroka, the ports executive director.

Based on conversations with companies, he told the New York Times that some of the 125,000 import companies which use the port, including big box retailers and home improvement firms, had halted nearly all their imports from China.

The situation is the same at the port of Long Beach, where the number of ships arriving from China dropped 38 percent this week from last week, and at least 30 ships scheduled in June have been cancelled.

In a report on the situation at the ports, the Times cited comments by Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, who said what was underway was a pure demand destruction scenario.

He indicated that if the downturn were sustained, the job consequences would go beyond port workers, extending to trucking and warehouse jobs, with ripple effects for the broad economic community.

In a research note issued last month, Torsten Slok, chief economist at the financial firm Apollo Global Management, said the fall in shipments from China could lead to significant layoffs in trucking, logistics, and retail in May.

Christmas is still some way off, but it is at this time of year that retail outlets place their orders for toys, Christmas trees, and decorations, the vast bulk of which come from China.

An article in the Times this week said that alarm in the industry is palpable, with some business owners consulting bankruptcy lawyers because they are simply unable to continue with 145 percent tariffs.

The article reported that in a survey of 410 toy companies, around 60 percent had cancelled orders, and around 50 percent said they would go out of business within weeks or months if the tariffs remained.

Just one month after Trumps economic war was launched on April 2, the data coming in points to the destruction scenario now rapidly unfolding. It has major political implications because it underscores the objective necessity for the unification of the struggles of American and Chinese workers as they confront the disaster being unleashed by the deepening breakdown of the global capitalist economy.
The Australian federal election has been marked by a further shift to the right by the entire political establishment, extending beyond Labor and the Liberals. The Greens have dropped their pacifist mask, unveiling a militarist program based on missiles and drones, while begging Labor for a coalition government.

The pseudo-left groups are advocating a vote for the Greens and Labor, under conditions where the Albanese Labor government has spent the last three years preparing for war with China, supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza and inflicting the worst reversal to working-class living standards in decades.

The campaign of the Victorian Socialists (VS), the most prominent pseudo-left group, has been marked by complete parochialism. VS has said virtually nothing about the immense crisis of global capitalism, expressed most sharply in the coming to power of the fascistic Trump administration in the US, or the associated descent of the world into trade war, militarism and a threatened world war.

Its campaign is instead based on the claim that pressure on the parties of big business, Labor and the Liberals, above all through a vote for VS, will result in social reforms. This is a fraud, under conditions of a crisis of Australian capitalism and demands from the ruling elite for sweeping austerity. Most striking, though, is how limited the VS program is. It does not even call for the nationalisation of the banks or the expropriation of the billionaires. It is a program that is not socialist in any sense of the term.

Victorian Socialists election corflute in Melbourne

That is also expressed in the selection by VS of Jordan van den Lamb as its lead candidate for the Senate in Victoria. A social media celebrity who goes by the handle Purple pingers, Van den Lamb has no record of involvement in the socialist movement or the struggles of the working class whatsoever.

Van den Lamb came to prominence after he began posting short videos on TikTok and Instagram in mid-2021, pointing to the housing crisis and the plight of renters. The content clearly resonated with layers of young people and he gained a substantial following.

But the videos themselves are politically bereft. Van den Lambs content is variations of a single, basic idea, which is already widely held among masses of people, namely that the housing market is unfair and that renters are the most disadvantaged. The videos, delivered in a flippant and unserious tone, generally do not go further than that and do nothing to politically educate the viewers.

To the extent that Van den Lamb advanced a policy, prior to his VS candidacy, it was largely advocacy of squatting. While socialists oppose police attacks and other repression directed against those forced into such dire circumstances, the socialist movement has never promoted squatting as a way forward.

To make the obvious point, squatting is not a viable option for most working people, including those facing homelessness. It is simply impossible to function for any length of time in the 21st century in a dwelling without power, running water or sewerage, and with the constant prospect of police kicking in the door.

Politically, calls for squatting have been associated with individualistic and anarchistic tendencies, not the socialist movement. They present the fraud that there is some sort of individual solution to the housing crisis, an inherently systemic issue. And they are directed against the only real solution, the political mobilisation of the working class against the governments, the property developers and the banks, with the perspective of taking political power and reorganising society along socialist lines.

The bankruptcy of Van den Lambs pseudo-radical posturing is underscored by the fact that it has gone hand in hand with an orientation to the political establishment, including private meetings with senior politicians and a substantial amount of friendly coverage from the corporate media. This is an individual who is not seen as a threat, in the slightest, by the powers-that-be.

A February 2024 profile in the Law Society Journal revealed that Van den Lamb had recently held a private meeting with the New South Wales (NSW) Labor governments housing minister, Rose Jackson, which he described as really promising. She acknowledged the concerns that I and many renters have and the difficulties in tackling these concerns, he reported.

At that time, the NSW government was proceeding with its plans to demolish public housing in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo, as part of a broader housing policy geared entirely to the demands of the property developers. In the months before February 2024, NSW Labor had also been the most aggressive government in the country in seeking to criminalise opposition to the Gaza genocide.

When Van den Lamb announced his VS candidacy last August, many of his followers expressed surprise that he was not instead running for the Greens. Indeed, his previous political statements did not go far beyond the bounds of that capitalist party. Van den Lamb only appears to have begun referencing socialism in the lead-up to becoming the VS lead candidate. Prior to that, he was a single-issue figure. For instance, he appears to have rarely mentioned the genocide in Gaza.

In the election campaign, Van den Lamb has largely continued as a single-issue activist. Aside from raising the issue of rental rights, he has commented on only a handful of other questions. To the extent that Van den Lamb has spoken on the overall political situation, it has been to put forward in particularly crude form the need to pressure capitalist governments for concessions.

VS calls for a substantial expansion of public housing, caps on rents and other measures, but the entire thrust of their campaign is that such policies will be achieved by pressuring the major parties, especially Labor but even the Liberals. Van den Lamb has even gone so far as to develop something of a mathematical formula of VS parliamentary opportunism. If VS wins 10 to 15 percent of the vote, he has stated, it may compel the political establishment to shift course.

In an interview for the election campaign, Van den Lamb stated that socialism means increasing democracy, which you can kind of do in stages under capitalism itself. That is, for Van den Lamb, socialism is simply a duplicitous label, behind which to practice capitalist politics.

VS and Socialist Alternative, the pseudo-left group which controls it as an electoral front, have attempted to provide Van den Lamb with some left-wing credentials. To overcome the obvious issue that their candidate is a social media celebrity, who has never taken part in a working-class struggle in his life, they promoted Van den Lamb as their frontman during the Woolworths strike last December.

However, VS and Van den Lamb simply functioned as cheerleaders of the Labor-aligned bureaucracy of the United Workers Union (UWU). They aggressively promoted the right-wing union leadership as it isolated the 1,500 striking workers, shut down the strike and rammed through a sell-out deal, betraying workers demands for pay increases and an improvement to extremely onerous conditions.

In a recent post to X, Van den Lamb gloated over the fact that Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaigners were repeatedly removed from UWU protests outside the striking warehouses. Our campaigners were targeted by the UWU bureaucracy because the SEP warned of the impending sellout, fought to expand the strike and called for workers to take matters into their own hands. Van den Lambs retrospective endorsement of the UWUs attacks on the SEP only underscores the fact that he and VS are flunkies of the union bureaucracy, hostile to the fight to mobilise the working class independently of these corporatised apparatuses.

In some of Van den Lambs more recent videos, he has quoted the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. He reads such quotes, which have no bearing on the program he advances, as from a script developed by his VS handlers. But notwithstanding this threadbare attempt to provide Van den Lamb with a socialist colouration, he has made little attempt to conceal his contempt and hostility towards the traditions of the socialist movement and the fight for Marxism.

Jordan van den Lamb shows his disdain for Marxist theory [Photo: Threads/@purplepingers]

In a post earlier this year, he declared: My favourite part about socialist theory is that most of it is short AF [as f..ck], which means you get more time to actually do the things. That being said, there are certainly some of us who sit behind a computer, masturbating over how theyve read more Lenin than you, and Id encourage some of those people to perhaps go outside.

Van den Lamb is completely disdainful of the rich writings of Lenin, which are in some cases quite lengthy, or any of the other great MarxistsEngels, Marx himself and Trotskythat are essential to the building of a revolutionary socialist movement of the working class.

A Greens or Labor Party politician would probably say something similar. This is a right-wing individual, who has made no class break whatsoever. He is a privileged young man who grew up in a wealthy family and has worked in senior positions in the federal public sector ever since graduating from university.

Van den Lambs marriage of convenience with VS

His candidacy has the character of a marriage of convenience with VS and Socialist Alternative (SAlt). For SAlt, Van den Lamb opens up access to a large social media audience as well as press coverage. To be blunt, they calculate that his celebrity will give them a large vote. For Van den Lamb, VS has provided an electoral apparatus, a few policies beyond his one-liners on housing, and left-wing credentials.

At a more fundamental level, Van den Lamb is a fitting representative of the pseudo-left. He already has some of what they want: celebrity status and access to the establishment media. His open indifference and hostility to political principle, while expressed in particularly crude terms, is shared by the pseudo-left as a whole, which increasingly regards even empty revolutionary socialistic flourishes as an encumbrance.

To state that the pseudo-left has no connection to the working class and does not fight for socialism is correct. But it is also somewhat behind the times. These forces have moved to the right and are beyond such questions. Under conditions of a crisis of the major capitalist parties, their aspiration is to achieve prominence within the political establishment and advance the interests of the social layer they representa privileged, grasping layer of the upper-middle class.

In its program, social constituency, and political perspective, VS is a petty bourgeois formation running a reformist campaign that does not challenge capitalism, with an upper-middle class lead Senate candidate.

This basic reality was expressed with remarkable candour at SAlts recent conference, in several contributions by Corey Oakley, a leading SAlt member and VSs registered officer.

Oakley declared that the rise of Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn had legitimised the idea of socialism. In fact, Sanders has, for the best part of a decade, sought to misdirect an increasing attraction to socialism, back behind the Democratic Party, the party of genocide and Wall Street. Corbyn played the same role in Britain. Their rotten politics paved the way for Trumps victory in the US and in Britain the most right-wing Labour government in history, committed to massive war and austerity.

Oakley was silent on this. These are the models to be emulated, and their rise prompted SAlt to form VS in 2018 based on a vague reformism, very similar to that of Corbyn and Sanders.

Panel at pseudo-left Victorian Socialists anti-war meeting in Melbourne on June 3, 2023. Corey Oakley is in the centre.

In Australia, Oakley stated that VS was targeting the inner-city heartland of Melbourne, and particularly its middle-class layers, People who would normally vote for the Greens, who think the Greens arent left-wing enough now. So that space has clearly opened up. These people are not disillusioned blue-collar workers, he emphasised, but young inner-city renters.

That is, on the one hand, VS is promoting illusions in the Greens, under conditions where that party is begging for a pro-war, pro-business coalition with Labor. On the other, it is also fishing in the waters of the Greens, whose core voting base has always been the wealthiest of any party, even more so than Labor and the Liberals.

Oakley summed up the VS attitude to the working class in the most vulgar terms. The working class is f..cked in terms of where the class struggle is at, he remarked. That is a statement of intense class hostility to workers. And it is a fraud, because to the extent that the class struggle has been suppressed, the political responsibility lies, not with workers, but with the very union bureaucracies defended and promoted by VS.

To the extent that workers were of any use, Oakley explained, it was that were able to get 5 to 10 percent of the vote in working-class areas. Because, after all, Getting a big socialist vote is the crucial thing. Even most Labor and Liberal politicians are more discreet about the fact they are interested solely in votes, and in entering parliament.

Oakleys latter comments were in response to a question from the Socialist Equality Party candidate for Calwell, Morgan Peach. The SEP candidate had recalled SAlts support for imperialist war over the past decade, including its championing of the US-led regime-change operation in Syria and of the US-NATO war against Russia. He had noted that SAlt had for years downplayed and denied the existence of a US-Australian war drive against China, while falsely presenting the latter as an aggressor in the Indo-Pacific, a line that dovetailed with the propaganda of Washington and Canberra.

Oakley, Peach pointed out, had infamously coined the phrase that it was necessary to dispense with knee-jerk anti-imperialism, i.e., to stop opposing imperialist war. How, with this record, could SAlt claim to be anti-war? he asked.

Oakley essentially refused to answer. Like a lawyer, he declared that he would not relitigate his past comments, or the US onslaught on Syria which has now resulted in the establishment of a CIA-backed Al Qaeda dictatorship.

More revealing was the response of the audience, consisting primarily of SAlt and VS members. When Peach raised the issues of imperialism, many of them simply laughed. The clear impression was that for these middle-class layers, who comprise the social base of the pseudo-left, the scientific Marxist term imperialism was passe and old-fashioned.

The pseudo-left functions as capitalisms last line of defence, promoting Labor, the Greens, and the union bureaucracy and seeking to fill the political vacuum with a left-populist bourgeois party in the form of VS.

This is directed against the fight for a genuine socialist and revolutionary perspective, advanced in this election by the SEP and globally by our world party the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). The ICFI is based on the fundamental program and heritage of Marxism, as developed by the Trotskyist movement over decades. It advances and takes forward the bedrock principles of socialisminternationalism, a scientifically grounded confidence in the revolutionary role of the working class, and above all, a fight to provide that class with a revolutionary leadership.

Workers and young people seeking a genuine alternative to the descent into war, austerity and dictatorship, should support and join the SEP.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. [AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson]

After tumultuous conflicts between Kiev and Washington, and between the imperialist powers in Europe and the US, the US and Ukraine signed a critical minerals deal on Wednesday.

The deal grants the US significant prerogatives in the exploitation of 57 mineral resources in Ukraine, including critical minerals, oil and gas. Shortly after the signing of the deal, on Thursday, the Trump administration announced that it had released $50 million in US military aid to Ukraine, ending the previous US hold on military assistance.

Although watered down from the contract of naked neocolonial plunder that the US presented in February, the deal underscores the imperialist and predatory character of the war in Ukraine. Far from defending democracy and liberty, the conflict has always been rooted in the drive of the imperialist powers to assert control over the vast resources and riches of the entire former Soviet Union, including Ukraine and Russia. This is why they deliberately provoked the reactionary invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime, seeking to make it the starting point for the imperialist carve-up of the entire region.

As the World Socialist Web Site analyzed in 2022, underlying the war was the rapacious quest of the imperialist powers for critical earth minerals that are vital to the functioning of the modern economy, especially the production of microchips and the development of the most advanced technologies, such as AI and electric vehicles. The vast majority of the extraction and processing of critical minerals in the world today is taking place in China, which is the principal target of the war preparations of US imperialism.

It is in this context that the raw material resources of the former Soviet Union, including but not only in Russia and Ukraine, have acquired strategic significance for the imperialist powers. In addition to significant holdings of raw materials like oil, gas and gold, both Russia and Ukraine have large known deposits of critical minerals, such as lithium and titanium.

Cloaked in the language of human rights and democracy under the Biden administration, the Trump administration now openly upholds these predatory interests as the driving force of US foreign policy.

In contrast to the February draft, which would have given the US full ownership and rights to the extraction of all of Ukraines raw materials, the signed deal provides for the formation of a Joint Reconstruction Investment Fund with equal representation from the US and Ukraine. For the first 10 years, all revenues will be directed toward the reconstruction of Ukraine. But US companies will have the first right to invest in and purchase any projects initiated by this fund.

Any further US military assistance to Ukraine will count as a contribution to the fund. For this deal, the US has dropped earlier demands by Trump that Ukraine repay all the military aid the US has provided to Ukraine so far, an estimated $67 billion. As in the past, the US has refused to mention any security guarantees for Ukraine in the deal.

Ukraine will have to use 50 percent of all revenue generated from new licenses for oil, gas and critical minerals to finance its participation in this Fund.

Whereas the February draft would have given the US exclusive rights to the extraction of Ukraines minerals, the signed deal mentions EU membership for Ukraine as an option and allows for renegotiations of conditions in good faith to allow Ukraine to abide by potential contractual obligations to the EU.

The draft in February had triggered angry responses by the European imperialist powers, which fear being sidelined in the plunder of Ukraine. Like the American ruling class, the European bourgeoisie, especially in Germany, France and Britain, has invested billions in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine in order to secure its right to the vast raw material resources of the region. To rival the US bid for Ukraines raw materials and secure deposits for the European bourgeoisie, the EU in February initiated negotiations about a win-win partnership with Kiev.

Notwithstanding a vague nod to the interests of Germany, France and other European imperialist powers, in the language of the deal, it was clearly struck in a successful effort to preempt their moves to get a hold of the booty. The US-Ukraine agreement stipulates that notwithstanding any new legislation of Ukraine or amendments to legislation of Ukraine that may be adopted in the future, the US and American companies will receive treatment no less favorable than required by this Agreement.

This treatment ensures that there will be no taxes, tariffs, duties, deductions or withholdings of any kind to the profits made by US corporations in the extraction of Ukraines raw materials.

Nominally, Ukraine retains full ownership and control over its resources and can decide who will extract what and where. But, from the standpoint of the working class, this independence is a fiction. Ukraine is ruled by a criminal oligarchy that, like its Russian counterpart, has emerged out of the Stalinist bureaucracys destruction of the Soviet Union, carried out hand in glove with the imperialist powers. Since then, the oligarchs in Ukraine, as in Russia, have amassed enormous amounts of wealth by plundering state assets and selling off the countrys resources to imperialist countries.

Thus, by virtue of its entire socio-economic basis and history, the Ukrainian oligarchy is intrinsically tied to the imperialist powers, between which it constantly maneuvers and on whose behalf it has sent hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to the slaughter. While the deal may provide the oligarchs with a basis to siphon off parts of the profits from the extraction of raw materials for their own enrichment, at its core, it is the pseudo-legal basis for the neocolonial exploitation of the countrys resources.

As in many colonial forays in the past, its objective basis is highly tenuous. A study by the Canadian NGO SecDev in 2022 estimated that the worth of Ukraines critical mineral deposits at $12 trillion, figures that have been echoed by NATO politicians since. Yet the vast majority of them are undeveloped, and many experts cast doubt on the envisioned critical minerals bonanza in Ukraine.

Javier Blas, an energy and commodities columnist for Bloomberg, noted on Twitter/X:

Its not the first time that the US has gotten its geology wrong in a war zone. Back in 2010, the US announced it had discovered $1 trillion of untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, including some crucial for electric-car batteries, like lithium. It was utter fantasy.  So does Ukraine have some mineral riches? Yes. It does have large deposits of iron ore and coal, neither of which are strategically important from a global perspective. Before the war, Ukraine produced just a bit more iron ore than countries like the US, Canada and Sweden. ... But the key is that Ukraine doesnt have any commercial deposits. Almost universally, the documents found online mistake (small) accumulations of some rare-earth-bearing minerals as equating with a commercial mine. They arent the same.

Moreover, an estimated 50 percent of all of Ukraines mineral resources are now in territories controlled by Russia. They no doubt feature prominently in the current US-Russian negotiations.

The ravages of war will further complicate any extraction of raw materials. After more than three years of war, Ukraine is now the most mined country in the world. Estimates suggest that, as of late 2024, between 25 and 30 percent of the countrys territoryroughly 174,000 square kilometersare contaminated with millions of landmines and other explosives. At least 413 people have lost their lives because of landmines since 2022. The heavy mining has already severely undermined Ukraines agriculture, which has lost arrable land the size of Belgium as a result. It will inevitably pose significant obstacles to the extraction of raw material resources of any kind.

Whatever the immediate outcome of this deal and the further negotiations by the Trump administration with the Kremlin, workers must see the deal as a stark warning as to the character of the events that are unfolding: The war in Ukraine, with its hundreds of thousands of dead and millions injured, is but the opening stage of an imperialist redivision of the world, rooted in the irresoluble crisis of the capitalist system as a whole and accelerated by the decline of US imperialism.

It can only be stopped through the intervention of the international working class, which must be unified on the basis of a socialist program and mobilized in opposition to the ruling classes of all countries.
The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) [AP Photo/John Hamilton/U.S. Army]

US military spending surged to $997 billion in 2024, the largest nominal figure of any country in world history, according to figures released this week by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Annual US military spending increased by $81 billion over 2023, and a staggering $344 billion over the past decade, the organization said in its annual report. The surge was fueled by Washingtons deepening involvement in the war against Russia in Ukraine and the ever-expanding war throughout the Middle East.

The United States spends more on its military than the next 10 largest militaries combined. Its military spending is more than three times larger than that of the next-nearest competitor, China, which has a significantly larger economy than the United States by purchasing power parity.

The massive surge in US military spending coincides with the Trump administration firing over 100,000 federal workers and slashing social security, Medicare and Medicaid.

In dollar terms, the increase in US military spending dwarfs additional spending by all other countries. The surge in US military spending led the pack of all of the imperialist countries, which massively expanded their military spending in 2024.

The world is now rearming at the fastest rate since the Cold War, SIPRI reported, with a 9.4 percent increase in military spending around the world  the highest rate in figures going back to 1988.

As a result, global military spending reached $2.7 trillion, an increase of 9.4 percent over the past year. World military spending has increased for 10 years in a row, SIPRI reported.

Israel, which is carrying out a genocide in Gaza in league with US imperialism, increased its military spending by a staggering 65 percent, to $46.5 billion.

SIPRI noted that the surge in US military spending was driven by the strategy outlined in the 2022 US National Defense Strategy, whose central target was China. SIPRI wrote that spending on combat-credible conventional forces and nuclear weapons totaled $246 billion. It stated:

This included $37.7 billion for nuclear weapon modernization and $29.8 billion for missile defense. With the aim of strengthening its air and sea power, the USA spent $61.1 billion on weapon systems for its F-35 combat aircraft in 2024 and $48.1 billion on new naval vessels.

US supplemental spending included $48.4 billion for the war in Ukraine and $10.6 billion to fund Israels genocide in Gaza and wars throughout the Middle East.

While they were dwarfed by the United States in dollar terms, the largest increases in percentage terms came from Germany and Japan, whose expansionist military aims were a central instigator of the Second World War, and who committed the greatest war crimes in world history during that war.

Germanys military expenditure surged to $88.5 billion in 2024, making it the worlds fourth-largest military spender, and the highest-spending military in Europe. Germanys military spending increased by 28 percent from 2023 and 89 percent from 2015.

Japan increased its military spending by 21 percent in 2024, devoting the largest share of national spending to the military since 1958.

Poland saw its military spending surge by 31 percent to $38.0 billion, a figure that represents 4.2 percent of its GDP  the highest in Europe.

Sweden, which formally joined NATO in 2024, saw its defense spending surge by 34 percent, hitting NATOs spending target of 2 percent of GDP.

Europe as a whole increased its military spending by 17 percent in 2024, to $693 billion.

Over 100 countries around the world raised their military spending in 2024. As governments increasingly prioritize military security, often at the expense of other budget areas, the economic and social trade-offs could have significant effects on societies for years to come, said SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang.

Russias military spending reached $149 billion in 2024, a 38 percent increase from 2023. China increased its military spending by 7 percent.

The surge in US military spending will only accelerate. In December, the US House of Representatives approved the largest annual military spending bill in US history, allocating another $895 billion to wage war all over the world and expand the US nuclear arsenal.

The bill authorizes the Air Force to restore the nuclear capability of the B-52 bomber and expand its capabilities for delivering long-range nuclear standoff weapons. It prohibits, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, reducing the number of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles below 400. The bill authorizes the construction of new nuclear-powered submarines and guided missile destroyers as part of a $33.5 billion expansion of shipbuilding, alongside the construction of 92 new fighter aircraft.

Last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged a $1 trillion nominal budget for 2026, meaning that actual military spending would be even higher. COMING SOON: the first TRILLION-dollar @DeptofDefense budget, Hegseth said in a social media post. (PS: we intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wiselyon lethality and readiness), he added.

In a separate statement, Trump told reporters:

Nobodys seen anything like it We have to build our military, and were very cost-conscious, but the military is something that we have to build. And we have to be strong because youve got a lot of bad forces out there now.
Prison guards transfer people deported from the United States to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP) [AP Photo]

In a significant ruling Thursday, Trump-appointed US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in Brownsville, Texas ruled the Trump administration exceeded its authority in deporting Venezuelans 14 years and older and alleged to be Tren de Aragua gang members, having improperly invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

Judge Rodriguez Jr. wrote:

[T]he historical record renders clear that the Presidents invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statutes terms. Respondents do not possess the lawful authority under the AEA, and based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country.

The ruling will not free imprisoned immigrants, only prevent their deportation under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). The judge wrote:

Executive Branch has and will continue to rely on the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove aliens found to represent a danger to the country. The question that this lawsuit presents is whether the President can utilize a specific statute, the AEA, to detain and remove Venezuelan aliens who are members of TdA.

It is the fourth time a federal judge has blocked deportations under the AEA within their judicial districts since Trump invoked the wartime law on March 15.

Lawyers for the imprisoned facing deportation presented three arguments before the court. First they argued that under the AEA Proclamation issued by Trump, their clients were not given reasonable notice and a meaningful opportunity to challenge their designation as alien enemies.

Second, they challenged the AEA Proclamation itself, asserting there is no invasion or predatory incursion against the United States by any foreign nation or government, including Venezuela.

Finally, they argued that the Proclamation targeting Venezuelans fleeing political persecution violates the specific protections that Congress established under the Immigration and Nationality Act for non-citizens seeking humanitarian protection.

The court did not rule in petitioners favor in relation to the first argument, noting that because their case was before him, they had been given reasonable notice and a meaningful opportunity to challenge their removal under the AEA. However, the court acknowledged that hundreds or thousands of others facing deportation have not been given notice.

The court also did not rule on the third argument, based on jurisdictional grounds.

But in relation to the second argument, the federal judge agreed that the US was not under an invasion or predatory incursion.

Judge Rodriguez Jr. wrote that the Proclamations language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of invasion for purposes of the AEA. He added that he had reviewed numerous historical records using invasion, predatory incursion, and incursion for the period from 1780 through 1820.

He wrote:

In the significant majority of the records, the use of invasion and predatory incursion referred to an attack by military forces. This held true even when the historical record did not concern the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. As for predatory incursion, the Proclamation does not describe an armed group of individuals entering the United States as an organized unit to attack a city, coastal town, or other defined geographical area, with the purpose of plundering or destroying property and lives. While the Proclamation references that TdA members have harmed lives in the United States and engage in crime, the Proclamation does not suggest that they have done so through an organized armed attack, or that Venezuela has threatened or attempted such an attack through TdA members. As a result, the Proclamation also falls short of describing a predatory incursion as that concept was understood at the time of the AEAs enactment.

The three petitioners before the court are all facing deportation under the AEA while detained in Texas, which currently houses nearly a quarter of the roughly 48,000 people in the American immigration gulag. Two of the three petitioners before the court recently claimed asylum in the US and all of them denied being members of Tren de Aragua.

Petitioner J.A.V is a Venezuelan national who was arrested in February 2025 by ICE agents at his asylum claim interview. Despite denying membership in TdA, J.A.V. was imprisoned. On March 9 he was transferred to El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas, and five days later, on March 14, he was told he would be removed in the next two days.

Similarly, petitioner J.G.G. is a Venezuelan national who said he entered the US to escape torture in Venezuela because a family member is a known political dissident. On March 6, J.G.G. was transferred from California to the El Valle Detention Center and on March 14 the government tried to deport him to El Salvador, but the plane did not leave. J.G.G. was told he would be removed the following day.

Petitioner W.G.H. had been living in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and step-daughter when he was arrested by ICE agents on February 20. On March 7, ICE agents submitted a form claiming that an immigration court identified W.G.H. as a TdA gang associate. On March 10, W.G.H. was transferred to El Valle and told by prison guards he would be removed on March 15 or 16.

In his ruling, Judge Rodriguez Jr. gave deference to Congress and the executive branch over immigration and foreign policy, but argued it was within the courts jurisdiction to interpret Congressional statutes to determine whether a government official has exceeded the statutes scope.

He wrote:

Allowing the President to unilaterally define the conditions when he may invoke the AEA, and then summarily declare that those conditions exist, would remove all limitations to the Executive Branchs authority under the AEA, and would strip the courts of their traditional role of interpreting Congressional statutes to determine whether a government official has exceeded the statutes scope.

The government argued that invasion under the AEA was analogous to nebulous terms such as hostile entrance or hostile encroachment into the United States. In contrast, lawyers for the immigrants relied on the historical use of the terms to establish that Trumps proclamation does not entail a military action, either actual or threatened, against the nation.

Judge Rodriguez Jr. agreed, writing that an invasion as defined under the AEA means there:

... was an entry into the nations territory by a military force or an organized, armed force, with the purpose of conquering or obtaining control over territory. In a similar vein, the common usage of predatory incursion and, to a lesser degree, incursion, referenced a military force or an organized, armed force entering a territory to destroy property, plunder, and harm individuals, with a subsequent retreat from that territory.

Even with Thursdays ruling, there is no guarantee that Trump and his gang of fascists will not continue to ignore the courts and the Constitution in their bid to establish a presidential dictatorship.

Speaking to Trump in the Oval Office earlier this week, ABCs Terry Moran raised the continued imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident illegally deported to El Salvador along with nearly 300 other men this past March. Roughly half of those deported to the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) were sent under the Alien Enemies Act.

You could get him back, there is phone on this desk, Moran said. I could, replied Trump, admitting that while he could have Abrego Garcia, and the hundreds of others wrongly imprisoned in CECOT, released, he would continue to ignore the Supreme Courts ruling.

Moran continued: You could call up the president of El Salvador and say, Send him back, right now.

Trump replied, And if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that, but hes not.

Moran rebutted, But the [Supreme] Court has ordered you to facilitate his release

Trump interjected, Im not the one making this decision. We have lawyers that dont want to do this, Terry

But you are the president! Moran replied. The buck stops in this office.

No, no, no, Trump responded. I follow the law. You want me to follow the law? If I were the president that just wanted to do anything, Id probably keep him right where he is.

In the same interview, Trump claimed the media was lying about Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliation because it did not lend credence to a photo-shopped image disseminated by fascists online. The forgery, which added the letters/numbers M S 1 3 to Abrego Garcias knuckles, was shared by Trump on X.



Trump said the media claimed Abrego Garcia ... wasnt a member of a gang. And then they looked and on his knuckles he had MS-13.

Moran interjected, There was a dispute about that, to which Trump replied, But wait a minute. But wait a minute. He had MS-13 on his knuckles, tattooed.

Moran replied, Well, they didnt say that. He had some tattoos that are interpreted that way, but lets move on

Trump, adamant in advancing the lie, said, But wait a minute. Hey Terry. Terry. Terry. Dont do that.

Moran replied, He did not have the letter M, S, 1, 3.



Trump: It says MS-13.

Moran: That was photo-shopped.

Trump, leaning in, hissed:

That was photo-shopped? Terry, you cant do that. Hey, they are giving you the big break of a lifetime. You know, you are doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you, but thats okay. I picked you, Terry, but you are not being very nice. He had MS-13 tattoos.

Moran tried to move on, Well agree to disagree, to which Trump replied, Terry, do you want me to show you the picture?

Moran: I saw the picture. Well agree to disagree.

Trump: You think that was photo-shopped? Dont photo-shop it. Go look at his hand. He had MS-13.

Moran again tried to steer the conversation towards another topic, specifically the ongoing war in Ukraine, but Trump would not cease advancing his fascist conspiracy theory.

No, no, no, no. He had MS, as clear as you can be. Not interpreted. This is why people no longer believe the news, because its fake, Trump said.

Moran replied, When he was photographed in El Salvador, they were not there. But lets just go on. They arent there when he is in El Salvador.

Trump responded, Oh, oh, they werent there, but they are there now right?



Moran: No. They are in your picture.

Trump: Terry, hes got MS-13 on his knuckles.

Moran softly replied All right.

Trump hissed in reply, Its... you such a disservice. Why dont you just say yes, he does? And you know, go on to something else.
Daisy Rodriguez and her husband Santos Maudilio Saucedo Rivas, whose face is obscured out for concern for his safety [Photo by Daisy Rodriguez]

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the United States government seeking a reconsideration of a case of a Tennessee man stranded by the government in 2022 ostensibly over a tattoo. The man, Santos Maudilio Saucedo Rivas, left for Guatemala to attend an immigration review as part of a process to grant him permanent residence. His travel was approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Instead, Saucedo Rivas was forbidden from returning to the US, the country where he spent his entire adult life up to that point. He was eligible for his green cardthe only reason he left home and went back there was to get the cardbut he was prejudged by consular officials, who said that he looked like a criminal, and was denied, said Eric Lee, legal counsel on Saucedo Rivas case.

This prevented him from returning to his wife, deprived him of his livelihood, and significantly limits his access to communication with his wife due to the region of Guatemala he is in.

In response, Saucedo Rivas wife, Daisy Rodriguez, a US citizen, sued the US Department of State, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as the US Embassy in Guatemala City and others involved in the violation of her husbands rights as well as her own First Amendment right to talk to her husband.

In a series of three interviews between 2022 and 2023, US consular officials accused him of affiliation with the Barrio Azteca gang solely on the basis of tattooed initials BA on his body, and his green card was denied on this basis. He and his lawyers allege that the initials in fact refer to his nickname Bau, not gang affiliation.

The case comes as the fascist Trump administration carries out its mass deportation campaign, sending immigrants to concentration camps and deporting them to the gulags of El Salvador for supposed gang affiliation, with one recent case including a Venezuelan man disappeared for taking the wrong turn on a Michigan bridge taking him to the US-Canada border.

This is a policy that Democrats helped prepare over multiple administrations, though what Trump is doing is of a qualitatively different character. The use of tattoos to remove people under the Alien Enemies Act is certainly new, said Lee. I dont draw attention to the role of Obama and Biden to diminish what Trump is doing, but at the same time, Trump didnt fall out of the sky. These policies have had a bipartisan character.

My husband, Santos, my life partner of 14-plus years, has been wrongfully accused of being a member of a criminal organization. We submitted hard evidence proving that he is not a gang member, that he is a good man, a great husband, and the heart of our family-owned restaurant, but this evidence was ignored, Rodriguez explained. The American people want legal migration, but we followed the legal process and never got a fair chance. All we ask is for the government to review the evidence we submitted proving his innocence, because when they do theyll see they have made a terrible mistake.

The lawsuit alleges that officials did not afford Saucedo Rivas due process in the first place and approached his case in bad faith. Consular officials attempted to extract confessions, claimed his denials were an attempt to offend the consular officials intelligence, told him he looked like a gangster and a convict, and even attempted to intimidate him by slamming their hands on the interview table, according to the lawsuit.

A release from the Consular Accountability Project by Lee further stated, Experts from law enforcement and academia submitted declarations stating it is factually impossible that a law-abiding Guatemalan man from Tennessee could belong to a gang comprised solely of Mexican individuals from Texas with long criminal records. This lawsuit aims to establish fairness and accountability over the legal pathway to lawful permanent residency.

One of the experts is Jeffrey Gibson, an analyst for the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center who regularly advises the Department of State as well as multiple other state and local law enforcement agencies regarding the history, organization and practice of Barrio Azteca. In his statement to the US Embassy in Guatemala City, which is named in the lawsuit, he says, I have not received any information that membership extends to any other Central or South American nationality. Furthermore, he stated he had never seen a member outside of the prison system or in Tennessee.

Michael Tapia, Ph.D. is a Professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce, one of the foremost academic experts on Barrio Azteca, who published a book and numerous peer-reviewed academic journal articles on the history and practice of the gang, stated to the embassy, In my professional opinion . . . Mr. Saucedo Rivas lacks any of the characteristics of a member of the gang Barrio Azteca.

Adriana Chavez, a journalist at the El Paso Times from 2001-2015, whose work as a journalist and her masters thesis focused on the gang, also stated that I do not believe Mr. Saucedo Rivas is a member of the Barrio Azteca gang, and has been incorrectly identified as such.

According to the lawsuit, the government failed to follow their own rules, not attempting to in good faith determine whether or not Saucedo Rivas was a gang member, violating agency regulations. Specifically Section 40.6 of Title 22 states that [c]onsideration shall be given to any evidence submitted indicating that the ground for a prior refusal of a visa may no longer exist.

Embassy officials did not respond to offers by experts to provide proof to embassy officials that Saucedo Rivas couldnt be a member of Barrio Azteca within less than a year following the visa refusal. As the regulation in question states if a visa is refused, and the applicant within one year from the date of refusal produces further evidence tending to overcome the ground of ineligibility on which the refusal was based, the case shall be reconsidered.
Four prestigious U.S. scientists have put a thorny but urgent question on the table. Working out of the universities of California and New York, they propose using the bodies of brain-dead people in hospitals to carry out medical experiments to advance research into treatments for currently lethal diseases. They explained in the journal Science that this strategy is already being used in an exceptional way to test the first transplants of organs from genetically modified pigs to humans in the U.S. and China, but they propose using these bodies to also test drugs, experimental DNA editing treatments and other modern gene therapies.

The four scientists  bioethicist Brendan Parent and neurologists Neel Singhal, Claire Clelland and Douglas Pet  argue that hundreds, if not thousands, of simultaneous comparative experiments on a single physiologically maintained deceased could be conducted. Dubbing the physiologically maintained deceased, PMDs, they go on to argue that PMD research models, to our knowledge, have not been explored for new drug discovery, despite their considerable potential.

In 1988, a team at New Yorks Stony Brook university used the body of a brain-dead person to test a new anticoagulant treatment. Back then, that experiment sparked a debate about its moral and religious implications. In 2002, a group at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center used another body to produce a detailed molecular map of human blood circulation. These are the only published studies found by the four scientists.

Brain death involves the total and absolutely irreversible loss of brain functions. It has nothing to do with being in a coma, when the brain is still active. Brain death means, for all clinical and legal purposes, death, according to the Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units.

The jurist Federico de Montalvo Jaaskelainen, who chaired the Spanish Bioethics Committee, the countrys highest advisory body in the field of scientific ethics until 2022, believes that just as it is possible to donate a corpse to science, it is possible to hand over the body in a state of brain death.

The subject is formally and legally dead, he says. The problem is what can be done when there is no prior declaration or manifestation that it should be donated. Can the body of the individual be used? Can it be used when authorized by a family member? In this case, the issue becomes more complicated. One could even consider, as in the case of organ donation, an opt-out model, i.e.: we are all universal donors, unless we express our wish not to be.

The image of multiple human bodies hooked up to machines may bring to mind apocalyptic sci-fi scenes, as in the movie Matrix, but the reality would be quite different. Brain-dead people would only be used with their prior authorization or that of their family, in intensive care units of university hospitals

The four U.S. scientists point out that brain-dead bodies are ideal for analyzing the effects of an intervention over days, but the PMD research model would not necessarily be useful in longer-term studies, over months or years.

De Montalvo Jaaskelainen argues that in the case of organ donations, the deceased donors respiratory activity is already maintained. If research [with the bodies of brain-dead people] is comparable in terms of time length to donation, I dont see a problem, he says. In short, in Spain, given our legal regime regarding organ donation, it can be accepted as long as the subject has previously authorized it, and the research is in the public interest.

A month ago, a team of surgeons at the Xijing Military Hospital in the Chinese city of Xian announced the success of the first transplant of a transgenic pig liver into a person. The recipient was a brain-dead 50-year-old man. Similar operations with porcine hearts and kidneys have been underway since 2021 at New York University Langone Medical Center in the US.

Surgeon Pablo Ramirez, from the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca in Murcia, has requested authorization to transplant genetically modified pig livers into three people with fulminant liver failure if no human liver is available. The model of a brain-dead human being with a beating heart is undoubtedly suitable for proof-of-concept testing of transgenic porcine organs, he says.

Ramirez points out two limiting factors regarding this strategy. In his opinion, which is shared by the four U.S. scientists, the body of a brain-dead person should be used as a priority for organ donation, rather than for scientific research.

The second limiting factor is the length of time that a beating heart can be maintained in a brain-dead person, which is no more than days or a few weeks at best, he explains. It is a model that possibly will not serve to investigate the long-term physiological functioning of transplants of transgenic porcine organs to the human species.

But, he adds, it will serve to demonstrate that an experiment such as the one in China works and to facilitate the authorization of more ambitious trials, such as his own in Murcia, in which three people will receive pig livers for a few days, until a human liver from a deceased donor becomes available. For the four U.S. scientists, the potential to advance science is tremendous.

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There was a time when Daniel Morejon Garcia moved with authority among the residents of Las Canas, a town southwest of Havana, Cuba that doesnt have a cemetery, but does have an animal feed factory, a main street, a train line, a pharmacy, a park and a movie theater. Morejon, 57, is tall, powerfully built, even handsome according to those who know him. He was always well dressed and flaunted a pistol that made him stand out among the local residents. Some call him arrogant, others say he liked to boast about the power hed been granted. He wanted to imitate the dictator Fidel Castro, and thats how he behaved, says Maykel Bencomo, 43, who has known him since childhood and remembers him acting with peculiar arrogance toward the regular folks of Las Canas. But now the roles have been reversed, and Morejon isnt the one who intimidates, but the one who feels fear. He is no longer the one who sends anti-Castro supporters to jail in Cuba, but instead finds himself a prisoner in the United States.

Andrea Betancourt, 55, still remembers as if it were yesterday the day when, at a single court hearing, she had her six-year conviction reduced to three years, while Morejon was acquitted of all charges over the events of July 11, 2021a date remembered in Cuban history as the day thousands of people took to the streets demanding freedom and reforms.

That day, Andrea went to the town park, joining a demonstration that drew dozens of people. At one point, she saw Morejon, dressed in civilian clothes, lunge at her neighbor Armando Martinez Luis, 64, hitting him several times in front of everyone. It was abuse, she says, having already served her sentence for contempt of authority by working in the fields.

Until that day, the townspeople knew that Morejon had some degree of authority, but not that much. He had turned Las Canas into a kind of personal ranch where he managed the feed factory, the main restaurant, and the place where famous banana smoothies were sold. In the city of Artemisa, where he lived, he boasted of excessive luxury, with houses that stood out from the rest. Some say he laundered money through private micro, small, and medium-sized companies (known as mipymes in Cuba), and that he had ties to the military business group GAESA in the Mariel Special Development Zone. But it wasnt until July 11 that they learned that Morejon was a much more dangerous individual than they had believed.

The townspeople didnt know he was a person with positions in the Communist Party and the government, Andrea says. On the day of the protest, she was one of the people who intervened to get Morejon away from Martinez Luis, whom he was viciously beating. Andrea and four others were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for contempt of authority. Some remain incarcerated in the Guanajay prison to this day. Morejon, for his part, was awarded a medal at a ceremony in the town park. For his good work repressing the people who rebelled on July 11, says Sonia, a former resident of Las Canas now living in exile.

Four years after that incident, in Las Canas, a town where everyone has family ties, some people approached Andrea to give her news about Morejon. Not only had he moved to the United States some time ago, but it emerged that her oppressor, the man due to whom she ended up serving time, was now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In mid-March, the federal agency publicly announced the arrest in Florida of Morejon, who had recently settled in the home of one of his daughters in Miami. In photos released on the day of his arrest, the Cuban man is seen with an unhappy look on his face and in handcuffs, as two police officers lead him to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) vehicle. He thought he was so untouchable that he ended up here in Miami, says Sonia, who cant deny feeling relief at seeing him in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities.

The arrest, according to DHS, took place after an investigation revealed that Morejon made fraudulent statements upon entering the country and concealed his affiliations with the Miguel Diaz-Canel government in Cuba. In his immigration application, Morejon omitted the fact that he was a member of the Communist Party, an agent of the Ministry of the Interior, president of the Artemisa National Defense Council, and a member of the Rapid Response Brigades, a type of repressive squad used by the government to quell anti-establishment protests like those of 2021. The U.S. law is clear in its policies addressing the inadmissibility of any potential immigrant to the country based on membership or affiliation with the Communist Party or any other totalitarian party, which it considers a threat to national security.

Immigration attorney Santiago Alpizar, who heads Cuba Demanda, an initiative that has been denouncing the protection of Cuban repressors by the United States for more than 10 years, told EL PAIS that, by allegedly lying in an immigration form, Morejon committed at least the crime of perjury and, in addition, immigration fraud, because he is trying to obtain a benefit by falsely stating his true nature and hiding his repressive past. Depending on the severity of the crime, he could serve sentences of up to 60 months in federal prison, he maintains.

Today, Morejon is in ICE custody, awaiting deportation back to Cuba. Some residents of Las Canas, who joined together to denounce all the harm Morejon caused in their town, view his arrest as a victory. Im so happy that justice is being done, that the people who have caused so much harm in Cuba are being returned, says one of them, Kattyshe prefers not to give her last namewho has known him for years, since before she emigrated to Mississippi. Its a huge triumph, because when I was a child, the police raided my house and pulled me out of bed, and those people then joined us in exile, and I couldnt do anything about it. Daniel thought he was so powerful, so important, that he thought he could come to this country. But no, sir, youre staying where you were trained to be a repressor.

I am concerned to see politicians acting like prosecutors

Morejon is not the only Cuban repressor targeted by U.S. immigration authorities. His is just one of 100 names on the list that Carlos Gimenez, a House Representative for Florida, has provided to U.S. authorities for deportation consideration. The presence of these regime operatives not only endangers our communities, but also provides the Cuban regime with a base for espionage, political coercion, and illicit activities within our borders, the congressman said in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Some of the most talked-about cases include former judge Juana Orquidea Acanda Rodriguez, 62, deported to Cuba in April after entering the United States without disclosing her ties to the Communist Party. Others arrested by U.S. authorities include Tomas Emilio Hernandez Cruz, 71, a former member of Cuban intelligence, who allegedly lied to obtain permanent residency, and former judge Melody Gonzalez Pedraza, who convicted four young people in Cuba for protesting and is now detained in the United States.

Recently, Republican politicians in Florida had accused the Democratic administration of Joe Biden of facilitating the entry of many migrants through programs like humanitarian parole that led to an influx of repressorsnot only Cubans but also those from other countries such as Venezuela and Nicaragua. Although it is true that for decades these so-called repressors have also been part of the Cuban exodus, mostly with South Florida as their final destination, some see this recent hunt as a counterproductive political move for a community that, for the first time, is also facing fallout from the government crackdown on irregular immigration.

At a time when Cuba is at its weakest point in history, instead of focusing on finding solutions for the future, weve begun a witch hunt, former Florida congressman Joe Garcia tells EL PAIS. I also fear that this will be used as a Tren de Aragua, to persecute Cubans.

Some see in this hunt a similarity to the persecution the government has unleashed for decades against those who oppose it, whether by listing names or canceling those who think differently. There is also a risk of stigmatizing people arriving from a country where membership in political organizations like the Communist Party or the Union of Young Communists (UJC) is practically mandatory.

What worries me most is seeing politicians acting as prosecutors, Garcia maintains. The lawyer insists that, for those who have committed verifiable abuses on behalf of the Cuban government, there are laws like the Magnitsky Act, which applies to foreigners accused of corruption and human rights violations. In the future, the Cuban nation will have to find the best way to deliver justice. Horrible things have been done on both sides, but what is unacceptable is for someone to be accused by people who have no evidence, and for this to become a political tactic to gain ground.

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NEW YORK - Over 90 countries including Japan called for preserving the memories of the devastation caused by nuclear attacks on Thursday during a preparatory meeting for next year's U.N. nuclear disarmament review conference.

The move to issue the joint statement was led by Japan, with this year marking the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From among nuclear weapons states, Britain was the only one that joined.

"Among the disarmament education efforts around the world, the invaluable testimonies of those who experienced and witnessed the devastation caused by nuclear explosions and its aftermath have played an indispensable role," the 94 state parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty said, touching on the contribution of Japan's leading atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo, which received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

But the statement warned that "With time, it is becoming more and more difficult to have the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts," making each remaining testimony "even more precious."

All NPT members were encouraged to "ensure the stories and memories of those affected are preserved and passed on to future generations," the statement said.

The document was read out by Tomiko Ichikawa, ambassador to the delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, during the third session of the preparatory committee for the 2026 NPT review conference, which will continue through May 9 at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

The NPT recognizes Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States as the so-called nuclear weapons states and obligates them to pursue nuclear disarmament. But progress has been slow, leading to a buildup of frustration among aging atomic bomb survivors and some nonnuclear nations.

The joint statement, joined by countries including South Korea, Australia and Ukraine, said education on disarmament must "continuously evolve" and that education providers must "adapt accordingly" to the advance of information and communication technologies, including artificial intelligence, in reaching the younger generations.

Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II in August 1945, killing an estimated 214,000 people by the end of that year and leaving numerous survivors grappling with long-term physical and mental health challenges.

Nihon Hidankyo, or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, received the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.

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NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and two other Japanese carmakers sold a combined 464,372 vehicles in the U.S. market in April, up 11.8 percent from a year earlier, helped by buying before prices rise due to an additional tariff on imported cars, industry data showed Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump implemented an additional tariff of 25 percent on cars produced outside the United States on April 3. Subaru Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. export about 50 percent and 70 percent of their vehicles sold in the U.S. market from Japan, respectively, while Toyota imports over 20 percent and Honda less than 1 percent from their home country. Toyota, Honda and Mazda also source vehicles for the U.S. market from other countries.

Customers expecting vehicle prices to rise to reflect the higher tariff rushed to buy the automakers' hybrid and sport-utility vehicles in particular, the companies said. The auto market outlook remains grim as the last-minute buying will likely eat into future demand.

Toyota's sales in the world's second-largest auto market rose 10.0 percent to 233,045 vehicles, led by solid demand for the Camry hybrid model.

Honda sold 137,656 vehicles, up 18.1 percent, driven by the CR-V hybrid SUV model and Subaru lifted sales 0.3 percent to 56,011 vehicles on firm demand for the Crosstrek SUV model. Mazda's sales jumped 21.0 percent to 37,660 vehicles on strong sales of the CX-90 model.

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WASHINGTON - Japan and the United States on Thursday agreed to hasten tariff talks after making some progress in laying the groundwork for expanding bilateral trade with the aim of reaching a "mutually beneficial deal" as early as June.

After meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other U.S. Cabinet members in Washington, Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa told reporters that they had agreed to hold intensive ministerial discussions from mid-May onward after starting Friday to sort out points of contention at the working level.

Akazawa said they had managed to deepen discussions on topics such as nontariff barriers and expanding bilateral trade and economic security cooperation, although he stopped short of disclosing details.

"A deal can only be struck when everything is agreed, so it is meaningless to say how far we have progressed," he said.

While stressing that Japan has no intention of negotiating in a way that would be detrimental to its national interests and that nothing is fixed, when asked about the possibility of the Japanese and U.S. leaders striking some kind of deal in June, he said, "It'd be good if we can enter that phase."

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump could meet bilaterally when Canada chairs this year's Group of Seven summit in mid-June.

Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic revitalization, said neither side brought up issues related to defense spending or currency rates during the meeting, which was also joined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and lasted more than two hours.

The Japanese delegation was hoping to hear more details about U.S. priorities and narrow the scope of the tariff talks -- which formally kicked off two weeks ago -- when Trump made an unscheduled appearance and suggested that Japan, which hosts over 50,000 U.S. troops on its territory, increase defense spending.

The latest meeting came two days after Trump eased the impact of his new 25 percent tariffs on the auto industry by allowing carmakers producing vehicles in the United States to claim some reimbursements.

Despite the relief, Akazawa said he again urged the Trump administration to remove the auto and other tariffs it has imposed in recent months, rocking the global trading order and sparking fears of a significant economic slowdown.

Aiming for a give-and-take negotiating process, he was expected to offer a package of proposals to the U.S. side. It may have included increased purchases of U.S. corn and soybeans to help counteract the decline of U.S. exports of the two crops to China amid heightened trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The United States is already the largest source of Japanese imports of corn and soybeans.

China was the biggest importer of American soybeans and a key trading partner for corn in 2024, according to U.S. Agriculture Department data.

But China customs data showed that in March, imports of corn and soybeans from the United States fell respectively by 99 percent and 11 percent from a year earlier in value terms, as the world's two largest economies engage in a tit-for-tat trade war.

Japan is also considering expanding tariff-free imports of U.S.-grown rice, with Trump aiming to reduce his country's trade deficits and create better-paying jobs.

Other potential proposals include allowing more imported cars eligible to simplified safety and environmental screening process, given that Trump has persistently claimed that American car brands are unpopular in Japan because of its nontariff barriers, according to officials familiar with the matter.

As a bargaining chip, the officials had said Japan could also show its readiness to cooperate in resurrecting the shipbuilding capacity of the United States, a goal Trump has pledged to achieve amid China's increasing dominance of the industry.

Among major U.S. trading partners, the Trump administration has prioritized striking early tariff deals with India, Japan and South Korea, the three countries it views as strategically important for the United States to have the upper hand over China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Akazawa last visited Washington on April 16 and met with Trump in the Oval Office for 50 minutes before taking part in a meeting with Bessent, Lutnick and Greer.

The Trump administration's new 24 percent tariffs on goods imported from Japan have been paused until early July under a 90-day reprieve of its so-called reciprocal duties targeted at dozens of trading partners.

But Japan, along with other countries, continues to be hit by a universal tariff of 10 percent and the new levies on cars and other sector-based tariffs.

Related coverage:

40% of Japan prefectures offer financial aid over U.S. tariffs: poll

No U.S. push for Japan to prop up yen in tariff talks

U.S. has no specific currency targets in Japan tariff talks: Bessent
Last year, "Princess of Pop" Britney Spears announced via an Instagram post she would be moving to Boston, which created a lot of media buzz in the state.

In the past year, she seems to have reunited with her sons, focused on healing her injured foot and also said she would be moving to Mexico, a claim The Hollywood Reporter refuted in an exclusive article, that she later clarified in another post.

Unfortunately, she has not been spotted in Boston, Massachusetts, or even New England since she posted that initial post about moving to Boston in May 2024.

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Here's where the pop princess is resting her head now.

Britney Spears arrives for the premiere of "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" in Hollywood, California on July 22, 2019.

Where does Britney Spears live?

Spears currently lives in a mansion in Thousand Oaks, a city in California. However, she could join Taylor Swift as another massively famous popstar with a property in New England, should she follow through on her move to Massachusetts.

In her May 2, 2024, post, she says that she will be moving to Boston. She did not elaborate on why she's considering the move.

For those wondering about the context around her original post, Spears was responding to reports about an alleged altercation with then-boyfriend Paul Soliz after she was seen walking out of the Chateau Marmont, wrapped in blankets.

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She has since ended things with Soliz.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Did Britney Spears move to Massachusetts? Here's an update 1 year later
Jeezy and Jeannie Mais 2023 divorce is still ongoing as the former couple continues to butt heads with the terms of the split. The latest issue stems from Jeezy willfully disobeying terms within their divorce, which garnered him a stern warning by a Georgia judge. This could potentially lead to jail time if he continues with failing to comply, InTouch reports.

During an April 28 hearing, the judge found Jeezy had willfully failed to deliver the title of a 2021 Range Rover to his ex-wife. This was a requirement in their divorce settlement and Mais attorneys confirmed to the court that Jeezy had cured the issues raised in her petition for contempt. According to the outlet, any future failure to comply with the courts order may result in sanctions, which he said could be in the form of incarceration.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA  JUNE 10: In this image released on June 10, 2023, Jeannie Mai-Jenkins and Jeezy attend the wedding of Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes at St. Regis Atlanta on June 10, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The only issue that remained to be addressed was the Put On rappers previous demand for Mai to pay $20,000 to cover the legal fees that have allegedly accumulated throughout the divorce process. On March 17, Jeezy requested payment from the former The Real host after she accused him of contempt, resulting in him fighting her frivolous accusations and racking up the bill. InTouch reports the judge shut down his demand for attorney fees during the recent hearing.

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Jeannie Mai and Jeezy got married in March 2021 in an intimate ceremony. They share one daughter together named Monaco Mai Jenkins, 3. Jeezy filed for divorce in October 2023, and the TV host said she was blindsided as she found out he did so at the same time as the rest of the world. Since the filing, the two have been going back-and-forth on the terms of their public split.

Since then, the situation snowballed into a series of hurdles. Earlier this year, Mai got the police involved during an incident at Jeezys residence last month after the rapper allegedly did not allow her to retrieve her things from his Georgia home. The rapper stated he blocked her from entering during the agreed time frame because he was concerned about her having access to his residence and no way of knowing if [Jeannie] is planting listening devices or cameras in his home.

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Credit: ABC

When Bachelor in Paradise returns to the 2025 TV schedule for its 10th season, fans will notice quite a few big changes. For one, production has packed Salley Carson's suitcase and moved out of Sayulita, Mexico, and when the Bachelor Nation singles reach their new home in Costa Rica, theyll be greeted by a familiar face. Hannah Brown has signed on in a surprising new role that has me really excited for the spinoff.

Jesse Palmer is still expected to appear as the Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 host, with Wells Adams presumably taking his usual spot behind the bar. This time, though, they'll be joined by Hannah Brown, who will reportedly be stationed in the all-new Champagne Lounge. The former Bachelorette opened up about what exactly shell be doing (other than pouring the bubbly), telling US Weekly:

I think of myself as Paradise Relations. I am there to make sure that whatever people need, whatever the experience that theyre supposed to have, Im going to be there. People need help setting up a magical moment with the person that theyre falling in love with? Im your girl. If you need some advice on how to express your interest in someone, come to me.

Hannah Brown is one of the most famous Bachelor alums of all time, and I'm thrilled that we're going to get more of her on our screens. The fact that this is happening in a new Champagne Lounge speaks to just one of what I expect to be several big changes to the format, with Scott Teti joining as the new showrunner.

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It was confirmed at Grant Ellis Bachelor finale that Golden contestants will be joining the new Bachelor in Paradise season, so Im wondering if maybe Hannah Browns lounge is a quieter, shadier (maybe even  dare I say it  air-conditioned?!) spot for the more senior members of the cast.

So many details have yet to be revealed, but Ill be happy to have Hannah Brown in whatever capacity. It sounds like shes equally excited to return to Bachelor in Paradise, where shes made cameo appearances and hosted dates in past seasons. She continued:

Its so awesome to be back, but just in a new role. Im really honored and super excited to, hopefully, be a really helpful addition that these contestants can really lean on, and feel safe to be heard and also be able to feel like, OK, shes going to tell me like it is.

Its exactly that honesty mixed with compassion that has Jesse Palmer thinking Hannah Browns going to fit in so well on Season 10. He said in his own US Weekly interview:

Shes never afraid to tell it how it is, theres never a boring day around Hannah Brown. Beyond Wells, who is already amazing, now you have another perspective, another personality.

The host also hyped the new location, saying Costa Rica brings a whole new feel to Bachelor in Paradise Season 10.

I think Costa Rica as a backdrop is exciting. Not only do you have the beach, now you have the jungle. Its sexy, its romantic, its mysterious, its dangerous.  Its going to be an incredible party.

Bachelor in Paradise hit new lows in Season 9 with major plots including a poop baby (who thought constipated contestants would make for good TV?) and all of the couples breaking up pretty much as soon as they were contractually allowed to. Now with a fresh crew behind the scenes, the new locale, Golden contestants to mix it up and the great Hannah Brown coming on board, I could not be more excited to see what Season 10 brings.

No premiere date has been announced yet, but Jesse Palmer said to expect it to air this summer on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.
NELSONVILLE, Ohio Stuarts Opera House will host Etran de LAir at Snow Fork Event Center, home of the Nelsonville Music Festival, at 8 p.m. on May 8.

Hailing from Agadez, Niger, Etran de LAir (Stars of the Air region) has spent more than 25 years performing high-energy compositions of Saharan rock, blending traditional Tuareg sounds with pan-African influences from Northern Malian blues to Congolese Soukous.

Etran is a family band of brothers and cousins, formed in 1995 when leader Moussa Abindi Ibra was 9. Over the decades, they have built a reputation as one of Agadezs most celebrated musical groups, performing everywhere from bustling city streets to remote desert gatherings.

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Advance general admission tickets are $22, with prices increasing to $25 on the day of the show. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at stuartsoperahouse.org or by calling (740) 753-1924.

For more information about Stuarts Opera House, at 52 Public Square, call (740) 753-1924.
RAMALLAH, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was killed by the Israeli army on Friday in the Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Ramallah-based ministry said in a press statement that it was informed by the General Authority of Civil Affairs of the death of Omar Mustafa Abu Lail, 39, whose body remains in Israeli custody.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Abu Lail was shot inside a house in the camp after Israeli forces surrounded it, adding he was later arrested, and his medical condition was not disclosed.

The PRCS noted that Israeli forces prevented ambulances from reaching the area and closed all entrances to the camp during the operation.

The Israeli side has not commented on this incident yet.

Tensions in the West Bank have been escalating since the onset of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. The Israeli army has particularly intensified its operations in northern West Bank areas over the past months. 
Liliana Stipanic briefly thinks about how to answer the question: Why should you visit Opatija?

Then it flows out of her: "It's the flair from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You really feel like royalty here when you look at the old villas, feel the atmosphere, the serenity of the people."

Stipanic is a city guide. She also takes day trippers through the Kvarner Gulf to the port and market town of Rijeka.

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But it's in Opatija that she knows every stone and every detail from history, which began in the Middle Ages with a Benedictine abbey.

Saint Jacob's church now stands on the same spot, a reminder of Opatija's beginnings.

The nobility paved the way for tourism, which really took off in 1889 after the imperial government officially declared Opatija the first climatic seaside resort on the Austrian riviera.

"The air and sea" were decisive, says Stipanic, not any thermal springs. The mild climate is due to the Ucka mountain range, shielding Opatija from the land side and protecting it from winds from the west.

A playground for high society

"Opatija was the second largest spa town Austria-Hungary, only surpassed by Karlovy Vary," says Stipanic. The town became a playground for high society and was labelled "Vienna by the sea", "Queen of the Adriatic" and "Vienna's bathtub".

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An influx of tourism began when Opatija was connected to the nearby railway network.

Historic villas, the 12-kilometre Lungomare promenade and the Maiden with the Seagull statue are among the symbols of Opatija. Holly bushes cast their shadows on golden walls, while bougainvillea, aleander and magnolias bloom at every corner.

Murals in the city park commemorate prominent guests such as composer Gustav Mahler, writer James Joyce, scientist Albert Einstein and Hollywood star Kirk Douglas.

Early "marketing ambassadors," as tour guide Stipanic calls them, were Crown Princess Stephanie and Crown Prince Rudolf, "then everyone followed".

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The locals, on the other hand, became second-class citizens - which somewhat damages the myth of Opatija.

Enjoying the promenade

When the Lungomare promenade was planned, there were "conflicts with the fishermen who laid out their nets to dry" in the suburb of Volosko, where Stipanic comes from.

Also, spa guests complained when the locals swam naked or in their underwear, she says.

These days on the waterfront, you can sit back and relax with a cocktail at the harbour and watch the yachts come in.

In the time-honoured Wagner coffee house, the waiters cultivate elegance with white shirts and black bow ties.

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The cultural destination in the upper town is the neo-Romanesque Church of the Annunciation. Inside, spanned by a green dome, light domes stand in the chancel, flooding the sun's rays through stained glass windows.

Trip to Kastav

Away from the coast, take a beautiful excursion to Kastav. From here, Opatija lies at your feet. The view sweeps as far as the islands of Cres and Krk and through the green mountains.

The idyllic town centre breathes history, with stone town walls, alleyways and a portico. The ruins of the Jesuit church occasionally serve as an open-air theatre. There are pubs that seem to invite you to take a break.

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In the Plovanic winery, Dejan Rubesa recounts his unusual career, starting out as a lawyer in the civil service. Later, he opted for early retirement and became a professional winemaker, eager to showcase local Belica wines, which have long produced for home consumption but never really appreciated beyond that.

Underground winemaking

The Belica is a blend of five grape varieties, three of which are native. Inventor Rubesa started experiments that his 29-year-old daughter Andreja, who helps out in the winery, affectionately calls "crazy ideas."

One involved importing huge, handmade clay amphorae from Georgia and burying them in the ground behind the winery to age grape juice in. After eight months of underground storage, the wine matures for a year in Croatian oak barrels.

The result is a wine with an orange colour, deeply aromatic, full-bodied and unique. That is just one more good reason to visit Opatija and its environs.

The small town on the Kvarner Bay once became the spa resort of the Danube monarchy. To this day, Opatija retains its historical flair and inimitable elegance. Petar Trinajstic/VisitOpatija.com/dpa-tmn

"Wall of fame" in Opatija shows some of the most famous people to visit the town, from composer Gustav Mahler to writer James Joyce to scientist Albert Einstein and actor Kirk Douglas. Marko Vrdoljak/VisitOpatija.com/dpa-tmn

St Jacob's Church in Opatija and Kvarner Bay, also known as Kvarner Gulf, in the northeastern Adriatic Sea, in Croatia. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn

City and water guide Liliana Stipanic takes people through Opatija and beyond - here in Kvarner bay. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn

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Cruise ships are trying to navigate murky waters.

Do travelers want more and faster waterslides? Or the number of decks to reach the 30s? Do they still want to hike on all seven continents? Or just stay on the ship and sip fruity cocktails?

Growth in cruise ship travel is starting to slow compared to the post-pandemic boom. That trend has cruise lines looking at several ways to keep people coming on board.

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Some are creating new private resorts. Others are doubling down on super high-end luxury trips. Still others are offering river cruises.

How all this unfolds affects South Florida and the Sunshine State, home to the three largest passenger cruise ports in the United States: PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The industry fills about 130,000 jobs in Florida.

Private islands

Ocean Cay island MSC Marine Reserve in April 2025.

In December, Royal Caribbean will debut its third all-inclusive resort, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The company is promising the resort will include the worlds largest swim-up bar. It spans 17 acres of land with seven beach bars and pools for every vibe. The project is a partnership with the Bahamian government.

This will be Royal Caribbeans third private island, following Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti, where the company has suspended travel.

MORE: Inside a new cruise ship: 22 decks, a dozen restaurants, a mall. Take a tour

MSC Cruises remodeled its private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in the Bahamas in 2024, adding a private yacht club and solar farm. Now, the cruise line will be creating a second private island near the original thanks to a dredging project at Ocean Cay.

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Ryan Rea, a 37-year-old frequent cruiser from Miami, is drawn to that idea.

I prefer the private island because Ive been to the ports so many times, Rea said.

Theyre comfortable, safe and relaxing, he said. You know you wont get bothered.

Luxury trips

Inside view of the new MSC terminal designed by Miamis Arquitectonica.

Several cruise lines are creating more high-end luxury cruises, in part because thats where the money is. And MSC Cruises, which opened a modern new terminal in April at PortMiami, is betting on it.

Explora Journeys, the luxury company it owns, will have its two ships, Explora I and Explora II, sail from Miami starting in November through the winter season. Each offers over 20 trips that are either 8 or 16 nights. Many sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. That includes Greater and Lesser Antilles, St. Johns and the lagoons of Tortola.

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The Explora III, a new vessel that will start sailing during the summer of 2026, will have 13 trips from PortMiami starting in November 2026, mostly to San Juan and the Caribbean but also, for the first time, La Romana in the Dominican Republic.

The publication Cruise Critic has noted that all cabins on Explora I are suites, and each has an outdoor terrace. Suites mirror public spaces, designed to feel like a boutique hotel or room at a luxury resort, rather than a cruise ship, one reviewer wrote. The line has achieved this not just in the decor  modern and neutral  but in scale.

Of course, these journeys arent for everyone  eight-night trips start at about $3,000 per person.

One catalyst for MSC pushing more into high end is how costly things are on land.

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Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman for MSC Groups cruise division, recounted in April to an audience in Miami Beach at the yearly Seatrade Cruise Global conference how expensive he found things on land when he visited.

When I see the prices  its incredible, he said. The dinner alone cost the same as a day on a luxury ship.

That helped convince him that MSC was on the right track.

How can we be wrong? Vago asked.

Euphoria ending for the cruise ship industry?

A signature chandelier graces the Galleria from the ninth level of the MSC World America.

The cruise industry experienced massive growth as the COVID-19 pandemic faded and millions decided to jump into their bucket lists.

In 2024, 35 million people took an ocean cruise worldwide, up 9% from 2023, according to a new report from the trade group Cruise Lines International Association. Thats nearly twice the NFLs total attendance for the 2024 regular season.

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Yet the growth rate is slowing. The report forecasts 3% growth in 2027 and 2% in 2028.

The 310 ocean vessels operating in 2025 is just a 2% increase from the year before. Thats the smallest annual growth since at least 2018, excluding the pandemic year 2021.

And there are other challenges.

Cities throughout the world are imposing restrictions on large ships docking at their ports.

In January, the mayor of Nice, on the French Riviera, issued a decree barring cruise ships with 900 or more passengers from docking at its ports. Last year, Juneau, Alaska, had a ballot measure that would ban ships from docking on Saturdays. While voters rejected it, that has given life to other ways to limit cruise tourism. In November, voters in Bar Harbour, Maine, chose to maintain their limit of 1,000 passengers per day.





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Cities making it tougher for big cruise ships to dock is one concern. But even busy ports have finite space, industry analysts say, and will soon have to cope with congestion.

PortMiami, for example, will be able to handle 12 ships simultaneously once it finishes all three berths at MSCs new terminal inaugurated in April. Earlier this year it set a record when 10 ships arrived one morning.

They may have room to build one or two more docks, said Stewart Chiron, a cruise expert. But then what?

The author of The Cruise Guy, who takes at least 10 cruises a year, wonders: You can build new ships but where are you going to put them?

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PortMiamis Florida neighbors to the north have already had to face that question. Last year, Port Canaveral suspended an effort to expand its port after state departments of commerce and transportation objected, saying it would bother the Space Coast. The port in Tampa has height restrictions.

This may be leading to one of the biggest trends in cruising: visiting private islands held or built by the cruise companies.

The first one, Great Stirrup Cay launched by Norwegian Cruise Line, dates back to 1977. Those were early days for cruise companies. That was also the year The Love Boat debuted on ABC television. But they are now in vogue like never before.

The cruise lines are limited in where they can dock, Chiron, the Cruise Guy, said. Thats why they have to create these destinations.

New places and faces on a cruise

The reflection of Sportplex Adventure Trail on the large window on the MSC World America at PortMiami on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Next year, Royal Caribbean will open another private port, Royal Beach Club Cozumel, in Mexico. Guests can snorkel, kayak and enjoy tequila tastings and cooking classes. The resort will include swim-up bars, street markets and private cabanas. In 2027, itll launch what it dubs Perfect Day Mexico. Each allows for new adventures in the western Caribbean, the company said.

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Notably, the islands in Mexico will be closer to Galveston, Texas, than other destinations. That could create a test of whether Galveston can compete with South Floridas main ports. Galveston is about 50 miles from Houston, which is home to about 2 million people.

Doral-based Carnival told the Miami Herald it expects to have ready Celebration Key, its own private development in the Bahamas, for sailing trips starting in July. On the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnivals largest ships can dock.

In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time. Costing $600 million, the area will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be more than 30 restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming.

Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year.

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In addition to giving the ships additional and alternative places to dock, the private resorts give travelers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money to the cruise lines.

The business justification was expressed by Josh Weinstein, president, chief executive officer, and chief climate officer of Carnival Corp. He said in April at the cruise conference in Miami Beach that the private island or resort gets a broader audience, it gets more customers, and it will ultimately result in more demand.

Cruise companies are hoping thats also true for luxury travelers.

Royal Caribbean is also making a play in that space, all the way in Antarctica.

It expects to have an Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program ready by the end of 2025 that allows travelers to fly directly from Santiago, Chile, to Puerto Williams before getting on a cruise. But before that, guests can stay at a 150-room hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, which is in the Beagle Channel and near Ushuaia.

The site, self-proclaimed as the southernmost hotel on Earth, is planning to open by the end of this year. It overlooks the channel and is surrounded by forest and water and the snow-capped Patagonian mountains. Amenities include a fitness center, gift shop, lounge and a large restaurant.

The hotel and the expedition cruise ships are being organized by Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury and expedition cruising company Royal Caribbean acquired in 2018. Silversea has three expedition ships.

Then there are river cruises.

In 2027, Royal Caribbean will start offering trips along European rivers on its subsidiary company Celebrity River Cruises. It has already ordered 10 ships and will go up against better-known river carriers like Viking.

Whether these trends will fend off the uncertainty is another question.

Trump tariffs

A view of Cunards Queen Anne while it is docked at PortMiami on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Miami, Fla.

President Donald Trump has used executive power to raise tariffs against China to 145%. Hes put a 10% tax in place against all imports from most countries including close allies and those who hold trade deficits against the U.S. He later suspended some of them for 90 days. Still, businesses are reporting slowdowns.

At the Seatrade cruise conference in April and in subsequent earnings calls, cruise executives have acknowledged they arent immune to the policies.

The uncertainty, and the ripple effects absolutely have an impact on the industry, Carnivals Weinstein said.

Still, he noted that we had more bookings in the first quarter than we have ever had.

Meanwhile, on a conference call on April 29 to discuss first-quarter results, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said the company is over 86% fully booked for the year and we see really no impact, no change in cancellation rates and no real change in how our consumers are acting. The company reported serving 2.2 million guests in the first quarter, up 9% from the same period in 2024, and said travelers spending on board was higher than a year ago.

That may be due in part to travelers like Ryan Rea. The Miami resident has averaged taking four to five cruises in past years.

This year will remain the same, he said.

He already has one trip booked on Virgin Voyages in October to the Dominican Republic.

Rea said he still finds cruising the most economical way to vacation and he regularly receives promotions because hes a regular and he gambles while on board.

But he also believes cruise companies can stave off tariffs because of their influence with government leaders.

The cruise lines, he said, are pretty powerful.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  One person has suffered serious injuries after a boat hit a dock in Horry County on Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said.

SCDNR said one person was transported with serious injuries.

No additional information, including where the accident happened, was immediately available. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Adults in Holyoke were back in school on Thursday, but with a twist.

Whiting Farms Laundromat in Holyoke to celebrate grand opening

Teams partaking in the 10th annual Homework House spelling bee put their grammar skills to the test in Holyoke.

The event was held as a fundraiser to support the only free after-school program in the city. The program, Homework House, helps hundreds of students every year, supporting their free academic and mentoring programs for Holyoke youth.

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Its not your typical spelling bee where we ask people, individuals, to step up to a microphone. We invite people from the community to put together a team of three, says Board of Directors President Jennifer Baril.

It was quite the dress to impress. The best costume was recognized in addition to the spelling bee champion.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
On April 29, rescuers found Mirage the cat in a carrier beside two dead bodies, the sole survivor of a 380-foot fall

After rescuers discovered the cat alive, they transported her to an animal rescue near Bryce Canyon National Park

Mirage the cat was later transferred to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, where she is receiving treatment

An animal rescue has a harrowing survival story to tell after taking in a cat found in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park, where the feline and two hikers fell more than 300 feet, a drop that killed the couple.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Wednesday, April 30, that tourists spotted two people who had fallen 380 feet below the national park's Inspiration Point between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

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According to local outlets KUTV and KSL.com, officials said that the couple, identified as 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and Bailee Crane, 58, had crossed over a safety railing. Still, details about why they fell are currently unknown.

Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society Mirage the cat, who was saved from the bottom of a ravine in Bryce Canyon National Park. Mirage the cat, who was saved from the bottom of a ravine in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Investigators added to the outlets that Nannen and Crane's last known address was in Florida, but the couple had seemingly been living out of a U-Haul van and were spending time in Arizona before their deaths.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, one member of the group survived the steep drop to the bottom of the canyon. The sole survivor was a 12-year-old cat named Mirage.

Related: Cat Who Disappeared During Cross-Country Move Discovered Trapped in Familys Sofa 3 Weeks Later

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The feline is recuperating at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Created by Best Friends Animal Society, the shelter is the world's largest no-kill animal sanctuary, housing over 1,600 rescue animals.

A spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary says that on April 29, rescuers found the cat inside a black, soft-sided carrier next to the deceased couple. Rescuers quickly transported her to the Pawz Dogs boarding facility in Panguitch, located in southern Utah. By Monday, Garfield County Sheriff's deputies had contacted Best Friends for help.

Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society The tattered carrier rescuers found Mirage the cat in The tattered carrier rescuers found Mirage the cat in

The sanctuary's veterinary staff picked up Mirage in Panguitch and brought her over 70 miles to Best Friends' on-site medical clinic. Vets found that although Mirage's carrier was dirty and torn, and her fur was a bit matted, she was in good spirits overall.

Related: Man Captures Unexpected Moment His Cat Decided to Give Birth  While Sitting on His Lap (Exclusive)

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"She was matted and a bit sore, but friendly upon examination, as well as drinking and eating on her own," Best Friends tells PEOPLE, adding that Mirage had "weathered the fall fairly well."



Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society Vets give Mirage a check-up, including X-rays Vets give Mirage a check-up, including X-rays

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"Mirage is a very sweet cat considering everything she went through," a sanctuary spokesperson adds. "She's been very patient with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary staff throughout the entire experience and has allowed us to do the necessary medical things to her."

Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society Mirage receives treatment at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Mirage receives treatment at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Best Friends' chief sanctuary officer Judah Battista later told USA Today that Mirage's X-rays revealed fractured ribs. Plus, the cat had two chipped canine teeth. The sanctuary tells PEOPLE that Mirage's bloodwork was completely normal.

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"Despite surviving a 400-foot fall, this remarkable little cat never lost her gentle spirit," Best Friends adds.

"... Her resilience is awe-inspiring, but it's her loving nature that truly leaves a mark," the sanctuary says. "She's a living miracle with a heart full of sweetnessstill purring, still trusting, like nothing ever happened."

Mirage is not available for adoption at this time, but hundreds of other pets at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary are looking for forever homes.

Read the original article on People
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A 12-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested earlier this week after deputies said they were caught racing on a side street in Florida.

Body camera video from the Volusia County Sheriffs Office showed a deputy pulling over two vehicles on Tuesday near Dahlia Road and West Parkway.

What was the racing (expletive)? the deputy asked the first driver, who was identified as a 17-year-old boy.

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The deputy then walks over to the second vehicle to find a 12-year-old behind the wheel.

Do you have a license? the deputy asked. I was just testing  the boy said.

Man known to throw canned food around neighborhood arrested after corn goes through window: affidavit

The video then shows the deputy telling the boy to hop out of the car before placing him in handcuffs.

I got these two cars that were racing on one of the side streets, the deputy told someone while in his patrol car. The driver of one of the cars is 12. The other driver is 17. Theres two other juveniles with the 12-year-old.

Whose car is he driving? the person asked. The 12-year-old was driving the front seat passengers moms car.

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Parents showed up at the scene shortly after. The deputy told the 17-year-olds parent that his son was racing the 12-year-old and he is getting arrested today.

Whos getting arrested? the parent asked.

Both the drivers, the deputy said. Racing on a roadway is illegal.

The deputy said he was parked in a marked patrol car when the two vehicles were seen racing toward him.

I know, man, but damn, the parent said. My son is starting college this year.

Then he needs to get his head out of his (expletive), the deputy told the parent.

According to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office, the 12-year-old was cited for not having a drivers license and racing on a highway. The 17-year-old was also cited for racing on a highway.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  One in 9 South Dakotans dont know where their next meal will come from, according to Feeding South Dakota. With recent federal funding cuts, the uncertainty is only growing. This harsh reality has inspired two organizations to give back this month.

Hotdogs, hotdogs, and more hotdogs could be found at Feeding South Dakota.

The Cattlemens Foundation is so excited and proud to partner with Jorgensen Land and Cattle on this 23,000-pound donation of all-beef hot dogs, President of the SD Cattlemens Foundation, Ryan Eichler said.

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Vote for South Dakotas best beef burger

Those beef hotdogs are actually referred to as bulldogs by Bryan Jorgensen.

Theyre 100% our bulls. And so they grind the bull up. You know, make hotdogs and theyre very, very lean and very good, so theyre nutritious. So, yeah, theyre kind of unique, Chief Agronomy Officer, Jorgensen Land & Cattle, Bryan Jorgensen said.

The meat is coming at a critical time for Feeding South Dakota.

Recently with the $500 million in CCC funding cuts, we have lost 11 loads of USDA food. And in those boxes would have been beef. And so right now, more than ever, these all-beef hot dogs are going to make a huge difference, CEO of Feeding South Dakota, Lori Dykstra said.

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The timeliness of the donation was not planned, but it really serves as a very unique opportunity and a blessing. In a time where they are on a little bit of a shortfall, for federal funding. This donation shows up just in time, Eichler said.

Giving a helping hand to those in need, in a time of uncertainty.

These hot dogs are going to end up in boxes and in our partners across all 66 counties in the state, and the 168,000 hotdogs make up 17,500 meals for families in need, Dykstra said.

May is National Beef Month, and Feeding South Dakota said this large donation is a great way to kick off the month.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  A 17-year-old from Bradleyville, Missouri, has the honor of catching the first state record fish in 2025.

Riley Isaacs was bowfishing on April 18 at Lake Taneycomo. He was with a group targeting carp, but the trip was cut short due to impending bad weather. But when storms passed, Isaacs was itching to get back on the water.

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We sat at the boat ramp for about 30 minutes and realized the storms had passed by, so we decided to put the boat back in and play around for an hour or two, he said. The first flat we pulled up on, she was waiting there.

As soon as he saw the fish, Isaacs suspected it was a state record.

Murder Solved in 20 Days: Inside the case that brought down a killer

We knew as soon as she hit the deck, we had something special, he said.

The previous alternative methods record was 2 pounds, 2 ounces, set in June 2022 at Lake Taneycomo.

Isaacs said hell have a replica of the fish made to serve as a trophy.

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Ive shot three more of these redear sunfish, and Ive missed the state record either by an ounce or two ounces each time, and now Ive finally got the record, he said. It feels awesome.

Fish caught in Missouri are measured and weighed in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to: atlatl, bank lines, bow, crossbow, gig, grabbing, jug lines, snaring, spearfishing, throwlines, or trotlines.

You can look up all the Missouri fishing records at mdc.mo.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A 17-year-old boy is accused of helping start a massive wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, that burned thousands of acres and triggered the evacuations of 5,000, officials said.

The teenager, whose identity officials did not reveal, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension, according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. The 17-year-old is the second person to be arrested in connection with the fire, which broke out last Tuesday and has been coined the Jones Road Wildfire.

Last week, 19-year-old Joseph Kling was also arrested and charged with arson in the third degree and aggravated arson in the second degree. He has also since been charged with hindering apprehension, the prosecutor's office said. Kling is scheduled to appear in superior court for the first time Friday afternoon, though details about the hearing are not immediately available.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Ocean County, N.J. on April 24.

Prosecutors accuse Kling and the 17-year-old of setting wooden pallets on fire near Jones Road and Bryant Road in Waretown before leaving the area without fully extinguishing the fire. The Cedar Bridge Fire Tower spotted smoke coming from the location last Tuesday morning, and investigators determined that the cause of the fire was "an improperly extinguished bonfire."

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Prosecutors said that as of Monday, the fire had burned approximately 15,300 acres in Waretown and Lacey townships and destroyed a commercial building. A spokesperson for the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection told NBC News on Thursday that the Jones Road Wildfire was about 80 percent contained.

Both teenagers are also accused of giving law enforcement false information as to how the fire started, which prompted the hindering apprehension charge.

According to the prosecutor's office, the 17-year-old is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center. Kling was at the Ocean County Jail ahead of his detention hearing.

It is not clear if the teenager is being represented by an attorney at this time. An attorney for Kling did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
TOKYO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher Friday, led by export-linked issues on a weaker yen and hopes for progress in ongoing tariff talks between Japan and the United States.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 378.39 points, or 1.04 percent, from Thursday at 36,830.69, its highest level since March 28.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 8.34 points, or 0.31 percent, higher at 2,687.78.

The U.S. dollar briefly strengthened to the upper 145 yen range in Tokyo, as investors speculate that the Bank of Japan will be cautious about additional rate hikes amid global economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. tariffs.

On the stock market, the Japanese currency's depreciation attracted buying of export-oriented auto and chemical shares, while sentiment was also supported by anticipation of progress in Japan-U.S. tariff talks after Tokyo's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa expressed hope an agreement could be reached in June, analysts said. 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed one of its missionaries was killed in a hit-and-run on Beatties Ford Road.

PAST COVERAGE: 1 killed, others hurt in west Charlotte crash

Elder Langi, 18, of Utah, was on a temporary mission in Charlotte, the church said.

Witnesses said on Thursday he was on a bicycle on a sidewalk when he was hit.

Another missionary was hurt.

Police are searching for the driver who plowed into them.

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Witnesses said another car was involved, driving recklessly, which caused the driver to crash.

Police have not confirmed that.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says Aleki Langi was struck and killed by a driver last night on Beatties Ford Road.



Langi was serving as a missionary.



He was on temporary assignment in Charlotte while awaiting a visa to serve in Jamaica.



A second missionary pic.twitter.com/HkJAxESz7b  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 2, 2025

Sam Penrod, spokesman with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared the following statement:

It is with much sadness that we share with you that a tragic accident in North Carolina has claimed the life of a young missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Aleki Langi, 18, was killed on Thursday, May 1, 2025, after the driver of a car apparently lost control and veered onto the sidewalk. A second missionary was also hit, sustaining minor injuries. He was treated and released from the hospital. A third companion was not injured.

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Elder Langi began his missionary service in March 2025 and is from the Magna 2nd Ward in the Salt Lake Utah West Stake. He was on a temporary reassignment in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission while awaiting a visa to serve in the Jamaica Kingston Mission.

We extend our deepest condolences and love to Elder Langis family, friends, and fellow missionaries during this difficult time. We pray that they will each feel the Saviors comfort and peace as they mourn his passing and honor his dedicated missionary service.

Aleki Faletoto Anderson Langi was respectful, loving and loyal, his family said in a statement. He loved his parents, siblings and family. He loved the Lord and was excited to serve a mission. He was the best example to his family, especially his siblings. We will miss him deeply but we find comfort in our Heavenly Fathers plan. Grateful for the time we were given with him.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: 1 killed, others hurt in west Charlotte crash
PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  Three Independence High School students in Provo were held up at gunpoint on Thursday, according to Provo Police.

At around 1:15 p.m. on May 1, staff at Independence High informed the School Resource Officer (SRO) that a student wished to report an incident that had occurred around two hours prior. The student reportedly told the SRO that he and two other students were returning to school from an off-campus class when they were approached by a gray Chevrolet sedan.

A male suspect then exited the vehicle, the student said, pointed a gun at him and the two other students, and demanded they give up their belongings. Two students reportedly had bags, which they surrendered.

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The SRO began investigating the incident, obtaining camera footage from the school. The footage showed the suspect vehicle described with two individuals inside passing by the school.

At around 11:30 p.m. that night, police were able to identify and locate the vehicle. Officers then found the main suspect  identified as Michael Javier Flores, 18  and placed him under arrest.

Detectives interviewed Flores, who was then taken to Utah County Jail and booked on charges of aggravated robbery (first-degree felony) and property damage (class A misdemeanor).

Investigators are still trying to identify and locate the second suspect, a press release from Provo Police states. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 801-852-6210.

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No further information is available at this time.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
DENVER (KDVR)  An 18-year-old in Firestone told police she had her tire slashed and was harassed by a 24-year-old Denver Sheriffs Department deputy after meeting him online.

The Denver Sheriff Department announced on April 25 that Deputy Sheriff Cristian DeAnda, 24, was arrested and is facing charges of:

Stalking  causing emotional distress,

Harassment,

Criminal mischief  under $300 damages, and

Felony menacing (domestic violence)

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The Denver Sheriff Department placed DeAnda on investigatory leave and notified the Office of the Independent Monitor and the Public Integrity Division.

Former Denver officer was killed by friendly fire in Pennsylvania hospital shooting: DA

Affidavit describes harassment, vandalism

An officer spoke with the teens mother on April 21 after the mother reported the harassment and vandalism to police, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31.

The mother told police that her daughter had met DeAnda online about three weeks earlier, and recently, he had begun to harass her, including slashing her car tire and making threats via text message, according to the arrest affidavit.

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The 18-year-old woman said she only knew his first name and did not have other details, according to the document.

The young womans mother said the man had tapped on (her daughters) window for four consecutive nights and had left flowers on their porch, which they now believe to be related to his harassment.

The affidavit discussed how the two women described DeAnda, saying he presented himself as a police officer in Centennial, and that the teen had called off their friendship, which seemed to have triggered the deputys aggression.

According to the affidavit, on April 23 at about midnight, police were called by the 18-year-olds mother, who said DeAnda was at their home. When police arrived on the scene, they saw a man running from the area toward a parked white sedan. The affidavit notes that the teen told officers previously that DeAnda had been driving a white BMW sedan with gold-colored wheels.

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The officer performed a traffic stop on the white BMW near the East Interstate 25 Frontage Road and Weld County Road 24.5 intersection, and identified DeAnda as the driver. According to the affidavit, DeAnda told the officer he was armed with a pocket knife, which the officer retrieved. When the officer said the deputy was under arrest, DeAnda asked what it was referencing, and when the 18-year-old was mentioned, DeAnda asked for an attorney.

The Firestone officers conducted an inventory of the car before towing it and found a Denver County Sheriffs Department badge and ID and a handgun in the glove compartment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  Police continue to investigate a shooting that claimed the life of a New Bedford man earlier this week.

The victim was identified Thursday as Jordan Roman, 19.

According to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office, Roman was shot to death Tuesday night while sitting in the drivers seat of a car parked on Acushnet Avenue.

19-year-old shot, killed in New Bedford

No word at this time on any suspects in the shooting.

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RELATED VIDEO: 2 Camden men arrested in Springdale SWAT response (April 28, 2025)

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Two men were arrested in Springdale on Sunday, April 27, in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred the day before in Camden.

Keegan Turner, 18 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

Chris Arnold, 18 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

The Springdale Police Departments SWAT team assisted Camden police in locating and arresting Chris Arnold, 18, and Keegan Turner, 18, who are now facing multiple felony charges related to an April 26 shooting on Lincoln Drive in Camden, Arkansas.

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Arnold is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree battery and aggravated robbery. During his initial court appearance, a judge found probable cause and set bond at $1 million.

Turner is accused of capital murder, first-degree battery, terroristic act, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. He did not proceed with his probable cause hearing and is currently being held without bond, according to a news release.

Fayetteville police searching for suspect in early morning gas station robbery

Turners active charges (including accomplice to first degree murder) prior to this incident are connected to the Sept. 6, 2022, shooting death of Andretti Austin in Camden.

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Arnold and Turner were taken into custody without incident at separate locations in Springdale and booked into the Washington County Detention Center. Both have since been transferred to Ouachita County.

Case background

According to the Camden Police Department, officers responded to a shooting at around 6:10 p.m. on Saturday at 514 Lincoln Drive, according to a news release.

Two people were found with gunshot wounds. One later died at Ouachita County Medical Center, while the other was transported to an out-of-town medical facility and is in stable condition.

Arkansas schools prepare for laws going into effect next year

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At the scene, officers recovered five .40 caliber shell casings, two projectiles and a bag of marijuana. Several bullet holes were also found in the front of the home.

Witnesses on scene identified Arnold and Turner as the shooters, according to the release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Two people are dead after they plummeted to their deaths at Bryce Canyon National Parks Inspiration Point in Utah.

According to a press release from the Garfield County Sheriffs Office shared with PEOPLE, the incident occurred between late Monday night, April 28, and Tuesday morning, April 29.

Inspiration Point is described as an area that "provides a birds-eye view of the world's largest collection of rock spires called 'hoodoos' found within the Bryce Amphitheater," the National Park Service states on its website.

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Police say 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, whose identities were released following the notification of next of kin, fell approximately 380 feet down the cliff.

Related: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Speaks Out After Appearing Unwell Following Return to Earth

Planet One Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Image of Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah Image of Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

The bodies were spotted by tourists on Tuesday, who notified the Park Rangers. The Park Rangers then contacted the Garfield County Sheriffs Office, which has jurisdiction for the area.

A senior cat was also found in a soft-sided carrier near the site of the incident, according to The Salt Lake Tribune, San Francisco Gate, and KTVX, citing the Best Friends Animal Society.

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Police stated in a previous press release that Nannen and Crane climbed over the railing located between the trail and the cliff.

However, authorities said in their latest press release that "detectives are considering all possibilities, but preliminary investigations have not been able to definitively determine the cause of the fall."

Related: Truck Carrying $80,000 in Dimes Crashes and Spills Over on Texas Highway, Leading to 14-Hour Cleanup Effort

Kent Nishimura/Getty Image of Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah Image of Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

The New York Times also reported that there was snow on the ground at the top of the cliff earlier this week, which could have created slippery conditions.

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Nannen and Crane's last known permanent residence is said to have been in Florida, according to police. The two are said to have traveled to Utah after spending a significant amount of time in Arizona.

"It appears they were living out of a U-Haul just prior to their deaths," the press release said.

According to police, the Garfield County Sheriffs Search and Rescue team led the recovery mission, assisted by Bryce Canyon Park Rangers and the Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau.

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"The DPS helicopter pilots support was especially helpful in ensuring the safety of the rest of the responders," said police.



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Update 11:40 a.m.: Theetge said it is hard to see in the body camera video if the gun was pointed at the officer.

She said the Kia was reported stolen out of Edgewood, Kentucky, and the owner was able to track the car with GPS. She said a weapon stolen from Kentucky was also recovered from inside the vehicle after the shooting.

Update 11:29 a.m.: Theetge said the officer who fired his weapon said he believed that the firearm was pointed at him. The chief said the entire incident took place over six seconds, and all the officers had to make split-second decisions.

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Theetge said the suspect's weapon was recovered with an extended magazine and that the suspect had another magazine in their pocket.

Theetge said the department is still working to positively identify the person who was killed. She did not release any information about the suspect's identity.

Officials said the person was "approximately 18 years old."

Update 11:24 a.m.: Chief Teresa Theetge said the person who was shot fell on the ground as everyone fled from the stolen Kia vehicle. Officers heard the person's gun hit the ground and called out to each other that there was a gun.

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Theetge said the suspect picked up the gun and kept running. The suspect came through a pair of dumpsters in the direction of another officer who was already there, and then was shot, the chief said.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge speaking to reporters about a fatal police shooting that happened May 1 in East Price Hill.

Original report: Two men are facing charges in connection with an incident that led to a deadly police shooting in East Price Hill on May 1.

The Cincinnati Police Department and Chief Teresa Theetge will give an update on the shooting during a May 2 press conference, the department said in a news release.

Theetge previously said officers with the department's fugitive apprehension team learned a stolen car was in the Westview Condominiums parking lot. Radio traffic indicated officers arrived at the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue around 9:30 a.m. on May 1 when they encountered four people in the car.

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Theetge said the four people ran from the car and did not comply with the officers' commands to stop. Radio traffic indicates "three fled into the woods," and Theetge said police shot the fourth person.

Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. on May 1 at the Westview Condominiums on Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill.

"At least one of them was armed with a firearm. Several officers gave chase," Theetge said. "One officer discharged his firearm toward the individual who had a firearm."

The person died at the scene, Theetge said. She said it is still too early in the investigation to discuss whether the person raised his gun or attempted to fire at officers. She did not say where the person was shot.

Theetge said two of the other three people were apprehended after a "lengthy" search involving K9s and drones. The third person remained at large.

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Documents filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court show Jurell Austin, 18, and Deanthony Bullocks, 19, were each charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business in connection with the incident.

Criminal complaints state that Bullocks and Austin fled from a stolen 2021 Kia Telluride in an attempt to escape police and "a substantial risk of physical harm was caused and a subject was shot fatally."

Officials have yet to release the identity of the person killed by police.

After the shooting, Cincinnati's police union released a statement saying the person "pulled a semiautomatic handgun and pointed it at police."

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"Police officers around the country are trained to defend their lives and use deadly force when a suspect points a gun at them," police union president Ken Kober said. "When no officer wants to be forced to use deadly force, every Cincinnati police officer wants to make it home to their families."

The department has not released the name of the officer who shot the person in East Price Hill.

For years, the department would release the names and information about officers involved. However, in recent months, the department has been withholding that information, citing Marsy's Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes.

This is a developing news story that will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: East Price Hill shooting: Officer fired as armed suspect ran in his direction
DENVER (KDVR)  Two people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries after a vehicle crashed into a business in Centennial Friday morning.

South Metro Fire Rescue said in a post on X that the crash happened at 6770 S. University Blvd, which is part of a strip mall that includes a sushi restaurant and a home goods store.

SMFR said two people were taken to a local hospital, both with minor injuries.

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The agency said crews on the scene found no structural damage in an inspection of the structure, and the vehicle was secured.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office also responded and SMFR crews were working to clear the scene as of 11:10 a.m.

No further information was immediately available but FOX31 has a crew on the way to the scene to find out more. This article will be updated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A two-year-old boy and a three-year-old boy have been hospitalized with serious injuries following a terrifying dog attack at their home.

At around 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 1, police were alerted to the incident in the backyard of a home in the Liverpool, England suburb of Prescot, according to a Merseyside Police report.

The toddlers had suffered puncture wounds and lacerations to their arms and legs, while an 18-year-old woman also had a minor injury to her arm, the release stated.

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Related: Girl, 4, Killed in Dog Attack After 53-Year-Old Woman in the Same Home Suffered a Medical Emergency, Police Say

Getty Homes in Northwest England (stock image) Homes in Northwest England (stock image)

Chief Inspector Phil Thompson described the dog attack as a shocking incident, according to the BBC.

"We are in the very early stages of investigating this incident and the dog has been seized at the home, he told the outlet. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the breed of the dog and identify the owner.

"As part of the investigation, officers remain at the scene to carry out witness and CCTV enquiries. If you have any information that could help our investigation, please get in touch as a matter of urgency, Thompson added.

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.

Peter Byrne/PA Wire Merseyside Police Headquarters Merseyside Police Headquarters

Related: Toddler Rushed to the Hospital After Dog Attack at a Birthday Party: It Looked Really Bad

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Multiple police vehicles and ambulances can be seen at the scene of the incident in photos obtained by local outlet the Liverpool Echo.

The children who were injured in the attack are in the hospital in a stable condition, according to the police report.

Authorities believe the dog to be a bulldog-type breed, and have confirmed the canine has been handed over to be humanely destroyed.

PEOPLE has reached out to Merseyside Police and the North West Ambulance Service for further comment amid their investigation.

Read the original article on People
DAMASCUS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- An airstrike targeted a site west of the southern Syrian province of Sweida on Friday, killing three people, according to preliminary reports by a war monitor and Syrian media.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based watchdog group, said the airstrike, believed to have been carried out by an Israeli drone, struck an area near an electricity facility close to the Kanaker road.

Following the strike, a loud explosion was heard across the area, and plumes of smoke were sent into the sky, triggering a security alert in the vicinity. There has been no official confirmation of casualties, though Syria TV reported at least three fatalities.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident.

The strike could mark the latest in a series of intensified Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. According to the SOHR, Israel has conducted 48 attacks inside Syria since the start of 2025, including 40 airstrikes and eight ground operations, targeting 58 sites such as weapons depots, command centers, and military vehicles.

The latest strike comes amid heightened violence between Druze groups and government-aligned forces in Druze-majority areas in southern Syria, which has left more than 100 people dead over recent days, fueling concerns of further unrest.

Israel has recently warned of harsh responses against Syria if clashes with the Druze community continue in the country. 
LITCHFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Thursday marks two years since the deadly dust storm on I-55 south of Springfield. About 17 miles of the highway were shut down as 84 cars were piled up.

U of I researchers want to know the how and why behind it, but they are also looking into ways to prevent it from happening again.

May 1, 2023, is a day first responders, community members and scientists alike will never forget.

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You feel for people who have been injured, those who lost their lives, and their families. Its just a terrible, tough thing, Jonathan Coppess, an associate professor in ACES, reflected.

In 2023, Litchfields fire chief described it as the worst scene you could see out of a movie.

Eight people died, and the road was closed for nearly a day. Coppess and his team want to make sure it doesnt happen again.

Unfortunately, most good plans come from tragedy: Agencies prepare plans for future major responses after I-55 dust storm

We would like to see more of these federal dollars coming to farmers in the state and helping them invest in practices that will preserve soil health, improve soil health and avoid the erosion challenges we saw, or at least help mitigate some of those challenges, Coppess said.

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He said there are a few ways to do that, like introducing no-till practices or practicing cover cropping.

So far, his research shows bare soil is the most critical component of a dust storm, but other aspects of the land can create the problem, too.

Normally, trees serve as a wind break, Coppess said. That day, the wind came out of the northwest, and it concentrated dust around those trees. If it came out of the east or southeast, the trees wouldve been a wind break.

No matter what conclusions come out of the research, he knows changes are in the hands of someone else. He is watching current congressional debates to see what happens to policy measures.

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Before that happens, his goal is to help and work with farmers so they see what he sees in the research.

The more we can do to inform that, the better we might see policy outcomes down the road, Coppess added.

As for next steps, he said the team will also look at other models others have put 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 WCIA.com.
WEST VIRGINIA (WVNS)  Families across the state could be receiving benefits as early as this month as part of the 2025 Summer EBT program.



Launched last year and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Summer EBT program offers federal benefits to nearly 200,000 children across the state annually.

School-aged children who qualify will receive benefits for the summer months for the purchase of SNAP-approved grocery items.

Among those eligible for the Summer EBT program are West Virginia kids between the ages of six and 17 in homes receiving SNAP or other qualifying public benefits such as TANF or Medicaid.

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Project Manager with the Department of Human Services, Ashley Puffenbarger says the program will help students who depend on school meals throughout the year, and that qualifying families could start receiving benefits as early as this month.



Its just another way and another critical mission and tool into providing hunger relief for students in the summer, says Puffenbarger. Some families will actually receive this benefit before the school year is even over. By the end of August, we do anticipate having issued to around 165,000 [recipients.]

Puffenbarger says that last years program created an economic impact of over 20 million dollars in the state of West Virginia.

To find out more on how to apply or qualify for the West Virginia Summer EBT program, families can visit the West Virginia Department of Education 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 WVNS.
STAMFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Stamford Hospital and two doctors are liable for $22.8 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought on by the family of Maura Gallagher, a woman who died while giving birth to twins in 2017, according to legal documents.

Lawsuit alleges Yale failed to protect pain medications for ICU patients

Stamford Health and an anesthesiologist at the hospital are being ordered to pay $8 million. An obstetrician/gynecologist settled with the family for an undisclosed amount.

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The lawsuit argues that the doctors at the hospital failed to diagnose and properly treat Gallagher for preeclampsia, despite her showing multiple symptoms of the condition. They argue that medical staff present during her birth failed to recognize that she had suffered a seizure, calling it an anxiety attack on medical records.

Gallagher ultimately wound up having a brain bleed due to the undiagnosed preeclampsia, leading to her death. The lawsuit states that the doctors failed to properly monitor her blood pressure and platelet levels prior to her death.

Stamford Health released the following statement regarding the courts decision:

Stamford Health is very sorry for the Gallagher familys loss, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to them. We are of course disappointed with the jurys verdict which we feel is entirely inconsistent with the evidence. We still believe that there is absolutely no basis for any claim that Stamford Hospital, nor any of its physicians, failed to provide appropriate care. Providing high-quality care is our top priority and we continue to uphold that commitment.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for bankruptcy. State attorneys general are urging concerned customers to delete their data, while experts warn that state and federal laws may not fully protect their privacy. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The fate of more than 15 million customers genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states to warn 23andMe users: Delete your data.

Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, said in a March statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly.

Dr. Adam Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based emergency physician and the founder of a health care strategy firm, deleted his information on 23andMe as soon as he learned of the bankruptcy filing, he told Stateline.

For him, the bankruptcy begs a vital question that federal and state laws dont fully address: What happens to your genetic data when the company holding it collapses?

Federal protections are flimsy. States have beefed up their genetic privacy laws in recent years, but many experts say they dont go far enough.

There actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

 Dr. Adam Brown, emergency physician and founder of a health care strategy company

23andMe has said the bankruptcy will not change how it stores, manages or protects its trove of sensitive customer information. In a news release issued shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, the company said any potential buyers would have to agree to comply with 23andMes consumer privacy policy and all applicable laws. When contacted by Stateline, the company declined to comment beyond what it has published in news releases and information it posted for customers on its website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But once the data is in the hands of another company, that company could change its privacy policy at any time, experts noted.

Once you get to the point of bankruptcy court, there may not be those same guarantees or the same ethos a new company may have around privacy protections for consumers, Brown said.

I want people to understand there actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

HIPAA doesnt help

Companies such as 23andMe offer their users potentially game-changing revelations about their health and ancestry. The process is simple: Mail in a saliva sample and the company uses it to build an individual genetic profile that can reveal not only a persons family connections, but also health insights such as their risk of developing a disease like cancer or Alzheimers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This valuable personal data underpins a direct-to-customer genetic testing market that was valued at $1.93 billion globally in 2023 and is expected to grow, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

23andMe was an industry giant until its stock price plummeted following a massive 2023 data breach that affected the accounts of nearly 7 million customers. Then came the $30 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

The company declared bankruptcy in late March of this year, and announced its up for sale.

A flurry of alerts from state attorneys general around the country soon followed. AGs from states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Texas issued similar press releases that recommended customers ask the company to delete their genetic profile and destroy the saliva sample used to create it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We have robust state privacy laws that include data deletion rights, and I would encourage any Texan concerned about their data to exercise the right to have their data securely deleted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in an April statement.

The fear is that a new 23andMe owner could choose to use or share sensitive personal genetic data in ways the companys current privacy policy doesnt allow. Theres worry it could be used, for example, to inflate peoples life insurance premiums or expose them to employment discrimination.

And there arent many guardrails to prevent that from happening.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, doesnt apply to companies like 23andMe. The landmark federal law protects patients sensitive health information when its handled by doctors, hospitals and health insurers. But direct-to-customer companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry arent considered health care providers, and their non-invasive saliva collection kit isnt considered a medical test.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The main federal law that protects people from discrimination based on their genetic information is nearly 20 years old. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008, long before the rise of at-home testing kits. It applies to employers and health insurers, but not to life insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other non-health entities. And it doesnt explicitly protect epigenetic information, which is information about the way a persons genes  and by extension, health  are affected by outside factors such as smoking, disease or stress.

What states are doing

In the past five years, at least 14 states have passed laws regulating direct-to-consumer genetic testing offered by companies like Ancestry and 23andMe. Theres variation, but generally the laws require companies to get customers express consent before using or sharing their data, and allow customers to request their genetic data be deleted and biological samples destroyed.

Its a good start, but doesnt go far enough, said Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor whose research focuses on health and genetic privacy.

Many of those state efforts were built around a model law developed by the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, an industry group with two member companies: 23andMe and Ancestry.

As DNA testing kits exploded in popularity and attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers, the coalition pushed to influence legislation and set industry standards. The privacy protections in the laws mirror what 23andMe and Ancestry were already doing with their own privacy policies, experts say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They do have some really sensible privacy protections, said Prince. Its great that people can delete their genetic data, and its great that law enforcement needs a warrant to access it. But if a privacy advocate had written a model law, there would be the potential for more and broader protections.

For example, she said, many of the state laws address privacy requirements just for direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies. If 23andMes data is bought by, say, a pharmaceutical company, those state laws no longer apply.

The coalition now appears to be inactive, its website defunct.

Since 2020, more than a dozen states have passed some version of a genetic information privacy law, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, based on a Stateline analysis. This year, the Indiana legislature passed a bill thats now headed to the governors desk. Bills have been introduced this year in other states, including West Virginia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Prince said state laws rely too heavily on consumers to self-manage their data privacy. Theyre expected to understand a companys policy, when studies have shown the public often doesnt read privacy notices nor fully understand how companies use their data. Further, many state laws dont address how third parties, such as law enforcement, can access and use consumer genetic data.

Its also not always clear how the laws will be enforced, or whos responsible for oversight.

In general, I think theres a disconnect between how people think their privacy is protected and how its actually protected, she said.

But a few states have enacted laws that are more robust. California, for example, has a genetic information privacy law, but also has a general data protection law, as well as a state version of the federal GINA law that extends genetic anti-discrimination protections into areas including housing, education and licensing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Florida has beefed up its DNA privacy laws in recent years, making the using or selling of an individuals DNA without informed consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida was also the first state to prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from using genetic information to determine coverage.

How to delete your 23andMe data

Log in to your 23andMe account on 23andme.com. Under your profile, click Settings. Scroll to the 23andMe Data section. Click the View button. If you want a copy of your genetic data, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the Delete Data section. Click Permanently Delete Data. Check your email for a confirmation email from 23andMe, then follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under Preferences.

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research purposes, you can withdraw that consent from your account settings page, under the Research and Product Contents section.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

If you have concerns, you can contact your state attorney generals office. Find yours at www.naag.org/find-my-ag/.

Source: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for bankruptcy. State attorneys general are urging concerned customers to delete their data, while experts warn that state and federal laws may not fully protect their privacy. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The fate of more than 15 million customers genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states to warn 23andMe users: Delete your data.

Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, said in a March statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly.

Dr. Adam Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based emergency physician and the founder of a health care strategy firm, deleted his information on 23andMe as soon as he learned of the bankruptcy filing, he told Stateline.

For him, the bankruptcy begs a vital question that federal and state laws dont fully address: What happens to your genetic data when the company holding it collapses?

Federal protections are flimsy. States have beefed up their genetic privacy laws in recent years, but many experts say they dont go far enough.

There actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

 Dr. Adam Brown

23andMe has said the bankruptcy will not change how it stores, manages or protects its trove of sensitive customer information. In a news release issued shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, the company said any potential buyers would have to agree to comply with 23andMes consumer privacy policy and all applicable laws. When contacted by Stateline, the company declined to comment beyond what it has published in news releases and information it posted for customers on its website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But once the data is in the hands of another company, that company could change its privacy policy at any time, experts noted.

Once you get to the point of bankruptcy court, there may not be those same guarantees or the same ethos a new company may have around privacy protections for consumers, Brown said.

I want people to understand there actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

HIPAA doesnt help

Companies such as 23andMe offer their users potentially game-changing revelations about their health and ancestry. The process is simple: Mail in a saliva sample and the company uses it to build an individual genetic profile that can reveal not only a persons family connections, but also health insights such as their risk of developing a disease like cancer or Alzheimers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This valuable personal data underpins a direct-to-customer genetic testing market that was valued at $1.93 billion globally in 2023 and is expected to grow, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

23andMe was an industry giant until its stock price plummeted following a massive 2023 data breach that affected the accounts of nearly 7 million customers. Then came the $30 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

The company declared bankruptcy in late March of this year, and announced its up for sale.

A flurry of alerts from state attorneys general around the country soon followed. AGs from states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Texas issued similar press releases that recommended customers ask the company to delete their genetic profile and destroy the saliva sample used to create it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We have robust state privacy laws that include data deletion rights, and I would encourage any Texan concerned about their data to exercise the right to have their data securely deleted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in an April statement.

The fear is that a new 23andMe owner could choose to use or share sensitive personal genetic data in ways the companys current privacy policy doesnt allow. Theres worry it could be used, for example, to inflate peoples life insurance premiums or expose them to employment discrimination.

And there arent many guardrails to prevent that from happening.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, doesnt apply to companies like 23andMe. The landmark federal law protects patients sensitive health information when its handled by doctors, hospitals and health insurers. But direct-to-customer companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry arent considered health care providers, and their non-invasive saliva collection kit isnt considered a medical test.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The main federal law that protects people from discrimination based on their genetic information is nearly 20 years old. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008, long before the rise of at-home testing kits. It applies to employers and health insurers, but not to life insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other non-health entities. And it doesnt explicitly protect epigenetic information, which is information about the way a persons genes  and by extension, health  are affected by outside factors such as smoking, disease or stress.

What states are doing

In the past five years, at least 14 states have passed laws regulating direct-to-consumer genetic testing offered by companies like Ancestry and 23andMe. Theres variation, but generally the laws require companies to get customers express consent before using or sharing their data, and allow customers to request their genetic data be deleted and biological samples destroyed.

Its a good start, but doesnt go far enough, said Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor whose research focuses on health and genetic privacy.

Many of those state efforts were built around a model law developed by the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, an industry group with two member companies: 23andMe and Ancestry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As DNA testing kits exploded in popularity and attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers, the coalition pushed to influence legislation and set industry standards. The privacy protections in the laws mirror what 23andMe and Ancestry were already doing with their own privacy policies, experts say.

They do have some really sensible privacy protections, said Prince. Its great that people can delete their genetic data, and its great that law enforcement needs a warrant to access it. But if a privacy advocate had written a model law, there would be the potential for more and broader protections.

For example, she said, many of the state laws address privacy requirements just for direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies. If 23andMes data is bought by, say, a pharmaceutical company, those state laws no longer apply.

The coalition now appears to be inactive, its website defunct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Since 2020, more than a dozen states have passed some version of a genetic information privacy law, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, based on a Stateline analysis. This year, the Indiana legislature passed a bill thats now headed to the governors desk. Bills have been introduced this year in other states, including West Virginia.

Prince said state laws rely too heavily on consumers to self-manage their data privacy. Theyre expected to understand a companys policy, when studies have shown the public often doesnt read privacy notices nor fully understand how companies use their data. Further, many state laws dont address how third parties, such as law enforcement, can access and use consumer genetic data.

Its also not always clear how the laws will be enforced, or whos responsible for oversight.

In general, I think theres a disconnect between how people think their privacy is protected and how its actually protected, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But a few states have enacted laws that are more robust. California, for example, has a genetic information privacy law, but also has a general data protection law, as well as a state version of the federal GINA law that extends genetic anti-discrimination protections into areas including housing, education and licensing.

Florida has beefed up its DNA privacy laws in recent years, making the using or selling of an individuals DNA without informed consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida was also the first state to prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from using genetic information to determine coverage.

How to delete your 23andMe data

Log in to your 23andMe account on 23andme.com. Under your profile, click Settings. Scroll to the 23andMe Data section. Click the View button. If you want a copy of your genetic data, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the Delete Data section. Click Permanently Delete Data. Check your email for a confirmation email from 23andMe, then follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request. If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under Preferences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research purposes, you can withdraw that consent from your account settings page, under the Research and Product Contents section.

If you have concerns, you can contact your state attorney generals office. Find yours at www.naag.org/find-my-ag/.

Source: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

This report was first published by Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its 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.
Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for bankruptcy. State attorneys general are urging concerned customers to delete their data, while experts warn that state and federal laws may not fully protect their privacy. (File photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The fate of more than 15 million customers genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states to warn 23andMe users: Delete your data.

Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, said in a March statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly.

Dr. Adam Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based emergency physician and the founder of a health care strategy firm, deleted his information on 23andMe as soon as he learned of the bankruptcy filing, he told Stateline.

For him, the bankruptcy begs a vital question that federal and state laws dont fully address: What happens to your genetic data when the company holding it collapses?

Federal protections are flimsy. States have beefed up their genetic privacy laws in recent years, but many experts say they dont go far enough.

There actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

 Dr. Adam Brown, emergency physician and founder of a health care strategy company

23andMe has said the bankruptcy will not change how it stores, manages or protects its trove of sensitive customer information. In a news release issued shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, the company said any potential buyers would have to agree to comply with 23andMes consumer privacy policy and all applicable laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

When contacted by Stateline, the company declined to comment beyond what it has published in news releases and information it posted for customers on its website.

But once the data is in the hands of another company, that company could change its privacy policy at any time, experts noted.

Once you get to the point of bankruptcy court, there may not be those same guarantees or the same ethos a new company may have around privacy protections for consumers, Brown said.

I want people to understand there actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

HIPAA doesnt help

Companies such as 23andMe offer their users potentially game-changing revelations about their health and ancestry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The process is simple: Mail in a saliva sample and the company uses it to build an individual genetic profile that can reveal not only a persons family connections, but also health insights such as their risk of developing a disease like cancer or Alzheimers.

This valuable personal data underpins a direct-to-customer genetic testing market that was valued at $1.93 billion globally in 2023 and is expected to grow, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

23andMe was an industry giant until its stock price plummeted following a massive 2023 data breach that affected the accounts of nearly 7 million customers. Then came the $30 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

The company declared bankruptcy in late March of this year, and announced its up for sale.

A flurry of alerts from state attorneys general around the country soon followed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Within two days of the companys announcement, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a consumer alert to Palmetto State customers.

This company has sensitive information about the people who have used it, he said in a March 25 statement. The best way to protect your personal information is to delete your account.

AGs from states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Texas also issued press releases that recommended customers ask the company to delete their genetic profile and destroy the saliva sample used to create it.

We have robust state privacy laws that include data deletion rights, and I would encourage any Texan concerned about their data to exercise the right to have their data securely deleted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in an April statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The fear is that a new 23andMe owner could choose to use or share sensitive personal genetic data in ways the companys current privacy policy doesnt allow. Theres worry it could be used, for example, to inflate peoples life insurance premiums or expose them to employment discrimination.

And there arent many guardrails to prevent that from happening.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, doesnt apply to companies like 23andMe. The landmark federal law protects patients sensitive health information when its handled by doctors, hospitals and health insurers.

But direct-to-customer companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry arent considered health care providers, and their non-invasive saliva collection kit isnt considered a medical test.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The main federal law that protects people from discrimination based on their genetic information is nearly 20 years old. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008, long before the rise of at-home testing kits. It applies to employers and health insurers, but not to life insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other non-health entities. And it doesnt explicitly protect epigenetic information, which is information about the way a persons genes  and by extension, health  are affected by outside factors such as smoking, disease or stress.

What states are doing

In the past five years, at least 14 states have passed laws regulating direct-to-consumer genetic testing offered by companies like Ancestry and 23andMe. Theres variation, but generally the laws require companies to get customers express consent before using or sharing their data, and allow customers to request their genetic data be deleted and biological samples destroyed.

Its a good start, but doesnt go far enough, said Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor whose research focuses on health and genetic privacy.

Many of those state efforts were built around a model law developed by the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, an industry group with two member companies: 23andMe and Ancestry.

As DNA testing kits exploded in popularity and attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers, the coalition pushed to influence legislation and set industry standards. The privacy protections in the laws mirror what 23andMe and Ancestry were already doing with their own privacy policies, experts say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They do have some really sensible privacy protections, said Prince. Its great that people can delete their genetic data, and its great that law enforcement needs a warrant to access it. But if a privacy advocate had written a model law, there would be the potential for more and broader protections.

For example, she said, many of the state laws address privacy requirements just for direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies. If 23andMes data is bought by, say, a pharmaceutical company, those state laws no longer apply.

The coalition now appears to be inactive, its website defunct.

Since 2020, more than a dozen states have passed some version of a genetic information privacy law, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, based on a Stateline analysis. This year, the Indiana legislature passed a bill thats now headed to the governors desk. Bills have been introduced this year in other states, including West Virginia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Prince said state laws rely too heavily on consumers to self-manage their data privacy. Theyre expected to understand a companys policy, when studies have shown the public often doesnt read privacy notices nor fully understand how companies use their data. Further, many state laws dont address how third parties, such as law enforcement, can access and use consumer genetic data.

Its also not always clear how the laws will be enforced, or whos responsible for oversight.

In general, I think theres a disconnect between how people think their privacy is protected and how its actually protected, she said.

But a few states have enacted laws that are more robust. California, for example, has a genetic information privacy law, but also has a general data protection law, as well as a state version of the federal GINA law that extends genetic anti-discrimination protections into areas including housing, education and licensing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Florida has beefed up its DNA privacy laws in recent years, making the using or selling of an individuals DNA without informed consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida was also the first state to prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from using genetic information to determine coverage

How to delete your 23andMe data

Log in to your 23andMe account on 23andme.com. Under your profile, click Settings. Scroll to the 23andMe Data section. Click the View button. If you want a copy of your genetic data, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the Delete Data section. Click Permanently Delete Data. Check your email for a confirmation email from 23andMe, then follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under Preferences.

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research purposes, you can withdraw that consent from your account settings page, under the Research and Product Contents section.

If you have concerns, you can contact your state attorney generals office. Find yours at www.naag.org/find-my-ag/.

Source: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.

Like the SC Daily Gazette, 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.
May 2The fate of more than 15 million customers' genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states to warn 23andMe users: Delete your data.

"Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it," North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, said in a March statement.

"You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Dr. Adam Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based emergency physician and the founder of a health care strategy firm, deleted his information on 23andMe as soon as he learned of the bankruptcy filing, he told Stateline.

For him, the bankruptcy begs a vital question that federal and state laws don't fully address: What happens to your genetic data when the company holding it collapses?

Federal protections are flimsy. States have beefed up their genetic privacy laws in recent years, but many experts say they don't go far enough.

There actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.  Dr. Adam Brown, emergency physician and founder of a health care strategy company

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

23andMe has said the bankruptcy will not change how it stores, manages or protects its trove of sensitive customer information. In a news release issued shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, the company said any potential buyers would have to agree to comply with 23andMe's consumer privacy policy and all applicable laws. When contacted by Stateline, the company declined to comment beyond what it has published in news releases and information it posted for customers on its website.

But once the data is in the hands of another company, that company could change its privacy policy at any time, experts noted.

"Once you get to the point of bankruptcy court, there may not be those same guarantees or the same ethos a new company may have around privacy protections for consumers," Brown said.

"I want people to understand there actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

HIPAA doesn't help

Companies such as 23andMe offer their users potentially game-changing revelations about their health and ancestry. The process is simple: Mail in a saliva sample and the company uses it to build an individual genetic profile that can reveal not only a person's family connections, but also health insights such as their risk of developing a disease like cancer or Alzheimer's.

This valuable personal data underpins a direct-to-customer genetic testing market that was valued at $1.93 billion globally in 2023 and is expected to grow, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

23andMe was an industry giant until its stock price plummeted following a massive 2023 data breach that affected the accounts of nearly 7 million customers. Then came the $30 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

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The company declared bankruptcy in late March of this year, and announced it's up for sale.

A flurry of alerts from state attorneys general around the country soon followed. AGs from states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Texas issued similar press releases that recommended customers ask the company to delete their genetic profile and destroy the saliva sample used to create it.

"We have robust state privacy laws that include data deletion rights, and I would encourage any Texan concerned about their data to exercise the right to have their data securely deleted," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in an April statement.

The fear is that a new 23andMe owner could choose to use or share sensitive personal genetic data in ways the company's current privacy policy doesn't allow. There's worry it could be used, for example, to inflate people's life insurance premiums or expose them to employment discrimination.

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And there aren't many guardrails to prevent that from happening.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, doesn't apply to companies like 23andMe. The landmark federal law protects patients' sensitive health information when it's handled by doctors, hospitals and health insurers. But direct-to-customer companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry aren't considered health care providers, and their non-invasive saliva collection kit isn't considered a medical test.

The main federal law that protects people from discrimination based on their genetic information is nearly 20 years old. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008, long before the rise of at-home testing kits. It applies to employers and health insurers, but not to life insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other non-health entities. And it doesn't explicitly protect epigenetic information, which is information about the way a person's genes  and by extension, health  are affected by outside factors such as smoking, disease or stress.

What states are doing

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In the past five years, at least 14 states have passed laws regulating direct-to-consumer genetic testing offered by companies like Ancestry and 23andMe. There's variation, but generally the laws require companies to get customers' express consent before using or sharing their data, and allow customers to request their genetic data be deleted and biological samples destroyed.

It's a good start, but doesn't go far enough, said Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor whose research focuses on health and genetic privacy.

Many of those state efforts were built around a model law developed by the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, an industry group with two member companies: 23andMe and Ancestry.

As DNA testing kits exploded in popularity and attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers, the coalition pushed to influence legislation and set industry standards. The privacy protections in the laws mirror what 23andMe and Ancestry were already doing with their own privacy policies, experts say.

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"They do have some really sensible privacy protections," said Prince. "It's great that people can delete their genetic data, and it's great that law enforcement needs a warrant to access it. But if a privacy advocate had written a model law, there would be the potential for more and broader protections."

For example, she said, many of the state laws address privacy requirements just for direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies. If 23andMe's data is bought by, say, a pharmaceutical company, those state laws no longer apply.

The coalition now appears to be inactive, its website defunct.

Since 2020, more than a dozen states have passed some version of a genetic information privacy law, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, based on a Stateline analysis. This year, the Indiana legislature passed a bill that's now headed to the governor's desk. Bills have been introduced this year in other states, including West Virginia.

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Prince said state laws rely too heavily on consumers to self-manage their data privacy. They're expected to understand a company's policy, when studies have shown the public often doesn't read privacy notices nor fully understand how companies use their data. Further, many state laws don't address how third parties, such as law enforcement, can access and use consumer genetic data.

It's also not always clear how the laws will be enforced, or who's responsible for oversight.

"In general, I think there's a disconnect between how people think their privacy is protected and how it's actually protected," she said.

But a few states have enacted laws that are more robust. California, for example, has a genetic information privacy law, but also has a general data protection law, as well as a state version of the federal GINA law that extends genetic anti-discrimination protections into areas including housing, education and licensing.

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Florida has beefed up its DNA privacy laws in recent years, making the using or selling of an individual's DNA without informed consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida was also the first state to prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from using genetic information to determine coverage.

How to delete your 23andMe data

1. Log in to your 23andMe account on 23andme.com.

2. Under your profile, click "Settings."

3. Scroll to the "23andMe Data" section.

4. Click the "View" button.

5. If you want a copy of your genetic data, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.

6. Scroll to the "Delete Data" section.

7. Click "Permanently Delete Data."

8. Check your email for a confirmation email from 23andMe, then follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under "Preferences."

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research purposes, you can withdraw that consent from your account settings page, under the "Research and Product Contents" section.

If you have concerns, you can contact your state attorney general's office. Find yours at www.naag.org/find-my-ag/.

Source: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at [email protected].

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for bankruptcy. State attorneys general are urging concerned customers to delete their data, while experts warn that state and federal laws may not fully protect their privacy. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The fate of more than 15 million customers genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states to warn 23andMe users: Delete your data.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador (Courtesy of the Idaho Attorney Generals office)

There is nothing more personal than an individuals genetic information, said Idahos Republican Attorney General Raul Labrador in a March 24 consumer alert, and allowing that to be sold off to the highest bidder raises serious consumer protection concerns for privacy. I want to make sure that 23andMe customers in Idaho have every opportunity to protect their genetic data.

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North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, agreed in a March statement.

Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it, Jackson said. You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly.

What state and federal laws protect the privacy of your genetic data?

Dr. Adam Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based emergency physician and the founder of a health care strategy firm, deleted his information on 23andMe as soon as he learned of the bankruptcy filing, he told Stateline.

For him, the bankruptcy begs a vital question that federal and state laws dont fully address: What happens to your genetic data when the company holding it collapses?

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Federal protections are flimsy. States have beefed up their genetic privacy laws in recent years, but many experts say they dont go far enough.

There actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

 Dr. Adam Brown, emergency physician and founder of a health care strategy company

23andMe has said the bankruptcy will not change how it stores, manages or protects its trove of sensitive customer information. In a news release issued shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, the company said any potential buyers would have to agree to comply with 23andMes consumer privacy policy and all applicable laws. When contacted by Stateline, the company declined to comment beyond what it has published in news releases and information it posted for customers on its website.

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But once the data is in the hands of another company, that company could change its privacy policy at any time, experts noted.

Once you get to the point of bankruptcy court, there may not be those same guarantees or the same ethos a new company may have around privacy protections for consumers, Brown said.

I want people to understand there actually are not a lot of data privacy protections for consumers, especially for these direct-to-customer-type businesses.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

HIPAA doesnt apply to companies like 23andMe

Companies such as 23andMe offer their users potentially game-changing revelations about their health and ancestry. The process is simple: Mail in a saliva sample and the company uses it to build an individual genetic profile that can reveal not only a persons family connections, but also health insights such as their risk of developing a disease like cancer or Alzheimers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This valuable personal data underpins a direct-to-customer genetic testing market that was valued at $1.93 billion globally in 2023 and is expected to grow, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

23andMe was an industry giant until its stock price plummeted following a massive 2023 data breach that affected the accounts of nearly 7 million customers. Then came the $30 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

The company declared bankruptcy in late March of this year and announced its up for sale.

A flurry of alerts from state attorneys general around the country soon followed. AGs from states including Alabama, Arizona, California, , Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Texas issued similar press releases that recommended customers ask the company to delete their genetic profile and destroy the saliva sample used to create it.

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We have robust state privacy laws that include data deletion rights, and I would encourage any Texan concerned about their data to exercise the right to have their data securely deleted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in an April statement.

Labrador similarly encouraged Idahoans to look at all genetic testing companies to see if they store a customers data.

Consumers may use the Consumer Reports App to request that direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies, including 23andMe, delete any personal data, the Idaho attorney generals consumer alert said.

Consumers who have submitted genetic samples to other companies should determine if their genetic information has been stored by that company, the alert said. If your data has been stored, you may request the company destroy any stored information either through the Consumer Reports App or through the company itself.

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The fear is that a new 23andMe owner could choose to use or share sensitive personal genetic data in ways the companys current privacy policy doesnt allow. Theres worry it could be used, for example, to inflate peoples life insurance premiums or expose them to employment discrimination.

And there arent many guardrails to prevent that from happening.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, doesnt apply to companies like 23andMe. The landmark federal law protects patients sensitive health information when its handled by doctors, hospitals and health insurers. But direct-to-customer companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry arent considered health care providers, and their non-invasive saliva collection kit isnt considered a medical test.

The main federal law that protects people from discrimination based on their genetic information is nearly 20 years old. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008, long before the rise of at-home testing kits. It applies to employers and health insurers, but not to life insurance companies, mortgage lenders and other non-health entities. And it doesnt explicitly protect epigenetic information, which is information about the way a persons genes  and by extension, health  are affected by outside factors such as smoking, disease or stress.

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What states are doing to regulate genetic testing

In the past five years, at least 14 states have passed laws regulating direct-to-consumer genetic testing offered by companies like Ancestry and 23andMe. Theres variation, but generally the laws require companies to get customers express consent before using or sharing their data, and allow customers to request their genetic data be deleted and biological samples destroyed.

Its a good start, but doesnt go far enough, said Anya Prince, a University of Iowa law professor whose research focuses on health and genetic privacy.

Many of those state efforts were built around a model law developed by the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, an industry group with two member companies: 23andMe and Ancestry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As DNA testing kits exploded in popularity and attracted increased scrutiny from lawmakers, the coalition pushed to influence legislation and set industry standards. The privacy protections in the laws mirror what 23andMe and Ancestry were already doing with their own privacy policies, experts say.

They do have some really sensible privacy protections, said Prince. Its great that people can delete their genetic data, and its great that law enforcement needs a warrant to access it. But if a privacy advocate had written a model law, there would be the potential for more and broader protections.

For example, she said, many of the state laws address privacy requirements just for direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies. If 23andMes data is bought by, say, a pharmaceutical company, those state laws no longer apply.

The coalition now appears to be inactive, its website defunct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Since 2020, more than a dozen states have passed some version of a genetic information privacy law, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, based on a Stateline analysis. This year, the Indiana legislature passed a bill thats now headed to the governors desk. Bills have been introduced this year in other states, including West Virginia.

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Prince said state laws rely too heavily on consumers to self-manage their data privacy. Theyre expected to understand a companys policy, when studies have shown the public often doesnt read privacy notices nor fully understand how companies use their data. Further, many state laws dont address how third parties, such as law enforcement, can access and use consumer genetic data.

Its also not always clear how the laws will be enforced, or whos responsible for oversight.

In general, I think theres a disconnect between how people think their privacy is protected and how its actually protected, she said.

But a few states have enacted laws that are more robust. California, for example, has a genetic information privacy law, but also has a general data protection law, as well as a state version of the federal GINA law that extends genetic anti-discrimination protections into areas including housing, education and licensing.

Florida has beefed up its DNA privacy laws in recent years, making the using or selling of an individuals DNA without informed consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida was also the first state to prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from using genetic information to determine coverage.

How to delete your 23andMe data

Log in to your 23andMe account on 23andme.com.Under your profile, click Settings.Scroll to the 23andMe Data section.Click the View button.If you want a copy of your genetic data, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.Scroll to the Delete Data section.Click Permanently Delete Data.Check your email for a confirmation email from 23andMe, then follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under Preferences.

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research purposes, you can withdraw that consent from your account settings page, under the Research and Product Contents section.

If you have concerns, you can contact your state attorney generals office. Find yours at www.naag.org/find-my-ag/.

Source: Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this report.

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.
Growing up, Deja Foxx watched her mom, Lisa, work every job you could imagine to provide for their family

But despite her mothers efforts, Foxx, now 25, tells PEOPLE she experienced homelessness as a child, and her family often relied on food stamps to get by

Now, as a first-time candidate running for Congress, Foxx says her mom has become her No. 1 supporter

So, to mark the start of her campaign, Foxx decided to surprise Lisa at her front door with the news  capturing the emotional moment on video

Deja Foxx's mom, Lisa, worked every job you could imagine to provide for their family  at a post office, delivering flowers, as a caregiver, cleaning houses. And when Lisa was between jobs, Deja watched as her mom stepped up for the community, babysitting for neighbors so they could pick up extra shifts at work.

"She and the community of neighbors who raised me taught me what it means to organize and make enough  together," Foxx tells PEOPLE exclusively.

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Foxx grew up in Tucson, Ariz., living the very policies that politicians debate in Washington, D.C. Shes experienced homelessness and relied on food stamps. Shes worked long nights at a gas station to make ends meet. Shes made tough choices in the grocery store checkout line. She knows what it feels like when elected officials  who seem so far removed  make decisions that directly impact the resources shes needed to get by.

Thats why, at just 25, she tells PEOPLE she decided to run for Congress.

"I believe people like me  young, working-class, marginalized  deserve a real seat at the table," she says.

"We are already leading," the 25-year-old continues. "Were organizing movements, driving the cultural conversation online and offline, and showing up in ways that demand a better future. Its not enough for older generations to say theyre inspired by us or that we make them feel hopeful  not without sharing the tools and power we need to create change."

Deja Foxx Deja Foxx and her mom Lisa Deja Foxx and her mom Lisa

Related: Woman Records Her Dad's Final Call as a Police Officer. His Last Words Bring the Family to Tears (Exclusive)

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Since launching her campaign, Lisa, 58, has been Foxx's biggest supporter. Shes her No. 1 fan and her lead volunteer.

But for Foxx, although she knows she can count on her mom now, it hasnt always been that way. When she was just 15 years old, she had to move out and navigate so much on her own while Lisa was in the darkest places of addiction.

"We have rebuilt our relationship and trust, and through that work I have come to see that no person, or system, is beyond change," Foxx says. "It is that belief that brings me to this fight at a time when our country feels more divided and our system more broken than ever."

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Deja Foxx Deja Foxx as a child with her mom Lisa Deja Foxx as a child with her mom Lisa

That belief is why, as Foxx prepared for her first door knock, she decided to make the moment extra special.

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Right after printing out her campaign pamphlets, Foxx drove to Lisa's house and surprised her at the doorstep. In that moment, Foxx recalls holding back tears as she watched her mom open the door. Seeing her moms face reflecting back at her reminded her why she was running in the first place.

"A knock at my moms door is a reminder of who I am in this race for," Foxx says. "There are people all across this country who deserve a sense of hope."

The aspiring politician recorded the emotional moment on her phone and later posted it to TikTok, where it went viral  amassing more than 890,000 views and 3,100 comments. Since then, shes received hundreds of messages from young women expressing their own desire to run for office.

Looking back on the video, Foxx says the message of family, love and resilience likely touched many. Thats what connects us in a world of so much division.

Deja Foxx Deja Foxx and her mom Lisa Deja Foxx and her mom Lisa

Related: Parents in Wheelchairs Welcome 2 Foster Sons, Then Baby Triplets. How They Show Doubters the 'Power' in Their Journey (Exclusive)

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"No matter the disagreements on policy, we all want a political system that feels human again and thats what that moment captured," Foxx says.

"The way I think about my TikToks is not just showing what Im doing on this campaign, but building a how-to guide or a toolbox to show other young people how they can run and effect change too," she adds. "So youll see me knocking on my moms door, but youll also see me getting signatures for ballot petitions, fundraising and doing everything that goes into a congressional campaign. This is the level of effective communication and transparency that sets us apart."

"Im in this for a version of my younger self who is out there right now and deserves to have her potential protected," Foxx continues. "I know there are young people out there questioning if they really can make a change. Theres so much bad in the world. It feels overwhelming all the time. So when I meet them where theyre at on platforms like TikTok, I need them to see that someone is fighting for them, and more importantly, that they can get in this fight too."

Read the original article on People
WILLIAMSTOWN, WV (WOWK)  Working in the restaurant industry, you meet all kinds of people across all walks of life. And at Davincis Restaurant in Williamstown, West Virginia, one server met a couple who she says have changed her outlook on life.

DaVincis shared the tip Manhattan Deming received on Facebook, and it made headlines both locally and nationally. A $2,000 tip on a $148.41 bill.

That figure, the $2,000, you dont see that on a piece of paper from one table. It was just insane, Deming told WOWK 13 News.

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Cha-ching! Millions of dimes spill onto Texas highway after truck rolls

Deming has only been a waitress at DaVincis for a couple of months. She joined the team after leaving a previous position working in a hospital.

I just felt like I needed a change in my environment, and I am so lucky that I did because here, I feel so accepted, said Deming. I feel like Im so much more acclimated now than I ever have been.

In her previous job, however, Deming was working toward her dreams.

I want to be a nurse. I worked on labor and delivery when I worked in the hospital as a patient care technician. I got to give the babies their first blood tests and give them their first baths and be a part of the mothers first few hours with their children, Deming said. And that was so fulfilling, and as much as I love serving, I want to be able to help be the change in peoples lives as well.

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Rodeo Hall of Famer Roy Super Looper Cooper dies in house fire at 69

Receiving the $2,000 tip from the couple, who werent even from around the area, was something she never expected, and thats why she says she wants to make the most of it. She also has a special message for the couple.

I would tell them that they have made such a change in my life. They have set up my whole year to be the year I achieve my goals, Deming said.

While Deming was speaking with WOWK 13 News Reporter Jackson Rozinsky and Digital Executive Producer Mike Browning, she got another surprise of a lifetime.

Browning told Deming: West Virginia University of Parkersburg President Tori Jackson just texted me and said that they can reach out to you about financial aid opportunities through their college so that you could go back to school.

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This doesnt even seem real! It seemed so far out of my reach, and youre telling me right now that theyre reaching out to me?! a shocked Deming replied.

Theyre going to try and help you achieve your goal, Browning said.

Deming added: Tell the president of WVUP that I am ready and waiting!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DAMASCUS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes early Friday on a site near the official residence of the Syrian president in central Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Loud explosions were heard across wide areas of the capital, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Israeli aircraft were also reportedly seen reconnoitering over Damascus shortly after the strikes. The raid marks the latest in a series of Israeli operations in the country.

The new interim government in Syria has yet to comment on the attack near the presidential palace, which is the first of its kind.

The Israeli military has not officially commented on the latest strikes, in keeping with its usual policy of ambiguity regarding operations in Syria.

The attack came amid heightened violence between Druze groups and government-aligned forces in Druze-majority areas in southern Syria, which has left over 100 people dead in recent days, fueling concerns of further destabilization.

According to the Observatory, Israel has conducted 47 attacks on Syrian territory since the beginning of 2025, killing at least 33 people. 
The bodies of three girls who went missing last month have been found.

Lah Tray Moo, 18, Laiana Green, 18, and Eh Cress Moo, 11, disappeared while on an April 15 fishing trip on the Missouri River in Omaha, Neb., WOWT reported.

Related: 76-Year-Old Man Drowns After Falling Into Lake While Fishing at Night with Friend

One of the girls slipped into the water, and as the others tried to help, they drowned. A 13-year-old who was with the group was unharmed but is mourning the loss after witnessing the tragedy, per NBC News.

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On Wednesday, April 30, the Omaha Fire Department confirmed all three girls have been recovered after a two-week search.

We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of these girls. The loss of these young lives has touched our entire community, and our hearts continue to be with you now and in the days ahead, they said in a statement.

Mike Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Omaha on the Missouri river, Nebraska Omaha on the Missouri river, Nebraska

Tray Moo was found near NP Dodge Park on Saturday, April 26, and after Green and Cress Moos bodies were recovered on Tuesday, April 29, the search was called off, Omahas KMTV reported.

Green's aunt, Nichelle Griffy, told KMTV the family was feeling relieved that we have all three girls physically now.

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Related: Nebraska 9-Year-Old with Autism Drowns in Lagoon After Running Away from School

Were sad, but were thankful that we have them now, she said. "We are a community that is strengthening. The gain is more so the support we have for each other."

As the search went on before this weeks discovery, community members helped the families by preparing meals for search parties at the area where the three girls went missing.

Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP deputy surveys the Missouri River deputy surveys the Missouri River

"We all sharing the same loss right now, so not even different languages could outshine your heart," Griffy told KMTV as families of the victims gathered along the Missouri River.

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Community advocate Chrome Louis thanked those who offered support.

Together we couldn't have did it, without all the prayers, without all the help nationwide, without all the tuning into the lives, without everybody showing up and community support, he told KMTV.

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Louis believes the deaths and future incidents could be preventable with the help of more signs, such as do not swim or danger in the water.

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"Through this process, I learned a lot about the river that I didn't even know, he said. The average person don't know how really seriously dangerous this river really is."

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UPDATE: Two of three killed in the crash have been identified by the Coroners Office. See details in the new article here.

DENVER (KDVR)  Three people are dead after a stolen vehicle pursuit led to a head-on crash in Platteville Wednesday afternoon, Colorado State Patrol said in a press release Thursday.

Troopers responded to the crash on Highway 85 near Highway 60 around 3 p.m. According to CSP, deputies with the Weld County Sheriffs Office were pursuing a suspected stolen GMC Yukon on northbound Highway 85.

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The sheriffs office said a deputy had pulled the driver over, and when the deputy approached the vehicle, it drove off at a high rate of speed.

Details are limited at this time, but as the deputy was trying to relocate and contact the vehicle, the suspect vehicle attempted to evade the deputy and crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into a motorist that was not involved in the traffic stop, WCSO said in a release Thursday.

The Weld County School District RE-1 told FOX31 on Friday that a La Salle North Valley Middle School seventh-grade science teacher was among those who died in the crash. The teachers identity has not been released.

The schools superintendent told FOX31s Vicente Arenas in an interview that the district canceled classes on Thursday and Friday after the crash. Several members of the small community told Arenas that the death has hit the community hard.

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According to the Colorado Department of Education, there are about 1,700 students in the entire district, which includes six schools spread across three towns on Highway 85.

Trooper Sherri Mendez spoke with FOX31s Shaul Turner about the crash on Thursday.

Its tragic, and our hearts go out to everyone lost, Mendez said.

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At the intersection of Highway 85 and Highway 60, the GMC Yukon went across the median into the southbound lanes, heading toward oncoming traffic, CSP wrote in the release.

The suspected stolen Yukon crashed head-on into a Toyota 4Runner, according to CSP. The crash caused a gas leak, which ignited both vehicles on fire and trapped the occupants in both vehicles.

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CSP troopers attempted to separate the burning vehicles using a push bumper on one of their cruisers, and they attempted to put out the fire with extinguishers.

They tried to get both occupants out of the vehicle and they tried to separate the vehicles to make sure the fire did not spread, Mendez explained.

Despite their efforts, all three occupants died on the scene, including the driver and passenger of the Yukon and the 57-year-old woman driving the 4Runner. The Weld County Coroner will release their identities pending next of kin notification.

When a vehicle catches on fire, sometimes the VIN number  you cannot find it on there so it will take a while, Mendez said.

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One Weld County deputy sustained minor injuries and was treated on the scene, and a CSP cruiser was damaged in efforts to separate the vehicles.

CSPs Vehicular Crimes Unit is investigating the crash, and the sheriffs office said it is conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Three people have been detained after a Parkway Village shooting, leaving a man in non-critical condition on Friday, Memphis police say.

At 12:59 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 4000 block of Forest View Drive.

Photo by WREG

Police say the victim was transported to Methodist University in non-critical condition. Officers detained three people. This is an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  After a vehicle crashed into a home in West Carrollton Thursday night, critical injuries have been reported.

According to West Carrollton Police, the crash occurred in the area of North Alex Road as the driver of a vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed, lost control and then slammed into a residence.

The crash resulted in three people being medically transported for critical injuries. Two of those individuals are adults, and the other is a juvenile.

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While the total cost of damages to the home is unknown at this time, utilities inside had to be shut off due to the damage, displacing its residents. The residents were not injured in the crash.

Impairment is a suspected factor in the crash, according to police.

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BANGKOK (AP)  Three Uyghur men who spent over a decade in Thai detention were resettled in Canada in April, Thai lawmakers and activists confirmed, months after Thailand drew international condemnation for sending 40 other Uyghurs back to China, where they feared further detention, torture and even death.

The three made their way to Canada during Thailand's Songkran festival weekend in April, said Kannavee Suebsang, a lawmaker who has advocated on behalf of the Uyghurs, and Chalida Tajaroensuk, president of the Peoples Empowerment Foundation, a Thai human rights group that works closely with migrants and refugees.

The Uyghurs are a Turkic, majority Muslim ethnicity from China's northwestern Xinjiang region. After decades of conflict over suppression of their cultural identity, Beijing launched a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs that some Western governments have called a genocide. China has accused the Uyghurs held in Thailand of being terrorists without providing evidence.

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The men had been in detention since 2014 as part of a group of 300 Uyghurs who were caught near Thailand's border with Malaysia after having fled China. For more than a decade, the fate of this group kept Thailand in a tense push-and-pull between China and the U.S.

Thailand deported 109 detainees to China against their will, prompting an international outcry that saw violent demonstrations against Thailand in 2015. Another group of 173 Uyghurs, mostly women and children, were sent to Turkey, leaving 53 Uyghurs in Thai detention. Five of this group died while waiting, including children.

Thai officials began secretly discussing plans to deport the Uyghurs as early as December last year, while publicly denying any such plans up until just days before 40 were sent back in February. The deportation prompted outrage, and led U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to issue a strong condemnation and place travel restrictions on top Thai officials.

The three men were likely spared from forced repatriation because they were dual citizens of Kyrgyzstan and China, said Suebsang. Since they did not have any Chinese identification on them when they were initially detained, Thai immigration authorities held them separately from the larger group.

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The Canadian embassy in Bangkok did not respond to a request for comment.

When asked by reporters whether Thailand had sent any Uyghurs to Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Monday he would need to check with relevant authorities. He said all Chinese Uyghurs had already been sent back to China, except those who are serving their jail terms in Thailand.

There remain five Uyghurs in Thailand, who are serving out jail sentences for an attempt to escape. An activist with knowledge of the situation, who asked to be anonymous out of fear of retribution, said they are concerned the Thai government could grant the men early release to speed up their return to China.

Phumtham also said if the remaining Uyghurs have a refugee status, and there is a third country willing to accept them, Thailand can send them there.

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Chalida, the advocate who works closely with the Uyghurs, said they are pushing for the men to be recognized as refugees by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and resettled in a third country.

The Uyghurs are extremely at risk if they are sent back, she said. Id like to call on the Thai government to facilitate the process and allow them to meet with UNHCR.

During their years in detention, advocates and relatives said the men were fed poorly, kept in overcrowded concrete cells with few toilets, and denied sanitary goods like toothbrushes or razors. They were forbidden direct contact with relatives, lawyers and international organizations, and received visits from Sheikhul Islam, an official Islamic organization close to the Thai authorities. United Nations human rights experts said that the treatment of the detainees may have violated international law in a February 2024 letter sent to the Thai government.

___

AP reporter Jintamas Saksornchai contributed to this report.
Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding additional victims who may have been in contact with a 30-year-old man accused of sexually abusing children he met through Instagram.

Burbank police arrested Ivan Hernandez, from Valley Village, on March 23 after receiving a tip and conducting an investigation into suspected drug activity. Authorities said in a news release Thursday that Hernandez was found in his vehicle with an underage girl. He was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and being in possession of nitrous oxide.

Detectives learned that Hernandez was supplying nitrous oxide, marijuana and alcohol to underage girls in exchange for sexual acts, according to police. Hernandez is believed to have recorded the sexual assaults on his phone and managed to lure his victims over Instagram with the promise of providing them drugs and alcohol for sex, investigators said.

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According to police, Hernandez's Instagram handles include "noznbars," "n2ohead," "nawzhead818," "nozzhead_818," and "nozzhead818_" and they believe there could be more victims.

On March 25, he was charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of unlawful sex with a minor under 16, two counts of arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes and one count each of child endangerment, oral copulation of a minor under 16, lewd lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to police.

He is being held without bail and scheduled to appear in court on May 21. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, according to court records.

Anyone with information about Hernandez and any other similar incidents can contact the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3210. The police investigation was done in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations under the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  After hard work, 30 candidates from various countries took the last step towards becoming a United States citizen at an oath ceremony Thursday at the Mary J. Treglia Community House.

People from various countries such as Mexico and Africa have been working hard, and for some it took nearly ten years to get where they are to become a citizen. The executive director for the Mary J Treglia house shared her excitement these folks have done to come this far.

Most of the folks that became citizens today have been here for a number of years and theyve been paying taxes in the united states for a number of years, so this is becoming that sort of last step that they needed to do and Im very proud of them said Barbara Newhouse with Mary J Treglia.

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One of these candidates who became a U.S. citizen spoke with KCAU 9 as well about what it feels like to call America home.

Greenbergs Jewelers celebrates 125 years of service

I am so happy because people think you cant make it if you get into America, but with Gods help, you can make it. And Im telling you the Americans are great, great people said Anita Sayonkon.

Anitas son Hanson Sayonkon told KCAU 9 how proud he is of his mother.

Me and my mother came here when I was really young. I was in elementary, and I saw some of the hardships back home, said Hanson Sayonkon. And for us to make it this far is quite nothing short of greatness, and Im so happy for her, and Im so proud of her.

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Samantha Huynh, the executive director of the U.S. Committee of Refugees and Immigrants, said she is proud of the work the candidate put in to become a U.S. citizen.

You know, the resilience of newcomers, they thrive to become citizens. They are looking to provide, you know, look for better opportunities and provide a better life and better opportunity for their own families, Huynh said.

Siouxland Chamber of Commerce meet with lawmakers during D.C. trip

In a social media post, Mary J. Treglia Community House said that the 30 who took the oath came from Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Liberia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Thailand, Togo, and Vietnam.

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Mary J. Treglia Community House has provided citizenship and immigration services to this region for more than 100 years. Their mission is to identify and respond to the needs of Siouxlands immigrant population through service, advocacy, and education.

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(KRON)  A 40-year-old Petaluma man was arrested for robbing a Ross store earlier this week, the Petaluma Police Department (PPD) announced on Thursday. The robbery happened around Tuesday afternoon at the Ross on N McDowell Boulevard.

Around 3:34 p.m., the suspect exited the Ross with a backpack that triggered the stores security alarm, according to PPD. A Ross employee approached the man outside, and he allegedly threatened to physically assault the employee.

37 arrested in SF retail theft operations; ice cream, candy among items recovered

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The employee was not harmed and was able to provide a description and picture of the suspect to store staff and police. Officers later located the suspect about two miles away from the Ross where he was arrested.

He was booked into Sonoma County Jail for robbery, police said.

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CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A 42-year-old man was arrested on multiple drug charges on Wednesday in Cullman County.

The Cullman County Sheriffs Office carried out a search warrant in the Crane Hill community which led to deputies finding James Lee Lovelace, 42, of Crane Hill inside a home.

After searching the home, multiple guns, stolen property, drug paraphernalia, and various amounts and types of narcotics were found inside.

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Shortly after, Lovelace was arrested and charged with the following:

Dangerous Drugs-Drug Trafficking

Dangerous Drugs-Drug Trafficking

Dangerous Drugs-Opium or Derivative- Possess

Stolen Property-RSP Possessing Stolen Property, $1500 or more

Stolen Property-RSP Possessing Stolen Property, $1500 or more

Stolen Property-RSP Possessing Stolen Property, $1500 or more

Dangerous Drugs-IPOPD Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs

Dangerous Drugs-PDP Drug Paraphernalia

Dangerous Drugs-POC Cocaine-Possess

Dangerous Drugs-POC Cocaine-Possess

Dangerous Drugs-POM 2 Possession of Marijuana

This search warrant was a culmination of a tremendous amount of work by our Investigators. I am proud of their tenacity and determination to see this through. This is a major victory for the Sheriffs Office, the victims involved and all the citizens of Cullman County, said Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry.

(Courtesy: Cullman Co. Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy: Cullman Co. Sheriffs Office)

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President Donald Trump made headlines this week when he seemed to suggest that American families might be able to afford fewer toys due to his trade policies.

"Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls," Trump said on Wednesday, "and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."

That was Trump's most direct admission yet about the potential costs of his trade warwhich could reduce the average household's income by nearly $3,800 this year, according to the Yale Budget Lab's estimates.

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But this was not a run-of-the-mill gaffe or another case of Trump saying the quiet part out loud. If anything, Trump was merely underlining a sentiment that's gained traction on the political right in recent years: that Americans should be forced to pay higher prices for basic goods and household items.

Don't believe me? Here are four other recent incidents in which national conservatives in Trump's orbit admitted as much.

Robert Lighthizer, August 2022

While speaking at the American Economic Forum, Trump's former U.S. Trade Representative dismissed free trade as being rooted in "a philosophy of consumption" that is too "materialistic."

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"The best way to fix consumerism is to raise prices," Lighthizer said. "Is consumption really a problem in America?"

That might be easy to say as someone who has spent his career bouncing back and forth between law, politics, and financeLighthizer just landed a plush new gig as a "senior advisor" for Citigroup. For many Americans, however, higher prices would mean a material reduction in living standards.

When Lighthizer criticizes "consumerism" and "consumption," he's really just saying that you should be happy with paying more and getting less. Maybe that's true for some people, but that's not something that a president or a presidential appointee should get to decide for you.

Dan Bishop, April 2024

In remarks read into the congressional record, then-Rep. Dan Bishop (RN.C.) decried the "cheap crap" that Americans were importing from China.

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"In just the last 2 years, roughly, Chinese online marketplaces have exploded in size, selling cheap goods at dumping prices into the American market," said Bishop, who is now the deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. "You can go buy sneakers on Temu for $5, and a sweater for $7. Temu reportedly loses $30 per order in a deliberate strategy to flood the U.S. market with cheap crap."

That sounds like a great deal for anyone who needs shoes and a sweater for less than the price of a decent sandwich. People who can afford to pay for better quality, more expensive goods are free to do so, but the idea that the government should force Americans to pay higher prices is elitist and wrong.

If Bishop is right about Temu losing money on every order, then the market should solve this problem on its own. Only the government can get away with doing business that deep in the red.

J.D. Vance, August 2024

Not long after being named Trump's running mate, then-Sen. J.D. Vance (ROhio) declared in a campaign speech that "a million cheap, knockoff toasters aren't worth the price of a single American manufacturing job."

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That's some bonkers arithmetic, as I wrote in a longer response at the time (which you can find here). Affordable and abundant labor-saving appliances are part of the reason that 21st-century America is the best place to live in the history of the human race.

"A product being cheap in both senseslow cost and low qualityis not in and of itself a problem," writes Kevin Corcoran. "Sometimes, buying something inexpensive and basic is a perfectly sensible option!"

But, again, what Vance was really saying is that you should be poorer.

Ed Gresser, the former assistant U.S. Trade representative who is currently the director of trade and global markets for the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), crunched the numbers and determined that a fully American-made toaster would cost at least $250. That's significantly more expensive than the $30 and $50 toasters that are readily available in American stores today.

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Every dollar that you have to spend on a more expensive toaster is a dollar that can't be spent on something else. In Vance's world, that tradeoff is worth it because of patriotism (or because toaster-building jobs are good for your character), but that's a reality where people would feel significantly poorer.

Scott Bessent, March 2025

While speaking to the Economic Club of New York, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared that "access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream."

Again, that might be easy for him to say. Bessent, who was a hedge fund manager before joining the Trump administration, has bought and sold multiple multimillion-dollar homes during his lifetime, as The Wall Street Journal reported. He likely has no problem paying a little extra for home decor.

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But what about people who are on an IKEA budget instead? Good luck to them, since the tariffs will hit nearly all of the Swedish retailer's affordable Scandinavian furnishings.

"It's easy to decry cheap goods, or stuff," wrote Reason's Liz Wolfe in response to Bessent's remarks. "People express what they value through their stuff. Stuff is not the essence of the American dream, or the thing that makes life worthwhile, or what we'll be thinking of on our deathbeds, but it is an elemental building block that allows us to pursue all the other things that do give us meaning: That dinner party you hosted at which you were able to fete a friend or get to know a neighbor really did need plates."

As the saying goes: When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. The nationalist conservatives now running the Republican Party have said repeatedly that they believe Americans should have to pay higher prices for sneakers and household goods in order to achieve weird political goals like more toaster factories and textile mills. Now, with Trump's tariffs, they are showing their commitment to that premise.

Trump says his tariffs will mean Americans won't be able to afford as many toys for their kids. That likely won't be where it ends.

The post 5 Times the Trump Team Told Americans To Accept Being Poorer appeared first on Reason.com.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea (2nd R, top) delivers a statement in Sanaa, Yemen, May 2, 2025. Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for two missile attacks towards northern Israel on Friday. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

SANAA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for two missile attacks towards northern Israel on Friday.

"We carried out a military operation targeting a vital Israeli target in Haifa (city) ... using a hypersonic ballistic missile," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"This was the second attack in a matter of hours," he said. In a separate statement released earlier, the Houthi group said it launched a missile attack before dawn on northern Israel, targeting the Ramat David Airbase southeast of Haifa.

The spokesperson added that the ongoing U.S. airstrikes in northern Yemen "have failed" to prevent the group from targeting Israel and its ships in the Red and Arabian seas.

The Israeli military reported earlier in the day that it had intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen, adding that its Home Front Command had distributed an early warning to large parts of northern Israel, including the Haifa metropolitan area.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel since November 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. military resumed airstrikes against Houthi targets on March 15 in a bid to deter the group. 
The Army is planning to host a commemorative parade next month with 6,600 soldiers to celebrate its founding and President Trumps birthday, according to a proposal reviewed by The Associated Press.

The event would mark Trumps 79th birthday and 250 years of service for the military branch, which is a year older than the United States itself.

The president has announced plans to ensure the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary in a large format, and a potential parade this year would serve as a precursor for future festivities.

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Any discussion of the parade is pre-decisional at this point. The Army is celebrating its 250th Birthday with multiple events leading up to June 14, including an Army Birthday Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Army spokesperson Heather J. Hagan told The Hill in a statement. We intend to have a national level celebration to increase pride in America and Americas Army.

Hagan added, Given the significant milestone of 250 years, the Army is exploring options to make the celebration bigger, with more capability demonstrations, static displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community.

Plans currently include a display of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and thousands of service members from at least 11 corps and divisions. Much of the machinery would have to be brought in by train or flown in, according to AP.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) told the outlet that the Trump administration reached out in April about holding a June 14 parade that would span from Arlington, Va., across the Potomac River to the District. She expressed concerns about the potential display and its impact on infrastructure.

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If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads, Bowser told AP.

Bowser, the Army and the White House did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment.

Army spokesperson Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made about the large-scale parade.

However, Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesperson, said the Army is excited about public plans for its anniversary.

We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us, Butler told AP.

We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.

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Updated at 11:12 a.m. EDT.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A sixth person has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced Friday.

Demarcus Brown, 39, of Anniston, was sentenced to 120 months in prison. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, the six defendants conspired to distribute over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine in east Alabama throughout the fall of 2022 and summer of 2023.

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Alabama men sentenced in conspiracy to sell stolen checks, sensitive bank account information

The following people had already been sentenced:

Jamar Clay, 36, of Anniston, was sentenced to 152 months in prison. Clay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.

Jonathan McRath, 39, of Anniston, was sentenced to 81 months in prison. McRath pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.

Donarius Kincaid, 38, of Anniston, was sentenced to 120 months in prison. Kincaid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.

Brandon Jernigan, 30, of Anniston, was sentenced to 58 months in prison. Jernigan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.

Michael Boone, 33, of Montgomery, was sentenced to 121 months in prison. Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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CBSs flagship news magazine show 60 Minutes is upping the ante in its fight against Donald Trump. The shows upcoming Sunday segment will focus on how the Trump administration has targeted law firms in an apparent quest to punish those who dared to challenge him when he was out of office, according to an online listing for the episode.

On the campaign trail, President Trump vowed to wield the power of the presidency to go after his perceived enemies, the listing reads. Now in the White House, Trump is using executive orders to target some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of weaponizing the justice system against him.

The show has had a tumultuous year covering the MAGA leader, who has continued to dedicate significant attention to a sit-down interview that aired on 60 Minutes prior to Election Day with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has repeatedly argued that a version of Harriss answer regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the broadcast had essentially defrauded the American public, since two of the networks shows60 Minutes and Face the Nationcut and aired different portions of her 21-second answer on different days.

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Trump sued CBS for $20 billion after the interview, claiming that the different clips amounted to election interference and that Harris should drop out of the presidential race over the GOP-baked scandal.

But thats just the tip of the iceberg: Trump and his allies have also insisted that CBS should lose its broadcasting license for what they view as selectively editing Harriss answer. And on Wednesday, the president attempted to rope The New York Times into the affair, protesting online that the newspapers decision to quote individuals who described the case as baseless is tantamount to tortious interference.

An independent review by the Federal Communications Commission showed that the two answers were in fact cut from the same longer response. Editing answers for time is considered general practice in television news and regularly happens.

The mounting pressure from the lawsuit forced out the shows chief producer, Bill Owens, last week, shocking employees who described the 24-year show runners exit as akin to pulling a pin from his last grenade. Owens had refused to apologize or admit wrongdoing in handling Harriss interview. CBSs parent company, Paramount, is reportedly moving to settle the lawsuit.

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Its clear now, in a quest to sell the company, Shari Redstone and others will bow to presidential pressure, one unidentified 60 Minutes employee told CNN, referring to the non-executive chairwoman of CBSs parent company, Paramount Global. 60 Minutes is one of the crown jewels of American broadcast journalism, and they have no problem crushing it in their race to make a deal and make themselves richer.

But regardless of Trump or executive perspectives, the media industry has continued to recognize the value of 60 Minutes programming. On Thursday, the shows controversial Harris segment was nominated for an Emmy.
CBS News is planning to run a segment focusing on President Trumps targeting of law firms and other enemies as part of its 60 Minutes broadcast Sunday evening.

On the campaign trail, President Trump vowed to wield the power of the presidency to go after his perceived enemies, a listing for the episode reads. Now in the White House, Trump is using executive orders to target some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of weaponizing the justice system against him.

The segment comes as Trump ramps up attacks against the network and has sued its parent company Paramount Global. The president is targeting the Hollywood giant over a 60 Minutes segment that ran last fall with his political rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which he argued was edited to cast her in a positive light.

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Lawyers for the two sides have reportedly discussed the possibility of a settlement out of court.

The executive producer of 60 Minutes resigned last week, saying he could no longer preside over the program independently and alluding to interference from CBS corporate parent.

Correspondent Scott Pelley, who called out Paramount Global over top producer Bill Owenss departure in last weeks broadcast, will serve as the reporter for the segment planned on the law firms picked out by the president and the different ways theyre responding to White House pressure.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  A Greensboro man is in custody after a stabbing in Greensboro on Thursday night left a person with life-threatening injuries, according to the Greensboro Police Department.

At around 6:13 p.m. on Thursday, officers came to the 2900 block of South Elm-Eugene Street after getting a report of an aggravated assault.

Police found one victim at the scene suffering from life-threatening injuries due to a stab wound.

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On Friday, investigators announced that they had taken 63-year-old Alan Ray Brown into custody and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury in connection with the stabbing.

Alan Ray Brown (Guilford County Jail)

Brown is being held under a $500,000 secured bond.

Police say that the victims condition has improved since Thursday.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A Manassas man is being held behind bars after he was charged with 10 counts of child pornography Wednesday.

According to the Prince William County Police Department, a detective assigned to the Northern Virginia/ DC Internet Crimes Against Children Task opened an investigation into the possession of child sexual abuse material in October 2024.

Docs: psychological torment; children exploited in operation across US; two charged

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Police noted the investigation was launched after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children claiming that 64-year-old Robert Vincet Calvillo had child sexual abuse material.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Calvillos home, where they collected several electronics.

He was arrested on April 30 and charged with one count of possession of child pornography and nine counts of possession of child pornography 2nd or subsequent offense.

Calvillo is being held without bond.

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Officials in Idaho say seven people were killed after a tour van and a pick-up truck crashed on U.S. Highway 20 near Yellowstone National Park on May 1

Six of the van passengers and the truck driver died, according to authorities

"It is a very dangerous highway," a witness said



Seven people have died after a tour van and a pick-up truck crashed near Yellowstone National Park, authorities said.

On Thursday, May 1, just before 7:15 p.m. local time, Idaho State Police responded to a crash on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry's Lake State Park  about 16 miles west of Yellowstone  officials said in a news release.

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The truck and passenger van, operating as a small tour vehicle, were involved, the latter of which caught fire after the collision.

State police later clarified in an updated press release on Friday, May 2, that the van was carrying 14 people, and the truck's driver was its sole occupant. Six of the van passengers and the truck driver died.

Survivors of the crash were transported to nearby hospitals, police spokesman Arron Snell said, according to the Associated Press.

Related: Truck Carrying $80,000 in Dimes Crashes and Spills Over on Texas Highway, Leading to 14-Hour Cleanup Effort

The cause of the crash itself is under investigation, and U.S. Highway 20 was completely closed to the public after the collision for "nearly seven hours" as authorities examined the scene, Idaho State Police said. The road is now open for regular use.

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The Fremont County Coroner's Office is expected to share the names of the deceased victims, as well as the cause and manner of death for each individual, after the next of kin have been contacted, authorities said. Because of the "magnitude of the incident," no additional information about those killed has been released yet.

The Idaho State Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Related: Firefighter in Coma After Truck Crash Injured 7 Others on California Highway

Roger Merrill was driving home and witnessed the scene shortly after the crash occurred, he told the AP. He took a video of the collision's aftermath, showing smoke covering the van and both vehicles engulfed in flames.

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.

Merrill said he waited for first responders to arrive as bystanders attempted to care for the victims.

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"It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It's extremely busy," he shared, adding, "It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location."

Read the original article on People
A pickup truck and a tour van collided on a highway leading to Yellowstone National Park, leaving seven people dead and eight others injured, Idaho State Police said.

The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. Thursday on US Highway 20 near Henrys Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, police said in a news release. The state park is roughly 16 miles west of Yellowstone National Park.

Police have not said what exactly caused the wreck, but the Dodge Ram truck was traveling west while the Mercedes van was traveling east toward Yellowstone when it happened. Video from the scene showed clear weather conditions at the time.

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Both vehicles caught fire, police said. The driver of the pickup and six people inside the Mercedes passenger van died. The truck driver was identified Friday as Isaih Moreno, 25, of Humble, Texas. Identifying the others will take some time, according to police.

The van was carrying a tour group of 14 people, and the surviving occupants were taken to hospitals with injuries, police spokesperson Aaron Snell said.

Two were flown to an Idaho Falls hospital and one was flown to a Bozeman, Montana, hospital, according to police. Their conditions were not released. The others were taken to area hospitals with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening, police said.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Roger Merrill, 60, was driving home when he saw flames engulfing the two vehicles as bystanders tried to care for survivors from the van on the side of the highway. Merrill said he often sees tourist vans on the highway.

It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park, he said. Its extremely busy.

Merrill captured video of the wreckage with smoke blanketing the van. Due to the remote location, Merrill said he anxiously awaited the help of first responders.

It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location, he said.

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Police said Friday that a Fremont County sheriffs deputy arrived shortly after the crash and, with the help of bystanders, immediately helped injured van occupants as it caught fire.

The Idaho Transportation Department has identified the highway for safety improvements designed to reduce the severity of crashes, but the project is still in the research and planning phase. That portion of the highway had an average of about 10,500 vehicles traveling it daily in 2023, according to the agency.

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Prince Harry is not giving up on reconciliation with King Charles or the Royal Family, despite the courts ruling against his appeal for automatic increased security for him and his family in the U.K. Harry opened up about where he stands with King Charles in a new interview with the BBC, saying that while he still hopes to reconcile with his family, he knows it would be difficult to do so without adequate police protection. And that's just the start. Read on to find out the 8 main takeaways from Prince Harry's BBC interview.

Prince Harry wants to reconcile with his father, but says he can't imagine bringing Meghan Markle, Archie, and Lilibet to the U.K. under current security conditions.

In the 30-minute interview, Harry confirmed earlier reports that King Charles wasn't speaking to him because of the court battle and reiterated his belief that the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures committee, known as Ravec, downgraded his security in 2020 under the influence of members of the Royal Household. And while he said he still has disagreements with his father, I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious, he said. That said, without adequate security it's hard to see how they could even begin to patch things up.

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I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point, Harry told the BBC, citing the lack of automatic security usually granted to royalsboth working and not. I miss the U.K... I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland, he added.

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He never asked King Charles to intervene on his behalf, and questions the Royal Household's role in Ravec.

Harry told the BBC that he believed his father could change Ravec's assessment of his security by simply instructing the Royal Household representatives on the Ravec committee to step down. I've never asked him to intervene, Harry said. I've asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their job.

He explained that through the appeals process he has learned that the Ravec chair met with members of the Royal Household right before downgrading his security. The first people that he went to go and see, was the Royal Household at the Palace, he said, implying that the officials in the Royal Household had intervened with what is meant to be an official process.

Harry's official security risk assessment was downgraded overnight without due process.

Before Ravec determines which tier of security is given to any individual, they are meant to go through the Risk Management Board, which assesses threats annually. Harry, however, says he has not had an official risk assessment since 2019.

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In the beginning of 2020, I was scored the highest as far as risk was concerned, he said. And then overnight I was reduced to the lowest without actually going through the risk management board. So one does question how that was even possible and also the motive behind that at the time.

Harry went on to suggest that the decision to downgrade his security was not based on the risk to his life and those of his family, but rather security was used as leverage in an attempt to get him and Meghan to stay on as working royals.

Harry claims some people involved want history to repeat itself.

When asked about how much of his fight was fueled by Princess Diana's death and an effort to not let history repeat itself, Harry acknowledged the concern and claimed that some on the opposing side might have even been hoping for another tragedy to befall him and his family. Through the disclosure process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark, he said. He refused to name names, but added, I know all the names of the people who were involved in this process.

And he doesn't get adequate police protection unless invited by the Royal Family.

Prince Harry does still receive an amount of protection when in the U.K., but he claims the amount of protection he receives is, essentially, up to the Royal Household. If he chooses to enter the U.K. without an official invite, the security is completely insufficient. He continued,I can only come to the U.K. safely if I'm invited.

Harry responds to critics who question his need for security now that he's no longer a working royal.

Asked why tax payers should have to fund his security even though he is no longer a working royal, Harry said that the cost of security had been grossly exaggerated by the British press. Furthermore, he insisted, the risk to his safety had not changed. I was born into these risks, he explained, noting that while he might be able to step back from his role as a working royal, he is still a member of the royal family.

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To know that those threats and risks exist, but to turn around and say, Well, because you don't have an official role, your life doesn't actually matter anymore, he said later in the interview, was the most illogical argument in the history of arguments.

Jon Super / POOL / AFP

He worries Ravec will be used to trap royals.

Harry also noted that Ravec isn't just in charge of the protection of the royal family, but also the protection of politicians and public servants. People who leave pubic office receive lifetime protection, regardless of whether or not there are threats or risks to them, he said, noting that for him security was made conditional.

And if exceptions can be made at the whim of the Royal household, Harry said he worries that the threat of removing security will be used to imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.

He called on the Prime Minister to investigate Ravec.

Citing national security, Harry called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to investigate Ravec and potentially make changes to how the committee operates. While he didn't call for any specific action, Harry suggested that they look into why the Royal Household even has representatives on the committee to begin with.

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's indigenous Dusun community on Thursday celebrated the harvest festival in central Tutong district, marking the end of the rice harvesting season.

The Dusun community engages in cultural activities like traditional dances, games and music at the festival, locally known as Adau Gayoh.

Johan Benson, president of the community, said the festival showcases harmony and unity of various ethnic communities in Brunei.

He said the community enriches the country's culture by preserving the traditional heritage and produces a younger generation who appreciates their identity.

There are seven ethnic groups in Brunei, including Brunei Malay, Kedayan, Dusun, Tutong, Belait, Murut and Bisaya. 
The nursing-home industry finds itself in the crosshairs of a congressional budget debate.

The House Budget Committee voted in February to seek at least $880 billion in mandatory spending cuts to programs overseen by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. That committee oversees Medicaid, which is funded through a federal and state partnership.

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The potential $880 billion in Medicaid cuts could hurt the finances of nursing homes and lead to reduced services or outright closures, cutting care for the most vulnerable older populations.

The deep reductions are needed to allow Republicans to achieve their topline budgetary goals, including tax cuts. The Congressional Budget Office said the only way to meet the cost-cutting goals is through massive cuts to Medicaid overall. Medicaid accounts for about 8.6% of the federal budget, according to health-policy research nonprofit KFF.

The final budget details have not yet been hashed out. In April, the Senate passed an amended budget resolution, but the two chambers still must agree to a joint budget resolution.

Any cuts to Medicaid would be devastating, said Clif Porter, president and chief executive of American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, the trade group for nursing homes and assisted-living centers. Not only do we have a large portion of seniors on Medicaid, but the program already underfunds [nursing homes] by 18%.

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Nationally, 63% of nursing-home residents and 20% of assisted-living residents rely on Medicaid to pay for their care. There are about 1.3 million people living in nursing homes and more than 800,000 people in assisted living in the U.S., according to AHCA/NCAL.

The fear of closures is real. Medicaid cuts could bring many homes to the brink and lead to closures, Porter said.

Any new closures would come on top of the 774 nursing homes that shut their doors between February 2020 and July 2024, according to AHCA/NCAL, amid financial pressures, staffing shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic. That wave of closures displaced nearly 30,000 residents.

All this is putting access to long-term care at risk. Within the United States, 42 counties have no nursing homes as of April 2025, according to AHCA/NCAL. The vast majority  85%  of these nursing-home deserts are in rural areas, and 20% of all seniors live in rural communities.

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Medicaid covers a lot of community-based, home-based services. If you stop checking on the elderly to see if theyre eating right and take away community-based services, people are going to be sicker, sicker and sicker. Youll then have sick people flood the hospitals. Hospitals will be burdened with a lot more sickly patients, said Dwayne Clark, the chair, chief executive and founder of Aegis Living, an assisted-living company that has 38 facilities with 3,000 residents.

The elder population is booming

The industry recently won a court battle against a Biden-era staffing mandate that would have required more caregivers in facilities. The rule could have provided a boost to patient care, but the industry sued to halt the requirement. In addition to the pressure on nursing homes bottom lines, the industry argued it would have been impossible to implement, in part due to a shortage of healthcare workers. According to AHCA/NCAL, the Biden administration staffing mandate would have led to facility closures or reduced bed counts and to the possible displacement of more than 290,600 seniors.

With the federal staffing mandate off the table, nursing homes are now bracing for Medicaid cuts that would be disruptive to the industry and to older people, a population that is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people over the age of 80 will increase from 14.7 million today to 18.8 million by 2030.

Were dealing with an exploding population. Cutting Medicaid is not a rational approach, Porter said. One danger of potential closures is an increase in nursing-home deserts.

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When nursing homes close, patients are often transported to facilities farther away. In some cases, patients return home.

Given the age and fragility of the patients, when facilities close, they may be sent to a facility 50 miles away. The senior may still get care, but their loved ones have to travel farther to see them. It can result in an increase in loneliness because of a lack of family nearby, Porter said. People underestimate the impact of loneliness as we age. So when homes close, it absolutely affects the care and spirits of the patient.

He added: Without question, there will be more demand in America. We should be thinking about expanding existing resources. Existing capacity is not enough. We have to do everything we can to have resources for the exploding population.

Sam Brooks, public policy director for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, said any cuts to Medicaid would ripple across the healthcare system and lead to higher overall healthcare spending nationally.

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With Medicaid cuts, youll see less staffing, and thats the key component to quality care. Staffing is the No. 1 cost for nursing homes, Brooks said. Residents wont get out of bed, because theres not enough staff to help them or transport them. Call bells wont get answered. Patients will suffer from pressure ulcers because theres not enough staff to reposition them.

Brooks noted that pressure ulcers, or bedsores, can be deadly, because they can lead to sepsis. Staff cuts will lead to greater illness and increased hospitalizations. It will have a tremendous deleterious effect, because people struggle right now to get quality care, and it would only get worse if there are cuts, he said.

With cuts, care quality would inevitably decline, he added. The proposed cuts are an existential threat to nursing homes and to all long-term care services in the United States. It will affect veterans, older Americans and people with significant disabilities.

If federal Medicaid dollars are cut, states wont have the resources to offset those lost dollars, said Edward Miller, chair of the gerontology department at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

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Most states cant offset those cuts. With even less reimbursement, [nursing homes] will have even less resources, lower staff [levels] and worse quality, Miller said. What happens is that families will have fewer resource options to fund robust long-term-care resources. What is your choice then? Most care is already provided by unpaid caregivers, and that will increase  which will impact their lives, their jobs, their retirement and the economy.

The proposed $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid could have a domino effect within the U.S. healthcare system, Aegis Livings Clark said.

There will be this big bubble of sick people. There will be a massive amount of elderly, and we cant fix it right away, he said. This big bubble of sick people will affect everyone.

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Nine suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing over 200 propane tanks in San Bernardino County.

The suspects were identified as:

Jerrica Spencer, 27, of Lancaster

Vidal Barrios, 37, of Lancaster

Moises Labra, 38, of Lancaster

Javier Benitez, 44, resident of Lancaster

Pedro Rodriguez, 45, of Lancaster

Michael Berkheimer, 54, of Lancaster

Aurelio Valdez, 68, of Lancaster

Sergio Santiago-Torres, 68, of Lancaster

Jose Morena, 74, of Lancaster

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On April 29, San Bernardino County sheriffs deputies responded to the AmeriGas company at 16575 Daisy Road in Adelanto at 12:08 p.m.

Employees told authorities over 200 propane tanks had been stolen from the location. The suspects had fled the scene before deputies arrived.

Authorities began investigating and four search warrants were served at residences in the Lancaster and Victor Valley areas.

During the searches, investigators recovered the stolen propane tanks along with several illegal firearms and 11 stolen vehicles.

Nine suspects were arrested on felony charges including commercial burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft and possession of an illegal weapon.

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About a month earlier, on March 31, AmeriGas workers reported a similar theft where over 100 propane tanks were stolen from the same location. Investigators executed a search warrant in Palmdale where 160 stolen propane tanks were recovered.

The thefts remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy C. Lajuj at the Victor Valley Sheriffs Station at 760-552-6800.

Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.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 KTLA.
Charlotte City Councilmembers voted in closed session Monday about settling a potential lawsuit being considered by CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, Channel 9 Government Reporter Joe Bruno confirmed with multiple sources. The vote was 5-2. A sixth vote in favor would have resulted in a settlement. Terms of the settlement are unknown. It takes six votes to pass anything so council effectively voted to not settle at this time.

ALSO READ: After push, CMPD HR tells officers they can wear outer carrier vests as preventative measure

This story is composed based on the conversations with seven people familiar with the vote and issue.

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Sources say Chief Jennings is considering legal action over former Councilman Tariq Bokharis comments and pursuit of outer carrier vests. A lawsuit has not yet been filed in court. Sources say Mayor Vi Lyles may bring the topic up for another vote on Monday in closed session. Sources familiar with the chiefs feelings say Jennings believes he was unfairly targeted and suffered reputational damage during a months-long debate over outer carrier vests.

Its unclear why Charlotte City council members would entertain a settlement for a lawsuit that has not been filed, however, it would likely prevent a messy and potentially expensive legal fiasco. The parties of the potential lawsuit, and its potential content, have not been disclosed.

Breaking:



Behind closed doors Monday, Charlotte City Council took a 5-2 vote to not settle with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings over a lawsuit he is considering.



This all stems from the intense debate over outer carrier vests.



Story at 6, based on my conversations with 7 sources pic.twitter.com/CjBdWXoKZp  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 2, 2025

A spokesperson for Jennings, a spokesperson for the city of Charlotte, Bokhari, and all current Charlotte City council members contacted by Bruno declined to comment.

The contentious debate publicly started after the ambush on Galway Drive that left four officers dead. During budget adjustments last May, Bokhari, who said he had been talking to officers about outer carrier vests for more than two years, requested that the city add purchasing outer carrier vests to its budget.

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Charlotte City Council voted to advance the proposal for budget consideration.

While Bokhari maintained the outer carrier vests were popular with the rank-and-file, Jennings was hesitant because in part of their militarized look. During budget straw votes, Bokhari retracted his motion for outer carrier vest funding, in part, so council wouldnt have to take a vote for or against the chiefs position on the issue.

But during that meeting, Bokhari reiterated his passion for the topic and said he would double down on finding $500,000 for the purchase of the vests as an individual citizen.

During the vote on the budget last June, Bokhari once again said he was taking off his councilman hat to speak to the community as a citizen. He said he could not articulate his level of disappointment that the city wasnt able to secure funding for outer carrier vests in the budget cycle. He said he was not giving up and would be activating a private campaign to get them $500,000 for outer carrier vests.

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Bokhari then launched ShieldTheBlue.org. The website remains active. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police supported Bokharis effort. Less than two months after the launch of Shield The Blue, Jennings reversed his stance on the vests. All CMPD officers are now able to apply to wear them as a preventive measure.

But the debate did not end there.Channel 9 has learned that in January, NAACP President Corine Mack filed an ethics complaint against Bokhari. News of the complaint has not been previously reported. Rev. Mack confirmed the complaint and its findings to Channel 9.

The complaint alleged Tariq and the FOP in their official capacities began a crusade against the chief with personal and major threats to force him to retire/get fired. It alleged Tariqs attempts to strong-arm Chief Jennings into making decisions that may not be in accordance with his desires regarding vests and personnel matters is a direct violation of the ethics policy.

The complaint alleged insidious language on Shield The Blues website.

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Attached to the complaint were two screenshots. The first screenshot was the heres what I need you to do section. The second screenshot included in the complaint questioned, What does Chief Jennings have against his patrol officers? This is their number one request and despite proven data, he makes them suffer. Why? The screenshot also says, when the chief asks for additional patrols at his lake house, who does it? Patrol officers.

Interim City Attorney Anthony Fox dismissed the complaint, Mack confirmed. Fox found her complaint did not meet the standards for an ethics complaint review.

It is unclear if all of Charlotte City Council was aware of the complaint and its dismissal. Multiple sources say one member of Charlotte City Council left during closed session. It is being researched whether that vote should be recorded as a sixth vote to settle.

Jennings reports to City Manager Marcus Jones. Jones and Fox report to Charlotte City Council.

Even if an ethics complaint is successful, it does not result in a council members removal. A successful ethics complaint could potentially lead to a censure of the member.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN)  Thursday was a day to remember in Springfield, as nine law enforcement officers and three K9s were memorialized in a ceremony held to honor those who died in the line of duty in Illinois last year.

Here we are again and again and again to grieve and to support each other and adding more names to the list of fallen officers, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said. A list we wish was empty.

In 2024, officers from across the state made the ultimate sacrifice.

Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns

Trooper Clay M. Carns (ISP)

Illinois Department of Corrections Officer Sergeant Andrew Faught

IDOC Sgt. Andrew Drew Faught

Chicago Police Officer James Crowley

CPD Officer James Crowley

Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca

CPD officer Luis Huesca

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Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez

CPD Officer Enrique Martinez (Source: Chicago Police Department)

DeKalb County Sheriffs Deputy Christine Musil

Christina Musil, courtesy DeKalb County Sheriffs Office

Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins

Oak Park Det. Allan Reddins

Illinois State Police Trooper Corey Thompsen

ISP Trooper Corey Thompsen

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Cook County Sheriffs Corrections Officer Rafael Wordlaw

Rafael Wordlaw

Lake County Sheriffs K9 Dax

K9 Dax

Rockford Police Departments K9 Nyx

Photo: Rockford Police Departments K9 Nyx

Alton Police Departments K9 Odin

APD K9 Odin (Courtesy: Village of Alton)

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Twelve names Governor JB Pritzker said will always be remembered.

Countless acts of every day kindnesscomforting a scared child, changing a tire for an elderly driver, volunteering at a community event. There was often no act too small for them, Pritzker said. These officers touched our lives in countless ways, so to the families of the fallen, who are here with us today, know that the entire State of Illinois stands with you, shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart.

We are here to honor your loved ones but also to honor you to hold you up and to embrace you as our own family.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
May 2JAMESTOWN  About 90 people showed up on Main Street in Jamestown on Thursday, May 1, for a peaceful May Day march to support working families and protest cuts to federal programs and workers.

Individuals gathered with signs opposing the Trump administration's actions in front of St. John's Lutheran Church before marching north on First Avenue. They stopped in front of the mural at Hugo's Family Marketplace where they were met with some honks in support and others in opposition.

Protesters gathered on streets nationwide on Thursday to recognize May Day, which is celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day on May 1 each year.

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"Well, we have just an interest in being proactive against the things that the Trump administration is doing and this seemed like a good opportunity to show that disagreement," said Don Caine, a Jamestown resident. "So we're just trying to be proactive in all of those things and this is one way to do it."

He said all workers have rights.

"We want equality for everyone," Caine said.

He said everyone should be benefiting from the federal government, not just the rich.

"We see that eroding under Trump, and so that's why we protest and do what we can," he said.

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Barb Lang, a League of Women Voters member and organizer of the event, said there are concerns with what will happen to federal workers who work in Jamestown.

"We think we've got at least 100 families in Jamestown that are working for the federal government," she said.

She said those families have people who work at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Postal Service and the Pipestem Dam safety modification project.

"There's lots of federal workers here," she said. " ... We want to support them."

Jamestown resident Marty Toepke-Floyd said the No. 1 reason he joined the gathering is because the federal government's environmental policy has been thrown into chaos.

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"We've got to get our act together and stop climate change," he said. "The current administration is going the opposite direction. It's opposite to the teachings of the church that I belong to, and it's violating solid science."

Toepke-Floyd said he's disappointed with the policies that are coming from Washington, D.C.

"They claim to be saving money and building efficiency, but so much of what they're doing is counterproductive," he said. "It's wasting money. It's ruining people's lives. Civil servants have moved and taken jobs and then had the rug pulled out from underneath them."

He also said the Trump administration is getting rid of federal workers, including those with the National Labor Relations Board and judges.

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"They're just doing things that are just counter to labor and unions," he said. "They're trying to stop a lot of things. So it's just plain wrong, and it's violating people's civil and human rights."

Toepke-Floyd said it isn't right for Elon Musk, the world's richest man, to make decisions about people's lives without any kind of study or authorization from Congress.

"I don't understand why our Congress delegation from North Dakota isn't screaming bloody murder," he said. "If this had happened under (Joe) Biden or (Barack) Obama, they'd be screaming and people are just afraid of the man in the Oval Office, who is bullying the country."

Vicki Voldal Rosenau, of Valley City, North Dakota, said democracy is in peril.

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'It looks as if it's up to the people to stop it," she said. "Congress is inert and the administration is locked by fear. I'm just afraid for the future."

She said she's upset about Donald Trump undermining and threatening judges and people getting deported.

"You can't say deporting, because nobody's getting deported," she said. "They're extraditing people without due process, which we know is completely illegal and yet they keep doing it."

Jamestown resident Brenda Jensen said she doesn't have a problem with downsizing federal government programs and getting rid of wasteful spending.

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"The problem is that they're doing it really quickly and not systematic," she said.

Madison Lyonhart, a Jamestown resident who moved here last year, said Medicaid and education are in danger.

"I have two children that are in the public school system with special needs, and all of those things have come under attack during this present administration, and I'm fearful for the future of my family in this country," she said. "My husband's an immigrant. I'm fearful for his future."

Lyonhart said labor unions and federal workers are under attack.

"We see job loss all across the country, thousands of workers, and today we need to recognize that protections for all of us need to be in place so that we have safety in our job place, reliability for our families, and we don't have to end up asking for extra help," she said. "We should be able to work and provide for our family with our job and not need to work multiple jobs or ask for government assistance. We should just be able to get a living wage and have reliable employment."

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Lyonhart also said tariffs and other legislative actions impact local farmers.

"We want our farmers to be able to do their job, to have predictability, so that they know what to plant, when to plant it," she said.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The month of May kicked off with thousands of people heading down to Kapiolani Park for the 97th annual Lei Day celebration.

Are you wearing the right color lei for Lei Day? Kumu Lum explains

WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic met with Department of Parks and Recreations Nathan Serota and 2025 Lei Queen Kuulei Aloha Llanos to learn about the event.

The all-day event featured a wide variety of island musical and hula performances, Hawaiian cultural protocol, the world-renowned Lei Contest, lei making workshops and artisans and merchants  all in a family-friendly setting.

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This years celebration weaved in new elements to progress the legacy of lei-making with the theme Hookahi ka ilau like ana, or Wield the paddles together.

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And of course, it wouldnt be a celebration if there wasnt ono food, crafts and the annual Lei Contest!

Dale Mar T. Acoba took the crown and won the Mayors Grand Prize with a lei kui made of hypericum and yarrow.

Acoba took home $5,400 in prize money.

City officials said all lei from the contest will be taken to Mauna Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiahao Church on Friday, May 2.

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Check out more news from around Hawaii

The lei will then be placed on the graves and tombs of Hawaiis alii.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Abortion rights supporters protest outside the state Capitol in Denver in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court opinion that indicated justices would overturn Roe v. Wade, on May 7, 2022. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

Abortion advocates and providers in Colorado feel increased pressure under the Trump administration to support people seeking abortions from Colorado and surrounding states with restrictions.

Melisa Hidalgo-Cuellar, abortion fund director for Cobalt, said the organization has been constantly adapting to meet the demand for support. The abortion fund has increased its staffing capacity over the last couple of years and ramped up its digital security to ensure client information is protected.

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Cobalt, one of two Colorado-based abortion funds that offers financial support to patients seeking abortion care, is also helping clients navigate mis- and disinformation related to abortion care. Hidalgo-Cuellar said many patients in restrictive states dont know there are financial assistance resources available because their states and communities intentionally try to keep that information out of their hands.

We really see that play a role in the abortion funding world when we are working directly with abortion seekers who are fearful of leaving their state to access care and having to walk them through the resources available to them, Hidalgo-Cuellar said.

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While theres been an increase of people seeking abortion care in Colorado since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision and Texas abortion ban, providers are looking for different ways they can help meet the demand, relying particularly on telehealth, Hidalgo-Cuellar said. Shes also seen increased coordination between abortion funds and clinics to help make sure each patient gets care in a way accessible to them.

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About 62% of Colorado voters supported Amendment 79 in November, which made abortion access a constitutional right in Colorado. The Colorado Legislature approved a measure implementing the amendment and also passed several shield laws to protect providers as well as out-of-state patients. Every state except New Mexico that borders Colorado, as well as Texas, has abortion restrictions.

A new report from the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health, found that abortions actually decreased by about 2,400 in both Colorado and New Mexico from 2023 to 2024. The total still remains higher than before the Dobbs decision in both states, though. It stood at 24,490 in Colorado last year. Increased capacity from clinics in Kansas likely contributed to the reduction for Colorado and New Mexico, as well as broader access to telehealth medication abortion under protection of shield laws, according to the report.

While Cobalt is still waiting to hear back from a few clinics before it has final spending data from the first quarter of 2025, Hidalgo-Cuellar said Cobalt has already seen an increase in patients served as well as cost per patient, meaning theres higher demand for financial support.

For funding directly supporting a patients ability to pay for a procedure, preliminary numbers show Cobalt has spent about $306,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $218,000 in the first quarter of 2024, Hidalgo-Cuellar said. The fund also helped 883 clients between January and March 2025 compared to 717 in those months in 2024.

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Over 50% of Cobalts procedural funding in 2024 went to patients in Colorado. But just under 90% of Cobalts practical support funds  which help people pay for travel, lodging and child care expenses needed to access abortion care  went to patients from Texas.

That tells you that we have that enormous need coming out of Texas as people are forced to travel for abortion care. Theyre having to put their lives on pause to be able to access this care, Hidalgo-Cuellar said. These are just the numbers from the people who found out about Cobalt, who knew that money was available. There are so many people who are navigating this process on their own without understanding that financial support is available.

Abortion deserts still a problem

Vanessa Martinez, vice president of policy at the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, said Colorados willingness to support out-of-state patients in need is not a threat to Coloradans ability to access reproductive health care. She said the biggest threat to care would be if anti-abortion states start to bring lawsuits against Colorado providers, though the states shield provisions exist to protect those providers.

Colorado has been a leader in reproductive care at the national level, and when we consider the national ecosystem of care, Colorado is so, so important both for abortion care and for gender-affirming care, Martinez said. There are people who drive hours and hours to be able to get the care that they need here in Colorado.

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The Guttmacher report said 26% of abortions provided in Colorado in 2024 went to out-of-state patients.

Colorado has been a leader in reproductive care at the national level, and when we consider the national ecosystem of care, Colorado is so, so important both for abortion care and for gender-affirming care ... There are people who drive hours and hours to be able to get the care that they need here in Colorado.

 Vanessa Martinez, vice president of policy at the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights

Hidalgo-Cuellar said the abortion clinics Cobalt works with overall have seen shorter wait times for an appointment as they have increased their capacity. Many have been able to accommodate urgent cases, when a patient needs to be seen in a day or two.

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The need for practical support still exists in Colorado, particularly in abortion deserts, Hidalgo-Cuellar said. Patients in rural parts of the state might have to travel up to six hours to access care.

Abortion deserts have always been and still are problems even in access states, in protected states such as Colorado, Hidalgo-Cuellar said.

Telehealth has been crucial for abortion deserts, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains spokesperson Fawn Bolak said. Since the Durango Planned Parenthood temporarily closed due to provider shortages, Bolak said Planned Parenthood has connected patients to its virtual clinic so they can continue to access care. She said the only service patients in Durango cannot access as a result of the closure is a procedural abortion.

We are actively recruiting for an advanced practice clinician so that we can reopen that health center, Bolak said. The reason why we had to temporarily close that location is because we are navigating a national provider shortage. Health care institutions, not just in reproductive and sexual health care, but across the board are really feeling a significant burden from this provider shortage and were definitely not immune to that.

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Some providers have looked specifically to abortion deserts for sites of future clinics. Hidalgo-Cuellar said thats what Care Colorado did when it opened a clinic in Pueblo.

Goal is to instill fear

Bolak said shes seen how frustrated and scared patients are under the Trump administration, particularly immigrants who lack permanent legal status. Reproductive and sexual health advocates have known the Trump administration would target access to care, but the swiftness with which they have begun attacking health care, particularly gender-affirming care, has been pretty devastating, she said.

Since Trump announced that he would be seeking reelection, we began preparing for things like additional attacks on access to mifepristone, additional abortion bans, attacks on contraception, attacks on health insurance and different things like that, Bolak said.

Trump has said he will leave abortion policy to the states, but he pardoned anti-abortion protesters who were prosecuted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, and his administration has withheld funding from Planned Parenthood clinics. Advocates also fear the administration will target mifepristone and misoprostol, two medications used to perform abortions and manage miscarriages.

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Hidalgo-Cuellar said attempts to criminalize seeking and providing abortion care have increased across the board under the Trump administration. She said part of the goal is to instill fear in anyone seeking abortion care and anyone helping those seeking care.

Martinez said her organization has had concerns since last summer about attacks from anti-abortion states, especially now that the federal government not only doesnt protect the rights of everyone in our communities, but often targets a lot of the community members that COLOR advocates for: community members of color, LGBTQ+ community members, immigrant Coloradans.

Many Latino and Latina people COLOR works with have felt a sense of instability since Trump took office, Martinez said. Those with immigrant family members who lack permanent legal status have been particularly on edge and consider whether accessing any kind of health care could put their loved ones at risk. Martinez said many people need help understanding what insurance coverage options are available for them, and hesitate to enroll in public programs out of fear it will put them on a list that the federal government will later use to target their families.

Were seeing uncertainty from community members just in navigating their health needs, and this isnt coming up just in emergency situations, Martinez said. Its coming up too in child visits  Do I take my child to get their vaccines, to their checkups?  which is really scary for entire communities.

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Martinez said Colorado Senate Bill 25-130, which would ensure that anyone who goes to an emergency room cannot be denied care, is especially important after instances in other states when pregnant people have gone to an emergency room needing miscarriage management or abortion care only for that care to be delayed or denied at the expense of their lives.

She said the bill will also help people in rural communities who might not have direct access to specialty providers.

We know that already has happened in Colorado where folks have seen delays in care at the emergency room or not been transferred to the emergency room soon enough, Martinez said.

The bill passed the Senate and its House committee hearing Monday, and is scheduled for debate in the House Friday.

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In Fuzhou City, east China's Fujian Province, a hospital has introduced an interactive digital consultation assistant to help patients navigate complex medical facilities. #GLOBALink
The Best Budget Ever may not prepare for the worst.

Mayor Eric Adams served up a $115 billion election year spending plan Thursday thats stuffed with voter-pleasing goodies, but that was still slammed by critics for squirreling away relatively little for a rainy day.

Hizzoner, who faces an uphill re-election battle, unveiled his 2026 executive budget during a campaign-like event from his alma mater Bayside High School in Queens, rather than City Hall, from which such announcements have traditionally been done.

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This is not a budget that favors the few. It is budget for all of you, Adams said, while flanked by students. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that our fiscal Year 2026 executive budget is the best budget ever.

The budget lavishes $1.4 billion on programs and services that had faced cuts  such as libraries, early child education and the City University of New York.

It also launches a universal after-school program and increases education funding by $376 million.

The spending plan is the largest Adams has proposed since taking office in 2022, with last years executive budget proposal coming in at $111.6 billion.

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Welcome to the election year! said veteran campaign strategist Hank Sheinkopf, adding that incumbent mayors usually throw caution to the wind when seeking a second term.

An election year means living in the moment. Tomorrow, next year is a long time away, Sheinkopf told The Post. Its spend whatever we can now. Its like a bank robbery.

Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his proposed 2026 budget during a campaign-style event Thursday. Stephen Yang

Critics quickly pounced on Adams seemingly failing to plan for the possibility of tough economic times in the near future, from President Trumps tariffs, a widely anticipated upcoming recession and potential federal funding cuts.

Despite being flush with cash, Mayor Eric Adams Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget fails to address the dual threats of looming federal budget cuts and a possible recession, said Andrew Rein, president of the nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group Citizens Budget Commission.

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Instead of wisely adding $1 billion in next years General Reserve to soften the first blows of federal cuts and $2 billion to the Rainy Day Fund, the budget increases spending to an unaffordable level.

Rein said the city should have between $8 and $10 billion in reserves for potential choppy economic waters  a sum that city budget Director Jacques Jiha agreed would be needed, if the Big Apple were in a doomsday scenario.

Were not looking at doomsday, were looking at a slowdown in the economy, he said.

Adams held the event in Bayside High School, his alma mater. Stephen Yang

We believe we have adequate reserves.

Adams preliminary budget, released in January, was blasted by opponents, including in the progressive City Council, for needlessly cutting services.

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But his administration maintained those slashes were necessary due to skyrocketing costs from the migrant crisis  which Jiha said has now cost the city more than $7 billion.

The mayor had begged Albany lawmakers in February for $1.1 billion to deal with the migrant crisis, contending then that the city needed it in 12 weeks.

City Hall officials offered nary a peep about the ask since then  and the supposed shortfall apparently has been covered by savings, with Jiha saying only Money is fungible as an explanation.

The budget announced Thursday is Adams first since the crisis largely subsided, and includes these spending increases and reversed cuts:

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$15.7 million for libraries

$96 million restoring CUNY savings

$298 million for school nurses

An overall near-$18 million increase to the parks budget

$92 million in annual funding for citywide 3-K

$20 million for new universal after-school programs

A $3 billion contribution for the MTAs capital plan

Adams is using this budget to promote his re-election. He doesnt want to have much of a fight with the council, said Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute.

Its pre-emptive capitulation to the council, she added, noting Adams was proposing $1.7 billion more in spending compared to his preliminary budget.

Adams is blowing out the agency spending, Gelinas said. [He] is squandering the last of his budget credibility.

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Not all programs and departments saw a funding increase. The following budget cuts were included in the plan:

$308 million for NYPD

$111 million for FDNY

$1.57 billion for Department of Social Services

$1.19 billion for Health + Hospitals

$840 million for Department of Homeless Services

$801 million for Administration for Childrens Services

Talks with City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is not related to Hizzoner and is running for the Democratic mayoral nomination, will continue until the June 30 deadline to pass the budget.

Adams plan offered plenty of fodder from candidates hoping to boot him from Gracie Mansion, such as City Comptroller Brad Lander  who claimed the mayor was failing to protect New Yorkers by not putting more cash in reserves.

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Former city comptroller and current mayoral candidate Scott Stringer also blasted Adams for failing to prepare for a potential extraordinary loss of funding for New York City.

Adrienne Adams offered less gloom and doom  though she still cautioned against getting too comfortable.

I think that the budget right now is good, but we can never be too certain about what is coming around the corner with this Trump administration, she said.

Adams, who boasted of confronting then-President Joe Biden for migrant funding, hasnt been nearly as vocal about his growing ally Trump.

Adams brushed off concerns about economic turmoil. Stephen Yang

He said he hasnt been in contact with the White House, even as he acknowledged that the current global climate was creating uncharted waters.

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Adams top deputy, however, was quick to put a positive spin on the potential financial woes.

We are best positioned to address with Washington those issues going forward, said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. Even asking a question about a doomsday scenario is to be with those pessimistic and political opportunists who dont bet on New York, who are saying, The sky is falling.

The sky isnt falling.
A feel for the groove isn't restricted to humans, but it does seem pretty limited across the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees can keep a beat, but their ability to do so is low compared to Homo sapiens. One species of lemur is better.

A 16-year-old California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) named Ronan blows them all out of the water  even some humans. A new study shows that her ability to bop along to a rhythm isn't just a learned response to some tempos: she can synchronize her movements with new rhythms, suggesting that, once she was trained in what to do, she could adapt and keep a beat to multiple tempos.

"She is incredibly precise, with variability of only about a tenth of an eyeblink from cycle to cycle," says comparative neuroscientist Peter Cook of the University of California Santa Cruz and New College of Florida.

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"Sometimes, she might hit the beat five milliseconds early, sometimes she might hit it 10 milliseconds late. But she's basically hitting the rhythmic bullseye over and over and over again."

Ronan, a resident of UC Santa Cruz's Long Marine Laboratory, was the subject of a paper published in 2013 that described her remarkable ability to keep time. At three years of age, when just a juvenile, she was trained to bob her head along with a ticking metronome, and later music, adjusting her beat-keeping as the tempo of the metronome changed.

Later studies questioned whether Ronan's abilities could be as accurate as those of a human, since the initial results showed slightly higher variability in timing than is typically seen in human studies. Other scientists also queried the extensive training Ronan underwent, and whether her time-keeping is the product of the same neurobiological mechanisms as human rhythm.

In the intervening 12 years, Cook and his colleagues occasionally gave Ronan a little practice at the boogie  not much, just 10 to 15 seconds at a time, now and again, for a total of around 2,000 sessions.

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"She definitely wasn't overtrained," Cook explains. "Realistically, if you added up the amount of rhythmic exposure Ronan has had since she's been with us, it is probably dwarfed by what a typical one-year-old kid has heard."

Strike a pose! (Carson Hood. NMFS 23554)

Now, as a mature adult, her ability to keep the beat has not only improved  it has outstripped that of some humans. In a follow-up study, the researchers tested Ronan's ability to bop in time with a snare drum tapping at tempos of 112, 120, and 128 beats per minute  the higher and lower of which were tempos to which she had not previously been exposed.

They then tested 10 undergraduate university students with the same sounds, tasking them to keep the beat with movements of their forearms.

"We compared Ronan's performance to that of the adults we tested," the researchers write, "providing the first apples-to-apples comparative assessment of rhythmic entrainment between humans and non-humans with established beatkeeping ability."

Not a single human outperformed Ronan in all of the tests. Her tempo interval, movement interval, and phase-angle  the measures of how close her movements were to the beat  were closer to perfect synchronization than at least some of the humans in all tests. Her time-keeping was noticeably more accurate at faster tempos, too.

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At 112, 120, and 128 beats per minute, Ronan's performed average tempo was 113.1, 121.6, and 129.0 beats per minute. The humans' average tempos for the same were 112.4, 119.3, and 126.2, respectively.

The results suggest that non-human animals can be trained to keep a rhythm, if they feel motivated to do so. Many of them probably have little reason to do so in the wild, but doing it in a lab where treats and praise are dispensed can help scientists understand animal intelligence and the way they process information, particularly as they grow into adults.

"One of the most important outcomes of the study is the fact that maturation and experience matter," says animal behaviorist Colleen Reichmuth of UC Santa Cruz. " It's not just a test of rhythmic performance. It reflects her cognitive behavior and her ability to remember and refine it over time."

It's important to note that Ronan was well rewarded for her participation in the study: "When the test session was complete, human participants were thanked and given further details on the nature of the study. Ronan received a toy filled with fish and ice."

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The research has been published in Scientific Reports.

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With two confirmed measles cases in Travis County and a large outbreak in West Texas, adults might be wondering whether they need to get a booster shot to protect against the highly contagious disease.

The answer? Probably not but there are some notable caveats.

Here's what to know:

Do I need another measles shot?

Most people who receive the measles vaccine are protected for life and do not need another shot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, is 97% effective.

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Alefiyah Malbari, head of the Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics for Dell Medical School, said the vast majority of people that were born and went to school in the United States received measles shots as a child because schools typically require proof of vaccination.

People born before 1957 are typically considered to have natural immunity against measles because they were exposed to the virus at some point prior to the development of the vaccine in the 1960s, Malbari said. Still, she said those individuals should check their immunity status, especially during an outbreak. They can do that through a blood test that checks for measles antibodies.

Malbari said health care and school workers living in outbreak areas (primarily parts of West Texas, according to the state) should consider getting a booster shot.

But immunocompromised people should always consult their doctor before getting the shot because it is a live vaccine, she said. Though it contains a weakened version of the virus, the National Foundation for Infectious diseases says this vulnerable population, including pregnant people, may not be able to tolerate it.

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When in doubt, experts and officials say that individuals should consult with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of action.

Most children older than 12 months are eligible for the MMR vaccine.

How do I check my measles vaccine status in Texas?

There are several ways to check your measles vaccination status in Texas.

People should first check if they have copies of their vaccination records, Malbari said. If not, they can ask their doctors office to check. Schools may also have immunization records depending on how recently a person graduated.

If records aren't available, people can seek out blood testing to check their immunity status, Malbari said.

Can people with the measles vaccine get infected?

Vaccinated individuals can contract the virus, but when they do their symptoms are typically not severe.

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That is what happened with the Travis County adult who recently tested positive for the virus, Austin-area officials said at a Monday news conference. They noted the person was able to rest at home.

The 97% effectiveness rate of the MMR vaccine means it prevents "severe disease and hospitalization," Malbari said.

Where can I get the measles vaccine in Austin?

If you are unvaccinated and looking to get the MMR shots  or are vaccinated and want a booster shot  contact your doctor.

Austin Public Health also provides the vaccine at its mobile clinics, as well as brick and mortar locations.

What are the symptoms of measles in children?

The initial symptoms of measles are mild and non-specific, lasting two to three days. If an unvaccinated child or person is feeling unwell, heres what to watch for:

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Cough

Runny nose

Itchy, watery eyes

A high fever

Small white spots (Koplik's spots) inside the inner lining of the cheek

The most recognizable symptom of measles is a red rash that appears three to five days after the initial symptoms. It begins as small, raised bumps on the face and near the hairline, creating a "splotchy red" look, before spreading downward across the body, the Statesman previously reported.

What's the status of the measles outbreak in Texas?

The measles outbreak has largely been confined to rural communities in the western part of the state, particularly among the Mennonite population, but cases have now popped up in urban areas, including Austin.

Since the first confirmed case in Gaines County in January, a total of 663 people across Texas have tested positive for measles, according to an April 29 update from the Texas Department of State Health Services. That is an increase of 17 cases since the last update on April 25.

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Austin-area officials recently confirmed a second case in Travis County. The person had recently traveled in and out of the state by plane, and the case has prompted a contact tracing effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services as authorities work to determine where the person may have contracted or spread the virus.

Dr. Desmar Walkes, with the Austin-Travis County Health Authority, said at a Monday news conference that contact tracers are reaching out to passengers who traveled with the infected individual.

Eighty-seven Texans who contracted the virus this year were hospitalized at some point, according to the state health agency, though fewer than 10 remain contagious. Individuals are considered contagious from four days before to four days after the appearance of a rash.

The outbreak has led to the deaths of two school-aged children. Both were unvaccinated and had no known underlying health conditions  a development that prompted U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, to publicly encourage vaccination.

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In a lengthy post on X, Kennedy said that he visited Gaines County in West Texas to console the families whose young children have died.

"The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," Kennedy said, adding that he spoke to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and redeployed CDC teams to the state after Abbott's request.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Should adults get a measles booster? Texas outbreak reaches 660+ cases
Advocates rally at Louisiana Capitol for the homeless

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Dozens of advocates gathered on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol Thursday, calling on lawmakers to work together to tackle the root causes of housing insecurity and to advocate for the homeless and unhoused.

This is vital, one advocate said. Its vital that we show up, that were in community with one another, that were speaking with one voice, and that the legislators hear the message were trying to send.

Among those leading the call for change was Elsa Dimitriadis, Executive Director of the Acadian Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing. Dimitriadis said homelessness is not a distant issueits something her organization confronts daily.

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I wish people could see the faces that we do every day, she said. Its our aging community who are priced out of housing, its young people exiting foster care into homelessness, and its veterans.

Dimitriadis stressed that homelessness can affect anyone.

Were all just a couple of bad circumstances, bad decisions, or unexpected events away from being unhoused, she said.

At the heart of Thursdays rally was concern over a bill moving through the Senate that would make unauthorized public camping, including homeless encampments, a criminal offense. The legislation proposes a $500 fine for a first offense and increases to $1,000 and possible jail time for repeat violations.

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Critics argue that the bill would criminalize homelessness and put vulnerable individuals in a cycle of poverty and incarceration.

Homelessness is not a crime, said Cheryl Richard, an advocate who once experienced homelessness herself. We need to speak to those we put in office and tell them this must stop.

Richard noted that many who showed up to protest the legislation had either experienced homelessness themselves or had close friends or family who had.

Other advocates echoed the call for solutions rooted in compassion and cooperation.

We just want to work with state leaders to find better ways to support the homeless and unhoused community, one advocate said.

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As the legislative session continues, opponents of the bill say theyll keep pressing for policies that prioritize housing, not punishment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
The Alternative for Germany party was officially classified as a proven Right-wing extremist organisation by the German domestic intelligence agency on Friday.

The announcement by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) means Germanys main opposition party is no longer just under suspicion of extremism after an investigation lasting months.

Alice Weidels party came second in federal elections held in February in their best ever result after they were championed by senior members of the Trump administration, including JD Vance and Elon Musk.

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According to some polls, it is now Germanys most popular party, while others have it equal or slightly behind the centre-Right Christian Democrats (CDU).

Calls to ban the AfD now look certain to be renewed after the BfV said it had definitive evidence that it works against Germanys democratic system.

The AfD is expected to take legal action against the reassessment, which makes it easier to use surveillance methods, including recruiting informants, audio and video recordings, and financial probes. Authorities can monitor party communications with parliamentary authorisation.

The Bfv said: The ethnic-descendant understanding of the people prevailing in the party is not compatible with the free democratic basic order.

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The AfD, for example, does not consider German citizens with a migration history from predominantly Muslim countries to be equal members of the German people, as ethnically defined by the party.

It added: There were numerous indications of efforts by the AfD to oppose the free democratic basic order. These indications were confirmed during further investigation and, in essential parts, consolidated into certainty.

Huge surge in public support

The party was founded in 2013 by Ukip-style Eurosceptic academics but radicalised and is now pro-Putin and fiercely anti-migrant.

Some local state branches of the party had already been classified as proven Right-wing extremist but this is the first time the federal party has been branded as such.

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The decision to classify the AfD as a proven extremist organisation rather than just a suspected one was underpinned by a 1,000-page internal report.

German public broadcaster ARD said the report, which will not be made public, listed violations of constitutional principles such as the rule of law and human dignity.

The AfD saw a huge surge in support due to public anger in Germany over mass migration and terror attacks committed by foreigners.

It took 20 per cent of the vote but is still seen by many as beyond the pale in a country haunted by its Nazi past. Protests against the party before the elections attracted hundreds of thousands of people.

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Senior members have been disgraced for playing down Nazi war crimes and accepting suspicious payments from Russia and China.

There were calls to ban the party when it was reported party members were at a meeting of neo-Nazis where a master plan to expel millions of people from Germany was discussed, including asylum seekers, foreigners with residency rights and unassimilated citizens.

The AfD were shut out of coalition government by the firewall, an agreement by mainstream parties not to work with those deemed too extreme.

JD Vance, the US vice-president, criticised the firewall as anti-democratic. The US was accused of attempting to meddle in the German vote by the victor and incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on election night.

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Mr Merz, the leader of the centre-Right CDU formed a coalition with the centre-Left SPD, and will take office on May 6.

This is outrageous. A purely political decision in the run-up to the chancellor election on May 6, Emil Sanze, of the AfD, told the Bild newspaper.

Stephan Protschka, the AfD leader in Bavaria, said, The AfD is the strongest party, our membership numbers are skyrocketing. Its an attempt to further discredit the AfD.

Clear and unequivocal decision

But Nancy Faeser, Germanys interior minister, said the AfDs positions were seen in their racist comments against migrants and Muslims.

She said the decision was impartial, clear and unequivocal and free from political interference.

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The party will not be banned as an immediate consequence of the reclassification.

The government or German parliament can trigger a ban procedure by applying to the Federal Constitutional Court, which then decides on it.

In January, an effort in the Bundestag to push for a ban failed because it did not get enough support.

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Just days before airport security checkpoints will require Real IDs or passports for anyone 18 or older flying in the U.S., New Hampshires new drivers licenses are giving Transportation Security Administration scanners fits, safety officials said Friday.

Although the problems with the TSAs ability to process the IDs were known soon after the state rolled out the new licenses in January, the Division of Motor Vehicles continued with a big push this year to get federally compliant Real IDs in the hands of as many residents as possible.

Approximately 65% of all state ID holders have Real IDs, and the DMV expected that number to rise before the May 7 deadline.

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Recently, residents have jammed DMV offices, three of which will be open an extra day this Saturday just for folks to get a Real ID. Although it takes up to 60 days for the cards to get to residents through the mail, officials said.

If you have the older New Hampshire license or non-driver card that is already Real ID-compliant, youre fine. If the hiccups with scanning the new IDs continue, travelers should consider carrying extra identification, such as a passport or birth certificate, to avoid lengthy delays. Still, the manual verification process can take up to 40 minutes and travelers could miss their flights if they dont show up early enough, officials said.

TSA has alternate measures in place for situations where the credential authentication technology system is unable to validate an ID as well as the ability to verify the identity of those passengers who do not have their ID, TSA New England Region spokesperson Daniel Velez said.

DMV Director John Marasco said the state has been working with its vendor and the TSA to resolve the problems. Last month, Marasco said the kinks were all but worked out, but residents and security officials have seen lingering difficulties.

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Everyone who has received the new design should rest assured that their identification is valid, REAL ID-compliant, and was thoroughly reviewed and approved by a variety of stakeholders, including the Department of Homeland Security, before it was finalized and went into production, he said.

In a written statement, DMV officials said they contacted the company that produced the new ID cards and they confirmed the issue was the TSAs system, not the licenses.

TSA officials told the DMV that the new design will soon be fully integrated into its system nationwide.

For more information about Real IDs and how to verify your identity at a TSA security checkpoint, visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

dpierce@unionleader.com
Dr. Heather Skanes, OB-GYN and owner of Oasis Family Birth Center in Birmingham, discusses ACLU's lawsuit against the Alabama Public Health Department on Aug. 8, 2023 in front of the Mothers of Gynecology Monument in Montgomery. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

An Alabama judge Thursday blocked the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) from regulating freestanding birth centers as hospitals, delivering a victory to midwives in the state.

Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Greg Griffins ruling concluded that the Alabama Legislature did not authorize the ADPH to regulate midwifery care in birth centers as hospitals, saying that ADPHs attempt to impose hospital regulations on Freestanding Birth Centers (FSBCs), which offer an out-of-hospital birth option, was unlawful.

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Because both legal rules of statutory construction and undisputed record evidence make clear that FSBCs do not provide obstetrical care, and do not provide care to the public generally, ADPHs attempt to regulate them as hospitals exceeds its statutory authority and violates the AAPA, Griffin wrote in the ruling.

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Messages seeking comment was left with ADPH and the Alabama Attorney Generals office.

Birth centers are health care facilities dedicated to childbirth and are centered around the midwifery model of care. They are often looked at as an in-between option for mothers not completely comfortable with home births or the medical setting of a hospital. Supporters also say that it provides another option for people with low-risk pregnancies in a state where about 34% of counties are considered maternity care deserts.

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Dr. Heather Skanes, OB-GYN and owner of Oasis Family Birth Center in Birmingham, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in an interview Friday that the ruling allows her to keep operating without the burdensome regulations that ADPH was planning to impose on them. Since reopening after the preliminary injunction, Skanes said that her birth center has been able to start caring for birthing people again.

Weve been doing births without any issues, and weve continued to provide safe and effective prenatal, labor, delivery, postpartum care in an underserved area here in Birmingham, Skanes said.

New rules approved by the ADPH in 2023 required Alabama birth centers to be overseen by a physician; be located within 30 minutes of an OB-GYN hospital and seek hospital licenses. Birth center advocates feared these regulations, especially the hospital licensing requirement, would make it challenging to serve low-risk pregnancies, particularly in rural areas of the state with poor maternal health outcomes that may lack health care providers..

The plaintiffs, including the birth centers, midwives, and the Alabama affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, filed a lawsuit in August 2023. The plaintiffs argued that these rules would make it nearly impossible for them to provide midwifery care. The following month, Griffin blocked ADPH from enforcing hospital licensing requirements on birth centers.

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In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represents the plaintiffs, said the rule would ensure access to equitable pregnancy care in Alabama, a state facing a maternal and infant health crisis. This crisis disproportionately affects Black women, low-income communities, and those living in rural areas with limited access to hospitals.

We are elated that the dedicated midwives at Alabamas birth centers can continue to provide crucial care to pregnant Alabamians across the state without undue interference, said Whitney White, staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. Midwifery care in birth centers is safe, can improve patient outcomes, and can play a critical role in expanding access to equitable pregnancy care in Alabama.

JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, said the ruling affirms the essentiality of midwife-led care.

This ruling is a powerful affirmation of what birth workers, families, and communities across Alabama have long known: midwife-led care is essential, Gilchrist said in a statement. As hospitals and obstetric services close across the state, particularly in rural areas, birth centers and midwives are stepping in to fill a dangerous gap in access.

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Skanes said that she hopes the ruling allows Alabama to really reconsider the way that we provide maternal care. She said that birthing centers could be a solution to providing maternal care by placing them in strategic areas around the state. She said that Alabamians would benefit from an integrative approach to maternal care that utilizes both birth centers and hospitals.

I think that we really have to change our mindset as physicians and as Alabamians, that this care can really be integrated into the medical system, Skanes said. That it doesnt have to be something thats stigmatized, it doesnt have to be something that is talked down upon, but its just another option for women and for birthing people, and it works in conjunction with the hospital.

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WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  An Alabama man is facing charges regarding an incident with a school bus driver on Tuesday.

According to a news release, Walton County School District reported a man following a school bus on N. 1st Street in DeFuniak Springs.

The bus driver said that when he stopped to let a student off, 40-year-old Brent Gill of Evergreen, Alabama, stepped on the bus and confronted the driver over an incident that occurred the previous day.

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The Walton County Sheriffs Office said that they were notified about an accusation that a bus driver had spit on a nine-year-old student on Monday.

When a School Resource Deputy spoke to the student about the incident, the child stated that he and the other students were horsing around on the back of the bus when the bus driver had him come to the middle of the bus. The student said thats when the driver spat on him.

The bus driver said that he told the student he needed to stop throwing things across the bus.

Deputies said that they reviewed the video from the bus and that there was no intentional spitting.

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However, the student was seen on the video continuously tripping other students after being instructed to sit still.

Local woman gets 15-year sentence for attempting to murder boyfriend

Deputies said the video revealed the accusation to be unsubstantiated and that the School Resource Deputy spoke with the students mother about the findings.

Following the incident with Gill, the bus driver contacted his supervisors, who then contacted the DeFuniak Springs Police Department. Gill had also contacted the DFSPD and admitted to the officer that he stepped on the bus to identify the driver.

After a record check of Gill, it revealed he was wanted out of Mississippi for a felony in possession of a firearm. The officers convinced Gill to come to the DFSPD to make a statement, but Gill did not want to enter the building, but gave a voluntary verbal statement admitting to entering the bus.

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Once the warrant out of Mississippi was confirmed, Gill was arrested and transported to the Walton County Jail by the DFSPD.

Deputies said they reviewed the bus video and obtained a statement from the bus driver. Walton County Sheriffs Office charged Gill with trespassing on school property. He is currently awaiting his first appearance.

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BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that the country is currently assessing the situation, as the United States has recently reached out through relevant channels multiple times, expressing a desire to engage in talks with China over tariff issues.

China's position has been consistent -- if forced to fight, China will fight to the end, and for talks, the door is open, a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the United States, and if it wants to negotiate, it must demonstrate sincerity by making preparations and taking concrete actions, such as correcting its erroneous practices and lifting the unilateral tariffs, said the statement.

Noting that China has noticed the U.S. side constantly talking about adjustments to its tariff measures, the spokesperson said that "in any potential dialogue or talks, if the United States does not rectify its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it would demonstrate a complete lack of sincerity and further undermine mutual trust."

Saying one thing while doing another, or even attempting to use talks as a cover for coercion and blackmail, will not work with China, the spokesperson stressed. 
ALABAMA (WDHN)  Alabama state lawmakers have officially approved the legislation that allows the Alabama Farmers Federation to sell healthcare plans to their members that bypasses federal requirements, which can turn people away for preexisting conditions.

Under the new legislation, medical visits, hospitalizations and other costs are not classified as health insurance.

The new health plans would not have to follow the Affordable Care Act requirements and rules, and it could turn away people, due to their preexisting conditons.

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Initially, Senate Democrats wanted to require the ALFA plans to accept people with preexisting conditions and to give the Alabama Department of Insurance the ability to oversee the plans.

The Alabama Senate passed the legislation on a vote of 30-2.

Now, the bill heads to Governor Iveys desk for her signature.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two Mexican nationals, both with a border crossing card, were arrested last week by Alamogordo Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint, after they found 27 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in a spare tire of their vehicle, a Border Patrol spokesperson said.

The Border Patrol spokesperson said that at 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Alamogordo Station assigned to the U.S. 54 checkpoint were conducting an immigration inspection when they encountered the vehicle.

Agents referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection, where a canine alerted to the vehicle, the BP spokesperson said.

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The BP spokesperson said agents then found 27 wrapped bundles hidden in the vehicles spare tire that tested positive for methamphetamine. The total weight of the narcotics was 26.89 pounds.

The two Mexican nationals were apprehended on the scene and are facing prosecution, the BP spokesperson said.

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The Austin area reported a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2024, with a 20% increase from a year earlier, the Anti-Defamation League said in a recently released report.

The ADL recorded 76 total antisemitic incidents in Central Texas: 55 involved harassment and 21 involved other offenses; 19 happened on college campuses. Nationally, the ADL recorded 9,354 incidents, marking its highest annual total.

ADL experts process and evaluate criminal and noncriminal complaints from victims, law enforcement, media and other partners as part of the audit.

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Austin had 44 incidents of antisemitism in 2024, according to a Hate, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism, or HEAT, map maintained by the New York-based nonprofit formed to fight antisemitism and hate. Incidents in Central Texas spread to more rural areas in 2024, including Lakeway and San Marcos, marking an expansion of antisemitism, said Jackie Nirenberg, the regional director of the ADL, in an interview with the American-Statesman.

Theres a sense of real pressure in the Jewish community here, and really Jewish communities across the country, Nirenberg said. Its really unsettling.

Antisemitism is "pressing in on all sides," Nirenberg said, and incidents are occurring at schools, universities, protests and Jewish organizations. The rise in hate-motivated actions is concerning, Nirenberg said, as Jewish people are often scapegoated for larger societal problems, such as political or economic turmoil.

"We're seeing what is a pattern in history," Nirenberg said. "Antisemitism is not just indicative of something that just the Jewish community needs to be concerned about. It is telling for the entire community writ large that we are in a period of destabilization, ... (it's) an alarm that we are in a crisis."

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Antisemitism has soared in Austin since 2021, Nirenberg said, when an Austin synagogue was attacked by an arsonist in a crime motivated by a hatred of Jews, and a neo-Nazi group dropped antisemitic banners from highway overpasses.

The deadly Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attacks by Hamas (a militant Palestinian group that governs Gaza) on Israel resulted in sharp increases in both Islamophobia and antisemitism. In 2024, protests organized by a U.S. student movement for Palestinians led to thousands of arrests across the country as demonstrators formed encampments at college campuses, including briefly at the University of Texas, to demand the institutions divest from weapons manufacturers aiding Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

In Central Texas last year, Nirenberg said, 66% of antisemitic incidents were associated with anti-Israel protests that veered into antisemitism.

Anti-Zionism or anti-Israel protests by themselves would not be antisemitic, Nirenberg said, nor would calls for the violence in Gaza to end. But actions or calls that harass Jewish students, condone violence or advocate the elimination of the Jewish state are antisemitic, she said.

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"We believe strongly in free speech and also the right to criticize Israeli policies; that is not antisemitic," Nirenberg said. "But when it crosses into harassment of the Jewish community, that's a problem."

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Austin have stated they are opposing Israeli policies, not Jewish people, though last year, some protests featured escalating rhetoric that some characterized as antisemitic.

Islamophobia is also at an all-time high, with 8,658 complaints recorded nationally by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, according to a report released in March. The organization said Muslims have been targeted for their viewpoint on the Israel-Hamas war, with multiple incidents of violence and harassment reported in Austin.

To address the rise in antisemitism, universities and colleges should clearly state their rules and policies regarding harassment and discrimination, encourage safe dialogue around complex issues and educate themselves on what antisemitism is and what it looks like, Nirenberg said.

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"There's room for a lot of empathy for what is happening to the Palestinian people, the civilian people, no question that that is something to be concerned about and vocal about it," Nirenberg said. "It's a highly complex conflict, a highly complex region. The more students can understand what that means, the better."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: ADL: Central Texas antisemitic incidents rise by 20% since 2023
Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla aid ship aiming to break Israels two-month siege on Gaza, was struck by drones off the coast of Malta in the early hours of Friday. There were no casualties as a nearby tugboat helped put out the fire.

Footage shows smoke, flames, and massive, gaping holes in the ships hull. Conscience has been bombed two times [just] a few minutes ago in 14 miles to the Maltese port, one of the flotilla workers said through coughs as smoke filled his lungs.

Alarming footage from last night's attack on the Freedom Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. Between coughs and emergency alarms, humanitarians aboard the Conscience ship show the fire and gaping hole left in the ship's hull by drones. pic.twitter.com/BfqO8rm4hi  Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) May 2, 2025

Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement. And while the coalition stopped short of directly blaming Israel, they demanded that Israeli ambassadors be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.

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Our Flotilla is challenging not only that blockade that has kept all of the food and water and everything out of Gaza now for almost a month and a half, on the genocide that the U.S. is complicit [in]. The Israeli genocide of at least 5560,000 Palestinians in Gaza, said Ann Wright, a former U.S. Army colonel and diplomat who now works for the Freedom Flotilla. Right here, we are in Malta dealing with a brutal attack on an innocent ship, a ship that was anchored or outside of territorial waters, waiting for us, the activists to come on board so that we could then head toward Gaza to say to the world, Here are some citizens who are willing to take action where our government has failed to act.  While we cannot yet identify the source of the drones, there is no doubt in my mind that theres a history of violence that has been directed toward the flotillas from the state of Israel.

In 2010, Israel raided six Freedom Flotilla ships in the Mediterranean Sea, killing 10 people and wounding dozens.


Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

In a disaster, service dogs are assigned to search for victims and comfort them. A new bill passed Monday by the Alaska House of Representatives intends to assist those dogs when its their turn to need help.

If approved by the Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, House Bill 70 would allow ambulance crews to aid injured these dogs in a crisis and while theyre being transported to a veterinarian.

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The aid would be limited to dogs used by law enforcement and those working search and rescue cases. In cases where both people and dogs are injured, the bill requires people to be helped first.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, explained on the House floor that under current law, paramedics and emergency medical technicians are legally forbidden from helping animals while on the job because doing so would be considered veterinary care, which is regulated by law.

An ordinary Alaskan could legally help an injured dog, Schrage explained, but not a trained medical professional.

These are working dogs that go through serious risk to their safety in order to serve us, to help us be more safe, to be rescued in an emergency, and to be able to provide emergency care on scene, I think, would be an incredible thing, Schrage said.

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The bill was inspired by the death of Alaska State Trooper canine Rico, who was shot and killed during a 2017 police chase in Wasilla.

The House approved HB 70 on a 32-8 vote, with opposition coming from some legislators who cited concerns from veterinarians.

Rep. Rebecca Schwanke, R-Glennallen, said her vote against the bill was for that reason.

We heard tremendous opposition to this bill by veterinary professionals across our state, largely because it does offer EMS personnel the opportunity to practice emergency veterinary care without proper training, she said.

House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, referred to his decades of experience as a police officer and said he supported the bill.

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You want the person who is closest to the scene and best able to help save that animal  if the animal is shot or otherwise critically injured  to have a fighting chance, he said. These dogs have over $50,000 invested in just the purchase and training of the animal, and hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue to train with the canine officers. They are worth it.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque woman will spend 18 years behind bars for killing a 16-year-old boy and trying to make her own teenage son take the fall. He was awesome. He was a clown, loved to laugh, loved his family, was raised with morals and ethics, said Jennifer Gutierrez, a family friend of Josue Ruizs family.

Story continues below

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It was an emotional day in court on Thursday as family and friends of 16-year-old Josue Ruiz read statements describing him as a special young man. The family said their lives were forever changed after his life was taken in March 2022. When I think about Josue, I remember how loving and kind his heart was. He had a way of giving everything he had, even if he was left with nothing. Growing up, Josue and I were inseparable, said Ruizs sister Isabella Ruiz.

In January, Elizabeth Ortiz-Chavez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 16-year-old Josue Ruiz. Originally, Ortiz-Chavezs son, then a 16-year-old Angelo Baldonado, was charged with the murder. Police believed he arranged to meet Ruiz over a dispute in the alley behind Lindys Diner in Downtown Albuquerque, where Ruiz was shot and killed during the incident.

However, witnesses told police that Baldonados mother was the one who set up the fight, the one who pulled the trigger, and she set her son up to take the blame. Ruiz was dating Baldonados sister, Ortiz-Chavezs daughter.

In court Thursday, Ortiz-Chavez was sentenced to 18 years behind bars. Judge Lucy Solimon said if she could have given more years, she would have, but 18 years is the maximum. What you have put the family through is horrible. What you have put even your son through is horrible, said Bernalillo County District Judge Lucy Solimon.

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Baldonado was previously sentenced to four years for assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  A man will spend over a decade in prison for distributing narcotics throughout Northern Virginia, a judge in Alexandria ruled on Thursday.

Alphonso Page, 35, who was also known as Zoe and Fonzie, had previous convictions for cocaine distribution, conducting an illegal gambling operation, identity theft and more, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) detailed.

In January 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into Pages drug distribution activities, according to court documents. Law enforcement conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Page.

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Two high schoolers face charges after gun found at Wise High School, police say

In total, authorities said they bought about 2,300 pills, weighing about half a pound (257 grams), on March 14 and April 2 that year.

Page was arrested in a separate incident that happened a month after the second sale, on May 2, 2024.

In that case, the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) was called to an apartment complex shortly before 6 p.m. Officers were told that a man  later identified as Page  threatened a woman and her daughter with a gun.

The woman told ACPD she was hanging out in front of the apartment complex with her adult daughter and granddaughter. She explained that multiple people were splashing water on one another and, at one point, water was accidentally splashed on the man she knew as Fonzie.

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After being splashed, Page went to a nearby convenience store, got a drink and poured it on the womans daughter.

Arlington police searching for missing man last seen on Washington Boulevard

An argument then broke out, during which Page said he was going to shoot and kill them. At one point, the woman said he went to his vehicle and lifted his shirt, grabbing the handle of a gun tucked in his waistband, court documents detail.

Page left the area in a white BMW and was later stopped by ACPD.

While searching him, authorities found a gun, as well as $18,000, two guns and a pound of marijuana in the car.

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He was taken into custody after that incident.

For the distribution of fentanyl, Page was sentenced to 14 years in prison on May 1, 2025.

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In late April 2025, days after U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump, accusations resurfaced online that Thanedar had abandoned dogs and monkeys at his New Jersey testing lab in 2010 after the business defaulted on its loans.

Bank of America sued six of Thanedar's companies in April 2010 after they defaulted on loan payments. One of those companies, AniClin Preclinical Services, housed 118 beagles and 55 monkeys that it used for animal testing.

According to court documents, Bank of America offered to let AniClin continue to care for the animals at the bank's expense as the lawsuit went on. Lawyers for Thanedar's businesses ignored the offer, according to lawyers for Bank of America. Thanedar said in 2018 he was not aware that such an offer was made.

Two months after Bank of America's initial filing, the court-appointed receiver, MorrisAnderson, filed a motion to place the animals with sanctuaries. Lawyers for Thanedar's businesses objected, saying the animals should be sold, but later withdrew their objection.

Questions remain over the animals' health conditions. MorrisAnderson CEO Daniel Dooley said in 2011 testimony that some animals were "starving" before the receiver came in. Thanedar cast doubt on this testimony in 2018, saying he didn't think Dooley had visited the facility before starting the receivership, so he could not know the condition the animals were in.



In late April 2025, days after U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, claims (archived) recirculated online that Thanedar had abandoned dogs and monkeys at his New Jersey testing lab after the business defaulted on its loans in 2010.

OMG. Shri Thanedar, the Democrat Rep who filed impeachment charges against Trump, reportedly left over 150 dogs and monkeys to starve to death at an abandoned NJ testing lab that HE OWNED.



This is the guy who wants to impeach Trump. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/VGGTohM1FG  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 30, 2025

Libs of TikTok, a network of far-right social media accounts, wrote on X: "OMG. Shri Thanedar, the Democrat Rep who filed impeachment charges against Trump, reportedly left over 150 dogs and monkeys to starve to death at an abandoned NJ testing lab that HE OWNED. This is the guy who wants to impeach Trump. Unbelievable."

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The claim also circulated on Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Bluesky (archived) and TikTok (archived). Snopes readers also wrote in and searched our site asking whether the claim was true.

The claim centered around a 2010 lawsuit in which Bank of America sued six of Thanedar's businesses after they defaulted on loan payments. One of these businesses, AniClin Preclinical Services, allegedly housed 118 beagles and 55 monkeys that it used for animal testing.

Thanedar told multiple U.S. news outlets in 2018, when the case resurfaced during his run for governor of Michigan, that Bank of America was responsible for caring for the animals and that he had "no idea" what happened to them after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, which heard the case, appointed a receiver to manage business decisions for the six companies in the lawsuit.

Court documents, however, showed that Thanedar's company "ignored" repeated offers from Bank of America for it to continue to care for the animals at the bank's expense. Lawyers for Thanedar later attempted to block a motion by lawyers for the court-appointed receiver to place the animals with sanctuaries, insisting they be sold instead.

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We reached out to Thanedar's office to ask if he stood by his 2018 statements that Bank of America was responsible for looking after the animals at AniClin. We also reached out to MorrisAnderson, the court-appointed receiver for Thandar's businesses, to ask whose responsibility it believed the welfare of the animals to be at the time. We await their replies.

The animals at AniClin  listed in court documents as "approximately 120 dogs and 55 monkeys"  eventually found new homes through local animal rescues and sanctuaries, according to local media reports at the time.

Dogs and monkeys in limbo for months

Thanedar told the Detroit Free Press in 2018 that "the bank took over and this thing happened three months later," referring to the animals being placed with sanctuaries. Thanedar added: "What happened in those three months, I have no idea."

He further told HuffPost in 2018: "It is my understanding that Bank of America made arrangements to assign caretakers for the animals and secure homes for them, but those decisions came from the bank after I left the company. I am an animal lover and completely understand the sensitivity of this issue."

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The animals at AniClin first appeared in court documents on June 14, 2010, more than two months after the court appointed MorrisAnderson as receiver. In the filing, MorrisAnderson asked the court to authorize placing "approximately 120 dogs and 55 monkeys" with various animal sanctuaries.

Lawyers for Thanedar's businesses initially opposed this motion, saying the animals were worth "between $189,000.00 to $445,000.00" and should be sold "for the benefit of the creditors," meaning to reduce Thanedar's businesses' debt.

Lawyers for Bank of America responded that the objection was "unreasonable and insincere." A filing on June 22, 2010, revealed they had originally offered to let AniClin continue to care for the animals at the facility at Bank of America's expense, but AniClin had "ignored" the bank's proposals. AniClin had also "refused every opportunity to place the Animals itself," according to Bank of America's lawyers.

The June 22 filing cast doubt on Thanedar's statement that he had "no idea" what happened to the animals after MorrisAnderson's receivership started.

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Lawyers for Thanedar's businesses eventually withdrew their opposition and the court approved the placement of the animals with the sanctuaries on June 30, 2010.

Thanedar told Bridge Michigan in 2018, "To my knowledge, no such offer was ever received. My company, not the bank, paid the salaries of the animal care workers and paid for food and supplies for the facilities after receivership."

Differing accounts of state of AniClin's animals

Court documents and reporting on the 2010 lawsuit paint conflicting pictures of how the suit affected the animals held at AniClin.

During Feb. 22, 2011, testimony Daniel Dooley, the CEO of MorrisAnderson, said:

First, there was a business in New Jersey called AniClin. It was an animal test facility. That was in incredibly bad shape. We had monkeys and beagles, dogs, that were starving. We actually  before we were authorized as receiver, I would personally put up money in our own pocket to feed the animals so that they didn't starve.

When asked about this testimony by Bridge Michigan in 2018, Thanedar said: "To my knowledge, Mr. Dooley did not visit the AniClin facility prior to the receivership taking over, so I do not understand how he can make such a statement."

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Thanedar added that "all of the animals were saved, cared for and taken to animal shelters thanks to the tireless efforts of animal care organizations, activists and others involved."

Meanwhile, a July 18, 2010, news report quoted an animal rescuer saying that the beagles taken from the facility were "in quite good health." A separate report cited by the Detroit Free Press, however, said the monkeys were "pale and thin" when they arrived at their sanctuary home.

With so many differing accounts it is impossible to fully ascertain whether Thanedar's handling of the 2010 suit amounted to abandonment of the animals at AniClin, or whether it caused them hardship. What court documents did show was that lawyers for Thanedar's businesses first failed to respond to proposals for AniClin to care for the animals at Bank of America's expense, and then slowed efforts to get the animals to sanctuaries by insisting they be sold instead  all while Thanedar claimed he had no idea what happened to the animals after MorrisAnderson took charge of his businesses.

Sources:

"Bank of America, N.A. v. Analytics, Inc., 4:10-Cv-00563 - CourtListener.Com." CourtListener, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5584600/bank-of-america-na-v-analytics-inc/. Accessed 1 May 2025.

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Egann, Paul. "Thanedar Denies Responsibility for Beagles Abandoned in Testing Lab in 2010." Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2018, https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/04/26/thanedar-denies-responsibility-beagles-abandoned-testing-lab-aniclin-2010/553523002/.

"Gubernatorial Candidate Answers Dog Allegations." WXYZ 7 News Detroit, 26 Apr. 2018, https://www.wxyz.com/news/candidate-for-governor-shri-thanedar-answers-allegations-of-abandoning-dogs-used-in-testing.

idapdx. "Fifty-Five Monkeys Rescued From A New Jersey Animal Research Lab." YouTube, 16 July 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gn6XnlF45Y.

Marans, Daniel. "Over 100 Dogs And Monkeys Were Rescued From Michigan Democrat's Shuttered Company." HuffPost UK, 26 Apr. 2018, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shri-thanedar-animals-rescued-from-lab_n_5ae12c41e4b055fd7fc7be6c.

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Peters, Sharon L. Pet Talk: Rescuing 118 Test-Lab Beagles Is a Labor of Dog Love. 18 July 2010, https://web.archive.org/web/20180918113952/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-07-13-pettalk13_N.htm.

recordonline.com. "Beagles Rescued from Bankrupt Laboratory." YouTube, 3 July 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8k33oioneo.

Reporter, Warren. "More than 50 Monkeys and 100 Beagles Removed from Former Oxford Research Lab." Nj, 19 July 2010, https://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/2010/07/more_than_50_monkeys_and_100_b_1.html.


ROY, Utah (ABC4)  A driver has reportedly turned himself in after a hit-and-run left a 77-year-old woman in the hospital.

Jose Salgado-Rivera, 28, was taken into custody on Thursday for the hit-and-run of a 77-year-old woman in Roy on April 30. Officials with the Roy Police Department told ABC4.com that Salgado-Rivera is from Clearfield and is active-duty military.

PREVIOUSLY: 77-year-old woman injured after being hit by car while crossing street in Roy

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Salgado-Rivera reportedly turned himself in to his command, who later contacted Roy PD and transferred custody. He was booked on a count of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, according to police.

As of Thursday, officials said the 77-year-old woman was still in the hospital, but was in stable condition.

On Wednesday, officials said the victim was crossing the street at 2350 W 4400 S just before 3 p.m. when she was hit. The driver reportedly fled the scene, but later turned himself in.

There is no further information at this time.

Matthew Drachman contributed to this report.

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Editors note: The above video aired April 10, 2025.

EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11)  An alleged serial pigeon poacher is accused of catching dozens of birds in a Manhattan park this week, police said.

Dwayne Daley, 67, was allegedly caught caging more than 25 pigeons in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village at around 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NYPD.

He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor torturing, injuring, not feeding animals and violating parks and recreation laws, according to the NYPD.

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Daley is known to law enforcement for kidnapping the birds and selling them for target practice in his home state of Pennsylvania, police said.

In February 2021, Daley was wanted for allegedly attacking a man who saw him poaching pigeons near Meeker and Union avenues in Brooklyn, according to court records.

The defendant allegedly punched a 59-year-old man in the face when the victim confronted him, knocking out his two front teeth, according to the complaint.

Daley was charged this week with assault in connection to the incident four years ago after investigators linked the two cases, authorities said. The suspect has arrests for robbery, assault, and resisting arrest going back to 1982, police said.

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Daleys attorney could not be reached Friday.

Last month, Bushwick residents noticed pigeons were disappearing from Maria Hernandez Park.

A group of neighbors and animal rescuers were worried the pigeons are being captured and sold for sport, which is illegal in New York.

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.

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A seminar for leaders of media organizations was recently held in China's Chongqing, Shanxi and Beijing. Find out what the media professionals had to say about the visits.
NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Deputies responded to a call for assistance after a resident discovered a small alligator near the steps of her home.

The caller stated that as she, her sister, and 1-year-old grandson were exiting her home, onto a porch and then steps, her sister did an immediate turn, hollering alligator, alligator!' said the NPSO in a Facebook post. While waiting on deputies, the alligator decided to walk into a shaded area and hide beneath the callers vehicle.

The NPSO said two deputies observed an alligator, approximately 3 to 4 feet long, and contacted the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for assistance, but the nearest wildlife agent was responding to a call in another parish.

Source: NPSO

The alligator reportedly left its hiding place and began roaming the yard after deputies helped the homeowner move her vehicle. This prompted 11-year-old Jeremiah to step in.

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With permission from his grandfather, Jeremiah brought a litter grabber to one of the deputies, who used it to capture the alligator safely.

We commend the quick response of our deputies and the safe handling of the situation, said Sheriff Wright. We also want to recognize young Jeremiah for his initiative and helpfulness. It was a great example of community cooperation and calm action.

The NPSO said the alligator was transported from the area and humanely relocated to a nearby waterway.

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AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP)  A fight involving multiple students at Amherst Regional Middle School on Thursday afternoon led to injuries among staff members, requiring police intervention and prompting a shelter-in-place.

City of Easthampton announces new police chief

According to a statement from Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools, the incident occurred on Thursday, May 1st, during school hours and escalated when caregivers of the students involved arrived on campus and became part of the conflict.

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School officials issued a shelter-in-place order and contacted the Amherst Police Department. Officers worked alongside school staff to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of students and employees.

I want to be clear, This kind of behavior is deeply concerning and not reflective of the safe, respectful, and student-centered environment we strive to create each day, Herman said in a message to families and the school community.

A parent whose daughter was involved in the incident says, Since day one its always been a problem either with the students or the staff and it makes me feel like a failure for trying to convince my daughter that everything is going to be good at this school and now shes being attacked says Dekeitria Wiggins.

My daughter was assaulted by five girls in the bathroom and it wasnt disclosed to me by the staff members at all about what happened. She needed to be emergency removed. From my understanding she was defending a friend and trying to separate them from assaulting her friend. Once they did that, thats when they all pounced on her says Wiggins.

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Details on the extent of the injuries and the number of individuals involved have not yet been released. The school district, in collaboration with local law enforcement, has launched an ongoing investigation into the events leading up to and during the incident. Herman emphasized that students and staff safety remains a top priority and that the district is taking the matter seriously. We are currently working with staff and local authorities to fully understand the circumstances and will share additional information as we are able, she said.

Herman called on the broader community to reflect on how conflicts are managed, especially in front of children. Our children are watching ushow we handle conflict, how we treat one another, and how we show up in difficult moments, she wrote. Its on all of us to model respectful and productive ways to engage, even when emotions are high.

In response to the incident, the school district plans to introduce a Caregiver Code of Conduct in the coming weeks. The document will outline expectations for how families and school staff can work together constructively, particularly on school property.

The school district has encouraged families with concerns to contact the Amherst Regional Middle School administrative team or the superintendents office directly.

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22News will continue to update this story as soon as new information becomes available.

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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.

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More Americans are saying the current economy is due to President Donald Trump than his predecessor Joe Biden, according to a new Gallup poll.

Trump has consistently blamed Biden for the turbulent stock market after the president triggered a global trade war with his tariffs.

As the president marked his first 100 days in office this week, nearly half of Americans (46 percent) surveyed in April believe that Trump is more responsible for the unstable economy, up 3 percent from March, according to Gallup. This compares to the 27 percent who blame Biden, which remained the same as Marchs survey.

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When asked whether both are equally responsible, 21 percent agreed.

Nearly half of Americans credit President Donald Trump for the current state of the U.S. economy, according to a new Gallup poll. The president has consistently blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden. (Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, 75 percent of Democrats surveyed in April believe that Trump is responsible for the current state of the economy, compared to 55 percent of Republicans who believe it lies with Biden.

This week Trump claimed Biden was responsible for the stock market performance over the last two months after the Labor Departments Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of this year.

It marked the first drop in three years as Trumps tariff policies disrupted businesses and their supply chains.

Despite constantly blaming Biden, more Americans believe that Trump bears the brunt of responsibility for how the economy has fared recently than the former president. (REUTERS)

Trump took to Truth Social Wednesday to blame the former president for the dismal numbers, writing that what was transpiring was Bidens stock market, not Trumps.

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I didnt take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers, he fumed. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden Overhang. This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!

At a rally marking his first 100 days in office Tuesday, Trump mentioned Bidens name at least 20 times during his speech, according to the transcript.

And during his first 50 days in office, Trump mentioned his predecessors name at least 316 times, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Travelers flying through Charleston International Airport will soon have more options to get to New York City.

American Airlines will begin operating twice-daily service to New Yorks LaGuardia Airport on September 3, with plans to expand its service to three daily flights starting November 3.

The route will use a combination of Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft, regional jets that can seat between 76 and 88 passengers, depending on the configuration.

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Charleston International Airport CEO Elliot Summey called the announcement a major win for the city and the region as a whole.

More flights to New York mean more options for our business and leisure travelers, and more connections for our local economy, he said. Were thrilled to see American Airlines grow their commitment to Charleston and further solidify our airports role as a vital transportation hub in the Southeast.

American Airlines is Charlestons largest carrier, operating 25 departures daily to seven destinations.

Whether traveling to New York City for a trip or through one of our other gateways to more than 350 destinations around the world, we look forward to welcoming travelers on board our aircraft, said Jordan Pack, the airlines director of domestic network planning.

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Tickets for the future service will be available starting May 5.

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More people hold a favorable view of podcasters Joe Rogan and Megyn Kelly than those who see them unfavorably, while the leading news source for those surveyed is social media and YouTube, a new poll has found.

According to the survey conducted by Emerson College Polling, which was conducted last month and consisted of 1,000 people, Rogan received the highest favorability rating among the media personalities presented to the respondents.

According to the poll, 16 percent of Americans have a very favorable view of the conspiracy-peddling podcaster, while an additional 16 percent see him in a somewhat favorable light. Roughly 27 percent, meanwhile, have a neutral opinion on him. On the flip side, 23 percent see him in a very or somewhat negative light.

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Kelly, the former Fox News star who has refashioned herself into a MAGA provocateur, also received fairly high marks in the survey. About 24 percent of respondents said that they had either very or somewhat favorable views of the right-wing podcast host, compared to 21 percent who hold an unfavorable position on her. Approximately 24 percent have a neutral opinion on Kelly, and 32 percent said they never heard of her or hold no opinion of the conservative commentator.

A new poll of Americans views on the media found that more respondents than not hold favorable views of both Megyn Kelly and Joe Rogan. (Getty)

Among the other media personalities that respondents were asked about, only ABC News anchor David Muir and Fox News host Jesse Watters were above water in terms of favorability. According to the survey, Muir has a net favorability of 7 percent while Watters was close behind at 6 percent.

Though the survey suggested that Americans tend to have more positive views of conservative pundits than liberal commentators, Tucker Carlson received the worst net approval score in the poll. Carlson, who was fired from Fox News in 2023 and has since launched his own pro-Trump media company, received a net unfavorability of 8 points.

The perceived amount of trust that many respondents place in both Kelly and Rogan comes as the uber-popular Donald Trump-boosting hosts have recently been directly challenged on the way they conduct their shows.

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During a recent sit-down with British neoconservative author Douglas Murray, Rogan was taken to task for his just asking questions philosophy and reliance on non-experts to weigh in on complex issues. If you throw a lot of s*** out there, theres some point at which Im just raising questions is not a valid thing, Murray declared. Youre not raising questions, youre not asking questions, youre telling people something.

Kelly, meanwhile, repeatedly told The New York Times in a recent interview that she still considered herself a journalist despite taking the stage at a Trump rally on the eve of the 2024 election and embracing him. She also said she backed the presidents war against the media, despite admitting that she needs the legacy press to do the reporting that she comments on.

Im in favor of it. I share his feelings. Just like most people on the right, I have a healthy amount of loathing for a large portion of the media, and they are fake news, she told the Times this spring.

I think its important to have news gatherers out there getting news, and people like me cannot exist without that. I need content, I need news to talk about and report on, Kelly added.

The perceived amount of trust that many respondents place in both Kelly and Rogan comes as the uber-popular Trump-boosting hosts have recently been directly challenged on the way they conduct their shows. (Getty Images)

Still, while Americans appear to disproportionately get their news from social media and YouTube, they also said that they have more trust in the information presented by local and national media organizations.

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According to Emersons survey, 72 percent of respondents had a great deal or fair amount of trust in the information they get from local news outlets, while 61 percent said the same about national press organizations. In contrast, 54 percent of those surveyed said they had little or no trust in what they saw on social media, compared to 46 percent who trusted the information they got online.

As for the Trump administration, 47 percent said they trusted the information they got from the White House, while 48 percent said they did not.

The main sources of news for Americans include social media or YouTube (37 percent), ABC, CBS, or NBC (17 percent), FOX News (8 percent), local news (8 percent), CNN or MSNBC (6 percent), newspapers like New York Times/Wall Street Journal (2 percent), and public television (2 percent), the survey noted.

YouTube is the most used social media platform among respondents with 70 percent currently using it, followed by Facebook (68 percent), Instagram (45 percent), TikTok (39 percent), X/Twitter (29 percent), Pinterest (22 percent), Snapchat (19 percent), and Reddit (17 percent), the poll added.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A man was found guilty of child sex abuse crimes this week, the Dona Ana County District Attorneys Office said.

Michael Ybarra was found guilty of three counts of second-degree criminal sexual penetration and three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, the DAs Office in Las Cruces said.

Ybarra is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, and the DAs Office said it will be seeking a lengthy sentence.

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Deputy District Attorneys Tomas Medina and Anne Swank led the prosecution.

The jury delivered a decisive verdict, holding the defendant accountable for the abuse, the DAs Office said.

Child sex abuse cases are particularly difficult to prosecute because they thrive in secrecy and shame, Swank said. The victim showed tremendous courage by facing her abuser in court, which ultimately led to his conviction today. Thanks to her bravery, other children in the community are now protected from harm. My sincere hope is that she finds peace and continues to heal.

We are deeply grateful to our office staff and to the investigative partners who worked on this case, Medina said. Most of all, we are thankful for the victims courage and her willingness to face her abuser to bring him to justice.

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DA Fernando Macias added: This case was deeply disturbing, and todays verdict sends a clear message that justice will be served  especially in cases involving the abuse of vulnerable victims.

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Christina Larson

Associated Press

For the first time, a federally recognized Indigenous tribe in the U.S. has led research using DNA to show their ancestral history.

The Picuris Pueblo, a sovereign nation in New Mexico, has oral histories and cultural traditions that link the tribe to the region of Chaco Canyon, one of the ancient centers of Pueblo culture and society.

Weve been telling our stories as long as time immemorial, said Picuris Lt. Gov. Craig Quanchello. But he said those traditions were often "overlooked and erased."

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As citizens of the Picuris Pueblo seek a greater voice in shaping decisions about the future of Chaco Canyon, where debates about oil and gas drilling loom, leaders including Quanchello decided that using DNA sequencing to complement or corroborate their oral histories could be a useful tool. The group began a collaboration with an international team of geneticists.

"The DNA could help us protect" our heritage, he said. "Now we can say, This is ours, we need to protect it."

The findings, published April 30 in the journal Nature, show close links between the genomes of 13 current citizens of Picuris and ancient DNA recovered from 16 Picuris individuals who lived between 1300 A.D. and 1500 A.D. in or near Chaco Canyon.

The results show a strong relationship between ancient and present-day Picuris, said co-author Thomaz Pinotti, a geneticist at the University of Copenhagen.

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The genetic analysis was led by the Picuris. The researchers said this model of collaboration contrasts with a long history of archaeologists and geneticists seizing and studying artifacts and remains without the consent of Indigenous groups.

It wasnt an easy decision to begin the collaboration with scientists, said co-author and Picuris Gov. Wayne Yazza. This is life-changing data.

There are 19 Pueblo tribes in New Mexico. The new study does not refute the historic connections of other tribes to Chaco Canyon.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It is famous for sweeping desert vistas and for monumental sandstone structures  including multistory homes and ceremonial structures  built by ancestral Pueblos.

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Its super important that we dont talk about Chaco in the category of lost civilizations, like the Egyptian pyramids or Stonehenge, said Paul Reed, a preservation archaeologist at Archaeology Southwest, who was not involved in the study. That notion "is particularly damaging in this instance because it disenfranchises the Pueblo people who live all around the canyon to this day.

Brian Vallo, a citizen of the Acoma Pueblo who leads the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association, said a current concern revolves around drilling and mining permits on federal land adjacent to the park, which also impact the environment within the canyon.

We have these close connections because our ancestors migrated and built these places - they remain central to the preservation of our own Indigenous culture, said Vallo, who was not part of the research.
Legislation banning the sale of puppies and kittens at most retail establishments in Texas has sparked a debate between animal rights advocates and some pet store operators.

The twin pieces of legislation, House Bill 3458 by North Texas Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson and Senate Bill 1652 by South Texas Democratic Sen. Judith Zaffirini, are competing for attention with scores of other measures awaiting action before the 2025 legislative session ends in five weeks.

But both lawmakers say their legislation would curb animal abuse by making it more difficult for so-called puppy mill and kitten mill breeders to operate in the state.

Some dogs at the Austin Animal Center are in kennels outside in a shaded area with fans because of overcrowding at the shelter Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Austin. The shelter is temporarily restricting intake and will only take in animals for emergencies.

"Puppy mills generally are known to promote profit over animal welfare," Zaffirini told the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Thursday. "With many of these pets suffering from health problems, this can lead consumers with unexpected high veterinary costs and untold lost income."

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The panel took no action on her bill. But last week, the House Workforce and Economic Development Committee voted 10-1 to send Patterson's bill to the full chamber for consideration.

"This has been a consistent priority of mine since I came into the Legislature, and I'm happy to fight for pet owners out there and for these pets," Patterson, R-Frisco, told the committee when he laid out the bill in April. "The goal of this legislation is simple: to restrict predatory pet store businesses from sourcing dogs and cats from inhumane out-of-state puppy mills."

Much of the testimony during both committee hearings centered on retail chain Petland, which offers young animals for sale. One witness, Carlene Rios, said she purchased a puppy she calls Major at a Petland in March only to discover within a few days that the animal was sick, resulting in $5,000 in veterinary care costs.

The store's general manager, Jake Patel of Frisco, told the committee he was unfamiliar with Rios' situation, but he said his store is committed to "full transparency" in all its transactions. He promised to look into complaints.

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Katie Fine, who represents an organization called Best Friends Animal Society, said the larger issue is where stores in the Petland chain obtain their dogs and cats.

"The only breeders willing to sell to pet stores are those unscrupulous breeders who reject their own ethical standards," Fine told the panel. "This legislation is needed to stop these unscrupulous breeders, puppy millers, from taking advantage of our constituents.

"This is not just an animal welfare issue, it's an issue of public health."

Several large cities, including Austin, San Antonio and Houston, have ordinances governing the sale of puppies and kittens within their boundaries. Two years ago, legislation that would have imposed pet store regulations across the state stalled.

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Instead, a measure that curtailed local governmental entities from enacting a wide range of regulatory ordinances  including those aimed at pet stores  was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The law did not strike down pet store ordinances already on the books, but it prevents other local subdivisions from imposing similar measures.

According to statistics from the Humane World of Animals  formerly the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International  31 states and more than 500 local political subdivisions have enacted laws to regulate pet stores.

Meanwhile, federal legislation called the Puppy Protection Act of 2025 is awaiting action in Congress. Similar legislation was filed in 2023 but didn't become law.

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Backers of the legislation by Patterson and Zaffirini say statewide action is needed because instead of opening stores in the major cities, retailers that want to sell puppies and kittens are simply moving to suburbs and exurbs.

Elizabeth Kunzelman, Petland's vice president of legislative and public affairs, said stores in the chain have implemented numerous safeguards to protect both pets and their purchasers. And, she added, the ordinances in Texas cities have had minimal effect on addressing overcrowded animal shelters.

"We have been down this road a couple times before," Kunzelman said. "But what I want to say is banning the sale of pets in pet stores does not do what supporters claim."

"We buy them from USDA-licensed breeders that have had no indirect or no direct violations for the previous two years of inspections, and we are committed to fully sourcing from Canine Care Certified, which is the gold standard of breeding programs," she said.

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Petland has agreed to less far-reaching legislation in past legislative sessions that never made it to the finish line, but Kunzelman said the present proposals go too far.

"We are not afraid of regulation," she said. "We want to do the right thing, and we want to give families a choice."

Shelby Bobosky, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, told the American-Statesman that the bills awaiting further action are not seeking to shut down pet stores.

It ensures collaboration with animal care facilities or rescues to showcase dogs and cats foradoption, instead of for profit," she said.

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Zaffirini said the legislation will provide a much-needed statewide uniform standard.

"After the Legislature preempted local ordinances banning these sales, it became even more important to establish consistent protections that safeguard animal welfare and help families avoid unknowingly purchasing sick or mistreated pets," she said. If enacted, the legislation "will ensure all Texans are safeguarded from unethical sales practices  regardless of where they live."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas legislation would ban retail sales of puppies and kittens
ANNISTON  Mayor Jack Draper announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, concluding over eight years of service to the city. The city of Anniston issued a news release at 12:49 p.m., confirming that Drapers resignation will take effect at the close of business Friday, May 2.

In a letter addressed to Anniston residents, Draper expressed gratitude and reflected on his tenure:

"Dear Anniston,

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"It has been an honor to serve as Mayor the last 8 years. I am proud of and thankful for the work we have done.

"After much prayer and reflection, I have decided to tender my resignation as Mayor at the close of business on Friday, May 2nd.

"When I was reelected in 2020, I anticipated that my term would end as of November 4, 2024. In the spring of 2021, state legislation added one year to our terms. Thus, I didnt think that I would be Mayor at this point in time anyway.

"I need to focus on my family, health and career. That focus needs to begin now. I am at peace that this is the best decision for my family and me. I pray and believe that Anniston will continue to move forward.

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"Thank you for allowing me to serve. May God bless Anniston!"

Photo gallery: Jack Draper Through the Years: A Visual Retrospective of Anniston's Mayor

Jack Draper Through the Years: A Visual Retrospective of Anniston's Mayor. Draper announced his resignation on Thursday, his last day as mayor will be on May 2.

Draper, who was reelected in 2020, has been recognized for his commitment to economic development and community engagement during his time in office.

Jackson Hodges, director of Public Relations for the city, said the City Council will issue a statement Friday on Drapers resignation. Information regarding the city's leadership transition is expected following the council's statement.
WELLINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Injury, infection, and starvation are the leading causes of death among New Zealand's native penguins, highlighting the growing threats to these iconic seabirds and the challenges of monitoring their health, a study has revealed.

Drawing from more than 1,400 entries in the national wildlife necropsy database, researchers from New Zealand's Auckland Zoo, Massey University, and the Department of Conservation, as well as Australia's Murdoch University, found striking patterns in causes of mortality.

The study, published on Thursday in PLOS One, focused primarily on the yellow-eyed penguin and the little blue penguin, which together made up the bulk of the dataset.

The analysis of necropsy records reveals that infectious and inflammatory diseases were most common in yellow-eyed penguins, accounting for over 43 percent of their diagnoses, while traumatic injuries were most prevalent in little blue penguins, almost 43 percent.

Across all species, emaciation was widespread, found in over a third of cases, the study said, adding these findings mirror concerns in conservation literature that penguin populations are suffering from declining food availability, increased predation, and environmental degradation.

However, the study also highlights significant limitations in the data. For instance, despite their remote range, yellow-eyed penguins are overrepresented due to concentrated conservation efforts, while other species remain underreported.

With six of the world's 18 penguin species breeding in New Zealand, and most considered threatened, the findings underscore the urgent need to improve wildlife health monitoring systems. 
VERMONT (ABC22/FOX44)  Vermonts Supreme Court has denied the appeal of a woman convicted for giving an infant a fatal amount of medicine in 2019.

Stacey Vaillancourts legal team appealed and argued that her conviction was based on an insufficient amount of evidence. The Vermont Supreme Court denied the appeal, and made the announcement Friday, May 2.

Vaillancourt, a former childcare provider, was taking care of 6-month-old Harper Rose Briar in her at-home daycare when she found her unresponsive. Harper died at the hospital, and an autopsy revealed that she had high concentrations of diphenhydramine, a sedating ingredient in Benadryl and other over-the-counter antihistamines, in her blood.

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Vaillancourt was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty. She was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison back in March 2024.

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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?
Members of the Tuskegee Airmen circa May 1942 to August 1943. (Photo: Public domain)

The irony of the moment was likely not lost on Rep. Renee Price.

Shortly after a tense, hours-long debate in the state House and the passage of a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across North Carolina government, it was her time to speak on House Bill 254.

Rep. Renee Price urges her colleagues to support legislation to commemorate the Tuskegee Airmen. (Photo: NCGA live stream))

The Orange County Democrat stood and asked her colleagues to support legislation that would designate the fourth Thursday of March as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day in North Carolina.

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In 1941, the federal government established the 66th Air Force Flying School at Tuskegee Institute to train Black pilots for the war.

Almost 1,000 African Americans trained at the Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama; and 450 of the men who completed training were sent overseas for combat duty. Most battled discrimination and other challenges not experienced by white individuals in the officially segregated U.S. military. And for those who survived, many such challenges persisted in the decades that followed  a phenomenon that DEI policies seek to combat.

The Tuskegee Airmen were pilots, mechanics, bombardiers, navigators, crew members, nurses, and instructors, Price said. From 1943 to 1945 in the European Theatre, they provided escorts during bombing missions, helping the Allied Forces in achieving a victory in the global conflict that caused horrific destruction and casualties.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew hundreds of patrol and attack missions  first flying older and less well-equipped P-40 and P-39 airplanes, before ultimately being reassigned to escort B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers, using P-47 and P-51 airplanes. They earned the nickname Red Tails from the distinctive painted tails of the Tuskegee fighter planes.

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I have a personal interest in this request, Price shared. Even though he was from New York State, my father was actually part of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and was with the 332nd Fighter Group.

Standing on their shoulders





Rep. Nasif Majeed (D-Mecklenburg) said he owes his success as a combat pilot to what the Red Tails accomplished. (Photo: NCGA live stream)

Rep. Nasif Majeed (D-Mecklenburg) told members of the House that as a decorated Air Force combat pilot who flew 120 combat missions over North Vietnam, the history of the Tuskegee airmen was very dear to him.

I stand on their shoulders, said Majeed. They were known as the Red Tails and all the bomber pilots said that because of their outstanding record, they wanted them to escort them because they lost fewer aircraft.

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The National WWII Museum notes that while 66 Tuskegee Airmen died in combat, it was one of the lowest loss records of any escort fighter group. They are credited with completing more than 1,500 missions, destroying 260 enemy aircraft, and sinking an enemy German destroyer.

Rep. Abe Jones (D-Wake) said it was a Tuskegee Airman who helped change the trajectory of his life.

After the war, Harold Webb became a teacher and a principal, and served as a leading force for school integration, according to the Raleigh Hall of Fame.

Rep. Abe Jones (D-Wake) remembers airman Harold Webb. (Photo: NCGA live stream)

Governor Jim Hunt later appointed Webb as the first African American director of the Office of State Personnel in 1977. The former Tuskegee Airman worked to strengthen the states Equal Employment Opportunity program that was dedicated to diversifying and strengthening the states government workforce.

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Im proud to be able to have a chance to vote for this bill, Jones told his House colleagues.

From aviator to prisoner of war

Rep. Jay Adams (R-Catawba) became emotional as he thought about his own father in World War II.

He was shot down outside of Rome in January of 1944. He spent 16 months in a German prison camp.

Adams said it was after his capture in a dark, crowded box car that his father met a fellow southerner and aviator named William E. Griffin from Montgomery, Alabama. Griffin took flight training at Tuskegee, earned his wings in 1943, and flew more than 23 flights over enemy territory.

William E. Griffin became one of my dads best friends. They dug tunnels together. They cooked together. They exercised together. They did everything together for 16 months.

Rep. Jay Adams (R-Catawba) said his father was held in a German prison camp during WWII. His best friend was one of the Tuskegee airmen. (Photo: NCGA live stream)

After the war, the two POWs lost touch.

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Adams said his father was deeply saddened to learn in 1992 that Griffin died in 1969.

Willie E. Griffin was the only Black guy in that prison camp. In the end of the war, there were 8,500 airmen there. But he was one of them. They were best friends. This is very special to me.

Adams said it took years, but he made sure that letters his father had in Griffins own handwriting were returned to his daughter.

He was very educated. He was a smart guy.

Adams, a co-sponsor on the Tuskegee bill, joined 68 of GOP colleagues in voting to approve the bill to ban DEI programs.

Preserving the Tuskegee legacy amid efforts to dismantle DEI

Earlier this year, in an effort to comply with Trump administrations crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion, the Air Force removed videos that included stories of the Tuskegee Airmen from the militarys training materials.

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Bipartisan outcry over that hasty decision led Air Force officials to walk back the order.

Locally, the Heart of Carolina Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter are now seeking the special day of commemoration outlined in House Bill 254 to ensure that the history of Americas first Black military pilots and their triumph over adversity is never not forgotten.

HB254 won a rare unanimous vote (114-0) on Wednesday in the state House and now moves to the North Carolina Senate.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  An Arkansas man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison in a child porn case.

According to Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen, Johnathan Sparrow, 27, received the sentence during a revocation hearing Thursday before Circuit Judge Tonay Alexander in Crittenden County Circuit Court.

Thank you to the prosecutors office for bringing this offender to Justice, said Sheriff Allen in a Facebook post.

Jonathan Sparrow

Sparrow was arrested March 4 on a charge of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexual conduct involving a child.

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$1M bond for man arrested again on child porn charge

WREG reported on Sparrow last July, when he was charged with 45 counts of possessing visual print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. He pleaded not guilty to 41 of those charges.

According to court records, Sparrow negotiated a plea deal on four counts last October and was sentenced to 120 months of probation, 60 of which were supervised.

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Arbitrators asked to settle a dispute between Britain and the European Union over post-Brexit fishing rights have given a mixed ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration said on Friday.

The case, which could complicate Britain's planned "reset" of relations with the bloc, concerned whether a British ban on fishing sandeels in its North Sea waters breaches the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Britain argues that the fishing ban is necessary, given the role sandeels play in the food chain of predators - larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds such as puffins.

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British boats do not fish for the sandeels, but the small eel-like fish are caught by Danish fleets and used as animal feed and as a source of oil.

The three-person panel of arbitrators found that the ban in English waters was not "proportionate" and breached Britain's obligation to grant access to its waters to fish sandeels. Britain therefore needs to take the necessary measures to comply with its ruling.

However, the panel dismissed the EU's arguments against the ban in Scottish waters, as well as EU claims that the fishing ban as a whole was discriminatory and not based on the best available scientific advice.

Britain said the ruling fully upheld its decision to close Scottish waters and did not necessarily mean that it was obliged to reverse the closure of English waters.

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"We will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the tribunal," a British government spokesperson said.

The European Commission said it welcomed the ruling, noting the finding that the fishing ban in English waters breached Britain's obligations.

"While the EU fully supports the protection of the marine ecosystem and the long-term sustainability of fisheries, it is essential that any unilateral measures are consistent with the commitments and principles in the TCA," it said.

The EU executive said Britain had to inform it within 30 days of the measures it plans to take to comply with the ruling.

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In financial terms, the case is trifling. Britain puts the revenue loss for non-UK vessels at 45 million pounds ($60 million) in a worst-case scenario.

Politically, it could prove awkward.

Britain and the EU are preparing a summit on May 19 that could lead to closer defence cooperation and pave the way for agreements to ease agricultural and food trade. The EU wants fishing rights in UK waters to be part of the discussions.

($1 = 0.7524 pounds)

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop. Editing by Bart Meijer, Mark Potter and Elaine Hardcastle)
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces theft arrest of Little Rock man after retail theft investigation, second person sought

Video: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces arrest of $2 million retail crime pair, calls for more prison space

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  An investigation into an organized retail theft crime in a Little Rock store by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffins office led to an arrest with another being sought.

Griffins office said in a Thursday release that 28-year-old Casey Murrell Cunningham of Little Rock was arrested in White County by the sheriff there in connection with the investigation. The office is still seeking 32-year-old Sasha Rena Ziegler in connection with the thefts.

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AG Griffin announces arrests in organized retail crime investigation

Ziegler remains at large with a warrant issued for her arrest on the charge of theft of property, Griffin said. Anyone with information about Zieglers whereabouts should call my office at 501-682-2007.

Cunningham is facing charges of felony retail theft, AG officials said. He also had warrants from the Little Rock Police Department and has been transferred to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces arrest of $2 million retail crime pair, calls for more prison space

Officials said the organized retail thefts were of a Marshalls store where at least two and possibly three individuals made two thefts in December 2024 valued at $1,464.58.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif.  From a fitness test to a weapons test, educators are learning it all during the Marine Educators Workshop in San Diego.

On Thursday, multiple Arkansas educators went to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California to see for themselves what career options their students could have.

Arkansas educators experience Marine workshop in San Diego

Jessica Cunningham and Katie Gillenwater are both educators at Caddo Academy and said they learned more than they thought they would.

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I think my eyes have opened more to what the Marines have to offer, Cunningham said.

I just feel like being able to bring back a lot of students may not have the opportunity to learn about this thing, Gillenwater said.

Cunningham said that participating in the Marine Educators Workshop also broke down certain misconceptions she had about the Marine Corps.

I think if I bring back what I know now to the kids, its not just going to camp and getting drills, its more than that, I feel like they can have more opportunities when they get their eagle, globe and anchor, Cunningham said.

Educators got an up-close look at tests of water survival, something recruits have to pass to earn a spot in the Marines. They also learned more about Marine Corps history in the Marine Corps Museum Historical Society, heard from recruits who are about to graduate about their experience with boot camp, and experienced the rappel tower exercise.

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Arkansas educators learn marksmanship, experience field training during California Marine Corps workshop

With the workshop coming to an end educators say they have learned more than they thought imaginable and cant wait to see recruits graduate on Friday.

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Larry Bengal stepped down as the director of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission in April. (Courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment)

Larry Bengal was on a mission.

His target? The band playing during the Interstate Oil and Gas Compacts annual meeting, which was in Arkansas in 2003. More specifically, a member of that band: Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

I told my wife, Lets go up and meet Gov. Huckabee, because he was playing with his band, Capitol Offense, at the time, Bengal said.

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As Bengal reached out to shake the governors hand, Huckabee jumped off the stage.

I thought, This is really great, Arkansas is a friendly place, Bengal said.

Instead of shaking his hand, Huckabee walked past Bengal and helped his wife who had slipped on the dance floor and was lying flat on her back.

My first words to the governor, who I would end up working for two years later, were, She hasnt been drinking, governor, Bengal said. He was a Baptist preacher, so I thought, Oh, I gotta say something.

The incident must not have left a poor impression on Huckabee who in 2005 named Bengal director of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, a position he held for 20 years before handing it over to his successor, Allen York, last month. While Bengal remained the states chief energy administrator, he passed on that title as well Wednesday, his official retirement date.

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I am extremely pleased with my time; Ill be retiring here in Arkansas, Bengal said.

Possessing a deep knowledge of the oil and gas industry that many at the Department of Energy and Environment and beyond have praised, Bengal came to Arkansas after stints in the private sector and then as the director of the Illinois equivalent of the AOGC.

During his two decades as director, he oversaw pivotal moments in the states oil and gas sector, such as the rise and fall of the Fayetteville Shale play, and more recently, the growing push to source lithium directly from salty brines deep underground in south Arkansas.

He also studied well-induced seismicity  earthquakes caused by deep injection wells  served as a representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact and testified before Congress.

Reaching for the stars

While Bengals career focused on the earth and what lies within it, he was inspired by programs created for the sake of reaching the stars.

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In the 60s, when Russia was putting up Sputnik and we were behind in the space program, President [John F.] Kennedy, as we all know, made a pledge to go to the moon by the end of the decade, Bengal said. He also started science projects around the country because we were way behind, everyone thought, in science and technology. And one of the programs that he started was called the Earth Science Curriculum Project, which was a federal program to teach earth science to high schoolers.

Various high schools around the country were selected for the program, Bengal said, including his own in Philadelphia.

At 15 years old, I took that course and fell in love with geology. So Ive only ever wanted to be a geologist, Bengal said.

He attended the University of Wisconsin, earned his bachelors degree and then started a decades-long career in geology, oil and gas, although he started as a geologist at a time where coal dominated the energy industry.

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Back in the 70s, when I started, coal was king, Bengal recalled. We were running out of gas, and I started my career because the country wanted to make gas out of coal.

He spent several years in Illinois, working for its geological survey and then later for its oil and gas regulator.

Fayetteville fracking

Reflecting on his career in an interview last month, Bengal said the Fayetteville Shale stood out in his mind as one of the defining aspects of his career. He wrote many of the rules promulgated by the commission during his tenure, including some of the first regulations in the country to regulate hydraulic fracturing (better known as fracking) fluids, after public concern about chemicals and pollution from the practice of extracting natural gas grew louder and louder.

Fracking, by his explanation, had been happening for decades prior to the natural gas boom earlier this century, just never at that scale. Bengal said the massive amounts of fluid and chemicals getting pumped into the ground as a result was why fracking had captured the public interest.

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The public really was inundated with all sorts of, I guess, misinformation and horror stories of what was happening with hydraulic fracturing, that it was contaminating the water Bengal said. All of this [fracking] was happening at such depths that that was not the case.

The interest in fracking made it, and Arkansas by extension, a worldwide issue.

However, there were examples in other areas of the country where a defective well had caused an issue  although Bengal said those were small in extent  so states had to take action to allay those fears and show that it was done safely.

The commissions work during the play was also crucial in preparing it for the next big rush, Bengal said, this time for lithium.

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Fortunately for Arkansas, weve already learned some of those lessons in brine production because we already have a brine statute; I think were the only state that has a brine statute, he said. Weve learned to be diligent in trying to understand issues before we knee-jerk a solution.

Bengal said he feels fortunate and blessed to have worked on the development of the Fayetteville Shale and lithium, as well as the challenges of dealing with earthquakes.

You dont get an opportunity much to deal with new things and be involved in the development of solutions to address those new things, he said. I feel very fortunate that I was able to be in Arkansas and be involved in so much of that development.

While Bengal may be retiring, hes not going far.

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In an emailed statement congratulating the man her father hired 20 years ago, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she would be appointing Bengal as an AOGC commissioner.

Congratulations to Larry Bengal on an incredible 20 years at the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, Sanders said. We trusted Larry to help build up Arkansas modern oil and gas industry. And more recently, weve happily leaned on him to develop the lithium industry in South Arkansas, which is why I am proud to appoint him as a member to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to continue his great work.

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EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark.  Special agents with the Arkansas State Police are investigating after an attempted search warrant in Eureka Springs led to a deadly officer-involved shooting.

According to ASP officials, officers from Berryville, Eureka Springs and Green Forest were serving a search warrant and an arrest warrant Thursday morning for 44-year-old Jeremy Coyle related to sexual assault charges.

North Little Rock police identify suspect in December shooting involving officers

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Officers said they ordered Coyle to exit his home, but he refused to comply. Special agents said officers entered the home and reported they found Coyle with a gun.

According to ASP officials, witnesses said Coyle pointed the gun at officers which prompted an officer to fire his weapon, striking Coyle.

North Little Rock community shocked after deadly officer-involved shooting

Coyle was pronounced dead at the scene after medical personnel provided assistance.

Special agents said Coyles body will be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the official manner and cause of death.

ASP investigators will prepare an investigative file to be submitted to the Carroll County prosecutor, who will determine if the shooting was consistent with Arkansas laws.

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CHONGQING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Greeted with lively folk songs and homemade rice wine by enthusiastic locals in vibrant traditional attire, 19 Belgian professors and students were recently captivated by the unique ethnic culture of the Tujia people in southwest China's Chongqing.

"People and nature as well as the cultural environment here are fascinating," said Francois Serneels, an agronomist who led the tour group.

Serneels first visited China in 1999. About 15 years ago, he trekked to Hewan Village, which is located in the mountainous Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, and he has since returned about five times, as he recalls.

Having witnessed the incredible changes that have taken place in this Tujia village over the years, Serneels said that what truly inspires him is how both the government and locals are working to preserve their traditions. "That's why I bring students here."

During their visit, the students and professors hiked misty hills to appreciate the village's ecological beauty, and delved into local agrarian traditions by guiding oxen to plow fields, gaining hands-on farming experience while engaging in an in-depth cultural exchange.

Beyond the picturesque scenery, the unique architectural techniques used to build stilted Tujia buildings particularly impressed the foreign visitors. The village has 245 stilted structures and is home to a museum dedicated to the architecture of the Tujia ethnic minority group.

Bai Kaigui, 76, is a master builder of this style of architecture. He demonstrated the traditional mortise-and-tenon building technique that utilizes interlocking wooden joints.

"This method minimizes ground contact, enhancing moisture resistance, preventing wood rot, and improving drainage and ventilation -- all of which are crucial to preserving wooden structures in damp conditions," Bai explained, noting that these features stem from the region's unique geography and climate.

"Seeing this way of nail-free joints to build houses is incredible," said student Constantin Goffard, who thinks that this tradition must be preserved for its unique architectural value and the ancient engineering wisdom behind it.

Maria Miltcheva, a professor at Belgium's Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet who also visited Hewan Village in 2012, remembers that during her first trip to the village, many houses were old or abandoned, and the locals had just begun restoration work thanks to government subsidies.

"I was really surprised that in 13 years, such great progress has been made and people now live better," she said.

Serneels also highlighted the increasing agricultural cooperation between China and Belgium, particularly in the areas of potato disease prevention and sustainable yield improvement.

He noted China's remarkable progress in agricultural digitalization, specifically praising drone technology for precision sowing with advanced route positioning to ensure uniform seed distribution, which has revolutionized planting quality and efficiency. These drones also have real-time field monitoring capabilities, reporting crop data and early signs of pests or diseases.

Serneels expressed his hope that more young Europeans would visit China to engage in immersive dialogue and discover the country's stories firsthand. 
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark.  The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is investigating after the Carroll County Sheriffs Office asked their Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to look into an officer-involved shooting in Eureka Springs on Thursday, May 1.

According to a news release from ASP, the Tri-City SWAT  consisting of Eureka Springs Police, Berryville Police and Green Forest Police officers  was serving a search warrant and arrest warrant for 44-year-old Jeremy Coyle of Eureka Springs for sexual assault charges at around 11:15 a.m.

The SWAT officers tried to get Coyle to come out of his home, but they say he did not comply, prompting officers to enter.

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Arkansas authorities find body of Bull Shoals murder suspect

Inside the residence, witnesses state Coyle had a firearm and pointed it at the officers, which led an officer to fire on the suspect, ASP says.

Paramedics gave Coyle emergency medical treatment at the scene, but he was later pronounced dead. His body was taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to confirm the cause of death.

The Carroll County Prosecutor will determine if the officer followed state law with the lethal use of force once ASP CID Special Agents conclude their investigation.

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ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  Arlington County police said they were trying find a man with health concerns who last was seen on April 29.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) first posted about Charles Sayles, 77, on its social media platforms on April 30.

Police said Sayles had not spoken with his friends since around noon on April 29, and last was seen in the 3400 block of Washington Blvd.

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New survey shows Northern Virginia business leaders pessimistic about regions economy

Arlington County police noted that Sayles, who is 510 tall and weighs around 125 lbs.., is considered critically missing due to health/mental health concerns.

Charles Sayles, 77, missing man (Photo Courtesy: Arlington County Police Department)

DC Blues Society shared the information about Sayles on its Facebook page, tagging Harmonica Legend Charlie Sayles.

Sayles is known across the DMv, with videos showing him performing in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. One video shared on YouTube shows him performing with his harmonica at Connecticut Avenue and Q Street in Northwest D.C. in 2007.

Anyone with information about Sayles whereabouts is asked to call the Arlington County Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 703-228-4180. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 866-411-8477.

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A space career field for enlisted soldiers is coming to the Army as the U.S. builds up its space-based capabilities.

The Army is planning for about 900 40D space operations specialists who would be integrated into Space and Missile Defense Command to provide communication and support to counter the threat of satellites and other technologies facing troops on the ground. The new military occupational specialty, or MOS, will be open to enlisted soldiers between the E-4 and E-9 pay grades.

Its going to be very competitive, Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commanding general of the Armys Space and Missile Defense Command, told reporters Friday. The personnel that are gravitating towards some of those high-tech MOS are going to naturally gravitate towards space also because they served their initial term in whatever it is  signal corps, air defense.

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The Armys space units currently borrow enlisted soldiers from other fields like air defense, signal corps and military intelligence for three years to support space operations. But with the new MOS, the Army wants dedicated enlisted soldiers who can build on their space expertise throughout their careers, Gainey said.

To date, most expertise and experience in space operations reside in the officers corps instead of the noncommissioned officers corps, Gainey said. This new space operations MOS will ensure that specialists through command sergeant majors arrive at Army space formations with expertise and experience in space operations.

The new 40D military occupational specialty will be open to soldiers who want to reclassify and are between the ranks of E-4 to E-9  specialists to sergeant major. The MOS will go live in October 2026, but the Army is currently looking for soldiers with the relevant skill sets across its formations, Gainey said.

Space operations specialists will attend Initial Qualification Training and gain an Additional Skill Identifier at the Space and Missile Defense School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they will be trained on electronic warfare systems and other space-based systems like the Tactical Integrated Ground Suite, also known as TIGS.

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The new MOS comes as the military is adding new space-based capabilities across the force since the Space Force was stood up in 2018. On Thursday, Sandboxx News reported that the Space Force plans to stand up its own component within U.S. Special Operations Command, which oversees operations of elite units like Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets.

While the Space Force is the militarys prime space-focused unit, the Armys role in space involves soldiers who provide close space support to Army conventional and special operation forces, protecting them from space-enabled attacks, Gainey said.

In a January memo titled Army Space Vision Supporting Multidomain Operations, Army leaders laid out how soldiers will use commercial space technologies for operations that require positioning, navigation, sensing, beyond-line-of-sight communications, force tracking, environmental monitoring, and space reconnaissance capabilities. To counter enemy space-based threats, the Army intends to mix necessary fires and effects to protect friendly forces with counter-satellite communications, counter-surveillance and reconnaissance, and navigation warfare operations, according to the document.

The 40D soldiers could be assigned to a Multidomain Task Force, Theater Strike Effects Groups, the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence, SMDCs Space and Missile Defense School, 1st Space Brigade, 100th Missile Defense Brigade, or a space support element.

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Army cuts athletic trainers from fitness teams, with medics to take up slack

UPDATE: 5/2/2025; This story was updated after publication to note that the Army will seek to bring 900 soldiers into the new 40D space operations specialist job field.
The Army has officially killed further delivers of the M10 Booker, canceling not just a billion-dollar program to build a heavily-armed vehicle for fast-moving infantry units, but also putting a final answer to an age-old question: is the M10 Booker a tank?

Now that were canceling, you can call it whatever, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told reporters Thursday, confirming the programs end.

Cancelling the Booker matches one element of an overhaul ordered by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in how the Army develops and buys weapons.

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In a 4-page memo released April 30, he ordered the service to divest outdated formations, including select armor and aviation units across the Total Army.

That apparently included the Booker, which discussed Driscoll Friday.

We got the Booker wrong, said Driscoll, adding that the Army already has taken delivery of roughly 80 of the tanks. We wanted to develop a small tank that was agile and could do [airdrops] to the places our regular tanks cant.

But the Booker, at 38 tons, cant be airdropped.

We got a heavy tank, said Driscoll. Whats historically happened is we would have kept buying this to build out some number of Bookers, and then in decades in the future we would have switched. Instead, we went to the Pentagon leadership and we said, we made a mistake, this didnt turn out right. Were going to stop. Were going to own it.

Right to Repair

Another issue that irked both Army officials and lawmakers stuck with the bill for the Booker was the so-called Right-to-Repair terms in its maintenance plans. The contract under which the Booker was purchased required that the Army use the Bookers builder, General Dynamics, to address a wide range of parts and maintenance issues that Army mechanics could have addressed on their own.

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If you look at kind of comparable industries for the civilian sector, I think tractors went through this five, eight years ago, said Driscoll. You had farmers who were having a hard time repairing their equipment. The exact same thing is true for soldiers. We have many instances where, for two dollars to twenty dollars, we can 3D-print a part. We know how to 3D print a part. We have the 3D printer, but we have signed away the right to do that on our own accord, and that is a sinful activity for the leadership of the Army to do to harm our soldiers. And so that is the type of thing that we are no longer going to be willing to concede to the private industry.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren was a particular critic of the Bookers Right-to-Repair language, citing it in Driscolls January confirmation hearing.

When right-to-repair restrictions are in place, its bigger profits for giant defense contractors, but also higher prices for DoD and longer wait times for service members who need to get equipment repaired so theyre ready to go, Warren said in the hearing.

Named for two Armor heroes

The tracked M10s armament includes a 105mm main gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a .50 caliber machine gun. At under 40 tons, it is light enough that an Air Force C-17 can fly two of them, versus the planes limit of a single M1 Abrams at a time.

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The M10 was the first major weapons system in the U.S. military named for a service member from the post-9/11 wars. The name Booker honors two soldiers killed in combat, including one from the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker was a tank commander posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Thunder Run raid on Baghdad that opened the Iraq war. Pvt. Robert D. Booker, an infantryman in World War II, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in Tunisia in 1943.

Developed beginning in 2018 as the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, the Army awarded a $1.14 billion contract to General Dynamics in June 2022 to build the first 96 vehicles for the service.

The Army planned to buy roughly 500 of the tanks, with the goal of equipping each of the services Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with 14 of them.
Army Capt. Braden Trent has caused something of a stir this week, saying that data he has collected points to his services new 6.8x51mm XM7 service rifle suffering from serious reliability and other issues, including excessive barrel wear and regular breakages of key components. He claims, based in part on observations of live-fire exercises involving XM7-armed soldiers, that these problems, together with a host of other factors, make the gun unfit for its intended purpose. The guns manufacturer, Sig Sauer, has strenuously pushed back on Trents assertions and outright denied a number of them.

Trent presented his findings, which come from an unclassified student thesis, at the annual Modern Day Marine exposition in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The Army infantry officer is currently attending the Expeditionary Warfare School, part of the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia.

My project began as a fact-finding mission. I wanted to find out, how does this new product [the XM7] increase soldier lethality and what data can I provide at the unclassified level to help soldiers and leaders alike make better decisions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels? Trent said in his presentation at Modern Day Marine. His research, consisting of in-depth historical analysis, testing with experts, ballistics research, extensive dialog with soldiers, industry and leaders, came to the conclusion that the XM7 is unfit for use as a modern service rifle.

What is the XM7 Rifle?

The XM7 is a 6.8x51mm version of Sig Sauers increasingly popular MCX Spear family of rifles. Though Sigs MCX family is a separate development, the core design is derived from the AR-15/M16 pattern family of rifles, and upper receivers from certain versions of the former can be directly paired with lower receivers from the latter with the help of an adapter. The overall configurations of guns in both families are very similar, as are the basic ergonomics and control arrangements.

MCX rifles notably use a gas piston operating mechanism rather than the direct impingement method found on AR-15/M16 types. Direct impingement (DI) involves propellant gases directly blowing into the main action to cycle it, which can more quickly lead to fouling on key components without regular cleaning. Piston systems that keep gas away from a guns internal works can offer improved overall reliability in certain circumstances, although they tend to be heavier than their DI counterparts.

The XM7 is one part of the Armys Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) family of systems, which also includes the 6.8x51mm XM250 light machine gun, the computerized XM157 optic, and various types of 6.8x51mm ammunition. The 6.8mm rounds notably have a hybrid case with a brass body and a stainless steel base designed to allow for improved performance and reduced weight.

An XM7 rifle, at bottom, and an XM250 light machine gun, at top. Sig Sauer

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Sig Sauer is now delivering XM7s and XM250s, as well as 6.8x51mm rounds, after winning the NGSW competition in 2022, and the guns are being fielded. At the time of the initial award, Sigs contract for the weapon portion of the NGSW program had a ceiling of nearly $5 billion. The XM157s are being procured separately from Vortex Optics.

An XM157 computerized optic. Vortex Optics

Army combat experiences from the Global War on Terror, especially operations in Afghanistan, where reports often emerged of U.S. forces being outranged, helped drive the NGSW programs core requirement for guns firing larger rounds that offer greater range and terminal ballistic performance. Concerns about improving adversary body armor were also a factor.

As of last year, the Army said its acquisition objectives included the purchase of 111,428 XM7s, 13,334 XM250s, and 124,749 XM157s. The XM7 and XM250 are in line to replace a substantial portion of the services existing M4A1 carbines (an AR-15/M16 family design) and M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW), respectively, both of which are chambered to fire the 5.56x45mm cartridge.

A member of the US Army fires an M4A1 carbine, a significant portion of which are now set to be replaced by XM7s. US Army

Capt. Trents technical criticisms of the XM7

Id like to present a technical comparison between the XM7 and the M4A1. Theres a lot of statistics on this page, but the first one Id like to draw your attention to is total combat weight. Total combat weight is defined as the weight of the weapon, along with a loaded magazine and any accessories that would be expected to be issued to soldiers receiving the system, Trent said on Tuesday. The M4A1 comes in at around eight and a half pounds, which is somewhat lightweight, but still somewhat heavy compared to rifles of old. The XM7, by comparison, comes in at 15.4 pounds.

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The XM7 has a relatively short barrel length of 13 inches, he added. Thats actually an inch and a half shorter than the M4A1.

It is immediately worth noting here that the Army says the standard barrel length for the XM7 is 15.3 inches, which is longer than the 14.5-inch barrel on the M4A1. Sig does offer the MCX Spear with a 13-inch barrel. How Trent arrived at the combat weight figure for the XM7 is also not immediately clear. The rifle weighs 8.4 pounds unloaded with no accessories and 9.8 pounds with just the addition of a suppressor, according to the Army. A loaded 20-round magazine and the XM157 optic would further increase that weight.

Army National Guard Spc. Turner Horton

The NGSW program required a velocity of greater than 3,000 feet per second. Shorter barrels have a negative impact on velocity, meaning that an immense power load is then required of the ammunition to reach program requirements, per Trents research. The outcome is an immense chamber pressure in the XM7, in excess of 80,000 PSI [pounds per square inch]. This causes dramatically increased wear of internal components and ammunition.

Cartridge cases have literally been ripped apart by the internal pressure of the system, he added. Ruptured cases in any firearm can cause malfunctions and prompt potential operator safety concerns.

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Trent said he observed and/or learned of a number of other serious technical issues after being given the chance to interview over 150 soldiers, maintainers, and leaders, as well as inspect a sample set of 23 XM7 rifles, all from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. 1/101sts 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment was the first operational Army unit to begin receiving XM7s and the rest of the NGSW family of systems.

A member of the 101st Airborne Division with an XM7 rifle. US Army

The most serious issue observed with the XM7 was barrel and rifle[ing] gouging occurring in all samples that had greater than 2,000 rounds through the system, according to Trent. It has to be said that 2,000 rounds through a rifle is generally, in the industry, considered to be a break-in period. However, approximately four inches from the muzzle  [and] one inch behind the gas block, a scratch, or in some cases, a gouge is starting to form in the rifling of the system itself. This can lead to all kinds of problems with accuracy and safety.

In addition, the XM7[s] charging handle has to be pulled all the way to the rear charge the bolt into battery and if you attempt to do that, youll actually impact the rear of the stock. So soldiers have to pull up and out on the charging handle in order to charge the weapon, per Trent. There were three separate cases of the charging handle snapping when pulled with excessive force under adrenaline.

It has to be mentioned that the XM7 does have a side charging handle, but this is positioned so close to the face of the soldier that its not ergonomically viable and is especially difficult to operate when shooting prone, he added.

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Next issue observed is the suppressor and the suppressor locking ring. The suppressor locking ring is the device that attaches the suppressor to the rifle, Trent highlighted. Soldiers reported that with hand strength, this device could be broken, meaning that a suppressor could not be mounted to the system or could cause catastrophic malfunctions.

The Army captain said he had observed three suppressors that had suffered catastrophic damage due to this issue during his visit to the 101st Airborne Division.

A member of the US Army fires an XM7 rifle with a sound suppressor fitted. US Army

Trent also pointed out problems encountered with the XM7s ambidextrous magazine release.

While seemingly well-intentioned, if you can imagine the rifle at the low ready position in the hands of a soldier or Marine, this would frequently bump into the body armor or chest plates of soldiers in the field, causing the magazine to be released prematurely, he said. This was such a problem that some soldiers had actually created DIY [do-it-yourself] solutions to this in an attempt to get around it.

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To underscore his own findings, Trent highlighted comments about the XM7 from the most recent annual report put out by the Pentagons Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) earlier this year. Based on the results of combined operations demonstration and limited lethality assessment in 2024, the XM7 with mounted XM157 demonstrated a low probability of completing one 72-hour wartime mission without incurring a critical failure, the unclassified report said, but without providing more specific details.

Operational limitations

Trent further contended that the XM7, even working as intended, is not a suitable standard infantry weapon for the Army due to its weight, bulk, increased recoil, and reduced magazine capacity (20 versus 30 rounds) compared to the existing M4A1. He also argued that evidence continues to show that the majority of infantry engagements occur at ranges of 300 meters or less, negating the increased effective range and improved terminal ballistic performance that the Army has cited as core reasons for adopting the new 6.8x51mm service rifle.

I was able to observe  a combined arms live fire exercise, or company live fire for those who arent familiar, Trent explained. The platoon I was tasked with observing was tasked to suppress the objective for the other two platoons of that company to then maneuver and provide effects on the battlefield.

Within 10 minutes, the platoon I observed was almost completely out of ammunition after starting the engagement. By 15 minutes, their ability to produce effective suppression had become almost zero, he continued. This is after having taken spare magazines for the XM7 from radio operators, medics, platoon leadership, etc.

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And this can really be drawn down to one major fault in the XM7, and thats the UBL  or universal basic load. Its a metric that can be applied to almost any weapon system, and it essentially means the amount of magazines and associated ammunition that a system uses and is expected to be carried into battle, he added. So the XM7 [and] the M4A1 actually have the same number of magazines in their UBL seven, but remember, were talking about that capacity difference. The total round count a soldier carries into battle with the XM7 is 140 rounds compared to the 210 rounds of the M4A1. Now again, a 70 round difference may not seem significant, but to the soldier in the fight, it absolutely is a difference. Not to mention that every magazine added to the XM7, each 20-round loaded magazine adds another 1.25 pounds to the soldiers load, meaning that if troops equipped with the XM7 tried to match their old UBLs [in terms of round count], theyre going to have even more weight being carried.

The final thing Id like to mention is the Chief of Army Infantrys stated goal of a 55-pound total soldier load, the Army captain noted toward the end of his presentation at Modern Day Marine. If we just take the XM7 and its seven UBL magazine load, were almost at half that weight, and thats before the soldier is put on body armor, water, a rucksack, or anything else that theyll need in the fight.

Trent also conducted his own experiments with the help of the Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion, and using 7.62x51mm M110 and M39 rifles, the latter of which is a modernized version of the Cold War-era M14, as surrogates for the XM7.

A US Marine with an M110 rifle. USMC

A Marine special operator with an M39 EMR in 2009. USMC

The data demonstrates that a heavier system, or [a system with] higher weight and recoil, increases shooter engagement time, both on the first shot and on follow-up shots. A heavier weight and recoil system decreases shooter hit probability at all distances from seven to 300 meters, the standard range of an infantry engagement, and a lighter weight and recoil system enables faster follow-up shots at all distances from seven to 300 meters, according to Trent.

Sig Sauers Rebuttal

Jason St. John, senior director of strategic products for the Defense Strategies Group at Sig Sauer, and Joshua Shoemaker, the companys defense product manager for rifles and suppressors, provided TWZ with a detailed rebuttal to Trents findings from the show floor at Modern Day Marine this week.

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St. John said that Trent had not consulted the Army program office or Sig Sauer as part of the work on his thesis. Sig Sauer did meet with Trent on the sidelines of Modern Day Marine to discuss his findings.

I believe that Captain Trent had some shortcomings and difficulties in understanding the totality of the NGSW program and some significant blind spots into the progress that the NGSW program has made over the last lets call it 24 months. By him not having any clarity on any of the engineering change proposal efforts, and understanding of the 101st [Airborne Divisions] fielding efforts, the actual pacing of the program  and really the ongoing product improvement efforts that the program office and Sig Sauer are doing in concert with each other, really clouded his perspective, and I believe his opinions that he represented, St. John said. There are significant misrepresentations and holes in those statements [that he made].

For one, St. John denied that the XM7s average chamber pressure has been exceeding 80,000 PSI. That at least certain loadings of the 6.8x51mm cartridge, as well as the .277 Fury round it is based on, have maximum chamber pressure ratings of 80,000 PSI has been widely reported.

A graphic describing the elements of the hybrid-cased 6.8x51mm cartridge. Sig Sauer

It operates in the 77K PSI range, which is higher than legacy ammunition pressures, St. John explained. Legacy ammunition pressures average, lets just call it about 65K PSI. We can go plus three, minus three, we can go actually minus 10, depending on the cartridge. But the benefit of the technology of the Sig Sauer hybrid ammunition is the ability for that ammunition and the development of this weapon system to operate at higher pressures, so that you can get a higher level of performance out of a smaller weapon system.

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St. John added that the XM7 had been tested to safely operate with chamber pressures up to 125,000 PSI and said that any assertions that the guns chamber pressure might present risks to the shooter were patently false. He also said he was not aware of any case rupturing since Sig Sauer first developed the ammunition before the NGSW program was even formalized, but did not deny the possibility.

We do significant reliability [testing], but more importantly, we do a lot of safety testing. And one of the things that we do from a safety testing perspective is we do obstructed bore, and an obstructed bore test is really the most catastrophic event that could happen in a firearms incident, St. Johns explained. We do it in three different positions. We put a lodged projectile an inch inside of the chamber, we put another round behind it, and we fire it with a lodged projectile. We do that same test with it midway  down the barrel, and we do it at the end of the barrel. If, during that test, we have any sort of catastrophic failure thats going to lend itself to a safety concern for a soldier, the weapon system is completely redesigned and started over.

There has never been an incident with the NGSW with an obstructed bore in our testing where, if that gun had an obstructed bore, which is the high-det[onation], high-pressure, high catastrophic event, where theres ever been a situation where that rifle has witnessed any potential for causing an issue, he added.

St. John also rejected the assertion that the XM7s ambidextrous magazine release is particularly easy to hit accidentally.

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We have redesigned our magazine release to ensure that it has a better form and function, because there was [sic] some situations where our magazine release was slightly out of spec from a parts perspective, and because of that out of specification, the magazine release would unintentionally release the magazine, St. John did acknolwedge. Thats been rectified through the U.S. Army engineering change proposal process. Weve implemented multiple manufacturing inspection processes of that part to ensure that, as thats identified, that that cant happen in the future.

Both St. John and Sig Sauers Shoemaker said they were unaware of any instances of the XM7s charging handle being snapped off.

What Trent is more likely referencing is when you charge the charging handle  its a user training thing  guys are coming off of the AR[-15/M16] platform on a direct impingement system where thats tied to the carrier, Shoemaker said. This is a piston-driven system. Its tied on the op[erating] rod. So a little bit of movement up and down. So if you pull on it in a rearward position, it could crash into the back of the stock, if the stock is in a collapsed position.

If you pull it [the charging handle] to the rear, normally, its not going to interfere with the buttstock. If you lift up slightly on it, its not going to interfere with the buttstock, St. John added. I have never seen in any evaluation, any testing, or had any field report from any end user of an MCX charging handle snapping from use.

Shoemaker further asserted that the basic issue of soldiers becoming more familiar with the particulars of operating the XM7s charging handle has been overcome with training.

When asked about Trents description of the XM7s side-mounted charging handle as not ergonomically viable, St. John called that an opinion and said that having two charging handles on the gun offers shooters more options depending on the circumstances.

A view of an XM7 rifle from the left side with its side charging handle visible. US Army

I honestly dont know what hes referencing there, St. John also said when asked about the suppressor locking ring issue.

Barrel life on our rifle exceeds 10,000 rounds. I believe the Army requirement was 5,000 rounds. Without physically inspecting the barrel  that hes referencing, I would say that I dont think weve witnessed anything that he is referencing, St. John added.

Sig Sauers St. John did acknowledge that the XM7 is still evolving as a result of ongoing testing and user feedback, and that Sig expects more changes to the gun to come in the future, as is often the case when a military gets a new weapon system.

I think that soldiers and citizens should want Sig Sauer, the U.S. [Army] program office to continue that practice of continually evolving and developing and improving their soldiers weapons systems. And I think we anticipate that were going to undergo those improvement processes for the next 25 to 30 years, Sig Sauers St. John did also note. Theres going to be improvements in manufacturing [and] materials processes. The soldiers on the ground and the U.S. Army are going to dictate different operational requirements and standards for the weapons systems, and were going to have to react to those modifications that are going to optimize that weapon system as that evolves through time and history.

It should be no surprise, in my opinion, that specifically in the infancy of a weapons program that theres a very aggressive improvement effort to ensure that the Army and the soldiers get the weapon system that they deserve, he added.

What the XM7s future might otherwise hold

TWZ has also reached out to the Army for responses to Trents findings, including his assertions about the general operational utility of the XM7 compared to the M4A1.

The Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program significantly increases lethality and probability of hit at the squad level, the Armys official website on the program declares. Due to the nature of the NGSW ammunition, the 6.8mm projectile will outperform even the most modern 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. These weapon systems will give Soldiers significant capability improvements in accuracy, range, signature management, and lethality.

Its also worth noting that the NGSW program also reflects the end result of decades of failed Army attempts to adopt a new standard service rifle, potentially in a different cartridge than 5.56x45mm, as well as efforts to move away from the AR-15/M16 family. For an armed force as large as the Army, any wide-scale adoption of a new firearm and a new type of ammunition is a huge undertaking to begin with. All new systems go through some degree of teething issues when they are first fielded.

The XM8 rifle, versions of which are seen here, look for a time to be set to become the Armys new standard service weapon in the early 2000s. US Army

As mentioned at the beginning of the story, NGSW is a multi-billion-dollar effort of major importance to both the Army and Sig Sauer. Just this week, the Pentagon and the Army announced major service-wide restructuring plans that will have immense ramifications for many programs, a number of which are likely to be severely truncated, if not cut outright, in the coming months.

How the Army progresses with the XM7 and the rest of the NGSW program could have implications for other branches of the U.S. military, as well. Given its size, the Army is often a key driver of joint force small arms decisions simply due to logistics factors and economies of scale. Virtually the entire U.S. military, with the notable exception of special operations units, is in the process right now of fielding variants of Sig Sauers P320 pistol. The Army selected a P320-based design as the winner of its Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition in 2017. Sig Sauer has faced significant separate criticism around the P320 over serious drop safety issues that the company insists it has resolved. The pistols also suffered teething troubles during initial fielding with the US Army.

A member of the US Army with an M17 pistol, a variant of the Sig Sauer P320. US Army

Marine officials said separately at Modern Day Marine this week that their service had just recently completed an evaluation of the NGSW family of systems and is now processing the results to determine what, if any, steps forward will be taken. For now, the primary arm of the Marines remains the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), which is, in turn, a variant of the HK416. The HK416 is a gas-piston derivative of the AR-15/M16 series.

My hope is not that I can provide a definitive answer  it requires further exploration by experts in the field, decision makers in high places, to really explore this, Trent did also tell members of the Marine Corps Association in a live interview from the floor of Modern Day Marine after his presentation. I hope that Ive at least generated conversation that can lead the American military to receiving even more lethal weapon systems and capabilities.

My hope is that this just generates further interest and discussion about what are the pros and cons of the system, Trent continued. If we are going to remain with the XM7, OK, but how can we address the issues for the system to mitigate risk to soldiers [and] maximize lethality?

Update: 5/5/2025 

The U.S. Army has now provided its own responses to Capt. Trents presentation.

As the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff highlighted in their Army Transformation Initiative memo to the force, Yesterdays weapons will not win tomorrows wars,' David Patterson, Director of Public Affairs and strategic communications at the Armys Program Executive Office for Soldier systems (PEO Soldier) told TWZ in a statement. The Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program provides unmatched lethality to our Close Combat Force (CCF). The Army is committed to accepting Soldier feedback and enhancing weapons for optimal use.

The NGSW is safe and reliable, and there have been no reported incidents of cartridge cases rupturing. Over 1 million rounds have been fired to validate safety and operation of the weapon and ammunition, Patterson said. The Army has fired more than 20,000 rounds per barrel during testing without degradation of performance or accuracy.

There are no reported incidents of charging handles breaking, he continued. There are no reported incidents of [suppressor] locking mechanism failures.

The ambidextrous feature was added to accommodate both left- and right-handed Soldiers. If soldiers find this feature problematic, the Army will modify the NGSW magazine release accordingly, Patterson added. Soldier feedback on the side-mounted charging handle has been overwhelmingly positive.

The NGSW capability provides greater effects within 300 meters and can engage the enemy at greater distances, Patterson said in response to a specific query about Capt. Trents comments about the typical ranges of infantry engagements.

An NGSW Operational Assessment (OA), test design specifically addressed this concern with a threat ratio of 1 to 1 in the offensive scenario and 3 to 1 in the defensive scenario, Patterson also said when asked about Trents comments regarding ammunition expenditure during the live-fire exercise he observed. The resulting OA allowed both a live fire squad attack and counterattack to be conducted with ammunition remaining.

Lastly, the current unit price of an XM7, which includes suppressor, sling, magazines, blank firing kit, and cleaning kit, is currently less than $5,000, according to Patterson, and the new rifle provides significantly greater capability and lethality than the M4A1.

Capt. Trent had said his research put the unit cost of an XM7 between $5,000 and $9,000, compared to the well under $1,000 the Army currently spends on new M4A1s.

Special thanks to Breaking Defenses Ashley Roque for providing audio of Capt. Braden Trents presentation at Modern Day Marine.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
DUBAI  April in Dubai has become the cornerstone of the Middle Easts cultural calendar, transforming the city into a buzzing creative forum where art takes center stage. In a city once known primarily for its architectural ambitions, a new identity has taken shape as an epicenter of global contemporary art.

Last week saw the emirate host the 18th edition of Art Dubai, a key pillar in the regions cultural economy and the main commercial art fair in the Middle East.

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This years program attracted 25,000 visitors to view works displayed by 120 participating galleries from 65 cities around the world.

Were a fair thats so reflective of this global hub, where you feel changes more rapidly, said Benedetta Ghione, executive director of Art Dubai. Reflecting Dubais position as a gateway between East and West, Art Dubai has become particularly significant for showcasing artists from underrepresented regions. Our DNA is to bring to the fore geographies and artists that are maybe underrepresented, who havent had a huge amount of exposure.

That has proven to be successful. The exponential growth in the art world is also tied to Dubais changing demographics and economic dynamism, said Ghione.

As the city attracts higher-level individuals, a lot of those are collectors interested in arts and culture, and that shapes everything, Ghione explained. Were seeing galleries with rising international profiles showing at the fair because its a known fact that the Gulf is doing well.

Sixty-five galleries from around the world come together at Art Dubai.

While other markets have suffered post COVID-19, Dubais is strong. People moving into the city are buying more robustly at higher price points, Ghione shared.

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The Third Line Gallery, one of the Middle Easts most influential, has been showing at Art Dubai since its inception, alongside taking their Middle Eastern artists to Art Basel and Frieze. Art Dubai this year was perhaps one of the most commercially consequential yet for the gallery, according to Claudia Cellini, The Third Line cofounder who has worked for more than two decades in the Middle Easts art world. The fair was a big success for us. We sold most of our booth on the first night, she said.

She also reflected on the fairs unique position in the market. Art Dubai beautifully retains a local identity, while presenting a premium global art fair offering. Their talks program is a real discursive focal point, alongside some breathtaking parties and events, she added. Attendees leave feeling they have experienced something genuinely fresh and new during their time in Dubai.

Art Dubai opens to the public on the last three days of the fair, making it one of the most accessible art fairs in the world.

What sets Dubai apart, said Ghione, is its multifaceted approach. For example, at Art Dubai weve always been more than an art fair, Ghione emphasized. By creating a platform that is simultaneously local and global, educational and commercial, Art Dubai has positioned itself as a unique cultural institution. We encourage visitors who are not necessarily collectors or buyers but just want to discover.

One of those key pillars of discovery is Art Dubais pioneering digital section, which has become a hallmark of the fairs forward-thinking approach. It is the only art fair in the world with a section dedicated to digital art.

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We started four years ago, and we feel that its something that makes a lot of sense for Dubai as a city that wants to be forward, explained Ghione.

She noted that what makes the digital art section particularly fascinating is its ability to track technological evolution. The first year the conversation was around NFTs. Last year focused on VR and immersive technologies. This year, theres a significant presence of AI and the questions that come with it.

Ghione said digital represents artistic innovation, drawing on similar historical parallels. Digital is one of the tools of the future in terms of artistic production, a tool that can be added to an artists toolbox. Just like when paint tubes were invented and artists could suddenly work outside, leading to entirely new art movements. Digital tools are creating similar transformative possibilities.

She added that it requires a process of education for traditional collectors. They have natural questions like, How does this work? and Do I really own it?

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Brooklyn-based kinetic artist Breakfast presented a solo exhibition at Art Dubai for the first time, which was packed with visitors. This is my first time at the fair, however I was very surprised to know how many collectors I have here.

Piaget hosted an exhibition entitled Play of Shapes showcasing the intersection of art, jewelry and horology.

Luxury houses are eager to align with the fairs cultural cachet and collector base. Piaget returned as key partner for Art Dubai, with the brand presenting an exhibition, titled Play of Shapes, featuring Piagets archival creations that showcase its artistic timepieces, including a series of avant-garde trapeze-shaped watches called Sixtie that pay homage to the flamboyant 60s.

At Piaget, our artisans are artists  creators who express through bold design, exceptional craftsmanship, and emotion, said Petronille de Parseval, managing director of Piaget Middle East. Our participation at Art Dubai reflects a heritage deeply rooted in creativity and a longstanding bond with the art world.

Alserkal Avenue: Dubais Grassroots Creative Spirit

While Art Dubai brings global recognition and connects artists from the global south to international markets, on the other side of the city, Alserkal Avenue, an industrial district of converted warehouses, has fast become a vital cultural ecosystem nurturing the creative community.

The opening of artist Imran Qureshis show at Concrete, a warehouse that serves as a rotating exhibition space, attracted big crowds during Alserkal Art Week.

What started as a project to convert a collection of warehouses owned by the Alserkal family into art galleries has become a vibrant art district that hosted some of the most talked about cultural events during their Alserkal Art Week, which ran just before Art Dubai. Now home to more than 17 galleries, Alserkal Avenue saw the opening of Pakistani artist Imran Qureshis solo show, Vanishing Points, curated by Nada Raza. Their foundation also commissioned new public art installations on the avenue and more than 15 galleries around the avenue to open new exhibitions during art week.

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Basmah El Bittar, director of Alserkal Avenue, emphasized the community-driven nature of Alserkal Avenue. We dont call it real estate development. Its community development.

This philosophy underpins everything about Alserkal Avenue, from how spaces are allocated to support for fledgling businesses. There is also an intense focus on local talent. We are all about supporting our local creative entrepreneurs, she explained. This approach has created a space where creative founder-driven businesses want to be, from homegrown cafe concepts from the regions top chefs to independent fashion brands, fragrance concept stores and more.

At its core, Alserkal Avenue remains committed to contemporary art. As the Avenue prepares to expand in 2026, the original vision guides the project. Were building a destination where different interests are met, while keeping contemporary art at the core of everything we do, said El Bittar.

Dubais cultural ascension mirrors the regions transformation. The region has seen significant and consistent investment in cultural infrastructure, Ghione explained. Dubai is dynamic, forward-thinking, and increasingly influential on the global stage, and the art world is mirroring that.

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MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Bear Creek Smokehouse will host an exclusive Art League of Marshall ArtWalk.

The Art League of Marshall hosted its inaugural downtown ArtWalk earlier this year, an event from which the group is still receiving positive feedback. With the goal to provide artists and emerging artists support and education and the promotion of the arts, it makes sense to follow up on that success with more events.

Inaugural Marshall Artwalk

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In 1943, Bear Creek founders Hick and Nellie Shoults began smoking turkeys on the family farm. More than 80 years later, the Shoults family still operates the business.

Poster for an Art League of Marshall ArtWalk at Bear Creek Smokehouse

The ArtWalk is on May 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art displays will be stationed on the front porch, with some artists painting live for patrons and a painting being raffled. Bear Creek food will be available for purchase.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is celebrating AAPI Heritage Month under the new leadership of Dr. Soyoung Lee, who aims to connect people through the history and future of Asian cultures. The museum, one of the few globally dedicated to all Asian cultures, offers exhibits that span 6,000 years of history, illustrating the past, present, and future. Dr. Lee, the new director, emphasizes the museums mission to foster understanding and empathy through art.

Asias influence spans across time and cultures, said Dr. Soyoung Lee, emphasizing the museums broad focus.

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Dr. Lee stated, At the heart of prejudice, bias, and racism against certain groups of people, classes of people is ignorance and I think art is a powerful way to learn and discover and be inspired about particular cultures and about particular individuals.

The Tanforan Memorial in San Bruno commemorates the site of a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. Dr. Lee brings her Korean heritage and vision to the museum, aiming to engage its nearly 200,000 annual visitors with innovative displays and programs.

The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month, encouraging more people to explore its vast collection of 18,000 artworks and artifacts. The Asian Art Museum continues to be a vital cultural destination in San Francisco, offering insights into Asian heritage and its ongoing influence on American society.

We want young people to come and see themselves, to see the world, for them to feel like this is their place, Dr. Lee emphasized.

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All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. The article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 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 KRON4.
What hope, if any, do those that were shipped off to El Salvador without due process have of being heard, and/or returned?

 M. Walker

Hi M.,

The answer to that question is currently playing out in court.

Lawyers for people detained at El Salvadors notorious Terrorism Confinement Center have a motion pending before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. They want the Washington, D.C., judge to order the government to immediately request and take all reasonable steps to facilitate their return.

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Specifically, this motion is about noncitizens summarily deported under President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act against alleged Venezuelan gang members. (Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native illegally sent to that country as well, has separate litigation against the Trump administrations continued resistance to facilitating his return.)

Notably, a different judge this week said that Trumps invocation of the 1798 act against the Venezuelans was unlawful. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.  a Trump appointee  was significant because it exposed the underlying illegality of the presidents invocation.

Rodriguezs ruling applies to a class of plaintiffs in his south Texas district, blocking their removal under the act. So, while his ruling wasnt about bringing people back who were already wrongly deported, it can be helpful to people litigating the Alien Enemies Act issue generally  if it survives any appeal by the government.

Undeterred by Rodriguezs ruling, Trump administration lawyers argued to Boasberg on Thursday that the president had ample basis to invoke the act. And despite Trumps close relationship with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, theyre telling the courts that their hands are tied. Those aliens are in the custody of a foreign nation pursuant to its laws, they wrote to the D.C. judge Thursday, arguing that the U.S. does not have custody so there is no jurisdiction.

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Boasberg ruled against the government during a previous round of litigation. If hes inclined to do so again, he can cite Rodriguezs ruling as persuasive authority backing his decision. At publication time, Boasberg had not yet ruled on this latest motion. But whatever he does, the Supreme Court can have the last word. Thats true for Rodriguezs ruling, too.

Have any questions or comments for me? Please submit them on this form for a chance to be featured in the Deadline: Legal Blog and newsletter.

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BANGKOK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's manufacturing sector contracted for the third time this year in April, mainly due to a decline in new orders amid subdued economic conditions and the impact of a late-March earthquake, a survey showed on Friday.

The Southeast Asian country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 49.5 last month, down from 49.9 in March, indicating the lowest reading in a year and a further deterioration in operating conditions, according to S&P Global.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

The latest fall of the index was attributed to the steepest dive in new business since last April, along with a drop in export orders for the 20th consecutive month on the back of weak external conditions, S&P Global said in a statement.

Thai manufacturers were able to be working through backlogs, while a sharp fall in new orders signaled softer conditions in the coming months, said Jingyi Pan, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Firms continued to express positive sentiment, with manufacturers particularly optimistic about the potential for increased output in the year ahead, Pan said.

She noted that manufacturers also marginally raised staffing levels to support operations in April, reflecting their confidence that production growth can be sustained. 
On April 29, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced his intention to shutter the Pentagons Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program.

Although Hegseth referred to the WPS program as a Biden initiative, the program was established through bipartisan congressional legislation and signed into law by President Donald Trump. Hegseth later appeared to acknowledge this in a separate tweet shared two hours after his initial post: The woke & weak Biden Administration distorted & weaponized the straight-forward & security-focused WPS initiative launched in 2017. Soyeswe are ending the woke divisive/social justice/Biden (WPS) initiative.

Hegseth lacks the authority to entirely eliminate the program, which he appeared to acknowledge at the end of his tweet, noting he would dismantle it to the fullest extent allowed by the law and push for its eradication in the administrations next budget request, which Congress must approve. The law that created the program was written to apply not only to the Department of Defense (DOD), but also the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Congress tasked the DOD specifically with ensuring that various training regimens address the importance of meaningful participation by women and that employees receive training in gender considerations, particularly in regards to the protection of civilians and international human rights law.

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In May 2017, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 to increase female participation in U.S. foreign affairs, particularly in overseas conflict prevention and resolution. Four senatorstwo Democrats and two Republicansco-sponsored the Senate bill, including Trumps current secretary of state, then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The billand an identical version introduced in the House by South Dakotas then-Rep. Kristi Noem, the current homeland security secretarycalled for the president to produce a Women, Peace, and Security Strategy within one year of its passage, and then once every four years after, detailing the administrations efforts to promote the participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building.

The Trump White House published its WPS report in June 2019. The Trump Administration is committed to advancing womens equality, seeking to protect the rights of women and girls, and promoting women and youth empowerment programs, the 20-page report states. It spelled out four broad specific goalsline of effortsdetailing the administrations approach to advance womens empowerment and equality and ensuring their participation in conflict-related matters. The first simply stated the importance of female participation globally in decision-making processes related to conflict and crises, and the second focused on securing human rights for women around the world and protecting them from violence, abuse, and exploitation. The third discussed how the U.S. could use its various international programs to advance its womens empowerment objectives, acknowledging that systemic inequality faced by women and girls serves as a known driver of conflict, and the fourth focused on recommendations the U.S. should provide to allied governments for advancing womens empowerment and equality within their nations.

That strategy did not change radically between administrations, though the Biden White Houses strategy, published in October 2023, focused more on intersectionalitya core concept of identity politics. Promoting intersectionality with regard to demographics such as race, disability, and sexual orientation is important to ensure opportunities for the participation of all women.

The Biden administration report also linked questions of womens peace and security to climate change and LGBT+ rights. The administration stressed the importance of acknowledging the gendered dimensions of the climate crisis. The report cited an example of an August 2023 review the government released to study the effects of climate change on women, and develop strategies to alleviate climate-related issues disproportionately affecting them. This Strategy directly links gender inequality and climate change with advancing the WPS agenda because climate change impactssuch as extreme weather events and food and water insecurityare threat multipliers and increase the risk of displacement, migration, and conflict, especially in regions that suffer from instability, and particularly for women and girls, the 2023 report explained. In another example, the report noted that tools to promote women, peace, and security within the governmentsuch as sensitivity trainingcan also be used to raise awareness about LGBT+ issues of inequality.

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A Bangladeshi immigrant could finally be deported from the UK 13 years after he cheated in an English language test.

Md Adbur Rahim, 37, was accused by the Home Office of using a proxy to take the English test for him in 2012 which resulted in his application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK being rejected.

His deception was uncovered after a BBC Panorama documentary found widespread cheating at test centres and led to thousands of results including Mr Rahims being declared invalid.

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He appealed the refusal of his application, insisting he had taken the test himself, beginning a legal saga which went all the way to the Court of Appeal.

Now, Upper Tribunal Judge Bulpitt has ruled that it was highly probable Mr Rahim used a proxy for the test and the Home Office was right to refuse his application.

Seven-year legal battle

Mr Rahims claim highlights the lengthy legal battles by illegal migrants that has seen the backlog of immigration appeals rise to a record 41,987 outstanding cases. The Government has pledged to clear it by halving the time it takes for them to come to court to just 24 days.

Mr Rahim first came to the UK in 2007 as a student and was able to extend his leave until October 2014, when an application to extend was refused. While waiting for the appeal in that case to be heard, he launched a fresh application for indefinite leave to remain in October 2017 on the basis that he had been in the UK for a decade.

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That application was denied by the Home Office a month later on the basis Mr Rahim had previously used deception to obtain leave to remain by getting a proxy to take an English language test required for his October 2012 application to extend his leave.

This refusal then kickstarted a seven-year legal battle between Mr Rahim and the Home Office which went to the Court of Appeal.

It started in the first-tier tribunal in December 2018 where the court was told he had taken a Test of English for International Communication administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 2012. But the Home Office produced evidence to show Mr Rahims test had likely been taken by a proxy and was therefore invalid.

The tribunal concluded the burden of proof was on Mr Rahim to show he had taken the test himself but they found no cogent evidence this was the case and upheld the refusal. Rahim was not allowed to appeal and then applied twice, unsuccessfully, to take his case to the upper tribunal.

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When his second application was denied he sought a judicial review in the Court of Appeal. This was initially refused but he he was then allowed to appeal that decision and it was decided that the first-tier tribunal had made an error of law concerning the burden of proof.

In January this year, the case was heard by Judge Bulpitt to determine whether the decision needed to be remade by the upper tribunal. He concluded that it did.

In April, Judge Bulpitt heard the full case including that in February 2014 a BBC Panorama programme had exposed widespread cheating at centres run by ETS which sparked a Home Office investigation.

Officials used voice biometric technology to compare matching voices from different tests, a clear indicator that a proxy had been used.

Mr Rahim was wilfully vague

On the day Mr Rahim supposedly took the test at the London College of Media and Technology in London. One hundred and thirty one tests were later found to be invalid, including his, and the rest of the 159 taken were recorded as questionable.

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Mr Rahim told the court he had taken the test himself, relying on a witness statement from 2018 describing his journey to the test centre and the room itself. But he could not provide evidence from anyone who he claimed had recommended the centre to him.

Judge Bulpitt found his evidence to be wilfully vague compared to the compelling case offered by the Home Office that the Bangladeshi had used a proxy to conduct the test and therefore the Government was right to refuse his application.

He said: Overall, we found [Mr Rahims] account to lack transparency, to be wilfully vague and to lack support in circumstances where supporting evidence especially from his partner could reasonably be expected.

In contrast to that weak evidence we found the [Home Offices] evidence that [he] used a proxy for his test to be compelling, noting the high instances of fraud at the particular centre used by [Rahim], the appellants exceptionally high score and the highly probable conclusion reached following the ETS testing that the voice records reveal that [he] used a proxy.

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UPDATE: Voters have passed the $121.5M Athens ISD bond that would bring significant changes to the district.

Today is a great day to be a Hornet. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Athens ISD family, I want to express our heartfelt thanks to the voters for approving this bond. Your support represents a huge investment in the future of our students and our community. We are committed to being responsible stewards of these resources, ensuring every dollar is used wisely  and well be sharing updates and milestones as projects get underway. Thank you for trusting us to continue making Athens ISD the educational heart of East Texas, Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims said.

Photo courtesy of Athens ISD

ATHENS, Texas (KETK)  Athens ISD is looking to pass a $121.5 million bond that would bring significant changes to the district.

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Tyler District 1, District 3 up for grabs on the May ballot

The bond would focus on creating a new campus for their pre-k students and allow them to renovate several of their campuses along with addressing several other district concerns.

Athens Superintendent Jamie Sims spoke about how the district is beginning to feel pressure as the population around Athens is continuing to grow.

Were receiving pressure from highway 175. Kaufman County is the fastest growing county in the State of Texas, and we are beginning to feel that pressure, Sims said.

As Athens population continues to grow, Sims said it is having an immediate impact on the elementary level as families with young children are attempting to register their kids in preschool, which is causing the districts three elementary schools to overfill.

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Sims spoke about how the increase in students is making it challenging for elementary schools to function as they would like to. All schedules are severely compacted and very tight, Sims said.

Longview High School honors seniors at first-ever Lobo decision day

If the bond is passed, this would allow the district to create a new early childhood center designated for preschool students.

The bond would also go towards renovating the high school campus which was built in 1956. Specifically, the bond would allow for a new auditorium in the high school as the current one only allows for 500 students and does not give enough space for the band to perform.F

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Thee bond would also add a new agricultural barn to the district. Sims said that even though Athens is the largest district in Henderson County, she believes the school has not been able to find success in FFA events due to the district not having a barn to keep their livestock in.

Sims stated this bond would not impact residents property taxes. However, their overall taxes will go up if the bond is passed.

Even if the bond is not passed, Sims said the district will continue to work to provide their students with the best education they can provide.

We will continue to commit to providing the absolute finest education for our students just like we have, Sims said. We will not shy away from taking care of our children the best we can.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An analysis conducted by an attorney who formerly represented plant workers suggests emissions of a known chemical carcinogen from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. facility in Niagara Falls may be much worse than state regulators have previously suggested.

The analysis by attorney Steve Wodka, as first reported by the Buffalo News on Sunday, takes into account so-called fugitive emissions, which include leaks and other points of exit that result in the organic chemical ortho-toluidine escaping from the site while bypassing smokestacks.

Wodkas analysis, which relied on data Goodyear provided to the state and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, suggests total pollution, including chemicals released from smokestacks and fugitive emissions, could be 400 times higher than the states acceptable limits.

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Wodka outlined his findings while expressing serious concerns about the potential impact of the chemicals release on the surrounding neighborhood in an April 8 letter sent to Julie Barrett ONeil, regional director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The State of New York has a moral obligation, if not a legal duty, to inform the hundreds of families that live within the areas impacted by the real world current combination of both stack and fugitive emissions, and the parents of the children who attend the Cataract Elementary School, that their health is at risk from the emissions from the nearby Goodyear plant, Wodka wrote to ONeil.

Studies have shown O-T contributed to cases of bladder cancer among the workers at the Goodyear plant in the Falls. Emissions standards for the chemicals release in New York are supposed to follow the states Annual Guideline Concentration, which is .02 micrograms per cubic meter.

Last September, WBFO, in collaboration with Public Health Watch and Inside Climate News, first reported that the plant, located off 56th Street in the LaSalle section of the city, has been emitting ortho-toluidine and another pollutant, diphenylamine, known as DPA, at levels 1,000% higher than what state regulators deem safe.

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WBFO and its reporting partners cited a July 2023 notice of violation issued to Goodyear by the DEC that informed the company of its failure to control the emissions. The notice focused on two pollution-control devices that failed to properly control the emission of the pollutants. The news outlet reported estimates that the site has been releasing pollutants at higher levels than allowed by the state for at least 15 years.

Earlier this year, the DEC entered into a consent order with Goodyear in which the company agreed to install temporary pollution control measures to reduce stack emissions by April 10. Under the order, Goodyear is required to have permanent pollution controls installed by Oct. 31, 2026.

The DEC and Goodyear continue to insist emissions from the plant pose no imminent public health risk to the community.

At Goodyear, the health and safety of our associates and the communities in which we work is our top priority, Goodyear said in a statement released by a spokesperson. The DEC and New York State health authorities have publicly stated that historical emission limits are currently protective of the surrounding communitys air quality and there is no risk to the community based on their modeling.

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In his letter to ONeil, Wodka pointed to modeling done as part of Goodyears 2018 air permit application and its proposed 2023 protocol for plant operations. He noted that the company identified 13 emissions sources, which he described as stacks, that were emitting O-T into the air from the Falls plant. He also noted last years DEC modeling that showed the extent of the plume from the 13 sources. He said neither Goodyear nor the DEC has ever modeled or even proposed to model the real-world combination of both the 13 O-T emission sources and the plants fugitive emissions.

In his letter, Wodka noted that the most recent data available from the EPAs toxic release inventory indicated that Goodyear reported in 2023 emissions totaling 1,344 pounds of O-T into the air in the Falls. Of that, he said, 133 pounds, or 10% resulted from stack emissions, with the remainder, 1,211 pounds, or 90%, representing fugitive emissions.

A plume map generated by the DEC showed the extent of the cloud of emissions coming from the plant and its impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

When fugitive emissions are added to develop a similar air dispersion model, Wodka said the results show a wider area of impact that extends as far as 71st Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard, to Buffalo Avenue on the south, west more than a mile past the intersection of Packard Road and Hyde Park Boulevard, and to the north beyond Niagara Falls Boulevard.

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Wodka described Cataract Elementary School, located on Girard Avenue, as being well within the plume that is above the state safety limit of .02 micrograms per cubic meter.

After more than 35 years of studies and testing, the workers in the plant know, or should know, of the risk to their health from their exposure at the plant. However, the residents have never been told, Wodka wrote.
T-Roy, the mascot of Troy University, dances at a rally for higher education outside the Alabama Statehouse on Feb. 20, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. Two international students at Troy had their visas reinstated after being revoked by the Trump adminstration.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

About a week after Auburn University announced that 15 students and campus personnel had their visas revoked, university officials said the student visas were reinstated.

We are pleased to report that the federal government reinstated all affected Auburn students to active status, Jennifer Wood Adams, executive director of public affairs at Auburn, wrote in a statement Wednesday. We are not providing any additional details about the affected individuals to protect their privacy.

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The status of other personnel was not immediately clear on Friday.

According to a Politico report last week, the Trump administration said in federal court it was reversing course and reinstating visas for many international students and alumni.

Two Troy University students also had their visas reinstated.

A protestor (right) holds a sign in support of Alireza Douroudi, a University of Alabama graduate student arrested by ICE in March, during a protest of President Donald Trumps appearance on the campus on May 1, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Andrea Tinker for Alabama Reflector)

We are grateful that the administration is reevaluating its approach to the visas and status of international students. Attracting the brightest minds from around the world benefits us all, Troy Chancellor Jack Hawkins wrote in a statement Monday. International students make valuable contributions to critical industries through research, innovation and scholarship.

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According to the Associated Press, at least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March.

Trumps widespread immigration actions have also led to the wrongful arrest of several people with legal status, including Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and three U.S. citizen children under the age of 10, including one with Stage 4 cancer.

Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, was detained by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) in March. Doroudi was denied bond on April 17, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not named any charges.

A message seeking comment on Doroudis and other UA international students status was left with the University of Alabama Friday morning. President Donald Trump spoke at a commencement-related event at UA on Thursday where he praised his immigration policy.

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Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Aurelia Giacometto (right) and Gov. Jeff Landry hold a press conference on July 1, 2024, at the Denka neoprene plant in LaPlace, La., to speak against a new EPA rule they say is unfair to the company. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

Aurelia Giacometto, the embattled secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, has left the agency, according to a news release Friday from Gov. Jeff Landry.

The governor said Giacometto has accepted a position with Earth and Water Law, a firm in Washington, D.C. The governor has appointed Courtney Burdette to fill the vacancy left by Giacometto.

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Giacomettos departure follows a year of tumult that began with high-ranking LDEQ executives resigning and publicly airing their complaints about her alleged harassment of subordinates. It was also brought to light that Giacometto used public money to travel to out-of-state political events with no obvious connection to her position in state government.

The most recent high-end LDEQ resignation occurred Monday when its top financial executive left for another state agency, marking at least the 15th departure of a key employee under Giacomettos tenure. Many of her highest-ranking lieutenants, several of whom were experienced civil servants, left after just a few months or weeks on the job.

An Indiana native, Giacometto is a biologist who rose to political prominence as President Donald Trumps appointee to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service late into his first term. After leaving her federal government post, she went on a speaking tour for the National Rifle Association, which she continued several months into her new job at LDEQ. She could not be reached for comment Friday.

Giacomettos leadership style came under heightened scrutiny in March when Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack published the results of a workplace culture survey. Its results revealed pervasive low morale under her leadership, with some employees saying they felt pressured to violate the law or department policy.

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Roughly two weeks after the publication of that report, long-time LDEQ ombudsman Roger Ward abruptly resigned and disseminated a scathing seven-page letter detailing what he called the increasingly erratic and alarmingly vicious behavior of Giacometto. Ward said he wrote the letter in lieu of providing an exit interview, a long-established LDEQ practice Giacometto ended this year.

This is long overdue but fantastic news for the DEQ institutionally and its employees, Ward wrote in an email Friday to the Illuminator. Ms. Giacomettos tenure at DEQ has been a nightmare for both new and career employees at the agency. The damage she has done to the agency is immense and it is a shame that it took so many complaints and departures to finally get the governor to address her egregious and narcissistic behavior.

Ward also included an endorsement for Burdette as Giacomettos successor, saying she has the intellect and temperament to lead the agency.

Wards earlier polemic reinforced a similar departing letter from former LDEQ Undersecretary Chandra Pidgeon, who left the agency in March 2024 after just weeks of being hired. Pigeon similarly complained about Giacomettos harassment of longtime employees and other actions.

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I have worked for 23 years for the state of Louisiana, and I have never encountered a leader so destructive, calculating, and callous, she wrote.

None of that stopped the governor from praising Giacomettos leadership throughout her time in office and again in his news release Friday.

I want to sincerely thank Aurelia for her dedicated service to our State and the Department of Environmental Quality. Aurelia prioritized environmental improvements to our air, land, and water, while also keeping a focus on the jobs and businesses that often suffer from red-tape and overregulation, Landry said. We are grateful for her actions to improve the Department and wish her the best in her next endeavor.

Giacometto expressed her own gratitude to the governor in a department-wide email she sent Friday afternoon. She included links to presentations she entitled Achievements Report 2024 and Accomplishments List to Date.

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Over the past 17 months, I have been privileged to lead this agency through transformative initiatives that have made a significant impact on our environment and communities, her email said. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the support and collaboration I have experienced from each of you.

Burdette, Giacomettos replacement, first joined the legal team at LDEQ in January 2014. She served as a permits supervisor of the departments legal division before becoming general counsel in 2020 and later executive counsel.

Her experience also includes working as an attorney with the Louisiana Board of Ethics, and she was previously an assistant state attorney general who defended the state in a variety of tort cases, according to the governors office.

Burdette received a bachelors degree in English from Howard University and her law degree from LSU.

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Ben Dawkins was so convinced Australia was having its Maga moment that he legally changed his name to Austin Aussie Trump.

People in this country want change, the western Australian MP told The Telegraph from his home in Bunbury, ahead of the countrys federal election on May 3.

But Aussie Trumps gamble didnt pay off. He failed to regain his seat in a state election which took place last month.

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His failure is a cautionary tale for any Australian politicians tempted to mould themselves too closely on Donald Trump, who staged one of the greatest political comebacks in history last November.

Chief among them is Peter Dutton, whose tough rhetoric and rightward shift once looked like a winning formula. The leader of Australias centre-right Liberal Party, has spent years carefully crafting a political persona that echoes the combative style of Trump  attacking immigration, crime, woke school curriculums, and raising doubts about climate change.

Yet, like conservative politicians elsewhere  namely Pierre Poilievre, a Right-wing firebrand who lost the Canadian election earlier this week  Dutton is now facing the uncomfortable reality that attaching himself to the Trump brand may be doing more harm than good ahead of Saturdays election.

When Dutton first took over the Liberal Party, he shifted it sharply to the right. His rhetoric on crime and migration was aggressive: he once blamed African gangs for making Australians afraid to go out at night.

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He railed against culture, diversity and inclusion advisers in the civil service, calling them a waste of taxpayers money. His Indigenous Affairs spokesperson, Jacinta Price, even endorsed Trump in December and vowed the party would make Australia great again.

Peter Dutton is among Right-wing politicians to have linked themselves to Trump - Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

The strategy initially seemed to work. Following Trumps return to the White House, Duttons opposition coalition surged to 52 per cent support on January 22, according to The Telegraphs election tracker. Labor hovered at 48 per cent, and Anthony Albanese looked set to be the first prime minister in Australia to lose a federal election since the 1930s after one term.

Duttons surge in the polls came two years after he successfully spearheaded a No campaign against establishing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, showcasing his ability to energise Australias cultural conservatives.

But then Trump launched a global trade war. Tariffs threatened to hammer Australian exports and sent shockwaves through the world economy. Quite quickly Duttons identification with Trump had become a political liability.

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Duttons coalition has since fallen back to 46 per cent, trailing Labors 54 per cent, based on preference for Liberal-National Coalition and Labor candidates. His personal approval ratings have also slumped.

Modelling from YouGov now predicts his coalition will end with its lowest number of seats in 80 years.

When Albanese called the election, both leaders had net satisfaction ratings of around -9. Since then, Albaneses rating has improved by five points, while Duttons has plunged to -17.

Theres been a lot of ambiguity with Duttons approach, hes backed from policies on climate change and the civil service but then hes had to move away from them, Rodney Smith, a professor of politics at the University of Sydney, told The Telegraph.

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I think in some ways that the appearance of a strong man who doesnt quite believe in his own strength, if you like, has undermined him.

Pierre Poilievre attacked the governments woke agenda and green policies - Patrick Doyle/CANADA-POLITICS

On Thursday, it was reported that Chris LaCivita, an American political consultant and one of the architects of Mr Trumps 2024 election victory, had made a secret trip to Australia at the start of the election campaign to advise the Liberal Party about structural issues related to Mr Dutton.

First revealed by The Guardian, Mr LaCivita is said to have told undercover reporters on April 16 that he was in Australia two weeks ago helping the Liberal party there, on some of their structural issues that they were having with Peter Dutton.

The trip, Mr LaCivita said, was in a private capacity and not related to his work for the US president.

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Things somewhat seem to be moving in the right direction there  those efforts are strictly political in nature and dont require me to engage with the United States government, he was quoted as saying.

Both the conservative coalition and Mr LaCivita deny any connection to the Dutton campaign.

Aggro and charmless

Subsequent focus group research published by News.com.au found voters describing Dutton as extreme, creepy, aggro, charmless and even evil. Above all, voters said he was too much like Trump.

Australia is not alone. In Canada, Mr Poilievre, who also modelled himself on Trump by attacking the woke agenda and the governments green policies, was once seen as a certain winner.

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But after Mr Trumps tariffs and the arrival of new Liberal leader Mark Carney, the former Bank of England governor, the Liberals staged a dramatic recovery, culminating in their election victory on Monday.

Smith, however, had a word of warning for those hoping to compare the two elections. I dont think theres a huge wave of enthusiasm for a second Albanese term, theres not a sense of optimism or excitement around it. Its definitely not like the Canadian situation.

But the broader pattern is clear: while Trump himself defied expectations to retake the White House, his global imitators are struggling.

In any case, Dutton has leaned even further into Trumpian themes during the final stretch of the campaign. He announced a plan to cut 41,000 civil service jobs and end working-from-home arrangements, arguing that taxpayers deserved efficiency, though later backtracked after a major backlash.

Attacks on diversity

His attack on diversity advisers and bureaucrats echoes Maga rhetoric against wasteful government spending. He has championed expanding gas exploration  saying Im not a scientist when asked about climate change  and called for dramatic cuts to legal immigration.

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Ms Price, meanwhile, was given an important new role: shadow minister for government efficiency, in a nod to Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency project.

But none of it seems to be working.

While the final results are still days away, the signs suggest that Australias so-called Maga moment is fizzling. If Peter Dutton loses, he wont just be a casualty of domestic politics, he will be another leader felled by the global backlash against Trumpism.

As Smith put it: Duttons identification with Trump, that hes a strong leader, has backfired.

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No matter who Australians intend to vote for, one man they are sure to have on their mind as they wait in line at the polls is Donald Trump.

In addition to not being spared the 10 per cent blanket tariffs, the country has been burdened by a 25 per cent levy on US-bound exports of its steel and aluminium.

When is Australia holding a federal election?

In March, Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, called a general election for May 3  firing the starting gun on a five-week campaign.

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After taking over as leader of the centre-Left Labor in 2019, he took power in 2022, the first time that his party had done so as a majority government since winning the 2007 election.

But in the three years since, the conservative Liberal-National Coalition has made significant gains in the polls as the government struggled to ease cost of living pressures and solve a chronic shortage of housing, driving up prices and rents.

Who is running in the Australian election?

Mr Albanese, 62, is seeking a second term in office. His inability to negotiate carve-outs from Washingtons tariffs, despite opting not to retaliate, has been a central talking point of the election campaign so far.

This is not the act of a friend, he said. We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.

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The US president singled out Australias 2003 ban on fresh beef imports from the US in response to an outbreak of mad cow disease as justification during his liberation day speech.

Mr Trump said: Theyre wonderful people and wonderful everything, but they ban American beef.

Peter Dutton, 54, took over the reins of the Liberal Party from Scott Morrison in the wake of its 2022 wipeout.

Of the trade wars repercussions for Australia, Mr Dutton said: I just dont think the prime minister has the strength or the ability to stand up to a situation that is unacceptable to us.

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But much like conservative populists in Canada and elsewhere, the leader of the opposition has suffered in the polls of late as accusations of Trump-like behaviour stick.

Jacinta Price, his partys indigenous affairs spokesperson and the designated minister for government efficiency, drew widespread ire for claiming they could make Australia great again.

How do Australian elections work?

Australian federal elections are held every three years. The constitution dictates they take place on a Saturday, making the latest possible date this vote could have been held Sept 27.

The 151 members of the House of Representatives are elected from single-member constituencies through preferential voting.

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Voters rank all candidates in order of preference, and if one obtains an outright majority, they win the seat.

Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred according to voters next preferences, a process repeated until a winner emerges.

Voting is compulsory in Australia, which means all citizens over the age of 18 must enrol and vote by law, or face a 20 Australian dollar (9.60) fine.

How did we get the data?

The Telegraphs model uses polls from a range of reputable Australian pollsters, compiled by The Poll Bludger. These include Essential Research, Roy Morgan and Newspoll.

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The result of each survey published since the last election has been weighted according to how well that pollster performed and the size of the sample.

The trend line displayed is the weighted moving average (WMA) of all polls published over the preceding three weeks.

How accurate are the polls?

Every poll comes with a measure of uncertainty. Although all pollsters strive to interrogate a representative sample and make adjustments to reflect the make-up of the wider country, a margin of error is unavoidable.

In practice, the true position of a particular poll is likely to fall within two points of the quoted figure.

Each pollster also has a bespoke approach to establishing headline voting intention. The precise wording of questions can vary, as does the way dont know responses are handled.

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Studies have shown that an aggregated poll of polls helps mitigate the potential biases emerging from individual pollsters.

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TEHRAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday stressed that while remaining committed to the path of diplomacy, the country would not tolerate the U.S. threat- and pressure-based approaches.

The ministry made the remarks in a statement reacting to a Thursday post on social media platform Truth Social by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop immediately, as well as the fresh U.S. sanctions imposed earlier this week on a number of individuals and entities in Iran and other countries.

"While stressing its commitment to the path of diplomacy and announcing readiness for the continuation of the (Omani-mediated indirect) negotiations (with the United States), the Islamic Republic of Iran will under no circumstances tolerate approaches based on threat and pressure," said the ministry.

Tehran strongly condemned the continuation of the U.S. "illegal" sanctions and pressure on Iran and its trade partners, and considered them another sign indicating that the Iranian nation is entitled to being deeply suspicious about the U.S. seriousness in the path of diplomacy, according to the statement.

The ministry emphasized that during the recent talks with the United States, Iran's negotiators had expounded on the nation's "positions and rightful demands" based on a determined framework as per the country's principled positions under international law in the area of making peaceful use of nuclear energy and ending the "cruel" sanctions, and had made efforts to achieve a "fair, logical and sustainable" agreement.

Iran and the United States held the first and third rounds of their indirect negotiations in Oman's Muscat on April 12 and 26, and the second one in Italy's Rome on April 19. The fourth round was scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday but was postponed to an unspecified date owing to what Oman described as "logistical reasons." 
By Kirsty Needham and Samuel McKeith

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australians voted on Saturday in a national election that polls show will likely favour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party over the conservative opposition, as worries about President Donald Trump's volatile policies overshadowed calls for change.

Both of Australia's major parties have focused on assuaging cost-of-living concerns but opinion polls show that global uncertainty driven by Trump's stop-start tariffs rapidly became a top issue for voters during the campaign.

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For Reuters LIVE updates on the election, see

Albanese said in televised comments from Melbourne that his centre-left government had "built really strong foundations".

"We have real wages going up, we have inflation going down," the prime minister said, before travelling to his home district in Sydney to cast his vote.

Albanese, ending a five-week election campaign, has pledged to improve housing affordability and strengthen Australia's universal healthcare system during his second term.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton also started his day in Melbourne, a key battleground, where he urged voters to choose his Liberal-National coalition "to get our country back on track", before heading to his home state of Queensland.

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"I think a lot of quiet Australians have come out today to support the coalition," Dutton said after lodging his vote in his Brisbane district, which he narrowly holds for the Liberal Party.

The election comes less than a week after Canada's Liberal Party returned to power in a major political comeback, powered by a backlash against Trump's tariffs and his remarks on making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Labor has tried to cast ex-policeman Dutton, who has pledged to sharply reduce immigration and cut thousands of public service jobs, as a Trump-lite conservative, hoping some of Australians' negative sentiment towards the U.S. president will rub off on the opposition leader.

Dutton has sought to distance himself from comparisons with Trump adviser Elon Musk's agency-cutting fervor, but fell behind Labor after the U.S. placed tariffs on Australia. Dutton had led in opinion polls as recently as February.

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Australia is a close U.S. security ally and generally runs a trade deficit with the United States. Even so, it was not spared Trump's tariffs with a 10% duty imposed on Australian exports.

Polling booths in Australia - among the few democracies with mandatory voting - opened at 8 a.m., although a record 8 million out of 18 million eligible voters had already cast ballots before Saturday. Polls close at 6 p.m. (0800-1000 GMT depending on time zone).

TRUMP EFFECT?

Volunteers at local polling centres fired up barbecues and some beachside voters arrived to cast their ballots wearing tight-fit swim trunks called "budgy smugglers".

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In the Sydney suburb of Bondi, voter Ben McCluskey said he felt upbeat about Labor winning a second term.

"I'm slightly positive. Hopefully, it's gonna be a minority government and the Greens get a balance of power," the engineer, 41, said.

Nearby, Lucy Tonagh, a 28-year-old childcare worker, said rising living costs were front of mind for her at the ballot box.

"I feel like the cost of living and also childcare because that's a key issue I find. There need to be more teachers," Tonagh said.

Political strategists said Trump was not likely to be the decisive factor in the election - Albanese has run a strong campaign and Dutton made mistakes, including a short-lived proposal to ban public servants working from home. But the Trump effect, they said, has added to reservations for voters who became risk-averse.

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In the capital Canberra, Matthew Smith, 49, said he has been a liberal all his life but this time voted independent.

"I felt that over the last couple of years Dutton has taken a turn where he's become very populist. I do see him as a bit Trump-like, Smith said.

"I think he's taken the liberal brand away from where it should be," he added.

A Newspoll published on Friday in The Australian newspaper showed Labor leading 52.5%-47.5% against the Liberal-National coalition, under Australia's two-party preferential voting system.

Several polls suggest Labor may be forced into a minority government. Preferences among supporters of the minor parties and independents could be crucial under Australia's ranked-choice voting system.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham, Sam McKeith, Cordelia Hsu Zahra Matarani and Christine Chen in Sydney, Peter Hobson in Canberra and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Stephen Coates, Edmund Klamann and Kim Coghill,)
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese campaigned in his conservative opponent Peter Dutton's constituency on the final day before Saturday's election, with polls favouring the incumbent in a campaign overshadowed by Donald Trump's volatile diplomacy.

Australia is among the few democracies with mandatory voting, and close to 7 million out of an eligible 18 million voters had already cast a ballot by Friday at early voting centres or by postal voting, the Australian Electoral Commission said.

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All published opinion polls show Albanese's centre-left Labor ahead of the conservative Liberal-National coalition on a two-party preferred basis, although the polls also show that Labor could find itself leading a minority government.

Both major parties have focused on cost-of-living pressures and high housing costs, but polls show that global uncertainty driven by Trump's stop-start tariffs rapidly became a top issue for voters during the campaign.

Dutton has sought to distance himself from comparisons with Trump but has fallen behind after leading in opinion polls as recently as February.

Political strategists said Trump was not the decisive factor - Albanese has run a strong campaign, and Dutton made mistakes including a short-lived policy to ban public servants working from home. But the Trump effect, they said, has added to reservations for voters who became risk-averse.

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"In uncertain times you can be certain that Labor has a plan to build Australia's future and you can be certain that the Coalition have cuts and chaos," Albanese said on Friday at a press conference, honing his final pitch to voters.

In a radio interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Albanese said Australia was "a different country to the United States" and voters are concerned about Dutton's election pledges to "slash climate change policies" and cut 41,000 public servants.

Dutton, campaigning in his own electorate a day before Albanese, highlighted difficulties facing Australian families and small businesses. "Are you better off today than you were three years ago?" he told voters.

Pointing to a 2019 election result that had defied the opinion polls by returning a conservative government, Dutton said on Friday he could still win.

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A RedBridge-Accent poll published by News Corp newspapers on Thursday showed Labor leading 53%-47% against the conservative Liberal-National coalition under Australia's two-party preferential voting system, with voters citing concerns about Trump and about Dutton's plan to build nuclear power stations in a nation where nuclear energy is banned.

An Australian Financial Review/Freshwater poll on Friday had Labor leading 51.5%-48.5%.

Albanese, who flew 1,600 km (1,000 miles) from Queensland in the north to the southernmost state of Tasmania, cautioned that there were a large number of undecided voters. He will proceed to Victoria, where analysts said Labor is at risk of losing outer suburban seats, and to his home state of New South Wales.

Albanese said on Friday he would not strike policy deals for support from minor parties or independents, as occurred in the most recent minority Labor government in 2010.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Officials with the Oklahoma County Detention Centers Criminal Investigations Division (CID) on Monday announced the arrest of two regarding a smuggling operation.

CID officials say, the two suspects were delivering narcotics and cash to a jail employee who would pass the drugs to an inmate.

According to CID, Shaniqwa Owens and Isneithta Ra were booked on multiple charges. Additionally, two inmates will also be charged. No word on those names at the time of this publishing.

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Edmond officer stabbed, injured during traffic stop

Shaniqwa Owens, Image courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center

Isneithta Ra, Image courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center

This successful operation is a testament to the proactive efforts of our CID agents to protect the integrity and safety of our facility, said Paul Timmons, CEO. We will continue to investigate and stop any attempt to compromise this facility.

The investigation is currently 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Beloit executed search warrants Monday at two massage parlors suspected of offering sexual services, police announced.

According to the Beloit Police Department, the warrants were served on April 29 at businesses located in the 2700 and 2200 blocks of Prairie Avenue.

Man found dead in Wisconsin drainage culvert, exposure suspected

The coordinated operation followed multiple complaints from community members and nearby businesses alleging that the establishments were involved in prostitution.

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After an investigation, police say there was sufficient evidence and probable cause to obtain the warrants. Investigators collected additional evidence and conducted several interviews during the searches.

More details released on 12-year-old student who brought gun to a Wisconsin school

The case remains under investigation and is part of a broader initiative targeting human trafficking and illegal operations promoting prostitution.

Beloit police emphasized their commitment to dismantling such criminal enterprises and supporting potential trafficking victims.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Vanderburgh County Coroners Office has identified the man who was found dead in Pigeon Creek earlier this week.

According to a release, the deceased was identified as 57-year-old Gary Brian Wilson of Evansville. An autopsy was completed on April 28, with the cause of death being ruled as a drowning. Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson confirmed foul play is not suspected.

Authorities say a group of kayakers contacted authorities on Sunday at 7:13 p.m. after seeing a body floating in a congested area of driftwood in Pigeon Creek near the area of Grove Street and Diamond Avenue. Vanderburgh County Sheriffs deputies, Indiana Conservation Officers, Evansville Police officers and Evansville Fire Department personnel responded to the area and located Wilson near the railroad tracks parallel to Grove Street.

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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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
HADDAM, Conn. (WTNH)  A 51-year-old womans body was recovered in the Connecticut River on Thursday, according to police.

Crews responded to Haddam Meadows State Park at around 6:30 p.m. Middletown detectives positively identified the woman as Janeen Shaw of Middletown.

Dive teams recover vehicle in Connecticut River in Middletown

Police connected the case to a case back in February, when they received reports that a woman intentionally drove an Audi Q5 into the river at Harbor Park. The car was found, but the woman inside the car was not found. Police say that Shaw was the woman in the car.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
When my university, Columbia, recently capitulated to President Donald Trumps $400 million ultimatum, I felt a creeping sense of deja vu. I had seen this beforein Russia.

Before coming to Columbia as a grad student, I went to Smolny College, a small liberal-arts school in St. Petersburg. The Smolny I knew was one of Russias few independent colleges; students and faculty had extraordinary autonomy, which they often used to challenge the government. Then Russian authorities intervened, and my alma mater started unraveling.

Smolnys story offers a warning that Columbia must heed while it still has the chance: When autocrats realize they can manipulate a school, they wont stop until they have total control.

Before Smolny was a college, it was an experiment. A few years after the Soviet Union collapsed, Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College, in New York, paid a visit to St. Petersburg State University. Professors at SPSUone of Russias most prestigious universitieshad proposed partnering with Bard. Botstein liked the idea, so he went to speak with the faculty about what he thought Russia and the West could learn from each other. Apparently, he left an impression: Professors quoted him to one another long after he left.

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[Garry Kasparov: How America can avoid becoming Russia]

Inspired by Botsteins visit, SPSU joined with Bard to create a liberal-arts program that grew into Smolny. George Soross newly established Open Society Foundations funded the initiative, and Russias finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, offered early political support. After Kudrin became dean in 2011, Smolny matured into a true liberal-arts college, offering a dual SPSUBard degree and majors including literature, economics, and computer science. The school enrolled some 600 students, attracted Western grants, amassed an endowment, hired ideologically diverse faculty, and hosted much broader political debate than could be found on most Russian campuses.

Nikolay Kropachev, the head of SPSU, looked on with increasing alarm. Both he and Kudrin had ties to the governmentPresident Vladimir Putin decides whether to renew Kropachevs appointmentbut the Kremlin eventually came to view Kudrin as a liberal outsider, someone who couldnt be relied on to enforce orthodoxy. So that job fell to Kropachev. His position was that Smolny was a complete disgrace and had to be shut down, Dmitry Dubrovsky, the founder of Smolnys human-rights program, told me. One of the universitys principal concerns was the Smolny faculty, which often criticized SPSUs administration. Indeed, Dubrovsky himself had publicly attacked a university policy that required professors to submit their work to administrators before publishing or presenting it abroad. (In 2015, SPSU sent Dubrovsky a renewal contract that he said didnt reflect the provisions hed agreed to. The school fired him for refusing to sign.)

In early 2021, Kudrin announced that Smolny would separate from SPSU. Our education model differs from the one used at SPSU, he said at the time, rather diplomatically. But before the divorce took effect, a pro-Kremlin group persuaded the Russian state prosecutors office to investigate Smolnys ties to Soros, whose NGOs had been outlawed in the country. The group alleged that Soros and Bard were using Smolny to turn Russias youth into a protest electorate with a pro-Western and hostile ideology towards their own country. SPSU cooperated with the prosecutors, who determined that Bard posed a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation. Instead of separating from SPSU, Smolny was forced to part ways with Bard, losing out on funding as well as the schools student-faculty exchange. Graduates began receiving standard SPSU diplomas rather than dual degrees.

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Julia, a Smolny student at the time, was baffled by the response among her professors. (She requested that we use only her first name to speak candidly about them.) We need to prove that Smolny is independent and distinct from Bardthat it is authentically Russian, Julia recalls her teachers saying. I was like, What are you talking about? she told me. It was some kind of instant resignation. But you taught us differently!

The crackdown intensified in the fall of 2021, when Russian authorities arrested Michael Freese, a Smolny professor and an American citizen who had helped manage the schools partnership with Bard. They detained Freese on his way to campus, held him for three days, revoked his visa, and deported him. In a signal of the tightening relationship between higher education and the regime, Kropachev signed a joint letter in 2022 endorsing Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine and praising the role of universities as the backbone of the state.

Over the next year, Smolny purged dozens of professors, including one who was fired for joining an anti-war protest. Meanwhile, SPSU conducted a review of Smolnys curriculum, finding that its classes were highly ideological and representative of the worst Western stereotypes. Kudrin stepped down voluntarily, at least in the universitys telling.

Soon enough, administrators aligned with SPSU took his place. They would undertake just a few corrections to the curricula, one of them wrote on social media. Instead, Smolny swapped out discussion-based seminars for lectures and cut the number of electives from 129 to 10. The administration also reduced the schools 12 majors to seven and gave them new names such as Literature in the Context of Culture, Economics of Culture, and Music in the Context of Culture. (Culture in the context of culture became a sneering refrain on campus.) Sensing that the changes posed an existential threat to the school, students started a Save Smolny campaign. Two were expelled after an academic committee decided to fail them.

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Today, the Smolny I knew survives only in fragments. The school has maintained its size but now attracts only half the applicants it once did. With help from Bard, a group of former professors founded Smolny Beyond Borders, an initiative that offers online classes outside the reach of SPSU administrators and Kremlin bureaucrats. An alum recently told me that in order to teach an uncensored seminar, she had to sneak onto campus.

Last spring, I heard an exiled Russian journalist, Elena Kostyuchenko, talk about the pro-Palestine protests roiling Columbias campus. If I studied or worked there, I would stand beside the protesting students now, Kostyuchenko said at a conference, one week after police began arresting demonstrators. Not because I agree with their opinion. But because I know what happens when you dont defend anothers opinion. The day after, you yourself wont be allowed to speak out.

[Garry Kasparov: The Putinization of America]

A year later, the Trump administration announced that it was canceling $400 million in federal grants to Columbia, ostensibly because the school had failed to curb anti-Semitism. The next day, March 8, immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent Columbia graduate. Many of my international peers became afraid to join protests or even come to campus, especially after Department of Homeland Security agents scoured two student residences. Then the government sent a list of demands to the school. Columbia mostly obliged, empowering campus-security officers to arrest students, for example, and placing the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under reviewall in hopes of getting the $400 million back.

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It didnt work; the money is still gone. And now the White House is reportedly planning to pursue a consent decree, which could effectively allow Trump to enforce his demands via the courts. Even though Columbia remains more insulated from state power than Smolny, the concerns I hear from my peers in America have begun to sound a lot like what I heard from my peers in Russia.

Last year, Kostyuchenkos warning that authoritarian forces could sway Columbia seemed far-fetched. I admit that I didnt quite believe her. I do now.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Ramid Namazov, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament's commission on countering hybrid threats, has claimed that Russia was behind a February 2025 cyberattack on the country.

Source: Namazov at a public hearing on 2 May, quoted by Azerbaijan's state news agency APA, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Namazov said an investigation found that the 20 February cyberattack against Azerbaijani media was carried out by the APT29 group, also known as Cozy Bear, which is linked to Russian military intelligence.

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"The activities of APT29, which is engaged in cyber espionage, are mainly directed against government agencies and foreign diplomatic missions, as well as the sectors of politics, defence, energy, media and other critical areas," the MP noted.

He said the attackers had penetrated the networks of Azerbaijani media systems in advance.

The MP claims that the cyberattack was triggered by the Azerbaijani authorities decision on 3 February to close the Russian House in Baku due to violations of the law and the potential closure of the Azerbaijani branch of Sputnik Radio.

"It is because of these processes that this politically motivated incident of cyber interference occurred," Namazov said.

Background:

It should be noted that Russian-Azerbaijani relations were already tense at the time due to the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in December 2024 near Grozny.

Azerbaijan reportedly has evidence that the plane, which crashed in December after being diverted from Russia to Kazakhstan, was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system.

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TOKYO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- An employee at Japan's Imperial Palace has been dismissed for allegedly stealing cash totaling 3.6 million yen (about 24,900 U.S. dollars) set aside for personal expenses for Emperor Naruhito and his family, local media reported Friday.

The Imperial Household Agency (IHA) identified the suspect as an employee in his 20s who was one of about 80 attendants assigned to serve the daily needs of Naruhito and his family, and has filed a criminal complaint with the palace police, Jiji Press reported.

According to the agency, another employee in his 40s who was tasked with managing such funds in January this year noticed a discrepancy between the cash in the safe and the accounting book.

After discovering the loss of 30,000 yen in late March, the employee confronted the suspect, with the latter admitting to stealing a total of 3.6 million yen on several occasions between November 2023 and March this year, the report said.

The suspect later returned the money by mid-April, it added.

"We deeply regret this unacceptable act by a member of the agency who supports the activities of the Imperial Family," IHA chief Yasuhiko Nishimura said in a statement.

Apologizing to the Emperor and other imperial family members, Nishimura said, "We'll work to prevent similar incidents from happening again by strictly maintaining discipline." 
Russia was behind the February cyberattack on Azerbaijani media, Ramid Namazov, head of the Azerbaijani parliament's commission on countering hybrid threats, said on May 2, the APA news agency reported.

According to Namazov, the investigation found that the cyberattack against Azerbaijan that took place on Feb. 20, was carried out by the infamous APT29 group, also known as Cozy Bear, widely believed to be linked to Russias Foreign Intelligence Service.

"The activities of APT29, which is engaged in cyber espionage, are mainly directed against government agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, as well as political, defense, energy, media and other critical areas," the lawmaker said.

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Namazov suggested that the attack was a retaliation for the closure of the Russian House in Baku in early February and the possible shutdown of the Azerbaijani branch of Sputnik radio.

"It is because of these processes that this politically motivated incident of cyber interference took place," he added.

Azerbaijan, who has maintained historical ties with Russia, has seen relations with Moscow dwindle following the Dec. 25 crash of Flight J2-8243, which killed 38 people. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of causing the crash.

Russian hacker groups have engaged in various forms of cyber warfare throughout the full-scale war, including cyberattacks against Ukraine, hacks of civilian infrastructure in Europe, and interference in foreign elections.

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  A babysitter arrested after a 1-year-old toddler reportedly in her care suffered third-degree burns is now facing more serious charges.

After more investigation into the incident, the city prosecutors office chose to upgrade the child endangering charges against Kimberly Richmond, 52, of Akron, from misdemeanors to felonies, according to a Friday news release from police.

Man killed in tragic accident at Akron construction site: Police

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Police were called to an emergency at a home in the 1100 block of Lakeshore Boulevard just after 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, Akron police said last week.

The mother of a 1-year-old girl told police she left her daughter in the care of a babysitter while she went out of town, according to a previous news release. When she returned, the mother found the girl had been scalded by hot water from a bath or a shower.

An initial investigation suggests the babysitter did not report the burns or seek medical attention for the girl. The girl was later transported to a hospital and found to have second- and third-degree burns.

Man critically injured in fall at Pittsburgh Pirates game is former Walsh University football player

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Richmond was arraigned Thursday on the upgraded charges and handed a $500,000 bond.

The charges will now go before a Summit County grand jury for possible indictment, court records show. No future court dates have been set.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Milwaukee-based wealth management firm Baird & Co. is under fire after employees have claimed unsustainable work conditions that led several bankers to quit and at least one to collapse of exhaustion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The complaints first came to light in an April 12 anonymous post on Wall Street Oasis, a popular message board for Wall Street employees.

The author, who claimed to be a former Baird employee, said analysts and associates were "treated as scum." The post garnered hundreds of comments, including many echoing the author's allegations.

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In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Baird said the company takes "very seriously" any negative accusations or comments about working at the firm and, when such accusations arise, acts immediately to investigate, confirm and resolve them to the best of its ability.

"While we believe recent allegations posted online are misleading and incomplete, and unfairly characterize our business, our leaders, members of our team and our culture, this is a chance to restate our promise to all and redouble our efforts to make sure were creating the best workplace we possibly can," the company said.

The company added, "Working in investment banking can be challenging; we work hard every day to foster a great culture and provide long-term, sustainable careers for our associates. We also know we are not perfect and remain focused on improving how we manage and develop our people and our business."

Founded in Milwaukee in 1919, Baird operates more than 155 offices nationwide, including 15 in Wisconsin, according to its website. The anonymous author did not specify which branch they were writing about, but on April 30, the Wall Street Journal reported similar poor working conditions at the firm's Chicago office.

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Here's what the Wall Street Journal report said about working conditions at Baird.

A Baird sign hangs on the north facing side of the US Bank Center at 777 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.

What did Baird employees say about the company?

In anonymous interviews to the Wall Street Journal, former employees and people familiar with the firm said strenuous working conditions on Baird's industrials team have led more than a dozen members of the team to leave since the start of 2024.

Former employees said 110-hour weeks were the norm, and managers would often not honor the firm's required policy of Saturdays off, the Journal reported.

In one instance at the Chicago office, junior bankers who had been working until 4 a.m. for weeks last year were gathered for a pizza party where managers told them to step up their performance, sources told the Journal.

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One former analyst told the Journal he was chastised by his boss for leaving his desk for more than five minutes to pick up dinner, and another employee was reported to be diagnosed with a failed pancreas after collapsing at home from exhaustion.

The employee, who had previously raised concerns to human resources about 20-hour workdays, was fired for poor productivity after a second emergency room visit, the Journal reported.

Meanwhile, other bankers still employed by the team told the Journal they weren't bothered by the working conditions and found them to be on par with other investment banking firms.

After the message board post began gathering traction, senior bankers at Baird convened a town hall for the industrials team and encouraged junior employees to voice concerns, the Journal reported. In its statement to the Journal Sentinel, Baird also said it welcomes any comments and ideas from associates on how to better the company.

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A midlevel manager, Aaron Haney, who was cited by the Journal as often assigning 20-hour days, also left the firm in April, according to a report from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Long work hours and limited time off are often the norm for junior employees at major investment banking firms. In recent months, these practices have come under increased scrutiny, especially following the death last year of a 35-year-old Bank of America employee from a blood clot after regularly working 100-hour weeks.

How many Baird employees work in Milwaukee?

As of 2023, more than 1,600 associates worked at Baird's downtown Milwaukee headquarters at the U.S. Bank Center. As the building's largest tenant, Baird's name is displayed on two signs atop the tower.

Downtown Milwaukee's convention center was also renamed Baird Center in 2024, after the financial services company became the official naming rights partner for the facility.

Maia Pandey can be reached at mpandey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee-based Baird responds to employee complaints about work conditions
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A 37-year-old Bakersfield man is accused of impregnating a 16-year-old girl  his teen daughters former best friend, according to court documents.

Authorities say Jacob Stanger Rahs mother knew about the relationship but didnt notify law enforcement. The teen lived with Rah for months in his mothers house in northwest Bakersfield, according to the documents.

A journal kept by the girl laid out her predicament: In love with a 37 year old man, pregnant with his soon to be child, used to be his 14 year old daughters best friend, now she hates me, and wants me dead.

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Rah was arrested in January and charged with multiple felonies. He made bail, and was rearrested Wednesday on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child under 18 and attempting to intimidate a witness.

Hes currently being held without bail.

His 81-year-old mother also was arrested Wednesday. Shes being held on $120,000 bail on suspicion of conspiracy and accessory after the fact.

Both are due in court Friday.

You made the first moves

The investigation began in October when a Centennial High School student told school officials the 16-year-old  who was reported as a runaway  was living with Rah, say court documents filed by sheriffs investigators. Rumors abounded the two were sexually involved.

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Detectives interviewed school officials, and in early January received more evidence when the pregnant teens mother gave them her daughters journal. In it the girl described having a romantic relationship with Rah  and said shes seven months pregnant by him.

She wrote he initiated the relationship.

Crazy how you came on to me, she wrote. You made the first moves, you said I love you first. Knowing how old I am. U.

Armed with a search warrant, investigators went to a house in the 10100 block of Meacham Road and found Rah and the girl there  as well as 30 pounds of processed marijuana, and marijuana plants hanging from a line in the home, according to the documents.

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Rah was arrested and taken to jail.

The 16-year-old refused to speak with detectives, but agreed to talk to a social worker.

Asked if Rah was the father of her unborn child, she said, You guys already know, so I dont want to talk about it.

The social worker continued questioning her. The teen admitted Rah was the father, according to the documents, and said her relationship with him had damaged her friendship with his daughter.

She told the social worker she helped Rah bag marijuana because so much was growing it got in the way. She said shes smoked marijuana since she was 11.

Naked on the couch

Rahs daughter, interviewed the same day, said her former friend moved in sometime in January 2024. Her fathers behavior began to change soon after. She said he became moodier, wouldnt help with chores, yelled often.

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She described their living situation.

The daughters bedroom was upstairs; the 16-year-old slept on a couch in the living room.

Rah slept on a bed in the same room as the teen, the daughter told detectives.

One day she walked in and found them naked on the couch, she said. She said she believes they were having sex before she entered the room.

She also believes Rah impregnated her former friend, according to the documents.

Rah and the teen did drugs together, she said. He introduced the 16-year-old to methamphetamine, but the girl had stopped using the drug, the daughter said.

What mom knew

Rahs mother, Veronica Rah, spoke with detectives later that day.

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The house on Meacham Road belonged to her, but she moved out months earlier. She couldnt stand the mess her son was making by growing marijuana, and he refused to leave, she said according to the documents.

She added shed reported the marijuana to law enforcement on multiple occasions.

Veronica Rah confirmed the 16-year-old had been living there, but investigators say she gave conflicting statements as to how long.

Her son and the girl had been in an off-and-on relationship for about a year, Veronica Rah said according to the documents. She said they denied it when she asked if they were having sex.

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In contrast to her reaction about the marijuana, she never contacted authorities about the illicit relationship, documents said.

Its signing my life away

Jacob Rah refused to speak with investigators, according to the documents, and initially said he wouldnt give a DNA sample despite being told a warrant authorized investigators to use force to obtain one.

He started crying.

Its signing my life away, I dont want to, Rah said according to the documents.

Eventually, he relented.

After the DNA swab was collected, Rah continued to weep and kept saying, No, no, no, the documents say.

He lied on the floor. The tears were still flowing.

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I dont want this to happen, what the f, he said according to the documents.

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A large crowd gathered at noon Thursday near the Liberty Bell in downtown Bakersfield to take part in National Day of Prayer.

Groups of people bowed their heads to pray for government and other subjects. Some participated in a demonstration against abortion amid a friendly atmosphere of fellowship.

The event, celebrated every year on the first Thursday of May, included a giant U.S. flag hoisted above the gathering using a Bakersfield Fire Department aerial ladder. It required the closure of one lane of eastbound Truxtun Avenue.

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BFD Battalion Chief Alexander Clark said the department has joined National Day of Prayer events for years, as it does with many religious and non-religious events and fundraisers around town.

"We try to help out the community in all ways that we can," he said.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A woman was acquitted this week of charges of resisting arrest and child endangerment that were filed in connection with an incident at her southwest Bakersfield home during a search by police.

Mikeshiea Herring had faced jail time if convicted of the misdemeanor charges.

On the evening of April 16, 2024, nine Bakersfield police officers arrived at her home near Ashe Road and Panama Lane, saying they were conducting a probation search for her son, according to a release from the Kern County Public Defenders Office. Herring told them her son lives with his father and wasnt there.

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Despite her protests, police entered while her young children were eating dinner.

Deputy Public Defender Caterin Miralda said Herring asked for a moment to calm her children.

Instead, she was tackled in her own home, and one of her babies was knocked to the ground, Miralda said. The 1-year-old child was knocked off a chair as police took Herring to the ground, she said.

Police said Herring hit an officer and flailed around while they arrested her, according to the release. Miralda said the jury rejected those claims in delivering a full acquittal.

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Olive Middle School in Baldwin Park is canceling class on Friday, one day after a staff member barricaded herself inside a building on campus.

The news comes from the Baldwin Park Unified School District, which said classes were canceled at the school Friday as the investigation into Thursdays incident remains ongoing.

On Thursday, all students and staff at Olive were evacuated from campus after a female staff member caused a disturbance at about 9:45 a.m. and remained barricaded inside a building for several hours.

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In the afternoon, SWAT officers were at the scene negotiating with the woman.

Students at Baldwin Middle School in Baldwin Park are seen waiting at a nearby school after their school was evacuated following a disturbance on May 1, 2025. (KTLA)

KTLA made several attempts to contact the Baldwin Park Police Department throughout the evening, although no response was received. The scene appeared to be active as late as about 9:30 p.m.

As of Friday morning, its not yet clear if the person was armed or if shes been taken into custody. No students or staff members were injured during the situation.

All other Baldwin Park USD schools remain open Friday.

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CORBIN  Baptist Health Corbin expanded its healthcare services Monday with the official opening of a new urgent care facility, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

The new urgent care center  located at 95 Bryan Boulevard, Suite 201  is designed to provide same-day care to the Corbin community and surrounding areas.

Local officials, healthcare professionals, and members of both the Southern Kentucky and London-Laurel County chambers gathered for the celebration  recognizing the positive impact the urgent care facility will have on the community.

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Baptist Health has been in this community for 17 years, said Alex Kerns, Associate Vice President of the Episodic Care Division at Baptist Health. We are very excited to be able to start offering urgent care services at this location.

Baptist Health Corbin President Angelia Foster also talked about how the new urgent care facility is a critical component in their growth strategy.

Right now our ER sees 45,000 people a year, and we were only built to accommodate 22,000 people a year, said Foster.

Foster highlighted that as they navigate the two-year period of the construction of the new emergency department, it will be triple the size that it is currently.

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She also thanked Baptist Healths partners in urgent care for stepping up, and helping the community receive these services as they continue to grow.

Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus was also in attendance, and thanked Baptist Health for their partnership with the city.

I dont know where we would be without Baptist Health, said Razmus. We are so appreciative of the investment in our community, and I know that we will be successful together.

The clinic is now open and accepting patients. Community members can contact the facility directly at 606-526-4590 for more information or to schedule a visit.
All Barrow County schools were under a lockdown for several hours on Friday morning, but it has since been lifted and officials say everyone is safe.

District officials say law enforcement investigated a series of threatening calls to several schools on Friday morning and have now determined they were pranks.

Its heartbreaking. Give us a break. Give these kids and these parents and their loved ones a break, Sheriff Jud Smith said.

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The sheriffs office says bomb threats were called in to County Line Elementary School, Yargo Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Winder Elementary School and Apalachee High School. The central office also received a call.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Sheriff Smith said he is using local, state and federal resources to track down the person responsible for the threats.

Whoever is doing this is a sick individual, and Im going to throw every resource that I have at it to find out who they are and prosecute them to the fullest, the sheriff said.

Photos shared with Channel 2 Action News showed parents lined up down the street near Apalachee High School.

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Its really nothing that you could do but just pray and, you know, hope that God continues to protect them, concerned mom Diana Shumaker told Channel 2s Michael Seiden.

The sheriff said he and his team searched the schools, but didnt find any explosives.

We are grateful for your cooperation, trust, and understanding as we worked to ensure the safety of students and staff. We appreciate the swift actions of our law enforcement and their partnership, the district said in a statement.

Investigators say similar threats have been made at schools in other jurisdictions in the last several days.

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DHAKA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- May Day was observed on Thursday in Bangladesh with a fresh vow to establish the rights of workers.

Various public, private organizations and political parties hosted conferences, seminars, marches and walks to honor laborers' contributions.

National newspapers in Bangladesh published special supplements marking the day, which is a public holiday here.

This year, the theme of the day in Bangladesh is "Workers and owners united; Let's rebuild this country anew."

The main program of the day was held in the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka, with Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus inaugurating the program.

In a message marking both the May Day 2025 and the country's National Occupational Health and Safety Day, Yunus said, "May Day holds immense significance in fostering economic growth through friendly and collaborative relationships between workers and employers."

He emphasized the pivotal role of worker-employer harmony in driving the nation's economic progress and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring fair recognition and social protection for all workers. 
BATH, N.Y. (WETM)  A Bath man was arrested on Thursday after police said he was beating on a woman in the village while a child was nearby.

Nicholas Harrison, 21, was arrested on Thursday, May 1, on the charges of aggravated family offense, a class E felony, unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

Around 2:08 p.m. on Thursday, police were sent to an area on West Morris Street in Bath for the report of a male beating on a female with a young child nearby, the police said.

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Missing vulnerable adult in Ithaca found safe after months-long search

The man was later identified as Harrison after he fled the scene before police arrived. During the incident, however, an off-duty New York State trooper was able to help the victim and identify Harrison to the Bath Police.

Harrison was found behind the Microtel on West Morris Street after talking with witnesses and the victim.

Harrison was arrested and processed on his charges in court before he was taken to the Steuben County Jail and released without bail.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge man has been arrested and charged with aggravated arson after allegedly setting fire to his familys home following a dispute.

On Feb. 13, the Baton Rouge Fire Department investigators responded to a residential fire on Cable Street. Authorities found that the fire was intentionally set in several parts of the house.

Jermar Lee Crawford, 23, is accused of starting the fire following an argument with his mother. The fire caused an estimated $20,000 in damages. BRFD said Crawford is the homeowners son.

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Since the fire occurred near an occupied neighboring structure, BRFD said Crawford faces a charge of aggravated arson. He was booked Friday into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

No injuries were reported in the incident. The case remains under investigation by the Baton Rouge Fire Department.

Hurricane season is just a month away. Are you prepared?

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  From Tangier Island to the Lynnhaven River, those who have worked for decades to save the Chesapeake Bay are trying to put the brakes on President Trumps executive order that forces five agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, to set expiration dates on a wide range of regulations that reduce pollution.

The president calls the order a plan to unleash American Energy. Rep. Rob Wittman calls it a threat to the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.

As Chesapeake Bay mends from pollution, new order could rip open decades-old wound

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Well, I talked just yesterday with the EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, who was a member of Congress, Wittman said. So Lee and I have a great relationship, and Ive talked to him specifically about the importance of protecting the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay program is administered by the EPA, and it is truly a federal function because the Chesapeake Bay is an interstate water body, and its clear the Constitution says the federal role is in the interstate realm.

Newport News mayor Phillip Jones responds following Trump anti-DEI policy taking aim at environmental justice

Before Trump signed the executive order, Wittman and other members of Congress who represent the Bay region introduced the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act. Now hes doubling back with the Administration.

The only way that were able to get Maryland and Pennsylvania and the other Bay states to do their part, to do whats necessary under the federal law, is to have a federal function there, Wittman said.

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Bay advocates and others are watching what happens on 83,000 Bay-area farms that could release nutrients that damage the Bay ecosystem. Wittman, who is a former field director for the Virginia Department of Healths Division of Shellfish Sanitation, said progress is seen on dinner plates.



And when it does, we see the impact on natural resources  populations of fish, crabs, and oysters continue to recover, and what a great success story, Wittman said. I mean, you look at whats happening in the region. Some of the best success stories are places like the Lynnhaven Project, where the Lynnhaven River has been recovered through incredible efforts from folks in neighborhoods, the city of Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and even the federal government.

Oyster reef under construction on the Lynnhaven River

In an update Thursday afternoon, Wittman provided a statement on the Bay proposal.

Since its introduction in March, my bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee, Wittman said. Im continuing to work with my Virginia delegation colleagues and other members of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force to ensure the House Agriculture Committee includes key provisions of this bill  aimed at supporting conservation efforts on farms in the Bay watershed  are included in a final Farm Bill package.

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In the Senate, Democrats including Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced a similar bill. Kaine said protecting the Bay is crucial to protecting tourism jobs, farmers and our local seafood industries.

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This week marked 100 days of Donald Trumps second term. And what a hundred days its been.

From cosying up to Vladimir Putin and closing USAID, to a trade war with China and effectively ending illegal migration into America, he has been busy.

Venetia Rainey is joined by co-host and chief foreign analyst Roland Oliphant and US editor Rob Crilly to assess everything Trump has done in terms of foreign policy, and what the consequences might be going forward.

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They also look at everything Trump hasnt done despite promising to - from ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to annexing Canada.

Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Bay County Democrats hosted a rally for workers rights and justice in honor of International Workers Day, known as May Day.

On Thursday, Bay County workers, students, parents, seniors, and community advocates gathered on the corner of FL-77 and 23rd Street to demand justice and equity for working families.

The protest happening nationally calls for investments in neighborhood public schools, affordable housing, accessible health care, and protection of benefits like veterans services and social security.

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Bay County man charged with murder in fatal shooting

Participates are speaking out to promote families over fortunes, public schools over private profits, heath care over hedge funds, housing over homelessness and more.

Well, theyre strength in numbers, of course. And with numbers, you can make an impact. It gets Congress to move. It gets, you know, other people to take actions that can impact this, Democratic Executive Committee Chair Laura Bjorklund said.

The groups goal is to support workers and working families across the country and here in the county.

Bjorlund said next month they will be hosting another rally in Panama City to continue their fight.

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The BBC has come under fire for a snide tweet about Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the new Reform UK mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

The organisations BBC Politics account referred to Dame Andrea as the former Greggs worker and Miss UK finalist in a tweet about her return to politics.

James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary, called the post contemptible, writing: Shes a former MP and minister. There are genuine questions about how shell deliver on Reforms vague promises, or deal with Farages ego now she has elected power and he doesnt, etc. But this is just snide. @BBCPolitics should delete and apologise.

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The BBC has since removed the post, stating: We acknowledge the tone of the post was wrong, and it has been taken down.

The tweet was published on Friday morning and had more than 775,000 views by 4pm, receiving a backlash from other X users, including one who called it bitter and another who said it was misogynistic.

Another wrote: More pompous, supercilious reporting from @BBC. Pure intellectual snobbery from an increasingly self-important organisation.

Helen Joyce, an author and gender-critical activist, highlighted the BBCs impartiality rules, saying: Whoever wrote this tweet and signed it off should be put through disciplinary. They can keep their political opinions to themselves while theyre at work at the state broadcaster, which has a duty not to be partisan.

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Dame Andrea, a former minister, was a Tory MP from 2015 until last year, when she finished second to Labour in the seat of Leeds South West and Morley in the general election.

She joined Reform in November, saying that leaving the Conservative Party was not an easy decision but adding: The ship is sinking and perhaps, sadly, beyond salvage but enough is enough. It is time to step aboard a movement with vision and purpose and the courage to fight for Britains future.

In her victory speech on Friday, after beating her nearest rival by almost 40,000 votes, Dame Andrea declared that it was a new dawn in British politics and vowed that Reform would reset Britain to its glorious past.

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BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT)  Officials with the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office arrested three individuals in response to a stolen vehicle.

On Monday, Apr. 13, 2025, the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office responded to a home in Chocowinity, N.C., in reference to a stolen motor vehicle. After investigation, the vehicle was located on Antioch Road near Brame Lane in New Bern, N.C.

The following individuals were arrested and charged in connection with this investigation:

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William Rodney Pittman, 36, of Grifton, N.C. was sent to the Beaufort County Detention Center with no bond for the following charge:

Felony 1 count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle

Michael McKiever Adams, 43, of Washington, N.C. was sent to the Beaufort County Detention Center with no bond for the following charges:

Felony 1 count of Larceny of Motor Vehicle

Felony 1 count of Possession Stolen Property

Felony 1 count of Possess Methamphetamine

Misdemeanor 1 count of Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Linwood Michael McRoy, 47, of Chocowinity, N.C. was sent to Beaufort County Detention Center with no bond for the following charges:

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Felony 1 count of Larceny of Motor Vehicle

Felony 1 count of Possession with intent to sell/deliver Sch II controlled substance

Misdemeanor 1 count of Possess Drug Paraphernalia

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek brought a proposal forward to waive fees to build in hopes of spurring new housing in the city.

Developers pay one-time fees, system development charges or SDCs, when building, that go toward water, sewer, parks, and roads. If this proposal is passed, they would be waived in the city until 5,000 new units are built, or three years have passed.

Usually somebody blabs: Tony Whites unsolved death

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This is still just a proposal and would require the City Council to pass it. But it is all part of the mayor and governors goal to make it easier to build, boost the housing supply, and make housing more affordable. Wilson said waiving these fees can cut thousands off the cost of building homes, and they need to set developers up to build in Portland.

Investing in housing isnt just about roofs and walls, he said. Its about economic growth, opportunity and stability. And we have everything we need to do that here in Portland. We have and are blessed with skilled labor and lumber and land.

Kotek said waiving the fees will make the building process easier.

We have a lot of projects in the permitting pipeline here in Portland, and we just need to get them over the hump, she said. Theres really no time to waste. We need more housing supply. Housing supply, more supply will reduce the cost of housing, which we know from an affordability standpoint is very significant.

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The governor acknowledged this is a tough budget time, but also called it a time for bold ideas. Wilson said that fee money going towards water and roads is important. But he said that activity is so low that revenue is not coming in anyway, so waiving fees is about the opportunity cost.

Are we willing to wait and hope to turn the city around, or are we ready to take charge and actually partner with the public-private partnerships to bring it back? And then on the flip side, we have more ratepayers, we have more activity downstream, he said. This is the beginning of our renaissance.

Alpenrose Dairy demolition signals end of an era

Wilson said they have been working with developers to learn if this move will kick-start their projects. He said Deputy City Administrator Donnie Oliveira has already made commitments.

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There are possibly thousands of units that will immediately begin that process of coming out of the permit department, pulling their permits and getting ready to build, he said.

Wilson said they will spend the next several weeks working out the details of the proposal to bring it to the council.

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BEIRUT (AP)  Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and members of a minority sect in Syria have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The country is deeply divided as it tries to emerge from decades of dictatorship.

The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the fall of President Bashar Assad in early December whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades.

The situation between the two sides has been tense for weeks and a smaller clash broke out in March in a suburb of Damascus.

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Here are the main reasons the clashes expanded in recent days and background on the two sides:

Who are the Druze?

The Druze religious sec t is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south.

The transitional government has promised to include the Druze, but has so far kept authority in the hands of the Islamist former insurgents who toppled Assad in December  Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.

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The new 23-member government in Syria announced in late March only has one Druze member, Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr.

Under the Assad family's tight rule, religious freedom was guaranteed as the country then boasted about its secular and Arab nationalist system.

The Druze have been slightly divided over how to deal with their issues with the new status quo in the country. Most Druze support a dialogue with the government while others support a more confrontational approach, so the reactions have differed while they are all concerned about the safety of their people.

What is behind the tension between the two sides

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Syrias religious and ethnic communities are worried about their place in Syrias new system that is mostly run by Islamists including some who have links to extremist groups.

The countrys new President Ahmad al-Sharaa himself is a former militant who once was a member of al-Qaida and was held for years in jails in neighboring Iraq for his role in the anti-American insurgency. Although al-Sharaa had said that the right of ethnic and religious minorities will be protected, there have been several rounds of sectarian killings since Assads fall.

The Assad family rule that was dominated by members of the Alawite sect had oppressed much of the countrys Sunni majority while giving minorities some powers. Being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest Islamic group in the country decades ago, was punishable by death as of the 1980s.

The Druze have major concerns about Muslim groups since they came under attack by members of the Islamic State group in 2018 in the southern Sweida province. It left dozens killed or wounded and more than two dozen people were taken hostage for nearly four months. Muslim extremists consider the Druze heretics.

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During Syria's 14-year conflict, the Druze had their own militias.

What triggered the clashes?

The clashes broke out around midnight Monday in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islams Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims.

The fighting later spread to the outskirts of the southern town of Sakhnaya triggering the first Israeli airstrike against pro-government gunmen. Israeli officials, whose country has its own Druze community, have vowed to protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic groups form entering predominantly Druze areas.

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The clashes have pulled Israel further into the conflict with the airstrike two days ago and Friday marked a major increase in tensions with an attack close to the presidential palace in Damascus in what Syrias presidency called a major escalation.

Israel does not want what it calls Islamic extremists near the countrys northern border. Since Assads fall, Israel has carved a buffer zone in southern Syria and has destroyed much of the Syrian armys assets so they dont fall into the hands of groups that removed him from power.

Israel had been warning for decades that Iran and its proxies pose a danger along its northern border, and now it is doing the same with the new authorities in Syria who are backed by Turkey.

Other sporadic attacks in different areas as well as an ambush on the Damascus-Sweida highway made the situation worse until a deal was reached early Friday after which Interior Ministry forces and local Druze gunmen deployed in different areas.

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The Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 99 people were killed over the past four days, of which 51 were killed in Sakhnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Among them were local gunmen and security forces.

What are the main concerns?

The clashes near Damascus and in southern Syria came nearly two months after an ambush by fighters loyal to Assad triggered days of sectarian and revenge attacks. The fighting in the countrys coastal region left more than 1,000 people dead. Many of the dead were civilians who were gunned down because they belonged to the minority Alawite sect that Assad belongs to.

Security forces deployed in the coastal province of Latakia and Tartus but activists say that sectarian killings against Alawites are still taking place albeit at a much slower pace when compared to the early March attacks.

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Members of religious minorities in Syria such as Alawites, Christians and Druze fear persecution by the main Sunni Muslim groups. Videos have circulated on social media showing Islamist fighters insulting Druze detainees and humiliating them such as shaving their mustaches.

___

Associated Press writer Ibrahim Hazboun contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
By Mark Trevelyan

(Reuters) - The United States should not be "fooled" by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko into offering concessions following the release of a U.S. prisoner freed as a gift to Donald Trump, a senior aide to the exiled opposition leader of Belarus said.

U.S. officials announced on Wednesday the release of Youras Ziankovich, 47, a naturalised American jailed in Belarus on charges of conspiring to kill Lukashenko and stage a coup. Belarus said it freed him at the request of the U.S.

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The release came just ahead of a visit to Washington by position leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled since a 2020 presidential election her supporters say was stolen from her.

"Ziankovich is already in the States, safe, the hell for him is over. The regime tried to break him, forced him to confess, record videos for propaganda, but I am glad that his moral spirit is OK," Tsikhanouskaya's chief political adviser Franak Viacorka told Reuters.

"No doubt that its a sort of 'present' to the American administration... but let's not be fooled," he said. "We can speak about concessions only when all or a majority of political prisoners are free, and we are not yet there."

Tsikhanouskaya, who welcomed the release of Ziankovich and thanked Trump and his team for their efforts to get him out, said she is visiting the U.S. "to strengthen support for democratic Belarus".

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She says more than 1,200 political prisoners are still jailed in the former Soviet state, which rounded up all notable opponents of Lukashenko in a violent crackdown on protests after the 2020 vote.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, extended his 31-year rule in another election in January this year that Western countries called a sham. He denies Belarus holds political prisoners.

Ziankovich was shown on Belarus state TV in prison in September 2024 confessing to the alleged plot and asking for a pardon. His appearance - pale, gaunt and wispy-haired - was almost unrecognisable from pictures taken several years earlier.

For years, the West has treated Lukashenko as a pariah and imposed waves of sanctions on Belarus. The U.S. has had no ambassador there since 2008.

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Ivan Kravtsov, secretary of the opposition's coordination council in exile, said the release of Ziankovich was part of a Lukashenko strategy to re-engage with Washington by offering a quick win to Trump. He speculated Washington might respond by returning some diplomats to Minsk, but said Lukashenko would face a challenge keeping the U.S. president's interest.

"It could stall at any moment, and I think Lukashenko also understands that - that's probably why he's doing these unilateral gestures."

Dmitry Bolkunets, another exiled opposition activist, said Lukashenko "wants to make peace with the Americans", but his room for manoeuvre was limited by his dependence on Moscow.

"The Kremlin will not allow Lukashenko to act as an independent political figure."

(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Peter Graff)
NAIROBI, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture on Friday announced a new policy recommendation, allowing all 142 tea factories nationwide to sell the commodity directly to the international market.

Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said the new policy shift eliminates intermediaries and significantly improves tea farmers' profit margins.

"We want to ensure better returns for farmers, strengthen governance in the tea sub-sector and promote transparency in smallholder tea factories," Kagwe said in Nyeri, central Kenya, during the celebrations for International Tea Day.

Kagwe said that the latest policy shift augments Kenya's marketing strategies toward increased earnings for smallholder tea farmers amid intensifying efforts to penetrate emerging international markets.

"I am soon leading a high-level delegation that will include the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK), Kenya Tea Development Agency and the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) to key destinations such as China, India, Russia, and the Middle East to promote Kenya's tea," Kagwe said.

Meanwhile, Kagwe announced the launch of an orthodox tea auction window within the Integrated Tea Trading System in June as a major step toward revitalizing Kenya's tea industry.

According to Kagwe, the new auction will be managed by EATTA in collaboration with the TBK.

He added that the new approach will strengthen the distribution channels and support a shift from the traditional Cut, Tear, and Curl (CTC) teas to more sustainable and premium orthodox teas.

Observed annually on May 21, International Tea Day is a call to honor the tea industry while encouraging collective actions to promote sustainable production, consumption and food security, according to the United Nations. 
Euroclear, the Belgian financial services giant, plans to confiscate and redistribute 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) from frozen Russian funds to compensate Western investors whose assets were seized by Moscow, Reuters reported on May 2, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The payout, drawn from a pool of 10 billion euros ($11.3 billion) in cash frozen under EU sanctions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, comes in response to Russia's confiscation of billions in Western-held assets over the past year, the sources said.

The move marks an escalation in Europe's financial pressure on Moscow. This is the first instance of direct redistribution of Russian frozen funds to offset Western investor losses.

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Until now, the West has relied on reallocating interest income generated from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. In October 2024, the Group of Seven (G7) approved nearly $50 billion in loans for Ukraine, to be repaid with proceeds from these frozen assets.

Euroclear reportedly obtained approval from Belgian authorities in March to proceed with the payments. The company informed clients about the disbursements in an April 1 document reviewed by Reuters.

Crucially, the redistribution will not impact the more than 200 billion euros ($226.9 billion) in Russian central bank reserves frozen within the European Union, two sources told Reuters.

Still, the move will reduce the bloc's stockpile of frozen Russian cash, stocks, and bonds  assets widely viewed as leverage over Moscow and a potential funding source for Ukraine's reconstruction.

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The Kremlin has previously warned of retaliation if Western countries confiscate Russian assets for use in Ukraine. In early 2024, Russia amended its legislation to facilitate counter-seizures of Western-owned property.

A draft law approved in February outlines the procedure for Moscow to seize foreign assets in response to Western sanctions.

Ukraine has urged its allies, particularly the U.S. Treasury, to formalize mechanisms for using frozen Russian funds to finance Ukrainian defense and reconstruction.

Read also: Ukroboronprom posts $33 million profit as production triples

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Firefighters battled a barn fire in Berks County on Friday morning.

According to the Frystown Fire Company on Facebook, crews responded to a working barn fire on Schubert Road in Bethel Township at 5:30 a.m. Crews arrived at the scene to find the barn fully engulfed in flames.

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The fire company said it was assisting on the scene for three hours. It is unclear if any livestock were in the barn at the time of the fire.

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Images from the scene show the barn fully engulfed in flames and massive plumes of black smoke coming off it.

The company said there will be smoke from the fire in the air for the next few days. Residents shouldnt contact 911 unless they see dark grey or black smoke.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Berlin's Culture Minister Joe Chialo on Friday announced he would resign from his post over massive funding cuts to the German capital's world-famous cultural scene.

"Today I asked the governing mayor to dismiss me from my position as senator for culture and social cohesion," Chialo said in a written statement, citing the severe cuts to Berlin's culture budget.

Berlin's conservative-led coalition government of Mayor Kai Wegner has imposed far-reaching austerity measures for the notoriously underfunded city, amounting to total cuts of 3 billion ($3.4 billion) this year.

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This includes some 130 million in funding for Berlin's unique cultural scene, a cut of some 12% compared to the original budget.

Despite widespread protests, the Berlin city government is planning further cuts for 2026 and 2027.

"Last year, I supported the required cuts to the cultural budget with a heavy heart - aware of our shared responsibility for the city," Chialo said.

"However, the further cuts now planned interfere too deeply with existing plans and objectives, change key professional requirements and thus lead to the imminent closure of nationally recognized cultural institutions."

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He said he hoped his resignation would create "space for new perspectives," after public criticism had focused on him personally.

Chialo, 54, is a member of the conservative Christian Democrats, having joined the party in 2016 in support of then-chancellor Angela Merkel's asylum-friendly policies.

He famously sang in a heavy metal band and founded Universal Music label Airforce1 Records.

Often described as the best-dressed member of the Berlin administration, Chialo is an avid Porsche driver which he admitted had recently cost him his driver's licence.

Chialo's brief stint on the political stage comes to an end after only two years, after he had been considered a potential candidate for the role of federal cultural commissioner before chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz nominated conservative publicist Wolfram Weimer earlier this week.
Bernadette Flynn Low, an English professor and Shakespearean scholar who led tours of historic Baltimore sites, died of a brain hemorrhage April 18 at Sinai Hospital. She lived in Baltimore Countys Phoenix and was 81.

Born Frances Bernadette Flynn in El Paso, Texas, she was the daughter of Otis Flynn, a railroad worker, and Frances Flynn, who worked for a utilities firm. She attended El Paso schools and earned degrees at Texas Western College and a doctorate from the University of New Mexico.

When a vacancy opened up for an English teacher at Dundalk Community College in 1973, she applied and was immediately accepted. She soon met her future husband, John Low, a fellow English teacher. They married in 1977.

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Bernadette always had a good thing to say in a kind way. She had a wonderful relationship with her students, her husband said.

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While at what is now the Dundalk campus of the Community College of Baltimore County, she developed an early online course and founded the honors society.

She had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of students, said her daughter, Maggie Church. She continued to teach English online until the day she died. Her dinnertime stories often included a quote from an essay that she graded from the people she called her sweet students.'

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She was fascinated by the history of Baltimore and took students and others on tours of Green Mount Cemetery in collaboration with local historian Wayne R. Schaumburg. She was a board member of the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion and was also a docent for Evergreen Museum & Library. She was also a regular patron of Marticks Restaurant Francais in Mount Vernon.

She developed an honors writing course, The City as Text, that focused on the geography, history and culture of Baltimore.

She greeted friends and strangers alike with a joyful smile, her daughter said. You knew you were loved by Bernadette because she sent you a note on a beautiful card or baked you a blueberry pie.

She was a voracious reader. She wrote her dissertation on character development in Shakespeares plays. On several occasions she took her students to England for a literary tour.

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Her daughter said she read War and Peace every other year and maintained, It was the best novel ever written.

She had a lust for life and at the age of 74, set off to visit Machu Picchu by herself because she had always wanted to, her daughter said.

For more than 40 years, she and her husband lived in an 1842 home on Shuresville Road in Darlington in Harford County.

She is survived by her husband, John Low, a retired professor at CCBC Dundalk; a son, Jack Low, of St. Petersburg, Florida; two daughters, Raissa Contreras, of Baltimore, and Maggie Church, of Glen Arm; and two grandsons.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. May 17 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Glen Arm.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Bernadette J. (Knapic) Nolfi, 89 of the Youngstowns west side, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 29, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital following a brief illness.

Born March 8, 1936, in Youngstown, Bernadette was the daughter of Michael and Anna Machinga Knapic and remained a proud lifelong resident of the area, though her voice and spirit traveled far beyond.

Find obituaries from your high school

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She was a 1954 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.

Bernadettes remarkable life was filled with beauty, music and service. With a voice that could stir the soul, she studied opera in Italy and performed in New York City, enchanting audiences with her passion and poise.

While living in Italy, she also worked at the Vatican, a testament to both her talents and deep faith.

She returned to Youngstown in 1967, bringing her grace and warmth back to her roots. For 33 years, she worked as an administrative secretary at Youngstown State University, where her kindness and dedication touched countless lives.

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Though she was a world traveler and opera star, Bernadette never strayed far from her farm-girl heart. She lived fully and joyfully for her family and friends, embracing life with elegance, warmth and an ever-present twinkle in her eye.

A longtime member of the former Holy Name of Jesus Church, she attended St. Columba Cathedral, where she found peace and community.

She will be dearly missed by many friends who were like family to her and who will carry her memory in their hearts.

Bernadette was preceded in death by her beloved son, Marco Nolfi; her sister, Marianne King and her nephew, Michael King.

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Family and friends may gather to pay respects from 9:00  10:00 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025, at St. Columba Cathedral, 410 W. Wood Street in Youngstown, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society P.O. Box 224, Youngstown, OH 44501.

Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown.

A television tribute will air Sunday, May 4 at the following approximate times: 6:27 p.m. on WYTV and 6:58 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Andy Beshear would consider running for president in 2028, he told a Louisville television station this week.

The Kentucky governor is seen as a potential standout in what could become a crowded Democratic primary. His bona fides include winning statewide election three times in the ruby-red state. Beshear was also a finalist to serve as former Vice President Kamala Harris running mate in the 2024 election.

"If you'd asked me a couple years ago if this is something I'd consider, I probably wouldn't have," Beshear told WDRB on Thursday. "But I don't want to leave a broken country to my kids. So if I'm somebody that can bring this nation together, hopefully find some common ground, it's something I'll consider."

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In 2026, Beshear will serve as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, leading the partys effort to win gubernatorial races during the midterm elections.

Hes taken on an increasingly national profile since clinching a second term in the Bluegrass State in 2023. In February, Beshear told POLITICO that his party needs to talk to people like real human beings and abandon sanitized language to better empathize with voters and win elections. And hes looked to influence party messaging over responding to President Donald Trumps tariff agenda.

Its hard to communicate when youre not using some normal language, he said during POLITICOs Governors Summit.

Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo also acknowledged an interest in running this week.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said in a Thursday interview he would consider running for the White House in 2028.

If youd asked me a couple years ago if this is something Id consider, I probably wouldnt have, but I dont want to leave a broken country to my kids, Beshear told WDRB at Churchill Downs.

So if Im somebody that can bring this nation together, hopefully find some common ground, its something Ill consider, he added.

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Beshear has stirred increasing speculation about his future political aspirations. Hes made appearances on podcasts, like Pod Save America and The MediasTouch Podcast, while appearing at events, including the House Democrats retreat earlier this year, and headlining a fundraiser for the House Democrats campaign arm.

Beshear also launched a podcast of his own, telling The Hill last month the idea for it came after holding regular briefings during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people approaching him about those updates again during President Trumps second term.

Beshear is among a handful of Democratic governors who have been floated as potential White House hopefuls. Others include Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Wes Moore of Maryland. Moore said this week he was not running for 2028, but he has continued to stir speculation with upcoming trips to notable states, including Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
U.S. News & World Report released its 2025 rankings of Best Graduate Schools across the United States, with several Tennessee colleges and universities making the top 100.

Tennessee schools ranked high on the list for education, business, law, nursing and engineering programs. However, some schools, including more than a dozen medical schools and more than 40 law schools nationwide, have opted out of participating in U.S. News college rankings in recent years due to concerns over the organization's formula for compiling the lists.

With that in mind, here's a look at how things stacked up for master's programs in Tennessee. Want to see the full rankings for yourself? Head over to USnews.com/best-graduate-schools.

Best education graduate schools in Tennessee

With 473 schools, the U.S. News rankings for the best education graduate programs in the nation was among one of its largest lists. In light of that, we included the four in Tennessee that made the top 200.

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#2: The Peabody College at Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

#54: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

#125: The University of Memphis

#187: Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville)

Best business graduate schools in Tennessee

U.S. News ranked 342 graduate business programs nationwide. Two in Tennessee made the top 100.

#18: The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

#49: The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

A view of the pedestrian bridge during the first day of the fall semester on the University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Best law schools in Tennessee

A total of 197 schools made the list of top laws schools in the nation. Three in Tennessee made the top 100.

#14: Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

#55: University of Tennessee-Knoxville

#84: Belmont University (Nashville)

Best graduate nursing schools in Tennessee

A total of 200 graduate nursing schools made the U.S. News list. Two in Tennessee were in the top 100.

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#4: Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

#91: The Caylor School of Nursing at Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate)

Best engineering graduate schools in Tennessee

U.S. News ranked 223 engineering graduate programs in the nation. Two in Tennessee made the top 100.

#39: Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

#52: Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: State's best graduate schools by program, from US News rankings 2025
Eshele Williams always believed she'd eventually own the home she rented in Altadena's historic Janes Village neighborhood.

The 1920s cottage was where she brought her son Brayden home from the hospital and where she held backyard parties for birthdays or whatever anniversary family and friends wanted to celebrate. Her mom lived a block away; her three sisters weren't much further.

When the Eaton fire destroyed the house she called home for nearly 17 years, she received a proposal from the landlord. Williams said she was told she could have the burned lot if she could pay $565,000, all cash, and close within 15 days.

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"Nobody has $565,000 in cash just right up front," said Williams, a 47-year-old therapist and consultant said.

Since flames destroyed thousands of homes in largely middle-class Altadena in January, more than 80 property owners have sold rather than rebuild, with many of the new buyers being developers, according to real estate agents.

That is raising concerns among some community members that in building pricey new houses, developers will usher in a wave of gentrification that will at least partially wipe away the architectural, racial and economic diversity that's a hallmark of the small town below the San Gabriel Mountains.

A group of nonprofits are looking to blunt those economic forces.

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First, they are trying to keep residents in Altadena through grants and other support that enable homeowners to rebuild, particularly if they were uninsured or underinsured. If someone ultimately does want to sell, the groups want to be there to acquire the land in a bid to stop an escalation in home prices.

Eshele Williams stands at the lot where her home, destroyed by the Eaton fire, once stood. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Williams benefited from both efforts. She said she could qualify for a mortgage to buy a $565,000 home, but didn't have that money in cash, let alone more money to rebuild a house.

So when she received the offer from her landlord, Williams turned to the nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, which she already had been talking to about receiving financial help for her family after the fires.

Neighborhood Housing Services stepped in and purchased the burned lot in April, and plans to build a new home on site and then sell it to Williams at an affordable price.

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Lori Gay, the chief executive of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, said she and a coalition of nonprofits are looking to raise more money to purchase a couple hundred burned properties, build homes on them and ideally sell to people from Altadena at prices they can afford.

Disaster recovery efforts say an escalation in home prices is common after fires and hurricanes, as many families hit a wall in the rebuilding process and sell to developers and wealthier families who build more expensive homes.

"You don't want investors or people who are super-high income coming in and jacking up the prices," Gay said.

In Altadena, many community members purchased their homes decades ago and would struggle to afford today's typical home value of $1.3 million.

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Given the nation's economic disparities, there's been particular concern about a dispersal of Altadena's long-standing Black community, which is focused on the town's west side, in part due to a history of segregation and redlining.

Black residents had already been moving away because of gentrification before the fires and saw their homes severely damaged or destroyed at higher rates than other groups during the blaze.

The Williams family was among them. Not only did Eshele lose her housing, but so did her mother and two of her sisters, who owned their homes and are trying to find the funds to rebuild.

One potential option is Pasadena-based Greenline Housing Foundation, which is focusing on providing financial support to displaced Black and Hispanic homeowners, citing "historical systemic inequities and lack of access to resources" that will make recovery tougher.

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The group has also acquired two lots, with the idea it can resell them below market to people from Altadena who want to stay.

"It's just a community that needs to be restored," said Greenline founder Jasmin Shupper, citing her fear a developer influx will drastically alter "the fabric of Altadena."

Some specifics on nonprofit land acquisitions are still to be worked out, including how different groups might collaborate. But Shupper said more money needs to be raised quickly.

"It's important we have this long-term vision organized," she said. "But if we don't have fast capital now, it won't matter because there won't be any lots left."

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For Williams, she is looking forward to moving back, seeing it as a chance to build generational wealth, as well as continue her family's legacy in Altadena.

Her decision might already be having impact. Williams said she recently ran into one displaced neighbor in her 70s who over the years became a family friend.

The woman told Williams she doubted she'd return after losing her house.

"Probably the only way that I would reconsider is if you were going to be my neighbor," the woman said.

"Well, I'm going to be your neighbor again," Williams replied.

The woman then broke down in tears and said she was "definitely coming back."

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.
This photo taken on Aug. 8, 2018 shows a sea of clouds over the Lesser Khingan Mountains in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows a piece of wood carving artwork at a company in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo shows a recreational vehicle campsite of Xing'an National Forest Park in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 11, 2024. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows birch sap products at a company in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Workers pack black fungus at a company in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on March 10, 2025. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Tourists look at a wood inlay painting at a wood art gallery in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 10, 2025. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

A staff member inspects the growth of grafted Korean pine seedlings at a breeding base in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 13, 2024. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Tourists visit the Wuying National Forest Park in Fenglin County of Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 11, 2025. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

staff members monitor fire prevention systems at a forest fire command and dispatch center in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 10, 2025. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows plant specimens at the Yichun Forest Museum in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2024 shows a sightseeing vehicle running at Shangganling stream forest park in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

People work at the construction site of Yichun West Railway Station in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 27, 2023. Stretching across 4 million hectares, the vast forests embrace Yichun City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from all directions. According to local forest rangers, nearly half of Yichun's total area has been designated as ecological protection zone. The city's forest stock volume increases by over 10 million cubic meters annually, and its forest coverage rate is more than three times the national average.

With a forest coverage rate of 83.8% and home to Asia's largest primeval Korean pine forest, Yichun enjoys uniquely rich natural endowments. In 2021, all ten counties and districts of Yichun were awarded the title of China's "natural oxygen bar." (Xinhua/Wang Song)
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Another business has been caught buying grain illegally in South Dakota.

All Star Trading bought 11 loads for resale between July 8 and July 21 last year.

The Illinois-based company didnt have a valid South Dakota grain buyer license when those purchases happened.

CEO Ted Kennedy has agreed to pay a $11,000 fine.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will consider on Thursday whether to accept the agreement.

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The state commission oversees grain trading.

Sioux Falls march attracts hundreds

All Star Trading had been licensed since 2019 to buy grain in South Dakota. But the company let the license expire last summer.

PUC staff last year sent four rounds of renewal reminders to license holders including All Star Trading ahead of the July 1 deadline.

All Star Trading applied for renewal on July 8 but didnt send the required fee. The commission received the fee on July 22 and issued a license that day.

On August 21, commission staff began a remote review of All Star Trading activities. The company submitted information on August 28.

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Commission staff made a second data request on September 9. The company didnt respond within five working days, as required. Commission staff sent follow-up emails on September 16 and September 23. The company responded on September 24.

The records inspection found All Star Trading purchased 11 loads during July when the company was unlicensed. The purchases were made from three different entities over a period of five days.

The company could face civil fines of up to $5,000 for each of the illegal purchases and up to $1,000 for each day the company didnt respond to the commission staffs requests for information.

All Star Tradings Kennedy and commission staff have signed an agreement that the company would pay civil fines totaling $11,000  $5,000 for the illegal purchases and $6,000 for the six days the company didnt respond.

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Its now up to the commissions three elected members  Gary Hanson, Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen  to decide whether to approve the settlement.

The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. CT in room 413 at the state Capitol.

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High water on U.S. 101 in Tillamook in December, 2023. The Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, coupled with rising sea levels, will cause up to 6 feet of coastal erosion and put many communities on top of new floodplains, a new study finds. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr)

If the once-every-500-year Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake doesnt do enough damage to the coastal Northwest on its own, frequent and widespread flooding from rising seas that follows will take care of the rest, new research found.

Oregon, Washington and California are overdue for the recurring seismic event  popularly referred to as The Big One  which last occurred in 1700 and could cause Northwest coastlines to lower and retreat by more than 6 feet as land erodes into the sea.

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Coupled with rising seas from climate change, many more coastal communities, such as Seaside, Oregon and Aberdeen, Washington, will essentially be on top of newly created floodplains and tidal zones amid rising waters.

The findings from researchers at Virginia Tech, the University of North Carolina, the University of Oregon and scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey were published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They found that if The Big One were to occur in 2100, when waters along the Pacific coastline might be three feet higher than today as global ice sheets melt, its likely 6.6 feet of Northwest coast would subside into the sea.

That means more than 17,000 people in the region would soon be living on top of expanded coastal flood plains, double the number currently living in such flood zones today.

Researchers modeling shows that triple the number of structures, such as hospitals, airports and water and electricity plants, as well as roads, would be exposed to frequent flooding in the aftermath as are today, and could remain that way for centuries.

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One of the best ways to think about it is that you could have a coastal forest or a salt marsh that youre walking your dog along, and then this earthquake happens, and that land, physically, almost instantaneously, in a few minutes, subsides, potentially half a meter to almost 2 meters, said Andrea Hawkes, a professor of earth and ocean sciences at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington who worked on the study.

All the sudden, instead of standing on dry land, you are now in the tidal zone.

Mega earthquakes

Its not just a hypothetical. The study mentions several historical earthquakes that led to fundamental changes in coastal landscapes and the loss or relocation of whole towns.

The Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960  the biggest ever recorded at a magnitude of 9.5  caused more than 8 feet of coastal land in some parts of the country to slide into the sea, submerging pine forests and farms underwater and turning them into tidal marshes.

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The Great Alaska earthquake in 1964 lowered coastal areas by more than 6 feet, the researchers wrote. In the aftermath, some communities had to relocate to higher ground because of increased tidal flooding. Similar coastal earthquakes in Sumatra and Japan in more recent history have also led to land loss and migration.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake could reach a magnitude similar to that of the Great Chilean Earthquake, between 8.0 and 9.0, according to seismologists.

Hawkes said the point of the study is to improve preparation and planning in the coastal Northwest, not panic.

The earthquake is kind of something you cant really do anything about, right? Its gonna happen, she said. But as you plan where you build in the coastal zone, something to keep in mind is that the sea level is continuing to rise, and that when you have these events, they will cause land farther upland to subside.

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She said there are communities along the coast that are already planning on moving or building critical infrastructure further inland because of projected sea level rise. The study Hawkes was part of, she said, can help them go further, by considering the impacts of The Big One.

A lot of places are doing really good work in terms of moving schools, hospitals, community centers, to higher places, or, theyre really thinking about it, she said. It would be a shame if you missed it by X meters because you didnt think about this other thing thats coming.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  State representatives passed a bill that could double the amount of paid parental leave for teachers and state employees.

If H. 3490 is ratified, a parent who gives birth up would have up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, compared to the current six-week leave period.

But, with only three days left in the years current legislative session, the bills future is uncertain.

A parent who did not give birth to a child would also see a two-week increase in leave time.

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Whether or not Im the birthing parent or not, the bond that you have with your child, particularly at birth, is something that is special, said Rep. Beth Bernstein (D  Richland).

The bipartisan bill was passed with a vote of 86 to 18, sparking controversy among some House members.

Rep. Josiah Magnuson (R  Spartanburg) voted against this bill, despite having voted for the bill years ago. He said the language is unvetted.

Now, I dont know about you, but I believe that our government should acknowledge mothers and should acknowledge fathers, Magnuson remarked. Youre saying, lets tax the people of South Carolina, most of whom dont get paid parental leave, and give them to state employees who already have six weeks of paid parental leave. 

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But Rep. Neal Collins (R  Pickens) said Pickens County has budgeted $115,000 for paid parental leave and found no negative impact on taxpayers.

The costs are relatively minimal, and I think they can be absorbed, and this is just a great opportunity to say we respect, and we support, teachers and, state employees as a whole, Collins said.

Patrick Kelly works as a public school teacher and is the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association. He also has two daughters and said the bill would have helped him spend more time with family after his wife gave birth.

I took a week off when our daughters were born, but that was coming out of my balance, Kelly recalled. To see this focus on both parents, to see a recognition of the importance of dad having time with the new baby [is important]. 

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Kelly said he is happy with the state governments support for educators, because two years ago, South Carolina became the first state in the southeast to offer six weeks of paid parental leave to state employees.

Though there is probably not enough time for the bill to make it through the Senate, the legislation will be enter the chamber in January 2026.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Governor Jared Polis signed a number of bills into state law Thursday, including one measure designed to keep students focused on learning and off their phones.

By next summer, school districts across the state will need to have some policy in place regarding students using these devices during class.

Polis veto on social media bill stands after lawmakers failed to override

State lawmakers are calling on school districts to implement a student cell phone policy. Sponsors left what the policy exactly says up to each school board.

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This bill provides critical local control thats important to Colorado parents, school districts and students. It encourages them to work together on cell phone policy that best suits their respective communities. We have got to prioritize our youth and ensure that they are both safe and have learning environment where they can succeed, said state Senator Lisa Frizell.

Many districts in the state do not have a policy in place. Boulder Valley School District is one of the few that does.

I think each school district is a little bit different. So you certainly understand that they need to make a decision thats best for their communities. But here in Boulder Valley, its gone relatively well. Really, I would say the payoff so far has been more student interaction. You know? When you walk in a school, especially at lunchtime, you know students are now playing games together. Ping pong, giant Jenga, all of these kind of fun things together in the lunchroom, said BVSDs Chief Communications Officer Randy Barber. He said students and families did have to adjust to the policy at first, but the district met families in the middle by letting students keep their phones in their backpacks.



Trying to have that compliance of students not having access to their cell phones and being attentive to each other during lunch and that kind of thing has to be balanced a. Little bit with the concerns of parents and that really came down to, for us, allowing them to still have access to their backpack to be able to reach a parent after something happens at their school so parents dont have to worry about if theyre okay, Barber said.

Lawmakers did exempt tablets and laptops from the new law. Districts have until July 2026 to implement a policy.

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You may have seen the deluge of billboards.

Farmington-based UConn Health is ramping up the pressure in its contract negotiations with ConnectiCare, taking out billboards at nearly a dozen prominent locations along highways in the Hartford area, urging the insurer to agree to higher reimbursement rates for services.

The billboards  along I-84 and I-91  proclaim: UConn Health needs ConnectiCare to step up.

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Were using ConnectiCare as a test case for what is coming down the line next, Jennifer Walker, a UConn Health spokeswoman, said. Every other [insurer] is coming up after this. And its going to go the same way. We letting them know that we are going to put the public pressure on it to stand up for ourselves.

UConn Health argues its reimbursement rate is the lowest, behind all hospitals in Connecticut, despite revenue growth in the last decade and rankings that place it in the top tier of hospitals nationwide. At the same time, medical costs are rising, and Gov. Ned Lamont wants the health system  an arm of the University of Connecticut  to be more financially self-sufficient.

ConnectiCares contract with UConn Health  the parent of John Dempsey Hospital, a network of clinics and more than 600 providers  expired on April 15. The two sides are now in a 60-day cooling off period  ending June 14 in which the two sides continue to negotiate.

On Thursday, UConn Health sent letters to ConnectiCare patients scheduled for appointments after June 14, who will either have their appointments canceled or go out-of-network, which can mean higher out-of-pocket costs than in-network. Federal caps on out-of-pocket costs also may not apply to care that is out-of-network.

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The contract negotiations cover ConnectiCares commercial coverage, which includes employer-sponsored plans, and Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold by private insurers and offer Medicare coverage plus additional benefits. UConn Health has about 9,000 ConnectiCare patients that are affected, Walker said.

Consumers who find themselves out-of-network may be forced to find new health care providers that are in-network.

UConn Health said there can be exceptions for continuing care such as chemotherapy treatments that remain in-network even in the absence of a contract. UConn Health also said it has tried to reschedule some appointments so they fall before the June 14 deadline, Walker said.

ConnectiCare, headquartered in Farmington, was acquired by California-based Molina Healthcare on Feb. 4. ConnectiCare did not respond to an email seeking comment.

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UConn Health also oversees the universitys medical and dental schools, plus its medical research. In the current fiscal year, UConn Health received about $193 million in state funding, or 12.5% of its total budget, UConn Health officials have said.

A six-month study last year of UConn Healths operations by a high-profile health care consulting firm found that UConn needed to generate more money from patient care in order to compete in the health care world of the future.

We have the governor saying you cant depend on us anymore, you have to make your own money, Walker said. And this is a way to close the gap on this, and not putting the burden n the taxpayers of Connecticut, making sure we are being paid as fairly as everyone else.

Reporting by Courant Staff Writer Christopher Keating is included.

Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
At first glance, Journalism is just another promising colt chasing glory at tomorrow's Kentucky Derby. But beneath the bay coat and late-race power is a story that reaches far beyond the racetrackone about patience, discipline, and the kind of long-term thinking that feels increasingly rare in American business and culture.

The horse is co-owned by John Malone, the media titan whose name is synonymous with consolidation, control, and quiet dominance. Once dubbed the Cable Cowboy, Malone helped shape the cable-TV industry and built Liberty Media into a sprawling media empire that now owns Formula One. But behind his well-earned reputation as a ruthless negotiator lies something more unexpected: a deep commitment to land, conservation, and relationships. And while Malone famously shuns headlines and social events, Journalism the racehorse offers a rare window into that quieter philosophyand into the paradoxes that define Malone himself.

At the Santa Anita Derby last month, Journalism delivered a performance that perfectly encapsulated Malones approach. Stuck on the rail early and dropped to last, the colt didnt chase. He waited. Then, with uncanny timing, he swung wide and surged past the leaders to win in breathtaking fashion.

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Write this down! the astonished track announcer bellowed. Journalism is the best in the West!

The strategywait, watch, strikecould have come straight from Malones playbook. For decades, he has made a fortune identifying undervalued assets, betting big when others wont, and staying the course long after the headlines fade. In 1985, he wired $500,000 to Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks to keep the fledgling network from going dark. Thirty-five years later, Discoverys market cap had grown to $20 billion before its 2021 merger with Warner Bros. In 2009, when SiriusXM teetered on bankruptcy, Malone stepped in with a $530 million loan. The return? Two years later, Liberty Media owned a 40% stake worth more than $5 billion, and would eventually come to own SiriusXM.

Malones patience isnt limited to media. In 2013, he and his wife Leslie bought Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Floridaa storied but aging thoroughbred operation. Rather than make a quick splash with a flashy stallion, they modernized the infrastructure, hired world-class staff, and focused on long-term development. The result: a resurgence of elite racehorses, including Tapwrit, winner of the 2017 Belmont Stakes, and now Journalism.

Profitable thoroughbreds are rare, but even if Journalism doesnt place at Churchill Downs, his future as a high-end sire is already secure. As in business, Malone spreads the risk. The partnership of Malone, Aaron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and longtime collaborator Robert LaPenta is built on trust and strategic alignments. Wellman, a former high school newspaper editor, named the horse Journalisma subtle nod that adds symbolic resonance to an already compelling story.

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Malones bare-knuckle cable-TV negotiations earned him the moniker Darth Vader in the 1990s, but his land investments reveal the other side of the man. Today, he is the one of the largest private landowners in the United Statesnot to develop, but to conserve. He has restored working ranches across the Rockies, preserved vast open spaces in the West, and helped save a 600-acre Maryland farm from bulldozers.

Their interest in horses isnt just business. It reflects a deeper ethos of stewardship, value and Leslie Malones lifelong affection for animals. In Colorado, the Malones funded the Harmony Equine Center, a 168-acre rehab and adoption facility that has rescued and rehomed over 1,000 abandoned or abused horses.

And value often lies where others fail to look. Take the colt with one eye. The ranch boss at Silver Spur Ranches, another of Malones holdings, bought the half-blind horse for only $1,200. With nurturing, that little one-eyed coltWR One-Eyed Jackgrew up to be quite the stud, and a cornerstone of the breeding program at the Silver Spur Ranches, siring a long line of prize-winning working ranch horses.

What struck me most in working with Malone were these contradictions. The world wants clean categories: hero or villain, tycoon or tree-hugger. But people, like journalism, are often complicated, flawed, and full of competing truths.

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These stories reflect Malones core belief: Value takes time to reveal itself. In an era driven by quarterly earnings and viral metrics, that belief is almost radical. But its also increasingly essential.

We live in a culture where speed is king. Where stock spikes outweigh fundamentals, and attention spans are monetized in milliseconds. Weve confused flash for substance and page views for value. Journalism, the horseand journalism, the professionboth suggest another path. One where patience, persistence, and long-term commitment still matter.

Whether Journalism wins the Derby or not, he has already delivered something more lasting than a trophy: a reminder that real progresson the track, in business, in lifeisnt about racing to the front. Its about knowing when to wait, when to move, and how to go the distance.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY (WIVT/WBGH)  Local college students held a celebration yesterday in honor of Israeli Independence Day.

Binghamton Universitys Hillel commemorated 77 years of Israeli Independence with carnival games, prizes, and even some Israeli food. Following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack and the ensuing war in Gaza, many Jewish students say these have been challenging times.

Hillels Vice President of Programming, Ellie Spivak, says that celebrating this holiday amidst the war has a deeper meaning.

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This event is very significant, especially now. Its been a very hard time the past two years since October 7th. So its really important for us to come together today and remember that we are also here to celebrate. We have hard times and we have happy times as well, Spivak said.

The celebration comes the day after another annual remembrance day in which Jews honor fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.

Spivak says Israeli Independence Day is a demonstration of light amid the darkness.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  The Bishop Ireton High School community spread out across Alexandria and Fairfax County Friday as part of the schools annual service day.

Love in Action found more than 900 students, teachers, and staff members from the Catholic school cleaning up parks and other outdoor spaces. Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park, Landover Park, and Lake Cook were a few of the locations.

Some volunteers visited with older members of the community, spending time with people at Sunrise Senior Living in Springfield. Others were at Rising Hope Mission Church in Alexandria.

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We want to make a difference. We want to make their lives better. So, for us, we hope they feel that in some way. And more importantly, we hope that they see that we are doing this, through service and through kindness, said Kathleen Mcnutt, Head of School.

In addition to learning the importance of serving the community, the day is inteneded to help students build relationships with each other outside of the classroom.

Its really a great experience. Its really, like, it makes you more humble, said sophomore Rose Stack. It makes you realize that, like, what you do really does matter.

Stack and senior Emmett Cummings spent time at Gilbert S. Mccutcheon Park pulling and clipping ivy from trees.

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We get to take a day off of school, but also we know that we have lasting impacts, said Cummings. In order to love, you need to practice love, and this is one of those ways to give service back to our community and just to be good stewards of the lands around us.

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DAMASCUS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian presidency on Friday strongly condemned the earlier Israeli strike that targeted an area near the presidential palace in Damascus, noting that the country will defend the rights of its people "through all available means."

Syria "will not compromise on its sovereignty or its security," the presidency said in a statement, describing the strike as part of ongoing hostile movements aimed at undermining its national stability and unity.

The presidency warned that this aggression comes amid continued attempts to ignite internal crises and fragment Syrian society, and called on the international community and Arab states to stand by Syria in confronting these "aggressive violations."

Syria highlighted its full commitment to addressing such assaults, which it said are aimed at weakening Syrian sovereignty, obstructing national efforts to restore stability and peace, and disturbing the security of the people.

The statement added that relevant security agencies are conducting necessary investigations and that authorities will continue to take all firm measures to counter any threats to the homeland and its citizens.

The presidency also reaffirmed its call for all parties to commit to dialogue and cooperation within the framework of national unity, and to confront any attempts to prolong the crisis or disrupt the country's rebuilding and reform.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement earlier in the day that Israel attacked overnight near the presidential palace in Syria's capital, Damascus.

The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus, which, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, have claimed over 100 lives.

The Israeli statement called the strike "a clear message to the Syrian regime," saying that Israel "will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community." 
May 1ROCHESTER  Bishop Robert Barron was named Thursday, May 1, to a newly formed commission to protect religious liberty.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating the Religious Liberty Commission, a new executive branch commission designed to "safeguard and promote America's founding principle of religious freedom."

According to the executive order, the commission, which will include members from diverse religious and professional backgrounds, is tasked with "producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, strategies to increase awareness of and celebrate America's peaceful religious pluralism, current threats to religious liberty, and strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations."

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Barron, who is the leader of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, is one of two Catholic prelates on the commission, according to the Catholic News Agency. The other is Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously served as the archbishop of the Diocese of New York.

Barron, speaking Thursday at the National Day of Prayer at the White House, called religious liberty "our first freedom" during a prayer at the event, thanking Trump for focusing on the issue of religious liberty.

At the White House on Thursday, Bishop spoke alongside several religious leaders including imams, rabbis and protestant ministers, as well as political leaders such as Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
As protests continue to rage across the country against President Donald Trumps administration, there seems to be one group of Americans no where on the front lines: the Black community. Black folks always show up and out for past social and political causes, but now that weve taken a collective step back, our absence is being felt big time.

Every single day since Trump took office theres been protests in one city or the next, according to The Washington Post. And in the sea of demonstrators, its been hard to spot many Black faces. Trumps return to office marks a new age in America, and Black people are fed up. But should we be doing more?

Why Arent Black People Protesting?

Black folks have always been champions of civil rights for all, way before Trump took office. And history shows us we havent always gotten the credit we deserved for it. Now, our community is reluctant to help  and for good reason.

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More than 86 percent of Black voters casted their ballots for former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to CNN exit polls. But not only did the voice of the Black community go unheard with Harris loss, but since Trump 2.0, attacks on Black history, gouging of government agencies and even threats to social security have all been a collective slap in the face of Black voters... So why would they join the fight now?

Are We Making a Mistake?

Despite Black people having more than enough reason to sit out this round, were living through events for the future history textbooks. These national protests will go down as powerful examples of Americans exercising their rights and taking a clear and direct stand against the acting president. But just as the demonstrations will be documented, so will Black folks absence from them.

Theres power in the Black community, and theres even more power in mobilization. Many Black leaders including Harris, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett and William J. Barber praised folks for taking to the streets all while encouraging Black people to hold down the fort. What we are also seeing in these last 14 weeks is Americans using their voice and showing their courage, Harris said during her first major speech since leaving office. Courage is contagious.

Are Protests Even Working?

Short answer? Yes and no. Protesting against Trump doesnt promote policy change because Trump is the one making said changes. But as thousands of folks continue to hit the streets, one thing is certain: this is a new age of America.

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Americans havent banded together like this since the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, and we all remember just how impactful George Floyds death was. The New York Times estimated anywhere between 15 and 26 million people protested in honor of Floyd. Directly following the tragic murder, several laws like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act aimed to address issues like police misconduct, racial profiling and excessive force. So if you need a recent example of protests influencing real change, well there you go!

Is Rallying the Only Way to Protest?

Just because Black folks put their foot down when it comes to joining demonstrations doesnt mean were laying down for the next four years. Rev. Al Sharpton and other leaders have led their own boycotts and called out the president.

Between Sharptons buy-cott of Costco the grocery store giant who famously doubled down on their commitment to diversity and politicians like N.J. Rep. Cry Bookers 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, Black folks are finding new ways to show our solidarity. We have a long four years and beyond to buckle up for, so Black folks, it might be time to rethink how our chapters will read in the new history books.

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RIDGELAND, Miss. (WJTV)  Plans are moving forward to relocate Bob Anthony Parkway.

The Northside Sun reported environmental assessment, design and construction plans are expected to be completed by mid-summer 2025.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) a $2.8 million grant in September 2020 to use for planning the project.

Bob Anthony Parkway is the section of Spillway Road that is located near the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

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Mississippi governor declares 2025 Hurricane Prep Week

PRVWSD leaders told WJTV 12 News in 2022 that there are no issued with the roadway physically, but leaders said the road is near frequent construction and recreational activities, which could pose as a safety concern for drivers and citizens nearby.

The project consists of moving both roadways off the dam and relocating them downstream in the wooded areas below.

Moving the existing roadways on the dam will also create the an opportunity for the roads to be turned into recreational facilities. Currently, each roadway has a bicycle lane adjacent to it. Once the road is moved, cyclists wont have to worry about drivers speeding past them.

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All proposed relocations for the roadway are parallel to the south from 150 to 400 feet from the dam in the area.

The anticipating cost for the project is estimated at $150 million.

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The body of a 74-year-old man has reportedly been found three months after his truck was swallowed by a large sinkhole in Japan.

On Friday, May 2, a spokesperson for the local fire department confirmed that they had found a body believed to be that of the trapped elderly truck driver whose vehicle was eaten whole by the vast sinkhole on Tuesday, Jan. 28, reported The Japan Times.

"We discovered a man inside the truck cabin and confirmed his death, then passed the incident to police," the spokesperson said, per the outlet. A police investigation is ongoing, which will include confirming the identity of the individual found.

Kyodo via AP Images Sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio Sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio

PEOPLE previously reported that the driver was conscious when police received an emergency call about the hole after it suddenly opened up during the morning rush hour in Yashio, Saitama,

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Rescue efforts became increasingly complicated, however, as the sinkhole continued to expand until it reached at least 131 feet wide and 50 feet deep, according to The Japan Times. Over a million nearby residents were asked to temporarily reduce their showers and laundry to prevent leaking sewage from further hindering the operation.

Heavy equipment was sent into the hole via a slope and walls had to be built to ensure the safety of rescue workers, the outlet added.

The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images Rescue efforts at the sinkhole in Japan Rescue efforts at the sinkhole in Japan

Related: Father and Son Killed After a Sinkhole Swallowed Their Car. The Son May Have Tried to Escape

The 74-year-old truck driver was last heard responding to rescue workers at around 1 p.m. local time on the day his truck was swallowed by the sinkhole.

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The search for him had to be suspended on Feb. 9 due to the risk of further collapse, Kyodo News reported. Rescue workers had been making their first entry into the sinkhole since the incident to assess water flow and hydrogen sulfide gas levels when they found the human body in the cabin of a truck on Thursday, May 1.

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.

STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Rescue efforts at the sinkhole in Japan Rescue efforts at the sinkhole in Japan

Related: After Missing Grandma Was Found Dead in Sinkhole, Police Reveal New Details of What May Have Happened

"Until the very end of his life, my father, who had a strong heart, must have been hoping to come home alive -- fighting fear and pain -- which makes me feel a tightening in my heart," a family member of the unnamed driver said in a statement to Japanese media.

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"I can't believe or accept the fact that my father, who was loved by everyone, suddenly disappeared," the statement added.

The huge sinkhole in the road not far from Tokyo was caused by corroded sewage pipes, ABC News and The Japan Times reported.

It came amid a rise in sinkholes in the country, topping 10,000 in fiscal 2022.

PEOPLE has reached out to Saitama Prefectural Police for comment.

Read the original article on People
May 2---- In a surprise move,

members on Monday voted 4-2 to begin a search for a new superintendent instead of negotiating a new contract with Superintendent Jim Menton.

The vote came after board members initially considered a motion to begin negotiating a new contract. Board members must now decide how to conduct that search under a relatively tight time frame. Superintendent Menton's contract ends June 30.

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Board members at the April 28 meeting cited concerns over the district's financial predicament  and worries that the community will not trust the board and current superintendent to solve it  in their discussions prior to the vote.

Another factor  not mentioned by board members but referenced by Menton  was his recent interview as one of five finalists for the superintendent position with the Byron Public Schools in southeast Minnesota.

BOLD board members Todd Sheehan and Greg Peppel voted "nay" on the motion for a new superintendent search, while members Todd Frank and Sandy Benson made the motion for the search and were joined in "aye" votes by MaryElla Clouse and Brad Aaseth. Brad Reffereth was absent.

Board Chairman Todd Frank stepped aside from his role as chair so that he would be free to urge members to rescind the motion to negotiate a new contract with Menton and start a new search.

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School board members held a closed session with Menton one month earlier to evaluate his performance. Under the Minnesota Open Meeting law, a public body may close a meeting to evaluate the performance of an employee under its authority.

Menton told board members that he left that meeting with the impression that he had the support to move forward and fix the district's financial situation.

The district is on track for a $700,000 shortfall or greater in this year's budget. It could grow to as large as $900,000 in what Menton described as a "worst-case scenario."

The district's financial mess came to light following the resignation of the school district's business manager in September.

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that the district had asked for a criminal investigation into the business manager's actions.

He told the board then that the district was facing a shortfall of $700,000. The budget had not allocated sufficient revenues, nor identified sources for them, for significant transportation and payroll expenses included in the budget.

Chairman Frank initially raised the concerns on Monday about negotiating a new contract. He said he had been contacted by 17 different community members, as well as by five former school board members, who said they did not want to see the board renew the superintendent's contract.

"I don't think the trust will be there by the community, and once trust is lost, we've lost it," said Frank after explaining his concerns.

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Other board members expressed favorable opinions of the superintendent, as well as concerns about the fiscal dilemma.

"The bottom line," said Clouse, "is he is responsible for balancing the budget and ensuring we do not go into debt."

After the motion was made to search for a new superintendent, Menton said, "I understand. I understand completely and this has been a massive debacle. (There is a) need to accept responsibility and I certainly do. As everyone knows, there have been some pretty massive extenuating circumstances that (I'm) just not at liberty to fully discuss. ... It's been an extremely frustrating year."

Menton explained that he had left the last board meeting with the impression that he would continue. He added that he had "taken a lot of flak for taking a job interview without the opportunity to fix what has happened here."

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He said he was not sure that the problem can be fixed in one year.

"I am certainly motivated to fix this," he said.

Sheehan said he had also left the last meeting with the impression that board members were going to give the superintendent a chance to fix what happened, adding: "All of this wasn't his issue."

Clouse pointed out that the BOLD School Board does not have a finance committee in place. She said there were many extenuating circumstances, and that she felt partially responsible for not having spotted the budget problems in the making.

"That is what makes this such a difficult decision. I believe in giving people a second chance," she said.

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Menton has served as superintendent of the BOLD School District since May 2021 He led an effort that saw voters in November 2023 approve nearly $40 million in financing to address facilities needs in the district serving the communities of Bird Island, Olivia and Lake Lillian.

Prior to becoming superintendent, Menton had served for five years as BOLD's high school principal. He had been an assistant principal for the Westbrook-Walnut Grove School District before joining BOLD.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Two Florida women were arrested Wednesday after a starving puppy was found in a bathroom, the Brevard County Sheriffs Office said.

In a video posted to social media, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the case started on March 27 when a local rescue was called to the suspects home to take a puppy to an animal emergency hospital.

The dog was extremely malnourished, emaciated in just the worst of conditions. It was a puppy that had been not fed, Ivey said.

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The sheriff said his team was not allowed in the house because the women didnt want them to see how bad the conditions were.

The puppy couldnt stand up, Ivey said. Basically, this dog was bones with skin.

Ivey said the dog had been kept in a bathroom.

(The puppy) Hadnt been fed, hadnt been nourished in any way, hadnt had any vet care, and the dog finally got to a point that they called and asked for a rescue to come take it, the sheriff said.

According to Ivey, the woman claimed they didnt know anything was wrong with the dog.

You know something is wrong now because youre about to go to jail for it, Ivey said.

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The two women were identified as Alexza Ramos and Keishawna Mass.

They were both charged with animal cruelty and keeping an animal enclosed without exercise or fresh air, the sheriff said.

No other details about the case were immediately available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges in three separate child sex abuse cases on Friday morning.

Officials said the cases are unrelated, but the three men were arrested on the same day in different counties across the state.

Jason Harrison, a 46-year-old from Jacksonville, was charged with 3 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and is being held on a $750,000 bond.

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Harrisons arrest came after an investigation into peer-to-peer file-sharing networks that led to his IP address. Law enforcement executed a search warrant and found CSAM on his devices.

In Naples, 42-year-old Kevin Sheffield was also charged when investigators traced a device that was downloading CSAM to his residence. Officials said they discovered hundreds of files on his devices, and he has since been charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

Sheffield is being held on a $1.5 million bond and faces 150 years if convicted.

The case against 34-year-old Travis Montgomery of Bradenton began when agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a man sharing CSAM through the messaging app Kik.

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An investigation revealed that Montgomery had received files depicting sexual abuse against children from the victims mother in Washington state.

The mother was arrested and charged in Washington.

Montgomery also sent files showing him performing sexual acts that intentionally contaminated food at the restaurant where he was employed. Officials said he is no longer employed at the restaurant, but they did not provide any additional information about what restaurant it was or when the contamination occurred.

He has been charged with six third-degree felony counts of possession of child pornography, one second-degree felony count of soliciting an image from a parent or guardian of sexual conduct involving a child and one first-degree felony count of food tampering.

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Montgomery is being held on a $260,000 bond and is facing 75 years in prison if convicted, officials said.

These arrests reflect our ongoing commitment to child protection, Attorney General James Uthmeier said. If you are trying to prey on kids, we are watching, and we are coming for you.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
May 2---- The

"Reduce the Rancor" bus tour stopped in Willmar earlier this week to conduct workshops for elected officials and the public.

The purpose of the tour is to strengthen communities and democracy.

Braver Angels conducted a Monday morning skills workshop for elected officials to enhance their effectiveness across divides, and then hosted a luncheon with an interactive discussion for elected officials and community leaders on building community beyond differences.

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A handful of Willmar residents participated in an open house event that took place Monday afternoon at the

to learn how to turn discord into dialogue.

The discussion was led by Minnesota Braver Angels co-chairs Scott Schluter, who politically leans Republican, and Melinda Voss, who leans Democrat.

"We're not out to change their points of view, but to hear the points of view on the other side," Voss said.

Schluter explained that Braver Angels encourages using the

in conversations  listen to understand what someone is saying; acknowledge what was said to make sure it was understood; pivot the conversation by assessing whether it's OK to offer another point of view; and share a different perspective in a way that is not telling the other person that they are wrong.

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"One of the things that Braver Angels has taken on is polarization," Voss said. She said that polarization is toxic and leads people to view those with differing beliefs as crazy or evil. " ... This isn't just happening because of one one elected official or one one political party or anything. The factors that have given rise to this toxic polarization we're experiencing have been ongoing trends for the last 40 years."

She explained that Braver Angels offers an opportunity to express oneself and also to listen  with the goal of finding the stories, the reasoning and the thinking behind what is leading someone to think differently and to support different things.

Wilk Wilkinson, who hosts the

joined in on the conversation. He said he was recruited by the national Braver Angels organization and has been a member since 2021.

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"As somebody who is on the conservative side of the spectrum, they said, 'We need more voices like yours,'" Wilkinson said of his recruitment. "'We have this kind of imbalance within our organization, and we like to be balanced, and we like to bring people in who are not afraid to speak freely, fully, without fear.'"

He said through his work with Braver Angels, he has learned to try to see the humanity in all people, understanding that people want the same things  clean air, clean water, warm beds, a roof over their head and children to be educated  but just have different ideas of how to get there.

"We're going to listen intently, not with the intention of just responding, but with the intention to actually understand what that other person is saying," Wilkinson said about Braver Angels discussion techniques.

Braver Angels held a second public event Monday night. Dozens attended to discuss their hopes and concerns surrounding the administration of President Donald Trump.

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"The people who come are predisposed to have the conversations; they often have very strong views, so it's not like they're all centrist," said organizer and Braver Angels co-founder William Doherty in an interview after the event at the Willmar Senior High School.

"Our theory of change is that those people influence the others who also have strong views, but who at this point are not open to the conversation, " Doherty continued. "So they go home, and they go to their friends and they say 'you know, those people are not as crazy as you thought.'"

Organizers used the "the fish bowl" exercise, titled

on the Braver Angels website, breaking volunteers into two groups and arranging them in two circles  those that were hopeful standing in an inner circle facing those who were concerned in an outer circle.

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Each group shared their thoughts on the current administration as the moderators helped showcase the agreements between the two groups.

"With the right structure, the right container, they almost always benefit from it. They almost always find some common ground and feel more hopeful than if you brought them together without the right structure," Doherty said.

Established in 2016,

is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to reducing polarization.
Eighty years ago last month, with World War II still raging, delegates from 50 nations met in San Francisco to discuss the foundations for a more peaceful future, in a conference that resulted in the creation of the United Nations. Today, even without a full-scale global war, such a conference seems unimaginable, as the worlds great powers often seem more interested in dismantling, rather than building institutions. But against this backdrop, Brazil under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stands out for its multilateral ambition.

Following Brazils retreat from the diplomatic spotlight during former President Jair Bolsonaros four-year term, Lula signaled the countrys return to the global stage in his first U.N. speech after winning re-election in 2022. Since then, from re-engaging with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, and leading U.N. Security Council efforts on the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, to rebooting the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, hosting last years G20 Summit and now chairing BRICS and this years U.N. COP30 Climate Change Conference, it seems as though Brazil is not just back, but everywhere.

Lulas active diplomacy has raised hopes that Brazil might resuscitate international cooperation at a time when it often seems beyond reach. For states such as India and South Africa, Brazil is a partner in traditional and newer multilateral forums. For other economically developing countries, it is a champion of issues such as global food security. Meanwhile, the European Union and its member states hope Brazil can serve as a bridge between them and Global South leaders, after a string of broken promises and double standards on everything from vaccine access to international law has soured relations.

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On the economic front, the long sought-after EU-Mercosur trade deal, 25 years in the making, may finally be on the horizon. U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump have also made Brazil more attractive to countries such as China, Japan and Canada. Touring the world, Lula has become a flag-bearer for free trade, defending multilateralism together with the leaders of South Africa and Spain, while engaging China and Russia on the risks of a global trade war.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

Of course, Lula has his detractors. Not all African states see Brazil as the natural partner Lula often portrays it as, while Asian governments are far more focused on navigating the U.S.-China rivalry. Closer to home, what happens in the U.S. is more likely to dominate headlines in Latin America than Brazils foreign policy. And even in Brazil, Lulas foreign policy efforts rarely drive the news cycle.

Yet even Lulas critics believe Brazil could play a transformative global role if it finds the right combination of strategy, tactics and resources.

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The COP30 conference in Belem this November offers the most compelling opportunity. There is much to criticize about the annual U.N. climate meeting, but it remains the only global platform for climate action under the only global climate framework: the Paris Agreement.

Brazil can serve as a critical bridge in a divided world. But to do so, it must sustain resources, maintain focus andcruciallyback up Lulas lofty pronouncement with meaty proposals.

This years conference is especially significant, as 2024 was the first calendar year in which the world passed the threshold of a 1.5 degree Celsius rise in average global temperatures compared to preindustrial levels, which had been the target ceiling of the Paris Agreement. Progress on climate finance remains slow, while the vast majority of countries have yet to submit their new Nationally Determined Contributions updating their climate ambitions for the coming five years. The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement by the U.S.the worlds second-largest emitter of greenhouse gaseshas raised the specter of wider backsliding.

As a Global South leader and home to 60 percent of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil can use the November conference to show there is a strong coalition of middle powers and climate-vulnerable countries willing to step up. This will require embedding nature and sustainable development into the proceedings, to allay the concerns among economically developing countriesnow even greater amid U.S. and European aid cutsthat donors are deprioritizing core economic and social needs.

The bioeconomy principles launched at last years G20 Summit, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, provide a way forward. If Brazil can translate them into investment that benefits its own people and serves as a catalyst for projects elsewhere, it will have demonstrated that multilateral forums can deliver. A successful climate conference in Belem could also serve as a model for future COPs and provide momentum for broader transformation of climate governance, including Lulas idea for a U.N. Climate Council, for instance.

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Meanwhile, through its rotating presidency of BRICS this year, Brazil could try to nudge the bloc toward becoming more vocal on climate issues, potentially backed by bioeconomy investment through the BRICS-funded New Development Bank. Many countries might also be hoping that Brazil can be a tempering influence on efforts by Russia and China to turn BRICS into a platform for their rivalry with the United States.

This would be in line with Brazils self-professed foreign policy independence, which has seen it take a pragmatic approach to cooperation with a range of partners. This could be an attractive model for other states seeking to navigate growing geopolitical fragmentation. If Brazil can combine this approach with a strong set of proposals on issues such as debt relief and climate finance, as well as a consistent, law-focused narrative on Russias invasion of Ukrainewhere Lula attracted criticism for early stumblesand Israels assault on Gaza, it could help forge a modern non-aligned movement: one that champions a collective future for the many, rather than survival in a world defined by the few.

The opening of the U.N. General Assembly in September would be a good platform to make such a pitch. At last years edition, Lula convened a historic G20 ministerial meeting at U.N. headquarters that resulted in a Call to Action on Global Governance Reform and showed the potential for greater collaboration across multilateral fora. He also announced Brazils intention to submit a proposal to convene a conference to review the U.N. Charter. At the subsequent IBSA Foruma trilateral grouping comprising India, Brazil and South AfricaNew Delhi and Pretoria added their support.

This September, Lula could use the spotlight of the General Assembly to set out concrete proposals for reform that could serve as his international legacy, as well as stepping stones to a new Global South-led multilateralism that builds bridges with the North. He could address, head-on, the impending collapse of the international humanitarian and development system and support an inclusive process to create a new, more equitable development paradigm that underscores the intrinsic links between poverty, climate and nature.

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And he could outline a broader re-envisioning of the global system based on Brazils brand of values-driven pragmatism, with flexible issue-based alliances that can dock into established forums when needed, but are not limited by consensus.

As the U.N. marks its 80th anniversary, it faces significant challenges, including funding cuts by the Trump administration. That makes it even more essential that Guterres recently announced reform initiative is a strategic review that addresses the systems deeper structural constraints and realigns its priorities for the future. At present, there is a danger that the exercise will result in modest tweaks to the U.N.s task list and significant cuts to its resourcing, essentially asking it to do a bit less with a lot less.

A truly effective review should grapple with the U.N.s outdated state-centric governance model; its overstretched mandate, particularly in the humanitarian and development spheres; and the need to elevate its normative, convening and backstop functions. It must also consider what the U.N. is best-placed to do and what it should let go redistributing tasks to other capable actors, enhancing multistakeholder governance and aligning decision-making structures with the diverse ecosystem of global cooperation today. The U.N. at 80 should serve as a springboard for a reimagined multilateralismone that is more inclusive, accountable and fit for a complex, multipolar world. And Brazil can be a catalyst for achieving that transformation.

If this sounds too lofty for a president heading into the final year of his term in office, one very practical proposal that Brazil could champion is the appointment of a visionary leader, and ideally a woman, to succeed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when his current and last term ends this year. Eight decades ago, Berta Lutza Brazilianwas one of just four women at the San Francisco conference. Since then, there has yet to be a female U.N. chief. Brazil is reportedly not planning to field a candidate and could become queenmaker in a field that is, to date, dominated by contenders from the region.

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Throughout this year, Brazils leadership across multilateral forums provides a rare opportunity to align agendas, build momentum and create models for the future. From integrating climate, nature and development to fostering synergies between COP30, BRICS and the G20, Brazil can serve as a critical bridge in a divided world. But to do so, it must sustain resources, maintain focus andcruciallyback up Lulas lofty pronouncement with meaty proposals to score victories that resonate domestically and globally.

Brazil usually speaks first at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly. This year, it may well have the last word on multilateralism.

Natalie Samarasinghe was chief of strategy for the U.N.s 75th anniversary and speechwriter to the president of the U.N. General Assembly, as well as CEO of the United Nations Association-UK for a decade. She is a co-founder of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign to select a woman U.N. secretary-general, a recipient of a New Shape Prize for global governance reform, and author/editor for SAGE, Routledge and OUP. She has degrees from the University of Oxford and London School of Economics.

Giovanna Kuele is a program manager at Igarape and an expert on Brazils foreign policy and international cooperation. She has advised U.N. member states on multilateral strategies, contributed to civil society tracks feeding into the G20 and COP conferences, and coordinated consultations for the Executive Office of the U.N. Secretary-General. She has a Ph.D. in political science from the CUNY Graduate Center.

The post Brazil and Lula Must Back Up Multilateral Ambition With Action appeared first on World Politics Review.
Pig farmers in Spain are hoping to expand pork exports to China as U.S. President Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to raise its own duties on U.S. goods, an industry specialist said on Tuesday. #GLOBALink




SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's Social Security Minister Carlos Lupi resigned from his position on Friday, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva naming his main secretary for the role, according to a statement from the Presidential Palace.

Lupi's resignation follows a sweeping operation carried out by authorities against social security agency INSS last month, with the agency accused of improperly deducting funds from pensioners of more than $1 billion.

The operation led to the dismissal of then INSS head Alessandro Stefanutto, who was the prime target of the operation. The INSS falls under the Social Security Ministry.

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In a resignation statement posted on social media, Lupi said his name was not mentioned in the ongoing probes regarding INSS, and that his ministry had supported the investigations all along.

Lula appointed the ministry's executive secretary, Wolney Queiroz, as the new minister, the Presidential Palace said.

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Franklin Paul and Natalia Siniawski)
In Ohio, three former East Cleveland Police Department officersDetective Ian McInnes, Sergeant Anthony Holmes, and Commander Larry "Pac Man" McDonaldwere sentenced to prison for their roles in five criminal incidents between 2020 and 2023. McInnes received two and a half years for kicking a 16-year-old in the groin during a 2021 arrest after a car chase, while Holmes received one year for hitting the teen's car and lying about it during the same incident. McDonald was sentenced to four years for two separate pursuits that ended in crashesone fatalwhere he failed to notify other officers or fled the scene. All three must permanently give up their police licenses.

The post Brickbat: Toxic Trio appeared first on Reason.com.
SALEM, W.Va. (WBOY)  The City of Salem continues to work in its mission to continue growing the town and that includes repairs around the area.

And now the bridge at the intersection of Liberty Street and S. Dale Avenue is rebuilt and will be open to traffic after 29 days, as the materials set in.

Salems mayor, Brandie Garner, said the city received a bid that allowed the project to be funded by a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money the city has.

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She added that moving forward, we have ensured all bridges are included in the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan that was recently completed.

Where Salem EMS stands nearly one year after almost being permanently shut down

(WBOY image)

This bridge is not the only one getting a change this year.

Thats one of three that will be replaced this year, so pretty excited about that. It was closed for three years and sadly, thats the one you need if theres a fire, if theres something like that, so we really needed to get that done. So, were really happy to do that, Garner said.

Once its accessible, the bridge will help cut time for fire and EMS response by 10 to 15 minutes and the garbage collection route will also be shortened by about 40 minutes, according to Salems City Manager, Shawn Dahlheimer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
LONDON (Reuters) -The British government will next week warn all UK companies to treat cyber security as an "absolute priority" in the wake of attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group and Harrods.

Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden on Friday led a briefing with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, about support being provided to the affected retailers, his office said.

It also said he will use a speech at next week's CyberUK conference in Manchester to say the recent attacks are a "wake up call" for all businesses.

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It said McFadden will highlight moves to bolster our national defences including new legislation - the Cyber Security Bill.

He will say: In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority."

The 141-year-old M&S, one of the best known names in British business, stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on April 25 following problems with contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. It has not said when online orders will resume.

Technology specialist site BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, said a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S's servers was believed to have been conducted by a hacking collective known as "Scattered Spider".

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British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, costing them tens of millions of pounds and often months of disruption.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
The player above shows a previous story from April 15, 2025, on the Trump Administrations decision to cancel funding for study of behavioral diversity in animals at Brookfield Zoo.

BROOKFIELD, Ill.  A couple of bachelors will soon call Brookfield Zoo their home.

Shango and Barney are adult western lowland gorillas, or silverbacks, coming to Brookfield from Miami. The brothers will form the first-ever bachelor troop at the zoo.

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Bachelor troops are made up of younger males who have left their family troop or adult males who havent formed one.

These social troops help foster critical skills and relationships, contributing to the well-being of the individuals and the species, zoo officials said.

Shango, 36, and Barney, 31, were born at San Francisco Zoo and have lived together at Zoo Miami for the past several years.

The zoo says Shango is known for his stoic expressions and often appears to hold up his middle finger because of an injury he got while playing that left him unable to bend that finger.

Barney is known for his cooperative nature and voluntarily participates in his veterinary care, Brookfield Zoo said.

Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching and disease.

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The gorillas will be joining Bornean orangutans and several species of monkeys in the new James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests exhibit this summer.

According to the zoo, guests will be able to get up close to the primates through viewing areas, including two indoor and four outdoor habitats spanning nearly three acres.

For more information on the new exhibit, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  Officials with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service said brown spot needle blight (BSNB) has been widespread in Mississippi.

BSNB, which is caused by the native fungus Lecanosticta acicola, commonly affects young longleaf pine trees but is now affecting mature loblolly pine trees across the Southeast.

MSUs spring graduation ceremonies set for May 13-16

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This disease wasnt really a concern with loblolly in the past, but now we are seeing it in mature trees pretty frequently, said Kristy McAndrew, a forestry health specialist with the MSU Extension Service. Early reports in the region started around the mid-2010s, and weve been seeing it in loblolly since then at varying rates.

Symptoms of BSNB include brownish-red needles in late winter and spring, small brown spots with yellow halos on needles, premature needle drop and thinning canopy. Trees will green back up through the summer as dead needles are shed. Emerging green needles that appear as early as early April are a sign that the tree will survive.

Brown spot needle blight, which is caused by the native fungus Lecanosticta acicola, commonly affects young longleaf pine trees but is now affecting mature loblolly pine trees across Mississippi and the Southeast. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Brady Self)

The fungus is present year-round, but trees dont show symptoms until very late winter or early spring. In northeast Mississippi, McAndrew said needle loss and discoloration was observed from February to March in previous years. But this year, symptoms were not seen until the last few weeks of April.

The timing of observable symptoms could vary in different areas of the state.

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Bruceville-Eddy, Tx (FOX 44)  A 51-year-old man is being charged with indecency with a child over time, and accused of introducing her as his girlfriend.

Bond has been set at a half-million dollars for Brandon Jason Shumake, who was booked into the McLennan County Jail Thursday.

An arrest affidavit indicates Bruceville-Eddy Police got the case through notification by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The affidavit stated that the alleged abuse began when the victim was eight up until she was 13, and that included what was described as inappropriate touching and kissing. The affidavit also indicated sexual communications via an app called Discord. The affidavit stated that police obtained search warrants for telephones and the suspects home. The affidavit stated that when the phones were examined and the Discord app opened, they found the only conversation on it was with the victim. The affidavit further stated that the victim was interviewed at the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children with the affidavit stating that the interview included information that inappropriate touching had begun when she was eight years old. The affidavit stated that the interview included statements about a phone being used to record videos when when she was in the shower.

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Man charged with murder of Bell County deputy sentenced to prison

As the investigation continued Bruceville-Eddy Police sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Shumake from Justice of the Peace Brian Richardson. The warrant application was made April 30 and the arrest made May 1.

Shumake remained in the McLennan County Jail Friday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  In Columbus, a major interchange project is nearing completion.

State leaders and transportation officials gathered to discuss updates on the Buena Vista Interchange project. The $47 million project aims to reconstruct the interchange at Buena Vista Road and I-185. Now, it is almost 80% complete.

State Representatives, Carolyn Hugley and Teddy Reese joined Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials to walk the site and share project details.

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The projects concept report was approved in late 2016, and a bidder was selected in 2020. However, the pandemic caused some delays. The construction challenges laid out by GDOTs project update include, Contractor and Utility owners faced delays in sourcing materials following pandemic supply shortages. Smaller work crews or delayed activities due to smaller labor market. as well as the interchange being open to traffic for the entirety of construction, Challenges and risks are inherent when keeping a project site open while undertaking a large-scale construction project. 

State Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Administrator for the GDOT, Kenneth Franks, said, We definitely experienced supply chain issues on multiple facets of the projects from just construction materials for the actual roadway and utility supplies.

Despite pandemic delays and utility relocations, the GDOT says the project now remains on schedule.

The project replaces an existing bridge with a wider and modified to accommodate a Diverging Diamond, a sidewalk on the south side, and a multi-use trail on the north side.

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Representatives believe the project will serve as a transportation upgrade as well as an economic draw for the area.

Rep. Teddy Reese, (D-Columbus) said, A few years back, the citizens of this area were wise enough to pass a TSPLOST, and what that did was that contributed funds so that we could build the bridges and the roads and do the special projects that we needed to accommodate the growth that we have here in Columbus.

Reese continued, One thing I think everyone is going to appreciate is this beautiful new bridge when its done, and how well its going to look in this area, how well its going to help bring up this area. When you think about economic development, you have to think about the ability to move people, the ability of folks to get around, and also just the aesthetics of the community.

Representatives Hugley and Reese both thanked the community for their patience and said this transformation will be worth the wait.

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Hugley said, You know, we have construction going on here as well as down at the spider web, citizens in my community are being inconvenienced. I get that. Its important to really thank our citizens for, number one, having the vision to vote for the TSPLOST and invest in our community. And two, to encourage them to be patient as we move through this process. We are in what we want to call the messy middle. And the end result is going to be a beautiful interchange here.

Leaders announced that when construction is finished, the bridge will be known as the Maretta Mitchell Taylor Interchange. Hugley said, Were so excited that we are standing on what will be the Maretta Mitchell Taylor interchange to honor the first African-American representative that was a female from this area this was part of her district while she was in the legislature. Im encouraged that this is going to be a wonderful tribute to her, and its going to make traveling in this area a lot more convenient for our citizens.

Official estimate substantial completion by fall of this year and final completion of the project in 2026.

Community members can track the progress of this and other projects on the GDOT website.

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BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry said on Friday that the country is making assessment as the United States has recently reached out to convey messages to China through relevant parties many times, expressing hope to engage in talks with China over tariff issues.

The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the United States. If the U.S. wants to negotiate, it must demonstrate sincerity, and make preparations and take concrete actions on issues such as correcting its erroneous practices and lifting the unilateral tariffs, a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement. 
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A bullet hit a car that a woman was driving, according to Mobile police.

US Marshals offering $5K reward for information on Mobile criminal

Officers were called to an area of Dog River Drive East on Friday at about 1:34 a.m. in response to shots fired, a Mobile Police Department news release said.

LOCATION:

When officers arrived, they reportedly found a car had been hit by gunfire.

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After further investigation, officers learned that a woman had been driving when a bullet hit her car.

No injuries were reported, the release said.

17 cartel members arrested in wake of shootout that left 6 dead

The investigation is continuing, the release said.

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BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia, Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 300 block of Norfolk Avenue on Thursday afternoon.

A news release from the fire department said a one-story, single-family home had visible smoke from all four sides around 1 p.m.

May Day protest in Bristol fighting against war on working people

Crews determined the fire started in the rear bedroom of the home, but the exact cause is undetermined as of Thursday evening.

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Bristol, Virginia Fire Chief Mike Armstrong noted in the release that the amount of debris and personal belongings in the home made moving through the house difficult for firefighters.

According to the fire department, a male occupant inside the home escaped safely before firefighters arrived. No other residents were injured.

Three cats died in the fire, the fire department reported.

Crews were on scene for roughly two and a half hours.

The Bristol Tennessee Fire Department also assisted in battling the fire.

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The San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office arrested two people last month for suspected involvement in a scam ring orchestrated by Romanian nationals across California, a news release said.

On April 3, Sheriffs Office detectives conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Highway 101 near Highway 166, the Sheriffs Office said.

The vehicle had three occupants: 37-year-old Alexandru Florea, of La Puente, and two males aged 17 and 11.

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The three suspects had been spotted earlier at a home in Arroyo Grande attempting to buy a car, the release said. A search of their vehicle found a nearly empty bottle of engine oil as well as a gallon jug that was partially full of engine oil.

The Sheriffs Office suspected that the trio had participated in an Oil in the Engine scam, where a scammer pretends to be a buyer and contacts a seller on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. They arrange to inspect and test drive the vehicle, the release said.

Two to three people often accompany the scammer and pretend to be friends of mechanics.

While one person distracts the seller, another secretly pours oil on the engine. During the test drive, the engine starts smoking, making it seem like the car has a serious problem. The scammer then offers a very low price, hoping the seller, now worried about expensive repairs, will agree to sell the car for far less than its actual value, the release said.

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More than 20 such scams were reported in the county from Nov. 21, to March 22  which cost victims about $60,000, the Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies arrested Florea on suspicion of charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, tampering with a vehicle and obtaining money by false pretenses, according to the Sheriffs Office.

As of Thursday afternoon, Florea was no longer in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail, according to the sheriffs booking log.

Deputies also arrested the teenager and transported him to Juvenile Hall, and he will face court proceedings, Sheriffs Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla said.

Deputies delivered the 11-year-old to Child Welfare Services, and he will not face charges, Cipolla said.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  A California man was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison for enticing a 12-year-old from Prince William County to participate in unlawful sexual activity, according to a release.

64-year-old Manassas man charged with 10 counts of child pornography

30-year-old Cash Dalton of Morro Bay, California, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2025, to enticement of a minor. FBI agents began investigating Dalton after the victims parents saw messages on their daughters phone between her and Dalton.

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The two had been messaging for around three months, and evidence showed that Dalton had sent text messages and emails containing sexually explicit messages and photos of himself. The messages also included directing the minor to engage in sexual activity.

In November 2024, FBI agents searched Daltons home and recovered evidence of Daltons communications with the victim, as well as with three other minors who were under the age of 16.

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BRUSSELS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Driven by a surge in European defense budgets, global military expenditure soared to a record 2.72 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Europe spearheaded the upward trend, with defense expenditures skyrocketing 17 percent to 693 billion dollars -- the sharpest regional increase and the highest level since the end of the Cold War.

Analysts say the surge in military spending reflects Europe's growing security anxiety, driven by both the pullback of U.S. security commitments to the region and a push by European nations to reduce reliance on Washington and strengthen their own defense capabilities amid growing global instability.

SPENDING SPIKES

According to the SIPRI, all European countries, except Malta, increased their military spending in 2024.

Ukraine's military spending surged to 64.7 billion dollars in 2024 -- a staggering 34 percent of its GDP -- the highest defense burden of any nation. Britain increased defense spending by 2.8 percent to 81.8 billion dollars while France boosted its defense budget by 6.1 percent to 64.7 billion dollars.

Germany's military spending surged by 28 percent to 88.5 billion dollars, making it the largest defense spender in Central and Western Europe and the world's fourth-largest; Sweden, in its first year as a NATO member, hiked defense spending by 34 percent to 12 billion dollars, reaching the bloc's 2 percent threshold of GDP; and Poland increased its budget by 31 percent to 38 billion dollars, amounting to 4.2 percent of its GDP.

"The latest policies adopted in Germany and many other European countries suggest that Europe has entered a period of high and increasing military spending that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future," said Lorenzo Scarazzato, researcher with the SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.

U.S. PRESSURE

All 32 NATO members increased defense budgets in 2024, according to the SIPRI, with 18 countries meeting or exceeding the bloc's 2 percent of GDP target. Total NATO spending reached 1.5 trillion dollars, accounting for 55 percent of global military expenditure.

The surge reflects Europe's growing unease about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees.

In February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his NATO member counterparts that Washington would no longer focus primarily on European security, urging the continent to take greater responsibility for military aid to Ukraine.

The sharp rise in military spending also comes amid renewed pressure from Washington. In his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on earlier demands, urging NATO members to raise defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP -- more than double the alliance's current benchmark.

Speaking at a press conference in January, Trump declared, "I think NATO should have 5 percent," echoing his first-term criticisms that Europe, particularly Germany, was underinvesting in its own defense. He also warned of a possible U.S. troop withdrawal from Europe if the bloc fails to meet the higher targets.

The rhetoric has stirred unease across the continent. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged the growing expectations, depicting the 2 percent goal as "a floor, not a ceiling" and calling for European nations to "turbocharge" their defense efforts in light of evolving threats.

ING, a think tank focusing on the global economy, said in a recent analysis that early U.S.-Russia contacts over a possible Ukraine peace deal, along with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's criticism of Europe at the Munich Security Conference, have heightened pressure on European countries to rearm.

"Latest events in the Oval Office have only increased this sense of urgency," it noted.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

Amid growing transatlantic uncertainty, Europe's long-standing pursuit of strategic autonomy has taken on new urgency.

The EU's Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 highlights defense as a top priority. In March, the European Commission released "White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030," outlining measures to address defense capability gaps and strengthen the bloc's arms industry through increased joint procurement.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled an 800 billion-euro (904.69 billion dollars) plan to boost EU defense spending. The initiative includes a 150 billion-euro (about 169.94 dollars) loan facility to help member states invest jointly in critical military assets.

While no longer an EU member, Britain continues to play a pivotal role in European defense. In February, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to raise defense spending from 2.3 percent to 2.5 percent of its GDP by 2027, and to 3 percent by 2029 if re-elected.

Seth Krummrich, retired U.S. colonel and current vice president of Client Risk Management at Global Guardian, told Al Jazeera that despite an expected increase in Europe's defense spending, "it was still somewhat shocking to see it unfold."

"Europe recognises the need to stand on its own and not rely as heavily on the United States," he said. "That's not to say the United States will not support Europe, but the 'guaranteed certainty' of U.S. support is no longer felt."

Think tank ING also cautioned that from a public financing perspective, more defense spending in the eurozone "couldn't come at a worse time" and that countries like France, Belgium and Italy are already under the EU's excessive deficit procedure, struggling to bring deficits below 3 percent of GDP.

"Increasing defence spending to a higher NATO target will therefore be a challenge, especially as quite a few of the high-deficit countries already struggle to meet the current 2 percent target," it said. 
The News

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he will travel to Washington Tuesday to meet with US President Donald Trump, in their first meeting since Carney was elected on an anti-Trump platform.

Trade and security are expected to top the agenda for the high-stakes talks, after Washington imposed punishing tariffs on its northern neighbor.

I will fight for the best deal for Canada, Carney said in his first news conference as prime minister, adding that voters elected him to stand up to President Trump.

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While Carney said he hopes to continue the economic cooperation with the US in key sectors, he emphasized that Canada does have other options.

Carney campaigned on being the candidate best suited to deal with Trumps economic pressure and threats to turn Canada into the 51st state.
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday he would be in Washington next Tuesday for what he expects will be "difficult but constructive" talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who he has accused of trying to break Canada.

Carney, fresh from a victorious election campaign focused on standing up to Trump, said the two neighbors need to create new security and defense ties.

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"Our old relationship, based on steadily increasing integration, is over. The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future and where we in Canada will move on," he told a press conference.

Trump, who muses about annexing Canada, has imposed tariffs on some Canadian goods. Carney regularly termed the U.S. actions as a betrayal and says Canada must reduce its reliance on the United States, which takes 75% of all Canadian exports.

Carney said the focus of Tuesday's "comprehensive set of meetings" with Trump and senior officials would be on immediate trade pressures, such as the tariffs, and the long-term future.

"I go there with the expectation of difficult but constructive discussions. That's the spirit of the conversations that the president and I had," said Carney, who spoke to Trump on Tuesday and on March 28.

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"I'm not pretending those discussions will be easy ... there will be zigs and zags, ups and downs," he said.

The meeting will be the first between the two men since Carney entered Canadian politics in January. Carney did not respond directly when asked whether the U.S. tariffs would have to be lifted for formal negotiations to start.

Carney, an ex-central banker, said his experience in crisis management meant he was the best person to tackle Trump. The Liberals, who had trailed badly in the polls as recently as January, rebounded to win Monday's election.

Asked whether Trump had spoken on Tuesday about Canada becoming the 51st state, Carney replied, "He did not."

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Although the Liberals fell a few seats short of a majority in the elected House of Commons, Carney said he had a strong mandate and ruled out any kind of formal alliance with the smaller left-of-center New Democrats.

Carney said he would unveil his cabinet in the week starting May 12 and reveal the government's plans on May 27 in what is known as the speech from the throne. It will be delivered by King Charles, Canada's head of state.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss tariffs and bilateral relations, he said Friday in his first press conference as prime minister after his Liberals came out on top in parliamentary elections.

"It's important to get engaged immediately, which has always been my intention, has always been his intention," said Carney.

In Monday's vote, the Liberals secured a fourth consecutive government, a rarity in Canadian politics.

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In his victory speech, Carney said, "President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us: That will never, ever happen."

Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada as the 51st state of the United States. Additionally, he has imposed high tariffs on the neighbouring country to the north, whose economy is closely intertwined with that of the US.

Carney, a former central banker, gained momentum in recent weeks, buoyed by voter antipathy to Trump.

The Conservatives campaigned on a platform of tax cuts and reduced government spending, but their leader Pierre Poilievre's populist approach and Trump-style rhetoric appeared to have unsettled some voters amid heightened tensions with Washington.
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that he will visit U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The high-stakes meeting comes as Trump continues his trade war and annexation threats.

Carney's Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of Trump, whose trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty outraged voters.

We are meeting as heads of our government, Carney said. I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.

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In his first comments since election night, Carney said that Canadians elected a new government to stand up to Trump and build a strong economy.

Carney also said that King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government's priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes. Charles is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech twice, in 1957 and 1977.

"That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country, Carney said.

Carney has emphasized Canada's founding nations, the United Kingdom and France, since becoming prime minister after the resignation of Justin Trudeau. Carney repeated that the old relationship with the U.S. based on steadily increasing integration is over.

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"On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington," Carney said. My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada.

Carney previously said that Canadas close friendship with the U.S. has ended and that the 80-year period when the U.S. embraced the mantle of global economic leadership and forged alliances rooted in trust and mutual respect is over.

Trump mocked Carneys predecessor by calling him Governor Trudeau. He hasnt trolled Carney.

Robert Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor of Canadian history and international relations, said that Carney shouldn't go to Washington, because he risks Trump insulting Canada and him too.

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There is absolutely no reason to. You cant bargain with Trump. His word is not his bond. Its like writing on the water of a pond, a scummy pond. We have nothing to gain, Bothwell said.

Carney also outlined the priorities of his new government four days after Canadians voted in the Liberals for a fourth mandate. He said that a new Cabinet would be sworn in on May 12.

Now the election is over, and we are in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Its time to come together, to put on our Team Canada sweaters, and win big, Carney said. Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada.

He said that he will call for an election for a specific district as soon as possible if the opposition Conservatives want Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own seat in the election, to run in a by-election so he can sit in the House of Commons.

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No games, nothing like that, Carney said.

The Conservative Party announced shortly after that a current Conservative member of Parliament from Alberta will resign so Poilievre can run in that district.

Carney said that he had a constructive conversation with Poilievre about Canada's strategy with the Americans.

I am in politics to do big things, not to be something, Carney said.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The fallout from the Rent Guidelines Boards preliminary vote to allow rent hikes for New York Citys roughly 2.5 million rent-stabilized tenants drew swift reaction Thursday from candidates running to replace Mayor Eric Adams.

The Board voted Wednesday night to approve increases of up to 4.75% for one-year leases and 7.75% for two-year leases, despite protests from tenant advocates and renters. The decision sparked criticism from several Democratic mayoral hopefuls, many of whom are now calling for a rent freeze.

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New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said she supports a freeze this year and said she would evaluate any future increases as mayor through a framing of making sure buildings were in a state of good repair for tenants.

The rent guidelines add more burden on those who are already rent burdened, Adams said. Were going to continue to watch it.

Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer echoed those concerns, telling PIX11 on Thursday the numbers seem to support a freeze this time around.

Indications are that the proposals just seem too high, Stringer said. Whos going to get hurt? The working people, the middle class. Thats why we lost 500,000 people who left the city.

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Current Comptroller Brad Lander has also spoken in favor of a rent freeze for this year and his first year if elected mayor.

We can target help to the small set of buildings where we need investments for distressed units, Lander said. But we do not need a 7.75% increase on already struggling tenant households.

Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani made the strongest pledge on the issue, promising to implement a rent freeze for all four years of his term if elected. He acknowledged concerns about small landlords but said the city already has programs in place to assist those facing hardship.

My commitment to a rent freeze is one in recognition of the data, Mamdani said. If there is a landlord for whom that is not an accurate reflection, I would continue to embrace the city program that provides relief to those who can open their books.

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The campaign for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement saying any increases should be minimal. However, the statement did not include a promise to implement a rent freeze if he were elected.

The statement said in part: the board must ultimately balance the economic realities necessary to prevent buildings from falling into disrepair with the hardship facing too many New York families. In light of that, Governor Cuomo urges the Rent Guidelines Board to factor in the steep rise in the cost of living in the final decision and do everything it can to keep rent as low as possible.

All the candidates emphasized the broader need for more affordable housing in the city, using the rent hike vote as a platform to push their housing agendas.

Mayor Adams, who appoints the Rent Guidelines Board, has repeatedly defended rent increases as a necessary measure to support small landlords.

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WYNNE, Ark.  A Wynne, Arkansas, man was airlifted to Regional One after a car slammed through a nail salon on Thursday, leaving him with serious injuries.

Johnathan Robinson, 32, was dragged more than 50 feet by a car that ran through a nail salon while waiting for his girlfriend, and he was with his four-year-old stepson.

Man, Im in terrible pain, my whole body is sore. I got probably 70 or 80 stitches in me, said Robinson. I got a busted eye, busted lip, Im just blessed to be in front of you right now.

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4 charged in Frayser shooting that killed 2

Delores Powell, who works at the Shoe Show next door, saw Robinson stumbling out of the salon.

He had blood everywhere, a puncture or bit his lip or something. His nose was bleeding, he had blood and cuts on his arms, so I ran over here and got wet paper towels and was trying to clean him up before the ambulance came, said Delores Powell.

Robinson says he doesnt understand and wants justice to be served.

Police believe the suspect is an older woman. This is an ongoing investigation.

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By Crispian Balmer

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - If Roman Catholic cardinals have not picked a new pope by day three of next week's conclave, then things are not going to plan.

Short conclaves wrapped up in a couple of days project an image of unity, and the last thing the red-robed cardinals will want is to give the impression that they are divided and the Church adrift after the death of Pope Francis last month.

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"Maximum three days," Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez confidently predicted this week ahead of the secret ballot, which will begin in the Sistine Chapel on May 7.

The average length of the last 10 conclaves was 3.2 days and none went on for more than five. The last two elections -- in 2005 when Pope Benedict was picked and in 2013 when Francis emerged -- were wrapped up in just two days.

The conclave takes place over as many rounds of voting as needed until one candidate gets a two-thirds majority, triggering the billowing white smoke that tells the waiting world a new papacy has begun.

"Clearly the more ballots you have, the more difficult things have become. But the signs are that they want to proceed quickly," said Giovanni Vian, a professor of Christian history at Venice's Ca' Foscari University.

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Some of the 133 cardinals expected to enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday have been "papabile" - a possible pope - for years. Others will rise to the fore only during the current daily meetings, known as general congregations, where cardinals discuss the Church's future.

When Francis died, most Vatican observers saw Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Filipino prelate Luis Antonio Tagle as the obvious frontrunners, with a multitude of other possible candidates following in their wake.

SERIOUS CHOICES

The initial vote, on the afternoon the conclave begins, often serves as an informal sounding board in which numerous names are widely dispersed.

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Some of these are symbolic votes, offered as gestures of respect or friendship before the serious balloting begins the next day, when the strength of the favourites can be gauged.

From the second day, two votes are held in the morning and two in the afternoon. According to conclave regulations, if no-one has been chosen after the first three days, the cardinals should take a day-long "pause of prayer" before continuing.

It will soon become clear if there is a viable frontrunner, or if a compromise candidate is needed.

"If we don't get a new pope quickly it will show that the push for the frontrunners petered out very quickly," said Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and Vatican commentator.

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"It will also reinforce the fact that there are a lot of cardinals in there and they just don't know each other very well," he added.

Pope Francis appointed around 80% of the cardinal electors, many of them in far-flung dioceses as he sought to strengthen the Church in areas where it previously had limited reach.

This means it will be the first conclave for a vast majority of participants and also that many of those sitting beneath Michelangelo's famed frescos will have had little opportunity to get to know one another beforehand.

That could create space for so-called "grand electors", who have emerged discreetly in previous years to promote candidates at the pre-conclave meetings and then help shape opinions as the contours of the vote come into focus.

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SWORN TO SECRECY

All cardinals would deny campaigning for an election they believe is guided by the Holy Spirit. But while no discussion is permitted during the voting sessions themselves, cardinals are free to exchange views over meals at Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where most will be staying.

Successful electors can identify a compromise candidate able to pick up votes from all sides, said the historian Vian.

When cardinals met for their second conclave of 1978 after the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, Vienna's Franz Koenig rallied German-speaking cardinals, and Polish-American John Krol the U.S. prelates, to support the little known Pole Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II within three days.

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With the focus seemingly on doctrinal disputes ahead of the coming conclave, Germany's Gerhard Mueller has been giving daily newspaper interviews rallying traditionalist ranks, while numerous voices, including Canadian Michael Czerny, have been pushing for Francis' moderate vision to prevail.

Cardinals are sworn to secrecy about how votes progress, but detailed accounts often surface in the aftermath.

In his 2019 book "The Election of Pope Francis", Gerard O'Connell reported how Jorge Mario Bergoglio, an Argentine cardinal who had not been flagged as a "papabile", grabbed attention thanks to a powerful speech to his peers heading into the 2013 conclave.

O'Connell said 23 cardinals received at least one vote in the first vote, with Bergoglio coming second. He edged ahead in the second vote and pulled further clear in the third, to the chagrin of supporters of the Italian favourite, Angelo Scola.

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In an apparent effort to derail Bergoglio, a rumour spread at lunchtime on the second day that he only had one lung and might not be physically fit to run the Church. He let it be known that only a small part of one lung had been removed and by the fifth vote that same afternoon he was pope.

In 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the clear favourite going into the Sistine Chapel and led from the first vote. He won handsomely by the fourth ballot to become Benedict XVI.

Even if it is impossible to say how things will go this time around, cardinals hope for a similar, smooth outcome.

"I wouldn't panic if we don't have a pope by the end of day two, but if there still isn't any white smoke by the end of the third day, then we start to get worried," said Reese.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Carl Kheir Doumani, a mid-century Los Angeles developer-turned-wine-country icon, died April 22 in his sleep at his home in the Napa Valley, according to his family. The former owner of Stags Leap Winery, once at the center of a wine-country legal battle called the Apostrophe War, was 92.

Doumani moved to the Napa Valley in the late 1960s, founded three wineries, sold two of them, and lived the life of a bon vivant and raconteur that amounts to a fading breed in the Valley.

Winemaker Stu Smith said he knew Doumani was slowing down when hed missed a couple of lunch dates with his pals, a standing monthly commitment that he and 11 other friends had kept since the late 1970s. In his later years Doumani showed signs of dementia, a reminder that all of them were getting old. There werent a lot of us left, says Smith, who with his brother founded Smith-Madrone winery in 1971.

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Read more: I tasted 394 wines in one day. Here's what I learned about the state of American wine

Doumani was born in Los Angeles to Lebanese parents and raised in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood, according to his daughter, Kayne. She says that her fathers uncle homesteaded property in Palm Springs, and as a youth Doumani was hired to build dingbats, rapid-construction apartment dwellings that soon filled with California newcomers.

He began attending college at UCLA, but early in his studies was offered the chance to purchase a bar and restaurant in Westwood Village called Dudes  despite being a few years shy of legal age. So began a lifetime of development, property management and entrepreneurship. Eventually this took him to the Napa Valley in 1969.

I think he was looking to buy about five acres, says Aaron Pott, a longtime friend who made wines for Doumani for decades, but the broker was offering about 400. Those acres were in the heart of the Stags Leap District, one of Napas most esteemed grape-growing regions.

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He pulled together investors and struck a deal, intending to build a hotel and restaurant. But in 1971 he revitalized Stags Leap Winery, founded in 1893, making wine from the propertys existing mature vineyards. The name immediately earned him the ire of Warren Winiarski, the founder and proprietor of Stags Leap Wine Cellars. Winiarski sued over the name, and Doumani did not back down.

The matter wasnt resolved until 1986, when the California Supreme Court affirmed Doumani could use the name Stags with an apostrophe after the s, thus ending what came to be known as the Apostrophe War. (The two resolved their differences sufficiently to bottle a joint effort, called Accord, after the settlement.)

Doumanis general obstreperousness  he would routinely clash with the Valleys vintners association and conservation organizations or anyone who told him what he could and could not do with his land  attracted like-minded winery owners who took it upon themselves to vent at monthly lunches. The group of 12 came to be known as the GONADS, or, the Gastronomical Order for Nonsensical and Dissipatory [sic] Society. The GONADS met monthly at one anothers wineries for over 50 years, sharing bottles, cigars and endless stories.

We were all quite strong in our opinions, says Smith, and Doumani was no shrinking violet. Lunches routinely ran into the dinner hour; the only forbidden topic was politics and, needless to say, the wine flowed freely  so freely that Doumani eventually bought an Airporter-style van so that all of the NADS could get home safely.

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Doumani sold Stags Leap Winery to Beringer Vineyards, then Californias longest continually operating vineyard, in 1997. Soon after he founded a winery called Quixote, named for another character prone to tilting at windmills. An avid, lifelong art collector, Doumani persuaded the renowned Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser to design the winery, which is one of the most fanciful and unique structures in Napa Valley.

Doumani himself was never a winemaker; in 2008, he hired Pott to make the Quixote wines. He made me a deal, says Pott. He said, You can make your wine here, and Ill give you fruit from one-and-a-half acres.' As monthly payment, Pott received a piece of art from Doumanis collection. Pott has artworks from Robert Motherwell, Cartier Bresson, Calder and Cocteau, which speaks not only to Doumanis largesse, but to the depth of his collection.

Read more: Move over, Champagne. A new wave of California sparkling wines is changing the bubbly game

Pott also lunched with Doumani weekly for more than a decade and heard stories of a well-lived life. In the mid-1970s family commitments obliged Doumani to take over the management of the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, decades before that citys family-oriented, G-rated years. This was the height of the mob era, says Pott. He had stories that could have been right out of Scorseses Casino. Doumani sold Quixote in 2014, and he started a third winery, Como No?, which ceased production in 2018, as he was approaching the age of 90.

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I got to know Doumani because of his love of Petite Sirah (on his labels he always spelled it Petite Syrah), a gruff, age-worthy red grape variety well-represented among the older plantings on his original property. My book about Rhone varieties on American soil titled American Rhone included an entire chapter on Petite Sirah for which I interviewed Doumani, the grapes fiercest advocate. He always took the contrarian position that Petite Syrah was better suited to the Napa Valley than Cabernet Sauvignon, especially when it had some bottle age  and in this he may be right. He never understood why others didnt love it like he did, says Pott. If you get to try an old wine, from the 70s, youd know.

Doumani is survived by three children, Lissa, Kayne and Jared. With her husband, Hiro Sone, Lissa ran Terra restaurant in St. Helena, which hosted many a Carl Doumani dinner until it closed in 2018. He also is survived by two brothers, Michael and Peter; two grandchildren, Gianna Lussier and Imogen Doumani; and his sister-in-law, Carol.

A fund has been set up in his memory at Providence Community Health Foundation . Funeral arrangements were private. A celebration of life is planned; more details at www.carl doumani.com .

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A 23-year-old Carpentersville man has been arrested on charges he took photos of himself sexually assaulting a sleeping child, according to law enforcement officials.

Federico A. Vega Jr., of the 1800 block of Papoose Road, faces three counts of manufacturing child pornography, one count of criminal sexual assault and eight counts of possessing child pornography, all felonies, and three counts of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse, a joint news release from the Kane County states attorneys and sheriffs offices said.

According to prosecutors, Vega allegedly sexually assault a child under the age of 13 while they were asleep on May 28, 2017, reportedly taking photographs of the crime while it was committed, the report said. Vega was under the age of 17 at the time, officials said.

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The charges also allege Vega possessed multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse between March 8, 2024, and April 23 of this year, officials said.

Vega was arrested about 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in North Carolina, where he is being held in the Craven County Sheriffs Office in New Bern pending extradition to Illinois, the release said.

The investigation was conducted by the Kane County Child Exploitation Unit with assistance from the Carpentersville Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
YANGON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized 1 million stimulant tablets and 2.3 kilograms of marijuana in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and Bago region on April 28, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police searched a vehicle in Waw township of Bago region on April 28 and discovered 1 million stimulant tablets inside, the report said. Two suspects in the vehicle were arrested, it added.

Additionally, 2.3 kilograms of marijuana were seized from an additional suspect in connection with the case in Tatkon township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, the report said.

Investigations revealed that the drugs were intended to be transported from Shan state to Mon state, it said.

The suspects were charged under the country's narcotics law, and further investigations are underway, the report added. 
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A bill passed in this years legislative session could change the names of some of the states most public venues.

Senate Bill 583 allows the state to sell naming rights to facilities like the new Aloha Stadium and the Hawaii Convention Center.

Community members meet with developers of new Aloha Stadium

Supporters said its smart business, but critics think its a slippery slope toward commercial clutter.

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Are you wearing the right color lei for Lei Day? Kumu Lum explains

In a move aimed at boosting revenue to pay for the operation and maintenance of the new stadium and the Convention Center, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 583, which permits the leasing of naming rights for state-owned facilities to public or private entities, with the generated funds directed to the facilitys special fund.

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Current law allows for advertising indoor facilities; this legislation opens doors to exterior advertising.



Thats going to increase the value, increase the potential for us to generate revenues that are going to help support and maintain that stadium for that 30-year period of time that were looking to have an operator run that stadium for us, said Brennon Morioka, Stadium Authority Chair.

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Its smaller than a grain of rice, but it could save your pets life: 10 facts to know

Supporters said this could raise a million dollars or more a year for the stadium.

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That could be the difference between having a roof shade or not having a roof shade. Are we going to engineer all of the extras out of there? I think of having extra $30 million potentially for Stanford is going to be good for the public, said Senator Glenn Wakai, who has been spearheading efforts to fund the new Aloha Stadium without additional taxpayer money

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The Hawaii Convention Center is also in the spotlight. The Hawaii Tourism Authority supported the bill, seeing it as a means to generate additional revenue. However, the opposition is strong from The Outdoor Circle.

This could lead to corporate schlock logos, everything screaming from every building or public facility. And we see a slippery slope here, said Winston Welch, Executive Director of The Outdoor Circle.

The Outdoor Circle argues the bill may jeopardize public funding of tax-exempt bonds and may not hold up against the states longstanding ban on billboards.



Yes, everybody needs money, but weve found a way for 100 years to do this without sacrificing our visual environment, said Welch.

Yet supporters said the bill is not a threat to Hawaiis scenic beauty.

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We want to keep that pristine environment that we have. This is for one singular building to allow for any kind of corporation to put their logo on the outside of the stadium, said Sen. Wakai.

The bill now heads to the Governor for his signature. If signed, the law could take effect as early as July.



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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippis Remarkable Women winners for 2025 are Dr. Emily Harber Williams and Sue Magee.

Both women got the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to meet other Remarkable Women from across the country.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Over 37 pounds of methamphetamine and over 5 pounds of fentanyl hidden in the dashboard area of a vehicle were seized this week at the Fort Hancock port of entry east of El Paso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a news release.

CBP said that on Tuesday morning, April 30, officers working at the Fort Hancock port of entry seized 37.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 5.6 pounds of fentanyl, hidden in a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old female U.S. citizen.

Even though traffic is generally light at the Fort Hancock port of entry, our CBP officers remain vigilant and are keenly aware that at any time the next arriving person or vehicle could pose a threat to the safety of our community, CBP Marcelino Serna Port Director Eric Fernandez said.

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CBP said the seizure was made when a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder with a single occupant arrived from Mexico. Officers selected the vehicle for a secondary exam.

A CBP drug-sniffing dog searched the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers continued the exam and located 38 bundles inside the dashboard area of the vehicle, CBP said.

CBP said a total of 34 bundles contained methamphetamine, while the contents of the remaining four bundles held multi-colored fentanyl pills.

Officers arrested the driver. She was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face charges of federal importation of a controlled substance, CBP said.

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The 78th Annual Armed Forces Day Luncheon took place Friday at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant for the first time since 2019.

Chairman Jeff Wolf spoke about his appreciation of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Commander Col. Gabe Pryors invitation to have it come back to the McAlester Ammunition Plant.

This place, we came in, we saw what MWR had done with it, the decorations and everything. These guys are amazing, Wolf said.

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Wolf said there are three entities involved in making the Armed Forces Day events happen: McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, the City of McAlester and VFW post 1098.

McAlester has a well-earned reputation of supporting those who served during both peace and war, and its demonstrated by your attendance here today, Wolf said.

During the luncheon, McAlester Mayor Justin Few presented the Missing Man ceremony, which was dedicated to three individuals this year: Ralph Perona, Michael J. Hunter and William Shaw. All three men served in different wars. Perona served in World War II, Hunter in the Vietnam war and Shaw in the American Revolution.

The Missing Man ceremony is a time to pause to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom. Although they are gone, we are to never forget them and their sacrifices. There is a special table set aside for the ceremony.

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Its purpose is to honor our absent, our fallen and our missing comrades in arms, Few said. The ceremony symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit.

This years speaker was Col. Pryor, who spoke about the current state of the United States Army.

For two and a half centuries, the Army has stood as a symbol of resolve and resilience, Pryor said. Weve defended our freedoms, securing our peace and answering the call to serve in every generation and several generations are here today.

The Army is undergoing our largest transformation in 40 years, Pryor said, continuing on to say the Army is changing as it rebalances the force structure to meet the challenges of the future.

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Things staying the same: the Army will continue to defend the nation 24 hours a day, seven days a week and compete globally to fight and win the nations wars as part of a joint force.

The Army will continue to train partners and allies to deter conflict. It is the principal response force to protect the homeland, deter strategic attacks, respond to natural disasters and provide defense support to civil authorities when requested.

The reorganization and technical innovation happening comes from the character of war changing, meaning the Army also has to change, Pryor said.

I tell you all that to tell you this: none of the things the Army does for our nation can happen without ammunition and the people of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Pryor said. It is the business of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, and they must do it well, and they do, operating for more than 80 years.

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We are grateful every day for the steadfast support of the community of McAlester and the Choctaw Nation, on whose land this plant resides. Our relationship with the Choctaw Nation is not just a matter of proximity. Its a true partnership, Pryor said.

He continued by stating the strength of the Army comes from its people. Likewise, the strength of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant comes from the strength of the community that surrounds it, he said.

Across the country, this is what makes the United States Army strong. Its the community. Its not just the power of the weapons, but its the power of these people, Pryor said.

Earlier, the Rev. Donald Brown gave the invocation, with the presentation of colors delivered by the Choctaw Color Guard.

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Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chris Tucker sang the National Anthem.

During the event, Master Sgt. Sam Martinez received the Distinguished Veterans Award. He is known for his volunteer work at the VAD and the VA, and working with veterans to make sure they get the benefits they deserve.

Martinez reminded those who were present the Armed Forces Day Parade would commence at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, in downtown McAlester.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  One of the major buildings at Midwestern State University Texas is recovering from rain damage that occurred earlier this week.

Fans will be scattered around Centennial Hall to dry up the water.

University officials said a roof drain failed during the storms on Wednesday, April 30, flooding the building that houses most of the Health Science programs.

Julie Gaynor, Director of Marketing and Public Information at MSU, said that despite the flooding, the situation is okay for now, until proper repairs can be made.

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Even with more rain in the forecast, we dont anticipate having any more problems with the building. However, that drain will have to be fixed. Its going to have to be done in such a way that we have several days without rain. But well be in good shape until then, Gaynor said.

For the time being, students who are taking classes in Centennial Hall will be contacted by their professors for different meeting locations.

The building opened in 2019 after more than four years of construction.

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TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A new teen drop-in center is set to open in our area offering a variety of activities for students after school.

Its been years in the making, and 28/22 News Reporter Paola Giangiacomo got a first look.

A new teen drop-in center is opening this weekend in Wyoming County, offering a safe and supportive space for local students.

Teach in NEPA program plans to keep teachers local

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Conveniently located near Tunkhannock area schools, the center will provide teens with a supervised environment to hang out with friends, do homework or participate in positive afterschool activities.

Studies show that programs like these can boost academic performance and reduce risky behavior, making this a welcome addition to the community.

From ping pong to foosball to karaoke, even a dedicated homework space, theres something for everyone here at the endless mountains teen drop-in center in Tunkhannock.

Its the first of its kind in the region.

Theres just not a lot here in this small town, but we thought our youth would really benefit from a place to be safe and just to have fun and just to enjoy recreation after school. Its also the added bonus of really connecting with kids that need a place to belong or supportive safe adults to be with, explained Emily Seward, chair, Endless Mountains Drop-in Ctr. Board of Directors.

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If we can give kids things to do, the less likely they are to turn to negative activities, added Cammie Anderson, Drug-Alcohol Prevention Coordinator, Tunkhannock Area School District.

Statistics show teens are more likely to get into trouble after school between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 pm, often due to unsupervised time, boredom, and a lack of engaging activities.

That time after school is critical if they are left alone, drug use goes up, crime goes up, this is just trying to give a place for these kids, stated anderson.

Right now the Endless Mountains Drop-in Center is open two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. with the hopes of expanding the hours and programs offered here throughout the summer.

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Just a short walk from the Tunkhannock Area Middle School and High School, this space offers a convenient and accessible spot for students.

I think its a great location added to our community and I think its something really needed and wanted. It can give people the home away from home they need after school or when its open, said Sarah DeMarco, Tunkhannock Area High School.

Theres a lot of stuff I wasnt expecting, the ping pong table and foosball. Theres definitely very few things that get old quickly in Tunkhannock and this will solve a big portion of those problems, explained Zachary MacBain, Tunkhannock Area High School.

A grand opening and open house is planned for this Saturday May 3 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

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Its located on 230 West Tioga Street Suite 8 in Tunkhannock. Private donations and grants have been instrumental in getting the teen drop- in center open.

For more information on the Endless Mountains Drop-In Center you can go to its Facebook page.

Donations are being accepted to help the drop in center expand and pay rent.

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Seminole Countys public schools expect to lose about 1,500 students next year and are fighting that enrollment drop by advertising to parents who live in other counties that seats in one of Floridas most highly coveted school systems are still open.

The Lake County school district also expects enrollment to fall by about 1,500 students while Orange County Public Schools  one of the states largest school districts  has predicted a drop of about 3,100.

Because schools are funded on a per-pupil basis, declining enrollment means less state money. Lake, the regions smallest school system, is expected to lose about $8 million, while Orange could lose almost $28 million.

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Districts are cutting their workforces and slashing department budgets as a result. They say most teachers should keep jobs, though some will be in new positions and schools come August.

They blame declining enrollment in large part on the expansion of Floridas school voucher program, which provides money for private school scholarships and homeschooling services and has lured many students around the state away from traditional public schools.

Osceola County, the only local school district to expect more students next year, projects an increase of more than 2,600, according to state data. But statewide, estimates show public school enrollment could drop by more than 70,000 students.

Last week, Seminole County Public Schools started advertising that it has space for students who are not Seminole residents. A nearly decade-old law allows students to enroll in public schools outside their home county, if a campus has space. As in other local districts, Seminole school leaders didnt like the law when it was passed and didnt have much use for it since most of their campuses were full.

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But now, they need the students.

SCPS is hosting community events and posting online to advertise the program, district spokesperson Katherine Crnkovich said, in an effort to attract students to Central Floridas highest-rated school district.

Robin Dehlinger, a Seminole County School Board member, acknowledged the districts viewpoint has changed since the law allowing enrollment across county lines was approved in 2016.

It was very disruptive, and it still is. But if you have capacity, you just find ways to make it work in a positive way for the students, said Dehlinger, a longtime school administrator before her election to the board last year.

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Orange County Public Schools announced last week that it hired a consultant to recruit families back to public schools, agreeing to pay the firm almost $1,000 for every student student who re-enrolled in a district school in an effort to mitigate the funding loss.

Seminole expects it could lose more than $13 million in state funds from its enrollment drop.

John Pavelchak, the districts chief financial officer, said in an April 8 budget workshop that the district would cut its workforce and slash department budgets by 5% for the upcoming school year as a result.

Elementary schools will be the most impacted, he said, as projected enrollment losses are steepest among younger children.

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In Seminole and Orange, hundreds of teachers have been told their contracts are not being renewed for next year  though most should find positions at other schools once retirements and resignations are sorted out, officials say.

Still, the budget cuts and non-renewal notices have hurt teacher morale, said Thomas Burgos, president of the districts teachers union.

About 200 Seminole teachers have received those notices. On average, every school in Seminole will lose about four teachers, he said.

Anytime that pink slips start flying through a building, everybody in the building starts fearing it, even if they know theyre safe, Burgos said.

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In Orange, where the district is cutting department budgets by 2%, about 800 teachers have been told their contracts have not been renewed. But OCPS officials also expect enough vacancies will open up that most will be rehired.

Dehlinger, a former Lake Mary High School history teacher, was told early in her career that her teaching contract wouldnt be renewed. She barely made it out of the conference room before she started crying, so she understands how teachers feel now and is hopeful most will end up with new jobs, as she did.

We will be doing our absolute best to make sure we can bring back as many people as possible, she said.

The state expanded its voucher program in 2023, wiping out family income requirements, and voucher use has jumped 67% since then, with thousands of students leaving public schools for the new options.

By 2030, voucher use is expected to grow by another 32% to almost 700,000 students, according to state projections.
May 1JENKINS TWP.  Calling it "a remarkable milestone," Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo on Thursday said the 10th anniversary of the Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Center for Healthy Living/Weinberg Food Bank is an occasion not just about reflecting on a decade of service  it is a testament to the power of partnership and collaboration in addressing food insecurity in our communities.

A ceremony was held in the CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park in Jenkins Township in the newly created expanded space at the facility.

"Hunger  it is a word that carries weight, resonating not only in the physical sense, but also echoing within the emotional and psychological realms of our lives," Crocamo said. "Hunger is not merely the absence of food  it is a deep, unsettling void that impacts our communities, families, and individuals. It is a silence that speaks volumes  a feeling of isolation, despair and hopelessness that can overshadow the brightest of days. For those who experience hunger, it manifests as a struggle, not just for sustenance, but for dignity, security and hope."

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Crocamo told the capacity crowd that it is not enough to be aware of hunger  she said the community must act.

"Each of us has the power to transform our awareness into action, to bridge the gap between abundance and scarcity, and to ensure that no one in our community goes without the nourishment they need," Crocamo said. "As we celebrate this milestone, let us reaffirm our commitment to ending hunger in our community. Let us work together to fill the void and to uplift those who are struggling. Together, we can create a future where hunger is a thing of the past, where compassion and solidarity prevail, and where every individual can enjoy the fullness of life that they deserve."

Crocamo also commended the unwavering commitment of those who dedicate their lives to this mission  those who have dedicated their lives to humanity.

"The volunteers, staff and supporters of the Weinberg Food Bank are the moral compass that guides our collective efforts," Crocamo said. "Your selflessness and dedication shine as a beacon of hope in the darkness of hunger. You embody the belief that everyone deserves access to food and the fundamental right to thrive. Together, we can make a difference."

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Crocamo was joined by Judge Joseph Carmody, Board Chair, and representatives of Sen. Lisa Baker and Sen. Marty Flynn in honoring the 10th anniversary of the food bank.

Special remembrance banners were hung from the ceiling honoring Eugene Brady, who served CEO as Executive Director for 40 years; Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan, Judge Hugh Mundy and longtime CEO employee Rich Kutz.

Over the years, Crocomo said Luzerne County and the Commission on Economic Opportunity have developed a strong and enduring partnership.

"Together, we have created a robust safety net of charitable food programs that reach our neighbors in need, " Crocomo said. "It is essential to recognize that the Food Bank does not serve individuals directly from this facility. Instead, we have formed a network of over 300 partner organizations across our four-county service territory  Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wyoming."

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Crocamo said those partnerships are the backbone of the Food Ban's mission.

"Our partners  comprised of non-profit organizations, public entities, and faith-based programs  host food pantry initiatives and prepared meal programs, ensuring that the food needs of our communities are met with compassion and care," Crocamo said. "It is through their dedication and hard work that we can effectively serve those who rely on us."

She said without these partners, the Food Bank would not be as effective, nor would it be able to extend its reach as far as it does.

"Looking ahead, we remain committed to strengthening our partnerships and expanding our reach," Crocamo said. "Together, we can continue to build a community where everyone has access to the nutritious food they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
CHIPPEWA FALLS  The Chippewa Falls School District approved a staffing plan Wednesday night that eliminated six full-time and two part-time positions, but also added some jobs in other areas.

The measure passed on a 5-1 vote, with school board member David Martineau voting against it. The board also approved the preliminary budget on an identical 5-1 vote.

The problem I have with this is we are cutting staffing at the middle school and high school level, Martineau said, adding that morale is low among staff. He noted there once were 100 employees at the middle school, but now there are 68.

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We asked the public for a referendum and we told them we wouldnt be cutting positions, and now thats exactly what we are doing, Martineau said.

The cuts include eliminating a tech ed teacher, a foreign language teacher and a math teacher at the high school, but adding 1.5 business education and marketing teachers. That is a net decline of 1.5 teachers in the high school. The high school will reduce from nine math teachers to eight, said Superintendent Jeff Holmes.

The cuts also include an administrative assistant at the middle school, a sixth-grade teacher and a seventh-grade teacher at the middle school, as well as a part time food service worker at the middle school, and a part-time school counselor at the elementary level.

Board President Davd Czech noted that the district is not going over its recommended class sizes with these reductions.

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By cutting those full-time positions and two part-time workers, the district will see savings of $473,816.

However, the district is adding the equivalent of 3.2 special education assistants, and those positions will cost $221,756. Thus, the overall effect of the staffing plan is a net reduction of $252,060.

The district also voted for adopting the 2025-26 preliminary budget tonight, which indicates a $660,000 shortfall next school year. According to the 67-page budget compiled by Business Manager Chad Trowbridge, the district is looking at total revenues of $70,953,847, but is estimating expenditures of $71,613,978. That results in a deficit of $660,131.

The approval of the final budget will take place in November.

The meeting had been slated for Monday, but it was moved to Wednesday night because of the potentially dangerous weather in the area.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce is joining a chorus of voices calling for the restoration of powers to the Winnebago County Board Chairman.

Between 2017 and 2019, the Winnebago County Board voted to strip powers from then-Chairman Frank Haney to deal with specific situations.

One of the issues, at the time, was reports that Haney had harassed a former county administrator.

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In his lawsuit, Haney argued that he was essentially terminated mid-term, without voter approval. Seven ordinances were passed that either eliminated or changed the chairmans duties.

Haney was voted out in 2020, but the power to the Chairman was never restored.

Joe Chiarelli was elected in 2020 and currently serves as Winnebago County Board Chairman, having won re-election in 2024.

Last month, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury called for the restoration of powers to the position.

We look at it from the Chambers standpoint of, what can we do to help in terms of promoting Winnebago County, promoting the businesses that are here in Winnebago County to expand, or possibly businesses that are outside to relocate here to the county, said Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair Connor Brown. We see the Winnebago County Chairman as the chief negotiator in terms of economic development work, and what goes on around the county.

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SYDNEY, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Two new species of extinct, snail-eating marsupials with unique hammer-like teeth have been uncovered in Australia's ancient rainforests, a University of New South Wales (UNSW) study said on Friday.

The fossil discoveries, made in Queensland state's Riversleigh World Heritage Area, belong to the carnivorous marsupial family Malleodectidae, ancient cousins of modern quolls, according to the UNSW press release.

These small, tree-dwelling creatures, weighing between 100 and 500 grams, are believed to have used their distinctive molars to crush hard-shelled prey, such as snails, said the study published in the Journal of Mammalian Evolution.

Around 15 million years ago, during the warm and rainy Miocene epoch, Australia's landscape resembled today's Amazon in biodiversity. It was a peak period for mammal evolution, described by scientists as a "golden age," said lead researcher, UNSW paleontologist Timothy Churchill.

"During this period, we see the most species diversity in the Australian fossil record for mammals," said the paleontologist.

In this lush environment, a small, snail-eating marsupial with distinctive hammer-like teeth died after falling into a sinkhole at what's now the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, where its fossil was later preserved, Churchill added. 
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Charges of felonious assault and aggravated menacing were dismissed Thursday in municipal court against a man accused of assaulting a woman last summer on the West Side.

Court records show the charges were dismissed Thursday during a preliminary hearing for Vincent Hudson, 37.

Hudson was arrested last month in Summit County and turned over to Youngstown police on warrants relating to the assault of a woman on Aug. 12 on North Evanston Avenue.

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Court records do not give a reason as to why the charge was dismissed.

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WALDORF, Md. (DC News Now)  A 7-year-old Charles County murder case is still unsolved, and investigators are still looking for who shot and killed an upcoming Waldorf rapper, 20-year-old Antonio Harper, in 2018.

Beth McGinnis lives in the apartment community where he was found shot to death, and she says it is sad and wants justice for Harper and his family.

Very sad of course, I didnt know him, but it is very sad a young life ended that way. Anybody needs closure for something like that, and I definitely hope they get it and my heart goes out to them, McGinnis said.

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Montgomery Co. officials warn the dangers of drunk driving as prom season approaches

Investigators tell DC News Now Harper was shot multiple times at his apartment on Stream Vista Place in Waldorf. He was pronounced dead on the scene and spokesperson Diane Richardson says this is a cold case.

We got the call about ten at night, and when we arrived, we found some witnesses who heard the shots but nobody gave us a good description of suspects but through investigations thats been going on for seven years, we have been able to develop lots of leads, Richardson said.

Detectives do not know who the killer is and are asking the public for help if they have any information. Harper was a rising rapper who went by the stage name A-1 Lil Tony. Richardson says his family is heartbroken.

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I think it has been difficult for his family and friends he was an up-and-coming star to many people in his community, and the fact that he was just gunned down for a reason we dont know does not really make sense.

Charles County Crimestoppers and the Sheriffs Office are offering a combined cash reward of $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  First responders are mourning the loss of a longtime Charleston County EMT who died unexpectedly this week.

Charleston County EMS Division Chief Terry Kindred passed away April 30 at the age of 53, according to a county spokesperson. His cause of death has not been released.

Kindred joined the department as an EMT in 2002 and steadily climbed the ranks to become a supervisor in 2021. Colleagues described him as a dedicated, trusted, and cherished individual whose presence, compassion, and steady leadership helped shape the department in countless ways.

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The impact he made  both professionally and personally  is immeasurable and will be deeply missed, Charleston County EMS wrote in a May 1 Facebook post. As we grieve this tremendous loss, let us honor Terrys legacy by continuing to serve with the same strength, kindness, and dedication he exemplified every day. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Fire and law enforcement agencies across the Charleston area offered condolences to the department and Kindreds loved ones on social media, with some changing their profile pictures to the Charleston County EMS seal in honor of his memory.

Terry was not only a valued member of our team but also a kind and dedicated professional who made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to work with them, a May 2 North Charleston Fire Department post read. His contributions, spirit, and friendship will be deeply missed.

Kindred is survived by his wife and daughter, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte man was arrested this week after being accused of stabbing someone to death.

On April 29, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested 35-year-old William Earl Thomas eight days after charges for filed in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred April 13 in south Charlotte.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

According to police, officers arrived just before 2 a.m. in the 4800 block of Wallingford Street, near Woodlawn Road. The victim was found with stab wounds, then was transported to a hospital and pronounced deceased by medical staff.

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Court documents show Thomas was charged with murder April 21, and on Tuesday, CMPDs Central Division Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) and patrol officers arrested him without incident. He was also charged with trafficking opium, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer, and parole violation.

Thomas was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, where he is being held without bond.

He was previously convicted in Cabarrus County for possession of a firearm by a felon in July 2023, and was on parole for those charges.

He is due in Mecklenburg County district court May 21.

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CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA)  One girl injured in the fatal Chatham crash earlier this week was released from the hospital Thursday, and she was given a special welcome home.

The Chatham Police Department was present for the moment when Mia arrived home. Video recorded at the event and posted on the departments Facebook page showed a crowd of people lined up on the street where Mia lives.

State Police provide updates on Chatham after-school tragedy

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On the other side of the street, almost a dozen squad cars and their officers were lined up, representing both Chatham Police and the Illinois State Police. The Chatham Fire Department also sent a truck and ambulance.

As Mia arrived home, the crowd started applauding, and Chatham Police even noted that there was a sign in the sky.

A rainbow formed high in the sky overhead. It was absolutely beautiful and was an amazing sight to see, officials wrote in the post. Welcome back home, Mia. We are all so happy you are here!

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The UK just unveiled a new drone designed to operate alongside F-35s and Typhoons.

The drone, called StormShroud, will jam enemy radars so the fighter jets can operate more freely.

It comes as the UK and others, including the US, look to integrate drones with crewed aircraft.

The British Royal Air Force unveiled a new drone on Friday that's designed to jam enemy radars in combat to clear a path for F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to operate freely.

The RAF wrote in a statement that the new drone, called StormShroud, is now in operational service and is the first in a new family of autonomous systems that will fight alongside crewed platforms.

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It said StormShroud will support the UK's F-35B and Typhoon pilots "by blinding enemy radars, which increases the survivability and operational effectiveness of our crewed aircraft." It added that uncrewed systems are not new to the UK and this drone was made by taking lessons from the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.

Among the aircraft the drone can support, the F-35B is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin; the UK operates them from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. And the Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter manufactured by a consortium of European companies.

The StormShroud drone is part of the UK's efforts to integrate drones with crewed aircraft for combat missions. Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The RAF said the delivery of the StormShroud "marks a significant step" in efforts to blend autonomous systems into front-line operations.

The drone's platform  the Tekever AR3  is made in two locations in the UK and will carry Leonardo UK's BriteStorm electronic warfare payload that can jam the radars of enemy air defenses, creating openings for crewed aircraft to engage in combat missions.

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StormShroud is part of the UK's Autonomous Collaborative Platforms strategy. This effort is centered on having crewed and autonomous systems operating together to reduce pilot risk in hostile environments by relying on flexible and cost-effective systems, like drones.

The US has a similar initiative to the UK's ACP called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The US has tested "loyal wingman" drones alongside its F-35s, and there is an expectation that the coming sixth-gen F-47 will fly with CCAs.

Introducing a new uncrewed aircraft into service: StormShroud.



The first of a new family of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs), this will revolutionise the RAFs advantage in the most contested battlespaces.



Full story: https://t.co/VWIpSQt8CN pic.twitter.com/M4xP6iXiZQ  Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) May 2, 2025

"This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in Air Combat and national security," Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton, the chief of the air staff, said in a statement.

Knighton said the RAF is committed to pursuing cutting-edge technologies that can enhance the force's "lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world," explaining that "autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionize how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support."

The RAF said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show that drones have majorly changed modern warfare, both for offensive and defensive missions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Cherokee County jury has found a man guilty of murder in the 2021 death of a 1-year-old.

Gregory Farrell Davis Jr., 27, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, four counts of cruelty to children and willful obstruction of law enforcement officers for the death of James Jamie Marco Palcio.

Deputies were called to reports of an unresponsive baby at a home in Waleska in April 2021.

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While the childs mother was at work, Davis had been watching him.

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Investigators say the child had abusive head trauma that was consistent with shaking. The child also had injuries to his eyes, neck, fractured rib and fractured vertebrae in his spine. The child was declared brain dead a few days later.

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The jury deliberated for just one hour after hearing from 24 witnesses and seeing 114 pieces of evidence.

The judge has not yet set a sentencing date.

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The city of Chicago and actor Jussie Smollett reached a settlement in their civil lawsuit Monday, according to court documents. Details on the agreement were not disclosed.

A status hearing has been scheduled for May 29, according to the court docket.

The legal battle stemmed from Smolletts false police report in 2019 claiming he had been the victim of a hate crime.

The actor, who is Black and gay, said two men jeered at him before pouring bleach onto his body and tying a rope around his neck on Jan. 29, 2019.

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Local law enforcement investigated the incident before discovering Smollett had paid the two men $3,500 to carry out the alleged attack.

The city said it spent at least $130,000 on overtime pay for investigators who originally treated the probe as a hate crime.

Smollett was charged on five counts of disorderly conduct for fabricating the reports in 2019; however, the former Cook County state attorney dropped 16 counts against him after being questioned about the ethics in the case.

He was prosecuted again for a second time in 2021 and convicted on five of six counts, leading to a 150-day jail sentence and 30 months of probation.

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Smollett was detained for six days but was later vindicated by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2024, citing a previous agreement with Kim Foxx, the Cook County state attorney.

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CHICAGO  Police in Chicago are searching for a missing 17-year-old girl.

Jamie Ponce is described as 56 and 105 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. She has a tattoo on her upper left forearm.

She was last seen on Wednesday, April 23, and is missing from the 5600 block of West Newport Avenue in the Portage Park neighborhood.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Area Five Special Victims Unit at 312-746-6554.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A new chief administrator has been selected for the Northwest Area Education Agency.

The agencys board of directors picked Seth Piro for the position. Officials said in a release that the final interviews between Piro and Shari Blake were held Tuesday in a closed session.

Rep. Feenstra holding events to help Iowans submit or renew passports

Prio is currently a regional special education director for the Iowa Department of Education leading statewide initiatives that impact more than $45,000 students. He has also served as a school board member, nonprofit leader, and volunteer. He was named Iowa School Psychologist of the Year from the Iowa School Psychologist Association in 2021, and continues to shape best practices through state task forces and national conferences.

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Seth brings exceptional vision and a tireless work ethic to educational leadership, said Dr. Angelisa Fynaardt, Iowa Department of Education. Dr. Cindy Yelick of Heartland AEA added, His leadership has transformed how we support students across Northwest Iowa.

We warmly congratulate Dr. Seth Piro, Northwest Regional Special Education Director at the Department, on being named Chief Administrator of Northwest AEA. Seth has been integral to reestablishing the Departments Division of Special Education over the past year, and has provided insightful statewide leadership on differentiation, best serving students with challenging behaviors, and special education finance, said McKenzie Snow, Director of the Iowa Department of Education.

Agency officials said Piro is a seasoned education leader with more than two decades of experience. Hes set to begin as chief administrator role on July 1.

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Demonstrators participate in a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters gathered Thursday at Lower Manhattan's Foley Square for May Day demonstrations, protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's initiatives on the economy, immigration, education, workers' rights, and more.

Workers across the globe celebrate May 1 each year as May Day, also known as International Labor Day.

Themed "May Day Strong: We Are the Many," the New York rally was hosted by dozens of organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers and the New York State Nurses Association. Protesters marched around the block near City Hall, carrying signs such as "We are a nation of immigrants," "We are many, they are few" and "We have nothing to fear."

"They're defunding our schools, privatizing public services, attacking unions, and targeting immigrant families with fear and violence," said a statement published on the rally's website. "This is a war on working people -- and we will not stand down."

Politicians, union activists and immigrant leaders spoke at the rally, including New York-based Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ace Sutherland, director of organizing and strategy at the New York Immigration Coalition.

Ocasio-Cortez said that Congress could cut payments for government-funded health insurance programs, including Medicaid and Medicare.

People of all ages and professions joined the march. Debbie Galant, a veteran from New Jersey, chose to join the march even though her daughter was having a concert in the city on the same day. The sign she carried read: "Courage is Contagious."

"I'm here for due process," Galant said, noting that the administration has been "creating chaos in plenty of time, and things need to get back on track."

Jeffrey, a doctor from New York, told Xinhua that "health care is a human right, and it needs to be made available to everybody, not cut back. They literally will kill people with the cuts they're planning."

Carla M, from the City University of New York, said she was here for immigrant rights.

"We are a nation of immigrants. I think it's important to be out here and show that people are not happy" for being treated unfairly, she said.

Protests also broke out in other parts of the country on May Day, such as Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania. 

Demonstrators participate in a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Demonstrators hold signs during a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Demonstrators participate in a rally to mark the International Workers' Day in New York, the United States, on May 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Demonstrators participate in a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. Thousands of protesters gathered Thursday at Lower Manhattan's Foley Square for May Day demonstrations, protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's initiatives on the economy, immigration, education, workers' rights, and more. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Demonstrators participate in a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. Thousands of protesters gathered Thursday at Lower Manhattan's Foley Square for May Day demonstrations, protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's initiatives on the economy, immigration, education, workers' rights, and more. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Demonstrators participate in a rally in New York City, the United States, on May 1, 2025. Thousands of protesters gathered Thursday at Lower Manhattan's Foley Square for May Day demonstrations, protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's initiatives on the economy, immigration, education, workers' rights, and more. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A 7-year-old boy is in the hospital after nearly drowning at a hotel in east Wichita Thursday night.

Around 9:20 p.m., emergency crews were sent out to the 7300 block of E. Kellogg Ave. for the report of a potential drowning at the Red Roof Inn.

Upon arrival, first responders found a child who had gone underwater. They immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR, which continued during transport to a nearby hospital.

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What we initially learned that kids were swimming and playing in the pool, Wichita Police Department Sergeant Atlee Vogt said. There were other children and parents that were with the child here at the facility.

The investigation is ongoing.

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A child was sent to the hospital Friday after being injured in a shooting on Interstate 465 near the Emerson Avenue exit in the southeast Indianapolis metro area.

The child was taken to Riley Childrens Hospital, according to the Indiana State Police.

The shooting was believed to have happened about 1:30 p.m. Friday, when a vehicle traveling on I-465 westbound near the Emerson Avenue exit fired at the vehicle containing the child, according to Sgt. John Perrine, Indiana State Police public information officer.

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A few moments later, the vehicle containing the child crashed near the South Emerson Avenue and Elmwood Avenue intersection in Beech Grove, according to police.

When police arrived, they located the two children: a young boy had been shot and a baby who appeared uninjured, according to Fox59. The two children were quickly transported to Riley Childrens Hospital by medical personnel.

Two other individuals involved in the crash were also taken to a hospital.

A person of interest in the shooting had been detained and taken into custody, according to Indiana State Police.

Beech Grove Mayor James Coffman shared his appreciation that the children were able to make it to the hospital safely and urged people not to resort to violence.

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"Our city sits at the intersection of a busy interstate system. With the busy summer season ahead, I encourage drivers to calm down, slow down, and make sure everyone gets to their destination safely. No one ever wins in a road rage incident," said Coffman.

Im grateful for Beech Groves Police Department and Beech Grove Emergency Medical Services for professionalism and defusing the situation, while helping State Police with the continued investigation."

Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Child hurt in shooting on I-465 in southeast Indianapolis metro area
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  The Childrens Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) recently celebrated a significant milestone with the ribbon cutting of its newly constructed, state-of-the-art therapy playground.

Located on the Hattiesburg campus of Southern Miss, the playground is a transformative therapy setting for young children with complex communication needs and developmental disabilities.

Which Hattiesburg streets will be closed for Parade of Champions?

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The playground includes carefully selected equipment and features that support therapeutic goals while inviting inclusive, child-led play among children of all abilities.

This playground was designed with therapy and engaged learning at the forefront. The impact it will have on our childrens progressacross language, motor and social developmentwill be profound, said Sarah Myers, director of The Childrens Center. We are so thankful to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation for making this vision a reality. This new space will be the backdrop for so many milestonesfirst words, first steps and first friendships. Its a gift that will keep giving for years to come.

This is the second playground funded by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation for The Childrens Center. In 2020, the Foundation supported a similar project at the Centers Gulf Park campus location.

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BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Former Blount County Schools employee Joseph Dalton was arrested last year, over allegations of inappropriately touching elementary students on at least five different occasions.

Multiple parents who spoke to 6 News expressed anger about the sentencing outcome. Dalton pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor assault by physical contact and was sentenced to six months of probation. He was granted judicial diversion, allowing the charges to be expunged once the probation is completed.

AmeriCorps programs in East Tennessee gutted after funding cuts

Joseph Dalton (Photo via Blount County Sheriffs Office)

The children have to come first, said Crystal Dawn, a Maryville mother.

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Blount County parents are upset by this outcome and are planning to speak their minds at an arranged protest on Friday. Clarissa Webb is the mother of a child with special needs; she advocates for being a voice for children who may not have one.



What if it was her? She cant tell me if something happened and thats just the whole reason for me wanting to speak up about it is because she doesnt have that voice, explained Webb.



This is a crime that is considered a misdemeanor offense.

So even though they could not find evidence of sexual or prurient nature, they felt it important to bring a number of misdemeanor charges for offensive touching. That is very significant because it can impact somebodys current and future employment as a teacher or an educator, said Greg Isaacs a WATE-TV legal analyst.

Governor Lee signs bill allowing merit-based pay for Tennessee teachers

As a mother Dawn worries greatly for the safety of her children.

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Its very maddening to know that the people that we trust our children with when theyre away from us at school could potentially be harming our children, said Dawn.

Isaacs explained to 6 News that this case is significant for what it is and for what it was not charged as.

Daltons teaching license is currently still active. A spokesperson for the Tennessee State Board of Education told 6 News that each case must be presented in a review committee meeting for a recommendation on a potential license action. The spokesperson added the board will gather all information from the court and conduct any necessary follow-ups before doing so.

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After being sworn in as second-in-command of the Arcadia City Council, Eileen Wang addressed a controversy that has taken a back seat in the months since the Eaton fire devastated nearby Altadena.

We broke up the fiance relationship, Wang said of her former campaign manager, Yaoning Mike Sun. We keep the friendship.

Wang said their romantic relationship ended last spring, eight months before federal prosecutors charged Sun with conspiracy and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

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The April 15 statement from Wang, now mayor pro tem of the San Gabriel Valley city, was one of the few times she has publicly addressed the charges against Sun, who allegedly worked with China to cultivate Wang, in hopes that she would rise in politics and help promote pro-China policies, including opposition to Taiwan.

Read more: Who is the politician at the center of the latest Chinese influence scandal?

Facing calls for her resignation, Wang had vowed in January not to step away from the council, emphasizing that she was not responsible for the action of others.

Wang did not respond to several calls and emails from The Times. The other four council members also did not respond to emails.

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I have a lot of questions, said former Councilmember Sheng Chang, who ran against Wang in 2022 and recalled being stunned by the fundraising prowess and plum endorsements of the new kid on the block.

Sheng Chang, who lost an Arcadia City Council race to Eileen Wang in 2022, at his office in San Gabriel. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto released a short statement soon after Sun was charged in December, saying Wang was cooperating with the FBI and that Sun "had no involvement whatsoever with City of Arcadia business or decision-making."

Wang, who immigrated to the U.S. from China three decades ago, was never charged, and its unclear whether she was aware of the alleged scheme. In a criminal complaint against Sun, prosecutors identified her only as "Individual 1."

The complaint provides a rare glimpse into the covert influence the Chinese government allegedly seeks to have on politicians and organizations in the San Gabriel Valley, a landing spot for many Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants.

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Campaign records examined by The Times indicate that Sun served as Wang's campaign manager, lending money and helping bring in donations  some of which came from sources with ties to the Chinese government.

James Su, president of EDI Media in West Covina, donated $500 to Wang's campaign on Oct. 10, 2022. Su's media company, which includes several L.A.-based media groups, including the Chinese-language website iCity News, had to register as a foreign agent in May 2022 because it formerly printed the U.S. version of a newspaper considered a "foreign mission" of the Chinese government.

As the November 2022 election neared, iCity News published a slew of glowing articles on Wang, a political novice and owner of an after-school tutoring company.

Read more: In Arcadia and Temple City, Asian American voters fueled gains for Trump

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Remember! You must vote for Eileen! concluded an article, one of roughly half a dozen the outlet published that year on Wang, who would receive an endorsement from Su as well as the $500 donation.

There were no stories on Chang, Wangs opponent, a Taiwanese immigrant who ran a bare-bones campaign with $34,000 he lent himself.

Lina Li, an office manager for EDI who said she was responding on Sus behalf, wrote in an email that the $500 donation was made from Su's personal funds because he believed Wang was a good candidate. The company has not had to register as a foreign agent since 2022, she said.

The L.A. arm of Sing Tao US, a subsidiary of a Chinese-owned newspaper that is registered as a foreign agent, also donated to Wang's campaign, giving $3,300 on Aug. 9, 2022, according to campaign finance records.

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Wang paid the company the same amount for print ads, according to the records.

The Sing Tao Daily is one of the oldest newspapers in Hong Kong and has long been featured on newsstands in Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley. Sing Tao US wrote in a government filing it is editorially independent from its Chinese parent company.

Robin Mui, chief executive of Sing Tao US, said Wangs campaign made an error on its campaign finance forms. Sing Tao never contributed to Wangs campaign and only received payment from it for ads, Mui said.

The L.A. [branch] never made any political contribution  unless you prove to me otherwise, Mui said.

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The criminal complaint against Sun described extensive interactions between Sun and John Chen, who was sentenced to federal prison last year for acting as an illegal Chinese agent and plotting against Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China.

Chen reportedly described a former L.A. County supervisor, identified only as M.A., as friendly to China. Chen's Chinese handler told him that he would be given funds to socialize with the former supervisor in the hopes of getting an introduction to M.A.'s successor, identified as C.B.

Former Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who oversaw a district including parts of the San Gabriel Valley from 1980 to 2016, said he first met Chen at a dinner for a Chinese association and would occasionally run into him at community events. He never felt Chen was pushing a political agenda, he said.

Antonovich said the only time he felt pressure from the Chinese government was before Double Ten Day, a national holiday in Taiwan on Oct. 10. Every year, the Chinese consulate would reach out to each supervisor and ask them not to attend local celebrations, Antonovich said.

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Antonovich said he didn't heed the guidance and spoke at Double Ten celebrations twice.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who succeeded Antonovich, said she has never met with Chen or Sun and has no records of either man reaching out to her office, according to her spokesperson.

Much of the campaign Sun orchestrated for Wang would be considered standard fare for an up-and-coming San Gabriel Valley politician.

Wang, a longtime resident of Arcadia, hired Santa Maria Group, a prominent lobbying firm. She nabbed plum endorsements from big-name politicians: L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Chu's husband, former state Assemblymember Michael Eng.

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In total, Wang raised $119,000, mostly from donors with addresses in the San Gabriel Valley. Another top fundraiser, Councilmember Michael Cao, brought roughly $125,000 into his campaign that year.

Chang, who was seeking a third term on the City Council after winning a seat in 1994 and 2000, said that for the first time, his heritage became a talking point during an election, when a supporter asked him to remove her name from his list of endorsements because she had heard that he supported Taiwan independence.

Wang's Instagram account from that time is full of videos of her on the campaign trail, set to zippy pop songs. She previously told The Times that she knocked on every door in her district multiple times to make sure she reached every resident.

I walked about 140 days ... I never stopped, she said over a dim sum lunch last November, before the criminal charges against Sun. I walked my district five times.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Tensions continue in the South China Sea, most recently between China and the Philippines.

China has been extending its reach in the South China Sea by building artificial islands atop reefs.

China's claims over these islands is unlawful and many countries are fighting back.

Tensions between China and the Philippines are heating up over tiny sandbars and coral reefs in the South China Sea, and the US could get caught in the middle.

"We should be worried about it," Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told Business Insider.

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The satellite images below show China's massive expansion across the South China Sea, which has turned open waters into a looming battleground that could rope the US in.

Over the last decade, China has expanded hundreds of miles south by building artificial islands over underwater reefs in the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Map of the South China Sea with tiny dots representing artificial islands. Business Insider / Maxar

This has been a yearslong power struggle between China and many countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, for control of dozens of disputed reefs, islands, and sandbars in the South China Sea.

Up to $5 trillion in goods are shipped across the sea a year.

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The problem is that China's claims of sovereignty over these artificial landmarks are unlawful, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Mischief Reef is one of China's largest artificial islands in the Spratlys, spanning 1,380 acres, enough to fit 1.5 Central Parks.

Before and after satellite images of Mischief Reef in 2004, top, and 2022, bottom. Maxar / Business Insider

Both the Philippines and China, as well as Taiwan and Vietnam, claim the reef as their own. However, a UN tribunal ruled in 2016 that no territory can claim it.

That didn't stop China from building an impressive military base there.

Satellite images show that China has militarized Mischief Reef with missile systems, fighter jets, naval ships, and more.

An airstrip on Mischief Reef that could be used for military aircraft. Maxar

In recent months, multiple Chinese vessels in the South China Sea have threatened to collide with Philippine ships in a region called Scarborough Shoal, north of Mischief Reef.

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Also in Scarborough Shoal, a Chinese Navy helicopter flew dangerously close, within 10 feet, of a Philippine patrol plane in February, AP reported.

Meanwhile, another recent conflict has flared over a disputed series of sandbar islands in the Spratlys called Sandy Cay.

Ariel shot of one of the islands of Sandy Cay. No one lawfully owns it. Philippine Coast Guard via AP

Sandy Cay isn't an underwater reef. The islands remain above ground at high tide, which grants them legal status as a "rock" (or land surrounded by water) under UNCLOS.

This means that whoever is the rightful sovereign can also claim 12 nautical miles of the waters around it, Poling said.

Last week, Chinese state media released a photo of the Chinese coast guard holding the Chinese flag on Sandy Cay, claiming ownership.

Chinese coast guard holding the Chinese flag on Sandy Cay beaches. CCTV

Both China and the Philippines claim sovereignty over Sandy Cay, but neither has it legally.

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Several days later, the Philippine coast guard responded, releasing a photo of its national guard holding a Philippine flag on Sandy Cay.

The Philippine Coast Guard holding the Philippine flag on Sandy Cay beaches. National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP

The photo-off on Sandy Cay is more of a stunt than a threat, Poling said.

However, if matters escalate in the South China Sea, particularly in Scarborough Shoal, the US has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, agreeing to come to its aid in the event of an armed attack. It hasn't reached that point and will likely deescalate before that, Poling said.

Subi Reef is another one of China's artificial islands outfitted with a military base.

Before-and-after photos of Subi Reef in 2004, left, and 2022, right. Maxar/Business Insider

"It is illegally occupied unless China can claim the territorial sea in which it sits," Poling said.

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About 100 miles southwest of Subi Reef is Fiery Cross Reef.

Before-and-after satellite images of Fiery Cross Reef in 2015, left, and 2022, right. Maxar/BusinessInsider

While China, Vietnam, and the Philippines all lay claim to the reef, China's military presence gives it effective control.

However, China is no longer the only nation building artificial islands in the South China Sea.

Vietnam has greatly developed part of the Barque Canada reef over the last several years.

Before-and-after satellite images of Barque Canada Reef in 2020, left, and 2024, right. Maxar/Business Insider

Vietnam is also developing on Discovery Great Reef, another underwater region in the Spratly Islands.

Before-and-after satellite images of Discovery Great Reef in 2023, left, and 2024, right. Maxar/Business Insider

At 118 acres, though, it's nowhere near the scale of some of China's developments on Mischief, Subi, and Fiery Cross Reefs.

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"The Philippines, Vietnam, even Malaysia and Indonesia have done a pretty good job holding firm," Poling said, adding that, "I think China just believes it can outlast the other claimants, and that if it keeps up this persistent cycle of pressure, eventually they'll all crack."

Learn more about what's been happening in the South China Sea in the video below:

Read the original article on Business Insider
China has said it is considering proposals by the United States to begin negotiations on US President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs.

The US has recently, through relevant channels, actively conveyed messages to China, expressing a desire to engage in talks, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.

China is currently evaluating this.

Beijings remarks come after Chinese state media reported earlier in the week that the Trump administration had proactively reached out through multiple channels.

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Trumps trade war with China has resulted in a de facto mutual trade embargo between the worlds two largest economies.

Businesses and investors have been anxiously waiting for signs that Washington and Beijing will ease their steep tariffs on each others goods amid fears that a protracted standoff will inflict serious damage on the global economy.

The International Monetary Fund last month lowered its global growth forecast for 2025 to 2.8 percent, down from 3.3 percent in January, while JPMorgan Chase has put the likelihood of a US recession this year at 60 percent.

Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics, a financial services company in Beijing, said that China appears to be sincere about being open to talks provided the US is serious.

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Again, theyve got a lot of tools: The tariffs are already in place, but they also have export controls and can launch more probes into US companies, Beddor told Al Jazeera.

The list goes on. Most importantly, theyre ready to stimulate to blunt the damage to economic growth. But policymakers also clearly understand that it would be a lot better if they didnt have to use those tools because there was a de-escalation.

Trump, who has slapped a 145 percent tariff on Chinese exports, has repeatedly insisted that his administration is in negotiations with Beijing, a claim that Chinese officials have rejected as groundless.

On Wednesday, Trump said there was a very good chance he would reach a trade deal with China, so long as it was fair.

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In its statement on Friday, Chinas Commerce Ministry said that its stance on the trade dispute had been consistent.

If there is a fight, we will fight to the end; if there are talks, the door is open, the ministry said.

The tariff war and trade war were unilaterally initiated by the US, and if the US wants to talk, it should demonstrate sincerity by preparing to correct its erroneous actions and rescind the unilateral imposition of additional tariffs, it said, adding that attempting to use talks as a pretext to engage in coercion and blackmail would not work with China.

Wakeup call

In an interview with Fox News that aired on Thursday night, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trumps tariffs were badly hurting the Chinese economy and Beijing was eager to talk.

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The Chinese are reaching out, they want to meet, they want to talk, Rubio told Fox News host Sean Hannity. Weve got people involved in that.

Rubio also said that the tensions were a wake-up call for the US, and the country should not be as dependent on China.

Two more years in this direction, and we are going to be in a lot of trouble, really dependent on China, he said. So, I do think there is this broader question about how much we should buy from them at all.

Steven Okun, the CEO of Singapore-based consultancy APAC Advisors, said it would not be a surprise to see meetings between Chinese and US officials given the interdependence of their economies and the damage being done to both, but characterising such contact as a negotiation would be premature.
BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- An art exhibition will be held in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and promote art exchanges between China and Russia.

The exhibition, themed "Peace and Friendship -- Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War," is co-organized by the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Beijing Russian Cultural Center, among others.

Artists aged 18 to 45 from China and Russia have been invited to submit their works. The submission period runs until mid-June, with the evaluation to be conducted at the end of June. An offline exhibition will take place at the China Millennium Monument in Beijing from Aug. 7 to 16.

A total of 80 participants will receive awards, comprising 15 first-place, 25 second-place, and 40 third-place winners from each country. 
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  The Chippewa Falls Area Senior Center is doing something special for the veterans in the home. Volunteers delivered 72 planters to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls, one for each veteran in the home. Each planter has an American flag and a flag that says, Thank you for your service.

One of the volunteers, Joyce Radke, says this simple activity means so much not just to her, but to the veterans who receive the flowers. Just to give back to the community, back to the veterans because they gave so much and the pain and the suffering that they that they went through and what they did for us. I always like to look at the smiles on their faces. Its always kind of fun.

Radke says the funds for the planters were raised by donations to the senior center.

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Bogdana Chkoumbova, the chief education officer at Chicago Public Schools, is stepping down after 24 years, almost five months after the firing of outgoing district chief Pedro Martinez.

As second-in-command and a key member of the leadership team responsible for balancing CPS finances, her departure, announced Thursday, leaves City Hall and the school board with the task of remaking the nations fourth-largest school system, which is in the red.

Both Chkoumbova and Martinez are leaving behind a new 21-member school board that is showing signs of fissures. Chkoumbova referenced that ongoing tension, saying she (welcomes) accountability and clarity that moves away from personal agendas, politically influenced.

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I think this (conflict) will settle over time, and things will move in the right direction, but I think that whats going to be super critical for the progress of the district is that there is a unified, well-aligned vision, she said.

Martinez was fired without cause by a mayoral-appointed board in December after refusing to take out a $300 million loan to cover the new teachers contract and a pension payment to the city. His time with the district ends in June, and a community-based selection process is in place to appoint a permanent leader to replace him this fall. In the meantime, the board will vote for an interim CPS chief executive officer to fill his shoes.

That vote is complicated by division lines on a 21-member partially elected and partially appointed hybrid board. After years of mayoral appointments to the school board, state legislation paved the way for all members to be elected in 2027.

In the meantime, the board has both mayoral appointees and victors of last Novembers school board election, meaning it is split between members aligned with the agenda of the Chicago Teachers Union, which endorsed Mayor Brandon Johnson, and those independent of the powerful teachers union.

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The divided nature of the board could prove challenging for a district under significant financial stress in the coming years.

Chkoumbova played a large role in heated contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union, whose four-year deal was approved by the school board last week, with a price tag of $1.5 billion. CPS officials have stated that there is sufficient funding to cover the first year of the contract, but have not provided details for the remaining three.

Complicating the contract asks is a budget season with a deficit of over $500 million and looming threats of federal cuts for school districts with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The budget should be balanced through a combination of outside dollars from the city, state and federal levels, and an assessment of how resources are diffused to sources like old and decrepit school buildings, Chkoumbova said.

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There should be a strategy for helping the district to reduce some of the ineffective investments that continue to be in our system, she added.

School-level budgets for the following year are usually released by CPS in the spring, and Chkoumbova expressed concern that those estimates havent been put out yet. She emphasized that it takes a long time for a body like the newly seated school board to understand the nuances of a large school district.

(The board) needs to trust the experts and the people who are going to be responsible (for implementing), which is this management team here, she said.

An immigrant from Bulgaria, the outgoing chief education officer started with CPS in 2001, according to an email she sent to civic leaders Thursday afternoon with her resignation announcement. She worked her way up from Frederic Chopin Elementary School in Ukrainian Village to Disney II Magnet School in Irving Park, eventually securing administrative roles.

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In Fridays interview, she thanked the hundreds of educators, leaders and partners she worked with at CPS for their help in moving forward what she described as groundbreaking initiatives.

Chkoumbova described Martinez as courageous.

He led with a lot of moral clarity, and we have seen it on the inside. He respects people. He treats everyone really well, she said.

Instead of focusing on CPS tough financial straits ahead, she celebrated the districts improved graduation and literacy rates, achieved in the wake of the pandemic.

Federal COVID-19 funding relief buoyed many of those gains, but those funds expire in 2026.

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Chkoumbova hopes to remain in the education space after taking some time off. Leadership turnover has been a fixture of CPS during her tenure with the district, she said.

Ive been under four mayors and I dont know how many CEOs. Honestly, I lost count, she said. But I always tell people theres one constant  CPS is a resilient system.
This is an adapted excerpt from the May 1 episode of All In with Chris Hayes.

After over 100 days of national security chaos and the Signal chat scandal, Michael Waltz is out as Donald Trumps national security adviser. That is the headline, but it hardly does justice to how this all unfolded.

It started with reports on Thursday morning that Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, were soon to be removed from their jobs. But by the afternoon, Waltz's ouster was spun into something else. Trump took to Truth Social to confirm Waltz was out and announced his nomination as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

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In that same post, Trump also announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio would act as his interim national security adviser. This was an abrupt and incredible shake-up, one that would leave Rubio simultaneously holding at least four official full-time jobs in the government: secretary of state, acting national security adviser, acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and acting head of the National Archives.

The news of Rubios new role even came as a surprise to those at the State Department. After a reporter asked spokesperson Tammy Bruce about how long the secretary would serve in the position, Bruce responded that she just heard the news.

Make no mistake about it: This is a demotion for Waltz. He is out of the core of the security establishment and nominated to a still-open position that does not amount to much in a Republican administration.

In fairness to Waltz, he lasted longer than Trumps first national security adviser back in 2017, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia. (Trump later pardoned him.) Flynn lasted just 22 days, and his departure foreshadowed an administration that was constantly churning through personnel.

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Whatever the reasons for Waltz being marginalized, Trump is rearranging the deck chairs on a badly listing ship and trying to do it in a way that doesnt look bad for him. Part of that involves him consolidating two of the most important roles in the federal government  secretary of state and national security adviser  and giving them to Rubio.

When Rubio was asked at Wednesdays Cabinet meeting if, as secretary of state, he had been in touch with El Salvador about returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States and whether a formal request had been made, Rubio said he would never tell.

You know who else Ill never tell? A judge. Because the conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States and the executive branch, not some judge, Rubio continued.

A child of Cuban immigrants who once made his bones in the Senate, standing up against dictators and for the rule of law, is now the face of Trumps draconian, unconstitutional deportation regime.

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Thats the kind of loyalty Trump rewards. In order to cover the incompetence of his administration, the president is now consolidating power even further, giving two powerful positions to one sycophantic subordinate.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains the creation of ghost guns.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 20-year-old Chula Vista man was sentenced to 135 months in prison on Thursday for robbing an undercover federal agent at gunpoint during a machine gun sale gone wrong in San Diego, federal prosecutors announced.

The sentencing of Jonathan Manuel Flores follows an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into the trafficking of untraceable ghost guns and firearms modified with illegal automatic conversion devices.

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According to court records, ATF agents had been investigating Flores as part of a months-long undercover operation targeting the sale of privately manufactured firearms. On Feb. 17, 2023, agents arranged to purchase a Glock pistol equipped with an illegal Glock switch, a conversion device that transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. The asking price for the firearm was $2,400, federal prosecutor explained.

Distressed driver reported on 15 freeway in North County

The transaction was set to take place in the parking lot of a Walmart on Murphy Canyon Road, located in San Diegos Serra Mesa community. At Flores insistence, the undercover ATF agent entered the backseat of Flores car, where two other individuals were already seated in the front. Inside the vehicle, reportedly Flores displayed a Glock pistol with an extended magazine and an installed machine gun conversion device.

When the undercover agent asked to inspect the firearm, Flores demanded to see the money first. After the agent counted out $2,000 in cash, Flores chambered a round in the pistol, pressed the gun into the agents ribcage, and said, Get the f out of the car dog before I smoke you. He then grabbed the cash and fled the scene with his accomplices. The agent escaped without injury.

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According to federal prosecutors, Flores was apprehended shortly afterward with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department and the El Cajon Police Department.

This robbery is a stark reminder of the extreme danger our agents face every day in their efforts to keep illegal firearms off our streets, said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners working to keep these dangerous firearms out of the hands of felons.

Flores is now set to spend over 11 years behind bars for his crimes.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The CIA is stepping up its recruiting efforts in China, releasing two Mandarin-language videos that appeal to government officials who might be open to partnering with the American spy agency.

The videos, published on the CIA's YouTube and X accounts, follow fictional men who presumably belong to the Chinese Communist Party, one a senior official and the other a junior staffer, as they work daily with classified information. Their Mandarin voiceovers say they have seen colleagues and friends "disappear."

"I must have a backup plan," one protagonist says. By the end of both videos, the officials are shown reaching out to the CIA via the dark web, following Mandarin instructions handed out by the CIA to do so securely.

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"[We're] ensuring that folks know that CIA is open for business," a CIA official told ABC News. "Here's where to reach us."

PHOTO: Screengrab from CIA recruitment video posted to YouTube, May 1, 2025. (CIA)

MORE: US adversaries attempting to recruit laid-off government workers as spies: Intelligence

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the approach represents the agency's "creativity" in its China espionage strategy.

"No adversary in the history of our Nation has presented a more formidable challenge or capable strategic competitor than the Chinese Communist Party," he added.

The videos follow a similar effort undertaken by the CIA in Russia in 2023, when it released Russian-language productions in which characters decide to spy on the CIA's behalf.

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The CIA official told ABC News the agency is continuing the effort after its Russia series yielded positive results, but the official could not provide details about partnerships that might have developed from the outreach in Russia.

The CIA, which leads human intelligence efforts in the U.S. intelligence community, said the videos are a modern approach to its mission of gathering intelligence from spies around the globe.

"In today's world of UTS, we can't recruit sources the same way that we did 20 years ago, probably the same way you did 10 years ago," the CIA official said, referring to the acronym for universal technical surveillance.

"And as part of this, we have to go where the people go -- that's online," the official added.

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Emily Harding, the director of the Intelligence, National Security and Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the CIA may find success by appealing to people in China disaffected by political or economic conditions.

"The gains of our collective efforts are indulged by a select few," the junior CCP member says in his Mandarin voiceover. "So, I must forge my own path."

"One of the main reasons that people do spy against their country is [the] ideology piece," Harding noted, conceding that "China is a particularly hard target."

"They have a robust surveillance state that makes it very, very hard to maintain contact with an asset," she said.

PHOTO: CIA Director John Ratcliffe speaks during an interview at the White House in Washington, April 30, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

MORE: Trump pushes back against economic anxieties in ABC interview, says China 'probably will eat those tariffs'

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The CIA's online gambit wouldn't broadly affect international relations, Harding said, since the United States and China are known to spy on each other -- and recruit spies.

When U.S. government layoffs began under President Donald Trump earlier this year, China was "very aggressively reaching out to places online  to put out feelers like, 'Hey, if you have a clearance, come talk to us,'" Harding said.

One of the two CIA productions ends with the Mandarin text of a Chinese proverb that translates roughly in English to "Fortune favors the bold."

In Mandarin, it reads as "Heaven helps those who help themselves."

CIA makes recruiting push for spies in China originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Credit - Beata ZawrzelNurPhoto/Getty Images

A senior Chinese Communist Party official casts a suspicious eye towards an unmarked van lurking outside his building, as he rushes in and shuts the door. Inside his room, he picks up a framed photograph of his wife and their two children clinging to her before turning his gaze to footage of the National Peoples Congress playing on TV.

As I rose the ranks of the party, I watched as those above me were cast aside, he narrates in Mandarin. But now, I realize my fate is just as precarious as theirs.

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Above everything, he says, he must find a way to protect his family. He picks up a phone to contact the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Its a scene that plays out in one of two Chinese-language videos released to the public by the CIA on May 1 as part of an effort to recruit Chinese informants. In the other video, a junior CCP official is depicted reaching out to the CIA after seeing that his work doesnt improve his own life, while the senior official he works for lives a cushy life.

The party teaches us if we dedicate ourselves to the path theyve designated for us, we will have a bright future, the junior official says. But the results of our efforts are enjoyed only by a select few.

Text that reads Your fate is in your hands shows on screen as the first video ends. Heaven helps those who help themselves, the second concludes.

The release of the videos follows the launch of a drive to recruit informants in China, Iran and North Korea last October, which included posting messages on the CIAs social media accounts in Mandarin, Farsi and Korean with instructions on how to securely contact the CIA. The agency said it saw previous success in a similar campaign to recruit Russian informants following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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We want to make sure individuals in other authoritarian regimes know that were open for business, a spokesperson for the agency said at the time.

One of the primary roles of the CIA is to collect intelligence for the President and for our policymakers, CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News on Wednesday. One of the ways we do that is by recruiting assets that can help us steal secrets.

A note to CIA officers last month reportedly said China was the agencys top priority.

No adversary in the history of our nation has presented a more formidable challenge or a more capable strategic competitor than the Chinese Communist Party, Ratcliffe wrote. It is intent on dominating the world economically, militarily and technologically, and it is aggressively trying to outcompete America in every corner of the globe.

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Beijing did not officially respond to the videos as of Friday, but it has previously repeatedly said that the U.S. is waging a systematic disinformation campaign against China.

Experts, however, have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of social media campaigns in reaching people in countries with strict surveillance and internet restrictions. It seems like theyre basing this off the success they had in Russiabut I would question how effective this will be considering most North Koreans dont have access to the internet, Mason Richey, an associate professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, told the BBC in October.

Similarly, Ja-Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore and non-resident scholar with Carnegie China, tells TIME that its not certain how well the videos will penetrate Chinas Great Firewall.

But the agency said the videos, which seem aimed at officials disillusioned or dissatisfied with the Chinese government, are effective: If it werent working, we wouldnt be making more videos, an official told Reuters.

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Amid escalating tensions between China and the U.S., including a resurgent tit-for-tat tariff war since Donald Trump returned to the White House, both have become more suspicious of each other, Chong says.

There may be more efforts to gather information from the other side, whether by compromising individuals or computer networks, Chong says. There have been reports of increased cyberattacks from both sides, including Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrating the U.S. Treasury Departments systems in December and China publishing the names of alleged U.S. National Security Agency hackers in April.

But alongside any success the U.S. sees in collecting intelligence in China, Chong warns, there are likely to be correspondingly more domestic crackdowns too.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has led sweeping anti-corruption and anti-espionage campaigns that have purged both high- and low-ranking officials and instilled public paranoia.

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Read More: Chinas Expanded Anti-Espionage Law Threatens Business Consultants and Advisers

Chinas tightened grip on espionage in recent years has made intelligence collection particularly difficult, former senior intelligence officials told NBC News in 2023. Chinas anti-espionage law gives the state broad-based powers to surveil and collect information, as well as to demand cooperation from corporations and individuals, Chong says.

CIA officials, however, told Bloomberg last October that Xis consolidation of power has also been a source of disaffection among the Chinese, which creates an opportunity for recruitment.

Theres also a high risk for Chinese spies. China is one of the few countries where people are still executed for espionage. In March, a former engineer at a Chinese research institute was sentenced to death for spying; Australian writer Yang Hengjun was handed a suspended death sentence in February 2024 on charges of espionage; and last November, a former state agency employee was sentenced to death for leaking classified information to foreign intelligence agencies.

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The CIA is also still working to repair its reputation. Across a two-year period beginning at the end of 2010, China managed to penetrate and dismantle the U.S. intelligence agencys network of spies in the country in what was revealed in 2018 to have been largely due to the agency botching its clandestine communication system. The breach led to the arrests and executions of at least 20 informants in China. The CIA reportedly secured its system from Chinese access by 2013 and has since moved towards rebuilding its network of spies in China.

We value and respect anyone who is willing to engage in dialogue with us, read the Chinese-language captions of the videos released this week by the CIA. It is our responsibility to protect the people who come forward to contact us from around the world. And describing the first, which targeted senior CCP officials, Ratcliffe told Fox: This video explains to them how they can contact the CIA through our dark website and have an ability to improve their safety and well-being and that of their family.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
May 1A Cincinnati man accused of exchanging gunfire with another driver on Interstate 675 in Beavercreek has been sentenced to probation after pleading to a bill of information.

David James Fletcher, 53, was sentenced by Greene County Common Pleas Court Judge Adolfo Tornichio to two years of unsupervised probation. He also agreed to turn over a Ruger pistol, along with its magazine and ammunition, to be destroyed by Beavercreek police.

If he violates his probation, Fletcher would face a $2,000 fine and 360 days in jail.

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The sentence comes after Fletcher pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and possessing criminal tools that were charged via a bill of information. As part of the agreement, Fletcher agreed to abide by the sentence recommended by a magistrate, whose sentence was approved by the court.

Fletcher, who was driving a silver Ford work van, and another driver in a maroon Ford hatchback traded shots at about 10:20 a.m. June 5 on northbound I-675 between Wagner Drive and Indian Ripple Road.

Both vehicles were struck by multiple rounds, Beavercreek police said.

Police first made contact with the man driving the hatchback on I-675 north of Indian Ripple Road. Fletcher continued north on I-675, then went west on U.S. 35 into Riverside before calling police.

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Beavercreek police Capt. Scott Molnar said Fletcher suffered a gunshot to the abdomen, but police at the time said the injury was minor and he was expected to be released from the hospital later the same day.

A grand jury decided to indict Fletcher, but not the other driver.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The owners behind one of the most popular restaurants in Balboa Park and a storied neighborhood brew pub in Normal Heights have been tapped by the city to revive the parks shuttered fast dining option, the Village Grill.

Jeff Motch and Clea Hantman, co-owners of Panama 66 in the San Diego Museum of Art and Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights, were announced Friday as the bidder selected to bring the window near the Spanish Village back to life.

According to the city, the two pitched creating a fast-casual restaurant concept in the space that fosters a sense of community and gathering on top of the food itself.

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San Diego Air and Space Museum offering free admission for kids

We are excited to work with Jeff and Clea to develop an eatery that best serves the park and its visitors, said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler in a release.

Creating a vibrant restaurant in Balboa Park can come with unique complexities, but given their successful background and excitement for the project, were confident it will become a beloved destination in the park, she continued.

Now that their proposal has been picked, the city says they will turn to negotiating lease terms and design process.

Prior to its closure in 2017, the Village Grill had been a staple of Balboa Park since its construction in 1973. Throughout its lifespan, the building had never undergone a major renovation, only a series of repairs, the last of which was in 2012.

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Revitalization of derelict landmarks in the park  like the Village Grill  was a focal point of Mayor Todd Glorias second State of Balboa Park address last year.

Kehlani, Kim Petras to headline San Diego Pride Festival

In the speech, which came ahead of the reopening of the Botanical Building following its years-long closure for renovation, he promised to pursue similar projects for these parts of the park in disrepair to bring it up to modern standards and ensure its long-term vitality.

To that end, the city says it is currently in negotiations to lease out one of the other attractions Gloria mentioned in his speech, the Starlight Bowl. The negotiations began back in February with the group, Save Starlight.

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The historic Marston House, located on the northwestern corner of the park, is also undergoing a major restoration project funded by a grant from the State of California, according to the city.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Voters elected candidates to two separate positions within the St. George City Council on Election Day, Saturday, May 3.

The first position was councilmember at-large. According to unofficial election results, Republican Jim Talbot won the race, with a turnout of 59%, earning 7,287 votes. Democrat Shaunn Wyche finished at 41%, earning 5,051 votes.

The second position was District 4 councilmember. Republican Patricia Patty Cook won the seat, finishing with 1,598 votes and a 53% turnout. Independent David Madaffari came in second place, securing 1,444 votes, with a 47% turnout

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Both positions advanced to a runoff during the March 29 election. Seven candidates ran for the councilmember at-large position, and four ran for the District 4 councilmember seat.

Republican Dustin Yates was elected mayor of St. George in the March 29 election. He won with 65% of the votes over his opponent, Jim Morgan.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
by Xinhua writers Guo Shuang, Larry Neild, Luo Yu

LONDON/PARIS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- In an era shadowed by climate anxiety and geopolitical division, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has achieved a milestone that resonates far beyond the scientific community.

On Wednesday, ITER, popularly known as "Artificial Sun," announced that it had completed all components for the world's largest, most powerful pulsed superconducting electromagnet system.

ITER, meaning "the way" in Latin, is one of the largest and most significant international scientific research projects in the world. It brings together more than 30 nations -- including the European Union, China, the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea and India, aiming to demonstrate nuclear fusion, the power of the sun and stars, as a safe, abundant, and carbon-free energy source for the planet.

Thousands of scientists and engineers assembled this single machine using components from hundreds of factories across three continents to build a single machine, providing a shining example of what global cooperation can achieve when humanity unites to pursue the limitless, clean energy of the stars.

BRIDGING DIVIDES

ITER's achievement is remarkable amid the current global context. As geopolitical tensions and protectionist currents threaten to fragment international cooperation, ITER stands as a rare and powerful testament to what humanity can accomplish when united by common purpose.

"It's a great sign of hope, just to show that mankind at the end can cooperate, for they share a problem, and they try to find shared solutions," ITER Director General Pietro Barabaschi told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. "In the current geopolitical situation in the world, such collaboration is incredible."

Thousands of engineers and scientists have contributed components from hundreds of factories on three continents to build a single machine since the idea for an international joint experiment in fusion was first launched in 1985.

Under the ITER agreement, officially signed on Nov. 21, 2006, Europe, as host member, contributes 45 percent of the cost of the ITER Tokamak and its support systems, while China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States each contribute 9 percent. But all members have access to 100 percent of the intellectual property.

In total, ITER's magnet systems will comprise 10,000 tons of superconducting magnets, with a combined stored magnetic energy of 51 gigajoules. The raw material for these magnets consists of more than 100,000 kilometers of superconducting strand, fabricated in nine factories in six countries.

"There was not a single country that could fabricate all these magnets ... there just wasn't enough industrial power," said Barabaschi.

ITER's official spokesperson Laban Coblentz said China's contribution is crucial. "To be specific, China provided around 65 percent of the actual coil material -- the niobium-tin superconducting strands housed in steel jackets that form the ring-shaped poloidal field magnets. These key components, produced in China, were then integrated by Europe and other partners into the ITER system," he explained.

"This is an extremely exciting time to be in fusion," Arun Bhattacharya, chair professor in fusion energy at the University of Birmingham, told Xinhua. "The biggest thing here is that it's not just one or two individuals or one or two countries doing it. You (can) feel it across the globe that people are moving in this direction."

A BEACON OF HOPE

"It is a landmark event for many reasons," Marc LaChaise, director of Fusion for Energy, told Xinhua. "This journey began so long ago that some of my team members were not even born when it started. Now, after decades of effort, it's an end from our side, but it's the beginning of another story."

The ITER project traces its origins to the Geneva Superpower Summit in November 1985, when then-Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev proposed to U.S. President Ronald Reagan a collaborative international effort to develop fusion energy for peaceful purposes. Conceptual design work began in 1988, progressing through increasingly complex engineering phases until the final design was approved by all members in 2001.

"Our project is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power at industrial scale in a way that we hope will provide safe, abundant, environmentally clean energy for humanity for generations to come," said Coblentz, ITER's official spokesperson.

The final component was the sixth module of the central solenoid, built and tested in the United States. When assembled at the ITER site, the central solenoid will be the system's most powerful magnet, strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier.

The central solenoid will work in tandem with six ring-shaped poloidal field magnets. The fully assembled pulsed magnet system will weigh nearly 3,000 tons, functioning as the electromagnetic heart of ITER's donut-shaped reactor, called a tokamak.

At full operation, ITER is expected to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power from only 50 megawatts of input heating power, a tenfold gain. At this level of efficiency, the fusion reaction largely self-heats, becoming a "burning plasma."

LaChaise highlighted the extraordinary scale and complexity of the project. "Some components are so massive that we had to build factories directly on site in southern France. Transporting them even along major highways would have been impossible."

By integrating all the systems needed for fusion at industrial scale, ITER is serving as a massive, complex research laboratory for its 30-plus member countries, providing the knowledge and data needed to optimize commercial fusion power.

"Fusion is not just for energy, it is an enormous market potential. Fusion is giving birth to spin-off technologies that we didn't even think of it before," said Bhattacharya.

CHARTING UNEXPLORED TERRITORY

The vision of harnessing nuclear fusion -- the very process that powers the sun -- has long been described as the dream of humanity. For ITER's Director General Barabaschi, it's like "setting fire for the second time in the history of mankind."

"But this time, it is not a chemical fire as our ancestors discovered hundreds of thousands of years ago. It is the fire born from the fusion of light nuclei -- nuclear fire," Barabaschi said.

The goal of ITER is to achieve fusion power production at the scale of a commercial power plant, breaking new ground in fusion science and demonstrating the viability of fusion reactor technology.

Yet the journey into this new frontier is anything but simple. At the heart of the big challenge is the need to create and sustain plasma at temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius -- ten times hotter than the core of the sun.

"In a sense, we are recreating the conditions of the sun on Earth," Barabaschi said.

ITER's progress comes at a critical moment for the planet. "Climate change is real, and it's going to happen," said Coblentz. "The longer it takes us to get to effective methods of combating climate change, the more extreme (it is), (thus) the more we will need fusion."

"It's really a frontier of science," he added. "We are witnessing basic science and groundbreaking technology innovation unfold together."

However, Barabaschi emphasized that while the promise of fusion is immense, it is not an immediate solution. He said the development of the ITER project in an age of climate change is significant for the very long run.

"I don't believe that the technologies that we are building will arrive soon enough. When it comes to climate change we need to rush in implementing the technologies that we already have now," he noted.

As ITER forges ahead, its scientific and technological breakthroughs are not only charting new territory for energy, but also offering hope that humanity can unite to overcome its greatest challenges. 
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas Senate passed multiple pieces of legislation this week that would give reproductive care providers more clarity for when a doctor can legally perform an abortion to save a mothers life, and also legislation that would allow Texas residents to sue abortion pill manufacturers and anyone who delivers to product to the state.

State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R  Mineola, authored Senate Bill 31. It passed the Texas Senate with unanimous support. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said after the passage the bill, clarifies current law to provide guidance to physicians when they treat a pregnant woman who is at risk of death or substantial impairment of a major bodily function by clearly defining life-threating.

The bill defines the medical emergencies where doctors can intervene to save the mothers life. It also provides exceptions for pregnant women going through cancer treatment.

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Although gaining support from Senate Democrats, State Sen. Molly Cook, D  Houston, said the bill helps a lot, but more needs to be done for reproductive health in the state. Theres still no exceptions for instances of rape, or incest, or fetal anomalies, and it of course does nothing for people who just want to be in charge and have the choice, Cook said.

Moments after passing SB 31, senators debated another bill from Hughes, SB 2880. It expands enforcement on abortion-inducing medications by allowing Texans to sue anyone who mails or delivers abortion pills to Texas, including the companies that manufacture the product, for $100,000.

Women are being harmed. Women are being hurt by these pills, Hughes said when laying out his bill on the Senate floor. He referenced a recent study conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a faith-based policy institute. The study analyzed, health insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023.

Of those abortions, the study found 10.93% of the women experienced a life-threatening adverse event. But, other studies have shown success from the pills. One study found in a one- year period, of the 2,268 women who used the drug, 98.4% were satisfied with the experience.

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Texas has already tried to enforce civil penalties on a New York-based doctor. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the doctor, saying she mailed abortion-inducing medications to a Texas woman that resulted in the death of an unborn child and serious complications for the mother. A Texas judge issued a $100,000 penalty, but the doctor may not have to pay that fine.

Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California Davis, said the main question about this case is whether or not Texas courts can force judgements in New York courts. Ziegler said the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution states, When one states courts reach a final decision the other states courts have to respect it, but thats not true in every single circumstance.

New York, and other states, passed shield laws to protect their residents from either civil or criminal consequences based on offering abortion and other reproductive healthcare. Texas will have to go to federal court to get an answer, Ziegler said.

Theres definitely a feeling I think when it comes to abortion pills in Texas of people in the pro-life or anti-abortion movement trying a whole bunch of strategies to see what works because to date, nothing has. To date, even though Texas obviously has some of the strongest abortion bans in the nation, there hasnt been much success in shutting down access to abortion pills, Ziegler explained.

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She said the Supreme Court is more anxious forcing one state to honor another states judgements when it involves something that either is a criminal penalty or civil law equivalent. As an example, she said if the state of California sued a Texas resident for owning a handgun because its against their laws, the Supreme Court would most likely not force Texas courts to comply with that judgement.

But, she did explain the Supreme Court has said it is different if a private citizen is suing another private citizen, and could be a more successful path at enforcing this anti-abortion pill bill. However, New York does have clawback laws that would allow a private citizen to countersue for interfering with their rights, creating an even more tricky legal issue.

Whatever happens its going to be a mess, Ziegler said.

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Miles Morrisseau

ICT



The leader of Canadas oil-rich province of Alberta is being called a separatist after she introduced legislation that would make it easier for citizens to put forward constitutional referenda that critics say could lead to efforts to break up Canada.



Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party, introduced the legislation one day after the nations Liberal Party won election to a fourth term as a minority government.



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The Alberta government blames the Liberal Party government for failure to build the pipelines, like Keystone XP, that are required to move oil and oil products to markets in the U.S.



A large majority of Albertans are deeply frustrated that the same government that overtly attacked our provincial economy almost unabated for the past 10 years has been returned to government, said Smith, who traveled to Florida in January to meet with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Mar a Lago.



"As Premier, I will not permit the status quo to continue, Smith said in a statement after the election. Albertans are proud Canadians that want this nation to be strong, prosperous, and united, but we will no longer tolerate having our industries threatened and our resources landlocked by Ottawa.



First Nations chiefs and members of the Alberta Legislature responded by calling on Smith to stand down.



On Wednesday, April 30, Chief Sheldon Sunshine of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Chief Billy Joe Tuccaro of Mikisew Cree First Nation sent a letter to the Alberta premier, accusing her of creating a crisis when the country is already under attack by the Trump administration.



You are attempting to manufacture a national unity crisis by enabling a referendum on separation and a fanatical cell of individuals at the exact moment when Canadians need to be united against Donald Trump's America, the chiefs said in the letter.+



The province of Alberta is on treaty lands, the letter continued. Please be advised that your irresponsible statements and actions are in breach of treaties number 6-7 and 8. We demand that you immediately stand down from this conduct.



The chiefs reminded the premier that the treaties are the foundational documents of the country.



Our treaties are sacred covenants and are to last forever, the letter stated. Alberta did not exist when our ancestors agreed to share the land with the crown. The province has no authority to suspend or interfere with our treaties even indirectly by passing the buck to a citizen's referendum.



They continued, If you or any Canadians are not happy living on treaty lands they are free to apply for citizenship elsewhere.



The chiefs also sent a letter to newly elected Prime Minister Carney with a brief congratulations and asked him to step up to bring the Province of Alberta in line.



Congratulations on your election as Prime Minister. Unfortunately we have no time for pleasantries, the note said. We are enclosing our letter to premier Daniel Smith for your urgent attention. As you know Canada is founded on treaties that were sacred covenants between the crown and our ancestors to share the lands.



We were not prepared to accept any further treaty breaches and violations  and respectfully ask that you get the province of Alberta in line. We look forward to working with your new government as treaty partners, they said.

A fit of political rage



The Liberal Party and Prime Minister Mark Carney retained control of the government in the April 28 election but only in a minority capacity, meaning they will need to work with other parties to pass legislation.



The day after the election, Smith released her statement and later in the day introduced Bill 54. The Election Statutes Amendment Act includes reducing the threshold for successful petitions to the Citizen Initiative Act to 10 percent of eligible voters. The previous threshold was 20 percent, or about 600,000 signatures.

Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith, accompanied by other Council of the Federation members, speaks to reporters at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

The Citizen Initiative Act creates a petition process that allows eligible voters to submit proposed legislative and policy changes and proposed constitutional referendum questions to the provincial government.



The opposition New Democratic Party leaders have called the premier a "separatist by pointing to the Alberta Sovereignty Act of 2022 as another example of that agenda.



Brooks Arcand-Paul, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, addressed the Legislature on Wednesday, April 30, challenging the bills legality and timing.



In a fit of political rage, the premier introduced a bill that would make it easier to launch Alberta into a separatist crisis, as if threatening to break up Canada was just another wedge issue. Why now? Why in the middle of rising costs and global instability, would this premier choose the path of chaos? asked Arcand-Paul, who represents the riding, or district of Edmonton-West Henday.



Separatism creates uncertainty, he said. It drives away investment. It hurts workers. It hurts the oil and gas sector, just like Trump and his reckless tariffs.



Brooks is a member and the in-house legal counsel for the Alexander First Nation, where he provides legal advice and manages the legal affairs for the nation of 2,300 people. He spoke out in defense of the First Nations treaties.



Here's what the premier won't say, he said. First Nations must consent to any talk of separation. Full stop. Our inherent right and jurisdiction over these lands predate the creation of Alberta. We are signatories to treaties six, seven and eight, made with the [British] Crown, not with the province.



He continued, First Nations in Alberta want our treaties honored. We want our sovereignty respected, and we do not want to become the 51st state  I will never, ever vote for separatism, because this is, and always will be, Indian land.

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Jobs and energy



Smith has been criticized for being too cozy with Trump even as his rhetoric towards Canada continued to ramp up.



Trump has launched strict tariffs on Canada, though some have been delayed, and has repeatedly made remarks suggesting that the nation of Canada should become the 51st state in the U.S.



Trumps policies played an oversized role in this years national election, with top candidates voicing anti-Trump rhetoric.



Smith traveled to Mar a Lago to meet with Trump on Jan. 11 in what she indicated was an attempt to remind Trump of the importance of Albertas oil to the American economy.



We had a friendly and constructive conversation, during which I emphasized the mutual importance of the U.S.-Canadian energy relationship, Smith posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the meeting.



Specifically, she posted, how hundreds of thousands of American jobs are supported by energy exports from Alberta."

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Transmission towers that connect power lines to the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam stand near the Xingu river in Para, Brazil, on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. Credit - Dado Galdieri/BloombergGetty Images

For the last year, the energy and climate narrative has been intimately intertwined with questions about AIs impact on energy demand. As tech companies race to construct new data centers, theyve turned the U.S. emissions reduction story on its head.

In this environment, Brazil senses an opportunity. Up to this point, the AI demand story has been a U.S. one, but Brazilian officials want to convince tech companies to set up shop in their country. They cite the nations strategic location as a central hub in South America and supportive policy environment, but the biggest selling point by far is the countrys electricity system: nearly 90% comes from renewable energy and Brazil already has good transmission infrastructure that moves electricity across the country.

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As I talked to officials on the ground in Brazil this week, the topic seemed to be on the tip of everyones tongue. Our message to the world, on the basis of our plan, is that AI [power demand] is satiable with usage of renewable energy sources, Luis Manuel Rebelo Fernandes, Brazils deputy minister of science, technology, and innovation, told me on a panel at the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

There are signs the bet is paying off: dozens of data centers are in development across Brazil as big tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft pour billions into the sector there.

Its an important story for Brazil and the Latin American market, of course, but I share it also to illustrate the competitive dividend that can come from clean energy. As electricity in some emerging market countries increasingly comes from solar power, they may stand to gain foreign investmentnot just from AI but also from any foreign investor who wants their products made cleanly.

Brazils clean energy story begins long before climate change became a global concern. Beginning in the late 19th century, the country built dams to power its industry, harnessing some of Brazils 37,000 miles of waterways for fuel development. By the 1960s, the country was building mega dams that on their own provide much of the countrys power. Because dams arent necessarily near cities, Brazil built an extensive transmission system creating an integrated network. (Unlike the U.S., which is set up in a complex maze with three main regions with regulatory authority divided between states and the federal government.)

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In short, Brazil didnt create a clean grid to be able to tout an environmental message. But, as big companies continue to work toward their climate goals (even if more quietly than before), the grid gives it a critical advantage.

Brazil is well positioned, Luciana Aparecida da Costa, director of infrastructure, energy transition, and climate change at BNDES, the Brazilian development bank, told me in Sao Paulo. But we know that we have to compete with other countries to attract this.

Nonetheless, as much as the countrys electric grid is a selling point, Brazil still has questions to answer. Climate change has affected water levels, sparking concerns about the reliability of hydropower. And a rapid rise in electricity demand could stress the grid just as is happening in the U.S.

To address those concerns, the Brazilian government has prioritized supporting new renewable energy generation to go along with new data centers. Funding to ensure that happens is a key plank in the countys $4 billion AI plan launched last year. Every expansion of high performance computing is associated in the plan to the development of dedicated sources of renewable energy, said Fernandes.

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And private companies are looking to do the same. In April, for example, Reuters reported that TikTok parent company ByteDance was considering a massive data center investment in Brazil as the company grows its AI footprintwith new wind power attached.

To be clear, theres no question that the AI race, as it stands today, is between the U.S. and China. Thats where the models that AI runs on are being developed, and where the most capital is being deployed. But Brazils pitchand its early successis a reminder of the competitive appeal of clean energy in the global market.

To get this story in your inbox, subscribe to the TIME CO2 Leadership Report newsletter here.

Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com.
This analysis and news roundup comes from the Canary Media Weekly newsletter. Sign up to get it every Friday.

California is a trendsetter when it comes to cleaning up transportation. But the Republican-controlled Congress is trying to put an end to that, albeit through dubious legal means.

For years, the states various clean vehicle rules have gone well beyond federal emissions standards. Its Advanced Clean Cars II program requires that all new passenger cars sold in the state must be zero-emissions by 2035; Advanced Clean Trucks mandates that manufacturers scale up their sales of zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

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Eleven other states and Washington, D.C., have adopted Californias latest zero-emissions cars rules, and 10 have adopted its Advanced Clean Trucks regulations.

But to be enforceable, those rules needed waivers from the U.S. EPA. The waivers are what the U.S. House targeted this week, voting on Wednesday to repeal Advanced Clean Trucks and on Thursday to rescind Advanced Clean Cars II, with support from major automakers. The House votes came even after the Government Accountability Office  the nations top legislative auditor  said Congress doesnt have the authority to revoke the waivers via the Congressional Review Act. The repeals still face an uphill battle in the Senate, where the bodys parliamentarian similarly said the waivers arent subject to such congressional oversight.

But advocates in some of the states that have followed Californias lead dont want to let the potential repeal derail their EV progress.

More than 60 environmental, business, and housing groups sent letters to Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey last week, calling on her to preserve the states EV goals. Healey has already postponed enforcement of similar rules encouraging zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales last month, but this coalition says the remaining regulations are critical to meeting the states net-zero goals, Canary Medias Sarah Shemkus reports.

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Illinois advocates are meanwhile still pushing their state to adopt Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II, they told Canary Medias Kari Lydersen last month. Places like Joliet and Chicagos Little Village neighborhood have become overrun with heavy-duty trucks as warehouses crop up, bringing excessive diesel pollution with them. Replacing those trucks with zero-emissions vehicles would improve air quality, especially in frontline communities that face higher pollution burdens.

Back in California, concrete progress on electrifying heavy-duty trucks is still happening, Canary Medias Jeff St. John reports. Two all-electric charging depots just opened last month  infrastructure that will allow electric trucking to keep on growing, despite all the potholes ahead.



More big energy stories



Community solar is winning over Republicans

Community solar is building a surprising fan base. Republican state lawmakers in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio have sponsored bills this year to encourage construction of solar arrays that multiple households can tap into, Alison Takemura reports for Canary Media. Pairing community solar with agricultural land is even at the heart of a model policy from the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council.

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Advocates say community solar is in line with the conservative principles of free markets and individual property rights  and a recent survey out of deep-red Texas seems to agree. The poll, commissioned by Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation, found more than 90% support protecting property owners rights to produce electricity on their land, including with wind turbines or solar panels, and say they should be allowed to lease their land out for power generation too.

Could Spains massive blackouts happen in the U.S.?

Spain and Portugal suffered one of Europes worst power outages ever on Monday. About 55 million people lost power, sidelining hospitals, disrupting cell signals, and halting digital payments. The massive outage on a usually stable grid stirred up accusations  including from U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright  that renewable power was to blame.

Spains grid operator hasnt yet disclosed what caused the outages, but the countrys environmental minister said Wednesday that renewables werent responsible. Nearly 55% of Spains electricity on Monday came from solar, with another 10% each from wind, nuclear, and hydropower  a similar mix to whats powered the countrys grid in the past, without problems. Still, experts say the outages highlight stability challenges that renewables can pose during power disruptions, and show that grid operators need to implement new technologies to better manage increasing amounts of wind and solar.



Clean energy news to know this week



Tesla turmoil: Elon Musk and Teslas board chair deny a report suggesting the EV maker is seeking a new CEO amid Musks increasing political activity and the companys sinking finances. (Axios, Wall Street Journal)

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Gutting grants: The U.S. EPA indicates in a court filing that it intends to cancel 781 grants issued under the Biden administration, most of them tied to environmental justice, and has already notified about half of those recipients of the looming cuts. (Washington Post)

100 days of climate demolition: President Donald Trump has signed 20 climate-related executive orders in his first 100 days in office, and his term has so far been marked by stock market uncertainty, clean-manufacturing project cancellations, and tariffs that are set to hurt the fossil-fuel industry. (Heatmap)

Burgums energy pivot: Now largely focused on oil and gas development, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has taken a sharp turn since supporting an all of the above energy strategy that included clean energy while serving as North Dakotas governor. (E&E News)

A second life for coal plants: Former coal-fired power plants are becoming in-demand properties as developers look to re-use the facilities existing power lines for gas-fired power plants, battery storage sites, or offshore wind connections. (Associated Press)

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First Solars fortunes fall: American manufacturer First Solar, which saw a stock bump in the wake of Trumps tariffs, has since reported lower-than-expected first quarter earnings and reduced its expected revenue and profit for the rest of the year. (Heatmap)

EV education at risk: Programs that train students to work in EV manufacturing, which arose to supply the growing industry with workers, could peter out amid the Trump administrations continued attacks on the sector. (Hechinger Report)


The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident in which two commercial planes were instructed to perform go-arounds to avoid a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter flying near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Thursday.

The situation occurred just over three months after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight at the same airport during an approach in late January that killed all 67 on both aircraft.

On Thursday, air traffic control directed a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 to conduct a go-around maneuver  both aborting their planned landings  at approximately 2:30 p.m. as the priority air transport helicopter was flying inbound to the Pentagon Army Hospital, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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An angry Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said afterward that it was unacceptable that two commercial airlines had to abort their landings because an Army helicopter was heading to the Pentagon.

He said he planned to talk to Department of Defense officials to find out why rules were disregarded.

Safety must ALWAYS come first, Duffy said in a post on X. We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber  besides, most VIPs have black car service.

The Independent has emailed the Army and Republic Airways for more information.

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A spokesperson for Delta said: Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. Well cooperate with authorities as they investigate.

The news comes just weeks after the FAA reported a close call between a Delta Air Lines plane and an Air Force jet at Reagan Airport on March 28. Last month, another incident occurred at the same airport when an aircrafts wingtip struck a second plane on the runway. One of the planes was carrying members of Congress.

The FAA imposed restrictions on helicopter traffic in the area surrounding the airport after the deadly January 29 crash involving the Army Black Hawk helicopter and the passenger flight.

A commercial airplane taking off from Ronald Reagan International Airport passes a memorial for the victims of the January 29 crash (AFP via Getty Images)

Some of the restrictions included permanently banning non-essential helicopter operations, eliminating helicopter and fixed-wing mixed traffic, and permanently closing a route along the Potomac River to helicopter traffic, among others.

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There are exceptions for life-saving medical support, active law enforcement operations, active air defense, and presidential and vice presidential helicopter travel. Its unclear if the Black Hawk helicopter in the most recent incident was operating within the carve-outs.

The NTSB released preliminary findings into the deadly January accident last month, revealing that there had been 15,214 close calls at the airport between October 2021 and December 2024. The airport logged 944,179 flights during that time.

In a news conference, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the airport posed an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a mid-air collision.

The Black Hawk helicopter in the January collision was flying above the 200-foot route altitude restriction as the plane descended into the airport.

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The aircraft collided over the Potomac River, crashing into the freezing waters. Many of those on board were returning from a figure-skating competition in Wichita, Kansas, where the flight originated.

Several victims were young children and their parents. It was the deadliest U.S. aviation incident since an air carrier crashed in Queens, New York, killing 265 in November 2001.
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark.  Arkansas traffic officials have extended closures to the Interstate 55 Bridge over the Mississippi River in West Memphis.

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation said the bridge is scheduled to have southbound outside single-lane closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, through Wednesday, May 7.

Historic Saline County bridge expected to return to original location by May

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ARDOT officials said there will also be northbound outside single-lane closures scheduled from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, through Wednesday, May 7.

The extension is due to rain, traffic officials said. The lanes will be closed for routine bridge maintenance.

Closures will be directed by digital message boards, cones and signs.

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CNBC reporter Steve Liesman mocked President Trump on Thursday over his blaming of the current state of the economy on former President Biden.

Well, he tried yesterday to blame the stock market on Biden, Liesman said during an appearance on MSNBC. And I think there was a lot of laughter around Wall Street, I think, on that one. I think that people pretty squarely put this on the shoulders of President Trump.

In comments that came after the Commerce Department reported Wednesday the economy shrank last quarter for the first time in years, Trump wrote on Truth Social that This is Bidens Stock Market, not Trumps.

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I didnt take over until January 20th, the president said. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden Overhang. This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!

Liesman said economists are predicting the country is barreling toward supply shock, which could have major negative long-term consequences for the economy.

But if the problem is that theres not enough stuff and people are losing their jobs because of that, goosing demand is not going to help, he said. And theres a second element to this that is more worrisome to me, which is that the normal circuit breaker on this tends to be government spending. And whats happening with government spending? Thats coming down at the same time  you have the supply shock. So we could be in for a twofer here, over time.

His comments were first highlighted by Mediaite.

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DAMASCUS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli air activity intensified across Syria on Friday, with warplane strikes reported in capital Damascus as well as central and western provinces, and drone activities observed in several regions, according to Syrian media and a monitor group.

In rural Damascus, a drone strike attributed to the Israeli military killed four people in the town of Kanaker on Friday afternoon, Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported.

Besides, at least 10 airstrikes targeted the area surrounding the eastern suburb of Harasta, including a military post near the Harasta Military Hospital, Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Syria's state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariyah reported that the airstrikes caused significant material damage but no confirmed fatalities as of Friday evening, and that ambulance and civil defense teams were dispatched to the scene.

In southern Syria, Israeli airstrikes hit the outskirts of the towns of Mothbeen and Izraa in Daraa province. In central Syria, an Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the village of Shahta, in the western countryside of Hama province, on Friday night, injuring four, local media reported.

Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also reportedly hovered over southern and central parts of Syria, including the provinces of Daraa, Homs, and Hama, in what appeared to be part of a coordinated campaign.

Israel's national broadcaster KAN reported Friday that the Israeli government had approved additional targets in Syria, including military installations and sites affiliated with the new Syrian authorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly authorized the new targets. 
Co-op members compared Israel to Russia as they urged the retailer to boycott Israeli products over the war in Gaza.

The group is facing calls from members to cease trading with Israeli companies in a motion put forward ahead of its annual general meeting next month.

The motion calls for the board of the Co-op to demonstrate fairness and consistency in its ethical decision-making by stopping the sale of Israeli products.

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It reads: The Co-op was the first supermarket to boycott Russian products in March 2022, a week after the invasion of Ukraine. Since October 2023, Israel has completely destroyed Gaza and wiped out its key infrastructure  including schools, hospitals and universities.

By July 2024, it was estimated that at least 186,000 Gazans  mainly women and children  had died as a result of the bombing, destruction of health facilities, and denial of essential aid.

Members cited a ruling by the International Court of Justice, which found that Israel had a plausible case to answer for committing genocide.

The motion adds: We urge the board to show moral courage and leadership, apply the same ethical principles and values it did to Russia, and take all Israeli products off the shelves.

Moral courage

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, many British retailers removed Russian goods from their shelves in a display of solidarity with Ukraine.

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Large numbers of Western companies that traded in Russia decided to exit the country in the months that followed. Businesses that kept trading came under fierce pressure from activists amid accusations they were indirectly supporting Vladimir Putins regime.

The Co-ops board said in response to the motion on Israel that it was currently reviewing our sourcing policies to ensure that they reflect our values and principles and the views of our members, taking into consideration developments in the geopolitical situation and international food supply chains.

We intend to confirm any changes to our sourcing policies in the summer, following that review.

It said the company had not sourced any products from the occupied Palestinian territories since 2007.

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However, it added: The nature of international food supply chains means that it is very often impossible, impractical or unsafe to stop sourcing products entirely from specific countries.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, we stopped ranging products which were self-evidently from Russia like Russian Standard Vodka. We did not stop sourcing all products from Russia and would not have been able to do so due to the international food supply chain complexities noted above.

It added that the company had always advocated for building peace through co-operation.

The motion is advisory, meaning that even if it is voted through, it will not bind the board to action.

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It demonstrates the extent to which many high street brands have become a lightning rod for criticism over Israel and the war in Gaza.

Boycott calls

Supermarkets have faced repeated calls to boycott Israeli goods, with activists placing anti-Israel stickers on some products in Sainsburys and other retailers.

Major hospitality businesses too, such as Starbucks and McDonalds, have faced boycotts and even protests outside their outlets over allegations that they have in some form supported the Israeli government, which both denied.

Chris Kempczinski, McDonalds chief executive, blamed misinformation when boycotts hurt the burger chains sales.

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Starbucks faced controversy two years ago when it sued union workers for trademark infringement after they posted their support for Palestine on social media following Hamass October 2023 attack on Israel. The union sued Starbucks in response, but both lawsuits were eventually withdrawn.

Pret a Manger was last year accused of caving in to pressure from activists to boycott Israel after scrapping plans to open stores in the country. The company denied this was the cause, blaming travel restrictions.

The Co-op was approached for comment.

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CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  Coastal Carolina University is offering support to Limestone University students after its closure, CCU said Friday in a news release.

Coastal Carolina said it will waive application fees for its online programs for Limestone students.

We understand this is a difficult time for students who have attended Limestone University, and we are eager to assist them in any way we can, said J. Lee Brown, the dean of CCUs College of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Our online undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available to meet students where they are during this uncertain time, without the pressure and logistics of acclimating to a new campus.

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Coker University lends helping hand for Limestone, St. Andrews University students after closings

To support Limestone students, Coastal Carolina is offering online undergraduate students:

Guaranteed acceptance into online degree programs for undergraduate students in good standing with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum of 24 transferrable credits

Application fees waived

Application deadlines waived

Reduced enrollment deposit fee of only $100 applied directly to tuition

Credit transfer of up to 90 hours with admission approval

Personalized enrollment, advising, and information on financial support

Transfer Explorer support to assess Limestone credits toward degree progress

Transfer merit awards available for applications received by June 1

Undergraduate online completion degrees qualify for CCUs eRate

For online graduate students:

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Application deadlines extended for several degree programs

Application fees waived

Personalized enrollment, advising, and information on financial support

Evaluation of credits for degree applicability

All applicants are required to clear the non-academic admissions review process, CCU said. Limestone students are invited to attend a virtual open house session on May 13 or May 20 to learn more.

The undergraduate sessions are at 11 a.m. on May 13 and 1 p.m. on May 20, while the graduate sessions are set for 3 p.m. on May 13 and 5:30 p.m. on May 20.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado has worse drug problems than most of the U.S., according to a recent WalletHub study.

The finance website conducted the study on all states and the District of Columbia, examining multiple factors like drug-related arrest and overdose rates, opioid prescriptions, employee drug testing laws, rehabilitation and treatment options and more.

FBI, ICE partner with Jeffco Sheriffs Office to arrest 1 for narcotics, speeding, immigration

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According to the report, Colorado has the 8th biggest drug problem in the country overall. Neighboring states like Utah and Nebraska reportedly had the least problematic drug use.

States with the worst drug problems, according to WalletHub:

New Mexico West Virginia Nevada Alaska District of Columbia Oklahoma Missouri Colorado Louisiana Arkansas

Source: WalletHub

Colorados best ranking was in drug overdose deaths per capita at No. 30., but the Centennial State ranked among the worst in many areas.

According to the WalletHub report, Colorado has the 11th highest share of teenagers who reported using illicit drugs in the last month, the 9th highest share of adults who reported using illicit drugs in the last month and the 6th highest share of adults who could not get treatment for illicit drug use.

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Denver a top 10 cleanest metro area despite dirty scores in 2 categories: Study

Colorado ranked 14th for substance abuse treatment facilities per 100,000 people using illicit drugs.

In the three main categories, Colorado ranked No. 15 for drug use and addiction, 8th for law enforcement and 15th for drug health issues and rehab.

According to WalletHub, more than 80,670 people die of drug overdoses annually in the U.S. Data for the study was collected from sources including U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and more. More information about the study and results for each state can be found in the full report online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR)  By some estimates, 20,000 Vietnamese orphans were adopted by families all over the world by the end of the Vietnam war 50 years ago.

Joie Le is one of those adoptees. In 1973, the local newspaper in Loveland devoted a whole page to the American family that couldnt wait to greet her.

This says the family expects a new daughter to arrive from Vietnam soon, Le told FOX31 as she held up the newspaper article.

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Born in Vietnam to a Vietnamese father and a Cambodian mother, she was sent to live in an orphanage.

Plane crash survivor looks back on harrowing evacuation from Vietnam during Operation Babylift 50 years ago

So, I have 15-some-odd siblings, 15 or 17 depending on whos counting and how were counting. Not all living. But I was the only one out of the entire family to be adopted out. The rest were all raised by my dad, Le said.

She had a lifetime of questions, and very few answers about her origin. Until DNA testing came into the picture.

And I was given my test in 2010 when we did a reunion with a bunch of adoptees. And I I didnt take it for like a year. Just sat on the desk for like a year, she said.

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Eventually, Le took that DNA test and it helped fill in the blank pages of her life story.

Finally, a match came through that was a second cousin. And I kind of was thinking, well, second cousins pretty close to a first cousin, which could be close to an aunt, which could be close to my family. Ultimately, I came back with a match that they had found my brothers. And then from there, my biological father, she said.

A decade ago, she traveled to Vietnam, not knowing what to expect.

My two brothers met me at the airport. And they took me into the area that my dad was living in, she said.

In the Vietnamese countryside, in the small home that he built by himself, she met her 90-year-old birth father for the first time.

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Full special: Vietnam  A Lost Generation

He knew who I was. He could say that I was Dots sister, and that I was Cambodian. But other than that, it was, I couldnt communicate too much with him, Le said.

He died a few months after their meeting.

You always want to know, and I think that Im really lucky that I do know. Theres not that many of us that actually did find biological family again, Le said.

Le is an educator at a Colorado high school and university. She has a PhD. And she says she isnt finished researching her past. One day, she might try to seek out her birth mother as well.

To learn more about the orphans who were adopted during the Vietnam War, watch our special report, The Vietnam War: Flight to a New Future, Sunday, May 4 at 9pm ET on News Nation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A Lakewood police vehicle is parked outside the Lakewood Public Safety Center on June 28, 2020. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

The Colorado Legislature intends to use investment revenue to pay for the implementation of Proposition 130, the measure voters approved last fall to direct $350 million to law enforcement.

Under a bill nearing final passage, local law enforcement agencies would get at least $15,000 per year to use for recruitment, continuing education and additional compensation. Surviving spouses or family members of an officer killed during duty would receive a $1 million survivors benefit.

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To pay for it, members of the bipartisan Joint Budget Committee want to send $500 million to the Public Employees Retirement Association to invest.

The bill before you represents a fair and faithful, balanced implementation of the voters intent, while ensuring that we can continue to fund equally-important priorities across our state budget and maintain our necessary reserves, Rep. Shannon Bird, a Westminster Democrat, told the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

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Proposition 130, backed by the conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado, passed with about 53% of the vote last November. That means lawmakers needed to grapple with its implementation during an ultra-tight budget year in which they already faced a $1.2 billion gap.

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Senate Bill 25-310 would establish the Peace Officer Support and Training Fund, which would receive an initial transfer of $15 million in general fund money next year. Then, $500 million from the states general fund reserve  money set aside as a buffer for emergencies  would get sent to PERA to invest. Up to $35 million generated from that investment would be sent to the support fund annually, and other revenue would be used to offset a portion of what the state owes to PERA for pension liability every year.

The plan is to always have $15 million per year in the law enforcement support fund. Rep. Rick Taggart, a Grand Junction Republican, said that the average return on PERA investments is about 7%. An expected average annual return of $35 million on the investment would mean the Legislature would fulfill its $350 million obligation under Proposition 130 in 10 years.

This is how we are using our existing state assets to generate revenues to meet the voters intent, Bird said.

Local law enforcement agencies would get at least $15,000 per year, and if there is enough revenue available, additional money using a formula based on department size. That would begin in December 2026. Agencies would need to prove compliance with allowable spending through an annual audit.

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Adam Turk with the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police told lawmakers in committee that the funding mechanism would not kick in fast enough.

The funding structure as currently written, delays the impact of this critical investment far beyond the time frame in which departments need it most, he said. The timeline does not align with the pressing public safety, staffing and resource challenges agencies are facing today. Proposition 130 was passed by voters with the expectation that the funding would help stabilize and strengthen law enforcement capacity now, not decades into the future.

The Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Counties Inc. County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police support the bill.

It passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday. It needs to clear the House floor, including debate and preliminary voice vote followed by a final recorded vote on a separate day, before the end of the legislative session on May 7. Representatives began that debate on Thursday, but the preliminary vote was delayed on that day and again on Friday morning.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado drivers are some of the worst in the nation when it comes to getting angry behind the wheel, according to a new report.

A report by the consumer research journal ConsumerAffairs that was released on Thursday ranked Colorado as the No. 3 worst state for road rage, up from No. 4 in last years report.

Are Coloradans driving safer? Data shows decline in road deaths in 2025

The research team at ConsumerAffairs identified which states have the worst road rage by analyzing data for deadly crashes involving careless to reckless driving, violations for dangerous driving and traffic incidents involving gun violence.

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States with the worst road rage:

Louisiana New Mexico Colorado Arkansas Montana

The Centennial State was among the worst when it comes to gun violence on roads and had high numbers of deaths related to aggressive and careless driving.

Deadly crashes involving aggressive, careless driving

Road rage makes driving more dangerous and contributes to traffic-related deaths, according to the report, which found 43.5% of all the deadly crashes in Colorado in 2023 involved aggressive or careless driving.

There were 5.37 deaths per 100,000 people as a result of aggressive driving, about three times the national average of 1.78, according to the report. Colorado ranked No. 4 for this metric.

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Data: These areas had the deadliest roads in Colorado in 2024

The Centennial State did not have the highest numbers for traffic-related deaths, but had the highest number of violations for aggressive, careless driving, or speeding of any state at 1.81 per 100,000 people. That amounts to over eight times the national average of 0.22, according to the report.

Traffic incidents involving gun violence

Colorado ranked at No. 6 when it comes to gun violence on roads, with 0.72 traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 people. The national average was 0.42 per 100,000.

New Mexico (1.56 per 100,000) Washington, D.C. (1.04 per 100,000) Tennessee (0.99 per 100,000) Wisconsin (0.86 per 100,000) Arizona (0.78 per 100,000)

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Colorados fatality numbers were significantly higher than each of the above states except New Mexico, contributing to the states high overall ranking.

This Colorado county racked up the most speeding citations in 2024

Road rage incidents involving gun violence are in the news headlines regularly in Colorado. Some recent cases include:

April 21: Multiple shots were fired from a stolen vehicle in a road rage incident on Interstate 25

March 15: 1 person was shot and injured in a road rage shooting on U.S. Highway 36

March 1: A driver was injured after a road rage shooter fired shots at a vehicle with three kids inside on Interstate 76

Staying safe on roads

Traffic-related deaths in Colorado are down 21% so far in 2025, according to recent data from the Colorado Department of Transportation. The agency said one death is one too many and offered safety tips for drivers as the deadliest days of the year are ahead:

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Buckle up on every trip, and ensure your passengers and any children are properly restrained.

Put the phone away while driving, even at stoplights.

Always plan a safe and sober ride when consuming alcohol, cannabis or other impairing substances.

Obey speed limits, especially in construction and school zones.

Stay alert and make eye contact with drivers when walking or biking across intersections.

The ConsumerAffairs report noted that some cities, particularly in the Denver metro area, are cracking down on traffic violations with new speed radar and red light cameras.

The report used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (2023) and the Gun Violence Archive (2022-2024). More information can be found in the online report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is searching for a 14-year-old boy who went missing around the 6000 block of Georgetown Drive.

Isaiah Jones was last seen on Wednesday, April 28 around 7:00 a.m. He is 5-foot-4-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red GAP hoodie, light blue gym shorts and red open-toed sandals.

Anyone with information about Jones or his whereabouts, is asked to contact 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449, or the lead investigator, Detective Meagan Cole at (706) 225-4242.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
BEAUFORT, N.C. (WNCT)  Ready to Rock and Rally Beaufort hosted a May Day a National Day of Action rally in support of democracy.

This rally took place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Beaufort Courthouse.

A large crowd lined the sidewalk of the courthouse, getting both positive and negative honks from travelers.

Different signs voiced anger with the Trump administration, rising prices, and lack of protections towards different groups and agencies. Organizers say its crucial their voices are heard.

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We want it known whats going on. That we are not happy with it. So, yeah. Listen up, America. Come join us. I know youre not happy either. Protester, Mary Ferrell said.

Click the video above for more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
CAIRO/BAGHDAD, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League condemned on Friday the Israeli airstrikes on targets near the presidential palace in the Syrian capital Damascus.

The pan-Arab organization said in a statement that these airstrikes represent "a dangerous escalation and a rejected and condemned violation of Syria's sovereignty."

It added that these airstrikes aimed at destabilizing the situation, interfering in internal affairs, and encroaching on Syrian territory.

The Arab League called on the UN Security Council to put an end to these Israeli attacks, which threaten to "ignite the situation in the region."

Iraq also condemned the Israeli strike on Friday.

Iraq's Foreign Ministry affirmed in a statement its "categorical rejection of all repeated Israeli attacks that violate Syria's sovereignty and threaten its security and stability."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement earlier in the day that Israel attacked overnight near the presidential palace in Damascus.

The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus, which, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, have claimed over 100 lives.

The Israeli statement called the strike "a clear message to the Syrian regime," saying that Israel "will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community." 
Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church will now elect its new leader, in a process virtually unchanged in 800 years.

The system is known as the Papal Conclave, and is a democratic process with a strong emphasis on working through multiple rounds of voting until a clear consensus emerges.

Under the current rules, only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to cast a vote.

Officially candidates for pope need only be male and Catholic, although in reality Pontiffs have only ever been chosen from the ranks of cardinals for centuries.

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Theres no age limit on who can become pope, but Francis was 76 when he took up the position, and held it until his death, aged 88.

Benedict before him was 78, and was pope for only eight years before his surprise retirement aged 85.

When will the Conclave begin?

The popes funeral took place on Saturday, 26 April, starting nine official days of mourning called the novemdiales, which ended on May 5.

According to Vatican rules, the process of electing a new pope should begin between 15 and 20 days after the pontiffs death. The Vatican confirmed the conclave will begin on Wednesday, May 7.

It is the camerlengo, a cardinal selected by the pope, who is tasked with organising the Conclave election process.

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell is the camerlengo, a cardinal who is tasked with organising the Conclave (Vatican Media)

The current camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish-born American Catholic prelate who has held the position since 2019.

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His other responsibilities include sealing the door to the popes study and bedroom with a traditional red ribbon.

How does Conclave work?

To begin the Conclave process, there is a special morning mass, after which the 135 cardinals of voting age would gather inside the exquisitely decorated Sistine Chapel  home of all the Papal Conclaves since 1858.

New rules for the election of a pope were introduced in 1996 under Pope John Paul II, and the process has largely remained unchanged since then. After the death of a pope, cardinals hold a series of meetings called general congregations to discuss the future of the Church.

133 cardinals will join the conclave (Getty)

While all 252 cardinals can participate in these meetings, only 133 are under the age of 80 and have been well enough to travel to participate in the Conclave.

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After the cardinals have gathered, the shout extra omnes (everybody out) rings out and the cardinals  who are sworn to an oath of secrecy  will be locked inside the Conclave until they can choose a successor.

There is no guarantee that the first round of voting will be revealed the same day. Through a mixture of speeches, prayer, reflection  and intense political jostling  cardinals whittle down candidates through successive rounds of voting.

The cardinals themselves sit on both sides of the Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel, set up for the Papal Conclave (VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag)

The names of nine cardinals are chosen at random to officiate and organise the vote. Three become Scrutineers, whose job it is to oversee the vote. Three more collect the votes and three more revise them.

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A pope is only elected when a single candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Sometimes popes are chosen quickly, when a strong candidate emerges. However, from the 34th ballot onwards, the Conclave only votes between the two front runners who gained the most votes in the previous round.

The longest Papal Conclave, in the late thirteenth century, lasted the best part of three years thanks to massive political infighting. Three voting cardinals died during the process.

The ballot itself is secret and was introduced on 1621 by Gregory XV to try and avoid overt politicking, but the Conclave is inevitably a hotbed of competing factions who wish to see their man come out on top.

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, which will be used to signal that a new pope has been elected (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

During each ballot, cardinals write the name of their choice, ideally in distorted handwriting to disguise their identity.

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The ballot papers are then burned in a small fire inside the Sistine Chapel. The black smoke which is produced by the fire tells the crowds waiting outside that a new pope is yet to be chosen.

When one candidate has finally won two-thirds of the vote a new pope is elected. The Cardinal Dean then calls the candidate to the front of the chapel and asks whether they are willing to accept. If the answer is yes, the new Pope is then asked to choose his new Papal name.

Although the pope is seen as the successor of St Peter, none have chosen Peter for their Papal name, partly to avoid comparisons to the founder of the Roman Catholic Church and partly because of an ancient prophecy that a new pope called Peter will precede the end of the world.

The "Room of Tears", a small room next to the Sistine Chapel, with the vestments of the next Pope displayed in three different sizes (VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Imag)

With a pope now duly elected the ballot papers are burned once more with an additive placed in the fire that turns the smoke white, informing the world that a new Pontiff has been chosen.

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In the weeks leading up to the Conclave, Vatican tailors get to work on creating three Papal robes in small, medium and large. The new pope is led into the Room of Tears adjacent to the Sistine Chapel where he dons his new white robes and red slippers.

The pope is then presented to the crowds who have gathered in the Vatican from the main balcony of St Peters Basilica with the famous words: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam! (I announce to you with great joy we have a pope.)
On Wednesday, May 7, the College of Cardinals will gather to elect Pope Francis' successor in the secretive election known as a conclave

Although some historical conclaves have taken as long as three years, most in modern church history have only lasted a few days  and one cardinal expects it'll only take a few days to pick a new pope this time around

"I think there is a consensus ," Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez of El Salvador, adding that "the vision is very clear [for] what kind of pope we need in the church and for the world"

How long will the upcoming papal conclave take? Likely not that long, according to one Cardinal.



In just a matter of days, 133 men in the College of Cardinals are preparing to elect Pope Francis' successor in the secretive election known as a conclave, which is set to begin on begin on Wednesday, May 7. Although some historical conclaves have taken as long as three years, most elections in modern church history have only lasted a few days  Francis, for example, was chosen after just three rounds of voting.

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Although Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez of El Salvador is not eligible to vote himself due to his age  you have to be under the age of 80 to vote, and Chavez is 82  he predicted that the upcoming conclave "will be short," according to ABC News,

"I think there is a consensus ... the vision is very clear [for] what kind of pope we need in the church and for the world," he told the outlet, sharing that he's looking for a "Francis 2."

"That is why I think the conclave will be very short, two or three days," he added.

AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez ahead of a meeting at the Vatican on April 28. Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez ahead of a meeting at the Vatican on April 28.

Related: What Is a 'Conclave' and How Does It Work? An Expert Demystifies the 'Secret' Process That Decides the Next Pope (Exclusive)

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Although Chavez won't be voting, he has been at the Vatican this past week as cardinals from all over the world begin to meet each other in Rome to discuss candidates before they are sequestered.

The conclave also consists of general congregations, nationally recognized Pope Francis expert Kathleen Sprows Cummings previously told PEOPLE, and these engage all cardinals, not just voting ones, in discussion about the church's needs.

Following each vote, Cummings said, smoke is sent up the Sistine Chapel's chimney. If the smoke is black, that means the cardinals are still deliberating. But if it's white, "We have a new pope," Cummings said.

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.

The College of Cardinals  including 108 Cardinals appointed by Francis and 10 Americans  are set to converge on May 7 for the election process.

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"The conclave will take place in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days," according to the Vatican.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26.

Related: Who Will Be the Next Pope? Experts Say 'Anything Can Happen' (Exclusive)

The conclave comes just over two weeks after Francis died of a stroke on Monday, April 21.

In the hours after Francis died, observers and news outlets began publishing lists of the men who are seen as top contenders, including Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and France's Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline.

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However, as one expert previously told PEOPLE, it's nearly impossible to predict who will actually become pope.

"One of the things that makes this particular conclave so hard to handicap, I think, is that Pope Francis has named 80% of the voting cardinals, and they are from all over the world," said Bill Cavanaugh, an American Catholic theologian and professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University.

"They don't know each other. Most of them have not worked in Rome together. And so it makes it really hard to say who's going to come out on top," he continued. "I really haven't seen any plausible explanations for why certain candidates are the front runners and others aren't."



He added, "Anybody is going to be unexpected at this point, in some ways."



Read the original article on People
KINSHASA (Reuters) -Democratic Republic of Congo said on Friday it had become the latest African country to grant a licence to tech billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink and that the company would begin operations soon.

A unit of SpaceX, the satellite internet provider is rapidly expanding its services on the continent and is live in more than a dozen countries. It was granted licences by Somalia and Lesotho in April.

War-torn Congo has low connectivity, with just around 30% of the population using the internet as of 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union.

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The government had previously resisted allowing access to Starlink, with military officials warning it could be used by rebel groups including Rwandan-backed M23, which has seized more territory than ever before in the east of the country this year.

In March 2024, the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said use of Starlink was banned and violators would face sanctions.

The same entity announced on Friday that the company had been given a licence and "will proceed with the launch of its services in the coming days."

An official at the authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Starlink is also trying to establish a presence in neighbouring Uganda. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Tuesday that he had a productive meeting with Starlink representatives.

(Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Lake Powell and the Wahweap Marina are pictured near Page, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch

The U.S. House of Representatives took the initial step on Tuesday to revoke a National Park Service rule that put restrictions on motorized vehicles in sections of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Its the latest in nearly two decades of controversy and legal challenges involving off-roaders, environmental groups and the National Park Service in the 1.25-million acre recreation area that encompasses Lake Powell.

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Sponsored by Utah Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy, the resolution would overturn a National Park Service rule finalized earlier this year that restricts off-highway vehicles, like dirtbikes or ATVs, from driving on a handful of roads in Glen Canyon.

Its a simple resolution, stating that the rule shall have no force or effect. It invokes the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to review and overturn federal rules.

The resolution cleared the House on April 29. It will still require approval from the Senate.

The rule only covers about 25 roads that amount to 26 miles inside the recreation area, according to Maloys office, which is roughly 6% of all the roads inside Glen Canyons borders. And those roads would still be accessible by conventional vehicles, like trucks, SUVs or Jeeps  just ATVs, side-by-sides, dirtbikes and other off-highway vehicles would be restricted.

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Environmental groups say the rule is so niche that its a waste of Congress time. Plus, the small region covered by the rule is the recreation areas most remote and pristine, and opening them up to smaller, more advanced vehicles risks further damage to the environment.

Theyre just closed to vehicles that have the ability to travel off road and cause severe damage, said Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, during the House floor debate on Tuesday.

But Maloy, along with motorized recreation advocates, say those roads allow for greater access to adjacent federally-controlled public land. The federal government didnt consult the state or locals before finalizing the rule, she said  and even though the scope of the rule is small, Maloy argued it could hurt local economies.

Ive spent a lot of time on the ground in these areas with local elected officials, she said Tuesday. This goes in the wrong direction. Wayne and Garfield counties are counties that struggle in a state that otherwise thrives.

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Formed in 1972, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a stretch of public land managed by the National Park Service that spills over into northern Arizona and borders multiple national parks and monuments, including Bears Ears, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands. The region sees millions of visitors each year, often drawn to Lake Powell, the countrys second-largest reservoir. In 2025, the National Park Service recorded more than 4.7 million recreation visits to Glen Canyon.

For years, controversy has simmered in Glen Canyon over motorized access. In 2005, environmental groups sued the National Parks Service over its loose regulation of off-road vehicles. The service settled in 2008 and agreed to develop an off-road vehicle management plan.

In 2021, the park service, under the first Trump administration, released a new plan opening up much of the recreation area to all kinds of motorized use. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance sued two years later, arguing the administrations plan failed to take all of the environmental impacts into consideration  the National Park Service again settled, agreeing to close the Lake Powell shoreline to motorized use, unless water levels were sustainable and put restrictions on ATV and side-by-side use in certain areas.

That rule was finalized in January, affecting a small portion of the recreation area. It would prevent off-road vehicles and ATVs on segments of the Poison Spring Loop and a section of the Flint Trail, remote and challenging, yet popular, motorized routes in the recreation area. About 4,930 acres of shoreline were also covered.

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Hanna Larsen, a staff attorney for the alliance, accused the House of undermining the park service and bowing to extreme motorized recreation in some of the most remote and wild parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Rather than protect Americas crown jewels, the House has made it much more likely that treasured places such as the Orange Cliffs, Gunsight Butte, and Canyonlands National Parks Maze District will be permanently impaired by noisy, destructive off-highway vehicles, Larsen said in a statement.

Proponents of the resolution include local politicians and motorized advocacy groups like the Blue Ribbon Coalition, which appealed the rule. On Tuesday, the coalitions executive director Ben Burr said the vote represents a grand reopening of our public lands.

The trails in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area that were closed through a questionable legal settlement provide unique recreation access to the Poison Spring trails and to Lake Powell, he said. We look forward to the Senate passing its version of this resolution, so that the American people can continue enjoying these trails for generations to come.

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Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com.

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By passing lend-lease legislation for Ukraine and authorizing secondary sanctions on those who help Russia evade existing oil, gas, and financial sanctions, Congress can give President Trump a strong hand to play in future talks aimed at convincing Putin to end the war.

Over 100 days have passed since President Trump took office and urged Vladimir Putin to end his war on Ukraine. "We can do it the easy way, or the hard way - and the easy way is always better," he wrote on Jan. 21 on X. Since then, Trump has given Putin every possible opportunity and inducement to stop the fighting, yet Putin has refused "the easy way."

Trump has at times been frustrated with Ukrainian President Zelensky and has applied significant pressure on Ukraine, for example, by cutting off U.S. military supplies and intelligence support for 11 days. It now seems clear, however, that the United States and Ukraine are aligned when it comes to supporting a full and immediate ceasefire, a 30-day ceasefire as a stepping-stone toward that, and a minerals deal that will assure that Ukraine will pay its own way for support going forward, rather than relying on U.S. taxpayers.

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By contrast, Putin has flatly rejected Trumps calls for a ceasefire, saying "yes, but" in any number of ways. Indeed, he has increased his preconditions for agreeing to a ceasefire and escalated his attacks on Ukrainian civilians at the same time.

Putin has chosen "the hard way." In some cases, Putins refusal has seemed to mock Trump intentionally. For example, Russian forces attacked civilian worshippers in Sumy, Ukraine, on Palm Sunday within hours of Putins meeting with Trumps Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg. Putin explicitly rejected Ukraines offer of a 30-day ceasefire and then offered a 30-hour ceasefire instead (and did not implement even that).

Clearly frustrated after one of Putins many recent bombings of Kyiv, Trump again threatened secondary sanctions and warned Putin, "Vladimir, STOP!" But Putin has not stopped. Why? Because he feels no pressure.

Given all the carrots he has been offered by Washington and the sticks he has seen deployed on Kyiv, Putin probably feels more comfortable in continuing the war than he did on Jan. 21. He still believes he can gain all of Ukraine if he out-waits the West. This illusion must be shattered.

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Here is where Congress can play a critical role. Congress can put in place authorizations and funding mechanisms that will demonstrate to Putin that the United States, along with its European allies, has the political, legal, and financial backing already in place to ensure that the costs to Russia of continuing this war will be unacceptable to Russia. If Putin continues to ignore Trumps calls for peace, Trump will already have Congressional backing to act.

Two steps are key:

First, Congress must pass a modern Lend-Lease Act that enables Ukraine to borrow directly from the U.S. government to purchase American arms and ammunition, collateralized by the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, so it counts as a loan, not an appropriation. No dollars would leave the United States - they would all be spent by Ukraine in the U.S. The U.S. provided such lend-lease support for the United Kingdom in World War II and should do so for Ukraine now. This would allow Trump to keep his commitment that no more taxpayer dollars should go to Ukraine, while creating a pathway for military support to Ukraine to continue on a sustainable, "paid-for" basis.

Second, Congress should authorize the application of secondary sanctions on Russias oil and gas exports, including vessels that carry those shipments and the financial institutions that enable them. While the West has imposed significant sanctions already, too many loopholes remain, and enforcement has been lax. Moscow continues to generate significant revenue through third-party intermediaries and shadow fleets that evade enforcement. These energy profits are the principal source of revenue that fuels Russias war on Ukraine, and we can do far more to shut it down.

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Such congressional authorizations would not necessarily take effect overnight: Rather, they would give a pathway for President Trump to accept such measures being imposed, or instead to waive them (in full or in part) for "national security reasons," if Putin actually changes his position and accepts a ceasefire. Such measures would therefore strengthen President Trumps hand as he deals with Putin.

Together, these two actions - modern Lend-Lease and secondary sanctions - send a decisive message to Moscow: Continuing this war will carry unbearable costs. Putin must understand that stalling for time, ignoring ceasefire overtures, and waiting for political division in the West will not work. If anything, the opposite is true: The longer he refuses to negotiate in good faith, the more painful his position will become.

It is time to recognize that, despite Trumps best efforts thus far, Putin has rejected peace. After 100+ days, as President Trump himself said, it is time to try another approach. If Congress were to approve measures such as these, it would give a real seriousness and depth to Trumps efforts to get Putin to agree to a ceasefire. If Putin continues to stall, Trump could simply let these measures take effect. But if Putin actually agrees to a full, immediate, and lasting ceasefire, Trump will have achieved his goal. The policy lead is still Trumps, but Congress can make his position far more formidable.

Kurt Volker is a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations. He is a distinguished fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and a member of the BGR Group Advisory Board. The views expressed are solely his own.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Congressman Tim Moore discussed happenings in Washington and ongoing efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Helene during a roundtable with county sheriffs Friday morning.

He also touched on cooperation between sheriffs and ICE officials when carrying out deportation operations.

ICE cooperation bill passes NC House amid pushback from Mecklenburg County sheriff

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I think everything is going well there, so I certainly hope there are some good conversations going, said Moore.

But Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, whose jurisdiction includes part of Moores district, remains at odds with ICE officials. McFadden was unable to attend Fridays roundtable, but has told Queen City News in the past that ICE is asking for him to hand over inmates without producing the proper federal charging documents. McFadden insisted he risks a lawsuit without requiring those documents.

Simply what Im saying is I dont want to get into that gray area to do a favor and then be coming to a legal battle, he told Queen City News on Monday.

Moore claimed he was unaware of any ongoing disagreement, arguing most in law enforcement see the value of cooperating with ICE.

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I think some folks who in the past maybe even had issues with it have realized, theyve seen themselves the increased crime, the increased violence, the human trafficking that happens, the amount of drugs that have come across this border, said Moore.

North Carolina state lawmakers advanced a bill this week that would further compel sheriffs to cooperate. McFadden said in a statement that the bill, HB 318, does not solve the legal dilemma he is facing.

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MYSTIC, Conn. (WTNH)  Travel and Leisure Friday named two of Connecticuts coastal towns to its list of best laid-back beach towns in the Northeast.

The travel magazine acknowledged popular destinations like Nantucket and the Hamptons draw crowds in the summer, making enjoying what they have to offer a little harder.

2 Connecticut colleges named most beautiful in the country by Conde Nast

We found the 10 best Northeast beach towns that offer the same quintessential East Coast charm and fewer people to bump into while chowing down on your lobster roll or enjoying those Atlantic waves, Travel and Leisure writer Kira Turnbull said.

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The two Connecticut towns to make the list are Madison and Mystic.

The magazine said Madison is picture-perfect with idyllic scenery, trendy shops, and great restaurants entirely under wraps.

This is the wealthiest resident in Connecticut, new Forbes report shows

Madison is also home to Hammonasset Beach State Park, the states biggest beach with about two miles of sandy shores on the Long Island Sound.

The magazine described Mystic as a beach-adjacent foodie destination, which they said gained recognition for being home to the real Mystic Pizza, a restaurant that inspired the 1988 film starring Julia Roberts.

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Mystic offers downtown shops and restaurants with views of the Mystic River.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former WHIO-TV reporter Connie (Lockwood) Holston, of Xenia, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, at a senior living facility in Xenia. She was 79.

Connie was WHIO-TVs first female reporter and worked from 1970 through 1980.

She graduated from Greenview High School and attended The Ohio State University.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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After working for WHIO-TV, she went on to work for television stations in Florida, California, and Maine. After her broadcast career ended, she taught at Wright State University and wrote professionally elementary curriculum and poetry.

Services for Connie will be held on Tuesday, May 6, in Bowersville.

To read her obituary, click here.

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UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani envoy to the United Nations said on Friday that his country "does not seek escalation," a position he said has been made clear by the political leadership and at all levels.

Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Pakistan has briefed the UN secretary-general, the General Assembly president and the Security Council of the latest developments, and has shared its position and concerns with various other international partners.

While underlining that Pakistan does not seek escalation, the ambassador said, "At the same time, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Ahmad said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "Nothing justifies targeting of innocent civilians."

He noted that Pakistan desires for good neighborly, peaceful and cooperative relations with all its neighbors, including India, and advocates for a relationship grounded in mutual respect, sovereign equality, peaceful co-existence and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes.

Noting that the situation unfolding in the region poses a serious threat to international peace and security, he said Pakistan has urged immediate de-escalation. "Escalatory rhetoric and unilateral actions are counter-productive."

The ambassador hailed the efforts that have been undertaken by the UN secretary-general and others calling for cooperation, dialogue and de-escalation, saying that these efforts and outreach should continue and merit further intensification, to prevent escalation and conflict.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22. 
Elon Musk's X has sued Minnesota over its deepfake law, citing free speech violations.

Legal experts say the case raises real constitutional red flags about the law.

The law could be struck down in court as a result, they predict.

Elon Musk's social media site X is suing Minnesota over a state law that criminalizes the use of AI-generated deepfakes to influence an election  and legal experts say the case raises constitutional red flags about the statute.

X Corp. argues in its lawsuit against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that the 2023 deepfake law violates its and other social media platforms' free speech rights under the First Amendment.

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The lawsuit, filed last month in Minnesota federal court, also says that the state law "directly contravenes" a 1996 federal law known as Section 230, which protects tech giants like X from civil liability related to the content posted by their users.

First Amendment and tech policy experts told Business Insider that the Minnesota law has major constitutional issues, with some predicting that the statute will ultimately be overturned in court.

The lawsuit makes a 'strong' case

"I'm not generally in the business of agreeing with Elon Musk, but when the argument is a good one, the argument is a good one, and I think the argument in this lawsuit is quite strong," said Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor.

The deepfake law, Rozenshtein said, is "very likely to get struck down on both constitutional and statutory grounds."

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Rozenshtein and other legal experts pointed out that political speech is the most protected form of speech and that lying is generally protected under the First Amendment.

"The government is not free to punish speech solely because it is false for the simple reason that a critical purpose of the First Amendment is to prevent the government from picking winners and losers, or truth and falsehoods, when it comes to speech," said Colorado attorney J. Kirk McGill of the firm Hall Estill.

A deepfake video, McGill said, is "at its core, simply a lie" that falsely attributes words or actions to someone.

David Loy, the legal director of the First Amendment Coalition nonprofit, added that it's "not the business of the government to use the force of law to punish speech on the ground that the government thinks is true or false."

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Loy said the Minnesota deepfake law has "significant First Amendment problems" and is similar to a 2024 California law, which his organization opposed in the legislature and was ultimately halted by a federal judge.

The Minnesota law makes it a crime for a person to knowingly disseminate a deepfake or enter into a contract or other agreement to disseminate a deepfake "made with the intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election" within 90 days before an election.

X's lawsuit  which is seeking to block the law  says that under the statute, social media platforms that keep up content "presenting a close call" run the risk of criminal liability, "but there is no penalty for erring on the side of too much censorship."

"This system will inevitably result in the censorship of wide swaths of valuable political speech and commentary," X argues in the lawsuit.

X's lawsuit cited this deepfake as an example. US District Court for the District of Minnesota

The lawsuit highlighted how, in March 2023, an X user posted AI images depicting police arresting President Donald Trump.

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"Thus, a social media company, like X Corp., could be accused of violating the statute  and potentially be subjected to criminal liability  for merely having these pictures displayed on its platform within the time periods set forth" under the law, the lawsuit says.

Eugene Volokh, a First Amendment scholar, said it's most likely that X's lawsuit will lead to the law being blocked for social media companies on the grounds of Section 230.

X would have a "solid defense" under Section 230 to any prosecution under the statute, said Volokh, a professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"A decision whether the statute would violate the First Amendment would therefore, I expect, have to await cases where people sue over their own rights to post such material," Volokh said.

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A Republican Minnesota legislator and a content creator have already challenged the deepfake law, but a judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction, and they've appealed the decision.

"While the law's reference to banning 'deep fakes' might sound benign, in reality it would criminalize innocuous, election-related speech, including humor, and make social media platforms criminally liable for not censoring such speech," X said in a recent statement. "Instead of defending democracy, this law would erode it."

A Minnesota attorney general spokesperson told BI the office is "reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in the appropriate time and manner.

Minnesota Democratic state Sen. Erin Maye Quade, who authored the law, called the lawsuit "misguided" as she took a shot at Musk.

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"Elon Musk funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2024 presidential election and tried to buy a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat," Quade said in a statement.

"Of course he is upset that Minnesota law prevents him from spreading deepfakes that meant to harm candidates and influence elections," she said. "Minnesota's law is clear and precise, while this lawsuit is petty, misguided and a waste of the Attorney General Office's time and resources."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A rendering shows the design of the new Western State Hospital, set to be completed between 2027 and 2029. (Image courtesy of HOK Architecture)

Construction is ramping up at a new state psychiatric hospital as Washington works to meet continued demand for treatment of people accused of crimes.

The state broke ground in October on the new 350-bed facility at Western State Hospital in Pierce County. Work began in December, but picked up last month and passersby will start to see the building develop in June, said state Department of Social and Health Services spokesperson Jessica Nelson.

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For years, the Department of Social and Health Services has been under court oversight to improve unconstitutionally long wait times for mental health treatment and evaluations for criminal defendants who are incompetent to stand trial. The new hospital is key to complying with a court-ordered settlement in the case known as Trueblood.

Washington is required to conduct an evaluation within 14 days and offer inpatient competency restoration treatment within seven days. The state has long struggled to meet those guidelines and has paid hundreds of millions in fines as a result.

At the groundbreaking for the new hospital in October, then-Gov. Jay Inslee noted the rise in need for these services over the past few years.

This exponential growth was not sustainable unless we really put pedal to the metal on our building programs with what were doing today, Inslee said. So we have invested tremendous resources to respond to this tremendous challenge.

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In February, the most recent month for which comprehensive state data is available, the average wait time for a jail-based evaluation was about 11 days. Inpatient evaluations took five to six days. Admissions for treatment took nearly seven days at Eastern State Hospital, near Spokane, and less than six days at Western State. In years past, this could take over a year.

The new Western State Hospital will be the latest addition to the states bed capacity.

In 2023, the state acquired and opened a psychiatric hospital in Tukwila for patients under civil commitments, freeing up space for criminal defendants at Western State.

Last year, the state added another 86 beds at Eastern and Western State hospitals.

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In their capital budget passed last weekend, state lawmakers included $282 million for the final phase of construction at the new hospital. The budget now sits on Gov. Bob Fergusons desk.

The hospital is aiming to help shift the focus at Western State more toward people entangled in the criminal justice system who need treatment and away from civil patients. Under that system, civil commitments would transfer to community-based facilities to get help.

Construction is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2029.

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In my family, voting isnt just a right  its a lifeline.

My parents were sharecroppers in Arkansas until 1951, when my dad dared stand up to his boss for not paying him a fair wage at the agricultural weigh station. Under threat from the KKK, he left town in a wagon, covered in hay so he wouldnt be discovered. Three months later  after months of threats of violence from the Klan at our home  the rest of our family rode in that same wagon on our way to join him in California.

Only when we settled in Los Angeles were my parents able to register to vote, finally free from fear of the violent and deadly retribution that such a simple act would trigger across the Jim Crow South.

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My familys lived experience facing discrimination and the vigilantes of the South cannot be forgotten, especially now as Congress considers the SAVE Act. The House recently approved the SAVE Act under the guise that it will prevent illegal voting  an issue that is infinitesimally rare but buoyed by baseless narratives.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the acts true effect would be to disenfranchise millions of voters across the country and in California.

Americans must not be fooled by fearmongering and misleading rhetoric. The SAVE Act has one true intent: to silence millions of eligible voters. This effort intentionally targets unserved and underserved populations, anyone who has changed their last name and those serving in our armed forces, to name a few groups who would be affected. This proposal is both undemocratic and unconstitutional.

It will not stop there. The bill will serve as a catalyst to unravel decades of hard-fought constitutional rights. You dont have to be born in the Deep South to know this is Jim Crow 2.0.

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Some of our federal lawmakers are trying to steal our right to vote under the guise of phony election claims. Let me be clear: Voter fraud is virtually nonexistent.

According to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative organization, only 12 voter fraud cases have been prosecuted in California since 2021  an infinitesimal fraction of millions of ballots cast. National studies confirm voter impersonation is exceedingly rare , with most claims rooted in clerical errors rather than deceit. Even if you believed illegal voting to be a problem in need of a solution, the SAVE Act is like swatting at a mosquito with a sledgehammer  unlikely to be effective against the target, and likely to cause a lot of collateral damage.

No matter which state new voters are registering in, they must attest to their U.S. citizenship when they register. And every state conducts voter list maintenance to identify potentially ineligible voters on the rolls. States already ensure the vote is safe without disenfranchising vulnerable groups.

By adding unnecessary and burdensome documentation requirements, the SAVE Act would keep millions of Americans from participating in elections. Thats the point. Certain lawmakers want millions of citizens to decide voting is not worth the trouble. The fewer people who vote, the more some candidates will benefit.

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This legislation would either directly affect you, somebody you know or both. Those most affected include:



Newly married or divorced individuals and others navigating name changes.

Military families stationed far from home.

College students studying across state lines.

Disaster survivors  including the tens of thousands of people displaced just this year by California wildfires  without vital documents.

The SAVE Act, by design, places incredible burdens on millions of people who are already eligible to vote. And if they decide to try to re-register for voting, theyll face a Herculean task. State offices around the country will be flooded by millions of people seeking documentation of their citizenship.

Many older people might not be able to stand in line for hours. Citizens with disabilities may be effectively barred from acquiring documentation.

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If you have a current passport, you might be in luck  but roughly 140 million Americans dont have one. And your California drivers license or RealID wont work; neither qualifies as proof of citizenship.

Even before the SAVE Act landed in the Senate, California was fighting back against another push to take away constitutional rights. On March 25, President Trump issued an executive order that requires citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship on the federal mail voter registration form. I have partnered with California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to lead a lawsuit, along with Nevada, against the unconstitutional and unlawful executive order. Seventeen other state attorneys general have joined our fight.

Throughout our nation's history, voting rights have been systematically curtailed to silence voices the powerful dont want to hear from. From poll taxes abolished by the 24th Amendment in 1964 to barriers dismantled by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, every step forward has been a fight against deliberate disenfranchisement.

Nobody can make a serious argument that the SAVE Act actually encourages people to vote, or even ensures eligible people can exercise their right to participate in our democracy. Its meant to keep people away from voting. It's an old story. Just ask my family about living in the South.

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Some lawmakers seem conveniently unconcerned about the constitutional rights of minorities, members of our military, women, and poor or rural citizens.

The Senate needs to stop this nonsense in its tracks. You can help. Contact your U.S. senators today and urge them to oppose the SAVE Act. Educate your friends, family and community about the true intentions of this bill. Participate in local voter registration drives and support organizations fighting voter suppression. Your voice matters. Use it to defend democracy.

Shirley N. Weber, the secretary of state of California, oversees all federal and state elections in the state.

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 Clayton County Sheriff is taking action against four officers after a mix-up led to a lockdown inside the jail after they couldnt find a convicted murderer for hours.

There was a mix-up of who was going to take the inmate down, and ultimately, he was left inside the holding cell, Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen said.

Allen told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that for about 12 hours last month, a convicted killer was missing inside the Clayton County Jail.

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There was a jail lockdown, Allen said.

It was eventually discovered he had mistakenly been left overnight in a courtroom holding cell where no one is supposed to spend the night after an appearance on a misdemeanor case, which was basically dismissed in state court.

Various courts go down at different times, but ultimately, the last person will leave the courts around 6 p.m.? Winne asked Allen.

Correct, Allen said.

He was discovered in the holding cell? Winne asked Allen.

Around 7 a.m. the next day, so its roughly around 12, 13 hours, Allen said.

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Now the sheriff said hes taking action, proposing demotions for two correctional sergeants in the jail and suspensions for two deputies assigned to the court division.

He said all four are entitled to a hearing before any discipline is finalized.

The sheriff said the courtroom holding cells have sinks, toilets, and benches, but no beds and no supervision unless the court is in session, is about to start, or has just ended.

There is no one actually monitoring that particular cell if there was a distress call, Allen said.

A sheriffs office official said Julian Brooks Deloach was convicted of murder in 1984. In 2010, he was released on parole, which was eventually revoked.

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While he was free, he caught the misdemeanor family violence case that a judge nolle prossed -- similar to a dismissal -- in Clayton County this month while he was on loan from state prison.

The sheriff said perhaps the biggest problem is that overnight, a convicted murderer was unaccounted for.

He said a jail head count revealed Deloach wasnt where he was supposed to be, though it turned out he was never in danger of escape because in Clayton County, the courthouse is attached to the jail.

The court holding cells are still within the secured part of the justice complex.

But the episode caused the entire jail to be locked down for hours while a search inside the jail took place.

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They searched every cell, every area of the jail, searching for him. Ultimately, by the time we reviewed cameras and backtracked and took us back into the courtroom where he was at, ultimately, of course, hours had passed, Allen said.

Allen told Winne that there are more than 500 employees at the sheriffs office, about 2,000 inmates at the jail, and hes been in the process of weeding out bad employees or saving the officers who can be retrained.

He estimates hes terminated more than 100 people, and more than a dozen have been arrested. He said its about learning from mistakes and getting better.

Right after this story aired on Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m., Allen called Winne and indicated that three of the officers had waived their hearings and accepted their discipline
By Virginia Furness and Karin Strohecker

LONDON (Reuters) -Azerbaijan, host of last year's United Nations climate summit, will deliver its overdue climate action plan by September, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev told Reuters on Thursday, adding the oil-producing country was advancing its green energy transition,

Azerbaijan had said it would use its presidency of the annual U.N. talks to lead by example and persuade countries to submit national climate plans aligned with the U.N. goal to try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit)above pre-industrial levels.

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The Paris Agreement requires all countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions, or climate action plans, that describe policies or decisions to cut emissions, and update them every few years.

But only a handful of countries submitted plans by the original February deadline and Azerbaijan was among those who failed to do so, prompting the U.N. to extend the deadline to September.

"It is very easy to declare something," Babayev said, noting that countries may have delayed submission of their NDCs due to the need for more preparation into developing their programmes.

He said Azerbaijan was developing a comprehensive programme on a transition to a lower carbon economy and would submit its plan by September.

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Campaigners are concerned global efforts to tackle climate change are losing momentum after the United States, historically the biggest producer of greenhouse gases, under President Donald Trump has withdrawn from the United Nations' efforts and big business has abandoned sustainability goals.

Babayev said Azerbaijan was working towards a goal to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and planned to increase its solar capacity, as well as seeking to export offshore wind from the Caspian Sea to EU customers.

"For us, it's so important to demonstrate how the country with a big oil and gas history (has) now turned the economy to the green energy direction," he said.

Only 19 countries have submitted new Nationally Determined Contributions, according to tracker Climate Watch.

Azerbaijan this year hands the presidency of the U.N. talks to Brazil, which will host COP30 in November.

(Reporting by Virginia Furness; Editing by Rachna Uppal and Barbara Lewis)
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Marine archaeologists have discovered that two shipwrecks in Costa Rica are the remains of Danish slave ships missing for centuries  a finding that restores the ancestral lineage of an entire Costa Rican community more than 300 years after the vessels occupants reached its shores.

The wrecks had long been known to sit in shallow waters off Cahuita National Park, on Costa Ricas southern Caribbean coast, according to the National Museum of Denmark.

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However, for years, they were believed to be pirate ships, the museum said in a news release.

Fisherpeople who established themselves in the area in 1826 thought this because the ships remains were dispersed and broken. They believed the two ships might have been engaged in a fight and capsized, Maria Suarez Toro, founder of the local community initiative Ambassadors of the Sea Community Diving Center, told CNN Friday.

The ships identities were only called into question in 2015, when American marine archaeologists found yellow bricks in one of the wrecks.

Seen here is an excavated hole with visible bricks and wood from the shipwreck. - John Fhr Engedal Nissen/The National Museum of Denmark

This discovery was significant because yellow bricks were produced in the German town of Flensburg in the 18th and 19th centuries for use in Denmark and its colonies. They were not in fashion in other European countries at the time, according to the museum.

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Historical sources had recorded that two Danish slave vessels were shipwrecked off the coast of Central America in 1710: The Fridericus Quartus was set on fire, while the anchor rope of the Christianus Quintus was cut and the ship was swept away.

But the location of the wrecks was not known  until now.

Marine archaeologists from the National Museum and Denmarks Viking Ship Museum carried out an underwater excavation of the Costa Rica wrecks in 2023, taking wood from one, as well as samples of bricks, and finding several clay pipes.

Researchers at the National Museum and the University of Southern Denmark then carried out scientific analyses that confirmed the historical accounts, the museum noted.

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Tree-ring dating revealed that oak wood from one of the wrecks originated from the western part of the Baltic Sea, which encompasses Denmark, northeastern Germany and southern Sweden. The wood was from a tree cut down between 1690 and 1695, according to the museum.

The yellow bricks were measured and found to be the same size as the ones made in Flensburg for the Danish.

The clay used in the bricks was found to be from southern Denmark, either from the small town of Egernsund or from Iller Strand, both of which had large brick-making industries in the 18th century.

The clay pipes were also revealed to be Danish, with their size, shape and designs indicating that they were made just before 1710, when the ships were wrecked.

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The analyses are very convincing and we no longer have any doubts that these are the wrecks of the two Danish slave ships, said marine archaeologist David Gregory, a research professor and head of the new maritime research center, Njord, at the National Museum of Denmark, in the news release.

The bricks are Danish and the same goes for the timbers, which are additionally charred and sooty from a fire. This fits perfectly with the historical accounts stating that one of the ships burnt, he added.

Rebellion and mutiny

Gregory led the excavations alongside marine archaeologist Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch, who is also a curator at the National Museum.

Its been a long process and Ive come close to giving up along the way, but this is undoubtedly the craziest archaeological excavation Ive yet been part of, Bloch said in the news release.

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Not only because it matters greatly to the local population, but also because its one of the most dramatic shipwrecks in the history of Denmark, and now we know exactly where it happened. This provides two pieces that have been missing from the history of Denmark, he added.

Bloch told CNN on Friday that the discovery is significant in part because of the dramatic events involved with (the ships) journey from Copenhagen to West Africa, and from there to the shores of Cahuita in Costa Rica.

A rebellion by the enslaved people, a horrible navigational mistake and a mutiny by crew members when they arrived at Cahuita are among the events documented in the Danish archives, Bloch said.

The rebellion took place aboard the Fridericus Quartus, which was traveling from Ghana to the Dutch colony of St. Thomas. The uproar, combined with the French and English declaring war, influenced the decision by the Dutch to send the ship with a partner vessel, Toro said.

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There were 800 people across the two ships, which got lost because of smog, she said. Instead of going north of a light they saw, which might have been Barbados, they went south, ending up at Costa Rica on March 2.

Fear of pirates and the natives led to two days of arguments between the captains over whether they should go onto the shore to look for food and water. This led to a mutiny among the sailors and the enslaved people  after which around 650 people remained.

Rewriting Afro-Costa Rican history

The most dramatic part is the lives that changed due to this event. More than 600 Africans were left on the beach, in what today is Cahuita National Park, Bloch said.

The discovery is significant for Danish history, and the fact that we can tie our history to Costa Rica. But it is even more significant for the local population in Costa Rica as it has a direct meaning for the identity of the local people, he added.

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The effort to unravel the identity of the ships and connect it to the identity of the community has been a decade-long project stewarded by a group of youth scuba divers of African and Indigenous origins, said Toro, adding that they feel pride because they have found their roots.

The discovery changes also the story about this region, she said, adding that it proves Afro-Costa Ricans were in the province of Limon a hundred years before it was registered in official history.

The endeavor by the community and the scientists to identify the sunken slave ships appeared in the 2020 television documentary series Enslaved, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson.

Celia Ortiz, from the Costa Rican city of Cartago, said her 103-year-old mother is a descendant of Miguel Maroto, one of the enslaved men who disembarked from one of the ships, according to Ambassadors of the Sea. Ortiz said finding her ancestry even late in her mothers life brought new light to our lives.

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Black bear sightings might be more common in Iowa. (Photo of black bears in North Carolina by NC Garry Tucker/ USFWS)

Several black bears spent the winter tucked into dens in northeastern Iowa, which wildlife experts say is a step up the ladder toward an established breeding population of bears in the state.

Black bear sightings in the region have been fairly regular over the past decade or so, but with the prospect of more bear sightings to come, Vince Evelsizer with Iowa Department of Natural Resources said he wants to make sure Iowans get off on the right start.

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That starts with all of us having a better understanding of bears, and what motivates them, Evelsizer said.

DNR met with police departments, sheriffs offices, conservation boards and other officials in northeastern counties, to help prepare them in the event of a bear-related call.

Evelsizer said this type of education around bears will lead to a better understanding of how to deal with bears, for the sake of the bear and for human safety sake.

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The department has also partnered with the organization BearWise, to provide messaging on how to live with bears. Bear Wise, which was developed by state agency bear biologists, has basic tips for residential and outdoor bear interactions.

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People in residential areas in bear country can do things like take down bird feeders, secure any food left outside, including pet food and garbage, and clean their outdoor grills when bears are active, from spring through fall.

Bears have incredibly strong senses of smell and can smell a tasty snack from more than a mile away, according to BearWise.

Loud noises and big arm movements are the best way to scare a black bear away if it turns up in a yard or across a hiking trail.

Black bear attacks are extremely rare according to BearWise, but Evelsizer said its best to give black bears space.

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Over the years, he said the department has reported a handful of instances of bears hit by cars or shot in the state.

There are no legal protections for bears in Iowa, though a bill was introduced in the House this year to create a program for hunting and trapping black bears, and establish penalties for the unlawful taking of a bear.

It is up to the people of Iowa to decide if they would like to see protection (for the bears) or not, Evelsizer said.

A natural resurgence

Black bears, which can be cinnamon, brown, blonde or black in color, were once common across all of North America. European settlement in the country eliminated much of the population, and drove the bears to more remote areas, away from human settlements.

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Gradually, however, the populations have come back. Iowas neighbors to the north, Minnesota and Wisconsin, are now home to an estimated 16,000 and 24,000 black bears, respectively.

Bear fact: Bears are not considered true hibernators because their body temperature only drops about 12 degrees during their winter slumbers, according to BearWise. During the 4-6 months the bears spend snuggled in a den, they do not eat, drink or go to the bathroom. The National Park Service reports that during a bears torpor, they can still wake suddenly if they sense danger.

Evelsizer said the bears began to reside in the driftless region of the two states, which is why some have wandered into Iowa.

Its interesting that this is actually going on in our modern world, Evelsizer said. After so many years  the book is still being written.

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Black bear visits in past years have mostly consisted of males crossing over during mating season and then looping back up to Wisconsin or Minnesota. Evelsizer said the handful of black bears that stuck around this year through Iowas winter have already emerged from their winter torpor.

Evelsizer said overwintering females would be the next step toward an established breeding population in Iowa.

Iowa is still dealing with individual bears at this point, with an average of about five bear sightings a year and eight sightings last year.

My hunch is that theyre more adaptive than we think, and that we may see more than we thought we ever would, Evelsizer said.

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At least one Republican is thinking about the millions of Americans that depend on Medicaid.

Representative David Valadao, a California dairy farmer, represents more Medicaid recipients in his district than anyone else in his party. He also appears to be one of the few Republicans working overtime to keep the fallout of his partys Medicaid slashing spree to a minimum.

Valadao has spent weeks coordinating group chats with other concerned conservatives and lobbying leadership over the proposed cuts. He also led a letter protest signed by a dozen vulnerable Republicans opposing the bill, all in hope of steering the partys cart in a different direction from the steep cuts.

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Hes got a very good sense of what Americans need out of their health care. I appreciate his leadership, New York Representative Nick LaLota, another vulnerable Republican, told Politico Friday. The two, according to LaLota, are in constant communication. Hes been clear in his communications: We shouldnt be throwing people off Medicaid who are designed to be on the program.

Pennsylvania Representative Rob Bresnahan, who similarly has a lot of Medicaid recipients in his district, described Valadao as a total pillar of the internal Medicaid debate. Hes someone I immediately gravitated to, Bresnahan told Politico. Just a great sounding board.

Republicans have spent months attempting to pencil out a $880 billion cut to the program in order to extend Trumps 2017 tax cuts for corporations and billionaires in an effort to make the tax cuts estimated $6.8 trillion deficit hike more palatable to their base.

But Valadao, for his part, knows that his political future depends on keeping his constituents happy. The lawmaker was one of many House Republicans to lose his job in 2018 after he voted to repeal the Affordable Care Acta failed effort that would have stripped health insurance from millions of Americans.

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By 2020, Valadao was back in office with a better grip on the stakes of the job. But this time around, Valadao and his cohort are already facing aggressive counter campaigns, featuring provocative TV ads and town hills that oppose the Republican-led cuts.

Were going through this partisan exercise to do what is supposed to be a tax bill, and its becoming a health care bill, which is what were trying to avoid, on an issue that desperately needs reform to make it better, Valadao told Politico.

One much-discussed solution to square the Medicaid cuts is to make the program more exclusive by way of adding returning work requirements, which House Speaker Mike Johnson said in April would encourage young men to be at work instead of playing video games all day.

Republican proposals to introduce a work requirement to Medicaid have thus far asked recipients to navigate work-reporting and verification systems on a monthly basisa detail that would require significant federal funding. The plans would also negate coverage for individuals who find themselves temporarily unemployed, such as those who were recently fired or laid off.

A February report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that introducing work requirements to the insurance program could strip upwards of 36 million Americans of their health coveragehalf of Medicaids 72 million enrollees.
Our solar system may have a ninth planet after all, researchers say.

The possibility that an additional planet may be hidden far into the solar system was touted more than a century ago. But astronomers may have found new evidence that points to a celestial body that could be a possible candidate as "Planet Nine," according to a new paper, which has been accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia but not yet peer-reviewed.

MORE: Exoplanet discovered in 2020 has the coldest temperatures ever measured, scientists say

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The hidden candidate is likely the size of Neptune and is so far away that it could take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the sun, according to the paper.

Two deep infrared surveys taken 23 years apart measured the object's orbital motion. In 1983, the Infrared Astronomy Satellite surveyed the universe for a year. In 2006, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the infrared satellite AKARI, which was active until 2011.

Researchers at the University in Taiwan compared objects that were observed in the IRAS database with the data obtained by AKARI to see if there were any movements within that time frame.

PHOTO: Caltech professor Mike Brown and assistant professor Konstanin Batygin have been working together to investigate distant objects in our solar system for more than a year and a half. (Lance Hayashida/Caltech)

The candidate for Planet Nine displayed a tiny amount of movement, which could mean it advanced further in its orbit around the sun.

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Some of the strongest evidence that points to the existence of a planet within the outskirts of the solar system is the activity within the Kuiper Belt, an unusual clustering of icy bodies -- including comets and dwarf planets -- which stretches from Neptune and outward toward interstellar space.

MORE: Several planets found orbiting star less than 6 light-years away

Six known objects in the Kuiper Belt have elliptical orbits pointing in the same direction. In addition, objects from the Kuiper Belt orbit in the opposite direction from everything else in the solar system, according to NASA. This could be the result of a gravitational pull from a nearby planet, the researchers said.

Moreover, the object reflects just a faint amount of sunlight, furthering the likelihood that it is, indeed, a planet, according to the study.

PHOTO: This is a distant view from Planet Nine back towards the sun. (Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC))

The International Astronomical Union downgraded Pluto's classification to a dwarf planet in 2006, mainly because other objects might cross its orbit. Pluto was previously considered to be the ninth planet in our solar system, but the new definition of a planet requires the celestial body to have enough gravity to clear its orbital path from other bodies.

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MORE: Binary star system found near the Milky Way's black hole: An 'amazing' discovery, astrophysicists say

There are currently several lines of observational evidence pointing to the existence of Planet Nine, according to NASA.

The surveys did not provide enough data to determine the full orbit of the planetary candidate, meaning more observations will be needed, the researchers said.

Could our solar system have 9 planets after all? Astronomers may have confirmed possible existence. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
GAZA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Senior Hamas leader Abdul Rahman Shadid confirmed Friday that the movement had presented to mediators a proposal for a comprehensive Gaza peace deal, which includes a five-year truce.

In a press statement, Shadid said the movement had presented a proposal on April 17 calling for a comprehensive agreement that includes a permanent cessation of Israeli "aggression," the complete withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Gaza, the lifting of the Israeli blockade, the entry of aid and relief into Gaza, and the reconstruction of the enclave.

The proposal includes a deal that leads to the release of all hostages in Gaza in one go in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, along with a ceasefire that extends for five years, with regional and international guarantees, and the formation of an independent committee to manage Gaza, Shadid said.

He said the proposed committee to govern post-war Gaza would consist of independent technocrats with full powers and duties, in accordance with the Egyptian proposal for a community support committee, to manage Gaza affairs without direct political interference and to ensure security and services for Palestinians during the critical period.

However, Shadid said the Israeli government "rejected the movement's vision, insisted on dividing the issues, and refused to commit to ending the war, adhering to policies of killing, starvation, and destruction, even at the expense of the lives of its army prisoners held in Gaza."

On Monday, Israel's state-owned broadcaster Kan reported that Israel had "officially rejected" a proposal for a five-year truce with Hamas, under which all Israeli hostages being held in Gaza would have been released.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said defeating Hamas is Israel's main goal and takes precedence over securing the release of the hostages.

Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2 following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The second phase has yet to be implemented due to a lack of consensus between the parties.

On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave. At least 2,326 Palestinians had been killed and 6,050 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, Gaza-based health authorities said on Thursday. 
Amid reports that a U.S. peace proposal might include recognizing Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea, President Donald Trump denied Ukraine was being pressured to accept the move  while also asserting Ukraine had given up the peninsula in 2014 "without firing a shot."

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on April 23.

The claim that Ukraine simply handed over Crimea when Russia illegally annexed the peninsula in February 2014 ignores years of Moscow's military buildup in the region and the volatile political crisis occurring in Ukraine at the time that left Kyiv ill-equipped to mount a defense.

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Russias annexation of Crimea coincided with the Euromaidan Revolution, widely considered the single most consequential political event in Ukraine's independent history that ended with the ousting of then pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Protesters clash with riot police during the EuroMaidan Revolution in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images)

After Yanukovych ordered his security forces to open fire on protestors, killing around 100 people, he fled the country to Russia on Feb. 21, 2014. In the power vacuum left by his departure, Moscow moved to take over Crimea.

The Kremlin had been amassing troops in Crimea for years thanks to agreements that had allowed it to station its Black Sea Fleet on the peninsula. This military presence enabled Moscow to take swift control over Crimea in less than a month.

Russian special forces without insignia seized the building of the Supreme Council and the Crimean Ministers Council overnight on Feb. 27, 2014. A few weeks later, Russian soldiers took control of airports, Ukrainian military units, and the navy. While the takeover was largely without armed resistance, Ukrainian troops stationed at the Balbek Air Base did put up a fight against Russian troops.

Ukrainian soldiers stand inside the gate of a military base as unidentified heavily armed soldiers stand outside in Perevalne, Crimea, Ukraine, on March 3, 2014. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

A total of 103 cadets, 2,239 soldiers and sailors, and 1,649 officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces held out for almost a month in a complete Russian encirclement in Crimea, then-acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov wrote recently on his personal website on April 14 in response to claims that the Ukrainian soldiers stationed in Crimea had not been commanded to defend their positions.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. and the U.K.  signatories of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which pledged to uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for Kyiv surrendering its nuclear arsenal  did not come to Ukraine's defense. The agreement has been widely criticized for its vague political guarantees rather than firm commitments to protect Ukraine in the case of armed aggression.

They explained that they didn't want to irritate Vladimir Putin or provoke a full-scale war in the heart of Europe. Ukraine wasn't given a single bullet, Turchynov recalled.

Russia's long-term plan

Russia began taking its first steps toward its future occupation of Crimea long before 2014, helped along by the government of Yanukovych.

The Kharkiv agreements, signed by Yanukovych and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 21, 2010, extended Russia's lease to station its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol until 2042. The agreements signed that year also lifted any restrictions on Russian troops' movements around the peninsula, "creating all the necessary prerequisites for occupation," Turchynov wrote.

Russian special forces storm the Ukrainian Belbek Airbase near Belbek, Crimea, Ukraine, on March 22, 2014. (Oleg Klimov / Epsilon / Getty Images)

The increase in the Russian fleet's presence, whose troops and military equipment exceeded that of Ukraine's in Crimea, was supposed to be in exchange for cheaper Russian gas for Ukraine by applying a discount in the form of canceling customs duties. The deal, however, threatened Ukraine's sovereignty.

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"This was a threat, because at any time, this group (of forces) could have launched wider-scale actions against our country," Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in 2021.

Between 2010 and 2014, Russia began covertly bringing in modernized or refurbished equipment into Crimea to strengthen its military forces, according to Ukrainian intelligence (HUR). The agency also recorded incidents when Russia seized Ukrainian navigation equipment in 2011 and 2012.

Russian troops were also actively forming new brigades on the Crimean peninsula. At the same time, the Ukrainian army had been experiencing long-lasting funding cuts. An ongoing reform of the army resulted in the disbanding of the 32nd Army Corps and the withdrawal of the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment, both of which were stationed in Crimea.

Under the presidency of Viktor Yushchenko from 2005-2010, the issue of the Ukrainian military's combat capability and potential NATO membership was regularly raised. These discussions came to a standstill under Yanukovych.

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Toward the end of his presidential term, Yushchenko said in 2009 that the Ukrainian army had become a "victim of political intrigue," hinting that disagreements within the government had led to the impoverishment of the military.

Viktor Yushchenko leaves the Trade Union House in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he voted on Dec. 26, 2004. (Graeme Robertson / Getty Images)

The situation around the peninsula heated up even more in late 2013. On the eve of the Olympic Games in Sochi, a city on the Black Sea coast, Russia announced the need to conduct additional security measures in the water to ensure safety during the sporting event.

"Using this legend, the Russian military practiced blocking maritime waters, as well as the airspace, and conducted various reconnaissance operations. They used reconnaissance and long-range radar detection aircraft. They also conducted aggressive reconnaissance activities against Ukraine," Skibitskyi told RFE/RL.

In late February 2014, Russian airborne troops from regions including Tula, Ryazan, and Kubinka were reportedly put on high alert and began movement toward the Black Sea coast.

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Ukraine had little capability to respond at that point.

Losing precious time

The Kremlin began its occupation of Crimea while Kyiv was in chaos after Yanukovych fled to Rostov-on-Don following the EuroMaidan. Instead of organizing the defense of Crimea, pro-Russian associates of the former president were also busy fleeing Ukraine.

"The entire policy of Yanukovych started to fall into place: it weakened the Ukrainian state, paving the way for both the forthcoming annexation of Crimea and the attempt to separate the eastern and southern oblasts from the rest of the country," a report by the Warsaw Institute published in 2018 read. Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine's eastern regions with the use of proxies after it annexed Crimea, and attempted to sow instability in the south.

After an interim government was set up in Kyiv, a secret meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council was held on Feb. 28, 2014, almost a week after Russian forces began their operation on the peninsula.

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The participants decided to put the Ukrainian Armed Forces on full combat alert, appeal to the Budapest Memorandum guarantor countries, strengthen the defense of critical infrastructure, and create an operational headquarters for responding to the situation in Crimea.

The decisions did little to drive Russia off the peninsula.

Ukrainian admiral Denys Berezovskyi took over the Ukrainian Navy on March 1, 2014. The next day, he refused to comply with the Ukrainian authorities' orders, issuing one himself to subordinate units in Crimea military personnel to hand over their weapons to the warehouses and return military equipment to storage facilities.

According to a transcript of the Feb. 28, 2014 NSDC meeting, then-Defense Minister Ihor Teniukh claimed that Ukraine had 15,000 soldiers on the peninsula at the end of February 2014.

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Turchynov later said that since the beginning of the occupation, 70% of Ukrainian soldiers betrayed their military oath, bringing their number down to 4,000. However, according to Teniukh, only up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers were combat ready.

Ukrainian protesters wave Ukrainian flags and call for the removal of Russian forces from Russian-occupied Crimea in Simferopol, Ukraine, on March 8, 2014. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

Pro-Russian men armed with clubs gather outside the Crimea regional parliament building after parliamentarians voted on an illegal referendum on Crimea's autonomy earlier in the day, in Simferopol, Ukraine, on Feb. 27, 2014. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

During his presidency, Yanukovych's party, the Party of Regions, in cooperation with Russian intelligence services kept close watch over Crimea, even preparing the ground for the upcoming invasion, according to the Warsaw Institute. In particular, Ukrainian military units, police, and Security Service officers were infiltrated and captured by Moscow agents, the Warsaw Institute.

"Political disorientation, low morale, poor financial and logistical support, as well as the systematic work of Russian agents in the leadership of the security forces led to mass desertion and defection to the aggressor of most Ukrainian soldiers and officers stationed in occupied Crimea," Turchynov said.

"Viktor Yanukovych surrendered Crimea deliberately. There was no pressure on him from the Russian Federation."

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"Most of the remnants of our military units, surrounded and scattered across the peninsula, were not even able to fulfill orders and basic requirements of military regulations, ensuring the defense of their positions with weapons," Turchynov added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (L) attend a Russian-Ukrainian summit in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 17, 2013. (Sasha Mordovets / Getty Images)

Following the forcible seizure of Crimea, the Russian government held a referendum on the status of peninsula without international observers and with armed Russian soldiers present at polling locations. Russia soon after declared Crimea a part of Russia, cementing its illegal annexation on March 21, 2014. Most countries do not recognize the results of the referendum.

"Viktor Yanukovych surrendered Crimea deliberately. There was no pressure on him from the Russian Federation," Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the former head of Ukraine's Security Service, said during Yanukovych's trial in absentia in 2018.

The surrender of Crimea to Russia had been planned since 2010, when fugitive President Yanukovych came to office, he added.

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On March 24, 2014, Turchynov signed a decree enacting a decision of the NSDC to relocate military units and law enforcement agencies from Crimea to other regions of Ukraine.

Within less than a month, Russia had moved to invade and partially occupy parts of eastern Ukraine.

Read also: The origins of the 2014 war in Donbas

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  More people are experiencing homelessness than ever before in Franklin County.

Almost half are in the workforce; the Columbus non-profit Community Shelter Board (CSB) said many make between $14 and $20 per hour. The problem stems from a lack of housing.

Columbus financial social media influencer defrauded investors of $11 million, prosecutors say

CSB says this year, it saw a rise in sheltered homelessness, with more people staying in emergency shelters. This data comes from a Point-In-Time count: a count of people experiencing homelessness on one day in January.

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It also tells us overall what the umbrella of homelessness looks like, CSB President and CEO Shannon TL Isom said.

Now, CSB is sharing that data.

This is a structural issue, Isom said. Forty percent of our community members that are in our homeless shelter have jobs.

The count identified a 7.4% increase in people experiencing homelessness compared with last year.

Meet the three candidates running for Columbus City Councils District 7 seat

There were some positive trends: the number of people who reported experiencing mental health concerns, chronic homelessness and domestic violence decreased. However, there was an increase in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness.

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It is a glimpse of the unseen folks in our community, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said. Our population growth and these good things that are happening is also coming with a side effect that more of our community is being pushed out into homelessness.

The number of people in emergency shelters grew by 13%. One of those shelters is run by Jasmine Franklin.

Its about immediate service, the smaller barriers, said Franklin, founder and CEO of 3rd Shift Warming Cooling Center.

Shes using her own experience with homelessness to push for change.

Whitehall residents rally to take tax breaks for high-end development to citizen vote

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It took me again, like I said, a week or two before I was able to see a case manager, Franklin said. When you come into my shelter within that same day, if not by that next morning, youll be able to start talking to a case manager, start working through the barriers immediately.

The data shows that more people are using warming shelters. There was a 95% increase in people who used Winter Warming Centers and non-congregate shelters.

Before the coldest temperatures, the City of Columbus conducted camp sweeps, which sent many people into the shelters. Shortly after the count, some emergency shelters closed and many people had to go back outside. Isom said the increase while they were open shows the emergency shelter method is working.

What we have found in the number is that the unsheltered population actually went down by 11%, and we know then, in the winter, warming centers are working because we saw the increase of 11% there, Isom said.

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However, CSB needs funding to keep those going and right now, many of the programs, like for those facing eviction, are at risk due to federal cuts. Nonprofits share that they are worried that if there are no alternatives to this funding by the end of the year, housing issues could get a lot worse.

Columbus dispensary issued product alert for edible glitter in cannabis gummies

We are having those conversations right now, Hardin said. We are talking about how, in Columbus, we can stack and how we can look at new funding streams. These are big conversations and you really have to be really thoughtful about it, and so I think that over the next coming months, we will have to come up with a big, bold solution.

Hardin pointed to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginthers proposed $500 million bond package on the ballot this November as one potential solution.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ray Marcano, a longtime journalist, is the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow. He is a frequent Columbus Dispatch contributor.

Parents dont let their babies go.

Give them a choice, and its no choice. My baby goes with me.

That primal instinct, that cocoon of protection, that deep-seated love, has been weaponized by a Trump administration that doesnt care about keeping families together.

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Instead, the government is giving moms and dads here illegally a choice: Take your children born in the United States with you or leave them here, alone.

Its a genius move. And its evil.

When Trump promised voters he would deport illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds, Americans cheered.

Cases like Rachel Morin, a mother of five killed by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with gang ties, became seared in the American conscience. Alleged gang members have been arrested in the Columbus area.

But Trump, buoyed by early support, has taken a different approach.

Instead of keeping families together, Team Trump has decided to tear them apart, so long as the President can crow about deportation numbers.

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What we know: ICE says it arrested Venezuelan gang member in Columbus

Its worth noting that a federal court vacated former President Joe Bidens Keeping Families Together program. The program would have allowed certain spouses and stepchildren of US citizens to stay in the country pending the resolution of their cases.

The order, in place or not, likely wouldnt have stopped the administration from its latest tactic.

Weaponizing children.

This isnt an exaggeration.

Three American-born children, ages 2, 4 and 7, last week were deported to Honduras with their mothers, and a judge wondered whether the government sanctioned the removal of U.S. citizens to a foreign country.

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A lawyer said in a court filing that ICE held the two-year-old girl to persuade her father to turn himself in. The four-year-old has Stage 4 cancer and no access to medication, according to the National Immigration Project.

There are other, equally painful and shameful cases. A Cuban woman was deported to Cuba, leaving her American husband and 1-year-old girl behind.

Trump has a new target

A Venezuelan Red Cross member helps migrant children deported from the US as they arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela on February 24, 2025. (Photo by Pedro MATTEY / AFP) (Photo by PEDRO MATTEY/AFP via Getty Images)

And in Ohio, an illegal immigrant seeking asylum has been arrested and threatened with deportation. He has a wife and two children  one born in the United States  and his family could face the same, terrible choice.

Theres another common thread in most of these cases. The illegal immigrants willfully go to their check-ins, where theyre arrested. Some have legal deportation orders from years ago, which begs the question: Why now?

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Thats an easy answer. Trumps reportedly been angry that deportations arent happening fast enough.

So instead of going after the criminals, as he promised, hes going after the most vulnerable.

Moms with babies.

Using children as leverage shows a lack of humanity, made worse when trying to justify the action. Border Czar Tom Holman denied the government deported American children because the moms wanted to take their babies with them.

Of course they do.

Thats the evil genius of the plan.

The government has an easy way to round up illegal immigrants, and thats when they for their check-ins, often with their children in tow.

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Easy target. Arrest the mom and give her a choice. Take the baby with you or leave her here with  who knows?

Its genius. Its evil. It should stop.

Let the families stay together until their cases are resolved. Its the humane thing to do.

Ray Marcano, a longtime journalist, is the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow.

Ray Marcano, a longtime journalist, is the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow. He is a frequent Columbus Dispatch contributor.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: US weaponizing babies against their moms. Its a genius move | Opinion
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Public Works Department will host a free community clean-up event this weekend in far East El Paso.

The event will be from 8 a.m. to noon (or until capacity) on Saturday, May 3, at 14698 Van Lane and is open to all El Paso County residents.

According to El Paso County, passenger tires, bulk trash and electronic waste will be accepted as follows:

Tires Each resident may bring up to five tires. There will be a maximum collection of 1,500 tires for the event. Accepted tires must measure 17 inches or smaller. Tires from retailers, semi-trucks, equipment-trucks, or those with rims will not be accepted.

Bulk trash and electronic waste Residents may bring one pick-up truck load of bulk trash, including furniture, chairs,

carpet, etc. Accepted electronics include computers, tablets, scanners, video games, cameras,

radios, cell phones, VCRs, and DVD players. CRT monitors and televisions will not be accepted.



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Some items may not be accepted, and residents are encouraged to sort their waste before arriving at the community event.

According to the County, the cleanup event series allows El Paso County residents to dispose of unwanted items, while making a difference in their community.

For any questions, you can contact the El Paso County Public Works Office at (915) 273-3330.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Two 19-year-olds arrested in connection to the death of a 4-year-old Reynoldsburg boy are facing additional charges after video evidence uncovered numerous instances of brutality.

According to court documents, Linwood Allison Jr. and Kailee Smith-Parks pleaded not guilty to 44 total charges after a boy died allegedly under their care. The charges include one count each of murder, one count each of aggravated murder and 20 counts each of child endangerment, nine more apiece than originally filed.

Three dead after apparent double murder, suicide in east Columbus

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The charges stem from the brutal death of JaKai Smith, who was reported dead on April 10 after police were called to Nationwide Childrens Hospital, and a motion was filed by state prosecutors on Tuesday seeking remand without bail or bond. A court date has not yet been set for a ruling.

An investigation was initiated because of suspicious circumstances related to the death, which was ruled a homicide Allison was allegedly seen on the childs bedroom camera causing fatal injuries to JaKai at a residence on Steinway Drive. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

A court indictment also includes 40 charges of endangering children, two allegations per suspect, every day, between March 21 through April 10. Each count indicates that JaKai suffered injuries from possible torture, corporal punishment or physical restraint or abuse in a cruel manner and excessive manner that created a substantial risk of serious physical harm.

The States motion said that the videos show Allison using torture methods, both physical and psychological, which would include, but not limited to, beating, locking the boy in his room, starvation, waterboarding, forced cold showers, and verbal abuse.

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Police also said Smith-Parks had reason to believe the child needed immediate medical attention, but she failed to seek help. The motion said JaKai Smith died from his injuries and that he was malnourished and had multiple visible injuries to his body.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Visitors look out from Upper Inspiration Point at Bryce National Park on April 29, 2025 in Bryce, Utah. The bodies of two people who fell to their deaths from Inspiration Point were recovered after being discovered by tourists on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

A cat that miraculously survived a 380-foot fall in Utah's Bryce Canyon is now recovering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest no-kill shelter of its kind in the United States.

Named by the shelter, Mirage, was found near the site where Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58, both from Florida, tragically fell from Inspiration Point on April 22.

(Photo credit: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)

(Photo credit: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Authorities believe the couple crossed a safety railing before slipping from the edge. Snow and slick conditions may have played a role in the couple's fall, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office. Their bodies were later recovered by search and rescue crews with assistance from park rangers and the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau.

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Mirage, found in a soft-sided pet carrier near the cliff's edge, somehow survived the fall. Her unlikely survival has since captured hearts across the country.

(Photo credit: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)

Bryce Canyon's cliffs attract thousands of visitors every year. Park officials remind guests to stay behind safety barriers and be cautious of footing, especially when conditions are wet or icy.

Click here if you'd like to find out more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, including how to help their mission.
A couple in Kharkiv Oblast who worked for Russian intelligence have been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Posing as animal welfare volunteers, the couple travelled around the oblast searching for positions of Ukrainian military personnel. They were detained in January 2025.

Source: press service for the Prosecutor Generals Office

Details: The man and woman looked for locations where defence forces personnel were stationed, as well as facilities where wounded Ukrainian defenders were receiving medical treatment.

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"Pretending to be animal welfare volunteers caring for stray animals, they would drive around the area supposedly in search of abandoned pets. To avoid suspicion, the couple even set up a shelter on the territory of their own house," the Prosecutors Office stated.

Law enforcement officers discovered that the couple had been recruited by an acquaintance who acts as a Russian handler for the Kharkiv front. He is currently based in one of the temporarily occupied oblasts and works with Russian military intelligence.

The couple sent him the information they gathered via Telegram.

"Law enforcement officers detained the couple at their residence in January 2025. During authorised searches, mobile phones containing evidence of their illegal activity were seized," the Prosecutors Office added.

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They remained in custody while awaiting trial and fully admitted their guilt during the court proceedings.

The court found the couple guilty of treason (Articles 28.2 and 111.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and sentenced them to 15 years imprisonment with confiscation of their property.

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Barbara Johnson of West Fargo protests Trump administration policies on May 1, 2025, on the Veterans Memorial Bridge between Fargo and Moorhead, Minn. Local chapters of Indivisible partnered with AFL-CIO, local unions and the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley to organize the May Day event. (Photos by Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

A day for bringing attention to organized labor and worker rights extended into an opportunity to denounce President Donald Trumps agenda and expansion of executive power.

Around 600 demonstrators attended a May Day event in Fargo-Moorhead Thursday. Holding signs that addressed topics from demands for due process for deported immigrants to concerns about cuts to Social Security, they stood in the rain on the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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This is one way we show our support of workers and the rule of law, said Rick Loftus, organizer of the Indivisible Fargo chapter, also known as Fearless.

Dr. Rick Loftus addresses a crowd gathered in Woodland Park, Moorhead, Minn., to protest Trump administration policies. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

May Day is historically a time to acknowledge labor and worker rights, and this years event took on deeper meaning, Loftus said.

He noted that union membership has dropped to about 10% of all workers since the 1970s and this has led to reduced income and benefits for all employees. In addition, recent cuts to the federal workforce have brought additional attention to the importance of worker rights.

We have a slogan: courage is contagious, he said. We gather because we want people to see were not afraid.

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Denise Lund-Smith traveled from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to participate in Thursdays demonstration with her sister.

Lund-Smith has two granddaughters and says she wants to protect freedom for them. She held a sign with a bullet list of concerns ranging from the gutting of civil service employees to the slashing of federal programs.

Im 71 and this is the first time Ive protested, she said. This isnt about politics. (Trump and his administration) are destroying our democracy.

Denise and Mark Magness of Fargo attended Thursdays protest because they are frustrated by state Congressional leaders who wont take a stand against what they describe as an expansion of executive power.

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(Our congressional leaders) are so chicken. They do nothing, said Mark Magness, who said he calls his senators and representative regularly.

After about an hour, some of the demonstrators moved to the nearby Woodlawn Park where speakers addressed a crowd of about 150 people.

The program began with the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

And lets put the emphasis on liberty and justice for all, Loftus said.

Retired Fargo Municipal Judge Thomas Davies addresses a crowd gathered in Woodland Park, Moorhead, Minn., on May 1, 2025, to protest Trump administration policies. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Retired municipal judge Thomas Davies told the crowd they have power to demand changes.

The U.S. was a beacon of hope and decency until Trump was elected, he said. We all have the ability to support candidates who make a positive difference in our national, state and local offices.

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Ashley Ladbury Hrichena spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley. The national nonpartisan organization to which the local chapter belongs recently declared a constitutional crisis. State and local leagues are advocating for Congress to take action to protect the Constitution and advocating to maintain state and local voting rights, she said.

From the flagrant disregard for constitutional authority and governmental checks and balances, to defying Supreme Court orders, to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear. Our country is in a constitutional crisis, she said.

She then encouraged the crowd to continue to pressure their congressional representatives.

Congress has been elected by you to serve us, not the president, she said as the crowd broke into applause.

Laura Haugen Christensen, of the Northern Plains United Labor Council, addresses a crowd gathered in Woodland Park, Moorhead, Minn., May 1, 2025, to protest Trump administration policies. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

The event ended with comments from Laura Haugen Christensen, who represented the Northern Plains United Labor Council. Workers need to stand in solidarity, she said, because theyre all facing challenges and attacks: teachers, postal workers, factory workers, the unemployed and others.

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Were united in our resolve to fight for a better future for all, she said. When working people stand together, theres nothing we cant accomplish.

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Barbara Johnson of West Fargo protests Trump administration policies on May 1, 2025, on the Veterans Memorial Bridge between Fargo and Moorhead, Minn. Local chapters of Indivisible partnered with AFL-CIO, local unions and the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley to organize the May Day event. (Photo by Dan Koeck/North Dakota Monitor)

A day for bringing attention to organized labor and worker rights extended into an opportunity to denounce President Donald Trumps agenda and expansion of executive power.

Around 600 demonstrators attended a May Day event in Fargo-Moorhead Thursday. Holding signs that addressed topics from demands for due process for deported immigrants to concerns about cuts to Social Security, they stood in the rain on the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This is one way we show our support of workers and the rule of law, said Rick Loftus, organizer of the Indivisible Fargo chapter, also known as Fearless.

May Day is historically a time to acknowledge labor and worker rights, and this years event took on deeper meaning, Loftus said.

He noted that union membership has dropped to about 10% of all workers since the 1970s and this has led to reduced income and benefits for all employees. In addition, recent cuts to the federal workforce have brought additional attention to the importance of worker rights.

We have a slogan: courage is contagious, he said. We gather because we want people to see were not afraid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Denise Lund-Smith traveled from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to participate in Thursdays demonstration with her sister.

Lund-Smith has two granddaughters and says she wants to protect freedom for them. She held a sign with a bullet list of concerns ranging from the gutting of civil service employees to the slashing of federal programs.

Im 71 and this is the first time Ive protested, she said. This isnt about politics. (Trump and his administration) are destroying our democracy.

Denise and Mark Magness of Fargo attended Thursdays protest because they are frustrated by state Congressional leaders who wont take a stand against what they describe as an expansion of executive power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

(Our congressional leaders) are so chicken. They do nothing, said Mark Magness, who said he calls his senators and representative regularly.

After about an hour, some of the demonstrators moved to the nearby Woodlawn Park where speakers addressed a crowd of about 150 people.

The program began with the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

And lets put the emphasis on liberty and justice for all, Loftus said.

Retired municipal judge Thomas Davies told the crowd they have power to demand changes.

The U.S. was a beacon of hope and decency until Trump was elected, he said. We all have the ability to support candidates who make a positive difference in our national, state and local offices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ashley Ladbury Hrichena spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley. The national nonpartisan organization to which the local chapter belongs recently declared a constitutional crisis. State and local leagues are advocating for Congress to take action to protect the Constitution and advocating to maintain state and local voting rights, she said.

From the flagrant disregard for constitutional authority and governmental checks and balances, to defying Supreme Court orders, to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear. Our country is in a constitutional crisis, she said.

She then encouraged the crowd to continue to pressure their congressional representatives.

Congress has been elected by you to serve us, not the president, she said as the crowd broke into applause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The event ended with comments from Laura Haugen Christensen, who represented the Northern Plains United Labor Council. Workers need to stand in solidarity, she said, because theyre all facing challenges and attacks: teachers, postal workers, factory workers, the unemployed and others.

Were united in our resolve to fight for a better future for all, she said. When working people stand together, theres nothing we cant accomplish.

This story first appeared in North Dakota Monitor, a sibling site of the Minnesota Reformer and part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network.


LUSAKA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's broadcasting regulator on Friday urged efforts to uphold ethical and professional principles in the application of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) said AI has become an important tool for enhancing innovation and efficiency within broadcasting houses.

"However, licensees are reminded of their responsibility to uphold data privacy and ensure the accuracy of all news and information gathered and disseminated," Susan Ndumingu, acting director general of the IBA, said in a statement ahead of World Press Freedom Day.

While acknowledging that AI presents opportunities, Ndumingu said it also poses challenges, such as misinformation and content manipulation, which must be carefully managed.

She also urged broadcasters to be transparent, accountable, and fair when creating content using artificial intelligence.

She added that the regulator remains committed to promoting a broadcasting environment that encourages creativity and innovation, upholding press freedom, and maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards in serving the Zambian public.

Observed on May 3 annually, this year's World Press Freedom Day is themed "Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media," according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 
(COLORADO)  The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado confirmed that the Fort Carson soldier who was arrested on Wednesday evening, April 30, was tied back to the illegal nightclub that the Drug Enforcement Administrations Rocky Mountain Field Division (DEA RMFD) busted on Sunday, April 27.

What we know: FBI arrests Fort Carson soldier on alleged distribution charges

28-year-old Staff Sergeant Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez is accused of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

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According to the criminal complaint, Orona-Rodriguez, while serving as an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, unlawfully distributed controlled substances, the U.S. Attorneys Office press release read.

At the time of the arrest, Orona-Rodriguez had served almost nine years in the Army and is currently assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, according to a Fort Carson official.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by FOX21 News, Orona-Rodriguez allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover DEA agent and historical text message communications outline months of suspected cocaine trafficking.

Orona-Rodriguez is also suspected of unlawfully trafficking firearms, including those with high-capacity magazines, to illegal aliens, according to court records.

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The complaint further explained that Orona-Rodriguez appeared to hold a leadership/ownership role in a business called Immortal Security LLC.

This security company provides armed security at nightclubs  including an after-hours, unlawful nightclub called Warike  within Colorado Springs, Colorado, the complaint read. Warike was the site of a federal search warrant that was executed and led by the DEA on April 27, 2025.

PHOTOS: DEA RMFD says drugs, scales and guns found at illegal underground nightclub in Colorado Springs

During the operation, more than 100 people who entered the U.S. illegally were taken into custody, and Orona-Rodriguez was one of approximately 17 active-duty U.S. Army service members present at Warike during the execution of that search warrant, according to court documents. The complaint also claimed that Immortal Security LLC employs some active duty and former U.S. Military service members.

Courtesy: DEA RMFD Courtesy: DEA RMFD Courtesy: DEA RMFD Courtesy: DEA RMFD Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe

DEA agents with whom I have spoken believe employees of Immortal Security are

involved in drug distribution, and that employees of Immortal Security are carrying firearms while providing security at Warike and similar establishments, the complaint states.

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Reportedly, according to court documents, Orona-Rodriguez had received a developmental counseling form from his commanding officer in Spring of 2025, and was told at that time, that Immortal Security Operation LLC is off limits to members of the Armed Forces, and specifically in March 2025 that you are prohibited in engaging in off-duty employment without the approval of the Battalion Commander IAW 4ID

According to the complaint, a court-authorized search warrant of Orona-Rodriguezs phone between at least Sept. 16, 2024, and mid-April 2025 show text messages which appear to concern the distribution of drugs, and Orona-Rodriguez voluntarily reaching out to his suppliers to obtain distribution quantities of cocaine and then redistributing that cocaine to others.

Court documents further detail that, On or about the week of April 21, 2025, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine from Orona-Rodriguez Among others, a DEA undercover was witness to the purchase.

According to arrest documents, investigators also recovered texts on Orona-Rodriguezs cell phone related to the unlawful sale of firearms.

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According to the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administrations Rocky Mountain Field Division (DEA RMFD), the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and officials at Fort Carson participated and assisted in the investigation and facilitated the arrest of Orona-Rodriguez on April 30.

We are aware the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of Army CID, took a Fort Carson Soldier into custody, a Fort Carson official said. We will continue to cooperate with all agencies involved.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado, The investigation is being conducted by the Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and DEAs Colorado Springs Resident Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Houlihan.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DURAND, Mich. (AP)  A Michigan school did not violate the free-speech rights of a third-grade student who was told to remove a hat that had an image of an AR-15-style rifle and the message come and take it" in capital letters, a federal court said Friday.

The principal at Kerr Elementary School in Durand said the hat could be disruptive and perceived as threatening, especially because the school in 2022 had new students from Oxford, a district that was the site of a school shooting just a few months earlier.

The school's actions were readily defensible, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 3-0 opinion.

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The record demonstrates that school officials relied on their knowledge of the student body to make a reasonable forecast of a substantial disruption in school activities, and therefore did not violate the First Amendment by asking C.S. to remove her hat," the court said.

Kerr School had allowed students to wear hats during a week dedicated to showing kindness.

The student's hat belonged to her father, and she wore it because it made her feel safe, according to a summary of the case.

The father subsequently filed a lawsuit claiming a violation of his daughter's First Amendment rights. The appeals court affirmed a decision in favor of the school by U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  At the beginning of April, international students across the United States had their citizenship status altered or revoked without warning. Now, a court hearing is revealing part of the process behind the status changes.

ABC4.com obtained a transcript of a hearing in Washington, D.C., on April 29, in which Judge Ana C. Reyes heard comments from counsel representing both the plaintiff  an international student whose SEVIS record was terminated  and the defendant, identified as Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The hearing lasted for just under an hour, and began with the judge asking questions about what was referred to as the student criminal alien initiative in an April 1 email from Department of Homeland Security officials.

The student criminal alien initiative

When asked about the initiative, a lawyer representing ICE said they dont know precisely what the scope of [the initiative] is. The judge said that there was no process for the initiative.

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There was an email saying here are the people, and an email saying get rid of them all,' the judge said. So well go through that process, but I want to know, what is the student criminal alien initiative?

The attorney went on to explain that student criminal alien initiative was likely just being used to describe the process where ICE ran students through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), and passed on any hits to the Department of State, which later passed the information back to ICE.

RELATED: Is AI behind mistaken visa revocations, self-deport emails? Utah expert weighs in

Andre Watson with the Department of Homeland Security then spoke up about the initiative, clarifying that it is centered at DHS headquarters but is not an initiative that is in writing.

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Its a name that was given by my staff to this specific effort to scrub records from SEVIS through NCIC to determine if there were positive criminality hits within NCIC, Watson said, according to the transcript.

According to Watson, roughly 10 to 20 federal employees took between two to three weeks to run roughly 1.3 million names through the NCIC. Of those 1.3 million names, Watson said about 16,000 were in the NCIC, but that number went down to 13,900.

After additional validation against Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records returned just over 6,400 names, and after checking with the State Department, a list of about roughly 3,000 people was returned to DHS.

The judge asked Watson if there was any individualized review of the records before records were terminated in SEVIS, to which Watson said that each record was scrutinized based on the criminal history.

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The plaintiffs lawyer later said that the student in this case was lawfully present in the U.S. at the time his SEVIS record was terminated. He was on track to graduate within a few weeks, and was able to do so after the judge granted a temporary restraining order.

Judge Reyes said there was zero due process and an utter lack of concern for human individuals during the recent actions from ICE. Reyes gave the attorney for ICE a week to return specific language to keep the plaintiff in the country  but clarified that language would apply only in this specific case.

He really does not want me to issue a ruling in this case, the judge said, referring to the attorney for ICE.

Why are international students visas being revoked?

During any school year, an international students visa may be revoked if they get caught breaking the law or disobeying certain policies.

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Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said international students may be targeted for their suspected involvement in pro-Palestinian protests across college campuses or if they are connected to potential criminal activity, the Associated Press reports.

While international students Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records being terminated or their visas being revoked is not new, the University of Utah has recently said the practice is being approached differently than in the past.

What is different currently is that records are being terminated in SEVIS sometimes without notice to the university and/or the student, U of U said in a statement after several students records were terminated.

According to U of U, some of the reasons students were given for their visas being revoked included a criminal record check or failure to maintain nonimmigrant status. That was the reason given to the plaintiff in the April 29 hearing.

What is a student visa?

In the United States, international students can obtain an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa, and both have different restrictions and requirements. Another option is an M-1 visa for vocational students.

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According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS), students on an F-1 or M-1 visa must be enrolled full-time in an academic educational, language-training, or vocational program at an approved institution.

Students on an F-1 or M-1 visa must be proficient in English  or be in courses that lead them to English proficiency  in addition to having enough money to support themselves during their studies. There are certain work restrictions for students on these visas as well.

A J-1 visa classifies someone as an exchange visitor, according to USCIS. This classification is authorized for people who are participating in approved programs designed for teaching, researching, training, demonstrating special skills, and more.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that Form I-20 is critically important to nonimmigrant students. This form is issued to nonimmigrant students after they are accepted into their educational program. The form can only be issued to the student by the institution.

Whats next for international students?

Some Utah schools are reminding their international students and scholars to remain in good standing to preserve their status. U of U has advised its students to keep their immigration documents valid and readily accessible.

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The University of Utah also directed international students toward some national organizations that can offer information and guidance, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Immigration Legal Resource Center, National Immigration Law Center, and the Immigration Advocates Network.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The nonprofit corporation that oversees National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service is firing back at President Donald Trump's executive order to pull funding for the two popular media outlets.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting pointed out that Congress controls its funding, not the president.

"CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority," Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the CPB, said in a statement Friday. "Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government."

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MORE: Trump admin live updates: Trump says he'll rename Veterans Day as 'Victory Day for World War I'

She continued, "In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade 'any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors.'"

Trump signed the executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to "cease direct funding to NPR and PBS" on his way to Florida aboard Air Force One on Thursday

The order blocks federal funding to NPR and PBS to the maximum extent allowed by law, according to a fact sheet from the White House. It also prevents indirect funding to PBS and NPR by prohibiting local public radio and television stations, and any other recipients of CPB funds, from using taxpayer dollars to support the organizations.

PHOTO: The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) is seen in Washington, April 15, 2013. (Charles Dharapak/AP, FILE)

The order mandates that the CPB revise its 2025 General Provisions to explicitly prohibit direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS. It directs all federal agencies to terminate any direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS and to review existing grants and contracts for compliance. Additionally, it instructs the Federal Communications Commission and relevant agencies to investigate whether NPR and PBS have engaged in unlawful discrimination.

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In the fact sheet, the White House claims the two news organizations "have fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars."

MORE: Republicans accuse NPR, PBS of bias at House hearing; Democrats rebuke it as a partisan attack

In an interview with ABC News on Friday, PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger said a loss in federal funding would hit audiences in rural communities hard. Kerger said that their access to stations has been historically dependent on government funding and that content from children's programming to backup emergency alerts could be negatively impacted by cuts.

"They formed PBS as a way that we could bring the dollars together from around the country from all of our stations," Kerger said. "That would help us create the kids content that people have loved for many decades and that have really raised generations of children."

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For some stations, the situation could be dire, she said.

"For a number of smaller stations, it really could be an existential challenge," Kerger said. "That means the existence of those very stations."

Kerger and the head of NPR testified at a House hearing in March about their funding.

"I hear, respect and understand your concerns regarding bias and whether public media is relevant in a commercial landscape," NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said at the hearing. "It is critical for NPR's newsroom to operate with the highest journalistic standards. That means they do their jobs independently, and as CEO I have no editorial role at NPR."

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NPR and PBS are primarily funded through a combination of public and private sources. The CPB, a federal agency, provides a portion of the funding, along with private donations from individuals, foundations and corporations. The CPB oversees dozens of media organizations in addition to NPR and PBS, including everything from American Public Media to Native Public Media and Public Media in Mid-America.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., May 1, 2025. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Those in the Senate and House quickly responded along party lines.

"The fact that taxpayers are forced to subsidize far-left propaganda outlets like NPR is an outrage," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on X. "I commend President Trump for his common-sense order ending taxpayer funding for liberal media outlets.

"President Trump is once again walking us towards authoritarianism, by eliminating funds for PBS and NPR, claiming it will stop 'biased and partisan news coverage,'" Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., wrote on X. "NPR and PBS is how 160 million Americans find their fact-based, impartial news each month."

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"These organizations were created under an act of Congress, and therefore cannot be eliminated in an executive order," he continued. "We need these programs and must challenge this ruling in the courts."

ABC News' Max Zahn, Lalee Ibssa and Docquan Louallen contributed to this report.

CPB fires back at Trump's executive order pulling funding for NPR, PBS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Many people gathered outside Congressman Greg Murphys office in a stand for public schools and the Department of Education.

The crowd included public supporters, Pitt County Association of Education members, and other advocates. All of them came together with picket signs and a letter for Congressman Murphys Office, with the goal of ensuring higher public schools for every student.

Public schools are the hearts of our communities, Association of Educators President Tamika Walkerkelly said. They are critical to the functioning of a democratic society. And so we are here as parents, caregivers, concerned citizens, public school allies to uplift the good that public schools do for our students every single day here in Pitt County and all across the state.

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People who attended the rally want to make sure politicians at all levels are supporting public schools to the best of their ability. For more information, click on the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said officers dispatched to a Burglary in Progress found 18 adults in an apartment, seven of whom had outstanding warrants.

According to CSPD, on Thursday, May 1, at around 9:45 a.m., officers were called to a Burglary in Progress at an apartment in the 3400 block of Vera Cruz Court near East Fountain Boulevard and Chelton Road. The caller told police they saw at least 15 people inside a vacant apartment.

When police arrived, they immediately saw two people trying to leave the apartment out a rear window. Police set up containment and requested additional officers. Inside the apartment, police found 18 people, both men and women.

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Seven of the 18 had outstanding warrants and were taken to the Criminal Justice Center. The seven warrants were six misdemeanors and one felony. CSPD said 17 of the 18 people were cited for Criminal Trespass, the one not cited had just shown up to help a friend jump start his car. Unfortunately for that individual, he had a warrant and was taken to the CJC.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The state House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to codify into state law that minors can consent to contraception without parental notification.

After a lengthy debate, the House voted 117  27 as four Democrats joined with 23 Republicans against the measure.

The issue of parental notification of abortion has been controversial for years, but the bill focused only on contraception rather than abortion. Even thought the word abortion was never mentioned in the legislation, it came up constantly during the debate that lasted past 7:30 p.m.

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This bill is going to prevent pregnancies, said Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, a Seymour Republican. It is going to prevent abortions.  We want to make sure that our minors have the ability to get the care safely and without fear of repercussions from anyone.  In a perfect world, we all want our kids to talk to us every day about everything we do. But unfortunately, we know that doesnt happen.

She added, This bill, I truly believe, will help prevent unwanted pregnancies, and thats the most important thing we need to do here today.

The debate focused on House Bill 7213, which was supported by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

The bill simply codifies what has already been an established practice in Connecticut and dozens of other states by allowing minors to consent to contraception without involving a parent, Planned Parenthood said in a flier distributed at the state Capitol in Hartford.

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Concerns were raised following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in 2022 in the Dobbs case, which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and sent the establishment of abortion regulations back to the states.

Now is the time to make sure the Connecticut code reflects common practice in this state and protects patients and providers, the flier said. Its time for our state to join the 24 states and D.C. who allow all minors to consent to contraceptive care without parental involvement.

Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, a Fairfield Democrat, and others said the issues of abortion and sex are not decided along traditional political and ideological lines but are intertwined with religion, culture and gender.

Its sometimes a difficult conversation for us to have in this chamber, she said on the House floor.

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Despite the longstanding practice in Connecticut that minors do not need to notify their parents, she said, This is not currently codified in our statutes.

Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, a Ridgefield Democrat, said she did not speak for 30 years about having an abortion, even to her close friends and her mother.

I had no intention of speaking about it to anyone, she said Thursday. It was something private, and I didnt think it was appropriate to share it with anyone.  It is personal. It is private. It is my story.

State Rep. Mark Anderson, a Granby Republican, said that he has heard in the House chamber that the human brain is not fully formed until the age of 25. He asked how a minor, aged 12 to 17, could make an important decision on an abortion.

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Connecticut is on the wrong side of being an outlier, he said. It should require not just notification, but consent.

Rep. Cara Pavalock DAmato, a Republican attorney, said a 12-year-old girl in Bristol became pregnant by her stepfather.

When somebody that young gets pregnant, theres something wrong, she said. How did a 12-year-old get pregnant?  Clearly, here, the guardian, stepdad was not the person she could go to.

Sections removed

A key development was that multiple other changes in abortion regulations that had been contemplated were dropped by the legislature. The move marked a victory for the Roman Catholic Church, which lobbied strongly against changing regulations that have been in practice for decades.

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One of the most controversial changes would have involved ending the long-running state exemption for doctors, nurses, and medical personnel who object to participating in abortions for religious reasons.

Another regulation that could have been eliminated requires doctors and nurses to use lifesaving measures if a premature infant survives an abortion.

The third regulation under discussion states that abortions may be performed only when necessary to preserve the life or health of the expectant mother during her third trimester of pregnancy.

But those regulations were not in the final version of the bill and will not be changed.

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Were grateful that enough legislators saw these were extreme polices, said Christopher C. Healy, the executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference that represents the Roman Catholic bishops.

He added, Legislators realized what the public supports  maintaining critical protections for young women, the unborn child and the religious freedom of medical providers. The efforts to remove these regulations were troubling and extreme. We are thankful common sense and decency prevailed. We are disappointed that the House failed to recognize parental rights when it came to the well-being of children by rejecting an amendment on parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion.

A public hearing was held last year in Hartford on changing the regulations led to two hours of often-passionate testimony as opponents and proponents disagreed sharply over the proposal for eliminating the provisions that were considered by many to have been settled. Opponents said the state public health department lacked the authority to make the changes without the approval of the legislature.

The bill that was passed Thursday, lawmakers said, was watered down from the original version.

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What we have now is a completely different piece of legislation because the unconscionable parts are out of it, said Rep. Greg Howard, a Stonington Republican who is the father of two sons. I think its a good bill for young women and the prevention of abortions in Connecticut.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, a Hartford Democrat who is a strong proponent of reproductive rights, said before the vote that the bill was just clarifying it after Dobbs.

He added, We all hope that children feel comfortable talking to their parents, but its not everybodys reality. We also talked about how a 17-year-old boy can walk into a pharmacy and provide protection for himself. A woman doesnt have that same ability. So we think well have votes on both sides of the aisle.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
A Wethersfield woman has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for her role in stealing about $1.8 million through a scheme involving false Medicaid claims.

Suhail Aponte, 38, waived her right to be indicted during a hearing in federal court in Bridgeport on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

According to federal officials, Aponte was the sole principal and registered agent of Minds Cornerstone LLC, an autism specialist group that was registered in Connecticut in June 2021. Authorities believe Aponte, who is not a licensed provider, became involved in a scheme with a co-conspirator beginning around November 2021. Officials allege they used Minds Cornerstone to defraud the Connecticut Medicaid Program by submitting fraudulent claims for applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

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Authorities said the scheme involved billing for Medicaid for services allegedly rendered to patients when company payroll records indicate employees were not compensated for the associated services. Other services were allegedly provided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst of a behavioral technician, but the corresponding procedure code for behavioral technician services was not billed, authorities said.

Officials also said some of the alleged services were found to involve patients who were actually in an inpatient hospital. Other services allegedly provided involved patients whose parents or former employees of Cornerstone were able to confirm were not actually delivered, according to authorities.

Between November 2021 and January 2025, Aponte and her co-conspirator submitted or caused to be submitted to Medicaid fraudulent claims that resulted in a loss of about $1,876,617 to the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Officials noted that Aponte was employed by the State of Connecticut in the Office of Policy and Management from May 2022 until November 2024.

As part of the plea deal, Aponte agreed to forfeit about $459,000 that was seized from multiple bank accounts she controlled, as well as her interest in additional bank accounts and two parcels of land in Hartford, according to officials.

Aponte is free on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to face sentencing on July 30.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Hundreds of customers with TD Bank, Zelle and multiple other banks reported issues with logging into their accounts and sending payments on Friday morning, according to DownDetector.

Some of the other banks in which customers reported having issues on DownDetector were NBT Bank, Flagstar Bank, Cadence Bank, Webster Bank, Park National Bank and Northwest Bank.

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By 8 a.m. almost 800 people reported issues with TD Bank and Zelle with reports continuing to rise. By 10 a.m. users began reporting similar issues with services such as Ally Bank, Prosperity Bank, Bank of America, Navy Federal Credit Union, Capital One and Santander.

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Representatives for Webster Bank and Zelle told PIX11 News that multiple banks appeared to be experiencing issues due to a third-party vendor.

A third party vendor is experiencing a datacenter incident that is impacting Webster and other banks. We are working diligently with our vendor to resolve any technology access issues our clients may be experiencing as quickly as possible, the Webster Bank representative said.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

A Zelle spokesperson also shared the following statement regarding Fridays issues.

We are aware that certain Zelle users at some financial institutions are not able to use Zelle at this time. This situation involves an independent third-party that provides services to particular financial institutions. We are working diligently with our partners to resolve this matter as soon as we can. Zelle users may see transactions marked as payment pending in the meantime. We will share updates as more information becomes available. Zelle spokesperson

Multiple TD Bank users took to social media to express issues with the services app and website. A representative for the bank acknowledged the issues and assured customers that the servicer was working to resolve them.

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Weve been advised some applications may be experiencing issues and our Technical Support team is working diligently to resolve this. We appreciate your patience, the spokesperson said.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The U.S. Capitol on March 14, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

While Iowas federal delegation has spent the week taking action on issues like fentanyl and Air Force facilities in Washington, D.C., some of Iowas U.S. representatives have also weighed in on an issue in their home state  the upcoming governors race.

After Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, several Republican elected officials in state and federal office have been brought up in media and elsewhere as potential candidates to replace her as the GOP nominee. Within state government, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, House Speaker Pat Grassley and state legislators including Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, have indicated they are considering a run for the seat, though none have officially announced their candidacy. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is expected to join the race as the Democratic candidate but has also not announced an official run.

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Iowas four U.S. representatives, all Republican, have also been mentioned. Three of the four have already said they do not plan to run for the position. On the WHO AM Simon Conway show Thursday, Rep. Zach Nunn, representing Iowas 3rd Congressional District, said directly no, he will not run for governor.

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Governors race is open, I want to be very clear on this, Nunn told Conway, a conservative talk show host.  I think we all want to say thank you very much for Governor Reynolds, for her incredible service, for our state, for her leadership through COVID and beyond. Together, Governor Reynolds and I got to work on the three largest tax cuts in Iowa history, its better for every American. That said, we also have a mission. I am combat focused and trained, and now we are in Washington. Ive got a job to do.

Rep. Ashley Hinson also said she will not run for governor. She released a statement Tuesday saying she was thankful for the encouragement she has received from many Iowans asking her to run, but that she plans to stay in Washington to work with President Donald Trump on advancing a conservative agenda.

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We have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real, lasting change in our country right now, and Im committed to the fight to make Washington run more like Iowa, Hinson said. I am also committed to electing a conservative Governor in Iowa  Ill be out on the campaign trail doing everything I can to help keep Iowa the best place in the world to call home.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks ruled out a run in a statement earlier in April, saying she was honored for the consideration, but my current job is all encompassing and I will not be exploring a gubernatorial run.

The only representative who said he was open to running for the position is Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowas 4th Congressional District. According to the Des Moines Register, Feenstra was asked by reporters at an April Marshalltown event if hes keeping his options open for a potential gubernatorial campaign, and he answered I think thats a fair statement.

Outside of the 2026 gubernatorial race, heres some of what members of Iowas D.C. delegation weighed in on this week:

Ernst presses Air Force nominee for Sioux City airfield improvements

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst called for the Air Force to make planned updates to Sioux Citys 185th Air Refueling Wing in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday.

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The Iowa Republican brought up previous Air Force commitments to upgrade the Sioux City airfield during a hearing for Matthew Lohmeier, the nominee for the under-Secretary of Air Force position. Ernst said the Air Force said they would make these improvements for the 185th, a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard, when the refueling wing converted from F-16 fighters to KC-135 tankers in 2003.

Ernst said at the meeting because the tankers, a heavier aircraft that are carrying fuel for delivery, weigh significantly more than the previous fighters, the current Sioux City runway is unable to support these planes. She said further aircraft upgrades now underway in the Air Force further threaten the 185th, saying the squadron could potentially lose its mission because of the failure to upgrade this runway.

This is completely unacceptable, and the Air Force must live up to its commitment as of 22 years ago, Ernst said Thursday.

Lohmeier did not agree directly that the Air Force will go through with the upgrades to the Sioux City facility when pressed by Ernst, but said he would be very transparent in my communications on the issue and investigate further if confirmed.

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I make the same commitment to you that Ive made to Sen. (Tom) Cotton, or that Id be willing to make with any senator in this room, that Ill weigh each matter in a nonpolitical manner, try and make the best decisions for the force, Lohmeier said. And of course, Im very interested, Senator, as you suggested, in honoring the commitments that the Department of the Air Force has made in the past where thats feasible.

Ernst said she will continue to press Air Force leadership to follow through with the Sioux City facility improvements.

Iowas 185th has served with honor, and they absolutely deserve infrastructure that matches their operational demands, Ernst said. Im going to continue to press on this, and I hope that I have resolution in the near future. We need to make sure these commitments are honored.

Nunn, Ernst propose fentanyl legislation

Ernst also introduced a bill this week to raise criminal penalties for distributing fentanyl when the drug results in the users death.

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The Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act, introduced by Ernst in the Senate and Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, in the House, would make the act of knowingly distributing fentanyl a first-degree murder charge when the fentanyl use caused a persons death.

Ernst said in a statement Tuesday the measure will help prevent deaths from fentanyl.

I have seen firsthand how the scourge of fentanyl has inflicted incredible tragedy on communities across Iowa, Ernst said. I have worked for years to protect Americans and stop this deadly epidemic. Increasing the severity of the punishment for the drug dealers responsible for the deaths of too many Iowans is long overdue.

In 2024, the Iowa House passed a similar increase in criminal penalties for people who distribute fentanyl that results in death, but did not include the language in Ernsts legislation that the distributor must be knowingly sharing the drug. The Iowa House passed a similar measure again this year, but it has not been taken up by the Senate.

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In recent years, Iowa has seen an increase in overdose deaths related to fentanyl. Republicans at both the state and federal level have called for further action to secure the U.S.-Mexico southern border and prevent drug trafficking of fentanyl into the country. A 2020 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration report found most fentanyl is transported into the U.S. through legal ports of entry by U.S. citizens.

Nunn introduced a bill Tuesday alongside Rep. Josh Riley, D-New York, aimed at developing technology to detect fentanyl at the border and other government facilities.

The Stop Fentanyl Smuggling Act would direct the National Laboratories at the U.S. Department of Energy to research and develop new technologies that can detect fentanyl vapor and particles, particularly for use at U.S. border entry points and in prisons.

In a news release, Nunn said the measure will equip law enforcement with better tools for combatting fentanyl trafficking and will help prevent deaths caused by the drug.

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Fentanyl and synthetic opioids were responsible for 43% of all drug overdoses in Iowa in 2022, Nunn said in a statement. Every life lost to this poison is a family shattered.  Im proud to lead bipartisan legislation that empowers our border agents, first responders, and law enforcement with the tools they need to detect fentanyl before it reaches our streets. This is about saving lives and protecting Iowa communities.

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MEXICO CITY, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexico on Friday welcomed a U.S. decision to exempt Mexican auto parts from tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), calling it a major breakthrough for the country's manufacturing sector.

Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard said the exemption was confirmed in new U.S. customs guidance published Thursday, reaffirming that Mexican auto parts will be treated as if they originated in the United States and will enter duty-free.

"This is a significant step forward," Ebrard said during the government's daily press briefing. "Mexican auto parts, and those headed to Canada as well, will continue receiving the preferential treatment guaranteed by our treaty."

Ebrard, who has led negotiations with U.S. officials, said the development reflects progress in avoiding new trade barriers and protecting cross-border supply chains. He added that President Claudia Sheinbaum has made the issue a top priority.

"You can't slap a 25 percent tariff on auto parts, plus another 25 percent on steel, aluminum, and final products - that would wipe out entire companies," he said, referring to ongoing talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The tariff suspension follows the sixth phone call between Sheinbaum and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which both agreed to keep working toward solutions on trade and other bilateral issues.

Mexico continues negotiations with the United States to prevent the implementation of Trump's broader executive orders targeting key industrial sectors. 
District Attorney Thomas Quinn has announced the identity of a 19-year-old who was fatally shot in New Bedford on the night of April 29.

Jordan Roman of New Bedford has been identified as the deceased male.

This comes after police located a 19-year-old male, now known to be Roman, in a black Hyundai Sonata parked on the East side of Acushnet Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

Roman was transported to St. Lukes Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

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Authorities say that the homicide investigation is active and ongoing.

No other information is available at this time.

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.

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A man convicted of robbing a Rite Aid store multiple times and pepper spraying an employee faces multiple life sentences because of prior convictions, the Kern County District Attorney's Office announced.

A Kern County jury on Tuesday found Jonathan Goodrich guilty of three counts of robbery, two counts of using tear gas as a weapon, one count of attempted robbery and one count of petty theft, according to a DA's news release. He was acquitted of one count of shoplifting. The court also found true that Goodrich had two prior strike convictions, making this a third strike case.

According to the DA's office, the crimes happened between July 15 and 24 at the Rite Aid on 34th Street.

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On July 15, Goodrich took a can of pepper spray and sprayed employees in the face so he could steal cigarettes from behind the counter, a DA's office news release said. On July 20, he ordered an accomplice to steal cigarettes while he intimidated a Rite Aid employee.

On July 22, Goodrich threatened to spray the victim from the July 15 incident again. On July 24, the store employee tried to hold the doors closed to prevent Goodrich from entering, but he forced his way inside. He tried to walk behind the counter to steal more cigarettes, but was chased away.

Then on July 25, he entered the store one last time to steal cigarettes, and was arrested by Bakersfield Police Department officers.

Goodrich's crimes were captured on video surveillance, the DA's office said, and the victims testified in court. He is to be sentenced May 28.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a opposition filing Friday that the Menendez familys April 25 motion for him to recuse his office from the imprisoned brothers resentencing process is devoid of merit and desperate.

In the opposition, the District Attorneys Office has argued that in a drastic and desperate step, the defense has decided to sidestep the central issue of resentencing and present an argument devoid of merit to recuse the entire District Attorneys Office, Hochman said. The entire defense argument over recusal boils down to the defense not being happy with the current District Attorneys position on resentencing. While this desperate argument may work in a press interview, it fails in a court of law based on an adversarial system of justice.

Erik and Lyle Menendezs family filed a motion last week to recuse Hochman from their case. In the court documents, obtained by TheWrap, the brothers insist, The record shows a conflict that renders it unlikely Erik and Lyle can receive a fair resentencing hearing, recusal is proper, citing the L.A. politicians continued efforts to block their resentencing.

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No-one from the District Attorneys victim services department has contacted even a single one of the family members whose views conflicted with the views of Ms. Cadys former client, the filing reads. (Kathleen Cady in this case is the only family member to oppose resentencing.)

The motion continued: These family members shared their consistent view that nearly 35 years in prison was enough and Erik and Lyle should indeed be resentenced.

Hochman argued in Fridays opposition that the D.A. offices position on resentencing is not yet, rather than never, as it depends on the Menendez brothers finally coming clean after 30 years with all the crimes, lies, deceits, and cover-up they engaged in and refuse to renounce.

From lying about their claims of self-defense to trying to get friends to lie about their father being a violent rapist of one of the brothers girlfriends or the mother trying to poison the family, these continuous lies demonstrate that the Menendez brothers have not shown full insight into their crimes, have not been rehabilitated, and continue to constitute a risk of danger to society, Hochman stated, echoing previously made arguments he has made against the brothers resentencing, which was supported by former D.A. George Gascon.

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Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic has scheduled a hearing on May 9 to consider the resentencing motion after delays due to the Los Angeles wildfires and an effort from Hochman to allow more time to review a state risk assessment report on the brothers.

Hochman is separately facing a $5.25 million discrimination lawsuit from prosecutors from Gascons office who claim they were demoted in retaliation for supporting the Menendez brothers resentencing after Hochman was elected as D.A.

Lyle and Erik Menendez, now 57 and 54 years old, respectively, have been imprisoned since being found guilty of the 1989 double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Both were initially given life sentences without the possibility of parole in 1996 and have since become major aspects of pop culture.

The post DA Nathan Hochman Says Menendez Brothers Recusal Effort Is Devoid of Merit in Opposition Filing appeared first on TheWrap.
May 1HARLINGEN  The Cameron County District Attorney's Office is not commenting on a "pending investigation" into whether the Harlingen Fire Department falsified Valley International Airport firefighter training records.

On Thursday, District Attorney Luis V. Saenz declined to comment.

"The DA's office does not comment on pending investigations," he said.

On April 24, the district attorney's office requested city officials provide Federal Aviation Administration documents including information regarding the fire department's "misleading entries" into training records, City Attorney Mark Sossi said.

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In response, he provided the district attorney's office with two FAA investigation reports dated Feb. 19, he said in an interview.

Sossi said he had no other FAA documents stemming from the agency's investigation.

"We gave the DA everything we had from the FFA," City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez said, referring to the two Feb. 19 FAA documents.

Meanwhile, Marv Esterly, Valley International Airport's aviation director, said the district attorney's office had not contacted his office.

On April 22, the district attorney's office said it was requesting the FAA provide "their report regarding the Harlingen Fire Department's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting training compliance documents and related records for Valley International Airport."

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Late last year, Esterly contacted the FAA after three airport firefighters signed affidavits claiming deficiencies appearing to contradict records stemming from two training sessions conducted in June and July 2024, a Dec. 5, 2024 report shows.

"The discrepancies between the actual training conducted and the official training records raise the possibility of falsification," Esterly wrote the report to the FAA.

In one affidavit, a driver "indicates that the training session lasted less than 20 minutes and did not include hands-on training, despite the official training record inaccurately stating the session lasted one hour with no indication of skill performance being conducted," he wrote.

"Sworn affidavits from two ARFF personnel indicate that this class was significantly abbreviated, lasting only 14 minutes and, like the June session, lacked hands-on training," Esterly wrote in the report. "These discrepancies conflict with the official training record, which inaccurately claims compliance with the FAA-approved curriculum."

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In response, he reported concerns of falsified training records to Fire Chief Rafael Balderas, Esterly said.

"Chief Balderas has informed me that he is investigating the allegations," Esterly wrote in the report. "Additionally, I, along with the airport board chairman and the airport board attorney have met with the mayor, city manager and the city attorney to discuss these findings. During our meeting, they advised that they are committed to investigating these findings thoroughly ...."

As part of their investigation, city officials requested an internal audit into the allegations, the report states.

During the audit, Sanjuana Garcia, the city's internal auditor, reviewed the records, Esterly said.

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"She reviewed all training records for the ARFF and found no discrepancies," Gonzalez said.

Meanwhile, FAA officials interviewed a group of airport firefighters regarding allegations of abbreviated classes and failure to conduct hands-on training.

"HFD entered misleading entries into the June 13, 2024 and July 11, 2024 training record relative to the sufficiency and quality of the training," the FAA wrote in a Feb. 19 report. "The entries raised questions relative to potential falsification, reproduction or alteration of applications, certificates, reports or records in accordance" with the Code of Federal Regulations.

In its investigation, the FAA found "inadequate training and misleading entries to be directly isolated to the identified sessions and not systemic to the entire ARFF training program," the agency's report stated.

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In closing the case, FAA officials "concluded the matter does not warrant legal enforcement."

"We will expect your future compliance with the regulations," Denson E. Stasher, the FAA's manager of safety and standards branch, wrote in the report.

Last month, the airport's board of directors tabled action on a proposed resolution calling for the termination of the airport's $1.2 million agreement with the city providing the fire department's aircraft rescue and firefighting services.

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The California Board of Parole Hearings denied release to a man who was convicted of child abuse in Kern County and had his fifth parole hearing in March, the Kern County District Attorney's Office announced this week.

Christopher Cruz was found guilty on Jan. 29, 1999 of torture and felony child abuse with personal infliction of great bodily injury, a DA's office news release said, and he was sentenced to 11 years and four months to life in prison.

The DA's office said Cruz moved in with his girlfriend and her two children in Ridgecrest in 1988. After about a month, Cruzs abuse of the 3-year-old victim resulted in long-term hospitalization and lifelong physical disabilities including permanent brain damage.

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The victims injuries included 90 bruises on his body, a pinching injury to his genital area, subdural and retinal hemorrhaging consistent with abusive head trauma and blunt force trauma to his kidneys, liver, spleen, heart, pancreas, chest and neck, according to the DA's office.

"The doctor who treated the victim said 'there wasnt a part of his body that didnt have a bruise somewhere near it,'" the news release said.

In a change from his parole hearing testimony in 2023, the DA's office said, Cruz admitted he beat the child because he was angry with the child's mother. But Cruz at different points in the hearing still called the abuse discipline," the DA's news release said.

The Kern County District Attorneys Office asked the parole board to deny his release; Cruz was found to pose an unreasonable risk of danger to society.

Cruzs commissioners issued a three-year denial of parole.
Three workers died and two others were injured following an April 29 scaffolding collapse at the Port Arthur LNG construction site

Marcos Ramirez, who was injured, as well as the families of deceased workers Felipe Mendez and Felix Lopez have since filed a wrongful death lawsuit

They showed up for work and were doing what they were told to do and following procedure and instruction to the best of their ability," claims lawyer Ryan Zehl

The families of two workers who died in a scaffolding collapse at a large construction site in Texas earlier this week have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

As you would expect, they are overwhelmed with grief, despair, and a rollercoaster of emotions, Ryan Zehl, a Houston-based attorney representing the families of Felipe Mendez and Felix Lopez, tells PEOPLE. This was an unexpected and preventable tragedy, and they expected to see their dads and their husbands again when they said goodbye to them in the mornings. They didn't realize that was their last goodbye, their last time to see their loved ones."

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Lopez, Mendez and Reginald Magee, who worked for construction contractor Bechtel, fell to their deaths at the Port Arthur LNG site on Tuesday, April 29, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in a statement on Facebook.

In the wake of the incident, Bechtel, a construction and project management company, confirmed that a "tank jump form system incident" occurred, which led to three deaths and two injuries.

An investigation is ongoing.

Related: At Least 11 People Dead  Several from the Same Family  After a 4-Story Residential Building Collapsed

In a complaint filed in Harris District County Court, which has been obtained by PEOPLE, Marcos Ramirez, one of the two people who were injured from the incident, as well as the families of Mendez and Lopez claim that negligence led to the tragic collapse.

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Zehl claims that while the victims were working on scaffolding platforms" there were "simultaneous crane operations" taking place.

"There was a load on the crane that evidently failed, the load fell and hit the platform scaffold and caused that scaffold to tilt," he alleges. "And that's when Mr. Lopez and Mr. Mendez fell to their deaths.

Among those named in the suits as defendants are ConocoPhillips Company, Port Arthur LNG and Sempra. According to its website, the Port Arthur LNG project is a $13 billion liquefaction and export terminal that is being developed by Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips.

KBMT reported that another lawsuit was filed on behalf of Magee's family, which also names Bechtel as a defendant. Speaking with PEOPLE, Zehl says that while Bechtel was not initially named as a defendant in his suit, the company may be added in later. "As more information becomes available, I expect the number of defendants to grow," the lawyer says.

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Related: 2 Construction Workers Dead After Trench Collapse at JFK Airport

A representative for Sempra Infrastructure told PEOPLE in an email that the company does not comment on active litigation, while ConocoPhillips did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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In a previous statement to Fox affiliate KRIV the company said that they do not comment on pending litigation.

Zehl & Associates Felipe Mendez (R) Felipe Mendez (R)

Zehl contends there was nothing that the workers did that contributed to their deaths and injuries.

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"They showed up for work and were doing what they were told to do and following procedure and instruction to the best of their ability, he says. They were just on the platforms trying to do their jobs, and the platform failed because of a load and they plunged to their tragic deaths.

Both Mendez, 25, of Houston, and Lopez, 42, of Pearland, leave behind their families. Mendez was married and had a 6-month-old child; Lopez was married with four children.

I've been talking to family members and what I can tell you is just collectively, Felix and Felipe both were completely dedicated to their families, Zehl says. They loved every minute that they could spend with their kids and their spouses."

Zehl & Associates Felipe Mendez (second from the left) Felipe Mendez (second from the left)

Zehl tells PEOPLE that he is seeking over $1 million in damages for each of his clients - and he hopes that Ramirez and the families of Lopez and Mendez will get answers about why the tragic events of April 29 happened.

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They want to understand how their fathers, their husbands...went to work with these large companies that are supposed to be safety conscious companies and didn't come home that day," he says, noting that of course, they also hope to help ensure that "steps are taken so that we don't have similar incidents again.

Related: Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Thailand, Causing a 30-Story Building to Collapse as Seen in Terrifying Video

In a message posted on Bechtels website, the companys officials addressed the tragedy involving Lopez, Mendez and Magee.

No words are adequate to express how deeply the loss of three of our colleagues is felt, the company wrote, sharing that they are cooperating fully with OSHA and local officials and have begun their own internal review as well.

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"In the meantime, we have suspended work at Port Arthur until further notice and will restart with the appropriate care and recognition of the losses that have been suffered," the company continued. "And out of an abundance of caution, we have also paused tank work at two other projects where similar work was underway.

Read the original article on People
May 1STERLING  Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard has appointed David Northcutt as the next fire chief for the Sterling Fire Department, effective April 30, 2025.

Northcutt has served as Deputy Chief of the SFD since March 2023. He previously served as a captain with the Rock Falls Fire Department, where he was employed for more than 23 years and is the current Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 30 president. He also served as a 911 dispatcher, as a Fire Officer Program instructor at Sauk Valley Community College and is a U.S. Army veteran.

"I've been doing a lot of it already, so it's not a whole lot of change," Northcutt said. "However, there is a little weight that came with the official announcement. The biggest thing for me is the support that I've had, people messaging, calling, emailing, all that ... very humbling to have that much support."

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Shumard said that appointing department heads falls under the authority of the city manager. The position was advertised online and with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and the Great Lakes Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

"Three applications were received," Shumard said. "After meeting with one applicant, he was ruled out as his certifications were in Michigan, and Illinois law has stricter requirements for out-of-state fire chief candidates that the candidate did not have."

The remaining two candidates were interviewed, and the city retained MGT Solutions to conduct an "assessment center" for those candidates.

"The Assessment Center is a series of written, oral and presentation tests administered by a team of current or former chiefs to evaluate how candidates respond to various scenarios," Shumard said. "Personality profiles were also completed at this stage."

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The 2025 wage study that was completed for the city recommended a salary range of $110,210-$148,220 for the position. Shumard said Northcutt will start at $112,965.

In a news release issued by the city, Shumard said that Chief Northcutt was well prepared for the position through his experience as deputy chief and tutelage from interim Chief Forest Reeder.

"Chief Northcutt's experience with the Rock Falls automatic aid agreement, his time as deputy chief and mentorship from interim Chief Reeder makes him a well-qualified successor," Shumard said. "Northcutt will continue the culture of increased integrity and, most importantly, accountability in the Sterling Fire Department."

Northcutt plans to improve training and professionalism within the SFD to make it a leader in both areas. He wants to build on the progress made over the past year and strengthen partnerships with nearby departments through MABAS to improve teamwork and emergency response in the area. He said that strengthening collaboration with neighboring departments starts with open communication.

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"The first thing is communication, it's got to start there," Northcutt said, adding that understanding each department's practices and priorities is key to serving the region as a whole. He noted that while Sterling operates as a full-time department, it still relies on assistance from surrounding agencies, including volunteer departments, for large-scale emergencies.

Northcutt expressed deep appreciation for that support and stressed the importance of sharing resources and knowledge. He said that when firefighters attend specialized training, the goal should not be to benefit only one department.

"If we have a little bit better funding mechanism to go to classes and things like that, when we do come back, don't just use it for us, but to pass on that knowledge to the other department."
May 2 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1519, Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist, scientist and inventor, died at age 67.

In 1611, a new translation of the Bible in England, popularly called the King James Bible after King James I, was published.

In 1863, Confederate Gen. Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was mistakenly shot by his own soldiers. He died eight days later.

File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Myanma service members form a line to unload water supplies from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft at Rangoon International Airport in Myanmar on May 12, 2008. The shipment of water, mosquito nets and blankets arrived on the first of three planned relief flights to provide aid to citizens devastated by Tropical Cyclone Nargis. File Photo by Andres Alcaraz/U.S. Marine Corps

In 1913, the United States formally recognized President Yuan Shikai and his Republic of China.

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In 1941, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved the regular scheduling of commercial television broadcasts.

Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" painting is on display at a press preview at Christie's in New York City on November 3. On May 2, 1519, the Italian artist, scientist and inventor, died at age 67. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI

File Photo by Larry Rubenstein/UPI

In 1972, 91 people were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in a mine fire in Kellogg, Idaho. The Sunshine Mine is one of the world's most profitable silver mines in the world.

The Museum of the Bible is seen during a preview in Washington, D.C., on November 14. On May 2, 1611, a new translation of the Bible in England, popularly called the King James Bible after King James I, was published. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

In 1972, J. Edgar Hoover died at the age of 77 after nearly five decades as director of the FBI.

In 1995, the Clinton administration announced that Cuban boat people seeking asylum in the United States would be henceforth returned to Cuba.

A wax figure of J. Edgar Hoover is on display during a preview of the Newseum's exhibit, "G-Men and Journalists: Top News Stories of the FBI's First Century" in Washington, on June 17, 2008. Hoover died May 2, 1972 at the age of 77. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

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In 2004, Nigerian Christian militants attacked the Muslim town of Yelwa with firearms and machetes in reprisal for an attack in February 2004. The Nigerian Red Cross put the death toll at 630.

In 2008, Tropical Cyclone Nargis, with winds up to 120 mph, slammed into densely populated southern Myanmar. The death toll was eventually raised to nearly 140,000 people.

In 2010, Greece was saved from defaulting on its debts by the International Monetary Fund and the 16 European countries of the eurozone, which agreed on a $146 billion loan package for the struggling country.

In 2014, a landslide struck a remote village in north Afghanistan, killing more than 2,000 people. An international official called the massive mud and rock collapse "absolutely devastating."

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In 2019, a drone delivered an organ for transplant for the first time -- a kidney at a Maryland hospital.

In 2022, a draft opinion by the Supreme Court overturning the landmark abortion ruling Roe vs. Wade was leaked. The high court officially released its opinion on June 24, 2022.

In 2023, the board of directors for the Writers Guild of America voted unanimously to go on strike after negotiations for better pay with major studios and streaming services. The walkout ended Sept. 27, 2023, with an agreement.
CARACAS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A group of 174 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrived Friday at Caracas' Maiquetia International Airport, Venezuelan authorities said.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello welcomed the group, which included 142 men, 18 women, six mothers, and eight children, all transported aboard a U.S.-based charter flight.

The repatriation is part of Venezuela's "Plan Vuelta a la Patria" (Return to the Homeland), a government initiative aimed at reintegrating returning migrants.

"These operations require extraordinary coordination efforts. There's no program like Venezuela's repatriation plan," Cabello said.

He also addressed concerns over a two-year-old girl, Maikelys Espinoza, who was reportedly separated from her mother before a deportation flight and left behind in the United States.

"They stole a Venezuelan child. There's word this has happened repeatedly - more children being separated from their parents," Cabello alleged, calling for national solidarity in supporting Maikelys and her family.

Another repatriation flight is expected later Friday, which would bring the total number of Venezuelans returned from the United States this year to over 3,600, according to Venezuela's Interior Ministry. 
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Grant funding is being awarded to clean-up illegal materials dumped at a site in West Dayton.

The city announced that Dayton is receiving a $47,696 grant, also known as the Shine a Light on Dumpers, award.

The money will afford the hiring of a contractor to remove materials, the establishing of concrete barriers to deter dumping and the installation of cameras.

Experts set to illuminate Daytons World War II History

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The dumpsite is located at 3800 Germantown Street and the site has been filled with tires, demolition debris and bags of refuse. Clean-up of the site is expected to be completed by early 2026.

The award amount equaled the total requested by the city and is courtesy of the Attorney Generals Office.

Environmental clean-up requires a team approach, and City staff are committed to doing what it takes to get the job done, said City Manager Shelley Dickstein in a press release. We appreciate the essential resources provided by the office of Attorney General Yost to remediate the site and help prevent future problems.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
May 1A Dayton man will face up to life in prison for the murder of Arron Tigner, 28, who was shot outside a Dayton bar last year.

De'Niro Lamar Barker Sr., 33, was sentenced by Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Montgomery to 24 years to life in prison after he was convicted of two counts each of murder and felonious assault and one count of having weapons while under disability.

At about 1:30 a.m. March 9, 2024, Dayton police were called to Partners Bar, 443 Patterson Road, after a 911 called said he heard a popping sound and saw a man laying in the road holding his stomach, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center records.

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The man, later identified as Tigner, had multiple gunshot wounds. Medics took him to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

According to an affidavit filed in Dayton Municipal Court, a woman who was with Tigner told detectives he got into an argument with another man, later identified by detectives as Barker, at nearby Brewski's Bar at 446 Patterson Road.

The argument reportedly continued in the parking lot before the other man drove away.

When Tigner and the woman went back to her car, the same man ran out of Partners Bar and confronted them, shooting Tigner multiple times, the affidavit said.

Staff writers Kristen Spicker and Jen Balduf contributed to this report.
May 2A Dayton police sergeant who was fired after he was convicted of several misdemeanor crimes has been reinstated following an arbitrator's ruling.

Joseph Setty, 43, was accused by multiple women of engaging in non-consensual sexual acts, and he pleaded no contest a year ago to unlawful restraint (a third-degree misdemeanor) and two counts of disorderly conduct (fourth-degree misdemeanors).

He was sentenced to up to three years of community control (probation), but the court terminated his community control earlier this year.

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The Dayton Police Department released a statement this week announcing the arbitrator's ruling, and saying that the city will appeal. The city said the "serious nature" of the accusations of sexual assault against Setty should have played a bigger role in the arbitrator's decision.

"My concern is about our officers, this department and this profession," Dayton police Chief Kamran Afzal said in a statement. "I strongly believe that the correct decision is and remains that Setty should not work for this department."

Setty was placed on unpaid leave in June of last year and he was fired a couple of months later. The police officers' union, the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police, filed grievances, and an arbitrator ruled that Setty should be reinstated with back pay and benefits, the city said.

Setty was put on paid leave in 2023 after police leadership learned about accusations made against him on a private Facebook group called "Are We Dating the Same Guy?Cincinnati/Dayton."

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The page provided a platform where women share information about men they date to try to determine if they are cheating or have bad reputations.

A few women told investigators with the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation that Setty performed sex acts while they were being intimate that they did not consent to, and that he did not stop when told to, investigative records state.

One woman told investigators that she performed a sex act on Setty at his home in 2023 because she believed she did not have a choice and it was the only way she was going to be able to leave, an investigative report states.

Setty joined the Dayton Police Department in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in 2016.

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In a sentencing memo, Setty's attorney Antony Abboud said his client is an active member of the community, and was a respectable, kind and dedicated individual when serving in law enforcement.

"Mr. Setty has no previous criminal history and expresses remorse for his actions," the memo states.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Families, healthcare leaders and elected officials are sounding the alarm over the potentially devastating impacts from proposed cuts to Medicaid.

This is not a red state, blue state issue. This is an issue of do we want to have quality healthcare in the nations capital or not. And we do. All Americans want that, said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

According to Bowser, Congress is considering cutting back the Districts Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) from 70% to 50%. This comes as federal lawmakers look to cut funding for the program nationwide in an effort to save money.

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Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that helps provide medical care for low-income residents, those with disabilities, pregnant women and more.

If it somehow sounds like theres anger in my voice, there is: Tensions rise as DC Council waits for the 2026 budget

In D.C., more than 285,000 people are on Medicaid, including 95,000 infants and children, 28,000 elderly people and 27,000 people with disabilities.

A reduction in FMAP would result in a total loss of $2.1 billion for hospitals, universities and community partners, according to the District.

This will lead to hospital closures, longer wait times, cuts to life-saving services, said Bowser. This would be a drop in the bucket [for the federal government]. This change for the federal government wouldnt close any gaps, but it would close hospitals in the District.

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Childrens National Hospital would be hit particularly hard.

It would cost Childrens National an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars, said CEO Michelle Riley-Brown. A cut of this magnitude would force us to make difficult decisions, including scaling back critical services. It would also jeopardize cutting edge pediatric research and limit our ability to meet the needs of children.

According to Riley-Brown, 70% of visits to the hospitals emergency department are paid for through Medicaid. The inpatient unit that would be hit the hardest by cuts is the neonatal unit (NICU), which treats infant children, she noted.

This is the most concerning threat to childrens health care I have seen in my 26-year career, Riley-Brown said.

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Lets bring the Commanders home: Bowser, Washington Commanders announce nearly $3 billion RFK Stadium deal

What Medicaid does for so many families like me and my daughter, Abria  it is literally a lifeline, said LaJoy Johnson-Law, a Ward 8 mother.

Johnson-Laws 13-year-old daughter has special medical needs and relies on the program.

It really helps us to be able to fund the providers so were able to get high-quality care, explained Johnson-Law. Her specialty appointments, so think about your neurologist, your pulmonary, your cardiologist. In addition to the medication and frankly just your primary care doctor.

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According to Johnson-Law, Abria was born extremely early and had to spend time in the NICU. Without Medicaid coverage, the cost wouldve been $1 million.

I dont have a million dollars. Thats how much it cost for her to stay in the NICU: $1 million  just that alone, not including specialized surgery or other care. Just to bring her into this world, for her to stay in the NICU, $1 million.

She said if D.C.s Medicaid percentage is slashed, shell be forced to make difficult decisions on how to best care for her family.

As a mother, to say hey, you may not be able to afford your childs medication, is really heartbreaking for me. Im supposed to be her protector, she said. We would have to make some really tough decisions. Am I paying to put a roof over her head, or am I paying for her medication?

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Its unclear when Congress will put forth a finalized plan on proposed Medicaid cuts.

According to DC News Nows partners at The Hill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is planning a May 7 meeting to finalize discussions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man who died in police custody last month has been ruled a homicide by the Montgomery County Coroner.

According to the Montgomery County Coroners Office, 25-year-old Christian Black died by mechanical and positional asphyxia on March 26. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Black died in the hospital days after an incident in the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held after crashing a stolen car and attempting to flee police.

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The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says while in custody, Black began forcefully and repeatedly striking his head against the door of his cell, causing correctional staff to intervene and place him in a restraint chair.

While in the restraint chair, Black lost consciousness, prompting jail staff to perform CPR before he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He died in the hospital three days later.

An external investigation is ongoing by the Dayton Police Department and Montgomery County Coroners Office. The sheriffs office will conduct their own internal investigation and review once the external case concluded.

2 NEWS reached out to Blacks familys lawyer for comment on this development. Attorneys say the family met with Sheriff Streck this week and reviewed video from the incident, calling the footage horrific.

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The familys lawyer says the employees present did not follow proper procedure, which led to Blacks death.

Every day in jails across the country, detainees act out and need to be subdued, much like Mr. Black on March 23, said the attorney statement. However, it is clear after watching the video that the jail employees who were tasked with subduing him did not follow proper policies and procedures which ultimately caused his death.

The family says video shows jail employees failing to offer any life-saving measures as Black was dying right in front of them.

Just yesterday, Sheriff Rob Streck announced the ten employees involved in Blacks restraint have been placed on paid administrative leave while investigation continues.

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Attorneys for the family say they want criminal charges brought against these individuals for their involvement in Blacks death.

We will continue to pursue justice for Mr. Black and his family. Our investigation is ongoing, said the attorney.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WKBN)  The death sentence of a man convicted of a 2001 murder in Trumbull County has been vacated.

Read next: Pirates fan who fell over railing at PNC Park identified as former college football player

In an order filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Ohio, Judge James Gwin ordered that the death sentence of Nathaniel Jackson be vacated following a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.

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The Court of Appeals concluded that Jacksons sentencing proceeding was blatantly unconstitutional at its core due to the trial-court judges bias and misconduct, as well as his exclusion at sentencing of relevant mitigating evidence.

Jacksons claim stated that the judge who handled the case, Judge John Stuard, had improper communications and collaborations with an assistant prosecutor.

Jackson will be resentenced.

Jackson was convicted of plotting to kill Robert Fingerhut for insurance money with Fingerhuts ex-wife, Donna Roberts, when he was in jail for an unrelated gun charge.

At the time of the murder, Roberts and Fingerhut were divorced but lived together in Howland Township. Jackson was found guilty of breaking into the home and fatally shooting Fingerhut. Prosecutors say this plan was detailed in phone conversations and letters between Jackson and Roberts.

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Jackson and Roberts were both sentenced to death for the crime. Roberts had an appeal denied in 2023, and she is currently on death row.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle is making its way to town.

Experts said the last sightings of the beetle near Waikiki was 10 years ago, and now trees near Ala Moana are showing signs of damage.

Kauai councilmember sounding emergency alarm on coconut rhinoceros beetles

Experts said thats a concern because the beetle can travel about two miles.

The CRB Response Team said it spotted new and old damage on palms near the new pedestrian bridge on Ala Moana Blvd, on the public end of the bridge.

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Sick of $8 tomatoes? Build a lanai garden, eat for (almost) nothing

Although the beetle doesnt prefer urban settings, experts say its likely brought to town via new development and landscaping.

Have you seen Zuckerbergs $500M superyacht in Hawaiis waters? Heres a peek inside with 16 facts

We were expecting CRB to show up in town, eventually, said Michael Melzer, researcher at the University of Hawaiis Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. We were hoping it was going to be longer before it started making its way in. Unfortunately, its here.

Visiting paradise comes with a price: 8 things to know about Hawaiis new tax

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He said people will start to see damage in areas like Ala Moana and Waikiki, but it wont be as dramatic as places like North Shore.

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Experts say it can take six months to see signs of damage, like the vs in the palm fronds, and two to three years for heavy infestations. However, the beetles dont prefer town to begin with.

They need mulch piles, decaying stumps, decaying plant materials to go through its life cycle, and it needs moisture, explained Keith Weiser, UH CRB Response Deputy Incident Commander.

Since town is mostly buildings and parking lots, they say its hard for the beetle to establish a breeding ground, unless its brought in.

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Workers for a new Ala Moana development off Keeaumoku were seen placing palm trees with CRB damage, including bore holes and V-shaped palms.

KHON2 reached out to the company for comment which said the project manager told them they are treating the trees prior to delivery and installation, and currently working on getting the trees treated.

KHON2 asked if the beetles will eventually reach Waikiki.

North Shore seeing advanced infestation of coconut rhinoceros beetle, experts on what to do

We have caught beetles in Waikiki, its unclear whether a breeding population has established there, Weiser explained.

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But at the ends of Waikiki, you have Kapiolani Park on one side and some natural areas with Ala Moana Park on the other side, he continued. If those parks have accumulations and stumps and things you could see [beetle] populations on either end so I think being cognizant of breeding materials in Waikiki thats going to dictate a lot of the populations out there.

Town is actually our greatest concentration of palm trees, explained Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson Nate Serota.

The city said its been trying different treatments to combat CRB from netting, to prohibiting new palms, spraying pesticides and injections. He said there are pros and cons to each, but in the end, there are more palm trees than workers, and it comes down to funding as well.

In a lot of cases, were not necessarily able to treat the palms impacted because we have thousands of palms in our inventory, he explained. Its very labor-intensive and we just cant get to every single tree, really CRB is ahead of what a lot of our efforts are at this point.

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He said for now, south shore parks are mostly CRB-free, but private areas nearby show signs of damage.

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CRB doesnt care about jurisdiction, its going to go to whatever palm it can to feed, infest, and kill the tree, he added.

He along with the CRB Response said it will be a team effort between private landowners, the city, and the state to stop the beetle from destroying the rest of Oahus beautiful scenery.

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Rhode Islands Roger Williams University is mourning the death of a student who died unexpectedly last week while studying abroad in Florence, Italy.

Paige Moreau, an architecture student in the universitys class of 2026, passed away on April 26 after she experienced a medical emergency, the university announced in a Facebook post.

Moreau was a resident assistant and building manager at the universitys Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation office.

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"Her leadership, mentorship, and spirit touched the lives of many," the university wrote in the post. Paige will be deeply missed. As we mourn this profound loss, we stand together sending messages of love and support to her friends and family.

Matt Silva, the senior project manager at the architectural firm Bisbano + Associates, Inc. in Providence, said in a statement that Moreau was set to return for a summer internship.

Paige brought a breath of fresh air and perspective to our office, from her sudden picture taking, quips, great questions, and attention to detail, Silva said. She wasnt shy to share her thoughts and opinions  a true architect in the making."

Moreau was a graduate of Lincoln High School, according to her LinkedIn profile.

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Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks during a National Day of Prayer event at the Capitol complex on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Despite possibly facing contempt sanctions, Attorney General James Uthmeier wont tell law enforcement to comply with a federal judges order suspending an immigration law that led to the arrest of a U.S. citizen.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams is considering holding Uthmeier in contempt over his greenlighting of arrests under a law making it a first-degree misdemeanor for a person to enter the state as an unauthorized alien  despite her order temporarily blocking enforcement.

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The law adds heightened penalties for re-entry.

In his first acknowledgement of the possible sanctions reported Tuesday, Uthmeier told Fox News Digital that he wont tell law enforcement to stop fulfilling their constitutional duties. The attorney generals press secretary didnt respond to multiple requests for comment from the Florida Phoenix.

I do not believe an AG should be held in contempt for respecting the rule of law and appropriate separation of powers, Uthmeier said. The ACLU is dead set on obstructing President Donald Trumps efforts to detain and deport illegals, and we are going to fight back. We will vigorously defend our laws and advance President Trumps agenda on illegal immigration.

Williams scheduled a hearing on May 29 in the Miami federal court to discuss sanctions against Uthmeier over his defiance of her court order in his April 23 letter to law enforcement stating that there wasnt a legitimate order stopping them from arresting people under the entry and reentry law.

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But that April 23 letter was a pivot from another letter Uthmeier sent five days earlier, telling law enforcement agencies, sheriffs, and police chiefs that they shouldnt arrest anyone under SB 4C, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on Feb. 13 and Williams temporarily blocked on April 4.

Color me surprised and shocked, Williams said, asking what had happened in the five days between the letters, during a Tuesday hearing.

His office did not say whether Uthmeier would attend the hearing. Uthmeier has been attorney general since February. DeSantis appointed his former chief of staff to replace Ashley Moody after her ascension to the U.S. Senate, another appointment by the governor.

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Laws suspension

Along with the contemplation of sanctions, Williams on Tuesday suspended the law for the remainder of the litigation. However, the defendants  Uthmeier, the statewide prosecutor, and state attorneys  almost immediately filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Theyve also asked Williams to remove her block.

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The Florida Immigrant Coalition, The Farmworker Association of Florida, and two women lacking permanent legal status brought the suit against the state claiming the law is unconstitutional because federal law governs entry into the country.

This case is about more than one law  its about whether our leaders will follow the Constitution, said Amy Godshall, an immigrants rights attorney at the ACLU of Florida, in a press release Wednesday.

Americans for Immigrant Justice and the Community Justice Project attorneys also represent the plaintiffs.

Uthmeiers argument is that the courts order doesnt apply to law enforcement, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol, because those entities are not named defendants and he lacks authority to discipline them.

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Still, Williams showed irritation with that argument Tuesday, saying Uthmeiers statements on social media showed he exercises authority over law enforcement agencies.

The defendants position that arrests should continue even if prosecutors cant carry forward the cases raised grave constitutional concerns with due process, Williams wrote in her order.

Continued arrests following the suspension of the law had also prompted frustration from Williams, who mentioned in her order the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Leon County.

An FHP trooper arrested Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old born in Georgia, on April 16. The case garnered national attention following the Florida Phoenixs reporting of the arrest without probable cause and Lopez-Gomezs subsequent release from the Leon County Jail.

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No arrests under the suspended law have taken place since Williams further clarified on April 18 that her order applies to law enforcement, Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa told Williams during the Tuesday hearing.

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BANGKOK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's business sentiment fell sharply in April, dragged down by weaker confidence among the non-manufacturing and export-oriented manufacturing sectors amid global trade tensions, the central bank said on Friday.

The Southeast Asian country's business sentiment index (BSI) was recorded at 47.1 last month, plummeting from 50.2 in March, as most components of the index declined.

The manufacturing index saw a steep drop, particularly in the production sub-indices, as concerns surrounding U.S. tariffs significantly eroded respondents' confidence in export-oriented manufacturing industries, the central bank said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the non-manufacturing index declined across several businesses, especially in the real estate sector, as a powerful earthquake in late March deferred the transfer of ownership for high-rise properties.

The three-month expected BSI plunged to 48.9 in April from 50.7 a month earlier due to a fall in nearly all components and businesses, led by the electrical appliance industry, where respondents experienced a substantial reduction in production and performance sub-indices.

The reading was based on a survey of 700 respondents from large and medium-sized firms. 
DELHI, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A Delhi man convicted of selling fentanyl was sentenced to two years in prison in Delaware County Court Tuesday.

Delaware County DA Shawn Smith announced Friday that 32-year-old Michael Vogel, of Delhi, will serve two years after admitting to possessing and intending to sell fentanyl. Vogel was arrested in October 2024 after an investigation dating back to May by the Delaware County Sheriffs Office determined Vogel was involved in the sale of fentanyl.

Vogel was arrested on a one-count indictment alleging Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, which he later admitted to as part of a guilty plea deal.

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Vogel will serve two years of post-release supervision following his two years in prison.

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., dismissed a question about his 17-percent approval rating when asked Tuesday whether he is becoming a political liability for his own party. Schumer responded that polls come and go, and the Democratic Party is going after Trump and having real success.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., joins On Balance to discuss why he believes his party lacks a clear message.

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Democratic senators alleged Friday that tech billionaire Elon Musk may have used his White House job to drum up private deals in foreign countries for Starlink, his satellite internet service.

In a letter to President Donald Trump, 13 senators led by Mark Warner, D-Va., wrote that Starlink seemed to make sudden breakthroughs this year in at least five countries that previously resisted giving the company footholds there. The senators called for Trump to investigate and make the findings public.

It is disturbing that the Senate ... has to consider the possibility of self-dealing by senior officials, they wrote in the letter.

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Musk is reportedly taking advantage of his government role to coerce concessions from foreign governments for his own benefit, including unfettered market access as well as contracts with his companies, in exchange for favorable treatment by the U.S. government, they wrote.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has said Musk follows all applicable ethics rules related to his dual role as a presidential adviser and corporate executive.

SpaceX and Musk also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, where Musk is CEO. In a highly unusual move, Musk kept his CEO roles at SpaceX and Tesla while he has been an adviser to Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency since January.

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During five weeks beginning in March, Starlink reached agreements with governments and telecommunications companies to operate in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Lesotho, according to statements by government officials and companies in those countries.

The Democratic senators wrote that theyre concerned Musk exploited his government position to seal those deals. They noted Musks sprawling business interests and his meetings, while in government, with the leaders of some of the countries where Starlink has made new agreements.

In February, Musk spoke with Bangladeshi officials via teleconference, and according to Bangladeshs interim head of government, Muhammad Yunus, Starlink was a topic of discussion. The same month, Musk met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Blair House, a government guest house near the White House. Its not clear whether the two men discussed Starlink during the meeting.

Two Indian companies, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, announced deals March 11 to bring Starlink to India. Bangladesh announced a deal a few weeks later.

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The senators also cited news reports, including one this week in The Washington Post, which cited several anonymous sources, outlining how some foreign leaders interpreted the Starlink deals as one way to win special treatment from the Trump administration in tariff negotiations. Yunus mentioned Starlink in a letter to Trump last month outlining steps that he said Bangladesh took to build goodwill for a tariff deal.

And in February, citing anonymous sources, Reuters reported that Vietnams plans to let Starlink into the country were motivated by a desire to reach a tariff deal. Vietnams government said March 26 that it would allow SpaceX to operate there on a trial basis.

Public servants must serve Americans, not their own bank accounts, the letter says.

These alleged actions are an egregious breach of public trust, degrade our credibility with allies and partners, and potentially violate U.S. laws, it says.

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Though no Republicans signed the letter, some of the Senates highest-ranking Democrats did. Warner is the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee. Others signing the letter include Patty Murray, D-Wash., vice chair of the Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed, D-R.I., ranking member of the Armed Services Committee; and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the ranking member of the Budget Committee.

This year, Starlink has also increased its footprint within the federal government, with multiple federal agencies exploring the service as an option for internet access, NBC News has reported.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON  For months, Democrats have struggled with an identity crisis. After losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in November, the party has lacked a unified message and has failed to coalesce around a central leader.

Enter Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Ocasio-Cortez has long been considered an up-and-comer in the Democratic Party, especially after she was first elected by defeating 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley for New Yorks 14th District seat. Since then, shes become one of the most recognizable faces of the progressive movement.

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All of that has crescendoed in recent months. As Democratic voters increasingly call for new leadership following the loss of the White House and both chambers of Congress in the 2024 elections, Ocasio-Cortez has raced to fill that void. Shes crushing her own fundraising records in an off-election year and shes ahead in early polls weighing 2028 presidential candidates.

If you look at her favorability among Democrats, shes very popular across the board, Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist, told the Deseret News. Its not just young people; its just not progressives.

On top of all that, shes filling stadiums for rallies nationwide  even in red states.

She and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., launched the Fighting Oligarchy Tour earlier this year to energize the base, finding themselves in filled-to-capacity arenas in states that have trended Republican for decades.

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The pair appeared before more than 20,000 Utahns in Salt Lake City earlier this month as they went after President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and other GOP leaders  all in an effort to mobilize voters through a message of resistance.

This movement isnt about partisan labels or purity tests, Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd at the Huntsman Center. But it is about class solidarity.

Thousands gathered in SLC Sunday evening for Sen. Bernie Sanders Fighting Oligarchy Tour with special guest Rep. AOC. They blasted billionaires, Donald Trump, and corporate money. But critics say their populist message clashes with their own elite perks. pic.twitter.com/zExdhpWVXX  Emma Pitts (@epitts103) April 14, 2025

AOC = Bernie 2.0?

Ocasio-Cortez owes at least some of her rise to Sanders for the launching pad hes provided her.

For years, Sanders has been one of the most prominent progressive voices in the country. Hes notched consistently high favorability ratings and was ranked as the most popular senator in the country earlier this year with a 69% approval rating.

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Sanders has not been quiet in his criticism of the Democratic Party, arguing lawmakers lack a vision for the future and are failing the working class.

But that criticism apparently does not extend to Ocasio-Cortez, whom the four-term senator has expressed fondness for.

Now I want to say a word about my daughter, Sanders said during the Salt Lake City rally, prompting laughter from the crowd.

The pair are closely aligned on several policy issues that have become central to the progressive base. But they arent as popular among Democrats at large, which could threaten Ocasio-Cortezs reach to more moderate corners of the party.

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For example, Ocasio-Cortez has long championed policies such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, student debt cancellation, and universal child care  proposals that have raised some eyebrows as being too expensive and politically risky.

Those same policy stances are what caused Sanders failure to garner more support for his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids as they posed electability concerns. These policy positions could raise similar obstacles for Ocasio-Cortez.

Voters say AOC could be new Democratic face ... but old-time leaders not so sure

Sanders has endorsed new leadership within Democratic ranks  and his frequent appearances with Ocasio-Cortez may amount to him passing the torch he has wielded for years.

Bernies very popular among Democrats, and I think hes transferred some of that popularity to AOC, Bannon said. She embodies the energy on the left. And I think the Democratic progressives are very restless. They want new leadership. They want younger leadership. And shes in a perfect place to inherit that.

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That sentiment is reflected in national polling. Although Democrats lack a central party leader, there are a handful of lawmakers whom voters say best reflect their values  with Ocasio-Cortez leading the pack.

About 10% of Democratic-aligned voters said Ocasio-Cortez best represents the party, the most of any party figure. By comparison, Sanders came in third with 8%.

Still, Ocasio-Cortez could face an uphill battle as she tries to climb the ranks  especially as some of the more traditional party leaders have questioned her viability.

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville warned not to let Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders become the face of the party, arguing Democrats would be better off if they found someone else to represent the base.

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Theres truly depth and talent in the Democratic Party and the faster that we can get them on the field and people seeing them, and the sooner we can get people like Bernie Sanders and AOC not defining who the party is, the better off were going to be, Carville said on his Politics War Room podcast last week.

Top Democrats expressed similar concerns in years past, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi  who in 2019 downplayed the significance of the so-called Squad, a group of new progressive lawmakers who joined the House that year.

Pelosi even went so far as to intervene in Ocasio-Cortezs bid to become top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee last year, urging lawmakers to vote for her opponent, Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, according to Axios.

AOC targets red states to shake up the status quo

As some on the left urge caution about Ocasio-Cortez, she is doing something Donald Trump did before her  instead of trying to gain favor among party leaders, shes going directly to voters to make her case, including in deep-red states like Utah.

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We might all come from different places, but we share a lot of the same experiences, Ocasio-Cortez said at a rally stop in Las Vegas. So to all those who came here today unsure of whether or not this is where you belong, I want to say that you do. You do. No matter who you voted for, no matter if you know all the right words to say. No matter your race, religion, gender, identity or status.

Those who attended the rally in Utah said the national tour was strategically and symbolically significant for several reasons, specifically citing opposition to the idea that Democratic votes dont matter in a red state.

The rallies are also crucial to reframe political narratives by highlighting issues that blur political lines, such as health care or workers rights, according to some attendees.

I think its obvious that their visits are not about flipping seats. I mean theyre touring off of an election year, Erika Cunningham, 26, who attended the Salt Lake City rally in her hometown, told the Deseret News. Their goals are to shift the political landscape over time while also meeting people where theyre at across the entire country, not just in safe blue areas. They represent a model of politics rooted in conviction to the greater cause versus convenience.

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Cunningham said Ocasio-Cortez has already positioned herself as a leader of the Democratic Party, noting she is more recognizable as a party figure than actual top members such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

That popularity is partially rooted in Ocasio-Cortezs online presence as she has garnered massive followings on several social media platforms. She has millions of followers on Instagram, X, and Facebook  making her one of the most-followed lawmakers online.

Shes already shaping the party whether or not she is the top ranking official or not, Cunningham said. I think that if Democrats want to stay relevant and have a chance of winning elections in 2026 and/or 2028, theyll need to meet her, and what she represents, halfway.

Other attendees echoed similar sentiments, arguing Ocasio-Cortez has already cemented herself as the new face of leadership.

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Shes not bought off. Shes got a heart for the people and their needs, said Cari Oneal, 58, of Salt Lake City. Shes already the new face of a party because the Democrats sure havent shown any signs of being the cavalry we need in this fight for democracy.

Although Ocasio-Cortez does not yet hold any leadership perch within the party, that could change in the coming weeks.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., announced on Monday he would not seek another term due to a cancer diagnosis, and said he would be stepping down from his top seat on the House Oversight Committee. The news has set off a firestorm about who could replace him as the committee ranking member, with Ocasio-Cortez emerging as a top contender.

When Ocasio-Cortez previously ran against Connolly last year, she lost in a 131-84 vote. It was a decisive loss, but her performance was significant against someone who has held leadership positions for years.

Its not yet clear whether Ocasio-Cortez will seek the position again. It would require some procedural maneuvering as she no longer sits on the committee. However, the New York Democrat has remained mum on her plans.

When asked when she would make a decision, she told reporters on Wednesday: Ill let you know when I do.
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I became a Democrat because Democrats stood up for immigrants. Its that simple  and that personal. But the moral clarity the party once showed on immigration is now murky. And our slide isnt just bad policy: its bad strategy.

At a time when voters seek to distinguish good from bad in politics, I look back on my arrival with hope. When I arrived in Florida at 13, fleeing Venezuelas authoritarian government, I didnt speak English. Our asylum was miraculously approved in two months; most arent so lucky.

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In high school, I watched President Obama launch DACA and DAPA to protect Dreamers and parents of U.S. citizen children and lawful permanent residents. Yet my undocumented friends who lived in Florida their whole lives couldnt get in-state tuition. The injustice shook me. I realized early that opportunity here often depends on luck, not merit or heart.

With the support of incredible teachers and my community, I graduated as Valedictorian and earned a full ride to Princeton University. While in undergrad, I helped manage my former teacher Johanna Lopezs campaign for school board in Orange County, a grassroots, immigrant-led movement that elected the first Latina school board member in our countys history. It was a powerful lesson: when immigrants organize, we don't just belong  we lead.

After earning a masters at Oxford, I came home to Orlando. I helped elect US Rep. Maxwell Frost (D), the first Gen Z member of Congress, and worked with the Biden administration to create a humanitarian parole program to allow Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to enter the US legally with the support of a US-based sponsor and to redesignate temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans.

Today, as Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, the youngest and only Hispanic local Democratic Party chair in Florida, and as a DNC member, Im proud that weve built a multiracial, multigenerational coalition that flipped three seats blue during the 2024 red wave. We didnt compromise. We stood for our values and won.

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Our success came from year-round organizing, including over five million voter contact attempts and the distribution of more than 500,000 multilingual voter guides.

We made history by electing teacher Anne Douglas, a Black woman and an immigrant, to the school board by more than 18 points. We sent Carlos Guillermo Smith, the son of a Peruvian immigrant, to the Florida Senate. We flipped State House District 45 by electing Leonard Spencer over an incumbent who voted for anti-immigration legislation. We sent Monique Worrell back to the State Attorneys office after her removal by Ron DeSantis. We elected Kelly Martinez Semrad, the granddaughter of a Mexican farmworker, to the County Commission by roughly 15 points, despite being outspent four to one, according to campaign finance records. We re-elected pro-immigrant champion US Rep. Darren Soto by over 12 points in a district Vice President Harris won by less than four points. And we re-elected Rep. Frost, whose mom is a Cuban-American immigrant, and State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, the first Iranian-American elected to the Florida Legislature.

Despite these successes, in the presidential race, the Democratic Party slipped almost everywhere  from here in Florida to Texas, Arizona, and Nevada, to even states seen as reliably blue like New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. Part of the reason is that Democrats lost ground with immigrant-turned-citizen voters. Unfortunately, too often, Democrats have stayed silent, cowered, or tried to "out-tough" the right on immigration issues. Instead, we could proudly make the case for inclusion. A recent Pew Research Center poll found 64% of Americans believe most immigrants should have a way to stay in the country legally if certain requirements are met.

The stakes are bigger than one election cycle. Some experts fear that attacks on immigrants could open the door to authoritarianism around the world. Strip immigrants of rights, and native-born citizens could be next. Erase due process for one group, and the entire foundation of democracy cracks.

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History shows this clearly: Black Americans werent fully recognized as citizens until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and democracy expanded. Across the 20th century, immigrants from China, Japan, Mexico, and beyond fought decades of exclusion to claim their rightful place in US society, and democracy was strengthened. Every major expansion of citizenship, both socially and legally, has made America more democratic, not less.

When we lose the fight for immigrants, we lose the fight for democracy itself.

I havent spent thousands of hours building up the Democratic Party in Florida because it was easy, but because Americas promise of belonging is worth fighting for.

In the Orlando area, we didnt flip seats by running scared. Weve built a party that looks like our community, talks about immigration as a strength, and fights for everyone. We go beyond viewing immigrants merely as workers or contributors to our economy; we recognize them as human beings, as our neighbors, friends, and fellow community members, deserving of dignity, respect, and belonging. Thats the blueprint  not just for winning elections, but for saving democracy.

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If Democrats want to win the future, we must be unapologetic: Immigrants belong. Democracy demands it. And we're not backing down.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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(NewsNation)  A group of Democratic lawmakers from 17 states is hoping to garner support for legislation that would provide recurring cash payments to low-income residents as a way of alleviating poverty in the United States.

The group of 20 Democrats launched Legislators for a Guaranteed Income this week. The newly formed group will partner with a network of 245 mayors and local officials who have attempted to introduce similar pilot programs around the country, according to a news release issued by the group.

The organization said that there are 25 proposed bills across 11 states that are seeking to establish some sort of guaranteed payments to low-income residents. Proposed legislation has been introduced in California, Illinois, Tennessee and North Carolina.

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Where do the DOGE stimulus checks stand?

The California bill, introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese, would provide recurring guaranteed cash payments to homeless teens as they transition into adulthood. The Tennessee bill, which is sponsored by State Rep. Justin Pearson, would offer eligible residents $3,000 per year.

Under the California bill, eligible teens would receive four monthly $1,000 payments as part of a program that would cost $40 million to $50 million, Stateline.org reported.

Despite the cost, Democrats see value in the investment.

Cortese said he believes homeless teens deserve more than a chance to survive, but instead a real chance to thrive, Cortese said in a statement issued by the organization.

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Other Democrats agreed that those in need would benefit from legislation aimed at cutting down on poverty.

We need leaders of moral courage who see the world as it is and are ready to fight for a vision of what it can be, Pearson, the Tennessee Democrat, said in a released statement. The call for guaranteed income that Dr. (Martin Luther) King put out is being answered today by hundreds of cities and counties across the nation, and Im proud to expand the movement by joining Legislators for a Guaranteed Income.

How Karen Reads past media interviews could hurt her at trial

The mayors group claims that more Americans are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise. Many of those work multiple jobs, the organization said, and yet more than one in three Americans are considered to be part of the working poor. In addition, 63% of working Americans do not have enough money saved to cover a $500 emergency if needed.

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The push for guaranteed income arose after a 2019 experiment in Northern California, where 125 residents received $500 per month for two months. Researchers found that participants saw their financial stability increase after being assisted through the pilot program, Stateline.org reported.

The work-around guaranteed income is moving from cities and counties to states, Michael Tubbs, the former mayor of Stockton, Calif., where the experiment took place, told the online news organization. Were going to be organizing state officials across the country who see what we all see: that affordability is an issue, that the Trump tariffs and gross mismanagement of the economy has made the problem even worse.

Yet, as Democrats push to gain support for more legislation to assist low-income residents, Republicans argue that those types of legislation encourage those people not to work.

If you get people addicted to just getting a check from the government, its going to be really hard to take that away, former South Dakota Republican State Sen. John Wiik told Stateline.org.

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DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Its been a bittersweet moment for Danville community members after hearing one of their most iconic buildings  Bresee Tower  will be torn down. However, the road closures caused by the demolition could have negative impacts for some people.

Construction crews just finished demolishing the courthouse annex, and now its the towers turn. But this work could cause some problems for people like cafe owner Ethan Burt.

Bresee Tower demolition to cause extended closure of Danvilles Main Street

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I imagine well be negatively impacted, Burt said. Now with the partial closure, there was an obvious reduction in traffic here.

On May 6, the city will be shutting down part of eastbound and westbound on Main Street for a few months. Burt said he feels a sense of nervousness because he may be losing out on some of his customers after only being open for four months.

Im already trying to think about ways to get attention in other ways, Burt said.

Hes been handing out flyers, advertising on social media and going out delivering orders just so he can keep the connection hes built for people like Jamie Elson.

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Your new businesses, I mean, they depend on the everyday sales, Elson said. So, when youre not getting that foot traffic, thats going to really affect these businesses for sure.

Vermilion Co. man sentenced to prison for sexual assault of a child

She said this is her first time at the cafe, but once construction starts, shes not sure if shell be back.

You might run on your lunch hour or whatnot, Elson said. So, it takes up time from your lunch hour, so youre like, nope, Im not going to go there today.'

Burt said hes just hoping the business he created steers people in his direction despite the demolition.

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My hope was to add a complementary environment because were much more holistically family oriented, Burt said.

The citys community relations administrator said more than 12,000 people drive on the section of Main Street that will be closed. But their number one priority is keeping people safe from debris.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Warmer and drier conditions move into Denvers weather forecast for the end of the week and start of the weekend ahead of more spring showers to start the next week.

Weather tonight: Showers ending

A few showers will linger Thursday night ahead of clearing late. Temperatures will stay cool but seasonal and fall to the mid to upper 30s.

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Weather tomorrow: Sunny, seasonal

Sunshine returns on Friday. Temperatures will climb to the mid 60s, which is right in line with normal for this time of year.

Looking ahead: Mild weekend, more weekday spring showers

Saturday will be sunny and warmer with highs climbing to the mid 70s.

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Sunday will start off with sunshine, then clouds will increase alongside breezy conditions as high temperatures climb to the mid 70s ahead of a few afternoon thunderstorms.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

Monday, the chance for scattered showers returns as high temperatures climb to the upper 60s. The better chance for rain that could be heavy at times moves in Tuesday and will limit high temperatures to the 50s.

Showers and continue Wednesday alongside another cool day, then more seasonal temperatures in the 60s return on Thursday.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Mostly sunny skies are back to round out the workweek along the Front Range, with comfortable and seasonal high temperatures.

Weather today: Plenty of sunshine

Friday looks to be a very comfortable day with seasonal highs in the mid-60s. Denver will enjoy mainly sunny skies with light winds through the afternoon.

Soon, the sun will set past 8 p.m.

Weather tonight: Clear skies

The clear skies will stick with Denver heading overnight. Low temperatures Friday night will be close to seasonal averages in the upper 30s, with a light wind.

Looking ahead: More rain next week

Saturday starts the weekend with mostly sunny skies and warmer highs in the mid-70s.

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Sunday is just as warm with some late clouds and a stronger afternoon breeze.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

Clouds are in Denver to begin the next week with upper 60s for highs and scattered showers through Monday afternoon.

Tuesday has the best shot for some good rain with showers through the day. Highs on Tuesday will be in the low 50s with a brisk wind.

Wednesday keeps the cloudy skies and cooler highs in the upper 50s. Showers can linger through Wednesday with a lighter wind.

Thursday has a mix of sun and clouds with more seasonal highs in the mid-60s.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AMMAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Friday strongly condemned an earlier Israeli strike near the presidential palace in Syria's capital Damascus, as well as Israel's continued assaults on Syria's territory.

The strike near the presidential palace blatantly violates international law, clearly infringes on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fuels regional tension, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah said in a statement.

He added that Israel's continued attacks on Syria represented a clear violation of the Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria signed in 1974, and a direct attack on the sovereignty of an Arab state.

He reaffirmed Jordan's full support for and solidarity with Syria, and urged the international community to compel Israel to cease its "provocative and illegal aggressions" against Syria and to end its occupation of parts of Syria's territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement earlier in the day that Israel attacked overnight near the presidential palace in Damascus.

The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus, which, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, have claimed over 100 lives.

The Israeli statement called the strike "a clear message to the Syrian regime," saying that Israel "will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community."

In response, the office of the Syrian leader strongly condemned the strike, noting that Syria will defend the rights of its people "through all available means." 
EVANSTON, Ill.  The US Department of Education announced they are investigating Evanston-Skokie District 65 over alleged racial discrimination and privilege walks.

The department alleges District 65 violated the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The investigation stems from drama teacher Dr. Stacy Deemars two complaints.

The complaints allege that District 65 engages in racial segregation and stereotyping through privilege walks and district-sponsored segregated affinity groups.

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Privilege walks is a practice where students step forward when answering yes to certain questions and step back when answering no. It looks at social privileges that benefit some people over others, according to Kiwanis.

The policies and practices to which the District allegedly subjects students and teachers shocks the conscience. Amid a dismal academic achievement record, the District appears to focus on unlawfully segregating students by race, instructing students to step forward and others to step back on the basis of race, and associating whiteness with the devil. If true, how is this conceivable in America today? said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.

Investigation launched into Chicago Public Schools Black Student Success Plan

Trumps Department of Education is also investigating Chicago Public Schools over their Black Student Success Plan.

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CTU President Stacy Davis Gates called the investigation baseless.

District 65 sent the following statement.

On April 24, 2025 the Southeastern Legal Foundation filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of District 65 teacher, Stacy Deemar. The District just received official notice of the complaint yesterday, May 1, 2025, which alleges that District 65 policies and practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

We are a diverse school district committed to equity and to ensuring that every child gets what they need and deserve to reach their full potential. It remains our responsibility to meet every child where they are and to ensure continued growth.

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The District will continue to fulfill the intent and promise of equal protection and nondiscrimination embodied in the Constitution and our nations civil rights laws. The complaint misrepresents our Districts lawful and important professional learning and student-focused initiatives that are designed to advance the work of ensuring that ALL students have access and opportunity to a robust, high quality education.

The District will fully comply with the OCR investigation to help ensure a just and expeditious resolution.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
A boy with disabilities is back home after Osceola County deputies rescued him from the water.

Deputies responded to a call about the 3-year-old after he wandered from his home.

Officials said the boy was later spotted playing in a retention pond.

Deputies pulled him from the water and reunited him with his family.

This comes after a string of accidental drownings late last year in Central Florida.a

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A Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy was hit and killed by a car while working a traffic detail near the University Cincinnati Friday afternoon, according to our media partners WCPO-9.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr. was the driver of the car and has since been arrested on aggravated murder charges.

He is being held with no bond, according to Hamilton County Jail records.

Hinton is the father of the 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati officer one day before, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge.

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Theetge told WCPO-9 that the deputy was just doing his job directing traffic for the universitys commencement ceremony when the crash occurred.

I knew what a tremendous, tremendous person he is and what a tremendous loss we have all suffered, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said during a news conference.

The men and women that you see here behind me all knew our deputy and he was so well-liked, and so well known, to we could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies who love and respect him and his family, she said during a press conference.

The deputy had retired just months ago, our news partners at WCPO-9 reported.

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Authorities are not releasing the deputys name at this time.

University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto addressed the crash and held a moment of silence in honor of the deputy at the commencement.

During a press conference Friday morning, Theetge told WCPO-9 that an officer shot and killed Ryan Hinton in East Price Hill after he jumped out of an alleged stolen car and ran away.

Ryan was one of four people who ran from the car.

Body camera video and images from the scene show Ryan fall before he got up and continued running.

Theetge said police said they saw Ryan carrying a firearm and heard it hit the ground when he fell, but that is not seen or heard on the body camera footage, WCPO-9 reported.

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After Ryan ran in between two dumpsters, a Cincinnati police officer on the other side took out their gun and fired it.

One officer told the officer who fired their weapon that Ryan had a gun, Theetge said.

Body camera video captures one officer yelling gun before several gunshots are heard. Ryan was pronounced dead on scene.

A gun with an extended magazine attached was found where he was shot and another magazine was found in his sweatshirt pocket, according to WCPO-9.

Theetge said there is no evidence showing that Ryan fired the gun at all.

The Cincinnati Police Departments Homicide Unit is investigating the deputys death and Ryan Hintons death.

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Anyone with information about the crash that killed the deputy is asked to called 513-352-3542.

This community, our city and our county, has had two critical incidents in two days, Theetge told WCPO-9. I do have a plea to everybody: Let the processes play out, let the investigations play out. Keep calm, take care of one another and I can assure you as the chief of police for Cincinnati, I will assure you of transparency and a thorough and accurate investigation.

We will continue to follow this story.

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The lawyer for the Hinton family confirmed the father is alive after saying earlier the man had died. The lawyer said there was confusion in communication with the family.

One day after a Cincinnati police officer shot and killed an armed suspect in East Price Hill, the suspects father crashed into a Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy who was directing traffic during a University of Cincinnati commencement ceremony, officials said.

The crash resulted in the deputy's death and the driver being listed in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, according to police. The driver, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., has been arrested and charged with aggravated murder.

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The deputy was outside of his vehicle operating a traffic light near the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in Corryville around 1 p.m. when he was struck, according to police.

He later died of his injuries, Cincinnati police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a press conference while flanked by at least 30 law enforcement officers, many of whom had solemn expressions on their faces or tears in their eyes.

"The officer was just out doing his job," Theetge said of the deputy.

Officials have withheld the deputy's name, citing Marsys Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes.

'This is devastating'

While the investigation is ongoing, Theetge said the crash was related to the May 1 fatal police shooting of an 18-year-old in the Westview Condominiums' parking lot and identified the man's dad as the driver who struck the deputy.

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Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the deputy was a tremendous person.

He was so well-liked and well-known, McGuffey said, with her voice shaking at times. She said the deputy had retired from the sheriffs office, but still assisted as a special deputy.

Well need support. Please support us, McGuffey said.

Others who knew the deputy took to social media to commemorate his life and public service.

This is devastating. I had worked with him since we were young cops, Newtown police Chief Tom Synan said in a Facebook post. Always one of the first to check on and help you. You didnt need to ask for him, he was already there.

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McGuffey said there would be a procession for the slain deputy.

Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey speaks during a press conference after a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy was struck by a car and killed on May 2.

Our deputy will not be alone, McGuffey said. There will be someone with him until the day that he transitions to higher ground.

A UC commencement ceremony started at 3 p.m., just two hours after the deputy was hit.

UC President Neville Pinto opened the afternoon ceremony by calling for a moment of silence, according to Enquirer media partner Fox 19.

Bodycam shows 18-year-old shot, killed after running with gun in direction of officer

Earlier in the day, Theetge held a separate press conference to discuss details of the shooting in East Price Hill.

Theetge said uniformed police officers confronted four suspects inside a 2021 Kia Telluride, which had been stolen out of Edgewood, Kentucky, but had GPS capabilities that allowed law enforcement to track the vehicle.

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All four suspects exited the Kia and started running from police, some in different directions, leaving the officers to decide whom they wanted to pursue, Theetge said.

One officer started chasing the armed suspect, Theetge said, adding the officer saw the suspects gun and called out to let others know there was a weapon. That suspect was later identified as 18-year-old Ryan Hinton.

Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. on May 1.

Hinton tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, officials said. Theetge said that police on the scene reported hearing the handgun fall to the ground and images showed scrapes on the weapon, likely from when it fell.

The other officer was pursuing someone else when Hinton emerged from between the dumpsters, according to police. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at Hinton as he ran in the officers direction.

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While its unclear from the blurred body camera footage, officials said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that Hinton pointed the gun at him.

Hinton was struck twice by gunfire, once in the chest and once in the arm. While there was no indication Hinton fired off any rounds toward officers, police said the gun was loaded with an extended magazine.

Attorney says man's father was 'very distraught' over video of police shooting

Hinton died despite officers efforts to provide medical aid at the scene, officials said.

The crash happened roughly two hours after Hintons family viewed video footage of the mans death.

Michael Wright of the Cochran Law Firm said he was with the family as they reviewed body camera footage between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on May 2. He said that Hinton's father was "very distraught."

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"He couldn't finish watching the video," the attorney said. "It was very difficult to watch for the family."

Wright said he didnt want to speculate on Rodney Hinton Jr.'s intentions.

"This was a good family," the attorney added. "This was a family that was very close-knit."

Wright described the younger Hinton as a "great kid, full of life."

Officials said the Cincinnati Police Departments traffic and homicide units are handling the investigation into the crash.

Enquirer media partner Fox 19 provided photos for this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How deputy's death is linked to man's shooting by Cincinnati police
Almost 15 years ago, Detective Sgt. Jeff Sheaman, then a new deputy, saved a 3-year-old boy who was found stranded with his family on a boat in a Wyoming reservoir

The toddler, David Lew, fell unconscious because he was so cold, but quick action from Sheaman helped revive him

Now a high school senior, the boy wrote a thank-you letter with a special request that moved Sheaman to tears, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office

One stormy night in July 2010, Detective Sgt. Jeff Sheaman helped save a toddler's life. Almost fifteen years later, the boy, now a high school senior, wrote a thank-you letter with a special request.

I asked if hed come to graduation and hand me my diploma, said 17-year-old David Lew, according to a press release from the Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office.

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The letter had a huge impact on Sheaman, who is set to retire in May, the same month as Lews graduation ceremony. In this line of work, you see a lot  some of it good, some of it crazy, and some of it heartbreaking, Sheaman said.

David reminds me of the good we can do, he added. His letter came at just the right time for me.

Related: Missing 8-Year-Old Boy with Autism Rescued from Water: 'Could Have Been a Totally Different Outcome'

Sheaman was new to his position as a deputy when he responded to a late-night distress call from Wyoming's Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green River over a decade ago.

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The 3-year-old boy was with his dad Frank Lew, his uncle and his uncles friend when they became stranded on a bank after their boats engine failed, according to press clippings shared by the department.

After Frank requested help, Sheaman and two sergeants came to the familys rescue on a river boat. During the trip back, a storm blew in and David lost consciousness because he was so cold.

Thinking quickly, Sheaman took off the little boys life jacket, put him against his chest and wrapped his own coat around the boy in order to keep him warm. David, who was treated for hypothermia at the hospital, made a total recovery.

Paramedics later credited Sheamans quick action with preventing advanced hypothermia, the sheriffs office said.

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Related: Two Basketball Referees Get Engaged During Sweet Courtside Proposal: See the Photos (Exclusive)

David, now 17 and working part-time at his parent's restaurant before beginning his studies at Western Wyoming Community College in the fall, grew up hearing about the deputy who saved him  and wanted to send him the handwritten note to make sure Sheaman knew "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him."

For Sheaman, receiving the letter was emotional.

Out of all the people he couldve asked, Im grateful he wants me there by his side on graduation day, he said.

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.

Sheaman, who joked that he hopes he doesnt trip on stage, is happy to know that his more than two decades of service have had an impact.

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This is what its all about, he said. Knowing I helped a kid grow up, graduate, and live a full life  I can retire happy picturing David walking across that stage.

Read the original article on People
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida and ICE have announced the results of a joint immigration crackdown.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday news conference in Miramar, Operation Tidal Wave resulted in a weeklong roundup of more than 1,100 migrants who were in the country illegally.

They had no fear: Group tracked Tampa Bay business owners, broke into their homes, stole $1.7M, Judd says

If youre here illegally, youre in violation of the law, DeSantis said.

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DeSantis credits the 287(g) agreements that allow state and local law enforcement to partner with ICE to make the large number of arrests from April 21 to April 26. One example an official gave involved the arrest of Geiler Orobio-Cabezas.

Jeffrey Dinise is the Chief Border Patrol Agent for the U.S. Border Patrol  Miami Sector.

Border patrol agents and Polk County sheriffs deputies collaborated to arrest Geiler Orobio, an illegal alien from Colombia after his release from a local detention facility, Dinise said. Orobio is being prosecuted for Reentry after Deportation and will be deported.

According to the Department of Justice, that could carry a prison sentence of up to 2 years and/or a fine.

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Last August, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd announced Orobio-Cabezas was charged with racketeering and burglary and was held on a $3.1 million bond. He was accused of being involved in a South American theft group.

Over the recent weekend, relatives and advocates rallied for the return of a Cuban woman, married to a naturalized citizen, with an infant in Tampa. Its unclear if Heidy Sanchezs case was connected to this operation but she was deported last week right after an ICE check-in. Her attorney said she had an outstanding deportation order in 2019 but was allowed to stay and work after Cuba initially declined to take her back.

Give her back: Family rallies after Tampa mother suddenly deported back to Cuba

Theyve had a lot of process. Theyve been ordered to be removed, and they have not complied with those removal orders. Thats a very high priority for our state efforts, DeSantis said.



On Monday, Rep. Kathy Castor called her removal cruel and unlawful and requested humanitarian parole.

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Here is the congresswomans full letter to the president:

Dear President Trump: I write to call out the cruel and unlawful treatment of Heidy Sanchez from Tampa, Florida who was ripped away from her infant daughter and husband last Thursday and transported to Cuba. I urge you to grant Ms. Sanchez humanitarian parole and return her to her family in Tampa immediately. Ms. Sanchezs husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, advised me that the separation of mother and daughter was so sudden and traumatic that their infant daughter was taken to the hospital. The baby was still breastfeeding at the time your Administration tore them apart, and the babys ongoing health issues require her mothers return to the U.S. as soon as possible. Ms. Sanchez, a mother and home health aide, was complying with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) request to regularly check in at the local Tampa office. During her appointment last Tuesday, she was unceremoniously ripped away from her daughter and husband and transported to Cuba. It is unconscionable and wrong for your ICE personnel to harm families in this way. Ms. Sanchez is entitled to due process, and her husband and daughter (both U.S. citizens) deserve to be treated with the dignity we value as Americans. Due to the suffocating oppression in Cuba and lack of essentials like food and clean water, Ms. Sanchez should not be trafficked to a country where she will be harmed and suffer. You attended the funeral of Pope Francis over the weekend, so I recommend that you honor his memory by acting consistently with his recent admonition that we are called upon to consider the legitimacy of norms and public policies in the light of the dignity of the person and his or her fundamental rights. The treatment of the Sanchez-Valle family is a deep stain on your Administration and is repugnant to American values and constitutional protections, but it does not have to be this way. You have the authority to grant humanitarian parole to Ms. Sanchez and reunite this family today in Tampa. I urge you to do so immediately.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis led a news conference in Tallahassee on April 1 to announce that trained Hope Florida liaisons were in every sheriffs office.

The DeSantises, flanked by uniformed sheriffs and deputies in the state Capitol, touted the liaisons as dedicated conduits between the program and law enforcement. The governor said each one serves as a trained expert in Hope Florida who can educate others on the philosophy and functions of the first ladys signature initiative.

To have cooperation from all 67 counties across the state of Florida is really special, Casey DeSantis told reporters.

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But thirteen sheriffs offices  including some of Floridas largest agencies  told the Tampa Bay Times that they have no such experts. When asked about their work with Hope Florida, the agencies said theyd had little interaction beyond providing a contact name after they were asked to do so by the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Were not actively engaged in anything with Hope Florida, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said when asked last week.

The discrepancies come as lawmakers have recently begun to question the scope and effectiveness of the programs work.

The Hope Florida initiative, announced by the first lady in 2021, aims to get people in need off government services and connected with community resources like charities and religious groups.

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DeSantis Deputy Press Secretary Molly Best said that liaisons have been identified in each sheriffs agency and training is well underway.

At least three sheriffs offices that responded to the Times inquiry  in Brevard, Volusia and Pasco  say they have staff trained on understanding Hope Florida and how to work with the program.

Best referred questions to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. A spokesperson there said video trainings are being produced and materials are being shared with police agencies and sheriffs offices.

We are working our way through each of Floridas sheriffs agencies, spokesperson Gatlin Nennstiel told the Times in an email nearly a month after the DeSantises announcement, adding that trainings are being held the first Friday of each month. He didnt say when the monthly sessions started.

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Several sheriffs agencies said they werent aware of any ongoing trainings and hadnt received materials. Two said the Florida Sheriffs Association contacted them this week about joining a training on Friday morning, days after a Times reporter sent questions to law enforcement around the state.

A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriffs Office said in a statement this week that the agency could not find anyone internally with information about the program and has no indication that anyone has reached out to us yet about this.

The Hope Florida program has come under scrutiny in recent months after Gov. DeSantis pushed to have an Office of Hope Florida enshrined within the governors office. Lawmakers began asking questions about the program, particularly related to $10 million that the state steered to a separate charity created to support Hope Florida.

Times/Herald reporters revealed the $10 million was part of a settlement with a state Medicaid contractor. The Hope Florida Foundation gave the money to two nonprofit groups. Those groups then gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by DeSantis then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier.

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As lawmakers mulled the program, the Florida Sheriffs Association on March 19 organized a virtual meeting for sheriffs offices to hear about Hope Florida, records show.

Several sheriff agencies said the meeting, which included representatives from the governors office, wasnt a training. Nennstiel disagreed, saying that it was a training led by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

During the meeting, each sheriffs office was asked to provide a future point of contact for the initiative. Records obtained by the Times show that the association shared a list of those Hope Florida contacts with sheriffs agencies on March 27, writing that the program would send communications or call from time to time.

Five days later, the DeSantises announced that there were trained liaisons in every sheriffs office.

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At the news conference, the governor pointed out that Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, was there in support. But more than three weeks later, a spokesperson for the Charlotte County Sheriff said the agency had a liaison appointed in March but hasnt been contacted. The spokesperson added that the agency is anxiously awaiting further direction from Hope as it sounds like a great program.

Captain Chris Simms at the Alachua County Sheriffs Office said in an email to the Times that he has not received any training or gotten other information since he was made a point of contact.

Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Teri Barbera, when reached by phone April 25, initially said she wasnt aware of Hope Florida or what it does. After speaking with the offices point of contact, Barbera said the agency has not heard from anybody at Hope Florida yet.

A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office on April 25 said the initiative is still in the early phases of development.

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Nennstiel referred the Times to sheriffs offices in Indian River, Brevard, Volusia, St. Lucie and Levy counties.

A Volusia County sheriff spokesperson said the agency has been working with Hope Florida since 2023 to help connect 74 families to food, clothing, toiletries, gas cards, bus passes, baby supplies, temporary housing, substance use services and more. The agency said Hope Florida has the records of the referrals.

A Brevard County Sheriffs spokesperson said in an email that the agency has a Hope Florida liaison who is performing those roles described in the Governors Press Release. The spokesperson did not answer follow-up questions about training.

The Levy County Sheriffs Office did not respond.

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The Pasco County Sheriffs Office also said its been working with Hope Florida through the Department of Children and Families since 2023 to refer people to community services. The agency said the Department of Children and Families  which has spearheaded Hope Florida  would have records of the referrals.

Two sheriffs agencies that Nennstiel referred the Times to  Indian River and St. Lucie  said last month that there were liaisons at their offices. But they werent aware of any official training. And they said they wouldnt consider them experts.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP)  Screaming in anguish as the desperate crowd crushes them against a barrier, young children and adults frantically wave pots and pans at charity workers, begging for a portion of some of the last food aid left in Gaza: Rice.

The chaos at the community kitchen in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Friday was too overwhelming for Niveen Abu Arar. She tried and tried, but the 33-year-old mother of eight didnt get to the front of the crowd in time. She left with her pot empty, and her eyes full of tears.

Until when will life be like that? Were slowly dying. We havent eaten bread for a month and a half. There is no flour. There is nothing, said Abu Arar, whose ninth child, a 1-year-old boy, was killed in an Israeli strike near their home at the start of the war in 2023. We dont know what to do  We dont have money. What do we get for them?

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She cradled a toddler in her lap as she spoke. With no milk to provide, she poured water into a baby bottle and pressed it into her youngest daughters mouth, hoping to stave off the baby's hunger pangs.

With Israel blocking any form of aid  including food and medicine  into Gaza for the past two months, aid groups have warned that Gazas civilian population is facing starvation.

Israel has said that the blockade and its renewed military campaign aim to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages it still holds and to disarm. Aid groups stress that blocking humanitarian aid is a form of collective punishment and a violation of international law.

Israeli authorities didn't immediately respond when asked about accusations that starvation was being used as a weapon of war, but in the past they have accused the Hamas militant group governing Gaza of stealing aid.

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In an emergency call with reporters on Friday to discuss Gazas humanitarian crisis, aid groups described a territory nearly out of food, water and fuel, with prices for the meager supplies remaining skyrocketing beyond the reach of many.

With nearly the entire population reliant on humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations, warehouses are empty, community kitchens are closing down, and families are skipping meals.

A 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of flour now goes for 1,300 shekels ($360), said Ghada al Haddad, Oxfams media coordinator in Gaza.

Mothers in Gaza now feed their children one meal per day, dinner, so they dont wake up and complain they are starving, she said.

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Amjad Shawwa, the director of the Palestinian NGO network, said that more than 70 of their community kitchens inside Gaza would close within the week if the Israeli blockade continues.

Israeli airstrikes have also taken out large swaths of Gazas agricultural land and livestock, making it nearly impossible for the territory to produce its own food, said Gavin Kelleher, a humanitarian manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council who recently left Gaza. Even fisherman have been targeted, he said, killed in small fishing boats by Israeli naval forces.

Israel has engineered a situation where Palestinians cannot grow their own food or fish for their own food, he said.

Kelleher, whose organization coordinates the provision of shelter to Gaza, said that not a single aid group has any tents left to distribute  as 1 million people inside Gaza remain in need of shelter given the devastation caused by the nearly 19-month war.

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In Khan Younis, Mustafa Ashour said he had walked for an hour to get to the charity community kitchen, and waiting for another two hours before he managed to get food.

The situation is hard in Gaza. The crossings are closed. Its a full siege, said Ashour, who was displaced from the southern city of Rafah. There is no food. There is no water. There are no life necessities. The food being sold is expensive and very little.

As for Abu Arar and her family  left without a handout from the charity kitchen  another family in a neighboring tent took pity, and shared their own meager portions of rice.

Keller of the NRC said that if Israel continues its blockade, thousands of people will die, there will be a complete breakdown of order, telecommunication networks will come down and we will struggle to understand the situation because it will be unfolding in the dark.

___

Julia Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Fatma Khaled contributed to this report from Cairo.
An ancient legal principle has become a key strategy of American children seeking to reduce the effects of climate change in the 21st century. A defeat at the U.S. Supreme Court in March 2025 has not stopped the effort, which has several legal actions continuing in the courts.

The legal basis for these cases is called the public trust doctrine, the principle that certain natural resources  historically, navigable waters such as lakes, rivers and streams and the lands under them  must be maintained in government ownership and held in trust for present and future generations of the public.

Although the origins of the doctrine remain in some dispute, most scholars cite its first mention in ancient Roman law. Over the centuries the principle made its way to England and later to the United States.

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For the past decade, a nonprofit called Our Childrens Trust has argued for a 21st-century interpretation of the public trust doctrine to support lawsuits against state and federal agencies and officials, seeking to force them to take specific actions to fight climate change. Our Childrens Trust has focused on children, saying they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change because their futures, which the public trust doctrine protects, will be lived in an unsafe and unhealthy climate unless governments take action. Children around the world have filed similar lawsuits against their governments on alternate legal grounds, including claims of constitutional and human rights violations.

Initial uses of the public trust doctrine in the US

The U.S. Supreme Court first endorsed the public trust doctrine in 1892, when it ruled that the doctrine prevented the Illinois legislature from selling virtually the entire Chicago harbor in Lake Michigan to a private railroad company. In the 20th century, state courts have ruled that the doctrine bars states and local governments from selling off lakefront property or harbors to private owners and protects public access to beaches, lakes and oceans.

The public trust doctrine had little to do with environmental protection until the 1970s, however, after law professor Joseph Sax wrote an influential article arguing that the doctrine could form the basis for lawsuits to protect water and other natural resources from pollution, destruction and other threats.

Over the past five decades, some states courts have expanded the public trust doctrines application beyond access to water-based resources, ruling it can also require governments to protect parks and wildlife from development. And Montana, Minnesota and several other states followed Saxs recommendation to pass laws or amend their state constitutions to impose broader obligations on states to protect natural resources.

Young people have taken part in many protests seeking action to prevent or reduce the effects of climate change, including this 2017 rally in Colorado. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A new approach

In 2011, Our Childrens Trust argued for the first time that governments had a legal obligation to protect the atmosphere as a public trust resource. The group filed lawsuits in all 50 states on behalf of children. Most state courts dismissed the lawsuits quickly, holding that there were no court decisions in their states that supported extending the public trust doctrine to claims involving the climate or the atmosphere.

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In 2015 the group filed a similar lawsuit in federal court in Oregon, this time against the federal government. That lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, alleged that the federal governments inaction to address climate change violated the public trust doctrine as well as the 21 young plaintiffs rights to life, liberty and property under the U.S. Constitution.

The plaintiffs asked the court to order the federal government to prepare an inventory of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and to implement a national plan to phase out fossil fuels to stabilize the climate system and protect the vital resources on which Plaintiffs now and in the future will depend.

The federal lawsuit survived an early effort from the government to dismiss the case but never reached a full trial. In 2016 an Oregon federal judge ruled that the U.S. government had an obligation to protect the climate under both the public trust doctrine and the U.S. Constitution. However, this ruling was reversed on appeal. After years of back-and-forth in the court system, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the cases dismissal in March 2025.

An updated strategy

Since the initial wave of litigation, Our Childrens Trust has continued to file lawsuits to force governments to address climate change. These newer ones are more narrowly tailored to state-specific constitutional and statutory provisions that protect environmental and public trust resources. And, so far, they have been more successful.

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In a 2020 Montana lawsuit, for example, the plaintiffs relied on a 1972 amendment to the state constitution declaring that the state and every person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations and that the legislature shall provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources. Montana Supreme Court decisions prior to the 2020 lawsuit had held that the framers of the 1972 amendment had intended it to contain the strongest environmental protection provision found in any state constitution.

Relying on these court decisions, the Montana plaintiffs argued that a state law preventing state agencies from considering the effects of greenhouse gases in issuing permit applications for projects such as power plants or mines violated the state constitution.

The plaintiffs won at trial, and in a landmark opinion in 2024 the Montana Supreme Court upheld the trial courts finding that greenhouse gases were harmful to the states climate, rivers, lakes, groundwater, atmospheric waters, forests, glaciers, fish, wildlife, air quality, and ecosystem. The court similarly found that a stable climate system  is clearly within the object and true principles of the states constitution.

Children in Hawaii filed a similar lawsuit in 2022 against the state Department of Transportation, alleging that its failure to reduce transportation emissions in the state violated the state public trust doctrine and the states constitution. The lawsuit relied on Hawaii courts previous rulings that the states public trust doctrine and state constitution broadly protect natural resources for present and future generations. In 2024, days before trial was to begin, the parties reached a landmark settlement in which the state agreed to take concrete actions to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

The road ahead

Looking back, it was perhaps not surprising that a one-size-fits-all nationwide legal strategy based on a doctrine that varies widely state by state would face long odds. But the public trust doctrine itself has been historically incremental, expanding and contracting as society and the needs of its citizens change over time. And Our Childrens Trust has several cases still pending, including in Alaska and Utah state courts, and in a federal court in California.

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The campaigns successes broke new legal ground: Montana courts held the first trial in the United States that examined evidence of the effects of climate change and states obligations to address them. The Hawaii settlement set concrete benchmarks and included provisions for continued feedback on state policies by the youth plaintiffs.

More broadly, Our Childrens Trusts campaign demonstrates that a combination of legal advocacy and nationwide publicity over the plight of young people in a rapidly changing climate have the potential to result in real change, both in the law and in public perception of the importance of addressing climate change.

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: Alexandra Klass, University of Michigan

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Alexandra Klass 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.
Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who sued the city and its elections commission for disqualifying her from the August primary, is dropping the lawsuit after the campaign and city clerk's office agreed to place her on the ballot.

Santiago-Romero filed a lawsuit last week after the clerk's office did not certify her election paperwork due to an outstanding late fee assessed against her for missing an October 2024 deadline for filing a quarterly campaign finance report with the Wayne County Clerk's Office, which handles campaign finance records. The Detroit clerk's office, in response, disqualified her from the ballot. But Santiago-Romero said she was certain she filed everything on time and provided evidence, such as confirmation receipts, to reporters and the court.

Per a pending court order through the Wayne County Circuit Court, the incumbent District 6 council member will appear on the Aug. 5 primary ballot and the disputed late fee will be waived. Both the campaign and city clerk's office confirmed she will be on the ballot. The order is expected to be signed and finalized on May 6 by Wayne County Circuit Judge Patricia Perez Fresard.

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Im relieved that the facts have been cleared up, and Im qualified to be on the ballot, Santiago-Romero said. Last week was truly a nightmare, and the hardest week Ive ever had as a candidate. What kept me hopeful was the outpouring of support I received daily from our community  this fight was never about me, it was about us. I look forward to continuing to campaign to represent our district, and Im grateful to both the Detroit city clerk and the Wayne County clerk for working with me to rectify this error.

Election 2025: Detroit mayoral, city candidates submit petitions to run for office

Santiago-Romero said she received an emailed confirmation indicating that her Oct. 25, 2024, campaign finance report was filed on time. But the campaign mistakenly filed it as a "pre-general" election statement instead of a "quarterly" statement, and the county asked her to refile it on Nov. 11, 2024  but not before hitting her campaign with a $250 late fee. The council member said she was unaware of any issues or fees when she filed her nominating petitions and signed her Affidavit of Identity with the city of Detroit on April 17, until her campaign received a letter from the city clerk indicating she was disqualified because of the late fee. Part of the language of the affidavit asks the petitioner to attest that they owe no past fees in order to be eligible to run. In the meantime, the campaign consistently attempted to reach the county clerk, providing several records indicating she turned in her paperwork on time, before filing the lawsuit.

Dozens of supporters on April 25 stood behind Santiago-Romero at Clark Park in southwest Detroit, part of her district, as she demanded to be placed on the ballot, claiming she was wrongfully disqualified, and that she'd be forced to consider running as a write-in candidate if the court ruled against her.

Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero demanded being placed on the August primary ballot after being disqualified over what she deemed a clerical error, Friday, April 25 at Clark Park in Detroit.

Sergio Martinez, 37, and Ed Gies, 63, were among the supporters who stood behind her. Martinez said Wayne County's handling of the issue was "unprofessional" at the time and should have been "clear, open and honest, and have provided their receipts" as the campaign has.

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"She shows up for us. She gets our issues. She was raised in the city. We've known her well before she even got into elected office, and I think that the people who are running against her, in general, don't get our community like she does. They don't show up even to campaign in this area," Martinez said. "We're here to get justice, to get on the ballot, and to make sure that democracy works as it should."

Gies said that "with democracy being under threat," he was concerned that it could affect local politics.

"Seeing our neighborhood champion ... not allowed to be on the ballot, it's really tragic," Gies said.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gabriela Santiago-Romero to be on primary ballot for Detroit council
BEIRUT, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Friday cautioned against the still "fragile" situation in southern Lebanon and stressed the importance of maintaining security during the country's upcoming municipal elections.

"The situation is more stable than it was a few months ago, but it remains fragile," he said during a farewell meeting with local officials at the headquarters of the Union of Tyre District Municipalities, urging unified efforts to prevent further escalation, according to a report by Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA).

Lazaro, whose mission nears its end, said UNIFIL will continue close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, provide support for it "in every possible way," and is ready to help Lebanon create a safe environment for the electoral process of the municipal elections.

During the meeting, President of the Union of Tyre District Municipalities Hassan Dbouk praised UNIFIL's contribution to maintaining stability and delivering humanitarian aid throughout the region, said the NNA report.

Yahya Al-Husseini, representing the Lebanese Army Intelligence, expressed his hope of enduring stability in the south, and emphasized the vital role local officials have played, particularly in the challenging period of war, said the NNA report. 
For decades, Sean Diddy Combs reigned as the music worlds most boisterous showman. But now the 55-year-old beleaguered mogul  worth as much as $1 billion just three years ago  spends his days moving with little fanfare through the maze of hallways and rooms that make up the federal justice system, his once-black hair and beard faded to gray.

Eight months after being arrested in the lobby of a five-star Manhattan hotel, the man now known as inmate 37452-054 is going on trial in the Southern District of New York courtroom on racketeering, sex trafficking and other charges on accusations he abused numerous people throughout his lifetime. Jury selection is set to begin on May 5, and the proceedings are expected to last eight weeks.

Combs, however, has remained defiant, denying all wrongdoing. [Its] sad. . . . Im Puff Daddy in jail, he told Kanye West in a leaked call from behind bars in March. Long famous for his high-flying, champagne-popping lifestyle, Combs has been confined to 4 North  a fourth-floor dormitory-style unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn that he shares with about 20 other men.

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Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Arrested in N.Y.C. After Raids on His Homes amid Sex Trafficking Lawsuits

Inside, Combs keeps a low profile. He meets regularly with his legal team and pores over evidence from prosecutors on a prison-issued laptop with no Wi-Fi access. After unsuccessfully trying to delay the trial by two months, Combs will soon face a jury. If they convict him on the most serious charges, he could go to prison for 15 years or even life, though the maximum sentence would be unlikely.

This is a very strong case for the prosecution, says attorney and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, who is not involved in the case. The sheer number of victims, years and pattern of abuse and the electronic evidence implicating Combs make this a challenging case to defend," Rahmani adds.

Since the first wave of shocking criminal counts was unsealed against Combs in September 2024, federal prosecutors have updated the indictment against him three separate times. He currently faces five felony charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, and has pleaded not guilty.

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I expect a long battle with a good result, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo previously said, telling PEOPLE that Combs is an imperfect person but ... not a criminal.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Court for Alleged Sex Crimes: Full Recap

Prosecutors paint a darker portrait of the music impresario who became as well-known for his rap career as for his A-list parties and his many brands, from Ciroc to Sean John. Authorities depict him as the ringleader of a violent enterprise tied to suspected kidnapping, arson, drug crimes and widespread sexual abuse. According to the indictment, Combs and his associates are accused of luring victims with promises of romance, then using force, threats and coercion to compel them into sex acts at so-called freak off parties.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Sean "Diddy" Combs (left) and Cassie Ventura (right) at Met Gala on May 7, 2018. Sean "Diddy" Combs (left) and Cassie Ventura (right) at Met Gala on May 7, 2018.

The governments lead witness and Combss ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, 38, identified in court documents as Victim 1, is preparing to take the stand and testify by name about what she endured during their on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018.

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In November 2023, she filed a bombshell sexual assault lawsuit against Combs that was settled out of court in just one daybut kicked off an ever-growing list of public accusers. Six months later, in May 2024, CNN published footage from a security camera at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles showing Ventura fleeing a room, only to be attacked by Combs, who is seen wearing a white towel around his waist and socks. He then grabs her by the neck, throws her to the floor and violently kicks her and grabs her purse and suitcase, the video shows.

As Ventura lies motionless, Combs kicks her again and briefly drags her back toward the room before letting go and walking away. Moments later, the footage shows, he sits down in a chair, grabs an object from a table and forcefully throws it toward her.

He apologized after the video was released, saying, I was disgusted then when I did it, Im disgusted now. On Sunday, May 19, 2024, Combs shared the statement via an Instagram video, captioned with the words: "I'm truly sorry."

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Breaks Silence on Video of Cassie Assault: 'I Take Full Responsibility for My Actions'

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"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life," the rapper said in the Instagram video. "Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f---

ed up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable."

His attorneys tried and failed to have the clip excluded from trial, claiming it was substantially edited, which CNN denied.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Cassie Ventura to Testify Using Her Name, Not Anonymously, in Sex Trafficking Trial (Exclusive)

At least two other people will testify for the prosecution under pseudonyms and will allege abuse by Combs, court documents show.

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As for whether Combs will testify, his attorney has said its possible. I dont know that I could keep him off the stand, Agnifilo said in the documentary The Downfall of Diddy. He is very eager to tell his story.

Legal analyst Rahmani says that would be a dangerous move. Testifying would subject Combs to cross-examination and make his words admissible in more than 60 pending civil cases. More broadly, Rahmani expects that Combss defense will argue his accusers are motivated by fame, money or revenge and challenge their credibility.

But when multiple victims are testifying Combs physically and sexually assaulted them, Rahmani says, It will be hard for the defense to argue it was all consensual. Adults can consent to sexual activity no matter how freaky it is, but the victims may have been coerced by force or were unable to consent because they were under the influence of drugs."

Whatever unfolds inside the Manhattan courtroom, Rahmani believes the odds are stacked against Combs. I expect him to be convicted, he says, and spend decades in prison.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Read the original article on People
University of Anchorage Alaska and Idaho State University Doctor of Pharmacy Program students Daniel Enox and Maggie Baldock build medicine capsules during Pharmacy Technology Instructor Deb Cieplaks capsule building lab in UAAs Professional Studies Building. (Photo courtesy of Idaho State University)

Now more than ever, leadership comes down to knowing when and how to pivot.

Whether youre running a small business, managing a classroom, serving in public office or raising a family, youve likely seen firsthand how quickly circumstances can change. At Idaho State University, we feel it too. But rather than retreat in the face of uncertainty, or freeze in place, were leaning in with courage, creativity and a deep sense of responsibility to the state of Idaho and its communities.

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Nowhere is that more evident than in ISUs L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, serving Idaho for over 100 years.

Like many professional programs nationwide, market pressures in the pharmacy industry have caused enrollment declines over the past decade. For a state like Idaho, where access to health care is already strained, this is a serious concern.

Many pharmacy programs in the U.S. have tried to just weather the storm, unwilling to respond or adapt. At ISU, forward-thinking administrators and faculty got to work. They asked hard questions, made tough decisions and reimagined what the future could look like. They pivoted.

For the College of Pharmacy, their strategy in the face of enrollment changes was both simple and bold: tighten the belt, focus on excellence and stay true to our mission. The college began a multi-year step-down budget process to right-size operations while protecting core programs and positions. They eliminated vacancies through attrition, restructured contracts and found smart ways to reduce overhead and adjust student cohort sizes. Every decision was guided by a commitment to students, principles and patients, not bureaucracy or maintaining the status quo.

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And its working. Through disciplined planning, ISUs College of Pharmacy is not only financially stable, but its innovating and thriving in a new environment while continuing to graduate skilled professionals.

Take, for example, their expansion of clinical psychopharmacology. This masters degree program trains licensed psychologists to prescribe medication safely and effectively, especially in underserved areas. Today, we have 22 students enrolled from across the country, and demand continues to grow. Thats a real impact, rooted in local need and national relevance.

Or look at our hybrid delivery model. With campuses in Pocatello, Meridian and Anchorage, Alaska, in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage, our faculty teach and collaborate across thousands of miles, supporting students in rural communities and building tight-knit teams that defy geographic boundaries. Theyve turned a challenge into a strength.

What weve learned from ISUs College of Pharmacy applies far beyond higher education. When circumstances shift, we cant cling to the way things used to be. We need leaders at every level who are willing to adapt, focus on purpose and move forward with faith in the future. It also requires confidence in the mission and knowing what not to sacrifice or give up in pursuit of making a positive difference.

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At Idaho State University, our purpose is clear. We exist to serve Idaho. We prepare the next generation of pharmacists, nurses, teachers, engineers and business leaders while contributing to the creative arts and producing impactful research. We provide a return on investment that benefits every community, and we do this with fewer resources than most universities of our size.

This year, as Idahoans consider the future of education and government, I hope our story adds something meaningful to the conversation. Higher education institutions can adapt; we can pivot while being true to the most important aspects of an educational mission. At our best, we are nimble, practical and deeply committed to solving real problems and contributing to society.

Were not perfect. But were listening. Were learning. And were leading.

In uncertain times, leadership isnt about being the loudest voice in the room. Its about showing up, making hard, but principled decisions, and exhibiting strength through resiliency. Because perseverance in tough times doesnt just steady the ship, it charts a better, bolder course for the future.

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Idaho Capital Sun originally published this commentary. Like the Alaska Beacon, 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. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.

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After a two-week break, Congress is back to hammer out the details in President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill."

In February, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill for the 2025 fiscal year and set forth budgetary levels for the fiscal years 2026 through 2034. The bill in question is the GOP's attempt to put all of Trump's legislative agenda in one sweeping spending bill that would include the president's priorities for taxes, border security and energy.

However, there are multiple things in contention, by Republicans and Democrats, that might hold up Trump's "big beautiful bill."

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Here's a look of what Congress is looking to have in the bill, what could happen with Medicaid and more.

Is 'no tax on overtime' in the spending bill?

On Feb. 25, the House passed a spending bill that included no tax on overtime, one of the many campaign promises that Trump ran on. The narrow passage of the bill, left it in the Senate's court, but nothing came of it at the time.

If passed, the no overtime tax would remove the federal income tax on overtime pay, meaning workers who log extra hours would not have to pay federal taxes on overtime earnings.

Tax changes in spending bill: No tax on overtime, tips or Social Security

Republicans are looking to eliminate the federal income tax in three areas:

Allowing overtime pay to be exempt from income tax would let workers keep a larger portion of their earnings, potentially increasing their take-home pay and stimulating economic growth.

Removing taxes on tips would provide considerable advantages to service industry workers like restaurant staff, delivery drivers, and gig workers, who depend heavily on gratuities for a large portion of their income.

Eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits would give retirees more disposable income, potentially improving their quality of life and boosting local economic activity.

When could the bill containing no taxes on tips or overtime pass?

The House and Senate have two different timelines.

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House leader Rep. Mike Johnson and other House leadership hope to have the final bill resolved and passed before Memorial Day on Monday, May 26. Senate leadership, on the other hand, thinks nothing will be finalized until closer to the Fourth of July.

The major deadline Congress needs to keep in mind is Oct. 1. This is the start of the new fiscal year and if a spending bill isn't passed by then it could lead into a government shutdown. The narrow margins in both the House and the Senate could mean a long, drawn-out road before a final budget is passed.

Will Congress balancing tax cuts by slashing Medicaid?

By not taxing certain items, the federal government will lose out on money brought in by that tax revenue. To mitigate that loss and loss from other proposed tax cuts, other programs could be on the chopping block like Medicaid.

Some Republicans and almost all of the Democrats in Congress are worried that the health insurance program that provides coverage to 72 million low-income Americans could soon be slashed due a directive in the House plan to cut $880 billion from programs under the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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Nonpartisan experts have said it's not possible to meet that number without slashing Medicaid.

Multiple Republicans on The Hill have stated that they wouldn't vote for a bill that cut Medicaid. And even Trump is on board to a certain extent, saying he would veto a bill if it cut benefits beyond the Republicans' aims to eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse," according to reports from USA TODAY.

'I'm blaming you,' Trump jokes with Marsha Blackburn if bill doesn't go through

As Trump pushed Congress Republicans about the bill, he seemingly joked that if it didn't get passed, it would be Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn's fault.

"Marsha, if we don't get it passed, I'm blaming you," the president joked

"Marsha, if we don't get it passed, I'm blaming you," Trump jokes to Sen. @MarshaBlackburn about his "big, beautiful bill."  Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) April 30, 2025

Trump pushes bill amid falling poll numbers, spiraling economy

It has been 100 days since Trump took office, and even with falling poll numbers and a shrinking economy. He's saying everything is fine and going to plan.

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Is there anything he would do differently?

"Ill tell you, thats the toughest question I can have because I dont really believe Ive made mistakes, Trump said in reply to a question at a NewsNation town hall on April 30. Were in a transition period. I think youre going to see tremendous economic victories over the next period of a year.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When does no tax on overtime start? What to know about spending bill
Marcie Gould, a tutor/interventionist with the Michigan Education Corps, works with a student on literacy exercises at Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School on Fri., April 4, 2025 in Ecorse, Michigan. (Lori Higgins / Chalkbeat)

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroits free newsletter to keep up with the citys public school system and Michigan education policy.

A Michigan program that deploys reading and math tutors to schools to help struggling students faces an uncertain future because of Trump administration cuts.

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Holly Windram, the executive director of the Michigan Education Corps, said she learned Friday that the federal Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, had terminated funding for AmeriCorps, a government agency focused on national service and volunteerism.

That affects the Michigan Education Corps work because it is part of AmeriCorps.

The immediate impact came this week with a stop-work order from the Michigan Community Service Commission, the administrative agent for the AmeriCorps program in Michigan. And it means funding for the 2025-26 school year that had been included in the continuing budget resolution Congress passed in March has also been terminated.

The cuts dont just affect education programs like the academic intervention provided by the Michigan Education Corps. AmeriCorps programs also affect disaster response, public health, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, and other areas. Those programs also face an uncertain future.

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This is an urgent situation, Windram said of the wide scope of the cuts. This is an absolute disaster for our communities.

The cuts have the potential to upend efforts to improve student achievement across the nation. Many districts had used federal pandemic relief money to provide tutoring in an attempt to help students recover from the public health crisis. But that money has dried up and the AmeriCorps volunteers have helped maintain that work in many schools.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel earlier this week joined with 22 other attorneys general as well as two states in filing a lawsuit challenging Trump administrations termination of the grants and staffing cuts to the agency.

The President and his administrations ongoing disregard for the rule of law is once again on full display in their attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps, Nessel said in a statement earlier this week. By canceling grants and slashing AmeriCorps workforce, the administration is illegally undercutting a Congressionally established and funded independent agency, while harming communities across Michigan.

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Despite the stop-work order, the Michigan Education Corps has enough money to continue paying tutors through the end of the current school year.

The question mark is next program year, Windram said.

This uncertainty was unexpected for Windram. When Chalkbeat first talked to her about potential federal funding cuts on April 17, DOGE had already cut a significant portion of the AmeriCorps staff but Windram was optimistic because the budget resolution had kept the funding for the next school year. Now she has to step up efforts to seek additional funding.

Windram has worked to diversify the programs funding, and currently federal funding covers about 20% of the cost. Shell now need to find sources of funding that can cover what will be lost if the federal funding cuts stand.

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There is much at stake. The program serves 3,740 students from age 3 through grade 8 (the agency includes an early childhood component). Data shows that 75% of them meet or exceed their academic growth target. Windram said thats important because the program isnt just seeking to demonstrate growth with students, but instead seeking to have them close achievement gaps.

At Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School in Ecorse, a wall of fame in a hallway features students who were placed in the reading intervention program and have improved enough to no longer need the help. The smiling students are photographed holding their certificates, some posing with their tutors. The wall is a symbol of the impact of the work that happens when the tutors meet one-on-one with the struggling students.

When Chalkbeat visited Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School in Ecorse on April 4, there was already concern about whether the reading and math tutors would be able to continue beyond the current school year.

That is very worrisome, said Sandra Fuoco, the schools Title I teacher, whose position is funded by federal money. I have my interventionist wondering whats going to happen? Do they look for a new job over the summer? They want to come back. Theyre wonderful, wonderful workers, and we dont want to lose them.

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The AmeriCorps cuts are happening as uncertainty swirls about potential federal education funding cuts that could affect everything from school meals for students to early childhood programs. Fuoco and Bunche Principal Toyre Burks worry that politicians and policymakers proposing such cuts dont understand how much cuts could affect students.

I have my concerns around us being able to meet our kids where theyre where theyre at, Burks said. Were in an at-risk district. Our kids, they need the breakfast, lunch, sometimes even dinner and snacks that were giving them.

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Police say two dogs bit their 70-year-old owner Friday afternoon in south Wichita. The man was rushed to the hospital in serious condition with injuries to his face and leg.

The call came out around 3:40 p.m. Friday in the 2500 block of S. Mosley, near Pawnee and Washington.

The Wichita Police Department said the man went outside with his two pit bulls, and then they bit him. Other people in the home found him after it happened and called 911.

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We dont know why the dogs decided to suddenly attack, Sgt. Charles Rogers, WPD, said.

He said animal control officers were able to get one of the dogs into their vehicle without it acting aggressively, and they were in the process of trying to get the other dog into a vehicle.

Those dogs will be put on a quarantine away from everybody else while they study and learn whether or not there was anything like rabies or anything like that from the dogs, Rogers said.

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Department of Justice has reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, a pro-Trump rioter who was shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The details of the proposed settlement were not made clear during a Friday hearing before federal Judge Ana Reyes, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

PHOTO: This driver's license photo from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), provided to AP by the Calvert County Sheriff's Office, shows Ashli Babbitt. (Maryland MVA/Courtesy of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office via AP)

MORE: DOJ reaches temporary agreement not to publicly release list of FBI agents who investigated Jan. 6

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Babbitt's family members sued the government in January 2024 seeking $30 million for what they allege was her wrongful shooting death by Capitol Police Officer Michael Byrd.

Byrd was cleared of any wrongdoing following an internal investigation into the actions leading up to his shooting of Babbitt as she tried to climb through a broken window that led to the House Speaker's Lobby, where several lawmakers and their staff were sheltering from rioters.

PHOTO: Micki Witthoeft, mother to Ashli Babbitt, attends a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Special Counsel report on origins of the FBI investigation into the Trump presidential campaign, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., June 21, 2023. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP)

Babbitt's attorneys disclosed the agreement in principle was reached during the hearing, which was convened on an emergency basis after one of Babbitt's prior attorneys sought a preliminary injunction on Friday to ensure he received payment for his work on the case if a settlement was formally announced.

Robert Sticht, the lawyer for Babbitt's family, said he expected the family to sign the formal settlement agreement within the next three weeks.

PHOTO: Rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (John Minchillo/AP)

MORE: Special counsel probe uncovers new details about Trump's inaction on Jan. 6: Sources

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his solidarity with Babbitt's family and called for "justice" for what he has said was her "murder" at Byrd's hands -- in line with his broader vocal support for the pro-Trump rioters who attacked the Capitol to overturn his 2020 election loss.

In March, Trump said in an interview with Newsmax he wasn't aware of the lawsuit brought by Babbitt's family but promised he would "look into" it.

"I'm a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, OK, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there -- they even say trying to sort of hold back the crowd," Trump said. "And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think it's a disgrace. I'm going to look into that. I did not know that."

DOJ reaches agreement in principle to settle lawsuit brought by family of Ashli Babbitt originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(FOX40.COM)  A domestic violence call turned into a police-involved shooting on the 400 block of Jibboom Street, Sacramento police said.

SPD said the suspect fled the scene from the officers on foot, holding what they believe to be a handgun, and was last seen near the waterline behind Matsui Park.

No officers were injured, and the suspect has been taken to the hospital to be treated and is in stable condition.

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Busy year for Southwest as they implement many changes to their policies

SPD is asking the public to avoid the area as crews are working to investigate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
A domestic violence survivor is taking to TikTok to share the harrowing story of how her former husband poured chemicals into her eye, temporarily blinding her and leading to multiple surgeries and the loss of one eye

Heather Cornelius tells PEOPLE that her husband didn't become physically violent until a decade into the marriage

She's using social media as a way to reach others impacted by marital or domestic violence

A domestic violence survivor is opening up to PEOPLE  and social media  about the devastating injuries she suffered during her marriage to an abuser, including losing the use of an eye when he poured chemicals on her face. Heather Cornelius has gone viral on TikTok for sharing her initial story and other moments from her abusive marriage, raising awareness around domestic violence.

Heather tells PEOPLE that her former husband seemed "easygoing and nurturing" when the two married in 2012. And while she says he didn't show signs of violence for almost 10 years, her friends always felt he was controlling.

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"My family didn't like him, my sisters didn't like him," she says. "But for almost 10 years, I thought it was a good marriage."

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.

Related: TikTok Star Rachel Yaffe Dies at 27 After Being Diagnosed with Rare Liver Cancer

After Heather joined the Coast Guard and began growing more independent, things began to shift.

"He began to get insecure," she says, adding that, in November 2021, the two had a huge fight after he began asking if she had ever danced with anyone at parties in college. That culminated in him "bawling," accusing her of being a liar "for years," and ultimately, threatening divorce.

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"He proceeded to say he didn't want to be with me anymore: 'Im going to leave. And Im taking the kids with me,' " she says. "I told him he can leave if he wants to but theres no way that hes ever taking my children.

courtesy Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius

He would apologize and then, later, things would get bad again. He began to sexually assault Heather, even twice choking her unconscious during intercourse.

Roughly one year after that November 2021 fight, she left  but quickly realized it was nearly impossible to escape his anger.

"He had tracking apps on my phone, he could track my car via the GPS. I had no money, I had no one to call ... I was in a helpless state. He started to call me and say, 'I want you to come home.' I told him no."

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Heather spent the night in a nearby public parking lot and, the next day  on Nov. 25, 2022  her then-husband drove to meet her and try to convince her to come home.

courtesy Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius

"He was apologizing, and saying how sorry he was and he didnt know what was wrong with him  but at the same time, he was threatening me, saying he would tell the police I tried to kill him and I'd lose access to the kids," she says.

So, feeling alone and worried about being separated from her children, she went home with her husband.

"I went home, and he said I'm really glad we're back here, and we're going to make things right," she says.

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And then, he told her to lie on the floor.

"My back was turned and he told me, 'Lay on the floor.' I didn't ask anything, I didn't try to resist. At that point, when he told me to do something, I did it just to get it over with."

Related: She Married a Serial Killer Who Murdered Multiple Girls. Now Shes Speaking Out About It

She continues: "So I did what he said. When I looked up, I saw that he had blue gloves on and a white container. I tried to sit up, he pushed me back down. And he started pouring something in my right eye."

Heather says it's impossible to "describe the pain" that came next, once her husband began "rubbing in" the liquid he was pouring on her face

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"I was begging for him to stop and screaming," she remembers. "I dont know how I made it through. I swear, God allowed me to leave my body for a moment to survive. He told me if I wasn't quiet, he was going to kill me. So I went quiet, and then he started pouring it in my left eye. And then, he was done."

Almost immediately, Heather's husband began making a plan to ensure no one would know what happened, instructing her to go to the kitchen and pretend that she had been injured in an incident with oven cleaner.

"When I called out and did what he said [in the kitchen], my daughter came running," she says. "He had left the room at that point so he came running, too. He led me into the shower and I let the cold water hit my face. I didn't know at that point if anything was even left of my eye."

Her husband, meanwhile, began "freaking out" standing outside the shower.

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"He then took me to the hospital and, as we were getting out, he said You know you did this to yourself, right?' "

Once at the hospital, Heather learned that the chemical poured on her face had essentially "melted" her eyelids off.

courtesy Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius

"What you see now, this is all just different skin grafts from other parts of my body. None of this is my original eyelids," she says. "I cant blink. I don't have that ability now."

From her local hospital in Topeka, Heather says she was airlifted to a level 1 trauma center in Kansas City and put into the ICU burn unit.

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"They kept asking what happened and I knew they didnt believe what I was telling them. The nurses, everyone kept trying to get me to explain the real story but I just thought, 'What if he kills the kids and then himself?' I couldn't risk that."

Heather spent a week in the hospital, during which time three of the five surgeries she's had on her face were performed.

Then, she went back home.

Related: Gabby Petitos Parents Want to Change the Way Domestic Violence Is Treated in the U.S.: 'Laws Are Changing' (Exclusive)

"After that, he never physically abused me again, and he seemed to like that I was dependent on him," she says. "I didnt have eyesight for seven months in either eye and my right eye had to be surgically closed. It had scarred over  my retina is intact but I don't have a cornea to see out of. So they have it covered so it stays protected."

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After she was blinded, she was put on convalescent leave by the Coast Guard.

And six months after she was released from the hospital, the doorbell rang.

"It was May 24, 2023," she remembers. "The doorbell rang, and he went outside and didnt come back ... I could hear him yelling at the cops and he made a comment that someone from my command was walking up. Two people from my command said, 'You can come with us voluntarily or involuntarily, but we need to question you.' "

Once in the car, Heather was notified that agents from Children's Protective Services would be taking her children and Heather would be taken to Walter Reed Medical Center, for a psychiatric evaluation.

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"They had found out through my work email," she says. "I had written a draft email to my mother a couple months before it happened ... saying things have gotten really bad, Im scared somethings going to happen to me or to the children. Before I could send the email he turned off the Internet  but it was saved in my work email, which was the only thing he couldnt access."

While Heather's children were placed with a foster family, Heather went to Walter Reed, where she admits she was initially "not very cooperative."



courtesy Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius Heather Cornelius

"I was taken, I was blind, I didn't know what was going on with my kids. I basically had Stockholm syndrome at the time," she says.

But it was at Walter Reed that a psychologist offered Heather a blunt piece of advice: "We can't keep you unless you want help. But if you go home  it might not be tomorrow, it might not be any time soon  hes going to kill you, and your kids need you. Can we please help you?

"All I said was, 'Okay,' " she says.

Following her weeks-long inpatient stay at Walter Reed, Heather transferred to an inpatient and outpatient program in Texas, geared toward trauma and PTSD.

"I was [at Walter Reed] because they knew I needed to be kept safe, and had extreme trauma," she says, adding that she spent "a few months" in trauma programs before transitioning to life on base. In January 2024, she was reunited with her children.

Her husband, meanwhile, had moved to Alaska as Heather says authorities worked behind the scenes to build a case against him.

"The last time I spoke to him was the morning I was taken," she says.

On Nov. 1, 2023, police officers came to her home in Texas and notified her that he had died.

While she admits there were many emotions that she had to process as the result of his death, Heather says it allowed her to reconnect with people with whom she had lost touch.

"One of my friends later said, 'I don't want to upset you but I don't think you ever had a good marriage  do you realize it has been over a decade since we went out to lunch alone?' " Heather recounts. "And she was right. He was always very controlling, but I went with the flow."

She continues: "I try to describe it to people in this way: It's like you're walking in the woods, and you get lost. Everyone else can see whats happening, and theyre trying to find a route to get you out But everything looks the same and no matter where you go, you stay lost. You can't always see stuff when it's so close to you."



Now, though, Heather can see more clearly  at least, in the figurative sense.

"Besides whats here," she says, gesturing to her face, "it took me a long time to be okay."

She continues: "I feel like Im probably in the best head space that Ive ever been in. I have a regular therapist, my kids are in therapy and theyre doing great in school. I bought a house and I did it on my own."

"Im accomplishing a lot of things that I never thought I would and I view what happened to me as part of the plan God has for me," she adds. "I survived it for a purpose. I don't look at myself and feel sorry for myself. I look forward to waking up every day."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People
JAKARTA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Investment activity in Indonesia has maintained a steady pace and is expected to remain resilient throughout the year, amid challenges posed by U.S. tariff policies, according to a market analysis released Friday.

A macroeconomic brief by Bank Mandiri on Indonesia's direct investment projected the country's economic growth to stay robust in 2025, ranging between 4.83 percent and 5.03 percent. Economic stability was anticipated to bolster investor confidence and attract greater inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Southeast Asia's largest economy.

"We expect direct investment to remain strong this year, supporting Indonesia's economy in maintaining its growth trajectory of 4.83 percent to 5.03 percent," said Bank Mandiri Chief Economist Andry Asmoro.

According to the data, investment realization in the first quarter of 2025 reached 465.2 trillion rupiahs, marking a 15.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year. FDI grew 12.7 percent year-on-year, highlighting sustained interest from global investors.

The investment surge led to the creation of 594,104 jobs in the first quarter alone. On average, every 1 trillion rupiahs in direct investment absorbed 1,300 workers, a significant improvement and the first time in a decade that job absorption surpassed 1,000 per trillion rupiahs.

"This is the highest investment-to-labor absorption ratio in the past 10 years," Asmoro added.

Despite the strong start, Asmoro cautioned that Indonesia must navigate a range of global and domestic challenges that could affect investor sentiment. Among them are shifting U.S. tariff policies and increasing competition among ASEAN countries to attract investment.

To stay competitive, Asmoro emphasized the importance of expanding international cooperation and enacting policy reforms to sustain Indonesia's investment competitiveness and prevent capital from relocating to other countries. (1 U.S. dollar equals 16,410 rupiahs) 
The Scene

Children will be taught to love America. Children will be taught to be patriots, Stephen Miller said on Thursday. Were gonna make sure these funds are not being used to promote communist ideology.

He said that right after Id talked to Greg Grandin, the Pulitzer-winning historian and author of , a massive new book that covers the creation of the United States and its neighbors as one big story. Alternative histories of our country have had a rough ride, recently, epitomized by that Miller quote. The 1619 Project, in which the true founding was the arrival of slaves in North America, was adopted by blue state classrooms, then drummed out of red state classrooms.

Grandin doesnt expect the same fate for his book, which is full of revelations, even for people with a solid understanding of the United States. The Trump administrations talk about annexing Canada, which helped Prime Minister Mark Carney win this weeks election, gets covered as a wild departure from norms. So does the new rights affinity for El Salvador and the deportation of illegal immigrants here to a mega-prison there.

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This book, the best piece of nonfiction so far this year, corrects some of the lazy thinking about what America (the country) does and doesnt do, and clarifies what, exactly, is new about its Trump-led strategy of domination.

During WWII, Latin Americans, and much of the world, thought they were not only fighting against Nazism but for social democracy, for social rights and social citizens. Latin Americans today, fending off the forces of darkness, still think so, still believe that if democracy is to be something more than a heraldic device, it must confront entrenched power.

This is an edited transcript of my talk with Grandin.

The View From Greg Grandin

David Weigel: How were the British colonization and the Spanish colonization of the Americas intertwined, ideologically?

Greg Grandin: When I look at the Spanish conquest, I look at the moral critique that emerges out of it. The key figures are Bartolome de las Casas, Francisco de Vitoria, and they create a formidable critique, a moral judgment against what Spain is doing. Of course, it doesnt stop the Spanish conquest in any way. But it certainly is a crisis within Catholicism that produces this debate, giving rise to the principle of human equality, questioning the right of conquest.

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So the Virginia Company is sitting around in 1609 in London, wondering if they should issue some proclamation to justify colonization of what will become Jamestown and then eventually Plymouth. Theyve read Vitoria, theyve read de las Casas. They say, well, the Spaniards have been arguing about this for a century, and they cant find a coherent justification for conquest, much less slavery. Maybe its better that we dont say anything at all. Eventually, after the Powhatan attack on Jamestown in 1622, they do claim justification  saying that they were fighting a just war. But for the most part, moral evasion was the hallmark of English settlement, while, for Spanish Catholics, the dispossession of Native Americans was an ongoing moral problem.

Once theyre being settled, why do they head in such different directions?

Its rooted in the social structures of the Spanish empire, and the ideological justifications for Spanish colonialism. The Spanish built an empire that was assumed to be universal. Catholicism was the bearer of universal history and universal wisdom. In the Americas, even as they build an empire they claimed was universal, they did so by creating an administrative system that recognized differences, and created legal redress, for different ethnic racial groups. Even as those racial groups were divided and subdivided, and new categories were created.

Centuries later, independence leaders understood their break with Spain as a chance to right the wrongs of the conquest and colonialism. Now, the gap between reality and practice was something else, and we can talk about that. But that gap matters, right? It creates the conditions of whats possible. In contrast to Spanish republicans, the leaders of US independence didnt feel like they were atoning for the settlement of Plymouth. They didnt feel like they had any grievances with British colonialism, except for the grievances with King George III that they put into the Declaration of Independence.

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Spanish republicanism was much more capacious in its emancipationist vision. It understood enslavement not just as chattel slavery of African Americans, but of the servitude of Native Americans. In some countries, slavery persisted. In other countries, it was abolished immediately. But the idea of emancipation was built into the revolution. Simon Bolivar admired the United States, but he didnt think that the social basis of US republicanism  of restraining the state to free individual ambition  would lead to a virtuous society.

So is there some historical basis for whats going on now with the United States and El Salvador  of saying, you get to take our prisoners and well pay for it?

No, I think its unprecedented. We could talk about different plans to export Native Americans beyond the frontier to Oklahoma and elsewhere. We could talk about Liberia. We could talk about Guantanamo, a place that can deal with the excess of people that dont fit within the legal regime or social structure of the country. But to actually make a deal with somebody who, by all accounts, is a dictator, is something else entirely. Bukele created social peace by cutting a deal with the upper echelon of the gangs. He allowed them to make money if they decreased their killings, and he said, were going to throw your rank and file in prison. There is no precedent for working with that. The meeting with Bukele in the White House  I had never seen anything like it. The glee, the laughing, the impunity that was on display. When we interned the Japanese, we built camps and put the people in them on US soil, right? We didnt send them to Peru. Although we did get Peru to intern their own Japanese immigrants. In fact, Peru wound up sending many of their Japanese citizens the US to be interned.

Right now, you see an Alberta independence movement in Canada; you have Trump talking about annexing Canada or Greenland, and re-taking the Panama canal. Thats often covered as a break from American tradition: This isnt who we are. But how much of this expansionism is rooted in our histories?

I do think Trump is unique. What hes doing is a reassertion of the doctrine of conquest. Hes not going to get Canada. I dont know what hes going to do with Greenland. But hes signaling very clearly that he rejects the premise of the rules-based order, of cooperation and shared interests. And that premise, to a large degree, comes out of Latin America. It joins the world order as a league of nations. Its not one republic against Great Britain. Its seven republics against Spain, and they have to learn how to live with each other. They have to learn how to deal with each other.

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What would have stopped Argentina from looking at the United States and saying: You know what? We want the Pacific, too. Well: Chile was there. So, the weakening of the doctrine of conquest begins in Latin America, along with this sense that the international order should be organized around cooperation, not competition, and should be geared towards solving common problems. Trump is clearly saying that is no longer the premise. Maybe James K. Polk and Andrew Jackson believed some of that, but even Theodore Roosevelt was very willing to work with the international law movement to figure out a way to organize the nations of the world.

Weve seen the Trump administration take more control of museums and historical associations, and talk about the sort of patriotic curricula they want in schools. Do you see anything in your book that might cross with them, and get it banned?

You know, Ive come to the conclusion that you can say and write whatever you want about Latin America. Its not Israel. I mean, how did I become the C. Vann Woodward professor of history at Yale University? If there was some effort to get it banned, I think that would be great. It would mean some attention is finally being paid to Latin America.
Texans arent exactly shy about speaking their minds  whether its at city hall, in the town square or all over social media. But a slate of bills now moving through the Texas Legislature threatens to make that proud tradition a criminal offense.

In the name of regulating artificial intelligence, lawmakers are proposing bills that could turn political memes, commentary and satire into crimes.

Senate Bills 893 and 228, and House Bills 366 and 556 might be attempting to protect election integrity, but these bills actually impose sweeping restrictions that could silence ordinary Texans just trying to express their opinions.

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Take SB 893 and its companion HB 2795. These would make it a crime to create and share AI-generated images, audio recordings, or videos if done with the intent to deceive and influence the result of an election. The bill offers a limited safeguard: If you want to share any images covered by the bill, you must edit them to add a government-mandated warning label.

During last year's presidential campaign, X owner Elon Musk shared an AI-generated image of Donald Trump hugging a kitten and a duck, a meme originally posted by the Republican Party's House Judiciary Committee account. Proposed bills in Texas would restrict such fabricated images in a political campaign, even when they are clearly satirical.

But the bills never define what counts as deceptive, handing prosecutors a blank check to decide what speech crosses the line. Thats a recipe for selective enforcement and criminalizing unpopular opinions. And SB 893 has already passed the Senate.

HB 366, which just passed the House, goes even further. It would require a disclaimer on any political ad that contains altered media, even when the content isnt misleading. With the provisions applying to anyone spending at least $100 on political advertising, which is easily the amount a person could spend to boost a social media post or to print some flyers, a private citizen could be subject to the law.

Once this threshold is met, an AI-generated meme, a five-second clip on social media, or a goofy Photoshop that gives the opponent a giant cartoon head would all suddenly need a legal warning label. No exceptions for satire, parody or commentary are included. If it didnt happen in real life, youre legally obligated to slap a disclaimer on it.

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HB 556 and SB 228 take a similarly broad approach, treating all generative AI as suspect and criminalizing creative political expression.

These proposals arent just overkill, theyre unconstitutional. Courts have long held that parody, satire and even sharp political attacks are protected speech. Requiring Texans to add disclaimers to their opinions simply because they used modern tools to express them is not transparency. Its compelled speech.

Besides, Texas already has laws on the books to address defamation, fraud and election interference. What these bills do is expand government control over how Texans express themselves while turning political expression into a legal minefield.

Fighting deception at the ballot box shouldnt mean criminalizing creativity or chilling free speech online. Texans shouldnt need a lawyer to know whether they can post a meme they made on social media or make a joke about a candidate.

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Political life in Texas has been known to be colorful, rowdy and fiercely independent  and thats how it should stay. Vague laws and open-ended definitions shouldnt dictate what Texans can say, how they can say it, or which tools theyre allowed to use.

The Texas Legislature should scrap these overbroad AI bills and defend the Lone Star states real legacy: fearless, unapologetic free speech.

John Coleman is the legislative counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a nonpartisan nonprofit that defends the free speech rights of all Americans.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Don't use AI regulation to criminalize political speech | Opinion
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The days are getting longer and the weather is warmer! As we head into the dry summer months, fire officials urge residents to remain vigilant for wildfires.

Fire departments statewide are working with different agencies to raise awareness during May  also known as Wildfire Awareness Month.

Our risk is high, fire experts warn as summer approaches

Kauai Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson explained that wildfires can cause significant destruction to homes, communities and public spaces.

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The department said it is working with KEMA, Kauai Police Department and the mayors office to improve public alert messaging and incident management team training.

As for residents and businesses, Kauai fire officials offered various tips to help protect themselves from possible destruction.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Remove dead vegetation and other flammable materials, especially if its within the first five feet of the home

Refrain from using invasive grasses as they can overgrow when unmanaged. Instead, consider replanting low-lying, drought-tolerant, native ground cover

Flammable materials should be removed from decks, porches, lanai and underneath the house

Keep your lawn hydrated and shorter than four inches tall around the home. Do not mow in the days heat or when the wind blows; never mow in dry vegetation.

Have an escape route to a clear area safe from rapid-fire spread.

Report possible fires  including signs of smoke or flames  to KPD dispatch and 911 if its an emergency

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Large landowners and land stewards who want more guidance are encouraged to attend KFDs wildfire preparedness collaboration meeting in May. Interested attendees should contact KFD Fire Prevention Capt. Kaeo Kinoshita at jkinoshita@kauai.gov.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

More wildfire prevention tips can also be found on the Wildland Fire Action Guide & Safety Tips tab of KFDs 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.
Nathaniel Herz

Northern Journal

Five weeks before Election Day, at an evening ceremony at the office of the U.S. Department of State, Americas first-ever Arctic ambassador was sworn into his new job.

Barely 100 days later, on Jan. 20, Mike Sfraga resigned  departing his post, like other ambassadors, as Donald Trump took power.

Now, Sfragas position remains unfilled. And Alaskans and others tracking Americas stance toward the Arctic are waiting to see when, or if, the new administration will offer a clear vision or plans for the region that the U.S., its allies and rivals are increasingly eying as a zone for commerce and military activity.

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It's feeling very quiet, said Diane Hirshberg, who leads a research institute at University of Alaska Anchorage and is academic vice president at an international network of schools called University of the Arctic. We're just in this weird land of uncertainty.

At a recent working group meeting of an international commission called the Arctic Council, Hirshberg said, the American government representative shared nothing, "other than that the U.S. reserves the right to comment at a later date."

Experts say that Trumps outspoken desire to annex Greenland makes clear that hes aware of the Arctics growing strategic value. But they also say that his distrust of traditional European alliances and his targeting of research institutions risk undermining the nations interests in the region.

There are other nations questioning us, Sfraga said at an Alaska legislative hearing this month. Every one of our allies in the North and elsewhere, theyre questioning how committed we are.

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Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whos long prodded the federal government to develop its Arctic policy, said she thinks the new administration appreciates the significance of the region for its natural resources and importance to American national security.

But she said shes pushing for that awareness to be backed up with qualified personnel  new appointees to Arctic-focused positions like the ambassador job.

At some of these Arctic conferences, Im there," she said in an interview. "But the U.S. delegation has to be more than just Lisa Murkowski.

Former President Joe Biden created the Arctic ambassador position through an executive action, and its not set out in law  a fact that Murkowski, via legislation she introduced earlier this year, hopes to change.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, walks to the Senate chambers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

She said she's also submitted names to the Trump administration to consider for the post and is concerned that if the decision is delayed, the new ambassador nominee could end up being a campaign donor chosen "as, kind of, a political favor."

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Murkowski said she'd love to see Sfraga reappointed to the position.

Biden originally nominated Sfraga, an Alaskan geographer whod worked at a think tank and in Alaskas university system, to the ambassadorship in early 2023.

Murkowski recommended Sfraga for the post and lobbied for his confirmation.

But it took more than 18 months for the U.S. Senate to take an up or down vote. Some Republican senators, led by Idaho Republican James Risch, criticized Sfragas relationships with officials and institutions from China and Russia.

Sfraga said in an email that filling his old post is in Americas best interest.

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The United States requires a Senate-confirmed ambassador so we can inform, influence and appropriately lead Arctic-related issues and policies throughout the region, clearly articulate U.S. Arctic goals and objectives, and ensure our policies and efforts are coordinated and advanced at home, he said.

Asked whether hed take the job back if chosen by Trump  as suggested by Murkowski  Sfraga thanked the senator for her unwavering support.

"It is now time to consider other opportunities to advance U.S. and allied partners' interests in the Arctic, and Alaska's unique role in the region's future," he said.

Alaskas sole member of the U.S. House, Republican Nick Begich III, said in an emailed statement that an Arctic ambassador supports a strong presence in the region, which is vital for national security.

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I will continue to work with the executive branch and members of the Alaska delegation to advocate for an Arctic policy that includes leadership staffing as a component of our national security strategy, Begich said.

The State Department, in an emailed statement to Northern Journal, did not directly answer a question about if and when the new administration plans to replace Sfraga. But it did say that the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs remains funded and operational.

Thats in contrast to the Wilson Center  a 55-year-old think tank that once employed Sfraga when he was the founding director of the centers Polar Institute.

The center, which focuses on foreign policy, has been almost entirely shut down by the new administration, with more than 100 employees placed on leave and just a handful of congressionally mandated positions remaining, according to the New York Times. The Polar Institute's current director did not respond to a request for comment.

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At the U.S. Department of Defense, meanwhile, the administration has filled one top Arctic-focused position. Last month, Steven Schleien, a longtime department official, was named deputy assistant secretary for Arctic and global resilience  with responsibilities that include Arctic security, ocean issues and critical minerals.

One other person that experts see as a potentially influential voice on the administrations Arctic policy is Julia Nesheiwat.

Nesheiwat currently has no formal role in the administration. But shes a former homeland security advisor to Trump, a former member of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, and her husband, Mike Waltz, is Trumps national security advisor.

Nesheiwat recently traveled with Waltz, Vice President J.D. Vance and other top administration officials to Greenland. She also held a meeting with Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy at an energy conference in Texas last month.

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Murkowski said shes spoken about Arctic policy with Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and her former U.S. Senate colleague.

She also sent the president and other top administration officials a letter last month outlining her Arctic-related priorities  including the appointment of a special presidential assistant focused on the region, and the creation of a new deputy assistant secretary for Arctic affairs at the State Department.

Murkowski, whos publicly clashed with Trump at times, acknowledged that some in the new administration would love to deep-six anything that I might suggest.

But I know that you have people who are genuinely interested in advancing good policy, she said. I think theyre looking for suggestions.

This story original misidentified Julia Neisheiwat as a former national security advisor to Donald Trump; she is a former homeland security advisor.

This piece was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter and news website. Subscribe here.
President Donald Trump spoke with ABC News' Terry Moran in a viral interview on Sunday, April 29



During the sitdown about Trump's first 100 days in office, Moran asked the president about his decision to hang a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office

Trump called the historic document "a declaration of unity and love and respect," prompting a reaction from the reporter



Another moment from President Donald Trump's intense interview with Terry Moran has gone viral.

The president sat down with the ABC News correspondent this week to discuss his first 100 days in office. Moran pressed Trump on everything from the economy to his relationship with Vladimir Putin, but it was a detail of the Oval Office decor that got one of the reporter's biggest reactions.

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Upon taking office in January, Trump did the customary redecorating. Notably, he replaced a portrait of President Barack Obama with a painting of himself following his July 2024 assassination attempt. He also hung a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office, complete with blue curtains on both sides.

When Moran asked Trump what the document meant to him, the president replied, "Well, it means exactly what it says, it's a declaration. A declaration of unity and love and respect, and it means a lot. And it's something very special to our country."

ABC News/YouTube Terry Moran Terry Moran

Related: Trump Mistakes Photoshopped Image of Immigrant's Knuckle Tattoos for the Real Thing in Intense ABC News Interview

Moran's brief reaction to the president's reply is just the latest moment to go viral from the interview. Earlier this week, a clip circulated of the president insisting that an edited image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was the real thing.



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When Moran asked Trump about Abrego Garcia  who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March  the president referenced a photo of the Maryland fathers tattoos. Abrego Garcias left hand features four tattoos on his knuckles: a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross and a skull.



In a photo that Trump previously shared to his own social media pages, graphics were added to explain that the symbols were perceived by the White House as code for "MS-13," the violent international gang.

The Trump administration has previously claimed that Abrego Garcia was a member of the gang, though he has no criminal record.

During the ABC interview, Trump suggested that the characters "M," "S," "1," and "3" were part of Abrego Garcia's real tattoo, and not typed onto the image after the fact to explain the alleged gang reference.

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He said he wasnt a member of a gang, and then they looked and on his knuckles he had MS-13, Trump told Moran, who replied there was dispute over the meaning of the symbols tattooed on Abrego Garcia.

Related: Judge Orders U.S. Government to Return Maryland Father Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador

He had some tattoos that are interpreted that way, but lets move on, the anchor said. But the president was insistent.

Wait a minute. Hey, Terry. Terry. Terry. Dont do that, Trump replied.

He did not have the letter MS-13,  Moran reiterated. That was Photoshopped.

That was Photoshopped? Trump replied in disbelief. Terry, you cant do that. Theyve given you the big break of a lifetime. You know, youre doing the interview.



Related: Wife of Maryland Father Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador Speaks Out for the First Time: 'My Husband's Not a Criminal'

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Moran, who served as ABC News' chief White House correspondent from 1999 to 2005, is currently the network's senior national correspondent.

Trump's next "100 Days" interview is with NBC News Kristen Welker on the Sunday, May 4 episode of Meet the Press.



Read the original article on People
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  From workers rights rallies to marches for social justice, people around the country and in Tampa Bay took part in May Day demonstrations Thursday.

Unless we have intense public pressure, nothing is going to change, said Cathy OGara, while holding a sign in Seminole Thursday.

State parks in Florida appear off-limits to development as lawmakers react to outcry

Its been 100 days and President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders and made a lot of changes in the federal government. But protesters said they are not pleased and rallied outside local Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Lunas office.

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Id like to see the Republicans stand up for democracy. I just dont see that happening, said John Wise, a protester.

A spokesperson for Representative Luna sent a statement reading in part, We hope all of these people join our upcoming tele-town hall with thousands of other Pinellas residents so they can get accurate information.

In St. Petersburg, people held signs on an overpass to get their points across.

We need to be in a place that theres a greater diversity of people passing by  theres nowhere more diverse than I-275, said Amy Weintraud, with the St. Pete League of Women Voters.

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I think democracy is at risk right now because we have unilateral power without due process, said Nicole Jones, also with the St. Pete League of Women Voters.

They said President Trumps actions on immigration have disrupted the norms of American democracy. They said they fear people who are here legally are being deported.

Micahel Fusella, a member of the College Republicans of the University of South Florida, said hes not aware of that happening, and said if you are here legally you shouldnt be touched.

I do believe in due process. But at the end of the day, this needs to happen You need to see immigration enforcement and (it) went on way too long unchecked, too many bad people got into the country, Fusella said.

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Protestors also expressed concern for the administration only catering to the needs of the president and not all Americans.

I think thats one reason you can say he is a president of all people because hes trying to get his message out there  whether you agree with him or not, thats a whole other issue. At least hes trying. Hes transparent enough where he tells you what he, he believes and what hes trying to do, Fusella said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
At least 29 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya, with the regions military governor, Ivan Fedorov, accusing Russian forces of targeting civilian sites.

"Residential buildings, the university, and an infrastructure facility were damaged," Fedorov wrote on Telegram on Friday morning.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported further damage from overnight drone attacks in the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. It said Russia deployed around 150 drones, most of which were intercepted by Ukrainian defences.

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Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian media and local residents reported anti-aircraft fire and explosions near air bases, particularly around the port city of Sevastopol, where air raid sirens sounded repeatedly throughout the night. No details on damage were immediately available.

Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Friday morning that it had intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones, including 89 over Crimea. While these figures could not be independently verified, they suggest the significant scale and intensity of the attacks on both sides.

The Russian ministry also reported 10 repelled drones launched from the Black Sea to attack the Crimean peninsula.

Sevastopol's Moscow-appointed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said it was the largest Ukrainian attack on the city this year. No damage had been caused, he added. Ukraine has so far not commented on the reports.

Law enforcers carry a wounded person outside an apartment block damaged by a large-scale Russian drone attack in Zaporizhzhia. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/dpa
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The West Shore School District recently decided to go with a new transportation service provider, resulting in the potential layoff of dozens.

Earlier today, a WARN Notice was filed with the Department of Labor & Industry saying that the York County-based location for First Student, located at 531 Fishing Creek Road, would be laying off 81 employees.

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Per the WARN Notice, this layoff is scheduled to go into effect on June 30, 2025.

According to a spokesperson with First Student, the West Shore School District recently initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to evaluate and select a transportation provider for their next contract term.

This proposal was first review by the District back in February, 2025.

Pennsylvania school bus company to layoff 70 workers

Shortly after during a March 2025 Board Meeting, the West Shore School District announced that it had decided to go with a new provider, being the Perry County-based Rohrer Bus. The new providers contract is slated to begin on July 1.

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You can watch the entire March 2025 Board Meeting by clicking here.

Following this decision, the West Shore School District held an informational meeting on March 26 to discuss what this change in transportation providers means for the community and current/ interested bus drivers.

It is important to note that First Student bus drivers are being offered opportunities to continue driving for the West Shore School District under the new provider, which is one of the items that was discussed during the March 26 meeting.

In a statement to abc27 News, First Student said the following:

First Student is grateful for the opportunity to have served the students of the West Shore School District over the past 14 years. It has been an honor to support the district and contribute to community organizations and events. We extend our best wishes to the school district, its students, and the community. Our employees have been made aware, and we sincerely thank our team members for their dedication and hard work throughout the years.

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According to First Students website, the transportation provider is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently employs upwards of 61,000 people. Furthermore, the provider boasts 545 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
VALLETTA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Maltese government confirmed on Friday evening in a statement that no aircraft or vessel in connection with an attack on the Gaza aid ship "Conscience" entered Maltese airspace or waters at any point in time.

The Malta Maritime Security Committee (MMSC) "clarifies that at no point in time, during the past 48 hours, any aircraft or vessel, currently mentioned in local and foreign media in relation to the case of the vessel Conscience, entered Maltese Sovereign Airspace or the Territorial sea (12 nautical miles from shore)," the statement said.

"The MMSC will keep on monitoring the situation, whilst assistance will be provided to the vessel, according to what is stipulated under international law."

The ship with aid for Gaza was attacked by a drone just outside Maltese territorial waters, the international non-governmental organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a message on X. The attack caused damage to the hull and a fire.

Malta's local media reported that all persons on the vessel were rescued, and there were no injuries. Local media also reported that an Israeli military aircraft hovered around Malta hours before the vessel was attacked.

In an earlier statement, the government confirmed that a distress call was received and that the authorities offered immediate assistance. An Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was also dispatched to the area. 
BOSTON (SHNS)  Gas companies were told late Wednesday night they need to immediately begin ratcheting down the amount of money they can bill customers for efforts to replace old and leaking natural gas pipelines until reaching the lowest level allowed under state law in two years.

Department of Public Utilities Chair James Van Nostrand said the orders his department issued mean that gas customers will be able realize these savings this year, at a time when the high cost of energy is a top concern for residents and policymakers.

The orders require companies to immediately reduce their Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP) revenue caps to 2.5%. The existing scheme limits utilities GSEP charges on customer bills to 3% of the previous years revenue.

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The orders also require the states six local gas distribution utilities  Berkshire Gas, Eversource Gas of Massachusetts, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, NSTAR (owned by Eversource), and Unitil  to reduce those revenue caps to 2% next year and to 1.5% in 2027, which DPU said is the minimum allowed by state law. DPU had raised the cap from 1.5% to 3% in 2019.

For far too long the gas companies have continued to spend on unnecessary GSEP projects, costing the states ratepayers billions for over a decade. GSEP represents the second largest cost in the gas delivery charge, which spiked this winter, Van Nostrand said. These changes will ensure a well-maintained gas system by requiring gas utilities to address the issue of leak-prone pipe in a more affordable manner.

DPU said customers whose gas provider is spending to the current 3% cap will see a GSEP surcharge that is 17% percent lower as a result of the order.

GSEP was introduced as part of a 2014 gas leaks law and a 2019 examination of the safety of natural gas infrastructure in Massachusetts found the program had been a legislative and regulatory success. The program encourages utilities to replace leak-prone pipes by maintaining a mechanism for companies to recover the costs associated with replacement.

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DPU said it determined the safety of the gas distribution system can be maintained at a lower level of GSEP spending and said there are more affordable ways to address leak-prone pipes. The orders direct gas utilities to consider repairs, the use of advanced leak technology, and the implementation of non-pipeline alternatives instead of pipe replacement.

Past discussions of changes to the GSEP program have been met with resistance in some corners, including from the New England Gas Workers Alliance and gas workers unions. NEGWA President John Buonopane said Thursday afternoon that his union is alarmed by DPUs approach to GSEP changes and charged that the departments order will put natural gas customers, utility workforce, first responders, and the public in harms way.

Others have argued it would be unwise to reduce investment in the gas system at a time when renewable energy plans are stalling. A business-backed group suggested the change is being driven by a desire to shift completely away from natural gas.

The DPUs order presumes that rather than replacing pipes to maintain a safe and reliable distribution system, the Commonwealths entire natural gas network can be decommissioned over the next 3-to-5 years. This assumption is not only unrealistic  but dangerous given that only 15-17% of New Englands electricity is renewable after nearly two decades of investment, projects in the pipeline are still falling far short of what is needed, and the current Administration in Washingtons open hostility toward wind power, the Mass Coalition for Sustainable Energy said in a statement. The group added, The Commonwealths ability to pursue an urgent and robust housing and economic development agenda that benefits all of its residents and businesses depends on a safe and reliable natural gas system. Our coalition believes the DPU needs to reexamine this order and ignore unrealistic, ideologically driven assumptions that put our safety and economic future at risk.

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DPU said capital spending covered under the GSEP program has increased by 21% annually since 2015, but the number of miles of pipe replaced has only increased by less than 3% annually over the same period.

Utilities spent $1.32 million per mile of pipe replaced in 2015, and in 2025 are spending $3.46 million per mile, the department said. Put another way, the miles replaced per $10 million in GSEP spending has declined from 7.59 miles in 2015 to 2.89 miles in 2025. DPU said the fundamental issue with the GSEP program as it has existed is the lack of any meaningful incentive for cost containment.

Given the 4,049 miles of leak-prone pipe still remaining to be replaced, it will cost an estimated $13.7 billion in additional GSEP spending if the [gas companies] continue down the current path of relying primarily on pipe replacement and failing to control costs in any meaningful manner, DPU wrote in the order. It added, Ratepayers simply cannot afford to continue down this path, and the Department would be failing our obligation under the GSEP statute to ensure that plans operate in a balanced manner, if we do not take significant action in these proceedings to reform the GSEP process.

Last years energy and climate law included Senate-initiated measures meant to address what some said was wasteful spending in the GSEP program, to explicitly align it with the state climate mandates, and to shift the GSEP programs focus away from pipe replacement and toward alternatives like pipe repair and networked geothermal.

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Yesterdays order shows that the DPU is taking implementation of that new law seriously, Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem, who sponsored legislation reforming the GSEP program last session, said. Im grateful to the DPU for taking action that will both reduce cots for Massachusetts residents and advance our climate goals.

There were approximately 1.7 million natural gas customers in Massachusetts as of a 2019 Future of Gas report, with 91% being served by either National Grid or Eversource. Berkshire Gas Company, Liberty Utilities and Unitil together served another 7% of customers while the states four municipal gas companies served the remaining 2%.

Kaitlyn Woods, an Eversource spokesperson, said the company will continue on behalf of our customers to safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively address aging, leak-prone pipe across the state while it reviews the decision from DPU.

Massachusetts gas distribution system contains a disproportionately higher percentage of leak-prone (and aging) infrastructure when compared to the national average due to when the system was constructed. This critical work aligns with legislation that was enacted to improve the safety of the gas distribution system as well as the states mandated emissions reduction goals, which has resulted in the amount of gas leaks across Massachusetts being cut in half since 2014, she said. Eversource will remain vigilant in prioritizing the safety of our gas system for our customers and the public.

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In a statement late Thursday afternoon, National Grid said it is dedicated to exploring viable alternatives to gas infrastructure for heating, including targeted electrification and networked geothermal. The company said it was reviewing the DPU order and would remain focused on maintaining our existing network serving more than 950,000 customers.

By taking steps to incentivize gas companies to control costs, to evaluate more affordable solutions to replacing leak-prone pipes, and to explore non-gas pipeline alternatives, the DPU sent clear direction to the gas industry that it is time to move beyond gas, Marilyn Ray Smith of Gas Transition Allies said. Over the past 10 years, the Gas System Enhancement Program has enabled gas companies to spend ratepayer money at a premium to replace outdated methane gas pipes, undermining Massachusettss climate goals and driving up gas bills as a result.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the DPU orders reflect nearly all of our offices recommendations to rein in GSEP spending.

It is fundamentally unfair to charge ratepayers billions of dollars to prop up the gas system as the Commonwealth works to decarbonize, Campbell said. Gas bills skyrocketed this winter, and ratepayers need relief. Our offices advocacy has resulted in significant reductions to the amount that gas companies can bill to customers for unnecessary investments in gas infrastructure that does nothing to achieve our climate goals.

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Another Gas Transition Allies member, Audrey Schulman, likened the GSEP program to investing our childrens money in infrastructure they arent likely to be able to use.

But others are less certain that Massachusetts is ready to shun fossil fuels. Hours before the DPU filed its orders, the Houses point person for energy policy cracked open the door to possibility of changes to the states commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in light of major federal policy changes.

While we have passed major climate legislation the past few sessions, we are in the process of reviewing all of our climate and emission mandates, goals and plans. With the new administration in Washington pulling funding, and with the presidents executive order preventing the development of new offshore wind, we must reevaluate and try to figure out the new reality of meeting our climate change goals without a federal partner and without our planned energy diversification, Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee Chair Rep. Mark Cusack said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
A driver caused chaos in Ohio when they came to a complete stop on a busy highway after missing an off-ramp.

At around 5:25 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 30, the driver of a red minivan was traveling in the middle lane of a three-lane stretch of Interstate 71 South in Columbus when they stopped in the middle of the freeway, The Columbus Dispatch and Fox 8 reported.

Footage shared on X by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) appeared to show that the vehicle had missed its exit, as it had its turn signal on and seemed to be waiting for the right lane to be clear for it to merge.

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The video showed several vehicles that drove around the minivan in the lanes on either side. The multi-vehicle crash then occurred when a large silver van crashed into two other vehicles that had stopped behind the halted red minivan.

Do not be this driver, ODOT wrote on X, alongside its clip of the incident.

When you are driving along a major interstate and you miss your exit do you:



A) keep driving and get off at the next one

or

B) come to a complete stop, cause a multi-car rear-end crash and then drive away



HINT: The answer is NEVER B. Do not be this driver. pic.twitter.com/PYh85B6ICR  Ohio Dept of Transportation (@ODOT_Statewide) May 1, 2025

Related: Officer Responded to After-School Camp Crash That Killed 4 Girls. Then He Came Home and 'Cried My Eyes Out'

When the pile-up began, the driver of the red minivan fled the scene on I-670, according to Fox 8.

Matt Bruning, press secretary for ODOT, told the outlet they decided to release the video to educate other drivers on what not to do.

ODOT_Statewide/X Driver causes multi-vehicle crash in Ohio Driver causes multi-vehicle crash in Ohio

They stopped because they missed their exit or the exit they just passed and thats the worst thing you can do on a highway, Bruning told Fox 8.

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.

Getty Interstate 71 sign (stock image) Interstate 71 sign (stock image)

Related: Woman Who Crashed Into After-School Camp, Killing 4, May Have Had a Medical Emergency: Police

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He advised people to continue down the road if they miss an exit, as there are over 5,500 ramps across Ohio.

What this driver did is extremely dangerous and the absolute worst thing you could do, he added, per Fox 8.

Drivers involved in the crash suffered bumps and bruises but no life-threatening injuries, the outlet reported. Their vehicles were extensively damaged.

The Columbus Division of Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol didnt immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Friday, May 2.

Read the original article on People
EDEN, N.C. (WGHP)  The driver involved in an Eden crash last week that left four people dead was fired on Friday, according to a statement released by the City of Eden.

The statement says that Michael Ray Vernon, 66, of Eden, and Public Works Operations Superintendent Elmer Dusty Curry have been fired, and Public Works Operations Manager Darren Gatewood has retired.

The personnel changes are effective as of Friday, the statement says.

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Vernon has been officially charged with one count of failing to stop for a stop sign, one count of operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid CDL and four counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

He was given a $50,000 unsecured bond.

The full statement is provided below:

As the public is aware, a tragedy occurred in Eden on April 24, 2025. The City of Eden is party

to an ongoing National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. Other agencies are

also investigating this matter. Pursuant to information obtained in the course of these

investigations, the City has terminated employee Michael Ray Vernon and Public Works

Operations Superintendent Elmer Dusty Curry. Public Works Operations Manager Darren

Gatewood has retired. These personnel changes are effective today, May 2, 2025. The City is

committed to remaining a cooperating party with the NTSB and all other investigatory agencies.

Questions media have about the investigation should be directed to the NTSB, in accordance

with their policies. In accordance with limitations required by the investigating agencies, the City

can make no further comments at this time. City of Eden

A City of Eden dump truck reportedly ran a stop sign, hitting and killing four men working in the area and injuring three others, two seriously, on April 24. Due to the crash involving a city vehicle, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and NTSB are investigating.

Fallen Linemen Organization working to help Eden crash victims

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On Thursday, the NTSB provided the following details about their ongoing investigation:

The NTSB, in coordination with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, is conducting a safety investigation into the Apr. 24 crash involving utility maintenance workers and a bulk refuse truck in the City of Eden, North Carolina. The preliminary information we have is that a city-owned bulk refuse truck was traveling northbound when the driver failed to stop at a stop sign and entered the work zone. The truck struck multiple utility workers and a bucket truck. As a result, four workers were killed and three were injured. An NTSB team of investigators began arriving on site on Friday, and included specialists in highway factors, vehicle factors, crash reconstruction, survival factors, motor carrier, human performance and a medical officer. The NTSB regularly investigates road and highway crashes to identify possible system-wide safety issues that could have nationwide impacts and makes recommendations on how to prevent similar crashes from occurring in the future. Work-zone safety has been a focus of previous NTSB investigations and an important issue for improving road safety.

Friend of Marine killed in Eden crash remembers him: He was the person to be around

The NTSB says a preliminary report is expected within 30 days and then a full report could come in 12-24 months. The driver of the dump truck was formally charged on Wednesday and the highway patrol is also continuing to investigate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
A ship carrying aid to Gaza in a bid to break Israels blockade has been hit by drones in international waters off Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group that organised the mission.

The FFC said in a statement on Friday that the vessel, now located 14 nautical miles (25km) from Malta, was the target of two drone strikes while on the preparatory stages before sailing to Gaza. The ship had been seeking to deliver aid to the besieged enclave, where aid groups warn people are struggling to survive following a two-month total blockade by Israel.

Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull, the group said.

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The statement did not directly accuse Israel of carrying out the attack.

However, it did demand that Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.

Israel has not commented on the drone strikes.

BREAKING: At 00:23 Maltese time, a #FreedomFlotilla ship was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship is currently located in international waters near #Malta. An #SOS distress signal was sent. pic.twitter.com/J6oEQafuOb  Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025

Nicole Jenes of the FFC told Al Jazeera that the attack on the Conscience at 12.23pm local time (10:23 GMT) on Friday morning blew a hole in the vessel and set the engine ablaze.

The strike left 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board engaged in a frantic effort to bail out water and keep the vessel afloat, she added.

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The group statement said a vessel from Southern Cyprus had been dispatched after it sent SOS calls.

Later on Friday, the Maltese government said in a statement that the fire on the ship had been brought under control and that the vessel was being monitored by authorities. It was unclear whether the authorities had directly intervened to put out the fire and what has happened to the activists.

Jenes, currently in Malta, said that the group was not aware of the situation on board the ship as communication with the crew had been lost.

They were hiding in the night in the rooms of the ship because they were afraid of the drones  We lost contact with them, she said.





On the verge of total collapse

The FFC, formed by peace activists from several countries last year, uses a converted trawler to try to defy Israels blockade on Gaza.

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Israel halted humanitarian aid two months ago, shortly before it broke a ceasefire and restarted its war against Hamas, which has devastated the Palestinian enclave and killed more than 50,000 people.

Its very important to  understand this attack is an extension of the genocide that is happening in Gaza and cannot pass unpunished, Jenes said, insisting that the FFC is asking the world to turn its eyes to the blockade.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a report released on Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse.

Six weeks of intense hostilities, combined with a complete blockage of aid for two months, have left civilians without the essentials they need to survive. Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, the will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to sustain many of its programmes in Gaza, the ICRC said.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Drury University will honor the life and significant contributions of Rabindra Roy at a celebration of life at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Stone Chapel on campus.

Former Drury Presidents John E. Moore, Jr. and John Beuerlein will speak, along with several others, at the celebration of life.

A reception will follow in the OReilly Enterprise Center in the Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center.

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Roy passed away on Feb. 27, 2025.

During his more than 50 years as a science professor, he served as the Otto Charles Egdorf Professor of Pre-Medical Science, a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Scholar, Chemistry Department Chair and the Walter H. Hoffman Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry, according to a news release.

During his longtime tenure at Drury, Roy developed an innovative model for undergraduate research that trained over 700 future scientists and healthcare professionals.

Along with his wife, Protima Roy, Roy founded The Hem Sheela Model School in Durgapur, India, in 1995. The school consists of three sites: a 20-acre campus housing all grades, a separate secondary school, and a tribal school in a nearby village for first-generation learners, according to the release.

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The Roys also established a health clinic for local residents, the release says.

As part of the Celebration of Life ceremony, a tree will be planted on campus and a plaque will eventually be placed honoring Roys years of service to Drury.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
For decades, Americas power companies have been contributors to a global problem that is threatening its service reliability and resiliency: climate change. Those same companies are now asking customers to pay more to address it.

In its latest rate hike proposal, DTE Energy asked for $574 million, an amount that the Detroit-based company quickly received pushback on from the Michigan attorney general, consumer groups and customers.

In a written statement, the Detroit-based utility told the Free Press that it is "building the electric grid of the future." It ended its statement with an assurance to customers that they wouldn't see "any adjustments to their bills" until an increase was approved.

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The Michigan Public Service Commission will have 10 months to sort out what is fair.

More significantly, however, DTE's statement also mentioned "extreme weather," a phenomenon that scientists have warned is being created by human-caused climate change and, unless more is done to stop it, it will get worse.

DTE also it "must continue to invest to deliver the cleaner and more reliable energy our customers demand and deserve."

The remarks highlight a challenge that DTE and all utilities face, particularly as President Donald Trump seeks to dismantle many of the key actions that have been undertaken at the federal level to address climate change.

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the energy sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which contributes to climate change and extreme weather. Yet, that weather also is now deteriorating power reliability.

So science suggests that environmental protections and more renewable energy is beneficial in the long term; in the short, its unclear how much utilities, and their customers  including businesses that use the energy  will support those initiatives.

Climate change challenges

Consider the ice storm this spring that devastated northern Michigan and led Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare an emergency in a dozen counties. The storm took out power lines and trees throughout the area.

The dead trees left behind could become potential tinder for wildfires.

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Across the nation, communities have been ravaged by intense snowstorms, hurricanes, floods and fires, all of which are threatening the efforts by utilities just to keep the lights on, and in some cases, it's not just reconnecting lines but rebuilding infrastructure.

In Michigan, violent storms in recent years have taken down power lines for days.

More: In power outage saga with many villains, lineworkers in Michigan are fearless heroes

Last year, after storms that knocked out electricity to about 300,000 DTE customers, a company vice president told the Free Press the company expected to spend more than $50 million just in repairs.

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He added that DTE  a publicly-traded company with nearly $12.5 billion in annual revenue last year and 2.3 million electric customers in southeast Michigan  must do better to meet the challenges of climate change.

At the same time, there is political disagreement on whether climate change is even real. Trump has dismissed global warming risks and called climate change "a hoax" and even campaigned that he'd roll back environmental regulations.

During his first term, Trump issued an executive order, "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth," that directed, among other things, the EPA to review the Clean Power Plan, which established carbon dioxide emission limits for fossil fuel power plants.

There is still some hope

In his second term, Trump declared an "energy emergency" and sought  again  to halt climate actions to such a degree that, the New York Times reported, it has "shocked even those who were raising the alarm in the months before the election."

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The president also withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement  again. The international climate accord negotiated in 2015 sought to limit global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Trump withdrew during his first term and then, President Joe Biden rejoined it.

Earlier this week, the administration dismissed hundreds of experts working on the National Climate Assessment, a federal government report on the effects of global warming, which, some news accounts suggested, could jeopardize the report.

In a recent podcast, Jonathan Overpeck, the dean of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, talked about how much the globe is warming, particularly in the past two years, and why thats a concern.

"The big question is, 'Why are we getting all this extra warming?'" he said during the Michigan Minds podcast. "Scientists are scrambling to figure that out and it looks like there may be a poorly understood, amplifying feedback in the climate system."

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The scientific phenomenon, he explained, is related to clouds, and it could be that the planet has crossed a threshold that leads to more and more warming. But, the professor also said, despite the federal governments recent actions, there is still hope.

Overpeck said many local governments and state governments  including Michigan  and foreign nations are still concerned about human-caused climate change, and enforcing measures aimed at stopping or slowing global warming.

A lesson for businesses

At the same time, utilities like DTE know  and have known  that there is a near-term price to move away from fossil-fuel-fired power plans, and a longer-term, perhaps even more costly one to not spend that money on new infrastructure.

In recent years, DTE has reduced reliance on fossil fuels, especially coal, for energy generation, and is increasingly turning to more renewable sources, such as wind turbines and solar arrays.

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The utility now has only two coal-fire plants left. The Belle River Power Plant, in China and East China townships in St. Clair County, will be converted to natural gas by next year. The Monroe Power Plant will be phased out by 2032.

DTE already operates 20 wind parks and 34 solar parks in Michigan, and said it is adding more renewable energy infrastructure, enough to power 5.9 million homes by 2042. It also aims to add more energy storage.

Its hard to say how much DTE, and other utilities, have been motivated by climate science and a long-term business strategy, and how much of these changes have been a result of federal and state government mandates and taxpayer incentives.

Its also difficult to know whether efforts to deliver cleaner energy will start to slow.

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But more frequent and intense extreme weather events seem to be nudging utilities nationwide to invest more in cleaner and renewable energy because of the costs connected to them.

Two years ago, as wildfires in Hawaii turned a paradise into an inferno, a Time magazine article, "Utilities Are Becoming a Risky Business Thanks to Climate Change," asked: How vulnerable are utilities to extreme weather?

More so, the reporting showed, than once believed.

"Investor-owned utilities are generally less volatile than companies in other sectors, and they tend to generate consistent profits," the article said. "The Maui wildfires, which killed more than 100 people and caused billions in damages, are the latest in a string of similar catastrophes to test that assumption."

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The article also suggested the challenge utilities face offers a lesson for all businesses.

For years, as risks grew, Time concluded that utilities "moved slowly to implement adaptation plans," because they were costly, but the "short-term costs pale in comparison to the long-term cost" when the risks eventually take their toll.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Extreme weather driving up costs, risks for DTE, other utilities
Two lawsuits filed this week related to the alleged pattern of sexual assaults of a onetime member of the 1980s boy band Menudo give contrasting narratives of the role the bands then-manager played. One suit alleges that the manager repeatedly raped ex-Menudo member Roy Rossello while handing him off to others including Jose Menendez, and the other lawsuit claims that these allegations, made for over a decade but recently highlighted in a 2023 Peacock documentary, are lies.

On Thursday, in a civil lawsuit filed in New Yorks federal court, Rossello claims that for three years, while in the Latin boy band, he was a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Edgardo Diaz, the bands founder and manager for decades. The suit alleges that from 1983 to 1986, Diaz subjected Rossello to sexual assault, emotional manipulation and trafficking that spanned the U.S., Brazil, Puerto Rico and other locations worldwide.

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In the 17-page complaint, filed under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law and which seeks a jury trial, Rossello lays out a detailed account, giving dates that coincide with verifiable details of Menudos concerts and TV appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, American Bandstand and Sesame Street during the years he says he was assaulted multiple times per week by Diaz and others  most notably, then-RCA Records chief Jose Menendez, who signed the band to a $30 million contract and, by many accounts, took an uncharacteristic interest in the group, flying as far as Brazil to be at their performances and inviting the band members to his New Jersey home for barbecues. It was Diaz who facilitated these encounters, the complaint states, which took place at Menendezs New Jersey home, at a New York hotel following a Menudo performance at Radio City Music Hall and in Brazil while Diaz was in the room.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter this week, Menendez Murders author Robert Rand said that Erik Menendez has recalled that during these barbecues in Princeton, New Jersey, different times when Jose would say, I need to go into a bedroom and talk with this member of Menudo, one on one.

The formal accusation against the late Menendez patriarch, who in 1989 was gunned down along with his wife, Kitty, in their Beverly Hills home by his sons, comes with an expansion on the accusation Rossello initially made against Jose Menendez in the 2023 Peacock docuseries, Menendez and Menudo: Boys Betrayed. Rossello now indicates he was subjected to multiple sexual assaults by the former RCA chief that took place in numerous countries, not just the single encounter he initially described in the series.

The complaint and a potential jury trial could further solidify the evidence presented in ongoing legal proceedings in Los Angeles as the Menendez brothers seek their freedom. The brothers second joint trial concluded in 1996 after the court did not allow any mention or evidence that their father sexually abused his sons; this torpedoed their defense strategy and led them to be convicted and handed life sentences without the possibility of parole.

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Yet this allegation from Rossello, coupled with a letter, discovered by Rand that was written by Erik Menendez to his cousin months before the murders and describes his fathers alleged ongoing abuse, has helped to sway public opinion on the worthiness of giving the Menendez brothers defense a second look, more than 30 years later.

Rossello originally accused Diaz of assaulting him on television while appearing on a Brazilian reality competition show in 2014. Diaz is now 77 years old; he has consistently denied all accusations of molestation leveled against him. In 1994, he filed for bankruptcy, three years after he was accused by ex-members of Menudo of sexual abuse, with former member Ralphy Rodriguez as the main accuser. In 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department opened an investigation into Diaz over Rossellos allegations in a police report that Diaz sexually assaulted a former member of the group in the 1980s at the Biltmore Hotel.

Menendez and Menudo: Boys Betrayed, the docuseries in which Rossello first accused Jose Menendez of sexual assault, is the main subject of the other lawsuit filed this week, but it expands into accusations germane to the Menendez trial; the plaintiff has also made some fresh claims regarding the evidence that has brought the brothers case to the fore of national news.

The complaint filed early this week comes from Darrin McGillis, who owns the rights to several Menudo songs, and is now accusing NBCUniversal of libel and slander, stating that it knowingly aired fabricated lies about Menudo in the Boys Betrayed docuseries, which heavily featured Rossello and looks at how Menudo was connected to Jose Menendez. The series provided a platform for Rossello to come forward with his initial accusation against the elder Menendez, who Rossello said raped him while he was the president of RCA Records. That accusation had ripple effects that, in part, set off the current legal fight Lyle and Erik Menendez have taken to court to win back their freedom.

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In the suit, which McGillis filed himself without an attorney or firm to back him, he claims that NBC relied on fabricated statements and paid Rossello a substantial amount of money in the interest of tying Menudo to scandalous, false and defamatory labels such as sexual, molestation, gay and homosexual. No contracted member of Menudo has ever brought a civil claim against Diaz, the complaint states (despite the existence of Rossellos case). The docuseries has damaged his business, McGillis claims; hes asking the court that NBC/Universal pay him $500 million in punitive damages.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, McGillis insisted that Rossello is lying and that he was never molested by Diaz, who he said is not a friend and that the two have had previous business conflicts over the Menudo rights. Rossello, McGillis insists, has been motivated by money since his career hit the skids and that he was paid by the producers of Boys Betrayed to lie about Menendez in the docuseries.

McGillis also claims that he was asked to appear in Boys Betrayed by Rand, who was a producer of the show, and was asked by Rand to lie about members of Menudo being molested. In the lawsuit, he accuses Rand of executing a detailed, complex and well-planned strategy involving many intricate steps with the ultimate goal of freeing the Menendez brothers. This involved what McGillis claims was a fake interview with former Menudo member Ricky Martin, in which he says Rand claimed Martin told him Menendez placed his hand down the young Martins pants while on the way to Disney World. McGillis repeated the story secondhand to the Globe tabloid, which ran it as a cover story and left McGillis feeling duped.

McGillis told THR by phone that he is motivated to sue to ensure the truth about Rossellos alleged lies is exposed and to ensure that the facts of the Menendez brothers case are all available to the courts, their family and the public as their attempts at regaining their freedom work through the legal system. On the phone with THR on Friday, McGillis also alleged that Rand previously admitted to him that he fabricated the second major piece of evidence brought forward on the Menendez case  the letter Erik wrote, which Rand discovered in the brothers late cousins desk while reporting on the story.

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He told me about this letter  that he went there and the lady let him go into the house, McGillis explained to THR that Rand once told him. And so he has free access. And voila! Then I found a letter  Nobody knows whether I found it there or not. So he was telling me that he planted this letter.

Rand told THR on Friday that he never offered any money for McGillis to appear in Boys Betrayed and laughed out loud at the notion that the letter Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin was fabricated, or that he would ever confide in McGillis about such a thing.

The letter is authentic. I discovered at the home of the sister of Jose Menendez in March of 2018, Rand said. He added that Rossello was not the only former Menudo member that the Boys Betrayed producers spoke with about incidents of molestation; he was the only one willing to go on camera to speak about it, though.

There were 30 years of reporting and interviews with hundreds of sources that went into the Menendez/Menudo docuseries for Peacock, Rand told THR. Darrin McGillis was one of the many people I interviewed during reporting trips to Puerto Rico in the 1990s. We had a few phone calls in recent years when we considered licensing some Menudo financial documents from him. McGillis is a minor Menudo source; I never would have discussed my confidential reporting with.

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McGillis said that he took what he says Rand told him, along with other relevant information, to former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascons office and that he felt it was taken seriously. But he was soon surprised to see the D.A.s efforts to get the Menendez brothers a resentencing hearing.

His legal complaint was filed quickly and without an attorney or firm because McGillis feels it needs to be seen as the Menendez case inches forward.

There was an urgency to get this out there for whatever value it has for the court. I dont know. Maybe everything that I have in there is completely meaningless in the minds of everybody, he said. I dont know  Its there, its the truth. Take it for whatever its worth. And if any of this is going to help people make an educated decision regarding anything  its there. Im just telling you what I know. Thats it.

The Menendez brothers next court date for their potential resentencing will take place on May 9.

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May 1COLVILLE  A two-hour drive from Tonasket Thursday morning didn't stop Sandra Johnson, healthcare attorney, from joining lawyers at the Stevens County Courthouse for National Law Day.

Johnson said the drive was a reaffirmation of her commitment to the U.S. Constitution.

"It's not about being a Republican or a Democrat or an independent, it's about being a United States of America person standing on American soil," she said. "Due process is not controversial. It's what makes us safe."

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Johnson was one of more than 10 lawyers who stood in a circle in front of the Stevens County Courthouse early Thursday afternoon, while Stevens Superior Court Judge Lech J. Radzimski read the attorney's oath.

In attendance was also Rep. Hunter Abell, a Republican from Inchelium, who said it was important for him to join local lawyers because of his concern about the declining public trust across institutions. Abell is an attorney and was sworn in as president of the Washington State Bar Association in 2023. Previously, he served as a judge on the Ferry County District Court.

"Today is a day where we can show the public that our lawyers are doing what they can to help build up our institutions. That includes the courts. That includes standing up for our foundational documents, like the U.S. Constitution and our Washington State Constitution," Abell said.

Like Johnson, Abell emphasized Thursday's event wasn't an affiliation of political parties, but more of a reminder for community members on how the role for lawyers and the courthouses is to ensure that there's a "fair and partial place for people to get their disputes."

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Alison McGrane, an attorney in Colville, said she was excited to see the turnout and remember the significance an attorney's oath holds through the work she and lawyers do across the state.

This was the first time that she had taken the oath again after being a lawyer in Colville for almost 20 years.

"Everybody is entitled by the U.S. Constitution to due process, and this reaffirms those values and is a reminder of your oath that you took when you became a judicial officer," McGrane said.

On her drive to Colville, Johnson said she saw a group of protesters out on the corner of ruby-red Republic  something she had never seen before.

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"They are saying, 'Stand up for the rule of law, stand up for the Constitution, don't cut Medicaid, leave our Social Security alone,'" Johnson said. "Prior to this year, I have never seen that there, never."

Pointing to the attorney's oath sheet in her left hand, she said her role is to serve as a safety net and a fundamental right in the United States, just as she's done the past 25 years.

"We stand together, and we work together and we take care of each other. It's a scary time, but I can't help but be encouraged when I see this going on," Johnson said.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries received mad props from the base this spring for his showdown with the GOP over Elon Musk and a potential government shutdown.

But to hear one longtime Nancy Pelosi whisperer tell it, the New York Democrats leadership is lacking.

For Playbook Deep Dives podcast this week, I invited the woman who ran the former speakers anti-Trump war room, Ashley Etienne, to discuss Democrats latest efforts to find a path back to political relevance. We talked about what Democratic kingmakers need to do to win back voters  from building out a better ground game to ditching attention-grabbing stunts that reek of desperation. She scoffed at the Democratic Partys failure to conduct an autopsy of what went wrong in 2024, which has left the party reaching contradictory conclusions about how to fix its problems.

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But the most interesting part of our conversation centered on Jeffries. While Etienne said she has a tremendous amount of respect for Jeffries, she gave voice to concerns Ive heard from some Democrats privately: that the New York Democrat hasnt shown enough backbone as a leader, and that his organizational skills are deficient at a time when strong, creative leadership is badly needed.



Trump is just giving us all this incredible red meat. I mean, incredible. I've never seen anything like this before. It's like the biggest gift any party has been given by the opposition and we're just squandering it, Etienne said, pointing to Jeffries as the main culprit.

Etienne believes Jeffries isnt doing enough to wire the Democratic infrastructure with an anti-Trump message. Hes not coordinating enough with outside groups and elected officials around the country, she said, or deploying his moderates to argue that the party needs to heed the center.

If you don't have coordination, you've just got words on a paper that you're calling talking points, she said. It's meaningless. And I think that's where we are right now.

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Her criticism speaks volumes. Not only did she have a front-row seat to Pelosi as speaker  and her famed political instincts and iron grip on the party  Etienne ran point for the speaker on coordinating messaging. Earlier she worked for Barack Obama and House Oversight bull Elijah Cummings, and most recently, she served in the Biden White House, where she advised Kamala Harris for a time.

The most shocking part of our conversation: Etienne said Jeffries team has spurned the idea of seeking advice from Pelosi or her former team. She said she recently ran into Jeffries staffers and offered to help them. But they told her that the members dont want any Pelosi.

I was hearing from leadership staff that the leadership on Capitol Hill right now wants to sort of move away from that Pelosi era  that they  don't want to embrace anyone or anything that's like Pelosi, she said. Which I just think is the dumbest s-h-i-t ever.

Pelosi, she added, is the baddest in the business. We actually landed punches. We actually won 40 seats. I'm just surprised that they're not calling everybody that has landed some punches on Trump asking for the best advice.

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Jeffries spokesperson Christie Stephenson disputed the characterization of Jeffries relationship with Pelosi as well as the description of the offices outreach. She said Jeffries often seeks the ex-speakers input, something Pelosis office confirmed. As for coordination, Stephenson said their office holds weekly calls with outside grassroots where attendance regularly tops 100 people, and often schedules calls with talking heads and outside strategists.

To be sure, Jeffries has had some winning moments as leader, which Etienne acknowledged. Democrats credit him in part with helping push Joe Biden out of the 2024 race  though Pelosi herself started the mutiny behind the scenes. And months after taking over, Jeffries rallied his caucus to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker at a time when many were predicting that the party would fracture and the California Republican would survive.

More recently, hes received praise for presenting a united front against the GOPs tax bill. Some centrist Democrats who might be enticed to negotiate with Republicans have instead blasted the bill as a giveaway to the rich.

Still, Etienne is not wrong that Pelosi dominated the party apparatus in a way that Jeffries does not  at least not yet. In many ways, Pelosi operated like the conductor of a sprawling orchestra, bringing in liberal groups when she needed them to fire at Trump and cueing moderates when she needed the center to cool down the left. She knew exactly what turn of phrase would make Trump go ballistic  and shed often press his buttons for maximum impact at just the moment to suit her needs.

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Jeffries is still finding his conductors baton, Etienne suggested.

Etienne wasnt all criticism. At one point she said Jeffries is doing very well, and overall, she gave the party a C+ grade for its opposition to Trump. And while she didnt mention Jeffries specifically, she did compliment what she saw as a successful effort elevating new voices in the House like Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), some of the performative actions she thinks work like sit-ins and filibusters, and especially the decision to demonize Elon Musk, a key Jeffries strategy that she says worked.

There are some things I think that I think are happening that are right, right? she said. What I think needs to be improved on is the most important, non-sexy aspect of politics  and that is lifting up the hood and creating the infrastructure.

Its not so much that Jeffries needs Pelosi herself, Etienne added, as he needs to know how she drove a narrative amplifying anti-Trump themes. Outside groups are thirsting for more guidance and many are asking her how to help replicate what she did with Pelosis team, she said.

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They're not hearing from Capitol Hill right now, and I think that's a huge loss, Etienne said.

Not everyone agrees. Some believe Pelosis outreach amounted to getting groups on the phone and dictating to them. Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee told me last night that we hear more from Jeffries than we ever heard from Pelosi.

Yet during our interview in the POLITICO newsroom Wednesday, Etienne held up her phone and gave an example. That very morning, she noted, Jeffries was giving a speech about 100 days fighting Trump, but no one from his team sent talking points about what he said.

And I'm going to be doing TV and this interview all day, she said. That's a failure.

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How do you get to discipline if you're not telling people what the hell you want them to say? she added.

Jeffries office says they did multiple calls with outside groups to preview the speech and that Etienne was on one of them.

Meanwhile, some longtime centrist party bosses have privately questioned whether Jeffries can stand up to the left. His decision to embrace a shutdown earlier this year  averted only after Chuck Schumer threw himself on the sword  has led some to question whether the new leader has what it takes to tell the base no, though Etienne did give him credit for keeping the caucus together.

Pelosi, a San Francisco liberal, did it all the time, I need your energy, not your policy, shed often say. And the former speaker would regularly quash progressive ideas bubbling up in her own caucus, from Medicare for All to the Green New Deal.

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Jeffries hasnt done much to push back on the left so far. Some Democrats wanted him to rebuke Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for his outburst during Trumps joint address to Congress; Jeffries refused. Others argued that he bowed to liberal groups when he decided to whip his members against a GOP bill targeting sanctuary cities, even as the party maintains abysmal poll numbers on immigration.

Jeffries is generally known for his caution, sticking to his talking points and rehearsed lines. He's a former corporate lawyer and often acts like it. But with Democrats divided, Etienne said members are craving forceful and visionary leadership. Shes heard some House Democrats express frustration that Jeffries  who has a reputation for governing by consensus  solicits too much feedback before making a decision. (Though some Democrats like that hes the opposite of Pelosis top-down approach.)

He takes too much counsel and then takes too long to make a decision  which says that maybe you don't trust your gut in the moment  which, you know, is also fair when you're a new leader, because you're still trying to figure it all out, Etienne said. But it might also suggest maybe you don't have a handle on the caucus  or you don't have a hand on how to actually land some punches on Donald Trump.

Even when Jeffries has planted a flag, she points out that hes had trouble containing his members at times. During Trumps address to Congress, Jeffries specifically instructed his caucus not to protest; instead, dozens of them made such a pitiful scene breaking decorum rules that the party became the story instead of the controversial president at the podium.

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One thing Pelosi did in moments like this was leverage the moderate Democrats against the progressive Democrats, Etienne said. I remember it well from covering her: Behind the scenes, shed green light people like then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) or other frontline members to blast ideas from the left  like impeaching Trump or defunding the police and ICE  as dumb politics.

Where Pelosi would always start is: We've got to get to a win  that's all that matters, she said. Without the moderates, we don't win. Without winning, we don't have the majority. We can't do what we really want to do. And progressives would eventually cower to that argument.

Etienne has a simple theory on why she says Jeffries isnt going to Pelosi for help: Ego  I hate to say it.

She said Jeffries and his team are trying to establish themselves as leaders  and in fairness, its hard to imagine Pelosi as a quiet sidekick who wouldnt dominate the entire conversation. But Jeffries could certainly pick up some useful pointers from his predecessor even as he puts his own stamp on the role.

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After all, Pelosi had decades to hone her skills before she met her greatest match in Trump. Jeffries is effectively learning everything on the job.

Per Etienne, maybe he should pick up the phone and call Nancy more often.
BERLIN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were injured, including three seriously, on Friday after a car drove into a group of pedestrians in the city center of Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, according to local police.

The incident occurred in the Olgaeck area of the Stuttgart-Mitte district. Both the police and the fire department were responding to the event.

Local police confirmed the victim figures in an update, adding that at least one person required resuscitation. Rescue operations were ongoing, the police stated.

According to the authorities, there is currently no indication of an attack or an intentional act. It was believed to be a tragic traffic accident.

The driver of the involved SUV was arrested, who is reported to be a 42-year-old man.

Police had assured the public that there was no further danger related to the incident. 
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Concerns are rising in Las Vegas over the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters as students increasingly use them to commute to school.

Its fun to ride, and decently fast, so it gets me to where I need to go pretty quickly, Anthony Canas, a high school student, expressed to 8 News Now.

However, the convenience can come with a cost when it comes to student safety.

Teen killed in northwest Las Vegas e-bike crash

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Police told 8 News Now that many of those concerns are due to high speeds and low skill levels, particularly in school zones.

Its the recklessness that were seeing, its the high speeds through school zones, Clark County School District Police Department (CCSDPD) Lt. Michael Campbell told 8 News Now.

Principal Tara Powell of Spring Valley High School also noted the challenge posed by the fast speeds of the devices on campus.

E-bike rider, driver injured in southwest Las Vegas valley crash

A kid trying to operate that, and navigate traffic is a recipe for disaster, Powell said.

The devices are capable of reaching speeds of up to 65 mph, and modifications can make them go even faster, according to Lt. Campbell.

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Weve seen kids as young as 9, 10 years old riding things that can be classified as motorcycles, he added.

There have been approximately 95 incidents involving students and these devices since the beginning of the school year, many of whom were not wearing adequate helmets, according to CCSD police.

Efforts are underway in Clark County to address these safety concerns through legislative measures and increased awareness in schools.

If we can get parents to see how their kids are driving, talk to them about how theyre driving, follow safety rules, and definitely wear a helmet, Powell added.

As e-bikes and e-scooters continue to gain popularity, it is crucial for parents to make informed decisions about their childrens safety.

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Lt. Bryan Zink with CCSDPD pointed out that many parents are unaware of the potential dangers these devices pose, as they can reach speeds comparable to motorcycles.

A lot of parents dont really even understand what theyre putting their kids on, Lt. Zink said. Were encouraging school staff to start that dialogue with the child and the family to try and educate them.

All facts from this article were gathered by KLAS journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KLAS 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 KLAS.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  This weekend marks the last time voters in Ohio can cast their ballot early before Tuesdays primary and special election.

Ohioans have a couple more chances  Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.  to take part in early in-person voting at their county boards of elections before the May 6 election.

Voters casting a ballot will be deciding various primaries, countywide races and municipal issues, from city council seats to property taxes and library funding. Each ballot will also feature the statewide Issue 2, which would allow Ohio to give out up to $250 million in bonds annually to fund local infrastructure projects, like building roads, bridges, water supply systems and more.

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House Bill 6s repeal, Delta-8 THC among bills moving through Ohio Statehouse

Ohio school districts are hoping to find success at the ballot, when voters decide the fate of several school bond issues or levies. Columbus City Schools is facing a packed race of 10 school board candidates hoping to advance in Tuesdays primary.

Those who requested and completed an absentee ballot must ensure their ballot is postmarked by the day before the election, on Monday. Voters can also return their absentee ballot in person to their county board of elections before the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ohio requires in-person voters to have a form of photo identification in order to vote. That includes an Ohio drivers license, an Ohio ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID, or an Ohio National Guard ID.

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All identification must have an expiration date that has not passed, a photograph of the voter, and the voters name, which must substantially conform to the voters name as it appears in the poll list. An unexpired Ohio drivers license, Ohio ID card, or interim documentation with your former address is an acceptable form of ID when your current address is in the pollbook.

Ohio lawmakers revive Statehouse bill to restrict drag queen shows

If voters do not have any of the above forms of identification, they may cast a provisional ballot. However, for that ballot to be counted, voters must return to the board of elections no later than four days after Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.

There are many resources on the Secretary of States website that will make your trip to the polls easier:

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View your sample ballot here.

Find your May 6 polling location here.

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Early voting for the 2025 Virginia Democratic primaries kicked off May 2 in Fairfax County, as the party searches for a new candidate to replace Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

This years primaries will determine who will potentially fill the seats for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Officials noted that there will not be a Republican primary in Fairfax County because there is only one GOP candidate for each office on the November ballot. This comes after the Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity pulled out of the Republican primary race for Lieutenant Governor for health reasons.

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Is Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears still the GOP favorite after governors race shakeup?

On Thursday, the Republican Party of Virginia released a statement, saying in part;

All the attention in this race should be on the extremism of Virginia Democrats and their far-left vision for our Commonwealth. Our focus remains on the future, and we will dedicate every effort to supporting our nominees and making the case for why Virginians need more common-sense conservative leadership.

In November, voters will cast ballots for these statewide offices, as well as the governor, and seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Where to vote early in Fairfax County?

Fairfax County Government Center | 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Room 2/3 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays on June 7 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.



Mount Vernon and North County Governmental Centers Mount Vernon | 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria North County| 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston



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On weekdays, both voting centers will open from 1-7 p.m., and on Saturdays, June 7 and 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Analyst: Youngkin made a big mistake asking Reid to drop out of lieutenant governor race

During the early voting period, voters can cast their ballots at libraries and community centers across the county.

Libraries : Burke Centre, Centreville Regional, Great Falls, Herndon Fortnightly, Tysons-Pimmit and Thomas Jefferson

Community Centers: Franconia, Lorton, Mason, McLean, Sully, West Springfield and Jim Scott

Officials said an additional 13 locations will open on June 7.

When is election day?

Election day will be held on June 17, and polls will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling place. When voting in person, all voters must show a form of ID, according to the Virginia law.

Voters who do not have an ID can sign an ID Confirmation Statement and cast a regular ballot.

All ballot drop boxes will be available during voting hours. A 24/7 drop box is located outside the Fairfax County Government Center.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 3.9 magnitude earthquake rattled things up in Wasatch and Utah counties last night, and more than 3,000 reported feeling it to the United States Geological Survey. One geologist told ABC4 that this is a good reminder that Utah is earthquake country, and its always a good time to prepare for the next big one.

This is a reminder that the entire state of Utah has all these little faults that are ready to host earthquakes, Rodriguez stated. It doesnt need to be the Wasatch or the east or west Cache faults. It can be a smaller fault thats just not mapped so, youve just got to be prepared, always.

Earthquake rattles Wasatch, Utah counties overnight

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An interactive map on the U.S. Geological Surveys website shows that the earthquake happened in Wasatch County, near Independence. This means it happened on the Wasatch Back and was not caused by the states largest fault, the Wasatch Fault.

The map also shows that people felt the quake as far north as Ogden and as far south as Spanish Fork. It reveals that, along with major faults, there are dozens of small ones spread out across the state.

Heber City is about 14 miles from the earthquake  close enough for people to feel it.

I sat up, Hannah Cowan told ABC4. She had just put her baby down and gone to bed herself.

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I heard my plants and books rattling. I sat up and woke my husband up because he wasnt feeling it. It shook for just a few seconds and then stopped.

After waking her husband up, her mind turned to her child.

I was like, I dont know if I trust some of those pictures on the wall, she said. I made him go take down some of the pictures in my daughters room that were near her bed in case there were any aftershocks. We didnt feel any throughout the night.

She later joked and, through a laugh, added, My Command Strips held up.

For those who have watched any natural disaster movie, earthquakes often come in waves and grow in magnitude. However, movies are often based more on fiction than reality. Earthquakes are often followed by aftershocks (smaller earthquakes). Rodriguez explained that the probability of a larger earthquake following the mainshock is only about five percent.

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A miracle: Senior cat survives nearly 400-foot fall in Bryce Canyon

The trembling felt by many, Dr. Rodriguez said, is a good reminder to be ready for the next big earthquake.

Things like having water, a radio, headlamp prepared at home, she stated. We call it an earthquake kit. In case there is damage and, for example, we lose power for a few days.

She said if a person experiences an earthquake and is inside, they should drop, cover, and hold onto something. She said they cant predict how big an earthquake will be, so it is best to be on the cautious side.

A couple of researchers Dr. Rodriguez works with recently published some of their work looking at the history of earthworks along the Wasatch Fault to get a better idea of what the future could hold. More information on that can be found here.

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HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  An East Texas man received a 25 year prison sentence in Henderson County for possession of controlled substance, officials said.

Crockett man arrested after police chase ends in drug bust

Mugshot of James Russell Shephard, courtesy of a Henderson County District Attorney

James Russell Shephard II was arrested on April 25, 2023 after a Henderson County Sheriffs Office investigator found digital scales, syringes, a backpack with narcotics and three pistols in Shephards vehicle, according to a Facebook post from the Henderson County District Attorney. A person called authorities claiming Shephard was high on fentanyl and making threats inside a vehicle.

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According to the post, the Department of Public Safety tested the narcotics Shephard possessed and confirmed them as fentanyl, methamphetamine and phenazepam. Shepard also served a previous prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Fentanyl is not only incredibly dangerous to those who use it, but also to everyone around them, Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer said. Weve seen how quickly it can turn a situation violent or deadly. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who traffic in these poisons and endanger our community.

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Rent a Chicago apartment and you used to expect to have to pay a security deposit: an amount, often equivalent to a months rent, to be handed over to the landlord as insurance you wouldnt damage the walls or scuff up the floors or break the appliances before you move out.

Weve collectively rented a lot of Chicago places and can tell you that it was not always easy to get that entire deposit returned, but that we almost always got a hefty percentage of it back. Landlords will tell you that many tenants damage some aspect of their apartment and that docking the deposit to pay for, say, a paint and patching job is only reasonable.

These days, security deposits have gone the way of the paper lease. In their place have arisen move-in fees, which are cash payments of up to $1,000 demanded by landlords before tenants move in.

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Whats the difference? A security deposit got returned to you, all being well. Landlords take and keep the entire move-in fee. Nothing is returned, even if you hire your own painter and cleaner (as we have done) and leave the place spotless.

What happened? The city of Chicago created such onerous regulations surrounding security deposits in its Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance that most landlords gave up on them. The issue isnt so much that security deposits must be kept in a separate account at a federally insured financial institution in Illinois and not commingled with rent; thats not terribly burdensome. Nor is the requirement that deposits be returned within 45 days, which seems to us necessary to prevent bad actors. Its the ease with which lawyers could sue if landlords failed to comply with any tiny aspect of the regulations, even unwittingly, and even if they quickly corrected their clerical mistakes.

Said regulations are all part of a complex system. Mixing up even a tiny portion of the rules opens you up to lawsuits. For example, one rule states that a landlord must give tenants a signed receipt at the time of collecting a security deposit that includes the deposit amount, the date, a description of the unit, and the names of both the person receiving the deposit and the landlord. Seems straightforward, right? Wrong.

Failing to comply with total precision (say, missing a signature or getting a date wrong on the receipt) meant the landlord was on the hook to pay the tenant twice the value of their deposit. Plus interest. Lawyers learned this and trolled for business.

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So landlords turned to move-in fees, which are not subject to this regulation. Not only do they not have to pay interest on the deposit, they can keep the fee in its entirety. Now tenants are complaining about the growth in such fees, which, they understandably point out, are assessed precisely when renters are on the hook for moving costs and other outlays.

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Simply put, refundable security deposits turned into nonrefundable move-in fees because the citys regulations and penalties became too onerous.

So what to do? Regulate move-in fees? Landlords would just then increase rents.

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The problem here was regulatory overreach. Reasonable people understand that landlords incur costs when apartments turn over. But the great thing about security deposits was that they incentivized renters to take care of their places, helpful to both the landlords interests and their building and community at large. Move-in fees do no such thing. The money is gone either way, and the renters who take great care of their places are then forced to subsidize those who do the opposite.

We asked Chicago Housing Commissioner Lissette Castaneda about this situation in an editorial board meeting Thursday. She acknowledged there was a problem and said a working group had been convened to discuss the landlord-tenant relationship and that everything was under review.

Good. Renters need basic protections from landlords running off with their deposits, but such bad actors are a small percentage of property owners. The city should loosen the regulations, fight off the lawyers and incentivize everyone to return to security deposits over move-in fees.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Aero Corporation unveiled a new electric vehicle charging station in Dauphin County on Thursday.

The new charging station, open to the public as of Thursday, is now the largest charging station for electric vehicles in the area. Midstate residents with electric vehicles can now stop by the new Aero Corporation location in Middletown, near the Harrisburg International Airport, to charge their vehicles.

The new EV station is located at 1998 W Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057.

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Pennsylvania State funding through the Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Grant made the new station possible. The location features a solar canopy and 22 chargers, including a dozen fast chargers.

Photo from Aero Corporation

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HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Huntersville Police are investigating after a Blythe Elementary School teacher was allegedly caught kissing a 5-year-old student in the schools bathroom.

The students mother told Queen City News a staff member saw the kiss and reported it to school officials. Elizabeth Szumskis daughter is nonverbal with autism, and the mom knew something was wrong when her child started showing signs she didnt want to go to school.

What else has she endured? she said. Why has she been crying every day since she started this school?

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Those are the questions running through Szumskis mind after pulling her kindergartener out of her Blythe Elementary classroom.

I knew something was wrong at the school, she said.

The mom said she noticed behavioral differences in her daughter and went to the school to figure out the problem, but administrators didnt have an answer. A few days later, she got a call.

There was an incident where a staff member was caught kissing my daughter in the bathroom, caught by another staff member, said Szumski.

Elizabeth Szumski also has a non-verbal daughter at Blythe.

Knowing her 5-year-old cant communicate what might have happened hurts the most.

She cant tell her side of the story, she said. Shell never be able to. She cant defend herself. She cant speak up for herself.

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An incident report shows the staff member was removed from the classroom but not from the school. So far, no charges have been filed in this case. Szumski wants someone held accountable.

Ill never be able to trust somebody again with my child for as long as she goes to school, she said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders released the following statement:

We are aware of an alleged incident involving a staff member. Due to privacy laws, we are unable to share any details or information regarding the investigation. I want to assure you that we take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. We appreciate and understand your interest in this matter. Thank you for your continued support of Blythe Elementary School.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Wanda Barzee, the woman convicted of kidnapping then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart with her husband in 2002, was arrested and booked into jail on Thursday, according to court records.

On May 1, Barzee, 79, was booked into jail for allegedly violating Sex Offender Registry requirements by visiting parks in Salt Lake City. Brent Weisberg, spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department, said detectives arrested her at her home without incident.

Documents say she told police she went to Liberty Park to feed ducks in early April because she was commanded to by the Lord. Barzee also allegedly admitted to visiting Sugarhouse Park.

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Elizabeth Smart celebrates 20 years since her rescue. Heres what she has to say now.

Barzee became a registered sex offender after she was convicted for her involvement in the kidnapping and rape of Smart. She served 15 years in prison before being released in 2018.

At the time of her release, Elizabeth Smart asked the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole not to release her, saying she was a danger, but officials said Barzee had served her sentence and there was nothing to keep her in prison. She was on probation for five years after her release and was required to participate in a mental health program.

According to Utah law, registered child sex offenders are prohibited from going to areas where children congregate  such as parks and schools. Offenders convicted of violating this law are subject to a class A misdemeanor charge, which can be punished with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

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Barzee was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail and has since been released.

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JUBA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and 16 injured in Thursday's clashes in Tonj South County of the restive Warrap State in northern South Sudan, a local official said Friday.

The clashes followed an attack on Manyangok Payam by members of the Apuk, Yar and Muok communities, said Ring Deng Ading, commissioner of Tonj South County.

He said the fighting, which erupted in Agama village, resulted in several houses being burnt to ashes, property looted, and families displaced.

"There were some cattle that were raided in December 2024 and January this year, and these communities have never stopped fighting as they go back and forth until today," Ading said.

"Though I sent the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) to stop them, they are still maneuvering around the forces," he said.

Communal clashes have intensified in Warrap State and neighboring Unity State amid ongoing tensions between the SSPDF and the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition.

Warrap State frequently experiences deadly communal clashes in the form of cattle raiding and revenge killings. 
Wanda Barzee, who along with her husband Brian David Mitchell kidnapped Elizabeth Smart 22 years ago, has been arrested again.

Barzee recently visited at least two parks in Salt Lake City, including Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, which she is forbidden to do because she is a registered sex offender, said Salt Lake police spokesman Brent Weisberg.

Barzee, 79, who was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail under the name Wanda Mitchell, was arrested for investigation of being a sex offender in a protected area.

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Mitchell and Barzee kidnapped 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in 2002 from her home and held her captive until their arrests nine months later. After years of court battles over her competency, Barzee pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009 to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.

In 2010, Barzee was found competent to proceed in a separate state court case against her. She pleaded guilty and mentally ill in state court to the 2002 attempted kidnapping of Smarts cousin and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

After completing her federal prison sentence, Barzee was returned to the Utah State Prison in April 2016. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole gave Barzee credit for her time served in federal prison and released her on Sept. 19, 2018, after serving her full sentence.

In April, Barzee  who is not allowed to go to any community parks because of her sex offender status  admitted that she went to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City  because she was commanded to by the Lord, according to a police booking affidavit. She admitted to going to the park to sit on benches and feed ducks. (Barzee) also admitted to going to Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City after being commanded to.

Barzee was booked into jail and was released shortly afterward pending the filing of any formal charges against her.

In 2011, Brian Mitchell was sentenced to life in federal prison.
Failson

Elon Musk failed miserably at his goal to cut $2 trillion in federal spending  but he did shout out his sleepovers with Donald Trump during his time at the White House.

In his first (and presumably last) time meeting press in the West Wing, Musk told reporters from Fox News, Axios, CNN, and a handful of other outlets that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut about $160 billion in federal spending.

That might sound like an impressive figure, at least until you remember that Musk promised to trim $2 trillion, or that the US has already spent $200 billion more than it did during the same period last year.

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"In the grand scheme of things, I think we've been effective," the South African-born billionaire said of his DOGE tenure, which is ending imminently because his special government employee status is about to expire. "Not as effective as I like... but we've made progress."

During that same press gaggle, Musk boasted that his DOGE cuts have thus far resulted in one percent of the federal workforce, or about 20,000 people, having their jobs slashed. He added that he and his minions have "probably" gotten the job done right about "70-80 percent of the time."

We All Scream

The wide-ranging interview wasn't all about dollars and cents.

When asked where he spends his nights in Washington  the subject of ample speculation, especially after Wired revealed that he and his staff often sleep in the DOGE's Capitol Hill offices  Musk dished that the president had invited him to stay in the White House on more than one occasion.

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This situation arose, per the billionaire's retelling, when Trump asked Musk where he was staying one night.

"I was like: ''I don't know. At a friend's house, I guess,'" the world's sometimes-richest man told reporters. "And then he was like: 'Why don't you stay here?' I was like: 'Sure.'"

While Musk refused to say exactly how many nights he slept over in the White House's Lincoln bedroom, he admitted that it was "more than once"  and that on one such occasion, the president urged him to sample the kitchen's ice cream selection.

"He'll actually call me late night and say, 'by the way, make sure you get ice cream from the kitchen,'" the 53-year-old recounted, per Fox News. "I ate a whole tub of ice cream  caramel Haagen-Dazs."

"Yeah, it's epic," Musk said. "Don't tell RFK."

More on Musk and Trump: Trump's New Tariff Rule Is Wildly Convenient for Tesla
SpaceX is shooting for Mars, with Elon Musk's rocket company racing to bring humanity closer to being a multi-planetary species. Back here on Earth, the leader of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is hoping his company gets a chance to start a government of its own in Texas.

Starbase is where SpaceX researches, launches and tests rockets and it could soon become the newest town in America.

A preliminary vote count on Saturday night in Cameron County, Texas, shows over 97% of voters in favor of incorporating the SpaceX launch site into its own city. The results provide a win for Musk whose rocket company is seeking a fivefold increase in the annual number of launches from South Texas.

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However, this wouldn't be your typical town; it would be a company community now filled with mostly SpaceX employees.

It's less than two square miles in size and it butts right up to a Texas state nature preserve and Boca Chica Beach along the Gulf Shore.

PHOTO: A sign for Starbase highlights SpaceX's ambition to reach Mars. (ABC News)

MORE: SpaceX successfully launches 1st humans to travel over Earth's poles

Last year, a petition was submitted to the state of Texas by SpaceX to create a new town; the new municipality would function as its own city with the ability to create its own fire department and emergency services, even a school district.

A few hundred current registered residents, including Musk himself who is registered to vote at an address within the proposed town, are now voting on making it official -- what was once a small, sleepy beach community on the outskirts of Brownsville, Texas, could be officially known as Starbase City.

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Brownsville resident Rene Medrano's home sits 20 miles from the coast. Having gone to Boca Chica Beach as a kid and bringing his own family once he got older, Medrano told ABC News it's in his blood.

"It was called a poor man's beach because you didn't have to pay anything to go to the beach other than just get in your car, get in your truck, round up the neighbors, round up the cousins, round up the aunts and uncles and let's go have fun," he said. "And to see now the way it isit's just, disheartening is what it is."

SpaceX had its first Starship launch in April 2023; successfully coming off and clearing the launch pad, then losing control of its super heavy booster engines. The company said it triggered Starship's flight termination system after the boosters failed to separate and it veered off its planned trajectory.

PHOTO: Brownsville resident Rene Medrano has been using Bota China for his whole life, and is concerned about SpaceX limiting his ability to continue going there. (ABC News)

MORE: SpaceX Dragon successfully splashes down, returning NASA astronauts back to Earth

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However, the company was laying the groundwork for something much bigger more than a decade ago. Medrano recalled a SpaceX representative going to his wife's school to pitch a "small test site" in 2014, but said the person told locals the beach would remain accessible to them.

"Who would ever think they wanted to go to Mars 10 years later?" he said. "I mean, that was never in the formula. You know?"

Since 2014, SpaceX has had eight launches from Boca Chica with staggered success. Now, the company is asking the FAA to grant permits that would allow SpaceX to launch up to 25 times a year.

"You have a lot of visitors that go to the island to see the rocket launches. But then those people leave," Medrano said. "We see the spaceship blowups. We see the environments, you know, with all the rocket launches being torn up around that area. We see Boca Chica Beach the way we knew it -- we don't know that place anymore."

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Bekah Hinojosa, who leads a local environmental group, told ABC News that SpaceX has disrupted everyday life in the area.

"The rocket launches are dangerous. They cause our homes to shake. SpaceX has been caught illegally dumping polluted water onto Boca Chica Beach, into our ecosystems," she said. "The rent is going up. And it's all associated with, you know, SpaceX coming into this area and colonizing the region."

PHOTO: The SpaceX spaceport is beside Bota Chica Beach, making locals concerned about access to the sandy shoreline. (ABC News)

MORE: Is Trump and Musk's goal of sending humans to Mars feasible?

If this area becomes its own municipality, SpaceX wants control of the nearby beach and road that leads to the spaceport. Bills proposed in the Texas legislature would give Starbase the power to close beaches and roads on weekdays.

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Texas State Rep. Janie Lopez, who authored a bill related to Starbase, testified during an April 14 committee hearing that it won't take Boca Chica Beach away from the public.

"All it's doing is, if the people decide on May 3 that they want to make their own municipality, then they will decide who will be their governing board and they will make the decisions on closures based on what the FAA is requiring."

There is real concern at the cost of SpaceX's ambitions for those who call the area home -- Medrano pointed to the state's Open Beaches Act, which guarantees free public access to its sandy shores.

"Give us the beach  I mean, what's so hard about that?" he said. "Go to Mars, do your thing, get your rockets and go. But let us do our thing too."

ABC News reached out to SpaceX for comment, but has not heard back.

How Elon Musk's SpaceX may take over a corner of the Texas coast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In todays world  in Utah, across the West, overseas and everywhere else  dependable energy is central.

The Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah hosted a discussion Thursday to explain the dynamics of energy production and consumption, as well as the realities of what the Beehive State and the rest of the country is facing.

A report by the institute says according to 2024 numbers, Utah enjoys the cheapest residential electricity prices in the nation.

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From 1980 to 2019, Utah enjoyed the status of a net energy exporter, meaning Utah generated more energy than needed to other states and sometimes other countries, the report said.

Is Utah still an net energy exporter?

Utah energy production began decreasing in 2015 and continued to drop until it crossed the consumption line in 2020, flipping Utah into net energy importer status for the first time in 40 years.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says that is why Utah has to be a pioneer and have vision  like the people who came before us.

Its why Cox launched Operation Gigawatt, the drive to take energy production to a new level.

Utah and this country is at a crossroad. In this state, five active coal mines were in operation in 2024, the fewest since Utah mining operations began nearly 150 years ago.

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The good news for the state is that Utah returned to being an exporter because of crude oil production and natural gas opportunities.

But the state continues to work through its own changes as coal production and electricity generated from coal-fired power plants hit low levels, but crude oil production remains higher than at any time in history.

Utah crude oil production increased 13% to 65.1 million barrels in 2024. Those high production levels allowed for exports of over 33 million barrels from the Uinta Basin traveling via train to the Gulf Coast.

According to the Utah Petroleum Association, the Salt Lake City area is home to five refineries that all operate at capacity and take a mix of Utahs waxy crude and other crudes.

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Other regional crudes and even Canadian crude are also processed in SLC via two incoming crude pipelines, one from Wyoming and one from Colorado. Finished products (jet fuel, diesel and gasoline) from the Salt Lake refineries are transported via truck to local and regional markets, via one of two pipelines to Las Vegas or to Idaho and Washington, or via a pipeline network to the Salt Lake International Airport for jet fuel.

Solar has also been hot in Utah. Utility scale production amounted to 14% of Utahs total electricity production last year. In the residential sector, total installed photovoltaic capacity increased from seven megawatts in 2013 to 429 megawatts in 2023.

Many people are calling the next 10 years the energy decade, said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Gardner Institute. The Utah economy benefits from abundant energy sources and supplies that fuel economic opportunity. In a very real way, energy development is economic development, and the data affirm Utahs privileged position as an energy state.

The lead author of the report summarized the reports findings in this way: Crude oil and natural gas still feature prominently in Utahs energy mix, but coals role diminishes each year, said Michael Vanden Berg, energy and minerals program manager for the Utah Geological Survey.

The electricity market continues to adjust to decarbonization pressures, balanced with grid reliability and affordability. This energy evolution will continue with ongoing emphasis on renewable and carbon-neutral energy sources (in particular, baseload geothermal and nuclear electric generation), innovations in the hydrogen economy, and electrification of the transportation system.
As President Trumps first 100 days in office wrap up, MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle and Jacob Soboroff spoke with forced out federal workers during the live MSNBC town hall  "100 Days of Trump: Forced Out Federal Workers." After the town hall, both Ruhle and Soboroff stuck around to hear even more stories with forced out workers from agencies across the government including the FDA, NOAA, and NIH. "I think it's an enormous hit to the American public, and that's why I'm here," one forced out
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new list of measures targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which contaminate nearly half the drinking water in the United States.

But public health experts have concerns about what that list doesnt include.

There are a lot of vague promises in what was announced this week, but honestly, it really doesnt treat the PFAS forever chemicals crisis as, frankly, the five-alarm fire for public health that it is, said Dr. Erik Olson, senior strategic director for health in the environmental health program at the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. The key decisions that they were supposed to be making on those two things, theyre completely silent on.

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Called forever chemicals because they dont break down in the environment, PFAS accumulate in our bodies and have been found in the blood of people of all ages, including newborns, said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental health organization.

Hundreds of studies have linked PFAS exposure with serious health problems, including testicular, kidney, liver and pancreatic cancer; reproductive problems; and weakened childhood immunity, Benesh said. Scientists have also discovered links to low birth weight, endocrine disruption, increased cholesterol and weight gain.

During the Biden administration in April 2024, the EPA took historic steps to effectively require water systems to remove PFAS from tap water by 2029 and designate two types of PFAS as hazardous chemicals polluters must monitor and clean up under the Superfund law. The two subtypes are perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, known as PFOS.

Industry associations and utility groups filed federal lawsuits against the administration in June, saying the new rules would be too costly, Olson said. The Biden-era EPA responded with briefs defending the rules. Then when President Donald Trump took office, the EPA suspended the litigation so it could decide whether to continue to defend the rules, rescind them, revise them or uphold them  a decision the agency has still not made.

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The EPAs last deadline for its next steps on the rule regarding the two PFAS subtypes was April 25, but the agency asked for an extension that day. On Monday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted the request and pushed the deadline to May 30. The EPA has also requested an extension of the deadline for its decision on whether to uphold the rule limiting PFAS set last year; the new date is May 12.

The actions announced Monday will be strengthening the science, fulfilling statutory obligations and enhancing communication, and building partnerships, the EPA said.

I have long been concerned about PFAS and the efforts to help states and communities dealing with legacy contamination in their backyards, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a news release. We are tackling PFAS from all of EPAs program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable, and providing certainty for passive receivers.

This is just the start of the work we will do on PFAS to ensure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water, Zeldin said.

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Some actions continue what the EPA started within the last few years, but the announcement didnt address the outstanding questions  which Benesh said raises serious red flags.

The Trump EPA could slow down efforts to limit PFAS in drinking water, let polluters off the hook from reporting or reducing their PFAS discharges, and allow PFAS pollution to keep flowing into our air and water, Benesh added. It could even block states from taking action to protect people from PFAS in everyday products.

While more details about the EPAs announcement are needed, member companies of the American Chemistry Council have consistently advocated for a comprehensive approach to managing PFAS, including for the designation of a point person to coordinate across differing programs and agencies, the council said via email.

The concerning future of PFAS regulations

Bidens action set the first national, legally enforceable standard limiting in drinking water five of more than 12,000 types of individual PFAS. Just two years prior, the EPA had issued health advisories saying the chemicals are significantly more hazardous than previously thought, at levels much lower than previously known.

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In 2024, the Biden administration also made available an unprecedented $1 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories further develop treatment and testing.

Colorado-based engineer Dr. Chad Seidel said there are critical data gaps about PFAS exposure in drinking water and that most communities have lower levels of certain PFAS that dont warrant attention compared with pressing issues facing our communities water systems.

Those include increasing numbers of broken pipes and related microbial contamination, and natural disasters that disrupt water from releasing from the tap, said Seidel, president of Corona Environmental Consulting, via email. Corona Environmental Consulting has clients in the water systems industry.

The new EPA measures include advancing research, testing and solutions, and choosing an agency lead for PFAS and creating limitations guidelines to stop PFAS from entering water systems via liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or sea (known as effluent).

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Others focus on initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework.

But if the EPA abandons the Biden-era actions on PFAS, it would be a significant setback for public health, said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, a nonprofit helping consumers evaluate goods and services.

On top of that, the announcement occurs in the context of the EPA planning to drastically cut its resources in several ways: by slashing its budget by 65%, firing more than 1,000 employees, largely eliminating its independent scientific research arm, according to the Associated Press, and cutting grants for research on preventing PFAS from accumulating in crops. The agencys office of research and development, the main independent research arm, has played a pivotal role in ensuring PFAS regulations are backed by solid science, Benesh said.

Overall, it would seem this announcement was more about creating a distraction by appearing to be doing something laudable, but in reality, undercutting any meaningful efforts behind the scenes and delaying taking any action to reduce the levels of PFAS in our drinking water, Ronholm said.

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In 2024, the EPA awarded and spent over $63 billion dollars, the agency told CNN via email. The EPA maintains that to accomplish (its) core mission of protecting human health and the environment, it only requires 35% of that total  a claim Olson called laughable.

If youre going to actually figure out where chemicals are toxic and are harming people, and figure out ways to check whether thats happening, and actually adopt protections and enforce the law, all of which EPA says its going to do for PFAS  its not possible to do that if you slash your budget by 65%, Olson said. Thats just an impossibility.

Ways to limit your PFAS exposure

For people wanting to limit their exposure to PFAS, the first thing I would recommend is to learn what their utility is doing to reduce PFAS in drinking water, said environmental epidemiologist Dr. Jane Hoppin, a professor in the department of biological sciences and principal investigator of the GenX Exposure Study at North Carolina State University. GenX is one of the several types of PFAS that was targeted by the Biden administration.

Most public utilities have tested their water for PFAS and should have some baseline data as to the levels, Hoppin added.

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At home, you can use a water filter independently certified by the National Sanitation Foundation or another official lab, experts said. Reverse osmosis filters are most effective but are more expensive. You can also avoid using conventional nonstick cookware and opt for ceramic instead.

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Paul W. Fleming has been elected for a second term as the general secretary of UK actors union Equity after securing support from the likes of Olivia Colman, Judi Dench, and Simon Pegg.

Fleming ran against Riky Ash, a stunt professional, and secured an 81% share of the vote. He will serve another five-year term, meaning he will lead the union until 2030.

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Fleming said: Its an overwhelming honour to be re-elected as General Secretary of Equity. Theres no union which fights harder than ours, and to win the support of our Council, activists, and now the whole membership for a second time is incredibly humbling.

He added: Our union will meet the challenges facing Equity members  from Artificial Intelligence, and dignity at work, to pay, protecting venues and modern working practices.

Fleming, who was first elected general secretary in 2020, garnered support from some of Britains finest actors. Naomie Harris, Hayley Atwell, Maxine Peake, and Imelda Staunton were among his other backers. He recently negotiated a new deal with the BBC, but remains locked in talks with Pact, the UK producer trade body.

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President Donald Trumps decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and slash all of its global family planning grants has created chaos and uncertainty in developing nations that relied on the United States for critical sexual and reproductive health care.

Over the last decade, the U.S. has been the largest family planning donor for the international community  giving $607.5 million annually, which accounted for 40% of all global sexual and reproductive health funding, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Those grants provided health care to women and girls around the world, including things like birth control, abortion care and prenatal care.

They also maintained supply chains, stocked critical medical supplies and funded data collection. In some countries, U.S. funding held up the entire health care infrastructure: 77% of the medical system in the West African country of Mali was funded by the U.S.

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But the Trump administration has now terminated all of those grants  putting the lives of women and girls around the world at risk.

During Trumps first three months in office, 11.7 million women and girls were denied birth control due to the U.S. grant cuts, the Guttmacher Institute estimated. Of those, 4.2 million faced unintended pregnancies and 8,340 died from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, the group estimated.

If these funding cuts continue through 2025, which Trump has signaled they will, an estimated 47.6 million women and girls will be denied contraceptive care, 17.1 million will experience unwanted pregnancies and 34,000 will die.

The administrations decision to terminate all family planning grants represents for us an unprecedented abandonment of American leadership on the world stage, Jonathan Wittenberg, co-president and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute, told reporters during a press call on the Trump administrations impacts on global sexual and reproductive health.

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Aid workers and advocates described confusion and despair when critical reproductive health care simply disappeared overnight in countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The sudden loss of funding led to a shortage of health-care providers and increased burnout for those who stayed. The supply chains that delivered vital medical supplies have vanished. Abortion stigma is back on the rise, deterring women and girls from seeking the health care that is available.

These intersecting realities are deepening inequalities and eroding what little infrastructure we have to protect women and girls and gender minorities, Fabiola Mizero, the regional director of Ipas Francophone Africa, told reporters on the same call.

If Trump's funding cuts continue through 2025, an estimated 47.6 million women and girls will be denied contraceptive care, 17.1 million will experience unwanted pregnancies and 34,000 will die, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Associated Press

Advocates are working tirelessly to update communities on next steps, but misinformation has permeated some communities grappling with the fallout. Shortly after the Trump administration issued the USAID stop-work order, rumors started in parts of Uganda that contraception would be banned and women would be penalized for using it. This led to women running to get their IUDs removed early.

Our team has been working with local authorities to share correct information through radio, phone and shows, but we are seeing that sort of panic in many places, said Anna Mackay, senior director of global programs and philanthropy at MSI Reproductive Choices, an organization working in 36 countries across six continents.

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The anti-abortion movements return to power in the U.S.  following the repeal of Roe v. Wade and the criminalization of care in nearly half the country  has had an outsized cultural impact across the world, advocates said. Trump has compiled one of the most extreme anti-abortion administrations the U.S. has seen in a long time. On day one, the president reinstated the Global Gag Rule and the Helms Amendment  federal rules to ban U.S. funding to aid groups offering abortion services or any information about abortion care.

Aid workers told reporters theyve already seen more aggressive anti-abortion campaigns play out in the countries where they work. One advocate said shes seen an increase in health care clinic protesters and staff harassment, particularly in countries like Ethiopia where abortion care is more accessible.

I think it is safe to say that the anti-rights movement is much deeper and much more embedded in local communities than they were before at the national level and at the sub-national level, said Anu Kumar, president and CEO of Ipas, which has aid workers in over 30 states across Africa, Asia and South America.

Theyre not just based in the U.S. and parachuting in and out of countries, as they did previously. They are much more embedded in countries now, Kumar added.

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Advocates attributed the increased anti-abortion hostility on the ground in part to Trumps decision to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an extreme global anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQIA+ pact created during the first Trump administration that aligns the U.S. with socially conservative countries. Although its nonbinding, the Geneva Consensus sends a clear message to the rest of the world on where the U.S. stands on abortion and reproductive health.

The Trump administration has renewed its effort to get more countries to sign the declaration, specifically targeting several African nations. Mizero, from Ipas Francophone Africa, said the small West African country Benin has a progressive president and a government that is working to advance reproductive health care. But the country recently signed on to the Geneva Consensus, likely because the U.S. government approached an anti-abortion lawmaker who signed it on behalf of the entire country.

Reproductive rights groups have strongly criticized the Geneva Consensus since its creation in 2020 because of its deep anti-reproductive health sentiments and also because it disguises itself as an official international agreement. Unlike the Paris Agreement or the United Nations Charter, any person in a government can sign onto the Geneva Consensus, and their signature reflects that the country as a whole is in support of the anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQIA+ statements in the document.

This is a moment for solidarity and those who champion bodily autonomy to really stand together and make the case for sexual and reproductive health and rights to make sure its not silenced and erased, said Mackay of MSI. Millions of women and girls are demanding [sexual and reproductive health] services across the countries where we work, and we cant turn the clock back on that.

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Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, arrives for a press conference in the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, May 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, on Friday announced his presidential run after stepping down on the previous day.

Han told a televised press conference in the National Assembly that he will run for president in the June 3 election as he made up his mind to find what he can do for the future of the country, vowing all-out efforts to be selected by the people in the upcoming presidential election.

If elected president, Han said he would make all-out efforts to amend the constitution and hold parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously in the third year of his five-year term in accordance with the new constitution.

Han pledged that he would immediately resign as president after the elections, indicating his willingness to shorten the five-year presidency to a three-year one.

The former prime minister, who had served as acting president following the removal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol from office over his botched martial law imposition, stepped down on Thursday.

Han has been one of the favored presidential hopefuls among conservative voters.

A recent survey showed Han garnered a support rate of 13 percent, surpassing approval scores of the conservative People Power Party's presidential contenders.

It was far below the 42 percent support for Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the majority liberal Democratic Party.

The result was based on a poll of 1,000 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had a plus and minus 3.1 percentage points in margin of error with a 95 percent confidence level. 

Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, attends a press conference in the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, May 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, attends a press conference in the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, May 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, attends a press conference in the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, May 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Mondays massive power outage in Spain and Portugal, Europes worst blackout, triggered a lot of questions, concerns, and a blame game of who done it.

On Monday midday, a sudden massive outage hit the electricity transmission systems of Spain and Portugal, and briefly parts of France, in a very rare blackout in Europe, whose causes are yet to be determined.

The blackout, which began at around 12:00 PM GMT on Monday, hit major cities and transportation networks, leaving authorities scrambling to restore power and ascertain the underlying cause. Airports grounded flights, hospitals postponed routine surgeries, while authorities in both Spain and Portugal declared a state of emergency. Internet and mobile phone services were interrupted.

Blame Game

Some were quick to point the finger at renewable energysolar power provided nearly 60% of Spains electricity generation immediately before the massive loss of power, while wind energy accounted for another 10%.

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Initial speculation swirled around a possible cyber attack or the high dependence of the grid on renewable power generation. Spain and the EU are investigating the cause, but it appears that a cyber attack could be ruled out.

On Monday 28 April, between 12:38 and 13:30 CET, Spains transmission system was disconnected from the European grid at the 400 kV level due to an issue with a power line connecting French and Spanish Catalonia. The fault triggered a domino disrupting electricity supply not only in Spain but also in Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, said Eurelectric, the federation of the European electricity industry.

Whats certain is that there wasnt a shortage of electricity generation before the event. There were reports of anomalous oscillations in the high-voltage lines before the power shut down. These oscillations caused synchronization failures between the electrical systems and eventually ended in disturbances across the interconnected European network, Eurelectric said.

One possible reason for the massive loss of power could be the insufficient grid inertia, which is critical for maintaining a steady frequency. While stable baseload power generators such as gas power plants or nuclear power have spinning generators creating inertia, solar and wind power dont have rotating generators to keep the inertia long enough to keep the grid frequency in case of sudden power loss, Reuters Energy Columnist Ron Bousso notes. Grids need to have their frequency stable at 50 Hertz to ensure a steady power supply.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said suggestions that Spains high share of renewable energy was to blame for the outage were lies.

Those linking the blackout to the lack of nuclear power are either lying or demonstrating their ignorance, Sanchez said.

Grid Resilience Tested

Whatever the cause, the worst blackout in Europe and the first major system collapse in the era of booming renewable energy installations highlighted the need for investments in storage and grid resilience.

Spains extraordinary event is a stark reminder that the grid is the backbone of our society. With electricity playing an increasingly important role in our society, we need to create all the conditions for enable a secure electricity supply, Eurelectric said.

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David Brayshaw, Professor of Climate Science and Energy Meteorology at the University of Reading in the UK, commented on the blackout,

If something on the network  a generator, a power line, or even a large electricity user  suddenly disappears, it creates a supply-demand imbalance and the system frequency starts to shift.

Brayshaw noted that if the shift becomes too large, other components can trip offline, creating a snowball effect that worsens the imbalance and can trigger a major blackout  sometimes within seconds.

The Spanish blackout unfolded in a matter of seconds.

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Dr Omid Shariati, lecturer in Sustainable Technologies at the University of Reading, said that a single transmission line failure shouldn't cause widespread blackouts if proper security planning is in place.

But the expert noted that no grid is 100% secure, and there's always a small risk of multiple severe problems happening at once.

In the case of Europe, where renewable energy installations are booming, the grid is not ready to handle all that new inverter-based  not inertia-creating  supply.

Analysts and forecasters have been warning for years that investment in grid capacity, resilience, and transmission lines is lagging behind the rollout of renewables.

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Grid investments are lagging behind renewable additions and a lack of transmission capacity could hold back the energy transition, think tank Ember said in a report last year.

Making sure solar and wind can actually connect to the system is as critical as the panels and turbines themselves, says Elisabeth Cremona, Energy & Climate Data Analyst at Ember.

There is no transition without transmission.

The EU and the world as a whole are unprepared for the massive roll-out of wind and solarinvestments in grids are currently insufficient to handle the boom, while energy storage is also behind the curve of renewable power generation.

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As Europe ramps up renewable energy deployment and increasingly electrifies the economy, electricity production and demand are expected to double by 2050, Agora Energiewende, a think tank, said in a report in 2024.

A high number of additional generators and consumers will be connected to the power grid at the distribution level. This poses challenges to the existing infrastructure which was not built to handle such increased loads.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Evansville Immigrant Welcome & Resource Center (IWRC) released a statement after multiple people were detained following raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Evansville and Henderson earlier this week.

Officials with the IWRC say they are working with Centro Latino + Americano and the Haitian Center of Evansville to bring attention to the harm caused by the actions of ICE agents, saying that entire households are experiencing emotional trauma, economic instability and uncertainty about how to locate loved ones who have been detained.

Hands off our neighbors! Dozens gather to protest ICE raids in Evansville

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These actions have disrupted families and instilled fear throughout our community, said IWRC Executive Director Elisabet Sena-Martin. We are hearing from parents, workers, and students  many of whom are here legally  who are now afraid to go to work or school. This kind of enforcement does more than remove individuals  it tears the fabric of our entire city.

Sena-Martin also raised concern that some individuals who have been detained were not given access to legal representation or the chance to contact family members while in custody. A release from the IWRC says they will continue to help community members understand their legal rights, connect with services and find support.

Earlier this week, local law enforcement officials confirmed to Eyewitness News that ICE agents were conducting removal operations in Vanderburgh County. Hopkins County Judge Executive Jack Whitfield said at least 15 people who were detained during ICE operations were transported to the Hopkins County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry visited the childrens enrichment center at Deaconess Midtown on Thursday as part of the centers community speaker series.

Mayor Terry read the book This is My Town that introduced the kids to community role models like police officers and firefighters. She also talked to the children about how they can become future leaders.

The community speaker series program aims to spark curiosity and imagination around future career paths in a fun and age-appropriate way.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  An Evansville Police officer was charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon after authorities say he pointed a firearm at other officers while he was highly intoxicated.

Stephenson (Courtesy: Evansville Police Department)

According to a release from the Evansville Police Department, an investigation was launched after a sergeant was notified of an incident that happened at the Fraternal Order of Police on Court Street on April 25 during a celebration to congratulate several officers who had finished their probationary period on the department. Authorities say Officer Anthony Stephenson approached three officers who arrived after FOP had closed, and attempted to get others to continue the celebration at another bar.

The three officers reportedly decided to leave, but Officer Stephenson, who was described as being highly intoxicated at the time, pulled a firearm from a holster and pointed it at them. After pointing the firearm, a witness confronted Stephenson and demanded that he turn over his firearm, which according to a report was not his department issued firearm.

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An affidavit was completed charging Stephenson with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. On May 2, an arrest warrant was issued, and Stephenson turned himself in to the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center.

EPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Anthony Aussieker said when probable cause was established to charge Stephenson, his leave was updated to unpaid administrative leave. The Police Merit Commission will vote to determine Stephensons punishment and his future employment with the Evansville Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  For the first time ever, Knox County Schools hosts a special event on Thursday to recognize high school seniors who have chosen to enlist in military service following graduation.

Military enlistment is one of the three Es highlighted in the districts 865 Academies initiative. The other two Es are enrolling in postsecondary education and gaining employment in a high-wage career.

Reflecting on the Vietnam War: Don Dare shares memories 50 years after fall of Saigon

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Around 75 Knox County seniors plan to enlist. Jacob Loyacano, a senior at Bearden High School, explained that he chose to enlist after speaking with his grandfather, who served in the Air Force, and learning about the community that being in the military brings. He hopes to become a fire protection specialist in the United States Air Force.

This is just a lot better opportunity for me. The doors that open up not only while Im in it, but also while Im out, and the retirement plan, this is really great and just really suits me the best, said Loyacano.

He said of his JROTC class at Bearden High School, 11 out of the 12 students plan on enlisting.

Im very excited. I think its great that Im able to serve my country as well as do something Im very passionate about, said Loyacano. Its been a long time coming, but being able to have this opportunity and serve the country and be able to help build the country that built me, I think thats just an amazing feeling.

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Donors boost city efforts to build more affordable housing in Knoxville

The celebration was emceed by Good Morning Tennessee anchor Tearsa Smith and included a keynote address by General Arnie Bunch, a retired four-star general and current superintendent of Hamblen County Schools.

America needs young men and women to serve in our all-volunteer force, and its critically important that we recognize them. I think its a fantastic event. The fact that you have so many elected officials, so many community leaders, sponsors and everything, it really shows the young men and women how much theyre appreciated and what theyre doing, not only for the community, but also when they wear the uniform for the nation, said Bunch.

Its really just an honor, especially having a four-star here and all these other distinguished guests, its just an amazing opportunity, said Loyacano.

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Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served

Loyacano told 6 News that after he retires from the military, he hopes to come back to the Knoxville area and work at a local fire department. He also hopes to get his degree further down the road.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
You may have seen that many people have blue lights lit up on their homes or businesses.

In Ohio, the blue lights are part of the Light Ohio Blue campaign during May.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]that

TRENDING STORIES:

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Its a statewide initiative that shows support for law enforcement officers who are either actively serving or have died in the line of duty. The campaign is typically active during National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.

If you want to participate, simply install blue light bulbs in your exterior porch lights. You can also wrap blue lights around your home or business, place blue ribbons on your mailbox, and wear blue on May 15.

For more information, visit Light Ohio Blue website.

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sharply criticized the Trump administration on Friday, calling the White Houses actions chilling after border czar Tom Homan threatened consequences  and alluded to criminal charges  over guidance issued to state employees confronted by federal immigration authorities.

In this country, the federal government doesnt get to abuse its power to threaten everyday Americans, Evers, a Democrat, said in a video released Friday. In this country, the federal government doesnt get to arrest American citizens who have not committed a crime. In this country, we dont threaten to persecute people just because they belong to a different political party.

Evers message comes on the heels of the Trump administration targeting another Wisconsin official over immigration, with federal law enforcement charging a county judge with obstructing an arrest of an undocumented person last week.

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The Trump administration has threatened to investigate and prosecute officials who refuse to cooperate with the administration's deportation agenda.

The memo from the governors office, issued in April, among other things directs employees to speak with their agency's attorney before engaging with federal officials and to refrain from allowing an agent to enter a nonpublic area.

Evers on Friday argued that its purpose was to arm state employees with clear, consistent advice and make sure they have a lawyer.

But Republicans and their right-wing allies, including Elon Musk, lied about this guidance, spread misinformation, accused me of doing things I didnt do or say, and fueled a fake controversy of their own creation, he said.

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Homan on Thursday suggested that Evers could be a target for the administration.

Wait till you see whats coming, he told reporters outside the White House when asked about the guidance. I meant what I said. You can not support what were doing. And you can support sanctuary cities if thats what you want to do. But if you cross that line of impediment or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that is a felony. And well treat it as such.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wisconsin state Rep. Calvin Callahan, a Republican, reposted a video of Homans comments on X. Arrest, Arrest, Arrest!, he wrote alongside the post.

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In another instance, he attached an AI image of Evers, in handcuffs, being let out of the state Capitol by a police-uniformed President Donald Trump.

Democrats are rallying behind the two-term governor.

Threatening to arrest a sitting governor for briefing his staff on their legal rights is outrageous, state Sen. LaTonya Johnson said Friday in a post on X. Thank you, @GovEvers, for standing up to Trump and not backing down in the face of this blatant political intimidation.

Just last week, the FBI arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan over an immigration dispute, alleging that she helped an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

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A criminal complaint asserted that Dugan helped sneak Eduardo Flores Ruiz and his attorney out of a courtroom through a door leading to a private hallway. She and her legal team have maintained her innocence.

The White House has celebrated the charges, even as Democrats have fretted the arrest further undermines the judicial branch at the expense of the White House.

We have to be proud of our country, Trump said when asked about Dugans arrest. We cant let these people stay. And the courts are allowing them to stay. Were just not going to allow it.
CHIPPEWA FALLS  Gov. Tony Evers stopped by Chippewa Falls High School on Thursday, touring the Fab Lab and tech ed classrooms, hearing about plans to expand mental health programming, and even saw a performance by the schools wire choir.

One of the reasons I was here was to hear their good work in mental health, Evers said at the conclusion of a tour that lasted more than an hour. And they are doing a lot of good things here.

Jamie Ganske, principal at the Chippewa Valley (alternative) High School and mental health & resiliency counselor, told Evers that the district partners with 30 agencies to provide mental health to students. She said the need climbed post-COVID and has remained at a high level.

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We are well over 5% of our students utilizing mental health services over the course of a school day, Ganske told Evers.

The district received a five-year grant that helps pay for the Student and Family Assistance Program, she said.

Evers said his proposed budget includes a significant investment in mental health at schools, adding that he has seen support from Republicans for those programs.

Clearly this has taken mental health to a different level, a higher level, Evers said.

Evers added: I dont know if well be making things specific in the budget. My goal is to get as much money out the door to schools as possible.

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Evers said the tech education and Fab Lab classes and talked with the Skills USA students about the items they are making and the problem-solving examples they have learned.

Eric Andreo, a senior, said the laser printers and software allows students to make almost anything they can imagine.

It teaches you about solving real-world problems, Andreo told Evers. Its taught me a lot about engineering and what I want to go into.

The Chi Hi Wire Choir, who are headed to state this weekend, also performed two songs for the governor, playing their orchestra instruments while dancing to (Ive Had) The Time of My Life from the film Dirty Dancing.

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In some comments at the conclusion of the tour, Evers was asked about the states policy if an ICE agent enters a state government building. Evers, a Democrat, contends that Republicans have overblown his policy. He said the goal is for each agency to make sure they have an attorney present for an encounter with an ICE agent.

Its a legal process, he said. We are not stopping ICE. We are just making sure our employees have an attorney with them.
It's a world home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.

Welcome to Jupiter.

NASA scientists have for years sought to understand the gas giant, whose mass is more than the rest of the planets in our solar system combined. Now, thanks to the efforts of the U.S. space agency's Juno probe, Jupiter's secrets are being revealed like never before.

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New data from the orbiter has unveiled some of the treacherous conditions of not only Jupiter, but its moon Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system.

The findings, which come after Juno has flown close to the planet to peer under its cloud covered atmosphere, shed light on Jupiter's fierce winds and violent cyclones. On the fiery Io, the innermost and third-largest of Jupiters four Galilean moons, Juno's observations have provided more insights about its incessant volcanic activity.

Here's everything to know about NASA's latest findings, announced Tuesday, April 29.

More about Io: Jupiter moon of Io is famed for its volcanoes. NASA just spotted the most powerful one yet

What is NASA's Juno spacecraft?

NASA's Juno spacecraft launched in August 2011 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Floridas Atlantic coast. Since it arrived in 2016 at Jupiter's orbit, the vehicle, which looks something like a three-bladed cosmic fan, has been probing beneath the gas giant's dense clouds seeking answers about the origin and evolution of the gas giant.

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That extended mission, which is slated to end in September 2025, also extends to Jupiter's rings and many moons. Junos trajectory passes by Io every other orbit, flying over the same part of the moon each time.

What is Jupiter's moon Io? Why was Jupiter's moon named Io, what it means

Though Io is not much larger than Earth's own moon, the two celestial bodies couldn't be more different.

While our moon is relatively calm, Io is considered to be the most volcanically active world in our solar system. And while Earth, of course, has plenty of active volcanoes of its own, eruptions on the Jovian moon have attracted scientific interest because they are thought to be caused by very different factors.

The rocky moon, which was first discovered by the ancient astronomer Galileo in 1610, is named for a mythological woman transformed into a cow during a marital dispute.

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Because Io is so close to its massive host planet, the moon is subjected to a tremendous gravitational pull as it orbits Jupiter once about every 42 hours, according to the Planetary Society. This, at times, pulls the moon closer to Jupiter, and, at times, pushes it farther away, weakening the planet's gravitational influence.

The constant stretching and squeezing creates tidal forces that generate heat within the moon, keeping its subsurface crust in liquid magma form that seeks any available escape route to relieve the pressure. As a result, the hectic conditions are perfect for Io's approximately 400 active volcanoes to endlessly spew lava dozens of miles into the air exceeding temperatures of 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit.

NASA's Juno mission gets look under surface of Jupiter, Io

Years of data from NASA's Juno mission has provided scientists with a trove of information about the conditions of both Jupiter and Io.

For instance, the findings helped Juno team members track the movements of Jupiter's massive northern polar cyclone, as well as eight others surrounding it. The data resulted in helping the team develop a new model to study the fast-moving jet stream that encircles Jupiters north pole where the cyclones rage.

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Everything about Jupiter is extreme," Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno, said in a statement. As Junos orbit takes us to new regions of Jupiters complex system, were getting a closer look at the immensity of energy this gas giant wields.

Meanwhile, Juno's data also revealed for the first time the subsurface temperature of Io  a key insight into the moon's inner structure and volcanic activity. What's more, a massive volcanic hot spot on the moon's southern hemisphere that Juno observed during its third-ever flyby of the moon on Dec. 27, 2024, appears to still be active, according to NASA.

The volcanic activity spotted on a planet famed for such eruptions was not only larger than Earths Lake Superior, but was observed belching out eruptions six times the total energy of all the worlds power plants combined.

Juno mission scientists expect more observations May 6, when the solar-powered spacecraft flies by the moon again at a distance of about 55,300 miles.

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The team members presented their findings April 29 during a news briefing in Vienna during the European Geosciences Union General Assembly.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA's Juno probe glimpses 'extreme' Jupiter, its volcanic moon Io
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed his call for a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation into a recent Kashmir incident.

Sharif made it clear during a meeting with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

The prime minister categorically rejected what he called "baseless accusations" by India attempting to link Pakistan to the incident without any evidence. He said Pakistan had no role in the event and was reaching out to friendly countries to present its position.

Sharif said Pakistan had suffered heavily from terrorism. He added that India's recent actions and aggressive posture were undermining Pakistan's ongoing counter-terrorism operations along its western frontier.

He urged brotherly nations to help de-escalate tensions and promote stability in South Asia.

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbors have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22. 
BROWNSVILLE  Little is publicly known about the three people poised to lead Texas next city, Starbase, which includes the launch site for Elon Musks SpaceX.

There have been no signs of a traditional campaign along the Boca Chica Beach region in South Texas, where the proposed town is located about 20 miles east of Brownsville. No yard signs. No campaign websites. No candidate forums.

In fact, each candidate signed a pledge not to accept more than $1,110 in political contributions for this election.

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The dearth of campaigning stems in part from the fact all three are running unopposed. If a majority of the nearly 300 eligible voters  many SpaceX employees  approve the citys incorporation Saturday, the three candidates win automatically. And theyll be tasked with creating the city from the ground up.

While their priorities remain unknown, the entire purpose of the city is to help SpaceX grow.

[Starbase, the SpaceX site, is likely Texas next city. What happens next?]

What is known about the candidates comes from public records and social media sites, reviewed by The Texas Tribune and Sunlight Research Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization. Each candidate was contacted multiple times by the Tribune. They did not return interview requests.

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Heres what we found.

Robert Bobby Peden, mayor candidate

Robert "Bobby" Peden, 36, has worked for SpaceX for 12 years. He started out as a ground support equipment engineer in 2013 at Space's Rocket Development Facility in McGregor. His job location changed to Starbase in December 2023 where he now works as the vice president of "Texas Test and Launch."

Peden has a degree in mechanical engineering from Arkansas Tech University and a masters degree in engineering mechanics from the University of Texas. He resides at Boca Chica Village with his wife and three children.

His home, according to property records, is owned by the Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX. Peden has worked in Texas since 2011. And he owned property in Texas between 2016 and 2024. First in McGregor and then in Lorena. He also owns property in Arkansas.

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He contributed $5,000 to SpaceX's political action committee in December. Campaign finance filings list his residence as Hawthorne, California, where SpaceX headquarters are located. Musk has announced he plans to move SpaceX headquarters to Texas.

Jenna Petrzelka, commissioner candidate

Jenna Petrzelka, 39, is running for one of the two city commissioner positions.

According to LInkedIn, she started working at SpaceX in 2012 as an avionics process engineer in Hawthorne and her last position there was manager of operations engineering at Starbase, a position she held from August 2023 to July 2024.

Her husband, Joseph Edward Petrzelkakla is a SpaceX vice president, according to LinkedIn. Both obtained degrees from Iowa State University.

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Together they have two children.

Her listed occupation on her candidate application is "philanthropist." She previously owned an Etsy store that touted donating its profits to charity and, in 2022, volunteered at Good Neighbor Settlement House, a Brownsville nonprofit that assists migrants and people experiencing homelessness.

Petrzelkas declared on her candidate form that her permanent residence address is 41356 Tarpon Bend Drive in Brownsville, which is about 3 miles southwest of Boca Chica Village. While no structures are visible through Google Earth, a few gated homes have sprung up there as well as a street sign that reads Mars-A-Lago Ave, a reference to President Donald Trumps Florida home and beach club.

Jordan Buss, commissioner

Jordan Buss, 40, is a senior director of Environmental Health and Safety for SpaceX. He has worked at SpaceX since 2023, according to LinkedIn. He previously worked for an energy company in the Houston area.

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He studied at Purdue University from 2004 to 2008 and now lives at Boca Chica Village with his wife who is a masters student studying industrial/organizational psychology at Purdue Global, according to his LinkedInN account.

In 2023, Buss made a $600 political contribution to the SpaceX PAC.

 Research and analysis provided by Sunlight Research Centers Elizabeth Clemons, Seraphina Feron and Audrey Nielsen.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Disclosure: Google has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Updated at 1:02 p.m. ET on May 2, 2025

Darren Beattie, a senior official at the State Department, is concerned that his agency has abused its powers under previous Democratic administrations. To rectify that, he has decided to marshal the power of his officein what his fellow State Department employees reportedly described as unusual and improper waysto conduct a political witch hunt.

Yesterday, the MIT Technology Review revealed that, in March, Beattie made a request to gain sweeping access to communications between and about the State Department and journalists, disinformation researchers, and Donald Trump critics. Specifically, Beattie was targeting the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) hub, which the State Department shut down this year and the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which was shut down in 2024both of which focused on tracking foreign disinformation campaigns. Right-wing critics have accused these offices of engaging in censorship campaigns against conservatives, under the pretense of fighting fake news.

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In response to these unproven allegations, Beattiewho had also served as a speechwriter in President Trumps first administration, though he was fired in 2018 after CNN reported that he had attended a conference featuring prominent white nationalistsasked the State Department for all staff emails and other records with or about roughly 60 individuals and organizations that track or write about foreign disinformation. This request included correspondence with and about journalists, including The Atlantics Anne Applebaum, researchers at institutions such as the Stanford Internet Observatory, and political enemies of the Trump administration, such as the former U.S. cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs. Beattie also wanted all staff communications that mentioned a specific list of keywords (incel, q-anon, Black Lives Matter, great replacement theory) and Trump-world figures, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to the report, he plans to publish any noteworthy internal communications he receives as part of a transparency campaign to win back public trust in government agencies. A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the record when reached for this story.

[Read: The white nationalist now in charge of Trumps public diplomacy]

Lets be clear about whats really happening here. A high-ranking member of the Trump administration is turning federal-government datain this case, State Department communicationsinto a political weapon against perceived ideological enemies. The individuals Beattie has singled out (Bill Gates, the former FBI special agent Clint Watts, and Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation researcher who had a short and somewhat disastrous tenure at the Department of Homeland Security, to name a few) are familiar targets for the far rights free-speech-defender crowd. The keywords Beattie has asked his department to search for (which also include Alex Jones, Glenn Greenwald, and Pepe the Frog) are ones that seem likely to produce a juicy piece of correspondence, but who knows? This is a fishing expeditiona government agency using a kind of grievance-politics Mad Libs in an effort to find anything that might make it appear as if vestiges of the deep state were biased against the right.

Beattie himself has reportedly told State Department officials that this campaign is an attempt to copy Elon Musks Twitter Files playbook. Shortly after purchasing Twitter, Musk picked a few ideologically aligned journalists to comb through some of the social networks internal records in an attempt to document its supposedly long-standing liberal biasand moreover, how political and government actors sought to interfere with content-moderation decisions. The result was a drawn-out, continuously teased social-media spectacle framed as a series of smoking guns. In reality, the revelations of the Twitter Files were much more complicated. Far from exposing blanket ideological bias, they showed that Twitter employees often agonized over how to apply their rules fairly in high-pressure, politicized edge cases.

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The Twitter Files did show that the company made editorial decisionsfor example, limiting reach on posts from several large accounts that had flaunted Twitters rules, including those of the Stanford doctor (and current National Institutes of Health head) Jay Bhattacharya, the right-wing activists Dan Bongino and Charlie Kirk, and Chaya Raichik, who operates the Libs of TikTok account. Not exactly breaking news to anyone whod paid attention. But they also showed that, in some cases, Twitter employees and even Democratic lawmakers were opposed to or pushed back on government requests to take down content. Representative Ro Khanna, for example, reached out to Twitters executive leadership to express his frustration that Twitter was suppressing speech during its handling of the New York Posts story about Hunter Bidens laptop.

Of course, none of this stopped Musk from portraying the project as a Pentagon Papersesque exercise in transparency. Teasing the document dump back in December 2022, Musk argued that the series was proof of large-scale violation of the Constitutions First Amendment, but then later admitted he had not read most of the files. This was fitting: For the Twitter Files target audience, the archives and their broader contexts were of secondary importance. What mattered more was the mere existence of a dump of primary-source documentsa collection of once-private information that they could cast as nefarious in order to justify what they believed all along. As I wrote in 2022, Twitter had been quite public about its de-amplification policies for accounts that violated its rules, but the screenshots of internal company documents included in the Twitter Files were interpreted by already aggrieved influencers and posters as evidence of malfeasance. This gave them ammunition to portray themselves as victims of a sophisticated, coordinated censorship effort.

For many, the Twitter Files were just another ephemeral culture-war skirmish. But for the MAGA sympathetic and right-leaning free-speech-warrior crowds, the files remain a canonical, even radicalizing event. RFK Jr. has argued on prime-time television that I dont think wed have free speech in this country if it wasnt for Elon Musk opening up Twitters archives. Similarly, individuals mentioned in the files, such as the researcher and Atlantic contributor Renee DiResta, have become objects of obsession to MAGA conspiracy theorists. (One post on X credited the imaginary me with brainwashing all of the local elections officials to facilitate the theft of the 2020 election from Donald Trump, DiResta wrote last year.) Simply put, the Twitter Files may have largely been full of sensationalistic claims and old news, but the gambit worked: Their release fleshed out a conspiratorial cinematic universe for devotees to glom onto.

Beatties ploy at the State Department is an attempt to add new characters and updated lore to this universe. By casting a wide net, he can potentially gain access to a trove of information that he could present as evidence. Say the request dredges up an email between a journalist and the GEC that references Ukraine and Russia. Such communications could be innocuousa request for comment or an on-background conversation providing context for a news storybut, to somebody unfamiliar with the intricacies of reporting, it could look sinister or be framed by an interested party as some kind of collusion. As Musk proved with the Twitter Files, Beattie and the State Department dont even need to do the dirty work of sifting through or presenting the information themselves. They can outsource that work to a handpicked network of sympathetic individuals or news outletsor, for maximum chaos, they can release the raw information to the public in the name of pure transparency and let them make their own connections and judgments.

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Perhaps the records request could dredge up something concerning. Its not out of the realm of possibility that there could be examples of bias or worse in a large tranche of private conversations between a government agency and outside organizations on a host of polarizing topics. But Beatties effort, as far as MIT described it, bears none of the hallmarks of an earnest push for transparency. Instead, it reeks of cynical politicking and using ones privileged government position to access private information for political gain.

Publishing the internal correspondence of people the administration sees as critics and ideological opponents may very well have a chilling effect on journalists and institutions trying to hold government agencies to account. At the very least, it sends a message that the administration is willing to marshal the information stores it has been entrusted with by its citizens to harass or intimidate others. It is, in other words, an attempt to abuse government power in the precise way that Beattie and Republicans have accused Democrats of doing.

Whether Beattie is successful or not, well likely see more of this from the current administration. The Twitter Files was a glimpse of the future of right-wing political warfare, and its success offered a template for providing red meat to an audience with an insatiable appetite for grievance. Now Musk, the man who created the playbook, is at the helm of a government-wide effort to collect and pool federal information across agencies. It is not unreasonable to imagine that one outcome of DOGEs efforts is a Twitter Filesesque riffling through of the U.S. governments internal comms.

Twitter Filesing is a brute-force tactic, but one that has an authoritarian genius to it. The entire effort is billed as an exercise in building trust, but the opposite is true. Its really about destroying trust in everyone except the select few who are currently in charge. Take over an institution and use the information of that institution against it, in order to show how corrupt it was. Suggest that only you can fix it. Rinse and repeat.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
A former Mexican federal agent who testified against the drug trafficker son of the country's most wanted man was shot dead in the central state of Morelos, authorities said Thursday.

Ivan Morales was a prosecution witness in the U.S. trial of Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, a leader of Mexico's violent Jalisco New Generation cartel, who was jailed for life by a Washington court in March.

Gonzalez's father is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes  better known as "El Mencho"  who heads the cartel and has a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head.

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Morales and his wife were shot dead on Wednesday morning as they were traveling in their vehicle in the Temixco area, around 60 miles from Mexico City, according to a police report.

State prosecutors are investigating the crime and have not ruled out revenge as a possible motive, local media reported.

Morales had a decade ago, on May 1, 2015, survived one of Mexico's bloodiest drug trafficking attacks, when a military helicopter carrying 16 soldiers and two federal police officers was shot down in the western state of Jalisco.

Nine people died but Morales managed to escape from the burning wreckage, though he suffered severe burns that left part of his face disfigured.

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That helicopter was flying in an ultimately unsuccessful mission to arrest "El Mencho."

In September, a federal jury convicted the younger Oseguera  nicknamed "El Menchito"  of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy.

"El Menchito led the Jalisco Cartel's efforts to use murder, kidnapping, and torture to build the Cartel into a self-described 'empire' by manufacturing fentanyl and flooding the United States with massive quantities of lethal drugs," former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in September.

Mexican soldiers participate in a military operation during which Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, aka

Ruben Oseguera ordered the killings of at least 100 people, personally shot and killed at least two people and ordered subordinates to shoot down the Mexican military helicopter in 2015, prosecutors said.

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Jalisco cartel targeted by the U.S.

The Jalisco New Generation cartel is one of the most powerful criminal gangs in Mexico and has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The group has been accused of using fake job advertisements to lure new members and of torturing and killing recruits who resist. In March, a group of people looking for missing relatives found charred bones, shoes and clothing at a suspected training ground for the cartel.

On Thursday, the Trump administration imposed economic sanctions on three Mexican nationals and two Mexico-based entities involved in a drug trafficking and fuel theft network linked to the Jalisco cartel.

The new sanctions, which are being imposed on top member Cesar Morfin Morfin (dubbed "Primito") and his brothers, target the group's fuel theft network.

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"Primito's luxurious lifestyle has included ownership of exotic animals and dozens of luxury vehicles," the Treasury said in a news release, while releasing an image of a jaguar allegedly seized from Primito by Mexican authorities in December 2023.

A jaguar seized from Primito by Mexican authorities in December 2023. / Credit: U.S. Treasury Department

U.S. officials allege Primito is involved in the transportation and distribution of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana into the United States.

The Treasury Department says that network has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue to the Mexican government and also funds the flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States.

Mike Waltz leaving post as Trump's national security adviser | Special Report

Extended interview: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on deportations involving children and more

U.S. employers add 177,000 jobs in April despite uncertainty
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A former California Highway Patrol captain has been indicted by a federal grand jury after he was accused of slapping a male flight attendants buttocks during a cross-country flight to Los Angeles, federal prosecutors said.

It was the second time in recent weeks that allegations of sexual abuse during flights surfaced. The FBI warns the problem is growing, especially on long, overnight trips.

Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, of Azusa, California, was indicted Thursday on one count of abusive sexual contact. Woodbury had been drinking heavily and slapped the flight attendant as he walked passed him while collecting meal trays during an April 13 flight on JetBlue Airways from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles International Airport, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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Prosecutors said Woodbury began acting inappropriately soon after boarding the plane and that before the plane left the gate, he showed another male flight attendant a photo of a dog that had pornographic images in the background and told him he should join him on a cruise. Later on the flight, Woodbury went to the plane's front galley and pulled down his pants, exposing his genitals to the flight attendant, according to court documents.

Soon afterward, Woodbury asked the same flight attendant for wine and after the crew member told him he could only have a nonalcoholic drink, Woodbury again pulled down his pants and exposed himself, prosecutors said.

Woodbury, who was arrested after the plane landed in Los Angeles, made his initial federal court appearance last month and is free on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12.

A phone listed for Woodbury was disconnected. His attorney didnt immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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Earlier this week, lawyers for a Northern California woman announced a lawsuit against American Airlines after she said she was sexually assaulted in 2024 on an overnight flight from San Francisco to Dallas. The man was charged in March by federal officials for the sexual assault of another female passenger on a flight in 2023, and the airline was aware of that case, according to the lawsuit by the Northern California woman. He also had several other similar complaints against him, according to the lawsuit.

In 2023, the FBI investigated 96 cases of alleged sexual assaults aboard U.S. flights, including unwanted touching, the agency said. The attacks generally occur on long-haul flights when the cabin is dark, and often those they prey on are in middle or window seats, sleeping, and covered with a blanket or jacket, the FBI said. Passengers who have reported such crimes often say they woke up to find their seatmate's hands inside their clothing.

It is particularly important that the crime be reported immediately because crime aboard an aircraft is more difficult to investigate once days, or even hours, have passed, the agency said.
A former California Highway Patrol captain was charged with sexually abusing a flight attendant while traveling to Los Angeles from Florida last month, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Prosecutors allege that Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, downed a bottle of prosecco during the April 13 flight, slapped a male flight attendant's butt and yelled, "I love you," and showed another male flight attendant a pornographic picture, according to the criminal complaint.

Woodbury, of Azusa, is charged with a felony count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison.

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Woodbury's attorney, Annick Jordan, declined to comment on the case. Woodbury, who is out of custody on bond, could not immediately be reached for comment. It is unclear when Woodbury stopped working for the CHP. The U.S. attorney's office wrote in a news release that he had "been dismissed from state service."

Read more: Ice block from JetBlue plane fell through ceiling onto Inglewood couple's bed, lawsuit says

Woodbury was traveling in Jet Blue's business class section from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Los Angeles International Airport when the alleged abuse occurred, according to the criminal complaint.

Before the flight left the gate, Woodbury allegedly showed a flight attendant a picture of a dog with a blurred image of two men having sex in the background. The man responded, "Oh my God," and Woodbury laughed and said, "I was wondering how long it would take you," prosecutors wrote in the criminal complaint.

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Woodbury then suggested the two men go on a cruise together.

"When [the attendant] demonstrated how the plane's oxygen masks worked, he saw Woodbury looking at him and made a hand pumping motion," the complaint states.

When a different flight attendant was collecting meal trays, Woodbury used his left hand to slap the attendant's buttocks and yell that he "loved him," according to the complaint.

Read more: Man detained after reportedly biting and striking other passengers on flight bound for LAX

Later in the flight, the complaint alleges, Woodbury pulled down his pants to expose his penis to the first flight attendant, who was standing at the front of the plane.

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Prosecutors allege that Woodbury asked for more wine and exposed himself a second time after he was told he could have only a nonalcoholic beverage.

Woodbury returned to his seat and slept for the rest of the flight. As he was escorted off the plane by LAX police officers, he shouted to one of the flight attendants, "This is all your fault because you didn't go to the bathroom with me," according to the criminal complaint.

Woodbury later told police that the flight attendant solicited him to go to the bathroom, but he declined, according to the court record.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A fired New York City firefighter charged in the drug-fueled drunk driving death of a Queens airport worker was released from jail Friday  and the victims family is livid.

Michael Pena, 28, was sent to Rikers Island weeks after cops said he sped his Mercerdes through a red light and t-boned a BMW driven by Justin Diaz, who was on his way to his baggage handling job at LaGuardia Airport on Feb. 26.

Pena was initially released on $100,000 bail, but that was revoked after prosecutors revealed he had racked up 25 tickets for speeding in school zones in the past couple of years.

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But Pena was freed again on Friday afternoon, his lawyer said, after an appellate judge reversed the decision to remand the disgraced firefighter.

Were sick, angry, disgusted, said Diaz brother, Franklin, who stood with outraged family members outside the courthouse wearing Justice for Diaz t-shirts. Michael Pena will be out on the streets enjoying a carefree life while we visit my brother at his grave site.

Penas lawyer, David Cohen, said his client is not a flight risk.

He was out on bail, showed up when he was required to, Cohen said. He understands the seriousness of the charges. He feels terrible about the whole incident and what happened. But, you know, theres a legal process that has to be followed.

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But Diaz family said they dont like the direction it is going, and said the two passengers in the car with Pena that day should speak up about what happened and cooperate with prosecutors.

Cops said Pena was traveling 83 mph in a 25 mph zone at the time of the early-morning collision. Diaz had just left for work, and was a couple of blocks away from home.

Pena was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI and refusing to take a breath test. Following his initial arraignment, his license was suspended.

After a warrant was issued to draw Penas blood, investigators said he was also high on both cocaine and marijuana. His blood-alcohol content tested at 0.156%, nearly twice the legal threshold of 0.08%, prosecutors say.

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When he wasnt loading bags onto Delta flights, Diaz was studying for an aeronautics degree at Vaughn College in Flushing, and had just earned his degree, his family said.

The diploma arrived at his home days after he died. At his funeral, his family placed the degree in his bronze casket before it was closed.

I am disappointed in the state and how the bail reform laws are, Diaz mother, Toni Ann Federico Diaz, said. A murderer is a murderer regardless of how it is done. Intent was there. He made that decision to go out there and drink, get high and speed. He made that decision. So therefore, he is a murderer.
A former Massachusetts State Police sergeant has been convicted on multiple charges in connection with a years-long bribery and extortion scheme involving falsified results on road skills tests.

Gary Cederquist, 59, of Stoughton, was found guilty Friday by a federal jury of giving false passing scores to multiple Commercial Drivers License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or never took a CDL skills test, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foleys office announced.

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Cederquist was convicted of the following charges:

Two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion

One count of extortion

Six counts of honest services mail fraud

Three counts of conspiracy to falsify records

Nineteen counts of falsification of records

17 counts of false statements

Cederquist could face up to 20 years in prison on each charge of conspiracy to falsify records, conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, honest services mail fraud and falsification of records. The charges of false statements each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison.

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Cederquist could also be slapped with millions of dollars in legal fines. His sentencing is scheduled for July 24.

The former sergeant was originally charged in a 74-count indictment along with three other Mass. State Police troopers and two other men.

They are:

Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax, a retired state trooper

Perry Mendes, 63, of Wareham, a retired state trooper

Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, a state trooper

Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth

Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston

All men have since admitted to being involved in the conspiracy. Butner, Mendes, Camara and Mathison have all pleaded guilty to their charges and are awaiting sentencing, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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Cederquist was in charge of the state polices CDL Unit. Butner, Mendes and Rogers were members, as well. Unit members are responsible for administering CDL skills tests for Class A (i.e. tractor-trailers) and Class B (i.e. box trucks, oil tankers, school buses) licenses.

From about February 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist and his co-conspirators gave passing scores to at least 30 CDL applicants  including six Mass. state police troopers  regardless if they actually passed the test.

Oftentimes, the instructors would take the test themselves in exchange for bribes, including inventory from Mathisons water company valued in the thousands of dollars.

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Other bribes that Cederquist took were a $750 granite post and mailbox, a new driveway valued at over $10,000 and a snowblower valued at nearly $2,000, according to prosecutors. Cederquist once called an applicant horrible, and brain dead, but gave him a passing score in exchange for the snowblower.

Cederquist and his co-conspirators used the code word golden handshake or golden for these applicants.

Anyone who received a false passing score on their CDL skills test from this scheme have been reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

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Read the original article on MassLive.
ST. LOUIS  Tensions boiled over in Bellefontaine Neighbors tonight, causing a representative to be escorted away from the podium.

Residents filled City Hall, demanding answers about potholes, unlicensed businesses and speeding near schools.

Other concerns surrounded the allegations of financial mismanagement during Mayor Dinah Tatmans term.

Tonight, Tatman returned to confront what she says are misleading claims about her Administrations handling of the Citys budget.

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The Citys current financial report showed $1.9 million in payroll spending over 9 months$77,000 less than last yearbut the treasurer flagged concerns.

One regions bank account reportedly lost $50,000 in interest annually due to poor management. commingled funds, unchecked spending and washed checks.

City officials say cleanup is ongoing, with calls now growing for a full state audit by residents.

Tatman said she left the city in better financial shape.

Under my administration last year, the budget came in $90,000 under, $70,000 under in payroll. Wheres the misappropriation? Wheres the mishandling of finances that was blasted all over social media that was going to be this big report to show the mishandling and misconduct under my administration? Tatman asked.

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Residents, however, have begun a petition calling for a state audit.

There are some unusual things that occurred when Mayor Tatman was in office. And were in the midst of completing audits to do. I know there is a petition going around for a state audit, which is great, Sam Alton, City Attorney, said.

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(NewsNation)  A former budget analyst for the State Department has pleaded guilty to embezzling $657,347.50 during her employment.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Maryland, admitted she used her signature authority over a checking account for the State Department between March 2022 and April 2024.

Ferrer, also known as Levita Brezovic, attempted to hide the scheme through a QuickBooks account, specifically assigning herself as the payee and printing them.

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Bill OReillys 100 Days of Trump: Are you better off?

She would often then alter the payee in QuickBooks to a genuine State Department vendor, making it difficult to trace her activities.

Ferrer pleaded guilty to theft of government property and will be sentenced on Sept. 18. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

As part of her guilty plea, Ferrer agreed to pay the amount stolen in restitution to the U.S. government and be liable for a forfeiture money judgment in that same amount, according to a Justice Department release.

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CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Polls have opened on Australia's general election day, with millions of voters expected to cast their ballots to decide the composition of the 48th federal parliament.

More than 7,000 polling places operated by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) opened across Australia at 8 a.m. AEST on Saturday (2200 GMT on Friday) and will stay open until 6 p.m. AWST (1000 GMT) when AEC staff will begin counting votes.

The governing center-left Labor Party - led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - is seeking a second term in power, while the opposition conservative Coalition - led by Peter Dutton - is aiming to return to government having recently held power from 1996-2007 and again from 2013-2022.

Voting is mandatory for over 18 million Australian citizens aged 18 and over who are registered on the AEC's electoral roll. According to the AEC, a record-high 5.67 million people had voted at early voting centers as of Thursday and an additional 1.52 million had returned postal ballots.

In addition to the thousands of polling places in Australia, the AEC is also operating 111 overseas voting centers across 83 countries - more than at any previous election. 
Former Trump communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin on Thursday warned that the White House has a policy problem due to how the presidents widespread tariffs could wreak havoc on a range of U.S. industries.

Im skeptical that the White House is prepared for how much hardship Americans could feel in a matter of weeks because of these tariffs. We certainly are not yet feeling the full effects of them, Griffin told CNNs John Berman.

Earlier in her CNN appearance, Griffin was asked to weigh in on Trumps communication strategy with the tariffs following his remarks that children may have to deal with having two dolls instead of 30 because of his trade policy.

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I can picture the White House press shop gasping when they heard that line, Griffin said before suggesting that Trump should instead lean into the GOP-pushed short-term pain, long-term gain talk.

In the same week that the president marked the 100th day of his second term, the Department of Commerce announced that the U.S. economy shrank by 0.3%, its first drop since 2022.

Trumps import taxes on a range of nations have fueled global market turmoil in recent weeks, only for the president to pause some tariffs and tweak others  outside of his massive 145% tariff on goods coming from China.

Griffin noted that Trump met with CEOs of several top U.S. retailers last week, companies that can absorb some of these costs because theyre huge. The tariffs, she argued, will more deeply impact small businesses as well as the automobile and agriculture industries.

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She then turned to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins telling CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday that the department is preparing to bail out farmers should they be hurt by Trumps trade policy.

Thats not a winning first 100-day message, said Griffin, adding that its remarkable Rollins is advertising the potential for bailouts as a Republican.

So I think that there is  there is a policy problem on the tariffs that the president does seem to be responding to, pulling some of these back and making them a little bit more targeted, she said.

But the messaging is also a disaster.

H/T: Politically Media

Related...
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - President Lai Ching-te will next week mark for the first time in Taiwan the end of World War Two in Europe and underscore that aggression must be defeated, sources told Reuters, at a time the island is facing increasing military pressure from China.

Taiwan has since the start of this year sought to cast the war as a lesson to China in why aggression will end in failure, and take back the narrative from Beijing that it was not communist forces who took victory.

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World War Two, and the full-scale Japanese invasion of China in 1937 that preceded the start of the conflict in 1939, is a touchy historical subject in both China and Taiwan.

The Chinese government at the time was the Republic of China, part of the U.S. and British-led alliance, and its forces did much of the fighting against Japan, putting on pause a bitter civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists whose military also fought the Japanese.

The republican government then fled to Taiwan in 1949 after finally being defeated by Mao, and Republic of China remains the democratic island's official name.

Four sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters that Lai will host foreign diplomats and other dignitaries in Taipei on Thursday and give a speech about the 80th anniversary of the war's end.

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This marks the first time that Taiwan will formally commemorated the victory of the war in Europe. By doing so Lai is expected to call on the island's friends to unite in the face of the growing aggression from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, two of the sources said.

"The victory in World War Two came from the unity of these nations, and it's important to note that aggression must be defeated. All these peace-loving nations must unite," the source said.

The source said Lai is likely to remind the world that democracies are now facing the same threats to democracy as 80 years ago, pointing to examples including China's military aggression, political coercion and disinformation campaigns.

Taiwan's presidential office did not respond to a request for comment.

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China's foreign ministry, asked about Taiwan's interpretation of the war and the events it is planning to mark its end, said the "distortion of history, tampering with facts and spreading of lies and fallacies" had long been a ploy of its ruling party.

"Bringing about the reunification of the motherland and national rejuvenation are the best ways to commemorate the victory in the war," it said in a statement sent to Reuters.

XI EXPECTED AT MOSCOW MILITARY PARADE

Lai will be speaking ahead of the following day's military parade in Moscow hosted by President Vladimir Putin to mark the war's end, which Russia's government says Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.

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Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei rejects.

The event will be held at the Taipei Guest House, the sources said, the residence of the governor general under Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan, which ended in 1945.

A second source familiar with Lai's event next week said it was also about Taiwan trying to take back the narrative about the war from China.

"Lai has a strong sense of history," the source said, pointing to previous comments from him including last year where he said if China's claims on Taiwan are about territorial integrity then it should also take back land from Russia signed over by the last Chinese dynasty in the 19th century.

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Lai, who took office in May last year, is condemned by Beijing as a "separatist". He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Lea Coralie Moussavou leads community education and environmental awareness at Conservation Justice, a non-governmental organization that aims to protect threatened species from illegal hunting and the animal trade by improving wildlife law enforcement and deterrence.

Mongabay News interviewed Moussavou about her work with the organization and communities in Gabon, a country in Central Africa. Her job involves visiting schools, companies, and locals to talk about the significance of conservation.

Conservation Justice has operated since 2010, initially focusing on supporting wild elephants. However, the organization's efforts now encompass protections for other threatened animal species.

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Moussavou described her own relationship to the connections between local culture, conservation, and the need for real conversations about both. As a child, she ate "bushmeat" (meat from poached wild animals), without realizing its source or environmental impact. She told Mongabay, "Today, after a number of training courses in this area and a heightened awareness, I'm careful about the meat I put on my plate."

Moussavou also said the effect of human activity on environmental outcomes wasn't a focus of her own schooling growing up, with teachers speaking broadly about nature but not about how people have the potential to harm or protect it. While this is still likely to be the case for many curricula across the world, she aims to educate people, especially children, so they can also be aware of how their actions affect the Earth.

Research published in 2017 in the journal Current Biology showed that from 2004 to 2014, over 25,000 wild elephants were killed in Gabon  80% of the total population in the country at the time, according to Science. But many still don't understand the severity of animal poaching in Gabon.

Moussavou and the organization CJ aim to stop poaching and deforestation through environmental education. She notes that this awareness-raising is crucial to helping people understand that the work is not just about wildlife but about human life too.

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Moussavou told Mongabay, "We need to make people understand that everything is linked, that we are all in the same boat, and that our project is not about protecting animals at the expense of human beings."

Roughly 90% of Gabon is rainforest. Preserving these biodiversity-rich habitats creates resilient ecosystems and helps prevent food and water insecurity as well. Rainforests can also play a role in regulating the Earth's climate  protecting them has the potential to sequester carbon dioxide, cool the planet, and reduce extreme weather events.

Saving endangered species and promoting sustainable resource management benefits the economy too. Moussavou explained, "Conservation plays a key role in our country, as this sector creates new jobs and helps the state to combat growing unemployment in Gabon."

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

She has seen her and CJ's efforts work. In one area, locals are developing a system to sustainably manage wildlife. She says this is "a sign of a change in mentality, thanks to our awareness campaigns."

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Some research has also pointed to the efficacy of ensuring gender inclusion in anti-poaching operations, though there has also been criticism of some such approaches as "spectacle."

Gabon is not alone in seeking to transform the public's understanding of conservation's importance to all facets of life. Moussavou's educational strategies have the potential to be successful in other countries, including the United States, where wildlife crimes can have a generational impact on everything from fragile habitats to the global economy.

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The Florida panther, according to the Florida Wildlife Federation, is the most endangered cat in North America. In 2024, 36 panthers were killed. These deaths were often the result of car collisions, and that trend is continuing in 2025.

What's happening?

During a two-week period in January, two panthers were struck by cars just 70 miles away from each other, according to CBS News. The implications are alarming, as only an estimated 120-230 adult panthers are left in the wild.

In the past, the main threats to the panther were hunting and genetic defects caused by inbreeding. Now, however, vehicular accidents are one of the leading causes of panther deaths.

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The Florida-based conservation program Panther Crossing reported that more than 240 panthers were killed by cars in the last 10 years. Habitat loss plays a significant role in this staggering number of vehicle-related panther deaths.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the endangered species has made an impressive comeback since the late 1960s, when there were an estimated 10 panthers left. While this is a feat, the animal is still in danger of extinction.

"We are at a critical juncture now. We're going to see more and more deaths," Sierra Club organizing representative Michael McGrath said to CBS News.

Why are endangered Florida panthers important?

When animals are dispersed from their natural habitats, human-animal encounters increase. In Florida, specifically, road and town development have left panthers to navigate traffic while looking for food, territory, and mates, which is a danger to humans living and driving in these areas as well as to the species.

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When an animal goes extinct, the biodiversity in their ecosystem suffers. According to the Florida Museum, panthers are important to Florida's food webs, helping to maintain the populations of wild hogs and other native species.

What's being done about panther populations?

Floridians are passionate about their panthers. Because of this loyalty, there are several programs and organizations dedicated to protecting and diversifying the Florida panther.

Panther Crossing, for example, provides tips on how to avoid dangerous on-the-road encounters with panthers. Additionally, The Nature Conservancy owns over 2,800 acres of protected land in support of the panther.

This advocacy goes beyond nonprofit organizations, as state lawmakers are working on solutions to save the species. There are 60 wildlife crossings and bridges to allow the safe passage of panthers. Protect the Panther license plates are available for sale to residents. Proceeds go to the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund.

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The Wildlife in Need Center in Waukesha County answers about 10,000 phone calls a year from people asking for advice or help with wildlife issues, often taking in animals who are orphaned or treating injuries and diseases before reuniting them with nature.

So it surprised the nonprofit's executive director when she learned while scrolling Facebook that an Oconomowoc police officer shot a sandhill crane April 28 after a resident obtained a permit for lethal force following the bird's repeated damage to his property.

"It's disappointing we weren't called," Kim Banach told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I can't guarantee we'd solve the problem, but we could have provided solutions and alternatives to try."

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After a sandhill crane caused persistent damage to his vehicle and other property on his street throughout April, an Oconomowoc resident alerted police and contacted federal agencies to obtain a permit to shoot the bird, according to reports from the Oconomowoc Police Department.

Since sandhill cranes are migratory birds that are federally protected, a federally issued permit by the USDA-Wildlife Services or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required to shoot them.

Here's what we know about the crane in Oconomowoc, and some tips experts shared to minimize crane disruptions before deciding to obtain a permit to use lethal force on the animal.

Oconomowoc crane that police shot likely couldn't have been relocated, experts agree

Since it's breeding season and cranes are highly territorial, relocating the sandhill crane shot by Oconomowoc police would not have helped, experts told the Journal Sentinel.

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"We could have moved that bird to Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and they would have come back," said Anne Lacy, director of Eastern Flyway Programs - North America at the Baraboo-based International Crane Foundation.

That bird planned to stick around Oconomowoc, said Taylor Finger, game bird ecologist with the DNR.

An Oconomowoc police report said the sandhill crane was on its own when the officer shot it and the resident confirmed it was the same bird.

There's no way to know if it was truly the same bird returning to cause damage, said Lacy, but she presumes this crane was a nesting bird that would have stuck around through breeding season until September or October.

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The crane's behavior damaging vehicles was hormonally driven aggression that would have waned through the summer, she said.

Banach said it's not clear if the bird had a mate nearby, something her team would take into consideration when working to alleviate some of the issue.

Don't feed sandhill cranes, wildlife experts say

It's not clear if the Oconomowoc crane was being fed by neighbors, but Finger advises that people dont get too close to birds and should not feed them. If a sandhill crane is spotted in a yard, residents should take their bird feeders down, he said.

Cranes can and should find their own food, Lacy said. Once humans feed them, they will return to the source of food or defend against it if they perceive a threat in their reflection.

Break up the reflection on windows and shiny doors that birds are attracted to

As highly territorial creatures, cranes can spot their reflection in car or house windows and defend against what they think is a bird infringing on their turf, Finger said. People can prevent potential from cranes pecking at their reflection by covering windows with stickers or closing shades, Finger said.

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Oconomowoc Police Capt. Brad Timm told the Journal Sentinel the resident's truck sustained $2,000 in damages due to scratches from the sandhill crane and his trailer cannot be repaired because of the trailer's surface material.

If car owners are concerned about damage, Lacy suggests they cover their vehicles for the evening. It's a step that can be a pain to people, she said. "But sometimes that's the price we have to pay for living with wildlife."

Get a second or third opinion on the situation before jumping to a permit, some experts said

Every scenario with a crane or bird differs, and a call to a wildlife rehabilitation center or organization like the International Crane Foundation can connect an individual with the options other than a permit for lethal force specific to their situation, Lacy said.

At the Wildlife In Need Center, they try to re-nest and reunite animals whenever possible, Banach said.

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The center's wildlife clinic is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Contact staff at 262-965-3090 or by email at contact@helpingwildlife.org.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Contact the reporter Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wildlife experts advise how to handle nuisance sandhill crane behavior
The recently signed U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals agreement is unlikely to deliver significant financial returns for at least a decade, industry experts told Reuters, citing major challenges to mining investment in war-torn Ukraine.

The deal, inked April 30, creates an investment fund and grants the United States special access to new projects developing Ukraines natural resources, such as oil and gas, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements.

"If anyones thinking suddenly all these minerals are going to be flying out of Ukraine, theyre dreaming," Adam Webb, head of minerals at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence consultancy, told Reuters. "Its going to be difficult for people to justify investing money there when there are options to invest in critical minerals in countries that are not at war."

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While developing mineral deposits typically takes 10 to 20 years in established mining countries like Canada or Australia, Ukraine faces steeper obstacles. Many of its mineral sites have limited geological data, and the full-scale Russian invasion has left key infrastructure, including transport and energy systems, in disrepair.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been seeking to broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, had urged Ukraine to sign the agreement, arguing that the U.S. should gain more from its support to the country, which has depended heavily on American aid since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022.

Despite the uncertainty, Ukrainian officials have touted the deal as a political milestone that could help revive U.S. support under Trump, particularly in the form of weapons and financial assistance.

One key omission from the deal is a provision long sought by Kyiv  security guarantees that could help deter future Russian aggression after a ceasefire. The level of investment expected to enter the fund also remains uncertain.

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Ukraines pace of issuing new mining licenses has historically been slow, according to Reuters. From 2012 to 2020, just a handful were granted for key resources. Out of 24 potential mining projects identified by Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, seven are located in areas currently occupied by Russia.

Read also: Warm words rather than real investment  uncertainty surrounds newly-signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Pe' Sla, or Reynolds Prairie, is a high-elevation Black Hills meadow of sacred importance to Lakota people. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

An environmental organization and a Native American advocacy group say two important Black Hills cultural and historical sites face threats from exploratory drilling projects.

One of the projects is proposed by Rapid City-based Pete Lien and Sons. It wants to conduct exploratory drilling for graphite on national forest land near Pe Sla, also known as Reynolds Prairie, which is a high-elevation meadow in the central Black Hills. Graphite is used in electric vehicle batteries, lubricants, pencils and other products.

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Pe Sla is a ceremonial site for Lakota people, and it figures prominently in traditional Lakota creation stories.

Drilling at Pe Sla would be like drilling under the Vatican or at a sacred site in Jerusalem, said Taylor Gunhammer, an Oglala Lakota, in a news release. Under any circumstances, it is not a place to be considering mining.

In response to questions from South Dakota Searchlight, a representative of Pete Lien and Sons said the U.S. Forest Service is reviewing the plans potential impact on sites of cultural and historical significance in the proposed project area, and questions and concerns should be directed to that agency.

Gunhammer is a local organizer with NDN Collective, a Native American advocacy group in Rapid City. NDN and the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance are encouraging people to submit comments on the Pete Lien and Sons project and another project that could affect Craven Canyon in the southern Black Hills.

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Thats where a Canadian company, Clean Nuclear Energy Corp., plans to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium on state-owned land located seven miles north of Edgemont. Uranium is the primary ingredient in nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants.

The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance and NDN said Craven Canyon contains 7,000-year-old cultural and historical sites of importance to Indigenous tribes, historians and archeologists.

A representative of Clean Nuclear Energy Corp., Mike Blady, said in email correspondence with South Dakota Searchlight that the proposed exploration area has been explored and mined previously. A letter to the company from state regulators last year said the area is within a quarter-mile of the edge of Craven Canyon, but Blady said the area is over a mile away.

We are aware of the cultural significance and are doing everything in our power to ensure that there is no collateral damage, Blady wrote. We have consulted with the state and federal government as well as hosting an open house for Indigenous groups and are confident that there will not be adverse effects.

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Meanwhile, another company, enCore Energy, hopes to mine uranium in the Edgemont area. Its various state and federal mining permit applications have been bogged down in administrative and court appeals for years.

The Clean Nuclear Energy Corp. drilling proposal will be considered by the state Board of Minerals and Environment. The Pete Lien and Sons proposal is under consideration by the supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest. Both proposals are open for public comment.

How to comment

Written comments regarding the Clean Nuclear Energy Corp. proposal must be received by May 14. Comments may be submitted online at https://danr.sd.gov/public/default.aspx by clicking the date under the Comment deadline heading for the project, or in writing to the Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Program, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD, 57501-3182.

Comments regarding the Pete Lien and Sons proposal must be received by May 9. Those may be submitted online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=67838; by mail to the Mystic Ranger District Office, Attn: Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project, 8221 S. Mount Rushmore Rd., Rapid City, SD, 57702; or by fax at (605) 343-7134.

The locations of Pe Sla and Craven Canyon within the Black Hills of western South Dakota.
HERE IS YOUR EYEWITNESS WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, MAY 2 FROM CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JORDAN REED:

Tonight, as the front thats been hanging around shifts just southeast of the area and the daytime heat fades, any leftover showers will become lighter and more scattered! Later in the night, another round of rain will move into Central New York as a new area of low pressure arrives.

Heading into the weekend, a large and slow-moving system will settle over the Ohio Valley, which means were in for unsettled weather with showers on and off through Sunday. Rainfall could total between half an inch to an inch by the end of the weekend, though places farther north might get a bit less. Its also going to stay on the chilly side, especially near Lake Ontario, where a breeze off the lake will make it feel even cooler, particularly on Sunday.

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As we move into next week, that same system will gradually drift east. Monday should feel a little warmer, but with that added warmth mixing with some leftover cold air higher up, theres a better chance of seeing some afternoon thunderstorms. A few showers or storms could still hang around into Tuesday and Wednesday, but things finally look like theyll start to dry out by Thursday, even if were still dealing with a few clouds.

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An Army helicopter flying in the D.C. airspace Thursday forced two commercial passenger jets inbound to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to perform go-around maneuvers  roughly three months after the airport was the site of the nation's worst aviation fatality in more than two decades.

The Federal Aviation Administration sent out a notice about the incidents on Friday.

Reagan National airport has been in the spotlight ever since the catastrophic crash of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional passenger jet killed 67 people in January and set off a wave of investigations.

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According to the email written Friday by Chris Senn, FAA's assistant administrator for government and industry affairs, obtained by POLITICO, the Army helicopter  also a Black Hawk  took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport on Thursday, prompting controllers to call for two go-arounds.

While go-arounds are a typical maneuver for flights inbound to Reagan National given the congestion at the busy airport, Senn classified the incidents in the email as loss of separation events, which are a breach of the minimum separation standards for aircraft in the same airspace.

Senn added the aircraft were not within the restricted mixed traffic area of the airport, but the FAA will investigate whether the Army was in violation of its flight approvals.

A person familiar with the email, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed its authenticity.

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In a statement, the FAA on Friday said a priority transport inbound for the Pentagons helipad made both a Delta Air Lines flight and a Republic Airways flight perform go-arounds.

The agency said it will investigate the incident, which happened around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Delta said it would cooperate with the FAA on its investigation. A spokesperson for Republic could not be reached. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating.

Both flights were on final approach. The closest proximity between the Delta plane and helicopter was less than a mile and 400 feet. As the Black Hawk continued flying, the proximity between the Republic flight and the helicopter then grew closer  roughly 0.4 miles and 200 feet apart, according to the email.

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Separately, there was another underlying issue: Controllers didnt see the Black Hawks tracking position in real-time on their radar screens. Senn said the helicopters radar track inadvertently floated and jumped to a different location on the controller feed after being unresponsive for a couple seconds. The jump happened when the Republic flight was 1.7 miles away from the runway.

At the time of the go-arounds, the control tower had one supervisor performing direct operational oversight, four certified professional controllers, or top-level controllers capable of performing all functions of a controller at their facility, plus one certified professional controller trainee receiving on the job training, Senn said.

The Army was broadcasting via a transponder using its Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast technology, which provides air traffic controllers with more detailed information about an aircrafts altitude, speed and location. ADS-B has come under increased scrutiny since the January crash as investigators believe the broadcast was turned off. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

At the time of the accident in January, the Armys policy was to restrict turning on ADS-B for sensitive or classified missions with commander approval, according to Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, who testified in March during a Senate aviation subpanel hearing into the crash. Lawmakers have called the policy inconsistent and unacceptable.

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Responding to Thursday's incident, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Commerce Committee, said the Black Hawk involved in Thursday's incident came from the same Army Aviation brigade as the helicopter involved in the fatal collision earlier this year.

It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach" at the airport, she said in a statement, and called on the Pentagon and the FAA "to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves."

The Army said it is aware of yesterdays incident, and referred questions to the Military District of Washington, which oversees Army operations within the nation's capital.

But in a statement in response to a New York Times report regarding the events leading up to the fatal January crash, the Army said it cautions against speculating about potential causes or contributing factors prior to the NTSB completing its investigation. The probe is expected to take at least a year.

It is irresponsible to take snippets of information and present them in a way that casts blame on any individual or group, the Army said. The events of January 29th were tragic, and the Army is committed to a full and thorough investigation that will provide fact-based conclusions so we can ensure an accident such as this is never repeated.
LONDON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom (UK) government said on Friday that it would respect the ruling of an international arbitration tribunal, which found that the UK had not fully complied with post-Brexit rules when it closed English waters to European Union (EU) fishing vessels.

In a statement, the UK government pledged to take steps "in good faith" to fulfill its obligations under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), while continuing efforts to protect the environment and marine life.

The case centered on whether the UK's March 2024 ban on fishing for sandeels in North Sea waters violated the TCA. The tribunal concluded that the UK failed to adequately consider the rights of EU fishers when it imposed the closure of English waters. However, it found that the closure of Scottish waters was lawful and in compliance with the agreement.

The sandeel fishing ban, introduced jointly by the UK and Scottish governments, aimed to safeguard seabirds and marine biodiversity in the North Sea, including the ecologically sensitive Dogger Bank region. Following unsuccessful negotiations, the EU referred the matter to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in October 2024.

Although the tribunal ruled partially against the UK, it did not mandate that English waters be reopened to EU fishing vessels. "We welcome the clarity provided by this decision," a government spokesperson said. "We will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the tribunal."

The spokesperson emphasized the UK's continued commitment to environmental protection: "We remain committed to protecting our seabirds and the wider marine environment, in accordance with our commitments under the TCA and other international agreements."

The UK government characterized the ruling as a routine aspect of international relations: "Disputes and the use of resolution mechanisms are a normal part of a mature relationship with international partners. We will continue to act in the national interest as we work towards a strong and lasting partnership with our European neighbours."

The European Union welcomed the tribunal's decision, expressing a desire for a "mutually beneficial fisheries relationship" with the UK. However, European Commission fisheries spokesperson Maciej Berestecki said that London must now formally notify Brussels of the steps it plans to take to comply with the ruling, according to local media reports.

The ruling comes just weeks ahead of a key UK-EU summit scheduled for May 19, where both sides are expected to discuss resetting bilateral ties. 
As doxxing trucks appeared in Cambridge throughout the fall of 2023, publicly displaying photos and personal information of Harvard University students who purportedly supported Palestine, a climate of fear and intimidation was created.

Thats according to a long-awaited report released this week by Harvards Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab and Anti-Palestinian Bias, published alongside a second report focusing on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias.

Read more: Jewish, Israeli Harvard students felt shunned, silenced after 2023 attacks in Israel, report says

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According to the report on anti-Palestinian bias, some students even reported that doxxing trucks appeared in front of their families homes  in parts of Massachusetts, and as distant as Vermont and other East Coast states.

Doxxing typically refers to the malicious act of publicly posting or distributing personal information  such as home address and phone number  about an individual or organization without consent, usually on the internet or in the public sphere.

Following the protests that erupted after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, upwards of 100 Harvard students were targeted by doxxing efforts, the report said, most publicly on trucks operated by external conservative organizations that appeared in Harvard Square, near Harvard Yard, and other campus locations. Some of the trucks accused students of supporting Hamas and labeled them as antisemites.

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ABC News reported at the time that at least one of the trucks was facilitated by the conservative media advocacy group, Accuracy in Media, which Adam Guillette heads.

Other students, some reporting fellow students who doxxed them, had their personal information posted on websites such as Canary Mission, which purportedly documents people and groups that promote hatred of the USA, Israel, and Jews on North American college campuses, according to the site.

Targeted students had signed statements, attended protests or been vocal about Palestinian rights on campus, according to the report. The Harvard Crimson previously reported that some students had job offers rescinded as a result.

My face was on the doxxing truck, one student quoted in the task force report said. All doxxed students have been subject to Islamophobia with a specific anti-Palestinian framing. Harvard chose not to respond to that.

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The task force report on antisemitism also notes that members of the editorial board at the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, were doxxed in 2022 after publishing an editorial announcing support for Palestinian liberation, while simultaneously opposing antisemitism in every form.

Report criticizes Harvards response to doxxing

Many Harvard community members who shared their experiences with the task force thought the university administration did not immediately issue a strong condemnation of the doxxing attacks.

Many students felt the Universitys failure to publicly denounce the doxxing campaign in a timely manner emboldened its perpetrators and sent a chilling message to those targeted, the report reads.

One student quoted in the report said, If the doxxing truck had Jewish faces, it would have been condemned instantly. But it had brown faces. It takes six months to condemn a truck?

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Another student specified that they werent Arab or Muslim, but they were doxxed because of their advocacy for Palestine.

A doxxing truck went to my home, which is in a small town, the student said. I was met with incompetence and indifference from Harvard officials. There was no response to the truck being at my home, and no response from Harvard.

A faculty member quoted in the report said one student whose face and phone number was put on a doxxing truck received calls with death and rape threats.

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The report says the continued presence of the doxxing trucks around Cambridge led to long-term damage to campus trust and student well-being.

Some students felt silenced and began avoiding activism, fearing professional and academic consequences, it states. Others reported removing themselves from public-facing platforms altogether to avoid being targeted.

Ultimately, the report continued, Harvards failure to explicitly condemn these doxxing campaigns intensified mistrust between students and administrators, reinforcing some students perception that political considerations and donor influence took precedence over student safety and well-being.

Last September, Harvard released guidance stating that doxxing violates the university-wide statement on rights and responsibilities prohibition against intense personal harassment and is bullying.

President Garber apologizes for missteps

In a letter to the Harvard community Tuesday, President Alan Garber apologized for the universitys missteps during the 2023-2024 school year, in relation to both Jewish and pro-Palestine students.

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The 2023-24 academic year was disappointing and painful, Garber wrote. I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community. The grave, extensive impact of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and its aftermath had serious repercussions on our campus.

The two task forces that issued their final reports this week were created last spring after the widespread protests and encampments at Harvard and the resignation of former president Claudine Gay following a Congressional hearing on campus antisemitism.

In the report on anti-Palestinian bias, the task force emphasized denouncing doxxing as part of its many recommendations. It urged Harvard to offer comprehensive resources and training to combat doxxing, including legal support and community-wide education sessions.

It also recommended the school consider potentially reimbursing individuals who had to personally cover costs and advocate for time-limited support beyond graduation, reflecting these attacks protracted nature and impact.

Task force recommendations

The recommendations from the task force on anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias were more extensive.

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They centered on a few key categories, focused on improving:

Safety and security concerns, such as continuing to combat doxxing and strengthening community well-being services Recognition and representation by establishing a standing advisory committee and creating more programming and staff and stakeholder training Institutional response by enhancing the complaint processes to be more streamlined, with opportunities for restorative practices Freedom of expression through safeguarding research, teaching and speakers and encouraging dialogue Transparency and trust, including creating greater consistency in policy so that they are applied evenly across the institution Relationships among affinity groups through creating regular physical and virtual spaces Intellectual excellence, such as through modeling civil disagreement

More Harvard University news

Read the original article on MassLive.
Claim:

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, bought shares of Palantir Technologies days before the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a $30 million contract with the company.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Though Greene made public those trades, she said she signed a fiduciary agreement to give her financial advisor control of her portfolio. She also said she only learned that she had acquired the shares when the trades were reported in the press.

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At the end of April 2025, a rumor began to spread that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, had bought shares of Palantir Technologies  a company that sells data analytics platforms for intelligence gathering and surveillance  days before U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it awarded a $30 million contract to the company.

One user shared the claim and underscored the fact that Greene sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees the agency of which ICE is a part, adding that Palantir's stock had soared since she made the trade (archived) in a post reading, "This is pretty wild. Marjorie Taylor Greene bought stock in Palantir on April 8th. On April 17th, a $30M deal between Palantir and ICE was announced. Greene sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security. The stock has now risen 48% in the three weeks since her purchase."

This is pretty wild.



Marjorie Taylor Greene bought stock in Palantir on April 8th.



On April 17th, a $30M deal between Palantir and ICE was announced.



Greene sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security.



The stock has now risen 48% in the three weeks since her purchase. pic.twitter.com/HDqcwJk5Jf  Quiver Quantitative (@QuiverQuant) April 29, 2025

As of this writing, the post had garnered 4.4 million views and 29,000 likes. Other X posts relayed the same rumor.

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Indeed, a review of Greene's financial disclosures revealed that Palantir stock was purchased in her name in early April, days before ICE announced it had contracted Palantir for its activities. Further, Palantir's stock increased 60% from the day she acquired the shares to May 2, 2025. For this reason, we have deemed the claim true.

However, Greene said in an emailed statement that someone else manages her portfolio on her behalf and she learned about these trades "in the media."

According to Capitol Trades  a database that compiles all of the trades elected officials make  Greene acquired Palantir shares on April 7 and April 8, 2025. The disclosure reveals that she acquired between $1,000 and $15,000 of the shares for $77.32 a share on April 7 and $92.01 a share on April 8. The stock price had reached $124 a share at 2:38 p.m. on May 2, 2025. This represented a 60% increase from the first trade and a 34.8% increase from the second trade.

In addition, a search of the Federal Procurement Data System revealed that on April 11, 2025, ICE contracted Palantir for a surveillance system designed to prioritize people for deportation based on criminal activity and "visa overstay," track self-deportations and identify immigrants for deportation. ICE awarded Palantir $29,898,236 for this system. The deal was made public on April 17, 2025. ICE has contracted Palantir since 2022.

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However, while several posts implied Greene's trades may have constituted insider trading, there was no evidence that she had advance knowledge of the deal. In fact, she said in an emailed statement that she gave up control of her portfolio to her financial advisor when she was elected:

After many successful years of running my own business, I ran for Congress to bring that mindset to Washington. Now that I'm proudly serving the people of Northwest Georgia, I have signed a fiduciary agreement to allow my financial advisor to control my investments. All of my investments are reported with full transparency. I refuse to hide my stock trades in a blind trust like many others do. I learned about my Palantir trades when I saw it in the media.

Further, while Greene sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, she does not sit on the subcommittee that oversees ICE. Instead, she is a member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, which oversees "the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), the Federal Protective Service (FPS), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), and the Office of Operations Coordination (OPS)."

The U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prohibits trading on potential market-moving information that hasn't been made public, known as insider trading. However, proving intent is key in such court proceedings.

Palantir was due to announce its first-quarter results on May 5, 2025. As of this writing, analysts forecast that the company's earnings had climbed 36% compared to the first quarter of 2024 to $863 million.

Sources:

Cornell Law School. "Insider Trading." Legal Information Institute, 2019, www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insider_trading. Accessed 2 May 2025.

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Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence  Committee on Homeland Security. homeland.house.gov/intelligence-and-counterterrorism/.

"Federal Procurement Data System - next Generation." Www.fpds.gov, www.fpds.gov/fpdsng_cms/index.php/en/.

"FPDS-NG EzSearch." Fpds.gov, 2025, www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal?q=PIID:%2270CTD022FR0000170%22&s=FPDS.GOV&templateName=1.5.3&indexName=awardfull&x=0&y=0&sortBy=SIGNED_DATE&desc=Y. Accessed 2 May 2025.

Group, Hester Law. "What Factors Constitute Insider Trading?" Hester Law Group, 8 Aug. 2024, www.hesterlawgroup.com/blog/2024/august/what-factors-constitute-insider-trading-/. Accessed 2 May 2025.

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"Marjorie Taylor Greene Bought Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR:US) on 2025-04-08." Capitoltrades.com, 2025, www.capitoltrades.com/trades/20003783583?page=2. Accessed 2 May 2025.

Members  Committee on Homeland Security. homeland.house.gov/members/.

Moz Farooque. "Palantir Poised to Crush Q1 Estimates." Yahoo Finance, 2 May 2025, finance.yahoo.com/news/palantir-poised-crush-q1-estimates-171949535.html. Accessed 2 May 2025.

"Palantir Granted $30 Million to Build 'ImmigrationOS' Surveillance Platform for ICE | Immigration Policy Tracking Project." Immpolicytracking.org, 17 Apr. 2025, immpolicytracking.org/policies/reported-palantir-awarded-30-million-to-build-immigrationos-surveillance-platform-for-ice/#/tab-policy-documents. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Claim:

Seattle's marine cargo terminals were empty and international vessels had stopped calling into the port as of April 29, 2025, due to the U.S.'s newly imposed tariffs.

Rating:

Rating: Mostly False

What's True:

As of late April 2025, the volume of cargo entering the Port of Seattle was unpredictable and some vessels were calling into port with as much as 30% less cargo than anticipated, according to the Northwest Seaport Alliance.

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What's False:

However, Seattle's marine cargo terminals weren't empty (ship traffic was normal, according to the NWSA), nor did international vessels stop calling into the Port of Seattle on April 29.

In late April 2025, as the United States and other countries awaited the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariffs, people began claiming on social media that the Port of Seattle was suddenly empty of cargo ships.

For example, a photo (archived) captioned, "April 23, 2025 - Port of Seattle is empty. Only one ship and no containers. Usually a busy port," had gained more than 33,000 upvotes on Reddit, as of this writing.

We have not verified, as of this writing, whether the photograph itself was authentic or that the user took it on April 23. We contacted the account that posted it and will update this story if we receive a response.

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Social media users also claimed there would be no new international ships in the port "after April 29," and more specifically that no ships from China were coming in. (As of this writing, the U.S.'s duty rate imposed on China is 145%, the highest of any country affected by U.S. tariffs.)

Port of Seattle wasn't empty

Despite claims Seattle's marine ports were empty of ship traffic due to Trump's tariff policies, the port was operating at normal capacity as of this writing. In fact, the Northwest Seaport Alliance  which manages all marine cargo operations for the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma  said it was so far seeing more vessels call into port in 2025 than in 2024, with three more calls in the first quarter of 2025 than during the same period in 2024.

However, the ships calling into port were arriving with unpredictable volumes of cargo  sometimes 30% less than anticipated, the NWSA said. Because of the unprecedented scope of Trump's tariffs, the alliance said it didn't yet have a formalized system for tracking the amount of cargo going in and out. The import and export markets were only beginning to feel the effects.

We spoke with the NWSA's communications manager, Kate Nolan, via email, who confirmed that while tariffs were likely going to affect import and export markets and some of these changes were already apparent, the claims that Seattle's marine cargo terminals were empty and that Chinese vessels stopped calling on April 29 were not true.

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On any given day, the number of vessels in Seattle's ports is not reflective of the port's activity. "We might have a busy day but no vessels, because cargo was off-loaded by [a] vessel earlier in the week and is still being moved inland, and exports are being moved onto terminal for the next vessel," Nolan said. Current port activity, including how many international vessels are in the harbor at any given time, is public information.

Nolan said 15 international container vessels (nine in Seattle) were working or scheduled to arrive through May 4, 2025. Of the 15 (including Port of Tacoma), 12 would have called at Chinese ports. This meant that the ship either originated in China or passed through a Chinese port to collect cargo. The following week (May 5 through May 12), 16 more international vessels were scheduled to arrive. Therefore, the claim that there were no new international vessels coming in  or that vessels from China in particular stopped calling into the Seattle port on April 29  is false.

"They're looking to be consistent and on time," Nolan said. According to Nolan, in the 30 days before April 29, 2025, there was a 7.3% increase in shipments to Seattle alone, which she noted was partially due to shippers advancing cargo before anticipated tariffs.

Was the NWSA feeling the effects of tariffs?

Despite a higher-than-average rate of ships scheduled to arrive, the actual amount of cargo on the ships was less predictable. There was no way to keep track of any loss of cargo, because this degree of increased tariffs was unprecedented and the NWSA did not yet have a system to track fluctuations in the amount of cargo on ships coming in.

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"We are seeing some vessels coming in with less cargo than anticipated, and we are hearing from exporters and importers directly on canceled orders, especially with China," Nolan told us. "These impacts are real and will likely be reflected in our data in the coming months."

According to Nolan, the NWSA was seeing some vessels come into port with 30% less cargo than anticipated.

"It's on a vessel-by-vessel basis," Nolan continued over the phone. "There's an immediate impact to jobs felt, because [truckers, longshoremen, etc.] are hired on a volume by volume basis."

In sum 

As of this writing, international vessels were still consistently calling into Seattle's port in late April 2025  at even higher rates than in the first quarter of 2024. Shippers advancing cargo before anticipated tariffs are partially driving this uptick.

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However, on the ships that were coming in, the volume of cargo on board was falling short of anticipated numbers. The NWSA did not yet have a way to track this decrease in cargo, which was already affecting dockworkers, truckers and other industry players. NWSA data would likely begin to reflect the effects of these tariffs in the coming months.

Regarding the broader effects of tariffs on the import and export markets, Nolan said:

We remain concerned about the impacts of tariffs and other trade policies on our gateway. Any trade policies that limit trade and investment should be used as a measure of last resort and tariffs should be thoroughly researched and narrowly targeted, qualities that do not apply to the current tariffs. In the first round of tariffs we saw some agricultural export markets decimated, such as apples, and these markets have never fully recovered.

Sources:

Marine Traffic. https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-122.364/centery:47.595/zoom:14.

Rascouet-Paz, Anna. 'Tracking Trump's Tariffs by Region, Product'. Snopes, 27 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//tracker/tracking-trumps-tariffs/.

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'Vessel Schedules and Calendar'. Northwest Seaport - Port of Tacoma, https://www.nwseaportalliance.com/cargo-operations/vessel-schedules-and-calendar. Accessed 1 May 2025.

2024 NWSA Annual Cargo Report. Northwest Seaport Alliance, https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwseaportalliance.com.if-us-west-2-or/2025-04/2024%20NWSA%20Annual%20Cargo%20Report.pdf.
Claim:

An authentic photograph from the White House Easter event in April 2025 shows U.S. President Donald Trump displaying  to a group of children  a collectible card with a photograph of the assassination attempt targeting him in July 2024.

Rating:

Rating: True

In April 2025, a photograph spread online purportedly showing U.S. President Donald Trump showing a group of children what appeared to be a collectible trading card of the July 2024 assassination attempt targeting him. The picture appeared to have been taken April 21, when Trump hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition where families gather to roll colored eggs down the White House lawn.

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As the photo spread, The Daily Mirror, a British tabloid, published a story with the headline "Trump blasted for showing assassination trading card to kids at White House event."

(Facebook user "David Mudcat Calderon")

The above photograph is real. It was not created using artificial intelligence software or manipulated using digital editing tools. As such, we rate this claim true.

We found the photograph in Getty Images' database of photojournalism. The image was shot by Chip Somodevilla, with the caption:

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a collectors card depicting the assassination attempt during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. The White House is expecting thousands of children and adults to participate in the annual tradition of rolling colored eggs down the White House lawn, a tradition started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The photograph on the card was taken by Jabin Botsford for The Washington Post, moments after a gunman opened fire at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. That photograph can be found on Getty Images here.

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The card also included text stating the date of the attempted assassination and captions reading, "Trump assassination attempt" and "Fight to save America 'Stand Strong'":

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

At the Butler rally, one person was killed and two others were wounded when the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby roof as Trump spoke. Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks and rushed Trump off stage after a bullet struck his ear.

The Trump administration does not appear to be selling this specific collectible card through official channels, though cards with the same photograph and captions are available on the e-commerce platform eBay as of this writing. Similar trading cards are available for sale on sites unaffiliated with Trump. The Trump Organization is selling a book of photographs with an image from the assassination attempt on its cover.

Sources:

"In Photos: Signal Scramble at the 2025 White House Egg Roll." Axios, 21 Apr. 2025, https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/trump-melania-white-house-egg-roll-photos. Accessed 22 April 2025.

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Kasprak, Alex. "Rumor That Shards of Glass, Not Bullet, Injured Trump in Assassination Attempt Is False." Snopes, 15 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/bullet-glass-trump-wound/. Accessed 22 April 2025.

"Trump Is Safe After Assassination Attempt; Suspected Gunman Is Dead." The New York Times, 13 July 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election. Accessed 22 April 2025.

"U.S. President Donald Trump Holds a Collectors Card Depicting The..." Getty Images, 21 Apr. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-holds-a-collectors-card-depicting-news-photo/2211296260. Accessed 22 April 2025.


By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia is holding a general election on Saturday, with polls indicating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ruling centre-left Labor is ahead of opposition leader Peter Dutton's conservative Liberal-National coalition.

Several polls predict Labor may need to form a minority government, the first in more than a decade. Australians are increasingly voting for independents and outside the main parties, expanding the ranks of such cross-benchers to 19 after the 2022 election, out of 150 seats.

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Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:

MAJORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT

Albanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump "very early on" if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 election.

MINORITY LABOR GOVERNMENT

This is likely, according to polls.

Labor is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts said.

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If a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 seats.

After an election, the prime minister remains in the role until they resign, which means the incumbent holds the advantage in negotiations over a hung parliament, said Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of Sydney.

During the campaign, Albanese said he would not do a deal to form a government with the Greens party, which held four seats in the previous parliament, or with independents.

Seven "Teal" independents won seats from the Liberals in 2022 by supporting climate change and gender equality, positions also supported by centre-left Labor.

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Albanese could reach agreements with cross-benchers for "confidence and supply" without policy strings attached, Twomey said. This is a guarantee from enough independents or minor parties who hold the balance of power that they will support the government if there is a vote of no confidence, and will vote to pass appropriation spending bills so the government can provide services and pay public servants.

She added that the Greens are unlikely to support a conservative Dutton government on ideological and policy grounds, while the Teals could split.

This could give Labor an upper hand in negotiations for a minority government if it is only a few seats short of a 76-seat majority.

HUNG PARLIAMENT

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In this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the kingmakers.

In the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for weeks.

Labor won more support and its minority government lasted three years. But there was acrimony over broken deals and Tasmanian independent and anti-gambling campaigner Andrew Wilkie, who entered parliament in 2010, has said he will not enter another such deal.

Any agreement between the prime minister and a cross-bench member for support is only a political agreement and is not legally binding, said Twomey.

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"A member of parliament cannot contract away their vote," she said, citing court decisions on the matter.

MINORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

The Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is unlikely.

The most likely cross-bench partners for the Liberal-Nationals would be Teals in wealthy urban seats, and maverick 79-year-old Queensland independent Bob Katter, a former conservative who has represented a vast rural electorate for three decades. Katter refused to support the Labor minority government in 2010.

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MAJORITY LIBERAL-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

A Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
By Thomas Escritt and Holger Hansen

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's spy agency on Friday classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as "extremist", enabling it to step up monitoring of the country's biggest opposition party, which decried the move as a "blow against democracy".

The decision by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) was based on findings in a 1,100-page confidential report compiled by experts.

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Here are some of the key findings and pieces of evidence cited, according to security officials who have seen the report:

ANTI-MIGRANT INCITEMENT

Party officials frequently described citizens of immigrant background as "passport Germans" and used terms such as "population replacement" to describe what they say is the impact of large-scale migration.

Migrants were often compared to invasive species or described as "knife migrants" or "knifemen".

In October 2023, the party leadership accused the Greens in posts on social media of having a "Population Replacement General Plan", which carried echoes of "General Plan East", the Nazis' label for their plan for a genocide of Jews and other ethnic groups in eastern Europe during World War Two.

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Party co-leader Alice Weidel described knife crime in July 2023 as something exclusive to "people from a totally alien culture, from violent cultures ... It doesn't exist in our culture ... It only exists in the cultures of Africa and the Middle East".

Senior party official Hannes Gnauck said on August 11: "We have to be able to decide again who belongs to our country and who doesn't. There's more to being German than a citizenship certificate... We are linked by an invisible band that you don't have to explain."

RACISM

The party youth wing ran a campaign, involving a song, a mini-game and a video clip, that depicted Black men as violent in "an extraordinarily racist way".

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ISLAMOPHOBIA

Asserting that there had been 761 mass rapes in Germany the previous year, Weidel in 2023 said: "What we are seeing on German streets is jihad. A religious war is being fought against the German population."

ATTACKING GERMAN DEMOCRACY

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla described the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022, and the lack of an immediate response, as proof "that this country can't be sovereign. That's not how you react when you're attacked."

He later described mainstream parties as "American vassals".

The Nord Stream pipelines, which brought Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany, were blown up shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Paul Janikowski said he had been working at a manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, for many years before Tesla moved in, altering his life forever.

What's happening?

According to an article by the San Antonio Express-News, Janikowski faced devastating injuries nearly six years ago after three tons of steel skids hit his legs and dragged him while he was working on the Tesla production line.

The Tesla facility had been manufacturing GM and Toyota products for years before the EV company moved in, and Janikowski had only been working under Tesla for a few months before his legs were crushed.

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The incident report from Tesla said, "Paul was yelling for help the whole time," as cited by the Express-News. In a statement to The Cool Down, Janikowski explained that "the equipment was malfunctioning and started by itself when I was crossing the line."

The incident left Janikowski with serious injuries, requiring four surgeries on his legs, though he was allegedly advised not to sue, as he would lose his job. He returned to work, only for a year later to be let go. The Express-News said Janikowski "now has a metal plate and screws in his right leg, lost muscle and tissue in his left leg, suffers chronic pain and has a permanent limp."

Why is this incident important?

Tesla is a leader in the electric vehicle manufacturing world, and its work has served as a cornerstone of environmental consciousness and technological advancement.

As gas-powered cars contribute much more to greenhouse gas pollution, which cause air quality and health issues and lead to increasing temperatures, the developments by companies like Tesla are key in making a positive change. But situations like Janikowski's come at great alarm. Unsafe conditions, problematic behavior, and even death at Tesla factories have occurred over the years and led to legal trouble, with the Express-News reporting that "Occupational Safety and Health Administration records show Tesla has had at least 152 safety violations at its U.S. production facilities since 2018."

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For better or worse, problems like these are not uncommon at companies operating major factories, but such examples help to show why it's valuable to have governmental regulations and legal recourse  something Janikowski recently pursued.

What's being done about this?

The operation Janikowski was part of  called Job 1911  was dismantled soon after he and others faced injuries. One of Paul's coworkers, who discovered him injured, explained, "The company suddenly canceled the operation, knowing how insane it was," according to the Express-News.

The courts ruled in favor of Janikowski's case, and while not yet final, he hopes to get $95,000 from the ruling, on top of the $62,350 he previously received for a workers' compensation claim.

The Express-News reported that Janikowski said the ruling was satisfying, particularly for a "blue-collar guy who took on a high-ranked, high-paid Tesla attorney and won."

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Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify the circumstances of the accident, as it previously indicated the skids fell on Janikowski.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A Fairville firefighter who died while responding to a fire in Arcadia will be honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

It had been over a year since Daniel Dewolf joined multiple firefighters to fight a fire in Arcadia. While helping at the scene, Dewolf suffered cardiac arrest. First responders tried making life-saving measures, but he passed away at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

According to the National Firefighters Foundation, the property he was responding to held significance because his own family lived there. He left behind his loving family, both in and out of the department.

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Dewolf will be included in the 2025 Roll of Honor for the National Fallen Firefighters, which includes 70 firefighters who died in 2024 and 70 more who died in previous years.

A full list of firefighters being honored on the memorial can be found here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April as federal government employment continues to decline, with the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.

Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 177,000 in April, lower than the average monthly gain of 152,000 over the prior 12 months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment continued to trend up in health care, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance, the report noted. Federal government employment declined.

Within government, federal government employment declined by 9,000 in April and is down by 26,000 since January, the report said.

As the Donald Trump administration continues to reduce the federal workforce, this data could be negatively impacted in the coming months.

In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private non-farm payrolls rose by 6 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 36.06 dollars. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.8 percent.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised down by 15,000 to a gain of 102,000, and the change for March was revised down by 43,000 to a gain of 185,000. With these revisions, employment in February and March combined is 58,000 lower than previously reported. 
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Six families filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission last Friday over not having the medicine accessible for their children.

Popular Mobile Christmas store to permanently close

According to the legal documents, the AMCC has not created a patient registry, which has been a state law since 2022.

We dont have a patient registry because we cannot start the program until we have licenses issued, AMCC Director John McMillan said regarding the long delay for medical cannabis accessibility.

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And then the doctors have to be certified by the Alabama Medical Association, he continued.

In 2021, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Bill was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey.

AMCC was supposed to establish a patient registry list by Sept. 1, 2022.

McMillan told News 5 the commission has been held back due to extensive litigation, and that must be resolved before medical cannabis can be grown and sold in Alabama.

The only two licenses that are still tied up in litigation are the dispensary licenses and the integrated licenses, McMillan said. And thats where the big one is, and it all real kind of boils down to the fact that the legislation only allows the commission to issue five integrated licenses, and we had 38 applicants.

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In the meantime, certified hemp manufacturing facilities, such as Oscity Labs in Foley, have been waiting to finally sell their products to patients in need.

Were ready to go, Oscity Labs CEO Ray French said.

We could be manufacturing these products within weeks of the commission being allowed to do their job, French said. And thats whats so heartbreaking to see, knowing the patients need this medicine.

US Marshals offering $5K reward for information on Mobile criminal

McMillan told News 5 he hopes that patients will finally be able to get on the registry by the end of this year, or whenever the litigation is settled.

Read the full lawsuit below:

Filed-ComplaintDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Santa Claus Museum & Village and the Optimist Club of Santa Claus will host a celebration to mark the 90th birthday of the Santa Claus statue.

According to a release, the free event will begin at 10 a.m. in the 1880 Santa Claus Church on May 31. Following the short program, guests will be able to enjoy birthday cake, balloon animals and more. Families are also encouraged to browse the gift shop, write letters to Santa in the historic Post Office and view the 12 foot Santa Claus Mural and make a wish in the Santa Claus Wishing Well.

The Santa Claus Statue was unveiled in 1935 as part of the towns first effort to be made a tourist destination. Indiana Postmaster Oscar Phillips was tasked with handling the millions of letters that arrived at the small post office every holiday season. During the ceremony, his Hall of Fame certificate will be presented to members of his family.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
Music was everything in the Correa household.

Almost daily, the strum of the guitar and the patter on the congas would waft up the basement stairs of the house in Bay View owned by Raul Hernandez Correa Sr. and his wife Maria Guadalupe Correa.

When the couple first arrived in Milwaukee in the 1940s, live Latin music was still something they had to travel to Chicago to hear.

Raul Correa Sr. played a key role in changing that. He became a prominent guitarist, percussionist and band manager. His passion for salsa, ranchera and cumbia laid the foundation for the Latino music scene in Milwaukee and surrounding cities.

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Now, the Correa family home at 2246 South Aldrich Street has become the City of Milwaukee's first designated historic site to honor Latino heritage.

It's an honor that many scholars and members of the Latino community have long waited for, given the lack of landmarks on the state and national historic registers that recognize Latino history.

The city's designation celebrates the Correas and their efforts to bring the diverse music of Latin America and the Caribbean to packed venues in Milwaukee, Appleton, Belgium, Oshkosh and Madison.

Raul Correa Sr. was himself a member of a band called Nacho Zaragoza y Orquesta Sensacion. He managed many more, like La Sonora Sensacion, Trio Lone Star, Trio Del Norte, and Los Trovadores.

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Each had their own flavor of Cuban salsa, jazz, la polka, and paso doble.

"My dad, the trio, the orchestra  they brought (Latin) music here for the community," said Correa's daughter, Rachel Doney, 63.

At left, Rodolfo "Rudy" Correa holds a photo of his father, Raul Hernandez Correa Sr. Raul Correa Jr. holds a photo of his mother, Maria Guadalupe Correa.

Correas were part of wave of Mexican migration, uplifted Latino music in Milwaukee

Raul and Maria Correa  at 19 and 15 years old  joined a wave of Mexican Americans who moved to Wisconsin from the south after World War II for work in factories and agriculture.

Raul was one of many "Cristalenos" who came from Crystal City, Texas, to Milwaukee in the 1930s and 1940s. He worked in a tannery and a metal forging company until retirement. Maria Correa, who migrated from Jalisco, Mexico, worked at Pfister & Vogel Tannery and retired from GE Medical Systems.

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They bought the Queen-Anne style home in Bay View in 1959 and raised three children: Raul Jr., Rudy and Rachel.

Raul Correa Jr., 76, now a retired musician, started his lifelong career as a percussionist in that house. He soon joined his father and his bands on stage.

Rachel Correa holds a photo of her parents Raul Hernandez Correa Sr. and Maria Guadalupe Correa in front of their childhood home on Saturday April 26, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis. The Correa family home marks Milwaukee's first historic designation tied to Latino history.

After hours of performing, band members would return to the Correa house to reminisce, dance some more and fill their bellies with food prepared by Maria Correa.

"They played everything," Raul Correa Jr. said.

Today, Milwaukee's music venues attract many artists from Latin America, from Peso Pluma to Don Omar to Aventura.

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These performances can be traced back to early Latino artists like Raul Correa Sr. who put Milwaukee on the map for Latin music, said Sergio Gonzalez, an assistant professor of history at Marquette University and author of the book "Mexicans in Wisconsin."

"Someone like him is so important for the larger way we think about Latino music in Milwaukee and in Wisconsin today," Gonzalez said.

Andrew Stern, a senior planner at Milwaukee's Historic Preservation Commission, drafted and researched the report for the Aldrich Street home's historic designation. When he added a paragraph about the Correa family to his report, it set off a chain reaction.

Elias Dominic Stollenwerk, circa 1898-99. He was an architect who designed multiple Queen Anne-style homes in Bay View.

Javiera Perez Gomez and Ryan Hudziak, the home's current owners, had originally moved to designate the home because of its connection to architect Elias Stollenwerk, who built the home in 1890 and raised his family in it.

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But the paragraph about the Correas piqued their interest.

The couple found Rachel Doney's daughter on social media and arranged a meeting with the Correas. Rudy Correa Jr. dug out boxes of photos from his basement, and they sipped coffee while reminiscing about memories of their parents.

By the end, three pages about the Correas' family history were added to the report. The commission and Common Council approved the designation on April 15.

"It's incredible to live in a home where two families were involved in Milwaukee's history," Hudziak said.

Correa home was gathering place for Latino advocates, newcomers

The Correas didn't just play music. They also brought issues impacting the Latino community to center stage.

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Some of their musical performances were tied to fundraisers, like a 1977 performance by La Sonora Sensacion to raise money for Latinos in prison and upon release, according to a Journal Sentinel article at the time. The band was a mix of Mexican, Cuban and disco influence.

In 1979, Raul Correa Sr. and others organized a six-hour benefit concert at Pabst Theatre headlined by Celia Cruz, the "Queen of Salsa."

Cuban singer Celia Cruz performed at a weekend show at the Auditorium attended by about 800 persons from Milwaukee's Hispanic population. The event was a benefit for the Community Enrichment Center, an educational organization that serves the Latin community.

Local bands, including La Sonora Sensacion, warmed up the audience of 3,000 for the Cuban artist, who "greatly reduced" her performance fee, according to a 1979 Journal Sentinel article. Ticket proceeds went to support English and driver's education classes at the Community Enrichment Center, a Latino youth organization.

"Our goal is to promote the full participation of the Hispanic population in this society," Aurora Weier, cofounder of the Community Enrichment Center, told the newspaper at the time. "We are here to stay."

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Raul Correa Sr. and Maria Correa also frequently volunteered with advocacy groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens and United Migrant Opportunity Services and hosted meetings in their house.

They also opened their home to families moving to Milwaukee from Mexico and Crystal City, according to their kids.

"In my mind, I never thought that this was that important," Rudy Correa, 69, said. "We were just living our lives."

Rodolfo "Rudy" Correa shows a photo of his dad, Raul Correa, asleep with his beloved guitar.

Raul Correa Sr., however, carefully preserved Journal Sentinel articles, photos of performances and their dates in multiple photo albums.

Maria Correa died in 2006 and Raul Correa Sr. died in 2017. But their artistic genes were passed on to other generations.

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Adam and Julian Correa are artists who helped paint a 65-foot mural to pay tribute to Raul Correa Sr., their grandfather. The mural, which says Bienvenidos a Walkers Point," features a portrait of their grandfather and his guitar.

Adam Correa, grandchild of Raul Hernandez Correa Sr. and Maria Guadalupe Correa, painted a section of a mural with an image of his grandfather and his guitar located at S. 2nd St. in the Walkers Point neighborhood on Saturday April 26, 2025, in Milwaukee.

Raul Correa Sr. passed the following year.

To Julian Correa, 46, the historical designation is proof his grandparents' history in Milwaukee will be remembered.

"This was their dream  to be a part of the community," Julian Correa said.

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

Gina Castro is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at gcastro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bay View home gets Milwaukee's first designation for Latino history
As of Thursday night, we learned that one of Marissas friends created a GoFundMe to help the family. If you would like to help the family out and donate, click here.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A federal lawmaker criticized a recent ICE raid on an innocent familys home in Oklahoma City during a U.S. House Judiciary Committee meeting following News 4s coverage of the incident.

On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) addressed the April 24 raid where federal immigration agents broke down the door of a familys home in northwest OKC, ordered a mother and her three daughters to go outside at gunpoint, and seized all of their electronics as well as cash.

RELATED: Homeland Security admits Oklahoma raid targeted wrong people

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later told News 4 that they were searching for the previous residents of the home, and the mother and her three daughters, who are all U.S. citizens and had moved to Oklahoma City from Maryland recently, were not suspects in the operation.

News 4 spoke with the mother, referred to as Marissa to protect her identity, who says she and her daughters are traumatized and struggling to deal with the aftermath.

Balint played a short clip from News 4s initial report for her colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and called the incident a colossal mistake.

This is what we have created here. This is Trumps America, Balint said. These were citizens who were treated like this. This is what we want you to open your eyes to. If it can happen, as weve said, time and time again, if it can happen to folks with green cards, it can happen to citizens and in Oklahoma City we see a perfect example of that. This is what were talking about. Its not other people. Its us. Its our neighbors. Its our friends. Its people who just moved from Maryland to Oklahoma for a better life and have their house destroyed, and they cant get answers. If we watch the rest of the news clip there, theyre asking ICE whos responsible for this? And then theyre sending them to another agency, and theyre sending them to another agency and nobody is accountable for what happened to them.

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Were citizens!: Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they werent suspects

What happened to that family, once again, of American citizens in Oklahoma City should scare the hell out of all of us, and we should not be using this committee to find more money to pump into ICE so that these things can happen, Balint continued. This family is all of us.

The full recording of Balints speech can be viewed here.

The House Judiciary Democrats posted a clip of Balints speech on social media, saying Armed federal agents stormed a home in Oklahoma where U.S. citizens lived, including three children, and terrorized a family because ICE had the wrong address. This is Trumps America: lawless raids, shredded warrants, and zero accountability. Democrats are fighting to stop taxpayer dollars from funding this assault on due process.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security then shared the House Judiciary Democrats post on Thursday with the following caption.

Wrong. The April 24 Oklahoma ICE operation was a lawful, court-authorized action explicitly targeting a property, that was a hub for human smuggling, not specific individuals, as falsely suggested by media reports. The day prior to the search warrant issuance and the day of the search warrant, HSI agents conducted surveillance, and confirmed via utility records that a member of the Lima Lopez Transnational Criminal Organization was still paying utilities at the residence. The warrant, issued by a Federal Judge was based on an 84-page affidavit detailing probable cause that the address served as a stash house for human smuggling, authorizing the seizure of evidence such as electronic devices and documents, regardless of who was present. The warrant targeted the property itself, not specific individuals, and its execution was not contingent on the presence of any person. HSI, with Oklahoma state police support, executed the warrant with precision, seizing electronic devices as authorized. This court-authorized search was a critical strike against a dangerous human smuggling network in furtherance of our mission to protect American communities from the chaos unleashed by the Biden administrations open-border policies. This is an ongoing investigation, and we have not ruled out current occupants involvement in the smuggling ring. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Homeland Securitys new statement also indicated that they still havent ruled out Marissa and her daughters as being involved in the smuggling ring.

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However, just this morning, the agencys top spokesperson said everyone who was the target of the operation had moved out of the home weeks before. She referred to this incident as unfortunate and not ideal.

Following Homeland Securitys mention of Oklahoma State Police support, News 4 reached out to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Thursday to ask about their involvement in the raid. OHP confirmed they were at the raid but declined to release a statement.

On Wednesday afternoon, News 4 reached out to U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, U.S. Senator James Lankford, and U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin with several questions about the raid.

So far, Lankfords office is the only one of Oklahomas federal delegation that has responded as of Thursday afternoon, saying, The Senator is following the situation, and we are working to get an accounting of what happened.

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KFORs reporting did not question the legitimacy or legality of the federal operation. Our reporting, then and now, is focused on the treatment that Marissa and her daughters received on the night of the raid.

News 4 will continue to bring you the latest updates as this story develops.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency said on Friday it has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed "right-wing extremist" organization that "disregards human dignity" and threatens democracy.

The new classification, which gives the agency broader surveillance power of the AfD, is the result of a comprehensive review, the findings of which are laid out in a 1,100-page internal report. It comes just days before Germany's new conservative-led government is set to take office under future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The agency, called the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said there was concrete evidence that the party pursues efforts that threaten Germany's democratic order, pointing to its anti-immigrant rhetoric.

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"The party's prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent is incompatible with the free democratic basic order," the agency said.

Specifically, the agency said the AfD considers German citizens with roots in predominantly Muslim countries to be unequal citizens.

The report said it saw evidence of "ongoing agitation" by the party against refugees and migrants, citing statements by far-right AfD politicians in internal communications, speeches and social media, ranging from "deportation creates living space!" to "every foreigner in this country is one too many."

Party under surveillance

Three regional branches of the party - in the eastern states of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt - have already been classified as confirmed right-wing extremist organizations.

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The national party, which soared to a second-place finish in February's general election, previously held "suspected" extremist status by the agency. The party unsuccessfully challenged that designation in court.

The courts upheld the "suspected" classification in May 2024, allowing the BfV to have the party under surveillance, enabling it proportionate use of party informants, image and sound recordings.

The designation as a "confirmed" right-wing extremist organization lowers the threshold for such surveillance measures.

AfD dismisses decision as 'nonsense'

Deputy AfD chairman Stephan Brandner rejected the agency's label.

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"This decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is bound by instructions, is complete nonsense in terms of content, has nothing to do with law and justice, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD," he said.

Brandner said the party would discuss whether it would take legal action against the new classification next week.

Outgoing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser earlier emphasized that the BfV's decision was independent and not politically motivated. "There has been no political influence whatsoever on the new report," she said in a statement.

"The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has a clear legal mandate to combat extremism and protect our democracy," she said.

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The agency is tasked not only with counter-espionage and investigating terrorist activities, but also with identifying and naming groups that oppose the democratic order  principles that include human dignity, democracy and the rule of law.

Designation sparks discussion over party ban

Surveillance by the BfV has no connection to bans on political parties, which can only be requested from the Constitutional Court by one of Germany's houses of parliament or the government itself.

But with Germany's mainstream parties already grappling with how to treat the AfD opposition during the next legislative period, the new designation looks set to rekindle the debate over banning the party.

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Leading lawmakers from the Green Party and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) have already suggested that the classification could be a step in that direction.

Green politicians Konstantin von Notz and Irene Mihalic described the decision as an "important building block with regard to the question of the prospects for success of a possible AfD ban."

"For years we have been able to observe its advancing radicalization. This continues unabated," they said.

The deputy chair of the SPD, Serpil Midyatli, also welcomed the move. "Now we have in black and white what we already knew," she said.

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"For me, it is clear: the ban must come," Midyatli added.

Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged caution, however.

"I am against a hasty decision and will therefore not say that this is what we should do," he said of a potential ban.

Jens Spahn, the deputy parliamentary leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), which will lead the next government under Merz, recently sparked controversy by suggesting that the AfD should be treated like any other opposition group in parliament.

From the fringes

Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD quickly shifted direction as nationalist and far-right figures rose to prominence, prompting many of its original members to depart.

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The party gained significant momentum during the 2015 refugee crisis, when hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers entered Germany.

In the 2017 federal election, the AfD emerged as the third-largest party in the lower house of parliament, securing 12.6% of the national vote before dropping to 10.4% in 2021.

It experienced a big rebound in this year's parliamentary election, doubling its support to 20.8% following a campaign that featured open support from tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Despite its nationwide gains, the AfD's strongest support remains concentrated in eastern Germany.
Patrick Cooper accused fashion designer Riccardo Tisci of allegedly drugging and assaulting him in June 2024

Cooper filed the lawsuit against the former creative director of Burberry on Tuesday, April 29 in New York City

A spokesperson for Tisci denied the allegations and said Tisci "looks forward to clearing his name of these false and malicious accusations"

Riccardo Tisci, former creative director of Burberry and Givenchy, has been accused of drugging and assaulting a man in June 2024, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

On Tuesday, April 29, Patrick Cooper filed a lawsuit against Tisci, 50, claiming assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of New York States Gender-Motivated Violence Act. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

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These allegations are categorically untrue, a spokesperson for Tisci said in a statement to PEOPLE. Riccardo looks forward to clearing his name of these false and malicious accusations. He will obtain vindication through due process.

Burberry via Getty Riccardo Tisci on September 27, 2021 in London, England. Riccardo Tisci on September 27, 2021 in London, England.

Related: Fashion Designer Alexander Wang Accused of Sexual Assault

Tisci is known for working with Madonna, Beyonce, Meryl Streep, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett and Kim Kardashian.

Cooper, 35, alleges that around June 29, 2024, Tisci put a drug in Coopers drink at a Harlem, New York, restaurant. Cooper claims that Tisci did not offer drugs to Cooper or inform him that he was placing a drug in his drink, per the filing. Additionally, Cooper claims he did not consent to accepting drugs.

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Cooper claims that once the drug took effect, Tisci brought Cooper back to his home, where he prevented [Cooper] from leaving and sexually assaulted him. When Cooper woke up, he found himself and Tisci naked next to each other. The filing claims that at the time of the aforementioned sexual assault, Cooper lacked the capacity to consent and was not conscious.

As a result of the drug(s) that Tisci allegedly gave Cooper, the latter was unable to reject, fight, stop, or defend himself [from Tisci]," per the filing.

Dave Benett/Getty Riccardo Tisci and Irina Shayk on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France. Riccardo Tisci and Irina Shayk on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France.

The New York Police Department declined to provide a comment. However, the NYPD representative said, The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a police report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors.

Representatives for Tisci and Coopers attorney, Philip Hines, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Thursday.

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.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



Read the original article on People
Jon Bahr holds his newborn daughter, Taverie, in March while testing equipment at the new MilkShake Factory franchise in Colorado Springs, Colo., he opened with his wife, Micayla Bahr. Colorado had a 4.5% increase in births last year, the largest in the nation, as births increased nationally for the first time since 2021. (Courtesy of Jon Bahr/MilkShake Factory)

The number of births in some Western states that are adding new housing rose last year, reversing losses the year before in many cases, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday.

Increases from 2023 to 2024 were highest in Colorado (4.5%), Idaho (3.8%), Utah (3.6%), Washington state and Nebraska (each 2.6%). Births increased around 2% in West Virginia, South Dakota, North Carolina, Montana, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

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Almost all those states had decreases in births the previous year, and many have been building housing rapidly since 2023. Idaho, North Carolina and Utah have issued enough building permits in 2023 and 2024 to add about 4% to their housing stock, the highest in the nation.

Melissa Kearney, an economics professor at the University of Maryland who specializes in families and fertility, said there could be a link between homebuilding and more babies.

It is quite possible that increased access to home ownership, coming from a reduction in the price of houses in places that are building more houses, could meaningfully increase birth rates, Kearney told Stateline in an e-mail.

Many of the other states with increases in births are also seeing building booms: Colorado, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota and Washington state are all set to add more than 2% to housing stock based on permits issued in 2023 and 2024, according to a Stateline analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data.

Building permits can take up to two years to translate into finished houses and apartments, but they indicate which states are most willing to allow new housing that can boost population, tax receipts and the workforce. In Colorado, Denver County is set to add almost 10,000 housing units and in Idaho, Ada County, which includes Boise, could add 11,200 units based on building permits.

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Nationally births were slightly higher in 2024 than the year before, by about 1%, according to provisional federal numbers from the National Vital Statistics System within the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The fertility rate also increased slightly, but it remains below the replacement level needed to keep the population stable  2.1 children for each woman over her lifetime.

All the increase nationally was in births to Hispanic and Asian mothers, with births continuing to decline for Black, American Indian and white mothers. Births to teenagers and women ages 20-24, in sharp decline since 2007, continued to drop last year, while births increased for women 25 and older.

The number of births dropped most in states struggling with stagnant population: falling about 4% in Louisiana, 3% in Mississippi, and 2% in New Mexico and New Hampshire. All those states had little or no population growth between mid-2023 and mid-2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

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Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

This article was first published by Stateline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
Senator Jon Ossoff says the removal of federal grants is a detriment to Georgia foster children.

This indefensible decision has already resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of thousands dollars in contracts that provides services to children, Ossoff said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Thursday, he voiced his frustration about the Trump administrations decision to terminate funding for court appointed special advocates known as CASA.

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The organization helps foster children navigate the court system.

Theyre gathering information about abused and neglected children about their lives, and using that info as context for decision making, like issues like which family member is going to keep that kid safe, said child advocate Melissa Carter.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice issued over 360 notices of termination of federal grants, including three for CASA, totaling roughly $48.9 million.

The notices stated that the three grants to CASA are being terminated because they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities, which include protecting American children.

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Dominque Cooper CEO over CASAs Atlanta division says this decision has resulted in a loss of more than $40,000 in grant funding.

We are now trying to figure out how to pivot and how to change things to ensure were still serving the children who are vulnerable, Cooper said.

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In 2023, Ossoff launched a bipartisan federal investigation into the states handling of foster children.

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The investigation revealed significant management within the state resulting in death and injuries of foster children, sex trafficking, failure to oversee administrating of psychotropic medication, and locking foster children in detention centers because of a lack of foster placements.

Here we have volunteers who want to be there for those kids, look out for those kids, advocate for those kids in court and that is what were destroying, its inexplicable and indefeasible, said Ossoff.

Ossoff says he plans to rally members on both side to oppose this halting of funding.

This decision from the Trump administration is the latest of many rollbacks on tax payers dollars that support nonprofits.

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OTTAWA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

"On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington," Carney said in his first press conference after Monday's election. "Our focus will be on both immediate trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship between our two sovereign nations. "

Carney also said King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government's priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes.

It would be the first time that a sovereign has opened Parliament since Queen Elizabeth II last did so in 1957.

The return of a new Parliament will see the election of the Speaker, followed by the Speech from the Throne.

Buckingham Palace said on Friday Britain's King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will visit Canada from May 26 to May 27 to attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa.

The Liberals are set to form a minority government after Monday's election. The House of Commons sitting calendar currently has May 26 listed as the first sitting date for MPs. 
Texas could see a lump-sum $11 billion payment from the federal government as early as July to cover the state's expenses for its border security efforts during the Biden administration, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday.

Speaking with Texas reporters during a conference call from his office in Washington, Cornyn said he and the other Republican members of the Texas congressional delegation are hoping to include the reimbursement in what is known as the congressional budget reconciliation process.

Three days after President Donald Trump took office for a second time, Gov. Greg Abbott notified congressional leaders that he would seek repayment for the money Texas spent on his border security initiative he calls Operation Lone Star.

Gov. Greg Abbott greets Texas Army National Guard troops deploying from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the border in May 2023.

The operation, launched in the early weeks of Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, included sending thousands of National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to South Texas to assist federal border agents working to stem unauthorized border crossings.

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More: Why Operation Lone Star is both expensive and politically popular for Gov. Greg Abbott

"All the stars are aligned," Cornyn said on the call. "This needs to happen by the end of July, and I expect that Texas will be reimbursed for those expenses that were borne by Texas taxpayers that should have been borne by the federal government.

"Nobody questions the fairness, the justice of this request," the four-term Republican senator added. "And my message to Gov. Abbott is that the cavalry is coming."

A spokesman for Abbott said repaying Texas will likely be "a long process" in Congress, but he emphasized the governor's commitment to seeing it through.

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The Governor is hopeful Texas is reimbursed for holding the line against the Biden Administrations open border policies and will remain engaged with Congress until it is signed into law," press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in a text message to the American-Statesman.

Although Abbott's initiative was comparatively modest when it was announced in early 2021, it soon mushroomed into a massive military-like campaign that included armed National Guard troops in battledress and both air- and land-based tactical vehicles that have now become ubiquitous in the cities and towns along the Rio Grande.

"I expect that Texas will be reimbursed for those expenses that were borne by Texas taxpayers that should have been borne by the federal government," says U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Texas even built its own permanent "base camp" near Eagle Pass, complete with barracks, a dining facility and a recreational building for Guard soldiers on extended deployment.

In March, unauthorized crossings fell to 7,180, compared with the average monthly crossings of around 155,000 over the previous four years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Unlawful crossings in the region declined throughout 2024, plummeting by 77% in August from the record high of nearly 250,000 recorded in December 2023, according to the Pew Research Center.

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In addition to Abbott's request to Congress in January, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers are also seeking federal reimbursement for state border security expenditures. House Bill 1544, filed by Laredo Democratic state Rep. Richard Raymond, and HB 3371 by Conroe Republican state Rep. Will Metcalf would direct the Texas comptroller to tally state expenses and invoice federal authorities for the outstanding balance.

The measures have cleared the House State Affairs Committee but are still awaiting a vote by the full chamber.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Will Texas be repaid for Operation Lone Star? Cornyn says it's likely.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Federal prosecutors want a judge to send the person accused of the Kansas City Tesla arsons back to jail.

They filed that request Thursday after Owen McIntire, 19, appeared in a federal courtroom on charges from the March 17 fire at a Kansas City Tesla dealership.

Area fire departments lend a hand as KCFD mourns loss of firefighter

The fire damaged two Tesla Cybertrucks, but no one was injured.

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McIntire, who lives in Parkville and attends college in Boston, was ordered to be released by a federal judge in Massachusetts just days after his April 17 arrest.

McIntires attorney argued that McIntire should be released pending the trial because he has deep ties to the Kansas City area, does not pose a threat to the community and has serious and ongoing medical needs that require continued treatment.

The defense noted that McIntire is undergoing treatment for depression and is receiving gender affirming care that began in March of this year. McIntires attorney argued that care would likely be interrupted or terminated in federal custody.

In the newly filed court document, prosecutors want the decision to release McIntire to be reexamined.

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Prosecutors argued that McIntire used multiple destructive devices to firebomb Tesla vehicles, creating an extremely hazardous situation for anyone nearby and responding public safety officers and firemen.

Suspect in custody after 75-year-old woman found dead at Olathe home

Prosecutors also argued that evidence of McIntires medical and psychological needs does not override the dangerousness detailed in the complaint.

The filing also notes that the Kansas City fire happened after national news reports of other similar acts with apparent disregard for the safety of others.

McIntire faces one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. Prosecutors said the charges carry potential prison sentences totaling 30 years.

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A hearing date to reexamine McIntires release has not yet been set.

Stay with FOX4 for the latest updates on this case.

Previous coverage

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A Crossville area man with a dozen drunk-driving convictions on his record was sentenced to three years in prison with a parole eligibility date after 150 days of the sentence is served.

Christopher Dean Thomas has been in custody since his March jury conviction of felony DUI in connection with his Dec, 4, 2019, arrest by Crossville Police.

The jury  who took only about 20 minutes to convict Thomas  also fined him $2,500.

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Thomas appeared for a sentencing hearing Monday afternoon and was facing two to six years in prison. State prosecutors were seeking four years in jail while defense attorney Randal Boston asked the court to consider two years.

Following the jury conviction, Judge Gary McKenzie found there was enough evidence to raise the DUI conviction to a Class D felony of fifth-offense driving under the influence. This was based on four convictions within the 20-year period set by the Tennessee General Assembly to be considered as enhancement.

Other convictions were older than the 20-year period.

Thomas record, enhancement and mitigating factors were considered as McKenzie set the sentence Thomas will serve. Thomas should be eligible for his first parole hearing in late spring or early summer.

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Crossville Police Sgt. Keith Sadula testified during the trial he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Thomas on Dec. 4, 2019, leading him to being arrested on several charges.

Most of those charges were later dismissed or pled guilty to in Municipal Court.
Former and current staffers told New York Magazine in an eye-opening expose that they are growing increasingly concerned about Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, painting the picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported.

The deep dive into his struggles also revealed that his fervent support for Israel amid the Gaza war  which included him allegedly saying kill them all in meeting with progressive Jewish group  has led to clashes with his wife Gisele, who emotionally pleaded with her husband to soften his stance due to the bloodshed of the conflict.

The bombshell report, which features anecdotes about the senator possibly ignoring his medical regimen following a 2023 stay in the Walter Reed Medical Center for clinical depression, comes after Fetterman has seen a major staff turnover in the past year. In fact, one of the key sources in New Yorks piece was Adam Jentleson, the lawmakers former chief of staff who said he is worried that Fetterman wont be with us for much longer.

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A year after Fetterman was released from his six-week stay at Walter Reed, which itself took place months after he was hospitalized for a stroke, Jentleson sent a 1,600-word email to the physician who had overseen Fettermans inpatient care for depression. According to the letter, which contained the subject line concerns, Jentleson wanted to sound the alarm to the doctor about the senators behavior.

We often see the kind of warning signs we discussed, Jentleson noted in the May 2024 email. Conspiratorial thinking; megalomania (for example, he claims to be the most knowledgeable source on Israel and Gaza around but his sources are just what he reads in the news  he declines most briefings and never reads memos); high highs and low lows; long, rambling, repetitive and self centered monologues; lying in ways that are painfully, awkwardly obvious to everyone in the room.

Sen. John Fettermans wife reportedly clashed with her husband about his unwavering support for Israel amid the Gaza war, according to a new bombshell report. (AFP via Getty Images)

Furthermore, Jentleson claimed that Fetterman was missing his regular medical checkups, was driving recklessly, had once again become obsessed with social media  an issue the senator admitted had become an accelerant for his mental well-being  and had recently purchased a firearm.

He says he has a biometric safe and takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does, I understand the desire for personal protection, Jentleson added. But this is one of the things you said to flag, so I am flagging.

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In response to New York's story, Fetterman denied that there was anything wrong, saying that he is currently enjoying the best version of himself and that the turnover in his staff was standard for a Washington lawmaker. When pressed on concerns from staffers that he could be suffering a relapse during an interview with reporter Ben Terris, Fetterman said he did not have any comment on that and requested to go off the record. When asked later if the staffers were right or wrong, Fetterman responded: Im just going to say that its disgruntled employees saying things that are either untrue or, so, thats kind of the business that we are in.

Speaking to New York, Jentleson  who left Fettermans office last year  said his disagreements with the senator are not political but rather an expression of genuine worry for Fettermans well-being, adding that he still broadly believes in what Fetterman represents  which is that Democrats would benefit from punching left more often and that voters crave a heterodox candidate willing to stick a thumb in the eye of his own party.

Still, he stated that the reason he is now speaking out is that despite holding out hope that he would get back on track with his treatment, its just been too long now, and things keep getting worse.

Jentleson isnt the only one to express his discomfort with Fetterman. Current and former Fetterman staffers expressed their concerns about the senators behavior and mood swings, along with his increasingly hawkish stance on the Gaza war and rightward shift.

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No one is saying every controversial position (for example, his respectful relationship with Trump) stems from his mental health  but its become harder for them to tell which ones do, New Yorks Ben Terris wrote. When I spoke with Fetterman in April and shared those concerns, he denied anything was amiss.

The report details concerns some of Fettermans former staffers had with his behavior and political moves. (Getty Images)

In the first few months after he was discharged from Walter Reed, which was precipitated by his unnerving actions at a Democratic retreat which saw him allegedly walk into traffic, Fetterman seemed to be a changed man and exhibited a better mood under his treatment plan, according to the report. He threw himself into his work and even chaired his first subcommittee.

At the same time, though, some things occurred that appeared to sour him on the Democratic caucus. After he was the first Democrat to call for then-Sen. Bob Menendez to resign following bribery charges, few others from his party joined in. Fetterman, famous for his hoodie and shorts combo, was also the focus of a Senate measure to force male senators to wear a coat and tie on the chamber floor.

But it was his overt support for Israels response to the October 7 Hamas attacks that has raised the most ire among liberals, his staff and even his spouse  who is vocal about her progressive views. In the first weeks of the war, 16 former campaign staffers wrote an anonymous letter saying the one-time progressive lawmakers unwavering support for support for Israel was a gutting betrayal.

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In early November, just weeks after the attack, Gisele arrived at her husbands Senate office and, according to a staffer present, they got into a heated argument. They are bombing refugee camps. How can you support this? the staffer recalled her saying with tears in her eyes, New York reported. Thats all propaganda, Fetterman replied.

Gisele, who was still visibly upset, reportedly pulled that staffer aside later and asked if Fettermans team were pushing him to take these stances for political reasons, prompting the staff to assure her it was the opposite.

If youre pushing back on this, theres no hope, the staffer said they recalled Gisele saying. This is horrible news. She also reportedly texted another staffer that she was at her breaking point and I cant co-sign this any longer, asking if she could get some help in language to separate herself from her husbands Gaza stance.

Fetterman would downplay these purported disagreements with his wife in his conversations with New York Magazine, which also revolved around his controversial trip to Mar-a-Lago after Donald Trumps electoral victory last year, saying she has her own voice and he isnt changing her views.

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I think thats very common in political marriage, he added.

Fetterman has been a controversial Democratic party member speaking out on some measures and seemingly playing nice with Donald Trump on some issues. (AFP via Getty Images)

In her own statement for the story, Gisele took aim at Jentleson and said he was looking to damage her husbands reputation for political purposes, claiming he was peddling scary, untrue stories about Johns health.

I would talk to Johns doctors about what Adam was telling me and they would be confused. Those doctors would tell me that their concerns were not with John, but with Adam, she stated. Any alleged concerns heard from me came straight from those lies, not from Johns doctors or my own eyes.

In response, Jentleson told New York: I stand by everything I said, and I hope Senator Fetterman gets the help he needs.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Lawmakers from all over the state will be in Tallahassee for the final day of the state legislative session on Friday.

It is not expected that a budget will be passed ahead of the deadline. As the session comes to an end, Senate and House leaders are still struggling to see eye-to-eye on a budget.

They must pass a budget before the fiscal year starts in July.

This years legislative session is winding down, with many bills making it to the finish line. Lawmakers said their biggest issue when it comes to agreeing on a budget is tax relief.

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Dangerous dogs bill holding owners liable for dog attacks, aggressive bites, closer to becoming law

I think the Senate pretty much wants to continue and build off of what weve done. It doesnt mean you have to agree with everything theyve done, I dont necessarily agree with everything theyve done, Gov. DeSantis said. I think their position is Florida has been successful, Lets solidify the success, lets build off it. Thats my basic position I think the Houses position has been, well, the governor has gotten everything he wants, so everything hes for, were against.

The Senate wants to permanently eliminate sales tax for shoes and clothes that are $75 or less. In the House, members suggest cutting the overall sales tax rate in Florida from 6% to 5.25%.

The goal is to save Floridians billions each year, but even with lengthy discussions, leaders still have not been able to bridge the gap.

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At the end of the day, Im just uncomfortable with a proposal I believe will likely lead to shortfalls, if not substantial shortfalls, in the out-years, said Senate President Ben Albritton.

Florida lawmakers reverse law to require later school start times

As negotiations progressed, the Senate continued to offer spending greater than the budget that they passed off of their floor. We moved $1 billion towards them, and they refused to move one penny towards us, said House Speaker Daniel Perez.

The session ends Friday, even if no budget is passed.

Experts wonder whether lawmakers will address the problems plaguing many Floridians.

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Instead, theyre tackling tax cuts and sales tax discussions. All important, but perhaps not as important to Florida voters as home insurance and condo crisis, healthcare, education and the rest, said Tara Newsom.

Leaders do have options; they can extend the current session by a week or come back during the summer for a special session to pass the budget.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MADISON, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Madison neighborhood that arose in the 1950s could see the culmination of several years of work as soon as Tuesday.

The Metro Planning Commission is set to hold its final vote on a Neighborhood Conservation District Overlay for the Marlin Meadows area of Madison, a section located along Neelys Bend Road and above Longfellow Road. Brought by Councilwoman Tonya Hancock at the beginning of the year, the proposed ordinance would establish restrictions on future development in the specified area that would keep the aesthetic integrity of the neighborhood intact.

Supporters of the proposed zoning overly say it will keep their neighborhood like it was when it was first coming up along the riverside.

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PREVIOUS | Madison neighborhood fights for conservation zoning overlay

Opponents say the ordinance is redundant and restricts building materials that are industry standard for renovations or new construction in similar areas.

During the April 24 Metro Council meeting, one owner-occupant said many of the homes in the proposed area contain nonconforming building materials like vinyl, with some of the homes only historical component being the brick surrounding them. Additionally, while he said the premise of the zoning overlay would be to prevent demolition of current homes in order to construct tall-and-skinniesthe more modern-looking homes that many longtime Nashvillians vilifycurrent Metro codes already prevent that, making the proposed overlay redundant and unnecessary.

Finally, he said the building materials restriction proposed in addition to the overlay would put some homeowners at a higher risk of future home damage by prohibiting metal roofs like many Metro government buildings have. With the frequency and severity of storms increasing in the Nashville area, he said the proposed ordinance would hamstring those homeowners of the future from their ability to protect their homes should a damaging storm come through.

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According to Hancock, however, the conservation overlay would not prohibit metal roofs or vinyl siding or gables, as the opposed resident suggested. Instead, it would just monitor new construction, such as for additions to homes or new construction in the specific zone, to ensure it matches the qualities of the current homes.

Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

Further, Hancock said the area is an extremely diverse one, comprised of majority female residents, as well as a range of races and ethnicities.

Out of the 1,079 people who live there, 245 are two or more races, 245 are white alone, 259 are African-American, 137 are Asian alone, 190 are another race altogether; we have 220 people of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, she said during the meeting.

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Further, Hancock said the average annual income of those who live in the neighborhood is $75,000, while the average home value of the neighborhood lies around $300,000.

Ideally, Hancock said she would like to see the city try to protect the historic neighborhood for the hard-working working class people who call it home.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Scranton firefighters took their training underground Thursday, literally, at the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in McDade Park to prepare for the unexpected.

The drill focused on safely rescuing visitors if the mine car breaks down or theres a medical emergency.

That concern became real in 2024 when a tour group had to be hoisted out after a mechanical failure.

Closing of local bridge causing traffic disruption

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Crews from Taylor, Moosic, and Avoca also joined the training, which included testing radio communications deep inside the mine and practicing how to use the mines emergency capsule as a backup evacuation method.

Should there be like a power failure or anything to evacuate anybody thats on a coal mine tour, and what type of equipment they have down there, and what type of equipment or resources they would need, should there be an incident to safely evacuate anybody that may fall ill out of the mine, explained Captain Carl Megotz, Scranton Fire Department.

Firefighters also reviewed the layout, escape routes, and coordination with mutual aid partners to ensure theyre ready if the unthinkable happens underground.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Firefighters battled a fire that broke out overnight in the backyard of a residence in Harrisburg.

According to the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Station #2, crews responded to a large pile of burning building materials in a yard behind a residence in the 1500 block of Berryhill Street. As the fire approached the residence, backup firefighters were called in.

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A video from the scene shows a firefighters point of view as they approach the blaze.

There have been no reports of injuries, and it is unclear if the fire was brought fully under control.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
RUTLAND, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Route 7 south in Rutland has reopened after fire crews battled a structure fire at a local business Thursday.

Video shows the building fully engulfed in flames around 8 p.m. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles and bystanders near the scene report hearing explosions.

Crews worked to protect another nearby structure from catching fire. But the original structure is considered a total loss.

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Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

This story will be updated when more information is available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  Patrick Ford, who was fired from his position as Bridgeport city manager last month, has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging wrongful termination and violations of West Virginia Code.

Seat of former Bridgeport City Manager Patrick Ford (WBOY image)

In the lawsuit, which was filed in the Harrison County Circuit Court on May 2, Ford alleges that several members of Bridgeport City Council, including Mayor Andy Lang and Councilman Clayton Rice, pushed him to take actions and make purchases that benefitted their own personal gain and excluded him and members of the public from meetings where decisions were made on public business, including Fords employment.

The lawsuit claims that between October 2024 and April 2025, Ford was directed to do many odd things on behalf of the city, and when he refused to do certain things that did not sit well with Mr. Ford and began to learn more details from an internal investigation, he was wrongfully terminated.

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Man arrested after Mannington standoff charged with felony child neglect

The lawsuit says that the internal investigation that was approved by the city in February due to a personnel issue revealed that multiple Councilmembers used their offices for private gain. Ford says he was repeatedly asked to find a way to purchase property from Mayor Lang on behalf of the city and to approve payments for a private citizen for car parts/damages which were not caused by the City.

Ousted Bridgeport City Manager Patrick Ford holding a confidential packet from an internal investigation (WBOY image).

Additionally, the lawsuit claims that City employees were caught on camera removing bankers boxes of procurement files around the time of the internal investigation, and that the city and Lang have taken substantial steps to cover up/close the investigation  to effectively sweep the investigation under the rug.

The investigation was canceled by the city prior to Fords removal.

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Ford also claims that prior to his removal from office on April 3, the city council met in an executive session behind closed doors on Feb. 24 and discussed his employment, which the lawsuit says is a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Ford said that throughout his tenure as city manager, he was asked to always place an executive session on the Citys agenda.

Ford asks to be reinstated as city manager and compensated for fees and damages and for the city to be fined and Andy Lang be removed as mayor.

You can read the full lawsuit here.

Mayor Andy Lang released a statement to 12 News, saying he plans to response with legal action.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
People riding around in Jeep at Pilsnen Liberation Festival in 2024 (Gary Brown)



With the 80th anniversary of VE-Day on May 8th, 2025, many places throughout the continent are holding celebrations to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe. One of the largest happens in Pilsen, Czechia. In 2025, the festival will happen May 2-6.

Nestled in the rolling hills of western Bohemia, the Czech city of Pilsen (Plzen) is best known for being the birthplace of the golden beer that took its name and conquered the world; it has also become known for its annual liberation festival.

Soldier in a the 2024 parade at the festival (Gary Brown )



Liberators Celebrated, Liberators (Not) Forgotten

80 years ago, in May of 1945, the Third Reich was almost at an end. Nazi Germany was on the verge of defeat. The Western Allies had swept across Bavaria and into Austria, and the Russians were planting their flag on the Reichstag in Berlin. But it wasnt the Soviet Red Army that rolled into Pilsen, it was the Americans. General George S. Old Blood & Guts Patton and the U.S. Third Army liberated the city on May 6th. The G.I.s were greeted by thousands of cheering Czechs who had resisted the Nazis for over seven years and awaited the day they would once again be free. Two days later, World War II in Europe ended.

However, that freedom was short-lived. The Americans had liberated most of western Czechia and could have easily captured Prague. At the Yalta Conference earlier in the war, the Americans and Soviets agreed that Czechoslovakia would fall under the communist sphere of influence. As the Cold War began and the Iron Curtain descended on Europe, it also fell over the memory of American involvement in the liberation. The history books were rewritten, the communist Red Army glorified. Praising the role of the United States, or even speaking fondly of the few months that Americans were in Czechia, was a quick way to end up in prison or much worse.

Monument to America in Pilsen, Czechia (Gary Brown)



A New Birth of Freedom

Despite the oppression of the communist regime, the people of Pilsen never forgot what the Americans did to free them and their country from the Nazis. They kept the memory alive, hid their American flags, and told stories of the liberation to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When the Velvet Revolution of 1989 removed the communists from power, they celebrated in public. Every year since then, the city of Pilsen has thrown a massive week-long festival to show its thanks to the USA.

The 2025 commemoration is set to be especially notable. This year includes all of the concerts, parades, reenactments, and living history exhibits of previous years, but on a much larger scale!

The festival is meant to be a joyous event: A tribute to the sacrifices of those before us, an appreciation of the liberties now enjoyed, and a reminder that, when people try to rewrite the past, and change history, the truth survives. The Pilsen Liberation Festival says to the world every year: We remember, and we will never forget. That is something to raise a cold glass of Pilsner to.

Here are some highlights of the 2025 festival:

Opening Ceremony on Republic Square (Friday, May 2)

Guided Walking Tours of the Old City (Saturday, May 3)

Daily Concerts of various genres, across the city (May 2-5)

The largest living history encampment in Central Europe (May 2-6)

Demonstrations of modern military firearms and equipment, hosted by the Czech and U.S. Army (May 2-3)

Speech & Commemoration by King Philippe of Belgium (Belgian Troops also helped liberate Pilsen) (May 6)

Convoy of Liberty; more than 400 vehicles from the 1940s, WW2 aircraft, marching bands, and U.S. Soldiers from Stuttgart and Grafenwoehr (Sunday, May 4)

Tours of the Patton Museum, dedicated to the American General who liberated Pilsen

Full Program & More Information: Official Tourist Website of Pilsen (in English)

Editors Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.
Supporters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate outside the center's entrance in Atlanta during a rally in April. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Shelby Hutton was a biologist studying sexually transmitted diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was planning to expand her gonorrhea research by starting doctoral studies in the fall.

But in early April, Hutton found herself suddenly unemployed and applying for a job at Starbucks.

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As a scientist, Hutton said she had not expected to find herself among the legions of federal workers abruptly fired as part of the Trump administrations plan to shrink the federal government through mass firings.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to slash 10,000 jobs in late March, including 2,400 jobs at the CDC.

Hundreds of good scientists and subject matter experts were among the cuts to federal employees, Hutton said while standing outside the CDC in Atlanta. This is the exact opposite of what RFK said would happen. Ill be the first to say that there is a lot of improvement to be had in terms of government efficiency, but I really cant picture a functional CDC without laboratorians.

Shelby Hutton, who is a scientist, poses for a photo outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just days after she was swept up in the Trump administrations sweeping reduction in force. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Hutton said she was in the middle of validating tests her team had developed for the molecular surveillance of gonorrhea that is resistant to antibiotics  work she said she doesnt know of other labs doing  when she received the email dismissing her and her entire laboratory branch.

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They didnt have time to properly store specimens that Hutton described as priceless.

To Hutton, it feels like the deep cuts at the CDC are part of a backlash to the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering anger among some over shutdowns and other safety measures taken to control the spread of the virus.

It absolutely feels like were the scapegoats. It feels like were being attacked, Hutton said. And I dont think people realize how important the work that we do is and how much we care about the work we do in public health.

The Office of Personnel Management and the CDC did not respond to questions about the actual number of dismissals since February.

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Tuesday marked Trumps 100th day in office, but the president has already seen his approval rating suffer in Georgia  a state he won last year after narrowly losing here in 2020.

Trumps approval rating among Georgia voters is at 43%, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and conducted by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs.

A demonstrator holds a sign outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta during a rally in April. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Anger over the cuts to the CDC has shown up at town halls, protests, press conferences and rallies outside the centers Atlanta campus. Navy blue signs saying Save the CDC and Save Public Health can be seen in Atlanta front yards.

And signs of dissatisfaction with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiencys efforts to reduce the size of the federal government are also reflected in the AJCs poll.

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A slight majority of the polls respondents  51.5%  said they disapprove of those efforts to reduce the size of the government, many of them saying they strongly disapprove. Only 44% said they approved, with 4.5% unsure. The cuts were not popular with the independent voters polled, with about 55% of them frowning on the efforts.

But 74% of Republican voters surveyed said they enthusiastically back the cuts.

Everybody knows that you need CDC

Sarah Boim, a former communication specialist at the CDC, says she is trying to remain hopeful that the wave of legal challenges in response to the cuts to the federal workforce will lead to her and many of her colleagues getting their jobs back.

But Boim is also not waiting around to see if that happens.

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She and other CDC workers who lost their jobs have formed a group called Fired But Fighting. What started out as a newsletter to disseminate accurate information to workers trying to figure out their next steps has quickly evolved into a broader effort to push back on the cuts through spirited advocacy.

We just need people to know how important it is to have public health managed at a federal level, Boim said. You cannot privatize public health. You need the money that a government has. You need the money of a country  were talking about B with billions  and you also need to be able to coordinate across the states. And you just cant do that in a private company or an organization.

Sarah Boim questions Sen. Jon Ossoff about helping fired CDC workers at his Marietta town hall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Fired But Fighting made a splash at Sen. Jon Ossoffs recent town hall in Marietta, where they pressed the senator to do more to push back on the Trump administration.

The Democrat responded by saying the future of the nations public health infrastructure ultimately hinges on whether the American people see and understand that theyre being put at risk  and vote accordingly.

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Republican state leaders have expressed at least tepid support for the cuts, though one said he was uneasy about the pace.

After the first round in February, Gov. Brian Kemp said government can stand a little right-sizing. Suwanee Republican U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick said he asked the White House to slow the pace of the firings after being caught in the crosshairs of an angry town hall, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in February that I think were just moving a little too fast. Congressman Mike Collins, a Jackson Republican, told WABE in February that the fired workers could go find other work in Georgia.

Boim, who was fired in February, said she is trying to find another job, broadening the search to even health adjacent roles.

I have applied to 127 jobs, she said. I keep a spreadsheet. Ive had two canceled interviews, both because theyre worried about federal funding, and a lot of thanks, but no thanks, because the job market is just saturated with people like me.

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She said she hopes the states Republican leaders will come around.

I think theyre scared. If youre not on Trumps side, youre against him, and I think that theyre scared of getting on his bad side, Boim said. Im sorry, but people need to start being brave. I feel like CDC is a bipartisan issue. Everybody knows that you need CDC.

Not going quietly

Jill Daugherty said she knew the CDCs injury center she worked at was likely poised to lose staffers, but the extent of the cuts left her stunned. The injury center was gutted after last months round of cuts, with Daughertys traumatic brain injury team wiped out. She thinks the goal is to dismantle the CDC.

We really didnt know which teams were going to get cut, so we were just kind of waiting around the whole week before, like, Is it gonna be us? Is it gonna be us? And then it was everybody, Daugherty said.

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Thats how Daugherty found herself on the other side of the CDCs entrance on a recent Tuesday afternoon holding a sign that said, Firing experts Ignoring science CDC deserves better. She stood on the curb as the passing vehicles  including her former colleagues leaving work for the day  honked their horns at the group of demonstrators.

Supporters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate outside the centers entrance in Atlanta during a rally in April. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

The Tuesday rallies, organized by retired CDC staffers, have become a ritual since the mass firings started.

Youre not just standing up for yourselves. Youre standing up for our country and the best that America represents, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, told fired CDC workers during a visit to one of the rallies in April.

Even when facing the prospect of unemployment and an uncertain future, many of the fired CDC workers still focus on the loss to the programs they had dedicated their careers to advancing when they talk about the mass firings.

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Aryn Backus was a health communication specialist at the CDCs Office on Smoking and Health until Valentines Day, when hundreds of workers were swept up in the first round of dismissals. She said she remained hopeful that the firing would be reversed until her entire office was cut in April.

So, I knew that even if I were to get my termination rescinded, there would be no job to go back to, said Backus, who is the mother of a 1-year-old.

But even then, when standing at a microphone in front of reporters recently, Backus wanted to talk about the work her office did to curb smoking rates  and all the work left to do.

The impact of these CDC cuts will be felt in public health for years to come. Theyre not going to help make America healthy but will decrease public health programs that help save lives, said Backus, who is also part of Fired But Fighting.

Thats why the CDC employees are not going quietly. We are fighting back to not only protect civil service, but to protect public health.

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A group of federal workers  who say they were fired or pushed out from their jobs amid President Donald Trump and Elon Musks slashing of public spending and gutting of the federal government  lifted the lid on the unsettling developments during a live town hall on MSNBC on Thursday.

The former public servants emotionally described to the networks Stephanie Ruhle and Jacob Soboroff how their lives had been upended by the sudden termination of their jobs which many of them had believed  due to their critical nature  wouldnt be targeted.

One woman, Alyssa Ellman, who was fired from her role with the Buffalo Veterans Affairs office, said she was then offered the role back (as many fired workers have been) but only on the condition she didnt talk to the media.

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The veteran defied that order, though, to talk on MSNBC, explaining how as a survivor of cancer (which Soboroff said was possibly caused by exposure to toxic burn pits when she was serving in Afghanistan), she had opted to work over living off disability payments because, I really care about veterans, I love to work, I didnt want to feel stagnant or stay home and wanted to give back to the system.

Im in a really unique position where I dont really need this job, she admitted, but said her former coworkers are afraid to talk because they need their jobs.

Watch the town hall here:

Tamara Maze, who worked at a bipartisan-mandated division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which focused on supporting families with children who have birth defects and developmental disabilities, said: I truly believed that [...] everyone understood the importance of the work we did.

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Maze shared that after suffering a debilitating injury from a natural gas explosion, she spent a year in the hospital and fought to return to her job.

It was always important to me to serve the people of this country, and I think thats one of the things thats really upsetting to me is because I truly believe all federal workers that Ive ever known are in it because we want to serve this country, she said.

Sam Peterson, a former park guide with the National Park Service, said his firing forced him to move six hours away and take another job. Asked about the upcoming summer travel season, Sam predicted visitors to parks may notice overflowing trashcans and overflowing restrooms due to the cuts and that if they dont, then that situation likely wont be sustainable.

Keri Murphy, an administrative officer in the Commerce Departments CHIPS program, said she was confused about being targeted as her work supported semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., something Trump has publicly championed. Thats why I thought I was safe, she said.

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And Brittany Coleman, whose role was as an attorney in the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education, spoke about how drastic staffing cuts have devastated her departments ability to help families in need.

Related...
BOURNE, Mass. (WPRI)  Dozens of firefighters spent hours battling a massive brush fire that broke out within Joint Base Cape Cod.

The Massachusetts Army National Guard told 12 News the brush fire started as a planned controlled burn at Camp Edwards Thursday afternoon.

The flames wound up migrating outside of Camp Edwards, prompting the Massachusetts Army National Guard to request assistance from surrounding fire departments.

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WATCH: Smoke from brush fire billows into sky over Cape Cod (Story continues below.)

The Bourne Fire Department alerted residents on social media that smoke from the brush fire was drifting into town and may be visible or detectable.

Please do not call 911 or the business phone line to report smoke odor or haze, the fire department wrote. We ask that the public only call 911 if you see visible flames or signs of an active fire in your immediate area.

12 News spotted the Massachusetts State Police Airwing circling above Camp Edwards and periodically dropping water onto the brush fire.

WATCH: Massachusetts State Police Airwing drops water onto Cape Cod brush fire (Story continues below.)

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No structures were damaged and no one was injured.

Joint Base Cape Cod confirmed that 133 acres had originally been slated for the prescribed burn.

The brush fire wound up burning 150 acres in total, but never left the confines of Joint Base Cape Cod.

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BURLINGTON, Vt (ABC22/FOX44)  Former Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy represented Vermont in congress for over 45 years.

Following his retirement in 2023, he announced he would be donating his personal senate files  ranging from legislative policy to menus at state dinners  to the University of Vermont.

The ultimate goal is to create an 11 part collection that details Leahys Robust career and legacy.

After two years of work, the first two parts are available to the public.

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Shir Bach  congressional papers archivist with UVM  says they received about 2,8000 boxes and 20 terabytes worth of data files.

Bach highlights the collection as a valuable tool for research.

Patrick Leahys Tenure spans a lot of change in American politics and Vermont history. Its a really great opportunity to look at how those things have changes over time.

The project is being funded through a 5 year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Senate.

Erica Donnis, another archivist with the project, says the boxes arrived in truckloads from multiple different locations.

Including D.C., and his offices in Vermonta lot of this material coming from D.C. was in temporary storage in the national archives, Donnis explains.

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She says the topics included in the papers span from committee records to legislative material and more.

Using an organizational framework created by those involved with the project, archivists have been going through section by section, topic by topic  preparing the papers for research.

Were looking for preservation issues we may encounter, Donnis says, once the archivists on the team have inventoried the materials, we then pass it off to our wonderful crew of inters who are working on the preservation tasks involved.

In addition to the papers, different forms of office technology are also include within the collection.

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Its kind of a little time capsule of how technology in offices has changed over almost a half century, Blanchard-OBrien says.

Items range from cassettes, V-H-S tapes, and multiple different film formats.

Right now, two topics in the 11 part collection are available now to the public  materials from Leahys first and last campaigns, and a series documenting his overseas travel.

If youre interested in checking out The Leahy Papers, you can set up an in-person appointment by calling the Silver Special Collections Library.

The University also has a finding aid on its website so you can see what is available ahead of time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY)  Youll notice flags flying at half-staff Sunday across Virginia.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an order on Friday that U.S. and Commonwealth of Virginia flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day.

We remember all the firefighters who were killed in the line of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice protecting their communities, Gov. Youngkin said.

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Flags will be lowered at sunrise on Sunday, May 4, 2025 and remain at half-staff until sunset.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is asking residents and businesses across the country to light the night in red this week to honor the firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024 and in previous years.

The Virginia Beach Fire Department asks if you participate, to please share photos on their Facebook page. Several Virginia Beach facilities and landmarks that committed to participating include the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, the Virginia Beach Convention Center Tower, the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Building 30 on Princess Anne Rd., and the Harry E. Diezel Fire Training Center on Birdneck Rd.

May 3-4, 2025 marks the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

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This years honorees will include the following Virginia firefighters:

Firefighter James Carson Ward Jr., age 49, of the Virginia Department of Forestry, died on March 30, 2024, of a heart attack while operating at a wildland fire.

Firefighter Trevor Brown, age 45, of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, died on February 16, 2024, in a gas explosion at a residential structure.

Battalion Chief Gary Clark Campbell, age 52, of Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management, died on January 20, 2022, from complications of COVID-19.

Detailed information about each of the firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2025 Roll of Honor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Gov. Mike DeWine is ordering flags to be flown at half-staff on Sunday.

Explosions, gunshots expected around WPAFB, Springfield-Beckley

According to DeWine, flags on public grounds are required to be lowered to recognize National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

The order is in effect from sunrise to sunset on May 4.

On April 28, the Governor had ordered flags to rise to full-staff following three funerals.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A flight bound from Boise to Atlanta was diverted to the Salt Lake City International Airport due to an unidentifiable sound outside of the plane.

Delta Flight 874 departed the Boise Airport around 2:08 p.m., according to FlightAware. It was initially headed for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Tracking on the FlightAware website shows that it flew as far as Colorado before turning around and landing at the SLC Airport around 4:39 p.m.

Hiker life-flighted out of American Fork Canyon

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In a statement to ABC4, Delta Air Lines said that the airplane was diverted following the indication of an of an unidentifiable sound outside of the aircraft.

The aircraft landed without incident and passengers are being reaccommodated on a secondary aircraft that will depart SLC this evening. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience, Delta continued in their statement.

There is no further information at this time. Delta Air Lines has said the sound truly was unidentifiable.

Latest headlines:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(This story has been updated with new information.)

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is challenging a federal judges order blocking parts of Floridas immigration law, arguing the court overstepped its authority and cannot restrain Florida law enforcement from enforcing the statute.

"We believe the court has overstepped and lacks jurisdiction, and I will not tell law enforcement to stop fulfilling their constitutional duties," Uthmeier told Fox News Digital May 2. "We will vigorously defend our laws and advance President Trumps agenda on illegal immigration."

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This response comes just days after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction blocking parts of a law signed earlier this year (SB 4-C) that made it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to enter or re-enter Florida.

The judge ruled the law likely encroaches on federal authority over immigration, citing federal supremacy over immigration enforcement and warning that the statute could interfere with federal discretion. The Attorney Generals office has appealed the ruling.

During a press conference in Fort Myers earlier on May 2, Uthmeier shared he was reviewing the judge's order. "I'm going through her order, he said. "I'm talking to counsel. I don't have an official statement on that right now, but I expect theyll have one today (May 2)."

Tensions escalated after an April 23 letter Uthmeier sent to law enforcement agencies. In it, he claimed no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes (their) agencies from continuing to enforce the law. Williams scheduled a May 29 hearing to consider contempt or sanctions against Uthmeier for potentially undermining her ruling.

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Uthmeier has argued that law enforcement agencies are not defendants in the case and thus not bound by the courts order.

But that stance is not shared by all. Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jack Campbell directed officers in his district to cease enforcement of the immigration law or risk contempt.

More: Florida state attorney warns police to stop enforcing immigration law or risk contempt

What are the broader implications of immigration enforcement in Florida?

Florida has become a key player in efforts to expand local involvement in immigration enforcement. Florida now leads the nation in ICE 287(g) task force partnerships, which allow trained local officers to assist in identifying and detaining suspected undocumented immigrants. All 67 county sheriffs offices are now part of the initiative.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis and the states new Board of Immigration Enforcement have emphasized full cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In March, the board announced an accountability dashboard designed to flag local agencies that dont make best efforts to enforce immigration law, potentially subjecting them to judicial review or removal from office.

In April, Florida law enforcement joined federal agents in "Operation Tidal Wave, described as the largest joint immigration operation in state history. Over six days, ICE reported 1,120 arrests statewide, the most in a single week in one state in the agencys history. Officials said nearly two-thirds of those arrested had previous criminal records. But immigration advocates have raised red flags over civil liberties, saying some detained individuals had only minor offenses or pending asylum claims.

Fort Myers became a flashpoint in the immigration debate after its city council initially rejected a proposed 287(g) agreement. Council members cited concerns over racial profiling, cost and strained community trust. In response, Uthmeier called the decision very troubling and threatened to have his office investigate whether the council violated state law. The council reversed course in an emergency session after receiving new legal guidance, voting unanimously to approve the partnership.

In Tallahassee, city officials debated the police departments 287(g) agreement with ICE. City commissioners questioned the legal necessity of the move and criticized the process, while city and police officials defended it as compliance with state law.

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The legal battle over Floridas immigration law remains unresolved. The outcome of the states appeal and the upcoming contempt hearing could shape the future of how immigration laws are enforced across the state.

Contributing: C.A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network - Florida.

Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida AG Uthmeier comments on immigration ruling in Fort Myers
Florida authorities arrested Damien Allen, 22, on April 29 after an investigation of his social media.

Allen was allegedly making threats online to commit a mass shooting and was previously chatting with Samantha Rupnow, who committed a mass shooting in Wisconsin in December 2024.

Allen faces felony charges of making written threats, and police are seeking to seize his massive cache of weapons.

Florida authorities believe they may have just prevented a mass shooting after arresting a Palm Beach man who allegedly posted online about the attack he wanted to carry out  all while maintaining a massive stockpile of weapons.

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies arrested Damien Allen on April 29 after a monthlong investigation of Allens activity on social media, where he would allegedly post threats to commit multiple mass shootings, according to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE.

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Authorities say that Allen was also chatting with Natalie Samantha Rupnow about his plans over TikTok, per the arrest report.

Rupnow, who was 15 at the time, conducted a mass shooting on Dec. 17, 2024, shooting and killing a teacher and student and wounding six others at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin before turning the gun on herself.

Once you get to a point, theres no going back, Allen wrote to Rupnow on TikTok on May 23, 2024, according to the arrest report. I got 7 places I would, strike the police dept. also, Gorilla warfare tactics, Ambushing and blitz.

On June 7, 2024, according to the arrest report, Allen wrote to Rupnow, We go down together, to which she responded, Correct. Afterwards, they said "I love you" to each other.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Deputies say they found that the 22-year-old had amassed an arsenal of 18 firearms, more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition, ballistic armor, tactical gear and multiple uniforms, including a Palm Beach Sheriffs Office deputy uniform and several different military uniforms.

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Deputies arrested Allen on felony charges of written threats to kill, do bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and unlawful use of a badge impersonating an officer, according to an arrest report.

Allen remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail on a $50,000 bond and is set to be represented by the Public Defenders Office, according to his online court records.

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.

In addition to the felony charges, the sheriffs office filed a petition with a judge to temporarily remove Allens firearms under Floridas Risk Protection Order Act which removes firearms from a person if theyre deemed a threat to themselves or others.

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In their petition, deputies say that Allen poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to himself or others by having a firearm. The circuit judge, Donald Hafele, scheduled a hearing on May 15 to discuss the risk protection order.



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Key Points

Black Hills has a 4.5% yield and is a Dividend King.

Chevron is offering a 4.9% yield with 38 annual dividend hikes behind it.

Enterprise Products Partners has a 6.8% yield backed by 26 annual distribution increases.

If you are a dividend investor looking for high yields today, you may want to consider companies that provide energy in some form. Modern society can't exist without reliable sources of energy and, thus, energy companies are providing a basic necessity. That said, there are different ways to go about investing in high-yield energy-related stocks. Here are three options that have reliable histories of increasing their dividends.

1. Black Hills is a Dividend King

Black Hills (NYSE: BKH) provides electricity and natural gas to roughly 1.35 million customers in parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It has a 4.5% dividend yield and has increased its dividend annually for a huge 55 consecutive years. Not only is that yield above the utility average of around 2.9%, but Black Hills is one of the few utilities to have achieved Dividend King status.

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 

If that backdrop isn't enough to entice you to buy Black Hills, then consider some other facts. The utility's customer growth is expanding at nearly three times the rate of U.S. population growth. It has a $4.7 billion capital investment budget to help support reliable access to power for its growing customer base. And management expects earnings to increase by around 4% to 6% year over year for the foreseeable future. The dividend should trail higher along with earnings, as it has done for years. Power to the people and a reliable, high-yield dividend stock for you.

2. Chevron is the diversified, high-yield option for oil

If you aren't in the mood for a utility stock and, instead, want an oil stock, Chevron (NYSE: CVX) has you covered. The integrated energy giant has an attractive 4.9% yield and has increased its dividend annually for 38 consecutive years. Oil is a highly volatile commodity, so that dividend streak is quite impressive. Meanwhile, the average energy stock has a yield of just 3.1% or so.

Chevron has managed to provide a reliable income stream despite the wide swings in oil prices because of its business model. First, it has exposure to the upstream (drilling), midstream (pipelines), and downstream (chemicals and refining). It also has a globally diversified portfolio. Both help the company soften the industry's swings, since different parts of the industry and different global regions have different energy dynamics. Second, Chevron has long used its rock-solid balance sheet as a tool to support its business and dividend through downturns. The energy giant's debt-to-equity ratio was a very low 0.15% or so at the end of 2024, so there is plenty of room to take on debt no matter what happens to oil prices.
Florida is the second state to remove the mineral fluoride from its water supply, after Utah

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control considered fluoride in public water a great health achievement that prevents tooth decay in all children, regardless of socioeconomic status

Calgary, Alberta voted to add fluoride back into its water after the rate of tooth decay dramatically increased

Following Utahs statewide ban on fluoride in its public water system, Floridas state legislature has voted to remove fluoride from its water. The bill next goes to Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law.

We are not debating the efficacy of fluoride in any way.  We hold that a free American and Floridian has the right to decide what goes into their body no matter what elected officials may believe is good for their citizens or not, Rep. Danny Alvarez, a Hillsborough County Republican who was one of the bills sponsors, told CNN.

Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Stock image of water running from a tap. Stock image of water running from a tap.

Related: Is Fluoride in Drinking Water Safe? Heres What to Know, According to Science

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Fluoride doesnt meet the bills definition of a water quality additive, which means any chemical, additive, or substance that is used in a public water system for the purpose of: (a) Meeting or surpassing primary or secondary drinking water standards; (b) Preventing, reducing, or removing contaminants; or c) Improving water quality.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, the Cleveland Clinic explains, that reverses early decay and remineralizes your tooth enamel. While consuming large amounts of fluoride can be toxic, the Cleveland Clinic says, its very difficult to reach toxic levels with properly fluoridated water and over-the-counter products that contain fluoride.

Removing the mineral could be costly in terms of health  and dental bills, if history is any guide.

In 2011, the Canadian city of Calgary removed fluoride from its water after citizens voted to remove the mineral; last year, they voted to add it back. As Calgary City Council member Gian-Carlo Carra told NPR, the rate of dental caries [cavities] has increased significantly more than the rate of dental caries was increasing before.

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One study showed that 65% of second-graders  born after the fluoride was removed  had tooth decay.

Adding the mineral, Carra said, can affect a significant, rounding improvement on a general approach to dental health and public health.

Juno, Ala., also saw a steep increase in childhood tooth decay after the city removed fluoride from its water in 2007. One University of Alaska Anchorage study estimated each child incurred an extra $300 in dental bills per year following the removal.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control called adding fluoride to water one of the ten great public health achievements" of the last century, explaining it safely and inexpensively benefits both children and adults by effectively preventing tooth decay, regardless of socioeconomic status or access to care.

Svetlana Repnitskaya/Getty Stock image of a child at the dentist. Stock image of a child at the dentist.

Related: RFK Jr. Confirmed as Health Secretary Despite Caroline Kennedy Blasting Him as a 'Predator'

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The CDC estimated it reduced tooth decay in up to 70% children, and tooth loss in up to 60% of adults.

However, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing claims that it is dangerous and can even make kids "stupider," in a cabinet meeting on April 30 with President Trump, according to USA Today. He also erroneously referred to it as an industrial waste in a post on X.

On Jan. 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease, Kennedy wrote in the November 2 post.

In a statement shared in October, the American Dental Association said that they, along with other major health organizations, "continue to endorse community water fluoridation at optimal levels to help prevent tooth decay."

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"Even in an era with widespread availability of fluoride from various sources, other studies show that community water fluoridation prevents at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults throughout their lifespan." Linda J. Edgar, D.D.S., the president of the American Dental Association, said. "The scientific weight of sound evidence around the benefit of community water fluoridation is clear and compelling."

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida voters have long been able to use the citizens initiative process to bypass the Republican-dominated Legislature and advance progressive policies such as raising the minimum wage, legalizing medical marijuana and restoring the voting rights of people with felony convictions.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Friday creating new hurdles for citizen-driven initiatives, changes critics say would make it prohibitively expensive and effectively impossible for grassroots campaigners to get them onto the ballot.

Legislatures in dozens of states have advanced bills recently to crack down on the public's ability to put measures up for a vote, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Voting rights advocates say the trend betrays the promise of direct democracy.

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Under Florida's measure, voters could be charged with a felony if they collect more than 25 signed ballot petitions, other than their own or those of immediate family members, and don't register with the state as a petition circulator.

Months before the bill advanced in the Legislature, Florida voters supported ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana, though the measures fell short of the 60% needed to pass.

DeSantis signed the measure Friday evening, hours after lawmakers gave the bill final approval. He marshaled state resources and the power of his office in an aggressive campaign to oppose the measures on the ballot last November.

This bill has been intentionally designed to make it impossible for any statewide citizen initiative to make it to the ballot ever again, said state Sen. Carlos Smith, a Democrat from Orlando, who called the measure the final kill shot against direct democracy.

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The bill's Republican sponsors argued the measure is meant to protect rather than restrict the citizens initiative process, which Floridas Republican Senate president has repeatedly called sacrosanct. Instead, they say the aim is to reform a process they see as tainted by outside petition-gatherers who they allege have forged petition signatures or misled voters.

This bill is not an attack on the citizen initiative process, said co-sponsor state Sen. Don Gaetz, a Panhandle Republican. Its an attack on those who have corrupted it.

A state election crimes unit created under the DeSantis administration in 2022 helped secure two dozen felony election-related convictions, according to a January report. State officers have made at least 17 arrests of paid petition circulators working on behalf of four different ballot initiatives, the agency says.

The measure does not address imaginary, hypothetical fraud, but known fraud," said Republican state Sen. Jennifer Bradley.

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One of the reforms lawmakers said was needed aims to rein in the DeSantis administration, which used public funds to create ads opposing the 2024 measures and threatened television stations with criminal penalties for airing commercials in support of the proposals.

They engaged in behavior that will now be unlawful and will now be prevented, Gaetz said, under a provision that outlaws the use of public funds for political ads on any proposed constitutional amendment.

Under the law, more people will be banned from collecting petitions, including Floridians with felony convictions who havent had their voting rights restored. Noncitizens and people who don't reside in Florida will also be prohibited from gathering signatures, in a state with a significant population of part-time workers and foreign-born residents.

Floridians will have to provide their drivers license number, voter ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number in order to fill out a petition. The form will ultimately become a public record.

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Campaigners will face shorter deadlines to return petitions to local election officials, and stiffer fines if they dont return them to the correct county  an issue advocates say can occur due to voter error in filling out the forms.

Former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a frequent critic of his former colleagues in Tallahassee who now leads the nonprofit Florida Policy Project, criticized the bill in a post on X.

It should be difficult to change the constitution, but not impossible, Brandes wrote. Unless you're the Florida Legislature  then you just keep moving the goalpost until only you can keep score.

___ Associated Press writer Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida contributed to this report. Payne 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.
A Florida congresswoman is urging U.S. Homeland Security to hold off on a long-awaited program.

Rep. Anna Luna wrote to the department urging it to delay the deadline for Real ID.

The lawmaker from Pinellas County is asking officials to extend the deadline to May 2027.

Luna says about 20% of Americans dont meet the Real ID requirements for air travel.

This deadline has been looming for nearly two decades.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature late Friday ended a raucous session full of GOP infighting, broken promises and bitter feelings.

And now they are going to do it again.

Legislators wrapped up the regular session without passing a new state budget. But shortly before midnight, they voted to extend the session until June 6 with promises to return later in May to craft a new spending plan. The session will be limited to budget-related bills, a tax cut package and the "rural renaissance" economic development proposal  a top priority of state Senate President Ben Albritton.

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"There's no question we have more work to do," Albritton said.

State House Speaker Daniel Perez and Albritton also announced they had reached a deal to cut taxes by $2.8 billion, including a sizable permanent reduction in the state's sales tax rate as part of a top-line deal on the budget. Perez said the deal means the budget will be smaller than the one initially proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"We are on the verge of making history together," Perez told House members.

The announcement came at the tail end of a topsy-turvy day that lacked the pomp and circumstance that usually accompanies a session ending, including congratulatory press conferences and the anticipated traditional dropping of white handkerchiefs.

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Its been a session of missed opportunities, said state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), an ally of DeSantis who saw many of his bills fail to cross the finish line.

In their final week, lawmakers did agree to ease the financial burdens of condominium owners and impose strict new restrictions on ballot initiatives  both top priorities of DeSantis.

But lots of other legislation fell by the wayside in recent days and weeks, including bills dealing with property insurance and education and hotly debated measures dealing with the minimum wage and loosening child labor laws.

The session was a complete turnaround from recent years, when DeSantis muscled through a meaty agenda of conservative policy that he cited frequently during his unsuccessful run for president.

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DeSantis fiercely denounced state House Republicans repeatedly over the past two months and accused them of working with Democrats to undermine him and his agenda.

I think the House position has been Well, the governor had gotten everything he wants so whatever hes for  were against, DeSantis said earlier this week during a press conference.

The governor has faulted the House over everything from its proposed budget on the Everglades and law enforcement to pushing bills he said were designed to help liberal trial lawyers. He also criticized them for pushing for sales tax cuts he said would help tourists instead of considering proposals to reduce property taxes.

But the House also drew the governor's ire over its investigation of Hope Florida, an initiative spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis, and a nonprofit organization linked to the effort. The House probed how $10 million from a settlement between the state and a Medicaid vendor wound up going to the Hope Florida Foundation, which turned around and steered the money to two groups that sent funds to a political committee fighting a ballot initiative on marijuana.

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Perez has responded by calling DeSantis emotional, while state Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who led the committee behind the probe, has urged federal and state authorities to investigate further.

Amid the increasingly bitter feud between Perez and DeSantis, the House and Senate had been unable to reach an agreement on top-level spending levels and tax cuts. Perez had pitched a $5 billion permanent cut in sales taxes, while Albritton had urged a more cautious approach and advocated a smaller blend of permanent and one-time cuts.

As the budget stalemate had dragged out, tension levels among the two chambers ratcheted up in recent days. When the House refused to go along with setting up a substance abuse research center at the University of South Florida and naming it after Sen. Darryl Rouson, state Senate Democrats and Republicans alike grew irate.

Perez angrily responded by accusing the Senate of trying to slip in a backdoor appropriations project and emotionally blackmailing the House into doing what they want. On Friday, the Senate agreed to drop the matter.

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Legislators spent most of their final day in recess, wondering if there would be at least an agreement reached on when the Legislature would return to handle a new budget. At one point, state Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) was overheard saying, Its like the House and Senate dont know how to break up with each other.

Ive never seen a session like this where weve not been able to finish on time, or reasonably on time, and get a budget done, said state Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic Leader. And I think this is a session where politics got in the way of progress. I mean, it's to the point where bills are dying, where you see basically messages being communicated between the two chambers and the governors using press releases, social media, you know, and news interviews. So, you know, at times it doesn't even seem like everybody is talking or on the same page.

Isa Dominguez contributed to this report.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida man tried to steal a cash drawer at a McDonalds restaurant after getting frustrated in the drive-thru, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.

Just after 4 a.m. on April 30, officers responded to a robbery in progress at the fast food chain, located on Del Prado Boulevard North. A witness reported that after a man and an employee got into an argument, the man tried stealing the register and took off in his car.

Set up for war: Florida man had plans to conduct mass shooting, deputies say

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Surveillance video of the encounter showed the man, identified as 32-year-old Bray Allen Bamberger, talking with the employee near the register when their argument escalated.

Bamberger walked behind the counter, forcing his way past two employees and grabbed the loose cash drawer, police said. Two employees tugged on the register with Bamberger until the suspect eventually let go.

Officers said Bamberger continued arguing before he got into his vehicle and left the McDonalds.

That evening, the Lee County Sheriffs Office identified Bamberger and tracked him down to his Cape Coral home after taking fingerprints on the restaurants door and blasting his photo on social media.

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Its not safe: 3 coyote attacks reported in 2 days in Florida beach town

When authorities arrived at the home, a man inside told them he was expecting police to come and find Bamberger based on the social media post.

Bamberger said he had no intention of stealing any money, but had become frustrated when he went through the drive-thru and was not receiving any help. Thats when he parked his car and went inside.

Police arrested Bamberger on charges of attempted robbery and two counts of battery. He was taken to the Lee County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Florida lawmakers have agreed to repeal the 35-year-old Free Kill law.

The law bars adult children and their parents from suing for wrongful death caused by medical malpractice.

The bill cleared the Senate Thursday night with a vote of 33-4.

An overwhelming share of state House lawmakers approved it late last month.

The bill will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk for his signature.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Months after voters narrowly rejected ballot initiatives on abortion and marijuana, Florida has a new law that that may shut down future petition drives in the nations third-largest state.

Despite a legislative session marred by Republican infighting between Gov. Ron DeSantis and state House GOP leaders, the passage of the legislation gives the governor a win on one of his top priorities this year. It could also prove a significant roadblock to ongoing efforts to place another marijuana amendment on the 2026 ballot. DeSantis quickly signed the measure into law without fanfare Friday night just hours after legislators approved it.

The measure places significant restrictions and increased penalties on groups seeking to place an initiative on the ballot, including placing a limit on how many petitions a volunteer could collect. It also requires organizers to collect detailed personal information from those signing petitions, such as a driver's license number or part of their Social Security number.

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Critics, including Democratic legislators, said the restrictions would make it nearly impossible to place initiatives on the ballot. They called the move payback for the near-passage last year of proposed amendments to guarantee access to abortion and legalize adult recreational marijuana. Both failed to clear the 60-percent threshold needed to pass initiatives in Florida.

Those pesky Amendments 3 and 4 just came too damn close to passing, so we are going to make sure it doesnt happen again, said state Sen. Tina Polsky (D-West Palm Beach).

Backers of the change, however, said the bill came in response to an investigation launched by the states election crimes office under DeSantis that showed some people gathering petition signatures forged them or engaged in identity theft.

I believe in insuring integrity in the process, said state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers), one of the legislation's main sponsors.

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During the past two decades, Florida voters have approved a long line of ballot initiatives opposed by many Republican leaders, including limits on class size, raising Floridas minimum wage, approving the use of medical marijuana and restoring voting rights to convicted felons no longer in prison.

GOP legislators have made repeated changes to the process in that timeframe, including asking voters to increase the threshold needed to pass amendments from a simple majority to a supermajority.

DeSantis fiercely opposed the abortion and marijuana ballot measures last year and used the force of state government to defeat them.

He openly campaigned against the amendments during events organized by his official office. State agencies spent taxpayer money on ads warning voters about the dangers of marijuana and pushing back on the abortion amendment, which would have overturned the states six-week ban.

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Legislators, however, did add a provision to the bill  HB 1205  now headed to DeSantis that would bar the state from spending taxpayer money on any ads or communications about constitutional amendments.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, one of the main Senate sponsors, acknowledged the change was inspired by actions of the DeSantis administration.

They engaged in behavior that will now be unlawful and will be prevented if we pass this bill, Gaetz said.

DeSantis asked legislators back to Tallahassee in January to clamp down on ballot initiatives, as well as to address immigration and condominium legislation. He said legislators needed to act swiftly because some organizers were already gearing up for next year. But legislative leaders instead held off until this years regular session.

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Smart & Safe Florida, the organization that tried to pass the marijuana amendment last year, has already been gathering signatures for a revamped 2026 initiative. The Department of State currently shows nearly 219,000 signatures have been verified. The group would need to successfully collect nearly 892,000 voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. The ballot measure will also need to be reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court.

A spokesperson for the organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the legislation. There is speculation that some of the restrictions  including one that says only Florida residents who are eligible to vote can collect petition signatures  could trigger lawsuits.

The bill cleared the House and Senate largely along partisan lines and drew sharp questioning and debate, including from those who contended restrictions on volunteers would scare people from helping out grass roots groups seeking to place items on the ballot.

But supporters pushed back and contended the legislation was needed: "How much corruption are you willing to tolerate to make sure something terrible doesnt happen to our constitution?" asked Gaetz.
(Photo by Getty Images)

One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise.

In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small  and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating.

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The Mercurys efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings.

Former Richmond FOIA officers case against city moves forward

A trial date has been scheduled for Sept. 23 in a transparency case involving the city of Richmonds former Freedom of Information Act officer, who said she was fired in retaliation for refusing to flout FOIA laws and raising concerns about possible FOIA violations during her tenure.

Connie Clay, the former Richmond FOIA officer, also said in her lawsuit against the city that her former supervisor, then-city director Petula Burks, instructed Clay to withhold information requested under the Act. Burks, who resigned from her role with the city last summer, is also named in the suit filed in March 2024.

On Tuesday, Judge Claire G. Cardwell set the discovery process to begin on May 27 at 11 a.m. The three-day jury trial is to start on Sept. 23. The judge asked both sides to fully cooperate in the process.

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I understand strong advocacy, Cardwell told attorneys on Tuesday, as quoted by the Richmonder. But without pointing fingers in either direction, I would like counsel to start anew.

To the extent you can work together on administrative matters, please do so, she added.

Richmond attempted to dismiss the case in January, but was denied by Cardwell, according to a report by VPM.

Although Plaintiffs Complaint does not explicitly connect her good faith disclosures of suspected wrongdoing to defendants retaliation and discrimination toward her, the Court may reasonably infer this alleged conduct flowed from her disclosures of suspected FOIA violations, Cardwell wrote in her Feb. 5 order.

News editor wins in transparency case against Flock Safety

A Roanoke Circuit Court judge recently ruled that the city of Roanoke violated the Freedom of Information Act and is required to fulfill a renewed request for traffic camera footage of Cardinal News Executive Editor Jeff Schwaners vehicle, Cardinal News reported.

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Schwaner requested information from Flock Safetys License Plate Reader, which was footage of his car from Roanoke police, on Feb. 21. He filed the same request for 15 other law enforcement agencies. Flock Safety provides the license plate reading hardware and maintains the data.

In response, the city and the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office filed a motion in the Roanoke City Circuit Court asking the court to decide whether it was obligated to provide the footage under FOIA.

Another issue raised during the court proceedings is that camera data automatically erases after 30 days. As a result, the data Schwaner sought in February did not exist, the city said.

Judge Leisa Ciaffone did not find that the city willfully and knowingly denied the request in a way that would make it subject to additional penalties that can be assessed when FOIA is violated, Cardinal News reported.

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However, she dismissed all the citys arguments for not fulfilling the FOIA request. She also ruled that the FOIA law outweighed local policies and contracts that localities may have with third parties like Flock Safety.

The court finds that Mr. Schwaner has substantially prevailed on the merits and grants his reasonable attorneys fees and costs associated with this action, the judge wrote.

John Koehler, Schwaners attorney, told Cardinal News that they are pleased with the courts ruling that the city must release the data.

Transparency in government gathering of data about the public is necessary to assure that the benefit that can be derived from the effort is worth both the expense and the impact on the community, Koehler said.

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Schwaner added that at the core of this request was a single idea: that the public has as much a right to know whats going on in public as anybody.

WDBJ7 did reach out to the city of Roanoke for comment on the case, but the city declined to comment out of deference to the circuit court.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is considering legislation that would put restrictions on the use and data retention of license plate readers and exempt system data from disclosure. Youngkin has until Friday to rule on the proposal.

CDC public records staff placed on leave

Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-Va., is requesting information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding why the agencys public records staff was placed on administrative leave until their jobs are eliminated June 2.

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The CDC layoffs come after hundreds of federal workers including health agency workers were fired amid President Donald Trumps administrations restructuring of the federal government.

The letter, which was published by NPR and directed to CDCs acting director Dr. Susan Monarez, states FOIA ensures that the public has a right to access federal agency information. Since its enactment in 1967, it has been crucial to ensuring government transparency and accountability.

As a result, there are currently zero personnel available to process FOIA requests received by CDC, Connolly wrote in his April 24 letter. The elimination of staff responsible for facilitating FOIA strongly implies an effort by the administration to prevent the public from obtaining information about their government that they are entitled to request.

Connolly requested a response by May 8. He announced earlier this week his plans to retire.

Richmonds new pump increased fluoridation levels

Richmond water remains safe to drink after the recent installation of a new pump increased fluoridation levels at its treatment plant, the city announced on Monday.

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The announcement, made roughly three months after Richmond faced a debilitating water crisis as state lawmakers returned to begin the 2025 General Assembly session in January, leaving thousands without drinking water.

On April 23, the city discovered the fluoride levels did increase, but at no point did samples collected in the distribution system indicate the fluoridation level exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 mg/L within the region, which is the highest level allowed in drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The city said the optimal target is 0.7 mg/L.

Hanover County said in a statement it was disappointed by the lack of communication from the city, and that they didnt learn of the incident until four days later. The locality said the Virginia Department of Emergency Management notified its officials about the fluoride leak on the evening of April 27. In response, Hanover determined through its own testing that its system was well within the MCL with 1.6 ppm.

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Mayor Danny Avula, who took office at the start of the year, said in a statement that he was disappointed that the citys Department of Public Utilities did not notify the Department of Health within the required 24-hour period.

The city said the Department of Public Utilities is creating new state standard operating procedures for the water treatment plant.

Im disappointed with our failure to communicate, Avula said. This incident damages the work were doing to rebuild trust  not only with the residents of Richmond, but our communities, and our regional partners, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. We must do better.

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Dive Brief:

Automatic Data Processing announced Wednesday that its treasurer, Peter Hadley, will take its finance reins on July 1, succeeding the payroll processor and technology companys current CFO, Don McGuire, who is stepping down after over three years in the role.

Hadley, 52, joined the company in 2002 from Big Four firm KPMG and over the years has served in multiple positions, most recently as the companys treasurer, as well as in such roles as CFO for ADPs Global Enterprise Solutions and Employer Services International.

McGuire, who has been CFO since October of 2021, joined the company in 1998 as vice president, finance, ADP Canada. He succeeded finance chief Kathleen Winters after she notified the company she was retiring, according to a securities filing.

Dive Insight:

The leadership change was announced on the same day that the Roseland, New Jersey-based company reported its Q3 2025 fiscal earnings, with the company reporting that its net earnings for the three-months ended March 31 rose to $1.24 billion from $1.18 billion in the year earlier period.

The end of a quarter is a common time for companies to make changes to their C-suite in part because it can be used to cleanly delineate the start of a new reporting period and signal continuity, CFO Dive previously reported.

During the Wednesday earnings call, ADP CEO Maria Black sought to emphasize the smooth transition, referencing the companys orderly succession planning as she welcomed the new CFO and thanked McGuire for his work. She also called out the international strengths of both executives, noting that Hadley was a global citizen, having held roles in both finance and operations for ADP in Europe, Asia and the U.S., and that McGuire had profoundly shaped its international business. She also expressed gratitude for his work.

As I transitioned into my role as ADP's CEO, I'm honored to call him a colleague, and more importantly, a friend. Don, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your countless contributions to ADP, Black said according to a transcript of the call.

Hadleys compensation will include an annual base salary of $650,000, an annual target bonus of 150% of annual base salary and participation in the long-term incentive compensation program comprised of performance-based stock units and restricted stock units with an expected annual total equity award value of $4.8 million for fiscal 2026, according to the securities filing.
Marianne Akers, the driver in the crash at an after-school camp in Illinois that killed four people, had a seizure, said her lawyer, W. Scott Hanken

The woman has no memory of the freak occurrence" and is devastated, he added

Meanwhile, the Chatham community continues to mourn the loss of four young girls as others recover

The lawyer of the woman who drove through an after-school camp building in Illinois, killing four and injuring six others, says she experienced a seizure and has no memory of the incident.

Speaking with ABC affiliate WICS, lawyer W. Scott Hanken said Marianne Akers, 44, left work at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, April 28, when she experienced a medical emergency while driving her Jeep Wrangler Akers in Chatham.

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She was westbound on Walnut when at 3:20, she suffered what has now been diagnosed and confirmed as a seizure of some type of degree, Hanken said. It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred.

Akers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The crash occurred after Akers Jeep "left the road for unknown reasons, traveled through a field and into the east side" of the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors Summer Camp in Chatham, police said.

Related: Parents Claim 4-Year-Old Was Limp When They Picked Her Up from School. They Were Shocked by Reported Toxicology Results

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The vehicle traveled through the building, striking numerous individuals before crashing through the other side, police added.

Killed in the crash were Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield; Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham and Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham.

Akers, who has not been charged with a crime, is devastated, Hanken told the outlet. He described the tragic accident as a freak occurrence."

No one contemplated this happening. She surely didnt, Hanken told the outlet. It was a perfect storm of events that you know if she could go back in time and change [it] she would, just like anyone else.

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He said that Akers had no history of seizures or any symptoms to indicate a medical issue before the crash. The woman was not on medication that would have affected her ability to drive, WICS reported. She has cooperated fully with law enforcement, Hanken said.

Related: After Her 6-Year-Old Vanished from Their Yard, Mom Screamed When She Was Found Inside Barrel Nearby (Exclusive)

AP Photo/Erin Hooley People gather for a vigil after several people were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. People gather for a vigil after several people were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill.

The lawyers insight is in line with what Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said during a news conference on Thursday, May 1.

Immediately following the crash, Akers was taken to the hospital, where she provided blood and urine samples, and then was released, Kelly said. Initial toxicology results show she tested negative for alcohol or controlled substances, including benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids and phencyclidine (PCP).

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"Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash, however, this investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue," he said of the investigation, which is ongoing.

"All evidence will be submitted to the Sangamon County State's Attorney for a determination of what charges, if any, are appropriate under the law," Kelly said.

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.

In the wake of the accident, the town of Chatham is still reeling.

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Hundreds gathered for a vigil to honor the four victims who died, including an officer who spoke about the emotional toll of responding to the crash.

After being at the scene of the crash, it was incredibly hard, Chatham police officer David Leach told the crowd gathered at Glenwood High School on Wednesday, April 29. I went home and hugged my wife and children and just bawled. I cried my eyes out. The tears have continued to come in waves every day since, and they come without warning.

Read the original article on People
Joined by Michigan Rep. John James, Utah Sen. Mike Lee this week introduced a bill that would work to increase safety for children online.

The bill, titled the App Store Accountability Act, would require app stores to use privacy-protecting age verification and would link childrens accounts to their parents accounts, giving parents the final say on whether the minor can download or purchase apps.

It would also require app stores to annually certify a users age and prohibit the sale of age-related data collection.

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In an opinion piece for The Hill, Lee and Michael Toscano wrote that the legislation tackles the grave danger of apps systemically misleading parents with deceptive ratings, funneling millions of children toward dangerous and inappropriate content.

For too long, Big Tech has profited from app stores through which children in America and across the world access violent and sexual material while risking contact from online predators, Lee said in the bills press release.

The senator promised this legislation would bring age verification and accountability to the source of the problem.

The bill follows Utah legislation passed in 2025

Under the same name, SB142 was signed into Utah law after the most recent legislative session, requiring app developers to verify a users age category and confirm that the users parent gave yearly consent to the app store.

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Utahs version also gives parents of harmed minors the right to sue developers if the app store violates the laws provisions.

During a ceremonial signing by Gov. Spencer Cox on April 4, the bill sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, described the need for this kind of legislation in Utah.

Everyone in this room knows, and every first year law school student knows, that kids cant enter contracts, Weiler said.

However, for decades, app stores have allowed children to do so. Weiler explained, Every time someone downloads an app or an app changes, and it pops up and says do you accept these terms and conditions, were allowing our 11-year-olds, our 13-year-olds and our 15-year-olds to enter into binding contracts.

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CNN reported that if Lees bill were to be signed into law, app stores would need to inform app developers of the users age, and Big Tech may see this as a win amid pressures to make the internet safer for children.

After Weilers bill was passed in Utah, Meta, X and Snap released a joint statement, saying, Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it.

Bill gains support from Utah organization

The Salt Lake City-based think tank the Sutherland Institute expressed support for Lees legislation in a press release Friday morning.

We welcome the introduction of this common-sense measure to protect parents ability to help their children navigate online commerce, Bill Duncan, constitutional law and religious freedom fellow, said, according to the institute.

This bill provides an appropriate and constitutional way to empower parents who want to help their children avoid harmful apps and unfair service contracts, he added.
The official portrait of then-Anne Arundel County Register of Wills Erica Griswold. She was removed from office in July after being sentenced for stealing more than $6,600. (Photo courtesy maryland.gov)

The former Anne Arundel County register of wills who was booted from office last year for misconduct faces new legal problems following a shoplifting conviction.

Erica Griswold was convicted in Anne Arundel County District Court in Glen Burnie Thursday following a nearly 90-minute trial. The conviction is likely to trigger a violation in her probation for a 2024 guilty plea related to stealing more than $6,600.

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Griswold, sitting at the defense table, shook her head in disagreement as prosecutors recounted her theft of a dozen household items valued at more than $160.

Im just really sorry that all this is happening and that it happened, Griswold told Anne Arundel District Court Judge Shaem Spencer before receiving her sentence at the end of a bench trial.

My intention was clear, I thought, on that day, she said. I did not intend on concealing, or taking, or stealing anything. It is not who I am or what I do.

Prosecutors said that Griswold knowingly and intentionally failed to ring up and pay for items before attempting to leave a Walmart in Severn on March 18.

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A security employee from the store said she spotted Griswold on cameras pushing a cart laden with merchandise. From those cameras, the employee said she watched as Griswold failed to ring some items and used a tag from a reusable bag costing less than a dollar to make it appear she was scanning other items.

Defense attorneys countered that a conviction requires that a person knowingly and intentionally act. Griswolds public defender described the checkout as chaotic, with items being scanned and placed on all sides of the register and on the floor and in a second empty cart provided by a store employee.

During her own testimony, Griswold said she was rushing out of the store because of a call about an uncle who had just been admitted to the hospital. Under cross-examination, she told prosecutors that the call came just as she arrived at the self-checkout lane.

Griswold said she remembered telling store security, God has his way of showing me things and that day it was to slow down.

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Video of the area did not show a phone call. Griswold and her attorney offered no other evidence of a call or hospital admission.

During the cross-examination, prosecutors also attempted to bring in Griswolds 2024 guilty plea for misconduct in office, but Spencer agreed with the defense to block admission of that information. The judge also said Griswolds explanation of events lacked credibility, however.

Im sworn to uphold the law, but I do not check my common sense at the door, Spencer said.

Particularly damning to Griswolds case was a 21-minute video. Spencer watched the video, which showed Griswold with an overflowing cart, completing four separate transactions.

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Griswold and her attorney described a chaotic scene that included multiple assists from a store employee during those separate transactions.

Spencer said he saw something else  Griswold scanning items the judge said he believed were lower cost. Then Griswold concealed other unscanned items or moved more expensive items into her cart, Spencer said.

The video was not played in open court. Instead, it was described in turns by the judge, a store security guard, and prosecutors.

Spencer silently viewed it twice from the bench using a laptop provided by prosecutors. As he watched, he made notes on a yellow legal pad.

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Griswold also viewed a portion of the video  shown to impeach part of her testimonty  from the prosecutions laptop.

Spencer sentenced Griswold to 6 months in jail but suspended that sentence and added 3 years supervised probation. He also ordered her to pay a fine equal to the value of the merchandise she attempted to steal. (A Walmart employee told the court the items were restocked for sale after they documented them for evidence in the case.)

Griswold expressed concern that her 2024 case cast a cloud over this trial, affecting her sentence, but Spencer cut her off, saying he blocked prosecutors from introducing the case in court and refused to hear details about it.

Griswold has 30 days to appeal Spencers ruling.

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In the meantime, she also faces the likelihood of going back before the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge who sentenced her last summer.

At the time, Griswold was the county register of wills. She had just pleaded guilty to stealing and cashing a $6,645 check intended to pay estate taxes.

Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Stacy McCormack in July imposed a term of 18 months in prison, but suspended the sentence and tacked on two years of unsupervised probation. Griswold was immediately removed from office as a result of the plea.

Thursdays conviction will likely trigger a violation of that sentence and land Griswold back in Circuit Court where she could face additional sanctions, including all or part of the suspended jail term.

 This story was updated on Friday, May 2, to correct the status of Griswolds probation from her 2024 to unsupervised probation.
BEACHWOOD, Ohio (WJW)  A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a former Northeast Ohio nanny with sexually exploiting toddlers, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday.

Molly Duncan, 25, of Beachwood, is charged with sexual exploitation of children, distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Man critically injured in fall at Pittsburgh Pirates game is former Walsh University football player

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A previous criminal complaint said Duncan allegedly created sexual abuse materials of toddler-aged victims in their Northeast Ohio homes while she was a nanny.

According to the Friday indictment, Duncan allegedly sexually exploited the first child between November 2023 and March 2024 and the second child between April 2024 and July 2024.

Duncan is accused of using a mobile app to send child pornography to others, the indictment said.

Law enforcement officers confiscated multiple electronic devices while conducting a search at the suspects Beachwood home. According to the criminal complaint, investigators found child pornography on the devices.

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Babysitter arrested after toddler severely burned in Akron now facing felony charges

If convicted, Duncan could face up to 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation charge, and up to 20 years in prison for the distribution charge, the Department of Justice said.

The case remains under investigation by the Cleveland Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies. Anyone with information should reach out to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 216-698-3151.

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Video: Attorney for Hot Spring County Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner speaks after plea deal, Feb. 14, 2025

SALINE COUNTY, Ark.  The former sheriff of Hot Spring County has been arrested and jailed in Saline County on Friday.

Inmate records show Scott Finkbeiner is being held on behalf of the FBI.

The FBI confirmed that the former sheriff was arrested on a court authorized document, which was confirmed by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Arkansas. A spokesperson for that office confirmed that Finkbeiner is scheduled to appear in court at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 5, and would make no further statements on the matter.

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Hot Spring County Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner enters federal plea deal, released until sentencing and resigns from office

Finkbeiner pleaded guilty in February to falsifying, concealing and misleading information in an FBI drug activity investigation, count two of the six federal charges he was facing related to the FBI investigation. He resigned his position as sheriff the same day and is awaiting sentencing.

He had ceased all law enforcement duties as of December 2023 after federal and county charges were brought against him surrounding the FBI investigation. Finkbeiner is still facing state charges in Hot Spring County of unauthorized access to criminal records for personal gain and a second charge of sexual solicitation.

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CHICAGO  Former Illinois Governor George Ryan, who served time in prison for corruption, has died at 91.

Ryan, a Republican who served as the 39th governor of Illinois from 1999 to 2003, died Friday, the Kankakee County Coroner has confirmed.

20 years later: Former Gov. Ryan reflects on decision to end death penalty

Alongside his time as Governor, Ryan also served as Illinois Secretary of State from 1991 to 1999 and as the states Lieutenant Governor from 1983 to 1991.

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Ryan captured national headlines and angered some in his own party when he imposed a moratorium on executions in Illinois in January of 2000. Three years later, he commuted the sentences of 167 convicted who were on or waiting to be sent to Illinois death row.

Former Gov. George Ryan details banning death penalty in new memoir

Following his time in office, Ryan was convicted on fraud and racketeering charges in 2006 and later served more than five years in federal prison.

Ryan was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, but grew up in Kankakee County and attended Kankakee High School. In 1954, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and eventually served a 13-month tour in Kora.

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Following his time in the service, he married his high school sweetheart, Lura Lynn Ryan, who died of lung cancer in 2011. The two had five daughters and one son.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Ryans cause of death is currently unclear.

The current governor of Illinois issued a statement following the news of his death.

Sending my deepest condolences to former Governor Ryans family and loved ones, Gov. Pritzker said in a statement on X.

Scott Fawell, who served as Ryans Chief of Staff, also oissued a statement, calling Ryan a great leader and friend.

I was sorry to hear the news today of the passing of former Governor George Ryan. My deepest condolences go out to the entire Ryan family. George Ryan not only left his family behind, but countless friends all across Illinois. For me personally, he was both a mentor and a great friend, Fawell said. {Georges legacy was his strong belief that working across the aisle with both Republicans and Democrats was the best way to accomplish great things, and the best way to serve all the people of Illinois. He was a great leader as well as a good and compassionate man. He will be missed.

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Wind turbines along west-bound Interstate 80 on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A slew of business organizations, as well as AARP and several former members of the Iowa Utilities Commission, are opposing an energy bill proposed by the governor, because they say it would negatively affect Iowa ratepayers.

In addition to granting existing utilities the right of first refusal to new transmission projects, House File 834 and Senate File 585 expand the projects that can pursue ratemaking principles and set rules for utility resource planning.

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Opponents argue these elements of the bills would give big utilities a carte-blanche to add more capital investments in the state regardless of impact to ratepaying Iowans.

Utility companies MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy are in favor of the bill and disagreed with the assertions that it would not benefit ratepayers.

The policies in the bill allow us to deliver on our promise to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy when our customers need it, a spokesperson for MidAmerican said in a statement.

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Five former members of the Iowa Utilities Commission, or the Iowa Utilities Board as it was formerly titled, penned a letter to lawmakers and urged them to pause the current legislation.

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The letter said the bill has potential to shift the risk/benefit ratemaking balance away from ratepayers and towards investors.

Ratemaking

In the early 2000s, Iowa authorized ratemaking principles to account for the added risk of investments into alternative energy sources, like wind and solar, which were new at the time. Under advance ratemaking principles, the IUC pre-authorizes the costs that can be recovered from eligible facilities to address uncertainty from rate-regulated utilities towards certain generation facilities.

These principles, according to the letter from former IUC members, freed regulators from traditional ratemaking principles and granted them premium returns on equity at levels that ranged between 1% to 2% above the national average.

The bill would expand the projects eligible for these ratemaking principles with the intent of attracting energy storage and nuclear electric power generation facilities in the state.

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With these changes, Iowa ratepayers could be paying some of the highest (return on equities) in the country for another round of very large utility investments, the letter read.

The former IUC members cited a report completed by an outside firm in 2023, per requests of the Iowa Legislature, to review Iowa utility ratemaking laws and procedures.

The study found that rate-regulated utilities can receive advanced ratemaking approval with relative ease and that the IUC had limited ability to determine whether an asset would truly benefit the electric system and the ratepayers that pay for it.

It also said precedent around advanced ratemaking facilitates infrastructure build-up without thorough assessment by the IU(C)

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The former IUC members said they commend legislators for taking ratemaking reform seriously but they recommend pausing the current legislation or amending the bill, to better address the issue in a way that protects ratepayers.

Geoff Greenwood, media relations manager for MidAmerican, said the letter ignores that the returns can only be approved if they are found to be in the publics interest.

MidAmericans track record over the past two decades proves that the policies in the bill allow us to deliver on our promise to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy when our customers need it, Greenwood said in a statement.

He said returns on equity are approved after a robust process in the IUC with input from the Office of the Consumer Advocate and customers. Greenwoods said the returns are not premium because they reflect the cost and risk of long-term investments as they are applied to the 30- to 40-year lifespan of a facility.

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Latest figures from MidAmerican point to average utility rates in Iowa that are 44% below the national average.

The use of non-traditional advance ratemaking principles is exactly what has made Iowa exceptional and resulted in some of the lowest electricity rates in the country, Greenwood said.

He said MidAmerican additionally uses a method of revenue sharing that allows the company to use revenue, beyond a certain level of return, to pay off company generating facilities so that customers wont bear those costs in the future.

This customer-first mechanism incentivizes MidAmerican to better manage its operations and, when that happens, customers benefit, Greenwood said in the statement.

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The bill would also remove the requirement that projects are a baseload electric power generating facility, or one that essentially operates at all times, and lowers the generating capacity of the facility from at least 300 megawatts to 40 megawatts.

Bob Rafferty, with Iowa Businesses for Clean Energy which is one of the groups opposed to the bill, said these changes would allow companies to seek higher ratemaking principles on projects like gas peaker plants.

Per MidAmerican documents, a newly proposed $600 million peaker plant project would operate when demand is high, or peaking, and is expected to operate less than 10% of the year.

A fact sheet on the plants say they are a key addition to the companys all-of-the-above generation strategy to meet the expected increased demand of the next 20 years.

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But Rafferty said utility companies have an incentive to build more capital assets, like generating stations and transmission lines, because they can profit from them.

He said its important to make sure the system doesnt allow a company to determine how many capital assets they need to build, as he alleges the bill would do.

Resource planning

Opponents are also worried about a line in the bill that says utilities should submit resource plans to the IUC that reflect the circumstances and management judgment of an electric utility. Rafferty said this means an investor-owned utility would have to create its resource plans in line with what would benefit its shareholders, rather than ratepayers.

Iowa is currently one of a handful of states that does not require an integrated resource plan, defined by Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance as an examination of energy supply, demand and potential risks to meeting demand at a reasonable cost.

Gov. Kim Reynolds gave her 2025 Condition of the State Address at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines Jan. 14, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Gov. Kim Reynolds energy plan for the state, on which the bill is based, notes the need for integrated resource planning, or IRP, to comprehensively look at what energy sources will be needed for further growth in the state.

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Current law requires utilities to submit energy efficiency plans every five years, with five- or 20-year energy needs forecasts.

Rafferty said when a utility proposes an investment be considered for ratemaking principles, the utilities commission doesnt get the big picture of the projects impact on the state without an IRP.

What the IRP should do is require it to be in the ratepayers best interest, and the Iowa Utility Commission needs to be empowered to make sure that that is, in fact, the case, he said.

ROE Letter 4-24-25

Former members of the Iowa Utilities Commission, Richard Lozier, Jr., Geri Huser, Sheila Tipton, Darrell Hanson and John Norris wrote a letter to legislators opposing the bill.

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Under the bill, the Iowa Utilities Commission may make recommendations to the utilities on the resource plan, and the company must make a good faith effort to inform and include suggestions from the commissioners, consumer advocate and stakeholders.

The legislation, as its currently constructed  would give the utilities a carte blanche to make any investment that they want and to earn a premium return on equity, Rafferty said.

Rafferty as part of Iowa Businesses for Clean Energy, has banded with lobbyists from Iowa Business Energy Coalition, AARP, Iowa Economic Alliance, National Federation of Independent Business, Iowa Retail Federation and LSPower in opposition of the bill and to suggest lawmakers either fix it or forget it.

An amendment suggested by the bill opponents would make it so that facilities outlined in resource plans are in customers best interests.

The proposed amendment would also allow the IUC to approve, reject or modify a resource plan and would greatly expand the ability of stakeholders to participate and weigh in on the plans.

The bill, as is, stipulates a resource plan should consider all reasonable resources and should include adequate, cost-effective, and reliable energy service considering costs, fuel diversity, and probable future demand for energy.

Rafferty said legislators need to think of utility rates like they think about taxes for Iowans.

Their vote will determine whether taxes go up, or taxes dont go up, he said.

A spokesperson from Alliant Energy said the bill will strengthen and help grow Iowa communities to meet the states future energy needs.

We commend Governor Reynolds for leading on energy policy that promotes an all-the-above energy strategy, enhances customer transparency and participation for generation planning and is focused on driving economic development in this state, the spokesperson said in an email.

Greenwood with MidAmerican said the bill is important in updating Iowas policies that have been effective for customers for decades and will keep the state from falling behind other states.

Simply put, Iowas energy policy  as it is currently as well as the bills proposed updates  works for Iowans, Greenwood said.

Lawmakers noted during House hearings in early February the bill would have some amendments before it would be ready for floor debate. As legislators close out the 110th day of session, the bill remains stuck in a Senate appropriations committee and a House subcommittee.

House Speaker Pat Grassley said Thursday to reporters that the caucus is focusing on the budget before taking up significant pieces of policy. When asked specifically about ROFR and the energy bill as a whole, the Republican leader said its still pretty divided among representatives.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Police arrested a former employee at a Wichita Falls convenience store convicted of theft in July 2024 after prosecutors filed a motion alleging she violated the terms of her probation sentence.

Amanda Lynn Straub, 37, of Wichita Falls, pleaded guilty to theft over $2,500 and under $30,000 on July 18, 2024, and was sentenced to five years of probation and required to complete 120 hours of community service.

Straub was booked into the Wichita County Jail on Thursday, May 1, 2025, after 30th District Court Judge Jeff McKnight granted a motion to proceed with the adjudication of her guilt on April 22, 2025, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

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PREVIOUS STORY: JJs fast shop employee jailed for alleged embezzlement

Straub posted her bond of $10,001 and was released from jail the same day.

According to the prosecutions motion, Straub violated the terms of her community supervision by admitting to using drugs on July 24, 2024. Shes also accused of remaining unemployed, though shes required to have a job, according to the terms of her probation.

Prosecutors also alleged that Straub is behind on her required community service by more than 46 hours.

According to police, Straubs theft charge stems from 2023, when a manager at JJs Fast Stop on Kell Boulevard and McNiel Avenue discovered that between January and April, she had stolen money from the cash register.

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The manager also said Straub took lottery scratch-off tickets and consumable items without paying. Authorities said the total value of cash and products stolen by Straub was $3,200.48.

According to the affidavit, Straub was terminated after her theft was discovered.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Former Kern District 2 Supervisor Zack Scrivner was due back in court Thursday morning for his pre-trial hearing.

He was not required to attend, so his attorney H.A. Sala showed up on Scrivners behalf. Scrivners criminal case was postponed to July. The case has been ongoing for a year, yet its still in its very early stages. Its not even clear at this point if theres enough evidence to proceed with a trial. Though the former supervisor was nowhere to be seen, estranged wife Christina Scrivner and victims rights advocate Lauren Skidmore attended.

This was Scrivners first court date since his arraignment February 14.

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He faces five felony charges  including child abuse and weapons possession. Sala requested a continuance, due to the amount of discovery  evidence  to sort through. 17 News asked about the possibility of a plea deal, as well as what type of discovery exists in this case.

Sala declined to comment, though he has previously said a plea deal is possible in any case.



Last week marked one year since the allegations of child sexual assault first surfaced against Scrivner. It took 10 months for charges to be filed, and the California Department of Justice is handling prosecution, due to a conflict of interest  Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer is Scrivners aunt.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A former CCSD social studies teacher, professor at Nevada State College, and visiting lecturer at UNLV was arrested in Texas Tuesday on child pornography-related charges, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Zaid Mashour Haddad, whose professional resume includes a semester as a visiting lecturer in teacher education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2013 and a semester as an adjunct faculty member at Nevada State College in 2011, teaches at the University of Texas at San Antonio, according to a bio page on the colleges website.

The United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas, in a news release, says Haddad streamed child sexual abuse material, colloquially known as child pornography, on a TV mounted on the bedroom wall of his apartment. As the FBI executed a search warrant on Haddads apartment, the release says a CSAM video was displayed on that TV set. The U.S. Attorneys office says FBI agents reviewed the link Haddad was using to stream the video, which he received through the cloud-based messaging app Telegram  known for its encryption features  and that it contained 181 different videos. Haddad also used links that led to virtual Zoom meetings where CSAM would be live-streamed using a separate file-sharing application, the release says.

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The CBS affiliate in San Antonio asked USTA for information this week, and a university spokesman told the station, KENS 5, that a faculty member was arrested in a criminal investigation unrelated to UTSA.

Haddads USTA bio and professional resume also reference five years, from 2004 to 2009, as a social studies teacher at Canyon Springs High School in the Clark County School District. It says he teaches courses at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral level.

Haddad is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of knowingly accessing with intent to view any material that contained an image of child pornography, according to the release, If convicted, Haddad faces up to 20 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, the release says.

Requests for comment from the Clark County School District, UNLV, and Nevada State College were not returned immediately.

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"Wealth.com's rise is a strong indicator that digital estate planning is rapidly moving from a peripheral concern to a core, technologically enabled component of modern wealth management," said Loureiro.

Wealth.com CEO and co-founder Rafael Loureiro is optimistic about the future of his firm, which now works on a per-seat pricing basis with over 1,000 firms representing more than $15 trillion in assets, according to the company.

In only its first year on the T3 survey  and with an average satisfaction rating of 8.24 out of 10  one of the fast-growing entrants in this category in 2025 was Wealth.com. This month, Wealth.com announced that Charles Schwab had made a minority investment in it, following on the heels of partnerships with Cetera and eMoney. Last September, Wealth.com received a $30 million Series A investment from GV (formerly Google Ventures).

"Estate planning is no longer just something you revisit every 10 years with an attorney," said Jordan Gilberti, founder of Sage Wealth Group in New York City. "It is becoming a core, ongoing part of holistic financial planning. Advisors are being asked to connect the dots between investments, taxes and legacy planning in a way that is both accessible and actionable."

Behind that trend, said William Trout, director of securities and investments at technology data firm Datos Insights, are several factors: demographic shifts with aging baby boomers creating the largest wealth transfer in history; growing client demand for comprehensive financial planning beyond investment management; estate planning becoming more accessible to more clients, not just the ultra-wealthy, thanks to technology; and financial advisors seeking ways to add value and differentiate their services.

Estate planning is becoming an increasingly important part of general service offerings for financial advisors. Last year's Technology Tools for Today (T3)/Inside Information Advisor Software Survey included categories for estate and tax planning for the first time. This year's survey showed estate planning tools had reached 43.28% market penetration, up from 15.84% only two years ago.

And while the use of these applications has grown exponentially, some advisors and attorneys say caution is warranted.

Adoption of estate planning tools by financial advisors has steadily grown over the past few years as clients continue to expect more offerings and even family office-style services.

Story continues

One of Wealth.com's main competitors is Vanilla, which more than doubled its market share between the 2024 and 2025 T3 surveys. It too is growing; earlier this month, Vanilla announced a partnership with Mariner, giving access to over 700 advisors managing $560 billion in assets.

READ MORE: The financial planning applications advisors can't do without

Vanilla has supported the modeling of over 16,000 estates, reviewed more than 40,000 documents and costs $3,500 to $7,500 per user, depending on the level of access and platform features needed, the company stated.

"Estate planning is one of the most reliable return on investment drivers in an advisor's business," said Steve Lockshin, co-founder of Vanilla. "We see it every day. It opens the door to new relationships, increases wallet share and drives retention. Clients expect this kind of guidance, and they should. Without it, they'll either leave or stay dissatisfied. Advisors who put estate planning at the forefront are going to win."

Trout said Vanilla uses AI to scale estate advisory services, with tools that help onboard clients, summarize documents and build plans quickly.

"Vanilla transforms complex estate documents into clear, interactive visualizations to help clients understand their plans," he said.

Vanilla also offers tools to help advisors calculate potential federal and state estate tax implications of clients' current estates and is used by many attorneys to streamline client onboarding and demonstrate how complex estate plans work, said Trout. However, Vanilla has less focus on document generation than Wealth.com, which positions itself as an end-to-end solution. This means it may require more advisor involvement in the process, he said.

Another competitor in this space is Trust & Will, which Trout said has a "simple, user-friendly interface" but fewer advisor-specific features because it was originally business-to-consumer focused, with business-to-business offerings added later.

Estate planning tools are gaining traction in part because they make that conversation easier for both clients and advisors, said Gilberti.

"Trust & Will is simple and user friendly, great for younger clients or those with more straightforward needs," he said. "Vanilla goes deep on tax efficiency and analytics, making it appealing to high net worth households and estate planning specialists. The challenge with any platform is making sure it fits within your existing workflow and still leaves room for the nuanced conversations only a human advisor can provide."



Estate planning isn't so simple: Advisors and attorneys urge caution



Not everyone is on board with estate planning tools for advisors. Patrick Simasko, elder law attorney and financial advisor at Simasko Law in Mount Clemens, Michigan, said he attended the 2024 Schwab IMPACT conference last November, where he spoke with one of the vendors that was promoting the advisor-driven estate planning service.

"Why hire an attorney when they can offer you AI of the tools on their platform for free?" he said. "While it sounds great, there are huge risks involved."

Simasko said it's not only the potential "unauthorized practice of law" by the advisor when they are helping clients create their estate plans, but also, "it's knowing how they work when unexpected things happen."

"Even though they are easy to create, trusts are very complicated, as are beneficiary designations," he said. "When people and beneficiaries die out of order, have second marriages, add stepchildren to their family or have children with special needs or drug problems, all need to be addressed and then implemented by using specific plans and documents."

The estate planning documents are tools in a toolbox, said Simasko, "and if you do not know how to use them, terrible things can happen."

"To get around the unauthorized practice of law, the advisor has to let the clients answer their questions  and it can be super easy to create, but devastating consequences to your loved ones if done wrong," he said.

The problem, as some experts see it, is that many people think they have a "simple" estate. The reality is that most people have complex estates or family structures and no idea of the nightmare that a do-it-yourself estate plan may create for their heirs.

"The ones who benefit from these DIY plans are the litigation attorneys who handle cleaning up the mess left by most of these," said Evan H. Farr, principal attorney at Farr Law Firm in Fairfax, Virginia, who specializes in estate planning and elder law. "If proper documents are not drafted by an experienced estate planning attorney, then it is much more likely that these documents will contain ambiguities, and the DIYer will not be around to clarify what was meant, and it then becomes a family fight. Having properly drafted documents done for you by an experienced attorney can keep a family from splitting apart down the road."

Jonathan Barlow, managing partner and an estate and trust litigation attorney for Clear Counsel Law Group in Henderson, Nevada, said he often handles disputes that arise after someone dies, particularly involving software-generated wills and trusts. These tools frequently fail to capture the decedent's true intentions, and these ambiguities create serious family conflicts , he said.

"For example, in one case I handled recently, a mother had used a fill-in-the-blank will program," he said. "She wrote, 'I give all my possessions to my daughter.' This seemingly simple statement created significant problems. What does 'possessions' mean? This isn't standard legal terminology for describing property. Did she mean her house, car and personal effects? Or just personal items like clothing and jewelry? Her daughter argued it meant everything, while her two sons argued it couldn't include the house because their mother would never intentionally disinherit them."

Some advisors, too, express concerns and counsel caution. Robert S. Jeter II, vice president and financial advisor with InFocus Financial Advisors in Salisbury, Maryland, said he hasn't used estate planning tools. Instead, he employs an attorney with expertise in crafting a legal template to a particular set of circumstances.

"Outside of general advice on the mechanics, I find intervening in that process to be the unauthorized practice of law, or darn close," he said.

Jon J. Robertson, president, director of financial planning and partner at Abacus Planning Group in Columbia, South Carolina, said in one case, a client had a new will drawn up with DIY tools without realizing that the bulk of his assets were held inside a revocable trust.

"It was a bad experience for all involved," he said. "I have also seen documents that were incorrectly executed, but fortunately they engaged an attorney before the documents were ever necessary."



Advisors are there to help



In response to these issues, Loureiro said the concerns were part of a "fear-mongering" narrative "that anything short of a traditional law firm is dangerous." He said this is why many Americans don't have any kind of estate plan at all.

"Dying without a plan is what has caused the greatest financial loss to families, ignited countless inheritance disputes and led advisors to lose relationships and AUM across generations," he said. "Advisors should help their clients think through their legacy planning goals and objectives. The estate plan, after all, is the bookend to any sound financial plan. Without it, the financial plan is incomplete, plain and simple. Helping a client think through their family mission statement, their charitable giving strategy and the intended disposition of their assets is directly in the wheelhouse of what an advisor should be doing."

Regardless of whether they incorporate estate planning tools into their practices, financial advisors can add tremendous value by helping clients clarify estate planning goals and risks prior to engaging an attorney.

"The attorney knows more about estate planning than we do, but we frequently have information about the client, family system or financial situation that helps create the optimal plan for the client's situation," said Robertson. "We can help monitor the plan because we frequently meet with the client more frequently than the attorney."
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevadas parole board will decide whether a former police officer who is in prison in connection with the murder of a woman in 1997 should be a free man. A parole hearing is scheduled for Arthur Sewell, 58, on Monday.



Sewell, a former Las Vegas Metro police officer, began serving a six to 15-year prison sentence in 2023 after entering a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon enhancement.



Nadia Iverson, 20, died of a gunshot wound in May 1997. Her body was found inside a home under construction in downtown Las Vegas. An investigation revealed that Iverson may have been sexually assaulted.



Marie Coker, Iversons sister, who lives out of state, told the 8 News Now Investigators she

will attend the hearing to try to prevent Sewells release from prison.



Still making the trips on my own finances, Coker said. So he gets to see me and my sister. Every chance, I get up there to stand to be a voice for her.



The crime was unsolved until 2018 after the state of Nevada tested decades-old rape kits. Sewells DNA was found to be a match in Iversons killing, police said



While Las Vegas Metro police said Iverson was a sex worker who struggled with a drug problem, Iversons loved ones told the 8 News Now Investigators she was not a sex worker. Coker said that she had only been in Las Vegas for a short period and had been going through a tough time after a failed relationship, and her mother was in a serious car accident.



In a video obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators, two cold case detectives interviewed Sewell and told him a gun that he owned was connected to the crime scene. For more than an hour, Sewall denied involvement before admitting to killing Iverson.



I went out with the intention of sexual gratification, and when my .357 went off, it freaked me out and I bolted and panicked, Sewall told the detectives.



A Clark County District Court judge later determined Sewells confession could not be used in the murder case because detectives kept questioning Sewell without an attorney. The judge also determined that his Miranda rights were violated.



Months before Iverson was killed, Sewall resigned from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He was convicted of abusing his power as a law enforcement officer after he was caught on video exchanging favors for sexual acts.



Sewell is serving his time at Ely State Prison. According to prison records, Sewell has used both Sewell and Sewall for his surname.



Coker said the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners initially informed her Sewell would be up for parole in 2026. A victim services coordinator later informed her this was incorrect, and confirmed a May 2025 hearing.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A former Myrtle Beach mayor and a person running for mayor are speaking out on the citys response to last weekends deadly officer-involved shooting on Ocean Boulevard.

A Myrtle Beach police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Jerrius Davis after authorities say Davis shot into a crowd on the Boulevard.

News13 spoke with former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and current mayoral candidate Mark Kruea. Both say the city needs to come forward with more information on how its handling the investigation.

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It gives the appearance of a cover-up, and it is what it is. The truth. The truth, McBride said. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. So if the truth isnt painful, then release it.

City officials held a news conference on Wednesday addressing the investigation. Police Chief Amy Prock refused to say how many people involved in the shooting were actually shot.

McBride says city council needs to speak up on the matter.

Someone on that council should be saying, We need to have a city council meeting. We need to meet and let the city manager know,' McBride said. We want transparency. We want those released. Now, Mr. city manager, what our policy is, is transparency. Release it.

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Mayoral candidate Mark Kruea says the citys new conference came off defensive instead of informative and that businesses concerns on the Boulevard should be heard.

You know, transparency is more than just a word, Kruea said. If you want the public to have confidence in your actions and your words, you need to act in transparent ways. And waiting four days to do that news conference really didnt send the right message.

Myrtle Beach currently has a curfew for minors between midnight and 6 a.m. Kruea says that curfew should be reinstated more often to help prevent future crime on the Boulevard.

I think the city needs to take responsibility for the safety of the public. Were inviting people down to Ocean Boulevard and everywhere else in Myrtle Beach, he said. We need to work with our partners. If we dont have resources, we need to get the resources. Were police officers short, and have been for several years now. I think everything needs to be on the table. We need to have those conversations rather than saying, Oh, everythings fine. This is a one-time incident. No, we have that conversation.

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News13 originally had an interview set up with Mayor Brenda Bethune on Thursday, but she canceled. Were waiting on a statement from her.

News13 also reached out to all members of the Myrtle Beach City Council, but only one responded and was unable to do an interview.

* * *

Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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(WKBN)  The former chief of a western Pennsylvania community was sentenced Friday on narcotics charges.

Shawn Denning, 44, was sentenced to 15 months in prison following his guilty plea last year to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. He will also have to pay a $2,000 fine and be on parole for two years when he gets out.

Prosecutors say that during the time that Denning was the Greensburg police chief, he was involved in a nationwide drug conspiracy and had helped numerous people buy narcotics from suppliers in California. Those narcotics included cocaine and methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills.

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One of the people Denning conspired with was former Greensburg police officer Regina McAtee, who also pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and will be sentenced later this month.

McAtee admitted to ordering fake Adderall pills online with Denning, which really contained meth, and then sold the pills to Denning for him to distribute along with other dealers.

The DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, IRS  Criminal Investigation and FBI conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

Drew Miller contributed to this report.

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Credit: Possessed instagram

Brian Montana, a former guitarist with Californian death metal pioneers Possessed has been shot dead by armed police in San Francisco, following an escalation of dispute with a neighbour on April 28. Montana was 60 years old.

Montana played with Possessed in 1983/'84, and played on their 1984 demo cassette Death Metal, from which Metal Blade boss took the song Swing Of The Axe as the opening track of his label's 1985 compilation Metal Massacre VI. The band's classic debut album, Seven Churches, was released by Combat Records later in 1985.

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According to police reports, Montana was killed following an armed stand-off with police, after they were called to the area after reports of gunshots.

A statement from the South San Francisco Police Department reads:

"South San Francisco Police Department in conjunction with the San Mateo County District Attorneys Office is actively investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 28, 2025 at about 5:52 pm. at a home on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive. South San Francisco Police Department received a 911 call regarding an active disturbance where a suspect was brandishing a firearm at a neighbor on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive. Officers began arriving on scene at 5:55 pm and immediately requested additional units because the suspect with the firearm was now actively shooting into an occupied residence. The suspect then re-positioned himself into a driveway of that neighboring residence and concealed his location behind parked vehicles while still armed.

"Over the next 25 minutes, the suspect armed himself with three different types of firearms (handgun, shotgun, and rifle) and fired at officers from different locations within the driveway while seeking cover and concealment using both vehicles in the driveway and landscaping. Officers used police vehicles as cover from the barage of gunfire and were able to return fire. Officers were able to strike the suspect, effectively preventing him from continued shooting at officers and nearby residences. Once the suspect was confirmed he was no longer a threat to officers, an approach to take him into custody was made and he was found to be non-responsive. Life saving measures were performed and medical personnel were called to the scene. The suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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"One resident from the home that the suspect was shooting at sustained a non-life threatening injury and was transported to a local trauma hospital. Nearby residences were also checked and officers confirmed no one else was injured. No officers were injured during this critical incident.

"We are able to confirm there are two officers who fired their weapons. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary in Officer Involved Shooting protocols.

"In the coming weeks, we intend to release additional information, including audio and video recordings. Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is encouraged to contact the South San Francisco Police Department."

The police statement adds, "This investigation is still active. Information could change as the investigation continues."
(WHTM)  A former PPL executive announced she is running for Congress in the Lehigh Valley.

Carol Obando-Derstine (D) announced Thursday that she will run for Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District seat, which freshman Republican Congressman Ryan Mackenzie currently holds.

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A Colombian immigrant, Obando-Derstine shared her growth from a volunteer candy striper in high school to earning two masters degrees. She worked as the Executive Director of the non-profits Skills USA Council and the Childrens Coalition of the Lehigh Valley.

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After earning a masters degree in energy engineering, Obando-Derstine worked for PPL as its regional affairs director. She also served as Senator Bob Caseys Regional Manager and as a member of Governor Tom Wolfs Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.

Pennsylvania Treasury giving away $5,529; Heres who qualifies

Obando-Derstine says shes running to fight for real economic change, to stand up to extremist Republicans, and to fight for the American dream.

I will never stop fighting against shameful policies that tear away at the American Dream, make us less free, and make life harder for every single American, says Obando-Derstines campaign website.

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House Democrats targeting 35 Republicans in 2026

Mackenzie, who previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, narrowly ousted incumbent Congresswoman Susan Wild in 2024 by 1%.

Obando-Derstine says shes been endorsed by Wild for her old seat. Former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure (D) has also launched a campaign to face Mackenzie in the 2026 general election.

The 7th district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, and parts of Monroe County.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Former Providence state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell is attempting a political comeback, confirming to 12 News shes running in the special election to fill the open District 4 Senate seat after the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.

The former Democratic lawmaker said Thursday she will be knocking on every single door in the district, which contains parts of North Providence and Providence.

Ranglin-Vassell, 64, previously served as state representative for District 5 from 2017 until 2023 after she defeated then-House Majority Leader John DeSimone by 16 votes. She did not seek reelection in 2022.

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Ruggerio, who held the seat since 1985, died last month after a lengthy battle with cancer and other ailments. The R.I. Board of Elections has a meeting tentatively scheduled for May 6 to determine a timeline for the special election.

RELATED: Lawson, Ciccone tapped to lead RI Senate after death of Ruggerio

Ranglin-Vassell is currently a teacher at Central High School.

The former legislator didnt go in-depth on which policies she would run on during the campaign, emphasizing she wants to listen to neighbors to see whats on their minds. She also explained she hasnt stopped working for residents in her former district since leaving the General Assembly, and wants to extend that work now to all of District 4.

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Two other Democrats have also expressed public interest in running for the seat: North Providence Town Council President Dino Autiello and District 2 Town Councilman Stefano Famiglietti.

Both Autiello, 42, and Famiglietti, 33, said they are going to get together in the coming days to discuss the election. Both expressed a desire for someone with ties to North Providence to be elected to the seat.

Famiglietti also chairs the North Providence Democratic Town Committee, which could play a role in assisting a candidate they believe fits that description of having ties to the town.

RELATED: District 4 hopefuls emerge after death of Senate President Ruggerio

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Ranglin-Vassell declined to directly respond to the councilmen, but said she lives two minutes away from North Providence, frequently shops there and as neighbors would still love the opportunity to meet them.

Other potential candidates for the seat include Lenny Cioe, a nurse who unsuccessfully ran against Ruggerio three times, and R.I. Democratic Party National Committeewoman Nicole Verdi.

No Republican or independent has publicly expressed interest in running for the seat, but R.I. Young Republicans Chairman Ken Naylor said the organization is actively fielding a candidate.

Ranglin-Vassell said a formal announcement, including more of her policy goals, will be coming soon.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT)  Before President Donald Trump took the stage inside Coleman Coliseum, former presidential candidate and Texas congressman Beto ORourke invoked the sacrifices made by everyday Americans that led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 before a crowd of protestors.

We asked him why he decided to travel to Tuscaloosa from Texas to speak at the UA College Democrats Tide against Trump rally at Snow Hinton Park on Thursday.

Trump invited himself, he explained. I was invited by the students to be here. It was easy for me to say yes, I want to support what theyre doing.

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Some in the crowd held up homemade signs reading no tie-rants and hands off free speech. We asked ORourke why he thought this was the best way to address concerns about President Donald Trump delivering a commencement address before the speech even takes place:

GALLERY: President Donald Trump arrives in Tuscaloosa to deliver special commencement speech at the University of Alabama

Weve had the benefit of listening to President Trump demean and degrade our fellow Americans, show absolute cruelty to the people of this country, especially the most vulnerable, it is time for us to fight back, he said.

We spoke with two women who attended the protest, one who works as a contractor for UAB in Birmingham and the other is a graduating senior at UA who had a ticket to the commencement address, but attended the protest instead.

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I work as an independent contractor for UAB, Caroline Sparrow explained, recruiting scientists and doctors to UAB, what he is doing to the NIH, and funding for science and research is going to be devastating not only to UAB, but to the state of Alabama.

We still dont really know why that theyve been detained, said UA Senior Madison Gore, at first people didnt even know where they were located, and so I think the lack of transparency, just snatching someone away from their home for no real reason is just frightening.

She is referring to the detention of UA doctoral student Alireza Doroudi by officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 25. Doroudi, who is originally from Iran, is now being held without bond at an ICE processing center in Louisiana.

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FORT DODGE, Iowa  A Fort Dodge man has been accused of threatening to shoot law enforcement.

Public safety agencies conducting drill Friday at West Des Moines parks

According to the Fort Dodge Police Department, an anonymous tip was submitted to the police department stating that someone was posting disturbing statements on Facebook. Those statements included posts where the user said he was searching for a firearm to potentially use against law enforcement and supposed plans to carry out those actions, police said.

On Thursday, Fort Dodge police tracked down the user who was allegedly publishing the posts on Facebook and identified him as 26-year-old Daniel William Paivarinta, of Fort Dodge. Paivarinta has been arrested and charged with threat of terrorism.

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Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with artillery and kamikaze drones on 2 May, leaving four people injured.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The enemy has targeted the Nikopol district with kamikaze drones and artillery. It was loud in the district centre and the Marhanets and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Four people have been injured. An entire family sought medical assistance due to severe stress. A boy who isn't even three years old and his parents. Another person injured in the attack is a 42-year-old woman. She has suffered shrapnel wounds and a contusion. All of them will recover at home."

Details: Multiple fires erupted in the district, affecting an abandoned building, patches of dry grass and a house. Four houses, a local authority building, infrastructure and a power line were damaged.

Russian forces struck the Synelnykove district with guided aerial bombs, hitting the Novopavlivka hromada. The building of an unused educational institution has been destroyed.

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American International Group (AIG) has reported a 71% year-on-year decline in net income attributable to common shareholders, totalling $698m in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025), down from $1.1bn a year ago.

Earnings per diluted share dropped to $1.16 in Q1 2025 from $1.74 the previous year.

The slump was due to the impact of Corebridge Financial deconsolidation.

Return on equity (ROE) and core operating ROE declined to 6.7% and 7.7%, respectively, for the quarter.

The company's General Insurance segment net premiums written remained stable at $4.5bn.

However, underwriting income declined by 59% to $243m, primarily due to increased catastrophe-related losses.

The General Insurance international division saw a 5% rise in net premiums written, reaching $2bn, driven by the Property and Global Specialty lines.

In North America, the commercial segment's net premiums written increased by 14% to $1.2bn, with contributions from Lexington Insurance, Glatfelter and Retail Property.

During Q1 2025, AIG returned around $2.5bn to shareholders through $2.2bn in buybacks and $234m in dividends.

The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share on 1 May 2025, payable on 27 June.

AIG chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino said: We are off to an excellent start in 2025. Despite a challenging catastrophe quarter that produced elevated losses for the industry, AIG delivered very strong results. This outcome underscores the effectiveness of our technical underwriting expertise and strategic use of reinsurance, positioning us within our expectations for the remainder of the year. In addition, we reported AIGs best first quarter accident year combined ratio, as adjusted, since the financial crisis, reflecting the exceptional quality of our underlying portfolio.

He added: While the broader macroeconomic and geopolitical environment remains uncertain, AIG is navigating these challenges from a position of strength given our global diversified portfolio, disciplined underwriting and resilient balance sheet. Our dedicated colleagues around the world remain committed to delivering on our objectives with the highest quality.

For the full year 2024, AIG posted a net loss of $1.43bn attributable to its common shareholders, compared with net income of $3.61bn the previous year.

"AIG profit plunges 71% in Q1 2025 " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The four suspects involved in the Young Park shooting in Las Cruces will go to trial in February 2026.

Tomas Rivas, 20, Nathan Rivas, 17, Gustavo Puga Dominguez, 17, and Josiah Ontiveros, 15, were formally indicted on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder last month. They will face those charges as adults.

On Thursday, May 1, three of the four suspects went before Judge Douglas Driggers, who has assigned the case as a track 3 case due to the complexity of it.

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4 suspects in Young Park shooting indicted by grand jury

Each suspect is represented by a different attorney, and over 140 possible witnesses could testify in the trial, which can last up to three weeks.

District Attorney Fernando Macias was hoping to go to trial in December, but Driggers denied the request.

All of them (the suspects) get fair trials based on the evidence presented in the courtroom and not a trial on public opinion, Tom Clark, who is representing 20-year-old suspect Tomas Rivas, said.

The DAs office and the defense have 10 months to prepare for trial.

As we previously reported, three people were killed, and 15 others were hurt in the shooting that happened on Friday, March 21, in Las Cruces.

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The shooting happened during an unauthorized car show when two groups of people got into an altercation and that fight escalated, Las Cruces Police said.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Six people who all knew each other were inside a vehicle when one, a man with an alleged gang connection, shot each of them in the head before fleeing, according to newly unsealed criminal charges in this week's mass shooting in Minneapolis.

Three victims died at the scene early Tuesday. Another succumbed to his wounds Thursday. One remains hospitalized after being shot in the face but was able to identify the shooter to police, according to the criminal complaint.

And investigators believe a fifth person was killed hours later in retaliation. A suspect in the first shooting was arrested Thursday and has been charged with murder.

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Police say the victims were all Native Americans and the shooting was gang-related. The rash of violence has shaken one of the countrys largest urban Indigenous communities.

What do we know about the victims?

The first shooting happened on Tuesday just before midnight in a vehicle parked in the diverse residential and commercial neighborhood of Phillips in south Minneapolis. The county medical examiner's office on Friday said the three who died at the scene were Evan Ramon Denny, 27 of St. Paul; Joseph Douglas Goodwin, 17, of Minneapolis; and Merelle Joan White, 20, of Red Lake. Two had been shot multiple times.

A 20-year-old woman was shot in the face and hospitalized in critical condition, the complaint said. She said the shooter was sitting in the back seat when he opened fire on her and everyone else in the vehicle before fleeing on foot.

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A 28-year-old man was hospitalized in grave condition but died shortly after the suspect was arrested on Thursday, police said. That victim's name was still being withheld Friday.

A second shooting the next day

About 13 hours later and a few blocks away, a man was killed near an apartment building that happens to house the Minneapolis office of the Red Lake Nation, one of the state's largest tribes. The medical examiner identified him Friday as Tiago Antonio Gilbert, 34, of Minneapolis. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The Minneapolis police chief said Thursday it was entirely probable this second shooting was revenge for the first. But a police spokesman, Sgt. Garrett Parten, said investigators were still working to determine if there was a link.

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Police have released few other details about that homicide.

How have Minnesotas Native American communities reacted?

A makeshift memorial had sprung up by Friday at the site of the first shooting. Red, silver and black balloons were tied to a tree where a plush eagle toy was also attached. At the base were candles, fresh flowers and a bottle of tequila.

The states 11 sovereign tribal nations issued a joint statement Thursday, mourning the deaths and urging anyone with information to contact city law enforcement or their own tribal police.

As native peoples, we have always known grief, the statement said. But we have also always experienced the strength that comes afterward. We are here because our ancestors cared for one another. That is how you are even here  because someone before you chose love, protection, and community over despair.

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Police say the shootings were gang-related

The complaint against James Duane Ortley, 34, of Minneapolis, alleges that he and members of his family are associated with a gang known as the Native Mob, which operates in the citys south and other parts of Minnesota.

The gang was the subject of a multiyear federal investigation over a decade ago that resulted in the convictions of 28 people. Its alleged leader at the time was sentenced in 2014 to 43 years in prison.

The suspect is now charged with murder

The U.S. Marshals Service said its local fugitive task force and an FBI SWAT team arrested Ortley on Thursday afternoon. He was charged a day earlier with second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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Ortley has a felony assault conviction on his record from 2021, which the complaint said prohibits him from possessing guns or ammunition. Court records show he completed his probation in 2023. When police interviewed him in 2023 in a separate homicide investigation, the complaint said, he acknowledged that his street name was Baby James.

Ortley remained jailed Friday, and court records didnt list an attorney who could comment on his behalf. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. The chief public defender for Hennepin County, Michael Berger, said his office probably wont learn if its representing Ortley until Monday. Messages were left with several potential relatives of Ortley's.

What was the suspect's relationship to the victims?

The victim who survived told police the shooter went by the street names Baby J, Little J and Little James, and was a friend of one of the victims, according to the complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.

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Relatives of one victim told police that the victims were all together at a family friend's residence in Minneapolis but left around 9:30 p.m. with plans to pick up Baby J, who was known to be a close family friend of the victims. The family member identified Baby J as the defendant.

Other law enforcement sources told investigators that Ortley was an associate of more than one victim, the complaint said.

A surveillance video was consistent with the survivor's account, the complaint said. It shows one person matching Ortley's description exiting the vehicle and fleeing before police arrived.

The motive is still unknown

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The complaint gave no details on what might have prompted the shootings.

This is a bittersweet day, Police Chief Brian OHara said in a statement Friday. While this arrest represents meaningful progress toward justice, that progress is overshadowed by the heartbreaking loss of another life. Our thoughts remain with the victims families, their loved ones, and a community that continues to grieve.

___

This story had been updated to correct in the headline that he has been charged in four homicides, instead of charged with four homicides.

___

Associated Press reporters Mark Vancleave in Minneapolis and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed.
Another Fox News personality is headed to the Sunshine State, and possibly Palm Beach County, where he is linked to a property in Jupiter Inlet Colony.

Longtime co-host Steve Doocy announced this week he is stepping away from the Fox & Friends morning show and relocating to Florida full time. The 68-year-old was clear hes not retiring, but after decades of waking up at 3:30 a.m. to drive into New York City from New Jersey, hes ready for a later start time.

According to Megan Albano, Fox News Media's executive vice president of morning programming and program development, Doocy will be traveling cities across the country where he will co-host from "diners to pickleball courts and more."

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I am not retiring. Im not leaving the show. Im still a host, but its time for a change," Doocy said May 1 on Fox & Friends.

Where is Jupiter Inlet Colony?

Doocy and his wife bought a home in the tony beachside community of Jupiter Inlet Colony in 2014 for $1.01 million. The nearly 2,600-square-foot home with four bedrooms and a pool was quitclaim-deeded to a land trust in 2020 for $10, but it remains homesteaded in Doocys wife's name, according to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser.

In Florida, having a homestead exemption on a home means you consider it your primary residence. A quitclaim deed is often used for nonsale transactions such as adding a spouse on a title or transferring property within the family or to a trust.

Jupiter Inlet Colony is about 17 miles north of West Palm Beach. It was incorporated in 1959 and had a population of 425 in 2023

What other Fox News hosts live in Palm Beach County?

Doocy follows fellow Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Bret Baier to Florida. Both Hannity and Baier have homes in Palm Beach. Hannity also owns a home in Manalapan.

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Baier hosts Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" and is the network's chief political anchor. Baier and his wife, Amy, bought their home in 6,700-square-foot home in 2023 for $37 million.

Hannity, who hosts "The Sean Hannity Show," owns an oceanfront townhome in Palm Beach and is believed to have used an ownership company in 2024 to buy an ocean-to-lake estate in Manalapan for $23.5 million.

Doocys move to Florida will put him closer to President Donald Trumps residence and private club Mar-a-Lago. High-profile Trump fan Kid Rock also owns a home in Jupiter Inlet Colony.

Ill be going from the Carolinas to the Keys. From Middle America to Mar-a-Lago. Call me the coast-to-coast host," Doocy said. You may never see me in a necktie again.

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The home in Jupiter Inlet Colony was built in 1981 and is a ranch-style cinderblock house with a two-car garage  modest compared to the homes of Baier and Hannity. The home isn't waterfront, but is sandwiched between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

The online real estate brokerage Redfin estimates its current sales value at $2.86 million.

Stay up to date on South Florida's sizzling real estate market and sign up for The Dirt weekly newsletter, delivered every Tuesday! Exclusively for Palm Beach Post subscribers.

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: Fox News host Steve Doocy, who owns home in Jupiter, moves to Florida
France has stated that Russia and North Korea's acknowledgement of the involvement of Pyongyang's troops in the war against Ukraine demonstrates their disregard for international law.

Source: France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The French Foreign Ministry stated that since October last year, together with its partners, it has condemned the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia, where they are assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

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Quote: "This is an escalation of North Korea's large-scale military support for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. This hostile act has direct repercussions for the security of Europeans and, more broadly, for international security. We strongly condemn it."

Details: France has urged North Korea to "immediately cease all forms of support" for Russian aggression.

Background:

At the end of April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed that North Korean troops had been sent to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, citing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin later acknowledged their involvement and expressed "gratitude" to the North Korean forces assisting Russia.

The United States responded with "concern", while the European Union described the move as "a desperation call from Russia".

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This article was originally published in CalMatters.

Nine Republican U.S. representatives are calling on U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate financial aid fraud at Californias community colleges. In a separate letter sent Wednesday, state Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, a West Covina Democrat, asked the state to conduct its own audit on the matter.

This rare moment of bipartisan concern comes after CalMatters reported that fake community college students have stolen more than $10 million in federal financial aid and more than $3 million in state aid in the last 12 months.

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In their April 11 letter to Bondi and McMahon, which cites CalMatters reporting, Californias Republican representatives say that investigating fraud at Californias community colleges should be part of President Donald Trumps ongoing efforts to curb wasteful federal spending.

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The California Community Colleges Chancellors Office has not been contacted by the U.S. Department of Education or the U.S. Attorney General about an investigation, said Chris Ferguson, one of the offices executive vice chancellors, in an email to CalMatters Thursday.

Assemblymember Rubios letter calls for a state audit that would examine the scope of fraud and the efforts to prevent it. State legislators will decide this June whether to pursue that audit, which could take years to complete.

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California community colleges have been struggling to address fake students and financial aid fraud for years. Last spring, CalMatters reported that scammers continued to evade detection and that community colleges reported giving away over $5 million in federal funds and over $1.5 million in state and local aid. Earlier this month, CalMatters found the problem is only getting worse.

Allowing this rise in fraud to go unaddressed is negligent on the Community College system, as these bad actors take away opportunities from real students in impacted courses such as accounting, nursing, etc, wrote the California Republican representatives in their letter.

While students, faculty and community college administrators in California agree that its a serious and growing problem, they question whether an investigation or an audit will lead to a better solution.

Fraud is a legitimate concern, said Larry Galizio, president of the Community College League of California, which represents the interests of the states 73 community college districts  but the letter to the education department and the attorney general is disingenuous and just flat wrong in claiming that its gone unaddressed.

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California has allocated more than $150 million since 2022 to improve cybersecurity at its community colleges.

Blaming the victim and then cutting resources to the very entities that are trying to combat the fraud is not a policy approach thats going to be effective, Galizio said.

Overwhelmed with the number of fake students in their classes, some of our faculty members feel like theyve been screaming into the void, said Stephanie Goldman, executive director of the faculty association of California Community Colleges. She said the federal scrutiny is particularly ironic, given that the Trump administration has dismantled the U.S. Department of Education and hampered its ability to investigate fraud.

Representative Young Kim  who flipped her Orange County district in 2020  led the effort to write the congressional letter. Her spokesperson, Callie Strock, refused to respond directly to criticisms when CalMatters asked about them. She said Kim is still learning about the issue and that California has a long history of abusing taxpayer dollars.

Top priority: getting money to students in need

Since Trumps inauguration in January, the federal government has regularly criticized Californias colleges and universities. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine for allegedly discriminating against students in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion  even though affirmative action has been illegal in California since 1996. The administration is also going after numerous UC campuses, as well as Sacramento State and Santa Monica College, for allegedly allowing antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

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California is fighting back by working with other states to file numerous lawsuits, such as one that attempts to stop the Trump administration from cancelling federal grants and another to prevent the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.

But in this instance, the call to investigate Californias higher education system for fraud stems from Californias elected representatives, not from Trump or his cabinet. Kims spokesperson did not clarify whether officials from the Trump administration would actually pursue an investigation.

For Ivan Hernandez, a student at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, fraud is a low priority. Hernandez is the president of the community college students association, and while he said he suspects that some of the students in his online courses are fake  or at least are using AI to submit assignments  hes more concerned with homelessness and food insecurity, which affect as many as half of Californias roughly 2 million community college students.

Financial aid is supposed to pay for tuition, but low-income community college students pay little or no tuition in California, so the money goes directly into their pockets to offset the states high cost of housing and food. Most students who attend Californias community colleges are low-income and work a part- or full-time job.

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Ferguson, with the state chancellors office, said its crucial to emphasize that many fraudulent students are stopped before they can enroll. For the nanoscopic number of criminals that did get past the application stage and moved to the enrollment stage, an even smaller number was able to breach the financial aid stage, he said.

Financial aid fraud in the California Community Colleges system is extremely low relative to the billions of dollars of state and federal aid disbursed  about 0.21% in FY 2023-24. That means 99.8% of financial aid was disbursed to real students in our system.

This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
May 2 (UPI) -- Introduction

The pursuit of a free and unified Korea is not merely a regional aspiration, but a strategic imperative that aligns with the United States' core national security interests. In evaluating this policy direction, it is essential to address the criteria outlined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

1. Does it make America safer?

2. Does it make America stronger?

3. Does it make America more prosperous?

Supporting the Korean people's pursuit of Korean unification under a democratic government unequivocally satisfies these criteria, thereby enhancing U.S. security, strength, and prosperity.

Enhancing American safety

A unified Korea under a democratic regime would significantly bolster U.S. national security by eliminating the persistent threat posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions. For decades, the Kim family regime has engaged in political warfare and blackmail diplomacy, aiming to dominate the Korean Peninsula to ensure its survival. Despite various diplomatic efforts, North Korea has steadfastly advanced its nuclear weapons program, posing a direct threat to regional stability and U.S. interests, to include the U.S. homeland.

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This strategic assumption is clear: North Korea will never negotiate away its nuclear capabilities as long as the Kim family regime remains in power. Therefore, the path to denuclearization lies through unification. By supporting the Korean people's pursuit of a free and unified Korea, the U.S. can address the root cause of the nuclear threat. A unified Korea would inherently lead to the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, thereby reducing the risk of nuclear proliferation and potential conflict.

Moreover, a unified Korea would likely lead to a more stable Northeast Asia, diminishing the chances of military confrontations that could draw in the United States. The presence of a democratic Korea would serve as a deterrent against aggressive actions from neighboring adversaries, thereby contributing to regional and global security.

Strengthening American power

America's strength is amplified through a silk web of robust alliances and the promotion of democratic values. A unified Korea, aligned with U.S. interests, would serve as a formidable ally in a strategically vital region. This alliance would enhance the United States' geopolitical influence in Asia, providing a counterbalance to adversarial powers such as China and Russia.

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The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance has been a cornerstone of regional stability. A unified Korea would not only preserve but also strengthen this alliance, facilitating greater military and economic cooperation. This partnership would enable the U.S. to project power more effectively in the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that American interests are safeguarded.

Furthermore, the integration of North Korea into a unified Korea would necessitate significant security sector reforms. The U.S. can play a pivotal role in assisting these reforms, ensuring that the unified Korean military is capable, professional, and aligned with international norms. Such collaboration would enhance interoperability between U.S. and Korean forces, thereby strengthening collective defense capabilities.

Promoting American prosperity

Economic prosperity is intrinsically linked to stable and open markets. A unified Korea would transform the North's stagnant economy, opening new avenues for trade and investment. The reconstruction and development of the North would create opportunities for American businesses in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, technology, and consumer goods.

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Additionally, a unified Korea would serve as a gateway to broader regional markets, facilitating increased economic integration and cooperation. This economic dynamism would not only benefit Korea but also contribute to global economic growth, from which the U.S. stands to gain substantially.

The stabilization of the Korean Peninsula would also lead to reduced defense expenditures for the U.S. Currently, significant resources are allocated to deter North Korean aggression. A unified and peaceful Korea would allow the U.S. to reallocate these resources to other pressing needs, thereby optimizing defense spending.

Strategic recommendations

To realize the vision of a free and unified Korea, the United States should consider the following strategic actions:

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1. Adopt a human rights-upfront approach: Emphasize the importance of human rights in all engagements with North Korea. By highlighting the regime's human rights abuses, the U.S. can delegitimize the Kim family's rule and empower the North Korean populace to seek change.

2. Implement a comprehensive information campaign: Utilize information dissemination to educate North Koreans about their universal rights and the realities beyond their borders. Access to information can serve as a catalyst for internal transformation, undermining the regime's control over its citizens.

3. Support for the 8.15 Unification Doctrine: Back South Korea's 8.15 Unification Doctrine, which advocates for unification based on the principles of freedom, peace, and prosperity. U.S. support can lend credibility and momentum to this initiative, fostering a conducive environment for unification.

4. Enhance military readiness and deterrence: Maintain a robust military presence and readiness on the Korean Peninsula to deter potential aggression. This posture not only ensures immediate security but also signals a long-term commitment to the region's stability.

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5. Engage in multilateral diplomacy: Collaborate with regional stakeholders, including China and Japan, to build a consensus on the benefits of a unified Korea. Multilateral support can alleviate regional apprehensions and contribute to a peaceful unification process.

Conclusion

The pursuit of a free and unified Korea is a strategic endeavor that aligns with the United States' national security interests. By addressing the criteria of American safety, strength, and prosperity, this policy direction offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by the current North Korean regime. Through deliberate and sustained efforts, the U.S. can play a pivotal role in facilitating a unified Korea, thereby enhancing regional stability and securing a more prosperous future for both nations.

David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region. He specializes in Northeast Asian security affairs and irregular, unconventional and political warfare. He is vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a senior fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. After he retired, he became associate director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society and is the editor at large for the Small Wars Journal.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on May 1 that the European Union is preparing a 17th round of sanctions against Russia, aligning with a new U.S. sanctions push aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow.

In an interview with AFP, Barrot described Russian President Vladimir Putin as "the only obstacle to peace today in Ukraine."

"We Europeans will accompany this American (sanctions) initiative with a 17th package of sanctions, and I committed yesterday to (U.S. Senator) Lindsey Graham that we would try to coordinate both the substance and the timing of these two packages of sanctions," Barrot said.

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Graham has rallied bipartisan support in Washington for additional measures against Russia, including tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Barrot contrasted Ukraines recent diplomatic steps with Moscows intransigence.

Ukraine "accepted an unconditional ceasefire and yesterday it agreed to conclude an agreement on critical minerals with the United States," he said. He added that the deal "corresponds, I would say, to Ukraine's expectations of engaging in economic cooperation with the United States, but also with other countries." Barrot also suggested France could pursue a similar agreement, given its expertise in rare earth minerals.

"Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin's Russia has made no effort, has sent no sign that it is ready for the ceasefire or the peace that President Donald Trump aspires to, and that the Europeans and, of course, the Ukrainians aspire to," Barrot said, according to AFP.

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Speaking after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Barrot said both sides held "an unfiltered exchange that allowed us to coordinate closely." State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the talks, saying, "President Trump is focused on halting the senseless bloodshed in Ukraine and affirmed a U.S. commitment to working closely with France and other European partners to secure a lasting peace."

Barrot emphasized that this moment is critical for Europe, referencing French President Emmanuel Macrons long-standing call for European strategic autonomy and a stronger European pillar within NATO.

He also urged Washington to ease tariffs imposed under the Trump administration, calling for "de-escalation so that we can return to the situation that preceded decisions taken by the Trump administration in the interest of both the United States and Europe."

Read also: Who are Russias allies, and can Kremlins war machine survive without them?

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(Reuters) -Albemarle, the world's largest producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, said on Wednesday it has not yet been affected by the flurry of tariffs bouncing around the global economy and would thus maintain its 2025 outlook.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company, which operates across the Americas, Asia and Australia, kept its sales and earnings forecast for the year, noting that the lithium and some other critical minerals are for now exempt from tariffs that Washington aims to impose on trading partners.

"While the full economic impact of the recently announced tariffs and other global trade actions is unclear, we benefit from our global footprint and the current exemptions for critical minerals," CEO Kent Masters said in a press release.

Still, Albemarle, like many of its peers, has struggled the past two years to weather a lithium supply glut caused by overproduction in China that has forced it to cut staff and curtail expansion projects.

The company gave no indication that market dynamics are improving, with Masters noting the company continues "to focus on what we can control."

Albemarle reported a first-quarter net loss for common shareholders of $340,000, or zero cents per share, compared to a loss of $9.1 million, or 8 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Excluding costs to curtail expansion projects, losses on investments and other one-time items, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company lost 18 cents per share.

By that measure, analysts expected earnings of 59 cents per share, according to IBES data from LSEG.

The company's Energy Storage division, which sells lithium, reported a $276.3 million drop in revenue caused by a 34% slide in prices the company receives for its lithium.

The company's stock fell slightly to $58.35 in after-hours trading.

Albemarle plans to discuss the quarterly results on a Thursday morning conference call with investors.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Stephen Coates)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Hundreds have asked how they can assist a new-to-Oklahoma family after an ICE raid, they say, left them scared and traumatized.

A woman says her familys fresh start in Oklahoma turned into a nightmare after federal immigration agents raided their home, taking their phones, laptops, and casheven though they were not the suspects the agents were looking for. We concealed the womans identity because she fears for her familys safety; we call her Marissa.

RELATED COVERAGE:- Were citizens!: Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they werent suspects

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RELATED COVERAGE: Homeland Security admits Oklahoma raid targeted wrong people

RELATED COVERAGE: Homeland Security backtracks, KFOR uncovers new information on ICE raid

As of Thursday night, we learned that one of Marissas friends created a GoFundMe to help the family. If you would like to help the family out and donate, 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
WEATHERSFIELD TWP, Ohio (WKBN)  Officials with the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District were told the federal government would help pay to renovate the Meander Reservoir Dam but now the government is reneging on that deal.

The government said two years ago it would pay 70 percent of the $54 million needed to renovate the 100-year-old Meander Reservoir Dam.

The dam holding back Meander Reservoir is in Trumbull Countys Weathersfield Township at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District. Operations Manager Tom Holloway said the condition of the dam needs to be addressed.

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Holloway laid out the plans for renovating the dam  the bids for which will go out June 5. A pile of dirt near the dam is being removed in preparation for the construction but two weeks ago, water district officials received a notice from FEMA, notifying them that the Federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities  or BRIC grant program was ending  meaning $38 million of the $54 million needed for dam renovation will not longer be available.

The notice stated, Projects that have not started construction will not be approved and will end.

Were very concerned. Very concerned, said Scott Verner, the water districts chief engineer. Were somewhat still in limbo. We have not received any firm answers yet as to the current status of the grant funds.

If the BRIC grant doesnt happen and the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District does not get the money, the dam must still be replaced. But the way it will be paid for will change drastically.

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Were going to have to have other ways to fund that project and that could involve a loanWere going to have to increase the rate to cover the loan, Holloway said.

Even with the grant, the MVSD was looking to raise water rates by 13 cents per thousand gallons.

We have a plan B, but Ill just leave it at that, Verner said.

Theres some conditions there that our engineer found that structurally we may not be able to pass a maximum flood event, and if we would lose the primary spillway because its not tied down, we could lose the reservoir and we could lose our water source, and thats an issue. Thats a major issue for this area of 220,000 people, Holloway said.

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Boardman was also awarded a BRIC grant to solve flooding problems around Boardman Plaza. Township Administrator Jason Loree says because their grant is for flood mitigation, its still tact and the project is moving forward as planned.



On Friday, Congressman Mike Rulli said hes been in contact with FEMA and confirmed the grant is at risk of cancellation.

He said individual representatives have been appointed to work directly with grant recipients.

You can read Rullis entire statement below:

On March 26, my office was contacted by Scott Verner of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD) regarding the status of a FEMA grant awarded for Fiscal Year 2022. On April 4, FEMA issued a statement concerning the BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grants, noting that projects which have not yet begun construction will be cancelled. We have been in direct communication with FEMA regarding this project. Because MVSD has not started construction, their grant is at risk of cancellation; however, we have not yet received a definitive answer regarding its status. FEMA has appointed individual representatives to work directly with BRIC grant recipients. My office is actively working with FEMA and exploring every available state and federal funding opportunity to ensure the Meander Dam receives the critical repairs it needs  protecting our community and preserving this vital resource for generations to come.

Representative Dave Joyce (R), who serves the 14th District, also released a statement Friday on the situation:

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The Meander Reservoir Dam is fundamental to our community, supplying hundreds of thousands of residents in the Mahoning Valley with clean drinking water. My office and I have been in contact with local leaders and FEMA regarding this situation, and I welcome Senator Morenos efforts to help as we continue to work with state and local officials, Joyce said.

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Former congressional candidate "Honest Gabe" Whitley was sentenced to three months in prison this week after pleading guilty to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, court records show.

The charge stemmed from fake contributions Whitley claimed on various campaign finance reports between 2023 and 2024 during his failed run in the Republican primary for Indiana's 7th District congressional seat.

According to the initial complaint filed in U.S. District Court in January, Whitley made up the biographical details of dozens of people and claimed over $200,000 in false contributions on quarterly and year-end reports for Honest Gabe for Congress.

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Whitley also falsely claimed to loan his own campaign $100,000, the complaint says. All the while he acted as his own treasurer and certified in official records that the contributions and reports were true, correct and complete to the best of his knowledge.

Gabe Whitley holds a rally outside the Winfield K. Denton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Evansville, Ind., May 10, 2023.

On Tuesday, District Court Judge James R. Sweeney sentenced Whitley to three months of incarceration in the custody of U.S. Bureau of Prisons, as well as a year of supervised release afterward, court records show.

The judgement recommends Whitley "serve his term of imprisonment at the lowest security level deemed appropriate" and undergo a mental health evaluation. As of Friday, Whitley wasnt listed in the Bureau of Prisons database.

Calling himself "Honest Gabe," Whitley first inserted himself into Evansville right-wing politics starting in 2018. In quick succession, he declared his candidacies for everything from Vanderburgh County Commissioner to the Indiana Statehouse to Evansville mayor, usually dropping out before any vote took place. His mayoral bid, for instance, launched in 2022 and ended several months before the 2023 Republican primary.

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The sentencing comes more than two years after an investigation by the Courier & Press Tom Langhorne found that multiple people listed on different Whitley campaign finance reports claimed to have never heard of him.

Whitley denied falsifying the reports at the time. He went on to file a lawsuit against Langhorne, the Courier & Press and USA TODAY in federal court. He sought $15 million in damages. A judge quickly dismissed the case.

As a plaintiff, Whitley has also filed federal complaints against the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears, among others. According to court records, those were all dismissed.

And those are just a few of the multitude of court cases involving Whitley in recent years.

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In November, a Marion County Superior Court Judge ordered him to pay $400,000 to Indianapolis attorney and journalist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz after blog and X posts reportedly authored by Whitley accused Shabazz of pedophilia and theft. Shabazz has never been charged with any such crime and he vehemently denied the accusations.

The two are also embroiled in criminal court. In August, the Marion County Prosecutors office charged Whitley with a Level 6 felony count of intimidation after he allegedly threatened Shabazz on social media. A jury trial is scheduled for July, court records show.

Whitley moved to Indianapolis in 2023. He eventually launched his Honest Gabe for Congress campaign and made it as far as Election Day in the Republican primary for the 7th District congressional seat. He lost.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Gabe Whitley, ex-candidate for Congress, sentenced to prison
An algal bloom in the Gallatin River (Photo courtesy of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper).

Mayday, mayday, mayday is not a celebration of the first day of May, but an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal for a life-threatening emergency. And right now, its the once-pristine Gallatin River crying mayday as it faces the life-threatening emergency of being further  and most likely permanently  degraded by the Big Sky areas sewage and nutrients.

How bad is it? Well, the Department of Environmental Quality just approved yet another application for a 45-condo development using septic systems within a quarter mile of the already-hammered river. Mind you, this is after the Gallatin was formally declared impaired last year due to nutrient overload which now feeds the neon green algae blooms in this once gin-clear river downstream from Big Sky.

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The state agency is obviously ignoring the fact that putting even more nutrients in the Gallatin will only exacerbate its impaired status  the exact opposite of what regulatory agencies are supposed to do to uphold Montanans inalienable right to a clean and healthful environment (according to the states constitution, Article II, Section 3), as well as the constitutional mandate that the state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. (Article IX, Section 1)

Its tough to find any other interpretation of those plain language constitutional guarantees than if theres already an environmental pollution problem, the onus is on the state to maintain and improve the environment, not approve and allow even more pollution.

Gov. Greg Gianforte, a religious man, swore an oath on the Bible to uphold the Constitution  but that obviously doesnt mean much when the big money at Big Sky wants yet more overdevelopment and more pollution.

This is the second phase of the Quarry development which, as reported by Brett French, wants 136 single-family condos, 130 multifamily condos and 11 mixed-use buildings. Yet, thats just a tiny fraction of the 1,354 additional homes the Big Sky Resort Area District says it will need in the next three years as housing for their underpaid workers.

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Whats even more shocking is the fact this decision comes only days after the release of a hydrogeologic study by Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology that compared the undeveloped side of the Gallatin with the Big Sky side. Their conclusion? The aquifer is shallow, unconfined, and vulnerable to contamination. In other words, the septic effluent has a short trip from the drain field to the aquifer to the Gallatin.

In the meantime, DEQ is claiming that most of the nitrogen polluting the Gallatin is natural  and that septic effluent is only a minor input. Which begs the question: How was it possible that the Gallatin ran clear and clean for thousands of years before Big Sky, the Yellowstone Club, and the ever-growing cluster of real estate developments started dumping their waste on the mountain and in the river?

Its no mystery where the nutrients causing the algae blooms are coming from  and no, its not from the bison in Yellowstone National Park. Its from the pollution emanating from this bizarre enclave of the wealthy stuffed into a narrow canyon with nowhere for their waste to go but down to the Gallatin.

In short, what were seeing is an abject failure of Montanas so-called environmental regulatory agency  aided and abetted by the Gallatin County Commissioners who, when the rich say jump, they jump to approve.

As for a clean and healthy environment for present and future generations of Montanans  without enforcement that prescient mandate of our Constitution is just words on paper as the Gallatin River cries mayday, mayday, mayday to deaf ears.
BYRAM, Miss. (WJTV)  Byram Middle School students were evacuated due to a gas leak on Friday, May 2.

According to a message sent to parents from the Hinds County School District, all students and staff were relocated to Gary Road Intermediate and Gary Road Elementary.

Officials said authorities and Atmos Energy responded to the scene in order to resolve the issue. They said the leak occurred outside of the cafeteria. No injuries were reported.

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Atmos Energy will restore natural gas service to the school after the following takes place:

A plumber fixes the customer piping

City inspections and permits are administered

Atmos Energy conducts a successful pressure test

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GENEVA (Reuters) - Fights are erupting over dwindling supplies in Gaza, a United Nations aid official said on Friday, as Israel's total blockade on supplies into the enclave hit the two-month mark.

Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out.

It is the longest such closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced. Palestinian residents and aid officials said at least five incidents of looting took place across the enclave on Wednesday.

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Olga Cherevko, an aid worker with the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) in Gaza City, said that inter-communal violence over supplies had intensified.

She told reporters she witnessed one such fight on Friday.

Supplies are becoming depleted while the war rages on; food stocks have now mainly run out," she told a press conference in Geneva via video link. "Water access has become impossible. In fact, as I speak to you, just below, downstairs from this building, people are fighting for water. There's a water truck that has just arrived, and people are killing each other over water.

Some aid groups say they have already run out of food stocks in the past week and community kitchens are at risk of closure. The Red Cross said the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the verge of "total collapse".

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Israel has previously denied that Gaza is facing a hunger crisis and says there is still enough aid to sustain the population.

Cherevko said hungry people were scavenging in mounds of waste for "anything that would help them survive".

"I am seeing children and I'm seeing elderly people rummaging through these piles of trash, not only in search of things to burn, but also things to eat daily," she said.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, editing by Rachel More and Freya Whitworth)
Within the manufacturing industry, members of Gen Z are emerging as dynamic leaders, establishing new guiding principles for the sector as a whole. Bringing their multifaceted blend of digital competency and drive for innovation to the table, these younger professionals are transforming the way manufacturing organizations are structured, and, in the process, teaching us how to embrace change.

Click HERE to Watch Episodes of the Gen Z in Manufacturing Podcast

Unlike the generations that have preceded them, Gen Z is motivated by factors beyond pay. Their interest lies in finding work environments that focus on balance, flexibility, purpose, growth and job satisfaction.

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In a job sector that has been experiencing steady decline since the late 1970s, Gen Zs unique outlook may be just what the manufacturing industry needs to reinvent itself and reinvigorate the employee and leadership base.

Most read on Manufacturing.net:

An industry in flux

The manufacturing industry has been one marked by constant change over the last 50 years. Automation, evolving technology and shifting attitudes towards work have transformed the industry, resulting in significant changes in operations. From manufacturing organizations sending work overseas for cost reduction to automation replacing positions that were once done by human workers, the modern manufacturing industry looks little, if at all, like the one that employed our parents or grandparents.

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Gen Z is typically considered to be comprised of those born between 1996 and 2012 and their entry into the sector has marked a noticeable change. Many of these workers are just starting to move into leadership positions in manufacturing, bringing their unique perspectives with them.

As digital natives who are far more tech-savvy than the generations that preceded them, Gen Z has discovered how to merge technological advancements with growing the stagnant manufacturing sector. In addition, this generation has stepped into leadership positions with strong opinions about flexibility and work-life balance, reshaping the way the entire industry approaches leadership and hiring.

Rethinking structure

Gen Z has entered the workforce, demanding more flexibility and a better work-life balance than previous generations. As a result, many long-held norms within the manufacturing sector are now being challenged, some for the first time in 50 years or more.

For decades, manufacturing has relied on rigid, round-the-clock schedules to meet consumer demands. The inflexible schedules and grueling work associated with manufacturing may have contributed to the sectors decline as Gen Z entered the workforce.

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Now that Gen Z is stepping into leadership roles, the inflexible structure of manufacturing is being reevaluated. Companies have started shifting to offering part-time roles and more flexible schedules. To attract younger workers to manufacturing positions, leaders are highlighting the meaningful aspects of the organization's work, the flexibility of roles and the career advancement opportunities available through the position.

Gen Z has made it clear that manufacturers need to go beyond just offering more money for positions. They have to consider what the new pool of talent is seeking in their roles to make these positions attractive.

According to studies, manufacturing employees are seeking meaningful roles, flexibility, reliable coworkers and opportunities for career advancement within their roles. Gen Z is leading the way with this shift, causing leadership within older generations to change the way they attract and hire talent.

Led by technology

As digital natives, Gen Z has catalyzed technological change in the manufacturing sector. Technologies such as AI and machine learning have changed the way manufacturing organizations operate, from training to product production and data analysis.

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Gen Zs ease with technology has helped usher in the age of Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing sector. Known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 incorporates automation, in-depth data analysis and supply chain monitoring, enabling manufacturers to make better decisions for their organizations and grow through improved data analysis. With Gen Zs digital leadership, manufacturing companies have been able to save money and anticipate customer needs.

Todays global economy is bigger and more complicated than at any other time in history. The technology leadership and pathway to change brought by Gen Z are necessary for manufacturing organizations to compete on a global scale.

Generation Z has a lot to teach the manufacturing world about structuring the workplace, embracing technological advancements and improving the sector. Its essential that businesses remain open to change and embrace what Gen Z has to offer.

With their unique vision for the manufacturing industry, Gen Z is bringing about change that could help businesses grow and succeed in the coming years.

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---

Author Bio:

As seen in Fast Company, Business Insider and BuiltIn, Dr. Laurie Cure, Ph.D., serves as the CEO of Innovative Connections. With a focus on consulting in strategic planning, organizational development, talent management and leadership, Dr. Cures expertise in change management and culture evolution empowers her clients to achieve organizational success by enabling them to discover and release their human potential.

Over her 30-year career, Dr. Cure has dedicated herself to realizing strategic visions, collaborating with executives and senior leaders to drive organizational outcomes, and conducting research on pivotal industry issues. She is the author of Leading without Fear, a book that addresses workplace fear and has contributed to numerous publications on leadership, coaching, team development and emotions.

Dr. Cure has also served as a Meta-coach for the Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence program and as faculty at various universities across the country.
A generation of young people will be lost to poor mental health if safeguards on digital technology are not brought forward, a top paediatrician warned in Britain.

Hilary Cass said the impact of smart devices on childrens sleep, attention span, and education is not just a moral problem but an economic timebomb.

The independent crossbencher called for teachers to receive dedicated training on the issue, in addition to education for parents, as peers debated the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

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Then-Dr Hilary Cass previously led a landmark review into gender services for young people, which found children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones.

Speaking during the Bills second reading debate on Thursday, she told the Lords: Any legislation addressing the subject of safeguarding children, and opportunity, and safety in schools, cannot possibly ignore the impact of digital technology on the lives of children and young people.

Cass argued its not just deliberate harm, such as cyber bullying, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and grooming that children are at risk of.

Thats just the tip of the iceberg, there are multiple other risks associated with digital technology that have been discussed in this House, including adverse affects of learning, attention, sleep, educational attainment and mental health.

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And addictive apps are particularly a problem, especially for boys, she said.

Cass continued: This is not just an issue of whether we ban smartphones in schools, theres a wide array of possible actions that can be part of a strategic, multi-faceted approach to the problem.

For example, RSE (relationships and sex education) is compulsory in schools, and yet there is no requirement to teach young people how to manage the digital technology that occupies so many hours of their lives.

Nor indeed to include appropriate training for the staff that are teaching our infants or older children.

Theres insufficient consideration of the impact of loss of safe place spaces, which would give children alternative recreational activities to spending time on their digital devices.

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Theres no focus on providing education and advice to parents on how to manage access to technology so that they can facilitate their childrens learning and development.

So I very much hope that the Government will be receptive to a range of amendments that will address these deficits in the Bill, and thus gift our children with a safer, healthier future.

Without such measures we are looking at losing a generation to poor mental health and to even more young adults being unable to contribute to the workforce.

So this is not just a moral problem, but an economic timebomb that we can ill afford.
(Reuters) - Allstate Corp reported a 52.4% fall in first-quarter profit on Wednesday as losses from California wildfires erased investment gains, sending the company's shares down 2.5% in extended trading.

The results mirror those of peers W R Berkley and Chubb, which also reported a drop in first-quarter profit last week as industry-wide catastrophe losses offset operational gains.

California suffered from devastating wildfires in January that scorched entire Los Angeles neighborhoods. Estimated to be the costliest wildfires in U.S. history for the insurance industry, the disaster claimed several lives and caused an estimated economic damage of as much as $250 billion.

The state's stringent insurance regulation mandates insurers seek regulatory approval before raising prices for most policies, thus limiting their ability to adjust prices according to the assessed risk.

The insurer reported catastrophe losses of $2.22 billion, net of reinsurance, for the quarter ended March 31. This compares with $731 million in catastrophe losses in the year-ago period.

Net catastrophe losses in the company's homeowner's insurance unit more than tripled to $1.8 billion, primarily driven by California wildfires and March wind events.

The Northbrook, Illinois-based insurer had said earlier this year it expected about $1.1 billion in pre-tax losses related to the California wildfires, net of reinsurance.

The company's consolidated revenue for the reported quarter was at $16.45 billion, a 7.8% jump from a year ago.

Allstate's net investment income jumped to $854 million from $764 million a year earlier.

Allstate reported a net profit of $566 million, or $2.11 per share, in the three months ended March 31, compared to a profit of $1.19 billion, or $4.46 per share, last year.

The company's property-liability segment posted an underlying combined ratio of 83.1%, compared to 86.9% a year earlier. A ratio below 100% means the insurer earned more in premiums than it paid out in claims.

(Reporting by Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
George Santos says there's a lot of bad hombres behind bars who want to rough him up for one reason or another ... and he's again turning up the pressure on the Federal Bureau of Prisons to keep him safe.

The former New York Congressman joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked him about his warning to the BOP -- that there will be hell to pay if he's brutalized behind bars.

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George is set to begin a 7-year sentence this summer and he tells us there's a big target on his back for a number of reasons ... namely, his sexuality and his Congressional activity.

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We asked George if he was concerned he was potentially daring inmates to rough him up by making such a big stink about his safety ... but he says his intention is to start a conversation about prison reform.

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George also hopes to have a couple aces in his pocket ... he sounds ready to file a lawsuit at a moment's notice if something goes sideways, and he's hoping his documented support for prison guards goes a long way in the big house.

As we reported ... George was sentenced to 87 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges in a plea deal following a dramatic stint in Congress -- he originally faced nearly two dozen charges.

George Santos Hard At Work - Click image to open gallery

George says the answer to his safety concerns is simple -- solitary confinement -- and he tells us what he would do for 7 years alone in a cell.

We also asked him what's next for him after prison ... and some big changes are in store. 

Catch the full interview on "TMZ Live."
A Georgia sheriffs deputy who was shot during a traffic stop over the weekend has been released from the hospital.

Columbia County Deputy Gavin White was shot in the face and rushed into surgery in critical condition.

The sheriffs office says White was released on Thursday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and well wishes. Our entire agency appreciates the outpouring of support! the sheriffs office wrote in a statement.

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White and Deputy Brandon Sikes pulled over James Blake Montgomery in the motor home he was driving on Interstate 20 near Augusta to serve a temporary protective order for a domestic violence case.

When two of the three on scene deputies turned away, Montgomery pulled out a fully automatic pistol and opened fire. Sikes died from his injuries.

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Deputies returned fire and Montgomery was found dead inside the home.

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Investigators found pipe bombs inside the vehicle, including one rigged with a remote switch and more guns.

Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement on X about the shooting late Saturday.

Marty, the girls, and I are praying for the loved ones and colleagues of the Columbia County sheriffs deputy that has fallen in the line of duty, as well as his fellow law enforcement officer injured tonight while protecting his fellow Georgians.



As they remain in our hearts and  Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 27, 2025

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Germany's domestic intelligence agency said on Friday it has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed "right-wing extremist" organization that "disregards human dignity."

The new classification is the result of a comprehensive review, the findings of which are laid out in a 1,100-page report. It comes just days before Germany's new conservative-led government is set to take office under future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The agency, called the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said there was now concrete evidence that the anti-immigrant party pursues efforts that threaten Germany's democratic order.

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"The party's prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent is incompatible with the free democratic basic order," the agency said.

Statements and positions by the party and leading AfD representatives violate the constitutional principle of the inviolability of human dignity, stated the agency's vice presidents, Sinan Selen and Silke Willems.

Specifically, the agency said the AfD considers German citizens with roots in predominantly Muslim countries to be unequal citizens.

Three regional branches of the party - in the eastern states of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt - have already been classified as confirmed right-wing extremist organizations.

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The national party, which soared to a second-place finish in February's general election, previously held "suspected" extremist status by the agency. The party unsuccessfully challenged that designation in court.

The courts upheld the classification in May 2024, allowing the BfV to have the party under surveillance, enabling it proportionate use of party informants, image and sound recordings.

The designation as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization lowers the threshold for such surveillance measures.

Surveillance by the BfV has no connection to bans on political parties, which can only be requested from the Constitutional Court by one of Germany's houses of parliament or the government itself.

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Outgoing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that the BfV's decision was independent and not politically motivated. "There has been no political influence whatsoever on the new report," she said in a statement.

"The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has a clear legal mandate to combat extremism and protect our democracy," she said.

Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD quickly shifted direction as nationalist and far-right figures rose to prominence, prompting many of its original members to depart.

The party gained significant momentum during the 2015 refugee crisis, when hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers entered Germany.

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In the 2017 federal election, the AfD emerged as the third-largest party in the lower house of parliament, securing 12.6% of the national vote. Although its share dropped to 10.4% in 2021, the party rebounded strongly this year, doubling its support to 20.8%.

Despite its nationwide gains, the AfD's strongest support remains concentrated in eastern Germany.
Germanys domestic intelligence service has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist group.

The designation, made public by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution on Friday following an audit by the BfV security service, makes the party subject to surveillance. It could also revive discussion over a potential ban for the AfD, which has surged in popularity in recent years and placed second in Februarys general election.

The BfV, which had already designated several local AfD chapters as extremist, said it decided to give the entire party the label due to its attempts to undermine the free, democratic order in Germany.

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This is evident in the numerous xenophobic, anti-minority, anti-Islamic, and anti-Muslim statements continually made by leading party officials, it added.

The AfD, which has capitalised on growing anti-immigration sentiment amid the countrys economic slowdown and currently tops several opinion polls, condemned the designation as clearly politically motivated.





The designation comes just days before Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is due to be sworn in as Germanys new chancellor.

There is a heated debate within the party, which has thrashed out a coalition deal with the left-leaning Social Democrats, over how to deal with the AfD in the new parliament.

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The classification will make it easier for the authorities to use secret methods to monitor the AfD, including intercepting communications.

It could also reignite attempts to get the AfD banned.

Germanys outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz from the Social Democrats said on Friday that he is against rushing to outlaw the AfD, adding it should be evaluated carefully.

The radical right-wing party has been under scrutiny by the BfV for its links to extremists and its ties to Russia for some time.

Of the 38,800 far-right extremists counted by the agency last year, more than 10,000 are members.

Certain factions of the AfD, including three regional parties in the east of the country as well as its youth wing, were already classified as extremist.

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The party at large was classified as a suspected extremist case in 2021. The security services have now formalised the designation for the national party as a whole.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the classification was clear and unambiguous and had resulted from a 1,100-page comprehensive and neutral audit that had no political influence.

AfDs co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla charged in a statement that the party is being publicly discredited and criminalised.

It is sad to see the state of democracy in our country when the old parties are now even using the most politically questionable means against the strongest opposition party, said Anton Baron, an AfD legislator in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency has officially classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "confirmed right-wing extremist organization," Der Spiegel reported on May 2.

Until now, only AfD's regional branches in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt held that status, while the national party had been under observation as a suspected extremist group.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution finalized the designation after compiling a report exceeding 1,100 pages, which outlined extensive evidence of extremist activity within the party.

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The new classification does not ban the party but grants security services greater powers to monitor it through intelligence methods. These include wiretapping communications, recruiting informants, and tracking finances more aggressively.

AfD has long campaigned on opposition to immigration and criticism of European integration, while consistently advocating rapprochement with Russia.

The party opposes military aid to Ukraine, calls for lifting sanctions against Moscow, and has repeatedly urged the resumption of trade relations.

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Concerns over the AfD's ties to authoritarian regimes deepened after multiple senior members came under investigation for suspected collusion with Moscow and Beijing.

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Co-leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel both traveled to Russia in recent years, and in May 2023, Chrupalla and party founder Alexander Gauland attended a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin celebrating Russia's Victory Day.

The AfD's stance aligns with that of Germany's left-wing populist BSW party in calling for peace talks over military support to Ukraine. Lawmakers from both parties walked out of the Bundestag during President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech in June 2024.

After U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the AfD secured a key ally in Washington.

Billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump's top supporters, publicly endorsed the party, calling it Germany's "last spark of hope" despite longstanding accusations of Nazi sympathies among its ranks.

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In the most recent German federal elections, the AfD captured 20.8% of the vote, consolidating support in parts of the former East Germany where the party has long had a foothold.

Read also: Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are locked in Russian prisons  will US peace talks leave them behind?

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Far-right German party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) has been designated as a right-wing extremist organisation by the countrys domestic intelligence agency.

The ethnicity and ancestry-based understanding of the people prevailing within the party is incompatible with the free democratic order, the Verfassungschutz said Friday, as it published a 1,100-page report on the partys activities.

While the intelligence agency cannot ban the party, the designation could spark others to begin the process.

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The AfD has recently enjoyed a surge in popularity and came second in Februarys federal elections, winning a record 152 seats in the Bundestag.

Specifically, the AfD did not consider citizens of a migration background from predominantly Muslim countries as equal members of German society, the BBC reported.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's domestic intelligence agency provided very detailed justification for classifying the far-right Alternative for Germany as extremist but possible proceedings to ban the party must not be rushed, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday.

"I am against a quick shot, we have to evaluate the classification carefully," he said at a church convention in the northern city of Hanover.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Kirsti Knolle, editing by Rachel More)
Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images

Amazons earnings are comingand its stock is slipping.

Shares of the tech and retail giant were recently down nearly 3%, outpacing broader markets Wednesday slide.

Amazon (AMZN) isnt the only Magnificent Seven stock set to report results this weektheyre due after Thursdays closing bell alongside Apples (AAPL), while Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are slated to report later todaybut, of the four, theyre making the most dramatic move of the day.

Wall Street analysts are looking for substantial revenue and earnings growth from Amazon, and theyll be looking for clues as to the effect of Trump administration tariff policy on its business.

Management may also be asked about an episode yesterday in which, after a news outlet said the company planned to note the effects of tariffs on the prices people pay for its goods, Amazon met with stiff criticism from the White House. (The company later said it considered such a move, but only for part of its business, and it ultimately decided against it.)

Wall Streets consensus price target is just under $241, according to Visible Alpha data, about a 29% premium to Tuesdays close.

UBS analysts yesterday maintained a buy rating on the stock but cut their price target to $253 from $272, citing tariffs that could increase the prices of goods imported to the US, meaning consumers might have to make more difficult choices on where to allocate their dollars.



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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spoke out Thursday against the Trump Administration and policies that she says are leaving senior citizens vulnerable to financial fraud.

Recently, President Donald Trump has made moves to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the CFPB, which is a federal agency that prevents Americans from getting scammed by big banks and corporations.

The Trump Administration has attempted to fire most of the agencys staff, which Gillibrand said would put their many services at risk.

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So, many seniors fall victim to financial scams every day, and now more could become vulnerable without the services provided by the CFPB, Senator Gillibrand said. I am laser focused on protecting older Americans against fraud.

In 2023, over 4,300 older New Yorkers fell victim to fraud, losing over $200 million. Trump was asked earlier this week if his intention is to eliminate the agency, to which he replied, Were trying to get rid of waste: fraud and abuse.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
A 6-year-old girl went missing in South Africa last year

The 6-year-old girl's mother has now been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking

The young girl, Joshlin Smith, has yet to be found

A South African mother and two others were convicted on Friday on kidnapping and trafficking charges after authorities say she possibly sold her daughter to a local healer who wanted the 6-year-old child for her eye and skin color.

Reuters reported that Kelly Smith was convicted on Friday, May 2, of trafficking her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who went missing in February 2024.

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The BBC also reported that Smiths boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and the couples friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were also found guilty on kidnapping and trafficking charges related to Joshlins disappearance.

A neighbor testified in Smiths trial that shortly before Joshlin vanished, the mother had confided in her about plans to sell her daughter to a traditional healer who "wanted her for her eyes and skin, according to the BBC.



Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn all denied involvement in the disappearance of the girl.

Related: A Girl Is Missing: Was She Sought Out by Healer for Her Green Eyes and Pale Skin?

Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Kelly Smith Kelly Smith

Smiths neighbor, Lourentia Lombaard, testified during the trial that the mother had told her she did something silly and sold my child to a sangoma. Lombaard then reportedly told the court Smith offered money to her and others who knew about the plan to sell Joshlin in exchange for their silence, according to the BBC.

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The outlet reported that Joshlins teacher also testified during the trial, telling the court that she inquired about where Joshlin had been and that Smith had told her she was "on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa.

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The BBC also previously reported that a woman who was believed to be a healer had been arrested and questioned during the search for Joshlin but was later released because of a lack of evidence.

The outlet reported Friday that Smith broke into tears when her guilty verdict was read, as observers in the courtroom largely began applauding the courts decision.

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Smith, Appollis and van Rhyn all face a possibility of life in prison, according to the BBC.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People
Global press freedom has entered a "difficult situation" for the first time, according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 2.

The index highlights an unprecedented economic crisis across independent outlets in Europe, worsened by the collapse of American aid and the spread of Russian propaganda.

The RSF index evaluates press freedom across five categories: security, legal framework, economic, political, and socio-cultural contexts.

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A key factor in the decline was the abrupt freeze in funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which halted American international aid and plunged hundreds of media outlets into severe financial distress.

Ukraine, where martial law is still in effect due to the war unleashed by Russia, is ranked 62nd on the list. The disruption of USAID forced some Ukrainian outlets to shut down, weakening independent journalism at a critical moment in the war against Russia.

Nearly 90% of Ukraine's regional media outlets relied on international grants, with advertising revenues contributing just 3-10%, Oksana Romaniuk, head of the Kyiv-based Institute of Mass Information, told the Kyiv Independent in January.

Without this funding, outlets face mounting difficulties in reporting on Russian war crimes and corruption, while the Kremlin retains extensive means to spread disinformation.

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Budget cuts under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration  including suspensions of support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and USAID  have further weakened media sectors.

Russia's press freedom ranking plunged nine places to 171st out of 180 countries, its worst-ever showing. The country scored just 24.57 points under RSF's 100-point scale, positioning it near the bottom alongside Egypt and Nicaragua.

In contrast, post-Soviet states Armenia and Moldova improved their standings, ranking 34th and 35th, respectively, with Armenia registering the region's highest year-over-year gain, up nine spots.

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The Baltic States remained among Europe's strongest performers: Latvia ranked 15th, Lithuania 14th, and Estonia secured 2nd place globally, behind only Norway.

Lithuania and Latvia have also taken firm measures against Russian disinformation, banning Russian TV channels and blocking multiple Russian news websites as part of broader responses to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says

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HUGER, S.C. (WCBD)  Standing beneath a blazing Berkeley County sun, Vice President JD Vance declared the economic policies enacted by President Donald Trump in his first 100 days in office are ushering in an industrial renaissance in America.

I believe that a golden age of American manufacturing started 100 days ago, and were building it right here at Nucor Steel in South Carolina, Vance told a crowd of mostly steel workers outside the Huger facility.

Vances brief remarks came after he and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin took a private tour of the plant alongside Nucor executives, including CEO Leon Topalian.

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The vice president appeared awestruck as he described the high-tech operation of the plant, likening it to a spaceship. The visit  his first to a steel plant  was personal, he said, because his grandfather worked as a welder at an Aramco plant in Ohio for 40 years.

He said the work he saw being done at the plant exemplified the types of manufacturing jobs the administration wants to bring back to the U.S. from overseas.

When I go to this facility here in Berkeley, I dont see the steel mill jobs of the past, I see the steel mill jobs of the future, Vance said. [Technology] is how were going to beat the Chinese. Thats how were going to beat every single competitor that America faces. Its going to be by doing great things like what youre doing here at Nucor Steel.

Vances visit comes as the Trump administrations aggressive trade policy has roiled the stock market and stoked widespread fear about the possibility of a global recession.

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Trump campaigned on using tariffs as a mechanism to spur domestic manufacturing and bring jobs back to the U.S., but the rollout of sweeping tariffs on foreign goods has rattled consumers and businesses alike.

In February, the administration implemented a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports  a move praised by Nucor executives and one they claim hasnt slowed demand, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

What weve seen is no drop off at all in terms of order entry rates and inquiries, Topalian said, according to the outlet. Its just been strong.

Topalian said Thursday that Nucor, which hails itself as the largest steel manufacturer and recycler in North America, produces 25% of the countrys steel. He touted $400 million in investments and roughly 50 new jobs expected to be added to the Berkeley County plant by the end of the year.

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While Vance celebrated what he called the great American manufacturing comeback, new reports offer a more concerning perspective on the state of the economy.

An early Commerce Department report released Wednesday showed the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) shrank in the first quarter of 2025, its worst reading since 2022.

Trump acknowledged the economic uncertainty in an April 30 social media post but suggested tariffs were not to blame, urging Americans to be patient.

Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden Overhang. This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!! the president wrote on Truth Social.

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In his remarks, Vance pointed to a 22% increase in business investment as evidence that Trumps strategy is working.

Were going to see new jobs and artificial intelligence in deep water oil production, in chip fabrication, in pharmaceutical factories, research labs, supercomputing facilities, and, of course, in great American-made steel, he said. But the idea is very simple, and the principle is even simpler: That we want to grow up in a country we want our children to grow up in a country where the things that they need are made by their neighbors and not by foreigners who hate their guts.

But, Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn, who represents South Carolinas sixth congressional district, argued the administrations polices will disproportionately harm the Palmetto State, calling Trumps economic record an abysmal failure.

We are one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, and are proud of our contributions to the global economy, Clyburn said in a statement ahead of Vances visit. The Vice President would be better served by using his visit today to hear from South Carolinians from all walks of lifelongshoremen, autoworkers, farmers, aircraft assemblers, hospitality employees, small business owners, and everyone else trying to make ends meet and urging the Administration to alter its approach before it is too late.

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First Congressional District Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R) and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R) were also on site for the event but did not participate in the tour.

Thursday marked the second visit from Trump officials to the Lowcountry in less than a week. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. addressed an insurance legislators conference in downtown Charleston on April 25, highlighting the federal governments push to expand access to and lower the cost of transformative treatments for sickle cell disease.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
OAKLEY, Kan. (KSNW)  A woman looking for books in a Little Free Library box found something that should not have been there. Right next to the childrens book The Little Engine That Could was the drug used to treat drug overdoses.

A bag containing naloxone nasal spray was found in a mini library box in an Oakley, Kansas, park. (Viewer submitted photo)

The woman said it was the second time this week someone had put naloxone in one of Oakleys mini libraries.

Kansas declares emergency, waives trucking hours for fuel

She was concerned that little children use the libraries and might try to open the opioid-overdose antidote. She took the kits out and gave them to law enforcement.

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It prompted the Oakley Police Department to post a message on social media. Police say someone had good intentions, but the wrong solution.

While we understand the importance of this lifesaving drug and we appreciate the fact that someone out there wishes for it to be readily accessible for people in need, placing it in places readily available for children is not acceptable, the department said.

Everyone has access to the little libraries, including children who are naturally curious. Police say children might open the naloxone box and mess with it.

The Oakley Police Department said naloxone is said to have no adverse effects, even if it is not needed. However, there are still concerns about allergies and other issues if children get their hands on it.

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Drug Addiction: Where to Find Help

Police ask that if you find naloxone in a Little Free Library, take it to the police department.

To whomever is putting it in these places, thank you for caring about the people who need it, but PLEASE refrain from placing it in areas that are accessible to children, the post goes on to say. Naloxone also needs to be stored in a temperature-controlled environment so placing it in these boxes will essentially ruin the medication and it will not help anyone who needs it anyway.

The department asks that you call the police if you find an unknown substance in a public place. Officers have gloves and training to handle unknown substances.

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Police in Lake Wales say a local 11-year-old was robbed while raising money for school. But the child got a happy surprise after police started their investigation.

Police said the child was selling chocolate in the downtown area on April 25 when a stranger approached. Police say the the child told the person he had collected $107 in donations, the stranger snatched the money and took off an an electric scooter, running over the childs foot in the process.

Detectives canvassed local businesses for surveillance footage and eventually spoke with staff at The Ranch Taproom and Coffeehouse. Police called what happened next an extraordinary act of kindness.

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Police said two employees at the establishment were so moved by the incident that they personally relaced the stolen money.

Their gesture turned the childs distress into tears of joy, police said in a news release, adding, The Lake Wales Police Department commends the swift actions of its officers and the compassionate response from the community members at The Ranch Taproom and Coffeehouse. Their support helped bring resolution and comfort to the young victim.

On Tuesday, the suspect was identified as 18-year-old Isaiyah Cabrera of Davenport. He had a loaded handgun when he was arrested and admitted he had it during the robbery, police said.

Cabrera was charged with robbery by sudden snatching while in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and violation of probation. He was on probation at the time of the incident for a previous theft offense.

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RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  The two Black men who were tortured by six former law enforcement officers in Rankin County have reached a settlement in their civil case against the sheriffs office and county.

According to Jason Dare, an attorney for the Rankin County Sheriffs Office, a $2.5 million settlement was reached after a suit was brought by Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker against Rankin County and Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey. Jenkins and Parker initially filed a $400 million civil lawsuit against the department.

State Auditor investigates sheriff for alleged use of inmates on farm

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Dare said the county will pay for $500,000 for the resolution, and the countys insurance will pay its policy of $2 million for the resolution of the case. He said the funding for the resolution will come from the budget of the sheriffs office, and there will be no tax increase that with impact Rankin County citizens.

The attorneys for Jenkins and Parker sent a statement to WJTV 12 News about the settlement.

On behalf of the victims, we plead for the public to have them and their families have their privacy in order to heal. In the name of justice, and on behalf of other victims of the Rankin County Goon Squad, we are hoping their cases can be resolved soon and allow Rankin County and the State of Mississippi can turn a new and better page in policing and racial relations. A decision has not yet been made to proceed with civil judgments against the individual officers, but it is possibility. Attorneys Malik Z. Shabazz, Esq. and Trent Walker Esq.

Former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Daniel Opdyke, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, and Jeffrey Middleton, as well as former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield, were sentenced on state and federal charges in connection to the torture of Jenkins and Parker.

FILE  This combination of photos shows former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to state and federal charges for torturing two Black men, from top left, former Rankin County sheriffs deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield, during court appearances Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Brandon, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) Eddie Terrell Parker, right, one of two victims of racially motivated torture by six former Mississippi law enforcement officers, with his friend Michael Corey Jenkins, reacts during their sentencing in state court for their roles in the 2023 assault, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Brandon, Miss. Rankin County Circuit Judge Steve Ratcliff gave the six former Mississippi law enforcement officers yearslong state sentences that were shorter than the amount of time in federal prison that they had already received. Time served for the state convictions will run concurrently, or at the same time, as the federal sentences, and the men will serve their time in federal penitentiaries. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

The terror began on January 24, 2023, with a racist call for extrajudicial violence when a white person phoned McAlpin and complained that two Black men were staying with a white woman at a house in Braxton. McAlpin told Deputy Dedmon, who texted a group of white deputies so willing to use excessive force they called themselves The Goon Squad.

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Once inside, they handcuffed Jenkins and his friend Parker and poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup over their faces. They forced them to strip naked and shower together to conceal the mess. They mocked the victims with racial slurs and shocked them with stun guns.

Justice Department opens civil rights probe into Mississippi sheriffs office after torture of 2 Black men

After Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth, they devised a coverup that included planting drugs and a gun. False charges stood against Jenkins and Parker for months. Jenkins suffered a lacerated tongue and broken jaw.

In March 2023, months before federal prosecutors announced charges in August, an investigation by The Associated Press linked some of the deputies to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019 that left two dead and another with lasting injuries.

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Attorneys for several of the deputies have said their clients became ensnared in a culture of corruption that was not only permitted, but encouraged by leaders within the sheriffs office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Republicans never got much credit from voters for their 2017 tax cuts. And the sequel could prove an even tougher sell.

Some people would benefit from plans for new breaks for tips and overtime pay and a more generous deduction for state and local taxes under the package Republicans are assembling now.

But most people probably wouldn't see much difference in their paychecks because, largely, what Republicans are doing is extending tax breaks that have been on the books for years.

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To many voters, it may not seem like anything has changed in their taxes  and that will present a unique sales challenge for GOP lawmakers.

At the same time, to help defray the cost of their plans, they are eyeing spending cuts that could be more noticeable to their constituents, including changes to Medicaid, a popular health safety-net program.

Republicans are emphasizing that if they dont act, taxes will go up on millions of Americans at the end of this year. But its unclear how many people are concerned or even aware of the possibility that the 2017 tax cuts might go away  let alone how many will remember this time next year that Republicans prevented a tax increase.

Some lawmakers acknowledge that  even as they appear poised to spend much of this summer sweating over their top priority  they may not get many thanks from voters.

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It is a different dynamic from 2017, said Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), a top tax writer.

Back then, 80 percent of Americans were projected to receive tax cuts averaging $2,100. And shortly after signing the plan into law, then-President Donald Trump had the IRS change tax-withholding guidelines so that people would immediately see the difference in their paychecks.

Even then, Republicans didnt get much credit from voters, after Democrats decisively won the public-relations battle over the plan, in part by exaggerating how much of the tax cuts went to wealthy people and corporations.

Polling at the time showed many voters didnt believe their taxes went down.

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The parts of that law that benefited individual taxpayers are now set to expire, and much of what Republicans are trying to do is continue the supersized standard deduction, the lower income tax rates, the bigger child credit and other familiar breaks.

Republicans have leaned into the message that their job this time around is not so much cutting taxes as heading off tax increases.

Were trying to prevent a lot of pain, said Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.).

Added Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) who faces a tough reelection fight next year: In 2017, we were able to campaign on lowering your taxes and now we have to say, 'We want to keep that going.

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Its a matter of looking back and reminding people of the benefits that theyve enjoyed, and saying that were trying to maintain that, said Tillis.

Peoples taxes may not necessarily go down, but what Im trying to avoid is them looking a lot worse," he said.

Republicans are also arguing that, if Democrats were in charge, theyd let all the cuts expire  though, in fact, the bulk of the provisions are supported by Democrats.

Some lawmakers say their constituents, especially small business owners, understand, but its unclear how widely that message has broken through and how worried the public is over potentially losing the tax breaks.

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Lawmakers waged similar battles for years over the fate of former President George W. Bushs tax cuts. They ultimately struck a bipartisan deal with his successor, President Barack Obama, to extend nearly all of Bushs tax cuts.

This time, Republicans are also sprinkling in some new tax cuts, many proposed by Trump, for tips and overtime pay and for seniors, with some lawmakers pressing for more, like an expansion of the child credit. Details are closely guarded so its hard to determine how big they would be, or how many people might benefit.

Its also unclear when people might be able to claim them. If they dont take effect until next year, taxpayers may not see a benefit until they file their returns in 2027.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who also faces a tough reelection fight next year, says he expects the new breaks to be significant.

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Theres a number of things on the table that could result in some very dramatic decreases in tax burdens, he said.

Republicans say voters would benefit in more indirect ways as well.

The legislation should calm nerves on Wall Street, said Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill), which saw equity values plummet in the wake of Trumps trade wars, bringing down millions of peoples retirement, college and other savings with it.

The measure will boost the broader economy as well, Republicans say, though some economists are predicting only modest benefits.

Were predicating our bill on predictability and certainty  there is unpredictability when you could have $4.5 trillion in tax increases at the end of the year, said LaHood, another tax writer. So, when you make permanent a number of these provisions that is going to help to calm markets and bring predictability.

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But at the same time, Republicans bid to reduce the hit to the deficit by simultaneously cutting other parts of the governments budget could leave a trail of unhappy constituents.

Back in 2017, lawmakers limited the political fallout from their payfors by focusing mostly on raising arcane taxes affecting businesses and sharply limiting a deduction for state and local taxes.

This time around, they plan to loosen SALT  which mostly benefits upper-income people  while targeting initiatives with much larger and lower- to middle-income constituencies like Medicaid. A slate of green energy tax credits is also on the chopping block, among other things.

Its the job, shrugs Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), another tax writer. If youre doing this for the accolades, I strongly suggest another profession.
GOSHEN  Those who believe in freedom, kindness and justice cannot rest until it comes.

The message, marked in a song led by Sam Yoder of the Poor Peoples Campaign to a group of around 200 protesters outside the Elkhart County Courthouse on Thursday evening, was part of the overarching message of the May Day Strong protest.

Goshens protest was among thousands of the same across U.S. cities against the President Donald Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, a continuation of the nationwide protests that began with the Hands Off! Protests in April.

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Yoder spoke about what he called the interlocking injustices of systemic racism  poverty, ecological devastation, economy and religious nationalism to make right things that have gone wrong.

Its going to cost us something, but lets not rest until it comes, Yoder said.

At Goshens protest, state Republican lawmakers also felt the pressure, as speakers urged the community to vote for change.

Weve got to get somebody thats fired up, well-funded and motivated to bring back democracy to Elkhart County, Indiana, said Elkhart Common Councilman Dwight Fish, District 4. Democracy will not wait. Its not convenient. Democracy demands our attention. Democracy demands that we fight for everything the Constitution represents.

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Fish spoke predominantly on immigrant rights.

Our job, folks, is to fight back with every fiber in our being and make sure that we show them how to do democracy right, he said. What about those folks who come here with the hope and dream of living in a town like Goshen and expressing their right? Theyre not doing anything wrong. They want to work. Why are we not making a pathway to citizenship? Why are we not doing that? Because the powerbrokers love to manipulate and distract and take everything that they can and not give you a thing back.

Elkhart activist Corinne Straight told the crowd that in the last election in Indiana, 40 state district seats went uncontested.

I feel like we have all been sold an American Dream by people who have been strategically and deliberately stealing it for themselves, Straight said. We keep working harder, and they keep getting richer.

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Straight pointed to a statement by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun during his campaign, wherein Braun said he was able to hand over his family business that his father gave to him to his children, calling it the American Dream.

At first I thought maybe he misspoke, but he said it several times in several different appearances, Straight said. We do not dream of becoming tech billionaires, we do not dream of handing over multimillion dollar companies to our children, we dream of going to the doctor, we dream of putting food on the table, we dream of our children getting to have a career and an education without starting out their lives tens of thousands of dollars in debt, we dream of retiring. Our dreams are so basic.

Straight argued that Braun and Lt. Gov. Mike Beckwiths comments on hard work allowing them to achieve their goals were comments of nefarious intent.

This is not about hard work. This has never been about hard work. There is no one in this country that works harder than poor people, Straight said. This has never been about work ethic. This has always been about privilege and opportunity and the billionaires understanding that our hard work is going to make them richer.

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A few scheduled speakers did not attend the protest. Kate Marsh, with Elkhart County Indivisible, spoke on behalf of Short Term Partnership With Immigrant Neighbors, announcing their program to those in attendance and asking the community to support immigrants by driving them places to keep them from driving illegally.

Kevin Peters of the Elkhart County Democrats, who ran for county council last year, announced the candidate recruitment committee and urged residents to get involved and begin training and meeting together.
This story was originally published on Packaging Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Packaging Dive newsletter.

Amcor, a global multi-substrate rigid and flexible packaging manufacturer, closed its all-stock acquisition of Indiana-based Berry Global on Wednesday  ahead of schedule, Amcor executives touted. CEO Peter Konieczny said in a statement that Amcor will enter fiscal year 2026 in a better position than we anticipated.

Amcor reiterated expectations for $650 million in savings by the end of FY2028  including $260 million in FY2026  for the consumer and healthcare packaging giant. In a presentation during Amcors fiscal Q3 earnings call late Wednesday, executives detailed that this will start as procurement, general and administrative and operations  or footprint optimization  efficiencies, followed by growth and financial synergies. Amcor said these benefits are not contingent on the macroeconomic environment.

The Zurich-based companys reach now spans approximately 140 countries, with some 400 facilities, 70,000 employees and $23 billion in anticipated sales revenue.

This combination delivers on our strategy to become a stronger company with a broader, more complete offering for customers and enhanced positions in attractive categories, Konieczny said in a statement, highlighting plans to further refine the portfolio.

Amcor projects annual cash flow of more than $3 billion by FY2028, providing significant capacity for Amcor to fund organic reinvestment, value accretive M&A and shareholder returns, the company announced.

Fred Stephan, who was previously president of Amcor Flexibles North America and then chief operating officer for Amcor, will serve as division president for global flexibles, which covers about 60% of Amcors business. Jean-Marc Galvez, who served as Berrys president of the international consumer packaging division, has been appointed president of global containers and closures at Amcor, which is expected to account for the remaining 40%.

The deal, described as the largest transaction in Amcors history, was first announced last November and was previously valued at $8.4 billion. Earlier in 2024, Berry had discussed combinations and other strategic alternatives with multiple other companies. The transaction received respective shareholder approvals in February.

That same month, Konieczny explained that Amcor would consider divestitures from Berrys portfolio. On Wednesday, Konieczny clarified that were definitely looking at pruning of the portfolio in the context of the combined company but it has nothing to do with carving out either legacy Berry or legacy Amcor.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law that will protect access to in vitro fertilization.

The law ensures women who conceived or wish to conceive via IVF will continue to have access to the medical procedure.

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Kemp signed the law on Thursday in coastal Georgia, part of which is represented by Statesboro Republican Rep. Lehman Franklin.

House Speaker Jon Burns asked him to carry the bill because of his personal connection to the law.

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After eight years of trying, Franklins wife just became pregnant thanks to IVF.

We wanted to do IVF one last time, and we did it and it worked, and Im ecstatic to say that now, shes pregnant with a little girl" Franklin told Channel 2s Richard Elliot when the bill was introduced.

The measure codified IVF protections into Georgia law and protects it from any potential future bills.

When Alabama passed a similar measure, it inadvertently criminalized IVF. That was something Georgia lawmakers wanted to avoid.

Putting this in code to allow that and to make sure that in law, recognizing the definition recognizes that it is something in this state of Georgia will be protected, said State Sen. Ben Watson.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday to ban the purchase of soft drinks and candy using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while pushing for state and federal legislation.

Landry directs the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to submit a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude the purchase of sodas and candy using food stamps in the state.

In Louisiana, were going to focus on the food that our bodies need to grow and function properly. If you want to consume these items, well, that money should come out of your pocket, Landry said in a video posted on X.

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The governor publicly supports Senate Bill 14, proposed legislation tied to a broader national health initiative co-founded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known as Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The campaign, organized by a political action committee of the same name, promotes public policies aimed at improving food quality, reducing chronic disease, and limiting exposure to harmful substances.

RFK Jr. is targeting ultraprocessed foods: What are they, and are they bad?

McMaths bill aligns with Landrys order to require DCFS to submit a waiver to the USDA seeking permission for Louisiana to prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing soft drinks. SB 14 advanced in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on April 30.

Its time to incentivize good food over junk food. Exercise over screen time. Water over soda, Landry said. Our nation is stronger when we are healthier, and Im committed to working alongside President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to bring the Make America Healthy Again movement to every corner of the state.

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According to the order, Landry tasks DCFS with finding ways to incentivize buying fruits and vegetables. The agency has implemented a USDA-funded pilot project in six parishes to encourage SNAP recipients to make healthy food choices at participating stores by offering a 30-cent produce bonus for every dollar spent.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 847,000 Louisiana residents currently receive SNAP benefits. The program provides financial assistance for low-income households to purchase food.

Louisiana SUN Bucks: How to apply, do you qualify and when they will go out

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DES MOINES, Iowa  There is one day left in the legislative session, but there was no flurry of activity in the Iowa Capitol building as lawmakers wait until an agreed upon budget.

The Iowa Republican controlled legislature will miss the deadline to end the session, the 110th day and will now work in overtime with a party divided over the state budget. With the budget expected to be just shy of $9.5 billion dollars, $36 million is holding up the final gavel out of the year.

Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday announced that her and the Iowa Senate were in an agreement on the FY 26 budget, sitting at $9.417 billion. House Republicans are at $9.453 billion, but Reynolds wants the House Republican caucus to match the lower budget because of state tax cuts and federal policy.

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Webster Theater reopens over 1 year after fire

I believe that this tariff, the tariff strategy that the President has put in place, I believe its going to work but its going to take some time and its bumpy, said Governor Reynolds. And that could potentially have an impact on our economy. So we need to buckle down and really think about how much and what were spending on. And so, thats why I ended up aligning with the Senate, because I mean, if we could even get lower, Id probably go lower.

The Governor added that her initial budget at the beginning of the year was too high for her liking and had operated under the assumption she would come to a lower agreement this year.

For House Republicans, the Speaker of the House told reporters on Thursday that a $14 million funding policy is a major sticking point.

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That was included in the original number that was part of the governors proposed budget. At no point did we think that wasnt going to be something that we were going to be able to find. And I will be honest with you, thats one of the pieces right now that I would say is one of the biggest sticking points. Our caucus feels extremely strong that if were going to provide that level of support that we did with that bill last year, that were not going to go back and just cut that and leave schools in a situation to find the difference. Those are more like Governor Culver practices that we saw and we dont want to see that happening on something like that, said Speaker Grassley (R), District 57 from New Hartford.

That $14 million for paraeducator funding, which is what Grassley is referring too, was in Reynolds budget at the beginning of the year. That was approved by lawmakers last year, as a part of negotiations involving changes to the states area education agencies. Reynolds dropped that $14 million in that agreement with Iowa Senate Republicans, but Grassley is holding strong on it as lawmakers committed to it last year.

Iowa News:

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Gov. Tony Evers had already said he wasnt directing state employees to break the law should immigration officials enter state buildings. Evers answers reporters questions in March. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Gov. Tony Evers issued a three-minute video Friday in which he addressed Wisconsinites, describing a statement from the White House border czar Tom Homan that has been interpreted by some as a threat to arrest Evers as chilling.

Homan made the vague threat after a reporter for the far-right website Gateway Pundit asked him why not just arrest leaders interfering with deportation efforts. The reporter then specifically asked him about Evers directive to state agencies instructing them to consult an attorney if federal immigration agents enter state buildings demanding files or computer system access.

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Wait to see whats coming, Homan said. You can not support what were doing and you can support sanctuary cities if thats what you want to do, but if you cross that line of impediment or knowingly harboring or concealing an illegal alien, that is a felony and well treat it as such.

Before the comment, Evers had already said he wasnt directing state employees to break the law should immigration officials enter state buildings.

A Trump Administration official, in not so many words, apparently threatened to arrest me The goal of this guidance was simple  to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws. Nothing more, nothing less, Evers said in the video. But Republicans and their right-wing allies, including Elon Musk, lied about this guidance, spread misinformation, accused me of doing things I didnt do or say, and fueled a fake controversy of their own creation.

The guidance sent by the Department of Administration to state employees told them to stay calm if an ICE agent entered their offices. It told them to ask agents for their names and badges to verify their identity, to ask why they were there, ask for documentation like a valid warrant then tell the agent to have a seat. It said state employees should call the Office of Legal Council to consult an attorney.

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It also told employees not to answer questions from an agent, give them access to paper files and computer systems without speaking to an attorney and not to give consent for an agent to enter a nonpublic area, noting that they need a judicial warrant to enter such an area.

Remember that every state employee has a duty to protect confidential data and information collected or maintained by the State of Wisconsin in state offices and electronic filing systems, the guidance stated.

I havent broken the law. I havent committed a crime, and Ive never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes, Evers said in the video. When President Trumps hand-picked appointee, Tom Homan, was asked about me and this guidance after he apparently threatened to arrest elected officials across the country, he said, Wait til you see whats coming. Overnight, Republican lawmakers piled on, encouraging the Trump Administration to arrest me.

Evers directive had received backlash from Wisconsin Republicans who called on Evers to rescind the guidance and support Trumps deportation agenda.

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One Republican state lawmaker Rep. Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) suggested in multiple social media posts Thursday that Evers should be arrested  sharing an AI-generated photo of Evers in handcuffs and writing in another post that this is what Tony Evers sent out; stick him in the same cell as the Milwaukee judge! Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested last week under accusations that she impeded the arrest of a man that ICE followed to her courtroom.

Evers said the threats should concern everyone.

In this country, the federal government doesnt get to abuse its power to threaten everyday Americans. In this country, the federal government doesnt get to arrest American citizens who have not committed a crime. In this country, we dont threaten to persecute people just because they belong to a different political party, Evers said.

These threats represent a concerning trajectory in this country. We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official  or even everyday American citizens  who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong, Evers said. As disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump Administration, I am not afraid. I have never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today.

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David Anderson, center, testifies before the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee March 11, 2025 in support of new safety standards after his son Joseph, in framed photograph on right, drowned on the job. (Photo by Michele Jokinen/Minnesota House of Representatives Information Services)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill creating new safety standards for workers who use scuba equipment to remove underwater weeds from lakes, following the deaths of two young and inexperienced divers.

Brady Aune and Joe Anderson died two years apart in remarkably similar accidents that their parents blame on the carelessness of their employers. They allege the companies didnt provide adequate training or safety equipment that might have saved their lives.

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Neither man was certified in scuba diving. In fact, neither had been scuba diving before they were handed oxygen tanks and weighted belts and sent to pull out weeds in deep murky water with little to no supervision.

Brady and Joseph were two remarkable young men whose tragic, preventable deaths are a stark reminder that workplace safety cannot be an afterthought, Walz said in a statement announcing his signature on May 1, International Workers Day.

The law, which had Democratic and Republican authors, requires workers who use scuba equipment to have an open water scuba diver certificate, or more advanced certificate, from a nationally recognized agency.

Commercial diving operations must also ensure a standby diver is available when another worker is in the water, and that workers are trained in first aid and CPR.

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Companies must require workers to wear a buoyancy control device that can inflate automatically like the yellow emergency vests on airplanes, as well as an illuminated dive beacon and other safety equipment.

The law took effect immediately.

We are so grateful for all the people who were so passionate about making this law the best law it could be to keep our kids safe at work, Dina Aune, Brady Aunes mother, told the Reformer. In just a few weeks, a new set of young people will be in the water removing weeds, and now they will be safe while at work.

Aune was 20 years old when he drowned in Lake Minnetonka in Spring 2022 on his fourth day working for $16 an hour for Dive Guys, an aquatic weed removal company owned by Matt Wilkie.

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Investigators found Aunes weighted belt was on backward, so he wasnt able to remove it, and that just one of the five employees on the job was trained in scuba diving.

Anderson was 18 years old when he drowned in Lac Lavon in Dakota County in 2024 while working for a different company, Your Lake Aquatic Plant Management. It was his third day on the job and his first time diving underwater.

His parents say he was a strong swimmer, but he received just 15 minutes of training the day he died, from a co-worker who wasnt scuba certified. Andersons supervisor also wasnt trained in CPR, and while first responders were able to resuscitate him, he died three days later in the hospital.

OSHA fined Dive Guys $128,450 and Your Lake Aquatic Plant Management $730,000, which the company is appealing.
The South African government has granted Eskom coal plants some exemptions from air quality laws and harmful emissions regulations for at least the next five years, in a blow to sustainability progress in Africa.

What happened?

Eskom applied for permission to flout minimum emission standards set in air quality regulations. The exemptions that were granted are limited and don't constitute a "blanket reprieve," according to a report from Reuters.

The government is allowing Eskom to ignore the minimums until at least 2030 but also requiring it to "step up monitoring, appoint environmental health specialists and provide mobile health clinics," per Reuters.

Why is this concerning?

In South Africa, Eskom's coal power plants supply most of the country's electricity. It's one of Africa's worst polluters, and climate activists have pushed for tighter regulations and enforcements on its emissions.

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Eskom has not made significant efforts to curb its toxic pollution or retrofit its old power plants with new efficient technology. Recent data also revealed that people living near coal plants in South Africa have a 6% higher mortality rate compared with the rest of the country.

"We want enough electricity to grow our economy, and we want clean, breathable air," said Dion George, environment minister for South Africa, per Reuters. "It is completely unacceptable when our children have problems with their lungs, and babies are born with cleft palates."

What's being done about it?

Eskom has a lot of controlling power in South Africa. It has caused widespread blackouts in the past and is seen as unreliable by the public.

In response, Cape Town started a program last year to buy excess power generated by solar panels from homes and businesses. The program was the first of its kind in Africa and incentivized people to switch to solar and sign up.

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There is still a long way to go to fix this power crisis in South Africa. Climate activists and some officials are focusing on investing in clean energy infrastructure and connecting transmission lines to other countries in the southern part of the continent.

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.
The GAO report could outline for Congress the full extent of problems with work requirements before they rush forward and do this without thinking. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

This article first appeared on KFF Health News.

The countrys top nonpartisan government watchdog has confirmed it is examining the costs of running the nations only active Medicaid work requirement program, as Republican state and federal lawmakers consider similar requirements.

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The U.S. Government Accountability Office told KFF Health News that its analysis of the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program could be released this fall.

In its first 100 days, the Trump administration has said rooting out waste in federal programs was a priority, allowing billionaire Elon Musk and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency broad latitude to fundamentally alter the operations of federal agencies.

The idea of a nationwide mandate that requires Medicaid enrollees to either work, study, or complete other qualifying activities to maintain coverage is gaining traction as congressional Republicans weigh proposals to cut $880 billion from the federal deficit over 10 years. The savings are intended to offset the costs of President Donald Trumps priorities, including border security and tax cuts that would largely benefit the wealthy.

A majority of the public  regardless of political leaning  oppose funding cuts to Medicaid, according to polling released May 1 by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

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The GAO investigation comes at a critical time, said Leo Cuello, a research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center for Children and Families.

Congress seems to be pursuing cuts in Medicaid in a frenetic and rushed manner, he said. The GAO report could outline for Congress the full extent of problems with work requirements before they rush forward and do this without thinking.

The experiences of Georgia and Arkansas  the only two states to have run such programs  show that work requirements depress Medicaid enrollment while adding costly layers of bureaucracy.

Now, more states are trying to get signoff from the Trump administration to approve work requirements for Medicaid, the state-federal program that offers health coverage to millions of Americans with low-incomes and disabilities.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which approves Medicaid pilot programs such as work requirements, did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

The GAO found in 2019 that work requirement programs can be expensive for states to run  hundreds of millions of dollars, in some cases  and that federal officials failed to consider those costs when approving the programs, which cannot increase Medicaid spending.

Still, the Trump administration has supported work requirements. The programs require state employees to manually verify whether enrollees meet eligibility requirements and monitor their continued compliance.

In 2023, more than 90% of U.S. adults eligible for Medicaid expansion were already working or could be exempt from requirements, according to KFF.

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During his confirmation hearing to lead CMS, Mehmet Oz said he was in favor of work requirements but didnt think they should be used as an obstacle, a disingenuous effort to block people from getting on Medicaid.

The first Trump administration approved work requirements in 13 states. Nearly all the programs were blocked by the Biden administration or federal courts.

Georgia is one of 10 states that hasnt fully expanded Medicaid to nearly all low-income adults.

The state launched Pathways to Coverage on July 1, 2023. Its been a main policy priority of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, whose office engaged in a lengthy court fight with the Biden administration after it tried to block the program.

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The program cost more than $57 million in state and federal dollars through the end of 2024, with much of that going toward its administration. As of April 25, 7,410 people were enrolled, a small percentage of those who would be covered by a full Medicaid expansion. Pathways has also slowed processing times for other benefit programs in the state.

When asked about the costs and benefits of Pathways, Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas instead pointed to Georgias recently launched state-based Obamacare exchange. It saw record enrollment due, in part, to enhanced subsidies passed by the Biden administration.

We are covering more Georgians than traditional Medicaid expansion would have, and for less money, said Douglas, referring to the state, not federal, share of spending.

The enhanced subsidies that boosted enrollment are set to expire this year. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending them would cost the federal government about $335 billion over 10 years.

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In March, Arkansas asked the Trump administration to relaunch its Medicaid work requirement program. The federal public comment period on the program runs through May 10. A previous version was halted by a court order in 2019, but not before more than 18,000 lost coverage in less than a year.

Georgia plans to request that the White House renew its program with modest changes, including reducing how frequently enrollees must prove to the state theyre working or engaging in other qualifying activities.

The GAO investigation into Georgias work requirement program comes after three Democratic U.S. senators  Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Ron Wyden of Oregon  asked the GAO in December for an investigation into the programs costs. Their request cited reporting by KFF Health News.

I pushed for this GAO report because I am confident its findings will further support what we already know: Pathways to Coverage costs the taxpayers more money and covers fewer people than had the state simply joined 40 other states in closing the health care coverage gap, Warnock said in a statement.

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The GAO said it aims to figure out how much Georgia has spent to run the program, how much of that was federal money, and how that spending is being tracked.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe requested for President Donald Trump to approve a major disaster declaration, which will provide federal assistance to 26 counties in the state.

This request for the president is in response to the widespread storms, tornadoes and flooding that impacted Missouri from March 30 to April 8, claiming about six lives.

While Missourians and faith-based and volunteer organizations have been supporting their neighbors and local and state governments are working hard at recovery, the cost of these effortsoften because of repeated damage in the same countiesis beyond the capacity of local communities and the state to bear in full, Kehoe said in the release.

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The Governors Office said that these counties were requested FEMA Individual Assistance by Kehoe:

Bollinger

Butler

Cape Girardeau

Carter

Cooper

Dunklin

Howell

Iron

Mississippi

New Madrid

Oregon

Ozark

Reynolds

Ripley

Scott

Shannon

Stoddard

Vernon

Washington

Wayne

This form of assistance allows residents to get federal assistance that is for temporary housing, housing repairs, qualifying expenses and replacement for damaged belongings.

The Governors Office also said that these other counties were requested FEMA Public Assistance by Kehoe:

Bollinger

Butler

Cape Girardeau

Carter

Cooper

Douglas

Dunklin

Howell

Iron

Madison

Maries

Mississippi

New Madrid

Oregon

Ozark

Pemiscot

Reynolds

Ripley

Scott

Shannon

Stoddard

Texas

Vernon

Wayne

Webster

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With Public Assistance, the Missouri government, as well as qualified nonprofit agencies, will be able to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs.

Missourians who face unmet needs, depending on their circumstances, are asked to contact United Way at 2-1-1 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-276.

Further details about disaster recovery in Missouri can be found here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
State Rep. Chris Reder, R-Warner, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on March 6, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Friday hes seeking nominations for a new lawmaker to represent District 1 in northeastern South Dakota after Rep. Chris Reder, R-Warner, resigned Thursday.

District 1 includes areas in Brown, Day, Marshall and Roberts counties. Reder was elected to his first term last November and served during the 2025 legislative session. He is a Navy veteran and sat on the House Military and Veterans Affairs, Taxation and Transportation committees.

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The two bills he introduced, one of which was signed into law by Rhoden, related to military members and veteran benefits. The new law allows non-South Dakota residents who are veterans to purchase three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses in the state.

Reder announced his resignation through social media on Thursday due to personal and professional reasons.

He had faced questions in the news media and on political blogs about his residency status, but did not address that in his resignation announcement.

Another legislative seat opened recently in District 22, which includes areas in Beadle, Spink and Clark counties, when Rhoden selected Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, to become a judge. Rhoden will make appointments for the open seats.

Submit a nomination

To submit a nomination for the open state representative seat in District 1, email ryan.brunner@state.sd.us by May 23. Nominations should include the candidates name, current physical address, resume, cover letter and letters of recommendation.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein blasted a court ruling that stripped some of his appointment powers during an interview with Queen City News Thursday morning.

Theres really absolutely no justification other than crass partisan motivation for them to intervene at this point, said Stein.

Late Wednesday, the Court of Appeals of North Carolina ruled that Senate Bill 382 could be enacted. The legislation, passed by the General Assembly last year, gave the state auditor, a Republican, the power to appoint members to the state Board of Elections, a power traditionally held by the governor.

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BILL STRIPS NC GOV POWERS

By Thursday afternoon, Republicans had assumed a 3-2 control over the board. Stein argued it would assist the GOP in their efforts to overturn the result of a state supreme court race that Stein believes was decided many months ago. North Carolinas Republican Party argued the board had become too partisan under Democratic control.

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The actions of the current board majority placed partisanship and politics over performance. Under Auditor Boliek, North Carolinians will have confidence our votes are counted with accuracy, consistency, and integrity, said Matt Mercer, spokesperson for the NC GOP.

Stein intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

On the topic of Helene recovery, Stein is also waiting to hear back from the White House after he appealed a rejection by FEMA to continue cost sharing 100 percent of the damage caused by the hurricane. He contends the amount of damage seen puts Helene on par with Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

USDA grants $25M to help NC farmers hit by Hurricane Helene

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This clearly fits that same degree, that same level of storm damage. Ive asked the President to overrule FEMA, and Im hopeful that he will do so, said Stein.

At the state level, North Carolina has also rolled out a new $55 million grant program to help local governments support small businesses. Stein says grant money could be used to repair broadband connections, sidewalks, and even sewer and water infrastructure. Grants can be as much as $1 million.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Epic Games, developer of Fortnite, sued Apple in 2020 over the restrictions and fees imposed by its iPhone App Store - Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Apple has been referred to federal prosecutors after a judge ruled one of its executives lied under oath during its dispute with the developer of video game Fortnite.

The tech giant was found to have violated a court order that required it to allow greater competition for app downloads and payment methods on its App Store.

In a scathing assessment, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, district judge in Oakland, said one of the companys executives had given testimony replete with misdirection and outright lies as part of the competition lawsuit brought by Epic Games.

She referred Alex Roman, Apples vice president of finance, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation over his evidence about the steps Apple had taken to comply with her injunction.

Apples continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated, Judge Gonzalez Rogers said in an 80-page ruling. This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party wilfully disregards a court order.

Apple, which reports its first quarter results later on Thursday, said it strongly disagrees with the decision.

It added: We will comply with the courts order and we will appeal.

Epic Games sued Apple in 2020 over the restrictions and fees imposed by its iPhone App Store, which it alleged were anticompetitive. At the time, Epic had added options to bypass Apples fees, which can be as high as 30pc, by adding its own payment system, resulting in it being kicked out of its digital store.

Epic was largely defeated in the ensuing lawsuit, with Apple ruled not to have an illegal monopoly over app downloads. However, the court did order Apple to make changes to how its store operates, such as forcing it to allow links that will take users outside its App Store to make digital payments.

Tim Sweeney, Epic Games chief executive, called the judges latest order a significant win for developers and consumers.

It forces Apple to compete with other payment services rather than blocking them, and this is what we wanted all along, he said. Sweeney added that Epic Games would aim to bring back Fortnite to the App Store next week.

Gonzalez Rogers in 2021 found Apple violated a California competition law and ordered the company to allow developers more freedom to direct app users to other payment options.

Apple failed last year to persuade the US Supreme Court to strike down the injunction, although the court also declined to hear an appeal from Epic Games.

Epic Games told the court in March 2024 that Apple was blatantly violating the courts order, including by imposing a new 27pc fee on app developers when Apple customers complete an app purchase outside the App Store.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT)  President Donald Trumps commencement speech at the University of Alabama brought the Class of 2025 to its feet Thursday night.

Soon-to-be graduates Ryann Levendusky, Hayley Gonzalez and Gracie Fortson made sure they were there to see it for themselves.

We thought it was a once in a lifetime experience like its not every day you can just go watch the President of the United States at your college campus. So, its like kind of unbelievable that he was here to celebrate our graduation and everything, Fortson said.

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Those in the audience, many of whom were made up of UA graduates themselves, made sure to see to see Trump in person for the first time.

Anytime I have the opportunity to see the president speak Im going to come out and see it. I know he had some wisdom to share with all the graduating students so we got to hear that, alumnus Daniel Adkins said.

Trumps words, where he encouraged graduates not to waste their youth but to fight, particularly touched students like Liam McIntyre and Charlie Leahy, who said theyre walking away feeling confident about post-graduation.

What he said tonight just leaves me with excitement for the future and what I can bring to this country, Leahy said.

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Students said they plan to implement Trumps words of encouragement into their own lives.

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  Zoo New York at Thompson Park has announced that two new matching grants that will support the Zoos mission.

The Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded a $10,000 matching grant to support the zoos membership campaign for this year, which launched May 1. This gift, made possible by donors who are passionate about enhancing quality of life across the region, will match every dollar contributed toward membership during the campaign.

Zoo New York offers free day for military families and kids

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According to the zoo, memberships offer a range of valuable benefits for individuals and families, including free year-round admission, discounts at the gift shop and cafe, free access or reduced admission to special events, and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences. Membership tiers and details can be found at zoonewyork.org/membership

An anonymous community member also has pledged a $25,000 matching donation to support the development of the Zoos new Nature Playscape and other on-site enhancements. These immersive outdoor experiences will be designed to engage all five senses through natural elements like water, wood, rock, and plant lifeencouraging curiosity, creativity, and healthy physical and emotional development.

The playscape will also support increased visitation, volunteerism, and sponsorship opportunities for the zoo.

These matching opportunities reflect a growing confidence in the Zoos direction and mission. They show that donors and community members believe in creating a space where families can learn, explore, and thrive together. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a differenceand now, every dollar goes twice as far. Zoo NY Executive Director Dr. Mark Irwin

For more information on upcoming events, exhibits, and the Zoos ongoing development, follow Zoo New York on Facebook or visit zoonewyork.org

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.
Two Vietnam veterans from the Miami Valley are getting a special honor for their service and heroism.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Jim Moses, of Germantown, and Don Austin, of Spring Valley Twp., will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2025 on Friday.

Moses was drafted, and Austin enlisted during the Vietnam War. The Army awarded both of them a Bronze Star Medal with a V device for their actions during separate firefights.

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I just did my job, you know? I was a machine gunner and they depended on me (to) let them guys know we had firepower, you know, and thats what I did, Moses said.

TRENDING STORIES:

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, a V device means their medals were awarded for acts of valor or heroism during combat.

Thats when I got wounded. The guy to my right had already been wounded, so I decided it was time to go, and I picked him up, threw him on my shoulder, and got back to the company lines, Austin recalled. And the fight continued, and eventually we got medevacked out.

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At a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse on Friday, both men will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame and receive another medal.

Ted Mosure, president of the Hall of Fames Board of Directors, spoke to News Center 7 about their mission.

Our mission is to honor veterans born in Ohio, or entered the service from Ohio, who have been awarded a medal for valor in combat, Mosure said.

Mosure, a Vietnam veteran himself, said Fridays class includes 19 veterans who served from the Civil War to the global war on terror.

Its a very emotional, and we try to make it a little better every year, he explained.

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Austin and Moses told News Center 7 that they appreciate the honor this year.

It makes me feel good, but it was a surprise because unless Im asked, I dont talk about it much, Austin said.

Tears in your eyes, you know? Moses said. Its a great feeling to be recognized like this.

After tomorrows ceremony, the total number of veterans in the Ohio Military Hall of Fame will be more than 500.

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THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP)  A man was charged in Greece Friday with espionage-related offences and jailed pending trial after allegedly photographing and videotaping military operations at the strategic port of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece.

The port serves as a key logistics hub for U.S. and NATO operations, facilitating the movement of military equipment and personnel in support of Ukraine and NATO member states in eastern Europe.

The suspect, who has not been named, was arrested earlier this week in a joint operation by the police and Greeces National Intelligence Service. Authorities said he was acting on behalf of another individual and had sent the recordings to that person using an encrypted messaging app, but provided no further details.

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According to state television, citing Greek law enforcement officials, the suspect is a 59-year-old Greek citizen born in Georgia and is under investigation for potential ties to Russian security services through a contact in Lithuania.

Escorted by police officers on Friday, the suspect appeared before a magistrate in Alexandroupolis for a preliminary hearing as part of the ongoing judicial investigation. Judicial authorities said he denied all charges, adding that no trial date has been set.
GREENE COUNTY, Mo.  Property tax relief is being offered to Greene County residents whose homes were made unlivable by the severe storms that struck the Ozarks on April 29, 2025.

Greene County Assessor Brent Johnson is notifying residents that property tax relief in the form of property value may be available for some homeowners.

Under Missouri law (RSMo 137.082), Greene County is an Occupancy Law county, allowing the Assessor to prorate the taxable value of residential properties that are uninhabitable due to natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, fires, or earthquakes.

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After personally witnessing the extensive damage sustained by many homes in our community, I want to ensure that residents are aware of this opportunity to reduce their property tax burden while their homes are unoccupied and undergoing repairs, said Assessor Brent Johnson in a press release.

Eligible property owners may apply for prorated property value by completing the Destroyed Residential Property Claim Form, available on the Greene County Assessors website: https://greenecountymo.gov/assessor/forms.php

Important Information for Applicants:

Only residential properties are eligible for relief under this program.

Property owners must notify the Assessors Office using the form mentioned above.

Properties must be inspected by the Assessors Office during the unoccupied period. (including the approval)

Owners must provide supporting documentation, including insurance claim numbers and repair estimates (these may be submitted as they become available).

Property owners are required to notify the Assessors Office immediately upon reoccupancy or completion of repairs.

Property that is uninhabited after 12 months will require additional documentation.

For further assistance regarding this program, property owners may contact the Greene County Assessors Office at: 417-868-4101 or exemptions@greenecountymo.gov

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claims to be all about America First, so why is he threatening to punish a city in his state for insufficient loyalty to Israel?

The city council of San Marcos has set up a vote for next week on a largely symbolic resolution that calls for an Immediate, Permanent, and Sustained Ceasefire in Occupied Palestine, Arms Embargo on the State of Israel, Recognition of Palestinian Sovereignty and Protection of Constitutional Rights.

The proposed resolution reads in part:

We follow the lead of the World Health Organization, United Nations, Save the Children, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, His Holiness Pope Francis, more than 150 countries, and countless other organizations in the United States and around the world in calling for a ceasefire, because what happens internationally impacts our constituents locally. We believe in the shared humanity of all people, reiterate that all people are entitled to live life in safety and free from violence, and affirm these as common values held by San Marcos residents and leaders.

The resolution specifically highlights that Palestinians of Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths are facing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and says that the council condemns anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, antisemitic, and all xenophobic rhetoric and attacks. Nonetheless, in a threatening letter to San Marcos mayor, Abbott decried the resolution for being antisemitic.

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In the letter, Abbott wrote that anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies and said the proposed resolution seems calculated to violate a state law on boycotting Israel. The resolution notes that San Marcos residents tax dollars funded more than $4 million of Israels weapons purchases in 2024 and says that San Marcos stands to benefit from a reallocation of local funds towards essential domestic priorities such as transportation, education, housing, healthcare, environmental protection, and public goods and services, which currently face neglect due to state and federal appropriations to Israels military.

According to Abbott, this puts the citys state grants at risk. He concluded by saying:

Whenever San Marcos enters into grant agreements with my office, it is required to certify that it will comply with all state laws, including laws prohibiting government support for boycotts of Israel. My office is already reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the City has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law. If the City Council adopts this Resolution, the Office of the Governor will not enter into any future grant agreements with the City and will act swiftly to terminate active grants for non-compliance. I will further direct all other state agencies to review agreements with the City for possible breach.

The hypocrisy at play is hard to ignore. Abbott has made a fairly similar argument to the one made in the proposed resolution, in which he says federal aid to Ukraine would be money better spent on Americans. For the record, most of the funding authorized for Ukraine has been spent making purchases from the U.S. defense industry, but the contradiction is clear: Abbott seems perfectly fine with the argument that American tax dollars are better off staying at home  unless anti-Israel sentiment is involved.

With a recent Pew Research survey showing that 53% of Americans carry an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 42% in March 2022, it seems like Abbott is intent on quashing broadening dissent over all else.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended her meetings with President Donald Trump during an appearance on Pod Save America on Thursday.

The possible 2028 presidential candidate and swing state Democratic leader argued that her interactions with the Republican president were about getting things done, not furthering her political self-interest.

It doesnt mean Ive abandoned any of my values. It doesnt mean that Im not going to stand my ground, she said on the podcast. This is one of those moments where as a public servant, youre reminded your job is to put service above self, and thats what it was all about.

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One of the things that Ive learned is Ive got to put the people in Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are going to be my political interests, Whitmer argued.

The governor also spoke about the viral photo of her in the Oval Office hiding her face with a folder as Trump signed executive orders last month.

No one reported that I left the room to go talk to my staff person. I said, Weve got to get word out because the stuff thats going on in thereI cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. Im not here for that, she recalled. But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done.

President Donald Trump listens as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Tuesday. Whitmer has faced criticism for appearing alongside the Republican president (AP)

Previously she told Politico she regretted the incident: I wouldnt have put my folder in front of my face, because that just gave people fodder. She added: One of the things I hope people have learned about me is whether it is threats during a pandemic, or it is ridicule from an Oval Office meeting, Im always putting people of Michigan first. I put the people of Michigan before my self interest because thats my job, and I take my job seriously.

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While she was in the Oval Office, Trump signed executive orders targeting his political enemies  including Christopher Krebs, an election security official in his first administration who had said that the 2020 election Trump lost had been free and fair.

After the meeting in the Oval Office, a Whitmer spokesperson told the press that she was surprised that she was brought into the office.

Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event, the spokesperson said.

During the meeting, they discussed the rejuvenation of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in the state.

Whitmer in the Oval Office last month. At one point she appeared to hide her face with a file. She later said she was surprised to have been brought into the Oval Office while at the White House for a meeting (Getty Images)

Whitmer appeared with Trump on Tuesday at the base as the president announced that new fighter jets would be brought there. The governor told Politico it was a BFD for my state.

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So I want to thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer for bringing [Selfridge] to our attention, said Trump, noting that she has done a very good job, frankly.

The governor appeared unconcerned about the prospect that her interaction with the president may damage her standing with voters.

It means showing up at the Oval Office and maybe having people, pundits take shots at me for being there, she noted. They dont care whether or not I held a folder in a picture. They dont care. They care if theyre going to have a job.
A conservation project in Scotland has secured more than $130,000 (100,000) to help remove hedgehogs from a group of islands in the Western Isles.

While very cute, the hedgehogs are not native species to the country's Uist islands, as reported by the BBC, and were reportedly released into a backyard there over 50 years ago in the hope they would eat slugs and snails. Unfortunately, their numbers quickly multiplied, and they have contributed to the decline of native ground-nesting birds by eating their eggs.

As reported by the BBC, the project, known as Saving Uist Nature (SUN), will trap hedgehogs on two of the islands and release them on the mainland. The project is supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland along with NatureScot and the Scottish SPCA. They have secured the money from the government's Nature Restoration Fund and will be developing the project over the next 12 months.

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A similar initiative on another island, called the Uist Wader Project, has successfully kept another island hedgehog-free, but there was not enough funding to continue until now.

Invasive species often outcompete native ones for resources such as food and habitats, causing their populations to decline. This is a problem because native species perform specific ecosystem services that are essential to a healthy environment.

Additionally, invasive species can have health and economic impacts because they can destroy crops and spread pests and diseases. The Asian tiger mosquito, for instance, can carry diseases that threaten human health.

In the U.S., invasive species cost approximately $20 billion every year in resource damage and management. For example, invasive wild pigs are estimated to cause close to $2 billion in damages annually.

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The hope is the project in the Scottish islands will be a success and protect native birdlife. Speaking to the BBC about the project, Kenna Chisholm, the north Highland and Hebrides area manager, said, "Taking action is critical to protect remarkable wildlife here in Uist."

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CHICAGO  The first well-funded shots against Mayor Brandon Johnson and progressive allies of his are already being fired, two years before they face reelection.

A series of mailers sent earlier this year by the dark money Common Ground Collective argue Chicago is in chaos in a bid to beat up the mayor and four City Council members. The group behind the mailers is tight-lipped on where its cash comes from and what it plans to do next, but has a staggering amount of money to keep throwing punches.

The Common Ground Collective has raised $10 million, according to its executive director, Chuck Swirsky. Its a sum thats sure to grow but that is already similar to the combined amount Johnson received in his 2023 campaign from his top funders, the Chicago Teachers Union, Service Employees International Union and related unions.

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The group, a nonprofit, is not required to publicly disclose its donor list, and Swirsky declined to do so. But he said the money came from around 90 donors, none of whom has contributed more than 5% of its total.

And Swirsky said among the contributors is GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks, a Democratic donor and close friend of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Sacks declined to comment when contacted by the Tribune.

The collectives first targets said the unspoken message  that progressives aligned with the mayor will face stiff opposition  would not change their course. Instead, they bashed the spending as, in the words of Ald. William Hall, sucker politics.

Show your face and your money, said Hall, a key Johnson supporter. And your stance, which they dont have the courage to do.

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But as the mayor faces political turbulence of his own and early indications that some members of his progressive coalition are distancing themselves from him while looking at their own 2027 re-election prospects, it remains to be seen whether the dark money groups efforts to tie aldermen to Johnson make it tougher for him to pass his agenda.

In addition to Hall, mailers sent by the nonprofit and reviewed by the Tribune targeted Alds. Daniel La Spata, 1st, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, each a Democratic Socialist who played a key role in narrowly passing the controversial January 2024 ordinance calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, among other progressive policy pushes.

The mailers reviewed by the Tribune could signal how the group might continue to deploy its funds. The cards feature a smiling photo of each alderman with the mayor and a message that says they refused to stand up to Johnson, raising our taxes while crime remains too high. The mailers also share each aldermans office phone number and encourage recipients to call and tell the City Council member to show some courage and stand up to Mayor Johnson.

On the other side, the mailers depict Johnson facing a black-and-white City Hall, his arms outstretched. Mayor Brandon Johnson is in over his head. And Alderman Hall has his back, one read.

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In a statement to the Tribune, Swirsky said the group aims to educate and mobilize local elected officials, build grassroots coalitions, and proactively engage voters around effective policies.

CGC will work to defeat extremist policies from both the far right and far left that seek and serve to divide our city, he wrote. Common Ground Collective is supported by a large number of committed donors who care about Chicago and the State of Illinois.

Swirsky previously served as a chief adviser to outgoing Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, who spent much of the last year in a series of high-profile battles with Johnson before the mayor fired him.

He has repeatedly criticized Johnson on social media  with much of it focused on the mayors schools policy and stances on the war in Gaza  and has also criticized President Donald Trump. Swirsky declined the Tribunes interview requests.

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The group is likely to continue painting Johnson in a harsh light in the coming months. But its deep pockets might also give the mayor an opportunity to present himself as a working-class-champion foil to the powerful and rich.

Amid the beginnings of the well-funded effort to discredit him and his allies, Johnson has in recent weeks fired off his own criticism of Emanuel and the neoliberal agenda with little prompting.

Asked last month about Trumps expected cuts to federal education funding, Johnson said Trump is running the playbook Rahm Emanuel executed in the city, a reference to Emanuels sweeping school closures.

We didnt get here because you just happen to have a tyrant in the White House, he said. We got here because someone gave him the script.

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Emanuel declined to comment when contacted by the Tribune about the mayors comments.

The group appears to have so far only targeted progressives, some of whom will soon face potentially close reelection campaigns.

In 2023, Hall, the only City Council rookie against whom Swirskys group has so far sent out a mailer, earned a spot in a runoff with 23.82% of a primary vote and won election by just under 1,800 votes in the South Side ward that includes the Chatham neighborhood and surrounding areas.

La Spata avoided a runoff by just 15 votes, while Rodriguez-Sanchez and Sigcho-Lopez respectively dodged runoffs by 499 and 233 votes.

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Hall and Sigcho-Lopez, both among the most outspoken City Council members, blasted the group that targeted them, even before hearing the eight-figure sum it says it has raised.

Its pretty early for such attacks to be made so far from an election, Sigcho-Lopez said.

The big money behind it reflects what Im hearing in circles: that billionaires arent happy that they dont have a mayor that does their bidding, he said. These are people who do not believe in democracy, they believe they can buy their way into government.

Hall called the groups work a millionaire tantrum and said its backers are spending to sow seeds of division. The mailers were sent to every voter in his South Side ward, he said. But he pledged the offensive would not move him.

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I was built for this. This is what I was born to do, he said. They want what they dont have, and what they dont have is power. What they dont have is relevancy.

La Spata said he was also targeted with similar digital ads linking to what he called the groups nothing burger of a website. He believes the mailer targeting him was widely distributed across his Northwest Side ward.

Asked about the mailer, La Spata says he has not been shy about disagreeing with Johnson on important issues, even if he sides with the mayor more often than he sided with former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

I do not do this work for Mayor Johnson, he said. Im not going to let those mailers determine how and why I govern. Im going to continue to listen to my ward. Im going to continue to act on the values and vision I ran on.

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La Spata, who has further distanced himself from Johnson in recent months than the other mailer targets, said he doubts the mailers would lead to a productive conversation. He reached out to Swirsky for a meeting to discuss the issues the group raises, but did not hear back, he added.

He said he did know who funded the group, but added there is no one in the city that I think of as my enemy.

I have yet to meet anyone in the city that there isnt something that we agree on, he said.

_______

(Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt contributed.)

______
Clinton job hunters have an additional way to get help with their search for employment later this month.

Grow Clinton and IowaWORKS are hosting the IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center on Monday, May 12th from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. in the Felix Adler Childrens Discovery Center parking lot, 332 Eighth Avenue S in Clinton.

The IowaWORKS mobile bus has 10 computer workstations and two 40-inch monitors and offers career planning assistance across Iowa. Staff can assist with job searches, resume updating, navigating unemployment claims and much more. Attendees will be entered to win River City Gold, redeemable at all Grow Clinton member businesses.

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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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
The logo of Apple is illuminated at a store in the city center in Munich, Germany. Apple must halt non-App Store sales commissions, a judge says. (Associated Press)

Apple Inc. violated a court order requiring it to open up the App Store to third-party payment options and must stop charging commissions on purchases outside its software marketplace, a federal judge said in a blistering ruling that referred the company to prosecutors for a possible criminal probe.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sided Wednesday with "Fortnite" maker Epic Games over its allegation that the iPhone maker failed to comply with an order she issued in 2021 after finding the company engaged in anticompetitive conduct in violation of California law.

Gonzalez Rogers also referred the case to federal prosecutors to investigate whether Apple committed criminal contempt of court for flouting her 2021 ruling. The U.S. attorneys office in San Francisco declined to comment.

The changes the company must now make could put a sizable dent in the double-digit billions of dollars in revenue the App Store generates each year.

Apple is potentially facing another multibillion-dollar hit from losing payments Google makes to be the default search engine for its Safari browser, which is the subject of a Justice Department antitrust case against the Alphabet Inc. unit.

Read more: 'Nowhere to hide.' How Apple and others in Silicon Valley are bracing for Trump tariffs

After several weeks of hearings last year and this year, Gonzalez Rogers concluded Wednesday that Apple willfully violated her injunction.

It did so with the express intent to create new anticompetitive barriers which would, by design and in effect, maintain a valued revenue stream; a revenue stream previously found to be anticompetitive, she wrote in her 80-page ruling. That it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation.

Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Epic Games Chief Executive Officer Tim Sweeney called the ruling a huge victory for developers, saying in a phone call with journalists that it forces Apple to compete with other payment services rather than blocking them.

Following a trial in 2021, Gonzalez Rogers largely sided with Apple, saying that its App Store policies didnt violate federal antitrust law. However, she required the company to let developers bypass its in-app payment tool to avoid a commission of up to 30%. The ruling was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year when it declined to hear appeals in the case.

Apple allowed developers to point users to the web to complete transactions for in-app purchases, but required developers to pay the company a 27% cut of whatever revenue they generated.
HIGH POINT  When the veterans aboard the Triad Honor Flight returned from Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, they were greeted with thunder and lightning.

First came the lightning, a spring storm that temporarily delayed the celebration awaiting them inside Greensboros Piedmont Triad International Airport. After about an hours delay, the vets finally were able to get off the plane and enter the concourse ... and then came the thunder.

It was unbelievable, Randall May, a 78-year-old U.S. Army veteran from High Point, said of the thunderous welcome he and his fellow veterans were given by a thousand or more cheering, flag-waving supporters who came out to show their appreciation for the veterans. It was kind of a surreal experience, like a dream was coming true. It was chilling.

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Bennie Taylor, an 86-year-old Air Force veteran from High Point, agreed.

Oh my gosh, it was overwhelming, said Taylor, who served in the Air Force from 1957 to 1961. We thought everybody would be gone home by the time the lightning ended, but that airport was lined up with hundreds and hundreds of people.

The crowd ranged from friends and family members to complete strangers, from Highland bagpipers to uniformed Boy Scouts. As the veterans paraded along the concourse, the crowd serenaded them with chants of USA! USA! and Freedom Isnt Free!

May, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War era, contrasted the welcome to the disrespectful treatment he witnessed as he walked through airports in his service uniform more than 50 years ago.

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When I and many others were discharged back in the 70s, there was no celebration, May recalls. When you went through an airport, people would call you baby-killers, and some of them would even spit on you, but we were just trying to serve our country.

May and Taylor were among more than a hundred veterans  both men and women  who participated in Wednesdays Triad Honor Flight. They were flown free of charge to Washington, D.C., to visit the nations memorials honoring the service and sacrifice of Americas veterans.

Stops included the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial  including The Wall and the Three Servicemen sculpture  the Air Force Memorial and the Marine Corps War Memorial, featuring a sculpture of the iconic flag-raising at Iwo Jima. The veterans also visited Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the impressive Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We were all just in awe of the Changing of the Guard, but then to see all those tombstones at Arlington  what our ancestors had done to bring us the freedom of liberty that we have  had an impact on me, too, said May.

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When May visited the Three Servicemen sculpture at the Vietnam Memorial, he couldnt help but think about the soldiers hed seen as an operating room specialist at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, a burn treatment center for napalm patients flown directly there from southeast Asia.

Seeing those three guys in the sculpture, and then knowing what happened to those guys I saw at Brooke, that really hit me, he said.

For Taylor, a special part of the day was having his son, Michael, fly in from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to serve as his dads guardian. Each Triad Honor Flight veteran is assigned a guardian, a volunteer who stays with the veteran throughout the day and takes care of anything he or she needs.

The whole day, that was one of the most emotional things Ive ever been involved in, especially having my son there with me, Taylor said. It was all just overwhelming and emotional  it was a great day.

Triad Honor Flight officials say there will be another flight later this year. For more information, visit triadhonorflight.org.

Jtomlin@hpenews.com | 336-888-3579
Florida has executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for the shooting deaths of his girlfriend and her three children despite a letter from 129 veterans arguing that Hutchinson's mind was a casualty of war.

The 62-year-old former U.S. Army Ranger was convicted for the 1998 murder of 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, and her three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan.

The execution took place shortly after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Florida State Prison in Railford using the state's three-drug protocol involving etomidate, rocuronium bromide and potassium acetate. He was declared dead at 8:14 p.m. ET, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

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It marked the fourth execution in Florida this year and the 15th in the nation.

Hutchinson had no final statement, according to the Associated Press, and appeared to mumble to himself as the procedure began.

Jeffrey Hutchinson seen in an identification photo

While Hutchinson himself maintained that the murders were committed by home invaders, his defense team pointed to brain damage and trauma suffered by the former U.S. Army Ranger during his service in the Gulf War as reason to stop the execution.

Maria DeLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives for the Death Penalty and liaison for Hutchinson's legal team, previously told USA TODAY that experts called Hutchinson's statements "a delusional belief based on his significant and severe mental illness."

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Executing a man who was physically and psychologically shattered by war  a man who never got the treatment or understanding he needed and deserved  is not justice, the group said in a statement following the execution.

Meanwhile 129 veterans representing every branch of the military wrote to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling Hutchinson "one of us" and urging the governor to stop the execution.

Here's what you need to know about the execution, including what the veterans had to say.

What was Jeffrey Hutchinson convicted of?

On the night of Sept. 11, 1998, Hutchinson fought with Flaherty, after which he packed some of his clothes and guns into his truck, and went to a bar, according to court records.

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The bartender testified that Hutchinson told him that Flaherty was angry with him, while other witnesses testified that he drove recklessly when he left, according to court documents.

Hutchinson then returned to the Crestview home, "busted down" the front door and shot Flaherty, Amanda and Logan in the head in the master bedroom, a forensic pathologist testified  according to court documents.

The pathologist testified that Hutchinson shot Geoffrey last in both the chest and the head while the child "was able to see the bodies of his mother, sister, and brother," according to court records.

"The terror suffered in that moment is incomprehensible to this court," Hutchinson's trial judge said, according to the Associated Press.

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Hutchinson called the police and told a dispatcher: "I just shot my family." Police arrived to find him spattered with blood and lying in a daze on the garage floor, still holding the phone, according to court documents.

Who were Renee Flaherty and her children?

Renee Flaherty did her best to provide for her three children.

Even though there wasn't always "much on the shelves," the rural mail carrier and single eastern Washington mom worked hard to put food on the table and loved her children dearly, her brother, Wesley Elmore previously told USA TODAY.

Renee Flaherty is seen in a provided photo.

"Her kids were a priority. She made sure that her kids were fed and took care of," Elmore said.

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The last time Elmore saw his sister, just before Thanksgiving in 1997, he felt the family was in "good hands" with Hutchinson as they prepared to move to Florida.

"I was giving Renee and the kids a hug and everything, goodbyes," Elmore told USA TODAY. "I remember shaking Jeff's hand and I said, 'Take care of my sister and her kids,' And he says, 'Wes, I promise I will.'"

Months later, the 32-year-old Flaherty and her children would be found dead in their home, and Hutchinson was spattered with blood and lying in a daze on the garage floor, according to court documents.

Elmore reiterated that he felt that the execution served justice for his family in an interview with USA TODAY Friday.

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"He has fought this conviction for years, even until the last minute of his life," Elmore said. "With the brutality that he killed Renee and her three children, those three innocent children, yes I feel justice has been served."

Amanda, Geoffrey and Logan Flaherty are seen in a provided photo.

Veterans argue for Hutchinson to be spared

In their April 30 letter to DeSantis, the veterans arguing for Hutchinson to be spared said that he "served our nation with honor from 1986 to 1994 as both a Paratrooper and an Army Ranger, roles that demand elite training, unshakable discipline, and extraordinary sacrifice."

"He fought in some of the most dangerous missions during the Gulf War, operating behind enemy lines in the volatile Four Corners region where Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq meet," they continued. "He was exposed to repeated concussive blasts and deadly chemicals, including sarin nerve gas released during coalition bombings, leading to permanent brain damage and Gulf War Illness, a condition that was not fully recognized when he returned home."

Outside of Florida State Prison ahead of the scheduled execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson, who is a Gulf War Veteran. pic.twitter.com/LdInPyNhfJ  FADP (@FADPorg) May 1, 2025

When Hutchinson got back home, "instead of receiving care, Jeff was met with silence." They added: "The science was not there. The VA was not there. His government was not there."

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They said they weren't asking DeSantis to excuse Hutchinson's crime but to "recognize the undeniable truth: Jeff came home injured by war. His mind was a casualty, just like any limb lost in combat."

"To execute him now is not justice," they continued. "It is a failure of responsibility. It is the final abandonment of someone our country broke and then left behind."

DeSantis office did not immediately respond to a request about the veterans comments.

Trial judge rejected arguments about war service

At the time of Hutchinson's trial, psychiatrist William Baumzweiger found that Hutchinson's form of mental illness could result in unconscious fits of rage, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Baumzweiger concluded that possible exposure to chemical or biological weapons caused Hutchinson to suffer from a "diminished mental state" at the time of the murders.

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Hutchinson's trial judge rejected that, instead agreeing with two prosecution psychologists and saying that no correlation between Hutchinson's diagnosis and the murders had been established, reported the Lakeland Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.

In sentencing Hutchinson to death, Florida Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron found that 9-year-old Geoffrey's death was particularly heinous because he was alive and wounded in the chest when he was killed with a head shot, the Associated Press reported at the time.

"The terror suffered in that moment is incomprehensible to this court," Barron said. "The defendant walked over to that 9-year-old boy and without pity, and without conscience, aimed the shotgun one final time."

In the Florida Supreme Court's decision rejecting Hutchinson's arguments this week, the judges said that "there is no credible evidence that in his current mental state Mr. Hutchinson believes himself unable to die or that he is being executed for any reason other than the murders he was convicted of by a jury of his peers."

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The lone dissenting justice, Jorge Labarga, wrote that the case had a "procedural path unlike any in recent history" and was in favor of a stay.

The execution was delayed from its anticipated time of 6 p.m. ET as the United States Supreme Court considered Hutchinson's final appeals. DeLiberato said Thursday that it was the result of a rushed competency appeal process, with Floridians for Alternatives for the Death Penalty calling it a "politically compromised rubber stamp" in its post-execution statement.

"It's illuminative about how broken the death penalty process is that we're all here waiting with uncertainty about whether we're going to kill a human being or not," she said shortly after the court denied Hutchinson's appeals.

Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida executes Gulf War vet Jeffrey Hutchinson for quadruple murders
The annual Angola Prison Rodeo, marking its 60th anniversary this year, offers more than the chance for glory for its participants. Proceeds from the event fund educational programs that offer a chance for a better life. (Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator)

ANGOLA  The annual Angola Prison Rodeo, marking its 60th anniversary this year, offers more than the chance for glory for its participants. Proceeds from the event fund educational programs that offer a chance for a better life.

Held every Sunday in October and one weekend in April, the infamous prison rodeo is one of the highlights of the year for the hundreds of men incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary who participate in the events.

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Despite its controversies, the rodeos most ardent supporters are its participants, for whom the event is a rare bridge to the world outside Angolas thousands of acres and an opportunity to financially support themselves and their education.

Andrew Hundley, executive director of the Louisiana Parole Project, which assists formerly incarcerated people as they reenter society, likened Angola to a college campus. Its an apt metaphor for Hundley, who completed correspondence courses at LSU while he was incarcerated at Angola.

There are a lot of opportunities there to use your time wisely, or use your time not so wisely, Hundley said. For the people who want to use their time wisely, theyre more than a dozen vocational programs that are there, from automotive repair to collision repair, carpentry, welding, plumbing, small engine repair, you name it.

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Wildest Show in the South

The rodeo is unlike any professional rodeo. For starters, the 75 or so men who compete dont receive any training. For many of them, the first time they mount a bull is just seconds before the gates open.

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While the men do receive safety vests and helmets, the lack of training makes it more dangerous than a traditional rodeo. After one event at the April 26 rodeo, one incarcerated person was seen falling multiple times trying to get out of the arena after his event, eventually having to be helped out of the mud.

This rodeo  nicknamed the Wildest Show in the South  is also different because it offers unique events that add to the spectacle  like bull pinball.

It works like this: a rodeo clown sets down hula hoops in the arena, and an incarcerated person stands in each one. A bull is released and the last man remaining in his hoop wins.

A clown identified only as Rudy exchanged banter with the rodeo emcee over the arenas public address system.

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Now what would make a human being get in one of them hoops? Rudy asked during the show.

Its kind of like trying to sign up for the Darwin Award, the emcee replied, referencing the rhetorical honor given to people who contribute to evolution by removing themselves from the gene pool, usually through a foolish and dangerous act.

The prison has held its rodeo since 1965 and has been the subject of frequent criticism.

Operating as a farm on the site of a former slave plantation, Louisiana State Penitentiary has a brutal history. For much of its time, it has been known for indiscriminate violence. Even after significant reforms throughout the late 20th century, it is still the subject of controversy.

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Workers on the prisons farm line, who pick the vegetables that help feed the prisoners, are currently suing the state, alleging dangerous working conditions. Inmates at Angola can earn a maximum of $8 a week, regardless of the type of work they do.

Despite the danger and outside criticism, none of the dozen incarcerated men or formerly incarcerated men the Illuminator interviewed at the rodeo had a negative thing to say about the event.

Assistant Warden Anne Easley sat in on all interviews the lluminator conducted at the rodeo. Only incarcerated people with trusty status, meaning they have served at least 10 years of their sentence and have good disciplinary records, were participating in the event and therefore available for interviews.

In addition to rodeo participants, interviewees included inmate-instructors and incarcerated people selling crafts they made using skills learned at the prison. The craft fair, held outside the rodeo arena, has an atmosphere not unlike a flea market. It offers handmade goods including furniture, art and jewelry. Merchandise sales support the incarcerated people financially or finance prison organizations such as sobriety groups.

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Yall come to this rodeo to find out how people feel about it. If all of your views on a rodeo are negative, and youre not getting all negative answers, then somethings off, right?, Jeffrey Hilburn, editor of The Angolite, the prisons news magazine, said in an interview. But if you come here and you find out that an inmate whos making a hobby craft  hes going to get a good percentage of that money.

His family doesnt have to send him that money. His family can pay their taxes, gas bill, save enough and buy a dozen eggs for $10, added Hilburn, who serving time for the 1991 second-degree murder of Mark Jones in Richland Parish. He was recently denied parole.

But support for the rodeo, while widespread among incarcerated people and formerly incarcerated people, is not universal.

Norris Henderson, now executive director of Voice of the Experienced, an organization that advocates for incarcerated people, was once held at Angola. Henderson was exonerated after 27 years of incarceration. As a volunteer in the prison infirmary, he saw first-hand the injuries of the rodeo participants.

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To me, the rodeo was just this form of exploitation, Henderson said. This is kind of like the Roman Coliseum, where people come to cheer, not the humans in the arena, they come to cheer the animals?

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

This whole place has made me a different person

The career training programs the rodeo finances are run by inmate-instructors, who are required to have the same certifications as those who teach the same courses at a community or technical college.

There are 17 different career and technical education programs at the prison. According to a fact-sheet included in a souvenir rodeo program, the inmate-led reentry training and mentoring program saves the state $4 million a year.

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Among the instructors is Luther McFarland, the only incarcerated person with teaching certification from the American Welding Society. He is also certified by the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

Louisiana State Penitentiary welding instructor Luther McFarland, center, is pictured with of his two former students, Austin McCraine, left, and Lance Manton. McFarland, who is serving a life term at the prison, is the nations only incarcerated certified welding teacher. (Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator)

Like most other instructors at Angola, McFarland is a lifer, meaning hes serving a life sentence. McFarland, who does not have the possibility of parole, was convicted of the 2004 second-degree murder of Coulton Lyell Jr. in Metairie.

McFarland has a welding certification from Baton Rouge Community College, which he received before the school ended its program at Angola due to budget constraints. McFarland said he has taught welding at Angola since 2010.

It really helped me build character  when youre coming from the streets and you got guys from New Orleans  coming with some mindset, it was really a challenge, but we got through it, McFarland said of his time as an instructor. It wasnt easy, but we got through it.

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The instruction has to start with basics, as many of his students have never handled basic tools. But eventually they get trained up enough to do serious work, McFarland said. Several of the barbeque grills he and his students had welded were on sale that Saturday.

We learn how to just get the guys up to a par so when they go home, they have the mindset to be able to work in this type of environment and know what to expect from them because its the same way, McFarland said.

McFarland said his work training his students to be welders when theyre released was the start of his legacy. Though not eligible for parole, he hopes he will receive clemency. In order to receive a sentence commutation, an individual must receive a favorable vote of the Pardon Board as well as approval from the governor.

Two of McFarlands former students came to visit their former instructor at the rodeo, including Austin McCraine, father to a newborn. McCraine served time for theft. He said he came back to the rodeo to pay homage to his friends and mentors.

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McCraine worked in welding for a year before moving up to a pipefitters job, which typically calls for more skills and experience  and pays better.

Ive been working there for almost a year now, McCraine said. This whole place has made me a different person.

Drew Hawkins of Gulf States Newsroom contributed to this report. Reporting for this story was supported by the The Institute for Citizens & Scholars Higher Education Media Fellowship.

An accompanying episode of The Light Switch, the Louisiana Illuminator podcast, can be found below.
Dad was an intelligence officer during the war, and learned to drive trucks, jeeps and motorbikes, says Tess Caven, explaining her late father Brians lifelong assertive approach behind the wheel.

He was a classics lecturer at Cambridge and Birkbeck, London, and continued to drive up until his early 90s, but he never had an accident, she says. Until, that was, Tesss mother died and things began to unravel.

Dad continued to drive locally, and it soon became apparent that the car was taking a battering. He put it down to parking issues, inevitably blaming other people, says Tess. Finally, he did admit he had mistakenly turned into a hedge, thinking it was the road.

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Tess and her siblings believed Brians eyesight was to blame. But multiple attempts to convince him to get a check fell on deaf ears. He continued to resist taking an eye test, so we decided that something had to give before he injured someone, she says. Reluctantly, the family contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), who referred Brian for tests.

He was confident that he would pass, seeing this all as a huge inconvenience. But he was unable to read out the number plates, so the examiner decided not to continue with the test. My dads licence was revoked.

Tess Cavens father was resistant to taking an eye test, even when there was visible damage on his car

Tesss story will ring all too familiar for the relatives of many older motorists, who may soon find themselves subject to a more stringent testing regime.

As it stands, drivers are not subjected to mandatory checks of their skills or health once they obtain their licence, no matter their age. Instead, they are required to self-report to the DVLA if they are no longer fit to drive.

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But Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, has said elderly drivers could eventually be required to pass eye tests to retain their licences. Her remarks came in the wake of an inquest into four people killed by motorists with failing sight, which described the UKs licensing system as the laxest in Europe in its concluding report last month.

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, urged the Transport Secretary to take action after finding that Marie Cunningham, 79, and Grace Foulds, 85, were killed by 68-year-old Glynn Jones as they crossed the road in Southport. Jones had been aware for years that his sight was below the standard required to drive a car, but he had failed to report this to the DVLA and carried on doing so regardless. He was jailed for seven years and four months.

It was not an isolated incident. Peter Westwell was hit and killed by Neil Pemberton, 81, in 2022. Pemberton had a long history of eye disease and had been warned by doctors that he must stop driving, but he continued.

A year later, Vernon Law, 72, fatally struck 75-year-old Anne Ferguson on a road in Rochdale in July 2023. A month before the incident, Law had been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. He was found to have lied to an optometrist, telling them he did not drive, and had failed to declare his sight issues on multiple licence applications to the DVLA.

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The same year, Rotherham man Glyn Straw was killed by James Wardle, 83, who failed to see him due to a degenerative eye condition.

Driving is not just about safety, its about identity, independence and control

As well as leading to scrutiny of the licensing system, the incidents have raised questions about the extent to which loved ones can, or should, step in to prevent those unfit to drive from doing so.

In the wake of her husbands death, Straws widow, Andrea, said: He [Wardle] must have been aware when he got into his car that day that his vision was dramatically and dangerously impaired, yet he chose to drive regardless.

Did his family also know and not want to have that difficult conversation with him? Or take away his independence?

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She continued: You can help avoid putting others through the heartache and trauma weve endured. Please have that difficult conversation with a loved one or friend you believe should not be driving, for whatever reason... it might just save someones life.

Dr Jackie Gray, the founder of Carents, a social enterprise which supports those looking after elderly parents, acknowledges it can be difficult to raise concerns, even when doing so feels essential.

Its emotionally charged  because driving is not just about safety, its about identity, independence and control, she says.

But research suggests many of us might need to take the plunge. Approximately 1.8 million motorists vision falls below the minimum legal standard required to drive, according to studies cited by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The dangers of poor eyesight

Brake, a road safety charity, estimates some 2,900 accidents a year are a direct result of poor vision, with up to half of all drivers thought to forgo eye tests at the two-year intervals recommended by the NHS.

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Poor eyesight is a serious danger. Drivers may be slower to respond or completely miss potential hazards, says John Kushnick, legal operations director at National Accident Law, a personal injury law firm.

There are also myriad medical conditions that can impact safety, including dementia, epilepsy, conditions that cause fainting or seizures, and those that may lead to blackouts, such as heart problems, he adds. Those in any doubt about their capabilities should refer themselves to the DVLA, assume they are unfit to drive and refrain from doing so.

Driving while medically unfit is a criminal offence, and families have a moral duty to intervene, says Kushnick.

Georgia Lewis father began driving more erratically, including driving into his garage twice, so she had to step in - Jeff Gilbert

Georgia Lewis says she was forced to step in after her father drove through his garage wall, into his dining room, twice within the space of a year as his health took a downturn.

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Over the past few years, I noticed a decline in my dads driving. It became more erratic, tailgating other drivers, overtaking on blind corners, she says. And even after the incidents at home, he was reluctant to admit it was time to give up.

He wasnt keen to take responsibility, says Georgia. Instead, it was the fault of the electronic handbrake or the pedals being too close together. But we all knew there was a problem.

Her father, who is now in his early 80s, did eventually give up his car keys, based on medical advice.

Life since has been very difficult, says Georgia. Driving was a big part of his independence and his identity.

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Christina Collison had a similar experience. Her late mother, Hazel, was an assiduous driver for more than 40 years. But after her husband died and she was diagnosed with dementia in her 70s, Hazel would report getting lost on familiar journeys.

She eventually decided it was time to have a conversation with her mother about the situation, during which Hazel admitted she was nervous about driving but refused to stop, as it gave her independence.

As her condition worsened, Christina chose to take Hazels car keys away.

I wasnt proud of doing it, but I felt I had no choice for her safety, she says. Christina arranged to drive Hazel wherever she needed to go instead. I felt guilty at times, but I never questioned whether or not it was the right choice to keep Mum safe, as well as other drivers.

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Too often, it appears, the responsibility falls on relatives, rather than authorities, to make what can be life-or-death decisions. Kushnik says it is ultimately the law that must change to prevent further tragedies.

Current legal protections are largely reactive  they depend on a medical professional becoming aware of the issue or an individual disclosing their unfitness to drive, which is rare, he says, arguing there should be a mandatory requirement for drivers to re-test after a certain age  perhaps around 70.

Driving fitness should become a routine part of health assessments with medical changes reported far earlier, Kushnik adds. Older drivers should undergo tests similar to those taken by new drivers. We should not tolerate lower driving standards just because someone already holds a licence. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

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By Nicolas Cortes and Sarah Morland

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A Haitian woman who moved to South America nearly a decade ago was finally reunited with her daughter through a local visa program that highlighted both the escalating conflict in the Caribbean and sharpening tensions over migration as Chile's presidential election season ramps up.

Christa Belus, 38, a local government worker in Chile, reluctantly left her 3-year-old daughter Lowanda behind with family in Haiti as deadly armed gangs, facing little international response, made life for many increasingly untenable in her home country.

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"I didn't want to come (to Chile) because I didn't want to leave my baby because she was too little," Belus told Reuters of leaving her family in Port-au-Prince in 2016. "But my dad told me you have to go because you have to have a better life."

Lowanda arrived in Chile earlier this year via the country's family reunification visa program that launched in late 2022. Now aged 13, she is learning Spanish on YouTube and, aside from reuniting with her mother, has met her mother's new partner and their five-year-old son.

Some 15,000 Haitians have entered Chile via family reunification visas since the program began, including 3,000 so far this year. They are contingent on the person requesting reunification having definitive residency, a stable job, no criminal record and contributing to local taxes.

"In Haiti there is no security," Belus said. "Over there they are killing people, they kidnap people, they kill children, they rape little girls."

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Though Haitians represent a small fraction of Chile's 1.6 million-strong migrant population, they have become a political flashpoint ahead of November general elections, with some politicians seeking to limit entries with higher financial thresholds for migrants seeking to reunite with loved ones.

Images of Haitians arriving last month on charter flights - commercial flights from the capital have been cut off due to the gang shootings - spread on social media and morning news shows, sparking fears of mass migration that led Congress to question the government program.

Recent polls show that immigration and crime are the top concerns among voters.

Evelyn Matthei, an experienced right-wing politician who has been leading early polls, has proposed building prisons in the desert to fight crime and illegal immigration.

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Michel-Ange Joseph, a Haitian migrant community leader in Santiago, has called out an "anti-Haitian campaign" circulating not only in Chile but also in the Dominican Republic, which neighbors Haiti, and in the United States.

Both nations have been deporting Haitians in spite of repeated U.N. pleas not to due to the humanitarian conditions in Haiti. The issue of Haitian migrants became a flashpoint in both countries' election campaigns last year.

The Dominican Republic launched a mass deportation program late last year, aiming at some 10,000 per week, while the current U.S. administration has cut short some 520,000 Biden-era temporary permits for Haitians living in the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump had during his campaign pledged mass deportations and repeated false claims that Haitian migrants were eating household pets.

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Restrictive migration reforms in Chile in 2021 made it harder for Haitians to obtain residency permits, causing many with Chile-born children to migrate again toward North America.

Belus' seven siblings have all left Haiti, most of them for the United States.

(This story has been corrected to fix the name of the daughter to 'Lowanda' from 'Lowenda' in paragraphs 2 and 4)

(Reporting by Nicolas Cortes and Sarah Morland; Editing by Alexander Villegas and Bill Berkrot)
Actor Noel Johansen is mourning the loss of his wife, Jenifer Darbellay, who was among those killed in last weekends deadly car ramming attack in Vancouver, Canada.

Darbellay, 50, was an artist and costume designer who worked on a variety of Canadian television and theater productions. She and her husband were attending Vancouvers Lapu Lapu Day festival, celebrating Filipino culture with their 15-year-old son, Ford, and 7-year-old daughter, Darby, last Saturday, when a black Audi SUV tore through the crowd, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more.

Johansen and Darby were both injured in the attack. The actor appeared on crutches Monday as he delivered an emotional tribute to his late wife at a Vancouver vigil honoring the victims.

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What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because whats inside my heart is broken, he told the crowd, as seen in CBCs footage of the vigil. She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself; she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach.

Actor Noel Johansen and his 15-year-old son, Ford, appeared Monday at a vigil honoring the victims of the April 26 car ramming attack in Vancouver, Canada. via Associated Press

And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her, he continued. So dont be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have, and please remember us who went through this.

Johansens friend Michael Daingerfield Hall echoed those sentiments, describing Darbellay as an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman on a GoFundMe page in support of her grieving family.

A Montreal native, Johansen now splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles. Hes best known to viewers for his performances in Harvest Love and Home for Christmas Day, among other Hallmark Channel films. He had a starring role in the ABC series Somewhere Between and has also appeared on Fargo and The Good Doctor.

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Suspect Kai-Ji Adam Lo was arrested Saturday after being apprehended at the scene of the attack and charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with additional charges possible.

Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai told Canadas National Post that Lo had a significant history of interactions with police and health-care professionals related to mental health, and that the attack was not being treated as terrorism.

Watch Johansens remarks on his late wife below.

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It's been five decades since Kelsey Grammer's sister was brutally murdered.

On July 8, 1975, Grammer, who was 20 years old at the time, was at home with his family in Pompano Beach, Fla., when he received a knock on the door that would change his life forever. Detectives told the actor that they had discovered the body of a Jane Doe in Colorado Springs, Colo., whom they believed to be his younger sister, Karen Grammer.

The next day, Grammer flew to Colorado, where he confirmed their suspicions and learned that Karen had been killed one week earlier  just two weeks shy of her 19th birthday.

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On May 6, Grammer is releasing a book titled Karen: A Brother Remembers, looking back on the brutal killing of his sister and how it continued to impact him years later.

For a long time, the grief was so dominant that I couldnt access happiness, the Frasier star told PEOPLE ahead of its release. "The book helped me get to a new place with that.

So what happened to Kelsey Grammer's sister? Here's everything to know about the 1975 murder of Karen Grammer  including where her killers are today.

What happened to Kelsey Grammer's sister?

Harper Select, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus 'Karen: A Brother Remembers' by Kelsey Grammer. 'Karen: A Brother Remembers' by Kelsey Grammer.

After a semester of college in Georgia, Karen had relocated to Colorado Springs to be with her boyfriend. She last spoke to Grammer on June 30, 1975, when they discussed her plans to come home to Florida after the Fourth of July. The day after their call, however, she died.

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When Grammer didn't hear from his sister, he got suspicious and called the police. He later learned that at 11 p.m., just hours after their conversation, she went to Red Lobster, where she worked, to wait for a friend to finish their shift.

According to Grammer's recount of the police report, three men arrived at Red Lobster with plans to rob the restaurant. Upon seeing Karen, they pulled out a gun and told her to come with them.

She was taken to one of the men, Freddie Glenn's, car and left with him, while the two others went into the Red Lobster, which they ultimately decided against robbing. When they returned to Glenn's car, Karen was tied up next to him. The men drove her to one of their apartments, where they took turns raping her.

Then, they drove Karen to an alley, where Glenn stabbed her to death 42 times.



How was Kelsey Grammer impacted by his sister's death?

Bruce Glikas/Getty Kelsey Grammer at "James Earl Jones a Celebration of Life" on April 7, 2025, in New York City. Kelsey Grammer at "James Earl Jones a Celebration of Life" on April 7, 2025, in New York City.

In the years after learning of his sister's brutal murder, Grammer, whose dad, Allen, had also been killed several years prior, grappled with how to cope with his overwhelming grief.

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"There were some times I pretty much surrendered to despair," Grammer told PEOPLE in November 2022.

In his new book, the actor opens up about his past struggles with alcohol and substance abuse. Between 1988 and 1996, he faced multiple charges for drunk driving and cocaine possession, ultimately going to rehab at the Betty Ford Center.

I always had something in the back of my head saying, 'Okay. Thats enough now. Cut it out. You know why youre doing this,' " Grammer told PEOPLE ahead of the book's release. "But there was the other part of me that wanted to surrender to it and go, 'Let it mess you up a little bit. Let it hurt.' "

Despite his internal struggles, Grammer continued to wake up and go to work, starring in the NBC sitcom Cheers and later leading his own hit spinoff, Frasier.

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"It seemed to make it more damning in a way, but you know what? I had to do it, so I'm okay," he said. "I learned that I really am a 'I don't quit' kind of guy. I can look at the past and see, 'Oh, well, you still did what you had to do.' "

Who killed Kelsey Grammer's sister?

ABC News Kelsey Grammer with his sister Karen Grammer. Kelsey Grammer with his sister Karen Grammer.

Glenn was convicted of murdering Karen, along with two accomplices, including Michael Corbett.

Glenn was also tried in separate trials for murdering two other men  Daniel Van Lone and Winfred Proffitt  in June 1975, per The Denver Post.

According to CBS News, Glenn killed Lone, a motel cook who was 28 years old at the time, during a botched robbery on June 19, 1975.

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Just a week later, he killed Proffitt, an Army soldier who was 19 years old, during a drug deal, per the outlet.

Although he was originally given the death penalty, his sentence was changed in 1978 to life in prison with the possibility of parole, per CBS News.



Where are Karen Grammer's killers now?

Glenn is continuing to serve a life sentence in prison for Karen's and the other men's murders, and has been denied parole four times.

During his first parole request in July 2009, Glenn apologized to the families of the victims, saying, "I am sincerely and truly remorseful," per The Denver Post.

With his next hearing set for 2027, Grammer told PEOPLE that Glenn's excuses are "bulls---.

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"His protestations these days are like, 'Well, I dont remember raping her,' " he said.

Though Grammer has found a degree of forgiveness, he is still committed to holding Glenn accountable for his actions.

He told PEOPLE that revisiting the details of his sister's murder for his book was "not pleasant or comforting," but ultimately provided "ammunition to keep Freddie Glenn in jail."

You dont want to eat yourself to pieces because you cant forgive somebody, he said. But its hard to forgive a person who consciously decided they wanted to murder somebody you love. This wasnt just some temperance issue with him. It was deliberate."

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"I can give you forgiveness, but youre not going to get out of paying for it," Grammer continued.

As for the other convicted killers, Corbett died in prison in 2019. The third accomplice is unknown.

Read the original article on People
Utah state officials are looking to submit a waiver to federal officials to re-impose work requirements on some recipients of Utah's Medicaid expansion population.(Stock photo by zimmytws/Getty Images)

Even though Michael McCoy doesnt have a home, he was one of about a dozen people who showed up in person to a public hearing on Friday to urge Utah leaders against imposing work requirements on thousands of the states Medicaid recipients.

McCoy, 37  who has been staying off the streets by sleeping in a blue bus offered by the Nomad Alliance, a nonprofit that helps unsheltered Utahns  said he was recently diagnosed with a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hes been told that he has maybe five to 10 years left to live, and theres no cure for it, he said, so all he can do is focus on medical treatment that helps him stay comfortable through the remainder of his life.

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If I were to lose my Medicaid, pardon my language, but theres no way in hell Id be able to afford any of that, he said. Ive been on the streets my entire adult life.  I have a hard enough time trying to feed myself.

Fridays public hearing at the Multi-Agency State Office Building in Salt Lake City was the first of two scheduled as part of a 30-day public comment period the state officials are required to hold before submitting a proposed waiver to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in June.

That waiver, as currently drafted, would ask President Donald Trumps administration to allow Utah to reinstate work requirements on the states Medicaid expansion program. Currently, about 75,000 adult Utahns are enrolled in the states expansion program, which allows Medicaid eligibility to Utahns whose annual income is up to 133% of the federal poverty level (roughly $20,800 for an individual or $42,760 for a family of four, according to national thresholds).

The waiver would permit a list of exemptions to the work requirement, excluding those working at least 30 hours a week, those who are 60 or older, pregnant, physically or mentally unable to meet the requirements, parents with a child dependent under the age of 6, among others. And it would allow Medicaid recipients to claim good cause for circumstances not on the exemptions list, such as hospitalization or a death in the family, according to state officials.

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However, of those 75,000 adults enrolled, an estimated 7,900 would not fall under an exemption and would be subject to work requirements if the state submits the waiver and its approved by federal officials. That means those 7,900 could lose their Medicaid coverage if they dont start working or submit documentation to the state that theyre applying for at least 48 jobs during a three-month period.

Along with McCoy, concerned Utahns and low-income advocates came to Fridays public hearing to express concerns about the Utah Department of Health and Human Servicess decision to re-submit the Medicaid work requirement waiver.

Previously, when the states first waiver was submitted in 2020, the work requirement was approved at the time under Trumps first administration, but just months later it was suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in 2021, when Utahs waiver was up for renewal, former President Joe Bidens administration required the state to remove that work requirement.

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Now, with Trump back in the Oval Office, Utah DHHS agency leaders have decided to resubmit it. The move adds Utah to the list of states looking to impose work requirements on certain Medicaid recipients under a Republican-controlled Congress and Trump, wanting to encourage people to find work and reduce their reliance on public assistance.

However, several low-income advocates told state officials during Fridays hearing that mandating work requirements on vulnerable populations  especially those who are medically frail or experiencing homelessness  would at best saddle them with unnecessary paperwork they dont have time for and at worst cause them to lose their medical care.

Kseniya Kniazeva, founder and president of Nomad Alliance, said many of the homeless Utahns her nonprofit helps rely on Medicaid coverage.

Without Medicaid, they would suffer, she said, worrying that imposing work requirements would mean the difference between life and death for many of Utahs homeless.

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The population that I serve cannot work 30 hours a week while theyre on the streets, she said. If they could, they would get a job and they would get health care through their job. Thats why Medicaid is here, its for people who cannot work because they have chronic health conditions or mental health conditions.

Kniazeva said for many Utahns experiencing homelessness, almost all of their energy is spent on dealing with keeping a roof over their head and staying safe and healthy  not looking for a job or jumping through administrative hoops to keep health care coverage.

People congregate around the Geraldine E. King Womens Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

We cannot remove crucial health care for this population, she said. Forcing them to apply to 48 jobs in a three-month period?  When their whole entire life is consumed by trying to find food and water and a bathroom today, how are you supposed to think about applying for jobs so you can keep your medical care?

Most of them dont even have phones, she said, let alone access to a computer.

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For the love of God, please, Kniazeva said. This is not what Jesus would do.

Stephanie Burdick, consumer representative on the states Medical Care Advisory Committee, said even though the states proposed waiver includes a list of exemptions, still requiring Utahns to prove they qualify for an exemption creates too many administrative obstacles for vulnerable populations.

This mass surveillance of poor people and mass surveillance of sick people, it infringes on basic American rights, Burdick said, her voice straining with emotion. Why should they have to prove to you that their health conditions meet your definition (of qualifying for a work requirement exemption)?

Burdick questioned why the Utah DHHS is moving forward with re-submitting the waiver when it has not received a new mandate from state legislators to do so. If state leaders really want to increase employment for Utahns, she said they should focus on voluntary job programs, not make health care coverage contingent.

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Do not force this kind of government bureaucracy on Utahns health care, she said.

Jennifer Strohecker, the states Medicaid director, repeatedly thanked those who attended Fridays meeting and said their input would help inform the final version of the states waiver application.

These enrich our process and allow us to really consider multiple angles when evaluating this policy proposal, she said.

Friday wasnt the only opportunity for Utahns to weigh in to the proposed waiver. Theres another public hearing scheduled for May 14 at 4 p.m.. at the Multi-Agency State Office Building, located at 195 N. 1950 West in Salt Lake City. Utahns can also submit comments on the states website or email them to Medicaid1115waiver@utah.gov.

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UKs Atom bank has chosen Provenirs AI Decisioning Platform to enhance credit risk decisioning and data orchestration.

Provenirs technology will support various consumer and business banking products services of the bank.

These services include consumer savings, residential mortgage, buy-to-let mortgage, and business lending.

Atom bank chief commercial officer Chris Storey said: Atom bank provides simple, well-designed mortgages and savings products that deliver ease, speed and value right to your device.

As our customer base and operations continue to grow, our adoption of Provenirs AI Decisioning Platform will reduce the complexities of managing multiple risk decisioning platforms while supporting our commitment to exceptional customer experience.

Provenir demonstrated a deep understanding of what we were looking for in a modern, all-in-one decisioning and data solution that could scale to meet our growth plans.

Launched in April 2016, Atom bank is the UKs first app-based bank.

Provenir said that its platform will play a crucial role in Atom banks decisioning processes, including credit, fraud, and identity management.

The platform combines decisioning, data, and decision intelligence.

Provenir Europe Sales vice-president Mark Collingwood said: Were proud to partner with Atom bank, which has quickly become one of the most innovative and successful challenger banks in the UK.

Our AI-Decisioning Platform will help Atom bank achieve its business objectives and customer experience aspirations to support its goal of being the most customer-centric bank on the planet.

"Atom Bank adopts Provenirs AI decisioning platform" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




British retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) and the iconic Knightsbridge department store, Harrods, have become the latest to be hit by cyberattacks in the UK.

Online orders at M&S, one of the United Kingdoms most prominent high-street stores, remain paused and the attack has already cost the company millions of pounds in lost revenues.

Here is what we know about the incident, its effect and where things stand.

What happened in the cyberattack on Harrods and Marks and Spencer?

April 21: Customers begin reporting issues making contactless payments and booking click-and-collect services (ordering online and picking up in store) at Marks & Spencer. Later that day, the company confirms it is dealing with a cyber incident.

April 25: M&S suspends all online orders and pulls its more than 200 job listings offline. Signs begin appearing in stores warning of limited food availability. Gift cards and returns at M&S food stores cannot be processed.

April 28: Some M&S stores report empty shelves and a shortage of popular items like Percy Pigs sweets. About 200 agency workers at the Castle Donington warehouse in the UKs East Midlands are told to stay home. Stores continue to suffer from shortages.

April 29  May 2: M&Ss website remains unable to process online orders; job applications are still paused. The retailer has issued no further public updates. Physical stores remain open, but some product lines remain unavailable.

April 30: The United Kingdoms Metropolitan Police force confirms it is investigating the attack.

May 1: Upmarket London department store Harrods confirms a cyberattack but assures customers that its operations continue as normal. The company has not revealed how severe the breach is or if customer data has been exposed.

Is M&S back online?

M&Ss online services have not fully resumed. Customers can browse online but they cannot complete purchases. Some difficulties also continue in stores, with gift cards not currently being accepted.

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The company has not provided a timeline for recovery.

Why were these retailers attacked?

Although M&S has not confirmed the type of cyberattack it suffered, experts say the companys shutdown of systems points to a likely ransomware incident.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software which blocks access to files or systems until a ransom has been paid  usually in cryptocurrency. This sort of software can shut down operations and hold critical data hostage.

Harrods has not shared details about its cyberattack, but experts believe the incidents may be connected.

Both the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are investigating the cyber attacks. The NCSC has urged all retailers to tighten their cybersecurity and advised consumers to check bank activity and update passwords.

People cycle by the Harrods department store in London [File: Mina Kim/Reuters]

Who is behind the latest cyberattack?

The attack on M&S has been linked by cybersecurity observers to a group called Scattered Spider, which is also known as Octo Tempest.

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This is a loose network of mostly young, English-speaking hackers who use tricks like phishing (messages through which criminals trick recipients into handing over sensitive information such as login details), SIM swapping (taking control of someones phone number) and Multi-Factor Authentication fatigue (sending repeated login requests until someone accidentally approves one) to break into company systems.

Scattered Spider is believed to have accessed M&S systems using ransomware called DragonForce.

One of the most common ways ransomware infiltrates a system is through phishing emails, according to cybersecurity firm Akamai. Common to all the methods is the aim of exploiting either a human error or a technical vulnerability, its website explains.

Once inside, the malware spreads and encrypts important files, locking them so the company cant access or use them. The hackers then demand a ransom in exchange for a key to unlock the data.

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Tim Mitchell, a senior security researcher at Secureworks, told the UKs Guardian newspaper that Scattered Spider is an unusual hacking group because most cybercriminal networks tend to operate out of countries like Russia, where looser enforcement provides a more permissive environment for cybercrime.

The World Cybercrime Index ranks Russia as the country posing the highest cybercrime threat, followed by Ukraine, China, the United States, Nigeria and Romania.

How much has this attack cost the companies?

Since the attack, more than 700 million pounds ($930m) has been wiped off Marks & Spencers market value, with its share price falling 6.5 percent  including a 2.2 percent drop on the first day of disruptions alone.

Online shopping, which makes up about one-third of M&Ss clothing and home sales, generates roughly 3.8 million pounds ($5.05m) in daily revenue  a stream now halted due to the ongoing shutdown.

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The company has also paused recruitment, removing nearly 200 job listings from its website.

Harrods, meanwhile, has not disclosed any financial losses. As a privately held company, it does not have a stock price and typically does not make its financial information public.

How have Harrods and M&S responded?

M&S initially responded promptly to the cyberattack, informing customers of the breach and pausing affected services early on. However, communication has since stalled, with only two official statements released  the last on April 25.

The retailer confirmed it took systems offline as a precaution, affecting both in-store stock and logistics.

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Harrods, meanwhile, has not disclosed any financial losses. A spokesperson said Harrods is working closely with leading cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate the incident and ensure the integrity of our systems.

Have other similar cyberattacks occurred recently?

Yes. M&S and Harrods are the latest in the UK to be affected by cyberattacks.

Co-operative Group (Co-op), a British consumer cooperative that operates food stores, funeral services and other businesses, also faced an attempted breach the same week. It shut down parts of its IT system, affecting back-office and call centre functions. Stores remained open.

Synnovis, a partner of the UKs National Health Service, was hit by a ransomware attack in June 2024, delaying more than 11,000 medical appointments while patient data it relied on was locked. The Russian-linked cybercriminal group, Qilin, demanded $50m to restore access, but Synnovis refused to pay, adhering to the UK governments policy against paying cybercriminals. In response, the group posted the stolen data online including names, dates of birth, NHS numbers and details of blood test results.

According to the UK governments Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 74 percent of large businesses were targeted in cyberattacks in 2024. The Information Commissioners Office also recorded a 40 percent rise in data breaches in the retail sector in 2023 alone.
A Harvard Medical School researcher currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement says she should have reviewed customs protocols before attempting to enter the US with non-hazardous frog embryo samples but insists what she told immigration agents was misunderstood.

I never provided false info rmation to any government official, Kseniia Petrova, a Russian national, said in a statement issued Thursday. Some of my words were misunderstood and inaccurately reflected in the statement that the officer presented for my signature.

Petrova is accused of lying to federal officers about what she was carrying, according to a Department of Homeland Security statement. The agency also alleges she broke the law and took deliberate steps to evade it.

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Messages on Petrovas phone revealed she planned to smuggle the materials through customs without declaring them, the statement said.

Petrova said she was never asked if she had any biological material, and that she asked for that part of her inspection statement to be corrected, as well as other inaccuracies. She said those changes were never made and, because of that, she was detained.

I should have reviewed U.S. customs paperwork requirements, she said, adding that she was more concerned with getting the s amples to her lab before they degraded.

Petrova, who describes herself as a nerdy 30-year-old scientist who typically works 10 to 12 hours a day, said her boss asked her to bring the scientific samples back from Paris for their cancer research. Petrova said she didnt expect any problems getting the embryos through customs because they were non-toxic, non-hazardous, and non-infectious.

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Petrova has spent more than 10 weeks in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Since she has been in custody, people have sent her science books, supportive notes and letters, and some of her colleagues have come to visit, she said.

I take full responsibility for not properly declaring the frog embryo samples. What I do not understand is why the American officials say I am being held because I am a danger to the community and a flight risk, Petrova said. I only want to be in the lab working on research. That is my lifes purpose. That is what Im all about.

Later this month she has a federal court hearing in Vermont challenging her detention. If the court decides the government acted unlawfully, the judge could release her, according to her attorney Greg Romanovsky. If not, she faces deportation to Russia, where, according to her attorney, she would face immediate arrest over her previous outspoken opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Miriam Haley, 48, broke down on the witness stand while being questioned by the defense about her accusation that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 2006

He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Haley said

Weinstein's retrial began on Wednesday, April 23, after his 2020 conviction was overturned last year

One of Harvey Weinsteins accusers became emotional on the witness stand on Friday, May 2.

Former TV production assistant Miriam Haley, 48, cried while being questioned by Weinsteins attorney about her claim that Weinstein assaulted her at his SoHo apartment in July 2006, the Associated Press reported.

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He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Haley said.

That is for the jury to decide, Weinstein attorney Jennifer Bonjean retorted, per the AP.

No, its not for the jury to decide, Haley responded, according to the AP. Its my experience. And he did that to me.

Haley is one of three women who are testifying in Weinsteins retrial in New York City, which began on Wednesday, April 23.

The former movie mogul is charged with first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape.

In February 2020, Weinstein was convicted of multiple sex crimes and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

CURTIS MEANS/POOL/AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein

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However, in April 2024, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the conviction after concluding that the trial judge shouldnt have allowed three women whose allegations were not a part of the criminal case against Weinstein to testify about Weinstein's prior bad acts.

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Weinstein currently remains incarcerated for his 2022 conviction of rape in California, for which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2023.

Haley, who worked for a few weeks as a production assistant on Project Runway, which was produced by Weinstein's company, testified that Weinstein, 73, invited her to his SoHo apartment in July 2006, where she says he started kissing and groping her, The New York Times reported.

Related: Miriam Haley, First to Take Stand in Harvey Weinstein Retrial, Recounts Alleged 2006 Rape by Film Mogul: 'The Unthinkable Was Happening'

She said she tried to stop him, but he kept grabbing me and pushing me with his body, the Times reported.

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She alleged he backed her into a bedroom, held her down and then forced oral sex on her.

At that moment, she told the jury, Im getting raped. This is what it is, the Times reported.

Haley testified that she told two friends about the alleged attack, per the AP.

When asked by Bonjean how her clothes were taken off before the alleged assault at the apartment, Haley responded that Weinstein removed them but didnt remember specifics because she was busy struggling, she testified, according to AP.

Please, I did not remove my clothes. 100% not, she said, per the New York Post.

In opening statements, Arthur Aidala, another of Weinstein's attorneys, claimed that while his client's behavior was possibly "immoral," it was not illegal.

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The casting couch is not a crime scene, he said, per CBS News.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Read the original article on People
Harvey Weinsteins defense team on Thursday deployed a pit bull lawyer with a history of defending notorious men to try and poke holes in the testimony of a former Project Runway production assistant who has accused the Hollywood mogul of sexually assaulting her twice.

When Miriam Haley took the stand for the third day, defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean, who is known for representing accused sex predators Bill Cosby and R. Kelly, grilled her about the jet-setting lifestyle that gave her access to celebrities like Weinstein.

During her questioning, Bonjean got Haley to say that she didnt give reporters a complete picture of her complicated relationship with Weinstein after she first came forward with allegations that the Hollywood heavyweight had performed forcible oral sex on her in July 2006. She also alleges that he raped her in a hotel room later that same month.

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I told the part that was relevant, Haley said when Bonjean asked if she had told the press about friendly email exchanges she had with Weinstein over the years following the alleged 2006 assault.

A key detail in Haleys testimony on Wednesday was that she had had her period during the time Weinstein allegedly assaulted her in 2006. During questioning from Bonjean, Haley said that she didnt remember exactly when she got her period in 2006 after the defense attorney showed Haley her calendar, where the former assistant sometimes tracked the start date of her period by writing P.

Haley testified that there was no P indicated in the months of January, February and April but there was something in March that may be a P. She said she didnt always remember to add it to her calendar and that she skipped her period some months, adding that she doesnt have a clear memory of her cycle from that year.

Bonjean focused on this detail a day after Haley, in graphic detail, told the court Weinstein was not deterred during the first alleged assault when she told him she was having her period.

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Haley is expected to field more questions from Bonjean about the alleged assaults when court resumes on Friday.

Weinstein is on trial again after the New York State Court of Appeals last year overturned his landmark 2020 conviction for sexually abusing young women which defined the #MeToo movement and helped turn the Oscar-winning producer into a pariah.

Bonjean was enlisted to be part of Weinsteins defense team partly because she helped get Cosbys conviction for aggravated indecent assault overturned in 2021. But after Friday, Bonjean will no longer be representing Weinstein because she has to appear in a Brooklyn court next week for another case she is defending.

Weinstein is charged with one count of engaging in a criminal sex act in connection with Haleys allegations that he forcibly performed oral sex on her in July 2006. He is also charged with one count of third-degree rape for allegedly assaulting actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

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Both women were part of Weinsteins first trial and Mann is also expected to testify in his retrial.

New to the retrial is an additional charge of engaging in a first-degree criminal sexual act for the alleged assault of a Polish former model named Kaja Sokola.

Sokola claimed in a lawsuit that she was 16 when Weinstein in 2006 performed oral sex on her without her consent at a Manhattan hotel. She, too, is expected to testify at Weinsteins retrial.

Weinstein, 73, has denied assaulting Haley, Mann and Sokola.

Prosecutors contend that Weinstein used his Hollywood clout to prey on young women like Haley who were searching for jobs in the TV and film industry  and to silence them after the alleged assaults.

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Haley, whose testimony at the retrial has largely been a reprise of the testimony she provided in 2020, has already testified that she reached out to Weinstein because she wanted his help finding a job. She has also testified that she did not report the assaults to the police or cut ties to Weinstein immediately after the assaults because she feared what he would do to her professionally.

But, under questioning from Bonjean, Haley acknowledged that Weinstein was not the first producer she tapped for job connections. She recounted that she had previously worked for British film and theater producer Michael White, and that, through White, Haley met numerous A-listers like rock stars Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney, as well as actor Jack Nicholson.

Weinsteins lead attorney, Arthur Aidala, has insisted from the start of the retrial that his clients sexual encounters with the accusers were transactional and consensual.

CORRECTION (May 2, 2025, 2:05 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated when Haley alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her. The assault allegedly took place in July 2006, not June.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii lawmakers passed on Friday first-of-its-kind legislation that will increase the states lodging tax to raise money for environmental protection and strengthening defenses against climate change -fueled natural disasters.

Gov. Josh Green supports the bill, indicating he will sign it. The bill adds a 0.75% levy to the states existing tax on hotel rooms, timeshares, vacation rentals and other short-term accommodations. It also imposes a new 11% tax on cruise ship bills, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually. They say the money will be used for projects like replenishing sand on eroding Waikiki beaches, promoting the use of hurricane clips to secure roofs during powerful storms and clearing flammable invasive grasses like those that fed the deadly wildfire that destroyed downtown Lahaina in 2023.

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The House and Senate, both controlled by large majorities of Democrats, both passed the measure by wide margins.

Experts say this is the nation's first state lodging tax that raises money for the environment and coping with climate change.

Hawaii already levies a 10.25% tax on short-term rentals. As of Jan. 1, the tax will rise to 11%. Hawaii's counties separately charge a 3% lodging tax, and travelers also have to pay the 4.712% general excise tax that applies to all virtually all goods and services. The cumulative tax bill at checkout will climb to 18.712%, among the highest in the nation.

Green said people have told him the increase is small enough people wont notice. He observed many people come to Hawaii to enjoy the environment and predicted they will welcome committing dollars to protect shorelines and communities.

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The more you cultivate good environmental policy, and the more you invest in perfecting our lived space, the more likely it is were going to have actually lifelong, committed travelers to Hawaii, he said in an interview.

Only funds raised by the 0.75% addition and the new tax on cruise ship stays will go exclusively toward natural resources and climate change. Revenue from existing state lodging taxes would continue to flow into state's general fund and to help pay for the construction of Honolulu's rail line.

Zane Edleman, a visitor from Chicago, said he could envision the extra cost prompting some travelers to head elsewhere else like Florida. But he said it would depend on how the state shares information about what it does with the money.

If you really focus on the point  this is to save the climate and actually have proof that this is where the funds are going, and that theres an actual result thats happening from that, I think people could buy into it, Edleman said.

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The first draft of the legislation called for a larger increase, but lawmakers pared it back.

We heard the concerns about how do we make sure that we are able to sustain our industry as well as find new resources to address the needs for environmental sustainability, said Democratic Rep. Linda Ichiyama, vice speaker of the House. So it was a balance.

John Pele, the executive director of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, said theres broad agreement that the money raised will go to a good cause. But he wonders if Hawaii will become too expensive for visitors.

Will we be taxing on tourists out of wanting to come here? he said. That remains to be seen.
SUBIC BAY, Philippines  A unit of Hawaii Marines is in the Philippines fielding new weapons for the first time amid simmering tensions with China.

The Kaneohe-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, which is in the country for the annual Exercise Balikatan, sent its new Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systembetter known as the NMESISon Saturday to the northern Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait, just south of Taiwan.

Formerly the 3rd Marine Regiment, the unit officially re-designated as the 3rd MLR in 2022 and is the Marine Corpss first littoral regiment, part of the services Force Design 2030. Its an effort to bring the Marines back to their roots as a naval fighting force focused on island and coastal fighting. The 3rd MLR is serving as the model for the Corps facelift, and NMESIS, an anti-ship missile system, plays a central role in that vision.

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Col. John Lehane, the 3rd MLRs commander, said, One of the things we looked at is, if you can control choke points, then you control the commerce that goes through them. And so any place where you find key maritime terrain like that, thats a suitable place to put a weapon system like that. So its great rehearsal for us and great to help us integrate with what the Filipinos want to do for their archipelagic coastal defense concept.

The unit has deployed to the Philippines for each iteration of Balikatan since 2022, but this is the first time it actually brought NMESISwhich it received in Hawaii in late 2024along with other new weapon systems and equipment as the regiment takes shape and puts the concepts behind its creation into practice.

One thing Ive been telling folks, were not an experimental unit,  said Lehane. We are an initially operational capable element of the fleet Marine force who happens to do some experimentation, but my first and only focus is making these Marines as lethal and as survivable as possible if theyre called upon to do something in crisis or conflict for the nation.

But this years deployment, with multiple weapons system in the hands of the Hawaii Marines seeing their overseas debut, is a milestone.

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From now on, when you see the MLR  it will have NMESIS with it, and it will have all of the parts and pieces that are exciting because theyre new, but to us theyre just becoming normal,  said Lehane. These are not experimental systems ; they are fielded and ready to go.

As the U.S. trains with Philippine forces, the Chinese military is conducting its own operations around the Philippines in close proximity. Last week the Chinese navys aircraft carrier Shandong sailed into waters claimed by the Philippines and carried out flight deck operations about 123 nautical miles off the coast of Ilocos Norte province April 25.

Over the weekend, the U.S. and Philippine militaries conducted live-fire air defense drills together in the western coastal province of Zambales, where the 3rd MLR used its new Marine Air Defense Integrated Systembetter known as MADISwhich it first used in February to down drones in an exercise on Hawaii island.

As they did, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the Chinese coast guard had implemented maritime control  over Sandy Cay, a small sandbank in the disputed Spratly Islands, which both Beijing and Manila claim as their own. Sandy Cay lies near Thitu Island, which has a Philippine military air field and naval station.

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Chinese media released photos of Chinese coast guardsmen standing on the small formation holding a Chinese flag. In response, a small group of Philippine Marines, coast guardsmen and police went from Thitu Island to Sandy Cay on Sunday and took photos of themselves holding a Philippine flag.

On Tuesday the Chinese military began a new naval patrol in the South China Sea and released a statement asserting that the Philippines has been frequently carrying out maritime infringement provocations, creating disturbances and pulling in countries from outside the region to organise so-called joint patrols.

Island fights Under Force Design 2030, Marine Corps leaders envision a return to the island hopping  operations the service conducted in the Pacific during World War IIbut with a 21st-century twist. They envision Marines using high-tech sensors, communication systems, drones and missiles, as they spread out across island chains operating in small groups, that would have the potential to wreak havoc on their opponents.

The service has gotten rid of all of its tanks and has phased out traditional cannon-based artillery on Oahu to replace them with NMESIS, which commanders hope to use to sink enemy ships from missile batteries that Marines would set up on islands and coastlines as they support Navy operations and allied forces. During the development of NMESIS, the U.S. military put a prototype through the paces at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai in 2021, when it was used to fire on a decommissioned vessel.

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Sgt. Christian Chonperez, an artilleryman who spent his career operating traditional cannon artillery, is one of the Hawaii Marines now operating NMESIS in the Philippines. He said that compared with howitzers he originally used, NMESIS has way more advanced capabilities compared to that.

But he said its been a relatively easy transition for him and his fellow Marines as they work with the new missile launcher, saying, The way the system is built is to be very user-friendly towards the operator.

Unlike the old, which had to be towed by a truck or slung under a helicopter to move to different locations, NMESIS is mounted on a remote-controlled vehicle chassis, allowing Marines to quickly drive it from place to place, quickly moving to new firing positions and using shoot and scoot  tactics to avoid return fire from enemy forces.

Chonperez said that a lot of what were doing right now is very logistical, just so this proves that we can take it wherever we want and put it in any environment, any kind of place. So moving is a lot of what were doing.

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Force Design 2030 is in many ways tailor-made with the Western Pacific in mind, with a particular focus on the South China Seaa busy waterway that nearly one-third of all global trade travels through. Beijing claims nearly the entire sea as its exclusive territory over the objections of neighboring countries, and tensions have been mounting over territorial and navigation rights.

In 2016 an international court ruled in favor of the Philippines and found that Chinas claims have no legal  basis. Beijing rejected the ruling and has doubled down by building bases on disputed islands and reefs. The Chinese military has also harassed and sometimes attacked fishermen and other marine workers from neighboring countriesespecially the Philippines.

Tensions have also been ramping up as China has also stepped up military operations around Taiwan, a self-ruled island democracy that Beijing regards as a rogue province. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijings control, by force if necessary. On April 1 the Philippine militarys top commander, Gen. Romeo Brawner, raised eyebrows when he told troops in the northern tip of the country to start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan.

Brawner, an alumnus of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikiki, asserted in his remarks to his troops that if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved. There are 250, 000 (overseas Filipino workers working in Taiwan, and we will have to rescue them. And it will be the task of Northern Luzon Command to be at the front line of that operation.

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Changing tactics Down in Zambales the MLRs anti-aircraft battalion teamed up with the Philippine air force and U.S. Army as they shot down drones in coastal defense drills where they put their new MADIS system to the test. The system consists of pairs of armored vehicles equipped with a host of advanced cameras and sensors to detect small drone threats and using a mixture of weapons and jamming devices to take them down.

The system was originally inspired by the U.S. militarys experiences fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, where the militants began using low-cost commercial drones to spy on and in some cases attack local and coalition forces.

Drones have only become more ubiquitous on battlefields around the world, with both sides of the conflict in Ukraine in particular using drones to deadly effect. On April 15 the Philippine navy announced that it had concluded that mysterious underwater drones that had been found by Filipino fishermen likely came from China and were being used to spy in Philippine waters and map the area for submarine operations.

Its not just adversaries ; its fishermen, its (everyday people ). Im a drone hobbyist. I fly a drone on my own,  said Lehane. They are just becoming part and parcel to everyday life. And so all the more important that were able to, one, detect them ; two, classify what they are ; three, determine whether or not theres (hostile ) intent ; and then four, if necessary, take them out of the sky.

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The MADIS was tested in Arizona before making its way to Marines in Hawaii. The armored trucks operating the system are still painted desert tan for Middle Eastern operations rather than the tropical Pacific environments the Corps largely envisions the MLR operating in. Its a visible reminder of the long legacy of two decades of costly, bloody warfare in the Middle East that still casts a long shadow over U.S. military operations today.

Lt. Col. Matthew Sladek, commander of 3rd MLRs anti-aircraft battalion, said the militarys equipment-testing organizations focus has all been desert, desert, desert, because thats where weve fought for the last 20 years. He explained that the MADIS trucks the Marines are using in Balikatan are the first ones out the door, fielded by the program office. When these guys go back to Hawaii, these trucks will actually make their way back to Charleston, South Carolina, and then well get replaced with full rate production trucks, which will come back here.

One of the major tests is how new systems actually fare in the humid, tropical coasts and islands in the South China Sea. Sladek said that while the weapons themselves have been fine, the hot, moist air poses challenges for advanced sensors and computer systems and that theres some things we got to work through.

The dramatic transformation of the Marine Corps has been controversial, with many retired Marine officers expressing skepticism and in some cases dismay at the radical changes. They charge that getting rid of tanks and other equipment to focus on unproven high-tech systems is wrong and that Chinese forces would obliterate them in a real confrontation.

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Lehane said several critics have come to Marine Corps Base Hawaii to question him and see for themselves, and that many have softened their criticism. He told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, When you get a look at it from the outside, maybe you dont understand all the facts or the arrangements, or what intel is driving us to do the things that were doing, but none of it is haphazard.

Among the concerns is that the focus on missile batteries, drone and high-tech gadgets takes away the focus on infantrymen and will erode their fighting skills. But Lehane says the infantry remains central and that the focus on the regiment, the focus of the battalion and company commanders, is all back on the basics. You know, are you physically fit ? When you squeeze the trigger on a rifle, can you strike the target the first time and every time ? Do you know your orders ? Do you know how to patrol ?

Lehane added that no matter how amazing all of this equipment isnewest radar, coolest air defense thing, best anti-ship missileall of that is mildly interesting if you cant do the basics.
Hawaii sued major oil companies in state court Thursday, accusing them of a successful campaign of climate deception  that has led to devastating impacts in the islands.

The t filed in Oahu Circuit Court accuses Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, BP, Aloha Petroleum, Phillips 66, Woodside Energy Hawaii, BHP Hawaii, Equilon and the American Petroleum Institute of lying to the public about how fossil fuels cause climate change.

On Wednesday the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit trying to preempt the state from suing oil companies to make them pay for their contributions to the climate changes hurting Hawaii.

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The federal complaint made clear that the Trump administration does not believe in climate change, referring to its alleged  impacts.

The 31-page civil against Hawaii seeks to prevent each state from suing fossil fuel companies in state court to seek damages for alleged climate change harms,  according to a Justice Department news release.

This successful climate deception campaign had, and continues to have, the purpose and effect of inflating and sustaining the market for fossil fuels, which drove up GHG emissions, accelerated global warming, and brought about devastating climate change impacts to Hawaii, including to the States front-line communities in particular. The State has already experienced and will continue to face the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, fire risk, and extreme weather (among others ),  read the state civil complaint authored by Deputy Attorney General Wade H. Hargrove III. As a result of the fossil fuel industrys lies and deceit, the State is confronted with the real costs of protecting Hawaiis people, natural and cultural resources, businesses, and infrastructure from hazards of climate change.

Despite the clear harm  to Hawaii and communities across the country, the companies continue to peddle climate disinformation and attempt to mislead the public  about the environmental impacts of fossil fuel products and their derivatives.

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State Attorney General Anne E. Lopez said in a statement that the state has an obligation to do everything in our power  to fight deceptive practices from these fossil fuel companies that erode Hawaiis public health, natural resources and economy.

The use of the United States Department of Justice to fight on behalf of the fossil fuel industry is deeply disturbing and is a direct attack on Hawaiis rights as a sovereign state,  Lopez said. The state of Hawaii will not be deterred from moving forward with our climate deception lawsuit. My department will vigorously oppose this gross federal overreach.

Between 2010 and 2018, BP spent 2.3 % of total capital spending on low-carbon energy sources, Shell spent 1.33 %, Chevron spent 0.23 %, Exxon spent 0.22 % and ConocoPhillips spent 0.03 %, despite an array of greenwashing advertisements and promotion  conveying these companies as committed to green, clean or sustainable energy.

Fossil Fuel Defendants have continued to ramp up fossil fuel production globally ; to invest in new fossil fuel development, including in shale oil production and shale gas frackingsome of the most carbon-intensive extraction projects ; and to plan for unabated oil and gas exploitation indefinitely into the future,  the state civil complaint alleges.

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States and municipalities led by Democrats have filed similar civil actions.

In 2020 the City and County of Honolulu and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply sued most of the same oil companies, alleging their misleading statements allowed climate change to destroy and damage property and infrastructure.

On Jan. 13 the U.S. to hear a bid by oil companies to dismiss a lawsuit by Honolulu accusing them of misleading the public for decades about the dangers of climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

The climate crisis is here, and the costs of surviving it are rising every day,  Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. Hawaii taxpayers should not have to foot that bill. The burden should fall on those who deceived and failed to warn consumers about the climate dangers lurking in their products. This lawsuit is about holding those parties accountable, shifting the costs of surviving the climate crisis back where they belong, and protecting Hawaii citizens into the future.

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President Donald Trump recently directed U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi to take action to stop the enforcement of state laws that unreasonably burden domestic energy development so that energy will once again be reliable and affordable for all Americans.

Hawaii intends to sue fossil fuel companies to seek damages for alleged climate change harms,  read the complaint, which quoted a KHON news story about the intentions of state attorneys to sue oil companies. At a time when States should be contributing to a national effort to secure reliable sources of domestic energy, Hawaii is choosing to stand in the way. This Nations Constitution and laws do not tolerate this interference.

The lawsuit against Hawaii and Michigan and separate actions against New York and Vermont advance President Trumps directive  outlined in Executive Order 14260, Protecting American Energy From State Overreach.

These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our countrys economic and national security,  Bondi said in a statement. The Department of Justice is working to Unleash American Energy by stopping these illegitimate impediments to the production of affordable, reliable energy that Americans deserve.

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The complaint alleges that these anticipated actions are preempted by the Clean Air Act and violate the Constitution  and that the lawsuits burden energy production and force the American people to pay more for energy, and make the United States less able to defend itself from hostile foreign actors.

The state complaint filed by Lopez details an array of climate change impacts hitting Hawaii.

It alleges that as of 2021, 66 state-owned facilities reported flooding from sea level rise and precipitation, including public housing complexes in Kaneohe, the Hulihee Palace historic site, and the Kauai and Oahu community correctional centers.

About 70 % of Hawaiis beaches experienced erosion, and 13 miles of beach are gone, according to the complaint.

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Climate change increases the threat of wildfires for Hawaii. The 2023 Maui wildfires were the deadliest in modern U.S. history and the worst natural disaster in the history of the state. More than 100 lives were lost, and more than 2, 200 structures were destroyed, causing $5.5 billion of damage,  read the complaint.

Lopez said the oil companies had a duty to warn people about the climate dangers associated with their products or to mitigate those dangers.

But they did neither of those things. Instead, they put profits ahead of people and facilitated the increased use of their dangerous products through decades of deceptive conduct,  said Lopez. They violated Hawaii law, harmed all Hawaii residents, and will now be held accountable in a Hawaii court.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory, punitive and natural resource damages ; civil penalties ; and disgorgement of profits at trial ; and an order ensuring the companies stop lying to the public.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Trump administration is taking legal action to block states like Hawaii from suing big oil companies over climate change.

The move is sparking debate over states rights and government powers. President Donald Trumps administration has filed a lawsuit to block future climate cases regarding deceptive practices by big oil companies. It was a suit that was brought before Hawaii officially sued.

Chevron ordered to pay more than $740 million to restore Louisiana coast in landmark trial

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To file that when you dont know what Hawaiis claims are yet. To me, its a little bit, difficult to understand, said UH Manoa associate professor of law, Richard Wallsgrove.

The federal lawsuit argues that letting states go after oil companies could interfere with national energy policy, but Wallsgrove said the timing  and the target  suggest the real goal is to shield corporations.

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In that sense, its sort of like a protection racket for the oil industry. Thats, thats how I read it, Wallsgrove said.

Hawaiis Attorney General said she still plans to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate changed and filed a lawsuit on Thursday afternoon that alleged seven fossil fuel companies, put profits ahead of people and facilitated the increased use of their dangerous products through decades of deceptive conduct.

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Gabbard pressed on omission of climate change from threat report

Critics of the states approach said going after big oil will only lead to higher gas bills.

The whole economy is powered on oil. So. So we need the oil companies. Should there be regulations, should there be checks? Absolutely. And I think President Trump is, is not stupid enough to give them free range, said Rep. Diamond Garcia. The left wants the big oil companies to foot the bill. But in reality, if we continue to allow these blue states to sue oil companies, were going to be letting our own citizens foot the bill.

Others said courts, not presidents, should decide whether climate deception claims hold water.

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If theres, you know, merit to its allegations, we should see fossil fuel companies pay for the damages that they allegedly caused. And if there is no merit to the lawsuit, the lawsuit should be dismissed, Wallsgrove said.

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Lawsuits were also filed against Vermont, Michigan and New York over climate laws. Click here to view Hawaiis complaint filed in response.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia has boasted its best three-month run of exports to the United States as President Donald Trump's tariff policies sparked a rush to buy gold (GC=F), turning a rare U.S. trade surplus into a deficit.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics out on Thursday showed Australian goods exports to the U.S. surged to A$16.7 billion ($10.71 billion) in the three months to March, triple the A$5.2 billion exported in the same period a year earlier.

That saw Australia notch a goods surplus with the U.S. of A$4.1 billion in those three months, swinging from a deficit of A$6.2 billion the year before.

Analysts say much of that reflected a huge jump in gold exports to the U.S. where buyers were stocking up on physical metal in case it too faced tariffs, and to cover positions in futures markets.

Australia is one of the world's largest producers of the precious metal, which is classed as non-monetary gold when shipped as bars.

Australia is also one of the few countries the U.S. normally runs a trade surplus with, a point often made by Australian negotiators arguing against Trump's imposition of 10% tariffs.

A container ship sails from the Port Botany Container terminal in Sydney, Australia

The market mayhem caused by tariffs also spurred investor demand for gold as a safe haven, taking it to record highs. In Australian dollar terms, gold prices have climbed 19% so far this year, showering Australian miners with cash.

The jump in gold exports, combined with a recovery in iron ore shipments from bad weather, widened Australia's seasonally adjusted goods surplus to A$6.9 billion in March alone, well above market forecasts of A$3.9 billion.

Exports jumped 7.6% in March from February, thanks to a near 12% rebound in iron ore and a 26% rise in non-monetary gold shipments. Imports fell 2.2%, led mainly by a pullback in capital goods.

($1 = 1.5596 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Stephen Coates)
The U.S. Navys highest-ranking officer detailed the services priorities in light of projected adversarial timelines at a Washington defense conference Thursday.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James W. Kilby delivered a state of the Navy address at Modern Day Marine, where he spoke of fortifying the naval service through recruiting efforts and investments in emerging technology, among other goals, in an effort to prepare for Chinas alleged military readiness goal over the next two years.

Our focus is 2027, and I want everyones focus to be on 2027, Kilby said. We are responding to a call from our adversary China who said, We want to be ready in 2027. Therefore, the United States Navy, and I would argue our military, must be ready in 2027 across all our platforms.

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Preparation for the goalpost year was broken down into several parts.

The first was to ensure that 80% of aircraft, submarines and ships were combat-ready.

Kilby said that resources not undergoing maintenance needed to be ready to go and available for fleet commanders responding to battle.

The Navy would continue to incorporate robotic and autonomous systems into the fleet, achieving a hybrid fleet of manned and unmanned systems.

He identified the need for recruiting to fully stock ships with sailors, especially with 23,000 manning gaps at sea.

I want to burn those down as quickly as possible so that ship is ready and able to perform its mission, Kilby said.

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Quality of service investments were integral, too, a sentiment echoed by Marine Corps leaders earlier in the week.

Kilby specifically mentioned the Barracks 2030 initiative, a nearly $11 billion effort to renovate Marine Corps housing, and promised better Wi-Fi and parking for sailors.

Top Marine calls for affordable, lethal and autonomous systems

The chief naval officer lastly emphasized the importance of warfighter competency  investing in technologies like live virtual constructive training to better prepare sailors for adversarial encounters  and restoring critical infrastructure, such as piers and runways, as the service focuses on strengthening its presence in the Pacific.

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Kilby provided a backdrop for the Navys efforts, contextualizing the global landscape.

We are now in a contested environment, he said.

This was a break from years past, when the service had waded through a more uncontested environment, according to Kilby.

Key tenets of naval operation, such as communication, radar and interactions between sailors and chain of command, are more important than ever, he said, especially in the increasingly hostile Indo-Pacific region with adversaries like the Iran-backed Houthi Rebels wreaking havoc in the Red Sea.

The Navys major mission for a long time had been power projection, the practice of transporting a mobile airfield to a location and using destroyers to launch power ashore, according to Kilby.

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In the uncontested environments of yesteryear, the feat was relatively easy, he explained.

Now, the script has flipped.

With the way things have unfolded in the now-contested environment of the Indo-Pacific, its imperative to assert control of the sea from a multitude of domains, including air, space, surface and subsurface, Kilby said.

Traditionally, the Navy adopted an approach of bringing Marines from sea to shore. However, there are new opportunities to invert that dynamic and bring Marine power from shore to sea.

The ability to fire an anti-ship missile from shore at a choke point, or the ability to operate G/ATOR on the ground, achieved newfound significance and importance as a result of this new dynamic, according to the chief of naval operations.
(Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

New Mexico health officials warned Friday that summer could worsen measles spread through exposures during community events and travel.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, as we can see by its spread around the country, New Mexico Department of Health Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser said in a statement. More people traveling in the summer emphasizes the importance of keeping you and your loved ones safe with the best-known protection  the MMR vaccine.

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The United States currently has 935 cases of measles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with reports of infections in 30 of the 50 states as of Friday.

NMDOH also reported an additional adult measles infection in Dona Ana County, bringing New Mexicos total to 67 cases since the outbreak began in mid-February.

The vast majority of cases, 61, have been recorded in Lea County, which neighbors the outbreaks epicenter in Gaines County, Texas. The remaining cases lie in the states southern portion: three in Eddy County, two in Dona Ana County and one in Chaves County.

NMDOH Scientific laboratory tested 141 samples for measles since Feb. 1, agency spokesperson David Morgan told Source NM on Friday. Doctors have the option to use private laboratories to test samples, but any positive results must be reported to the state, Morgan told Source via email.

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More New Mexicans continue to seek the MMR vaccine, with 20,304 vaccinations administered between Feb. 1 and April 26, double the 10,860 given in the same time period last year.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and a spotty red rash. Symptoms can develop one to three weeks after an exposure, and people are contagious days before and after symptoms appear. An estimated one in five cases is serious enough to require hospitalization with severe complications such as brain swelling, blindness or death.

NMODH urges anyone with symptoms or possible exposure to call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-796-8773 for guidance in English and Spanish about measles testing or vaccinations.

Health officials are operating 10 vaccination clinics in the states southern region, open daily, which require no appointment. There additionally, are other vaccine clinics around the state, which are listed on the states website here.

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May 1If you're hearing unusual noises or seeing unusual sights this weekend near the Springfield-Beckley Airport, fear not. The Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Wing is simply in training.

The 178th Wing was scheduled to hold a military training exercise Friday through Sunday at the Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

"This is a routine exercise to ensure all airmen assigned to the wing are prepared for any scenarios they might encounter and know what procedures to take in the event of a real-world emergencies," the wing said in a statement.

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The exercise will involve the use of blanks and pyrotechnics to provide a "realistic training environment," the unit said.

Those in the area near the base may hear gunshots or explosions during the exercise, the wing warned.

There may also be greater aircraft traffic in the area, including helicopters.

"Please do not call 911 to report gunfire, explosions, or unusual activity on the base during that time," the wing asked residents.

About 1,500 people work on the Springfield Air National Guard Base, about 400 of them full-time.

The 178th Wing lists its mission as "providing ready units to conduct persistent attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, battle management and agile combat support to execute federal and state missions while maintaining an active involvement with the local community."
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The world is changing fast and that can make it hard for our kupuna to keep up, especially when it comes to scams.

A series of workshops is coming to Hawaii to help seniors and their families spot fraud and fight back.

Veteran Nisei soldier celebrates 100th birthday

What keeps me awake sometimes is the ways in which these scammers, these fraudsters are finding innovative ways to take advantage of older adults, said Paul Greenwood, AARP elder fraud expert.

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Greenwood is a former prosecutor who worked in elder abuse. He said AI-driven scams have been increasing, especially in the last nine months.

According to AARP, people overestimate their ability to detect AI-driven fraud.

The problem has now become that the fraudsters are now able to take photographs of known people, maybe known relatives and superimpose those photographs into a jail setting, he said.

And I know how thats going to be used by the fraudsters who are sending by text or by email to a relative whos now convinced that their grandson is locked up in a foreign jail somewhere and needs desperate bail money to get them out quickly.

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They can also use technology to recreate someones voice.

Hes coming to Hawaii May 12 through May 16 to help educate kupuna about how to fight fraud with seminars on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

He will give his top 20 tips to help prevent becoming a victim.

I base these tips on real cases that Ive prosecuted over 22 years involving older adults, said Greenwood.

Greenwood hopes that education can also persuade seniors to report fraud that happens to them to authorities, as only about 20% do so. Another 57% havent warned others.

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Weve got to overcome this fear that by coming forward and sharing that weve become a victim, that somehow were going to lose our independence. Were not interested in taking the independence away from a victim, in fact, we want to support victims, and the earlier a report is made the better the opportunity may be to recover some of the money.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The job search can be frustrating  some listings dont lead anywhere, others are outdated or too far from home.

Now, a new site hopes to make finding hourly jobs easier and the process more transparent.

Its called Bandana, and its focused on entry level, blue collar and hourly positions. Real jobs with fair pay.

We just really wanted to create something that makes working class people feel valued, said co-founder and CEO Tim Timothy Makalinao. I am an immigrant. I came from the Philippines when I was six years old. My parents are working class people. My mom worked at a factory when I was younger.

The platform has jobs in a variety of industries including food, retail, education, government and more.

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One of our best insights is that when you look for a job, the location matters. So every single job on our platform has an exact address, explained Makalinao, who opened the site last year, starting with the New York City area.

That means you can find opportunities close to home and see a breakdown of your take home pay after taxes along with any benefits youll get.

Makalinao calls Bandana the worlds most transparent job platform.

Also, theyre not just scraping other job sites. Theyve taken the time to build a way of importing their jobs directly from company websites, which means each post links directly to the employer. That translates into fewer listings that dont lead anywhere.

So you know that its an exact application thats going directly to that company, said Makalinao.

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The site is free for jobseekers and now has over half a million users. Bandana estimates its helped place nearly 50,000 people in jobs.

Bandana currently operates in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.  with plans to expand across the U.S.

But theyre growing slow for a reason  to keep the emphasis on jobs you can actually get  with filters to find exactly what you want, where you want it.

Having someone build to make you to make those opportunities accessible feels like we can make an impact on not just a few hundred thousand people but on tens of millions and hundreds of millions of people, concluded Makalinao.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A Henderson County man was sentenced to 13 years in prison after his 18-month-old child was found dead in December 2021.

According to court records, Daniel David Dennis, 28, plead guilty to injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday. While, two original charges of abandoning or endangering a child were dismissed.

Crockett man arrested after police chase ends in drug bust

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Daniel was arrested with his wife Erin Michelle Dennis, 27, on Dec. 15, 2021 after their toddler was found dead, the Henderson County Sherriffs Office said. Inside their home authorities found two other children, human feces on the wall and dirty diapers on the floor.

Mugshot of Daniel David Dennis, courtesy of Henderson County Jail

Mugshot of Erin Michelle Dennis, courtesy of Henderson County Jail

Authorities said the parents had locked the 103 degree childrens room from the outside to prevent anyone from escaping and one of the babys cribs was rigged as a cage. Erin told police that when she woke to play video games she went to check on the children and found the toddler dead.

The mother she basically said that they had made a make-shift cage. They had taken the crib and turned it upside down, put the mattress on the floor, had put the box springs on top of it and then they took a pet cage and surrounded the crib. In case he got out, he was still in a fenced area, the sheriffs office said.

East Texas man gets 25 year sentence for narcotics possession in Henderson County

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Jail records said Erins charges for two counts of abandoning or endangering a child were considered while she was released to state jail for the injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury charge. KETK news contacted the District Clerks and District Attorneys office but they had no further information about Erins status at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
LaGrange, Ga. (WRBL)  A man is being hailed a hero after risking his life to save another on a busy stretch of Highway 27 near the entrance of the Bryant Lake subdivision.

On Thursday morning, Drew Garner witnessed a terrifying sight  a vehicle driving into oncoming traffic, headed the wrong way. The driver appeared to be seizing, vomiting, and in visible distress, all while the car continued moving. As Garner turned his vehicle around to help, he saw someone already in action.

That person was Zion Reed.

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Without hesitation, Reed sprinted toward the still-moving vehicle, flung open the drivers door, dove into the car headfirst, and forcefully hit the brake  all while the driver was still convulsing and vomiting. His quick thinking stopped the car just in time  Garner says a full-size dump truck loaded down with cargo was in the vehicles path.

Another bystander called 911, but Zion was already on the phone with emergency dispatchers. Here, I got them. Just get them to get an ambulance out here, he said.

Thanks to Reeds bravery and instinct, what could have been a deadly accident ended in a life saved. WRBL is trying to find out how the driver is doing.

This young man is so deserving to be recognized as a hero today, Garner said. These are the stories we need to be sharing  we need more Zion Reeds in our communities.

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And just as importantly, we need more people like Drew Garner  people who not only step in to help but take time to lift others up and share these stories of courage and humanity. In a world full of noise, shining a light on real heroes matters.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV)  WSAV has learned exclusively that a Lowcountry high school teacher has been accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Victoria Tori Montgomery has taught dance at Hilton Head Island High School since 2021. Wednesday, she was taken off the job and placed on leave while being investigated for an alleged off-campus affair.

Beaufort County Detention Center

The 32-year-old was reportedly charged with sexual battery of a student Friday, officials told WSAV. The student Montgomery was allegedly in a relationship with was one of her students.

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With the current charge, she could face 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The student is reportedly 18-year-old now, but law enforcement is still investigating when the relationship allegedly started.

Both the Beaufort County School System (BCSS) and the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) told WSAVs Andrew Davis they have opened investigations into her conduct.

When asked, BCSS offered this statement:

We have become aware of a situation involving a staff member and student at HHIHS. Because this involves both a personnel matter and a law enforcement investigation, we are unable to provide additional details or comment further. The staff member has been placed on administrative leave. We recognize that situations like this can raise concern and we are taking this very seriously. The situation is being addressed accordingly in cooperation with law enforcement.

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Montgomery came to Hilton Head Island from a school in Flint, Mich. and was working in education in Indiana before that.

Read the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office indictment below:

25s045874_RedactedDownload

WSAV will update 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 WSAV-TV.
The Department of Health and Human Services released a review on Thursday that found that the quality of evidence regarding the effects of transition-related care for minors is very low, and that, as a result, many U.S. doctors have managed to unintentionally fail their patients by providing them with such care.

A central theme of this Review is that many U.S. medical professionals and associations have fallen short of their duty to prioritize the health interests of young patients, the conclusion of the 409-page report states.

The HHS review found that there is limited evidence regarding the effects of medical interventions for youth with gender dysphoria on psychological outcomes, quality of life, regret, or long-term health. At the same time, it found that evidence for harms associated with pediatric medical transition in systematic reviews is sparse, but said this finding should be interpreted with caution because there are no studies that track and report harms.

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It also sharply criticized the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, an international nonprofit made up of medical professionals that develops guidance regarding trans health care, arguing that its guidelines are biased and politically motivated. The HHS report alleges that WPATH has influenced U.S. medical associations to create a false perception that there is consensus regarding transition care for minors despite concerns from whistleblowers and detransitioners, or the relatively small number of people who no longer identify as trans or regret transition care they received.

The review also casts doubt on the increasing number of studies in recent years that have found a significant independent association between gender dysphoria and suicidal thoughts, and on studies that have linked access to transition care to improved mental health outcomes for youth.

The HHS review ultimately calls for psychotherapy as a noninvasive alternative to endocrine and surgical interventions for the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria and for more research regarding the effects of exploratory psychotherapy on minors with gender dysphoria.

The report marks the most recent escalation of the Trump administrations efforts to roll back access to transition-related care and other rights for trans people. President Donald Trump issued several executive orders targeting trans people during his first weeks in office, including one declaring there are only two unchangeable sexes assigned at birth, another banning trans people from serving or enlisting in the military and one prohibiting federal funding for hospitals that provide transition care to minors.

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The order regarding trans care for minors, signed on Jan. 28, required HHS to publish a review of the existing literature on best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, the medical term for the distress caused by the misalignment between someones birth sex and gender identity. The HHS review notes that it is not a clinical practice guideline, which is meant to help clinicians and patients make decisions about care, and it does not issue legislative or policy recommendations. However, the review could still affect access to transition care for minors nationwide by adding fuel to the political firestorm surrounding it.

The reviews findings mark a significant break between the federal government and the stance of major U.S. medical associations  including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association  which support access to transition-related care for minors and oppose restrictions on it.

As a result, the review was met with immediate backlash from medical associations and trans activists, who criticized its methods and lack of transparency. Most notably, HHS did not list any of the reviews authors in what appears to be a break with protocol, as the names of authors are generally required to be included on any scientific publication.

While this is a systematic review of the literature on this subject executed by experts in the field, the credibility of this report plummets in the mind of many folks in the scientific and medical communities because those experts are not named anywhere, said Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford Universitys medical school.

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She added that a scientific report of this kind generally also lists the names of the experts who peer-reviewed it, and this review does not.

A news release issued by HHS on Thursday states: Chapters of this review were subject to peer review prior to this publication, and a post-publication peer review will begin in the coming days involving stakeholders with different perspectives.

Ladinsky said that is highly out of the ordinary, and that post-publication peer review generally only happens when there has been serious doubt cast on the findings of a study or report.

Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, said the department "stands firm in its decision to withhold the names of the contributors to this report in order to protect them from intimidation tactics and undue pressure campaigns."

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He added, "These tactics aim to stifle thoughtful, evidence-based analysis, preventing contributors from making independent judgments and engaging in honest peer reviews."

He said the contributors' names will be shared after the post-publication peer review is conducted.

Susan J. Kressly, the president, American Academy of Pediatrics, said the organization is deeply alarmed by the report.

For such an analysis to carry credibility, it must consider the totality of available data and the full spectrum of clinical outcomes rather than relying on select perspectives and a narrow set of data, Kressly said in a statement. This report misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care.

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The review also promotes exploratory psychotherapy, which refers to talk therapy as an alternative treatment to puberty blockers or hormone therapy. In this kind of therapy, therapists try to help youth come to terms with their bodies, according to the review, or accept their birth sex.

Some of the nations largest LGBTQ advocacy organizations  including GLAAD, an LGBTQ media advocacy organization, and The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization  as well as medical experts who specialize in research regarding care for LGBTQ youth said exploratory psychotherapy is often another way of referring to conversion therapy, or a discredited practice that attempts to change someones sexual orientation or gender identity.

This is the argument they have been using for decades, and really its conversion therapy light, said Doug Haldeman, a psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at John F. Kennedy University. We are in an era where the administration has made it clear from the very first day that their wish is to erase trans identity altogether.

Haldeman, who is also the author of The Case Against Conversion Therapy: Evidence, Ethics, and Alternatives, said there is years of research showing that trying to get trans people to accept their birth sex has negative mental health outcomes.

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The HHS review pushes back on equating exploratory therapy with so-called conversion therapy, arguing that all psychotherapy is exploratory by definition.

The review also mentions multiple whistleblowers, or people who previously helped provide care to trans youth who have since denounced such care. It mentions Jamie Reed, a former case worker at the Transgender Center at the St. Louis Childrens Hospital, who alleged in a 23-page affidavit that children were being routinely prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy without appropriate or accurate mental health assessments. Her allegations were used by state lawmakers in support of legislation that eventually barred gender-affirming care for minors in the state of Missouri.

The review says that the concerns of whistleblowers have been discounted, dismissed, or ignored by prominent advocates and practitioners of pediatric medical transition.

Reed said that, as a named whistleblower in the report, and as a lesbian myself with insider knowledge of this field, I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusions of the review.

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Gender medicine has been gay conversion therapy since the beginning, Reed said in a statement to NBC News. The HHS review shares that history and concludes the practice raises serious justice-related concerns because of the overrepresentation of LGB youth among patients. As a lifelong Democrat, I believe it is high time for bipartisan support to acknowledge the findings of this report.

Ladinsky previously practiced as a pediatrician in Birmingham, Alabama, for 10 years, where she treated hundreds of trans adolescents until the state passed a ban on transition care for minors in 2022. The state is one of 25 that have enacted such restrictions.

All of us on the front lines will tell you that in these 25 states where elements of the care is banned, we have yet to learn of one young person who is no longer transgender, Ladinsky said.

CORRECTION (May 2, 2025, 12:30 p.m.): Because of an editing error, a previous version of this article misstated the type of studies the HHS review casts doubt on. It cast doubt on those that have found an association between gender dysphoria and suicidal thoughts, not gender dysphoria and suicide.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The 3,300-year-old ancient Egyptian obelisk that is now in Paris. . | Credit: Cocotier Tours via Shutterstock

The famous ancient Egyptian obelisk in Paris may contain a series of hieroglyphic messages aimed at Egypts nobility that praise the pharaoh Ramesses II and say he was divinely chosen by the gods, an Egyptologist claims.

However, scholars who were not involved with the research expressed caution about this interpretation.

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The approximately 3,300-year-old obelisk was built at Luxor Temple on orders of Ramesses II (who reigned circa 1279 to 1213 B.C.) at the beginning of his rule. In 1830, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Egypt at the time, gifted it to France. It was moved to Paris, where it now sits in a plaza known as the Place de la Concorde.

Previous studies revealed that hieroglyphics on the obelisk discuss Ramesses II. They also discuss the god Amun (also referred to as Amun-Ra) who was the chief god of Thebes (now known as Luxor), and Horus , who was the son of the god Osiris and goddess Isis.

The newfound messages, however, would have been understood only by those who had a high level of literacy, particularly the nobility, Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier , an Egyptologist from the Institut Catholique de Paris, told Live Science in an email. During restoration work on the obelisk and surrounding area carried out in 2021, Olette-Pelletier was given permission to climb scaffolding erected around the obelisk and study the granite artifact in greater detail than can be seen from the ground.

During his study, Olette-Pelletier found what he believes are messages that would have been noticed only by certain people under certain circumstances.

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For instance, he noted that when the obelisk was built, its western side faced the Nile River and those traveling on the river by boat would have had a good view of a series of inscriptions and imagery located near the top of the 75-foot-tall (23 meters) obelisk. These inscriptions say Ramesses II "had been chosen by the gods, that he was of divine essence and therefore entitled to rule Egypt," Olette-Pelletier said. It also shows a scene of Ramesses II making offerings to the god Amun.

He noted that the Opet festival, an annual event that honored Amun, prompted the nobility to arrive at Luxor by boat. These travelers would have had a good view of these inscriptions, helping to reinforce the pharaoh's political power. "It was propaganda aimed at the very high intellectual elite," Olette-Pelletier said.

Olette-Pelletier thinks he's found other hidden messages on the obelisk. For instance, he noted that there are two rows of hieroglyphs that, depending on the direction in which they are read, could give different messages  such as spelling out the full throne name of Ramesses II or saying he had eternal life.

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Olette-Pelletier is preparing a report of his findings that will be published (in French) in the journal Egypte Nilotique et Mediterraneenne (also known as ENiM).

Scholars who were not involved with the research urged caution in interpreting the findings; they said that, until the research is published, they will not be able to review it in depth.

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Filip Taterka , an Egyptology professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences, told Live Science that he doesn't think the inscriptions and imagery near the top of the obelisk would have been visible to a noble person traveling by boat on the Nile because of the distance.

Ancient Egypt quiz: Test your smarts about pyramids, hieroglyphs and King Tut
The founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the worlds largest hedge funds, is voicing concern that President Donald Trumps economic agenda could lead to something worse than a recession.

Right now, we are at a decision-making point and very close to a recession, billionaire investor Ray Dalio told NBCs Meet the Press. And Im worried about something worse than a recession if this isnt handled well.

A recession is typically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. A much more profound change would be a breakdown of the current monetary order. (Its worth pointing out that Dalio correctly predicted the 2008 financial crisis.)

Something worse than a recession: Billionaire investor Ray Dalio says Trumps economic agenda could be catapulting the US toward a world order very much like the 1930s

Don't miss

Whats worse than a recession?

Trump has triggered global economic chaos with his on-again, off-again tariffs, most recently declaring a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs  except for China.

In that case, tariffs have increased to 145%. With markets in turmoil and consumer confidence plummeting, more economists believe a recession is likely.

But Dalio believes Americans could be facing more than a recession. Tariffs, combined with a high level of debt and a rising superpower challenging the existing superpower, could lead to profound changes in the world order.

Such times are very much like the 1930s, he told NBC.

The end of the Second World War ushered in a new monetary and geopolitical world order. But history tends to repeat itself.

These go in cycles that can be measured, and I worry about the breakdown of that kind of order, particularly since it doesnt need to happen, he told NBC, adding that there are better ways to restructure debt.

Whether tariffs are implemented in a stable way or a chaotic and disruptive way can make all the difference in the world, he said. But so far, the tariffs have been akin to throwing rocks into the production system. In other words, highly disruptive.

Right now were at a juncture, he told NBC. He believes Congress needs to get the budget deficit down to 3% of GDP while managing trade deficits in the right way. If not, there will be a supply-demand issue for debt and the results of that will be worse than a normal recession.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Last July, state government began charging South Dakotans another $9 a year on nearly every telephone line to pay for 911 emergency-call services. The compromise struck between state lawmakers was that the $2 monthly surcharge would return to $1.25 on July 1, 2026.

But that deal didnt last.

This past winter, state lawmakers agreed with a proposal from the Noem administration to do away with the 2026 ending date and let the $2 surcharge stay in place.

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Rabies lingers in South Dakota

The Senate voted 33-2 to make the 75-cent per month increase permanent, and the House of Representatives agreed 69-0. On March 11, Noems successor as governor, Larry Rhoden, signed the legislation into law.

A 75-cent monthly increase doesnt sound like much. But a fiscal note prepared last year by the state Legislative Research Council estimated that the total collected through the $2 surcharge would be roughly $20 million a year  a $7.5 million increase.

So now what becomes of the additional $7.5 million that South Dakotans must pay the government each year for telephone service? On Thursday, the state 911 Coordination Board began deciding some of that.

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The boards administrator, Jason Husby, proposed on that the board use some of the additional surcharge to make $80,000 per month available for grants that 911 centers, known as public service answering points or PSAPs, could request for specific projects.

As for the 70% of surcharge revenue that goes back to the 63 counties where its collected, the 2025 legislation didnt change that. Nonetheless, for the 33 PSAPs throughout South Dakota, the extra surcharge revenue means county and municipal governments can now pay less for PSAPs to operate.

Vote for South Dakotas best beef burger

According to Husby, the old $1.25 surcharge covered 29% of the PSAPs operational costs. At $2, he said, the surcharge payx an estimated 44 to 45%, while the national average is 66%.

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Board member Andrew Boyd of Wall said that the grant approach would be better than increasing the percentage that PSAPs receive.

Husby said the board could direct grants to the boards priorities. As an example, he pointed out that some of the larger cities face a $10 million hit in the years ahead as Motorola phases out a series of consoles.

The board agreed to make $80,000 available each month for grants.

The board also agreed to pay Lumen Technologies, which oversees 911 for state government, another $22,000 per month to add a third technician specifically in western South Dakota who will service the areas 911 centers, known as public service answering points, or PSAPs.

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The five-year contract that took effect in 2019 was extended in 2023 to run until June 30, 2029.

Lumen had a service technician based in Belle Fourche, but he retired. For a while, there were two technicians in South Dakota, then three, and now back to two  one stationed at Sioux Falls and one at Huron.

Board member Stephanie Olson of Rapid City said Thursday that it was absolutely necessary to have a service tech on the western side of South Dakota.

Said board member Amy Leon of Yankton, Geography wise, its smart. She added that having three techs would provide depth on the bench and would be important for times of bad weather.

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The board also agreed on Thursday to cover an estimated $13,500 of one-time costs to add a fourth console at the new Clay County PSAP and pay the ongoing $1,064 monthly cost for it.

And Husby told the board that hes assembling a statewide job listing that will be displayed on the state Department of Public Safety website where PSAPs can post job openings.

Staffing continues to be one of the biggest challenges we have in the state, he told the board, explaining that the current vacancy rate is down but still roughly 20%. Having a statewide site means job seekers wouldnt have to search through individual county and municipal sites.

Husby said he might eventually ask the board for money to pay a contractor to promote the statewide site. For now, some of DPS staff are brushing up recruiting videos that PSAPS also could use.

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I think its a good idea, said the boards chair, Perkins County Sheriff Kelly Serr. We have to do what we can as a team to help everybody.

Heres a quick look at the role of South Dakotas 911 surcharge in funding annual costs of PSAP operations, as summarized from the boards annual reports, 2020-2024.

2020 annual report: Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2020 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $28.2 million. Based on

these numbers, approximately 33 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the

9-1-1 surcharge.

2021 annual report: Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2021 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $29.6 million. Based on

these numbers, approximately 31 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the

9-1-1 surcharge.

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2022 annual report: Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2021 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $30.7 million. Based on

these numbers, approximately 30 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the

9-1-1 surcharge.

2023 annual report: Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2022 were $9.5 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $32.6 million. Based on

these numbers, approximately 29 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the

9-1-1 surcharge. This percentage has been trending downward every year by an

average of approximately 1% due to rising PSAP operational expenditures.

2024 report: Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar

year 2023 were just under $9.9 million. Locally the cost to provide 9-1-1 was $34.5

million. Total cost, including the states costs, was $38.8 million. Based on the FCCs

2023 annual report, the $1.25 surcharge and all other fees covered 36% of South

Dakotas cost to operate the 9-1-1 system. The national average, according to the

same report, is 66%.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seventeen-year-old Agustina Pestel and her classmates dont know exactly why their teachers nominated them to be student guides for Minnesota Supreme Court justices who visited the school Thursday.

But the junior at Highland Park Senior High School, who is interested in journalism and law, met Chief Justice Natalie Hudson along with other student representatives ahead of oral arguments at the school that morning.

We just got to ask her a lot of questions about not just her personal life, but her life as chief justice, and what it was like in that position, and kind of the sacrifices shes had to make throughout her life to get to that, Pestel said. And she explained a lot that she still gets those nerves, so she tries to bring a little humor into it sometimes.

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The Minnesota Supreme Courts seven justices gathered at the St. Paul high school to hear the oral arguments on a civil commitment case.

30 years of school visits

The state Supreme Court first held oral arguments at schools in Rochester in 1995. Highland Park is the courts 56th in-school visit for oral arguments.

The court tries to visit schools in all 10 judicial districts over the years, Hudson said. Ramsey County is in the Second Judicial District.

We want our young people to be engaged citizens, and so this gives them an opportunity to see the judicial system at work, Hudson said. But it also (is)  as a service to our community as well. To  educate young people about the importance of the judicial branch, the work that we do in protecting rights, that there is a place for people to bring their grievances and how it is we go about resolving those matters in a democracy.

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High schools typically hear oral arguments for criminal cases, though the one at Highland was a civil case. The focus is on selecting cases that are interesting and accessible for students, Hudson said.

But we try to find a case that has one issue, you know, no more than two, so that they can focus in on that. So something that we think high school students would be interested in and they care about so that they can see how that would relate to their lives, Hudson said.

Volunteer lawyers and judges also visit classes ahead of oral arguments in order to help students understand what they will be hearing during arguments, she said.

We all love these opportunities, because it gets us out of the Capitol, where we hear most of our oral arguments, and gets us out into the communityYoung people will ask and say all kinds of things, and thats great, Hudson said. You want to hear what theyre interested in, or what they know about the court system and dont know, and theyre always very inquisitive

Hearing from students

After oral arguments concluded, students were able to ask justices about their work, work-life balance and their paths to the court. Later, the justices ate lunch with student representatives and visited classrooms.

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Student representative and junior Lynex Lee, 16, sees law as something he might be interested in in the future.

What I found intriguing about the judges were that some of them didnt choose to go into being a judge in the first place, and they wanted to be like a lawyer or such, Lee said. And then I really felt that you dont have to be set on one thing 

Even for students who are not interested in studying law, it plays a role in other fields students will decide to go into, said junior and student representative Alfiya Jarso, 16.

I think its cool because its important that we hear about things like this, Jarso said. But seeing things in real time and getting a better understanding of how the law system works, especially as students who are trying to find out what they want to be in the future, its very important to us that we can kind of experience that, see what we like, and watch it all go down.

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To view the event, go to spps.eduvision.tv/directplayer.aspx?q=63qDJvCLgfGNkbUQQdvNzQ%253d%253d.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  In the State of Metro Address, Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell is dedicating millions across several areas, including resources for first responders and public schools.

OConnell mentioned allocations in his recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes a $49.6 million investment in resources for first responders. The Metro Nashville Police Department will receive $24.7 million.

RELATED | Im not your piggy bank: Some Davidson County residents protest property tax rate

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A portion of that will help fund 35 officers for the recently-formed D-Detail flex unit, which goes where theyre most needed. Since February, D-Detail officers have responded to hundreds of calls across Metro. Additionally, the Nashville Fire Department will receive $15.3 million. A new EMS Unit staffed by 12 employees will be funded by $1.5 million.

License plate recognition technology has been a top-of-mind issue for many across Metro Nashville. While OConnell did not specifically touch on the technology in his address, he told News 2 there is a framework ready to offer Metro Council when the Council is ready to vote.

Youve probably seen recently they cant even pass a resolution right now asking us to bring it to Council, OConnell. So, right now every decision about anything related to surveillance is in the hands of Metro Council.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Aside from first responders and public safety, Metro Nashville Public Schools make up 37.2% of the recommended budget. Thats 13% higher than the budget from fiscal year 2025.

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The budget were recommending today is about providing stability, resilience and a baseline of normal in abnormal times, OConnell said. If we value their work and our students futures, we do everything in our power to keep them safe. If anyone feels unsafe in our city, we know we still have work to do. For them [and] for all of us, we must stay focused on the process of safety.

With $3.2 million, the MNPD will add 23 new School Resource Officers across the district.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4)  A hiker was life-flighted out of American Fork Canyon on Thursday after reportedly falling.

The Utah County Sheriffs Office reports that at 11:20 a.m., there were two hikers climbing the north wall of the canyon in the Little Mill Campground area when one of them fell.

A hiker was lifeflighted out of American Fork Canyon on Thursday. (Utah County Sheriffs Office) A hiker was lifeflighted out of American Fork Canyon on Thursday. (Utah County Sheriffs Office) A hiker was lifeflighted out of American Fork Canyon on Thursday. (Utah County Sheriffs Office) A hiker was lifeflighted out of American Fork Canyon on Thursday. (Utah County Sheriffs Office)

Officials said the hiker needed help due to possible injuries to their back. Search and Rescue and Life Flight responded to the scene. The hiker was hoisted from the mountain and taken to a waiting ambulance.

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ABC4.com reached out to learn more about the condition of the injured hiker, but officials said there was no new information at the time of this report.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

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WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  May 1st is observed as National School Principals Day, a reminder to take time to show appreciation for educational leaders in your community.

Heart, service, and inspire are three words Haley Dean, the principal of Hillcrest Elementary School, would use to describe her job.

Dean has been the principal of Hillcrest for four years, and said the job is not easy, but there is nowhere else she would rather be.

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Throughout the day, students and faculty brought Principal Dean gifts to show their love and appreciation, filling her office with photos, confetti, and more.

It feels amazing to be surrounded by wonderful staff and our students each and every day, she said. And today feels even better because they have been celebrating me all day throughout the day. About once every hour, I get another little treat, or Ive gotten some wonderful things that the kids have made for me today.

To show her gratitude, Principal Dean walked through classrooms thanking students and teachers for all they do.

If I dont know my students or my students dont know me, then Im not doing my job. I want to make sure that I know every single students name, and I want them to know that I am here for them and Im here to help keep them safe and to help them learn and to know that I love them. Dean said.

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The role of a principal can be very challenging. Haley Dean said she makes sure to prioritize her mental health so she can show up fully every day. Listening to podcasts, music, and spending time with family are just a few things that keep her centered during difficult times.

As her journey continues as an educational leader, Dean looks to the future with an open mind and heart, working to make Hillcrest feel like a school and home for faculty, staff, and students.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH)  A Hilliard City Council campaign flyer successfully left residents confused, igniting debate over political satire and dirty politics.

A group of Hilliard Republicans mailed out 2,000 flyers seemingly identifying Democratic candidate Andy Teater as an undercover Republican candidate. Teater, current council vice president, said the mailer was meant to divide and confuse people. The conservative political group behind the mailer said it was meant to spark conversation, and it did.

Meet the three candidates running for Columbus City Councils District 7 seat

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After a lifetime of service to the GOP, Andy Teater and his Republican campaign manager Tony Moog have taken on one last mission: to infiltrate and take over the Hilliard Democratic Party from the inside, the flyer reads.

The flyer includes a photo of Teater accepting an award on behalf of his parents for their lifetime of public service to central Ohio. The award was given by the Franklin County Republican Party and encourages everyone to support this MAGA patriot with your vote in the Democratic Primary for Hilliard City Council.

Teater ran in two council elections and served 12 years on the Hilliard school board as a Republican. However, he said he never voted for Donald Trump and switched parties after he felt his values aligned more closely with Democrats.

I am a fierce supporter of public schools, and at the state level and the federal level, I feel like public schools are under attack by the Republican Party, Teater said. Even when I was a Republican, I valued womens reproductive rights, I supported stronger laws and more protection for LGBTQ+ and Ive also supported reasonable gun laws.

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Les Carrier, a Hilliard City Council member, is one of the six Republicans behind the flyer. He spoke with NBC4s Colleen Marshall about the divisive mailer.

Whitehall residents rally to take tax breaks for high-end development to citizen vote

We wanted to highlight the hypocrisy that was going on here and if you think about it, Colleen, that piece brought that out, Carrier said.

Carrier said they made the flyer as political satire. He said it was hypocritical of the Franklin County Democratic Party to endorse Teater after he spent decades as a Republican. Teater, however, said the mailer was just disappointing.

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Its just unfortunate; so often, people are trying to get ahead by dividing people, Teater said. I think nobody wins when we try to divide people or confuse people.

The Ohio Revised Code technically limits false statements in campaign materials, but there is no way to enforce it. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled those state restrictions were unconstitutional in 2016, saying they restricted protected political speech. State law requires false statement complaints to go through the Ohio Election Commission, which is no longer allowed to accept those complaints under the court ruling.

Columbus financial social media influencer defrauded investors of $11 million, prosecutors say

With no enforceable law, the campaign flyers are left to public debate.

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Oh, it was absolutely  I cant tell you, we think its political satire, Carrier said. We put it out that way..

Its just disappointing that a piece like that can go out that is only meant to deceive or confuse the public, Teater said.

Both Carrier and Teater are seeking re-election this year, vying for three open city council seats. Teater is one of seven Democratic candidates, four of whom will advance after Tuesdays primary.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
(KRON)  Two vehicles were stolen overnight Thursday, and the suspect(s) remains at large, the Hillsborough Police Department announced on social media. The two stolen vehicles were described as a 2021 black Infiniti QX80 and a 2017 gray Acura MDX.

The theft happened in the area of the 2100 block of Carmelita Avenue, but HPD did not specify around what time it happened. Police are asking residents in the area to review any surveillance footage they have that may help with the investigation.

Rare two-headed snake hatches at Berkeley pet store

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No suspect information has been released by HPD at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact HPDs dispatch center at 650-375-7470.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFLA)  Hes faced loss, led through service, and never lost sight of his mission. News Channel 8 profiled this Hillsborough County teen five years ago as he helped first responders during the pandemic.

Gavin Floyd received a big honor Thursday: $10,000 to help him as he graduates from high school and takes his next big step.

Tampa Police Department holds 2025 Memorial Ceremony to honor fallen officers

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A senior at Riverview High School, Floyds journey hasnt been easy. But Thursday, the teen who turned tragedy into purpose got a surprise celebration.

This wasnt your average scholarship ceremony. They usually come to pillage and plunder, but Thursday, the pirates were giving back. In true Tampa Bay fashion, pirates delivered the prize.

Theres not a lot that we can do individually, but theres a lot that we can do when we contribute to the collective effort. And Im happy to be back, Floyd said.

News Channel 8 first met Gavin back in 2020, when he created 3D printed mask frames for military and first responders during the pandemic.

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Everything Ive done, from the 3D printed mask service project and developing a 3D printed ophthalmic scope a while ago and kind of testing it and kind of distributing it through the World Health Organization, everything Ive kind of done has been culminating to that giving back, that service before self, Floyd said.

Hes led his classmates in the pool and on the track, while researching in his spare time. But it was a tragedy, not titles, that shaped his path. He lost his father, and everything changed.

My freshman year of high school, my dad did get in an accident. He did pass away. And that was kind of life changing for me. You know, you never think it will happen to you until it does, Floyd said.

With a 6.2 weighted GPA, hes heading to the air force academy with a $10,000 scholarship from the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla to fund his research and education.

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The research we have to fund privately, and this will help fund our research, Floyd said. I knew that going to the Air Force Academy is where I kind of belonged.

Floyd said he plans to become a pilot. He and one other student received a scholarship for their future from the krewe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
(FOX40.COM)  Cinco de Mayo is a popular Mexican holiday, with celebrations throughout the United States and Mexico.

Video Above: 5 things to know about Cinco de Mayo

Often confused for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo instead marks the 1862 victory of the Mexican Army over the French Army.

As many grab their sombreros and prepare to take shots of tequila, it is important to take a moment and learn about the significance of Cinco de Mayo and what it means before the celebrations commence.

History of Cinco de Mayo

Puebla, Puebla, Mexico; 10.2024. Historic Passage 5 de Mayo is a tunnel with a distance of 477 meters located in Puebla de Zaragoza, it is approximately three and a half centuries old, since it is estimated that it could date from the second half of the 17th century. Address: Calle 2-A Norte. 2602A, Xanenetla neighborhood. Photo: Juan Carlos Rojas (Photo by Juan Carlos Rojas/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Then-newly elected Mexican President and member of the Zapotec tribe, Benito Juarez, was forced to default on debt payments to European governments due to financial ruin in 1861, according to History.com.

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Naval forces from France, Britain and Spain were sent to Veracruz, Mexico. While Mexico was able to negotiate with Spain and Britain, resulting in the withdrawal of their forces, France grasped the opportunity to take Mexican territory.

While France sent out 6,000 French troops to attack Puebla de Los Angeles in Mexico, Jaurez was able to gather around 2,000 men to defend the territory, sources said.

Nearly 500 French soldiers died and fewer than 100 Mexican soldiers were killed in the May 5, 1862, battle that lasted from daybreak to early evening.

Political pressure from the United States and military support encouraged France to withdraw from Mexico in 1867 after the Civil War.

Why we celebrate

DENVER, CO  MAY 8: Dancers with Ballet Folklorico Baile Caliente perform on the Fiesta Folkloric & Confluence Music Stage during Cinco De Mayo festivities at Civic Center Park on May 8, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The annual event is back after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. The festivities included dancing, music, vendors, food and entertainment for children. The Cinco de Mayo Celebrate Culture Festival is produced by NEWSED Community Development Corporation. Through their programming they conduct economic development in poor communities and provide affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate income families and individuals. Established in 1973, NEWSEDs mission is to promote and develop economic, community programs and projects that raise the income, educational and political levels of Denver residents. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, David Hayes-Bautista, published a book in 2012 titled El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition, which illustrates the history of the Mexican holiday.

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During a conversation with FOX40, Hayes-Bautista highlighted the connection between the celebration of the holiday and the United States, stating that as Latinos in California watched the fight for rights during the Civil War, they found pride in their community gaining victory over the French.

So once Latinos heard [of the victory of Cinco de Mayo], they immediately, spontaneously piled out into the streets of California, Nevada and Oregon to celebrate this great victory and let the world know where they stood on the issues of the American Civil War and the French intervention, said Hayes-Bautista. That they opposed slavery, they supported freedom, they opposed white supremacy, they supported racial equality, they opposed elitist plantation rule, they supported government of the people, by the people and for the people.

The professor then said that the holiday has been celebrated in the United States since then.

The Jackson County Library Services also states that the holiday was significant for activists who participated in the Chicano Movement in the 1950s and 1970s, as it was found to be a powerful symbol of Mexican resistance and power.

Misinterpretation and Stereotypes

HOUSTON, TEXAS  APRIL 6: The Mexican flag flies on Day 7 of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Mens Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club on April 6, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

One of the most common misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo is that it is the Independence Day for Mexico, according to multiple sources, including Professor Hayes-Bautista.

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While May 5 represents the victory the Mexican army had over the French Army, September 16 is the true Mexican Independence Day, as many celebrate the nations freedom from Spanish rule, History.com stated.

Meanwhile, Hayes-Bautista highlighted another difference between the two commemorations.

After California became part of the U.S, the Mexican Consulate ran [Mexican] Independence Day and they do to this day, Said Hayes-Bautista. Cinco de Mayo does not belong to the Mexican Consulate. It has been since the very first, kind of a peoples holiday. Nobody owned it. So you can do whatever you want.

Establishing that Cinco de Mayo could be considered a holiday represented by Mexican-Americans and Chicanos throughout the U.S., Hayes-Bautista also mentioned that past celebrations included the combination of the U.S and Mexican military hymns and flags.

Activities to do in celebration of Cinco de Mayo

Los Angeles, CA  May 05: Community members perform tradition Aztec dancing at La Placita Olvera Church during the Cinco De Mayo Fiesta at Olvera Street on Sunday, May 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Celebrations in Mexico are somewhat similar to those in the United States, as many like to attend events including parades, lucha libre matches and eat traditional Mexican dishes, according to Britannica.

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Some of these events feature mariachi bands, dancers in traditional Mexican clothing and floats decorated with red, white and green, the colors of the Mexican flag.

Meanwhile, some specialty meals most commonly eaten are tacos, guacamole, churros and Pueblas well-known dish, mole poblano.

According to History.com, May 5 in Mexico is not considered a federal holiday; therefore, offices, banks and stores remain open.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 1951. Luz Vasque;Richard Toralba;Juanita DFlama.. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

As communities throughout the nation celebrate the Mexican holiday, Professor Hayes-Bautista left a reminder for those who plan to participate.

Unfortunately, over about the past 40 or so years, Cinco de Mayo has devolved into Drinko de Mayo, which is the time to go get drunk, said Hayes-Bautista. Id like people to remember, okay, were going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but remember it has to do about human rights in its very beginning; about freedom versus slavery, equality versus white supremacy. Just remember that and lets go ahead and have a party.

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El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition by David Hayes-Bautista can be found on the University of California Press website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Communities across western Massachusetts observed National Day of Prayer, which has become a treasured part of our nations heritage of faith.

This annual observance is held on the first Thursday of May each year, and in the City of Holyoke, individuals from different backgrounds and beliefs join for a common purpose.

A large crowd gathered in front of Holyoke City Hall to celebrate this years theme, Pour Out To The God of Hope and Be Filled! This crowd was made up of a coalition of churches, along with public and city leaders. Each person took part in a moment of prayer.

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They offered prayers for government officials, prayed for the churches, and the youth and children. For many, this day was a chance to support and uplift one another.

Pastor Bernard Smith from Bethlehem Baptist Community Church told 22News, Theres something about just coming together as a people. You dont have to feel like youre doing this alone, that other people believe in you and may be going through with you, and realize the importance of prayer together as brothers and sisters.

Guests also enjoyed songs of worship and spiritual guidance. The City of Holyoke has carried on this tradition for more than 15 years.

The National Day of Prayer was first created by Congress in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry Truman.

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.

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By Mariam Sunny and Christy Santhosh

(Reuters) - Biogen beat first-quarter profit and revenue expectations on Thursday, as strong demand for its rare disease drugs helped offset declining sales of its multiple sclerosis medicines.

The drugmaker has focused on deals, cost-cutting measures and newer drugs to address investor pressure for growth as demand falls for its once top-selling multiple sclerosis medicines in the face of stiff competition in a crowded treatment market.

The "relatively calm quarter" for Biogen showed positive signs of improvement, said BMO Capital Markets analysts.

Shares of the drugmaker rose 2.2%.

Biogen has been doubling down on its Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, but it has failed to live up to lofty expectations due to concerns over cost, efficacy and side effects.

Leqembi and Eli Lilly's rival drug Kisunla work by clearing sticky clumps of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain that is believed to be a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

"It's really a question of which one are you going to start on and then stay on," Biogen CEO Chris Viehbacher said about competition with Lilly's drug, adding that it is more important to "collectively grow the market".

The drugmaker said it does not expect any material impact this year from the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs implemented so far. Biogen said about 75% of its U.S. revenue last year came from products manufactured in the country.

The company cut 2025 profit per share to between $14.50 and $15.50 from its previous forecast of $15.25 to $16.25, reflecting a $165 million charge related to a licensing deal signed in February.

It reported quarterly adjusted profit of $3.02 per share, beating analysts' expectations of $2.52 per share.

U.S. sales of Leqembi, which the company sells with Japan's Eisai, were $52 million for the first quarter, largely inline with analysts' consensus estimate of $51 million, according to brokerage Jefferies.

Revenue rose 6% to $2.43 billion, beating expectations of $2.23 billion.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
DENVER (KDVR)  FOX31 is digging deeper after learning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement put local companies on notice, levying millions of dollars in fines for hiring and employing unauthorized workers.

FOX31s Nicole Fierro sat down with Denvers Homeland Security Investigations Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Charles Engle and the head of an immigration law firm, Matthew Barringer, the owner of Barringer Law Firm. Much of the interviews are included below.

ICE to issue $8M in fines to 3 Colorado businesses for illegal employment practices

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Nicole Fierro: We are seeing national stories today that JBS workers in Texas are concerned that you guys are going to go in and raid their businesses. We have a plant here. Is that something that we could be seeing along the line?

Charles Engle: You know, I cant speak to those investigations specifically. But again, if we get tips, if we get information, were going to investigate that. Illegal employment is a huge pull factor here in the United States. Its what brings folks here. But unfortunately, when they get here, its really labor exploitation because theyre not getting the wages, are not getting the benefit that other U.S. citizens or people that are authorized to work in the U.S. are. So our goal is to stop and mitigate it right then and there. So we stop the pull factor, and then we have a level playing field for businesses here in Denver.

Engle: We dont want one business to have an unfair advantage with another business because theyre employing paying somebody $5 an hour or theyre not giving them full benefits where other businesses are. Were looking out for the workforce, were looking out for American industry, the American business and the American worker. We want to do whats best for this country and for the market. At the same time, we dont want anybody victimized. Even so, we dont want anybody being exploited. And so we also are looking out for the unauthorized workers that may be a victim in this case.

Fierro: Are you seeing certain areas where more tips come about? Construction, farming  are these areas where investigations could be bigger, or what areas are the biggest ones?

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Engle: Sort of what you expect, what you just said. Right. A lot of times, its in less skilled labor. Its in those industries a lot of times. But again, were going to focus to things that may impact the community. If its an industry where there could be labor hazards that can create a dangerous work environment, we want to protect those, even those unauthorized workers.

Greeley meat plant enters agreement to spend $4M to prevent illegal child labor

Engle said the I-9 audits often come from tips from community members or other businesses on their tip line.

Engle: We usually have a pointer, were just not arbitrarily going out and targeting every business, we dont have the bandwidth or the time. But once we find out that a business may be doing something illegal like this, we will let a business know. Well provide them a notice of inspection that were going to inspect their business, and then well follow up that with interviews and an actual inspection where well have them present us all of their I-9 forms.

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Businesses get three days notice for these inspections.

Engle: Oftentimes we see stolen Social Security numbers, Social Security cards and other documents. And oftentimes people get jobs. They may get bank accounts and they get credit and it may damage those individuals who have those documents those identities belong to. So its also important for us to look into fraud documents in these cases.

Matthew Barringer, the owner of Barringer Law Firm, which specializes in immigration cases, gave FOX31 his perspective on this enforcement and seeking work authorization documentation.

Barringer: Coming in the right way is very difficult, it costs a lot of money. There are a lot of procedural administrative hoops that a person has to get through. And many folks that come into the United States without those documents that forego that process, they dont have the financial means to do that. So should the government be making it more advantageous, easier for folks to come in on those work permits? Well, thats something thats another discussion that needs to be had. Others are able to get work authorizations from other things not related to work. So, for instance, if they file an asylum application or other things that are, as I said, outside of the work realm. But again, thats not an easy process either.

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Barringer says, nationally, 12% of asylum applications are approved, and with a major backlog in Denvers immigration court, it is taking years longer than it had in the past to go through the asylum process.

Trump administration terminates $24M in grants sent for Denver migrant shelters, citing current priorities

Barringer: We cant be surprised, this is part and parcel, in my view, the enforcement that the administration is carrying out. I would say the reasoning behind it is to have a chilling effect that they dont want to come into the United States, because now its not to say not only will we arrest you, we will remove you, but you cant get work here. And I think that that is why HSI, ICE, all the different agencies, that are tasked with carrying out the administrations orders, thats why theyre doing this.

Engle: Employers have to follow the law. Businesses have to be compliant and we dont want to close businesses down. They dont want to shutter their doors. We want people to be lawfully employed. Its not a scare tactic. This is normal course of business for us. These are normal investigations and its part of protecting our critical infrastructure, its part of protecting our economy. This has been one of our core missions for years. And so weve always done this.

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Fierro: But it could be getting bigger now?

Engle: Yes. So, its a priority. So were going to continue down this road and were going to continue to try to protect the U.S. economy and the U.S. workforce. I would say that were trying to expand that footprint and work harder to ferret out some of these businesses that are doing this.

HSI uses a three-prong approach to worksite enforcement:

Compliance  through I-9 inspections, civil fines, and debarment referrals. Enforcement  through the criminal arrest of employers and administrative arrest of unauthorized workers. Outreach  through the HSI Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program to foster accountability and legal hiring practices.

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Engle says these notices to fine are just that, notices. They will then work with businesses and their legal teams. By taking action, businesses can negotiate and lower their fines.

Engle: Our goal isnt just enforcement, our goal is also education. We also have programs here in United States government that give employers the opportunity, such as the E-Verify program, where employers can check their employees and see if theyre here lawfully. Thats a free program that any employee can use. Furthermore, HSC has whats called the image program. Its the ICE mutual agreement between government employers program, where we go out and we enroll program and we educate them. We provide them with I-9 audits. We provide them with a self-assessment to look at their business.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardis longtime vow to merge the citys real estate and housing agencies into one unified operation has come to fruition.

During a special meeting Wednesday, the City Council voted 6-1, with Radiant Cordero dissenting, to adopt Resolution 86, which advanced the mayors plan to create the city Department of Housing and Land Management.

The Councils approved mergerwhich amends the City Charter via the mayors executive power to reorganize city departmentswill supposedly consolidate key housing and land functions.

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Those tasks involve the city Department of Land Management, the Mayors Office of Housing, as well as the city Department of Planning and Permitting and city Department of Community Serv ices, into a single entity with 51 full-time positions, the city said.

Kevin Auger, executive director of the Office of Housing since November, has been nominated by the mayor to serve as DHLMs director. Catherine Taschner, director designate of DLM, has been appointed to become the new departments deputy director, the city said.

This marks the first time in 27 years that the city will have a fully staffed department dedicated to the development of much needed housing,  Blangiardi said in a statement. When I took office in 2021, the Office of Housing had just one employee. Today, we are launching a department built from the ground upone that reflects our administrations resolve to take action, cut through bureaucracy, and deliver real results for the people of Oahu.

DHLM will give us the structure, the scale, and the leadership to do moreand do it faster,  the mayor added.

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The new department will feature two major new divisions : a housing development division to lead partnerships on city-owned land, and a housing finance division to create innovative funding tools that reduce barriers to development, the city said.

DHLMs formation aligns with the citys 2025-2028 Strategic Housing Plan, released in January, which aims to partner with developers to activate underutilized  city-owned lands on the island and involve using new types of financing strategies  to build more housing on the island.

Before the vote, Council member Val Okimoto questioned the city about staffingincluding leadership positions within divisions of DHLM that still remain vacantand the logistics of the new department.

I think in theory it seems wonderful, (but ) I wonder how feasible this is,  Oki moto said. And in your mind, knowing that we still have some vacancies that youre having to fill, how long do you think you anticipate before youre running efficiently ?

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In response, Auger said DHLM wont be fully funded until July,  with the start of the 2026 fiscal year.

And then obviously, it takes time to identify really good candidates,  he added. Were starting with the top leadership for those divisions, because generally when you hire somebody to lead a division, they can bring other people in under them. But its still going to take time  and weve got to start somewhere.

Cordero expressed displeasure over the way the new city department was brought to the Council. Its been very sloppy, and honestly, as a Council member, I feel like weve been pushed into a corner to pass this as well as putting it into the budget, to also approve of that budget under DHLM,  she said.

Council member, I appreciate and respect those comments, I do,  Auger replied. However, the mayor announced this (reorganization ) in the State of the City in 2023, mentioned it again in 2024, and weve been working closely with Housing Committee Chair (Matt ) Weyer on this process. Its been almost two years.

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But Cordero shot back, Thats my exact question to you : Why are we doing it in March 2025, with 60 days for the Council to pass it ? We could have had it even at the end of last year, and introduced it in March of 2025.

Auger replied, The simple answer to that is its important. Its not an issue of trying to jam the Council.

No,  Cordero retorted, you jammed the Council.

Council Chair Tommy Waterswho has expressed support for the merged departmentrecently requested the city administration provide a list of all city-owned properties on Oahu.

In a written response Tuesday, city Managing Director Mike Formby told Waters the city does not have easy access to records regarding city-owned properties. The responsibility for properties was decentralized in 1998 following the disbandment of the former Department of Housing and Community Development,  Formby explained.

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Hed note that one of the goals of the reorganization is to aggregate all housing programs and properties, particularly affordable housing programs and properties, into DHLM for centralized reporting consistent with the Charter.

Formby said the inventory of city-owned properties is maintained on the citys Enterprise Resource Planning System, or C2HERPS, platform.

Unfortunately, that platform lacks a user-friendly interface for sortable data review and reporting,  he added.

Still, Formby said city staff are working to aggregate and update data from various departments, which is distinctive and incomplete in its existing format, to create a comprehensive database as required  by City Charter.

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He noted the requested database will be maintained in DHLM.

In closing, I apologize that we are not presently able to deliver the requested update,  Formby said, but we are working in good faith on what we agree is a necessary database for both Council and the administration, and we will update Council as we make improvements.

At the meeting, Waters said his April 8 request for a list of city-owned properties was related to affordable housing. The reason its important is Im asking each of the Council members to look at city-owned properties in their districts that we can identify for affordable housing,  he added.

Although he received Formbys response, Waters asked, Do you have any more information on when we can expect that list ?

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I dont, Chair,  Auger replied, I can certainly follow up on that and get back to you on that.

Waters said, The idea is we want to help you build affordable housing. And he added, If we dont know what properties we have, it makes it that much more difficult.

In response, Auger said, We do have an inventory of property ; its just not really accessible in the way that wed really like to see it be accessible.

Auger asserted that 10 city-owned properties have been identified for up to 2, 500 units, which is more than we can currently finance.

Council members Augie Tulba and Andria Tupola were absent from the meeting.
The Honolulu Police Department said in a social media message that human skeletal remains were found today in a parked vehicle in the University area today.

Officers were ticketing parked cars when they came upon the remains at 11 a.m. inside a parked vehicle, HPD said. Police did not provide details as to the make and model of the vehicle or a more precise location. Hawaii News Now reported that the vehicle was found on Varsity Place.

Due to the ongoing investigation, we are not releasing any more information as of now,  HPD spokesperson Alina Lee said in an email response to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser request for more details. Please check our socials for any updates.

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Police said they have opened an unattended death case.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  As the spotlight turns to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, one Bourbon County farm is quietly stealing hearts, not with race-day roses, but with a mission of love, rescue, and redemption.

Our Mims Retirement Haven, tucked away in Paris, Kentucky, is a sanctuary for broodmares  the unsung heroes of horse racing. These mares raced, foaled, and raised the champions that go on to make headlines. But after their breeding careers end, many are overlooked. Thats where this haven steps in.

Theres a big difference between caring for horses and working with horses, said Ann Cheek, the farms vice president and barn manager. Here, we get to know them. Theyve really got great personalities and just want to be with you.

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Named after the 1977 champion filly Our Mims, the farm was founded by Jeanne Mirabito. She discovered the once-glorious mare living in poor condition and made it her mission to give older mares the dignity they deserved. Jeanne cared for more than 60 mares before passing away in 2020, but her legacy lives on in every gentle nicker and soft nose nudge.

Read more of the latest Kentucky Derby news

Jeanie was probably the sweetest, nicest person on the face of the earth, but she was a bulldog when it came to these horses, Cheek said. This was her dream. She made sure the ladies got the recognition they deserved.

This year, that recognition is going national  thanks to Woodford Reserves annual $1,000 Mint Julep fundraiser, which benefits Our Mims for the first time. Just 150 handcrafted cups are sold each Derby Day, with proceeds going directly to support the care, feeding, and vet bills of the mares.

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It takes so much to take care of them. Each one gets individual care  we dont just throw the same feed to everybody, Cheek said. This support helps us feel secure this year. Were small, sometimes looked over, but this means a lot.

Some mares at the Haven were once stars themselves. Love Locket was Toby Keiths horse. My Trusty Cat has a stakes race named after her in Louisiana. Sweet Ambition won $250,000 on the track before ending up in a kill pen, said Cheek. Now shes healthy and happy here.

Others arrive with no trophies  just a need for safety, space, and love.

Some of these girls have done very well, and some we dont care if theyve won a dime. Their biggest job was raising those babies and teaching them how to be part of the herd, Cheek explained. Theyre the hardest-working horses in the industry.

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And while Derby Day focuses on the next generation of greats, at Our Mims, its the retired mares who take center stage  the fillies behind the fame, finally getting the credit they deserve.

She told me once that when Mims passed, she didnt think she could do it anymore, Cheek said of Jeanne. But she thought she had to  because Our Mims wanted her to help other old mares. So thats what she did.

Want to support the ladies of Our Mims?

You can learn more, donate, or even schedule a visit at ourmims.org.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A community in Wichita continues to remember one of its own.

Seven people were honored by Urban League in Wichita Thursday night. One of the seven is Kiah Duggins, a Wichita native, killed on Flight 5342. The nonprofit celebrated Kiahs life and the positive contributions she continues to make in Wichita.

Kiah Duggins (Courtesy: Civil Rights Corps)

Kiahs father, Maurice Duggins, says this recognition is a big honor for his daughter.

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What I tell people, one of my comforts, in thought, one of the most comforting emotions that I go to is gratefulness, Maurice said.

He said that he was grateful for a daughter who inspired others as a civil rights attorney.

Were of course recognizing her as an emerging leader, which she was and indeed the dedication to helping people overcome barriers and the fact that she was a civil rights attorney because civil rights  Urban Leagues were founded on civil rights, Cindy Miles, Interim President and CEO of Urban League of Kansas, said.

Kiah worked with the Civil Rights Corps and community action groups.

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Kiah was cut from a different cloth of some kind because its 24 hours in the day, seemed to allow more things to be done under her watch than most peoples watches, Maurice said.

Her involvement in Wichita included helping resolve the contamination of 29th and Grove.

Longtime Wichita chef receives life-saving liver transplant

We want to really put her up as an example for what other people can do, as well as an example of if we support people, we can truly help them to overcome barriers and be all that they deserve to be, Miles said.

Kiah, gone too soon, but still inspiring the next generation.

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There were many people emailing her on multiple occasions and asking what they needed to do in their process of becoming attorneys as well, Maurice said.

As far as whats next for the Duggins family, once theyre ready, they will continue Kiahs legacy of mentorship.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 14-year-old boy was arrested after he broke into a home and stole a car last month in Horizon City, according to the Horizon City Police Department.

Police say they responded just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, to the 14300 block of Sebastian Lane in Horizon about a reported vehicle theft.

Officers determined that the teenage boy unlawfully entered a home through the back door without the homeowners consent and took a set of car keys, police said.

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Police said the teenage boy then fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned in a desert area and was recovered by police.

The teenage boy was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 22, and faces charges of theft of a vehicle and burglary of habitation.

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On Thursday, horse racing leaders gathered in Louisville to highlight the need for immediate action on immigration reform, emphasizing President Trumps recent comments to create a legal process for farm workers and hotel workers.



From hot walkers to exercise riders, groomers, and farriers, skilled immigrant workers are the backbone of the horse racing industry. Their contributions help generate $177 billion for the American economy and are crucial to the Kentucky Derbys success every year, but the immigration system is failing them. We support President Trumps comment about creating a legal process for law-abiding farm workers to contribute and grow the horse racing industry for decades to come, said ABIC CEO Rebecca Shi.

Horses cant get on the track without the right workers behind them. Seventy-eight percent of backstretch workers are immigrants; the industry cannot survive without them. We are prepared to work with President Trump and Congress and to be at the table to create a legal process for the farming and equine industries, said Kentucky Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association President Dale Romans.



As the largest Thoroughbred horsemens organization, the National Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association remains committed to prioritizing American workers whenever possible, recognizing that immigrant workers are also essential to our growth. We need lawmakers to prioritize legislation to streamline legal status for this population, and we are eager to partner with the President and Congress, said National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association CEO Eric Hamelback.

The Derby is the culmination of months of tireless work and preparation to deliver one of the finest events in the world. We have a real opportunity to make meaningful progress toward commonsense immigration reform that can protect the livelihoods of our horse trainers and our industry at large, said Oscar Gonzales, Vice Chairman, California Horse Racing Board.



The immigration process is unnecessarily complex and bureaucratic. Federal immigration policy needs to meet the needs of the moment, and the horse racing industry desperately needs skilled workers to ensure its success, said equine immigration attorney Will Velie.



President Trumps recent comments indicating a desire to create a more streamlined process for agricultural workers is much needed to ensure our industry can thrive. We now call on Congress to prioritize action to not just talk about immigration reform, but actually do something to create meaningful change, said General Manager of Monterey Mushrooms Joe Stave.

Immigrants make up 72% of the workforce behind agricultures $1.5+ trillion industry. Latinos and immigrants are 78% of Equines backstretch workers and 70% jockeys. Senator Bennets 2023 Affordable and Secure Food Act included a path to legal status for farm workers including equine industry as well as modernizing the H2A visa system.



American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) is a bipartisan coalition of 1,700+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 17 mostly red and purple states. ABIC promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with the talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs and citizens.
BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is preparing to offer a digital share class of its Treasury Trust Fund via the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), according to a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

DLT Shares wont hold crypto but are expected to be purchased and held through BNY, which plans to use blockchain technology to maintain a mirror record of share ownership for its customers, according to the filing. The distributed ledger technology (DLT) shares can only be bought through BNY.

BlackRocks Treasury Trust Fund invests in cash and U.S. Treasury securities. The management fee is 0.18% for DLT Shares.

BlackRock declined to comment on the filing to etf.com as the firm is in a quiet period.

BlackRock and Blockchain Technology

BlackRock has shown that they want to be a leader in finding ways to use blockchain technology to improve and enhance traditional finance processes, Matt Apkarian, associate director of product development at Cerulli Associates, told etf.com.

In March 2024, the worlds largest asset managerwhich runs the fastest-growing spot bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)launched its first investment vehicle offering cash and U.S. Treasury bills rendered as electronic copies and transferred to a crypto network: the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL).

In the case of the Treasury Trust Fund news, BNY as an intermediary (not BlackRock) will tokenize the shares that its clients purchase.

The Rise of Tokenization

In an April 2024 episode of etf.coms Advisor Insider, Ric Edelman, founder of Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, said that he believes tokenization will replace ETFs within 10 years, sparking an entire renaissance for the asset management and financial services industries."

Meanwhile, Apkarian said his firm has spoken with several industry players that believe blockchain can serve as a way for firms to establish cash management businesses, which are otherwise notoriously difficult and expensive to set up.

We will continue to see additional use cases as the industry works toward more widespread use of tokenization, and these use cases will help the industry overcome the negative connotations brought to blockchain technology because of its association with cryptocurrency, Apkarian said. Still, the industry is far away from an eventual complete transition of our transactional system operating entirely on blockchain, which is where some believe we are headed.

He added that there must be significant operational and regulatory development, which hes heard from some thought leaders will take a decade or two.
A Florida man is under arrest after a woman allegedly caught him on a Ring camera raping her 97-year-old aunt.

The victim, who has not been named, is nonverbal and bedridden, her niece said, according to an arrest report cited by Local 10.

Timothy Morris, a 66-year-old from Homestead, Fla., was arrested on a charge of sexual battery of a physically incapacitated person, according to Miami-Dade County online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

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Investigators say the victim is in hospice care, where Morris would often assist with her care, reportedly in the absence of hospice staff, per the arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office.

The niece, who is also not named in the Local 10 report, grew concerned after a hospice nurse notified her that they had found an unspecified discharge around the victims private area, per the arrest report.

The victims niece installed a Ring camera in the victims bedroom. On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 30, the niece was alerted to someones presence in her aunts room.

When she reviewed the footage from the camera, she allegedly saw Morris raping her aunt, the arrest report said, per Local 10.

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Morris has pleaded not guilty to his charge, online court records show. He is being held without bond in a Miami-Dade correctional facility.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



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BOSTON (WWLP)  After three days of extensive debate, adding tens of millions of dollars to the bottom line, the House passed its nearly $61.5 billion statewide spending plan.

Trump forcing Mass. to reassess emissions mandates

Passing a budget is one of the few constitutional requirements of the state body, and this year included 1,650 amendments packaged into seven consolidated mega-amendments. Combined, these amendments covered dozens of key policy issues and added $81 million to the bottom line.

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The budget still sits about half a million dollars lower than Healeys draft, although its important to note that Healey submitted her draft before federal funding concerns arose. The budget passed 151-6, with one Representative abstaining from voting. The debate also shined a spotlight on some disputed policies in the House, from civil immigration detainers, to the migrant crisis, to clean energy, to public transportation systems.

In every case, Democrats shot down Republicans efforts to make any significant policy change. There is still no clear plan for budget adjustments should the Bay State lose federal funding, as the president has repeatedly threatened.

Now, the Senate will create their own budget draft and iron out the differences with the House. By summer, a joint budget draft will sit on Healeys desk for her vetoes and signature. Notably, House and Senate negotiators consistently fail to meet their July 1 joint budget deadline, so it is likely we will see interim budgets passed to hold the state over until a deal can be struck.

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.

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Israel says the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched two missiles in Yemen toward the Jewish state. Sebastian Usher with BBC News, a CBS News partner, has more as reports emerge accusing Israel of striking an aid ship with goods for Gaza.
MADRID (Reuters) -A giant digital sign in New York's Times Square told beleaguered Spanish politician Carlos Mazon on his visit to the city that he had "228 reasons not to come home", in reference to how many people died in October's flash floods on the Valencian regional leader's watch.

The Spanish left-wing party Compromis said on Friday it had taken advantage of Mazon's trip to New York to place the sign on Thursday, saying in a statement that it was "reminding him of his disastrous management" of the floods.

Mazon has faced repeated calls to resign over his management on the day of the torrential rainfall that flooded commuter towns around the city of Valencia. He has refused to step down.

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The huge New York sign, with text written in the Valencian dialect, showed Mazon's face with images of overflowing rivers in the background.

A spokeswoman for the Valencian government declined to comment. Mazon has posted photos of his meetings in New York on Facebook as he promotes his city.

Mazon was criticised for not sending an alert to Valencians until after 8 p.m. on the day of the floods, when streams of water had already swept away cars and houses.

A judge is conducting an investigation into the floods.

(Reporting by Graham Keeley)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Hundreds gathered on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday to push back against President Trumps immigration policies.



The protest in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino was one of many that took place across the country on May Day.



Also known as International Workers Day, May Day was first established in 1889, highlighting the massive labor movement in the U.S., leading to an 8-hour workday.



When you attack immigrant workers, Culinary Union member Francisco Rufino Parra said. You are attacking our union.



Chants demanded change as the Culinary Union and its members pounded the pavement to protest the Trump Administrations immigration policies.



Ive seen people get deported with no due process, Parra said. No due process, and thats not correct.



Culinary Union President Diana Valles spoke with 8 News Now on efforts to help immigrant workers in Southern Nevada, which she said are under attack.



For years, we have fought to have protections for members who have permission to work and be here to be in this country, Valles said. And protection when these papers are not in place, so they can wait for their job as they fix their situation.



Meanwhile, President Trump marked 100 days in office this week.



What the world has witnessed in the past 14 weeks is a revolution of common sense, Trump said at a rally in Michigan. Thats all it is, really.



The president touted his mass deportation efforts and defense of the United States border with Mexico.



Trumps Border Czar Tom Homan also spoke on recent immigration actions at the White House this week.



If you choose to have a U.S. citizen child knowing youre in this country illegally, Homan said. You put yourself in that position.



However, those who attended Thursdays rally in Las Vegas told 8 News Now they hope these protests send the message that they want their voices heard.



Hopefully, we get this message out across the United States, Sebastian Espinoza concluded. And especially to our president.



The rally remained peaceful with several Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers present.



Other May Day protests in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. took aim at both the Trump Administrations immigration and economic policies.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Hundreds gathered Thursday evening for a protest advocating for workers rights in Old Town Albuquerque. The area was filled with people calling for increased protections as the Trump Administration proposes cuts to education and threatens undocumented workers.

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We need to make sure there are workers or immigrant workers feel safe when they go to work. Immigrant workers are 13% of the workforce here in New Mexico, said Fabiola Landeros with El Centro De Igualdad Y Derechos.

The May Day event saw many attendees focusing on the importance of teachers. Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, said, We want to make sure that public schools stay strong, that we have the support from APS from the state and most importantly right now from the federal government .

Others attended to show their support for undocumented workers. Andres Esquivel, with New Mexico Dream Team, expressed his concerns: We dont know anything about the country that we were born in, and that huge risk that is currently going on with this administration. Were not only ripping families apart, but were ripping apart like the entire lives of people whose entire life is this country.

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Children in Gaza are searching through mountains of rubbish for food scraps and fuel, a spokeswoman for the UN Emergency Relief Office in Gaza City said on Friday, as she called for an end to Israel's blockade on aid supplies to the territory.

Olga Cherevko, speaking by video to reporters in Geneva, described devastating conditions in the coastal strip, where burning plastic is generating dangerous smoke and malnourished children can be seen on the streets.

In their desperation, people are increasingly attacking trucks that are suspected of carrying water or food, she said.

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"The international community has a choice  to keep scrolling through the grisly images of Gaza being suffocated and starved or muster the courage and the moral fibre to make decisions that would break this merciless blockade," Cherevko said.

Israel has not allowed food, medicine or other essential goods into the Gaza Strip for two months, saying it wants to put pressure on the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that people can barely survive, with food and medical supplies running out at the organization's field hospital. It said water pipes have been broken and trucks for sewage disposal have been destroyed.

As the occupying power, Israel is obliged to meet the basic needs of the population in Gaza, the ICRC said.
BRIGGS, Texas (KXAN)  At least one tornado touched down near Oakalla in northeastern Burnet County Thursday late afternoon with a potential second tornado soon after in Briggs, according to KXANs First Warning Weather Team.

RELATED COVERAGE: Scattered severe storm threat continues

The severe weather risk continued through late Thursday evening with scattered severe storms in the Hill Country, northern Austin metro counties and into our eastern counties as well.

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For 45 minutes, Ryan Murray and his family huddled in their tornado shelter in Briggs.

Just enough room to hunker down, Murray said. My main goal was to get them in there quickly and to just stand guard until the last possible second.

Ryan Murray said his family got the tornado shelter back in 2019, after having a few nerve-wracking tornado warnings. (Photo: KXAN) Ryan Murray said his family got the tornado shelter back in 2019, after having a few nerve-wracking tornado warnings. (Photo: KXAN) Ryan Murray said his family got the tornado shelter back in 2019, after having a few nerve-wracking tornado warnings. (Photo: KXAN) Ryan Murray said his family got the tornado shelter back in 2019, after having a few nerve-wracking tornado warnings. (Photo: KXAN) Ryan Murray said his family got the tornado shelter back in 2019, after having a few nerve-wracking tornado warnings. (Photo: KXAN)

They saw something headed their way.

We looked straight north of here, and we could tell the funnel cloud was really close, Murray said. We watched it form before our eyes.

Murray said this was their first time using the shelter in the six years theyve had it.

We could hear the the hail hitting the top of the roof and and every once in a while I would briefly pop my head out, and I got pretty much soaked. Ryan Murray, Hid in tornado shelter

Murrays greenhouse sustained a bit of damage from the hail, but it was nothing major. Ultimately, theyre grateful to have this resource.

Damage to trees along CR 223 near Taylor Lane after tornado touchdown in Oakalla on May 1, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Damage to trees along CR 223 near Taylor Lane after tornado touchdown in Oakalla on May 1, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Damage to trees along CR 223 near Taylor Lane after tornado touchdown in Oakalla on May 1, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

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Damage to trees along CR 223 near Taylor Lane after tornado touchdown in Oakalla on May 1, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Damage to trees along CR 223 near Taylor Lane after tornado touchdown in Oakalla on May 1, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

We have a little box in there with some some blankets and flashlights, Murray said. Were just glad to have something like that. If worse comes to worse, at least we would have our lives.

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NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY)  Louisiana State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left one man dead. 30-year-old Justin Rhine was identified as the victim of the shooting.

Officers with Louisiana State Police say the shooting happened near the corner of Ann Street and Buckeye Street around 8 p.m. Wednesday night. Detectives with State Police say deputies and police officers were attempting to take Rhine to jail on an order of protective custody when Rhine ran away.

In doing so, detectives say Rhine pulled out a gun, causing New Iberia police officers to shoot at Rhine. Rhine died at the scene. No officers were harmed during the shooting.

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New Iberia School Board member, Raymond Shoe Do Lewis, says Rhine was a close friend of his. He says he had dropped Rhine off at his home just 30 minutes before the shooting. He says when he heard the news, he was in shock.

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When they said Justin, I said, What?' said Lewis. I just talked to Justin, They told me the police shot him.

Lewis says the community suffered yet another loss to gun violence and are upset.

The community is angry right now, we dont know what went on, or how it went on, said Lewis. I was told they had five or six units come in, lined up on the right side of the road and got down asking for Justin, and he fled for some reason, thats what I got second-hand.

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Lewis says despite the mistakes Rhine made, he still believes he was a good guy.

He was a good guy that made a few mistakes in his life and as we all have done, said Lewis. The difference is, he got caught, making these mistakes and some of us never got caught.

Lewis says he still has many questions on what could have led to the shooting.

All we want as people, all I want as a representative of the people, is transparency, said Lewis.

Louisiana State Police say the investigation is still active. More information will be released when it becomes available.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement arrested 1,120 people in Florida during a massive six-day sweep, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced.

The effort that took place from April 21 through April 26, nicknamed "Operation Tidal Wave," was the largest joint immigration operation in Florida history and the largest number in a single state in one week in ICE's history, DeSantis said in a prepared statement on May 1.

As many as 250 local and state law enforcement and National Guard resources were deployed, according to ICE deputy director Madison Sheahan at a May 1 news conference with federal immigration officials in a federal facility in southwest Broward County, under the authority of the 287(g) program. This ICE initiative allows local law enforcement agencies to help "identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S."

In images released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, people are seen arrested in Florida as part of "Operation Tidal Wave," a joint ICE-local law enforcement crackdown on undocumented immigrants in April 2025.

"This operation really is a historic marker of success that was made possible because of the partnership with the state of Florida," Sheehan said.

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Sheehan and DeSantis stressed during the press conference that 63% of the "criminal illegal aliens" were people with existing criminal arrests or convictions and listed notable arrests such as a Brazilian with a "history" of aggravated assault, a Mexican "whose history" includes kidnapping and a Colombian convicted of murder.

Shock and anger: Florida immigrant communities react to 'Operation Tidal Wave'

How many people were arrested in Florida in the ICE Operation Tidal Wave?

In images released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, people are seen arrested in Florida as part of "Operation Tidal Wave," a joint ICE-local law enforcement crackdown on undocumented immigrants in April 2025.

According to DeSantis and federal officials, 1,120 people were arrested, including 378 with final orders of removal issued by an immigration judge.

"Officers arrested various violent offenders, gang members, sex offenders, fugitives from justice and those who pose significant public safety threats," DeSantis said in a press release. The count also included members of foreign gangs and terrorist organizations such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Brown Pride Aztecas, Barrio Azteca, Surenos (sur-13) and 18th Street Gang, he said.

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"We will not stop until our American families and everyday Americans are safe in their own communities because we have zero tolerance for criminal illegal aliens," Sheahan said.

When questioned about the other 27% of arrests for people without existing criminal arrests or convictions, Sheahan said that "everybody that is in this country illegally is a criminal," which could include people whose asylum cases and immigration claims are still being adjudicated.

Critics have also pointed to multiple instances reported of mistaken identities, random sweeps, U.S. citizens sent out of the country, and people detained and shipped out without any criminal charges filed, trials, or ways to appeal. The most well-known is Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was picked up and sent to a prison in El Salvador without due process and kept there despite orders from a federal court and the Supreme Court to bring him back.

On April 16, a Georgia native with an ID and Social Security card on him was arrested in Florida's Panhandle under a blocked Florida immigration law. The family of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez presented his birth certificate to a judge, who agreed it was valid but said she had no power over his release. Lopez-Gomez was finally released after 30 hours in prison.

In images released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, people are seen arrested in Florida as part of "Operation Tidal Wave," a joint ICE-local law enforcement crackdown on undocumented immigrants in April 2025.

Which countries did the people arrested in Operation Tidal Wave come from?

The countries of origin of those arrested include the following, according to the governor's statement:

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437 from Guatemala

280 from Mexico

153 from Honduras

48 from Venezuela

24 from El Salvador

178 from elsewhere

Where did ICE and Florida law enforcement arrest immigrants in Operation Tidal Wave?

Specifics of only a few arrests of people with criminal offenses were released, but ICE listed the following sheriff's offices as having provided "significant assistance to ICE" during the operation:

Alachua County

Baker County

Brandford County

Brevard County

Clay County

Hernando County

Hillsborough County

Indian River County

Orange County

Pinellas County

St. Johns County

Sumter County

Volusia County

Ive insisted that Florida be the tip of the spear when it comes to state support of federal immigration enforcement. The success of Operation Tidal Wave is proof of our commitment," DeSantis said

Who is cooperating with ICE to find immigrants? What is the 287(g) program?

State and local law enforcement partners have also been enlisted to help with federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program, an ICE initiative that allows local law enforcement agencies to help "identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.," according to ICE.

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"State troopers, local police officers, county sheriffs  they're our eyes and ears," Todd Lyons, the acting ICE director, told ABC News. "They encountered these criminal aliens out and about during their regular duties, and they're able to go ahead and identify those public safety threats for us."

Nearly 230 Florida law enforcement agencies, including sheriff's offices, city police departments and college and university campus police, have signed 287(g) agreements, the most out of any state in the nation, according to a joint report by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

More than 130 of the currently active agreements are under the task force model, which allows law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight, including questioning, arresting, and detaining people suspected of violating federal immigration laws.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida immigration arrests top 1,100, a record, in ICE partnership
On May 2, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded public hearings into what Israels obligations are regarding allowing United Nations agencies and other relief groups to work in the Palestinian territory it occupies.

A panel of judges has heard oral arguments from 40 countries since Monday, including China, France, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The court will likely deliberate for months before making a ruling, requested of it in December by the UN General Assembly.

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Many of the participating states rebuked Israel for acutely restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza since launching a genocidal war on the enclave on October 7, 2023.

Israel has cut off all aid  food or medicine  entirely for the last two months, accelerating the starvation and medical crises.

Here are the key takeaways from the hearings:





Starvation threatens the Palestinians as a people

There was broad consensus that Israel, as an occupying power, would be obliged to allow aid organisations to deliver assistance to the people it occupies, particularly in Gaza, which Israel is also bombing.

Israel has weakened human rights norms through its violations in Gaza, Juliette McIntyre, a legal scholar at the University of South Australia, argued.

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She pointed out that nearly all the states speaking at the hearings affirmed that the ability of Palestinians to receive humanitarian relief is necessary for their survival, to guard their right to eventual self-determination and safeguard the entire UN system and the treaties underpinning it.

Put bluntly, she said most states agree that Israel should not be allowed to starve civilians it occupies nor impede the relief work of UN agencies.

Every state, except for two, agrees that Israel is an occupier and it owes certain obligations, she told Al Jazeera.

Palestinians, mostly children, wait in long lines with empty pots in their hands to get food aid distributed by charity organisations in northern Gaza City on May 1, 2025 [Karam Hassan/Anadolu Agency]

What did Israel say?

Israel submitted written statements which called the hearings a circus and accused the court of anti-Semitism.

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On top of that, it claimed that it has no obligation to work with what it described as compromised UN organs or aid groups and that its sovereign right to defend itself takes priority over its responsibility to deliver aid to the people it occupies.

This is not the first time Israel has refused to attend ICJ sessions leading to an advisory opinion.

The US statement

The US defended Israel, said Heidi Matthews, assistant professor of law at York University, Canada.

She added that the US tried to deny the severity of the situation and shield Israel from accountability by deliberately not speaking about the facts on the ground.

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According to Matthews, while the US mainly said the ICJ should advise Israel to uphold its legal obligations under international law, it did not provide details of Israels conduct or call for Israel to take concrete steps to mitigate the humanitarian crisis it created.

This kind of highly formalist and factually empty approach to law is characteristic of one form of fascist engagement with legal argument, Matthews told Al Jazeera.





The US also tried to spook the court by bringing up Israels unsupported allegations that the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) had been infiltrated by Hamas, said Adel Haque, a legal scholar at Rutgers University.

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In October 2024, Israel banned UNRWA, which aids the Palestinians made refugees by the Zionist ethnic cleansing that made way for the declaration of Israel as a state in 1948.

The US is betting that the court can be swayed, Haque said, and so it is trying to encourage a more general advisory opinion.

Basically, if the advisory opinion is made at such a high level of generality, then it wouldnt say anything about Israels conduct at all, he told Al Jazeera.

More than two million Palestinians in Gaza are starving as they face genocidal levels of violence at Israels hands.

ICJ cases as a substitute for action?

While ICJ advisory opinions reaffirm international laws and norms, its non-binding opinions cannot change facts on the ground, and some countries may be seeking ICJ opinions rather than take concrete, coordinated action against Israel, said Haque.

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Many [European states] have come before the ICJ in these hearings to say Israel is not fulfilling its obligations. But the question, now, is what are these states going to do about it? he told Al Jazeera.

A Palestinian reacts as people gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 29, 2025 [Hatem Khaled/Reuters]

He noted the UK had used the recent hearings to denounce Israels obstruction of aid and to speak about its decision to halt arms sales to Israel, not enough of an action, he added.

France also spoke about the need for Israel to quickly facilitate aid into Gaza.

But the statements appear to be attempts to substitute for Europes collective failure to take urgent action against Israel for its conduct in Gaza, said Haque.

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The onus is on states to decide what they are going to do about [Israels actions] and not to wait for the court to rule on what they already know, Haque added.

When and how will the ICJ rule?

The ICJ is not expected to issue an advisory opinion for months.

The non-binding advisory opinion will likely not compel Israel or member states to change course, according to legal scholars.

Israel has ignored an earlier binding provisional measures by the ICJ ordering it to scale up humanitarian aid and end acts of genocide in Gaza as a result of a genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa in December 2023.

No state has taken any action against Israel for failing to implement the provisional measures.

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McIntyre believes the court will eventually issue a narrow ruling that outlines Israels responsibilities to facilitate aid and cooperate with UNRWA.

By the time the court issues its opinion, tens of thousands of Palestinians may have already starved to death, or been ethnically cleansed by Israel.

The advisory opinion wont solve the problem on the ground and genuine action [by states] needs to be taken, warned McIntyre.




Photo: Ty Wright (Getty Images)

Even though its been 160 years since the Civil War ended, Black Americans are still feeling the effects of the war that almost tore the nation apart over slavery. The pain and betrayal stemming from the Civil War continues to be a sore spot of conversation in the country, so of course when several southern states continue to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, it cuts a little deeper. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Screenshot: KIVI/Elmore County Sheriffs Office via CNN Newsource

Gregory Wayne Jones was well-respected in his community of Mountain Home, Idaho. His work as a director of operations at a daycare and as a pastor made Jones a trusted civilian in the area. That is until he was arrested on heinous accusations. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Keionna McGowan (left) charged with second-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon for the April 19 shooting death of Dr. Akintunde Bowden (right). - Screenshot: WISN 12

Milwaukee police are investigating what led to the killing of a well-known dentist in the area. The family of Dr. Akintunde Bowden described him as a gentle giant, saying they cant imagine how his own neighbor allegedly gunned him down inside their apartment building. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Photo: Jemal Countess (Getty Images)

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With less than two weeks until Sean Diddy Combs is set to stand trial, the disgraced rapper is pulling a few more tricks out his bag. This time around, Diddy is hoping a jury will buy his new defense...and you wont believe what he cooked up. - Phenix S Halley Read More

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee heard heated testimony over the potential impact of the proposal on Illinois voters and its impact on voters ability to vote.

The U.S House passed a controversial Resolution, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act, that would require proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote or renewing their registration with a birth certificate or passport.

Nearly $1 million in funding coming to expand workforce training in Sangamon County

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Committee Chair Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) opened the hearing by pointing to the committees goal, which is to be proactive rather than reactive to the proposal change that could affect future voting. Some exchanges were rather the other way.

During the hearing, supporters said the federal proposal is about protecting the integrity of the election as they point out that non-citizens could vote in the election without being well aware. The opponents argued by saying the change would disenfranchise millions of Americans, including people with disabilities and women.

Kerri Toloczko from Election Integrity Network was the only supporter to testify for the SAVE Act.

She said the checkbox at the DMV is not enough and the SAVE Act will protect both citizens and non-citizens from voting fraud.

The mechanism for attesting that a new registrant is a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote is a small checkbox on a federal postcard voter registration form, did not include proof that the registrant is a U.S. citizen, that is simply what the SAFE Act does, Toloczko said. Those of us who have concerns about non-citizen voting are also often told, well its already illegal so no need for the SAFE Act. A law by itself doesnt prevent a whole lot.

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Eli Brottman, Policy director from Change Illinois, and five other supporters argued that the number of voting fraud cases is rare and instead the act would create more barriers for Americans and women whose names may not match because of marriage.

For the 84% of women who are married who changed their surnames, transgender individuals and others, this presents a problem, Brottman said. Disenfranchising millions of voters, including disproportionately women and people of color, will drastically change the outcome of elections.

Sen. Duckworth backs Juliana Strattons Senate campaign

Pew Research found that about 80 percent of women change their name after getting married and 34 percent said they would if they were to get married. This means over 5.1 million women in Illinois could be affected under the SAVE Act because their current name would not match their birth certificate.

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Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville), who was present at the committee, said she could have been among the women affected because of her name change. But because she travels, she has a Real ID and passport. However, her mother-in-law and people with disabilities could very much be affected.

Many women have changed their names. I am one of those women. I happen to have a REAL ID and a passport, but I have an 85-year-old mother-in-law whos been Sandy Stewart for as long as she can probably remember, Stuart said. But thats not her birth name. Her birth certificate does not match her ID. And if my mother-in-law were to move, she would lose her ability to be a registered voter.

Illinois Senate approves bill to ban styrofoam containers, House to vote next

Toloczko said the states have some authority to make voting guidelines to ease burdens on disabilities and women could prove their name change.

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The SAVE Act very specifically and deliberately gives power to the states, just like in Illinois, the right to write those laws of registration the way you want them. So if you want people to vote or to register online, you can do that. They only have to provide proof of citizenship. And I believe that people with disabilities are just as capable of doing that as able-bodied people, Toloczko said. And pardon me for saying this is insulting to a lot of women to imply that somehow they cant manage to get an ID or they cant manage to find their birth certificate or their marriage license.

The SAVE Act passed the House and is now headed to the U.S. Senate, where they will vote on whether to implement the proof of citizenship in order to vote. There may be a chance for a filibuster since the Senate Republicans dont have 60 votes, which is required to facilitate the passage of the SAVE Act.

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Rep. Ilhan Omar had no patience for a right-wing journalist who asked about her colleagues trips to El Salvador Thursday.

The Democratic congresswoman cussed out Myles Morell from conservative news website The Daily Caller on Thursday after he asked her about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration.

Do you think more of your Democratic colleagues should be traveling to El Salvador to advocate on behalf of Abrego Garcia? Morell asked Omar, referencing recent trips by liberal lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Yassamin Ansari, to visit the deportee.

INSANE: Rep. Ilhan Omar tells Daily Caller News Foundation reporter @MylesMorell to f*** off  pic.twitter.com/cZdn6BmgWj  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 1, 2025

I think you should fk off, Omar responded as she and her team walked past the reporter.

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Im sorry, what, congresswoman? Who should? Morell responded.

You, the lawmaker doubled down.

In a video posted on X following the tense interaction, Morell said he had been spending the day asking House Democrats if they would encourage their colleagues to fly to El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcias return to the U.S.

I just found that very unprofessional, very rude, especially when I was just a journalist whos trying to do his job, he said of Omars response.

Here are my thoughts on the encounter with @Ilhan. I am a Capitol Hill reporter and I work with The @DailyCaller News Foundation. I come to the Hill whenever Congress is in session to talk to lawmakers about recent developments in U.S. politics pic.twitter.com/c2OR2wuMKQ  Myles Morell (@MylesMorell) May 1, 2025

Always a pleasure to see you, Morell wrote in another post, tagging Omars account.

The clip sparked a firestorm in MAGAworld.

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South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace reposted The Daily Callers video, writing: Waiting for Dem outrage over her choice of words.

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk said Omar has no class, no gratitude to America, and no honor, adding that she was truly a disgrace to the U.S. Congress.

MAGA commentator Tomi Lahren similarly said Omar was a nasty woman.

Reminder: Democrats say Donald Trump has lowered the tone of political rhetoric, conservative pundit Piers Morgan said.

I said what I said. You and all your miserable trolls can f*ck off. https://t.co/qxqqAhaIEc  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 1, 2025

Despite the outrage, Omar offered no apologies.

I said what I said, she wrote in response to a post by MAGA influencer Libs of TikTok. You and all your miserable trolls can f*ck off.

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The Minnesota representative has had several heated clashes with conservative reporters in the past.

In March, she pushed Fox News reporter Johnny Belisario out of an elevator while he was asking her why she refused to stand during President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress.

You need to move, Omar told the reporter as she closed the elevator on him. Have a good day. I need to go to a meeting.

Last year, she shushed another Fox News reporter who asked her about comments she made suggesting that there were pro-genocide Jews.

In October 2023, Omar called a Fox Business reporter a crazy lady as she evaded questions about an Israel-Palestine ceasefire. Later that month, she yelled in exasperation in response to another question about the issue.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  It started as a simple wish. But a parade in honor of an Oregon teen turned into something so much more.

Seventeen-year-old Brian, known affectionately as Bubs, is currently battling respiratory failure with courage and heart. The Reedsport teen dreamed of not only a parade, but a carnival in his hometown to share with everyone.

With the help of Make-A-Wish, Brians dream became a reality, and then some.

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Seeing him happy is one of the best things on the planet, said Brains mom Amber Reynolds. Brian loves this community and has such amazing support.

The whole town of Reedsport went all in for Bubsfest  packing it with carnival games and big smiles. Additionally, Brian also received a key to the city as a symbol of our admiration, gratitude and unwavering support, said Reedsport Mayor Linda McCollum.

Volunteers poured their hearts into the project, including Kim Fredrickson, whose daugther was once a Make-A-Wish kid and just celebrated 35 years of being cancer-free.

It feels awesome. (We) just wanted to do as much as we could, she said.

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It just makes you proud to be a part of it, added volunteer Trish Hoffman.

From face painting to food trucks, the celebration was a masterclass in community.

Volunteer Colby Jim says its a reminder of what happens when people show up for each other.

When somebody is hurting or somebodys going through something, we all come together. We band together and show that support, he said.

This is the story of a town united by joy, love and a whole lot of heart.

Its been overwhelming. Im grateful for all the love and support, Reynolds said.

Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Oregon has helped over 5,000 kids.

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To learn more or give back, visit their website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Illinois Senate unanimously passed a bill intended to control deer population by making it easier for residents to obtain hunting permits.

Senate Bill 710 loosens regulations under the Illinois Wildlife Code to make it easier for landowners and tenants to obtain deer hunting permits. The bill also allows for the automatic issuance of additional antlerless-only permits for those who show effective reduction efforts and enables owners and resident tenants of at least 40 acres of commercial farmland to receive permits for use on that land.

Senator Chapin Rose says this address a matter of not just an economic hit on farmers and the price of goods at the grocery store, but a matter of public safety.

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Vehicular collisions with deer are extremely dangerous and, even if you are lucky enough to escape unscathed, chances are your car wont be as lucky, said Senator Rose. Virtually everyone I know has had a near miss with a deer at some point, and many have had an actual impact. You cant put a price tag on human life or injury, but all of us in Illinois are paying higher health insurance, particularly car insurance, because of the out-of-control deer herd in our state.

Senate Bill 710 now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Now most consumers expect their local pizza place and their favorite coffee house to remember their last order, know what credit card they want to use, and make it quick and easy for them to complete an order. Society has moved on and automation is expected  even from the small-time operator.

Chief information officer Aaron Nilsson of Jets Pizza, a franchise with locations in Michigan, introduced a phone bot driven by artificial intelligence to take orders for pizza. He stated:

Automation is changing the fast-food service business in the United States. Robotic systems and artificial intelligence tools are now reducing production times and increasing efficiency. Complex beverage preparation time has been reduced from 87 to just 36 seconds due to a new drink-making system. In the meantime, a dual-sided grill has sped up cooking by 70% in high-volume locations, and an avocado-processing robot reduces prep time by 50%. According to a National Restaurant Association research released in February 2023, 58% of restaurant operators anticipated that 2023 would see a rise in the usage of technology and automation to cope with labor shortages. In a May 2023 poll, HungerRush found that 36 percent of 1,000 Americans stated they believed that large restaurant chains lacked enough employees to process orders, make food, and deliver food.

As per a research report, the global fast food market has expanded gradually in recent years. It will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%, from $645.2 billion in 2024 to $663.92 billion in 2025. Changes in customer choices and lifestyles, rapid urbanization, globalization, greater demand for convenience meals, and an increase in the working population have all contributed to historic expansion. The fast-food markets largest region in 2024 was North America. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region over the projection period.

Fast food stocks are businesses that run quick-service restaurants. These stocks can be a smart option to invest in the restaurant industry, which tends to perform well even during economic downturns due to its low costs and convenience. For example, the early COVID-19 pandemic was not favorable for the restaurant business overall, but fast-food chains that were able to offer curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-thru services performed better than their competitors that relied on dine-in. A challenging economic situation presents fewer risks because many fast-food restaurants prioritize providing great value.

We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) stands against the other fast food stocks.

Story Continues

According to a 2024 LendingTree survey, 78% of Americans now consider fast food a luxury, with prices rising by more than 60% since 2014. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) have been compelled by this change to reconsider what value is. Companies are prioritizing quality, convenience, and technology over price competition to defend higher prices. According to Savneet Singh, CEO of a significant restaurant technology business, the value today isnt just about price; its about the entire experience. Moreover, technology is being used by businesses to improve this perceived value. AI-powered kiosks, drive-thru technology, and mobile ordering shorten wait times and customize service, while kitchen automation increases reliability. These days, loyalty programs use data analytics to provide hyper-personalized rewards, which boosts consumer engagement and encourages repeat visits.

However, affordability is still crucial. The expense of fast food has caused 62% of consumers to cut back on their purchases, which has led several businesses to bring back $5 meal offers, as per the LendingTree study. A combination of price, quality, convenience, and personalization is the new QSR value equation. QSRs have the potential to redefine luxury as intelligent, easily accessible service by utilizing technology and loyalty.

12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now

A chef plating up a wide variety of dishes for a restaurant chain.

Our Methodology

For this article, we sifted through the online rankings to form an initial list of the 20 Fast Food Stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 12 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkeys database of 1,009 hedge funds in Q4 2024 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks. We have used the stocks revenue growth year-over-year as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested.

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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 83

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is the largest fast-casual restaurant brand in the United States, with projected systemwide revenues of $11.3 billion by 2024. By the end of 2024, it had 3,726 stores spread over the United States, with a minor presence in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The company serves burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and drinks. The companys entire revenue comes from restaurant sales and delivery fees.

The five pillars of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s business strategy are operating profitable restaurants; luring and keeping varied talent; establishing the brand as well-known, relevant, and adored; making significant investments in restaurant technology and innovation; and improving consumer accessibility and convenience. Morningstar analysts believe that the company has established a long-lasting niche in the US restaurant market by drawing customers away from both casual dining and traditional fast-food rivals with its affordable menu prices, exceptional convenience, and food with integrity.

In the first quarter of 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s sales surged 6.4% to $2.9 billion due to restaurant openings, making it the Best Food Stock. However, comparable store sales decreased 0.4% as a result of fewer transactions. The operating margin at the restaurant level dropped 130 basis points to 26.2%.

ClearBridge Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:

We also initiated a position in fast casual restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG). The recent pullback in shares related to a moderation in industry-wide restaurant sales and CEO Brian Niccols August departure created an attractive entry point into a company with industry-leading unit economics in a still underpenetrated market. Chipotle plans to double its store footprint over time while executing initiatives to increase volume growth through technology enhancements, reduced mobile order friction and higher production during peak hours. Better throughput, technological integration and improved mix should help to drive continued margin expansion. Chipotle further diversifies the portfolio, adding to consumer discretionary where we have historically had less exposure.

Overall, CMG ranks 1st on our list of the 12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now. While we acknowledge the potential of Fast Food companies, 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 CMG 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.
CHICAGO  Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday night he has not made up his mind on seeking a third term and demurred on a 2028 presidential run in a light-hearted interview with TV host Jimmy Kimmel that featured the governor offering self-deprecating nicknames about his weight for Republican President Donald Trump to use.

JB Pizza. JB Back Ribs. Jay Biggie. JB the Hut. J Pritzed His Pants. Pritz Crackers. Governor Big Shorts and JB The Refrigerator Pritzker, the governor recited of names offered by Kimmels staff. Pritzker added a few of his own, including what he said was his favorite, J. Beefy, though Kimmel said a vote likely would make JB Back Ribs the winner.

He loves to make fun of people in any way he can. Frankly, thats how you know hes afraid of you, Pritzker said after Kimmel played a clip from a March 2024 rally of Trump attacking the Illinois governor, saying, Hes too busy eating. He wants to eat all the time. Trump, Pritzker said, has convinced himself that he is way better looking and thinner than he really is.

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Pritzker has repeatedly referenced his weight in political campaigning, using the banner of Think Big for campaigns and political funds. His appearance on ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the latest in a string of appearances before Democratic audiences and in media interviews that have served to elevate his national political stature and increase speculation about his interest in the partys presidential nomination in 2028.

I have not even decided if Im running for reelection as governor yet. So theres, theres a lot of time between now and where youre suggesting, he said in response to a question from Kimmel about his presidential aspirations.

Asked if he was deciding between a third term as governor or opting out to seek a presidential bid, Pritzker said, No, none of that has anything to do with that.

I love the job that I have. Its just a question of, you know, its a hard job, right? I mean, Ive been doing it for six and a half years now. And the question is, you know, another, add another well, one-and-a-half plus four, right? Pritzker said of a reelection bid. Thats 12 years total, right? Thats an awful long time. But we have a lot to accomplish. Weve done an awful lot in Illinois, and so those things weigh on me.

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People close to Pritzker say they expect the 60-year-old billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune to seek a third term after the Illinois General Assemblys spring session ends, which is scheduled for May 31. But some top Democratic strategists have said Pritzker should opt out of a third term, particularly due to potential issues that could develop as the state copes with federal funding cuts being pushed by Trump and Republicans who control Congress.

Pritzker said he was a little surprised by the reaction from Democrats and Republicans, including the Trump White House, to a fiery weekend speech he made to New Hampshire Democrats in which he declared Republicans cannot know a moment of peace and called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption in telling Democrats they must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box.

I think everybody understands that at this point, weve got an authoritarian in office. Hes essentially tearing apart the things that really matter to working families across the United States, and nobodys stopping him, that Congress is under the control of his party. Theyre all paying homage to him at all times, Pritzker said.

The only thing in my view that we really can do on a national level is let them know about our displeasure, he said of Democrats taking on Republicans in Congress. They know theyre up for reelection in 2026 and if they dont know how much resistance there is out there in their own districts, then theyre just going to keep following Donald Trump and doing whatever he wants.

____
Joseph Czuba, 73, was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the murder of his 6-year-old tenant Wadee Alfayoumi

Czuba stabbed Wadee and his mother just days after Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in Israel

The mother, who survived, testified Czuba had ordered the family to move out because they were Muslim

An Illinois landlord who fatally stabbed his 6-year-old Palestinian-American tenant soon after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison on Friday, May 2.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was sentenced by Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak of Illinois' 12th Judicial Circuit, The New York Times reports. He had been convicted in February on murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges for murdering 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and stabbing the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen, who survived.

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At trial, Shaheen testified that her family had rented rooms from Czuba at his Plainfield home for two years without incident, per the Associated Press. But he seemed to grow more paranoid following Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

Following the attacks, Shaheen testified that Czuba told her the family had to move out because they were Muslim, AP reported. She told him to "pray for peace" in response.

On Oct. 14, a week after the attacks, Shaheen said Czuba forced his way into her room and stabbed her over a dozen times. When she fled to the bathroom to call 911, Czuba attacked Wadee, stabbing him 26 times and leaving the knife in the little boy's body, the BBC reported.

He told me You, as a Muslim, must die, Shaheen said on the stand, per the AP.

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.

Related: Ill. Landlord Convicted of Fatally Stabbing Palestinian American Boy 26 Times in Anti-Muslim Hate Crime

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Jurors were presented shocking crime scene photos and audio from Shaheen's 911 call, where she screamed "the landlord is killing me and my baby," the AP reported. Police testified to finding Czuba outside the home covered in blood after responding to the 911 call.

Jurors deliberated for just 90 minutes before delivering the verdict against Czuba, per the AP.

This happened because this defendant was afraid that a war that started on Oct. 7, 2023  a half a world away in the Middle East  was going to come to his doorstep, prosecutor Michael Fitzgerald told jurors, according to the Times. This happened because Hanan and Wadee were Muslim.



Read the original article on People
JOLIET, Ill.  An Illinois man was sentenced on Friday to 53 years behind bars for the racially motivated killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and attacking his mom, days after the Israel-Hamas war erupted in 2023.

Wearing a red jail uniform and appearing thin and frail, 73-year-old Joseph Czuba appeared before Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak and heard what amounted to a likely life sentence for murder and attempted murder.

A jury in February found the landlord Czuba guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and hate crimes for the Oct. 14, 2023, killing of Wadee Alfayoumi, whose family were tenants of the murderer.

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Czuba was sentenced to 30 years for killing Wadee, who was stabbed 26 times.

No matter what the sentence is going to be, its not going to justify Wadees death, the prosecutions only witness, great uncle Mahmoud Yousef, told the court on Friday. The day he was killed, his father had memories, had plans for his son.

Yousef then turned to face Czuba and said: He had no right to take them.

Czuba also wounded the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen, whom he stabbed more than a dozen times in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield Township.

In addition to the 30 years for Wadee's killing, Czuba was hit with a 20-year sentence for attacking the boy's mother and an additional 3-year term for a hate crime. All of the sentences are set to run consecutively.

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Czuba declined to speak on his own behalf on Friday. It did not appear he had any family members in court to support him.

Joseph Czuba, 71, sits before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment in the murder of 6-year old Wadea Al-Fayoume, at the Will County courthouse, on Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill.

The victims had been been renting rooms in Czubas home when he launched into anti-Muslim rants after the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attacks into Israel by Hamas-led militant groups, witnesses said.

The boys mother testified that Czuba told her your people are killing Jewish people and babies in Israel and that Muslims were not welcome in his home.

Before sentencing, the judge denied defense's bid to vacate the verdicts.

Defense lawyer George Lenard had accused prosecutors at trial of inflaming the emotions of jurors by making points of argument during the rebuttal portion of their case.

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(Prosecutors are) not supposed to give arguments in rebuttal, especially that amount to prejudice, Lenard said. Its our position that these grounds in and of themselves are grounds for a reversal of the verdicts. But if you look at all these errors, if you accumulate them, theyre additional argument for why the court should grant Mr. Czuba a new trial.

The great uncle, Yousef, said the killer and his victims appeared to get along before Czubas frame of mind seemed to spiral of nowhere.

Thats (a lengthy sentence) not going to be enough. So for peace of mind, Mr Joseph, Yousef said, turning toward the killer, say something. Come up. Say something.

The boys father Odai Alfayoumi, echoed that thought, saying the killer had always seemed to like his son before suddenly snapping.

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This is America and when I came right here, I came because this is a free country, Alfayoumi told reporters outside the courthouse.

So right now Im confused. There is, like some people, they call my son, they call him as an angel. And they heard that a lot. Some people too, they call him as a devil Muslim. They make me confused. The same guy, he was looking at my son as an angel (and) right now, he call him as a devil. So I don't know. This is America?"

Samira Puskar reported from Joliet and David K. Li from Los Angeles County.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Illinois man was sentenced on Friday to 53 years in prison after a jury convicted him in the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and the severe wounding of his mother in an October 2023 hate crime stabbing, prosecutors said.

Joseph Czuba, 73, stabbed and killed Wadee Alfayoumi and knifed Hanan Shaheen days after U.S. ally Israel began its war on Gaza following an October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.

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Prosecutors said the stabbing - one of the earliest and worst hate crime incidents in the U.S. since the start of the war - was sparked by anti-Muslim hatred. U.S. rights advocates have noted rising Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate and antisemitism.

The prison sentence by Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak included 30 years for the child's murder, 20 years for the attempted murder of the mother and 3 years for hate crime, according to prosecutors.

Czuba, who was the landlord for Shaheen and her son, stabbed the boy 26 times with a military-style knife with a 7-inch (18-cm) serrated blade, authorities said. Shaheen suffered multiple stab wounds in the attack that occurred in Plainfield Township, about 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Chicago.

Czuba was found guilty in February. Shaheen testified during the trial that Czuba told her "you, as a Muslim, must die."

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Czuba had earlier pleaded not guilty. His defense attorney claimed prosecutors appealed to the jury's emotions.

IMPACT OF WAR IN GAZA ON U.S. SOCIETY

Other recent incidents raising alarm in the U.S. about anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian prejudice include the attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Palestinian American girl in Texas, the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas and the beating of a Muslim man in New York.

There was also a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters in California, a Florida shooting of two Israeli visitors whom a suspect mistook to be Palestinians and a New York City assault by a pro-Israeli mob that chanted "Death to Arabs."

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Incidents raising alarm over antisemitism and anti-Israel attitudes include an unsuccessful plot to attack a New York Jewish center, an arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence and attacks in Florida that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damages to businesses over perceived support for Israel.

There have also been physical assaults against Jewish people in Michigan, Maryland and Chicago.

Hate incidents have also been reported during protests and counter-protests related to the war.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Diane Craft)
People experiencing homelessness in Raleigh pack to leave an encampment off of Highway 70 near Interstate 40. (Photo: Greg Childress)

As anyone who steps outside of a gated community these days is aware, the number of impoverished and homeless people living on the street is, thanks to our unjust and top heavy economy, way up.

Whats more, providing useful assistance to these people  many of whom struggle with disabilities, mental and physical health challenges and just plain hopelessness  is extremely tough.

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Here, however, is one thing we do know from the experts who do this heroic work: passing laws to make life on the street even tougher isnt a solution.

Unfortunately, thats where the North Carolina legislature is heading with a bill that would force local governments to criminalize camping or sleeping on public property.

As a Methodist pastor told lawmakers, quote How can we push down folks who are already down? Seems like its impossible, but this bill has figured it out.

The bottom line: As several advocates told lawmakers, the solution to homelessness lies in a sustained commitment to building a genuine social safety net and ending poverty, not criminalizing people who have no other place to go.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
Over the weekend, Menashe Hidra's body was found inside his fifth-floor Valley Village apartment after an assailant broke into a neighboring unit, jumped from the balcony to his and attacked. The assailant appeared to leave bloody handprints on an outside wall during their escape.

That same day, Aleksandre Modebadze was found beaten to death inside his Woodland Hills home after a woman called 911 to report an attack.

According to law enforcement sources not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigations, both slayings in the San Fernando Valley have a troubling similarity: Los Angeles police officers responded to the scenes after 911 calls and found nothing, only to return later to find the dead victims.

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The cases are not connected, and suspects have been arrested in Modebadze's slaying.

Dried blood stains the exterior wall of the Valley Village apartment where Menashe Hidra was killed. (Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times)

LAPD officials say they have started an investigation that will include the officers' response to calls for help.

"We can confirm that both cases are being thoroughly reviewed and investigated, including officer responses and timelines," a department spokesperson told The Times.

Citing the investigations, the department declined to answer detailed questions.

Hidras body was found inside his top-floor apartment at the Ashton Sherman Village complex about 2:30 p.m. Saturday by Van Nuys division officers doing a welfare check after a friend became concerned.

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Inside the apartment, officers found him unresponsive, and Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. He had a puncture wound to the head, and there was blood next to him on the floor, according to sources familiar with the police report.

Three days before Hidra's body was found, neighbors called authorities and reported hearing screaming coming from his apartment. The neighbors reportedly heard a fight and then a man's voice saying, "I am going to die. I am going to die," according to law enforcement sources.

In a recording of a police dispatch call before 4 a.m. on April 23, a dispatcher is heard reporting the call to officers in the field: "Van Nuys units, possible ADW [assault with a deadly weapon] in progress ... caller hears two males fighting and wrestling, banging and yelling."

Multiple law enforcement sources say police officers responded to the scene but never entered the apartment.

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Two residents told The Times that they called police between 3 and 4 a.m. about the screaming and fighting. Shortly before the struggle, the man now identified as a suspect in the killing was captured on several residents' Ring cameras trying to get into other apartments in the building. The Times reviewed the camera footage from the floors below where the killing occurred. In the video, a tool with a long piece of metal is sticking out of the suspect's back pocket.

On Wednesday evening, LAPD officials released a video of the suspect in the apartment stairwell.

"It's crazy that there were 911 calls on Wednesday and they didn't discover him until Saturday," said Kaci Harabedian, one of the complex's residents. "There was blood all over the wall and the door handle on the stairwell. How could they miss it?"

But the 911 call about the fight may not have been the only sign something was amiss on the fifth floor. Last Friday, police investigated a burglary at the vacant apartment next door. Inside, officers found a shattered skylight and dried blood, according to two sources not authorized to discuss the investigation.

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Investigators suspect the killer may have broken into the vacant apartment neighboring Hidra's through a skylight then moved from the unit's balcony to his.

Bloody handprints and marks were visible on the wall between Hidra's balcony and the vacant apartment in the aftermath when a reporter visited with residents Thursday.

A trail of blood was also visible on the building's exterior and on the door handle of a stairwell exit, where the assailant is seen fleeing the building in a video released by police.

The suspect is described as a man with black hair who is between 30 and 40 years old, between 5-foot-6 inches and 5-foot-9 inches tall, weighs between 180 and 200 pounds, and was wearing a dark hooded jacket, a white shirt and blue jeans on the day of the killing. The suspect remains at large.

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The same day that police discovered Hidra's body, another homicide investigation was also starting to get underway.

In Woodland Hills, Modebadze, 47, suffered a fatal head injury after three assailants broke in during the early hours of Saturday morning, Los Angeles police said.

Menashe Hidra was killed inside his Valley Village apartment. Blood was left by the suspect on a stairwell doorway. (Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times)

A woman inside the home called LAPD about 12:30 a.m. and reported three people had broken into her home and were beating her significant other before the call suddenly cut out, according to law enforcement sources. The 911 operator tried to call back multiple times without success. Shortly before 1 a.m., officers arrived at the home but no one answered the door, there was no noise coming from inside the home and the blinds were down, the sources told The Times.

Modebadze was later found by officers badly beaten with a traumatic head injury and eventually died from his injuries.

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Authorities found Modebadze's suspected killers hours after the incident. Investigators have no evidence to suggest a connection between his and Hidra's killings.

Ed Obayashi, a Modoc County sheriff's deputy and special prosecutor who trains law enforcement on search and seizure policies, said the initial police responses to both cases merited further examination.

"Even a lay person has the common sense to see exigent circumstances exist to enter these homes," he said. You cannot disregard a report of an assault with a deadly weapon or a beating. It is common for you to arrive and find the location quiet. But it doesn't mean someone hasnt been killed or injured.

Paata Kochyashvili, 38, Zaza Otarashvili, 46, and Besiki Khutsishvili, 52, are facing charges of murder, along with a special circumstance allegation of murder during a robbery, in connection with Modebadze's death. They are being held in custody without bail pending an arraignment.

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In that case, detectives traced cellphones and used camera footage to tie the suspects to the beating. The trio entered the home, in the 22200 block of De La Osa Street, repeatedly beat their victim and then stole items from him before fleeing, according to the LAPD.

Authorities recovered about $60,000 in cash and five firearms when the men were arrested, according to law enforcement sources.

LAPD officials say it was not a typical home invasion robbery and that the suspects allegedly had a prior business association. They could not be reached for comment.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis trumpeted the arrests of more than 1,100 in Florida during an immigration enforcement sting, protesters gathered at the Orange County Jail to demand the county stop working with ICE.

More than 50 people attended the Thursday event organized by Immigrants Are Welcome Here  a coalition of immigrant rights, labor and social justice groups. It coincided with International Workers Day, also known as May Day, and sought to raise awareness of the intersection between migrant, labor and racial rights.

God warned them and told them, Dont you ever close your hand on the stranger,' said Bishop David Maldonado of Christ International Church in Apopka. But Orange County has decided to align itself with ICE, and instead of having a hand wide open, it has closed its fist and threatened every immigrant in our community.

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Earlier in the day, DeSantis stood alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Miramar to laud arrests made during the weeklong sting known as Operation Tidal Wave. He called it a model for the nation as authorities seek to remove tens of thousands more immigrants living in Florida with deportation orders.

The operation was part of President Donald Trumps nationwide crackdown on immigrants without legal authority to be in the United States, an effort being felt in Central Florida.

People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Participants of the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail line up to walk to the podium, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) Bishop William Cavins pastor of Abiding Presence Faith Community speaks during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Participants of the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail chant on their way to the podium, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Labor leader and member of the Central Florida Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Ericka Gomez-Tejada speaks during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Participants of the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail line up to walk to the podium, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Labor leader and member of the Central Florida Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Ericka Gomez-Tejada speaks during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Participants of the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail line up to walk to the podium, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Sister Ann Kendrick holds a sign while chanting during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Labor leader and member of the Central Florida Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Ericka Gomez-Tejada speaks during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director of the HOPE CommUnity Center, speaks during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) A passenger pulls out a sign as they drive past the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 32People hold signs during the May Day rally outside the Orange County Jail, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)Expand

Between Jan. 1 and April 30 there were 1,018 people booked into the Orange County Jail with an ICE detainer compared to 1,016 similarly booked in all of last year. County commissioners voted 5-2 on March 25 to ratify an agreement to federalize jail officers to hold and transfer inmates accused of violating immigration law  a move required by a new state law that aims to crackdown on undocumented migrants.

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After speakers addressed the crowd for about an hour, protesters marched in front of the jail for around 30 minutes holding signs and chanting slogans like Money for housing and education not for jails and deportations. Some beat a tune on buckets used as makeshift drums.

In addition to demanding due process, legal resources and multilingual support for migrant detainees at the jail, protesters called for fair wages and dignified working conditions for migrant workers  who they described as the backbone of and local communities and the American economy.

We go from field, row after row, hour after hour, so that families can eat, so that our tables are full and our communities are nourished, said Aaron Quen of the Farmworker Association of Florida. We sacrifice our bodies, we give our time, we do the work thats essential, yet too often invisible.

Far too many farmworkers continue to live in poverty, fear and silence, Quen said. We face dangerous working conditions, we lack health care, we are denied protections that many others take for granted, and worst of all, we are treated as if our humanity is somehow optional.

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One protester, 25-year-old mother Arelis Rivera, told the Orlando Sentinel she was there because shes worried about the future of the nation and what it could look like when her young son grows up.

Its scary to think about what this world will be like for my son when hes older, in every way, when it comes to his rights as an autistic person, [and] just as as a man growing up in this society, Rivera said.

Although she doesnt know anyone directly affected by the county agreement with ICE, she said thats no reason not to get involved.

I also dont think that you have to know someone directly to be fearful of whats happening, Rivera said. It hurts me to see strangers going through this just as much as it would hurt me to see my mom going through this, and I feel like thats what people are not understanding.
Can foreigners legally residing in the United States be tossed out of the country for engaging in controversial or even vile speech? Court cases suggest the answer is "no" and uphold the idea that free speech is a right adhering not only to Americans but also to those just visiting. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Massachusetts allowed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's deportation proceedings aimed at noncitizen anti-Israel college radicals to proceed on the grounds that the government is targeting protected speech in such a way that it chills the willingness of foreign university students and faculty at schools in this country to speak out about controversial issues.

Deportations Have a 'Chilling' Effect

Unlike some of the cases that have gone to court (such as that of Mohsen Mahdawi, whose release was ordered by a federal judge on Wednesday) American Association of University Professors v. Rubio doesn't revolve around the conduct of a particular individual. That means there's no grounds to debate whether a given graduate student or professor was engaged in speech alone or if that person crossed over into illegal conduct or support of a terrorist organization. In some cases, such as that of Rumeysa Ozturk, the government has alleged nothing beyond controversial speech. Instead, this case was brought by the American Association of University Professors, that organization's Harvard and New York University chapters, and the Middle East Studies Association alleging the "chilling" of noncitizen members' activities by federal policy.

In their lawsuit against the Trump administration's deportation policies, the plaintiffs allege that members of their organization "have, variously, taken down social media posts and previously published writing and scholarship, stopped assigning material about Palestine in class, withdrawn from a conference presentation, ceased traveling abroad for conferences, ceased engaging in political protest and assembly in which they previously participated, ceased teaching a course they previously taught, and foregone opportunities to write and speak at public events," among other abandoned activities out of fear that they might be targeted for deportation.

Trump Vowed To Punish Speech

Whatever one might think of campus protesters' often-noxious political opinions since October 7, their fears are grounded in reality. As pointed out in the case, President Donald Trump took office pledging in two executive orders to "combat anti-semitism" and "to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence" as well as to protect citizens from aliens who "espouse hateful ideology."

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In a related fact sheet, published January 30, the president vowed: "To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you. I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before."

It's possible to agree with Trump's opinion of college campuses and the protests without endorsing the punishment of people who do nothing more than "espouse hateful ideology" or join in demonstrations of any sort without committing crimes against people or property. The government can't do that.

Noncitizens Have (Some) First Amendment Rights

"It is well established that noncitizens have at least some First Amendment rights," wrote Judge William G. Young of the U.S. District of Massachusetts. "Although case law defining the scope of noncitizens' First Amendment rights is notably sparse, the Plaintiffs have at least plausibly alleged that noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, are being targeted specifically for exercising their right to political speech."

Based on the plaintiffs' allegations of chilled speech, and the Trump administration's very public efforts to target and remove noncitizens who study and work at U.S. universities while also engaging with controversial debates over Israel and Palestine or explicitly participating in protests, Young added: "First Amendment challenges may be brought against unwritten policies, and at this stage the existence of the policy the Plaintiffs allege is a factual issue on which this Court must draw all reasonable inferences in their favor."

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The Trump administration argues that it's allowed to target loudmouth students and academics if they're not citizens, but "this Court cannot agree that this alleged conduct would be constitutional," Young continues. "The Public Officials' reliance on case law from the height of the second Red Scare era, such as Harisiades v. Shaughnessy, 342 U.S. 580 (1952), is misplaced, and this Court assumes instead that noncitizens lawfully present in the United States have at least the core rights protected by the First Amendment, chief among them the right to speak on political subjects at least where such speech poses no immediate threat to others."

As a result, the court allowed the plaintiffs to continue with their challenge to the deportation policy on First Amendment grounds and on a claim that it violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge turned away the plaintiffs' Fifth Amendment vagueness challenge. Overall, it was a victory for the organizations opposing the deportations.

'Certain Unalienable Rights'

As is always the case with free speech cases, it's necessary to separate opinions of what people say from considerations of their right to say it. The Declaration of Independence referred to "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The First Amendment strictly specifies that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." Both are rooted in the understanding that rights don't come from government but are inherent in individuals. The government must respect our rights whether or not it agrees with how we exercise them so long as we, in turn, respect others' equal rights.

In February, Eugene Volokh of the Hoover Institution and the UCLA School of Law wrote that "when it comes to aliens and immigration law, the First Amendment questions aren't settled" in a discussion about the constitutionality of deporting noncitizens for their speech. That may still be true, but cases like American Association of University Professors v. Rubio show at least some federal judges viewing First Amendment protections as universally applicable, which squares with American history.

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Campus radicals have the same free speech rights as we all possess, even if they're just visiting.

The post Immigrants and Radicals Have the Same Free Speech Rights as Everyone Else appeared first on Reason.com.
MINNEHAHA COUNTY, S.D. (KELO)  In an effort to cut back on federal spending, the Trump Administration has been making cuts to numerous agencies during its first 100 days. One of the agencies being impacted by cuts and freezes is the Department of Agriculture. Many farmers and organizations in KELOLAND receive assistance from the USDA in the form of grants.

Boadwine Farms has been near Baltic, South Dakota, for more than 150 years. In that time its grown from 40 cows to 2,500.

The role of federal funding on specialty farms

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Boadwine Farms was founded in 1874 by my ancestors who came here in the Homestead Act from Norway, Riley Boadwine said. So for five generations now weve been farming out here on the prairie and its been great.

Riley Boadwine makes up that fifth generation of farmers here. Something he and his family take pride in is the effort they make to be sustainable and modern. But today it isnt always possible to run a farm without some help from the federal government.

I personally have used the Young Farmers Program which is a farmer, I think its beneath the age of either 35 or 40, something like that, you can get a low-interest loan from the government in order to help you buy farmland, Boadwine said. Then theres like the DMC, which is the Dairy Margin Coverage, which will bridge the gap between the milk price and the price of feed for farmers, like an insurance policy. Weve also gotten different things for putting in cover crops and participating in more sustainability efforts. I think those are all phenomenal programs.

We met Boadwine during a tour he was giving to local leaders like Travis Entenman who is the executive director of Northern Prairies Land Trust. He says federal funding is vital for many farmers and rural communities.



From energy to conservation to just agriculture in general. There are oftentimes projects that wouldnt be funded by banks or private entities just because theyre too risky, Entenman said. The federal government has the wherewithal and the resources to navigate some of those risks, to provide loans to farmers and ranchers and organizations around that, to really give folks the opportunity to see if their business will thrive.



Stephanie Peterson, a farmer near Brandon, was also on the tour at Boadwine Farms and shared her story with federal grants.



I have a small farm, its about seven acres and Ive raised laying hens for about eight years, Peterson said. I sell eggs to restaurants in the Sioux Falls area and also to a couple retail establishments there as well. And for the first time last year I applied for a grant. Its the first grant Ive ever applied for.



Through that grant, Peterson says she was able to hire a part-time employee to help her wash the 200 dozen eggs she sells each week. However, in February she found out that grant was frozen.

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You know, Ive hired a part-time employee and now unfortunately Im probably going to have to let her go this year if that money doesnt become unfrozen, Peterson said. I just think thats really scary as a business owner, right, to have set plans in place of how Im going to grow and how Im going to look at the next two years of my business and then have that all come to a stop.



Entenman says if the current federal freezes stick, a lot of changes could come to the South Dakota ag economy.



If theres not money for agriculture conservation, were going to see less conservation, less habitat on the ground, Entenman said. Theres a lot less security for producers so they might go under and if a small producer has to close up shop that means a larger producer might buy them or a multi-national organization might buy them. So theres just a lot of issues and hurdles there.



You know, I always say, you know, we watch whats happening with the large food and farming system that we all live within and commercial agriculture in general, Peterson said. And for years those commercial agriculture systems have been funded by the government at the tune of billions of dollars every year. I think small farms like myself, we would just like to get a little piece of that to help us, you know, lift us up as well.



In March, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said she is proud to work with the Department of Government Efficiency to streamline inefficiencies but understands the process has caused concern among people participating in certain USDA programs. She says they are working to review those programs as quickly as possible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
(Refiles to wider audience with no changes to headline or text)

By Manas Mishra, Sneha S K

(Reuters) -CVS Health raised its full-year profit forecast on Thursday and said it plans to exit the market for Obamacare health insurance plans in 2026, as it seeks to turn around its fortunes after a series of challenges last year.

CVS shares jumped 5% to $69.84 after it raised its 2025 profit forecast to $6 to $6.20 per share from $5.75 to $6 previously.

CEO David Joyner, who took the helm of the healthcare conglomerate in October, has laid out cost-cutting plans and reshuffled the top management to help the company navigate one of the most challenging periods in its six-decade history.

Joyner said the decision to exit the business selling plans directly to individuals through the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare exchanges, came after continued underperformance in that business.

"Despite our multi-year efforts, we must recognize what is and what is not working and will focus on the areas where we have a clear right to win," Joyner said.

CVS shares fell over 40% last year due to weak performance in the company's Aetna insurance and retail pharmacy businesses, and multiple cuts to its profit outlook, but have pared most of those losses this year following a better-than-expected earnings report in February.

CVS reported a first-quarter adjusted profit of $2.25 per share, up from $1.31 a year ago and well above analysts' average estimate of $1.70, according to LSEG data, helped by lower-than-expected medical costs.

That should come as a relief to investors after industry bellwether UnitedHealth cut its forecast last month, citing elevated costs.

"The 2025 outlook was raised... this is key as it reverses the trend over the past few years of CVS cutting its earnings guidance," James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management, which owns 55,244 shares of CVS.

"It seems like management has gotten a better handle of the business and has installed good leaders among the executive suite," Harlow added.

WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG COSTS

CVS also said its Caremark pharmacy benefit management unit had decided to drop Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound as a preferred product from its reimbursement list from July 1. It will retain rival Wegovy after negotiating more favorable pricing for Novo Nordisk's medicine, saying that will make the drug more affordable for patients.

The news sent Lilly's shares tumbling 7%, while Novo's U.S.-listed shares rose 2.5%.

Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate rebates and fees with drug manufacturers, and create lists, or formularies, of medications that are covered by insurance, and reimburse pharmacies for patients' prescriptions.
Editors note: This story corrects the age of the suspect.

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN)  Police arrested a Wellsville man who was accused of assaulting an employee at the East Liverpool Dairy Queen Wednesday evening.

Read next: Live: Tracking severe weather in the Valley

Police said that the incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Video of the incident sent by the East Liverpool Police Department shows a man they identified as James Wicker, 61, hit a Dairy Queen employee in the face. Police said that another employee tried to break up the fight.

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East Liverpool Police Chief John Lane said Wicker was upset because his order was incorrect.

He ordered food and something was wrong with the order, so he became very upset. Im sure they were trying to work on it, and they were busy. They were preparing multiple things, and it apparently wasnt good enough. He decided to go around back behind the counter and assault an employee, Lane said.

Police were able to identify Wicker with the help of the public through a post on Facebook.

The incident left the employees shaken up but OK. The employee who was assaulted showed up at work the next day. Manager Mag Barker said sadly, this isnt the first time something like this has happened. A similar incident happened to her roughly a year ago.

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No topping on her sundae when she asked for just chocolate ice cream, Barker said. You gotta get things under control. Theres no sense in spazzing out like that  none.

Employees are just asking customers not to lose their cool if they find themselves in a similar situation.

I dont know what goes through peoples minds, but its not that serious. Well fix anything. As long as youre decent with us, we will gladly fix anything, Barker said.

Wicker was arraigned via video on Thursday and posted bond for the misdemeanor assault charge. His pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 12 at 1 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 WKBN.com.
India has deported hundreds of Pakistani women from Kashmir in a sweeping operation that separated children from their mothers.

The decision caused alarm across the disputed region, which was plunged into crisis on April 22 when militants killed at least 26 tourists in Baisaran, Indian-administered Kashmir.

The attack, which no group claimed responsibility for, was the worst civilian assault in the country for nearly two decades, and pushed the two nations to the brink of conflict.

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India accused Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism and ordered a countrywide sweep to expel Pakistani citizens, including long-term residents. It closed the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab on April 30.

Amit Shah, the Indian home minister, instructed chief ministers of all states on Friday to ensure that all Pakistanis living in India leave by the designated deadline.

The order was since amended and Pakistani nationals may be allowed to exit India till further orders, with due clearances.

Vehicles pass through a checkpoint at a border crossing between India and Pakistan - K.M. Chaudary

Those caught in the crosshairs include women who arrived in Kashmir more than a decade ago under a government-sponsored 2010 peace and rehabilitation policy, which aimed to allow former militants to return home with their families.

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Having built lives there throughout the years, they were forced to leave without their families.

We feel betrayed, Mushtaq Ahmad Joo, 44, from Bandipora in northern Kashmir, told The Telegraph. They brought us here under the rehabilitation policy, and now they want to deport my wife.

Nyla Mushtaq, Joos wife, who was originally from Abbottabad, Pakistan, returned to Indian-controlled Kashmir in 2017 with her husband and two children via Nepal. Joo, a former militant, was ineligible for an Indian passport, while Nyla surrendered her Pakistani one but never received Indian documentation.

Many former militants crossed into Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the 1990s and early 2000s after accepting an offer of peaceful reintegration when they became disillusioned with armed struggle. However, the policy did not officially account for the Pakistani wives they brought back.

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Despite the lack of clarity, they entered India through Nepal and settled in Indian-administered Kashmir with their families.

These women and their children have now faced deportation orders.

Our home is here, Saira Salim, one the women, said. Where else can we go?

Relations between India and Pakistan rapidly deteriorated in the wake of the April 22 attack, which the US called an act of terrorism.

The government of Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, accused Pakistan of involvement and vowed to punish those responsible. Pakistan denied any links to the assault and warned of retaliation if India takes military action.

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On Thursday, the US urged India and Pakistan to work together to de-escalate tensions and avoid an expected clash.

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The final draft of Indiana's budget bill included last-minute changes to university tenure requirements and faculty's authority over school policy decisions. (Getty Images)

Sweeping changes to how the states public universities manage faculty tenure and campus governance were quietly folded into Indianas 2025 budget bill during the final hours of the legislative session despite limited lawmaker debate  and without opportunities for public input.

Thats in addition to other unorthodox provisions slipped into the states next two-year spending plan, like language to give Gov. Mike Braun total say over who sits on Indiana Universitys Board of Trustees.

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Braun has until May 6 to take action on the budget. If he does nothing, the plan automatically becomes law and takes effect July 1.

The new postsecondary rules require faculty at public colleges and universities to post their syllabi online and mandate productivity reviews for tenured professors.

Authority of faculty-led governing bodies was reduced, as well.

Theres been ongoing discussion about the efficiency in higher education, and thats always a fair discussion as to how we maximize the use of taxpayer dollars.

 Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton

Faculty senates, for example, which are traditionally responsible for shaping a schools academic policy, will now be limited to an advisory role. More authority will instead shift to university trustees and administrative leadership.

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Republican supermajority leadership maintained the changes are necessary and defended using the budget as a vehicle bill.

House budget architect Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, said the language was added because universities, like the rest of state government, need to slim spending.

The two-year budget cuts funding for the states public colleges by 5%.

Theres been ongoing discussion about the efficiency in higher education, and thats always a fair discussion as to how we maximize the use of taxpayer dollars, Thompson said. Thats an ongoing discussion. Thats one of our responsibilities.

But Democrat Rep. Matt Pierce said the move was rushed and unvetted.

Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, speaks from the floor on April 25, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

We didnt think we needed to hear from the public, or maybe even, heaven forbid, some faculty members or people who run universities, to kind of understand how they think this provision might work or not work. Would that not have been helpful? Pierce, of Bloomington, asked Thompson on the House floor shortly before the session concluded.

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Thompson reiterated that university governance is a fiscal issue, and that sometimes, we make these decisions based on the information we have in front of us.

Pierce and other Democrats disagreed, noting that the higher education provisions were not previously approved by either the House or Senate chambers, nor were they introduced or debated in other bills or amendments earlier in the session.

Faculty advocates further warned that the changes could threaten academic freedom and deter top scholars from staying in or coming to Indiana.

The public is left to wonder, who put the supermajority on this track? Who is behind the scenes that has the influence to change decades, if not centuries, of the operation of universities? Pierce questioned.

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All this crazy stuff  undermining faculty governance, treating them like theyre children, and every five years theyve got to prove theyre doing their job, he continued. Those faculty  the best faculty, the researchers, the people who are searching for cures for cancer, the people learning about and understanding nanotechnology, the people who are going to solve the challenges of our day with science and investigation and inquiry  theyre out of here. Theyre not going to put up with this.

More changes to faculty tenure

Once the budget bill becomes law, all tenured professors at Indianas public colleges and universities must undergo formal productivity reviews at least once every five years.

Bill language specifies that evaluations should measure a professors productivity, which includes:

the faculty members teaching workload;

the total number of graduate and undergraduate students taught by the faculty member;

the time spent on instructional assignments and overseeing graduate students; and

the research and creative scholarship productivity of the faculty member.

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Institutions will be required to place faculty on probation if they do not meet the standards set through the review process. According to the legislation, that probation may result in dismissal.

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The new review system is reminiscent of a law approved by the General Assembly and former Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2024 that seeks to promote intellectual diversity on Indiana campuses.

Boards of trustees decide what qualifies as intellectual diversity, although the term has been championed by Republican lawmakers who contend that conservative students and faculty members are increasingly ostracized at progressively liberal college and university settings  or at least perceive such shunning.

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Under the law adopted last year, both nontenured and tenured faculty are judged on whether  and to what extent  theyve delivered intellectually diverse instruction. University trustees are allowed to decide punishments for professors who fail to meet their schools standards.

Boards are required to deny promotions and tenure to faculty members if, based on past performance or other determination by the board, they are unlikely to foster  intellectual diversity. Additionally, intellectual diversity must be considered in post-tenure reviews, which are now required at least every five years.

Governance changes on the way

Colleges governance groups, like faculty senates and councils, will also be relegated to advisory only roles.

Those bodies traditionally make decisions around faculty hiring and promotion processes, in addition to curricula and other academic policies.

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Elected faculty groups will be able to recommend and vote on changes to key matters, but final authority will rest with university trustees and top administrators.

Other budget provisions order public colleges and universities to regularly review their degree programs and either cut those that fall beneath a certain enrollment threshold, or get state approval to continue offering the programs.

Schools could also be required to cut degrees that fail to meet the states standards for quality, viability, and productivity.

Chris Lowery, Indianas higher education commissioner, told lawmakers in April that his commission had already adopted provisions to approve and disapprove proposed or existing credentials offered by Indianas post-secondaries. There are roughly 3,400 programs currently offered by school statewide. Lowery wasnt sure how many programs could  or should  be cut.

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I dont know what the number is, but what we know in any sector, when you get to that high of a quantity, you should be asking and questioning, Are we giving value to our fellow Hoosiers?  We have work to do there, he said before the House Education Committee last month. Although our colleges are doing a great job to prepare students for in-demand career opportunities  its clear the number is too large here, and we can simply be more efficient and effective with outcomes.

Another section of the budget bill specifically calls out Indiana University by eliminating alumni input in the selection of university trustees. It instead gives decision-making power over the boards membership to Braun.

Under current law, Indianas governor appoints five members to IUs board and picks one student representative with the help of a student-led committee. Three other members must be IU graduates and are elected by other alumni.

The new state budget mandates all nine members to be appointed by the governor, and gives the executive leader the ability to, at any time, remove and replace a board member who was previously elected by the IU alumni.

Braun defended the policy move Wednesday, emphasizing that just a fraction of IU alumni participated in past votes to elect trustees.

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Republicans Sen. Liz Brown, left, and Attorney General Todd Rokita traded blows Friday over the demise of an immigration bill  an issue that may now appear before the Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary commission. (Photos by Whitney Downard and Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas claims about a sitting lawmaker  that she stopped an immigration bill for personal reasons  could land him in more legal hot water after she lodged a disciplinary action against him.

Right now! Exclusive Interview with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita @AGToddRokita on HB 1531 and other immigration issues in Indiana. Heres the podcast: Interview: Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita Drops A Bombshell On Why Indiana Immigration Bill Died pic.twitter.com/jqrUH2fRCj  Casey Hendrickson  Syndicated Radio Host (@caseythehost) April 30, 2025

Rokita, in an archived April 30 interview with conservative radio host Casey Hendrickson, said the bill stalled because someone had a personal grudge against the language, naming Fort Wayne Sen. Liz Brown as the barrier.

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 (She) told me one of the reasons was shes got a family member whos an illegal alien, Rokita told Hendrickson.

In a statement shared with the Indiana Capital Chronicle, a spokesperson for Brown called the claim blatantly false.

Senator Brown does not have an illegal alien relative. This claim by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is blatantly false, and is meant to be misleading to Indiana constituents to make them think that Senator Brown has a personal conflict in performing her duties as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said her legislative office said. These public erroneous statements are made in an attempt to hurt the credibility and transparency needed and expected in the Indiana state legislative process.

Brown went on to confirm that shed filed an official grievance and request for an investigation into Rokitas comments with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

Relevant background

The underlying bill, House Bill 1531, would have required local law enforcement officers to comply with federal detainer requests for undocumented immigrants. It would have also banned employers from hiring unauthorized residents.

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Though the bill passed out of the House on a 64-26 vote, it never got a hearing in the Senate, where it was assigned to Browns committee. As the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Brown has the power to select which bills get a hearing  though bills can be reassigned to other committees to circumvent a chair.

When author Rep. J.D. Prescott was asked about the bills demise by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, he referred questions to Brown.

Brown, an attorney, said shed shared concerns with Rokita about the legislation early in the legislative process. The statement cited the condensed timeline during a budget-writing session and said Hoosiers had shared issues regarding potential impacts, including the possibility of a conflict with federal law.

Instead, the office pointed to her support for House Enrolled Act 1393, which would require local law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities about undocumented immigrants in custody.

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(Brown) commends President Trump for the decisive actions he has taken federally to stop the flow of illegal immigration, the statement concluded.

Rokita fired back, saying in a statement that Brown either provided inaccurate or unclear information to me and others in the past, or she is backtracking now.

As for a disciplinary complaint, Liz can get in line. She didnt give my office the authority to investigate illegal aliens, but she wants others to investigate me over comments she made. How ironic, Rokita said. This is also another example of weaponization of the Indiana court system to attempt to silence me and the people of this state who are tired of sending representatives to Indianapolis who dont really represent them.

He went on to accuse the disciplinary commission of encouraging this political lawfare by endorsing political candidates, making donations and accepting complaints from politically partisan people.

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Rokita has faced the disciplinary commission before. He continues to litigate a case in which he called a practicing OB-GYN an activist acting as a doctor after she mentioned seeing a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio travel to Indiana for an abortion. She was later fined by the Medical Licensing Board for sharing patient information  a move supported by Rokita.

Though reprimanded by the states Supreme Court justices, a subsequent press release from Rokitas office and his public statements have prompted further scrutiny.

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The Indiana Supreme Court upheld a former Gary teenagers 110-year prison sentence Wednesday for a 1996 East Chicago triple homicide after years of winding appeals.

McKinley Kelly, now 46, was convicted of killing Vincent Ray Jr., 20, Maurice Hobson, 21, and Karl Jackson, 20.

He was 17 when sentenced. Lake Superior Judge Richard Conroy set aside the murder count in Rays death, sentencing Kelly to 55 years each for Jackson and Hobson. The maximum for murder is 65 years.

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The shootings took place Jan. 8, 1996, outside East Chicagos Calumet Housing Development in the 400 block of E. 151st Street.

Police said the defendants had a dispute earlier that night with a group of men that included Jackson. The incident occurred in the Hub Lounge, 4859 Melville, East Chicago.

The defendants later spotted Jackson and the other two victims outside the housing project in a driveway. Kelly, who was armed with a .38-caliber handgun, confronted Jackson. Kelly shot Jackson and Hobson several times. Co-defendant Leo Dent, now 45, shot Hobson and Ray with a sawed-off shotgun.

In a 5-0 decision, Justice Derek Molter wrote that the court allowed Kelly to amend an appeal, partly because the scientific understanding of how a juveniles brain works has since changed.

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Ultimately, justices declined to resentence him.

Kelly argued he was essentially serving a life sentence and may die before he is released.

A judge cannot reliably determine at the time of sentencing whether a child is irredeemable, Molter wrote, characterizing Kellys argument.

Molter noted the law has changed  minors cant get the death penalty, or life without parole except for a homicide, and are barred from automatic back-to-back life sentences. Life without parole is reserved only for teens who are irreparably corrupt. He also wrote in recent years, the state legislature has passed a law to let minors have their prison sentences reviewed after 20 years.

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The state of Indiana countered that the scientific concepts werent new and the trial judge already accounted for how young Kelly was.

Molter wrote Kelly wasnt sentenced to life without parole. He was given a finite prison term, which wouldnt be grounds for resentencing.

Simply put, (a life without parole) sentence is lengthier than Kellys sentence because Kellys sentence allows for Kellys eventual release, he wrote.

Nothing about the circumstances of Kellys offenses suggests that the presumptive sentence he received was inappropriate, Molter wrote. He initiated the confrontation that ended in his two victims deaths. He continued firing into Jackson after Jackson collapsed. And he killed Hobson for seemingly no reason besides the fact that Hobson asked why Kelly had killed Jackson.

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His earliest release date is in 2048  when he is 69.

Indiana law at the time required inmates to serve 50% of their sentence.

We observed in (a prior case) that release in ones mid-to-late sixties provides a reasonable hope for a life outside prison, Molter later wrote.

Dents release date is in 2042.

Post-Tribune archives contributed.

mcolias@post-trib.com
A federal grand jury in California has returned a new indictment against Chicago rapper Lil Durk that removes allegations that his lyrics referenced the August 2022 murder of a rivals relative in Los Angeles but adds a new stalking count.

The second superseding indictment comes as lawyers for Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Davontay Banks, are attempting again to win his release on bond pending trial based in part on what they say were demonstrably false accusations about his lyrics, which were released months before the shooting involving Quando Rondo at the heart of the case.

The new indictment was returned Thursday, according to a prosecution filing, but had yet to be posted on the online docket as of Friday afternoon. In addition to removing the language about the rap lyrics, prosecutors said in the filing, the latest indictment charges Durk and his five co-defendants with stalking resulting in death  which can carry up to life in prison under certain circumstances.

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Banks, who remains in custody at the federal lockup in Los Angeles, is expected to be arraigned on the new indictment on Thursday, when his attorneys are also planning to argue again for his pretrial release.

Defendant Banks has presented a false narrative that he is being prosecuted and detained because of his violent lyrics, prosecutors wrote in a filing Friday explaining the latest indictment and why he should be considered a danger to the community and flight risk. This claim is, and has always been, baseless.  He should remain detained pending trial.

Banks lawyer, Jonathan Brayman, told the Tribune in a statement Friday that the governments decision to remove the reference to his clients lyrics from the indictment represents a significant vindication of our position on this critical issue.

Our team is currently reviewing the new indictment and will respond accordingly in the ongoing fight to secure Mr. Banks release and ultimate exoneration, Brayman said.

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Banks, 32, was charged in October with paying five associates of his South Side rap consortium, Only the Family, to kill Quando Rondo  born Tyquian Terrel Bowman  in retaliation for the November 2020 shooting death of King Von, another Chicago drill rap artist and Banks close friend. Prosecutors allege Banks also offered lucrative music opportunities to those who were accused of taking part in the shooting. He pleaded not guilty in November.

Bowman, his sister and his cousin, Saviaya Robinson, 24, had pulled into a gas station in West Hollywood in Bowmans black Cadillac Escalade when gunmen opened fire, according to the federal charges. Bowman and his sister were not injured, but Robinson was struck multiple times and killed.

Banks was arrested near a Florida airport in late October hours after the indictment against his co-defendants was unsealed. Prosecutors allege Banks had purchased seats on three different international flights shortly before his arrest.

In advance of Banks first detention hearing in December, prosecutors unsealed court records linking the embattled rapper to another alleged murder-for-hire plot involving the Jan. 27, 2022, killing of Stephon Mack, 24, who was shot to death shortly after he exited the Youth Peace Center of Roseland on West 111th Street.

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At the time of his death, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit, Mack was the leader of the Smashville faction of the Gangster Disciples. Banks brother, Dontay Banks, was shot to death outside a nightclub in south suburban Harvey in 2021. According to the warrant application, another Gangster Disciples faction with ties to Smashville carried out the murder.

Lil Durk was and still is offering money for people to kill those responsible for his brothers murder, and more specifically, offering to pay money for any Gangster Disciple that is killed, a federal agent wrote in April 2023.

Banks has not been charged in connection with Macks death.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

scharles@chicagotribune.com
IndyStar staff photojournalist Kelly Wilkinson has been awarded the National Press Photographers Association's Longevity Award. Wilkinson was one of several NPPA Honors Award recipients recognized for their work in visual storytelling.

The NPPA Longevity Award recognizes a photojournalist who has contributed at least 40 years of service to the industry.

"I guess there is something for staying a bit longer," Wilkinson said to NPPA Past President Carey Wagner when she was notified of the recognition. "Get there early and stay late," she said of her career, mirroring a common photojournalism motto.

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Wilkinson's career started in 1983 working for the Atlanta Journal-Consitution. She then moved to the Gwinnett Daily News in Gwinnett County, Ga., before joining the Indianapolis Star staff in 1989.

Kelly Wilkinson photographs a march in Forsyth County, Ga. in the 1980s for the Gwinnett Daily News. In 1912, Forsyth County drove out all of its Black residents. Marchers were met with hatred and violence, including presence by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists. The unruly mob shut down the march, but spurred future protests that brought tens of thousands of protesters to the county.

"Through her images and video, Kelly has created connections that give us a better understanding of each other despite our differences," said Max Gersh, senior visuals editor at IndyStar. "For decades, her work has introduced neighbors to each other. Her lens has focused on nearly every crack and crevice in our community."

In Indianapolis, I joke that Ive photographed everyone at least once," Wilkinson said. "I spend my days seeing through the eyes of others. And I realize that is a wonderful way to live.

Wilkinson will travel to Alexandria, Va., in May to be recognized by the organization.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar photojournalist Kelly Wilkinson receives prestigious NPPA Award
Former Las Vegas Councilman Cedric Crear moderated a housing panel with Mesquite Mayor Jesse Whipple, Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley, Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II, Boulder City Mayor Joe Hardy, and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)

Local elected officials, planning and transportation representatives along with developers gathered Thursday around a central question: how do we address Southern Nevadas ongoing housing shortage?

Much of the early focus at Regional Affordable Housing Forum, hosted by the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, was directed at the longstanding request to open more federal public land in sprawling areas surrounding the Las Vegas valley as a tool to build housing.

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During a panel discussion, led by M.J. Maynard, the CEO with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, around the intersection of affordable housing and transportation, the conversation focused back to infill development.

There is also talk that we will build affordable housing in the outlying areas, Maynard said. Well, there is no public transit out there. There has to be a connection between where people live, where they work and how they get there.

Nevada, like most of the nation, is experiencing an affordable housing crisis with the most extremely burdened renters unable to find places to live.

There are only 17 available homes for every 100 extremely low income households making less than 30% of the area median income, $21,000 for a single person and about $32,000 for a family of four, compared to 94 available homes per 100 renter households making 100% of AMI, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

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There simply arent enough places for people to live, especially without paying more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities  the very definition of affordable housing used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Housing groups and environmental groups have warned against unsustainable urban sprawl that comes from building outward.

David Damore, executive director UNLVs public policy think tank Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, who spoke alongside Maynard on Thursday, said research has shown outside the city limits isnt where people want to live.

A survey from the National Association of Realtors showed youre starting to see less people want to live in the suburbs, he said.

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People want to live near where they work and avoid long commutes, panelists agreed.

The good news is that there are opportunities to do this in the urban core, Damore said, pointing to a recent analysis by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the regional planning collaborative known as Southern Nevada Strong.

The plan identified around 80,000 acres of vacant or underused land in the Southern Nevada area. While a significant portion was in the urban core, he said there were also parts in Boulder City and Mesquite, Damore said.

Earlier in the forum, during a panel including the mayors of Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City, along with Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy discussed affordable housing, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkely acknowledged that its going to be very important to infill (development) and start building up instead of out.

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But that was the only instance of local elected officials mentioning infill development, the mayors focusing their discussion instead on Southern Nevadas traditional planning strategy  expanding the metro areas footprint  and reiterating support for the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, commonly referred to as the Clark County Lands Bill.

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, both Democrats, reintroduced the bill that would open 25,000 acres of public land in Southern Nevada and they say could lead to development of more affordable housing.

McCurdy said during the discussion that the county has been working very diligently with the federal delegation and county staff to offer more amendments to that bill including clarifications on any specific provisions around development for specific area median incomes.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus recently told Nevada Current she was opposed to the bill as written because it has no set aside for affordable housing,  encourages expensive urban sprawl, would create burdens on the states limited water supply, and fails to address infrastructure needed to grow outward.

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Interviewed after the forum, McCurdy said he agreed infill development would better address issues that come from urban sprawl, such as helping to reduce the countys carbon footprint.

He said while the county was pursuing infill development it isnt an either/or when it comes to infill development versus building outside the county limits.

At this moment we cant just say lets just do infill development and not offer the release of land to municipalities, he said. We need all of it.

Maynard asked other transportation and community developer officials how they would address the housing crisis.

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Shani Coleman, the director of Clark Countys office of Community & Economic Development, said county officials are considering ways to encourage adding residential components to commercial developments.

She pointed to Commercial Center, a shopping complex along Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue.

There currently is no housing in the center, but the county is talking about a masterplan that could include housing as well as transportation. Coleman said, adding multiple other Southern Nevada commercial developments could potentially also be transformed to include housing.

There is a sea of  shopping centers and other other complexes around here that are ripe for development, that sit already in our urban areas along our transportation corridors, Coleman said. Just because you see something here right now doesnt mean that has to be the end of what that looks like.

Lombardos housing bill

City and county officials on their panel also praised Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos housing bill, Assembly Bill 540. The legislation proposes to allocate $250 million in funding to build more housing and expands the definition of affordable housing to households with incomes near or above six figures.

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Throughout the forum, many presenters spoke about the need to build attainable housing and workforce housing.

There is something called affordable housing and something called attainable housing and the two are very different, Maynard said at the beginning of her panel.

Some officials at the forum acknowledged that as they were meeting Thursday, the states Economic Forum determined how much to pare back the states budget projections as a result of the hits delivered to the economy by Donald Trumps tariff policies. But none of the officials noted that diminished revenue projections projects could potentially put Lombardos housing bill at risk.

Later on in the morning, U.S. Rep. Stephen Horsford, via a video message, hammered Trumps on again, off again tariffs that have rattled markets and launched the economy toward what many observers warn is a recession.

Because of blanket tariffs on aluminum, lumber and steel, all of which are imported from Mexico and Canada, its compounding on the challenges we are already experiencing by driving the material costs up by another 10 to 15% and possibly as high as 25%, Horsford said. This affects budgeting, timelines and ultimately who can and cannot afford a home.
By Samia Nakhoul, Humeyra Pamuk, Parisa Hafezi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump blindsided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month with a gamble on immediately opening negotiations with Iran. Now, the success of those talks hinges on winning a handful of key concessions to stop the Islamic Republic developing a nuclear bomb, eight sources said.

The pivot to negotiations with Iran in April was a shock for Netanyahu, who had flown to Washington seeking Trump's backing for military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities and learned less than 24 hours before a joint White House press event that U.S. talks with Iran were starting within days, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

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Tehran's leadership remains deeply concerned that Netanyahu may launch a strike - deal or no deal, a senior Iranian security official, said.

However, in just three weeks, the U.S. and Iran have held three rounds of talks aimed at preventing Tehran from building a nuclear weapon in return for sanctions relief. A fourth round is expected to take place in Rome soon.

For this story, Reuters spoke to officials and diplomats from all sides of the negotiations who disclosed previously unreported details under discussion. All requested anonymity to speak about delicate ongoing conversations.

An initial framework under discussion preserves the core of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) - scrapped by Trump in 2018 during his first term, eight sources said.

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A deal may not look radically different to the former pact, which he called the worst in history, but would extend duration to 25 years, tighten verification, and expand so-called sunset clauses that pause but don't completely dismantle aspects of Iran's nuclear program, all the sources said.

Under the terms being discussed, Iran would limit stockpile size and centrifuge types, and dilute, export or seal its 60 percent uranium stock under unprecedented International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) scrutiny - all in exchange for substantial sanctions relief, all the sources said.

The U.S. State Department, Iran's foreign ministry and Netanyahu's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Dennis Ross, a former negotiator under both Republicans and Democrats, said that any new agreement must go further than the JCPOA by imposing a permanent, structural change in Tehrans nuclear capabilities - shrinking its infrastructure to the point where developing a bomb is no longer a practical option.

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"Anything less would leave the threshold threat intact," he told Reuters.

But several red lines are emerging that negotiators will have to circumvent to reach a deal and avert future military action.

Foremost is the question of Iran's capacity to enrich uranium, something Washington and Israel say must stop entirely, leaving Iran reliant on imported uranium for Bushehr, its only existing nuclear power plant, located on the Gulf coast.

Netanyahu is demanding zero enrichment and a Libya-style deal that dismantles Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

Iran says its right to enrich is not negotiable. However the size of the uranium stockpile, shipping stocks out of the country and the number of centrifuges are under discussion, three Iranian officials said.

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Under proposals discussed in rounds of talks in April, Iran would cap enrichment at 3.67%, in line with the JCPOA, all the sources said, including three Iranian officials. Tehran is also open to granting the IAEA expanded access to its nuclear sites, the Iranian sources said.

The proposals do not seek to dismantle Tehrans nuclear infrastructure entirely as Israel and some U.S. officials want, but aim to lock in permanent constraints on uranium enrichment that deter any breakout, the sources said.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff appeared to acknowledge that position in comments last week, but later said Iran must "stop and eliminate" enrichment.

One way out could be for Iran to accept long breaks to the enrichment program, through an extension of sunset clauses, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow and the founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

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"The Iranians, if they were smart, they would settle for much longer sunset clauses going into the future," Vatanka said, emphasizing the importance of each side being able to claim victory in the talks.

Another possible compromise could involve Iran retaining minimal enrichment, with 5,000 centrifuges, while importing the rest of the enriched uranium, possibly from Russia, one of the three Iranian sources, a senior security official, told Reuters.

In return for limits on enrichment, Tehran has demanded watertight guarantees Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, the three Iranian officials said.

Among the red lines mandated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reducing the amount of enriched uranium it stores to below the level agreed in the 2015 deal, the three sources said. Iran has been able to "significantly" increase the amount of uranium it can enrich to 60% purity, the IAEA said in December.

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The JCPOA only permitted Iran to accumulate enriched uranium produced by its first generation IR-1 centrifuges, but now Iran is using far more advanced models banned under the 2015 deal.

A senior regional source close to Tehran said the current debate over Iran's uranium stockpiles centers on whether Iran "will keep a portion of it - diluted - inside the country while sending another portion abroad, possibly to Russia."

According to the source, Iran has even floated the idea of selling enriched uranium to the United States.

Iran currently operates around 15,000 centrifuges. Under the JCPOA Iran was allowed to operated around 6,000.

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"Essentially, the negotiations are shaping into a JCPOA 2 with some additions that would allow Trump to present it as a victory, while Iran could still keep its right to enrichment," the senior Iranian official said.

Another sticking point relates to Iran's ballistic missile manufacturing capacity. Washington and Israel say Iran should stop making missiles. Iran counters that it has a right to self-defense. One Iranian official previously told Reuters it would not go beyond the requirements of the 2015 deal, offering only to avoid building missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads as a "gesture of goodwill."

Washington is pressing to include the ballistic missile program in the talks, but Tehran "continues to reject any discussion," said one regional security official. "The problem", he added, "is that without addressing the missile issue, Trump cannot claim that the new deal goes beyond the JCPOA."

Former negotiator Ross points out the contradiction: Trump abandoned the JCPOA for being too weak, and as a result now faces a reality where Tehran stands at the threshold of nuclear weapons capability.

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"Accepting a deal that mirrors or softens the original would be politically indefensible," he said, suggesting a deal must slash centrifuges from 20,000 to 1,000, ship out all enriched stockpiles, and impose intrusive, penalty-backed inspections.

STRIKE RISK

Vatanka, the analyst, likened Iran's current predicament to the 1988 decision by the regime's founder Ruhollah Khomeini to accept a ceasefire with Iraq - a moment he famously likened to drinking "the bitter chalice of poison"

"It's about survival," Vatanka said. "It's not capitulation."

Diplomats say Netanyahu sees a rare opening: last years military campaigns crippled Irans air defenses, and decimated Hezbollahs missile arsenal - Tehrans primary deterrent.

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"This is a historic window for Israel to strike Iran's nuclear sites," said an official in the Middle East. The United States he said, opposes such a move for several reasons - chief among them the concerns of Gulf Arab states, which Washington cannot ignore given its deep strategic and economic ties in the region.

"Still, it must weigh Israel's security calculations," he said. "So while the U.S. may not take part directly, it could offer indirect support. It would be a difficult operation for Israel - but not an impossible one."

The U.S. military has surged assets in recent weeks to reinforce the Middle East. The Pentagon has deployed six B-2 bombers to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia - a location used in the past to support its military operations in the Middle East.

Additionally, the U.S. currently has two aircraft carriers in the region and has moved in air defense systems from Asia.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Farsi-speaking Middle East expert, warned that a strike may slow Iran's program, but won't eliminate it. "You cannot bomb know-how," he said. "The knowledge is there. Iran has mastered uranium enrichment.

(Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Parisa Hafzei in Dubai; Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
Customers at CVS will be able to buy weight loss drug Wegovy at a discount. Cash purchasers can get the Novo Nordiskmade product for $499 per month. The pharma company has also recently struck deals with major telehealth companies.

CVS and Novo Nordisk have struck a deal that will see the drugstore chain offering the Wegovy weight-loss drug to customers at a discount.

Approximately 9,000 CVS locations will begin selling Wegovy for $499 per month to customers who pay cash out of pocket. That's the same rate Novo Nordisk has offered previously through its online pharmacy.

Novo Nordisk has been looking for ways to expand its market share lately. It also recently aligned itself with telehealth companies Hims & Hers, Ro, and LifeMD to sell Wegovy at a discount for cash customers.

"As the leader in obesity care for more than a decade, it is our responsibility to continue to work with others across the U.S. health care system to find innovative opportunities to meet the needs of these patients and connect them withWegovy in a convenient and affordable way," Dave Moore, president of Novo Nordisk, said in a statement.

Wegovy trails Ozempic in market share. Both drugs are made by Novo Nordisk.

The announcement comes as CVS exceeded analyst expectations in its first-quarter earnings. The company reported earnings per share of $2.25, versus a projected $1.70. Those numbers, however, did not include charges tied to a recent jury verdict against the company's Omnicare program, which found the unit has filed false claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare, resulting in damages of over $135.5 million.

The company also raised its 2025 guidance to a range of $6 to $6.20 in earnings per share, up from $5.75 to $6.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Donald Trump has historically bad poll numbers for a president through the first 100 days in office, but the White Houses 2026 midterms strategy will run through Trump himself while trying to re-create the energy behind his 2024 campaign.

Republicans and top White House advisers generally believe the midterm maps are favorable to them in the Senate but more up in the air on the House side. But Trumps lagging poll numbers  and what has become an unpopular, tariff-dominated economic policy, at least for now  have some Republicans concerned that both chambers could be at risk.

The 2026 goal, according to nearly a dozen Republican operatives and Trump advisers NBC News interviewed, is to try to overcome negative economic sentiment by rekindling the energy Trump brings when he is on the ballot  a needed boost for the party after Democrats have outpaced Republicans in recent special congressional and state-level elections.

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House and Senate leaders are already in close consultation with the White House about key candidates who would benefit from Trump's endorsement, both to navigate primaries and to gin up general election support. His political operation is banking millions of dollars in explicitly Trump-aligned political groups that will play heavily in the midterms alongside Republicans' party committees and principal congressional super PACs. And then, top Republicans expect the rest of the party to lean into Trump's message to make the best possible pitch to his supporters to vote in 2026.

The push needs to be to push that energy. In some states his endorsement will be very beneficial, and its up to candidates to try and replicate his messaging to spur turnout, said Rachel Reisner, a longtime Republican operative who worked for Trumps 2024 campaign.

Reisner added that some of the most intense Trump voters who support him in presidential election cycles do not always show up in nonpresidential races, something that has been amplified in recent special elections, most notably a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, where Democrats overperformed compared with the political makeup of the districts in play. She said getting those voters to get engaged as though Trump is on the ballot will be a key push for Republicans next year.

We clearly know a motivated, angry liberal is likely to turn out to vote, Reisner said. We cant get too full of ourselves or think we have the perfect messaging. There are some center-right voters who voted for President Trump who said, Of course we will win, but we need to make sure those people turn out.

Shaping the issues and the candidates on the field

Much of the dynamic as the midterm election takes shape will be about immigration policy versus economic policy.

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Trumps handling of immigration, which has led to a significant reduction of border crossings at the southern border, has generally gotten higher marks from voters, and the White House is eager to talk that up. But his decision to impose tariffs on most of the world has sent shock waves through the financial markets and has had political ripple effects that could erode Republican confidence if, as promised, the administration does not cut a series of trade deals in the very near future.

The presidents economic policies have been disastrous with this tariff play, right? said a longtime prominent Republican donor. Its disastrous. I think it does put the Senate in play. I mean, I think it puts a ton of pressure on the House.

If they dont announce some deals, and, I mean, like, in the next two weeks, I think theyre going to have real problems, the person added.

Yet Republicans do have serious opportunities in the Senate, which Democrats could flip by netting four seats. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is a top target, and the GOP is trying to flip open seats held by retiring Democrats in Michigan, New Hampshire and Minnesota. Meanwhile, the only Republican senators who appear in danger are Maines Susan Collins and North Carolinas Thom Tillis.

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Before he won it last year, Georgia had been a problem area for Trump, marked by Ossoff's and Sen. Raphael Warnock's runoff victories in January 2021 and a failed attempt to defeat GOP Gov. Brian Kemp in a primary.

But one Trump adviser, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly, said Trump would back Kemp if he were to challenge Ossoff, as Republican leaders would like, despite the past tension.

No doubt, he would endorse Kemp, the person said.

Trump plans to endorse in both Senate and House primaries ahead of the midterms, including "in competitive seats," the White House adviser said, with special attention on how incumbents vote on Trump's legislative priorities this year.

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So far, there has been some delay between Senate GOP leaders endorsements in key races and Trumps chiming in. Both Tim Scott, of South Carolina, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, have backed former Rep. Mike Rogers Senate bid in Michigan while other Republicans consider running. They have also backed Sen. John Cornyns re-election run in Texas, where he will face a primary fight against state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump has not endorsed yet in either race.

The Trump adviser said his lack of immediate endorsement in those races should not be interpreted as a sign of distance between him and Senate GOP leaders, who talked to him before they made the early endorsements.

I would tell you they would not be moving so aggressively without some directionality, the adviser said. The president is probably leaning towards Mike [Rogers].

A person familiar with the NRSCs thinking said no endorsement decisions are made without making sure the White House is aware of whats going on.

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There is some tension between the White House and Scott, who ran against Trump in 2023 before he dropped out of the GOP race and later endorsed him. Some of the heartburn comes from Scotts trying to hire staff members perceived as having worked for groups that previously opposed Trump.

The Trump adviser did little to downplay the potential tension, offering a less-than-ringing endorsement for Scotts leadership.

I mean, hes OK, I guess, the person said.

Spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez said the NRSC is on the same page with Trump.

Republicans are working as one team with President Trump to deliver for the American people, protect and grow our Majority in 2026, and hold Senate Democrats and candidates accountable for their radical, out-of-touch priorities and dishonest fear-mongering, she said in a statement.

Pouring pro-Trump money into the midterms

The White House does plan to deploy our own resources during the midterms through a series of super PACs and other vehicles, the White House adviser said, a signal that its political shop will run its own campaign strategy rather than just rely on party-aligned campaign organizations like the NRSC.

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I think [the White House] will be deploying significant resources on its own, the adviser said. Anyone looking for a big contribution will be disappointed. I think this will be protracted trench warfare, and we have the munitions.

Republicans say the early midterm data is encouraging, despite Trumps low personal polling numbers. Internal polling touted this week by the National Republican Congressional Committee found Democrats essentially tied with Republicans on a generic ballot offered to likely voters in competitive House districts. At this point in the 2018 midterm cycle, during Trumps first administration, Democrats had a 6-point lead in that measure.

Several recent media polls have found Democrats with a slight edge in national generic ballot tests, within the margins of error. Much can also change in the year-plus before the midterm elections, but Republicans are hopeful the numbers hint at something closer to 2022, when Democrats performed better than expected in President Joe Biden's lone midterm election (though they still narrowly lost the House).

Its a small map, a House Republican strategist said. If you look at 2024, there were 10 races that were won by 5,000 votes or less.

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A person close to the White House, who was granted anonymity to share internal thinking, noted that Trumps polling numbers, while they are dipping, are better than they were in 2017. But this person also cautioned that outside factors  like an economic depression or escalating wars in the Middle East  could shift the trajectory.

Where to send Trump

Still, Trump remains a large draw, and this person said the biggest mistake Republicans could make would be to sideline him.

They should want Trump anywhere and everywhere that hes willing to go for the very simple fact that we now have empirical evidence that theres a large group of voters who are not automatic Republican voters  theyre automatic Trump voters, the source close to the White House said.

The House GOP strategist agreed.

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The whole end game in 2026 is to get these Trump voters out to vote again, this person said. Its what were all trying to figure out  if we can get these presidential voters to come out and vote in the midterms. So the president is helpful. These are his voters, and we need to turn them out. And no one is better at turning out those voters than Donald J. Trump.

Democrats need to net only three seats to flip the House, but Republicans can find hope in some of the House map battle lines. Democrats represent 13 House districts that Trump won last year, compared with only three Republicans in seats won by Kamala Harris, according to an analysis of election results by NBC News' Decision Desk.

This is a map where we can go on offense, the Trump adviser said.

The person close to the White House who favors sending Trump anywhere he is willing to go was unsure how much he would want to campaign and envisioned a scenario in which Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President JD Vance would pitch in to headline rallies across the country. Vance, who is expected to run in 2028 to succeed the Trump, who is term-limited, could be boosted by a successful supporting role in the midterms. He is likely to be heavily deployed in key races, this person added.

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Between the president, the vice president and Don Jr., Republicans actually have three surrogates that can drive serious earned media anywhere they go and draw big crowds anywhere they go. Is there anyone the Democrats have that compares to that? this person said.

Republicans also see a favorable Senate map  just in terms of the open seats and where they are, said Greg Manz, a Michigan-based GOP strategist who was an adviser to Trumps 2020 campaign.

Manz saw Trumps visit this week to Macomb County, Michigan  a swingy slice of Detroit suburbs long known for its Reagan Democrats  as foreshadowing for an intense focus on the state.

Trump announced new fighter jets for an endangered Air National Guard base and presided over a bipartisan event that included Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who could be a candidate for president in 2028, and Rep. John James, a Republican running to succeed Whitmer, who is term-limited, next year.

Michigans races for governor, an open U.S. Senate seat and several competitive U.S. House seats, including James' in Macomb County, will be among the key races in the country.

As much time as we can get him in Macomb, it will be key, Manz said, also name-dropping Pennsylvania and New York as places with important House races where Republicans believe Trump is uniquely capable of turning out GOP votes.

There is some concern that if Democrats take the House, they could move to impeach Trump for a third time, which his political operation already has in mind. In fact, it wants to keep that notion in the headlines as a way to remind Republican voters of the stakes of the 2026 midterms.

The Trump adviser dismissed the notion of Democrats winning the House, despite how close the margins are. "But," the adviser said, "this is about making sure voters remember the stakes of the midterm elections."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
During a daylong conference in Washington D.C., leaders from government and the tech industry discussed how the U.S. could keep its lead against China in the AI race. Several speakers mentioned the need for the U.S. to attract the best tech talent from around the world. Those comments come at a time when the country has seen widespread immigration crackdowns that have swept up legal immigrants.

In an auditorium in the lower levels of Capitol Hill, tech leaders and policymakers gathered to discuss the AI arms race against China.

At the conference, known as the Hill and Valley Forum, luminaries from the tech worldNvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Palantir CEO Alex Karp, and venture capitalist Keith Raboissat for interviews, while top government officials like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson gave keynote addresses.

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Attendees heard panels about self-driving submarines, training warfighters to use AI drones, and AI-powered rare-earth mines. As part of the conferences theme of Rebuilding America, much of the conversation focused on the need for the U.S. to outcompete China in developing the suite of new technologies for the AI age. To do so, the U.S. would need to generate more power, build countless new data centers, and revitalize the Department of Defenses innovation-averse organizational culture, according to conferences speakers. The U.S. would also need to maintain its advantage in recruiting the worlds best technologists, including from other countries.

We need to make sure that the best people in the world are here and that they are building alongside our companies, said Thrive Capital founder Josh Kushner.

Elected officials in attendance also said the same. During a panel on AI policy, Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said if the U.S. could keep the brightest minds here, it would win this game against China.

Number one, it is a matter of being inviting to other people that can actually create the future with us, Rounds said.

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Others at the conference made more overt calls to attract qualified people from the U.S.s rival nations to strengthen the domestic talent pool, while weakening theirs. Lux Capital founder Josh Wolfe, who moderated a panel on the use of AI in national defense, said he hoped to see a brain drain coming from China and maybe other adversarial countries to the U.S.

During the same session, Qasar Youniscofounder and CEO of Applied Intuition, which develops autonomous vehicles, including for military purposespointed to the fact that many companies in Silicon Valley have large numbers of immigrants.

There should be no question if youre a doctoral student, or if you have a PhD in China, or a PhD in Russia and you want to come to the United States, we should find ways to attract that talent, Younis said.

Younis also said that because of Applied Intuition's close ties to the Pentagon, he worries about espionage from China. He called for an immigration policy that protects U.S. companies from potential Chinese spies but doesnt throw the baby out with the bathwater.

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We have to have nuanced policies that specifically address China or other countries, other adversaries, but not everybody, Younis said.

Younis saw sourcing talent from across the world as a boon for the U.S. tech industry. There are 8 billion people and we need to continue to attract them, he said. That's our edge.

Vinod Khosla, the founder of Khosla Ventures, who is also a major investor in OpenAI, said not getting the right amount of immigration was one of the biggest risks to U.S. techs lead against China.

America's advantage is we get the best talent from anywhere in the world. If there's one thing I'd say we could do, it's to get people who have PhDs in math or physics or AI to [come] here. Proactively go woo them to be here because it will be our largest advantage.

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Immigration policy in the tech industry became a flashpoint earlier this year when different factions of the Republican party fought over whether to curb H-1B visas for highly skilled workers Silicon Valley usually employs. Some immigration hardliners advocated for reducing the levels of both illegal and legal immigration, while conservative tech leaders, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, thought that H-1B visas were critical for the industrys continued success. It was a rare rift in an otherwise tight-knit Republican party. (None of the speakers at the Hill and Valley Forum mentioned the months-old H-1B visa controversy.)

Immigration is one of President Donald Trumps signature issues. Since taking office, the administration has targeted both illegal and legal immigrants, and particularly those at colleges and universities. International students across the country have been stripped of their legal status. Some have sued the government in court to have their student visas reinstated. Other international students have been detained by authorities. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

On Wednesday, Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) alluded to the administrations actions toward international students. He said the administration threatening people with immigration is going to cut down on our talent and on our institutional capacity to innovate. He also highlighted funding cuts to academic institutions, which had halted ongoing research projects.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Evansvilles Interfaith Council met downtown on Thursday to observe National Day of Prayer.

The event started off with Mater Deis Choir performing the national anthem. Representatives from several faiths offered short prayers, with this years theme being pour out to the god of hope and be filled.

Evansville has hosted this interfaith observance for decades.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
President Donald Trumps search for an alternative Air Force One has supposedly taken a new turn, with reports that L3Harris is being tapped to modify a Boeing 747-8 once belonging to the ruling family of Qatar. The background to this is the long-running delays in Boeings program to complete two future VC-25B presidential aircraft. New aircraft are required to replace the Air Forces two existing and increasingly tough to support VC-25As, the first of which entered service in 1990. However, there are big questions around the feasibility of an interim Air Force One, especially bearing in mind its exacting requirements for communications, security and survivability.

According to a report from business news channel CNBC, L3Harris Technologies is set to work on modifications to the former Qatari 747. The channel cited a person familiar with the matter who wasnt authorized to speak to the media. TWZ has approached L3Harris for comment. Interestingly, only last month, reports emerged connecting L3Harris with communications modifications for Trumps personal Boeing 757, or Trump Force One. We did not get a response to our inquiries.

A VC-25A Air Force One upon arrival at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, on April 25, 2025, for the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican. Photo by Marcao Mantovani/Getty Images Marco Mantovani

Earlier this year, reports were circulating on how Trump was looking at alternative options for the next Air Force One, including how he had reportedly inspected the former Qatari jet at Palm Beach International, Florida. As you can read about in this previous in-depth piece, the 12-year-old aircraft previously belonged to the ruling family of Qatar but was subsequently refurbished and then went into private ownership.

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As it stands, the Air Force is waiting to replace its current Air Force One fleet, comprised of two VC-25As that are based on the older 747-200 model. 747-200s have all but disappeared from the skies and finding parts and general support for the type is getting harder and more expensive with each passing year.

The designated replacements for these legacy Air Force Ones are the two VC-25Bs that Boeing is converting from 747-8i airliners, as you can read more about here.

With production of the 747 having ended for good in December 2022, the VC-25Bs are being converted from existing, second-hand airframes. This has been far from straightforward. There have also been issues with acquiring components for the aircraft since some of the manufacturers have gone out of business, as well as changing requirements on evolving potential threats.

Last summer, the planned first flight was pushed back to March 2026, a delay of 16 months.

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Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the VC-25Bs may not be delivered until 2029 at the earliest  this would mean Trump would not get the opportunity to make use of the aircraft before leaving office after his second term ends. At one point, a first delivery was slated for December 2024.

One of the Boeing 747-8i jets now in the process of becoming a VC-25B Air Force One aircraft heads to Texas in March 2019 to begin conversion. Matt Hartman/Shorealone Films

All these delays have led to Boeing recording losses of more than $2 billion on the program, the contract for which was negotiated on a fixed-price basis.

The aircraft are already staggeringly expensive, with the program set to cost around $4.7 billion for the aircraft alone. No previous aircraft has ever cost so much, and thats before accounting for other expenses, such as an enormous new hangar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, valued at around $250 million. Even the VC-25Bs manuals are costing many tens of millions of dollars.

Architectural plans for the new Air Force One hangar, showing side elevations. NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

The prestige of the new Air Force Ones, the mounting costs and delays, and Trumps affinity for and experience with luxury aircraft, have seen the 45th and 47th president take a very personal interest in the program.

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Trump claims to have single-handedly slashed the cost of the jets, although that is debatable. After being elected for a second time, he has become even more active in trying to get the program back on track.

According to reports from earlier this year, Trump has been looking at ways of accelerating the delivery of the two VC-25Bs, including relaxing security clearances for those working on the jets. The implications of this are something TWZ has discussed in detail in the past.

A rendering of a VC-25B with the livery President Trump selected during his first term in office. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong

Close Trump ally Elon Musk, de facto leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has also been drafted in.

Boeings CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC in January this year that were working with Elon to see what we can do to pull up the schedule.

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Elon Musk is actually helping us a lot in working through the requirements  so that we can move faster and get the president those airplanes delivered, Ortberg added.

However successful these efforts are in revitalizing the VC-25B program, they are not expected to bring an aircraft into service within the required timeline.

This has led to interest in an interim Air Force One, with the ex-Qatari 747-8 reportedly the chosen candidate.

The latest report suggests that L3Harris may already be been lined up to transform the super luxurious 747-8i into a U.S. presidential aircraft. The company is one of a small number of companies that could handle a project of this size and scope, with the other obvious contractor being Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which was previously contracted to deliver a fleet of highly specialized Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft, also based on 747 airframes.

A rendering of 747-8s inside and outside of SNCs new hangar in Dayton, Ohio. SNC

Still, its unclear if this aircraft could be brought into service much more quickly than the VC-25Bs already being converted into Air Force One aircraft by Boeing.

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The rapid introduction of the converted ex-Qatari jet would almost certainly require an aircraft with drastically reduced specifications compared with the VC-25B.

Some idea of what that might look like was provided after Musk reportedly visited the Boeing facility in San Antonio, Texas, last December, looking at ways to accelerate the production of the VC-25Bs.

As well as issues of security clearances, Musk has reportedly also been critical of the amount of time built into the program for flight testing.

The idea was that we could just strip out a lot of the military stuff, just give the president a good-looking new airplane to fly in with commercial capabilities and maybe some minimal military upgrades, an unnamed former Pentagon official told The New York Times, after Musks apparent visit to Boeing in San Antonio.

Elon Musk boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 21, 2025. Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI

While there are ways of getting an Air Force One-type jet into service more quickly, its highly questionable if the end product would meet the strict requirements for the critical continuity of government mission, which you can read about in detail here. It also includes needing to be able to connect with the National Command Authority at any time, as this underpins Americas nuclear deterrent, and operating in the most demanding situations, including a nuclear apocalypse. Such an aircraft requires hardening against the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP), extensive secure communications systems, vast power generation, and a very comprehensive self-defense suite, to name just a few major modifications.

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As we have addressed before, the ex-Qatari 747-8 is not suited for fulfilling these demanding requirements, especially since the Air Force has previously talked about getting an interim jet into service within a years time.

Of course, Trump and Musk may have other ideas, one of which might involve bringing the ex-Qatari jet into service in a more basic configuration, one that wouldnt necessarily be suitable for the existing demands of the presidential airlift missions. Then, the full-spec Air Force Ones could be utilized once they are finally delivered. But this would cause a cascade of issues for the White House, Secret Service, and the Air Force as the entire playbook of how the president operates while in the air would have to be reworked. The risks to the presidents safety would also increase and major contingencies would have to be built around not having an aircraft as capable as Air Force One needs to be, according to existing requirements.

A rendering of a future VC-25B Air Force One jet in the colors worn by the current fleet. U.S. Air Force



Then there is the money. Where is the funding coming from for this project? The aircraft itself will cost hundreds of millions and even the minimal communications and defensive modifications will cost much more. It will still have to be tested and once the VC-25Bs are ready, what will happen to it? So this will all have to be figured out. Also, in an era of DOGE, rushing a stop-gap Air Force One replacement so that the president can enjoy a newer jet for a few years seems like it would be billed as the absolute epitome of waste by many. This is especially true as the existing VC-25As are still operating and there is also a fleet of C-32As that execute the Air Force One mission more often now on domestic travels.

Taken into account, this all sounds pretty far-fetched, but one thing that is clear is that the Air Force One program is one in which Trump continues to take a keen interest, and further dramatic developments shouldnt be ruled out.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  New details are emerging in the apparent suicide of Interim Cowlitz Tribal Police Chief Charles Gardiner last month.

Originally, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said the incident last week was an apparent burglary-turned-suicide in Vancouver. However, authorities are now saying they are no longer investigating it as a burglary. In fact, officials now say they are investigating allegations that Gardiner committed sex offenses against a minor.

Portland auditor wont investigate Zenith permit

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On the night of April 23, deputies investigated the incident near Northeast 79th Street, which culminated in discovering Gardiner dead in his car following a report of a man inside someones home.

The caller had discovered Gardiner in the residence and got into a physical altercation with him before he fled. There is no indication that there was a residential burglary, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. The Sheriffs Office has opened a criminal investigation into several sex offenses believed to have been committed by Gardiner against a juvenile victim.

Officials said evidence shows Gardiners death was consistent with a suicide. Now, the sheriffs office is splitting the incident into two investigations: the death investigation and a criminal investigation.

Authorities said additional details are limited due to the sensitive nature of this investigation.

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KOIN 6 News reached out to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe for comment about the recent update from the Clark County Sheriffs Office. In response, a spokesperson for the tribe said:

This new information is shocking and deeply painful to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and our members, and we are all grappling with what has come to light.

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 KOIN.com.
From the onset, the international mission to help Haiti wrest back control from armed gangs faced challenges and skepticism.

There were legal challenges in Nairobi and push-back in Washington from congressional Republicans as the Biden administration sought to provide the first $40 million in seed money to get the Kenya-led mission going, as a united front of powerful armed gangs mounted a broad assault in Port-au-Prince to take down the government.

Now, nearly a year after the arrival of the first 200 Kenyan police officers in June of 2024, the Multinational Security Support mission is in danger of falling apart amid a worsening humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, a lack of strategy by the United States and paralysis at the U.N. Security Council.

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In June, the operator of the U.S.-built mission base adjacent to the Port-au-Prince international airport needs to be notified if they will get a $200 million payment to continue operations for six months after the contract comes up for renewal in September. Meanwhile, money is still needed for critical equipment, more troops and forward operating bases.

According to the U.N., pledges received in cash to a Trust Fund for the mission amount to $110.9 million. Of that, $21 million in cash has been disbursed to date, leaving a cash balance of approximately $90 million.

A significant gap persists that hinders the desired mission effectiveness, Kenya National Security Minister Monica Juma told the Security Council last week. With the current deployment at 1,000 personnel, which is less than 40% of the anticipated 2,500, the mission is operating at sub-optimal level in terms of numbers of officers in theater, types and range of assets available to the mission, she added.

But thats not the missions only problem. In recent, weeks, its numbers have also shrunk as Caribbean nations continued to put their own deployments on hold.

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Jamaica, which recently sent 26 soldiers and cops to replace its first contingent, still has not fully deployed its promised 250 officers. Belize, which had two soldiers in Port-au-Prince, has pulled them out and is currently reassessing. The Bahamas, which also has yet to fully deploy, just downsized its six officers to three.

Armored vehicles used by Kenyan police rumble through the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The vehicles are part of the United States more than $600 million in contributions to the U.N.-backed Multinational Security Support mission.

The indecision and diplomatic wrangling are leading to growing uncertainty and fears that Haiti could be left to go at it alone even as U.N. officials sound the alarm that the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation is approaching a point of no return.

I am convinced, with no reason aside from hope to think otherwise, that all signs point to Haiti being abandoned to its fate by the rest of the world, said Jim Grant, executive director of Global Birthing Home Foundation & Maison de Naissance in Torbeck in southern Haiti. There are many who advocate for action, but none willing to commit.

The frustration is not just among those running operations in Haiti, but among U.N. officials who note Haiti needs is a well-resourced and politically supported deployment.

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What the [mission] has done so far is both admirable and remarkable, but the situation has evolved and the current solution just isnt going to turn the tide, said a senior U.N. official with knowledge of the situation. Meanwhile, the Haitian people continue to bear the cost of the Security Councils inability or unwillingness to act.

Mission approved in 2023

The Kenya-led mission was first approved by the Security Council in October 2023 but took months to come together as its main financial backer, the U.S., cobbled together the financing and equipment.

By the time the first contingent of Kenyan police arrived, the country had spiraled deeper into lawlessness. Armed gangs had unified under a powerful coalition called Viv Ansanm, Living Together, and more than 4,000 prisoners, some of them accused gang leaders and killers, had been freed from the countrys two largest prisons.

Slow to deploy, the international mission and Haitis outgunned and out-manned national police were no match for Viv Ansanm, which now controls 90% of Port-au-Prince, or the allied Gran Grif gang operating in Haitis Artibonite region. In the past year the gangs have been behind some of the countrys worst massacres, including fresh attacks this week in the central Haiti town of Petite-Riviere de lArtibonite that left several people dead, including an 11-year-old child.

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On Wednesday, the attacks continued as videos shared on social media showed Haitians fleeing into the Artibonite river in an attempt to get away.

One year after the inauguration of #Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, the govt has yet failed to curb gang violence.



As political tensions peak and gangs tighten their grip, the UN Security Council shows no sign of stepping up security support. https://t.co/tzydk6S5DA  Diego Da Rin (@diego_darin) April 25, 2025

The mission undeniably helped the situation in Haiti, but right now the situation is deteriorating rapidly and its imperative that the international community address this issue, immediately and substantively, said the U.N. official. The Secretary-General put a practical constructive and achievable option on the table and unfortunately, the Security Council hasnt even discussed it yet. That needs to change immediately.

In February, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered to provide financial, logistics and political support to the mission. It would be paid for through the U.N.s peacekeeping budget, while the missions other funding would still come through voluntary contributions.

But last week as members of the Security Council met and fired accusations at one another over the lack of action on Haiti, the proposal wasnt even taken up. No counter proposal was offered.

Members of the United Nations Security Council discuss the crisis in Haiti on. Jan. 22, 2025.

Several U.N. observers blame the Security Councils paralysis on the U.S. Though Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently brought Haiti up in discussions with Caribbean leaders and recently restored $13 million in frozen assistance to the U.N. Trust Fund, observers say hes limited by the lack of a mandate from the White House.

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In a recent declaration during the Security Council meeting, the U.S. said it can no longer continue to shoulder such a significant burden after the Biden administration shelled out more than $600 million for the mission.

Asked about the future of the security response in Haiti, a State Department spokesperson told the Miami Herald the U.S. continues to provide critical equipment, transportation, medical evacuations and logistical support.

The United States condemns the ongoing gang violence in Haiti, the spokesperson said. We commend the dedication of the courageous men and women of the Multinational Security Support mission and those supporting the Haitian national police as they counter violent gangs and work to restore security for the Haitian people.

During the Security Council meeting, Kenyan National Security Minister Monica Juma said the surge in gang attacks is threatening any gains made since the deployment of the mission a year ago, though she continued to endorse her East African nations role in the mission.

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Kenya President William Ruto is under increasing pressure at home to bring back his police officers.

Weaponized drones

Haiti has recently turned to weaponized drones to help its fight, and reportedly signed a contract with a U.S. based security firm though the government has not been transparent about the role of foreign contractors.

Last year, more than 5,600 Haitians were killed by armed gang violence. In the first three months of this year a U.N. report has put the deaths at more than 1,600.

If the international community continues to do nothing more than issue sternly worded condemnations, there will be no end to the death and suffering in Haiti, said Grant. Those few of us who have persisted in providing life-saving care in the face of overwhelming odds ... will eventually be overwhelmed and forced to withdraw. What then for Haiti? Will the world sit back and watch a sovereign nation burn, afraid to get involved, pointing fingers at each other, while all are guilty of neglect? Be it colonialism, racism, classism, or whatever, in the end it will finally be a genocide of indifference, and a global disgrace.

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Grant said he had hoped that the closure of the University Hospital of Mirebalais, which was forced to shut down this month after gangs took over the central Haitian city, would tip the scale of justice and outrage in Haitis favor.

But it was just another blip on the global radar like every other atrocity preceding it, he said of the medical facility built by the late Paul Farmer after the 2010 earthquake, which became a model of healthcare delivery. I am convinced, with no reason aside from hope to think otherwise, that all signs point to Haiti being abandoned to its fate by the rest of the world.

Last week, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund met in Washington to discuss a plan to rebuild Haitis infrastructure and social services. But such a plan is meaningless without the restoration of security.

Earlier this week, while members of the Gran Grif gang targeted rural communities in the Artibonite region there were more attacks in Port-au-Prince not far from the presidential palace.

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A businesswoman who makes custom leather shoes, handbags and belts and runs a showroom and factory that employed 15 people said her businesses were among those attacked. A 15-year-old boy who worked for her was shot in the head, and two other employees were kidnapped, she said.

The gangs continue to operate with impunity, and every attempt by the U.N. Security Council to change the dynamic of doing nothing has failed, Grant said. The U.S. is pulling out, France is happy to talk about reparations, but nobody is stepping up to do what needs to be done to save Haiti as country from the depredations of the gangs.
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo.  Authorities are interviewing more students at a daycare in an ongoing suspected child abuse investigation.

Christopher Titus is facing accusations of sodomy and child molestation against two children at Here We Grow Early Care and Education in Webster Groves. Last week, FOX 2 News uncovered allegations against Titus dating back to 2019. The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office is revisiting the old allegations and will look back to the beginning of Titus employment at Here We Grow in 2018.

When I saw the news that night, I was like, nope. Im not sending her back tomorrow, parent Kristen Pierce said.

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Pierce immediately pulled her daughter out of school at Here We Grow in March when Titus was first charged.

Ill never know if Im asking the right questions, so thats why I enrolled her in play therapy. Also, because it was such an abrupt change for her, Pierce said. We pulled her away from all of her friends, her teachers that she did love, and just pulled her out immediately and said, Youre not going back.

The case was transferred to St. Charles County due to a reported conflict in St. Louis County. Prosecutors in St. Charles County are speaking with several other kids and their families.

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Its a very active case right now. I know the interviews were conducted; some yesterday and some today, St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joe McCulloch said.

Titus was hired in 2018. The first allegations were made against him in 2019, but they were found unsubstantiated at the time.

I know there were some reports of concerns expressed a few years ago. I think that those are going to be looked into again, but were also looking from that time period until now, the entire time that hes been working there, McCulloch said.

As the investigation is moving forward, Pierce is worried more will come forward and fears what still might be found.

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It makes me sick to my stomach knowing all of the children that mightve been held victim to him, she said.

Mcculloch said that if anyone used this facility in recent years, parents should be sure to talk to their children about their experience.

Here We Grow is appealing the states effort to revoke its license. Here We Grow says that Titus was deemed eligible for employment by the state as recently as August.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (WGN)  An investigation is underway after three employees at a southwest suburban middle school were allegedly involved in inappropriate conduct towards a teen student.

According to officials from the Village of Bolingbrook, officers first learned about the allegations on Tuesday, April 8, after receiving information about a staff member at Brooks Middle School who had allegedly been communicating inappropriately with a 14-year-old Valley View School District student.

Officials did not provide details on the alleged communication or identify the employee involved.

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Valley View School District 365U (VVSD) was notified of the investigation by Bolingbrook police and immediately began an internal investigation.

On Friday, VVSD announced that the staff member has been placed on administrative leave.

The districts investigation found that two additional employees were involved in inappropriate conduct towards the student. Those staff members were also placed on administration leave.

Brooks Middle School is at 350 Blair Lane in Bolingbrook.

A board meeting is scheduled Monday to vote on the administrative recommendation to terminate the employment of those involved.

Officials said no charges have been filed against the employees.

VVSD released the following statement Friday:

The Valley View School District 365U administration was notified of an investigation by the Bolingbrook Police Department regarding alleged inappropriate conduct by a Brooks Middle School staff member with a former Brooks Middle School student. As such, VVSD immediately began an internal investigation into the allegations and placed the staff member on administrative leave. The resulting investigation found that two additional employees were involved in inappropriate conduct towards the student. Both of these staff members were placed on administrative leave as well. VVSD has scheduled a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM, at which time the VVSD Board will vote on the administrative recommendation to terminate the employment of those involved. VVSD is fully cooperating and working with the Bolingbrook Police Department to facilitate this ongoing investigation and at this time cannot share any additional details on this matter. Valley View School District 365U

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 golden dome of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Two major roadblocks remain before Iowa lawmakers can pass the states budget and end the 2025 legislative session  pipelines and paraeducator pay, among a few other spending priorities.

Iowa lawmakers will not receive most session per-diem payments after Friday  a milestone meant to spur legislators to approve budget bills and end the session. While Republicans hold a trifecta of control at the Statehouse, there are still disagreements between the two chambers on funding and policy proposals. One of the major pieces of policy that remains up for discussion is the use of eminent domain in carbon sequestration pipeline projects.

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On Wednesday, a group of 12 GOP senators sent a letter to Senate leadership demanding debate on House File 639, legislation passed by the House and approved through the Senate committee process.

We believe addressing eminent domain is more important than the budget or any other priority for the 2025 session and pledge to vote against any remaining budget bill until a floor vote occurs on the clean HF639 bill, the letter states.

Bills need a constitutional majority, at least 26 votes, in order to pass the Senate. If the 12 Republican senators who signed the letter and all 16 Democrats vote against a bill, the measure will fail.

The lawmakers who signed onto the letter were Sens. Kevin Alons, Doug Campbell, Rocky De Witt, Lynn Evans, Dennis Guth, Mark Lofgren, Mike Pike, Dave Rowley, Sandy Salmon, Dave Sires, Jeff Taylor and Cherielynn Westrich. These senators and others have spoken on the Senate floor about the need to pass a bill on eminent domain and pipelines during points of personal privilege following debate in the past two weeks.

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Sen. David Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, said Senate discussion on the use of eminent domain in pipeline projects has been a long time coming as Senate discussions on similar measures have failed to advance for the past three years.

We had a lot of pushback over the years and and we felt this year, it was getting strung out as well, so we took this measure to do everything we can to bring it to the floor, Rowley said.

The measures brought up in 2025 and during previous legislative sessions largely focus on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would span more than 1,000 miles in Iowa transporting liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to underground storage facilities in North Dakota. Rowley said he has had many discussions with landowners who would be affected by the Summit project, many of whom are concerned about the potential health risks posed by a CO2 pipeline on their property.

Its horrible to think that the government could come in and force them to have that pipeline on their property, Rowley said. And even though Summits done a great job I think, working with people or trying to, its still  its not enough. It cant be enough.

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The bill brought up in the letter is a measure the House advanced in March to prohibit carbon sequestration pipelines from using eminent domain in Iowa. Floor debate at the time included concerns over the Senates avoidance of eminent domain bills over the past several years.

The proposal combines a number of bills previously proposed in the House aimed at hindering the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. The bill would increase insurance requirements for pipeline operators, limit permits to one 25-year term and adjust the definition of a common carrier that would eligible for eminent domain. The bill also requires a member of the Iowa Utilities Commission be present at all hearings, limits the commissions ability to impose sanctions on Iowans who intervene in the proceedings and allows affected Iowans, including lawmakers, to intervene.

Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, proposed a major amendment to the bill that would remove the eminent domain ban and broaden the scope of the bill to include all eminent domain projects in the state  such as roads or utility lines  not just liquid hazardous pipelines. The amendment, which can only be officially adopted on the floor, would allow projects to find voluntary easements outside of the original project corridor, which Bousselot said during committee hearings would allow projects to avoid eminent domain.

His amendment would also require an IUC decision on a permit within one year and strikes almost all of the House language, keeping only the IUC attendance requirements and portions of the insurance requirements.

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Sen. Kevin Alons, R-Salix, proposed a strikethrough amendment to Bousselots proposition. Another amendment, proposed by a group of largely the same GOP lawmakers who signed onto the letter, would limit the definition of public use projects in Iowa Code related to eminent domain for the construction of hazardous liquid pipelines for the transportation or transmission of liquefied carbon dioxide.

Salmon, R-Janesville, said in an interview with the Iowa Capital Dispatch the letter was sent as public pressure has been building for Iowa lawmakers to take action on this issue.

By and large, the public has become quite aware of it now, and and really dont see the need for eminent domain to be used for this project, Salmon said. Its a private project. Its for private use. Its not a public use project, and our Constitution requires it be a public use in order to have eminent domain used.

The fact that South Dakota now has a law banning the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipeline has also helped build the momentum to put the same type of prohibitions on CO2 pipelines here in Iowa, Salmon said.

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Sabrina Ahmed Zenor, a spokesperson for Summit, said the company has invested four years and nearly $175 million on voluntary agreements in Iowa, signing agreements with more than 1,300 landowners and securing 75% of the Phase One route.

We are committed to building this project, committed to Iowa, and remain focused on working with legislatorsincluding those with concerns, Zenor said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver said in a statement that a number of Republican Senators are working on policy surrounding eminent domain and pipeline issues and I am optimistic we will find a legislative solution.

Disputes over spending between House, Senate and governor remain

The senators plan to block legislation from moving unless eminent domain legislation comes to the floor is not the only item keeping lawmakers from advancing budget bills.

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On Monday, the governor and Senate Republicans said in a news release they had reached a budget compromise. The same day, House Republicans released their own targets for the states fiscal year 2026 budget.

In the following days, appropriations subcommittees and committees passed budget bills. But as of Thursday, the chambers have not reached resolutions on the line items that remain a conflict between the two chambers. House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, asked lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee Thursday to stand ready for future meetings, but did not lay out a timeline for when the committee will advance the remaining budget bills.

The difference between the two budget targets comes down to $36 million, a relatively small amount when comparing the$9.453 billion in the House proposal and $9.417 billion in the agreement reached between Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans. However, Reynolds said in an interview on the WHO AM Simon Conway show this amount was still important during a time when the state needs to be fiscally responsible, as it faces lower revenue from income tax cuts and federal financial uncertainty.

Somebody said, Well, its not that much money, its only $36 million difference between the two,  well, it is a lot of money, Reynolds said in the interview. Ask Iowans how much money that is. And every time, its that kind of mentality, its that kind of thought process that grows government and gets you in trouble in the first place.

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But House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters Thursday the differences between the two budgets largely entail spending for which House Republicans will have trouble compromising.

One of the largest pieces, $14 million, provides continued funding to raise the pay for paraeducators and other school staff. The measure was first approved in a 2024 law that also made changes to Iowas Area Education Agencies. Grassley said this spending was included in Reynolds original budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 and then removed in negotiations with the Senate.

At no point did we think that that wasnt going to be something that we were going to be able to fund, Grassley said. And I will be honest with you, thats one of the pieces right now that I would say is one of the biggest sticking points. Our caucus feels extremely strongly that if were going to provide that level of support that we did with that bill last year, that were not going to go back and just cut that, and leave our schools in a situation to find the difference.

Reynolds said Thursday in an interview with Radio Iowa that nothing was mentioned about the $14 million in earlier negotiations on education spending related to the State Supplemental Aid package passed in early April.

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Other spending components in House Republicans package that differ between the two chambers are an $8 million bump for community colleges compared to the Senate proposal, and a $9 million difference in funding for certain nursing facility reimbursement rates.

In a statement Friday, the governor said negotiations on the budget have never been focused on funding for paraeducators, but that her aim was to address the total cost differences between the two budget proposals spending totals.

A final compromise may very well include additional funding for paraeducators, but we currently have a number of differences across budget bills, and I am focused on the total amount of money we are spending across the board, Reynolds said. As Governor of this state, it is my responsibility to ensure we land on a final budget compromise that reflects our record of fiscal responsibility and puts taxpayers first. I look forward to continuing to work with the House and Senate to do just that.

Grassley said it is not out of the ordinary for the governor and Senate Republicans to be in closer alignment on budget goals than House Republicans.

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With 67 members representing every county across the state, we try to have a very open situation when it comes to our budget, take as much feedback and fund those priorities. And again, our goal is when we leave here (that) we fund the commitments that weve made to Iowans, as well as make strategic investments.

 Cami Koons contributed to this report.

This story was updated May 2 with comments from the governor and a spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions.
(Photo by krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images)

A central Iowa investment advisor accused of defrauding investors in a million-dollar Ponzi scheme is appealing the revocation of his business licenses.

Des Moines investment advisor Cory J. Dawkins of Elite Wealth Partners is asking a Polk County judge to review and overturn a decision by the Iowa Insurance Division to revoke his license and registration as an investment advisor and insurance producer.

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Dawkins is also seeking an immediate stay of the license revocations, at least until a final decision is rendered in the case, to avoid substantial and irreparable harm to his business and reputation.

In court filings, Dawkins says he has spent his entire professional life in the insurance, banking and financial services industry.

Since the Iowa insurance commissioners investigation began, my business has suffered an approximate 87% revenue drop, he told the court. Several negative articles about me have appeared online since the commissioners investigation began. These articles present a distorted view of the situation by falsely suggesting that clients have lost all their money and portraying me as the mastermind behind the investments.

Dawkins said there is a significant possibility his clients many recover their investments and that he had no decision-making authority in the underlying investments at issue. He adds that if he is barred from the securities industry, efforts to recover his clients money will be substantially curtailed.

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Without court intervention, he argues, he will be forced to close his business, will be unable to pay the $2.3 million in restitution ordered by the division, and will have to file for bankruptcy protection. He adds that with his professional identity being intrinsically linked to his role as a financial advisor, the revocation of his license would cause me severe psychological distress that extends far beyond financial considerations.

A hearing in the matter is now scheduled for May 30, 2025. The Iowa Insurance Division is seeking dismissal of the case, arguing that by statute Dawkins had 30 days to seek judicial review of its decision, but filed his case after 33 days had passed.

SEC said business was actually a Ponzi scheme

In 2022, the Iowa Insurance Division formally charged Dawkins, Elite Wealth Partners and EWP Permian Basin Fund II with securities fraud; performing unregistered activity as securities agents; committing acts that constituted grounds for discipline as investment advisors; and fraud or dishonest conduct as demonstrated through incompetence, untrustworthiness and financial irresponsibility.

According to the Iowa Insurance Division, Dawkins offered high-risk, unsecured investment opportunities that were not in his clients best interests. The division alleges the scheme was launched sometime before May 2019 when Dawkins spoke to a Polk County couple about investing in EWP Permian Basin Fund II, whereby the couples money would be used to back a company that was purportedly purchasing oil wells.

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According to the divisions findings of fact, EWP was not actually buying wells and had no assets to secure the notes that were issued to investors. The representations made to the Polk County couple and to other subsequent investors by Dawkins were untrue and amounted to securities fraud, according to the division.

EWP, the division found, was set up as a vehicle through which people could invest in an entity called the Heartland Drilling Fund. Dawkins failed to review Heartlands financial statements and exhibited significant uncertainty as to which oil and gas interests were actually held by Heartland, the division found.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the division noted, would later conclude that promised returns to investors were little more than an illusion and were actually a Ponzi scheme.

Dawkins and Elite Wealth collected thousands of dollars in fees related to their investment transactions. Dawkins, however, had a conflict of interest by acting as both an investment advisor and a self-interested promoter of EWP, the division concluded. He also was alleged to have steered investors to a very high risk entity called the Carson Oil Field Development Fund II without disclosing all of the risks involved.

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By 2021, the division found, Dawkins and Elite Wealth should have known they were recommending investments that had numerous characteristics of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, with initial investors being paid from proceeds generated by newer investors.

Division cites heartbreaking effect on investor

One of the alleged victims in the scheme was a 19-year-old Iowa State University student whose father had recently died of cancer. The division said it found her subsequent testimony about her dealings with Dawkins to be simply heartbreaking.

The young woman, whose name is redacted from public filings in the case, had invested $188,000 of her fathers money with Dawkins, according to the division.

We needed money to pay for a funeral, the woman testified at a hearing. We simply had my dads body in a freezer for two weeks. So, we were really struggling, and we owed a whole bunch of our family members money. And we just kind of proceeded because we were so desperate for funeral money to pay for his gravestone and to pay the mortgage on our home  I guess my dad already chose that investment. So we just kind of went with whatever he had  And if he trusted Cory with that market on that, then I just went ahead with it.

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Dawkins, the division found, later accepted no responsibility for steering the student toward the high-risk investment, stating that Dawkins absurdly claimed that although he was a fiduciary, his introduction of the EWP investment opportunity to the student was not a recommendation of any kind.

In its findings of fact, the division said it found Dawkins testimony at a hearing on the matter to be wholly untrustworthy, leaving us with the unmistakable impression that Dawkins was willing to say practically anything to avoid accountability.

The division stated that losses by 15 investors, including interest, totaled $2,371,618.

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Douglas Ommen revoked the investment advisor registrations of Dawkins and Elite Wealth, revoked the insurance producer licenses of Dawkins and Elite Wealth, and permanently barred EWP from issuing or offering securities of any kind in Iowa.

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Ommen also ordered EWP to pay $2.3 million in restitution, with $1.9 million of that amount payable immediately, and the remaining $400,000 payable no later than March 31, 2026. Ommens order also specifies that Dawkins and Elite Wealth are also held liable for the $2.3 million in restitution.

Dawkins has not responded to requests for comment from Iowa Capital Dispatch, but SEC records indicate he, Elite Wealth and EWP have denied all of the divisions allegations.
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The Dallas Fed released its April Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey (TMOS) on Monday. Perceptions of broader business conditions continued to worsen notably.

The general business activity index fell 20 points to -35.8, its lowest reading since May 2020.

The company outlook index also retreated to a post-pandemic low of -28.3, while the outlook uncertainty index climbed 11 points to 47.1.

The production index, which measures manufacturing health, mainly remained the same at 5.1, indicating modest growth.

Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing  you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.

The new orders index dropped sharply by 20 points to -20.0. The capacity utilization index also dipped slightly to -3.8, and the shipments index turned negative for the first time this year, falling into negative territory for the first time this year to -5.5 from 6.1.

The employment index remained steady at -3.9, with 9% of companies reporting hiring and 13% reporting layoffs. The hours worked index fell to -6.4 from -2.9, suggesting shorter workweeks.

Price pressures grew stronger in April. The raw materials prices index jumped 11 points to 48.4, the highest since mid-2022. The finished goods prices index also rose by nine points to 14.9, above the average.

Wage growth stayed steady, with the wages and benefits index holding at 14.3, slightly below its average.

Expectations for future manufacturing activity were mixed. The future production index remained positive but fell 13 points to 14.8. Meanwhile, the future general business activity index dropped further into negative territory at -15.2. Most other future activity measures stayed positive but weakened compared to past averages.

See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey  no cost, no obligation.

In April, a Wedbush analyst wrote that Trumps tariff disaster has been weighing heavily on the stock market, creating uncertainty and dragging down prices.

Survey respondents in chemical manufacturing commented, Tariff uncertainty and actual impact is likely to be significant for the business and ongoing projects.

...We expect to see roughly a 1015 percent decline in sales in May. We believe that this is largely due to uncertainty in our customer base driven by the tariff situation and potential knock-on effects to the general economy, commented Computer and electronic product manufacturing responders.
APPANOOSE COUNTY, Iowa  An Appanoose County man is facing a first-degree murder charge after the sheriffs office says he shot and killed a man on Thursday.

At around 9:14 p.m., deputies with the Appanoose County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of an injured person outside a home in the 18000 block of 490th Street in Mystic. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found 75-year-old Stanley Brown lying in the front yard. According to court records, Brown suffered a single gunshot wound and died from his injury at the scene.

While at the scene, deputies spoke to 62-year-old Dana Haub, of Moulton, who claimed he had shot Brown in self-defense. According to court documents, Haub told investigators that he was inside a building on the property when he saw three Hispanic men who he claimed posed a threat. Haub went outside to his vehicle, grabbed his pistol, and then confronted the three men in the driveway, court documents say.

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Fort Dodge man accused of threatening to shoot law enforcement

Haub claimed that during the alleged confrontation one of the men, identified as Brown, advanced toward him. Haub told investigators that he shouted at Brown before he fired his pistol at him three times, court documents say. While being questioned by investigators, Haub said he shot the man with the intent to kill, but when investigators told Haub that Brown had died, Haub then denied that he shot Brown, a criminal complaint states. The complaint also notes that Haub told investigators that he didnt see Brown with a weapon throughout the incident.

Law enforcement officers investigating the scene of the shooting found Haubs pistol on the property, which contained bullets that matched the spent .45 caliber casing that was found near Browns body, court documents state. Haubs cell phone was also found at the scene.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators noted that there was no evidence of three Hispanic men being at the property before, during, or after the shooting. Investigators also noted that there was no evidence to support that Brown was a threat to Haub before his death.

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An adult who was at the property with Haub and Brown roughly an hour before the shooting told investigators that there were no known conflicts or issues between the two men, court documents state.

Dana Haub.

On Friday, the sheriffs office announced that Haub had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection to Browns death. Haub is being held at the Appanoose County Law Enforcement Center.

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Patrol assisted the Appanoose County Sheriffs Office in investigating the case.

Iowa News:

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(Reuters) - Iran has to 'walk away' from uranium enrichment and long-range missile development and it should allow Americans to inspect its facilities, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday as a round of nuclear talks was postponed.

Rubio's comments underscore the major remaining divisions in talks between the countries to resolve the long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to bomb Iran if there is no agreement.

"They have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis (in Yemen), they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment," Rubio said in an interview on the Hannity programme on Fox News. Iran has repeatedly said it would not give up its missile programme or its uranium enrichment - a process used to make fuel for nuclear power plants but which can also yield material for an atomic warhead.

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On Thursday a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the scheduled fourth round of talks due to take place in Rome on Saturday had been postponed and that a new date would be set "depending on the U.S. approach."

Rubio said Iran should import enriched uranium for its nuclear power programme rather than enriching it to any level.

"If you have the ability to enrich at 3.67% it only takes a few weeks to get to 20% then 60% and then the 80 and 90% that you need for a weapon," he said.

"The only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons," Rubio added.

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But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X late on Friday: "...repeating falsehoods will not change basic facts. As a founding signatory to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), Iran has every right to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle."

"Moreover, there are several NPT members which enrich uranium while wholly rejecting nuclear weapons. Apart from Iran, this club includes several Asian, European, and South American nations. Maximalist positioning and incendiary rhetoric achieve nothing except eroding the chances of success." Araqchi said.

"A credible and durable agreement is within reach. All it takes is firm political will and a fair attitude," he added.

Iran has said it has a right to enrich uranium under the terms of the NPT. It denies wanting to build a nuclear bomb.

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Rubio also said Iran would have to accept that Americans could be involved in any inspection regime and that inspectors would require access to all facilities, including military ones.

Washington is ramping up pressure on Iran. Trump on Thursday said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop and that any country or person buying any from the country would be immediately subject to secondary sanctions.

Iran spoke out against that approach on Friday. "While stressing its commitment to the path of diplomacy and declaring its readiness to continue negotiations, Iran will not tolerate approaches based on threats and pressure," the Foreign Ministry said.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas and Angus McDowall and Dubai newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Gareth Jones, Louise Heavens and Diane Craft)
When the IRS secretly demands your financial records and private information from a third party, without a warrant, what rights do you still have?

That's the question at the heart of Harper v. O'Donnell, which is before the Supreme Court. New Hampshire resident Jim Harper is fighting back against the IRS after discovering he was swept up in a massive digital dragnet. The case could redefine how the Fourth Amendment applies in the age of cloud storageand it may determine whether your emails, location history, search queries, and financial records that tech companies store on your behalf are treated as your property.

In 2016, the IRS ordered the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to hand over transaction records of over 14,000 customers. Harper was among them and only learned of the government's records grab after the IRS sent him a warning letter, mistakenly suggesting he'd underreported his cryptocurrency income. He soon discovered the IRS had his transaction logs, wallet addresses, and public keysallowing the agency to monitor any future transactions he made.

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Harper hadn't done anything wrong. He'd simply used a legal platform to buy and sell cryptocurrency. But his digital footprint became visible to the government overnight.

Now he's suing the IRS not just to protect his own privacy, but to force the agency to delete the records it obtained and to establish a broader legal principle: that digital records stored on third-party platforms can be the property of the user who created them. Harper argues that Coinbase's own terms of service make clear that the data belong to him, not the platform, and therefore, the IRS should have been required to get a warrant before accessing the information. The federal government, including the IRS, and local police argue that recognizing ownership would impede surveillance and law enforcement.

Lower courts dismissed Harper's arguments, citing the "third-party doctrine"a legal doctrine from the 1970s that says Americans lose their Fourth Amendment protections if they share information or records with businesses.

Today, when nearly every aspect of our lives is stored and synced through digital intermediaries, the doctrine has become a gaping loophole for mass surveillance. Financial regulators, in particular, are eager to exploit this loophole to vacuum up Americans' financial records without a warrant.

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Harper's case attempts to bring digital records back within Fourth Amendment protections. The Constitution protects our property, and the Supreme Court has long recognized that seizures of personal property require legal justification. When judges review digital surveillance, the first question they must ask is not whether data were shared with a third party, but whether the records belong to the person who created those records.

Ownership doesn't vanish because you entrust something to another party. Paper records stored in a safe-deposit at a bank still belong to youand the government can't rifle through it without a warrant. Digital records deserve the same treatment.

Many state laws already recognize this principle, and in 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Google users "own their Google content," including their search histories.

Congress should bolster privacy rights by modernizing the 1986 Stored Communications Act, which allows warrantless access to many digital records older than 180 days. States could also pass clearer statutes declaring that digital records are personal property.

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Tech companies can also play a role by strengthening privacy protections in their terms of service. If platforms make clear that users retain ownership of their data and records, courts will be more willing to recognize Fourth Amendment claims like Harper's.

The IRS' surveillance of Coinbase should serve as a wake-up call. As the Supreme Court has said, the Fourth Amendment was designed "to place obstacles in the way of a too permeating police surveillance." Unless courts, lawmakers, and companies protect Fourth Amendment norms and customers' privacy expectations, law enforcement agencies will increasingly treat Americans' sensitive digital records as fair gameno warrant required.

The Cato Institute authored an amicus brief in Harper v. O'Donnell, supporting Harper.

The post The IRS Says Your Digital Life Is Not Your Property appeared first on Reason.com.
DAMASCUS/SWEIDA, Syria (Reuters) -Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday, in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action in the name of the country's Druze minority.

Syria's government called the bombing a "dangerous escalation" amid increasing hostility between the neighbours.

Israel has escalated military operations in Syria since rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad in December, with bombings across the country and ground forces entering its southwest, while calling for Syria to remain decentralised and isolated.

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It has framed its stance around its suspicion of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa - who once headed a branch of al Qaeda before renouncing ties to the group in 2016 - and a desire to protect the Druze, a minority sect that is an offshoot of Islam with followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

The Israeli military said troops were deployed in southern Syria to prevent the return of hostile forces to areas around Druze villages. It said forces were ready for defence and "various scenarios".

It added that five Syrian-Druze citizens were evacuated to receive medical treatment in Israel after sustaining wounds.

Earlier Israel's military said it struck an area "adjacent" to Sharaa's palace in Damascus, without further details. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

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The strike was "a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow (Syrian) forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement.

Syria's presidency condemned what it described as a "bombardment on the presidential palace" and said it marked a "dangerous escalation".

"Israel doesn't want peace. Nor does it care for the groups it purportedly protects by bombing others," Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Razan Saffour wrote on X, adding Israel had never bombed near the palace when Assad was in power.

A Syrian official told Reuters the target was about 100 metres (330 feet) east of the palace's perimeter.

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SECTARIAN VIOLENCE

It followed days of clashes in Syria between Sunni Muslim and Druze gunmen triggered by a voice recording purportedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed. The fighting killed more than two dozen people in towns around Damascus and prompted an initial Israeli "warning strike" on a town on the capital's outskirts that killed one member of Syria's security forces.

Israeli opposition parties expressed support for operations in Syria.

"Israel cannot abandon the Druze in Syria to their fate," centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said on the social media platform X. "The Syrian regime must know they are our allies and we will not stand by while they are attacked."

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This week's fighting posed the latest challenge for Sharaa, who has repeatedly vowed to unite all of Syria's armed forces under one structure and govern the country, fractured by 14 years of civil war until Assad's overthrow, in an inclusive way.

But incidents of sectarian violence, notably the killing of hundreds of pro-Assad Alawites in March, have hardened fears among minority groups about the now-dominant Islamists and sparked condemnation from global powers.

On Thursday, the clashes began spreading further south to the province of Sweida, which is predominantly Druze.

'DON'T NEED ANYONE'S PROTECTION'

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Late on Thursday, Druze community leaders and Syrian government officials met in Sweida in a bid to defuse tensions. Their concluding statement said residents of Sweida would protect their province as a part of Syria's internal security forces, and rejected "division, separation or secession".

"Syria is our mother nation, we do not have an alternative country," Sheikh Laith al-Balous, one of the Druze leaders in the meeting, told Syria TV in an interview when asked whether Israel's strikes on Syria were meant to protect the Druze. "We don't need anyone's protection."

Syrian security forces were patrolling the village of Al-Soura al-Kubra in Sweida province on Friday, where residents had fled clashes the previous day between approaching Sunni Islamist militants and Druze fighters defending the town.

Residents told Reuters that when they returned, they found their homes had been looted. Salman Olaiwi said his door had been broken down and money was missing, but that he was glad an agreement had been reached to end the fighting.

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Israel has a small Druze community and there are also some 24,000 Druze living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel annexed the territory in 1981, a move that has not been recognised by most countries or the United Nations.

Some Druze in Israel serving in the Israeli military wrote to Netanyahu demanding help for their kin in Syria, saying "hundreds of fighters" were ready to volunteer to help.

(Reporting by Khalil Ashawi and Kinda Makieh in Damascus, Karam Masri in Al-Soura Al-Kubra, Timour Azhari and Tala Ramadan in Dubai and Maya Gebeily in Beirut; editing by Himani Sarkar, Lincoln Feast and Mark Heinrich)
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a renewed rocket attack on Israel on Friday causing air raid sirens to sound in the coastal city of Haifa and other areas in the north of the country.

The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that a woman heading for a shelter had been injured.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported firing a counter-missile at the missile from Yemen.

Earlier in the day, the IDF reported intercepting a projectile before it reached Israeli territory. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, and Israeli media reported that fragments from the projectile had damaged the roof of a kindergarten. No one was injured, it said.

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Since the IDF resumed operations in the Gaza Strip on March 18, the Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked Israel in solidarity with Palestinian extremist group Hamas.

According to Israeli media, 25 rockets and a number of drones have been fired since then, most of them intercepted by the IDF.

The Houthis control large areas of northern Yemen, where a civil war has been raging for a decade. They have come under frequent attack by US forces operating in the region.
(NewsNation)  Israelis celebrated the 77th independence day of their country Thursday, and as part of the commemoration, took time to honor the remaining Hamas hostages in Gaza.

Of the 59 remaining hostages still in Gaza, Israel has said it believes that only 24 are still alive. American-Israeli IDF soldier Edan Alexander is one of the hostages with whom Hamas has recently said it has lost contact.

Ofir Akunis, the Israeli consul general in New York, joined NewsNation Now on Thursday to say that they are in active talks to get hostages back, but Hamas has also made talks on a truce difficult.

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Theyve refused all the suggestions from the Egyptians, the Qataris and the Americans, Akunis said. Any possible ceasefire wont be for a long time.

51 deaths reported in Gaza from Israeli strikes

Israel has continued its strikes against Hamas in Gaza, where a recent overnight attack left 12 people dead.

Akunis said the Israeli government does not want the war to go on forever, and that one of their main goals is an end to Hamas rule in Gaza.

We dont want Hamas to be in Gaza anymore for the sake of the Gazans, Akunis said. Its impossible to live under (the) Hamas regime.

The governments main priority, Akunis said, is making sure hostages are brought back alive.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Prospective homeowners are acutely sensitive to fluctuations in mortgage rates, Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, says. - Getty Images

When Spencer Bauman bought his first home in May 2020 in Cache County, Utah, the housing market was red-hot. Five years on, as Bauman goes through the process of selling that house, hes finding the market is ice-cold.

Bauman, who works in the aerospace industry, paid $386,000 for the nearly 3,900-square-foot newly built home. He wanted to sell the property and move into a bigger new-build house in Salt Lake City, which is also closer to his family.

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But selling the house has been tough. The market had completely flipped, with demand drying up. The home stayed on the market for 72 days before he got an offer on April 26. In March, properties typically remained on the market for half of that duration, 36 days, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Bauman had to drop his asking price by nearly $66,000 to encourage prospective buyers. He couldnt give up because needed to sell; money from the sale would go toward paying for his next home.

We expected that it would take a little while, he told MarketWatch, because the listing went up in the dead of winter, in February. But to take multiple months without a single offer was pretty discouraging.

To try to lure buyers, he offered various incentives along the way, including a $10,000 concession that a willing buyer could use at their own discretion. Despite Baumans long wait, only one buyer came forward. The offer: $540,000. The final price was $75,000 less than what the home had first been listed for, according to the listings price history.

Baumans experience is reflective of how the housing market is tipping away from sellers and toward buyers in some parts of the U.S. Though spring is traditionally a busy time for home sales, houses are selling less briskly this spring than they have over the last few years. Inventory is quickly rising, making it more competitive for sellers.

Buyers, on the other hand, are finding more opportunities. Pending home sales rose in March, as buyers jumped into the market amid a brief but big drop in mortgage rates that month.
Ten Palestinians, including children, were killed when an overnight Israeli airstrike hit a family home in the centre of the Gaza Strip, staff at the nearby al-Aqsa hospital said on Friday.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA previously reported seven dead.

The information could not initially be independently verified. When asked, the Israeli military said it would investigate the report.

Footage circulated on social media and in Palestinian media reportedly showed volunteers searching for people buried under rubble after the attack in Al-Bureij, and wrapping the body of a young man in a blanket. The authenticity of the footage could not initially be independently verified.

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WAFA also reported other Israeli attacks in the coastal strip.

It said at least seven people were killed in a drone strike in the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on Friday morning, and others injured when a tent was hit.

Palestinian sources said people had gathered in Beit Lahia to mourn relatives who had been killed. The Israeli military again said it would investigate the report.

Israel to decide on possible escalation

According to media reports, the Israeli government is set to decide on Friday whether to ramp up attacks in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group into releasing more hostages.

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The current Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, when some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted to Gaza.

During a ceasefire of about two months, Hamas released dozens of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

But after no agreement was reached on an extension of the ceasefire, Israel resumed attacks on Gaza in mid-March.

According to Israel, of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 are no longer alive.

More than 52,400 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities, including some 2,300 since fighting resumed on March 18.

UN describes devastating conditions in Gaza

Aid organizations have warned of catastrophic conditions in the coastal territory since Israel cut off food and medical supplies two months ago in an attempt to increase pressure on Hamas.

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A spokeswoman for the UN Emergency Relief Office in Gaza City said on Friday that malnourished children are searching through mountains of rubbish for food scraps and fuel, as burning plastic generates dangerous smoke.

In their desperation, people are increasingly attacking trucks that are suspected of carrying water or food, she said.

"The international community has a choice  to keep scrolling through the grisly images of Gaza being suffocated and starved or muster the courage and the moral fibre to make decisions that would break this merciless blockade," Olga Cherevko said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that people can barely survive, with food and medical supplies running out at the organization's field hospital. It said water pipes have been broken and trucks for sewage disposal have been destroyed.

As the occupying power, Israel is obliged to meet the basic needs of the population in Gaza, the ICRC said.
(Reuters) - Israel intercepted a second missile fired from Yemen on Friday, its military said, as the U.S. intensifies its strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi group.

The militant group claimed responsibility for firing two missiles thousands of kilometres north targeting Israel's Ramat David air base and the Tel Aviv area.

Alarms were sounded in several areas, the military added, after the launch of both missiles, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

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The military said it had intercepted both missiles.

U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from attacking ships in the Red Sea.

The deadly strikes on the group were the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.

The Houthis say their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping are in solidarity with the Palestinians over the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

The group pledged to expand its range of targets in Israel in retaliation for a renewed offensive in Gaza that began two months ago.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Alex Richardson)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday, adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Hamas have made no progress.

The decision came after comments from both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of the military, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir this week indicating that Israel intended to step up the campaign in Gaza.

Since the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement in March, Israeli troops have been carving out wide buffer zones in Gaza, squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off the entry of aid trucks.

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"As long as Hamas does not release our hostages, we will significantly deepen our military action," ynet, one of Israel's main news outlets quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the reports, which said the decision would be approved by the full cabinet on Sunday.

On Thursday, Netanyahu said that while Israel was seeking the return of its hostages, of whom up to 24 are believed to be alive, its ultimate goal in Gaza remained to defeat Hamas.

"In war, there is the ultimate goal  and that ultimate goal is the victory over our enemies," he said.

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Despite efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to restore the ceasefire, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.

Israel, which wants the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza, has insisted that Hamas must disarm and be excluded from any role in the future governance of the enclave, a condition that Hamas rejects.

The group, which ran Gaza since 2007, has insisted on agreeing a lasting end to the fighting and a withdrawal of Israeli forces as a condition for a deal that would see a release of the hostages.

Earlier, Netanyahu's office issued a statement denying that it had rejected a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian mediators, and saying Hamas was standing in the way of a deal to halt the fighting.

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Israeli commanders have said the military was ready to step up its operations in Gaza at short notice.

"We will use all the power at our disposal, we will increase the pace and intensity of the operation, and if required we'll do so soon," Zamir said at an Independence Day ceremony on Thursday.

On Friday, Israeli strikes continued to hit different areas of Gaza, killing at least 25 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities said.

Israel's campaign was triggered by the devastating Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw 251 taken hostage. It has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza where aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Jacksonvilles Filipino community is honoring the 11 lives lost in a tragic vehicle ramming attack during a street festival in Vancouver, Canada last weekend.

Its a loss being felt in Northeast Florida, where there is a significant Filipino population numbering in the thousands.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Thursday night, a vigil was held outside the Jessie Ball duPont Center in Downtown Jacksonville. The event was hosted by the group Jax Filipinos.

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According to U.S. Census data, Duval County is home to the largest Filipino population in Florida. Thats why the loss is hitting especially close to home for many in the local community.

The vigil started outside a downtown mural titled The Roots That Ground Us, a visual tribute to Filipino heritage.

We have a huge population here  kind of spread out, but huge population in Duval County, said Joshua Ang Price, a board member with Jax Filipinos.

Price says a close friend of his was attending the festival in Vancouver.

She left just a few minutes before the attack happened, he said.

The vigil features 11 candles  one for each of the victims who died after an SUV plowed through the crowd.

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Canadian authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive but confirmed the suspect was undergoing mental health treatment.

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Following the vigil, Jeremy Obach, founder of Pinoy Run Tribe, led a walk and run in solidarity.

Were trying not to despair, Obach said. To continue to be out here and be proud, and not feel like we dont belong here.

Jacksonvilles Filipino community is united in mourning  and in hope.

I think as long as we stick together, well pull through, said Price. Im really happy were having this vigil to send positive vibes to our kababayans in Vancouver.

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Jamaican citizen was charged with unlawfully making a false claim of citizenship to register to vote in the 2024 Florida Presidential Primary Election.

According to a criminal complaint, 52-year-old Jacqueline Dianne Wallace entered the United States in December 2010 on a six-month B2 tourism visa. However, did not return to Jamaica as required.

In January 2024, Wallace registered to vote in federal elections using an online system that required certification of United States citizenship, which Wallace reportedly did not have.

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Wallace submitted the fraudulent voter registration form via a community college computer network, investigators confirmed.

Georgia man faces felony domestic battery charges in Bay County

In August 2024, still without United States citizenship, officials said Wallace cast a ballot in the federal 2024 Florida Presidential Primary.

Wallace was arrested by agents with the Department of Homeland Security investigations and investigators of the Bay County Sheriffs Office.

If convicted, Wallace faces up to five years in prison and will be subject to removal from the United States.

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(KODE & KSN)  The third and final suspect convicted of a revenge murder in northeast Oklahoma back in 2019 is finally sentenced after years of delay.

A federal judge sentenced James Buzzard to life in prison plus 20 years for killing Jerry Tapp and shooting Tapps girlfriend.

James Buzzard

The jury found Buzzard guilty of first-degree murder in Indian Country, assault with a dangerous weapon and discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

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Buzzards two sons, Dakota and Cody, both pled guilty to participating in the killing and were sentenced back in November 2023.

Dakota Buzzard

Cody Buzzard

Investigators say the three killed Tapp in retaliation for a shooting incident that happened in 2015.

Delaware County Sheriffs deputies found Tapp dead in his front yard with multiple gunshot wounds.

Tapps girlfriend was shot in the arm she survived the shooting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
One of Japans busiest bullet train lines screeched to a halt Wednesday after a snake tangled itself in a power line, triggering an outage that froze the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka at peak travel time.

The trains stopped around 5:25 p.m. local time and didnt resume until 7:00 p.m., stranding thousands during Japans busiest holiday stretch. Golden Week, which consists of four national holidays in seven days, and will see trains, airports and holiday hotspots hit their peak. And the World Expo, which is being hosted in Osaka this year, bringing millions of foreign and domestic visitors to the city it concludes in October.

The snake entanglement occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, which suspended Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo, according to Kyodo News.

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While authorities worked to get power restored, passengers formed long queues and gathered around flustered station staff. One frequent shinkansen traveler, who was returning to Tokyo, said it was the first time he had experienced this. "I use the Shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," said Satoshi Tagawa, 46.

Other passengers like Kazutoshi Tachi, 26 were less forgiving and expressed their frustration, Im fed up with the troubles. I want them to run on time."

Oddly enough, this isnt the first time a snake has brought the shinkansen service to a halt. Last April, CBS News reported authorities had to remove a 16 in (40.6cm) snake from the train between Nagoya and Tokyo, which caused a more minor delay of 17-minutes.

It seems Japan has a new, scaly threat to punctuality.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who is widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, on Thursday flipped a personal jab from Donald Trump right back at the president  and suggested why he was the target of Trumps vitriol in the first place.

Trump, during a recent speech, mocked Pritzkers appearance, saying: Hes too busy eating, he wants to eat all the time. Trump also imagined the governor ordering five burgers.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Pritzker brushed off the insult.

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He loves to make fun of people any way he can, he said of Trump. Frankly, thats how you know hes afraid of you.

Kimmel agreed and joked that Pritzker should brace himself for a mean nickname from Trump. He preemptively suggested options like JBLT, JB the Hut, JB Pritz His Pants, and JBackribs.

Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, laughed along and offered some of his own nicknames that Trump could use: Jay Burger and his personal favorite, J. Beefy.

The interview also focused on Pritzkers fiery speech in New Hampshire on Sunday, where the Democratic governor called for what he described as mass protests in response to Trumps agenda.

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Its time to fight everywhere and all at once, Pritzker said during the speech. Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace. They must understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.

Pressed by Kimmel on what he meant, Pritzker didnt hold back.

I think everybody understands that at this point weve got an authoritarian in office, he said of Trump. Hes essentially tearing apart the things that really matter to working families across the United States  and nobodys stopping him.

Pritzker blamed GOP lawmakers for enabling Trumps agenda.

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Congress is under the control of his party. Theyre all paying homage to him at all times. No ones willing to break with him, he said. The only thing in my view that we really can do on a national level is let them know of our displeasure.

Watch the interview here:

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Thursday marked the start of Jewish American Heritage month. It comes a day after antisemetic and racist flyers were posted in a Northland neighborhood.

The investigation into who was behind the hate filled flyers in the North Book neighborhood is underway.

Kansas City food kitchen cook killed in hit-and-run

The Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee is responding to the flyers, hoping the entire community can mirror the response of that Northland neighborhood where the hate speech was replaced with signs of love Wednesday.

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FOX4 is blurring images on air and online of the flyers because of their disturbing and hurtful nature, but did share them with the Jewish Community Relations Bureau at their request, which tracks antisemitism.

We really cant work to combat antisemitism and work to pursue justice if we dont have a clear picture of what our community is seeing, Neta Meltzer, JCRB/AJC Executive Director, said.

Neighbors who worked to quickly remove them from light posts saw things like swastikas and hate speech toward the Black and Jewish community.

Theres imagery of the devil, so theres that sort of demonization of Jews thats very in classic antisemitic tropes, Meltzer said.

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The Anti Defamation League tracks incidents of antisemitism and has seen a 893 percent increase the past 10 years which reached an all-time high last year. Kansas City police havent yet said whether they believe theres any reason for the placement of the flyers in a neighborhood where a visiting teen was killed a week ago.

Meltzer said the fact the flyers had QR codes on them could be evidence the neighborhood was targeted because of tragedy.

People often do seek out sort of a touchpoint that can then be an opening for them to get a foothold. So thats why its so heartening to see whats being done in the community, Meltzer said.

Hearts were drawn in chalk designed to show the love for neighbors of all backgrounds.

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JCRB/AJC hopes that will extend to those of the Jewish faith this Jewish American Heritage month and beyond.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

So many times when we sit down and talk to one another we have so much more in common than we do different and we have a lot of shared values and shared foundation that we can build even if we have differences. We have so much that we can connect through, she said.

FOX4 also reached out to both the Urban League and NAACP and are still awaiting comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Eiffage Construction, a division of European construction company Eiffage, has completed the delivery of three production halls for Airbus Atlantic in Rochefort, France.

The halls, part of a design-build contract awarded in April 2023, are expected to accelerate the aircraft manufacturer's production and create 200 jobs in the region.

Eiffage Construction claims the project necessitated meeting tight deadlines, delivering the halls in time while adhering to stringent technical and environmental standards.

The two 2,441m storage spaces, Hall 1 and 2, and the 1,920m Hall 3 each have distinguishing features.

The structure of Halls 1 and 2 incorporates a steel frame, acoustic cladding, and a double-layer roof, designed to meet the demands of a high-performance logistics facility.

Hall 3, a production workshop, features a hybrid concrete and wood structure, complemented by finishes matching those of the first two halls.

A 575m building situated between Halls 2 and 3 provides essential social areas, including offices and toilet facilities.

The project's energy efficiency measures boast a 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to RT2012 thermal regulations and compliance with the latest RE2020 standards for office spaces.

Eiffage Construction has also implemented an optimised rainwater management system, which includes underground tanks designed to collect runoff from fires, roofs, and parking areas.

ARTELIA acted as the client representative for the project.

The project team included BPG as the lead architect and ILAO as the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineer. Eiffage Route managed roadworks and utilities, with KELLER handling rigid inclusions, and FRANKI Fondation in charge of piling.

Earlier this month, Eiffage, through its subsidiary Eiffage Construccion, in partnership with Acciona, won a contract to design and construct a new urban circuit in Madrid, Spain, which will potentially host Formula 1 races.

"Eiffage Construction delivers three production halls for Airbus Atlantic in Rochefort, France" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




A judge doesnt have the authority to tell President Donald Trump that he cannot deport immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act, Vice President JD Vance declared during a Fox News interview Thursday.

Its the presidents decision, he told Bret Baier on Special Report, laying the groundwork for a constitutional confrontation over American authority.

His declaration followed the ruling earlier Thursday by Trump-appointed Texas District Judge Fernando Rodriguez that it was unlawful for the administration to use the 18th Century war-time law to detain and deport alleged Tren de Aragua members.

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The judge doesnt decide if the Alien Enemies Act applies  the president does, Vance told Baier fresh off a tour of the Nucor Steel plant in Huger, South Carolina.

If you tell the president he cant deport illegal criminals, youre saying he cant be president. We reject that, and so will the Supreme Court.

The administration is appealing multiple recent court rulings on deportations by the Trump administration.

Vance also discussed U.S. military strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, tariffs, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the ejection of Mike Waltz from his role as national security adviser to serve instead as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

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I think he's a good guy, Vance said of Waltz. He has my complete trust, and I know the president really likes Mike Waltz. He just thought that the UN Ambassador position would be a better place for Mike Waltz to be.

For weeks, rumors swirled about Waltz being let go after he inadvertently invited the top editor of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed detailed strike plans against Houthi rebels. Signal is not an authorized communication system for sensitive military conversations under Pentagon protocol.

Vance, who was also part of the chat, denied in the interview that the Signal leak caused a rift between Trump and Waltz. He even boasted at one point that the leaked chat reflected well on then because it showed them deliberating.

Asked about the economy, Vance asserted the administration had inherited the current economic turmoil from President Joe Biden.

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This isn't always going to be easy, Vance admitted about the toll of tariffs imposed by Trump, adding his boss wants to make this the golden century for our country.

The vice president wouldnt give specifics on any potential trade deals.

We've got negotiations with Japan, with Korea, we've got negotiations going on with some folks in Europe, and obviously we've got a good negotiation going on in India, said Vance, explaining the administration is working to open India to American technology and agricultural products.

He hailed during his plant tour what he called an industrial renaissance of coming new jobs, and was welcomed by union workers and executives.

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Baier referred to the photo of Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sitting closely at the Vatican in a discussion ahead of Pope Francis funeral Saturday. Since then the U.S. has reached a rare earth minerals investment deal with Ukraine, and Trump has expressed new suspicions that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be as serious about peace as he has indicated.

I think the question is to see whether we can actually find some middle ground here for these guys to bring this conflict to a close, Vance said.

I am optimistic, but it is, ultimately, it's hard to say confident, because the Russians and Ukrainians, they're the ones who have to take the final step.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday put a spin on Mike Waltzs removal as national security adviser, insisting that the new role he was nominated for constitutes a promotion.

In an interview with Fox News Bret Baier, Vance said Trump continues to have confidence in Waltz.

Waltz wasnt let go, Vance said. Hes being made ambassador to the United Nations, which, of course, is a Senate-confirmed position. I think you could make a good argument that its a promotion.

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Vance then proceeded to blame the media, claiming they falsely portrayed Waltzs departure from the National Security Council as a firing.

Donald Trump has fired a lot of people, Vance said. He doesnt give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterwards. What he thinks is that Mike Waltz is going to better serve the administration, most importantly, the American people, in that role.

Vance asserted that the president will fight to get Waltz confirmed.

Trump had originally chosen Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to serve as U.N. ambassador but pulled her nomination because of the narrow majority the GOP holds in the House of Representatives, which could make it harder for the party to pass legislation.

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Waltz faced scrutiny after he inadvertently added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat discussing plans to attack Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen in March.

But Politico reported Waltz was in a precarious position way before the scandal came to light, noting that his relationship with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had soured his too big for his britches attitude, a source told the outlet.

Vance, who was also part of the infamous text thread, disputed the notion that the scandal contributed to Waltzs job change.

If the president wanted to fire him over the Signal thing, which, by the way, was a total nothingburger of a story, he would have just done it, Vance said. But he actually decided its better for Mike to be in this new role. Hes given Mike the new role, thats it.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will assume Waltzs former position on an interim basis. Rubio is also the acting administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the acting national archivist.

Vance took his defense of Waltz a step further, suggesting that exchanging real-time attack plans on a commercial messaging app was actually a good thing for the White House.

Frankly, you know, I thought it reflected well on me, Im obviously biased about myself, but about Mike Waltz and [Defense Secretary] Pete Hegseth, that we were deliberating how to implement the presidents agenda, Vance said. I think thats what a good national security team should do.

Trump has maintained that Hegseths position at the Pentagon is safe even after a report by The New York Times revealed he shared sensitive details in a separate Signal group chat with his wife, brother and other members of his inner circle.

Related...
JENNINGS, La. (KLFY)  A Jeff Davis Parish man could serve up to 5 years in prison for the death of a Jennings woman in a car crash in 2023.

Jeffrey Lynn Meche, 65, of Roanoke, Louisiana, was sentenced to 10 years by Judge Steve Gunnell of the 31st Judicial District Court, who suspended all but 5 years, with the first 3 years to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

District Attorney Lauren Heinen announced the sentence after Meche was convicted of the vehicular homicide of 29-year-old Chelsey Benoit of Jennings.

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The crash occurred on Sept. 17, 2023 at the intersection of La. 26 and Hillias Road, just south of Jennings. Prosecutors said Meche was driving northbound on La. 26 when he crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by Benoit. Toxicology results confirmed Meche was intoxicated at the time of the crash, officials said. Benoit died at a local hospital following the collision.

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Sentencing is such an important part of the judicial process. It imposes punishment and gives the victims family justice, Heinen said. Nothing can bring Chelsey back, but this sentence reflects the seriousness of driving under the influence and the devastating consequences it can have on innocent lives. We hope this brings some measure of justice to her family and serves as a reminder about the dangers of impaired driving.

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In Louisiana, vehicular homicide is defined as the killing of a human being caused directly or proximately by a person operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The offense carries a potential sentence of 5 to 30 years imprisonment, with a minimum of three years to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

In addition to his prison sentence, Meche was ordered to complete a substance abuse program and driver improvement course upon release.

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Jennifer McCabe, one of the last people to see John OKeefe alive, returned to the stand Friday morning as Karen Reads murder retrial enters its eighth day of witness testimony.

Jennifer McCabe reads group chat texts exchanged after John OKeefes death

Read is accused of striking OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert following a night of drinking.

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McCabe, a mother from Canton, was with Read when she found OKeefes body in the snow outside of 34 Fairview Road in Canton on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.

NOW ON THE STAND: Hannah Knowles, forensic scientist with the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab

PREVIOUSLY ON THE STAND: Jennifer McCabe

Tweets by TedDanielnews

McCabe spent nearly a full day on the stand before Knowles was called for questioning shortly before 3 p.m.

Previous story

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan called McCabe to the stand on Tuesday, and cross-examination followed on Wednesday. The court wasnt in session on Thursday. Friday will mark McCabes third day of testimony.

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The defense says they still need about 90 minutes to two hours to finish their cross-examination of McCabe.

On Wednesday, Reads attorney Alan Jackson challenged McCabes recollection of events and suggested she coordinated with other witnesses to make sure all their statements matched up  something she denied.

Read, McCabe said, was running around and screaming so much that police suggested she sit in a police cruiser. The three sat together praying, and McCabe remembered, Read wondered aloud who would take care of OKeefes two adopted children. As OKeefes body was moved to an ambulance, Read screamed for Roberts to go check on him and wondered if he was dead.

Then, McCabe testified that she was standing next to a police officer and a paramedic as Read told them I hit him three times  corroborating earlier testimony from paramedics.

But Jackson challenged McCabe, questioning why those comments couldnt be found in earlier police reports or in the 227 pages of her grand jury testimony. Instead, Jackson said she told the grand jury that she recalled saying to a paramedic, Did I hit him? Could I have hit him? Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead?

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In point of fact, in your entire grand jury testimony, you never said my client said the words I hit him, he said.

McCabe insisted she had told police what Read said  even if it wasnt in the reports  and that it wasnt in the grand jury testimony because she wasnt asked specifically about it. As for the comments in her grand jury testimony, she said there were many conversations with paramedics and police at the scene.

I hit him. I hit him. I hit him is just as fresh today as it was three years ago, she said.

After Wednesdays full day of heated testimony, Read was asked outside Norfolk Superior Court, How did Jen McCabe do?

Another witness, another instance of perjury, or instances I should say, Read answered. Its just more of the same. Inconsistencies, every statement is different...This is very similar to what we saw a year ago.

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Read was then asked, Why do you think she [McCabe] is so inconsistent? She responded, Because shes lying.

Read also denied the accusation that she instructed McCabe to Google how long it takes to die in the cold.

On Tuesday, McCabe described having fun with Read, OKeefe and others at a local bar that night. Afterward, she went to the house party hosted by her sister and brother-in-law. She said she saw Reads SUV outside but that Read and OKeefe never came into the house.

McCabe said she was awakened the next morning by a call from OKeefes niece. Read then got on the phone screaming, she said.

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She was hysterical. It was very hard to follow what she was saying, she said. It was loud enough and long enough that my husband shot up in bed thinking one of my kids had come in the room screaming.

Read initially said she had left OKeefe at the bar, but when McCabe said she had seen the SUV at her sisters house, Read said she didnt remember being there and repeatedly asked, Did I hit him? Could I have hit him?

The two women and another friend searched OKeefes home and then went to McCabes sisters house. As they approached the house, McCabe said Read screamed, There he is! Let me out!

Digital forensics specialist Ian Whiffin testified Monday that location data on OKeefes phone was consistent with the device being near a flagpole on the lawn of the home from 12:32 a.m. onward, there was no activity after that and the temperature of the phones battery dropped from 72 degrees (22 degrees Celsius) at 12:37 a.m. to 37 degrees (2.8 degrees Celsius) at 6:14 a.m.

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Such data could suggest OKeefe remained outside. But under cross-examination Tuesday, Whiffin testified that he observed a much more dramatic drop in temperature when he performed an experiment by placing a phone in a freezer.

He also acknowledged that the phone could have been anywhere within a larger radius than he previously described but said that data was not as accurate.

According to your report, the phone of John OKeefe could be in the house, correct? defense attorney Robert Alessi asked.

Based on the low-accuracy information, yes, he said.

Whiffin, a former law enforcement officer who went on to work in mobile forensics in the private sector, also testified further about an internet search made by Jennifer McCabe, who was with Read the morning she found OKeefe in the snow.

Ian Wiffin, a digital intelligence expert, with Celebrite, testifies under direct examination by special prosecutor Hank Brennan during Karen Read's murder retrial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday April 28, 2025. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

McCabe made a much-discussed web search about how long it takes to die in the cold. Reads lawyers have said the search happened hours before OKeefe was discovered, which could implicate her rather than Read. McCabe has said she made the search later at Reads insistence after they found OKeefe.

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Whiffin said Monday that the web search was not made at 2:27 a.m., before OKeefes body was found, like the defense has alleged. On Tuesday, he acknowledged that another companys analysis showed the search happened at the earlier time.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Reads double-jeopardy appeal Monday, effectively clearing the way for her trial to continue.

Reads defense had argued that putting her on trial again for two of the charges is an unlawful case of double jeopardy. They told the Supreme Court that the jury at her first trial reached a unanimous but unannounced verdict acquitting her, so a second trial on those charges should be barred as double jeopardy.

The court didnt ask the prosecution to respond to the appeal, a sign the justices did not think there was a difficult legal issue at stake.

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Prosecutors allege Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at a house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense has claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party.

A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

Karen Read listens to testimony during her trial, Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read listens to testimony during her trial, Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read, center, speaks with defense team during her trial, Friday, April 25, 2025, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. (Josh Reynolds /New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read listens to the testimony of Cellebrite digital intelligence expert Ian Wiffin, during her murder retrial, in Norfolk Superior Court, in front of Judge Beverly J. Cannone, in Dedham, Mass., Monday April 28, 2025. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

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Karen Read chats with reporters while returning to court following the lunch break with her defense attorney Robert Alessi at her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Karen Read returns to court following the lunch break with her defense attorney Robert Alessi at her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Karen Read returns to court following the lunch break with her defense attorney Robert Alessi at her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Karen Read arrives with her lead defense attorney Alan Jackson, left, for her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Karen Read listens during opening arguments at Norfolk Superior Court on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Dedham, Mass. (Stuart Cahill /The Boston Herald via AP, Pool)

Karen Read

Dedham, MA - April 12: Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing at Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Karen Read watches attorney Robert Alessi make a point during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court at Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Judge approves joint motion to delay start of Karen Reads 2nd murder trial

Dedham, MA - July 1: Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone (not pictured) in Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict

Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial

Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)

Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip

Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.

Karen Read

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Reporting from the Associated Press was included in this article.

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JERSEY CITY (PIX11)  A father was killed in a fire that broke out in Jersey City Thursday morning, and his wife and daughters are in critical condition in a burn unit.

Lahcen Elmguielle, 59, died from injuries he suffered in the fire in his apartment at 296 Summit Avenue early Thursday morning, according to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office.

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It also said that the three other people who live in the second-floor apartment  a 40-year-old woman, and two girls, ages 8 and 6, were transported in critical condition from the scene.

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They have been moved to the burn unit at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, about 25 miles away.

The fire started around 3:45 a.m. in the building, which has apartments on two floors above Toms Tub Laundromat.

Residents described an intensely dangerous scene.

We just kind of heard screaming, said Ryan Truax, who lives half a block away. We immediately woke up, startled, he continued, describing the scene in the 3:00 a.m. hour. We saw smoke, and the next thing you saw were just flames.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Neighbors described the Elmguielle as the father of the family of four, and said they were heartbroken over what happened.

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We see them every day in the window, playing, said Jose Segovia, who works in Anitas Restaurant, right across the street from the home. Something that shouldnt happen to anyone.

Fire officials said that the cause is still under investigation, but that the fire broke out in the kitchen of the familys home, on the second floor of the building.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, Jewish and Israeli Harvard University students and faculty felt shunned and silenced, regardless of which side they supported, according to a report released this week.

Harvards Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias found that during the 2023-2024 school year, when protests and tension roiled the university campus, Jewish and Israeli members of the Harvard community kept quiet during discussions of current events, and some hid their identity entirely.

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Those who didnt, lost friends and were kept out of social circles, sometimes explicitly because of their identity or beliefs, according to the report.

I feel lucky I dont look Jewish, one undergraduate student told the task force. I know if I do the wrong thing, I might get the antisemitism. So, put your headphones in, make sure youre not outwardly Jewish, and just walk to class.

The report was released Tuesday, at the same time that the corresponding Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab and Anti-Palestinian Bias published its findings.

Read more: Feds launch racial discrimination investigations targeting Harvard Law Review

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A Harvard-wide survey of Jewish students found that 67% of those who responded were uncomfortable expressing their opinions, and 73% felt uncomfortable expressing their political opinions, according to the report.

Jewish students reported being told by peers and faculty that they were associated with something offensive, and, in some cases, that their very presence was an offense. Others told the task force they were repeatedly asked if they were one of the good ones who did not support Israel.

In some cases, students who spoke to the task force said they had avoided taking certain classes because the professor had expressed anti-Zionist views  opposition to a Jewish state. Or they dropped classes because they felt pressured or targeted during discussions about the conflict.

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The report included multiple accounts from Jewish and Israeli students who were told that other students would not associate them, whether or not they had expressed support for Israel. Their non-Jewish, non-Israeli friends, too, reported being excluded simply because of their association.

In particular, Israeli students and those of Israeli descent felt that their nationality made them targets. Some students described having other students end conversations immediately upon learning of their connections to Israel.

Others said they were immediately labeled as Zionist, genocidal, murderers or as Israeli soldiers, due to the countrys conscription requirement for all citizens.

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In one case, a few years before the Oct. 7 attacks, an Israeli student was assigned a partner for a group project, and their partner requested a new group due to their own political beliefs, according to the report. The task force was told that the professor granted the request.

The social exclusion and shunning of Israeli students lies at the core of the Harvard experience for many, one Israeli undergraduate student told the task force. From my first days on campus, I noticed students in pre-orientation avoiding conversation with me, simply out of fear of being associated with an Israeli ... Israeli students at Harvard are not merely subjected to implicit bias but instead face explicit, deliberate discrimination.

For anti-Zionist Jewish students and staff, in addition to experiencing antisemitism, they described feeling ostracized from Jewish spaces for their beliefs. According to the report, in many Jewish student groups and organizations, support for Israel seemed assumed or even demanded.

The largest form of antisemitism I have experienced has been from other Jewish students who are interested in policing the bounds of Jewish identity one way or the other, one student said.

Antisemitism task force recommendations

The recommendations from the task force on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias include:

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Harvard should clarify its values through a statement that antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias  along with Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias, racism, misogyny, homophobia or transphobia  are forms of hatred that have no place within the Harvard community Act against discrimination, bullying, harassment and hate Improve disciplinary processes, such as striving for consistency in disciplinary cases and engaging in follow-up after complaints and consistency in disciplinary cases. Implement education and training on antisemitism, including orientation for new students, student organization leaders, peer advising fellows and residential undergraduate supervisors. Foster constructive dialogue on difficult subjects, including high-profile talks between people who disagree on controversial issues respectfully, and an award for a community member combating antisemitism. Support Jewish life on campus, such as through kosher hot lunches, pork products being marked and staff providing reasonable accommodation for staff and students.

The task force emphasized that the opportunity for free speech was imperative for all members of the Harvard community to feel comfortable at the university.

The State of Israel, like other nations, engages in behaviors that members of our community may find objectionable, even deplorable, and students and others have the right to say as much, the task force wrote. However, criticism does not justify intimidation, exclusion, bullying or harassment of members of our community.

More Harvard University news

Read the original article on MassLive.
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called for "greater clarity" in how the country deals with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

His remarks follow the domestic intelligence agency's official classification of the AfD as a confirmed "right-wing extremist" organization, a move Schuster said was expected.

"Still, this step is all the more important for those who have held a naive view of this party," he said. "They must now reconsider their position."

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In the statement, Schuster stressed that AfD representatives should be barred from holding positions of state authority, whether on key committees or in roles involving access to security-related information.

"Who would have thought that in 2025, a confirmed right-wing extremist party would account for nearly a quarter of the Bundestag?" he said, referring to the lower house of parliament.

The AfD garnered 20.8% of the national vote in February's general election, making it the biggest opposition party.
This article contains light spoilers for Sinners.

Sinners is a symphony of vampire bites, gunshot wounds, people being staked in the heart and left to burn alive. Ryan Cooglers film about twin gangsters trying to strike it rich in the Jim Crow South rapidly swerves toward supernatural horror when an ancient vampire seeks a way into the juke joint the twins have set up with their ill-gotten gains. But the true horror in the film is the economics of Jim Crow, which drives every event in the plot, including the vampire bloodbath that ultimately cuts the musical revelryand the twins dreamsshort.

Cooglers films tend to incorporate deep historical research that gets revealed subtly through brief, easy-to-miss moments and story details. Sinners is almost two movies in one: a vampire slaughterhouse film thats also a period piece about the near-impossibility of upward mobility in the segregation economy. The sawmill the twins convert into their juke joint becomes a bloody trap from which there is no escape, much like the system they are born into and seek to transcend.

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[Read: The triumph of a film that flips on us halfway through]

The movies protagonists, the Smokestack Twins, known as Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), are flamboyant entrepreneurs and World War I veterans returning from Chicago to Clarksdale, Mississippi, a city long associated with the blues, in the 1930s. One of the twins remarks that Chicago is merely Mississippi with tall buildings, and the viewer is left to speculate why, but history offers at least one possible explanation. In 1919, just after the end of World War I, Black veterans in Chicago would have witnessed one of the worst race riots of that Red Summer of lynchings, sparked by the death of a Black teenager named Eugene Williams, who drowned after a white man threw rocks at him while he was swimming in Lake Michigan. Williams had apparently drifted across an invisible whites-only line that the man who killed him was enforcing. The police refused to arrest the perpetrator, and dozens of Black and white people were killed in the ensuing violence, which saw white mobs rampaging through Black neighborhoods.

Black World War I veterans, some of whom defended their communities during the riot, were themselves frequently targeted for racial violence rather than admired for their service, as the Equal Justice Initiative notes; segregationist legislators feared they would return and expect to be treated as equals. The Mississippi Senator James K. Vardaman warned that, for the Black soldier, military service was but a short step to the conclusion that his political rights must be respected. The historian Chad Williams writes in Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era that conflict in the South and the major urban race riots of the postwar era reflected the conscious determination of many black veterans, emboldened and politicized by their army experience, to resist continued subjugation.

That context helps explain the twins cavalier attitude toward the white man they purchase the juke joint from in the film. When Smoke and Stack tell him theyll kill any KKK member who trespasses on their property, the seller, secretly a Klan leader, falsely insists the KKK no longer exists. In actuality, the second incarnation of the Klan remained influential, but Klan denial was a common propaganda strategy. We later learn that the capital the twins use to buy the property was stolen from the Irish and Italian mobs in Chicago, for whom the twins worked before returning to Mississippi. It would have been very difficult for them to acquire that seed capital otherwise; as the legal scholar Mehrsa Baradaran has noted in her study of the racial wealth gap, white banks at the time generally would not extend credit to Black borrowers.

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The strict separations of the Jim Crow economy are illustrated in perhaps the most striking shot in the movie, when a young Chinese American woman, Lisa Chow, crosses the street to speak with her mother in their whites-only shop. Until that point, we have been shown only the Black side of town, where the Chows also maintain a store. The sweeping shot reveals that the towns white residents are mere feet away, but they might as well be on a different planet. Part of a group of immigrants to Mississippi known as the Delta Chinese, the Chows are neither Black nor white and are allowed to sell to both customer bases at the same time.

The twins soon discover, however, that the same segregated economy that deprives them of seed money means that their clientele cannot afford to pay for their products in cash. The black peon is held down by perpetual debt or petty criminal judgments; his rent rises with the price of cotton, his chances to buy land are either non-existent or confined to infertile regions, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote in 1907. If by accident or miracle he escapes and becomes a landholder, his property, civil and political status are still at the mercy of the worst of the white voters, and his very life at the whim of the mob. This century-old observation is almost a summary of the films setting, just without the vampires.

[Read: Ryan Coogler didnt want to hide anymore]

The film conveys two forms of peonage prominent in the 1930s Southlabor arrangements not far removed from slavery. One is convict leasing, which we see as Stack, his cousin Sammie, and a veteran bluesman called Delta Slim pass by a chain gang on their drive to the juke joint. Because the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime, many southern states passed laws that, in practice, allowed authorities to arrest Black people for minor crimes such as loitering or vagrancy and then coerce them to work for free under heinous conditions.

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The other is sharecropping, the details of which are the catalyst for the eventual vampire massacre. Early on in the film, we see Sammie, an aspiring musician and preachers son, picking cotton in the morning so that he can fill his quota and spend the rest of the day playing his guitar. Under the sharecropping system, Black people and poor whites were kept in an interminable cycle of debt by landlords, no matter how hard they worked, and so were bound to continueDu Bois described it as a form of serfdom. Landlords would pay sharecroppers in scrip, paper or wooden tokens that could be used to purchase only highly marked-up goods from the landlords own stores. As the writer Michael Harriott notes, the Chows shop would have been one of the few places in town where Black residents could expect fair prices.

The twins successfully pack the juke joint with customers who are intoxicated by Sammies supernatural skills with a guitarDelta Slim describes Black music as a kind of magic, and in another striking scene, Sammies playing summons the spirits of the revelers ancestors and descendants. But the twins soon discover that much of their clientele can purchase drinks only with scripwhich means breaking even on their investment will be impossible. Their business faces other barriers: A plot point that sees the twins stealing electricity for the juke joint recalls the fact that most of the South, kept poor and underdeveloped by the demands of the segregated economy, didnt have electricity until the New Deal, under FDR.

Elsewhere in the film, the Irish vampire Remmick, pursued by Choctaw vampire hunters, tricks his way into the protection of a pair of Klan members living near Clarksdale and turns them into creatures of the night. Shortly after Stack realizes that the juke joint isnt making enough money, Remmick shows up with his progeny. Attracted by Sammies virtuoso playing, they ask to be invited in but are rejected because they are white; another aspect of the era was that white businesses could sell to Black customers, but Black businesses were limited to Black clientele. As vampires, they are forced to wait outside. When Mary, Stacks old flame and, in the parlance of the time, an octoroon who is passing for white, learns from Stack that the juke joint is unprofitable, she offers to go see if Remmick and the others have U.S. currency.

Mary becomes the vampires first juke-joint victim and is then invited inside, where she promptly seduces and kills Stack, who later rises again as a vampire. But the entire reason any of this happens is that running a profitable business as a Black person in the Jim Crow economy is nearly impossible. If the Smokestack twins could borrow capital from white banks, they wouldnt have needed to rob the mob and leave Chicago. If the sharecroppers were paid with actual money, the juke joint would have been profitable. And if the juke joint were profitable, then Mary would never have walked outside and been turned by the vampires. The economic constraints imposed by segregation are what, in the end, expose the twins and their customers to the supernatural horror Remmick represents.

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Interestingly, Coogler treats Remmick sympathetically, offering hints about Remmicks own experience of oppression and his doomed quest to seek out his loved ones, who are long dead. Remmick is a monster, but his homeland was colonized by some of the same rapacious forces that brought the twins ancestors to America. The tragedy of persecuted people brought into bloody conflict with one another by forces beyond their control is a consistent theme in Cooglers films, including his two Black Panther movies.

[Read: The tragedy of Erik Killmonger]

The only unadulterated monsters in the film are the Ku Klux Klan, who show up at the juke joint the next morning to kill the twins and take back the property the Klan leader sold to them, thus pocketing the money. This outcome is foreshadowed earlier in the film, during a story Delta Slim tells as they are passing the chain gang. Slim recalls a friend who was lynched for carrying too much cash, which a group of white men assumed he had stolen. Slims tale illustrates a deadly catch-22 of Jim Crow economics: Whatever Black people acquired, white people could take by force.

The final conflict between Smoke and the Klan ends in a satisfying Western-style shoot-out, but it also shows that the twins were always doomed. The powers that be in Clarksdale were never going to allow them to prosper. Thats a different kind of horror story, one that is all the more terrifying because it lacks any supernatural element. Unlike vampires, the Jim Crow economy was real, and it shapes America to this day.

When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
U.S. employers added roughly 177,000 jobs in April, more than expectations had projected, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged from last month at 4.2%, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The latest numbers reflect the deep workforce cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, with federal government employment declining by 9,000 in April, bringing the total number of cuts since January to 26,000. (Federal workers on paid leave or who are getting severance pay are still included among the employed.)

The latest report suggests that President Donald Trumps tariffs have not yet made a significant dent in the job market, with some experts suggesting the effects won't be reflected in official data for weeks or months. Still, there are other indications of their impact on the economy.

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Data from the Commerce Department this week showed that the economy shrank by 0.3% in the first three months of the year, in large part due to an uptick in imports as Americans prepare for Trumps tariffs to hit. Economists have also warned of a potential recession. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to try to brace the public for economic pain, claiming that he warned voters of a transition period on the campaign trail.

Trump celebrated the latest numbers in a post on Truth Social on Friday morning, writing that Billions of Dollars are coming in from tariffs, repeating a claim he has made before that is difficult to verify. Just like I said, and were only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!! he added.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
This is an adapted excerpt from the May 1 episode of Morning Joe.

During the campaign, there were repeated warnings about what would happen if Donald Trump went through with his promise of sweeping global tariffs. Just over 100 days into his second term, were seeing those warnings come to life.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.3% during the first quarter, marking the first quarter of negative growth since Q1 of 2022. In a Truth Social post, Trump quickly tried to pass the blame for that number onto Joe Biden. This is Bidens Stock Market, not Trumps. I didnt take over until January 20th, Trump wrote.

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But the truth is, Trump isnt the only one who deserves blame here. If Im a Democrat, Im not blaming this all on Trump. Republicans in the Senate had a chance on Wednesday to take a stand against these tariffs and terminate the national emergency the president used to implement them. Theres no national emergency that could justify what the president has done. Republicans know that.

Before Trump took the White House, the U.S. economy was the envy of the world. Republicans needed to protect that economy, and they had the opportunity to do that with Wednesdays vote. But, in the end, only three Republican senators were brave enough to take a stand against Trump. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to tell the administration that they refused to forfeit all of their power on tariffs to the White House.

The American people will feel the impact of Trumps tariffs  if they havent already. When the next election comes around, the same Republicans who refused to stand up to the president cant go on the campaign trail and point their finger at Trump. Those Republicans own this. The Republican senators who refused to join their colleagues on Wednesday own it. Republican House members who have stood idly by as Trump wreaks havoc on the economy own it.

Under Trump, elected Republicans have given up their power. They had a chance to take back their constitutionally mandated power on Wednesday  all but three said no and effectively told the American people that they wrap their arms around this economy, around a possible recession, and they take full credit for it.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Australian retail, wine and spirits brands major Endeavour Group has appointed Jayne Hrdlicka as its new CEO and managing director.

Hrdlicka will take the reins from Ari Mervis, who stepped in as executive chairman following the departure of former CEO Steve Donohue in March.

Donohue, who had served as CEO since 2018, announced his decision to step down in September.

Arvis was appointed as Endeavours new chairman in January, following shareholder tension at its AGM the previous October.

In a statement announcing Hrdlicka's appointment, Endeavour said the move, intended to deliver the companys next phase of growth, would take effect from 1 January 2026.

Until Hrdlicka officially takes on the role, she has agreed to be available to meet frequently with the business to support discussions on key business and strategic matters", Endeavour said.

Commenting on the news, Mervis said: Jayne has a proven track record leading consumer-facing businesses to success. She has led many complex organisations and delivered significant shareholder value by capturing the true potential of a companys brands and assets.

The board believes Jayne is the ideal candidate to lead Endeavour Group through its next phase of both growth and transformation, he added.

As CEO and managing director of airline business Virgin Australia, Hrdlicka oversaw the company's recovery from administration following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her previous roles include CEO and managing director of the A2 Milk Company and Group CEO of Australian airline company Jetstar.

From 2010 to 2016, Hrdlicka was a non-executive director at Woolworths Group, which then housed various liquor brands of Endeavour Group and the ALH Hotel Group.

Reflecting on her appointment, Hrdlicka said: Endeavour Group is an extraordinary company with an unmatched portfolio of brands and assets in its core categories.

I have a long history with Endeavours retail and hotel businesses, initially as a consultant to Woolworths, including on their early liquor strategy, and then as a Woolworths Group board member.

The retailer, drinks producer and hotel business was established in 2018, following the merger of ALH Hotel Groups and Endeavour Drinks.

Endeavours drinks portfolio includes Australian and New Zealand winemakers Paragon Wine Estates, wine, beer and spirits distributor Pinnacle Drinks and Australian fine wine retailer Langtons.

The group also owns the Australian liquor store chains Dan Murphys and BWS, among other retail and hospitality brands.

"Endeavour Group appoints new CEO" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.
After King Charles urged cancer sufferers to always have rebellious hope at a Buckingham Palace reception on Wednesday, Telegraph readers shared what has helped them through the illness.

Citing Dame Deborah James, a bowel cancer campaigner who died aged 40 in 2022, His Majesty said: Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.

We spoke to readers who were diagnosed with cancer and are still living with it. They shared their insight on what has got them through one of the most challenging periods of their lives.

We talk about everything  not just the cancer

John Jamieson, 75, discovered he had prostate cancer after one of his annual medical reviews.

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Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men  more than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average.

Mr Jamieson owes his optimism to a group of five close friends, who were also diagnosed with prostate cancer at different stages. Their weekly drinks in their local pub have provided necessary emotional support.

Were a very supportive group  a right jolly group of cancer sufferers. We talk about everything  where were at, not just the cancer, he says.

The former air traffic controller was familiar with annual medical reviews, so he felt it was no big issue when he signed up for regular blood tests and an annual PSA test with his surgery in retirement.

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Mr Jamieson stressed that although his PSA count increased steadily with age, his doctors told him this was normal. It was only when his PSA levels spiked from five to eight in the space of 12 months that there was cause for concern.

As his prostate cancer was diagnosed early, his prognosis was good. I cant thank the medical professionals at St Beatson Hospital in Glasgow enough, they have a huge amount of talent and experience. Theyre very caring, he says.

Art has been a life support

Suzanne Candlish finds refuge in her art studio

Suzanne Candlish, 73, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2020. The artist finds comfort through the very lonely and traumatic business of cancer in her at-home studio.

Mrs Candlish, who taught art to degree level, had her work displayed during her illness at an exhibition in Ripon Cathedral. Most of her art consists of calligraphy and abstract pieces.

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It has been a life support, and offers me catharsis  I dont paint anything about my illness, she says. Sometimes I just go to the studio and sit with my head on the desk, when I dont have the energy.

Coco and Jojo, her working cocker spaniels, have also brought a lot of joy into her life, and walking the dogs has become an outlet for her husband, Iain, who took on responsibilities as his wifes carer.

Mrs Candlish has found it important to be open with her family about the reality of her condition to help them understand it, especially her young grandson, who once asked why she hadnt died, to which she replied: Im not quite ready for heaven yet.

I had to learn to seek and accept help

Scott Martin turned to his love of ski instructing

Im amazingly lucky, says Scott Martin, 59, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2024 and received a clear test result in March.

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The small acts of kindness that have meant the most to the ski instructor through his illness and treatment range from texts checking how he is doing, to friends bringing him soup at home.

Mr Martin, who now lives in Aspen, Colorado, grew up in West London and attended an all-boys boarding school where a stiff upper lip mentality was encouraged.

Having to unlearn a core belief that a strong man doesnt need help was challenging, he says, but he had to throw it out the window and learn to seek and accept help.

Scott Martin skiing

An example of that help included asking for car lifts to and from his hospital appointments, which would have been impossible to travel back from independently under the effects of his cancer treatment.

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Aspen is a core community, and we all help each other, Mr Martin says, who was bolstered by his love of ski instructing and having people around him all the time during his cancer.

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.
It took Joplin Area Catholic Schools students two rounds of voting Thursday to elect Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and Freising, the next pope of the Catholic Church.

The ballot was silent and secret as students drew on days of conversation to make their decision. With some wearing birettas, they cheered as white smoke emerged from a pipe on the roof of McAuley Catholic High School.

A new pope had been elected in their mock conclave, and students had a greater insight into the process of choosing a pope.

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Steve Gilbreth, principal of McAuley Catholic High School, said that following the mourning process for Pope Francis, he was thinking of ways to engage the students in the papal election.

Next week, the College of Cardinals will start its conclave in Rome. While looking at a list of cardinals to be candidates for pope, Gilbreth thought McAuley Catholic High School and St. Peters Middle School students should hold a conclave of their own.

He collaborated with the schools theology teachers to put together a list of candidates and questions to get students thinking about who they would select as pope.

We wanted them to think about what they believe and how those beliefs align with this pool of candidates who will potentially be our next pope, Gilbreth said. Weve asked them: Who do they want to lead them? Who do they want their influencer to be?

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Students have discussed the list of candidates in their classes. They voted from a larger list Wednesday to narrow it down to six candidates. On Thursday, they met in a mock conclave to elect a pope. The elected pope needed a two-thirds majority, just like the conclave in Rome.

Gilbreth said students have taken this decision seriously, recognizing the pope has great influence, and not just on the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

The kids are super excited about this, especially the middle school kids, Gilbreth said. Several parents have told me that when they come home, thats all theyre talking about.

Isabella Gilligan, a sophomore at McAuley, said at several points during discussions in their religion class they got out the Bible to examine relevant passages. These discussions, and seeing how students stuck to their personal beliefs, were a highlight of the process for her.

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One of the issues that interested Gilligan was the role of women in the church.

It was cool to see the contrasts in beliefs and to find someone who fit what we wanted, whose beliefs we thought were right, Gilligan said. Some people had different views. Some people thought women should be involved in the church. I do too, but I dont believe women should be ordained priests.

Gilligan voted for Cardinal Robert Sarah, of Guinea, for pope because she liked that he is conservative and aligns with her beliefs on women in the church.

The mock conclave has helped her understand the workings of the Catholic Church better, Gilligan said. Before it, she wasnt clear on the process.

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Doing all this helped me learn about the process that goes on, Gilligan said. Its important to my faith to understand that.

Gilbreth said he hoped the mock conclave helped students reflect on how to have a deep spiritual connection with Jesus Christ and how to show that to the world. This process has been a time of reflection for students on how to show their faith in the form of electing a pope, he said.

Beyond that, Gilbreth joked that his long-term hope is that if they pick the correct pope, he would come visit Joplin Area Catholic Schools, a place that had backed him from the beginning.

He kind of owes us at that point, Gilbreth said with a laugh.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took top honors at the inaugural Wisconsin A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism, securing both first and second place for its impactful reporting.

The awards were announced April 25 by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

First place went to a reporting team of Journal Sentinel reporters Vanessa Swales, Drake Bentley, Laura Schulte, Ashley Luthern and Appleton Post-Crescent reporter Kelli Arseneau. The team was honored for its efforts covering Wisconsin's prison crisis, shedding light on inhumane conditions within the state's correctional facilities through a combination of investigative reporting and day-to-day coverage.

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The team closely followed the lockdowns at the state's prisons, documenting the impact on people who lacked access to fresh air, visitors, or educational programming for months on end.

Swales and Bentley also investigated a series of troubling deaths and suicides at Waupun Correctional Institution. Later, several leaders and workers at the prison were charged in connection to some of those deaths.

Judges praised the reporting team for shedding light on a situation "that has been begging for clear-sighted attention for decades."

"The public generally doesnt want to hear about  or care much about  the lives of the incarcerated but this series brought inhumane conditions into daylight where they couldnt be ignored, the judges wrote. The quality of journalism and quality of presentation in this series were of the highest quality."

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Journal Sentinel reporter Cleo Krejci earned second place for "The Gray Zone," an in-depth look into the challenges faced by residents and staff within Wisconsin's assisted living facilities.

Judges called the series "compelling" and "powerful." They also commended Krejci's first-person story describing her own experiences working as a direct caregiver.

"At the Journal Sentinel, we work every day to make a difference in our community," said Executive Editor Greg Borowski. "Often that difference comes through deep, complicated, sustained reporting on key issues. This award recognizes that powerful work and is a reflection of our commitment to investigative journalism."

The A-Mark Prizes are awarded by press clubs in numerous states to recognize excellence in investigative reporting.

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In Wisconsin, the competition was judged by a panel of retired journalists and representatives from the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Journalists Bill Schanen IV and Kristyn Halbig-Ziehm of The Ozaukee Press took third place for their entry "Microchip Plant."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Coverage of Wisconsin prisons, assisted living wins state investigative reporting award
COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A University of South Carolina graduate student will have to wait several more weeks to find out if his F-1 visa can be restored after federal authorities revoked it without warning.

A federal judge was open to reviewing the case Friday, but court filings earlier in the week delayed the hearing.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union represent Matthew Ariwoola.

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A federal judge sided with Ariwoola and the ACLU in their first motion, temporarily preventing his immediate arrest or deportation by agreeing to a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was granted a 14-day reprieve on April 18.

They then asked the court to convert the TRO to a preliminary injunction. Attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem asked the court to suspend the preliminary injunction schedule, which the judge denied. The defense team has until May 16 to file a response to the injunction request.

The TRO is extended until that date. Ariwoola will retain his legal status and visa privileges in the meantime.

ACLU of South Carolina files lawsuit to protect PhD student facing deportation

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Ariwoola, a 32-year-old Nigerian citizen, studies chemistry and teaches undergraduate classes at USC.

His attorneys argue he does not have a criminal record. They said his only encounter with law enforcement was in 2023 when he was wrongfully arrested in Georgia. The prosecutor dismissed all charges after reviewing the case and finding Ariwoola had never been to Georgia.

Ariwoolas suit alleges he was denied due process by DHS, as they did not offer him an opportunity to contest the decision to cancel his F-1 visa. He is asking the judge to restore his legal status as a student.

The ACLU said the doctoral candidate is one of around 1,500 international students facing sudden cancellations of their visas.

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During a dangerousness hearing Friday, a judge at Lowell District Court ruled that Nicholas Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port will be held without bail for 120 days.

Akerberg is charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of assault and battery on a public employee, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, assault, disrupting a court proceeding, disorderly conduct, bomb threat, and intimidation.

Before Akerberg appeared before a judge, the prosecution requested that he appear via Zoom from lockup instead of coming to the courtroom in person. However, the judge denied the request.

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Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Pavan Nagavelli presented 13 exhibits that the judge approved to review, which included videos, photos, and documents from open cases against Akerberg.

The Commonwealth asks that the court find that there is clear and convincing evidence to find the defendant is dangerous, and there are no conditions of release that would reasonably assure the safety of the community, said Pavan.

He showed Akerberg has several other open cases against him currently, including several violent crimes hes accused of in the Stoneham area, where he used to live. Pavan said some included assault and battery on Stoneham police officers, as well as using pepper spray on them. Hes also accused of pepper-spraying his neighbor while they were doing laundry.

The defendant doesnt have the ability to comply with court orders, Pavan argued.

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As for the judges decision not to release him, Akerbergs Attorney, John Sadek, talked with Boston 25 News about the decision.

Mr. Akerberg does maintain his innocence, and I do expect this to be complex on my end, in terms of both investigation and other information that we need to look into, said Sadek.

A probable cause hearing for Akerberg will be held on May 28th, where hell appear via Zoom.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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I am the law! declared Judge Dredd, the cinematic supercop played by Sylvester Stallone in the eponymous 1995 film. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan seems to have come to a similar conclusion, and she has been charged with a felony and a misdemeanor in the matter of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant who was scheduled to appear before her on domestic battery charges and whomaccording to the federal police agencies today under control of people who won their positions by insisting we should not trust federal police agenciesthe judge tried to help evade arrest and presumable deportation.

Let us assume, arguendo, that Judge Dugan does not have a special place in her heart for supposed domestic abusers. If she is, as it seems, engaged in the same proud tradition of civil disobedience as such heroes as Henry David Thoreau, then she should go to jail for it as happily as Thoreau did when he observed:

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. The proper place today, the only place which Massachusetts has provided for her freer and less desponding spirits, is in her prisons, to be put out and locked out of the State by her own act, as they have already put themselves out by their principles. It is there that the fugitive slave, and the Mexican prisoner on parole, and the Indian come to plead the wrongs of his race should find them; on that separate, but more free and honorable, ground, where the State places those who are not with her, but against her.

The question before the jurythe real jury, I mean: usis not the character of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz but the character of the Trump administration and that of our doddering republic.

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Judge Dugan has behaved at least improperly, if not criminally, if the facts of the case are as described. (And go ahead and put on the caveat that since we are talking about habitual liars such as FBI director Kash Patel and other Trump sycophants here, who the hell knows?) Dugan supposedly sent the agents who had come to arrest Flores-Ruiz to a different part of the courthouse on an administrative chore and then interrupted the legal proceedings in front of her to spirit Flores-Ruiz out through the jury entrance and away from the feds. His evasion of arrest lasted only a couple of minutes, but, as my colleague Sarah Isgur has intelligently observed, one can be guilty of obstructing justice even if one is no good at it.

The Trump administration is lawlessand particularly so in the matter of immigration, where it has ignored court rulings and trampled over due process, exiling U.S. citizen children and infamously sending a man off to a Salvadoran gulag in plain contravention of the law, with President Trump citing doctored photos of MS-13 gang tattoos on the deportees hands to vindicate himself. To push back against such lawlessness (and I will here assume that this is what Judge Dugan is up to) is good and necessary and patriotic. It also is far from anything that falls under the properly understood professional duties of a Milwaukee judge and it may be, at times, a crime.

There is much to admire in the tradition of civil disobedience, from the nonviolent kind practiced by Mohandas K. Gandhi to the bloodier kind practiced by John Brown. Civil disobedience is the mildest form of revolution, but it may lead to the more traditional kind of revolutionthe line is short and straight from the Boston Tea Party to Lexington and Concord. Gandhi meant to work a political revolution in the British Empire and establish an independent India; the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. meant to work a revolution within American government and social practice; John Brown meant to secure the freedom of American slaves as a matter of brute fact and then let the law accommodate itself to the new political settlement created not by votes or argumentwhich had failed in the great moral cause of the timebut by his Sharps rifle. Thoreau expected to be put into jail for breaking the law, and Gandhi, who read him, adopted the same position. The Rev. King did some of his best writing in that famous stay in the Birmingham jail.

The civil-disobedience position, being a revolutionary position, is always and everywhere a dangerous position, even where it is good or necessary. It is a way of saying, I am the law, or, My moral sensibility is the law. As I wrote some years ago in the matter of Cliven Bundy, the right-wing militant rancher waging a desultory guerilla war against federal land-use practices, the problem with civil disobedience is that every Timothy McVeigh and Unabomber thinks he is Patrick Henry. There are plenty of people out there who are full of rage and resentment and who are simply spoiling for a fightand who will accept any moral pretext that offers them a rationale for the violence they wish to do. And there is a less dramatic version of that, e.g., perhaps the case of a judge looking for any opportunity to stick a thumb in the eye of the Trump administration.

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The Trump administration deserves all the thumbs in its eyes, of course, Kash Patel more than most of the rest of that feckless gang of self-serving malefactors. Give or take an accident or two, there are 1070 thumbs in Congress, all of them attached to elected representatives who under the Constitution are invested with the powerand the dutyto exercise oversight and to limit by statute the Trump administrations shenanigans, abuses, and lawlessness. This, owing to reasons of cowardice and stupidity, they refuse to do. Judges may rule against the administration, but the administration has shown itself more than willing to ignore the courtsand to lie to the public about what the courts have ruled. And, so, what do you do?

What the administration hopes Americans do is what most Americans are going to do: knuckle under, hope that none of this mess lands on their heads, and wait for the next election. Others will do what Judge Dugan is accused of doing: work to subvert the administration, including through illegal means. And, America being America, youre a fool if you think there isnt some would-be John Brown out there thanking God and the spirit of Eugene Stoner that, at last, his day has come.

Dugan has been suspended by the state supreme court. Her lawyers say she will defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated. If she has something more to say for herself, now is the time. So far, her attorneys have not disputed the facts of the case but have argued only that she is being targeted for performative reasons. No doubt that is truethis is above all else, a performative administration.

This is, for the moment, a minor kerfuffle. But if Congress does not step up, be sure that someone will. If you think Judge Dugan is being irresponsible and reckless, then you almost certainly are not going to like who and what comes next as the lawlessness and chaos continues. Chaos begets chaos. And the hard part for honest and intelligent Americans will be that, whatever dumb and destructive excesses Trumps opponents get up to, nobody will be able to say that they dont have a point.

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Montana State University welcomes students back to campus for the first day of the Fall 2023 semester. (Provided by Montana State University)

A federal judge extended this week an emergency order that prevents the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting two Montana State University graduate students.

Last month, four international students affiliated with the Montana University System had their visas revoked and student visitor records terminated.

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The terminations could subject the students to immediate deportation, and two of the students, graduates at MSU, challenged the decision in federal court.

The ACLU of Montana sued on their behalf, and the Trump administration subsequently and separately reinstated them in a database that keeps those records, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS.

However, Alex Rate of the ACLU of Montana said in an email Thursday that the students still need the court to step in because the recent reinstatement does not provide the students ongoing assurance.

Given the chaos and confusion that the Trump Administration has created for our clients, the only thing that can bring them some certainty is an order from the court, Rate said in an email. This Administrations conduct is cruel and illegal, and we will not stand idly by while our clients rights are being trampled.

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NBC News reported Wednesday the revocations affected an estimated 3,000 international students in the U.S.

On April 21, Inside Higher Ed said the terminations had resulted in at least 28 lawsuits across the country.

At a hearing of Roe v. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Judge Dana Christensen agreed the reinstatements did not mean the case was moot.

Christensen extended the temporary restraining order an additional 14 days until he had an opportunity to rule on the students motion for a preliminary injunction.

A media contact from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Montana declined to comment Thursday.

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National media outlets said the terminations took place after Homeland Security ran the names of 1.3 million foreign students through a crime database and sent hits to the State Department.

The State Department then revoked visas and told Homeland Security to change their status from active to terminated in the SEVIS database, which university officials monitor.

The lawsuit said a terminated record requires a student to depart the U.S. immediately, citing a notification the students received from MSU.

However, the lawsuit alleged the visa revocation isnt a legal justification for the termination of a SEVIS record. It said the students were not provided additional information about the terminations.

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Therefore, the ACLU of Montana alleges the governments actions circumvent the law and appear designed to coerce the students into self-deporting.

The lawsuit said the students had done nothing to violate their visa status, but the case challenges the terminations of their records in the SEVIS database, not the visa revocations.

The lawsuit also said the two plaintiffs from MSU had not been convicted of any crimes in the U.S. or elsewhere and both were star students and model members of their respective school communities.

In Judge Christensens emergency ruling, he found the case similar to one in New Hampshire in which the court found the federal government had not followed its own procedures in actions affecting students and violated due process protections.

At a hearing for a case in the Northern District of California in Oakland last week, an attorney for the Justice Department said the federal government would no longer terminate statuses based only on information in the crime database, according to NBC News.
By Ananya Mariam Rajesh

(Reuters) -Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder forecast a bigger-than-expected drop in fiscal 2025 sales on Thursday, signaling a slowdown in demand for beauty products in the American market and a longer road to recovery in the key China region.

Estee has been struggling to revive sales at airports and tourist hubs in China and other major Asian markets as consumer sentiment in the region remains weak due to high unemployment rates. Asia-Pacific, which includes China, contributed 31.3% of the company's total sales in fiscal 2024.

Its sales have also been soft in the U.S., with the company now facing challenges from President Donald Trump's chaotic implementation of tariffs.

Estee had pulled its annual forecast in October, citing an uncertain recovery in China, before Stephane de La Faverie took over as CEO.

His turnaround plans for the company include speeding up of new launches and bringing in new luxury price tiers. But that might face a roadblock from growing economic uncertainties due to the trade war.

Organic net sales in the Americas fell 5% on retail softness and decline in consumer confidence and sentiment.

"From a regional perspective, the Americas had the largest miss and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) was only slightly softer ... Outperformance on margins show the progress of EL's PRGP (profit recovery plan) and restructuring activities," RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi said in a note.

European peer L'Oreal has also flagged weakness in the U.S., while it continues to see strong demand for its creams and perfume in Europe.

Estee expects fiscal 2025 net sales to be down 8% to 9%, compared with analysts' estimate of a 7.07% fall, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company forecasts annual adjusted per-share profit to be between $1.30 and $1.55, with midpoint above the estimate of $1.40, as it starts to benefit from its restructuring plan, including job cuts.

Shares of the MAC lipstick maker were down nearly 1%.

MITIGATING TARIFFS

Estee aims to return to sales growth in fiscal 2026, its CEO said, adding that this depends on the resolution of the recently enacted tariffs to mitigate potential negative impacts.

The U.S. has imposed 145% tariffs on China, while Beijing put a 125% levy on American imports into the country.

To navigate the tariff situation, Estee expects to reduce imports into China from the U.S. to 10% from 25%.

Estee said about a quarter of products imported into EMEA are sourced from the U.S., but it is working to change to regionalized and third-party manufacturing networks.

(Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
May 2 (UPI) -- The arrest of a Wisconsin judge may have a chilling effect on the courts, experts say, even if the charges are justifiable.

The federal government alleges in its complaint against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan that she attempted to help a person who was subject to a removal order evade arresting officers at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. She was arrested on April 25 before being released and has subsequently been suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Dugan is charged with obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.

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FBI Director Kash Patel shared a photo of Dugan's arrest on April 25, writing, "No one is above the law."

Three legal experts who spoke with UPI agree that arresting a judge at a courthouse is unusual.

Jon Gould, professor of criminology, law and society at the University of California-Irvine, told UPI the case raises complex questions about the rule of law, immigration and the jurisdiction of the federal government.

"The arrest is kind of a Rorschach test in terms of how people think about the rule of law and immigration," Gould said. "On one hand, this is an attack on the integrity of the judiciary, and the state's judiciary at that, by the federal government. The other perspective on this is that a judge allowed her personal interest to get in the way of the law and allowed someone who was under suspicion by the federal government to escape her courtroom."

Allegations

Dugan was arrested for an incident that occurred at the courthouse on April 18. Six deportation officers, including FBI special agents, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, went to the courthouse to arrest a person who had a hearing in Dugan's courtroom. The agents were "generally dressed in plain clothes."

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The complaint alleges that Dugan was on the bench conducting proceedings in the courtroom when she was made aware of the presence of officers.

Dugan approached some of the officers and asked if they had a judicial warrant, which they did not. Instead they said they had an administrative warrant and showed it to her. Dugan then directed them to report to the chief judge and show them the warrant.

The agents were escorted by another judge to the chief judge's chambers, aside from one agent whom the complaint said "was not recognized by Judge Dugan and Judge A as being part of the arrest team." That agent remained outside of the courtroom.

As members of the arrest team spoke with the chief judge, they claimed the courtroom deputy made a comment about Dugan "pushing" the case of the person they intended to arrest through, "which the arrest team interpreted to mean that Judge Dugan was attempting to expedite" their hearing.

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The complaint said witnesses saw Dugan redirect the intended arrestee from exiting into the public hallway toward a nonpublic part of the courthouse through the jury door. Dugan allegedly escorted them through this area before returning to the bench and continuing with the day's docket.

The arrestee ultimately made it out of the courthouse but was arrested after a brief "foot chase."

"The reality is the judge did something wrong and so the question isn't whether the judge should be penalized," Gould said. "The question is who should do it and how should they do it?"

Judicial integrity

Typically a situation such as this would not result in a judge being handcuffed outside of the courthouse, according to Meena Bose, dean of Hofstra University's public policy program and director of presidential studies.

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"There could have been a referral to a judicial conference in Wisconsin to determine how to proceed," Bose told UPI.

When Massachusetts District Court Judge Shelley Joseph was accused by the first Trump administration of obstructing the arrest of an immigrant in her courthouse in 2018, she was not indicted until nearly a year later in 2019, following an investigation into the incident.

"Without a doubt with Judge Dugan there needs to be some accountability for what happened," Bose said. "The Justice Department, by pursuing so aggressively, is perhaps creating a climate of fear for judges on what the extent of their authority is."

"The arrest seems extreme. The suspension does not," she added. "Obviously everyone is required to follow the rule of law."

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The arrest and charges against Dugan have sparked concerns about intimidation against judges but Russell Wheeler adds that the presence of deportation agents in the courthouse also creates a chilling effect. Wheeler is a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"The question is whether or not they should be searching in the courthouse in the first place," Wheeler told UPI. "They don't want ICE agents in the courthouse because people without status are going to be afraid to testify, be witnesses and cooperate with law enforcement."

Wheeler's concerns are not limited to immigration-related arrests, though in the current climate that concern is heightened.

"There's a host of reasons you want to keep the courthouse open, regardless of status," he said. "It's the same reason as having a church as a no-arrest zone. That's a matter of preserving religious freedom. This is a matter, in my view, of preserving the integrity of the judicial process. You don't do that by creating a system where people are afraid to go to court. You don't want to discourage people from reporting crimes or providing evidence."
CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  It appears the Apalachicola Riverkeeper has successfully Killed the drill.

Last year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved an exploratory oil drilling permit for Clearwater land and minerals to drill in Calhoun County near the Apalachicola River.

In April 2024, the Apalachicola Riverkeeper challenged the permit, arguing that oil drilling could damage the river and its ecosystems.

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The case went to trial in December.

Harrison Ave 400-block opens up to pedestrians, construction workers honored

On Monday, Judge Lawrence P. Stevenson finally issued an order recommending that DEP deny the oil drilling permit for Clearwater Land and Minerals wildcat well on the Apalachicola River floodplain.

DEP will make the final decision.

As it currently stands, this case does not stop additional oil drilling permit applications on the rivers floodplain.

However, on Wednesday, the House and Senate unanimously passed a bill that would prohibit all oil drilling, exploration, and extraction of oil and gas resources near marine sanctuaries.

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It now heads to the governor. If he signs it into law, that would kill permits and drilling along the Apalachicola River.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Several judges have resigned or retired after facing allegations of sexism or misconduct.

A new bill would let the judiciary continue to investigate claims even after judges step down.

It's currently only supported by Democrats, the minority party in both houses of Congress.

Federal judges staring down investigations about sexism or misconduct in office have used a loophole: Retire or resign, and the investigation goes away. A new bill could end the practice.

Congressman Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat who introduced the bill, said judges and courts shouldn't "sweep bad behavior under the rug." Nine other Democrats, including high-profile New York representative Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are cosponsoring the bill.

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The two-page proposal would add language to federal laws around judicial complaints, saying investigations should occur "without regard to the resignation, retirement or death of the judge whose conduct is the subject of the complaint."

Aliza Shatzman founded the Legal Accountability Project after experiencing what she described as harassment and retaliation while working for a judge, said she worked with Johnson's office on the bill. She said people in the federal judiciary have told her that their hands are tied once a judge leaves.

"This would untie those hands," she said. "Theoretically, it's something they should support."

She hopes Republicans will support the bill because judicial misconduct doesn't have a political party. "Both Democratic and Republican appointees mistreat their clerks," she said.

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The bill faces uncertain prospects if it doesn't get GOP support. House Republicans, including the judiciary committee, have been focused on passing legislation to enable President Donald Trump to crack down on immigrants.

Richard Painter, a government-ethics expert formerly affiliated with one of the groups backing the bill, said it's possible that the judiciary would oppose the measure because judges see themselves as capable of policing their own conduct.

"You can't just say separation of powers means there's no checks and balances," he said. "I don't buy those arguments, but you might hear those arguments."

Johnson's office said judges accused of sexual harassment have resigned, including Jose Antonio Fuste in 2016 and Alex Kozinski in 2017, before the disciplinary process could run its course. More recently, a federal judge in Alaska, Joshua Kindred, resigned after an investigation found that he made inappropriate sexual comments to his staff and began a sexual relationship with one of his clerks after she became a prosecutor.

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Kozinski has said it was "never my intent" to make his clerks uncomfortable. Business Insider was unable to contact Fuste.

Historically, judges and their clerks have had close relationships; a 1992 law review article described how one judge's clerks would spend the night at his house and babysit his grandchildren. There is now much more scrutiny on such relationships and the potential for overwork and exploitation of clerks and staff.

Sometimes, the allegations rise to the level of official complaints, and courts take action. Judge Pauline Newman, a member of a federal appeals court that hears high-stakes intellectual property disputes, is fighting for her job after some employees expressed concern about her mental health. Several other lawyers and judges have said Newman remains sharp, and accused other judges of overreacting.

Last year, the legal reporter David Lat reported that a Trump-appointed judge in Florida who was criticized over decisions she made in one of his criminal cases lost two clerks over heavy workloads and what one clerk told friends was "mean" conduct. And Shatzman wrote on the website Above The Law that a federal judge in Minnesota left the bench after being accused of mistreating and retaliating against employees.

A representative for Republicans on the House judiciary committee didn't respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
At least 11 federal judges and their families have been threatened and harassed since they ruled against President Trump on issues of deportations, federal funding, and his war on wokeness.

The judges, under anonymity, told Reuters that they had received multiple intimidating calls and emails to their homes and offices. Some have been subject to the disturbing pizza box method, in which antagonists will anonymously send a pizza to the home of a judge or their relatives just to show that they know where they live.

This is only compounded by the countless attacks and doxxing attempts that people like Laura Loomer and Elon Musk have made on X. When U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled against Trumps illegal deportation of 137 men under the Alien Enemies Act in March, Loomer and Musk shared photos of his daughter, while their army of keyboard warriors called for the execution or arrest of Boasberg and the rest of his family. Loomer did the same to Judge John McConnell after he blocked Trump from freezing education grants, posting a picture of his daughter who had worked for the Education Department. Loomers post conveniently omitted that McConnells daughter left the department before Trump was even inaugurated.

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The reason why Judge McConnell, a Democrat donor and activist wants Trump to restore funding is because his daughter, Catherine McConnell, is currently employed by the same Department of Education that President Trump and @elonmusk want to audit and DEFUND, Loomer wrote on X. She was appointed by Joe Biden and now her Dad is abusing his power to protect her paycheck.

Reuters identified more than 600 similar posts on social media and right-leaning message boards since February, targeting family members of judges who ruled against the Trump administration. The commentators attacked everything from their physical appearance to their patriotism. Amplified on X and other platforms by some of Trumps most prominent allies, including Musk, those posts have been viewed more than 200 million times. At least 70 posts explicitly called for judges family members to face violence, retaliation or arrest.

This makes the chilling effect impossible to ignore, as judges could potentially begin to rule more and more in favor of Trump out of fear of MAGA retribution.

The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity, said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at a conference on Thursday. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy.
President Trump has sought to deliver on his promise to streamline government by cutting more than 200,000 federal jobs since taking office for his second term, but with 174 pending lawsuits against the administration, he is creating work for lawyers. Not all of these cases will prove meritorious, but there is also no reason to believe any are entirely specious, as suggested by a White House memorandum vowing to seek sanctions against attorneys filing frivolous lawsuits.

Amid a looming administration showdown with the Supreme Court over the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison, Americans should remember that litigation on fundamental questions such as the due process rights of detainees is a sign our system of checks and balances designed to protect individual liberty is working as intended.

Calls to impeach federal judges and threats of violence against the judiciary undermine the vital role courts play in ensuring disputes are settled peacefully and aiming to give each case a fair and impartial hearing. For those who disagree with a court decision, the system provides recourse, whether it be the filing of an appeal or the pursuit of changes in statute and the Constitution.

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Recent developments in criminal law, whether in the context of the Jan. 6 prosecutions, the death penalty, or wrongful convictions, demonstrates the importance of maintaining an independent judiciary as a constitutional bulwark to check the other branches of government.

Ironically, this judicial check has contributed to protecting the rights of some of the most right-wing defendants. A case in point is the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Fischer, in which the majority of justices rejected prosecutors creative attempt to use the obstruction of government proceedings charge against Jan. 6 rioters. This offense was created by a provision of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, passed in 2002 as a response to the Enron accounting fraud debacle. The title of 18 U.S. Code  1512 is "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant," which is a dead giveaway that this crime was not intended to apply to a Capitol insurrection.

While the defendants undoubtedly did seek to impede Congress certification of the electoral votes, prosecutors attempted to use this law without making any claim that their actions resembled the acts reference to altering, destroying or concealing a document, record, or other object. While the Fischer decision did not foreclose the use of a more detailed insurrection-related charge under this statute if a direct connection to something akin to a business record could be demonstrated, it rejected the notion that Congress had intended to create a high-level felony simply for any disruption of a government meeting.

As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted in her concurrence, "[H]ewing closely to Congresss will" as embodied in the statute that it wrote "is especially important" when construing laws like this one, which implicate the possible imposition of punitive sanctions." Indeed, this statute carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

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Undoubtedly, Special Counsel Jack Smith and critics of President Trump were frustrated by this decision, and in fairness, Smith had a good-faith argument based on a purely literal reading of part of the statute that references action that "otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding." But that interpretation could not be reconciled with legislative intent and other language in the statute that puts it in context. Now, Fischer stands as a valuable precedent ready to be wielded by any defendant facing a novel use of a criminal statute that pushes the envelope on its scope.

If such a judicial check on government power - especially its most potent power, which lies in the authority to criminally punish its citizens - is lauded here, surely it also has merit when the defendants are of a different ideological stripe. The value that the judiciary provides in ensuring criminal laws are not construed too broadly is, after all, not based on whom the defendant is, but on a courts duty to determine whether the constitutional and statutory authority exists to apply a law to the unique set of facts in each case.

For example, in death penalty cases, the judicial branch has frequently acted as the last safeguard against wrongful execution. Consider the 2019 case of Rodney Reed in Texas. Just days before his scheduled execution, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay after new evidence emerged suggesting Reeds innocence. That decision wasnt just a procedural move; it was a profound statement that the judiciary exists to uphold fairness, especially when life and death are at stake.

And what about wrongful convictions? The National Registry of Exonerations has documented more than 3,300 exonerations in the U.S. since 1989. Many of these cases were overturned not because of legislative reform or executive action, but because courts - often after painstaking reviews - reopened cases where overwhelming evidence proved innocence.

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As such history vividly demonstrates, checks and balances are not theoretical. They are the living framework that guards against injustice. Without courts to scrutinize executive actions, or legislators to investigate abuses of power, the system breaks down. And in a criminal justice context, that breakdown doesnt just mean inefficiency - it means unlawful detentions, wrongful convictions, and even the execution of an innocent person.

In polarizing times, its easy to forget why our system was designed with tension between the branches. But tension isnt failure - its function. Its the friction that slows down rash decisions, demands accountability, and ultimately, upholds the promise of justice. No branch of government - whatever its intentions - should wield unchecked authority, especially when liberty and life hang in the balance.

Criticizing specific rulings is fair game, but the broader verdict has been delivered by our history: We need the judiciary as a check on government power and defender of our Constitution.

Marc A. Levin, Esq. is chief policy counsel for the Council on Criminal Justice and can be reached at mlevin@counciloncj.org and on X at @marcalevin.

&

Khalil A. Cumberbatch is director of strategic partnerships at the Council on Criminal Justice and can be reached at khalil@counciloncj.org and on X at @KhaCumberbatch.
(KRON)  An Alameda County jury convicted a felon of attempted murder Wednesday after he shot a 4-year-old boy in San Leandro, prosecutors said.

Adam Abraham Johnson, 34, fired a gun into a house on Feb. 24, 2024. Prosecutors said Johnson opened fire in an attempt to kill someone who he believed stole his car. Instead, Johnson nearly killed the young boy who was at home.

Leading up to the shooting, Johnson reported his car as stolen. He used a GPS tracking device to find it parked in a driveway outside a home on West Juana Street. Armed with a gun, Johnson decided to take the law into his own hands, District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said.

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Johnson fired his semi-automatic handgun at the person he believed had stolen his car. Mr. Johnson also fired multiple rounds from his handgun at a window of the residence. A 4-year-old child who was sitting on a couch in the living room was struck by the gunfire, the district attorneys office wrote.

The injured boy was rushed to a hospital in Oakland where he later recovered from his gunshot wound.

Jones Dickson said, We are grateful that the bullet that struck this innocent victim did not take this childs life. Mr. Johnson, as a convicted felon, should never have had the gun that he used in the first place. His actions, in taking the law into his own hands, were completely inappropriate and almost led to the death of an innocent child.

Three bodies found inside Suisun City home

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Jurors convicted Johnson on two counts of attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, two counts of assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

He faces up to 39 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.

If you use a gun, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished accordingly, Jones Dickson said.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A jury acquitted a Greeley elementary teacher on all charges in April.

Josh Wainscott, 41, was standing trial for charges of second-degree assault by strangulation and child abuse in connection with his position as a library media teacher at Maplewood Elementary School in Weld County. The jury found him not guilty on all charges on April 24.

Pomeranian puppy stolen from Pet Ranch store in Thornton: Police

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According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31 in September 2024, an adult male, later identified as Wainscott, was seen on surveillance video, and allegedly pick (a student) up with his arm around his neck and take him outside the school to inside the school building.

The victim told police the teacher put him in a headlock as they were walking, and that he had tried to kick the teacher to let him go.

Wainscott was placed on administrative leave during the investigation. He has been employed by the district since August 2008.

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Jussie Smollett and the city of Chicago have come to an agreement, settling the $130,000 lawsuit tied to his infamous 2019 hate crime hoax where the former Empire star was found guilty of filing a false police report involving two MAGA-supporting assailants.

While the specifics of the settlement remain under wraps, both parties have confirmed that additional time is needed to finalize the documentation, according to NBC.

This legal saga began in January 2019 after Smollett claimed to be the victim of a vicious, homophobic, racist attack by two MAGA-supporting assailants where he was assaulted, doused in bleach, and tied by the neck with a noose. However, the story quickly unraveled, exposing what many quickly labeled a poorly executed hoax. Testimony from the Osundairo brothers, who were paid by Smollett to stage the attack, revealed that Smollett had written them a check to fake the entire ordeal.

Though Cook County State Attorney Kimberly Foxx initially dropped charges against Smollett, the case was resurrected after public pressure.

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Smollett was convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct, but his conviction was overturned last year by the Illinois Supreme Court on a technicality involving his Fifth Amendment rights. Despite serving only five days of a five-month sentence, Smollett has maintained his innocence.

In February 2019, the actor attended a concert where he spoke on the incident. Im not fully healed yet, but Im going to, he said, reading from a piece of paper. Just because there has been a lot of stuff said about me thats absolutely not true. Glancing at the venues balcony, he continued: Im sure my lawyers sitting up there like No, Jussie, no.'

Making a bold statement to wrap up his remarks, he added, Above all, I fought back. Im the gay Tupac.

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A Pulse survivor is calling on the City of Orlando to put a stop to the CommUNITY Rainbow Run. The event, created a year after the Pulse massacre, was intended to raise funds for the Pulse memorial, but the survivor says the events intention has changed. Im tired of this. I want them to do their job, and make everybody happy, said Jorshua N. Hernandez-Carrion, who was shot at Pulse in 2016.

For almost 10 years, Hernandez-Carrion says hes been trying to push for the Pulse Memorial to be built, with no success. We wanted the memorial, thats it. Because the city didnt help the survivors, only in 2016, he said during a Zoom interview because hes now living in Puerto Rico.

One year after the massacre, community activists created the CommUNITY Rainbow Run to raise funds for the memorial. However, the foundation has now been dissolved, and the memorial project was taken over by the city.

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A plan is still in the works, complete with renderings of the memorial that had been approved back in March, although Carrion says survivors and families were left behind. A lot of people still need surgery; they need to go to psychiatry, and we have no money, he said.

The survivor has now started a petition to stop the run, claiming the city is turning a tragedy into a celebration and making money on top of it. We sent emails to the city, we sent emails to [Mayor] Buddy Dyer, we got no answers, he said. We are families, we are survivors, we have to get a response. If we say we dont want it, we dont want it. They have to stop it.

Family members of victims echoed the same feeling. Belinnete Ocasio lost her brother during the shooting and claims no one from the city or from the former One Pulse Foundation ever reached out to her or her family. I try not to stay on top too much because, honestly, it still hurts just thinking about it, said Ocasio. From what I know, thats what it comes down to money. Every event, everything thats regarding pulse, its always a profit, about money.

The City of Orlando sent the following statement to Channel 9:

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The CommUNITY Rainbow Run was started by UCF graduate students in 2017 at the one-year mark of the Pulse tragedy. Their vision was to help the community with the healing process, recognizing that running, walking, and spending time with others in a supportive environment can have a positive impact and continue to bring people together.

When the City of Orlando purchased the Pulse site in late 2023 and embarked on plans for a permanent memorial, the city heard from victims families and survivors that the race was meaningful to them and hoped that the city would continue with the event. With this in mind, the city took over the 8th annual event in 2024 and will host the 9th annual event on Saturday, June 7.

Channel 9 also reached out to Orlando Health  the runs main sponsor  but has not heard back.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
We recently published a list of Billionaire David Hardings 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Everus Construction Group, Inc. (NYSE:ECG) stands against other billionaire David Hardings stock picks with huge upside potential.

David Harding is a British hedge fund manager and physicist by training, studied natural sciences at St. Catharines College, University of Cambridge, with a focus on theoretical physics. His education in empirical science would go on to inform his pioneering approach to financial markets. Harding began his career in finance in the mid-1980s, working at Sabre Fund Management. At Sabre, he was instrumental in developing early systematic trading models that used statistical analysis to identify patterns in market behavior. This experience laid the foundation for his future endeavors in quantitative finance.

In 1997, he established Winton Capital Management (now Winton Group), with the goal of applying scientific research and data-driven techniques to financial markets. Under Hardings leadership, Winton grew rapidly, at one point managing over $28 billion in assets. The firm became one of the most prominent names in the quantitative hedge fund space, known for its commitment to rigorous data analysis and skepticism toward discretionary trading. Wintons strategies typically involve global futures and equities, relying on vast historical datasets and algorithmic models rather than human intuition.

In recent years, Hardings firm has experienced a resurgence. After a significant downturn, Winton rebounded with a 47% return in 2022, marking its best performance since the financial crisis. As of the end of last year, the firms assets under management had risen to $12.3 billion, reflecting a strong recovery. Winton remains committed to its systematic, research-driven approach. The firms ability to adapt to changing market conditions and its focus on long-term trends suggest potential for sustained performance in the future.

At the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024, Winton Capital Management was honored with the Best Fund over 3 Years award in the Managed Futures category. This accolade recognizes the firms outstanding risk-adjusted performance over a three-year period. The Awards are based on the Lipper Leader rating for Consistent Return, which evaluates funds using a risk-adjusted performance measure over multiple non-overlapping periods. This methodology ensures that the winners have provided superior consistency and risk-adjusted returns compared to similar funds. This recognition underscores Wintons commitment to delivering high-quality, systematic investment strategies that prioritize consistent performance for investors.
Jayla Gittens was moving out of a north Charlotte apartment when her car was stolen, she said.

She was grabbing boxes from inside the apartment on April 6. A man jumped into her running car and drove off. Inside was her laptop, wallet, and phone. But most importantly, her French Bulldog was in the back seat.

I was in shock, Gittens said. I just turned around, and I was like, I know my car was right there.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to Gittens home around 7 p.m. that same day. On April 11, officers said they recovered the stolen vehicle and arrested and charged one juvenile suspect.

READ: Woman says man stole her French Bulldog while she was moving

Since then, officers have interviewed three other juveniles who were believed to have information about Julio. Officials said they arrested one juvenile for an unrelated case while they searched for the dog.

Despite dedicated work of detectives and a tremendous number of resources and public tips, Julio has yet to be located, police said.

Gittens has since moved into her new home in Plaza Midwood, but is still awaiting Julios return.

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If you have the dog, if you know someone who has the dog, please drop him off at a local shelter, she said. I dont even care about police. I just want my dog.

The American Kennel Club told ABC News last year that twice as many French Bulldogs were reported stolen compared to other breeds.

As a French Bulldog owner, you know that there is that inherent risk, so I always try to be vigilant, but I guess I just let my guard down when I was moving my stuff, Gittens said.

Police have asked that anyone with information on Julio contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

WATCH: Woman says man stole her French Bulldog while she was moving
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A juvenile was injured in a Frayser shooting and taken to LeBonheur Childrens Hospital in noncritical condition on Thursday, says Memphis police.

At 4:36 p.m., officers responded to a shooting on the 4000 block of Ridgedale Street.

Police were told a juvenile was brought to LeBonheur Childrens Hospital and was in noncritical condition.

Man gets 14 years for 2024 armed carjacking

According to reports, the crime scene was in the 3900 block of Edenburg Drive in Frayser, across the street from a community center at Puckett Park.

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No one has been detained. This is an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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KANSAS (KSNT)  A Soviet space probe built to withstand Venus harsh atmosphere will crash into Earth at an unknown location sometime next week.

27 News spoke to NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson to get an idea of when and where the craft could crash down. She said the craft was supposed to fly to Venus, but because of a faulty mechanism didnt make it out of Earths orbit. In 1972, the probe split into two parts, the main bus and the descent craft. The descent craft will crash into Earth between May 7 and May 13, according to NASA.

Gov. Kelly declares state of disaster for fuel supplies

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The mission was originally part of the Soviet space program that started in 1962, and the name Cosmos/Kosmos was given to Soviet spacecraft that remained in Earths orbit.

So far, scientists do not know exactly when or where KOSMOS 482 will reenter Earths atmosphere, but because it was designed to fly through the atmosphere of Venus, the craft is expected to remain intact, even after it reaches the ground, Culbertson said.

Culbertson said KOSMOS 482 has parachutes that were designed to help with landing on Venus but after all this time in space, they likely wont work.

Of course, not knowing exactly where it will wind up, the extent of any damage is unknown, Culbertson said. Since Earth is mostly covered by water, and the reentry location can be anywhere between the latitudes of 52 degrees south to 52 degrees north, the reentry will most likely be over one of the oceans.

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Budget constraints: USS Topeka wont attend military event

According to Culbertson, the probe is small, about 3.2 feet in diameter and weighs about 495 pounds. She said it shouldnt cause major damage at the speed of 150 mph as it passes through Earths atmosphere. She said that if the probe is seen, it will likely appear like meteors do when they streak across the sky.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An investigation is underway after a local kitchen cook was killed in a hit-and-run over the weekend in east Kansas City, Missouri.

Joseph Jackson was killed late Saturday night while riding his bike on 37th headed towards Cleveland and police say the driver didnt stop.

Missouri motorists urged to slow down and give turtles a brake

Jacksons family wants people to now he was someone who used his talents and passion to help others. Acts of service theyre already seeing being returned as they now plan a funeral they were never expecting.

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Joe Jack, as his family calls him, worked as a cook for the Kansas St. Marys Food Kitchen.

He would love seeing smiles on peoples faces when they got the meat of the day because there were a lot of homeless that would come up there and eat, Jacksons nephew Tyrone Bell said.

Its those videos of Jackson cooking that his family is now holding onto, just to hear his voice again.

Police say the driver that hit Jackson didnt stop at the stop sign and rode through the intersection, but after hitting Jackson, the driver took off.

He said one of the brakes didnt work on the bike, I am assuming that he probably tried to stop but he couldnt, Jacksons sister Michell Hughes said.

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Just had no luck with the brakes and it was a rainy night, wet ground, who knows, well never know, Bell added.

Its the most recent tragedy for this family. Hughes said its the second funeral for a sibling shell have to plan within the last few years.

I just want to have a proper burial, Hughes said.

As the family grapples with another loss, they want people to know how much Joe Jack cared for the community and that whoever hit him  will come forward.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

Until then, they have each other to hold onto.

The last words I said to him were I love you and he said I love you sis and I said be safe, Hughes said.

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The only description police have of the vehicle was that it was a dark color. The family said people in the neighborhood have shared that drivers go through there fast and theyre hoping the city will look at making it safer.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the funeral.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Funeral services were held Friday for fallen Kansas City firefighter and paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday.

Hoffmans funeral was held at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church followed by a procession.

The procession route included passing by Station 42, Hoffmans last assignment.

He was remembered as a natural leader and skilled paramedic and firefighter who embodied the best of the city.

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His life cut short last weekend when prosecutors say a woman he was trying to help stabbed him.

On Friday, police, firefighters and paramedics from all over the metro came together to honor him.

As the bells tolled in Hoffmans honor and first responders poured out of the church to follow him to his final resting place a commitment from Kansas Citys Mayor Quinton Lucas to be there for Hoffmans family and others hurting, just as Hoffman did for patients.

Graham took care of folks in times of need, Lucas said. He helped them be safe. He helped them lead exceptional lives, and we will honor his memory and we will make sure that the world knows about Graham Hoffman, that future generations of firefighters know about Graham Hoffman.

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The 29-year-old was killed on Sunday, April 27, after police say he was stabbed by a patient inside an ambulance. He was set to turn 30 next week.

The patient was identified as Shanetta Bossell, who has been charged in Clay County with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, resisting arrest and is being held on a $1 million bond, according to court records.

Hoffman began his career with the Kansas City Fire Department in 2022. Prior to serving with KCFD, he started his firefighting career with the Belton Fire Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
YATES CENTER, Kan.  The Kansas state fire marshal determines the cause of a fire in March that wound up destroying a nursing home.

The Yates Center Health and Rehab facility nearly burned to the ground on March 14. It was caused by a wildfire that spread due to high winds.

PREVIOUS: Fire devastates Yates Center Health Facility, residents evacuated

That wildfire has been classified as incendiary, and was most likely caused by embers from a brush or burn pile near the South Owl Lake Campground  which was being maintained by the city.

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According to the fire marshals report, the fire chief was informed by the person responsible for the pile that it had been fully extinguished. The report does not assign fault or indicate wrongdoing.

About 130 acres went up in flames that day. Estimated damages are close to $4.5 million.

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Family members of Kansas law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty are led to the annual memorial service Friday at the Capitol by Kansas Highway Patrol Col. Erik Smith, Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi, standing left to right. Sarah Meeks, left in red, was wife of the late Derby Police Department Detective Charles Meeks, who died in a traffic accident in 1976. His name was added this year to the state monument. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Sarah Meeks said she was the one expected to perish in the head-on collision during a late-evening rainstorm on US-54 in southwest Kansas.

When an elderly motorist drifted across the yellow line at 9 p.m. May 5, 1976, about 2 miles east of Bucklin, Sarah Meeks woke up just in time to see blur of the oncoming cars rapidly approaching headlights. Force of the impact threw her into the windshield and caused extensive head trauma. Her husband, Derby Police Department Detective Charles Meeks, initially was treated for a broken arm and shattered leg. But, tragically, Charles Meeks passed away four days later. His wife survived.

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I was the one who was supposed to be dead, Sarah Meeks said. When they did the autopsy, they found it was a brain bleed that did him in.

Sarah Meeks recounted those harrowing moments Friday after the annual service in Topeka honoring men and women who had their names carved into the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol grounds.

The 307th and 308th names etched into the circular memorial were that of Meeks, who died at age 34 while driving to a firearms competition as a representative of the police department, and Leavenworth County Deputy Sheriff Glenn Curtiss, who was shot and killed at age 26 during a scuffle with the suspect in an Oct. 29, 1924, bank robbery in Linwood.

Gov. Laura Kelly and Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, spoke of the states good fortune that no names would be added to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice during 2024.

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Today, were fortunate that for the first time in several years were not mourning new line-of-duty deaths in Kansas. That is a blessing, she said. But it does not change the solemn responsibility we have to remember those that did give their lives. To all families of fallen officers, you carry a burden few can understand.

Kelly said the service acknowledged courage demonstrated by law enforcement officers who responded to crimes, of course, but also intervened when people were stricken by mental illness, addiction, homelessness and other challenges evident in society.

The death of Meeks and Curtiss were memorialized in speech, prayer and song. A pipe and drum corps offered a rendition of Amazing Grace. A line of officers delivered the traditional 21-volley salute. More than 100 uniformed law enforcement officers from Kansas stood at attention on the memorials perimeter.

Mattivi, representing the KBI, said Kansans had a duty to recognize women and men who lost their lives while engaged in work to protect communities.

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We mourn the officers whose lives were cut short. We remember their sacrifices in the name of justice. Mattivi said. We promise to stand together as brothers and sisters in blue and do everything possible to avoid other senseless tragedies. To each of you, who stand in the same line of fire and risk your lives every single day, thank you.

Sarah Meeks and her son, Charles, who was 9 years old when the detective died, joined other families in placing flowers on the memorial wall where names of the deceased reside. Both wife and son appreciated the opportunity, after nearly half a century, to take part in the commemoration of lives lost.

Weve been to Washington, D.C., and seen the name on the monument there, Sarah Meeks said. This is great. He always wanted to be in law enforcement.

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

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Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

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Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

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Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

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Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fallen officers ceremony, May 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
GIRARD, Kan.  Turmoil in one Southeast Kansas town will soon leave their police department without a chief.

Girards first female police chief, Seirra Roberts issued her letter of resignation Friday, April 25.

Roberts served as police chief for just a year-and-a-half. Her resignation (see below) is effective May 11.

In the resignation letter, Roberts says policy changes within the city serve specific agendas. Those changes, Roberts says, have undermined her authority and leave her unable to serve as police chief.

Among her reasons for resigning, Roberts cites constant micro-management, a lack of understanding and support from the citys administration, and unfair compensation.

These circumstances have regrettably led to a significant decline in my professional fulfillment and have ultimately caused me to loathe the very work that I once found purpose in. Seirra Roberts, Girard Police Chief

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Roberts isnt the departments first supervisor to resign this year.

Assistant chief, Jeffory McDonald resigned in February after 26 years with the department (16 years as police chief).

Weve reached out to the Girard city administrator for a comment on allegations listed in both resignation letters, however our calls have not been returned.

Seirra Roberts Resignation Letter

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Jeffory McDonald Resignation Letter

Jeffory-McDonald-Resignation-Letter_Girard-Police-Department_KSNF-WatermarkDownload

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Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins offered different perspectives on a state tax revenue report for April that showed collections above expectations but below receipts in April 2024. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Revenue from income, sales and an assortment of tobacco, liquor and energy taxes in Kansas exceeded projections in April by 1.3%, but represented a year-to-year decline of $83 million from April 2024, state officials said.

The state reported $1.33 billion in total tax collections last month as the Kansas Department of Revenue took in $17.6 million more than anticipated by state fiscal analysts. The monthly total represented a reduction in revenue of 5.9% from April of last year.

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Kansas current financial health is strong, but we must remain committed to fiscally responsible budgeting to ensure lasting stability in the future, said Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican expected to seek the GOP nomination for insurance commissioner in 2026, said the latest monthly report indicated the governors hesitancy to support larger tax cuts was misplaced. In June 2024, Kelly signed a three-year $1.3 billion tax cut bill.

Its very encouraging to see April revenue numbers come in greater than expected, Hawkins said.

He said the monthly report in April demonstrated Kellys dire predictions were all just an attempt to derail much-needed tax relief.

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In the 2025 legislative session, the Republican-led House and Senate passed a bill earmarking future state revenue surpluses to reduction in individual or corporate income tax rates. Lawmakers had promised to focus on property tax reform during the annual session, and did replace a 1.5-mill state property tax levy with revenue from income and sales tax collections.

I hope in the future the governor will stop with the doom and gloom and join us in looking out for the best interests of Kansas families, Hawkins said.

In April, individual income tax collections were $684 million, which amounted to an unexpected surged of $10 million. That total was 1.5% above the monthly estimate. In April 2024, the state took in $740 million in individual income taxes. That equated to a year-to-year decline of $55 million or 7.5%.

Corporate income tax collections in Kansas settled at $316 million last month, the Department of Revenue said. That was $1.3 million or 0.4% greater than projected. However, the tally was below the $338 million received in April 2024 and amounted to a reduction of 6.4% or $21 million from a year ago.

The Department of Revenue said state retail sales and compensating use tax receipts for April were $296 million  $5.5 million or 1.9% above the estimate. In April 2024, Kansas took in $1.2 million or 0.4% less in sales and compensating use taxes.
Franklin Templeton and Lexington Partners have significantly expanded their global alternatives offering with the creation of a new private equity secondaries fund in Luxembourg with over $875m in assets under management (AUM).

The Franklin Lexington PE Secondaries Fund (FLEX-I) is the firms' first Luxembourg-domiciled fund of its sort, with a focus on international wealth investors.

The fund, which is part of the Franklin Lexington Private Markets Fund SICAV SA, has received support from a wide investor base in Asia-Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Canada and Latin America. It follows the successful US debut of a similar plan, which drew more than $1.2bn in investor subscriptions.

The evergreen structure, co-managed by Franklin Templeton and Lexington Partners, enables access to an asset class that was previously only available to large institutional investors.

George Szemere, Head of Alternatives EMEA Wealth Management stated: We are excited to partner with Lexington on this product which represents a key addition to our Alternatives by Franklin Templeton product range. Our goal is to unlock access to high-quality private equity for international investors in the wealth channel. Following a similar launch in the US which has generated over US $1.2bn in US investor subscriptions, FLEX-I now comes to market with over US $875m in assets under management from international investors, testament to Franklin Templetons distribution platform and global reach. This exciting launch marks a pivotal moment for our private wealth expansion internationally and reinforces our commitment to becoming a leading player in the alternatives wealth channel."

FLEX-I aims to achieve long-term capital growth through a varied portfolio of private equity secondary and co-investments, with the opportunity to participate in a wide range of private asset classes, such as buyouts, growth equity, credit, infrastructure, and real assets. The structure enables it to address the increased need for liquidity among original private fund investors who prefer slower distribution cycles.

The debut corresponds with continuous growth in the secondary private equity market, which is expected to reach $500bn in the next five years.

Moreover, Secondary funds have grown increasingly appealing to investors looking for greater diversification, faster cash flows, and protection against the conventional "J-curve" effect that characterises many primary private equity investments.

Wil Warren, Partner and President of Lexington, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton added: The secondary market remains undercapitalised despite a significant supply of deal flow, creating opportunities for investors to acquire attractive exposure. FLEX-I will complement our traditional drawdown funds, which currently represent $72.4bn in assets, and reflects our commitment to delivering strong, long-term risk-adjusted returns. By leveraging our experience and leadership in private markets, FLEX-I will play a pivotal role in our strategy to expand our capital base and enhance value creation for our investors.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The state released more information Friday on why agents seized The Anchor restaurants assets near Old Town on Wednesday.

The Kansas Department of Revenue said The Anchor is more than $32,000 behind in tax payments.

Sales tax $29,678.66 Withholding tax $1,930.51 Liquor drink tax $939.90 Total $32,549.07

The agents seized assets from two properties: 1109 and 1113 E. Douglas Ave. The types of assets seized included all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory, and the owners personal property. The assets will be sold at a public auction to pay the tax bill.

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Spirit AeroSystems to lay off workers due to backlog

Customers, employees and others who had items in The Anchor at the time of the seizure can contact the agent assigned to the case at 785-213-4453.

Assets of The Anchor seized by the Kansas Department of Revenue. (KSN Photo)

Assets of The Anchor seized by the Kansas Department of Revenue. (KSN Photo)

Zach Denney, KDOR spokesperson, said the department tries multiple times to work with businesses to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements. When that fails, KDOR is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing actions such as bank levies, till taps, and, ultimately, asset seizure.

KSN News has attempted to contact The Anchor management and will update this story if we get a response.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A dog keeps watch over an irrigated field in southwest Kansas, where farmers are facing increased pressure from state lawmakers to preserve groundwater in the quickly depleting Ogallala Aquifer. (Kevin Hardy/Stateline)

TOPEKA  A water task force meant to ensure the precious resource is available for generations to come received its first members this week.

The 16-member panel of Republican and Democratic legislators, state officials and a handful of appointees from both parties will craft policy changes in an effort to evaluate Kansas current and future water supply, funding efforts for water projects and potential impacts on the states economy.

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Republicans announced their appointments Wednesday, which included an official from utility company Evergy, an environmental consultant and the manager of a public groundwater management district in northwest Kansas.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican said these members are experts in the field with intricate understandings of water issues.

Water is the essence of life, the foundation upon which Kansas thrives  sustaining our fields, fueling our communities, and nourishing our future  and truly runs through every decision we make, from agriculture to economic development, Masterson said.

The task force was born out of House Bill 2172, which passed the Senate in March with unanimous bipartisan support and the House with eight Republicans voting against it. The bill had no opponents in committee hearings.

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The task forces water policy recommendations will begin with a preliminary report due by the end of January and end with a final report that must be submitted to the governor and the Legislature by the end of January 2027.

Within the next two months, the task force members must appoint people to a subgroup that would be responsible for modernizing the State Water Resources Planning Act.

The subgroups members must be attorneys, engineers, hydrologists, natural resource planners or others with experience with Kansas water issues, according to the legislation.

First passed in 1963 and revamped in the 1980s, the State Water Resources Planning Act and the State Water Plan guide Kansas water management, conservation and development efforts. With drought becoming increasingly apparent in western and central Kansas, including the depletion of the High Plains Aquifer, the task force will address the states current and future water needs.

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A focus on agriculture and industry is especially important, said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.

To say water is vital to Kansas agriculture, business, and communities would be an understatement, and the input from this Task Force will be key to ensuring this precious resource is available for generations to come, he said in a Thursday news release.

Gov. Laura Kelly, in her own news release distributed upon signing the task force bill into law in April, said the task force enables lawmakers to evaluate risks to Kansas water quality and quantity through a funded, bipartisan group.

Developing a comprehensive, long-term, and sustainable water program is long overdue and a significant step forward in ensuring Kansas water supply is preserved for generations to come, she said.

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Republican leaderships appointees included three Republican legislators; Jared Morrison, director of Evergys water and waste programs; Kansas Chamber board chair Karma Mason; and Shannon Kenyon, the manager of Groundwater Management District No. 4 in northwest Kansas.

Democratic leadership on Tuesday appointed Josh Svaty, a former state legislator and former state agriculture secretary, and Heidi Mehl, the Kansas director of water and agriculture for the Nature Conservancy, an international environmental organization.

The task force also will include three nonvoting members from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Water Office and the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Defense Attorney Alan Jackson continued his cross-examination of Jennifer McCabe as Karen Reads murder retrial resumed Friday, grilling her over text messages she exchanged in group chats with friends and family after John OKeefes death.

Read is accused of striking OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert following a night of drinking.

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McCabe, a mother from Canton, was with Read when she found OKeefes body in the snow outside of 34 Fairview Road in Canton on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022. She is also Alberts sister-in-law.

As Jackson questioned McCabe over the texts pulled from her phone records, he suggested that she and her family were coordinating their stories and conducting damage control after OKeefe was found dead.

Were you and your family coordinating some sort of damage control in terms of the language that your family would use to the public, to the press, to law enforcement? Jackson asked.

McCabe denied the allegation, but Jackson proceeded to show the jury relevant texts she sent to family after OKeefes death.

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Kerry talked to cops and kept simple, McCabe wrote to her sister at 7:54 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022.

Kerry Roberts was also with McCabe and Read when they found OKeefe shortly after 6 a.m. Roberts was one of the first witnesses to take the stand in Reads second murder trial.

Roberts told the jury that Read called her at 5 a.m. the day after the house party, screamed Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Johns dead! and hung up.

Two minutes after the Kerry talked to cops and kept simple text, Nicole Albert responded, OK! Try and get some sleep. Talk tomorrow!!

Nicle then texted McCabe at 8:59 p.m., writing, Text me in am. Or if you hear anything later!!

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Jackson then referenced other texts from a chat McCabe had on Feb. 1 with her husband, Matthew McCabe, and Brian and Julie Albert.

One text in that thread from Brian said, Julie said Channel 4 is in DE, a sub shop owned by Canton Select Board member Chris Albert.

Eating I assume, McCabes husband responded in the chat. Ask Chris to ask some questions. Tell them the guy never went into the house.

When Jackson asked McCabe who the guy was, she told the court, John.

Brian Albert responded, Exactly.

McCabe responded, Ong, and clarified she meant Omg.

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In another text to the group, McCabe wrote, To ask if we heard if she is in a mental hospital.

McCabe also read part of a text conversation when she could hear an interview between Roberts and Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator assigned to OKeefes death, who has since been fired.

She is telling him EVERYTHING! McCabe texted, referring to Proctors interview with Roberts.

McCabes husband texted the group in response, yep. If she pleads out, it will end. If she fights it, it will be an episode.

When Jackson asked who she was, McCabe responded, " Im assuming that would be Miss Read."

McCabes testimony continued, reaching a point where Jackson asked of the messages, That is a textbook example of witnesses colluding with one another...correct?

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Judge Beverly Cannone sustained an objection from the prosecution and asked the jury to disregard the question.

Earlier this week, McCabe testified that she was standing next to a police officer and a paramedic as Read told them I hit him three times  corroborating earlier testimony from paramedics.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Reads double-jeopardy appeal Monday, effectively clearing the way for her trial to continue.

Reads defense had argued that putting her on trial again for two of the charges is an unlawful case of double jeopardy. They told the Supreme Court that the jury at her first trial reached a unanimous but unannounced verdict acquitting her, so a second trial on those charges should be barred as double jeopardy.

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The court didnt ask the prosecution to respond to the appeal, a sign the justices did not think there was a difficult legal issue at stake.

Prosecutors allege Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at a house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense has claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party.

A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

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Karen Reads second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, continues on Friday in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court before Judge Beverly Cannone.

The trial was off on Thursday for Law Day.

People to know:

Alan Jackson, lawyer for Read

Jennifer McCabe, friend of OKeefes, who was with Read when she found his body

10:13 a.m. - Jackson reviews McCabes texts

The cross-examination moved on to text messages McCabe exchanged with her sister, Nicole, on the morning of OKeefes death.

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At 8 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, McCabes sister texted her, well get more info [tomorrow]. dont want to text about it.

Jackson then showed McCabe a group text between her, her husband Matt, her sister, Nicole Albert, and her sisters husband, Brian Albert.

Brian and Nicole lived at 34 Fairview Road when OKeefe was found outside.

In that group chat on Feb. 1, after learning news media were at a Canton sub shop owned by Brian Alberts brother, Chris, Matt McCabe said, tell them the guy never went in the house.

Jennifer McCabe confirmed the guy was a reference to OKeefe.

9:40 a.m. - Theres nothing nefarious

Jacksons questioning moved to the phone calls McCabe made on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.

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After getting a call from Read, McCabe said she called Julie Albert, who she was with the night before, and Tom Beatty, a friend of OKeefes. But Jackson revealed she also called her sister, Nicole, who lived at 34 Fairview Road, at 5:07 a.m.

The call lasted 38 seconds. McCabe said she didnt remember if her sister answered the phone.

McCabe neglected to mention that call in either police interviews immediately following OKeefes death or when she testified before a state grand jury.

Theres nothing about me calling my sister thats nefarious, she said.

Did you use that word because you think thats how its coming across? Jackson said.

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McCabe said she felt Jackson was insinuating that it might be.

9:25 a.m. - Jackson presses McCabe about last time she saw Reads SUV

Jacksons cross-examination of McCabe resumed with an exchange about the last time she saw Reads SUV parked outside 34 Fairview Road.

Testifying before a federal grand jury in June 2023, McCabe said she saw a dark SUV she presumed to be Reads outside at 12:45 a.m.

You know that because of a text at 12:45? Jackson asked.

But on Friday, McCabe said she wasnt sure. Even after Jackson showed her a transcript, she refused to confirm it was 12:45 a.m.

Instead, McCabe said she couldnt recall the exact times, saying she went back and forth to the front door of the home many times that night.

9:05 a.m. - Court opens

The day began with a sidebar before the jury was brought in. When the jury was brought in, Cannone asked the panel if they had been able to follow her instructions about discussing the case and avoiding media coverage.

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Each juror said they had.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.

Karen Read murder case

Read the original article on MassLive.


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Princess Charlotte officially enters the double digits today. In honor of her 10th birthday, Prince William and Kate Middleton released a new portrait of their daughter, continuing a long-standing family tradition.

The image, shared on the couples official Instagram account, was taken by the Princess of Wales during a recent hike in Cumbria, a region in northwest England. Charlotte is pictured smiling against a backdrop of open countryside and hills, dressed in a camouflage jacket and blue backpack.

The young royal isnt frequently in the public eye, but she did attend the familys traditional Christmas Day church outing in December.

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Charlotte is Kate and Williams second oldest child and is currently third in line to the British throne. She was born on May 2, 2015, in London. Her full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, pays tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.

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Kate and William have marked each childs birthday with a new photo since Prince George was born in 2013. While some portraits have been more formal, this years image is candid and casual.

The release follows a similar post celebrating Prince Louiss seventh birthday in April and comes just ahead of Prince Georges 12th birthday in July.

Kate, who announced her remission from cancer in January, has slowly resumed her royal duties. She recently made a public appearance on St. Patricks Day in London, attending the Irish Guards annual parade in a dark-green Alexander McQueen coat and hat.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Graham Hoffman Firefighter Paramedic Scholarship Fund has been created to honor his life, legacy and career. This weekend, you can help support it at some local restaurants.

In honor of KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community, HeroFundUSA, Inc. has established the Graham Hoffman Firefighter Paramedic Scholarship Fund, HeroFundUSA, an organization dedicated to the safety of first responders, says.

While our focus is on helping provide safety equipment and other preventative measures, we also offer prayer support to families in times of crisis such as line-of-duty injury and death, its website reads.

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Flags to fly at half-staff in honor of late KCFD paramedic: Gov. Kehoe

HeroFundUSAs CEO, Darrell Smith, went on to explain the purpose of the fund.

The purpose of the grant will be for young folks that want to pursue a career as a firefighter paramedic  it costs about 8-10 thousand dollars to go through paramedic training program. Its generally about a 1218-month program. They can apply for a scholarship through HeroFundUSA now in memory of Graham Hoffman.

On Saturday, May 3, several members of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association will be participating and donating 10% of their sales to the special donation campaign, benefitting the Graham Hoffman Scholarship Fund.

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We hope that a majority of the restaurants in the area will join forces with us to do this; to remember this exemplary mans career and his life and his legacy, Smith shared.

Whatever we raise will be dedicated to this scholarship fund in memory of Graham Hoffman.

Smith said there will also be different options where patrons of the businesses can make a donation, too.

One of those businesses, confirmed to be assisting, is Em Chamas Brazilian Grill in the Northland on Saturday. The Brazilian Grills owner says recognizing first responders is personal to him and his family.

My brother is captain on the fire department. He was actually the captain at the station Graham was working at that night, Sam Silvio said.

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Silvio was talking about Graham Hoffman, the Kansas City firefighter and paramedic who was killed while working on Sunday.



Dont take it for granted. Dont take it for granted the safety they provide for us and what they do for us when we really need them, Silvio said.

We have a lot of family and a lot friends that are on the fire department.

Procession route released for fallen Kansas City firefighter, paramedic

Smith said Silvio came to him with the idea to create this scholarship fund, and with a blessing from the Hoffman family, the scholarship fund was created.



To know this young man was trying to help an individual and he literally sacrificed his life at the hands of somebody that he was trying to help, Smith said.

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It hits hard. It hits different.

The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association released on Friday a list of restaurants that are participating. The list is also posted on the restaurant associations Facebook page.

The restaurants participating include:

Vs Italiano Ristorante

Em Chamas Brazilian Grill

Hawg Jaw Que & Brew

The Combine KC

Trezo Mare Restaurant

Pizza 51

Bossladys Famous Shrimp

Piropos Restaurant

Grand Coffee Company

Among the many fundraisers featured this week to help Hoffman and his family, another is by a locally-owned apparel store, Pro Apparel KC. You can purchase your KCFD Graham Hoffman Memorial Hat here.

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KCFD firefighter-paramedic remembered as model service professional

The shop says the online store is open until May 12 for this item, with proceeds to go to the Hoffman Family.

The next time you hear a siren, pray for who those first responders are going to help, but pray also for the first responders behind that siren, because behind that siren, are men and women, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles that are on their way putting their life in harms way to help somebody else, Smith said.

Pray for those first responders behind those sirens that they get to go home too.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen chose Kearney police chief Bryan Waugh as the new superintendent for the Nebraska State Patrol. He will replace retiring Colonel John Bolduc and starts in June.

Chief Waugh brings over 30 years of law enforcement experience, marked by innovation, collaboration and a public servants heart, Pillen said in a statement. He has led a growing department, managed a $13 million budget, achieved accreditation and launched programs like the Mental Health Co-Responder Initiative and a citywide license plate reader system that sparked a statewide effort. His leadership during the 2019 flood kept Kearney safe while strengthening community trust.

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Pillen said he was confident he had chosen the right person to lead the Patrol and build on its 88-year-old legacy. The four candidates who were interviewed for the position were already working in Nebraska. Bolduc, who has served as NSP superintendent since 2017, is retiring because the Patrol has a mandatory retirement age of 60. Waughs annual salary will be $203,000.

Waugh became the police chief of the Kearney Police Department in 2019. He previously worked at the La Vista Police Department in various roles for 21 years. He also spent four years on active duty as a U.S. Air Force security police and law enforcement specialist at Offutt Air Force Base in Sarpy County.

Waugh said he was incredibly humbled and honored by Pillen picking him.

This storied organizations professional men and women are first-class, dedicated, committed and driven toward providing the highest level of public safety and professional services for the entire state of Nebraska, Waugh said.

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Content warning: This story contains graphic details.

Kelsey Grammer is still processing his sister Karen Grammers gruesome death 50 years later.

On July 8, 1975, the Frasier star, then 20 years old, answered a knock at the door only to be told the devastating news that his 18-year-old sister had been raped and fatally stabbed a week prior in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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For a long time, the grief was so dominant that I couldnt access happiness, Kelsey told People in an interview published May 2, ahead of the release of his book Karen: A Brother Remembers. "The book helped me get to a new place with that.

And in the book, which comes out May 6, the 70-year-old delved into his sisters final moments after spree killer Freddie Glennwho is currently serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of Karen and two othersand two of his accomplices took turns raping the college student before taking her to an alley and stabbing her 42 times to the point of near decapitation. (Michael Corbett, also sentenced to life in prison for the three murders, died in 2019.)

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In my imaginings, the man who found Karen at his doorstep was a good Samaritan of sorts, Kelsey wrote in an excerpt of his book shared to People. I stand corrected and disappointed that that man did not attempt to help her but simply called the police after leaving her body as it lay...eyes vacant, staring at the sky, her legs still on the steps, her head on the ground and a clenched fist above her head with a single finger pointingsomewhere or nowherejust pointing.

Kelsey went on to detail that in the moments following the stabbing, per a police report, Karen knocked on a trailer door in a desperate attempt to find help. In the process, she fell backward and crawled 400 feet from where she had been stabbed, documenting the tragedy in the bloody fingerprints and knee imprints she left behind.

Photo by Mathew Tsang/Getty Images

The coroner noted that through a gaping wound in her neck, he could see all the way into Karens lung, Kelsey continued. I had been right in saying he almost decapitated her. Freddie Glenn punched holes in my sisters body with unimaginable brutality. There were defensive wounds on her hands.

And upon learning that What I had hoped were a final, few moments of kindness from some stranger, were nothing of the sort, Kelsey was determined to tell the story of his free-spirited and loving sister, whom he loved so dearly.

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I wanted to breathe life into her and welcome her into the world, the Cheers alum told People. We were Kelsey and Karen, brother and sister.

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Tories wont work with Reform despite election drubbing, read The Telegraph headline, in a predictably Conservative reaction to yet another electoral bloodbath.

Asked about the prospect of local or national co-operation between the Tories and Reform following their disastrous local election results, which saw Nigel Farages party make huge gains, Nigel Huddleston, the Tory co-chairman, declared: I cant see why wed do that ... Reforms golden strategy is the destruction of the Conservative Party and they dont share many of the values and principles that we hold.

He added: Weve done deals in the past on a council level where its to implement Conservative policies and Conservative principles.

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We are under new leadership now. Were using our time in opposition wisely, were developing a whole new set of principles and policies because we need to present ourselves as an alternative government.

Not a protest party, not a populist party that will go around saying that weve got simple, straight answers to really complex questions. Thats not a credible long-term proposition.

It might not be a credible long term position but its working for Reform, and the Conservative Party pretending otherwise is an insult to its own electorate. A 17.4 point swing to Reform in Runcorn and Helsby, one of the safest Labour seats, isnt a protest. Its a revolution.

Moreover, who are the Tories kidding when they say Reform dont share many of the core principles and values that we hold? Theyre a low-tax, low-immigration, anti-woke party that wants to slash government waste. If those arent Conservative values then the Tories truly are finished. Quite a few Conservatives would rather nationalise steel than import it from China, too.

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Similarly, Farage calling the idea of a pact with the Tories revolting also lacks credibility, for precisely the same reason: he is a former Conservative being propelled to power largely by former Conservatives. I can think of far more revolting things: a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition with a side order of Greens being chief among them.

Both parties can pretend they have nothing in common until the cows come home  but voters on the Right will never forgive them if they allow their differences to bring about more of the same come 2029.

Yes, Reform are more Right-wing than the Tories, as evidenced by the socialists protesting outside polling stations on Thursday shouting racists and accusing the party of demonising migrants. Yet the reason for Reforms success also threatens to be its failure. This is why a pact has to happen, if not before the next election, then immediately afterwards.

Yes, the Tories may be on their knees right now. Voters certainly havent woken up to the party being under new leadership; according to YouGov, one in five British adults have never even heard of Kemi Badenoch. But the local election results, while horrific, are not the extinction level event Reform claims them to be. Theyve lost a great many seats from the high watermark of 2021, and theyve been pushed into second place by Reform even in places like leafy Goffs Oak in Hertfordshire. But theyve not been wiped out completely. Theyve even won the mayoralty in Cambridgeshire.

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Sure, theres an Electoral Calculus poll doing the rounds suggesting that if the swing in Runcorn was applied nationally, it would see Reform gain 427 seats, Labour lose 255 seats and the Conservatives wiped out to just four.

But we are talking about a working-class constituency where the sitting Labour MP, Mike Amesbury, punched a constituent in the face. The same rules dont apply to seats in the South West and the Home Counties.

On this, the mayoral votes are telling. The combined Reform and Tory vote would have been enough to obliterate the combined Labour/Liberal Democrat/Green vote in Doncaster (58 to 37 per cent), Greater Lincolnshire (68 to 24 per cent) and North Tyneside (50 to 44 per cent). But in the West of England, the Left massively outgunned the Right with a 59 per cent vote share compared to 39 per cent for Reform and the Tories.

Unlike Boris Johnson, who could reach parts that other politicians couldnt, huge swathes of the Blue Wall still elude Farage.

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And this isnt simply because they are inhabited by wet Tories. Just as there are plenty of Thatcherites out there who no longer support the Tories, there are plenty of others who still cant bring themselves to support Farage, considering him to be a political spiv.

Their worst fears about untried and untested Reform are immediately confirmed by Andrea Jenkyns celebrating victory in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race with the suggestion that migrants should be housed in tents instead of hotels.

Amid growing resentment towards Labour  and with Sir Ed Davey hobby horsing around  the Tories could well mount a comeback in these constituencies in three years time with a bit of hard work.

Farage lacks Blue Wall appeal and Badenoch lacks Red Wall appeal but together they appeal to both. Righties currently finding the idea of voting for either unpalatable would strangely be more comfortable with a mash-up of Farage keeping the Tories honest, and the Tories keeping Reform from going off the reservation.

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This is a huge electoral strength that must be capitalised upon. The facts of life, as Margaret Thatcher once put it, remain conservative. Additionally, Labour could not be more unpopular now, even among the 33 per cent of a 60 per cent turnout who voted for them last year. Sir Keir Starmer is on the ropes, but conservatives, both small and big C, must box clever.

Whats truly astonishing about these two Right-wing parties is their comparative lack of electoral nous compared to the Left.

Sure, the Conservatives are alleged to have played some dubious games. Jenkyns, who defected from the Tories to Reform last November, claimed to have been smeared by her old party, which she said called the police on me and implied I slept with political friends. At one point, her opponents tried to remove her from the ballot.

But similar dirty tricks have been used by the parties of the Left for years.

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I dont condone it, but rather than getting mad with each other, the Right should get even on its real enemy: the so-called progressives hell-bent on destroying Britain.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is asking the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for an agencywide scientific process on treating measles and other conditions with medications as well as alternative therapies such as vitamins, HHS said in a statement.

The HHS statement notes that the CDC continues to recommend measles vaccination as the most effective way to prevent the disease, and Kennedy himself has publicly encouraged measles vaccination  while saying its a personal choice.

However, we recognize that some individuals and communities across the U.S. may choose not to vaccinate, the HHS statement says. Our commitment is to support all families  regardless of their vaccination status  in reducing the risk of hospitalization, serious complications, and death from measles.

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Secretary Kennedy will be enlisting the entire agency to activate a scientific process to treat a host of diseases, including measles, with single or multiple existing drugs in combination with vitamins and other modalities, the statement says. This effort will involve collaboration with universities nationwide to develop protocols, conduct testing, and pursue approval for new uses of safe and effective therapeutics that meet the highest scientific standards.

As a multistate measles outbreak centered in West Texas continues to grow, reaching more than 800 cases as of Friday, disease experts fear that Kennedys continuing emphasis on unconventional therapies such as cod liver oil, the antibiotic clarithromycin and the steroid budesonide might take away from efforts to boost vaccination.

Weve got doctors now in these communities that are teaching other doctors how to treat this disease with aerosolized steroids, with budesonide, with clarithromycin and others, Kennedy said Monday at a town hall event hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after the recommended two doses, but there is no specific treatment for measles once someone is infected.

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In severe cases, doctors may offer treatments such as supplemental oxygen and fluids to help patients get through the worst of their illness. The CDC also recommends two doses of physician-administered vitamin A in cases of severe measles, such as people who are hospitalized. Infectious disease experts note that the vitamin is most useful in impoverished countries where children are significantly malnourished.

In a measles treatment overview posted Thursday, the CDC says that vitamin A may be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider and that other therapies, such as antibiotics should be prescribed based on clinical judgement by an individual healthcare provider.

The overview also notes that although theres no evidence to support routine use of antibiotics in someone with measles, they may be necessary if the person develops a secondary bacterial infection. Likewise, it says that patients with a history of certain airway conditions may be given inhaled steroids.

A poll released last week showed that a growing share of adults in the US have heard false claims about measles and the vaccine, including that vitamin A can prevent infections.

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Its really important not to conflate what  [is] supportive or adjunctive care for measles versus curative treatment for measles, Dr. Christina Johns, a pediatric emergency physician at PM Pediatrics in Annapolis, Maryland, told CNN in March.

In a fact-check on its website, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that Recent claims that budesonide and clarithromycin cure measles are reckless and put children at serious risk. There is no cure for measles. Immunization is the only way to prevent the spread of measles.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Gazprom has reported a significant rebound in its financial performance for 2024, registering a net profit of Rbs1.2trn.

This marks a substantial recovery from a $7bn net loss in 2023, which was the company's first since 1999, according to a Reuters report.

The turnaround is attributed to improved gas business, a decrease in exchange losses on foreign currency liabilities and an increase in interest income from financial investments.

The gas business earned Rbs756bn last year, surpassing the oil segment's profit of Rbs649bn.

Gazprom's group revenue, which includes gas, oil and electric power businesses, rose by 25% to Rbs10.7trn, the second-highest result in the company's history.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also saw a 76% increase to Rbs3.1trn in 2024.

Gazprom's deputy CEO, Famil Sadygov, said: In 2024, the Gazprom Group demonstrated excellent performance in terms of several key financial indicators, which proved the efficiency and stability of its business model.

Despite the positive financial outcome, Gazprom still confronts challenges due to plummeting gas sales in Europe.

The cessation of gas supplies to the region via Ukraine since 1 January, after the non-renewal of the previous transit deal with Kyiv, remains a significant hurdle.

Gazprom noted that it had only earned more in the years 2021 and 2022 when European gas prices reached record highs.

In response to US sanctions, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its shares in Serbian oil and gas company NIS to parent company Gazprom in February.

The move, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted crude oil supply to Serbia, aligns with the sanctions imposed on Russia's oil sector on 10 January, which necessitated Gazprom Neft to divest its ownership in NIS within 45 days.

Following the transaction, Gazprom Neft's stake in NIS dropped to 44.85%, while Gazprom's share increased to 11.3%.

"Gazprom reports $14.8bn net profit for 2024" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Teachers greet students stepping off their bus at a Louisville public elementary school in 2022. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

The Kentucky Department of Education has requested a funding extension for projects in 13 public school districts that are in jeopardy if the federal government continues to halt future payments of pandemic relief funds.

In a Friday press release, Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said KDE hopes the U.S. Department of Education approves a deadline extension to use COVID-19 relief funds but the school districts should not have to go through this extra step and the uncertainty because these projects had already been approved by USED.

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The projects across the 13 school districts were to receive more than $35.5 million in promised funding from the federal government. The school districts had previously requested the expected money from the U.S. Department of Education. Some had signed contracts or incurred other obligations and must now re-examine their district budgets.

Fletcher previously urged school superintendents to contact their lawmakers in Congress about the sudden stoppage of COVID-19 relief funds to Kentucky schools. School districts previously had until March of 2026 to spend COVID-19 relief funds that had been approved. However, in a March 28 letter, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told state education departments that the federal government was immediately halting nearly $3 billion in relief fund reimbursements.

McMahons letter said the federal department would consider extending the pandemic relief funds liquidation period on an individual project basis. KDE submitted information about the planned projects in a deadline extension request to USED.

Compounding the problem is that in order to get the extension to spend this money from USED, school districts and KDE have signed contracts that obligated how the money would be spent, Fletcher said. Those contracts still exist, and some hard decisions have to be made about how to pay for these projects if USED does not honor its previous commitments.

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The school districts identified by KDE in the extension request are Boone County, Carter County, Caverna Independent, Christian County, Clinton County, Covington Independent, Knox County, Laurel County, Letcher County, Owsley County, Perry County, Pike County and Trigg County. The districts planned to use their remaining pandemic relief funds for various projects, such as construction of school buildings and ordering new buses.

Letcher County Schools planned to use its remaining more than $3 million in pandemic relief funds to buy 25 school buses to replace ones lost during the July 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky. The districts superintendent, Denise Yonts, said the district must pay for the buses regardless of what the federal education department decides, according to KDEs press release.

The board will have to go back to the drawing board on the budget, Yonts said in the statement. Right now, we have to look at the contingency and what other resources we have.

In addition to the school districts projects, KDE had $18 million in unspent pandemic relief funds that were initially approved to be used through March 2026. KDE planned to use the money for initiatives like expanding the amount of students for the Kentucky Governors School for the Arts program this summer, supporting summer learning for students in 13 school districts and enhancing career and technical education for students with disabilities in four school districts.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday slammed the relentless attacks judges across the country face, suggesting that such intimidation tactics mimic those used by authoritarian governments, according to multiple newsreports.

In an appearance at the First Circuit Judicial Conference in Puerto Rico, Jackson proceeded to address what she described as the elephant in the room, without explicitly mentioning President Donald Trumps name.

Jackson condemned the relentless attacks and disregard judges are confronted with daily, urging them to stand strong as she spoke out about the message that targeting judges sends.

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The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity, Jackson added, according to Politico. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy.

Since his inauguration in January, Trump and his allies have adopted an openly hostile and combative attitude toward judges who have stood in the way of the governments priorities. The presidents call for impeaching a judge who ruled against his administrations deportation plans earned a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts in March.

For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, Roberts said at the time in a rare statement. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.

Jackson warned that the fear these intimidation tactics are trying to instill in judges simply doing their jobs in maintaining the rule of law is reminiscent of how nondemocratic countries operate.

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A society in which judges are routinely made to fear for their own safety or their own livelihood due to their decisions is one that has substantially departed from the norms of behavior that govern a democratic system, Jackson said, according to The New York Times. Attacks on judicial independence is how countries that are not free, not fair, and not rule of law oriented, operate.

Jacksons remarks reportedly were given a standing ovation from the audience, which included judges, lawyers and others.

Jackson, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden to replace Stephen Breyer following his retirement in 2022, made history when she became the first-ever Black woman and former public defender to serve on the Supreme Court. Jackson is also the newest member of the nations highest court.

Related...
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson forcefully condemned attacks by President Donald Trump and his allies on judges who have blocked Trump administration policies, warning Thursday that the increasingly hostile rhetoric poses a dire threat to the countrys political fabric.

The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity, Jackson told a judges conference in Puerto Rico. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.

Though she did not mention Trump by name, Jackson said she was addressing the elephant in the room, a clear reference to the belligerent language  and calls for impeachment  that Trump and some of his advisers have lobbed at federal judges who rule against his agenda.

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Jackson urged her judicial colleagues to show raw courage to dispense justice without fear of the results. I urge you to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service, the Biden appointee said.

Jacksons unusually pointed comments received a standing ovation from the judges and lawyers in attendance. Her 18-minute fulmination is the strongest public statement by any member of the Supreme Court since the Trump administration began denouncing judges who have blocked Trumps policies on immigration, firing government workers, and halting federal grants and contracts.



Numerous judges across the country, and across the ideological spectrum, have issued rulings blocking Trump policies. In some cases, the judges have declared the policies to be flagrant violations of the Constitution or settled law. And some high-profile rulings, including one earlier Thursday against Trumps use of an 18th century law to conduct deportations, have come from judges Trump appointed during his first term.

Trump and his allies have shot back. Trump, for instance, called U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, whom many legal observers consider a centrist, to be a Radical Left Lunatic, and called for his impeachment after Boasberg ruled against Trump on deportations. The impeachment call triggered a mild but prompt brushback from Chief Justice John Roberts, who issued a statement saying impeachment is not the appropriate response to disagreements about court judgments.

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Trumps allies have only intensified their rhetoric since Roberts statement. Trumps top domestic adviser, Stephen Miller, has railed against what he calls power-hungry and Communist judges putting the country at risk while upending the powers of the presidency. Trump ally Elon Musk has repeatedly amplified calls for judicial impeachments on X.

Before a scheduled on-stage discussion about her life, Jackson strode to the lectern and said she had decided to speak out against the relentless attacks and disregard and disparagement that judges around the country and perhaps many of you are facing on a daily basis.

It seems as though every time I read the news or turn on the television these days, I see the affronts, said Jackson, who is the high courts newest member.

Jackson, who served as a district court judge for eight years before being promoted to an appeals court and then the Supreme Court, said the attacks are often most intense and difficult for individual district court judges, who serve as trial judges in the federal system.

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I do know that loneliness. It is very stressful to have to decide difficult cases in the spotlight and under pressure, she said. It can sometimes take raw courage to remain steadfast in doing what the law requires.

Jackson pointed to similar attacks on judges who issued controversial decisions during the Civil Rights Movement and the Watergate scandal. She urged her colleagues to take inspiration from those examples.

Other judges have faced challenges like the ones we face today, and have prevailed, she said.
The House Republican working behind the scenes to rein in his party's ambitions to cut Medicaid spending is a California dairy farmer who represents more Medicaid beneficiaries than any of his GOP colleagues.

Rep. David Valadao, who runs the centrist-oriented Republican Governance Group, has spent the last several weeks in near-constant communication with his leadership, including in weekly meetings with the chairs of key ideological caucuses across the GOP conference.

He led a letter signed by a dozen vulnerable Republican members urging House leadership not to make steep cuts to Medicaid earlier this month. He also has an active text chat running throughout the day with a dozen or so other lawmakers who are also concerned about cuts to Medicaid to pay for the Republican megabill of taxes, border investments, energy policy and more.

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We've got our little group chats and try to make sure that we're keeping each other abreast of what we're seeing, what we're hearing, and trying to at least do our best to stick together, Valadao said in an interview.

Many of those members on the text chain are, like him, at-risk Republican incumbents who fear the political blowback of financing the party-line package with reductions to a safety-net program relied upon by nearly 70 million Americans. They are relying on Valadao for leadership and advice.

Hes got a very good sense of what Americans need out of their health care. I appreciate his leadership, said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), in an interview, adding that the two are in constant touch. Hes been clear in his communications: We shouldnt be throwing people off Medicaid who are designed to be on the program.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), who also has a large percentage of Medicaid recipients in his district, said in an interview that Valadao was a total pillar  Hes someone I immediately gravitated to. Just a great sounding board.

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The outcome of the Medicaid debate carries high stakes not just for the Americans who use it for coverage, but for Valadao and his colleagues political futures, too. Valadao knows firsthand the consequences of making the wrong move in the health care debate. In 2018, he was part of the wave of House Republicans ousted after their votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have kicked millions of people off their insurance plans.



Valadao clawed his way back to the House two years later, and now hes determined not to make the same mistake twice  and hes telling others they ought to follow his lead.

Am I concerned with the way this plays? Yeah, every vote we take can be spun, he said. I imagine whatever decision we make, even if it cuts $1, it'll be the most dramatic dollar ever, and the most important dollar ever to this program.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have been tasked with cutting $880 billion from programs under the committee's purview, and to meet that target theyre likely going to have to slash Medicaid, unless they can find palatable alternatives. So far, few have materialized.

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In the meantime, Valadao and other vulnerable moderates are already facing a slew of television ads, billboards and town halls in their district pushing against Medicaid cuts  an onslaught that is likely to only increase in the coming weeks as Republicans get closer to taking a floor vote on their party-line megabill.

We're going through this partisan exercise to do what is supposed to be a tax bill, and it's becoming a health care bill, which is what were trying to avoid, on an issue that desperately needs reform to make it better, Valadao said.

This is a perception President Donald Trump wants to avoid, especially after the political firestorm Republicans unleashed on themselves over trying to repeal the Democrats health law back in 2017. House GOP leaders have also been aware of that tension for months. Still, Republicans continue to debate proposals behind closed doors that could lead to coverage losses for millions of low-income Americans in states that have expanded Medicaid.

Speaker Mike Johnson and other key House Republicans attended a meeting with Trump at the White House Thursday, where they planned to push for adding even more health care policies to the megabill. That included pitching a controversial proposal to cap federal Medicaid allotments for states  a move that would score significant savings but risk millions of low-income Americans losing their health care.

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What Valadao wants to know is whether some of the House GOPs most politically explosive health care overhauls will actually pass muster with Senate Republicans and ultimately Trump.

One of the most common questions I think is important to ask is, Where's the president on these issues? Because the president has made comments like he would veto anything that cut Medicaid, Valadao said. He said  he would support cutting waste, fraud and abuse. That's such a broad term. And what is any one of those? So, it is a dangerous situation.

Leaders ultimately left that meeting with Trump and decided they needed to push back for another week an expected Energy and Commerce markup of its portion of the legislation, still lacking consensus on how to proceed over Medicaid.

Valadaos drumbeat of warnings and back-channel maneuvering have at times privately irked senior Republicans who want the space to negotiate. Valadao is also not considered a close friend of the Trump administration, being one of the few Republicans left on Capitol Hill who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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Obviously, I don't have a direct line with him, Valadao said  though despite not being on close terms with the president, he believes they could be on the same page on Medicaid. Regarding one controversial House Republican proposal to cap federal allotments for some Medicaid states, Valadao said he has gotten some feedback that [Trump is] concerned with that as well.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment, but Trump has privately indicated in recent days he does, in fact, share some of Valadaos anxieties about changing the so-called federal medical assistance percentage.

GOP leaders also acknowledge Valadao is possibly the only Republican who can hang onto his competitive, blue-state district that helped the House GOP narrowly retain its majority the last two election cycles.

David Valadao is the biggest team player Ive interacted with in my time in Congress, Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), a member of GOP leadership, said in a brief interview.

Hes been through this before. He knows the ground truth, Moore said. Everything we're doing right now is a balancing act.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  KFOR meteorologist Emily Sutton took the Science Museum Oklahoma by storm.

On Thursday morning, Emily presented the 4Warn Storm School severe weather video in front of hundreds of students, teachers, and parents.

The 4Warn Storm School teaches students to be prepared, not scared of the severe weather that Oklahoma often sees in the state.

4Warn Storm School kicks off at Science Museum Oklahoma

Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Emily Sutton educates students with 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR)

Emily encourages students to use their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills and pursue career opportunities where they can apply those valuable skills.

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She kicked off the video by getting the audience to stand up and do her famous tornado dance which they willingly performed.

Students asked good questions about the jet stream, tornadoes and how fog is formed.

4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma is held the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. The next 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma will be on June 5 at 10 a.m. with KFOR meteorologist Jon Slater.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Russian strikes damaged 533 buildings in Kharkiv in April, with over 10,500 windows smashed.

Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Facebook

Quote: "I'd already mentioned that last month our city suffered the heaviest strikes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Sadly, April was a record-breaking month not only in terms of the number of attacks, but also in terms of the scale of devastation."

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Details: Terekhov reported that 533 buildings had sustained damage from direct hits and blast waves, resulting in hundreds of destroyed roofs, damaged facades and shattered windows.

In total, 10,533 windows were broken in apartments, balconies, and multi-storey buildings.

The mayor described the destruction as unprecedented. Temporary coverings have been installed on over 90% of the broken windows  9,830 in total  but full restoration of glazing remains incomplete.

Quote: "Winter is closer than it seems. So now it's our main challenge. We've concentrated all our efforts: cooperating with foundations and helping people apply for state compensation. We're doing everything we can to make it in time.

Roofs are a separate issue. Of 147 damaged roofs, 109 have been repaired. There's still a lot of work ahead, but were not slowing down."

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Kendra Farler was fatally shot in April 2024

Farler's father Kenneth Paul Farler III has now pleaded guilty in connection with her death

He wanted to accept responsibility for his actions, his attorney Karl George Kordalis tells PEOPLE.

An Ohio man accused of fatally shooting his 15-year-old daughter  then trying to blame his stepson with autism  pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 29.

Kenneth Paul Farler III had been charged with one count each of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and child endangering along with gun charges in connection with the death of Kendra Farler.

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He wanted to accept responsibility for his actions, his attorney Karl George Kordalis tells PEOPLE. He didnt want to put his family through a trial and thats why we entered guilty pleas earlier this week.

Authorities said the fatal April 2024 shooting occurred at a boarding house in Dayton, where Farler was living. Officers arrived at the scene after receiving a 911 call.

Miami Valley Jails Kenneth Paul Farler Kenneth Paul Farler

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.

The caller said that a 15-year-old female had been shot and killed at the residence by her 15-year-old sibling, who was autistic and nonverbal, Dayton Police Major Brian Johns said at a press conference.



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According to Johns, officers spoke with Farler and the teens stepmother and both stated, she was shot and killed by the sibling.

Those comments later proved to be false...the young lady was shot and killed by her father inside the Bowen Street address, Johns said. He noted investigators "knew right away that those stories weren't inconsistent" and on further questioning, "got an admission to the crime."

Farler was on probation at the time for a cocaine trafficking conviction, prosecuting attorney Mat Heck Jr. told WLWT, and had been arrested "approximately 40 times over the past 20 years."

"This defendant should never be allowed anywhere near a firearm and deserves to be in prison," said Heck Jr. "A completely innocent 15yearold girl has lost her life at the hands of her father.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 14.



Read the original article on People
OTTAWA  King Charles will travel to Canada at the end of the month to help open a new session of Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday.

The king will visit Ottawa to deliver the "throne speech," an address that will outline the priorities of Carney's new government as it stares down U.S. President Donald Trump and his trade war.

Carney announced the kings historic May 27 appearance during his first press conference since the Liberals won a large minority government in Monday's federal election.

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The Royal Family account on X confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Canada on May 26.

"This is an historic honor which matches the weight of our times, Carney said of the visit. On Monday, Canadians elected a new government to stand up to President Trump and to build a strong economy.

Carney also announced that he will travel to Washington on Tuesday to meet with Trump.

When the king first took over his role in 2022, polling suggested that a majority of Canadians in every region would actually vote to eliminate the monarchy. The signs were showing in 2022 when Charles and Camilla toured Canada to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, a visit that lasted just about 72 hours.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are going on another royal visit this month, and this time their destination is Canada.

The King and Queen will undertake a two-day visit between May 26 and 27. During the visit, they will attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa.

This marks King Charless 20th visit to Canada and Queen Camillas fifth, with their most recent trip taking place in 2022, when they visited St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadas Capital Region, and the Northwest Territories, including Yellowknife and Dettah. However, this will mark Charless first time in the country as its head of state.

Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The King has shown great affection for Canada over the years, most recently writing a poignant message to Canadians in the wake of the tragedy in Vancouver in which 11 people were killed at a street party celebrating the Filipino Canadian community on April 26.

Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The upcoming trip follows a two-day royal visit to Italy in April. King Charles and Queen Camilla visited with Pope Francis in Vatican City during their tripa meeting that turned out to be one of the Popes final engagements before he died on April 21. In Rome, the royal couple also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by a visit to the Colosseum, where the King and Queen posed for photos and waved to onlookers.

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Notably, that trip came shortly after the King was briefly hospitalized due to temporary side effects" from his ongoing cancer treatment.

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The Royal Family made a major announcement on Instagram the morning of May 2nd: King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Canada later this month. Their Majesties are scheduled to attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa on May 26th and 27th  it's quite a journey for an overnight trip!

Its been a while since the royals last crossed the pond to visit the Great White North. Their most recent visit was in May 2022, when Charles was still the Prince of Wales. This upcoming trip will mark the Kings 20th visit to Canada, and the Queens 5th.

The Toronto Star reported that Prime Minister Mark Carney announced King Charles will visit Canada to deliver a speech from the throne, outlining the new governments priorities.

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According to The Star, Carney invited King Charles and Queen Camilla to open this session of Parliament as a show of sovereignty amid U.S. President Donald Trumps annexation rhetoric. "This historic honour matches the weight of our times," the Prime Minister said of the visit.

Related: Prince William Just Made Another Big Break From Royal Protocol

Commenters took their thoughts on the announcement to Instagram. @blindsidemike and many others were excited by the news, "This is the best news ever!! Our King is delivering the throne speech, sending a clear message that we are a constitutional monarchy. Never the 51st."

@victor.miyaki agreed, "Thats awesome! Our King and Queen standing with us!" @marpaterson added, "Thank you @theroyalfamily Canada needs this, and the world needs to see this support, especially our neighbours to the South!"



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According to BlackRock, the US is home to some renowned and innovative companies. The country remains at the forefront of the AI infrastructure buildout and a frontrunner on the global stage when it comes to both R&D spending and patent applications. IP laws continue to stimulate such an innovative impulse. As per the firm, the US possesses over half the worlds unicorn companies. According to them, any moves toward policy targeting deregulation can further accelerate the innovative edge.

Despite a difficult quarter, the firm opines that the US stocks are critical to any diversified allocation. Over the last 60 years, US earnings growth has continued to rise consistently, tackling significant economic and geopolitical shocks. Unshakeable US advantages which span from innovation to education to corporate culture form a critical factor for the equity returns. Overall, the firm believes that a US allocation with disciplined active portfolios throughout the style spectrum is the correct way to tap into the dynamic market.

As per AllianceBernstein , recent shifts in equity return patterns highlight a deeper look at longer-term earnings trends. Over the previous 15 years, the US corporate earnings growth managed to outpace that of the non-US companies, reflected by the MSCI EAFE Index. The firm believes that, before 2010, this wasnt always the scenario. Its research demonstrated that in 3 of the 4 decades since 1970, non-US earnings surpassed US earnings. This year, US corporate earnings growth is projected to come closer in line with that of earnings growth of the rest of the world, says AllianceBernstein. At the same time, the equity valuations outside the US remain at a significant discount, considering the 2025 forecast earnings.

As volatility rises, AllianceBernstein believes that staying invested remains a strategic priority to capture the long-term return potential in a broadening market. Global equities saw fresh difficulties in Q1 2025 amidst increased trade-war worries and developments in AI. As per the firm, bouts of volatility and a cloudy outlook highlighted the increased importance of diversification, valuations, and company fundamentals.

We recently published a list of 11 Best Buy-the-Dip Stocks to Buy Now . In this article, we are going to take a look at where General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) stands against other best buy-the-dip stocks to buy now.

Story Continues

These measures contribute to the firms positive long-run outlook for US stocks. Over the near term, it anticipates that the market will broaden out. This broadening will take place from Magnificent 7 leadership to the rest of the US and also to other parts of the world. As per the asset manager, Q1 results can be a teaser. The developed markets, ex-U.S., are expected to lead returns, followed by emerging markets and then value stocks in the U.S.

Our Methodology

To list the 11 Best Buy-the-Dip Stocks to Buy Now, we used a screener to shortlist stocks that trade close to their respective 52-week lows. After getting an extended list of 25-30 stocks, we chose the ones popular among hedge funds. Finally, the stocks are ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments, as of Q4 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Is General Mills, Inc. (GIS) the Best Buy-the-Dip Stock to Buy Now?

A worker in a production facility packaging arbitrary food products, reflecting the company's commitment to comprehensive production standards.

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS)

Closing Price as on April 28: $55.75

52-week Low: $55.15

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) is a leading global packaged food company. Analyst Leah Jordan from Goldman Sachs maintained a Buy rating on the companys stock, and the price objective stood at $68.00. The analysts rating was backed by a combination of factors affecting the companys current and future performance. The analyst opines that General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) has been taking critical steps in a bid to enhance volume growth. Furthermore, Jordan lauded the companys defensive portfolio, which the analyst believes is positioned more favorably compared to the peers.

During Q3 2025, the company saw continued positive market share trends in Pet, Foodservice, and International, and improvement in Pillsbury refrigerated dough and Totinos hot snacks. In these 2 businesses, the company made incremental investments and witnessed positive returns. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) remains focused on improving its sales growth in fiscal 2026 by stepping up its investment in innovation, brand communication, and value for consumers. This investment is expected to be financed by another year of industry-leading HMM productivity, together with anticipated new cost-saving initiatives focused on boosting its efficiency and enabling growth. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS)s industry-leading Holistic Margin Management (HMM) productivity program is projected to deliver at least 5% savings in cost of goods sold in fiscal 2026. This exhibits ~$600 million in gross productivity savings.

Overall, GIS ranks 3rd on our list of best buy-the-dip stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of GIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. 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 a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than GIS 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.
Do you already have a Real ID? If you want to travel this summer, particularly if you plan to fly, you might need to update your drivers license.

Mississippi residents will need a new identification card or passport to fly on commercial airlines. They'll also be required to get onto military bases or access secure federal facilities, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safetys Driver Service Bureau.

The deadline across the U.S. is May 7. According to a DSB news release, 97.1% of Mississippi drivers were REAL ID compliant as of April 1.

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The Driver Service Bureau has offered several special Saturday appointments to help people get what they need on time. The extra appointments are in addition to regular business hours and are only at some offices, and the last ones are set for this weekend.

Here's what we know about what you need to upgrade to a Real ID in Mississippi, where to go for a special appointment and when you need to finalize the change.

How to tell if you have a Real ID

All Real IDs will have a stamp on the right-hand corner to show that it is federally compliant. The symbol stamped on your Real ID card will vary, depending on the issuing state. In Mississippi, it's a gold star.

Shown is the new Mississippi driver's license design effect July 1, 2024.

When are the special appointment times to get a Real ID in Mississippi?

The Driver Service Bureau has offered special Real ID appointments on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last weekend appointments will be on May 3.

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You can schedule an appointment online, but walk-ins are also welcome at these offices:

Biloxi.

Brookhaven.

Greenwood.

Hattiesburg West.

Jackson.

Meridian.

Nesbit.

New Albany.

Pearl.

Tupelo.

When is the deadline to have a Real ID?

Any traveler over the age of 18 who does not have another TSA-approved form of identification to fly domestically must have a Real ID-compliant identification card or driver's license by May 7, 2025.

If you need to fly right after the date, you need to update your driver's license or state ID now.

Why do people need a Real ID? Why now?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require people without passports to have a Real ID seal on all state-issued identification cards for certain tasks, like air travel.

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The guideline was set by The Real ID Act of 2005. Implementation was supposed to happen in previous years but was pushed back because of a paperwork backlog during COVID.

Do I need a Real ID if I have a passport?

No. Any traveler who has an up-to-date passport, or any other TSA-approved form of identification does not need a real ID to travel domestically.

Where can I get a Real ID?

You can obtain a Real ID driver's license or identification card from your local motor vehicle department. Go to your local Mississippi department of safety office or schedule an appointment online.

More: How Nissan, Amazon, others pushed to get Jackson, MS, a direct Southwest flight to Nashville

What's needed for a Real ID?

According to DHS, state drivers licensing agencies can have different documentation requirements.

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In Mississippi, you need to provide:

Your original Social Security card.

A certified copy of your birth certificate.

Two proofs of residency in Mississippi.

Do I need to upgrade my license or ID card?

If you already have another TSA-approved form of identification, then you probably don't need a Real ID.

What kind of special identification can I use instead?

Enhanced IDs, which are only issued in a couple of states, including Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont, are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards.

Other TSA-approved alternatives:

State-issued enhanced drivers license.

DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST).

U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.

Border crossing card.

An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe.

HSPD-12 PIV card.

Foreign government-issued passport.

Canadian provincial driver's 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).

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More: Check out the new Mississippi drivers license designs

Here's what you can still do without a Real ID

The swap to Real ID won't change everything you use a state-issued ID card to do. Here's what won't be affected by Real ID in Mississippi.

You can still drive, vote, get medical care at hospitals, go to the post office, get into federal courts, carry out bank transactions and apply for or get federal benefits, like Social Security.

According to the Driver Service Bureau, state firearm permits aren't considered official IDs and won't get the gold star.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How do I know if I have a Real ID? Here's how to tell in MS by deadline
Knox College has a new provost and dean of the faculty.

Professor Melissa J. Glenn will join the college as provost and dean of the faculty on July 1 and will also be a tenured professor in the Department of Psychology. Glenn comes to Knox from Colby College, where she has served as the associate provost for academic programs since 2021 and as professor in the psychology department since 2007. She will be joined by her family, husband Owen and daughter Alexa, a sophomore at Smith College in Galesburg.

(Knox College)

Melissas passion for liberal arts education and her dedication to the academic enterprise, whether as a faculty member or as an administrator, was evident from her first meeting with the Search Committee, said Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney. Throughout her academic career, she has pursued excellence in teaching and research, while also developing an outstanding track record of leadership, innovation, and collaboration. Her dedication to student and faculty success and extensive experience supporting Colbys faculty, working across the college to tackle challenges and build new programs, and enduring commitment to student success make her an ideal choice to help make Knox an even better institution than it is today.

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Glenn, a first-generation college student, received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1994 and her masters and doctorate degrees in experimental psychology from Concordia University in 1997 and 2003, respectively. Between 2003 and 2007, she held a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, studying the neural and behavioral mechanisms mediating a lifelong enhancement in cognition. The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging. She joined the psychology department at Colby College in August 2007 and received tenure in 2014. She continued her study of brain and behavior at Colby, focusing on the role early life nutrition has on disease outcomes later in life, including depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimers disease. She established The Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, where she worked with undergraduate student researchers pursuing original research.

She held several leadership roles as a faculty member, including chair of both the Department of Psychology and the Division of Social Sciences. She served on several college committees, including the Committee on Promotion and Tenure and the Faculty Steering Committee. During her time as associate provost, Glenn cultivated talented faculty who were passionate about student success and oversaw many areas and programs at Colby, including the colleges curricular and academic mission, liberal arts advising, faculty committee elections, research assistant programs, faculty course evaluations, the January Plan exploratory program, including global experiences, and academic centers and labs.

Melissa J. Glenn (Knox College)

I have bumped and banged my way through the academy as a first-generation college student turned faculty member turned academic leader, Glenn said during the interview process. I am unwavering in my commitment to excellence in all realms and am confident that my leadership style and extensive background in serving all areas of the college aligns with what Knox needs. I am honored to serve as Knoxs next provost and eager to help shape the vision for the Colleges future.

Glenn will serve as chief academic officer at Knox, overseeing all academic affairs and operations of the college. She will direct long-range strategic planning, including implementing, reviewing and assessing academic programs; lead the recruitment and development of faculty; manage the academic affairs staff; coordinate and monitor all academic budgets; and ensure that the college meets or exceeds its educational mission and accreditation standards.

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Fridays Top Stories

Fridays Five Facts

[1] Deming mother accused of abusing kids, making them live in underground caves enters plea  A Deming mother accused of physically and sexually abusing her eight children, whose ages range from 16 years old to 6 months, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Monday. Valerie Cordell, 41, is facing 18 charges, 16 of which are abuse of a child (does not result in death or great bodily harm), one charge of conspiracy to commit abuse of a child, and one charge of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree.

[2] Albuquerque woman sentenced for killing teen downtown  An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing a 16-year-old. In March of 2022, then 16-year-old Angelo Baldonado was charged with shooting and killing Josue Ruiz during a fight in the alley behind Lindys Diner in downtown Albuquerque. Witnesses later told police that Baldonados mother, Elizabeth Ortiz Chavez, was the one who set up the fight and the one who pulled the trigger. She later set her son up to take the blame. In January, Ortiz Chavez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

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[3] Rain and storm chances increase Friday evening across New Mexico  A cold front is moving through this morning, spilling into the Rio Grande Valley by 7 a.m. This will bring a gusty east canyon wind and higher humidity into Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and other areas in the Rio Grande Valley this morning. Higher moisture in the air will allow more thunderstorms to develop across the state this afternoon, especially around central and northern New Mexico. There is also a good chance for rain and thunderstorms in Albuquerque by the early evening hours. Rain and thunderstorm chances will return again Saturday afternoon across New Mexico, but storms will be more isolated.

[4] Santa Fe Public Schools names new superintendent  The Santa Fe Public School Board has a brand-new superintendent. Thursday, the board voted for Dr. Christine Griffin. The selection took about two months after the district was looking to replace Hilaro Chavez, who resigned amid sexual harassment and retaliation claims by a former assistant principal.

[5] In-N-Out Burger eyes property in northwest Albuquerque, documents show  A popular California fast food chain is one step closer to opening its doors in New Mexico. According to documents submitted to the City of Albuquerque, the preliminary site plan documents show that In-N-Out is considering building a drive-through restaurant in the parking lot outside Dillards at the Cottonwood Mall. The city told KRQE News the plans are not finalized yet.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Around 300 people gathered outside the old Fort Worth City Hall on Thursday to mark the international May Day holiday and voice opposition to the Trump administration.

Protesters gather for the Fort Worth May Day 2025 Rally in Solidarity With Federal Workers at the Tabachin Ribbon sculpture in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The rally was one of 1,000 events across the United States organized by the group May Day Strong. The organizers said the events were meant to stand up to what they called the administrations attacks on unions, federal workers, immigrants and trans and genderqueer people, according to an online event page.

Organizers of the Fort Worth event said their rally was meant to highlight the importance of organized labor while creating solidarity among a number of groups that feel threatened by Trump administration policies.

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This years event needed to be about more than just a celebration, said Xavi Velasquez, an event organizer with the Dallas chapter of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression.

It had to do more about sticking up for ourselves, Velasquez said.

Thursdays rally came four days after Tarrant County labor leaders Angi DeFelippo and Rick Majumdar were arrested in Dallas after allegedly blocking a highway.

Both have since been released and are fighting the charges in court.

Majumdar, a member of the Teamsters Union and a research assistant at the University of Texas at Arlington, told the crowd that his arrest wont stop his activism.

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Theyre not going to stop me. Theyre not going to stop this movement, because we will not be spat in our faces and take it any longer, he said as the crowd cheered him on.

Tevita Uhatafe, the Vice President of the Tarrant County Central Labor Council, speaks to the crowd gathered for the Fort Worth May Day 2025 Rally in Solidarity With Federal Workers at the old City Hall building in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The rally also served as an educational opportunity as Tarrant County Labor Council vice president Tevita Uhatafe spoke to the crowd about the origins of the May Day holiday.

May 1, also known as International Workers Day, commemorates the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago, when police attacked striking workers fighting for an 8-hour work day.

The day is celebrated on May 1 in 160 countries, but not the United States, Uhatafe said.

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Its a holiday that was invented here, and they dont teach that in school, he said.

Uhatafe praised the crowd for gathering, saying it takes guts to stand up and speak out in Tarrant County.

He referenced fears of surveillance from law enforcement, and deaths in the Tarrant County Jail having a chilling effect on peoples willingness to protest.

Whats amazing about all the people coming here this afternoon is amidst all that, theyre still saying they want to be part of the solution, he said.

Protesters gather for the Fort Worth May Day 2025 Rally in Solidarity With Federal Workers at the old City Hall building in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Several speakers talked about moves by the Trump administration to fire federal workers, including unionized members of the Transportation Safety Administration.

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Julie Hedrick, national president at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, expressed fears the administration would go after other groups of organized labor.

Today, we are here to remember our power, and to remind Fort Worth, Dallas and this country that when we fight, we win, she said.
Angela Rayners department has refused to investigate the impact of the second home council tax raid on local economies, housing markets or tourism.

Jim McMahon, Labour minister for local government and English devolution, said it was up to individual councils to decide if the 100pc premium was effective and that the Government would not be conducting any research.

Critics said his response suggested that Labour does not know or care about the impacts of its high-tax agenda.

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Telegraph Money is calling for the second home council tax surcharge, which was introduced by Michael Gove in 2023, to be slashed or abolished.

Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow minister for local government, said: It is shocking that Angela Rayner doesnt even know how bad this tax rise will be.

The last Conservative government encouraged councils to use extra revenue to provide affordable homes and lower council tax for local residents. But instead, this Labour Government seems determined to send everyones bills through the roof by any means necessary.

Local residents deserve better than this Labour Government which doesnt know, or care, about the impacts of its high-tax agenda.

Kevin Hollinrake says Labour doesnt seem to care about the impact of its tax rise - House of Commons

Mr Hollinrake asked Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, if her department planned to commission research on the potential impact of the second homes premium on house prices, housing markets, the local economy and tourism.

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Mr McMahon responded: It is for councils to decide whether it is appropriate or effective to use the premium. The Government collects data on the use of premiums and the number of empty and second homes, which is published in the Governments council tax base statistics. However, the data does not make any other assessment based on the use of the premium.

Cash grab by struggling councils

Readers from all over the country have written in to Telegraph Money to share horror stories of being swept up in this punitive crackdown, with some households receiving five-figure bills.

As part of its campaign for the levy to be scrapped, Telegraph Money unearthed a letter which suggests local authorities have needlessly hit second home owners with a double council tax bill

The government department responsible for handing town halls the power to impose 100pc premiums on second homes warned that the charge is not universally appropriate.

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Campaigners have said the letter, written in April last year, shows that the premium is a cash grab by struggling councils, with homeowners being hit with four-figure bills.

Yet despite it not being appropriate in all circumstances, more than two-thirds of councils in England have already introduced the levy, which came into effect on April 1.

It has also emerged that councils are spending as little as 9p in every 1 generated on affordable housing, which was allegedly the driving force behind the premium.

Telegraph analysis revealed that some councils have been using the funds from the raid to implement 20mph speed limits and issue environmental grants.

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John OConnell, of lobby group the TaxPayers Alliance, said: While the intention was at least ostensibly to act as a solution to the housing crisis, particularly in holiday hotspots, the premium on second homes has predictably been used as little more than a naked cash grab.

Tourism and housing experts have warned that the premium will not be universally effective and that it could have negative economic implications.

Nigel Bishop, of buying agency Recoco Property Search, said: We believe raising this levy too much will carry economic implications that are more negative than positive. If we single out Cornwall, one of the UKs most sought-after second home destinations, we learn that its visitor economy generates over 2bn per year, which makes up 15pc of the countys economy and supports over 30,000 jobs.

We are potentially facing a Catch-22 as a reduction in holiday accommodations will likely impact on tourist volumes and overnight stays which could see local businesses see their revenue plunge, impact on employment levels and inevitably prevent locals from being in a financial position to buy a property.

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A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: It will be for councils to exercise their own judgement as to whether to apply a premium, as well as to undertake their own assessments of impacts at a local level.

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As mass layoffs continue to sweep through the federal workforce, thousands of former employees are looking to state and local governments for their next career move.

And while some of these organizations have rolled out the red carpet, many highly-qualified, displaced federal job seekers are struggling to find a suitable replacement role.

According to research conducted by Oxford Economics, the federal workforce is expected to shrink by 200,000 positions by the end of 2025. While this wont have a huge impact nationally, those based in or near Washington DC will fear the pinch most acutely.

5 jobs hiring across the U.S.

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Couple this with the fact that many state governments are grappling with hiring freezes, budget constraints, and outdated recruitment processes, and you can start to see why the hiring process is taking longer than expected.

Public-sector hiring has always tended to move slower than the pace of the private-sector, thanks to red tape, clearance protocols, and administrative approvals.

Data from 2020 highlights that it typically takes 130 days to fill a local government job and 96 days to fill a stage government job, compared to just 36 days in the private sector.

However, some state and local governments are accelerating efforts to hire displaced federal workers. For example, as of March, New York State had conducted over 100 interviews and hired 28 new employees thanks to its New York Wants You ad campaign.

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Additionally, over 250 job seekers signed up to attend a career webinar or receive career resources.

In Maryland, the state with the highest concentration of federal workers after Washington DC, Governor Wes Moore announced support resources to help Marylanders who have been impacted by federal layoffs.

These include a public servants resource website, to serve as a central location for information and resources to assist impacted workers and their families.

Additionally, the Maryland Department of Labor resources webpage for federal workers and contractors provides information on unemployment insurance benefits, career guidance, and reemployment support, and has been accessed by more than 50,000 web visitors to date.

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To put these figures into context, Maryland has lost 3,500 public sector jobs in March 2025, driven by the loss of 2,700 federal government jobs, and has recently passed a budget cutting $2 billion in spending.

Streamline hiring

The reality is that success stories remain the exception rather than the norm and the overall picture is more complicated.

While budget constraints and fiscal instability are an ongoing concern, overwhelmed HR departments that may be unable to process high volumes of applications in a fast and efficient manner are exacerbating the problem.

One solution lies in embracing technology, particularly AI, to streamline the recruiting process and ensure talent doesnt slip through the cracks.

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One example of how AI is reshaping recruitment is Amplys conversational tool, Robin, which acts as a talent engagement agent. Built to interpret the subtleties of human communication, Robin engages with job seekers in real time, helping them navigate listings and understand roles more clearly. It reflects a growing shift toward more personalized and responsive digital experiences in the job search process.

Additionally, theres Dash, an AI-driven application and assessment agent which acts as a data-driven co-pilot to help HR professionals and recruitment specialists find and hire the best talent. Dash saves the hours typically spent on the tedious task of manually sorting applications by automating and intelligently sorting candidates.

Looking to the future

Despite the many challenges former federal workers face, many remain hopeful that government at the state and local level can absorb a significant share of the federal workforce until the future looks more certain.

And whether that hope turns into reality will depend as much on political will and budget flexibility as on the qualifications of the workers themselves.

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Until then, laid-off federal employees remain in limbo. Waiting, applying, and hoping.

Looking for a new opportunity? Browse thousands of jobs on The Hill Job Board

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Conroe Superintendent Curtis Null has been named the lone finalist to lead the Lake Travis school district.

The district's Board of Trustees selected Null at a special meeting Thursday. By law, the district is required to observe a 21-day waiting period before Null can officially be hired.

Null has served as superintendent of Conroe since June 2018, leading Texas seventh-largest school district with about 73,000 students and over 10,000 employees. He began his career in Conroe in 2000 at The Woodlands High School and has served as principal, assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent. Null serves on numerous local and regional boards and has been honored for his civic leadership, including being named Community Citizen of the Year in 2022.

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Lake Travis officials said in a news release that since 2018, the Conroe school district has opened 10 new schools, including a new high school. In November 2023, voters approved a $1.97 billion bond, the largest in Montgomery County history. They said the district also maintains the second-lowest tax rate in the greater Houston area and for two consecutive years was the highest-ranked public school district on Forbes list of Americas Best Large Employers.

Curtis Null

More: Lake Travis Superintendent Paul Norton resigns following result of investigation

Dr. Null is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of success and a deep commitment to building strong relationships, said Erin Archer, Lake Travis board president. He brings an impressive record of leadership outcomes, successful school programs and dynamic community involvement. Were confident he will guide our district through future challenges and help our students and staff thrive.

I am honored to be named the lone finalist in Lake Travis ISD, Null said in the release. The opportunity to serve in one of the premier school districts in Texas is one to be cherished. I look forward to working with the students, parents, staff and community to honor the tradition of excellence in Lake Travis while we build an even brighter future together.

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Null will succeed Steve Flores, who has been serving as the districts interim superintendent since late February following the resignation of Paul Norton.

District officials said Norton voluntarily resigned as superintendent on Feb. 7 following the results of an investigation that stemmed from a complaint made in in December. They would not discuss the nature of the complaint but said it did not relate to students or district finances. Norton had led the 11,000-student district since August 2020 but was placed on paid administrative leave in December.

More: Lake Travis school board names Steve Flores, former RRISD leader, interim superintendent

Flores had served as superintendent for five years in Harlingen and seven years at Round Rock before resigning in 2020. Since then, he also has served as interim superintendent in the Taylor and Pflugerville school districts.

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Following Norton's resignation, the Lake Travis school board retained JG Consulting to assist in the superintendent search. District officials said the process involved gathering stakeholder input, conducting a nationwide search that drew 38 applicants.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lake Travis ISD names Curtis Null as lone finalist for superintendent
By Kalea Hall

DETROIT (Reuters) -General Motors cut its 2025 profit forecast on Thursday after receiving some clarity and a reprieve from the White House this week on automotive tariffs.

CEO Mary Barra told shareholders in a letter that the company would maintain dialogue with the Trump administration on trade and other policies as they evolve.

"There are ongoing discussions with key trade partners that may also have an impact," Barra said.

The Detroit automaker released the forecast two days after pulling a previous one issued in January that did not take into account the automotive tariffs, and after the Trump administration made changes to them.

Shares of the company were up about 1% in morning trading.

The automaker expects an annual adjusted core profit of between $10 billion and $12.5 billion, including a current tariff exposure of between $4 billion and $5 billion. The exposure includes about $2 billion on the more affordable vehicles GM imports from South Korea, where it makes entry-level Chevrolet and Buick models, Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told analysts on a Thursday call.

The automaker's new guidance assumes it can offset at least 30% of the tariff costs, Jacobson said.

"Since the election, our manufacturing and supply chain teams have been focused on developing strategies to help mitigate the impact of potential tariffs," Jacobson said. "These strategies are now actively being put into action ... we'll take additional mitigation measures, including cost reduction targets, where it makes sense to do so."

To help mitigate tariff impact, GM is working with suppliers to further increase their U.S. content for higher levels of compliance with the USMCA trade agreement, Barra told analysts. The automaker is also increasing production of its U.S.-made battery modules, which Barra said is a "low-cost way to increase U.S. content."

"Alongside these actions, we are scrutinizing our discretionary spending everywhere," she said.

GM's previous guidance for earnings before interest and taxes was between $13.7 billion and $15.7 billion.

It expects to earn annual net income between $8.2 billion and $10.1 billion, down from its prior range of $11.2 billion and $12.5 billion.

GM anticipates 2025 full-year capital spending will be between $10 billion and $11 billion.

In an interview with CNBC Thursday morning, Barra said the automaker expected to make further announcements on plans to increase U.S. production.

"We are making a commitment that we are going to bring more production back to this country to build on what we already have," Barra said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Governor Ned Lamont Friday announced hes directing all flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff Sunday, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Maryland.

The directive applies to U.S. and state flags for the time between sunrise and sunset on Sunday, May 4.

Fallen Wethersfield firefighter to be honored at national ceremony

Flags will be at half-staff at the Connecticut State Capitol building and all other state-operated buildings, grounds, and facilities statewide.

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Individuals, private entities and government subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for this same duration of time.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundations annual memorial service honors all firefighters in the country who died in the line of duty. Its held at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Among the 140 fallen firefighters names to be added to the memorial this year is Connecticuts Robert Sharky E. Sharkevich, Sr.

Lamont to honor firefighters who battled 2024 wild fires

Sharkevich died while responding to a brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin on Oct. 22, 2024. He was an engineer with the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and retired member of the Hartford Fire Department.

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Firefighters go to work every day ready to risk their lives to protect the lives and homes of complete strangers, and we owe it to them to honor and recognize their fearlessness, Lamont said in a statement.

During this years memorial ceremony, we especially pay tribute to one of Connecticuts own, Robert Sharkevich, Sr. of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department, who lost his life in the line of duty. I am immensely thankful for the firefighters who protect Connecticut, and I am especially grateful for the families of firefighters who make many sacrifices themselves over the course of their loved ones call to duty. I urge everyone in our state to reflect upon the bravery of firefighters who have given their lives in service, he continued.

Wethersfield community honors fallen firefighter

Last fall, crews spent weeks battling the Hawthorne fire, which impacted Berlin and Meriden and burned 127 acres of land.

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The state held a ceremony Friday to honor firefighters in Connecticut for their extraordinary contributions during the historic bushfire response last fall.

More than 70 departments and organizations in Connecticut and others from outside the state were honored at the ceremony, for their dedication towards fighting those historic brush fires.

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NEWINGTON, Conn. (WTNH)  The state held a ceremony Friday morning at the Connecticut Department of Transportation Training Center to honor firefighters in Connecticut for their extraordinary contributions during the historic Hawthorne bushfire response last fall.

More than 70 departments and organizations in Connecticut and others from outside the state were honored at this ceremony for their dedication towards fighting those historic brush fires.

EXCLUSIVE: Family, department honor fallen Wethersfield firefighter

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Last fall, crews spent weeks battling the Hawthorne fire, which impacted Berlin and Meriden and burned 127 acres of land.

It was an all-hands-on-deck effort, with local crews, out-of-state crews, and even crews who travelled from Canada to help out.

Wethersfield Firefighter Robert Sharkevich, otherwise known as Sharkey, died in the line of duty while fighting that fire on Lamentation Mountain, and he will be honored in this ceremony. His family will be presented with a flag.

Its been a really tough time, Roberts brother Steven Sharevich said.

Gov. Ned Lamont attended the ceremony, and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and many more organizations and politicians.

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Its so nice that everybody came out to pay their respects for my Robert, Roberts mother Sophia Sharvevich said. I know hes up there spiritually and listening to our of our nice stories.

DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes issued a word of warning to the public to keep these kinds of tragedies from happening.



I want to urge the public to be really mindful about ways that you can reduce the risk of firefighters by keeping our first responders from having to respond to these dangerous incidents, Dykes said.

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May 2More than 500 people descended on Anchorage's Delaney Park Strip on Thursday, bringing together supporters of more than a half-dozen organizing groups focusing on workers' rights and health care, among other issues.

The gathering was one of more than a dozen protests and rallies around the state and hundreds more nationally and internationally.

Dozens of people raised signs, covering a wide swath of topics including support for Ukraine, federal workers and students. There were signs lambasting Elon Musk, and the Trump administration's recent controversial policies regarding deportation and changes to the military.

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May Day has evolved into a holiday celebrating labor and is also International Workers' Day.

Joelle Hall, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, said the rally was important as a support system as well as to communicate to elected officials many Alaskans' dissatisfaction with how workers have been treated.

"Today, my heart is thinking about federal workers who have lost their right for collective bargaining," she said. "With the stroke of a pen, decades of protections (have disappeared). These are our neighbors who have lost their jobs. And for what? To give a tax benefit to who? This is just insanity."

(A federal judge last week temporarily blocked the executive order aiming to end collective bargaining for many federal workers.)

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Amy Holonics, a retired teacher who came to Alaska working as a park ranger, held a sign that read "Fund Science Not Billionaires."

She said the sign referred to recent actions from President Donald Trump's administration that halted research and eroded food and drug safety. She said maintaining a strong federal workforce was important to her.

"That's how I came to Alaska in 1985 and I've been here ever since," she said. "I believe in the Park Service, my family has worked for the Park Service 75 years or more. It's a robust organization and when people travel, they go to parks."

Other organizing groups for the rally included NEA-Alaska, the 907 Initiative, Alaska Forward, Protect Our Care and Planned Parenthood, among others.

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[Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR]

Education was major point of emphasis for people at the rally, with attendees raising signs advocating for increasing the Base Student Allocation and supporting educators.

NEA-Alaska President Tom Klaameyer spoke to the crowd, focusing on how to turn their collective dissatisfaction into action.

"People show up, they rally and sometimes that can be kind of an echo chamber," he said. "Unless you take that movement beyond your own personal feelings and thoughts and emotions, and you do something about it  we can come here every day and talk to ourselves, and if that's all we do, it won't make schools better for kids."

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Suzan Mullane wore a shirt that said "Educate Don't Capitulate Hands off Harvard." Last week, the university sued the Trump administration for threatening to freeze more than $2 billion in grants.

Mullane said she was at the rally to show support for continued funding of preschool and to protect higher education.

While rally speakers focused on labor, education and health care, there were a number of other focuses from attendees in the crowd.

Eagle River's Richard Rearick said that range of protests shows how broadly actions by the Trump administration have impacted Alaskans.

"Everybody has been affected one way or another, but really, we're all affected in totality, by what he's doing," Rearick said. "And I think that we need to come together and show our presence, show our objection to what he's doing."

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Trysten Walker, who held a sign supporting transgender rights, also had concerns about potential misconceptions about autism by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"They're creating a perception that will vilify people that don't really deserve it," Walker said.

Robert G. Lopez, a 40-year Anchorage resident, was rallying against cuts made by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, creating uncertainty for services like the Meals on Wheels program.

"They're taking food out of the elderly's mouth and taking money from the disadvantaged people," he said. "What happened to (the principle) of Christianity? Jesus would help the poor, feed the starving."
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM)  Harrisburgs largest EV charging station had its official grand opening earlier this week.

Aero Corporation, in collaboration with IMC Solar, LLC, MVE Group, SRE Energy, EO Charging, and Nayax officially held the grand opening of what is now Harrisburgs largest EV charging stations back on Thursday, May 1.

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According to Aero Corporation, the new charging station is located at 1998 West Harrisburg Pike in Middletown.

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The state-of-the-art facility features a solar canopy and is now equipped with 12 new level-3 fast chargers with speeds up to 180kW.

This brings the locations total to 22 EV chargers, which are open to the public with tap to pay options for charging.

Our mission at DEP involves protecting clean air for the people of Pennsylvania, and a big part of that is reducing the air pollution from cars and trucks. Projects like this make it easier for people to switch to an electric vehicle  cutting down on pollution, DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley said. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program supports projects like this one to increase the availability of EV charging stations and other alternative fuel options for Pennsylvania drivers.

Aero Corporation says the charging station was supported by a substantial Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Grant (AFIG) with partner the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation to obtain over $300,000 from the state of Pennsylvania.

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At Aero Corporation, we are committed to leading the way in sustainable transportation, Solomon Cramer, President of Aero Corporation, added. This new facility in Harrisburg is not just an investment in our business, but also an investment in the future of our community. We are proud to be part of Pennsylvanias journey towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.

Aero Corporation was founded back in 1968 and has now grown to become one of the largest Avis and Budget franchisees in North America. The company has a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles and annual revenues exceeding $60 million.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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The largest solar farm east of the Mississippi River now provides 100% of the electricity powering Loyola University in Chicago, and starting next fall the solar array will also be part of the universitys lesson plans.

The power purchase agreements that made the Double Black Diamond solar farm possible include unique components that promise Loyola access to the sprawling site and real-time data on its power generation, plus guest lectures from leaders at Swift Current Energy, the firm that operates the project, said Matt Birchby, Swift Currents president. The Boston-based renewables developer owns several other Illinois solar and wind farms in addition to Double Black Diamond.

It offers a lot of opportunities for faculty and students on campus, said Loyola assistant professor of environmental policy Gilbert Michaud, who attended a ribbon-cutting for the solar farm on April 30, though the project has been producing energy since last year. Its good for me; its good for the students. Well write some papers.

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The 593-megawatt array also provides about 70% of the electricity used by the city of Chicago for municipal operations, including the citys two airports. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined Loyola faculty and local elected officials at the ribbon-cutting, which took place amid farmland a three-hour drive south of Chicago.

The solar farm is crucial to Chicago meeting its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2025, Chicago Department of Environment spokesperson Kathleen OShea said. This project demonstrates how climate action and economic investment can go hand in hand and benefit both our planet and people, OShea said.

Swift Current is exploring ways to invest in Chicago-based workforce training programs to prepare residents for careers in the clean energy sector, Birchby said, as part of a community benefits agreement with the city, since Chicago is too far away to reap tax and employment benefits from the solar farm.

The $779 million project was built by union workers, mostly with modules produced domestically by Arizona-based First Solar  a boon during the post-Covid global supply chain crunch, Birchby said.

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Electricity supplier Constellation Energy Corp., which also owns Illinois fleet of nuclear power plants, purchases the energy from the solar farm and passes the renewable energy credits on to Chicago, Loyola, CVS, and other customers. Chicago has a 300-MW allotment from the project, and Loyola claims 38 MW. That helps Loyola meet its 2025 goal of being carbon neutral, which is part of the Jesuit universitys larger faith-based commitment to sustainability, as officials told Canary Media in 2023 when the solar farm deal was announced.

Michaud, an economist and data analyst by training, looks forward to using data from Double Black Diamond in his courses and bringing students to the solar farm and surrounding area for fieldwork.

Michaud and his graduate students have studied the impact of large solar farms on property values and public attitudes toward utility-scale solar around the Midwest and in Europe. He has found that while people often fear solar farms will decrease their property values, that rarely happens. Instead, solar farms may actually increase property values, perhaps because of amenities facilitated by an influx of funding.

Sangamon and Morgan counties, which host the 4,100-acre array, are expected to receive about $100 million in tax revenue thanks to the project, according to Swift Current, which will also donate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to local civic causes.

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We looked at how we could become a long-term resident of that community, said Birchby. At first, thats done with proper siting. So with property values and other dynamics at play, youre making sure youre not adversely affecting landowners. Were saying, Hey were a corporate sponsor, and we are people who work and live in your community now. How do we give back and become true members of the community?

Michaud said hes eager to study the economic and social ripple effects of Double Black Diamond.

Can we talk to adjacent landowners? Can we look at the performance of the system? Will there be agrivoltaics? Michaud said. Theres obviously energy research we can do, and it might open up other doors  for soil science, water runoff, how does this impact the local bird or rodent population?

Birchby said Double Black Diamond could be a place to experiment with agrivoltaics, wherein farming coexists with solar production. He said the land under and around the panels is currently planted with native, pollinator-friendly vegetation, and hes interested in grazing sheep as an alternative to seasonal mowing  further supporting the broader farming community.

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Birchby said the economies of scale for the large solar farm allow Swift Current to offer lower rates in 12-year contracts with buyers like Loyola and Chicago that are almost like a marriage.

We struck up relationships and partnerships where weve been able to navigate hand in hand, said Birchby. Im thrilled with the outcome the collective teams were able to bring together.


LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  On Thursday, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley announced that Circa 2 Casino & Resort, developed by Derek Stevens, is planned for the northeast corner of Symphony Park.

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley hyped the new developments and projects in the Symphony Park neighborhood during her State of the City address Wednesday night.

These projects, along with the new medical office building, plans for a new art museum envisioned by Elaine Wynn and her team, she said. And a casino developed by Derek Stevens on the northeast corner of Symphony Park, are all in our future.

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According to Symphony Parks master plan site map, the new project is titled Circa 2 Casino & Resort. It is located a few yards behind the existing Circa Parking Garage, otherwise known as the Garage Mahal.

Clark County records show the 6.42-acre property was purchased in July 2017 by PQ Holdings LLC; it is currently zoned as a planned development.

The parcel appeared to be busy with workers driving onto the Tre Builders site and walking into a modular building.

The mayors announcement turned dog walkers heads and caused a buzz at the Parc-Haven dog park at Symphony Park.

I think the area is great, I am from New York, and Im used to the foot traffic, Kai Brown, a Symphony Park resident, said. I thought [Circa 2] was a residential property, so I dont think a casino is great.

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Parris Golden, a Symphony Park resident, said she liked how the area was quiet for her to walk her dog and said a new casino in the neighborhood would be a game changer.

It would make me want to move, it would change the whole dynamic of the area, Golden said. Ultimately, that would be a deciding factor.

A new resident, Miss Moody, said the series of new projects is what spurred her to buy an apartment on The Cellos fourth floor.

It wasnt until this came along that I was interested, Moody said.

Lala Gee, a Symphony Park resident, picked up her dog Benji and said the news was encouraging for the neighborhood.

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Wow, thats exciting to hear, I think thats awesome, Gee said. I think casinos are very good for this community. It brings a lot of people to the neighborhood.

Gee said she believes Circa 2 might bring in more restaurants and fine dining to the densely residential community.

I believe it brings two different companies, she said. On one side, its like outgoing, love to see new things, and love to travel. This side over here is like, mellow, like to stay in the house.

8 News Now reached out to Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Resort & Casino, and a company spokesperson regarding the property. A company spokesperson said Circa did not have a comment at this time.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  An NV Energy customer hopes the company changes its notification policies after it sent her a letter before mistakenly cutting her power. Then it almost happened again.

LaShanna Butler returned home from vacation last fall to find her power off.

At 1 a.m., I flipped the switch over here  no power, she said, adding she had to replace nearly everything in her refrigerator and freezer. Pretty much all this stuff here had to be replaced.

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She called NV Energy and learned the outage was not her fault.

Their response was someone called and said someone was moving in, Butler said. I said, You never talked to me.

A representative then told Butler they sent her a letter saying another customer asked for service at the same address. Butler showed the 8 News Now Investigators the letter, dated Oct. 6, which said power would be cut the following day, Oct. 7.

Their response to that was, We got a new move-in request in your unit, and we cant deny service, Butler said.

You didnt talk directly to me, Butler said she told the representative, she said.

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A few months later, another letter arrived. The second letter, dated Jan. 18, said power would be shut off one day earlier on Jan. 17. The postmark on the letter shows it was mailed on Jan. 21.

So, youre going to cut my power off on the 17th, but you dont even mail it until the 21st  thats four days later, Butler said.

How much of an inconvenience was this? 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked Butler.

Constantly having to call and take time out of my day, she said. If you can send a bill through email and if you can text me when my bill is paid, certainly a letter is not sufficient in 2025.

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The Nevada Public Utilities Commission does not track electricity startups and shutoffs, but complaints about them. Data the 8 News Now Investigators obtained through a records request shows the PUC received 224 disconnection complaints from 2018 to 2024. Each complaint does not necessarily mean the disconnection was improper, and not all involve NV Energy.

I want change to be implemented with how they contact their current customers and how they let them know, Hey, I just wanted to reach out to you, Ms. Butler. Did you happen to vacate your address? Thats all it takes, Butler said. If I dont answer the phone call, leave a voicemail. I guarantee you, if you call me and say your power is going to be shut off in three days, Im calling you.

NV Energy can only deny new service requests in very limited circumstances, a spokesperson said citing Nevada Administrative Code.

Sometimes, new residents will request to set up service and will use the wrong address or unit number, the spokesperson said. If someone requests new service when theres a customer still on record with existing service at that address, we do issue a letter to the existing customer, advising them of the request for new service at the address and asking them to call us if they feel that is happening in error.

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After the 8 News Now Investigators got involved, the company offered Butler a credit due to her inconvenience. Butler hopes her story changes the state code and the companys notification policies.

8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.

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When Pierre Lassonde and his wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, arrived in Salt Lake City 54 years ago to attend graduate school at the University of Utah, the couple possessed one suitcase, limited English skills and barely enough cash to see them through Christmas.

And Claudette was six months pregnant, added Pierre Lassonde.

But the Lassondes tackled their new adventure, making the Utah campus  located far from their Canadian homeland  their second home.

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The University of Utah, said Lassonde, touched our lives.

Now fast forward to today, more than a half-century since the Lassondes humble Beehive State arrival.

On Friday, the Lassonde Family Foundation, led by Pierre Lassonde, donated $25 million to foster continued growth at the University of Utahs Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.

Fridays gift, which comes as the institute prepares for its 25th anniversary next year, continues the Lassonde familys ongoing interest and investment in the student-entrepreneur institute which bears their name.

The Lassonde Family Foundation has already donated about $25 million to the university in the past  so Fridays donation almost doubles its total commitment.

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Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business, called the donation a landmark gift reinforcing the Lassonde familys commitment to student success.

Whenever Ive heard Pierre talk, hes always said: This is for students by students  and this (financial gift) is something that does that so well.

It makes our entrepreneurship education available for even more students at the business school, as well as across the entire university.

The beneficiaries of the Lassonde familys gift, added Dirks, will not only enjoy personal success in the future  but create prosperity in the state of Utah and beyond.

Julie Lassonde smiles as she looks to her father, Pierre Lassonde, during a ceremony celebrating a donation by their family of $25 million to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Meanwhile, University of Utah President Taylor Randall said the Lassonde Family Foundation gifts have transformed entrepreneurship education.

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Pierre Lassonde and the Lassonde Family Foundation have inspired us to reimagine what it means to teach entrepreneurship at a university, Randall said.

They have challenged us to focus on students and their ideas, hands-on learning, and to provide entrepreneurship education at a scale not available anywhere else. Every student at the University of Utah has the opportunity to get involved with the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to launch a company or product and learn entrepreneurial skills such as creative problem solving, self-reliance and perseverance.

Touching the lives of thousands

When asked Friday why his family foundation is continuing its support of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, Pierre Lassonde noted that he has been involved in philanthropic enterprises at several universities and institutions.

But the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is the one that has given me the most joy, by far, he said.

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Pierre Lassondes wife, Claudette, who died in 2000, was a fellow University of Utah graduate and later became the first female president of the Professional Engineers Ontario.

Today, Pierre Lassonde manages the family foundation with their children, Julie and Christian Lassonde.

Pierre Lassonde poses for a portrait after a ceremony celebrating a donation by the Lassonde family of $25 million to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

After graduating from the University of Utah, Pierre Lassonde embarked on his own business career, working in construction and mining before launching the Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, which would ultimately become a multibillion-dollar business success story.

Lassondes financial support of entrepreneurship education at the University of Utah began in 2001 and has continued ever since  highlighted by the construction, about a decade ago, of the sprawling Lassonde Studios.

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The studios are home to hundreds of residential students and boast a 20,000-square-foot innovation space where student-entrepreneurs can connect, test ideas, build prototypes and launch companies.

Todays Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is fueled by a Pierre Lassonde-inspired creed: Live. Create. Launch.

Lassonde finds pleasure knowing that the same university that has touched me is now touching the lives of thousands of people through the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.

In philanthropy, the thing that one looks for most is how many lives can you touch for the better  and this program has done that at a level that we cant even imagine.

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And were far from finished, Its just going to get better and better.

Seizing a vision; expanding entrepreneurship education

Business founders  including those at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute  come in all shapes and sizes. But success for each entrepreneur will likely be determined by his or her commitment to a vision.

That vision extends to the University of Utahs entrepreneurship program, said Lassonde.

We want this institute to be one of the top five in the United States  and bring in the very best students, he said. Not necessarily the most academically performing student  but the ones that have the grit to fail and then get up and do it again.

Pierre Lassonde and Troy D'Ambrosio, chief of staff and vice president for innovation at the University of Utah, hug each other during a ceremony celebrating a donation by the Lassonde family of $25 million to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Lassonde also hopes to expand the existing entrepreneurship education program  including its worldwide reach. Already the universitys Master of Business Creation program is enrolling globally in select locations around the world  including Africa, Canada and, soon, in Europe and India.

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We will be able to touch the lives of millions of people, he added.

Dirks said Fridays gift from the Lassonde family will help advance the vision of the University of Utah further becoming a gathering place where business-minded students can come and really learn, hands-on; and to be able to learn by doing  and then take that forward to make a better life for themselves and for more prosperity for their community.

Troy DAmbrosio, the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institutes founding executive director, said the spirit and opportunities of entrepreneurship have been fueled jointly in the past by Pierre Lassonde and University of Utah leadership.

Ideas such as the Lassonde Studios and the MBC program, he added, have defined the universitys commitment to entrepreneurship over the past decade  while creating an unmatched campus experience.

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The resources are here to continue to innovate, said DAmbrosio.

And as technology changes, I can see how this institute can grow dramatically and impact more and more lives and have more and more students having the opportunities that weve already provided for tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of students.

Troy D'Ambrosio, chief of staff and vice president for innovation at the University of Utah, extends his hands in a gesture of gratitude to Pierre Lassonde at a ceremony celebrating a donation by the Lassonde family of $25 million to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

The power of a student-entrepreneur community

A seasoned business owner such as Pierre Lassonde knows that founding and operating a company can be a lonesome endeavor  especially in the beginning.

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute provides a vision-driven community to scores of student-business founders, he said. Each day, students experience life-changing moments as they bounce ideas off each other, connect with mentors and weather the day-to-day challenges of launching a business.

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Just having the opportunity to talk to other people may change your life and may provide that one clue that you were missing, he said. If youre sitting on a couch at home watching TV, its not going to happen. So we provide that context for these people.

DAmbrosio said he has witnessed success-via-cooperation happen in real time at the Lassonde Studios.

We had two students move in our first year  one was an engineer, one was a business student, he recalled. The business student had the idea. The engineer had the skill. They came together They were in the same dorm room and built a company.

That kind of putting those two-halves of the equation together is part of what we envisioned, and its worked beyond any expectation.

Pierre Lassonde and his daughter, Julie Lassonde, pose for a portrait after a ceremony celebrating a donation by their family of $25 million to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

So how will the Lassonde gift be used?

Dirks said Fridays $25 million gift will be used to expand the opportunity scope of the University of Utahs business school and across the entire campus.

Were looking at how we can use (the gift) to also expand the Masters of Business Creation program.

Pierre Lassonde said he and his familys continued commitment to the University of Utah remains grounded in changing lives  both on the Salt Lake City campus and around the globe.

The University of Utah is going to have a brand name thats going to be worldwide, and that really gets me going, said Lassonde.

How many lives can we change for the better? I cant even imagine. Its going to be in the millions. And you never know  one of our companies may end up being an Apple, and then youre talking billions of people.

Lets dream.
When President Donald Trump took office and declared Chicago ground zero for the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, Alma Duran, 43, said her 10-year-old twins asked why their classes at an elementary school in Pilsen were deserted.

She told them some kids and parents were scared to come in for fear of getting detained and deported, and she explained the concept of the United States border to her children for the first time  that they were born in Chicago and had documents that some of their classmates might not have.

And even then, my kids were like, How is this possible? How can they be so afraid that they dont even want to come to school?  Mommy, you always say going to school is good. How is it not good now for some friends? Duran remembered them asking her.

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Trumps hard-line immigration policy has taken a deep emotional toll on communities with large undocumented populations. And though attendance at Perez has slowly recovered in the months since Trump took office, fear and anxiety linger among parents, teachers and students at some Chicago public schools.

Data obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that attendance rates fell at all schools across the district the week of Jan. 20, when the 47th president was sworn in. Over 50% of students attending the 10 schools that experienced the biggest attendance drops are Latino, according to enrollment data on the districts website.

The names of the schools are being withheld at Chicago Public Schools request, out of concern for potential retaliation from the federal government.

While the district has taken steps to respond, parents and those working with students describe the effect of Trumps immigration policy changes as insurmountable. It will likely have long-term effects, they say.

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Students carry a heavy burden worrying about whether their parents will be swept up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, the counseling support they need to relieve their worry is spread thin, said Roy, a teacher at a South Side elementary school whose last name is not being used out of safety concerns for his students.

We do have counselors, but they dont speak Spanish, he said. Thats a resource that a lot of schools need now, especially with newcomers.

CPS did not respond to a request for comment.

Emotional toll

Headlines about young U.S. citizens being deported by ICE have trickled into school settings, said Ana Espitia, a local school council member and crossing guard at an elementary school in Little Village, a neighborhood known for its strong Mexican American culture.

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One migrant kindergartner has repeatedly come to school in tears, worried immigration officials might arrest his mom or dad, and that he wouldnt see them again, Espitia said.

A lot of times, kids use being sick as an excuse. They say they have a headache, or their stomach hurts, Espitia said.

In some cases, students are bullying each other, saying they hope Trump will deport the other, according to Rocio Becerril, an immigration attorney who is an authorized vendor with CPS. She referenced an 11-year-old who died from suicide in Texas amid deportation rumors at school.

This anti-immigrant sentiment is (likely) coming from their parents, Becerril surmised. But for that information to get to them is disheartening.

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Becerril leads Know Your Rights presentations to CPS parents and said that in recent weeks, fewer people have attended those sessions.

People just curl up and pull away, she said. Theres so much information out there, and theres so much misinformation.

Inauguration Day

Parents recounted a significant psychological effect on their kids at a Back of the Yards elementary school where two U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials tried to enter on the Friday after Trumps inauguration. The district sparked a panic when it falsely proclaimed ICE agents had tried to enter the building.

Theyre going to deport everyone who has our skin color, an Ecuadorian migrant student, Aaron, said to his mom, Mary, at dismissal outside the school three days later, as she quieted his nerves.

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Roy, the teacher at the South Side elementary school, teaches a class of all bilingual second-grade students, many of whom stayed home the last two weeks of January, which began with Trumps inauguration. It was unusual, he said, because before those weeks, his students had almost perfect attendance. And it coincided with standardized testing, he said.

A Tribune review of CPS attendance data at Roys school confirmed his account.

It was definitely difficult for teachers to continue instruction as normal, he said. Its not something that these (students) should be worried about.  They should be focused on their learning.

There are students in his classroom from Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, and he said they are resilient. He tries to maintain routines and positivity with their families.

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The district does not track the citizenship status of its students because federal law states that all children in the United States, including immigrants, have the right to a public education.

CPS officials attributed the decline in attendance on Jan. 22, after the four-day weekend, to concerns about immigration enforcement across the city, while recognizing other factors, such as unusually cold weather, illness and transportation barriers.

Attendance at schools that experienced the biggest drop in the first week has steadily returned to a normal range, according to the data obtained by the Tribune.

Ongoing concerns

Outside a high school in Little Village on a recent afternoon in April, Kimberly Atencia confirmed that she kept her son home during the first two weeks of Trumps presidency. Atencia, who is from Colombia, said the school serves a large population of migrants who arrived on buses from the southern border in August 2022.

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The school had one of the highest attendance drops. It experienced a roughly 20% decline in average attendance rates between the week before and after Trump was inaugurated. The same weeks in previous years did not experience the same fluctuation, data shows.

The numbers here have mostly returned to normal, Atencia said. But immigration enforcement activity in the area still sometimes makes people stay indoors.

In April, such immigration enforcement acts included emailed notices from the Department of Homeland Security instructing migrants to leave the U.S. or the government will find you, numerous asylum-seekers told the Tribune.

The notices state that DHS is exercising its discretion to terminate parole, a form of legal entry that was expanded under the administration of former President Joe Biden.

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They were sent to individuals, including U.S. citizens, seemingly without reason, said Nubia Willman, former deputy chief of staff and director of the Office of New Americans under ex-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The notices have caused some people to self-deport, Willman said.

Because everyones situation is different, its important folks get a consultation from a licensed attorney or accredited representative to make sure they are making decisions based on facts, she said.

To help families with CPS students who received notices cope with an overwhelming amount of uncertainty, Juan Carlos Ocon, the principal of a high school in Pilsen, sent an email reviewed by the Tribune to his student body on April 15, urging his schools community to continue to lead with empathy and support.

If your student or someone in your family has received this letter  please inform me immediately, he wrote. I will personally meet with the student/family and ensure they are connected with an attorney who can help them understand their rights and navigate the process.

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Asked for comment, Ocon did not respond.

Quelling grief and anxiety

The district is taking proactive measures to make sure schools are safe places, where fear is left at the door, said Bianca Ramos, senior mental health consultant at Luries Children Hospitals Center for Childhood Resilience. She partners with the CPS Office of Social Emotional Learning to lead trainings for school counselors, clinicians and other staff members who directly work with kids.

Schools reach out to parents proactively, rather than waiting for families to come to them, Ramos said. Theyve adjusted their signage and provided virtual and other more flexible scheduling options for classes.

When we talk to kids, we make sure that theyre limiting their media exposure or speaking to trusted adults so that they can get the resources and the support that they need, she said.

Nonprofit organizations and other groups have also stepped in, but say that more needs to be done.

Children dont often have the language to express their anxieties, said Silvia Rodriguez Vega, author of Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance Among Immigrant Children.

Vega spent 10 years researching immigrant children in Arizona and California to provide accounts of childrens challenges with deportation under previous presidential administrations.

She suggested that schools provide more art-making opportunities for immigrant students. All children are naturally creative, she said, but those from low-income families often lack access to various art forms.

Art can be literally a lifeline when they face a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear, like many children currently do, Vega said.

In January, ICE visited the apartment complex where Rossyel Ward, a migrant from Venezuela, has settled in Chicago, she said. She wasnt home at the time, but said she heard from her neighbors, who are also migrants. She has two kids who attend an elementary school in Pilsen, and although she was terrified, she sent them to school anyway.

I cant pass that fear on to my children, she said. It would stay with them.

Under Trump, she said, she feels the authoritarianism in a different way than what she experienced in Venezuela under the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

She joined a parent mentor group at her kids school that she said gives her strength. They reach out to other migrant families who are scared.

You cant really form an opinion based on the politics of the government thats receiving you  you just have to adjust to it, she said. As migrants, we have to make do.

Chicago Tribunes Joe Mahr and Emily Hoerner contributed.
President Donald Trump renewed on Friday a previous threat to take away Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status, after the school refused to adhere to the administrations demands and instead filed a lawsuit.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He had first brought up the idea in mid-April.

According to ABC News, a Harvard spokesperson said there is no legal basis to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status, adding that it would endanger the ability for the school to carry out its mission.

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Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission, the spokesperson said, per ABC News. It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation. The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.

The White House didnt comment any further on Trumps post, per The Wall Street Journal.

Trumps post comes after the school filed a lawsuit last month against the Trump administration, setting the stage for a legal showdown between the countrys most prominent university and the White House. Harvards lawsuit argues the government violated the universitys constitutional rights by freezing billions of dollars in federal funding and putting its academic independence in peril.

The president put a pause or freeze on billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts to Harvard and other universities following reports of increasing antisemitic incidents on campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

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Harvard President Alan Garber apologized after a report was issued that documented the rise in antisemitic incidents on campus.

There is a new federal government task force that is investigating schools the administration feels have failed to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests on campuses last year.

The Trump administration is also working to exert greater control over Harvard and other universities as it seeks to increase ideological diversity and eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion policies, per The Wall Street Journal.

What would it mean to rid Harvard of tax-exempt status?

According to The Wall Street Journal, Harvards 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as an educational institution means it doesnt pay income taxes on any net earnings, and its donors also can get income-tax deductions.

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There are many public and private colleges in the U.S. with this tax-exempt status because of their educational mission, research and public service.

The government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission, the Harvard spokesperson said, per ABC News.

A schools tax exempt status can be revoked following an audit that examines whether a tax-exempt entity violates the rules. Harvard would be able to challenge the revocation of its tax-exempt status in court.

According to The Wall Street Journal, under the tax code, the president and other senior officials are prohibited from directly or indirectly asking the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or stop an audit or other types of investigations.

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After Trumps earlier comments about removing Harvards status, the White House said that any decision to investigate the schools tax-exempt status was independent of the president, adding that any inquires began before Trumps statements.

David French, a columnist for The New York Times and a former attorney, posted on X, saying that it is blatantly illegal for Trump to try to take away Harvards tax-exempt status.

That's blatantly illegal.



Every American who cares about free speech should find this revolting. Is this a power we want to give presidents? https://t.co/OUAP0O14n6  David French (@DavidAFrench) May 2, 2025

Under law, federal employees are also prohibited from disclosing any internal IRS information about taxpayers, including tax-exempt groups. It is unclear whether Trumps comment was based on actual information about the status of an IRS inquiry into Harvard, per The Wall Street Journal.

Political interference in audits is a crime punishable with a fine and prison time, but it would require federal prosecutors to bring a case, and a Supreme Court decision about presidential immunity and executive power could make it more difficult.

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On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the IRS inspector general to investigate whether the president has violated the law and if the agency has begun auditing nonprofits based on requests from the White House, per The Wall Street Journal.

Harvard hires team of conservative lawyers

The New York Times reported that Harvard has hired a group of conservative legal heavyweights to help win the lawsuit filed against the Trump administration.

There are 17 lawyers officially registered for the team, and there are likely more working behind the scenes. The group includes two lawyers who clerked for conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

This lineup of Republican-aligned lawyers is a change in strategy from the last time Harvard had a major legal battle. In 2022, the school was defending affirmative action and used WilmerHale, a law firm long associated with the university.

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But the legal landscape has changed since then and WilmerHale has been fighting its own battle with the administration.

This time, unlike last time, there are billions of dollars in federal funds on the line if Harvard loses.

According to The New York Times, legal observers say the school has a good chance of winning on legal merits but could face challenges if it reaches the Supreme Court.

This fits with a long tradition of clients trying to signal to the Supreme Court through the counsel that they hire that this is not Harvard liberal versus conservative administration, said Aaron Tang, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, per The New York Times.

This is academic freedom. It ought to appeal to someone across the political spectrum.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Several law enforcement agencies gathered at the State Capitol Thursday to honor several officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Kansas law enforcement agencies held their annual candlelight vigil inside the Statehouse on May 1. The memorial service was in honor of National Police Week. Officers from across the state and their loved ones gathered in downtown Topeka.

Before the vigil, there was a ride for the fallen, and people surrounded the memorial on the lawn outside the Statehouse. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, nearly 150 officers across the country were killed in 2024.

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Sarah Meeks told 27 News she has waited 48 years to see her husbands name on the memorial, and she was finally able to.

Its amazing. And I see another name that I recognized, that I knew his wife for years, Meeks said. And it just makes your heart tingle just to see it all.

The Kansas Law Enforcement Ceremony ends at 12 p.m. Friday, May 2, with a wreath-laying ceremony. The public is encouraged to attend.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln. Feb. 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  After debate that spilled into three days, Nebraska lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bundle of public safety proposals highlighted by a contentious provision to lower the age at which a Nebraska youth can be detained  to 11 years old.

The age drop was backed by Gov. Jim Pillen and originally included in a bill by Ralston State Sen. Merv Riepe, which did not fully make it out of committee but did, in part, emerge in the bundle now known as Legislative Bill 530.

Proponents of a Gov. Jim Pillen-backed juvenile crime bill speak at a January news conference. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, at the podium, is flanked by Pillen and State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Segments of at least nine bills were folded into the megabill before the Legislatures Judiciary Committee moved it to the floor for full debate. Lawmakers advanced it 33-0, with 16 senators marking present not voting, to move the package to final reading.

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The vote came after committee chair, Lincoln State Sen. Carolyn Bosn, agreed to continue negotiations with Democratic lawmakers who view the juvenile justice elements as overly punitive. Several have said prevention and rehabilitation services are more effective when dealing with young people whose brains are still developing.

It costs more to imprison our kids, said State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha. Juveniles have the most chance for rehabilitation  We should be investing in resources and not detaining fifth graders.

Threads the needle

Bosn, a former prosecutor, views the overall package as one that promotes public safety and better re-directs juveniles who have veered into trouble.

The public has the right to feel safe in their communities while juveniles also have the right to be set up for success. I think this threads that needle perfectly.

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While the Riepe proposal to reduce the minimum detention age from 13 to 11 stirred the most objection, the Ralston lawmaker noted that another previously contentious element was not included in the larger package. That piece would have lowered the age at which a teen could be charged as an adult for serious felonies, from 14 to 12.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

He reiterated his stance that the younger age was necessary due to a rise in serious violent offenses by younger kids, and said he relied on information from the Douglas County sheriff and attorney. The goal, Riepe said, is to intercept a cycle, step in before its too late.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney said juvenile crime has gone down overall. He said the Omaha mayor has campaigned on less crime in the city. Wheres the research, wheres the data? he asked Riepe.

Riepes LB 556, during a March 13 public hearing, garnered support from a Pillen representative and seven others, while 28 testified in opposition. In addition, 115 wrote in opposition while two people submitted letters of support.

Advocates decry package

Thursdays vote prompted a statement from the ACLU of Nebraska, Voices for Children and RISE, which supports people transitioning out of incarceration. The groups criticized amendments that expanded felony offenses as well as the proposed drop in the minimum age for detention.

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They noted that among the reasons a preteen could be detained, under the proposed legislation, is if the youth exhibited signs of self-harm.

Detention facilities are not mental health or healthcare facilities or safe havens. Our children deserve better.

 Jasmine Harris of RISE

Expanding felonies, harshening penalties and detaining children as young as 11 will not build safer or stronger communities, said Jason Witmer, policy fellow with the ACLU Nebraska. LB 530 is very clearly still a step backward on smart criminal and juvenile justice policy.

Jasmine Harris, director of public policy at RISE, said preteens should be receiving attention that addresses underlying mental, behavioral and environmental conditions that put them in touch with the juvenile justice system.

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Detention facilities are not mental health or healthcare facilities or safe havens, she said in a statement. Our children deserve better.

Super predator group

Spivey sought unsuccessfully to strike a few provisions in the package  including one she said demonized Black youth  but said she was hopeful negotiations would continue with Judiciary Committee leaders before the final lawmaking step.

State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha talks with State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Among her failed amendments was one to eliminate creation of a high-risk juvenile probationer category that Spivey said would be viewed as a super predator group. She said it would open the door to harsher sentencing and disproportionate harm to youths of color.

Another part of LB 684 that remained despite Spiveys protest requires the Office of Probation to generate a list of all juveniles on probation in each county by the first day of the month and then provide it to each law enforcement agency in that county.

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It is unnecessary over-surveillance of those young people, she said, adding that law enforcement already has access to such information.

Spivey was able to garner enough votes to stop the elevation of a penalty if a youth on probation tampers with the young persons electronic monitoring device. Spivey said the offense would, for now, remain a misdemeanor versus a felony.

State Sens. Merv Riepe of Ralston and Kathleen Kauth of the Millard area. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha criticized the package as logrolling questionably related bills that were too wide-ranging. He said it creates confusion for constituents, who might wonder why their elected official doesnt support a certain program that is wrapped up in the package.

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha introduced the underlying LB 530 as public safety legislation that aims partly to raise fines for speeding violations and to change the law to help vulnerable road users.

Package components

Among other bills folded into the package:

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LB 6, introduced by Bosn and aimed at fentanyl poisoning, calls for enhanced penalties when the person using the controlled substance dies or sustains serious injury.

LB 44, by McKinney, allows individuals to file for post-conviction relief up until the age of 21 if the conviction occurred as a minor.

LB 124, by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, would match a drunken drivers penalty for motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child to the penalty that drunken driver would get for motor vehicle homicide.

LB 395, by State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, would allow police access to a sealed juvenile record when someone applies for a concealed handgun permit.

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LB 404, by State Sen. Robert Hallstrom of Syracuse, authorizes courts to extend a term of probation upon a joint application from the probation officer and the person on probation.

LB 600, by State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, authorizes the Department of Transportation to temporarily reduce speed limits on highways under specific conditions such as adverse weather or a traffic congestion.

LB 684, by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, was essentially gutted and replaced by a series of juvenile justice measures, including the lowering of the age at which a youth could be detained in a facility. Bosn said the Judiciary Committee sees the measures as ways to improve accountability for juveniles and transparency for law enforcement. Spivey said the measures were among the most concerning in the package.

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In Sindh, a province in Pakistan, officials have instated a complete ban on a common form of pollution: plastic bags.

According to the Times of Karachi, Senator Sherry Rehman, chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, said, "Pakistan uses around 55 billion plastic bags every year, with usage increasing by 15% annually."

With this ban, although only implemented in part of the country, they are looking to reduce that number.

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Since plastic bags are a common issue that contributes to ocean pollution and litter, posing health and environmental risks, this decision will make significant strides toward a cleaner future.

The Sindh government's ban on plastic bags not only prohibits the use of the product, but also manufacturing and sales.

Violators of the ban will face "fines, arrest, and even prosecution," per the Times of Karachi.

While pushback on limiting plastic usage regularly points to the cheap cost of production, the long-term health and environmental effects far outweigh the savings benefit.

As plastic has been linked to cognitive diseases, and plastic bags in particular are notorious for blocking sewage lines and harming sea life, the impact of plastic infiltrating our bodies and ecosystems far outweighs the added cost of switching to paper or cloth bags.

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Other countries, like the UAE, have similar plans to ban certain plastics in 2026, while Thailand has also outlawed the import of plastic waste.

While plastic currently makes up 80% of the ocean's pollution, affecting drinking water and the well-being of animals, major policy moves, like Sindh's, set a precedent for others to follow and make the world a better, cleaner place.

Individuals can help minimize the negative effects of plastic by avoiding single-use plastic products and supporting eco-friendly companies. One step at a time, we can clean up our planet.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
TALLAHASSEE  Citizen petition drives are facing new regulations critics say are a kill shot to direct democracy that will make it nearly impossible for hot-button issues from abortion to marijuana legalization to make it on the ballot.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the overhaul Friday shortly after it was approved by the Florida Legislature. The law will erect new hurdles for groups seeking to put ballot initiatives before Florida voters.

Supporters argue reforms are needed to ensure integrity in the process.

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The purpose of this bill is to have citizen initiative amendments that are valid, that are not corrupt and properly show the will of the people of Florida, said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the measures sponsor.

But Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he thinks the additional requirements are meant to silence the voices of Floridians for generations, shutting down the ability to take issues directly to the people.

What we have here with this bill is the final kill shot against direct democracy, he said.

In the past, the petition process has been used to legalize medical marijuana, raise the state minimum wage and restore voting rights to most Floridians with felony convictions, among others. Ballot initiatives seeking to overturn the states six-week abortion ban and legalize recreational pot narrowly failed last year. Supporters of legalizing marijuana are already gathering signatures to try again with a new ballot proposal.

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Citizen initiatives that make it to a ballot require a 60% supermajority to pass.

The overhaul will impose a variety of new regulations, tighter deadlines, penalties and potential fines on the petition process. Anyone who doesnt register with the state as a signature-gatherer and possesses more than 25 signed petitions beyond their own and immediate family members faces a third-degree felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison. There is no restriction on distributing blank petition forms.

The new regulations bar people from out of state, noncitizens and felons who have not had their voting rights restored from collecting petitions. Registered petition circulators will be required to undergo a two-hour online training with the state.

Citizen-led ballot initiatives already face significant obstacles. Nearly 900,000 signatures must be gathered from across the state. Paid petition gatherers must register with the state.

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County elections supervisors vet petitions and check if they are from valid, registered voters.

The legislation passed Friday also bars state funds from being used for political communications related to ballot initiatives, a rebuke to DeSantis.

DeSantis administration spent millions of public dollars on ads targeting last years marijuana and abortion initiatives. State officials defended them as educational messages.

The governor is also facing scrutiny over Hope Florida, an initiative spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis that seeks to get people off welfare. The initiatives charitable arm received a $10 million donation as part of a $67 million settlement Florida made with a Medicaid managed care contractor. The foundation then gave that money to two nonprofit organizations that within days of receiving the funds donated $8.5 million to a political committee opposing the marijuana amendment.
More people will be able to sue for and receive noneconomic damages  such as pain and suffering and mental anguish  when their relative dies because of medical malpractice under a bill passed by the Legislature May 1.

The Senate voted 33-4 on HB 6017, sending the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk. It had passed the House by an overwhelming 104-6 vote on March 26. But whether DeSantis will sign it into law or veto it is an open question.

The Senate vote came a day after the bill sponsor  Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville  offered an amendment to put a $1 million cap on noneconomic damages. He said he did it as a way to assuage concerns from DeSantis the bill would lead to higher rates for medical malpractice insurance and exacerbate a health care provider shortage in the state. But the Senate rejected the amendment on a narrow 18-19 vote.

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I cant speak for him but I believe the governor is of the opinion that it would be better if it had some limitations on the damages, Yarborough told reporters after the vote.

Yarborough said after postponing a vote on the bill April 30, he moved forward with the measure without the caps - risking a veto from DeSantis  because he committed to families who lost loved ones due to medical malpractice and were unable to recover pain and suffering damages.

At the end of the day my commitment to the families of those impacted was that we go ahead and do it anyway, Yarborough said.

Under current law, children age 25 and older who have an unmarried parent die due to medical malpractice can only recover economic damages  for funeral costs and medical expenses, for example  but not for pain and suffering, which can be much more costly. The parents of adult children who die due to medical malpractice are also barred from receiving noneconomic damages.

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The law was put in place in 1990 and has been decried by those affected and by the trial bar lobby. It was passed to lower medical malpractice rates and insurers, physicians groups and hospitals argue repealing it could lead to a spike in rates that pushes physicians and other health care providers out of Florida.

Florida is already projected to have significant deficits in a broad array of providers, including obstetricians, opponents of the bill argue, as the state continues to grow and Baby Boomer retirees move here.

Without caps in this legislation we are going to have a huge increase in medical malpractice, said Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, one of the four no votes. And were going to have a huge increase in physicians leaving.

Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lawmakers pass wrongful death bill. Will Gov. DeSantis veto?
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The mayor of Blount County is expressing his frustration after a former Blount County Schools employee was sentenced to six months of probation for inappropriately touching students.

Joseph Dalton was arrested last year over allegations of inappropriately touching elementary students on at least five different occasions. He pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor assault by physical contact and was sentenced to six months of probation. He was granted judicial diversion, allowing the charges to be expunged once the probation is completed.

The children have to come first: Parents angered by sentencing of ex-Blount County PE teacher

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In response, Ed Mitchell shared a statement on Facebook, explaining his efforts to deal with issues in the school system and his anger at the outcome of the charges against Dalton.

I am doing everything in my power to make sure this NEVER happens to another student in our school system. I am first a parent and grandparent, and I am furious, wrote Mitchell. I share everyones frustrations with the outcome of the charges against Mr. Dalton. There are not enough words to express how deeply disappointed I am. Laws need to be changed. At the root of it all, this entire situation could have been avoided years and years ago with proper action by the School Administration.

Knoxville families discover rental scam days after moving into home

He went on to say that while he has no statutory authority over the Blount County School system, he can no longer stand by and allow mismanagement to happen.

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When these allegations of inappropriate behavior against our teachers began to arise, enough is enough. I dont care if its not my statutory authority. I dont care if I step on toes and hurt someones feelings because I asked questions about how they handled allegations against a teacher or how they spend the taxpayers dollars, wrote Mitchell. I am disgusted that someone like this would have been moved around and allowed to maintain employment working with children. Its absolutely unacceptable!

He added that he knows there are members of the Blount County School Board and Central Office who are committed to making tough decisions to protect children and efforts are underway to prevent a similar situation from happening again. In September 2024, the Blount County Commission approved a resolution to ask for a thorough investigation into the personnel records from 2004 to now involving sexual misconduct within Blount County Schools.

The safety of our students should be the #1 priority of our School system and everyone involved. If theres an employee with even a hint of not keeping our children safe, there should be no place for them in our School systems. As stated, so much work has been done already and we will continue to work together and collaborate to ensure our students are getting the absolutely best education in a safe and secure environment. Im not finished! Mitchell closed.

When asked about the sentence, Blount County DAG Ryan Desmond declined to comment at this time.

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Several Blount County parents participated in a protest on Friday to share their frustrations with the sentence.

Records detail earlier incidents involving former Blount County Schools employee who pleaded guilty to touching assault

Daltons teaching license is currently still active. A spokesperson for the Tennessee State Board of Education told 6 News that each case must be presented in a review committee meeting for a recommendation on a potential license action. The spokesperson added the board will gather all information from the court and conduct any necessary follow-ups before doing so.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A lawsuit against the Trump administration has nearly tripled in plaintiffs  going from 133 originally to 351  as foreign students across the country feel the risk of staying in the United States.

The lawsuit, filed in Georgia but covering students nationwide, comes as a result of thousands of students across the country being notified that their student visas and/or their legal status through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database (SEVIS) had been revoked, including many in Massachusetts.

An order on the lawsuit on Friday granted those plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and stated that their lawsuit is likely to succeed in proving that the Trump administration was acting arbitrary, capriciously, and not in accordance with the law when it revoked students legal status.

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The status of international students visas is tracked through the SEVIS database. A SEVIS legal status allows a foreign student to remain in the United States, while a student visa allows a person to study in the country.

In response, over 100 lawsuits were filed, with more than 50 of the cases ordering the Trump administration to temporarily undo the actions, according to Politico.

Five international students  including two from Worcester Polytechnic Institute  filed a separate federal class action lawsuit in New Hampshire federal court that aims to represent more than 100 students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island who had their F-1 student immigration status revoked by the Republican administration.

Last week, it looked like the Trump administration would reverse course as federal officials said it would reinstate the legal status of international students.

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However, they also said they were working on a new policy for international students studying in the U.S. to provide a framework for SEVIS legal status terminations.

The new guidance, which was released a few days later, allows foreign students to have their legal status revoked for a variety of reasons, including exceeded unemployment time.

ICE tried to fix the problem it created, and made it worse, said Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney who is leading the lawsuit that now represents 351 foreign students who lost their legal status.

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They have not walked them back. They left all these students with status gaps, did not restore all the students, and are, again, revoking SEVIS again for some of those who had been reinstated, Kuck said.

In Massachusetts, foreign students have been especially targeted at Harvard University.

Harvard was issued an ultimatum by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an April 16 letter: it could refuse to respond to its demands and lose its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification allowing international students to study there  27% of its undergraduate and graduate population  or give up information about its foreign student population.

Harvard said it provided DHS information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records, but didnt state what information was given.

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Given ongoing pressures, admitted international students will be allowed to accept admission at Harvard University and at a foreign institution as a backup plan.

What does the lawsuit claim?

The lawsuit representing 351 students was originally filed April 14, according to Kuck. To become a class action, it still needs a judges approval, he said.

The lawsuit aims to have the court state that students legal status and student visas be reinstated to the exact immigration and legal position they were in as of March 25, 2025, according to the filing.

It also aims to have the court declare that the termination of students SEVIS records were arbitrary, capricious and unlawful, declare the revocation of valid visas to be unlawful and order the federal government to remove any inaccurate or defamatory information about the students from systems of record.

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The lawsuit is unique because it attacks the legality of the fix and also addresses the visa revocation, according to Kuck.

The lawsuit claims that ICE had no authority to terminate students SEVIS records and that the revocations have caused imminent concrete and preventable harm, according to the lawsuit.

It further claims that the new policies by the federal government created a slew of legal issues.

A visa revocation should not, legally, impact a students immigration status in the United States, yet such a revocation will be treated by ICE in a manner that constructively terminates that students status by cutting off the ability to work, to study, and to change immigration statuses within the United States," the lawsuit reads.
Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Former employees of the University of Michigan are suing the leadership of the school, alleging that their employment was terminated after they engaged in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Detroit by the Sugar Law Center and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, asserts the universitys actions are in violation with the employees constitutional rights of freedom of speech, petition and assembly.

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The university attributed all firings and blacklisting to violations of the schools policies on community violence, but the lawsuit states neither the seven student employees nor the full-time employee who faced repercussions for their participation in protests on campus enacted any sort of violence and complied with police instructions during the events.

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Civic engagement has long been a hallmark of the university community, the lawsuit states, noting University of Michigan students throughout history have protested for different causes on campus including demanding an end to the Vietnam War.

But as members of the university community hold protests demanding the university divest from companies tied to Israels war in Gaza, the lawsuit states that since the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the university has completely changed its response to protest activity on campus.

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Since October 7, 2023, the University has solely targeted, discriminated against, and punished students for engaging in speech and protest activity in support of Palestine and calling for the University to divest from Israel as a means of pressuring Israel to cease human rights violations against the Palestinian people, including crimes against humanity and genocide, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit notes that divestment is a reasonable effort for protesters to pursue as the university has divested before, including divesting from tobacco companies in 2000, South Africa in the 1970s and 80s and Russia in 2022. The lawsuit further notes that never before has peaceful participation in protests on the universitys Ann Arbor campus resulted in termination or permanent ineligibility for rehire, as it has for these employees.

University of Michigan spokesperson Kay Jarvis said, the university does not comment on litigation in response to Michigan Advances request for comment on the lawsuit.

The protests at the heart of the lawsuit are a November 17, 2023 sit-in protest outside the university presidents office and a May 3, 2024 protest outside of the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

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During the May 2024 protest, the lawsuit said protestors stood outside the art museum while several of the universitys regents were inside the building for a private event. Protestors linked arms and chanted and moved back to continue their protest after university police set up a barrier around the entrance of the art museum.

Months later, five university employees who participated in the protest were sent correspondence informing them that their employment was terminated and they were permanently not eligible for rehire for violating the university policies against community violence.

Four of the individuals who were fired months after the protest were not employees of the university when the protest was held, according to the lawsuit, which added that all the former employees who participated in the November 2023 and May 2024 protests participated in their own personal time.

During the November 2023 protest, the lawsuit says one particular student, Zaynab Elkolaly, attempted to join the sit-in protest outside the university presidents office, entering the Ruthvan Building, when she became caught between a crowd trying to enter the building and police officers at the entrance.

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While turned away from the entrance to leave and with her back to the police, she was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground by a University of Michigan police officer. While being thrown to the ground, her hijab was ripped off, the lawsuit says.

Months later, after Elkolaly had graduated and was no longer an employee at the university, but was planning on applying for work at the school, she received a letter from the university saying she was ineligible for rehire due to violating the schools policies against violence.

Each of the Plaintiffs was a dedicated University employee who took their job duties seriously, conducted exemplary work, and performed necessary services for the University, the lawsuit states, adding that the processes the university enacted to terminate employment or bar future employment for the former employees robbed them of due process to combat retaliation by the university for their civic engagement.

The lawsuit seeks to force the university to repeal actions it took against the plaintiffs employment statuses, recover damages from loss of employment and any other relief that would be considered just in this scenario.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of people imprisoned in Alaska alleges the state Department of Corrections provides inadequate medical, mental health and dental care, calling it a systemic issue that goes back years.

The class action lawsuit filed Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska and ACLU National Prison Project names as defendants Gov. Mike Dunleavy and corrections officials. Corrections spokesperson Betsy Holley declined comment Friday, saying the agency had not yet seen a copy of the lawsuit. The Alaska Department of Law also had not been served, spokesperson Sam Curtis said.

At any one time, about 4,400 people are in Department of Corrections custody, including people who are being detained before trials, according to the lawsuit. It says the state routinely denies medical services to incarcerated people based on their pre-trial status and says people often end up for years in corrections facilities while awaiting trial due to court system delays in handling criminal cases. The lawsuit cites as examples individuals who it says were denied needed eye surgery or dental treatment other than tooth extraction because of their pretrial status.

The lawsuit also claims the state fails to provide timely or adequate access to health care and specialty care, denies access to assistive devices and doesn't have enough health care staff. It asks a judge to order the state to develop and implement a plan addressing the concerns.
Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images

Goldman Sachs recommends investors buy gold as recession risks remain high.

Gold is preferred over Treasurys for hedging the risk of US government instability.

Central banks' dollar diversification efforts should also boot gold demand, Goldman said.

Investors should buy gold as the stock market continues to underprice the risk of a recession later this year.

That's according to Goldman Sachs, who said in a note on Tuesday that gold, even after its 26% year-to-date surge, could zoom past its price target of $3,700.

"We recommend that investors hedge still elevated cyclical recession risk with oil puts and long gold positions," Goldman Sachs' Daan Struyven said.

Beware of a recession

Despite the Trump administration's 90-day tariff pause, "the chances of recession remains unusually high," Struyven warned.

The analyst said that the stock market's sharp rebound since its April low also leaves little upside to be had for risk assets, even if trade relations between the US and China improve.

"The level of policy uncertainty remains very high, businesses and consumers expect very weak activity, real income growth is likely to compress, financial conditions remain tighter than a few months ago, and US production disruptions are plausible," Struyven said.

Investors got their first taste of an economic slowdown on Wednesday, with first-quarter GDP growth coming in at -0.4%.

If a recession does strike, Goldman says the S&P 500 could plunge 16% from current levels to $4,600.

Gold is a better hedge than Treasurys

Struyven prefers gold as a portfolio hedge for investors as compared to Treasurys because Treasurys haven't been providing as much protection against stock market sell-offs as they used to.

"Longer-dated US Treasuries and USD longsmay continue to fail protecting against equity risk," Struyven said.

Part of the problem is that in recent weeks, typical safe haven assets like Treasurys and the US dollar have been acting like emerging market assets amid the Trump administration's chaotic tariff policies and threats against Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

"The unusual 'EM-style correlations' (equities down/yields higher/USD down) that we have seen recently are a clear signal that markets are concerned about what recent policy actions imply about US governance and institutional credibility," Struyven explained.

As investors choose gold over Treasurys to protect their portfolios, the shiny metal could surge past $3,700 and to as high as $4,800 by mid-2026, representing potential upside of 12% and 21%, respectively.
A woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Cedar Park, claiming a "culture of indifference" led a police officer to sexually assault her after he had committed other assaults.

Officer Keco Motton was charged in May 2023 with the sexual assault of the woman who filed the lawsuit but killed himself a few days later. The American-Statesman does not identify sexual assault victims.

Before the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, the woman's lawyers demanded $5 million from the city to settle it, according to a letter sent by the Smith & Vinson law firm to the city on April 14.

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The city on Monday released a video with an official saying Cedar Park was not going to settle the case.

"Because these lawyers (for the victim) are blaming someone other than the one who committed this horrible crime, the city will defend itself against this improper lawsuit," spokeswoman Fran Irwin said in the video. "We want to be clear this criminal is fully to blame for this crime. The lawyers (for the victim) have not threatened to sue the criminal or his estate but instead they demand that city taxpayers pay them."

The lawsuit does not mention the amount of damages the victim is seeking. One of her lawyers, Brad Vinson, said in an email that "the city's failure of leadership is disgraceful."

"There is overwhelming evidence that Officer Keco Motton was a predator who repeatedly used his badge to sexually assault women," Vinson wrote. "Our client was one of many women who were violated over many years by Officer Motton, a mental health officer who targeted marginalized women."

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"The city knew for years, turned a blind eye," Vinson said, "and now has the audacity to blame the victims."

Irwin said that as soon as the victim reported the incident to police, they began an investigation and called in the Texas Rangers to help. The Rangers arrested Motton the next day.

"We take all allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously and make every effort toward seeking justice and accountability," Irwin said in the video.

The lawsuit claims the Cedar Park Police Department and the Texas Rangers investigated numerous complaints made by females against Motton. The investigation took place after Motton was charged on May 5, 2023.

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"In the investigation interviews, Officer Motton admitted to committing the sexual assault of plaintiff and previously of other females over a period of years," the lawsuit said.

It said Police Chief Mike Harmon and the city knew Motton had committed previous sexual assaults because they were conducting an internal affairs investigation of him before the victim who filed the lawsuit was assaulted. The lawsuit does not say when the internal affairs investigation happened.

When asked to comment Thursday to the allegation that police and the city were involved in an internal investigation of Motton before the March 4, 2023, assault, city spokesman Daniel Sousa said, "we have no additional information to share at this time.

One of the previous victims filed a complaint with police that Motton had sexually assaulted her in February 2022, the lawsuit said. She said Motton came to her house after a dog bit someone, the document said. It said Motton grabbed her between her legs. Police told her they were going to investigate her complaint, but she never got another response from them, according to the lawsuit.

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Three other women complained on a "Yelp" website about the Cedar Park Police Department that their complaints to the department about being sexually assaulted were ignored, the lawsuit said. One of the complainants said Motton had sexually assaulted her in 2018 or 2019 after he showed up for a domestic disturbance, the lawsuit said.

Motton was part of the mental health unit at the Police Department but standard operating procedures that provided for a supervisor were not put into place until December 2023, "implicating Motton was unsupervised at the time he assaulted plaintiff and others," the lawsuit said.

Standard procedure requires an officer to wear a body camera. Motton claimed his camera malfunctioned, "which is further evidence of the lack of supervision and enforcement of standards by the Chief of Police," according to the lawsuit.

The victim who filed the lawsuit made a public information request to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for the investigation files of the incident involving her, the document said. The lawsuit doesn't say when she made the request. It said the commission denied her request on March 20, saying the case was still open.

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"Upon further inquiry, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement refuses to give any reason why the case is still open and pending implicating the only reason is the ad hoc policy of cultural indifference arising from police departments being predominantly male," the lawsuit states.

The woman who filed the lawsuit had called police for help because her husband had taken away her phone and her money, the lawsuit said. It said Motton made arrangements to meet her at a community park to return items, which had been seized. He was not assigned to investigate a prior domestic violence allegation that the woman had made against her husband, the lawsuit said.

More: Killeen police investigating death of Cedar Park officer accused of sexual assault

When Motton and the victim met at the park, Motton stood outside her car and asked her to take photos with her cell phone of injuries she had on her thighs, the lawsuit said. It said she pulled down her pants and Motton then touched her genitals, according to the document.Motton then told the woman to go to the business where she worked and went inside with her and demanded she go to the bathroom so he could check the bruises on her back, the lawsuit said. In the bathroom, Motton put his hands on her hips, turned her and placed his hand on her buttocks, the document said.

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He then asked the woman if the cameras he saw on the way in worked and when she said yes, he left, according to the lawsuit. It said the victim believed if the cameras were not there she would have been raped.

More: Firm hired to review Cedar Park police policies shares recommendations

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lawsuit: Cedar Park ignored police officer's prior sexual assaults
A group of eight University of Michigan employees has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, alleging they were unlawfully fired and forever barred from working on campus because of their support of Palestinians, and calls on U-M to divest from Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza.

At issue for the plaintiffs is why were they disciplined over their protected free speech, when, they contend, such measures were never taken before  not during the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War era or when students pushed for the university to divest from apartheid-ruled South Africa, which U-M ultimately did in the late 1970s.

"During the previous half century, no such measures are known to have been taken at any time by the University against students or alumni who, while students, had engaged in speech and related activities on other important issues of public concern," the 64-page lawsuit states.

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"In fact," the suit continues, "the University has encouraged its students and employees to speak out on a variety of issues of public concern," and promotes its "long history of activism by students  in brochures directed to prospective students, on murals on campus buildings, in classroom instruction, in social media posts and through emails to the entire University network."

The lawsuit also cites the University's Free Speech on Campus policy, which states:

"The university has long welcomed dissent, advocacy, and the expression of the broadest array of ideas, even those that could be unpopular, upsetting or critical of the university."

U-M Director of Public Affairs Kay Jarvis, citing university policy on pending litigation, on May 2 declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed the day before in U.S. District Court.

Lawsuits, criminal charges and an FBI raid

The plaintiffs include an academic program specialist at the university's Center for South Asian Studies, a nuclear energy researcher, a manager within U-M's Sustainable Food Program, a teacher's assistant at the North Campus Childrens Center and undergraduate students who worked various jobs at the university, including research assistant and customer service rep for the Campus Information Center.

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According to the lawsuit, three plaintiffs were fired over their participation in a Nov. 7, 2023, peaceful protest at the Ruthven Building, where 42 students were arrested by day's end on minor charges of not obeying police instructions to leave. Five plaintiffs were fired over their attendance at a May 3, 2024, peaceful demonstration outside the U-M Museum of Art. In both events, the demonstrators were protesting violence in Gaza and calling on the university to divest from Israel.

The lawsuit is the latest such case filed against the university, which has been the site of numerous protests over the Israel-Gaza war. In February, five people, including two students, sued the university alleging it violated their constitutional rights by effectively banning them from campus after they attended pro-Palestine demonstrations. In December, another group of students sued, claiming the college selectively targeted peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrators for their beliefs, subjecting them to disciplinary proceedings and suspensions.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian activities have also triggered criminal charges and multiple raids by the FBI and other law enforcement groups. Last month, police and FBI raided three homes as part of an investigation into a string of vandalism cases involving pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel and antisemitic graffiti. Among the vandalism cases under investigation involve U-M Regent Jordan Acker, who is Jewish. Vandals spray-painted his car and smashed a window at his home while he and his family slept.

In September, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed criminal charges against 11 pro-Palestinian protesters at U-M, alleging that several of them used "physical force to counter" police officers clearing a tent encampment in Ann Arbor. One of the protesters was charged with ethnic intimidation after he allegedly attacked a pro-Israel rally.

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"The right to free speech and assembly is fundamental, and my office fully supports every citizens right to free speech under the First Amendment," Nessel has previously said. "However, violent and criminal behavior, or acts that trample on anothers rights cannot be tolerated. I hope (these) charges are a reminder to everyone who chooses to assemble, regardless of the cause, that the First Amendment does not provide a cover for illegal activity."

Latest lawsuit: U-M put 'indelible stain' on our employment record

In the latest lawsuit, the plaintiffs maintain that they engaged in no acts of violence, only peaceful demonstrations. They allege that U-M wrongfully accused them of violating a university policy prohibiting violent behavior, put an "indelible stain on their employment record," and failed to give them proper notice or a fair opportunity to be heard before firing them.

"Each of these actions were taken and based, in whole or part, on speech and activities  occurring outside Plaintiffs work hours and unrelated to their work responsibilities  to advocate for the human rights of Palestinians, to call for an end to the genocide against the Palestinian people, and to petition their public University to divest from Israel and from companies complicit in violating the human rights of Palestinians," the lawsuit states.

As the suit notes, activities on the U-M campus  both in support of and against Israel's actions in Gaza  have dramatically increased since Oct. 7, 2023. That's the day the terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack in Isreal, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping at least 240. Israel retaliated in a series of attacks that has devastated the Gaza region, killing 42,000 Palestinians, including 13,000 children in what Amnesty International has described as "genocide" in a December 2024 report.

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The plaintiffs allege that the university has "solely targeted, discriminated against and punished" pro-Gaza demonstrators in an effort to deter others from expressing pro-Palestinian viewpoints." Moreover, their lawsuit states, demonstrators calling for divesture by the university isn't a new concept.

Divestment campaigns nothing new at U-M

In fact, students have led other campaigns calling on the university to divest on other issues of public concern, including:

After years of protest, the Universitys Board of Regents passed its first resolution to divest from South Africa in the late 1970s.

In 2000, the University divested from tobacco companies.

In 2002, the University began the process of divesting from fossil fuels.

In 2022, the University divested from Russia.

The plaintiffs maintain that the methods of divestment advocacy haven't changed at U-M, but that the university's response "has changed dramatically when students advocate for divestment from Israel."

How one plaintiff learned she could never work at U-M again

According to the lawsuit, this is how one of the plaintiffs learned she could never work at U-M again:

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Nine months after the sit-in at the Ruthven Building, Arwa Hassaballa, a 2023 U-M graduate from Lake Orion who held several part-time jobs at U-M, including research assistant, student life facilitator and teaching assistant, received a letter from the university human resources department. The letter stated that she was ineligible for rehire at the university and that her record will reflect that she violated the Violence in the University Community (police).

At the time the letter was sent, Hassaballa was no longer a student or employed by the university, though she had planned to apply for post-graduate work.

On Oct. 22, 2024, she received evidence that the university allegedly used to fire her: a heavily redacted police report, and an incident report about her conduct. A November grievance hearing followed, with a university official claiming there was video showing Hassaballa had violated university policy.

No video was shown at the hearing, nor was it provided to Hassaballa, and no witnesses spoke. Still, the university upheld the decision to fire her and rendered her permanently ineligible for rehire.

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On Nov. 22, 2024, Hasssaballa finally saw the video in question. It showed a crowd of protesters outside the Ruthven Building, and other protesters walking through the doors. Hassaballa was seen walking into the building without issue. She does not appear in the second video at all.

Another plaintiff, Rhea Chappel, a building manager at the university's Michigan League, has a similar story: Her conduct at the sit-in was deemed as being in violation of university policy and she was let go. She denied engaging in any violence, but to no avail. Her termination would stick and she was deemed permanently ineligible for rehire.

The plaintiffs who attended the subsequent demonstration outside the museum saw a similar fate. During that protest, several regents were attending a private event inside the museum as protesters stood in front of the building, linked arms and chanted. University of Michigan police arrived and set up a barricade surrounding the museum entrance.

The plaintiffs complied with orders from police, stood on the public sidewalk behind the barricade, and chanted for a free Palestine while calling on the university to divest from Israel.

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According to the lawsuit, police sought to disperse the protesters by using pepper spray, pushing protesters with bikes, and physically assaulting individuals.

The plaintiffs maintain that they engaged in no sort of violence, but the university concluded otherwise.

These are the plaintiffs

Zainab Hakim, of Canton, a 2024 U-M graduate and full-time academic program specialist at the university's Center for South Asian Studies. His job duties included planning events, lectures, programs and conferences, and coordinating academic programs for students.

Henry Mackeen-Shapiro, of Ann Arbor, an undergraduate student at U-M who also worked as a student program assistant at the English Language Institute, where he provided feedback and advice to international graduate students on their coursework and other academic materials to improve their English writing and verbal skills.

Eaman Ali, of Ann Arbor, an undergraduate student at U-M and campus information assistant at the university's Campus Information Center. Her job included providing in-person customer service at the university unions.

Assmaa Eidy, of Ann Arbor, an undergraduate student at U-M and research assistant in the American Culture Department whose job included conducting research on Arab American social issues, archiving sources and assisting on a documentary film project. As a community leadership fellow, Eidy also conducted a public service project on behalf of the university with a local nonprofit organization.

Harrison Rhoades, of Ann Arbor, 2024 U-M graduate and part-time manager within the University of Michigans Sustainable Food Program, which is part of the Student Life Sustainability Office. This job included event planning, collaborating with partnering organizations and and supporting a grant program.

Hassaballa, of Lake Orion, a 2023 U-M graduate who held several part-time roles at U-M, including research assistant, student life facilitator for M-STEM Academics, Arab Heritage Month Student Coordinator and teacher's assistant at the North Campus Childrens Center. A severe foot injury forced her to leave her teaching assistant job in 2023.

Chappel, of Ann Arbor, an undergraduate student at U-M and part-time student building manager at the Michigan League, which involved managing and preparing rooms for events, including student meetings, conferences and weddings.

Zaynab Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Elkolaly, of Ypsilanti, a 2024 U-M graduate who conducted research on nuclear energy at U-M and held several part-time positions at the university, including administrative assistant at Michigan Medicine, and research assistant and diversity, equity and inclusion officer in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Department.

Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: University of Michigan sued for firing staffers who support Palestine
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

LAYTON, Utah (ABC4)  A man has been charged with operating an illegal clandestine laboratory to produce Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cartridges at his home in Layton.

Daniel Jemmings, 21, has been charged with five felonies. He is facing one count each of clandestine laboratory precursors and equipment, production of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a dangerous weapon by a category II restricted person, and endangerment of a child.

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A clandestine laboratory is a secret laboratory used to manufacture controlled substances, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Provo man arrested after family member finds pipe bombs in his apartment, documents say

On March 3, 2025, the Layton City Police Department responded to reports of a fight in progress, according to documents.

Little did they know what they would end up discovering, the Deputy Davis County Attorney wrote in the charging documents. Police would obtain a search warrant to investigate what was inside the residence.

While at the home, police discovered roughly 1,425 THC vape cartridges, 3,219 grams of THC extract dab, 31 grams of marijuana, and 29 grams of methamphetamine. They also located a loaded firearm and a large quantity of cash.

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According to charging documents, police found hot plates, metal pans on them, beakers, and water evaporation lines. There were several mason jars with drug residue.

Two motorcyclists kidnapped, robbed and left in remote area of Tooele County, documents say

Police said Jemmings claimed to work at a Smiths warehouse, and was the sole breadwinner despite paying nearly $3,000 a month to rent his home.

A 1-year-old child was living at the residence, and officers found that the drugs, packaging, and paraphernalia found inside and in different bedrooms was great and accessible by anyone, including children.

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Previous charges showed that Jemmings had been found with marijuana while in Syracuse. He had recently entered a plea in abeyance, and that case was closed in February, shortly before police discovered the laboratory in his home.

Jemmings was arrested at the time, but has since been released with conditions, including a promise to appear in court and not commit any crimes while on release.

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.
WASHINGTON D.C. (ABC4)  Sister Tracy Y. Browning of the Primary General Presidency for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints visited the White House for the National Day of Prayer.

Along with the rest of the Primary General Presidency, Browning oversees programs for children in the LDS Church across the world.

The National Day of Prayer was originally instituted by President Harry Truman in 1952.

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PHOTOS: Thousands of dollars in damage caused at LDS church in Provo

[The President] shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation, Trumans resolution reads.

In years past, the Church has sent other leaders to attend the National Day of Prayer event at the White House including Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Browning has served as the Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency in the church since Apr. 2, 2022.

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Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in a civic responsibility to contribute and strengthen societys morals and spirituality.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Editors note: This story has been updated to include a new expected flight return time of Monday, around 2:30 p.m.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A Learjet 36A that took off from Wichita Wednesday evening is ready for the second part of its journey. The plane and its team are trying to do a polar circumnavigation.

Just after noon Central Time on Friday, the Learjet succeeded with its first goal of crossing into the southern polar region. It came after a weather delay that kept the crew in Argentina longer than expected.

(Graphic provided by Classic Lear Jet Foundation)

The Learjet Polar Mission crew is now headed north toward the North Pole. Rick Rowe, public relations for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation, explained what it takes to get a Polar Circumnavigation Diploma:

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An aircraft must cross over both 75 degrees South latitude and 75 degrees North latitude with equator crossing points more than 90 degrees apart and return to the airport of departure, he said.

Rowe said crossing the 75-degree south and north latitudes qualifies as being in the polar regions and qualifies for the diploma.

Spirit AeroSystems to lay off workers due to backlog

No Learjet has ever attempted such an aggressive mission over both poles, he said.

The return to Wichita was initially planned for Saturday. However, weather delays mean the arrival in Wichita is now expected on Monday around 2:30 p.m.

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The flight is to raise funds for the restoration of Lear Jet 23-003, the first Lear Jet ever sold in the Air Capital, back when the company was called Lear Jet instead of Learjet. Rowe says the Lear Jet 23-003 started the business jet industry in Wichita.

Global Jetcare, an air ambulance service in Florida, volunteered its plane, and four of the companys pilots are taking turns flying the mission.

You can track the journey at PolarMission.org.

You can also get updates from the crew on the Classic Lear Jet Foundation Facebook page.

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Lebanon City Council has voted to close half of a downtown alley to vehicular traffic for safety and as a compromise between the city and downtown business owners.

The first 60 feet of the eastern alley leading from Meridian Street and the Boone County Courthouse will be converted into a pedestrian space, while the remaining 63 feet will serve as a loading and unloading zone for local businesses.

The Lebanon Ballet School entrance was recently moved to the north side of its building which lets out into the alley. As part of a building revitalization, another business will use the Meridian Street entrance previously used by ballet students.

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Samson Historical, a historical outfitter of the American Colonial period, occupies two buildings immediately north of and bordering the alley. The only access to one buildings basement is from the alley.

Owners Casey and Abbie Samson park their truck and trailer in the alleyway to load and unload educational materials and products for sales trips. And loading often takes an hour or more, not the 10 minutes of loading time allowed by the city.

Four alleys lead away from the downtown Lebanon square, one in each direction. Three are not thruways for traffic but blocked at the point they would enter the square. Two of those, the north and south, have been converted to pedestrian spaces. The fourth, on the west side, serves as a pharmacy drive-thru.

City leaders and The Heart of Lebanon proposed closing the alley between Samson Historical and the Lebanon Ballet School to vehicles at the April 14 city council meeting.

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They wanted to convert the eastern alley into a pedestrian space as part of the citys downtown action plan and to protect ballet students. The city plans to have a mural painted there.

The ordinance also bans dumpsters in pedestrian alleys. The Samsons have two dumpsters in the back of the alley at the corner of their building after being told they may not place them behind their building due to the close proximity of utility meters.

The Samsons proposed a compromise of closing the front half of the alley and leaving the back half for area businesses purposes. But Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry and Heart of Lebanon officials wanted a complete closure and the council tabled the ordinance.

Social media then blew up with discussions about government overreach. And Gentry said that if voters didnt want the eastern alley involved, hed withdraw it from the ordinance, which would then protect only the north and south alleys from dumpsters and vehicles.

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But Councilwoman Sandra Jasionowski argued on Monday that the city should accept the Samsons compromise in the interest of safety and being good neighbors to businesses. She said other businesses also use that alley.

The last thing I want to do is hinder business, she said.

Gentry argued for closing the first 90 feet and leaving the remaining 33 feet for a loading zone to allow more public space and still leave room for trucks and trailers, but the council rejected that idea.

Councilman Rob Hawkins said the city should also amend its ordinance that allows only 10 minutes for loading and unloading to lengthen the period because Samsons is not the only downtown business that takes longer than 10 minutes for that task. The time limit dates back to the early 1900s and milk delivery trucks. The city of Lawrence allows two hours, a Samson employee said.

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Gentry said a change in the loading times would require a separate ordinance.

Another Samson employee told the council the company loads and unloads during normal, daytime business hours. Most of the ballet school students arrive at 5 p.m. and after.

The Samsons missed the meeting because they are selling goods at George Washingtons Mount Vernon in Virginia as part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence being celebrated this year. But they posted a statement on social media, thanking those who wrote letters of support and attended the council meeting on their behalf.

We are grateful that council members recognized the importance of balancing the needs of businesses, families, and the broader community, their post said in part. Moving forward, we will continue to be diligent in following the new ordinance and remain committed to ensuring the safety of everyone downtown  including the ballet school students who share this space with us each day, one of whom is our own daughter.
May 2 (UPI) -- Lebanon's Higher Defence Council on Friday warned the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, against launching attacks or firing rockets into Israel from Lebanese territory, stating that strict measures will be taken to end any actions that violate the country's sovereignty.

The warning by the country's top military body came after the Lebanese Army arrested a number of Lebanese and Palestinians suspected of firing rockets into northern Israel on March 22 and March 28. The rocket attacks provoked additional Israeli retaliatory strikes.

While no group claimed responsibility for the rocket firing and Hezbollah denied any link, security reports indicated that three Hamas members were among those detained by the Army.

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Major General Mohamad al Mustafa, the Secretary-General of the Higher Defense Council, said after a meeting attended by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that Hamas was "warned against using Lebanese territories to carry out any action that harms Lebanon's national security."

"Maximum necessary measures will be taken to put a definitive end to any action that violates Lebanese sovereignty," al Mustafa said, reading a statement.

He said that legal proceedings will commence early next week against all those detained and anyone who would be proven involved with last month's rocket attacks will be prosecuted.

Aoun said during the meeting any attempt to "destabilize" the country, "involve it in wars" or "expose it to danger" will not be tolerated.

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Salam emphasized the need for handing over "all illegal weapons" and preventing Hamas or any other factions to "destabilize security and national stability."

Both leaders, who came to power last January, have remained firm on their pledges to disarm all militias and impose the state monopoly on weapons.

Hamas has carried out several attacks from southern Lebanon against Israel during the Gaza war that broke out in October 2023. Israel on its part killed a number of Hamas leaders based in Lebanon, including the deputy head of the group's political bureau, Saleh al Arouri.

Lebanon has been trying to consolidate its authority and regain its long-lost sovereignty following Israel's recent war that greatly weakened the once-powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah.

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Mainly, 85% of Hezbollah's positions and military facilities south of the Litani River in south Lebanon already are being taken by the Lebanese Army and its weapons confiscated in line with the Nov. 27 cease-fire agreement that was brokered by the United States and France to end the war with Israel.

The Army has also begun gradually taking control of some Palestinian positions outside the country's 12 overcrowded refugee camps located in various regions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Beirut on May 21 for talks with his Lebanese counterpart to discuss a mechanism for disarming Palestinian factions inside the camps and expanding Lebanon's authority.
Mattresses, food, financial support, a disabled access ramp for a home, a new house  those are just some of the diverse needs of families impacted by the Borel Fire that local groups are left to figure out how to provide.

Meeting at the Kern County Emergency Operations Center on Panorama Drive, several local government and nonprofit groups came together Thursday to discuss how to move forward with guiding recovery for victims of last summer's devastating inferno.

"Their lives have been changed by the fire," Kern County Emergency Services manager Georgiana Armstrong said. "Now it's a matter of can they get some help to get back on their feet to restart their lives?"

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It was the first meeting of local organizations since the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would not issue a disaster declaration for the Borel Fire.

The Borel Fire started off Highway 178 in the Kern River Canyon last July and quickly grew to be the county's largest fire in history at 60,000 acres.

Yet despite the size of Borel, the fire didn't affect enough people to meet FEMA's threshold for a major disaster declaration, which means it'll fall to local groups to help residents recover.

The agency announced last month it had denied the state's appeal for a declaration.

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Gathered for Thursday's meeting were representatives of the American Red Cross; United Way of Eastern Central California; Catholic Charities of Bakersfield; Kern County and the California Office of Emergency Services, or CalOES; and others.

The groups and government representatives came together with the goal of coordinating and combining their resources to provide some kind of relief.

"This will not be a government-led process," Armstrong said. "Kern County is involved only in this part for the coordination, to support the process, but this will be led by the community, it will be led by non-government entities."

Several groups have already been working with impacted families to provide what resources they can, but non-government groups were holding off on any potential rebuilding efforts until FEMA made its determination.

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Now with the FEMA question answered, the groups are coming together to identify what kind of help they can provide, and who they can provide it to.

Catholic Charities of Bakersfield has been working with 30 families since the outbreak of the fire, according to Genesis Gonzalez, the group's disaster case manager.

The families have varying needs, Gonzalez said. Some only experienced minor damage to their homes, while others lost everything.

"Seventeen of those 30 families have challenging cases," Gonzalez said. "A lot of them have taken out loans, a lot of them don't have vehicles, and we do have some renters that lost the home that they were in."

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Of the families she's been working with, Gonzalez said, five families total decided to move out of the area completely and another 10 families are still deciding whether to rebuild or move away. Many of them had no insurance.

"The majority of them are living with their relatives, with friends," Gonzalez said. "We have one family that purchased a mobile home, which is in really bad condition."

The various groups present at Thursday's meeting brought different issues to the table; the mission now is to coordinate their respective resources.

"Once we get all the players to the table, we will probably develop a very small group, maybe just a few people, that would have more specific information to make some comparisons," said Charlene Sargent, chairwoman of Kern County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, or VOAD.

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"So that if we do have some organizations that are willing to help with repairs or rebuilding, that we can prioritize and help them identify who they need to help the most," she said.

Another meeting of the group is scheduled for early June and in the meantime, groups were asked to tap into their own networks to try to bring additional partners to the table, particularly those that could provide financial support.

The groups would also work to form a committee to help share specific information about the families being helped, and which needs were the greatest.

Participants also discussed holding a public outreach campaign in the coming months, particularly with the one-year anniversary of the fire approaching in July, with specific needs identified for impacted families.

"Unfortunately, we can't commit to making all of these families whole again, but we can certainly try to do whatever we can," Sargent said.
More than 100 days into Donald Trumps presidency, many federal workers have decided to do something that was unthinkable on inauguration day: quit their jobs.

As the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency cuts budgets and headcounts across the government, a workforce used to job security is now beset by low morale and deep uncertainty. Among those whove been fired or quit are tens of thousands of highly trained experts and specialists, draining the agencies of their knowledge base.

Deeper cuts are likely to come.

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Weeks away from hurricane season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to lose roughly 1,000 workers  20% of its full-time staff  who took a buyout offer. About 25% of Internal Revenue Service workers, roughly 22,000 people, are planning to take buyouts. The Environmental Protection Agency this week made another offer to all employees  open through May 5  to quit now and be paid through the end of September.

Those left behind now face a highly uncertain future in which a job that once seemed secure could disappear in a flash, leaving them wondering if it makes any sense to stay.

Many of the more than a dozen workers who spoke to CNN describe a culture of fear that now permeates.

Just last week, some agencies moved to end flexible work schedules. Some workers lives are being uprooted by mandatory reassignments and relocations. Many feel they are being pitted against each other because rules around seniority and status mean some staffers could still be displaced from their jobs by coworkers.

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Some federal workers said normal activities  such as stepping away from their computers to collaborate in-person with other workers, or attending after-hours retirement parties  are being more closely scrutinized.

Shannon Walsh, a federal worker with the Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, says that an email employees recently received informing them that their PIV card swipe data is being tracked felt threatening  causing paranoia and uncertainly over how their time is being truly monitored and for what reason.

Confused. And afraid. It honestly makes me feel both those things but also angry because I feel that that is the point, said Walsh, a member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704. It makes me feel like we are being smoked out.

Ellie Hagen, also an EPA employee in Chicago and a member of the local union, described a very intense culture of fear at work.

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Hagen said an office retirement party to celebrate those who were terminated was canceled recently by management. Even though the party was to take place outside of work hours, there was worry it would appear they were being unproductive.

People are afraid to do things that were once routine, she said.

Still, many federal workers who spoke to CNN remain resolute and insist they arent leaving until they are given no choice.

Almost all federal workers in February were offered deferred resignation: quit now and be paid through the end of September. Since then, Trump-appointed agency heads have begun reducing their ranks through multiple efforts, including some that have offered their own buy-outs.

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Those efforts have met legal challenges and political backlash from Democrats who are highlighting the implications of those cuts ahead of next years midterm elections.

Im going out on my own terms

One employee at the US Department of Agriculture who spoke to CNN said they recently decided to take the second deferred resignation offer in April after being terminated and then reinstated earlier this year, undermining their sense of job security.

If I do this, Im going out on my own terms. Im choosing it, the worker said, noting that theyll be paid through September 30 under the programs terms.

When the first buyout was offered earlier this year, the employee didnt give it any thought. They wanted to continue working for USDA, and their boss told them they didnt have anything to worry about. Two days later, they were terminated, along with tens of thousands of other probationary federal workers.

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Even those who are staying face continued uncertainty as layoffs are implemented.

The IRS issued a memo last week telling its approximately 90,000 employees that it was withdrawing from an agreement that allowed employees to work a flexible schedule.

Federal workers shout chants during a rally across the street from the Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 15. - Chase Castor/Reuters

As part of a 2022 labor agreement, the IRS allowed employees to work some nine-hour days, so they could take a full typical workday off after they logged enough hours. The deal also allowed employees to pick their start time, giving them additional flexibility over their time.

Those deals were nixed by the IRS as part of the Trump administrations broader efforts to end collective bargaining for federal workers. It also came amid a Trump administration push to shrink the size of the workforce by offering time-limited buyouts in exchange for quitting.

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A lot of people are upset that this was not announced before the option to resign, a Utah-based IRS employee told CNN. Things are sure different around the office these days.

At the Veterans Health Administration, a draft document from late March reviewed by CNN detailing its reductions in force effort laid out a process where one employee may bump another employee out of their position.

It goes on to explain that employees would be organized based on factors including their tenure and status  such as whether they meet veterans preference status that helps military veterans get hired.

The document says: If you bump another employee, you would retain employment. You may be eligible for grade and/or pay retention. If another employee is ranked higher, you may be bumped out of your role and released from employment.

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Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said on a call with reporters Friday that displacing other federal employees is typically part of federal reduction-in-force efforts, though he noted that no prior administration has conducted a reduction like this.

If somebodys been RIFed, they may have the opportunity of moving into another position where they have seniority that is specifically similar to the job that they had before, Stier said. They can, in effect, take that job from the incumbent thats there and push that person out. That is part of the RIF procedure.

The Office of Personnel Management regulations for RIFs include details about so-called bumping and retreating rights, which should apply to any agency conducting a reduction in force, said Jenny Mattingley, vice president for government affairs at the Partnership. However, it can take many months for agencies to properly categorize all the federal employees subject to the layoffs.

Its pretty complicated, she added, noting that an employees appointment category (such as career staffer or probationary worker), length of service and performance are taken into account, in addition to veteran status.

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National Treasury Employees Union National President Doreen Greenwald criticized the Trump administrations aggressive mismanagement of the federal workforce.

The exodus of talent and nonpartisan dedication to public service makes it harder for our federal agencies to accomplish the important missions assigned to them by Congress. And for those who stay on the job, this administration continues to unnerve them with unnecessary changes to their schedules, petty disruptions to their working lives, deep cuts to their operating budgets and threats to their careers, Greenwald said in a statement.

Far-flung reassignments

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, roughly two dozen top officials placed on administration leave during the mass April 1 layoffs were given the option to be reassigned to the historically understaffed Indian Health Services.

People protest outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Tuesday, April 1 after layoffs were announced. - Ben Gray/AP

Those officials  ranging from longtime lab researchers to regulatory and policy experts  received an email with five IHS sites, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, Billings, Montana, and Juneau, Alaska, asking them to rank their preferences.

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They were given one day to decide.

At NIH, at least four institute directors, overseeing infectious diseases, minority health and disparities, pediatric disease and nursing research, were placed on administrative leave and given the IHS option.

Things are broken and confused here, said a remaining NIH employee. Nearly a month after the mass layoffs, were still learning who is here and who is gone.

The reassignments to Indian Health Service also angered tribal communities that are in dire need of physicians and nurses at understaffed, remote clinics  not longtime officials and researchers shunted away from their bureaucratic roles.

It was a slap in the face, said Liz Carr, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians who served as a senior IHS advisor during the Biden administration. They are painting our communities as a relegation, a hellscape, a place of punishment for these people that want to provide services to HHS in other capacities.

She added: Our people deserve the best of the best, and so sending people to places they dont want to be is not going to create adequate or beneficial health care.

Most of the officials did not respond to the email and are still in limbo, according to three people familiar with the reorganization efforts. One CDC official responded with their preferences and has received no further communications since then, two of those people said.

Administrative leave is a pretty big deal. Its closely monitored, but theres so much going on right now [that] I dont even know if theres enough people in HR to be processing putting people on administrative leave, one former official said.

Overall, Department of Health and Human Services officials reorganization aimed to slash 20,000 jobs, consolidate programs, and shutter others. Several of the cuts, like a canceled program to study womens health, brought controversy and HHS promises to reverse course.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. insisted soon after the mass layoffs that these things would happen with swift DOGE cuts. The part of that, DOGE  we talked about this from the beginning  is were going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstalled because well make mistakes, he told reporters on April 3.

But the uncertainty has left remaining health agency employees waiting for the next shoe to drop, said one longtime health official who departed before the mass layoffs. People are confused, frustrated, saddened, and worried about the future of public health. Is this just the first step?

The patients are suffering

Those workers say the cuts are leading to backlogs and fewer government employees handling the same amount of work.

One medical professional at the Department of Veterans Affairs now has to care for more patients  and ones with higher needs  because their colleague retired recently and a request to replace the person was denied.

Theres no way I can spend as much time on care as my colleague was, they told CNN. So, the patients are suffering.

Feeling spread very thin, the professional worries that they wont be able to keep up the pace without burning out. They went into the medical field to help people but are upset that they cant provide the type of care their patients need.

Despite all this, they are committed to sticking it out.

Im not leaving because I love working with veterans, they said. It feels like a sacred mission, not just a job.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Allison Lampert and Utkarsh Shetti

(Reuters) -Howmet Aerospace raised its 2025 profit forecast on Thursday, despite impacts from U.S. tariffs, sending shares up 7.8% as the maker of castings and fasteners expects to pass on higher costs and sees strong demand from increased jet production.

The U.S. aerospace industry is seeking a tariff exemption to alleviate rising production costs and supply-chain strain, but strong demand for parts continues to support some suppliers such as Howmet and Honeywell.

Demand for parts remains strong since makers of engines and planes have record-large backlogs, but North American airline traffic has slowed due to economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs, Howmet CEO John Plant said.

Carriers from China have pushed back against taking higher-priced Boeing aircraft due to tariffs, with the CEO of European budget carrier Ryanair on Thursday threatening to cancel orders for hundreds of the U.S. planemaker's jets if duties raise prices.

"Could I envisage that certain airlines might begin to cancel aircraft in the coming year? Well I think it's possible, but that very much depends upon really what the passenger traffic is," Plant told analysts on a call.

Plant said Howmet wrote to its customers declaring a force majeure event - an extraordinary circumstance that makes it impossible to fulfill a contract - confirming a Reuters report that the company could halt some shipments if they are affected by tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Clearly we want to protect Howmet," Plant said. He added that while the company has certain contract provisions to protect pricing, in certain cases tariffs are not specified.

Plant said Howmet has been booking $20 million to $30 million worth of additional orders, and has hundreds of parts yet to quote, after a major fire at the rival SPS Technologies factory near Philadelphia in February hit supply of fasteners.

He said SPS parent company Precision Castparts Corp will reallocate some of the production capacity lost in the fire to their other sites.

Were going to hopefully have a slice of what remains," Plant said. "Its pretty difficult to take all of that production and move it in-house, because nobody sits there with that capacity.

The Pittsburgh-based supplier to planemakers Boeing and Airbus in February forecast better-than-expected first-quarter revenue and profits on strong aircraft demand, but had given a conservative outlook for 2025 due to tariffs.

The updated outlook, which includes current assumptions on tariff impacts, projects adjusted profit per share between $3.36 and $3.44, up from the previous forecast of $3.13 to $3.21.
To survive on this wild planet we call home, humans need to adapt. That's not just a feat of strength of will, but of the body. To deal with different environmental pressures, our bodies change over generations, tweaking the traits that will optimize our ability to not just live, but to thrive.

We see it at high altitudes, where the human body has adapted to lower oxygen levels in the air. Now, scientists have found the genetic tracers for adaptation on South Korea's Jeju Island, written in the genetic code of the Haenyeo: women who free-dive into frigid waters, year-round, to harvest food from the seafloor.

For centuries, Jeju Island relied on the work of the Haenyeo. Now, the need for their services is on the wane, and most of the women are older, with an average age around 70  possibly the last generation to exercise the tradition.

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"They're absolutely extraordinary women," says geneticist Melissa Ilardo of the University of Utah. "Every day, they head out and get in the water, and that's where they work all day. I saw women over 80 diving off a boat before it even stopped moving."

Ilardo has spent years studying human adaptations to extreme environments. In 2018, she and her colleagues published a paper describing the first population found to have evolved genetic adaptations to ocean free-diving  the Bajau Laut people of Southeast Asia.

She and her colleagues wanted to know if similar adaptations improve the abilities of the Haenyeo as they dive to depths of around 10 meters (33 feet) to collect ingredients like abalone and seaweed from beneath the cold, heavy waters.

Their study involved 91 participants: 30 Haenyeo divers; 30 Jeju locals who are not divers; and 31 people from Seoul on mainland Korea, with an average age of 65 for all participants. DNA samples were taken, and participants also had their heart rate and blood pressure tested, both at rest, and during a simulated dive in which they submerged their faces in a bowl of cold water.

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"If you hold your breath and put your face in a bowl full of cold water, your body responds as if you're diving," Ilardo explains. "A lot of the same processes happen in your body that would happen if you were to jump in the ocean, but it's done in a way that's safe for people with no diving experience."

Haenyeo preparing for a plunge. (Melissa Ilardo)

Interestingly, there was no genetic difference between the Haenyeo divers of Jeju Island and the other locals on the island. But the Jeju populations were more than four times more likely than Seoul residents to have a genetic variation associated with lower blood pressure.

This is likely because holding one's breath, as is necessary for a free-dive, raises one's blood pressure. The researchers speculate that naturally lower blood pressure is vital for Haenyeo divers, who work even while pregnant. Heightened blood pressure during pregnancy can result in conditions such as preeclampsia, which can be quite dangerous for both mother and fetus.

"This association may reflect natural selection to mitigate the complications of diastolic hypertension experienced by female divers while diving through pregnancy," Ilardo says. "Since Bajau women also dive while they're pregnant, we wonder whether pregnancy is actually driving a lot of the genetic changes in these diving populations."

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Interestingly, the stroke mortality rate on Jeju is lower than most of Korea, suggesting that this adaptation may have some side benefits, since stroke is associated with high blood pressure.

The other genetic difference between the Jeju and mainland populations that the researchers observed has to do with the body's pain tolerance for cold. This, they believe, may help make the divers less susceptible to hypothermia, since they dive year-round, even in winter when temperatures plunge to freezing levels.

"While we did not measure thermoregulatory physiology in our study, this represents an avenue for future research," the authors write.

There was one very intriguing difference between the Haenyeo and the non-divers of Jeju Island. When placed in the simulated dive scenario, the heart rates of the Haenyeo slowed much more than the heart rates of either control group. This suggests that the heart rate adjustment is a learned response, rather than a genetic one  the product of decades of experience.

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The study results, the researchers say, could help scientists better understand the workings of the human body, how we respond to environmental pressure, and the effects those changes have on other health outcomes.

"We're really excited to learn more about how these genetic changes may be affecting the health of the broader population of Jeju," Ilardo says. "If we can more deeply characterize how those changes affect physiology, it could inspire the development of therapeutics to treat different conditions, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and stroke."

The research has been published in Cell Reports.

Related News
State Rep. Steve Bashore on Wednesday announced passage of a bill by the Oklahoma Senate that he has been pushing.

It now goes back to the House for final consideration.

Bashore, R-Miami, has been behind a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce that sentence to below 85% of what was imposed.

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Called Lauria and Ashleys Law, it is named for Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch. The 16-year-old girls were presumed kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Years Eve 1999, and law officers think their bodies may have been dumped in a Picher mine pit. Their remains have never been recovered. Danny and Kathy Freeman, Ashleys parents, were shot to death, and their bodies were found in their mobile home, which had been set on fire.

I made a promise to the families of these two girls that I would seek better justice on their behalf, Bashore said in a statement issued Wednesday. After working on this legislation nonstop for the past few years, Im incredibly excited to see it this close to final passage. Im hopeful the governor will soon be signing it into law.

The bill passed in the Senate 38-5.

Lauria and Ashleys Law honors the memory of the victims and reinforces Oklahomas commitment to holding everyone involved in violent crimes accountable, Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, said in a statement. As this bill moves forward, it reflects our dedication to justice and keeping our communities safe.

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Earlier this year, the bill passed the House 76-11.

Bashore previously said his bill would not undo the wrong done in Ronnie Busicks case, but it will at least ensure that future victims will get more justice.

Busick, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder in the 1999 slayings of Bible and Freeman, was released from prison after serving five years of a 10-year sentence.

He benefited from a state corrections policy granting 90 days credit for every 30 days served with good behavior. Bashore previously told the Globe such credit is much too easy to obtain while in lockup for being an accessory to murder.

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The bill has had the support of the states District Attorneys Council, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the state attorney generals office and the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association.

Other suspects in the case, Warren Phil Welch and David Pennington, died without being charged.

According to investigators, Busick still claims he was not with Welch and Pennington the night when Freemans parents were killed and maintains that his knowledge of the crime came secondhand from Pennington and Welch.

As a requirement of his plea agreement, Busick provided information that led to several searches for the girls remains at sites in and around Picher that were unsuccessful.

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Lorene Bible, mother of Lauria Bible, said the Bible and Freeman families were never told that when the plea deal was reached in July 2020 that Busick would be permitted to serve anything less than 85% of his sentence on a conviction for accessory to murder.

On Wednesday, Bashore recognized Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria Bible, and her cousin, Lisa Broderick, who were present in the House Gallery. He credited both women with the final draft of the legislation and its passage through both chambers.

Lorene Bible said in a statement: Were very thankful to Rep. Bashore as well as Sen. Thompson and all those in both the House and Senate who worked with us to pass this bill. For us, this will help guard other families who might be in our same situation. This is so they wont have to watch the people who hurt their family members escape justice.
DUNMORE  Closing Penn State Scranton would limit local educational opportunities for students, hamstring workforce and economic development efforts and tear a hole in the fabric of the community of which the institution is a pillar, lawmakers, business leaders and other advocates said Thursday.

They gathered at Penn State Scranton to make that case to keep the campus, located in Dunmore, open.

The session followed Penn State President Neeli Bendapudis late February announcement that 12 of the universitys 19 satellite campuses  including Scranton and three others in Northeast Pennsylvania named Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Schuylkill, respectively  are under review for possible closure at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. A group co-led by university administrators will make a final recommendation on campus closures to Bendapudi by the end of the spring semester, and Bendapudi will make the final decision.

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Against that backdrop, a panel of officials that included Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn, Democratic state Reps. Jim Haddock, Kyle Donahue and Kyle Mullins, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President Bob Durkin, Scranton School District Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D., and Dunmore Superintendent John Marichak spoke Thursday to the myriad ways the Scranton campus benefits the region and its students. For many of those students, including nontraditional students and those without access to transportation or a wealth of financial resources, a closure would mean the end of their education, Flynn said.

They also spoke about how much they value being part of a campus that reflects their own community, going to class with people they know, people from their hometowns, that sense of belonging, he continued. A connection is something that cant be replaced or replicated miles away.

State Rep. Jim Haddock speaks with a panel of legislators, including state Rep. Kyle Donahue, Sen. Marty Flynn, and state Rep. Kyle Mullins during a public forum concerning the possible closure of Penn State Scranton in Dunmore Thursday, May 1, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Many who spoke echoed those or similar sentiments, touting Penn State Scranton as an indispensable resource.

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Durkin and other chamber officials described the school as a vital partner providing educations that prepare students to fill high-priority jobs in the region, bolstering a talent pipeline critical to economic growth and development. Penn State Scranton leaders, faculty and staff also actively participate in regional economic development efforts, support the chambers entrepreneurship program, open doors for internships at member businesses and expand professional development opportunities, the chamber stressed in a recent letter to Bendepudi.

Keating and Marichak said losing the institution would negatively impact students in both districts directly, including by reducing dual enrollment opportunities allowing high school students to earn college credits and educational opportunities more broadly.

I represent a low-income school district, Keating said, noting nearly 80% of the Scranton School Districts roughly 9,300 students are economically disadvantaged. They dont have the means or the opportunity to leave the area to receive a post-secondary degree thats recognized for global excellence, and Penn State is. It gives my kids an opportunity to be able to have that access.

Those low-income children, those children who come from economically disadvantaged homes, deserve that opportunity, she continued. Closing this campus takes an opportunity like that away.

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Penn States Regional Chancellor Elizabeth J. Wright speaks during a community meeting held at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore Thursday. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Elizabeth Wright, Ph.D., regional chancellor for Penn States Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton campuses, said 41% of students at the Scranton branch are Pell eligible, meaning theyre among those the federal government classifies as having the highest financial needs, and about 45% are the firsts in their families to attend college.

And within that context we think daily about how we support students and their families as they seek to attain their educational goal, she said. And indeed our goal is to help families that may be thinking that college is out of reach to transition to a moment when they say to themselves that college is within reach.

Several students and alumni who attended Thursdays event also shared personal anecdotes about how Penn State Scranton helped them academically, professionally and personally.

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President of the student government at Penn State Scranton Gavan Quimby voices concerns during a community meeting held at the campus Study Learning Center in Dunmore Thursday, May 1, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

But their testimonies come as Penn State and other colleges and universities face a number of headwinds, including declining enrollment.

Bendepudi has attributed the difficult choices the university now faces regarding the future of its satellite campuses to declining enrollments, demographic shifts and financial pressures. At the 12 campuses unprotected from closing, enrollment has dropped 39% in a decade, officials said earlier this year.

Gov. Josh Shapiros proposed budget includes $242.1 million in general support funding for Penn State, the same allocation the university received for the past several years and $30 million less than it requested. But while that general support funding remains flat, Shapiro also proposes $60 million in new performance-based funding for Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University, money that would be distributed to those institutions based on the recommendations of a Performance-based Funding Council established last year.

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Haddock referenced the performance-based funding proposed for those state-related universities, noting Penn State officials he spoke with were thrilled by the proposal. But he also took aim at Republican state lawmakers whove opposed and blocked past efforts to increase funding for Penn State, increases Haddock said local Democratic lawmakers reliably supported.

We have all voted, this Lackawanna County delegation, we have voted for the funding of Penn State and we all voted for increased funding of Penn State, but unfortunately the votes didnt come from the other side of the aisle, Haddock said in calling for the Scranton campus to remain open. So my message to Penn State is this: support the politicians that supported you.  Its ironic when I see my cohorts in the House of Representatives having roundtables like this, public forums, say dont cut Penn State in my district. Its jobs, its this, its that. But they wont vote to fund Penn State and they forget about our students and they forget about the jobs until theyre at risk. Sometimes the truth has to be spoken.

Haddock, Flynn, Mullins and Donahue all said either during or after Thursdays session that theyd reconsider their support for future state funding increases should Penn State close the Scranton campus.

Their collective focus now is on making a strong case to keep it open.

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Were not here today to attack anyone, Flynn said. Were here to advocate, to unite, to make it clear Penn State Scranton matters. It matters to that student whos trying to balance a part-time job and classes. It matters to the parent hoping that their child can get a degree without going into extreme, massive debt. It matters to the families who cant afford out-of-town tuition or the burden of a long-distance travel. It matters to the local businesses who rely on campuses to train their workforce.

So let me say this clearly, he continued. Closing this campus would be devastating, not just in Dunmore or Lackawanna County, but to all of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
State Sen. Gayle Harrell says he's been attacked via billboards for opposing liberalization of wrongful-death suits against doctors and hospitals without limiting potential monetary awards. (Screenshot, WPTV)

The Florida Legislature on Thursday sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis a bill that would put an end to a 35-year-ban that prevents people from filing lawsuits against physicians and hospitals for medical malpractice.

The 33-4 vote by the Florida Senate capped a tumultuous 24-hours in which the main sponsor paused action on his bill a day earlier after the Senate narrowly rejected his call to cap how much someone could collect in a medical malpractice.

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It needs to be repealed, it is unjust, said Sen. Clay Yarborough, the Republican who sponsored the legislation, of the litigation ban.

State Sen. Clay Yarborough via: Florida Senate

The question is what will happen next. DeSantis has complained loudly about the influence of liberal trial attorneys. Yarborough on Thursday told reporters there was a chance the governor could nix the bill.

Under existing law, parents of single, childless, adult children cannot sue for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. Adult children, defined as those 25 and older, are also banned from pursuing wrongful death claims for single parents who die from medical malpractice. 

HB 6017 would completely eliminate this prohibition in law. It passed over strong opposition from groups such as the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Medical Association, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and insurance industry lobbyists.

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Florida Justice Reform Institute William Large said he will ask the governor to veto the bill.

This bill is bad for Floridians. Its bad for consumers. This bill will only increase healthcare costs for all Floridians, Large told the Florida Phoenix, adding that he estimates as many as 500 additional lawsuits annually will result from eliminating the ban.

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The vote for final passage Thursday followed emotional testimony wherein state Sen. Gayle Harrells voice cracked as she explained that she was being targeted by billboards for her opposition to the bill.

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Harrell, a long-time champion of the medical profession, said she would have supported the expansion of lawsuits against physicians and hospitals if, in exchange, the Senate agreed to put a $1 million limit on wrongful death recoveries for all medical malpractice incidents.

Harrell said she was moved throughout the session by testimony from residents who shared stories of how their children, parents, and loved ones died allegedly from medical malpractice but were prevented from seeking redress in court. But, at the end of the day, she said she believes that without damages caps, physicians and hospitals will face increased costs and stop practicing.

Sen. Gayle Harrell (Photo via the Florida Senate.)

I can tell you we are going to have a huge increase in medical malpractice. And in addition we are going to have physicians not coming to the state of Florida, she said.

Harrell said she has been targeted for her position. The Republican from Stuart didnt say who was behind the intimidation.

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I can tell you this has become very difficult for me, personally. I am getting personal attacks on it because of my stand. There is now a billboard in front of my neighborhood saying Gayle Harrell supports profits over people, she said, adding there is a double billboard attacking her in another nearby neighborhood.

And I can tell you, that is very devastating to anyone in a political situation where they think Gayle Harrell puts profits over people. I do not. I do not, she said.

Harrells remarks solicited anger from a bipartisan group of senators who came to her defense.

Former Senate Democratic leader turned independent Sen. Jason Pizzo said: I want you to hear me now. Nobody has done more to provide access to health care than Gayle Harrell. So if you know the person who put up the billboard, Im not affecting anyones First Amendment rights, but you can tell them that Jason Pizzo wont like them when he finds out who they are.

State Sen. Jim Boyd. Credit: Florida Channel

Pizzo announced later that he had reached someone who had promised to take down the billboards.

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Sen. Jim Boyd, a Republican from Bradenton, extolled Harrell for her work over the years on issues involving children, the elderly, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Theres nobody more caring than you, Boyd told Harrell. An attack on you is an attack on us. Anybody from St. Augustine or anywhere else in Florida that would put up a sign like that ought to think twice about it. Its not fair. Its not right. And it cant be tolerated.

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BOSTON (SHNS)  Though it may seem counterintuitive, Suffolk Countys district attorney said Thursday, prosecutors believe creating an avenue to charge people with less serious crimes for animal cruelty would actually do more to deter it.

In Massachusetts, its a felony to commit an act of animal cruelty, Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden said at an advocacy event at the State House coordinated by MSPCA, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Rescue League of Boston and Humane World for Animals. Theyre lobbying for a bill this session (S 1277 / H 1934) that would allow for misdemeanor charges or the non-criminal seizure of animals for those offenses as well.

That might sound counterintuitive. Why are you going to actually have a lesser penalty or a less serious charge? Hayden said. Well, the reason being is because theres just a need to be flexible when it comes to how you charge these cases and how you potentially resolve them. And the reality is, not every single case of animal cruelty amounts to a felony.

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Erin Aiello, assistant district attorney for the Northwestern DAs office and a law enforcement trainer with the Humane Society, told the story of an elderly woman in her district who had dementia, and wasnt taking care of the animals on her farm.

She had horses, she had cows, and unfortunately she was just forgetting to feed her animals. There was no criminal intent. When the MSPCA investigator went to the property to try to reach out, to try to offer services to see what was going on, her grandchildren prohibited them from taking any further steps, she said. Unfortunately, it had to come to my desk where I had to review a search warrant and potentially look at whether there should be charges.

Aiello said they did not charge her, though they did seize the animals when the search warrant was completed. With the bill, however, she said the MSCPA would have been able to seize the animals without having to go through a search warrant and explore criminal charges first.

A misdemeanor animal cruelty charge may apply for a person who has ongoing mental health issues and no prior record of cruelty, Hayden said.

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Oftentimes now, people are very reluctant to resolve a case because it involves a felony conviction. Having a felony conviction on your record is far more significant than a misdemeanor offense, and so we get these cases that just languish in court, Hayden said. People are far less likely to admit wrongdoing even though they know they did it, even though they know they should be held accountable.

Tootie, a puppy up for adoption a MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, sits on the lap of a MSCPA worker during a briefing on animal rights legislation at the State House on Thursday May 1, 2025. (SHNS)

In addition to the bill seeking to expand the ways to remove an animal from a home without going through a felony legal process, the DAs and animal rights groups are backing a bill to enforce a so-called possession ban.

This bill (S 1207 / H 1914) would prohibit a person convicted of certain animal cruelty crimes  such as torture, sexual abuse, and dogfighting  from possessing, adopting or fostering an animal for a period of time determined in court. Courts would have the discretion to consider each case individually, to extend a mandatory possession ban longer than the minimum five-year period as they see fit, and consider appeals.

Current Massachusetts law prohibits formerly convicted abusers from working with animals, and prohibits certain types of control over animals after an animal sexual abuse conviction. However, the law does not uniformly address ownership.

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The bill doesnt create or alter jail time  a violation of a court-ordered possession ban would only trigger a forfeiture of the animal. It was previously reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee, but didnt make it to the floor of either chamber for a vote.

This bill would complement Massachusetts strong cruelty code by providing an additional tool to help prevent cruelty in our communities, says a bill summary from advocates. In fact, the legislatively-created Animal Cruelty Task Force recommended in its 2016 report that the legislature consider such a provision.

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To the editor: Im one of those affected by President Trumps disgraceful cuts to AmeriCorps ( California, other states sue Trump administration to block cuts to AmeriCorps, April 29). Im a retired nurse practitioner, and this semester I started tutoring two young Pasadena City School District students in reading as a volunteer with Reading Partners, which gets funding from AmeriCorps. On April 27, I received a message from the executive director of Reading Partners L.A. informing us that the nonprofits AmeriCorps program has been put on pause" [Editor's Note: The Reading Partners program has since announced that it will resume, but with former AmeriCorps members acting as Reading Partners staff].

I was making good progress with my tutees, a 6-year-old first-grader and a 7-year-old second-grader. And every AmeriCorps member Ive worked with is a dedicated, committed professional who is passionate about their mission.

But in Trumps America, God forbid we teach our young people to be better readers when we need to scrape together enough money for another massive tax cut for the presidents billionaire pals. I mean, lets keep our priorities straight.

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Janetta Yanez, Sherman Oaks

..

To the editor: I was a tutor with the Reading Partners AmeriCorps program before getting the notice that our funding had been cut. What is particularly distressing is that there are only three weeks left to go this semester, so the children we tutor will not even know why we are not coming to see them. We all hope that the government reverses its decision so that we can end out the year with our students and continue next year as we help educate our children.

Andrea Sossin-Bergman, Pasadena

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fireworks wholesalers and distributors are halting the shipment of goods into the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs earlier this month.

China is the worlds largest producer of fireworks, but goods from the country have been socked by Trump with a 145 percent tariff, forcing American distributors to stop purchasing the products from the country.

That means Americans might end up going without fireworks for this years July Fourth holiday, according to a report from NBC News.

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Days after announcing the tariffs, Trump implemented a 90-day pause for most countries, but raised Chinas to the three-digit figure.

According to the National Fireworks Association, Trumps new trade policy went into effect as companies were ordering the last of their holiday fireworks. About 75 percent of fireworks used in shows and 99 percent of consumer fireworks come from China.

Many countries say the tariffs are too costly and its unlikely consumers would take on significant price hikes, reported NBC News.

Fireworks arent the only products at risk. The tariffs stand to make everyday products more expensive, particularly toys for children as small business toymakers struggle to navigate the tariffs.

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About 64 percent of small toy companies and 80 percent of mid-sized toy companies have said theyve canceled orders due to the tariff-hiked prices. Additionally, half of those companies also said they would go out of business within weeks or months if Trumps China policy doesnt change, according to a survey from the Toy Association.

The president dismissed those concerns during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, saying ships coming into the country were largely carrying products we dont need.

Fireworks burst above the National Mall and, from left, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building, during Independence Day celebrations in Washington in 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Somebody said, Oh, the shelves are going to be bare. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30, you know? Trump commented, adding, And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

The New York Post mocked Trumps comments by putting a Barbie on its front cover Thursday with the headline: Skimp on the Barbie.

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Stacy Schneitter Blake, president of the National Fireworks Association, told NBC News in a statement: Shipping has essentially stopped. While theres still a good amount of fireworks in the U.S. from wholesalers who stocked up earlier, were still expecting shortages because many of us typically rely on shipments that would have arrived over the past month.

Schneitter Blake said her business had to halt several shipments that wouldnt have reached the U.S. before the implementation of tariffs.

With tariffs this high, bringing fireworks in just isnt feasible, so weve had to leave shipments overseas, she noted.

Stephen Vitale, who runs Live Events, a company that does more than 3,000 fireworks shows a year, said hes going to start getting nervous if the policy doesnt shift in the next 30 to 45 days.

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Weve placed orders for 2026, but based on the tariffs, weve paused any production until we have some certainty.

It might already be too late this summer to meet demand across the country, even if tariffs are reduced. In China, the manufacturing of fireworks stops due to rising temperatures, which could leave consumers waiting for fireworks until the following year.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  A person was found by Greensboro officers with life-threatening injuries after an assault call on Thursday, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release.

At 6:13 p.m., officers responded to the 2900 block of South Elm-Eugene Street when they were told about an aggravated assault.

Responding officers found one victim with life-threatening injuries.

No suspect information is available at this time.

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The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
By Lawrence White

LONDON (Reuters) -HSBC said on Thursday that Chairman Mark Tucker will retire by the end of this year, after nearly eight years in the role at Europe's biggest bank presiding over its dramatic shrinking and navigating of Sino-U.S. tensions.

Tucker, the bank's first ever externally-recruited Chairman, will remain as a strategic adviser to CEO Georges Elhedery, the bank said, adding that it had begun a search for his successor.

The 67-year-old Tucker's departure will not come as a major shock to investors, given he was nearing the end of the nine-year maximum advised for Chair roles under Britain's corporate governance code, but it leaves a hole at the top of the Asia-focused bank.

Former insurance executive Tucker presided over a period of sweeping restructuring at HSBC, during which the bank shrank its presence in Western markets such as the United States, Canada and France in favour of a pivot to Asia.

"The Board is conducting a thorough process to identify the best candidate to lead the Board, and support Group CEO, Georges Elhedery, and the wider management team, through the next period of development and growth for the Bank," Ann Godbehere, senior independent non-executive director, said in a company statement.

Under Tucker's stewardship, the bank has had to deal with a constant drumbeat of geopolitical tensions, as Britain together with the U.S. clashed with China, where the bank has its second home and major profit engine in the financial hub of Hong Kong.

HSBC's shares plunged during Tucker's stewardship as the bank battled through those challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, but have recovered in the last year to be up around 17% overall since he took over in September 2017.

HSBC will likely begin the search for a successor on its present board, sources with knowledge of the bank's thinking told Reuters, with former Citigroup President Jamie Forese among the best-positioned candidates, the sources said.

Geopolitical tensions came to a head for HSBC in May 2023 when its then-biggest shareholder Ping An Insurance of China lobbied for the bank to spin off its Asian business, a proposal ultimately defeated at HSBC's annual shareholder meeting.

Tucker's experience in Asia, where he helmed insurance group AIA before joining HSBC as chairman, stood him in good stead as the bank sought to deepen its business in the region, culminating earlier this year in a role leading a British business delegation to Beijing.

HSBC, among major European lenders, this week retained ambitious performance targets after a bumper first-quarter profit, despite threats to their earnings from a possible global recession and shaky business confidence.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  The effects of Limestone Universitys recent closure announcement could have a major impact on 13 charter schools across the state.

FILE  A still shot of Limestone Universitys campus, which recently announced it would permanently close on April 29, 2025. (WSPA File Photo)

Six charter schools located in Spartanburg, Greenville, Cherokee and Anderson counties are now facing questions about what lies ahead.

Charter schools, according to the U.S. News & World Report, are publicly-funded and tuition free, but operate through agreements with local or state governments.

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Mountain View Prep in Spartanburg falls under the Limestone Charter Association (LCA), which is an authorizer for the schools, charged with regulating the schools.

The exterior of Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association. FILE  People enter a Mountain View Preparatory building, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association. (WSPA File Photo) FILE  A mission statement written on a whiteboard at Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association. (WSPA File Photo) FILE -Sign for Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association.

The LCA was founded in 2021, their mission is to serve as the cornerstone of charter school authorizing in South Carolina and to facilitate a positive, educational environment that fosters school autonomy through support and oversight to its member schools.

Kevin Mason is the executive director of the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina (PCSASC), an organization advocating for and supporting charter schools in the state, including schools within Limestone Charter Association.

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Mason said that a situation like this has never occurred in South Carolina and that many of these charter schools are just starting out.

They have done the hard work of opening, some of these schools are very young  just a couple of years old. Some of them are just a year old, he said. Its really unfortunate for them, that theyve kind of been put into this situation.

The organization also supports schools on a legislative level through state, local and even sometimes federal governments.

Did you know? Currently, there are 104 charter schools operating in South Carolina.

So, what comes next?

Mason said the situation is unique, with state officials trying to figure out next steps. PCSASC is working to advocate for the 13 schools within the LCA, so that they can continue educating students.

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I do think there is a lot of work happening, throughout, our state with the charter school stakeholders, he continued. So meaning, the General Assembly, certainly the state Department of Education, the governors office and everyone involved really kind of taking a look at this very unique situation and then how do we how do we ensure a path forward.

The goal, Mason explained, is to keep all schools within the association open. However, with a number of moving parts, the path forward is still taking shape.

We want to make sure that were working with these stakeholders to identify the best path forward that continues to serve our students, he added. Thats what we have to keep in mind is the students and families here that are probably going through an uneasy time.

FILE  The inside of a classroom at Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association. (WSPA File Photo) FILE  School supplies at Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating within the Limestone Charter Association. FILE  Students hard at work at Mountain View Preparatory, a Spartanburg-based charter school operating under the Limestone Charter Association. (WSPA File Photo)

Though the future of the schools is unclear, the goal is to keep every school open.

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So teachers can continue to teach in a school that they have come to work in, and families can continue to go to a school that they have chosen, Mason said. We want to continue to provide an educational option in these communities where these families feel like it is the best, opportunity for their students.

Ultimately, Limestones closure will impact the LCA and schools in the program. A spokesperson from Mountain View Preparatory in Spartanburg shared the change could impact who each school responds to and will most likely not disrupt the school system.

At the school level we are all separate 501c3 organizations that govern our schools through boards of directors. Our day to day will not change how we operate if we must transfer to another sponsor. We hope the SCDOE along with the legislature continues to work together to ensure that Limestone Charter Association continues to exist. Traci Bryant-Riches, Mountain View Prep.

What that impact is going to be  we simply just dont know at this point, Mason concluded.

Upstate schools in operation under the Limestone Charter Association include East Link Academy, Global Academy of SC, Goucher Charter Academy, Mountain View Preparatory, SC Prep Leadership School and SC Preparatory Academy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Editors Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  School districts in Central Texas have adjusted schedules on Friday, May 2, due to the threat of severe weather.

Use our interactive map and list below to see if your school is affected.

Austin ISD: After-school activities canceled

Buckholts ISD: Early dismissal (2:45 p.m.)

Del Valle ISD: Elementary after-school programs dismiss by 3 p.m.; Middle and high after-school programs canceled

Florence ISD: Regular dismissal but parents can pick up children early

Georgetown ISD: Early dismissal (elementary 3 p.m.; middle 2:10 p.m.; high 1:45 p.m.)

Hutto ISD: Early dismissal (elementary 1:30 p.m.; middle 2:20 p.m.; Ninth Grade Center and high 3 p.m.)

Jarrell ISD: Early dismissal (elementary normal time; middle and high 2 p.m.)

Leander ISD: After-school activities canceled after 4:30 p.m.

Lexington ISD: LMS Solo and Ensemble canceled

Liberty Hill ISD: After-school activities canceled; regular dismissal but parents can pick up children early

Round Rock ISD: After-school activities canceled; regular dismissal but parents can pick up children early

Taylor ISD: Early dismissal (elementary 1:30 p.m.; middle 2:15 p.m.; high and TOC 2:30 p.m.)

Click here for the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Several school districts in Central Texas have announced early releases for school or the cancellation of after-school activities after threats of severe weather in the area.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for a swath of Central Texas, including Travis and Williamson counties, with the possibility of tornadoes, hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The service predicts the main risks to residents is large to very large hail and damaging wind gusts.

Schools

Austin  all after-school activities canceled

Georgetown  high school release at 1:45 p.m.; middle school release at 2:10 p.m.; elementary school release at 3 p.m. (regular schedule)

Hutto  elementary school release at 1:30 p.m.; middle school release at 2:20 p.m.; ninth grade center and Hutto High School release 3 p.m.; after-school activities canceled; buses will run 1.5 hours early

Round Rock  all after-school activities canceled

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Central Texas districts releasing early Friday ahead of severe weather
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  Friday morning was a proud morning at Wacos Live Oak Classical School as Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) honored one of the schools own with a prestigious nomination to the United States Air Force Academy.

Senior Allan Paymiyer was formally recognized by Sessions, who has the privilege to nominate candidates from his district to the nations military service academies.

This year, we have seven people from this Congressional district that will be attending our academies, Sessions said. The academies are full of not just the enthusiasm of preparing our young people, but actually the sprit and the development of young people  men and women  who will be prepared not just to lead, but also to be there to make sure our country is safe.

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Paymiyer plans to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

I am incredibly proud to be able to serve our country first and foremost, Paymiyer said. My familys just really come behind me at that, and its been really awesome getting to hopefully inspire othersnot only my school or my community, but also others in my family.

Paymiyer is the first in his family to serve in the military, a fact that he and his supporters celebrated during the brief ceremony.

Sessions praised the students discipline, initiative, and determination throughout the nomination process, Alan presented himself before our academy board in such a way that it really was a confidence-driven interview. It takes about a year to go through this. Hes consistently gotten his paperwork in. He did the things that would be necessary to prepare himself.

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With his nomination secured and preparations underway, Paymiyer is set to take the next step in what he hopes will be a long and meaningful career serving his country.

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A local city council member announces she will step down next week.

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West Carrollton City Council member Amanda Zennie said at the councils most recent meeting on April 22 that she will resign effective May 8, according to a social media post.

She had served the city since January 2018.

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Zennie said her resignation was due to her upcoming relocation outside of the city limits.

I have enjoyed learning more about local government and the needs of a community I have been part of most of my life, she said. I am thankful to the citizens of West Carrollton for their trust in me to make decisions on their behalf. I have met many great people and worked with some outstanding public servants along the way.

Zennies current term was set to end on Dec. 31.

She said that she will no longer be a West Carrollton resident.

Zennie added she had hoped to finish her second term but could not pass up on an opportunity that lay ahead.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Local mail carriers will be helping Food Bank of Siouxland by picking up food donations during this years annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

This years Stamp Out Hunger food drive is on May 10. During the drive, letter carriers will be collecting non-perishable food items that will be brought to the Food Bank of Siouxland.

Sioux City student artwork featured at Southern Hills Mall

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Stamp Out Hunger is one of the countrys largest one day food drives, according to an email release, and provides an easy way to community members to help their local food banks.

The most requested items at the Food Bank of Siouxland are cereal, soup, canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits, and vegetables.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
DENVER (KDVR)  Lockheed Martin employees went on strike Thursday from the Littleton facility, rallying at Chatfield State Park to share their grievances.

The workers, who are members of UAW Local 766, joined members of UAW Local 788 in Orlando in the walkout. The union workers say that the company has committed multiple unfair labor practices and refuses to present economic proposals that the union says would meet members needs.

View Denver area job postings on FOX31

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UAW said Lockheed Martin, which is an aerospace and defense contractor, has experienced record profits funded by taxpayers as the U.S. governments largest defense contractor. UAW said the company made $24 billion in profit last year and paid the CEO $66 million over the last three years.

First-quarter profits are up this year, too, according to UAW: The union said Lockheed gathered another $1.7 billion in profits during the first quarter of 2025 and, under the Trump administration, is positioned to deliver a more than $1 trillion defense budget.

The union said that Lockheed Martins latest contract offer would require workers be at the company for between 16 to 23 years before reaching the top hourly pay rate for most classifications.

Over 80% of the UAW workforce would remain in an unfair, extremely long pay progression, the union argued in a press release. Even worse, the company is proposing a measly starting rate of $15 per hour. Lockheed is also refusing to recognize Veterans Day as a holiday, an insult to all UAW members who have proudly served this country.

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The company provided FOX31 with a statement on the strike.

We value our employees and their expertise and look forward to reaching a fair labor agreement for both sides. Our employees perform important work for our customers and the nation through their work supporting programs critical to our national security. Lockheed Martin spokesperson

The union noted that UAW marine drafters in Connecticut are also on strike to fight for a fair contract from General Dynamics.

Lockheeds workers have to wait years and even decades before seeing a comfortable standard of living, while its executives are swimming in taxpayer dollars, said UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell in a union release. Lockheed is a textbook example of corporate greed and Im proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our members as they fight for their fair share.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Long Island Republicans blasted the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys latest tax crunch on suburban businesses  calling Thursday for an audit of the chronically cash-strapped agency.

The comments come after Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers reached a deal to hike state payroll taxes again to help fuel the MTA massive $68 billion capital plan.

Theres going to be employers that cant give the raises they had planned on, or employers who cant hire in the numbers that they hoped because of this increased tax levied by the government, County Legislator John Ferretti told reporters outside of the Wantagh Long Island Rail Road station.

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Ferretti called the tax hike anti-business and argued it forces taxpayers to fork over more cash without having any real transparency into how the MTA is managing its finances.

The worst part of all of this, the proposal does absolutely nothing to address the root problem  the MTAs utter lack of fiscal responsibility for its systematic culture of waste, and its gone unchecked for years, Ferretti said.

The payroll tax hike proposal came as lawmakers scrambled to figure out how to pay for the MTAs massive five-year capital plan  a blueprint packed with costly transit upgrades but that came with funding gap of $35 billion.

The legislator demanded that before Albany agrees to any tax hike, that the MTA go through a full independent audit to give residents throughout Long Island and the five boroughs a clear picture of where the moneys going.

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If passed, the budget deal would jack up the MTA tax on businesses with payrolls over $10 million a year  raising the rate from 0.34% to 0.635% on Long Island and in counties like Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland, and from 0.6% to 0.895% in New York City.

The change could hit between 5,000 and 10,000 businesses statewide, and could cause bigger companies to leave the state and make cuts thatll dent workers bank accounts.

Billionaire business mogul John Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes and DAgostinos grocery chains, told The Post the tax would push people out of the state.

The revelation comes after state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to raise the state payroll taxes once more to help out the MTAs gigantic $68 billion capital plan. Glen Sager/LIRR

It will lead to fewer investments from business people in New York, he said.

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In March, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also called for an audit of the MTA, citing over $36.5 million a year from Nassau taxpayers while theyre forced to travel in crumbling infrastructure  now agreeing with Ferrettis stance over the proposed tax hike.

This increase makes no sense, Blakeman told The Post, adding that it hurts economic development and places an unnecessary burden on business owners.

County Legislator John Ferretti told reporters, Theres going to be employers that cant give the raises they had planned on, or employers who cant hire in the numbers that they hoped because of this increased tax levied by the government. Brigitte Stelzer

Gov. Kathy Hochuls office said the tax increase is the best way to fund the MTA while not strangling small businesses.

Mr. Ferretti wants to burden towns and small businesses with the cost of maintaining the LIRR so large corporations can pay less, Gordon Tepper, Hochuls Long Island spokesperson told The Post.

Under Governor Hochuls plan, the Town of Hempstead is exempt, and small businesses actually see tax relief. Ferrettis focus isnt on solutions; its on political theater.
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Conclave the film may have introduced moviegoers to the spectacular ritual and drama of a modern conclave, but the periodic voting to elect a new pope has been going on for centuries and created a whole genre of historical trivia.

Here are some facts about conclaves past, derived from historical studies including Miles Pattenden's Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 14501700, and interviews with experts including Elena Cangiano, an archaeologist at Viterbo's Palazzo dei Papi (Palace of the Popes).

The longest conclave in history

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In the 13th century, it took almost three years  1,006 days to be exact  to choose Pope Clement IV's successor, making it the longest conclave in the Catholic Churchs history. It's also where the term conclave comes from  "under lock and key," because the cardinals who were meeting in Viterbo, north of Rome, took so long the town's frustrated citizens locked them in the room.

The secret vote that elected Pope Gregory X lasted from November 1268 to September 1271. It was the first example of a papal election by compromise, after a long struggle between supporters of two main geopolitical medieval factions  those faithful to the papacy and those supporting the Holy Roman Empire.

One meal a day rule

Gregory X was elected only after Viterbo residents tore the roof off the building where the prelates were staying and restricted their meals to bread and water to pressure them to come to a conclusion. Hoping to avoid a repeat, Gregory X decreed in 1274 that cardinals would only get one meal a day if the conclave stretched beyond three days, and only bread, water and wine if it went beyond eight. That restriction has been dropped.

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The shortest conclave ever

Before 1274, there were times when a pope was elected the same day as the death of his predecessor. After that, however, the church decided to wait at least 10 days before the first vote. Later that was extended to 15 days to give all cardinals time to get to Rome. The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni. In more recent times, Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot, Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the fourth and Pope Pius XII won on the third in 1939.

The first conclave in the Sistine Chapel

The first conclave held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492. Since 1878, the chapel  renowned for its iconic Michelangelo's frescoes  has become the venue of all conclaves. Everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged, St. John Paul II wrote in his 1996 document regulating the conclave, Universi Dominici Gregis. The cardinals sleep a short distance away in the nearby Domus Santa Marta hotel or a nearby residence.

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The alternative locations

Most conclaves were held in Rome, with some taking place outside the Vatican walls. Four were held in the Pauline Chapel of the papal residence at the Quirinale Palace, while some 30 others were held in St. John Lateran Basilica, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva or other places in Rome. On 15 occasions they took place outside Rome and the Vatican altogether, including in Viterbo, Perugia, Arezzo and Venice in Italy, and Konstanz, Germany, and Lyon, France.

The alternative popes, or antipopes

Between 1378-1417, referred to by historians as the Western Schism, there were rival claimants to the title of pope. The schism produced multiple papal contenders, the so-called antipopes, splitting the Catholic Church for nearly 40 years. The most prominent antipopes during the Western Schism were Clement VII, Benedict XIII, Alexander V, and John XXIII. The schism was ultimately resolved by the Council of Constance in 1417, which led to the election of Martin V, a universally accepted pontiff.

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A challenge to personal hygiene

The cloistered nature of the conclave posed another challenge for cardinals: staying healthy. Before the Domus Santa Marta guest house was built in 1996, cardinal electors slept on cots in rooms connected to the Sistine Chapel. Conclaves in the 16th and 17th centuries were described as disgusting and badly smelling, with concern about disease outbreaks, particularly in summer, according to historian Miles Pattenden. The cardinals simply had to have a more regular and comfortable way of living because they were old men, many of them with quite advanced disease, Pattenden wrote. The enclosed space and lack of ventilation further aggravated these issues. Some of the electors left the conclave sick, often seriously.

Vow of secrecy

Initially, papal elections werent as secretive, but concerns about political interference soared during the longest conclave in Viterbo. Gregory X decreed that cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion, cum clave (with a key), until a new pope was chosen. The purpose was to create a totally secluded environment where the cardinals could focus on their task, guided by Gods will, without any political interference or distractions. Over the centuries, various popes have modified and reinforced the rules surrounding the conclave, emphasizing the importance of secrecy.

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Youngest pope, oldest pope

Pope John XII was just 18 when he was elected in 955. The oldest popes were Pope Celestine III (elected in 1191) and Celestine V (elected in 1294) who were both nearly 85. Benedict XVI was 78 when he was elected in 2005.

A non-cardinal pope and non-Italian pope

There is no requirement that a pope be a cardinal, but that has been the case for centuries. The last time a pope was elected who wasnt a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378. He was a monk and archbishop of Bari. While the Italians have had a stranglehold on the papacy over centuries, there have been many exceptions aside from John Paul II (Polish in 1978) and Benedict XVI (German in 2005) and Francis (Argentine in 2013). Alexander VI, elected in 1492, was Spanish; Gregory III, elected in 731, was Syrian; Adrian VI, elected in 1522, was from the Netherlands.
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP)Over the years, more and more eagles have been spotted in western Massachusetts, and earlier this week, some concerned residents spotted two baby eagles in trouble after their nest had fallen out of a tree.



The nest the eagles were in was at the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge in Longmeadow.

The nest had fallen out of the tree and was in a swampy area, and it was clear the eagles couldnt get themselves out of that situation. I dont think they were able to fly yet, said Deputy Chief Andrew Markt of the Longmeadow Fire Department.

Neighbors had called a wildlife specialist but were concerned he wouldnt be able to get to the birds, so they asked the Longmeadow Fire Department for help.



We were able to utilize one of our boats with several of our members to help get that wildlife specialist across the swamp safely, said Andrew Markt.

Renee Rutana witnessed the rescue and also sent 22News the pictures and videos she took.

Mr. Ricardi disappeared into the woods and he was gone for about 10, 15 minutes deep into the woods, you couldnt see what was going on. One of the firefighters stayed on the rowboat while the other went with him to try and find the eaglets that had fallen from the nest, said Renee Rutana of Chicopee.

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The baby eagles were brought to shore and are now being taken care of by Tom Ricardi at the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway.



The birds will be rehabilitated, and then when theyre ready, theyll be released back into the wild.

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.

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By Ananta Agarwal

(Reuters) -Indian online delivery player Eternal reported a nearly 78% drop in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, as its fast-growing quick commerce arm Blinkit spent aggressively to open more stores and stave off intense competition.

Shares of Eternal, which officially changed its name from Zomato in March, had more than doubled in each of the last two years, partly fueled by optimism around Blinkit's success.

But competition in India's quick commerce space is intensifying. Blinkit accelerated store openings and offered discounts and subsidized delivery as it jostled for market share with smaller rivals, Swiggy's Instamart and start-up Zepto.

Eternal said it sees the competition intensifying in the near term.

"The impact is visible in the lack of significant margin expansion that we would have otherwise expected," Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa said in a call with analysts.

Quarterly revenue from Blinkit more than doubled year on year to 17.09 billion rupees. But adjusted core loss widened to 1.78 billion rupees from 370 million rupees last year, while its store count has more than doubled year on year to 1301 stores.

Eternal on Thursday also flagged likely competition from companies like Amazon and Walmart backed Flipkart, where some delivery times have shortened to four to six hours. The two giants are also newer entrants in the quick commerce industry.

Meanwhile, growth in Eternal's food delivery platform, Zomato, has slowed down the past few months due to a "sluggish demand environment" and competition from quick commerce itself, which delivers packaged meals, Eternal said.

The company also said it is shutting down Zomato Quick, which delivered food from nearby restaurants with the speed of quick commerce, months after rolling the service out, citing "inconsistent customer experience".

Adjusted revenue for Zomato grew 17% year-on-year to 24.09 billion rupees, below Eternal's forecast of 20% growth.

Eternal reported a consolidated net profit of 390 million rupees ($4.6 million) in the March quarter, compared to 1.75 billion rupees last year.

($1 = 84.5880 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ananta Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Leroy Leo)
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  The Longview Fire Department congratulated one of their own on Thursday has he decided to make the selfless decision to reenlist in the U.S. Navy.

Athens ISD looking to pass $121.5Million bond as several campuses near max capacity

Firefighter and paramedic Blaine Cardinale, who originally joined the Longview Fire Department after his first stint in the Navy, has decided to continue his commitment to serving his country by deciding to reenlist. Cardinales oath of office was held at the firehouse and administered by fellow Longview firefighter and paramedic Joe Dembowski, who currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Courtesy of Longview Fire Department

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Commander Cardinale is a dedicated member of our department. Whether responding to emergencies in an ambulance or fire engine, he upholds the highest standards and demonstrates a strong commitment to helping others, Longview Fire Department said.

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LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  An East Texas man has been sentenced to 48 years after pleading guilty to shooting a transgender victim in 2023, according to the Gregg County Criminal District Attorney.

Mugshot of John Lee Smith, Courtesy of Gregg County Sheriff Office

Investigators said the victim met with John Lee Smith on the day prior in 2023 at 7 a.m. Initially, Smith denied meeting the victim and did not disclose a reason for shooting him. Smith shot the victim while they were both sitting in a car, officers said. Smith admitted afterwards to shooting the victim because the victim did not disclose that he was transgender.

Officers found evidence that Smith was aware of the victim being biologically male and had previously been involved in a relationship with the victim.

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Child injured after being hit by SUV in Tyler, police say

Law enforcement arrested Smith for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and he was taken to Gregg County Jail.

According to Gregg County Criminal District Attorney, once Smith was in jail he reportedly made phone calls to a fifteen-year-old female. Officials said that he was aware of the females age and was able to convince her to send him compromising photos through the jails texting service.

Smith had also asked the female to place herself on an app dedicated to having men pay her for sex. Smith wanted the female to bring him money she would make on that app while he was in jail, Gregg County Criminal District Attorney said.

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The Maine House of Representatives in session in the State House in Augusta. Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

Legislators right now are busy, busy trying to get through hundreds of bills. Despite technically starting a new session, leaders of the House and Senate said they hope to stick to the planned adjournment date of June 18.

Many bills are being passed under the hammer, meaning without a roll call, allowing lawmakers to reserve their floor speeches for legislation about which they feel most passionate. This week, that energy was largely reserved for debates about farmworker rights and expanding the Maine State Police force, while the age of Maines sitting U.S. senators also prompted some discussion.

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Both chambers overwhelmingly backed legislation (LD 995) to provide one-time funding for low-income electricity consumers, providing an annual allocation of $7.5 million for the next two fiscal years to support eligible households. During the floor discussion, bill sponsor Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) noted that on average in Maine, low income ratepayers are paying 8% of their income on power bills, which is double what is recommended. The House voted 120-26 and the Senate backed the bill without a roll call.

Both chambers unanimously passed a measure (LD 606) directing the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to study the bureaus financial assistance programs for farmers and food producers to identify potential barriers, which should then be eliminated to increase the effectiveness of the programs.

The majority of the House and Senate also backed a bill (LD 837) that would require positions taken by the public advocate to be consistent with the cost-effective implementation of the states climate goals. The Senate voted 18-15 and the House 74-67. Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York), who opposed the bill, argued it would blur the lines to add climate goals to the Public Advocates directive, though bill sponsor Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York) said it would clarify something not currently clear, that the public advocate can advocate for rate payers with the states established goals in mind.

The House and Senate voted under the hammer to pass legislation (LD 130) proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which would codify programs supporting farms with high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, into state law to ensure the support for farmers and remediation can continue. (More on this bill here)

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Both chambers unanimously passed a bill (LD 6) to allow people to label their wild animal traps with the identification number issued by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Rep. Sally Cluchey (D-Bowdoinham) said its a simple but important bill that a trapper brought forward because she was concerned about the safety of her and her children after she was doxxed for trapping.

Lawmakers also largely agreed with the committee recommendation to reject LD 499 (House voting 88-57 and Senate doing so without a roll call), which would prohibit geoengineering in the state.

Some of the other bills that passed both chambers under the hammer:

LD 1150 An Act to Require Reporting of Sheltering or Aiding Missing Children

LD 398, An Act to Amend the Definition of Transient Occupancy in the Laws Governing the Maine Land Use Planning Commission

LD 296 An Act to Appropriate Funds to the Department of Environmental Protection, Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund

LD 117, An Act to Provide Funding for Sexual Assault Services

LD 472, Resolve, Directing the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission and the New England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission to Examine Restoring Passenger Rail from Boston to Montreal

LD 987, An Act Clarifying Exemptions from the Notification Requirements for Products Containing PFAS

LD 321, An Act to Make May Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Month, ought to pass report, passed under the hammer

LD 89, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 201: Employer Reporting and Payments, a Major Substantive Rule of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System

Senate action

Before passing LD 588 by a vote of 21-13, senators had robust debate on the proposal to enact the Agricultural Employees Concerted Activity Protection Act, which gives agricultural employees of agricultural employers the right to engage in certain concerted activity. Sen. Scott Cyrway (R-Kennebec) said the measure is unnecessary and just puts another layer of difficulty for farmers. However, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) said the bill is not about farmers but rather about the fact that farmworkers have been expressly excluded from our basic labor laws that protect most workers. She also said if the body fails to pass the bill into law this relegates a certain segment of our society to second class citizenry. (More on this bill and other legislation to bolster farmworkers labor rights here.)

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In an effort to speed things along, Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) introduced an order to amend a legislative rule that would make it so bills are automatically referenced to committees (something already being done on non-session days). Bennett had attempted to make this change earlier in session, too, but lawmakers opted for the current hybrid model. Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) raised concern that the adjustment would also change the basis for referencing, giving bill sponsors greater ability to choose where their bill is heard. Instead, she suggested the order be referred to the Joint Rules Committee, which is tasked with establishing legislative processes (more on that here)  a motion that passed 18-15.

The Senate confirmed the reappointment of Kelly OConnor of Camden to the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services by a 29-5 vote.

Here are some bills passed by the Senate under the hammer:

LD 141 An Act to Provide Limited Immunity to Maine Human Rights Commission Mediators ought to pass, passed under hammer

LD 1545, An Act to Clarify the Maximum Value That a Small Estate May Be Under the Maine Uniform Probate Code to Permit Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit

LD 386, An Act Regarding Information That May Be Shared by Law Enforcement Entities with a School Superintendent or a Principal

LD 461, An Act to Fund Rural Patrol Services in Washington County (EMERGENCY)

House action

A bill about who can be appointed to succeed a U.S. senator should they vacate the office caused a bit of a stir after leadership moved a motion not to pass the bill (which was the position of a minority of committee members). The House rejected that motion 56-90, forcing a motion to pass the bill, which advanced without a roll call. LD 749 specifies the nominated person must be enrolled in the same party as their predecessor (or in the case of an independent, they must be replaced by someone not enrolled in a party) with the floor discussion largely centering on the age of Maines two U.S. senators, Republican Susan Collins (72) and independent Angus King (81). Rep. Will Tuell (R- East Machias) noted that neither are spring chickens, and said if they are not able to fulfill their duties, hed be concerned that Maines chief executive (currently a Democrat) could currently replace them with whoever they want. When the measure came up in the Senate a day later, it was tabled.

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Legislation (LD 477) to add 15 new state trooper positions specifically to provide support to county sheriff department efforts in rural areas passed the House 117-26. Arguing in support, Rep. Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield) said that because of Maines size, there are times when certain areas have a hard time getting police presence. Maine State Police are Maines police, he said. Pointing to existing vacancies in Maine State Police, Rep. Grayson Lookner (D-Portland) argued that the Legislature should focus on other ways of addressing public safety, such as funding housing.

The House voted 111-29 in support of the committee recommendation against LD 535, which would allow a court to impose a sentence that includes commitment beyond 21 years of age for a juvenile adjudicated of murder or a Class A crime.

Appropriations

Several bills were also moved to the appropriations table, where the budget committee can choose to support the measures with any remaining funds. These included:

LD 457, An Act to Fund Climate Resiliency Projects Related to the Repair of Campus

Infrastructure Used for Active Transportation and Outdoor Recreation

LD 462, An Act to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for Creditable Service in the Armed Forces of the United States Under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System

LD 703, which would provide one-time funding of $500,000 for a health care gap year program that incentivizes recent college graduates to work in critical health care positions, particularly in underserved and rural communities passed both chambers.

LD 70, to provide one-time funding of $250,000 for each year of the next biennium to the states five free health clinics

LD 884, Resolve, to Establish the Criminal Justice Legal Aid Clinic Pilot Project at the University of Maine School of Law

LD 109, directing the Maine Arts Commission to study national efforts to protect artists from copyright infringement by Artificial Intelligence companies and suggest potential legislation

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KENT, Ohio (WJW)  Sunday marks the 55th observance of the Ohio National Guard opening fire on anti-war demonstrators at Kent State University, killing four people and wounding nine others.

For years, the university attempted to distance itself from that event, but in recent decades, it has welcomed visitors to the May 4 Visitors Center and invited them to visit historical sites around campus, hoping to learn from the legacy of that event.

It changed the voting age. It changed how the Vietnam War ended and it also was a significant tragedy of what can happen when there are misunderstandings around peaceful change, said Molly Merryman, associate professor at the universitys School of Peace and Conflict Studies.

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The story is always extremely relevant, but especially now. Theres so much discord in the world and I think here on Kent States campus, we understand what can happen when we dont get together and use our voices to dialogue with each other, said Alison Caplin, director of the visitor center.

Publishers Clearing House refunding customers $18M: Are you eligible?

During a renovation on campus, Merryman reached out to Vickie Boatright of BZTAT Studios in Canton, asking if she would help create something appropriate to display at the school.

Originally created as the Center for Peaceful Change following the May 4 shootings, it was intended to help students learn from the tragedy and work in a positive way to help resolve conflict.

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The studio worked with young artists, without a template, to create an evolving mural intended to generate conversations and questions about what peace means.

At one point, they had drawn a lot of peace signs, a lot of hearts and then I went and put chaos over top of it and we talked about how chaos can disrupt things and make things more difficult. Problem words, difficult words are in red. Conflict, hate, anger, violence and chaos, Boatright said. Then they wrote in smaller words over those letters. Words how you get past violence, how you get past conflict, how you get past chaos.

Large bear takes a stroll near school in Ashtabula

On Thursday, at the beginning of a days-long observance of the events of May 4, 1970, the mural was unveiled in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies, entitled Visualizing Peace, a work in progress.

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More than a generation after the 1970 shooting, the work intends to help advance the very thing demonstrators were demanding when the shots were fired.

Peace.

You cant deny it happened, and we remember those people who died that day every year and we should because we need to remember the lessons that we learned from that, said Boatright.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A man from West Feliciana Parish is facing charges after being accused of stealing cattle during a livestock deal.

On April 29, deputies with the West Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office arrested Eric Montreal Harris, 38, on a warrant issued for six counts of livestock theft. The investigation was conducted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestrys (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission.

LDAF said Harris was given money by a victim to buy six head of cattle. He bought the cattle, but instead of handing them over, he allegedly sold them without the victims permission and kept the money. The cattle were worth about $3,400. As of May 1, the livestock have not been found.

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Harris is being held in the West Feliciana Parish Jail, and no bond has been set.

Average prices for Louisiana crawfish hit new low: See how much you could pay

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisianas health department reports an increase in whooping cough cases that could lead to a record high this year.

Compared to 153 total state cases in 2024, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has identified 164 cases in the first four months of 2025. Nationwide, over 8,400 cases have been reported this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

LDH reported that 40 people have been hospitalized with whooping cough, or pertussis, since September 2024, with 70% of those being babies younger than 1 year old. Two babies in Louisiana have reportedly died with the rise in cases.

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Experts said whooping cough peaks every two to five years, occurring around this time of the year and in the fall. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol described the surge in cases as a return to disease activity patterns before the COVID-19 pandemic.

What I can tell you is that we had a very low number of cases during the pandemic because people were practicing mitigation measures that decrease the spread of respiratory diseases, Sokol told Louisiana First News.

Expert describes symptoms, encourages vaccination

Sokol said symptoms can appear like a common cold before coughing fits possibly develop one to two weeks later. She said coughing can be so strong that people make a high-pitched whoop.

Babies are at a greater risk of whooping cough complications and death. Health officials said the bacteria that cause the disease are often unknowingly spread to babies by family members or caregivers. Sokol said babies symptoms can differ from adults, showing as apnea and causing them to turn blue and struggle to breathe.

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Vaccines for pregnant women and people, including children and teens, in close contact with babies are recommended. Sokol said the department recommends people review their immunization histories and talk to health care providers about the pertussis vaccine.

We feel like this is especially important now because of the increased pertussis activity that weve been seeing recently in Louisiana, Sokol said.

Click here for more information from LDH about pertussis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The US has nearly 900 measles cases, and 10 states have outbreaks. Heres what to know

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It's been weeks since April Garcia's family last heard from her, and while she's disconnected in the past, this time it's different.

"She normally would contact me or the family to say that she was OK and alive," said her daughter, Alexis Ibarra.

Garcia was last seen April 1 and after weeks of being unable to locate her, she was reported missing by family April 16. During that time, Garcia placed a call to family April 12, stating she wouldn't be returning home. The call was unusual, her daughter said, given their conversation a few weeks earlier.

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"She didn't tell me anything about her wanting to leave or going to hang out with anyone," Ibarra said.

On May 1, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police put out a call for help finding Garcia.

Ibarra, who lives in California, said she plans to fly into Indianapolis next week to establish a search party with the help of Indianapolis police.

"If you're reading this, (Mom), just know your daughters love you. Your family loves you. We love you and we just want you home safe," Ibarra said.

Anyone with information about Garcia's whereabouts can call 911, IMPD Missing Persons Unit at 317-327-6160, or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS). Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip.

When did April Garcia go missing?

A photo of April Marie Garcia. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the public's help to find Garcia, who has been declared missing.

Garcia was last seen on April 1 and last heard from on April 12, according to police.

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The family says that Garcia would commonly hang out in the Garfield Park and Fountain Square areas. She has also spent some time staying in the homeless encampments around Indianapolis.

Where was April Garcia last seen?

Garcia was last seen near her apartment in the 400 block of Sandra Lane, according to the police. She was also last seen with a person named Steven Long.

Description of April Garcia

Garcia is a 42-year-old Hispanic woman who stands at 5 feet and 4 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. She has brown eyes and reddish-black hair.

Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Police, family searching for April Garcia, last seen in Indianapolis
Tragic news from out of Columbus, Ohio about a domestic violence love-triangle double-murder suicide ... turns out warning signs were all in the killer's music playlists!!!

Per The Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus Division of Police identified 19-year-old Aiden David and 21-year-old Giannh Viars as victims of a Thursday morning shooting, at the hands of 23-year-old Michael Hughes, who took his own life.

According to the police, officers rushed to the southeast side of Columbus around 12:20 AM Thursday on reports of a shooting ... only to find all 3 dead on arrival.

TMZ

Police say Michael Hughes and Giannh Viars were married, yet separated -- and Viars had begun dating Aiden David amid the split.

Early this morning, Hughes broke into Viars' apartment, where he fatally shot David as Viars tried to escape.

TMZ

Hindsight is always 20/20, but Hughes' social media posts on FB heavily hinted at his intentions and emotions ... even going as far as to announce his "last post" before the murders.

TMZ

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One post seemingly channeled Hughes' depression through Jelly Roll's "I'm Not Okay," while another post using The Notorious B.I.G's "Kick in the Door," turned out to be a precursor to him barging into the apartment.

Hughes also celebrated Eminem's iconic "Stan," which of course, famously ends with the guy killing his girlfriend.

In arguably the most telltale sign of the dark deed, Hughes shared Biggie's controversial "Suicidal Thoughts" record ... a song that follows Diddy attempting to talk the late rapper off the ledge before a gunshot ends the song, which bled into his next album, "Life After Death."

TMZ

Hughes eventually gunned down his estranged wife in front of the door before taking his own life.

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Of course, anyone with these tracks on their playlists isn't necessarily sending out murderous red flags, but it does appear we're gaining insight into this particular man's mind leading up to his crimes.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing for the murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson at Manhattan Criminal Court on February 21, 2025 in New York City - Credit: Curtis Means - Pool/Getty Images

Luigi Mangiones legal team filed a motion to dismiss the New York state murder charges against him in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that the cases against the suspect  Mangione also faces the death penalty in a federal case  amount to double jeopardy.

Mangione, who last week pleaded not guilty in the federal murder case, is also facing charges in Pennsylvania  where he was arrested in December 2024, five days after Thompsons shooting death  for gun possession.

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As a result of unprecedented prosecutorial one-upmanship, Mr. Mangione now faces three simultaneous prosecutions in three different jurisdictions  one of which is seeking the death penalty, while another is seeking life imprisonment  all for one set of facts, Mangiones attorney Karen Agnifilo wrote in the 57-page motion to dismiss to the New York judge, NBC News reported.

The three simultaneous court cases have led to a legal tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors as they fight for who controls the fate of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione.

The motion also seeks to suppress key pieces of evidence against Mangione  including a firearm and a notebook where he allegedly wrote about his plan to wack an insurance executive, authorities said  found in a backpack upon his arrest that his legal team claims was searched without a warrant. Mangiones comments to arresting officers and subsequent responses to questioning should also be disqualified as evidence, as Mangione was never told his Miranda rights, his lawyers wrote.

Yet, despite the gravest of consequences for Mr. Mangione, law enforcement has methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights, his lawyers wrote.

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The New York judge will rule on the motion to dismiss at a June 26 hearing; if the states case is not dismissed, Mangiones lawyers are asking that the terrorism charges he is facing in New York be thrown out, as the grand jurys indictment had absolutely no facts to support this theory to charge with him the post-9/11 statute.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges across all three cases: New York, Pennsylvania, and the federal death penalty case.

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We recently published a list of Billionaire Ken Fishers 10 Industrial Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) stands against other billionaire Ken Fishers industrial stock picks with huge upside potential.

The economy strongly influences industrial stocks, which have fallen during recent downturns. However, 2025 looks like a key year for this sector, with these companies working in manufacturing, shipping, and aerospace, and investors are now focusing on businesses that adapt quickly to global shifts. The industrial sector grew 26% in 2024, showing strength despite high inflation and weak global demand. Going into 2025, these stocks are getting more attention thanks to new growth drivers and better economic conditions.

Even with possible higher tariffs under Trumps trade policies, the outlook remains positive. President Trump has proposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from countries like South Korea, Vietnam, and Canada. These tariffs might raise costs and also boost U.S. infrastructure and manufacturing spending; as Canadas Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said,

Canadian steel and aluminum support key industries in the U.S., from defense, shipbuilding, and auto. We will continue to stand up for Canada, our workers, and our industries.

All in all, this trade shift could help American industrial companies, especially those bringing supply chains back home.

Moreover, lower interest rates should help the sector by increasing construction and housing projects in 2025. On the other hand, falling mortgage rates will attract more homebuyers, creating demand for building materials and equipment. Ken Fisher said, Investors are ignoring some of these positive developments, pointing to an overlooked chance in housing-related businesses.

Aerospace is also making a comeback through airlines need to replace aging planes, driving demand for maintenance and parts, which demonstrates significant progress in aerospace-based companies. Meanwhile, only 25% of the $1.9 trillion in planned North American infrastructure projects have started construction, suggesting big growth ahead for equipment providers and construction companies.

In 2025, industrial stocks look promising due to clean technology and automation advancements. As reported in Deloittes 2025 Manufacturing Industry Outlook, over $31 billion went into clean-tech manufacturing facilities in 2024, showing a move toward sustainability. With decreasing interest rates and high demand for environmentally friendly tech, these investments are highly probable to drive growth in the industry. Ken Fisher noted made the following comment about the current situation:
A new defense filing has been made public in the Manhattan DA's murder case against Luigi Mangione.

Mangione, accused of killing UHC CEO Brian Thompson, asks a judge to drop a state-level terror charge.

The 57-page filing includes two newly revealed police bodycam images from his arrest in Pennsylvania.

Luigi Mangione, charged in the December ambush shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is challenging the most serious charges in his state indictment in New York  first degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism.

In a 57-page defense filing made public Thursday night, his lawyers argue that there is no evidence showing Mangione intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, as required to prove those top counts.

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"Applying New York's terrorism statute to this case would impermissibly trivialize and redefine the Legislature's definition of terrorism," Mangione's attorneys wrote.

New York state's terrorism charge

The state's terrorism charge was designed for crimes against multiple civilians, and was not supported by the grand jury evidence in this case, the attorneys argued.

Grand jurors heard a single witness testify that UnitedHealthcare workers received threats following the December 4 shooting, according to the filing.

And the same witness told grand jurors that some employees became frightened after the company told them "not to publicly wear clothing with the company's logo," the filing said.

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"This testimony, however, has no relevance on the element of whether Mr. Mangione intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population," read the filing, signed by lead defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan.

The terror charge also relies on "Mr. Mangione's alleged writings," but these writings do not broadly reference UHC employees and "make clear that Mr. Mangione was not looking to terrorize any community," the filing said.

Mangione, for example, noted in his writings "that Ted Kaczynski was a 'monster' and 'terrorist, the worst thing a person can be'" because his mail bombs indiscriminately targeted civilians.

"As such, these writings cannot be the basis to support a finding that he intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; in fact, they support just the opposite," Magione's lawyers wrote.

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The top state charges carry a potential maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Mangione is also facing federal murder charges and US Attorney Pam Bondi has said she will seek the death penalty.

Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have told Business Insider that they, too, intend to put Mangione on trial for gun and forgery charges relating to his arrest there; they said their trial would be held after the state and federal trials conclude in Manhattan.

Mangione's three indictments

The defense filing reprises previous arguments that Mangione's three indictments represent "unprecedented prosecutorial one-upmanship."

"Mr. Mangione now faces three simultaneous prosecutions in three different jurisdictions  one of which is seeking the death penalty, while another is seeking life imprisonment  all for one set of facts," his lawyers wrote.

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The defense filing argues that the state and federal murder prosecutions "violate the double jeopardy clause and Mr. Mangione's constitutional rights" because his defense in one case could be used against him in the other.

Which murder case would go to trial first  the state case brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, or the federal case under the interim US attorney in Manhattan, Jay Clayton  remains a point of dispute.

The filing asks Mangione's state-level judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro, to "appreciate Mr. Mangione's unprecedented situation and concomitant constitutional concerns and allow the death penalty case to proceed first."

The filing further asks Carro to exclude broad swaths of evidence from his Pennsylvania arrest  including a ghost gun and what police there called a "manifesto"  should he be tried on state-level murder and terrorism charges.

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It asks the judge to suppress any statements Mangione made to Altoona Police Department officers after he was spotted at a McDonald's after a five-day manhunt.

New images released

The filing includes two previously unpublished still photographs from Altoona police body-worn cameras. The grainy, wide shots show Mangione sitting alone in a corner of the restaurant. One of the stills shows a uniformed officer in what the defense filing called a "strategic position blocking Mr. Mangione's exit."

A still photograph from police body-cam footage of Luigi Mangione shows him sitting alone at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania shortly before his arrest. Altoona Police Department

Manhattan prosecutors, led by Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann, have until May 28 to respond to the defense requests.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all three indictments and is being held without bail pending trial; his next court date is before Carro on June 26.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW YORK (AP)  Luigi Mangiones lawyers urged a judge Thursday to throw out his state murder charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution amount to double jeopardy.

If that doesnt happen, they want terrorism charges dismissed and prosecutors barred from using evidence collected during Mangiones arrest last December, including a 9 mm handgun, ammunition and a notebook in which authorities say he described his intent to wack an insurance executive.

Mangiones lawyers also want to exclude statements he made to police officers who took him into custody at a McDonalds restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a five-day search.

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Among other things, prosecutors say the Ivy League graduate apologized to officers for the inconvenience of the day, and expressed concern for a McDonalds employee who alerted them to his whereabouts, saying: A lot of people will be upset I was arrested.

Thompsons Dec. 4 killing outside a Manhattan hotel has led to a legal tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors as they fight for who controls the fate of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, his lawyers, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan wrote in a 57-page court filing.

They called the dual state and federal cases, plus a third in Pennsylvania involving gun possession and other charges, unprecedented prosecutorial one-upmanship." They said prosecutors are trying to get two bites at the apple to convict Mr. Mangione" of murder.

Yet, despite the gravest of consequences for Mr. Mangione, law enforcement has methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights, his lawyers wrote. They allege officers questioned him without telling him he had a right to remain silent and searched his property without a warrant.

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The Manhattan district attorney's office said it would respond in court papers.

The defenses demands to end or limit Mangiones state case could preview his legal strategy for his federal murder case, where prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty. The state charges carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.

Mangione, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has pleaded not guilty in both cases. He has been held in a Brooklyn federal jail since authorities whisked him to New York by plane and helicopter after his arrest.

Mangione is due back in court for the state case on June 26, when Judge Gregory Carro is expected to rule on the dismissal request. He next federal court date is Dec. 5, a day after the one-year anniversary of Thompsons death. No trial date has been set in either case.

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Prosecutors had said they expected the state case go to trial first, but Friedman Agnifilo said last week that she wants the federal case to take precedence because it involves the death penalty.

Along with seeking to dismiss the state case, Mangiones lawyers alternatively asked Carro to throw out charges alleging he killed in furtherance of terrorism" and as an act of terrorism. They argue there are absolutely no facts to support this theory" and that charging him under a post-9/11 terrorism statute flouts the intent of lawmakers.

Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as the executive arrived for UnitedHealthcares annual investor conference. Police say delay, deny and depose were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has said that the ambush was a killing that was intended to evoke terror.

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Mangiones federal charges include murder through use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty, along with two counts of stalking and a firearms offense.

Last month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for the killing, calling it an act of political violence and a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.

The killing and ensuing search leading to Mangiones arrest rattled the business community while galvanizing health insurance critics who rallied around Mangione as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty bills.

In their filing Thursday, Mangiones lawyers argued that the conflicting theories of the state and federal cases  intending to intimidate or coerce a civilian population" vs. stalking a single person  has created a legal quagmire that makes it legally and logistically impossible to defend against them simultaneously.

"This situation is so constitutionally fraught that we are hard pressed to find precedent for such an unprecedented situation," Mangiones lawyers wrote.
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, have filed a motion to dismiss the New York state murder charges against him, arguing that the case and federal charges against him mean he faces double jeopardy.

Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty last week to federal stalking and murder charges. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

In a 57-page filing in New York's Supreme Court, attorney Karen Agnifilo argues that Mangione should not face the state charges against him, which include first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. He also faces charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested five days after the Dec. 4 shooting outside a midtown Manhattan hotel.

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"As a result of unprecedented prosecutorial one-upmanship, Mr. Mangione now faces three simultaneous prosecutions in three different jurisdictions  one of which is seeking the death penalty, while another is seeking life imprisonment  all for one set of facts, Agnifilo wrote in the Thursday filing.

The filing also moves to suppress Mangione's statements to law enforcement officers during his arrest in Pennsylvania because, according to Agnifilio, officers failed to read him his Miranda rights.

In the filing, Agnifilio argued the evidence seized at the time of his arrest should be suppressed because law enforcement conducted a warrantless search of Mangiones backpack after he was handcuffed and surrounded by ten police officers in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.

Finally, Agnifilo moved to dismiss the state indictments terrorism-related counts, arguing that "the grand jury evidence failed to establish the required element that Mr. Mangione intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion or affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination, or kidnapping."

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The various cases linked to Thompson's killing have "led to a legal tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors as they fight for who controls the fate of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione," the filing said

In Pennsylvania, Mangione is accused of gun possession and forgery. His lawyers accuse New York prosecutors of "trying to get two bites at the apple to convict Mr. Mangione" and say that police have "methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights."

The Manhattan District Attorney's office told The Associated Press it would respond to Agnifilo's arguments in a court filing.

Mangione is due back in court on June 26 for a hearing in the state case against him, while the federal case is set to be tried on Dec.5, a full year after Thompson's killing.

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This week, New York federal prosecutors submitted a letter responding to a defense attorney's claim that they had "eavesdropped" on a jailhouse phone conversation between Mangione and a lawyer.

"To be sure, no one at DANY (New York County District Attorney's Office) or the Government 'eavesdropped' on the defendant on a live basis," the letter said, adding that New York prosecutors instead heard a recorded version of the call, which is standard practice.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
After weeks of global hesitation following President Trumps sweeping tariff announcements, trade talks are cautiously progressing, with China signaling a willingness to negotiate and Japan showing early signs of movement toward a potential deal. Though no agreements have been finalized, optimism is growing as U.S. officials suggest the first trade deal could be imminent, pending final approvals.

Tensions appear to be defrosting between the Trump administration and some of its key trading partners after the president's announcement of wide-ranging tariffsmost notably with China, the only nation which responded with retaliatory measures of its own.

In the weeks following President Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcements, the White House painted a picture of frantic activity and optimism for a rapid flow of deals coming down the pipe.

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A month later, no such agreements have been signed.

While foreign governments were frustrated but willing to come to the table and work with the Trump administration, leaders from across the globe also made it clear that they wouldn't race to sign on the dotted line for a deal which didn't benefit their people in the long term.

Questions are mounting for the Trump cabinet about when anxious voters can expect some action, potentially signaling a fractional easing of the economic pressure facing consumers when the president's 90-day pause expires.

Likewise Wall Street, already battered by the flip-flopping narrative from tariff threats to pause, are keen for signs that the worst of the uncertainty may be over and businesses can start rebuilding some confidence.

First mover and China

It seems that at last the much-anticipated "first mover" (the country which signs a deal with the U.S. first) may at last be coming to the fore.

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Perhaps more significantly Chinathe world's second-largest economy and the primary source of trade war fearshas offered the Trump team some reprieve by saying it is "assessing" the American's approach.

In a statement on Friday China's Ministry of Commerce said "senior U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed their willingness to negotiate with China on tariff issues" and have done so "proactivelythrough relevant channels."

The more nuanced tactic is seemingly more palatable to the Chinese government than President Trump's initial approach, which has been to robustly critique the U.S.'s economic rival and threaten its government with escalating sanctions if they did not agree to terms.

Likewise, this week Beijing also rejected President Trump's claim that China's leader, Xi Jinping, had called him directly.

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"Chinas position has always been consistent: if it's a fight, we will accompany it to the end; if its a talk, our door is open. The tariff war and trade war were unilaterally initiated by the U.S.," China's Commerce spokesman added in the statement on May 2. "If the U.S. wants to talk, it must show genuine sinceritybe prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariff increases."

The minister added: "Saying one thing and doing another, or even attempting to use talks as a pretext for coercion and blackmail, will not work with China."

Green shoots with Japan

Japan was one of the first countries to race to Washington D.C. to begin negotiations with the Oval Office after the tariff announcements, but initial talks concluded without a resolution.

Indeed Japan's prime minister prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said he was in no rush to work to America's timeframe if it meant making too many concessions.

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"I dont think its good to compromise a lot in order to just get the negotiations done, he told parliament according to local reports.

But green shoots now seem to be appearing following a second round of conversations between Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

We were able to have concrete discussions on topics such as expanding our bilateral trade, non-tariff measures, and cooperation on economic security, Akazawa told reporters Thursday following the two-hour meeting, adding further negotiations could continue in May.

Akazawa added he hoped to see a deal signed by Junethe first time a concrete date has been floatedbut cautioned: It is not simply a matter of speed, as there are national interests that must be protected on both sides, which will take some time. There are still many issues that need to be addressed and resolved before a final agreement can be reached.

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Conversations also seem to be progressing with India, with diplomats on both side confirming developing negotiations. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X following vice president JD Vance's visit to India that the duo "reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the U.S. and meeting with President Trump.

"We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges."

It seems at last the first deal is almost over the line, with Secretary Lutnick telling CNBC earlier this week that I have a deal done, done, done, done."

Lutnick added he is waiting for sign-off from the unnamed nation's prime minister and parliament, but added he expects this "shortly."

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Marks & Spencer has been accused of ruining weddings and birthday parties as a cyber attack triggers a shortage of Colin the Caterpillar cakes.

Disgruntled shoppers have complained that an online outage has scuppered orders of Colin the Caterpillar cakes ahead of key celebrations.

One couple who ordered a special 40-portion giant version of the cake for their wedding have been left in the lurch as M&S paused online orders for the eighth day in a row.

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Carly Gentry, who is preparing for her wedding with fiance Edward Church next weekend, told The Sun: It is stressful you dont know 10 days before you get married if you will be able to get a cake. It has messed our big day up and is causing stress.

Ann Lee, a retired conveyancer, said her son was also getting married soon and was planning to order large Colin and Connie the Caterpillar cakes, which cost 50 each, for collection.

She wrote on X: It would be a lot more helpful if the stores would accept orders whilst waiting for this situation to be sorted.

National emergency

Customers also complained that the cake shortage had thrown childrens birthday parties into disarray.

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One wrote: Ive got a very upset 8-year-old on her birthday whos been told she cant use her Colin the Caterpillar E-Gift card to buy her cake for her party.

Shes been excited all day and were told your Camberley store isnt accepting gift cards.

In a sign of how widespread the impact of the cyber attack has been, one shopper in Hong Kong said: Theyre out of stock of Colin the Caterpillar cakes and I have a childs birthday coming up. Disastrous.

While the Colin crisis has caused chaos for many customers, others had a more light-hearted response.

One declared the cake shortage a national emergency, while another jokingly suggested that Aldis Cuthbert the Caterpillar could be behind the cyber attack due to his ongoing beef with Colin the Caterpillar.

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Other cakes have also been affected. Michelle Borkertas, from Peterborough, said she ordered a two-tier vanilla wedding cake prior to the outage but is now unsure whether it will arrive.

She said: I dont know if Ive got a wedding cake or not and I dont know how long I leave that until.

Second week of disruption

Ms Borkertas said M&S staff had been really helpful but said she was preparing to buy a back-up cake from Asda on the day if necessary.

An M&S spokesman said: Weve written to 4,000 customers this morning to share the good news that we can fulfil their food orders to be collected in store. Unfortunately, a small proportion of orders cannot be fulfilled; weve made these customers aware, organised a refund and are truly sorry for the inconvenience.

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M&S is now entering its second week of disruption after being struck by a ransomware attack which experts believe have linked to criminal gang Scattered Spider.

The gang is largely a disparate group of cyber criminals thought to include British and American teenagers.

On Friday evening, a hacking gang calling itself DragonForce told the BBC it was behind the M&S attack.

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will use a keynote speech next week to warn that the cyber attacks are a wake-up call for businesses after Harrods and Co-op were also targeted by hackers.

Speaking at the CyberUK 2025 conference in Manchester, Mr McFadden will urge companies to treat cyber security as an absolute priority.

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He will say: Weve watched in real time the disruption these attacks have caused, including to working families going about their everyday lives.

It serves as a powerful reminder that just as you would never leave your car or your house unlocked on your way to work, we have to treat our digital shop fronts the same way.

In a note to customers on Friday, M&S boss Stuart Machin said staff were working night and day to manage the situation and get things back to normal.

The M&S boss said staff were doing the very best they can in a letter to customers

Mr Machin said: We are really sorry that weve not been able to offer you the service you expect from M&S over the last week.

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He said staff were doing the very best they can, urging customers to come into stores over the bank holiday weekend.

Mr Machin added: Thank you for your support and thank you for shopping with us.

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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Even though Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell has proposed to cut the tax rate, you might end up paying more in property taxes. On Thursday, some Davidson County residents gathered to voice their thoughts.

Data from the Davidson County Property Assessor showed that the median property value increased between 38 and 54% during the latest appraisal. Effectively, the lower tax rate has been canceled out by the increase in property values  and that has raised concerns among some residents.

RELATED: Conservative groups push back against potential property tax hikes in Davidson County

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OConnell submitted his recommended budget Thursday, which included what he called the lowest property tax rate for Nashville in decades.

Some members of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee, GOP Nashville and the Nashville Tea Party rallied outside the Downtown branch of the Nashville Library Thursday. They were all united in a clear message  no more hikes in property taxes.

The protestors gathered as OConnell filed his recommended budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

A budget is fundamentally both things at the same time: the expression of need and the way to pay for it, OConnell said.

The recommended budget includes a tax rate of 2.814. Thats down from the current rate of 3.254.

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However, the lower rate is essentially canceled out in many areas by overall increases in property values. The protestors argued that the cost is too high.

Hes doing some fuzzy math there because I am telling you I paid more last year than I have paid in decades, Pamela Furr, Grassroots Director with AFP-TN, said.

It is just going to continue to hurt me every single year, Jason Weakley, Chairman of GOP Nashville said. I already pay a mortgage; dont make me pay more in property taxIm not your ATM. Im not your piggy bank.

OConnell cited the need for more government resources as the reason for the new proposed tax rate. He said its the lowest Nashville has seen in decades and the lowest rate for large cities in Tennessee.

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What they wont tell you is what theyre proposing means we wouldnt fund our school safety, we wouldnt open a new police precinct in Southeast Nashville, OConnell said. Building schools, patching potholes, picking up trash and keeping people safe are all more expensive.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

There is an opposition to the Mayor and the City Councils reckless spending, Weakley said. This is a spending problem.

The Mayors recommended budget moves to Metro Council for consideration before it would take effect on July 1.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
ST. LOUIS  St. Louisans Emilia Rizzuto and April Berkovich own very different businesses but have strangely similar stories about a health and wellness magazine some may have seen around St. Louis.

Id heard of it. Id seen it on the shelf. Its been around for a long time, Rizzuto said.

They say when the magazines founder approached them about marketing themselves and their businesses in the publication.

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Seemed like it made sense, Berkovich said.

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Both women say they signed contracts and paid thousands of dollars to be prominently featured in the magazine.

FOX 2 is not yet naming the magazine or its owner yet, but Emilia and April tell Contact 2 the magazines they paid to be in were never published.

They say their contracts were also supposed to include involvement at the Live Your Power Expo & Speaker Summit planned for January at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis.

The event didnt happen.

A mall spokesperson told FOX 2 the event was never even scheduled.

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We kept thinking the event is happening, and then its like, Rizzuto said. And thats when the magazines going to finally come out with the event. Anytime wed ask a question, it was just pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed until finally she vanished. That was it.

Murder Solved in 20 Days: Inside the case that brought down a killer

Emilia and April are among a group of nearly a dozen women around the country who allege the magazines founder owes them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some say they bought marketing and media packages that included magazine appearances that were never published; others say theyre owed money for work they did with the magazine.

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April shared an email response from the founder. In it she wrote:

Yes, I am trying to stay in business and keep moving forward and get you your refund.

And after Contact 2 contacted the founder, Emilia says she got an email back from her asking if she was able to get a refund back with her credit card.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 2Maine Public Broadcasting Network could lose 12% of its funding, following an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to "cease federal funding for NPR and PBS," the nation's primary public broadcasters.

President Donald Trump signed the order late Thursday, alleging bias in the programming.

Aside from pulling funding, the order instructs the corporation and other federal agencies to root out indirect sources of public financing for the new organizations.

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In a social media post announcing the signing, the White House said the outlets "receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'"

Rick Schneider, president and CEO of Maine Public, the statewide network for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, said the network would lose more than $2 million of its roughly $18 million budget.

"It is the latest step in an attack on the free press in this country," he said, but "this is not a done deal by any means, (and) Maine Public is going to be there for Mainers, and we're focused on our work today and into the future."

The $2.3 million doesn't fund a specific program. Instead, according to Schneider, it helps "ensure universal free access to public broadcasting."

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Schneider said the money goes to basic infrastructure, while programming is paid for by private fundraising.

Maine Public can likely survive without 12% of its funding, though it is unclear whether it would cut expenses, raise more money, adjust the business model or work out a combination of all three. The organization has about 120 employees.

Schneider said he's more concerned about the future of small, local stations that rely on federal dollars for 50% or more of their funding. PBS and NPR get membership dues from stations that want to access their programming.

"We need a strong national system in order to create PBS and NPR programming," Schneider said. "Would Maine Public evolve? That's entirely possible. But would Maine Public have the strong PBS and NPR programs that people rely on from us in addition to our own Maine services?"

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That's less clear.

"That's why this is so essential," he said.

But Schneider isn't too concerned yet.

"People see the executive order and the headlines and think it's over for public broadcasting," he said. "But the truth is that it's very hard to see any legal authority to do this."

Federal funding for public media flows through The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an independent nonprofit created and funded by Congress to operate separately from the federal government. Congress allocated it about half a billion dollars for the current fiscal year.

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On Friday, the nonprofit dismissed the validity of the executive order.

"CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority," Patricia Harrison, president and CEO, said in a written statement. The statute passed by Congress "expressly forbade 'any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors."

"This looks bad, but there's a very real question whether this means anything or is going to stand," Schneider said.

NPR has vowed to challenge the executive order "using all means available."

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"We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public," the news organization said in a statement.

"The President's order is an affront to the First Amendment rights of NPR and locally owned and operated stations throughout America to produce and air programming that meets the needs of their communities."

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The main courtroom of the old Kennebec County Courthouse, now part of the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is asking the Legislature to consider a proposal to improve confidentiality between attorneys and incarcerated people communicating in jails.

LD 1825, would prohibit a jail or third-party contractor who provides communication services from intercepting communication between a person who is incarcerated and an attorney or an employee of a law office. It would also bar them from charging a fee for those communications.

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Current law requires the commission to send a list of names and contact information for attorneys who provide legal services to incarcerated people to all sheriffs offices on a weekly basis. The legislation would also require each jail to send electronic communications to each attorney on that list certifying that communications will not be intercepted or come with a fee.

While the Department of Corrections already provides a certain amount of free phone calls to people being held in jails, officials opposed this bill, saying that allowing more would be cost prohibitive. Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cantillo also raised concerns about the electronic communication stipulation and whether jails would be able to keep track of who is an employee at a law office since only attorneys are included on that weekly list.

Maine is in the midst of what some have described a constitutional crisis regarding the states ability to provide timely counsel to defendants who cant afford an attorney. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has argued since 2022 that the state is in violation of the Sixth Amendment, which declares the right to a speedy and public trial and legal counsel.

Earlier this year, the Kennebec County Superior Court agreed to start releasing defendants who have been waiting for counsel from incarceration if the state fails to provide representation. In response, the commission put forth a proposal with short- and long-term solutions to address the issue.

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LD 1825 was one of four bills the commission brought to the Legislatures Judiciary Committee born out of an annual report that was submitted to the committee earlier this year. Because of this, they were not sponsored by individual legislators as usual.

These proposals come after the Legislature passed a bill last month to bolster the states strained public defense system by creating new staff positions and increasing funding for private counsel representing defendants who cant afford their own attorneys. It subsequently became law without Gov. Janet Mills endorsing it with her signature.

The commission also saw push back from the judicial branch on another proposal, LD 1796.

That bill seeks to clarify that the courts  and not the commission  are responsible for providing and paying for counsel to a juvenile who files a petition for emancipation and those who are entitled to publicly funded counsel in probate cases. It similarly seeks to clarify that courts are responsible for providing the services of a guardian ad litem appointed at public expense.

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Julie Finn, a representative for the judicial branch, said the proposed changes would transfer responsibilities onto the courts that are already underresourced. If the judicial branch is asked to take on those responsibilities and payments, Finn said additional dollars would need to follow. She gave a rough cost estimate of $350,000 to $400,000.

Carney asked Finn and the public defense commissions Executive Director Jim Billings to ponder creative solutions to address the disagreement over who should have that responsibility because she thinks the money, ultimately, will be a wash.

Billings said he doesnt have strong feelings on whether this falls on the commission or the judicial branch, but he wants to avoid future scenarios where the commission is paying for attorneys on both sides of a guardianship case.

Another bill sought to clarify when a criminal defendant is entitled to counsel at state expense. Billings said the commission is asking the committee to consider LD 1802 because of previous situations that felt incongruent with due process and fairness.

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Currently, prosecutors indicate if they will be seeking jail time in cases where that would be possible. If they indicate they wont be seeking jail time, that person does not have a right to indigent defense services.

However, Billings said there are scenarios where a defendant has already spent a night in jail but the prosecutor isnt planning to pursue further jail time, so they arent deemed eligible. LD 1802 would change the policy so that person would be entitled to counsel.

Billings said other states actually use a simpler system that entitles a person to counsel if the crime they are charged with authorizes jail as a sentence, rather than relying on the intentions of the prosecutor. When asked why the commission isnt trying to adopt that approach, Billings said hes interested in using incremental change and compromise to further justice in the state.

We are moving in baby steps over at PDS, he told the committee.

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The final bill brought by the commission seeks technical amendments to the definitions of employed counsel and public defender. LD 1801 would also make training materials used by the commission confidential in response to concerns that some presenters have raised that their materials could be subject to Freedom of Access Act laws.

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We recently published a list of 8 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar Recently. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) stands against other stocks on Jim Cramers radar recently.

On Tuesdays episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer discussed how stock ownership is viewed in the United States.

Alright, look, lately, we cant go a day without hearing some widespread misperceptions about stock ownership. I gotta tell you, I think its infuriating. Here we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Mad Money, dedicated to the proposition that you can potentially make lots of money by picking individual stocks, yet I keep hearing that most Americans dont care about the stock market, and this direction means nothing.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Listed 20 Best Performing Stocks of the Last 20 Years and Jim Cramer Recently Discussed These 9 Stocks.

Cramer pushed back against the notion that only the wealthy care about or benefit from the stock market. He argued that the perception is not only wrong but dismissive of the millions of everyday people with financial stakes in the market. Moving on to stock ownership, he mentioned that, Its the whole reason anyone watches the darn show, and it generally matters, not just to the rich, but to tens of millions of regular people, home gamers, and never let any politician tell you otherwise. He added:

More than 60% of Americans have some exposure to the market, either directly or indirectly. 70 million people have active 401Ks. Millions more have retired with them. 60 million people have IRAs. Only 156 million people voted in November. I mean, were talking half the electorate here.

Cramer insisted that shareholders form a significant constituency in this country and deserve to be recognized as such. He mentioned that Its not just arrogant, rich people who own stocks. He also criticized wealthy individuals who publicly warn others about the risks of stock investing while still taking advantage of its tax benefits themselves. He added:

Now look, stocks are ridiculously tax advantaged, more than just rich people want that. In a world where probably no more than 10% of this country can retire on their paycheck savings, stocks represent a different kind of social security, a one-sided pack where people try to save and the government dismisses them.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 8 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 29. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
May 2Federal funding for Maine Sea Grant has been restored.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informed the University of Maine on Monday that it was reinstating all $4.5 million in federal funding it had previously cut from Maine Sea Grant. The 20-person program provides technical and research support to the state's fisheries and coastal economies.

"The groundswell of support for Maine Sea Grant and the stories that have surfaced about its incredible impact on our state's working waterfronts have been extraordinary and effective," UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said in a prepared statement Friday.

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Begun in 1971, Maine Sea Grant conducts coastal workforce and business development, marine science education and outreach, fisheries management research, and provides technical assistance to help working waterfronts prepare for storms, sea level rise and climate change.

In 2023, Maine Sea Grant estimated its programs helped generate $23.5 million for the state economy.

NOAA did not respond Friday to emails or phone calls asking why it had reversed its earlier decision.

NOAA's decision to terminate funding for Maine Sea Grant drew criticism from Maine's elected leaders and the fishermen that rely on the program. Maine's program was the only one of the 34 sea grant programs nationwide to be affected.

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In its termination letter, a NOAA grants supervisor said Maine Sea Grant was "no longer relevant to the focus of the administration's priorities and program objectives." It was the first of many cost-cutting orders implemented at NOAA, including deep cuts to the National Weather Service.

But the termination also came about a week after President Donald Trump threatened to cut all federal funding to Maine after clashing with Gov. Janet Mills over an executive order banning transgender student athletes from participating in women's sports.

After facing intense criticism for the cut, NOAA announced in early March that it would release unspent funds from the first year of the original four-year award and renegotiate the remaining three years of funding. The renegotiated award announced this week mirrors the original four-year agreement.

Although the total funding remains the same, it is unclear if Maine Sea Grant will have to change its work or its focus to fall in line with the Trump administration's priorities. NOAA staff have been told to search existing grants for terms like "climate science" when evaluating which programs should be cut.

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Ferrini-Mundy thanked Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for her "relentless advocacy" for Maine Sea Grant.

"I am thrilled that Maine Sea Grant has received its full funding so that the important work they do to conduct research, support a robust pipeline of skilled labor, and enrich our coastal economies can continue unimpeded," Collins said in a prepared statement.

All four members of Maine's congressional delegation have rallied to support the program's work. Sen. Angus King, an independent, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, also criticized the Trump administration for targeting a university program that has nothing to do with transgender student athletes.

Program supporters like the Maine Lobstermen's Association expressed relief about the funding reversal.

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"Maine Sea Grant has long been an important partner in supporting our coastal communities and sustainable fisheries," said MLA executive director Patrice McCarron. "Continued funding will support initiatives that benefit not only the lobstering community but all of Maine's coastal economy."

Maine Sea Grant has been supporting Ready Seafood since it started as a small lobster company on Hobson's Pier in Portland in 2004, said Curt Brown, a Cape Elizabeth lobsterman and biologist for Ready Seafood. Now Ready is the largest lobster processing company in the world.

"This vital funding for Maine Sea Grant is not a cost," Brown said. "It is an investment in the future of Maine's coastal industries and communities, an investment that has paid dividends for decades."

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May 2Lawmakers heard hours of testimony Friday from opponents of several proposals to require photo identification prior to voting in Maine, including a citizen initiative that would also place new restrictions on absentee voting.

Most of the testimony focused on the citizen initiative led by Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, that is likely headed to a statewide referendum in November. It calls for sweeping electoral reforms including a voter ID requirement, restrictions on absentee voting, a limit on the number of ballot drop boxes and other requirements that election officials said would be difficult and expensive to implement.

Opponents argued that Maine's elections are already secure and that the new requirements would only make it more difficult for some people to vote, including elderly residents, people with disabilities, people without reliable transportation, busy parents and shift-workers. Those who spoke in favor, mostly the Republican sponsors of the bills, argued they are commonsense reforms to increase confidence in elections.

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Libby downplayed the overwhelming opposition to the new voting requirements from individuals and groups, such as the AARP, the Maine Town and City Clerks Association, the Maine State Nurses Association, the Maine Education Association and the Maine Women's Lobby.

"This isn't the public hearing that matters," Libby said. "We have already held our hearing and over 171,000 Maine people testified at that public hearing. That's how many Mainers signed the petition that brought this legislation before the committee. Their signatures are their testimony."

But others dismissed that claim, accusing signature gatherers of not explaining the sweeping changes to absentee voting also included in the bill.

Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, who chairs the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, repeatedly pressed Alex Titcomb, who along with Libby is leading the Voter ID for ME campaign, about whether organizers were deliberately trying to conceal other proposed changes to election laws in the 12-page bill by focusing attention on the more popular voter ID mandate to gain signatures and support.

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Titcomb said the proposal was available to anyone who wanted to read it.

"We weren't hiding it," Titcomb said. "(The proposal's) a publicly available document."

The Voter ID for ME campaign has been fueled by a $500,000 donation from a national group, the Republican State Leadership Committee.

Because the campaign gathered enough signatures, lawmakers must either enact the referendum, LD 1149, or send it to the voters in November. And with Republicans in the minority in the Legislature, a referendum is all but assured.

Beth Allen of Mainers for Modern Elections, a coalition of local groups fighting to preserve and expand voting rights, urged the committee to send the referendum to voters, calling it an "attack on our secure elections.

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"(LD) 1149 is a poorly written, catch-everything bill that would dismantle trusted and secured systems that Maine citizens have long depended on to securely and conveniently cast their ballots," Allen said. "Maine voters should be given the opportunity to reject this out-of-state, cookie-cutter policy."

The proposal would require a photo ID at the polls or when a voter returns an absentee ballot, though it includes a religious exemption for those who object to being photographed. Acceptable IDs would include state driver's license or ID cards, a military ID, passport or a concealed weapons permit. It would not include student IDs.

The proposal would also end the current practice of allowing absentee ballots to be requested by phone and by immediate family members, and would end a program that allows seniors and people with disabilities to receive absentee ballots for every election without making a special request each time.

Additionally, the bill would prohibit municipalities such as Portland and Orono from having more than one drop box to collect absentee ballots. And it would require municipalities to have "a bipartisan team of election officials" to collect those ballots, rather than assigning the task to municipal clerks.

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Secretary of State Shenna Bellows opposed the changes, saying Maine regularly ranks among the highest for voter turnout and election security.

Bellows said some provisions appear to have been imported from other states and do not apply to Maine, including references to towns with multiple clerk's offices and descriptions of ballots with certain tags, which Maine doesn't have and cannot process using its existing tabulators.

"It is important that the legislators and the voters understand the comprehensive nature of the initiative that's before you," Bellows said.

Two Republican lawmakers  Rep. Reagan Paul of Winterport and Sen. Jeff Timberlake of Turner  also presented more narrow standalone bills that would require photo ID at the polls.

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But Bellows advised lawmakers that either of those bills, LD 397 and LD 38, would be considered a competing proposal to the citizen referendum and would also have to be placed on a statewide ballot, if enacted by the Legislature.

Timberlake said people already need a photo ID for various activities and transactions, whether it's driving, banking or purchasing alcohol or tobacco. But opponents noted that those activities are privileges, not fundamental constitutional rights.

Ceridwen Cherry said her group, VoteRiders, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that helps people get identification documents, conducted a survey in 2023 and found that one in 10 eligible voters did not have a current photo ID and 12% of the nonexpired IDs were not up-to-date with names or home addresses.

"These statistics make clear that a photo ID law in Maine would disenfranchise large numbers of eligible voters," she said.

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All of the voter ID proposals would require the secretary of state's office to offer free photo IDs to anyone who doesn't have one. But critics questioned whether seniors, people with disabilities or lower-income people who lack adequate transportation, especially in rural areas, would be able to travel to a location to have their photo taken for the IDs.

Alex Wu, a senior at Scarborough High School, said it was "baffling" that proponents would think that people who are housebound and unable to get to the polls would be able to travel somewhere to get their free ID.

"It just doesn't make sense," Wu said.

The committee did not take action on the bill following the 2 1/2 -hour hearing.

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Travelers were unable to check into their flights and others were stranded on their planes as United Airlines experienced a nationwide technical outage on May 2.

The outage affected the United app and caused hundreds of flight delays across the U.S. starting around 11 a.m. Arizona time.

In a statement to The Arizona Republic just before 2 p.m., a United Airlines representative said flight reservation information was briefly unavailable "due to an issue with a vendor." The statement did not specify who the vendor was.

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"The issue has been resolved for United customers, however customers with travel on our partners may still experience intermittent issues," according to the statement from United.

What the United outage means for Sky Harbor Airport

Several United passengers posted on social media describing issues with check-ins, with error messages popping up on United's app.

Downdetector, which monitors technical outages, stated it received more than 300 reports around 11 a.m. Arizona time on May 2. The reports cited issues with United's website, check-in and app.

By 2:15 p.m., flight tracking website FlightAware reported 651 delayed and 19 canceled United flights nationwide, including 13 delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

What can passengers do if their flight is canceled?

United Airlines rebooks passengers on a different flight with United or a partner airline at no extra charge when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed.

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Passengers on flights delayed at least three hours are eligible for meal vouchers. Passengers on flights with overnight delays or cancellations are eligible for a complimentary hotel stay and ground transportation to and from the hotel.

United recommends passengers check the airline's website or mobile app for delay and cancellation options to change their flights, have their bags follow them on the new flight, and see if they're eligible for amenities like hotel and meal vouchers.

United also offers an Agent on Demand service for passengers within 24 hours of their flights, as well as contact centers for customer service help. Call 800-864-8331, text "UNITED" to 32050 or use the United app for customer service.

At the airport, passengers can also use kiosks at the check-in area or inside the terminal, or talk to a gate agent or customer service agent for assistance.

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What Arizona requires: What documents do I need to get a Real ID?

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: United Airlines outage: What do do if your flight is delayed
Federal workers who were forced out of their jobs by President Trump and Elon Musk speak out in a live MSNBC town hall  100 Days of Trump: Forced Out Federal Workers. See the workers talk with Stephanie Ruhle and Jacob Soboroff about their experience and what these actions mean for all Americans.
Millions of dimes spilled onto U.S. Highway 287 in Wise County on Tuesday after the 18-wheeler carrying them turned onto its side, according to KDFW-TV.

The resulting mess shut down the highway for almost 14 hours as road crews struggled to collect the almost $800,000 in coins, according to KDFW.

The truck was carrying newly-minted dimes for the U.S. Mint, officials with Wise County E.M.S Rescue told the New York Times.

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The truck veered off the roadway and the driver over-corrected, causing the truck to roll, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The driver of the truck and a passenger were taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to the New York Times.

Workers used heavy-duty vacuum trucks, usually used to suck up water and sewage, to collect the dimes, Alvord Mayor Caleb Caviness told The New York Times.

Other workers used shovels and their hands to recover the change from the highway, aerial video from KDFW shows.

We were joking around that the city of Alvord would be metal detecting, Caviness told The New York Times.
GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A man was arrested on Thursday after trying to scam an elderly Stokesdale woman by posing as a law enforcement officer, according to a Guilford County Sheriffs Office news release.

Kishan Kumar Singh, 21, an international student of India, was arrested after trying to scam an elderly woman in Stokesdale by pretending to be a law enforcement officer.

GCSO deputies were contacted by a 78-year-old Stokesdale woman who reported that she was getting phone calls from people claiming to be deputies with the GCSO as well as federal agents.

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The callers told the woman that her name had been linked to criminal activity in another part of the country and that her bank accounts had been compromised.

They pressured her into withdrawing a large amount of money from her accounts and told her that it would be provided to the federal agents for safekeeping during their investigation and then refunded to her later.

Deputies learned that the scammers impersonating federal agents scheduled to send someone to the victims home to pick up the money.

Singh was arrested by deputies after he arrived at the victims home and took a package.

He has been living in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area on a student visa since 2024.

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He is currently being held in the Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro under a

$1 million secured bond for the following charges:

felony attempting to obtain property by false pretenses

felony exploitation of a disabled or elder adult

The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged road-rage incident in Horizon City, Horizon Police said.

Marco Antonio Basurto-Casas was arrested last Friday, April 25, and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The arrest and charges are in connection with an incident the previous week on April 17, in which Horizon Police responded to a reported road-rage incident in the area around Vallecito Place and Desierto Lindo Avenue.

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During the investigation, officers said they learned that Basurto-Casas approached the other vehicle involved, brandished a firearm, and made threats, Horizon Police said.

With assistance from detectives, patrol officers were able to identify Basurto-Casas as the subject.

During a search of his residence, investigators found two firearms, Horizon Police said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities have arrested the driver involved in a crash that killed Dr. Kami Hansen and injured members of her family Monday evening in Cottage Grove.

According to the Cottage Grove Police Department, 49-year-old Jeffrey M. Endres was taken into custody on Thursday and booked into the Dane County Jail. While no formal charges have been filed as of Friday, the following counts have been referred to the Dane County District Attorneys Office:

Wisconsin cold case closed after 63 years, woman found alive and well

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First-degree reckless homicide

First-degree reckless injury

First-degree recklessly endangering safety

The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. on April 28 in the 1300 block of Landmark Drive. Police say a vehicle left the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck Dr. Hansen, her family, and a dog while they were walking. Dr. Hansen died in the hospital while her son underwent emergency surgery. He has since recovered and has been released.

Dr. Hansen was a beloved chiropractor in the Cottage Grove community and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, where she served on the board for six years. A memorial fund for her family has been established through the Cottage Grove Community Foundation.

Suspect in Wisconsin theft investigation arrested after barricading himself in closet for 4 hours

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The investigation remains ongoing. Police say all contributing factors are being thoroughly reviewed.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Cottage Grove Police Department at 608-839-4652.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Update: 5/2/2025, 4:30 p.m.

MANNINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  Children were found living in deplorable conditions at a residence in Mannington after a six-hour standoff with a suspect on Wednesday.

According to criminal complaints obtained by 12 News Friday afternoon, troopers with the West Virginia State Police went to a Buffalo Street home to execute a search warrant on Jason Kellar, 34 of Mannington, on April 30 after a report of domestic situation. After a six-hour standoff due to Kellar reportedly having a gun, troopers met with Christina Mackey, 41 of Mannington, and entered the home where they found a large amount of rat feces in childrens bedrooms, according to court documents.

Christina Mackey

Troopers said that there was also a large amount of trash that was left out in the open where children had direct access, and children were exposed to jagged nails and missing floorboards.

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Harrison County mom heads to Guantanamo for USS Cole suspects pretrial

Child Protective Services was called and immediately found ample reason to remove the children, the complaints said.

Kellar was arrested without incident in Monongah on Friday morning. Both Kellar and Mackey have been charged with four counts of felony child neglect. As of Friday afternoon, Kellar has not been charged with any crimes related to the standoff situation.

Original: 5/2/2025, 2:33 p.m.

MANNINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  The man who was taken into custody Friday morning after a six-hour standoff in Mannington on Wednesday has been charged and booked in jail.

Jason Kellar

Jason Kellar, age 34, has been charged with four counts of felony child neglect, according to the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation database. As of Friday afternoon, Kellar was being held in the North Central Regional Jail on $80,000 bail.

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12 News has requested court documents to get additional details.

Law enforcement in Marion County began looking for Kellar after a standoff situation in Mannington on Wednesday. Troopers with West Virginia State Police were called to a domestic situation on Buffalo Street where Kellar allegedly barricaded himself inside the residence with a firearm. Officials, including a SWAT team, remained on the scene for more than six hours until they learned that Kellar had fled the scene.

He was arrested in Mannington around 9 a.m. on Friday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
We recently published a list of 8 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar Recently. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK), stands against other stocks on Jim Cramers radar recently.

On Tuesdays episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer discussed how stock ownership is viewed in the United States.

Alright, look, lately, we cant go a day without hearing some widespread misperceptions about stock ownership. I gotta tell you, I think its infuriating. Here we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Mad Money, dedicated to the proposition that you can potentially make lots of money by picking individual stocks, yet I keep hearing that most Americans dont care about the stock market, and this direction means nothing.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Listed 20 Best Performing Stocks of the Last 20 Years and Jim Cramer Recently Discussed These 9 Stocks.

Cramer pushed back against the notion that only the wealthy care about or benefit from the stock market. He argued that the perception is not only wrong but dismissive of the millions of everyday people with financial stakes in the market. Moving on to stock ownership, he mentioned that, Its the whole reason anyone watches the darn show, and it generally matters, not just to the rich, but to tens of millions of regular people, home gamers, and never let any politician tell you otherwise. He added:

More than 60% of Americans have some exposure to the market, either directly or indirectly. 70 million people have active 401Ks. Millions more have retired with them. 60 million people have IRAs. Only 156 million people voted in November. I mean, were talking half the electorate here.

Cramer insisted that shareholders form a significant constituency in this country and deserve to be recognized as such. He mentioned that Its not just arrogant, rich people who own stocks. He also criticized wealthy individuals who publicly warn others about the risks of stock investing while still taking advantage of its tax benefits themselves. He added:

Now look, stocks are ridiculously tax advantaged, more than just rich people want that. In a world where probably no more than 10% of this country can retire on their paycheck savings, stocks represent a different kind of social security, a one-sided pack where people try to save and the government dismisses them.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 8 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 29. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested over a series of satanic animal killings.

Police said he had been detained on suspicion of two counts of criminal damage and 10 counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage relating to incidents dating back to November.

A dead lamb was found hanging from the side of a church while another was left on a road sign in the New Forest earlier this week.

The grim discoveries were made two months after a deers severed head was left next to an upturned cross outside the same church.

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The suspect comes from Totton, a town in the New Forest.

Hampshire Constabulary said that since November, they had received reports of 12 incidents in which the carcasses of lambs and deer have been left in locations around the forest.

The incidents occurred in close proximity to churches in Totton, Bramshaw, and Lyndhurst, and the force said it believed they were linked.

Officers investigating a series of animal deaths in the New Forest have today arrested a man from Totton, police said on Friday.

[The] 47-year-old man has been arrested this morning on suspicion of two counts of criminal damage and 10 counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage. He remains in police custody at this time.

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The arrest comes following thorough inquiries from teams across our New Forest district. Our local neighbourhood policing teams will continue to conduct additional patrols in the areas where incidents have occurred.

Incidents are disturbing

Chief Insp Scott Johnson, the forces district commander for the New Forest, added: These disturbing incidents have been upsetting for those who discovered them, and will be concerning for our wider community.

Our investigation team have been working hard to review all the available evidence and this has enabled us to make an arrest today as part of our inquiries.

We have been conducting both uniformed and plain clothes patrols and inquiries, and this will continue in the coming days, particularly in areas where incidents have occurred.

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If you see our officers while on their travels, please come over and speak to them. Theyll be on hand for you to share any information, raise any concerns and ask questions.

It is understood police were called to St Theresas Church in Totton, Hants, early on Monday morning after someone noticed the dead lamb hanging outside.

That evening another lamb, with its throat slit, was found on Penn Common in Bramshaw.

Andrew Parry-Norton, the chairman of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, said someone was getting a kick out of the bizarre killings.

He said: This happens every year and they need to be dealt with  this person needs to be stopped. It is absolutely sick.

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I think it is someone who gets some sort of kick out of it. Ive got friends who are pagans who completely condemn this sort of thing.

I think it is someone who needs help and needs to be stopped.

In February, a deers head was dumped outside St Michael and All Angels Church in Lyndhurst.

The area has had a strong link with suspected satanic animal killings.

One of the slaughtered sheep found daubed with pentagrams in the New Forest in 2019 - Solent News and Photo Agency

In May 2024, there were two possibly cult-related incidents. In Burley, the home of the late Sybil Leek, once described as Britains most famous witch, the head of a young deer was left on a parish council headstone marking the turn of the millennium alongside an upside-down cross.

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In Cadnam, six ewes and lambs were found stabbed to death.

At the 12th-century St Peters Church in the New Forest village of Bramshaw, congregation members found a cat hanging from a flagpole in December 2022, just weeks after a dead fox was found near its doorstep.

In January 2023, police were alerted to possible satanist activity after pig hearts were found on top of a Bronze Age mound surrounded by 30 candles on Stagbury Hill in the New Forest.

Pigs are often the focus of religious rituals stretching back to ancient Greek times, usually to appease a supernatural being.

In 2020, a sheep was found stabbed in Cadnam and dumped next to a cross and pitchfork.

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In 2019 in Bramshaw, two dead sheep were found with pentagrams spray-painted on their bodies, a cow was stabbed in the neck and the number 666 was daubed on the doors of the church.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man who police said was eating a sub sandwich while he was arrested following a chase was sentenced this week to six months probation.

Read next: Incorrect fast-food order sparks fight at local Dairy Queen: Police

Michael Cruz, 24, received the sentence Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court from Judge John Durkin after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a first-degree misdemeanor.

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He was originally charged with a felony.

The attorneys in the case recommended the sentence, which was upheld by Judge Durkin.

Reports said Cruz was the driver of a Dodge Charger police tried to pull over about 8:35 p.m. Aug. 3 when they spotted it traveling 93 mph in a 50 mph zone on the Himrod Avenue Expressway.

Cruz failed to stop for officers and was weaving around parked cars on North Truesdale Avenue that were there for a party, reports said. Police were able to block his path at East High and North Garland avenues, where Cruz stopped nose to nose with the cruiser that was chasing him.

As officers ordered Cruz out of his car at gunpoint, he complied, holding a sub sandwich in one hand and still attempting to eat it, reports said. He placed the sandwich on the roof of the car and was taken into custody.

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A records check found the car Cruz was driving was registered to him and he has no warrants, reports said.

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CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 41-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly injuring his own mother in February 2024.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to Carthage Area Hospital on February 13, 2024 for a report of a possible assault involving a 72-year-old female victim.

Watertown man charged with rape of teenage girl

The victim was identified as Jee Fineout, who had injuries such as brain bleeds, rib and spine fractures, and multiple contusions in various stages of healing. These injuries were identified as life-threatening and not considered accidental in nature.

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An thorough investigate from the sheriffs office found that Jeffrey Fineout was identified as the primary suspect. He is facing the following charges:

First-degree attempted manslaughter

First-degree and second-degree assualt

First-degree endangering the welfare of a vunerable person

Fineout was apprehended by sheriffs detectives with the assistance of Jefferson County Probation and the Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force on Thursday, May 1. He is being held at the Jefferson County Jail pending arraignment in Jefferson County Court.

The sheriffs office was assisted by the New York State Police Crime Laboratory and Forensic Investigation Unit.

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Authorities were recently informed that Jee Fineout died on Saturday, April 26.

Separately, a 31-year-old Philadelphia woman who present with Jeffrey Fineout was also arrested. Sarah Taber was charged with second-degree criminal obstruction of government administration and resisting arrest.

Taber was released on appearance tickets returnable to Jefferson County CAP Court on May 22.

(Courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriffs Office)

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A man is accused of intentionally plowing into a 10-year-old, a 12-year-old and a teacher in a hit-and-run outside a school at a church on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, officials said.

Justin Collin Adams, who was taken into custody on Thursday following an hourslong manhunt, is charged with three counts of attempted murder, according to online records. He was held without bond at a Friday court appearance.

Adams is accused of intentionally targeting children Thursday afternoon at the Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivan's Island, a beach town just outside of Charleston, authorities said.

PHOTO: Booking photo for Justin Collin Adams. (Charleston County Sheriff's Office)

MORE: 2 kids, 1 adult struck by car outside church preschool in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina

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Adams allegedly first drove onto the playground and struck a 12-year-old, who suffered minor injuries, an officer said in court Friday.

He then allegedly sped toward where kids were seeking protection and hit a teacher who "flew over the hood and onto the roof and onto the ground," the officer said.

Adams allegedly then drove onto the sidewalk and struck a 10-year-old, pinning him under the car, the officer said.

PHOTO: Two children and one adult were struck by a car outside a church in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, May 1, 2025. (Paul Boehm)

A federal criminal investigator -- who is a member of the church and spoke on behalf of the families at Friday's court appearance -- said about 40 students witnessed the attack.

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The teacher remains in the hospital with serious injuries, the church member said.

One child was treated at the scene and released, police said, and the second child was admitted to a hospital and later discharged, according to a hospital spokesperson.

MORE: 7 killed in fiery crash between tour van, pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park

The 10-year-old had 4.6 inches of ground clearance under the car, the church member said, calling his survival a "miracle."

The 10-year-old's mom gave an emotional statement in court Friday, saying, "I hope that no other mother had to get this phone call that I had to endure yesterday."

PHOTO: Two children and one adult were struck by a car outside a church in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, May 1, 2025. (Paul Boehm)

"By the grace of God, they were saved," she said, adding, "I am here to hopefully get justice for all of the children."

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Adams, 36, allegedly ditched his sedan after the crash and fled on foot, possibly armed with a knife, according to Isle of Palms police Sgt. Matt Storen.

Authorities launched a massive manhunt, which included grid searches of houses, drones scanning the sky and checkpoints at the entryway to Sullivan's Island, police said.

A sergeant in a Charleston County aviation unit helicopter ended up spotting the suspect, who was found in a boat at a dock across the street from the church, officials said.

PHOTO: Hit-and-run suspect Justin Collin Adams was apprehended on a boat on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, May 1, 2025. (Charleston County Sheriff's Office)

Adams' attorney said in court that two weeks ago Adams voluntarily checked himself in to a hospital psychiatric unit. He was diagnosed with depression and prescribed Lexapro, which is used to treat anxiety and depression, his lawyer said.

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He is also charged with assault and battery for an alleged altercation with his mother just before the hit-and-run, police said.

He is due back in court on June 13.

10-year-old pinned under car in hit-and-run; 12-year-old, teacher also struck in alleged intentional act: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A 20-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a patient at an addiction recovery center in Wasatch County, according to court documents.

Hunter Ryan Kluser, 20, was charged Friday, May 2, with first-degree attempted murder for allegedly stabbing another patient at the facility. Police say the stabbing appeared to be unprovoked with Kluser approaching the patient from behind.

Elizabeth Smart kidnapper arrested after saying she was commanded to go to parks: SLCPD

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Kluser  an Eagle Mountain man who voluntarily admitted himself as a patient  allegedly came up behind a patient sitting on a couch on Wednesday and started swinging a knife at his neck.

The video depicts Hunter aggressively swinging the knife repeatedly at the victims neck even after the victim slumps over to protect himself. Hunter appears to make contact with this victims neck at least six times, police wrote in the report.

Medical responders treated the victim for a puncture wound to the neck and transported him to the University of Utah Medical Center in a helicopter. The victim is stable and expected to survive.

Kluser was originally facing a second-degree felony for attempted murder but was ultimately charged with a first-degree felony. He is booked in the Wasatch County Jail.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4)  A man living in St. George has been charged with kidnapping after picking up a 13-year-old in a white van late last night.

Eugenio Fabian Hernando Ramirez, 29, is facing one felony charge of child kidnapping, one felony charge of failure to stop at the command of police, and two misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and driving.

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According to the arresting statement filed by the St. George Police Department, two juvenile girls were walking home near the 700 E block of Riverside Drive. Police responded to the area around 9:25 p.m. on reports of a possible kidnapping.

One of the young girls reported to police that her sister was approached by a white van with a frog on the side. She said that the van then sped away, and she was unable to locate her sister.

Elizabeth Smart kidnapper arrested after saying she was commanded to go to parks: SLCPD

Officers began traveling the area in search of the van, police said. Police located the vehicle around 10:10 p.m. in the area of 900 S and 400 E. Bike officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped away toward Sunland Drive, according to documents.

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Police were able to stop the vehicle after a pursuit where it crossed into the wrong side of traffic before coming to a dead end at the Crosby Confluence Park. Hernando Ramirez got out of the drivers seat, and the missing juvenile exited from the passenger seat.

Search warrants have been filed by police for Hernando Ramirezs electronic devices, according to documents. Police are investigating whether he was in contact with the 13-year-old before the kidnapping.

Hernando Ramirez was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail just after midnight.

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BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  A man accused of the murder of a Bell County deputy has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, with an additional ten years on a charge of Arson.

The Bell County Sheriffs Office says Manuel Oscar Ramirez, Jr. was sentenced by District Judge Paul LePak in the 264th Judicial District Court on Friday. This was for the Murder of Deputy John Rhoden on April 26, 2020, in addition to an additional charge of Arson which occurred while in custody at the Bell County Jail on November 8, 2024.

Ramirez entered a guilty plea for both charges. Judge LePak sentenced him to 40 years for the Murder of Deputy Rhoden and ten years for the Arson, following a plea agreement.

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Sheriff Bill Cooke said in a statement that Ramirezs sentencing brings a measure of closure to a painful chapter in our agencys history. He says Deputy Rhodens absence remains deeply felt by his family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers.

PREVIOUS STORY: Man charged in Bell County deputys death

Ramirez was arrested and charged with Murder in March 2023. He was held in the Bell County Jail with his bond set at $2 million. He was arrested by Bexar County Sheriffs deputies on a Temple Police Department warrant.

Deputy John Andrew Rhoden was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler in April 2020 while attempting to lay a spike strip near Exit #294 of northbound Interstate 35. Rhodens patrol vehicle was placed on the sidewalk underneath the U.S. and Texas Flags in front of the Bell County Sheriffs Department, located at 104 South Main Street in Belton.

Deputy John Andrew Rhoden.

Rhodens body was escorted from Centex Morturary Services on South 30th Street in Temple to Dossman Funeral Home on North Main Street in Belton. There was a full police escort, where the Bell County Sheriffs Department took the lead. Dep. Rhoden was laid to rest at the Lampasas City Cemetery in Lampasas, where he received full police honors.

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LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA)  A man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a deadly shooting that happened outside of a Lakeland bar last week.

The Lakeland Police Department said Nicholas Lue, 26, of West Palm Beach, was charged for the death of Jesse Banks, 28, of Lakeland.

Man shot, killed over missing gun, Lakeland police say

Banks was killed while authorities said Lue was trying to perpetrate the murder of a 24-year-old who theyd gotten into an argument with at the Cali Rose 15 Kitchen on Ariana Street.

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Investigators said both Banks and Lue confronted the 24-year-old that night, with Banks throwing the first punch. However, it was Lue who eventually pulled out a gun and pointed it at the 24-year-old, according to police.

Authorities said the 24-year-old responded by taking out his own handgun and firing several times at Banks and Lue.

The 24-year-old cooperated with investigators, and officials said it was determined that he was likely acting in self-defense. No charges are expected to be filed against him.

Lue and Banks were taken to Lakeland Regional Health to be treated for gunshot wounds, but Banks did not survive. Lue, who is expected to recover, was stabilized and remained hospitalized Thursday.

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A man convicted of killing two men he traveled from New York to Cape Cod with for an electronics scam was granted parole this week by the states parole board in a 5-2 decision.

The man, Carlos Lopez, pleaded guilty in November 1999 to second-degree murder for killing Jose Vasquez and Wilfredo Hernandez. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and made his third appearance before the parole board in January after hearings in 2018 and 2023.

On May 9, 1998, the bodies of two men were found inside the American Holiday Motel in Yarmouth. One of the men was already dead and the other, who was in critical condition, died shortly after. Both men died of blunt force trauma to the head.

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Lopez admitted to being the third person in the motel room with Vazquez and Hernandez, and told authorities he met them in New York City. There, Lopez agreed to join them on a trip to Massachusetts, where they engaged in an electronics store scam while staying at the Yarmouth hotel.

On the night of the mens deaths, Lopez said, they made unwanted sexual advances toward him. He reached around and grabbed an object off the floor, hitting one man in the head. Both men fell out of the bed, and Lopez hit the other man in the head.

Lopez took money from one of the men to pay for a bus fare back to Hartford. He fled to Puerto Rico following the murders, but was arrested at the San Juan airport on July 25, 1998. He was 22 at the time of the killings.

In its decision, the board writes Lopez has continued on his path of self-development. He has completed programs on violence reduction and alternatives to violence. It also notes Lopez has family support to assist with his release.

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Conditions of Lopezs release include that he complete a long-term residential program for three to six months. Following that program, he will be transferred to another authority in Connecticut through an interstate compact.

He must also be supervised for drugs and undergo mental health counseling for trauma and adjustment.

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BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man has been convicted after police say a group of four people unknowingly purchased fentanyl from him, resulting in another mans death.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that 28-year-old Tysheem Dunlap, of Williamsport, was convicted of drug delivery resulting in death after a four-day jury trial.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney John Gurganus, in August 2022, Dunlap delivered a substance to four people who were current or recent students at Bloomsburg University and were seeking to use cocaine.

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Pimp, madame arrested during Pa. prostitution sting

Dunlap sold drugs to the four people, however, it was fentanyl and not cocaine, as stated in the release. After using it, three of the four overdosed. Emergency responders were able to revive two of the overdose victims, but the third victim died.

Laboratory analysis of the substance sold to the victims showed it contained fentanyl. An autopsy confirmed the presence of deadly levels of fentanyl in the victims bloodstream.

The jury found Dunlap guilty of drug distribution resulting in death, and drug delivery

resulting in serious bodily injury and distribution of cocaine.

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We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Recently Discussed These 9 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discussed recently.

Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, discussed the current economic outlook on Monday as he outlined why he believes the possibility of a recession this year may be less likely. He pointed out that while it is easy to be negative in the current climate, the situation is almost too obviously bad, which makes him hesitant to align with the pessimistic view.

This morning, Craig Melvin interviewed me on the Today Show, and he correctly asked, are we going into a recession? I stuck my neck out and I said, no. Will the tariffs hurt? Yes. Will prices go higher? Yes. Could there be shortages? Absolutely.

READ ALSO Jim Cramer Commented on These 8 Stocks Recently and Jim Cramers Game Plan for This Week: 16 Stocks in Focus

Cramer emphasized that the way to understand whether a recession is likely often lies in employment figures. He noted that right now, there are more job openings than there are people to fill them. According to Cramer, the disparity makes it challenging for a recession to take hold in the near future. He recognized that some people would be impacted by corporate cost-cutting measures, often referred to as mitigation by CEOs.

Thats the term CEOs are using when they talk about getting costs down to offset the impact of tariffs. Mitigation efforts usually mean taking supply chain costs out, but they also mean laying people off.

However, Cramer noted that companies are not rushing to let go of workers because they fear they would not be able to rehire them when business conditions improve. He pointed out that, historically, economies tend to recover, and it is difficult to derail growth when so many jobs are still being created. Cramer expressed confidence that upcoming reports, including the monthly labor data due on Friday, would show a healthy job market, which would further complicate the notion of a recession.

That will make it very hard once again to slip into a full-blown recession anytime soon, and perhaps in several quarters, we will have a more steady and predictable trade policy. Anythings possible.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 9 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 28. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
DAVIDSON COUNTY  A Thomasville-area man pleaded guilty recently in the January 2024 drug-related death of a Wallburg woman.

Wayne Greer Phillips III, 48, was arrested last July in an investigation that began after the 37-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, died of an apparent overdose at a house in Wallburg on Jan. 28, 2024.

The autopsy report from the state medical examiners office showed she died as a result of fentanyl toxicity, the sheriffs office said when Phillips was arrested.

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The Davidson County Detention Center lists Phillips' address as on Gobel Road south of Thomasville, but at the time of his arrest the Davidson County Sheriff's Office gave his address as on Foust Avenue in High Point.

On April 25, Phillips pleaded guilty in Davidson County Superior Court to death by distribution and was sentenced to up to seven years and nine months in prison.

This was Phillips' first felony conviction in North Carolina, though he had been convicted in 2008 and 2013 of misdemeanor driving while impaired.
A man is in custody following a search that triggered a shelter-in-place order in New Hampshire late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

Newmarket police responded to a welfare check Thursday night but when officers arrived at the home, no one was there, according to officials.

Police were able to get in contact with the subject of the welfare request but they would not initially reveal their location, according to police.

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Police eventually found them and they revealed they were the alleged victim of domestic abuse.

Police then began searching for 59-year-old Mark Allen McLean.

A business operator in downtown Newmarket called police and said McLean showed up, brandished a firearm and made threats of self-harm, including saying that he wanted to commit suicide by cop, according to Newmarket police.

Police determined that McLean fled into a large mill complex nearby. Around 4:10 a.m. Friday morning, police say they located McClean inside a mill complex in an apartment that was not his.

Police were able to take McLean into custody after a brief struggle, the department said. He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

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The incident is still under investigation by the Newmarket Police Department.

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A 19-year-old man was taken into custody for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman Thursday night in a gangway of a building in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.

Shortly after 11 p.m., a woman, 21, was walking through a gangway in the 1800 block of West Lunt Avenue when she saw a 19-year-old man pull out a knife and sexually assault a 21-year-old woman, police said. The attacker fled the scene.

A short time later, the victim told police about the sexual assault and was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston where she evaluated for injuries and listed in good condition, police said.

Responding officers then placed the 19-year-old man into custody. Detectives were investigating the circumstances surrounding the reported sexual assault and charges were pending.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 41-year-old man is dead and a driver is in custody after a hit-and-run crash in downtown Salt Lake City early Friday morning.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, crews responded to a crash involving a pedestrian near 400 South and 200 East. Police say a 41-year-old man was hit and killed by a car. Following the collision, the driver fled the scene.

According to Salt Lake City Police Department, UTA Police helped in reviewing camera footage and assisted SLCPD in identifying the suspects vehicle.

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While on scene, firefighters from the Salt Lake City Fire Department spotted the suspects vehicle in a nearby Trader Joes parking lot, police say. After approaching the vehicle, the suspect allegedly attempted to flee again. Firefighters kept the suspect on scene until officers arrived and arrested him.

Police identified Steven Ray Weathers, 61, as the suspect and booked him into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of automobile homicide, fleeing the scene of a deadly crash, and driving without a license.

SLCPD believes Weathers may have been impaired during the crash. However, the investigation is still ongoing.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man suspected of kidnapping a woman who jumped from a moving car on I-15 is facing several charges.

Jose Urias Vargas, 40, was taken into custody during a traffic stop hours after the alleged kidnapping, on April 25.

According to the Nevada State Police, they received a call from a witness who saw a woman open the passenger door of a car and attempt to jump from a vehicle on I-15 northbound near Flamingo Road.

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Police said the woman did eventually jump from the vehicle. An investigation revealed that she was being held against her will with the threat of deadly harm. The suspect was identified as Urias Vargas, who was in a dating relationship with the woman.

Vargas was later taken into custody after a traffic stop. He is facing the following charges:

Assault with a deadly weapon

Coercion with force or threat or use of physical force (2 counts)

Kidnapping First Degree with use of a deadly weapon

State police said the following charges were added for crimes discovered during the traffic stop.

DUI first offense

Driving with a revoked drivers license

Open alcohol container in the vehicle

Allowing child abuse/neglect (2 counts)

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Urias Vargas is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on May 13, according to court records. He is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center on a $100,000 bail.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was found guilty in the 2022 fatal shooting of a Cordova woman, says the Shelby County District Attorneys Office.

Samuel Ward has been charged and found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Paris Lee. He has not been sentenced.

Samuel Ward _ Mugshot Courtesy of Shelby County District Attorneys Office

The SCDAO says Ward testified and said he went to Lees house when a verbal altercation occurred.

Ward says Lee asked him to leave, and he claimed Lee pointed a gun at him while they were at the top of the staircase, making him fall backwards.

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Police were told he then drew his gun and fired upward from the bottom of the staircase, shooting Lee.

ORIGINAL: One dead, one detained in domestic situation in Cordova

According to the district attorneys office, a medical examiner says Lee was shot six times, and the trajectories of the gunshot wounds did not align with Wards statement.

They also say Ward had no visible injuries, which undermined his claim of self-defense, and the jury rejected his narrative and found him guilty.

Tarik Hunter, a key witness and Lees best friend, testified about a phone call with Lee during the incident.

Hunter told the jury he heard Ward yelling in the background and Lee repeatedly asking him to leave.

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Man calls officer to admit to fatal shooting in Cordova: MPD

According to the district attorneys office, after Ward fired his weapon, he left the scene and drove 30 minutes to his home before calling 911.

Police say Lee was still alive when they got there, but died within a matter of minutes.

Sources told WREG in 2022 that dispatchers never received a call for help from the crime scene. It now appears that Ward called a trusted officer from another part of town in the middle of the night and admitted to shooting someone.

The district attorneys office says the MPD officer who interviewed Ward confirmed the order of events.

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UPDATE: FRIDAY 5/2/2025 5:24 p.m.

(PUEBLO, Colo.)  Justin Kula has been sentenced to at least 48 years in prison after being found guilty of hitting and killing a Pueblo parole officer.

On Friday, the judge heard from the family of Sandoval, along with her friends, the prosecution, and the defense on how long Kula should be sentenced for the charges he was found guilty of. The judge sentenced Kula to 48 years across three charges, to be served consecutively with the possibility of parole.

This afternoon, a violent and repeat felony offender was sentenced to the maximum sentence under Colorado law. Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachael Powell and Senior Deputy District Attorney Shelby Crow worked tirelessly to achieve justice for Parole Officer Christine Guerin Sandoval, a public servant who sacrificed her life for our safety. I recognize the monumental loss suffered by Christines friends and family, as well as by the men and women who served alongside her, said 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen.

ORIGINAL STORY: Man found guilty of hitting and killing Pueblo parole officer to be sentenced Friday

FRIDAY 5/2/2025 9:17 a.m.

Justin Kula, the man who was found guilty of killing Pueblo Parole Officer Christine Guerin Sandoval, will be sentenced on Friday, May 2.

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In February, Kula was found guilty of hitting two officers and killing one during a welfare check in September of 2023. He was found guilty on four charges:

Failure to Fulfill Duties after Involvement in Vehicular Incident

Manslaughter

Third-Degree Assault

Vehicular Homicide

During his trial, the jury also found cause to add three Habitual Criminal charges, which could lead to a harsher prison sentence. Kula had previously been found guilty of three offenses, including an Attempt to Commit Extortion and Felony Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer.

Kulas sentencing is set for Friday at 3 p.m.

FOX21 News will be tuning in to the sentencing hearing and will update this article when more information becomes available.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A man has been found guilty of vehicular homicide for a 2023 crash that killed a woman.

According to court documents, Curtis Cotton, 37, of Omaha, Neb. was found guilty by a jury on April 25 of vehicular homicide and operating while intoxicated. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6.

Cotton was arrested in December 2023 for a crash on Interstate 29 near Salix that killed Ashley Bond. That rollover crash happened on Feb. 21, 2023, around 4 p.m.

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Authorities arrived to the scene and found an Oldsmobile Alero on its top. The responding officer also saw Cotton moving around the scene and a woman, later identified as Bond, lying on the ground near the car.

Wife of Dakota Dunes murder suspect changes plea to no contest

The Woodbury County Sheriffs Office said at the time that Bond had been ejected from the vehicle during the rollover. She was taken to a nearby hospital in a helicopter, but was later pronounced dead due to her injuries.

Authorities aid that Cottons breath smelled of alcohol and that his eyes appeared watery and bloodshot. Documents said that Cotton said he was in the passenger seat when the crash happened, but dash cam video indicated that he was driving.

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Cotton argued he wasnt the driver, climbing he only had one shot that night. Blood tests revealed that Cotton had a BAC of 0.124 as well as signs of marijuana.

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A Wisconsin man will spend more than three years in prison for hacking into Ring doorbell cameras and then baiting law enforcement to the homes of unsuspecting victims so he could live stream the potentially violent conflicts.

Kya Christian Nelson, 23, of Racine, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for participating in a one-week spree of swatting incidents that happened in 2020 at homes across the country, including two in Southern California.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Nelson and his co-conspirators gained access to the doorbell cameras by using Yahoo email accounts theyd previously hacked into, and then used the same email and password combos to see if they had associated Ring accounts.

A Ring doorbell device is seen on Aug. 28, 2019 in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Getty Images)

Once logged in, Nelson and his friends would call law enforcement agencies in that persons region, reporting false emergencies to draw an armed police response to their home.

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After setting the stage for a potential law enforcement response, the group would then broadcast audio and video of the hacked devices on social media, and even used the cameras to taunt the victims and officers on the scene.

In one instance on Nov. 8, 2020, Nelson and another person logged into the Ring account of a victim in West Covina. Posing as a young child, they then called the West Covina Police Department to report that there was a violent confrontation taking place inside the home involving their parents, adding that there were several guns on the property and at least seven shots already fired inside.

Armed police responded to the home based on the hoax call, and the homeowners were removed from the residence at gunpoint. During that police operation, Nelson used the camera to taunt and threaten responding officers, the DOJ said.

Days later, another swatting incident took place at a home in Oxnard, with Nelson and a friend calling the Oxnard Police Department to again pose as a child and claim that their father was inside the home with a firearm. A second hoax call was made to police dispatch to report the sound of gunshots fired inside the home.

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Again, officers responded and entered the victims home at gunpoint, and, again, Nelson used the homes Ring camera to taunt and threaten police.

L.A. man admits to stealing sensitive Disney data in hacking scheme

Nelson has been in federal custody since August 2024 and was previously serving a prison sentence in Kentucky on an unrelated charge. He pleaded guilty in the swatting case back in January.

One of his co-conspirators, 22-year-old James Andre McCarty, of Kayenta, Arizona, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in the Ring crime spree.

McCarty also admitted to another incident in Florida, in which he called a local police department claiming to be a man who had just killed his wife and was holding a hostage, warning that he was armed and had rigged the house with explosives.

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He live-streamed that police response on social media, and later took credit for it, stating that he thought it was amusing, the DOJ said.

In sentencing documents, prosecutors described Nelson and his co-conspirators as criminals who went on a digital crime spree, terrorizing innocent people around the country while they were safe behind their keyboards.

He subjected others to real danger, prosecutors wrote.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

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By Niket Nishant

(Reuters) - Investment giant KKR is ready to put its $116 billion of capital to use as market volatility creates fresh opportunities, it said after posting a nearly 20% jump in first-quarter profit on Thursday.

While tariff-driven turbulence has stirred concerns over limited exit opportunities, top KKR executives said its global footprint and asset mix have put it in a better position than expected.

The company could pursue asset sales in Asia and Europe, where the impact has been less severe than in the U.S., co-CEO Scott Nuttall said.

If firms turn to debt amid equity market turmoil, KKR still stands to gain because of its credit investment arm, he said.

The results reflect the structural advantage held by large alternative asset managers, whose diversified portfolios allow them to rely on resilient segments when others face pressure.

KKR's adjusted net income was $1.03 billion for the three months ended March 31. On a per-share basis, it earned $1.15, in line with expectations, according to estimates compiled by LSEG.

Fee-related earnings, a key source of stability during heightened market volatility, grew 23% to $822.6 million. Assets under management rose 15% to $664 billion, helped by $31 billion of new capital raised.

Shares rose nearly 2% to $116.31. They have fallen 23% this year, compared with a 5% drop in the S&P 500 index.

Rivals Blackstone, Apollo Global and Carlyle have dropped 23.6%, 17.4% and 23.5%, respectively.

RETAIL OUTREACH

KKR is sharpening its focus on retail investors. Earlier this week, the company, along with Capital Group, launched two funds with low fees and minimum investment thresholds, to help retail investors access a blend of public and private credit.

"The opportunity is immense. There is a lot more coming attractions," Nuttall said as the company explores similar products in private equity, real estate, and infrastructure spaces.

A growing number of asset managers is seeking to tap the vast pool of retail investors, a segment that has so far been largely excluded from alternative assets.

KKR's results come weeks after peer Blackstone reported higher-than-expected profit for the first quarter, driven by strength in its private equity and credit businesses.

Apollo is set to report on Friday, with Carlyle scheduled for next week.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man was hurt after a Thursday shooting in Southwest D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Officers responded to reports of shots fired at 1:45 a.m. in the area of 4th Street and M Street SW.

Three teenage boys arrested in Metropolitan Branch Trail robberies, police say

There, officers found a man who had been robbed and was suffering from a gunshot wound.

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Police say the man was transported to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.

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A Danbury man has been indicted in connection with a narcotics trafficking operation involving cocaine that was shipped from Puerto Rico to Connecticut.

The indictment, which was returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Hartford, charges Roman Santiago, Jr., 41, with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and a maximum of life imprisonment.

According to federal officials, Santiago is believed to have been involved in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy from September 2024 to February 2025. Investigators alleged that the operation involved the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the mail,

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During the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages allegedly containing a total of more than 11 kilograms of cocaine that were mailed from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut. Authorities alleged that each package was intended for Santiago and contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine.

Santiago was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Feb. 12 and is free on a $50,000 bond.

The narcotics operation was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with the assistance of the Plainville and Danbury Police Departments.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  An investigation is underway after a 23-year-old man was killed in a construction site accident Thursday afternoon, Akron police said in a statement.

First responders were called to a construction site in the 300 block of White Pond Drive for reports of an accident at about 2:30 p.m.

Women forced into prostitution at local massage parlors: AG

Upon arrival, police said they learned a section of an exterior wall collapsed, striking and fatally injuring the victim. He was pronounced dead at the scene less than 20 minutes later.

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The Summit County Medical Examiners Office on Friday identified the man as Marcus Miller, 23, of Millersburg. An examination is scheduled for Friday.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life in the tragic accident at the construction site on White Pond Drive, Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said in a statement. These incidents are extremely difficult for everyone involved and have a significant impact on our community.

The man was due to be married in just days, police confirmed to FOX 8 News.

Miller was described as a wonderful, hard-working young man.

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We were all heartbroken at the news and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time, reads a statement provided to FOX 8 News by Alan Gaffney of the White Pond Reserve property management company. There are no words to express our sorrow and condolences at this tragic loss.

7-year-old who wanted McDonalds drove 10 miles with little sister in car

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik also offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of the construction worker who sadly lost their life.

Anyone who may have information regarding the fatal incident is asked to reach out to detectives at 330-375-2490 or CrimeStoppers at 330-434-COPS.

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA)  A man known to throw cans of food and other items around a Florida neighborhood, and at others, was arrested after a neighbor said he threw canned corn through her window, an arrest affidavit said.

On April 25, a Port Charlotte woman called the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office to report vandalism at her neighbors home. She said she was outside when she heard the sound of glass breaking.

Powerball winner visiting Florida kicks Pinellas deputy in face days after hitting jackpot: affidavit

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The woman turned toward the noise to find one of her neighbors, 38-year-old Erlz Ernest Saintvil, running from another neighbors front yard and back toward his home.

According to the affidavit, the left front window was found broken at the top, as if something had been thrown through the glass. The witness got a key from another neighbor in the neighborhood, who watches the owners house when she is away, and went into the home to see what had happened. The women found broken glass and a Del Monte can of corn inside.

The witness claimed Saintvil is known in the area for throwing cans of food around that he had gotten from food banks and causing issues.

Neighbors told NBC affiliate WBBH the suspect has also thrown a bottle of urine, glass plates, chunks of metal and raw meat at their homes.

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Deputies contacted the victim, who said she had just replaced the window and wished to press charges against Saintvil, as he is always throwing things in the neighborhood and at people.

She just came down and put $500 into repairing it, a neighbor told the news outlet. I called the lady, who lives there, because she lives in Canada, to explain that he had attacked her house again.

Its not safe: 3 coyote attacks reported in 2 days in Florida beach town

Someday, hes going to hurt somebody, another longtime resident told WBBH.

When Saintvil was approached at his home, he opened the front door, said I plead the fifth twice, shut the door, and refused to come outside, the report said.

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The following day, authorities returned to the scene and found Saintvil outside. He pleaded the fifth again, before telling deputies, You cant take me.

Saintvil was arrested on April 26 on charges of shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings and criminal mischief between $200 and $1000 in damage. He was taken to the Charlotte County Jail.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A city man who pleaded guilty to leading police on three chases in one day was sentenced Thursday to one year in prison.

Read next: Man arrested while eating sandwich as police chased him sentenced to probation

Nathaniel Cheatham, 35, received the sentence in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court from Judge John Durkin following a guilty plea to a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.

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Cheatham was originally arrested Dec. 3. Reports said officers on patrol spotted an SUV driven by Cheatham about 5:15 p.m. driving north on Oak Hill Avenue going very fast. When police tried to pull the SUV over, Cheatham accelerated and led them to Glenwood Avenue, weaving in and out of traffic and passing other cars as they did.

Police chased him three times after he failed to stop, but called off the chases each time before finding the SUV in the 500 block of Lakewood Avenue, where he was arrested.

Reports said Cheatham told police he didnt stop because he was afraid.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A judge has ordered a Lansing man charged in the January death of 20-year-old Caleb Alan Shermoe of Fowlerville to stand trial at a Thursday preliminary hearing.

David Gaines Jr., 24, will now go to trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Police told 6 News in January that Shermoe was assaulted at the corner of E Grand River Ave. and M.A.C. Ave. in East Lansing at around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. He was taken to the hospital and later died of his injuries on Jan. 23.

Gaines was charged with manslaughter on March 20. At a hearing Thursday, the court saw evidence indicating that Gaines punched Shermoe in the face once, knocking him unconscious. Shermoe then fell backwards and hit his head on the ground, dying several days later from blunt-force trauma.

(WLNS) (WLNS) (WLNS)

Video showing parts of the altercation was played in court by Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane Thursday, showing Gaines jumping at Shermoe and striking him in the face.

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Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

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A man has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a man who authorities say tried to stop him from robbing a bank inside the South Strabane Giant Eagle in 2013.

Keith Wilk pleaded guilty Friday to killing Vincent Kelley during the robbery. He is sentenced to 20-40 years in prison.

Kelley ran after Wilk, who was fleeing the Citizens Bank inside the store. Vincent tackled the robber, which caused the bank dye to explode, before police said Wilk shot and killed him.

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Around 9 years later, in 2022, Washington County officials said DNA linked Wilk to the case and charges were filed.

Channel 11s Cara Sapida will have more on this story on Channel 11 News starting at 4 p.m.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Reports said a man told police someone fired shots at his vehicle Thursday afternoon at the state Route 711 and Gypsy Lane.

The man called police about 4:55 p.m. from a parking lot in the 2400 block of Belmont Avenue and told an officer as he was driving on Niles-Vienna Road, a Jeep almost cut him off and he beeped his horn.

The driver of the Jeep made several obscene gestures, reports said. The man who made the report told police he lost sight of the Jeep, but when he approached the intersection of state Route 711 and Gypsy Lane, the Jeep cut him off and a man inside fired three shots at him from a handgun before driving away.

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The man was able to get the license plate number on the Jeep, reports said. He was not injured. Reports said there was evidence that at least one bullet struck the mans car.

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HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man has been sentenced to the maximum of 20 to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of third-degree murder for killing 41-year-old Helena Johnson in 2021.

Joseph Sarmiento, 40, of New York, has been sentenced after being found guilty but mentally ill of third-degree murder.

Mom facing charges after allegedly driving son to fight

Johnson, of Massachusetts, was found dead on June 6, 2021, at the Red Carpet Inn in Hazle Township. A forensic pathologist testified that Johnson was struck a minimum of 10 times and that there was evidence of strangulation.

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This defendants attempts to avoid accountability for the brutal killing of Miss Johnson ended today with this decades-long prison sentence, Attorney General Sunday said. We hope this verdict and sentence provide a sense of solace for the people who loved her and miss her every day.

The Attorney General said the mentally ill charge will hold the same sentencing guidelines, but will allow Sarmiento to receive mental health treatment during incarceration.

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HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A 48-year-old man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Thursday for the August 2024 road rage shooting on Interstate 95, according to the Howard County States Attorneys Office.

Quwan Lamar Gordon was found guilty in January on charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and multiple firearms-related offenses.

Court documents state that on Aug. 12, Gordon was driving a white Volkswagen on I-95 when he fired shots at another car in a fit of road rage.

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Four arrested after Fauquier County vehicle pursuits, deputies say

Two bullets struck the vehicle, but neither the driver nor the passenger was injured in the shooting.

According to court documents, Maryland State Police interviewed the victims and a witness who captured a photo of the Volkswagen, resulting in officers linking the car to Gordon.

Maryland State Police Highway Gun Crimes Initiative investigators executed a search warrant at Gordons home in Owings Mills and his vehicle.

There, officers seized a loaded handgun and felony quantities of suspected MDMA and fentanyl.

Court documents add that Gordon was unable to own a gun because he was a felon. Officers initially charged him with narcotics and weapons violations. Gordon was then officially charged with attempted second-degree murder on Aug. 23.

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Todays sentencing sends a clear message that gun violence on our roadways will not be

tolerated, said States Attorney Rich Gibson. Thanks to the meticulous work of the

Maryland State Police and our dedicated prosecution team, we were able to bring Mr.

Gordon to justice and ensure the safety of our community. We commend the bravery of the

witness who stepped forward and the investigators who connected the dots in a complex

and dangerous case.

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Kohl's fired its CEO, Ashley Buchanan, on April 30 after finding he made improper business deals with someone he had a personal relationship with, according to a filing the company made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company said it terminated Buchanan, who was named the company's CEO in January, after conducting an investigation that found he directed the company to "conduct business with a vendor founded by an individual with whom Mr. Buchanan has a personal relationship," according to the SEC filing.

The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported the individual was a romantic partner of Buchanan's, identified as Chandra Holt. Holt had her contract with Boston Consulting Group terminated as a result of the incident, the firm said in a statement to the The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Kohl's appointed its board of directors chair Michael Bender as interim CEO while the company conducts a search to replace Buchanan, it said in the filing.

Why was Kohl's CEO Ashley Buchanan fired?

Kohl's said Buchanan made "a multi-million dollar consulting agreement" between the company and a consulting firm where "an individual with whom Mr. Buchanan has a personal relationship" worked.

The agreement entailed the individual  identified by the WSJ as Holt  working as a member of the consulting team and included "highly unusual terms favorable to the vendor," Kohl's said in the filing.

The retailer said Buchanan violated the company's code of ethics policies when he failed to disclose his personal relationship.

In wake of the incident, Holt was terminated from her contract with Boston Consulting Group, the firm said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.

"BCG was shocked to learn of the relationship between Chandra Holt and Ashley Buchanan," the firm said. "We have strict guidelines for our senior advisors to disclose any conflicts of interest."

Kohl's did not publicly identify Holt in the filing. USA TODAY has reached out to Holt's company, Incredibrew, for comment.

More: Kohl's fires CEO Ashley Buchanan for conflicts of interest. He was hired in January

Who is Ashley Buchanan? What to know about ousted Kohl's CEO

Buchanan was hired in January to lead Kohl's, the Wisconsin-based retail chain.

Before that, he was the CEO of arts and crafts retailer Michael's for five years. During his tenure, he sold the company to private equity giant Apollo Global Management for $5 billion.

Buchanan also previously worked as an executive for both Walmart and Sam's Club and was on the board of directors for Macy's.
An Illinois man has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for the 2023 fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy.

Wadee Alfayoumi was stabbed 26 times and his mother more than a dozen in the Oct. 14, 2023, attack inside their home in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield.

Their landlord, 73-year-old Joseph Czuba, was convicted in February on multiple murder charges, as well as attempted murder, aggravated battery and hate crime counts. A Will County jury found Czuba guilty of all counts after deliberating for less than two hours.

PHOTO: Wadee Alfayoumi's father, Oday Al Fayoume, seated right, and his uncle Mahmoud Yousef attend a vigil for Wadee at Prairie Activity and Recreation center in Plainfield, Ill., Oct. 17, 2023. (Nam Y. Huh/AP, FILE)

Prior to the sentencing on Friday in Joliet, the judge denied a motion from the defense team to overturn the jury verdict that claimed he did not receive a fair trial, Chicago ABC station WLS reported.

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The defense has filed a motion to reconsider the sentencing, with a court appearance scheduled for May 7, WLS reported.

Czuba faced a mandatory prison sentence of 20 to 60 years up to a possible life sentence.

Authorities said he targeted his tenants because they were Muslim and in response to the war between Israel and Hamas that had just ignited after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Wadee's great uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, addressed the sentencing outside the courthouse, telling reporters, "It doesn't matter what numbers are. He took a life from us. He took a future."

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said it welcomed the sentence.

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"No sentence can restore what was taken, but today's outcome delivers a necessary measure of justice," Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said in a statement. "Wadee was an innocent child. He was targeted because of who he was -- Muslim, Palestinian, and loved. Our work now is to ensure that no other child suffers from the deadly consequences of hate."

MORE: Man convicted of hate crime in fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy

The child's mother, Hanan Shaheen, was the first to take the stand in the weeklong trial.

She said Czuba attacked her first with a knife, stabbing her multiple times, saying, "You devil Muslim, you must die," as her son watched, according to WLS, which was in the courtroom.

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She testified that she called 911 from the bathroom when he appeared to leave, but then she started to hear her son screaming, according to WLS.

"I started hearing my son screaming, screaming, screaming, 'Oh no, stop,'" Shaheen said, according to WLS.

Jurors also listened to the mother's 911 call from the bathroom, in which she was heard telling the dispatcher, "He's killing my baby," WLS reported.

PHOTO: Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County, Ill., courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP, FILE)

Jurors additionally heard remarks Czuba made in a law enforcement vehicle following the attack.

"I thought they were going to do jihad on me," Czuba said, according to WLS.

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He also said he was "afraid for my life" and his wife and said the family was "just like infested rats," according to WLS.

MORE: Exclusive: Mother of 6-year-old Muslim boy stabbed to death in alleged hate crime speaks out

Czuba and his wife rented part of their Plainfield home to the mother and son for two years.

His now-ex-wife testified for prosecutors that Czuba became withdrawn in the days after the war and wanted the family to move out immediately, while she wanted to give them 30 days' notice, according to The Associated Press.

Czuba did not take the stand, waiving his right to testify.

Man sentenced to 53 years in prison in hate crime murder of 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  One man has been sentenced, while a second has pleaded guilty in connection with the fatal shooting of two men in 2022.

Trebeh Jones, 21, was sentenced to 364 months (30 years and 4 months) in prison for the deaths of 21-year-old Amill Williams and 20-year-old Alonzo Montgomery.

Around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, several people called 911, reporting gunfire near George Washington Boulevard between Harry and Lincoln Street.

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When police arrived, they found a car that had crashed at the intersection of George Washington Boulevard and Lincoln Street. Williams and Montgomery were found dead inside, while a third victim, a woman, was ejected from the car but survived.

Brawl in Wichita courtroom leads to charges against 6 people

Jones was also sentenced in two separate cases to 23 months and 83 months in prison. Combined with his 364-month sentence, this leads to a total sentence of 470 months (39 years and 2 months).

A second man, James Lowe Jr., pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, criminal discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery. His sentencing is scheduled for June 18.

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Two other defendants were sentenced to over 30 years in prison in 2024.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was sentenced to prison Friday after he was convicted of causing a fatal car crash while high on psychedelic mushrooms in 2023.

Fullington William Frazer III, 23, sped through a red light in his Dodge Caliber at 60 miles per hour before colliding with two cars on Dec. 30, 2023, according to the jurys verdict.

Portland woman dies after snorkeling trip in Hawaii

Frazer was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, DUII, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, and fourth-degree assault. He will serve 25 years in prison.

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Frazer had been giving his roommate, Mitchell Scott Barr, a ride to the grocery store in Milwaukie when the crash happened near the intersection of SE Freeman Way and Highway 224 just before 8 p.m. He struck a Subaru Forester and a Toyota Prius.

Barr, 24, was ejected from Frazers car and died. The driver of the Subaru, Fleetwood Mars Mozee, 37, was also killed in the crash. The driver and the passenger in the Prius were both injured.

Prosecutors said Frazer exhibited strange behavior after the crash. At one point, when he was asked if he needed medical attention, Frazer responded, I just want the love.

Frazer was taken to the Oregon Health and Science University hospital and said during an interview with an Oregon State Police trooper that he did not remember having a passenger in his car. After being told two people died in the crash, Frazer reportedly said, Are they okay?

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Oregon has the top wine destination in the world, VinePair says

Frazer had psilocybin mushrooms in his system, a toxicology test confirmed.

An Oregon State Police trooper who responded to the scene called it one of the most destructive crashes hed ever seen, said Clackamas County Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Jones in her closing argument.

A car crash in Milwaukie in 2023 was the result of a man who was driving while high on mushrooms and who ran a red light, officials say. April 1, 2025 (courtesy Clackamas County District Attorneys Office).

At the time of the crash, Frazer was on probation for a 2021 public indecency conviction. He had previously been involved in a high-speed crash in Portland in March of 2023 and was the only person injured in that incident, court records show.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A District man was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday on drug and firearm charges, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.

He is also required to serve three years of supervised release.

Timothy Eugene Taylor, 36, pled guilty in October 2024 to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and unlawful possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP).

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Court documents say that on Aug. 11, 2023, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were patrolling the area when they saw Taylor and a man standing in the 4300 block of 3rd Street SE.

Metro officer shoots suspect in Northwest DC incident

Police said he was wearing a black satchel across his torso and that the bag had a distinct L-shaped bulge, which they believed was a gun.

According to court documents, the officers approached Taylor, and he responded by turning his body to hide the satchel. Officers asked if he had a gun and if he could fold his bag in half, to which he replied, No, I live right here and pointed to a home nearby.

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Officers exited the car, and Taylor began to run into the building, where officers followed and arrested him.

Inside the satchel, officers seized a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0 9mm, semiautomatic pistol with 21 rounds loaded in its extended magazine and three vials of liquid phencyclidine (PCP) that indicated he was intending to distribute the substance.

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SOUTH JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11)  A man convicted of killing his girlfriend, her son and cousin in a grisly stabbing spree in a Queens home three years ago will be spending the rest of his life behind bars, authorities said Friday.

Travis Blake, 31, was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty on three counts of murder during a jury trial last month, prosecutors said.

Blake stabbed his girlfriend, Karlene Barnett, 55, her son, Dervon Brightly, 36, and cousin, Vashawna Malcolm, 22, to death in the Jamaica home he shared with Barnett in June 2022.

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Barnett was found dead in a puddle of her own blood with 10 stab wounds to her back and head and multiple skull fractures in the basement. Brightly was repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver and beat in the head with a hammer, according to court records.

Malcolms body was already decomposing when she was found half naked with stab wounds to the neck and chest in an upstairs bedroom, prosecutors said.

Blake and Barnett met at work and were dating. The defendant then moved into Barnetts home she shared with her son on 115th Street. Malcom was visiting for the summer from Jamaica.

Blake was arrested in Maine several weeks after the gruesome killings and extradited to Queens, prosecutors said.

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The defendant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This defendant deserves every day of his sentence, and we stand with the victims family as they continue to mourn this overwhelming loss, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

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.







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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A city man who served prison time for a shooting that left one man dead and another wounded is going back to prison on a gun charge.

Judge Maureen Sweeney on Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Kevon Williams, 33, to 18 months in prison following an earlier guilty plea to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case. Judge Sweeney followed their recommendation.

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Williams was arrested April 5, 2024, following a traffic stop by Youngstown police at Hillman Street and West Avondale Avenue for an improper turn. During the stop, reports said police found a .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol in the glove box.

He can not have a gun because of his past convictions for a December 2012 shooting death.

Williams was charged with a Dec. 4, 2012, shooting of a man at a Lansdowne Boulevard market and the death of David Jackson, 26, whose body was found in February 2013 in a heavily wooded area of the Sharon Line on the East Side.

At the time, police said Jackson was killed and the other man shot because they were involved in a robbery with Williams and they shorted him on the profits.

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Part of Jacksons body was found by a mans dog, and other dogs belonging to the same man brought back several bones from the skeleton. Police brought in a cadaver-sniffing dog from another law enforcement agency, but that dog never found any of Jacksons remains.

DNA was used to identify the bones.

In February 2015, Williams pleaded guilty to charges of felonious assault, involuntary manslaughter and abuse of a corpse and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with credit for 407 days in the county jail while awaiting the disposition of his case.

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May 1A man was taken to a hospital in serious condition after inhaling smoke from a bedroom fire Thursday morning on the North Side, according to the Spokane Fire Department.

Firefighters were called at 9:15 a.m. to the blaze at 7417 N. Crestline St., said fire department spokesman Justin de Ruyter.

De Ruyter said the flames were contained to a bedroom in the residence, but smoke damage was reported throughout the home, displacing the man, his wife and their dog. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family, according to a fire department news release.

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Firefighters evaluated the woman on scene, but she did not go to the hospital.

Investigators determined the fire started in a bedroom chair from improperly discarded smoking materials, the release said.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11)  A Passaic County man has pleaded guilty to using an explosive to damage a Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Thursday.

Nicolas Torres, 42, was caught on surveillance video igniting an item in front of the ATM, according to court documents. Seconds later, an explosion was seen at the ATM.

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Cellphone location data placed Torres near the Chase Bank during the incident, according to prosecutors.

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Investigations revealed that Torres had also traveled to Pennsylvania the day before and spent around $1,000 on fireworks.

Torres faces prison time and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is set for Sept. 9.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A man turned himself in weeks after he was involved in a deadly home invasion, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.

On April 16, investigators said two armed men, identified as Jaquavius Corde Daniels and Marcel Williams, entered a home on 40th Street North.

The homeowner confronted them and fired shots at them, injuring Williams.

12-year-old caught street racing 17-year-old in Florida, deputies say

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Williams was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront, where he died of his injuries.

Police said Daniels fled the home. On Thursday night, he turned himself in to the authorities.

St. Petersburg police said Daniels is charged with felony murder.

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Authorities captured an allegedly violent international fugitive on Thursday.

Fernando Vieira Martins is wanted for homicide in Brazil where he brutally stabbed a victim more than 30 times, according to Milford Police.

Martins reportedly fled to the United States in 2023 and was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Brazilian law enforcement.

Milford Police officers in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took Vieira Martins into custody.

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He is being held on immigration-related charges while extradition proceedings are pending, according to police.

Thanks to the collaborative work between our department and HSI, another dangerous individual has been apprehended and will now face justice, said Robert Tusino, Milford Chief of Police. The arrest underscores the harsh reality of the current state of our community. This is the second known killer hiding amongst the people of Milford to be captured in the last 45 days.

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Australias competition authority has flagged interest by dairy giant Lactalis to acquire Fonterras up-for-sale consumer-facing dairy assets.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an under consideration notice today (2 May) relating to the proposal by France-headquartered Lactalis.

ACCC has invited feedback on the proposal from interested parties by 16 May, stating in a statement that Lactalis proposes to acquire Fonterras global consumer business and the cooperatives dairy and ingredients foodservice businesses in Australia.

New Zealand-headquartered Fonterra first announced an exit plan from its consumer-facing division in May last year, when it said the business would explore a full or partial disposal of the assets.

Then in November, Fonterra said it would move ahead with the proposal, throwing a possible IPO of the consumer operations into the option pool as the co-op instead plans to focus on the dairy ingredients and foodservice parts of the business. The divestment plan also includes the co-ops businesses in Oceania and Sri Lanka.

The interest from Lactalis has emerged a day after Reuters reported, quoting unnamed sources, that the French business was among a group of companies considering bidding for the Fonterra assets.

Canada-based Saputo, Japans Meiji Holding Co. and US investment firm Warburg Pincus were also reportedly part of the group.

Warburg Pincus declined to comment on the speculation yesterday (1 May) when approached by Just Food, while Saputo had not responded. This publication was unable to reach Meiji for comment.

Fonterra had also not responded to Just Foods request made yesterday to ascertain the status of the disposal proceedings or to comment on any parties from which it may have received interest.

Lactalis responds



Lactalis, meanwhile, has responded today. It was a public holiday in France yesterday, like much of Europe for Labour Day.

Initially, it said: As the world's leading dairy group, Lactalis is looking at all the opportunities that present themselves, confirming with Just Food via a spokesperson that the dairy major currently has no activities in New Zealand, Oceania or Sri Lanka.

Lactalis then issued a follow-on statement, acknowledging it was in response to the ACCCs filing.

As the leading dairy group, global development is core to our growth plans, and we are naturally considering investments in Australia and internationally, Lactalis said.

We would envisage many interested parties would participate in the sale process. Several pre-emptive steps are standard ahead of any agreement being considered, and Lactalis have not signed an agreement.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The man who won a huge lawsuit against CNN, in a case that was tried here in Bay County, is suing more media companies.

After a two-week trial in January, jurors found that CNN defamed Zachary Young and his company, Nemex Enterprises.

The case stems from the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. CNN produced a story accusing Young of being a black market operator, profiteering off Afghans trying to flee the country, charging them huge fees.

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CNNs undisclosed settlement to Young is believed to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Now, Young is suing the Associated Press and the U.S. News and World Report.

Bombshell CNN defamation lawsuit had a surprise ending following guilty verdict

He claims the Associated Press labeled him a criminal when a reporter used the word smuggled to describe his work, helping Afghans out of the country.

He said smuggling is illegal and insinuates human trafficking. Young is suing the U.S. News & World Report for publishing the AP story with the word smuggling.

He also suing Puck media, an online news website, for its reporting on the CNN trial, claiming Puck repeated the same fact errors and asserting the only reason he would win the case is because of conservative Trump-appointed judges.

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All three of Youngs new lawsuits were filed here in Bay County.

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NEW YORK, NY  Mango Markets exploiter Avraham Avi Eisenberg, who stole $110 million from the now-defunct decentralized finance protocol in 2022, was sentenced to 52 months in prison on Thursday  on his guilty plea to possession of child sexual exploitation material, not for his conviction on the crypto theft.

The sentencing comes a year after a New York jury found Eisenberg guilty of wire fraud, commodities fraud and commodities manipulation for his Mango Markets stunt, and a year after he separately pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which was found on his devices after his arrest.

Defense attorneys moved for either a new trial or an acquittal on the Mango Markets-related charges last year, claiming that the Department of Justice pursued the case in the wrong venue (the Southern District of New York), that the government hadn't properly proved that the MNGO Perpetual was a "swap," that Eisenberg intended to manipulate the MNGO Perpetual's price and that his "alleged deceptions ... were immaterial."

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In a hearing in Manhattan on Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian said he would sentence Eisenberg to more than four years in prison at FCI Otisville, a medium-security facility about two hours' drive from Manhattan, but that there was a "non-zero chance I will grant that motion" related to the Mango Markets-related charges.

The bulk of any sentence would be related to the CSAM charge anyway, the judge said.

"I think that in this specific area, general deterrence has more weight ... the only way to try to stem the tide of the distribution of this material" is through a prison sentence, the judge said, before reading three witness statements.

The judge also said he acknowledged to Eisenberg's effort to better understand the impact of his crime, but that a prison sentence was still necessary. Eisenberg is sentenced to five years of probation with strict rules after he is released from prison, the judge said, but will have to install monitoring software on all of his electronic devices and go through a drug outpatient program.

Presentence filings

In their sentencing submission to the court, prosecutors asked for Eisenberg to serve between 6.5 and 8 years in prison, stressing the seriousness of his offenses. Though Eisenberg has maintained that his crypto trading actions on Mango Markets were compliant with the protocol and thus didnt break the law (an argument a jury clearly did not buy), prosecutors say Eisenberg was well aware that what he was doing was a crime. Before his Mango Markets heist, hed filed suit against someone else for crypto-related market manipulation, and fled the country for Israel once his identity as the attacker was unveiled.

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Prosecutors also detailed Eisenbergs child sexual abuse material charges, telling the judge that between 2017 and 2022, he downloaded 1,274 sexually-explicit images and videos of children  including toddlers and two-month-old infants  as well as depictions of sadistic violence and masochism against children.

In their own sentencing submission to the court, Eisenberg and his lawyers attempted to blame his strict religious upbringing and his lifelong struggles to conform to social norms for his crimes, calling him a fundamentally decent person and detailing his challenges adapting to the daily horrors of life in jail.
May 1The Montgomery County Sheriff has announced that after early investigation results, he has placed correctional staff on leave who were involved in restraining Christian Black, a man who died after reportedly fighting with corrections staff while in custody in late March.

In a release, Sheriff Rob Streck said that he was informed Wednesday that early findings from the investigation by the Dayton Police Department and the Montgomery County Coroner's Office into the incident found that Black likely died due to positional asphyxia.

Streck said 10 jail staff were placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. He added that this is a procedural step and not an implication of guilt.

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Christian Black, 25, of Zanesville, was taken into custody March 23 after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle on Interstate 70 in Englewood. Emergency crews reportedly took him to a local hospital for treatment, then to the Montgomery County Jail.

At the jail early March 24, Black was involved in a fight with jail staff, with the sheriff's office saying that the staff used force, including a Taser to subdue him. Later, they said Black forcefully and repeatedly hit his head on his cell door, leading to jail staff entering the room to subdue him and a second fight breaking out. Staff again used force and a Taser, but also used pepper spray during the second fight, the sheriff's office said.

He was then put in handcuffs and an emergency restraint chair, and medics were called to take Black to the hospital to be checked.

During the wait, the sheriff's office said Black's condition deteriorated and he went into full arrest, and despite staff performing CPR and administering oxygen, medicine and a defibrillator before medics arrived and took him to the hospital.

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He was declared dead two days later.

Following the death, Black's family announced they were working with attorneys Michael Wright and Robert Gresham to investigate. The family's legal team released a statement after the sheriff's office announcement.

The family reviewed footage of Black's time at Montgomery County Jail with sheriff's office officials on Monday.

"After watching the horrific video, it is clear to the family why the Montgomery County Coroner's Office ruled Mr. Black's death a homicide," the attorneys 'statement said.

"Every day in jails across the country, detainees act out and need to be subdued, much like Mr. Black on March 23. However, it is clear after watching the video that the jail employees who were tasked with subduing him did not follow proper policies and procedures which ultimately caused his death," the attorneys said.

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"After he was already restrained, Mr. Black was tased and placed in a headlock, all while he struggled to breath. The video clearly shows that not a single jail employee offered any life-saving measures as Mr. Black was dying right in front of them."

The family's legal team on Monday said they want criminal charges brought against the 10 employees "for their callous treatment of Mr. Black."

The sheriff said that he had provided copies of video showing events that led up to the fights in the jail and Black being restrained, and said that he promised that following the criminal investigations that there would be "a thorough internal review and investigation to ensure accountability and transparency."

A Dayton Daily News analysis of state data for 2023 showed that seven people died after being put in custody at the Montgomery County jail that year, more than at any other jail in Ohio.

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Then, in 2024 another inmate died in custody after taking a gun from an officer while receiving care at Kettering Health Dayton.

The county is working toward a large-scale renovation of the jail, with plans to finish the design in May and start construction in July, to be complete by spring 2027.
May 2----

business development manager Michelle Marotzke has accepted a position as the economic development director for the cities of Lanesboro and Preston in southeast Minnesota.

"I have loved nearly every minute of the past year and am so incredibly grateful for the partnerships and friendships that I have," Marotzke said in a Facebook post. "... (Kandiyohi County) is full of amazing and hard working people who want the best for the people and business community. I am grateful to call this place home."

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Marotzke, who has been with KCED for a little more than a year, tendered her resignation with KCED on April 23, effective May 15. The Kandiyohi County Joint Powers Board accepted her resignation April 24 during its regular meeting.

Her resignation came just one week after KCED Executive Director Barbara Carr started in her new position. Marotzke had also interviewed for the executive director position.

"When decisions are made by walking in faith, doors open," Marotzke said in the Facebook post announcing the new position. " ... (Preston and Lanesboro) is a part of the state that we haven't explored before, but is full of beauty, opportunity and great people."

Marotzke's husband owns a business in Kandiyohi County that can't be moved, which means the two will be living in separate homes during the week, she explained in her Facebook post.

"The most supportive person in all of this is my husband. He has encouraged me, cheered me on, and become more excited for this opportunity than I could have imagined," she said. " ... We will prioritize our time together and with our family, making us stronger than ever."
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  Marylands Democratic Governor Wes Moore will join South Carolina Democrats in Columbia at the end of May for the partys annual fundraising dinner.

Moore was invited to be the guest speaker for the Blue Palmetto Dinner on May 30, party leaders announced Friday.

The 46-year-old veteran and former CEO of an anti-poverty nonprofit in New York City was elected Marylands first Black governor in 2022.

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In 2024, he unveiled a ten-point plan for his state focused on issues such as education reform, ending child poverty, affordable housing, advancing infrastructure, and job creation, among other priorities. He has also been a leader on cannabis reform, signing an executive order last June that pardoned 175,000 Maryland convictions for misdemeanor simple possession.

South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) leaders said Moores message of building a state that leaves no one behind resonates with Democrats throughout the Palmetto State.

He demonstrates daily bold, progressive, and compassionate leadership, said SCDP Chair Christale Spain in a statement. We are thrilled to welcome Governor Moore to South Carolina as we continue to build momentum, inspire action, and prepare to win up and down the ballot in 2026. His story and leadership will energize and unite us for the work ahead.

Democrats divided over how to battle a weakened Trump

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South Carolinas standing as an early primary state means the annual fundraiser has played host to current and aspiring officeholders in recent years, including Vice President Kamala Harris in 2022 and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in 2024.

The dinner occurs the same weekend as U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburns World Famous Fish Fry, a three-decade-old tradition widely viewed as a must-stop for presidential hopefuls. Clyburn is credited with helping to propel former President Joe Biden to the White House after endorsing him in the 2020 primary.

However, Moore, seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party, insisted in a May 1 interview on ABCs The View that he is not running for president in 2028.

The Blue Palmetto Dinner will begin at 7 p.m. on May 30 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds.

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MARYLAND (DC News Now)  A Maryland man was sentenced Thursday after he sexually assaulted someone aboard a cruise ship two years ago, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland.

Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, of Abingdon, Md., was ordered to serve 20 years in federal prison for assaults that happened early in January 2023.

While aboard the Carnival Legend between Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2023, Kelley raped and assaulted a 17-year-old girl, according to court documents. The ship was scheduled to return to Baltimore on Jan. 2.

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During the trial, prosecutors presented six other people who alleged Kelley had sexually assaulted them on separate occasions.

No one hurt in Frederick County emergency plane landing

A jury found him guilty of the cruise ship assault on Dec. 12, 2024, convicting him of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault.

In addition to his 20-year sentence, Kelley was ordered to undergo five years of supervised release.

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When Massachusetts joins the nation in celebrating this countrys 250th anniversary, the states four western counties wont be left out.

The commemoration will include details on how Western Massachusetts helped drive American history.

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has launched Massachusetts 250, which runs through July 206. The commonwealth and country will mark the nations semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.

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While the focus has long been on historic events in Philadelphia and Boston, Massachusetts 250 is calling out watershed times in Western Massachusetts that helped shape America.

The bicentennial [50 years ago] focused on Boston, Lexington and Concord. Were using the semiquincentennial to make sure this is a statewide campaign, that it engages with residents and visitors across Massachusetts, MOTT executive director Kate Fox said in an interview with The Republican.

The more people dig, the more everybody finds a historical link to the revolution, she said.

The Healey-Driscoll administration is granting $2.5 million to communities, museums and nonprofit organizations to tell stories of how their cities and towns contributed to American independence.

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Here are examples:

 The Springfield Preservation Trust received $5,000 for a program called Voices from the Grave, Heroes of the American Revolution Cemetery Tour Sunday, May 18, at Springfield Cemetery.

Seven historical residents will be featured on the tour, including John Bryant III (1742-1816), first Armory Superintendent, who lost his arm in battle; Hannah Mason Bryant (1756-1829), who sewed flannel cartridges for the Continental army; Nathaniel Brewer (1711-1809), Deacon of First Church for 53 years, and a joiner by trade; and Susan Freedom (1784-1803), a Black indentured servant whose name poignantly symbolizes the struggle for freedom and identity among African Americans in the post-Revolutionary War era.

Hosted by the Springfield Preservation Trust and developed by historian Derek Strahan and SPT Secretary Michael Stevens, the tour is an hour long and led by docents who take visitors on a tour to graves of interesting cemetery residents, where costumed interpreters speak about each person. Tours will depart every fifteen minutes starting at 1 p.m. at Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple St. Tickets are $20 for Springfield Preservation Trust members, and $25 for nonmembers.

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 1Berkshire in Pittsfield received $7,500 for the Berkshire 250 website.

 The Porter Phelps Huntington Museum in Hadley received $17,500 for a presentation titled Hadley and the American Revolution  Stories of Independence and Servitude."

MOTT is using Massachusetts250.org to promote a wide variety of events to be held across the state.

The revolution was eight years long. This is really the beginning of the revolution. Theres an opportunity for people to continue the commemorations, but for Massachusetts 250, were [celebrating in] 2025 and the first half of 2026, said Fox.

The MOTT director said Americans are mostly familiar with names like Adams, Washington, Hancock and Franklin. But those on the second tier of historic stardom helped write history.

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For instance, Fox called attention to ordinary people living across Western Massachusetts who aided General Henry Knox and his troops in January 1776 as they delivered armaments to the Continental Army battling to oust British troops from Boston.

Henry Knox moved the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga over the Hudson River into Massachusetts and had stops in Otis, Westfield, Springfield, Wilbraham and Brookfield before continuing on to Boston. It was the middle of winter and nobody thought he was going to pull this off, but he did, said Fox.

Knox and his troops used people and resources in Western Massachusetts to fortify troops and relaunch their mission to Dorchester, where the fighting power they delivered proved to be decisive.

Thats what led to Evacuation Day and the departure of the British from the Port of Boston and essentially the end of the revolution in Massachusetts, Fox said.

Western Mass rebels

While it happened in 1786 and had no impact on the Revolutionary War, Shays Rebellion was sparked in and spread throughout Western Massachusetts. The armed uprising showed the need for a strong, national government.

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It was the armed uprising of indebted farmers in Western Massachusetts. They were protesting high state taxes and foreclosures, and the rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and fueled the movement for a stronger national government, said Fox.

The Articles of Confederation document was the first blueprint colonists used to set up their government.

Adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781, it established a loose confederation of autonomous states, focused largely on maintaining independence from and limiting the power of a central government.

Untold stories

Massachusetts 250 is also showcasing untold stories, according to Fox. Some will seek to set the record straight.

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She said that while Paul Revere is credited in the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem with announcing the British are coming during his midnight ride, there were two other riders that night.

The poem was not actually correct, even though thats what everybody thinks was true. Its shedding a light on the stories and the anniversaries in a way that we can retell them and correct anything thats been inaccurate over time, she said.

Fox said writing and correcting history is a work in progress, made more accurate over time through deeper research and advancing technology. As we learn and have more technology at our fingertips, new light is shined on history every day, she said.

While President Trump has been freezing federal funds already allocated to nonprofits, Fox said those actions are not affecting MOTT. She did say fallout from Trumps cuts and tariffs are causing people around the world to rethink visits to America.

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Were certainly seeing impacts on travel plans and international flights coming in, especially from Canada, she said. I expect where we see a dip in international travel, we will see an increase in domestic. Were a nimble industry. Were able to react and support our partners and adjust our messaging so we can continue to promote Massachusetts as a great destination. Fox said one of MOTTs missions is to increase revenue from tourism, bringing people to the commonwealth to spend money on hotels, restaurants, tourist destinations and shopping.

The agency will file a report on the costs and benefits of Massachusetts 250 when the celebration is over.

Theres increased interest in traveling to the original colonies and learning that history, she said. Were hoping to take advantage of that.

Read the original article on MassLive.

Read the original article on MassLive.
In one sense, the effects of current U.S. tariff policy uncertainty are comparable to how the COVID-19 pandemic spread in early 2020: The first U.S. impacts were seen on the West Coast and then rapidly emerged elsewhere.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said shed heard small businesses that rely on imports in the state referring to tariff effects as a kind of COVID 2.0 for them.

Murray was one of three West Coast senators and port officials who met virtually with reporters in a Zoom briefing Thursday over the current state of the U.S. trade war with its global partners since President Trumps Liberation Day announcement in early April of across-the board higher tariffs, which were later paused for 90 days to negotiate new trade deals.

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They are shouting from the rooftop that Trump is single-handedly detonating a mass extinction event for small businesses in America, Murray told reporters.

Joining Murray on the call were Democratic U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Alex Padilla of California, along with representatives from the ports of Tacoma, Seattle and Long Beach, California, who spoke about what theyd seen so far.

Wyden noted overseas order cancellations affecting at least one familiar grocery brand.

Officials at Bobs Red Mill, which is legendary for its outstanding flour, told me their orders overseas are already beginning to dry up, he said. Oregon grass-seed growers estimate that about half of their exports, nearly $200 million in sales, are being canceled.

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He noted, Over one third of the vessels leaving Oregon are carrying grain, much of which is consumed by China with the reciprocal tariffs. These are exactly the kinds of sales that are in jeopardy.

The United States has imposed a 145% tariff rate with China, the highest among countries.

Padilla said that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach alone received 40% of our nations imports. ... the Port of Los Angeles alone has publicly said that they expect imports to drop by about 35% in two weeks time ... with the Port of Long Beach making a similar forecast and projection.

Port of Seattle commissioner Ryan Calkins spoke from a Norfolk, Virginia, airport after meeting this week with port officials from across the United States seeking new business.

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Port of Seattle is a major agricultural exporter, and when imports are frozen because of these tariffs, it means that we also dont have an opportunity to export those agricultural goods, he said. So our farmers in the inland, Northwest and inland California arent able to reach their markets as well.

Port of Tacoma Commission Vice President Dick Marzano focused on the ripple effects of jobs affected by any slowdown.

Were seeing longshoremen, truckers, warehouse workers, slowly starting to lose man hours with regards to the international trade tariffs that have taken place, he said. Were even seeing exports from our docks being moved by the producers looking for new customers because they are not able to sell their goods. Less containers are now coming on our vessels.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, he added. Its going to get worse, unless we can change dramatically.

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Marzano noted that the uncertainty and upheaval is allowing other countries, including China, to essentially take business from the United States. It takes years to establish customers, and it gives China an opportunity to look for other ways, and encroach upon what weve established for years to come. Were looking for other markets to help offset this, but this hurts everybody.

Those other markets for the Northwest Seaport Alliance could include Vietnam, Cambodia, India and South Korea, and the development of a market of renewable-energy cargo shipments such as wind turbine blades and transformers, Calkins noted.

Calkins said as for real effects unfolding for NWSAs ports, What we are hearing is that the greatest impact is going to start in the last half of May.

Mario Cordero is chief executive officer of the Port of Long Beach. He told reporters in the briefing, We moved the most containerized cargo of any American port in the first three months of 2025, and this activity directly supports 2.7 million jobs throughout the country.

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He added, Shipping lines have already canceled 34 sailings that would have called at the Port of Long Beach over the next two months. We expect more than a 30% drop in the imports in May.

We are already seeing the consequences of Trumps tariffs at our ports, Murray said. Fewer ships from across the Pacific means less cargo at our ports, less cargo at our ports means less goods for our truckers to transportand that ultimately means bare shelves for our retailers and the American consumer.

Our ports know better than anyone that supply chains do not reset in an instant, she added.
UBS, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC all reported higher-than-expected profits in their most recent quarters. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Several European banks reported better-than-expected profits amid market volatility in early 2025.

The uncertainty and fast-moving news cycle around Trump's tariffs led to huge market swings in Q1.

UBS, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC all say they benefited from increased trading activity.

Since President Donald Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs, the stock market has been rocked by historic levels of volatility.

Market turbulence, while disruptive, hasn't been all bad news. Several European banks said in recent earnings that massive market swings benefited their trading operations.

UBS, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC all reported better-than-expected profits in their most recent quarters, with all four lenders mentioning the boost provided by tariff-driven volatility.

UBS

Swiss powerhouse UBS reported net profits of $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.3 billion.

"The power and scale of our diversified global franchise, coupled with our continued focus on clients, drove strong business momentum in the quarter and net new inflows in our asset-gathering businesses," CEO Sergio Ermotti said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Swiss investment bank said revenues rose 32% in its global markets unit.

"The second quarter kicked off the unveiling of significant changes to tariffs on trading partners by the US administration, increased uncertainty, and market volatility," Ermotti told investors on the earnings call.

"The investments we have made to reinforce our infrastructure are paying off with our operations proving stable and resilient as we facilitate client activity across asset classes," he said.

UBS reported net profits of $1.7 billion in its first quarter of 2025. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Barclays

Barclays reported an unexpected 19% jump in pre-tax profit in the three months ending March 31.

The London-headquartered bank increased its guidance for income from 12.2 billion ($16.30 billion) to 12.5 billion for 2025.

The group saw an 11% rise in income, thanks in part to market turbulence.

"In the past, Barclays has drawn fire for its investment banking division and its role within the group has been heavily questioned," Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said in a note.

"This part of the business shone in the first quarter as increased market volatility provided its trading operations with a major boost."

Deutsche Bank

German investment bank Deutsche Bank posted a 39% lift in pre-tax profits to 2.8 billion euros ($3.18 billion) in its most recent quarter.

Revenues advanced 10% year-on-year to 8.5 billion euros.
A new study suggests Stop & Shop is still overcharging families in inner-city neighborhoods, prompting several Massachusetts lawmakers to press the companys CEO for plans to lower prices across the Bay State.

The Hyde Square Task Force conducted a follow-up investigation to their June 2023 study that found the Quincy-based grocery chain was overcharging groceries in lower income communities, specifically at the Stop & Shop on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.

The investigation led to lower prices at the store, but the Boston nonprofit recently reviewed other inner-city Stop & Shop locations and reportedly found families are still being overcharges.

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The task force points to the Grove Hall, South Bay, and Mission Hill stores, where certain grocery items are more than $2 their counterpart at stores in Dedham.

Stop & Shop lowering prices on thousands of items, new company president says

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, along with Representatives Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley pressed Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold Delhaize (Stop & Shops parent company) for answers.

The Hyde Square Task Forces April 2025 review reveals that, in response to our September 2024 letter, Stop & Shop fulfilled its promise to lower prices at the Jamaica Plain location: the 18 staple grocery items were either precisely or approximately the same price at the Jamaica Plain and Dedham location, the lawmakers letter read. However, as of April 2025, nearly all of the 18 grocery items appeared to still be more expensive at the Grove Hall, South Bay, and Mission Hill locations compared to the suburban Dedham location.

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The lawmakers outlined four questions they want answered by May 14:

Why does Stop & Shop still appear to be charging higher prices for groceries in low income communities in Massachusetts? In response to our September 30, 2024 letter, Stop & Shop said that it had launched a multi-year strategy to invest in pricing and lower everyday prices across all our stores, including in each store in Western Massachusetts and select locations in the Boston market, including the Jamaica Plain location. Please provide a summary of how this project has worked so far. How did Stop & Shop select the Massachusetts store locations would be included in this strategy? Please list all of the Massachusetts store locations that were selected to be included in the price reductions. Specifically, which select locations in the Boston market were included in this strategy? Please list each store location. Were the Grove Hall, South Bay, and Mission Hill locations included in this strategy? If not, why not? Please provide, for the 18 items included in the Hyde Square Task Forces study, the five highest and five lowest prices that they are currently being sold for in Massachusetts Stop & Shop locations and provide the locations of each group of five. Since our September 30, 2024 letter, Stop & Shop appears to have closed seven store locations in Massachusetts. What impact, if any, has this had on Stop & Shops pricing decisions? Why did Stop & Shop decide to close these stores?

Its no coincidence that working-class communities are getting stuck with sky-high prices, said Senator Warren. Were keeping up the pressure to make sure Stop & Shop isnt overcharging families for the food they work hard to put on the table.

In a statement, spokesperson for Stop & Shop said the following:

Stop and Shop remains committed to lowering prices across all of our stores in Massachusetts  and that work, which is already underway, will continue throughout 2025. Stop and Shop is also deeply committed to the neighborhoods we serve and will continue to invest in our stores and in our communities through programs like the Stop and Shop School Food Pantry Program, which offers consistent access to healthy food for thousands of students in need every month including students at more than 20 Boston Public Schools.

The full letter lawmakers wrote to Ahold Delhaize USA can be read below:

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Mass. Lawmakers Follow-up Letter to Stop Shop by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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When it comes to the ongoing battle over federal funding between Harvard University and the Trump administration, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss comes to the table with insights and experience that other policymakers do not have.

Like a lot of the Bay States political and governing class, Auchincloss, D-4th District, is a Harvard graduate.

But the Newton lawmaker is also Jewish, which gives him some personal perspective when it comes to the ideological history that underpins the simmering tensions on the Cambridge campus.

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This problem has been forming for decades, Auchincloss told MassLive during a wide-ranging interview on Thursday, two days after the university released separate reports on antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.

Not to get too academic about this, but it really all had its roots in post-modernism, he continued.

And then he got very academic, indeed.

After World War Two, a lot of American universities began to adopt deconstruction and post-modernist veins of thought, which basically says that all truth is relative, and any sort of conclusion is a reflection of the power imbalances that shape that conclusion, that conclusion is not a reflection of truth, right? he continued.

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And that has opened the door to this relentlessly relativistic culture that undermines Harvards truth-seeking mission, because there is such a thing ... as truth, he said. And that [it] is the job of the university ... to pursue it through science, through debate, [and] through teaching. So while I didnt experience [antisemitism] when I was there, I would say this has been gestating for decades. And it crystallized after [the Hamas sneak attack on Israel on] Oct 7.

Auchincloss, who has been widely mentioned as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, covered a lot more ground. This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q: Harvard came out with separate reports on Tuesday, one on antisemitism on campus, another on anti-Palestinian bias on campus. Did you have a chance to review either of them? What were your topline thoughts?

Auchincloss: Its a critical step for Harvard to take ownership of a critical and independent examination of its failures.

Q: Were you satisfied with [Harvard] President [Alan] Garbers response? He effectively apologized for those same failures.

A: Yes. And, more importantly, I have been speaking with [Garber] ... and also working with [him] on his actions. And while theres a lot more to do, hes making good progress on what ... I believe is his core mission: which is to restore Harvard to its truth-seeking [ethos]. And to do that, it has to gain independence from progressive orthodoxies on the left and authoritarian impulses on the right.

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Read More: Harvard hands over foreign student info to feds amid threat from Trump admin

Q: To that end, what did you think of Harvard renaming its DEI office, and for backing away from affinity graduations for different student populations?

A: I support it. Im not sure I have ... specific thoughts on how Harvard should program all aspects of its curriculum and student life. But in general, I think its better for Harvard to create a culture of critical thinking.

Q: So you dont view that as some capitulation on Harvards part to the administrations demands tied to federal funding?

A: No, I dont. I think that [Garber] has been quite clear that Harvard is going to fight the administration. But the one thing I ... think is the most critical thing is backfilling the federal funding  for two reasons."

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(Editors note: In this instance, backfilling refers to Harvard replacing any lost federal money from its own resources)

One, because that will help the scientists and researchers and teachers and students who depend on that funding, and two, because it also gives Harvard significant leverage in staring down the administration.

Its a truism, but that doesnt mean its not true, which is that bullies only respect strength, right? You punch the bully in the nose. And one of the ways for Harvard to punch the bully in the nose is to backfill the federal funding and to be able to credibly assert every dollar that you take we will backfill for the next three years. We can last longer than you can. Weve been around for 400 years. Youre going to be here for four.

And I do think that Harvard needs to put a plan in place to do that. Theyve got a $50 billion endowment.

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Now Garber and his team will tell you that endowments are illiquid. Its very tied up by restrictions on how donations can be used, and [forms] like real estate and private equity investments.

But, you know, half of Wall Street graduated [from Harvard]. All they need to do is call up a few financiers, and say Hey, we need some short-term liquidity. ... Thats what Id like to see from Harvard ... a credible commitment to backfill every federal dollar thats taken away, and show that theyre not going to blink.

Read more analysis from John L. Micek

Read the original article on MassLive.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A woman has filed a civil lawsuit against a massage company and a former message therapist in St. Louis County, alleging sexual assault during a massage session last year.

In February, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Caleb Holmes with second-degree sodomy and second-degree sexual abuse in connection with alleged incidents linked to two clients.

Daughter of former Rams player making waves across music and TV industries

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On Thursday, one of those clients, a woman identified as Jane Doe in court documents, filed a lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court against Holmes and his former employer, MassageLuXe. The woman claims she has suffered severe and prolonged emotional distress over one alleged incident from September 2024 at a MassageLuXe at 7505 Watson Road, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that Holmes improperly and non-consensually touched the woman during a massage appointment. It contends that Holmes actions were both intentional and negligent.

The lawsuit further claims that MassageLuXe failed to conduct a sufficient criminal background check or reference check prior to hiring Holmes. It also accuses MassageLuXe of negligence in hiring practices and not taking appropriate steps to prevent and respond to misconduct.

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The lawsuit argues that MassageLuXe bears legal responsibility for Holmes conduct under the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers liable for wrongful acts committed by employees within their scope of employment.

Through the lawsuit, the woman is seeking monetary damages in an amount that is fair and reasonable to fully compensate her, along with any further relief the court deems appropriate.

FOX 2 contacted the MassageLuXe location listed on the lawsuit with a request for comment. An individual who answered the phone line for that location declined to provide a comment.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russian air defenses allegedly intercepted 89 Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea and another 23 over the waters of the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on May 2.

The pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported explosions in several key locations across the peninsula, including Sevastopol, Dzhankoy, Saky, Novofedorivka, and Kacha  sites that host Russian military airfields.

The Saky and Kacha airfields are used by Russia to control airspace over the Black Sea and to launch strikes on Ukrainian territory. Videos published by Crimean Wind showed multiple explosions and a fire near the village of Uhlove, close to the Kacha airfield.

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Uhlove is located about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast of Kalamit Bay and roughly 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Simferopol.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed leader in Sevastopol, confirmed on Telegram that "loud sounds" were caused by Russian forces repelling an attempted drone attack.

He claimed seven drones had been destroyed over the sea at a significant distance from shore.

"The fleet, in cooperation with air defense forces, is reflecting a massive combined attack," he wrote, claiming no damage to infrastructure in Sevastopol or its waters.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the reported strikes, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

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Ukraine has carried out several successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Protesters gather to march in Milwaukee on May Day, voicing opposition to President Donald Trump's policies. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

A massive May Day protest stretched along multiple city blocks in Milwaukee, as marchers walked from the South Side to Zeidler Union Square Park in downtown. The annual protest brought union organizers, immigrant rights advocates, Indigenous community activists, students from across Wisconsin and other members of the public together to make a stand against the policies of President Donald Trump.

Despite rainy weather, hundreds of participants turned out for Milwaukees May Day march, with another protest planned in Madison on Friday. Prior to the march, the morning began with prayers and words from community leaders. Mark Denning, a member of the Oneida Nation, said to the crowd on Thursday that all prayer goes to the same place and that all creation stories are true. Denning said, as we stand here together under this sheltering sky thats giving us this beautiful rainI want to share that your ancestors are forever. Your future is forever.

Protesters gather to march in Milwaukee on May Day, voicing opposition to President Donald Trumps policies. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Natives stand as a lesson to each and every one of you that the injustices of the past cannot be the injustices of the future, said Denning, calling himself a remnant of the wars that have been done on my people and the May Day marchers a remnant of the wars that must be corrected. Denning went on to tell the crowd you are now of this place! You are now of this land, and of these waters! And you will not be denied because this is where your children will be born and have a future! The crowd cheered in response.

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Although the May 1 march for immigrant workers rights is an annual tradition in Milwaukee, this year brought with it a new sense of fear buffered by local determination. Waves of arrests have swept communities nationwide, populating social media feeds with images of immigrants and international students detained by masked, plain-clothes federal agents.

In Milwaukee, local advocates recently learned that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been paying visits to the homes of sponsors of unaccompanied immigrant minors, causing fear of possible deportations. After ICE raids at the Milwaukee County Courthouse provoked outrage, Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested and accused of obstructing federal agents who arrived outside her courtroom to arrest a man appearing for a hearing. Protests erupted the weekend after Dugan was arrested, building momentum leading up to the May Day march.

Protesters in Milwaukee on May Day 2025 (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Milwaukee marchers joined a larger network of groups organizing May Day protests in at least 32 states. Rain showers came and went as the marchers traversed the city. People of all ages came out, including high school students and their young siblings and grey-haired elders. Different sections of the march had different chants and atmospheres. Palestinian flags waved in the breeze alongside American flags (some of which were upside down), Mexican flags, LGBTQ+ flags, and numerous other banners. Milwaukee police officers escorted the demonstration on motorcycles and bicycles, while unmarked surveillance vans patrolled the perimeter.

Within an hour, the marchers arrived at Zeidler Union Square Park in the downtown area. Gathering around a central pavilion, the crowd listened to Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, who said people had come from as far away as Arcadia in Trempealeau County to be part of the event. We know that when we unite we are stronger, and we can achieve what seems impossible, said Neumann-Ortiz.

Milwaukees 2025 May Day march (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Speakers called for the charges to be dropped against Dugan, for ICE to stay out of local courts, for constitutional rights to be defended and for people to take a stand against fear. Missy Zombor, president of the Milwaukee Public School Board, said that the school district is ready to honor and fight for the ideals and sense of hope that her own grandparents sought when they immigrated to America.

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Zombor said that the school district will honor its safe haven resolution. Our schools are and will always be safe havens for children, she said, regardless of their background, their immigration status, their identity, or their circumstance. The Milwaukee Public School District, Zombor said, is strengthened by the diverse languages, cultures and backgrounds of the student body, which includes many student activists. Our schools are going to continue to promote a curriculum that gives students the knowledge and power to question the world in a way that helps students uproot the causes of racism and inequality, said Zombor. Our schools are going to teach the next generation of change-makers.

Former Milwaukee judge Jim Gramling Jr. called Dugans arrest a very unfortunate and very dangerous thing. Gramling said that the unusual, public arrest of a judge at the courthouse was clearly designed to intimidate other judges and those who seek justice in our courts. He added that federal authorities had a week to invite Dugan into the U.S. Attorneys Office to discuss the case. Instead, Gramling said, they wanted a public display to embarrass her, to humiliate her, and to intimidate others in the justice system from resolving immigration matters.

Protesters in Milwaukee (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Gramling stressed that judges need to be free of pressure from outside influences, so that they can decide cases based on the facts before them. And yet we have a president whos threatening the firing of judges, because of decisions that he doesnt like, said Gramling. And now we have a judge treated like a common criminal by that presidents agents. Dugan is a long-time and respected member of the community, Gramling said, having served in leadership roles at local non-profits and that she doesnt deserve whats happened to her.

Milwaukee student activists also spoke, saying that student voices should not be stifled, and that free speech means little when young people fear retaliation. The students called for Milwaukee police officers to be taken out of Milwaukee Public Schools. Removing school resources officers was a decision made by the school board after years of student organizing. But the state Legislature has demanded that Milwaukee return police to schools as a condition of state aid.

May Day in Milwaukee (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Immigration operations add a new layer of fear for students who already dread the return of school resource officers. Milwaukee police have a standard operating procedure which limits the departments involvement in immigration matters, stating that proactive immigration enforcement by local police can be detrimental to our mission and policing philosophy when doing so deters some individuals from participating in their civic obligation to assist the police.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students joined the May Day march, denouncing ICE and encouraging people to stand in solidarity with immigrants. Dont let fear imprison you in the shadows, one student said from the stage. Join us. We will keep each other safe.
When Matthew Desmond comes to Milwaukee, it's a little like coming home.

About 17 years ago, Desmond lived on Milwaukee's north and south sides to learn, up close, about people affected by eviction and how devastating it can be for those already living near the edge. His book on that research, "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City," was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2017.

Now a sociologist at Princeton University, Desmond typically comes to Milwaukee for events and speeches, like the one he gave April 30 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the title of his follow-up book, "Poverty by America."

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Seeing Desmond would be in town, Nolan Murray, an English teacher at Carmen Southeast High School on Milwaukee's south side, figured he would take a shot and invite him to his class. Murray assigns his students to read "Evicted."

To Murray's surprise, Desmond accepted.

"Home is the center of life," Desmond told about two dozen students on May 1. "If we don't have a stable home over our heads, everything else falls apart."

"Whatever you care about, whatever keeps you up at night, whether it's education, whether it's how safe your city is, social mobility, the environment, housing, the housing crisis plays a huge role in that," he added.

Matthew Desmond signs his book, 'Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City' after speaking to students at Carmen SE High School on May 1.

Desmond also described how income has stayed flat as rent prices have soared while the government has done little to create or encourage affordable housing. He noted the Trump administration has put the U.S. Housing and Urban Development offices in Washington D.C. up for sale.

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"So it doesn't seem like we're going to get any serious extension of help when it comes to addressing the housing crisis from the Trump administration," he said.

Bryan Lopez, 17, a student in Murray's class, asked Desmond how he and other students could get the government to do more.

Speak up for what you believe in, Desmond said. He noted that during the pandemic, special funding bills that paused evictions and increased food subsidies helped cut child poverty rates, but few celebrated that.

"It was an enormous historic effect, but no one really said anything, like, 'This is the kind of society we want,'" he said.

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One student asked what sticks most from his time in Milwaukee. Desmond talked about how a family whose heat was out in February asked if he could look at the furnace.

It was a ruse to get him upstairs so they could surprise him with a cake for his birthday.

"Their heat was off in February. It wasn't a joke, but that's the kind of generosity they had," he said. "I think that's just a beautiful reminder of how people refuse to be reduced to their hardships."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Matthew Desmond, author of 'Evicted,' talks to Milwaukee high school
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  We are less than a week before youll need a Real ID to fly, go to a federal building or military installation, but officials in the Carolinas want you to know May 7 is not a hard cutoff to get that identification.

The lines are still long in North Carolina. At the Charlotte Drivers License Office, Causa Wallace was sitting in a folding chair, camped out, he said, for an hour when we spoke to him.

Im relaxing like Im at home because out here you have to be that way because you have to sit out here three to four hours to begin with, Wallace said.

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Kenwynna Oliver was at the front of the line Thursday and told Queen City News she had been there since 6:45 a.m. When we asked if she thought she would get her Real ID, she was still hopeful.

I hope so, Ive been here this long, Oliver said.

North Carolina DMV expands hours as Real ID deadline looms

Dan Velez is a TSA Spokesperson for North Carolina. He said the Real ID was put in place by Congress in the 2005 Real ID Act to make sure state identification cards are secure.

Basically, when you use that ID, we know who you are, and youre actually who you say you are, Velez said.

Velez said there is a whole list of about 15 other acceptable documents that work on TSAs website.

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If you dont have any of those, its going to slow down your screening at the airport.

Youll be pulled aside, and youll have to go through an additional verification process to make sure that you are who you say you are, Velez said.

He reassured us that TSA personnel are trained to help identify people.

Before you head to the DMV, all officials Queen City News spoke with said to check your drivers license for a star in the top corner.

South Carolina DMV Executive Director Kevin Shwedo said he doesnt want you to stand in line at the DMV longer than you need to.

If you look at your drivers license, your ID card, and it has a gold star on it, youve already got one, Swedo said.

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Shwedo said 63 percent of the state is Real ID compliant  and if you show up at the DMV, he guarantees youll get what you need.

If you come to a DMV today or any time between now and the 7th of May and you need a Real ID, if youve got the appropriate documentation, you will walk out with the Real ID, period, Shwedo said.

In North Carolina, DMV Communications Manager for NCDOT Marty Homan said 51 percent of people have their Real ID.

Were going everything we can with the staff we have to provide people what they need in the timeframe that they need it, Homan said.

Homan wants to remind North Carolinians that you can still get a Real ID after May 7.

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Getting a Real ID is completely optional, Homan said. Thats another misconception that people have. They think its required and that they have to have it by May 7th.

Velez said to allow for three hours flying domestically if you dont have any of the acceptable identification on its 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 Queen City News.
Participants in a Union Migrante May Day protest march up Basin Street toward New Orleans City Hall on May 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

There was no shortage of issues for the hundreds of participants who gathered on the Basin Street neutral ground in downtown New Orleans for a May Day protest, one of several taking part across the country.

Union Migrante, an immigrant advocacy group, organized the event that started with several speeches, delivered in the shadow of a monument to Benito Juarez, the first indigenous president of Mexico. The rally concluded with participants marching to and from City Hall.

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President Donald Trump and his push for mass deportations were a focal point of the event, which also included pro-Palestinian speakers and members of a newly formed nurses union at University Medical Center. Earlier in the day, the nurses went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions from UMCs management organization, LCMC Health.

In addition to Trump, speakers took and at billionaire Elon Musk, an unofficial adviser to the president whos led the call for drastic federal government job cuts. Gov. Jeff Landry was also called out for his alignment with Trump.

Participants in the Union Migrante May Day rally prepare to march down Basin Street in downtown New Orleans on May 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Hakem Murad with the Palestinian Youth Movement addresses participants in the Union Migrante May Day event in downtown New Orleans on May, 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

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Terry Mogilles, a registered nurse at University Medical Center, speaks to the crowd at Union Migrante May Day event in downtown New Orleans on May 1, 2025. Earlier in the day, Mogilles and other nurses at UMC went on strike, demanding better pay and work conditions from LCMC Health, which manages the hospital. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Marchers walk up Basin Street in downtown New Orleans as part of Union Migrante's May Day event on May 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Union Migrantes held a May Day event in downtown New Orleans, with the statue of Benito Juarez, the first indigenous president of Mexico, as a backdrop. Alfredo Salazar Simon speaks while his partner, Rachel Taber, translates. Before he became an American citizen, Simon lived undocumented in the U.S. for 30 years. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Participants in a Union Migrante May Day protest march up Basin Street toward New Orleans City Hall on May 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

A speaker addresses the crowd at a Union Migrante protest May 1, 2025, in downtown New Orleans. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)
Demonstrators line Michigan Avenue during the Detroit May Day protest. May 1, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

After a rainy Thursday afternoon, hundreds of people, including workers, students, and retired community members, marched through the streets of downtown Detroit, rejecting and criticizing the Trump administrations actions during its first 100 days in office, which has featured an assault on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and a rollback of federal agencies and departments.

The march took place as part of a demonstration organized by May Day Detroit, 50501 Michigan, and other local social movements. It began with a rally that brought together hundreds of people outside Michigan Central Station at Roosevelt Park in the Corktown neighborhood, commemorating International Workers Day.

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This demonstration took place alongside others organized simultaneously in various cities across the country and throughout the state of Michigan.

International Workers Day, also known as May Day, commemorates the historic fight for an eight-hour workday and the broader pursuit of fair labor conditions, stemming from events like the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886.

As the sky began to clear and the rain subsided, dozens of people approached Roosevelt Park carrying signs and banners criticizing Elon Musk, Trump, and the current administration.

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Various groups gathered on the sidewalk along Michigan Avenue holding their signs to begin their demonstration, receiving both support and, in some cases, rejection from passing drivers. At the same time, other groups were gathering in the park as the speakers were about to begin

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Long live international workers solidarity, said Frank Hammer, 82, labor activist and former president of the United Auto Workers Local 909.

We are embracing May Day and putting the ruling class on notice that we are here to fight as one united working class, Hammer added.

Several speakers addressed the crowd during the rally, touching on topics such as the deportation of immigrant workers, police violence, worker layoffs, funding cuts, and the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

While our essential services are being cut, law enforcement remains well-funded and well-protected. said Victoria Camille, a member of the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability. Instead, our basic needs are being stripped, while law enforcement stands by to uphold so-called law and order. Whats happening in our country is neither lawful nor orderly in any way.

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Amid federal funding cuts that have affected Michigan communities in food, education, health, and research, a bipartisan plan supported by Michigan House Republicans proposes creating a $115 million annual Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund to support local law enforcement.

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Although there was a great sense of optimism regarding the social actions against the Trump administration during the demonstration, some community members expressed concern about the effectiveness of these actions since the beginning of the current government.

We (workers) are gonna get hit hard, were gonna have tariffs by the middle of the summer, and when that happens, there will be a lot of layoffs. Were gonna have people very desperate, said George Lutz, 29, a Detroit resident.

People are happy to go and make funny signs about Elon Musk and Trump, but when the police start shutting down factories, or when people really have to face the authorities of this country, when they are desperate, they will be forced to take it more seriously than now, Lutz highlighted.

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A few minutes past 5 p.m., the protesters began to march along Michigan Avenue toward downtown Detroit, carrying their signs and chanting slogans in support of workers, such as May Day every day across the USA and Si se puede, which means Yes, we can in Spanish.

The protesters made a stop at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, where more speakers took the microphone to express their concerns to the audience.

Our postal office is under attack; they (the government) want to privatize it, just turn it into a profit-making corporation, and we dont work for profit. Sending letters will become more expensive, said Gina Favors, 75, a retired member of the postal workers union. Help us keep the postal office public; it was made for the people, lets keep it that way.

Gina Favors, speaks during the May Day

demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Trump, who referred to the constitutionally-mandated institution as a money-losing entity, has floated the idea of transferring the postal service to the Department of Commerce.

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The protesters marched through some streets in downtown Detroit, escorted by police cars at the front and rear of the march, until they returned to Michigan Avenue, where more protesters joined them while others observed from their windows. They arrived back at Roosevelt Park, where the protest ended around 7:30 p.m. without any incidents.

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Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

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Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

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Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

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Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

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Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Gina Favors, speaks during the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees of the May Day demonstration at Roosevelt Park in Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz

Attendees marched on the May Day demonstration at Downtown Detroit, Michigan during the International Workers day, on May 1,2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
Social media giant Meta's stocks rose on Wednesday after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings during the first quarter.

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram saw a 16% increase in revenue and a 37% increase in earnings per share compared to the first quarter of 2024. The company also reported a 3% increase in operating margin.Analysts polled by LSEG Data expected the company to post revenues of $41.4 billion and an earning per share of $5.28, according to CNBC. The company reported actual revenues of $42.31 billion and an earnings per share of $6.43.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg makes a keynote speech at the Meta Connect annual event at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, U.S., September 25, 2024.

Meta said that the number of "family daily active people" on its platforms increased 16%, totaling over 3.4 billion users. Ad impressions increased 5% as prices increased 10% on average, the company reported.

"We've had a strong start to an important year, our community continues to grow and our business is performing very well," Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.

Meta stock rose in after-hours trading following the release, hovering around a 4.1% improvement.

Meta expects revenues to grow in Q2

Meta said that it expects revenues in the second quarter to be in the range of $42.5 billion to $45.5 billion.

The company also raised guidance on its capital expenditures for the year, expecting to spend between $64 billion to $72 billion.

"This updated outlook reflects additional data center investments to support our artificial intelligence efforts as well as an increase in the expected cost of infrastructure hardware," the company said.

EU regulations raise concerns

The company warned that a decision by the European Commission would "significantly" impact the business as soon as the third quarter of this year.

The commission found that Meta's "consent or pay" advertising model ran afoul of the European Union's requirement that a platform provide an option for users to provide less personal data without charge. The commission hit Meta was a 200 million fine earlier this month.

"Based on feedback from the EC ... we expect we will need to make some modifications to our model, which could result in a materially worse user experience for European users," the company said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meta stocks up as company's Q1 earnings beat expectations
Protesters gathered Thursday in Moline to protest the Trump Administrations policies.

(Bryan Bobb, OurQuadCities.com)

Thursday was May Day, which some refer to as International Workers Day. Its a day to bring attention to the labor movement, among other political issues.

Demonstrators lined the Ben Butterworth Parkway to speak out against the administrations recent moves of cutting public services, targeting immigrants and cracking down on unions.

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It gives me a lot of hope because it reminds me how many people arent just going to stand down and let things be taken over and there will always be people who are going to fight for the right thing, one protester said.

The demonstration was presented by Indivisible QC.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nate Bantan plays euphonium with the Ideal Maine Band during a May Day march in Portland, Maine on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

Labor unions annual May Day celebrations took on new urgency this year as workers rallied across Maine on Thursday to mark International Workers Day and protest the anti-labor actions of the Trump administration.

In Portland, a march organized by a coalition of unions, community and leftist political groups briefly stopped traffic on Forest Ave. as the crowd progressed from the University of Southern Maine through the city, culminating with a crowd of roughly 1,000 in Congress Square.

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Scott Adams, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 458, addressed those gathered outside the post office. He said that President Donald Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk want to privatize the U.S. Postal Service.

We will lose everything we won in the past if we dont fight in the present, he said.

Other speakers highlighted local labor fights. Stephen Bennett of the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union pointed out that theyd been negotiating their first contracts for more than 500 days.

Why does the University of Maine System refuse to acknowledge that our work is valuable? Bennett asked.

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Demonstrators make their way up Forest Avenue during a May Day march in Portland, Maine on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Starting at the University of Southern Maine campus, the pro-union, pro-Palestinian and anti-Trump protestors made stops at the city's main post office and Portland High School before rallying in Congress Square. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

May Day protestors gather in Portland, Maine's Congress Square on Thursday, May 1, 2025. A coalition of left wing organizations came together for the 1,000-person strong demonstration. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

May Day protestors gather in Portland, Maine's Congress Square on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

A woman waves a sign during a May Day march in Portland, Maine on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Starting at the University of Southern Maine campus, the pro-union, pro-Palestinian and anti-Trump protestors made stops at the city's main post office and Portland High School before rallying in Congress Square. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

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May Day protestors gather in Portland, Maine's Congress Square on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

May Day protestors gather in Portland, Maine's Congress Square on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

May Day protestors gather in Portland, Maine's Congress Square on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Troy R. Bennett/ Maine Morning Star)

The graduate workers and their supporters, including the Maine Education Association and Eastern Maine Labor Council, also held a march and rally in Orono. Other events were organized in Bridgeton, Bath, Augusta, Waterville, Auburn and York.

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On Wednesday, national AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler participated in a listening session with Maine workers that have been impacted by the actions of the Trump administration, including a recent executive order that ended collective bargaining rights for federal unions.

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Workers and union members gather at Camden Yards to join citywide May Day demonstrations against the Trump administration Thursday. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Tunde Salaam, in his fifth year of an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24, came out to Camden Yards Thursday evening to march for worker justice and against what he sees as the Trump administrations anti-union policies.

Worker rights, union rights are under attack, said Salaam, 34, who said he came to the May Day march to support my fellow workers who he said have been hammered by decades of stagnant wages and offshoring of jobs.

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But the march that brought hundreds to the stadium was just one of several feeder marches that started in different parts of Baltimore and all converged at the Inner Harbor for a citywide rally in recognition of the May Day protests. Others marched for schools, for immigrant justice, for Palestine, but they all came together at the Inner Harbor under one premise: To oppose the Trump administration and stop the billionaire takeover.

More than 1,000 people gathered at the Baltimore rally, waving protest signs, singing and chanting their opposition to President Donald Trump (R) and billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk, whose Department of Goverment Efficiency (DOGE) Service has careened through the federal government, slashing jobs and shuttering agencies.

The gathering in Baltimore was one of more than 1,000 May Day rallies that organizers said were scheduled across the country Thursday.

The public is mad, said Beverly Clevidence, 77, who said she only started joining political demonstrations months ago. Were banding together about many things  about labor, about civic services, about education.

Teachers and education workers joined May Day demonstrations in the Inner Harbor Thursday. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Other than some angry comments from drivers passing by, there werent any notable counterprotests around the gathering. Meanwhile, there was plenty of honking and shouting from drivers in support of the protest.

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Many of the grievances at the May Day rally were related to the Trump administrations rapid cuts to funding and programs in an effort to reduce federal spending.

Cristina Duncan Evans, the Teacher Chapter Chair of the Baltimore Teachers Union, said that federal cuts to education and various policy changes are creating a difficult learning environment for kids.

Were seeing cuts from the federal government, were seeing ongoing issues in the school district, and were here showing up to show the strength of unions, the strength of educators and to connect with all of the other issues that people are bringing, said Duncan Evans, who previously worked as a social studies teacher and a library media specialist.

Weve also seen a radical redefinition of civil rights that is an attack on African American students  and an attack on transgender students, she said, and were standing up for all of our students, all of our families and all of our staff.

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Many of the protesters where angry at the administrations crackdown on undocumented residents. Kathleen Carlson, 31, an immigration lawyer, was at the protest to stand up for her clients who are terrified of Trumps aggressive immigration policies.

Were all workers, and a large number of immigrants provide labor  provide poorly-paid labor, unpaid labor  and they get taken advantage of by corporations and individuals, she said. They deserve the same rights as every other citizen.

Angela Clark, 26, with a youth-led climate activist group, the Sunrise Movement, said that the theme of the rally was the workers versus the billionaire class.

Big Oil and Big Pharma, the people ruining the environment, are part of that billionaire class, Clark said. Our messaging right now is not necessarily end climate change, its stop billionaires from ruining our climate.

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Some of the nonworker-focused protest signs demanded protections for transgender kids and adults, urged the administration to return erroneously deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and pushed for protecting Palestinian lives amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The crowd is huge, Clark said. I think its great that we started with six different marches, all with different causes. And were all congregating here with one real unified message: Stop the billionaire class from messing everything up for us.

Protesters wait outside Camden Yards to begin the march towards the Inner Harbor, joining hundreds more in a city-wide May Day demonstration. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

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Protesters continue the march down Pratt street to the Inner Harbor for May Day demonstrations. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

A drummer participating in drumline that played while marching from Camden Yards to the Inner Harbor during May Day protest on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.)

Protest sign supporting the return of erroneously deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

Protesters march down Pratt Street to the Inner Harbor during May Day demonstrations on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

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Signs seen at the May Day protest spanned several topics, including support for undocumented immigrants. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

Protesters leaving Camden Yards to march to the Inner Harbor during May Day demonstrations. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

"Hands off" has become a rallying cry for various grievances against the Trump administration and was featured on several protest signs during May Day demonstrations. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

The May Day rally featured a variety of protest signs that spanned in tone - from serious to funny to creative. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

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A woman crossing the street with her May Day protest sign. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

Tesla-owner Elon Musk heads the unofficial Department of Government Efficiencies that has been slashing various programs and federal grants - leading to frustrations by those affected by such cuts, such as the protesters at the May Day rally. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Several Protest signs feared that actions taken by the Trump administration oppose democracy and could even lean towards fascism. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

Over a thousand protesters convened at McKeldin Plaza in the Inner Harbor after attending several smaller May Day demostrations. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  May Day rallies are popping up in cities across the Pacific Northwest, including Salem where there was a rally for immigrant worker rights.

Droves of people made their voices heard Thursday afternoon to demand immigrant workers be treated with dignity and respect.

Interim Cowlitz Police Chief allegedly sexually abused a minor before apparent suicide

For the holiday, also known as International Workers Day, farmworker union groups and immigration advocates marched to defend workers rights and condemn efforts to take away Oregons sanctuary state status.

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Protester Jeramy Bray attended the event to challenge the Trump Administration, to challenge Elon Musk.

And Arceli Cortes, an immigrant farmworker, said I am here because I am worried for me, my family, for my community.

Reyna Lopez, the executive director of the Oregon immigrant rights organization PCUN says community members voiced concerns over joining due to fears of ICE.

Time and time again, the first question is, Are we gonna be protected from ICE at these events? Of course were gonna do everything we can  security, trained human rights observers, and making sure people know its a peaceful demonstration  but its true we cant guarantee that due to this situation, Lopez said.

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Another body discovered floating in the Willamette River near Terminal 4

The protest comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday seeking to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities and block benefits for undocumented immigrants.

The same day, PCUN and religious groups from Oregon, California and Florida sued the administration for trying to end protections preventing immigration detainment at sensitive locations like churches, courts, schools, and hospitals.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a city budget proposal Thursday that allocates more than $1 billion in new spending on child care, education and other initiatives and uses another $1 billion to plug a migrant crisis funding gap  a spray of fresh investments that comes even as the citys economy is being roiled by President Trump.

The $115 billion executive budget proposal, which comes as Adams faces a tough path to reelection this year, contrasts with the more conservative spending blueprints he floated in each of his first three years as mayor. In those proposals, Adams laid out cuts to various municipal services, arguing the belt-tightening was needed to offset spending on the citys migrant crisis. Many of those cuts were later reversed following pushback from the City Council.

In a Thursday afternoon press conference at Queens Bayside High School, his alma mater, Adams and his advisers argued theres no need for as much austerity this year, even amid the uncertainties caused by Trumps tariffs and federal funding threats.

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They said thats because the city has seen some upticks in tax revenues and because Adams administration has $8.5 billion in budget reserves that can hedge against any disruption caused by Trump.

Some people, the pessimists, political opportunists, see the glass as half empty, theyre predicting the worst for New York City. We see the glass as half full, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro told reporters. We are best positioned to deal with any contingency that comes up in Washington.

Behind closed doors, Adams lamented his budget plan had to use city taxpayer dollars to fill a $1 billion hole in migrant crisis funding after Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers in Albany balked at allocating it in this years state budget, as the mayor had hoped.

The state did not give us one dollar for the migrant and asylum-seeker issue  This is unacceptable, Adams bristled earlier in the day in a virtual briefing with City Council members, according to a recording of the call obtained by the Daily News.

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In January, Adams suggested hed have to enact city service cuts if the state didnt pony up the $1 billion. But Jacques Jiha, Adams budget director, told The News his team was able to address the shortfall with city cash because money is fungible and all these savings that we have and the revenues enabled flexibility.

The release of Adams executive plan  which he called the best budget ever  marks the start of the last sprint of budget negotiations, as the mayor and the Council now need to hammer out a finalized deal before the July 1 start of the 2026 fiscal year.

His proposal contains $1.4 billion in new baselined funding for a wide range of popular programs, such as early childhood education, libraries, CUNY and sanitation.

It also includes about $3.4 billion to support a uniformed workforce of about 34,000 NYPD officers in the 2026 fiscal year. He announced earlier this week that the city, thanks to new recruitment efforts, is on track to get 35,000 officers on the force by fall 2026, matching pre-pandemic levels after years of attrition problems in the department.

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Still, Adams plan doesnt reverse some key funding reductions included in his previous spending proposal. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whos running for mayor this year, said while the mayors spending plan is an improvement over prior years, there could still be friction in the last few months of negotiations.

There remains work to fill gaps in funding for programs left out of this budget, she said in a statement with Council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan, but this is a better start from the executive budget than past years.

One of the biggest remaining sticking points in talks between the mayor and the Council is early childhood education programs.

After facing years of criticism for slashing those programs, Adams new plan pumps $167 million into propping them up, including $92 million in permanent funding for the citys 3-K initiative providing free full-day education for 3-year-olds. That falls short of the $112 million the Council says is necessary for free 3-K to be universally accessible in the city.

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Adams plan does provide $55 million in funding for pre-K special education and also restores $126 million in funding for CUNY that he previously cut, fulfilling requests from the Council. The budget proposal also includes funding for expanding free after-school programs for kids from kindergarten through eighth grade.

But on public libraries, Adams plan proposes adding just $15.7 million in extra funding for the citys three systems, falling far short of the additional $62.5 million the Council says should be allocated in order to address unmet spending needs and ensure more branches can offer seven-day service. In 2023, Adams enacted deep funding reductions for the public library systems that resulted in them having to eliminate seven-day service altogether, causing outrage that led him to reverse those cuts.

Looming large over this years budget is Trump, whose tariff-heavy trade war could hurt New Yorks economy and drive down city tax revenues used to fund public services.

Making matters worse, Trump this week directed his administration to find ways to pull all federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions like New York, a move that could blow a hole in the citys budget, impacting everything from public housing subsidies to school meals for low-income students. Federal funds account for $10 billion of the citys budget.

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Comptroller Brad Lander, the citys fiscal watchdog whos also running for mayor this year, said Adams latest budget plan doesnt take enough steps to protect against Trump. He pointed in particular to a lack of additional investments in the citys budget reserves to hedge against a possible Trump-induced recession.

Eric Adams executive budget is from a fantasyland where Trumps tariffs arent increasing the likelihood of an economic downturn and federal budget cuts arent looming, he said. By refusing to put more money into reserves and prepare for the reality we are facing, Adams is once again failing to protect New Yorkers.

Jiha countered his team isnt worried about the doomsday scenario at this moment, even as he acknowledged economic growth in the city is projected to slow significantly next year, opening up a $4.6 billion deficit in the 2027 fiscal year.

Adams argued those worried about Trumps impact on the city should be more vociferous about Albanys role.

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I need that same energy, folks, that same energy we have for Washington, we need to have for Albany  We cannot be selective in our concerns about New York City being underfunded, Adams told Council members in the private call earlier in the day.

Adams has been accused of being beholden to Trump since the presidents Department of Justice secured a highly controversial dismissal of his federal corruption indictment last month. After the dismissal, Adams dropped out of Junes Democratic mayoral primary and is now seeking reelection as an independent in Novembers general election.

In a Q&A with reporters after his budget speech, Adams stayed clear of knocking Trump and reserved his criticism for Albany, which he faulted both for not providing his administration with more migrant funding and for saddling the city with a responsibility to provide $300 million for a child-care voucher program.

Wheres the outrage? Wheres the noise? he asked.

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For months before Thursdays announcement, Hochul told Adams she wouldnt allocate more migrant funding for his administration this year, noting his team hasnt recouped all the assistance provided by the state last year.

_____
NEW YORK (PIX11)  New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered what he called the best budget ever on Thursday.

The $115 billion spending place includes investments in after-school programs, public safety and infrastructure.

Adams and First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro defend the new plan on PIX11 Morning News.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
May 1Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown on Thursday announced a plan to replace the city's recently overturned anti-homeless camping law with one that would criminalize camping citywide, but with more emphasis on warnings and outreach and little on criminal enforcement.

Flanked by Councilmembers Paul Dillon and Zack Zappone and various city officials, Brown unveiled a proposal that, rather than just outlawing homeless camping within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and day cares, would overhaul relevant laws still on the books while also banning camping across Spokane.

She also revealed two more ordinances, one of which requires twice-a-year reports on progress. The other would expand when bad weather shelters open and require new city-funded shelters over a certain size to sign "good neighbor agreements."

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Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 in 2023 by a roughly 50-point margin. On April 17, the state Supreme Court overturned the law, arguing that it exceeded the legal limits for local initiatives, but did not rule on the merits of the case.

Under Brown's replacement plan, officers would give anyone illegally camping on public property seven days' notice ahead of any enforcement action, Assistant Police Chief Steve Wohl said. During that time, the city's homeless outreach team and other service providers would offer services to the camper , and would not write them a ticket if they accept the offer of help. The law also would not be enforceable if the person simply left the area and did not return until after the officer left.

In the limited cases where someone would not meet these or other exemptions, violations would be a misdemeanor referred to a therapeutic court.

The seven-day notice period would not be required if there is "significant risk" to public health, safety or public property.

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The proposal would repeal the city's existing pedestrian interference law and replace it with a similar "obstruction" law, which both bar sitting, laying down or arranging one's belongings in a way that blocks the public's access to public property, such as a sidewalk. Still, no ticket would be issued if the person accepts services or leaves when asked by an officer.

"We're trying to thread that needle between being unnecessarily punitive with people who already are facing such massive obstacles," said Alexander Scott, Spokane's city administrator who helped draft the law.

If adopted, the proposed ordinance also would entirely repeal the city's "sit and lie" laws, which criminalize anyone sitting or lying down on a downtown sidewalk between 6 a.m. and midnight, even if the path isn't blocked.

Brown argued that law enforcement already had largely stopped issuing sit- lie citations, preferring to issue pedestrian interference citations.

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Unlike pedestrian interference, sit- lie only applies to downtown and also requires officers to check if there is available shelter space before they are allowed under city code to issue a citation, extra requirements that officers and Police Chief Kevin Hall have blamed for bogging down enforcement.

Rather than relaxing those hurdles to issuing a sit- lie ticket, as Councilman Jonathan Bingle had proposed and the council majority opposed, Brown's pitch eliminates the law altogether, focusing entirely on camping and obstruction of a sidewalk or roadway.

Several on the council criticized sit- lie on ethical grounds. Dillon has argued that the law essentially has been enforced on the basis of whether someone looked undesirable, rather than based on the severity of the conduct of sitting on the ground.

Supporters of Prop 1 remain skeptical.

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In an interview, Councilman Michael Cathcart said he appreciates "what the mayor is attempting to do," but doesn't feel that the proposed changes were decided collaboratively. He accused the administration of not providing details in the ordinance on how staff would shut down encampments, including how they would store homeless people's property, leaving the process to be determined by administrative practice rather than council-approved law.

He said the proposal lacked teeth if someone repeatedly returned to the same area after being asked to clear their camp.

"There has to be a point where if we're referring you to a shelter, maybe you take the recommendation but don't follow up on it and you're there the next day, there has to be some point where we're saying you're refusing service, so there will now be some consequence," Cathcart said.

Scott argued that the proposal is in alignment with the administration's overall views on addressing homelessness, that connecting someone to homeless services was effective, and pushing them from one area of the city to another while giving them a ticket is ineffective.

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"Just with police telling the person to move, they are going to come back, and even if they don't come back to that spot, they're going to go somewhere else, because we don't have enough places for people to go, and that is the fundamental problem," Scott said.

Cathcart, who has long called for "good neighbor agreements" for new shelters, was also skeptical of the rule proposed Thursday.

The agreement only would be required by shelters with more than 20 beds that receive at least $50,000 in city funds in a given year, and while it requires the creation of a team to respond to neighborhood concerns and some kind of resolution process to remedy violations of the agreement, it does not specify the terms of the agreement or remedies.

"I'm concerned that the good neighborhood agreement feels pro forma, with no prescription of what needs to be in there, and there's no stick for what happens if you don't have a good faith attempt to abide by it," Cathcart argued.
One could say that farming in McLean County native Ben Haydens blood.

Hayden, who graduated from the University of Kentucky, said that he has spent his career working in the agriculture industry for companies such as Miles Farm Supply and Southern States in the crop input sector, while also helping his father farm in the Calhoun area.

Ive always been involved with farming in some way, he said.

But it was a recent mission trip to a third-world area in Africa that inspired Hayden to make the switch from the crop input sector into more of an educational role with the Extension Office.

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I went to a region in Africa and helped them with their farming, he said. They dont farm commercially there. They only grow what they need to sustain their community.

Hayden drew from his knowledge and experience, referencing Farming Gods Way, a well-balanced Biblical management and technological solution that helps to equip agricultural communities with a means to escape poverty with what God has put in their hands, revealing the fullness of Jesus promised abundant life, according to the programs website, farming-gods-way.org.

With some of the tips that I taught them, they were able to successfully yield three times more corn this harvest season than previously, Hayden said as he referenced a photograph of the rows of corn on his cell phone. The photo showed two types of fields, one sparse and barren with small plants dotted among the rows and the other, the one that Hayden helped to set up, was full, lush and abundant.

You can just see in the picture how much just a little bit of farming education helped these people and gave them more than theyve ever had before, he said. And witnessing that transformation has just been inspiring. If I can help these people accomplish that, what can I bring to the people in my own community?

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And that mission trip experience was Haydens inspiration for his career pivot. He has recently taken on the role of extension agent for agriculture and natural resources at the McLean County Extension Office, an entity that connects local farmers with Kentuckys two land-grant universities, the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University, for educational opportunities and guidance.

My role is to essentially provide farm education to the community and also act as a liaison between the farms and the University of Kentucky, he said.

Hayden said that, because of the agencys partnership with the University of Kentucky, hes able to utilize the research and studies made at the university and put those ideas into practice in the farming community in McLean County.

Because of all of the research and advancements happening at the college, I will be able to take that information and put it into practice on the farms in McLean County, he said. And, hopefully, Ill get to see our farmers become even more successful through farming advancements and educational opportunities.

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The McLean County Extension Office is located at 335 West Seventh St. in Calhoun. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

More information about the Extension Office and the programs that the organization offers can be found on its website, mclean.ca.uky.edu.
Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 900 as outbreaks continue to spread across the county, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday.

A total of 935 cases have been confirmed in 29 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

At least six states including Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases.

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MORE: Even a small uptick in vaccination could prevent millions of US measles cases. Here's how

The CDC says 13% of measles patients in the U.S. this year have been hospitalized, the majority of whom are under age 19.

Among the nationally confirmed cases, CDC says about 96% are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Meanwhile, 2% are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% are among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC.

PHOTO: Boxes and vials of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Virus Vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department, on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

Dr. Conrad Fischer, chief of infectious diseases at One Brooklyn Health in New York City, told ABC News he is concerned about the growing number of cases in the U.S.

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"This is a disease that was at the level of complete eradication; this should not be happening," he said. "It's very sad to have an enormously safe vaccine that has been used in billions of people and to have a sort of cultural societal amnesia about what these illnesses were like in the past."

In the decade before the measles vaccine became available, the CDC estimates that 3 to 4 million in the U.S. were sickened by measles every year, about 48,000 were hospitalized and about 400 to 500 people died. About 1,000 people suffered encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain.

Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. But vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years, leading to an increase in cases.

In Texas, where an outbreak has been spreading in the western part of the state, at least 663 cases have been confirmed as of Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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MORE: Amid growing Texas outbreak, how contagious is measles?

Meanwhile, officials in Denton County -- in the eastern part of the state outside Dallas and Fort Worth -- reported its first measles case this week in a patient who attended a Texas Rangers game.

The infected individual, an adult with unknown vaccination status, visited Globe Life Field and a handful of restaurants and other locations, Denton officials said.

Additionally, Chicago reported its first measles cases this week, one in a suburban Cook County resident with unknown vaccination status and another in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally and received one dose of the MMR vaccine, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health.

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It comes as a WHO report this week found that cases in the Americas are 11 times higher this year than they were at the same time last year.

Six countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Belize and Brazil, have reported a total of 2,318 cases so far this year. Last year had 205 cases at the same time.

PHOTO: A sign is seen outside a clinic with the South Plains Public Health District, on Feb. 23, 2025, in Brownfield, Texas. (Julio Cortez/AP, FILE)

Fischer said measles is not a benign virus and can cause serious complications, especially among vulnerable individuals such as young children and immunocompromised people.

"Measles has a chance to literally destroy your brain, to cause pneumonia, ear infections and, although it is only fatal in a relatively small number of people, it spreads so amazingly easily that even if it's only a few percentages, it's something extremely dangerous," he said.

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Fischer emphasized that measles is the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, even compared to other dangerous diseases like tuberculosis.

"For instance, tuberculosis will spread only to two or 3% of the people exposed," he said. "But if you are not vaccinated and you're exposed to someone with measles, you have a 90% chance of getting that infection."

MORE: RFK Jr. claims measles can be treated with vitamin A, linked to poor diet. Here's what science says

Dr. Whitney Harrington, a physician in the division of infectious diseases at Seattle Children's Hospital, told ABC News the U.S. is at risk of measles becoming endemic again unless vaccination rates increase.

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The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says.

"We really know that vaccines are the single most important public health intervention for preventing infectious disease," Harrington said. "And we know that they've dramatically decreased really the number of cases and the severity of cases of many infections, including measles."

She encouraged parents who have not vaccinated their children yet to speak with a doctor or a health care provider about vaccination and the benefits of vaccination.

ABC News Youri' Benadjaoud contributed to this report.

Measles cases surpass 900 in US as infections confirmed in 29 states, CDC data shows originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Instagram and Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. posted better-than-expected results Wednesday for the first quarter thanks to strong advertising revenue  boosted by artificial intelligence tools  on its social media platforms.

Meta's stock climbed in extended trading after the results came out.

It was a a good quarter for Meta, but it was before the economic turmoil really kicked in and before the seesaw of the tariffs began, said Sonata Insights chief analyst Debra Aho Williamson. It was also before we started to see pullbacks in ad spending from China-based advertisers like Temu and Shein.

Going forward, she added, Meta should be able to withstand any revenue shortfall from advertisers from China if it can continue to improve its AI-driven advertising tools.

The company earned $16.64 billion, or $6.43 per share, in the January-March period, up 35% from $12.37 billion, or $4.71 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue rose 16% to $42.31 billion from $36.46 billion a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $5.23 per share on revenue of $41.34 billion, according to a poll by FactSet.

For the current quarter, Meta forecast revenue in the range of $42.5 billion to $45.5 billion. Analysts are expecting $43.84 billion.

The Menlo Park, California-based company also raised its capital expenditures estimate for 2025 to $64 billion-$72 billion, up from its prior outlook of $60 billion-$65 billion. Meta said the new guidance reflects additional data center investments to support our artificial intelligence efforts as well as an increase in the expected cost of infrastructure hardware.

Weve had a strong start to an important year, our community continues to grow and our business is performing very well, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. Were making good progress on AI glasses and Meta AI, which now has almost 1 billion monthly actives.

He said in a conference call with analysts that the company is in a good position to navigate the ongoing economic uncertainty.

Zacks Investment Research analyst Andrew Rocco said that while many companies have not been providing guidance amid tariff concerns and an uncertain economic environment, the fact that Meta did is a bullish sign.

Meta said more than 3.4 billion people, on average, used at least one of its apps in March. That's up 6% from a year earlier.

On Tuesday, Meta released a standalone AI app, called Meta AI, that includes a discover feed that lets users see how others are interacting with AI.

Meta shares jumped $24.20, or 4.4%, to $573.20 in after-hours trading. The stock is down about 8% year-to-date.
A nurse gives an MMR vaccine at the Utah County Health Department on April 29, 2019, in Provo, Utah. The vaccine is 97% effective against measles when two doses are administered (George Frey/Getty Images).

Amber Schmidtke, a microbiologist, remembers feeling a tinge of relief five years ago as COVID spread across communities.

At least it wasnt measles.

Measles is the most contagious disease we have, said Schmidtke, who teaches at Kansas City University.

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But now, she and other public health experts are watching with alarm as the largely preventable virus marches toward Kansas City in the nations largest outbreak since 2019.

So far this year, health officials have confirmed 884 cases across the country, including 46 in southwest Kansas. One Missouri case reported on April 18 involved a child visiting the Branson area.

Marvia Jones, director of the Kansas City Health Department, said her agency will be as prepared as possible when cases reach the metro. But theres little doubt about whether they will come.

Its clear to us that measles is just a car ride away from Kansas Citians, Jones said at an April 29 press conference that was called to urge people to get vaccinated before the virus gets here.

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But rising vaccine skepticism, falling immunization rates and recent major cuts to federal public health funding are all working against efforts to quickly end the current measles outbreak, health officials said.

This makes me heartsick, said Lynelle Phillips, president of the Missouri Immunization Coalition. I think more children will be struck down and killed by a completely preventable outbreak of measles. And I think the question to us as Americans is how many of these children will have to die before we realize the mistake weve made?

Three deaths have been attributed to the outbreak so far, including two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico.

Declining immunization rates

Unlike the start of COVID when there was no vaccine, a highly effective measles vaccine is widely available. Until recently it was also widely adopted.

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By 2000, 37 years after the measles vaccine was introduced, United States health officials could declare measles eliminated because there hadnt been continuous spread for more than a year.

Now, that designation is in danger as measles cases spread. So far, the outbreak has reached 30 states. The largest cluster is in Texas, where 663 cases have been confirmed since late January.

The rise in measles infections, health leaders said, can be directly linked to low vaccination rates.

Herd immunity for measles, when the virus is unlikely to spread, requires a vaccination rate of 95%. But communities and schools are increasingly slipping below that mark. And where that happens, an outbreak becomes much more likely.

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In Kansas City, three ZIP codes fall below the 95% threshold, city health officials said.

64114 in the Waldo area has an immunization rate of 93%.

64151, where Lake Waukomis is located north of the river, is at 92%.

And 64155, where the upscale Staley Farms development is located, has a vaccination rate of only 84%.

Jones said these undervaccinated ZIP codes will get special attention as the city works to convince more people to let their kids get vaccines. The health department plans to hold community meetings in these areas in hopes of answering questions and easing hesitancy.

We are doing all we can to add outreach and have real conversations, Jones said.

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The health department also will extend the hours it offers vaccinations. Beginning May 14, vaccines will be available at 2400 Troost Ave. until 7 p.m., and Saturday hours will begin May 17. For an appointment, people can call 311, but appointments are not required.

Growing vaccine skepticism

Parents, faced with an internet awash in inaccurate information about vaccinations in general and the measles vaccine specifically, are more often skipping routine childhood immunizations.

Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are recommended for children. The first dose is recommended at about 1 year old, and a second dose when a child starts school, between 4 and 6 years old.

During the 2023-24 school year, immunization rates for kindergartners fell to 92.7% nationwide, from 95.2% during the 2019-20 school year. In Missouri, the rate went from 94.6% in 2019-20 to 90.4% in 2023-24. In those same years, Kansas rate climbed slightly, from 90% to 90.4%.

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Six metro counties showed MMR vaccination rates below 95% for kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year.

Schools require children to have the MMR and other vaccinations in order to attend kindergarten, but states allow exemptions for religious or medical reasons. And those exemptions have been on the rise.

The Staley Farms ZIP codes religious exemption rate doubled to 14% last year from 7% in 2019, city officials said. According to state records, private schools in Clay County, where the ZIP code is located, had a religious exemption rate of 13.4% in 2023, compared with 5.4% in 2019.

In Kansas, the statewide exemption rate was just over 1% in the 2010-11 school year. But by the 2023-24 year, it was up to almost 3%. And Missouris statewide rate is getting close to 5%, said Dr. George Turabelidze, Missouris state epidemiologist.

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Phillips said the increase can also be traced to a change in Missouri law that took effect at the beginning of 2024, lowering barriers for parents to get vaccine exemptions for their children. Its now as simple as filling out a form online and submitting it to the school.

Prior to that, you would have to make an appointment at the health department and meet with a public health nurse, Phillips said.

Parents who oppose vaccines objected to the states previous exemption requirements, saying they violated their speech and religious rights.

But Phillips said the added step of going to the health department gave parents an opportunity to learn about the health consequences of choosing to forgo their childs vaccinations. And they also found out that children who are unvaccinated have to miss weeks of school if they are exposed  even if they dont get sick.

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Public health officials understand that a growing number of people are afraid of having their kids vaccinated. In part, they blame strong anti-vaccination views that took root during the COVID pandemic related to the vaccines developed to treat that virus.

That (skepticism) spills over to other vaccines as well, Turabelidze said.

In addition to fueling anti-vaccine views, the pandemic also led to more distrust of public health agencies, which became the face of shuttered schools and businesses and other restrictions that some people abhorred. That distrust has made it even harder to get accurate information to people who may be worried about unfounded claims about vaccines that flourish on the internet.

One of the most persistent myths  that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism  has been especially common, Turabelidze said.

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Its been debunked so many times, I cant even count, he said. But people keep repeating this myth.

Now, many fear that the vaccine doubts have been given more credibility with the appointment of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services.

Highly contagious

As Missouris immunization rates have slipped, Turabelidze said the state Department of Health and Senior Services has been working to increase outreach and education efforts, especially to schools or communities with lower vaccination rates.

Those communities are sitting ducks for such a highly contagious virus, health experts said.

Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to measles will get sick. And the virus can infect people who dont even come into contact with someone who has it. Measles spreads when people talk, cough or sneeze, but can linger in the air for three hours.

If I had a person in my class that had measles and didnt know it and they left, everyone who enters that classroom for the next several hours could get it, Phillips said. Its really difficult to manage transmission when you realize just how infectious measles is.

And the measles virus can be dangerous. One in five people who get the virus end up in the hospital, Dr. Susanne Luedtke, an infectious disease specialist at University Health, told reporters during the April 29 press conference hosted by the Kansas City Health Department.

One in 20 children contract pneumonia with measles. The disease can cause brain swelling and serious long-term side effects like seizures, hearing loss and a condition called immune amnesia, which can destroy a childs immune response. And between one and three of every 1,000 children who get measles will die.

Measles is not a rash and a fever, Luedtke said. Its a serious disease with real risks.

Before the measles vaccine came along in 1963, almost everyone came down with measles before they turned 15. The telltale rash would begin at the hairline and move down the torso and out to the extremities. A high fever developed, along with symptoms like a runny nose and cough.

Of course, most people recovered as they would from the flu or another viral infection. But before the vaccine, every year an estimated 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized and 1,000 developed encephalitis or brain swelling.

This is not a disease you joke around with, Turabelidze said. Its highly contagious. And it can put you in the hospital. We already have three persons dead in this country. And you can also have long-term consequences.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services operates a 24-hour helpline that doctors can call if they run into a potential case of measles. Turabelidze said calls have increased as doctors, many of whom have never run into a case of measles before, grow increasingly wary of unidentifiable rashes.

More often its not really measles, he said. But we would rather have a consultation than an undetected case.

The state also has added capacity for the state laboratory to conduct PCR tests for measles. That service, which began in March, will reduce the time test results take, which could make a big difference in quelling an outbreak.

We wanted to have a very, very quick response time because measles is so highly contagious, Turabelidze said.

Importance of education

When measles is detected, public health agencies play a crucial role in quickly locating anyone an infected person has been around. They also track down people who have shared an inside space where the infected person could have left behind the virus.

Public health is critical in managing an outbreak. But for the system to work, experts said, the public needs to trust public health. And public health agencies need to be available to answer questions to assuage concerns, provide information to doctors and patients and offer easy access to the vaccine.

Vaccines in the refrigerator never yet prevented a single case of infection, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They have to be administered This takes human beings and it takes time.

It also takes money. But recent federal funding cuts by the Trump administration have slashed support for public health outreach efforts.

On March 24, the Missouri Immunization Coalition, Phillips organization, lost all of its funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That money funded the groups entire budget, which means it is now on life support, Phillips said.

And like other public health organizations that had relied on those funds, the work the coalition had been doing  educating people about vaccines, providing transportation and other resources to improve access  is hanging by a thread.

Vaccination rates are not going to raise themselves, Phillips said. The organizations involved with all of the education and logistics and support  have been dismantled. At a time when were witnessing a resurgence in measles, these are the ingredients of a perfect storm.

Missouris Department of Health and Senior Services lost a combined $255 million in the March 24 CDC cuts. That included $135 million in projects currently underway to support the states public health system and about $119 million for projects that hadnt been determined.

Turabelidze said it is unclear how the cuts will affect the states vaccine efforts.

The Kansas City Health Department has seen federal cuts so far of about $3 million, money that was allocated to pay for adult vaccinations and outreach, enhanced laboratory capacity and community health workers.

On April 25, the city announced it had joined a coalition of other local governments and a labor union representing government workers in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding cuts.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said, Its important that we as cities and people stand up for common sense and public health in the courts.

Its also worth remembering, Schmidtke said, that eliminating outreach programs may save money in the short term. But if measles cases increase as a result, the ultimate cost will be much more. While each MMR vaccine dose costs around $2, she said, managing a case of someone who contracts measles can cost $50,000.

I know money isnt everything, Schmidtke said. But when we dont have enough money to get the outreach, to educate the public about the importance of vaccination, to educate them about where to find it, we run the risk of really expensive outbreaks that are hard to control.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN)  Girards Medal of Honor recipient shared the story of his service with students at St. Rose Catholic School.

Kenneth David addressed sixth through eighth grade students during an assembly Friday.

David told the students about his actions during the Vietnam War, which led to him being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The students listened attentively as he also talked about his experience in Washington, D.C. when he was awarded the medal from then President Joe Biden.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Mike Braun signs a pair of executive orders dealing with unemployment insurance in his Statehouse office on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Gov. Mike Braun signed a whopping 56 bills into law Friday, including measures setting contentious work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients and evaluating the addition of secessionist Illinois counties to Indiana.

Twenty of the bills came from the Senate, led by Senate Enrolled Act 2  which would require enrollees under the Healthy Indiana Plan to either work or volunteer for 20 hours a week or risk losing their benefits. The proposal includes over a dozen exemptions and must also get the stamp of approval from the federal government before being enacted, however.

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Other Senate ideas include a handful of health bills  one reforming prior authorization requirements and a wide-ranging omnibus package  along with public safety and energy matters.

One adopts a new set of eyewitness identification procedures  a move celebrated by exonerees wrongly convicted of crimes partly due to mistaken eyewitness identification.

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The Innocence Project reports that over a third of wrongful convictions stem from such errors, including Indianas Leon Benson. Benson spent over 24 years imprisoned for a murder he didnt commit.

A small modular nuclear reactor pilot program will also move forward, part of a package of bills drafted with the intention of bringing the technology to Indiana.

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Among the 36 House-originated bills signed Friday were three chamber GOP priorities.

House Enrolled Act 1005 continues incentivizing housing construction while House Enrolled Act 1006 creates a prosecutor review board to scrutinize so-called noncompliant prosecutors.

The final priority measure, House Enrolled Act 1008, establishes a commission to study Hoosier absorption of secessionist Illinois counties  though such a move would also require Prairie State consent and federal approval.

Other House bills set to become law following Brauns signature include an Indiana National Guard enlistment boost, a Medicaid diversion program, and new pediatric cancer research grants.

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Additionally, a transportation infrastructure funding revamp will change how communities fund roads, bridges and more. It eases barriers to tolling and changes up the popular Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. The measure will also increase the speed limit on Interstate 465.

To see the full list of newly signed bills, visit the governors 2025 Bill Watch page.

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Supporters of medical cannabis helped two measures reach the 2024 general election ballot, Initiatives 437 and 438. Some spoke during a public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Oct. 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  A legislative bill designed to help implement medical cannabis in Nebraska narrowly advanced from committee Thursday in the waning days of the 2025 session.

Legislative Bill 677, from State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, advanced 5-3 from the General Affairs Committee. It would set up a clearer state regulatory scheme for the medical cannabis system that voters overwhelmingly approved in November. Just two weeks ago, the bill failed to advance 3-5 after no committee member tried to adopt a narrowing amendment.

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A new compromise amendment adopted Thursday passed with one major change: up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower or bud could be sold to a qualified patient or caregiver.

Smoking would not be allowed, and post-traumatic stress would not be a qualified medical condition, similar to the most recent version of LB 677 from Hansen.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair kneels to talk with State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue. Hansen is the lead sponsor on a 2025 bill to help give structure to the states new medical cannabis laws. Holdcroft is the chair of the General Affairs Committee considering his bill. March 25, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The latest changes won over conservative State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and Stan Clouse of Kearney, who voted to advance the bill with three Democrats, State Sens. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Dan Quick of Grand Island and Victor Rountree of Bellevue.

State Sens. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County, Barry DeKay of Niobrara and Jared Storm of David City, all Republicans in the officially nonpartisan body, again opposed LB 677.

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Hansen, a Republican, said Thursdays action is the first step of a few to move the ball forward, but instead of it being stagnant, its like you finally gave it a kick.

We are extremely happy

Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, whose son would benefit under the law, said LB 677s advancement to the legislative floor was an extremely huge win for patients and advocates who have fought for more than a decade for the measure.

That timeline includes three ballot campaigns, multiple court cases and numerous legislative bills, including the most recent bill in 2021, which stalled by one vote.

I think today we saw that the determination and the grit and the hurdles and the setbacks, theyve all been worth it, Eggers told reporters. We are extremely happy.

Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, center, leads a news conference urging legislative support for bills to help implement a safe, fully regulated medical cannabis system. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Hansen has said getting LB 677 passed this spring is critical to prevent the Wild West, as its unclear what would happen without state funds or clearer enacting legislation for the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission that voters also created. The law allows patients to possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a physicians recommendation.

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The Legislatures budget-writing Appropriations Committee plans to provide an extra $30,000 to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, at the executive directors request, to cover additional duties that his staff will jointly take on with the Medical Cannabis Commission.

The three commissioners on the Liquor Control Commission also serve on the Medical Cannabis Commission. LB 677, as amended, would explicitly allow commission staff to share resources in carrying out each groups respective responsibilities.

It has to be done the right way

Storm and Andersen again led opposition to LB 677 during a committee meeting over concerns it represented big marijuana and that the proposal, as advanced, essentially enables recreational marijuana, which Hansen denies.

Andersen called the latest iteration of LB 677 among the most liberal and asked how lawmakers could rectify LB 677 with the position of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers that the Legislature should not act on any medical marijuana legislation.

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Holdcroft and Cavanaugh, the chair and vice chair of the General Affairs Committee, repeatedly pushed back and said they had to do something for the voters and that Hilgers opinion was just that, an opinion.

Part of the concern is that passing LB 677 could nullify the pending appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court over whether the ballot measures should have been allowed to be voted on. In Lancaster County District Court, Hilgers lost.

The Nebraska Pardons Board of Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers talk before a Board of Pardons meeting. Aug. 20, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

This week, in an interview with Nebraska Public Media, Hilgers described the situation as a 60-yard or 65-yard game-winning field goal when there was clearly an offensive player offside or who had a false start, or some other penalty. In his analogy, Hilgers is the referee.

It has to be done the right way or it shouldnt count, Hilgers said in that interview.

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Holdcroft in March, questioning a representative of the AGs Office opposing LB 677 at the bills public hearing, said he felt Hilgers wants us to keep this law stupid, where he can find some loopholes in it and make it illegal.

The Legislature just isnt that kind of body, Holdcroft said at the time.

The black market

DeKay questioned whether LB 677 could lead to the black market, because of a patients immunity from possessing cannabis regardless of the source. Hansens bill would tax medical cannabis the same as other products  5.5 cents per $1, prior to local sales taxes.

Cavanaugh, a lawyer, said black markets thrive on uncertainty and that if DeKay, Andersen or Storm wanted to stop that, then they should support LB 677.

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I am in favor of this because the voters voted for it, and this makes it safe, regulated and accessible, Cavanaugh said, though he said he wished the bill also allowed PTSD as a qualifying condition.

State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, center. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Clouse indicated that he still would have some amendments coming to the bill  the specifics of which he didnt share. He has said he wants to allow the governor to appoint up to two more outside members in addition to the two he can already appoint. The governor also already appoints the three commissioners to the Liquor Control Commission.

Outside appointees, Clouse said, could perhaps include law enforcement or supply chain representatives. LB 677 would require at least one appointee to be a health care practitioner. Members would serve six-year terms.

Gov. Jim Pillen this week appointed Lorelle Mueting, the prevention director of Heartland Family Service, which, among other things, connects people to substance abuse treatment, and Dr. Monica Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist, to the commission. Both women opposed recent medical cannabis proposals in Nebraska, Oldenburg in 2019 and Mueting in March.

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The General Affairs Committee will host hearings on the appointments this session.

At one point during the sometimes contentious afternoon meeting, Holdcroft said he wasnt going to convince Andersen or Storm and called the vote. Holdcroft said the full Legislature deserved to be able to debate LB 677, with a chance of passage.

Other changes to the bill

Other changes advanced as part of the amended LB 677, from what voters decided in November, include limiting a qualified health care practitioner to licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners and practitioners. Medical providers could not recommend cannabis unless they have treated the patient for at least six months or if the provider primarily practices in Nebraska.

Currently, a provider just has to be licensed anywhere in the country and follow the law to write a recommendation.

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Under existing statute, which has been the case since December, Nebraskans can use medical cannabis with a doctors recommendation for any ailment.

State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney reads the voter initiative packet from 2022. March 31, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The amendment would limit qualifying medical conditions to 15 ailments, similar to a list drafted by former State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln with the Nebraska Medical Association on a previous bill:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Autism with frequent self-injurious or aggressive behavior.

Cancer.

Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis.

Epilepsy or epileptic seizures.

Hepatitis C that causes moderate to severe nausea or cachexia.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Huntingtons disease.

Parkinsons disease.

Spinal cord injury or disease with residual neurologic deficits.

Terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of under one year.

Tourettes syndrome.

A serious medical condition or related treatment that causes severe nausea or cachexia.

Severe and persistent muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or muscular dystrophy.

Severe or chronic pain lasting longer than six months that is not adequately managed, in the opinion of a health care practitioner, despite treatment attempts using either conventional medications other than opioids or opiates or physical interventions.

Acceptable forms of cannabis would include edibles, concentrates, ointments, transdermal patches or creams, nebulizers and vaporizer cartridges or pens. Products intended for smoking, such as bongs or joints, could not be sold.

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Andersen and Storm said Nebraskans would just buy the flower or bud and make joints, which Cavanaugh and Holdcroft said would not be permitted.

The path ahead

Eggers, Hansen and Holdcroft all noted the path ahead wouldnt be easy, with Eggers describing it as a huge journey and Holdcroft saying he anticipated an uphill battle.

Hansen said that it was still too early to tell whether he could get 33 votes and pass the bill over the finish line. Thats the minimum amount of votes needed under the Nebraska Constitution to amend a state law enacted by voters, regardless of a promised filibuster. Unlike other ballot measures this spring, supporters asked for companion legislation to beef up the proposal.

State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and John Cavanaugh of Omaha, chair and vice chair of the Legislatures General Affairs Committee, from left, meet off the legislative floor. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Holdcroft said he would argue in favor of the measure but would reserve his vote to see how the debate goes.

This Saturday in La Vista, Sunday in Omaha and Monday in Lincoln, Holdcroft, Hansen and Cavanaugh will host public forums for the public to weigh in on medical cannabis. Eggers said Thursday also represented that senators were listening to voters on this issue and encouraged any Nebraskans to get engaged.

Much of the next two weeks will be consumed by debate on the state budget. LB 677 is expected to be debated to its maximum debate limit across three stages of debate, lasting a combined 13 hours, leaving a tight timeline for LB 677 to become law.

The bill would need to pass by June 2, in case it is vetoed by the governor, who has so far declined to weigh in on the bill but has joined Hilgers in saying the two have reservations.

Hansen noted Hilgers opposition is nothing new but that Hilgers, a former state senator and speaker of the Legislature, is a friend whom he trusts on many things.

This is just one thing we differ on, Hansen told the Nebraska Examiner.

Hansen continued: I think he might know the legalities more than I do, but I know what the people want and what they deserve and what they voted for. We kind of have to meld those two things together somehow.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she is confident of good relations with Friedrich Merz, the conservative German politician set to be elected chancellor next week.

Meloni told Italy's Adnkronos news agency that she had been in contact with Merz over recent weeks after meeting him ahead of Germany's February elections. "I'm sure we will work well together," she said.

Meloni, who heads a right-wing government in Rome, wished the new German government well. Merz will head a coalition comprised of his Christian Democrats, their Bavarian sister party - the Christian Social Union - and the centre-left Social Democrats.

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She said she strongly agreed with statements made by Merz on the European Union's Green Deal and on competitiveness.

Merz is expected to visit Rome soon after taking office next week, with his election by the German parliament set for Tuesday.

Meloni is seen as the EU leader with the best contacts to US President Donald Trump and has met him five times since his re-election, most recently during the funeral of pope Francis in Rome.

Meloni and Merz are also set to cross paths at a series of international summits being held over the weeks ahead.
CUMBERLAND  For the first time in more than 50 years, a Memorial Day parade to honor veterans is set to return downtown.

County United Way, Lets Beautify Cumberland!, WCBC Radio and The Cumberland Times-News are co-sponsors of the event, said Chris Myers, coordinator of the parade.

On May 26, a Memorial Day service will take place at roughly 10 a.m. on Baltimore Street, between Liberty and Centre streets, followed by the parade.

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Roger Lantz, a Vietnam veteran who retired as owner of M&M Bake Shop that recently closed after 60 years in business, will be grand marshal of the parade, which will also include Del McCoury and his wife, Jean, Myers said.

Were excited to bring the parade back to Cumberland, said Myers, a member of LBC!.

The event is in the planning stage and so far includes organizations, classic cars, and Jeep and motorcycle groups.

Myers said LBC! encourages patriotic participants in the parade, including youth and school groups, clubs, emergency service departments, local businesses and musical groups.

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Were still looking for groups that want to be involved, Myers said.

Permit policy

Last month, Myers said Cumberlands administration denied his request on behalf of LBC! for a special event permit to close Baltimore Street for the Memorial Day parade.

Baltimore Street as a former pedestrian mall was home to a variety of festivals and events.

From March 2023 until November, the street underwent a $17.2 million renovation, which opened it to one-way traffic.

City officials during the construction process said that upon the projects completion, Baltimore Street could be closed if needed for special gatherings.

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Councilmen Rock Cioni and Eugene Frazier at a mayor and City Council meeting in April supported the parades return to downtown.

Thursday, Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka said the city recently changed its stance on the Memorial Day parade proposal.

The applicant had since the initial inquiry submitted the proper application and had the scheduled meeting with city staff to coordinate the event and determine an acceptable route, Silka said via email.

However, there are still outstanding submissions that must be satisfied prior to a permit being issued, he said.

City staffers will formulate a policy for special event permits to close Baltimore Street to traffic, which will be brought to the City Council for approval once completed, Silka said.

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Myers said details, including insurance to cover the parade, are being finalized to satisfy city requirements.

Details, promotion

The parade is planned to stage on Frederick Street, proceed to Mechanic and Baltimore streets and end at Queen City Drive.

One very exciting item in our partnership with DelFest is a promotional video for downtown Cumberland and the Memorial Day parade, Myers said.

DelFest, which features bluegrass and Americana music, will be held May 22 to 25 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.

Myers said the video being developed will be broadcast on the Delevision system  large screens at Delfest  and encourage festival participants to visit downtown Cumberland.

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It is our organizations hope that out-of-town visitors will stop by downtown on their way out of town following DelFest, he said. We continue to encourage businesses to be open on Memorial Day for the anticipated crowd.

Community stuff

Ed Mullaney was Cumberlands downtown manager for 15 years and today co-chairs LBC!

Mullaney, 81, said the last time a Memorial Day parade was held in Cumberland was probably around 1970.

He said when he was a kid, he decorated his bicycle for the annual Memorial Day parade in Cumberland.

It was real community stuff, he said. It was wonderful.

Mullaney recalled the energy, spirit and talents of the Fulton Myers Post 153 American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps that performed for many years in the annual parade.

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According to Western Marylands Historical Library, the legion was located on North Mechanic Street and named for Fulton J. Myers, 1890-1918, a young Black soldier who served in the 351st Field Artillery and died at Camp Meade, later known as Fort George Meade in Maryland.

They were the highlight of the parade, Mullaney said.

He said roughly 500 mini American flags will be given to spectators along the upcoming parades route.

Mullaney said parade participants will include Ali Ghan Shriners in mini cars and the Mountain Maryland rescue dogs.

Its gonna be a composite of many good things that go on in the tri-state area, he said. There will be something for everyone.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A University of Memphis alumnus and grandfather of six was among 10 more Americans freed from Kuwait this week.

In 2022, Tony Holden was working as an HVAC technician for a U.S.-based defense contractor at Camp Arifjan U.S. Army Base when his family said he was arrested on fabricated drug charges.

The Memphis native returned to the United States on Wednesday and, in a video circulating online, he thanked President Trump for bringing him home.

In this image released by the U.S. State Dept., Adam Boehler, the Trump administrations top envoy for hostage affairs, left, greets military contractor Tony Holden, who was recently released from Kuwait, at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, VA., on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (U.S. State Dept. via AP)

I wanted you to be able to meditate on how youve affected, personally, lives and the difference that youve made, Holden said. I give all the grace and honor to God. He uses instruments, and there have been a lot of people behind the scenes who have done a great job.

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According to a website set up to raise awareness about his case, Holden was approached by two men who were so violent he thought he was being kidnapped.

Family members said the corrupt officers who were after bonuses beat Holden and trashed his apartment looking for drugs. They said the men also took Holden, his wife, and his then three-year-old daughter into the Kuwaiti desert and physically threatened them and eventually coerced Holden into signing a written confession in Arabic to protect his family.

Holmes Rd. bridge to close for repairs

His family said even though they never found any drugs and Holdens drug test came back negative, he was charged with drug possession, drug trafficking, and attempting to flee the country.

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They said the trial judge believed the police report was fabricated, but Holden was still sentenced to five years in prison. He was detained for more than 900 days.

Since March, Kuwait has pardoned 23 Americans as part of a goodwill gesture by a U.S. ally.

In a post on X, Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President, Senior Director for Counter Terrorism, National Security Council, said 47 hostages had been released in 100 days thanks to the President.

Holdens family members are celebrating his release and say they never gave up hope he would be released.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Dozens of Memphians attended the National Day of Prayer event at Overton Park Shell following recent gun violence in Memphis on Thursday.

As a city we cant give up on Memphis, we cant give up we gone keep fighting to take our streets back, said Ladia Yates, owner of LYE Academy.

Yates and her students opened up the National Day of Prayer service.

We need something positive thats in this city. Weve heard a lot devastating news in these past few days, weeks, so we need something thats bringing people together, said Dr. Reginald Boyce, Organizer, City of Memphis.

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Juvenile injured in Frayser shooting: MPD

In a recent update from Memphis police, they have investigated more than 90 homicides since the beginning of this year.

Just last week, two students from Booker T. Washington were killed in broad daylight. Earlier this month, another teenager was killed at Tom Lee Park, and many more teens have been accused of violent crimes.

People were praying for the safety of all Memphis Shelby County Schools.

What I see in the future is us coming together and believing that crime is not the answer, said student Harmony Johnson.

Me as a parent, when I go to school meeting and I only see a couple of parents, its a little discouraging because its like, hey, you know, lets come together and lets work together, said Felicia Fowlkes, mother.

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Major Maclin and Richard McClain settled into a booth at The Family Table Restaurant in Brown Deer with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and bacon filling the air.

As servers darted around the packed restaurant, Maclin, 75, laughed with McClain, 77. They reminisced about simpler times, recalling lazy summer days at Franklin Square, Columbia, and Garfield Park playgrounds. Growing up here, they experienced the unrestrained freedom to play ball and chase one another throughout their neighborhood without worrying about violence.

"Some young people today find it hard to believe that there was a time when we didn't have to worry about shootings and crime. Just recently, a child was shot because someone left a gun out so they could get it. This was rare during our childhood," Maclin said.

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Over plates piled with scrambled eggs and golden toast, Maclin and McClain celebrated their shared past, weaving a tapestry of memories against the backdrop of a changing city.

Major Maclin (left) and Richard McClain share a booth at the Family Table Restaurant, on March 14 for the monthly Breakfast Club M.K.E. Maclin, 75 and McClain, 77, became fast friends meeting less than a year ago over breakfast. Although the men didnt know each other, they share plenty in common, especially their love for Milwaukee and their passion for sharing their history with a younger generation.

Their conversation was just one of many simultaneously happening among nearly 70 people who gathered at the restaurant on a recent morning for breakfast with elders. Every second Friday of the month, a large group of prominent men from various sectors gather for fellowship and conversation.

"I try to attend this event every month because this room is filled with wisdom that you can't find in a history book," said Richard Badger, 52, director of Workforce Initiatives for Wisconsin Community Services.

Opinion: Milwaukee losing another federal lifeline. Impact will be swift and devastating.

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Badger said listening can teach you a lot, and the breakfast conversations provide a safe space for Black men, who often lack opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings, to share their minds.

"It's the best two or three hours you can get," he said.

Rev. Richard Lewis, executive director of Souls to the Polls, shares a laugh with members of Breakfast Club M.K.E. on March 14. The club meets on the second Friday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Family Table Restaurant, 6598 W. Brown Deer Road.

Gathering has grown from handful to more than 70

The group began in March 2019 when a small circle of friends gathered at the Family Table. They shared their experiences, and the group started to grow. However, five months after its inception, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill.

Once restrictions were lifted, they resumed meeting under the name Breakfast Club M.K.E, said Louis DeSilva, 73, one of the original five founders.

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This is more than just men meeting for breakfast. We provide information on various topics that can help them, and it fosters a sense of fellowship, DeSilva said.

What began with six men expanded to 26, then 42, and now averages up to 70. Although the food is good, not everyone comes to eat; some attend to hug friends they havent seen in a while or grab coffee with someone they have never met in person.

When I attended in March, I saw many men who played a vital role in my life and several I admire, such as Mac Weddle, a driving force behind Milwaukees Juneteenth celebration, and Will Allen, an international leader in urban and rural agriculture who established Wills Roadside Farms & Markets. The guest speaker that week was Greg Lewis, executive director of Souls to the Polls, who talked about the power in voting.

The monthly events feature a guest speaker, and the topics cover a range of subjects, including health, politics, mentorship, volunteering, financial planning, and intergenerational connections.

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Weddle, 77, said if you come to the breakfast club, you wont be alone. Theres bound to be someone here that you know, or who knows your people. He moves around the restaurant like a social butterfly, transitioning from table to table, joining conversations, and helping people connect with others they havent met yet.

With all the negative things people talk about in our city, we want our community, especially our young folks, to see that we can come together for love," said Weddle said, another founder. "Many young people dont know if they can see it."

Black men face social isolation. Gatherings help keep them healthy.

Attending events like the breakfast not only provides the men valuable insights but may also contribute to the overall health. Numerous studies show that many African American men face social isolation, and some experts argue that this tendency to withdraw can heighten the risk of serious health issues, potentially resulting in premature death.

The National Institutes of Health reports that men are less likely than women to seek mental health services, which can contribute to feelings of sadness and loneliness. Taking small steps can break the cycle of isolation. Men can reach out to others by making plans, meeting for coffee or a meal, or calling to check in.

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Opinion: Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI. Was that right? Tell us.

As I was sitting at the breakfast last month, I was reminded of my closest friends, individuals Ive known for nearly 40 years, including George Tillman Jr. and Mac Strawder. We have a group chat and talk about everything and communicate constantly. The best part of our chat is that while we motivate each other to exercise and eat right, its also a space for sharing memes, having fun, and discussing serious topics that we face as Black men  topics that only another Black man can truly understand.

Some of our most serious conversations have been around the racism we face and the death of various family members, something all my close friends have experienced recently.

Men are taught to keep many thoughts and feelings to themselves because they often feel uncomfortable being vulnerable about their emotions. This can lead to signs of loneliness, which may cause additional stress and potentially result in health issues that could land them in the hospital.

Pair met at breakfast and bonded like they were lifelong friends

The beauty of Breakfast Club M.K.E is that it helps men forge connections they may not otherwise have. While some attendees have known each other for years, others became friends with people they just met.

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Maclin and McClain forged an unexpected bond at the breakfast late last year, but they talk as though their have been friends for decades, sharing everything from the silly to the series, such as reflecting on their parents' powerful stories migrating to Wisconsin from the South. This journey was driven by hope, as families escaped the oppressive grip of Jim Crow laws in the South, seeking a better life filled with opportunities, dignity, and the chance to live freely.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, ranging from the thrill of rabbit hunting to the intricacies of political debates that echoed the passions of a bygone era. They argued over the vibrant history of Milwaukee, painting vivid pictures of how the Black community thrived with culture and charm.

Columnist James E. Causey (left) joins the Breakfast Club M.K.E. In March at the Family Table Restaurant, 6598 W. Brown Deer Road. The group meets every second Friday of the month at the restaurant for good food, conversation, and to listen to a speaker. The group draws about 70 people a month. Photo by James E. Causey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"You didn't have to go downtown because everything you needed was right in our community," McClain said. "You remember that?"

They even shared how different young people are today when it comes to settling disputes.

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Back in the days, you could fight with someone and be friends 15 to 30 minutes later. Today, the first thing they want to do is grab a gun to prove how tough they are, but that aint tough, Maclin said to McClain.

That aint tough. The problem is people afraid to get their butts whipped, McClain added.

Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on Twitter @jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Men need social outlets. I found group that provides more. | Opinion
By Patrick Wingrove and Michael Erman

(Reuters) -Moderna on Thursday pushed back the time frame for likely approval of a combination vaccine meant to protect against both COVID-19 and influenza, but said exchanges with U.S. drug regulators have remained constructive under Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. vaccine maker reported first-quarter profit and sales that beat Wall Street estimates, as the company's cost-cutting efforts offset some of the waning post-pandemic demand for its COVID shot. It said it plans to cut more costs over the next two years.

The company's shares, which have been battered by declining COVID revenue as well as political concerns spurred by Kennedy's appointment, fell 3.3% to $27.60 in morning trading. They have lost over 90% of their value since their pandemic-era highs.

"It really has been business as usual," Moderna President Stephen Hoge said of exchanges with the U.S. FDA during a call to discuss quarterly results.

He said the company has not seen any sign that the review of its next-generation COVID vaccine, which the FDA has targeted to finish by the end of May, will take longer than expected.

"Those assessments have, we believe, been constructive and positive," Hoge said.

Investor concerns about the prospects for new vaccines under the Trump administration have been on the rise following a regulatory delay for Novavax's rival COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA had set an approval decision goal of April 1 for the Novavax shot and missed that deadline.

Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said after the conference call that these concerns about Moderna remained.

"Overall, changes by HHS bring uncertainty for the landscape and investors," he said.

Moderna said on Thursday it now does not expect regulatory approval for its combination flu/COVID-19 shot until 2026, after the FDA said it required late-stage data demonstrating the shot's efficacy against the flu. Moderna previously said it hoped to launch the vaccine for the autumn respiratory disease season in 2025 or 2026.

DRIVEN BY COST CUTTING

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based drugmaker said it plans to cut its operating costs by as much as $1.7 billion by 2027. It said it expects operating costs for 2027 to be between $4.7 billion and $5 billion.

Finance chief James Mock said in an interview that Moderna expects costs to fall as it completes several late-stage vaccine trials.

Moderna posted an adjusted loss of $2.52 per share for the quarter, smaller than analysts' estimates for a loss of $3.14 per share, according to LSEG data. Mock said the smaller-than-expected loss was all driven by cost cutting.
Related video: Unduly harsh: Former Crawford County deputy appeals sentence in viral Mulberry arrest case from March 2025

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The results of a mental evaluation have been filed for the man who was beaten by Crawford County deputies in a viral video, court records say.

Randal Worcester, 28, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, is charged with terroristic threatening, battery, resisting arrest, possessing an instrument of crime, obstructing governmental operations and disorderly conduct.

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Dr. Jason Beaman, Chair of the School of Forensic Sciences at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, completed Worcesters mental evaluation, according to court documents. Beaman holds board certifications in forensic psychiatry, general psychiatry and addiction medicine

Trial date set for man beaten by deputies in viral video in Crawford County

A mental evaluation assesses whether a person possessed the capacity to conform their behavior to the requirements of the law at the time of the alleged offense.

It is my opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that at the time of the alleged

crime, Mr. Worcester did not have the capacity to conform his conduct to the requirements

of the law, Dr. Beaman wrote in his evaluation.

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Dr. Beaman cited Worcesters own confusion about his actions (I dont know why I did that), his lack of a rational motive since he did not appear to be under arrest and evidence suggesting he was in an altered mental state.

Case background

Worcester has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

FILE  Randal Worcester walks out of the Crawford County Justice Center in Van Buren, Ark., on Aug. 22, 2022. An Arkansas law enforcement officer who held down Worcester while two others beat him during an arrest recorded on video is back on the job after he did not face any criminal charges, according to authorities Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo, File)

He made headlines in 2022 when video of his arrest went viral. The video showed him being beaten by sheriffs deputies and a police officer while being handcuffed and was posted to social media.

The deputies in that video, Levi White and Zackary King, pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law causing bodily injury.

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White was sentenced to five years in federal prison, and King was sentenced to one year in federal prison with one year of supervised release. White has since appealed his sentence.

Worcester appeared in court on April 30, and his trial is set for June 23.

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MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH)  The Meriden Police Department has identified a disoriented man and reunited him with his family.

Meriden police said that just after 3 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a call in the vicinity of 1655 North Colony Road for a report of a man who appeared disoriented.

Laptop fire prompts student evacuation at Newington High School

When officers arrived, they located an elderly man who did seem disoriented. He could not say give his name, age, or where he was from.

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The man was taken to an area hospital for evaluation. Police initially asked the public for help identifying him.

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(KRON)  A gunman killed in a standoff with South San Francisco police earlier this week has been identified as the founding guitarist of the influential death metal band Possessed.

Police said the gunman was Brian Montana, aged 60.

On Monday, authorities said Montana became involved in a standoff with South San Francisco PD around 5:50 p.m. on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive.

Over the next 25 minutes, the suspect armed himself with three different types of firearms (handgun, shotgun, and rifle) and fired at officers from different locations within the driveway while seeking cover and concealment using vehicles in the driveway and landscaping.

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Officers used police vehicles as cover and returned fire. Officers hit Montana in the shootout. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

One resident said the incident stemmed from a dispute over tree trimmings falling into a neighbors yard. Police havent released information on what they believe sparked the confrontation.

Montana was an original member of Possessed, a pioneering American death metal band. Although Montana left the band in 1985  to be replaced by future Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde  the band confirmed his death in an Instagram post Wednesday.

While Possesseds initial run was relatively short  they formed in 1983 and disbanded in 1987  they are often referred to as the godfathers of death metal, according to AllMusic.

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After initially disbanding, Possessed has reformed on numerous occasions, most recently in 2017. Relations of Oblivion, the bands first new music in decades, was released in 2019.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham has signed the bipartisan Broadband for Education bill (SB401) to transfer the Statewide Education Network (SEN) to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE). The intention is to provide improved internet access to New Mexico students and rural communities.

In-N-Out Burger eyes property in northwest Albuquerque, documents show

All SEN staff, funds, projects and operations will be transferred from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) to the states broadband office. The SEN broadband infrastructure program launched in July 2024. Dozens of schools have connected through the network so far, with plans to connect all New Mexico schools by 2027.

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This law ensures all New Mexico students have high-quality broadband while helping schools secure federal funding, said Information Technology Secretary and OBAE Acting Director Manny Barreras. It will leverage more school-related broadband programs, improving connectivity for surrounding rural communities.

The legislation was co-sponsored by Sen. Michael Padilla, Majority Whip, Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, Reps. Debra Sarinana, Tara Lujan and Joy Garratt.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  As summer approaches, the New Mexico Department of Health is urging travelers to take precautions to protect themselves from measles.

Due to an expected increase in visitors and community events, the DOH says the state could see more potential exposures.

Story continues below

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Measles is a highly contagious disease, as we can see by its spread around the country, Dr. Chad Smelser, NMDOH acting state epidemiologist, stated in a news release. More people traveling in the summer emphasizes the importance of keeping you and your loved ones safe with the best-known protectionthe MMR vaccine.

Smelser urges organizers of large events and summer camps to encourage participants to be up-to-date with vaccines before attending.

There have been 67 measles cases reported in four counties in New Mexico. Symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure, and include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body.

If you have these symptoms and believe you were exposed to measles, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for guidance in English and Spanish from nurses. You should also contact your doctor or the emergency department first.

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SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  President Donald Trump this week reversed course on tariffs on auto parts manufactured south of the border, something President Claudia Sheinbaum and other Mexican officials hailed as a victory for their economy.

Sheinbaum said this will help her countrys auto industry flourish and create an additional comparative advantage.

Mexican Secretary of the Economy Marcelo Ebrard said the tariffs had become a major area of concern and stated the elimination of tariffs, as prescribed in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, must be followed to achieve true free commerce.

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The agreement was very clear that no tariffs be placed on auto parts made in Mexico and Canada, he said.

GM says it stands to lose $5B due to Trumps tariffs

On April 29, Trump signed an order that removes tariffs on auto parts made in Mexico or Canada, and used to manufacture cars in the United States.

The president called it a little bit of a break, for the American auto industry.

They took in parts from all over the world, I dont want that. I want them to make their parts here. But I gave them a little bit of time, he said. Its called a little flexibility, we give them a little time before we slaughter them if they dont do this.

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According to the New York Times, the rules now leave in place an exemption for parts imported from Canada and Mexico that comply with a treaty [the USMCA] that Mr. Trump negotiated during his first term.

Mexican airlines blame Trump for drop in passengers, profits

The White House issued a fact sheet that explained the presidents new stance on tariffs placed on carmakers who use parts made in Mexico.

Trump wants all auto parts to be manufactured in the U.S. within two years time.

If a manufacturer builds a car in the U.S. that has 85% U.S. or USMCA content, the manufacturer effectively will not owe tariffs on that vehicles production for the first year, read the fact sheet.

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Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

The 25% tariff on autos assembled in Mexico remains, but the removal of tariffs on auto Mexican car parts lessens the impact, according to Ebrard.

This was an important advancement for our country, he said.

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R.E.M. had a hit song in 1983 named after "Radio Free Europe," inspired by the federally funded news service that helped spread American ideals abroad. Now, the struggling organization, which says the Trump administration is withholding millions in funding that Congress had appropriated, is hoping a little bit of rock and roll can help keep them afloat.

The iconic rock band answered their call: They're now giving their 45-year-old smash a remix, sharing all of the proceeds from it directly to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. It's being issued on digital and on vinyl, with four other R.E.M. rarities.

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe on answering call for help

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"We love journalism. We love freedom of speech. And we love the world," the band's former frontman Michael Stipe told CBS News senior culture correspondent Anthony Mason about why the band immediately answered Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's call for help.

Stipe said now is a good time for the song to make a comeback to "celebrate the actual Radio Free Europe." More than 1,300 journalists work for the non-profit organization.

In March, the Trump administration abruptly froze the roughly $75 million in funding granted to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty by Congress for the fiscal year 2025.

"Yes, shut them down," Elon Musk wrote on X in early February. "1. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello?? 2. Nobody listens to them anymore. 3. It's just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money."

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Steve Capus, a veteran of CBS News who has been president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty since January 2024, said there was "no warning whatsoever" about the funding freeze. He says Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is now running on dwindling reserves.

"There was an absolute appalling lack of communication about the implications of this decision," Capus told Mason.

"We don't have a lot of time left"

Originally beamed across the Iron Curtain over short-wave radio, Radio Free Europe was launched in the Eisenhower administration. Today, from its headquarters in Prague and from satellite bureaus, it broadcasts to 23 countries in 27 languages.

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"So many countries and so many autocrats have ordered the silencing of independent media. If we go away, we're giving a massive gift to Russia, to China, to Iran," Capus said.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has already had to furlough journalists and gone to courts to get its funding released.

"We don't have a lot of time left. That's why we've had to take such drastic actions," Capus added.

When R.E.M. got the call to help drum up support, Stipe did not hesitate.

"It's important to democracy and important in the fight against authoritarianism that they remain," the artist said.

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It's not likely to solve all of the organization's financial problems, but Capus said it does help with morale.

"You know what, a morale boost is welcome these days," he said.

This week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to "immediately disburse" the nearly $12.2 million that Congress had appropriated to cover Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's expenditures for the month of April. The Trump administration has appealed the court's ruling that they have to release the April funding to Radio Free Europe. CBS News reached out to the Trump administration for comment but has not yet heard back.

Daughter reflects on iconic photo that shows reunion with her father, a Vietnam prisoner of war

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Extended interview: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on deportations involving children and more
(The Hill)  Michelle Obama is shooting down talk of marital strife between her and former President Barack Obama, saying everybody would know if their relationship was in trouble.

If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it, the former first lady said while appearing on The Diary of a CEO podcast, released Thursday.

Her response came after host Steven Bartlett noted that Obamas absence at President Trumps inauguration in January ignited online chatter of discord in the couples 32-year union.

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Not attending the inauguration, Bartlett said, led some to think theres an issue with you and Barack, theres a divorce coming.

Let me tell you, Obama said after laughing and pointing to her brother, Craig Robinson, as the siblings promoted their IMO podcast, He would know it. And everybody would know it.

Im not a martyr, Obama, 61, continued.

I would be problem-solving in public, like, Let me tell you what he did,' she said of her ex-commander in chief spouse.

If they were having a problem, Id be doing a podcast with him, Robinson quipped of his brother-in-law.

Opening up about her relationship at another point in the conversation, Obama said, The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever gonna quit at it, because thats not who we are. And I know that about him. He knows that about me.

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I talk about these things because I think that people give up too quickly on marriage, the Becoming author said.

Because there is so much friction built into the equation. And if youre not getting help, talking about it, going to therapy, just understanding how things are changing, and how do you continuously renegotiate your relationship with your partner, I just see people quitting, she said.

Because they look at me and Barack and go, #couple goals. And Im like, its hard, Obama said.

Its hard for us too. But I wouldnt trade it. He is  as the young people say  he is my person.'

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama reveals the moment she realized shed been tricked into thinking she didnt belong at Princeton. It was infuriating, but it was freeing," she says, while warning Gen Z: Do not let these people scam you.

Attending one of the highly selective and rigorous Ivy League institutions is the ultimate dream of many students growing up.

However, Michelle Obama recently admitted that getting accepted and doing well in classes were far from her biggest challenges during her time at Princeton Universityit was overcoming the feeling that she didnt belong.

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Although I was an outstanding student, I wasn't a good standardized test-taker, Obama recalled on the Diary of a CEO podcast. All those numbers said that I shouldn't do well at Princeton.

So I came in as an affirmative action kid. Sort of feeling like maybe I don't belong in these ivory towers and maybe these kids coming from these other schools are really so much smarter and better than I am.

But after completing her first semester (with straight As, no less) as one of the only Black women on campus, she realized she wasnt the outsider after all. In reality, plenty of students, from athletes to those from legacy families, owed their spots on campus to something other than academic merit.

It was infuriating, but it was freeing because I was like, I get it now. You're just trying to get into my head. You're scared of me. You don't want me competing with you, she added. And I think it was at that period, going to one of the top schools, that I was like, I'm done. I am done worrying about whether I belong here. This is a scam.'

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Although four decades have passed since then, Obamas experience will be all too familiar for Gen Z students from minority and marginalized backgroundsespecially those who are first-generation or underrepresented on campus. Her advice?

Do not let these people scam you, she said. This is all a racket That you dont belong, that theyre smarter, that they work harder, that they know more, that they deserve this more than you do.

For Obama, hard work paid off in order to get to college

Even before Obama made it to Princeton, she said, people doubted her ability to succeedeven though she was salutatorian of her grade school and graduated from a top high school.

Some of my teachers straight-up told me that I was setting my sights too high, she told a group of high schoolers in 2013.

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They told me I was never going to get into a school like Princeton. I still hear that doubt ringing in my head. So it was clear to me that nobody was going to take my hand and lead me to where I needed to go.

Even though her family couldnt afford to go on college tours, hire a private tutor, or take SAT prep classes, Obama worked hard in what she could control. She described waking up at 6 a.m. every morning to ride the bus for over an hour to get to one of the best schools in Chicago.

I was willing to do that because I was willing to do whatever it took for me to go to college, she said.

Obamas time studying sociology at Princeton in the 1980s later propelled her to Harvard Law School and to eventually become a health care executive before being pushed into the public eye as First Lady.

Continued education is the key to a successful life, Obama says

As of late, the value of higher education has come into question, thanks in part to rising costs of tuition, fears of artificial intelligence, and a less than ideal job market.

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Not only have big names like Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, cast doubt on the merits of a four-year degree, but many graduates are having second thoughts too. Some 51% of college-graduate Gen Zers now consider their degree a waste of money.

Nevertheless, Obamas views on education have been unwavering. And while she admitted a traditional four-year degree is not the path for everyone, continuing education after high school is paramount, like at a community college or trade school.

You might be dreaming of becoming a doctor or a teacher, maybe a mechanic or a software designer. Or you might not know what you want to do right nowand thats fine, she said as first lady.

But no matter what path you choose, no matter what dreams you have, you have got to do whatever it takes to continue your education after high school.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at May 1, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from May 1 drawing

Midday: 9-3-7

Evening: 4-0-2

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from May 1 drawing

Midday: 8-6-1-9

Evening: 2-8-3-2

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 1 drawing

17-32-36-41-46, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from May 1 drawing

JS-4D-2H-4H-7H

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from May 1 drawing

07-17-21-22-27

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03-05-06-13-15

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from May 1 drawing

06-08-11-19-20-30-31-35-42-45-46-48-51-53-55-60-63-64-65-67-70-75

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:

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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:

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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 May 1, 2025
U.S. flags are half staff today in Michigan to honor a U.S. Army staff sergeant from Battle Creek who was killed during a training accident in Lithuania, along with three other soldiers.

(Staff Sgt. Troy) Knutson-Collins represented the best of Michigan as he served our nation in uniform, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. A fierce friend and proud son, he leaves behind a legacy we should all strive to live up to. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers.

Knutson-Collins, Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois, and Edvin Franco, 25 of Glendale, California, all were posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, also died in the training.

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Here's what to know.

What happened to Knutson-Collins?

The soldiers' M88A2 Hercules was reported missing March 25 while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle in support of regularly scheduled training at Pabrade, Lithuania.

Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek

Three soldiers and the vehicle were found in a peat bog by U.S., Polish and Lithuanian armed forces on March 31. The Army said the fourth soldier was recovered later.

What was Knutson-Collins' military background?

Knutson-Collins joined the Army in 2018, the release said.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with more than seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in February 2018 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment.

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Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course, according to the Army. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

Knutson-Collins' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Master Technician Badge.

A full obituary is available online.

Where should flags fly at half staff?

Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff, the governor said in a news release.

When will flags be returned to full staff?

Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

How to lower flag to half staff

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

What is the difference between 'half-staff' and 'half-mast'?

Flagpoles on the ground or buildings are called staffs. Flags lowered on shore are called half-staff, according to Americanflags.com.

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Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship, while flagpoles are called staffs.

For what other reasons are flags lowered to half-staff?

Certain holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website are:

Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.

Patriot Day.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

National Firefighters Memorial Day.

Detroit Free Press, Battle Creek Enquirer contributed.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flags at half-staff honor Battle Creek soldier Troy S. Knutson-Collins
LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Midstate students delivered thousands of items and hundreds of dollars in checks and gift cards to the Lebanon VA Medical Center.

The Williams Valley Vikings for Veterans organization was launched by Williams Valley High School senior Kaitlyn Balliet.

She says she started the group to honor vets from her family.

Items gathered and donated included things like soap, toothpaste, and clothing.

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It was kind of a slow pace when we first started, Balliet said, I had gone to my history teacher and then I asked if we thought we could do something like this and we proposed it to my principal, then I went to a school board meeting and they thought it was a great idea.

We put bins in every single classroom and there were kids bringing stuff in about everyday, she added.

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She said some local businesses and others also committed a little more than $500 to the cause, which was donated as checks and gift cards.

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When Mike Waltz was still in the House of Representatives, he was among the biggest supporters of the SHIPS Act, a bipartisan bill to incentivize domestic shipbuilding and boost the U.S. Merchant Marine as a strategic bulwark against Chinas growing maritime power. Shortly before the Florida Republican left Congress to become Donald Trumps national security adviser, he told his colleagues he would continue to fight for SHIPS while in the White House. Indeed, Waltz was among the aides standing next to the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office last month as the president signed an executive order to restore Americas maritime dominance, proof that Waltz was ensuring the administration was all-in.

So when the sponsors of the original SHIPS legislation reintroduced it in the form of two bills on Wednesday, they thought they had their champion in the White House. A day later, Waltz was gone.

On Thursday, after multiple media reports that Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong had been given the boot, Trump announced Waltz would be his new nominee for ambassador to the United Nations after the presidents first nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, withdrew in March. On top of that, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, would also serve as national security adviser in the interimin addition to his roles as acting USAID administrator and acting archivist.

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On the one hand, it seems like an even trade. While still in the Senate, Rubio had also worked with Waltz and some of the SHIPS co-sponsorsincluding Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Democratic Rep. John Garamendito craft a comprehensive plan for a new American maritime strategy. Publicly, the bills co-sponsors, which also include Republican Sen. Todd Young and Republican Rep. Trent Kelly, insist that this doesnt change the trajectory of their bill.

We greatly value Congressman Mike Waltzs support and leadership throughout this process, but this bill is not about any one person, Garamendi told The Dispatch over email. We have previously worked with others across the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and we continue to work with other senior administration officials to strengthen our maritime capacity. We will get this done.

Nevertheless, the departure of Waltz from his post means national security hawks in both parties have lost a vital ally in a White House that is otherwise broadly more dovish in its foreign policy. From a vice president hand-selected by Tucker Carlson to the powerful aide keeping Reaganites out of key positions, Hill hawks are looking at an administration more hostile to the idea of using American power abroad than they would prefer. Members of Congress certainly sound concerned about the change, especially since Rubio seems to be only a temporary replacement until the White House can settle on a permanent one.

Waltzs departure comes about five weeks after The Atlantic first reported that he had mistakenly added Jeffrey Goldberg, the publications editor in chief, to a group chat on Signal that also included Rubio, Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, among other top administration officials. It was in this chat that Hegseth shared sensitive information about a planned American strike on Houthis in Yemeninformation he would concurrently share with others, including his wife, in a separate text thread.

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I think theyre holding the wrong guy accountable, Kelly told CNN Thursday. I think they fired the wrong guy. That would be Hegseth, Kelly later clarified.

While Kelly and other Democrats say Hegseth was the more reckless in the infamous Signal chat, internally, the knives were quickly out for Waltz. Despite the national security advisers longstanding loyalty to Trump, he had long been seen as a neocon interloper by MAGAs isolationist wing given his ties to Dick Cheney and his appearance in an anti-Trump ad during the 2016 presidential primary. Ive served multiple tours in Afghanistan as a Special Forces commander, Waltz said in the ad. Donald Trump hasnt served this country a day in his life.

Thats the video that Laura Loomer, a notorious conspiracy theorist, tried to show Trump during her visit to the White House last month, during which she provided the president with evidence of supposed disloyalty from many of the staff Waltz had brought on to work at the National Security Council. Despite Waltz interrupting the meeting and continuing to vouch for his team, Trumps meeting with Loomer prompted the dismissal of half a dozen officials. The writing seemed to be on the wall.

Trumps golden parachute for Waltz in the form of the United Nations ambassadorship may have its own drawbacks. Unlike the White House position of national security adviser, Waltzs new post requires a Senate confirmation hearing, during which he will face difficult questions about the Signal chat controversy that could further embarrass him, Hegseth, and the administration.

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Meanwhile, Rubios stopgap role as national security adviser may not last for long, with multiple outlets reporting that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is a leading candidate for the job. That would be more bad news for hawks who have cringed at Witkoffs diplomatic efforts with both Russia and Iranthough some of the consternation with Witkoff is coming from inside the house. One veteran of Trumps first administration told the New York Post Witkoff is a bumbling fking idiot for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin alone.

Its all just another week in the rolling drama of the Trump administration.

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.
Military families enrolled in Tricare Prime in the West Region have an extra two months, through June 30, to get specialty care without having to get approval from the contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Its the second time Defense Health Agency officials have extended their referral approval waiver, which was first announced in late January. The waiver is a move to help ease the problems families have been experiencing since TriWest took over the contract for the West Region at the start of the year.

One issue was that Tricare Prime families havent been able to get referrals approved by TriWest, which is traditionally required before they can get specialty care.

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After assessing the current state of referrals, DHA has decided to extend the referral approval waiver for many beneficiaries, Richard Hart, division chief of health plan design for Tricare, said in DHAs announcement of the extension.

Families will still struggle

Advocates question how much the extension of the referral approval waiver will help military families and medical providers. Some families arent able to get specialty care even with a referral from their Tricare Prime primary care manager because of the difficulty finding a specialist who will accept Tricare.

I dont think [the extension] is going to make a significant difference, because it doesnt address the root problem, said Dr. Kristi Cabiao, CEO and president of Mission Alpha Advocacy, an organization that works to improve the quality of life for military families within the Exceptional Family Member Program. Families are still going to struggle finding providers who will take Tricare.

Providers havent received payment. They dont trust the system. Theyre either going to minimize the number of Tricare patients they take, or drop Tricare, she said. Families are facing significant barriers.

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Many providers still dont have contracts to work with TriWest, Cabiao said. And the lack of payment has caused such financial difficulties that some medical providers have had no choice but to permanently shut down.

What is the projected timeline for resolution? Have we identified the root of the problem? Cabiao asked.

During a conference March 31, a Defense Health Agency official said he expected the problems would be resolved in a couple of months.

In the meantime, Cabiao suggested, one solution would be to have an additional open enrollment period now.

Its the Tricare Prime people who are really struggling. If [DHA] opened up enrollment so they could switch to Tricare Select, at least theyd get away from this mess. Theyd have co-pays, but would have access to specialists, she said.

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Tricare snafus cause medical shortfalls for military families

Normal referral processing returns to some MTFs

Certain military hospitals and clinics have returned to normal referral processing through TriWest, as the company works to improve its referral processing system, DHA officials said.

Beneficiaries whose primary care managers are located at these facilities will have their referrals processed by TriWest:

California: Naval Medical Center San Diego, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms, Naval Health Clinic Lemoore and Army Health Clinic Presidio of Monterey

Colorado: Air Force Academy clinics, Peterson Air Force Base clinic, Buckley AFB clinic, Fort Carsons Evans Army Community Hospital and Schriever Space Force Base clinic

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Nebraska: Offutt AFB clinic

Nevada: Nellis AFBs Mike OCallaghan Military Medical Center

Texas: Brooke Army Medical Center

Washington: Madigan Army Medical Center, Naval Hospital Bremerton and Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military is working on plans that could see more than 6,500 troops, about 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft moving to Washington D.C. for twin celebrations of President Donald Trump's birthday and the Army's 250th anniversary, according to officials and documents.

U.S. military service branches take pride in their history and anniversary celebrations, called birthdays in military circles, take place across the United States and on bases throughout the world.

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The U.S. Army had long been planning to move troops and equipment to the National Mall in Washington D.C. in June as part of a celebration for the Army anniversary.

But officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the planning now includes a military parade since the Army's anniversary also falls on Trump's 79th birthday.

According to a planning document seen by Reuters on Friday, there would be a week of celebrations by the Army which would culminate in the parade on June 14th.

A U.S. official said the most recent planning includes several thousand additional troops and dozens of military vehicles which would not have been needed if there was no parade.

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The official said it was still in the planning phase and could change, adding that it was unclear if the parade was a request from the White House or something the Army had started to consider on its own.

The official added that the plan had not yet been approved by the White House or senior Pentagon leaders. The White House confirmed that Trump would host a military parade for veterans and service members, but did not provide details.

It was unclear how much it would cost.

Trump has made no secret of his desire to hold military parades in the past.

During his first administration, he ordered the Pentagon to look into a display of military might after a 2017 trip to France where he and French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed that country's defense forces marching down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris.

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That effort would have cost $90 million.

Trump ultimately settled for a display of tanks and other armored vehicles during a July Fourth celebration in 2019 in Washington D.C.

Military parades in the United States are generally rare. Such parades in other countries are usually staged to celebrate victories in battle or showcase military might.

In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of President Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War.

On Thursday, Trump hinted at celebrating the military, though he did not mention June 14.

"Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II," Trump said on Truth Social.

"We are going to start celebrating our victories again!"

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Diane Craft)
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The city of Mobile saw a 2.2% increase in visitors from 2023 to 2024, according to the Alabama Tourism Department.

Springhill Medical Center employee arrested following bomb threat

A Visit Mobile news release said 3.5 million people visited Mobile in 2024  the largest growth in the state.

These visitors accounted for $1.9 billion in travel-related spending in Mobile, read the release.

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From May 4 to May 10, the city will be celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week, which highlights the travel community and tourisms role in economic growth.

Destination development is rapidly producing positive changes in Mobile, and travel and

tourism commerce is crucial to the success of these investments, said David Clark, president &

CEO of Visit Mobile. Mobiles economic impact from tourism continues to increase in multiple

categories yearly, further validating the citys consistent focus on tourism.

2020 Prichard mayoral candidate announces run for mayor again

Clarke said the development of the new downtown airport, civic center arena complex and approval of the Tourism Improvement District will continue to support the tourism metrics.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
May 2Gov. Janet Mills ordered flags in Maine to be flown at half-staff Sunday, marking the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

The annual memorial service, which is being held in Maryland this weekend, honors firefighters who were killed in the line of duty during the prior year.

"Every day, firefighters and first responders risk their lives to protect our communities," Mills said in a written statement. "As we honor firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice, let us renew our commitment to preventing fires and protecting lives."

Mill's flag order follows President Donald Trump's Thursday proclamation of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend as May 3 and 4.

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A Milwaukee police captain who previously was suspended for a slow response to a rape call was fired after thwarting the transfer of a sergeant whom she believed was planning to become pregnant and take family leave, according to recently released records.

The former captain, Roberta Klein, then came under more scrutiny for telling a co-worker about the resulting internal investigation into her conduct, the records say.

A police spokesperson said Klein's firing in January was the only termination of a captain the department could recall.

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The records detail allegations of Klein acting unprofessionally, calling another sergeant her "little nugget," regularly gossiping about her female colleagues' personal lives and discussing an explicit photo sent to her by an ex-boyfriend.

Klein did not respond to multiple interview requests. She denied the allegations in internal affairs interviews, according to department records.

She has filed an appeal to try to get her job back with the city's Fire and Police Commission, the civilian oversight board. The appeal hearings are scheduled for May 8 and 9.

The Police Department declined to make any official available for an interview about the case. The Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization, the union for the police supervisors, declined an interview request.

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In 2018, Klein was suspended for six days for a slow response to a woman who was kidnapped and raped. At the time, Klein and two other supervisors were working in the department's 911 center  which is now managed by a separate city department  when calls on the incident took place.

It took over an hour for officers to be dispatched and she later told investigators it was "the worst night I've worked."

Klein accused of discriminating against officer planning family, criticized others use of family leave, reports say

The current investigation began in January 2024, when a department lieutenant reported Klein's General Crimes Division was on the verge of "mutiny," records show.

"(The lieutenant) questioned if Captain Klein was mature enough to be leading the division," the report reads.

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The division is now known as the Major Crimes Division and investigates crimes other than homicides or gun violence.

According to internal affairs records:

Klein was accused of blocking a sergeant's transfer to her division because she believed the woman was planning to have a child and go on parental leave. That accusation was levied against Klein by a lieutenant and another sergeant.

The lieutenant also said Klein disclosed the personal health history of the female sergeant when explaining why she thought the sergeant was trying to become pregnant.

Multiple people told internal affairs that Klein openly criticized the use of family leave, including texting critical messages to other supervisors of a lieutenant who requested time off following a family member's death.

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She suggested those who used family leave were "not dedicated to the division," internal records show.

Klein was notified in January 2024 that she was under investigation. Per department policy, she was told not to disclose the investigation to anyone. However, investigators learned she showed a notice of the investigation to another colleague.

Klein's relationship with another police sergeant  whom she called her "little nugget" and who was also investigated  came under scrutiny in the investigation. A lieutenant told internal affairs their close relationship "compromised" the division's culture, with the lieutenant feeling undermined by the sergeant and Klein.

Klein's friend, the sergeant, was the person who disclosed the medical information of the female sergeant whom Klein later blocked from transferring.

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The sergeant, whose name is redacted from Klein's records, denied telling Klein about their co-worker's medical condition. The Milwaukee Police Department declined to release the sergeant's name but said the sergeant resigned during the investigation.

Members of Klein's division also said they feared retaliation for reporting her behavior and several described a meeting where Klein discussed receiving an explicit image from an ex-boyfriend, which made some people so uncomfortable they left the meeting early. A lieutenant said Klein often spoke in "innuendos" during meetings.

When questioned by internal affairs, Klein denied she violated department policies. She said her hesitancy to transfer the female sergeant was because of concerns with the sergeant's performance and behavior issues, not due to a possible pregnancy.

Klein told the investigator she should not have disclosed the internal investigation into her conduct, but said she thought she was a "good captain" and that "subordinates are confusing 'hostility' with accountability,'" the records show.

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Klein made $142,194 in gross salary in 2022, according to the Journal Sentinel's most recent records of Milwaukee employees.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police captain fired earlier this year for hiring violations
By Prakhar Srivastava

(Reuters) -Intercontinental Exchange beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday, benefiting from strong trading volumes in energy and options segments.

Shares of the New York Stock Exchange parent were up 1.2%.

Global commodity and energy markets have experienced significant volatility due to shifting U.S. trade policies and concerns over the war in Ukraine. Exchanges often benefit from such market turmoil, as it typically drives higher overall trading volume.

ICE's average daily volume (ADV) for energy trading rose 24% in the first quarter, with gains across segments including oil, gasoil and other crude and refined products. The ADV for natural gas also increased by 33%.

Revenue from trading in energy-related products jumped 22% to $557 million in the quarter.

"There is a risk that energy trading has reached the peak given the potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine," Oppenheimer analyst Owen Lau said.

Total revenue from the company's exchange business, the biggest component of its revenue, was $2.12 billion, compared with $1.73 billion a year earlier.

The company reported adjusted earnings of $995 million, or $1.72 per share. Analysts had expected a profit of $1.70 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

IPO BACKLOG

While hopes for a rebound in the IPO market were high at the start of the year, tariff-related uncertainty and market volatility have rattled companies, forcing many to delay their stock market debuts.

ICE's listings business remained flat in the first-quarter.

"Delay in IPOs and lack of new listings last year have negatively impacted listing revenue. It will likely continue in the near term until clarity in trade policies," Lau said.

Swedish fintech Klarna and San Francisco fintech Chime were among the companies that paused their IPO plans earlier this month.

"The backlog for new IPOs remains strong with a variety of companies seeking to raise capital when volatility abates," ICE CFO Warren Gardiner said.

(Reporting by Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Authorities arrested a 34-year-old man Thursday in connection with the fatal shootings of three people in Minneapolis, and the city's police chief said it's likely another person was killed the next day in retaliation.

Police have said that the four people killed and two others seriously wounded in the multiple shootings were Native American, and authorities strongly suspect the shootings were gang-related. However, Police Chief Brian O'Hara said during a news conference Thursday that authorities are still investigating the motives behind the shootings.

The shootings shook a large Indigenous community south of downtown Minneapolis. A 20-year-old woman, a 17-year-old boy and a 27-year-old man were killed in Tuesdays shootings, and a 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. A 30-year-old man died in Wednesdays shooting.

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The first shooting took place just before midnight Tuesday. O'Hara said it's entirely probable that the second shooting with a single victim was a response to the three deaths, and he said someone else was responsible. It occurred about 1 p.m. Wednesday a little more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) to the northeast outside an apartment building housing the Minneapolis offices of the Red Lake Nation tribe.

But beyond that, I can't speculate further about some ongoing beef, O'Hara said.

The police chief said police believe the shootings are gang related based on the lived experience of the people in the area.

The U.S. Marshals Service said its local fugitive task force and an FBI SWAT team arrested the suspect in the multiple shootings Thursday afternoon. He was being held in the Hennepin County jail and had not been charged as of Thursday evening.
May 1ST. PAUL  The Minnesota Supreme Court overturned the indecent exposure conviction of a woman who exposed her breasts in a Rochester gas station parking lot in 2021.

The court's unanimous opinion, filed on Wednesday, April 30, determined that the state did not provide evidence to prove that Eloisa Rubi Plancarte "lewdly" exposed her body parts. Plancarte, of New Prague, was convicted in Olmsted County District Court of a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure in December 2022.

"Criminalizing the exposure of female  but not male  breasts does not provide Minnesotans with adequate notice as to the conduct the indecent exposure statute prohibits because a binary approach to breasts fails to recognize the more nuanced physical realities of human bodies, whether they are intersex, transgender, nonbinary, or breast cancer survivors," Associate Justice Sarah Hennesy wrote.

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"Would a transgender man be prohibited from exposing his chest?" Hennesy continued. "What about a transgender woman who has had top surgery? Where do the chests of intersex and nonbinary persons fit within this dichotomy? And how do we treat the exposed chest of a breast cancer survivor who has had a mastectomy?"

The case stems from an incident on July 28, 2021 when a Rochester police officer responded to a call of a woman walking around a gas station parking lot with her breasts exposed, court documents said. Officers arrived and observed Plancarte walking around without her shirt on. When an officer asked Plancarte why she kept exposing herself, Plancarte told him she was a stripper.

Plancarte was charged and convicted in Olmsted County with willfully and lewdly exposing her private parts in a public place.

Plancarte argued the conviction violated her right to equal protection under the law when she appealed her case in 2023, which resulted in a divided opinion, according to court documents.

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The Minnesota Supreme Court was petitioned to review three issues: whether female breasts are "private parts," whether evidence proved Plancarte "lewdly" exposed her breasts, and whether the statute violates the federal and state guarantees of equal protection.

In Hennesy's concurrence, she wrote that the state failed to prove that Plancarte "lewdly" exposed her breasts. Hennesy also determined that because breasts are not reproductive organs nor excretory organs," they are not "private parts."

"Female breasts, on the other hand, are sexualized by societal stereotypes, and there is a great risk  an unacceptable risk, in my view  that any determination of whether their exposure constitutes 'conduct of a sexual nature' will be based on oversimplified beliefs or assumptions based on gender," the justice wrote.

However, Hennesy wrote, local government entities can craft policies to limit the public exposure of breasts as long as the policies align with the constitution's due process and equal protection principles.

Justice Karl Procaccini concurred with Hennesy. Justice Theodora Karin Gaitas took no part in the opinion.
KANAB, Utah (ABC4)  A senior cat is now recovering after being the only survivor in a nearly 400-foot fall in Bryce Canyon National Park earlier this week.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, the cat was with two tourists at the park who reportedly fell after climbing over a railing at Inspiration Point on April 29. The two people, identified as Matthew Nannen and Bailee Crane, died at the scene.

A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society) A senior cat named Mirage is now recovering after falling off a 350-foot cliff in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Best Friends Animal Society)

PREVIOUSLY: Identities released of 2 people who fell off cliff, died in Bryce Canyon

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Now going by Mirage, the cat was found in a black soft-sided carrier, which was dirty and torn, but seemed to have handled the fall fairly well.

Mirage is a miracle cat in that she survived a tragic fall in Bryce Canyon, Judah Battista, the chief sanctuary officer for Best Friends Animal Society, told ABC4.com.

Mirage is a female tabby who is estimated to be 12 years old. She was brought to Pawz Dogs boarding facility in Panguitch. The next day, Garfield County officials contacted Best Friends for their help.

Mirage was taken by veterinary staff to Best Friends in Kanab, which is the headquarters for the national animal welfare organization and the largest companion animal sanctuary in the U.S.

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Best Friends said that Mirage was matted and a bit sore, but was friendly when being examined. Battista said that the cats bloodwork came back normal, and she is eating and drinking normally. He said that her X-rays show she has a couple of fractured ribs and has broken two of her canine teeth.

Considering the nature of her fall, shes in remarkably good shape, he said.

Battista shared that they are working on getting in contact with the extended family of those who passed in the fall before considering putting her up for adoption.

Our hearts go out to the family, he said. While were were very proud to be able to provide her a safe and caring environment to recuperate while all of the things that needed to get sorted out are getting sorted out, were able to do this because of the support of the public, so we want to share our appreciation as well.

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The fall is still being investigated, and anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact Garfield County Sheriffs Detectives at 435-676-1126.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Kalle Benallie

ICT



ALBUQUERQUE  Becoming Miss Indian World opens doors. You travel a lot, meet new people and have the chance to represent your tribe and Indigenous people.



This year, Dania Wahwasuck, Prairie Band Potawatomi, was crowned Miss Indian World 2025-2026 at the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She said the title isnt about her but representing her people.



I just want to make my Anishinaabe people proud. I just want to be a positive role model and I just want to be a scrub dancer that other younger scrub dancer girls can look up to. When they announced it, they first announced Prairie Band Potawatomi and that's when I was like, that's me, the 24-year-old told ICT.



The pageant has been taking place for over 40 years at the Gathering of Nations, the self-proclaimed world's largest Native American powwow.



Throughout the four-day competition, contestants accumulate points based on: public speaking, traditional talent, interview, essay and dance. Contestants must be of Indigenous descent, single, have no children, never have been married and between the ages of 18 and 25.



The title of Miss Indian World is iconic and shall always be distinctly a part of the Gathering of Nations, Ltd., the Gathering of Nations directors said in a statement. We thank Kassie John for fulfilling the role of Miss Indian World 2024-2025. We are proud of all 23 contestants and look forward to working with Dania Wahwasuck this year as she travels Indian Country representing all Native women and the Gathering of Nations organization.



Wahwasuck also won awards for best dance and best essay. She has a bachelors degree from the University of Kansas and is currently working on her masters in leadership diversity and inclusion with emphasis on Indigenous studies.



My goal is to uplift and inspire our communities and especially our youth because I believe education is a tool that we can use to combat difficult issues surrounding our communities. I'm really excited to build connections and further build community and talk to all of our youth, Wahwasuck said.

Former Miss Indian World Kassie John crowning 2025-2026 Miss Indian World winner Dania Wahwasuck in Albuquerque, NM. (Photo by Kalle Benallie)

2024-2025 Miss Indian World Kassie John, Dine singing at the crowning event in Albuquerque, NM. (Photo by Kalle Benallie)

Dakota Brant, Miss Indian World 2010-2011, said she was 14 years old when she saw former Miss Indian World Tia Smith at a local fair. She admired Smiths influence when she walked into the room with leaders going up to shake her hand. Smith held the crown in 2002-2003.



I had never seen leadership care about youth and youth voice in the way they cared about hers in that moment, Brant, Mohawk, said.



Brant added sometimes Miss Indian World brings people who have never met an Indigenous person together. She said its an opportunity to educate.



It is very much a goodwill ambassadorship. It really is a title that bridges cultures, she said.



Brant said after her reign she got her master's in community planning. Today she works as an independent consultant for Indigenous community planning and co-owns a jewelry brand with her sister called Sapling & Flint.



Kansas Begaye, Dine, said serving as Miss Indian World 2013-2014 was a lifelong dream. She said its a role that empowers young Indigenous women and girls.



It gives us a way to portray our culture and to be able to be involved with it. We are the mothers, the daughters, the sisters, the aunties to everyone during that time. It brings people together in such a harmonious and beautiful way. So I really love to inspire in that type of way, Begaye said.



She said its also a chance to grow as a person.



I always say, even the girls that don't place or don't exactly bring home the crown. A lot of them I've seen come into their own way of life after running for Miss Indian world, it kind of opens up their eyes, I feel, Begaye said.



Now Begaye is an inspirational speaker and Native American recording artist. Two years after her reign she was an ambassador from the United States consulate and traveled to Russia where sheI sang at a festival in Yakutsk, Russia.



The most recent Miss Indian World Kassie John, Dine, said its been a whirlwind of a year with teachings she is going to take with her moving forward.



The biggest lesson that I learned this year was just the beauty, the resiliency, the hope that we have as Native people. I'm really thankful that people were willing to teach me and willing to share their cultures, their traditions, and things that make them feel good, that joy, John said.



During her reign John worked full-time at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and she plans to continue that work.



I'm really excited to really hone in back into the work I do in public health to advance our tribal communities here in a state alongside all of our tribal tribal communities of the surrounding states here in the western part of the United States, she said. It's one of the things that I really enjoyed designing and creating public health campaigns and really centering it on population health with our Native people, especially because we have different ways of how we see wellness and how we maintain our wellbeing.



John is also looking to attend grad school and going on the powwow trail in the summer.



Her advice to Wahwasuck is to take time for herself, practice the things that bring her joy, be proud of who she is, and revel in the moment.



I really wish her the best as she embarks on an incredible year, and I know for me and my family we pray for her safe travels and we are so excited to see her down the powwow trail, John said. To be Miss Indian World, that's something that all of us all Indigenous women carry within themselves because it's a hard job to be an Indigenous woman.



She said its possible another little girl, like herself, would have been in awe watching the new Miss Indian World.



Hopefully who knows one of those little girls that was sitting at the crowning this year, who was inspired by Dania, is going to be our next Miss Indian World in the next few years so I'm excited, John said.

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Police officers in Maryland found and rescued an 8-year-old boy with autism after he went missing from their home last month.

In a video interview shared by WJLA Tuesday, April 29, Fatmata Zine thanked officials for finding her son, Nadeem Conde, after he wandered away from their home around 11 p.m. one night in about 40-degree temperatures.

The incident happened on April 12, WUSA reported.

Related: Nebraska 9-Year-Old with Autism Drowns in Lagoon After Running Away from School

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"I was very terrified I was not gonna see my son again. I was crying and just praying. They did a very wonderful job, and in the end, I was very happy, Zine told reporters.

The Prince George's County Police Department shared footage to its Facebook page of the heroic rescue, in which helicopter spotter Cpl. Chris Elrod arrived in The Guardian, the departments chopper.

At a press conference, Elrod said he knows children with autism can be drawn to water, leading him to expand his search to a lake where he saw Nadeem from above.

Prince George's County Police The Prince George's County Police Department saves Nadeem Conde, an 8-year-old autistic child The Prince George's County Police Department saves Nadeem Conde, an 8-year-old autistic child

Using infrared cameras, Elrod guided Corporal Everett Mason as he tracked the child from the ground.

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Individual sitting on the edge of the lake here, the helicopter spotter said over his radio.

As Mason, an officer with Special Operations K9 Division, arrived with his flashlight, Elrod gave him specific directions, telling him, The officer coming down the pathway, go left. Take the path to your left, at the fork, make a right. Go towards the water.

Related: 11-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Wandering on Freeway After Vanishing from Supermarket

I was using my flashlight and he actually turned around, Mason said at the press conference. I was kinda relieved, but he kinda looked away a lil bit, so I just wanted to reach out and put my hand on him. I didnt know if he was gonna go back in the water or not.

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Elrod praised his fellow first responder, adding, When Mason sticks his hand out and he grabs the childs hand, I was just like, a sense of relief just fell over me.

Being a parent and a grandparent, actually, I know how that must feel to be reunited with your child, he added.

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.

According to WTOP, Elrod said, My heart sank when I saw him in the water. I could tell that at some point he was deeper in the water, and I didnt want him to go back out.

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Mason said Nadeem was cold to the touch and was wet from the shoulder down, suggesting that he had already been submerged in the water before help arrived, the outlet said.

It was just relief finding him, could have been a totally different outcome, Mason added.

Hes a handful, but Im trying my best, Zine said, adding that Nadeem doesnt have any fears.



Read the original article on People
A missionary died Thursday after a car veered onto the sidewalk where he was walking with two companions, said a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Aleki Langi, 18, from Magna, Utah, was killed by the car and a second missionary sustained minor injuries. The third missionary was not injured, church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement.

The driver of the car apparently lost control and veered onto the sidewalk and struck the missionaries, Penrod said.

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We extend our deepest condolences and love to Elder Langis family, friends and fellow missionaries during this difficult time, Penrod said. We pray that they will each feel the Saviors comfort and peace as they mourn his passing and honor his dedicated missionary service.

Elder Langi was serving in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission on a temporary reassignment while waiting for a visa to serve in the Jamaica Kingston Mission, Penrod said.

Elder Langi was from the Magna 2nd Ward in the Salt Lake Utah West Stake. He began his missionary service in March, Penrod said.
PEARL, Miss. (WJTV)  Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) declared May 4-10, 2025, as Hurricane Preparedness Week for the State of Mississippi.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) urged citizens to prepare for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Last year, there were 18 named storms, 11 of which formed into hurricanes, and five intensified into major hurricanes. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

Which Atlantic hurricane names have been retired?

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The upcoming hurricane season marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which serves as a reminder about the significant challenges our state can face from powerful storms, said Reeves. I encourage all residents to take proactive steps in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season. Being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your safety and minimizing damage.

I encourage all Mississippians to use Hurricane Preparedness Week to prepare now, by assembling an emergency supply kit, developing a family emergency plan, and determining evacuation routes, stated MEMAs Executive Director Stephen McCraney. By taking precautions now, we can safeguard our communities from any potential tropical storms. Lets work together to ensure the safety and resilience of Mississippi during this hurricane season.

Every Mississippi family is encouraged to have a fully stocked disaster supply kit with necessities like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, etc. To download a copy of the disaster supply checklist, click here. MEMA encourages homeowners to do an insurance check before hurricane season; homeowners should also purchase flood insurance if their home is in a special flood hazard zone.

Researchers predict above-average 2025 hurricane season: Heres how many storms we could see

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During Hurricane Preparedness Week, MEMA will highlight key messages, facts, and ways to be prepared on our social media platforms:

May 4, 2025  Know Your Risk: Wind & Water

May 5, 2025  Prepare Before Hurricane Season

May 6, 2025  Understand Forecast Information

May 7, 2025  Get Moving When a Storm Threatens

May 8, 2025  Stay Protected During Storms

May 9, 2025  Use Caution After Storms

May 10, 2025  Take Action Today

The official Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1, 2025, through November 30, 2025.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 1MITCHELL  A Mitchell man with a lengthy criminal record in Davison and Sanborn counties is facing multiple new charges in Wyoming following an arrest earlier this month.

Dustin Feistner, 45, was arraigned on April 16 in Campbell County, Wyoming, on several charges, including interference with a peace officer, criminal trespass, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and bringing a controlled substance into a correctional facility.

These charges mirror those listed in a public arrest recap shared by the Campbell County Sheriff's Office on Facebook, detailing an April 12 arrest of a 45-year-old man at a movie theater on Highway 14-16 in Gillette. According to that post, officers responded to reports of the man refusing to leave the theater. During a search conducted at the time of the arrest, officers allegedly found 4.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine. A meth pipe was later discovered during a search at the detention center. The man allegedly lied about his identity during previous interactions with law enforcement, but officers were able to confirm who he was. He was arrested for interference, criminal trespass, felony drug possession and felony taking a controlled substance into jail.

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While the Campbell County Sheriff's Office and the Gillette Police Department have not confirmed that Feistner was the individual involved in that specific incident, the charges listed in his arraignment match those described in the arrest recap. A Gillette Police Department official did confirm that officers had an encounter involving Feistner.

Feistner's arrest in Wyoming came just days after he failed to appear in Davison County court on April 8, where he was scheduled to face charges stemming from a March 2 incident at the Siesta Motel in Mitchell. Following his failure to appear, a $20,000 cash-only arrest warrant was issued. He had previously been released on a $10,000 bond posted by his father. Although bond is typically forfeited in such cases, Judge Chris Giles ruled that the bond could be returned, noting the father's efforts to ensure his son's compliance with court requirements.

In the March 2 incident, Feistner allegedly entered an unlocked motel room after being told by staff that no rooms were available. Staff contacted police upon discovering him inside. During his arrest, Feistner allegedly attempted to bribe two officers by offering them $100 each to release him. That action resulted in an additional Class 4 felony charge for bribery, along with a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for unlawful entry.

Feistner has an extensive criminal history in South Dakota. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony, and was sentenced to two years of probation. At the time of that conviction, he was operating Speedy Taxi in Mitchell. Following the conviction, the Mitchell City Council revoked the company's license. In 2021, the council had previously denied a license renewal due to Feistner's criminal record and concerns related to his driving history.

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In 2019, he was arrested in Sanborn County following two vehicle pursuits and was later charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after a prior violent crime conviction. He pleaded guilty and received a five-year prison sentence, serving 15 months before being released on parole. That conviction followed a 2017 aggravated assault charge, also in Sanborn County.

Feistner is also facing a separate Class 1 misdemeanor charge in South Dakota for obstructing police. He failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing in that case on April 24, and a bond forfeiture hearing has been set for May 22.

As of now, Feistner remains in custody in Wyoming on a $10,000 bond. It is unknown whether he will be extradited to South Dakota to face his pending charges here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in connection with a shooting along Towne Village Road that left a man injured in March.

The Metro Nashville Police Department said TITANS Unit detectives arrested 35-year-old Terrance Lewis, a convicted felon, on Thursday, May 1.

Suspect allegedly shot at MNPD patrol car, teen girl in Madison park

Over the course of the investigation, Lewis was identified as the suspect who allegedly shot a 30-year-old man multiple times on March 15 following an argument inside a home where they were using drugs together, according to the victim.

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Lewis reportedly ingested drugs before authorities took him into custody. Following his release from the hospital, officials said Lewis will be booked on outstanding warrants for attempted homicide, felony weapon possession, possession of a weapon as a felon, failure to appear, and two probation violation charges.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

No additional details have been released about the March shooting or the suspects 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 WKRN News 2.
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Pinterest has announced the next evolution of its Inclusion Fund initiative, which aims to provide training and support to small businesses, independent publishers, and creator agencies that are owned and operated by those from historically marginalized communities.

Well, kind of, as Pinterest has changed the requirements a little, but its essentially the same focus, just applied in a different way.

As explained by Pinterest:

In celebration of five years of uplifting emerging content producers on the platform, Pinterest is unveiling an enhanced Pinterest Inclusion Fund program for 2025. This years incubator program includes a renewed focus on supporting a cohort of creators, and is all about connecting small merchant businesses and content creators from the beauty, fashion and lifestyle sectors with people on Pinterest who are looking for fresh ideas and products.

The program will be expanded to more regions in 2025, with creators from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, the U.K., Germany, France, India, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia, all able to apply.

Eligible creators/brands will need to meet the following requirements:

Must create content that supports our inclusive product tools, such as skin tone and/or body type ranges

Must create content within fashion, beauty and/or lifestyle verticals

Must be 18 years of age or older

Must be an active content creator who shares content on at least two other social media platforms

Is looking to grow content creation skills on Pinterest

Can commit to office hours and program sessions

So Pinterest has altered the entry requirements slightly, in that up till now, only businesses that were at least 50% owned and operated by those from underrepresented communities, or stocked 70% or more of their products from sources that support consumers from the same, could apply.

Now, Pinterest has changed that to the first point around utilizing its inclusive features. Which is a bit more vague, but it could also provide Pinterest more flexibility in which applications it accepts.

If you meet these requirements, then the Inclusion Fund is open to all small merchant businesses and content creators in this segment.

Accepted participants will get access to training and resources to help them optimize their organic content for growth and discoverability on Pinterest.

Originally launched in 2021, Pinterest says that the Inclusion Fund has supported over 350 content producers thus far, helping to drive ongoing success in the app.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A fentanyl trafficker in the Mobile area was sentenced to prison time.

Popular Mobile Christmas store to permanently close

According to a United States Department of Justice news release, U.S. District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Isaiah Lorenzo Bess, 28, on Tuesday to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Court documents show Bess conspired with others to distribute fentanyl pills between July 2023 and Dec. 8, 2023, throughout the Mobile area.

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Bess was ultimately indicted on the charge and pleaded guilty.

According to the USDOJ release, Bess sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.

US Marshals offering $5K reward for information on Mobile criminal

This investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
MOFFAT, Texas (FOX 44)  A Bell County family is recovering after a direct lightning strike set fire to their home.

The Moffat Volunteer Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in North Lake Estates at approximately 6:45 p.m. Wednesday. This was the result of lightning as a severe thunderstorm passed through the community.

Crews from Moffat and Morgans Point Resort arrived on scene and battled the fire which engulfed the back side of the home and filled the structure with heavy smoke. The crews knocked down the fire and dispelled the heat as quickly as possible  and then searched for possible fire extensions within the walls and attic areas. The heat in the attic space was further reduced by ventilating the roof.

(Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department) (Courtesy: Moffat Volunteer Fire Department)

Moffat VFD says the occupants of the home were able to safely evacuate and were unharmed. The family is devastated after having recently completed repairs from last years tornado. People in the neighborhood have reached out to the family and say the only requested need is for prayers during this difficult time.

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Professional victim assistance company 1-800-BOARDUP was notified and on scene within the hour of being called. Once the fire was fully extinguished and the firefighters equipment was removed, 1-800-BOARDUP representatives started to secure the property and help to mitigate further damage from the elements and vandals. Moffat VFD says it is very grateful for this company and the assistance they provide to the community.

Temple Medic 26 was on site ready to take care of firefighters and citizens. The Temple Fire Department was enroute to assist, but stood down to keep their response area safe.

Moffat VFD says it is grateful that the North Lake Estates is a strong community that bonds together.

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Audrey Backeberg, a married mother of two children, was living in Reedsburg, Wisc., when she was last seen in 1962

A babysitter for Backeberg and her husband later claimed that she and Backeberg hitchhiked to Madison, and then took a bus to Indianapolis

Authorities now said she was found "alive and well," and there is no foul play

A Wisconsin woman who had not been heard from in over six decades has now been found alive and well, according to authorities.

The Sauk County Sheriffs Office announced the resolution in the missing persons case involving Audrey Backeberg on Thursday, May 2.

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According to a 2020 bulletin on the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy website, Backeberg was 20 years old and lived in Reedsburg at the time of her disappearance.

Related: Woman, 34, Went Missing After Her Phone Became Inactive and Was Found Alive a Week Later

On July 7, 1962, Backberg, who was married and had two children, left her familys home and headed for the woolen mill, where she worked, to pick up her paycheck, the advocacy group said. She never returned home, prompting her husband Ronald to reach out to his wife's relatives to inquire about her whereabouts.

Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy noted that shortly after Backeberg went missing, a 14-year-old babysitter for the couple came forward and said that she and Backeberg hitchhiked to Madison, and then took a bus to Indianapolis. The babysitter later claimed she didnt want to return home after they arrived in Indianapolis. The woman was last seen walking near a bus stop.

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The juvenile was interviewed again as an adult, maybe 15 years ago, Detective Lt. Chris Zunker of the Sauk County Sheriffs Office said in the bulletin. She stated Audrey had taken a bunch of pills, put them in a Coke can and drank it before taking the bus down to Indianapolis. She reported Audrey potentially hooked up with some construction workers that may have been in the area.

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Backebergs relatives said their loved one would never leave her children at the time. Ronald passed a polygraph test and maintained his innocence, the bulletin read.

Investigators had pursued leads over the years but were unsuccessful in locating her whereabouts, the sheriffs office said.

Related: Missing Michigan Woman, 74, Who Vanished After Casino Trip, Found Alive Stranded in the Woods 3 Days Later

In its latest announcement, officials said that the Backeberg case was given to a detective earlier this year for a review as part of a continuing look at cold case files.

Through diligent investigative work, which included a thorough re-evaluation of all case files and evidence, combined with re-interviewing witnesses and uncovering new insights, the Sheriffs Office is now able to report that Audrey Backeberg is alive and well and currently resides out of State, according to the department.

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According to then-Sheriff Randy Stammen, Audrey and Ronald's marriage was troubled with allegations of abuse, which were partly alleged in a criminal complaint that was filed in the days before she vanished.

However, she remained at home with her husband and children, the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy said. Now, authorities say Backeberg chose to disappear, and there was no criminal activity or foul play.

Related: Woman Who Disappeared in 1972 Found Safe and Well Thanks to Grainy Photo, Police Say

PEOPLE contacted the Sauk County Sheriffs Office for additional information on Friday, May 2.

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The sheriffs office concluded its news release by thanking the investigators, past and present, who worked on the case.

Despite the significant challenges that many cold cases present, this resolution underscores both the importance of continued work and the dedication of the Sheriffs Office to providing answers to families and the community, authorities said.



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A tagged non-native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout being returned to Red Rock Creek, after being collected in a fish trap on Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, MT. (USFWS)

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking anglers in the state to help with ongoing trout research projects.

Working with Montana State University, biologists are in their second year of tagging trout in the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby and Madison rivers. The ongoing research project is aimed at understanding trout population declines in those waterways, and overall health concerns for fish in the Upper Missouri River Basin.

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Anglers are asked to report any tagged fish that they catch, essentially working as citizen scientists to provide information on environmental conditions and other factors that contribute to the survival and mortality of trout.

This is a great chance for anglers to take an active part in this research that will benefit the fishery, said FWP Fisheries Manager Mike Duncan in a press release. We need your help. Please report the tagged fish you catch.

Each fish tag  colored blue or yellow  has a unique number and will be attached near the dorsal fin.

An angler holds a tagged trout. Courtesy photo

FWP says that anglers who catch a tagged fish should use clippers to remove the tag as close to the skin as possible while minimizing handling time and exposure to air for the fish, then submit a report for each tagged fish they catch from the four rivers mentioned above. These reports will include information such as the tag number, date, location, condition of the fish, gear type used, and whether the angler released or harvested the fish.

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A how-to video on the process is available on FWPs website.

FWP operates a rewards program as an incentive for anglers to take part and report tags. Reported blue tags will be entered into regular drawings for gear and fishing trips, while reports of yellow tags are each worth $100.

Some fish may still be carrying tags from last year, according to FWP, which may be covered in algae and less noticeable to anglers, but the same reporting process and reward opportunities apply to older tags.

Reports can be submitted by visiting mtcfru.org/msutag or by calling 406-994-2384.

Anglers and other river recreationists may also meet staff from MSU while on the river. These creel clerks will be interviewing recreational river users as part of the ongoing research effort.

The research project in 2024 after annual sampling the year before found fish numbers to be at or near historical lows in sections of the Upper Missouri River Basin. Since then, FWP has been working closely with MSU to study fish mortality, recruitment and health.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (DC News Now)  High school prom season is underway, and police in Montgomery County are urging teens and parents to make smart decisions to prevent drunk driving.

Amelia Hobart wanted to become a nurse. She was a sophomore at Towson University.

Our daughter Amelia was just 19 years old. She was a proud graduate of Poolesville High School, said Michele Mirowicz Hobart.

But on November 29, she was in the backseat of a car with a suspected drunk driver on I-270 just north of Rockledge Drive. Another suspected drunk driver hit the car she was in, trapping her in the back as the car went up in flames.

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Fairfax County police issue over 8K citations during traffic safety campaign

Its a devastating impact to just the everyday life, Mirowicz Hobart said.

She wants her daughters story to be a cautionary tale for others.

This is prom season. Its graduation season. Beach week is on the horizon, said Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy.

Those are all occasions where underage drinking might happen.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 30% of teens killed in traffic crashes were drinking. 25% were legally drunk.

May, June, July, and August are the four deadliest months of the year when it comes to teen driving in this country. So, unfortunately, thats a stat that doesnt normally change, said Kurt Erickson, president of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

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But theres hope it can change. These deaths are preventable.

If youre an adult and youre taking a risk with my childs life, giving them alcohol, you dont have a right to do that, McCarthy said.

Mirowicz Hobart wants parents to know theyre accountable and responsible for the actions of their kids. If parents give alcohol to teens who are involved in a serious crash, its a crime in Maryland punishable by a year in jail and $5,000.

The choices youre making in your home are within your control and you if you make the right ones, if you make the safe ones, you dont have to have a memorial and a celebration of life and a press conference, Mirowicz Hobart said.

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More than a quarter of Americans think Chinese-Americans are a threat to U.S. society, a new poll released Thursday revealed.

The Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S., or STAATUS Index, found that 40 percent believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than the U.S.

This comes just five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, when the U.S. experienced a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

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Twenty-seven percent said they were at least somewhat concerned that Chinese Americans are a threat to U.S. society, especially around national security.

Activists drop flowers during a demonstration against violence against women and Asians on March 18, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. More than half of all Asian Americans say that its at least somewhat likely that they will be subjected to discrimination in the next half-decade, according to a new poll (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, 63 percent of Asian Americans say they felt unsafe in at least one daily setting, according to the index, which was released on Thursday at the start of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The same number of Asian Americans say that its at least somewhat likely that they will be subjected to discrimination in the next half-decade based on their race, ethnicity, or religion. Thirty-three percent of white Americans believe they will be victims of discrimination within the next five years.

Conducted between January 22 and February 25, the survey included 4,909 respondents over the age of 16.

Forty percent of Asian Americans, compared to 71 percent of white Americans, completely agree that they belong in the U.S. They are also the least likely to believe they belong in online spaces, on social media, and where they live.

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Roughly two-fifths of Americans back legislation banning foreign citizens from some countries, such as China, from buying land.

Forty-four percent of Americans strongly agree that the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II was wrong.

The CEO of The Asian American Foundation, Norman Chen, a co-founder of the index, told Axios that One of the most alarming results over the past five years has been the doubling of this perception of Asian Americans as more loyal to their country of origin.

It questions the loyalty and patriotism of Asian Americans in this country, he said, adding that the poll also found that most Americans still believe the myth of the model minority  that Asian Americans are overachievers who are good at math.

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Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, the U.S. has seen rising antisemitism, anti-Arab American, and anti-Muslim incidents hit the headlines, removing focus from anti-Asian hate crimes, the outlet noted.

According to the poll, 42 percent of Americans cant name a famous Asian American, with Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan being named by 11 percent, Bruce Lee by six percent, Kamala Harris by four percent, and Lucy Liu by three percent.

However, the index also found that almost 80 percent of Americans back specific efforts to uplift Asian American communities and roughly 41 percent support legislation that Asian American history be taught in schools.
Federal agents announced the arrest of more than a dozen people on charges of attempting to traffic military style weapons into Mexico.

A total of 14 people were arrested. At least nine, they say, are illegal immigrants operating in the US.

The agents said the cartels used drug money from bringing in meth and fentanyl and used it to buy firearms for use in Mexico.

During a news conference on Friday, the ATF displayed the array of firearms that federal agents say they seized in Georgia before they got into the hands of drug cartels in Mexico.

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While some are simple handguns, others, like a 50-caliber machine gun and squad automatic weapons, or SAWS, could be frontline weapons for any military across the world.

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Its over a quarter of a million dollars worth of firearms that were seized, ATF Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons said.

Gibbons told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that people always think of illegal drugs flowing into America, but may not often think of illegal weapons flowing back into Mexico.

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They need firearms. They need powerful weapons. These, outside of the hand pistols, most of these rifles are readily converted over to fully automatic, Gibbons said.

Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank said these weapons were bought legally in the US, they were not fully automatic at the time of purchase.

But he said US citizens then conspired to get them into the hands of the drug cartels, who could modify them to make them even deadlier than they are.

I think we have all seen the tremendous impact that weapons and violence have played south of our border in Mexico, which are driven by cartels, driven by greed, and are expressed in violence, Schrank said.

The agents didnt release any names of those arrested, both illegal immigrants and US citizens, because they said this is still an ongoing investigation.
Just how good was Metro Nashville Public Schools graduation rate last year?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

For Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell, the 85.7% ratethe highest since the district has been keeping track of how many students end their careers with a diploma  was so good he felt the need to mention it several times during his State of Metro Address on May 1.

And theres the MNPS administration  masters as they are at cherry picking data to support a narrative focusing on improvements and level 5 status and every child being known.

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But if you ask anyone whos paying attention  who knows, perhaps, how to navigate the dashboard for the Tennessee Department of Educations State Report Card  they know that, while MNPSs graduation rate certainly isnt bad, it isn't exactly good either.

If nothing else, it's misleading.

Understand: Tennessee doesnt just track graduation rates. The Department of Education also tracks a statistic called ready graduate, which reflects the percentage of graduating students who demonstrated readiness for postsecondary education and/or a career after high school.

The graduation rate cited by OConnell during his address is from the 2023-24 school year, but because the State Report Cards data lags a year, the ready graduate rates from 2023-24 are not yet available.

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But we do have data from the year before. And even if we assume a slight bump in ready graduate rates to account for the 4.5-percentage point increase in graduation rate over the same period, the numbers would still be abysmal.

That's because the "ready graduate" rate for the 2022-23 school year is 34.2%, meaning barely a third of graduating students were adequately prepared for the future.

For Black, Hispanic and Native American students, the rate drops to 23.8%. For the economically disadvantaged, its 20.6%.

If you want to discuss graduation rates, talk about the good and bad

I want all of us to have more of the things we need, OConnell said during the address, including schools were proud of.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell delivers the State of Metro address Thursday, May 1, 2025 at the Downtown Nashville Public Library.

As a Nashvillian who cares about all children in the city, including those who are not my own, I can appreciate OConnells sentiment. I also understand that the kind of progress MNPS needs to make cant happen overnight, and that OConnells 2025-26 proposed budget includes an increase in MNPS funding meant to directly address issues like student achievement.

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But to paint MNPS as an overall success for graduating 85.7% of students in the interim, or to even tout the districts record-high graduation rate without acknowledging how few of those students are on track to become economically independent adults, is to engage in the dissemination of propaganda and willful manipulation.

That wasnt the approach O'Connell took when he addressed the hike in Nashville property values (an average increase of 45%), which will naturally result in higher property taxes. For the blessed residents who own their homes in this booming market, he still managed to addressed the pro and the con, speaking directly to homeowners' greatest concerns.

Opinion: Tennessee student athletes deserve better, but state takeover isn't the answer

Yet the same cannot be said for the people for whom Nashville, and MNPS, are less effective. These are the people who need the schools to work for them  and, perhaps more importantly, need to know when theyre not.

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After all, the trouble with the Tuskegee Experiment wasnt just that doctors denied treatment to the men suffering with syphilis. It was that those doctors led those poor Black men to believe they were, in fact, being treated.

Nashville should be a beacon not just for transit, but also for public education

During his address, OConnell mentioned that Nashville has been called a beacon by other cities because thousands of us came together to pass the transit bill last November.

Its a moment OConnell is clearly proud of, and one that will likely define his legacy for years to come.

But for the sake of students across the city, my prayer is that Nashville will one day become a beacon because our city chose to buck the status quo that large, urban school districts will disproportionately fail the Black, Brown, and poor among them.

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I pray that thousands of us can come together to ensure the educational and vocational futures of the students who dont attend Nashvilles excellent academic magnet schools, who dont have access to after-school tutors, and who dont have white collar parents with college degrees who can easily assist their children with their homework in the evenings.

But thats only possible if we demand, collectively, that all 85.7% of our graduating high schoolers be prepared to attend college or pursue a post-secondary certification that will position them for well-paying careers and financial stability.

And thats only possible when we know that, right now, only a third of them are.

Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@tennessean.com or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite and BlueSky at @andreawillwrite.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MNPS graduation rates hide truth of student unpreparedness | Opinion
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  A busy Conemaugh Valley road was reopened to traffic, but another round of thunderstorms caused a reported resurgence in power outages across the region Thursday night.

According to online outage tracker PowerOutage.us, more than 15,500 Cambria County electricity customers were without power as of 11 p.m. Thursday.

That was 10,000 more outages than were reported in the county eight hours earlier  and also exceeded the totals from Wednesday evening in an area still reeling from Tuesdays powerful storm.

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Outages could remain for 'days', barn destroyed in Portage area

Cambria County's 911 Center didn't need its call logs to gauge the extent of the widespread issues caused by a Tuesday storm.

Reports of downed trees and wires kept Cambria County 911 officials and emergency responders busy Thursday evening, a Cambria 911 supervisor said. As of 10 p.m. Thursday, St. Clair Road in the Johnstown area was closed to traffic. Other roads reopened Thursday.

William Penn Avenue was reopened early Thursday. It had been closed for more than 36 hours near Keiper Lane in East Taylor Township after a row of power lines was disrupted by a wind-downed evergreen tree during Tuesdays storm.

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Repair work on those lines also helped get power restored to much of the East Taylor Township area as of Thursday afternoon. The community went dark around 6 p.m. Tuesday, township fire Chief Alan Buchan said.

Utility crews were working across the region for much of the day Thursday to address downed lines and other outages caused by Tuesdays storm, mirroring a task repeated across much of western Pennsylvania.

Outages impacting region, 911 center; barn destroyed in Munster Township

Cambria County's 911 Center didn't need to check its call logs to gauge the extent of the widespread issues caused by a Tuesday storm.

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Much of Somerset County was spared the worst of Tuesdays storm. Outages were widespread in the northern tier of the county, but as of Thursday morning, fewer than 20 customers in the county were still without power, most of them in the Boswell area, Penelecs outage map showed.

Rare damage

Straight-line winds during Tuesdays storm caused havoc across western Pennsylvania. FirstEnergy officials reported Thursday that the strength of the gusts in at least one part of Cambria County hit rare levels.

Citing National Weather Service estimates, they said winds might have reached 120 mph when they mangled a cellphone tower near Carrolltown. Thats comparable to an EF-2 tornados wind speeds, albeit without the rotation.

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National Weather Service officials reported to FirstEnergy that no other wind damage was visible adjacent to the damaged tower.

The recent storm in the greater Pittsburgh area is our second-worst on record since 2009 in western Pennsylvania, ranking among the top storms in the companys history in terms of impact, said FirstEnergy President John Hawkins, whose companys territory also saw severe damage in the city of Pittsburgh.

FirstEnergy was working to restore power for approximately 100,000 homes across much of western Pennsylvania after restoring power to 275,000 more this week.

Help is available

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Cambria County Area Agency on Aging Administrator Veil Griffith reminded older residents that there is help available for those in need.

Whether its a hot meal or a bright, welcoming place to sleep at night, help is just a phone call away, Griffith said.

She said the regions senior centers remain open all day across the county, with lunch offered. The Cambria County Area Agency on Agings phone number is 814-539-5595.

The Portage location was closed Wednesday due to the communitys outage, but all nine Cambria County centers, spanning from Johnstown to Patton, were open as of Thursday to community members 60 and older.

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The countys senior activity centers are open Monday through Friday. But there are other avenues for support, too, Griffith added.

Meals can be dropped off at residences. And for people who are uncomfortable spending another night in the dark, the Area Agency on Aging can arrange temporary lodging somewhere that has electricity, she said.

If there is an older adult in need, whatever the need is, they can always call our area agency, even if its something they dont think is very serious, Griffith said. Were here to help.

She said the region is fortunate that temperatures have been so mild this week. Frigid conditions or intense humidity would have posed greater problems, she added.

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And with daylight savings time, it is light outside longer right now, Griffith said.

Water, ice provided

Free water and ice were available to Pennsylvania customers who remain without power.

Customers could visit participating Giant or Giant Eagle stores to receive two one-gallon bottles of water or one 24-pack of bottled water, and two seven- to nine-pound bags of ice or one 20- to 25-pound bag of ice, FirstEnergy officials said.

FirstEnergy said customers should let the store know at checkout that they are a FirstEnergy customer without power. A list of participating stores was available online at bit.ly/FEwaterice.

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The list included all three Giant Eagle stores in Greater Johnstown, as well as locations at 881 College Plaza in the Ebensburg area and 7 Cottonwood St. in Northern Cambria.

Another round

A new round of storms swept through the region late Thursday afternoon. The system was expected to bring wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph, and potentially higher in some areas, with an additional risk of scattered thunderstorms.

FirstEnergy officials predicted the storm could slow electricity restoration efforts. Winds at 40 mph or greater arent safe for crews working in bucket trucks, who often have to hoist team members toward treetops to make repairs.

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As we continue our efforts to restore power to every last customer, we urge everyone to prioritize safety. We deeply appreciate your continued patience and support of our field, Hawkins said.

Early forecasts for Saturday were also predicting a chance for additional thunderstorms.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) spent about ten minutes answering questions from NBC4 Ohio Statehouse reporter Natalie Fahmy Thursday afternoon.

Do international students belong at American universities?

Absolutely, Moreno said. My older brother, in essence, was an international student, because when we arrived in America, he was just about to go to college.

For weeks, international students in Ohio and across the country were being notified that their student visas were revoked. The Trump administration later reversed course, restoring status to most of those students after the Department of Justice said ICE was acting improperly.

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International students play a great role in research and technology, they graduate from these universities and become a great part of our society, Moreno said.

Moreno said while he believes international students should be on U.S. college campuses, it has to be done the right way.

The difference is, under the Biden administration, there was very little vetting; we had no idea who these people were, he said. A lot of them were coming into our colleges and being agitators, creating problems, crimes committed, spreading of terrorist propaganda. So we, of course, want to restore the proper amount of vetting of foreign students who are additive to our economy.

Have President Donald Trumps Immigration polices been effective?

Numbers dont lie, Moreno said. Right now, were seeing a 95% drop in [illegal] border crossings.

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According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, these are the numbers:

February 2024, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) apprehended 140,641 people.

January 2025, USBP apprehended 29,101 people.

February 2025, USBP apprehended 8,347 people.

If you remember, during the campaign, my opponent, and many Democrats, said that the reason the border was out of control is because there needed to be this massive border legislation that had to be done, Moreno said. In reality, we just needed a president that followed the law.

Moreno called the drop in illegal crossings an amazing accomplishment for Trumps first 100 days in office.

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In November 2024, Moreno said his plans for immigration policies include mass deportation, but sequenced the right way.

Anything new on legislation to hold private equity firms accountable?

Senator Moreno worked to ensure a Chillicothe paper mill would stay open a bit longer than expected, and hopefully well into the future.

When he traveled to Chillicothe, he said he planned to introduce legislation to hold private equity firms accountable, like the one that bought the paper mill  Pixelle Specialty Solutions, a subsidiary of HIG Capital.

Were working through putting guardrails to make certain that we protect communities, that we dont allow companies to come in and destroy communities and leave there with millions of dollars of profits, Moreno said. So, were working carefully on that.

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As far as the mill in Chillicothe goes, Moreno said HIG Capital has been great partners in finding a solution. Moreno said he has talked with them multiple times this week alone.

Theyve been very cooperative, he said. It is going to be very difficult. The scale of difficulty is probably the highest Ive ever seen. I remain optimistic. This is a total team effort.

Do you stand by calling Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) a Fuhrer?

In April, Moreno called Schumer a Fuhrer. By definition, that word means a ruthless, tyrannical leader, but it is strongly associated with Adolf Hitler.

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Democrats have used all kind of awful names about President Trump, Moreno said when asked if he stands by that comment.

Moreno said the main point of his April statement was missed.

That Chuck Schumer rules the Democratic conference like a dictator, they all have to march in line, theres no free thinking that happens on the Democrat side because theyre punished if, by any chance, they were to veer off Schumers orders, Moreno said.

Moreno said that on the Republican side, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) encourages everyone to bring their points of view.

Republicans, of course, sometimes, frustrating for me, vote with Democrats on some issues and you just dont see that on the Democrat side, Moreno said. My main message was to get bipartisan legislation accomplished, we need free thinking, independent Democrats, not monolithic sheep that follow the orders of a dictator.

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A follow-up question was asked, So you do stand by the comment?

My point is exactly what I just said, Moreno responded. He acts like a dictator, he treats his conference like a dictator, and I think honestly, at some point theyre going to get rid of him.

Moreno then talked about racist ads that were aired about his family during his campaign for U.S. Senate, such as this one, that he believes Schumer was behind. The ad was paid for by a PAC called WinSenate that spent $287,058,948 against Republicans across the country during the 2023-2024 election cycle.

Your station made millions of dollars airing racist ads, Moreno said. It wasnt even close; it was blatant racist ads against me and my family, so Im not going to apologize for something that was clearly a quip. The reality is Republicans are very united about restoring this country to greatness. I think the best years of this country are in front of us, and thats what Im hyper-focused on.

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According to the FCC, broadcast stations are prohibited from censoring or rejecting political ads that are paid for and sponsored by legally qualified candidates. This no-censorship provision does not apply to political ads that are sponsored by non-candidate third parties.

Should Americans, and Ohioans, still be confident in Trump?

Across Ohio and the country, there have been several days of protests, with hundreds, sometimes thousands of people showing up, dissatisfied with the federal government.

If you were to do interviews with the people that are there, youd find a lot of out-of-state agitators, a lot of people who have total and complete misinformation, Moreno said.

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Moreno defended the Republican party and Trump and said the golden age of America is in front of us.

According to an NBC News Poll, 55% of Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling the presidency.

In terms of the polling, you look at the fake polls that were put out there that showed President Trump way down in the polling, Moreno said. Thats totally inaccurate.

How should Ohioans feel about a fluctuating stock market?

I will expect that the stock market will be at a record high by the end of the year when these investments kick in, Moreno said. Look, were bringing almost $6 trillion in new investments to the country.

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Moreno said the word plummeted does not accurately describe how the stock market is looking right now. That is despite it facing a significant downturn, largely because of the uncertainty that Trumps tariffs are bringing.

Moreno said that the Trump administration and Republicans in Washington are securing peace and stability around the world and said several policies are going to reinvigorate the American economy.

We are about to make the tax and jobs cut act permanent, were going to eliminate income taxes on social security, tips and overtime, he said.

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We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Reveals Details Of Trumps Tariff Negotiations & Discusses 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In his recent appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer commented on the supply chain disruption that firms were facing and planning for in the wake of President Trumps tariffs. I think that this was the week where people said I better have an alternative supply chain, I just have to. Wherever it is, which is going to hurt the gross margins, Cramer said.

Cramer also linked the current supply chain disruptions to the one that businesses faced during the coronavirus pandemic. Cramer mentioned an unnamed CEO who had prepared for the current disruption by learning lessons from COVID. According to Cramer:

Im speaking to a major CEO, at a major tech company who said, do you think that we didnt learn anything from COVID? COVID was a total shutdown [in] China and we learned to move away from China. And China misjudged what we learned during COVID.

The conversation then shifted to President Trumps negotiations with Americas trading partners. While most media attention has focused on China, he mentioned negotiations with Japan and South Korea. Starting with Japan, Cramer outlined:

I was talking to someone who has been in on the Japanese negotiations. And I asked for color. And he said, theyre color-full. But that someones playing very hardball, in our country, and I presume, that someone is, obviously our President. And I said, does he know that you are our friends, and he just didnt respond. I thought it was interesting.

As for Korea, he believes that the country is the Trump administrations favorite due to its already sizable manufacturing presence in the US. Cramer shared:

My answer on Korea is, that. . . they are loved. . . Okay, so Korea builds plants here right, and they are not the plants like the Germans they are not assembly plants, they make everything here, so they are brought up, constantly as the paradigm, like why cant you guys be like Korea? Where all the intellectual property is made here. And I think its rather amazing. . .I brought them up as being why are they getting a free ride to some people? And they said no, theres no free ride, they actually listened to what we wanted.

Of course, since China is the Presidents first target when it comes to negotiations, it was unsurprising that the country came up. Cramer isnt a fan of China. What amazed Cramer was Hayman Capital Management founder and CIO, Kyle Basss comments where he outlined one country lies, one country doesnt. . .China lies. Look I find these talks unfathomable. I dont see any progress.
Hundreds of American scientists who volunteered their time to help produce the congressionally mandated Sixth National Climate Assessment, due out in early 2028, received an email April 28 from the Trump administration.

"At this time, the scope of the NCA6 is currently being reevaluated in accordance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990," it read. "We are now releasing all current assessment participants from their roles."

The series of reports is the result of an act passed by Congress during the George H. W. Bush administration, in response to testimony in 1988 by climate scientist James Hansen that global warming was already worsening droughts and heat waves. Hansen told lawmakers to stop waffling and deal with the problem. So they voted to mandate that a national climate assessment be produced approximately every four years.

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Past National Climate Assessments have synthesized the best available scientific understanding of how storms are intensifying, heat waves are becoming more extreme, crops are increasingly failing under the strain of drought and pests that shift into new regions in response to rising temperatures, and much more.

The information is then translated into layperson summaries, maps and graphs and distributed to stakeholders and communities, where it can be used to inform policy and preventative measures designed to protect American lives, homes, businesses and wallets from the supercharged forces of a warmed atmosphere.

Now, the second Trump administration  near the end of a first 100 days environmentalists say will devastate public lands, wildlife and climate progress for generations  has halted this volunteer effort signed into law by a Republican administration 35 years ago.

The move is another example of President Donald Trump seeming to follow guidelines set out in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 blueprint for his second term, which he distanced himself from during his campaign. The document highlighted the report as "climate alarmism" and an obstacle to the president's scope of decision-making related to projects or initiatives that could pose additional climate risks identified by the scientist authors.

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It is yet unclear what legal challenges may follow. Multiple Arizona State University law professors did not answer The Arizona Republic's inquiries about what it means that this dismissal violates a congressional mandate.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office also declined to comment on plans to file suit, but shared through spokesperson Richie Taylor that "Mayes is deeply concerned by the Trump Administrations ongoing efforts to undermine our ability to confront climate change ... and will continue to fight back against illegal actions taken by the President that threaten Arizonas communities."

What is clear is that patriotic American climate scientists are dismayed.

'These folks are doing this out of service to their country'

The announcement Monday dismissed the scientist authors of the Sixth National Climate Assessment from their roles on the report, not their jobs, as other outlets indicated. But the Trump administration had previously fired staff involved in coordinating the effort through the U.S. Global Change Research Program. This makes it difficult for "plans to develop for the assessment" or for near-term "future opportunities to contribute or engage," as the April 28 email suggests might be the next step.

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"It's incumbent upon us to call out the reality behind the rhetoric here," Dave White, a professor at Arizona State University and director of its Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, told The Republic. "The Climate Assessment has, for all intents and purposes, been canceled."

White was the lead author on the Southwest Chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, which was published in late 2023 and celebrated by President Joe Biden. He traveled to the White House for its release that November and said being appointed to the role and in attendance at its release were some of the greatest honors of his life.

"It is a patriotic duty and a patriotic responsibility," he said. "Many of us, including myself, are incredibly proud of that. These folks are doing this out of service to their country."

Coverage of the fifth climate report: 'We can't be complacent:' Climate report offers mix of familiar warnings, new solutions

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That sense of American service stands in sharp contrast to Trump's treatment of the report as a political attack. White said the scientists involved actually take great care to make sure the process and findings are conservative, not alarmist, and based on robust scientific evidence.

Contrary to the way it is being framed by this administration, this is a policy-neutral, nonpartisan effort," he said. "The goal with this report is to help every sector of society, all Americans: red states, blue states, manufacturing, agriculture, farming, ranching, as well as environment and health."

"It really is one of the most patriotic things I could imagine," he continued, after a pause to reflect. "Like the Manhattan Project that brought together the greatest minds of a generation to unlock the power of the atom to help try to win the second world war, this is bringing the best minds and talent of universities and nonprofits and government partners together to come up with the best knowledge we have about responding to this incredible challenge that we face.

A graphical overview of the findings from a Fifth National Climate Assessment report

Unlike the secretive Manhattan Project, however, the Fifth Climate Assessment, which White noted was still available online at the time of the interview, offers a level of transparency not seen in most other government reports. He described it as a "very dynamic" set of chapters, all hyperlinked to each other so that any interested individual can follow the logical thread. The 2023 version includes an online interactive atlas that allows people to look at specific projections for a particular geography, like their own county.

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"It's easy, probably, for people to think of it as just another report that the government produces," White said. "But it's really designed to be something that empowers people, communities, businesses, farmers, ranchers to be able to understand and anticipate impacts."

It also, importantly, does not recommend specific policy actions.

"So the idea that it might have some embedded bias or climate alarmism is really, I think, just rhetoric from the administration to undermine the credibility of what is a really authoritative scientific consensus," he said.

White was not involved in the preparation of the current sixth assessment. He said it's normal for scientists to step back for a cycle since the report can require 10 to 20 hours per week for several years on top of their regular jobs.

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Instead, Elizabeth Koebele, who grew up in Mesa and is now an expert on Colorado River policy and a faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno, was set to lead the next Southwest chapter. She told The Republic she was heartbroken to receive news this week that all authors had been released from their roles on the sixth assessment.

"The Southwest chapter authors, which I led the selection of, are true experts in their fields," Koebele said. "They had already put so much work into exploring the scientific advances that have been made since NCA5. I'm devastated to lose the opportunity to work with this amazing team and to engage with communities across the Southwest to support climate resilience."

"Endangered West" by Taelyn B., is an award-winning contribution to the Fifth National Climate Assessment's art contest. The artist, an 11th grader from Boise, Idaho, wrote that "my drawing depicts 11 endangered species and their different ecosystems found in the Western United States. I hope viewers come away with an appreciation for our Western wild places and the importance of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems threatened by climate change and habitat loss."

Coverage from USA TODAY: Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free

What Americans and Arizonans stand to lose

Americans, and in particular Arizonans, may feel the lack of a sixth update to the National Climate Assessment.

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Koebele noted that the Southwest is "ground zero" for many impacts of climate change, particularly threats to water security related to aridification, a term for the shift from temporary droughts to more permanent low rainfall conditions. She also pointed out the Southwest has been a "key testbed for innovative climate mitigation and adaptation actions," progress that may be stalled without continued work on the report.

"The absence of a National Climate Assessment that meets the reports historical standards of broad input, rigorous peer review and transparency has serious implications for the nation and especially for the Southwest region," Koebele told The Republic. "If decision makers and stakeholders do not have reliable, up-to-date information on how climate change may impact things the region values, their ability to respond suffers and, in turn, negatively affects all residents."

Leading the way on heat: Sensing heat: How scientists in Phoenix study summer's deadliest invisible threat

White identified three specific examples of how the fifth assessment, released in 2023, has already informed local strategies regarding Arizona's water resources and extreme heat impacts.

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He said he has received requests to present the report's findings and how to access its data from entities managing the state's water supplies, including the Phoenix Water Services Department and Salt River Project, one of central Arizona's major utilities. The city used his input to inform their decision-making about smart investments in water infrastructure, and SRP factored his knowledge into its plans to manage Arizona forests in sensitive watersheds. He did this work for Phoenix area officials as a volunteer.

White also said he thinks ASU professor and sustainability researcher Jennifer Vanos' contributions to the fifth assessment's review of the toll extreme heat takes on outdoor worker productivity, and therefore Arizona's economy, have already informed local efforts to address this hazard.

"In her innovative new section of the report, (Vanos) illustrated how the increases in both average and extreme temperatures that are projected based on our very complete and solid understanding of how climate change is impacting heat in our region, anticipate significant reductions in the ability of farm workers, utility workers, those in construction trades and more to cope with extreme increased temperatures," White said. "We anticipate that will be reduced by up to 20 or 25%, and so this information is incredibly vital for not only those frontline community members, but their managers who need to understand how they can reduce risks to their workers."

New wildfire series: Are Arizona cities prepared to evade urban wildfires? If not, will they build back better?

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Last April, the Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers who work with the city to draft a heat safety plan that ensures access for their outdoor workers to free and cool water, breaks as needed, access to shade or air conditioning and that helps employees adapt to the heat. That rule just went into effect May 1.

A city spokesperson said they were not aware of any direct connection between the Fifth Climate Assessment and this new ordinance. But the advances in understanding of heat made by ASU climate scientists have been integrated in many official and unofficial ways with the evolving operations of Phoenix's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.

Vanos, for her part, is not convinced that all hope is lost for a future Sixth National Climate Assessment. She thinks there may still be some fulfillment of the congressional mandate, just different from what had originally been lined up. She uses the latest report in her class at ASU on "Climate and Health" and would miss having access to more recent data and insights to share with her students.

But she remains confident in the lasting value of the 2023 assessment to which she contributed. She said she continues to learn from it and the report is making a big difference in the scientific world and beyond, where its complexity derived from reliable data, critical thinking and traceable connections to climate change  can still support decisions about infrastructure needs and coping resources for exposed communities in forward-thinking ways.

"I feel for the government staffers for who this was not a volunteer task," Vanos said. "But I am reminding myself that the NCA5 report as a whole, as well as the specific sections by location and sector, including the data, maps, and graphics, are still valuable to many people, communities, cities, farmers, and beyond, because they are."

Read our climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral: climate coverage from Arizona and the Southwest

Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Her award-winning work has also appeared in Discover Magazine, National Geographic, ProPublica and the Washington Post Magazine. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles, on BlueSky at @joan.meiners.bksy.social or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com.

Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly climate and environment newsletter. Read more of the team's coverage at environment.azcentral.com. Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump pauses mandated climate report, 'dismisses' Arizona experts
CENTER, Neb. (KCAU)  A northeast Nebraska man charged with murder is requesting that his trial be moved out of Knox County.

According to court documents, the attorney for Alias Reed, 26, filed a motion to change the venue of the murder trial due to the media coverage of the case.

In addition, his representation is voicing concerns that prospective jurors have indicated in a questionnaire that they may not be able to be impartial.

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Reed pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony.

Cherokee man pleads guilty to possessing large child pornography collection

Hes accused of the shooting deaths of Curtis Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49 on February 20, 2024. Court documents stated Reed went to Curts Lanes and Dining bowling alley in Bloomfield with the intentions of killing Will and Curt on the morning of February 20. He allegedly shot both and then made his way to his girlfriend, Kaylyne Sweazys parents house.

Reed has a hearing on the change of venue motion scheduled for May 27. A jury trial is anticipated for July 14.

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Meanwhile, Sweazy, 28, is set to be sentenced on May 27. She was found guilty by the court in March on the charges of attempted tampering with physical evidence and accessory to a felony as part of a plea agreement.

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Two elementary schools and thousands of customers are still without power in Mount Lebanon.

The Mount Lebanon School District said all other schools will go back on Friday, though many families still dont have power.

According to Duquesne Light, around 9000 customers were still without power in that neighborhood as of 5 p.m. on Thursday.

We are actually from Florida. Weve been through Erma and a bunch of ones where we lost power for a week or a couple weeks, but we are a little out of practice to be perfectly honest, said Marissa Johnston, a Mt. Lebo mother.

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A Mount Lebanon Commissioner spoke out about the outages, saying it could be an opportunity for important change.

It is time for our region to join together and demand a path forward for undergrounding all utilities. Storms are becoming more frequent and its not only a safety issue, its an economic barrier when we have antiquated infrastructure thats prone to outages. We can do better, said Commissioner Andrew Flynn.

Flynn said it would cost about one million dollars per road to get wires underground, but it is important to start the project, he feels.

Meanwhile, neighbors without power who have lived here for fifty years and more told us its nice to see everyone outside again.

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Its good to see your neighbors and chat. And weve gotten a lot of sleep, because we go to bed early because theres nothing to do! said Nancy Havlin.

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UPDATE: Williams has been located.

____

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)  Authorities are searching for a missing 73-year-old man last seen Thursday afternoon in Mount Pleasant.

John Robert Williams was last seen leaving his residence on Equestrian Drive around 3:15 p.m., according to the Mount Pleasant Police Department. He is described as a white male wearing black pants, a long-sleeved black shirt, and a blue and cream hat.

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Officers are patrolling the surrounding area in search of Williams, officials said.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After a stretch of spring sunshine over the mountain peaks these past few weeks, a snowy surprise may be waiting over the Cascades this weekend. A weak frontal system is expected to bring back light snow showers and a dusting of snowfall for the upper elevations of the Oregon Cascades this weekend.

As a trough of cooler air digs into the Pacific Northwest this weekend, snow levels may drop as low as 3,500 feet by Sunday morning. The bulk of moisture this weekend will push south, arriving mainly over the central Oregon Cascades. Snow accumulations will be modest with the highest totals over the summit elevations in the Cascades. Weather models show a dusting to an inch of accumulation with isolated amounts up to 3 to 6 inches in heaver showers.

Spring skiers and snowboarders may welcome the fresh flakes. However, this incoming weather may create challenging conditions at times, especially for backcountry skiers in remote areas or mountain climbers attempting a summit. Strong wind gusts up to 35+ mph could also add brief white out conditions and low visibility at times.

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No road impacts are expected through Government Camp, but roads may become wet at times.

Stay safe this weekend and be sure to check the latest forecast with the KOIN 6 Weather team before heading out the door.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a man missing from Grand Traverse County may be headed to Grand Rapids.

Shaun Dena Brown, 46, was last seen Friday leaving the Kingsley area, according to Michigan State Police. He has brown eyes, black curly hair and stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall. He weighs about 175 pounds, police said.

Browns family last heard from him Tuesday and have not seen or heard from him since. They are concerned about his wellbeing, MSP said. Troopers say he may be headed to Grand Rapids.

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Anyone with information should contact the Gaylord Regional Dispatch Center at 989.732.5141.

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MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Mt. Juliet Police Departments new headquarters is coming to life.

The department shared an update about the progress of construction right next to its current headquarters on Charlie Daniels Parkway.

Mt. Juliet PD says its new headquarters isnt just functional, but its going to be one of the strongest buildings in the area. They broke ground on the facility in 2023.

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Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

Their building is not only designed to house the police department, but also will serve as a hub for all first responders during strong storms and disasters.

The building will allow police to expand their storage capacity for evidence and will also have an evidence processing laboratory.

The biggest advantage, the department says, is bringing all of its operations under one roof. They say this will improve every aspect of the department, like efficiency in administration, patrol, and investigations.

Mt. Juliet police are expecting to move into the facility late this summer.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The citys transit supervisors are set to vote against the MTA rank and file in the upcoming primary for Gothams comptroller.

The Subway-Surface Supervisors Association, the second largest city transit union, representing some 4,000 bus and subway supervisors, announced Friday it was backing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in his bid to become city comptroller.

We need a Comptroller who understands the stakes for working people and is committed to protecting their rights, SSSA president Michael Carrube said in a statement.

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Mark Levine has shown time and again that he stands with labor, Carrube continued. We trust him to safeguard the benefits and worker protections our union has fought so hard to secure.

Levine, also in a statement, said he was proud for the unions support, and pledged, if elected, to make sure their retirement security is protected, their contracts are enforced, and their critical contributions are valued across New York City.

The supervisors unions backing comes after Transport Workers Union Local 100, the 40,000-strong union of rank-and-file bus and subway workers, threw its support behind Levines opponent  outgoing City Councilman Justin Brannan  in February.

Another major supervisors union  TWU Local 106, which represents about 1,500 bus and subway supervisors  also backs Brannan.

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Levine, Brannan and Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar initially jumped into the comptrollers race after incumbent Brad Lander announced in July that he was challenging Mayor Adams in this years election. Rajkumar, though, dropped out of the race earlier this year to instead run for city public advocate against incumbent Jumaane Williams.

The resulting contest between Levine and Brannan has shaped up into a highly competitive contest, with both candidates racking up high-profile endorsements and pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions.

So far, Levine has raised more money than Brannan, as the fast-approaching primary looms less than two months away.

The primaries for mayor, comptroller, public advocate and other local elected offices are set for June 24.
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene revealed in February shes considering a Senate run in 2026  but a new poll may have given her a reality check.

With Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff up for re-election next year, a new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll pitted the four most likely Republican challengers against the incumbent in hypothetical face-offs.

Governor Brian Kemp, who hasnt announced a decision yet but is facing pressure to run from his Republican colleagues, appears to be Republicans best shot at beating Ossoff, according to the Journal-Constitutions poll. Kemp polled at 49 percent, while Ossoff came in at 46 percent.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is 12 points behind Governor Brian Kemp, the potential GOP frontrunner for Senator Ossoff's seat (AFP via Getty Images)

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger came in second, polling at 39 percent while Ossoff came in at 48 percent. Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King wasnt far behind, polling at 38 percent while Ossoff polled at 51 percent.

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Greene, meanwhile, was dead last. She polled at 37 percent and Ossoff came out on top at 54 percent in their hypothetical Senate race. Some 60 percent of Independent poll respondents and nearly 10 percent of Trump-supporting respondents voted for Ossoff over Greene, according to the Journal-Constitution.

Senator Jon Ossoff's biggest Republican challenger could be Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, according to the poll (Getty Images)

Greene, a right-wing firebrand and staunch ally to President Donald Trump, has yet to formally announce anything about her potential Senate run. But she told the Journal-Constitution in February shed be lying if she denied that she is considering it.

She made headlines last month after her town hall in Acworth, Georgia was interrupted by protesters. Two people were tased, at least six people were removed and three people were charged in connection over the disruption.

After the event, Greene praised the protesters removal: Im glad they got thrown out. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen.

The Independent has contacted Greenes office for comment.
(Reuters) -Prudential Financial reported a rise in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, bolstered by strong underwriting at the insurer's U.S. unit which offset declines in its investment management business.

Market uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy moves clubbed with environmental problems forced individuals and businesses to spend more on insurance policies in the reported quarter.

The Newark, New Jersey-based company's U.S. businesses posted adjusted operating income of $931 million in the quarter ended March 31, up from $805 million in the year-ago quarter.

PGIM, Prudential's global investment management business, reported an adjusted operating income of $156 million in the quarter, down from $169 million a year ago.

Assets under management came in at $1.52 trillion in the first quarter versus $1.5 trillion a year ago.

The company's after-tax adjusted operating income came in at $1.19 billion, or $3.29 per common share, in the January-to-March period, compared with $1.12 billion, or $3.05 per share, a year earlier.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Rain chances really increase across New Mexico starting Friday. The chance for showers and thunderstorms will stick around through next week.

Showers and storms have returned to the northern half of New Mexico Thursday afternoon while the rest of the state is dry and warmer today. The rain showers will end late tonight. A cold front will be pushing through eastern New Mexico tonight as well, eventually spilling into the Rio Grande Valley by Friday morning. This could bring a gusty east canyon wind and higher humidity into Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and other areas in the Rio Grande Valley through late Friday morning.

With the higher moisture in the air Friday, more thunderstorms will develop across the state Friday afternoon, especially around central and northern New Mexico. There is a very good chance for rain and thunderstorms in Albuquerque by the early evening hours. Rain and thunderstorm chances will return again Saturday afternoon across New Mexico, but storms will be more isolated.

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South/southwest winds pick up across western and central New Mexico Sunday afternoon with gusts around 30 to 50 mph as a stronger storm system moves into the state. This will bring a high fire danger to southern parts of New Mexico while pushing the moisture back to the east. More showers and storms will develop Sunday afternoon across northern, central, and eastern New Mexico. Stronger storms will develop Monday afternoon in northern and eastern New Mexico. Heavy rain will be possible out of some of these storms and could even cause flooding. Isolated showers will also be possible in other parts of the state, except for southwest New Mexico.

Rain and thunderstorm chances will continue across New Mexico through the middle of next week.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  To help drivers prepare, 6 News anchor Bo Williams is breaking down road work expected over the weekend.

In Sevier County, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be performing resurfacing work on Interstate 40 beginning Sunday evening, May 4. The project is expected to take several weeks and work will be conducted from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday-Thursday. Drivers are asked to use caution in the work on and expect short-term delays, especially in the area of exit 407.

Blount County DA points out inadequacy of laws behind ex-PE teachers sentencing

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The Tennessee Department of Transportation has issued its weekly construction report for May 2-7, detailing ongoing and upcoming construction activities. This report includes information about lane closures and road work across 24 East Tennessee counties.

TDOT-Weekly-Construction-Report-5-1-25-to-5-7-25Download

Drivers in Blount County are also urged to use caution as crews work to clear mud from the roads around Maple Lane Farms, which hosted the Rock The Country music festival last weekend.

Find live traffic conditions: TDOT Smartway Map

If you have any specific questions about road work in your area, email bwilliams@wate.com.

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6 News takes a look at upcoming road work and traffic conditions from the 6 News Alert Desk on Friday afternoons. Stay up to date with the latest road work updates here.

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP)  Police are investigating after shots were fired at Carver High School in Winston-Salem on Thursday night, according to a Winston-Salem Police Department news release.

Winston-Salem officers are investigating after multiple gunshots were fired at Carver High School around 8 p.m.

The gunshots were reported to have been fired in the parking lot of the school. Two vehicles were hit.

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No injuries have been reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number at (336) 773-7700. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (336) 727-2800 (English) or (336) 728-3904 (Spanish). Individuals can also use the Text-A-Tip Program at (336) 276-1717 to send text, photo or video tips directly to WSPD detectives.

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An unsolved murder at a sprawling and upscale Valley Village apartment complex has residents on edge and, reportedly, furious with building management who they say have done nothing to address ongoing security issues, some of which predate the grisly crime.

In audio obtained by KTLA, a dispatch operator with the Los Angeles Police Department is heard relaying to officers at around 3 a.m. on April 23 what a nearby resident heard coming from unit 514 on the top floor of the Ashton Sherman Village Apartments in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive.

I just woke up to some loud noises, something crashing, the tenant, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA. There was screaming, and I called our security and, also, right after that, I called the police.

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Resident Kaci Harabedian, who showed KTLAs Kareen Wynter around the building Thursday, believes that when police initially arrived at the fifth-floor apartment, it was quiet and so they never attempted to go inside.

The tenant in apartment 514, now identified as 53-year-old Menashe Manny Hidra, was found dead inside three days later, on April 26, only after his cousin called police for a welfare check.

So, the guy must have been dead for a couple of days, Harabedian explained.

The suspect seen in surveillance footage attempting to gain entry into apartments on April 23, 2025. (viewer image) The door to apartment 514 in the Ashton Sherman Village Apartments where a 53-year-old man was murdered. (KTLA) What appears to be bloodstains on the exterior of the building between a reportedly empty apartments balcony and the victims balcony. (viewer pic) An apparently bloodstained door handle leading to an exterior stairwell. (viewer pic) A possible suspect seen in the buildings stairwell between April 23-26, 2025. (LAPD) Los Angeles police released surveillance images of a man suspected in a deadly home invasion in Van Nuys on April 26, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) A broken security fob seen on a door leading to the exterior of the building. (viewer pic)

Footage from doorbell cameras belonging to several residents captured a man, who police have identified as a possible suspect, roaming the halls shortly before the murder and attempting to get into several different units.

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Many in the building told KTLA that it appears that whoever committed the murder entered an empty fifth-floor apartment and then climbed from that balcony to the victims balcony.

Photos of the buildings bloodstained exterior between the two balconies bolster those claims, as well as a photo of a bloodstained door handle leading to an exit stairwell where the killer may have fled after the murder.

LAPD has been tight-lipped about the details of the murder, only saying in a news release that a suspect unlawfully entered the victims apartment and a physical altercation ensued, which resulted in the victims death.

Some residents, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA tensions are high in the complex, with many of them, perhaps even the murdered victim himself, complaining to management for months about unsecured entrances, broken security fobs and transients living on the roof of the building.

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Yesterday, when the police released the [suspect] photos, its very clear that is a transient, Harabedian said.

Building employees have also reportedly been taking down photos of the suspect put up by residents. Additionally, according to at least two tenants, management has never really acknowledged the murder, only addressing it as the incident in an email.

What are they going to do to keep us safe, what security measures are they taking, another resident said regarding management.

In an email sent to residents on May 1, management informed tenants that they were deploying courtesy patrol with 24/7 coverage.

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Please note that patrol coverage may adjust in response to changing conditions, management added. While we may not issue a separate notice for each adjustment, we are continually evaluating and updating patrol support based on current needs.

Officials also stated that doors leading to the roof cannot be locked to ensure residents can exit the building in case of a fire or other emergency. Residents were encouraged to contact management, courtesy patrol or police if they see any unauthorized activity near the roof access points.

KTLA has repeatedly reached out to management at the Ashton Sherman Village Apartments for comment, though, so far, have not received any response.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit of the Murfreesboro Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division have launched an investigation into what they described as a suspicious death after a body was discovered in a tow lot Thursday.

Officers said they responded to a call from E.A. Towing on Southpointe Court around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 after employees found the body.

READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County

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Police said the dead man was discovered in the back of his locked 2007 Hummer HU3 on a sleeping mat. Not only were the vehicles windows covered with black-out material, making it difficult to see inside, but the back seat was reportedly laid flat and could not be seen by looking through the front window.

Law enforcement said tow company employees had completed a tow lien on the vehicle because nobody had claimed it, but as they approached the Hummer, they saw flies and smelled an odor coming from the rear of the vehicle, so they used a lock-out tool to open the doors and found the remains.

The vehicle was thought to be abandoned and had been towed from the parking lot of the Walmart on Old Fort Parkway on April 5, according to officials.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Authorities requested the medical examiner perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death and how long the man had been deceased.

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Police said both E.A. Towing  which is not suspected of any wrongdoing  and Walmart are fully cooperating with the investigation.

No additional details have been released about this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  Murray City reopened the Murray Museum in the historic John P. Cahoon Mansion Friday.

The museum debut is part of the citys Love, Murray campaign, which aims to celebrate the towns history, culture, and events.

On Apr. 25, 2025, the museum received the Rehabilitation & Restoration Award from Preservation Utah, Murray City said.

The Murray City Museum is reimagined, and opening this week

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This museum tells the stories of who we are, from our pioneering roots to the incredible community weve become, said Murray Mayor Brett A. Hales.

Original John P. Cahoon Mansion in historic Murray Recently reopened Murray Museum in the heart of Murray A look inside the reopened Murray Museum

Built in 1899, the Cahoon Mansion has worn many hats over the years. The previous owners, Bill and Susan Wright, used the historic building as a reception center for decades.

It [was] heart-wrenching to leave it, Susan Wright told ABC4s Craig Wirth shortly after she and Bill sold the mansion in 2015.

Along with the museums grand reopening, Murray City is also hosting a community block party across the street at Murray City Hall on May 2 from 3 p.m.  9 p.m. The event will bring live music, performances, food trucks, and local vendors.

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Craig Wirth contributed to this reporting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Elon Musks first 100 days in the White House were filled with twists and turns as the worlds richest person became one of the most influential and contentious figures in Washington in a matter of weeks.

The tech billionaire wasted no time jumping into the political fray upon President Trumps return to the White House, moving at breakneck speed to carry out the presidents government cost-cutting initiative, dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

As DOGEs work dominated the news and Musk appeared alongside the president nearly every day, he faced mounting scrutiny from the public and even some within Trumps circle over his increasing influence as a nongovernment employee.

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After nearly three months of repeated backlash against Musk and his companies, political strategists say his omnipresence is fading as the dust settles.

That influence has been reined in a little bit, whether that is his choice or the White Houses choice, I dont know, but I would guess the White House has put their thumb on the scale a little bit when it comes to Elon, GOP strategist Brittany Martinez told The Hill.

DOGEs chainsaw

The first few weeks of DOGE were marked by chaos and confusion as Musk and his low-profile team imposed mass layoffs and spending cuts across federal agencies to reduce the federal workforce.

Musk hit the ground running with a vengeance and just went after everything, said Paul Levinson, a professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University.

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Shortly into Trumps second term, Musk appeared in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) wielding a chainsaw, which would become a symbol of DOGE.

Musk admitted Wednesday the first few weeks of DOGE were intense, adding he spent almost seven days a week at the White House.

The move fast and break things approach mirrored Musks leadership in Silicon Valley and his technology companies, where the billionaire and a group of loyal deputies slashed employees and programs he deemed unnecessary.

At its inception, DOGE was largely supported by Republican lawmakers, who remain thankful Musk brought a spotlight on government reduction, even as some have frustrations over his approach.

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He has brought incredible energy and creativity to ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse, and Im very grateful that hes spent the time and energy to do so, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told The Hill.

GOP strategists acknowledged the effort is nothing new to the party and will likely last past Musks time in the White House.

The project on the right to rein in spending, to cut government, to make it more efficient, has been a decades-long project, and its not like we werent trying that whole time, Republican strategist Chris Johnson said. I think Elon came in assuming  I dont know if he thought it was fake, or we werent trying hard enough.

DOGE set out in January to make up to $2 trillion in cuts to federal spending, though the actual number of cuts ended up being far lower after 100 days.

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Trump said Wednesday that DOGE found $150 million in potential cuts to the federal budget, noting he thinks things being worked on could double or triple that number.

One of the main lessons is if one of the smartest people on Earth is stymied by different systems and institutions and regulations, thats probably a sign that this is going to be a long project thats going to be going on much longer than Elon, Johnson added.

While the long-term effects of DOGE remain to be seen, the program and staffing cuts are already impacting agencies. The DOGE cuts, for instance, slashed funding for the 9/11 first responder survivors health program, but was restored by the White House amid criticism.

From environmental advocates to public health researchers, the cuts also sparked fears of brain drain among staffers, along with a loss of institutional knowledge from longtime employees.

Trump shifts tone on Musk

The DOGE teams infiltration of federal agencies ruffled feathers within the Trump administration, too, forcing the president to answer tough questions about how much power Musk holds.

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At a Cabinet meeting in early March, Trump shifted his tone and stressed his secretaries are the lead on staffing choices. He insisted the cuts be made with a scalpel instead of a hatchet.

Although the president dismissed rumors of infighting between Musk and other White House deputies, the comments marked the first time Trump publicly made clear the tech billionaires power was limited.

Musks much more of a team player, Johnson said when asked about the White House dynamics. Hes proven himself to be loyal to the GOP, not just to Trump.

When he came in, there was this, What is this guy doing? Whats his angle? And ultimately, for a lot of people, theyve kind of come to the conclusion that he doesnt really have an angle, Johnson added. He just wants Republicans to win because he thinks its good for America.

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Since then, Musks ubiquitousness both online and in Washington somewhat declined, strategists said. This included a scaling back of public sparring with Trump World figures such as former White House strategist Steven Bannon.

Musk has taken a less combative approach towards folks who disagree with him, and thats abundantly clear, Johnson said.

Still, Democrats are not backing down on their criticism, sending inquiries nearly every week over his conflicts of interest and DOGEs access to sensitive data housed in federal agencies.

Backlash spills into Musks businesses

The initial shock and awe of DOGEs moves began to subside in March, though the public backlash was just beginning against the Trump administration and Musk.

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Dozens of protests popped up across the country, often taking place at Musk-owned Tesla showrooms or charging stations. The protests were largely peaceful, though some became violent with Molotov cocktails or shots fired at showrooms.

Teslas stock plummeted more than 50 percent since the beginning of the year, while the company reported a 71 percent drop in earnings for the first quarter of this year.

Amid the mounting scrutiny, Musk attempted to improve the image of DOGE while still standing by the groups goals. He acknowledged in late March he is being cautious and compassionate with the government overhaul efforts.

Its like 60 percent fun, 70 percent fun. Depends on the week, Musk said Wednesday. I mean, being attacked relentlessly is not super fun. So, you know, seeing cars burning is not fun. But, when I feel like were doing good for the American taxpayer and stopping wasteful spending and fixing computer systems, I feel like thats a good thing.

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Former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) suggested last month Musk has been on a rehab tour for DOGE, which now appears to be his approach at his struggling electric vehicle manufacturer.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week Tesla board members launched a new search for a CEO to succeed Musk.

Robyn Denholm, the chair of Tesla, denied this report, saying the board is highly confident in Musks ability to continue his role. Musk called the report a deliberately false article.

Musk tried to assure concerned Tesla investors last week that he plans to limit his time on DOGE to 1-2 days per week, since the foundation of DOGE is complete. He reiterated this to reporters Wednesday but said it would be the presidents discretion if that setup will also eventually end.

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Elon Musks role was going to evolve as the worlds richest man, GOP strategist and Trump campaign alum Brian Seitchik said. He owns a series of very important and high-profile businesses, so theres always going to be a shelf life to how much time he could commit to Washington.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The big story: After some give and take on the details, the Florida Legislature has sent a school security update bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his consideration.

The measure includes several provisions, including an expansion of the school guardian program that lawmakers first created after the 2018 Parkland school shooting massacre.

One of the most keenly watched portions of the bill (SB 1470) aims to provide relief to school districts that struggled to implement strict rules related to when doors and gates must be closed and locked. School officials said the law requiring all access points to be either staffed or locked whenever students are on campus created situations that might place students on the wrong side of a locked door during emergencies.

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Among other problems, the law also created access issues for students and families before and after classes, when fewer staff members were present yet activities continued.

The update would ease the door locking requirements before and after the school supervision time, and also allow schools to allow unlocked doors and gates in a schools interior and in areas such as parking lots, as long as all access points leading directly to student areas remain secure. They called this area a secure exclusive zone.

Sponsor Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrills, called the changes common sense reforms, noting they would help balance the need for safety against efficiencies.

School districts including Pinellas County had made this subject a priority for this legislative session. The proposal now heads to the governors desk for consideration. Read more from Florida Politics.

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Today in Tallahassee ... Its the final day for lawmakers to bring any outstanding non-budget bills in for a landing. Several education-related items remain available for votes, including a handful of train bills that have gone back and forth between the chambers already. The Senate is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. and the House is set to convene at 11 a.m.

Hot topics

Charter schools: The Florida House signed off on legislation allowing charter schools to have stricter codes of conduct than district schools, WTVJ reports. It heads to the governors desk.  The Alachua County school board held an emergency meeting to shutter a charter school amid concerns of safety and leadership failures, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Preferred names: At least two additional Brevard County teachers have been reprimanded for using a students preferred names without parental permission, Florida Today reports.

Rezoning: Parents whose children attend Venice High in Sarasota County dont like the school districts plans for redrawing attendance boundaries for a new high school opening in 2026, the Venice Gondolier reports.

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School zones: Drivers in Palm Bay are complaining that cameras in school zones are inaccurately reporting violations, Spectrum 13 reports. Police officials said they are working to fix the problems.

Student health: Florida health officials seek to reduce youth smoking by working with schools, WUSF reports.

Trump agenda: A day before Pinellas County officials and civic leaders discussed extending plans to improve Black student achievement, the Trump administration announced a civil rights investigation into an Illinois school district for its Black Students Success Plan, The Guardian reports.

Dont miss a story. Heres a link to yesterdays roundup.

Before you go ... New jazz from Jeff Goldblum, featuring Cynthia Erivo. Enjoy.
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Newly relaxed oversight on how banks deal in cryptocurrency has already inspired some activity between the two realms.

Brian Foster, global head of wholesale at Coinbase, said his team has been very busy meeting demand for banks, brokers and fintechs now that federal banking regulators have walked back on the more skeptical bank-crypto guidance put forth under the Biden administration.

Pretty much all of the large banks in the US are now doing something [to move forward with crypto] and we're either behind the scenes with [or] live with pretty much all of them, Foster said in an interview with Banking Dive. Our [Request for Proposal] team is hard at work fielding all of these RFPs, so its definitely an all-out sprint, Foster said.

Since January, federal bank regulators have done an about-face on crypto guidance. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have all withdrawn guidance that required banks to seek prior approval from regulators before dabbling in cryptocurrency. Regulators will instead monitor such activities through the normal supervisory process.

Whats changed, Foster said, isnt banks intent to do something in crypto to meet customer demand. Thats been there all along.

What's changing now is that the demand side has just been more pronounced as the markets grown, coupled with the changing regulatory climate, which has just made the aperture for what's possible a little bit wider and made the risk committees feel more comfortable, Foster said.

Brad Rustin, chair of law firm Nelson Mullins financial services regulatory practice in Greenville, South Carolina, said he knows that lots and lots and lots of banks are talking about getting in on crypto amidst the Trump administrations regulatory shifts.

The interest is largely coming from two verticals, Rustin said: fintech-forward banks that have long had an understanding of crypto assets, and large banks that have sizable securities custodial programs.

[The latter] are banks that did securities lending, that did margin lending, that did traditional custody services for stocks and bonds. They're saying, Well, look, this is no different than custodying a stock or a bond. Its just how you actually control it and how you maintain it thats different, Rustin said.
The Trump administrations immigration enforcement and efforts to defund public broadcasting might not appear linked at first blush, but they both reflect the same attitude:

So what if we accidentally deport the wrong guy to get the bad people out, or kill Big Bird because we dont like what they say about us on PBS NewsHour?

Donald Trump has always retreated to culture-war issues when under duress, so its hardly a surprise he would renew the assault on PBS and NPR as he watches his poll numbers fall amid tariff concerns. The move immediately drew cheers from his conservative base, who have long railed against the government paying one penny to support what they see as another tentacle of the liberal media.

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The reality of PBS and NPR, though, has always been more complex than Trump and his most vocal GOP allies have painted it. For starters, its unclear that Trump has the authority to strip the $500 million in Congressional funding that goes to NPR and PBS annually. More to the point, like many of Trumps policies in this second term, it will inflict at least as much damage on those who live in states he carried in the last election as bright-blue bastions of liberal elites.

The most logical case against PBS and NPR is that in this age of streaming plenty, public funding for programming is simply unnecessary. The prestige British dramas and hours of childrens programming that were once the near-exclusive province of PBS have found platforms elsewhere, provided, in many cases, that viewers are willing to dig into their pockets for them.

The counter argument is that PBS and NPR cater to underserved communities, especially in rural and remote areas that dont have the same abundance of commercial TV options, as well as those who cant afford to ante up for multiple streaming subscriptions in order to replicate what PBS provides.

Notably, polling has shown that more than half of PBS viewers live in lower-income homes, which buttresses that position.

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To be fair, this debate has persisted across the decades, particularly when Republicans are in power. Yet the truth is the recent push to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting hides behind economics to press a partisan agenda, one rooted in the grievance-driven feeling that public broadcastings news and public-affairs programming exhibits a bias against conservatives.

Trump has labeled programs like PBS NewsHour, anchored by Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz, woke propaganda disguised as news. (Photo Credit: PBS)

The same mentality has fueled Trumps takeover of the Kennedy Center and efforts to gut the Voice of America and the Department of Education.

Through the years, that impulse has produced some comical results, including Ted Cruz lashing out on Twitter against Big Bird in 2021 for saying that hed been vaccinated, which the Texas senator derided as Government propaganda  for your 5 year old!

Were talking about a Muppet. Ted Cruz today has picked a fight with a Muppet, Jezebels editor-in-chief Laura Bassett said on MSNBC at the time.

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Still, beating up on Sesame Street isnt the necessarily flex the GOP thinks it is, given the fond memories many people have about that and other public-TV childrens fare, which has the advantage not only of educating kids but isnt as clearly awash in the toy-driven values that have characterized that genre through the years.

In addition, polling has shown that viewing of PBS is hardly confined to wheat-germ-eating Democrats (about a third of its viewers identify as such), which makes sense given the vast swath of programming available on a wide assortment of topics, as well as popular prestige entries like Downton Abbey and Ken Burns historical documentaries.

None of that, of course, will penetrate the bubble of those railing against public broadcasting, eagerly finding examples of what they characterize, to quote Cruz, as government-supported propaganda intended to discredit and undermine Republicans.

Trumps executive order overtly, if somewhat vaguely, stated as much, accusing public broadcasting of bias and serving as a platform for radical woke propaganda disguised as news, which naturally played well in to the hate-the-mainstream-press quadrant of social media.

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In its response, NPR said eliminating public funding  which only accounts for about a sixth of the overall budget  would have a devastating impact on communities across the nation. Beyond calling the order blatantly unlawful, PBS president Paula Kerger cited potential disruption to the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.

The bottom line is that like many policies Trump has pursued in this second term, hes serving red meat to his ideological base under the guise of cost cutting. Those who object to the government playing any role in funding PBS and NPR because those services are easily replaced by commercial options can press that point, even if, given current media economics, its still a rather shaky one.

Thanks to Trumps transparent desire to hurt perceived havens of liberal media, though, that argument seems particularly flimsy  so much so that if Big Bird were thinking of a word to describe it starting with the letter B, lets just say it wouldnt be Bunny.

The post Muzzling Big Bird: Trump Tries to Silence the Liberal Media of PBS and NPR appeared first on TheWrap.
North Carolinas auditor has given the states elections board a GOP majority just one day after an appeals court paused a ruling that had blocked him from doing so, in a messy tug-of-war for power that could affect the states undecided Supreme Court race.

State auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican, appointed three fellow Republicans to the five-member board Thursday and two Democrats. He was able to do so after a court ruling that temporarily greenlit shifting the power of appointing members of state and county election boards from the governor to the auditor.

The elections boards political makeup could have major consequences for elections in the state  including the outcome of North Carolinas Supreme Court race, in which Republican Jefferson Griffin, who narrowly lost to Democrat Allison Riggs, is contesting thousands of ballots. In that particular race, as The New York Times pointed out, a Republican majority could interpret court rulings more favorably for the challenger, raising the chances of the election being overturned.

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Bolieks ability to appoint members of the elections board  which the states Democratic Party chair has called an abuse of power and a disservice to the people of North Carolina  is new. After the November election, Republicans pushed through a bill to consolidate their power before they lost their supermajority in the state House. Among other things, the bill allowed the state auditor, rather than the governor, to appoint election board members.

Then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, but Republicans overrode his veto.

Its really one of the more blatant partisan power grabs for authority over elections that weve seen in recent years, Megan Bellamy, vice president for law and policy at the Voting Rights Lab, told The Washington Post at the time.

Democrat Josh Stein, who won the North Carolina governors race in November, subsequently sued over the measure. A court blocked the change last week, but a GOP-majority appeals court paused that ruling on Wednesday, allowing Boliek the chance to make his appointments  which he swiftly did the following day.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A New Hampshire teenager, 19, has been arrested and is facing multiple charges including negligent homicide after allegedly intentionally causing a collision with a motorcycle while driving a car under the influence, police have said

The man driving the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Litchfield, N.H.

A second car was involved in the incident after the driver allegedly "swerved to miss the motorcycle as it slid into her lane," police said; she was treated for minor injuries on-site and released

A New Hampshire teenager, 19, has been accused of driving under the influence before allegedly intentionally causing a fatal collision with a motorcycle, police have said.

On Wednesday, April 30 at approximately 9:17 p.m. local time, authorities responded to reports of a motor vehicle crash "on Route 102, between Cutler Road and Woodburn Road" in Litchfield, N.H., the Litchfield Police Department said in a press release shared with PEOPLE on May 2.

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"Upon arrival, officers located a Toyota Corolla and a Mitsubishi Outlander involved in a head-on collision. Nearby, a motorcycle was found in the woodline, and an adult male, wearing a helmet, was discovered unresponsive on the shoulder of the road," police stated, adding that the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified the victim as Jeffrey Day, 57.

The driver of the Toyota  identified as John Burke  has been arrested, police said in the initial post, adding that a further investigation revealed he was "allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the incident."

Litchfield Fire Rescue/Facebook Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the fatal collision in Litchfield, New Hampshire on April 30, 2025 Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the fatal collision in Litchfield, New Hampshire on April 30, 2025

"An investigation led by the Litchfield Police Department, in collaboration with the New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) Detectives and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit (CAR), determined that the collision between the Toyota and the motorcycle was intentional, based on witness statements and physical evidence," police added.

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The release stated, "The subsequent crash involving the Mitsubishi was not believed to be intentional, but occurred as the driver of the Mitsubishi swerved to miss the motorcycle as it slid into her lane."

Burke has been charged with the following offenses: Negligent Homicide; Manslaughter  Reckless; First Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Aggravated DUI  Serious Bodily Injury; Reckless Conduct  Deadly Weapon; Witness Tampering; and Vehicular Assault.

Litchfield Fire Rescue/Facebook Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the fatal collision in Litchfield, New Hampshire on April 30, 2025 Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the fatal collision in Litchfield, New Hampshire on April 30, 2025

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The suspect was arraigned at Merrimack District Court on Thursday, May 1, police said in the release.

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"The driver of the Mitsubishi was treated for minor injuries on-site and released. The driver of the Toyota, later identified as Burke, was transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and treated for minor injuries," police said.

Litchfield Fire Rescue shared multiple images of the incident on Facebook, writing that "Derry Road was closed in both directions for hours while police investigated the accident."



Read the original article on People
The New Jersey police officer arrested for invading her ex-boyfriends home is headed to an out-of-state mental health facility that treats cops.

Rebecca Sayegh was released from jail Friday after being taken into custody a week earlier when she resisted arrest, according to NJ.com. Shell spend at least a month receiving treatment.

The 32-year-old Toms River law enforcement officer is accused of smashing the glass door of the home she once shared with one of the victims, then assaulting and threatening two of the people in that house. Shes also accused of damaging a vehicle parked outside that property.

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Sayegh at one point lived with her boyfriend of five years in the home shes accused of breaking into, according to her attorney. Her former partner is now dating someone else. That woman reportedly got a restraining order against the defendant Friday.

Sayegh will have 20 minutes to retrieve belongings she still has in the home. According to NJ.com, that includes a dog. Shell be escorted by police.

The accused police officer was off duty when she used a baton to bash her way inside the house after 11 p.m. on April 25. Her boyfriend and his current girlfriend were in the living room, prosecutors claim.

A verbal dispute then escalated leading to the female victim suffering an eye injury before the boyfriend left the residence to call 911. Sayegh then allegedly fought with the responding officers. Shes also accused of causing $2,000 to the home.

Her attorney cited Sayeghs nine years of police work and previously clean record for justifying rehabilitation. Charges against her include home invasion burglary, assault, criminal mischief, terroristic threats and resisting arrest
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) A Nacogdoches man was arrested on Thursday night after a person was found dead lying in the street with stab wounds, officials said.

According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, around 10:45 p.m. police and fire responded to the 2220 block of Maybell St. between Sweetgum St. and Fourth St. and found Sirveorge Deron Jones, 40, of Nacogdoches lying in the street dead with several stab wounds.

Mugshot of Emarian Nikhy Trezmin Jones, courtesy of Nacogdoches County Jail

Murder investigation underway after 19-year-old Nacogdoches man found dead

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Officials said officers found a large amount of blood and the location of the incident at a nearby home. Officers then talked to Emarian Nikhy Trezmin Jones, 23, of Nacogdoches who told them that he had stabbed Sirveorge during a family argument.

Emarian was arrested for murder and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail on Friday.

The department said that this incident is not related to the murder that occured at Eastwood Terrance Monday evening and more information will be released as it becomes available.

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After 24 years in her role, National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesotas executive director Sue Abderholden is retiring.

Abderholden will remain in her role until Oct. 15, according to a release from the organization. The NAMI Minnesota of Directors will begin a leadership transition process in the next several months. It has formed a succession committee and retained the executive search firm Ballinger Leafblad, Inc.

When Abderholden began with the organization in 2001, it had two and half staff members and a $160,000 budget. Since that time, it has grown to 37 staffers and is a $3 million organization.

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Sue Abderholdens leadership has been nothing short of transformational, said Jessica Gourneau, president of the NAMI Minnesota Board of Directors, in a statement. She has led NAMI Minnesota with vision, heart, and an unwavering commitment to those living with mental illnesses and their families. Because of Sue, our organization has grown in reach, reputation, and impact. Her fierce advocacy at the legislature, her strategic partnerships across sectors, and her tireless work to create culturally responsive, person-centered care have set the gold standard for mental health advocacy.

Abderholdens advocacy has helped pass more than two dozen laws affecting education, healthcare, housing and criminal justice for people with mental illnesses, according to the organization. This has included advocating for laws requiring mental health training for teachers, getting mental health screenings for those entering jails, reforming the states commitment laws to promote voluntary engagement in treatment, expanding crisis and early interventions services, the diversity of the workforce and strengthening mental health parity protections. She also worked to restrict the use of solitary confinement in prisons for people with mental illness.

Abderholdens work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Minneapolis Health Departments Health Equity Award, Macalester Colleges Distinguished Citizen Award, the National NAMI Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination, and multiple recognitions as one of Minnesota Physicians 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders.

In addition to her work with NAMI Minnesota, Abderholden also has taught about health and mental health policy at the University of Minnesotas School of Social Work and served on several state advisory committees and task forces, according to the University.

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It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of this movement, Abderholden said in a statement. The people who courageously shared their stories, the families who organized for change, and the advocates who never gave up  they are the reason for our success. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside so many incredible individuals to help build a better, more compassionate mental health system for Minnesota.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The chief of the Erie County Sheriff Offices Narcotics and Intelligence Unit, D.J. Granville, was placed on paid administrative leave on April 14, the Sheriffs Office told WIVB News 4.

This is the latest development in an ongoing story after it was revealed in March that Granville allegedly smashed into six vehicles, damaging a total of seven, on Buffalos West Side while on duty in April 2024, causing nearly $60,000 in damage.

The move to put Granville on leave comes after the Buffalo Police Department last month issued three citations against him for leaving the scene of an accident. Additionally, five officers were placed on administrative leave in connection to the incident.

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The crashes occurred on two streets on Buffalos West Side around midnight April 11, 2024, according to documentation obtained by News 4.

Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman was appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. His office is investigating. The Buffalo Police Department has also launched an internal investigation.

The Sheriffs Office did not provide an end date for Granvilles leave.

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For the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, NASA officially has its hands on a spacecraft expected to fly humans to the moon.

Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Orion space capsule, transferred possession of the Artemis II spacecraft Thursday to the agencys Exploration Ground Systems team base at Kennedy Space Center.

Artemis II is slated to launch from KSC no later than April 2026, taking NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the moon  but not to the lunar surface. That launch date is one thats been repeatedly delayed after completion of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in late 2022.

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We want to achieve a pace of one flight a year. Were not there yet, said Lockheed Martins Kirk Shireman, head of its Orion program. We all know that the faster you fly, the faster you produce vehicles, the cheaper they are, the less cost there is to that and the more you keep the interest of the public.

Artemis II will be the third flight to space for Orion, which was originally part of the Constellation program started under President George W. Bush. It survived that programs demise and was incorporated into what became Artemis, designed to be launched atop the massive Space Launch System rocket for deep-space missions.

Orion performed a short test trip to space in 2014 before flying on the Artemis I mission in 2022 that orbited the moon without crew.

That flight brought Orion back to Earth at nearly 24,500 mph enduring temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Unexpected damage found on the heat shields protective coating prompted an investigation that forced NASA to punt Artemis II further into the decade from its original timelines.

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As recent as late 2020 under President Trumps first administration, NASA was still holding to the lofty, although ultimately unrealistic goal of flying Artemis I in 2021, Artemis II in 2023 and Artemis III  which aimed to return humans to the lunar surface in 2024.

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Artemis I ended up flying one year later than planned. Damage to the mobile launcher from the 8.8 million pounds of thrust created by the SLS rocket in addition to Orion heat shield issues were prime factors in Artemis II slipping first into 2024, then 2025 and now not until early 2026.

NASA had asked all of its partners in the Artemis program to see if they can exceed deadlines and get to flight as early as February while keeping Artemis III on NASAs calendar for summer 2027. Artemis III is reliant on SpaceX to develop a working version of its Starship rocket to act as the human landing system.

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We are working to even accelerate our work production for flights for Artemis 3, 4, 5 and beyond. NASA has been working with us and encouraging us to continue doing that, Shireman said. The direction weve been getting from NASA is, Hey, weve got to meet our dates, and it would be awesome if you could exceed, if you could do better than those dates, and and thats the way weve been working.

He said a new issue that popped up late last year regarding Orions batteries had teams projecting a final delivery at the end of May.

I think were extremely proud to have been not only able to hold, but accelerate that date, he said noting Lockheed gained back nearly a month. Thats pretty phenomenal in a complicated spacecraft.

Orion will eventually be stacked atop the SLS rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building, after which the completed rocket and spacecraft atop the mobile launcher could roll to Launch Pad 39-B before the end of the year for testing where NASA intends to keep it until launch.

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Shireman said he thinks NASA is happy with Lockheeds performance.

It wasnt like everything was smooth sailing, he said saying many issues were found and solved before they became a schedule threat. People have really been working hard and are probably more than a little fatigued. So theyre going to take a breather here for 24, maybe 48 hours, and then were going to hit it again for Artemis III.

Shireman said Lockheed has not had any signal from NASA to pull back from long-term plans with Artemis even though the future of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft could shift under new direction during the second Trump administration.

The delays to Artemis, along with ballooning costs, has critics including billionaire Jared Isaacman, who was nominated to become the next NASA administrator and is awaiting a confirmation vote in the Senate.

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Isaacman has told senators hes on board with the plan through at least Artemis III, especially as the U.S. tries to compete with Chinese plans to land on the moon. But after achieving the lunar landing, the nation should look at commercial alternatives such as SpaceXs Starship or Blue Origins New Glenn for achieving its lunar goals.

Shireman continued to stump for the current plan to fly Orion atop SLS in the short term even though plans could change.

You could launch an Orion on a New Glenn and you could create an architecture, he said. But when you add new elements that dont exist and you havent started working on them, thats where the time comes in.

So thats why I believe, firmly believe, the quickest way to the moon  to put American boots back on the moon  is with SLS and Orion on Artemis III.

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But he pitched the spacecraft to remain part of whatever the future of deep-space exploration becomes.

Ultimately, we could pivot to something different, Shireman said. We want to be part of putting Americans back on the moon and a sustainable lunar program. And if the administration wants to modify the architecture, well be happy to to work with them.
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WROC)  May marks Mental Health Awareness Month. Faculty and staff at Nazareth University welcomed local high school students to campus Thursday. The group of more than 50 students are all interested in pursuing a career in mental health services.

Program leaders say the goal is to help fill positions still greatly needed locally and nationwide.

I hope to get questions answered and kind of know what Im going to do when I graduate, said Hannah Ince, a senior at Greece Arcadia High School.

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Students attended Nazareths summit from Greece, Dundee, Geneva, Lyons, and Seneca Falls Central School Districts.

The needs for mental health services have been dramatically rising. Waitlists at community mental health visits are high, said Erin Cole, an assistant professor of social work at Nazareth University.

The summit, she says, is the first step in a four-course journey that begins during high school students junior years and extends through graduation.

However, the future of programs like this are in jeopardy following the removal of $40 million from a federal grant coming from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Its devastating. Its devastating to our kids. Its devastating to our profession and to the mental health professionals we work with  but mostly, the kids. With our programs, we work with and service thousands and thousands of kids, not just in the region but grantees all over the state whose funding has just been eliminated. People are going to be out of jobs, said Hennessey Lustica, who serves as the community schools mental health director for Seneca Falls CSD.

The funding cut also comes as a persistent workforce shortage lingers in psychology services in New York State and across the U.S.

Local leaders say already, theyve hired nearly 90 percent of the students they trained back into regional positions.

While there is still interest in the field at the collegiate level, officials say its not enough and further reason why programs like Nazareths summit are helping to make a difference.

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Thats the problem. We have this workforce shortage, and at the same time, theres this projection that theres going to be a boom in jobs and we dont have a pipeline to get folks there before the graduate level, said Lustica.

Despite this, program leaders are hopeful an initiative like the summit is only the beginning, so that a similar curriculum can extend across New York State if approved in the future.

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A Nazi Low Rider gang member who ordered the stabbing of a person who was killed and held a meat cleaver to another victim's throat, threatening death and harm to relatives, was granted parole by the California Board of Parole Hearings, according to the Kern County District Attorney's Office.

The DA's office objected to the release of Ricky Black, but on April 2 the board found he no longer posed a current and unreasonable risk to public safety, the DA's office announced this week.

According to a DA's office news release, Black on Sept. 23, 1999 ordered the stabbing of T.J. Taylor, who was killed at a park by a member of the NLR gang. On Jan. 20, 2000, Black held a meat cleaver to a second victims throat and threatened to kill the victim and the victims relatives, saying he was a shot caller for the gang.

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A jury on Sept. 28, 2000 found Black guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit an assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon for both the 1999 and 2000 crimes, the DA's office reported. The court found Black had two prior strike convictions for residential burglary and attempted robbery, and had two prior prison terms, sentencing him to 75 years to life plus an additional 11 years.

His sentence was changed over the years due to changes in the law.

An individual with a clear and dangerous history of gang involvement has been granted parole under lenient laws that fail to prioritize public safety," District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in a statement. "Despite the severity of his actions, Black is not classified as a violent offender and became eligible for parole prematurely  an outcome that blatantly disregards the jurys verdict, the judges sentence, and the well-being of our community.
We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Says The Day Everythings A Lot More Expensive Is Coming & Discusses These 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Resmed Inc (NYSE:RMD) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer recently discussed.

In his appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street on Friday, Jim Cramer discussed the read-through of President Trumps transcript of the interview given to Time Magazine. Cramer commented:

Ive worked for Time for a while . . very few people actually do David anything thats contemporaneous, so to speak, so youre looking at something . . .I think that there are talks, but I dont think theyre at a level that matters. I think we should just continue to think that theres going to be a day that comes, where everythings a lot more expensive.

The CNBC host also commented on President Trumps advisor Peter Navarro and his absence. Navarro is known to be a strong proponent of tariffs on Americas trading partners. Mentioning Navarro, Cramer outlined:

We dont know what Navarros up to. Obviously Navarro is the hardest line American, theres 340 million of us, hes the hardest. And Im not sure exactly where he is positioned versus Bessent which, Bessents seems to be oppositional to, a bunch of people who are hardliners, dont you feel?

Since the primary target of the trade tariffs in China, Cramer mentioned his discussions with business executives and what theyre doing to navigate the Chinese tensions. He explained:

Well look I think that its about blinking, nobodys blinking. And I think that, we obviously have four hundred and forty billion at stake, they have like a 150 billion, is a 150 billion more important? I know that every data. . .makes me feel like they dont need us. Whatever, they dont need us, and then everyday I meet CEOs, who have somehow, almost mystically, got out of China. . .I was with a CEO last night. . .I was saying, wow, the China. . .you guys must be, are you ready? He said what you think we just sat there and took it? This is about who does hundreds of millions of dollars of business in what I thought was China, gone, gone. . . .theyre not building in China. And he made it sound like I was rude, that they would just sit there and take it. And then he went on to tell me, the only people who sat there and take it were the people who didnt bother to even listen to what was being said. And that the exodus is extraordinary.

Judging by the high tariffs on China, Cramer has long maintained that the tariffs are an embargo instead. He maintained the opinion:
A portrait of former Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at his residence in Selangor on Nov. 14, 2022. Credit - Annice LynGetty Images

During his many decades in politics, Mahathir bin Mohamad has been accused of many things. Laziness was never one. Even today, at a venerable 99 years of age, Malaysias longest-serving Prime Minister, who left his second stint in office in 2020, arrives at his desk by 8:45 a.m. and rarely leaves before 5 p.m., holding meetings, reading policy papers, and commenting on domestic and world affairs via his blog and social media.

I always advise people when they age, they should be active, Mahathir tells TIME in his Kuala Lumpur office. Keep yourself busy and your brain busy. If they go to sleep, they lose their power.

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Mahathir has been synonymous with power for as long as anyone can remember. Born to a working-class family in the town of Alor Setar by the Thai border of what was then British-ruled Malaya, he won a scholarship to medical school in Singapore and practiced as a doctor for 20 years while slowly climbing the political ladder. After becoming Malaysias fourth Prime Minister in 1981, he ruled the Southeast Asian nation for 22 years until he stepped down in 2003, only to regain the top job in 2018 at the age of 92 with his country embroiled in what was the worlds largest corruption scandal, dubbed 1MDB, involving $4.5 billion of siphoned public funds.

As Mahathir prepares for his 100th birthday in July, he gazes out at a world he spent a lifetime shaping but today struggles to recognize. In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex allies, bargained Ukrainian sovereignty with Russia behind Kyivs back, and launched an internecine trade war. Back in 2020, Mahathir warned that Trumps return would bring disaster. Nothing in the intervening years has changed that opinion.

Talking about taking over Greenland, Panama, and expelling people from Gazathese kinds of things cannot be done now, he says. You have to consider the rights of people. This is not the way you run countries.

To be clear, Mahathir was never much of a fan of more traditional American governments, eviscerating the Biden administration over its backing of Israel in the Gaza conflict and accusing NATO expansion of provoking Russia to invade Ukraine. But still the return of Trump has the nonagenarian exasperateda sentiment that echoes around the developing world as tariffs and aid cuts threaten some of the globes most vulnerable.

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The U.S. used to talk about human rights, development, and things like that, he says. Of course, we thought that was great, because the U.S. itself was a British colony but became independent and a world power. So we wanted to learn from them. But now we are seeing a new U.S.

Mahathir may have no overt policy role these days, but his views are far from an aberration. Still sprightly with a full head of silver hair, he is engaging and at times mischievous company. Today, he serves as he did throughout his life as a powerful advocate for the developing and Islamic world, where disgust with perceived American double standards has become a regular refrain in policy circles. With regard to Ukraine, [Trump] said: Now you have to pay back; it is a loan. But with regard to Israel, it is not a loan, he complains. You are helping in committing genocide. And that is not a model we like.

Still, Mahathir remains a complex and contradictory character: a champion of Malay identity while at times its fiercest critic; a denigrator of entrenched patronage networks who forged new ones in his own image; a strident critic of U.S. foreign policy under whom American investment boomed. To his supporters, Mahathir charted Malaysias remarkable economic development as Asias fifth tiger throughout the 1980s and 90s. To his critics, his centralization of power and ruthless purge of opponents put Malaysia on an authoritarian trajectory.

In clawing back power from Malaysias nine royal families, Mahathir consolidated power in the position of Prime Minister as well as the president of UMNO, its oldest national political party. This dynamic was itself problematic but was compounded when the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to a string of Malaysias biggest companies being bailed out by the state, creating conditions ripe for rent-seeking behavior. Not that Mahathir agrees with the characterization.

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They were not bailouts, he says. When the collapse of a company will affect the economy, you need to stop that. The U.S. also did the same when your banks were collapsing. You have to take into consideration the fate of the workers and the subcontractors and all that.

Mahathir also augmented affirmative action for Malaysias Malay majority so that it would better compete with its more industrious Indian and Chinese minorities, both of whom arrived in huge numbers during British colonial rule. While policies such as college places and public sector jobs for bumiputraor son of the soilcandidates predate Mahathir, he went further to deliberately seed a Malay industrial class to keep means of production in their hands.

Yet for a figure who spent his career guarding against voracious Chinese entrepreneurship at home, Mahathir welcomed Chinese investment and is scathing of American efforts to contain the rising superpower. They are very hard-working people, very skillful, you cant stop them from growing, says Mahathir. China will do everything to retain the market and is doing exactly what the Europeans were doing before.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently wrapped up a state visit to Malaysia as part of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia. In Kuala Lumpur, Xi and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled 31 MoUs inked on subjects from AI to satellites. Other than hitting China with tariffs of up to 245%, the Trump Administration has adopted a hawkish posture toward Beijing, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowing during a visit to Asia earlier this month robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait.

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Yet the clear and growing danger is that perceived American hypocrisy regarding Ukraine and Gaza is now bleeding into discussions across the gamut of U.S. foreign policy, particularly over the future of self-ruling Taiwan. The fact that the U.S. officially adheres to a One China Policy regarding the island of 23 millionwhich officially broke from the mainland in 1949 at the culmination of Chinas civil war and whose return Xi has called the great trend of historyyet still sells Taipei weaponry has been painted by Beijing as blatant interference in Chinas domestic affairs. Today, at least 28 nations firmly support Chinas push for reunification.

The truth is more complex: the U.S. One China Policy simply states that it acknowledges Beijings claim over the island without endorsing it. Taiwans population overwhelmingly favors maintaining its de facto independence. Still, Mahathir believes the U.S. is provoking Beijing toward a catastrophic conflict.

China could have invaded Taiwan long ago but chose not to because Taiwan was useful, he says. But the U.S. is not happy because there is no confrontation. You send [former U.S. House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi there to do what? To provoke China. So now China wants to show its strength, and Taiwan now has to increase its defense capability, buying weapons from the U.S.

Mahathir goes so far as to even call U.S. freedom of navigation sorties through the disputed South China Sea destabilizing and has called for them to withdraw. Supposing China sends warships to the Caribbean and conducts [exercises] there, what would America do? This is not America, this is the South China Sea, this is Asia. The U.S. is a world power, but you have to use that power judiciously, not to provoke conflicts between nations.

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But what about Chinas surprise live-fire naval drills off New Zealand in February, some 5,000 miles from Chinas shores, which diverted dozens of commercial flights? Mahathir is unmoved, saying with a winsome grin: New Zealand is still the Far East.

Mahathir walks in the back yard of his residence in Selangor on Nov. 14, 2022. Annice LynGetty Images

Its fair to say that of the undoubted qualities Mahathir possesses, introspection is not top of the list. His worldview has ossified, and there is perhaps understandably a sense that his country has left him behind. Asked whether he has any regrets, he immediately replies that he antagonized my deputy, who is now the Prime Minister. And now hes trying to seek revenge.

Its impossible to discuss Mahathir without bringing up Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysias current Prime Minister and Mahathirs former protege, who served as his deputy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. But Anwar was sacked by Mahathir a year later and jailed on charges of corruption and sodomizing a male aideaccusations long decried by human-rights groups as politically motivated and that were eventually quashed in 2004, though Anwars return to the political fray was cynically curtailed by a second trumped-up sentence for sodomy in 2015.

After Anwar was purged, another Mahathir disciple, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, took over, but he eventually resigned under fierce criticism from Mahathir. Then came former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who today sits in jail following convictions of abuse of power and money laundering related to the 1MDB corruption scandal. Najib thought that it doesnt matter if people know hes corrupt, because  with the money, he will remain as Prime Minister, nobody can touch him. says Mahathir. But it didnt work.

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In order to oust Najib, Mahathir reconciled with Anwar, who was freed thanks to a royal pardon. The express understanding was that Mahathir would hand over power halfway through his term. But before he could take over from me, the government collapsed, so I lost my position, shrugs Mahathir. I cannot give to him something that I myself no longer had.

This retelling could be generously described as selective. The government collapsed in 2020 because Mahathir resigned in order to form a new party and stand for power again, sparking a political crisis as Anwar publicly declared hed been betrayed. But the public had tired of Mahathirs brazen shenanigans, and he was roundly defeated in a 2022 snap election, which returned Anwars party a plurality that allowed him to head a coalition government.

Today, Anwar and Mahathir are once again bitter rivals. Last March, Mahathirs two eldest sons revealed that they had been ordered by Malaysias Anti-Corruption Commission into assisting with an investigation into their father. More than 10 top former allies of Mahathir have also been targeted by graft and tax evasion probes for alleged crimes going back decades. The strategy of going after him indicates how Anwar has followed in Mahathirs footsteps, says Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham, Malaysia.

For Mahathir, Anwar is cut from the same cloth as Najib. Anwar is a smart operator, he says. Obviously, you dont see him taking money, but we know that lots of people are corrupt under his government. (Anwar steadfastly denies he is targeting his former tormentor as well as graft allegations, telling TIME last August: We are doing everything we can to combat corruption, no apologies about that.)

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Had Mahathirs decades-long stramash with Anwar been an anomaly, it might have been attributed to a clash of ideals or personalities. Yet the fact that Mahathir has spectacularly fallen out with every single one of his successors does beg uncomfortable questions.

What does this say about the system that Mahathir left behind him? asks Francis Hutchinson, coordinator of the Malaysia Studies Program at the ISEAS  Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. If you dont think you have worthy successors, should you not have a system with more checks and balances?

If Mahathirs initial legacy for Malaysia is a more autocratic political system, then his second stint as Prime Minister was framed as a popular crusade to restore democracy. No shortage of leaders have moved in the opposite directionnot least the current occupant in the Kremlin, under whom Russia has transitioned from flawed democracy to unfettered dictatorship.

Mahathir recalls meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2005. It was two years after Mahathir had stepped down as Prime Minister, though in a sign of his enduring authority, Putin visited him at home. Actually, I told him, You cannot come to my house; protocol-wise its wrong, recalls Mahathir. But he insisted.

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Upon arrival, Putins entourage were aghast to learn that Mahathirs house didnt even have a perimeter wall. For [Putins] security, to have somebody like me with no fence was unthinkable, laughs Mahathir. But we had a four-hour meeting. He was interested in seeing how Malaysia managed from an agro-based country to become industrialized. He was going to rebuild Russia. When I talked to him it was about development, increasing trade, basically to be less communistic, to make use of capitalist ideology.

So to what does Mahathir attribute the return of war in mainland Europe that has so far resulted in millions displaced, 172,000 killed, and 611,000 wounded and counting? Again, its a matter of the West provoking Russia, he says. Mahathir argues that NATO should have been abolished after the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact counter bloc was dissolved following the fall of the Soviet Union. Instead, NATO decided to take all the Warsaw Pact countries and join NATO and confront Russia, he says. Before Ukraine can join NATO, Russia took preemptive action.

In no legal context is provocation a complete justification that absolves guilt, though Mahathir is determined to heap responsibility on Western powers. I get this feeling that Europe likes to have enemies, says Mahathir. If its not Russia, its the Islamic countries.

At a recent meeting in Vladivostok, Anwar praised Putin for vision and leadership, prompting rebukes in Western diplomatic circles. But engaging with Putin is one decision that Mahathir declines to criticize Anwar for. I think we had to sit down with Putin, he says. I would have sat down with him.

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Is it not positive then to see Trump willing to engage with Russia? We dont see Presidents of the U.S. taking that kind of stand, actually agreeing with the Russians and all that, admits Mahathir with a weary sigh.

I dont think he understands the world, Mahathir says of Trump. Hes 100 years behind the times. Says one of the few men qualified to know.

Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com.
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., prepares for a debate for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District against State Sen. Tony Vargas, a Democrat, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  On the same day Denise Powell announced she is running in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb, said Nebraska Democrats had learned nothing.

They keep running extraordinarily left-wing candidates in Omaha, Bacon told the Nebraska Examiner. If you want to win in Nebraska [2nd District], youve got to run a more centrist candidate.

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Bacon also reaffirmed his summer timeline for deciding to run or not, saying he will decide thoughtfully. He spoke during a monthly news conference with reporters about the reasons he is considering retiring from Congress. Among them: spending more time with his family and the dysfunction in his own GOP, which he said is wearing on him.

Its one thing to fight the other party, but when you have fights in your own party, the enjoyment factor is not the same, Bacon said. Its become a blood sport.

Former 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom has told people in political circles that he might be interested in a bid if Bacon retires. Another conservative being discussed is Dan Frei, who ran against Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary.

Bacon, who beat the last Democrat to hold a congressional seat in Nebraska in 2016, U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, compared the first major announced 2nd District candidate, Powell, to former State Sen. Tony Vargas, who twice failed to unseat Bacon.



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Powell recently announced endorsements from Omahas State Sens. Margo Juarez and Dunixi Guereca and other elected officials in the district. Powell declined to respond to Bacons comments.

Powell, in an interview Wednesday, told the Examiner she wants to give the district an everyday working voice in D.C. She said she hopes for a political moment when voters are done with partisanship, as people are frustrated by our elected officials who were supposed to represent us.

Powell has criticized Bacon for taking votes in DC that are hurting Nebraskans, and said she would prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security and would, among other things, vote to ensure the federal government does its part to boost quality K-12 education.

Bacon said State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha has a voting record that outside political groups would easily use to highlight his left-wing votes.

Cavanaugh publicly acknowledged in recent days that he is exploring a bid and said he would decide by the end of the session. He accused Bacon of using DC-style politics to muddy the waters before he even announces a potential bid.

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While Congressman Bacon has continued to support policies that are making it harder for Nebraskans to afford things like eggs, diapers, and other day-to-day expenses, Cavanaugh told the Examiner. I have cut taxes on diapers, stopped a sales tax increase on food, and protected access to reproductive healthcare.

The National Republican Congressional Committee also released a statement on Powells announcement, criticizing her and any other extreme Democrat as another out-of-touch liberal pushing a radical agenda that puts woke ideology ahead of Nebraskans.

Next year, Nebraskans will reject Powell, or any other extreme Democrat, said Zach Bannon, an NRCC spokesperson.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Neighbors in a Northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood are frustrated after theyve had multiple water main breaks over the last five weeks, and they dont know why it keeps happening.

Well wake up and we wont have any water, said Jeff Overstreet, a concerned neighbor.

Its been an ongoing issue for neighbors in Copper Creek.

Each time theyre just coming out and fixing the break. And then the next week or a couple of days later, its running right down the road or a couple of houses down or the next road up, said Overstreet.

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LOCAL NEWS: Childcare centers begin to close as state changes funding formula

Jeff Overstreet said every time a break happens, the city comes out to fix it, but he wants to know why there are so many of them, and whats being done to stop them.

Overstreet got part of that answered by a worker.

What one of the guys says is weve got high pressure, he said, where you need close to 20 to 40 pounds. He said weve got over a hundred, said Overstreet.

Overstreet believes theres more to be done.

As a taxpayer, I mean, were paying for all of this right here. So you would think they would all eliminate that and fix the problem. Instead, just put a band-aid on it, said Overstreet.

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Multiple breaks in the neighborhood have been fixed, but are now leaving the streets looking like a muddy mess.

Neighbors want answers after multiple water main breaks hit their neighborhood (KFOR)

Water main breaks pop up in this NW OKC neighborhood (KFOR)

The breaks have neighbors continuing to ask, Why does this keep happening?

Its just getting old and we just need a little help, said Overstreet.

News 4 reached out to the city. They said to fill out an open records request to find the exact number of breaks in that area. We are waiting to hear back from that request.

The of Oklahoma City Utilities Department send News 4 the following response:

Maintaining and repairing water and sewer lines is a core part of our operations. We manage a vast underground pipeline system, more than 7,000 miles in total, that serves hundreds of thousands of customers, and leaks and breaks are an unavoidable part of that. Most of those issues are caused by a combination of factors, including the age of the pipes, shifting ground from weather changes, and Oklahomas highly corrosive soil within certain areas of the city, which causes the pipe material to deteriorate over time. Our crews work as quickly and safely as possible to prioritize and complete repairs, often balancing dozens of jobs at a time based on severity, public safety, and service impact. Weve had a long-term plan in place to address these challenges by replacing aging lines with pipe that is more durable and resistant to the corrosive soil conditions in our area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Yostin Andres Mosquera is accused of cutting up the two mens bodies in London and transporting them to Clifton Suspension Bridge - Central News/Web Collect

A neighbour of the couple whose dismembered remains were found in a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge said she unknowingly offered to help the accused killer move the trunk down the stairs.

Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, is alleged to have killed Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, on July 8 last year.

Jurors at the Old Bailey had previously been shown footage of Mosquera allegedly stabbing Mr Alfonso to death during an extreme sex session at his flat in Shepherds Bush, west London.

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He is said to have killed Mr Longworth earlier that evening by hitting him on the head with a hammer.

The Colombian then allegedly cut the bodies up and took their remains to Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol on July 10.

Officers found body parts inside two large suitcases.

One of the suitcases had a tag linking it to an address on Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush.

Officers found the heads of Mr Longworth and Mr Alfonso inside a chest freezer at the address.

On Friday, a neighbour, who appeared behind a screen to conceal her identity from Mosquera, told the court how she heard loud banging noises on the stairs of the apartment complex.

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She went to investigate and found a man carrying an extremely heavy suitcase downstairs.

Yostin Andres Mosquera with Albert Alfonso, centre, and Paul Longworth

She said: I started off by hearing a very loud noise in the stairwell, there was scraping, banging noises, the stairs are stone and the noise was extremely loud, like someone was dragging a heavy object step by step.

Having heard the noise, I entered the stairwell, assuming one of my neighbours needed help with something heavy.

I saw a man with a large case, standing over the case... To me he looked startled.

Asked how she responded, the neighbour said: As he was coming out of my friends neighbours house, I assumed he was a friend of theirs. I offered to help him carry the suitcase downstairs, it was clearly very heavy and I did not see anybody else around to help.

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He did not accept my offer, he looked worried and said sorry.

I said, Its okay, I dont mind the noise, I just wanted to check if you wanted help with that.

She added: I got the impression I wasnt wanted and I went back inside.

Forensic officers in Shepherds Bush, west London, where the couple lived and are believed to have been killed - Jonathan Brady/PA

The neighbour said she had never seen the man in question before but recognised him a few days later when his face was in the press.

Jurors were told by the neighbour that Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth were very good neighbours and she described the relationship of the pair as loving, supportive, harmonious and touching.

Mosquera, of no fixed address, admits one count of manslaughter but denies the murders of Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth.

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The trial continues.

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Britains green energy subsidies have added an estimated 280 to households energy bills, research has found.

Levies used to encourage construction of wind farms, solar parks and other renewables have added 25.8bn a year to energy bills paid by both households and industry, according to a study from the Renewable Energy Foundation (REF).

The charity said the cost of the subsidies were a key factor in the UKs sky-high electricity prices and blamed them for accelerating the decline of British industry.

John Constable, REFs director, said: Renewables subsidies are now costing 25.8 bn per year  or over 900 per household annually  about one third of which, 280, will hit the average domestic electricity bill directly.

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The remainder, 650, impacts households through general cost of living increases  as businesses like supermarkets recover their share of the green subsidy costs through increased prices.

This is intolerable. It simply cant go on.

REFs estimate of the direct cost of green energy subsidies on household bills is strikingly similar to the 300 that Labour promised bills would decrease by if the party came to power and moved Britains energy system to renewables.

That claim has become a source of controversy since their election win last year, with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, repeatedly challenged to show bills are going down.

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Average bills rose by 6.4pc, or 111 a year, when the latest energy price cap took effect last month.

A Government spokesman disagreed with the REF figures used in the report and said it ignores the benefits of clean power and significantly misleads on the cost of renewables.

REF analysed the cost of 10 separate subsidy schemes imposed on homes and businesses by successive governments since 2002.

The report, which was based on government data, is thought to be the first to draw together the cost of the UKs many green subsidies and the levies that support them.

The most expensive subsidy was the Renewable Obligation scheme set up in 2002, which offers wind solar and other renewable producers guaranteed subsidies for two decades after they start generating. It cost an estimated 6.8bn in 2023.

Its surging costs saw it blocked for new entrants in 2017, but companies accepted before then can still get payments up to 2037. It currently adds 89.26 to the average domestic fuel bill, according to separate data from analysts Cornwall Insight.

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REF said the total 25.6bn cost of such subsidies now accounts for more than a third of the 71bn spent on electricity in the UK in 2023, the most recent year it looked at. It means such subsidies are key factors in setting the UKs power prices, which are among the worlds highest.

It said: There can be little doubt that renewable electricity subsidies are a significant factor in the cost of living crisis and are very likely to be an important element underlying the weak growth in productivity in the UK economy since the financial crisis of 2008.

The latest Government analysis of electricity demand in 2024 said industrial power consumption had fallen by 22pc since 2010, while commercial and domestic consumption both fell by 22pc.

Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow energy secretary, said: Ed Miliband can try to perpetuate the fiction that his net zero targets will save people money, but this research reveals the true cost of prioritising climate targets over cheap energy.

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Under new leadership, the Conservatives have been clear that the cost to families of net zero by 2050 will be far too high. Sir Keir Starmer must rein in his ideological Energy Secretary and urgently change course.

The Government argued that the subsidies were accelerating the move to clean energies and reducing UK vulnerability to future surges in gas and oil prices.

A spokesman said: As shown by the National Energy System Operators independent report, clean power by 2030 is achievable and will deliver a more secure energy system, which could see a lower cost of electricity and lower bills.

Ana Musat, of Renewable UK, the wind industry trade body, said: Looking at the cost of financial support for renewables in isolation is misleading, as it does not reflect the contributions of the sector to the economy.

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Offshore wind alone is attracting billions of pounds of new investment to this country, supporting 32,000 jobs, and this is set to rise to 100,000 by 2030.

Were also expecting subsidy costs to begin falling in the near future, with a 1.8bn reduction for billpayers starting in 2027.

Many of the subsidy schemes now overseen by Mr Miliband were set up by the previous Conservative or coalition governments.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  When the U.S. and Iran met for nuclear talks a decade ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against an emerging deal from the worlds most public stages, including in a fiery speech to Congress seen as a direct challenge to the Obama administration as it was wrapping up the talks.

Now, as the sides sit down to discuss a new deal, Netanyahu has fallen silent.

Netanyahu sees an Iran with nuclear weapons as an existential threat to Israel, and he is just as wary of any new U.S. agreement with its archenemy that may not meet his standards. Yet he finds himself shackled with Donald Trump in the White House.

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Netanyahu is unwilling to publicly criticize a president who has shown broad support for Israel, whom he deems to be Israel's greatest friend, and who doesn't take well to criticism.

He can't do anything that goes against Trump. He's paralyzed, said Yoel Guzansky, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv-based think tank.

Israel is in a position of power against Iran after a series of strategic achievements over the past 18 months in the wars that have shaken the Middle East. It thrashed Irans allies in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and directly attacked Iran last year, neutralizing some of its key air defenses. Experts say Israel now has a window of opportunity for what could be an effective strike on Irans nuclear facilities, with possibly less regional blowback.

Yet Israels leader was recently unable to galvanize Trump to prioritize a strike against Irans nuclear facilities  which would likely hinge on U.S. military assistance to be successful. With the U.S. negotiating with Iran, Israel has little legitimacy to pursue a military option on its own.

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Netanyahu is trapped, said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. He was banking on Israels position relative to Iran to improve under Trump. In practice, its the opposite.

Netanyahu hoped for alignment with Trump on Iran

Netanyahu and his nationalist supporters hoped Trumps return to the White House would be advantageous because of his history of support for Israel. They thought that, under Trump, the U.S. might back a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

But Trumps approach to Iran  as well as on other issues, such as tariffs  has shown the relationship is more complicated, and that Trumps interests dont entirely align with Netanyahus.

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Netanyahu has long accused Iran of developing a nuclear weapon and went on a global campaign against the Obama deal. He painted the nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel and the world, and said the agreement was too weak to contain it. Israel remains the Mideast's only nuclear-armed state, an advantage it would like to keep.

With Netanyahu's strong encouragement, Trump backed out of the deal struck by Obama. And since returning to the White House, Trump has given Israel free rein in its war against Hamas in Gaza, been soft on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the territory and launched strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have attacked Israel since the start of the war.

But now that the U.S. has returned to the negotiating table with Iran, Netanyahu would risk jeopardizing his good ties with the president if he were to publicly oppose one of his administrations key foreign policy initiatives.

The last time Netanyahu crossed the temperamental Trump was when he congratulated Joe Biden for his election win in 2020. Trump was apparently offended by the perceived disloyalty, and their ties went into deep freeze.

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Israel is communicating to Washington its priorities for any deal. As part of that, it understood that should Israel choose to carry out a strike on Iran, it would likely be doing so alone  so long as negotiations were underway, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

Netanyahu is hoping for a strict deal on Iran's nuclear program

In a speech in Jerusalem this week, Netanyahu said he had discussed his terms for a deal with Trump. He explained that it would need to dismantle all the infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program and that it should work to prevent Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering a bomb.

"I said to President Trump that I hope that this is what the negotiators will do. Were in close contact with the United States. But I said one way or the other  Iran will not have nuclear weapons, he said.

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Netanyahu has said he would favor a strict diplomatic agreement similar to Libyas deal in 2003 to destroy its nuclear facilities and allow inspectors unfettered access. However, it is not clear if Trump will set such strict conditions  and Iran has rejected giving up its right to enrich.

The Trump-led talks with Iran began earlier this month and have advanced to expert discussions over how to rein in Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from being able to obtain atomic weapons, should it choose to pursue them. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes, though some officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb.

While Trump has said a military option remains on the table, and has moved military assets to the region, he says he prefers a diplomatic solution. Planned talks between Iran and the United States this weekend were postponed on Thursday.

Netanyahu will also struggle to criticize a deal once one is clinched

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Since Trump scrapped the Obama-era agreement in 2018, Iran has ramped up its nuclear enrichment and increased its uranium stockpile.

Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress against Obama's deal  at the invitation of Republicans  was made without consulting the White House. Obama did not attend.

That was just one of many instances in which Netanyahu was seen as cozying up to Republicans, driving a wedge in what has traditionally been bipartisan support for Israel. That, coupled with Netanyahu's strained relationship with the Biden administration over Israel's conduct in Gaza, has meant that Netanyahu can't rely on Democratic allies to take up his cause.

Still, Netanyahu would struggle to find any Republicans willing to publicly confront the president on this issue. And he himself will struggle to criticize a deal if one is clinched; instead, he might send surrogates like his far-right allies to do so, said Gilboa of Bar-Ilan University.

But until then, Gilboa said, Netanyahu's best hope is that the talks fail.

That, for him, will be the best case scenario.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  An event thats become a cornerstone of career development is Nevadas largest and longest-running job fair, The Original Spring Job Fair.

The job fair was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, drawing in thousands of job seekers looking for new opportunities.

We came here looking for some opportunities and were looking for companies to hire some electricians, Angel Echemendia job seeker, said.

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This years job fair attracted the most job seekers in the events eight-year history. 6,400 people attended, including about 300 CCSD high school seniors.

Around 130 employers attended this years job fair with nearly 15,000 available jobs ranging from entry-level to professional jobs.

When I was previously looking, I was having difficulty finding something. It took a few tries even getting a regular retail job I got a lot of refusals, job seeker Kailee Barrun said.

A handful of industries were holding on site interviews including hospitality, government, healthcare, education, retail, law enforcement, manufacturing and more.

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However, Nevadas unemployment rate is still the highest in the country.

I have had interviews being held here and there, and it will seem promising until you know they dont call you back, job seeker Jaheime Taylor said.

According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 635 from February to a current level of 95,259 people, which increased by 7,678 unemployed people since 2024.

The states seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in March 2025 which decreased by 0.1 percentage points from February 2025.

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Last year, nearly 4,000 job seekers attended, and one out of five attendees were offered a job on the spot according to Clark 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 KLAS.
This article was originally published in Nevada Current.

Teenagers could be protected from working late-night shifts before school days, thanks to a bipartisan trio of lawmakers and a group of high schoolers who say businesses are exploiting them.

Assembly Bill 215 would prohibit high school teenagers from working between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. before a school day. Teens aged 14 and 15 are already prohibited by federal law from working between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., but the Nevada proposed law would put in place restrictions for 16-, 17- and 18-year olds who are enrolled in public or private school.

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Emancipated teenagers, lifeguards, arcade workers, farm workers, and theatrical performers would be exempt from the hourly restrictions. Additional exemptions could be granted on a case-by-base basis.

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The bill would also lower the maximum number of hours a child under 16 can work: from 48 to 40 hours per week.

Every single day in my classes I have kids who are too tired to participate, said Matt Nighswonger, a teacher at Shadow Ridge High School on the northern edge of the Las Vegas Valley. When I wake them up and ask them why theyre so tired, they tell me they had to close, or had to work late last night. Many of them have to work until 1 or 2 in the morning.

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The business community, he said, is taking advantage of vulnerable teenagers.

As a government teacher, I try to teach my students that the government is here to protect its citizens, he added. AB215 helps to protect our exploited high school workers.

Karissa Murdoch was one of those teens. The Shadow Ridge senior began working at a local ice rink at 15. She started with a reasonable workload, then she asked for more hours because she wanted more money, then she was asked by her bosses to stay late after her official shift to do extra work.

Thats how she found herself regularly working until midnight Monday through Thursday. After the commute home, eating and showering, she was going to bed at 1 or 2 a.m. and sleeping a paltry few hours before school started up again at 7 a.m.

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Her grades slipped. She says she went from being a student who almost never turned in an assignment late to a student who couldnt stay awake in class and turned in everything late. Murdoch said she came to her senses on her own and now wants to advocate for her younger self.

At 15, I was nowhere near mature enough to prioritize school over money, she told Assembly members during the bills first hearing, which she traveled to Carson City for over spring break in March. I wish the adults around me would have thought about more than just using me for business gain.

Teagan Clark, another Shadow Ridge student, testified that working closing shift meant driving home late at night tired  a potentially dangerous scenario for anyone but especially an inexperienced driver. It also resulted in her skipping breakfast in order to get an extra few minutes of sleep, drinking too many caffeine-filled energy drinks, and feeling isolated socially.

Nighswonger said he surveyed working high school seniors at Shadow Ridge and found that 48% regularly work past 10 p.m. on school nights. Many of the students were worried they would lose their job if they shared their own stories, though a few hand-wrote letters for him to deliver to lawmakers.

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I work at a car wash and every night we close at 8 and I stay after hours to clean the vacuum trays and sewage out of the tunnel where the cars are washed, read one. Its too much for a 17 year old kid, but I dont want to lose my job.

Equipo Academy Assistant Principal Erik Van Houten said a quarter of 16- and 17-year-olds at the East Las Vegas charter school have jobs, and 1 in 5 of them work over 40 hours a week.

These students are ill equipped to advocate for themselves to leave work at reasonable hours, he said. Many are holding their very first job.

AB215, he continued, would put guardrails in place to protect our kids and make clear that a high school education should be their number one priority.

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Nighswonger, Murdoch and other Shadow Ridge students pitched the proposed law to Democratic Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno and Republican Assemblymember Brian Hibbetts, whose districts cover the schools enrollment area. Both signed on to sponsor a bill on the issue.

Independently, Democratic Assemblymember Cinthia Zermeno Moore was working on similar legislation inspired by concerns raised by Van Houten from Equipo, which is located in her district.The three Assembly members decided to combine their bills and work together.

Strong support, but some concerns raised

AB215 passed the Nevada State Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support earlier this month and is now making its way through the Senate. If passed, the bill will head to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos desk for final approval.

Hibbetts acknowledged that some might see the inclusion of protections for 18-year-olds as a problem because it means they are being considered adults in some legal contexts and not adults in others. But he said there is precedent.

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High school students are not allowed to sign off on their own school paperwork just because they turn 18 during their senior year, he said. They still need parental signatures.

This is, in my vision, just going along with that same type of mentality, he said. I think this is something that we need to offer them. Just because youre 18, it doesnt mean your employer can make you work until 2 a.m. because you have to be at school at 7 a.m.

Monroe-Moreno added that the inclusion of 18-year-olds was specifically asked for by Shadow Ridge students who said their managers target them for late shifts because they are 18.

Several lawmakers in the bills two hearings raised concerns about the impact the legislation might have on lower income families whose teens contribute to essential household bills.

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Moore said she understands that reality, adding that her first job was at age 14 selling CDs at the Indoor Swap Meet in East Las Vegas. But she argued the state needs to support students with their education because, without it, they may not be able to seek the opportunities they may have that could lift them, and their families, upward.

Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former state lawmaker, spoke in personal support of the bill, saying she wished such restrictions were in place two decades ago when she was a teenage hostess whose paychecks helped support her single mom, who worked as a waitress, and her sister, who was a teen mom at 15. She said she fell behind her junior year and had to do credit recovery to get back on track.

A low-wage job for a teenager is not going to solve poverty, she said. Education is what breaks the cycle of poverty. Education is absolutely what has to be prioritized.

Groups in support of AB218 included the Vegas Chamber, Nevada Resorts Association, NAACP, City of North Las Vegas, and ACLU.

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No groups publicly opposed AB218 during its two bill hearings, but the Nevada Restaurant Association testified in neutral.

We support efforts to balance student well being and academics with valuable work experience, the groups lobbyist, Peter Saba, said. Many restaurants rely on student workers, and we encourage ongoing discussions to ensure these small businesses can adapt smoothly.

Monroe-Moreno acknowledged that concessions were made to appease business groups. The bill originally sought to prohibit teens from working past 10 p.m. on school nights but the time was amended to 11 p.m.

Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nevada Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Hugh Jackson for questions: info@nevadacurrent.com.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)  On Sunday night, a private vessel ran up and over the Clearwater ferry with 45 people on board. One person was killed and ten were injured.

The moments before and after the accident are now part of an intense investigation.

Kevin Cabrera is the Captain of Captain Memos Pirate Cruise and was one of the first vessels to render aid after the crash.

We came up upon the ferry, people were screaming, we turned around, said Cabrera.

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FWC says boat operator is cooperating; no alcohol found in his system after ferry crash

He said the professional boating community in the area is tight-knit, and he and others had to help.

Even though we are all different, competing companies, we are all still one marina. We are people. These are lives at stake. These are our friends, we see each other every day. We are going to do what we would want done if we were in something similar, said Cabrera.

The night of the accident, FWC found the other boat involved in the crash, approximately three and a half miles away from where the collision occurred.

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Attorney J. Kevin Hayslett represents the operator of that boat, Jeff Knight. Hayslett maintains that Knight did not leave the scene of the accident.

Who is Jeff Knight? Legal history of boater FWC says was involved in Clearwater ferry crash

Mr. Knight fully complied with his legal obligations under Florida Statute, Hayslett said in a letter to an FWC investigator.

Hayslett said in the letter that Knight stayed at the scene and gave aid.

Mr. Knight directed a passenger on his vessel to call 911, and that passenger remained on the line with the 911 operator for nearly twelve minutes. During this time, the caller relayed updates and emergency directions, such as telling Mr. Knight to instruct all the ferry passengers to immediately put on a life jacket. Mr. Knight tied his vessel to the ferry in order to stabilize it and render aid, Hayslett said in his letter.

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Captain John Timmel is not involved in this case. However, he spent seven years as a ships officer and 32 years as a Tampa Bay Harbor Pilot. Hes been an expert witness in dozens of cases involving maritime law.

Timmel said anyone involved in an accident on the water has obligations.

Were suffering: Father of two killed in Clearwater ferry crash, family demands answers amid investigation

An operator of a vessel involved in a collision, or any other marine casualty, is required to stay on sight and render aid and assistance, said Timmel.

He said there are some exceptions. If a boat operator believes their boat is in danger or someone on their boat needs medical attention, they can leave the scene.

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Timmel said its too early for anyone to make judgments in this case.

Its so early in this case, and Ive seen so many cases where something looks so obvious and apparent and then you find out there are other circumstances that make it not quite so obvious, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The Yuma Police Department was investigating the death of a newborn who was found in a garbage can at a hotel.

Police said a Best Western employee found the baby boy in an outside garbage can around 10:40 a.m. Police believed the body was placed in the trash can between 10 p.m. April 30 and 10 a.m. May 1.

There were no suspects as of May 1. The investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information can call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous. Police offered a $1,000 reward for information that led to an arrest.

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The Best Western was located near the intersection of Interstate 8 and U.S. 95 in Yuma.

Arizona has a Safe Haven Law that identifies places where mothers can safely and anonymously give up their babies without fear of prosecution, Yuma police said. If a baby is unharmed and under 30 days old, it can be dropped off at a Safe Haven location.

These include:

Any ambulance

Any designated adoption agency

Any designated church

Any hospital

On-duty fire stations

Mothers must hand the baby to a person at the above locations or may place the baby in the Safe Haven drawer at designated hospitals, police said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dead newborn baby found in Yuma Best Western hotel garbage can
UK-based alternative finance provider Reward Funding has appointed Carl Perry as business development director.

With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services sector, Perry will be based at the companys Birmingham office. He will be responsible for broadening Rewards network of professional introducers and delivering asset-secured funding options to businesses across the Midlands.

Reward Midlands regional director Steph Brown said: Were building a hugely talented team here in the Midlands, and Carl is a fantastic addition. It is great to welcome someone with his extensive and diverse lending experience, strong professional connections and the ability to really support the entrepreneurs and businesses we work with.

I am looking forward to working with Carl to strengthen and grow our relationships with professional business advisors, brokers and accountants across the Midlands, as we continue to expand our regional presence and lending book.

According to Reward Funding, his career spans commercial banking and senior roles within challenger and alternative finance institutions, where he specialised in delivering asset-based lending and structured credit facilities to SMEs.

Perry said: Reward has a fantastic reputation for delivering agile, flexible, property-backed lending solutions  enabling borrowers to access funds for a wide range of purposes. Whether you need to improve cash flow, unlock working capital, support investment opportunities or restructure, Reward brings the expertise and efficiency to get deals done quickly.

Joining Steph and her team in the Midlands at this growth stage in Rewards journey is extremely exciting. Im looking forward to building on what is already a strong regional presence.

In November 2024, Reward Funding expanded its North West team in the UK with three key managerial appointments, aimed at reinforcing client relationships and business development.

"Reward Funding names new business development director" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




Three months after President Donald Trump returned to office and began issuing a series of executive orders against organizations and law firms whose actions have opposed him, a longtime Washington, D.C., attorney is launching a new firm that aims in part to represent those who he says have been "unlawfully and inappropriately targeted" by the Trump administration.

Attorney Abbe Lowell, who has represented high-profile clients including Hunter Biden and Jared Kushner, says the new firm, Lowell & Associates, will provide legal representation and counsel to individuals and institutions "facing politicized investigations, civil and administrative actions," according to a press release announcing the new venture.

"This firm is prepared for today's dynamic legal landscape, offering a leaner model than larger firms can provide," Lowell said in a statement. "I started my private practice career in my own firm and am excited to once again lead a small yet nimble team ready to represent companies, non-profits and individuals in need of our experience and dedication."

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MORE: Trump has taken steps to make his campaign promise to seek 'retribution' reality, critics say

Clients of the newly launched firm include a number of individuals who have been targets of executive orders or other actions taken by the Trump administration.

They include whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid, and New York Attorney General Letitia James -- who successfully sued Trump and his company for fraud, resulting in a $354 million civil fraud fine. Since Trump took office, James has been referred to the Department of Justice for investigation by a federal agency over mortgage fraud allegations, which she denies.

"Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution," a spokesperson for James' office said in a statement to ABC News after the referral was announced. "She will not be intimidated by bullies -- no matter who they are."

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Lowell's new firm is also representing former Trump administration employee Miles Taylor, who wrote the high-profile 2018 "Anonymous" op-ed in the New York Times and released a book about his time in Trump's previous administration. Trump has now called him a "traitor," and in a presidential memorandum ordered Taylor stripped of any security clearances he may have, and said he was directing the Department of Justice to investigate him.

PHOTO: Attorney Abbe Lowell and U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden arrive to speak to reporters outside the Capitol, Dec. 13, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Lowell, formerly a partner at Winston & Strawn, is joined at the firm by another attorney who has pushed back on the executive orders targeting big law. Brenna Trout Frey went viral on social media for resigning from the high-profile law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom after it struck a $100 million dollar deal with Trump to avoid being targeted.

"We are not here to make statements, we are here to litigate, win, and help reinforce the legal guardrails that hold our democracy together," said Trout Frey of the new firm.

Lowell is also joined by attorney David Kolansky, who worked alongside Lowell for years in his representation of Hunter Biden and of Matthew Grimes, who was charged and later acquitted alongside longtime Trump ally and friend Tom Barrack, now Trump's ambassador to Turkey.

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Hunter Biden was convicted in 2024 on three federal gun-related charges and pleaded guilty to unrelated tax charges, before he was pardoned by his father, then-President Joe Biden.

Newly launched law firm says it will represent those 'inappropriately targeted' by Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ARAB, Ala. (WHNT)  Tenants at the Brandywine Apartments in Arab say conditions are unsafe and a major health concern.

Chasity Collins lives at that apartment complex, a living situation she describes as a nightmare.

North Alabama infant needs heart transplant

Collins recalls a fire back in January of 2024 that destroyed a unit and damaged the structural integrity of the entire building. She said it stemmed from a dispute between a man inside the residency and the Arab Police Department, resulting in police throwing tear gas inside the apartment.

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She added that the apartment looks the same today as it did 14 months ago, but the issues dont stop there.

The fire just completely damaged that building, Collins said. It is non-livable, but there are still people living in that building. There are people living all around that fire building. We have massive holes in our ceiling that lead up to the top floor. We have massive holes in our walls, mold, and mildew.

The Beer Dilemma: How beer almost cost Huntsville the Stars

Despite attempts to get help from private owners, Sunbelt Management Company, Collins said her requests went unanswered. She recalls other tenants having drainage issues that resulted in flooding, saying management instructed them to work independently to fix the problem.

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Maintenance is never done, Collins said. Weve had floods in buildings, and management has told us, do damage control. Were at a ball game, do damage control. Its after hours. We have several senior citizens and elderly that live here, and they cant get assistance. They cant get help.

Brandywine Apartments is a low-income housing complex. Collins said it is mainly older adults and single mothers with their children who call the complex home.

Collins, saying she is standing up for the voiceless, is taking the issues to the next level.

Reached out to the USDA Rural Housing Authority, Collins said. Ive reached out to the Health Department. Health Department cant do anything because this is a self-governed property. USDA, they did send me in the right direction to start that formal complaint, which we have started. Its almost a 14-page complaint.

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Because it is housing for low-income people, Collins told News 19, many dont have the means to move and find other housing. Some that do have the resources have moved out, making it one of the least-occupied complexes in the city despite a so-called housing crisis in Arab.

Right here is 38% occupancy, Collins said. And if you live in Arab, you know that people are constantly looking for places to live. So why there are so many vacancies here is just, I mean, thats a huge red flag in itself.

After speaking with her and other residents who wished to stay off the record, News 19 went to Arab City Hall to speak with Mayor Bob Joslin. Joslin said he was going to send a code enforcement officer to the property.

In an update Thursday, he told News 19:

Our Code Enforcement Officer met with the apartment manager and new owner representative yesterday. They advised him they have received the insurance money and are scheduling repairs to the apartment. Therefore, we feel the issue is being resolved in a timely manner. Mayor Bob Joslin, City of Arab

When asked if there was a timeline set for the managers and owners or a process in place to ensure the repairs are done, the mayor said:

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We are waiting to get a schedule from them as they indicated other improvements were also being considered.

News 19 reached out to the Sunbelt Management Company two weeks ago after first hearing of the apartments conditions. After learning the reason for our call, they said they could no longer speak to us. An attempt to contact today was met with an automated line that said it could not direct News 19 to an operator.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus asks his followers a rhetorical question: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? This is asked of Nicolas Cages titular character in The Surfer.

For the unnamed protagonist, his hearts desire  and the thing he thinks will solve his ever-mounting problems  is to purchase his late fathers home, which sits atop an idyllic cliffside along the coast of Australia.

The films setting is decidedly modern  Cage pulls up in a Lexus, pays for a coffee with his phone and tries repeatedly to secure funds for the $1.7 million house  which stands in stark contrast to the age-old questions about tribalism, revenge and familial trauma probed in Lorcan Finnegans claustrophobic thriller.

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Ahead of the Roadside Attractions release on Friday, Cage and Finnegan spoke with The Associated Press about the films surrealism, why violence is one of the backbones of cinema and how Humphrey Bogart inspired a scene where Cage shoves a rat in someones face. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: Nicolas, last time we spoke, you talked about how Hollywood thinks naturalism is the arbiter of great acting but that you appreciate when you can explore other forms. Where does that impulse stem from?

CAGE: It was a feeling of not wanting to get trapped or calcified in the realm of artwork and thinking that the art that I admired in painters like Francis Bacon or in music, a lot of it was surrealistic. And so in my view, if theres such a thing as art synthesis, why cant you do it with acting? You can do it with acting, but it still has to land with the director and with the script in such a way where it moves the story forward and doesnt become self-indulgent. It has to be a twist and a unique point of expression that evolves the story.

So how do you do that? Well, if the guys losing his mind, thats one way. Then you can get a bit more abstract with facial expressions or voice. Or if the guy is on drugs, thats one way, like Bad Lieutenant. In this case, the surfer is having a bit of a breakdown. It only stands to reason in a natural, authentic way that he would shriek-eat the rat and shove it into some guys mouth because its been earned. But thats not to say that the naturalism of the '70s isnt great. It is great. And thats something I enjoy doing as well.

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AP: Talk about the film's exploration of masculinity and tribalism.

FINNEGAN: To me, it wasnt a film about toxic masculinity. I mean, there was elements of masculinity in crisis, and thats something that does exist. But to me it was serving the story in a way because Nicks character had to have this counter in this Scally character (Julian McMahon). Nicks character lost his father when he was young and he was searching for some sort of belonging and thats why he was thinking if he buys back this house and this materialistic goal will fix his relationship problems and stuff. So Julians character offers up something different. Hes kind of seductive. If you want to be in our gang and you want to be part of this culture, you have to do all of these things.

I think a lot of those figures in the world of toxic masculinity are a bit like that. Theyre charming. A lot of the time they have these philosophical ideas and theyre well-read, so they seem very attractive to these guys who are kind of lost. So, I didnt want the film though to be about that, but it kind of is baked into the whole story.

AP: Nicolas, youve done your share of films with violence in them. Is that something you are interested in?

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CAGE: As someone who doesnt like violence and actively tries to avoid violence in my life, I would say that it seems to be something that lends itself to cinema. Whatever gets a person to that point of violence is usually fascinating and compelling drama, and thats one of the backbones of cinema.

AP: Any scenes stand out as particularly challenging or fun?

FINNEGAN: We discovered some of the humor in the film while making it. When did you think about keeping that rat? I dont know if you knew exactly what you were planning yet, but it was a mischievous kind of percolation going on in your mind.

CAGE: I went on a Billy Wilder tear before I went to The Surfer. I was kind of in bed for a few days, and I was watching movies I wanted to catch up on and I saw Sabrina. And in the movie, Bogart pulls an olive out of a martini glass, and he shoves it in his uncles mouth and says, Eat it. And I couldnt stop laughing. I thought it was the funniest thing. And I was just tickled pink by myself late at night watching it.

And then it came back to me in Australia. I said, Well, I can use this rat for something. And I tucked it in my pocket. Everyones looking at me like, whats Nick doing with the prop rat? I said, Well, I think its funny because the tail is wobbling around. Lets hold onto it. Its a good prop. Maybe we can use it. And sure enough, Bogart and Billy Wilder and Sabrina came back and it was like Eat the rat! Its a punk rock version of it, but its still inspired by Billy Wilder and Humphrey Bogart.
A big moment is taking place in politics, a beaming Nigel Farage declared after Reform UK made gains across England and defeated Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

That vote, and the local elections held in 24 of Englands 317 councils, were considered a crucial test for Farages party as it fights to prove it is a serious rival to Labour and the Conservatives. It is a test they have passed.

Farage and his allies now hope that Conservative donors will follow voters and switch allegiances. The party has for months been schmoozing wealthy political benefactors who have traditionally favoured the Tories in an effort to convince them to open their wallets. Fridays results may yet prove to be the spur.

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What last night showed was that the political landscape has shifted massively in the last ten months, says Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers and one of Reforms most vocal supporters. I think we are looking at some high-level defections of the remaining Tory talent pool.

Mullins says he was surprised by the number of big money Tory donors recently spotted at a fundraiser hosted by Reforms billionaire treasurer Nick Candy, though he demurs when asked to name names. Candy is himself a former Tory donor.

Mullins is convinced that the likes of Lord Bamford, JCBs chairman, might now give up the ghost and join the Reform march to power. Billionaire Bamford is a major Conservative Party donor but has funded a helicopter trip for Farage and let him launch his local election campaign on a JCB digger.

A spokesman for Bamford said he remains a member and supporter of the Conservative Party.

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To date, Reform has raised just a fraction of what either the Labour or the Tories have. In the last quarter of 2024 the Conservatives reported 3.8m in donations, while Labour drew in 1.4m and Reform just 336,800.

However, Farages ability to deliver such strong results on a shoestring budget may convince donors that their money is better invested with Reform.

Were a lean outfit, very efficient and we use cutting edge technology, says Zia Yusuf, Reforms chairman. Weve also got amazingly enthusiastic volunteers and you cant buy that. That energy has got nothing to do with money.

Bassim Haidar, a technology billionaire who gave the Tories more than 700,000 during Rishi Sunaks premiership, gave Reform more than 200,000 ahead of this weeks local elections and has now pledged 1m to help Farage bring this country back to its glory.

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Reforms haul in the final three months of the year also included a 100,000 donation from Roger Nagioff, a Monaco-based former Lehman Brothers banker and a former Conservative Party donor.

Jon Moulton, a private equity veteran who once gave to the Tory party and backed Brexit, says that although he thinks most Conservative donors will stay, he has spoken to several who are considering a switch.

Moulton thinks donors may give to Reform as a form of protest vote. Many, he says, are fed up with the Conservatives and have decided that they deserve it.

None of them seem to know Reforms policies  but this might be to Reforms advantage, he adds.

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The Conservatives winter fundraising event last year, where auctions included clay-pigeon shooting with James Cleverly or sushi with Jeremy Hunt, was described as the last party on the Titanic by one banker as the partys expected defeat in the general election loomed.

As the Tories lose friends in the Square Mile, disgruntled donors have become Farages key target.

Reform has made a concerted effort to win over the wealthy, hosting champagne-fuelled fundraisers in Mayfair where top table tickets went for 25,000 and vowing to host future events on private yachts in Monaco.

Farage has worked hard to convince Right-wing billionaires that he can bring Maga-esque politics to Britain, ending speeches by emulating Donald Trumps signature swaying and fist-pumping to YMCA by the Village People.

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Well do events in restaurants, peoples private homes and on yachts, Candy told the Financial Times, triggering criticism from the Tories that Farage was trying to win the common mans vote while raising toasts in Monaco.

A huge outdoor event at Blenheim Palace had also been touted this summer to raise more money. The Duke of Marlborough, whose ancestral home is at the palace, is a Reform supporter. However, the idea was scrapped after failing to win permission from the authorities that oversee Blenheim.

Events in Mayfair and Monaco chafe against Farages image as a beer-swigging man of the people. However, Yusuf insists the party wont find itself reliant on a billionaire donor class.

Were certainly not going to be in hock to anybody, he says. Weve had so much enthusiasm, particularly from small and medium sized business owners who employ the majority of people in the private sector.

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The most important thing is we continue to be true to our grass roots and the small donors and the members.

Events in Mayfair and Monaco chafe against Nigel Farages image as a beer-swigging man of the people - Geoff Pugh

He said entrepreneurs, tech workers and small c conservatives who typically donated to the Tories were also starting to switch to Reform, underscoring its appeal to middle Britain.

Im quite optimistic that some of those people will start to donate, and not necessarily with huge numbers initially, but I think theyll start to come across and start to help financially, he said.

There are a lot of very, very successful entrepreneurs who are very, very excited and enthused by what Reform has to offer. I would love for them to donate, and if they choose to do so, obviously that would be really helpful.

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Yusuf, himself a successful former entrepreneur, said there were no current plans for a mega summer fundraiser or any other events targetting the high rollers.

Its really important that the majority of the partys funding continues to come from our grass roots and from our membership, he said.

As Candy talks of events on yachts in Monaco, Yusuf downplays the need for wads of cash to help Reform beat the Tories and Labour.

Its great to get donors like that but again the most important point is that Reform represents ordinary people in this country and it will continue to do that.

Farage has built the foundation for success at the ballot box by forging a broad political tent that can accommodate both disillusioned Labour voters and former Tories. Reform may yet achieve financial success by uniting the billionaire class with the masses.

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By Andrew MacAskill and Phil Noble

WIDNES, England (Reuters) -Britain's right-wing Reform UK party won a vacant parliamentary seat, two mayoralties and control of several councils on Friday in early results from elections that its leader Nigel Farage said proved it was now the real opposition.

The populist Reform, led by the veteran campaigner for Brexit, hopes Thursday's local elections in England will mark the breakdown of a century of domination of British politics by the governing Labour Party and opposition Conservatives.

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In the most closely watched contest, for the vacant parliamentary seat of Runcorn and Helsby, Reform won by just six votes after a full recount, giving Farage's party its fifth seat in the House of Commons. Labour had won the seat in last year's national election with a majority of almost 15,000.

"It's been a huge night for Reform," Farage told reporters. "This is heartland Labour Party, their vote has collapsed and much of it has come to us."

The Conservatives - historically one of the most successful parties of any modern democracy - were now "toast", he said.

"You're witnessing the end of a party that's been around since 1832."

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Andrea Jenkyns, a former Conservative minister who defected to Reform after losing her seat last year, became mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, which covers about a million people, making her the party's most powerful elected politician yet. Reform won another mayoralty in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Reform also took control of several county councils, including Kent, Derbyshire, Durham and Nottinghamshire.

It was leading all parties in the initial tally of councillors elected, with well over half of the more than 1,600 seats up for grabs on local authorities declared.

Farage, long a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has staked his anti-immigration party's claim to represent the right of British politics since the Conservatives lost more than half of their support in a general election last year.

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Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in British history last summer, has since suffered the fastest decline in popularity of any newly elected government.

His government has raised taxes and cut benefits for the elderly, saying the moves were necessary to restore financial stability after 14 years of Conservative mismanagement.

Starmer said the results were "disappointing" but said he and his party colleagues "get it", adding: "I'm determined we will go further and faster on the change people want to see."

Farage has distanced himself from Trump over tariffs and Ukraine, mindful of voters' concerns over some of Trump's positions which have hurt the right-wing vote in countries such as Canada. While still focused on immigration, Reform has begun offering solutions to Britain's stubborn problems such as an ailing health service and poor economic growth.

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"Reform UK looks like the real deal this morning," said Keiran Pedley, Director of Politics at polling firm Ipsos. "That said, with increased support comes scrutiny. Where they do win, they will need to show they can deliver the change their voters want."

CONSERVATIVES SUFFER

Voters cast their ballots for local authority seats across much of England and six high-profile mayoral elections, with results coming in throughout Friday.

Runcorn and Helsby was the only parliamentary seat included after its Labour lawmaker quit following a conviction for punching one of his constituents.

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A Labour spokesperson said the results showed that voters "clearly expect the government to move faster" to change Britain after 14 years of Conservative rule.

For the Conservatives, under the new leadership of right-leaning Kemi Badenoch, losses were expected after last year's defeat. Co-chairman Nigel Huddleston said winning back trust in the party would "take us a long time".

Reform, founded as the Brexit Party in 2018, was initially written off as a narrow anti-immigration party. But it has seen a surge in its support over recent months.

In her mayoral victory speech, Jenkyns pledged to bring an end to "soft touch Britain" and said asylum seekers should be held in tents, not in hotels as they often are in Britain.

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The party hopes the results will help make it the best positioned to challenge Labour and the Conservatives at the next national election, expected in 2029.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; additional reporting by William James, Catarina Demony, Alistair Smout and Elizabeth Piper, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kate Holton, Philippa Fletcher, Elaine Hardcastle)
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  A few NIOSH employees were back in their offices on Wednesday as administrative leave had been withdrawn for certain positions, though it may only be temporary.

Around a dozen people within NIOSHs division of Safety Research Firefighter Initiative were called back into their offices and all 58 people within the respiratory health division, which the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program is a part of, were also reinstated earlier this week.

NIOSH employees who received Reduction in Force (RIF) letters on May 1 or 2 were told to ignore those letters, though their termination dates were estimated for June 30.

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12 News spoke with the retired coordinator of the Coal Workers Health Surveillance program about how advocates were speaking out in attempts to save NIOSH jobs.

Due to dozens of former employees and advocates speaking out over the layoffs, Senator Shelley Moore-Capito and the chief of staff for Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have spoken with advocates like Anita Wolfe to help better understand the importance of these programs.

The cuts to NIOSH, theyre in direct opposition to President Trumps executive orders that he signed, saying dig baby dig. Im not going to say we dont need more coal; we do need more coal, but the easy seams of coal to get to have all been mined out, Wolfe said.

Unforgiving cuts in Washington could force Clarksburg History Museum to close

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Though there has been no official confirmation that the reinstated jobs will be permanent, Anita stated that there has been talk of the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program to be placed under Secretary Kennedys Administration for Healthy America, or AHA.

Without a solid understanding of whether or not these NIOSH employees still have their jobs, many people have already started looking for employment elsewhere.

If my program that I oversaw goes away, if the firefighters program goes away, if a lot of the other research thats being donetheres nobody to pick that up. And thats one thing thats so upsetting, which was in the RIF letters, they were told that this was to get rid of research that could be done elsewhere, and NIOSH just doesnt fall into that. I mean, there is no other agency or even private industry in the nation that does what we do, and what we do even reaches internationally, Wolfe said.

She continued with 12 News on her beliefs behind the cuts.

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Im not at all against government cuts in some programs, but I think they need to weigh the value of the program against the money, and I have said many, many times, you know, what is a life worth? And then, even better than that, what is an Appalachian life worth because we have so much more disease here in Appalachia than anywhere else in the nation, Wolfe said.

Advocates like Anita still plan to push for permanent change by continuing conversations with government officials and various media outlets to help spread awareness on the importance of these programs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  With the new REAL ID air travel guidelines set to go into effect in less than a week, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) is making it easier for residents to get REAL ID ready.

Starting May 20, the NJMVC will add 5,200 REAL ID appointments every other Tuesday going forward. Residents will be able to book those added appointments starting Monday.

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As we quickly approach the federal deadline for REAL ID, I am proud to announce the addition of REAL ID Tuesdaysanother tool we are using to expand access to REAL ID appointments, said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

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Starting next Wednesday all travelers heading to the airport will need a REAL ID to fly. Without either a REAL ID or a passport travelers could risk being pulled aside by a TSA agent for additional screening or asked to leave, according to the agencys website.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Residents heading to a REAL ID appointment are expected to bring a social security card, a W-2 or 1099 form to confirm their social security number.

Additionally, residents will need two forms of proof of address that can be found on a license, a bank statement, a utility bill, a U.S. high school photo ID card with a report card or a U.S. computer-printed pay stub, the DMV said.

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Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A woman signs a marriage license at the Dona Ana County Clerk's Office's Romance at the Rotunda event on Feb. 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy the Dona Ana County Clerk's Office)

Money cant buy you love, but it can get you a $55 New Mexico marriage license this summer.

New Mexico Marriage license fees will more than double next month from the current $25 fee thanks to Senate Bill 290, sponsored by Sen. Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) during the legislative session held earlier this year. Out of the total new charge, the county clerks office keeps $20; another $20 will go to the states Childrens Trust Fund; and $15 will benefit each countys general fund.

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill on April 8 and the fee increase goes into effect on June 20.



According to the fiscal impact report, the fee increase is estimated to bring in an additional $195,000 in revenue each year  including about $32,500 for the Childrens Trust Fund, which currently receives most of its revenue from special license plate sales. The fund is administered by the Children, Youth and Families Departments Family Services Division. Trust fund grants are awarded to community-based organizations throughout the state working to help prevent or treat child abuse and neglect.

Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin told Source NM that the marriage license fee has not increased since the 1990s, and previous efforts to pass an increase failed.

This is my seventh year that Im starting [as county clerk]. We have been pushing for an increase that was, I think, reasonable, but also would be impactful for each of the counties in terms of their funds, Lopez Askin said. However, she noted: Its not just about increasing revenue. Its also about collectively supporting children across the state.

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New Mexicos license fee will still be on the lower side, compared to neighboring states such as Texas and Arizona, which both charge over $80, according to the Dona Ana County Clerks Office. Dona Ana County Chief Deputy County Clerk Caroline Zamora said many people from El Paso, Texas travel to her office for marriage licenses because of the cheaper fee.

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(NewsNation)  U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., scrutinized President Donald Trumps much-touted mineral compact with Ukraine, telling NewsNation he sees no deal here.

After months of tense negotiations, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the countrys critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defense against Russia.

The agreement  which the Ukrainian parliament must ratify  would establish a reconstruction fund for Ukraine that Ukrainian officials hope will be a vehicle to ensure future American military assistance. A previous agreement was nearly signed before being derailed in a tense Oval Office meeting involving Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Tariff uncertainty threatens Christmas for toymakers and retailers

Smith said he doesnt see the deal as anything set in stone.

If you look at this Ukraine minimal deal, theres no deal here, he told NewsNation. Theres no specific We get this, we get that. Its really just sort of a framework for future conversations.

The pact covers minerals, including rare earth elements, as well as other valuable resources, including oil and natural gas, according to the text released by Ukraines government.

Smith, however, said he does view the agreement as a move in the right direction.

Its all speculative at this point, he said. I will say this: It is a very positive sign that Trump and Zelenskyy are talking and that Trump and Vance are no longer just hurling insults at President Zelenskyy and backing Putins vision of the war in Ukraine.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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By Melanie Burton and Clara Denina

MELBOURNE/LONDON (Reuters) - An overwhelming majority of Rio Tinto shareholders sided with the board to vote against an activist fund proposal that the mining company should review its dual listing in Sydney and London.

The mining giant said on Thursday that 19.35% of shareholders backed the motion put forward by London-based Palliser Capital.

That was only just below the 20% threshold that would have required Rio Tinto to consult more widely with shareholders under UK regulations, implying the idea might come up again.

Rival BHP, which has a primary listing in Australia, ended a similar dual-listed structure in 2022, six years after activist investor Elliott began its campaign for a single listing.

Palliser wants Rio Tinto to unify into a single holding company based in Australia, saying this could unlock $28 billion in value for holders of the company's London shares.

The London listing comprises about 77% of Rio's investor base, but the Australian-listed shares are trading at a premium of about 25%, partly due to tax advantages available to shareholders there.

"Rio Tinto will continue to engage with our shareholders and will carefully consider the feedback provided," a spokesperson said.

Holders of its Australian stock voted on Thursday and holders of its UK shares voted at the London AGM on April 3.

London-listed shares rose nearly 1% by 1037 GMT.

Rio Tinto's board had unanimously recommended voting against the resolution, citing tax considerations. It also said a unified listing would be costly and did not provide the flexibility for big M&A that Palliser had suggested it would.

CATALYST FOR CHANGE

Palliser said its campaign has been a catalyst for an improved understanding of the case for unification.

"We will... ensure that institutions are well informed of the pertinent issues, enabling them to actively challenge leadership rather than voting, as a default, in line with board recommendations," James Smith, Palliser's founder and chief investment officer, said in a statement.

Smith formerly worked for Elliott and helped run its campaign against BHP's dual listing.

Palliser's motion was backed by influential proxy adviser firms Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis and more than 100 other shareholders, while Norway's Norges Bank Investment Management, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, voted against it. It holds 2.5% in Rio's London stock.

Talking to Australian shareholders at the company's Perth AGM, Rio chairman Dominic Barton said: "There is no basis for expecting that an additional review would lead to a different conclusion."
The N95 respirator is a "respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles." Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A push to require doctors to treat unvaccinated patients fell short on the final day of the Florida Legislatures regular session but lawmakers did agree to pass a priority healthcare package for Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The House on Friday voted unanimously for final approval of HB 1299.

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The bill extends the legal definition of mRNA vaccines and continues a ban on businesses, government entities, and education institutions from denying entry or service based on vaccination status. Mask requirements are also banned under the law, which DeSantis persuaded the Legislature to approve in 2021.

But legislators stripped a mandate from the bill that physicians treat patients regardless of vaccination status after Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell, Democratic Sen. Lori Berman, and independent Sen. Jason Pizzo expressed discomfort with the requirement. Harrell, whose late husband was a physician, warned that the requirement would open doctors to increased liability.

Pizzo said the mandate would have contradicted a law that guarantees Florida physicians legal protections to not treat patients on the basis of their conscience.

HB 1299 also tweaks a 2024 law that banned the Board of Medicine from licensing by endorsement physicians who have been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, which includes information on medical malpractice settlements.

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HB 1299 makes clear that the Board of Medicine (BOM) can approve licenses by endorsement based on data bank files as long as the reported incident didnt violate any state law or rule.

Licensure by endorsement is the route to practice in Florida for doctors initially licensed in other states.

The Board of Medicine opposed the changes in the 2024 law and even contemplated asking the governor to veto the bill. Sen. Jay Collins, sponsor of the Senate companion bill, said he worked with the board to iron out the language.

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LITTLE CHUTE, Wis. (WFRV)  Michael Heidtman has lived a life of service.

Heidtman said he joined the military so that he could eventually pay his way through college. In 2004, he was deployed to Iraq. When he returned to civilian life after his deployment, he said it was a difficult adjustment. His previous employer no longer had a job for him, and he said he struggled with his mental health after his service.

I had a very tough time with the readjustment process, he told Local Five News during an interview at the Little Chute Public Library on Thursday afternoon. I felt very lost and felt very alone. I was very depressed.

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He said enrolling in college and finding a new mission in helping others helped get him past that tough part of his life. Heidtman earned several degrees, including a masters and then spent 14 years serving others as a therapist who helps out combat Veterans.

Your trash is our treasure: Fox Valley Technical College students collect used electronics

Because they need Veterans who have these war and military experiences to be able to relate to when youre sitting in front of a counselor, he said. Because its very difficult to talk about it.

In 2006, shortly after he returned to the United States, Heidtman said he noticed a hard lump underneath his jawbone. Doctors told him it was simply a duct that a calcium buildup in the area had clogged up.

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Fast forward to 2022, and Heidtman said he was again concerned about the lump because it had gotten bigger. While he waited for further testing, doctors told him to suck on hard candy and massage the area to soothe any discomfort he had from the lump.

At the end of 2022, doctors cut the lump out of his throat. They then diagnosed him with a salivary gland cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

It was very gutting, I felt very defeated, Heidtman said when asked about his reaction to the cancer diagnosis. I cried for a good week, at least five days. Then I looked in the mirror one day and said you got to get up and keep going.

Heidtman attacked his cancer treatments, completing 33 sessions of radiation in about three months, and eventually his cancer went into remission.

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Unfortunately, the good news was short-lived. A scan at the end of last year revealed that his cancer had spread to his lungs and was now in stage four. Doctors told him that he would likely have three to five years to live and then would need to enter hospice care. It was a prognosis he wasnt willing to accept.

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I just got really angry and said theres got to be a better path and I have to advocate for myself because Im not going to just trust the process, he said. I have three children, two that are young yet that are in grade school. They need me, my wife needs me. Its important for me to be here and I wasnt going to accept that.

Heidtman said that he began to do some research and discovered that the top specialists for his type of cancer were at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He decided to reach out and said doctors there gave him a much better prognosis if he took part in some of their clinical trials.

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An organization called HunterSeven Foundation helped him pay for some of his first trips to Houston to speak with doctors there and get treatment. This organization helps Veterans who contracted cancer after being exposed to toxins during their military service.

Utilize different services, access different funds, said Keith Dow with HunterSeven. Pointing them in the right direction for treatment and things like that. Rallying around the community to get them into treatment, thats what I love about what we do.

Heidtman said that it quickly became apparent that moving to Houston would be his best shot if he wanted to extend his life.

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After seeing the clinical trials, though, they run where you have doctors appointments three out of four weeks per month, he said. Two to three appointments per week.

HunterSeven has set up a fundraiser to raise $100,000 for Heidtman. That money will help take care of his moving costs to Houston and help him be able to participate in the clinical trials.

Heidtman still has young children and said hes made it his goal to live long enough to see all of his children graduate from high school. He said its his family that powers him through his darkest moments, living with this horrible disease.

I want to set an example because Ive been an advocate my entire adult life, he said. Im a Vet, a father, a brother, and a son. Im trying really hard to push, so that I can continue to help other people within reason.

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He lives to help other Veterans and now he needs help himself, and that is what stands out to me, said Dow with HunterSeven.

To donate to the fundraiser, please click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  May kicks off National Foster Care Awareness Month, and to celebrate, two non-profits are working together to help foster kids in the state. The Foster Alliance and New Mexico Friends of Foster Children are joining forces to address the needs of foster families. The alliance will help the organizations explore new, creative ways to support these families in New Mexico and Arizona.

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Our mission is to provide everyday essential needs for kiddos in foster care. Its beds, its hygiene products, school supplies, things that they deserve and they need, said Stacie Shelby, The Foster Alliance.

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The new organization, which is now just called The Foster Alliance, is working with several groups to achieve their goals, including the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department, the Arizona Department of Child Safety, and representatives from tribal and pueblo nations.

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MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  Two parents from Morgan County have spent every day of their daughters life by her side in a Birmingham hospital.

Its been seven long months, but they say they will stay until their daughter can get a heart transplant.

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McKayla Raper told News 19 that the familys stay at Childrens of Alabama started when her daughter, Ivey, was born on October 10, 2024.

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Shes a real miracle, she really wasnt supposed to be here right now, McKayla told News 19.

Her husband and Iveys father, Chris, said he gives a lot of credit to the team of doctors and nurses at Childrens.

Chris, McKayla, and Ivey Roper at Childrens of Alabama.

When she was born, they did scans on her and realized she was a lot sicker than what they thought she was, McKayla said.

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When McKayla was pregnant, they quickly learned that Ivey had Heterotaxy Syndrome. Its a rare condition where organs are formed abnormally or are in the wrong position. Iveys parents said in addition to that, she was born with a congenital heart defect.

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Right now, Ivey is supported by a Ventricular Assistive Device (VAD). However, she really needs a heart transplant.

McKayla said doctors ultimately decided she would need a heart transplant to survive.

Ivey has been on the waiting list for a new heart since November 20. Her dad, Chris, said that Ivey has maintained good health since then and hasnt had to be removed from that list.

The couple remains hopeful that their daughter will get a transplant soon.

They say any day now, so well see, McKayla said.

Iveys half-year-old celebration from her hospital bed.

However, its already been a long journey for the family. In addition to having spent more than 200 days away from their home in North Alabama, theyve had to make other sacrifices to be close to the hospital.

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I was a nurse at Huntsville Hospital, but I quit my job so that I could stay down here with her full time, McKayla said. I mean its hard, but theres no place Id rather be than with her.

Chris said he changed jobs during the ordeal and now works remotely, so hes able to stay by Iveys side in the hospital.

The family said they feel lucky to have a great support system of family and friends, however, there are some ways that the community can rally behind them.

Anything at all is helpful, Chris said. Were not going to sit here and ask for money or this or that. If you could just say a good thought or prayer, thats the main thing.

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If you feel inclined to send something, we do have t-shirts that we just recently launched for a fundraiser, Chris said.

The t-shirt design brings awareness to Congenital Heart Defects and Iveys story while raising money for the family.

Chris said they also have a GoFundMe set up. However, he made it clear that they are not in any way asking for anything.

The Rapers said they couldnt ask for a better care team for Ivey at Childrens while she waits on her heart transplant.

The nurses and the doctors here are great and they love Ivey, McKayla said. They take good care of her.

The Rapers said they arent sure how long it will take to get a transplant scheduled. Due to Iveys age, there arent as many available donors. However, they do say that she is near the top of the list.

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NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA)  The City of North Port continues to grow at a rapid rate.

Many projects are in the works to accommodate that growth, but one that has yet to begin is construction on a new police headquarters.

Last year, we got a tour of the existing 32,000 square foot police HQ, which is now about 200% over capacity. When it opened in 2006, the police force was made up of 79 sworn officers and 30 staff members.

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Today, that number is twice as large. There are 158 sworn officers and 57 civilian staffers.

With that growth, the city has had to get creative, retrofitting the existing building. Numerous spaces throughout the building have been turned into office space, such as conference rooms, filing areas, and closets.

Photo: WFLA

There are plans that have been approved for a new police headquarters on Toledo Blade Boulevard, but for it to move forward as planned, voters would have to approve the financing for the project in a referendum this month.

The city of North Port is the only city in Florida out of 411 municipalities that cannot borrow without going to referendum, so we are hoping all of our citizens, our voting citizens come out and support this, Mayor Phil Stokes said.

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According to the citys website, a yes vote on Election Day would would authorize the City to issue bonds up to $115 million to pay for the new police headquarters. The average North Port homeowner with an assessed property value of $246,400 would see an initial property tax increase of $121.38  about $10 a month or 33 cents a day. This cost would go down over time as it is spread out among more residents moving to North Port.

Stokes said kicking the can down the road could end up costing taxpayers even more.

Every year you wait, it goes up 8 to 10% in this market, he continued. It is just unbelievable. As we have seen with our Price Boulevard widening project, 15 years ago, it would have cost five or six million dollars. Now it costs $80 million. That is what can happen when you kick the can down the road.

It is the cheapest way to go. If we have to go find a third-party to build it and then lease it with an option to buy, it is going to cost all of us taxpayers is a lot more money, so we are really hoping people understand the need here. We have doubled and tripled our size, we have 104 mi. to police and we truly need this facility.

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The special election is set for May 13. Early voting starts May 5.

There are four other referendums on the ballot. You can find information on those by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  In honor of May Day and International Workers Day, a group of political activists gathered at Leicht Park on Thursday evening.

The Northeast Wisconsin Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) celebrated the day by rallying for International Workers and Immigration Rights, despite the rain.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay honors inhabitants ahead of construction of new library

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The event description said the event is to organize for a world where every family has housing, healthcare, fair wages, union protection and safety regardless of race, zip code or immigration status.

The origin of May Day in the United States began around May 1, 1886, when labor unions called for a nationwide strike urging for an eight-hour work day, and over 300,000 workers walked off the job. The movement was largely based in Chicago.

Northeast Wisconsin DSA Co-Chair Gloria De Grave cited the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, which occurred on May 4, 1886, when police and labor organizers fought amidst the nationwide strike. De Grave mentioned that the goal of this protest is to fight for people over profit.

Manitowoc awarded $40,000 grant for Captain Carus Maritime Garden, turning asphalt patch into lively vibrant space

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We are advocating for us to move back to the eight-hour work day and for people to be more important than profit, De Grave said. We also want to focus on what we believe is best for the working class. We believe that the working class should be in power.

The protest in Green Bay was just one of many that occurred in cities throughout the nation on Thursday. Click here to learn more about the history of May Day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Reports of UFOs, now rebranded as UAPs, are on the rise, and so are the numbers of people who associate with them. Chief Transportation Correspondent talks with the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance.

Watch the full interview on the Queen City News+ app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a resolution Thursday affirming support and solidarity for the states LGBTQIA+ community.

The bill, 2025-H 6125, asserts that every human being has the right to love freely and live their lives openly as who they are, in response to growing threats to the rights and safety of transgender and nonbinary Rhode Islanders.

Sponsor Rep. Rebecca Kislak pointed to Rhode Islands foundation on religious freedom and its long history of welcoming, protecting, and valuing the diversity of LGBTQIA+ residents.

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We are important parts of the diverse threads of our community, which, when woven together make our Rhode Island the strong and vibrant place we call home, Kislak said. We should do everything we can, and I will do everything, to ensure that no one has to go back into the closet.

The bill states that Rhode Island remains committed to protecting the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals and ensuring their dignity and full access to public life, free from discrimination, fear, or prejudice.

House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, who co-sponsored the bill, mentioned his fight for issues that challenged the status quo, including the passage of the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act and the enactment of a Healthcare Provider Shield law.

When I became Speaker, I wanted to use my platform to make sure that ALL Rhode Islanders  regardless of background, gender identity, religion, or who they love  would have a voice, Shekarchi said.

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Today, our country is at a crossroads. Many of our rights, and our communitys rights, are under attack, he added. Today, we are showing that our collective voice is powerful, and that we will not be erased.

Trump administration proposes getting rid of crisis hotline serving LGBTQ+ youth

LGBTQIA+ Action RI extended thanks to the bills sponsors and General Assembly members for championing our community amid a national barrage of harmful anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and rhetoric.

The state Senate passed a companion bill on April 10, after Democratic LGBTQ+ Caucus members spoke powerfully about the states need for visible leadership and how legislative action for equal rights and dignity had deep personal impacts, according to LGBTQIA+ Action RI.

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The group also noted senators who shared personal stories of coming out, facing discrimination, experiencing loss, and expressing gratitude for what the resolution represents.

Its important and valuable at this moment in time to have those in positions of power affirming that they stand with us, said LGBTQIA+ Action RIs Denise Crooks. We hope Rhode Island continues to be a state at the forefront of protecting and advancing LGBTQIA rights and equality.

Read the full resolution below:

House-Resolution-2025-H-6125--EXPRESSING-SUPPORT-FOR-THE-LGBTQIA-COMMUNITYDownload

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Sigal Chattah, Interim U.S Attorney for the District of Nevada, sat

down with the 8 News Now Investigators for her first interview with a Nevada news outlet.

Chattah, the former Republican National Committee woman who made an unsuccessful run for Nevada Attorney General, discussed her priorities as she leads the U.S. Attorneys Office in Las Vegas, which includes mirroring the Trump administrations priorities. Chattah also addressed past controversies, immigration, and the recent presidential pardon of Michele Fiore.

Chattah: We truly, truly have every type of crime. Whether it comes to public corruption, whether it comes to human trafficking, whether it comes to narco trafficking. We do have gangs here. We do have MS13 and TDA and immigration issues.

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8NN: As far as immigration, there are different interpretations about how the Trump administration is or isnt violating court orders. What is your interpretation?

Chattah: I view the immigration laws, first of all, the immigration

code is fundamentally a legislation. It is law, and the minute you

infuse politics with the law, thats when things become tricky. So you

know, coupled with the fact that the president of the United States

has plenary power, OK, under Article Two. So one of the issues that

weve got is youre infusing politics. Youre taking out Article Two

powers and youre destroying the law thats on the books. You know, theres no discretion in these types of laws. Its not like, you know, discretion in sentencing, OK? When you have a

law that is clear, that law needs to be applied, and I think what

youve seen through the prior administration is that youve had the

law eroded based on politics, and thats how I look at it.

8NN: Are you talking, so are you referring to perhaps, the judges

politics who are making the decisions? Is thatam I understanding

that correctly?

Chattah: Yeah, absolutely.

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8NN: How closely are you working with I.C.E.?

Chattah: Oh, I mean I dont have coffee with them every day. How

closely are we working with I.C.E.? They are no different than any

other agency we work with, whether its H.S.I., the F.B.I., theyre

all part of law enforcement.

8NN: What has surprised you about how this office runs, and are you

making any significant staffing changes?

Chattah: I havent fired one person, not at all.

8NN: Should President Trump have pardoned Michele Fiore?

Chattah: You know, again, President Trump has plenary Article Two

powers. I dont have an opinion on that. I have not talked to Michele

for months. I wish her all the best of luck, and you know, may God

protect her.

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8NN: Is she a friend?

Chattah: She used to be my friend, yes.

8NN: Not anymore

Chattah: We havent talked.

8NN: Do you believe she misused that money?

Chattah: Well, the jury thought so. My belief in that doesnt matter. There was a beyond a reasonable doubt decision.

8NN: You could be considered a controversial figure in Nevada.

Chattah: Absolutely yes.

8NN: You came under fire for a text message about Aaron Ford,

saying something like he should be hanged from a crane. It was a

personal conversation. You had also tweeted last year, you referred to

Jamaal Bowman. You referred to him as an anti-Semitic ghetto rat. What

would you say to individuals who hear this rhetoric and may think

youre racist?

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Chattah: Okay, well, the comment from the personal conversation that I had

about Aaron Ford, thats a quote from the movie Red Sea Diving Resort. I just dont know why everybody has taken it to the level they did. You know, saying that Im racist is, you know, look, my mother is Yemenite. I mean, I dont know what to say about that. Im just, theres nothing to say. I mean, Im not. Im not racist.

8NN: Youve used the word trannies, which some people find

offensive. Do you feel like in this position, you might use more

politically correct language and tone language like that down?

Chattah: In the context of this office, you know, theres decorum that

exists in federal government that does not exist in my

private life, OK. In my personal life, if you and I are out for

drinks, Im going to have a little bit of a different tone than if you

and I are here in the office.

8NN: What is your status as Republican National Committeewoman?

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Chattah: I am on leave as Republican National Committeewoman, completely.

8NN: Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen said theyll fight your

permanent appointment. They referred to you as an extremist. Are you

an extremist?

Chattah: I dont think Im an extremist. Theres no, you know, theres

not an extremist bone in my body.

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NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Northwestern State Universitys College of Nursing and School of Allied Health (CONSAH) celebrated two anniversary milestones and honored the late Dr. Joel Hicks, who served as dean before his passing in October.

The College of Nursing marked its 75th year, with the School of Allied Health marking its 55th year.

Lou Murphy, seated, one of the earliest graduates of NSUs nursing program, attended the College of Nursings 75th anniversary celebration. She earned degrees in 1953, 1955, and 1976. She is pictured with Nursing alumna Shirley Payne (1967, 1992), Norlyn Hyde (1987), and Nancy Darland (1979, 1984).

Northwestern State was the first school that answered the call to educate nurses 75 years ago and put it in a collegiate setting, and we continue to be the leader in nursing and allied health education, moving the professions forward, said Dr. Greg Handel, NSUs executive vice president and provost.

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According to a press release, NSU admitted its first nursing students in 1949 and created a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Louisianas oldest state-supported nursing program.

The Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology (BSRT) program was established in the Department of Life Sciences in 1968 and moved to the College of Nursing in 1994. In 2008, it was changed to the Radiologic Sciences program and is now under CONSAH.

Newly appointed CONSAH Dean Dr. Aimee Badeaux was recognized by Handel along with former deans Dr. Norann Planchock (Dean Emeritus), Dr. Dana Clawson, and former dean Dr. Joel Hicks.

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NSUs presentation of the Dr. Joel Hicks Memorial Scholarship honored Hicks wife Angela, daughter Katelyn, and son-in-low Parker Powell. Nearly $12,000 was donated through the NSU Foundation to a scholarship in his memory.

The family of the late Dr. Joel Hicks, former dean of NSUs CONSAH, was honored during a scholarship presentation. From left are son-in-law Parker Powell, daughter Katelyn, and wife Angela with Dr. Aimee Badeaux, current CONSAH dean.

When friends and family suggested starting a scholarship fund in Joels name, we couldnt think of a better way to honor Joel, said the Hicks family in a statement. Once the donations reached the endowment level, we were overwhelmed and humbled by the kindness shown to us. Joel would have been speechless.

Badeaux was chosen as dean on April 24 and said that NSUs success would not be possible without alums and community support.

It is the deepest honor of my life to be able to continue this important work, Badeaux said. I would be remiss not to thank all of those that came before me in this role and our faculty and staff. I believe that we are the innovative pace setters and we are the leaders with the work that we do.

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Northwestern State University expanding club sports programs to meet student requests

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux recognized CONSAHs presence in Shreveport and its impact on regional healthcare.

I thank Northwestern for having this facility here, for preserving the Line Avenue school, Arceneaux said. I am grateful that youre here and for what you do. Im grateful for nurses and other healthcare professionals that you produce. This is very important for the city of Shreveport.

The public is invited to a second reception to celebrate CONSAHs anniversary on Thursday, May 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at NSUs CENLA campus, 1410 Neel Kearby Blvd. in Alexandria.

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We look forward to another 75 years of excellence and being the leader in nursing and allied health professions, being responsive to the needs of our students and of society, and being a strong and true original presence here in Shreveport, Handel said.

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In Q1 Mobile Experience, says: Grew sales and profit by launching Galaxy S25 series featuring advanced Galaxy AI; and Secured double-digit profitability via cost competency amid some components price decline. For Q2, Samsung (SSNLF) looks to: Sustain flagship-centric sales by launching S25 Edge amid fading effect of new models; Expand AI phone lineup introducing Awesome Intelligence to the A series.

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The global decline in birth rates has been a fraught topic for years, leaving some folks obsessed with ways to drive it upincluding Elon Musk, who has fathered at least 14 children, admitted the fear of extinction keeps him awake at night, and who took to his X platform recently to warn, Low birth rates will end civilization.

Now comes more bad news on that front: Human populations need at least 2.7 children per womana much higher fertility rate than the 2.1 previously believedto reliably avoid long-term extinction.

Thats according to a new study published April 30 in the journal PLOS One, whose researchers, of Japan, further note that since fertility rates are below this threshold in developed countries, family lineages of almost all individuals are destined to go extinct eventually.

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Currently, two-thirds of the worlds population lives in areas where the total fertility rate is already below the 2.1 replacement level fertility (RLF), which refers to a level high enough to replace the existing population with a slight buffer.

That includes the U.S, which has a current fertility rate of just 1.66.

Other developed countries with low fertility rates include Italy (1.29), Japan (1.30), Canada (1.47), Germany (1.53), the U.K. (1.57), and France (1.79).

The 2.1 figure, according to researchers, doesnt account for random differences in how many children people havenor does it account for mortality rates, sex ratios, and the probability that some adults will never have children. These chance variations can wipe out entire family lineages in small populations, concluded the study authors, who used mathematical models to examine how such demographic variability affects the survival of populations over generations.

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Its how they came to the conclusion that 2.7 was the new RLF to shoot forbut noted that a female-biased birth ratio, meaning more females born than males, reduces the extinction risk, helping more lineages survive over time.

"Considering stochasticity [randomness] in fertility and mortality rates, and sex ratios, said researcher Diane Carmeliza N. Cuaresma in a news release, a fertility rate higher than the standard replacement level is necessary to ensure sustainability of our population."

While Musk and othersincluding pronatalists, or those part of a growing movement to have many babiesare concerned about the falling birth rates and threat of extinction, many others are not. Earlier this year, a survey by Population Connection found that, while most people want a small family, others feel unable to have more kids due to factors including affordability, the state of the world, and lack of societal support for parents. And while only 15% of those surveyed thought the falling fertility rate was one of the worlds biggest challenges, nearly half (45%) were actually concerned about population growth over fears of children living in poverty and depletion of natural resources.

And a newer survey on the topic, from Yahoo and YouGov, revealed its results on Friday, and found that just 8% are very worried about the U.S. birth rates significant drop over the past 20 years, with only 32% worried at all.

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This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
(Photo illustration by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

An Iowa nurse who was allowed to keep her license under an agreement approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing last month is now facing nine felony counts of stealing patient medications.

The board alleges Amber Herzmann, 44, was working as a travel nurse from June 2024 through September 2024. On Sept. 10, 2024, the board alleges, her employment contract was suspended due to suspicion of medication misappropriation.

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The board alleges a review of her charts suggests she was administering the narcotic painkiller fentanyl to women after they gave birth, although the drug is typically prescribed to patients during active labor. Multiple patients denied receiving the medication or the number of doses of medication Herzmann claimed to have administered, according to the board.

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Herzmanns employer later submitted a report to the Drug Enforcement Administration indicating 14 vials of fentanyl and two syringes of hydromorphone were lost or were suspected of being stolen.

The board charged Herzmann with misappropriation of patient medications. In resolving the case, the board agreed on April 10 to let Herzmann retain her license as a registered nurse, and Herzmann agreed to participate in the Iowa Practitioner Health Program, a program that offers assistance to health care professionals with substance abuse issues.

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Court records show that on April 24, two weeks after the board approved that settlement agreement, Herzmann was criminally charged with nine felony counts of unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug, plus one aggravated misdemeanor charge of tampering with records.

Prosecutors allege that in October, November and December of 2024  after her travel-nurse employment contract was suspended  Herzmann was working on the maternity floor of Mercy Hospital in Clinton where she claimed to have administered the narcotic painkillers fentanyl, oxycodone and Dilaudid to multiple patients but instead kept the drugs for her own purposes.

Herzmann is scheduled to be arraigned on May 22, 2025. She has yet to enter a plea in the case.

Other nursing board actions

Other nurses recently sanctioned by the Iowa Board of Nursing include:

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 Stephanie Erdman, an advanced registered nurse practitioner who was charged with failing to assess and report the status of a patient, and failure to establish a relationship with a patient. The board alleges that at some unspecified time in the past, Erdman was working as the medical director of a medical spa where she prescribed drugs to a patient she didnt see and then failed to follow up with the patient. The board settled the case by requiring Erdman to complete 30 hours of educational training on clinical supervision and documentation.

 Jean Havugimana, a licensed practical nurse who was recently charged by the board with leaving a nursing assignment without first ensuring the safety of his patients, and with committing an act or omission that might adversely affect a patient.

According to the board, Havugimana was working a 12-hour overnight shift at The Views of Marion, which operates the Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, on Jan. 27, 2024. On that night, Havugimana was the only nurse on duty to assist two certified nursing assistants in caring for roughly 40 residents. The facilitys video surveillance allegedly shows Havugimana was inside the facility for less than three hours during his 12-hour shift, and that he repeatedly exited and reentered the building.

The board alleges that during the night, the two CNAs were unable to reach Havugimana to assist with residents needs; that Havugimana had the keys necessary to access residents medications; and that he was the only person on duty authorized to administer medications.

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At one point during the night, Havugimana was observed in his vehicle, parked in the lot, playing loud music with a female passenger, the board alleges. At a board hearing on the matter, Havugimana claimed he was working his shift as required, but was busy caring for patients in other areas of the building. According to the board, he offered no explanation as to why his colleagues couldnt locate him or reach him via their cellphones and walkie-talkies.

In resolving the case, the board suspended Havugimanas license for one year and stipulated that after the license is reinstated, it will be placed on probationary status for one year. As part of that probation, Havugimana will have to complete additional educational training and submit to chemical screening.

In 2009, the board charged Havugimana with falsely claiming to have completed his educational requirements for licensing and for failing to inform the board of a conviction for driving while barred as a habitual offender. The board suspended Havugimanas license as a result of those charges.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Home health nurses at the largest health care system in western Massachusetts are asking for better wages.

The nurses picketed outside of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Thursday evening. It comes after Baystate Health announced dozens of layoffs earlier this week.

Those involved have been advocating for a three-percent raise for a year now. They say their wages should represent the time and effort they put into their work. Among the many nurses who were demonstrating included those who work closely with cancer patients or those facing a life-altering illness.

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Kathy Bishop, a nurse at Baystate, told 22News, I have patients that have become family members between weddings and funerals and baby showers and all the above, when youre out sick, they want to know where you are, we go beyond the scope of nursing.

Baystate Health has recently completed a restructuring plan that included layoffs, resulting in a 7% reduction in its workforce since last November. This plan involved multiple rounds of job cuts, including the most recent announcement of 43 positions eliminated this week.

Several nurses plan to meet with their attorney on Friday and a union representative over contract negotiations.

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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.

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NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams latest budget plan does not include millions of dollars in funding needed to keep thousands of the citys families on child care vouchers, putting a critical program for working families at risk of being significantly chopped down in scale.

Adams had been counting on the state to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure no parent loses access to their current subsidy. But Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers included only $350 million in the state budget to help avert a looming fiscal shortfall, with Hochul saying the city needed to come up with the rest.

Rather than include that money in his proposal Thursday, Adams told reporters at Bayside High School in Queens that he was still pushing to get the money from Albany  an unlikely scenario given a state budget deal announced earlier this week.

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Were still going to fight, Adams told reporters at Bayside High School in Queens. We believe that this was a state program. We were encouraged to enroll as many students as possible.

This was their project. They funded it  and to now say, We dont want to fund it anymore, thats wrong, he said.

A final municipal budget will be negotiated with the City Council by the end of next month.

Under the terms of the deal in Albany, New York City has to match the states investment in order to receive the new funds, according to the governors office.

With these new resources, well offer New York City the opportunity to match our commitment, solving this years crisis, Hochul said at the State Capitol on Monday, where she announced the agreement. Every family deserves access to high-quality child care.

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A report by The New Schools Center for New York City Affairs estimated the city needed between $823 to $907 million to prevent families from being kicked out of the initiative, known as the Child Care Assistance Program, and other severe disruptions.

In a private briefing on the city budget Thursday morning with Council members, Adams expressed dismay over Albanys arrangement: Theyre making us pick up $300 million of their program, he said in a recording, obtained by the Daily News.

But with budget bills still not printed, sources at the virtual meeting said the mayor urged Council members to keep pushing Albany to provide the extra funding, despite the deal seemingly being in place. Legislative leaders have questioned whether Hochul announced the general agreement too early with other key issues still being hashed out.

Were still negotiating with the state, Tiffany Raspberry, Adams deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs, told reporters. Were still in constant conversations every day. So, were going to advocate for New Yorkers until the ink is dry on those bills.

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The governors office has defended its position by pointing to the discrepancies between how much the state versus the city contributes to the subsidy program, which is just one facet of the citys complex child care system. Others  such as funding for the citys popular 3-K program or a pilot that extends the hours care is available  were included in the mayors budget on Thursday.

Since taking office, Gov. Hochul has increased funding for child care subsidies in New York City by 124% while city spending has remained relatively flat for over 25 years, said Avery Cohen, a spokeswoman for Hochul. Our increases in funding have advanced an agenda to make child care more accessible and affordable for families statewide.

Even with massive state subsidies, keeping hundreds of thousands of kids enrolled in child care must be a shared responsibility, she said. There are 130,000 New York children covered by the Child Care Assistance Program.

In the years following the pandemic, the citys Administration for Childrens Services, which administers the program locally, used an increase in child care funding to significantly expand the vouchers.

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In 2022, there were about 7,400 children enrolled with a low-income voucher. Today, there are close to 63,000 children receiving assistance, available to families that earn less than 85% of the states median income.

But funding for subsidized care did not keep pace with the uptake in vouchers. Without new funding, ACS previously estimated between 4,000 and 7,000 children could lose vouchers every month, as reimbursement costs rise and more parents on cash assistance  who are first in line for the vouchers  go back to work. The fiscal cliff was first reported by New York Focus in February.

Advocates warned that any funding shortfalls could have profound effects on children and their parents, including their ability to work.

Pete Nabozny, a policy director at The Childrens Agenda, part of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care that pushed for the voucher funding, said he was waiting for more details before he could tell if the investment was really going to help mitigate the harm.

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The prospect of a good chunk of those kids losing care and parents scrambling, wondering how theyre going to pay their bills  , said Nabozny. At scale, it really threatened to be an incredibly disruptive period for families, but also for employers and businesses and our whole economy.

_____
A tense standoff between NYPD officers and a 34-year-old man holding a large knife to his mothers neck ended when the son was shot and critically wounded inside a Bronx apartment, police said Friday.

The Thursday night drama was described by Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera as a life-or-death encounter in which our officers were confronted with a dangerous and difficult situation and ultimately saved a womans life.

A police source said the son may have been trying to set up a suicide by cop situation.

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Youre going to kill me or Im going to kill her, the suspect told the officers, according to the source.

A second source said the mother kept screaming that she didnt want to die  and that her son even counted down for when he was going to stab her.

The incident began when a security guard at an apartment building near Mulford Ave. and Libby Place in Pelham Bay called 911 at 11:20 p.m. to report that he heard screaming inside an apartment and that he believed the suspect was trying to harm himself.

But Rivera said when two cops  an officer and a sergeant, both from the 45th Precinct  got to the apartment door and were let in by a relative they found the suspect in the back threatening to kill his 61-year-old mother.

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The male had his left arm around his mothers neck and a large kitchen knife in his right hand, Rivera said. For over 2 minutes, our officers attempted to get the male to put the knife down and free his mother. As our officers were attempting this, the male made numerous threats to kill his mother, all while he was still holding her with his arm around her neck and holding the knife.

Numerous times during this interaction the male moved the knife towards his mothers neck.

The confrontation was captured on police body-worn cameras, though Rivera didnt describe the moment just before an officer fired one shot, felling the son and freeing his mother.

Medics rushed the son to Jacobi Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.

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The woman thankfully was not physically injured.

In a brief phone interview with the Daily News, the mother lashed out at police for shooting her son in the face.

In a separate call, the suspects father said, all I know is hes in an induced coma in Jacobi Hospital.

Two other people in the apartment at the time of the shooting  the suspects stepfather and grandfather, who is confined to a wheelchair and was in another room when the shooting happened  were not hurt, a source said.

It wasnt immediately clear what set off the suspect, or if he has documented mental health issues.

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Several neighbors said the suspect was a problem in the neighborhood and often appeared to be high on drugs.

You can tell when somebody is using drugs, one woman said.

Still, a building worker who didnt want to be identified said he never thought that he was gonna do that to his mother.

Police sources said the suspect, is on probation until the end of 2027 following an attempted-burglary conviction in December 2022. His other arrests include menacing and marijuana possession in 2009, grand larceny in 2008 and a 2005 bust for assault as a juvenile.

The incident is the ninth this year in which NYPD officers shot a suspect. Four of them were armed with knives.

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On Tuesday night, an officer in Brooklyn shot and killed Juumane Wright, 28, when he nearly struck the cop in a stolen Porsche as he attempted to get past a NYPD roadblock on the Belt Parkway in Canarsie.

Wright last November was among 10 suspects indicted by the feds in Pennsylvania, accused of being part of an interstate stolen car ring.
For the first time ever, little fire ants have been found in a forest reserve in Hawaii, and officials say the impacts could ripple far beyond the trails.

Painful stings and long-term threats to pets, wildlife, and even tourism, this infestation is already pretty concerning.

What's happening?

In February, a hiker in Hauula Forest Reserve reported being bitten while on the Ma'akua Ridge-Papali Trail, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

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After testing a sample with peanut butter on a stick (a standard technique for tracking invasive ants), scientists confirmed it was the little fire ant, or Wasmannia auropunctata. It's the first time these ants have been found in an Oahu forest reserve.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources immediately closed part of the area, including Hunting Unit C, to begin treatment. Officials say the effort to fully contain and remove the ants could take more than a year.

"This little ant is a big threat to our quality of life and native plants and animals," said Marigold Zoll of DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife, per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Why are invasive species concerning?

Little fire ants are an invasive species known for forming large colonies in trees, potted plants, and even electrical boxes, not just dirt mounds like other ants. When disturbed, they sting, and the welts can last for weeks (ouch). In pets, especially our beloved cats and dogs, repeated exposure can lead to permanent eye damage or even blindness.

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But it's not just physical pain. These ants can drive people out of backyards, parks, and trails. They can harm native birds and other native plants and wildlife. And they spread fast. According to the Hawai'i Ant Lab, a single colony can quickly multiply, making early detection and treatment crucial.

If left unchecked, this could derail conservation efforts in native forests and cost the state millions in long-term management. The impact on tourism, agriculture, and everyday life could be significant.

What's being done to preserve the ecosystem?

DLNR, the Hawaii Ant Lab, and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee are asking residents in the Hauula area to test their yards using a simple peanut butter and chopstick method. If ants are found, they'll help guide safe treatment plans.

On a larger scale, statewide efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species  including public testing kits and educational outreach  are already underway.

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For now, being aware, reporting sightings, and following biosecurity tips, such as checking plants before moving them, are key steps anyone in Hawaii can take. Other invasive species efforts, such as artificial intelligence-powered tracking and community-led native plant restoration, show how important and possible early action can be.

Stopping the spread now means keeping trails open, forests healthy, and communities secure in the long run.

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A new study published in Science has revealed a global and potentially permanent decline in soil moisture, signaling a dangerous shift in the world's water cycle.

What's happening?

As reported by Carbon Brief, the Earth's soil moisture has been depleting for decades. Two sharp drops in particular, in the early 2000s and in the mid-2010s, have highlighted the severity of the issue.

The study found that Earth lost 1,614 gigatonnes of soil water during the early 2000s dip alone, which is nearly double the amount of water lost from Greenland's ice sheet during the same period.

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This massive depletion isn't temporary. Researchers say the changes are likely to be "permanent" if global temperatures continue to rise.

"We better be prepared earlier than later, because once drought comes, you can expect a long period of consequences," said professor Dongryeol Ryu, lead author of the study.

"Everything needs water  ecosystems need water, agriculture needs water. People need water. If you don't have enough water  you're in trouble," NASA scientist Dr. Benjamin Cook told Carbon Brief.

Why is declining soil moisture important?

The soil moisture isn't just a climate data point; it's a creeping crisis that can affect people's wallets and food.

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As Earth's atmosphere heats up, it pulls moisture from the ground. When rain does fall, dry soil is less able to absorb and retain water. That's bad news for farmers and everyone who relies on their crops.

Without enough moisture in the soil, crops struggle to grow, yields shrink, and food becomes scarcer and more expensive.

Drought conditions already cost billions each year, and this permanent drying trend could drive even more frequent agricultural disruptions, particularly in vulnerable areas like Central Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What's being done about soil moisture?

Researchers are looking for ways to better predict and prepare for these drying trends. The study also shows how incorporating new data sources, such as Earth's "wobble" from shifting mass, can help scientists better track and understand where and why water is disappearing.

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As a non-researcher, supporting regenerative agriculture and soil conservation practices can help improve moisture retention and resilience. Also, reducing food waste, eating more plant-based meals, and supporting policies that cut harmful carbon pollution can also chip away at the root causes of Earth's overheating.

We can all do our part in stopping the cause of Earth's overheating to better manage the consequences.

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.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  As thousands of visitors flock to the Twin Spires, Kentucky officials warn attendees to remain vigilant and aware of the signs of human trafficking.

Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion, and Kentucky State Police states that human trafficking becomes a higher concern surrounding large events due to the increase in both foot and vehicular traffic.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

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According to the 2024 Kentucky Statewide Human Trafficking Data Report, Derby Day is often cited as being associated with human trafficking. Arrest data from 2010 through 2022 shows a total of 27 human trafficking arrests within the Louisville metro and Jefferson County. Although the dates for all arrests made are unknown, at least one was made during derby week.

The governors office noted that as many as 24.9 million men, women, and children are sold into prostitution, domestic servitude, or other forced labor around the globe.

Every single person deserves to be safeand to be free, First Lady Britainy Beshear said. This weekend, as we celebrate one of our most special traditions, we also have the chance to change lives and save lives by staying alert for signs that someone is being held against their will or without full control of their choices. Remember, if you see something, say something because together, we can stop this horrific crime and look out for those who are most vulnerable.

Warning signs of human trafficking (Office of Governor Andy Beshear) Warning signs of human trafficking (Office of Governor Andy Beshear)

According to the governors office, there are three main forms of trafficking prevalent in Kentucky:

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Labor Trafficking: Victims who are coerced into work to meet basic needs or to fund drug habits.

Sex Trafficking: Victims who are forced into commercial sexual acts through threats, pressure, or manipulation, often by someone they know, including romantic partners or family members.

Familial Trafficking: Based on reports made to the Department for Community-Based Services in Kentucky, it involves a trusted family member exploiting a victim for profit, often in exchange for drugs, money, or other benefits.

Human trafficking is not just a crime; it is an attack on human dignity, said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. Traffickers prey on the vulnerable using manipulation, violence, or deception, and we will target these individuals using law enforcement collaboration, intelligence, and resources.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Since taking office in 2019, the Beshear-Coleman administration has awarded more than $149 million in grant funding to victim service agencies and provided these services to approximately 323,000 Kentuckians who are victims of crimes such as human trafficking.

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Kentuckians have a legal duty to report suspicions of children involved in the commercial sex trade to Kentucky Department for Community Based Services and to local law enforcement, the governors office wrote. Other concerns about possible trafficking activities should be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

To reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

If there is an emergency, call 911.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Monday will mark the first anniversary of the death of Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser, 50, who was killed in the line of duty.

I cant quite put into words how hard its been without him here. I often think about how much hes missed out on in such a short amount of time, his wife, Kinda Hooser, said Thursday.

Since her husbands death, Hooser says the family has missed celebrating Fathers Day with him and he missed his granddaughter turning 1, a family trip to Lake Powell, their 29th wedding anniversary, their youngest daughter getting married and he will miss the arrival of his first grandson later this year.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox hugs Kinda Hooser, wife of the late Santaquin Police Sgt. Billy D. Hooser, after the annual Utah Police Memorial Service held at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial outside the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Hooser talked about memories of her late husband on the west side of the state Capitol grounds, the site of the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial. On Thursday, Billy Dean Hoosers name was added to the memorial during a ceremony before state leaders and law enforcers from across the state.

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Every single day I wake up praying that I will not get that call that we have to add another name to this wall, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told the gathering while calling Hooser one of Utahs greatest heroes.

Kinda Hooser, wife of the late Santaquin Police Sgt. Billy D. Hooser, points to her late husbands plaque with her granddaughter, Paxton Terry, 22 months, after the annual Utah Police Memorial Service held at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial outside the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

I am so proud of the law enforcement in this state. When you look at trust in organizations, in Utah, we have more trust in law enforcement than anywhere else in the country. Thats not because the people of Utah are different than the other people in the country, its because the men and women who put on the uniform to serve and protect us are different. They are the very best, the governor said.

This wall means so much more to all of us that are present today as well as those who cant be with us, added retired Davis County Sheriffs Lt. Maureen Benson, the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial vice president. It represents not only the names on the wall, but the family, friends and co-workers that feel the loss. Each name on this wall is a hero. Each made a promise to serve and protect their communities. They promised that when a call came in for help, they would answer. They promised that when a crisis arose, they would respond. They served and sacrificed for a purpose far greater than themselves.

There is no truer definition of a hero.

Santaquin Mayor Dan Olson gives the invocation during the annual Utah Police Memorial Service held at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial outside the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Santaquin Police Chief Rodney Hurst was asked to speak at Thursdays ceremony  his third memorial for Hooser at which hes been asked to speak. He says it doesnt get any easier.

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For me, its like revisiting the successes and the failures all over again, he said. Our job is to solve problems or otherwise fix things. Sgt. Bill Hoosers sacrifice was one of those problems I couldnt solve or fix. As the house of cards was crashing down on the survivors, there wasnt anything I could do to stop it. It doesnt happen very often, but it was one of those moments where the weight of despair was overwhelming, and the more you tried to fix it, the worse it got.

But the chief also said that faith and grace are all around, no matter how dark things might appear.

Were just a few days shy of it being a year. And I can still hear Hoosers laugh or his heavy footsteps coming down the hall toward my office," he said.

Kinda Hooser recalled always being on the go with her husband, either camping or hosting backyard BBQs or becoming involved in hourslong matches of cornhole with relatives.

Kinda Hooser, wife of the late Santaquin Police Sgt. Billy D. Hooser, touches her late husbands plaque as she poses for a personal photo after the annual Utah Police Memorial Service held at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial outside the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Looking back, I would give everything I have just to experience that type of happiness again, she said.

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She also talked about his contagious laugh and his attitude of always wanting to help others. As for his police work, Hooser talked about how her husband took his duty as the departments field training officer  responsible for training new recruits  very seriously.

Bill set the bar high, she said. He was relentless about officer safety, tireless about proper report writing, and completely committed to making sure every trainee walked out ready to do the job right and make it home safe.

His prints can be seen on every officer he trained.

Though he may be gone, his influence will never fade, Kinda Hooser said.

After Bill Hoosers plaque was added to the wall, doves were released, followed by bagpipes playing Amazing Grace, a 21-gun salute and Taps being played on a trumpet.
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Smurfit Westrock announced a series of upcoming production line and facility closures late Wednesday, ahead of its first-quarter 2025 earnings release.

The company will close its coated recycled board mill in St. Paul, Minnesota, and stop production at its containerboard mill in Forney, Texas. The specialty coating facility at Forney will not be affected. Smurfit Westrock also initiated talks with local work councils in Germany about closing two converting facilities there.

A worker adjustment and retraining notification filed with the state of Texas on May 6 shows that 200 employees will be affected by the production cessation at Forney. Layoffs are slated for June 30.

A WARN notice dated April 30 in Minnesota states that layoffs there will happen on or shortly after June 30.

The company estimates the U.S. closures will reduce its containerboard and CRB production capacity by more than 500,000 tons. Together, the U.S. and Germany closures are expected to affect approximately 650 employees. The company says it will provide employees with severance and support such as career transition assistance and relocation opportunities, where possible.

While closing facilities is never an easy decision, it is based on a realistic expectation of current and future capacity needs, operating costs and an unrelenting focus on improving our business, CEO Tony Smurfit said in a statement. We are very grateful for the significant contributions made by the teams at these locations over the years and we will do all we can to support them throughout this process.

The company expects it will incur $99 million in pre-tax charges from these closures, according to a Wednesday securities filing. That breaks down to approximately $42 million for severance payments to former employees and $57 million for other restructuring costs. Most of the charges, $226 million worth, are expected to be realized in the second quarter, while the remaining $61 million is expected to be recognized during the rest of this year and into 2026.

Since Smurfit Kappa completed its acquisition of WestRock in July 2024, company executives have repeatedly discussed streamlining efforts to evaluate legacy business units and assets for footprint optimization. The company has announced numerous facility closures in recent months, including a corrugated products plant in Portland, Oregon, where a phased shutdown will begin in June. Earlier this year, Smurfit Westrock also announced it would close a container plant in Bridgeview, Illinois, with layoffs slated for March.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A recently introduced Ohio bill would regulate artificial intelligence in the state, including simulated child sexual abuse material and content mimicking people without their consent.

Senate Bill 163, sponsored by Sens. Louis Blessing III (R-Colerain Township) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), would prohibit creating or distributing sexual images of children generated by AI. Current state laws surrounding child pornography leave loopholes for AI materials that are not based on a real person, Blessing said.

There is a gray area in the law where somebody possesses child pornography, for example, but its AI-generated and its not an actual person, you really cant go after them easily, Blessing said.

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Why this transgender Ohioan says hes leaving the state

Introduced in April, the bill would classify creating child sexual abuse material using AI as a third-degree felony, and buying or possessing it as a fourth-degree felony. In Ohio, third-degree felonies typically carry a sentence of nine months to three years in prison, in addition to a possible fine of up to $10,000.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a nonprofit that runs an online tip line for child exploitation, reported that from 2022 to 2024, it received over 7,000 reports of child sexual abuse material involving AI. If SB 163 passes, Ohio will join 38 states that have enacted laws to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The bills AI regulations extend beyond sexual images of children, and also prohibit computer-generated identity fraud. This includes replicating a persons image, voice or likeness to illegally obtain money or damage their reputation. This would include any sexual or obscene material portraying a person without their consent.

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Under the bill, identity fraud using AI is generally a fifth-degree felony, but the charge could be escalated depending on a variety of factors, including previous related offenses and whether other statutes were violated in carrying out the crime. The bill would permit a person whose identity is unlawfully replicated to sue their offender.

The bill would also require creators of AI products that are accessible in the state to watermark them. This would not be a visual watermark, but rather exist in the files metadata, identifying it as AI-generated. The watermarks would be detectable by computer programs, rather than the human eye. Currently, most mainstream social media platforms use metadata to flag content as AI.

It actually kind of protects the business to some degree by including that watermark, Blessing said. Its like, Hey, were including it with all of our software, if somebody removed this to use it in a bad way thats thats on them.

Under the legislation, those found removing watermarks could be fined up to $10,000 by the attorney general. Residents harmed by a violation of this rule could also file a civil lawsuit. Blessing said throughout the bills hearings, lawmakers will likely work on amending the bill to determine a date the watermark needs to be effective by to give entities time to implement the rule.

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Blessing and Johnson introduced similar legislation in the last General Assembly, Senate Bill 217, which received three hearings but ultimately did not reach a vote before the end of the session.

A group of six entities, including the company NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association, signed testimony in opposition to the bill. The organizations expressed concern that the watermark requirement in the bill may not currently be technologically feasible.

Game against Columbus Blades boosts Buckeyes spirits

Responsible digital service providers have already taken aggressive steps to moderate dangerous and illegal content, consistent with their terms of service, the written testimony reads. SB 217 is not limited to high-risk cases, but instead, is targeted towards any AI-developed product.

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Three individuals testified in support of the bill, including the Center for Christian Virtue, the consumer rights nonprofit Public Citizen and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts Office, who originally brought the issue to Blessings attention.

We need to ensure there are guardrails on the use of AI so that, intentionally or unintentionally, it doesnt ruin a kids life, a spokesperson with the attorney generals office said.

SB 163 awaits proponent and opponent testimony. It currently has two Democrat cosponsors.

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Housing advocates are urging Ohio senators to remove an amendment from the states two-year operating budget that would significantly affect a source of funding for local homelessness and affordable housing programs.

The Ohio House added language to their version of the budget that would change the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. The Ohio Senate is currently working on the budget and will send it back to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who must sign it into law by June 30.

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The Ohio Housing Trust Fund is the primary source of state funding for local homelessness, emergency home repair and affordable housing development, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohios executive director Amy Riegel said during a press conference Thursday. We see that making any type of change and overhauling it would be drastic and would make huge ripple impacts across the state.

The trust fund was created in 1991 and is administered by the Ohio Department of Development. It is funded by a portion of the fees collected by county recorders, with half of the fees staying with the county and the other half going back to the fund  which requires at least 50% of the funds be spent in non-urban areas.

The House budget proposal would remove the requirement for county recorders to send the state Department of Development money to reallocate the funds, making it less effective across the state.

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This would leave counties with only the funds that they are able to collect, which creates a drastic impact on communities where they might not be collecting as many revenues as other counties, Riegel said. Shifting to a county-by-county approach will negatively impact folks who are struggling to just keep her roof over their heads.

Robert Bender, CEO of the Provident Companies, is concerned counties could lose their leveraging ability and wouldnt have the capacity to administer funds.

We have an easy solution: just dont mess with it, he said. This is really elected officials who dont have enough information trying to tinker with something to make it better when its going to make it worse.

The Housing Trust Fund provided emergency shelter for more than 27,000 Ohioans last year, Riegel said.

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Thats just one year, Riegel said. Multiply that by the last 23 years, and you can see this has a huge impact across our state.

Housing advocates asked House lawmakers why the amendment was added, but Riegel said the rationale behind it remains unclear. Now, they are talking to Ohio senators about trying to remove the amendment.

We have heard from many of them that they do support removing the language  however, it is the decision of the entire body of how to move forward, Riegel said.

Habitat for Humanity of Ohios Executive Director Ryan Miller said they serve primarily populations of people who have paid off their homes, are living on fixed incomes and dealing with health issues.

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They have no other option, and we must keep the current funding structure in place to let them live in dignity and peace, he said.

The trust fund is one of the most effective tools to reduce homelessness, said Becky Eddy, chief community development officer for the Integrated Services for Behavioral Health.

The current regional approach isnt broken, she said. Shifting to a fractured county-by-county model would slow things down, drive the administrative costs and ultimately increase homelessness across the state.

Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.

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Three people were found dead in an apparent double murder-suicide at an apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio

A man reportedly found his ex-wife at home with her new partner, forced entry, and fatally shot both before killing himself

Authorities urge victims of domestic violence to seek help and emphasize the availability of shelters and confidential resources



Three people were found dead in Ohio from what police say was a double murder-suicide.

Aiden David, 19, Giannh Viars, 21, and Michael Hughes, 23, were all found dead at an apartment complex in Columbus at around 12:20 a.m. on Thursday, according to by the Columbus Dispatch, WDTN and 10 WBNS, who cited police.

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Police say that Viars and Hughes were married, but were separated, per the Dispatch. Viars and David started dating during the separation.

Viars and David were inside the apartment when Hughes arrived and fired a shot into the apartment, the Dispatch reported. Then Hughes forced his way into the apartment and shot David dead.

Viars attempted to escape, but Hughes shot her by the front door of her apartment, where she collapsed, 10 WBNS reported, citing police. Police said that, according to witness statements, Hughes shot Viars one more time, killing her, before he turned the gun on himself.



Joe Albert, a sergeant with the Columbus Police Department, told the outlet that he urges anyone who might be a victim of domestic violence to reach out.

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Sadly, weve reported on this a lot. Weve had a lot of domestic violence in the city, Albert said to the outlet. We cant urge enough for people who are victims of domestic violence to reach out and get help.

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.

Albert noted to 10 WBNS that aggressors can often find out information about a victim through public records. He encouraged people to go through organizations like Lutheran Social Services, Franklin Countys only domestic violence emergency shelter, to help victims keep their information hidden.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Health and Science University has publicly sounded off against the push for the institution to close its monkey research facility.

On Wednesday, the university published an announcement addressing animal advocates claims on why the Oregon National Primate Research Center should be shut down.

Usually somebody blabs: Tony Whites 2005 death still unsolved

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, asked the National Institutes for Healths Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare to investigate the OHSU center in mid-April. The organizations letter to federal officials revealed a 4-year-old monkey died a painful death from sepsis last year after people at the Beaverton facility ignored her symptoms.

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The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has also slammed the research center, referring to it as a money-guzzling and cruel venture the university could replace by further investing in patient care.

In response, OHSU said the claim compares apples to oranges. The institution noted the facility is mostly funded by federal grants that only cover specific research efforts, which improve patient care by identifying new ways to treat diseases.

The university also pushed back on animal advocates argument that the research is cruel and unnecessary.

While scientific advancements have introduced alternative non-animal models, this technology cannot fully replicate the complexity of a living system at this time, OHSU said. Nonhuman primate research remains critical for studying conditions such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, infectious diseases and reproductive health  areas where animal-free methods cannot yet provide complete answers.

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May Day rally in Salem defends immigrant workers rights, opposes sanctuary city cuts

The institution noted that animal research is heavily regulated by federal authorities. OHSU also claimed its primates grow up with their social groups and form bonds with researchers in the facility.

Many of the universitys points were shared in the rally that researchers held on the west campus last month, after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek urged leaders to close the primate facility.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen testifies under oath at a meeting April 17 at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City with House lawmakers reviewing her agency's finances. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  The states attorney general called Friday for Oklahomas commissioner of mental health to be fired, a day after the agency she oversees warned lawmakers that it will not be able to pay its employees later this month.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the governor needs to fire Commissioner Allie Friesen, who heads the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, after legislators revealed they had learned that the agency expected to run out of funds as early as Wednesday. On Friday, they said the agency shifted that payroll shortfall date to May 21.

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The payroll issue is the latest in a series of reports of financial disarray and shortfalls at the agency, which has an annual budget of about $610 million and slightly more than 2,000 employees. The agency is the subject of a handful of probes, including from lawmakers, the state auditor and inspector, and a special investigator who will be appointed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The agency reported a $43 million deficit and requested $6.2 million to make ends meet through the end of the fiscal year, but officials havent been able to explain how they reached these numbers or publicly answer questions about their payroll costs, drawing the frustration of state lawmakers.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for Commissioner Allie Friesens firing on Friday. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Drummond on Friday called the disarray at the mental health department a financial meltdown and nothing short of government malpractice.

Gov. Stitt should have fired his failed agency head months ago when we first learned of her incompetent leadership, he said in a statement. I am calling on Gov. Stitt to immediately terminate Commissioner Allie Friesen and seek guidance from industry experts so he can appoint a new leader who is up to the job.

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Stitt appointed Friesen to the role in January 2024 and said Friday that she continues to have his support. Friesen has blamed many of the financial issues on her predecessors.

Stitt said in a statement Friday that Drummond should focus on prosecuting criminals rather than those he has targeted as political enemies.

Ive tasked Allie Friesen with the difficult job of shining a light on an agency that has operated in darkness for far too long, he said. Anytime bureaucracy is disturbed, those committed to the status quo will try and stop (the) truth from being revealed. The same thing is happening to President (Donald) Trump as he tries to clean up the bureaucracy in D.C. Commissioner Friesen is going to continue to do this work.

In a later statement, he said the issues emerging from the agency are the result of years of mismanagement and did not happen overnight. Stitt outlined a plan of action in a letter to legislative leaders, including bringing in a highly respected, independent financial expert from outside the agency to temporarily take control of the departments finances, officially naming a special investigator, and directing the head of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, along with mental health agency officials, to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all Medicaid and federally funded functions within the agency.

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Friesen did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Drummonds call for her termination, but said in an earlier statement that agency leaders are working with Stitts office and state leaders to navigate a difficult but necessary period of operational and fiscal reform and ensure continuity of services and stability of the workforce.

This process, while challenging, is essential to strengthening financial systems, improving oversight, and ensuring operational integrity, Friesen said.

Payroll issues

Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, said he received a call Thursday afternoon from the agencys legislative liaison informing him officials dont have enough money to make payroll next week.

Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, chairs the select House committee reviewing finances at Oklahomas mental health department. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Lawson, who chairs a special House committee investigating the agencys finances, said Friday that payroll issues have just now surfaced as a result of significant mismanagement or unique budget practices within the department.

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So tracing money, where its coming from and where its going, has been challenging and problematic for staff, he said. And as theyve continued to do their work, theyre discovering more problems, and being unable to meet payroll is just the most recent one.

The payroll shortfall will likely affect how hundreds, if not thousands, of state employees feed their families, Lawson said. He said based on his understanding, the payroll issues only affect state employees and not provider contracts.

Lawmakers previously pointed out that in the last year, the agency hired 20 employees with salaries of $100,000 or more. Another 12 had their salaries raised to that level and 13 were hired with salaries under six figures. The average employee at the mental health department earns just under $52,000.

Lawson said his committee plans to meet Monday morning in light of the payroll shortfall to question mental health leaders. He said it is possible the Legislature could make an emergency appropriation, but to do so would require support of two-thirds of the House and Senate. A recommendation could come after Mondays hearing and after Republicans and Democrats meet privately to assess interest and need.

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The special House committee Lawson chairs has now met three times to probe the agencys disarray and has questioned the qualifications of its interim chief financial officer and why the financial issues exist.

He said its unclear if the $6.2 supplemental appropriation the agency has requested will be enough to get them through the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

You know, weve got a lot of questions on if we appropriate this money, he said. Is it indeed the right amount? Does that indeed get us through the rest of the fiscal year?

The House wants good and accurate information, which can take time, Lawson said, but hes glad the department proactively reached out.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert speaks to news reporters on April 24 in his office at the state Capitol. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

The last thing I want is to make a bad situation worse and ask a department who has identified budget problems to make rash decisions or quick decisions that are not good decisions and give us more bad information, Lawson said. I do feel like theres a lot going on at that department to make good decisions, but unfortunately, I think its going to take a lot of time.

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House Speaker Kyle Hilbert wrote that hed had a previous meeting with agency leadership and was assured there would be no cash flow issues before the end of May, according to an email sent Thursday night to House lawmakers, which was obtained by Oklahoma Voice.

He wrote that Friesen first learned of the payroll shortage at 3 p.m. Thursday.

We are out of time and will not accept any more delays. Individuals at ODMHSAS have known about this shortfall for months yet it is the final month of (the) legislative session and we still do not have answers. This is unacceptable, he said Friday in a statement. We will get to the bottom of how this happened and who is responsible. The people of Oklahoma deserve better than this dysfunction. Our top priority remains maintaining vital services while also being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Chairman of the Oklahoma County Jail Trust, Joe Allbaugh, announced his resignation via email to county commissioners on Wednesday.

In the email, Allbaugh wrote, With regret, I must resign my position as chairman and trustee of the OCCJAeffective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

He has been a great leader for us on the Oklahoma County Jail Trust, Local Pastor and Trust Member Derrick Scobey said.

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UPDATE: Former Oklahoma County Jail employee charged with manslaughter after inmate death

He needs to take care of himself. I fully support that. Hes been a tremendous leader, said District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan.

The detention center has been under review by the U.S. Department of Justice for years.

There have been six inmate deaths this year, and a detention officer was charged with manslaughter after refusing to intervene in a deadly fight between two inmates.

In an interview with News 4, Scobey acknowledged many problems at the jail.

I know something has to change. If conditions do not improve, there is a real possibility that the jail could be placed under a consent decree or receivership with the Department of Justice, said Scobey.

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In 2022, voters approved a $260M bond for a new jail.

Homeland Security admits Oklahoma raid targeted wrong people

However, Commissioner Maughan said funding is an issue.

While we have the land and the location secured, we dont have obviously all the money needed to build the jail, said Commissioner Maughan.

Critics have argued neither the sheriffs office nor the current jail trust has been able to properly staff and run the detention center.

The sheriffs office had problems also, this isnt new, Commissioner Maughan said.

Scobey said that without proper funding, it doesnt matter who manages the jail.

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Its not going to have any success, he adds.

Oklahoma County is the only county in the state without a countywide sales tax. Both Scobey and Maughan believe that having one in place could help solve some of the jails budget and staff problems.

Without a ballot initiative proposing, really, I would say a half-cent to $0.01 sales tax increase, were going to be in the same situation, Scobey said.

It would certainly help. I dont see it being in the form of any other kind of tax structure, Maughan said.

The next chair will be determined by jail trust members.

News 4 did reach out to Allbaugh for comment. Were waiting to hear back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services does not have enough money to pay its employees next week, a top lawmaker said, as legislators continue to dig into the agency's unresolved financial crisis.

In a late-night email to House members on May 1, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said House Majority Leader Mark Lawson had received an email that afternoon saying the agency has insufficient funds available to make payroll for May 7, and the department is $23 million short for the remainder for fiscal year 2025.

"This is the first we have heard from the agency about being unable to make payroll," Hilbert, R-Bristow, said in the email. "On March 31, in a meeting in my conference room, I specifically asked if there would be any cash flow issues before the end of May and was assured there would not be."

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Hilbert wrote in the email that the agency's commissioner, Allie Friesen, had confirmed the report Lawson received was accurate. He said Friesen told him that she was first made aware of the issue on April 30 after 3 p.m.

More: Oklahoma lawmakers one step closer to abandoning state-of-the-art mental health hospital project

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen pepares to answer questions at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 17, 2025, during a special committee to examine the mental health department's operations and budget.

In a statement, Friesen said the agency is working with lawmakers and the governor's office to ensure it can keep providing services and retain staff while addressing longstanding structural issues that have impacted the agency.

"This process, while challenging, is essential to strengthening financial systems, improving oversight, and ensuring operational integrity," she said. "We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and building a stronger foundation to better serve Oklahomans in need of mental health and substance use support."

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The agency's inability to make payroll was first reported by Nondoc, an online news outlet.

Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson for the state's Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which handles payrolls for state agencies, said OMES is working closely with the mental health department as it works through its budget woes and will assist if needed. Helfrey said formal requests have not yet been made.

Hilbert and Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, agreed to speak on the morning of May 2 to discuss next steps for the mental health department. The details of that conversation have not been made public.

The development comes after Friesen told lawmakers in April that the agency faced a $43 million deficit. She spent more than two hours on April 17 testifying in front of a special committee in the House that has opened its investigation into the mental health department.

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During the hearing, Friesen described inheriting a "chaotic" agency after Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed her as commissioner in January 2024.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said questions about the agency's ability to make payroll increases her concerns about the agency's funding issues as the Legislature works to finalize the state's budget.

"This department offers critical services to Oklahomans and needs to be funded properly for the well-being of our state and its citizens," she said. While the legislature and the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency continue to investigate this matter, it is important to remember that real Oklahomans tax dollars are at stake here."

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert listens as Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen answers questions at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 17, 2025, during a special committee to examine the mental health department's operations and budget.

Legislative leaders frustrated as mental health department's stalls 2026 budget request

Hilbert said during his weekly news conference on May 1  before he had learned about the payroll gap  that the special committee will invite Friesen and agency leaders to come back and testify further. He said that the conversation should happen in a public environment.

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"I have the utmost faith in members of the Legislature and our staff, but frankly, with the scope and breadth of this problem, I want all 4 million Oklahomans helping us dig into this," Hilbert said.

Hilbert said that Friesen and the agency's budget team had met with him, along with House and Senate budget leaders, on April 29 to explain proposals on how the agency can shrink its financial deficit to $6.3 million.

But the meeting left many of legislators' questions unanswered about the fiscal year 2026 budget, he added.

"We still don't even know what the department's request is for FY 26, let alone what we as legislators would ultimately decide to fund," Hilbert said.

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Paxton echoed Hilbert's frustrations on May 1, saying that his concern lies with the state's vulnerable residents who the department is supposed to serve.

"I'm very concerned that what's being lost in this is who we're trying to serve, and we want to make sure we follow through on that, and make sure that our fellow citizens who need that help have the opportunity to get it," he said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma mental health agency unable to make payroll
The Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, announced a new education policy for the state on Thursday, which includes the allegation that there were discrepancies in the 2020 election, which President Donald Trump baselessly claims was stolen from him.

The new academic standards for social studies for the coming school year state that students should identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results by looking at graphs and other information, including the sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of bellweather county trends.

This comes after the Oklahoma Senate declined to take action on a resolution that would reject the election denial language in the social studies standards, The Oklahoman noted earlier this week.

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Walters lobbied against the resolution, and the far-right group Moms for Liberty issued a letter threatening to challenge any Republican lawmaker who voted for it.

Ryan Walters celebrated the new standards, saying theyre unapologetically conservative and pro-America (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Three new board members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education have said that Walters has been dishonest by making late changes to the standards without telling them or the public and by saying that the standards had to be approved during a meeting in late February, when they could have been put forward to the legislature for approval this week.

Questions exist regarding the transparency of the subject matter standard adoption process, the resolution states.

Last month, new board member Michael Tinney told The Oklahoman that there were differences in the standards he had downloaded from the website of the State Department of Education and what Walters had sent to him.

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The section regarding students identifying discrepancies in 2020 elections results was among the differences.

Chris VanDenhende, also a new member of the education board, requested during a board meeting on April 24 that Walters share change documents to show the changes he had made to the standards. Walters rejected the suggestion, saying, Thats completely irrelevant.

During the meeting, Walters said it was his decision what goes into the standards, even as new board members pushed back. They couldnt stop him as he decides what appears on the meeting agendas for the board.

On April 29, after the Oklahoma Senate chose not to take action on the resolution, Walters wrote on X that Today is a major victory for Oklahoma families and for the truth. After months of Democrats and the teachers unions lying and attacking, the most unapologetically conservative, pro-America social studies standards in the nation are moving forward.

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For nearly a year, we engaged in a thoughtful, transparent process to deliver standards that teach students factual history, including the realities of the 2020 election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat posed by Communist China, he added. These reforms will reset our classrooms back to educating our children without liberal indoctrination.

Trumps unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election culminated in the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol (AFP/Getty)

Moms For Liberty shared a letter on X on April 28 opposing the possible rejection of the standards, which they said were truth-filled, anti-woke, and unapologetically conservative.

This is not about flawed standards; it is about political interference and media manipulation, the letter stated. Oklahomas adoption process for academic standards has been consistent, legal, and transparent.

Oklahoma City state Senate Democratic Minority Leader Julia Kirt said that the chamber had an opportunity to check Superintendent Ryan Walters power, and our Republican colleagues would not step up to put our kids first, according to The Oklahoman.

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Parents, teachers and bipartisan community members throughout Oklahoma have reached out to us, calling on the Senate to reject teaching children these politically divisive, inaccurate, and age-inappropriate topics, she added.

Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson argued that the standards insert an extremist political agenda into our public education system that will only cost Oklahomans more taxpayer money.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  There are 19 men sitting in the Muscogee County Jail right now facing human trafficking charges for trying to have sex with minors.

They were arrested as part of a Muscogee County Sheriffs Office multi-agency online sting called Operation Lights Out.

For one local advocate for the young girls and boys who are the victims of crimes like this, news of the arrests is a victory.

Bobbi Starr/Executive Director Micahs Promise

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This is the exact thing that has needed to happen for a very long time, going after the perpetrator, the ones who drive the crimes against children and that are the perpetrator, the johns, the buyers of sex, that drive this issue of human trafficking of children. And they have faced no consequences.

Bobbi Starr runs Micahs Promise, a Columbus non-profit organization that helps minors caught up in sex trafficking. She has seen law enforcement turn away from charging the minors to targeting the buyers.

And Mondays sting operation led by the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office and the GBI was just the type of focus on the problem she has been praying for.

And the only way to stop this and stop them is to give them really harsh consequences, because really the children are the only ones who have been facing the consequences, Starr said.

Sheriff Greg Countryman also sees it that way.

The young boys and young girls involved, they are not the criminals, theyre the victims, he said. And right now what we want to do is that we want to be that voice for them. We want to be the person who will fight for them. We want to be the person who will advocate for them.

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Those arrested ranged in age from 21 years old to 68. They came to Columbus from the local area and as far away as Illinois seeking sex with minors. They were lured by an online law enforcement operation that did not include children.

District Attorney Don Kelly acknowledges this was a small step.

This is the tip of the iceberg, he said. This is what we see in a four-day operation. Theres a lot more individuals out there who are willing to take advantage of children.

Exponentially more, Starr said. This is the tip of the iceberg. This is nothing. Thousands, you know. In the end, the charges here. Heres also what Im going to be watching and what Im super hopeful. I heard our district attorney say that he is going to the highest letter of the law, that he is going to hold them to the highest charges possible. I want to see those human trafficking charges. He can win those cases.



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  One person was found dead after a second alarm fire at a Vancouver apartment complex early Friday morning, authorities said.

According to the Vancouver Fire Department, just before 3 a.m., crews rushed to an apartment complex at 4503 East 5th Street, where heavy fire could be seen coming from a third-story apartment.

Due to the severity of the fire, the call was quickly upgraded, and more units were brought to the scene.

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Interim Cowlitz Tribal Police Chief allegedly sexually abused a minor before apparent suicide

Shortly after 5 a.m., Vancouver Fire said there was 15 units on the scene and around 33 people working to fight the blaze.

The fire was quickly brought under control; however, officials said 20 people from nine different apartments were displaced.

During the operation, officials said they also found one adult dead in the building.

Crews are expected to be on the scene for several more hours while firefighters work to put out hot spots.

Stay tuned while we keep you up to date on this developing story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Sprouts Farmers Markets first quarter performance continued the grocers positive trend in comparable-store sales and private label growth at a time of macroeconomic uncertainty across the grocery industry.

The company has begun to lay the groundwork for self-distribution of fresh meat and seafood alongside produce, building out the chains self-distribution network, CEO Jack Sinclair told investors Wednesday.

Sprouts 2025 growth strategy focuses on opening at least 35 new locations, debuting its first loyalty program and ramping up in-sourcing, executives said on the companys Q1 earnings call.

Dive Insight:

Building out self-distribution will be a focal point for Sprouts this year and next. Sprouts is currently on track to begin in-sourcing from its first distribution center in Q3 and will begin to expand its Northern California distribution capacity in 2026, CFO Curtis Valentine said.

[These moves] will complete the initial meat and seafood in-sourcing journey, as well as supporting future growth in that region, Valentine said.

Sinclair told investors that customer engagement will also remain central to the companys brand strategy. Valentine noted that Sprouts inaugural loyalty program is still on track to roll out nationwide in the second half of 2025. Thirty-five stores are currently piloting the program, the same amount as in December, and the grocer continues to see strong customer interest and interaction, Valentine said.

Sprouts e-commerce sales saw significant Q1 growth, increasing around 28% and representing 15% of total sales for the quarter. Meanwhile, Sprouts private label offerings contributed 24% of Q1 sales, Valentine said.

Sprouts sees comps sales increase for sixth consecutive quarter

Sprouts' quarterly comparative store sales growth

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Sprouts reported a 19% year-over-year increase in net sales in Q1 driven by nearly 12% comparable store sales growth and strong results from newly opened locations, Valentine told investors.

Sprouts is sticking to its goal of opening at least 35 new stores this year, all in existing markets, and has so far debuted three, Sinclair said, adding that the company currently has nearly 120 stores approved and more than 85 leases signed. In the future, Sprouts is planning to expand into new markets, particularly the Midwest and the Northeast, Sinclair said.

The grocer doesnt anticipate tariffs being an issue with operating and selling food in 2025 as most items it sells come from the U.S. and products it carries that are sourced from Mexico are protected more or less without specifying how, Sinclair said. However, the cost of building stores may be an issue in the long term due to tariffs on steel and lumber, he said.
The Kyiv Independents Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a night at the stabilization point of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, one of Ukraines most battle-hardened units now fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. As drones reshape modern warfare, medics face mounting challenges: evacuations get harder and slower, turning survivable wounds into potentially fatal ones.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT)  On Friday, May 2, 2205, the Onslow Shriners helped raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children with a fish fry dinner.

People could come and get a $10 flounder fish dinner, with all proceeds going to support the hospital.

The hospitals mission is to provide the best standard of care for all patients regardless of familys ability to pay or provide insurance.



Onslow County has six or seven patients. We have a road runner who care to patients to do the hospitals. No charge. Put them up for the parents. So, no charge at all, Chairman, Mandy Daughtry said. If you got insurance, they take it. If you dont, you know, dont worry about it. Moneys not a problem for our hospitals.

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Even if you missed the fish fry, you can still make donations year-round.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
Editors note: This story has been updated to include 23andMes policy on its sale. We regret the error.

The bankruptcy of genetic-testing company 23andMe puts millions of Americans genomic profiles at risk of being sold to the highest bidder  including the Chinese Communist Party. For Beijing, potentially acquiring this sensitive data aligns with its explicit ambition to dominate biotechnology, a strategic domain with profound implications for privacy, surveillance and U.S. national security.

23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month after years of financial turbulence and business missteps. Once valued at over $6 billion, the company built its brand on affordable at-home DNA testing, amassing genomic data from more than 15 million people in 50 countries.

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But,a 2023 cyber breach exposing 23andMes customers data irreparably damaged public trust in the company. It also unscored genetic informations value as a 21st-century commodity  one increasingly targeted by criminals and state-linked actors alike.

Now, these sensitive genetic records  containing detailed health, ancestry and familial relationship information  could soon be sold through bankruptcy proceedings, likely without adequate national security oversight or even customers knowledge or consent. Making matters worse, current federal protections for genetic data are minimal, and existing laws provide little scrutiny of foreign acquisitions during bankruptcy.

China, in particular, has repeatedly exploited American bankruptcy courts as an efficient route to acquire sensitive technology and personal data, circumventing traditional regulatory oversight.

For example, in 2017, Chinese-owned Avatar Integrated Systems acquired Atop Tech, a bankrupt California-based semiconductor firm specializing in advanced microchip-design software. The technology enables the production of high-end chips used in everything from smartphones to high-tech weapons systems. Despite national security concerns raised by a U.S. company also competing to buy Atop out of bankruptcy, the sale proceeded without a comprehensive review  spotlighting bankruptcy as a strategic loophole Beijing continues to exploit.

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This case and others illustrate a deliberate Chinese strategy: target distressed American firms holding valuable data or technology, exploit bankruptcy processes that prioritize financial outcomes over national security, and quietly expand Chinas strategic capabilities.

For its part, 23andMe has stated it will not accept bids from entities based in or with controlling investments from countries of concern, such as China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia or Venezuela.

Beijings exploitation of bankruptcy courts reflects a broader ambition: transforming China into a global science superpower. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has positioned biotechnology as central to Chinas aspirations to dominate advanced pharmaceutical and therapeutic supply chains. Xi himself has described biotechnology as the next critical domain in global competition, emphasizing, Whoever controls big data technologies will control the resources for development and have the upper hand.

Chinas genomic ambitions arent merely theoretical either  theyre codified into law.

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Chinas 2020 Biosecurity Law grants Beijing absolute authority over all biological samples stored by or accessible to Chinese entities, regardless of where the data physically resides. Complementary laws, including Chinas National Intelligence Law and Cybersecurity Law, similarly require Chinese biotech entities to support state intelligence efforts, effectively weaponizing private genetic databases. Beijing already uses these capabilities for domestic surveillance and repression of Uyghurs and Tibetans, but Chinas ambitions clearly extend beyond its borders.

To that end, Beijing has invested billions in biotechnology-related military-civil fusion programs, systematically merging civilian innovations with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). These initiatives seek to harness advances in fields like genomics, synthetic biology and bioengineering  ensuring Chinas military power evolves alongside civilian breakthroughs.

Reflecting this trend, several prominent biotech firms linked to the Chinese government  including BGI Group and MGI Tech  were recently added to the U.S. Defense Departments list of Chinese military-affiliated companies, which flags firms connected to Chinas defense apparatus.

Meanwhile, the PLA is hardly secretive about its ambitions. Senior Chinese officers explicitly describe genomic data as essential for developing military deterrence technology, capable of enhancing soldiers physical and cognitive performance. Chinas military doctrine now categorizes biotechnology as a new domain of warfare, with Chinese military strategists discussing biotechnologys potential for creating genetic weapons capable of targeting specific racial or ethnic groups.

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Thus, Chinas potential acquisition of 23andMes genomic database or that of any U.S. genomic company would be more than commercial  it would represent yet another strategic asset weaponized by Beijing to undermine American security and extend its authoritarian reach.

In response, U.S. policymakers must urgently close bankruptcy loopholes that allow adversaries to obtain sensitive data without rigorous national security oversight. Congress should immediately empower the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to proactively block foreign acquisitions involving genomic and sensitive personal data during bankruptcy proceedings. Congress should also pass data localization laws prohibiting transfers of genomic information to adversarial nations.

Simultaneously, the executive branch should leverage the recently-released America First Investment Policy  designed to safeguard critical technologies, including biotechnology  to scrutinize foreign biotech investments in the U.S., including 23andMes potential sale to a foreign buyer.

Additionally, the administration should elevate biotechnology within national security assessments, incorporating genomic security into intelligence threat analyses and defense planning. At the same time, 23andMe users should proactively protect themselves by deleting their genetic information from the companys holdings before its too late.

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Ultimately, safeguarding Americas genomic data isnt merely about protecting privacy; its about preserving American power and autonomy in a biotech-driven era. If America doesnt protect its genomic future now, China will define it for us.

Craig Singleton, a former U.S. diplomat, is senior director of the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and author of Biotech Battlefield: Weaponizing Innovation in the Age of Genomics.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If you have kids or if youve been a kid yourself recently, youve probably heard of the famous childrens book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Its the cautionary tale about how ceding a trifle of something  such as a cookie  to a mouse will only lead to more demands and expectations, each harder to satisfy than the last.

Perhaps when Donald Trump read this book to a group of children for a photo-op as a private citizen back in 2003, he inverted its original lesson. Rather than heeding the caution the book imposes on the reader about the slippery slope of capitulation, he may have interpreted the mouse's journey as aspirational  a blueprint for expanding his power that he is now applying to our entire system of governance.

These days, Trump is getting offered much bigger rewards than cookies, and the demands are growing broader and more unfeasible.

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Weve seen this unfold recently as Trump bent Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to his will.

Maybe Bezos didnt see much potential for harm when he allegedly prevented The Washington Posts editorial board from endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris for president, or donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund and then attended the actual event with a prime spot.

That was roughly 100 days ago, a period of time in which Business Insider estimates Bezos has lost $36 billion. You would think a poor return on investment would be grounds for getting out of a deal with Trump, but think again.

Just this week, the White House fumed at the mere idea that Amazon might be considering listing import charges, even just on one of its imprint stores, Amazon Haul. Worried this would highlight the effects of Trumps tariffs, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the idea, a hostile and political act by Amazon.

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Within hours, and after a phone call between Trump and Bezos, a spokesperson for Amazon not only said the idea would never happen, but insisted it was never going to be implemented in the first place. Trump later praised the very nice Bezos after he solved the problem very quickly. Bezos managed to mollify the president for now, but potentially at the cost of his investors good graces and the trust of his customers.

Bezos isnt the only one being rolled by the White House.

Trump has managed to strong-arm the nations top law firms for representing people and groups he sees as his political enemies. After threats of suffocating executive orders, law firms such as Paul Weiss agreed to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars in pro bono work to his pet causes and allies.

So we shouldn't be surprised that Trump is now demanding more of them, according to The New York Times.

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Even the very people elected, in part, for their opposition to Trumps power grabs are showing signs of capitulation. Fresh off a humiliating impromptu photo-op with Trump in the Oval Office, Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer found herself this week onstage with Trump, who apparently surprised her by calling on her to speak.

Make no mistake, Whitmers work with the administration did lead to funding for an air base in her state, but the capitulation may negatively impact her political future and threatens to delegitimize the very real threat Trump poses to democracy.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie ends with our mouse friend  having been granted everything from nail scissors, to crayons, to bedtime stories and more  looking at a refrigerator, which reminds him that hes thirsty, and he requests a glass of milk.

Hes going to want a cookie to go with it, the book warns, acknowledging that the never-ending cycle of demands will start all over again.

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Now, to be fair, not everyone is bending the knee to Trump, however. Some, such as Harvard University, the Perkins Coie and WilmerHale law firms and everyday Americans, are standing up to him.

But if we want to stop that hamster wheel of capitulation, it will take much more than patches of scattered opposition to slow Trumps authoritarian tendencies. It will take a resounding, united No to every Trump demand for more cookies ... and maybe a kindergarten level of reading comprehension.

For more thought-provoking insights from Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend, watch The Weeknight every Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. ET starting May 5th on MSNBC.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As the mayor of Utahs Military City, I have the daily privilege of watching the men and women at Hill Air Force Base help defend our national security. Unfortunately, these same airmens security at home is under a different kind of attack right now: Personnel, from the newly enlisted to the officer level, can no longer afford to live in our town.

Even worse, from everything I am hearing from brave folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s, this challenge is not unique to Clearfield City.

Late last year, personnel across the armed services told the Government Accountability Office that they had to take on significant debt  Some of them had to run through all of their savingsor take on second jobs. Some of them [decided] not to bring their family members to their next deployment because they couldnt afford family housing off base.

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The most recent Military Family Life Survey reported that off-base housing was the third-highest concern for active-duty service members. Adding another insult, veteran homelessness has risen 7 percent since 2023 after years of declines due to targeted assistance.

Having our military members who have bravely put their lives on the line to defend our nation live in sub-par housing, or struggle to afford food because all of their available income goes to housing, sends the wrong message to the military members and to the communities in which they live. It is a shame for our country.

But behind these economic and social storm clouds, there can be a better tomorrow, which is why Americas bipartisan mayors and business leaders are working together to help get common-sense legislation, policymaking and housing investment moving again  with the goal to make housing affordable again.

One specific piece of legislation Ive been working on with Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) would offer a low-income housing tax credit to developers who build housing within 15 miles of large military installations like Hill Air Force Base. The bill would also exclude service members housing allowance from income calculations, meaning those members might qualify for low-income housing.

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While Congress and the Pentagon have sought to relieve the affordability concerns through increases to the Basic Allowance for Housing and by updating the formula for the allowance to better match actual housing costs, these efforts still lag behind the market. Lawmakers have also proposed to make the allowance cover 100 percent of housing costs instead of the current 95 percent.

But theres more we can do.

As co-chair of Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, Im working with bipartisan mayors and business leaders on targeted, concrete proposals to work toward four goals. First, we hope to support and strengthen existing federal programs that are proven effective, including making HUD funding more accessible to families and preserving municipal bonds tax-exempt status, providing towns like Clearfield City with reliable capital necessary to finance affordable housing development.

Second, we mean to treat housing as infrastructure by expanding tools and financing to stimulate private market production of affordable housing for working and low-income families. As part of this, we oppose widespread tariffs on building materials like Canadian lumber, which the National Association of Home Builders says could add up to $10,000 to the cost of building a single-family home.

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Third, we aim to cut red tape by allowing more local flexibility in existing federal housing programs, like streamlining environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act to expedite affordable housing development.

Finally, we wish to build local capacity by strengthening local, skilled, organizations that ensure the effective and efficient deployment of available federal resources to help local governments reach their most vulnerable citizens.

In towns like Clearfield City, were also pushing into innovative affordable housing models and advanced building techniques like accessory dwelling units, panelized modular structures, and regional housing solutions in order to get all our neighbors under a roof they can afford.

I dont want to watch another F-35A Lightning II launch from Hill AFB while knowing that brave pilot might be worried about his or her rent payment. An airman who is worried about where theyre going to house their family is an airman preoccupied by something other than their mission. Thats when a housing issue also becomes a national security issue.

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To make housing affordable again for our warfighters, our teachers, our firefighters and all our neighbors, Congress and the administration need to join Moore and others and act now. This crisis is being fought not on the battle front in some distant land, but right in our own back yards.

Mark Shepherd is mayor of Clearfield City, Utah.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House recently announced two troubling nominees for inspector general positions: former Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-N.Y.) for the Department of Labor inspector general and Thomas Bell for inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services.

These candidates are the opposite of what taxpayers need in these positions to protect their tax dollars and essential government programs and services. The U.S. Senate should serve its constituents and reject these nominees.

Inspectors general are the nonpartisan watchdogs inside federal agencies, tasked with conducting fair, objective and independent oversight of the federal government. For more than 45 years, they have uncovered hundreds of billions of dollars in potential savings in federal programs, not to mention conducting criminal investigations leading to thousands of convictions for defrauding the government and other crimes.

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For example, a 2023 report from the Small Business Administration inspector general revealed that the administration had decided to stop collecting on certain delinquent loans totaling roughly $62 billion. After the Office of the Inspector Generals report, the Small Business Administration reversed course and announced plans to pursue those deadbeat loans aggressively, which could recover as much as $30 billion for American taxpayers.

Inspector general oversight has improved the full scope of federal programs for the American public, from preventing veteran suicides to fighting the opioid epidemic, stopping abusive nursing homes, ferreting out corrupt officials, averting bank failures and protecting American farmers.

When I served as the chair of the Council of the Inspectors General, I led the panel that recommended inspector general candidates to the White House, as required by the Inspector General Act. We reviewed roughly 100 applicants over the years and recommended qualified candidates who we believed would make successful inspectors general.

If the panel had received the resumes of Bell and Esposito for appointments, I am confident we would have rejected them outright for three important reasons: ethical clouds hanging over them, extensive partisan political backgrounds and policy advocacy.

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First, as watchdogs, inspectors general must be above reproach. Their offices root out ethical misconduct in their agencies and help hold federal employees of all levels accountable, including the highest-ranking presidential appointees.

In fact, the Inspector General Act requires that the president appoint inspectors general solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in several enumerated disciplines.

But both of these candidates have ethical baggage. First, the New York Times reported that DEsposito, a former New York state representative, may have violated House ethics rules by giving part-time jobs to both his lover and his fiancees daughter.

In a statement to the New York Post, DEsposito called the Times article a slimy, partisan hit piece and stated that he upheld the highest ethical standards.

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Bell was reportedly found by the Virginia auditor of public accounts to have mishandled taxpayer funds while in the Virginia government by directing improper payments to a former colleague. He was forced to resign.

These are our ethics watchdogs?

These allegations are not minor foot-faults; to the contrary, they get to the heart of what inspectors general do: holding senior officials accountable for misconduct. This would make a mockery of the inspector general construct  the fox guarding the proverbial henhouse. With their ethical clouds, these candidates should not be serving as inspectors general; they should be investigated by one.

Beyond the ethics issues hanging over them, these nominees should be rejected in light of their highly partisan backgrounds. Inspectors general must be apolitical to do their jobs fairly and effectively. In fact, the Inspector General Act requires that the president appoint inspectors general without regard to political affiliation.

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It is hard to believe that these two candidates were appointed for any reason other than their partisan backgrounds.

The Health and Human Services nominee serves as the counsel for the House Republicans and has spent much of his career either working for or representing Republicans. One Democratic critic of his tenure in the Virginia government reportedly called him a political operative and asserted that he specialized in shades of truth.

The Labor Department nominee is a former Republican congressman who blasted the Biden administration on a variety of matters (many of his quotes are still available on his campaign website) and reportedly sought political appointments in the Trump administration just a few weeks ago.

There is nothing wrong with partisan experience or seeking political appointments, per se. But such backgrounds are anathema to serving as an inspector general.

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The central tenet of inspectors general is independence, meaning they should not be beholden to any political party or ideology. Moreover, it is critical that the American public and Congress perceive them as neutral fact-finders.

If inspectors general have significant partisan backgrounds, that experience eviscerates their credibility as fair and objective arbiters serving the interests of American taxpayers.

Suppose DEsposito, as inspector general of Labor, issues a report finding problems with a Biden-era program; will anyone view such a report as unbiased, in light of comments like The Democratic Party is dangerous, or [Democrats] just continued to lie and gaslight the American people: no real policies, no plans? It would have been similarly inappropriate for the Biden administration to appoint a Never Trumper to an inspector general position.

A final disqualifying aspect of these nominations is their policy-related actions in areas that would be under their purview as inspectors general.

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For example, Bell has apparently advocated policy matters related to abortion. He reportedly gave a speech in which he appeared to advocate for litigation against abortion clinics to choke off their funding and shut them down.

For his part, DEspositos support for union labor was an issue in his campaign just a few months ago. He celebrated receiving the endorsement from the state chapter of the Civil Servant Employees Association, posting on Facebook: Honored to accept the endorsement of CSEA Local 1000 for my re-election campaign. While my opponent chose to sue unions, Ill continue to work with and defend union labor.

To be clear, it does not matter the nature of the advocacy  the key is that they have advocated on policy matters that would be under their oversight as inspector general.

Thats exactly the opposite of how an inspector general should be. As neutral oversight professionals, inspectors general must studiously avoid making policy calls. They review programs for efficiency and effectiveness and investigate misconduct, but we leave the policy calls to the elected officials.

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Inspector general assessments of a departments programs must be impartial and neutral on the policies at issue, or else they will appear to have a dog in that fight.

How will Bells reports have credibility if they involve abortion funding or abortion clinics or DEspositos reports involving labor unions? There is no way around the problem that Bell and DEsposito will look like they have a thumb on the scale for particular policy outcomes.

In light of their ethical baggage, partisan backgrounds and policy advocacy, these nominations make a mockery of the entire inspector general construct. I fear they would be lap dogs, not the watchdogs American taxpayers need and deserve.

These nominees are equivalent to Matt Gaetzs nomination for attorney general  not only are they unqualified, but their past actions are disqualifying. And, their nominations should suffer the same fate as that of Gaetz.

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Mark Greenblatt was the inspector general of the United States Department of the Interior from August 2019 until January 2025. He also served as chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency from 2023 to 2024 and as vice chair from 2022 to 2023.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
My daily work as an oncologist is often sobering and difficult. From diagnosis to treatment, cancer journeys can be fraught with uncertainty and emotional turmoil. But I find hope through the steely resolve of my patients and in the boundless promise of ongoing cancer research.

While my patients remain as intrepid as ever, this vital research now stands to be choked off by the Trump administrations budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including termination of existing grants at universities and mass layoffs. The White House went even further in its budget proposal released Friday, calling for NIH's funding to be cut from $48 billion to $27 billion.

The NIH is the largest funder of cancer research in the United States, providing roughly $8 billion annually that flows down to universities, medical centers and other grant recipients. Furthermore, the Republican-led Congress is set to take a scythe to several parts of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) that support work on many crucial types of cancers, including those of the pancreas, lungs and kidneys.

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A lot of the basic science and pathways we identify, things to study, come from academic labs, says Dr. Suneel Kamath, an oncologist at Cleveland Clinic. Whatever pharma will eventually make drugs for through drug development, a lot of the initial targets will be found in university settings. So we will fall behind on those things.

For decades, presidential administrations have made a cure for cancer part of their ambitions, and their goals have had bipartisan support. Richard Nixon declared a war on cancer by signing the National Cancer Act into law Dec. 23, 1971. It infused nearly $1.6 billion in federal funding to cancer research over three years. Forty-five years later, under President Barack Obama, then-Vice President Joe Biden launched the multibillion-dollar Cancer Moonshot project, which centralized research as the means to achieve a decade of cancer progress in just five years. And in 2024, when Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination, he pledged that he would get the cure to cancer, Alzheimers, and so many other things.

Amid years of federal investments in the NIH and the National Cancer Institute, cancer death rates declined 34% from 1991 to 2022  roughly 4.5 million fewer deaths, thanks partly to advances in cancer screening and prevention efforts.

But the disease remains a national problem. Almost 40% of people will be diagnosed with the malady in their lifetimes. As many as 2 million new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2025 alone, with a notable uptick in populations under 50 years old.

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The administrations assault on cancer research is part of a larger effort by the Department of Government Efficiency to trim the fat on federal programs. As Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and former official at USAID, wrote in the New Yorker, existing flaws and challenges across this infrastructure deserve attention and reform. But taking a chainsaw to it will only produce more waste, less output, and poorer results. Research focused on improving early detection and prevention of cancers inevitably saves the government money, as early stage diseases are two to four times cheaper to treat than those diagnosed at a later stage.

Instead, the Trump administration proposed cutting and capping NIHs payments for indirect costs (rent, electricity, specialized lab equipment, support personnel, etc.) at 15%. These facility and administrative fees associated with research can range from anywhere between 10% to 80% of a grant and are negotiated between the NIH and individual institutions.

But since no two cancer centers are ever alike in their indirect costs that quite literally keep the lights turned on, a uniform, fixed cap would disrupt or halt operations for many. It is a little bit naive on their part to say, We are not touching the funding for the actual research; its only for the indirect costs. But its really one and the same, Kamath says.

For now, that particular plan is blocked by court injunction. But job cuts across the federal health workforce have already had palpable effects. Firings at the NIH Clinical Center, the countrys biggest research hospital, have already devastated highly promising research work that aims to use the bodys own immune cells to combat gastrointestinal cancers. Patients experimental treatments have already been delayed because of limited staff capacity to make these personalized cell therapies and purchasing stalls. These therapies represent potential lifelines for those with advanced cancers that have not responded to standard drugs. And many of these individuals, who are now increasingly younger in age, cannot afford to wait.

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Elsewhere, hiring freezes at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have scuppered work studying elevated cancer rates in firefighters and paused a clinical trial of a new drug for advanced head and neck cancers. Research grants for Columbia Universitys cancer center have been canceled because of student-led Gaza protests. Concerns around wokeness have ended funding for studies examining cancers in sexual and gender minority individuals  an understudied group with poor cancer outcomes  at various academic institutions such as Emory University and the Mayo Clinic.

Countless Americans depend on the continued progress of cancer research to save lives and improve cancer care. And without it, many potential insights and treatments needed to propel oncology forward will never be realized. As Gawande wrote, For the sake of political control, the Administration is jeopardizing an enterprise that added decades to life expectancy in the United States and made America the world leader in technology and innovation.

The progress of cancer research is rarely linear. While most ideas fail, some will lead to seismic breakthroughs. Adding widespread budget cuts to this already difficult scientific process will not only dissuade future scientists from entering the countrys labs, but will also unconscionably swing the pendulum from life to death for many hopeful patients.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I lived without fear as a little Mexican girl with a green card. Back then, Mexico had one-party rule. My family was so happy to be in the U.S., where it appeared to us that democracy was welcomed from the streets to the polling booths.

Even though the only person in my family who could vote was my father (he was fast-tracked for citizenship as a genius scientist at the University of Chicago), my mother, Berta, like me, was fascinated by democracy and all of its expressions. In fact, Mom took us out of school to go to a rally in support of Martin Luther King Jr. We felt safe with our green cards, my mom, two brothers and sister.

But the warning signs were there already.

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Dad never forgot the disgust he felt on his first trip by bus to Chicago, when he had to choose which bathroom to use at the pit stop in Texas. He was light brown. Did he go to the Colored bathroom or the one with the Whites Only label?

I was a year old when I arrived in the U.S. by plane with my mother and siblings, where an immigration agent noticed a rash on my body and told her I had to be quarantined. He suspected it might be measles. My mother knew exactly what the rash was. I was using a different blanket because mine had already been packed and shipped to Chicago and I had an allergic reaction to the material. Still, the agent insisted she leave me behind at the airport and continue on to Chicago without me. Mom, fierce and unyielding, pushed back hard, shouting that we had green cards and legal permission to be here. She was so loud and forceful that the agent backed down. That moment made clear: even a baby with legal documents was already viewed as a threat.

As a 6-year-old, I remember walking home from school with my Jewish bff, calmly making plans about which basement her family and mine would hide in if George Wallace was elected president. We didnt have Instagram or TikTok back then, but we knew that Wallace did not like Mexicans or Jews.

On our familys annual road trips to Mexico, I always dreaded when the border agents approached our car as we crossed back into the U.S. They would search our station wagon meticulously. Why did they search our car but not those of the white Texas folks who were driving home too?

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Still, I felt safe. I loved my new country even though I knew I was not entirely a part of it.

Maria Hinojosa's WKCR-FM press pass. (Courtesy Maria Hinojosa)

In truth, immigrants have never really been safe here. And thats what our country needs to accept right now. In the first few months of Donald Trumps second administration, we have witnessed an aggressive scrutiny of people who speak out against the administration, including an onslaught on student activists. Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist at Columbia University and a green card holder, was seized by ICE agents at his home in March. The Trump administration claimed his pro-Palestinian activism on campus constituted antisemitism and argued that his continued presence in the U.S. could have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences, citing an obscure provision in immigration law. Hes currently fighting the case from detention.

Columbia student Yunseo Chung, who has legal permanent residency and has lived in the U.S. since she was a child, is suing the government to block her deportation after the government issued an administrative warrant for her arrest and deportation, citing her activism for Palestinian rights. Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia student and green card holder, was detained by ICE when he arrived at his interview to obtain his American citizenship, allegedly for his activism in the pro-Palestinian movement on campus. He has since been released by a federal judge in Vermont on conditions. And there are others.

It wasnt until college that I began to understand the risks of being a student activist with a green card. I chose Barnard College, Columbias sister school (back when Columbia was still all men), because I wanted to study theater and politics. I was never arrested or detained. On some level, I knew that if you are political and an immigrant without citizenship, you are not entirely safe  although I never feared Id be detained in my home and given deportation orders.

Maria Hinojosa speaking to a crowd, right. (Courtesy Maria Hinojosa)

Still, as a student activist in the 1980s, I attended many protests.

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I took part in rallies against Columbia and Barnards investments in apartheid South Africa. Several years later, then-student Barack Obama and dozens of other students took over Hamilton Hall, furthering the call for divestment. For three weeks, the door remained chained shut. But the NYPD was never called on campus.

In 1983, Barnard College awarded its medal of honor to Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a war hawk who played a key role in funneling millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to support an anti-democratic, oligarchy-blessed Salvadoran government and its fight against leftist guerrillas supported by Jesuit Catholic priests aligned with justice for the poor. El Salvador was in the headlines every day back then. This was the same government that stood by when Archbishop Oscar Romero was gunned down while giving a sermon, when four American nuns were raped, murdered and their bodies left by the side of a road. Innocent people were being killed there with bombs paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

We protested on campus and demanded that Barnard rescind the award. The media caught wind of our efforts and suddenly we, as student protesters, were being portrayed as the ones trying to limit free speech. The protests made national news, and I even appeared on "Nightline" for an interview. It never crossed my mind to stay completely silent, because I had a green card. In the end, Barnard decided to rescind the medal.

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Everything Ive achieved in this country  being the first Latina in many of the newsrooms I worked in, from NPR to CNN, founding Futuro Media, a thriving, now 15-year-old independent media company, all the awards and recognition  would likely have never happened if I had lived in Trumps world. According to the current operating logic, as a student on a green card, I could have been swept up and threatened with deportation at any moment.

By the late 1980s, I had moved away from activism entirely and become a journalist. My work took me to places the U.S. government viewed with suspicion  places such as Cuba and Nicaragua. Becoming a citizen felt like the smart thing to do if I wanted to continue my work as a journalist, which entailed ruffling the feathers of the powerful.

In 1989, I took the oath to become an American citizen. By then, I had come to understand that my green card left me vulnerable to the whims of immigration agents, especially at the border. I had already lived through it once, when the agent tried to take me away from my mother at the airport as a baby, despite our green cards. That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that my legal status offered only limited protection. And so, I became a citizen because I knew I needed to protect myself.

As a journalist, Ive won the most prestigious awards in the industry  a Pulitzer, Peabody, four Emmys, the Murrow and Cronkite awards  and now Im a distinguished journalist in residence at my alma mater. But decades ago, I was not so different from the students today who are being removed from campuses and protest sites, disappeared in broad daylight, simply for expressing their views and standing up for justice.

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The students I teach at Barnard now are scared. I have also taught students who are immigrants or undocumented; they live in fear of being hunted by ICE, when all they want is to study.

Recently, Ive been contemplating that saying I used to hear as a kid in Chicago from friends in the Black church: There but for the grace of God go I. My students arent the only ones frightened, though they tell me theyre not giving up or giving in.

Im frightened, too. For Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, Mohsen Mahdawi and so many others. Because once, not so long ago, I was them. A student who wanted to change the world for the better, who happened not to be born in the United States.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
So many lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration since January that the Justice Department has struggled to keep up with them. Many of them have focused on the Department of Government Efficiency and its sweeping yet erratic attempts to slash the size of the federal government. While previous cases have focused on blocking or undoing mass layoffs at specific agencies, a new mega-lawsuit filed this week represents the best shot yet at fully undoing all the damage billionaire Elon Musk and DOGE have done once and for all.

The suit filed Tuesday comes from a broad coalition of labor unions, local governments and nonprofit groups, on behalf of federal workers affected by the White Houses mass layoffs. The question at the heart of the case: whether President Donald Trump and/or members of his administration have the authority to undertake their wide-ranging reshaping of the executive branch. According to the coalitions lawyers, who include attorneys from the Democracy Forward Foundation and the San Francisco firm Altshuler Berzon, the answer is a resounding no.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs focus on an executive order Trump issued on Feb. 11, which commanded all federal agencies to undertake a critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy. The order required every facet of the executive branch to work with DOGE and the Office of Management and Budget to develop reduction in force plans to shed thousands of workers. Those staffers who remained after the layoffs would be reorganized and re-allocated to cover whatever remaining functions the administration felt were worthy of the agency continuing.

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Trumps initial order was followed by a memo from OMB and the Office of Personnel Management to coordinate and implement the now-mandatory mass layoffs. The memo gave agencies just two weeks to prepare RIFs and another month to detail the newly reorganized agencies and what functions the newly reduced staffs would be performing. As the plaintiffs note, it is not possible for any federal agency, let alone all federal agencies, to create [a plan] that both accommodates the specific parameters required by the President, OMB, and OPM and complies with all of the federal agencys statutory and regulatory requirements in a mere two weeks or even by the latter deadline.

The complaint alleges that the administrations haste created an ill-considered dash to cut the government down to size without stopping to consider what functions agencies are legally required to perform under the law. Each of the orders included boilerplate language directing that the work follow federal laws. But the lawsuit argues (as I noted in a March essay) that the language directing agencies to comply with applicable law in creating these plans was disingenuous, as there was no way for any agency head to hit the brakes on the layoff project.

Moreover, OMB, OPM and DOGE specifically had the final say on the layoff plans and any new hiring that was to be done in the interim. In the process, the plaintiffs attorneys write, those offices have usurped agency authority, exceeded their own authority, acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner, and ignored procedural requirements. The resulting mass firings were not just unconstitutional, the plaintiffs argue, but also a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, a law that has been a major thorn in the side of both Trump administrations.

Crucially, the complaint lays out the history of past attempts to reorganize the federal government to highlight the lack of precedent for Trumps efforts. The Constitution assigned Congress the role of establishing the executive branchs various departments and agencies, and it has only rarely delegated that power to the president. Even then, that authority has been limited in scope and time frame, and lawmakers have ignored, or outright rejected, numerous proposed reorganizations  including one from the first Trump administration that Congress never acted upon.

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In his second administration, Trump hasnt even pretended to involve Congress in the process, nor has his administration allowed any public debate about the downsizing. Even as federal workers have been subjected to chaotic mass layoffs, pressured buyouts and lengthy administrative leaves ahead of eventual firings, none of the agencies  including DOGE  have released overarching plans for the newly restructured departments.

Accordingly, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that Trump has acted unconstitutionally, vacate the various orders mandating mass firings and temporarily restrain the government from implementing any of those orders while the case is ongoing.

In targeting Trumps lack of authority to reshape the government at will, the lawsuit cuts straight at the unitary executive theory of governing that guides Trumps most ardent crusaders. OMB Director Russ Vought and others believe that the president has carte blanche power in the executive branch, as the Constitution vests all executive authority in him. Under that assumption, they are claiming there can be no independent agencies that dont follow Trumps orders or power granted to Cabinet officials that doesnt flow from the White House.

The plaintiffs in this new case think otherwise: Congress has not delegated to the President the authority to employ and discharge the subordinate employees of the agencies or to spend appropriated funds on those positions, rather, it delegated those functions exclusively to the heads of federal agencies. Likewise, they argue, OPM and OMB lack the statutory authority to carry out Trumps order: Insofar as neither Article II nor any act of Congress gives the President authority to reorganize federal agencies or order them to engage in massive layoffs of federal employees, neither agency can cloak itself in Presidential authority, either. (The same holds true for DOGE, which the plaintiffs note has no statutory authority at all.)

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As to the lawsuits odds of success, several federal courts have already ruled against the administrations power to conduct these layoffs on a case-by-case basis. A judge in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where this case will be heard, previously ordered several agencies to rehire 17,000 probationary workers fired in the purge. The Supreme Court paused that ruling, however, and the case is ongoing.

Given the relatively slow progress in the other cases on this front, it seems unlikely that this will be the one to have a swift resolution, either. The district court may not issue its ruling before Musk steps back from his role at DOGE, as he has told investors he will do soon. Even without him at the helm, it appears DOGE is already turning its sights onto new federal systems to conquer and destroy even as it spectacularly fails to achieve its original cost-cutting goals. And if the case reaches the Supreme Court, as would seem likely, it will be up to Chief Justice John Roberts to decide whether his support for executive authority overrides his belief in the separation of powers.

Until then, though, the wide-ranging relief this lawsuit seeks can still stem DOGEs worst harms. More importantly, by pulling together an overarching argument against Trump and Musks power to shape the government, the plaintiffs have woven a series of disparate threads into a tapestry of illegality. In targeting the very heart of the administrations dogma, theres at least a chance that the blatant lawlessness of Trump and Musks executive power grab can be shut down for good.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Mike Waltz gave up one of the safer seats in Congress to serve as President Donald Trumps national security adviser (Trump won the district by 30 points in November). In return, he was subjected to one humiliation after another before finally being shown the door 101 days into the job and given the consolation prize of a nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The conventional wisdom about Waltz will likely focus on his epic Signal group chat screw-up, in which he inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, to a high-level discussion about U.S. military strikes against Yemen.

Surely that didnt help, but considering Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent military attack plans to the same group chat  and also shared them with his wife and brother  and still has his job, Signalgate is hardly the sole reason for Waltzs downfall.

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Waltzs problem was that in an administration of know-nothing America firsters, solicitous Trump sycophants, and national security novices, Waltz knew a bit too much and drank too little of the MAGA Kool-Aid.

Waltz is a fairly conventional Republican foreign policy hawk, but unlike many in Trumps foreign policy inner circle, he had actual national security experience. He won four Bronze Stars while serving in the U.S. Special Forces, worked in the Pentagon and on Vice President Dick Cheneys staff during the Bush administration and served on the House Armed Services Committee.

But Waltzs even greater sin was assembling a National Security Council staff that included individuals who, like him, had focused their careers on foreign policy. They included his assistant, Alex Wong, who served as a foreign policy adviser on Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign and helped organize Trumps 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Wong, too, was let go on Thursday.

Waltz and Wong followed a host of NSC staffers who were fired after the intervention of Laura Loomer, a noted conspiracy theorist and Trump whisperer. In early April, she had an Oval Office meeting with the president, at which she reportedly accused multiple NSC staffers of the ultimate MAGA sin: disloyalty to Trump.

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Loomers accusations reportedly led to other ousters, including those of Brian Walsh, a former top aide to Marco Rubio, who was allegedly dismissed in part because he kept a transgender detailee from the intelligence community on his staff.

Waltz seemed to forget the cardinal rule of MAGA  experience and intelligence matter little to Trump. After all, this is a president who has given the briefs of ending the war in Ukraine and reaching a nuclear deal with Iran to a guy, Steve Witkoff, who has spent his career doing real estate development. Moreover, Trumps frustration over Waltzs Signal screw-up seemed to have as much to do with the fact that he was apparently friendly with Goldberg, a true Washington insider, than with showing such poor judgment in discussing national security matters on a commercially available social messaging app.

Waltz also stood out from the MAGA crowd on matters of policy. He seemed to grasp that Trumps appeasement of Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine was a poor strategy (he apparently was one of the loudest advocates within the administration for sharpening sanctions on Russia if Putin didnt agree to a ceasefire). His calls for a tougher stance on Russia, as well as his general bellicosity toward Iran and China, almost certainly contributed to his political downfall. If not for Signal or even his hiring decisions, Waltzs lack of fealty to Trumps America First agenda meant that his tenure in the White House was likely always going to be short.

Indeed, Waltz could have learned much from the man who is temporarily replacing him as national security adviser, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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In the not-too-distant past, Rubio was as much a foreign policy hawk as Waltz. He, too, once talked tough on Russian aggression against Ukraine and supported U.S. foreign aid and, at one point in his Senate career, even tried to broker a compromise immigration bill. Now he says the conflict in Ukraine is not our war, he has played a key role in demolishing the U.S. Agency for International Development, and he has zealously defended Trumps illegal deportation policy.

The symbolism of Rubio taking Waltzs job is almost too on the nose  even for this administration. Its not merely an indication that MAGA world will flush out the unrepentant hawks who once dominated Republican foreign policy  and are now as close to extinction as the once-flourishing Republican free trade caucus. Its also a reminder that the key to staying in Trumps good graces is to simply parrot  and help implement  whatever insane policy idea pops into the presidents head.

Waltz was, at best, a replacement-level national security adviser for a Republican president  the kind of person one could imagine a President Nikki Haley or a President Ron DeSantis appointing as their national security adviser. But, in Trump world, being an adequate foreign policy hand is as much a scarlet letter as it is a key qualification. Waltzs mistake was in believing that theres anything normal about our current political moment.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
One of the most important experiences of my career as a foreign correspondent was watching Latin American countries turn from dictatorships to democracies through the power of citizens.

In the 1990s, as the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union crumbled, I watched as lines of campesinos who had walked for days in the mountains of Guatemala cast their votes and proudly showed off their purple-inked thumbs. In those days, the National Endowment for Democracy and the State Department played vital roles supporting nascent democracies, from Eastern Europe to Latin America to Asia and Africa.

We are now in a new era, dominated at home by a ferocious attention to cutting the budget deficit and the national debt.

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The Office of Management and Budget has proposed that State Department funding be cut in half and that programs such as democracy promotion eliminated. In a hearing last month of the House Appropriations subcommittee, chaired by Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), the heads of the National Endowment for Democracys National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute came to plead their case for resumption of programs already approved for this fiscal year and their entities future survival.

Since its arrival in office, the Trump administration has halted 92 of 95 programs of the International Republican Institute, according to its president, Dan Twining. The institute has closed all 64 of its offices abroad and fired up to 85 percent of its staff. National Democratic Institute President Tamara Wittes testified that 97 of its 93 awards were terminated, three-fourths of its offices closed and about 1,000 people fired. Total funding for the NED represents 1 percent of the foreign assistance budget, which itself represents 1 percent of the total U.S. government budget.

Both leaders testified that the return on a relatively small sum of $660 million has provided critical support for democracy, including nonpartisan training for election monitors, technical support to political parties across the spectrum, and incorporation of women into democratic political processes. In post-war countries from Lebanon to West Africa, the National Endowment for Democracy has helped countries bring disabled veterans and survivors of conflict to the polls on election day, to forestall backsliding into conflict.

One of the most promising areas is the use of technology. Since 2008, the State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Rights and Labor has invested more than $320 million in global internet freedom programs to counter censorship and provide internet access. The bureau provided VPN communications for democracy activists, including the massive Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, the largest anti-regime protest in decades.

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During the first Trump administration, funding for the bureau quadrupled, with vital backing from South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Since January, however, 95 percent of its programs are suspended, jeopardizing its key focus on countering Chinas influence and other repressive regimes.

The fight is not only in China and Iran; in fact, the contest between democracy and authoritarianism is just as acute and far-flung as it was in the waning days of the Cold War. Most of the worlds population today lives in authoritarian countries or in backsliding democracies. Only 87 countries, comprising about 20 percent of the worlds population, are stable democracies, according to the latest Freedom House report.

The endowment and the State Department have helped countries counter Russian destabilization in Central and Eastern Europe and in the conflicted Western Balkans with nonpartisan support to government, civil society and independent media.

The National Endowment for Democracy was preparing to help ensure fair elections in Ukraine until funds were cut. Aid has stopped to Moldova, where a Russian-backed campaign nearly derailed a popular government in the fall, leaving open the possibility of similar interference in the coming parliamentary elections.

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Romanias election was annulled after the presidency was nearly captured through a shadowy influence campaign by coordinated TikTok accounts, undisclosed payments and algorithmic amplification of the virtually unknown ultranationalist candidates bid for office, according to Romanian intelligence.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that foreign assistance will be held to a new standard under his helm, requiring that programs demonstrably make the U.S. safer, stronger or more prosperous to justify their existence. Over the years, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Bureau of Democracy, Rights and Labor can claim to have contributed to this outcome, although officials  including Twining  allow that some programs can be sharpened or held to a higher standard.

Rubio himself has championed many of these programs. As a senator, he sponsored legislation banning clothing imports made with Uighur slave labor. And Diaz-Balart, his fellow Cuban American, bestowed a National Endowment for Democracy award on a bishop in Nicaragua, a country that is still struggling to return to the democracy it briefly enjoyed in the early 1990s. With support from the endowment, Guatemalas new government has made progress in reducing migration, as Rubio recognized on his first trip abroad as secretary. And Venezuelas opposition provided proof that they were defrauded of victory last fall, through a meticulous organizing and poll-monitoring effort supported by the U.S.

Rubios proposal to fold the Bureau of Democracy, Rights and Labor into a new, expanded directorate of foreign assistance and human rights might produce new synergy and effectiveness. But unless the new directorate is empowered with senior staff and expert personnel, its span of control could be challenged, with such a wide array of responsibilities as States major action arm for deploying all foreign and humanitarian aid and overseeing the daily execution and results. Leaders of the congressional foreign relations committees have already indicated they will closely scrutinize the proposed reorganization for its ability to carry out statutory functions established by Congress.

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Twining and Wittes, among others, argue that democracy programs are among the most cost-effective investments the U.S. government makes. The outside auditor, Grant Thornton, delivered a clean audit of the endowments financial statements in March, for the 10th straight year. These small sums are dwarfed by Chinas $60 billion annual spending on Belt and Road projects around the world and its growing purchase of local media outlets to influence public opinion. This penny-wise approach will make it far easier for the rest of the world to turn, no questions asked, to Russia and China.

Linda Robinson received the Maria Moors Cabot Prize and the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Reporting on National Defense and was a Nieman Fellow in 2001. She is now senior fellow for women and foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Last week, federal immigration agents executed a warrant on a home in Oklahoma City that authorities say is owned by a notorious human smuggling suspect. In the dark, about 20 men stormed into the house with guns drawn, according to a report from KFOR-TV. They swarmed the house, but what they found was not the owners, but new renting tenants, a mother and her three daughters, U.S. citizens freshly arrived from Maryland. The mother described details of the raid as horrifying: a woman and her children forced out into the night, their home ransacked, their property seized.

The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday posted about the raid on X: "The April 24 Oklahoma ICE operation was a lawful, court-authorized action explicitly targeting a property, that was a hub for human smuggling, not specific individuals, as falsely suggested by media reports...The warrant targeted the property itself, not specific individuals, and its execution was not contingent on the presence of any person. HSI, with Oklahoma state police support, executed the warrant with precision, seizing electronic devices as authorized."

The mother, whom NBC affiliate KFOR in Oklahoma City gives the pseudonym Marisa, expressed her fear and outrage at the situation and noted that the outcome could have been much worse: What if I would have been armed? ... Youre breaking in. What am I supposed to think? My initial thought was we were being robbed  that my daughters, being females, were being kidnapped. You have guns pointed in our faces.

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What if they had been armed, indeed? After all, many, many Americans are armed. According to the Pew Research Center, 4 in 10 U.S. adults live in households with guns. And we have been taught to regard those weapons as a right, particularly one that enables us to defend ourselves, our loved ones and our homes.

Dynamic entry raids  sometimes requiring police to knock before entering, sometimes not  were a source of serious controversy in the Obama years, resurrected more recently with the police shooting of Breonna Taylor during a March 2020 no-knock raid. But the fact that so many people are armed is a key reason dynamic entry raids are so dangerous.

As The New York Times reported in 2017, these raids have also led time and again to avoidable deaths, gruesome injuries, demolished property, enduring trauma, blackened reputations and multimillion-dollar legal settlements at taxpayer expense. That same report found that, from 2010 to 2016, there were 94 deaths resulting from such raids  including those of 13 law enforcement officers.

The evidence is already clear: Armed officers barreling into homes, weapons drawn, is a recipe for disaster. When a person is startled  particularly at night, perhaps even out of their sleep  by armed individuals rushing into their home and shouting commands, how unreasonable a response is it, really, to reach for a weapon and fire in what they assume is self-defense?

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Its the mixture of brutality and carelessness that really highlights the danger and should set our teeth on edge.

Isnt it a question of when  and not if  we see shots fired inside someones home in the course of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown? And if so, what happens when one of these questionable raids results in lethal violence  presumably driven by the confusion and instinct for self-defense as Marisa describes?

The most immediate answer is that it will be an unspeakable tragedy for all the loved ones affected. But, more to the point, what do we expect this administration would do?

The potential for a dangerous, explosive situation is very real. Consider the fuel this could provide to an administration already taking a draconian line on policing dissent. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and other administration officials could use the resulting tumult to further fan the flames of anti-immigrant fearmongering while also planting the seeds for a new War on Cops moral panic.

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Republicans have threatened to go after nonprofits they deem to be supporting terrorists, a definition that seems to include organizations, as well as universities, that support broadly liberal ideas about immigration, diversity or the environment. Trump explicitly stated he wants to send homegrowns to the notorious Salvadoran prison CECOT. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has suggested that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkers call for mass protests could be construed as inciting violence.

This is what they are saying and doing now. It isnt difficult to imagine how the president and his most powerful allies could exploit a genuine tragedy to use even more extreme actions in their crackdowns on immigration and, more broadly, dissent.

When I think of Marisas words  What if I had been armed?  I see the possibility for a truly terrifying cascade of events.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
This essay originally appeared on the Fordham Institutes Flypaper blog.

The last two weeks of April featured a rare doubleheader at the Supreme Court, as the justices took up two cases dealing with the intersection of religious liberty and public education. In both instances, plausible outcomes could thrust the courts ever deeper into the daily operation of U.S. schools, with attendant line-drawing, hair-splitting and interference likely for decades to come.

But the court has a way out of that thicket that would respect the secular nature of public schooling while guaranteeing parents their right of free expression. And that is to declare that states must find a way to provide taxpayer support for a pluralistic education system, one that funds religious schools in addition to the public schools  though not necessarily through the charter school mechanism.

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This approach might sound like judicial overreach, but it is much preferable to the road we are otherwise heading down  one that will bring endless lawsuits about the rules surrounding charter schools, as well as litigation to determine when and how religious parents can opt their children out of lessons and programs that public schools mandate but that parents find objectionable. The latter issue was at play in last weeks case, Mahmoud v. Taylor. The particular question was whether the school district in Montgomery County, Maryland, violated parents First Amendment rights by not letting them opt their children out of early elementary lessons on LGBTQ-themed storybooks  books that clearly carry messages at odds with their religious views.

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That question is easy, though, compared to others that might follow, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted. For example, do parents of faith have the right to insist that their children not be assigned to gay teachers? To pull their high school students out of biology classes that discuss human evolution? Is it feasible, much less educationally advisable, to turn public schools into an a la carte experience?

Imagine that last weeks case had been about Montgomery County, Ohio, instead of Montgomery County, Maryland. There, religious parents have the ability to send their children to private schools  including religious schools  at taxpayer expense, thanks to Ohios multi-faceted school-choice options. Thats not the case in Montgomery County, Maryland, where district schools are the only taxpayer-funded options. (Someone might inform Jackson, who asserted that religious parents could always opt for religious private schools instead of public ones, without acknowledging the burden of paying for tuition.)

For states with private school choice programs, the courts could show more deference to public school districts, knowing that religious parents have the option of exiting those schools entirely, rather than on a lesson-by-lesson basis. And to do so with the support of government funding.

Related

In Case the Choice World Dreaded, Justices Appear Open to Religious Charters

Such an approach would also be helpful when it comes to the issue at play in the other half of the double-header, Wednesdays St. Isidore of Seville v. Drummond. Here, the question is whether the state of Oklahoma, and the 46 other states with charter school laws, discriminate against nonprofit religious organizations by prohibiting them from applying to create and run public charter schools aligned with their faiths.

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This case hinges on whether charter schools are state actors, i.e., public schools. If so, they clearly trigger the First Amendments Establishment Clause and cannot be religious. The contrary view is that charter schools should be considered private, in which case Oklahoma is indeed guilty of rank discrimination, as Justice Brett Kavanaugh put it, by not allowing religious entities to win contracts to run faith-based schools  in the same way that it would be unfair to disallow Catholic Charities from managing government-funded food banks or foster care services.

That may be so. Yet for the court to mandate that states support religious charter schools against their will would be to create massive upheaval in the charter sector. After all, federal and state law and practice for 30 years have rested on the assertion that charter schools are, in fact, public schools, and therefore state actors. For example, they must accept all applicants and, if oversubscribed, use lotteries, not selective admissions, to determine who will attend. Could states require religious charter schools to abide by these same rules? Meaning that, for example, they would have to admit students and families who dont adhere to their faith? What about LGBTQ children or families? (St. Isidore claims it will accept everyone.) Whats more, a determination that charter schools are private may mean  especially in blue states  that theyll no longer be eligible for state formula funding, putting their very existence at risk.

But here, too, the court could take a wider view. It could rule that so long as states provide some vehicle to support religious education, they would not be required to do so through the charter school mechanism specifically. In the case of Saint Isidore, it could simply participate in Oklahomas existing tax credit scholarship initiative. Indeed, Jackson wondered aloud about Oklahomas voucher program  perhaps an indication that shes already seeing the big picture.

Mandating that states provide public support for religious schools might sound like a long shot. No doubt it would lead to massive bellyaching in blue states and from the usual suspects in teachers unions and the rest of the education blob. But beyond being a grand slam for kids and families, it might be the best way to avoid constant judicial micromanagement of the public schools for decades to come.
The plot is like any of a dozen or more Christmas movies you may have seen. A villain either steals all the presents or gets in the way of Santas routine, and suddenly it appears there will be no gifts under the tree.

Only, this time its not clear whether any hero can swoop in and save the day. No hastily organized singing of Christmas songs in Central Park can make the reindeer fly higher than the 145% tariffs the White House has imposed on many items from the largest supplier of Christmas in the United States  China.

Turns out China makes nearly everything  80% of the toys and 90% of the other goods, according to the New York Times  that Americans use to celebrate Christmas.

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Grant Prigge, who heads the company that makes the air purifier Mila, put it bluntly to the Wall Street Journal this week. Unless Donald Trumps high tariffs on China come down, there will be no Christmas, he said.

Cue the ominous music. Scan the worried faces.

The timing of ordering toys

He added, Everything youre buying today was imported pretariffs. But those warehouses will run out in the next 30 to 90 days.

Hes not alone in sounding the alarm. Major news outlets have carried the same story in recent days. Former Trump advisor and current IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, (Retailers) who are ordering their toys for Christmas today ... those toys are coming with a massive 145% tariff. The vast majority of small-business toy stores cannot order toys today because they cannot afford the 145% tariff.

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So, theyre making a ... decision. Theyre either going out of business, or theyre just going to wait to see what happens.

And all those parents and grandparents out there hoping for some magic Christmas morning without the Grinch? Well, they might want to start secretly crafting something homemade in their garages, or think about regifting something theyve been hanging onto since childhood.

Why are people talking about Christmas in early May? Because a lot of small toy manufacturers have to place orders with Chinese factories today in order to receive shipments in time for the holiday season. Given the speed with which things change in Washington, they dont know whether the tariffs will still apply once those orders reach American ports. As one owner told the Times, she already has placed a small, $30,000 order to China, but she may have to pay $45,000 for it in tariffs alone, when it arrives. If the tariffs arent reduced soon, she wont take a chance on a larger order. It wouldnt make any sense.

2 dolls instead of 30

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Trump said on Wednesday that children might have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, but that China would suffer more.

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However, this is about more than the children.

Going out of business

The Toy Association, which represents more than 900 toy manufacturers, released a survey in April that found nearly half of small and medium-sized enterprises state they may soon go out of business due to the current U.S. tariff policy.

Not surprisingly, the association said on its website that it will be using these results to aggressively advocate for a tariff exemption for toys and ensure the voice of the toy industry is heard by congressional leaders and White House officials.

If that doesnt happen soon, experts are predicting shortages, long lines and high prices for toys this fall. Some are turning to suppliers in other countries, such as Vietnam. But shipping costs are rising because demand has increased in countries other than China, where tariffs are on a three-month pause.

Uncertainty for businesses

Uncertainty, the bane of business owners, reigns supreme.

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Of course, it may not be such a bad thing to force Americans into dialing back the commercialism of the holiday season and focusing more on the true meaning of the holiday. Thoughtful, handmade gifts could brighten Christmas as never before.

Its just that, seven months before the big day, many Americans may be unaware of whats coming, and that this is an unfolding Christmas tale without a foreseeable Hollywood ending, especially for small businesses that sell toys.
Three years ago, the Biden administration, backed by big bipartisan majorities in Congress, launched the CHIPS and Science Act to revitalize domestic semiconductor manufacturing. After decades of outsourcing that reduced the U.S. production share of advanced chips from 37 percent to 10 percent, this industrial policy investment was justified as necessary for national security and as a measure to reinvigorate manufacturing.

To date, Congress has appropriated over $37 billion in CHIPS grants and loans to 32 companies and 48 projects across the country. Despite the billions in spending, this legislation is only the beginning of an answer to our semiconductor challenges.

A secure semiconductor supply chain requires three components: manufacturing infrastructure, the technology to power it, and the workforce to operate it. Early on, both the government and the electronics industry recognized that building factories and installing machines was just part of the solution  a skilled workforce would also be essential. With persistent labor shortages, especially in manufacturing, this represented a major task. So, Congress included hundreds of millions for workforce development in the Department of Commerce fab grants and in separate initiatives at the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

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Congress prioritized workforce development because staffing fabs is as hard (or harder) than building them. The electronics industry lacks the talent pipelines to recruit and train workers. In a tight labor market, companies often end up recruiting from a pool of workers with limited skills or significant socioeconomic employment barriers. Training these workers falls mostly on employers, who risk seeing them hired away by competitors. This churn deters private investment in training needed to meet current and future demand.

Within the manufacturing sector, wages are another confounding factor. The median wage for electronics production workers is $24 per hour  considerably lower than machinists, welders and auto workers. Raising wages significantly could price U.S. products out of the global market or require public subsidies to make them competitive. For defense-related production, subsidies can be justified on national security grounds. In the consumer market, these types of subsidies would be prohibitive and, in the long run, politically untenable.

The lack of a viable workforce and a domestic cost structure that is uncompetitive has already complicated investment in domestic chip capacity.

In 2021, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced a $12 billion fab in Phoenix. Though the company completed construction in July 2022, high-volume production was delayed until late 2024, mainly due to a lack of trained workers. Meanwhile, in Japan, a similar facility broke ground 18 months after the Arizona fab, yet went into full production at the same time. Access to trained labor made the difference. So long as better-paying jobs are plentiful, new semiconductor plants are likely to face the same problem finding skilled workers.

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Even if workforce and wage challenges are overcome, another issue looms: U.S. manufacturing capacity has withered over several decades and would have to be rebuilt. As weve seen with President Trumps tariffs on the auto industry and consumer electronics manufacturing chains  products passing back and forth across national boundaries during assembly, sometimes multiple times  are complex, fragile and hard to redesign.

Chips dont work alone; they require substrates like printed circuit boards and other components that are also not produced domestically. A semiconductor without a printed circuit board is like a car engine without a frame  sophisticated and potentially powerful but effectively useless. Without a plan to use our new semiconductor resources, we risk filling warehouses with chips that have nowhere to go.

To make use of the tens of millions of newly available, domestically produced semiconductors, the U.S. faces a clear choice: either invest in the long, expensive and uncertain effort of rebuilding electronics manufacturing capacity, or rely on a form of distributed, global assembly  often called friendshoring  that combines American design know-how with less expensive labor.

In other words, end-to-end electronics production that could make use of domestically produced chips means rebuilding a version of the international manufacturing system that is currently undergoing massive disruption. If we end up with a friendshored assembly system, we will, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, arrive where we started and understand globalization for the first time.

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Brent Orrell is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, specializing in job training and workforce development. David Hernandez is the Vice President of Education at the global trade association IPC.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Ukraine's membership in the EU is disadvantageous for his country, as it threatens the Hungarian economy. He also called it a significant problem that the EU allegedly has to support Ukraine's million-strong army.

Source: Orban on Kossuth radio, as reported by European Pravda, citing Magyar Nemzet

Details: Orban said that Hungary has lost several billion euros in three years because of the war. The prime minister says the country would not have had such economic problems if the money sent to Ukraine had been invested in the European economy.

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Quote: "However, European leaders continue to seek war and support Ukraine even against the will of the American leadership. We cannot finance and support Ukraine and the Ukrainian army without the United States. We could spend at home the money they want to spend there. Theyre taking money, including ours, to Ukraine in wheelbarrows."

Details: Orban reiterated that the European Commission had announced intentions to admit Ukraine into the EU by 2030.

"The European Peoples Party, to which the Tisza Party belongs, wants to bring Ukraine into the EU, which would ruin the Hungarian economy," he emphasised, referring to the political force of his main opponent, Peter Magyar.

He called on the public to participate in the Voks 2025 survey to express their opinion on Ukraines EU membership.

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"In Brussels, they believe that in order to finance Ukraine, it is necessary to take out a huge joint loan because EU leaders know they cannot support Ukraine on their own," Orban said, adding that Europe must avoid falling deeper into debt.

He also argued that most EU funds intended for Ukraine would ultimately benefit large foreign companies already operating there, much like Hungary's own experience after joining the EU.

"If it were beneficial for Hungarians, they would support Ukraines membership," Orban stated. "But our country would pay an additional price for Ukraines accession."

Background:

Ukraines leadership and the European Commission had ambitious plans to begin accession talks in 2025, but Hungarys veto obstructed the process. Recently, there have been signals that Moldova and Ukraine might be separated on their paths to EU accession.

Following talks in Budapest on 29 April, Ukraine and Hungary agreed on regular consultations to unblock negotiations on Ukraines accession to the European Union.

Budapest organised a consultative survey on Ukraines EU membership  Viktor Orban publicly voted against it.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon House Republicans unveiled their transportation funding proposal on Wednesday, featuring $730 million in refocused spending, and budget cuts for various programs from public transportation to safety initiatives for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In a press release, the House Republican Caucus said the funding package prioritizes core functions of the transportation department while avoiding spending on non-essential programs and divisive agendas.

The proposal includes a handful of budget cuts to the Oregon Department of Transportations 2025-2027 biennial budget.

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Police arrest 9 after home taken over by squatters while the sick owner was away

This includes cutting $306 million from the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund, which helps maintain and expand public transportation, along with $47 million in cuts to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program, which aims to make safety improvements and reduce crashes involving those walking and biking. Instead, the caucus wants to focus these funds on ODOTs core mission of maintaining safe and reliable roads and bridges.

House Republicans are also pitching $38 million in passenger rail cuts, along with $24 million in cuts to ODOTs Social Equity and Civil Rights Division. Republicans argue these funds should be diverted towards road maintenance and other transportation needs.

The lawmakers are also proposing leasing unused office space at ODOTs Salem headquarters, stating the office has over 100,000 square feet of unused space. According to House Republicans, leasing 70,000 square feet of the unused office space could save $55 million.

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Theres no substitute: Alpenrose Dairy demolition signals end of an era

Along with leasing the vacant space, Republicans are proposing to cut vacant ODOT jobs. House Republicans say ODOT has hundreds of positions that have been unfilled for at least six months. By reducing the unfilled job rate by 90%, the lawmakers claim this would save $68 million.

The proposal also calls for the state to issue bonds to finish the Rose Quarter Improvement Project and eliminate $16 million in the State Highway Fund dedicated to litter, camp and abandoned property cleanup. Those funds should be redirected to other transportation needs, Republicans say.

In a press release detailing their proposal, Republicans noted they are continuing to explore additional proposals and funding cuts.

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This plan protects Oregon families from more tax increases by requiring ODOT to cut wasteful spending that does not align with core functions, said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby).

For years, ODOT has funded ideas instead of infrastructure, added Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany). When an agency is focusing on an agenda of one-party rule, pavement priorities get sidetracked. Oregonians see it and deserve better.

The Republicans proposal follows a $1.9 billion transportation funding proposal unveiled by Democrats in April, aiming to invest in Oregons crumbling infrastructure.

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After Democrats rolled out their transportation plans, TriMet issued a warning that the public transportation agency would see drastic service cuts without a funding boost.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A 62-year-old visitor from Portland, Ore., died Wednesday night after she was participated in a guided manta ray snorkel trip.

Hawaii County police said that at about 9 :28 p.m., Kona patrol officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to the Keauhou Pier to a report of a possible drowning.

Officials said the woman, identified as Lori Trende-Landgraver, went into the water after a safety briefing for the snorkel trip.

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Five minutes later, police said in a news release, she returned to the boat complaining of soreness in her arms. Trende-Landgraver re-boarded the boat and told the captain she wasnt feeling well then became unresponsive, according to police.

Crew members conducted CPR on Trende-Landgraver and HFD medics met the boat at Keauhou Harbor when it returned.

Police said medics continued medical treatment and transported her to Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted.

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A coroners investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of death, but police said foul play is not suspected. Hawaii police said they were investigating the incident as a possible drowning.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is advised to contact Officer Lawrence Matsumoto at (808 ) 935-3311 or at.

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Protesters raise signs that read "fight ignorance not immigrants" and "uncodumented hands feed you" at a May Day celebration in Salem on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)

Hundreds of Oregonians marched through the blocks surrounding the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Thursday to celebrate International Workers Day, commonly known as May Day.

The crowd ranged from young adults to seniors. Some wore T-shirts representing labor unions, while others dressed in traditional Indigenous headdresses. Many attendees chanted the Spanish phrase si se puede, meaning yes we can, while holding flags representing the U.S. and Mexico, LGBTQ+ pride and Ukraine and signs criticizing the Trump administration.

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The event was organized by Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste or PCUN, a Woodburn-based organization that has advocated for farmworker and immigrant rights in Oregon since the 1970s and continues doing so as federal immigration enforcement intensifies  especially against sanctuary states like Oregon. President Donald Trump this week called for freezing funding to states and cities that dont coordinate with federal immigration enforcement.

About 120,000 unauthorized immigrants live in the state, according to a 2022 study from the Pew Research Center. Oregon since 1987 has prohibited state and local officials from helping enforce federal immigration law without judicial warrants, and lawmakers strengthened the states sanctuary protections during the first Trump administration.

PCUN, along with several Oregon faith groups, sued the Trump administration on Monday after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ended a policy that limited where federal immigration officers could operate, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

(Today) reminds us that labor rights and immigrant rights are intertwined, PCUN Executive Director Reyna Lopez told the crowd.

Hundreds attended the a May Day celebration and march in Salem on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)

Oregon will not be bullied, governor says

Freshman Rep. Lesly Munoz, D-Woodburn, spoke to the crowd and highlighted the role immigrant workers play in Oregons agricultural, construction, direct care and hospitality industries.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek speaks at a May Day celebration in Salem on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)

We have an immigration system that is outdated and unjust, keeping millions in the shadows  even those who have lived here for decades, raised families here, paid taxes and contribute deeply to our communities, Munoz said.

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Munoz, a longtime labor organizer, is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her father worked as a landscaper and laborer and her mother cleaned homes, babysat and worked as a school instructional assistant.

Gov. Tina Kotek, standing in front of legislative leaders, also spoke at the event and pledged that Oregon will continue honoring its long history of being a sanctuary state.

I want to address the fear that many of you are facing right now as the federal government wages unlawful attacks on our immigrant communities that threaten our values and our right to govern ourselves, Kotek said. I want you to know that I will not back down from the fight.

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Orlando police officers fatally shot a man Thursday night at an apartment complex near Millenia while he carried a fake pistol, according to the agency.

The Orlando Police Department identified the man Friday morning as 25-year-old Orlin Bueso-Calderon. The shooting investigation is in its preliminary stages and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the probe of the five officers who shot at him.

Police searched for Bueso-Calderon after reports he held a gun inside a nearby 7-Eleven gas station and a neighboring dry cleaners. He was later tracked down to the parking lot of an apartment complex on Cason Cove Drive where was confronted by officers.

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The weapon was described by police as a simulated gun.

Our officers gave multiple commands in English and Spanish to the suspect to drop the gun, OPD Chief Eric Smith told reporters after the shooting. When the suspect failed to follow the commands, he was shot by five officers.

The officers names and statuses with the department have not been mentioned in agency-issued news updates. A spokesperson refused to release their names when directly asked, instead referring questions about that information to the citys public records portal.

Court records show Bueso-Calderon was facing charges at the time of the shooting after his arrest in February by the Orange County Sheriffs Office. He was accused of fleeing a traffic stop and giving a fake name to deputies.

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In 2021, he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer but the case was dropped by prosecutors months later. Its not clear if officers knew that before confronting him.

Smith said whether Bueso-Calderon was experiencing a mental health episode in the moments before the shooting will be part of the FDLE investigation.

The shooting made Bueso-Calderon the fourth person killed by OPD officers this year and the second in two weeks.

Early the morning of April 20, Johnathan Flores, 38, was killed when police said he refused to drop his gun after firing a single shot in the air as officers responded to a fight that broke out in downtown Orlando. Two other men  Marvin Martin, 63, and Nick Bingham, 62, were fatally shot Jan. 3 and March 1, respectively

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A fifth person, 56-year-old Gerald Neal, was killed Feb. 12 during a chase by an OPD detective in an unmarked vehicle that began from a traffic stop, a violation of agency policy. According to court records Neal, a bystander as the chase entered a neighborhood south of downtown, was hit by the vehicles driven by the subject of the pursuit and the officer, Detective Christopher Moulton.

Neals death remains under investigation.
Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Starbucks (SBUX) has a grande problem: It disappointed across the board in its second-quarter earnings report, sending its stock falling as it missed key revenue and earnings estimates.

Even Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol acknowledged late Tuesday that the results were disappointing on a post-earnings call. Starbucks announced earnings per share of $0.41 and $8.72 billion in revenue  but Wall Street analysts had expected those numbers to be $0.49 and $8.82 billion, respectively. Nicco said earnings per share shouldnt be used as a measure of our success at this stage of the companys turnaround.

Starbucks stock fell 7.5% in Wednesday morning trading. The shares are down almost 15% so far this year.

Most of note to investors was Starbucks comparable (or same-store) sales results, which fell for the fifth consecutive quarter and suggest that customers are seeking cheaper options, such as Dunkin and McDonalds, or preferable environments elsewhere.

Global same-store sales fell 1% in the second quarter behind a 2% decline in transactions. Those numbers were even worse in the U.S., where those sales fell 2% fueled by a 4% drop in transactions. Wall Street had expected a more modest decline.

Niccol said the company remained committed to China for the long term  but slumping sales and high tariffs could change that strategy going forward. Meanwhile, Starbucks profit dropped more than 50% from the prior year.

Our financial results dont yet reflect our progress, but we have real momentum with our Back to Starbucks plan, Niccol said in a video posted on the companys website. Were testing and learning at speed, and were seeing changes in our coffeehouses.

The companys Back to Starbucks plan includes updates to make stores feel more like a third place (comfier furniture, a no-loitering policy), a sequencing algorithm to get drinks in customers hands more efficiently and quickly; a dress code update; requiring patrons names to be handwritten on cups; mobile order scheduling; restoring the condiment bar; and a simplified menu.

Niccol said Starbucks would focus on improving front-end delivery rather than improving its kitchen equipment because the equipment doesnt solve the customer experience that we need to provide.

He said on the companys websitethat his optimism has turned into confidence that this plan will help the company turn business around. Niccol was brought on board late last summer to help the company change its course among faltering sales, much like he was able to do in his role as Chipotles (CMG) CEO.
With the legislative season done, all eyes are on the next big elections for Georgia.

One of those races includes who is going to take on Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff for his Senate seat in 2026.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution released a new statewide poll looking at several state Republicans who could possibly face Ossoff in the race.

Brian Kemps term will be up for governor, and many have speculated that he will run for Senate. While Kemp has made no official announcement on a Senate run, he also has said he wouldnt run.

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I dont really have a time frame on that, but now that we are out of the legislative session, I mean, Im going to give some thought to that, Kemp told Channel 2s Richard Elliot last month.

Kemp was also spotted last month meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune as the Republicans court Kemp.

TRENDING STORIES:

According to the latest AJC poll, Kemp would lead Ossoff by three points in a hypothetical matchup, which is within the polls margin of error of 3.1%.

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Another name that keeps coming up to go against Ossoff is Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

During an interview in February, Greene was asked if she was thinking about running for governor or for Senate.

Of course Im considering all possibilities, Greene said. No decisions have been made, but I would be telling a lie if I said I wasnt considering it.

In a matchup with Ossoff, the AJC poll shows the senator winning by double digits, 54% to Greenes 37%.

Ossoff also easily beats insurance commissioner, John King, 51%-38%, and in a match-up with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the Senator wins reelection by 9 points.
If you own a Ninja-branded pressure cooker, you may want to check your cabinets.

SharkNinja has issued a recall of more than 2 million pressure cookers sold across the U.S. and Canada.

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The recall concerns the SharkNinja Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cookers over serious burn concerns.

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The notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday notes that the "pressure-cooking lid can be opened during use, causing hot contents to escape, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers."

SharkNinja has received 106 burn injury reports, with more than 50 reports for second or third-degree burns to the face or body. The notice states that 26 lawsuits have been filed.

The safety of our customers is a top priority for SharkNinja, the company said in a statement released to The Associated Press.

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

The product was sold across a variety of stores, including Walmart, Costco, Sams Club, Amazon and Target nationwide and online from January 2019 through March 2025. It retailed for about $200.

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To double-check your model, look for the following model numbers printed on a label on the side of the cooker: OP300, OP301, OP301A, OP302, OP302BRN, OP302HCN, OP302HAQ, OP302HW, OP302HB, OP305, OP305CO and OP350CO

Consumers who are in possession of the recalled item are being told to immediately stop using the pressure-cooking function and contact SharkNinja to receive a free replacement lid. The other functions, including air frying, remain safe to use.

To contact SharkNinja, you can call the toll-free number at 888-370-1733 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Saturday. You can also send an email or fill out a form online.

Next: Fisher-Price Recalls More Than 250,000 Toys Over Major Safety Hazard


SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  The Ozarks Food Harvest will be donating food to residents impacted by the continuing power outages due to the April 29 severe weather.

The last 24 to 48 hours have been very challenging for a lot of families whove been forced to throw out food thats gone bad just due to lack of refrigeration freezers. Says Jordan Browning, Director of Communications. And so, weve luckily been able to work with all of our agencies in green County and surrounding areas to make sure that theyre getting the food they need and that theyre available to all families that are in need.

Ozarks Food Harvest has also received more food from their partners, including Dollar General donating $13,000 worth of food that otherwise would have gone to waste due to them having power outages, as well as Tyson Chicken providing $39,000 worth of protein, which has been in high demand.

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Most of the food donated is canned, which will keep it from spoiling throughout the outages.

Ozarks Food Harvest will continue to give out food until power is restored for residents.

If you wish to donate, please visit the Ozarks Food Harvest 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Islamabad, Pakistan  Pakistan and India continue to engage in war rhetoric and have exchanged fire across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmir, days after the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22.

Since then, senior members of Pakistans government and military officials have held multiple news conferences in which they have claimed to have credible information that an Indian military response is imminent.

This is not the first time South Asias two largest countries  which have a combined population of more than 1.6 billion people, about one-fifth of the worlds population  have found themselves under the shadow of potential war.

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At the heart of their longstanding animosity lies the status of the picturesque valley of Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan have fought three of their four previous wars. Since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, both countries have controlled parts of Kashmir  with China controlling another part of it  but continue to claim it in full.

So what is the Kashmir conflict all about, and why do India and Pakistan continue to fight over it nearly eight decades after independence?





What are the latest tensions about?

India has implied it believes Pakistan may have indirectly supported the Pahalgam attack  a claim Pakistan strongly denies. Both countries have engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic swipes at each other, including cancelling visas for each others citizens and recalling diplomatic staff.

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India has suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a water use and distribution agreement with Pakistan. Pakistan has in turn threatened to walk away from the Simla Agreement, which was signed in July 1972, seven months after Pakistan decisively lost the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. The Simla Agreement has since formed the bedrock of India-Pakistan relations. It governs the LoC and outlines a commitment to resolve disputes through peaceful means.

On Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to urge both countries to work together to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also called Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday to condemn the attack. I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people, Hegseth wrote on X.

Interactive_Kashmir_LineOfControl_April23_2025

What lies at the heart of the Kashmir conflict?

Situated in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent, the region spans 222,200 square kilometres (85,800sq miles) with about four million people living in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and 13 million in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

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The population is overwhelmingly Muslim. Pakistan controls the northern and western portions, namely Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan, while India controls the southern and southeastern parts, including the Kashmir Valley and its biggest city, Srinagar, as well as Jammu and Ladakh.

The end of British colonial rule and the partition of British India in August 1947 led to the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India.

At the time, princely states like Jammu and Kashmir were given the option to accede to either country. With a nearly 75 percent Muslim population, many in Pakistan believed the region would naturally join that country. After all, Pakistan under Muhammad Ali Jinnah was created as a homeland for Muslims, even though a majority of Muslims in what remained as India after partition stayed back in that country, where Mahatma Gandhi and independent Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, built the foundations of a secular state.

The maharaja of Kashmir initially sought independence from both countries but later chose to join India after Pakistan invaded, triggering the first war from 1947 to 1948. The ceasefire line established after that was formalised as the LoC in the Simla Agreement.

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Despite this, both countries continue to assert claims to the entire region, including, in the case of India, to China-administered Aksai Chin on the eastern side.

Interactive_Kashmir_Territorial Control_April23_2025

What triggered the first Indo-Pakistan war in 1947?

The ruling Hindu maharaja of Kashmir was Hari Singh, whose forefathers took control of the region as part of an agreement with the British in 1846.

At the time of partition, Singh initially sought to retain Kashmirs independence from both India and Pakistan.

But by then, a rebellion against his rule by pro-Pakistani residents in a part of Kashmir had broken out. Armed groups from Pakistan, backed by the government of the newly formed country, invaded and tried to take over the region.

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Sheikh Abdullah, the most prominent Kashmiri leader at the time, opposed the Pakistani-backed attack. Hari Singh appealed to India for military assistance.

Nehrus government intervened against Pakistan  but on the condition that the maharaja sign an Instrument of Accession merging Jammu and Kashmir with India. In October 1947, Jammu and Kashmir officially became part of India, giving New Delhi control over the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh.

India accused Pakistan of being the aggressor in the conflict  a charge Pakistan denied  and took the matter to the United Nations in January 1948. A key resolution was passed stating: The question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite. Nearly 80 years later, no plebiscite has been held  a source of grievance for Kashmiris.

The first war over Kashmir finally ended with a UN-mediated ceasefire, and in 1949, the two countries formalised a ceasefire line under an agreement signed in Karachi, Pakistans then-capital. The new line divided Kashmir between Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts.





How did the situation change after the 1949 agreement?

By 1953, Sheikh Abdullah had founded the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and won state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir.

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However, his increasing interest in seeking independence from India led to his arrest by Indian authorities. In 1956, Jammu and Kashmir was declared an integral part of India.

In September 1965, less than two decades after independence, India and Pakistan went to war over the region again.

Pakistan hoped to aid the Kashmiri cause and incite a local uprising, but the war ended in a stalemate, with both sides agreeing to a UN-supervised ceasefire.

How did China get a part of Kashmir?

The Aksai Chin region in the northeast of the region sits at an elevation of 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), and through history, was a hard-to-reach, barely inhabited territory that in the 19th and early 20th centuries sat at the border of British India and China.

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It was a part of the kingdom that Kashmirs Hari Singh inherited as a result of the 1846 deal with the British. Until the 1930s, at least, Chinese maps too recognised Kashmir as being south of the Ardagh-Johnson Line that marked the northeastern boundary of Kashmir.

After 1947 and Singhs accession to India, New Delhi viewed Aksai Chin as part of its territory. But by the early 1950s, China  now under communist rule  built a massive 1,200km (745-mile) long highway connecting Tibet and Xinjiang, and running through Aksai Chin.

India was caught unaware  the desolate region had not been a security priority until then. In 1954, Nehru called for the border to be formalised according to the Ardagh-Johnson Line  in effect, recognising Aksai Chin as a part of India.

But China insisted that the British had never discussed the Ardagh-Johnson Line, and that Aksai Chin belonged to it under an alternate map. Most importantly, though, China already had boots on the ground in Aksai Chin because of the highway.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan and China also had differences over who controlled what in parts of Kashmir. But by the early 1960s, they reached an agreement: China gave up grazing grounds that Pakistan had sought, and in return, Pakistan ceded a thin slice of northern Kashmir to China.

India claims this deal was illegal since, according to the Instrument of Accession of 1947, all of Kashmir belonged to it.

Back to India and Pakistan: What happened next?

Another war followed in December 1971  this time over what was then known as East Pakistan, following a popular revolt by India-backed Bengali nationalists against Pakistans rule. The war led to the creation of Bangladesh. More than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were captured by India as prisoners of war.

The Simla Agreement converted the ceasefire line into the LoC, a de facto but not internationally recognised border, yet again leaving Kashmirs status in question.

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But after Indias decisive 1971 victory and amid the growing political influence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi  Nehrus daughter  the 1970s saw Abdullah abandon his demand for a plebiscite and the Kashmiri peoples right of self-determination.

In 1975, he signed an accord with Gandhi, recognising India-administered Kashmirs accession to India while retaining semi-autonomous status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. He later served as the regions chief minister.

What led to a renewed drive for Kashmiri independence in the 1980s?

As ties grew between Abdullahs National Conference Party and Indias ruling Indian National Congress, so did frustration among Kashmiris in India-controlled Kashmir, who felt that socioeconomic conditions had not improved in the region.

Separatist groups like the Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, founded by Maqbool Bhat, rose.

Indias claims of democracy in Kashmir faltered in the face of growing support for the armed groups. A tipping point was the 1987 election to the state legislature, which saw Abdullahs son, Farooq Abdullah, come to power, but which was widely viewed as heavily rigged to keep out popular, anti-India politicians.

Indian authorities launched a severe crackdown on separatist groups, which New Delhi alleged were supported and trained by Pakistans military intelligence. Pakistan, for its part, has consistently maintained it provides only moral and diplomatic support, backing the Kashmiris right to self-determination.

In 1999, conflict erupted in Kargil, where Indian and Pakistani forces fought for control over strategic heights along the LoC. India eventually regained the lost territory, and the pre-conflict status quo was restored. This was the third war over Kashmir  Kargil is a part of Ladakh.

How have tensions over Kashmir escalated since then?

The following years saw a gradual reduction in direct conflict, with multiple ceasefires signed. However, India significantly ramped up its military presence in the valley.

Tensions were reignited in 2016 after the killing of Burhan Wani, a popular separatist figure. His death led to a rise in violence in the valley and more frequent exchanges of fire along the LoC.

Major attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir, including those in Pathankot and Uri in 2016, targeted Indian forces, who blamed Pakistan-backed armed groups.

The most serious escalation came in February 2019 when a convoy of Indian paramilitary personnel was attacked in Pulwama, killing 40 soldiers and bringing the two nations to the brink of war.

Six months later, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally abrogated Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status. Pakistan condemned the move as a violation of the Simla Agreement.

The decision led to widespread protests in the valley. India deployed 500,000 to 800,000 soldiers, placed the region under lockdown, shut down internet services and detained thousands of people.

India insists that Pakistan is to blame for the ongoing crisis in Kashmir. It accuses Pakistan of hosting, financing and training the Pakistan-based armed groups that have claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir over the decades. Some of these groups are also accused by India, the US, and others of attacking other parts of India  such as during the 2008 attack on Mumbai, Indias financial capital, when at least 166 people were killed over three days.

Pakistan continues to deny that it fuels violence in India-controlled Kashmir and instead points to widespread resentment among locals, accusing India of imposing harsh and undemocratic rule in the region. Islamabad says it only supports Kashmiri separatism diplomatically and morally.
Buckingham Palace released a strong statement following Prince Harry's bombshell new interview.

On May 2, the palace responded after the Duke of Sussex, 40, spoke with BBC News hours after a judge dismissed his legal appeal to restore the state-funded security he says was unjustly stripped when he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020.

"All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion," a palace spokesperson said.

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Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos dismissed the appeal on May 2, saying that two other judges agreed with his opinion.

"The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC [the governments Royal and VIP Executive Committee]. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible, I said in my judgment, to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible," Vos said.

David Rose / POOL / AFP/Getty King Charles and Prince Harry in September 2022. King Charles and Prince Harry in September 2022.

Related: Prince Harry Wants 'Reconciliation' but Says King Charles 'Won't Speak to Me': 'I Don't Know How Much Longer My Father Has'

"Even if there had been a risk analysis from the Risk Management Board, it would very likely have only confirmed the threat, vulnerability and impact levels which the Duke of Sussex had faced when earlier risk analyses were undertaken," he continued. "But it would have had nothing to say on the critical features of the changed situation, namely the need for protective security on future uncertain visits and the government's appetite for risk."

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The judge described RAVEC's decision on Prince Harry's security as "understandable and perhaps predictable."

Harry recently traveled to London from his California home to attend the two-day hearing at the Royal Court of Justice on April 8 and 9, the latest step in a years-long fight to renew the automatic, state-funded security protection during visits to his home country that he lost after stepping back five years ago.

Belinda Jiao/Getty Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 8, 2025. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 8, 2025.

Related: Prince Harry Says He Cant See Bringing Archie and Lilibet Back to the U.K.: Theyre Going to Miss Everything

In February 2024, King Charles' younger son lost his initial case against RAVECs decision to downgrade his security, with the appeal vetoed on May 2.

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The Duke of Sussex has long argued that as ceremonial head of state, the King could help reinstate the security he is fighting for  an idea the palace denies and emphasized on Friday.

Prince Harry spoke his truth the sensational new interview, where he alleged that his father the King "won't speak to me because of this security stuff," said "some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book" (referencing his 2023 tell-all memoir, Spare) and claimed that he can't picture a future where he would feel safe bringing his wife and their kids, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, to the U.K. without this protection.

"I cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," Prince Harry told the network.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The Duke of Sussex also voiced uncertainty around the state of his father's health and prognosis as he continues treatment for cancer. The palace announced in February 2024 that the King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and palace sources said around Christmas that it would continue into this year.

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"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," Prince Harry said. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."





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Thousands of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip are facing an increased threat of starvation, the United Nations has warned, as Israels continued blockade of food, water and other critical supplies to the besieged and bombarded coastal territory enters its third month.

The UNs child rights agency (UNICEF) said on Friday that more than 9,000 children had been admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition since the start of the year.

But the situation has worsened since Israel imposed a total blockade on the Palestinian enclave in early March.

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For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement.

With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death  nothing can justify this.

Israel has blocked all humanitarian assistance from reaching Palestinians in Gaza since March 2, spurring international condemnation.

The UNs World Food Programme said last week that its food supplies had been depleted amid the siege, warning that community kitchens upon which thousands of Palestinians rely would be forced to close.





We dont ask if food is nutritious or not, if its fresh or good; thats a luxury, we just want to fill the stomachs of our children, a displaced Palestinian parent recently told Amnesty International about the crisis. I dont want my child to die hungry.

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The Israeli government has said its blockade is intended to put pressure on Palestinian group Hamas to release captives held in Gaza. But it has not led to any more releases since the fleeting ceasefire earlier this year, which saw Palestinian prisoners exchanged for Israeli captives.

Meanwhile, Hamas official Abdel Rahman Shadid on Friday accused Israel of using starvation as a deliberate weapon of war against Palestinians.

Children are dying from the lack of milk, not just from bombs, Shadid said in a statement published on the groups Telegram channel.

Legal experts and human rights groups have noted that, as an occupying power, Israel has an obligation under international law to provide food and other assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

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They have condemned the blockade as a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of all ages are experiencing high levels of food insecurity in Gaza, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a global hunger watchdog.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network, told Al Jazeera that the situation is worsening quickly as health facilities lack the supplies needed to treat children grappling with malnutrition.

We have no food supplies or supplementary materials or medications for these children, Shawa told Al Jazeera from Gaza City. There is high concern that we will witness more casualties in the coming few days, he added.





At Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza, Dr Ahmed Abu Nasir said the situation has become worse than ever due to the blockade.

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Children are in their growing stage and badly need certain nutrients, including proteins and fats, the paediatrician told Al Jazeera. These are not available in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the north.

More than 52,400 Palestinians have been killed since Israels war on Gaza began in October 2023, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry.
Pro-Palestinian students detained by immigration authorities saw their biggest win to date this week with the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, though both his case and the fight at large have a long way to go.

While the ruling is not the kind of slam dunk that would make advocates feel safer about the state of free speech on college campuses, it is the first major breakthrough in the courts for international students who have been besieged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump.

While this decision is a positive development, and we certainly hope there are more decisions like it coming down the road, I do think it would be overly ambitious to say that this provides a layer of protection for students, said Conor Fitzpatrick, supervising senior attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

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Mahdawi, a green-card holder and 10-year U.S. resident, was released on bail Wednesday after he was arrested April 14 by plain clothes officers during what was supposed to be a naturalization interview, with video of the incident quickly going viral.

The judge in the Columbia University students case cited First Amendment concerns in his ruling.

His continued detention would likely have a chilling effect on protected speech, which is squarely against the public interest. And continuing to detain him would not benefit the public in any way, as Mahdawi appears not to be either a flight risk or a danger to the community, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford said.

Finally, Mr. Mahdawis release will benefit his community, which appears to deeply cherish and value him, Crawford added.

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The release was the first among the high-profile cases that have garnered national attention in Trumps crackdown.

The administration has accused Mahdawi and others of being pro-Hamas and says the secretary of State has the authority to order their deportation because they pose a threat to the foreign policy of the United States.

When you advocate for violence, glorify and support terrorists that relish the killing of Americans and harass Jews, that [visa] privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. We have the law, facts and commonsense on our side, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant Homeland Security secretary, said on social platform X after Mahdawis ruling.

No judge, not this one or another, is going to stop the Trump Administration from restoring the rule of law to our immigration system, McLaughlin added.

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Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia alumnus and the first pro-Palestinian student activist known to be arrested by ICE, and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was allegedly targeted over a school newspaper op-ed she co-authored supporting Palestine, are both still fighting for their own release.

Both were taken to Louisiana to be detained, leading to fights over which courts have jurisdiction over their cases.

Advocates argue the administration taking students thousands of miles away from where they were arrested is intentional to harm them and get the proceedings into a friendlier court. Louisianas district courts feed into the most conservative federal appeals court in the country.

Mahdawis case shows that once you get past all of the governments procedural tricks and hurdles  the governments defense will not work in court, said Brian Hauss, senior staff attorney on the American Civil Liberties Union Speech, Privacy and Technology Project and part of Mahdawis legal team.

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We expect that when the courts reach the merits in the other cases, theyre going to see through [the federal government] as well. And so, were hopeful that this is the first step in a very important constitutional right, Hauss added.

Fitzpatrick said the brighter light of hope that college students and other noncitizens should look for is whether an injunction has been issued, whether a court has issued an order blocking the Trump administrations efforts to deport noncitizens for protected speech.

Multiple academic groups have sued the administration over the policy the federal government is using to justify the arrests of international students and scholars.

The Trump administration has not shown any signs of stopping, but advocates argue that even if all the cases were dropped today, the effects on free speech at college campuses will be long lasting.

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Over the last year, theres been a consistent and persistent squashing of speech, and that, unfortunately may continue and there is going to be a lingering fear, said Kristen Shahverdian, program director of campus free speech at Pen America.

There are already those repercussions where students and others on campus are reporting that they are afraid and that the risk is high, so they have to be really mindful of what they say, of voicing opinions, certainly not protesting visibly right out in the quad. And so, I think that, unfortunately, these kinds of cases can have a much longer term effect, she added.

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ORLANDO, Fla.  Most weekends, the Facebook pages dedicated to the Orlando Wetlands focus on spectacular pictures of nature in action  huge, hungry gators, mischievious otters and a flamboyant array of nesting birds.

But last weekend, a pair of unwelcome fliers sailed into the 1,650-acre park about 25 miles east of Orlando, causing a commotion that sparked an outcry among visitors and led to the filing of complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division.

The fliers piloted motor-powered paragliders into the protected space where even drones are forbidden.

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I saw them coming in, said James McNair, 61, a hospice nurse who spends most weekends with his camera gear at the wetlands and who serves as moderator of the Facebook page Orlando Wetlands Photography.

McNair snapped pictures of the fliers, one of whom headed directly toward a cypress tree dome, the main spot for nesting birds, which included wood storks, a long-legged wading species federally listed as threatened.

The wetlands is home to hundreds of species of birds from plain-looking flycatchers to bright pink Roseate spoonbills, and more than 60 kinds of butterflies. Alligators, bobcats, coyotes, otters and raccoons also roam the marshy grounds.

McNair said he watched the paraglider sail toward the rookeries, flying closer and closer before pulling up at the last second. Dozens of birds scattered, abandoning nests and chicks.

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When the paraglider drifted away, the birds slowly returned.

But it definitely spooked a lot of them, McNair said.

The nature community reacted angrily online to McNairs photos of the fliers.

Some called for the FAA to investigate. Others described the fliers as self-entitled and idiots.

Wish they landed on a gator, one post mused.

In response to critics, a man posted an apology in the Facebook group, suggesting he was one of the fliers.

The Orlando Sentinel was unable to verify his identity or contact him.

I respect nature and always try to respect peopleI was out flying around and didnt know the wetlands park was there, the post read. If I would have known, we would have steered clear of it. Never try [to] ruffle anyones feathers, and Im sorry to anyone that might have gotten upset with [us] flying by. It wont happen again since we know its there now.

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Mark Sees, the Orlando Wetlands manager, referred an inquiry to the citys communication team.

Spokesperson Ashley Papagni said the city learned of low-flying paragliders over the Orlando Wetlands from photos and community concerns. One of the individuals involved later contacted us directly, expressed regret, and we were able to clarify the sensitive nature and the importance of protecting wildlife, Papagni said.

She did not name the individual, but said incident was reported to the FAA and FWC.

Chad Weber, a law enforcement officer with the state wildlife agency, said investigators were gathering information about the incident, and it could potentially fall under Florida laws prohibiting harassment of wildlife.

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The city acquired the 1,650 acres in 1986 for about $5.13 million to filter reclaimed wastewater. Water flows through the marsh and the plants, which consume the nutrients before the cleaned liquid spills into the St. Johns River.

In December 2022, the city opened a 2,200-foot boardwalk to allow hikers, birdwatchers and other visitors a view over the water and closer to the coots, egrets, herons and wood storks who nest near the cypress dome.

Its what I consider a hidden jewel of Central Florida, said Bruce Doerle, 77, a nature photographer.

Doerle said the paragliders are probably attracted to the wetlands area for the same reasons as birds.

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Not many houses and a beautiful view from up high, he said.

On its website, the United States Powered Paragliding Association notes that Airspace can be very intimidating to a lot of paramotor pilots.

It means there are some places where we need permission to fly and other places where we dont.

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Angela Weiss / AFP / Getty Images A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in early April.

U.S. stocks fell for a third consecutive month in April as uncertainty about President Trump's tariff policies wreaked havoc on Wall Street.

The month got off to a dismal start when President Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" tariff announcement erased about $6 trillion in market value. Stocks were boosted mid-month by a 90-day pause on most of Trump's country-specific tariffs and signs that the White House was eager to de-escalate its trade war with China. But the rebound, hampered on Wednesday by data showing U.S. GDP contracted in the first quarter, wasn't enough to dig stocks out of their hole; the S&P 500 finished April down 0.8%.

Tariffs will likely continue to dominate the conversation on Wall Street in May as the torrent of first-quarter earnings reports early in the month slows to a trickle. Below, we look at five stocks to keep an eye on in May.

Apple

Apple (AAPL) will report its first-quarter results after the closing bell on Thursday, May 1, and the focus will be squarely on tariffs.

The iPhone maker won a tariff exemption during the first Trump administrations trade war with China in 2018. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Apple has spent the intervening years diversifying its manufacturing base, moving some assembly to countries such as India and Vietnam. Still, the vast majority of Apple products are manufactured in China, putting it squarely in the crosshairs of escalating tensions between the worlds two largest economies.

Trump has, for now, exempted smartphones and other Apple products from the Liberation Day tariffs he announced in early April, which would have raised the duties on Apple products shipped from China, Vietnam, and India by 125%, 46%, and 26%, respectively. But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has warned that exempted consumer electronics will be included in semiconductor-specific tariffs to be announced in the coming months.

Analysts and investors will be eager to hear on Apples earnings call how the company is planning for the tariffs to come and how it sees a slowing economy affecting sales.

Apple shares are down 15% since the start of the year.

Nvidia

Nvidia (NVDA) is expected to report quarterly results late in the month, and investors will be anxiously awaiting updates on the companys sales to China and how it expects a slowdown to affect AI investment.

The stock has been dealt a blow this year by rising economic uncertainty and escalating tensions with China. The company recently warned investors that its first-quarter results will take a hit of up to $5.5 billion after the U.S. government tightened restrictions on sales to China.
The two sides of Parker Countys namesake family recently got together for barbecue and brotherhood in Weatherford.

More than 30 members of Cynthia Ann Parkers bloodline, white and Native American, shook hands at Bakers Ribs and heard keynotes from their Comanche matriarch and white patriarch.

Parker, the 9-year-old settler taken in a Comanche raid on Fort Parker in East Texas, innocently stepped into Texas legend 189 years ago come May 19.

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She had a whole life, and that life changed in the blink of an eye, her great-great-great-granddaughter, Tina Devlin Emhoolah, said as she started wiping tears that continued throughout her talk. Everything she knew  her life was snatched from her that day.

Emhoolah led direct descendants to the meetup in Weatherford from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and other parts of the former Indian territory.

Her distant cousin, Trevor Wardlaw, and the white relatives descend from Parkers who survived the raid on Fort Parker north of Groesbeck.

Wardlaw told the Weatherford Democrat those survivors included Cynthia Anns father, Silas, who with the rest migrated to Elkhart and Palestine in Anderson County.

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So, here we are in Parker County, he greeted everyone. For now, 1836 is where the story begins for the Parkers, but thats not true.

Wardlaw explained the Parkers left their mark in Virginia, Georgia and Illinois before Elder John Parker and his Primitive Baptist congregation arrived in time to make history. Here comes the Texas Revolution.

More significantly, for the Parkers, here came the Comanche.

Emhoolahs address to the group focused on the 9-year-old girl at the center of the story.

Others were kidnapped in the raid, some were rescued.

But for her, no one came, Emhoolah said. I cant tell you a love story. Her life has been written into a love story, its been romanticized. Cynthia Ann was a daughter of Silas (Parker), the son of Elder John. I know that I came to be a Comanche because of a little girl that was taken as a child.

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She had the will to live, she had the will to persevere. She had the will to be a survivor.

Parker had two sons and a daughter with the man she married, her captor Chief Peta Nocona. Of sons Pecos and Quanah and daughter Prairie Flower, Quanah grew to be a historical figure in his own right.

He also clearly learned things his mother passed to him from her childhood memory of life before the raid.

The Parker family came, as many families, across the water to this country with freedom of religion, coming in the name of God, Emhoolah said. She wouldve known these things up to the age of 9.

Quanah, she said, displayed charisma as he grew to be a fierce Comanche leader. He also could read change in the wind.

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He was a leader who was able to adjust, Emhoolah said. So, there were some things that she carried with her that she taught to him.

In his address to the group, Wardlaw said Cynthia Ann didnt know what to think when she was recovered by Texas Rangers in 1860 at Mule Creek, midway between Fort Worth and Amarillo.

She just didnt know what was going on, he said. She thought, would she be killed?

Wardlaw also highlighted Quanahs closeness to his mother, whom he lost after shed been returned to the white world.

Quanah lived a very different life, he said. His mom and sister had been taken away. His father eventually passed away. He was orphaned and had to grow up pretty fast. But he survived  make no doubt about it, Quanah was a warrior.

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Wardlaw quoted historian Billy Dixons account of the 1874 Second Battle of Adobe Walls:

There was never a more splendidly barbaric sight. Hundreds of mounted warriors in splendid colors on the bodies of the horses.

By 1875, Wardlaw said, Quanah was the holdout, the last Comanche to lay down arms.

He saw the progression and where he needed to take his people, he said. He was a huge proponent of education.

He echoed Emhoolahs assessment of Quanahs resilience.

In 1905, he rode with Teddy Roosevelt in his inauguration parade, Wardlaw said. Thats a change, baby.

Quanah remained devoted to his mother after she was taken from him.

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Theres not much written about Quanah searching for his father, Wardlaw said. But he never stopped searching for his mother.

Quanah died in 1901 and is buried atop Chiefs Knoll, the highest point in the Fort Sill Post Cemetery in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

He lays next to Cynthia Ann.

Wardlaw said a photo of the man shows him standing next to pictures of his mother, his sister and Jesus, a pistol in its belt draped over a bedpost.

That picture captures everything that we know about the Parker family, he said.

Wardlaw and Emhoolah closed with a public invitation to join the clans at their Oct. 11 family reunion at Fort Parker.

Everybodys welcome, Wardlaw said.
When the Biden-Harris Administration awarded the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction $10 million over a five-year period to improve youth mental health services in December, it was the largest-ever expansion of K-12 mental health programs in the state to date.

And it wasn't just Wisconsin. The investment was poised to help train and hire an additional 4,000 mental health professionals to schools nationally at a time when increasing mental health concerns among students compounded ongoing shortages of school-based mental health professionals.

But May 2, it was learned that less than a year into the grant cycle, the federal Department of Education abruptly terminated the grant earlier in the week. Wisconsin DPI received an email titled "Notice of Non-Continuation of Grant Award" informing the state agency that the Trump administration had determined "not to continue your federal award  in its entirety, effective at the end of your current grant budget period."

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Nationally, the Trump administration discontinued $1 billion in grants that supported school-based mental health programs.

The grants were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a landmark gun safety law passed in the wake of a massacre three years ago in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 elementary school students and two teachers dead.

Specifically, the Trump administration took issue with programs that educated mental health professionals about systemic racism and trained therapists to focus on race-related stress and trauma, among other things, said Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the Education Department, according to USA Today.

DPI has made clear it has no plans to back down from inclusive therapy models. The state agency has doubled-down on its commitment to prioritizing diversity.

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Wisconsin was among the 19 states that sued the U.S. Department of Education over its efforts to eliminate K-12 school funding for states that refuse to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

So far, $2.2 million of the Wisconsin grant had gone toward expanding online certification pathways, developing grow your own university programs for future school-based mental health providers, and offering statewide training and professional development to improve retention rates of mental health professionals.

The remaining roughly $8 million will not be awarded.

The 2024 grant was built off the success of a 2020 pilot grant from the federal government, which had put an additional 348 new mental health professionals into local education agencies across Wisconsin since the 2021-2022 school year. Wisconsin was one of a handful of states involved in the pilot program.

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In hiring more mental health professionals, the state also shrunk its troublingly high ratio of students to school-based mental health professionals by 14% at school districts selected for the pilot program. The pilot program was considered so successful that Wisconsin became one of 22 states to be awarded another five-year grant, which started in January.

Nevertheless, the Trump administration says the grant "no longer effectuates the best interest of the federal government.

DPI Superintendent Jill Underly called the decision to eliminate the grant indefensible at a time when communities have been pleading for help serving student mental health needs.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, right, answers questions during a civics club forum at West High School Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.

These funds  which Wisconsin used to make meaningful change for our schools  were helping districts and our higher education partners develop new mental health professionals, providing a career opportunity for our current high schoolers," Underly said. "This action takes resources away from Wisconsin and disrupts the success efforts weve made to ensure qualified individuals are serving our kids."

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At this point, there's no indication that staff hired through the 2020 pilot grant, which ends September 30, will be let go, but the canceled 2024 grant will invariably mean the loss of momentum in the state's ability to reach underserved communities.

Now, DPI hopes that its historic proposal to invest more than $300 million in school mental health programs over the 2025-27 biennium makes its way through the Republican-controlled Legislature. The provision would invest in the now-stymied school-based mental health services program, expand aid for mental health care costs, invest in alcohol and drug abuse programs, add more mental health training across school staff, and extend peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs to middle schools.

Success, however, is considered unlikely based on previous years. DPI had requested $278 million over the 2023-25 biennium, but received about $74 million in mental health services across K-12 Wisconsin schools. The 2021-23 biennial budget allocated less than half that amount  $44 million  into youth mental health services.

Should the Legislature continue its trend of budgeting far less of DPI's proposed requests, the responsibility will fall to school districts to find the funding. Community members may see more school referendums on ballots in future years, for example.

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Kids dont get a chance to do-over their school experience while the federal government recalibrates its political agenda, Underly said. Federal funds are a critical part of our infrastructure, and these disruptions need to stop.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her X (Twitter) profile at @natalie_eilbert.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump cuts funds for mental health professionals in Wisconsin schools
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Part of Route 5 in Batavia is closed due to a significant ongoing fire at a business in Batavia on Friday afternoon, according to the Genesee County Sheriffs Office.

The fire started at Hodgins Engraving, located at 3817 West Main Street Rd. in Batavia around 11:30 a.m. All county buildings including Batavia Town Hall and the Genesee County Jail are currently in a shelter-in-place.

Those at Hodgins Engraving were evacuated and the animals at the nearby Genesee County Animal Shelter were moved.

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Route 5 is currently closed between Kelsey Road and Lewiston Road and could be closed for several hours, according to authorities. Drivers are being encouraged to take different routes.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Pastor Ricky Floyds loved ones say they will continue his legacy each and every day by serving, praying, and believing in the City of Memphis.

The City of Memphis participated in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.

Church and community leaders hosted an event at the Pursuit of God Church in Frayser, where Floyd served as senior pastor before he was shot and killed March 12.

Dozens of Memphis-Shelby County School students were in attendance, joined by city and clergy leaders who covered them in prayer and even shared the trials and tribulations theyve endured.

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One thing we all knew about Ambassador Ricky D. Floyd, he had a prayer life. He loved to pray, said Dr. Telisa Franklin, a community leader. Literally, he was all about, How can we pray for our community?and then once we get through praying, we got the boots on the ground, lets get out in the community and lets ignite change.

Argument over Bible led to Pastor Ricky Floyds death, attorney says

His wife, Pastor Shelia Floyd, spoke about her husband before she prayed for pastors in the City of Memphis.

I definitely want us to lift up my husband, Ambassador Ricky D. Floyd Sr., who was the Senior Pastor of this church and we want to honor him, she said.

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The event took place during a time of despair in the city of Memphis. There have been at least 36 shootings over the last two weeks, and unfortunately, some of the victims were children.

Franklin, one of the events organizers, said theyre continuing the work that Pastor Floyd was known for.

And so today was a day to charge them to go back to their communities, go back to their schools, go back to their peers and say, It starts with me, Ive got to do better and Im going to be the change that I want to see, Franklin said.

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Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a former Army intelligence officer, criticized former national security adviser Mike Waltzs brazen disregard for the U.S. military over his use of the Signal group chat to facilitate talk about an attack.

Ryan joined CNN on Thursday, just hours after it was revealed Waltz was removed from his national security position.

The news of Waltzs ouster came just a day after a Cabinet meeting where a Reuters photographer captured Waltz on his phone using the Signal app, displaying messages with several top officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President Vance.

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Its clear when theres no accountability for what were grave  and thank God not fatal, but certainly, it could have been fatal  leak of sensitive classified information, Ryan said.

When theres no consequences for that, he just continues to double down, triple down on horrible operational security  more than anything, I think, is brazen disregard for our young men and women in uniform and in harms way, that he would just make not one, but multiple mistakes with these consequences and be allowed to stay, he continued.

Waltz was sharply criticized in March after it was revealed he mistakenly added The Atlantics editor in chief to a group chat discussing an attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Shock spread across Washington after it was revealed the topic was discussed via Signal, a nongovernmental app.

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Ryan noted that when the news of Waltzs ouster was shared, he had hope that there may be accountability from the administration about the Signal scandal.

And a few hours later, we learned its somewhere between a promotion to lateral movement, he said, referring to Trump declaring Waltz as his pick to be United Nations ambassador. Its a $16-million, taxpayer-funded luxury condo in New York City.

So, I think, at a minimum, theres no accountability here, Ryan added.

Waltz is now in line to take over what was supposed to be Rep. Elise Stefaniks (R-N.Y.) role at the United Nations. Her nomination was pulled due to the GOPs thin majority in the House. Waltz faces an uphill battle being confirmed by the Senate, with many Democrats already noting they would question him sharply over the Signal chat.

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The Hill has contacted the White House for comment.

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  Patients at Bon Secours Liver Institute of Hampton Roads in Newport News are frustrated after they were told the facility would close and consolidate with another Bon Secours facility in Richmond.

More than 42,000 cases of liver cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and being able to get constant, routine care is imperative. However, that may become more difficult for patients living in eastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina with the impending closure.

Miranda Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2019 and had a transplant in 2021. She credits Dr. Mitchell Shiffman for saving her life when he spotted signs early on of organ rejection.



Through the course of treatment, things declined rapidly, Frazier said. Dr. Shiffman was there every step of the way. He was able to pretty much describe to me exactly what was going to happen even though I was in denial.



But after Bon Secours announced recently they were closing their Liver Institute in Newport News and consolidating with the Richmond office, Frazier and other patients will have that much farther to drive, which some believe wont be so easy.



You dont see a hepatologist unless you have issues with your liver, said David Vest, another patient living in Manteo, N.C. That additional hour to have to go to Richmond now, they may not be able to make that hour journey a couple times a week.

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Vest has been a patient of Shiffmans for about a year.



I have a rare disease, a very rare disease, Vest said. Theyre the only ones who knew how to track it down.



He said when he asked staff why they were closing, they told him they didnt know why.



The only thing I can think of is that Bon Secours management must be making bonuses off of cutting costs, Vest said. Thats the only thing that makes sense, I mean, although it doesnt make sense if youre cutting costs to close down something thats actually making money.



Until they close the office June 30, he said the Liver Institute is the only local facility that specializes in liver issues.



Im just, Im bewildered, Vest said. Im upset. Its just not right.

Said Frazier: I want others to have a great outcome like I did. I want other patients to be able to get a transplant as well and receive the care that I received.

Bon Secours, in a statement, said it regularly evaluates how best to serve patients while serving as good stewards of our health ministry and its resources.

Bon Secours continuously evaluates how best to meet our community and patient needs while serving as good stewards of our health ministry and its resources. After thoughtful and careful consideration, we have decided to close the Bon Secours Liver Institute of Hampton Roads, effective June 30. To ensure that our patients continue to receive the appropriate level of care, we have proactively shared updates, and we are working closely with them to ease the transition. We continue to offer our support to transition our patients to providers both inside and outside of our network, including transferring medical records and coordinating calls between providers. Bon Secours is fully committed to supporting our affected patients with continuity of care, clear communication, and ongoing support throughout this process.  Statement from Bon Secours

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Patrick Lyoyas family believes nothing justifies Christopher Schurr shooting and killing him, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Friday.

(Schurr) should be held accountable, said Crump, who along with Michigan attorney Ven Johnson is representing the family in a civil wrongful death suit against Schurr.

Flanked by Lyoyas parents Peter and Dorcas, Crump spoke to reporters inside the courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids where Schurr is standing trial for second-degree murder.

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Updates from Day 5 of Schurr trial

(Lyoyas parents) thought it was important, since so much is going in in America, to remind everybody to watch the video of the killing of Patrick Lyoya. The truth is in the video, Crump said. They dont understand a lot of the things that are happening. They dont understand many of the court procedures. But they know what they see with their own eyes and they know that, in their heart, this was an unjustified, unnecessary, unconstitutional killing of, yet again, another unarmed Black man.

An undated photo of Patrick Lyoya courtesy family.

Crump argued the video only shows Lyoya trying to get away from Schurr following a traffic stop in April 2022.

It, at most, was a traffic stop. That should not equal a death sentence, Crump said.

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Schurr, who took the stand Friday in his own defense, said he feared for his life as he and Lyoya struggled over his Taser and that he shot Lyoya in self-defense.

Inside woodtv.com: The Patrick Lyoya case

So often, as we come up on the five-year anniversary of the killing George Floyd, you see there still isnt accountability when police kill Black people, Crump said.

Former Minneapolis Officer Dereck Chauvin was convicted of manslaughter in Floyds death in May 2020.

DEMONSTRATORS FOR BOTH SIDES

Demonstrators in support of both Schurr and Lyoya stood outside the courthouse Friday  Schurr supporters with thin blue line flags and signs showing his face and a Bible verse; Lyoya supporters wearing shirts with his face on them and signs that read Black Lives Matter.

A demonstrator holds a sign in support of Christopher Schurr outside the Kent County Courthouse on May 2, 2025, as Schurr stands trial for murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya.

A demonstrator holds a sign in support of Patrick Lyoya outside the Kent County Courthouse on May 2, 2025, as Christopher Schurr stands trial for murder in the Lyoyas death.

We are just waiting for that not guilty verdict to come in, Schurr supporter Kathleen Walsh said.

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She came from out of state to demonstrate at the trial all week.

Weve got to stand up for our law enforcement nationally, she said.

Cristian Bartolo came out to call for justice for Patrick Lyoya.

Im calling for full prosecution for murdering and killing Patrick Lyoya, he said. I was able to meet his family, and hearing his mothers cry is heartbreaking, and its hard for me to talk about it without getting emotional.

Both sides were confident the verdict would go their way.

Very confident we are going to get that not guilty verdict, Walsh said.

Even if the verdict doesnt go the way we want it to, we dont get justice for Patrick Lyoya, the work doesnt stop, Bartolo said.

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Whatever happens, Crump said the family wanted everyone to be peaceful.

(Lyoyas) family continues to ask for your prayers for justice. They continue to ask for your prayers for healing. They continue to ask for your prayers for his children. They continue to ask for your prayers for the community to heal, Crump said.

News 8s Ken Kolker 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 WOODTV.com.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Paul Lee Whittenberger, 76, passed away Monday, April 28, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family.

Paul was born April 26, 1949, in Youngstown, the son of the late Ira and Agnes Whittenberger and was a lifelong area resident.

Find obituaries from your high school

He was a 1967 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and attended Youngstown State University.

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Paul worked as a supervisor for Indalex Aluminum and later at U.S. Steel in Cleveland, retiring after many years of dedicated service.

A man of Christian faith, Paul regularly attended Highway Tabernacle.

He enjoyed the outdoors, family cookouts, pool parties and trips to amusement parks with his loved ones. He especially cherished vacations to the ocean and took great joy in spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially during the holidays. Known for his sense of humor, Paul was a fun-loving man who always had a joke to share.

Paul is survived by his wife of 36 years, Judy James Whittenberger, whom he married April 8, 1989; his sons, Jason P. Whittenberger of Warren, Ronald J. Blanton of Boardman and Mark A. Blanton (Kristen) of Liberty Township; seven grandchildren, Corrin, April, Alex, Dylan, Cameron, Aidan and Robert and five great-grandchildren, Zander, Adelaide, Dominic, Grayson and Avaeda.

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Paul will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends may call from 12:00  2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Kinnick Funeral Home 477 N. Meridian Road in Youngstown, where a funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Friday, May 2 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Paula Kerger, the CEO of PBS, called President Trumps latest executive order against the network blatantly unlawful, TheWrap has learned.

The presidents blatantly unlawful executive order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years, Kerger said, according to a statement to press first obtained by The New York Times. We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

Late on Thursday night, Trump signed a sweeping executive order that will cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing unspecified political bias as the reason for the move. The executive order accuses the companies of spreading radical woke propaganda disguised as news.' However, the order doesnt just stop at halting direct federal funding. It also instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the nonprofit that oversees several organizations including NPR and PBS, to find and halt indirect sources of government funding that go to these two organizations. That would mean local PBS and NPR stations would be banned from using taxpayer dollars to support them.

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Both of these broadcasters receive roughly half a billion dollars in public funds through CPB. In PBS case, roughly 16% of its budget comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, while about 1% of NPRs funding comes from the organization. The remainder of their funding comes from private donations.

At first glance, it may be tempting to dismiss these cuts since CPB represents so little of both organizations budgets. However, a lot of the money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting goes to supporting underfunded stations in news deserts. In many smaller communities, local NPR and PBS stations are the only sources of news as newspapers continue to fold. These organizations are crucial when it comes to informing the public during local elections and for communicating safety protocols during natural disasters. PBS also serves a public good when it comes to childrens entertainment, providing free educational tools. Thats a vital resource when it comes to lower income households.

Some of these rural stations depend on federal funding for up to 50% of their overall budget. These cuts will likely harm already-underfunded stations that are struggling to serve their communities.

PBS and NPR have long been targets for Trump. In March, congressional Republicans held a hearing where they accused the networks of using taxpayer money to push some of the most radical left positions. During that same hearing, PBS was accused of featuring a drag queen on a childrens show (the segment in question was actually produced by WNET, a PBS member station for New York City).

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Trumps attacks on Corporation for Public Broadcasting are nothing new. Every Republican administration, save for Gerald Fords, has attempted to cut funding to public media since the organization was created in 1967.

The post PBS Chief Calls Trumps Executive Order Defunding the Network Blatantly Unlawful appeared first on TheWrap.
T-Mobile customers anticipating payments as part of a $350 million settlement will have to wait longer to see their payouts of up to $25,000.

Final approval of a class-action settlement against the wireless network company was granted in June 2023 and payments were scheduled to begin in April 2025. The distribution is facing "unexpected delays," however, pushing that schedule back to May, according to the settlement administrator.

The settlement, which could see some members receiving up to $25,000, is the result of a 2021 data breach that leaked the names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license information and Social Security numbers of 76 million customers. T-Mobile announced that it had been targeted by a "malicious cyberattack" in August 2021 and that it would be providing impacted customers with two years of McAfees ID Theft Protection Service, Account Takeover Protection services and recommendations on best practices to mitigate personal security risk.

As part of the settlement, T-Mobile did not admit any wrongdoing but agreed to pay the $350 million.

Who gets a T-Mobile payout?

All court proceedings have been completed and finalized, according to the settlement administrator. All 76 million affected customers are eligible for part of the settlement money but had to file a claim form either online or via mail by Jan. 23, 2023.

Impacted customers were notified back in 2022. People eligible for the highest payments were able to prove that they had spent money trying to avoid or recover from fraud or identity theft" that was "fairly traceable to the T-Mobile Data Breach." They did this by submitting documentation like proof of money spent on credit-monitoring services or losses resulting from identity theft,

Payouts for a $350 million T-Mobile settlement have been delayed.

Customers who were impacted but did not submit documentation for out-of-pocket losses are eligible for $25 to $100 in reimbursement. When filing a claim, customers were able to choose between multiple forms of digital payment for a paper check. Even after payments begin in May, warned the settlement website, it could take weeks or months to receive yours.

Don't remember if you qualify or have more questions? Contact the settlement administrator at www.t-mobilesettlement.com or call 1-833-512-2314.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: T-Mobile data breach settlement delayed: When will payouts go out?
Paula Kerger is not taking these Trump cuts to PBS and NPR funding lying down. As a matter of fact, it sounds like she may take them into a court room.

In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, Kerger, the president and CEO of PBS, called Trumps latest executive order blatantly unlawful, said it threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years.

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Kerger also took a pretty good shot at how  and when  Trump put this into motion.

The Presidents blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years, Kergers full statement reads. We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

Kerger is not alone here. Patricia Harrison, the president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), also says Trump has no actual say in the funding.

CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the Presidents authority, Harrison said in a separate statement on Friday. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.

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In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors, Harrison continued.

In his executive order signed late Thursday night, Trump said the governments funding of news media is outdated and unnecessary, as well as corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.

Neither PBS and NPR neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens, the White House continued. The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.

Per a fact sheet provided to THR by PBS, public broadcasting costs about $1.60 per person, per year. The fact sheet stated that more than 70 percent of the received funding goes directly to public TV and radio stations.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland Community College faculty plan to appeal the administrations decision to axe a program that prepares students for careers in the modern music industry.

Director of Public Relations James Hill confirmed that PCC will cut its Music & Sonic Arts program, along with Gerontology, within the next two years  after teach-out plans are developed for the impacted students.

7 Portland weekend events, from Cinco De Mayo Fiesta to live Trisha Paytas show

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But employees told KOIN 6 they are challenging the decision, noting the program has high enrollment and high retention with each cohort reaching its full capacity. They also noted that it entices students who potentially wouldnt pursue higher education if it werent for the program.

As an advisor for the program, I get to work with parents, too, who just would love to have their kids out of the basement and in a learning environment, Arts Pathway Advisor Darcy Demers said. And this attracts many students and professionals out there in the community, which makes for rich classroom discussions and such. But we open doors more than for students who otherwise would not be attracted to school and academia.

Last month, KOIN 6 reported that the college was considering 14 programs on its chopping block as part of a fiscal sustainability initiative. Part-time Music & Sonic Arts instructor Rachel Brashear previously revealed faculty members from each program were asked to conduct self-studies to help administrators make their decision.

Portland woman dies after snorkeling trip in Hawaii

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The music programs study showed a lack of data to clearly demonstrate that an associate degree or credit certificate/credit credential is necessary to become employed in the field, Hill wrote in an email.

However, Music & Sonic Arts Co-chair Jesse Mejia said the study received positive feedback before faculty members learned the program would be cut. They now have until May 12 to write a three-page appeal in an effort to preserve the courses.

My feeling is that our administrators have a fairly narrow view of what a music career looks like, and we know that the city is full of music and music tech workers, but suddenly the burden of proof to show that has fallen on us, Mejia said.

According to analysis from Portland State University, Oregons commercial music industry generated almost $3.8 billion in economic output and nearly 23,000 jobs in 2021. PCC faculty plan to further highlight this in their appeal, which will include statements from students and advisors advocating for the program.

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OHSU takes public stance against calls to close primate research center

This community  its bigger than these few administrators with their decisions, Music & Sonic Arts Instructor Mary Kadderly, whos taught at PCC for more than 35 years, said.

Music Portland has also joined the effort by launching a survey that asks industry professionals to identify the variety of jobs offered to those with education in contemporary music and technology.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Olena Harmash

KYIV (Reuters) - Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxer who is now mayor of Kyiv, ventured last month into hazardous political territory: he delicately suggested in an interview that Ukraine might need to cede land to end its battle against Russia.

After a flood of angry online comments, he walked back his comments, saying on Facebook that "territorial concessions contradict our national interests and we must fight against their implementation until the last".

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U.S. President Donald Trump and his negotiators believe the only route to ending the Russian war in Ukraine is for Kyiv to acknowledge in some form that it is not getting back the Ukrainian land Moscow's troops have taken since invading.

But the episode with Klitschko -- along with opinion polling shared exclusively with Reuters -- indicates that, more than three years into the war, most Ukrainians are not willing to cede territory to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire deal.

The state of public opinion helps explain why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is expected to run for re-election, has resisted Trump's pressure to cede territory in ceasefire negotiations.

A poll from Gradus Research exclusively shared with Reuters showed that almost three-quarters of the population did not see territorial concessions as a way to end the war.

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"Most respondents believe that Russia's main goal in the war ... is to establish full control over our country," Gradus said in a research note. "Ukrainian territorial concessions are not perceived as a compromise or a guarantee of peace - on the contrary, they can only strengthen the aggressor."

Russia has denied seeking control of Ukraine, but its forces headed directly to Kyiv in their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 before Ukrainian troops pushed them back from the capital to their current positions in the south and east.

The Ukrainian poll conducted this week indicated that 40% of respondents believed that even in the case of concessions, peace would be only temporary and unsustainable. Another 31% thought that concessions would not lead to peace at all, Gradus said.

Russia now de facto controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula that it seized and unilaterally annexed in 2014 as well as large parts of four other regions of east and southeast Ukraine.

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According to U.S. negotiators, many of Ukraine's European allies, and some Ukrainians when speaking in private, say Ukraine will have to acknowledge loss of territory to end the war.

Ukrainians are exhausted and up against a bigger and stronger enemy. Their attempts to push Russia back on the battlefield have failed since the first year of the war, and their Western partners have not given them enough military aid for it to achieve a decisive victory.

Zelenskiy has acknowledged that Ukraine cannot regain its territories by military force but notes that formally ceding land would run counter to the country's constitution.

Opposition to giving up land has softened as the war has ground on. Data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), showed that in March about 39% supported territorial concessions, compared with just 10% in May 2022.

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Yet it also found that in March 50% of Ukrainians rejected the idea of giving up any land to Russia, ever, down from 51% in December.

Data from another pollster - Razumkov Centre -- from a February-March poll showed nearly 82% of respondents were against any formal recognition of the occupied territories.

"The definition of territorial concessions that more than half of the population might accept with a heavy heart is a de facto recognition of the occupation without de-jure recognition," said Anton Hrushetskyi from KIIS, adding that the country would have to receive security guarantees in exchange.

Apart from Klitschko's short-lived intervention, no prominent figures in Ukrainian politics or public life are trying to promote a national conversation about the need to acknowledge the loss of territory.

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Evhen Mahda, a political analyst in Kyiv, said a dialogue between the country's leadership and society about giving up land was needed to ensure broad acceptance of a potential deal.

"Unfortunately, we have to be realistic," Mahda said, about the terms of a deal to end the war, while noting that many Ukrainians still perceive discussions about a compromise on territory as a betrayal.

(Additional reporting by Sergiy Karazy; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
After more than eight months of bargaining, more than 900 health care workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center filed a notice with the hospital on Thursday of their intention to strike for five days starting May 12.

What the employees are calling an unfair labor practice strike comes after a super majority of employees voted to authorize it. It will begin at 6 a.m. May 12 and end at 7 a.m. May 17.

The last thing we want to do is go on strike, said Courtney Sly, a trauma registrar who has worked at PeaceHealth for 18 years, in an announcement about the impending strike. Wed rather be caring for patients. But we need a fair contract that prioritizes patient care by providing fair wages to our skilled and dedicated work force.

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PeaceHealth is paying huge salaries to executives while staff responsible for providing essential care and services are struggling to afford housing and other basic needs, Sly said.

PeaceHealth Northwest Network Senior Director of Marketing and Communication Amy Drury told The Herald that the hospital has secured the services of temporary replacement caregivers from a staffing agency, along with existing care partners, to maintain patient care for the duration of the strike, which is a standard practice in the healthcare industry.

PeaceHealth respects the rights of our caregivers to participate in these strikes and other lawful activities. However, we are deeply disappointed the unions have chosen to strike. PeaceHealth remains committed to good faith bargaining to reach agreements that are competitive and fair, Drury said.

The striking employees include Certified Nursing Assistants, housekeeping workers, phlebotomists, imaging technicians and other essential hospital staff, represented by their union SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

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The workers say they intend to denounce PeaceHealth executives bad-faith bargaining and refusal to settle a strong contract with investments in wages and staffing that respect our experience as front-line workers.

The workers are also asking community members to sign a petition in support of their contract demands.

PeaceHealths proposals at the bargaining table do not reflect an investment in our health care workers so that they can better serve our Whatcom County community, the petition states.

PeaceHealth employees of the same union went on strike in 2015 after employees voiced similar concerns related to wages and health care benefits.

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About 100 additional PeaceHealth advanced care providers represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) also authorized a strike for the same period, according to reporting by Cascadia Daily News. Those workers include nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurse midwives.

We had been eager to get to resume bargaining with both SEIU 1199NW and UAPD to focus on reaching an agreement. Considering their decision to initiate a work stoppage, our full attention will turn to ensuring smooth and continuing operations in caring for our community and prioritizing excellent patient care. We will be glad to reengage and continue bargaining at the conclusion of the work stoppage, Drury said.

This strike notice comes just two days after hundreds of PeaceHealth nurses held an informational picket outside of St. Joseph Medical Center as contract negotiations between their union, the Washington State Nurses Association, and the hospital remain stalled.

Nurses represented by WSNA are not part of this strike.

We value our caregivers, their professionalism and commitment to our patients. A planned action will not change that, Drury told The Herald.
Every Wednesday night at 10 p.m., Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency sit down and report what theyve found in the past week.

After the meeting, they go right back to work.

On Wednesday this week, Fox News host Jesse Watters joined the team for their meeting in Washington, D.C.

The attendees included both older members with established careers, including Antonio Gracias, the founder of the growth equity firm, Valor, and younger members. These younger members include Akash Bobba, 22; Edward Coristine, 19; Luke Farritor, 24; Gautier Cole Killian, 24; Gavin Kliger, 25; Ethan Shaotran, 22; and Nate Cavanaugh, 28.

DOGE say theyve found questionable spending at the Institute of Peace

DOGE members were sent to the Institute of Peace after President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed to reduce the total number of government agencies.

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The Institute of Peace is a nonprofit entirely funded by the federal government that is meant to promote peace and prevent conflict around the world.

On their first day at the agency, Cavanaugh and his team say they had to recover deleted files.

Just a few hours after we got into their headquarters, we found that their chief accountant had actually deleted over a terabyte of accounting records from several years, Cavanaugh said.

The DOGE team recovered the data with the help of agency members. The most troubling thing was that they received $55 million a year from Congress, and any money that went unspent, instead of returning that to Congress, they would sweep it into a private bank account, which had no congressional oversight, Cavanaugh said.

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The institute spent some of this excess money on private jets and had a $130,000 contract with a former Taliban member, Cavanaugh told Watters. This is real; we dont encounter that with most agencies, he said, adding that there was no clear description on the Taliban member contract as to what the services were for.

In this case, we did refer the evidence in the accounting example to the FBI and the DOJ, he said.

Some federal employees love DOGE

One DOGE member, Donald P, told Watters that troves of government employees support what DOGE is doing in their departments.

These employees are actually here serving because they believe in what theyre doing and they want to do things well. Were trying to empower them and they feel empowered now to ask Why? Why are we doing things this way? What else can we be doing? Donald said.

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He continued, Agencies are filled with exceptional government employees, and when we leave behind systems to help them do their jobs better, thats the permanent change.

Musk added that a hostility between DOGE and the government agencies it investigates is relatively rare.

DOGE member says only 58% of grant money makes it to recipients

Shaotran, 22, explained how non-accountability for spending is more common at smaller government agencies, and he used the Inter-American Foundation as an example.

They get $50 million a year of congressional money to give grants, Shaotran said. These are things like alpaca farming in Peru, to which Musk cut in, adding, Thats a real example.

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In the private sector, Shaotran said nonprofits typically give 80%-90% of their money to grantees, and he compared this to IAF, which gave 58%. The other half goes to management, travel, he said.

A study from Syracuse University showed big, well-established nonprofits typically spend between 70%-90% of their funds on programs.

Musk added, Even if you agree with supporting alpaca farmers in Peru, well actually, most of the money never made it out of D.C. Its going to the pockets of people in the neighborhood, and it doesnt get to Peru.

Musk said the layers of contractors means even less money sometimes gets to the recipient. Contractor, subcontractor, subcontractor, its like peeling an onion, and then maybe, sometimes its zero. You get to the bottom of the onion, and theres nothing there.

Musk talks about the risk of being a DOGE member

Ive been hanged and effigied many times, Musk said, And there have been people who have advocated at these violent protests for my death and also advocated for the death of the people at DOGE.

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Shaotran added that the younger members of DOGE, himself included, have gotten hate mail, threats, from reporters and the public alike.

Speaking for myself, I dropped out of Harvard and came here to serve my country, and its been unfortunate to see lost friendships. Most of campus hates me now, he said.

However, Shaotran said he is hopeful that people realize eventually that reform is genuinely needed. He added, If theres one group of people who have a shot at success, its the people here. You know, theyre up until 2 a.m., Monday through Sunday, DOGE does not recognize weekends. Were working all the time.

When asked why Shaotran chose to forego his Harvard enrollment to work at DOGE, he said, The value and impact here is so much more vast than anything you could learn in a classroom doing computer science.

Will DOGE be around long term?

Musk told Watters that DOGE is a long-term enterprise, because if we take our eye off the ball, the waste and fraud will come roaring back.

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Were trying to have it be such that the funding is removed, the grants are gone, so that theres a lot of work required to restart the waste and fraud. And that will at least slow it down, Musk added.

However, while DOGE may be a long term addition to the government, Musk will not be. He announced at the end of April that his time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly, starting in May.
Penn State students marched through the streets of downtown State College on Thursday evening during a May Day protest.

About 30 students began marching down College Avenue after a rally at the Allen Street gates. They marched for about 20 minutes on Fraser Street and onto Beaver Avenue, blocking traffic, before ending back at the Allen Street gates.

Passing cars honked as traffic was briefly held up, but the march was held without incident. At least one State College police car was present.

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The protest was organized by several student groups including the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity and Peoples Defense Front - Northern Appalachia, according to a social media post about the event.

May Day  which is celebrated annually on May 1 as International Labor Day  took on new meaning this year for anti-Trump protesters. More than 1,000 events nationwide were organized by May Day Strong, a coalition of local groups and national organizations such as MoveOn, Womens March and the 50501 movement.

This May Day we are fighting back, May Day Strongs website reads. We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes  public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, prosperity over free market politics.

The Penn State groups do not appear to be affiliated with May Day Strong, but shared a similar message about workers, while also chanting about Palestine. Signs included those reading F--- Trump, Peoples Revolution and Free Palestine.

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Marchers chanted things such as, What do have? Nothing. What do we want? Everything, Whose streets? Our streets, and Workers of the world, unite.

The group was smaller than one that marched through downtown State College on April 15 in support of international students amid students having their legal status revoked, a move the Trump administration recently reversed course on. The march was organized by the same student groups.

May Day demonstrations are planned across the country through the weekend, including another in State College on Saturday. Sponsored by Seven Mountains AFL-CIO and others, the rally will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Sidney Friedman Park.

Working people are under attack, the event page reads. Whether youre a nurse, a bricklayer, a city employee, or a teacher, billionaires are paying to rig the system to crush working families.
YORK, Pa. (WHTM)  State Representative Seth Grove (R-York) announced that he will not be running for reelection.

Earlier today, long-time State Rep. Seth Grove announced that he will not be seeking a 10th term to represent the 196th district, which he had coined the Fighting 196th.

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While this opportunity bestowed upon me 17 years ago has been one of the greatest honors of my life, it is time to step aside and close this chapter. I will not be seeking reelection in 2026, Grove said in a video posted to his social media accounts.

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Grove says after being first elected in 2008, he introduced 48 bills in his first term, and over his nine terms, he introduced over 350 bills. Of which, 22 were signed into law, with three being vetoed.

During his time as a legislator, Grove chaired four key committees including Labor and Industry, Appropriations, State Government and Government Oversight.

So, with an accomplished heart from your humble public servant, thank you all again for your trust and for giving this kid from Spring Grove, the son of a tool-and-die maker and stay-at-home mom, such a rare opportunity Now, lets get back to work, Rep. Grove added.

Grove has not faced a general election opponent since 2010 when he defeated Democrat Curtis Kann with nearly 75% of the vote.

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The 196th District includes 10 York County boroughs and townships, including Spring Grove Borough and West Manchester Township.

This is a developing story. 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.
The Pentagons Defense Innovation Unit plans to issue a solicitation for low-collateral counter-drone technology next week, part of the second iteration of its Replicator rapid-fielding effort thats focused on helping the Pentagon protect its installations from small-drone attacks.

DIU Director Doug Beck told House lawmakers Thursday his organization is particularly interested in technologies that can take out drone threats in highly populated areas without major impacts on the environment and, critically, civilians.

Its really about those low-collateral interceptors and getting after those solutions  whether its through electronic means, kinetic or ballistic means or other forms of bringing those drones down, Beck told the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee in a hearing.

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Replicators goal is to create a new pathway for the Pentagon to buy and scale high-need capabilities on faster timelines. Replicator 1, which is ongoing, set out to deliver thousands of low-cost drones by August of this year. Last September, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the next phase of the effort, dubbed Replicator 2, would center on the small UAS challenge.

DIU is leading Replicator 2 and is partnered closely with the Army-led Joint Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Office, JCO, and the Counter Uncrewed Systems Warfighter Senior Integration Group.

Speaking last week at the Apex Conference, DIUs chief of Policy Sunmin Kim said that along with its emphasis on low-collateral defeat systems, Replicator 2 is also focused on identifying more affordable systems that are available either commercially or from traditional defense contractors with mature technology.

Were interested in low-cost sensing options, so things like passive [radio frequency] radars versus actually using active sensors that we typically do for aircraft, she said.

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Defending against adversarial drones is a significant challenge for the U.S. military and its allies  from attacks in the Red Sea to reports of drone swarms flying over domestic bases.

The Pentagon has launched a number of efforts and organizations over the last few years to address these threats, including the JCO and the Counter Uncrewed Systems Warfighter Senior Integration Group. Last year, the department designated the commanders of U.S. Northern Command and Indo-Pacific Command as lead synchronizers for counter-UAS operations. And in December, DOD completed a classified counter-UAS strategy meant to provide a singular focus on the most urgent challenges.

Military leaders said Thursday that while the Defense Department is making progress identifying technical solutions and working through complex policies and authorizations, its not moving fast enough.

Were happy, but were not satisfied, Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for capabilities, development and integration, said during the hearing. Were fielding equipment that has the ability and the built-in open architecture to adapt and improve from a software and a hardware perspective, but weve got a ways to go to keep up with the threat and exceed that threat.

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Austin highlighted the Marine Air Defense System, or MADIS, which can integrate with the services command and control systems and detect and take down small uncrewed aircraft. The Marine Corps also plans to field a prototype this fiscal year of a counter-UAS capability specifically designed to protect dismounted Marines.

This initiative will put man-portable solutions into Marines hands at the tactical edge, Austin said. We are feverishly working in belief this will be a model for fielding and iterative improvement.

Maj. Gen. David Stewart, director of the JCO, and Beck both noted that while DOD has made strides toward identifying and developing counter-UAS technologies, it isnt buying and fielding those systems in sufficient quantities.

I believe and assess the capability is there, Stewart said. We have a bit of a capacity problem across each of the services.

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Beck noted that for the services to fill those capacity gaps, they need more resources, authorities and funding flexibility from Congress.

We need to be doing much, much more, he said. We must put capability in place now. We must dramatically improve our capacity and speed to update unmanned and counter-unmanned technologies. We must build the muscle to do so at greater and greater scale.
The Trump administration  and by extension, congressional Republicans  have made it very clear that they're fine with deporting US citizens.

Trump says he'd like to deport American citizens to a gulag in El Salvador: "I'd like to go a step further. I said to Pam, I don't know what the laws are, we always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals that push people into subways ... I'd like to include pic.twitter.com/noStvA8JI8  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 14, 2025

Twitter: @atrupar

Knowing that, you would think that nothing Republicans could say would surprise me anymore. And yet, this week, I saw this video of two Democrats asking their Republican colleagues in Congress a question that should be simple to answer.

Goldman: Raise your hand if you do not think children with cancer who are American citizens should be deportedLooks like its all the Democrats and none of the Republicans pic.twitter.com/wTNoQ8wFcq  Acyn (@Acyn) May 1, 2025

Twitter: @Acyn

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The exchange took place during a debate in the House Judiciary Committee, after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced an amendment to prevent US citizens from being deported. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) asked the Republicans in the committee if their bill would cause American citizens, even if they were kids with cancer, to be deported.

That question was met with a full 15 seconds of silence, as all of the Republicans on the committee refused to answer.

Related: "The Simple Answer Is That I Dont Want To Die": Women Are Sharing Why They Won't Have Kids After Trump Won The Election, And This Feels So Dystopian

At that point, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) asked the question another way: He asked for anyone in the room who thought that American citizen kids with cancer should NOT be deported to raise their hand.

"All of the Democrats and none of the Republicans," Goldman said, seeing that not a single Republican on the committee raised their hand.

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Related: Ted Cruz's Daughter's Priceless Reaction To Her Dad's Trump Praise Is Going Viral

Comments on the video agree that this should have been an easy answer:

Others acknowledge the "spectacle" of the question, but appreciate it anyway.

Some point out the hypocrisy of a party that heavily touts Christian morals...

...And a pro-life stance.

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Generally, there seems to be a lot of agreement that even if this isn't particularly surprising, it's still awful.

In case you'd like to make some calls or send some emails, here's the list of members of the House Judiciary Committee. The Republicans are listed on the left side of the page.

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We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Reveals Details Of Trumps Tariff Negotiations & Discusses 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In his recent appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer commented on the supply chain disruption that firms were facing and planning for in the wake of President Trumps tariffs. I think that this was the week where people said I better have an alternative supply chain, I just have to. Wherever it is, which is going to hurt the gross margins, Cramer said.

Cramer also linked the current supply chain disruptions to the one that businesses faced during the coronavirus pandemic. Cramer mentioned an unnamed CEO who had prepared for the current disruption by learning lessons from COVID. According to Cramer:

Im speaking to a major CEO, at a major tech company who said, do you think that we didnt learn anything from COVID? COVID was a total shutdown [in] China and we learned to move away from China. And China misjudged what we learned during COVID.

The conversation then shifted to President Trumps negotiations with Americas trading partners. While most media attention has focused on China, he mentioned negotiations with Japan and South Korea. Starting with Japan, Cramer outlined:

I was talking to someone who has been in on the Japanese negotiations. And I asked for color. And he said, theyre color-full. But that someones playing very hardball, in our country, and I presume, that someone is, obviously our President. And I said, does he know that you are our friends, and he just didnt respond. I thought it was interesting.

As for Korea, he believes that the country is the Trump administrations favorite due to its already sizable manufacturing presence in the US. Cramer shared:

My answer on Korea is, that. . . they are loved. . . Okay, so Korea builds plants here right, and they are not the plants like the Germans they are not assembly plants, they make everything here, so they are brought up, constantly as the paradigm, like why cant you guys be like Korea? Where all the intellectual property is made here. And I think its rather amazing. . .I brought them up as being why are they getting a free ride to some people? And they said no, theres no free ride, they actually listened to what we wanted.

Of course, since China is the Presidents first target when it comes to negotiations, it was unsurprising that the country came up. Cramer isnt a fan of China. What amazed Cramer was Hayman Capital Management founder and CIO, Kyle Basss comments where he outlined one country lies, one country doesnt. . .China lies. Look I find these talks unfathomable. I dont see any progress.
On Thursday  which was National Prayer Day  Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a presidential commission on religious liberty. During the White House event, he openly questioned the principle of separation between church and state.

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Trump has made his appeal to Christian supporters clear in his second term. He's also established a White House Faith Office  appointing American televangelist Paula White to lead it  and created a "Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias" in the government.

In a clip circulating on social media from the event, Trump said of his faith advisors, "They work right out of the White House. That's never been done before. No other president allowed that. They say 'separation between church and state,' they told me. I said, alright, let's forget about that for one time."

Trump on his faith advisers: "They work right out of the White House. That's never been done before. No other president allowed that. They say 'separation between church and state.' I said, alright, let's forget about that for one time." pic.twitter.com/11x7kYLPMu  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 1, 2025

RSBN / @atrupar / Via Twitter: @atrupar

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He continued, "We said, separation, really, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure, but whether there's separation or not, you guys are in the White House, where you should be, and you're representing our country. And we're bringing religion back to our country. And it's a big deal."

Trump's newly formed commission on religious liberty will be chaired by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, an evangelical Christian who has described the United States as "a Christian nation" and argued that the Constitution contains "no separation of church and state." The commission, which is predominantly composed of Christian members (there's one Rabbi), includes Dr. Ben Carson as vice chair, television host Dr. Phil, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Kelly Shackelford, CEO of First Liberty, a conservative legal group based in Plano, Texas.

Related: "The Simple Answer Is That I Dont Want To Die": Women Are Sharing Why They Won't Have Kids After Trump Won The Election, And This Feels So Dystopian

The First Amendment of the Constitution prohibits Congress from making any law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This clause, called the Establishment Clause, has long been interpreted as establishing the principle of separation between church and state.

Hayesphotography / Getty Images

The US Supreme Court has upheld this interpretation in key cases, such as Everson v. Board of Education (1947), which applied the Establishment Clause to state governments, and Engel v. Vitale (1962), which struck down state-sponsored prayer in public schools. These rulings reflect a long effort to maintain government neutrality in religious affairs.

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Now, people are saying Trump's remarks and actions appear to be directly challenging that tradition. "Let's forget about everything in the Constitution," one person wrote in reaction to Trump's comments.

Related: Ted Cruz's Daughter's Priceless Reaction To Her Dad's Trump Praise Is Going Viral

"Why don't you just rip the constitution to shreds while you're at it," another said.

"He treats the First Amendment like a parking ticket: annoying, optional, and easy to ignore," someone else said.

Even lawmakers started speaking out. US Rep. Jared Huffman said, "The separation of church and state was created to protect Americans from exactly this kind of religious favoritism. No one religion should reign supreme  and all must stay separate from government."

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Another user echoed a similar concern: "As a Christian, I never wanted the government having any say over my faith, and that stands for this crew, too."

Well, as Trump fills faith councils and commissions with overwhelmingly Christian figures and casts doubt on foundational constitutional principles, one thing becomes increasingly clear: his vision of "religious liberty" seems closely aligned with one idea  furthering Christian nationalism.

But let me know your thoughts down in the comments. What do you think about Trump saying, "let's forget" about the separation between church and state "for one time"?

Also in In the News: "I Immediately Hit The Floor And Turned Off The Light": People Are Sharing The Most Disturbing Text Messages They've Ever Received

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MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD)  West Michigan protesters joined in on National Day of Action, happening across the country Thursday to show opposition toward President Donald Trumps policies.

The protests are a part of a larger message known as May Day. Along the lakeshore, there was a large turnout near Mart Dock, as demonstrators gathered along the road holding signs and chanting.

America is in crisis, protester Diane Parm told News 8. Every morning when I wake up, my stomach is in a knot because I hear about a new executive order that has been signed that is tearing America apart.

Diane Parm and others protest the Trump Administration in Muskegon. (May 1, 2025) People in Muskegon protest the Trump Administration. (May 1, 2025) People in Muskegon protest the Trump Administration. (May 1, 2025) People in Muskegon protest the Trump Administration. (May 1, 2025) People in Muskegon protest the Trump Administration. (May 1, 2025)

Where Trumps major campaign promises stand after 100 days

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Parm said her fear of Trumps policies forced her to join the picket line on Thursday.

I fear for my grandchildrens future, I fear for Americas future, I fear we are going to lose everything we have and its going to take decades of getting any semblance of it back, Parm said.

The message was widespread, with signs and chants touching on a variety of topics like Social Security, Medicare, immigration and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Protester Mike Hakenjos told News 8 this was his first protest against the Trump Administration.

Protests make our voices heard; I am very disturbed by what is going on in our country, he said. This is not right, this is not our democracy and this cannot go unchecked.

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Trumps agenda faces courtroom setbacks as Justice Department lawyers struggle to win over judges

It was a similar picture in Grand Rapids as demonstrators gathered at Roberto Clemente Park. Organizer Gema Lowe told News 8 that to her, the day was about honoring immigrant workers.

As immigrant workers, we carry the load of labor that nobody else does in this country, so we are uplifting our immigrant workers, she said.

For many, like Parm, this isnt their first protest against this administration. Parm said it will not be her last.

I hope it opens peoples eyes so they realize what is going on, she said. We have to use our voices, there is more of us then there are of them.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A pair of people smugglers tried to bring migrants into the UK hidden under rubbish in a van.

Denice Blendell, 62, and Andrew Stainton, 48, have been jailed for more than five years after their plan was foiled on March 4 2022, according to the Home Office.

Border Force officers searching their unregistered van in Coquelles, near Calais in northern France, found five Vietnamese migrants underneath an old mattress, clothing and heavy motorbike parts, before they boarded the Eurotunnel train back to the UK.

Two of the Vietnamese refugees found by border officers hidden under rubbish in a van - Home Office

It emerged from a Home Office investigation that Blendell and Stainton were working as part of an organised crime gang and were expecting to be paid 2,000 each for smuggling the migrants into the country.

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They were also found to have made several previous trips to France and Belgium and had deposited cash totalling 14,000 into their respective bank accounts after one of their earlier visits.

Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, said: Blendell and Stainton, like many criminal gangs are only concerned with lining their pockets, they exploited a desperate group of individuals by disguising them under motorcycle parts in the back of their van.

This type of heinous criminality must be stopped, and todays sentence shows we wont stand and watch.

The smugglers van was filled with an old mattress, clothing and heavy motorbike parts to obscure the migrants - Home Office

Blendell was sentenced to one year and eight months for conspiring and acting to facilitate illegal entry into the UK, and Stainton was sentenced to three years and nine months.

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The pair, from Scunthorpe, Lincs, were sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

Jason Jowett, of the Home Office criminal financial investigations team, added: As with many cases we see, the migrants were led to believe they were coming for a better life, but found themselves in cramped, dangerous conditions as their exploiters lined their pockets at their expense.

I cannot state this enough  the criminals running these networks do not care about the welfare of those that they transport to the UK. Their sole focus is financial gain and one by one, we will put a stop to them.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
(NewsNation)  Two U.S. senators from opposing sides of the political aisle are pushing together to permanently do away with the U.S. Mint producing the penny, which the legislators argue will help to eliminate wasteful government spending.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, and Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee introduced the bipartisan legislation Thursday. The bill, the Make Sense Not Cents Act, claims that no longer minting pennies would save the United States an estimated $85 million each year.

Every penny cost $0.0369 to produce in 2024, up 20% from the year before, according to the U.S. Mints annual report, which reported that the Mint lost more than $85 million on the nearly 3.2 billion pennies it produced in fiscal year 2024.

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Major brands flag consumer anxiety: McDonalds, Chipotle, P&G

In a statement issued by the Oregon senator, Merkley said that the continuing production of pennies is the opposite of common cents in the use of taxpayer dollars. He said that the savings of tens of millions of dollars each year is something that both Democrats and Republicans support to take seriously.

Lee, the Republican, agreed.

Minting pennies costs the American taxpayer millions every year  nearly four times more than the pennies are worth, Lee said in a statement issued by the two lawmakers. No private business would produce something at a 4x loss. Its time to stop wasting Americans hard-earned tax dollars making overpriced pennies.

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The two sponsors of the bill said that two-thirds of the pennies produced in the U.S. never recirculate, which means that millions of pennies are lost or buried in couch cushions, never to be used. Also, at a time when more Americans rely on digital means to pay for their purchases, only 16% of transactions involve cash.

Mobile home industry booms amid housing affordability crisis

The introduction of the proposed legislation comes months after President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Treasury to stop making new pennies.

For far too long, the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful! Trump wrote in a Truth Social post in February. I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.

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He added: Lets rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if its a penny at a time.

The new proposed bill was introduced a day after another bill was brought to the U.S. House of Representatives that also calls for penny production to be halted. On Wednesday, another bipartisan bill was introduced by Michigan U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, a Republican, and California Democrat U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia; that bill is dubbed the Common Cents Act.

Ive talked for a long time about transitioning away from the cent and the U.S. penny, Garcia told Spectrum News. [It] actually costs us more to produce the penny than the actual cent its worth.

McClain told Spectrum News that making eliminating the production of pennies a bipartisan priority is a no-brainer.

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This is a great example of where people can work in a bipartisan fashion to actually get something that makes sense done, McClain told the news outlet. We should be celebrating this  this is one of the ways that Congress should work.

NewsNations Andrew Dorn contributed to this story

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
May 1A police chase of an alleged stolen vehicle in Franklin and Middletown today ended with a suspect in custody.

Franklin police got a hit on a flock camera for a possible stolen vehicle  a blue Chevrolet pickup truck. Police initiated a stop as the vehicle fled heading from Franklin west on Ohio 73 to north on Germantown Road to west on Carmody Boulevard.

Franklin Police Chief Adam Colon said when the first stop was initiated, "the vehicle immediately sped up."

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A Franklin officer successfully performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle.

A white male with tattoos was taken into custody and sat in a police cruiser until he was taken away by ambulance, according to Journal-News staff at the scene.

Police have not released the identity of the suspect.

"If he's not wanted already, he'll have a slew of other charges coming his way," Colon said.

He said Warren County is "heavy handed" on flee charges and the state has recently increased the penalty for it.

Middletown police assisted on scene.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Australias conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton is a former police detective who gained a reputation during his years in government for his tough stance on border security and as a vocal critic of China.

If he becomes prime minister at general elections on Saturday, it will be the first time since 1931  amid the economic turmoil of the Great Depression  that an Australian government has been ousted after a single three-year term.

A major factor in his success or failure is likely to be his pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with nuclear power instead of the government's reliance on renewable energy sources.

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His Liberal Party was been remarkably united behind him since he became their leader after their government was defeated at elections in 2022.

During his partys three years out of power, Dutton has evolved into a less confrontational and more responsive political leader, said Monash University political expert Zareh Ghazarian.

He presented himself as a tough leader. But the more hes spent time in opposition, the more he has built his leadership repertoire, Ghazarian said.

Dutton has signaled that his international priorities would differ from those of recent prime ministers if his party wins elections.

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Australian prime ministers are expected to make their first overseas trips to Asia, usually heading to Indonesia to underscore the importance of that bilateral relationship with a near neighbor; Dutton has said he plans to go first to the United States to meet President Donald Trump and secure preferential trade terms.

I do believe that if theres a change of government, I will be able to work with the Trump administration mark 2 to get better outcomes for Australians, Dutton told the Lowy Institute international policy think tank in Sydney in March.

Conflict with China

Dutton received a rebuke from Beijing in 2019 when he accused the Chinese Communist Party of directing cyberattacks, stealing intellectual property and suppressing free speech.

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We categorically reject Mr. Duttons irrational accusations against China, which are shocking and baseless, the Chinese Embassy in Australia said in a statement.

China-Australia relations have improved since current Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government was elected in 2022. China has lifted a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year in the final years of the previous conservative government. Beijing also lifted a ban on minister-to-minister contacts.

We will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest, Albanese often says of his administrations relationship with Beijing.

But Dutton says he would improve Australias relations with Beijing even further with a tough and uncompromising approach.

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I dont believe that President Xi (Jinping) with the strength of his leadership respects a weak and incompetent Australian prime minister, Dutton said.

Dutton has accused Albanese of self-censorship in dealing with China. He described Albaneses reaction to three Chinese warships virtually circumnavigating Australia in February in a show of Chinas military reach as the weakest, most limp-wristed response you could see from a leader.

Australia complained the Chinese gave insufficient notice of live-fire exercises off the Australian coast that forced commercial airline flights between Sydney and New Zealand to divert.

Beijing responded that Australia had made unreasonable accusations and said the naval exercise had complied with international law.

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Record in government

Dutton, 54, belongs to the most conservative faction of his conservative Liberal Party. Since he was first elected to the Federal Parliament in 2001, he has held several ministerial roles including the key security portfolios of defense and home affairs, in which he established a public image as an uncompromising and confrontational politician.

As minister for immigration and border protection from 2014, Dutton oversaw Operation Sovereign Borders, a military-run blockade of Australias northern ocean approaches that largely ended the trafficking of asylum-seekers by people smugglers in dilapidated fishing boats.

Australia has been accused of shirking its obligation to resettle such refugees by sending boat arrivals to Australian-funded immigration camps on the poor island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

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Dutton has said his political outlook is shaped by almost a decade working in the Queensland state police force, which he joined at 19. He worked in the drug and sexual crime squads.

I think its a bit of a police trait and its dealing with a problem thats before you and then moving on to the next one and trying to deal with it efficiently, Dutton told a TV profile in 2023.
(WJET/WFXP)  Two nature-centric Pennsylvania organizations are hosting a year-long contest for students.

The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists (PFSC) and Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation (PWF) are hosting their annual photography contest, with the 2026 theme being Pennsylvanias Pollinators.

Students in grades 4 through 12 who live in the Commonwealth are encouraged to photograph butterflies, bees and other pollinators that are vital to the states ecosystem.

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Along with their photo, students must write an interpretation of their work and how it relates to the contests theme.

Photos being accepted for 2026 City of Erie Calendar Photo Contest

The contest is broken up into categories: senior (grades 10-12), junior (grades 7-9), and sub-junior (grades 4-6), with each having a first, second and third place winner. Prizes include $75 for first, $60 for second and $50 for third.

The deadline for the competition is March 1, 2026, and winners will be announced later that month.

Winners will receive a cash prize  $75 for first place, $60 for second and $50 for third. Winning photographs will also be featured in PFSC/PWFs quarterly publication, The Conservation Lantern, and on the PWF website, along with the possibility of being showcased at promotional events.

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For more information, an in-depth look at the rules and submission forms, 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL)  A 41-year-old Phenix City man has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography following an investigation by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, federal probation officers, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Authorities executed a search warrant on April 30, 2025, around 9:00 a.m. at a residence in the 400 block of Lee Road 436. The search was prompted by a tip received through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.

During the search, investigators recovered several electronic devices, including a cell phone that allegedly contained multiple pornographic images of juvenile females and males who appeared to be under the age of 18.

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Bryan Kelly Blackwood was arrested as a result of the investigation. He is currently being held in the Lee County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Officials say additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at (334) 749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP (7867).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
The May Day protest of the actions of President Donald Trump on May 1, 2025 in Phoenix ended with a gathering in front of the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror

Senior citizens and students, anarchists and elected leaders, Democrats, Republicans, union and religious leaders marched down Washington Street in Phoenix, carrying with them pithy signs and motivated by their outrage over the actions of President Donald Trump.

Approximately 3,000 people gathered at the state Capitol Thursday morning to march to the Sandra Day OConnor U.S. Courthouse for a May Day protest, one of around 1,000 similar rallies planned across the country.

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They showed up to demand an end to the economic chaos spurred by Trumps tariffs, to call for workers rights, advocate for a stop to deportation without due process and request respect for LGBTQ rights.

They marched to protest the attempts to erase Black, Native and Latino history from schools, government archives and museums, and to call for affordable housing, funding for public schools and access to quality health care.

Escucha, escucha, estamos en la lucha! (Listen, listen, we are in the fight!) protestors shouted in Spanish.

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The protest against the Trump administrations executive overreach, flouting of court orders and disregard for the U.S. Constitution, was organized by former state Sen. Raquel Teran, local labor unions and advocacy groups.

Sheena Newkirk, 48, of Scottsdale, said that she was marching because she feels that the civil rights of Americans are at risk. Newkirk, who is Black, said that her ancestors fought for civil rights and freedoms and she doesnt want to see the country regress.

We fought for this, and we are not going to lose it or have it dismantled by a bunch of oligarchs and racist people who feel as though they want to go back in time, she said.

The erasure of Black history from government websites, museums and schools in the name of banning diversity, equity and inclusion is especially concerning to Newkirk.

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You cant have history in American culture without Black history, she said.

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Fred Yamashita, the executive director of Arizona AFL-CIO, called for marchers to remember those who died during a peaceful protest at Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886. The protest, aimed at securing an 8-hour work day, later became a symbol for the fight for workers rights.

Their call to action still echoes with all of us today, because so many of the rights and benefits that workers and unions have fought and died for over the years have been clawed back and stripped away, Yamashita said.

Marisa Mata, 30, said she showed up to protest on behalf of immigrant workers  especially those who came into the country illegally. Many of her family and friends who are immigrants literally built some of the structures that she marched past on Thursday, she said.

Some of her friends are young people who came to the U.S. without proper documentation, but who rise at 4 a.m. to work physically demanding construction jobs, she explained.

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They do the hardest jobs and they get paid the least, they have no benefits and they have no hopes of retirement, and they pay their taxes because theyre hoping and praying that, one day, there will be immigration reform and theyll be able to get all their papers together, Mata said.

Patrick McCarthy, a conservative and a registered Republican voter who lives in Waddell, said he was at the protest to fight fascism.

We came out to ask for a government for the people instead of a government for the oligarchs, he said.

Lisa McCarthy, an independent voter who is married to Patrick, said that her grandfather fought facism in World War II and would be heartbroken to see the state of the country today.

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Human rights are human rights are human rights are human rights, and our Constitution means something, she said. So, regardless of what you think of religiously or personally, our Constitution should matter if you call yourself an American.

Patrick McCarthy said that they decided it was imperative to protest on behalf of those who cant for fear that theyll be arrested and possibly deported.

The people who are MAGA arent conservative Republicans, Patrick McCarthy said, instead describing them as Christian nationalists and white supremacists. Trumps not a conservative Republican. These are people who are pushing a narrative of hate, of division, of fascism, plain and simple.

CJ Kennedy, an 80-year-old Anthem resident, said she was concerned about possible cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security benefits, as well as the erosion of voting rights and the right to free speech.

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Everything is under attack right now and (if it goes away) will we be able to get it back? Kennedy asked.

Newkirk said that, even though it was encouraging to see so many people protesting, shes still floored at how many people continue to support the Trump administration, especially after he began deporting U.S. citizens and immigrants who have legal status.

Its a trickle down effect, she said. Eventually, youre gonna f*** around and find out that everybody is in the same boat and nobody is exempt.

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Phoenix police arrested Reilan Anderson, 33, in connection with the death of her father, Reginald Anderson, 61.

Just before noon on May 1, officers responded to the area of North 101st Avenue and West Oregon Avenue in far west Phoenix regarding reports of a shooting.

Police said when officers arrived, they located Reginald Anderson with at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene. A woman police described as a victim was also at the scene, uninjured.

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Reilan Anderson denied involvement in her father's death during a police interview, police said. She was booked into jail on first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix woman arrested in connection with her father's shooting death
This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter.

TFI International is avoiding anything of size for mergers and acquisitions in 2025 due to tariff uncertainty, CEO Alain Bedard said during the companys Q1 earnings call on April 24.

We had to walk away from a transaction that was a great transaction for both parties, the seller and us, and we had to walk away because of all this environment, Bedard said. Because of all this uncertainty, we said, no, forget about it.

TFI was able to close two small deals during the quarter, Basin Transportation and Veilleux Transit, according to an earnings press release. But now, the carrier is focused on buying back its own stock and improving its U.S. LTL business.

Our M&A in '25  is going to be minimal, Bedard said.

The company also wants to turn things around with TForce Freight, which it acquired four years ago. The goal is to achieve a 90 or under operating ratio. The company's Canada LTL runs at an 80 operating ratio, Bedard said.

Postponing M&A marks a change for TFI, which has been on an acquisition spree for quite some time.

"In the last twelve months, 90 facilities were added from business acquisitions and terminal consolidation decreased the total number of facilities by 64," according to TFI's quarterly report.

In April 2024, TFI acquired Daseke. The Canada-based freight conglomerate plans to spin off Daseke, but it has paused the move until it can acquire another major LTL carrier, according to a Q3 2024 earnings call.

The company has also purchased several Yellow Corp. terminals in California, Kentucky and North Carolina. Other acquisitions in the past two years include JHT Holdings, Hercules Forwarding, Sharp Trucking Services and LJW Tank Lines.

In 2021, TFI acquired UPS Freight, the parcel carrier's former freight business consisting of less-than-truckload and dedicated truckload services. The acquisition fueled TFIs creation of TForce Freight.

Going forward, Bedard said another acquisition of size in the US is still part of TFIs long-term plan.

The companys free cash flow in the most recent quarter was more than $190 million, giving it leverage to invest in M&A when the time is right, Bedard added.

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Former national security advisor Mike Waltz has been nominated for UN Ambassador, Trump said Thursday.

A day before the news broke, Waltz was photographed using Signal during a cabinet meeting.

The Trump administration has previously faced criticism over officials, particularly Waltz, using Signal.

On Wednesday, before news of his ouster broke, now-former national security advisor Mike Waltz was photographed during a Cabinet meeting looking at what appeared to be the encrypted messaging app, Signal.

He was a key player in a Signal snafu in President Donald Trump's second administration, referred to online and in some media coverage as "Signalgate." The Atlantic's editor in chief was inadvertently included in a sensitive defense conversation about military action in Yemen being conducted in a group chat through the app.

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Trump announced Waltz's ouster via social media on Thursday.

Trump plans to nominate Waltz as the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations, according to a post the president shared on Truth Social, adding that Waltz has "worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first" and will continue to do so in his new role.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will now also be acting national security advisor.

Waltz, a former Army Special Forces soldier, previously represented Florida's 6th congressional district from 2019 to 2025 before becoming Trump's national security advisor in January.

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In a photo of Thursday's cabinet meeting, a contact with the name of Vice President JD Vance and portions of a message were visible, as were additional message threads. Although the view of the content was obstructed, the last names "Rubio," "Witkoff," and "Gabbard" were visible, potentially referencing the Secretary of State, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Representatives for Rubio, Witkoff, and Gabbard did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

The bottom of Waltz's phone's screen displays a message that looks like Signal's typical PIN verification message, but instead, the message displayed asks Waltz to verify his "TM SGNL PIN." The "TM SGNL PIN" message is displayed on an unofficial  and less secure  version of Signal created by a company called TeleMessage, which makes clones of popular messaging apps, but enables the ability to archive messages, 404 Media and The Washington Post reported.

A zoomed-in photo appears to show parts of the communication between Mike Waltz and other Trump administration officials on Signal. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Trump, in an interview with The Atlantic published on Monday, said, "I would frankly tell these people not to use Signal." The outlet's editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, said last month that he had been inadvertently added by Waltz to a group chat on the app.

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The Signal group chat Goldberg says he was added to, called "Houthi PC small group" contained other officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and included discussion of details of a planned US strike on Houthi rebels .

Business Insider previously reported that a former Pentagon spokesperson described the Signal incident involving Goldberg as causing a "full-blown meltdown" at the Pentagon, and "a real problem for the administration."

However, despite widespread public criticism, Waltz and some other administration officials still appear to be using the app.

"As we have said many times, Signal is an approved app for government use and is loaded on government phones," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Business Insider of Waltz's use of the app.

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A spokesperson for Vance did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Under President Joe Biden's administration in 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a guide "for all audiences" outlining the best practices for secure personal communications amid a cybersecurity attack linked to the Chinese government. The CISA guide included Signal as an option for safer personal messaging.

However, guidance released by the Department of Defense during the Biden administration explicitly said that unmanaged messaging apps, including Signal, "are not authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information."

Read the original article on Business Insider
PITTSBURG, Kan.  Ideal Friday weather for a cookout. There was a big one in Pittsburg.

Arvest Bank and The Salvation Army teamed up for this community cookout. A donation got folks a hot dog, chips and a drink. Its part of the 15th annual Arvest Million Meals campaign which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits within the companys Four State footprint. Proceeds from this cookout and bake sale will help fight food insecurity in Crawford County.

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You know, our goal is to do the best we can in the communities we serve every day, and so, I dont know that we necessarily have a particular goal for this event, but were certainly accepting donations at any of our locations. And were just about halfway done with our campaign, so theres still time, said Jared Turnbull, Arvest Bank Loan Manager  PITTSBURG BRANCH.

You know, people come to us, and they want help with utilities or rent or other things, and at least 3 out of every 5 people are asking for food. And so, you know, we direct them to Wesley House when its open, but, of course, if theyre not open then we tell them we give them what we can. Someone donates food to us, well give it back. You know, we give that back out, said Maj. Brenda Pittman, Pittsburg Salvation Army.

According to the organization Feeding America, Crawford County has a food insecurity rate of nearly 17-percent higher than any other county in southeast Kansas.

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President Donald Trumps 79th birthday on June 14 could be celebrated with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., according to newly-emerged planning documents.

The White House has previously denied that any such event was in development but the documents  dating from April 28 and 29, seen by the Associated Press (AP) but not yet made public  outline a spectacular occasion to mark the commander-in-chiefs birthday, which happens to fall on the same date as the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

The plans indicate that as many as 6,600 soldiers from 11 corps and divisions could be involved, as will 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters and more than 2,000 civilians, with the parades route running from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are situated, across the Potomac River and into Washington.

Donald Trump peforms a military salute on the campaign trail last year (Jeff Dean/AP)

Among the armored vehicles and artillery units being considered for inclusion are tank battalions, Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

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There could also be at least seven army bands taking part, parachute jumps performed by the Golden Knights and a concert and firework display in the evening to round off the day.

Army spokesman Steve Warren said on Thursday no final decisions had been made and the White House has yet to make any formal announcement.

But it is no secret that President Trump has long held ambitions for just such a display to be held in his honor on Pennsylvania Avenue.

His fixation with the idea appears to have begun after he joined French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on July 14 2017 to observe the Bastille Day commemorations on the Champs Elysees and was deeply impressed by what he saw.

Donald Trump and the Macrons attend Frances 2017 Bastille Day military parade (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty)

However, the American equivalent being discussed in the planning documents risks ending up looking more like Russias annual Victory Day celebrations to mark the Red Armys crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

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That event is held in Moscows Red Square on May 9 every year and features a convoy of Army vehicles and troops marching in formation, saluting President Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin cabinet as they pass, in a fierce demonstration of military might.

Russian armored vehicles cross Moscow to take part in its Victory Day parade (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Trump first pitched his own fantasy parade during his first term but, much to his annoyance, it was ultimately scrapped as too costly, with one estimate putting a $92m price tag on the event.

No estimates are offered in the new planning documents but the cost is again likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars, with the prospect of accommodating and feeding so many participants and transporting in their vehicles by road and rail posing a potential logistical nightmare for organizers.

One of the files seen by the AP flags significant concerns regarding security requirements while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has warned of the physical toll the vehicles involved could take on the citys roads, potentially necessitating expensive repairs in its aftermath.

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Tanks rolling through the streets would not be good, she said. If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads.

Army spokesman Colonel Dave Butler said: We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us. We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.

A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.

Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a cabinet meeting at the White House last month (AFP/Getty)

Trump himself has already attempted to whip up excitement, writing on Truth Social late on Thursday, without mentioning the parade directly: Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.

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I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything  Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so!

We are going to start celebrating our victories again!
White woman at playground using racial slur - Screenshot: Instagram

A Karens racist rant, at a playground of all places, was caught on camera and the internet wants to make her famous. Whom she channeled all that ire toward will really make you want to put her on that Summer Jam screen. - Angela Wilson Read More

Photo: Facebook

A Florida family was forced to bury their sweet 11-year-old boy after an apparent suicide. However, the lawsuit they filed points to a shocking suspect in the bullying he experienced before his death. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: Marcus Ingram, Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

In a recent episode of Megyn Kellys podcast, Tucker Carlson threw some serious low blows toward former First Lady Michelle Obama after expressing her plight as a Black woman and wife. His hateful comments only fueled right-winged social media to drag her. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta

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Three years have passed since the death of Denise Broadie after a long battle of health complications. Though, following her passing, her husband was charged in connection to her death which authorities now consider to be a murder. The reason behind the charges stems from a long-held secret that could have saved Denises life. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta

A Georgia teen did not deserve to have her excitement of going to senior prom soiled by the senseless killing of her prom date. However, she still made a decision to make sure he was honored in his absence. The tribute will bring you to tears. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Screenshot: KDFW

Despite the ongoing threats targeted at Karmelo Anthony the teen who allegedly fatally stabbed another teen at a track meet  supporters are still pushing through the hate to undergird his defense. In fact, they raised so much money for this kid, he could buy a mini mansion. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: GoFundMe

Questions continue to swarm the mysterious death of a pair of 19-year-old twins found in a hiking mountain in Georgia. Newly discovered evidence only makes the family feel more clueless about what truly happened to them  and theyre not going for the murder-suicide theory. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Houston fire truck - Photo: Getty Images (Getty Images)

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Houston City Council Member Julian Ramirez called the behavior of 12 Houston Fire Training Academy cadets regrettable and very disappointing after they circulated racist content in a private Instagram group chat. They were even bold enough to continue their racist behavior online even after receiving warnings to stop...and for that they paid the ultimate price. - Angela Wilson Read More

Screenshot: Click2Houston

On this segment of Black people having their hard-earned property snatched from them, we have an odd case to look at down in Houston, Texas. An 84-year-old man says hes fighting to reclaim properties that he already paid for. Now begs the question, how did they get taken in the first place? - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: Jefferson County Sheriffs Office

Southern Indiana police thought they solved the murder of a 35-year-old woman earlier this month by throwing the suspect in jail. However, new evidence led to a crazy plot twist that you have to read to believe. - Kalyn Womack Read More

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PLEASANT HILL, Iowa  The Pleasant Hill Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding a runaway teenager.

According to police, 17-year-old Blessing Barney was last seen on Monday morning when she was dropped off at school. Later that day, Blessing spoke to her father on the phone and told him that she was at home. However, when Blessings father arrived home he found her school bag but Blessing wasnt there.

Police described Blessing as a runaway juvenile. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the police department at (515)265-1444.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Poland's embassy in Berlin has raised concerns over plans by Germany's incoming conservative-led government to tighten border controls, warning such measures could harm cross-border traffic and the functioning of the EU's internal market.

This was already a problem with current controls at the German-Polish border, Polish acting ambassador in Berlin, Jan Tombinski, told news magazine Politico in remarks published on Friday.

Tombinski referred to existing measures introduced by the outgoing German coalition that have caused hours-long traffic jams from Poland into Germany. He said that Poland does not want to see any further tightening of border checks.

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Tombinski, who has not yet been formally appointed as ambassador but is already acting as such, emphasized Poland's commitment to protecting the EU's external border, particularly with Russia and Belarus. However, he also stressed the need to preserve free movement within the European Schengen area.

Asked whether Poland would accept migrant pushbacks under the incoming German government, Tombinski said Warsaw would abide by its obligations under EU law, including those laid out in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS).

Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, the chancellor-in-waiting, said stricter border checks would be implemented "from day one" of his chancellorship. Thorsten Frei, a CDU lawmaker and incoming head of the chancellery, told news magazine Der Spiegel that additional federal police would be deployed to the borders, calling the move an essential and immediate step.

Under their coalition agreement, Merz's CDU, their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and Social Democrats have pledged to carry out migrant pushbacks at shared borders "in coordination with our European neighbours." However, it remains unclear whether this coordination requires formal consent or mere consultation.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Reports said police Wednesday arrested two juveniles on gun charges after spotting them inside a parked car wearing ski masks.

Read next: Death sentence vacated in 2001 Howland murder

The two boys, ages 15 and 16, are each charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. The 16-year-old faces an additional fifth-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine.

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They were arrested about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday after officers from the Neighborhood Response Unit on patrol spotted a car parked against traffic at Erie Street and East Delason Avenue with three males inside wearing ski masks.

Reports said when the people in the car noticed police, one of them got in the drivers seat and moved the car so that it was legally parked. The officers, with backup from members of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, decided to stop and investigate because of the masks the people in the car had on.

Reports said the owner of the car was nearby and she gave police permission to search the car. Officers searched and found a 9mm semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine and a loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, both under the passengers seat.

One of the juveniles who was arrested, the 16-year-old, was sitting in the passengers seat while the other one was directly behind it. The 16-year-old also had a small amount of cocaine on him, reports said.

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The owner of the car also had a handgun inside but she has a legal concealed carry permit and was given her gun back, reports said.

Both juveniles who were arrested were booked into the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center. Their cases will be heard in Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

A juvenile was also arrested on gun charges Tuesday after a foot chase where reports said police found a loaded shotgun he slid underneath a car while running from police on West Hylda Avenue.

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A printed three-dimensional object resembling a gun caused something of an uproar Wednesday afternoon when video of a young boy carrying the object outside of an elementary school in Orange County surfaced.

In the video, the boy is seen carrying the object by his side before removing his backpack and putting it inside.

A parent with a second grader at the school, Loma Ridge Elementary School in Irvine, grew even more concerned when a photo on social media, reportedly posted by same the boy, showed the object being held with a message reading, Dont mess with me yall.

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Frightened parents seeing the video on social media Thursday morning reportedly started yanking their kids out of school with some saying school officials didnt inform them of the incident quickly enough.

There was no communication with the parents, there was no communication at all, one parent who did not want to be identified told KTLAs Mary Beth McDade. So everyone just kind of found out through social media.

As it turns out, the Irvine Police Department had been notified of the Wednesday afternoon incident and at around 3 p.m., officers responded.

Police were called after a boy was seen carrying a 3D printed object resembling a firearm outside an elementary school in Irvine on April 30, 2025. (viewer pic) Police were called after a boy was seen carrying a 3D printed object resembling a firearm outside an elementary school in Irvine on April 30, 2025. (viewer pic) A post to social media reportedly made by the same young boy, prompting additional concern. (viewer pic) Police were called after a boy was seen carrying a 3D printed object resembling a firearm outside an elementary school in Irvine on April 30, 2025. (viewer pic) Image provided by Irvine PD of what the 3D printed object looked like.

Investigators contacted school officials and, eventually, the students parents, and learned that what appeared to be a firearm was, in fact, a 3D printed object in the shape of a revolver with no moving or working parts.

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Describing the object as similar to a training gun, police said that since the boy didnt point the toy at or threaten anyone with it, they determined no crime was committed and that any disciplinary measures would be handled by school officials and the boys parents.

Unsolved murder in upscale L.A. apartment complex has tenants furious with management

Irvine School District Public Information Officer Annie Brown told KTLA that parents with students at the school were notified about the incident.

The Irvine Police Department was contacted immediately, one of the messages read in part. As part of their investigation, they determined the student was holding a toy gun and that there is no threat to our school.

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In a follow-up message, school officials told concerned parents that the object was a solid block of material that was not functional and could not be used as a firearm, that there was never any danger to the school community and that the incident took place off campus grounds.

School officials further stated that they cannot comment on any disciplinary actions taken against the student due to confidentiality laws and out of respect for the child and his parents.

The safety of our students, staff and school is our top priority, officials said in the message. If this had been a real gun, our response would have reflected that, and those details would have been provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
An investigation is underway after two people were stabbed at a 99 Restaurant in New Hampshire on Thursday.

Officers responding to a report of an altercation at the popular eatery at 8 Hotel Drive in Dover found a man and woman suffering from apparent stab wounds, according to the Dover Police Department.

Police said the man suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound, while the woman suffered non-life-threatening lacerations to her forearm.

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All three people involved in the altercation were known to each other, according to investigators.

The altercation reportedly began as a verbal dispute between the two males, which escalated into a physical confrontation, the department wrote in a statement. During the fight, one male allegedly stabbed the other, and the female was injured while attempting to intervene.

As of Friday morning, no criminal charges had been filed, and everyone involved had been identified.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the Dover Police Department at 603-742-4646.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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SCRANTON  A Kingston man fled from police as he was being arrested for public drunkenness, according to a criminal complaint.

Richard Henderson, 37, of 112 John St., is charged with escape and resisting arrest.

According to the criminal complaint:

At about 7 p.m. on April 29, officers spotted Henderson staggering north in the 200 block of North Main Avenue. He seemed to be continuously fidgeting with his hands.

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Police then observed Henderson crossing West Lackawanna Avenue against a pedestrian signal which read Do Not Walk.

Officers approached Henderson in the 500 block of North Main Avenue, noting that he had pinned pupils, a common side effect of using narcotics. Henderson also had white foam building up around his mouth that he continually wiped.

He was making unpredictable movements, appearing unable to remain still.

He continually reached into and toward his pockets, despite being asked by officers not to do so.

Henderson told officers he had taken half of a Percocet tablet earlier in the day and admitted he didnt have a prescription for the drug.

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As officers attempted to take him into custody, Henderson fled on foot, running south on North Main Avenue.

Officer Jack Carroll was able to catch up to Henderson and grab his arm. Officer Kevin Sweeney was then able to to take Henderson to the ground.

As police were placing him in handcuffs, Henderson continued to resist. Eventually, officers were able to detain Henderson.

Officers searched Henderson and found a glass pipe containing meth in his bag and a small glass container with a small amount of the drug in his pocket. Henderson admitted to officers he had smoked crystal methamphetamine earlier in the day.

He remains at the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on May 13 before District Judge Kipp Adcock.
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Hedge fund Third Point owns a "meaningful" stake in U.S. Steel and expects a merger with Japanese rival Nippon Steel to go ahead.

Billionaire investor Daniel Loeb told investors in a letter seen by Reuters that the firm believes U.S. Steel "will complete a planned merger with Nippon Steel based on the industrial logic of the combination."

Third Point's stake has not been previously disclosed and comes at a time when investors are trying to game out what lies ahead for the planned merger. U.S. Steel's stock price jumped nearly 2% on the news of Third Point's position but pared gains to last trade at $43.92.

Loeb also said that Third Point sees new investment opportunities in credit markets that have been rocked by reaction to Trump administration policies, and had raised its investment in event-driven, activist and risk arbitrage positions that he expects to perform well in choppier market conditions.

While the Biden administration earlier in the year blocked the deal between the two steel companies, U.S. President Donald Trump last month ordered a new national security review, raising hopes some kind of deal may still be worked out.

Loeb wrote that a U.S. Steel tie up with Nippon would also have "benefits to 'America First' re-industrialization plans."

Third Point is also building a position in consumer healthcare company Kenvue, which already has other activist investors pushing for changes, including some possible divestments or even a sale of the entire company.

The hedge fund laid out its case for making money in the credit markets, noting that structured credit investments had returned 1.1% net of fees during the first three months of the year for the firm.

Its TP Offshore Fund lost 3.7% during the first quarter, outperforming a 4.3% drop for the S&P 500 Index.

The Trump administration "seems to have mitigated some of its more aggressive tariff objectives in what we hope is part of its 'Art of the Deal' negotiating approach," the letter said.

A potential rate cut could benefit U.S. residential mortgages but subprime consumers would be vulnerable in the face of declining savings rates and rising unemployment, it added.

This means "trading opportunities in credit are starting," the letter said, adding that Third Point credit teams were identifying loan issuers and sectors with more exposure to a protectionist trade policy.

Third Point completed its acquisition of fund manager AS Birch Grove LP in March, as it aims to expand the firm's credit investments at a time when investors want to diversify their portfolios.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 33-year-old was arrested on Thursday in connection with a stabbing in D.C. back in 2024, police said.

On Aug. 7, 2024, just before 12:50 a.m., D.C. police officers responded to the 200 block of W Street, Northwest, for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, officers located a man unconscious and not breathing after suffering a stab wound.

Man hurt in Southwest DC armed robbery shooting

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DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and took the victim to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

For several months, detectives continued their investigation.

On May 1, 2025, investigators with the assistance of DC Housing Authority Police, Bryan Wilson of Northwest, D.C., was arrested and charged with assault with intent to kill.

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Two women were hospitalized following a three-car pileup on Thursday morning.

Elkhart County deputies reported that at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, James Wroblewki, 58, of Hicksville, Ohio, was traveling west on U.S. 20 near C.R. 35 in a 2000 Ford F-350. Police reported that Wroblewki said he saw brake lights in front of him, but was unable to stop and collided with the vehicle in front of him, a 2012 Ford Edge driven by Jessica Hovis, 37, of Howe.

Howe wasnt entirely sure what happened, while Angel Martinez, 55, of Goshen, stopped in front of her at the light in a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta told police they were both rear ended.

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Howe and her passenger, Heather Caldwell, 41, were transported to the hospital for injuries.

Driver flees scene of crash

A man was hospitalized in a crash early Thursday morning outside Goshen where the driver at fault fled the scene.

According to Elkhart County deputies, at 12:55 a.m. Edgar Lopez Ramirez, 24, of Goshen, was traveling east on C.R. 40 west of C.R. 21 in a 2015 Nissan Rogue when a 2002 Toyota Rav4 traveling west went left of center and crash head-on into his vehicle.

The driver of the Toyota fled the scene on foot.

Lopez Ramirez and his adult passenger were both transported to Elkhart General Hospital for injuries.

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The crash remains under investigation.

ARRESTS

 A 42-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 12:43 a.m. Thursday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was stopped near C.R. 45 near Florence Avenue for speeding.

 A 42-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Elkhart County deputies at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on charges of obstructing and interfering with the execution of a civil order of a court; in which she was refusing to vacate a residence after being formally evicted on Ponderosa Court in Elkhart.

BURGLARY

A 47-year-old woman reported to Elkhart County deputies that between Monday and Wednesday that someone entered her home in the 400 block of North Sage Wood Street in Bristol and vandalized it.

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FOUND PROPERTY

Goshen police responded to the 4500 block of Elkhart Road at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday for items found in the roadway. The items were collected for safekeeping by the street department.

HIGH SCHOOL INCIDENT

Goshen police were called to Goshen High School, 401 Lincolnway East, at 2 p.m. Wednesday for a 16-year-old in possession of marijuana. The teen was taken to the juvenile detention center and processed by probation before being released to parents.

ANIMAL NEGLECT

Elkhart County deputies began an investigation at 8:38 a.m. Wednesday into the death of vertebrate animals within the county.

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OFFICERS REPORT

Elkhart County deputies at 5:47 p.m. Wednesday took a case report of a juvenile overdose in the 18000 block of Joan Kay Lane in Goshen.

THEFT

A 36-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies that between 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday someone stole from his vehicle somewhere between the 16000 block of Daisy Avenue and Cleveland, Ohio.
May 2 (UPI) -- Florida UFC fighter Sedriques Dumas was in jail Friday after being arrested earlier this week on multiple charges including home invasion for allegedly attacking and robbing his ex-girlfriend.

According to police, Dumas was later found hiding in a dog crate and was arrested April 28.

Dumas was charged with home invasion with a firearm/weapon; battery; possession of weapon by convicted felon; drug possession; and drug equipment possession.

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According to police, Dumas went to his ex-girlfriend's home, flung the back door open and grabbed a phone from her hand and tried to take a ring off her finger.

According to an arrest affidavit, "Dumas then threw her around the room and into a large wooden vase that was in the living room before grabbing a $400 necklace set with turtles on it off her neck."

Escambia County Sheriff's deputies said the victim had bruises and scratches on an arm and leg from the assault.

Dumas is jailed by the sheriff's office on a $558,500 bond.

A pretrial hearing is set for May 6 and an arraignment is scheduled for May 23.

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Dumas has been arrested four times since signing his UFC fighter deal.

According to jail records he was arrested in August 2023 for trespassing, in December of 2023 for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended/revoked license, and in February 2024 for domestic battery.
Three people have been arrested after they crashed a stolen vehicle into a fire hydrant, police say.

Boston police say they received a report of a motor vehicle crash at 1257 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, around 3:22 p.m.

Once on the scene, officers observed a car that had struck a fire hydrant. Officers later determined that the vehicle had been stolen and that the occupants had fled.

Members of the Boston Police and Fire Department were on scene, alongside Boston Water, investigating the incident.

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According to Boston police, three adult males have been arrested. At this time, the charges of those arrested have not been released.

No injuries were reported.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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UPDATE: The man accused in a Sullivans Island hit-and-run that injured an adult and two children was taken into custody late Thursday afternoon following an hours-long manhunt.

Officials said Adams was found hiding inside a boat near a dock, which was located across from the church where the crash happened. He was spotted by an officer inside a Charleston County Aviation Unit helicopter.

The Charleston County Sheriffs Office has been asked to handle the criminal and crime scene investigation.

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SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)  Sullivans Island police released a name and photo of the man wanted in a hit-and-run that injured at least three people Thursday afternoon.

Justin Collin Adams is considered armed and dangerous, according to law enforcement. He was seen wearing a red or burgundy shirt and black shorts after crashing his vehicle into multiple pedestrians near Sunrise Presbyterian Church shortly after noon.

Three people  an adult and two children  were injured.

Sgt. Matt Storen with the Isle of Palms Police Department said Adams was seen running from the scene on foot with a knife.

Sullivans Island PD releases BOLO with suspect identity in hit-and-run incident

Photo of vehicle used by suspect in Sullivans Island hit and run

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been searching the island for Adams, including easily accessible areas, and all vehicles leaving the island. Residents are asked to shelter in place.

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I do want to say to the residents, please be wary, please stay inside your house. If you see somebody, do not approach them  call 911, said Sullivans Island Police Chief Glenn Meadows during an afternoon press conference.

VIDEO: Law enforcement searches for hit-and-run suspect on Sullivans Island

Adams was described by law enforcement as a white, heavyset male, balding with facial hair. If you see him or any suspicious activity on or near the island, you are asked to call 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Alexandria, Virginia  Free him now. Free him now.

Those words rang outside a federal courthouse near Washington, DC, on Thursday, as lawyers argued over the case of Badar Khan Suri, who has been detained by the United States government over his support for Palestinian rights.

Dozens of activists had gathered to show solidarity with Khan Suri, a postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown University. He was arrested in March as part of President Donald Trumps campaign to punish and deport non-citizens accused of fuelling anti-Semitism and illegal protests on college campuses.

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Speaking to the crowd in Alexandria, Virginia, Mapheze Saleh  Khan Suris Palestinian American wife  highlighted the impact of his detention on their three children. She said they just wanted their father back.

Why is this happening to him? Why is the Trump administration persecuting him? Saleh said. Because he fell in love and married to a Palestinian, because he dared to express his belief in non-violence and because he spoke out bravely against the genocide of my people in Gaza.

Before his detention, Khan Suri was in the US on an academic visa, conducting research on peace-building in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the US government has accused Khan Suri, an Indian national, of violating the terms of his visa by actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. It has not offered proof of either assertion.





Outside the courthouse on Thursday, Amanda Eisenhour, an activist from Alexandria, said Khan Suris case represents the intersection of issues including free speech, constitutional rights and the tyranny of the US immigration system.

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Its also about Palestine, Eisenhour told Al Jazeera. I want to make sure thats always part of the conversation. Dr Khan Suri is a political prisoner because of his association, because of his marriage to somebody whos Palestinian. Were now a country that holds political prisoners, and we have to be ready to fight against that.

As the legal hearing unfolded, activists outside chanted for Khan Suris freedom and Palestinian rights under a statue of a blindfolded woman holding scales, symbolising justice without bias.

One protester held up a sign, Mob bosses disappear people. Another placard proclaimed, Due process now.

A case in Virginia, a client in Texas

In the courtroom, lawyers for both sides questioned the geographical divide between where the hearing was taking place  and where Khan Suri is held presently.

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After his arrest in Virginia, immigration officials quickly moved Khan Suri from a local detention centre to one in Louisiana and then in Texas.

Critics say the government has transferred individuals slated for deportation to faraway states to keep them away from their families and legal teams. They also point out that states like Louisiana and Texas are more likely to have conservative-leaning courts.

On Thursday, Khan Suris lawyers argued for the scholar to be moved back to his home state of Virginia, where his case is currently unfolding.

We hope the court sees through these unlawful government tactics, keeps Dr Suris case here in Virginia, orders that he be released or, at minimum, orders that he be returned to Virginia, where hell be close to his legal counsel and to his family, said Samah Sisay, staff lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is involved in the case.

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But the Trump administration made an opposing request, pushing for the court case to be transferred to Texas.

Ultimately, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles demanded answers about why Khan Suri was moved so swiftly out of Virginia. She gave the governments lawyers 24 hours to respond.

The Georgetown scholars lawyers have reason to be optimistic about the outcome. Federal district courts have asserted jurisdiction in similar cases, and on Wednesday, a judge in Vermont ordered the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, who is also facing deportation.





Thats not the America we want to be

Since Trump began his second term in January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that he revoked the visas of hundreds of foreign students who engaged in protests or criticism of Israel.

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But the push to deport Khan Suri has been one of the most prominent cases.

To justify removing Khan Suri and other student activists, Rubio has cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, a Cold War-era law. One rarely used provision allows the secretary of state to deport non-citizens who pose potentially serious adverse foreign consequences for the US.

The Trump administration has not charged Khan Suri with a crime. But officials have accused him of connections to a known or suspected terrorist: his father-in-law.

Suri was married to the daughter of a senior advisor for to [sic] Hamas terrorist group, the Department of Homeland Security said in a social media post.

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But Khan Suris supporters point out that his father-in-law, Ahmed Yousef, has not been associated with Hamas for years and has even criticised the group on multiple occasions.

Yousef had served more than a decade ago as an adviser to former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader who was killed by Israel in Iran last year.

Regardless, legal experts say familial ties are not a criminal offence or grounds for deportation.

Hassan Ahmad, a Virginia-based lawyer representing Khan Suri, said the allegation about the Georgetown scholars father-in-law sets the case apart from the push to deport other pro-Palestine students.

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Were talking not just about the First Amendment, freedom of speech. Were talking about the constitutional freedom of association as well, Ahmad said.

And thats something that distinguishes Dr Suris case, in that here theyre going after him based on not anything that he said or retweeted or forwarded or liked or spoke to anyone [about], but based only on his association. Thats not the America we want to be.

Eden Heilman, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia, which is helping to represent Khan Suri, also said deporting someone based on their personal connections is a very scary premise.

If thats what the government has done, which they are alleging they are doing with Dr Suri, we are in an unprecedented time in terms of our constitutional threats, Heilman told reporters on Thursday.





Moreover, social media accounts that appear to belong to Khan Suri do not show any direct support for Hamas or hostility towards the Jewish people. Instead, the scholar has used his social media presence to decry Israeli atrocities in Gaza and highlight apparent war crimes against Palestinians.

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Israel is bombing hospitals in Gaza to turn the land inhabitable, in order to build the case for making Palestinians in Gaza think of migrating to the Sinai desert, Khan Suri wrote in October 2023.

In recent months, Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza, a plan that rights advocates say amounts to ethnic cleansing.

A Kafkaesque situation

Democratic Congressman Don Beyer, who represents a district in northern Virginia where Khan Suri lived, attended Thursdays hearing to show support.

Ill be doing everything I can to help Dr Khan [Suri] and his family, and I encourage each one of us to do all that we can to tell these stories, to help educate the American people about whats happening in this threat to our Constitution, to our rights, Beyer said in a video message on Thursday.

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It is Kafkaesque that somebody can be kidnapped without reason, without acknowledgement, without logic, without charges and taken off to be locked in a prison in Texas, not knowing what happens next.

Anita Martineau, a Northern Virginia resident, told Al Jazeera people should not be kidnapped for their speech. She attended a protest outside the hearing, holding a poster that read, Bring Khan Suri back now.

Its absolutely unconstitutional, and it needs to stop, Martineau said. American people and anyone in this country, whether theyre citizens or residents, they all need to stand up. We need to speak with one voice.

Anita Martineau attends a demonstration in support of Badar Khan Suri outside the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 1 [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]

Melissa Petisa, an activist with the group Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, also called for Khan Suri to be released immediately. She added that Trump is targeting students as a tactic to distract from the escalating carnage in Gaza.

Were here because we want to show solidarity with Dr Suri, Petisa told Al Jazeera. Were also here because were showing solidarity with Palestine.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday strongly criticized President Donald Trump  without naming him  for his attacks on judges, arguing that the rhetoric of the president and his allies threatens democracy, according to Politico.

Politico reported that Jackson, speaking at a legal conference in Puerto Rico on Thursday, recognized that judges nationwide are facing relentless attacks and disregard and disparagement.

The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity, Jackson said, according to Politico. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.

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Jacksons comments come as Trumps attacks on judges and the legal establishment have escalated, with calls to impeach judges who rule against him, executive orders targeting law firms representing his perceived enemies and the arrest of a state judge for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest.

The justice did not say Trumps name but said she was speaking on the elephant in the room, according to Politico.

The same night Jackson delivered her condemnation, Trump took aim once again at the judicial system, telling students during remarks at the University of Alabama that the courts are trying to stop me from doing the job that I was elected to do.

Judges are interfering, supposedly based on due process, but how can you give due process to people who came into our country illegally? Trump asked.

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Jacksons resistance has been on display as the Trump administrations many legal battles continue play out  with a few landing in front of the Supreme Court.

In a case last month, she condemned the Trump administrations aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, describing it as whisk(ing) people away to a notoriously brutal, foreign-run prison, and adding, For lovers of liberty, this should be quite concerning.

In a separate case about the Trump administrations cancellation of teacher training grants, Jackson derided the Department of Educations robotic rollout and called out its highly questionable behavior.

Jackson, an appointee of President Joe Biden, is not the only high court justice who has rebuked Trumps rhetoric toward judges. In a highly unusual statement in March, Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back against Trump, though he also did not mention him by name.

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For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, Roberts said in the March statement. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.

CNNs Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Its becoming fairly common: Another puppy has been stolen from a Denver metro area pet store, this time the Pet Ranch located on 120th Avenue in Thornton.

Thornton police asked for help identifying a suspect accused of taking a Pomeranian puppy from the store, located at 3833 E. 120th Ave., at about 6:41 p.m. on April 25. Police said the female suspect entered the store, picked up the puppy, and then left without attempting to pay for the puppy.

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The Thornton Police Department reported the Pomeranian was valued at $2,499.

The Thornton Police Department is searching for this missing puppy and the suspect accused of stealing the puppy last month. (Courtesy the Thornton Police Department)

Puppy thefts have made headlines in Colorado already this year. In March, police arrested a total of three people in connection with the theft of two bulldog puppies from a pet store in Centennial.

The Pet Ranch hasnt been without previous thefts, as well. Last year, police reported that a golden retriever puppy that was stolen from the store was recovered, but more puppies had been stolen.

Anyone with information about the puppy or the suspects identity is asked to contact the Thornton police tip line at 720-977-5069.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, was laid to rest last weekend following a funeral mass attended by thousands, including a wide swath of world leaders. Those leaders included U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but not Russian President Vladimir Putin. That absence was notable, as it offered an opportunity for brush-by diplomacy between Trump and Zelenskyy. Their meeting, which took place inside St. Peters Basilica prior to the funeral services, appeared to strike a chord with Trump, as he left it questioning whether Putin was truly interested in reaching a deal to end Russias war against Ukraine.

The fact that the Trump-Zelensky meeting took place at Francis funeral underscored the fact that even in death, the pope can play an important role in international affairs. But that raises the question of why the head of the Catholic Church is still such a critical figure in global politics.

On one hand, that world leaders would attend his funeral is unsurprising, no different than when they attend the funeral of any prominent serving or former head of state. World leaders gathering to pay respects to one of their own is a core element of diplomacy. Even then, however, the question simply becomes why the pope is still considered a prominent head of state.

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Up to the 17th century, the question answered itself. The Catholic Church held great sway over political developments in Europe. Numerous ruling monarchs required his blessing in order to take the throne, and the Papal States themselves had an army capable of waging in war. And given Europes imperial reach starting in the late 15th century, the pope played a direct role in international affairs.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

That influence has since waned. But even into the 20th century, the pope continued to influence world politics. Consider how Pope John Paul II is credited with spurring the anti-communist movements in his native Poland and elsewhere in Eastern European that contributed to weakening the Soviet Unions control and bringing about the end of the Cold War. Or consider the ongoing controversies over Pope Pius XXII, who in trying to navigate the church through World War II was criticized for not doing enough to condemn Adolph Hitlers Nazi regime in Germany or, closer to the Vatican, Benito Mussolinis Fascist regime in Italy.

The pope may not have the material power that other leaders do. But he has a moral authority that most global leaders lack.

But those examples dont answer the question of why the pope continues to exert such influence, particularly in todays world. Religion and belief in the divine remain powerful forces in human society, and Catholicism itself is still a prominent religion in the world, with approximately 1.5 billion followers and growing. But that is still a relatively small fraction of the worlds 8 billion people. Yet even for many non-Catholic Christians as well as non-Christians, the pope is generally considered an authoritative, if not infallible, figure on matters of moral weight. This was particularly the case for Francis. As Russell Moore, a prominent evangelical Christian theologian and editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, put it in an obituary, [W]ho cannot admire the simplicity and humility of this man, especially at this moment? And in an interview 10 years ago, another important global religious leader, the Dalai Lama, expressed his admiration for Francis willingness to call attention to environmental threats, saying, A spiritual leader should speak  these are global issues.

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And make no mistake, morality does matter in world politics. Even Hans Morgenthau, closely associated with the realist approach that sees material power applied to interests as the prime mover of international relations, wrote in his magnum opus, Politics Among Nations, that superior power gives no right, either moral or legal, to do with that power all that it is physically capable of doing.

The pope may not have the material power that other leaders do; when someone remarked to Josef Stalin that the pope disapproved of the Soviet Unions oppression of Catholics, the Soviet dictator famously scoffed, How many divisions does he have? But the pope has a moral authority that most global leaders lack.

This brings us back to Francis himself. As pope, he was not afraid to wield the papacys moral authority. Indeed, he had little tolerance for the decorum and pageantry associated with the position. One wonders if he would have dressed in a simple cloak and sandals like his namesake, St. Francis of Assis, if allowed.

Yet he offered his views on a wide range of issues, sometimes officially, sometimes flippantly. He struck a more tolerant tone on a range of social issues, seemingly more concerned with what governments could do for the poor and downtrodden than how they should regulate personal behavior. This didnt always win him fans, particularly among staunch conservatives within the Catholic Church, who were displeased with his stances on issues such as abortion.

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On international politics, Francis was also outspoken. Most notably, and consistent with his mission to help the least fortunateespecially from his native region of Latin America, but also Africahe pleaded time and again against harsh restrictions on the movement of refugees leaving their countries of origin in search of a better way of life. Francis famously rebuked Trumps first-term Build the Wall pledge by declaring, while returning from a visit to Mexico, that world leaders should build bridges, not walls.

He also weighed in on the war in Ukraine, though when doing so he often struck a tone that seemed almost designed to coax and placate Russia. For instance, he remarked in March 2024 that [t]he word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate. Perhaps this is where he and Trump found common ground: The goal for both, though perhaps for different reasons, was to bring the fighting to an end. And he, like Trump, saw that Ukraine will likely need to make hard concessions to Russia in order to bring about that aim. That doesnt mean Francis agreed with Russias claims. He was not naive to the realities of power and oppression. But Francis saw the death caused by the fighting itself as the ultimate evil.

Overall, this last example perfectly captures why the pope still matters: because of the moral authority with which he can speak. And morality, or at least the desire to be seen as moral, remains a potent force in world politics. Francis epitomized that moral authority, wielding it to speak truth both to his Catholic followers and, most importantly, to the worlds powers.

Paul Poast is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The post Pope Francis Showed That Moral Authority Still Matters in World Politics appeared first on World Politics Review.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  The summer season is almost here, and for boaters, that means hitting the water.

Traffic to shift on Canal Road in Baldwin County: ALDOT

Me and that little flat-bottom boat have been a few places that people say big boats shouldnt go, Cody Ford said.

Boaters like Ford will have to find another place to access the water starting Monday, May 5.

The Bay Watch boat access, just south of the Fish River Bridge on Highway 98, is closing temporarily for a redo of the parking lot.

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Its needed, Baldwin County Commission Chairman Matt McKenzie said. Its just the timing of it.

The popular boat launch gives boaters access to Fish River to the north, Weeks Bay to the south, but all of it will be off-limits through most of the summer.

The timing is just wrong, in my opinion, but I dont know the grants they have, the GOMESA money that they have, McKenzie said. So I understand they have deadlines. Hurricane season is here; people want to get their boats out.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is leading the project. Commissioner Chris Blankenship told News 5 the work was supposed to have started at the first of the year, but issues with design and permitting delayed the project.

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We have talked with the contractor, and he will be on site and working next week, Blankenship said. He understands the need to work expeditiously and finish this as soon as possible.

Its better theyre closing it because its better that nobody can get in here while theyre trying to work on it, Ford added.

Popular Mobile Christmas store to permanently close

The project is expected to be completed by early August, weather permitting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
By Kenneth Li

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Thomson Reuters on Thursday confirmed 2025 financial guidance amid tariff-induced global economic turmoil that has led some companies to revise or scrap forecasts altogether.

The Toronto-based content and technology company reported quarterly revenue rising 1% to $1.9 billion, slightly below analyst expectations of $1.93 billion, according to LSEG data.

Organic revenue, which strips out the impact of currency moves, acquisitions and asset sales, rose 6%.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Hasker said businesses and government agencies were broadly more cautious about investment decisions amid the turmoil, but most of Thomson Reuters revenue was recurring in nature, often locked into multi-year contracts.

"Everyone is bracing themselves," Hasker said in a post-results interview of the unstable economic backdrop caused in part by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

"But as we've seen with Microsoft, we haven't seen any impact yet ... We've made a good start to the year, meeting or exceeding our expectations," he added, referring to Wednesday's results from the U.S. tech giant.

Thomson Reuters is also expected to uphold its 2026 organic revenue growth target of 7.5% to 8%, Chief Financial Officer Mike Eastwood said. "Steve and I remain confident in delivering all aspects of our 2026 framework."

At 1410 GMT, Thomson Reuters shares were up 0.8% at C$258.66 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The company, which owns the Westlaw legal database, Reuters news agency and the Checkpoint tax and accounting service, reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.12. Wall Street expected a profit of $1.05 per share.

Shares of Thomson Reuters, which have risen 15% since the beginning of the year, have outpaced the S&P 500 index, which has fallen 5% over the same period.

Organic revenue for the company's "Big 3" business segments, comprising its legal, corporates and tax and accounting businesses, rose 9% in the quarter.

Revenue at constant currencies in the legal professionals business fell 3% due to the impact of the sale of legal marketing business FindLaw. Revenue in the tax and accounting division rose 12%, boosted by the purchase of SafeSend.

Reuters News revenue fell 7% after benefiting from non-recurring generative AI licensing revenue a year ago.

Second-quarter company-wide organic revenue is expected to pick up from the first quarter and rise 7%. The company reaffirmed its forecast for full-year organic revenue to increase by 7% to 7.5%.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Portland woman has died after a snorkeling trip in Kona, Hawaii Wednesday night.

At around 9:30 p.m., officers and fire crews responded to the Keauhou Pier on reports of a possible drowning.

Usually somebody blabs: Tony Whites 2005 death still unsolved

After arriving at the scene, officials soon learned the woman, 62-year-old Lori Trende-Landgraver, had been on a guided snorkel trip and was in the water for approximately five minutes before complaining of soreness in her arms.

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According to Hawaii police, Trende-Landgraver returned to the boat, told the captain she was feeling unwell, then became unresponsive.

Crew members attempted CPR while the boat returned to the harbor and was met by emergency crews.

Another body discovered floating in the Willamette River near Terminal 4

Trende-Landgraver was taken to the hospital, but died soon after being admitted.

While police say they dont suspect foul play, her official cause of death is still under investigation.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Hawaii police.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) A Kentucky man was arrested after he allegedly kicked a Pinellas County Sheriff deputy in the face just days after winning the lottery.

According to the arrest affidavit, James Farthing, 50, was at the Island Grand at Tradewinds when a fight broke out between Farthing and another patron.

PCSO arrived at the resort and attempted to break up the fight, when Farthing kicked a deputy in the right cheek, causing the deputy pain.

Credit: Kentucky Lottery

After Farthing kicked the deputy in the face, a deputy instructed Farthing to put his hands behind his back, but he refused and attempted to flee on foot out of the hotel, the affidavit said.

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Farthings girlfriend, 42-year-old Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge. Her arrest affidavit said she was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements, as Farthing fought the other guests.

Farthing, from Georgetown, Kentucky, recently made Kentucky Lottery history with a $167.3 million jackpot prize.

The winning ticket matched all five white balls and the Powerball from the Saturday, April 26, drawing, the Kentucky Lottery said.

Farthing and his mother decided to split the winnings.

According to PCSO, Farthing was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, battery, and parole violation.

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May 1LIMA  For 74 years, the first Thursday in May has been set apart for Christians to come together across America and pray for their local communities and the nation as a whole.

Lima's midday observance was held at Veterans Memorial Civic Center, bringing leaders in the church and community together with Christians seeking God's mercy and grace.

For Theresa Lee, National Day of Prayer coordinator for Allen County, this event is not only an appeal to heaven, but it is a recognition that prayer is woven into the fabric of the United States, going back even to the nation's founding.

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"Our nation's always been versed in prayer," she said. "Many years ago, they started a National Day of Prayer, but it was all over (the place) as churches observed it different days. So now they have one day, the first Thursday in May every year. So we can have unity. Prayer can sweep across this nation all in one day."

Thursday's event brought together clergy and other participants representing a wide array of Christian denominations and backgrounds, with students from Temple Christian School and Liberty Christian School also in attendance.

"We try to get a good cross section of our community, so we get as many different denominational, non-denominational, charismatic, Black, white, old, young (as we can)," Lee said.

Topics for prayer ranged from leaders in government to education to those suffering from drug addiction and sex trafficking.

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"Last year in our country, we lost over 800,000 people to drug overdose," said Jim Baker, Lima's police chief and pastor of North Park Community Church. "From the law enforcement side, we know there are over 20,000 in bondage in the sex trafficking trade. And when you hear these things, I know it's very easy to say, 'That's impossible.' But I'm here to tell you that there is nothing impossible for our God, and we are asking him for a complete ending to these things."

The event also featured readings from the Bible as well as quotations from prominent historic Americans, including former President Benjamin Harrison and former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The Temple Christian School choir also performed at the event.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump announced a shake-up in his national security team then, just hours later, took the stage in Tuscaloosa to deliver a commencement address at the University of Alabama.

At the University of Alabama, President Trump offered advice to the class of 2025 before turning his commencement address into a political rally.

Youre the first graduating class of the Golden Age of America, said Trump.

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The president drew one of his biggest reactions when he reaffirmed his position on transgender athletes in womens sports.

Men will not play in womens sports, said Trump.

The speech comes against a backdrop of high-stakes changes in Washington.

Earlier in the day, Trump announced that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is leaving his role but will be nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Extremely excited. The fact that hes getting appointed to be an ambassador. You and I think thats a great fit for him, said Sen. Markwayne Mullins (R-Okla.).

The shakeup comes weeks after Waltz mistakenly added a journalist on a messaging app group chat with top-ranking officials who discussed a military operation in the Middle East.

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I worry again, you know, that this administration doesnt seem to understand the reasons why we have classified information and lives are at stake, said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The White House has not said when Waltz will officially step down, or when a confirmation hearing might take place.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for Americas two biggest public broadcasters, which have faced a series of attacks from the White House and Republican lawmakers accusing them of biased reporting.

The order instructs the CPBs board to terminate direct funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding. It also orders the board to take steps to minimize or eliminate indirect funding to NPR and PBS.

The corporation, however, is a private entity that is supposed to be protected from government interference, including executive orders from the president. The corporation is currently suing Trump because the White House tried to terminate three of its board members earlier this week.

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CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the Presidents authority, the corporations CEO, Patricia Harrison, said in a statement. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.

The Presidents blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement Friday morning. We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

NPR joined PBS in suggesting it will consider legal action against the administration. We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public. We will challenge this Executive Order using all means available, the public broadcasting organization said in a statement.

Each year, the CPB disburses $535 million in taxpayer funds to public radio and TV stations nationwide and to producers of educational and cultural programming.

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Stations, in turn, provide free and universal access to news, emergency alerts and a wide array of programming.

In Trumps first term, his annual budget proposals zeroed out the funding for the corporation, but Congress always allocated the funds anyway  a reflection of the fact that national Republican opposition to NPR and PBS is countered by local support.

In Trumps second term, he is being much more aggressive about trying to shut down the public broadcasters. The White House is alleging that the networks spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

PBS and NPR executives reject that, but they recognize that Trump feels emboldened to pursue their federal funding.

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The White House has said it will soon ask Congress to claw back the money already allocated for the corporation over the next two years.

These are funds that we were already counting on, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said earlier this week, because its already appropriated. So were anxious to see what theyre talking about and we will be responding very quickly.

House speaker Mike Johnson said of the expected rescission proposal, I dont know what the final outcome is going to be, but I can tell theres a lot of thoughtful debate about it.

Trumps executive order is another pursuit of the same goal  a zeroing out of federal funding for public media.

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The order also directs Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to investigate NPR and PBS for possible employment discrimination, and it instructs the heads of all other federal agencies to identify and terminate any direct or indirect funding of the media organizations.

When Congress established the corporation in 1967, it specifically tried to insulate public media from political pressure. The law said the corporation is a private entity, not a federal agency, to afford maximum protection from extraneous interference and control, and expressly forbids the government from exercising any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting.

But Congress could choose to stop funding the corporation. In that case, bigger stations with lots of donors and other sources of revenue would survive, but smaller stations could be forced off the air, especially in rural areas that are Republican strongholds.

In many cases these are the last locally owned broadcasters in these communities, Ed Ulman, the CEO of Alaska Public Media, told CNN last month.

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President Donald Trump has announced his intention to rename Veterans Day to Victory Day for World War I and to officially recognize May 8 as Victory Day for World War II.

Veterans Day, currently observed on November 11, marks the end of fighting in World War I and thanks American veterans for their service. It was initially known as Armistice Day until 1954. Trump argues that the United States should celebrate its victories more prominently.

May 8, known as Victory in Europe Day, commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces in 1945. While this date is recognized in several European countries, it is not a federal holiday in the U.S.

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The renaming of these holidays would require legislative action by Congress, as federal holidays are established through the legislative process.

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Throughout his 2024 campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump made diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine-Russia war a major priority, suggesting that he could bring peace within 24 hours. Even before Trump resumed office in January 2025, as president-elect he named envoys and held preliminary discussions with a variety of leaders.

Since Trump returned to the White House, he has talked with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, met twice with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and made frequent public comments on the war.

How does Trumps mediation effort stack up historically? Im a scholar of the presidency, and while we dont yet know the outcome of the Trump-led negotiations, we do know one thing: Hes not conducting them in the ways presidents  including Trump himself  have conducted them in the past.

President Donald Trump erupted at Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting on Feb. 28, 2025, angrily sending the Ukrainian leader out of the White House because he was not ready for peace with Russia. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Some worked, others didnt

There are several examples of presidents who attempted to play a mediating role in foreign conflicts.

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Theodore Roosevelt: Roosevelt won a Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to ending the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War, fought over control of Manchuria and Sakhalin Island. Roosevelt had been asked to mediate by Japan, and Russia agreed. In many ways, this episode marked the beginning of the role of the U.S. president as a world leader.

Jimmy Carter: Carters greatest presidential success arguably came in the Camp David Accords, the framework for peace negotiated in 1978 between Israel and Egypt after decades of conflict. Carter did not win a Nobel Prize for his accomplishment, but Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin did.

Bill Clinton: Clinton made two ambitious attempts to broker peace between old adversaries. One ended in success, the other in failure.

Clintons envoy, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, mediated an accord between the British government, the Republic of Ireland and the warring factions in Northern Ireland that was signed on Good Friday 1998.

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On the other hand, one of Clintons greatest frustrations was a failed attempt to arrange peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Clinton blamed the failure on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat walking away from a deal in 2000. Instead, peace efforts were supplanted by a Palestinian uprising that killed an estimated 1,053 Israeli civilians by early 2005.

Dealing with a third situation  the wars set off by the disintegration of Yugoslavia the Clinton administration also obtained an agreement over Bosnia in the 1995 Dayton Accords when the parties were sufficiently exhausted.

Donald Trump: In his first presidency, Trump himself brokered the September 2020 Abraham Accords that established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. The accords, brought about largely through negotiations led by Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, had strategic aims of putting greater pressure for peace on the Palestinians and strengthening a common front against Iran. (The Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas may have been an attempt to stop subsequent efforts to extend the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia.)

Although all of these examples involved presidential leadership and involvement, they did not follow a single model.

How they did it

Former President Bill Clinton bows as he meets former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who spearheaded peace negotiations on behalf of Clinton that led to the end of 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images

Roosevelt never attended the peace negotiations over the Russo-Japanese War in Portsmouth, but he actively offered proposals through intermediaries before and during the conference. The final stages of negotiation were held on his yacht, the Mayflower.

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Carters breakthrough came when he engaged in intense personal diplomacy at Camp David, where he, Sadat and Begin were sequestered for 13 days. To complete the deal, Carter had to shuffle back and forth between the principals and at one point had to make a frantic appeal to Sadat not to leave.

Clintons unsuccessful efforts to broker an agreement between Arafat and a succession of Israeli prime ministers extended over the duration of his two-term presidency and frequently involved personal meetings and exchanges.

On the other hand, Clintons involvement in the Northern Ireland resolution did not primarily come in the form of personal diplomacy at the end of the process. Rather, he set the conditions for a settlement earlier when he approved a visa for Irish Republican leader Gerry Adams to enter the U.S., against the wishes of Britain and Clintons own advisers.

When Clinton went to Belfast for a Christmas tree lighting in 1995, he brought together Catholic leaders committed to the unification of Ireland and Protestant leaders loyal to Britain. First lady Hillary Clinton also contributed by meeting with Irish womens organizations on both sides.

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In contrast, in the Dayton process Clinton was later portrayed by chief negotiator Richard Holbrooke as essentially disengaged.

Not like the others

Although each mediation effort was unique, there were some commonalities.

First, where sensitive issues of land possession were involved, many of the negotiations benefited from privacy in the process.

Second, successful mediations came most often when the U.S. was neutral, such as in the Portsmouth negotiations, or friendly toward both parties to some degree, such as with the Camp David, Good Friday and Abraham negotiations. Dayton was the exception in that the U.S. had become quite hostile toward the Serbs.

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In Ukraine, Trump is attempting to mediate a conflict in which, until now, the U.S. has been firmly and materially supportive of one side against the other. And he is attempting to do it by publicly making, so far, proposals that were destined to be toxic to the Ukrainian public.

Trump appears to be violating the first rule above  no public negotiations over land  in order to chase compliance with the second, which is no mediation without neutrality. By, among other things, publicly offering proposals that the Ukrainians see as one-sided against them, Trump has largely erased the image of the U.S. as pro-Ukraine.

This is a highly controversial and risky strategy that has damaged relations with U.S. allies and cost the U.S. moral capital in pursuit of an uncertain peace.

Whatever success Trump ultimately achieves, it is little surprise that the effort, which has been pursued over a period of six months so far, has been more difficult than he anticipated.

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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: Andrew E. Busch, University of Tennessee

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Andrew E. Busch 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.
Prince Harry shared his hope for "reconciliation" with his family, but he also knows that it may not happen with every member.



The Duke of Sussex, 40, sat down for a landmark interview with BBC News on Friday, May 2, just hours after his loss in court over his security in the U.K., saying he was "gutted" by the decision not to change his downgraded status.

Harry said the matter over police protection has caused King Charles not to speak to him, adding that he "would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore."

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However, he added, "Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me forlots of things.

Prince Harry penned a memoir, Spare, that was released in 2023. Speaking with PEOPLE upon the book's release, he said, "I don't want to tell anyone what to think of it and that includes my family. This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey. It's a raw account of my life  the good, the bad and everything in between."

Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles and Prince Harry at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022 King Charles and Prince Harry at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022

Related: Prince Harry Wants 'Reconciliation' but Says King Charles 'Won't Speak to Me': 'I Don't Know How Much Longer My Father Has'

Spare dove deep into Harry's upbringing in the British royal family, his mother Princess Diana's death, his relationship with Meghan Markle and his strained relationship with various members of the royal family, including his brother, Prince William.

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In the book, the Duke of Sussex detailed a 2019 argument with his brother that he says turned physical. Harry claimed the dispute started when William called Meghan "difficult," "rude" and "abrasive." When Harry accused his brother of repeating a media narrative, more insults were exchanged and the situation escalated.

After getting William a glass of water, Harry wrote, "He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast."

"He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog's bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out."

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Daniel Leavl-Olivas-Pool Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William; Prince Harry Prince William; Prince Harry

Related: No, the British Monarch Can't Take Away Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Titles

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Prince Harry traveled from his California home to London to attend the two-day appeal hearing on April 8 and 9, fighting for the restoration of state-funded security during visits to the U.K.

"This one has always mattered the most," Harry told PEOPLE at the time.

In his BBC interview following the ruling, the Duke of Sussex said that he doesn't find it possible to bring Meghan and their two children back to the U.K. safely.

He said, "A decision that was made, most likely  in fact, I know  to keep us under the roof. But then once they realized that wasn't going to work, once they realized that myself, my wife, my kids are happier outside of the institution, then please just look at the facts. Look at the risk, look at the threat, look at the impact that if anything was to happen to me, my wife or my father's grandchildren, if anything was to happen to them, look where the responsibility lies."



Read the original article on People
Prince Harry leaving a London court after a hearing about his level of security in April 2025. - Credit: James Manning/PA Images/Getty Images

Prince Harry has lost a legal challenge over a decision to downgrade the taxpayer-funded security he and his family will receive during their visits to the U.K.

In a ruling issued Friday, May 2, an appeals court in London upheld a U.K. High Court decision from last February that stated the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) was allowed to downgrade the protection status for the Duke of Sussex and his family. The new arrangement will allow the U.K. government to provide Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children with a bespoke level of protection: They will have to provide advanced notice of their visits, and security will be assigned based on things like travel plans and a threat level assessment.

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RAVEC  which authorizes security for senior royals on behalf of the Home Office  changed the protection status for the Duke of Sussex in February 2020, after Harry and Markle stepped away from their royal family duties and left the U.K. for Canada (before later settling in California). RAVEC said that if Harry and his family were only going to visit the U.K. occasionally, their security detail could be assessed on a case by case basis.

Harry, who has long made privacy and safety a key issue for him and his family, eventually challenged the ruling. He and his legal team argued that RAVEC failed to properly consider his circumstances and conduct a risk assessment when they made the decision in 2020.

In a statement, Harry explained his motives for taking legal action: This process has only ever been about ensuring my safety and that of my immediate family when we are in the United Kingdom, so that we may safely visit my home country with the same level of security that other governments deem necessary for our protection. My ask has been simple: that the standard protocols for security and risk assessments be applied to me in the same way they are to others  including people who have never carried out any public functions on behalf of the State.

At a hearing on the appeal last month, Harrys lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, said the bespoke security offering was not better, and suggested the Duke was being singled out for different, unjustified, and inferior treatment. Fatima also argued that Harry was not seeking the same level of protection as working members of the royal family, but rather a fair process in deciding so.

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In the appeals decision, one of the judges acknowledged that Harry had made powerful and moving arguments, and that it was plain that the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system. But the judge ultimately cast doubt on whether Harrys sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to RAVECs decision.

Ultimately, the appeals court said that Sir Richard Mottram, the (now former) head of RAVEC who had decided to downgrade Harrys security, acted properly, even if he technically did not follow the usual procedures for conducting a full review of the Dukes situation.

The court ruled that RAVEC gave compelling reasons for making its decision: The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the short of protection provided by RAVEC, a summary of the ruling states. Outside the U.K., he was outside that cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible.

In his statement, Harry argued that the courts ruling actually confirms that RAVEC  which is comprised, he noted, of senior officials from the Royal Household, Home Office, and Metropolitan Police  had failed to follow its own mandated processes for me, which re applied to all other high-risk and high-profile individuals. He continued, Given my profound concerns over this issue, I will be writing to the Home Secretary to ask her to urgently examine the matter and review the RAVEC process.

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Harry went on to call his legal action a last resort, but said it had uncovered shocking truths about the REVAC process, including that the Royal Household are key-decision-makers and my sole representation for matters regarding my safety. He said that the legal challenge led him to learn the names of all those involved, many of whom retired immediately after playing their part.

Near the end of his statement, Harry said: Its true that I have been treated as an exception on this issue. The conditions of my security were not made based on threat, risk, and impact, they were made based on my role  one that my wife and I wanted to maintain, but that we ultimately refused. RAVECs ability to make decisions outside of its own policies and the so-called political sensitives of my case have prevailed over the need for fair and consistent decision-making. The court has decided to defer to this, revealing a sad truth: my hands are tied in seeking legal recourse against the establishment.

He even went on to reference his mother, the late Princess Diana, saying, This all comes from the same institutions that preyed upon my mother, that openly campaigned for the removal of our security, and that continue to incite hatred towards me, my wife and even our children, while at the same time protecting the very power that they should be holding accountable.

This story was updated at 3:47 p.m. ET with quotes from a statement released by Prince Harry.

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The company has created a proprietary drug development platform, dubbed GEODe, which it uses in its discovery efforts for new biologic medicines to add to its research pipeline. Currently, Tectonic has several lines in the preclinical discovery stage, and one, TX45, in the human trial clinic.

The first Perfect 10 stock well look at here is a biopharmaceutical research firm, Tectonic Therapeutic. Tectonic is working at both the preclinical and clinical stages, focusing its efforts on the development of G-Protein Coupled Receptors, or GPCRs, into a line of new drug candidates. GPCRs have an important role, as receptor molecules, as regulators in several human biological functions. They appear on cell surfaces and are actively involved in regulating such vital functions as blood pressure regulation, glucose metabolism, immune function, and neuronal signalling. Molecules with such varied actions in the human body are bursting with potential for medical research  and Tectonic is working to unlock that potential.

The Perfect 10 scores indicate stocks that definitely deserve a closer look. Weve opened up the database at TipRanks to find out what Wall Street thinks of 2 top-scoring stocks; heres a closer look.

Thats where TipRanks Smart Score steps in. This powerful algorithm, built on AI and natural language processing, cuts through the chaos. It sifts through vast amounts of market data, analyst insights, and technical indicators, distilling it all into a simple, actionable rating. Every stock gets a score from 1 to 10  based on factors statistically tied to future outperformance  making it easier than ever to identify potential winners and sidestep the duds.

The biggest problem with sorting through that array of stocks comes from the sheer volume of data that needs to be examined. Those thousands of stocks are traded by thousands of investors  and there are tens of millions of daily transactions, every one of which adds another bit to the flow of raw market data. No human can keep up with that kind of volume  but AI can.

Building a strong portfolio naturally hinges on choosing the right stocks. The tricky part? Finding them. With thousands of publicly traded companies and a flood of investment methods floating around, its no wonder even seasoned investors can feel overwhelmed.

Story Continues

TX45 is under investigation as a potential treatment for high blood pressure in the circulatory system of the lungs, a dangerous condition known as pulmonary hypertension. The drug candidate is an Fc-relaxin fusion protein, with potential to become the best in its class, and Tectonic is studying its efficacy in the treatment of Group 2 pulmonary hypertension. The drugs action leverages vasodilatory and anti-fibrotic properties of relaxin.

Tectonic has had some success with TX45 in the clinical studies. In September of last year, the company released favorable data from the Phase 1a study, and in January of this year it followed that data with another set of favorable interim results, on the Phase 1b stage of the study, in patients with Group 2 pulmonary hypertension in HFpEF. This coming May, the company will present additional Phase 1b data to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure 2025 Congress. The drug is currently undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial, with results expected next year.

We should note that, despite these successes in the trial clinic, shares in TECX are down 56% so far this year. The stocks decline began in January, after the pharma giant Eli Lilly terminated the clinical studies of its kidney disease drug candidate volenrelaxin. The termination was due to concerns that the drug was not proving efficacious; the negative impact on TECX shares came because volenrelaxin is in the same class of drugs, relaxin mimetics, as TX45. The failure of volenrelaxin has caused analysts and investors to worry about the efficacy of Tectonics lead candidate  worries that only a series of positive trial results will allay.

Despite concerns surrounding the broader relaxin drug class, Mizuho analyst Uy Ear sees substantial promise in the companys TX45 candidate and argues that the market is drastically undervaluing its potential.

We like TECX as we believe: (1) The stock price reflects near zero value for TX45, which we believe has $3.3B unadjusted/$1.2B adjusted peak sales potential in CpCPH with HFpEF alone. There are also multiple scenarios for TX45 to treat the larger Group 2 PH, which would lead to significant upside; (2) While there are concerns about the ineffectiveness of the relaxin class, we see limited read-through from Lilly terminating volenrelaxins Phase 2 for futility, given the different conditions (heart failure vs TX45s Group 2 PH) and continued validation of the MoA from AstraZenecas ongoing AZD3427 Phase 2 in Group 2 PH; (3) The consistency and clinically relevant magnitude of the improvements  left ventricular function and pulmonary hemodynamics  observed in the Phase 1b hemodynamic data will likely translate to clinical benefit in PH-HFpEF; and (4) Strong cash position (~$326M in 1Q25) with runway into 4Q28 and to complete the Phase 2 trial for TX45 and the Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for TX2100, provide additional potential catalysts for the stock, Ear opined.

With that, Ear rates the shares as Outperform (i.e., Buy) and sets a $51 price targetimplying the stock could soar by 152% over the next year. (To watch Ears track record, click here)

Overall, there are 5 recent analyst reviews of this stock, and they are all unanimously positive  giving TECX shares a Strong Buy consensus rating. The stocks $20.23 trading price and $74.25 average target price together suggest a hefty 267% one-year upside potential. (See TECX stock forecast)

AeroVironment (AVAV)

The second Perfect 10 well look at here is a defense contractor, AeroVironment. This company, which was founded in 1971, has a historical specialization in applied robots, in the form of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs)  that is, drones. Today, AeroVironment has moved beyond drone aircraft and, in addition, designs and produces unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS). These lines of uncrewed vehicles are designed to give military users superior reconnaissance capabilities without risking human crews. In a more offensive-minded design, the company also produces loitering munition systems (LMSs), capable of hovering over a battlefield and providing both offensive and defensive fire support.

AeroVironment focuses on giving its customers solutions that work, based on the bedrock fact that there is minimal margin for error in most military applications. The company takes part in every aspect of product development, from the design and production of prototypes to the deployment of regular production models. AeroVironment is always looking for ways to improve the ease of use and effectiveness of its drone aircraft and vehicles.

In recent weeks, AeroVironment has made several important expansionary moves. Probably the most important of these is the April 1 stockholder approval of the companys acquisition of Blue Halo. Blue Halo is a defense contractor working in various high-tech fields, including directed energy weapons, electronic warfare, AI, and counter-measures to uncrewed vehicles and aircraft. AeroVironments acquisition of Blue Halo is valued at $4.1 billion, as an all-stock transaction.

In addition, AeroVironment has scored two important European contracts in recent weeks. In March, the company was awarded the contract to deliver 41 large uncrewed ground vehicles to the German military, with deliveries running from summer of this year into 2027. And on April 21, AeroVironment announced it had won a $46.6 million contract with the Italian Defense Ministry to deliver the JUMP 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system. The five-year contract includes delivery of the drone aircraft, as well as engineering services and initial sustainment and technical support.

On the financial side, AeroVironment missed the forecasts on both revenue and earnings in its last report, which covered fiscal 3Q25. In that quarter, which ended on January 25, the company had a top line of $167.6 million, down 10% year-over-year and falling short of the analysts forecast of $188.2 million. At the bottom line, AeroVironments non-GAAP EPS of $0.30 was 36 cents per share less than had been anticipated. Looking forward, however, AeroVironment reported having a funded backlog of $763.5 million as of January 25; this figure was a company record.

For Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale, the key here is this companys ability to disrupt the defense industry. He is impressed by the Blue Halo transaction, too, and writes of AeroVironment, We see ~15% upside to consensus estimates over NTM, see valuation as compelling, and believe the standalone AVAV as well as its pending acquisition of Blue Halo position it as one of the elder statesmen of the Defense Disruptors. This cohort that includes Anduril, Palantir, Shield AI, and several other non-traditional defense names is poised to take significant share in the growing DOD budget over the next decade.

Gesuale rates AVAV shares as a Strong Buy and he complements that with a $200 price target, implying a one-year gain for the shares of 30.5%. (To watch Gesuales track record, click here)

As with TECX above, there are 5 recent reviews on record here and they are all positive  for a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating. AVAV stock is priced at $153.24 and its $190.25 average price target suggests a 12-month upside potential of 24%. (See AVAV stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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May 2 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince Harry, the duke of Sussex, will not get increased taxpayer-funded security while in that country after losing a legal battle Friday.

Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos ruled against Harry's legal team in the British Court of Appeal, arguing he "could not say that the duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to Ravec's decision."

Security for the prince and his family will now remain below the level normally provided to other Royal Family members by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

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Harry's level of security protection while in Britain was downgraded in 2020 when he and wife Meghan Markle, the duchess of Sussex, announced they would "step back" from their duties as members of the Royal Family.

The family argued that the reduced security forced them to stop regularly visiting Britain because of safety concerns.

Security for Prince Harry and his family will now remain below the level normally provided to other Royal Family members by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, Ravec. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

Harry and Meghan moved to Southern California after stepping back from the Royal Family, where they continue to reside.

Last year, Harry lost a decision in Britain's High Court of Justice to have the regular security level reinstated. He took his fight to the British Court of Appeal, which heard the case last month over two days in London.

A judge ruled against Prince Harrys legal team in the British Court of Appeal, arguing he could not say that the dukes sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to Ravecs decision. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

Lawyers for the youngest son of King Charles III, had previously argued that Ravec's treatment of Harry, his wife and two children was unlawful. They accused the agency of targeting the family through a "bespoke process" and Harry was "singled-out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment."

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Britain's High Court rejected the arguments, calling the Ravec decision "legally sound."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to Southern California after stepping back from the Royal Family, where they continue to reside. File Pool Photo by Neil Hall/UPI

"Even if there had been a risk analysis from the risk management board, it would very likely have only confirmed the threat, vulnerability and impact levels which the Duke of Sussex had faced when earlier risk analyses were undertaken," Vos, the President of the court's Civil Division, wrote in his ruling Friday.

"But it would have had nothing to say on the critical features of the changed situation, namely the need for protective security on future uncertain visits and the government's appetite for risk."
Prince Harry has lost a legal challenge over the level of security he is permitted while in the U.K.

The Duke of Sussex had appeared in court last month to appeal the decision to downgrade his taxpayer-funded security arrangements while in Britain, describing the country as central to the heritage of his children, Archie and Lilibet, who he shares with wife Meghan Markle.

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I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the U.S., he said in 2023. That cannot happen if its not possible to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil.

When Harry and Meghan Markle confirmed they would be stepping back from their duties as senior members of the royal family in 2020, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) decided the couple would no longer be given the same degree of protection when in the country.

Harrys barristers said the duke had been singled out for inferior treatment and that his safety, security and life were at stake.

The new arrangement meant that the Sussexes would instead receive a cheaper, bespoke security service, necessitating that they give 30 days notice of any plans to come to the U.K. and that each visit be assessed for threat levels.

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On Friday, the duke lost his appeal challenging the decision. High court judge Geoffrey Vos said the arguments put forward on behalf of Harry were powerful and said it was plain he had felt badly treated by the system. But, he added, there was no legal basis to challenge Ravecs decision.

The conclusion in my judgement was that the Duke of Sussexs appeal would be dismissed, he said on Friday.

Prince Harry now lives with the Duchess of Sussex and their two children in Montecito, California. His returns to his native U.K. have been few and far between since their move to the west coast of the U.S., including a memorial service for his uncle, Robert Fellowes, in August 2024, the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth in June 2022 and that same year, in September, her funeral.

Harry did attend the coronation of his father, King Charles III in May 2023, but Meghan did not join.

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Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III, said Friday he is devastated" over the loss of a yearslong court battle for security protection in the United Kingdom, and still hopes for "reconciliation" with his family.

"There have been so many disagreements, differences, between me and some of my family," Harry said in an interview with the BBC, adding of his legal fight for security, "This current situation that has been ongoing for five years with regard to human life and safety is the sticking point. It is the only thing that's left."

Harry added that he would "love reconciliation" with his family, but said the ongoing security issue is "100%" the last step in repairing his relations with his family.

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"I thought with all the disagreements and all of the chaos that's happening, the one thing that I could rely on is my family keeping me safe," he said. "And not only did they decide to remove my security in the U.K., but they also signaled to every single government around the world not to protect us."

In response to Harrys interview with the BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told ABC News, All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.

PHOTO: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives at the the Royal Courts of Justice, Britain's High Court, in central London, on April 8, 2025, for the second day of his appeal hearing over the downgrading of his personal security during visits in Britain. (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Harry noted that his father, the king, who announced last year that he has cancer, is no longer speaking to him because of his legal battle for security protection.

"There's no point in continuing to fight anymore, as I said, life is precious," said Harry, who also issued a statement on his website following the ruling. "I don't know how much longer my father has, you know. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile."

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Charles' cancer diagnosis was announced by the palace in February 2024. The palace has not shared details of the king's diagnosis or treatment.

He has returned to regular engagements, joking with guests Thursday at a reception for the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association at Windsor Castle and later planting a Swedish oak tree alongside Sweden's visiting king and queen.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle are parents of 2: What to know about their kids

Charles attended an official engagement at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday in support of cancer awareness. The king was photographed smiling alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, and attendees.

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In a statement shared at the event, Charles commented on his own cancer experience, saying, It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years. And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits -- that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion."

PHOTO: King Charles and Queen Camilla pose for a photo with Lorraine Kelly and members of the Change + Check Choir during a reception in Buckingham Palace, London, April 30, 2025. (Yui Mok/Pool via Reuters)

The U.K. judge's ruling on Friday marked an end to a legal challenge from Harry stemming from a 2020 decision by the U.K. government that denied his family automatic taxpayer-funded police protection while in Britain, after he and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped away from their roles as senior working royals.

Harrys security situation will now remain as is, where he is provided state-funded police protection on a case-by-case basis when he visits the U.K.

In 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, made a decision that security for the Sussexes would be granted on a case-by-case basis. The committee also rejected Harry's proposal to personally pay for police protection for his family while visiting the U.K.

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Last year, a London judge ruled the U.K. government had the right to strip Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, of an automatic security detail during visits to Britain.

Reading a summary of the judgment dismissing Harry's appeal, the judge said Friday that arguments put forward by his lawyer were powerful and moving, and that it was, plain that the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system."

"I concluded, having studied the detail of the extensive documentation, I could not say that the dukes sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to RAVECs decision," he continued. "The duke was in effect stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate.

He added, "It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate, indeed it seemed sensible.

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Prince Harry's 'life is at stake' in bid for UK security protection, lawyer says

In their appeal of the ruling, Harry's lawyers argued in April court hearings that the 40-year-old faces security risks, including from al-Qaeda, who they say have called for Harry's assassination.

Harry, the fifth in line to the British throne, has said previously that his security risk is so high in the U.K. he feels reluctant to bring his family to his home country.

In closing remarks in court last month, Harry's lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, told the judge that Harry's "life is at stake."

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"There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security, and whose life is at stake," Fatima said. "There is a person sitting behind me who is being told he is getting a special bespoke process when he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior in every respect."

Harry traveled from California to the U.K. to attend last month's hearings, arriving to court on his own, without his wife Meghan or any royal family members.

PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry departs the High Court in London, April 9, 2025. (Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

After stepping away from their senior royal roles, Harry and Meghan moved to California, where they now live with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

The family of four is not known to have traveled to the U.K. together since 2022, when they attended Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Harry's grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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Since moving to California, the Sussexes have relied on a privately funded security team.

In his interview with the BBC, Harry said he does not picture himself returning to the U.K. with his family in light of the court's decision.

"I can't see a world in which... I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point, and the things that they're going to miss is, well, everything," Harry said. "I love my country ... So I miss the U.K. I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do, and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."

Prince Harry says he's 'devastated' after losing court battle over security protection in UK originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Prince Harry lost his high-stakes appeal to reinstate his state-funded United Kingdom security, which he says was unjustly revoked after he stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States in 2020.

Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos dismissed the appeal on Friday, May 2, adding that the two other judges agreed with his opinion.

Delivering the verdict, Vos said, "The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC [the governments Royal and VIP Executive Committee]. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible, I said in my judgment, to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible."

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"Even if there had been a risk analysis from the Risk Management Board, it would very likely have only confirmed the threat, vulnerability and impact levels which the Duke of Sussex had faced when earlier risk analyses were undertaken," the judge added. "But it would have had nothing to say on the critical features of the changed situation, namely the need for protective security on future uncertain visits and the government's appetite for risk."

The judge called RAVEC's decision on Prince Harry's security "understandable and perhaps predictable."

James Manning/PA Images via Getty Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 9, 2025 Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 9, 2025

The Duke of Sussex, 40, traveled from his California home to attend the two-day hearing at the Royal Court of Justice in London on April 8 and 9. For years, hes been fighting for the restoration of automatic, state-funded security during his visits to the U.K., and as he left court on April 9, he told PEOPLE he was feeling "exhausted and overwhelmed."

For Prince Harry, this legal battle has been described by his legal team as a fight for his life.

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In February 2024, Harry lost his initial case against RAVECs decision to downgrade his security, which he appealed. A source close to his legal team had previously said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome.

Belinda Jiao/Getty Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 8, 2025. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 8, 2025.

Related: Prince Harry Says His Worst Fears Have Been Confirmed in Raw Comments After His Security Case (Exclusive)

The Duke of Sussex said that his "worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case  and thats really sad." Though he has juggled multiple court cases in a strike back against the British tabloid press, this particular fight is crucial for his future and his family with his wife, Meghan Markle.

"This one has always mattered the most," Prince Harry told PEOPLE.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lost their police protection in the U.K. when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Harry's lawyers said in court on April 8 that he and Meghan "felt forced to step back from the role of full time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution" and had "wished to continue their duties in support of the late Queen as privately funded members of the royal family."

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 9, 2025. Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 9, 2025.

Related: Prince Harry's Fight for His Future Exposes Deepening Rift with King Charles: 'They Are Distant,' Source Says (Exclusive)

Their security was soon downgraded, but Harry's legal team maintains that RAVEC failed to properly assess the unique risks posed to Harry and his family. Instead, RAVEC gave a case-by-case arrangement based on current needs, which his side says his "inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective."

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Prince Harry and Meghan are raising their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, in California, and his lawyers have said previously that he "does not feel safe" bringing his family to his home country without official police protection.



John Phillips/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty (Right) Then-Prince Charles and Prince Harry in April 2019; (Left) PEOPLE Magazine, April 28, 2025. (Right) Then-Prince Charles and Prince Harry in April 2019; (Left) PEOPLE Magazine, April 28, 2025.

Exacerbating the fracture, the Duke of Sussex has long maintained that as ceremonial head of state, his father, King Charles, could help restore the security he is fighting for (an idea the palace denies).

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Amid the courtroom clash, a source close to the palace tells PEOPLE there's still distance between the father and son: "I dont think there is any rapprochement. Nothing has changed."



Read the original article on People
Prince Harry is ready to put the past behind him and mend the long-standing rift with his family.

"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," the Duke of Sussex told the BBC in a surprise interview on May 2.

"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."

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Harry's interview with BBC was published on the heels of reports that he lost a an appeal over the levels of security he's entitled to while traveling in the UK. The Duke said that he's "forgiven" his family and is ready to move on.

Harry's comments also come more than a year after Charles announced that he'd been diagnosed with cancer.

"Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity," Charles said during an event held at Buckingham Palace on April 30.

"It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years. And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits  that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," he added.

The royals have been at odds for years and only worsened when Harry made the decision to step down as a senior member of the royal family and move to the U.S. with his wife, Meghan Markle back in 2020. In the years since, Harry has returned to the UK a handful of times, including for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022 and King Charles' coronation a few months later.
Prince Harry said he and his family will not be safe in the United Kingdom after his appeal to reinstate his state-funded security was denied

Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, after which their security was downgraded

Now, the Duke of Sussex won't bring his children, Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet, to the U.K. because he says they won't be properly protected there

Prince Harry says he fears for the safety of Meghan Markle, himself and their children in the United Kingdom after he lost his appeal to reinstate his state-funded security there.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, had his security downgraded five years ago when he stepped back from royal duties in 2020. His appeal to have his police protection reexamined was dismissed on May 2 by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos and two other judges.

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Shortly after the appeal was denied, Harry told the BBC that he, Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would not be properly protected if they were to return to the U.K. without security, claiming that "a duty of care" has been "completely thrown out of the window" with the ruling.



"At the heart of it, this is a family dispute, and it makes me really, really sad that we are sitting here today, five years later, where a decision that was made  most likely, in fact, I know  to keep us under the roof," Harry said.

DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP via Getty Meghan Markle (L) and Prince Harry (R) with their son Archie in 2019

Related: Meghan Markle Shares Her Most Personal Photos Yet of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet  and Their Matching Red Hair!

He continued, "But then once they realized that wasn't going to work, once they realized that myself, my wife, my kids are happier outside of the institution, then please just look at the facts."

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"Look at the risk, look at the threat, look at the impact that if anything was to happen to me, my wife, or my father's grandchildren. If anything was to happen to them, look where the responsibility lies," he added.

Prince Harry said that the security issue is bigger than the rift with his family.

"Whether we agree or disagree  theres a lot that we agree on, theres a lot that we disagree on  that aside, where is the duty of care?" Harry asked. "Because as I said, life is precious, and it is very clear that from 2020, because I was no longer allowed an official role and because I decided to remove myself from the institution, that my life got devalued from the highest score to the lowest score overnight."

"I don't want history to repeat itself," the Duke of Sussex said. "I think there's a lot of other people out there, the majority, that also don't want history to repeat itself. Through the disclosure process, I've discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark."

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Harry's mother, Princess Diana, was left without police protection after choosing to decline it following her divorce from the future King Charles. She died in a Paris car crash in 1997, being pursued by paparazzi and guarded only by private security.

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He previously said he felt "history was repeating itself" during his relationship with Meghan but that he was adamant about not letting another woman close to him be mistreated by the press.

He said in the AppleTV+ docuseries The Me You Can't See, "Do I have any regrets? Yeah. My biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in my relationship with my wife and calling out the racism when I did. History was repeating itself. My mother was chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone that wasn't white and now look what's happened. You want to talk about history repeating itself, they're not going to stop until [Meghan] dies."

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Prince Harry with mom Princess Diana in July 1986 Prince Harry with mom Princess Diana in July 1986

Related: Meghan Markle Says Harry 'Slayed the Dragon, Saved the Princess' for Their Marriage: 'That Man Loves Me So Much'

Also in his BBC interview, Harry said he could not imagine bringing Archie, 5, or Lilibet, 3, back to the U.K. with Meghan after the May 2 ruling. He told the outlet, I cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.

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The prince, who lived in the U.K. for decades and served in the British military for years, said his children would miss "everything" in the country, a place he maintained he still "loves" and always has, "despite what some people in that country have done."



Read the original article on People
Prince Harry has given an interview to the BBC saying that he does not know how much longer his father has. The Prince also said that he can now not see a world in which he would bring his wife and children to the UK following a ruling today on his security.

I would love reconciliation with my familyLife is precious, the Prince said in the interview broadcast by the BBC today. I dont now how much longer my father has. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.

Harrys words show just how out in the cold the Prince now is when it comes to information about his fathers health. Buckingham Palace has given very few updates on King Charles since he announced last February that he has been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, other than to confirm that his treatment is ongoing.

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Today, three Appeal Court judges announced their verdict that Harry has lost his appeal to challenge the decision over his security arrangements. Since stepping back as a working royal, his security in the UK has been determined on a case by case basis. The Prince brought a legal action in 2021 over how that decision was made and has previously said that he does not feel safe bringing his family to the UK without guaranteed police protection.

I cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point, Harry told the BBC today. The thing that theyre going to miss is, well everything. He added, I love my country, I always have doneI miss the UK. I think that its really quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland.

The Prince emphasized just how low relations have become with some family members. Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book, of course they will never forgive me for lots of things, he said.

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After losing his legal battle for higher U.K. security protections on Friday, Prince Harry said in a bombshell interview with the BBC that his father, King Charles III, wont speak to him because of the matter. However, he would love reconciliation with the royal family.

Speaking to the BBC from California, where he now resides, the prince said he is devastated about losing the appeal, which concerned a judges decision last year to uphold the downgrading of his U.K. security arrangements after he and wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from royal duties. Earlier on Friday, the court handed down a decision in the security case, which has been ongoing for over four years. When presenting the appeal, Harrys lawyer argued that the prince was singled out for unjustified and inferior treatment and that higher protection is necessary since he and his family still receive security threats. Because of the loss, Harry told the BBC that its unlikely hell ever permanently return to the U.K.

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I dont see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point, he said. And the things that theyre going to miss is, well, everything. I love my country. I always have, despite what some people in that country have done  And I think its quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland.

Harry, who first began legal action against the Home Offices Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) in 2021 for downgrading his taxpayer-funded police protection to a case-by-case basis, claimed there is a lot of control and ability in his fathers hands regarding the situation.

Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him, Harry said. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing experts to do what is necessary.  I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up, and thats what it feels like.

Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement in response to Harrys interview, saying to the BBC: All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.

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Harry went on to say that his legal battle over security has been the sticking point between him and several members of the royal family. It is the only thing thats left, he said. Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things. But I would love reconciliation with my family.

The prince said that life is precious and theres no point in continuing to fight anymore, likely referencing the cancer battles both his father and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, have undergone recently.

I dont know how much longer my father has, you know? He wont speak to me because of the security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile, Harry said, adding: If they dont want that, thats entirely up to them.

Watch Harrys full interview with the BBC here.

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Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, said he hopes for reconciliation with the royal family during a candid interview with the BBC.

Harry also said he felt devastated after losing the latest stage of his U.K. court battle for a publicly funded security detail.

For three years, Harry has fought the decision to decrease his familys U.K. police protection, which came after he stepped down as a working royal in 2020.

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The legal dispute, Harry says, has worsened the strain on his family relationships.

Harry said his father, King Charles III, wont speak to me because of this security stuff, per the BBC.

All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion, a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace said following the ruling on Friday, per NBC News.

In light of the ruling, Harry said he cant see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.

He added, There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family.

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Harry says he has forgiven his family, but understands there are some things his family will never forgive.

I would love reconciliation with my family, Harry said. Theres no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I dont know how much longer my father has. ... But it would be nice to reconcile.

King Charles revealed he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024, and he is currently undergoing treatment.

Harry has frequently spoken about the rift between him and his family after he left behind his royal duties and moved to the United States with his wife, Meghan.

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During a 2023 interview with the ITV network, Harry told Tom Bradby, I would like to get my father back; I would like to have my brother back but theyve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile.

The fractured family dynamic was detailed by Harry in his 2023 memoir, Spare, but the book only caused further stress on his relationships with the royal family, he acknowledged during the BBC interview.

This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute, and it makes me really, really sad that were sitting here today, five years later, where a decision that was made most likely, in fact I know, to keep us under the roof, he said.

Watch: Prince Harry speaks to the BBC
In an exclusive interview with CBS News partner network BBC News, Prince Harry said Friday that he "would love reconciliation" with members of the royal family. He revealed that his father, King Charles, has not been speaking with him amid a court dispute over scaling back Harry's British government security detail.

Harry said he was "devastated" by Friday's U.K. High Court ruling rejecting his appeal in the case, which he said makes it "impossible" for him to take his family back to the U.K.

"I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," Harry told the BBC. "I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do. And I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show, you know, my children."

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Harry, his wife Meghan, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, now live in California. Harry said the initial decision to remove his automatic security entitlement was due him stepping down as a senior member of the royal family in 2020.

"This is, at the heart of it, a family dispute. And it makes me really, really sad that we're sitting here today, five years later, where a decision that was made, most likely  in fact, I know  to keep us under their roof," Harry told the BBC. "But then once they realized that that wasn't going to work, once they realized that, you know myself, my wife, my kids are happier outside of the institution, then please just look at the facts. Look at the risks. Look at the threat. Look at the impact. If anything was to happen to me, my wife or my father's grandchildren  if anything was to happen to them  look where the responsibility lies, you know? So this is a duty of care that has been completely thrown out the window."

On Friday, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales dismissed Harry's case, which centered on how an official committee decided to remove his full-scale, automatic security in 2020. Other senior royals receive such security.

The court said the committee, called Ravec, had diverged from policy when making its decision, but that it had been "sensible" in doing so because of Harry's particular circumstances.

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Harry said he can now only safely return to the U.K. if he's invited by the royal family, because only then does he receive sufficient security.

"Everybody knew that they were putting us at risk in 2020, and they hoped that me knowing that risk would force us to come back. But then when you realize that didn't work, do you not want to keep us safe?" Harry said. "Whether you're the government, the royal household, whether you're my dad, my family  despite all of our differences  do you not want to just ensure our safety?"

Harry said he has been cut off from his father, King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile," Harry said.

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Prince Harry wants to fix a five-year rift with his family, saying that he does not know how long King Charles III has left to live amid the British monarchs battle with cancer.

In an interview with BBC News after losing a legal appeal to reinstate his UK security, the Duke of Sussex said he wanted to reconcile with his loved ones, even though he acknowledged that they may never forgive his actions since 2020.

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I would love reconciliation with my family. Theres no point in continuing to fight anymore, life is precious, Prince Harry said. I dont know how much longer my father has [left to live]. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.

King Charles III was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and has been receiving ongoing treatment. Buckingham Palace has never released details about his prognosis or the effectiveness of the care he is receiving.

Despite pleas for peace, Prince Harry still criticized King Charles for failing to resolve the security issue. He described his court defeat as a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up, adding: I never asked him to intervene  I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.

The Duke of Sussex, who moved to California with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020, said the decision to remove his automatic royal security would prevent him from bringing his children to the UK. I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done and I think that its really quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland, he said.

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Prince Harry said the security tussle was the last ongoing fissure with his family, but he said it was possible that some members of my family will never forgive him for writing a book and lots of [other] things.

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Prince Harry suffered a major setback in one of his legal proceedings on May 2 after a judge dismissed his appeal to regain state-funded security from the United Kingdom.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, has been fighting to regain the security detail for him and his family after he and Meghan Markle, 43, stepped back from their royal duties and moved to the United States back in 2020.

According to the verdict reported byPEOPLE, a judge called the decision not to restore the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex's security detail "understandable and perhaps predictable" and explained that "The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC [the governments Royal and VIP Executive Committee]. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances."

Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images

"Even if there had been a risk analysis from the Risk Management Board, it would very likely have only confirmed the threat, vulnerability and impact levels which the Duke of Sussex had faced when earlier risk analyses were undertaken," the judge continued. "But it would have had nothing to say on the critical features of the changed situation, namely the need for protective security on future uncertain visits and the government's appetite for risk."

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Prince Harry initially lost his first case against the RAVEC back in February 2024, so the latest loss is a setback for him and his family. The Duke of Sussex has been fighting in court since early April and his lawyers said that he and the Dutchess "felt forced to step back from the role of full time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution."

Prince Harry previously told PEOPLE this case was the one that "has always mattered the most," referencing his other legal battles against the British tabloids.

Related: Prince Harry Reveals His 'Worst Fears Have Been Confirmed' Amid Legal Battle


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Prince Harry was dealt a coup de grace today in his five-year bid to reinstate taxpayer-funded security for himself, wife Duchess Meghan, and their kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The Duke of Sussex spoke out in an extraordinarily candid statement , which accompanied a candid BBC interview immediately following the May 2 ruling. In his statement, Harry shared that as far back as November 2017, the same month his engagement to Meghan was announced, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (known as RAVEC) determined that even once she married into the royal family, Meghan would not receive security protection. Only when I asked for the name of the person willing to carry that risk did they reverse the decision, Harry said in the quote.

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In January 2020, after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family, their security protection was stripped, leading Harry into a court battle that reached a bitter end today with the final verdict given in the form of a 21-page decision. The conclusion? His security and the security of his family would not be reinstated.

On the original 2020 decision, Harry said, This reckless action knowingly put me and my family in harms way. Then, he seemingly alluded to the 1997 death of his mother Princess Diana, when he added, Life is precious, and I understand the fragility of it.

Harry said that over the course of 2020 and 2021 he attempted to resolve this issue privately, even offering to independently cover the costs of police protection in order to protect his family. No one responded directly to me about my offer when I made it, and even though I challenged the refusal to let me pay, my legal claim failed, he said.

Cryptically, he added that the threats are real and uncovering how my immediate familys safety was knowingly put at risk, as well as who was behind it and who sanctioned it, has been truly devastating.

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No matter where we may agree or disagree, I would never wish harm on anyone, he added. This all comes from the same institutions that preyed upon my mother, that openly campaigned for the removal of our security, and that continue to incite hatred towards me, my wife, and even our children.

Despite all these years of stress and legal battles, Harry declared his ongoing fondness for the U.K. [It] is my birthplace and will always be part of who I am, he said. [It] is a place I love.

Harpers Bazaar understands that todays rulingwhich, though not the way Harry would have hoped it to endis the final page in a saga that often reads more like fiction than reality. It also complicates Harrys ability to return to the U.K. with Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet, as the risk is just too high.

The Duke of Sussex told the BBC that he was devastated at Fridays ruling. He said that his father, King Charles (who is currently battling cancer)wont speak to me because of this security stuff, adding that he does not know how much longer my father has.

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Harry pointed out that he would love a reconciliation with the royal family and he has forgiven them. There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family, he said, with the security having always been the sticking point. But, he argues that Theres no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. Specifically mentioning his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry also said, Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me forlots of things.

I cant see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point, Harry stated.

When asked whether he had asked his father to intervene in his ongoing security dispute, Harry said he had never made that ask. Instead, he noted: I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.

Im devastatednot so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay, Harry continued. Is it a win for them? He said his treatment during this process had uncovered [his] worst fears.

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The May 2 ruling was a surprise to Harry, and he alleged that there had been interference by the Royal Household in the original 2020 decision. His jaw hit the floor when he found out a representative of the Royal Household sat on the RAVEC committee, and claimed Fridays ruling had proved its decision making process was more influenced by the Royal Household than by legal constraints, the BBC reported.

This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute, and it makes me really, really sad that were sitting here today, five years later, where a decision that was made most likelyin fact, I knowto keep us under the roof, Harry said, alluding to the fact that his and Meghans security was stripped to keep them as working members of the royal family, dangling their security like a carrot to keep them in the fold.

To this, Buckingham Palace issued a rare response, stating on Friday that All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.

At this point, Harry said he can only return to the U.K. if invited by the royal family, as only then would he receive up-to-par security provision. I love my country, Harry, who now lives in California with his family, said in the wide-ranging BBC interview. I think its really quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland.

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By Michael Holden and Muvija M

LONDON (Reuters) -Prince Harry said on Friday he wanted reconciliation with the British royal family, but his father King Charles will not speak to him over a row about his security.

Harry said he did not know how long the monarch, who has cancer, would live.

Hours after losing a court battle with the British government over his police protection, Harry gave an emotional interview to the BBC in which he said he did not think he would ever be able to bring his family back to Britain.

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"I would love reconciliation with my family," Harry said. "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."

Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, where he lives in California with his American wife Meghan and their two children.

Since leaving, he and Meghan have been highly critical of the royals in TV documentaries, an explosive interview with U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey and most notably in Harry's best-selling biography "Spare." The prince is barely on speaking terms with either his father or his elder brother, heir to the throne Prince William.

In the meantime, Buckingham Palace revealed last year that Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, although aides have been upbeat about how his treatment is progressing.

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In response to the BBC interview, Buckingham Palace made no reference to his comments about his father or reconciliation.

But a palace spokesperson said all the issues surrounding the prince's police protection "have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion."

Harry's comments came after he unsuccessfully sought to overturn a decision by the Home Office - the ministry responsible for policing - which in 2020 decided he would not automatically receive personal police protection in Britain after leaving royal life.

The prince told the BBC that he was "pretty gutted about the decision," adding: "We thought it was going to go our way."

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Harry, who has previously said the royal institution had sacrificed him to protect other senior members, said he believed the decision over his security had been made to exert control over him, blaming his father for not doing more.

"I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is an old-fashioned, good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up. And that's what it feels like," he told the BBC.

"There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands. Ultimately ... this whole thing could be resolved through him, not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary."

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal said it was "perhaps predictable" Harry would lose his automatic police protection when he exited royal life, and that while he might disagree with the body that made that decision, it was not unlawful.

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Harry said some of his family would never forgive him for writing his book, and he accepted that he might not be able to bring his children, Archie and Lilibet, back to his homeland.

"I love my country, I always have done despite what some people in that country have done. I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK, of course I do. And I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show ... my children my homeland," he said.

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Muvija M, David Milliken, and Sam Tobin, editing by Alistair Smout, Sarah Young, Ros Russell and Rod Nickel)
Prince Harry is speaking out after losing a legal appeal regarding his security in the U.K., saying the matter has caused prolonged tension with his family.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, spoke with BBC News on May 2, shortly after a judge dismissed his legal challenge concerning his reduced security after stepping back as a working member of the royal family in 2020.

Prince Harry said in the new interview, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore."

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"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued, referencing King Charles. The British monarch, 76, was diagnosed with cancer last year and is continuing treatment. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."

Prince Harry said his security issues "could be resolved" through King Charles.

"There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands," he said. "Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary."

The palace has consistently denied that the King has the power to have Harry's security reinstated.

Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles and Prince Harry on Sept. 14, 2022 King Charles and Prince Harry on Sept. 14, 2022

Related: The Real Reason Prince Harry and King Charles Are No Longer Speaking: 'Harry's Calls Go Unanswered' (Exclusive)

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The royal family's rift first became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal roles. For the Duke of Sussex, no issue is a greater sticking point than that of security, multiple well-placed insiders previously told PEOPLE.



Despite a positive meeting between the father and son in February 2024 following the King's cancer diagnosis news, the monarch stopped taking his sons calls or responding to his letters.

Joshua Sammer/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Harry; King Charles Prince Harry; King Charles

"He gets 'unavailable right now,' " said a friend of Harrys last year. "His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King's health, but those calls go unanswered too."

Prince Harry traveled from his California home to London to attend the two-day appeal hearing on April 8 and 9, fighting for the restoration of state-funded security during visits to the U.K.

As he left court on April 9, the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE he was feeling "exhausted and overwhelmed."

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Prince Harry arrives at court in London on April 9, 2025 Prince Harry arrives at court in London on April 9, 2025

He said that his "worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case  and thats really sad."

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"This one has always mattered the most," Harry told PEOPLE.

Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos dismissed the appeal on May 2, calling RAVEC [the governments Royal and VIP Executive Committee]'s decision on downgrading Prince Harry's security "understandable and perhaps predictable."

"Even if there had been a risk analysis from the Risk Management Board, it would very likely have only confirmed the threat, vulnerability and impact levels which the Duke of Sussex had faced when earlier risk analyses were undertaken," the judge added. "But it would have had nothing to say on the critical features of the changed situation, namely the need for protective security on future uncertain visits and the government's appetite for risk."

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

In the BBC interview, Prince Harry said that he "can't see a world" where he would bring Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to the U.K. given the security concerns.

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"The things that they're going to miss is...well, everything," he said. "You know, I love my country. I always have done  despite what some people in that country have done. I miss the U.K.  I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do. I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show, you know, my children my homeland."

Elsewhere in the interview, he said, "A decision that was made, most likely  in fact, I know  to keep us under the roof. But then once they realized that wasn't going to work, once they realized that myself, my wife, my kids are happier outside of the institution, then please just look at the facts. Look at the risk, look at the threat, look at the impact that if anything was to happen to me, my wife or my father's grandchildren, if anything was to happen to them, look where the responsibility lies."

Read the original article on People
Prince Harry has suffered a crushing defeat in court.

The Duke of Sussex's appeal to restore his U.K. security services after resigning as a working royal was thrown out of the court in a second attempt to correct the situation.

Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Prince Archie, permanently left the United Kingdom in 2020 for the United States after citing instances of the palace failing to protect them from press attacks.

Prince Harry Attended A Court Hearing For The Appeal Last Month

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Prince Harry faced a setback in his efforts to reinstate his state-funded security in the United Kingdom. In February 2024, Harry faced a setback when he lost his initial case, challenging RAVEC's decision to downgrade his security.

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However, he recently secured the right to appeal, and a source close to his legal team expressed a sense of cautious optimism regarding the potential outcome of this appeal.

Unfortunately, his appeal was dismissed by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos on May 2, supported by two other judges. In delivering the verdict, Vos explained that the Duke of Sussex had effectively been moving in and out of the security framework provided by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC).

According to Vos, while Prince Harry was outside the U.K., he was not entitled to security, but his protection would be evaluated based on the circumstances when in the country. The Duke had earlier traveled from California to London to attend a two-day hearing at the Royal Court of Justice on April 8 and 9.

He has been advocating for the restoration of automatic, state-funded security during his visits back to the U.K. After leaving the court last month, he expressed to PEOPLE that he felt "exhausted and overwhelmed" following the proceedings.

The Father-Of-Two Claimed The Court's Body Language Confirmed His Worst Fears

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

After his day in court, the Duke of Sussex expressed that his "worst fears" had been confirmed. He emphasized that this particular case is vital for his and Meghan's future, adding, "This one has always mattered the most."

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Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the 40-year-old and Meghan have lost police protection in the U.K. Harry's lawyers argued in court that the couple felt compelled to resign from their official roles because they believed the royal institution was not protecting them.

They had hoped to continue supporting the late Queen as privately funded members of the royal family.

After losing their security, Harry's legal team contended that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) inadequately assessed his family's risks, leading to an ineffective arrangement for their protection.

Furthermore, Prince Harry has maintained that his father, King Charles, as the ceremonial head of state, could assist in restoring the security he seeks.

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However, the palace has denied this possibility. Amidst these tensions, sources confirmed that there remains a significant distance between father and son, with no signs of reconciliation.

Currently residing in California, Harry continues to express concerns about returning to the U.K. without official police protection for himself, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Inside The Tension Between Harry And His Father, King Charles

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Amidst these tensions, The Blast shared that sources confirmed that there remains a significant distance between father and son, with no signs of reconciliation.

The Duke of Sussex recently spent two days in a London court, yet his efforts went unacknowledged by his royal relatives, further straining his relationship with his father. Sources from the palace indicate a significant lack of response from senior royals, highlighting the ongoing tension between them.

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Despite Charles facing health challenges, the emotional gap between him and Harry remains wide, with little to no communication between them.

The king also reportedly seems to be intentionally limiting interactions, as even casual discussions could complicate Harry's legal issues with the U.K. government.

The Royal Couple's Exit From The United Kingdom Was Their Shot At Normalcy

James Whatling / MEGA

During the hearing in April, the Duke of Sussex demonstrated keen engagement by taking notes and consulting with his legal team as he closely followed the proceedings.

In early 2020, Harry and Meghan envisioned a new life abroad that would allow them to maintain their royal duties while enjoying greater independence.

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Reflecting on their hopes, Harry mentioned their desire to create a "happy house" during reported discussions with Queen Elizabeth. After the Sandringham Summit in January 2020, he believed they had secured an understanding regarding continued security.

However, court documents later revealed that Queen Elizabeth had supported their need for "effective security." Despite this, weeks later, RAVEC, the body responsible for security decisions, reversed its stance, resulting in Harry and Meghan losing their protection.

The Royal Family Is Concerned About Prince Harry Writing Another Tell-All Book

MEGA

Although Prince Harry has been working to move on and forgive much of the turmoil since 2016 till now, the issue of personal and family safety remains a significant concern for him.

He recently hinted at a shocking truth during court proceedings in the U.K. regarding his security, suggesting that the downgrading of his protection was a tactic to keep him and Meghan entwined with the royal family.

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This has raised alarms within the Royal Family; a source from Buckingham Palace expressed concern that Harry might disclose sensitive information in a potential book deal or follow Meghan's example by starting a podcast.

The insider noted that Prince Harry has alluded to having uncovered distressing secrets during the hearings about how he and Meghan have been treated. Thus, the family has interpreted his comments as a veiled threat to share everything if his demands are unmet.

What is Prince Harry's next step now that the judgment is in?
It was the Instagram post viewed round the world. An overstatement? Perhaps, but when Meghan Markles friend and IT Cosmetics co-founder, Jamie Kern Lima, posted a pic following their podcast interview this week showing a personalized gift from the Duchess of Sussex where she uses her HRH title, the backlash was swift.

Heres what happened: While welcoming Meghan as a guest on her podcast, The Jamie Kern Lima Show, the pair reminisced about a moment when Meghan delivered a thoughtful gift basket to Jamies house. Meghans friend was hosting guests and overwhelmedcue the delivery from the duchess, which included two pints of ice cream, a jar of homemade jam and, uh oh, a printed card that read, With compliments of HRH the Duchess of Sussex along with Meghans royal cipher.

John Stillwell/Getty Images

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The reason this is a potential problem? When Prince Harry and Meghan walked away from their roles as senior members of the royal family in January 2020, an arrangement was made with then-monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth II, that they could retain their HRH titles, so long as they didnt use them publicly or for commercial purposes, according to the BBC.

Thats why this single post kicked off an online hubbub about how Meghans gift to her pal violates that agreementplus plenty of headlines proclaiming that this is officially the moment that their royal titles should be rescinded. (Many a report is stating that this will be one of Prince Williams first actions as king.)

WPA Pool/Getty Images

But heres why this action is highly unlikely. First, Meghan sent the gift basket to a close friend. Thats hardly a violation of the royal terms set out for the Sussexes in 2020 and definitely not a public or commercial use. Additionally, the monarchcurrently, King Charlesdoesnt actually have the power to remove anyones royal titles, according to People. Instead, it would require legislative action by Parliament, though the Removal of Titles Bill was recently introduced to give the monarch more direct control over removing royal titles. (So far, this has yet to be enacted into law.)

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Still, we cant see a world where this is a priority for William, no matter how bad things currently are between the royal brothers. After all, the Prince of Wales was the one who fought for his mother, Princess Diana, to retain her HRH status post-divorce. (She ultimately was stripped of it, but William for sure understands its value and why Prince Harrywho was born into his royal roledeserves to keep it.)

Another day, another overblown royal drama? It seems so.

Meghan Markle Reveals the Main Reason Shes Holding Onto Her Royal Title
Despite the industrys weak revenue and profit development, investors continue to be drawn to these stocks due to their consistent dividends, profitability, and solid profit margins. Investors believe that stronger growth will eventually be catalyzed by next-generation products.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of tobacco farms in the United States decreased from 93,530 in 1997 to roughly 3,000 in 2022. Nonetheless, the USA was the worlds fifth-largest producer of tobacco in 2021, harvesting 431.6 million pounds in 2022, compared to 1.74 billion pounds in 1997. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. production came from North Carolina or Kentucky. Price reductions accounted for $5.7 billion (72%) of the $8.6 billion tobacco businesses spent on advertising in 2022, which included $572.7 million for smokeless tobacco and $8.01 billion for cigarettes. Marketing costs for e-cigarettes came to $859.4 million in 2021. Sales of cigarette packs fell from 12.5 billion to 9.1 billion packs between 2015 and 2021, a 27% decrease. In 2024, the average cigarette tax in each state was $1.93, while the federal tax was $1.01.

The tobacco industry has long been a huge winner for investors. Tobacco companies were among the top performers during the 20th century because of their reputation for providing investors with substantial dividend yields as well as their addictive, extremely profitable, and recession-proof product. However, tobacco firms now confront a different set of challenges. Globally, smoking rates have been progressively declining, particularly in the United States, as a result of growing legislation and health concerns. The industry has attempted to shift to next-generation products as a result. Some people believe that e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and chewable nicotine pouches are healthier options since they avoid some of the negative aspects of smoking cigarettes, such as unpleasant odors. Some companies are expanding beyond tobacco, working with cannabis businesses to capitalize on the potential development in a market that shares numerous similarities with tobacco. There are other hazards associated with tobacco stocks, such as heightened regulation and a decline in smoking rates.

We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Tobacco and Cigarette Stocks to Buy Now . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB) stands against the other Tobacco and Cigarette stocks.

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However, on April 2, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the FDAs decision to deny approval for flavored e-cigarettes in a major decision. According to Justice Samuel Alito, vape producers were given adequate notice of the FDAs review criteria. In this case, businesses like Vapetasia and Triton Distribution applied for certification for products such as Mothers Milk and Cookies and Killer Kustard Blueberry.

The FDA has been regulating vaping products since 2016, claiming that flavored vapes represent a health concern and may encourage young people to use tobacco. More than 2.1 million youths in the US reported using e-cigarettes in 2023, with 10% of high school students vaping. The FDA has rejected thousands of flavored products and has only approved tobacco and menthol flavors. One specific issue, marketing plan consideration, was returned to lower courts after the Supreme Court reversed the 5th Circuits prior criticism of the FDAs changing criteria. Companies that promote unapproved products risk civil and criminal penalties, the FDA warned.

10 Best Tobacco and Cigarette Stocks to Buy Now

A worker athlete with a rolling paper held in hand, smoking from the finished cigar.

Our Methodology

For this article, we sifted through the online rankings to form an initial list of the 15 Tobacco and Cigarette Stocks. We have also included e-cigarette and cannabis companies. From the resultant dataset, we chose 10 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkeys database of 1009 hedge funds in Q4 2024 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks. We have used the stocks market cap as of April 25, 2025, as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested.

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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30

In the United States, Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB) manufactures, markets, and distributes consumer goods, including other tobacco products (OTP). The company provides a wide range of items across the OTP spectrum, such as premium cigarette papers, make-your-own cigar wraps, cigars, liquid vapor products, tobacco vaporizers, and moist snuff tobacco. It is divided into two business segments: Stokers products and Zig-Zag products. The Zig-Zag product category brings in the majority of revenue for the business. The stock soared by more than 108% in the past year, making it on our list of the Best Tobacco Stocks.

Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB) had a strong Q4 2024 due to strong core business execution. The firms management gave encouraging advice and unveiled new metrics that showed the expansion of its tobacco-free nicotine pouches, a promising market-share-gaining area.

Alliance Global Partners maintained its Buy rating on Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB) shares and increased its price objective from $80 to $85 for the company. In a research note, the analyst informs investors that the companys Q4 sales and EBITDA figures were at the upper end of its tentative range. According to the company, net-for-net, the results are encouraging, and it anticipates that 2025 will be the firms statement year in the pouch category, giving investors confidence that it can repeat its strategy of acquiring market share in a large tobacco-dominated category, as it did with Stokers.

Overall, TPB ranks 3rd on our list of the 10 Best Tobacco and Cigarette Stocks to Buy Now. While we acknowledge the potential of Tobacco and Cigarette companies, 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 TPB 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.
Princess Charlotte might not be heir to the throne, but apparently she's going to be worth a whopping 4 billion thanks to her massive influence. While Charlotte just turned 10-years-old (they royals celebrated her birthday with a cute new picsee below), she's expected to drive massive amounts of money into the U.K. economy over the course of her lifetime. And it's already startedapparently her clothes sell out pretty much as soon as she wears them.

Her influence, known as the Charlotte Effect, helps drive sales, royal expert Sharon Carpenter tells Us Weekly. Its estimated that Charlotte will be worth between a whopping 3 and 4 billion pounds to the U.K. economy over her lifetime  way more than even her brother George, who will one day be king.

For now, Kate Middleton and Prince William are keen to keep their children's lives as private and "normal" as possible, and they only show up to royal engagements on special occasionslike Jubilees, holidays, and coronations. But Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are expected to move into the public eye more as they get older.

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As she gets through her teens, there will be talk of her being an asset and the secret weapon for the royal family," royal historian Marlene Koenig says, while Carpenter adds that while Charlotte won't be Queen shes still a crucial member of the royal family and is expected to play a pivotal role in the monarchy.

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Princess Charlotte turned the milestone age of 10 on May 2.

Her parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, released a new portrait of their only daughter to mark the occasion.

In the photo, Charlotte looks nearly identical to a young William.







Kate Middleton and Prince William have released a new photo of their daughter Princess Charlotte, who turned 10 years old on May 2, and one aspect of the photo cannot be denied: Charlotte is her father's twin.

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In the photo, Charlotte is clad in camoflauge and poses outdoors in Cumbria in a photo shot on an iPhone by the Princess of Wales (a royal first for a birthday portrait!).

Getty Prince William on August 1, 1992, when he was 10 years old Prince William on August 1, 1992, when he was 10 years old

The Prince and Princess of Wales have watched Charlotte grow into a smart, confident, and funny girl who knows how to hold her own both in the spotlight and outside of it, royal commentator Sharon Carpenter told Us Weekly.

Of life in the public eyewhich Charlotte has been in since the day of her birth 10 years agofellow royal commentator Amanda Matta told the outlet that Her ease in the spotlight is striking.

Kate and William are raising Charlotte and her brothers Prince George and Prince Louis in relative normality for royal children, Carpenter said, avoiding the cooler, more distant approach of royal parents of previous generations in favor of creating a loving, nurturing environment for their young family.

Getty Images Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte attend the 2024 Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte attend the 2024 Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church

Getty Images Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte

William is trying to avoid the heir and the spare dynamic that has haunted the royal family for previous generations, she added. He and Kate want Charlotte to realize that shes her own person with an identity that goes way beyond her place within the royal family.

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To that end, at school, Her teachers treat her like any other student, Matta said. Shes reportedly bright and intelligent, and shes said to be multilingual with a particular interest in Spanish. Outside of the classroom, the only daughter of William and Kate enjoys anything adventurous, and Matta added that shes also a budding baker and loves watching movies with her brothers.

At the Wales family home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Shes the boss of the family, a royal source told Us Weekly. Charlotte rules the roost. Royal historian Marlene Koenig co-signs this description, saying that Kate describes Charlotte as independent and the one in charge.

Getty Princess Charlotte on June 15, 2024 Princess Charlotte on June 15, 2024

Speaking of Kate, Charlotte is following closely in her mothers footsteps when it comes to her princess style, and shes now regarded as a major child fashion icon, Carpenter said, adding that when it comes to William, Charlotte has a sassy sense of humor, just like her dad.

Much like the Kate Middleton Effect, the Charlotte Effect helps drive sales of the clothes she wears, Carpenter said. Its estimated that Charlotte will be worth between a whopping 3 and 4 billion pounds to the U.K. economy over her lifetimeway more than even her brother George, who will one day be king.

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Koenig predicts that Charlotte will begin carrying out royal duties when she turns 18 and has the potential to be the secret weapon for the royal family. Carpenter called Charlotte a crucial member of the royal family and is expected to play a pivotal role in the monarchy.

Getty Images Princess Charlotte at Wimbledon on July 14, 2024 Princess Charlotte at Wimbledon on July 14, 2024

Charlotte seems to embrace her royal role with a surprising amount of confidence for someone her age, Matta said. That said, As much as they are slowly preparing Charlotte for more responsibility, they are really intentional about letting her be a kid for as long as possible.

Though all three of their kidsincluding Charlotteknow how privileged they are, theyre still expected to lead with kindness. The Wales do not stand on ceremony, but have made sure their children are aware of their special position [and value] good manners, education, and caring for others, Koenig said.

Read the original article on InStyle
Princess Charlotte is turning 10 and looking a lot like her father, Prince William, at the same age!

Prince William and Kate Middleton's only daughter celebrated her 10th birthday on May 2, and the royal couple released a new picture of the princess to commemorate the occasion.

"Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!" they said in the caption of the portrait taken by Princess Kate, who often gets behind the camera for birthday snaps of Charlotte and her brothers, Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 7. The latest photo showed Charlotte smiling as she sat on a grassy mountain, wearing her hair in a ponytail and sporting a camouflage jacket with a backpack.

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Sky News reported that the snap was captured by Kate on her iPhone in Cumbria, England, earlier this year, and Charlotte's resemblance to William was uncanny.

The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram Princess Charlotte in a picture taken by Kate Middleton and released on May 2, 2025. Princess Charlotte in a picture taken by Kate Middleton and released on May 2, 2025.

Related: See Photos of Princess Charlotte Throughout the Years as She Celebrates Her 10th Birthday

It has long been said that Prince William, 42, and Princess Charlotte have a similar smile and eyes, and even he has commented about their shared looks.

While viewing a childhood picture of himself featured in a display in January 2020, William asked, "Is that me? Because that looks just like Charlotte. That is incredible."

"It looks so much like Charlotte," Princess Kate.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince William and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023. Prince William and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023.

Related: Happy Birthday, Princess Charlotte! All About Kate Middleton and Prince William's 10-Year-Old Daughter

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William and Charlotte are known to share a tight father-daughter bond, which the world occasionally gets glimpses of. The princess was wrapped in a hug by her dad while they stood together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June 2023, and she held his hand during the royal family's walk to church on Christmas in 2024.

The Prince of Wales has also spoken about the activities his daughter is interested in as a way to connect with children he meets around her age at official engagements.

Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George attend church on the Sandringham estate on Dec. 25, 2024. Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George attend church on the Sandringham estate on Dec. 25, 2024.

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"Charlotte loves her dancing and performing as well, so I'm going to show her your video when I get home, see where I've been today," Prince William told 10-year-old performer Ruby Davies during a school stop in Wales last year.

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Princess Charlotte turns 10!

Prince William and Kate Middletons middle child  and only daughter  finally reached double digits on Friday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales marked the occasion as they usually do, by releasing a photo of their daughter to the public on their social media accounts.

Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!  the parents captioned the image, which was taken by Kate. The photo was taken on an iPhone earlier this year, according to SkyNews.

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The sweet image, which shows Charlotte grinning at the camera, had all the commenters sharing similar sentiments.

Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte! Who is clearly her fathers mini-me!! one commenter wrote, while someone else wrote she Looks just like her father!

Another added, Omigoodness her fathers daughter!

While Charlotte does look a lot like her father, she also bears a striking resemblance to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born in London on May 2, 2015, at 8:34 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

Jason Knauf, a former aide for Prince William, recently revealed one of the wildest moments from Charlottes day of birth  and how he almost accidentally leaked the news early to the media.

Prince William and Kate Middleton depart St Mary's Hospital with their new baby daughter on May 2, 2015, in London. Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images

You have hundreds and hundreds of journalists and photographers from all over the world that arrive in London, camping outside, trying to get their spot, Knauf told 60 Minutes Australia in an interview in February.

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Amid the chaos, Knauf said, he had a piece of paper to go write this press release as the family wasnt going to announce the news for a little while.

Im still out there with hundreds of journalists trying to have a game face, and then I couldnt find the piece of paper, and I think I had dropped it somewhere on the street, he said. Somewhere on that street the entire time was a piece of paper that said there had been a little princess born, what time and how much she weighed.

Despite his panic, the piece of paper was never found, and Charlottes birth was announced as planned.

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A new royal book, Dianaworld, chronicles Princess Dianas insistence that her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, attend Eton College, as the men in her family had.

By sending her sons to Eton, Diana bucked royal tradition of sending the men in the family to Gordonstoun in Scotland, where Prince Charles attended.

A similar debate is reportedly occurring about whether to send Prince George to Eton or to Marlborough College (where Kate Middleton attended) when he changes schools in 2026.







Princess Diana was groundbreaking for the royal family in many waysfor starters, the way she parented and the way she wasnt afraid to show her emotions in public. Perhaps nowhere is her enduring legacy still felt on the royal family more than the way she parented, whichnot an overstatementtruly broke the mold for royal parenting. It can be seen in the way that both of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, parent their own children up to the present day.

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As the Eton versus Marlborough debate rages on about where the Prince and Princess of Wales eldest child, Prince George, will attend school next year, a new book looks back at how Diana bucked royal tradition when it came to where to send William and Harry to school. In Dianaworld: An Obsession (which came out April 29), author Edward White shares that Diana insisted that William and Harry be educated differently than their father Prince Charles and grandfather Prince Philip had been.

Princess Diana Archives/Getty Images Princess Diana in 1995

Once her sons were born, she was firmly of the mind that her responsibility was to shape them as new types of Windsors, providing a new style of kingship, White wrote (via Marie Claire).

William and Harrys educational future was something that occupied the attentions of rather a lot of people in the late eighties and early nineties, White continuednot unlike Georges future is capturing the royal zeitgeist today.

Getty Prince George on December 25, 2024 Prince George on December 25, 2024

When William and Harry ultimately attended Eton College, it was a tradition-breaking move, as Charles and Philip, as well as Charles brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, all attended Gordonstoun in Scotland. To put it mildly, Charles had a miserable time at Gordonstoun, but even still wanted his own sons to be educated there.

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But Diana rejected all these suggestions for her sons and insisted the boys be sent to board at Eton College, White wrote. In the Princess of Wales mind, the Englishness that Diana wanted to install in her children was aristocratic rather than royal.

Getty Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles on September 6, 1995, Prince William's first day at Eton Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles on September 6, 1995, Prince William's first day at Eton

After all, Eton was where the men of Dianas family, the Spencers, attendedher father and only brother both were Etonians (as were 20 British prime ministers). When Diana spoke of raising princes who were in touch with the man on the street, she meant by making them more like the men in her family, White added.

When William and Harry enrolled at EtonWilliam becoming the first senior royal and future monarch to be educated at the schoolWhite wrote that Diana made her sons more typical of the English upper classes than her ex-husband [Charles] has ever been.

Getty Prince Charles, Prince William, Princess Diana, and Prince Harry on Prince William's first day at Eton Prince Charles, Prince William, Princess Diana, and Prince Harry on Prince William's first day at Eton

Dianas edict won out, and now it remains to be seen whether George will follow in the Eton tradition, or buck it and start a new tradition of his own at Marlborough (which is his mothers alma mater).

Read the original article on InStyle
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) heavily criticized President Trump during a late-night TV interview Thursday, calling him an unchecked authoritarian.

I think everybody understands that at this point, weve got an authoritarian in office, Pritzker said during an appearance on ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Jimmy Kimmel. Hes essentially tearing apart the things that really matter to working families across the United States, and nobodys stopping him.

Congress is under the control of his party, and theyre all paying homage to him at all times  no ones willing to break with him, he added.

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Pritzker drew national attention by calling for mass protests of Trumps administration and allies during a speech at the New Hampshire Democratic Partys McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on Sunday.

These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace, he told the gathering. They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.

We must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box, the Illinois Democrat added.

The White House responded to the call to action, accusing Pritzker of encouraging violent attacks.

His comments, if nothing else, could be construed as inciting violence, Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide, told reporters at the White House on Monday, recalling the two thwarted assassination attempts against the president during his time on the campaign trail. People are engaging in rhetoric and behavior that puts the lives of public servants in danger, puts the lives of conservative Americans in danger.

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But Prizker reiterated his protest call during his discussion with Kimmel.

The only thing, in my view, that we really can do on a national level is let them know about our displeasure, the governor said. If [members of Congress] dont know how much resistance there is out there in their own districts, then theyre just going to keep following Donald Trump and doing whatever he wants, so weve got to be out there  loud, proud, you know, stand up, speak out.

Trump has relentlessly attacked Pritzker for his discernible weight. During a campaign rally in Ohio last year, he accused the governor leader of being too busy eating to lead the state and riffed on how many hamburgers he would order.

He wants to eat all the time, the president said to laughs from the crowd.

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Pritzker, a billionaire whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain, said he is unbothered by Trumps taunting.

Frankly, thats how you know hes afraid of you, he told Kimmel on Thursday.

The Illinois leader first met Trump in late 2018, during Trumps first term, when the president invited a group of incoming governors to the White House. Pritzker had just won the Illinois gubernatorial election with nearly 55 percent of the vote, campaigning heavily on attacking Trump.

I have to say, I contemplated whether to go or not, he recalled in the late-night interview. I had run an entire campaign where every chance I got  in fact, I started a lot of my speeches by saying, Everything we care about is under siege by racist, misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic president in the United States.'

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He added, however, that the meeting was cordial.

Oddly, he spent a lot of time talking to me, you know, seemingly interested in being my friend, which was very odd, Pritzker said.

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After the Trump administration dismissed hundreds of authors working on the next National Climate Assessment, two science societies announced an effort to publish a special collection of climate change research in its stead.

The Trump administration notified researchers earlier this week that their work was no longer needed on the National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated report that summarizes the effects of global climate change in the United States.

The reports future is no longer clear and some authors have expressed concern that it will be whittled down, unscientific or inadequate in expressing the risks of climate change.

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Im certainly concerned it might be fulfilled in a way thats less rigorous and evidence-based, said Robert Kopp, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Rutgers University, who was one of the recently dismissed National Climate Assessment authors.

In the wake of the administrations action, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and American Meteorological Society (AMS) announced Friday that they would develop a special collection of research focused on climate, according to a news release from both organizations.

The new collection, to be spread among more than two dozen peer-reviewed journals, is designed to sustain the momentum of the work being done on the National Climate Assessment after the authors and staff were dismissed, the news release said.

In a statement, AGU President Brandon Jones said the special collection was not a replacement for the National Climate Assessment, but that it offered a unique opportunity to publish new research and review articles that could underpin a U.S.-focused climate assessment.

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The White House declined to comment on record on why National Climate Assessment authors were released, and what the administrations plans are for the National Climate Assessment.

The Global Change Research Act of 1990 requires the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) to submit a report every four years to the president and Congress, and the National Climate Assessment has fulfilled that obligation in the past. It contains a summary of the best available science about the physics of climate change, its effects on the United States and how society is adapting. The report also contains localized climate predictions for different regions of the United States, which are meant to give the public a better idea of the risks facing their communities.

The most recent version of the report, which was released in 2023, was about 2,200 pages and contained 37 chapters. The 2023 assessment said the Lower 48 states had warmed by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit on average since 1970 and that the country was dealing with increasingly extreme weather and costly disasters.

If youre a state official, a businessperson or a member of the general public who wants to understand what is it we know about climate change and the economy, or climate change and coasts, or climate change and human health, you cant do that by reading 200 peer-reviewed papers, Kopp said, adding that the National Climate Assessment synthesizes climate science and organizes the main findings.

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While the National Climate Assessment is the product of hundreds of researchers who volunteer their time, the report has been organized by staffers at USGCRP. In April, the White House ended funding for that organization.

I have no ideas for what the plan is and I dont think anybody does, Kopp said. They released all the authors and the staff of the Global Change Research Program, so that part of the government is vacant now.

A message on the USGCRP website now says: The operations and structure of the USGCRP are currently under review.

Kopp said the National Climate Assessment authors had spent about a year outlining chapters to include in the 2027 report, and reviewing themes to include. The outline had already been sent to federal agencies for review. Authors of the report are now assessing how that outline could be transferred.

Youre not going to be able to replicate the NCA unless theres an organization willing to step up and staff up, Kopp said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
On a scale of highly valued to thankless, the roles that production assistants play on film and television sets can swing towards the latter. Delivering lunch, escorting cast members, managing background actors, maintaining radio equipment  its all in production assistants repertoires, with the general expectation being that, as entry-level workers in a cutthroat creative industry, they are eager to please as they work lengthy hours for around minimum wage.

But one group believes longstanding norms around these roles can and should change. For a bit less than a year, Production Assistants United has been taking steps to unionize these workers nationwide with the backing of Burbank-based LiUNA Local 724, which represents utility workers on Hollywood productions. Organizers are aiming to increase wages, enshrine turnaround times and provide access to union health benefits  in other words, to give these workers some of the same benefits as their union colleagues on set.

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Its a bold move at a time when U.S. production is lagging and set jobs are harder to come by than they were during the Peak TV boom times. Union organizing always involves a level of risk, which early-career workers might be less eager to undertake when times are tough. That hasnt deterred Production Assistants United and LiUNA Local 724, which are pushing ahead and making a bid for further visibility with a rally on Sunday at IATSE Local 80s Burbank headquarters.

Clio Byrne-Gudding, one of the groups L.A.-based organizers, says they want Sundays event to send the message that this isnt just an ambitious and kind of underdog movement, but is actually legitimate. Its real. Echoes Alex Aguilar, LiUNA Local 724s business manager, Were here and were not going away.

Still, the effort faces an upward climb. Starting as a grassroots group spurred to action by the 2023 writers and actors strikes, the next year Production Assistants United set out publicly to unionize all types of production assistants, assistants and production secretaries for narrative film and television across the U.S., a group they currently estimate numbers more than 10,000 people.

Their bid to represent this sprawling group only got more difficult once it became clear over the course of 2024 and into 2025 that production wasnt going to be roaring back in the U.S. post-strikes. According to the latest report from L.A.s film office, production days on location decreased more than 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with an already meek period in 2024.

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This is definitely the biggest challenge Ive ever faced, admits Aguilar, who says that effort has received backing from Local 724s Washington, D.C.-based umbrella union, which has devoted financial, organizational, training and education resources. But Im up for it. And I think so is our organizing committee.

So far organizers have broken up their undertaking by region, with an early focus on the film hubs of Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Atlanta, including their surrounding areas, as well as Texas. They debuted union authorization cards  which labor groups use to demonstrate the level of support they enjoy within a particular workforce  in February. The group plans to target studios in the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers individually once they decide they have majority support amongst that companys production assistants.

Thats been a moving target. Production assistants top issues, in this particular political climate, have shifted from higher pay to having reliable work, says L.A.-based organizer Nalani Rodgers.

The state of the business has also complicated matters. Sometimes when organizers make cold calls to production assistants, their effort is received like a service organization, says Byrne-Gudding. Theyre like, Oh, its so great what you guys are doing, when in fact the only way that this is going to happen is if they take action, they say. Which is kind of a difficult thing to communicate to someone because times are so hopeless right now.

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During this period of industry pessimism, the group has placed an emphasis on emboldening production assistants and teaching them more about labor organizing. As theyre calling workers and visiting them on sets prior to call times, theyre trying to instill the idea of these productions cannot be run without you, says L.A.-based organizer Ethan Ravens.

The group also made fiery speeches at Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Fighting Oligarchy tour stop in Los Angeles on April 12, portraying production assistants as essential but downtrodden workers for some of the U.S. biggest corporate players, including Apple and Amazon. Were organizing not just to fix one job but to transform the entire industry for future generations of workers, Ravens said in his speech.

Sundays rally will likely tap into some of the same themes  of channeling the leverage that production assistants have on sets and building a brighter future for Hollywood workers  while also demonstrating that the movement has the support of other Hollywood labor organizations. So far, Teamsters Local 399 leader Lindsay Dougherty, Writers Guild of America West board member Adam Conover and SAG-AFTRA secretary-treasurer Joely Fisher have been announced as speakers.

Will production assistants embrace the call to start making moves at such a challenging moment? The answer will become clearer over the next few months, with attendance at Sundays event in L.A., and at satellite events in Chicago and New York City, serving as a key bellwether. Says Aguilar, Its never the perfect time to organize. You just have to organize.

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May 5, 5:18 p.m. Updated to reflect that LiUNA Local 724 represents utility workers supporting carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

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ATHENS, Ga. (WSAV)  On the Health and Sciences campus at the University of Georgia in Athens, they are getting ready for a new neighbor  a new building that will house a new medical school if all goes as planned.

As the flagship state institution for higher education, we already have the foundation of academics, research, community outreach, and public service and so we are in a very unique place to make a significant impact on the health of Georgia, said Dr. Erica Brownfield, the senior associate dean for academic affairs. We have a supply and demand problem here in Georgia. We have a lot of people, and we dont have a lot of physicians.

Brownfield said Georgia ranks eight in population and 40th in the number of physicians per capita. That gap will begin to narrow when UGA matriculates its first class in July of 2026, pending accreditation.

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Brownfield will oversee admissions.

Were looking for that bright person who has resilience, theyre innovating, theyre creative, they have a genuine warmth to them, and theyre really rooted in a sense of community, and theyre driven and committed to serving the state, Brownfield said.

Brownfield said the ultimate goal is for the University of Georgia Medical School to be the driver for collaboration that will make a big impact in healthcare all across the state: collaboration with other medical schools, health care partners and communities in all 159 counties.

Theres no other school that were aware of that really is the driver to bring all these different resources together: the expertise, the creativity to really focus on a common purpose or mission and thats what were hoping to do at this school, Brownfield said.

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Pending accreditation, applications will be accepted starting in February or March of next year and they would only have eight weeks to recruit that first class.

The building wont be finished until December of 2026, but UGA already has education space for its current partnership with Augusta University Medical School.

No new students will be admitted to that program and the students already enrolled will still be able to graduate.

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(NewsNation)  President Donald Trumps proposed budget makes big cuts to NASAs funding, reducing major programs while boosting efforts to put a human on Mars.

Trump pledged to put a flag on Mars during an address to Congress, emphasizing a need to beat China in returning humans to the Moon and reaching the red planet with a crewed space flight.

Under Trumps proposal, NASAs budget would be cut by $6 billion in what the nonprofit Planetary Society says is the biggest single-year cut for the agency in history.

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UFOs: Nearly half of Americans think govt. is hiding evidence, poll finds

Under the budget, human space programs are boosted, with more than $7 billion allocated for lunar missions and $1 billion allocated for new investments in efforts to get people to Mars.

The two goals go hand-in-hand, with a lunar presence viewed as a critical jumping-off point for crewed exploration deeper in space.

To allow for the new expense, the agency would see big cuts to space science and Earth science programs. That includes eliminating an effort dedicated to getting samples from the Mars rover back to Earth in partnership with the European Space Agency and cutting plans for a lunar-orbiting space station.

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Mission support would also get hit by cuts, including employee headcount reduction and money for maintenance, construction and environmental compliance.

That comes after a report from the National Academies called for a funding increase to update the agencys infrastructure.

The Artemis program, which aims to put humans back on the moon, would cut the Space Launch System and Orion capsule after Artemis III lands astronauts on the moon. That would mean retiring those systems after just three flights.

Proof of life on K2-18b not at all obvious: Harvard professor

Along with those cuts, the budget calls for increased commercial partnerships and offloading certain functions to the private sector. NASAs commercial crew program has worked with companies including Boeing and Elon Musks SpaceX, which take in significant revenue from government contracts.

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The budget would also cut NASAs sustainable aviation program, continue to eliminate DEI programs and get rid of funding for climate-monitoring satellites.

It would also reduce NASA investment in the International Space Station.

It also marks Trumps second attempt to cut STEM education programs run by NASA, which the proposal deems woke. The programs are designed to help increase the pipeline for STEM workers and encourage interest in STEM fields.

Trump attempted to eliminate those funds in his first term, and President Barack Obama also tried to cut funds from the program. In both cases, Congress overruled the president and restored the funding.

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We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Reveals Details Of Trumps Tariff Negotiations & Discusses 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In his recent appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer commented on the supply chain disruption that firms were facing and planning for in the wake of President Trumps tariffs. I think that this was the week where people said I better have an alternative supply chain, I just have to. Wherever it is, which is going to hurt the gross margins, Cramer said.

Cramer also linked the current supply chain disruptions to the one that businesses faced during the coronavirus pandemic. Cramer mentioned an unnamed CEO who had prepared for the current disruption by learning lessons from COVID. According to Cramer:

Im speaking to a major CEO, at a major tech company who said, do you think that we didnt learn anything from COVID? COVID was a total shutdown [in] China and we learned to move away from China. And China misjudged what we learned during COVID.

The conversation then shifted to President Trumps negotiations with Americas trading partners. While most media attention has focused on China, he mentioned negotiations with Japan and South Korea. Starting with Japan, Cramer outlined:

I was talking to someone who has been in on the Japanese negotiations. And I asked for color. And he said, theyre color-full. But that someones playing very hardball, in our country, and I presume, that someone is, obviously our President. And I said, does he know that you are our friends, and he just didnt respond. I thought it was interesting.

As for Korea, he believes that the country is the Trump administrations favorite due to its already sizable manufacturing presence in the US. Cramer shared:

My answer on Korea is, that. . . they are loved. . . Okay, so Korea builds plants here right, and they are not the plants like the Germans they are not assembly plants, they make everything here, so they are brought up, constantly as the paradigm, like why cant you guys be like Korea? Where all the intellectual property is made here. And I think its rather amazing. . .I brought them up as being why are they getting a free ride to some people? And they said no, theres no free ride, they actually listened to what we wanted.

Of course, since China is the Presidents first target when it comes to negotiations, it was unsurprising that the country came up. Cramer isnt a fan of China. What amazed Cramer was Hayman Capital Management founder and CIO, Kyle Basss comments where he outlined one country lies, one country doesnt. . .China lies. Look I find these talks unfathomable. I dont see any progress.
State prosecutors in Thailand announced Thursday that they dont intend to press charges against an American academic arrested for royal defamation, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The arrest last month of Paul Chambers, a political science lecturer at Naresuan University in the northern province of Phitsanulok, had drawn concern from the academic community, especially from Asian studies scholars around the world, as well as the US government

The decision not to prosecute the 58-year-old Oklahoma native doesnt immediately clear him of the charge of insulting the monarchy also known as lese majeste  or a related charge of violating the Computer Crime Act, which covers online activities.

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The announcement said that the Phitsanulok provincial prosecutor will request the provincial court to drop the charges and forward the case file and nonprosecution order to the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 6, covering Phitsanulok, who may review and contest the decision.

Chambers, a 58-year-old Oklahoma native with a doctorate in political science from Northern Illinois University, was arrested in early April on a complaint made by the northern regional office of the armys Internal Security Operations Command.

He has studied the power and influence of the Thai military, which plays a major role in politics. It has staged 13 coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, most recently 11 years ago.

The armys Internal Security Operations Command told a parliamentary inquiry that it filed the complaint based on a Facebook post that translated words from a website operated by ISEASYusof Ishak Institute, a think tank in Singapore, about a webinar on Thai politics that included Chambers as a participant.

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Chambers supporters said that the blurb for the webinar, which was cited in his charge sheet as evidence, wasnt written by him.

He had been jailed in April for two nights after reporting himself to the Phitsanulok police, and then granted release on bail, with several conditions, including wearing an ankle monitor. A court on Tuesday allowed him to take off the device.

Chambers visa was revoked at the time of his arrest on the basis of an immigration law barring entry to foreigners who are deemed likely to engage in activities contrary to public order or good morals, prostitution, people smuggling and drug trafficking. It wasnt immediately clear whether the revocation will stand.

This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lese majeste laws in Thailand, a US State Department statement said after Chambers arrest. We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression.

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Thailands lese majeste law calls for three to 15 years imprisonment for anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir apparent or the regent. Critics say its among the harshest such laws anywhere and also has been used to punish critics of the government and the military.

The monarchy has long been considered a pillar of Thai society and criticizing it used to be strictly taboo. Conservative Thais, especially in the military and courts, still consider it untouchable.

However, public debate on the topic has grown louder in the past decade, particularly among young people, and student-led pro-democracy protests starting in 2020 began openly criticizing the institution.

That led to vigorous prosecutions under the previously little-used law. The legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has said that since early 2020, more than 270 people  many of them student activists  have been charged with violating the law.

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Angel Lee, right, and Karina Williams, center, both of Columbia, joined a May Day protest outside the post office in downtown Columbia, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  Some 120 South Carolinians who oppose the Trump administration lined the sidewalks of Columbias downtown post office as part of a series of May Day demonstrations spanning the country.

The protests held on a day commemorating the fight for workers rights and the national labor movement was organized by a group that calls itself the 50501 campaign, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement.

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The movement, which originated online, has led to a wave of grassroots protests nationwide since President Donald Trumps inauguration. The group has had at least four coordinated demonstrations in the past four months, including a gathering that attracted hundreds to South Carolina Statehouse grounds on Presidents Day.

Some 120 protesters took part in a May Day demonstration outside the post office in downtown Columbia Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

While signs, slogans and the issues protesters cared about Thursday went well beyond workers rights, organizer Sam Gibbons, of Columbia, said the group did want to highlight workers struggles.

At least one organizer from the Union of Southern Service Workers was in attendance and circulating flyers.

And among attendees variety of chants was the U.S. mail is not for sale in reference to suggestions by the Trump administration that the U.S. Postal Service could be privatized.

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Gibbons, a 34-year-old educator, also criticized the administrations tariff policies and potential impacts to union workers and the middle class.

If companies stop importing goods, longshoremen working at Charlestons port could lose work, he said. And if prices go up, retail workers may be affected.

The protest occurred the same day as Vice President J.D. Vance visited a Nucor steel mill in rural Berkeley County to tout the tariffs as the administrations attempt to bring back manufacturing jobs.

Disability rights

Angel Lee, who also helped organize the Columbia event, said shes worried about possible changes to federal law that impacts those with disabilities. The 46-year-old is disabled and works with a nonprofit that aids those with disabilities.

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Advocates have feared the outcome of a lawsuit filed last September by 17 GOP attorneys general, including South Carolinas Alan Wilson, which challenged the Biden administrations inclusion of gender dysphoria in a 1973 civil rights law.

The case has been on pause since Trump signed an executive order in January removing gender ideology as a protected disability. And a court filing last month from the 17 suing states declared they are no longer challenging Section 504s constitutionality.

But the attorneys general did not withdraw the lawsuit as they continue to evaluate their position, which continues to worry advocates.

As a disabled worker and an advocate, I know how hard we have to fight just to be seen, she said. All we want is to be able to work with dignity and for fair pay.

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Lee will travel to Washington, D.C., Friday to protest with other members of the movement on the National Mall.

Deportation concerns

Miguel Torres, of Batesburg, took part in a May Day protest outside the post office in downtown Columbia Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

For Margot Robinette, of Columbia, its the presidents immigration policy and deportation efforts that are of the greatest concern.

The 26-year-old apothecary shop worker married into a family of immigrants. Her husband is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Honduras, and she said its difficult to see those she loves living in fear that they could be deported.

Robinette has also worked alongside immigrants on a farm in California.

Immigrants are essential workers, she said. Workers rights and immigrants rights intertwined; you cant talk about one without the other.

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Miguel Torres, of Batesburg, also is the child of immigrants who came to the U.S. from the Guanajuato region of Mexico.

National Law Day

Legal professionals gathered in unity outside the federal courthouse in Columbia on Thursday, May 1, 2025, for National Law Day. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

The 22-year-old retail worker attended the protest outside the post office as well as a gathering of legal professionals outside the federal courthouse in Columbia earlier in the day.

Lawyers, federal judges and the dean of the University of South Carolina law school held that separate event as part of National Law Day.

Attacks on judges for unpopular rulings, political pressure on legal professionals and a growing distrust of the legal system threaten the very foundation of fairness and equal justice, Columbia attorney Nekki Shutt said in kicking off the program.

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U.S. District Court judges DeAndrea Gist Benjamin and Joseph Anderson then led the lawyers in a restatement of their legal oath, which Benjamin said directs legal professionals to serve without fear or favor, without allegiance to politicians or politics, to honest judgment, regardless of financial or social standing.

Torres called last weeks arrest of a judge in Wisconsin scary.

The rule of law in our country is just not being respected, he said. Every single day on the news it seems like theres a new executive order.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of trying to help a man in her courtroom on domestic battery charges avoid immigration agents, though they arrested him outside the courthouse after a chase. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended the judge Tuesday.
RAIFORD, Fla. (WMBB)  While the state carried out Jeffrey Hutchinsons death sentence inside the prison, a group of protestors gathered across the street.

Many have made the journey to Raiford before, to protest against the death penalty.

Members of the Our Lady of Lords Church in Daytona Beach are regulars at the Florida State Prison.

A state trooper in charge of monitoring the designated protest area says he expects to see their church bus pull in at every scheduled execution.

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And they pick up others in opposition of the death penalty on their drive over.

We left at 1:30 p.m. from our church, we made a stop at the north part of our parish, and another stop in Palm Coast to pick up people to come here today, so its quite a journey weve come, Our Lady of Lords Church Pastor Father Phillip Egitto said.

Okaloosa mans execution delayed 2 hours by late appeals

Egitto is aware that Jeffrey Hutchinson was convicted of brutally murdering Renee Flaherty and her three young children more than 25 years ago. But he says they will pray over his death anyways.

Even when we do horrendous things, which we are doing a horrendous thing, that God is with us. And we will ring a bell and believe that Jeffrey Hutchinson will hear that and he will know that hes not facing death alone, Egitto added.

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Regardless of Hutchinsons crimes, Egitto believes the death penalty only creates a cycle of violence.

We are not condoning what he did, we certainly have compassion for the victims, and the victims family, but now we are creating more victims, Egitto said.

The group of 50 or so protesters sang hymns and prayed for Hutchinson and his victims. Several veterans were there to honor Hutchinsons service during the Gulf War.

His lawyers blamed his time in the military for his violent actions, as they appealed his sentence. But those appeals were unsuccessful.

Hutchinson is the fourth person the state of Florida has executed this year.

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NORTHAMPTON  Lili Dahlqvist came here last evening from Ashfield, a Hilltown in western Franklin County, to protest the defense contractor L3 Harris KEO.

For one, its May Day, Dahlqvist said, referring to International Workers Day. Coming from a Swedish background, thats the day that you go out and protest for peoples rights. Whether they be Palestinians, workers, immigrants, from any country, across the world.

Critics charge that the firm produces technology currently used in the Israel-Hamas war and in the federal governments surveillance against immigrants in the U.S.

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More than a hundred activists from more than 20 statewide and local organizations gathered outside the company and marched the mile to Northampton City Hall, where members were going to speak against the firm at the scheduled City Council meeting, according to the event organizers.

Im so shocked to find out about L3 Harris, she said. Its very disturbing, this company making parts that support the genocide in Palestine.

L3 Harris, like other defense contractors and weapons manufacturers, has been the target of protests since October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel. In late April, the firm was a target of political vandalism, according to MassLive.

Lois Gagnon came to the gathering from Belchertown. I want them gone, she said. They are getting tax breaks while we wont get the services that we need. We want them to convert to peaceful means or be gone.

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The activist groups, including student groups from Smith College, Hampshire College and UMass, charge that the company makes parts for the Trident II D5 missile and the Ohio class submarines, which can be used to launch nuclear weapons.

The business violates a 2018 Northampton executive order to eliminate any and all ties to the nuclear weapons industry, the activists say. In addition, Northampton granted tax assistance to the firm up until two years ago.

In 2011, L3 Harris purchased the 60-year-old Kollmorgen Electro-Optical, which manufactured periscopes and other optical equipment with military applications, such as for submarines. At the time, Kollmorgen, with 377 employees, had just built the new $20 million, 140,000-square-foot plant in Northamptons Village Hill neighborhood, the former site of Northampton State Hospital. It was the citys largest industrial taxpayer and its largest industrial employer at the time, according to MassLive.

Today, L3 Harris provides boost propulsion systems for ballistic missile systems that are launched from submarines, according to the companys website. Ballistic missile systems on submarines often carry nuclear warheads. L3 Harris did not respond to a request for comment.

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Last week, the group Demilitarize Western Mass, set up outside the company during its annual job fair day.

The mission was to get people to think about before they apply for a job at this firm, said Deborah Jaffe of South Hadley. We wanted applicants to think about what they value in their own lives. To ask, can I be a healthy part of a sick system when the systems are broken? In this atmosphere of a trillion-dollar military budget when were defunding Head Start (a program for school children), the question is whether we do something to help humanity and the Earth.

More Western Mass. Content

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Protesters gathered in downtown Wichita Thursday as part of nationwide May Day demonstrations, calling for stronger workers rights, protections for marginalized communities, and resistance to policies tied to President Donald Trump.

Organizers said the rally aimed to spotlight concerns over attacks on unions, immigration, and civil liberties. Demonstrators carried signs in support of public education, healthcare access, and democratic institutions, while condemning what they described as a rising authoritarianism.

This is about standing up for each otheragainst fascism, against corporate greed, and for real justice, local participant Jared Evans said.

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The Wichita protest was one of many held across the U.S. on International Workers Day.

Were gonna be here for them: Hutchinson soup kitchen presses on after latest theft

Im here because Im opposing the fascist takeover of our government, Evans said. I hope to raise awareness and let people know that we are not alone, people who are upset about canceled government programs and loss of healthcare.

In the United States, organizers framed this years International Workers Day protests as a pushback against what they see as the administrations sweeping assault on labor protections, diversity initiatives and federal employees. Protesters lined streets in many cities from New York to Philadelphia to Los Angeles and held a boisterous rally outside the White House in Washington.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The nursing profession continues to face shortages across the country, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that more than 275,000 additional nurses are needed between now and 2030.

Its why Providence College recently launched a Nursing and Health Sciences program, with a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.

The simulation suite at Providence Colleges new Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences is meant to look just like a hospital floor, complete with patients like Fred, an A.I. manikin that can respond to questions, shake your hand, and even get shocked with a defibrillator. The manikins cry real tears and can even give birth to baby manikins.

Providence College's School of Nursing and Health Sciences trains students on A.I. manikins. (Andy Paskowski/WPRI-TV) Providence College's School of Nursing and Health Sciences trains students on A.I. manikins. (Andy Paskowski/WPRI-TV) Providence College's School of Nursing and Health Sciences trains students on A.I. manikins. (Andy Paskowski/WPRI-TV)

For sophomore Annette Muchiri, getting hands-on experience in the simulation suite is a step toward her dream of becoming a NICU nurse.

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I was quite a miracle. I was two pounds and four ounces, Muchiri shared. Ive been inspired by the stories my parents shared with me, and I want to be that person for someone as well.

McKee rolls out RI primary care reforms; Neronha criticizes half-baked approach

Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Kyle McInnis said the fact that these manikins have a pulse and blood pressure, and can simulate breathing and respond to students, goes a long way in teaching them something that cant be found in a textbook: empathy.



We have a slogan here, he said. We educate healers, not technicians.

The new program isnt just about nursing. Students in the school of Nursing and Health Sciences can also pursue careers in health policy and management, and as physicians assistants and physical therapists.

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The schools goal is for students to stay and work in Rhode Island once they graduate, and Muchiri says she plans to do just that: Help other babies  like myself when I was younger  defy those odds that I went through.

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PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  The Provo Police Department is looking for vandals who damaged a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse earlier this week. The vandals caused whats estimated to be thousands of dollars in damages.

ABC4 visited the Pleasant View First Ward to hear from church members who have been impacted. They expressed their heartbreak upon seeing the damage.

Maybe something somebody in the neighborhood hurt them, or somebody against the Church. I dont really know, said Ridge Chambers, a member who attends the meetinghouse.

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PHOTOS: Thousands of dollars in damage caused at LDS church in Provo

Outside, theres a boarded-up window, and inside, a member found a piano flipped upside down, keys broken off a organ, damaged pipes, and sinks left running and flooding the carpet.

Chambers heard what happened on April 29 from his dad, who looks after the building.

I went outside and noticed that just the window right there at the end of the sacrament room was shattered. And I went over and took a picture of it, Chambers said.

Ive just never seen it happen  like a break in happened to a church before, especially in Provo, he continued.

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Provo man arrested after family member finds pipe bombs in his apartment, documents say

Police found other damages in the boiler room, womens bathroom, nursing area and control boxes in the building.

That afternoon, we went to a young mens activity, and the bishop showed us a couple of pictures. And yeah the piano was flipped over and destroyed, there was paintings that were slashed, Chamber described.

At this time, there are still no known suspects. Provo police are asking the public to contact officers with any 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 ABC4 Utah.
MOUNTAIN HOME, Tenn. (WJHL)  More than 50 years after returning home from Vietnam, the veterans who served still struggle with what they saw and did and how they were treated when they came back to the U.S.

They struggle with the idea that, on the bigger scale, it didnt accomplish the change that they were told they were going to accomplish, said Andrew Presnell, the program manager for the PTSD Clinical Team at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. We try to focus them on, you know, it did mean a lot to the person next to you that you were faithful in your service because you doing your job meant that maybe they got to come home too.

Vietnam veterans share thoughts on Fall of Saigon on its 50th anniversary

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Being in a war zone is an unthinkable experience to many, with tough assignments and difficult situations.

Oftentimes hard to tell if they were a friend or foe. Which makes it very difficult when you come back to, to trust your evaluation of whats going on around you, Presnell said. And its the same kind of situation we saw in more recent conflicts, where ill defined enemy makes it much harder to deal with that anxiety.

A great number of those who served in Vietnam were drafted, which adds a different element to that particular groups struggles.

They werent choosing to go to Vietnam, and they have been told to go, said Presnell. And its not infrequent that people volunteered when they felt like their number was coming soon. So its kind of like somewhere in between being drafted and sent and choosing to go.

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More than 58,000 of those who went didnt get to come home.

The ones who did make it home, they really come home with a burden, Presnell said. They saw friends with serious injuries or who lost their life. And they question a lot of times, why them? Why did they make it back? You know, thats an unanswerable question They feel like they owe something or that somehow that the choice was wrong. They should have been the one who stayed, and someone else should have made their way back. But it adds a lot of weight and difficulty to moving forward with life, because you feel like somehow you were lucky enough to get this when you dont feel like you deserved it.

Vietnam War era veterans not only fought a war overseas but also back home with the American people.

Where the issue comes is that when you come back to people telling you that youve done the wrong thing, telling you horrible things about yourself because youve gone when you didnt really make the choice to go, you know, Im doing what my country asked me to do. And now, when I come back, people are not accepting that. I was just doing what I had to, he said of veterans.

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Presnell said hes also noticed a difference in the way Vietnam veterans react to being thanked for their service.

Their initial reaction sometimes to [Thank you for your service] is one of kind of irritation, anger. Because what are you saying? You know, why are you bringing this up? he said. Then they kind of readjust the idea that, okay, these people dont necessarily hold the same thoughts and beliefs that I came home to, but it impacts how they accept those kinds of recognitions and in some ways makes recognition now more meaningful to them, because its about these people actually have a positive feeling about my service.

Many of them suppressed those feelings and avoided them.

The treatment is going to be helping them come to terms with that avoidance, he said. And how do we overcome that avoidance and deal with these memories, deal with these events, deal with these things in our daily life that seem to prompt these sorts of symptoms to come up.

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Presnell is a veteran himself and can relate to those he works with.

I understand PTSD. I dont understand what every single persons ever gone through, but I can bring what I know. My team can bring what they know to help you kind of work through that stuff, he said. We are here. We do respect what youve gone through, and we want to help you deal with that in a way that doesnt continue to be a barrier to living a life moving forward.

News Channel 11s final segment of The Vietnam War: 50 Years Later airs Friday, May 2 at 5 p.m.

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Healthy communities stand on a foundation of trust. Trust springs from knowing your neighbors and their concerns, knowing that officials and institutions are honest and reliable, and knowing there are forums where your voice can be heard.

Trustworthy information is vital in emergencies. Trustworthy journalism is essential when change comes so fast its hard to keep up.

For decades, Nashville Public Radio has earned Middle Tennessees trust by delivering independent journalism, emergency services, and civil conversations about issues that are important to all of us. Always for free. Always in the public interest. Filling gaps that commercial media cannot address.

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Now, though, both WPLN News and our new music discovery station WNXP are at grave risk. The White House wants to eliminate federal support for public media. Congress is expected to vote soon on a proposal to eliminate funding which would represent about five percent of Nashville Public Radios budget. This funding helps sustain our emergency news coverage, local watchdog reporting, and shows like "Morning Edition," "This Is Nashville," "All Things Considered" and Marketplace.

These cuts would deliver a devastating blow to public media nationwide, and to the local news and information, that hundreds of thousands of Middle Tennesseans rely on.

Now is the time to speak up for public media. Talk to your friends and family about the value public media brings to your life and your community. Raise your voice by contacting your representatives in Washington. Go to ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to find easy links.

A free, independent press is essential to a healthy democracy. Together we can keep Nashville and Middle Tennessee strong.

Steve Swenson is president and CEO of Nashville Public Radio.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: White House wants to kill federal support for public media | Opinion
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

UPS' top U.S. customers are exploring several options in the face of tariff pressures, from passing added expenses onto consumers to pushing for help from suppliers, CEO Carol Tome said on a Q1 earnings call Tuesday.

One popular tactic among larger shippers has been inventory frontloading to ship products before new tariffs apply, according to Tome. This trend contributed to a 9.5% year-over-year increase for U.S.-destined international volume in Q1.

However, CFO Brian Dykes said UPS expects demand to soften on the key China-to-U.S. trade lane in Q2 as tariffs weigh heavily on trade between the two countries. The lane represented 11% of UPS' international revenue last year, compared to 17% for all other countries' shipments into the U.S.

Dive Insight:

While larger importers have more resources to mitigate tariff-related issues, Tome said the outlook is different among small- and medium-sized businesses.

Many of these shippers source 100% of their products from China, according to Tome. The combination of 145% tariffs on China imports into the U.S. and the May 2 elimination of the de minimis exemption for China and Hong Kong is "causing so much uncertainty in the marketplace" as a result.

Smaller businesses also don't have the ability to aggressively pull forward inventory like large shippers do, Tome said. Instead, they're focusing on finding solutions with their manufacturers and looking to move sourcing to other countries, like Mexico or nations in Southeast Asia.

"We're seeing Asia, Vietnam, Thailand also to the U.S. growing exports near double-digits," said Kate Gutmann, UPS' EVP and President of International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions, on the call. "So, I would tell you that it's shifting. It's already occurring."

While small businesses are scrambling for alternatives, they face an uphill battle. Gutmann noted that larger companies get the first crack at securing capacity with manufacturers.

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Love potato chips, especially those containing pork cracklings? Check your pantry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for potato chip products containing chicharron  pork cracklings  imported from the Republic of Colombia.

If you have the chips, the agency said they should not be eaten.

Here's what you should know.

Public health alert issued for potato chips with pork cracklings

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert May 1 for potato chip products containing chicharron, pork cracklings.

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The chips were imported from the Republic of Colombia, a country that is not eligible to export meat products to the United States.

Consumers should not consume the chips.

What's the difference between a public health alert and recall?

A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, the FDA said.

Were the chips from Colombia sold in Florida?

Yes. These items were shipped to distributors in Florida and New York and to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing routine surveillance activities at two retailers and found meat products from Colombia that are not eligible to be exported to the U.S.

How do I know if I have the chips from Colombia?

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert May 1, 2025, for potato chip products containing chicharron (pork cracklings) that were imported from the Republic of Colombia.

The chips were imported between August 2024 and March 2025, but the FDA said all of the items listed below are subject to the public health alert, regardless of the product date:

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270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito NATURAL mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NATU CHIPS.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito NATURAL mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NATU CHIPS.

270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito BBQ mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NatuChips.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito BBQ mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, and NatuChips.

165-g. foil bags containing De Todito LIMON mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, TOSTITOS, and NATU CHIPS.

270-g. plastic bag containing six 45-g. foil bags of De Todito LIMON mixed chips with CHICHARRON AMERICANO JACKS, Margarita, TOSTITOS, and NATU CHIPS.

140-g. foil bags containing GOLPE CON TODO SABOR LIMON mixed chips with RIZADAS, PLATANOS, and Chicharron Fred.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products, the FDA said.

Have questions? Here's who to contact

Consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Jack Wilson, Owner, LatinFood US at 631-681-5276 or jwilson@latinfoodus.com.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Health alert from FDA warns about chips with chicharron
Western intelligence data indicates that Russian leader Vladimir Putin may have changed his short-term goals in the war against Ukraine to focus on already occupied territories and economic issues.

Source: CNN, citing sources

Details: Fresh intelligence seen by US and Western officials indicates that Putin may have shifted his immediate focus in the war against Ukraine to shorter-term goals  namely, tightening control over occupied territories and reviving Russia's faltering economy, CNN reports, citing unnamed sources.

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Quote from CNN: "This represents an evolution from recent US and Western intelligence assessments suggesting that Putin felt the state of the war was to his advantage, that he had the momentum as well as the manpower to sustain a longer fight against a faltering Ukraine and seize the entire country."

Details: Two US sources familiar with the matter said the perception that Putin may have shifted his stance has benefited President Donald Trump and his negotiators, who believe the Russian leader could now be more open to exploring a potential peace deal than he was previously.

However, senior US officials remain sceptical of Putin and his repeated assertions during negotiations that he seeks a peace deal, despite an "incredibly generous" US proposal on Ukrainian territory, which would allow Moscow to retain "most of the territory theyve taken".

CNN also reports a widespread belief that even if Russia agrees to the proposed deal, it may later attempt to reignite the war and seize more of Ukraine in the long term.

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"I think that he may be thinking  I dont want to say thinking smaller  but thinking about what a reasonable nearer-term objective is," a senior Western intelligence official told CNN.

According to CNN, mounting pressure from an increasingly frustrated Trump administration, which is threatening to impose new sanctions, combined with Russia's economic weakness, has placed Putin in a potentially difficult position.

Meanwhile, the talks strongly emphasised the potential for US-Russia investment if the war ends, an opportunity Washington described as "historic".

"All of this really depends on what is the US willing to put on the table so that he could not just claim victory domestically," the unnamed official added, noting "But really feel that he has achieved something that is worth a significant pause and then maybe retake up the fight at some point later."

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The official noted Putin's frequent references to the historical origins of the Russian people and said the Kremlin ruler retains a "long-term objective" of seizing most of Ukraine, particularly the regions he views as "the cradle of Russian civilisation".

A senior European official agreed that Moscow is willing to "play along" with the US and scale back its immediate aims to improve ties with Washington, but stressed that it "clearly hasnt given up on their maximalist war ends".

The Kremlin hopes that an improved relationship "draws the attention away after a tactical pause and that they can then use the mix of military, economic, informational and political tools to achieve Putin's full objectives in Ukraine and beyond," the official said.

Earlier this year, US intelligence officials warned senior Trump advisers that, aside from regime survival, controlling Ukraine remained Putin's top priority. They cautioned that he was keen to exploit any perceived eagerness for negotiations by the new administration, a source familiar with the discussions said.

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May 1OTTAWA  The Putnam County Farm Bureau celebrated its new location at 1305 E. Main St., Ottawa, on Thursday.

The bureau was located in Columbus Grove and moved to Wapakoneta in 2020 after initially leaving Ottawa.

Organization Director for the Allen, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert County Farm Bureaus Samantha Bluhm said she was happy to be back in Ottawa and Putnam County.

"The resounding feedback over the last five years has been we're a membership organization," Bluhm said. "We serve Allen, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert counties, we want to be back in those counties, and we made the move back."

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The office, which is located between a hair salon and a nutrition shop, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Monday and Wednesday are reserved for appointments and a chance for staff to work out of the office with members and farmers.

"It's hard especially this time of year to ask farmers to come into the office," Bluhm said.

The bureau serves four counties, four boards of trustees and 2,700 members.

Bluhm said she often bounces from county to county.

"I get to kind of have a hand in all of the pots." "I'm footing around all over the place at times."

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Days like Thursday are among Bluhm's favorites.

"The most exciting days are days like today when I'm out interacting with people informing them about what the bureau does," she said.

The bureau works closely with businesses and agencies to keep farmers updated.

"We work closely with Ohio State University extensions, Soil & Water Conservation District, AgCredit (and) Nationwide Insurance," Bluhm said.

"My favorite part of the job is when we get to bridge the gap between the farmers and our legislators."

Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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A Racine man will serve the next 3 years in federal prison for his role in a week-long "swatting" spree that relied on Ring cameras to livestream law enforcement response at homes in Los Angeles.

Kya Christian Nelson, 23, pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information. On May 1, he was sentenced to 44 months behind bars in the case by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt in Los Angeles.

Nelson has been in federal custody since August 2024 and previously was serving a prison sentence in Kentucky after being convicted in state court there in an unrelated case.

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Between Nov. 7 and Nov. 13, 2020, Nelson and his co-conspirators gained access to home security door cameras sold by Santa Monica, California-based Ring LLC, Bilal A. Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.

More: SWAT team response to Milwaukee neighborhood leads to brief standoff with empty pickup truck

They would get the username and password information for Yahoo! email accounts belonging to various victims nationwide without their authorization.

The group would phone in fake emergency calls to authorities in the Los Angeles suburbs that were designed to elicit an armed police response, in an activity known as "swatting." They would then livestream the events on social media as things unfolded.

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Nelson and co-conspirators used the Ring devices to taunt responding law enforcement officers during several of the swatting incidents, Essayli said.

For example, on Nov. 11, 2020, Nelson was illegally in possession of the Yahoo! email and Ring device login credentials of a person living in Oxnard, California, and he used those credentials to access the victim's Ring account without permission, authorities said.

Nelson or a co-conspirator made a bogus call to local police claiming to be a child inside a home reporting that their father was wielding a handgun at the residence. Another fake call, made by Nelson, reported shots fired at a victims residence.

The calls prompted police officers to make an emergency response to the house and to clear the residents from the home at gunpoint.

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"(Nelson) and his co-conspirators went on a digital crime spree, terrorizing innocent people around the country from behind their keyboards," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. "While (Nelson) was safe behind his keyboard, he subjected others to real danger."

More: 'Threat actor' from Europe manipulated minor on Discord to 'swat call' Brookfield Elementary

James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 22, of Kayenta, Arizona, was sentenced in June 2024 to seven years for both his role in the case, and on additional charges in Arizona, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

McCarty pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy as Nelson in connection with the Ring swatting incidents.

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McCarty admitted to also illegally accessing a victims Ring camera in Florida and making a call to the North Port Florida Police Department. In that call, he purported to be a man who had just killed his wife, was holding a hostage and had rigged explosives to the home.

Court records show McCarty livestreamed the law enforcement response and posted a message on social media taking credit for the incident.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki, of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, prosecuted the matter.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Racine man gets sentenced in Los Angeles 'swatting' spree
The radical-right Reform UK party has made gains in local and by-elections, seeking to establish itself as a significant political force.

The anti-immigration party won a fifth parliamentary seat, gained its first mayoralty, and took a number of seats on local councils, results on Friday showed. Reform hopes to ride growing support to unbalance the United Kingdoms political system, which is traditionally dominated by the governing Labour Party and opposition Conservatives.

Its been a huge night for Reform, said Reform leader Nigel Farage after the party was declared winner of the seat of Runcorn and Helsby.

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The victory in northwest England, previously a Labour stronghold, came by just six votes.

Reform also prevailed in a mayoral race in Greater Lincolnshire and picked up dozens of council seats from Labour and the Conservatives in the first polls since general elections last year.

The results appear to underline the fracturing of the UKs political landscape.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer led Labour to one of the largest parliamentary majorities in British history in last years election but has gone on to suffer the fastest decline in popularity of any newly elected government.

Brexit champion Farage, a populist who has allied himself in the past with United States President Donald Trump, noted that the win in Runcorn and Helsby, which Labour won in last years national election with a majority of almost 15,000 votes, showed that the ruling partys vote had collapsed.

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Labour has lost support as the government has raised taxes, cut benefits for the elderly and proposed sweeping welfare reforms, alienating the left-wing partys traditional voter base and driving some into the arms of Reform.





Soft-touch Britain

In Greater Lincolnshire, newly elected mayor Andrea Jenkyns, a former Conservative minister who defected to Reform after losing her seat last year, became the partys most powerful elected politician yet, with responsibility for an area covering about a million people.

In her victory speech, Jenkyns pledged to bring an end to soft-touch Britain and said asylum seekers should be held in tents, not in hotels as they often are in the country.

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The rebuilding begins here  were going to have a Britain where we put British people first, she said.

Reform UK is the latest in a series of parties led by Farage, a veteran hard-right politician who was crucial in taking the UK out of the European Union through a 2016 referendum. A divisive figure, he has said many migrants come to the UK from cultures alien to ours.

Reform, which has pledged to stop the boats of irregular migrants crossing the English Channel, is hoping that winning mayoralties and gaining councillors would help it build its grassroots activism before the next general election  likely in 2029.

The party hopes to scoop up hundreds of municipal seats in the elections that are deciding 1,641 seats on 23 local councils and six mayoralties, as well as the parliamentary seat.

Ballots in most of those contests are being counted on Friday and results should be announced in the afternoon.
BOISE CITY, Okla. (KSNW)  Authorities in Oklahoma are looking for whoever shot and killed a Pronghorn in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Oklahoma Game Wardens say a Pronghorn was shot with a high-powered rifle around 11 a.m. Monday. It happened in a field near the intersection of N0250 Road and E0150 Road, northwest of Boise City.

Game wardens say the animal, sometimes referred to as the American Antelope, was shot, killed, and left to rot. Her dead twin fawns were found with her.

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Still no new judge for suspect in murdered moms case

The doe was wearing a radio collar and was being monitored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Oklahoma State University. A cash reward is being offered to anyone who comes forward with information about who killed the doe.

Warning: The next image may be graphic to some viewers A pronghorn shot, killed, and left to rot in a field in the Oklahoma Panhandle (courtesy Oklahoma Game Wardens)

Callers can choose to remain anonymous. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Lt. Mike Baker, Game Warden, at 580-651-9135.

The fastest land mammal in North America and the second fastest animal in the world, next to the cheetah, pronghorns are not related to deer or antelopes, but they are in the same family as giraffes.

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Although not directly considered endangered, their numbers have declined from historic levels. Two subspecies of pronghorn are listed as endangered: the Peninsular and Sonoran.

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More than 1,000 people gathered Thursday evening in downtown Raleigh to protest President Donald Trumps actions, criticizing policies they said have favored billionaires over working families.

They also protested policies related to immigration, funding cuts, due process rights, and the administrations stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

The May Day event was part of a broader national campaign organized by a coalition of labor organizations called May Day Strong, with similar protests taking place across the country.

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Today is really just to unite all these different groups that are being attacked under the banner of May Day, said Nicole Drapluk, 22, of Durham. Its more important now than ever that we stand up, fight back as a strong, united working class.

May Day demonstrators line up to march from the Halifax Mall to the Bicentennial Mall on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Raleigh, N.C.

May Day, also known as International Workers Day, originated in the 1880s amid a push for an eight-hour workday by labor organizers in Chicago.

According to the event organizers website, the movement calls for increased investment in public services like education, healthcare, and housing, and opposes what they describe as efforts by Trump, Elon Musk and their fellow profiteers to dismantle labor protections.

The rally kicked off late afternoon as people gathered in front of a stage set up on Halifax Mall to dance to lively traditional Mexican music. The Durham Labor Choir took the stage, chanting to the tune of Chappell Roans hit song, HOT TO GO!

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Union busting has got to go, they chanted.

Billionaires have got to go.

Just after 5 p.m., participants started marching from Halifax Mall towards Bicentennial Plaza, looping through various streets in Downtown Raleigh.

Protesters carried signs and chanted: Immigrant rights and Workers rights.

And, Whos city? Our city. Whos rights? Our rights.

Labor advocates criticize Trumps actions

Drapluk, who is a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, emphasized what she described as a coordinated national effort to erode labor protections  particularly for public sector employees.

Trumps administration has taken steps that have drawn criticism from labor advocates.

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In March, he signed an executive order that rolled back collective bargaining rights for federal employees in certain agencies, citing security concerns, and rescinded a federal contractor minimum wage increase, dropping the hourly rate from $17.75 to $13.30. The order affecting federal unions is currently being challenged in court.

Drapluk also denounced student visa revocations, the deportation of green card holders, and the removal of individuals living in the U.S. without legal permission to mega-prisons in El Salvador. She criticized the layoffs of thousands of federal employees.

Marian Morrissette of Spartanburg S.C. traveled to Raleigh to participate in the May Day March on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Raleigh, N.C.

For Carlos Magana Perez, 23, theres more than one reason to protest.

Theres a ton of issues that are affecting us and Im here to support pretty much everyone that is being affected, he said. That includes Palestinians, members of the LGBTQ community, and people concerned about their benefits being cut.

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But as a first-generation American with Mexican roots, Magana Perez said he was at the protest to specifically stand up against the treatment of immigrants  its terrible, its horrible.

Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration, pushing for reviving travel bans, ending birthright citizenship and expedited deportations. Hes also taken actions against people legally in the country, including deporting a pro-Palestinian activist with a green card and enacting sweeping terminations  many of which have been reversed  of immigration records for international students.

Alicia de Dios Fernandez, co-founder of Inmigrantes Unidos NC, said in Spanish that immigrant workers are being criminalized by policies at both the state and federal levels.

She said this has led immigrants to experience not only mental health issues but also physical health problems, as they are afraid to visit doctors.

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Were not the criminals, she said. We are a community that works.

John Hall of Lillington , N.C. joined the May Day March on the Halifax Mall on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Raleigh, N.C.

Another focus was education policy.

Im extremely concerned about some of the policies that have been proposed and are currently being implemented by both the Trump administration and the General Assembly of North Carolina, said Tammy King, a public school teacher in Raleigh.

She pointed to a North Carolina bill, sponsored by Republicans, that would shift sex education policy in schools, requiring parents to opt in  rather than opt out  for instruction that includes topics like human trafficking. King worries the change could restrict students access to potentially life-saving information.

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She also criticized the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division for shifting away from enforcing federal laws such as on education and housing rights and instead being focused on things that arent real, like radical indoctrination in our public schools.

Hundreds of attorneys and staff members have left the Justice Departments civil rights division, citing efforts by Trump administration officials to abandon the offices traditional civil rights work in favor of targeting Ivy League schools, other educational institutions, and liberal cities, according to The New York Times.

Thursdays event was led by various labor and community rights groups.

Ryan Brown, a pastor and co-founder of Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, said he helped plan the event. His organization is part of a small ecosystem of labor in the Triangle, which allowed them to connect with others for the event.

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Brown said he believes the country is headed in a dangerous direction.

If there was ever a time workers needed to come together and be united, its now, he said.

The protest wrapped up shortly after 7 p.m. with a final chant: Workers united will never be defeated.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  More than 1,000 people gathered outside the Ohio Statehouse Thursday to show their support for public education while protesting what they believe are attacks on the educational system.

The planned demonstration was just one of many May Day protests across the country.

Despite heavy rain at times, hundreds came out holding signs and marching around Capitol Square. The protest was organized by local chapters of the Ohio Education Association.

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While turnout expected to be low, officials urge Ohioans to vote

The sounds of chanting and horns honking could be heard for hours outside the statehouse as protesters stood along South High Street holding signs reading, Fighting for Public Education.

Were out here protesting the constant defunding of public education and all public services, Kelsey Gray, an English teacher and member of the Columbus Education Association, said.

Gray said that since Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine introduced his version of the state budget, educators believe that the spending plan would cut money from public schools across the state.

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The people working in the schools and the students and families that are part of the public schools know whats best and we need politicians to start making decisions for us because theyre never made for the people, she said. Theyre always made for the 1%, the billionaires, the upper class.

Whats the difference between a bond issue and a levy?

Gray said the organization is also calling for the Fair School Funding Plan, an Ohio bill that aims to make school funding more equitable, to be put into action.

Other educators at the protest said its important for teachers to speak out because they feel the whole education system is under attack.

Rally at Ohio Statehouse protests education funding cuts Rally at Ohio Statehouse protests education funding cuts Rally at Ohio Statehouse protests education funding cuts

We teach kids who are immigrant students, we have LGBTQ students, weve got kids that feel like theyre not welcome in our classrooms, and we cant have it, educator Jen Pfeiffer-Ward said.

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Were here because we feel like education is going the wrong way and it has to stop, it has to stop, educator Sarah Nottingham said. It cant be about an agenda, it cant be about a party, it needs to be about kids. Period.

Training teaches law enforcement to recognize people with autism

President Donald Trump has called the U.S. Department of Education wasteful and feels its polluted by liberal ideology that is being taught in schools. Many of the demonstrators at the Statehouse on Thursday said that power should be in the hands of the educators, not the lawmakers.

I love those kids, Pfeiffer-Ward said. Im going to teach those kids.

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The protesters said they will continue to fight until their voices are heard.

Columbus police estimate 1,500 people turned out for the demonstration.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A new zoning ordinance has raised major concerns for Rankin County homeowners.

After appealing the motion of a zoning ordinance along with 133 landowners, members of the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association began the month of May hosting their first zoning meeting to help the public better understand whats at stake.

Rankin County neighbors with manufactured homes risk making changes or adjustments to their property or place of residence due to the newly founded regulations. Residents must go before a planning commission for approval of any potential changes.

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Some said they were unaware of the ordinance due to lack of publication.

Its ridiculous. Its absolutely ridiculous. I mean, this is a very important thing that everybody should know about. I mean, its been affecting the young people. Its affecting old people, middle age people to fix it. Everybody and everybody should have a say about it. Everybody should know about it for this shouldnt even been on the table, said Madeline Strickland, a Rankin County resident.

With more than 300 people in attendance during Thursdays meeting, a clear statement was made of their frustration and confusion. The majority petitioned for the ordinance to be rescinded.

Were hoping that it opens some eyes and some ears and some hearts. Thats what were hoping. Were hoping we open some hearts tonight, because to me, you are absolutely messing with peoples land, their life, what they have, their future, for what they hope for their family, said Jennifer Hall, executive director of the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association.

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During the meeting, Hall said only one supervisor voted against the ordinance. She hopes more meetings are conducted, and the next step is to get more people to sign the petition to continue fighting against the zoning ordinance.

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"Medicaids impact starts before a child even takes their first breath. Last year, almost a quarter (22%) of births in New Hampshire were covered by Medicaid, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report." (Getty Images)

When a child walks through our doors at Waypoint, we dont just see a case file  we see a future. One that could be bright if that child has the necessary tools they need to grow up healthy, safe, and strong. One of the most powerful tools we have to make that future possible is Medicaid and its expansion through the Granite Advantage Program.

Right now, that critical lifeline is at risk.

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At Waypoint, we work every day with families facing poverty, trauma, and mental health challenges. We see firsthand how access to Medicaid transforms lives  not just for children, but for entire families. Its no exaggeration to say that Medicaid is one of the most important investments we can make to ensure New Hampshires children grow up healthy, stable, and ready to succeed.

Medicaids impact starts before a child even takes their first breath. Last year, almost a quarter (22%) of births in New Hampshire were covered by Medicaid, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. That coverage means access to prenatal care that reduces complications and improves birth outcomes leading to healthier babies and mothers.

And the support doesnt end there. Today, roughly 1 in 4 children in New Hampshire is enrolled in Medicaid, making children the largest group Medicaid serves. It covers doctor visits, dental and vision care, immunizations, mental health services, and critical care for children with complex needs or a history of trauma. For children in foster care, Medicaid is a guarantee  offering stability to those who need it most.

Yet the state budget bill now being considered by the New Hampshire Legislature proposes drastic changes to the Medicaid and other programs that are unnecessary, concerning and potentially damaging to the health of children and families. The House-approved budget includes a 3% rate cut to Medicaid providers along with reductions in funding for mental health, community health, and public health programs. It would even eliminate the Office of the Child Advocate, a critical partner to our staff who rely on that office for independent oversight in complex and high-risk cases involving child safety.

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Beyond the budget, a proposal to impose a work requirement for adults in the Granite Advantage Program would very likely cut off access to care for many current enrollees, because of the administrative burdens it will impose. And Medicaid cuts under consideration at the federal level could eliminate Granite Advantage entirely, forcing all 60,000 individuals on the program to lose their health insurance coverage.

And when parents lose coverage, children suffer. Research consistently shows that children are more likely to be insured and receive regular checkups and timely care when their parents have access to health insurance.

Medicaid is also a shield against financial disaster. By covering essential services and reducing out-of-pocket costs, Medicaid helps families stay afloat. Without it, an unexpected illness can become a life-altering crisis. Families risk losing their homes. Parents can lose their jobs. And children  caught in the storm  lose their safety, support, and stability.

Medicaid and the Granite Advantage Program are also one of our most effective tools in addressing the growing mental health crisis. New Hampshire has some of the highest rates of childhood behavioral and mental health disorders in the country. Untreated mental health conditions in parents are linked to poor developmental outcomes for children. Medicaid helps break this cycle by ensuring access to mental health care for both parents and kids, supporting more resilient and healthier families.

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The evidence is clear: traditional Medicaid and the Granite Advantage Program are a game-changer for New Hampshires children. We cannot afford to lose or limit the benefits Medicaid provides to our New Hampshire children and families. We should be strengthening the systems that help families weather lifes storms, not reducing them when they are most needed.

In New Hampshire, we pride ourselves on being a place where families come first. We say we value our children. But values mean nothing without action  especially when the well-being of our kids is on the line.

So, we must ask ourselves: What kind of New Hampshire do we want to be? A place where every child has a chance to thrive? Or one that turns its back on its most vulnerable?

Lets choose the healthier path forward. Lets invest in New Hampshires children by supporting Medicaid and the Granite Advantage Program.
TheStreet Pro's Stephen Guilfoyle has a soft spot for SoFi.

The veteran trader thinks very highly of the fintech company, which on April 29 beat Wall Street's first-quarter-earnings expectations and raised its guidance for the year.

Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 

"I may be biased," he told readers in his TheStreet Pro column. "Heck, we both know that I am. I am long the shares and have been writing favorable on the stock for some time now.

"That said, in my opinion, to say that CEO Anthony Noto and SoFi Technologies were merely executing at an extremely high level would be quite the understatement."

Related: Veteran investor turns heads with bear market advice

Noto told analysts during the earnings call that "we're off to a tremendous start in 2025 as we continue to drive durable growth and strong returns through our product innovation and brand building."

SoFi CEO Anthony Noto said the company was 'off to a tremendous start in 2025.'Bloomberg/Getty Images

Veteran trader: SoFi had a great quarter

SoFi's revenue grew 33% year-over-year, Noto said, the fastest growth in five quarters.

"This is a great quarter," Guilfoyle said. "The guidance raise is simply more to like."

And Guilfoyle, whose career dates back to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in the 1980s, is not alone in his admiration for the San Francisco company.

Barclays boosted its price target on SoFi to $12 from $11 while affirming an equal weight rating on the shares.

SoFi's adjusted revenue beat expectations by 4%, driven by the lending segment, while financial services and tech were roughly in line, the firm said.

Citizens JMP kicked off coverage of SoFi Technologies on April 24 with an outperform rating and $17 price target, implying 38% upside from current levels.

The firm cited the company's growth trajectory, improving profitability profile, and undervaluation relative to its earnings potential over time for the outperform rating.

More Tech Stocks:

SoFi is at an inflection point, with substantial earnings potential that the market is undervaluing, creating a compelling long-term investment opportunity, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Citizens JMP says the company has a "massive addressable market opportunity with proven growth."

Crypto optimism at SoFi

SoFis shares are down nearly 20% since January but up 83% from a year ago.

The company was forced to drop cryptocurrency investing in late 2023 as part of becoming a regulated bank, but Noto said that's about to change.
It was when Sergei Lavrov and his aides raised their eyes heavenwards and performed the sign of the cross in unison that I realised how almost anything was possible during a meeting with Russias minister of foreign affairs.

Instinctively, I glanced under the table, just in case the floor beneath the seats of the British delegation was slowly opening to reveal a tank full of sharks.

We were visiting the Russian mission at UN Headquarters in New York, and Boris Johnson, then foreign secretary, had just mentioned Alexander Litvinenko, the former spy who was horribly murdered with polonium poison by Russian agents in London.

First mtg earlier w/ Russian foreign minister Lavrov. Discussed #Syria aid convoy attack & need for ceasefire (1/2) pic.twitter.com/2vdbROiyDf  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 21, 2016

(David Blair, pictured top right, in meeting with Lavrov at the UN Headquarters in New York)

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The mere sound of that name was enough to cause Lavrov and his otherwise expressionless officials to suddenly implore the Almightys deliverance from evil.

But no one should mistake Lavrovs displays of piety for the tolling bell of conscience. During his 21 years as Russian foreign minister  and over 50 as a Soviet or Russian diplomat  he has gone beyond mere duplicity and dishonesty to become the worlds leading practitioner of post-modern diplomacy, reducing statecraft to a permanent struggle against the whole idea of objective truth.

Sergei Lavrov has served as Putins minister of foreign affairs since 2004 - Getty

As they seek to end Ukraines war, Donald Trumps envoys will now go head-to-head with Lavrov. His latest contribution to what the Americans optimistically call the peace process was an interview this week in which he blithely restated all of Russias maximum demands, including full recognition of five annexed territories  heedless of the reality that Russia has never captured large areas of four of them  along with de-miltarising and de-Nazifying Ukraine.

Nobody who has encountered Lavrov, 75, would be surprised. I worked at the Foreign Office and Downing Street for nearly eight years, and I first came across him in the relatively benign era when he was still meeting British foreign secretaries.

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Even then, I found a macabre fascination in being opposite a man so stubbornly malevolent, with hooded eyes glowering through rimless glasses.

The Russian mind-games would sometimes begin even before we had entered the room. As we walked down the corridor for the sign of the cross meeting at the UN General Assembly in 2017, a Russian official carefully informed us that Minister Lavrov had squeezed in the United Kingdom somewhere between Equatorial Guinea and Uganda, showing his view of our place in the international league table.

Once in the windowless room, we found ourselves placed under the flinty gaze of Vladimir Putin, whose portrait adorned the opposite wall. Across the table, Lavrovs slab-faced aides made a point of ignoring their British counterparts; one ostentatiously played with his phone.

The two ministers began by discussing their respective programmes at the General Assembly, an opening gambit that would have been wholly innocent with anyone except Lavrov, who instantly started a game of one-upmanship.

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Johnson remarked that he was hoping to see Rex Tillerson, then US secretary of state. Lavrov answered that he had already seen Rex in Trump Tower.

Johnson said that his prime minister, Theresa May, was about to deliver Britains speech to the General Assembly. Lavrov responded that he had delivered Russias speech himself.

Johnson said that he was going to a Commonwealth reception. We have a Commonwealth! replied Lavrov. Its the Commonwealth of Independent States, a reference to a largely defunct association of former members of the Soviet Empire.

But, added Lavrov with heavy emphasis, you do not respect the independence of your Commonwealth. An answer swam into my mind: we dont invade them either.

Lavrov with then foreign secretary Boris Johnson in Moscow in 2017 - Getty

And that was just the small talk. Off we went on a rollercoaster ride, a slalom of absurdity, in which Lavrov seemed determined to vindicate German historian Hannah Arendts line that totalitarian propaganda was designed to show that everything was possible and nothing was true.

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Having crossed himself at the mention of Litvinenko, Lavrov flatly denied any Russian responsibility for his murder.

When Johnson pointed out that two Russian agents had left a trail of lethal polonium across London, Lavrov replied that the trail was in so many places that someone else must have left it, as if our capital was routinely packed with people carrying the rare and highly irradiated substance.

Above all, he was incredulous that Litvinenkos fate was still a problem for bilateral relations. The Jews killed Jesus Christ. Does that mean you wont cooperate with the state of Israel for ever more? he asked. Aside from being faintly anti-Semitic, this analogy only made sense if Russia really had murdered Litvinenko, contrary to his earlier denial.

I was reminded of an earlier meeting with Lavrov, in the same room the previous year. Russias client dictator in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, had just bombed an aid convoy outside Aleppo.

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Challenged on this incident, Lavrov said that Assad was innocent because no Syrian planes had been in the area at the time. Then he declared that Assad always tried to avoid hitting humanitarian targets. When reminded that someone must have bombed the convoy, Lavrov replied, in effect, that Syrias despot was fighting Islamists and this sometimes required tough measures.

I noted how he deployed every stage of the classic argument of the shameless defence lawyer: My client wasnt there; but if he was there, he didnt do it; and if he did do it, it was self-defence.

In other settings, Lavrov employed more venerable techniques of Russian diplomacy. He was capable of making an issue of just about anything, not always to extract a concession but to achieve psychological advantage.

In the Consultation Room near the Security Council, I watched Lavrov accost John Kerry, then US secretary of state, as they were both about to leave UN headquarters for a meeting on Syria. Lavrov was vehemently objecting to the session being held in a nearby hotel. Why not here? he demanded.

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Sergei, the arrangements have been made, the cars are waiting, replied Kerry imploringly.

No John, lets do it here.

Sergei, we dont have a room here, and the cars are about to leave.

Lavrov conceded with an expletive: the point was made, he did not need this meeting, he would attend on sufferance and the Americans were wasting his time.

Lavrovs mastery of English includes the full range of Anglo-Saxon epithets, which decorate his sentences. As well as swearing at Kerry within earshot of me, Lavrov once told David Miliband, the foreign secretary under Gordon Brown, to stop f - - - ing lecturing me.

Lavrov swore at [US secretary of state] John Kerry within earshot of me - AFP

At the meeting on Syria, the main subject was that Russia had agreed on a document specifying seven days of calm, but their friend Assad had spent the week bombing civilians anyway. Lavrov responded first by stonewalling and then blaming Assads enemies for getting themselves bombed:

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Kerry: What about the seven days of calm. We wont back off from that demand.

Lavrov: We confirm that  its part of the document. You have seven days.

Kerry: We havent had seven days of calm.

Lavrov: Youre reopening the document.

Kerry: The document got reopened by days of fighting in Syria. The document got blown apart  literally.

Lavrov: The regime pulled back, but the opposition continued fighting.

The meeting ended with Lavrov announcing that he would be returning to Moscow, and that was that. Meanwhile, in Syria, the killing went on  partly thanks to his handiwork.

By this stage, Lavrov was the grand master of covering up Assads atrocities. When the dictator used poison gas in Damascus in 2013, Lavrov pioneered the technique that Russia would employ time and again: bury the truth beneath an avalanche of lies.

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His ministry pumped out one ludicrous exculpatory theory after another: the video footage was faked and the chemical attack never happened; something had happened, but it was staged; it wasnt staged and people had been killed, but Syrias rebels had deliberately gassed themselves as a provocation.

When a UN investigation found that Assad was responsible, Lavrov managed to shut down the group that conducted the inquiry. When the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reached the same conclusion about Assads later chemical attacks, Lavrov led a sustained campaign to destroy this body by denying it a budget. And all the while, he waged his onslaught against the concept of reality with a blizzard of conspiracy theories.

Lavrov would bury the atrocities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad under an avalanche of lies - AFP

From my desk in the Foreign Secretarys Private Office in 2018, I watched Lavrov create a new blizzard after Russia tried to kill Sergei Skripal, a former spy, with Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury. First, Lavrov denied that anything had happened, then his ministry claimed that Novichok had never existed, then it had existed but all stocks had been destroyed. Finally, they settled on the claim that the British had done this to their own city in order to distract attention from Brexit.

I marvelled at Britains special place in his pantheon of infamy. Whenever Lavrov lost a vote at the UN or failed to shut down an investigation for finding Syrias regime guilty of using chemical weapons, he would blame his defeat on an Anglo-Saxon nexus.

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One day in the Private Office, a document landed on my desk with a covering note from Lavrov, purporting to be a dossier on British interference in Russia. This informed me that the British had murdered Rasputin in 1916, masterminded the Bolshevik revolution and then dedicated themselves to overthrowing the Bolsheviks  apparently suffering from buyers remorse  while also trying to colonise the Caucasus.

Lavrovs dossier was studded with glittering characters, one of whom I recognised from childhood daytime television. In 1983, ITV made a series called Reilly, Ace of Spies about a man called Sidney Reilly, played by the New Zealand actor Sam Neill. And there was Reilly in Lavrovs dossier, accused of various misdeeds. In fact, some of Lavrovs information seemed to derive straight from the TV series.

All of the above was just a foretaste of what was to come after Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. By then, I was in Downing Street and I viewed Lavrovs inevitable outbursts with grim amusement.

It was wryly predictable that  of course  he would claim that Russia was the country that had been invaded. Lavrov duly described the conflict as the war which we are trying to stop and which was launched against us.

After he denounced Ukraines elected leaders as Nazis, one interviewer pointed out that Volodymyr Zelensky was Jewish. Hitler also had Jewish origins, replied Lavrov. The biggest anti-Semites were Jewish.

When Russias invasion went off the rails and Ukraines forces drove Putins tanks back from Kyiv, Lavrov said: As a sign of goodwill, the Ukrainians asked us to withdraw troops from Kyiv, which we did. Perhaps Napoleons retreat from Moscow in 1812 was also a goodwill gesture?

As I watched Lavrov in action, I would find myself wondering: how does he live like that? How does he safely cross the road? Does he at least admit that red means stop and green means go?

Foreign Office colleagues would tell me of an earlier Lavrov, who served as Russias ambassador to the UN, and was capable of the occasional lapse into total honesty. When ties were warmer, William Hague, as foreign secretary, would take Lavrov whisky-tasting at Berry Bros and Rudd on Pall Mall.

My conclusion about todays Lavrov is that no one should consider him simply as a liar, though, of course, he is.

Instead, the key to understanding him is to grasp how his use of diplomacy as one gigantic assault on objective truth grants him the privilege of behaving like Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking-Glass, empowered to construct entire worlds of fantasy, as if words mean just what he chooses them to mean, neither more nor less.

Raise any international situation and, like a programmable mendacity machine, Lavrov will instantly invert reality and present you with a topsy-turvy vision in which the invading country was actually attacked, the rebels gassed themselves, Hitler was Jewish, and everyone in London trails polonium everywhere.

How should the US Administration deal with such a man? How do you handle the tradition of Russian diplomacy that he exemplifies?

The Americans should remember that the only antidote to Lavrovs Lewis Carroll diplomacy is overwhelming power, so great that he might one day be forced to watch his master sign on a dotted line and then keep the deal. Only by metaphorically knocking Lavrov and Putin to the ground might you compel them finally to make their peace, not just with Ukraine, but with objective reality.

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Recent layoffs in Rutherford County are likely a sign of more economic troubles ahead, according to a local economist.

In April, more than 400 workers were laid off from a fulfillment center in La Vergne. Before that, Bridgestone announced the closure of their La Vergne manufacturing facility, resulting in the loss of about 700 local jobs.

When you see a decline in investment, when you see factories laying off workers or cutting back on investment, its definitely a concern, said Dan Smith, director of the Political Economy Research Institute at Middle Tennessee State University.

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More than 400 workers to be laid off from La Vergne fulfillment center

Smith explained that more job losses will come in three waves  a reaction to President Trumps tariffs.

The second wave is going to be those factories in Middle Tennessee that need to import inputs. Those firms are going to be hurt by those higher costs, theyre going to have to raise prices, theyre going sell less of their goods and services, and theyre going to have to restrict employment, Smith said. The third wave of job loss we should expect is the investment channel [to our state].

In addition, Smith said that any economic gains from tariffs will be short-lived. More layoffs are coming in the future.

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The number of Americans filing for jobless claims hits highest level in a year

A Goldman Sachs report that was just looking at the 10% tariffs, assuming no recession and no retaliation, estimates that America will lose 5 jobs for every 1 job saved by tariffs, Smith said.

Another sign of trouble: Tennessees sales tax revenuewhich funds most of the states budget dropped about 3% compared to last March, according to a recent report from the General Assemblys Fiscal Review Committee.

The states total tax revenue went down more than 4% compared to last March, and the state is now $10 million short of its tax revenue target through the first eight months of the 2025 fiscal year.

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All that to say: with so much economic uncertainty, consumers are spending less right now.

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When asked for signs of optimism, Smith said its where we live. He believes Middle Tennessee is well equipped to handle turnover in our workforce thanks to the states robust job market.

Theres a lot of service sector jobs, serving other Americans, that are widely available and can be better sheltered from international trade disturbances, Smith concluded.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Seven international UNLV students whose visas were revoked saw an update on their federal records earlier this week.

According to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Monday afternoon, the universitys Office of International Student & Scholar Compliance notified the community that all seven international students whose SEVIS records were terminated had their records returned to active status.

SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, the system used to track and monitor international students.

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In early April, four students at UNLV had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities. Later in the month, three additional students visas were revoked.

On April 24, some colleges and universities in the United States began to see SEVIS records that were previously terminated returned to active status, including all seven of the UNLV students, the university said.

Growing demand at UNLV immigration clinic by students, community

Those changes were discovered by UNLV and the International Student & Scholar Compliance team as part of its regular monitoring of the federal SERVIS database.

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UNLV said, as of Monday, it had not received official communication from the Department of Homeland Security.

UNLV is continuing to offer support and guidance to those impacted, including helping those in need to fulfill any necessary academic requirements to complete the spring semester, the university said.

The university specified that the reactivations only affected SEVIS records. If a students F-1 visa was also revoked by the Department of State, the visa would remain invalid and cannot be used for reentry into the United States.

A new visa would be required to return to the country.

The university does not know whether the Department of State would reinstate any F-1 visas that were revoked in April, UNLV said in a statement on its website.

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Religious Freedom

A Conservative Primer

by John D. Wilsey

Eerdmans, 288 pp., $28.99

FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SECOND CENTURY B.C., Romes leading conservative politician was Cato the Elder. While perhaps best known for his energetic demands to destroy Carthage, Cato was also a prolific writer and an unabashed eccentric. One of his surviving works is a practical manual, On Agriculture, of which the most amusing portion is a long list of cabbage recipes. Some of the concoctions are intended to be administered internally, others externally, and all are offered as cures; cabbage, it turns out, can be used to treat every condition imaginable, from colic to ulcers to deafness. We must remember that Cato was an old-school Roman farmer, after alla model of authentically Roman hardiness and Republican virtue whose example could serve to challenge the softer, mannered senators around him who were learning too much Greek for their own good. (That seems to be what he wanted us to remember about him, at least.) Proper Romans treat eye maladies at home by washing them out with the urine of habitual cabbage eaters. What, didnt they teach you that in your Hellenic finishing school?

And then there is his pioneering history of Rome, The Origins. Only a few fragments from this work still exist, but they give us a good sense of Catos approach and goals. The works defining feature is the absence of names. Instead, every individual is referred to entirely by political or military title. The result? A highly moralistic history in which the heroes are not individuals per se, since their names remain unknown, but Roman virtues. You could argue that for Cato, the hero of Roman history is Romethe great city-state, worth preserving and celebrating.

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Quirks and all, Cato can be taken for the quintessential conservativefocused on maintaining the values and principles he took to be at the heart of his society while rejecting innovations that threatened them. (The subsequent history of the Roman Republic proved that his fears were not ill founded.) But as John D. Wilsey, a conservative evangelical, historian, and professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, points out in his new book, Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer, there is more than one way to be a conservativeespecially in America.

That point is particularly obvious right now. Take Elon Musk. He has been celebrated as a hero by conservatives, defended against his critics by conservatives, and warmly welcomed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Meanwhile, the utilitarian pronatalist has fathered fourteen children (that we know of), mostly with women to whom he is not married, all while boasting that doing so was a public good; the world needs more babies, after all, so why not his? When Matt Gaetz openly applauded Musks generosity in contributing to the gene pool, pro-family researcher Patrick Browna conservative of a markedly different kindquipped, With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Reminiscent of Cato, Wilsey does not name any contemporary politicians in his book, and he stays far from the intramural fights happening among todays conservatives. Thats because he is interested in advocating aspirational conservatisma prepolitical vision that prioritizes establishing timeless principles over addressing woes specific to the American political situation at this very moment.

This reticence about contemporary politics notwithstanding, Wilsey does offer what he sees as a major political failure as a reference point for his books argument: Twenty-first century conservatism has been remarkably shallow, and he is convinced that the recent absence of truly laudable public role models for conservatives has made things worse. What kind of conservative ignores or perverts such key traditional conservative values as the respect of marriage and family? Someone who is not a true conservative, Wilsey might argueor at least one who lacks the prepolitical, aspirational, dispositional conservatism he advocates: The one possessing a conservative disposition aims for a higher moral destiny for persons and societies, guided by the light of permanent things, tradition, and just order.

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But what exactly does this mean? And no less important: How do we get there? Wilseys goal in this insightful and deeply personal bookpart theological exploration of human nature, part treatise on the virtuous writing of history, and part memoir of a father determined to preserve something good for his daughtersis to recover a vision for the big-picture sort of conservatism that a pair of twentieth-century thinkers, Russell Kirk and Peter Viereck (a man with eccentricities of his own to rival Catos), argued for and personally exemplified.

The title of the book is slightly misleading: While it foregrounds religious freedom, the books concern with that topic is inextricable from Wilseys interest in how virtuous conservative citizens may flourish inwhile helping to build upa democratic society. In the process he draws on the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, who found that the way Americans brought the spirit of religion and the spirit of liberty together is one of the unique things that helped make their country a success. And so, the book is, first and foremost, an impassioned manifesto written for conservativesand specifically, for religious conservatives, and primarily conservative evangelicals like mewho worry that twenty-first-century American society, on both the left and the right, has grown unmoored, confused, overly secular, and generally symptomatic of the condition Alistair MacIntyre describes in After Virtue.

Wilsey exhorts us to consider better alternatives. American conservatives are in the best position to articulate and defend the best of the American character by receiving, venerating, applying, and handing down the tradition of harmony between the spirits of liberty and religion, he writes, summarizing the argument of his book. If we take up this challenge, we may continue a legacy of passing down a uniquely beautiful American societal inheritance that is at risk of being lost to the depredations of culture war. It is worth noting here that while Wilsey is a conservative evangelical, his inclusion of Viereckan agnosticas a model conservative intellectual indicates that many (although not all) of the principles he discusses might have some appeal or persuasive force for at least some secular conservatives as well.

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AS CHRISTIANS HAVE AFFIRMED for millennia, this world is not our home. But we have the responsibility of stewarding what is entrusted to us while were here, and Wilsey is concerned with one here in particular: the United States of America. While conservatives around the world could benefit from reflecting on the general principles proposed in this book, Wilsey is clear that there is something special about the American experiment of democracysomething he wants to save. But first, If we are going to be conservatives, and if we are going to conserve the American tradition of harmonizing religion and liberty through public spirit, then we must know what a conservative is and what conservatives value. In other words, we must know what conservatives are before we can know what conservatives do.

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This is how he sets up the opening chapter on the thought of Kirk and Viereck, Wilseys exemplars of true conservatism. The rest of the book offers, in their spirit, an exploration of five key subjects relevant to thoughtful and virtuous living: the imagination, nationality, well-ordered liberty, history, and religion.

Why these five? Because they are the sites where we must ground the foundational principles that establish aspirational conservatism. Too often, we think of conservatism first in purely political terms: Conservatives are people who vote for right-wing candidates, and therefore, anyone who votes in this way is a conservativeby their fruits shall you know them, you might say. But that doesnt mean youll know much, or even anything about them. Such a reductive logic confuses the shallow, self-centered, and secular right-wing views of folks like Elon Musk or Andrew Tate with a more principled conservatism in the eyes of the larger public.

In lieu of a political and sociologically descriptive account of conservatism, which will always be shallow and time-bound, we need deep and long-lasting foundations for a normative, prepolitical conservatism, Wilsey argues. Such foundations allow us to form good habits of mind and soul that will, in turn, form us as virtuous members of our homes, churches, and communities. Christians will naturally see the value of this view for enabling our spiritual growth, but non-Christians should be able to appreciate the benefits of such ideals, too. Its no wonder both Athenian democracy and the Roman Republic were obsessed with formation of citizens in the virtues. After all, it is better for a state to have virtuous citizens than, well, ones who are not.

With these premises in mind, Wilseys five-part account of the principles that underwrite aspirational conservatism yields the following upshots. A healthy imagination allows conservatives to form a worldview that is anchored in God and in the good, the true, and the beautiful. A healthy view of nationality allows conservatives to foster a patriotism without idolatrya love of country as something beautiful but not ultimate. A well-ordered view of liberty rejects libertinism and recognizes God-given limits as essential for virtuous living and for honoring our interactions with other people, whom we must recognize as fellow image bearers. Likewise, a thoughtful conservative approach to historyone that doesnt venerate or denigrate the pastrequires us to be virtuous in our treatment not only of those around us in the present, but also of those who have gone before us. Finally, conservative view of religious liberty brings us to a well-ordered relationship with God, as well as with other people.

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The overall takeaway is: There is much that is worth conserving in the American tradition, but the task of doing so belongs to well-formed, virtuous people, such as we must become. It makes some sense, then, that the muse animating this project is ultimately not Tocqueville but St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustines presence throughout serves as a reminder that Christian spiritual formation and the formation of believers in the virtues have been predominant concerns among church leaders for thousands of years, and they are no less vital today.

Further, Wilseys project of growth in democratic and spiritual virtue is deeply personal, as Augustines was to him. Spiritual formation, Wilsey shows us, is impossible to separate from our formation as virtuous members of our society, because we are both of these things in the same body and soulbelievers and citizens. This is where the theological concept of lifelong sanctificationgrowing more like Christ in our character, love for others, and spirit of self-sacrificemakes sense not only in a religious context, but as an idea that applies to how we view citizenship.

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ITS HARD NOT TO simply offer acclamations for Wilseys beautiful vision for American religious conservatism. I would love to see it materialize and flourish. Religious Freedom is an encouraging and hopeful book written by someone who believes what he writes, who has the encouragers vocation, and whose character is consistent with his view of the world. If there is a flaw here, I would locate it in Wilseys unwavering hope and trust in the likelihood that this vision of conservatism will come to fruition. To think more carefully about this, it behooves us to consider the topic that Wilsey pointedly sets aside at the outset: politics.

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Over the past few years, the threat of Christian nationalism has rapidly overtaken public discourse, and a book on conservatism and religion would seem a natural place to address the subject head on. But Wilseys commitment to making this project prepolitical is thoroughgoing, and he makes scant mention of the topic. The strongest direct criticism he offers in response to the work of other thinkers who claim the mantle of conservatismfor instance, the self-proclaimed Christian nationalist William Wolfeis that they have embraced political thinking as being primary, and mixed a bit of religion into it as a secondary matter. This is a perennial temptation, Wilsey writes, but we should resist, because

in any alliance of religion and politics, politics loses nothing and religion loses everything. That is, religion loses its credibility and influence in society because it becomes too closely associated with fleeting political trends of the day.

Wilsey is right: The great risk to the integrity of American religion has always been its co-optation by American politics. (Some would argue the seeds of its current subversion were sown long ago.) But how do you convince a person who has little use for personal virtue to become virtuous? I worry that Wilseys readers will primarily consist of people who already agree with him on the value of such things, and who will be content to rearrange deck chairs with him as the ship of American conservatismsociologically construedcontinues to sink into ignorance, race hatred, and reaction.

Books take a long time to gestate and move through the publishing process. Wilseys book likely reached its final state a year or more ago, long before anyone could have imagined the present state of our nations political affairs. But maybe todays political turmoil is yet another reminder of the need to have at least some conversations that are more timeless than tied to the latest headlines. Wilsey is not the only one calling for prepolitical conversations about cultural transformation and renewal in Christ at these times of difficult politicsindeed, in many ways his book reads as an expanded version of the manifesto of Comment magazine (in whose recent pages readers will also encounter the term prepolitical).

For Christian conservatives like myself, there will always still be reasons for hope. Here is one: The most successful form of religious and spiritual appeal to nonbelievers, which has brought many secular children of late modernity into the church, has lately been cultural apologetics, broadly consideredthat is, the work of forming the imagination and worldview of secular people to see their need for Gods truth, goodness, and beauty. What is on offer could be described as a kind of aspirational conservatism in the Augustinian mode, tooliving in the city of man, but with eyes fixed on the City of God. As our political moment becomes more fraught, the value of this worldview will only become more compelling.

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Nadya Williams is books editor at Mere Orthodoxy and the author of the books Cultural Christians in the Early Church (2023); Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic (2024); and Christians Reading Classics (forthcoming in 2025). Substack: @nadyawilliams.
The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse, with Palestinians facing a daily struggle to survive amid Israels war and blockade of the enclave, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ICRC issued the warning on Friday, adding to the urgent pleas from international aid institutions for a deal that would see Israel agree to a ceasefire and the reopening of humanitarian corridors in exchange for the release of captives by Hamas.

Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, the Red Cross will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to sustain many of its programmes in Gaza, the ICRC said in a statement.

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Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid which is vital for the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, amid bombardment that has displaced the majority, devastated the enclave and killed more than 52,000.

Israel closed access for aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, two weeks before the collapse of the ceasefire that had started in January and ran for about six weeks.

The ICRC warned that if the blockade continues, its humanitarian operations in Gaza, particularly the distribution of food, will only be able to operate for a few more weeks.





Under international humanitarian law, it added, Israel has an obligation to use all means available to ensure that the needs of Palestinian civilians under its control are met.

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Civilians in Gaza are facing an overwhelming daily struggle to survive the dangers of hostilities, cope with relentless displacement, and endure the consequences of being deprived of urgent humanitarian assistance, Pascal Hundt, ICRC deputy chief of operations, said.

This situation must not  and cannot  be allowed to escalate further.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of humanitarian catastrophe, with famine looming as the blockade continues.

On Friday, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for the Palestinian refugees (UNWRA), said the Israeli siege is collectively punishing children, women, older people and men in Gaza.

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In an interview with Al Jazeera, Amjad Shawwa of the Palestinian NGOs Network warned that the situation in Gaza is worsening quickly for the tens of thousands of children, and that many would likely die due to malnutrition.

On Friday, Israel continued its bombardment of the enclave. Medical sources told Al Jazeera that 22 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli air raids since dawn, with attacks on the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in the northwest of Gaza City.
Artificial intelligence agents are supposed to be more than chatbots. The tech industry has spent months pitching AI personal assistants that know what you want and can do real work on your behalf.

So far, they're not doing much.

Visa hopes to change that by giving them your credit card. Set a budget and some preferences and these AI agents  successors to ChatGPT and its chatbot peers  could find and buy you a sweater, weekly groceries or an airplane ticket.

We think this could be really important, said Jack Forestell, Visas chief product and strategy officer, in an interview. Transformational, on the order of magnitude of the advent of e-commerce itself.

Visa announced Wednesday it is partnering with a group of leading AI chatbot developers  among them U.S. companies Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI and Perplexity, and France's Mistral  to connect their AI systems to Visa's payments network. Visa is also working with IBM, online payment company Stripe and phone-maker Samsung on the initiative. Pilot projects begin Wednesday, ahead of more widespread usage expected next year.

The San Francisco payment processing company is betting that what seems futuristic now could become a convenient alternative to our most mundane shopping tasks in the near future. It has spent the past six months working with AI developers to address technical obstacles that must be overcome before the average consumer is going to use it.

For emerging AI companies, Visa's backing could also boost their chances of competing with tech giants Amazon and Google, which dominate digital commerce and are developing their own AI agents.

The tech industry is already full of demonstrations of the capabilities of what it calls agentic AI, though few are yet found in the real world. Most are still refashioned versions of large language models  the generative AI technology behind chatbots that can write emails, summarize documents or help people code. Trained on huge troves of data, they can scour the internet and bring back recommendations for things to buy, but they have a harder time going beyond that.

The early incarnations of agent-based commerce are starting to do a really good job on the shopping and discovery dimension of the problem, but they are having tremendous trouble on payments, Forestell said. You get to this point where the agents literally just turn it back around and say, OK, you go buy it.

Visa sees itself as having a key role in giving AI agents easier and trusted access to the cash they need to make purchases.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The sister of a Rhode Island woman who was killed in the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., earlier this year is calling for changes to aviation safety.

All 60 passengers and four crew members died on Jan. 29 when an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet as it attempted to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Barrington natives Spencer Lane, 16, and his mother, Christine, were among those killed in the crash.

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BACKGROUND: Barrington man remembers son, wife who were killed in DC air collision

Now, Christines sister, Kathleen Wolfanger, and other relatives of the victims have developed a list of seven aviation safety priorities they hope will be implemented in the wake of the tragedy.

One of their top priorities is an independent safety review of Reagan National Airport.

While Wolfanger acknowledged that safety concerns exist at other airports, she said the group is focusing its efforts specifically on DCA.

We are choosing to focus on issues at DCA because to get traction, you need to be reasonable in what youre asking people to do, Wolfanger explained.

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The group is also calling for inspector general investigations into both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Army.

We know the NTSB report thats being done on this specific crash is going to focus on just thatthis specific crash, she said. But it revealed bigger, broader issues that need to be looked at from both of these organizations.

Wolfanger said shes encouraged by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffys announcement regarding efforts to recruit and retain more air traffic controllers, but stressed that she wants to see a firm deadline for those investments.

Once-in-a-lifetime student: Coach remembers RI teen killed in air tragedy

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Each March, for Womens History Month, KOIN 6 News and Nexstar invite a group of community-minded women to a luncheon in downtown Portland.

These Remarkable Women are nominated based on their everyday actions that reflect purpose and a can-do spirit, and we bring these inspiring community members together to lift up their great work and accomplishments.

Interim Cowlitz Police Chief allegedly sexually abused a minor before apparent suicide

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KOIN has been honoring remarkable women in the area since 2020, sharing their stories on TV.

However, as weve emerged from the pandemic  in the last two years weve gotten to bring them together so they can meet in person, make connections and find ways to do good together.

Im just floored by all of the women around me and all of the remarkable things that they are doing in the community, said Rachel Mackenzlee Yee, a 2025 remarkable women nominee. Im just so inspired today, spending this time around these women.

Another body discovered floating in the Willamette River near Terminal 4

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Rachel is a one-eyed role model. Shes created the Fun Eye Fund  to help people in need get special prosthetic eyes.

Ive always thought that theres so many stories that people really dont know what different people are doing all the time, Cheryl Bickle, the 2025 Remarkable Women winner. So it was really good to hear that people can have an idea and then they go forward.

Cheryl has devoted her life to teaching for the past 35 years, creating a place of learning for Portlands homeless and transient children.

Driver involved in 2024 fatal motorcycle crash arrested, accused of manslaughter

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We recently sent Cheryl to Hollywood to be celebrated at a national level for Remarkable Women 2025.

It was pretty amazing. Everybody was friendly. I met some people and weve sent each other a few emails, she said. It was really nice at 78it was a really big event.

Learn more about their full stories, along with two other honorees this year  Tiffany Slottke, who heads up the St. Johns Food Share and Becky Berger who opened Griffins Place for people with developmental disabilities and took over the family business after the loss of her husband.

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a lengthy report on transgender health care on May 1 that advocates for a stronger reliance on behavioral therapy and seeks to put a stop to the practice of gender-affirming care in youth.

LGBTQ+ advocates and public health experts immediately suggested the report was a means to promote conversion therapy by another name, and in the process, treating gender dysphoria  in which someone's identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth  as pathological and could be changed.

Related: RFK Jr.'s HHS releases controversial report on gender-affirming care. Here's what it says.

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Abigail Swetz, executive director of Fair Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the health agency's recommendations perpetuate "a long, ugly history of using shame to make LGBTQ+ people hate themselves for being unable to change in the way those pressuring them expect them to."

Abigail Swetz, executive director of Fair Wisconsin, pictured with a sign stating "Trans kids belong" on Nov. 22, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.

"We do not choose our identity as LGBTQ+ people. The fact that LGBTQ+ identity is rooted in biology has been established by decades of research in child development and brain science," Swetz said. "There is no such thing as talk, including conversion practices, that can make a transgender person not transgender."

The 409-page comprehensive report is a response to an executive order Trump issued to publish within 90 days a review of "best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion."

The report states it is not clinical guidance nor does it make any policy recommendations.

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As has become typical under the helm of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the report flouts medical convention, this time by saying it was put together by "a team of eight distinguished scholars" who would not be named "in order to help maintain the integrity of this process." That decision runs counter to Kennedy's pledge to practice "radical transparency," and to the norms of peer-reviewed and respected scientific papers.

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya endorsed the report, saying it followed "the gold standard of science, not activist agendas" in a press release. Our duty is to protect our nations children  not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions, Bhattacharya said in a statement.

Bhattacharya is no stranger to controversy. Prior to joining the Trump administration, he opposed lockdowns during COVID, saying he didn't think they prevented the spread of the virus. Instead, he favored herd immunity, the idea that the virus should be allowed to spread naturally through younger Americans.

Beyond a niche of Trump supporters, however, the HHS report was roundly criticized by leading health organizations.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 67,000 pediatricians, said in a statement it was deeply alarmed by how its own work was referenced in the report.

"AAP was not consulted in the development of this report, yet our policy and intentions behind our recommendations were cited throughout in inaccurate and misleading ways," the statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics read. "The report prioritizes opinions over dispassionate reviews of evidence."

The American Psychological Association, equally alarmed by the report, highlighted several areas of concern, from the lack of transparency surrounding authorship to the federal government inserting its position in ways that conflict with professional, evidence-based guidelines for working with gender-diverse populations.

Eliminating gender-affirming care was a key message in the HHS report. The American Psychological Association warned that parting from established mental health supports "risks perpetuating harm" to transgender youth. Nonetheless, the report advocated for "exploratory therapy," and took pains to separate this form of psychotherapy from conversion therapy several times.

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"Discomfort with the sexed body or with societal sex-based expectations is common during puberty and adolescence," it said. "For this and other reasons, characterizing as 'conversion therapy' any approach focused on reducing a minors distress about their body or social role is a problematic and potentially harmful rhetorical device."

But LGBTQ+ advocates asserted both practices boil down to blaming, shaming and isolating young people for wanting to be themselves.

"When LGBTQ+ youth are pressured to change in ways that are impossible, they can and do experience anxiety and depression, and they are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide multiple times," said Swetz, from Fair Wisconsin. "Make no mistake  conversion therapy, whatever fancy new name a few unnamed report authors attempt to hide behind  is just pressure designed to force children into denying who they really are, and that is just wrong and dangerous."

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump's HHS backs trans youth therapy, which opponents dismiss
The News

The US risks losing its edge as the best place in the world to work in tech, according to new reports. Top minds and big money are mobile, while the White House cuts federal science funding and discourages immigration.

Chinas ascendency has played a role. A recent paper from the Hoover Institution, a policy think tank, flags that some of the industrys most exciting recent advancements  namely DeepSeek  were built by Chinese researchers who stayed put. In fact, more than half of the researchers listed on DeepSeeks papers never left China for school or work  evidence that the country doesnt need Western influence to develop some of the smartest AI minds, the report says.

Meanwhile, London is becoming the epicenter for AI safety, boosted by the presence of Google DeepMind. Europe and the Gulf States are doubling down on their talent retention efforts as countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia build out their AI infrastructure and energy sector to support AI, according to Zeki, which provides data on AI talent. India, traditionally an exporter of top tech talent, is gradually becoming a consumer of it as the country bolsters its national tech sector and emigration to the US becomes more difficult.
The White House is encountering pushback from congressional Republicans as the administration works to enshrine the cuts instituted by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency into law.

Congressional Republicans have said in private conversations that it would be a stretch to codify even a small part of the cuts put in place by Musk, according to The Washington Post.

Both the courts and Congress are refusing to legally protect the cuts pushed through by Musk, and the White House has few options to ensure the reductions have a lasting effect.

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This comes as several Republicans have faced furious opposition from their constituents during town hall meetings in their districts. Some Republicans have refused to hold such meetings, and others have blamed the opposition from voters on the Democrats.

Last month, Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds attempted to tell his constituents about the benefits of DOGE as he faced shouting and jeers from voters.

Are you going to allow me to answer the question? he asked an audience member.

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds faced jeers and shouting during a town hall event last month (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

Republicans have faced outrage from voters concerned about possible cuts to programs such as Medicare and Social Security. The chaos at some town halls prompted some lawmakers to move to a phone-in format or avoid holding meetings at all, following advice from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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Robert Shea is a Republican who previously worked at the White House budget office.

None of the activities of the DOGE have heretofore had any impact on the budget, the debt or the deficit. Until Congress acts, those savings dont really become real, he told The Post.

Shea and other budget experts told the paper that the administration has to choose between putting in place congressionally approved funding or violating federal budget law, which would lead to a constitutional crisis.

The White House suggested sending a small share of the DOGE cuts for congressional approval  $9.3 billion of cuts, primarily handling the removal of the foreign aid agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the remains of which have been folded into the State Department. Those cuts would also include cutbacks to funding for public broadcasting.

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Musk has so far claimed that DOGE has instituted $160 billion in cuts after claiming during the campaign that he would find $2 trillion in reductions.

However, lawmakers started sharing their apprehensions regarding the smaller package of cuts this week. Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins told colleagues that she would struggle backing cuts to PEPFAR, the program fighting HIV/AIDS abroad.

Speaking about the chances of the package passing in the Senate, where it would only need 51 votes according to a 1974 budget law, Collins said, I think it depends whats in it precisely.

For example, the $8.3 billion in foreign aid cuts, if that includes the womens global health initiative as is rumored, if it cuts PEPFAR as it may, I dont see those passing, she added, according to The Post.

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The 1974 budget law allows for requests for funding to be rescinded to be fast-tracked, meaning that lawmakers wouldnt have to be concerned about a Democratic filibuster.

The chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole, noted that passing the DOGE cuts would be hard even though Republicans are in control of Congress, pointing to their small majorities. He requested that the administration review the package before its sent to Congress to make sure the cutbacks have political backing.

Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole has said that passing substantial DOGE cuts in Congress would be difficult (Getty Images)

Do you really want to roll out and have a failure? he asked. I think if they put it out there, they need to succeed at it.

The request for cuts of $9 billion was supposed to be the first, with others coming down the line.

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If we cant pass a $9 billion rescission package, we might as well all pack it up, give in and admit were all going to go bankrupt, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul said, according to The Post.

I think its tiny because theyre trying to get to the smallest number they can get and get a victory, he added.

Musk has told reporters that its now up to Congress and the Cabinet to take charge as he takes a step back from his DOGE efforts.

How much pain is the Cabinet and this Congress willing to take? said Musk. Because it can be done, but it requires dealing with a lot of complaints.
As state lawmakers head into budget season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will soon start covering the effects on funding for K-12 schools, higher education, prisons, mental health care and more.

Meanwhile, legislators have been busy introducing standalone bills in the past few weeks, spanning issues from health care to state parks admission to funding for Milwaukee's War Memorial Center.

Several hundred bills are pitched each legislative session, and only a fraction end up becoming law. Here's a roundup of notable ones from April, which aren't guaranteed to pass and haven't yet received public hearings. You can read our March roundup here.

Requiring stores to accept cash as payment

It's easier than ever to tap your credit card or phone to pay at a store or restaurant. But a group of Republican lawmakers want to require retailers to continue accepting printed money.

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Supporters of the bill argue not everyone has the credit necessary to obtain a debit or credit card. They also say people should have a right to pay with cash, given a rise in surcharges on transactions made with cards.

The Republican authors included caveats for large-scale, cashless venues like Lambeau Field, Summerfest and American Family Field. At least one vendor on the premises must accept cash, but not every vendor would be required to.

Under the bill, a retailer who violates the requirement would face a $200 to $5,000 fine.

Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart

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More: 'We still take cash': Fiserv, Summerfest and others go cards only, but servers still want tips in cash

Free state park admission on Earth Day

Under this bill, admission to state parks would be free April 22 each year in recognition of Earth Day, founded by former Wisconsin Gov. and U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson.

Supporters say free access to state parks on Earth Day would support volunteerism. According to the bill authors, the idea was "sparked by a young group of students that was inadvertently dissuaded from volunteering in a state park on Earth Day because of the fee associated with admittance."

The idea gained bipartisan support in 2023 but never reached a vote in the full Assembly or Senate.

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Supporters: Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton; Rep. Alex Joers, D-Middleton

More: Annual Wisconsin state park stickers valid 12 months from purchase starting Jan. 1

Establishing a right to abortion in Wisconsin

A large group of Democratic lawmakers introduced the "Abortion Rights Restoration Act" that would establish a statutory right to abortion in Wisconsin. It would undo restrictions on medication abortions and requirements like an ultrasound.

The GOP-controlled state Legislature almost certainly won't allow public hearings or votes on the bill. Republicans previously suggested banning abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy in Wisconsin if voters approve it, but Democratic Gov. Tony Evers pledged to veto any bill that reduces abortion access.

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The state Supreme Court is soon expected to issue a decision on whether the state's 1849 law specifically bans abortions or whether subsequent laws or court rulings override the statute.

Authors: Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison

More: Act 10, abortion laws, gerrymandering: Status of issues before Wisconsin Supreme Court

The Milwaukee County War Memorial.

Funding help for Milwaukee's War Memorial Center

A preservation fund for the War Memorial Center on Milwaukee's lakefront is "urgently needed to ensure the long-term viability of this iconic landmark," two Republican lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support.

The bill would provide $9 million in state funds, matched by the private sector. Milwaukee County covers 20% of the center's annual $2.6 million budget, but its contribution will sunset over the next decade. The fund would cover annual maintenance costs, building repairs and improvements.

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"Additional state support is crucial to securing the future of both the building and its mission," lawmakers said.

Authors: Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto; Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc

More: About the Milwaukee County War Memorial

Limits on out-of-pocket costs for asthma inhalers

A group of Democrats, including two from Appleton, introduced a bill that would cap out-of-pocket costs at $25 for a one-month supply of inhalers and other drugs used to treat asthma, and $50 per month for related medical supplies.

Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, from Appleton died after a severe asthma attack in 2024 when his out-of-pocket inhaler price skyrocketed to $529. His parents filed a lawsuit against Walgreens and OptumRx, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.

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Previous Democratic bills proposing limits to health care costs, such as emergency room rates for uninsured patients, haven't gained momentum in the Legislature. No Republicans have signed in support of the bill, according to Snodgrass' office.

Authors: Sens. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, D-Appleton; Sarah Keyeski, D-Lodi; Reps. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton; Renuka Mayadev, D-Madison; Maureen McCarville, D-DeForest

More: A 22-year-old from Appleton died after his inhaler price skyrocketed. His parents are suing.

Expanding safe haven law to infants 30 days old

In 2023, Wisconsin joined many states with a safe haven law that allows hospitals, fire stations and law enforcement buildings to install "baby boxes" staffed round-the-clock. There are at least four in Wisconsin.

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The infant safety devices allow distressed parents who can't care for their newborn to surrender their baby anonymously with no legal consequences. The original, bipartisan law covered infants up to 72 hours old, but a new bill proposes expanding that timeframe to 30 days.

"(The current law is) not enough time for new parents to make the monumental decision to give up their child," bill authors wrote.

According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, other states have moved to expand their safe haven laws. That includes Louisiana, which increased the time to 60 days in 2016, and Mississippi, which approved 45 days in 2023.

Authors: Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield; Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger

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More: Distressed parents can now surrender newborns anonymously in Wisconsin. Here's what you need to know.

Transparency for assisted living referral agencies

This bill would introduce regulations for referral agencies that consult with families to find assisted living options. Referral agencies often advertise their services as free, lawmakers say, but actually have a contract with providers and costs are passed down to consumers.

Other states, including Missouri, are pursuing similar laws that would require referral agencies to disclose their financial ties with the facilities they refer families to and how they're compensated.

"Most aspects of Wisconsins assisted living profession are highly regulated to protect the consumer and to ensure quality care. However, while referral agencies are playing a greater role ... these agencies themselves have little oversight," lawmakers said.

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Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger

More: 9 hours of training, 24-hour shifts: Why Wisconsin struggles to find, and keep, assisted living workers

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Legislature introduced these 7 notable bills in April
A Uyghur rights group that is vehemently opposed to a potential Shein listing on the London Stock Exchange says it has uncovered probable links between the Chinese-founded e-tail juggernaut and a Guangdong-based industrial park with potential connections to textile production in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where forced labor is part of the broader persecution of Muslim minorities.

After the Guangdong government and the Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission signed a cooperative agreement in 2023, Stop Uyghur Genocide said, several cotton and textile companies signaled their intention to settle down at Guangqing Textile and Garment Industry Orderly Transfer Park, allegedly one of the many sites where Shein produces its trend-driven and ultra-cheap clothing, though its hard to say, since the Temu rival doesnt disclose its authorized suppliers.

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Among them, the nonprofit said, were several companies that are banned from importing goods into the United States under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, or UFLPA, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary organization with sprawling corporate interests. Attendees at the signing event, it added, were told that the Guangqing park would create a fast fashion smart manufacturing base that would transform it into an industrial paradise for the global apparel industry.

Stop Uyghur Genocide said that Shein was present at the parks official opening that same year, even inking a strategic cooperation agreement that reportedly included an offer of technical and financial support. The Singapore-headquartered firm, which did not respond to a request for comment, also allegedly held an investment promotion event at Guangqing the following year, encouraging textile and clothing manufacturers to move to the premises with the potential benefit of becoming a supplier for Shein and raising the risk that Shein products would be made using Xinjiang textiles, it said.

The research shows credible evidence that Shein has not only invested in but actively promoted a textile hub designed to connect global commerce with the Uyghur regiona region where atrocity crimes, including genocide and cultural destruction, are being carried out with industrial efficiency, Rahima Mahmut, executive director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, said in a statement. By signing strategic agreements and encouraging production in this park, I believe Shein is not simply turning a blind eye; I believe it is profiting from a system built on the forced labor of persecuted people.

Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow in China studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a human rights group, said he would need to review the original Chinese documents obtained by Stop Uyghur Genocide before he could verify the claims. Even so, they are, broadly speaking, very credible, he said.

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They reflect a very common pattern that used to be well documented, but since the revelations about forced labor, tends to be more hidden, Zenz said. These sorts of connections are very common.

Stop Uyghur Genocide, which previously provided Britains Financial Conduct Authority with a dossier of evidence tying Sheins supply chains with Xinjiang forced labor, said that the agency must add the new Guangqing revelations to any final approval of the companys proposed public float, even though the move may be itself in peril amid the tariff and de minimis fallout in the United States. Already, its valuation has taken a nosedive from $90 billion in 2023 to $30 billion this past February. Those too-good-to-be-true prices have also gone up.

Allowing such a company to list on the London Stock Exchange would stain the U.K.s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, Mahmut said. The Financial Conduct Authority must take this evidence seriously. We cannot let the City of London become a safe haven for companies whose supply chains are at risk of being connected with allegations of genocide.

Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom hasnt explicitly outlawed goods made wholly or in part in Xinjiang on the basis that they might be products of Uyghur forced labor. Leigh Day, the law firm that represents Stop Uyghur Genocide, argues, however, that any company whose supply chain benefits from modern slavery should be held in violation of Britains 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act.

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Shein has repeatedly dodged questions over its use of Chinese cotton, 90 percent of which hails from Xinjiang. Even an especially grueling interrogation by British parliamentarians at a hearing earlier this year provided few straight answers. But while any supply chain partner that signs the Missguided owners code of conduct has to affirm that it will not use forced labor, including prison and bonded labor, Shein does not prohibit the use of Chinese cotton specifically where such use would not contravene the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate, it told ministers in a follow-up statement.

Whether the United Kingdom needs to tighten up its modern slavery regulationsor even if they are still fit for purposeis a matter of much public debate. Ten years since the passing of the U.K. Modern Slavery Act, forced labor has slipped down Britains public policy agenda compared with a few years ago, said Murray Hunt, director of the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre at the University of Oxford, who noted that recent cuts to international aid are an example of setbacks that the work to address modern slavery has suffered recently.

But Hunt also sees positive developments that provide opportunities for progress, including what he says is the Keir Starmer governments unequivocal commitment to international law and human rights. Modern slavery is a human rights issue because it is about protecting people against exploitation by the privately powerful, he said. Recognizing this must be a starting point for any serious work to address it.

Harmit Kambo, campaigns manager at Good Law Project, a legal nonprofit that is supporting Leigh Days work with Stop Uyghur Genocide, said that Sheins alleged Guangqing connection would make a mockery of the Modern Slavery Act if its listing were approved. It was congressional pushback in the United States over claims of underpaid and forced labor that supposedly torpedoed Sheins planned public debut in New York.

Previously, the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said that if Shein was to list on the London Stock Exchange, it would be expected to meet ethical and moral targets, he said in a statement. It would demean UK PLC if the FCA were to now waive through a company that reportedly trashes the environment, has been accused of dodging taxes, and appears to be linked to the forced labor of Uyghur people.
This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter.

Walmart, the biggest U.S. retail chain, is increasingly eager to offer its customers instant payment options as it seeks to speed up services and keep costs low.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer has also long been intent on finding ways to avoid interchange fees incurred every time a customer uses a credit or debit card. Last September, Walmart said it would begin offering customers a pay-by-bank option to avoid those fees, ultimately with a real-time option.

While the retailer said last year that the instant option might be available this year, it could take longer, based on comments from a Walmart executive this week at Nachas Smarter Faster Payments conference in New Orleans.

We're really bullish on instant payments and hoping to move forward with them within the next year, Sarah Arnio, Walmarts director of digital payments, said Wednesday during a panel discussion focused on real-time payments.

Real-time payments have been around since 2017 thanks to The Clearing House starting the RTP network that year, but only some banks have adopted the new tool, and those that have signed up have had tepid uptake in the marketplace. The launch in 2023 of the Federal Reserves competing instant system, FedNow, has boosted adoption by banks, but real world use remains limited.

Walmart faces real-time roadblocks

Walmart last year gave customers the option to sign up on its website to be able to pay directly from a bank account, moving those payments via low-cost, automated clearing house transfers, also known as ACH payments.

But ACH is a stepping stone to faster instant payments, Arnio told the payments, banking and fintech professionals attending the conference. We at Walmart really have a drive internally to speed up everything, she said.

Walmart is seeking to speed up checkout and processing of online orders, she explained. Recently, it also set a goal of delivering groceries to 95% of customers within three hours by the end of the year, she added.

For now, though, real-time payment obstacles remain. For instance, RTP doesnt support e-commerce payments and while FedNow does, its process includes unwanted friction, Arnio said.

We have the foundation to get there, but there's still kind of, obviously, a few roadblocks or hurdles that we have to overcome, she said.

Walmart isnt the only retailer embracing instant payments. The momentum is here  its growing, she said. We're definitely at a tipping point where this is only going to grow even further.
OOIDA report takes aim at driver shortage, argues turnover is the issue

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Recent research published by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Associations Research Foundation took aim at the theory of a persistent driver shortage in the long-haul truckload segment. The report titled The Churn: A Brief Look at the Roots of High Driver Turnover in U.S. Trucking, argues that despite claims by other trucking associations of a shortage, its the turnover rates of upwards of 90% across large truckload fleets that are to blame. The researchers argue that a persistent shortage would lead to higher driver wages, as a lack of labor would, according to some economists, result in higher wages from demand for said labor.

The research outlines many structural issues that it deems a feature, not a bug, of the long-haul driver labor market. The first comes from the intense competition that prevents carriers from raising wages for fear of losing out to a cheaper competitor. The carrier that raises wages needs a higher rate, and that means that among price-sensitive shippers, someone else gets the coveted incumbent spot on the routing guide. The second argument the report notes is labor subsidies via industry and government initiatives that increase the labor pool of available drivers without resulting in higher wages.

Overtime and regulatory loopholes also exist, with truck drivers not qualifying for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. However, this exemption has been around since the 1930s. This results in a fragmented pool of drivers who, by the nature of their job, are unable to negotiate for better working conditions. The final piece of the report talks about information asymmetry, in which new drivers who enter trucking are misled and believe the earnings starting out are much greater than the reality. From personal experience, it took this long-haul over-the-road driver at least a year to learn the habits the lifestyle needed to become economically productive. Those same new drivers who graduated from CDL school had a 50% success rate to make it past six months.

Trump executive order targets truckers who cannot speak and read English

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order requiring that truck drivers be able to speak English or be placed out of service. According to a fact sheet published by the White House, the order rescinds previous guidance that had watered down the law that required English proficiency, which had removed the out-of-service criteria. Additionally the order instructs the secretary of transportation to review state issuance of nondomiciled commercial drivers licenses to identify any irregularities and ensure the drivers are licensed and qualified.

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FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller weighed in, noting on the X platform, This is a positive development for safety, but it will have a significant impact on trucking capacity and could help the industry right-size from excess capacity. Fuller added that one insurance executive from one of the largest firms in the U.S. estimates 40% of truck drivers are first-generation immigrants and 10% of the total driver population lacks English proficiency.

The White House notes that safety is one of the reasons behind the move, with over 120 people killed every day as a result of motor vehicle crashes. This is roughly the equivalent of a Boeing 737-700 crashing each day.

Another challenge is resources. An estimated 45,000 people work for the Federal Aviation Administration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has 1,000 to 1,100 employees.

Werner posts rare loss in Q1 earnings

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Werner Enterprises first-quarter earnings came as a surprise. The company reported a net loss of $10.2 million compared to last years Q1 gain of $6.2 million. In the earnings release, CEO Derek Leathers cited elevated insurance costs, extreme weather, a smaller fleet and customer changes related to tariff uncertainty as reasons behind the earnings miss. Fewer trucks did impact top-line revenue, which fell $36.8 million in Q1 to $433 million. The companys operating ratio net of fuel was 99.6%, a 430-basis-point decline from 95.3% in Q1 2024.

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Fleet count also took a hit, with the combined truckload transportation services segment shedding 520 tractors from 7,935 in Q1 2024 to 7,415 units in Q1 2025. Broken down by segment, one-way truckload fell by 154 tractors y/y from 2,786 to 2,632, while dedicated saw a larger loss of 366 units from 5,149 to 4,783 tractors. The percentage of empty miles, or deadheading, also crept up, from 14.9% in Q1 2024 to 16%. A good rule of thumb for deadhead percentages is to try to keep them around 10%, which is easier said than operationally done.

During the earnings call, Leathers gave more details and noted the possible impacts of tariffs. While the quarter is an outlier due to the rare instance of Werners posting an operating loss, Leathers notes the company is in a better position regarding liquidity, having recently secured a $300 million receivables-backed line of credit. Leathers also referred to the impacts of tariffs on Werners business as an air pocket, referencing the reduction in inbound freight to U.S. ports from Asia. That pocket will need to be filled with substitutes to offset the loss in freight demand. FreightWaves John Kingston adds: [Leathers] said Werner customers have been telling him their inventory levels are in good shape, so there wont be a rescue from those customers needing to increase their freight demand.

SONAR spotlight: Freight demand continues to sink

(SONAR Tickers: OTVI.USA, OTVI.DAL, OTVI.ONT, OTVI.ATL)

Summary: Dallas outbound tender volumes (OTVI.DAL) have grown approximately 20% over the past five years compared to the national average of 15%. The two largest outbound markets in the U.S.  Ontario, California, and Atlanta  have both lost significant shares: 2% and 13%, respectively. The ongoing capacity glut is hiding a rather significant shift in national freight flow patterns.

In a more balanced market, freight demand changes are discovered through isolated pockets of tightening, where spot rates increase and carriers flock to cover the freight. In the current market, where supply is abundant, there is no tightening or increased rates as carriers are nearly sitting on the sides of the streets ready to pounce.

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Import demand has dropped, but that hasnt been strongly felt in the domestic freight market as of yet. It does create volatility in the market that makes for uncertain long-term planning.

The Routing Guide: Links from around the web

A Light That Moved Fast and Shined Bright: Honoring Brittany Traylor (FreightWaves)

Dispute over $6.7 million leads to closure of Kingsley Trucking (FreightWaves)

Mass layoffs in trucking and retail coming  Apollo (FreightWaves)

FMCSA denies truck driver learners permits for 17-year-olds (FreightWaves)

Strong demand drives up used truck prices and volumes (Commercial Carrier Journal)

Insurance costs, entry-level driver training top ATRIs research priorities for 2025 (The Trucker)

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The post Research on driver shortage claim points to churn rather than burn appeared first on FreightWaves.
By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two major U.S. scientific associations on Friday called for submissions for a special compilation of research that would have fed into the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive report on climate change impacts across the United States that was effectively canceled by the Trump administration.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU), the largest association of Earth and space scientists in the world, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS), called for the research as part of an effort to "sustain the momentum" of the sixth NCA, whose 400 authors and staff were dismissed by the Trump administration last week.

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The two organizations said the new collection will not replace the NCA but create a vehicle to enable the work to continue.

Its incumbent on us to ensure our communities, our neighbors, our children are all protected and prepared for the mounting risks of climate change, said AGU President Brandon Jones.

The congressionally-mandated assessment, which had been prepared by several federal agencies and hundreds of contributing scientists, aimed to crystallize the top science on climate change and communicate it to wide audiences.

It aimed to help policymakers and companies working on emissions cuts and ways of adapting to the consequences of a warming world and was mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which was signed by Republican President George H.W. Bush.

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The last NCA was published in 2023, a year that set a record for extreme weather events that cost over $1 billion, with costly floods, fires and storms occurring roughly every three weeks.

President Donald Trump, a Republican who denies the science of climate change, also dismissed the 2018 assessment.

Earlier this year, he withdrew the U.S. from participating in the latest meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is working on its next global report on climate impacts and risks.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Editing by Franklin Paul)
Bitcoin mining operations are turning quiet rural areas across America into industrial zones, bringing noise and pollution to communities from New York's Finger Lakes to small towns in North Carolina, The New Republic reported.

What is bitcoin mining?

Bitcoin mining is the energy-intensive process that creates new bitcoin cryptocurrency. Miners use thousands of computer rigs that operate 24/7, solving complex puzzles to earn new coins.

These facilities require massive amounts of electricity and water as well as industrial-sized fans for cooling that create persistent noise.

Why is bitcoin mining harmful?

Bitcoin mining presents serious environmental challenges due to its enormous resource demands. These operations consumed about 70 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2023, more than the entire state of New Jersey used that year, according to U.S. Department of Energy data cited by The New Republic.

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The impact affects more than just energy use. Near Dresden, New York, the Greenidge Generation crypto mine emitted more than 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide in 2024. Nationwide, bitcoin mines, primarily powered by dirty fuels, use 2% of the country's electricity.

"I think this is going to mean increased impacts on local communities that we've seen across the country," said Mandy DeRoche, deputy managing attorney at the Clean Energy Program at Earthjustice, in anticipation of even more bitcoin mines opening.

How bitcoin mining affects communities

The health impacts on nearby residents are substantial. In Granbury, Texas, residents are suing a bitcoin mining company over noise pollution they claim is causing hearing loss and migraines.

Cyndie Roberson bought her dream cabin on North Carolina's Hiwassee River in 2020. A year later, she was battling constant noise from a nearby bitcoin mine.

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"It's like a jet engine that never leaves," she told The New Republic. "It is a low-frequency hum, and that low frequency, I've learned, is far more irritating to human beings."

Her experience aligns with research showing that chronic noise exposure is troublesome. It can increase risks of cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, the stress drove Roberson to sell her home and move.

How communities are responding

Residents are fighting back through organizing and legal challenges, as The New Republic detailed. In Murphy, North Carolina, Roberson's advocacy group secured a ban on new crypto mines.

Environmental groups in New York are challenging mines through the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In Seneca Lake, advocates sued Greenidge Generation over its pollution.

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"It has been absolutely exhausting and infuriating to deal with a company that refuses to accept the law," said Yvonne Taylor, a Seneca Lake resident and member of Seneca Lake Guardian.

With limited federal regulations and recent policy shifts favoring cryptocurrency expansion, local action has become increasingly important. "We can't expect protection from the federal government. We're going to protect ourselves," said Deb Gondek, who lives near a crypto mine in New York that also increased electricity costs for area residents.

While the industry claims to be shifting toward cleaner energy sources, mining cryptocurrency remains an energy-intensive process. For affected communities, the issue crosses political divides.

"Nationally, it's going to get worse," Roberson said. "But in our hometowns and our counties, maybe in our states, we can change things."

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Kermit Wendland, the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Associations operations director, has officially retired after 54 years of service, and plans have been made to honor his legacy with a statue.

Dozens of people gathered at the First Financial Pavilion on the San Angelo Fairgrounds to honor Wendland during a rodeo wrap-up meeting on Thursday, May 1. During the meeting, the rodeo association revealed that a statue will be built to commemorate Wendlands decades of work for the organization.

The association also took to social media to express its gratitude for Wendland.

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Kermit, you are the heart and soul of this Association and we are forever thankful for the impact you made, the association said in a social media post. We are all better because of you.

Wendland thanked the people of San Angelo for supporting the association over the years.

There are so many things that we do that we need the support of our community and of our city, and San Angelo has always stood up, supported us, encouraged us, Wendland said. I want to say a big thank you to San Angelo for what theyve done for this association.

Wendland shared that he plans to spend his retirement traveling and doing what he can to keep busy.

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According to the SASSRA website, Wendland began working for the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association in 1971 as a volunteer in the Cattle Department. During his time with the organization as operations director, he oversaw the associations day-to-day operations and rental events held on the fairgrounds.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KIBUMBA, Democratic Republic of Congo(Reuters) - Farmers in a breadbasket town in eastern Congo who previously fled heavy fighting are facing new challenges as they return to tend fields now under rebel control, a phenomenon playing out across the war-hit region.

The unprecedented advance by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, part of a decades-long conflict rooted in the Rwandan genocide, has forced 1.2 million people from their homes in North and South Kivu provinces since January, according to the International Organization for Migration.

During the same period, some 1.8 million people - more than 350,000 households - have returned to homes they had earlier vacated, the U.N. agency says. Many had little choice after M23 dismantled displacement camps upon seizing Goma, eastern Congo's largest city, in late January.

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That was the case for Ndagijimana Ntaboba, 48, a vegetable farmer in the town of Kibumba, situated along National Road 2 roughly 25 kilometres north of Goma, an area hit hard by years of fighting between M23 and Congo's army.

Kibumba is famous for its fertile fields of cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and beets that feed Goma and other nearby cities and towns.

But as clashes intensified several kilometres outside Kibumba in 2022, Ntaboba fled with his family to the village of Kanyaruchinya closer to Goma, leaving his farm behind.

This year, with M23 pressuring displaced Congolese to go back to their homes, Ntaboba returned to find his land was being worked by another family. He had to pay the family some $600 for the harvest.

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"We spent three years living in very poor conditions. It was a great suffering. We went hungry for days," Ntaboba told Reuters of his time in Kanyaruchinya.

Now at home with his wife and eight children, he has been forced to borrow money from relatives to get back on his feet, he said.

'VERY PRECARIOUS'

More than 60,000 people fled Kibumba during earlier fighting, but 59,700 have recently returned, according to government and U.N. figures.

Some told Reuters their homes had been destroyed by bombs and they lacked seeds to replant their fields.

"The situation for them is very precarious, because they are not getting much help," Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters after speaking to families in the region.

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"I was struck by how happy they were to have returned," he added, though it often was not voluntary.

"They said no, we were forced out of the camps. We had 48 to 72 hours to return home."

Egeland expressed concern that land disputes, if not properly resolved, could lead to new tensions.

(Reporting by Congo newsroom; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley in Paris; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has completed its investigation into the fatal police shooting of a man who killed two men at a Minneapolis apartment before slaying MPD Officer Jamal Mitchell say the officers acted lawfully.

The office of HCAO Mary Moriarty says it has completed its review into the police killing of 35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed during a horrific incident on May 30, 2024.

Mohamed had fatally shot two men, Mohamed Aden and Osman Jimale, inside a south Minneapolis apartment complex and then tried to steal an electric scooter from someone outside the building.

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A driver saw the attempted robbery and struck Mustafa with his vehicle, breaking his leg. While Mohamed was on the ground, he shot a passerby who had stopped to give aid, wounding them.

When Officer Mitchell arrived, he approached Mustafa to offer help, at which point Mustafa opened fire, killing the father-of-four.

Two other officers who also responded to the scene, officers Nick Kapinos and Luke Kittock, shot Mustafa as he continued to fire on Mitchell, ultimately killing the suspect.

"Due to the death of Mustafa Mohamed, no charges were considered related to the deaths and injuries he caused," the HCAO office said. "The only remaining legal analysis was whether the use of force by MPD officers against Mustafa Mohamed was lawful.

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"After review, the HCAO has determined that the use of deadly force by Minneapolis Police was appropriate and in conformance with the law. No criminal charges are appropriate in this matter."

Officer Jamal MitchellMinneapolis Police Department

"This was a horrific incident that scarred our community," said Moriarty. "All of our thoughts are with the loved ones of Officer Mitchell, who was killed as he tried to provide aid, along with the families of Mohamed Aden and Osman Jimale.

"Im grateful to all those who took action to help that day, including the Minneapolis Police officers who acted quickly to stop Mr. Mohamed from hurting anyone else, the Minneapolis Firefighters who immediately responded to render aid, and the community member who attempted to help and was shot. I also want to thank the BCA for their thorough investigation of this matter, and our staff for their review of this complex case."
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Central Alabama Crimestoppers has increased the reward in the 1998 disappearance of then 30-year-old Traci Pittman Kegley.

Police say on April 26, 1998, Kegley left her house in Eclectic, Alabama to go to the Maness BP Convenience Store at the corner of U.S. 231 North and Redland Road in Wetumpka, Alabama. Kegley had her 2-year-old daughter with her. The following morning her 1993 Geo Storm was found abandoned on Old Georgia Road (CR170) across from the T&H Grocery.

Kegleys 2-year-old daughter left unattended in the car.

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Kegleys personal items, including her purse and I.D., were found at the scene. Kegley has not been heard from since.

A search warrant was executed on Feb. 25, 2018 based on information from confidential sources. As a result of this warrant, police from multiple law enforcement agencies searched approximately 300 acres of property in eastern Elmore County.

A total of $15,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest in this case. The reward is comprised of $10,000 from the Governor of Alabama and CrimeStoppers will pay

$5,000 within 30 days from the actual arrest.

Previously, $10,000 was offered by Traci Pittman Kegleys parents, and $4,000 from an

anonymous donor. CrimeStoppers cant confirm if these rewards are still active at this

point.

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If you have any information regarding this case, you can call the police or CrimeStoppers using the 24-hour tip line at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP (833-251-7867).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, will now require placebo testing for all new vaccines.

All new vaccines will undergo safety testing in placebo-controlled trials prior to licensure  a radical departure from past practices, an HHS spokesperson said in a statement first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday.

A placebo is an inert substance that does not contain the vaccine. And while vaccines for new pathogens are often tested using a placebo, its unclear if HHS would require the same testing for already well-researched vaccines, including the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

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In its statement to publications, the HHS said Kennedy is pro-transparency, but did not provide basic clarifying details on when the changes would take place and what vaccines could be affected. A spokesperson for the HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Although COVID vaccines arent mentioned in the statement, it did suggest any updates to the vaccines could put it in the category of new vaccines, which would require placebo testing.

As weve said before, trials from four years ago conducted in people without natural immunity no longer suffice, the statement said. A four-year-old trial is also not a blank check for new vaccines each year without clinical trial data, unlike the flu shot which has been tried and tested for more than 80 years.

Health officials warn that the changes could seriously delay a vaccines release and lead to making vaccines less accessible. It could also create situations in which someone needing a life-saving vaccine could instead receive a placebo.

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You are watching the gradual dissolution of the vaccine infrastructure in this country, Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told The Washington Post. The goal is to make vaccines less available and less affordable.

Peter Lurie, a former official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), told the BBC that the proposed change is treading in ethically dubious territory.

Lurie said, But, broadly, if they mean that every modification to an existing vaccine would require a new placebo-controlled trial, they are treading in ethically dubious territory and likely to deny Americans life-saving vaccines at some point.

Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, has madeseveralfalse claims about measles and the MMR vaccine, even as measles cases in the U.S. near 1,000. Three people have died, including two Texas children.

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Its not unusual, Kennedy said in February when asked about the measles death of a 6-year-old Texas boy. We have measles outbreaks every year.

Kennedy slightly walked back his comments after attending the funeral of an 8-year-old Texas girl who died from measles at the start of April.

The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine, he posted on X.

Of the current measles cases, 96% of those infected were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.

On Monday, on Merit TVs Dr. Phil Primetime, Kennedy told parents to do your own research.

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I would say that we live in a democracy, and part of the responsibility of being a parent is to do your own research, Kennedy said in response to a question regarding vaccine safety. You research the baby stroller, you research the foods that theyre getting, and you need to research the medicines that theyre taking as well.

Kennedy did not specify any sources parents should look at.

Related...
The annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research took place in Seattle this week.

The field's premiere scientific conference was scheduled to be held in the Emerald City five years ago, until COVID-19 dashed those plans. This time, U.S. autism researchers face a very different kind of crisis: massive cuts to federal funding , Cabinet members making false statements about the complex neurological condition they study, and a series of confusing and potentially worrisome policy announcements about autism research.

In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services disclosed that it's planning a $50-million comprehensive research effort aimed at understanding the causes of [autism spectrum disorder] and improving treatments, a department spokesperson said. The effort was spurred by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s stated goal of determining the cause of autism, a neurological and developmental condition whose symptoms cluster around challenges with communication, social interaction and sensory processing.

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At his first news conference last month, Kennedy made a number of scientifically inaccurate statements about autism: that it is preventable ( there is no evidence that it is); that studying its genetic underpinnings is a dead end ( genes play a significant role ); that children with autism "will never hold a job" (autism presents in myriad different ways and many autistic people work) and, perhaps most significantly, that we know its an environmental exposure (this is, to put it mildly, far from an established fact .)

On Thursday, an HHS spokesperson said that the agency was developing a secure data repository of large-scale, de-identified data to better understand the causes of conditions like autism and chronic diseases, similar to the National Cancer Institutes Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program .

This was a clarification of National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharyas statement during an April 21 meeting with NIH advisors that the study would draw in part from personal health information gathered across a variety of sources, including insurance claims, pharmacy chain medication records and fitness tracker data, a plan widely reported as an autism registry.

HHS has otherwise offered minimal detail on the research effort, which Kennedy initially said would return results as early as September. (Bhattacharya has since pushed back on that timeline, saying that grants would only start to go out to participating researchers by the end of summer.)

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A half-dozen senior scientists interviewed for this article said that neither they nor anyone they knew of had been consulted.

I'm someone who knows a lot of people in this field, said Helen Tager-Flusberg, professor emerita at Boston University and director of its Center for Autism Research Excellence, and not a single person I know has been approached.

Tager-Flusberg is a member of HHS Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which advises the agency and Congress on autism research. Since Trump took office in January, she said, the committee has not received any communications from HHS, and has not been informed or consulted about the latest research initiative.

With one hand, [Kennedy's] offering $50 million in new research, and with the other hand, they have already removed a significantly large number of grants that are already carrying out cutting-edge research on autism, she said. NIH has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into [studying] causes of autism over the last three decades, and so it's disturbing to hear that it's all being dismissed.

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The U.S. government is by far the nations biggest investor in autism research. In 2019 and 2020, the most recent period for which data are available, federal grants totaling $350 million supported 82.5% of U.S. autism research , with the remainder coming from private sources.

Federal funding is the engine by which research runs, and it is certainly the engine by which autism research has made the incredible advances that it has over the last 25 years, said Matthew Lerner, an associate professor at Drexel Universitys AJ Drexel Autism Institute and a board member of the International Society for Autism Research.

Several researchers also said that they found Kennedys insistence that autism stems from exposure to an undetermined environmental source perplexing. The role of environmental factors in autism is already a major focus area for government-funded research, they said, albeit in a more nuanced way.

When scientists speak of environmental exposures, they are referring to any nongenetic influence before or after birth. These can range from prenatal stress hormones to neighborhood pollutants to the school a child attends.

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Any scientist will tell you that this is such a complex thing that you can't just be looking at one [cause], that you have to be thinking about the role of environment, the role of genetics, how they interact, and how that changes over the lifespan, said Alycia Halladay , chief science officer of the nonprofit Autism Science Foundation. We do know that there are a lot of environmental exposures that have not been studied. We can't say it is an environmental toxin.

Dr. Shafali Jeste was more blunt.

This is what we dedicate our lives to, the Los Angeles pediatric neurologist said. If we knew there could be one environmental cause, wouldn't we all be out there hunting for it, and maybe having already found it, given that we've been doing research for 20 years?

The cuts and chaos of the second Trump administration are already having an effect on the research community.

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Several people interviewed for this article asked not to be quoted by name for fear of retaliation, or specified that they could only speak on behalf of themselves and not their employer, at the institution's request.

In late April, Tager-Flusberg founded the Coalition of Autism Scientists, a group of senior researchers united around the shared goals of pushing back on disinformation and advocating for evidence-based research approaches.

More than 200 fellow scientists signed up immediately, she said. But when younger researchers have asked to join, she has discouraged them from doing so. Speaking out could cost them their jobs.

I don't really have anything to lose, she said. But the last thing I would want is to put anyone's career in jeopardy.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The night before former Vice President Kamala Harris re-emerged on the political scene in a speech rallying Democrats to "lock in" to fight President Trump, one of Trumps top lieutenants issued a warning.

If Harris attempts to rehabilitate her political career by running for governor of California, Richard Grenell, Trumps envoy for special missions, reiterated his plans to consider jumping into the race himself.

"If she runs, I think Republicans have to rethink the fact that we have a shot," he told a crowd at a private event in Calabasas, California, Tuesday night. "Yes, if she runs, Im going to take a hard look at it."

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Right now, Grenell is serving as Trumps interim director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and longtime foreign policy adviser. In February, Grenell was instrumental in freeing five Americans held hostage in Venezuela, and over the last day, his name, along with several others, has been floated as a possible replacement for former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Trump announced Thursday that Waltz would be leaving the post to become United Nations ambassador in a major shakeup of his national security team.

Grenell, who refers to himself as the presidents "fixer," is a close Trump confidante who has served in a variety of roles, including acting director of national intelligence and ambassador to Germany during Trumps first term. Earlier this year, Grenell, known for his blunt talk and contentious approach to foreign policy, served as Trumps emissary during the devastating California wildfires, strongly backing his calls to attach conditions to any federal disaster aid to help Los Angeles rebuild.

During the presidential transition, Grenell was a contender for secretary of state, but that role went to Marco Rubio. Now the roving envoy role gives Grenell the freedom to keep his options open and enter the crowded California gubernatorial field if the political dynamics seem right.

Even if Trump taps Grenell to fill the national security adviser role, he still has time to determine whether to jump into the California governors race. The election is more than a year and a half away, and candidates have until March 2026 to file their paperwork.

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Over the last few weeks, as speculation swirled about Harris intentions, several candidates on both sides of the aisle have joined the race, including conservative commentator and Fox News contributor Steve Hilton and Bidens Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The pool includes Republican and former Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, and several Democrats: Rep. Katie Porter, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Controller Betty Yee, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and entrepreneur Stephen Cloobeck.

Whoever decides to run, the Democratic supermajority-controlled state is a long shot for Republicans. No GOP candidate has won statewide since Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggers landslide re-election in 2007. Without a Hollywood blockbuster movie star or another widely recognized personality in the mix, a Republican candidate for governor faces long odds.

Still, a late March poll showing Californians warming to the idea of a Republican governor is stirring hopes amid the GOP. Nearly 50% of likely California voters said they are now considering voting for a Republican for governor in 2026, with 71% expressing dissatisfaction over Gov. Gavin Newsoms and legislative leaders records on addressing Californias high cost of living. Such a large field of Democratic gubernatorial candidates could divide Democratic and independent voters, giving a conservative or independent candidate a potential opening, but only if the number of right-leaning candidates in the race remains limited.

So far, Grenell has said hes focused on paving the way for conservative candidates across the state rather than throwing his own hat in the ring. He says his political action committee, Fix California, which he founded in 2021, registered 200,000 new conservative voters last year alone.

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The groups registration efforts have corresponded with a significant uptick in Republican voter registrations in recent years - some 775,000 new Republicans were added to the voter rolls since 2019, according to the California Republican Party. Over the last year, GOP voter registrations have increased by more than 100,000 while Democrats have declined by tens of thousands, according to reports from the California secretary of state.

The California GOP did not invest in those efforts, however, and several state conservative activists have said the credit goes to Grenell and Fix California.

Last years voter registration drive was particularly successful in flipping Congressional District 41 from blue, helping longtime California GOP Rep. Ken Calvert hold on to his seat in a tight re-election last year.

Grenell said he aims to replicate the results of Stacey Abrams Fair Fight organizations five-year digital voter-registration program that made once-red Georgia a swing state, and similar efforts in Florida and Ohio. Fix California officials have identified 1.4 million Californians that it wants to register to vote by the 2026 midterm elections to help Trump maintain a Republican majority, avoid another round of impeachment efforts in Congress, and give a conservative candidate a better shot at a gubernatorial win.

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"I do a lot of jobs, but Fix California is one of my favorites," Grenell told supporters Wednesday night. "I dont get paid.  I do all this work because I think that the only way to save this state is to do something thats very unsexy - just register people to vote."

Trump has thrown his support behind Fix Californias efforts, raising $3 million in one Los Angeles fundraiser in 2021, while first lady Melania Trump headlined another event which raked in $1 million, Grenell said.

Some 50% of Californians arent registered to vote, and of the 50% who are, only roughly 40% go and vote in any given election, Grenell said.

"You cant have this small group of the same people who vote and pick our leaders," Grenell added. "We have to expand the pool, and I believe that if we can do that, we can change Sacramento."

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Theres a good chance, he added, that those sitting on the sidelines in California, where Democrats hold all statewide elected offices and supermajorities in the legislature, are "commonsense conservatives" who dont believe their vote will count or "arent charged up or they just want to mind their own business."

Grenell is challenging all right-leaning candidates in the governors race to spend half of all money they raise on voter registration drives. "Im tired of people running, raising millions of dollars, losing, and walking away with their own lists," he said. "They lose, they walk away, and the next person has to start all over."

Katie Zacharia, who serves as senior adviser to Fix California, says that the groups efforts could be instrumental in helping Republicans win back swing California House seats because newly registered voters are highly likely to vote in the next election. Two Republican House members, former Reps. Michelle Steel and John Duarte, lost to Democratic challengers Derek Tran andAdam Gray, respectively, by less than one percentage point in November, while two other Republicans lost by just three percentage points.

"Statistically, 80% of those who are newly registered turn out," Zacharia told RealClearPolitics.

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In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires, Grenell suggests that Los Angeles County, with its 9.78 million population, is prime territory to pick up registrations from conservatives and independents fed up with the Democrats record of failed leadership.

Grenell predicted that Angelenos would support the strings hes pressing Trump to attach to any release of federal wildfire disaster money to the state. Congress is set to consider that disaster relief package in the late spring or summer.

He also said hes fighting to implement conditions for those federal funds"come hell or high water." Grenell is pressing Trump to demand that state Democrats gut the California Environmental Quality Act, a series of regulations requiring state agencies to mitigate the environmental impacts of their work, and the elimination of the California Coastal Commission, which highly regulates building and development near beaches and coastlines.

Newsom earlier this year waived many aspects of both for the post-wildfire rebuilding process in Los Angeles, but eliminating the wide-ranging environmental laws in California is an ambitious, highly unlikely task, considering the supermajority control of both houses of the state legislature. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is already fighting several of Trumps sweeping executive orders threatening its federal funding in court.

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Yet, the wildfires shined such an intense national spotlight on California government mismanagement this year that Grenell believes theres a unique but fleeting opportunity to shift California politics.

"Unless we shift the paradigm of voter registration, we are not going to win, but we do have a chance," Grenell said. "The fires have given us an unbelievable moment. We cannot miss this moment."

Susan Crabtree is RealClearPolitics' national political correspondent.
One of the early impacts of President Donald Trump's tariff policy has been a decline in people traveling to the U.S., a response that reduces some cross-border payments but not all, according to Mastercard.

"What is not coming into the U.S. is going to other regions," CFO Sachin Mehra said during Thursday's earnings call.

Foreign travel to the U.S. fell 14% in March, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Travel Association , noting that the drop came before the April 2 tariff announcement . That followed a 2% decline in February, the first such fall since spring 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The declines have been attributed to political opposition to Trump's policies. An April 10-11 survey of Canadians found 60% were "staying away" from the U.S. due to the president's policies, according to Longwoods International .

During Thursday's earnings call, Mastercard said its cross-border payments and travel revenue sources are diversified. Like most payment companies, Mastercard said the impact of Trump's tariffs have not yet affected overall payments. But it did note international travel declines in March and through the first three weeks of April.

Much of that decline has been in U.S.-bound travel, Mastercard said. Other corridors, particularly within Europe, the Middle East and Africa and the Asia Pacific, have grown in recent weeks. The payment company's overall travel volume has "shown stability," but there have been shifts within the category, Mehra said.

In a research note before Thursday's earnings report, Jeffries said inbound U.S. travel is 4% of Mastercard's net revenue. A decline in inbound travel of 20%  Jeffries' estimate  would not pose a risk to Mastercard's second quarter or full year 2025 outlooks but would "keep a lid" on the company's stock price.

Mastercard has embedded flexibility into its existing 2025 strategy to anticipate economic and political uncertainty, CEO Michael Miebach said during Thursday's earnings call.



Not all travel



Mastercard also touted its artificial intelligence investments as a way to broaden revenue sources. The card network this week launched Mastercard Agent Pay , a platform that expands Mastercard's existing generative AI technology, which enhances customer service, security and onboarding by generating automated responses to customers.
May 2ROCHESTER  The Rochester Branch of the NAACP created a fundraiser for the family of the child who had racial slurs directed toward him at the local park, according to a GoFundMe campaign.

The crowdfunding campaign was posted after a fundraiser created by the user "Shiloh Hendrix," who claims to be the woman involved in the video , raised more than $250,000 through GiveSendGo, another online fundraising platform.

"We've been asked by countless community members how they can help," the Rochester Branch of the NAACP wrote in the fundraiser description. "This campaign is our answer."

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The video depicted a man confronting the woman for calling a Black child a racial slur at the Soldiers Field Park playground. Though the original video was taken down, Michael McWhorter, known online as TizzyEnt, reposted the video on Wednesday, April 30, to his more than 9.5 million followers across TikTok , Instagram , X and YouTube. The video has more than 10.1 million views as of Friday morning.

The video drew outrage from local leaders. Mayor Kim Norton said "it was especially concerning that an adult used this language toward a young child  and the rest of the exchange in front of children and others. I want Rochester to be better than this and we should do all we can to end racism in our community."

Wale Elegbede, president of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, called the video "deeply disturbing."

The Rochester Police Department is aware of the video and is "gathering information and actively looking into the matter," according to Amanda Grayson, communications coordinator for the department.

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The fundraiser for the family was created on Thursday night, May 1, and has raised more than $5,000 as of Friday morning. The page does not list the name of the family involved.

"Let us be clear: this was not a misunderstanding or a moment of poor judgmentthis was a deliberate, racist, and threatening attack on a young Black child. Public parks should be safe, welcoming places for all children and familiesnot sites of hate and trauma," the Rochester Branch of the NAACP wrote in the campaign's description.

The GoFundMe campaign, titled "Help Us Seek Justice for a 5-Year-Old Facing Racial Hate," has a goal of raising $250,000 for the following causes:

* "Legal redress and social justice efforts in support of the child and family

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* Legal advocacy and accountability efforts

* Broader social justice and anti-racism work in Rochester to change the culture and ensure this never happens again."

In the crowdfunding campaign created by Hendrix, she claims her Social Security number, home address, phone number and place she works out have all been leaked to the public.

Hendrix alleges the individual who stepped in to film the video proceeded to follow her to her car and claims he has a criminal history. The Post Bulletin has not yet been able to identify the person who filmed the video. The TikTok account of the original poster has since been privated.

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Hendrix's fundraising goal was set for $250,000 and has raised over $265,000, as of Friday morning.

"Many of the comments from her supporters celebrate and justify her hate," the Rochester Branch of the NAACP wrote in the campaign.

The GoFundMe campaign added that this is not the only racist incident to occur recently in Rochester.

In April 2024, a racial slur was spelled out using plastic cups in the chain-link fence on the pedestrian bridge over East Circle Drive near Century High School.

After RPD identified four teenagers responsible for the act, former Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said his office would not file charges in connection with the racial slur in the chain-link fence. While the incident was offensive, Ostrem wrote at the time, it has protection under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

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Four months later in August, Rep. Kim Hicks, a first-term DFL member of the Minnesota House, found racist graffiti painted on her shed, a swastika on a window of her home, and paint over all but one of the surveillance cameras around her house.

"It's about who we are as a community and what we choose to stand for," the fundraiser said. "Help us match the funds raised in defense of hate with an equal force of love, justice, and action."

A second crowdfunding fundraiser in response to Hendrix's campaign was created Friday morning, May 2, by Non-Profit Wrench Inc. The Kasson-based business aims to raise money for "local BIPOC clients of Non-Profit Wrench Inc. dealing with poverty," the fundraiser said.

The GoFundMe campaign, called "Stand Against Racism: Help Rochester BIPOC Thrive," set a goal of $25,000.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Beningo Sanchez, 47, of Rockford, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for attempting to import a pound of fentanyl into the U.S. from Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Sanchezs sentencing in the Northern District Court on Thursday.

Sanchez admitted that in March 2023, he was expecting a package of 500 grams of fentanyl that had been pressed into pills to be shipped by FedEx to an address in Rockford.

Photo: Winnebago County Jail

Officials said the drugs were hidden inside a wooden tortilla press.

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Agents intercepted the package and removed the drugs, then delivered it to Sanchez, who took delivery and then drove it to another location where he opened it.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute earlier this year.

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WORTHING, S.D. (KELO)  The US Department of Agriculture offers a variety of programs to help Ag producers. And in 2021, more than 34 percent of farm households received federal funding totaling over $14 billion. However, some uncertainty has clouded those programs recently because of federal funding cuts and freezes.

Kjersten and Dirk Oudman have been running Blue Sky Vegetable Company for four years now, selling weekly subscription boxes of fresh produce to area customers.

The Oudmans say they love being out on the farm and supplying fresh veggies to the community; however, running a specialty farm like this comes with risks. Grants from the federal government help minimize some of them.

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How soon is too soon to plant your garden?

Last year we got a cost-share grant with the NRCS, thats a branch of the USDA that focuses on natural resources and conservation, Kjersten Oudman said. So that helps us enact conservation practices on our farm.

That grant hasnt been impacted by federal funding cuts and freezes, but a different grant they applied for last year has been paused.

It would allow us to wash, peel, chop and freeze produce, especially the seconds, Kjerstan Oudman said. It was a grant for equipment to do that. Our intention for that was so we could seconds from our farm, freeze them and we could sell those to institutions like hospitals or schools that dont have the cooking or prep facilities.

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Dirk Oudman says the current cuts and freezes are causing uncertainty about the future for some farmers.

The bigger concern right now, right, with our current political situation is that theres going to be less trust of those systems, right, because some of these contracts have been frozen or revoked, Dirk Oudman said. Youre seeing a lot more people now hesitant to sign up for the next round.

And if our local farmers cant get that support from the federal programs, it could reverberate to local communities.

Farms are local businesses, right. So having vibrant businesses that hire people, that buy stuff locally, that participate in their local communities is important to the vitality of our rural towns, Dirk Oudman said.

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Funding cuts to the USDA have been part of the Trump Administrations efforts to cut back on spending.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Dozens of leading writers, filmmakers and historians in Romania have written an open letter calling for voters to back a pro-European candidate against the far-right frontrunner in Sunday's re-run of Romania's presidential election.

The letter criticised "extremist" candidates without naming them, and was a clear attempt to persuade Romanians to turn out against rightwinger George Simion, who leads opinion polls for the first round ahead of two pro-European centrists. The top two candidates would face a run-off on May 18.

"Romanian society has lost its confidence in politics," the letter said. "Electing a president who is honest, credible, involved, pro-European and oriented towards substantial reforms, one who is not indebted to corrupt or extremist parties, is the first step out of the crisis."

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Sunday's vote is being held five months after an original ballot was cancelled because of accusations of Russian interference, denied by Moscow, in favour of another far-right candidate, who won that first round and is now barred from standing.

"We should start fearing again the horrendous failure that Romania can suffer if we have an anti-European president after May 18," one of the signatories, writer Radu Vancu, told Reuters.

"With Simion as president Romania risks losing (its relevance in) the European Union, which is its best period in its entire history," Vancu said.

Simion opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of the European Union's leadership and has supported U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

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His main election rivals are former senator Crin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. Antonescu, 65, is backed by the three parties in the current pro-Western government. Dan, 55, is running as an independent on an anti-corruption platform. Both are pro-EU and NATO and back Ukraine.

A survey conducted by polling institute AtlasIntel and commissioned by news website www.hotnews.ro showed on Friday Simion was leading with 30.2% of votes, while Antonescu had 24.3% and Dan 22.4%. The poll surveyed 3,247 people from April 28 to May 1 and had a 2% error margin.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Peter Graff)
ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  A principal in Rowan County has been reassigned following student walkouts that took place during school hours.

In response to the incident, the school district is implementing stricter policies regarding demonstrations.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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An email sent to parents by the Rowan County superintendent emphasized that walkouts or similar events will no longer be permitted during instructional time, citing student safety as the primary concern.

The email noted that any student who leaves campus for a protest and does not return may face disciplinary consequences.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

While reaffirming its support for students right to free expression, the district announced plans to establish a new Student Voice Task Force. This group will provide students with a structured and constructive way to share their perspectives outside of instructional hours.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Rumors Harry and Meghan would be stripped of their royal titles swirled after it was revealed Meghan used her HRH title in a note to a friend.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned a decision Friday by Germanys domestic intelligence agency to classify the political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a right-wing extremist organization, calling the move tyranny in disguise.

What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes, Rubio wrote in a post on X in the hours following the decision.

"Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition," he wrote. "Thats not democracyits tyranny in disguise."

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The decision by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, gives authorities increased oversight and surveillance over AfD. While some branches of the party at the state level have received the label  such as in Saxony and Thuringia  this is the first time in modern German history that a party with nationwide representation on the federal level has been classified as extremist.

The party won a record 152 parliament seats after receiving nearly 21 percent of the vote in the February federal elections.

After conducting a three-year-long investigation into the party, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution released a 1,000 page report, citing violations of core constitutional principles including human dignity and the rule of law.

"This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law," the official X account for the German Foreign Office wrote in a reply to Rubio's post. "It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped."

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President Donald Trump and his inner circle have been largely supportive of the AfD. Its co-leader, Alice Weidel, was one of many foreign leaders invited to attend Trumps inauguration. Elon Musk has shown support for the party and spoke at an election campaign event in January.

Banning the centrist AfD, Germanys, most popular party, would be an extreme attack on democracy, Musk wrote in a post on X.
A remarkable exchange played out on X on Friday as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the government of key ally Germany of tyranny in disguise for designating the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist entity.

In a post Friday afternoon, the top US diplomat slammed the classification made by Germanys domestic intelligence agency, which allows it to increase surveillance of the political party. Vice President JD Vance later echoed the rebuke of the move in his own post on the social media platform.

Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition, Rubio wrote on his official State Department X account. Thats not democracyits tyranny in disguise.

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What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes, he continued.

Rubio, who has been newly tapped as the interim national security adviser, said the US ally should reverse course.

In a direct reply on X more than three hours later, the German Foreign Office pushed back.

This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law, the account posted. It is independent courts that will have the final say.

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We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped, the foreign office wrote.

Rubios post was not the first time a high-level Trump official has spoken out in support of the far-right party, whose leaders have engaged in anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and xenophobic rhetoric, including calling for the mass expulsion of immigrants. One of its key politicians, Bjorn Hocke, was convicted in 2024 after breaking German laws against uttering Nazi slogans in public.

People march to protest against the rising cost of living in a demonstration organized by the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party on October 8, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. - Omer Messinger/Getty Images

Vance  who met with the leader of the AfD in Munich in February, ahead of German federal elections  also took to X on Friday afternoon to rebuke the move.

The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it, he wrote from his personal X account, quoting the Rubio post.

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The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuiltnot by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment, he wrote in a post that came after the German governments reply.

In a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, the US vice president also accused European leaders of turning their back on post-Cold War values and suppressing free speech.

In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat, he said in remarks that shocked and rankled European officials.

According to the Associated Press, Germanys domestic intelligence agency said AfD is a threat to the countrys democratic order.

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It aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, subject them to unconstitutional discrimination, and thus assign them a legally devalued status, it said. Specifically, for example, the AfD does not consider German citizens with a migration history from predominantly Muslim countries to be equal members of the German people, as defined ethnically by the party.

AfD leaders condemned the move, according to the AP.

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According to BlackRock, the US is home to some renowned and innovative companies. The country remains at the forefront of the AI infrastructure buildout and a frontrunner on the global stage when it comes to both R&D spending and patent applications. IP laws continue to stimulate such an innovative impulse. As per the firm, the US possesses over half the worlds unicorn companies. According to them, any moves toward policy targeting deregulation can further accelerate the innovative edge.

Despite a difficult quarter, the firm opines that the US stocks are critical to any diversified allocation. Over the last 60 years, US earnings growth has continued to rise consistently, tackling significant economic and geopolitical shocks. Unshakeable US advantages which span from innovation to education to corporate culture form a critical factor for the equity returns. Overall, the firm believes that a US allocation with disciplined active portfolios throughout the style spectrum is the correct way to tap into the dynamic market.

As per AllianceBernstein , recent shifts in equity return patterns highlight a deeper look at longer-term earnings trends. Over the previous 15 years, the US corporate earnings growth managed to outpace that of the non-US companies, reflected by the MSCI EAFE Index. The firm believes that, before 2010, this wasnt always the scenario. Its research demonstrated that in 3 of the 4 decades since 1970, non-US earnings surpassed US earnings. This year, US corporate earnings growth is projected to come closer in line with that of earnings growth of the rest of the world, says AllianceBernstein. At the same time, the equity valuations outside the US remain at a significant discount, considering the 2025 forecast earnings.

As volatility rises, AllianceBernstein believes that staying invested remains a strategic priority to capture the long-term return potential in a broadening market. Global equities saw fresh difficulties in Q1 2025 amidst increased trade-war worries and developments in AI. As per the firm, bouts of volatility and a cloudy outlook highlighted the increased importance of diversification, valuations, and company fundamentals.

We recently published a list of 11 Best Buy-the-Dip Stocks to Buy Now . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) stands against other best buy-the-dip stocks to buy now.

Story continues

These measures contribute to the firms positive long-run outlook for US stocks. Over the near term, it anticipates that the market will broaden out. This broadening will take place from Magnificent 7 leadership to the rest of the US and also to other parts of the world. As per the asset manager, Q1 results can be a teaser. The developed markets, ex-U.S., are expected to lead returns, followed by emerging markets and then value stocks in the U.S.

Our Methodology

To list the 11 Best Buy-the-Dip Stocks to Buy Now, we used a screener to shortlist stocks that trade close to their respective 52-week lows. After getting an extended list of 25-30 stocks, we chose the ones popular among hedge funds. Finally, the stocks are ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments, as of Q4 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Is Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) the Best Buy-the-Dip Stock to Buy Now?

A close-up of a modern refrigerator with the company logo in the background.

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR)

Closing Price as on April 28: $77.06

52-week Low: $75.03

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) is engaged in manufacturing and marketing home appliances and related products and services. Despite the uncertain macro environment impacting consumer confidence in Q1 2025, the company delivered 160 basis points of margin expansion. This highlights its brand position and its agile and disciplined operational execution. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR), with its 10 large US factories, remains a net winner of a new tariff policy. With its strong domestic footprint, the company produces 80% of its domestic sales in the US. The company anticipates a more stable competitive landscape in H2. This will be an environment in which it can leverage its US domestic production to its fullest extent.

Coming to the ongoing EBIT margin drivers, Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) highlighted that price mix favorably impacted margin by 50 bps, thanks to its successful pricing actions in MDA North America and MDA Latin America. The companys cost takeout actions delivered 100 bps YoY, led by its continued manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies and the organizational simplification actions. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) expects organic growth of ~3% to $15.8 billion in net sales in 2025. This will be fueled by its robust pipeline of new products.

Overall, WHR ranks 10th on our list of best buy-the-dip stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of WHR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. 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 a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than WHR 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.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing criticism after slamming Germany for giving its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition.

Rubio lashed out on Friday following the decision by Germanys domestic intelligence agency to classify the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a proven right-wing extremist organization.

Thats not democracyits tyranny in disguise, the secretary wrote on X. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course.

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Within hours, the German foreign office responded, writing on Elon Musks social media platform that This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law.

It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped, the office added.

Nothing to see herejust the Secretary of State attacking one of our strongest allies, falsely accusing it of 'tyranny in disguise,' all in defense of a far-right, Holocaust-denying, pro-Putin party. This is INSANE, the group Republicans against Trump wrote.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed the German classification of the Alternative for Germany as an extremist organization (Getty Images)

Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German Ambassador to the United States between 2001 and 2006, asked: You are aware a new German govt has been elected which will assume power next week, and which has already announced much tougher Immigration rules?

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The conservative Christian Democratic Party, which ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel formerly led, came out victorious in the February elections, and incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to form a government with the Social Democrats, having joined with other parties to commit to blocking the AfD from power.

The leaders of the AfD, which tops some polls, have trivialized the Holocaust, used Nazi slogans, and derided foreigners and immigrants.

The decision by the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution does give German authorities more power to conduct oversight and surveillance of the AfD. Previously, some state-level branches of the party have received the label, including in Saxony and Thuringia. However, this is the first time in modern German history that a political party represented across the country on the federal level has been classified as extremist, Politico noted.

In the February federal elections, the AfD won 152 of the 630 parliamentary seats and received 20.8 percent of the vote.

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Following a three-year probe, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution published a 1,000-page report, pointing to breaches of constitutional principles such as human dignity and the rule of law.

President Donald Trump and his allies have mostly been backing the AfD, whose co-leader, Alice Weidel, was invited to attend Trumps second inauguration. Meanwhile, Musk has continually supported the party, speaking at a campaign event for them in January of this year.

Alice Weidel was invited to attend Trumps second inauguration (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Banning the centrist AfD, Germanys most popular party, would be an extreme attack on democracy, he wrote on X on Friday.

One AfD leader, Stephan Brandner, told the German news agency D.P.A., This decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is complete nonsense in terms of substance, has nothing to do with law and justice, and is purely political in the fight between the cartel parties against the AfD.
President Donald Trump named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting national security adviser, replacing Mike Waltz, who is being nominated for United Nations ambassador.



The announcement came Thursday, May 1, shortly after news broke that Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong, planned to depart the administration weeks after it was revealed Waltz mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal chat discussing military plans.



I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nations Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role.



Waltz, a former Florida congressman, first elected in 2019, was re-elected to his position in 2024, but chose to step down from his congressional role to join the Trump administration. He previously served in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret.



The former congressmans foreign-policy background has been a source of scrutiny. He served as a counterterrorism adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney under former President George W. Bushs administration. He also opposed the large-scale withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan without concessions from the Taliban, making him a target among some of Trumps MAGA base.



Laura Loomer, a far-right social media personality, reportedly criticized Waltz among other national security officers and appeared to have celebrated his departure in a post on X.

BREAKING:



National Security Advisor Mike Waltz @MikeWaltz47 along with his Chinese deputy NSC Advisor Alex Wong have resigned from the Trump admin today.



Hopefully, the rest of the people who were set to be fired but were given promotions at the NSC under Waltz also depart.  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 1, 2025

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would continue serving in his role, while stepping into this new one.



The president had initially nominated Rep. Elize Stefanik for the U.N. ambassador position, but has since withdrawn her nomination. He cited the GOPs slim majority in the house saying, I didnt want to take a chance  We dont want to experiment.



The U.N. ambassadorship requires Senate confirmation and Waltzs involvement in the Signal chat will likely be a point of contention during the process. Screenshots of the group chat showed that a user named Michael Waltz added The Atlantics top editor, Jeffery Goldberg.



Since the initial Signal mishap, Waltz had reportedly been on shaky ground with Trump.



Waltz then took accountability for the incident in an interview with Fox News in March. I take full responsibility  I built the group, Waltz said in the interview.



Despite publicly standing by Waltz in the days after, Trump privately vented about his frustrations, two Republican sources familiar with the situation told NBC News.

Im deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation. pic.twitter.com/FFTPjnIYkI  Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) May 1, 2025

This is Trumps first staffing shakeup of his new administration. During his first term, Trump often cycled through national security advisers, with four different people in the position within his four years in office.



Waltz took to social media to express his gratitude and acknowledge the nomination.



Im deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation, said Waltz in a post on X.
The News

Secretary of State Marco Rubios star is rising inside President Donald Trumps administration.

In addition to running the State Department, the onetime Trump critic-turned-ally is also serving as acting administrator for USAID, acting archivist, and now also Trumps interim national security adviser.

That last title was added Thursday after Mike Waltz was ousted, and came as a surprise even to some of Rubios staff.

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Its unclear how Rubio plans to juggle four jobs (insomnia is helpful, one Trump ally joked) but it is a sign of Trumps confidence in the former Florida senator.

Hes widely liked internally and is seen as being in lockstep with Trump on foreign policy  Trump even shifted responsibility for Venezuela talks to him in March. Now, Rubio is one of the presidents most trusted Cabinet members.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned a classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as "confirmed right-wing extremist" by domestic intelligence, calling on the country to "reverse course."

"Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracy - it's tyranny in disguise," Rubio wrote on social media platform X.

"What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes," he said."Germany should reverse course."

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Germany's domestic intelligence agency on Friday designated the anti-immigration AfD as a confirmed "right-wing extremist" organization that "disregards human dignity" and threatens democracy.

The new classification, which gives the agency broader surveillance power over the AfD, is the result of a comprehensive review, the findings of which are laid out in a 1,100-page internal report.

It comes just days before Germany's new conservative-led government is set to take office under future chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Flowers adorn the State House Senate seat of the late Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who died on April 21. Ruggerio reported more than $148,000 cash on hand in his campaign account as of March 31. (Photo by Nikki Silva/Rhode Island Current)

In his final months as Rhode Island Senate president, the late Dominick Ruggerio continued to rake in campaign donations, according to the first-quarter report filed with the Rhode Island Board of Elections Wednesday.

Ruggerio died on April 21. But his campaign finance account, and its $148,000 balance, lives on, with state law laying out a host of options for how the remains of his war chest can be spent. The balance  aside from any loans or debt that needs to be repaid  can be used to support other candidates, political parties and political action committees, donated to charity, or the money can be returned to the donor.

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Theres no deadline by which a deceased officeholder or candidates campaign account must be closed, as long as theres still a treasurer willing to administer the funds and file quarterly reports with the state elections board.

Jim Aceto, Ruggerios brother-in-law, who was named as his campaign finance treasurer in 2008, said the family had not decided what to do with Ruggerios campaign funds.

Were not even thinking about that, Aceto said in an interview Thursday.

Only one other campaign finance account remains open and active for a deceased officeholder or candidate, said Ric Thornton, the state elections board campaign finance director.

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Former Warwick Mayor Joe Solomon died in May 2021, but his son, Rep. Joe Solomon Jr., has maintained the account as its designated treasurer since his dads death. The older Solomon has over $67,000 cash on hand in his account, though no new donations have been made since his death. The campaign has spent money one time since May 2021, making a $500 donation in September 2024 to St. George Maronite Catholic Church in Cranston for a memorial, according to the report filed with the state elections board.

Solomon Jr., a Warwick Democrat first elected in 2014, did not return multiple calls for comment.

A third account for a deceased officeholder, former Cranston City Council President John E. Lanni Jr., remains open but inactive. After deducting bank fees, the remaining $1,200 balance was transferred to the states unclaimed property account, overseen by the Office of the General Treasurer, following Lannis death in 2020, Thornton said. Lois Lanni, John Lannis wife and the treasurer for his campaign account, died in 2019.

Prior to his death, Ruggerio missed most of the 2025 legislative session due to illness, including two stays at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in his North Providence district. But the 76-year-old Democrat, reelected to the Senate for the 29th time in November, nonetheless received a strong show of financial support from fellow officeholders, labor and business leaders.

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Ruggerio reported nearly $93,000 in donations in the first three months of 2025, including $64,000 from individual donors and nearly $29,000 from political action committees. His financial supporters included local auto body shop owners, Ballys Corp. lobbyists, and two of his predecessors: former Senate Presidents Billy Irons and Teresa Paiva-Weed, who donated $300 and $250, respectively. Gov. Dan McKee gave $1,000 to Ruggerio, while McKees 2022 Republican rival, Ashley Kalus, donated $150.

Ruggerio spent more than $65,400 from his campaign account in the first three months of the year, including more than $31,000 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick on Feb. 5 for a political fundraiser.

Ruggerio also contributed to many fellow lawmakers. He gave $1,000 to Sen. Val Lawson, the East Providence Democrat who was his majority leader, and elected Tuesday to succeed Ruggerio as president. Ruggerio also gave $500 to Sen. Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat tapped as the new majority leader. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican who voted for herself in the leadership election among state senators Tuesday, received a $100 donation from Ruggerios campaign.

This story has been updated to correct the number of terms that Dominick Ruggerio served in the Senate.

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May 1A hearing officer ruled that Quirky Used Books must remove a homeless encampment from its parking lot in two weeks or pay a fine of $1,500 to the city of Albuquerque.

In the written ruling issued Thursday, City Hearing Officer Ripley Harwood stated he would only impose fines tied to one of several ordinance violations brought against the bookstore, that which prohibits camping on public property, including the use of tents.

Harwood dismissed the other violations, which involved weeds and litter and outdoor storage.

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The dispute dates back to July 2024, when Quirky Used Books began allowing 18 unhoused people with 12 tents to stay in the store's back parking lot at 120 Jefferson NE, just north of Central. After the city received various 311 complaints  at least one from a neighboring business  Code Enforcement issued the violations, leading to an administrative hearing on Monday.

Gillam Kerley, owner of Quirky Used Books, said he was "disappointed" the hearing officer could not rule on whether the violations aligned with the New Mexico Constitution. Harwood said, in his decision, that he considered constitutional arguments "to be outside the scope of my review."

In his ruling, Harwood said the case is not about the rights or risks of homeless people occupying public property, but rather "a case about the limits of the rights of private property owners to the allowable uses of their property."

Kerley said he will be seeking a stay on the enforcement of the ruling pending an appeal to the 2nd Judicial District Court.

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He said they were appealing to get a ruling "on whether the New Mexico Constitution's right to seek and obtain safety and the right to preserve one's property essentially outweigh the language of the zoning code." The bookstore owner added that he does not expect the decision to be reversed during the appeal.

The city was pleased with the ruling.

"We're happy with the decision because it moves Quirky Books towards remediation, which is what we always wanted," said Tim Walsh, public information coordinator for the city of Albuquerque Planning Department. "We just want them to come into compliance and hopefully this will get them there."

The city plans to stay in contact with the bookstore to ensure they come into compliance. Code Enforcement has another hearing pending with Quirky Used Books over similar violations, but said they will drop the case if Quirky Used Books comes into compliance in the next two weeks. A hearing on that matter has not been scheduled yet.

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Kerley said he was glad the hearing officer did not agree with a majority of the proposed violations, including the accusation of litter and filth in the parking lot.

In his ruling, Harwood left a glowing review of Kerley's character, calling him an "altruistic idealist."

"Were the world full of idealists such as Gillam Kerley, humanity would likely solve the broad-based societal problems without the need for the blunt instrument of government," Harwood wrote. "The reality is that Quirky Books cannot solve the enormous public problem of the homelessness and in trying to do so, they have merely caused other harms. The homeless problem is for governments to solve."
Russell Brand appeared in a U.K. court on Friday to face multiple charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

Brand did not speak to journalists as he arrived at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

The actor and comedian is charged with two counts of sexual assault, one count of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of oral rape. The charges were announced by prosecutors last month after British media outlets published allegations in 2023 by four women against Brand.

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"We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4, Sunday Times and Times investigation in September 2023," prosecutors said in April.

"We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offenses including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women," prosecutors said.

"I'm aware that I put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous, [but] that is not the type of conduct I endorse, and it's certainly not how I would live now," Brand told Tucker Carlson in an interview published on YouTube in January last year.

"Of course, I deny any allegations of the kind that have been advanced," Brand said.

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The actor was asked to stand for Friday's hearing, which lasted around 12 minutes, CBS News partner network BBC News reported. He did not enter a plea.

Brand was granted conditional bail, and a hearing was scheduled at England's Central Criminal Court for May 30.

Brand spoke during the hearing only to confirm his name, birthday, address and that he understood his bail conditions.

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LONDON (AP)  Russell Brand got out of a sleek black Mercedes on Friday and took his first steps toward a court where he faces charges of rape and sexual assault in a scene far removed from a walk down a Hollywood red carpet.

The actor-comedian, wearing a black collared shirt open to his midsection and sporting a gold cross, was quickly mobbed by cameras. He stood bolt upright and paced slowly forward through a crush of media and onlookers, protected by a ring of bodyguards and uniformed police officers.

The comedian, author and Get Him To The Greek actor gave a thumbs-up motion as he entered Westminster Magistrates Court in central London. His wavy locks flowed to his shoulders, his beard was peppered with gray and he wore a pair of gold-framed sunglasses, black jeans and brown boots.

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Inside a packed courtroom, Brand stood in the dock and confirmed his name, birth date and address during the brief hearing and was granted conditional bail after a prosecutor read a summary of complaints made by four women that date back a quarter century.

Brand, 49, was charged last month with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He didnt enter a plea, and has previously denied the allegations made against him.

The alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005  one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in London. The Associated Press doesnt name victims of alleged sexual violence, and the British law grants them lifelong anonymity in the media.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered Brand to show up at the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, on May 30 and granted him bail on the condition that he keeps the court informed of where he is staying, either in the U.K. or in the U.S.

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He currently lives in Florida, but is obliged to attend all future court appearances. If he doesnt abide by the conditions, he faces being jailed.

Prosecutor Suki Dhadda said that Brand raped a woman in 1999 at a hotel room in Bournemouth when she attended a Labour Party conference in the town and met him at an event where he was performing. It's alleged that while the woman went to the bathroom, Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her on the bed, removed her underwear and raped her.

A second woman accused Brand of grabbing her by the forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in London in 2001.

A third accuser was a television worker who met Brand at a friend's birthday party at a bar in Soho in 2004. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and forcing her to perform oral sex.

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The final complainant worked at a radio station and met Brand while he was working on a spin-off of the Big Brother reality television program between 2004 and 2005. Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

The charges follow a September 2023 joint investigation by British media outlets Channel 4 and the Sunday Times.

Brand denied the allegations when they first surfaced . On the day that he was charged last month, he posted a video saying he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

I was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, he said. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. Ive never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.

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Known for his unbridled and risque stand-up routines, Brand hosted shows on radio and television and wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol. He has appeared in several Hollywood movies and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.

In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media, but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. He recently said that he had moved to the United States.

___

Jill Lawless contributed to this report.
Key Points

The push to effectively legalize the drug in the U.S. seemed to get a major boost from the nominee to head the Drug Enforcement Agency.

He pledged that reviewing federal policy on the drug will be at the top of his to-do list if he's confirmed.

Wednesday was one of the rare good days for the beleaguered marijuana industry, with stocks in the sector experiencing significant lifts. One weedie that saw quite the price gain on the day was multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings (OTC: CURLF), which booked a nearly 20% increase. That compared most favorably to the sleepy S&P 500 index's less than 0.2% improvement.

An official could make legalization official soon

To a great degree, the future success of Curaleaf and its peers depends on the development of marijuana legalization in this country. At the moment, federal officials are contemplating a proposed rescheduling of the drug, from its most hazardous Schedule I category to the far milder grouping of Schedule III. This would, for all intents and purposes, make the drug legal nationwide.

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 

That potential change seemed to gain significant momentum on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee. President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terrance Cole, stated that reviewing the proposal will be one of his top priorities upon arrival at the DEA, if confirmed by the legislative body.

Although marijuana advocates and cannabis company investors were excited when the proposal was first formally introduced, many have been frustrated by its slow progress up the legal ladder. Cole's remarks indicate that, at the very least, he'll prioritize the matter.

He didn't exactly commit, however

Marijuana company shareholders (and those now contemplating an investment in the sector) should be careful here, though.

Even though Senators from the committee pressed Cole on how he might approach rescheduling, he declined to commit to approving it. He told them that he needs "to understand more where [agencies] are and look at the science behind it and listen to the experts and really understand where they are in the process."

Should you invest $1,000 in Curaleaf right now?

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The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Curaleaf wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Russell Brand appeared at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday after being charged with rape and sexual assault.

The disgraced comedians first hearing took place after it was confirmed last month that the U.K.s Crown Prosecution Service authorized the Metropolitan Police to charge a man, identified as 49-year-old Brand, following an investigation by detectives.

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Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.

During his 12-minute hearing, Brand confirmed his name and address in court, along with his age, 49, the BBC reported. He was granted bail, with his next court appearance set for May 30 at Londons central criminal court, known as the Old Bailey.

The crimes he has been charged with relate to a 1999 rape in the Bournemouth area of the U.K.; a 2001 indecent assault of a woman in Westminster, London; the 2004 oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in Westminster, London; and between 2004 and 2005, the sexual assault of another woman in Westminster.

When the formal charges were released, Brand, who has turned to Christianity and been baptized since widespread allegations came to light, responded to the charges in a video shared on his social media, stating: Ive never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.

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Detectives began investigating in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by Channel 4s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.

The program aired extensive allegations against Brand. One of the women told Dispatches that Brand entered a relationship with her when he was 31 and she was 16. Their relationship lasted three months, she had said, and Brand had been emotionally abusive and controlling. Another claimed that Brand raped her in 2012 in his L.A. home, according to the Sunday Times.

The Briton denied all claims made against him, which date between 2006 and 2013, when Brand was at the height of his fame working on Big Brothers Big Mouth, Kings of Comedy and Big Brothers Celebrity Hijack. A Banijay U.K.-commissioned investigation later found informal complaints concerning Brand were made over 20 years ago on set, and another review into Brands behavior at the BBC, in particular between 2006 and 2008 when he worked for 6 Music and Radio 2, found that fellow employees believed he would always get his way, and therefore stayed silent about his inappropriate conduct.

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British comedian and actor Russell Brand was granted bail after appearing in a London court Friday on charges of rape and multiple counts of sex assault.

Brand, who was charged last month, has always denied having nonconsensual sex since the allegations about him were first aired two years ago.

Brands appearance Friday came ahead of the first hearing of the case at Westminster magistrates court.

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He arrived in a black shirt unbuttoned down to his chest, black jeans and dark sunglasses. Making his way through the main entrance, he was flanked by journalists and photographers on both sides, to whom he did not give any interviews or comments.

In a short procedural hearing, the 49-year-old right-wing wellness influencer spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions.

Brand will next appear at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, on May 30.

London police on April 4 charged Brand with rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault in cases related to four separate women between 1999 and 2005.

Russell Brand arrives at court in London on Friday.

Court documents detailing the charges stated Brand indecently assaulted a woman in 2001 by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet. In another instance in 2004, he was accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Westminster by touching her breasts without her consent.

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After he was charged, Brand in a video on X stated, I have never engaged in non-consensual activity, adding, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and Im incredibly grateful for that.

The charges came after detectives began investigating in September 2023 after The Sunday Times newspaper and British broadcaster Channel 4 reported allegations that Brand had sexually and emotionally abused four women.

Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women. One of them said she was 16 (the age of consent in the U.K.) and Brand was 30 when they began a relationship that included abuse and sexual assault.

Born in Essex, Brand rose to fame in British television in the early 2000s, including a stint as a broadcaster on the BBC, from which he resigned in 2008 after he and his co-presenter made prank calls to British actor Andrew Sachs, which resulted in more than 42,000 complaints.

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He later moved to Hollywood and starred in numerous films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008 and Get Him to the Greek in 2010.

He married pop star Katy Perry in 2010, but the couple divorced 14 months later. In 2017, he married Laura Gallacher, with whom he has three children. Last year, he said he had become a Christian.

Brand, who has since faded from mainstream culture, is an outspoken critic of American politics and free speech and regularly posts his views on his YouTube channel.

These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies, he said in another video on X posted in September 2023. And as Ive written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous, he said.

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The relationships I had were very absolutely, always consensual, he added, before suggesting that the mainstream media may have an agenda against him.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Russell Brand has been granted bail by a London judge over charges of rape and sexual assault.

Brand, 49, arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the British capital at around 9.30 a.m. local time on Friday, May 2, wearing a dark denim shirt, sunglasses and blue jeans.

The comedian and actor walked slowly into the dock in London at 10:00 a.m. and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth to Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, reported multiple outlets, including The Telegraph.

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At the close of the 12-minute hearing, Goldspring gave Brand bail and scheduled his next court appearance at London's Central Criminal Court (known locally as "The Old Bailey") on May 30.

Neil Mockford/Getty Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 02 Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 02

Related: Russell Brand Charged with Rape and Sexual Assault, Will Appear in Court in May: Police

Brand was initially charged with the crimes by London's Metropolitan Police on April 4. The charges stem from allegations from four women who allege Brand sexually assaulted them in England between 1999 and 2005.

Of the four women, one says she was raped in 1999 in a town in southern England, while another claims Brand orally raped and sexually assaulted her in London in 2004.

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The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers, said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy. The Met's investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.

Neil Mockford/Getty Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 02 Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 02

Brand was previously accused by five women, one of whom was 16 years old, in a 2023 joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 current affairs show Dispatches.

The alleged incidents published in the investigations took place between 2006 and 2013.

Ive received two extremely disturbing letters, or a letter and an email, one from a mainstream media TV company, one from a newspaper, listing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks, Brand said on social media prior to the release of the story. But amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute."



If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



Read the original article on People
Actor and comedian Russell Brand was granted bail on Friday during a court appearance in London on charges of rape and multiple counts of sexual assault.

Sporting a pair of dark sunglasses and dark denim, Brand spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth before leaving the Westminster Magistrates Court in the British capital, according to multiple reports.

Brand will next appear at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, on May 30.

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The 50-year-old funny man last month was hit with six charges, including one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault. They stem from from alleged incidents involving four different women that occurred over a span of six years, including a rape in Bournemouth in 1999, an incidental assault in Westminster, London in 2001, an oral rape and sexual assault in Westminster in 2004 and another sexual assault between 2004 and 2005, also in Westminster, according to authorities.

The charges are the result of an 18-month investigation, prompted by a series of allegations brought against the podcaster by multiple women in the fall of 2023. Around the same time, The Sunday Times, The Times of London and the TV network Channel 4 published a joint report in which several women accused Brand of sexual assault and rape between 2006 and 2013. The alleged assaults occurred at the peak of his fame, which included his marriage to Katy Perry.

One of the women in the report claimed she was just 16 years old when a 30-something Brand started an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship with her. Another said he raped her in his Los Angeles home in 2012, while a third women claimed he forced himself on her a year later at his residence in West Hollywood. Additional allegations include that Brand exposed himself to a woman in an office building and then joked about the incident on his radio show.

The comedian, meanwhile, has adamantly denied the accusations, calling them hurtful in a video shared online. He acknowledged that while he has a promiscuous past, all of his sexual encounters have been consensual.

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I was always transparent about [being promiscuous] then  almost too transparent. And Im being transparent about it now, Brand added. To see that transparency metastasized into something criminal, that I absolutely deny.

Brand has not been charged in the U.S. for any of the alleged assaults said to have occurred in California.

The Mets investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.
Russell Brand leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on May 2, 2025. - Credit: Neil Mockford/Getty Images

Russell Brand appeared in a London court for the first time since being charged with rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault last month, The Associated Press reports.

At the largely procedural appearance at the Westminster Magistrates court on Friday, May 2, Brand was granted conditional bail and read the charges against him. He did not enter a plea (as is customary at this stage in the U.K.), but has previously denied the allegations against him. Brand only spoke when confirming his name, date of birth, and address, and to say that he understood the conditions of his bail.

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Those conditions require Brand to keep the court informed about his whereabouts, whether hes staying in the U.K. or the U.S. (the comedian and YouTuber primarily lives in Florida). He must attend all future court hearings though, and any violations would potentially lead to him being taken into custody. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 30.

Also during the hearing, the prosecutor detailed the charges against Brand, which stem from alleged incidents with four women that occurred between 1999 and 2005. He is accused of raping a woman in 1999 at a hotel room in Bournemouth after a Labour Party conference. A second woman accused Brand of grabbing her by the forearm and trying to drag her into a bathroom at a TV station in 2001.

A third woman claimed that in 2004 Brand grabbed her breast, puled her into a bathroom, and orally raped her. And a fourth woman, who met Brand while working on a Big Brother spin-off between 2004 and 2005, accused Brand of grabbing her by the face, pushing her against a wall, kissing her, and grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

The Metropolitan Police opened their investigation into Brand in September 2023 after the allegations against the comedian were first reported publicly in The Times and Channel 4s investigative show, Dispatches.

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After the charges against him were brought last month, Brand denied the accusations against him in a video posted to social media. Ive always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family  I was a fool, man, 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. Ive never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.

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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.  Storms in Arkansas caused plenty of damage, with wind gusts clocking at 63 mph that were felt all over Russellville.

While Jimmy and Amanda Armstrong were away at work, their roof was blown away.

We had to shut the doors and lock the door to our business because the wind was just blowing the doors open, Amanda recalled.

IMAGES: Storms leave damaged cars, downed trees across central Arkansas

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Thousands lost electricity, complicating the repairs that the Armstrongs and a few helpful neighbors raced to make before sunset.

I cant imagine everybody in a neighborhood needing the tarps, needing the supplies that we had to go get that we couldnt find because everything was closed, Amanda stated.

The wind also took out large limbs and trees, blocking roads or crushing cars. Davian Vayson and Ahmayus Young could not help but stare at two cars destroyed by a tree on Arkansas Tech Universitys campus.

I felt sad for that individual well both of the cars because I dont know what I would do. This is the last week of school and then your car just got destroyed and you still have to take tests, Vayson said.

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That would have been my breaking point. Forget finals. Forget schools.

I would have sat there and cried. I might have thrown up too, Young admitted.

Vayson was walking his dog when the sky went dark and the wind picked up.

I had to pick my dog up and just take off running. I almost fell, Vayson said.

National Weather Service confirms EF1 tornado in Gravette

Thankfully, Russellville Police say, despite the damage, no one was injured.

Im just glad that everybody is safe. Nobody got hurt. It was just a roof. Its replaceable, Amanda 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 KARK.
Moscows forces are trying to create a security strip in the border areas of Ukraines Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of Russias neighbouring Kursk region.

Ukraine claims it still has a small foothold in Kursk, but has warned for months that Russia is planning an offensive into Sumy.



Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraines northeastern region to guard against any future Ukrainian cross-border incursions.



Units of the North group of forces have completed the rout of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry said on Friday.

The creation of a security strip in the border areas of Ukraines Sumy region continues.

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Analysts say that up to 52 square miles of Sumy is a contested grey zone, referring to an area of the battlefield that neither side fully controls.

Our paratroopers, having broken the stubborn resistance of the enemy, advanced in the area of Loknya and in the border forest belts in Sumy, Two Majors, an influential Russian war blogger, referring to the area close to the border.

A commander of a Russian airborne assault brigade said Ukraines troops fighting in Sumy were demoralised. We have disorganised their command system, he told Russias TASS news agency.

Oleh Hryhorov, the governor of Sumy, warned on Tuesday that Russia was having little success in carving out a buffer zone, but acknowledged that four border villages in the region were in a grey zone due to Russian attacks.

06:29 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine and the US withdrawing from formal peace talks.

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We will be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

06:11 PM BST

Todays episode of Ukraine: The Latest

Also available in Ukrainian and Russian. More information here.

05:56 PM BST

Analysis: If Trump is determined to force through a peace, he can do it

President Trump hoped to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by almost reversing the Biden position in this war. That is, by being tough on Ukraine while taking a more conciliatory tone with Russia. He aspired also to achieve improved long-term relations with Moscow in Americas interests.

The US put forward a ceasefire proposal which Kyiv accepted, despite indications of serious disadvantages to itself in potential negotiations. Russia rejected it. In recent days Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Putins position, apparently understanding that he has been strung along.

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Now he has pulled out of a formal mediation role in the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is changing the methodology of how we contribute, no longer playing the role of intermediary. This is a major policy change for the US and it remains to be seen exactly what role it will take up.

05:26 PM BST

Nato chief suggests boosting defence spending to please Trump

Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato, has proposed that members of the military alliance boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.

He has also suggested members commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending to meet Donald Trumps demand for a 5 per cent target, people familiar with the idea told Reuters.

Mr Ruttes proposal could allow the US president to declare a win at a Nato summit in The Hague in June while not committing European nations and Canada to a 5 per cent pledge on military spending that many see as politically and economically unviable.

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The alliances current defence spending goal is at least 2 per cent of GDP, met by 22 of its 32 members.

But leaders across Nato warn that goal is no longer sufficient in the face of the threat of Russia.

04:41 PM BST

Russia orchestrated plot to kill prominent Ukrainian blogger

Ukraine has accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an assassination attempt on a prominent Ukrainian blogger.

A 45-year-old woman carried out the failed hit on internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who is known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, Ukraines internal security agency, the SBU, said.

The woman had fired several shots with a pistol on Thursday, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg, it added.

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The blogger said there was no danger to his life.

04:27 PM BST

Pictured: Healey unveils new British StormShroud drone

John Healey, Defence Secretary (R) and Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff (L) standing behind a StormShroud drone with F-35B (L) and Typhoon (R) jets in the background

04:15 PM BST

US withdraws from formal Ukraine peace negotiations

The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.

The State Department said it is changing the methodology of how we contribute to the talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings.

It comes after the US signed a minerals deal with Ukraine on more favourable terms that was originally thought. Donald Trump also reportedly signed off his administrations first round of weapons deliveries to Kyiv.

The State Department said that Kyiv and Moscow must now present concrete proposals for ending the war and should meet directly to resolve the conflict.

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Mr Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated with Mr Putin. US intelligence briefings overnight also suggested Mr Putin is now in a weakened position and has shifted his war goals to consolidate gains.

03:52 PM BST

Greece arrests man on suspicion of spying for Russia

Greek authorities have arrested a man in the strategic port city of Alexandroupolis on suspicion of photographing supply convoys on behalf of Russia, police said.

The suspect, a 59-year-old Greek of Georgian descent, was arrested in the northeastern city on Tuesday and had a hearing on Friday.

The man confessed to taking photos and video of military material, acting on behalf of another person to whom he sent the footage via an encrypted application, the police said.

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A police source told AFP this week that the man, who has identified himself as a house painter, was targeting military convoys to Ukraine, according to footage retrieved from his cellphone.

03:23 PM BST

Two UK university Ukrainian societies suspended for buying drones

Two UK universities have suspended their Ukrainian societies as they investigate if they broke charity rules to buy drones that were later sent to Kyivs troops.

The student unions at University College London and Lancaster University suspended the societies after they discovered the purchases, which were made last year, the Financial Times reported.

Both unions are UK-registered charities and governed by the Charity Commission.

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According to the watchdogs rules, providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force is not a charitable purpose, and no charity can legally undertake such activity.

02:46 PM BST

Pictured: A rally in Kyiv demanding Russia return Ukrainian POWs

People burn smoke flares during a rally in support of prisoners of war and missing people of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, calling for authorities to return their relatives from Russian captivity in Kyiv, Ukraine - Shutterstock

02:36 PM BST

Europe to hand billions in frozen Russian cash to Western investors

Europe plans to seize and redistribute about 3 billion euros (2.5billion) of Russias funds that are frozen, according to documents sources familiar with the matter.

The money will be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized cash held in Russia in recent months, three people told Reuters, escalating attempts by both sides to recoup billions in funds affected by the war in Ukraine.

Euroclear will redistribute 3 billion from a pool of 10 billion euros in cash belonging to Russian entities and individuals hit by the EU sanctions following Russias full-scale invasion in 2022.

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The move marks a new level of reprisal by Europe. The EU changed its sanctions regime late last year, allowing a disbursement to Western investors.

02:12 PM BST

Trump team has prepped options to pressure Moscow

US officials have prepared a set of options to increase economic pressure on Russia as Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire, according to people familiar with the matter.

The sources, speaking to Bloomberg, cautioned that Donald Trump has not yet made a decision and diplomatic efforts are still ongoing. They did not share details on what the options are.

Kyiv and its allies have been urging the US to step-up pressure on Moscow, including through expanding sanctions on its energy exports and oil revenues, to force Putin to the negotiation table.

01:51 PM BST

Ukraines parliament will vote to ratify minerals deal on May 8

Ukraines parliament will hold a vote on May 8 to ratify a minerals deal signed with the US earlier this week, a lawmaker said on Friday.

Washington and Kyiv signed a deal on Wednesday that will give the United States preferential access to new investments in extraction of Ukraines natural resources, and fund investment in Ukraines reconstruction.

Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak published the date of the upcoming ratification vote on Telegram. Two of the documents related to the deal would not need to be approved by parliament.

01:40 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraines Stork reconaissance drone

Leleka-100 (Stork) is an unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance - Ukraine's 82 Separate Airborne Assault Brigade

01:26 PM BST

Analysis: Trump was tiring of playing peace-maker

So thats it, the US will now take a hands-off approach to ending the war in Ukraine.

Negotiators will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat, seeking to broach an agreement between the two warring parties.

The signs have been there for days that Donald Trump was tiring of playing peace-maker, as the clock ticks ever further on from the 24 hours in which he had promised to end the conflict.

He had dedicated his best people to it for 100 days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week. Other priorities would have to be attended to.

In truth, this amounts to an admission that Russia is not playing ball. Ukraine agreed immediately to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Moscow has only stalled.

Also last week, Mr Trump wondered if Vladimir Putin was simply tapping him along in talks. Following that famous, knee-to-knee meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican, he has softened towards Ukraine.

The minerals deal is no outrageous rip-off. It recognises that Russia was behind the full-scale invasion.

In turning away from the peace process, the president leaves the Kremlin in something of a quandary. According to CNN citing intelligence sources, Putin is now focused on consolidating Russian positions on the battlefield amid a worsening economy.

Is Mr Trump also shifting away from his efforts to entice Russia into a grand economic relationship, something he promised if a deal could be struck? That is an overarching ambition of Putins - he will be eager not to let the chance slip.

Will the Russian dictator engage more seriously if the US appears to be once more turning cold? Some in the White House will surely hope so.

Equally, Putin could simply continue as he was before the change-over in the White House. Grinding Ukraine down, restocking his army, and waiting for the West to tire of supplying his enemy with arms.

01:07 PM BST

US State Departments comments on withdrawing from peace talks:

The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the US State Department spokesman, Tammy Bruce, told reporters.

Here are her full comments:

The nature of how this would change is we would not  we certainly are still committed to it and will help and do what we can. But we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties. And now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them.

01:00 PM BST

Watch: Ukraines PM asks parliament to quickly ratify minerals deal

Credit: Reuters

12:55 PM BST

Trump approved first batch of weapons to Ukraine day before exiting talks

The day before the US State Department said it would no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the Trump administration approved its first arms exports to Kyiv.

Last night, the State Department said it is changing the methodology of how we contribute to the talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings after Vladimir Putin refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Yet, the announcement came not long after it was revealed that the Trump administration informed Congress it would approve arms exports worth at least $50million to Ukraine on Wednesday.

The permission is the first of its kind since Mr Trump returned to office more than 100 days ago, marking a significant change in its policy, and came just weeks after Washington paused all Ukraine-related military aid for review.

The move to send arms to Ukraine followed Washington and Kyiv signing a long-contested rare minerals deal that granted the US preferential access to to exploit Kyivs vast resources.

12:23 PM BST

Ukraine war wont end any time soon, warns Vance

The war in Ukraine will not end any time soon, the US vice president has said.

Speaking to Fox News, JD Vance said Donald Trump had brought Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table but that it would now be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.

Its not going anywhere its not going to end any time soon, he added.

The Kremlin has expressed a willingness for direct talks with Ukraine, but this week rejected a US peace proposal because it did not grant international recognition to territory seized by its troops.

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected recognising Russian annexation of its territory, saying that Vladimir Putin should not be rewarded for his aggression.

JD Vance tours at steel plant in South Carolina on Thursday - REUTERS

12:22 PM BST

Watch: Russian drone attack injures 29

A Russian drone attack injured 29 people in Zaporizhzhia overnight.

Credit: Reuters

12:06 PM BST

Ukrainian troops in Sumy demoralised

A commander of a Russian airborne assault brigade told the TASS state news agency that Ukrainian troops fighting in Sumy are demoralised.

We have disorganised their command system, the commander was quoted as saying.

Two Majors, a Russian war blogger with over 1.2 million subscribers, said Russia was developing an offensive from the villages of Zhuravka to Bilovody.

Our paratroopers, having broken the stubborn resistance of the enemy, advanced in the area of Loknya and in the border forest belts in the Sumy region, the blogger wrote today.

Deep State, a Ukrainian open-source data project, indicated about 82 sq km of the Sumy region are in a contested zone.

11:43 AM BST

Russia creating security strip in Ukraines Sumy region

Russia is continuing to create a security strip in border areas of Ukraines Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region of western Russia, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying today.

It quoted the ministry as saying that in the past week, Russian troops had seized four settlements in Ukraines Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to create a buffer zone in Sumy region, which borders Kursk.

There were 33 clashes in the Kursk direction overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

Our soldiers inflicted significant losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and are also actively undermining the enemys offensive potential in the rear.

11:25 AM BST

Ukraine launches massive combined attack over Crimea

Russian air defences reportedly intercepted 89 Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea and 23 more over the Black Sea, according to the countrys defence ministry.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed leader in Sevastapol, said his forces had repelled the most massive combined attack on the city so far this year.

Our military worked on all targets over the sea: more than 50 drones were destroyed on approach to Sevastopol, and several sea drones in the waters, he added.

No objects were damaged either in the city or in the waters.

10:53 AM BST

Ukraine to vote on minerals deal next week

Ukraines parliament will hold a vote to ratify the minerals deal with the US on May 8.

MPs were told that two of the three documents in the deal would not need parliamentary ratification.

On Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky said the pact was a truly equal agreement.

10:33 AM BST

Pictured: Aftermath of Russian drone attack

Rescuers work at a site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike - REUTERS/Stringer

10:23 AM BST

Putin switches war aims

Vladimir Putin has changed his goals in the Ukraine war to solidifying his hold on occupied territory and boosting Russias economy, according to new Western intelligence.

Its a shift from earlier US and western assessments that Putin felt he had the upper hand in the war, as well as the momentum and manpower to take the whole country.

Two US sources told CNN the belief Putin has changed his thinking may have influenced Donald Trumps belief the Russian leader is more willing to consider peace now than in the past.

Senior US officials remain suspicious that Putin might try and seize the rest of Ukraine in the long-term.

I think that he may be thinking - I dont want to say thinking smaller - but thinking about what a reasonable nearer-term objective is, a senior western intelligence official told CNN.

10:05 AM BST

Russian drones injure more than 30 overnight

Russian strikes wounded more than 30 people in Ukraine overnight, officials said on Friday.

Twenty-nine people were wounded as a result of a nocturnal attack by the enemy, on the industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram, adding that a 13-year-old boy was amongst the victims of the drone strike.

The Russians have struck the citys civilian infrastructure. Residential buildings, a university, and an infrastructure facility have been damaged, Fedorov wrote.

Two men were also wounded in a Russian drone attack in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, with fires breaking out at two locations, Governor Sergiy Lysak said on Telegram.

Ukraines national railway company said its locomotive repair plant in Zaporizhzhia was subjected to a massive attack overnight, which sparked a fire that raged for hours. No injuries were reported.

09:49 AM BST

Waltz dismissal to be met with anxiety in Kyiv

The abrupt dismissal of Mike Waltz, the White Houses national security advisor, following the high-profile Signal group chat scandal, marks the first major shake-up in President Trumps inner circle during his second term and signals uncertainty for US policy toward Ukraine.

Shortly after news of Signal-gate broke, Politico reported that the president was considering dismissing Waltz, who mistakenly added a journalist to a classified group chat.

But sources close to the White House told the website that Mr Trump was desperate not to give the liberal press a scalp. One offered a prediction: Theyll stick by him for now, but hell be gone in a couple of weeks.

Just over a month later, Mr Waltz is gone. The dismissal will be met with a measure of anxiety in Kyiv. Mr Waltz infamously compared Ukraine to a mule that needed to be beaten over the head with a wooden plank; he spoke of Volodymyr Zelensky, the president, as a spurned girlfriend.

But insiders felt that those comments were designed to ensure he did not add to Mr Trumps suspicions he was too close to Ukraine, too willing to agree to its demands and too swift to criticise Vladimir Putin.

For now, Mr Trump has appointed Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Mr Rubio, too, has a history of supporting Ukraine.

But there remains the chance that Mr Trump could elevate a more Maga-friendly candidate in the end, perhaps even Steve Witkoff, the peace negotiator who has come out of his series of meetings with Putin with little but an apparent appreciation for the graciousness of the Russian dictator.

09:44 AM BST

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing civilians

Moscow accused Kyiv of launching a drone strike on a crowded market in Russian-controlled southern Ukraine on Thursday, claiming at least seven civilians were killed and over 20 injured.

Vladimir Saldo, the regions Russian-installed governor, said the drones had struck a market in the town of Oleshky at around 9.30 am local time during a public holiday.

He and two social media users released videos purporting to show some of the incident. Reuters confirmed the location as Oleshky, but could not independently verify when they were filmed.

Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, said Kyiv had targeted Russian troops in part of Kherson region controlled by Moscow and that only military personnel, and not civilians, had been killed.

09:31 AM BST

France and Poland set to sign defence pact

France and Poland are set to sign a defence pact in the face of Russian aggression and amid uncertainty over the US commitment to protecting Europe.

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk will sign the treaty in the French city of Nancy on May 9, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, the Financial Times reported.

The French President has mooted offering Paris nuclear umbrella to Europe, which Mr Tusk, Polands Prime Minister, has signalled is a possibility he could explore. No agreement on the French bomb is expected in Nancy.

Tusk is also sending now a message to Washington, our main ally for so many years, Aleksander Olech, a security analyst at Defence24, a Polish think-tank told the FT. It is a clear signal that Poland is not only dependent on the US but can also have other strong nuclear allies.

Poland borders both Ukraine and Russia and has ramped up its defence spending since Putins invasion. Warsaw plans to spend 4.7 per cent of its GDP on defence this year.

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Russia attacked Ukraine with 150 drones on the night of 1-2 May, 126 of which failed to reach their targets due to the effective work of air defence.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: Starting from 21:30 on Thursday 1 May, the Russians launched an attack using 150 Shahed UAVs and decoy drones of various types from the Russian cities of Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea.

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As of 08:00, 64 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of drones had been confirmed downed in the country's east, south and centre.

A total of 62 Russian decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects).

Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts came under attack.

Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defence forces were involved in repelling the attack.

Background:

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported that the number of people injured in a large-scale Russian drone strike on the city of Zaporizhzhia had risen to 29.

Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) reported that the Russians had attacked a locomotive repair plant in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

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(Reuters) - Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan fight against the Afghan branch of Islamic State, Moscow's special representative for the country was quoted as saying on Friday.

Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, referred to Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) as the "common enemy" of Moscow and Kabul.

"We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS," Kabulov told the RIA state news agency in an interview.

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"We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialised structures."

No country currently recognises the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

But in a step towards recognition, Russia last month formally removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, to which it had been added in 2003.

Kabulov's comments underscore the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul, which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now Russia's "ally" in combating terrorism.

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Russia has been left reeling from multiple Islamic State (ISIS)-linked attacks, including the shooting of 145 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in March 2024 which was claimed by ISIS. U.S. officials said they had intelligence indicating ISIS-K was responsible.

The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the group's presence in Afghanistan.

Kabulov said Moscow and Kabul were building up ties in multiple spheres and told RIA that Russia had offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow and was waiting for Kabul's response.

He said Moscow's suspension of the ban on the Taliban "finally removes all obstacles to full cooperation between our countries in various fields".

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"The arrival of the Afghan ambassador in Moscow will put a final end to this issue."

Russia said last month it aims to strengthen trade, business and investment ties with Kabul, leveraging Afghanistan's strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects.

Kabulov said joint economic projects would be discussed at a Russia-Afghan business forum later this month in the Russian city of Kazan, naming mineral development and gas pipeline projects as possible areas of cooperation.

(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Avtomahistral-Pivden, a Ukrainian road construction and fortification company, has reported that Russian forces attacked its production base in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Avtomahistral-Pivden in a statement

Quote: "Six pieces of equipment used to repair frontline roads have been utterly destroyed. The buildings housing a canteen and employee accommodations have been smashed. Two employees of the base have been injured. One has been taken to hospital."

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Details: The statement further noted that the Russian Shahed drone attack on the night of 1-2 May was not the first instance of Moscow targeting the company's equipment, construction sites and bases. Recently, several employees were injured while constructing a fortification along the Donetsk Oblast border.

The company added that it has suffered losses of over UAH 2 billion [approx. US$48 million] since the start of the war.

Background: In February, Avtomahistral-Pivden reported the deaths of its employees constructing fortifications on the Pokrovsk front.

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Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley has said institutions are leading Bitcoins recent rally, while retail investors remain on the sidelines.

Several pundits believe the lack of retail presence in the current Bitcoin rally is bullish.

Horsley has consistently waxed bullish on Bitcoin despite recent market turbulence.

After a turbulent few weeks, Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, appears to have found its footing again. The asset inked an impressive 10% surge last week from $85,000 to nearly $96,000, a move that saw it positively decouple from traditional equities and flip positive year-to-date.

Amid Bitcoins show of strength, market observers have highlighted a notable trend: interest from retail investors remains non-existent. But many maintain that this is not a bad thing, quite the opposite.

Don't Miss:

Still Early?

Bitcoin at $94K, yet  Google searches for Bitcoin near long term lows, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley wrote on Monday, citing Google Trends data as he argued that institutions, corporations and nations were driving the recent market rally.

To be sure, Horsleys conclusions align with a recent Fidelity report that public corporations were driving the demand for the asset. According to the investment bank, 425,000 BTC worth over $40 billion at current prices have been taken off exchanges since November; of this sum, 350,000 BTC worth over $30 billion have gone to public corporations.

Reacting to Horsleys findings, prominent Bitcoiner and Adamant Research Editor-In-Chief Tuur Demeester contended that Bitcoin still had significant room to the upside.

Were gearing up for a very healthy continuation of this bull market, he said. This cycle for the first time, the buying is starting not from retail but from (slow moving) institutions. Once retail catches on, bitcoin can cut through other halving precedents like a knife through butter.

Demeester was not alone in this view. Fundstrat Capital Chief Investment Officer Tom Lee said, This is [sic] case for surprising upside for Bitcoin.

Trending: New to crypto? Get up to $400 in rewards for successfully completing short educational courses and making your first qualifying trade on Coinbase.

At the same time, CryptoLaw founder John Deaton said that Bitcoin was even a better buy now than it was five years ago despite trading at a higher price now.
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of Ukraines Armed Forces have released bodycam footage capturing a Russian assault repelled near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Special Operations Forces press service

Details: The events took place last year, but the video from the SOF operators body cameras has only now been made public for operational security reasons.

A group from the 8th SOF Regiment repelled the Russian assault near Chasiv Yar, and afterwards, the operators wiped out three more Russian troops who had managed to entrench themselves in the basement of a residential building.

Quote: "The basement became a trap for the Russians  the enemy was completely eliminated. SOF troops approached it directly and threw thermobaric grenades inside.

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In the same area, the operators engaged in a firefight with another Russian unit. As a result, Russian troops suffered losses and Ukrainian forces seized an enemy radio and weapons."

Additionally: The 8th SOF Regiment is currently raising funds for the purchase of a Termit ground-based robotic platform. They have collected half of the required 850,000 UAH (approx. US$20,400). You can contribute to the fundraiser [via link].

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Three people were injured and a 66-year-old woman was killed as a result of Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 2 May.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: It was reported that around noon, a Russian aerial bomb struck the village of Klynove in the Kostiantynivka hromada, killing a 66-year-old woman and damaging a house. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Russian forces also shelled the city of Kostiantynivka with artillery. Two people were injured in the attack, which also destroyed a house, a shop, a coffee shop, a pharmacy, two industrial buildings and four critical infrastructure facilities.

In addition, one person was wounded in a Russian attack on the city of Pokrovsk.

Local authorities are urging residents of the oblast not to delay evacuation.

Quote: "It is dangerous to stay in Donetsk Oblast! Evacuate in time!"

Background: On 2 May, Donetsk Oblast authorities decided to carry out mandatory evacuation of all children from the villages of Shakhove and Toretske, located 15-20 kilometres from the line of contact.

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Russian aircraft bombarded the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast for 20 minutes on the evening of 2 May. The body of a deceased man was retrieved from under the rubble of a house, and rescue workers are attempting to retrieve another man.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office

Quote: "The data obtained during the investigation indicates that on 2 May between approximately 16:20 and 16:40, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a series of airstrikes on the town of Kupiansk.

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Several houses and outbuildings in the town were damaged. The body of a deceased man was retrieved from under the rubble of one of the houses."

The aftermath of the Russian attack

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office

Details: Early reports indicate that another man may still be trapped under the rubble. Search and rescue operations are being conducted with due regard for the security situation in the town.

Law enforcement officers recovered fragments of an aerial munition at the scene where the man was killed.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. The article was updated with a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A Russian drone attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv injured at least 47 people on May 2, according to local authorities. At least eight people have been hospitalized.

"There were not and could not be any military targets. Russia is hitting residential buildings at the very time when Ukrainians are at home, when they are putting their children to bed. Only tyrants can give such orders and carry them out," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has endured repeated air assaults throughout the full-scale war.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said via his official Telegram channel that the attack targeted 12 locations in four districts of the city, including Kyivskyi, Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, and Saltivskyi.

Several houses, shops, and vehicles were damaged following drone strikes, and some buildings caught fire, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. First responders have been dispatched to the sites of attack.

Zelensky called for Ukraine's allies to strengthen support for Kyiv as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine.

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"While the world is delaying decisions, almost every night in Ukraine turns into a horror that results in the loss of lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defenses," Zelensky said.

Russian forces have intensified attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns in recent weeks, resulting in numerous casualties reported in Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv.

In March, at least 164 civilians were killed and 910 were injured, according to UN figures  a rise of 50% compared to February, and 70% compared to March of last year. Nearly all the losses were on land controlled by the Ukrainian government, and the majority were caused by long-range missiles or loitering munitions.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for increased air defense support to protect major cities like Kharkiv from Russia's continued aerial assaults.

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Read also: Could Ukraine have stopped Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Reports of sexually transmitted diseases have been on the rise in Rutherford County, according to numbers presented at the April 29 Health and Education Committee meeting.

District 1 County Commissioner Hope Oliver asked Assistant Public Health County Director John Blair about STD education efforts at Tuesdays meeting.

Ive been reading some things, just nationally, and looking at STD rates, Oliver said. And Tennessee is ranking up high  especially Rutherford County.

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Some Rutherford County School bus drivers pump brakes on strike; cuts possible next year

According to numbers presented Tuesday, reported STD cases have risen by 32% across the county. News 2 spoke with Director Blair by phone, who said a spokesperson would reach out. News 2 also reached out to the countys public information officer. Neither have provided a response as of publication.

They go into the jail. They go into juvenile detention. They go into schools. They go into churches. They go into the YMCA-style places, Blair told commissioners Tuesday of health educators with his department.

On Tuesday, he added that the health departments outreach includes not only those infected, but also their partners.

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When that person has something like a reportable disease, we would maybe want to call their contacts and make sure that we find out whats going on. We also make sure to educate all the contacts around, Blair said.

At the end of the day, Oliver wanted parents to know about the STD rates and prevent them in the countys younger population.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Some of them, of course, are bacterial. You can take an antibiotic and youre okay, but you have some that are viral and they stick with you for life, Oliver told News 2. You know you talk about trying to quote unquote protect our youth with the book bans and other things theyre doing, this is really more important than that.

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Oliver referred parents, or anyone seeking more information on STDs, to reach out to the Rutherford County Health Department.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
(FOX 5/KUSI)  Dr. Hyun Kim, a gastroenterologist at Palomar Health in Poway, has dedicated her career to helping others, both locally and globally.

Originally aspiring to be a classical pianist, Dr. Kims path changed when her family emigrated from Seoul, South Korea, to the United States in the 1970s.

She pursued a medical career and eventually founded a nonprofit organization that raises funds for medical and educational supplies in a place thousands of miles away.

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I really wanted to help people; I thought it was my calling, said Dr. Kim, who spent time in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego County.

She eventually found a second calling during a trip to Chile with her colleagues. Thats where she met Ming Ma, a Sherpa from Nepal.

Once he found out that we were doctors and nurses, he said, come and help us in Nepal, and I said, sure I didnt really think of it, Dr. Kim recalled.

In 2016, Dr. Kims father passed away, strengthening her passion for helping others in new ways. This led to the establishment of the Kim Volunteer Foundation.

In 2019, Dr. Kim and her colleagues embarked on their first trip to Nepal, a challenging journey that included long hikes and flights to reach Hillary Hospital, located 13,000 feet above sea level, the highest in the world.

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The hospital is named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

This May, Dr. Kim and her colleagues will visit the hospital and perform gastrointestinal procedures for local patients.

Dr. Kims foundation aims to improve conditions at the hospital by raising $500,000 for medical equipment upgrades.

She hopes that her and her colleagues work there, along with new supplies, will address common health issues such as stomach cancer and intestinal parasites.

Although Dr. Kim regularly makes the nearly 8,000-mile trip to the Himalayas to help at Hillary Hospital, when asked if she had a goal of one day reaching Everests summit, she replied, laughing, NoIm not that crazy.

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All facts from this article were gathered by FOX 5/KUSI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by FOX 5/KUSI 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A new regional coalition is uniting against antisemitism and working to reach more community members in its mission for change.

It comes as a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of San Diego shows a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents throughout the county. The ADL audit shows a 28% uptick in antisemitism in 2024 from the year prior.

As part of that, harassment is up 19%, vandalism is up 67%, and assault is up 100%. Meanwhile, college campuses saw one of the biggest spikes in incidents  up 125%.

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The Finest Community Coalition is an opportunity for non-Jewish allies to join the Jewish community in the fight against hate and prevent more division.

New affordable housing community coming to San Diego

People writing all over the sidewalks outside of our playgrounds, where children of every kind play not just Jewish children, things about calling Jews baby killers, calling us less than, said Betzy Lynch, CEO of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (JCC).

Chapters in Lynchs own story are marked with antisemitism, many taking place at the La Jolla-based center.

We build Jewish community with every kind of person, Lynch continued. More than 40% of the people that use the JCC and are part of the experiences are a faith other than Jewish.

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Sharing Shabbat dinner with churches is one way the JCC exposes people to Jewish life, but a growing trend is prompting concern.

What weve seen over the last several years is that theres malice associated with antisemitism, said Lynch.

ADLs regional director, Fabienne Perlov, says Jewish students are often targets.

Blaming them for what the Israeli government might be doing or their policies, or blaming them for just supporting the existence of the state of Israel, Perlov explained.

He says misinformation circulates online.

Holocaust jokes are being made by your peers or the conspiracy theories about Jewish power, he continued.

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And tragically what happens online can inspire real-life action.

We saw it at the Chabad a few years ago in San Diego unfortunately, Perlov told FOX 5/ KUSI.

Rather than giving into fear, members of the Jewish community are calling on others to share in their experience and fight for change.

Theres nothing more powerful with having that kind of friendship and this is exactly what this coalition is about, said Lynch.

If you witness or experience antisemitism, you can report it to the ADL. The organization has additional information on how to support the fight against antisemitism online.

With increased awareness, members of the local Jewish community are hoping for a decrease in antisemitism.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(KRON)  A San Jose gunman fled to the Las Vegas area after detectives said he killed his victim inside a South Bay business in the summer of 2024. The San Jose Police Department identified the suspect on Friday as 39-year-old Lam Thanh Mac.

San Jose officers responded on August 11, 2024, at 3:18 a.m. to the 900 block of McLaughlin Avenue on multiple reports of a shooting. Arriving authorities found a man inside a business suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The man was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

San Jose homicide suspect Lam Thanh Mac (Photo: San Jose Police Department)

The fatal shooting was the citys 20th homicide of 2024, San Jose PD said.

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Detectives with SJPDs Homicide Unit identified Mac as the primary suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Mac, police said, immediately left the area after the incident and is believed to have fled to the greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area of Nevada.

Video released of police shooting at Safeway in Morgan Hill

San Jose police said the suspects current location is unknown. Anyone with information is asked to contact SJPD Detective Sergeant Varela at 3638@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Montoya at 3644@sanjoseca.gov.

The motive for the killing remains under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
(KRON)  Travelers heading in and out of Terminal B at San Jose Mineta International Airport this week may notice a few of their favorite airlines are not where they used to be.

San Francisco police recover stolen family heirloom from the 1800s

San Jose International is advising commuters of some gate changes to help avoid confusion at the airport. On Thursday, May 1, Alaska Airlines will fly out of Gates 33 and 34, and on Saturday, May 3, Southwest Airlines will operate out of Gates 18 and 19.

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San Jose International reminds flyers that all Alaska and Southwest flights depart from Terminal B.

Travelers are always encouraged to check on the status of their flights and any updates through the airlines app or website and departure boards throughout the terminal.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Federal agents found a trove of messages about where and how to commit mass murder on the phone of a 15-year-old school shooter. Their tip to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in April led deputies to the South Florida man who sent them.

"Thanks to the awareness and quick actions in Palm Beach County, an entire community has been spared the devastating trauma of a mass shooting," said Nicole Hockley, whose 6-year-old son, Dylan Hockley, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012.

Hockley, co-founder of the violence-prevention nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise, applauded the arrest of Damien Allen, a 22-year-old Acreage man who stockpiled weapons, impersonated deputies and shared graphic fantasies of violence online.

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Palm Beach County sheriff: Deputies thwarted mass shooting plot by man posing as officer

She urged communities to look out for the warning signs that put Allen on investigators' radar even before they knew of the 300 pounds of ammunition he'd amassed: bragging about his cache of weapons, discussing detailed plans for an attack and idolizing other mass shooters.

Warning signs like these often surface online, Hockley said.

'Know the warning signs,' says mother of Sandy Hook victim

PBSO Cpt. Randy Foley said Allen communicated with others across the country about guerrilla warfare tactics, ambushes and racially and ethnically motivated acts of violence.

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One conversation with Natalie Rupnow, who killed two people at her private school, Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, before turning the gun on herself, contained threats against a church and law-enforcement buildings. In one exchange, Allen told Rupnow "we go down together."

"Correct," Rupnow responded, before the two said they love each other.

Allen isn't the only person arrested this year after communicating with a mass murderer. Hockley pointed to Trinity Shockley, an 18-year-old accused of plotting a school shooting in Indiana on the anniversary of the Parkland school shooting.

Investigators said Shockley corresponded with Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. A concerned classmate's tip to the FBI prompted Shockley's arrest in February.

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As history has shown, the idolization of other shooters and mass murderers is another deeply troubling warning sign that must be taken seriously, Hockley said.

Details from the arrest: Man posing as deputy fantasized about attacks with teen who killed 2 at school, PBSO says

In his messages to Rupnow, Allen bragged about the 18 firearms, 12,000 rounds of ammunition, ballistic vests and hand grenades he owned. Deputies found the arsenal along with several authentic PBSO uniforms in his Acreage home.

PBSO said Allen was not affiliated with the agency and had no law-enforcement credentials. Allen faces up to 21 years in state prison on charges of threatening to conduct a mass shooting, impersonating an officer and unlawful use of a cellphone.

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Circuit Judge Donald Hafele ordered Allen held without bail during a brief hearing at the jail on April 30. The county Public Defender's Office represented Allen at the hearing. As a policy, it does not comment on open cases.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw discusses the arrest of Damian Allen at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

In addition to the criminal charges, PBSO asked a judge to temporarily remove Allen's firearms under Florida's Risk Protection Order Act.

The statute  sometimes referred to as a red flag law  lets authorities stop a person from accessing firearms if they're deemed a threat to themselves or others.

During a press conference on April 30, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stressed the role of community tips and urged the public to speak up if they see concerning behavior. Hockley echoed that sentiment.

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This is why its essential to know the warning signs of violence," she said. "They are critical to preventing tragedies and saving lives."

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sandy Hook mom: Warning signs helped stop South Florida massacre plot
We recently compiled a list of the Energy Stocks that are Gaining This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) stands against the other energy stocks.

The ongoing artificial intelligence boom is set to transform the global energy sector. According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency, electricity demand from data centers worldwide is set to more than double by 2030 to around 945 terawatt-hours (TWh), slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan today. Moreover, while the American big-tech has kept its focus on renewable energy over the last decade to reduce its carbon footprint, the sector is now also opening up to fossil fuels as a viable option to power its data centers.

Natural gas has emerged as a forerunner to power the AI boom, since it is relatively clean, reliable, and abundant. However, gas prices arent what they used to be, having risen by over 190% since March 2024. Another viable option is nuclear energy, which has gained worldwide attention recently following the CERAWeek conference in March, when several tech giants signed a pledge to support the goal of at least tripling the worlds nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

There have also been fears recently that the power demand required by the ballooning AI industry may have been overestimated, which led to several energy stocks posting significant declines not so long ago. However, the recently reported better-than-expected results from the cloud and AI businesses of some major American tech companies have somewhat eased these concerns.

Why Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (SEI) Stock is Gaining This Week

An oil rig worker in overalls, examining a drill bit at the San Juan Basin.

Our Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have surged the most between April 23 and April 30, 2025. The following are the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. The stocks are ranked according to their share price surge during this period.

At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI)

Share Price Gains Between Apr. 23  Apr. 30: 9.31%

Next on our list of Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week is Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI), a company that designs and manufactures specialized equipment for oil and natural gas operators in the United States.
May 1After a two-month search, Santa Fe Public Schools has selected a new superintendent to lead the district.

On Thursday, the SFPS board voted unanimously to hire Christine Griffin, the current superintendent of Humboldt Unified School District in Prescott Valley, Arizona. She is set to make $205,000 on a one-year contract with the district.

Griffin was not available for comment Thursday because she was traveling back to Arizona, according to district spokesperson Tara Melton.

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"The fact that she's actually been a superintendent" was what set her apart from other finalists, board president Roman Abeyta said in a phone interview Thursday.

Griffin will succeed Hilario "Larry" Chavez, who in February resigned from his post amid sexual harassment allegations from former SFPS assistant principal and sitting Santa Fe City Councilor Amanda Chavez. Former SFPS Superintendent Veronica Garcia headed the district on an interim basis following his resignation.

"I think anytime you have a transition, you want to move quickly, but you also want to be diligent about it, and you want to make sure that you're not moving too quickly," Abeyta said. "The fact that we got so much interest ... from inside the state, outside the state, we felt like more time wouldn't necessarily draw more applicants."

He added that Griffin's parents live in Santa Fe, and that was reassuring because "it's not like she's coming here and isn't familiar with the community."
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After the Republican-led House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act, a voter registration bill that experts warn could disenfranchise millions of women across the country, fears began to emerge that it would similarly be approved in the Senate.

However, according to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, thats not happening.

Let me be clear: I will not let this noxious bill, the SAVE Act, become law, he said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. Every single Democrat is united against it. They need 60 votes. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival.

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The current makeup of the Senate is 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two Independents, senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King, both of whom caucus with the Democrats. For bills to pass through the chamber, they need 60 votes, meaning seven Democrats or Independents would have to agree to the SAVE Act in order for it to become law.

Schumer vowed to never let that happen, even if the bill is brought to the floor for a vote.

Democrats and Americans see this bill for what it really is: a nasty, vicious attack on our democracy, he said, calling the bill very reminiscent of Jim Crow.

Politics

The SAVE Act, Which Could Stop Millions of Women From Voting, Just Passed in the House

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The bill would make it harder for women, people of color, young voters, and other marginalized groups to register to vote. Here's what you need to know.

Its done with one purpose in mind: voter suppression, he continued. They think that those who vote Democratic are less likely to vote than Republicans if this passes. Its trying to slant the elections away from free and fair.

The SAVE Act raised alarm bells earlier this year when it was reintroduced in the 119th Congress after having been introduced in 2024. It would require every person to provide proof of citizenshipeither a birth certificate or a passportin addition to a photo ID in order to register to vote, citing fears of voter fraud as the reason it is necessary. This requirement would impact millions of eligible voters who do not have a passport or ready access to their birth certificate, as well as those who vote by mail. Research has shown that these requirements would most greatly impact voters of color and young voters.

The requirements would also impact anyone who has changed their name from the one on their birth certificate so that it does not match the name on their photo ID, and does not have a passportmarried women who took their husbands name, trans people, or anyone who changed their name for any reason. This huge, disproportionate impact on married women specifically drew concern that if passed, the act could immediately take voting rights away from millions of women.

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Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, told Glamour earlier this year that the law is also unnecessary, noting there are already multiple safeguards to prevent noncitizens from voting. Instead, the SAVE Act would simply make it more difficult for everyone to vote.

It would destroy the most popular methods of registering to votewhether thats online, by mail, through a registration drive, or when you update your drivers license at the DMVby requiring people to show their documents in person to register. That would keep out many more eligible voters and cause chaos for election administration, she said.

Schumer was joined in speaking out against the bill by fellow Democratic senators Alex Padilla, Amy Klobuchar, Jack Reed, Michael Bennet, Jeff Merkley, and Peter Welch, who slammed it as an attack on voting rights.

Whats happening is simple. Some people dont want some people to vote, said Klobuchar.

Originally Appeared on Glamour
Young protesters express their support for Sawyer County Judge Monica Isham, who has been criticized by Republicans for her comments about safety in the courtroom after the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee | Photo by Frank Zufall/Wisconsin Examiner

Sawyer County Circuit Judge Monica Isham drew rebukes from Republican elected officials and conservative media outlets after she reportedly expressed concerns for her safety in court after the April 25 arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hanna Dugan.

The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.

The Examiner has not been able to confirm the authenticity of the email, but WISN News, the ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, reported that two Wisconsin judges confirmed to the station that they had received it from Isham. In the email, Isham allegedly said she would refuse to appear in court unless she received guidance and support concerning the presence and permissible activities of ICE agents.

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Over the weekend of April 26-27, right-wing media outlets obtained and shared the email they claimed Isham sent to other judges.

On Monday and Tuesday Isham appeared in court via Zoom.

There is also added security in the court, and a Sawyer County Deputy told the Wisconsin Examiner there had been a threat to a judge.

A protester holds a sign supporting Judge Monica Isham outside the Sawyer County Courthouse on May 1, 2025 | Photo by Frank Zufall/Wisconsin Examiner

Isham was elected in November 2023 to the newly created Branch 2 court in an uncontested race. She is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and is the first female and first Native American judge in Sawyer County and only the second Native American circuit court judge in Wisconsin.

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In the email, Isham reportedly noted she had sworn an oath of support to the U.S. and the Wisconsin constitutions. She also reportedly added that Judge Dugan was standing by her oath of office when she confronted ICE officers who came to her courtroom in Milwaukee and escorted the defendant theyd come to arrest out a side door.

Yesterday, Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee County stood on her Oath in the very building she swore to uphold it and she was arrested and charged with felonies for it. Enough is enough, the email message said.

I have no intention of allowing anyone to be taken out of my courtroom by ICE and sent to a concentration camp, especially without due process as BOTH of the constitutions we swore to support requires. Should I start raising ball money?

Criticism of Isham

Ishams reported threat to not hold court out of concern about interactions with ICE agents drew criticism from three northern Wisconsin Republican legislators who represent Sawyer County.

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Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said Isham should resign.

Monica Isham is choosing to protect illegal aliens over the law, Tiffany wrote on X. She should resign or be removed.

State Sen. Romaine Quinn and state Rep. Chanz Green, issued a joint statement: Wisconsins Code of Judicial Conduct requires a judge to uphold the integrity of the judiciary. It further states that a judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

Judge Ishams threat to close court certainly does not promote public confidence in our court system or uphold the integrity of her position as a public official in this state. It is a disservice to the residents of Sawyer County.

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In their joint statement, Quinn and Green note that there had been an intensive effort to expand Sawyer Countys court to the second branch, which was officially recognized in 2023, and they go on to say that if Isham will not exercise her duties, then she should resign.

The Republican Party chair for the 7th CD, Jim Miller, who is also the president of the Hayward City Council, said he has empathy for Judge Isham for saying in the email that she had faced racism in her courtroom.

Thats sad that shes had to face that, said Miller. If that were my court and I faced racism, I would have held those people in contempt of court.

However, Miller said that Ishams threat not to hold court was drawing the ire of many people he had talked to.

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That does not sit well with people because they expect her to be a public servant, said Miller. If she is going to get a paycheck, she should come in and do her job. You cant just boycott working as a public servant. It doesnt work that way.

Isham has so far continued to hold court via Zoom.

Miller is also critical of Isham reportedly mentioning those detained by ICE would be sent to a concentration camp.

My recommendation would be for her to at least clarify or maybe apologize for that statement, because thats a stretch beyond stretch, said Miller. People like to throw out the Nazi references on both sides of the aisle, and it really muddies the argument of whats going on.

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He added, I think her emotions got the best of her, but I think people have real questions about her ability to make sure that justice is blind at this point, and thats the biggest concern.

Support for Isham

On Thursday, May 1, there was a large demonstration at the corners of state highways 27 and 63 in the city of Hayward with many people holding signs supporting Isham.

At 2 p.m. approximately 80 demonstrators left the corner by the state highways and walked two blocks by the Sawyer County Courthouse, and they were joined at the courthouse by over 20 students from Lac Courte Oreilles K-12 school who said they came out to support Isham, a fellow tribal member.

Im here to fight for Judge Isham and what we stand for, and I find it inspiring to be here, said Ashland Demonie, 14.

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However, Denomie was also appalled to see some adults driving by swearing at the students and giving the youngsters the middle finger.

It bothers me because we are just children here fighting for our rights and fighting for who we are, and seeing how harsh some adults respond, who should be more mature, is troubling, she said.

Odeiminke Leach, 15, is also a student who came out to support Isham and advocate for Native Americans.

Im out here protesting because I support Judges Isham and Dugan, said Elizabeth Riley of Hayward, a Democrat who has run twice for the 74th Assembly District.

Judge Monica Ishams relatives, including her grandfather Mike Isham (seated). | Photo by Frank Zufall/Wisconsin Examiner

Riley said she feared that under President Donald Trump, the U.S. would not follow the rule of law but become more like a developing nation where authority is in the hands of a powerful individual rather than the written law and guaranteed rights.

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Mary Vintcenda of the village of Exeland said she was at the demonstration to support Isham and the rule of law.

I support Judge Isham because she is standing up for the rule of law, said Vintcenda, who was joined at the demonstration with her brother, Tom, who was also holding a sign. Shes standing up for whats right, and I wish others would join us.

So were out here supporting Judge Monica Isham, said Paul DeMain, former editor and owner of News from Indian Country and a Native American active in Democratic politics who has run for state Senate.

Paul DeMain expressing his support for Judge Monica Isham | Photo by Frank Zufall/Wisconsin Examiner

DeMain said Ishams email represents concerns that many judges have across Wisconsin after the arrest of Dugan.

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My understanding is the entire state is engaged in a discussion about how to deal with potential ICE raids in the courtroom, he said.

DeMain said ICE actively pursuing suspects in a court will discourage witnesses from appearing in court if they fear being arrested by ICE.

Are they going to show up in the courtroom to testify if they think theyre going to get hauled out and deported to El Salvador and put in a concentration camp? asked DeMain. These courts need to be safe. They need to be involved with respecting that due process for all U.S. citizens and all people in this country and let the process work it out.

He added, I think whats going on with this administration, showcasing for publicity reasons the arrest of the Milwaukee judge with massive law enforcement officers, cuffing the judge outside in the parking lot, inviting all the right-wing media to take pictures  these are staged events meant to [cause] U.S. citizens to be afraid to speak up, to be afraid to have an oppositional view, to stand up for citizens rights in this country.

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A bill that would allow teachers to credit prior work experience toward their salary schedule advanced out of the House this week. (File/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  Teachers would be able to count years of experience in another field toward their paycheck under a bill the House passed this week.

The bill went back to the Senate, where it is likely to pass, sending it to the governors desk for his signature. Both the House and Senate passed the bill unanimously.

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If the bill becomes law, certified teachers would be able to count every two years of work experience as one year of teaching in a similar subject matter. While that wont fix the ongoing shortage of school staff on its own, it could make a difference when combined with other changes, supporters said.

Quality teachers, to bring them in, we need tools in the toolbox, said House Education Chairwoman Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort. And this is a tool in the toolbox.

Prior work experience would not count toward a teachers other benefits or retirement.

Pay is often a leading deterrent for people looking to become a teacher after years in a different field. Because teachers in the state are paid based on their years of experience and highest college degree, a career-changer would start at a districts lowest pay level for their educational experience.

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That can come as a shock for someone who has spent years working in a private industry. Even people who have considered teaching might decide not to pursue it or leave after a few years because they cant afford it or dont want to take the pay cut, teachers advocates said.

At the same time, having teachers with lived experience in a field, including the expertise that comes with that, can be valuable for students, said Patrick Kelly, a lobbyist for the Palmetto State Teachers Association. For instance, a fellow teacher at Blythewood High School worked for Westinghouse Electric Company before bringing that knowledge to a chemistry classroom.

All around, this policy is an easy win for teacher recruitment and retention, Kelly said.

A new teacher with five years of other work experience and a bachelors degree could expect to see a starting salary about $2,000 higher than before the bill passed, according to a financial analysis of the bill.

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Teachers who have been in the profession for years but started out on a different career path will also be able to request a bump in the state salary schedule from the Department of Education.

The department estimates that at least 9,400 teachers would be eligible for the credit, according to the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.

Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association remained skeptical about how many people would change their minds about teaching because of the bill. Even if it attracts a few teachers, though, that would be worth it, she said.

The key will be making sure those new teachers have the training to succeed in the classroom as well as in the private sector, she said. All teachers who receive the higher pay must also receive a teaching certificate before going into a classroom.

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If it will entice people into the classroom, were all for it, East said. However, we need to make sure career-changers have the support they need to be an effective teacher.

Both the House and Senate passed a version of the bill last year, but it failed to reach the finish line after the House tacked on a separate education bill that the Senate then removed.

The bill House members attached, known as the Educator Assistance Act, headed to the governors desk this week after passing both chambers. Advocates expect that bill, which aims to cut down on red tape teachers face, to also bolster recruitment and retention.

As would a proposed increase to the states minimum pay for teachers, bringing it to $48,500 for first-year educators, advocates have said. That pay bump, included in both the House and Senate spending plans, is locked into the state budget.
The Horseshoe of the University of South Carolina campus, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 in Columbia, S.C.(File/Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  The federal government has restored the visa status of more than a dozen international students at South Carolina colleges. Still, a lawsuit filed by a University of South Carolina international student from Nigeria, arguing he was denied due process, continues amid ongoing changes to U.S. immigration policy.

Students at the University of South Carolina, Furman University and Clemson University were among more than 1,800 international students across the country who had lost their legal status changed with little to no explanation from the federal government in recent weeks.

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After a flurry of legal challenges in federal courts nationwide, the government began reversing those terminations late last week and said it would issue new guidelines for canceling a students legal status.

Among those who saw their status reinstated, at least for now, was Matthew Ariwoola, 32, of Nigeria.

Matthews status was revoked with no notice and no explanation. Just as suddenly, with just as little explanation his status was restored, said ACLU of South Carolina spokesman Paul Bowers, whose organization is representing Ariwoola in court. The reason were still fighting this is to defend his due process rights.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security previously referred the SC Daily Gazette to the U.S. Department of State. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Ariwoola, a fourth-year doctoral chemistry student at USC, was scheduled to graduate in December.

But on April 8, USC staff informed Ariwoola and at least 11 other students they could not continue studying or teaching due to the change of their immigration status in a Homeland Security-maintained database.

USC staff then recommended in an email to Ariwoola included in court filings that he depart the United States as soon as possible because you no longer have legal status in the United States.

U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn Austin stepped in, granting and then extending a temporary order through May 16, to prevent Ariwoolas detention or deportation while the case makes its way through the court system.

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USC and Furman have since confirmed the status changes of impacted students  two at Furman and a dozen at USC  were reversed. Clemson did not respond to messages from the SC Daily Gazette about the status of impacted students at the Upstate university.

Just days after the reversals, the federal government revealed its expanded policy on reasons international students legal status can be terminated. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement document, filed this week in a federal court in Texas, said reasons for termination now include the revocation of the visas granted to students to enter the U.S.

Historically, students whose visas were revoked or expired have not lost their legal residency status and could stay in the U.S. to finish school. It only prevented their leaving the U.S. and returning without reapplying.

Ariwoolas student visa expired in February.

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Remarks made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March suggested the new administrations stance would differ from past standards.

Your visa is expired, your visa is revoked, you have to leave, he told reporters. There is no right to a student visa.

Under the new guidance that has come in in court proceedings, Homeland Security officials also seem to have stripped students of their status simply if their names appeared in a criminal or fingerprint database, The Associated Press reported.

In the case of Akshar Patel, an international student studying information systems at the University of Texas in Arlington, Department of Homeland Security officials told the judge employees ran the names of student visa holders through an FBI database that lists missing persons, the names of suspects and arrests, even if charges were dropped or never filed.

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In total, about 6,400 students were identified.

Police arrested Ariwoola in 2023 on a warrant out of Georgia for alleged theft by deception, a crime which can involve the use of in-person or cyber scams to steal from a victim. But according to the ACLU, Ariwoola had never contacted the accuser, and the prosecutor had dismissed all charges.

Even so, Ariwoola has no way of knowing for certain if thats why the government changed his status. The attorneys have yet to fully respond to Ariwoolas allegations.

Because Ariwoolas status was restored, government lawyers wrote in court filings that they intend to ask the judge to dismiss the lawsuit if the student does not withdraw it before June 20.
TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Taylor County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) is alerting people of a new scam targeting local businesses.

According to police, scammers pose as sheriffs deputies and call places of business while falsely claiming that an employee has a warrant. Then, they try to make the employee leave to purchase gift cards to clear the warrant.

TCSO officials would like to remind people that this is a scam. Their deputies will never ask anyone to leave work to buy gift cards, and they will never demand payment through gift cards for any legal matter or warrant.

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They would also like to remind you that if someone calls you claiming to be a deputy, do not rely on a name alone; hang up.

If you have questions about whether the warrant is valid, call the sheriffs office at (325) 674-1300.

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Business owners are still reliving the night a man walked around a plaza parking lot waving a gun.

Investigators said 25-year-old Orlin Manuel Calderon was shot and killed after several employees from the 7-Eleven on Vineland and Conroy Roads called about him walking around with a gun.

Police said the deadly confrontation happened Thursday just before 6 p.m.

Calderon was captured on surveillance video entering a nearby dry cleaner with what appeared to be a Glock-style handgun in his left hand. The footage, released by police, shows him moving calmly but deliberatelyalarming nearby business owners and shoppers.

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He came up to the shop and pulled a gun, and my friend was like. Get the hell out, said Joseph Alce, Owner of Royal Touch Dry Cleaners.

Alce said his friends yelling prompted Calderon to run to a nearby apartment complex.

During a press conference Thursday night, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said Calderon began waving the gun around in the parking lot. Despite repeated commands in both English and Spanish to drop the weapon, Calderon did not comply. Officers opened fire, fatally striking him.

The weapon, investigators later confirmed, was a realistic-looking replica Glock, not an actual firearm.

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Its a split-second decision when you see someone pointing a gun in your direction, said Chief Smith.

Although not in the Orlando area, Chief Smith said Calderon had a prior criminal history that included multiple drug-related arrests and a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now leading the investigation, as is standard in officer-involved shootings. The five officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave.

Authorities said the investigation will also examine Calderons mental health history and immigration status.

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The incident has shaken the local community and reignited conversations about the deadly consequences of replica weapons and police response under pressure.

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Panama City Fla. (WMBB)  Cloud cover returned today, offering some relief from the extreme UV index levels earlier this week. Expect similar conditions tomorrow with partly cloudy to broken skies, which should again help moderate UV exposure for most of the area. As temperatures dip overnight, coastal areas will hold near 70F, and fog could develop, especially with moisture lingering across the region. Fridays rain chances are slim (around 20%), limited mostly to locations influenced by the sea breeze. A cold front originally expected Friday is now delayed until Saturday morning, increasing the potential for: Scattered showers in the morning, especially if an outflow boundary triggers early activity. Better rain chances in the afternoon and evening (5060%) with pop-up storms developing. While timing varies, most areas should see some rainfall on Saturday morning, afternoon, or evening. The best chance of rain will likely arrive in the evening and overnight on Saturday. Expect lower dew points, comfortable highs in the low to mid-80s, and mostly dry weather from Monday through midweek. Heres the bottom line: Friday will be mostly dry, warm, and humid; Saturday brings a good chance of rain at some point (5060%); and from Monday through Wednesday, conditions will turn cooler and more comfortable with little to no rainfall expected.

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Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has cautioned against rushing into a ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, despite its formal classification as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" group.

"This is something that should not be rushed," the Social Democrat said on Friday.

Scholz noted that the Constitutional Court has rejected all recent attempts to outlaw the party. "I am against a hasty decision and will therefore not say that this is what we should do," he said.

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The chancellor acknowledged that Germany's domestic intelligence agency had conducted a thorough process before announcing its decision to designate the AfD as extremist on Friday.

"The many pages must now be read by many people," he said, referring to the agency's detailed findings.

The agency's designation has no connection to bans on political parties, which can only be requested from the Constitutional Court by one of Germany's houses of parliament or the government itself.

Asked whether the AfD's surge in popularity casts a shadow over his leadership, Scholz responded: "It depresses me as a citizen, as chancellor, as a member of the German Bundestag."

Scholz is due to be succeeded as chancellor by conservative leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday.
In 2025, executives around the world are grappling with a common question: How do we really make the most of AI?

Successfully integrating AI goes far beyond just buying a few software licenses. It requires fostering a culture open to innovation, equipping employees with the skills they need, and ensuring AI actually adds value to teams day-to-day workflows. And it's obvious thats where the struggle begins for many organizations:

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 15% of employees say their organization has communicated a clear plan or strategy for integrating AI into how they get work done.

Theres no one-size-fits-all solution for successfully integrating AI across an organization. However, executives can definitely learn from some companies that have been doing it well.

Marriott empowers employees to drive grassroots AI innovation

This global hospitality brand has invested $1.2 billion in new technology and is championing employee-led AI innovation. From the bottom up, Marriott is incentivizing the development of AI solutions in an internal AI incubator.

Focusing on enabling staff to spearhead technological advancements has resulted in more than 150 new ideas. It has increased company-wide curiosity and open-mindedness about AI while ensuring that the solutions are practical and enhance employees core job functions. Marriotts AI explorations center around freeing employees to focus on curating better guest experiences rather than burdening them with unnecessary complexity.

The takeaway from Marriott: foster grassroots innovation by giving employees the right spaces to build and experiment. An AI incubator could ensure that you develop unique AI-powered solutions that are truly relevant to your teams work and inspire a culture of innovation.

PwC combines hands-on AI training with human oversight

PricewaterhouseCoopers is another company at the forefront of AI adoption, backing its commitment with a $1 billion investment focused on cutting-edge technology, hands-on training, and the critical role of human oversight. A standout initiative is its prompting parties, where employees engage in gamified AI learning and ideation. Employees practice AI skills in a fun, supportive environment, honing their ability to work with generative AI tools. PwC has also introduced AI mentors to further employee education in artificial intelligence.

But it's not just about what AI can do for people; PwC also acknowledges that AI needs to be used responsibly, so they've set up feedback loops where employees validate AI outputs and ensure they comply with ethical standards. This allows PwC to more confidently adopt AI across various departmentsfrom marketing personalization to content creationwhile maintaining control and accountability.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Former Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Christopher Schurr testified Friday that he feared for his life when he shot and killed Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head during a struggle.

He took the witness stand in his second-degree murder trial in Kent County Circuit Court, more than three years after the shooting.

I feel like its important to get my side of the story out, he said when his attorney asked why he testified.

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Updates from Day 5 of trial: Schurr takes the stand

He testified for three hours, taking a deep breath as his attorneys showed a video of the shooting and at one point appearing to choke up. Nobody else could testify about his state of mind that day; the fear he said he felt as he and Lyoya fought over his Taser.

If I had waited for him to point it at me, it would have been too late, Schurr testified about the fight over the Taser.

When asked what he was afraid of, he said: That he was going to use it on me and I was going to die.

So, his defense attorney asked, what did you do next?

I shot him, he said. I believe that if I hadnt done it at that time, I wasnt going to go home.

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GRPD training officer: Shot to back of Lyoyas head not unreasonable

Schurr was 31 when the shooting happened and is now 34. He testified he was born and raised in Grand Rapids and his family still lives in West Michigan. He went to the police academy at Lansing Community College, saying he wanted to be a police officer because it would be fulfilling and he got to help people. He said he married his high school sweetheart about 10 years ago.

He said on a cold, rainy morning on April 4, 2022, he spotted a slow-moving Nissan on the citys Southeast Side that made an abrupt turn. He said he couldnt see who was inside and never identified the driver. He ran the plate and found it was invalid, he said, leading him to pull over the car and approach the driver, Lyoya, who had already gotten out.

He proceeds to run away from me, he testified.

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That led to a 2.5-minute tussle starting in the street and leading to front yards.

Lyoya pushed him away, he said  committing a felony for resisting and assaulting a police officer.

Schurr said theres no department policy against foot pursuits. He told the jury he had been involved in 100 or so foot chases in his seven-year career in Grand Rapids and as many as 40 on his own, but had never fired his gun on duty.

I was just trying to arrest him, he said.

The struggle, he said, quickly exhausted him.

Im wondering why hes fighting so hard, he said.

One of the main reasons I brought the Taser into it is because I had no energy left to begin with, and then get into a struggle over it for I dont know how long, and Im running on fumes.

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Witness in murder trial: Schurr created jeopardy that led to shooting of Lyoya

He said he recalled firing the Taser once as Lyoya grabbed for it. The shot failed.

At this point, Im afraid hes going to get the Taser from me and use it on me.

He said he never noticed that the Taser had fired a second time.

As he straddled Lyoya, he said, Lyoya got control of his Taser in his right hand.

At some point I started feeling him turning towards me, and I feared he was going to use it on me, he testified.

Under cross-examination, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker suggested Lyoya never tried to hurt Schurr  that he never struck the officer and never threatened him.

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Youre not saying he did anything else but try to get away? Becker asked him

I wouldnt use that blanket statement, Schurr responded.

He grabbed your Taser, he moved it away from him because he didnt want to be Tased, right? Becker asked.

I dont know what his intention was, Schurr answered.

Patrick Lyoya familys attorney: The truth is in the video

Becker reminded Schurr of the statement he wrote shortly after the shooting about Lyoyas reaction to the Taser: that he had grabbed it and moved it away.

So the only reason you did it was because he grabbed your Taser? Becker asked.

No, I shot him because I believed he was going to use it on me, Schurr responded.

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Because he had your Taser, Becker said.

Because I was afraid he was going to use it on me, Schurr said.

But thats the only thing he did was, he had possession of it. He never pointed it at you? Becker asked.

Schurr: He started turning towards me, and I felt if I didnt respond at that time, I wouldnt be here.

Sure, Becker responded. But hes not here, is he?

No, hes not, Schurr said.

An undated photo of Patrick Lyoya courtesy family.

The last question for Schurr came from a juror, read by the judge.

Why did you shoot Mr. Lyoya in the head?

Schurr turned to the jury and answered: I wouldnt say that I was necessarily aiming, per se. I only had essentially a viewpoint of his upper back and head area. I deployed my handgun and fired it in that direction. It ended up hitting, striking his head.

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After Schurr, the defense called two more expert witnesses. One of them, David Blake, testified about auditory exclusion. He explained that in high-stress situations, people may not be able to hear everything. The defense has suggested Schurr did not hear the Taser deploy the second time during his struggle with Lyoya.

The defense then called Lewis Kliem, an expert on police practices, policies, tactics and use of force. He disagreed with prosecution experts who said it was not reasonable for Schurr to have shot Lyoya and rejected the idea of generally accepted police practices that an officer could be held to. Tactics, he argued, are discretionary and there are no perfect tactical solutions, only options that an officer must decide from based on the variables of a situation. He said though the case is tragic, he has asked hundreds of officers what they were trained to do if someone were to take their Taser and nearly all said they would escalate to deadly force.

What is particularly relevant in this case is that Mr. Lyoya did not simply take the weapon and throw it away. He took the weapon, transitioned hands and held it in a position capable of being utilized, which is is the simple trigger press, Kliem said.

The prosecutor was still cross-examining Kliem when court broke for the day. Testimony was expected to resume at 9 a.m. Monday.

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News 8s Brittany Flowers contributed to this report.

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In a March study reported on by El Pais, researchers found that hundreds of Mesoamerican plant species have been climbing mountains for decades. Rising global temperatures are the culprit.

What's happening?

Using satellite imagery and data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, researchers concluded that 36% of all plants in Mesoamerican cloud forests are shifting upward. They've moved around 2 meters annually since 1979.

As the planet warms and deforestation encroaches on their territory, these plants find their altitudes are no longer suitable. "It is an important sign that the ecological impacts of this crisis are more complex than we think," Santiago Ramirez, who led the study, told El Pais.

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He noted that this could throw the ecosystem completely out of whack, calling it a "disintegration of the forest."

Why does plant movement in cloud forests matter?

Science News reported that cloud forests are home to 15% of Earth's bird, mammal, amphibian, and tree fern species, making them the most biodiverse ecosystems. A forest in disarray could quickly lead to species in decline.

This loss of biodiversity could spell disaster for humans, too. Sybil Gotsch, a forest ecophysiologist, told Science News that cloud forests release stored water into streams during dry seasons. Without them, local farmers' crop yields could plummet. This would not only make a dent in their livelihoods, but could hurt local economies as well, driving up prices of newly scarce food.

What's being done about it?

Since this specific study is still recent, not much. However, scientists have been stressing the ecological importance of rainforests for years.

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Though protecting cloud forests requires political change on a large scale, you can take action on an individual level. Try donating to climate causes or reducing your pollution output through efficient driving.

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.
Sean "Diddy" Combs added a new attorney to his defense team days before his trial kicks off.

Xavier R. Donaldson is a New York City-based attorney.

Combs' trial begins with jury selection on Monday, May 5.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has added a new attorney to his legal team just days before his sex trafficking trial is set to begin.

Xavier R. Donaldson, a New York-based attorney, filed a notice of appearance stating that he would be joining Combs' high-powered defense team.

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According to his LinkedIn, Donaldson has had his own legal practice since 2023 and previously spent 24 years at a New York City law firm. He began his career as a prosecutor in the Bronx.

Related: Diddy Tried to Block New Freak-Offs Evidence in Impending Trial  Find Out the Judge's Ruling

Donaldson received his law degree from Howard University, where Combs studied business prior to dropping out to start his career in the music industry.

Donaldson will join a legal team headed by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, which also features Brian Steel, who represented Young Thug in the Atlanta rapper's RICO trial in Georgia.

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"Its not uncommon to add lawyers in a long and complex case like this, even on the eve of trial," Neama Rahmani, a California trial lawyer who is not involved in the case, tells PEOPLE. "Combs has almost unlimited money and the trial will last for weeks, so the defense may need the additional firepower. Some of the lawyers may also be handling the appeal if Combs is convicted, and not the trial itself."

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.

Combs' trial is set to kick off with jury selection on Monday, May 5 in Manhattan federal court. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

If convicted, Combs could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison. Previously, the Bad Boy Records founder has been denied bail by three different judges.

Combs is incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Read the original article on People
Sean Diddy Combs is officially headed to trial. On Thursday (May 1), the 55-year-old rejected a final plea offer from the prosecution. According to PEOPLE Magazine, Combs informed U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of his decision to stand trial with an affirmative Yes, I did, when asked if he declined the federal offer.

Last week, Combs declined to accept a plea deal, as well. Although the terms were never publicized, prosecutors asked Judge Subramanian if he could allocute Combs on the potential arrangement to ensure the Harlem native understood the plea deal as he rejected the offer.

Although Combs has been offered the opportunity to take a plea deal, the Hip-Hop mogul made it clear last year that he was determined to stand trial and testify to combat the heinous accusations made against him. In TMZs The Downfall of Diddy: Indictment documentary, lawyer Marc Agnifilo claimed he and his client would parlay the moment into an inspirational lesson for others facing unfair government persecution.

The Grammy-winner was arrested in September 2024, and has since faced multiple accusations of rape, abuse, assault, and dozens of civil lawsuits from multiple alleged victims. He has remained behind bars, as multiple judges declined his request to be let out on bail.

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Combs criminal trial is set to begin on Monday, May 5, with jury selection and opening statements on May 12. He is officially charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Notably, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whose landmark lawsuit in November 2023 initiated the moguls downfall, will testify under her real name as Victim-1. The judge also ruled that a devastating video where Combs physically abused Ventura would be allowed in court.

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May 1 (UPI) -- Accused sex-trafficker Sean "Diddy" Combs rejected a plea offer from federal prosecutors on Thursday and ahead of jury selection that starts Monday in New York City.

Combs, 55, told U.S. District Court for Southern New York Judge Arun Subramanian he rejects the plea offer during a pretrial hearing at the Manhattan federal courthouse, NBC News and ABC News reported.

Federal prosecutors have charged Combs with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded "not guilty" to all charges.

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Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said Combs discussed the plea offer with his legal team, which they agreed to reject.

Details of the plea offer were not announced, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said Combs would have gotten a lighter sentence if he had accepted the plea offer than he would if a jury finds him guilty.

Combs could be sentenced to up to life in prison if found guilty on all charges and has been jailed since he was arrested in New York City and charged in September.

The racketeering and sex-trafficking charges each have a maximum penalty of life in prison. The minimum sentence for sex trafficking is 15 years in prison.

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Federal prosecutors expect the trial to last several weeks and possibly months and intend to call up to 20 witnesses to testify against Combs. The trial is scheduled to start on May 12.

Combs is a former rapper and music mogul who federal prosecutors say arranged "highly orchestrated sex performances" that he called "'freak-offs,'" People reported.

He is accused of coercing or forcing women to participate in extended sexual activities while using his position within the music industry as leverage over them.
OREGON COUNTY, Mo.  Nearly a month after 49-year-old Jon Ganz vanished during historic flooding in southern Missouri, search efforts appear to be stalling, according to local authorities.

Oregon County Sheriff Eric King told Ozarks First that crews are still monitoring riverbanks and water levels along the Eleven Point River, but relentless spring storms continue to hamper progress.

King says as soon as the Eleven Point River clears up, theres another storm that muddies up the water. The sheriff says his office is not following any other leads into his disappearance at this point.

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Ganz was last seen on the night of April 5. His vehicle was later discovered abandoned in the flood-stricken town of Thomasville, with his phone, shoes, and other personal belongings left behind inside the truck. Despite multiple coordinated search operations including boats, helicopters, cadaver dogs, and volunteer teams, no signs of him have surfaced.

At this time, authorities say they are not pursuing any new leads. The Oregon County Sheriffs Office, along with state and local agencies, remains on alert but acknowledges that worsening weather conditions may continue to delay or complicate further search efforts.

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GLASGOW, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Glasgow Police Department (GPD) asked the public for help finding a 16-year-old girl last seen in late April.

In a Facebook post just before noon on April 29, the department requested help finding Sue Ann Turner, 16. She was reportedly last seen around 11 p.m. on Monday, April 28, near Beverly Hills Drive.

 MISSING IN KENTUCKY

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Anyone with information that could help find Turner is asked to call the GPD at (270) 651-6165 or (270) 651-5151.

Glasgow police said a search is underway for Sue Ann Turner, 16. (Glasgow Police Department) Sue Ann Turner, 16, was last seen on April 28, per Glasgow police. (Glasgow Police Department)

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Less-than-truckload carrier XPO has improved margins through the downturn while the rest of the industry has struggled. The Greenwich, Connecticut-based LTL carrier said Wednesday it isnt backing off its outlook for further improvement this year even as a trade war threatens to extend a downcycle already long in the tooth.

XPO (NYSE: XPO) reported adjusted earnings per share of 73 cents for the first quarter, 8 cents better than the consensus estimate but 8 cents lower year over year. (The adjusted EPS number excluded transaction and restructuring costs.)

Shares of XPO reacted positively to the news, up 6.8% at 11:58 a.m. EDT on Wednesday compared to the S&P 500, which was down 1%. Investors were fearing the company may need to reel in prior forecasts as tariff uncertainty overhangs the macroeconomic environment and concerns of a recession mount. (Shares of XPO are off 20% year to date in what has been a tough year for the space.)

XPO has recorded 370 basis points of margin improvement over the past two years, a period that largely coincides with a recession in the industrial sector, which accounts for two-thirds of its LTL revenue. The company reiterated its adjusted operating ratio (inverse of operating margin) guidance of 150 bps of improvement for full-year 2025 even though much has changed since it was issued in early February.

The original guide assumed no tonnage growth while the new guide factors in a modest decline. XPO said that even if tonnage fell by a mid-single-digit percentage in 2025, the company expects to book 100 bps of margin improvement in the year.

The bullish outlook is largely predicated on its ability to capture above-market rate increases as it improves its service offering, allowing it to close the pricing gap it has with peers.

Table: XPOs key performance indicators

Yield growth outpacing the industry

XPOs LTL unit reported a 4% y/y revenue decline to $1.17 billion (down 3.3% y/y on a per-day basis). Tonnage per day was down 7.5%, partially offset by a 4.5% increase in revenue per hundredweight, or yield. Yield was 6.9% higher excluding fuel surcharges.

The company previously said its yield initiatives represent a double-digit pricing opportunity.

Service enhancements are an integral component in raising rates. XPOs on-time performance improved for a 12th straight quarter in the recent period, and its damage claims ratio was 0.3%, hovering near an all-time low.

It added 2,500 local accounts during the quarter (10,000 were added last year), mostly small and midsize businesses that cant afford to miss deadlines. Pricing and margins for this group tend to be higher than those at the large, national accounts. The local channel saw volumes increase by a mid- to high-single-digit percentage in the quarter with double-digit growth recorded during April.
Luxury properties can be found throughout metro Detroit, and Washtenaw County, located in southeast Michigan, roughly 40 miles west of Detroit, stands out for its diverse range of residential settings, from urban and suburban neighborhoods to rural estates.

The heart of Washtenaw County is Ann Arbor, a nationally recognized hub for education, health care, and innovation, and home to the University of Michigan, one of the nations leading public universities, adding to the city's appeal for high-end buyers.

A Harley-themed commercial bar and game room that opens to the pool area at 4000 Vorhies Road in Superior Township is listed for $8,995,000.

According to data from Realcomp II, the region's multiple listing service, the most expensive publicly listed property currently on the market in Washtenaw County is priced at $8.99 million. Designed by architect W. Keith Owen, the estate spans 16 secluded acres and is not far from downtown Ann Arbor.

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Luxury homes in this price range often feature expansive grounds, distinctive architecture, and premium amenities that cater to resort-style living.

Here's a look at several of the most expensive properties currently on the market in Washtenaw County:

Superior Township: $8.99 million

This 17,149-square-foot estate on 16 secluded acres at 4000 Vorhies Road in Superior Township is listed for $8,995,000.

Address: 4000 Vorhies Road, Superior Township

Size: 17,149 square feet

Key features: Built in 1994, this estate offers four bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and three half baths. The kitchen is equipped with two fuel stoves, two refrigerators; and is complemented by a separate caterers kitchen perfect for entertaining. Interior highlights include floor-to-ceiling windows, cathedral ceilings, walnut and cherry paneling, stained glass doors and heated marble flooring. A Harley-themed commercial bar and game room opens to the pool area, while a 16-seat home theater and a wine cellar add to the homes luxurious amenities. The outdoor space features an 11-foot-deep gunite (a type of concrete) infinity pool with a built-in hot tub, a pond, a blueberry farm, walking paths and a built-in barbecue area. Car enthusiasts will appreciate the six-car heated garage with terrazzo flooring.

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What the agent says: Dan Gutfreund, of Signature Sothebys International Realty-Birmingham, describes the property as a masterpiece of design and privacy. He adds: This extraordinary Ann Arbor estate, by W. Keith Owen, blends timeless luxury with modern convenience across 16 secluded acres. ... From the gated entrance and heated brick driveway to the grand entertaining spaces, stunning craftsmanship, and resort-style outdoor amenities, every detail was thoughtfully created to inspire a life of elegance, comfort, and celebration  just minutes from the heart of Ann Arbor.

More: Priciest homes in Macomb County are either farmland or lakefront estates. Here's a look

More: 5 most expensive homes for sale in Oakland County, from sprawling estates to custom builds

Lodi Township: $4.5 million

Renaissance Equestrian Center, a horse facility on 124 acres of rolling farm land at 6750 Bethel Church Road in Lodi Township, is on the market for $4.5 million. The estate includes a residence, a horse barn with 25 custom stalls, and a heated indoor riding arena.

Address: 6750 Bethel Church Road, Lodi Township

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Size: 5,508-square-feet (the house)

Key Features: Built in 1993, this expansive property includes a home with three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half-bathrooms plus a walk-out basement and a main level primary suite. Spanning 124 acres of rolling, wooded and fenced pastureland, the estate also is home to a state-of-the-art equestrian facility. The farm includes 25 custom stalls and a heated 80-foot by 200-foot indoor riding arena with Euro footing made of fiber and silica sand. Outdoor arenas include one measuring 75 feet by 120 feet and a second at 250 feet by 300 feet prepped with drainage and ready for final surfacing. Additional amenities include a finished viewing area and a barn managers apartment. The horse barn is fully equipped with 17 imported 14-foot by 14-foot Brazilian cherry Monarch Majestic stalls with permeable flooring for drainage and automatic waterers. Other highlights include a tack room, horse solarium, hay and feed storage, and Equi-Turf flooring in the hallways. The property also offers the potential to subdivide the land for future development.

What the agent says: Renaissance Equestrian Center is one of the finest horse facilities in southeast Michigan, said Matthew Dejanovich from Real Estate One in Ann Arbor. The property includes 124 acres of gorgeous rolling farmland, a beautifully updated custom-built ranch with over 5,000 square feet of living space, and an incredible horse barn with 25 custom stalls and a heated 80-by-200-foot indoor riding arena.

Ann Arbor: $2.99 million

This 8,131 square foot estate at 3124 Mills Court in Ann Arbor is on the market for $2,995,000.

Address: 3124 Mills Court, Ann Arbor

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Size: 8,131 square feet

Key features: Originally built in 1955, this six-bedroom, six full-bathroom, one half-bath estate on 1.85 acres was renovated in 2017. The layout includes a main level primary suite and zoned heating and cooling. The walkout lower level includes a home theater that opens to a patio, a wine cellar, a craft room, a fitness area and a spacious mud room. In 2021, a screened porch and expansive deck were added, creating a seamless transition to the outdoors, where theres a new in-ground pool and hot tub.

What the agent says: Tucked away on a serene cul-de-sac in the prestigious Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood, this extraordinary residence sits on 1.8 acres and has been completely transformed inside and out. This is by far one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen, says Alison Holcombe of Howard Hanna Real Estate in Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor: $2.95 million

Originally built in 1926, this home at 809 Berkshire in Ann Arbor has been renovated and is on the market for $2,950,000.

Address: 809 Berkshire Road, Ann Arbor

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Size: 5,237 square feet

Key features: Originally built in 1926, this five-bedroom, four full-bathroom, three half-bathroom estate has undergone a comprehensive renovation while preserving its timeless character. Set on a double lot, the home retains original details including built-ins, nooks, door hardware, plaster walls and five fireplaces. All flooring surfaces have either new or restored hardwood. The property also includes a new chefs kitchen, a newly created primary suite, two laundry areas and an updated HVAC system. Nearly all windows and the roof have been replaced, with a few original French doors thoughtfully preserved. Additional highlights include a screened-in porch, a sunroom addition, a newly finished lower-level gymnasium space outfitted with rubber mat flooring, glass block windows and a full-length custom mirrored wall. The home also offers two sets of staircases to the upper level, blending functionality with architectural charm.

What the agent says: "You will find an unparalleled opportunity to own a completely renovated and restored, circa 1926, 'forever' home in College Heights, the heart of Ann Arbor. Move right in, says Stephanie Savarino of Savarino Properties Inc. in Ann Arbor.

Brendel Hightower writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Have a story idea or a question about Michigan real estate? Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Washtenaw County's most expensive homes for sale define luxury living
EAST BROOKFIELD  Roxie, an 8-year-old German shepherd and husky mixed-breed dog, spent two years and six days at Second Chance Animal Services in East Brookfield before someone adopted her. It took a while to find her a home because of the way she greeted people, said Mike Byrnes, her new owner.

Shes very timid and a little scared. Shell show you her teeth and growl, he told The Republican.

Byrnes, 52, is a kitchen and bathroom salesman who volunteers two days a week at Second Chance. He helps care for and walk the dogs. Thats how he met Roxie.

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From the day I met her, she was barking and yelling at me, and I was just trying to feed her peanut butter, he said. Once you understand what shes all about and start speaking her language, you bond with her.

Byrnes lived in a no-pets-allowed apartment. He then bought a house in Monson so he could adopt Roxie and bring her home. He chokes up talking about it.

Ive put a lot of time and effort into giving her the life she deserves. This is a big day for her and me, he said, on the morning when he recently brought her home to his two cats. I literally bought this house for her.

While it is unusual, it is not unheard of for larger dogs to spend a long time at a shelter. The East Brookfield adoption center has two others like Roxie that have been waiting many months for a permanent home.

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Second Chance founder and President Sheryl Blancato said it is tough to place these rare gems.

People come in, and theyre looking for the perfect pet, she said. Theyre looking for something thats already housebroken and going to have zero issues. Thats not reality. Weve become a very instantaneous society, and if an animal doesnt work out in the first 24 hours, they bring it back.

Canine care crisis

Experts say the animal care industry is facing an immense challenge  while kittens and small dogs are more adoptable because it can be easier to care for them, it is taking longer to find homes for medium to large canines.

Second Chance has space for just over a dozen large dogs, and it is always at capacity. Years ago, there was usually room for one or two more big pups  now there is a two-week wait to get in, because owners are surrendering so many of them.

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Authorities say many animals go unadopted or are given up because families cannot afford the rising cost of pet care, including food and veterinary bills.

I also see housing as a problem. There are a lot of great adopters out there that cant find housing because landlords dont allow pets. I shake my head, because I was a landlord, and people are more likely to cause problems than their animals, said Blancato.

Shelters are finding various ways to handle what some in the industry are calling a crisis. To encourage adoption, it has become fairly common for some to waive fees, which can average at least $400.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals drops the fee several times a year.

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Surrenders are up, and adoptions are down everywhere, which is creating a backlog and a capacity crisis in shelters across the country and in Massachusetts, said Jamie Garabedian, project manager for the MSPCAs Animal Protection Division.

Economic instability is at the heart of it, and theres a lack of affordable, pet-friendly housing. There is also a lack of affordable veterinary care and a staffing crisis in veterinarian world, she continued.

Dakin Humane Society in Springfield is seeing an increase in the number of owners surrendering their pets, a 5% increase from 2023 to 2024  from 3,827 to 4,008, according to Lee Chambers, Dakins media relations specialist.

She also indicated, however, that adoptions are up 10% from 2,780 in 2023 to 3,031 in 2024. Dakin also is seeing an increase in the number of families fostering pets until the animals can be adopted into permanent homes.

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We have a lot of people who serve as fosters, and that makes an enormous difference. They take pets into their homes if our shelter is a little tight on space or if the animal is stressed from being in a shelter and needs quiet time, she said.

A major player

Second Chance Animal Services has grown its presence in Massachusetts, becoming one of the commonwealths largest pet care organizations.

The nonprofit business is operating on an $8 million budget this year, derived from public and private grants and donations, as well as revenue from fundraisers. The shelter receives no government assistance, according to Blancato.

The business has a staff of 100 including veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The organization also has 275 volunteers that help run its hospitals in Springfield, Worcester, Southbridge and North Brookfield.

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The shelter also has an adoption center, primarily for dogs and cats, in East Brookfield. There is a warehouse in Southbridge, where Second Chance stores food it buys and collects before delivering it to pantries where people in need pick up free groceries for themselves and their pets.

The organization distributed 32 tons of pet food last year, with a goal of doubling that to 64 tons this year, according the Blancato. The operation is amid a capital campaign to raise $225,000, so it can more than triple the size of its warehouse from 300 to 1,000 square feet.

Blancato reports that Second Chance helped 57,000 animals last year but only a minority of them  around 1,500  were through adoption. The mission is to keep pets and their families together by offering donated food and low cost veterinary services.

We dont want people surrendering their pets. If the animals are in a loving home, we want them to stay there, said Blancato.

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The nonprofit chief claims the four hospitals offer dramatically reduced prices for everything from vaccinations, exams and small procedures, to major surgery, spaying and neutering. There are even deeper discounts for people who meet income qualifications, she added.

Second Chance pays its veterinarians above market-rate salaries, said Blancato, up to $200,000 a year, depending on a doctors skill set. She said she has little trouble hiring vets and now has 25 after hiring 14 so far this year.

The East Brookfield facility is facing rising costs like other veterinary hospitals; however, managers say they are keeping expenses down through a business practice called Lean Six Sigma.

The laser-focused approach is said to eliminate waste and streamline processes, increasing efficiency, reducing costs and in Second Chances case, helping keep people and their pets together.

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The joke here is we cant throw away that pencil because theres still lead in it. Were very careful about our money. Our buildings are very humble, not huge and palatial, said Blancato. We have turned animal welfare upside down.

Read the original article on MassLive.

Read the original article on MassLive.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  57-year-old Peggy VanDeKieft is serving a five year prison sentence in Pierre.

VanDeKieft, trusted as the treasurer of a Canton, South Dakotas township for almost 20 years, wrote out more than a half million dollars in fraudulent checks. In addition to time behind bars, shes also supposed to pay $511,004.04 in restitution.

Township members tell KELOLAND News theyve yet to see any effort of her repaying those funds. Thats why theyve filed a federal lawsuit.

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According to court documents, members discovered questionable activity in the township account in 2023. They also discovered VanDeKieft had been issuing unauthorized checks to herself for seven years before she was caught.

In one instance, VanDeKieft wrote a check to herself labeled as Salary but recorded it as a fuel expense paid to I-29 Fuels. Court documents say she did this multiple times to conceal her embezzlement, conversion and misappropriation of funds.

Court documents say she also issued almost $40,000 in checks to her own insurance agency, $695,000 to her husbands business and $354,000 to other insurance companies, most which the township had no connection to.

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Once caught, court documents say she deleted several of those entries.

Along with embezzlement, VanDeKieft would lie about access to the townships financial documents. Court records say when the township board would ask to see these documents each year, VanDeKieft would tell members they were not ready for review or she left them at home.

VanDeKieft plead guilty to grand theft in 2023, but township members say the financial loss has left a burden on the community.

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May 1GRAND FORKS  U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak did not waver in her support for President Donald Trump even as several constituents raised concerns about trade and immigration policy in a Thursday evening town hall.

Half of the 12 people who asked questions at Fedorchak's event, her second virtual town hall since taking office, focused on the impact of tariffs or raised concerns about the Trump administration's mass deportation plan.

Fedorchak, a Republican from North Dakota in her first term, repeatedly stated her support for the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on U.S. trade partners, saying many of the country's trade relationships "aren't free or fair for Americans" when asked by a caller from Grand Forks.

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"President Trump is trying to improve our trade relationships and trying to improve the trade deals we have with countries all over the world," Fedorchak said.

She was similarly resolute when asked for her thoughts on the administration's efforts to deport migrants en masse, a process that has seen the administration

defy court orders

and seek to

remove legal residents

and U.S. citizens

alongside undocumented immigrants.

Fedorchak asserted many of the migrants being targeted for deportation are "drug dealers" and "human traffickers," and invoked the murder of Laken Riley, whose death at the hands of an undocumented immigrant became a cause celebre for immigration opponents.

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"I know there's a lot of good people who want to live here, and I want them here," Fedorchak said. "I want them here legally, but we have a mess here to deal with."

Asked by a caller from Fargo about the administration's efforts to dodge orders halting deportations, Fedorchak said it's "healthy" for each branch of government "to try to fulfill their mission to the greatest extent possible." She said she expects the administration to comply with judges' orders.

"I expect the administration to follow these court directives," she said, though she later expressed support for

a bill passed by House Republicans

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that seeks to limit judges' ability to order nationwide injunctions.

She did not address multiple queries asking if she thought Congress should step in if the executive branch oversteps its bounds.

Fedorchak did say she supports "a more thoughtful, deliberate process" to shrinking the federal government than the administration's sweeping cuts and said she is working with the White House and federal agencies to address cuts that affect North Dakotans.

Two callers raised concerns about cuts to the Medicaid health program.

House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Fedorchak is a member,

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have been instructed to find $880 billion in savings

in order to extend tax cuts passed during Trump's first term.

Fedorchak

has previously singled out Medicaid

as a major source of waste, fraud and inefficiency.

On Thursday, she said adding work requirements for "able-bodied, working-age people" and auditing Medicaid users for eligibility would save almost $500 billion and also proposed closing a loophole that allows states to shift their costs to the federal government.

"Most of the people we're talking to understand the need to make these reforms so that the program is sustainable long-term for the people who depend on it," she said.

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One caller, from Bismarck, asked Fedorchak to push back against the Medicaid cuts, saying he is concerned how it would affect his autistic adult son as well as nursing facilities in small towns.

"If you put your foot down and say 'no, I'm not going to go along with this,' you actually have a lot of power, even though you're a freshman," he said, alluding to House Republicans' narrow majority.

Fedorchak reasserted that reforms are necessary and should not affect individuals like the caller's son.

A spokesperson for Fedrochak's office said after the forum that nearly 2,000 people tuned in.

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"Julie took a wide range of questions from people from every corner of the state, which really goes to show how beneficial and productive this event format is for an at-large member," senior communications adviser Kate Roberts wrote in an email.

During Fedorchak's previous town hall, Forum News Service noted at the time, hundreds of people in the comments of the livestream expressed displeasure with her decision to host the town hall virtually and took umbrage with her remarks.

Facebook comments were restricted this time.
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who has faced criticism from numerous officials in recent months for a privately-funded 10-day trip to India that resulted in action from state lawmakers, announced on May 1 he plans to run for reelection in 2026.

In a five-minute video posted on X, a voiceover says Morales in his first term has "fought for secure elections and a thriving economy" for Hoosiers. Morales is running for reelection because there is "more to be done," the voiceover says.

"There is still work to do, but together we will continue to build an Indiana where everyone can succeed, where our elections are secure and where Hoosiers come first," Morales, a Republican, says at the end of the video.

Together, we have worked to protect our elections, build a friendly business environment, and hold bad actors accountable. But there is more work to be done. That is why I am announcing my reelection as Indiana Secretary of State.  pic.twitter.com/gQVUKr8BAR  Diego Morales (@cdiegomorales) May 1, 2025

But Morales has also received criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for various actions he has taken while in office. In 2023, after he was sworn in, Morales faced controversy over hiring his brother-in-law for a position in the Dealer Services division of his office that comes with a six-figure salary. In 2024, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported Morales' office signed multiple contracts without competitive bidding worth millions of dollars, actions that prompted state lawmakers to pass legislation during the 2025 session to cut down on no-bid contracts and increase transparency on how the state spends its money.

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This year, IndyStar reported that Morales' office in 2024 purchased a taxpayer-funded $90,000 GMC Yukon Denali that came from a car dealer that had donated $65,000 to his campaign since October 2022.

Additionally, Morales has faced questions over who funded his trip to India. In the two-year state budget passed last week, lawmakers approved a requirement for statewide elected officials, the governor and the governor's cabinet to file annual reports with the state budget committee with details on where they've traveled, why and with what state funds. Gov. Mike Braun has until May 6 to take action on the budget bill.

Morales was elected Secretary of State in 2022 during a campaign season that saw controversy and questions about his background, including allegations of sexual assault by two women that Morales has strongly denied. Morales, who is in his first term, was previously fired from one job in the Secretary of State's office and resigned from another following questions about his performance.

Will Morales see Republican challengers?

Hoosier voters don't get to cast primary ballots for certain statewide offices, including the Secretary of State. That means Republican party insiders will decide in summer 2026 whether Morales will be the party's nominee for Secretary of State. But Morales appears likely to have at least one convention challenger in 2026, if not more.

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Knox County Clerk David Shelton, a Republican, told IndyPolitics that he plans to challenge Morales, although Shelton had not officially filed any paperwork with the Secretary of State's office as of May 1. Shelton said he wants to put the Secretary of State's office "back in its lane" and called out Morales' foreign trips.

"I'm running for Indiana Secretary of State, Im not the U.S. Secretary of State," Shelton told IndyPolitics. "Any international travel I do will never be on the taxpayers dime.

Some other Republicans also appear hopeful that state treasurer Daniel Elliott will run against Morales, according to a story from Importantville. Elliott hasn't ruled it out, telling Importantville in March that he was "grateful for the support and encouragement from leaders across our state to serve in a different capacity."

The person tapped by Republican insiders next summer, whether Morales or someone else, will face whomever Indiana Democrats pick in their 2026 convention. The general election is in November 2026.

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Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.

Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com.

Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar political and government reporters.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales announces reelection campaign
New security cameras are arriving in Altadena as law enforcement attempts to stem skyrocketing rates of residential burglary in the fire-ravaged community, but some residents fear that won't be enough to keep thieves away.

From Jan. 1 to April 15, the number of residential burglaries reported in the Altadena area was up about 450% compared with the same period in 2024, according to data from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. For months, thieves have preyed on vulnerable homes in the abandoned community  ripping up copper pipes, smashing windows and doors, and stealing appliances, jewelry, power tools, instruments and even an Emmy award.

Read more: Soaring burglaries in post-fire Altadena rattle residents: 'Trauma on top of the trauma'

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced Wednesday that deputies have started deploying enhanced security camera systems in the Eaton fire area to suppress theft and deter criminal activity.

"Security cameras are one of the most effective tools we have to reduce property crimes and support successful prosecutions," Ethan Marquez, acting captain of the Altadena Sheriffs Station, said in a statement. "Our goal is to protect the community, and these systems allow us to respond faster and with better information when crimes occur."

The cameras will monitor high-traffic areas and provide video evidence that can be used to prosecute thieves, according to the Sheriff's Department. It is not clear how many cameras will be installed in the community.

While some residents were excited by the prospect of more surveillance in their neighborhoods, others were less optimistic about how effective the cameras will be at reducing crime. Several voiced a desire for neighborhood checkpoints staffed by the National Guard, which are currently in place to protect Pacific Palisades.

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"Installing cameras to prevent crime in an area thats seen a spike in [burglaries] by 450% is like putting a Band-Aid over a blood-gushing gunshot wound," said resident Natalie LaFourche, whose home was broken into in early April. "The residents of Altadena want equity, not cameras. We want the same protections as the victims of the Palisades fire."

"The residents of Altadena want equity, not cameras," said Natalie LaFourche, whose home was burglarized April 23. "We want the same protections as the victims of the Palisades fire." Checkpoints staffed by the National Guard are currently in place to protect Pacific Palisades. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

In the Palisades, the National Guard continues to staff around half a dozen checkpoints that allow only residents and approved contractors to access the area.

In Altadena, which is a denser urban area with many more entry and exit points, the National Guard stopped operating traffic checkpoints on Jan. 21, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Department. The National Guard was reassigned to key intersections to help deter crime, before concluding operations in Altadena last week "due to the absence of active traffic control needs," the department said.

More than 140 residential burglaries were reported in the Altadena area from January through mid-April this year, according to Sheriff's Department data. Some homes have been hit multiple times.

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Pacific Palisades has not experienced a comparable rise in crime. Twenty-three burglaries were reported from January through March this year in the Palisades, compared to 20 burglaries during the same time period last year, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department.

"I guess it's harder to secure the neighborhood [of Altadena], but I wish they'd never let the National Guard go," said resident Jenna Morris, whose home has been burglarized three times. "That's what we need."

National Guard members watch over an area in Altadena on Jan. 10. The National Guard wound down checkpoints at the end of January and only four members are currently assigned to Altadena. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

On Thursday, the Sheriff's Department requested a redeployment of the National Guard in Altadena, but that request was denied by the California Office of Emergency Management, which instead offered the assistance of additional California Highway Patrol officers, according to the Sheriff's Department.

The department noted that while the National Guard can help with traffic control and disaster response, they are not peace officers and therefore cannot perform policing duties. The department accepted the offer of more CHP officers and is working to determine what additional resources they can provide in Altadena, officials said.

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Morris and her husband, Howard, said the cameras were an encouraging step and one that might give them more peace of mind, but they also offer no guarantee of safety.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said in a statement Wednesday that the security cameras will be a "critical tool to help law enforcement respond quickly and effectively to protect residents and their property."

Madalyn Majors, one of the few Altadena residents who has moved back into the neighborhood, said she welcomes security cameras, but acknowledges that there will still be surveillance gaps in the community.

"It gives me hope that [sheriff's officials] are at least monitoring the situation and are aware and can take more drastic measures in the future once they've seen what sort of effect security cameras have," she said. "The fear that someone is just going to come in and drive away into the night mysteriously is not quite so great anymore."

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While Majors is grateful to be able to live at home, she remains on edge after dark. She has already paid to install security cameras and Starlink satellite internet to protect her home since WiFi is still down in the area.

L.A. County sheriff's Dets. David Gaisford, left, and Jeff Lohmann patrol an Altadena neighborhood in mid-January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Altadena resident Elena Amador-French, said many residents have already installed security cameras on their properties but that hasn't stopped criminals from pilfering items from homes.

"It's so brazen. These people come in and they see the camera as they come right up to them, no masks, no cover. ... We see their license plates," she said. "I'm just like, wow, what do you think this is? It's a free-for-all."

Sheriff's officials are asking residents and business owners who have video evidence of crimes recorded on their personal security cameras to contact the Altadena Sheriff's Station.

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Prior to launching the new security cameras, the Altadena Sheriff's Station already had several measures in place to try to combat the uptick in crime. They have been doubling and tripling the number of deputies on patrol, and running targeted operations with undercover deputies to catch thieves in action, officials said.

They have also launched the Altadena Home Check Program to provide routine check-ins on empty properties. Deputies have provided more than 14,000 checks on about 600 properties that have opted into the program.

Residents can sign up by emailing AltadenaHomeCheck@lasd.org and providing their name, address and cellphone number.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A nightclub security guard is now behind bars after police say he shot a woman multiple times outside of the business last month.

On April 11, around 10:12 p.m., officers responded to an aggravated assault call at Methodist South Hospital.

A female victim had arrived by a private vehicle. She was then transported to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

During the investigation, police say they were informed that the shooting took place at the Black Onyx Gentlemens Club on 4226 South Third Street and that Desmond Humphrey was responsible for the shooting.

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Woman charged in connection to Southaven shooting

On April 14, officers spoke with the victim at the hospital.

She told police the security guard at Black Onyx Gentlemens Club, known as Mighty, cursed at her, slapped her twice, and then shot her several times. Humphrey was positively identified in a six-person photographic lineup as the suspect.

Desmond Humphrey, 24, is charged with criminal attempt second-degree murder and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

He was booked into jail on Thursday and is due in court on Monday morning.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  An independent look into the Governors Residence security during last months arson attack has been completed.

Pennsylvania State Police said they received the results of the review conducted by security consultant and former State Police commissioner Jeffrey Miller.

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During our Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, we examined the security measures that were in place at the time of the April 13, 2025, attack to determine the underlying factors that permitted the suspect to breach the security perimeter and initiate fires in two separate areas of the residence before fleeing from the scene, said Miller.

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Miller says the report included a comprehensive review of security systems at the Governors Residence, to include:

Access control

Criminal Intelligence

Surveillance and technology

Personnel deployments

Integrated Operations Center

Communications

Life Safety

Fire Suppression

Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

Outer and Inner Perimeter

Barriers

Threat Assessment

Training

Emergency Plans and Drills

Environmental Conditions

Miller says due to the sensitive nature of the specific findings uncovered during the review, the report will be precluded from public release, For obvious reasons. Republicans have called for the report to be made available to them.

According to SpotlightPA, Millers firm was paid $35,000 for the review.

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The Governors Residence was damaged in an arson attack on April 13, allegedly carried out by Cody Balmer. Officials learned that Balmer used Molotov Cocktails to set the dining room on fire.

Balmer allegedly scaled a fence outside the residence and evaded security before entering the residence and throwing gas-filled bottles inside.

Read prior coverage -> Suspect arsonist was prepared to attack Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro with hammer, court docs reveal

Balmer was allegedly heard making a 911 call reporting that he set the Governors Residence on fire. No one was injured in the attack, which occurred hours after Governor Josh Shapiro and his family celebrated Passover.

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Balmer faces charges that include attempted homicide, arson, and terrorism.

In a statement Friday, State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher L. Paris said they have already implemented changes to security that Miller recommended.

The Pennsylvania State Police worked to provide Mr. Miller and his team with the information they needed to assess security protocols before, during, and after the incident, and we are grateful to Mr. Miller and his team for completing their independent examination in a timely and professional manner, Colonel Christopher Paris said in a statement. We have already implemented several of Mr. Millers recommendations and we plan to continue making improvements to our security systems following a thorough review of the final report. The State Police value the trust of the people we serve, and I believe that this review by an independent examiner with first-hand knowledge of our Commonwealth government will help us continue to earn that trust. The State Police are doing everything possible to prevent anything like this attack from ever happening again.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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Two members of Congress said Friday their efforts to learn more about the death of a detainee at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Broward were stonewalled by staff at the facility.

Their questions about the medical care at the Broward Transitional Center were met with hostility and evasiveness, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick told reporters outside the center after she and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson spent an hour and 35 minutes inside.

The facilitys staff refused to give us complete and clear answers, Cherfilus-McCormick said.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is at the forefront of President Donald Trumps efforts to round up and deport people who arent in the country legally, hasnt provided much information about the death of Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian citizen.

ICE posted a detainee death notification press release on Tuesday. It said Blaise was in its custody when pronounced deceased by medical professionals at the Broward Transitional Center on April 25, at 8:35 p.m. The cause of death is under investigation.

That prompted the congressional visit. Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents most of the African American and Caribbean American communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties, is the only Haitian American member of Congress. Wilson, who represents South Broward and Miami-Dade counties, represents Miamis Little Haiti community. Both are Democrats.

If conditions at the Broward facility and other ICE locations around the country persist, Cherfilus-McCormick and Wilson said, there would be more cases like Blaise  ending in detainee deaths.

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Marie is just an example of what is going to continue to happen, Wilson said. This is something were going to continue to see. Its going to get more crowded. Its going to continue to have more deaths. Its going to continue to have more children without their parents.

We must speak out. We must protest. We must let people know that this is wrong, that these people are human beings, that they are not to be caged like animals, she added.

Cherfilus-McCormick said what she saw inside the facility was heartbreaking.

This is not working. Marie Blaise wasnt just a one-off, Cherfilus-McCormick said. This is not humane. Everything about it is very cruel and very, very unusual and peculiar.

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Cherfilus-McCormick said there are well over 500 people at the center, but she couldnt get a precise count.

I specifically asked them how many people are here today and they would not answer, she said. Instead, they wanted to give us a tour of empty bedrooms. They want us to take us into the chapel to show us how pretty the facility is. This is not about a facility being pretty. This is about how you are treating these women who are here and everybody else whos here in this facility.

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People have been detained at the facility for what she said are little incidents and infractions, including one person who was in the U.S. for more than 25 years  and whose daughter is in the military  whos been at the transitional center waiting to be processed for five months.

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The main focus of the visit, they said, was to try to find out about health care services at the facility in general, and find out as much as they could about Blaises death.

Cherfilus-McCormick said she was told by the medical coordinator that there is one on-call doctor for the facility. When the congresswomen began pressing for details, she said, their inquiries were shut down.

We asked her several questions about what is her procedure, and she became very hostile, didnt want to answer questions. So we asked a little bit more. Well, how many people, how many doctors do you have? She said one. When we started asking more about that doctor, she refused to answer that question.

Then when we asked about how many health care professionals, she stopped answering questions. And you could see that she was physically upset and didnt want to respond any longer, Cherfilus-McCormick said.

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The lawmakers said they spoke with four detainees with specific knowledge of what happened to Blaise. They told us how she complained of chest pain regularly  for quite a few days, Cherfilus-McCormick said. On the morning of her death she was given a prescription, but the pain continued.

If you had persistent heart pain, chest pain, why was there no EKG? Why wasnt she sent to the hospital? she asked.

ICE said in its April 29 announcement that it provided email notification of Blaises death to the Haitian consulate in Miami.

Wilson said the members of Congress havent been able to find out much about Blaise or her family. She said her staff was able to track down Blaises 22-year-old son via phone in California but he instantly became so upset  possibly, she said, fearing the call was being traced or the government would try to find him because he might have been undocumented  that he didnt provide much information.

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ICEs initial statement about the death provided some details about Blaise.

The agency said it didnt know when or where Blaise entered the United States without admission or parole.

On Feb. 12, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped her at the airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, attempting to board a flight to Charlotte, N.C.

On Feb. 14, CBP transferred her to ICE custody in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Feb. 21, ICE transferred her to Richwood Correctional Center in Oakdale, La.

On April 5, she was transferred to ICEs Miami division, which put her at the Broward Transitional Center.

ICE said it notified the inspector generals office for its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, about the death.

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Wilson scoffed at the notion of those offices investigating what happened because, she said, so many of their staffers have been fired since Trump took office in January.

Cherfilus-McCormick and Wilson said there should be some kind of external investigation into the death.

ICE didnt immediately respond to questions Friday about Blaise or what Cherfilus-McCormick and Wilson reported from their visit. Neither did the GEO Group, the national private prison company based in Boca Raton, which has the contract to operate the facility.

Wilson said GEO Groups contract should be canceled.

The facility is on Powerline Road in Deerfield Beach. The nearest major landmark is the Monarch Hill landfill, more commonly known as Mount Trashmore.

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In the press release, ICE said it cares for detainees.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health screening and 24-hour emergency care at each detention facility. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care, the statement said.

GEO Group uses similar language about a safe, secure, and humane environment.

Tessa Petit, a native of Haiti who is executive director of the Florida Immigration Coalition, said the Trump administration has declared hunting season on immigrants and is failing to provide the minimum safety and basic needs to those in their care.

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Petit and Mary Estime-Irvin, a city of North Miami council member, and chair of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, joined Cherfilus-McCormick and Wilson outside the facility, but only the lawmakers and their staffers were allowed inside.

Estime-Irvin said Blaises name must not be forgotten. Her story must not be ignored. The death of Marie Ange Blaise raises serious troubling questions about the treatment of individuals in federal custody.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is encouraging the Air Force to make updates at Sioux Citys 185th Air Refueling Wing.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Ernst pushed the nominee for the Under-Secretary of the Air Force to commit to following through on updates to runways used by tanker jets flown out of Sioux City. The plan is to make the runways longer and more reinforced.

Ernst highlighted the Air Forces previous commitments to the 185th and called on leadership to honor that.

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I have been bringing this up with the Air Force for years now, Ernst said. I am asking that a commitment be honored.

30 people take oath to become U.S. citizens at Mary J. Treglia Community House

Ill make the same commitment to you that Ive made to Senator Cottoner, Under-Secretary of the Air Force nominee Matthew Lohmeier said. A commitment that Id be willing to make with any Senator in this room. That Ill weigh each matter in a non-political manner and try and make the best decisions for the Force and of course, Im very interested, Senator, as youve suggested, in honoring the commitments that the Department of the Air Force has made in the past.

Ernst emphasized the need to treat the 185th as an equal partner of the Air Force, adding that instead, the base has been treated as an afterthought.

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Now most consumers expect their local pizza place and their favorite coffee house to remember their last order, know what credit card they want to use, and make it quick and easy for them to complete an order. Society has moved on and automation is expected  even from the small-time operator.

Automation is changing the fast-food service business in the United States. Robotic systems and artificial intelligence tools are now reducing production times and increasing efficiency. Complex beverage preparation time has been reduced from 87 to just 36 seconds due to a new drink-making system. In the meantime, a dual-sided grill has sped up cooking by 70% in high-volume locations, and an avocado-processing robot reduces prep time by 50%. According to a National Restaurant Association research released in February 2023, 58% of restaurant operators anticipated that 2023 would see a rise in the usage of technology and automation to cope with labor shortages. In a May 2023 poll, HungerRush found that 36 percent of 1,000 Americans stated they believed that large restaurant chains lacked enough employees to process orders, make food, and deliver food.

As per a research report, the global fast food market has expanded gradually in recent years. It will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%, from $645.2 billion in 2024 to $663.92 billion in 2025. Changes in customer choices and lifestyles, rapid urbanization, globalization, greater demand for convenience meals, and an increase in the working population have all contributed to historic expansion. The fast-food markets largest region in 2024 was North America. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region over the projection period.

Fast food stocks are businesses that run quick-service restaurants. These stocks can be a smart option to invest in the restaurant industry, which tends to perform well even during economic downturns due to its low costs and convenience. For example, the early COVID-19 pandemic was not favorable for the restaurant business overall, but fast-food chains that were able to offer curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-thru services performed better than their competitors that relied on dine-in. A challenging economic situation presents fewer risks because many fast-food restaurants prioritize providing great value.

We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC) stands against the other fast food stocks.

Story Continues

According to a 2024 LendingTree survey, 78% of Americans now consider fast food a luxury, with prices rising by more than 60% since 2014. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) have been compelled by this change to reconsider what value is. Companies are prioritizing quality, convenience, and technology over price competition to defend higher prices. According to Savneet Singh, CEO of a significant restaurant technology business, the value today isnt just about price; its about the entire experience. Moreover, technology is being used by businesses to improve this perceived value. AI-powered kiosks, drive-thru technology, and mobile ordering shorten wait times and customize service, while kitchen automation increases reliability. These days, loyalty programs use data analytics to provide hyper-personalized rewards, which boosts consumer engagement and encourages repeat visits.

However, affordability is still crucial. The expense of fast food has caused 62% of consumers to cut back on their purchases, which has led several businesses to bring back $5 meal offers, as per the LendingTree study. A combination of price, quality, convenience, and personalization is the new QSR value equation. QSRs have the potential to redefine luxury as intelligent, easily accessible service by utilizing technology and loyalty.

12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now

The iconic yellow and red roof of a franchise restaurant in the bustling streets of a city.

Our Methodology

For this article, we sifted through the online rankings to form an initial list of the 20 Fast Food Stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 12 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkeys database of 1,009 hedge funds in Q4 2024 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks. We have used the stocks revenue growth year-over-year as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested.

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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC) is Chinas biggest restaurant operator, with over 16,000 locations and system-wide sales of about $12 billion in 2024. It generates revenue from franchise fees and its own eateries. The firm, which separated from Yum Brands in October 2016, pays 3% of systemwide sales as a trademark licensee. It owns, operates, and franchises restaurants in China under the brand names KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. It is among the Best Food Stocks.

The company gave $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2024, which included $1.24 billion in share buybacks and $248 million in dividends, lowering the number of outstanding shares by more than 31 million. The business concluded 2024 with $2.8 billion in net cash and $714 million in free cash flow. Given its excellent financial position, Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC) is boosting its quarterly dividend by 50% to $0.24 per share, pushing its payment ratio beyond 40% of expected 2024 diluted earnings per share.

Chen Luo, a BofA analyst, maintained his Buy recommendation on Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC)s shares and increased his price objective from $57.50 to $60.50. The company adjusted its forecasts for same-store sales growth and margin, which resulted in only minor adjustments to EPS projections. Additionally, the company raised its target multiples in its blended valuation, which fueled its higher price objective. In a preview, the analyst informs investors that the company anticipates a solid first quarter.

Overall, YUMC ranks 12th on our list of the 12 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now. While we acknowledge the potential of Fast Food companies, 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 YUMC 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.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno visited the Valley Friday, saying his number-one concern is whats going on with the now-closed hospital in Warren.

During a roundtable meeting Friday morning with Trumbull County commissioners and Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, Moreno said hes been working to find a path to get the former Trumbull Regional Medical Center back open.

He said hes been in communication with hospital systems that are interested in operating the hospital, which had been run by Steward Health and, most recently, Insight.

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Moreno is optimistic that a deal is close.

My number one concern here in this community is whats going on with the hospital, Moreno said.

Insight assumed operations of both Trumbull and Hillside hospitals during Steward Healths bankruptcy proceedings. Moreno says theres been a team working to find a path to get the hospital back open.

The good news is that MPT Properties, which has a very technical role  which is to just own the real estate  has come to the table with a very generous offer of what theyre willing to do to move that real estate to a new operator, Moreno said.

The hospital has been closed since the end of March when Insight Health Systems announced a pause in all of its operations.

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This matters a lot. This is life and death. This isnt something thats nice to have; this is essential to this community, said Moreno.

Moreno told Trumbull Countys state representatives, commissioners, and Warren City leaders that hes hopeful a deal with a new operator is close.

I can tell you were at the three-yard line. I feel very optimistic. That doesnt mean that we can make this happen, but it is my number one imperative for this community, he said.

Im encouraged that there are players at the table who could step up, said Warren Mayor Doug Franklin.

It sounds very, very optimistic that he knows something we dont, and Im excited to find out what that is, said Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy.

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Im here trying to fix something that should never have happened, but if we can get it across the finish line, it will be to make certain that we have a long-term plan for a health delivery system here thats vital to this community, Moreno said.

Friday night, Moreno will also be in Columbiana County for a fundraising event.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton said that Governor Kevin Stitt changed his mind Sunday on having lawmakers act on the new controversial social studies standards.

I dont know his reasoning for that. I asked him why he kind of decided not to help us push that forward. Thats his call, said Senator Paxton.

The governor, for several weeks, has voiced his opinion on giving the standards back to the board to look over.

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Lawmakers voiced for several weeks as well to send the standards back.

Lawmakers will not consider resolution to stop proposed controversial social studies standards

Governor Stitt voiced his disapproval on Wednesday over the social studies standards switch that happened at the last school board meeting.

There was a different standard that was sitting on the desk that they voted on. Well, that seems thats very, very odd, said Gov. Stitt back at his last presser.

As first reported by NonDoc, changes were made to the social studies standards after the board approved them, which now directs teachers and students toward debunked theories of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, and to Old Testament Bible stories and how they influenced American colonists.

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Last week, Senator Adam Pugh (R-Edmond), the Education Chair, filed a resolution to send the standards back.

Several republican lawmakers in the House and Senate co-authored the resolution.

Senator Paxton said he called the governor several times over the weekend and that he seemed to voice his opinion on the standards going back to the board. But Sunday, Paxton said his mind seemed to change.

Stitts office spokesperson, when asked if the governors mind had changed, said that the governor doesnt control the legislature.

In the end, it was up to lawmakers, especially in the Senate, as to whether they acted this week on the standards. They didnt.

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Senator Paxton also stated that they just didnt have the votes in the caucus for the resolution, and thats why it wasnt heard.

Oklahoma governor disapproves of social studies standards switch

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) seemed not to understand what the concerns were surrounding the standards. He continued to repeat that he didnt see what changes people were talking about.

The only discrepancies we could find are that some pages had watermarks and others didnt. And some words were italicized on one and bolded in the other, said Rep. Hilbert.

It was then explained by News 4 that the issue was the changes were made 12 hours before the board had to vote, and that they wanted to look at them further.

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I mean, at the end of the day, they were appointed when they were appointed. You know, so that kind of created a time crunch for them with the timing of everything, said Rep. Hilbert.

Its just another example of Senate Republicans not holding Superintendent Ryan Walters accountable, said Senator Julia Kirt (D-OKC) on Thursday.

When asked for a response to Senator Kirts statement, Rep. Hilbert said, The democrats really love talking about Ryan Walters. So, I shared with one of the members today, I said, you know what? What are you guys going to talk about after today? And so, Im sure there will be something else about Ryan Walters if they want to talk about it, said Rep. Hilbert.

News 4 made it clear that Republicans last year signed on for possible impeachment for the Supt. Walters. Also, several house republicans signed on to co-author the resolution to send the standards back.

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Sure, yes, there were members who signed on as coauthors. And look, as Ive said from the beginning, that we werent going to take action without being in concert with the Senate, said Rep. Hilbert.

Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-OKC) Thursday, brought up the concerns that the two right-wing think tanks who were on the standards executive committee could have their teaching materials in classrooms because these standards passed. Those two groups are Prager U and The Heritage Foundation.

The next steps include the textbook process of finding contracts with potential vendors. Its already been said by several school districts that traditional big textbook vendors are scared of these new standards.

The new textbooks, according to the standards, wouldnt come in until the 2026/27 school year and last for six years.

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Were going to make sure that that is analyzed with any of these calls for proposals, requests, said Sen. Kirt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday night, Mt. Juliet law enforcement made multiple arrests as a result of various traffic stops.

On Wednesday, April 30, the Mt. Juliet Police Department said an officer performed a traffic stop on Adams Lane for a window tint violation and reckless driving through a parking lot, but the officer discovered a violent, wanted individual was inside the vehicle.

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

According to authorities, the passenger  described as a 24-year-old Nashville man  had three serious warrants out of Nashville: one for aggravated burglary and two for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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In addition, the 24-year-old Nashvillian driver was taken into custody for the resale of marijuana, officials said.

Driven by innovation and heart, our officers remain vigilant each dayso our community can thrive, feel safe, and live without fear, MJPD posted on Facebook. We focus on those involved with crime, so our community members dont have to deal with crime.

2 wanted Nashville men arrested after separate incidents in Mt. Juliet

Then, on Thursday, May 1, law enforcement said a traffic stop for a vehicle going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone along Lebanon Road led to the apprehension of a 50-year-old convicted felon from Nashville. An officer reportedly found cocaine intended for resale, along with an unlawfully carried handgun.

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

Authorities said the man  who was just two months shy of completing his felony probation for prior narcotics offenses  was booked into the Wilson County Jail and faces several charges, including unlawful possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a handgun during the commission of a dangerous felony, possession of Schedule II drugs for resale, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

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This is another example of our officers stepping up to confront crime head-onso our community members dont have to, the police department wrote. Their commitment helps ensure that Mt. Juliet remains a safe, peaceful place to live, work, and raise a family.

Woman wanted for over a decade arrested in Mt. Juliet

On Thursday night, law enforcement announced an officer noticed a vehicles license plate didnt match it and conducted a traffic stop along Interstate 40 East for a registration violation. That resulted in the discovery of a wanted person.

According to officials, a 36-year-old Lebanon man had an active warrant from Wilson County for violating a conditional release on a sexual battery charge.

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

Were thankful for the diligent work of our officers, who remain focused on protecting our community every day, MJPD stated on social media.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No additional details have been released about any of these incidents, including the identities of the individuals who were taken into custody.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
STORY: :: Thousands in Serbia protest against corruption and demand changes to the government

:: The May Day student-led protest marks six months since a deadly roof collapse at a railway station

:: May 1, 2025

:: Belgrade, Serbia

:: Ana Anastasijevic, Protester

A change in the system, that's exactly what the students are asking for and why I have been on the streets for months. Their demands are very realistic, they're asking for basic civilization norms, an orderly system, the rights of every citizen, the rights of workers.

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The deadly incident in November has sparked ongoing demonstrations, with protesters denouncing government corruption and incompetence in the biggest challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic's 12-year grip on power.

Workers on the streets of Belgrade on Monday expressed support for the student-led demonstrations.

"The state of affairs in the country is unbearable and this kind of protest simply had to happen," protester Zivota Koprivica said.
The Indiana Statehouse  adorned with scaffolding for a roofing project  on March 28, 2025. (Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Editor of the Indiana Capital Chronicle Niki Kelly recently shared why the end of the legislative session is her least favorite season. Kelly wonders why the democratic processes that are embraced throughout most of the session are thrown out at the end, particularly through amendments with new or unpopular bill language. However, we argue that this is not just an end of session issue or a shortcoming of the current crop of state legislators, it is by design. This institutional arrangement largely shuts out the very people it claims to represent  the people.

We have a deeper understanding of this concept after we were fortunate enough to team-teach a course, Applied Political Philosophy, at the University of Indianapolis. By training, one of us is a political scientist (Shufeldt) and the other a philosopher (Davidson).

Our students started by reading political philosophy, including works from Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Isaiah Berlin, and John Rawls. We encouraged them to think about what gives the government its legitimacy, the appropriate uses of power, and what constitutes a compelling government interest. In a democracy, many of these ideas revolve around the idea of the consent of the governed.

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To apply these ideas, students tracked and analyzed bills throughout the legislative session. They were free to pick any legislation they wanted and were encouraged to identify bills they supported or opposed. We did not impose any restrictions or parameters  their selected bills ranged from relatively obscure (but important) to more controversial, contentious pieces of legislation (like House Bill 1393 or Senate Bill 10).

Like our students, any Hoosier can track legislation to better understand the legislative process. The IGA website has vastly improved over the years allowing citizens to watch committee hearings or discussion in the House or Senate. Our students were able to report on the progress of their bills from the comfort of their dorm rooms. The website is relatively up-to-date, giving everyday citizens the ability to see vote outcomes, a schedule for each day, and current bill language and amendments. Moreover, the media landscape in Indianapolis  in no small part thanks to nonprofit newsrooms like the Indiana Capital Chronicle  allows citizens to stay informed about what is happening at the statehouse.

Transparency doesnt make participation easier

However, being informed and being able to participate in democracy are not the same. Indiana has what political scientists call a citizen or part-time legislature. Session began in January and recently concluded. This part-time calendar has a host of consequences  it affects who is able to serve (especially young people), it artificially speeds up aspects of the legislative process, and leads to large, omnibus pieces of legislation covering far too many topics alongside the inclusion of unpopular ideas without being vetted by committees, but perhaps most problematically  it makes it more difficult for everyday citizens to play a role in the legislative process.

We equipped our students with the knowledge they need to engage in citizen lobbying. We led them through the process of scheduling a meeting: sending an introductory email, making daily follow-up phone calls, and looking out for legislators once we arrived at the statehouse. Of our seventeen students, fourteen were able to have at least one meeting with an elected official (or their legislative assistant) on their own or to join a classmate in their meeting, and we are eternally grateful to the elected officials who took time to speak with our students.

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However, the casual relationship with time at the state capitol shuts out everyday voters. Many students lamented the near radio silence in response to their repeated emails and phone calls, the frequent last-minute cancellations or hours-long delays, and double-booked appointments. The typical voter cannot be at the capitol all day, every day, just to have a five minute meeting with an elected official meant to represent their concerns. Without paid lobbyists, citizens are less able to catch last minute amendments or previously thought-to-be dead bill language that gets revived, nor can they afford to wait a few more hours until the legislator is free to meet. While our students at UIndy benefit from being a ten-minute drive to the state capitol, Hoosiers traveling from each of the four corners of the state may miss their opportunity for their voices to be heard.

Making space to hear everyday people is not the sole responsibility of individual elected officials. The limited availability of legislators is an institutional failureone that arises from the design of the assembly and calendar rather than only the individual choices of legislators. Whether students agreed with their legislator or supported the outcome of a bill, a healthy democracy requires citizen involvement, and the institutions must be designed in ways that support this engagement.

Getting shut out of the process and seeing the IGA in action has led some of our students to grow more pessimistic  threatening to lower Indianas already abysmal rates of voter participation. For some students, gaining the tools necessary to feel empowered to change government (according to their reflections) only made them more committed to the process . Regardless of any individual students reaction, the Indiana General Assembly must address the institutional barriers that shut out everyday citizens  they work for us, afterall.

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Seven Palestinians were killed when an overnight Israeli airstrike hit a family home in the centre of the Gaza Strip, the WAFA news agency reported on Friday.

Footage circulated on social media and in Palestinian media reportedly showed volunteers searching for people buried under rubble after the attack in Al-Bureij, and wrapping the body of a young man in a blanket.

The information and the authenticity of the footage could not initially be independently verified. When asked, the Israeli military said it would investigate the report.

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WAFA also reported other Israeli attacks in the coastal strip, some of which fatal.

According to media reports, the Israeli government is set to decide on Friday whether to ramp up attacks in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group into releasing more hostages.

The current Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, when some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted to Gaza.

During a ceasefire of about two months, Hamas released dozens of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

But after no agreement was reached on an extension of the ceasefire, Israel resumed attacks on Gaza in mid-March.

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According to Israel, of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 are no longer alive.

More than 52,400 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities, including some 2,300 since fighting resumed on March 18.
Seven people were killed late Thursday when a tour van and pickup truck collided in eastern Idaho near Yellowstone National Park.

The accident occurred just after 7 p.m. on eastbound U.S. Highway 20 near Henrys Lake, which is 17 miles west of Yellowstone.

The Idaho State Police, which is investigating the cause of the accident, said Friday in a news release that the driver of the pickup truck and six occupants of the Mercedes passenger van were killed in the fiery collision at milepost 399.

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The van had been operating as a tour vehicle and was carrying 14 occupants. The condition of the other occupants was not disclosed.

Due to the magnitude of the incident and the ongoing process of notifying the next of kin, no names, ages, hometowns, or nationalities have been released, the Idaho State Police stated. Once available, the Fremont County Coroners Office will provide information.

Both sides of U.S. Highway 20 were closed for about seven hours while emergency crews and the Idaho Department of Transportation worked the scene.

The drive from Yellowstone National Park to Henrys Lake, via U.S. Highway 20, takes about 20 minutes.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Seven dead after crash involving tour van near Yellowstone
BERLIN (Reuters) -At least eight people were injured, three of them seriously, after a car drove into a crowd in the centre of the southwestern German city of Stuttgart on Friday in what police said was a "tragic" traffic accident.

The driver of the car has been detained, police said, adding that there was no further danger posed to the public.

"There are currently no indications of an attack or an intentional act," Stuttgart police said on X.

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The incident, which occurred shortly before 6 p.m. (1600 GMT), took place near the Olgaeck tram station.

The Bild newspaper cited eyewitnesses as saying a woman with a pram had been hit by the black Mercedes G-Class SUV.

The area of the incident was blocked off by police, who advised pedestrians and drivers to avoid the area if possible.

(Writing by Miranda MurrayEditing by Bill Berkrot)
Several people were severely injured when a car drove into a group of people in the south-western German city of Stuttgart, the fire brigade said on X on Friday evening.

The driver of the vehicle has been detained, a police spokeswoman said.

While the fire brigade has described the incident as an accident, police have so far not commented on the context to the collision.

The incident occurred at the Olgaeck tram stop in the city centre.

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Firefighters, rescue workers and police are at the scene which has been cordoned off.

According to the police spokeswoman, service at the stop has been suspended.

Witnesses are currently being questioned, she said.

The vehicle involved in the incident was a dark Mercedes G class luxury SUV.
Several people were severely injured when a car drove into a group of people in the south-western German city of Stuttgart, police said on Friday evening.

A police spokesman said the incident was likely caused by an accident, stressing that investigations were ongoing.

At least eight people were injured, with three in critical condition, a spokesman for the fire brigade said. One person had to be resuscitated, according to police.

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The driver of the vehicle, a 42-year-old man, has been detained and is being questioned, a police spokeswoman said.

The incident occurred at the Olgaeck tram stop in the city centre.

Firefighters, rescue workers and police are at the scene which has been cordoned off.

According to the police spokeswoman, service at the stop has been suspended.

The exact circumstances of the incident, which occurred at around 5:50 pm (1550 GMT), remain unclear, including the speed of the car.

The vehicle involved in the incident was a dark Mercedes G class luxury SUV.
Texas has a wider variety of natural catastrophe hazards than most states, which can make driving on its highways more dangerous. This includes hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, ice storms, floods, and wildfires, said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

The Triple-I recommends all Texas drivers carry optional comprehensive coverage to protect themselves from the impacts of these severe weather and climate events, Friedlander said.

Read on to learn the minimum requirements for car insurance in the Lone Star State, the types of optional coverage available, how to get the cheapest car insurance in Texas while still meeting your coverage needs, and more.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

In this article:

Minimum car insurance requirements in Texas

Texas follows an at-fault auto insurance system, which means the driver responsible for an accident is liable for damages, and their insurance covers the other party's costs. The state of Texas requires all drivers to purchase the following minimum amounts of car insurance coverage:

Bodily injury liability

If someone is injured or dies in a car accident you cause, and you're sued by the person or their family and found guilty, bodily injury liability coverage pays for the costs of the damages awarded for pain, suffering, and economic damages, such as lost wages. The minimum coverage amount is $30,000 per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident.

Property damage liability

Property damage liability coverage pays for the cost of repairing or replacing property that you damaged in a car accident. The minimum coverage amount for a basic policy is $25,000 per accident.

Insurance companies sometimes refer to these minimum liability limits as $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 or 30/60/25. Most policies also pay your attorneys' fees if youre sued because of an accident.

Optional Texas car insurance coverages

You can opt for additional car insurance coverage above the states minimum requirements. While your insurance premium will rise with the more coverage options you add on, you'll generally be better protected and more financially insulated from all costs associated with accidents.

Learn more: The most common types of car insurance explained

Additional liability coverage

You should consider buying additional liability coverage over the minimum liability limits in case you total another persons car, cause severe injuries or death, or cause an accident involving multiple vehicles and those parties sue you.

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

Personal injury protection (PIP) covers the medical costs of treating injuries you and/or others on your policy have sustained in an accident as well as funeral expenses, lost wages, and other nonmedical expenses. In Texas, insurance companies are required to offer PIP, but drivers can decline that coverage by signing a waiver.

Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, covers medical costs and funeral expenses but not lost wages and other nonmedical expenses. Insurers are not required to offer this coverage, and its optional for drivers.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

If you're in an accident caused by another driver who is uninsured, underinsured, or a hit-and-run motorist, uninsured motorist coverage will pay the medical costs if you're injured, but not the repair or replacement costs if your car is damaged. Insurers are not required to offer this coverage, and its optional for drivers.

Learn more: Heres what to do if youre involved in a hit-and-run crash

Collision coverage

If you damage your own car, collision car insurance coverage will pay the repair or replacement costs.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive car insurance covers any damage to your car that is not covered by collision, including costs to repair a broken window, damage from flooding, fire, vandalism, falling or flying objects, and if you collide with an animal. It also covers the cost to replace your car if it's stolen.

What most policies dont cover in Texas

Accident while driving for Uber, Lyft (or another ridesharing service), or delivering items for Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, or Grubhub

Accidents while driving a company-owned car or any other vehicle that you dont own

Damaged equipment that wasnt permanently installed in your vehicle

Accidents while racing

Accidents while driving in Mexico (though most policies in Texas cover accidents in Canada)

If you intentionally cause damage

Car insurance for young drivers in Texas

In Texas, parents can purchase a separate policy for their teenagers who've started driving, or parents can add them to their own policy, whichever is the cheaper option.

Some insurance companies will mandate that policyholders put the names of everyone living in their home who is 16 or older, the legal driving age in Texas. If they dont, insurers can retroactively charge the additional premium for each individual and may not pay any claims or renew their policy.

Parents must keep teenagers over 16 on their policy even if they're away at college. Although if they dont have a car, parents might be able to receive a discount on their premium.

Programs and resources only available in Texas

The Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA)

Drivers who tried and were unable to obtain a car insurance policy from at least two commercial insurance companies can buy a policy with the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA). Coverages include minimal limits on bodily injury liability and property damage liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages  but not collision, comprehensive, or higher liability limits.

TAIPA coverage costs more than traditional policies, and even more if youve had an accident or have been cited for moving violations. However, your premiums might be reduced after a year if you dont get into an accident or get any traffic tickets. After three years, the designated insurer is required to sell you a conventional non-TAIPA policy that's cheaper.

'Consumer Bill of Rights'

In Texas, when you buy your car insurance policy, insurance companies are required to give you a copy of the Texas Consumer Bill of Rights for auto insurance. Contents include what types of coverage insurance companies must offer and what you need to do if you decline, the kinds of rights you have when filing a claim, and your rights surrounding renewals and cancellations.

Cheapest car insurance in Texas

Heres some advice on how to get the cheapest car insurance in Texas.

Shop around

Texas has a very competitive auto insurance market with more than 100 national and regional auto insurers offering coverage, Friedlander said.

When shopping for coverage, Triple-I recommends obtaining at least three quotes with comparable coverage, as prices can vary significantly among carriers.

Drivers can work with an independent insurance agent who has contracted with several different insurance companies, said Carie Ann Roach, director of technical affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, based in Austin. They can efficiently obtain underwriting information from the driver and search using a wide variety of insurance companies on the drivers behalf.

They can also educate that consumer, for example, about why certain carriers would decline to write them and why other carriers would be interested in writing them, Roach said. They will also be able to educate that consumer about the coverage choices that they're making and what happens when they choose lower limits versus higher limits.

HelpInsure.com

Drivers can compare sample car insurance rates and coverages among Texas car insurance companies on HelpInsure.com, a website provided by the Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) and the Texas Department of Insurance. The website also includes complaint information and the financial rating of the top car insurers in Texas.

Learn More: Find and compare auto insurance policies in Texas  HelpInsure

Car insurance discounts

Texas auto insurers offer a variety of discounts, enabling drivers to significantly reduce their premiums, Friedlander said. Some of the most common discounts include bundling home and auto, multi-policy, new vehicle, good driver, paying your bill in full, bundling auto and renters insurance, and electronic billing. Because Texas has a large population of active-duty military members and veterans, those individuals should check into military-affiliated auto insurance discounts.

Insurers also use telematics to track driving habits  such as time of day you drive the most, miles driven, and acceleration and braking patterns  to determine potential discounts, Friedlander added.

Telematics is another great way to save for safe drivers, he said. If you decide to sign up for a usage-based telematics, its important to read the fine print of how the program works, as some insurers can ding you with a premium increase if their telematics app detects poor driving habits.

Learn more: Car insurance discounts: 17 ways to save

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Bundling policies to save money

An independent agent will discuss other lines of insurance that are suitable for each consumer, whether it's homeowners, renters, or excess coverage (as in umbrella), Roach said.

Once they develop a relationship with that consumer and learn about their exposures and what phase of life they are in today, they can work with that consumer to put together an insurance program that helps them feel more secure, she said. The consumer will leave the conversation feeling much more aware and knowledgeable about the choices they made.

Car insurance quotes in Texas

The amount you'll pay for car insurance in Texas is impacted by a number of different factors  some you can control, like driving safely and improving your credit, and some you cannot, like your age.

While not all companies use the same information, here are the typical items that determine the cost of your car insurance policy:

Your driving record

How much you drive your car

ZIP code

Your age

Your gender

The car you drive

Your credit

The type and amount of car insurance coverage

Factors that can't be used to charge more for car insurance or turn you down include the following:

Your race, color, religion, or national origin

Your age, gender, marital status, geographic location, or disability  unless the insurer can demonstrate youre a greater risk for a loss than others

If your credit score was the only factor in the decision

Learn more: What is a car insurance premium, and how is it calculated?

Texas car insurance laws

Drivers must demonstrate they have liability insurance that covers both bodily injury and property damage. Those financing vehicles must also buy collision and comprehensive coverage to satisfy their lenders' requirements.

Restrictions for underage drivers

Once teenagers obtain their provisional license at age 16, they can drive unaccompanied by an adult, but they must abide by these restrictions until they are 18:

They are prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless they are working, going to school, or if they or another person needs emergency medical attention.

They cant drive with more than one person under 21 who doesnt belong to their immediate family.

They cant drive after drinking any alcohol, per Texass Zero Tolerance laws.

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws

You can be cited with a DWI if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher, or if a lower BAC affects your ability to drive.

Learn more: Whats the difference between DUI and DWI?

First offense penalties:

Initial fines as much as $2,000 and an additional $3,000 fine upon sentencing

A minimum of three days in jail and a maximum of 180 days

Driver's license revoked for up to a year

Second offense penalties:

Initial fines as much as $4,000 and an additional $4,500 fine upon sentencing

A minimum of one month in jail and a maximum of a year

Driver's license revoked for up to two years

Third offense penalties:

Initial fines as much as $10,000 and an additional $6,000 fine upon sentencing

A minimum of two years in jail and a maximum of 10 years

Driver's license revoked for up to two years

If youre driving while impaired with a child in the car, additional penalties include:

An additional fine of as much as $10,000

A minimum of two years in jail

Driver's license revoked for another 180 days

Child endangerment charges

This article was edited by Tim Manni.
Concertina wire tops a fence at a detention facility. (Getty Images)

Advocates for people held in an immigration detention center in Estancia, N.M. say sewage is again backing up into their cells, and they do not have access to clean drinking water.

The Town of Estancia, where the prison is located, posted on social media on Monday asking residents to conserve water. The well serving the community is not producing enough to meet demands, Torrance County Manager Jordan Barela said in a statement on Thursday.

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Tiffany Wang, an attorney with the Oregon-based Innovation Law Lab who regularly speaks with people held inside the Torrance County Detention Facility, told Source NM theyve reported since Monday there has been absolutely no access to water, leaving them unable to flush toilets or take showers and exacerbating illnesses and hygiene issues.

Several reports indicate that stagnant human waste has sat in sites across the facility and that people are resorting to desperate measures such as fasting in order to avoid defecating and defecating on paper plates to put into the trash instead of using toilets, which they are unable to flush, Wang said.

In addition to detaining migrants, the Torrance County lockup holds people facing federal charges and serves as the countys jail. Its owned and operated by private prison company CoreCivic. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts with the county to provide space to hold detained people, and Torrance County contracts with CoreCivic to facilitate the agreement with ICE. President Donald Trump is rapidly expanding immigration detention through billion-dollar contracts with CoreCivic and other private prison companies, Stateline reports.

Spokespeople for CoreCivic and the county government on Friday acknowledged a shortage of water, but denied allegations that the prison doesnt have any or that sewage is flooding the cells.

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Ryan Gustin, senior director of public affairs for CoreCivic, told Source NM any claim that Torrance has been without running water since Monday is completely false.

While the prison changed its operations to reduce water consumption, Gustin said, drinking water is always available in the cell pods and staff have given people bottled water. Wang told Source inmates have told her that this is limited to two bottles per day.

At no point have those in our care been without drinking water, Gustin said. He said laundry and showers have been placed on a schedule but remain available to everyone.

The ongoing conservation measures are meant to ensure the town doesnt reach critically low levels in its water storage tank, Barela, the county manager, told Source NM. She said the prisons water tank has never been empty, people held there have had enough water to meet basic water needs during this time, and the well is being repaired.

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Wang said the possibility that some limited amount of water remains in the facilitys tank does not change the truth that people detained inside TCDF say they have now gone since Monday without running water to meet their basic needs.

CoreCivic, county deny evacuation

Innovation Law Lab on Tuesday informed ICE El Paso Field Office Director Mary De Anda-Ybarra about specifically where the problems are happening inside the prison, according to emails the group shared with Source NM. De Anda-Ybarra responded the same day by asking for more information and then the next morning, told them we are looking into the matter.

Wang said following the law labs letter to the ICE field office, the detained men told her officials evacuated them from one dormitory with a history of sewage flooding. She said prison staff are making detained people clean the feces themselves without personal protective equipment.

CoreCivic and the county also deny these allegations. A spokesperson for ICE did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

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There are also no sewage flooding issues, nor have we had to relocate any residents, Gustin said.

Barela said she is unaware of any systemic issues when it comes to sewage backups in the prison, and maintenance issues are addressed as they come up. To my knowledge, TCDF has rectified all building maintenance issues within a reasonable time frame after becoming aware of the concerns, she said.

Wang said Torrance has a well-documented record of failing plumbing infrastructure, and shared a map of flooding issues in nearly every cell pod.

Claims that CoreCivic and Torrance County are unaware of systemic sewage flooding issues are disingenuous and false, she said.

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In interviews with legal advocates and researchers, people detained inside Torrance have described cells inundated with dirty water in 2024; entire cell pods flooded with raw sewage in 2023; and broken sinks and water fountains in 2022. New Mexicos Congressional delegation cited these issues and others when they repeatedly asked former President Joe Biden to close Torrance, but he refused.

A public health crisis

Wang said people detained in Torrance already have various illnesses that would be exacerbated by a lack of potable water, including a gallbladder infection requiring an operation, epilepsy, vision issues and diabetes.

Gustin said CoreCivic hasnt received any reports of incarcerated people or staff becoming sick as a result of the water problem.

Wang said the county and CoreCivics comments fly in the face of numerous testimonies from detained individuals and their families stating that the facility has been without water for flushing toilets or showering since Monday.

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It is remarkable, but unfortunately not surprising, that CoreCivic and Torrance County officials are currently attempting to claim that plumbing and water issues are unfounded or have been resolved, she said. It speaks to the impunity and dishonesty with which CoreCivic, ICE, and Torrance County collaborate to operate TCDF.

Wang said its shameful that CoreCivic and the county continue to profit at the expense of the health of detained individuals and the wellbeing of the town of Estancia.

ICE and CoreCivic should halt further transfers of people into TCDF, which is in the midst of a public health crisis, release all the people currently detained inside, and finally shut TCDF down, she said.

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Shari Redstone is no doubt familiar with The Godfather, Part II. It is, after all, one of the best-known films in the library of Paramount Global, the company she and her family control. Redstone probably doesnt have time to watch the 1974 classic this week, but no matter. Shes living it.

The Godfather, Part II focuses on the difficult choices made by protagonist Michael Corleone, who opts to preserve his familys illicit business empire instead of tending to the needs of the actual members of his family. He spends all his time jockeying with rivals and fending off competitors, and in the process loses his spouse and kills off his brother, whose weaknesses give enemies a chance to wreak havoc.

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Redstone is no crime boss, but she faces similar wrenching decisions about doing whats best for members of the Paramount family and whats best for her own family business.

One of the most prized properties in the Paramount portfolio is the venerable CBS News magazine 60 Minutes. The program has stood for months at the center of a flimsy but effective legal feint by President Donald Trump. According to the suit, filed in federal court in the Northern District of Texas in November 2024, 60 Minutes tried to mislead voters by airing two different edits of remarks made in an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, then Trumps rival for the White House. Legal experts believe the president has little standing. Intriguingly, the report, which aired in October, was this week nominated for an Emmy.

But the Trump suit  in which the president is seeking $20 billion in monetary damages from CBS  has remained an issue. Rather than fight a nuisance, Paramount has entered mediation with Trumps attorneys, all as Redstone hopes to move closer to selling the company to Skydance Media  and pushing the deal past the review of a Trump-controlled FCC, which has also opened investigations into the 60 Minutes matter. A consummated deal will infuse ailing Paramount with new capital as it seeks to adapt to an industry in which cable networks  a large part of the companys portfolio  are being rendered obsolete by streaming services.

In such a unique situation, corporate leaders are more likely to favor the overall business, says Anant Sundaram, a professor at Dartmouth Universitys Tuck School of Business who studies mergers and acquisitions. Once a deal is unveiled, Sundaram says, the CEO wants to get it done yesterday, before so many factors that can kick in. Paramounts current situation, he adds, brings the kind of uncertainty that a CEO hates, is petrified of. And in the current era, when streaming has upset the economics of the media sector, Paramount may see Skydance as a more reliable bet than the linear viewership of 60 Minutes.

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The bottom line is there is a sense that the regulatory process isnt coming along as it should, says Sundarum. And the Trump lawsuit is a huge spanner in the works.

Paramount and Trump attorneys are believed to have entered mediation, a process that will cast a shadow on Redstones tenure overseeing Paramount, which she took over from her father, Sumner Redstone. Shari Redstone pushed for a new combination of the CBS assets and those that were part of the company once known as Viacom, once housed in two separate companies. But the portfolio, which also includes the Showtime pay-cable outlet, MTV, Nickelodeon and the Paramount movie studio, has been weighed down by a large passel of cable properties that have been starved of investment over the years, and isnt large enough on its own to outmaneuver digital giants like Netflix, Apple and Amazon. Redstone might have fared better if she sold off pieces instead of trying to put them all together.

Her seeming willingness to settle the 60 Minutes matter has had other consequences as well. Last week, Bill Owens, just the third executive producer in the shows nearly six decades on air, abruptly quit, saying he no longer had the freedom to run the newsmagazine in the best interests of its journalism and its viewers. On Sunday, correspondent Scott Pelley took the rare step of detailing this off-camera drama for viewers, telling them that Paramount had begun to take what staffers perceived as an undue amount of influence on 60 Minutes editorial processes.

What is clear is the following: No 60 Minutes segments have been spiked. But Paramount did install, partly at Redstones behest, a new layer of checks and balances in the form of a team led by Susan Zirinsky, the former CBS News president. Zirinsky was tasked with monitoring all of CBS News work, particularly after reports on 60 Minutes and CBS Mornings tied to attitudes around the conflict in Gaza spurred criticism from advocates.

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Redstone had conversations with various Paramount executives, among them George Cheeks, the Paramount co-CEO who oversees the CBS business, about certain 60 Minutes stories, according to a person familiar with the matter. Redstone asked whether stories that could irritate Trump were correct and balanced, and inquired whether multiple stories that might draw Trumps ire had to run on the same night, this person says. Two other people familiar with the 60 Minutes editorial process say Zirinsky and her team were specifically tasked with examining stories tied concerning the Middle East and politics.

Redstone never issued any edicts about stories tied to Trump policies, says the person familiar with the situation, noting that the show has run such reports all season long. At this point, the person adds, with the current TV season drawing to a close, there is no reason to hold off on any stories the show has in the pipeline, as any acquisition by Skydance is not likely to be completed in that time frame.

This is perhaps the stuff of Aaron Sorkin TV series like The Newsroom or Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, in which the people at the heart of a storied media property have to battle with the executives who run the platform that brings the content to millions. Paramounts pending Skydance pact and the Trump suit have forced Redstone into an impossible choice: On the one hand, she risks tarnishing the image of a respected journalism outlet if Paramount reaches a settlement with Trump; on the other, if the deal doesnt get done, the health of the company that delivers the show to its audience may be in peril.

At the end of Godfather II, Michael Corleone is haunted by the choices he has made, and thinks back to a simpler time. Whether Redstone is similarly tormented is something only she knows. As for the current moment in the media sector, its only going to get more complex.

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 Todd Spangler contributed to this story

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Despite the pleas of its corporate boss to delay sensitive stories about Donald Trump, 60 Minutes is planning to run a segment Sunday night that will focus on how the president is targeting some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of weaponizing the justice system against him.

The report will be presented by correspondent Scott Pelley, who ended the latest broadcast of the Sunday night news show by issuing a stunning on-air rebuke of his networks owners following the sudden resignation of the programs top producer.

Last week, longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens stunningly announced that he was leaving the vaunted news magazine, claiming that he was no longer allowed to make independent decisions on the direction of the show, suggesting corporate interference.

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Of course, the elephant in the room was Trumps $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News over the interview 60 Minutes conducted with Kamala Harris late last year, which the president contends was deceptively edited and amounted to election interference.

Despite legal experts saying Trumps case is baseless, Shari Redstone  the chief shareholder in CBS News parent company Paramount  has pushed for a settlement in the case in order to help get a merger across the line with Skydance, which needs the Trump administrations approval. Owens, meanwhile, had made it clear that he would not apologize for the way the program conducted or edited the interview.

Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone has pushed 60 Minutes to hold back critical reports on Donald Trump. The show is not bending to her will. (AP)

Meanwhile, in what is likely to only incense the president even further, the Harris segment at the center of this kerfuffle recently received an Emmy nomination  for outstanding edited interview.

Following Trumps return to the White House, multiple media corporations have backed down in their legal fights against the president, who unleashed a series of questionable lawsuits over his complaints about unfair coverage. Amid these capitulations by organizations such as Disney and Meta, Paramount has expressed a willingness to settle with Trump in hopes that his handpicked FCC chairman  who has acted as Trumps personal attack dog against non-conservative news outlets  will approve the merger with Skydance.

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In recent days, the two parties have entered into mediation, with the Paramount board having already laid out acceptable financial terms for a settlement. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is willing to pay Trump in the neighborhood of $15 to $20 million, which would be in line with the amount Disney settled to resolve the presidents lawsuit against ABC News.

The prospect of a potential settlement, which has outraged CBS News employees and journalists, has also resulted in Redstone upping her concerns over the editorial direction of 60 Minutes, which is the crown jewel of the networks news division.

At the same time, while the presidents lawsuit and the upcoming merger are front and center in Redstones mind, she has also taken umbrage with the programs coverage of the Gaza war and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A passionate supporter of Israeli causes, Redstone grew incensed with the Sunday night newsmagazine following a January segment about those impacted by the war in Gaza because she viewed it as antisemitic, CBS News sources told The Independent. Previously, Redstone publicly backed CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil after he was reprimanded by CBS News chief Wendy McMahon for violating editorial standards for his combative interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Gaza.

CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley said "no one here is happy about" longtime producer Bill Owens' resignation while noting that the network's corporate bosses "began to supervise our content in new ways." (CBS News)

A day after that report ran, she pushed to have veteran CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky installed as the interim executive editor overseeing standards. In that role, Zirinisky would serve as a check on Owens and McMahon and serve as the eyes and ears for Redstone.

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Redstone grew even more anxious last month after the president raged about segments that 60 Minutes did on Trumps Oval Office meltdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the presidents efforts to annex Greenland. The president urged FCC chief Brendan Carr to impose the maximum fines and punishment on Paramount and CBS for their unlawful and illegal behavior.

Following the presidents blowup over the programs reports, the New York Times first reported that Redstone contacted Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks and asked to be briefed about all politically sensitive segments for the remainder of the shows season, which ends later this month.

Inside 60 Minutes, news of her desire for greater oversight, reported here and elsewhere, struck many as a violation of the shows long-cherished editorial independencenot just from its parent company, but even from the rest of CBS News, Puck noted this week. Regardless, Sharis attempts to influence 60 Minutes coverage went beyond that. According to those sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Shari also asked Cheeks if it would be possible to delay sensitive stories about Trump or his policies until after she had closed the Skydance deal.

At that point, although 60 Minutes had made no changes as a result of Redstones requests, Owens felt that he could no longer remain at 60 Minutes due to the interference attempted by the corporate overlords.

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Its clear that Ive become the problem  Im the corporations problem, Owens said while addressing the shows staff about his resignation. Additionally, he bristled at having a minder and how, in the past, the corporation didnt know what was coming up.

Ahead of CBS News promoting the upcoming segment about Trumps efforts to intimidate law firms and bend them to his will, the New York Times reported that 60 Minutes staffers had expressed concern that corporate overseers could potentially interfere with an upcoming segment about conflicts between major law firms and the Trump administration.

The segment is indeed scheduled to air this Sunday and will be hosted by Pelley, who said at the end of the last broadcast that Owens quit because he felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. Pelley also used that monologue to note that Paramount is pushing for a merger that the Trump administration must approve.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Sharpsville woman facing forgery charges in Mercer County was sentenced to probation in a parole violation hearing on Friday.

The hearing was held in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, where Erin Carter had been convicted of telecommunications fraud and grand theft in 2023.

Court records show Carter was ordered to pay more than $36,000 in restitution to the victim and was sentenced to five years of probation in her 2023 case.

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A condition of the probation was that if she violated that, she could face a 54-month prison sentence followed by an additional two years of probation.

Details of her probation sentence were not available Friday afternoon.

Carter also has a pending case in Pennsylvania. She is facing felony charges of forgery, criminal use of a communication facility and theft by unlawful taking.

A criminal complaint states Carter signed refund checks intended for patients at her place of employment and virtually deposited them into her personal account.

In March, a First National Bank location in Boardman reported that Carter withdrew the money. A bank investigator who spoke to police said this crime is considered a breach of banking, and since the checks were not made payable to Carter, the Boardman branch was responsible for reimbursing the customers, the incident report states.

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Erin Yudt contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
The last time anyone saw Shannah Boiteau on June 22, 2016, she was running away from a vehicle driven by her boyfriend on a desolate stretch of county road outside of St. Cloud, Minn.

Leaving her purse, phone and shoes behind, Boiteau, 23, of Chippewa Falls, Wisc., raced barefoot into the densely wooded area next to Highway I-94, County Road 74, and was never seen again.

Now, nearly nine years later, authorities say her skeletal remains have been found on a property in Augusta, Minn., near where she vanished.

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In a Facebook post on Thursday, May 1, her father, Cletus Boiteau, wrote, We would like to thank everyone who has reached out with their thoughts and prayer.

From the bottom of our hearts we can never thank you enough. This has and is the hardest thing we have ever been through in our lives. Shannah was our first born and stole our hearts from the moment she arrived. Our hearts are broken and will never be whole again.

After Boiteau vanished on June 22, 2016, police issued a release asking for the publics help in locating the young mother.

She and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument when she ran out of the car, her family said, according to NBC News Dateline: Missing in America article series in August 2016.

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At the time, authorities said they did not believe Boiteau knew anyone in the St. Cloud area.

Authorities kept searching for her, but eventually the case went cold.

Now, at least some of the mystery surrounding her death is over. In an update on Tuesday, April 29, St. Cloud Police reported that on Saturday, April 26, officers located the remains, which were identified on April 29.

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.

Recent drought conditions exposed the once-flooded area where her remains were located, and the property owner found her remains, Cletus wrote in his post.

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"Trust us when we say that we have all the same questions that everyone else does. We will probably never know all the answers to those questions," he wrote.

The investigation remains active.



Read the original article on People
By Helen Reid

LONDON (Reuters) -Online fast-fashion retailer Shein has dropped Brunswick and FGS, two communications firms that were supporting its push for a London initial public offering (IPO), a source familiar with the matter confirmed on Friday, in the latest sign the flotation is not going to plan.

Steep tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, along with the removal of a duty exemption on low-value ecommerce packages, are challenging Shein's business model, which relies on shipping clothes from factories in China directly to customers around the world.

Brunswick was assisting with media relations while FGS was tasked with government relations, and both of their contracts with Shein ended on April 30 and will not be renewed, the source said. The news was first reported by The Times.

Brunswick and FGS both declined to comment. Shein did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Singapore-headquartered Shein has secured approval from Britain's financial regulator for its IPO but is still awaiting the green light from China's regulator which it also needs in order to go ahead, Reuters reported last month.

Shein had aimed to complete the listing in the first half of this year, but market turmoil caused by Trump's tariffs and retaliation from China is likely to delay the IPO to the second half, sources have said.

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Its a laudable goal to reassure Pierce County residents that they can call the police without fear of deportation. Thats what Sheriff Keith Swank tried to do when he told The News Tribune this week that his department doesnt run the information of crime victims to see if they have legal status.

Its essential that anyone who needs to call 911, especially for their own safety or the safety of others, should be able to do that without hesitation or fear. (And it should be said that 911 doesnt lead directly to the Sheriffs Office. Its a dispatch service thats connected with first responders throughout the region.)

But the sheriffs policy isnt the only thing that matters when it comes to making people feel confident when calling law enforcement. Perceptions are important, too. So its odd that Swank would make his comments the same month he traveled to Washington, D.C., where he briefly met with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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Swank wants to focus on criminals, and thats good. But to make residents comfortable calling the Sheriffs Office, what Swank really needs to do is publicly say he supports due process for undocumented immigrants. As of now, hes aligned himself with an immigration policy that says the opposite.

Bondi is helping defend and carry out the Trump administrations deportation agenda. Thats the agenda that, in just 100 days, has racked up court challenges, raised constitutional questions and unleashed chaos on the lives of immigrants and visitors. Its an agenda that argues that non-citizens arent owed due process in the United States.

Sheriff Keith Swank (third from left, front) is shown in an undated photograph with other sheriffs from Washington state during a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in Washington, D.C.

Swank wasnt in D.C. to meet with Bondi. He was traveling with a group of Washington sheriffs to show support for Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, who is fighting for the ability to assist federal officials with immigration enforcement. Wagner is facing a lawsuit from Washington Attorney General Nick Brown for allegedly holding people in custody based solely on their immigration status and aiding immigration enforcement officials in other ways that violate state law.

Still, the photo op with the U.S. Attorney General sends a very specific message about where Swank is aligned on immigration.

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Nationally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deported people in its custody to El Salvador, where they were imprisoned with no chance to defend themselves from claims that they belong to gangs. Multiple federal judges have questioned the legal basis of those and other recent deportations.

In the Tacoma region, University of Washington international students saw their legal status terminated with no notification and little explanation. In one case, immigration officials based the termination on an unproven allegation of a non-violent crime, when federal law requires a conviction of a crime of violence in order to strip a students legal status. The government gave back legal status to many students, but not before turning their lives and education upside down.

Again, its important that Swank doesnt want to scare undocumented residents away from calling the police and reassuring to hear he doesnt run the information of crime victims. But when people are being threatened with deportation based on unproven allegations of crimes, who can be sure they wont be called a criminal once law enforcement gets involved?

Posing in a picture with Bondi while in D.C. to discuss how sheriffs can cooperate with federal immigration enforcement undermines Swanks reassurances. Acting like its silly for undocumented residents to worry is also not reassuring, given the disregard for due process on display from federal immigration officials.

If Swank wants undocumented residents to feel safe calling in his department, hell need to do more to prove it. He could start by saying he supports due process for all residents, regardless of their legal status.
By Christopher Scicluna and Ilze Filks

VALLETTA (Reuters) -A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists was bombed by drones in international waters off Malta early on Friday, its organisers said, alleging that Israel was to blame.

The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the allegation by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group.

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The Maltese government said the vessel and its crew were secured in the early hours of the morning after a nearby tug assisted with firefighting operations.

Turkey's foreign ministry said Turkish nationals were on board at the time of the incident and it was working with Maltese authorities to transfer them to a safe location.

"We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on a civilian ship," it said, noting that there were "allegations that the ship was targeted by Israeli drones".

"All necessary efforts will be made to reveal the details of the attack as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.

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Swedish activist Greta Thunberg told Reuters she was in Malta and had been supposed to board the ship as part of the Freedom Flotilla's planned action in support of Gaza, which is under blockade and bombardment by Israel.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down in March, with both sides blaming each other, and Israel sent troops back into Gaza and resumed airstrikes.

The NGO published video footage, filmed in darkness, showing a fire on one of its ships, the Conscience. The footage showed lights in the sky in front of the ship and the sound of explosions could be heard.

"Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade (of Gaza) and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters," it said.

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The Maltese government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call shortly after midnight local time from a vessel outside of territorial waters, with 12 crew members and four civilians on board, reporting a fire.

It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched. After several hours, the vessel and its crew were secure, it said, adding that crew had refused to board the tug.

'BREAK THE BLOCKADE'

A spokeswoman for the NGO, Caoimhe Butterly, said the attack took place as the ship was preparing for activists to board from another vessel. A transfer at sea had been planned rather than the ship going to harbour, for bureaucratic reasons, she said.

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Thunberg said the attack had "caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission".

"I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza, which is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and to do our part to keep trying to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza," she said in a Zoom interview.

Thunberg and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said there were 30 people on board, not 16 as the Maltese government said.

The coalition said it had been organising a non-violent action under a media blackout in order to avoid any potential sabotage.

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The Gaza war started after Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza in the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 52,000, according to Palestinian health officials.

Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the enclave, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out, according to international aid agencies.

Israel accuses the Hamas militants who have run Gaza of exploiting aid - which Hamas denies - and says it must keep all supplies out to prevent the fighters from getting it.

Another coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists died. Other ships have similarly been stopped and boarded, without loss of life.

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Hamas issued a statement about the incident off Malta, accusing Israel of "piracy" and "state terrorism".

(Reporting by Christopher Scicluna in Valletta, Ilze Filks in Stockholm and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul; Writing by Estelle Shirbon and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Saad Sayeed, William Maclean and Alex Richardson)
With an executive order supporting the growth of the American shipbuilding industry now in place, U.S. lawmakers are reintroducing a bipartisan bill designed to help carry out that mission.

Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) in reintroducing the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act in Congress Wednesday morning.

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The bill seeks to address a major national security concern surrounding Washingtonthere is a monumental gap in shipbuilding activity between the U.S. and China. Trumps EO already set in motion the creation of a shipbuilding office in the White House, formally titled the Office of Maritime and Industrial Capacity.

At its core, the SHIPS for America Act is designed to close this gap and boost the U.S. Merchant Marine by establishing national oversight and consistent funding for U.S. maritime policy, cutting red tape to make U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in global commerce, rebuilding the U.S. shipyard industrial base, and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training and retention.

There are currently 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce while China has 5,500.

After decades of dangerously neglecting our shipbuilding industry, were finally doing something about it, said Sen. Kelly, a U.S. Navy veteran and the first U.S Merchant Marine Academy graduate to serve in Congress. Building and staffing more U.S.-flagged ships will create good-paying American jobs, make our supply chains more resilient, lower costs, and strengthen our ability to resupply our military at times of war. Well keep working with our colleagues in Congress, this administration, and our partners in the industry to make our country safer and competitive by passing the SHIPS for America Act.

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The legislation now includes a goal to expand the U.S.-flag international fleet by 250 ships in 10 years with the creation of a strategic commercial fleet program. This objective was not included in the original version of the act introduced in December.

This program would provide support payments for capital and operational costs to encourage the introduction of new U.S.-built, -flagged and -crewed vessels.

Additionally, the bill would establish a maritime security advisor within the White House, who would lead an interagency maritime security board tasked with directing the national maritime strategy.

The SHIPS Act would carry out several other directives from President Donald Trumps EO, including the creation of a maritime security trust fund to provide funding for programs aimed at shoring up shipbuilding capacity. The high costs that come with building a military and commercial vessel have been a major barrieralongside a shortage of marinersin getting the U.S. shipbuilding industry back up to speed with its Chinese counterparts.

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Texas A&M Maritime Academy superintendent Michael Fossum, a former astronaut colleague of Sen. Kellys, said during a press conference at the Capitol that the act would provide the support needed to boost training program enrollment and revamp training berths without having to pass the costs down to students.

Build these new fleets, and we will get you the crews you need, Fossum said. But we have to get costs down to get students in the doors.

Cargo-carrying standards within the original December legislation remain in place. One section raises the percentage of U.S. government cargo that must sail on U.S.-flagged vessels from 50 percent to 100 percent. Another requires that within 15 years, 10 percent of all cargo imported from China must be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels.

And to make room for shipbuilding purposes, the bill would also expand the U.S. shipyard industrial base for both military and commercial oceangoing vessels by establishing a 25 percent investment tax credit for shipyard investments.

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As of March 1, U.S. vessels only carry 0.4 percent of global tonnage at sea, according to maritime intelligence service Clarksons Research. China leads the world in shipbuilding capacity moving 34.3 percent of global deadweight tons, while South Korea comes in at 31 percent and Japanese ships move 26 percent.

The newer bill further disincentivizes the operations of ships on foreign soil. Vessels repaired in Chinese yards were set to face a 200-percent tariff, but now repairs in other foreign countries would also face a new 70-percent dutyunless waived under strict new conditions.

The reintroduced bill and the EO follow the recent determination by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that determined China has an unreasonable dominance of maritime, logistics and shipbuilding capabilities that harm American commerce.

That ruling came after a nine-month probe into Chinas activities in those sectors, which was spurred by five unions alleging that the countrys domestic shipbuilding industry has been unfairly propped up by state subsidies and ship-purchasing mandates.

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Both the reintroduced bill and the executive order serve as an extension of President Trumps wider protectionist platform, which has largely served to deter Chinese influence on American interests.

The most notable action from the administration has been the imposition of 145-percent tariffs on Chinese goods, effectively escalating ongoing trade tensions into a full-blown trade war.

Other co-sponsors for the SHIPS for America Act include Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.).
Donald Trump, who saw an increase in support from rural voters in the 2024 election, is now seeing huge defections, according to a new PBS/NPR/Marist poll.

The poll taken last week found that only 40 percent of rural voters approve of Trumps job performance, down from 59 percent in February, according to Newsweek. Forty-five percent of respondents said they disapproved of Trumps performance in April, which is up from 37 percent who said they disapproved in February.

In the weeks between polls, Trump has unveiled a slate of policy directives that threaten the livelihoods of rural voters, including his sweeping reciprocal tariff policy that has undermined essential trade with Americas top trading partners.

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Last month, the European Commission agreed to levy tariffs of up to 25 percent on cigarettes from Florida, beef from Kansas and Nebraska, chicken from Louisiana, car parts from Michigan, and most importantly, soybeansof which the European Union bought $2.43 billions worth in 2024. Trump responded with his own insipid optimism, counseling everyone to BE COOL!

Farmers were also hurt by Trumps dismantling of USAID, which lost them $2 billion, and the administrations upending of programs for farms to provide produce for schools and food banks lost them at least another $1 billion.

Farmers arent the only rural residents hurt by Trumpworkers and small businesses have also been impacted by shrinking consumer confidence and fears about an impending economic recession caused by roiling markets. Some believe its already begun.

But thats only the tip of the iceberg. The presidents massive cuts to disaster preparedness programs threaten vulnerable rural regions that could be hit by the oncoming hurricane season. After Trump floated eliminating FEMA altogether, the agency stopped paying for temporary housing for more than 1,200 families displaced by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

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As recently as Friday, Trumps directive to slash federal funding at NPR and PBS would also disproportionately impact rural areas, which receive the most of the sliver of money granted by the government for educational and cultural programming.

The only group of voters, between those in urban, suburban, and rural areas who reported an increase in support for the president, were small-town voters, with 53 percent approving of his job performance, in an increase from 46 percent in February.

In the 2024 presidential election, a whopping 62 percent of rural voters supported Trump, while only 36 percent backed Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast. This demonstrated a 4 percent increase in rural support for Trump compared to 2020.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Shreveport police are on the scene of a reported shooting in Cedar Grove.

Caddo 911 records show the incident was called in at 12:09 p.m. on Friday, May 2, on W. 69th Street near St. Vincent Avenue and Dowdell Street. At least seven police units were on the scene.

Shooting victim transported to hospital, police investigate in Cedar Grove (Source: Jordan Johnson KTAL/KMSS)

Police say the victim is a young male with at least one gunshot wound to the lower body. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries police believe are life-threatening.

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The investigation is ongoing, and we will provide additional details as they are made available.

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SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLNS)  A shortage of firefighters caused a Mid-Michigan fire department to temporarily close one of its fire stations.

Fire Station 2 in Summit Township was closed from 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday due to staffing issues. The township supervisor said this wont happen again, but Summit/Jackson Professional Firefighters Union President Scott Stocker said hes not so sure.

We hope this was an isolated incident, but unfortunately, we dont believe thats the case, Said Stocker.

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Stocker said that Fire Station 2 got a call while it was closed, and Fire Station 1 had to respond, adding four to five minutes to the response time. The township supervisor, John Griffin, said this was a one-time thing.

We had two firefighters who had family emergencies yesterday, and we have two who are down in training in Detroit. Griffin continued, So this was just a happenstance of circumstance.

The township supervisor said there needed to be two people at each station, but they only had two workers, which led to Wednesdays temporary shutdown.

You have vacations, sick days, training, you have to have some flexibility, and we fell below because of those special circumstances yesterday, said Griffin.

The fire department is also down two staff members after recent retirements. Supervisor Griffin said the township is currently in contract negotiations with the firefighters union and plans to make new hires once the contract is finalized.

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We put the money in the budget, even a little deficit this year, to hire those firefighters. We want our police to be funded, we want our firefighters to be funded, Griffin said.

The union president said he would like to see the empty spots filled immediately, so when people do call out, there is more staff who can step in.

Its only been 30 days since two individuals retired, and we are seeing a station closed, Stocker continued. He can say its an isolated incident, but in the future its not going to be an isolated incident.

The township supervisor said he is waiting for a finalized contract to hire because there will be a new retirement policy that he wants new employees on. The union president said while they wait, he worries a closure cold happen again which causes other agencies to help answer the call.

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Officials say the contract ended on March 31, and negotiations continue.

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ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Rogers man is accused of shooting his mother multiple times with a crossbow, according to a probable cause affidavit.

According to a press release, Joseph Michael Alexander, 29, is facing charges of attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, interference with first-degree emergency communications and third-degree domestic battery.

Joseph Alexander

Courtesy: Benton County Sheriffs Office

Initial incident

Mary Alexander told police that at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, March 24, she had heard a cat meowing at her door and had gotten up to let the animal outside.

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She said shortly after, she felt like her eardrum had popped and saw blue.

Mike Alexander said he heard his wife scream, then found their adult son, Joseph Alexander, standing over her with a crossbow, according to court documents. Mary Alexander had multiple arrows in her head, Mike Alexander later told investigators.

Joseph Alexander then allegedly forced his way into their bedroom, took their phones and demanded money.

During the incident, Joseph Alexander allegedly made Mike Alexander send $2,000 via Cash App and transfer $1,400 in Bitcoin before demanding access to the couples bank account. When Mike Alexander said he did not know the code to the account, Joseph Alexander allegedly yelled at Mary Alexander, who was on the ground, to give it to him.

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Rogers man ordered to be held without bond in connection with fatal Springdale shooting

According to a probable cause affidavit, Joseph Alexander allegedly told Mike Alexander, You need to give me what is mine, or else Im going to have to go to the next level.

The affidavit says Mike Alexander eventually convinced Joseph Alexander to go into the garage with him. Mike Alexander told detectives he tried to reason and talk Joseph Alexander down, and during that exchange, Joseph Alexander allegedly said, Dont worry about it, Dad, shes dead.

When the two men returned inside, Mary Alexander had fled the scene.

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Mary Alexander later told detectives she played dead while Joseph Alexander demanded money from Mike Alexander. While lying on the ground, she heard Joseph Alexander allegedly say to Mike Alexander, I wont kill you because that will be a double homicide.

After Joseph Alexander left in Mike Alexanders white Toyota Tacoma, she crawled to the bedroom to find a phone, then used her walker to reach a neighbors house.

At 8:08 a.m., a neighbor called 911, reporting that Mary Alexander had been shot in the face with an arrow.

First responders found Mary Alexander inside the neighbors home with multiple arrows lodged in her face and head and transported her to a local hospital for treatment.

Arrest in Missouri

Later that day, deputies in Stone County, Missouri, located the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop Joseph Alexander.

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Mental evaluation filed for man at center of viral Crawford County arrest

Joseph Alexander reportedly led them on a high-speed chase before crashing. Deputies tased him after a struggle and took him into custody.

Paramedics on the scene said Joseph Alexander confessed to shooting his mother. One EMT reported that Joseph Alexander claimed he had been petting a cat at home when his mother made a comment that upset him.

He allegedly said he grabbed a toy crossbow, shot Mary Alexander once, and when she screamed, shot her two more times.

Interview with investigators

In a recorded interview with investigators, Joseph Alexander allegedly admitted to breaking into his parents home and shooting his mother. When asked for a motive, he stated, I didnt have a reason. I just lost my cool I thought she was going after my cat.

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The interview allegedly included the following exchange:

Detective Jason Beeler: You had to have shot her for a reason?

Joseph Alexander: I didnt have a reason; I just lost my cool. I woke up, and I thought that she was, like, going after my cat for some reason. I just, like, literally just stood up and lost my shit because of my cat.

Det. Beeler: You shot your mom in the head three times because of a cat?

Joseph Alexander: Ya, like that is the best process I understand of what happened.

Joseph Alexander said in the interview that he walked from his home in Rogers to his parents house and entered through his old bedroom window to avoid waking them. He said he quietly moved around the house for the same reason.

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Joseph Alexander is currently being held at the Benton County Jail on a $750,000 cash only bond. No court dates have been filed as of May 2.

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SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTAL/KMSS)  A Shreveport man previously convicted of first degree rape of a prepubescent girl into her teen years was sentenced to life in prison April 30, 2025.

Donovan E. Phillips, 42, is charged with first-degree rape in connection with the sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. (Photo: Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office)

Donovan Phillips, 46, must serve a life sentence without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. He must also register as a sex offender for life.

Phillips was convicted on April 9 in District Judge Chris Victorys court. The victim says the abuse started when she was 7. It continued until she was 12. The abuse ended in May 2020, the victim informed her mother that September, and Donovan was charged in January 2021.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A Shreveport woman, who authorities say was the ringleader of a bank fraud conspiracy, has been sentenced.

Man in federal prison for illegal firearms sentenced in bank fraud conspiracy

24-year-old Destane Glass was sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks ordered that her sentence run consecutively to the 37-month federal prison sentence she is currently serving, bringing her total prison time to 14 years. Glass was indicted last year, along with 20 other defendants connected to the case.

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According to the United States Attorneys Office, Alexander C. Van Hook, Glass, and her co-conspirators conspired to commit bank fraud at USAA Savings Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Glass is said to have been the ringleader, directing and recruiting others to participate in the scheme.

Woman believed to be part of check fraud ring wanted by Shreveport police

Glass and the other defendants obtained account holder information to create counterfeit checks. She instructed her co-defendants to target elderly bank customers with high balances, as they were less likely to check their bank accounts regularly. Glass created counterfeit checks totaling $2,149,621 on USAA Bank from accounts accessed by her accomplices. Additionally, she used social media and other methods to recruit individuals in the Shreveport area, encouraging them to deposit the counterfeit checks into their bank accounts.

All of the other defendants charged in this case have now pleaded guilty and received their sentences.

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After a five-year hiatus, the Tacoma Historical Society is reviving its historic homes tour  a rare opportunity for people to see some of Tacomas oldest homes from the inside.

Featuring six homes and a church, the tour will take place May 3-4 through Tacomas Stadium District. The homes range from the iconic and recently renovated Rust mansion to the twin Fitch and Achilles houses, which were designed to look like mirror images of each other.

Bill Baarsma, a former Tacoma mayor and president emeritus of the Tacoma Historical Society, said the group decided to bring the tours back this year to celebrate the citys 150th anniversary.

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This years tour will feature the Rust Mansion  named for William Ross Rust, the namesake for the city of Ruston  which Baarsma said will be open for public viewing for the first time ever during the tour.

Fortunately, the Rust Mansion was never torn down, thankfully, and these other houses, the owners have just lovingly restored them and are excited to give people the opportunity to tour them, he told The News Tribune.

The foyer of the Hoska House includes original woodwork on the stairs leading to the second floor and wallpaper intended to match what would likely be the homes original style on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, along North D Street in Tacoma, Wash.

The historical societys 26th iteration of the tour also includes a stop at the First Presbyterian Church which, while not a home, fits in as the church is also celebrating its 100th anniversary, Baarsma said.

Historical society board member Elaine Hilton said she expects the tour to sell out, and the historical society had nearly 200 volunteers sign up to be docents. People are particularly excited about the possibility of finally seeing the Rust Mansion from the inside, she told The News Tribune.

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If you live in the North End, you can drive by these beautiful Victorian homes, older homes, but unless you know those people, you dont get to go inside, Hilton said. People are just intrigued, just intrigued to be able to see them.

The 1905 Rust Mansion at 1001 N. I Street in Tacoma has undergone a top-to-bottom restoration.

Real estate developer Ashley Burks restoration of the Rust Mansion includes a handful of novelties like silk wallpaper, imported Italian marble and French tapestries, Hilton said.

The mansion isnt the only well-known stop on the tour. Baarsma said the Hurley House, built in 1891, was featured in the 1992 thriller, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. The houses basement, includes a tunnel that leads to an underground archery range and bowling alley. The Franke Tobey Jones House will also feature a reenactor in costume at the house who will welcome participants into the home and share facts about its history, he said.

An original fireplace at the historical Hoska House includes an inlaid Czech hunting scene, pictured on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, along North D Street in Tacoma, Wash.

Of all the tours that Ive been involved in, Ive participated in at least 10, this lineup of homes is pretty extraordinary, probably the most extraordinary, Baarsma said.

Tickets to the historic homes tour and more information can be found at tacomahistory.org/hometour. Early-bird prices are available before the event kicks off on May 3, with member tickets at $30 and non-member tickets at $35. Day-of ticket pricing is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Siloam Springs investigators are sharing more information about how they decided to charge 19-year-old Trevor Shipman, with making a terroristic threat.

We treat every threat as though its a serious threat, said Siloam Springs Police Deputy Chief Derek Spicer.

Spicer says officers from Siloam Springs PD jumped into action after Shipman left a threatening comment on the departments Facebook page under an anonymous screen name. The comment, posted on April 25, said the Dogwood Festival would be the perfect time for me to do acts of terrorism and arson, according to the affidavit.

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Siloam Springs man accused of making social media threats about Dogwood Festival

Especially with what occurred in Vancouver or what occurred in New Orleans. Things that are happening all over the world and in our country, you have to take those kinds of threats very seriously and you have to act as quickly as you can, Spicer said.

Shipman was later arrested on April 25 for falsely reporting a terrorist threat. However, Spicer says, regardless of whether or not the comment was intended as a joke, its still not to be taken lightly.

If they think a Class B felony is funny, spending 10 to 20 years in prison is funny and scaring thousands and thousands of individuals is funny, then, you know, we cant really change that. If someone is going down that road, theres not a whole lot we can do. We just are forced to react, Spicer said.

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According to the affidavit, it took investigators just over an hour to find Shipmans location and his identity, allowing them to quickly shut down the threat.

Our officers just jumped into action and began working through the steps, and were able to take care of it. Within about 2 hours, we had the suspect in custody, Spicer said.

Shipman is currently still being held in the Benton County jail on a bond of $150,000. He is set to appear in court on June 2 at 8 a.m.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 25 years for the sexual abuse of a child over the course of five years.

Kyle Hough, 42, was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison and a $1,000 fine. He must also pay court costs. Hough was sentenced to 25 years for second-degree sexual abuse and 10 years for lascivious acts with the two terms being served consecutively.

Man found guilty of vehicular homicide, OWI for deadly 2023 crash

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A jury found Hough guilty to both counts on March 7 after a mistrial had been declared on Nov. 7, 2024.

Houghs lawyer filed a motion for a new trial on April 21. The motion claims the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence saying the case against Hough relied on a bath mat that didnt exist during part of the timeline. The defense claimed that a piece of evidence, a bath mat, was purchased in 2021, while a rug incident occurred in 2018 or 2019. The defense also claimed that the victims testimony was riddled with inconsistencies.

Hough was arrested on May 8, 2023, after an arrest warrant had been issued five days earlier.

According to court documents, from about April 6, 2017 to April 6, 2022, Hough had the female victim perform varying types of sex acts on him. The victim was between six and 10 years old during this time frame.

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Luke Malik contributed to this report.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  After months of renovations and repairs following last summers historic flooding, the Sioux City Railroad Museum is celebrating with a grand re-opening event for the whole family.

9 Things To Do This Weekend

The Family Day Celebration will take place Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be pony rides, a bouncy house, family metal detecting, LEGO train displays, Pete the Balloon Man and of course train rides.

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Theres no specific cost for entry, but free will donations will be accepted.

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DARLINGTON, S.C. (WBTW)  Darlington City Councilwoman Elaine Reed is facing a third-degree assault-and-battery charge after her arrest by SLED, records show.

Reed was booked into the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center shortly after noon on Thursday and released after posting a $500 personal-recognizance bond. Jail records indicate her arrest stemmed from an incident on Oct. 5.

Im not a fa-, either: Darlington mayor uses anti-gay slur during city council meeting

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Reed told a News13 reporter Friday morning that her arrest had to do with something that happened several months ago but did not go into any details.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed in October that Reed and her son, Cisco, were being investigated in connection with separate assault allegations. The Darlington County Sheriffs Office and the Darlington Police Department requested the investigation after separate alleged incidents in their respective jurisdictions.

A Darlington police report dated Oct. 6 indicated that officers responded to a home on Tallulah Street to investigate a possible assault. Thats when Cisco Reed told officers he was approached by a man while he was mowing grass on Chestnut Street about an incident the night before involving Ciscos mother, who allegedly scratched the mans face.

Cisco Reed told officers the man shoved his phone in his face to show him the incident from the night before, the report said. Reed said he shoved the man, who then left.

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A warrant provided by SLED shows Cisco Reed grabbed the man by his neck and shoved him repeatedly against his vehicle. The man was later diagnosed with four fractured ribs. Cisco was charged with second-degree assault and battery.

Elaine Reed told News13 in October that there might have been a dispute of some kind but that she was not involved in an assault. She said the accusations are gossip and rumors meant to demean and paint a city council member in a bad light.

* * *

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.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Trump administrations tariffs on Chinese goods affect the prices for strollers and car seats, according to Three Littles store owner Elizabeth Mann.

There is not a single stroller or car seat that is manufactured exclusively in the United States with exclusively American products, Mann said.

She said strollers and car seats are seeing price increases from $50 to $300, across the board. Some manufacturers are taking strollers off store shelves entirely, and choosing to sell them directly to purchasers, because of low supply, she said.

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President Donald Trump said the U.S. is in a period of necessary transition, to bring manufacturing back.

Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, President Trump said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Mann said fewer toys or secondhand toys for children may not be the worst thing for families. But she said car seats are a necessity.

You need a car seat to come home from the hospital. You need a car seat to drive in a car with a baby. You need a car seat no matter what, Mann said, talking about the necessity.

Experts dont recommend using secondhand car seats, because they may be expired, have missing parts, be damaged or have been recalled. Seats involved in crashes can be damaged and may not protect the child in another crash.

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The Trump administration offered brief tariff exemptions for phones and technology made in China. Mann said she hopes they do the same for car seats and strollers.

The White House did not respond to an emailed question about whether President Trump is considering that exception.

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LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL)  A Smiths Station woman has been arrested after allegedly breaking into multiple vehicles parked at a church and an elementary school, stealing a variety of personal items.

According to the Lee County Sheriffs Office, the investigation began February 17, 2025, after several vehicles were reportedly burglarized at Smiths Station Baptist Church on Lee Road 430. More than a month later, on April 8, additional break-ins were reported in the parking lot of West Smiths Station Elementary School on Lee Road 295.

Items allegedly stolen from the vehicles included makeup, clothing, pillows, gift cards, and a purse.

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Investigators say video surveillance helped identify 30-year-old Madison Daye Phillips of Smiths Station as a suspect. During a subsequent interview, Phillips reportedly admitted to committing all of the crimes according to investigators.

On April 30, Phillips was arrested and charged with:

Four counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle

Four counts of Theft of Property, 4th Degree

One count of Theft of Property, 3rd Degree

She was released from the Lee County Jail after posting a $17,500 bond.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at (334) 749-5651

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About three hours after 133 Catholic cardinals from around the world were sequestered in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to pick Pope Francis successor, smoke started pouring out of a closely watched chimney.

The smoke was black, which means the cardinals first vote did not produce a new pope.

Black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 on Wednesday evening, signalling that a first ballot has been held at the conclave and has concluded without the election of a Pope.https://t.co/hlmAJdskTO pic.twitter.com/AKxuUbDK2g  Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2025

The conclave will continue on Thursday, when participants will take up to four more votes.

After inconclusive votes, the chimney will produce black smoke, as it did on Wednesday.

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When the final, successful vote takes place, the smoke will be white.

Firefighters have attached the chimney to the top of the Sistine Chapel, where all eyes will be glued as people look to see smoke announcing whether a new Pope has been elected. https://t.co/TrBZTFLqOi pic.twitter.com/T45rztktT0  Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 2, 2025

Wednesdays black smoke did not come as a surprise to Vatican watchers, who felt that there was no consensus around one candidate heading into the conclave.

How does a conclave work?

A conclave brings together Catholic cardinals from around the world.

Cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote, per the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

When the conclave begins, cardinals are sealed into the Sistine Chapel. The locked doors help ensure that the results of inconclusive rounds of voting wont be leaked, as does the oath of secrecy that participants must take.

The Vatican fire brigade has put up the chimney stack, which will announce the election of the new Pope.



The Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to begin the conclave to select the next Pope.



Twice a day, in the morning (except on May 7) and in the evening, pic.twitter.com/JZMtD3nvjQ  Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 2, 2025

The cardinals vote by secret ballot, processing one by one up to Michelangelos fresco of the Last Judgment, saying a prayer and dropping the twice-folded ballot in a large chalice. Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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All baptized Catholic males, including males who are not priests, are eligible to become the pope, but cardinals participating in the conclave typically only vote for one of their colleagues.

For the last 600-plus years, the College of Cardinals has picked one of their own, PBS reported.

In March 2013, the successful vote  the vote that led to Pope Francis becoming pope  took place about 24 hours after the conclave began, as the Deseret News previously reported.

It was the fifth round of voting.

What makes the conclave smoke white or black?

After every round of voting during a conclave, the ballots are burned with chemicals in a process that enables the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to communicate with the outside world.

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Ballots from an unsuccessful round of voting are burned with a mixture of chemicals that produce black smoke.

Ballots from the final, successful vote are burned with chemicals that produce white smoke.

People in Rome look for smoke four times a day when a conclave is happening: mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening, according to USA Today.

Those times in Rome correspond with around 2:30 a.m., 4 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. MDT.

The article noted that theres typically only one vote taken on the first day of a conclave and that it happens near the end of the day.

When did smoke become part of the conclave?

The pairing of white and black smoke has only been part of the conclave since 1903, according to NBC News.

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Before then, the church relied on a single type of smoke, bells or cannons to keep those outside the College of Cardinals updated on what was happening.

White smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. The white smoke indicates that the new pope has been elected. | Gregorio Borgia

Catholic leaders had to overcome some mishaps before they settled on the current set-up of using chemicals to produce white and black smoke.

At first, damp straw was used to blacken the smoke, but it didnt always produce a definitive shade. In 1958, after two false alarms, someone got the bright idea to buy smoke bombs. The color was right, but they filled the Sistine Chapel with smoke, NBC News reported.

Although theyve been refining the system of using white and black smoke signals for more than 100 years, its still not perfect, the article said.

Sometimes, smoke thats meant to be black or white turns out to be gray.
A conglomeration of internet providers and social media sites is suing the state of Georgia over a law they say infringes on their First Amendment rights.

This law required those children under 16 to get parental permission to open up a social media account. It also limited what kinds of ads those sites could show to children.

But in a federal lawsuit filed on Thursday, that conglomeration of providers like Google, Facebook, X and others insist that law simply infringes on their rights of free speech.

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Channel 2s Richard Elliot spoke with NetChoices director of litigation, Paul Taske, who told said its about the First Amendment.

It fundamentally violates the Constitution. And so, because the First Amendment protects the ability to access speech, because this law infringes on that ability, it means the law will ultimately be struck down and it wont actually advance the ball of protecting anyone or making anyone safer, Taske said.

The lawsuit names Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr in his official role.

He sent me a statement that said, Its a shame that the industry would rather file a lawsuit than protect children from online predators.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A heartbroken mother choked back tears Thursday while sharing memories of her son, Jose Castro.

He was killed Sunday when a boat crashed into the back of the Clearwater ferry.

Entire legal team representing plastic surgeon on trial for Pinellas murder quits

Carmen Ulloa was in Peru when she got the devastating news that her son had been killed.

She immediately flew to Tampa, grief stricken.

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On Thursday, she spoke to News Channel 8 in Spanish. The following quotes are translated to English.

It has been horrible for me, she cried. Terrible.

I cant sleep at night, Ulloa continued. I stay awake calling for my little son, thinking that suddenly Im going to see him.

At the time this article was written, Castros family had raised over $35,000 on GoFundMe.

Ulloa said shes thankful for the immense community support in such a heartbreaking situation.

I feel very grateful to everyone, but no one will bring my son back to me, she said. No one will bring my son back to me.

Now, shes calling for justice.

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I demand justice for my son, she pleaded. Let there be justice.

There must be justice in this country, Ulloa continued. So, my sons death cannot go unpunished.

No one has been charged with a crime in connection to Sundays collision.

Earlier this week, News Channel 8 obtained a copy of the following letter from the attorney representing the other boats operator, Jeff Knight.

Letter-Re-Clearwater-Ferry-Incident--Representation-of-Mr.-Jeffrey-Knight--Request-for-Preservation-of-EvidenceDownload

J. Kevin Hayslett said, immediately after the collision, Knight directed a passenger on his own boat to call 911, then tied his vessel to the ferry to render aid.

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Hayslett also questioned whether the ferry was properly lit.

Castros sister, Sandy Todd, said she was disappointed to read that letter.

What he did was he kill(ed) my brother in that accident, with whatever, any reason, light, no light who knows, she said. Any excuse is not going to bring my brother back.

A celebration of life for Castro will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home on Belcher Road in Clearwater.

The public is invited, and a prayer service will follow.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Oleksandr Bohuslayev, son of Motor Sich's former president Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, was detained in Monaco on fraud charges linked to a $650 million asset scheme, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced on May 2.

Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, the former president of Motor Sich, Ukraine's leading aircraft engine manufacturer, is kept in custody since 2022 on charges of collaboration with Russia.

Investigators claim Oleksandr Bohuslayev helped his father illegally obtain shares in the strategic defense manufacturer, before selling them to third parties.

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He faces up to 12 years in prison.

The scheme reportedly began before Russia's full-scale invasion when the then-president of Motor Sich organized a company asset inventory that artificially lowered the value of its shares.

He subsequently purchased 65% of these devalued shares and transferred most of them to six offshore entities owned by his son, authorities claim.

The suspects allegedly sold the misappropriated assets to foreign companies and used the proceeds to purchase luxury real estate across the European Union.

The arrest resulted from a joint operation between SBU, the Prosecutor General's Office, and law enforcement in Monaco and France.

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The SBU reported that searches were conducted simultaneously at the coastal villa in Monaco and at properties belonging to affiliated individuals in Zaporizhzhia, where Motor Sich headquarters are located.

Former Motor Sich president Vyacheslav Bohuslayev was arrested in October 2022 and charged with working for Russia.

Bohuslayev and one of his deputies, Oleh Dzyuba, were accused of conspiring to supply engine parts for Russian helicopters. Bohuslayev maintains Russian citizenship.

The corporate rights of five major companies, including Motor Sich, were seized "for the needs of the state" and came under Defense Ministry management on Nov. 6, 2022.

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Bohuslayev now faces additional criminal charges related to his son's fraud scheme, SBU says.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Oleksandr Bohuslaiev, son of former Motor Sich CEO Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, has been detained in Monaco following a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the Prosecutor General's Office and law enforcement agencies from partner countries. He and his father are implicated in a case involving the embezzlement of assets from Motor Sich, a Ukrainian industrial giant.

Source: SSU; Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office

Quote from the Prosecutor General's Office: "The son of the former president of Motor Sich Joint-Stock Company laundered over US$650 million in criminal proceeds in France and Monaco, among other locations, between 2016 and 2025.

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In April 2025, members of a joint investigation team  prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office and SSU officers  took part in the searches, detention, and interrogation of the former CEO's son in the Principality of Monaco, conducted by the competent local law enforcement agencies. The investigation revealed numerous valuable assets registered to persons controlled by the former owner. His son was served with a notice of suspicion for laundering criminal proceeds on a particularly large scale."

Details: According to the case file, the detainee assisted his father in unlawfully acquiring a controlling stake in a state-owned company before the start of the full-scale war, later selling it to third parties for US$650 million.

Investigators believe that to carry out the scheme, Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, then CEO of Motor Sich, arranged for an inventory of the company's assets that deliberately undervalued its shares.

He then purchased 65% of the securities at the reduced price and transferred most of them to six offshore companies controlled by his son.

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The SSU reports that the stolen assets were later legalised by selling them to foreign firms, with the proceeds used to acquire luxury real estate in the EU.

As part of the international investigation, simultaneous searches have been carried out at the detainee's seaside villa in Monaco and at the homes of affiliated persons in Zaporizhzhia.

Searches at affiliated companies in Zaporizhzhia.

Photo: SSU

Oleksandr Bohuslaiev has been served with a notice of suspicion under Article 209.3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (legalisation (laundering) of the proceeds of crime committed by an organised group on a particularly large scale).

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Ukrainian law enforcement officers also served new notices of suspicion on Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, who is currently in custody on charges of collaboration with Russia. His actions are additionally classified under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Article 191.5 (misappropriation of property through abuse of office committed on a particularly large scale by an organised group);

Article 27.3, Article 209.3 (organisation of legalisation (laundering) of the proceeds of crime committed by an organised group on a particularly large scale).

Background:

In Ukraine, Bohuslaiev is accused of aiding and abetting Russia as an aggressor state, collaboration, facilitating the activities of a terrorist organisation, and more recently, opposing the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

He remains in a pre-trial detention centre and denies all charges.

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See also: Battalion Monaco  a video investigation by Ukrainska Pravda revealing how certain wealthy Ukrainian businessmen and officials moved to Monaco and other luxurious locations following the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Reform is storming England. Nigel Farages party won not only in Runcorn and Helsby, but won its first mayor in Greater Lincolnshire, pushed the Greens into third place in the West of England and is winning around forty per cent of the vote so far in Englands council elections.

Those are big gains compared to 2021, but crucially they show an improvement in performance since last years general election too. Analysis by J.L. Partners for the Telegraph shows that their share of the vote in Greater Lincolnshire, the West of England, North Tyneside and Doncaster grew substantially on 2024  likely coming mainly from Labour. Even in the heady days of UKIP, Farage never made game-changing inroads in local government. This morning, we can say on the basis of real votes as well as the polls that Nigel Farage has never been more popular.

For those with an ear to the ground, this should not come as a surprise. In March I ran a focus group in Grimsby, at the heart of the Greater Lincolnshire region that Andrea Jenkyns won for Reform this morning. The participants were nothing short of apocalyptic about the future of Britain. They described a nation crippled by mass migration, haunted by rising crime, struggling with the long hangover of the Covid pandemic, all while represented by legions of politicians who did not represent their concerns. Reform was the obvious choice.

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As a pollster, I am often asked to look into the crystal ball: what will happen between now and 2029? Last nights results made the foggy aspect ahead a tiny bit clearer.

I think there are broadly three paths the political fortunes of the main parties can take in the next four years.

First, a continuation of the status quo that we have seen since the last general election. Reform and the Conservatives both continue to poll in the mid-twenties but struggle to break away from each other. Because of the distribution of seats in England  there are very few genuine third-way marginals  this will not mean that Reform or the Conservatives sneak through the middle in lots of seats but will instead mean that Labour is the beneficiary. A split Right means it is Labour that does best. In such a scenario you could envisage Reform winning around 100 seats, the Conservatives about 150, and Labour holding onto government through to 2034. That is, I think, still the most likely path of the three.

The second is one for the Tory optimists. In this path, there is a leadership change at the top of the party, perhaps at the end of 2026, precipitated by a breakout of total panic about the rise of Reform. MPs settle on the answer  probably Rob Jenrick  and through a combination of political nous and sheer luck, manage to squeeze Farages party to around fifteen per cent in the polls.

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Then the Reform leader  not a man who wants to spend decades in Parliament without power  may settle for a deal between the two. The Conservatives would be able to make the argument that only they can beat Labour and form a government. There are a lot of what ifs in this plan: even writing it I struggle to be convinced, but it is probably the best bet the Conservatives have of remaining the clear alternative option to Labour.

The third is a path made more likely by the events of yesterdays elections. Reform breaks away, regularly polling close to 30 per cent in the opinion polls while the Tories fall into the teens. They become  through a combination of Farages prominence and a snowball effect of impressive election results  the effective second option in British politics. They would have real electoral clout, mass defections from the Tories, and the potential to genuinely write a new chapter of British politics. They would probably still struggle to win a majority without some sort of deal with the Tories, but would convincingly be the senior partner in any accommodation with the Conservatives.

There is another person who might help pave the way to such an outcome: Keir Starmer. Labour strategists might have already decided that their man fares better in an election in which Nigel Farage is seen as Starmers main opponent rather than a Conservative leader. In my polling, Starmer performs better against Farage on the question of who the best Prime Minister would be, even though Farage gets a bigger number of people choosing him than Kemi Badenoch does. The reason is that Starmer pulls in votes from wavering Liberal Democrats and Greens who are genuinely fearful of Farage. The PM has the power to define the next electoral battle, and he might decide to amplify Farage in doing so.

The scenario in which Reform surges has pitfalls too. Reforms success is heavily dependent on the charisma and leadership of Nigel Farage. By keeping the party from going to the fringes of the Right, he has made himself a palatable option to mild-mannered Brits who would shrink at the prospect of a British Marine Le Pen or AfD. If he departs  or infighting brings him down  then the Reform star could dwindle as quickly as it lit up last night.

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I still think the beneficiary of all this is Labour. We saw that in the mayoralties they hung onto last night, winning on small shares of the vote (33 per cent in Doncaster, 30 per cent in North Tyneside, a pathetic 25 per cent in the West of England) but winning nonetheless due to a split Right. But if Reform pulls away, we could be looking at a very different chapter of British history. The coverage of this weeks results could matter more than the dynamics behind the results themselves: the more people see Reform doing well, the more likely they are to vote for them.

One thing is for sure. Democracy is alive and well in Britain. Six people decided the Reform win in Runcorn and Helsby yesterday. Those six people could have just decided the future of the country.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
By Siyanda Mthethwa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African court found a mother and two accomplices guilty on Friday of kidnapping and trafficking her 6-year-old daughter, in a case that gained nationwide attention since the child went missing last year.

Joshlin Smith, then 6, disappeared from her home in the small town of Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, in Western Cape province on February 19, 2024 and a nationwide search began. She has not been found.

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Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Apollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn were accused of selling the child for a fee. A judge at the Western Cape High Court found all three guilty of kidnapping and trafficking on Friday.

"The conduct of ... Ms Smith is not that of a concerned parent. And why not? In my mind the only inference is that you knew (what happened)," said Judge Nathan Erasmus on Friday, addressing Smith, who sat in the courtroom but did not speak.

In a case that shocked South Africa, one of the witnesses had said in court that Smith told her she had sold her daughter to a sangoma, or traditional healer, for 20,000 rand ($1,100) and that the girl was desired for her "eyes and skin".

The judge did not say in his ruling who the girl was sold to or why.

The three convicted will be remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

($1 = 18.3833 rand)

(Reporting by Siyanda Mthethwa; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Alex Richardson)
Five teachers from across the state of South Dakota have been named teachers of the year for their region, and could be named the South Dakota Teacher of the Year in the months to come.

The regional teachers of the year, listed by their region number, are:

Jenna Sinner, a high school science teacher in Webster. Gina Sershen, a fifth grade science teacher at Brandon Valley Intermediate School. Becky Haenfler, a fifth-seventh grade English language arts teacher in Avon. Jennifer Anders, a high school math teacher in Buffalo. Ann Anderson, a fifth grade teacher in Belle Fourche.

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Naming of the regional teachers of the year on May 2 comes ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week in South Dakota on May 5-9.

More: Volga kindergarten teacher Amy Verhelst named South Dakota's Teacher of the Year

South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joe Graves will visit each of the regional winners classrooms before the end of the school year to recognize their efforts. Graves said in a statement that visiting these outstanding teachers is a highlight of my job.

Amy Verhelst (left), a kindergarten teacher at Sioux Valley Elementary School in Volga, was named South Dakotas 2025 Teacher of the Year. Pictured with South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joe Graves (right).

Whether its in a small school or a large one, I am able to see teachers who have mastered their craft, and I can see the impact they make on each student in their classrooms, Graves said. The amount of work and care these teachers demonstrate every day is inspirational.

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Over the summer, a panel will select one of the regional finalists to be the 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, to be named in the fall. They will then go on to be South Dakotas candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota names 2025 regional teachers of the year. See the list:
The City of South Fulton celebrated its eighth anniversary Thursday evening with a State of the City event at the Southwest Arts Center  marking a milestone that comes amid political controversy and the announcement that Mayor Khalid Kamau will not seek re-election.

In what amounted to a farewell address, Kamau reflected on his time in office with a mix of humor and pride, acknowledging a turbulent year while emphasizing accomplishments from his eight years on the City Council and as mayor.

I will not be seeking another term, Kamau said during his speech. The next seven months will be about making sure our citizens win.

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City officials and residents gathered to commemorate the citys progress since its incorporation in 2017.

City Manager Sharon Subadan highlighted several major developments, including the construction of a new police headquarters and fire training facility, as well as the purchase of land for a permanent city hall.

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Despite the progress, the city has faced internal challenges.

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Kamau was brought under investigation for purchasing a pool table for his office, using city funds for a trip to Ghana, and more.

The city also garnished his wages for a mural in his office. He was briefly banned from City Hall.

Still, many residents remain supportive of the citys direction.

I love this area, said South Fulton business owner Tommie Muhammad. I dont have a direct complaint or issue. It hasnt negatively impacted me, my family or anyone in the circles I run in.

Subadan acknowledged the concerns but assured citizens that the city remains on the right track.

While there is concern, I would reassure the citizens of South Fulton that the city is a city on the rise, she said. We are well managed. We are well run. Were not perfect, but were constantly striving to improve.

South Fulton voters will elect new leadership on November 4.
Its wintertime. The water is cold, and the air even more frigid. The waves might be crashing. The wind could be blowing. And still, short of a storm, Haenyeo will be out in the water. The aging, all-women group of free divers embody a many-generation tradition on the Korean island of Jeju. Like the centuries of women who came before them, the Haenyeo, which translates to sea women, spend whole days holding their breath below the surfacea minute or two at a time to harvest abalone, urchin, seaweed, and mollusks by hand.



Subsistence freediving can be traced back thousands of years in the region. Spending so much time underwater over many millennia has equipped the Haenyeo and their relatives with certain genetic advantages, according to some new research. Divers and other Jeju natives share gene variants related to cold tolerance and reduced diving blood pressure, according to the study published May 2 in the journal Cell Reports. These variants gained evolutionary ground because of the intense selective pressures diving brings, the study authors suggest.

Many human populations carry traits evolved in response to their lifestyle or environment. In mountainous regions around the world, people often share genes linked to high-elevation survival. The result is traits like altered hemoglobin boosts Tibetans and Andeans ability to thrive in the thin air at altitude. Lactose tolerance popped up among subsets of historically cow-herding people, to enable more comfortable and less risky dairy drinking. And diving, too, can drive adaptation.

Diving is really dangerous, Melissa Ilardo, senior study author and an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Utah, tells Popular Science. Even the most experienced swimmers can pass out underwater, get stuck, or end up dragged along by a current. Over time, it makes sense that people living in diving cultures would evolve ways to minimize the threats.

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Past work from Ilardo has shown that nomadic Bajau divers in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have especially large spleens. Even Bajau people who dont dive seem to share this trait, suggesting its the product of genetics, not training.

A group of Haenyeo divers in Jeju, Korea. CREDIT: Melissa Ilardo.

When humans submerge under water, our mammalian dive reflex kicks in and a suite of physiological changes occur. Heart rate slows, peripheral blood vessels contract, blood pressure rises, and organs adjust their operations. The spleen, which plays a role in blood storage and filtering, contracts to help circulate more oxygenated blood as part of the reflex. A larger spleen means a bigger oxygen boost while diving.

Given those 2018 findings, Ilardo was eager to see if other diving populations have developed the same spleen strategy. That really opened up this whole world. [We thought], there are other diving populations out there, and maybe the Bajau arent the only ones who have evolved to be better divers.

[ Related: The worlds best freedivers seem to have evolved super-sized spleens. ]



To find out, she and her colleagues sequenced full genome samples from about 30 Haenyeo divers, 30 non-divers from Jeju, and 30 women from Seoul, as a genetic control. Then, they surveyed the DNA for genes under selection.They did this by looking for variants that appeared in higher frequency in the Jeju population than the Seoul group, and comparing it to wider, previously collected population-level samples.

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The researchers also collected physiological data on the participants at a normal baseline, and during simulated dives where subjects held their breath while submerging their faces in cold water. They used this information to track physical differences between the groups.

We were sort of expecting that they would share the same variants as the people from Indonesia, says Diana Aguilar-Gomez, lead study author and an evolutionary biologist and geneticist at UCLA. But, ultimately, spleen size wasnt what set the Jeju and Haenyeo population apart.

A Haenyeo diver carries a net full of seafood on her back while walking along a rocky shoreline in Jeju, Korea. CREDIT: Ho-Joon Lee.

Instead, the scientists found that blood pressure was the big divider. Divers and non-divers alike from the island population maintained a much lower diastolic blood pressure (about 10 mmHg lower) during dive tests than the Seoul population. In their genetic survey, they found that a gene variant linked with lower diastolic blood pressure was more frequent in the Jeju group.It was present in about one third of Jeju natives, compared with only a single digit percentage of mainland Koreans. At least two other gene variants under significant selection were also present: one variant linked with red blood cell count and another related to pain and cold sensitivity.

The cold sensitivity factor is self-explanatory. Haenyeo were diving in thin cotton bodysuits until wetsuits came on the scene in the 1980s. I cant imagine, says Ilardo. It mustve provided no thermal protection at all. And the red blood cell variant is likely to be related to spleen function and blood oxygen levels.

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However, the blood pressure finding was a surprise. It wasnt until the scientists were presenting early findings at a conference, that an audience member helped them piece together a possible explanation. He said, Im a maternal health specialist, and this makes complete sense to me, recounts Ilardo. Now, we think this adaptation is actually protecting divers and their unborn children as theyre diving through pregnancy, she explains.

A jubilant Haenyeo proudly raises her catch at the 5th annual Haenyeo Diving Festival on Jeju Island, South Korea. CREDIT: Douglas MacDonald / Contributor via Getty Images. Douglas MacDonald

Diving while pregnant has long been common practice among Haenyeoor at least it was, before their average age was upwards of 70. Women would continue diving up until the day they gave birth. But during pregnancy, blood pressure disorders like preeclampsia pose a particularly acute risk for both mother and child.

For Haenyeo, genetic shifts may have emerged to have mitigated some of the challenge. If youre a diver and youre having problems with hypertension, youre probably going to have fewer children, says Aguilar-Gomez. Maybe youll have one kid instead of three, she adds or maybe, pregnancy complications brought on by dive-induced hypertension have been historically deadly.

In this way, diving during pregnancy could have shaped the genetics of a whole island of people, Ilardo says.

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Though more research is needed to know for sure. The relatively small number of study participants means that the team couldnt suss out every gene variant that may or may not be under selection. And right now, the pregnancy hypothesis isnt quite set. I think the study raises more questions than it answers but its all exciting questions, she says. Down the line, its possible answering some of those questions could offer insights for better treatments of blood pressure-related pregnancy complications.

One thing the study proves for sure, though: genes are far from the whole story. During the dive tests, Haenyeo had much lower heart rates, even compared with non-divers from Jeju who share the same ancestry. There, skill and experience offer the most likely explanation, says Aguilar-Gomez. Its hard work and its their long life of training and tradition and culture.
May 2 (UPI) -- South Korea will fly a shoebox-size cube satellite on an Artemis II test flight in April 2026 in preparation for missions to the moon, NASA and the Korea AeroSpace Administration announced Friday.

During the 10-day flight, NASA is planning to send four astronauts around the moon, the first time since Apollo 17 landed men on the lunar surface in 1972. Artimis II was originally scheduled to launch in 2024.

The Korea AeroSpace Administration formed last year.

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K-RadCube, which is being developed by South Korean space startup Nara Space Technology Inc., will be mounted on the Orion stage adapter between the Space Launch System rocket and the crewed Orion spacecraft, NASA said.

Once the satellite is produced, the Korea space agency plans to deliver it to NASA by this July.

The 42-pound satellite, safely flying on its own a short distance from the stage, will monitor cosmic radiation and analyze effects on astronauts as it passes through the Van Allen radiation belts more than 2,200 miles above Earth.

The belts' zones are composed of high-energy particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field.

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The cube payloads are "a relatively cost-effective way to potentially expand knowledge of the space environment and enable CubeSat providers to continue to refine development and integration of hardware for missions in space," NASA said.

Yoon Young-bin, head of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said in a news release in Korean: "Through this implementation agreement, we expect closer cooperation between the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the field of deep space exploration beyond the moon."

The space agency plans to make the data obtained from K-RadCube publicly accessible.

"As we expand the scope of space exploration, understanding high-risk space environments will become increasingly important," Choi Young-jun, deputy director of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, said. "While experiments can be conducted on Earth to simulate space conditions, this cannot surpass the value of conducting experiments in actual geostationary orbit under various variables."

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NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley launched its first CubeSat, GeneSat, in December 2006. Ames has launched 16 CubeSat spacecraft varying in size from 1U, or 10x10x10 centimeters, to 3U with an additional 12 CubeSats in development or awaiting launch.

NASA has been working with other nations "to integrate and fly technology and experiments as part of the agency's Artemis campaign," NASA said in a news release.

In September, NASA announced an agreement with German Space Agency DLR to fly a CubeSat on Artemis II.

In April 2024, NASA and Japan signed an agreement to produce a pressurized lunar rover.

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NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy traveled to South Korea for international cooperation in n July 2024.

Chosun Biz in South Korea reported the signing of the K-RadCube implementation agreement was delayed because of the complete halt of new agreements between the U.S. and foreign governments since the start of the Trump administration on Jan. 20.

KAA Administrator Yoon Young-bin met with Janet Petro, the acting director general of NASA, last month during the 2025 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In 2022, Artemis I entered lunar orbit with a mannequin.

The first human moon landing in Artemis III is scheduled for mid-2027.
Machines made by the South Korean company DN Solutions have been found at Russian plants that manufacture Lancet combat drones and Iskander missile launchers.

Source: The Korea Times, an English-language newspaper in South Korea, citing a study by Ukraine's Economic Security Council

Details: Over US$19 million worth of DN Solutions's equipment was delivered to Russia through Chinese distributors, particularly the Silver Technology firm.

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"Available customs and procurement records indicate these were deliveries of new equipment made under contracts dated 2023 and 2024," said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sanctions advisor.

DN Solutions has denied supplying equipment to Russia following the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The company stressed that it strictly adheres to South Korean laws, which prohibit the export of strategic goods without official authorisation.

The company also claimed that it had ceased cooperation with Chinese companies as soon as it learned of the facts of their re-export to Russia.

"We have informed dealers and agencies that selling our equipment to Russia and circumventing export controls is strictly prohibited," a DN Solutions spokesperson said.

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"We have also notified them that any violation of this policy is not just a breach of contract but also subject to strict sanctions by authorities," they added.

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Voters in a part of south Texas that is home to Elon Musks rocket company, SpaceX, will decide Saturday whether to officially turn a small, coastal stretch at the southern tip of the Lone Star State into a city named Starbase.

If the measure passes, which seems likely, the newly incorporated city would cover only about 1 square miles, but it would be a much-needed win for the tech billionaire who has had a bruising past few months.

In the first weeks of President Donald Trumps administration, Musk was a mainstay at the White House, flexing his temporary role as chief of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which oversaw cuts and widespread layoffs across federal agencies.

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But while DOGE projects helped Musk gain enormous power and influence, his reputation has taken a beating in the process. His outsize role in the Trump administration and his efforts to downsize the federal workforce have made him the target of protests around the country. And his electric car company, Tesla, reported a steep drop in profits last month.

But Saturdays vote is expected to be a sure victory for the controversial billionaire. For one, most of the 283 eligible voters  residents of Cameron County whose homes would fall within the boundaries of the proposed new city  are SpaceX employees or have some connection to the company.

Voters will also be choosing the first mayor of Starbase and two city commissioners. The candidates for all three positions are employees of SpaceX and are running unopposed.

As of Tuesday, 181 people had already cast early ballots, according to county election records, including the candidates for mayor and city commissioners. Musk, who is eligible to vote in this Cameron County special election, has not yet shown up in early voting data.

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Its not clear why Musk or SpaceX want to turn the area into their own city. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Jan. 12.

Remi Garza, head of elections for Cameron County, said counties are usually more limited in their authority over cities.

They dont have the ability to sort of control growth or set standards the same way the municipality could, where they could adopt city codes, building codes and things like that, he said, adding that cities can exert greater influence over planning and development.

Musk first publicly discussed the idea of a city named Starbase in 2021. The coastal spot is where SpaceX builds its boosters and engines and launches its huge Starship rocket on test flights.

A visitor photographs a large bust of Elon Musk near SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on March 5.

Having greater municipal control could ease some of the red tape around those activities. Earlier this week, however, Texas lawmakers voted against a bill that would have given SpaceX great control over public beach access near its launch facility.

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Normally, SpaceX must obtain permission from authorities in Cameron County to close a highway and shut down public access to Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park to keep people safe during rocket launches.

The frequent closures have contributed to legal complaints against SpaceX, and have drawn protests from local residents and activists, including the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and Border Workers United, as reported by CNBC.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A San Fernando Valley man was arrested on suspicion of sexually preying on underage girls by offering free drugs and alcohol in exchange for sex.

Ivan Hernandez, 30, of Valley Village, was arrested for the alleged crimes on March 23, the Burbank Police Department announced Thursday.

Officers from the Los Angeles and Burbank police departments had been investigating Hernandez for possible lewd contact and unlawful sex with underage victims.

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On March 23, police responded to a call reporting suspected drug activity at an undisclosed location where Hernandez was found inside a car with an underage girl.

Investigators said Hernandez had allegedly been providing nitrous oxide, marijuana, and alcohol to underage victims in exchange for sexual acts.

He reportedly used Instagram to locate his victims and would lure them in with the promise of free drugs and alcohol. Detectives believe he often recorded these sexual encounters on his cell phone.

Ivan Hernandez, 30, of Valley Village, is seen in a booking photo from the Burbank Police Department.

On March 25, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office filed multiple felony charges against Hernandez, including:

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3 counts of unlawful sex with a minor under 16

2 counts of arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes

1 count of child endangerment

1 count of oral copulation of a minor under 16

1 count of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old

1 count of possession of child sexual abuse material

He is currently being held without bail and is awaiting his next court appearance.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward. Hernandez is known to have used the following Instagram profile names to contact minors: noznbars, n2ohead, nawzhead818, nozzhead_818, and nozzhead818_.

Anyone who may have been a victim or has information on the case is asked to call Detective Shifley of the Burbank Police Department at 818-238-3210.

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On the morning of Monday 28 April, nothing was out of the ordinary in peninsular Spains electricity system. Demand was at normal levels for the time of year, and was being easily met by the total generation capacity available.

The day before, the Spanish National Grid Network (REE, Red Electrica Espanola, commercially known as Redeia) had held its usual daily auction to determine which facilities would supply energy over the course of the following day. REE manages electricity distribution in Spain, and though formally a private company it is controlled by the Spanish State, which owns 20% of its capital. Its website states that:

We are responsible for ensuring that electricity is always available wherever you need it and for making it sustainable by promoting renewable energies. For all these reasons, Red Electrica is the backbone of the electricity system in Spain and the cornerstone of the ecological transition process that the country is undergoing..

12:30: business as usual

At 12:30, most of the countrys energy demand was being covered by renewable sources, especially photovoltaic solar energy, which was contributing just over half of the total. This situation had been repeated throughout the month, as in Spain the combined capacity of solar and wind energy can, given the right conditions, cover the countrys entire electricity demand during the brightest hours in the middle of the day.

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The countrys nuclear plants, as planned, were operating at half their usual capacity because, according to their owners, the high charges they are subject to make them economically unviable during periods when the price of electricity is very low.

At that time the price of electricity on the official market was in the negative at around -1/MWh. At these prices Spain was exporting electricity to Morocco, Portugal, and even France. In addition, much of the available energy was being used to pump water from low lying river basins into reservoirs  the only practical way to store energy on a large scale. However, this capacity has a limit and, with the reservoirs almost full, it cannot continue to be stored indefinitely.

12:33: something strange happens

In the five minutes between 12:30 and 12:35, something anomalous happened which is still yet to receive an official explanation: a sudden drop in the Iberian electricity grid causes a total blackout.

For the first few minutes confusion reigned, aggravated by the disruption of landline and mobile phone networks. Rumours circulated that other European countries were affected (I myself heard this on the battery-powered radio that I had rushed out to buy), and fingers were quickly pointed at a possible cyber-attack. I doubted this hypothesis, as the computer networks that control electrical systems are usually disconnected from the internet, and a Europe-wide grid outage would lead to something closely resembling an episode of Black Mirror.

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After a few minutes my radio, my lifeline, announced that the blackout was limited to the Iberian peninsula, meaning the most likely cause was a technical failure.

What went wrong?

When analysing the available data available from REE between 12:30 and 12:35, we can observe several unusual events.

A few minutes before the outage, fluctuations were observed in the grid, and there was a spike in wind power generation, which had been very low until then. France suddenly stopped importing electricity from Spain, perhaps because it detected a problem in the peninsular grid, and this deepened the imbalance between supply and demand.

At that point, the few operating nuclear power plants received an overload signal. In accordance with protocol, control rods were inserted and they were automatically shut down.

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But what was most surprising was the behaviour of solar photovoltaics, which dropped sharply from generating 18,000 MW to just 8,000 MW in just a few seconds. Since the sun had not vanished, it must have been an automated command that switched off thousands of solar facilities.

REE sources indicate that the problem may have been triggered by the disconnection of some solar plants in southwest Spain, but the grid would normally be able to balance this out through regulation  the mechanism for balancing supply and demand. This was being done mainly with hydropower, as normal, but there came a point when this source had exhausted its adjustment capacity.

Current evidence therefore points to a problem in the synchronisation of the grid. All sources feeding power into the grid must be synchronised at the same frequency, 50 Hertz. To facilitate this synchronisation, stable base-load power is required, which is normally provided by nuclear and other large gas and hydroelectric facilities. These sources act as a natural buffer against disturbances, helping to keep the frequency stable in the face of sudden changes in generation or demand.

However, variable renewable sources, such as solar photovoltaic, do not have this capability. They generate direct current which is converted to alternating current at 50 Hertz, but they cannot react automatically to frequency variations.

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At 12:33 there was little by way of stable source base in the Spanish grid and, in addition, the few nuclear power plants that were operating had been switched off when they detected a surge in the grid. Hydroelectric facilities were at the limit of their regulation capacity, and no provision had been made for the availability of gas-fired plants.

Fortunately, less than 10 hours later the electrical system had all but recovered. Nevertheless, the damage had been done, and its consequences are still lingering.

The diagnosis

This unusual situation points to a perfect storm of poor grid management and inadequate connections of solar facilities to the grid, as well as other unknown faults. In my opinion, there is a good chance that the computer programmes in charge of managing these systems played an important role, as they may not have been suitably prepared for these kinds of situations.

Although the grid is divided into different zones that can be isolated from one another, all zones were affected when thousands of small solar facilities scattered throughout the grid were disconnected at once. In addition, the interconnection of mainland Spain with the European grid is weak, and a stronger connection to the stable French grid would facilitate the synchronisation of the Spanish grid.

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Solar energy during the sunniest hours distorts all offers (at price or negative), making more stable sources economically unviable unless they have a guaranteed price, and discouraging their production. The question is therefore not one of renewables versus nuclear, but rather how much solar power can be in the grid at any given moment while also maintaining stability.

A more worrying root cause is the involvement of politics in REE, as its presidency is typically held by former ministers or high-ranking politicians. Its current president is Beatriz Corredor, a lawyer and a former housing minister, and REE is pursuing the somewhat politicised objective of 100% renewables.

Within hours of the outage on 28 April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez raised suspicions that the origin of the blackout came from private operators, and he accused those arguing that more nuclear input would help stabilise the grid of being ignorant. Spains current EU-endorsed energy roadmap includes phasing out all nuclear power stations between 2027 and 2035.

Two days after the blackout, Corredor made public statements for the first time saying that an incident like this would not be repeated, a difficult assertion to make when the causes are still unknown.

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It is essential that decisions on energy issues, such as 100% renewables, have independent technical support that analyses and informs the public with rigour and transparency. A rational analysis should not pit renewables against nuclear, and technical bodies such as REE should be run by people outside of political power structures, preferably with the appropriate technical training. The European Union should also have a coordinated energy policy, and a Europe-wide electricity grid designed to deal with outages or potential external aggression.

This updated translation was originally published on The Conversation Spain on 29 April 2025.

Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos.

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J. Guillermo Sanchez Leon no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoria, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiacion de ninguna compania u organizacion que pueda obtener beneficio de este articulo, y ha declarado carecer de vinculos relevantes mas alla del cargo academico citado.
The music app I've been using for the last 14 years recently decided that I'm obsessed with rainstorms.

When I last listened to my Spotify Release Radar playlist  which for years reliably curated a decent selection of newly released music informed by my favorite artists  the lineup quickly took a turn for the worse. After new songs by familiar indie pop names like Japanese Breakfast and The Marias, there was a five-minute recording of rain falling followed by a short, ambient instrumental by a little-known alternative rock artist. Then, for its remaining 25 tracks, my playlist delivered a succession of rainstorms, nature sounds, and brown-noise frequencies  not exactly the stuff of a killer music festival lineup.

When Spotify launched Release Radar in 2016, it promised "a weekly selection of the newest releases that matter the most to you." Not only was the feature designed to delight music fans upon first listen, but it would get better over time, the company promised.

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So why, nearly a decade later, was my latest Release Radar delivering 85% noise?

Sure, my girlfriend and I had recently started listening to "sleep sounds"  things like ocean waves and the hum of an airplane's engine  at night, but that didn't fully explain the issue. The algorithm hadn't made such a crucial curation error before.

I'm hardly the first Spotify subscriber to notice that the gears of its music recommendation engine have gotten rusty. Over the past year, fans have taken to Reddit, LinkedIn, and other platforms to complain that curated, for you playlists like Release Radar, Discover Weekly, and Daily Mix have gone downhill, resulting in what many describe as an "echo chamber" that feels more repetitive or off the mark than it once did. Random tracks from white-noise playlists or kids' music albums are popping up where they don't belong, ruining the listening experience.

Molly Holder, Spotify's senior director of product for personalization, disagreed that the quality of these curated playlists has declined. "People are discovering more new music and spending more time doing so," she said in a statement, adding that the company listens to user feedback, continues to enhance personal recommendations, and that listener engagement metrics are up.

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But after talking with former Spotify employees, it seems likely that a combination of layoffs and shifting business priorities has hollowed out the platform's music discovery product. Essentially, in a quest for profitability, Spotify broke its algorithm.

One of the features that set Spotify apart from its intensifying competition over the years was the platform's man-meets-machine approach to music curation, especially its personalized, algorithmically curated playlists. Discover Weekly promised to introduce listeners to new music that they might like, Daily Mix turned their tastes into themed playlists, and Release Radar highlighted freshly released tracks. For years, these features seemed to elicit near-universal praise online and gave Spotify a competitive advantage just in time to fend off competition from giants like Apple and Amazon. The music discovery features are likely one reason it's been able to lead the global music subscription market. A recent EMARKETER report found that Americans spend over nine times as much time on Spotify as the next closest competitor. Lately, though, those same features have inspired frustration.

For many, Discover Weekly has gotten worse at delivering songs that align with their musical tastes, sometimes including songs they've already listened to on Spotify. Other users report that Release Radar misses new releases from artists they like or mistakenly includes tracks that came out weeks earlier. Release Radar has also started including less relevant music from what one Reddit user described as "random artists with under 50k listens" that seemed to come out of nowhere, while others bemoan the inclusion of what sounds like "AI garbage."

It just continued until I finally said, 'I can't take it.'

The most audible groan of disapproval came with the arrival of Spotify Wrapped last year. While the personalized year-end recap playlist had historically sparked a tsunami of positive online buzz each year, the 2024 edition prompted a far more mixed reaction. Listeners said it lacked personality and interesting insights into their music habits.

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Jeffrey Smith, a self-described "Spotify diehard" who leads marketing for the online music marketplace Discogs, has become so frustrated by the platform's declining music discovery feature that he's considering switching to Apple Music.

"Over the last couple of years, Spotify has met my needs less and less," Smith said. "It's not really reflective of my listening behavior as much as it is reflective of what they want me to listen to. It's just a listening machine at this point, not a music platform."

Smith's affinity for Spotify started fading when he noticed one song  "Back on 74" by Jungle  kept popping up on his personalized Spotify playlists. While it's possible that he had checked the song out at some point, it wasn't something he enjoyed or actively listened to. Still, the song made its way from one personalized music recommendation feature to another and even started inspiring Spotify's algorithms to play similar songs.

"It just continued until I finally said, 'I can't take it,'" Smith said.

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As a music obsessive working at a major marketplace for vinyl records, Smith has no shortage of sources of quality music recommendations. But the days of Spotify augmenting his organic music discovery appear to be over. If he keeps his Spotify subscription at all, he says it will be for the podcasts and audiobooks the company has added to its premium tier.

I've found myself in a similar conundrum. After largely dismissing the 2015 launch of Apple Music as a then-satisfied Spotify subscriber, I recently decided to give Apple's music service another try. Since its debut, Apple Music has prioritized human editors over algorithms for music curation. Where it does use data-driven personalization, the results are pretty solid, and crucially, free of rainstorms. While Spotify's new audiobook library makes it tempting to stay, its playlists no longer feel like the best in the business. Once my free trial of Apple Music is over, I'm planning to make the switch.

Music subscription services like Spotify spend an extraordinary amount of money  last year, the company said it spent $10 billion  to license their massive music catalogs from record labels, publishers, and other rightsholders. These high costs make it more challenging to turn an enduring profit, something Spotify only managed to do for the first time in 2024.

From Wall Street's perspective, Spotify is killing it as year-over-year metrics like subscribers and revenue continue to grow. But in the quest to please investors, some ex-Spotify employees think it has abandoned too much of the human element that makes music and the culture around it so special.

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Doug Ford was a Spotify executive who oversaw editorial playlist curation from 2013 to 2018. He arrived via Spotify's acquisition of Tunigo, a Swedish company that specialized in expert-curated music playlists based on different genres and moods. The next year, Spotify acquired Echo Nest, a music data startup founded by MIT grads that used a mix of machine learning and data filtering to build Pandora-style music recommendation algorithms. Both teams built out Spotify's man-meets-machine music discovery system, which helped the company successfully weather new competition from tech giants like Apple and Amazon as it started to explore the possibility of going public.

You need to be a successful business in order to offer this utility to people. But they've discarded some of the human aspects of it, for sure.

"That was a really beautiful moment in Spotify's history," Ford said. "That mix of the intentional algorithmic and human curation to make a really deep product was great."

The results spoke for themselves. Spotify said the 2015 launch of Discover Weekly yielded 1.7 billion streams in its first five months and generated a weekly wave of social media buzz when listeners' Discover Weekly playlists were refreshed.

"Our goal with Discover Weekly was to make something that felt like a friend or someone who knew you well was making you a mixtape," Spotify's product lead at the time, Matt Ogle, told me in an interview. To accomplish that feeling, the algorithm drew heavily from how real flesh-and-blood music enthusiasts were curating playlists on the platform.

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"That's why that thing was so good," Ford said. "It was taking all the inputs equally and letting things happen normally with the audience. Now it feels a little bit different."

Ford said things started changing in the lead-up to Spotify's 2018 initial public offering and the ensuing pressure to prove to investors that profitability was possible in the notoriously tight-margined music streaming business.

"The culture changed because it had to become a business," Ford said. "You need to be a successful business in order to offer this utility to people. But they've discarded some of the human aspects of it, for sure."

One way the company shifted was by finding cheaper content to use. As the journalist Liz Pelly outlines in her book "Mood Machine," Spotify's pre-IPO years saw an increasing reliance on what is known internally as "perfect fit content," a euphemism for cheaper-to-license audio and mood-specific stock music that is optimized for longer listening sessions. As more listeners turned to streaming services like Spotify for "chill vibes" playlists and background music for studying, the company realized it could save money on royalty costs by populating those playlists with the cheap stuff. That would certainly explain the astonishing number of rainstorm audio tracks being released in a given week.

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Ford watched with dismay as the platform became flooded with generic mood music. Around the same time, he said, respected colleagues started leaving the company. After what he describes as "a particularly bad stretch" of feeling frustrated by what he saw as a dramatic culture shift, Ford accepted an offer from YouTube to lead content for its music subscription service in 2018.

In the years since, Spotify's music programming strategy has only skewed more heavily toward automation. Pelly writes that by late 2023, the number of Spotify employees working on editorial music curation (about 200 people globally) was less than one-third the size of the team focused on algorithmic curation and personalization, according to an internal org chart. Notably, that head count was before Spotify laid off 17% of its total workforce in December 2023, a drastic cost-cutting measure that CEO Daniel Ek later admitted "did disrupt our day-to-day operations more than we anticipated." Holder said that there are now over 130 employees working on editorial music curation.

One of the more palpable victims of Spotify's 2023 cuts was Glenn McDonald, the company's data alchemist (his real job title), who came from the original Echo Nest team and designed and built much of the original data infrastructure and algorithms powering Spotify's music recommendation engine. He designed the system that identifies a song's genre, which was crucial to effectively sort and recommend music and understand listeners' tastes.

"The genre system was human-guided," McDonald said. "After they laid me off, they replaced it with a system that is not human-guided. It's just machine learning. It looks at patterns of words in the titles and descriptions of playlists. That's objectively worse."

There's been a tradeoff in favor of high metrics, long listening sessions, and music that's just 'good enough.'

McDonald said the ripple effects of this change could be felt across Spotify's listening experience. Music was often misclassified, like when Swedish folk-metal bands were suddenly lumped in with all other folk artists. He said it took Spotify engineers a year to fully deactivate and replace the genre system he built, according to data output from the company's public API. One of the many data-filtering tools he built during his tenure at the company was a set of filters designed to fine-tune the music recommendations presented by Discover Weekly and Release Radar  and crucially, prevent things like nature sounds and ambient noise frequencies from showing up where they don't belong.

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"They would have been flagged as anomalies on those dashboards, and I would have followed up with the teams in charge of those recommendations," McDonald explained. "Without those dashboards, probably nobody is even watching for these issues."

Holder said that Spotify's approach to classifying genres and subgenres has "evolved" from the legacy system built by McDonald and other Echo Nest engineers, but declined to get into technical specifics of how it works now or what advantages the new system introduces.

"We're always laser-focused on continually enhancing personalized recommendations," she said. Recent updates include improvements to genre accuracy and Discover Weekly recommendations, she added.

Ford said the changes at Spotify are part of a broader industry shift away from costlier human curation. "There's been a tradeoff in favor of high metrics, long listening sessions, and music that's just 'good enough,'" he said. "It's happening everywhere."

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The result is what Ford calls a "rampant wave of algorithmic fatigue" among listeners, who are clamoring for more meaningful cultural experiences as online platforms become increasingly hyper-automated.

While the occasional bug and ongoing iteration are to be expected in any product, some longtime subscribers find it odd that Spotify would need to fix or enhance features that worked so well in the first place. My Release Radar delivering mostly white noise and rainstorms, for instance, feels like a fundamental failure of what that feature used to do so well. Over the course of reporting and writing this story over the last few weeks, I've checked back with my Release Radar. Each week, it has a few new songs, but it's still mostly rainstorms.

John Paul Titlow is a freelance journalist who writes about technology, digital culture, travel, and mental health.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from Springfield was arrested and faces several motor vehicle charges after a police pursuit that began in Ludlow on Tuesday night.

Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh told 22News that two people were taken to the hospital after a two-car crash at the intersection of Boston Road and Pasco Road at around 9:15 p.m.

Victim identified in deadly motorcycle crash in Enfield

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It was later revealed on Friday in a news release from Ludlow Police Chief Daniel Valadas that a Ludlow officer was on patrol in the area of West Street at around 8:54 p.m. Tuesday when they saw a vehicle traveling approximately 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, nearly striking another vehicle.

When the officer learned that the vehicles registration was revoked, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as 22-year-old Jovanni Colon Rodriguez of Springfield, failed to stop and continued into Springfield. The officer called off the pursuit due to safety reasons.

The vehicle was found at the intersection of Pasco Road and Boston Road in Springfield, involved in a crash with another vehicle. Police say Rodriguez attempted to run away but was caught after a brief struggle while being arrested.

Rodriguez is being charged with the following:

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Failure to Stop for Police

Uninsured Motor Vehicle

Operating with a Suspended License

Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle

Resisting Arrest

Unregistered Motor Vehicle

Operating a Vehicle with Suspended Registration

Operating without an Inspection Sticker

Failure to Stop or Yield

Speeding

Possession of Marijuana Outside of a Residence

Ludlow police told 22News that Rodriguez was released on personal recognizance bail and scheduled to be arraigned in Palmer District Court at a later date.

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.

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A persistent foul odor coming from a facility that processes human waste in St. Johns County has caused outcry from nearby neighbors  and now, the company behind the operation is responding.

The Indianhead Biomass facility, located near Morgans Cove on County Road 214, has been under scrutiny from neighbors who say its producing an unbearable smell, especially during operational hours.

We want to have clean air here. We want for all of this to stop, said homeowner Heather, who lives nearby.

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Another neighbor, Michael Davis, added, I like for my family and relatives to come to my house and I wouldnt be embarrassed and they wouldnt feel sorry for me.

Read: MOSH to close by September as new location nears construction

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The company said the odor is coming from biosolids like sewage sludge, which are processed on-site into an agricultural soil enhancer. Heather Neville, a spokesperson for Indianhead, confirmed this, stating, As far as biosolids go, when they are delivered, they do have a scent. There is no lack of understanding on that part.

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Neville further explained the process: When you flush a toilet, it goes to a treatment facility. It goes through a huge process. It is then brought to our facility from those government facilities, and that is a biosolid. So we are not dealing with straight fecal matter or anything like that.

Read: Student loan collections resume Monday: What borrowers in default need to know

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Indianhead has operated in the area since 2007 and began composting biosolids in 2018. In response to complaints, the company has also addressed multiple violations noted by the county. Neville said that recent weekend operations were part of an emergency response after another waste handler, FCC Environmental Services, stopped picking up yard waste and trash.

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Regarding reported fire hazards, Neville said smoldering during biosolid composting is part of the standard procedure. She did acknowledge one violation related to pile height: The only thing that we did have that has been rectified since then, which is why we are back open, is that our piles were 45 feet instead of 35 feet.

Two homeowners, through their lawyer, sent a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection requesting it hold a public hearing on issues with Indianhead despite recently renewing its permit.

In response to the backlash, Indianhead said it is launching an educational campaign aimed at informing county commissioners and residents about its operations and the science behind biosolid composting.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  St. Vincent de Paul Baton Rouge announced Sunnie Johnson-Lain as its new CEO after a national search.

A committee of eight current and former board members selected Johnson-Lain, the CEO of Catholic Charities Washtenaw County in Michigan, after former leader Michael Acaldo accepted a new position as CEO of St. Vincent de Paul USA in September 2024. Her official start date is June 2.

It is a great honor to have been selected as CEO, in the 160th year of SVdP in Baton Rouge. I am so grateful to Michael Acaldo and the talented SVDP-BR team for their excellent efforts that have resulted in a firm foundation, meaningful and impactful programs, and steadfast community support, Johnson-Lain said.

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Johnson-Lain is credited with rebranding the Michigan county Catholic Charities organization and increasing fundraising. Her previous experience includes overseeing and developing new programs at St. Vincent de Paul organizations in Cincinnati and Dayton.

Sean Elliott named new CEO and president of YMCA of the Capital Area

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Actors like The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, Babygirl's Harris Dickinson, Harry Potter franchise's Emma Waston, and Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan are among more than 1,300 industry professionals who have signed an open letter calling for action on trans rights following the UK Supreme Court's devastating ruling.

Niko Tavernise / A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

On April 17, the UK Supreme Court's judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers defined gender identity as based on biological sex at birth. The ruling and the guidance from the Equalities & Human Rights Commission intend to limit trans people's access to the single-sex facilities of their choice in workplaces, public areas, sports, schools, and public associations.

Wiktor Szymanowicz / Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

In a open letter started by development producer Sid Strickland and script editor Jack Casey, hundreds of UK industry professionals are standing in solidarity with the trans, non-binary, and intersex people who the Equality Act will impact.

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"We the undersigned film and television professionals stand in solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court ruling on April 17," the letter states. "We wish to add our voices to the 2000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community published last week and call upon members of our industry and cultural bodies to join us."

Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

The letter explains that "The Supreme Court's ruling that, under the Equality Act, 'woman' is defined by biological sex, states that 'the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.' The names signed on the letter "believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK."

Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

The letter added, "Film and television are powerful tools for empathy and education, and we believe passionately in the ability of the screen to change hearts and minds. This is our opportunity to be on the right side of history."

Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

In just 24 hours, the letter had accumulated around 400 signatures from actors, writers, directors, editors, and executives from companies like New Pictures, Sister Pictures, Motive Pictures, and World Production, just to name a few. As of Friday, May 2, that number has grown dramatically.

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Ludovic Robert / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection, Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Here are some of the names and faces of the actors and writers who signed the letter:

Bella Ramsey

Simon Ackerman / WireImage

Related: Here's Why Channing Tatum And Zoe Kravitz Reportedly Split

Harris Dickinson

Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland/WireImage

Aimee Lou Wood

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic for HBO

Emma Watson

Dave Benett / Dave Benett/Getty Images for Violet Films

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Emma D'Arcy

Savion Washington / FilmMagic

Emma Corrin

Jeff Spicer / Getty Images

Related: Leonardo DiCaprios 26-Year-Old Girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, Just Talked About What Its Really Like Dating Him  And Some Of Her Comments Are Making Me View Them Differently

Suranne Jones

Dave Benett / Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

Russell Tovey

Jeff Spicer / Getty Images

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Ncuti Gatwa

Raymond Hall / GC Images

Heartstopper author Alice Oseman

Taylor Hill / WireImage

Nicola Coughlan

Dominique Charriau / WireImage

Eddie Redmayne

Michael Buckner/GG2025 / Penske Media via Getty Images

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Paapa Essiedu

Dave Benett / Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Joe Alwyn

Kate Green / Getty Images

Hayley Atwell

Karwai Tang / WireImage

Faye Marsay

Neil Mockford / WireImage

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James Norton

Jo Hale / WireImage

As the open letter states, film and television are indeed "powerful tools for empathy and education," so it's reassuring to see so many industry professionals come together to stand in solidarity with people whose livelihoods are constantly in jeopardy.

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Similarly, leading musicians have signed an open letter on behalf of the U.K. music industry to offer their solidarity to trans folk as well.

John Phillips / Bruce Glikas / Marc Piasecki / WireImage / Getty Images

The letter, organized by musician Tom Rasmussen, publicist Tom Mehrtens, Kinndred Management's Martha Kinn, and Olly Alexander reads, the UK music industry is a vibrant, diverse landscape that thrives on creativity and inclusivity that has long celebrated a multitude of voices and identities, and the music industry here in the UK is one of our most trailblazing and culturally vital assets  one which trans, intersex and non-binary people are woven into in every aspect of the industry, past, present and future.

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Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, Jessie Ware, and Self Esteem are among the names who have signed this open letter.

I'm crossing my fingers that this list of names on the open letters to the film and television industry and the UK music industry continue to grow.

Read the official "Open Letter to Film and Television Industry Professionals and Cultural Bodies" here.

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***Video above: What happens when you call 911?***

ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  State agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation are looking into allegations that a former Erie County sheriffs detective had inappropriate activity with a female that he investigated.

Detective Dan Orzech was placed on leave April 26 and resigned from his position the next day, said Sheriff Paul Sigsworth.

Another appeal denied for driver who killed 2 as teen: I-Team

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Sigsworth said the female involved in the case is under indictment on an unrelated case and is facing multiple felony charges. The sheriff said Orzech investigated those cases.

Sigsworth added that he believes Orzech violated several internal policies. He added BCI agents started an investigation to determine if any criminal violations took place.

Power outages for thousands across Northeast Ohio as storms hit

No criminal charges have been filed.

The BCI criminal investigation is continuing and the sheriffs office will continue to cooperate fully with that ongoing process, Sigsworth said. The sheriffs office is otherwise comprised of excellent and dedicated employees who constantly carry out their sometimes very difficult duties with honesty and integrity. Those employees, who are overall dismayed and disgusted by the behavior noted here, have not and would not violate the public trust by engaging in the ethically corrupt behavior engaged in by Mr. Orzech.

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Annabella Rodas, president of the Latino Child Care Association of Maryland, speaks before Maryland State Board of Education on April 28 in Baltimore. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Maryland parents who hope to get a state-funded child care scholarship will have to wait awhile.

Faced with a tripling in the number of families in the scholarship program managed by the state Department of Education, state officials imposed a freeze on new awards effective Thursday. Parents can still apply, but will be placed on a waiting list until a space opens up in the program.

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Families already enrolled will continue to receive funding.

Tara Phillips, executive director of the state Department of Educations Early Childhood Division, said at a Board of Education meeting Tuesday nearly 45,000 child care scholarships have been approved  up from about 15,000 scholarships in 2021. State officials hope to reduce the number of recipients and cap it at 40,000 by the fall, when they could reopen the waitlist.

If it takes longer or theres fewer families that drop off, then its just going to take longer for them to have spaces on the waitlist, Del. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), one of the legislative leaders on early childhood, said Thursday.

Solomon said there are a few exceptions for parents and guardians who have one child on a scholarship and may decide to apply for a second one for a younger child. And those who receive Temporary Cash Assistance or Supplemental Security Income will still be eligible to receive a scholarship.

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Solomon, who chairs the Oversight Committee on Personnel, a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that the budget issues that made for a tough session this spring will likely continue through the summer as the state is expected to grapple with the fallout of more federal budget cuts and layoffs.

The actions of the federal government are only going to make it harder and make it worse for us to provide the kind of wraparound and support services and education that we really want, Solomon said.

Over the course of the summer and through the interim, were going to be working on coming up with sustainable sources of funding so that we dont have to continue the waitlist, [and] put the investments into child care and early learning that we need to be able to serve the families of Maryland, he said.

On Tuesday, the state Board of Education heard from several early childhood officials, providers and advocates to celebrate April as the Month of the Young Child. According to a report this year from the Maryland Family Network, the estimated cost of child care in the state was nearly $25,000 a year.

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Child Care is more expensive than state college tuition in Maryland, said Christina Peusch, executive director of the Maryland State Child Care Association.

Anabella Rodas, president of the Latino Child Care Association of Maryland, said the child care industry should be respected, especially with early childhood being one of the five priorities in the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan.

Were not babysitters. Were early childhood educators, just as the teachers in public school, she said. When we invest in educators, we invest in childrens futures.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ)  A silver Lexus SUV was reported stolen from East Beaver Avenue in the early hours of Wednesday, and State College police are asking the public to help locate the missing vehicle.

The theft occurred around 1 a.m. on April 30, according to police. At the time, the SUV was displaying Pennsylvania license plate HKD5885.

Photo provided by the State College Police Department

Police released a photo of the vehicle and are encouraging anyone with information about the theft to come forward.

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Tips can be submitted by calling (814) 234-7150, emailing the department, or submitting an anonymous tip through the police website at www.statecollegepa.us.

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The investigation remains ongoing.

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SUNBURY  Pennsylvania students of all ages will have an opportunity to enter multiple contests highlighting the importance of the judicial branch of government.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Historical Commission is launching a Courtroom to Classroom initiative to engage students.

By inviting young people to explore the courts through their own voices and talents, were helping them build a deeper understanding of the justice system and inspiring the next generation of informed, active citizens and leaders, Supreme Court Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, chair of the historical commission, said. Our goal is to make civics education accessible, engaging and empowering for all Pennsylvania students.

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There will be a drawing contest for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and an infographic contest for children in grades six through 12.

There will be a two-subject essay contest. Students in grades three through five will create a one-page essay using the prompt Imagine you are a Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. What would your day be like and what kinds of cases might you hear? Students in grades six through 12 will write a one-page essay on How do decisions made by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court impact your community, school or family life.

Students of all grade levels are invited to produce short videos responding to one of three prompts: What do you think judges do? Do you think you would make a good judge? and Why do we need judges?

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade can decorate a paper judge, inspired by the Flat Stanley concept, and take it on real or imagined adventures to learn more about the courts and the work judges do.

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There is a social media activity for students in grades six through 12. They are invited to create a social media campaign to edit their peers and the public about the judicial branch using social media posts or videos.

Students can participate in any of the contests by tagging @PACourts on X or @pennsylvaniacourts on Instagram; emailing communicationsoffice@pacourts.us or mailing submissions to AOPC Communicaitons, 601 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17120.
BOSTON (WWLP)  This week was the annual House Budget Debate week on Beacon Hill.

Negotiations on the $61.5 billion budget spanned three days and covered over 1,600 amendments before the budget passed, half a million dollars under Healeys draft, on Wednesday night.

In the Senate, lawmakers spoke out against the Trump administration. One Springfield senator spoke about the federal governments decision to cut asthma funding headed for western Massachusetts.

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Its heartless. These funds were a lifeline in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield, where too many children already struggle with trying to breathe, said Springfield Senator Adam Gomez.

Also highlighting western Massachusetts priorities, homeowners with crumbling foundations visited the State House once again, advocating for desperately needed state funding.

But these people dont have 10 years. They dont have that kind of time to wait while their house gets ruined, said Monson homeowner Michelle Loglisci.

A Northampton senator pushed to save fields, farms, and forests through a new bill, as their carbon sequestration abilities fight climate change.

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She says western Massachusetts residents are behind her in pushing for a greener state.

We do feel like we are ground zero for the siting of green energyI feel like our folks would put a bow on solar and direct folks off the highway to say look, look, look!' said Senator Jo Comerford.

In whats next for the State House, the Senate will need to pass its budget this month in preparation for fiscal year 2026. Theres already a showdown shaping up for House and Senate budget negotiators, and 22News will keep you informed on how your lawmakers spend your taxpayer dollars.

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Several of Alabamas leaders were recognized tonight in President Donald Trumps commencement speech at the University of Alabama. They said the Presidents remarks meant a great deal to the state of Alabama.

You have the most powerful man in the world who made it a priority to come and speak to young people in the state of Alabama. Its an honor for the state, its an honor for the university, and its an honor for every single student, said John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.

Lawmakers also showed their support for the president. Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) said his address was a message of support for young people in Alabama. I think it was incredible that he came to honor our state, honor our people, and honor our most precious resource- which is our young people, he said. And, he spoke a message tonight of faith, hardwork, and he paid a tribute to his dad and his dads hard work. And, I think it shows his love of our state and recognizes the resource we have here in Alabama.

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Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Hokes Bluff) said that love for the state has helped when it comes to passing state laws. This year, I carried a bill along with Senator Keith Kelley about putting the Ten Commandments back in our schools, he explained. Those kind of things. so, those are important things for Donald Trump, and those are important things for the people of Alabama. And, I think that having that support from the federal level is helping us to make sure we can do that on the state level.

Gov. Kay Ivey said tonight will be memorable for graduates, and their family members at the University of Alabama.

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Massachusetts is recruiting volunteers for a pilot program that turns electric vehicles into grid-supporting mobile powerhouses.

It's called vehicle-to-everything, or V2X, an innovative plan that has been tried elsewhere with mixed success, according to Canary Media. But New England officials are hopeful they can learn enough from a trial run to prove the concept is viable to provide sustainable grid power.

It's part of a clean energy plan through 2050 outlined by state officials. One goal is for Massachusetts to have 900,000 EVs on travel lanes by the end of the decade, according to Canary. Program leaders see untapped potential in the cars' power packs.

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"That could be a really important piece as we seek to get to net zero by 2050. It still requires a whole lot of infrastructure, and it's complicated for the utilities. But in the future, it could be serving huge loads across the grid," Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Elijah Sinclair told the site.

Sinclair is the center's transportation manager. It's using $6 million to provide and install up to 100 bi-drectional chargers, the two-way devices needed to both charge and provide electricity. Schools, businesses, and individuals are invited, all per Canary and the center.

The report added that some V2X attempts floundered because of high costs and complexity. The system needs willing utilities to pay the participants for the power they provide. That part isn't unheard of, as virtual power plants leverage household batteries, including Tesla Powerwalls, for grid-supporting electricity. A VPP network in Southern California supplied enough juice last year when needed to prevent dirty fuel-burning support, Tesla Energy posted on X, formerly Twitter. Electrek reported that participants typically earn between $10 and $60 per "event."

For V2X to be successful, EV owners will at some point have to take on the approximately $5,000 to $10,000 cost that Canary listed for the special chargers. It's a big hurdle the team in Massachusetts hopes to learn how to solve during the demo.

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"What went well, what did not go well, and what should be considered in moving these programs to a more mature scale," Kelly Helfrich of Resource Innovations said. The company works on clean energy projects and is co-leading the V2X effort.

Battery-stored electricity, especially when renewably generated, can help to break a worrisome cycle. Burning fossil fuels to make energy is contributing to our heat-trapping air pollution burden, which NASA has linked to increased risks for severe weather. Those extreme storms are knocking out power lines, creating blackouts and grid strain.

V2X efforts have been successful in Europe. Stateside, programs that use mostly idle electric school buses have shown promise. But ones in California and Baltimore have had mixed results. Another New England project works like a VPP  and also rewards EV owners for not charging during peak demand hours, all per Canary.

If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

In Massachusetts, officials plan to finish the V2X project in December 2026. The program page lists the Ford Lightning and Nissan Leaf as eligible vehicles, with more options for commercial participants.

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Federal tax rebates remain to help offset EV purchases, in addition to the $1,500 you can save in gas and maintenance costs when switching. It's part of a cleaner transportation strategy that can include walking and public options, regardless where you live.

In New England, V2X organizers need to develop a simple payment structure for participants who supply power, among other confirmations, organizers said.

The key is to "safely and reliably connect with the grid in a way that's reasonably low-cost and reliable and fast," Vehicle-Grid Integration Council Executive Director Zach Woogen said, per Canary. His group represents EV and charging makers and works with utilities across the country.

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.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)This week, a Caddo Parish native received a pleasant surprise: a check for $16,417.81, hand delivered by Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, M.D.

On April 29, Dr. Flemming delivered the unclaimed property check to Ashley Turner after speaking to members of the Morehouse-Bastrop Chamber at the Visitor Center in Bastrop.

According to a press release on Dr. Flemings visit, he spoke on the importance of returning unclaimed property to Louisiana residents, and Turner is the latest example.

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School transparency tool rolled out as Louisiana prepares for school choice pivot

One in six individuals in Louisiana has unclaimed property, with claims averaging $900. It is your money; we want you to claim it, said Dr. Fleming,

According to the State Treasurers office, $1.2 billion in unclaimed property needs to be returned to Louisiana citizens.

The money comes from businesses turning over millions in unclaimed cash, stocks, bonds, securities, and insurance proceeds to the Louisiana State Treasurers Office.

To see if you have money waiting for you, visit LACashClaim.org, or call the State of Louisianas Unclaimed Property Division at (888) 925-4127.

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BREMEN  Three Indiana State Troopers assigned to the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post received their patrol vehicles Tuesday after successfully completing three months in the ISP Field Training Program.

The probationary troopers, Brianna Santoyo, Carson Hieber and Andrew Bixler, graduated from the 86th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy on Jan. 9. The entire class was issued new Dodge Durango Pursuit police vehicles at a ceremony at the Indiana State Police Museum in Indianapolis.

While at the ISP Academy, these troopers completed over 1,100 hours of structured training in law enforcement techniques as well as hands-on and scenario-based training. The curriculum included criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations, psychology, traffic law, crash investigation, self-defense, first responder, and other general law enforcement related training.

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These troopers will now begin solo patrol on the Indiana Toll Road.

Santoyo is a graduate of Triton High School. She went on to earn a general studies degree from Indiana University South Bend with a concentration in mathematics and science. While attending Indiana University South Bend, she was an intern for the Indiana State Police Bremen Post in 2019. She will patrol the Indiana Toll Road primarily in Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.

Hieber is a graduate of East Noble High School. Following high school, Hieber attended Indiana University South Bend studying criminal justice for three years. While studying at Indiana University South Bend, Hieber was an intern for the Indiana State Police at the Toll Road Post. He will patrol the Indiana Toll Road primarily in St. Joseph, Elkhart and LaGrange counties.

Bixler is a native of Steuben County. Bixler was homeschooled and went on to attend Faithway Baptist College near Toronto, Canada. He graduated with a theology degree in 2021. He will patrol the Indiana Toll Road primarily in St. Joseph, Elkhart and LaGrange counties.
States are continuing to roll out their own versions of the Department of Government Efficiency, the outside advisory commission led by tech billionaire Elon Musk that President Donald Trump tasked with cutting federal spending and staffing.

Many of the officials who launched the bodies, which take different forms in different states, say theyve wanted to have the impact of Trumps DOGE, with some explicitly comparing them to the federal commission.

But while Musks slash-and-burn approach has caused major disruptions in Washington and across the country, the more than 20 state-level DOGE organizations that have been rolled out since Trumps federal launch have so far taken a far lighter touch.

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For many states with such organizations, thats a product of the fact that they don't have the same layers of bureaucracy as the federal government, while for others, its due more to the fact that their DOGE-styled bodies are advisory in nature. Many of the state DOGE bodies are looking into state governments that have been under unified Republican control for multiple terms or even decades, unlike the federal government.

Its more modest, said Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who in February signed an executive order to create a Division of Government Efficiency dubbed DOGE-OK. His office said at the time that it was focused on eliminating wasteful government spending and improving efficiency.

We dont have the huge bureaucracies to cut that the federal government did, Cave added. Theres just not as much to be wildly aggressive about. Youre not gonna have a USAID.

Even as Musk has signaled that his forceful role at DOGE will soon be ebbing, efforts are just ramping up in many of the states that have created agencies, committees, task forces, bills and other mechanisms to streamline government regulations or spending.

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Texas joined that list most recently, after Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a bill in April creating a permanent state agency  the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office  dedicated to streamlining government and spending. The law doesnt go into effect until Sept. 1, and his administration has said there is no timeline yet for when the new office will open.

At the bill-signing event, Abbott said Musks DOGE helped crystallize the framework for what the Texas agency would do  while also acknowledging that the version would, unlike the federal one, focus predominantly on slashing state government regulations, as part of a broader push to make Texas even friendlier to businesses.

That softer touch has largely been the case in other state-level DOGE apparatuses, as well.

In Oklahoma, Cave said that two months after its launch, one of the biggest savings DOGE-OK has made was a $200,000 cut after it identified the existence of hundreds of redundant fax machines across the state government.

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Perhaps the one exception in which a state DOGE is pursuing matters more aggressively is in Florida, where the states organization, created via executive order by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in February, is actively reviewing grants and faculty research at public universities in the state, identifying prospective spending cuts and reforms in local governments and seeking to return unnecessary federal grant funding to Washington.

The version of DOGE launched by DeSantis, who has repeatedly taken aim at public higher education in Florida, has already begun requesting documents and information from public universities and colleges in the state, spokesperson Brian Wright said in an email.

The Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency, Wright said, has also begun reviewing the financial prudence of all 67 counties and 411 municipalities in the state.

On the other hand, New Hampshires Commission on Government Efficiency, created in January via executive order from GOP Gov. Kelly Ayotte, has so far met a handful times to discuss cost-saving maneuvers such as selling state-owned property and reducing certain equipment purchases. The 15-member body, which comprises legislative leaders and local business leaders, can only submit recommendations to Ayotte.

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Its members have been outspoken in distancing themselves from Musk and his approach.

Im not Elon Musk, GOP former Gov. Craig Benson, a member of the commission, said at a recent meeting of the group. Were not trying to do things the same way.

In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has stated that her DOGE Task Forces goals include reducing the cost of government and improving effectiveness and efficiency.

So far, the body has held only one meeting, and it isnt scheduled to submit its recommendations to Reynolds' office for five more months.

Iowa Democrats have nevertheless complained that the body is operating opaquely. Iowa state Rep. Megan Srinivas said on a call with reporters this week that the force is acting with a lack of transparency around any proposed changes in state government. A Reynolds spokesperson didnt respond to questions about the task force.

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In Missouri, a freshly formed Republican-led legislative committee, the Committee to Evaluate Efficiency in State Government, is reviewing at least 30 bills that propose modest changes to various state boards, state contracts and state payroll formulas.

And in Kansas, the Republican-controlled state Senates new Committee on Government Efficiency created a website on which residents could submit suggestions of where they wanted to see government waste cut.

It crashed following an explosion of submissions. The committees Republican vice chair, state Sen. Michael Murphy, admitted, All were going to be able to do in most cases is have a recommendation.

Meanwhile, in several other states with divided governments, Republican-led legislatures have since the start of the year launched state legislative DOGE committees. Those bodies wield even less power, since Democratic governors can block their efforts, but they have proven useful as platforms for investigations, messaging and more.

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In Wisconsin, state Assembly Republicans launched a Government Operations, Accountability and Transparency Committee. Lawmakers quizzed state agency heads and the head of the states university system on spending and alleged waste at its first meeting in March.

A Republican member of the committee requested information from the states biggest cities and all 72 of its counties regarding diversity, equity and inclusion spending in local government. The chair, GOP state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, said that the bodys primary goal will be to make sure state government employees no longer work remotely.

Nedweski said that the initial burst of attention surrounding Trumps DOGE certainly fueled the explosion of imitations in state capitals, including in Wisconsin, but that by nature, most state-level versions were going to have to operate more deliberately.

Conceptually, the idea is something people want. Fiscal conservatism has become cool again, she said in an interview. Whether you like the federal DOGE or not, its getting a lot of attention because people want to save money and want to see if theres waste somewhere  and that its being addressed and reduced."

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At the state level, Nedweski added, we have restrictions  we cannot bulldoze into an agency and slash and burn, because we dont have that authority.

The committee, which has no counterpart in the state Senate, can only make recommendations to Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat.

Republicans have this year launched legislative committees with similar dynamics and constraints in Arizona and North Carolina, which also have Democratic governors.

In Arizona, conservative lawmakers acknowledged that the path to DOGE-like reforms would have to come through legislation passed by both chambers and signed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. In North Carolina, the state House committee has not yet issued any recommendations, proposed cuts or crafted any legislation. But its not the only suggested way circulating to eliminate alleged waste.

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Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, proposed in March a new Impact Center, housed in his Office of State Budget and Management that would oversee efforts to make government run efficiently.

However, he has said his approach would use a scalpel, not a chainsaw. The statement refers to an appearance by Musk at a conservative political conference in February, where he wielded a chainsaw to symbolize his government cuts.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Top White House aide Stephen Miller claimed Thursday that Americans are likely to be willing to pay more for American-made dolls.

On Wednesday, President Trump said that children could have fewer toys amid high tariffs on trading partners.

You know, someone said, Oh, the shelves, theyre going to be open. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally, the president said.

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During a Thursday press briefing, NBC Newss Peter Alexander referenced Trumps comments from the previous day.

He was making the point that I think almost every American consumer agrees with, what  if they had a choice between  a doll from China that might have, say, lead paint in it, that is not as well constructed as a doll made in America, that has a higher environmental and regulatory standard, and that is made to a higher degree of quality, and those two products are both on Amazon, that yes, youd probably be willing to pay more for a better-made American product, Miller said in response to Alexander.

Recent tariff policy from the Trump administration has rattled markets worldwide, increased anxiety around the economy and strained relationships with longtime American allies like Canada and the European Union.

General Motors (GM) said Thursday that Trumps tariffs could cut as much as $5 billion from its profits this year.

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In a letter to investors, GM CEO and Chair Mary Barra said taking into account the positive impact of the Administrations actions this week, $10 billion and $12.5 billion in earnings before interest and taxes are expected by the company this year, with a $4 billion to $5 billion loss due to the presidents tariffs.

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A chainsaw operator cuts down debris collected from the bottom of Lake Lure in Rutherford County, North Carolina, on April 14, 2025, to make it easier to load into dump trucks for disposal. The submerged debris is made up of vegetative and man-made debris washed into Lake Lure when Hurricane Helene impacted the area. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Davis)

As a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, my job is to help tell the story, but Ive never been one to make myself part of it. In fact, Ive never written a commentary before. But after spending the last month deployed to western North Carolina as part of the Hurricane Helene recovery mission, I realized that sometimes the most honest way to tell the story is to share the view from the ground, through my own experience and perspective.

My goal is to help the public understand the scale, complexity and humanity behind this mission. With my deployment soon coming to an end, and another public affairs professional rotating in to continue telling this story, it felt like the right time to reflect on what Ive experienced and why this work matters.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors sort debris pulled from the bottom of Lake Lure in Rutherford County, North Carolina on April 14, 2025. Vegetative and man-made debris was washed into Lake Lure after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Davis)

First impressions on the ground

When I arrived here, it had already been more than six months since Hurricane Helene carved its way through the region. As a 20-year Air Force veteran, Im no stranger to deployments or disaster zones, but I was still taken aback by the scale of devastation that remained. Piles of storm debris filled riverbanks and blocked access to homes and businesses, but just as striking as the damage was the recovery already underway. There were visible signs that, with the help of FEMA, USACE, and our contractors and partners, communities were finding their footing again.

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One of my first stops upon arriving was a temporary debris management site. The sheer volume of material was staggering, with massive mounds of both vegetative and manmade debris. Trucks came and went in a constant flow, unloading raw debris and hauling away mulch by the ton. I had seen news footage before I arrived but seeing it in person gave me a new respect for what it takes to move a community toward recovery. Not just the scale of the effort, but the coordination, the endurance and the heart behind it.

Understanding the complexity of disaster response

Each day since then has deepened that understanding. In my role, I have the privilege of traveling to different sites throughout the region, such as waterway debris removal operations, water treatment facilities, meetings with local leaders, and everywhere in between. I get to see the full picture, both figuratively and literally, as I document the mission through photos and stories for the public and our stakeholders. And from that vantage point, Ive learned something that I believe more people need to hear.

From the outside, disaster response may seem simple: see a problem, send help. But the reality is far more complex. Theres a structure, a chain of requests and assignments, and a deliberate process in place to ensure resources are used efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

In the aftermath of a disaster like Hurricane Helene, federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are ready and willing to help, but we are limited in what we can do initially. The process starts with a presidential disaster declaration, followed by state and local governments identifying specific needs. FEMA then assigns missions to various federal agencies, including USACE, based on those needs. Thats how we end up where we are, doing what were doing. Its not about picking and choosing; its about fulfilling a very specific role within a much larger response framework.

Stewardship, accountability and urgency

Ive also come to see the importance of something that often gets overlooked, which is stewardship. The funding that supports these recovery efforts comes from taxpayers across the country. That means someone in Kansas, Delaware or even Alaska, is contributing to the cleanup here in North Carolina. And with that comes a responsibility to be accountable. Thats why eligibility rules exist for what can be removed and how contractors are paid. Its also why we have safeguards in place to help prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

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That same sense of responsibility applies to the environment. Many of the areas were working in are ecologically sensitive: waterways with nesting birds, vegetation that supports wildlife, and communities that rely on natural beauty to fuel their tourism economies. And while were mindful of those concerns, we also have to balance them with urgency. Every day that work is delayed, livelihoods hang in the balance. The contractors working here are operating under agreements that require steady progress. The funding that supports these recovery efforts is tied directly to performance milestones. If work stalls, it doesnt just affect a schedule, it can jeopardize the resources available to continue the mission, slow down the recovery for entire communities, and prolong the hardship for families and businesses that are depending on us.

The clock is always ticking; not just for us, but for the people whose lives and futures are still shaped by what Hurricane Helene left behind.

Unique circumstances

This mission has also presented challenges that most hurricane responses dont. Coastal regions often have disaster plans in place. Theyve seen these storms before and are equipped to act quickly. But the mountains of western North Carolina arent where you would expect to experience a hurricane. This storm hit, leaving state and local officials, residents, and even federal partners navigating unfamiliar territory. The learning curve was steep, and decisions had to be made in real time. That led to frustration, misinformation and, at times, assumptions that didnt reflect the full picture. But through it all, one thing has been clear. Every person here, from government employees to contractors to local leaders, is here to help. Thats the common theme in every conversation, every challenge, and every cubic yard of debris cleared.

The people behind the mission

One of the greatest privileges of this deployment has been meeting the people behind the mission. I get to talk to contractors, Corps employees and local officials every day. Not just about what they do, but why they do it. Through a series we call Responder Spotlight, Ive had the chance to interview individuals who volunteered to deploy here from across the country, many leaving behind families, home districts and daily routines to support a community they had never visited before. Their reasons vary. Some are drawn by duty, others by curiosity, and many by a deep desire to serve. But whatever the reason, their impact is unmistakable.

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Each person has a story worth telling. And while I cant highlight them all here, one interaction during a site visit reminded me of just how connected this mission is to the people were here to help.

During a visit to the region by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Mr. Lee Forsgren, we stopped at one of our private property debris removal sites where the owners had requested and been approved for assistance in removing debris left by Hurricane Helene. In addition to scattered vegetative debris, a historic structure on their land had been severely damaged  a tobacco barn that had stood on the family property for more than 100 years.

As we stood there, we watched an excavator operator carefully begin the demolition. He removed wooden planks from one corner of the building, then moved to the opposite side and, with a final push, brought the structure down. The barn crumbled in a cloud of dust and splintered wood, collapsing onto itself.

Property owners in McDowell County, North Carolina look on as their tobacco barn, which was in their family for over 100 years, is demolished as part of their private property debris removal request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, April 24, 2025. The structure was damaged in Hurricane Helene and presented a safety concern requiring it to be torn down and removed. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Davis)

What made the moment so impactful was seeing the property owners look on as it happened. This wasnt just an old shed or garage that could easily be replaced. It was a piece of their familys history. A place filled with memories, tied to generations of work, pride and tradition. It needed to come down for safety reasons, but its loss left a void both physically on the property and emotionally in their lives.

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Being able to share in that moment, and to capture it through my camera lens, will stay with me long after this deployment ends. And for Mr. Forsgren, witnessing that scene firsthand, Im sure offered a powerful, undeniable reminder of what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is doing here, and why this mission matters so deeply.

Mr. Forsgren was accompanied on his visit by Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, the USACE deputy commanding general for Civil and Emergency Operations. While speaking to some local media, Kelly explained that when you wear the military uniform, youre often playing the away game, deploying overseas to protect our country and interests. But here, in North Carolina, were playing the home game. Were helping Americans, in America. For me, theres something special and deeply fulfilling about that.

Why we keep showing up

There are frustrating days, of course. Particularly when managing social media. Most of the feedback is positive, but occasionally someone will misunderstand what were doing, or use the comments to spread misinformation. We try not to let it get to us. Sometimes its an opportunity to clarify and educate. Other times, our followers jump in and offer support themselves. But in those moments, Im reminded why its so important to keep telling the story. Because even while other parts of the country face new emergencies  wildfires in the West, floods in the South, hurricane season on the horizon  the work here isnt finished. There are still people hurting, still communities trying to recover, and still lives waiting to be put back together.

At the heart of it all, I guess what I would want people to know is that were still here. USACE and our partners are still on the ground, still clearing debris, and still helping communities in western North Carolina recover from a storm that changed everything. This isnt just about logistics, equipment or contracts; its about people.

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Disaster response doesnt end when the cameras leave or the headlines change. It continues quietly, behind the scenes, carried out by individuals who care deeply about doing the right thing whether anyone notices or not.

If I could bring the public out here for just one day, Id want them to see what I see. Not just the debris or the cleanup, but the resilience and the commitment. The business owner getting ready for the summer season. The kayaker asking when the river will be safe again. The contractor working weekends and holidays to finish a job because he knows it matters. This region is filled with beauty, both natural and human, and the urgency to restore it is real.

And with hurricane season approaching and wildfire risks rising, we know this work is about more than just recovery. Its about readiness. Helping one community recover quickly makes space for us to help the next.

Thats why were still here, thats why we keep showing up, and thats why well keep telling the story until the last load of debris is cleared, and long after.
The Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Nashville (Photo: John Partipilo)

Its not exactly the trial of the century (or the crime of the century, for that matter). But its good enough for folks around here.

They tell me that more corruption takes place at the Cordell Hull Building on a daily basis than in the entire Phoenix Solutions scam to tap into lawmakers constituent mailer business in early 2020.

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In fact, Thursdays federal courtroom crowd thinned out noticeably. But earlier in the week, when people still had feeling in their butt bones, a handful of interested lawmakers showed up, such as Republican Rep. Todd Warner and Democratic Reps. Gloria Johnson, Shaundelle Brooks, Gabby Salinas and Justin Jones. (The reference to rear end pain stems from sitting for hours on the wooden courtroom pews.)

Other Republicans such as Rep. Jay Reedy and Patsy Hazlewood were compelled  by subpoena  to testify about how they let the secretive company do their constituent mailers, not knowing that the ex-chief of staff for former House Speaker Glen Casada was running the company. Hazlewood and Reedy both said they wouldnt have let Phoenix Solutions get their business if theyd known Cade Cothren was behind the set-up. He left the post following a racist and sexist texting scandal just four months before Casada vacated the leadership job in 2019 following a no-confidence vote by the House Republican Caucus.

Cade Cothrens always been straight up to me. Hes done fantastic work. Id put him up against the best in the state.

 Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill

Warner, a Chapel Hill Republican, was the only lawmaker to show up in support of Cothren. His home was raided the same day feds visited Cothren, Casada and Smith in 2021, but he hasnt been indicted and said this week he hasnt used his printing and postage account for constituent mailers, instead tapping into the $3,000 yearly allowance only to buy items such as flags for schools.

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Warner acknowledged Cothren has done consulting work for him, added. He does very good work, something the defense is trying to push.

Asked if he has any reservations about continuing to use Cothren, who is believed to be connected to Dixieland Strategies, as well as Phoenix Solutions, Warner said, Well see how it plays out. He hasnt been found guilty yet. Cade Cothrens always been straight up to me. Hes done fantastic work. Id put him up against the best in the state.

Warner defeated incumbent Rep. Rick Tillis in 2020 while using Dixieland Strategies. Tillis, whose brother is U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis from North Carolina, was an online critic of Casada during his short tenure as House speaker. Someone urinated on Tillis office chair in 2019 just to add a little spice to the situation.

In contrast, Johnson wasnt nearly as kind to the defendants when she spoke with the Lookout during a break in the trial.

Im sitting there working on legislation. Theyre working on how they can make money off the state, and thats disgusting to me, said Rep. Gloria Johnson, a Knoxville Democrat, outside Nashvilles federal courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

What were talking about is what folks are doing up in Cordell Hull and up in the Capitol, and the corruption that we see, Johnson said.

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Smith testified Monday that almost as soon as she arrived in Nashville after winning election and replacing former House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick she met with Casada and Cothren about finding a way to make money, Johnson pointed out.

And then she starts talking about  we went for the state mail accounts because it was low-hanging fruit, Johnson said. So she said her colleagues were low-hanging fruit and those state taxpayer dollars were low-hanging fruit for them.

Im sitting there working on legislation. Theyre working on how they can make money off the state, and thats disgusting to me, Johnson said.

Questions are being raised by the defense and on-lookers about the minuscule amount of money involved in the case, about $52,000. But while lawyers argued this week over whether evidence could be admitted dealing with efforts to win Republican Caucus and campaign business  which they did  it was likely only the beginning, that is until they got caught.

Just another brick in the wall

Defense attorneys for Cothren subpoenaed just about everyone but the late pope to testify.

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They also served a subpoena on Smiths Chattanooga attorney, Ben Rose, on Wednesday (not for his flashy suits) for allegedly trying to communicate with Smith while she was on the stand.

It happened when defense attorney Cynthia Sherwood asked Smith to tell her about discussions she had with Rose this week after trial was recessed. Everyone in the court burst out laughing, knowing talk between attorneys and clients is privileged information.

During a back-and-forth between Sherwood and Smith that got a little tense, the defense attorney asked her if she was communicating with her attorney from the stand. Smith responded by saying she couldnt see his head in the back of the courtroom.

Still, Sherwood  after co-counsel Joy Longnecker whispered in her ear  said she might try to have that attorney-client privilege waived.

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Sources tell the Lookout that they tried to serve a subpoena Wednesday on Rose in the courtroom but then asked him to return it because they needed to make a copy. This hasnt been confirmed.

No laughing matter? Courtroom observers burst out laughing when an attorney for the defense asked former Rep. Robin Smith, center, to disclose conversations she had with her attorney, Ben Rose, left, when court wasnt in session. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Rose tried to have the subpoena quashed Thursday, and his co-counsel, David Bridgers, told Judge Eli Richardson they felt the defense was making a deliberate attempt to confuse Smith on the stand.

We wish the government had objected sooner, Bridgers said, adding they felt defenseless. All we were doing was saying object and to no one in particular other than ourselves.

Richardson deferred the matter. But the Lookout believes everyone can agree its little wonder the trio in question couldnt keep Phoenix Solutions a secret because Smith cant stop talking, even when the judge says answer only yes or no.

How long can we take it?

First, people wanted to know if this trial would start as rescheduled on April 22 after a multitude of delays. Indictments were made in August 2022.

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Now, everyone wants to know when it will end. One of the jurors asked to be excused because she couldnt afford to miss four weeks of pay. That sent shock waves through the courtroom.

After the first couple of days, it seemed that four weeks was a major underestimation, especially since Judge Richardson had to keep calling the attorneys to the bench for a sidebar every 15 minutes, once because the defense objected to the prosecution asking a witness to describe House leadership, not whether theyre good or bad, which we already know, but who they are.

Another major delay broke out in an argument over whether the prosecution could admit evidence dealing with Republican Caucus and campaign work done by Phoenix. Richardson said he hadnt seen such a ruckus in his 27 years in federal court. Clearly, hes never covered the Tennessee House chamber where fights, riots and name-calling are as common as sarcasm in the press box.

Anyway, were predicting this aint over by a long shot.

Its been such a long time / I think I should be going / And time doesnt wait for me / It keeps on rollin. *

* Long Time, Boston

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SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  Two people were arrested after a traffic stop in Dauphin County that led to the recovery of more than $1,600 worth of stolen tools and tree-cutting equipment.

Pennsylvania State Police say on April 22, Troopers initiated a traffic stop on a Ford 500 for multiple traffic violations on I-81N. Troopers say the driver and passenger, Terry Cron and Melissa Geertgens, both of Binghamton, New York, were in possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Both were transported to the Dauphin County Booking Center for arraignment, and their vehicle was towed.

Throughout their investigation, State Police say they discovered that Cron and Geertgens were in possession of stolen tree-cutting equipment belonging to a man in Endicott, New York.

State Police recovered $1,200 worth of chainsaws, as well as hundreds of dollars worth of tools, ropes, straps, and shoes from the vehicle.

According to court records, Cron is currently facing a misdemeanor drug charge and multiple traffic offenses, while Geertgens is facing a drug-related misdemeanor.

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State Police say theyre investigating the incident at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Procurement of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle for the U.S. Army may end as part of a wide-ranging force-structure overhaul, which raises questions about whether the service may look to retire the fleet sooner than expected. This comes as the drones manufacturer continues to develop modernized versions of the Gray Eagle, as well as add new equipment and capabilities.

Plans for the fate of future MQ-1C acquisitions are made clear in a joint memo from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, released yesterday.

MQ-1C Gray Eagle before takeoff at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Sean Brady

We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D  and obsolete UAVs like the Gray Eagle, the pair stated.

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Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield, George and Driscoll said.

Other assets that the Pentagon wants to cut under the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) include various ground combat systems, among them the HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-purpose Vehicle, better known as the Humvee) and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

In response, C. Mark Brinkley, a General Atomics spokesman, told TWZ: When we talk to actual Gray Eagle operators with experience using the aircraft in combat, and infantry soldiers who have brought them to bear on the adversary, the universal feedback is that the Army needs more, not less.

Nevertheless, the joint memo from George and Driscoll comes on the heels of an April 30th memo from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This had called for the Army to divest outdated, redundant and inefficient programs in favor of new priorities, including long-range precision munitions and air and missile defense. However, Hegseths order does not mention specific platforms, but does also call for the end [of] procurement of obsolete systems including outdated UAVs.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivers remarks to students, faculty, and staff at the U.S. Army War College on April 23, 2025, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Kevin Dietsch

Derived from the Air Forces Predator, the basic MQ-1C  originally known as the Warrior  was tailored for warfare in the Middle East, using a heavy-fuel piston engine instead of a turboprop, and was intended to be operated by a cadre of enlisted soldiers.

A U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, California. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Chockey

The MQ-1C, which first started entering Army service in the late 2000s, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone. Designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and attack missions, the uncrewed aircraft has a sensor turret under the nose equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras and can carry munitions and other stores, including advanced sensor systems, on up to four hardpoints, two under each wing. The Army employs Gray Eagles independently, as well as in crewed-uncrewed teams with AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.

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As of 2019, the Army had acquired at least 204 MQ-1Cs, 101 of which were delivered in the enhanced Extended Range configuration.

Noteworthy is the fact that GA-ASI has already made efforts to ensure that the MQ-1C is better able to meet the demands of a future conflicts, which could include an expeditionary peer confrontation rather than a counterinsurgency fight.

Continued efforts produced the Gray Eagle 25M version, first flown in December 2023. A first order for the new drone was placed for the Army National Guard only last year.

Gray Eagle 25M. GA-ASI

Among the new features of the Gray Eagle 25M are an improved heavy-fuel engine, increased onboard power, significantly reduced maintenance requirements, and the Expeditionary Ground Control System. Designed to reduce the footprint of both personnel and materials, this system allows soldiers to fly missions from tents, buildings, or mobile shelters, making it easier to rapidly relocate or deploy to remote sites without traditional infrastructure.

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The Gray Eagle 25M also has an improved flight computer, with five times more processing capacity, and a modular open-system architecture to ensure new capabilities can be integrated quickly and relatively cheaply. According to GA-ASI, these might include new weapons and long-range sensors.

The Gray Eagle 25M has also been at the forefront of GA-ASI experiments involving air-launched effects. This has also been conducted with a view to increasing effectiveness and survivability, for example, using the drone to lob air-launched effects toward enemy air defense systems on a large contested battlefield. At the same time, the Gray Eagle 25M can transmit data gathered by those smaller drones to other friendly elements, be they aircraft, long-range fires, or other platforms. Gray Eagle is also being tested as a drone interceptor, which you can read more about here.

Concept artwork from GA-ASI showing a Gray Eagle 25M launching the companys Eaglet air-launched drones. GA-ASI

Additional development has produced the Gray Eagle STOL, or Short Takeoff and Landing variant. This incorporates technology that was first demonstrated on the company-funded Mojave demonstrator, a heavily armed drone descended from the Gray Eagle and tailored for operations from remote or austere locations with rough strips and limited logistical support.

GA-ASIs Mojave demonstrator during takeoff and landing trials on a dirt strip near El Mirage, California, on Aug. 1, 2023. GA-ASI

While the Pentagons leadership may have gone cold on the MQ-1C, at least for now, General Atomics insists that the drone still has an important role to play, including in peer conflicts.

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The Armys RSTA [reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition] mission is not going away in the future, and nor should its ability to conduct those operations without getting soldiers killed, GA-ASIs Brinkley told TWZ.

Brinkley also noted that the modernized Gray Eagle 25M, Gray Eagle STOL, and EagleEye radar were all developed by the company despite low funding priority and an unclear vision from the U.S. Army that has forced Congress and others to make bold moves on behalf of Americas soldiers.

At the same time, Brinkley appeared to acknowledge that there is a considerable capability and performance gap between the original MQ-1C and the Gray Eagle 25M and Gray Eagle STOL now being offered.

Coincidentally, the memo from George and Driscoll was published the same day as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced details of the MQ-1Cs participation in the Armys Project Convergence event, billed as a modernization experiment and based out of Fort Irwin, California, and surrounding ranges.

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An MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) version participated in Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5), which ran throughout March. The drone in question was equipped with commercially available next-generation long-range sensors that were operated by the Army throughout the event.

According to GA-ASI, the drone flew unimpeded by the employed electronic threats and generated targets of interest at Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-relevant ranges for the 82nd Airborne Division and participating units.

An MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) as used in Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5). GA-ASI

The full sensor fit for the MQ-1C involved in PC-C5 comprised modernized communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), synthetic aperture radar/moving target indicator (SAR/MTI), and Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) radios, all of which make use of the drones open architecture.

The GE-ER was operated at an altitude and range that negated kinetic threats and utilized the long-range sensors to effectively detect, identify, and target threat emitters and vehicles, GA-ASI said in a media release.

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That the MQ-1C is potentially vulnerable even when faced by lower-end adversaries has been amply demonstrated by the scale of losses suffered by the still-growing number of shootdowns of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

The increasing vulnerabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper  the larger cousin of the Armys MQ-1C  saw the U.S. Air Force abruptly announce its desire to stop buying those drones, citing concerns about growing vulnerabilities. The service has also said in the past that it could retire the drones for good by 2035, but has continued to take deliveries of new examples in the meantime.

A US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper. USAF

According to General Atomics, new versions of the Gray Eagle are similar to [the original MQ-1C] in name only, just as the rifles todays soldiers carry are nothing like the rifles of the Continental Army. Without these aircraft, tomorrows U.S. Army faces an uphill battle that quadcopters and other low-endurance, low-capability gadgets cannot hope to overcome in a future fight. Backpack drones have a place on the battlefield, but they cannot replace the force multiplication of Gray Eagle.

This final point reflects the focus on new kinds of drones as outlined in Hegseths memo, which calls for prioritization of inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries.

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At this stage, the cuts proposed under the Army Transformation Initiative remain a Pentagon recommendation, and any major divestments of equipment and disbandment of units are likely to face plenty of pushback. Nevertheless, the call to step away from the MQ-1C does provide useful insight into the kinds of aerial platforms the Pentagon wants to see the U.S. Army operating in its future force structure.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Rain chances really increase across New Mexico starting Friday. The chance for showers and thunderstorms will stick around through next week.

Showers and storms returned to the northern half of New Mexico Thursday while the rest of the state was dry and warmer today. Most of the rain and thunderstorms have ended tonight. A cold front is moving through eastern New Mexico tonight as well, eventually spilling into the Rio Grande Valley by Friday morning. This could bring a gusty east canyon wind and higher humidity into Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and other areas in the Rio Grande Valley through late Friday morning.

With the higher moisture in the air Friday, more thunderstorms will develop across the state Friday afternoon, especially around central and northern New Mexico. There is a very good chance for rain and thunderstorms in Albuquerque by the early evening hours. Rain and thunderstorm chances will return again Saturday afternoon across New Mexico, but storms will be more isolated.

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South/southwest winds pick up across western and central New Mexico Sunday afternoon with gusts around 30 to 50 mph as a stronger storm system moves into the state. This will bring a high fire danger to southern parts of New Mexico while pushing the moisture back to the east. More showers and storms will develop Sunday afternoon across northern, central, and eastern New Mexico. Stronger storms will develop Monday afternoon in northern and eastern New Mexico. Heavy rain will be possible out of some of these storms and could even cause flooding. Isolated showers will also be possible in other parts of the state, except for southwest New Mexico.

Rain and thunderstorm chances will continue across New Mexico through the middle of next week.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Authorities in northeastern KELOLAND are asking for your help in solving a string of stolen vehicles and burglaries.

The Big Stone County Sheriffs Office says 2 pickups were stolen in Ortonville Thursday morning.

Other residents reported that personal items were stolen from their vehicles.

How soon is too soon to plant your garden?

The Roberts County Sheriffs Office says similar incidents happened in Milbank, Corona, Wilmot, and Summit the past two nights.

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Authorities asking for people with any information or security or dashcam video to come forward.

Officials ask the people take their keys and make sure their vehicles are locked.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Thursday, the Denver Sheriffs Department launched a new program aimed to humanize those incarcerated.

In May 2024, Denver County Sheriffs Department brought back in-person visitation to the county jail, and a year later, theyre taking it a step further and launching something new: A clothing project that allows those in custody to wear everyday street clothes for visits.

Sheriff Elias Diggins says the goal is to humanize the inmates and not further traumatize family members.

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Today is a momentous occasion for the Denver Sheriffs Department as we embark on something that is not being done at any jail in the country, Diggins said addressing the media on Thursday.

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Inmates at the county jail will have the choice of non-institutional everyday clothes during visitations starting Thursday. The design of the visitation room is creating a welcoming environment for reconnection. The mural on the north wall reading Heal the past, live the present and dream the future.

We want something thats going to help bring emotions in a space of connection while theyre here. When you look at the beautiful doves, and the faces and the words that are on the wall and the flower and the seed thats planted and that seed we are planting here is the seed of hope, the seed of dignity and humanity. Diggins said.

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The idea came to the sheriff after last years ribbon cutting on their in-person visitations and watching the documentary Daughters, where a similar program is highlighted. He also draws on his own experiences, his father once an inmate here.

Coming into a stark, white room like most contact visits spaces are in jails with a bleak environment and seeing your parent come out in an inmate uniform is something that you never get out of your mind, Diggins said. So, if we want to bring families together, and we want to reduce the trauma that families have by their incarnation experience, because families are doing time as well, why not?

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Denver Councilwoman Shontel Lewis facilitated the partnership with Goodwill to provide the clothing, creating no additional costs for the department.

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She is also calling on her own experience stating she was once jailed, and Goodwill took a chance to hire her.

In the lowest moment I made a poor decision, I took money from my employer, and I paid dearly for it. Lewis said. They took a chance on me when no one else would and the chance gave me an opportunity to rebuild, to grow and to serve.

Lewis serves the area encompassing the jail and says with her experience she knows what a visitation space like this could mean for rehabilitation.

When you strip away the jumpsuit, you restore dignity. When a parent can see their child or a loved one can hold a hand without that layer of shame you begin to heal something deeper. Lewis said.

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They believe this will have a direct effect on these individuals experiences once theyre released. Potentially giving them the reasoning to not re-commit crimes.

When they leave, we hope that they remember these experiences and how they were treated and knowing that they were not punished while they were here. The depredation of their freedom was their punishment. Diggins said.

DSP says they will be gathering data on the programs success and any recommitted crimes from participants. In-person visitations are only offered to individuals housed at the Denver County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Fighting in the Sudanese city of al-Nahud, a strategic city in West Kordofan state acting as a gateway to the Darfur region, has killed 19 people and left 37 wounded, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, in the latest eruption of violence in the brutal two-year civil war.

Local sources told Al Jazeera that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which declared on Telegram that it had liberated al-Nahud from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Thursday, had rampaged through neighbourhoods, looting the market, houses and cars.

Al Jazeera understands that a doctor, a journalist and a police officer were among those killed as paramilitaries overcame the city, held by the SAF since the start of the conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and uprooted more than 12 million.

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Control over al-Nahud has become a priority for both the RSF and SAF as fighting between the pair intensifies in Darfur, where 542 people have been killed in the past three weeks alone, according to the United Nations on Thursday.

The RSF has been doubling down on Darfur in recent weeks after losing the national capital, Khartoum, last month, in a bid to seize regional capital el-Fasher, the last major population centre still in the armys hands, located 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of al-Nahud.





Recent violence in el-Fasher and the nearby refugee camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk has caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee 60km (37 miles) across the desert to the town of Tawila.

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As it continues its campaign in Darfur, the paramilitary group has also been inching closer to Khartoum again, shelling the presidential palace in its second attack on the capital in less than a week.

On Saturday, the RSF bombarded the armys General Command headquarters in Khartoum.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, commenting on the death toll in Darfur and extrajudicial executions conducted by both sides in Khartoum state, said on Thursday that the horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds.

The conflict between SAF, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSFs Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo has divided Sudan in two, with the army holding sway in the north and east, while the RSF controls most of Darfur and parts of the south.




CAIRO (AP)  Sudans notorious paramilitary group claimed a sweeping victory Friday saying it took control of the key town of Al Nahud in West Kordofan state in a fight that intensified a day earlier.

A victory there by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, would mark a strategic loss for Sudan's military in its war with the paramilitary force as the territory is home to the headquarters of the 18th Infantry Brigade.

The Sudanese army didnt immediately comment on its social media channels on whether it lost Al Nahud to its rival.

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Sudans Culture and Information Minister Khalid Ali Aleisir said on his Facebook account on Friday the RSF committed crimes against defenseless citizens in the town, looting their properties and destroying public facilities.

The RSF said on its Telegram channel Friday that it destroyed vehicles belonging to the army and seized their weapons and ammunition during the battle for Al Nahud. The paramilitary group also claimed that it managed to secure the city's facilities and markets after defeating the army.

The war erupted on April 15, 2023, with pitched battles between the military and the RSF in the streets of the capital Khartoum that quickly spread to other parts of the country.

RSF attacks in Al Nahud have killed more than 300 unarmed civilians, the Preliminary Committee of Sudan Doctors Trade Union said on Facebook on Friday. The Associated Press couldnt independently verify that figure.

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The Resistance Committees of Al Nahud condemned the RSF attacks, which it said began Thursday morning.

They invaded the city, stormed residential neighborhoods, terrorized unarmed civilians, and committed cold-blooded murders against innocent civilians whose only crime was to cling to their dignity and refuse to leave their homes to the machine of killing and terror, the Resistance Committees said Thursday on Facebook.

An army loss of Al Nahud would impact its operational capabilities in Northern Kordofan state, according to the Sudan War Monitor, an open source collaborative project that has been documenting the two-year-war. Al Nahud is a strategic town because its located along a main road that the army could use to advance into the Darfur region, which the RSF mostly controls.

Al Nahud also shelters displaced people fleeing from Al-Obeid, Umm Kadada, Khartoum and El-Fasher  the provincial capital of North Darfur province, according to the Darfur Victims Support Organization.

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Meanwhile, in North Darfur, the fighting has killed at least 542 people in the last three weeks, though the actual death toll is likely higher, according to U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk. This figure includes the recent RSF attacks on El Fasher and Abu Shouk displacement camp, which killed at least 40 civilians.

The horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds, said Turk i n a statement on Thursday.

Turk also mentioned extremely disturbing reports of extrajudicial killings committed by RSF, with at least 30 men in civilian clothing executed by the paramilitary fighters in Al Salha in southern Omdurman.

I have personally alerted both leaders of the RSF and SAF to the catastrophic human rights consequences of this war. These harrowing consequences are a daily, lived reality for millions of Sudanese. It is well past time for this conflict to stop, said Turk.

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The war in Sudan has killed at least 20,000 people, but the real toll is probably far higher. Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, 4 million of them streaming into neighboring countries.

Half the population of 50 million faces hunger. The World Food Program has confirmed famine in 10 locations and warns it could spread further, putting millions at risk of starvation.
The main stairway to the third floor of the Montana Capitol building is seen on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (Nathaniel Bailey for the Daily Montanan)

Montana Superintendent of Public Education Susie Hedalen celebrated the signing of House Bill 357 as a significant step toward strengthening career and technical education (CTE) for middle school students across the state, the Office of Public Instruction said Tuesday in a news release.

Sponsored by Rep. Eric Tilleman, R-Cascade, HB 357 ensures funding for CTE programs in middle schools, exposing students to career pathways in agriculture, business, health occupations, industrial technology and family and consumer sciences.

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HB 357 appropriates $240,000 for the 2027 fiscal year. The bill says the legislature intends the money to be continued in the future.

OPI said the investment helps Montana students build technical knowledge and hands-on experience, laying the foundation for future success in high-demand fields.

Superintendent Susie Hedalen praises the signing of a career and technical education bill sponsored by Rep. Eric Tilleman. (Provided by the Office of Public Instruction.)

In a statement, Hedalen thanked Tilleman for his leadership and for recognizing the importance of career and technical education in middle school.

Montana faces a growing demand for skilled workers, and employers across the state are looking for professionals with both technical expertise and practical experience, Hedalen said. HB 357 responds to this challenge by providing the resources necessary for schools to foster career exploration, reduce dropout rates, and connect classroom learning to real-world applications.

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Tilleman said the bill allow grants of up to $5,000 to any CTE program in the state of Montana. High school students already receive similar support, and Tilleman told the Daily Montanan his bill will help bring the same ideas to younger students.

Were helping middle schoolers be able to see the employability skills early and give them the foundational elements for work-based learning, Tilleman said.

OPI will develop and implement guidelines for distributing the funds so they can expand their CTE offerings, the news release said.

Hedalen said CTE not only equips students with the skills they need, it strengthens the workforce, economy and communities.

The OPI team and educators across Montana are ready to build the bridge between education and industry, Hedalen said. Sparking students interest and beginning the career exploration journey in middle school will help our students be engaged in their education and see their incredible opportunities for years to come!
Because of President Donald Trumps trade war against the world, American consumers may soon start seeing shortages on their everyday household goods and accessories.

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

In the past few weeks, Trump has imposed massive import taxes on many U.S. trading partners  including an astonishing 145% tariff on Chinese goods  only to abruptly change or suspend some of these tariffs. But Trumps chaos is already starting to freeze supply chains. U.S. businesses are cancelling or postponing shipment orders from China.

Just last week, the executives for major retailers Walmart, Home Depot and Target reportedly told Trump in a meeting that shoppers are likely to see empty shelves and higher prices in the next few weeks if he doesnt roll back his tariff plans.

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Dont expect a toilet paper shortage like what we experienced during COVID lockdown. Because many essential goods like food, beverages and paper goods are more likely to be made domestically, they are more immune from these shortages, said Casey Armstrong, chief marketing officer of ShipBob, a global fulfillment and supply chain platform.

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Youre not going to run out of food or toilet paper, but dont be surprised if your $3 spray bottle or favorite pair of $5 socks vanishes from shelves or doubles in price, Armstrong said.

HuffPost talked to supply chain experts about which categories of common goods are most vulnerable to disappearing from shelves soon.

Fast Fashion And Clothes

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Direct-to-consumer brands like Shein and Temu used to rely upon a de minimis shipment exemption to sell cheap goods to U.S. consumers.

Under the de minimis tariff exemption, a U.S. shopper could buy $800 worth of goods per day directly from a foreign seller free of tariffs and administrative fees, but soon no more.

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Trump signed an executive order to close that loophole, which will go into effect on May 2. Ending this exemption is expected to disproportionately hurt lower-income and minority consumers, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research paper published last year.

As a result of the de minimis loophole ending, consumers may see both fewer quantities and fewer options from their favorite fast-fashion brand, said Nathan Strang, director of ocean freight at Flexport, a company that brokers customs clearance and logistics for importers and exporters. Youre going to start to see less quantities, he said.

Related: "The Simple Answer Is That I Dont Want To Die": Women Are Sharing Why They Won't Have Kids After Trump Won The Election, And This Feels So Dystopian

Fourth Of July Items

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Fourth of July is one of the nearest major holidays, and its when you might first notice a major shortage, be it your desired grill or fireworks. Thats because seasonal items like American flags and fireworks are largely made in China, said Chris Tang, a University of California, Los Angeles professor who studies global supply chain management.

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For some of these products, they have no alternative supply maker, he said.

Back-To-School Supplies

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A lot of back-to-school shopping happens over the summer, and if Trumps tariff plans dont change, expect to see fewer options.

Strang explained that it can take 30-plus days for goods to get manufactured and shipped from China to the U.S., and the timeline for producing back-to-school supplies like pencils, notebooks and computer bags can all vary. As a result, there wont be a uniform disappearance of these items in retail aisles.

Instead, what Strang expects to see is fewer options in the back-to-school supplies that many parents want to buy this summer. He noted that many manufacturers dont make all of the different styles at the same time. Typically, they do one style, they retool, they reset, and they do the next style, and they continue to do that throughout the year, Strang said.

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He gave the example of a child wanting a blue backpack, and there are no blue backpacks. Like, thats the kind of thing I think a lot of people will notice, he said.

Related: Ted Cruz's Daughter's Priceless Reaction To Her Dad's Trump Praise Is Going Viral

Furniture And Home Decorations

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The patio furniture you want to buy this summer may also be in short supply, Strang said, because a lot of the parts are manufactured in China.

Armstrong also said a lot of less-expensive home decorations are produced in China and shipped in bulk. These items are pretty margin sensitive, and so I think thats going to be pretty impacted as well, he said.

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Toys

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Factories in China make nearly 80% of all toys sold in America, according to industry group The Toy Association. Even Trump has acknowledged there will be shortages of toys as a result of his tariffs.

On Wednesday, he told reporters, Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

Seasonal Christmas toys in particular could be at risk of disappearing in the fall and winter. Almost half of the small and mid-sized U.S. toy companies said in a recent survey that they are likely to go out of business within weeks if 145% tariffs on Chinese goods remain in place.

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Cheap Household Essentials

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If you go to your local corner store for plastic cups or other disposable essentials, expect to see shortages there, too.

Armstrong said that retailers for Dollar Store essentials like soaps, batteries, toothpaste and disposable plates will be impacted first because these type of goods experience extreme cost pressures and tight profit margins.

Electronics

Yagi Studio / Getty Images

Consumer electronics could probably see the biggest hit, Strang said, because many of the parts are made in China.

Tang said high-end electronics, like an Apple phone, that are still on shelves could also become very expensive.

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Replacement Parts Of Appliances

SolStock / Getty Images

If your dishwasher breaks and you need to fix it this summer, expect to have a harder time finding a proper replacement part. Armstrong said appliance replacement accessories like light bulbs, filters, cords and grill parts can be an overlooked category of goods because they are less flashy, but they are vital to the economy and are often sourced from overseas.

Supply chains dont often prioritize reordering those until theyre running low. And a lot of these are sourced from China, Armstrong said.

Overall, you may not yet notice big changes to your shopping habits, but they will become inevitable under Trumps tariffs. Major retailers have some inventory they got before Trumps policy was announced, but thats running out. Tang predicts that consumers will experience price increases to many of their goods in three to four weeks time.

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In other words, you might not see empty shelves right away. Armstrong said it will not happen all at once, but supply shortages in certain aisles will be a slow bleed over time.

If nothing changes, I think the summer months is when well really start to see it, Armstrong said. First, things like toys will vanish. And then maybe, your favorite apparel items. And then, maybe some of the weird replacement parts that you didnt know came from China. This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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My big question, as the Supreme Court kicked off Wednesdays oral argument in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, the high-profile religious charter schools case, was where exactly the justices would draw the battle line. I saw three possibilities.

State charter school laws have been around for more than 30 years. They enable nonprofits to operate public schools free of many rules that apply to the traditional government-run public schools. That list can include policies related to calendars and schedules, teacher pay and certification, curriculum, teaching methods, and more. From the very beginning, all charters have been secular. Thats been required by state laws. But a Catholic-affiliated applicant in Oklahoma put those provisions to the test, essentially arguing that it is anti-religious discrimination for a state government to allow any nonprofit other than faith-based groups to operate a charter consistent with its beliefs.

The likeliest battle line, I thought, would be whether charters are state actors (quasi-governmental entities). If so, they must be secular. But if theyre private nonprofits partnering with the government, they might be allowed to be faith-based.

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But if the five more conservative justices (Justice Barrett is not participating in this case) quickly revealed that they believe charters are not state actors, I suspected the battle line would shift to possibly reviving some kind of status-use distinction. Oklahoma and the progressive justices would, I thought, tacitly concede that faith-based groups can operate charters while arguing that states had a rightto keep church and government separateto prohibit those charters from using state money to do a variety of religious things.

The third possibility would come about, I thought, if the conservative justices made clear that religious groups must be allowed to run charters consistent with their faiths teachings. In this case, Oklahoma and the progressive justices would retreat for a final standoff, trying to preserve some ability of states to limit the scope of faith-based chartering. This might include narrowing the ministerial exception (the legal doctrine protecting religious entities key staffing decisions from government interference), ensuring state nondiscrimination statutes apply to religious charters, and/or preventing a maximalist view on faith-based groups participation in government programs.

I expected the three progressive justices to be firmly opposed with Justice Kagan taking the lead. I expected Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas to see Oklahomas position as anti-religious discrimination. Even though Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority in three major precedents seen as laying the groundwork for permitting faith-based charters, I wondered if hed aim for a compromise or minimalist holding. And I didnt know what to expect from Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Ultimately, the primary battle line was whether charters are state actors. There was very little discussion of a status-use distinction; that concept appears to be kaput. When it became clear that the five conservatives were inclined to see charters as non-state actors, Oklahoma and the progressive justices pivoted to arguing that the longstanding concept of public education allowed state governments to require all public schools to be secular regardless of who runs them. But that didnt seem to work either.

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Oklahoma did its best to paint charters as of, by, and for the government: Charters must follow state content standards, administer state tests, maintain open-enrollment policies, and teach a state-vetted curriculum. The five conservatives appeared unpersuaded, seeming to agree that charter operators are private nonprofits with privately selected board and staff members and that these nonprofits run schools statutorily separated from state control. Justice Alito said he understood that charter laws were created to enable a subset of public schools different from government-run schools and free of state direction. That was clearly at odds, Alito noted, with Oklahomas argument that charters are indistinguishable from government-run public schools in the most important ways.

To my surprise, Justice Kavanaugh played possibly the key role in this area, perhaps in the entire argument. In a short, straightforward back-and-forth with the presenting attorney, he established that no student is forced to attend a charter, that the charter sector has a wide variety of school types, that only religious groups are excluded from participating in chartering, that states could not prefer religious charters over secular charters or prefer certain types of religious charters over others, that the state would continue to run secular public schools, and that the state regulates private schools without those schools being considered public. His point was clear: Chartering is a distinct, choice-based sector of public schools run by a constellation of independent private groups that are monitorednot operatedby the government.

Oklahoma was on the back foot after this; it was then staggered when Kavanaugh later implied that Oklahomas argument would mean that single-sex charters would have to be unconstitutional. And Oklahoma probably lost the case when its attorney clearly frustrated Justice Kavanaugh by failing to appreciate that its argument discriminates against faith-based groups contrary to a host of precedents.

When the state-action approach seemed to fail, Oklahoma and the three progressive justices tried a different tack, arguing that charters are a sector of public education and states simply have the right to decide that all public schools should remain religion-free. This was an interesting bit of legal jiujitsu: This argument is built on a sentence from the Carson decision (Maine may provide a strictly secular education in its public schools), a case understood as the other sides strongest precedent. Some of Maines rural school districts lack a high school, so the state has historically paid for students in those districts to attend public or private schools elsewhere. But Maine prohibited religious schools from participating in this program. The court ruled that this was unconstitutional discrimination against faith-based organizations: If Maine allowed students to use the funds at secular private schools, it must allow students to use the funds at faith-based private schools. The courts point in the lifted sentence is that if Maine wants to keep faith away from its public-school system, the state government can choose to have government entities run all public schools.

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Oklahoma was trying to say that even if the majority finds that charters are nonprofit, non-state actors, the court could still find that charters are part of a public system that a state government can keep religion-free. But this gambit too seemed to fail. The conservative bloc seems likely to say, yes, government-run public schools must be secular but the public schools in the charter sector are not the governments schools. They are owned and run by private nonprofits, and the state cant discriminate against faith-based nonprofits. Said another way, Oklahomas attempted use of that Carson sentence misses that provide and its are operative words.

Throughout the argument, Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor tried to make the case that charters were controlled by the government, and they raised interesting hypotheticals that implied worrisome consequences if faith-based charters were permitted. They also repeatedly flagged that permitting faith-based charters would all but force the court to invalidate portions of a federal law related to charter school funding. But they seemed to get little traction. When Kagan claimed that the state runs charters, the attorney simply replied that this was untrue: The state provides contractual oversight; thats not control.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson mostly led the charge for the progressive justices, particularly with regard to the argument about an entirely secular system of public education. I expect Jackson will ultimately write for the three. But it will be a dissent. In the end, there were simply too many germane precedentsrelated to Amtrak, private contractors, an Olympic committee, resurfacing playgrounds, tuition tax credits, tuitioning programsthat bolster the pro-religious-charters argument. And members of the conservative majority expressed concern that Oklahomas preferred holding would threaten the participation of religious nonprofits in a raft of social service programs. The recent Roberts-authored Fulton decision protecting a faith-based foster-care provider came up more than I anticipated.

After the hearing, my years-old prediction was unchanged. Chief Justice Roberts will write for the majority in favor of faith-based charters. The opinion will say something like, Oklahoma, and other states for that matter, did not have to pass charter school laws. They did not have to enable independent nonprofits to operate public schools. But once they did so, they could not single out religious groups for exclusion.

There is one final twist in this case worth mentioning.

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Over the last few months, Ive participated in several debates on this subject and talked to many reporters and advocates about it. Interestingly, the most frequent argument against faith-based charters wasnt legal. It was political, even prudential: If the court permits faith-based charters, a bunch of blue states will get rid of charters entirely because theyd rather kill chartering than allow religiously affiliated charters. Said another way, opponents of religious charters cited the power of progressive state legislatures as a reason for the court to say no to religious charters.

But on two occasions during the oral argument, Justice Gorsuch cleverly turned that around. He implied a point often made by University of Notre Dame professor Nicole Stelle Garnett: State charter laws differ, and a test for determining whether a charter is a state actor could conclude that they are not in most states but are in some. Gorsuch was suggesting that state legislatures unhappy about a decision in favor of religious charters could alter their laws to put charters under the thumb of the state government, turning their charters into state actors. That would mean that those charters would have to be secular. In this way, the power of progressive state legislatures is a reason the court could feel comfortable permitting faith-based charters.

Gorsuch could write about this in a concurrence, but it might well appear in the chiefs majority opinion. It would be something like: State charter laws gave nonprofit public-school operators independence from the state. That means, in their current form, most state charter laws cant discriminate against faith-based nonprofits. But if a state really wants to discriminate against faith, it could turn its charters into wards of the government.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has had enough of the Trump administrations unchecked bullying of the nations judicial branch.

The Supreme Courts most junior justice condemned Donald Trumps attacks on the countrys judges Thursday night, decrying the hostility from the executive branch as a threat to democracy.

Across the nation, judges are facing increased threats of not only physical violence, but also professional retaliation just for doing our jobs, Jackson said at a judges conference in Puerto Rico, according to Politico. And the attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity.

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Jackson, who joined the nations highest bench in 2022 after she was appointed by former President Joe Biden, did not mention Trump by name but instead referred to the president as the elephant in the room.

Jackson further noted that Trumps attacks are not isolated incidents, arguing that they impact more than just individual judges who are being targeted.

The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law, Jackson said. I urge you to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service.

She added that the judiciary had faced similar challenges during the Civil Rights Movement and the Watergate scandal, when the branch of government was again in the public hot seat.

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Other judges have faced challenges like the ones we face today, and have prevailed, Jackson said.

The sharp rebuke earned her a standing ovation at the conference, reported The Daily Beast. Its the second such instance in which a Supreme Court justice has critiqued Trumps attempts to coerce Americas courtrooms. In March, Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back against the presidents demands to impeach a federal judge who dared to rule against his deportation plans.

For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, Roberts said of Trumps threats against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg at the time.

But Baosberg isnt the only judge Trump has threatened. Dozens of judges have ruled against Trumpand faced the wrath of his allies and his base for doing so.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  A woman accused of stealing a police car in Warrick County is now back in Indiana.

Officials say Nina Devillez was caught on camera allegedly wielding a sword against a Chandler police officer and stealing his cruiser. She was arrested in Daviess County after crashing the stolen car in Daviess County.

Devillez has plead guilty to her charges in Kentucky and received a two-year suspended sentence.

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Now that she has returned to Indiana, she will face more serious charges.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Disturbing new details emerged Friday about an attack by an accused rapist who sexually violated a 27-year-old man on a Manhattan subway car, as the suspect flew into a deranged, expletive-filled tirade during his arraignment.

How long, how long? defendant Mohammad Azeem, 36, shouted as officers led him out of a Manhattan Criminal Court room. Sk my dk. Fk you, he added.

Azeem was ordered held without bail on charges including rape and forcible touching by Judge Kacie Lally.

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Boarding a northbound No. 1 train at the South Ferry Terminal Station at 4:11 a.m. on Apr. 26, the victim told investigators that Azeem had been lying on a bench on the train when he got up, grabbed the victims head and shoved his penis into his mouth, the criminal complaint says.

As the victim struggled against his attacker, desperately trying to shove him away, Azeem told the man to bite it before kissing him on the mouth and attempting to shove his tongue down his throat, court documents show.

Video obtained by investigators shows Azeem repeatedly penetrating the victims mouth with his penis, at one point covering the straphangers head with his shirt as he forced himself on the man, prosecutors say.

When other commuters boarded at another station, Azeem allowed the victim up from his seat and the straphanger fled into another car.

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But the defendant pursued him, reached his hands down the mans pants and attempted to stick a finger into the victims anus, prosecutors say.

Both the victim and Azeem exited the train at the Christopher St. station, where the violated straphanger was finally able to flee from his attacker, prosecutors said.

The victim alerted the train conductor about the attack. Medics transported him to an area hospital in stable condition.

Cops released surveillance images of the suspect early Thursday and asked the publics help identifying him and tracking him down.

Police arrested Azeem, a Crown Heights resident, later that day.

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We dont do that s, Azeem told reporters as he was led out of the 84th Precinct stationhouse in Downtown Brooklyn. We aint gay.

The arrest comes in the wake of a shocking attempted rape and grand larceny on a Manhattan subway last month, when a MTA train conductor found the corpse of Jorge Gonzalez, 37, facedown on the floor of an idling R train at the Whitehall St. subway station in lower Manhattan.

Gonzalez had only been dead for about 30 minutes on April 8 before Felix Rojas, 44, approached the body and sexually attacked him, police charged.

Rojas was arrested Sunday after his son told police he recognized his father as the man in security footage released by the NYPD.
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By agreeing to these Terms of Use, you agree to our Terms of Sale (below) and the terms of our Privacy Policy, which are expressly incorporated herein. Before using this Site, please carefully review our Terms of Sale and Privacy Policy. All purchases you make through this Site will be governed by our Terms of Sale. All personal information provided to us as a result of your use of this Site will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. To the extent there are inconsistencies between these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy, these Terms of Use control.

Your Consent to Other Agreements

When you sign up to use a special feature of this Site, you may be asked to agree to special terms governing your use of the special feature. In such cases, you may be asked to expressly consent to the special terms, for example, by checking a box or clicking on a button marked I agree. This type of agreement is known as a click-through agreement. If any of the terms of the click-through agreement are different than the terms of these Terms of Use, the terms of the click-through agreement will supplement or amend these Terms of Use, but only with respect to the matters governed by the click-through agreement.

Ownership of this Site and its Content

This Site, including all its Content are protected under applicable intellectual property and other laws, including without limitation the laws of the United States and other countries. All Content and intellectual property rights therein are the property of CNHI or the material is included with the permission of the rights owner and is protected pursuant to applicable copyright and trademark laws.

The presence of any Content on this Site does not constitute a waiver of any right in such Content. You do not acquire ownership rights to any such Content viewed through this Site. Except as otherwise provided herein, none of this Content may be used, copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, modified, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without our express prior written permission.

Permission is hereby granted to the extent necessary to lawfully access and use this Site and to display, download, or print portions of this Site on a temporary basis and for your personal, educational, noncommercial use only, provided that you (i) do not modify the Content; (ii) you retain any and all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the Content; and (iii) you do not copy or post the Content on any network computer or broadcast the Content in any media.

Trademarks

The CNHI names and logos, all product and service names, all graphics, all button icons, and all trademarks, service marks and logos appearing within this Site, unless otherwise noted, are trademarks (whether registered or not), service marks and/or trade dress of CNHI (the CNHI marks). All other trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks and/or trade dress mentioned, displayed, cited or otherwise indicated within this Site are the property of their respective owners. You are not authorized to display or use the CNHI marks in any manner without our prior written permission. You are not authorized to display or use trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks and/or trade dress of other owners featured within this Site without the prior written permission of such owners. The use or misuse of the CNHI marks or other trademarks, product names, company names, logos, service marks and/or trade dress or any other materials contained herein, except as permitted herein, is expressly prohibited.

Responsibility for User-Generated Content Posted on or Through this Site

You are responsible for User-Generated Content that you post. Under no circumstances will we be liable in any way for any UGC.

This means that you, not CNHI, are entirely responsible for all UGC that you post and that you can be held personally liable for comments that are defamatory, obscene, or libelous, or that violate these Terms of Use, an obligation of confidentiality, or the rights of others. If any part of the UGCyou post is not your original work, it is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permission to post it.

Because we do not control the UGCposted on or through this Site, we cannot and do not warrant or guarantee the truthfulness, integrity, suitability, or quality of that UGC. You also agree and understand that by accessing this Site, you may encounter UGCthat you may consider to be objectionable. We have no responsibility for any UGC, including without limitation any errors or omissions therein. We are not liable for any loss or damage of any kind you may claim was incurred as a result of the use of any UGCposted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available on or through this Site. The UGCposted on or through this Site expresses the personal opinions of the individuals who posted it and does not necessarily reflect the views of CNHI or any person or entity associated with CNHI.

You own User-Generated Content, but we may use it. You own the copyright in any original UGC you post. We do not claim any copyrights in UGC. However, by using this Site you are granting us and our subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns, a nonexclusive, fully paid, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable license (with the right to sublicense through unlimited levels of sublicensees) to use, copy, modify, distribute, publicly display and perform, publish, transmit, remove, retain repurpose, and commercialize UGCyou post in any and all media or form of communication whether now existing or hereafter developed, without obtaining additional consent, without restriction, notification, or attribution, and without compensating you in any way, and to authorize others to do the same. For this reason, we ask that you not post any UGCthat you do not wish to license to us, including any photographs, videos, confidential information, or product ideas.

We may disclose and/or remove User-Generated Content. CNHI has certain rights. We have the right (but do not assume the obligation) to:

monitor all UGC;

require that you avoid certain subjects;

remove or block any UGC at any time without notice at our sole and absolute discretion;

disclose any UGC and the identity of the user who posted itin response to a subpoena or whenever we believe that disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law or a court order, to prevent or investigate a possible crime or other violation of law, to protect the rights of CNHI or others, or to enforce these Terms of Use; and

terminate your access to and use of this Site, or to modify, edit or block your transmissions thereto in our sole discretion.

You agree that our exercise of such discretion shall not render us the owners of UGC you post, and that you will retain ownership thereof as described above.

Restrictions on User-Generated Content. It is a condition of these Terms of Use that you do not:

upload, post, transmit or otherwise make available

any UGC that is unlawful, harmful, hateful, threatening, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, racially disparaging, indecent, or invasive of anothers privacy;



any UGC that constitutes or encourages activity illegal under criminal or civil law;



any UGC that is false, misleading, or fraudulent;



any UGC that you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as inside information or proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements);



any UGC that violates or infringes upon the rights of others, including UGCwhich violates the patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, trade secret rights, confidentiality rights, contract rights, or any other rights of any individual, living or deceased, or any legal entity;



any UGC that contains the image, name or likeness of anyone other than yourself, unless (i) that person is at least eighteen years old and you have first obtained his/her express permission or (ii) that person is under eighteen years old but you are his/her parent or legal guardian;



any request for or solicitation of any personal or private information from any individual;



any request for or solicitation of money, goods, or services for private gain;



any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment; or



any UGC that contains advertising, promotions or marketing, or which otherwise has a commercial purpose;

impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; or

violate any local, state, national or international law, rule or regulation.

By posting User-Generated Content, you represent and warrant that (i) you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the UGC and have the right to grant the license set forth in these Terms of Use; (ii) the UGC is accurate, and (iii) you have read and understood-and your UGC fully complies with-these Terms of Use and applicable laws and will not cause injury to any person or entity.

Removal of Content

In general. You can seek removal of objectionable UGC by contacting us using the information found on the home page of this site. We will review all such requests and will remove UGC that we determine should be removed, in our sole discretion and in accordance with these Terms of Use and applicable law. Please be aware, however, that if the UGC has already been distributed to other websites or published in other media, we will not be able to recapture and delete it. Also, a back-up or residual copy of the UGC we remove from this Site may remain on back-up servers.

Violation of copyrights. CNHI does not knowingly violate or permit others to violate the copyrights of others. We will promptly remove or disable access to material that we know is infringing or if we become aware of circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent.

If you are requesting removal of content because of a violation of your copyrights, please note that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the DMCA) provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that material appearing on the Internet infringes their rights under U.S. copyright law. If you believe that your own work, or the work of a third party for whom you are authorized to act, is featured on this Site or has been otherwise copied and made available on this Site in a manner that constitute copyright infringement, please notify us immediately. Your notice must be in writing and must include:

an electronic or physical signature of the copyright owner or of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest;

a description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed;

a description of where the material that you claim is infringing is located on this Site (including the URL, title and/or item number if applicable, or other identifying characteristics);

your name, address, telephone number, and email address, and, if you are not the owner of the copyright, the name of the owner; and

a written statement by you that you have a good-faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and

a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owners behalf.

Your statement must be addressed as follows:

General Counsel, CNHI, 445 Dexter Avenue, Suite 7000, Montgomery, AL 36104

Any notification by a copyright owner or a person authorized to act on its behalf that fails to comply with requirements of the DMCA shall not be considered sufficient notice and shall not be deemed to confer upon us actual knowledge of facts or circumstances from which infringing material or acts are evident.

Your Feedback

Although we do not claim ownership of User-Generated Content you post using this Site, the Feedback you provide to us through this Site will be and remain our exclusive property. Your submission of Feedback will constitute an assignment to us of all worldwide rights, title and interests in your Feedback, including all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in your Feedback. We will be entitled to reduce to practice, exploit, make, use, copy, disclose, display or perform publicly, distribute, improve and modify any Feedback you submit for any purpose whatsoever, without restriction and without compensating you in any way. For this reason, we ask that you not send us any Feedback that you do not wish to assign to us.

Your Obligations

In consideration of your use of this Site, you agree that to the extent you provide personal information to CNHI it will be true, accurate, current, and complete and that you will update all personal information as necessary.

To the extent you create an account through this Site, you understand and agree that any account you create, including your username and password, are personal to you and may not be used by anyone else. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your username and password and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your username and password by you or by anyone else using your username and password, whether or not authorized by you. You agree to change your password immediately if you believe your password may have been compromised or used without authorization. You also agree to immediately inform us of any apparent breaches of security such as loss, theft or unauthorized disclosure or use of your username or password by contacting us using the information found on the home page of this site. Until we are so notified you will remain liable for any unauthorized use of your account.

You agree to use this Site in a manner consistent with any and all applicable rules and regulations. You agree not to upload or transmit through this Site any computer viruses, trojan horses, worms or anything else designed to interfere with, interrupt or disrupt the normal operating procedures of a computer. Any unauthorized modification, tampering or change of any information, or any interference with the availability of or access to this Site is strictly prohibited. We reserve all rights and remedies available to us.

DISCLAIMERS

WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THIS SITE OR ITS CONTENT, OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE AVAILABLE ON OR PROMOTED THROUGH THIS SITE. THIS SITE AND ALL OF ITS CONTENT (INCLUDING USER-GENERATED CONTENT) ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS AVAILABLE BASIS, WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CNHI, ITS AFFILIATES, AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LICENSORS DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, ARISING BY STATUTE, CUSTOM, COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE OR IN ANY OTHER WAY, WITH RESPECT TO THIS SITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES AVAILABLE OR PROMOTED THROUGH THIS SITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, CNHI, ITS AFFILIATES, AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LICENSORS DISCLAIM ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES (A) OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (B) RELATING TO THE SECURITY OF THIS SITE; (C) THAT THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE OR CURRENT; OR (D) THAT THIS SITE WILL OPERATE SECURELY OR WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OR ERROR.

WE DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THIS SITE, ITS SERVERS, OR ANY TRANSMISSIONS SENT FROM US OR THROUGH THIS SITE WILL BE FREE OF ANY HARMFUL COMPONENTS (INCLUDING VIRUSES).

CNHI does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice and opinions made by anyone other than authorized CNHI spokespersons. WE DO NOT ENDORSE AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY statements, advice or opinions CONTAINED IN USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND SUCH statements, advice AND opinions DO NOT IN ANY WAY REFLECT THE STATEMENTS, ADVICE AND OPINIONS OF CNHI. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF DELETION, MISDELIVERY OR FAILURE TO STORE COMMUNICATIONS, PERSONALIZED SETTINGS, OR OTHER DATA. YOU ACCEPT THAT OUR SHAREHOLDERS, OWNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THIS CLAUSE.

APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES, SO ALL OR PART OF THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS WE, ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, EXCLUDE AND DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSSES AND EXPENSES OF WHATEVER NATURE AND HOWSOEVER ARISING INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, GENERAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; LOSS OF USE; LOSS OF DATA; LOSS CAUSED BY A VIRUS; LOSS OF INCOME OR PROFIT; LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES; OR OTHER LOSSES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THIS SITE. YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTABLISHING SUCH PROCEDURES FOR DATA BACK UP AND VIRUS CHECKING AS YOU CONSIDER NECESSARY. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY APPLIES WHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR ANY OTHER BASIS.

IF ANY PART OF THIS LIMITATION ON LIABILITY IS FOUND TO BE INVALID OR UNENFORCEABLE FOR ANY REASON, THEN THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES FOR LIABILITIES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIMITED SHALL NOT EXCEED TEN DOLLARS ($10.00).

This Site gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from country to country. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain kinds of limitations or exclusions of liability, so the limitations and exclusions set out in these Terms of Use may not apply to you. Other jurisdictions allow limitations and exclusions subject to certain conditions. In such a case the limitations and exclusions set out in these Terms of Use shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of such applicable jurisdictions. Your statutory rights as a consumer, if any, are not affected by these provisions, and we do not seek to exclude or limit liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.

Links to Third-Party Websites

This Site may provide links to other websites operated by third parties. Because we have no control over third-party websites, we are not responsible for the availability of those websites and do not endorse and are not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, services, products, or other materials on or available from such websites. CNHI shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, advertising, services, products, or other materials on or available from such websites. These Terms of Use do not apply to your use of third-party websites; your use of such websites is subject to the terms and policies of the owner of such websites.

Modification and Discontinuation

We reserve the right at any time and from time-to-time to modify, edit, delete, suspend or discontinue, temporarily or permanently this Site (or any portion thereof) and/or the information, materials, products and/or services available through this Site (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree that we shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any such modification, editing, deletion, suspension or discontinuance of this Site.

Waiver

Our failure at any time to require performance of any provision of these Terms of Use or to exercise any right provided for herein will not be deemed a waiver of such provision orsuch right. All waivers must be in writing. Unless the written waiver contains an express statement to the contrary, no waiver by CNHI of any breach of any provision of these Terms of Use or of any right provided for herein will be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right under these Terms of Use.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Use is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to law, such provision will be changed and interpreted so as to best accomplish the objectives of the original provision to the fullest extent allowed by law and the remaining provisions of these Terms of Use will remain in full force and effect.

Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Venue

These Terms of Use will be governed under the laws of the State of Alabama without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. All actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use will be venued exclusively in state or federal court in Alabama. You hereby irrevocably consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of said courts for all such purposes. However, we retain the right to bring legal proceedings in any jurisdiction where we believe that infringement of these Terms of Use is taking place or originating.

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold CNHI, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective officers, agents, partners and employees, harmless from any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of your use of this Site in violation of these Terms of Use and/or arising from a breach of these Terms of Use and/or any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above and/or if any material that you post using this Site causes us to be liable to another. We reserve the right to defend any such claim, and you agree to provide us with such reasonable cooperation and information as we may request.

These Terms of Use May Change

These Terms of Use are current as of the effective date set forth above. CNHI reserves the right to change these Terms of Use from time to time consistent with applicable laws and principles. These changes will be effective as of the date we post the revised version on this Site. Your continued use of this Site after we have posted the revised Terms of Use constitutes your agreement to be bound by the revised Terms of Use. If at any time you choose not to accept these Terms of Use, you should not use this Site.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Use (together with our Terms of Sale and Privacy Policy and any Privacy Notices or and any click-through agreements applicable to you) contain the entire understanding and agreement between you and CNHI with respect to this Site and supersede all previous communications, negotiations, and agreements, whether oral, written, or electronic, between you and CNHI with respect to this Site and your use of this Site.

Definitions

The terms CNHI, we, us, and our refer to CNHI LLC and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

The term Content refers to all of the software and code comprising or used to operate this Site, and all of the text, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, sound recordings, video and audio-video clips, and other materials available on this Site, including User-Generated Content and Feedback.

The term Feedback refers to the Content you post on or through this Site that is specifically about how we can improve this Site and the products and services we make available through this Site.

The term including means including, but not limited to.

The term Site refers to any website or mobile application owned by CNHI on which these Terms of Use are posted.

The term User-Generated Content or UGC means all of the text, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, sounds, video and audio-video clips, and other content you post using the social networking tools we make available to you and that does not constitute Feedback.

Questions

If you have any questions about this Site or these Terms of Use, please contact us using the information at the bottom of the home page of this Site

Terms of Sale

Thank you for your interest in making a purchase through this Site. These Terms of Sale (Terms of Sale) govern your purchases on this Site.

GENERALLY APPLICABLE TERMS

You acknowledge that any use of this Site is subject to our Terms of Use and all applicable laws. These Terms of Sale are expressly incorporated into the Terms of Use for our Site. In addition, any personal information you provide to us will be subject to our Privacy Policy. Before using this Site, please read through these documents carefully.

We do not sell products or services through this Site to persons under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, you should ask an adult to make the purchase for you.

All prices are in US Dollars. When you purchase a product or service through this Site, the price will be made clear during the order process. You agree to pay the price that is stated at the time of your order, as well as any applicable taxes. Applicable taxes may vary. We are not able to notify you in advance of changes in applicable taxes.

We accept major credit cards and certain digital wallet services.

We will take payment when you place your order. If we are unable to supply the product or service that you have ordered, we will contact you by e-mail or phone, and your payment method will not be charged.

If a stated price is determined by us in our sole discretion to be in error, we are not under any obligation to offer you the product or service at that price. We will notify you of the error and give you the opportunity to cancel your order and obtain a refund if payment has already been made.

These Terms of Sale are personal to you and you may not assign or otherwise transfer any right or obligation under these Terms of Sale except as permitted herein. We reserve the right to transfer, assign, license or subcontract all or any of our rights or obligations under these Terms of Sale or any related contract to any third party.

We will not have any liability to you or be deemed to be in breach of these Terms of Sale from any circumstances which are beyond our reasonable control (including a delay in delivery caused by force majeure).Force majeure includes, without limitation, circumstances directly or indirectly resulting from acts of God; acts of the public enemy; strikes; lockouts; epidemic and riots; power failure; fire; earthquake; water shortage or adverse weather conditions; or other causes beyond the control of the parties.

We reserve the right to make changes to these Terms of Sale at any time. You will be subject to the Terms of Sale in force at the time you place your order with us, unless any change to these Terms of Sale is required to be made by law (in which case it will apply to any orders previously placed by you).

SUBSCRIPTION SALES

You may be able to purchase through this Site a subscription to one of our print publications and/or to one of our digital products.

For details about your subscription, including payment methods and billing cycles, or to make changes to your subscription, visit the subscriptions page or contact us using the information available on the bottom of the home page of this site.

Processing of your payment

We will process your purchase as promptly as possible. There may be a delay in the activation of your subscription while payment details are verified.

If your initial payment authorization is later revoked, your subscription will be terminated. Contact us using the information available on the bottom of the home page of this site.

Pricing

You agree to the billing frequency stated at the time of your order.

Discount eligibility is determined at the time of the order. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.

We reserve the right to change prices and fees at any time. We will notify you in advance if the regular rate of a product changes from what was stated at the time of your order. You will have the opportunity to accept the new price or cancel your subscription from that point forward.

Billing

We will charge or debit your payment method at the beginning of your subscription or, if applicable, at the end of your free trial period. Billing will continue according to the cycle stated at the time of your order.

ANY SUBSCRIPTION YOU PURCHASE THROUGH THIS SITE WILL RENEW AUTOMATICALLY, UNLESS YOU CANCEL THE SUBSCRIPTION BY CONTACTING US. YOU MAY CONTACT US USING THE INFORMATION FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOME PAGE OF THIS SITE. YOU MUST CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BEFORE IT RENEWS TO AVOID BILLING FOR THE RENEWAL TERM. WHEN WE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, WE WILL USE THE PAYMENT METHOD CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR ACCOUNT. IN MOST CASES, YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF IMPENDING RENEWALS.

Unpaid Charges

If your credit card expires or your payment method is otherwise invalid, your subscription or product will not automatically be terminated. You will remain responsible for all charges.

You will be responsible for all costs we incur in connection with the collection of unpaid amounts, including court costs, attorneys fees, collection agency fees and any other associated costs.

Promotions

We may occasionally offer promotions. The specific terms of each promotion are stated at the time the promotion is offered. Each promotion may be different. Promotions cannot be combined.

You are required to provide your payment details when you sign up for a promotion. At the end of the promotion, your subscription will automatically renew at the rates displayed at the time of purchase.

We will not notify you in advance that the promotion is about to end and we will not notify you when your promotional rate has ended. To cancel and avoid being charged, you must notify us before the promotion ends.

Cancellation and Refunds

Unless specified otherwise, all charges are nonrefundable.

When you cancel a subscription, you cancel only future charges associated with your subscription. You may notify us of your intent to cancel at any time, but the cancellation will become effective at the end of your current billing period.

Cancellations are effective the following billing cycle. You will not receive a refund for the current billing cycle. You will continue to have the same access and benefits of your product for the remainder of the current billing period.

We reserve the right to issue refunds or credits at our sole discretion. If we issue a refund or credit, we are under no obligation to issue the same or similar refund in the future.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your subscription for any reason, with or without notice and without further obligation. You will not be entitled to a refund in these circumstances. If any or all of our digital products are temporarily unavailable, you will not receive a refund.

MERCHANDISE SALES AND OTHER ORDERS

Your Order

Every merchandise order that you place on this Site will be subject to acceptance in accordance with these Terms of Sale. The final details of your order will be listed at the end of the checkout process. Following completion of the checkout process, we will send you an email confirming receipt of your order, detailing the products you have ordered. This email is not an order acceptance from us, and your order will not be completed and accepted until it is picked up or delivered. Please inform us immediately if there are any errors in your order.

We reserve the right to cancel any order and/or prevent access to the Site at any time, with or without cause.

Delivery of your Order

We will specify the method of delivery or pick up at the time of your order. In some cases, you may need to arrange for pick-up of your order-for example, when you order tickets to an event you may need to pick them up at our offices or at Will Call. In other cases, we may deliver the order to you via the U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service and we will specify any shipping-related charges at the time you place your order. You are responsible for shipping-related charges.

We do not deliver orders outside the lower 48 United States. We also do not ship to P.O. boxes or addresses other than the billing address of the credit card holder. Any delivery or shipment dates we provide are best estimates only and we shall not be liable for any loss, damage, costs or expenses for failure to deliver in accordance with the delivery or shipment dates given.

Cancellations

Event-related orders (e.g., concert tickets) must be canceled at least 48 hours prior to the event and must be canceled by calling us by using the contact us information found on the home page of this site.

Merchandise orders can be canceled if one of the following criteria was met:

The customer calls or emails and asks to cancel an order that has not yet been delivered or picked up.

All items on the order are currently unavailable.

Your order does not comply with these Terms of Sale.

In the event that your order is canceled, the payment method used to process the order will not be charged.

Return policy

We do not refund ticket and other event-related purchase after the event has taken place.

We stand behind our merchandise and want you to be completely satisfied. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason, please return your merchandise within 21 days of receipt for a full refund of the purchase price. Returned merchandise must be unopened and must be returned in the original packaging. If your item arrives damaged, please keep all boxes and packing materials and immediately contact us by using the contact us information found on the home page of this site. If we accept your return, we will apply your refund, less shipping and handling, to the original form of payment. If you would prefer an exchange, please let us know.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about these Terms of Sale or any other matter, please contact us by using the contact us information found on the home page of this site.
HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP)  A Greenfield man was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a pregnant woman after 911 calls reported an attack on Route 116 in Hadley on Wednesday afternoon.

In a news release from the Hadley Police Department, at around 4 p.m. officers were sent to Route 116 for multiple 911 calls of a woman being attacked on the side of the road. Police say at least two people stopped to help the woman.

Suspicious vehicle in Chicopee shopping plaza led to arrest of Palmer man on gun and drug charges

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When officers arrived, it was discovered that the attacker had left the area heading north in a vehicle. They believed he was headed toward Greenfield. State Police Troopers located the vehicle in Greenfield and the suspect, 31-year-old Alex Zabnicki of Greenfield, was arrested and brought to the Hadley Police Headquarters to be booked on the following charges:

Assault and Battery on a Pregnant Victim

Threat to Commit a Crime

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
The suspect in a hit-and-run that struck two children and one adult was captured by South Carolina authorities on Thursday, May 1.

According to an update from the Isle of Palms Police Department, the suspect, identified as Justin Collin Adams, was taken into custody without incident shortly after he allegedly struck two children and one adult with a sedan outside Sunrise Presbyterian Church.

Police found Adams hiding on a boat in the 3200 block of Jasper Blvd, shortly after an advisory notice went out warning residents in the area that he was "still at large and possibly armed with a knife."

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"He was found on a dock behind a house across the church," Chief Glenn Meadows stated during the final press conference regarding the incident. "He was on a boat."

Isle of Palms Police Department/Facebook Justin Collin Adams Justin Collin Adams

Related: FBI Arrests Man Called 'Frog' After Fentanyl  Sold as Cocaine  Kills 4 at Super Bowl Party

Meadows said Adams was found after he was observed by an aviation unit helicopter.

During the first press conference from the Isle of Palms Police Department, Sgt. Mattew Storen said officers were made aware of the incident after a call came in at 12:48 p.m. "involving a wreck with multiple injuries."

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It was explained that the two juveniles and one adult "were injured by a vehicle." The adult and one of the children were transported to the hospital with injuries, while the second child was treated at the scene and released to their parent.

Adams is said to have fled the scene on foot and was last seen armed with a knife. It was also noted that there was no altercation before the incident.

When asked if the incident was intentional, Storen told reporters that it was part of the investigation, noting that "some reports are saying it was an accident."

Google Maps Sunrise Presbyterian Church Sunrise Presbyterian Church

Related: He Confronted the Boy Who Allegedly Assaulted His Daughter. The Boy Then Beat Him to Death With a Bat, Prosecutors Say

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During the final press conference, Meadows said that one of the individuals who was transported to the hospital had been released, while another was set to be released.

The police chief also said that his department would not comment on any possible charges related to the incident, as the Charleston County Sheriff's Office would be leading the criminal and crime scene investigations.

Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said Adams was being interviewed to "determine why this happened, what went on, and what charges [will be made]."

"So we don't have those yet, what charges we're going to make. But there will be charges, obviously," said Ritchie.

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Meadows shared during a second press conference that officers were conducting a house-by-house grid search to locate Adams.

"In addition to doing searches of the homes, we're searching every vehicle leaving the island," added Meadows. He asked residents to stay inside at the time and reiterated that whether the incident was intentional was still under investigation.

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 was also stated that the FBI and U.S. Marshals were involved in the search.



Read the original article on People
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 22-year-old man is facing charges in connection to a deadly shooting last week in Kansas City, Kansas.

Andrew Holmes was charged in Wyandotte County on Monday with one count of voluntary manslaughter.

Officers with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department responded to a shooting on April 24, just after 5 p.m. at the Terrace Pointe Apartments near South 72nd Street and Kansas Avenue.

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When officers arrived on scene, they found a man outside, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. He has been identified as 21-year-old Erik Johnson-Linares, a resident of KCK.

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Holmes made his first appearance in court on Friday morning and is being held in the Wyandotte County jail on a $100,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A suspect has been taken into custody after Olathe police announced earlier this week that they were investigating the suspicious death of a 75-year-old woman.

No charges have been announced.

Two Pettis County deputies shot while serving search warrant Friday

Police also added Friday that the victim has been identified as Karen M. Peterson. They have not said how she died but said they were investigating her death as a homicide.

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The police department initially stated that officers were called to a home on North Persimmon Drive near West Santa Fe Street just after 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, to check on a woman at the home.

When they arrived, they found the 75-year-old woman, later identified as Peterson, dead inside the home.

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Olathe police said the death remained under investigation Friday afternoon.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police said a suspect is in custody following a shooting in the northern Las Vegas valley Friday morning.

At around 8:10 a.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the area of Bradley Road and West Deer Springs Way.

Police said a person fired several rounds at other people in the area, but no injuries were reported.

The suspect left the scene before police arrived, but was taken into custody shortly before 9:30 a.m.

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Police did not give the name of the suspect or what charges, if any, they would face.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Suspect in fatal West Sacramento shooting of teen arrested

(FOX40.COM)  The suspect in a fatal shooting at a West Sacramento park on Wednesday has been arrested, the West Sacramento Police Department said.

Video Above: What happens when you call 911?

According to police, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect Thursday morning and located the suspect at a home in Sacramento County.

The suspect was arrested and booked into Yolo County Jail.

On Wednesday, officers responded to reports of a shooting at Summerfield Park just before 2 p.m.

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Upon arrival, officers found a 16-year-old victim who was taken to the hospital where they later died.

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May 2A police chase Thursday that began in Franklin and ended in Middletown ended with a suspect in custody.

The suspect has been identified as Jeffrey Hurn, who is wanted in Kentucky on multiple felony warrants, according to Franklin Ohio Division of Police.

Hurn has been charged with felony failure to comply, possession of drugs and receiving stolen property.

Franklin police released the police cruiser footage Thursday on Facebook.

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At 11:59 a.m. Thursday, Franklin police got a FLOCK camera hit on a stolen vehicle  a blue Chevrolet pickup truck. Police initiated a stop as the vehicle fled heading from Franklin west on Ohio 73 to north on Germantown Road to west on Carmody Boulevard.

Franklin Police Chief Adam Colon said when the first stop was initiated, "the vehicle immediately sped up."

A Franklin officer successfully performed a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver on Carmody Boulevard to stop the vehicle.

Hurn was taken into custody and sat in a police cruiser until he was taken away by ambulance, according to Journal-News staff at the scene.

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"If he's not wanted already, he'll have a slew of other charges coming his way," Colon said.

He said Warren County is "heavy handed" on flee charges and the state has recently increased the penalty for it.

Middletown police, Middletown fire/EMS and the Monroe Police Department assisted on scene.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies have identified the suspect in an deputy-involved shooting that blocked off a portion of Piedmont Highway.

36-year-old Terry Eugene Rhodes Jr. was wanted in Anderson County when the incident took place. After he was shot by an deputy during the altercation, Rhodes was transported to a hospital for treatment before being place in the Greenville County Detention Center.

Rhodes has been charged with resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as multiple drug charges.

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The investigation into the officer involved shooting remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
This has been an absolute 21 day rollercoaster of an investigation! From tips coming in from across the county to local theories, weve followed up on them all and left no stone unturned.

Our investigation unit has worked diligently on this case for 21 days straight and refused to slow down or give up. I cant say enough how proud I am of how our office and several others came together and literally put (EVERY) resource we could put together to bring what case would seem almost impossible to solve, A Job Well Done.

Maybe now the Battles family can have some ease to a terrible pain that started 21 days ago that took a loved one and left an entire community with a huge question of WHY! Our office exhausted everything we had, along with several others, and the public will never know just how much we came together and how much prayer was sent up to the Good Lord.

Huge thanks to ALL, from our citizens who sent tips over the past 21 days, Mentone PD who has been there every step of the way, Gordon County Sheriffs Office in Georgia and most of all GOD.

If you only knew this case, you would KNOW that GOD is still in control!!!
A federal judge decided to keep the Mesa man accused of setting a Cybertruck on fire and vandalizing a Tesla dealership in late April detained before his trial begins on July 1 at 9 a.m.

Ian Moses, the 35-year-old accused man, pleaded not guilty in the United States District Court of Arizona on May 2. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Morrissey said he believed Moses was not a flight risk given his lifetime residency in Arizona but that he needed to be detained because he presented a danger to the community. Morrissey said the nature of the crimes alleged were "extremely dangerous," especially given the combustion risk of lithium-ion batteries.

The judge said he considered that the alleged crimes took place around 1:40 a.m. outside of business hours, but noted "even seemingly empty buildings" sometimes contained people.

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During the hearing, U.S. Attorney Raymond Woo noted that while no one was inside the Tesla building at the time of the April 28 attack, the company occasionally has overnight cleaning staff on site. He also emphasized that the fires were set at entryways, locations where people would likely have exited if anyone had been present.

The decision for Morrissey on whether to detain or release Moses hinged on two central questions: If released, would he flee and not appear at trial, and would he present a danger to the community?

Attorneys for the United States, in a memo pleading for Moses' pretrial detention before the hearing, called the 35-year-old a "serious flight risk and danger to the community." They said his "plan of attack" against Tesla "was meticulously planned out; strongly suggesting he will not comply with court ordered conditions and flee if given the opportunity." Moses' alleged willingness to set fire to a vehicle with a lithium-ion battery, attorneys said, "created an extraordinary risk to anyone who could have been nearby. "

But Moses' attorney Anthony Knowles argued pretrial detention was an unwarranted and "extraordinary measure" given the "wide range of release conditions available to the Court."

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Knowles said Moses had no criminal history and "demonstrated no behaviors that would suggest his inability or unwillingness to follow the Courts orders." He has strong ties to Arizona, including family and friends, plus a full-time job as a software engineer, which he relies on to pay his mortgage, Knowles said.

At the detention hearing on May 2, Moses' grandmother, grandfather, sister and brother-in-law were present. Attorneys for the government sought to dissuade the judge of Moses' family ties, stating that his relationship with his mother and father were minimal and unclear. Woo also pointed out that Moses wasn't married, didn't have kids and worked remotely, increasing his flight risk.

Morrissey said he believed Knowles established Moses' family ties, and that the record would reflect his family's presence and support at the hearing.

While Moses has a passport, Knowles said the man did not have the financial means to flee and was willing to "voluntarily surrender" the document pending trial. Also in the filing, Knowles said Moses was diagnosed with autism last year and was seeing a therapist biweekly for treatment.

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Instead of detention, Knowles suggested the judge place Moses in his sister's custody, require an ankle monitoring bracelet and confine him to the home, plus restrict travel to only religious services, medical appointments, legal appointments, court and employment, pending court approval.

A grand jury indicted Moses on April 30 on five counts of "malicious damage to a vehicle  by means of fire." Each count, if proven at trial, carries a minimum of 5 years in prison and up to 20 years, U.S. attorneys said.

Here's what else you need to know.

Who was charged, and for what?

Ian Moses, 35, was accused of malicious damage to a vehicle by means of fire in a complaint from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He was also previously arrested on suspicion of setting a Tesla Cybertruck on fire by the Mesa Police Department.

Why was he charged?

The charges came after law enforcement said they responded to a 2 a.m. call on April 28 related to an emergency at the Tesla dealership on Hampton Avenue and Sossaman Road. When they arrived, officers found a Cybertruck "engulfed in flames" and the misspelled word "theif" spray painted on a building's exterior wall.

How did police find Moses?

Mesa police said Moses rode up on a bicycle and opened the door to a "suspicious van" parked near the dealership at Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road. Officers arrested Moses after matching him to video footage provided by the Tesla Security Center.

What evidence does law enforcement have against Moses?

Moses was found wearing a black backpack containing a black mask, a plastic gas can, a lighter and a spray paint can, according to law enforcement. The complaint said he also had a hand-drawn map depicting the dealership as a letter "T." Security footage from Tesla shows a man dressed similarly and using the same materials Moses was carrying.

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More on suspect: Tesla Cybertruck arson suspect had hand-drawn map of Mesa dealership, records say

Who is Ian Moses?

Moses, 35, is a Mesa resident and software developer for Cognizant, a Mesa-based software company. He attended the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a bachelors degree in electrical engineering, according to court filings. His attorney said Moses was diagnosed with autism last year and has been "treating with a therapist every other week."

Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ian Moses, suspect in AZ Tesla fire, detained until July trial
FITCHBURG, Wis. (WFRV)  A suspect in a theft investigation was taken into custody after he had barricaded himself in a closet in his southern Wisconsin apartment for nearly four hours on Wednesday.

Officers with the Fitchburg Police Department stated in a release that they went to a senior apartment complex in the 5100 block of Lacy Road around 7:40 p.m. on April 30 to try and arrest a man on a felony warrant.

Wisconsin man accused of chaining up underage girl in basement, forcing her to drink puddle water

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The wanted 31-year-old man was reportedly the suspect in a theft investigation. Officers say that because he was on probation through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, a felony probation violation warrant had been issued for his arrest.

When officers got to the apartment, the man initially came to the door but then allegedly ran to a bedroom closet. Authorities followed the man into the apartment, but because of his criminal history involving guns, officers called in additional help, including a Crisis Negotiation Team and K9 Unit.

Complaint: Former Appleton teacher allegedly had sex with student in schools parking lot

After multiple negotiation efforts, pepper spray was deployed into the closet. Shortly before midnight, and after nearly four hours inside the closet, the 31-year-old came out and was taken into custody without further incident.

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The man was subsequently booked into the Dane County Jail on multiple charges, including the probation violation warrant, resisting/obstructing an officer, theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

No additional information was provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Following an investigation lasting over six months, a suspect has been arrested for a series of business and food cart burglaries in Eugene.

According to the Eugene Police Department, in September 2024, a detective began investigating a series of burglaries around the area.

Portland woman dies after snorkeling trip in Hawaii

Over the course of the following six months, police said that more victims reported burglaries around the area.

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After collecting evidence and using image comparisons, the detective said they were able to identify the suspect. On April 23, authorities said they found the man at a home in West Eugene and took him into custody.

The man was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants for second-degree theft and parole violations. He also faces numerous other charges, including nine counts of second-degree burglary, nine counts of second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree attempted burglary.

Officials said additional charges are also being evaluated.

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The Tacoma Police Department rescued a dog from a precarious place at Chinese Reconciliation Park.

It happened last week.

The department says the Bernese Mountain Dog wandered from its yard, over to the park, and somehow ended up in some wet rocks and couldnt get out.

I barked for help (politely, of course), and before I knew it, these amazing humans in uniforms showed up, the department jokingly narrated for the dog in a social media post.

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Police say someone walking nearby heard barking. When they realized what happened, they called police.

Officers first tried using a leash to coerce the dog out of the rocks, but it was no use. As a second option, they carefully hoisted the pup onto a tarp with handles and carried it to safety.

The department took the dog to the humane society, where it was reunited with its humans again.

You can watch video of the rescue here:
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Tampa Police Department held the annual Tampa Police Memorial Ceremony Thursday to commemorate the sacrifices of its fallen members.

Mayor Jane Castor, along with Chief Lee Bercaw, led a tribute to the 32 officers of the department who have sacrificed themselves to serve our community and all officers across the nation who risk their lives in the line of duty every day.

The ceremony also featured the Tampa Police Honor Guard, a traditional 21-Gun Salute, a flyover by the Tampa Police Aviation Unity, a symbolic Riderless Horse, and the St. Andrews Pipes and Drums of Tampa Bay.

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The memorial began at 7 p.m. in front of the Monument to Fallen Officers at One Police Center.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
(NewsNation)  With seven months until Christmas, President Donald Trumps hardline stance on China and rising tariffs may put the holiday season at risk for American retailers and manufacturers.

U.S. toymakers and stores rely heavily on China to stock their holiday inventory. But escalating tariffs are squeezing manufacturers, with retailers warning that the supply chain for toys and decorations is under serious threat.

The impact is already being felt, and toymakers are raising prices, retailers are slashing orders, and shipping companies are bracing for delays.

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Many small businesses say theyre facing an unprecedented holiday season, with some fearing they may not survive if conditions dont improve.

Will DOGE stimulus checks be sent out?

Holiday orders stall over tariff costs

Kara Dyer, the founder of Storytime Toys, told NewsNation Live on Thursday that shes already cut back orders and may have to put her business on hold if tariffs stay in place.

Dyer explained that one of the biggest hurdles is the upfront cost of the tariffs.

For a $100,000 order, say that I might place for the holiday season, Ill have to come up with another $150,000 to pay for that order, said. Thats like the first hurdle that all of these manufacturers are going to have to address, and I dont know if I can do it.

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She added, If we were able to pay the tariff, and we did bring the products in, we would have to pass some of that cost on to our customers, Dyer said.

Typically, Dyer places her holiday orders by mid-April. This year, uncertainty around tariffs kept her from placing an order. She estimates she has about two weeks left to make a final decision.

Mothers Day gifts your mom actually wants

Trump: Children may get 2 dolls instead of 30 due to tariffs

President Trump is brushing off the warnings, suggesting people can make do with less this Christmas.

You know, someone said, Oh, the shelves, theyre going to be open. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally. But were not talking about something that we have to go out of our way. They have ships that are loaded up with stuff, much of which  not all of it  but much of which we dont need.

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Tarrant Countys National Day of Prayer Luncheon was filled with shouts of Amen and Praise God as the keynote speaker said too many elected officials have forgotten who they ultimately serve: God.

Kevin Sorbo, an actor known for Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Gods Not Dead, told the crowd of 700 gathered at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth about his faith journey as a Christian conservative in Hollywood and condemned the secular path America is going down.

An official Day of Prayer was first established in 1952 under President Harry Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday in May as the annual National Day of Prayer when Americans gather to pray for the nation.

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Can you imagine if God was woke? Sorbo asked. Suppose todays God was an unforgivable, judgmental, quick to cancel your livelihood, your family, your life, everything, no compassion. Well, thank God, God is not woke. Instead of being ready to cancel and condemn, God is eager to forgive, reconcile and to restore Gods attitude to a very imperfect humanity, which includes all of us.

Kevin Sorbo, a Christian conservative actor, spoke to a crowd of 700 about his faith journey in Hollywood at the Tarrant County National Day of Prayer Luncheon on May 1, 2025.

The crowd cheered and applauded the keynote speaker as he said the American flag is his pride flag and said its ridiculous the alphabet crowd gets a month while mothers, fathers and veterans only get a day each.

For the second year in a row, Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare hosted the luncheon under the Romans 15:13-influenced theme Pour out to the God of Hope and be filled. Among the hundreds in attendance were elected officials from across the state, pastors and church-goers.

The event benefitted nonprofits 6 Stones, aimed at helping the North Texas community through food and resources, and The Justice Reform, a Mercy Culture organization that helps sex trafficking victims.

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Before the three dedicated prayers, Scott Coburn came to the podium as the Patriot Mobile representative to express how important it is for elected officials to be praying over the country at events like this.

Grapevine-based Patriot Mobile touts being Americas only Christian conservative wireless provider. It donates a large part of its earnings to its super PAC, Patriot Mobile Action.

Coburn said his company helped sponsor the event because its aimed at spreading the Word of God.

What were doing here today is very important, Coburn said. Quite honestly, this is what were called to do. Were called to be disciples, to spread the good news, and thats why we choose to support this organization, and we will always support organizations that are for prayer.

Judge Tim OHare hosted the Tarrant County National Day of Prayer for the second year in a row on May 1, 2025. The event benefited local non-profits 6 Stones and the Justice Reform and was sponsored by Patriot Mobile and a number of local churches among others.

Another Patriot Mobile representative, Leigh Wambsganss, led the group in a prayer over family and churches. She prayed for churches to be a beacon of light for the world, which is searching to fill a God-sized hole that is within every human being. Wambsganss also prayed for protection from the devils attacks on the pastors, families and marriages. She also prayed that the Lord shield children from the enemys lies of sexual confusion.

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The second dedicated prayer was over government and military, given by another sponsor, Grapevines First Baptist Church Pastor Doug Page. Page prayed for protection and the faithful leadership of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the presidential Cabinet.

Father, we pray for every leader in every state, but we take a moment to come right here, right now and say how grateful we are for Judge Tim OHare, Page prayed. Thank you for a man who I know loves you, and I know seeks to lead in a way that will please you. And so I pray for your protection on him.

Pastor Parkey Cobern of Capstone Church in Benbrook, another sponsor of the event, prayed for the Christian business leaders on the cutting edge of evangelism in this city. He prayed for a great awakening for the business leaders who dont follow Jesus and that Fort Worth be known as a city that conducts business with integrity.

Throughout the 10 minutes of prayer, mumblings of yes, Lord and shouts of amen came from the audience. Then, members of the crowd stood with hands up as Mercy Culture Church musicians led the group in singing How Great Thou Art.

The Tarrant County National Day of Prayer, hosted by Judge Tim OHare, had the Romans 15:13-influenced theme Pour out to the God of Hope and be filled.

Kyle Hubbart, the prayer coordinator for Mercy Culture, said he came to the event to take part in the power of prayer and he appreciated that the speakers werent afraid of the truth of the Bible.

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I love the honesty, Hubbart said. And also just the fact that our county judge, the person who sits in the highest place of authority, judicially, loves God and honors God. So we know the person who has the gavel in our county is putting that gavel down for justice and righteousness and biblical value.

Sheri Williams, a former member of the National Day of Prayer Tarrant County Board of Directors, said she enjoys coming to the luncheon so she knows what to keep in her own prayers. She said people have called her the Mother of Fort Worth because of her diligence in praying for the community.

Williams said she is grateful that OHare has taken up hosting the event annually because past commissioners havent been as involved in the Christian organization.

OHare said next year, he hopes to grow the event so that more people can join in the fellowship.

This event is about honoring God and showing folks that its okay that government stands up and honors God, OHare said, and were going to continue to do that as long as I have the fortune to be here.
Taxpayers may get their gooses cooked paying for a duck massacre.

A Long Island duck farm is asking for the federal government to quack up $1 million after it euthanized 100,000 of its flocks over bird flu fears, documents show.

Crescent Duck Farm, which supplies 4% of the nations duck meat, has already received $150,000 from the USDA and is asking for more after it put down tens of thousands of birds  and now animal activists are slamming the cost and the carnage.

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The farm used carbon dioxide foam, then snapped the necks of surviving birds with a handheld scissor-like tool called the Koechner Euthanizing Device, according to USDA documents.

Doug Corwin, owner of Crescent Duck Farm, carries a female duck used for breeding in one of several barns on his property. AP

If you see videos of it, it looks like a scene from a horror movie, Ben Williamson, the executive director of Animal Outlook, told The Post of the foam. It doesnt knock them out, it doesnt stun them. They essentially will suffocate, and will be conscious while theyre suffocating  and then the ones who survive have their necks rung by these devices.

But Crescent Duck Farm owner Doug Corwin told The Post the UDSA ended up using a different killing method, and the farm had nothing to do with whatever was decided upon.

This was a heartbreaking thing, he added. We had no standing in that.

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A request for comment from the USDA was not immediately returned.

The 116-year-old farm on the North Fork estimated it was owed $811,635 from the government due to the mass culling after 700 Peking ducks died from the virus in January, records show.

The requested funds were used for sanitization, disposal and replacement of roughly $166,365 in losses, the farm said. Corwin told The Post the USDA has reimbursed to date about 10% of what the flock was worth, or about $150,000, and is expecting more.

Doug Corwin holds one of several hundred ducks he uses for breeding at his farm. AP

Long Island animal activists werent taken by the sob story  or use of government cash.

New Yorkers dont go to work with the intention of spending our hard-earned money on a multimillion-dollar enterprise that kills a million 6-week-old ducklings a year while theyre still peeping, said John Di Leonardo, executive director of animal rights group Humane Long Island.

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Poultry farms and live markets are mandated to kill inventory when highly-contagious bird flu is detected, and dozens of outbreaks have torn through New York State in 2025, according to the USDA website.

The first case of bird flu in the U.S. was detected in 2022 and has since resulted in the deaths of an estimated 166 million birds. Toxic carbon dioxide foam is used in culling about half of the time, per a USDA report, and require secondary measures to kill surviving ducks about 29% of the time.

The 116-year-old farm on the North Fork spent about $811,635  which is poised to be reimbursed by the USDA  to douse its entire flock in deadly carbon dioxide foam, and surviving birds had their necks snapped with a scissor-like handheld tool, records show. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Despite the culling at Crescent, The Post reported in February that more than 3,700 new ducklings hatched at an off-site location.

The ducks can return to the North Fork once barns are found to be free of any active avian flu DNA, Corwin said, adding the barns were last tested Monday.

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The ducks are nine weeks old and in good shape, Corwin said. Were hoping to bring them home when we can  when its 100% safe to do so.

Williamson told The Post he will be presenting an offer to the farm on Thursday to help the business transition to crop production instead, which he deems more humane and sustainable than duck farming.

Doug Corwin, owner of Crescent Duck Farm. AP

While we recognize Crescent Duck Farms historical significance to Long Island, the documents weve obtained reveal not just the financial cost to taxpayers, but also the grim reality of how these birds met their end, he said.

Corwin, however, balked at the idea of scrapping his beloved ducks for farming lettuce and other vegetation.

Its going to take me a year and a half to get any income off of this place [after the culling], he said. Id be better off to bulldoze every barn we have and put it up for sale, but Im a farmer at heart.
HARRIMAN, Tenn. (WATE)  A man was fatally shot by a Morgan County deputy on Friday. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents are investigating the circumstances of the shooting.

Deputies responded to the 300 block of Ray Cross Road around 10:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a burglary.

Laws need to be changed Blount County mayor urges reform after former teacher given probation

Deputies encountered 28-year-old John Cox upon arrival. According to a TBI statement, the situation escalated for reasons that remain under investigation. A deputy fired his weapon and struck Cox. He later died at the hospital.

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Elsewhere, Ninth Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson said that Cox had picked up a large rock and came after the deputy who then shot him. The deputy and other officials then began CPR and other life-saving measures, Johnson wrote.

No law enforcement officers were injured.

This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates.

READ: More top stories on WATE.com

TBI agents were asked to investigate by Ninth Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson. They will work to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting before sharing investigative findings with Russell, who will then make a determination on whether the actions of the officer were justified.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two armed security guards near BlueOval City allegedly tried to stop a truck on suspicion of DUI, resulting in a chase, crash, a gunshot and charges against the guards, TBI officials say.

Aarion Anderson, 32, of Somerville was arrested by TBI special agents Thursday and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault, one count of Vandalism and one count of Aggravated Kidnapping.

Ladarious Jointer, 27, of Cordova turned himself in to authorities and was charged with one count each of Aggravated Assault and False Imprisonment. Both men were booked into the Fayette County Jail on $25,000 bonds.

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Security guard charged with shooting woman outside club

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the incident started in Haywood County, Tennessee on Tuesday, when the armed contract security officers tried to stop a driver they allegedly suspected of DUI.

A short pursuit ensued, ending in Fayette County, where the truck crashed.

When Fayette County deputies arrived at the crash scene, they say both men were attempting to physically detain the driver.

Testimony continues in murder trial for ex-officers accused in Tyre Nichols death

During an investigation, TBI says agents discovered a single gunshot had been fired into the tailgate of the truck. They determined the shot was fired before the crash.

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TBI was called in by the 25th and 28th District Attorneys General. They are continuing their investigation.

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HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A new educational partnership program in Luzerne County hopes to fight the teacher shortage here in Pennsylvania.

According to state data there are currently around 5,500 teacher vacancies.

Those vacancies are why the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), and the Hazleton Area School District are teaming up to create the Teach in NEPA Project.

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Fire department prepares for rescue training at coal mine

The Teach in NEPA Project aims to follow the Shapiro administration and the general assemblys goal of addressing the statewide teacher shortage. It starts and ends right here in Hazleton.

You will not have to leave this community to go to school. You will not have to leave this community to earn your degree, and in most respects youre not gonna have to leave this community to find a job as a teacher, stated John Yudichak, President, LCCC.

Through the program, students can obtain their associates degree with LCCC and get their bachelors with commonwealth university all at LCCCs Hazleton campus.

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All four years are here in this building. The services will be brought to them. The teachers and the professors will be brought to the, explained Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, Commonwealth University President.

While students are completing their degrees, they will train at Hazleton area, and when they graduate, they will have employment opportunities within the district.

Hazleton Area Superintendent Brian Uplinger says this is crucial as the number of students within the district continues to grow and the number of teachers declines.

We have 80 emergency-certified folk in the district, and we have a number of teachers that are going to retire this year, said Superintendent Uplinger.

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Through a grow your own model, the Teach in NEPA Project aims to recruit and retain local students to ease the shortage and create a new generation of teachers here at home.

The Teach in NEPA Project really is about go here, graduate here, and teach here. So this historic partnership really makes a pathway to the most affordable, accessible four year degree anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I would say anywhere in the country, added Yudichak.

Students can begin the program in the fall, and it will allow them to obtain their degrees for under $30,000.

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Jamie Caldwell is charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident

The victim, identified as 32-year-old Joshua Hampton, died two days after the crash

Caldwell's car was found in a parking lot at Glendover Elementary, where she is a teacher

A Kentucky school teacher is behind bars after being accused of killing a man while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on her way to school earlier this month.

Jamie Caldwell is now charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident, according to a release from the Lexington Police Department.

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The 29-year-old teacher made her first court appearance on Thursday, May 1, where she entered a not guilty plea to those charges and was released on bail.

Caldwell was placed under house arrest as a condition of her bail as police continue to investigate the incident, according to the LPD.

In the release, the LPD says that officers were dispatched to the scene of a hit-and-run just before 7 a.m. on April 16.

Officers arrived to find the victim suffering from life-threatening injuries, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the release.

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A spokesperson for the Fayette County Coroner's Office tells PEOPLE that the victim died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries on April 18, and identified him as 32-year-old Joshua Hampton.

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The LPD said in the release that officers then use the department's real-time intelligence center to track down the car, which they found in a parking lot at Glendover Elementary, where Caldwell is a teacher.

Caldwell was then booked into the Fayette County Detention Center.

In a statement issued after her arrest, a spokesperson for the Fayette County Public Schools said that the district would not be commenting due to the ongoing investigation. The spokesperson said Caldwell had been placed on administrative leave.

The case is set to a grand jury in the coming weeks.

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SPRINGFIELD  At 17, she told a trusted teacher at Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative that she just wanted a father.

Hers had died in the waters of the Connecticut River in 2013, according to published reports. She was a small child then. Her mother had her own struggles, and the girl ended up in foster care.

Kenneth Strout, a kindly information technology teacher, offered to be a father figure to her, according to records filed in Springfield District Court. And she was glad, until the tenor of the relationship changed in her senior year at the West Springfield trade school, which serves seven districts.

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Strout, of Monson, has been charged with two counts of annoying or accosting a member of the opposite sex, after two former students came forward to the the West Springfield police.

The Republican has interviewed both of the alleged victims, but will not identify them to protect their privacy, given the allegations.

The younger student, now a freshman at Western New England University, said the comfort that Strout offered to treat her like a daughter quickly took a turn.

He drove me home a number of times, telling me he had permission from the school, which was apparently false, and one time he brought me through a car wash and asked me to take my clothes off, she said during an interview with The Republican.

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He began asking for nude pictures.

She declined, according to a police report obtained by The Republican and interviews with the 19-year-old.

After she went to school administrators and was encouraged to leave the matter alone, she said, she began poring through yearbooks to contact other female students to determine whether they had similar experiences with Strout.

I cannot believe I was the first one he did this to. There had to be others, she said. I just didnt want to be silent and have this happen to anyone else.

She has since blocked him on social media, she added.

One other former student, who moved to Florida and is now 21, shared that she had unsettling exchanges with Strout on social media apps after she and her family relocated.

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He started messaging me on Snapchat, TikTok, all my social media. Until I blocked him, the woman said during an interview on Thursday.

She shared several text exchanges, including a shot of Strouts nude torso and face while he was in the shower, among others, and her responses.

What are you in college for? Your (sic) the only student Ive ever wanted to see naked fyi, he wrote, according to the exchange provided from the second woman.

Thats a little weird Mr. Strout dont u think? Like I was very much underage in ur (sic) class ... jail bait, she responded.

Thats awesome you want comp sci ... I know and I never said anything when you where (sic) my student, Strout responded, according to the messages shared with the newspaper.

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Im sorry if its weird or uncomfortable. I will stop, he said.

The messages were sent under the handle TikTok Dad, which also aligned with the torso shot the 21-year-old alleged victim shared.

A lawyer for Strout, who pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month, said his client plans to fight the charges.

This has all been overblown, and it will play out in court, said Boston attorney Kenneth H. Anderson.

The defense attorney also confirmed Strout no longer works at the school.

It was a mutual decision, Anderson said.

A call placed to the school was not returned on Thursday.

The younger alleged victim told West Springfield Police Detective Nicole Hebert that she felt she had been manipulated by Strout.

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She said she just wanted a dad, Hebert wrote, and that Strout said if the girl lived with him, he wouldnt be able to control himself, according to the report.

The police report adds that Strout asked her to send him pics after she turned 18, and she conceded to send one photo but not nude.

He said he found her sexually attractive after she turned 18 last year, the report notes.

Certain staff rallied around Strout when he was placed on a three-week suspension, according to the police report. It was a misunderstanding, some said, warning not to ruin Strouts reputation.

Springfield District Court Judge Danielle Williams released Strout on his own recognizance but ordered him to have no contact with the victims, plus a mandate for him to stay away from children under 16 without supervision, barring his own children and stepchildren.

Read the original article on MassLive.
A Florida middle school teacher is expected to be charged with harassment over a letter he allegedly wrote to a female fifth-grade student, PEOPLE has learned.

Manatee County Sheriff Public Information Officer Randy Warren tells PEOPLE that "a harassment charge related to bullying will be filed soon" against the former fifth grade teacher, who resigned from the School District of Manatee County soon after the investigation began.

Local WFLA, WJBF, and KARK first reported this week that the teacher's alleged letter was discovered by the parents of his former 11-year-old student. The teacher has not been identified because there have been no criminal charges filed against him, according to the outlets.

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In a copy of the letter, the teacher allegedly wrote to the girl: "You know I truly love you no matter what, that will never change.

The letter was signed off with love, and then the teacher's name. The teachers alleged letter also included a request for the fifth grader to keep the correspondence a secret.

The discovery of the note shocked the 11-year-old student's family and made her parents uneasy, they told WFLA.

Incredibly upsetting as a father, Jason Mitchell, the girls father, told the outlet.

Jason and Ann Mitchell, the girls mother, told WFLA they then turned the letter over to the Manatee County Sheriffs Office.

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As a dad, where does your mind go from there? What did that open the door for in your head? the girls father told the outlet.

What can I do legally out of frustration from being in receipt of something like this? What more could he have done to my daughter?

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In a statement to WFLA, School District of Manatee County Director of Communications Michael Barber said the teacher was initially reassigned to a non-instructional facility where he had no contact with students.



Then after Barber told WFLA the district also notified the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Manatee County Sheriffs Office, and the Florida Department of Educations Office of Professional Practices about the incident, the teacher officially resigned.

Read the original article on People
I-TEAM: Arrest made in murder of Aliza Sherman

CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-TEAM has learned a suspect has been indicted in connection to the murder of Aliza Sherman, one of northeast Ohios biggest unsolved mysteries.

Additional coverage of the Aliza Sherman case

Gregory Moore (Credit: Williamson County, Texas, Jail)

Gregory Moore, 51, who was Shermans divorce attorney, has been indicted on one count of aggravated murder, one count of conspiracy, six counts of murder and two counts of kidnapping.

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Investigators were conducting a search at Moores house in Northfield on Friday evening.

It was on March 24, 2013, when Sherman, 53, who was a beloved fertility nurse at the Cleveland Clinic, was stabbed 11 times in downtown Cleveland.

She was in front of the Erieview Plaza, where she was scheduled to meet with Moore.

The crime took place in broad daylight, and while surveillance video captured a hooded figure running from the scene, no suspects had ever been identified.

The Sherman family has waited over a decade for answers regarding their mothers homicide, said Prosecutor Michael OMalley. Through the tenacious work of multiple law enforcement agencies, evidence was accumulated that paints the unmistakable picture that Gregory Moore orchestrated and participated in the brutal murder of Aliza Sherman.

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The indictment spells out the motive, saying Moore wanted to avoid going to trial in the divorce case, making sure Sherman was unavailable.

Moore was indicted in early 2016 on charges including tampering with evidence, telecommunications fraud, making terroristic threats and inducing panic related to bomb threats called into local courts.

Man critically injured in fall at Pittsburgh Pirates game is former Walsh University football player

In 2017, Moore pleaded guilty to felony inducing panic and misdemeanor falsification and was sentenced to 180 days in Cuyahoga County Jail, three years probation and 350 hours of community service.

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Moore will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.

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BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV)  A 17-year-old has been arrested following a shots fired incident that occurred in Beloit on April 26.

According to the Beloit Police Department, officers responded around 7:30 p.m. to the 600 block of Portland Avenue after receiving reports of gunfire. Evidence of the shooting was found at the scene, but no injuries were reported.

Authorities execute search warrants at two Wisconsin massage parlors amid prostitution allegations

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The departments Violent Crime Interdiction Team took over the investigation and, on April 30, arrested Carl Mance in connection to the incident. He was taken into custody on multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted robbery while armed, juvenile in possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest.

A firearm was also recovered during the arrest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A 19-year-old has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in the Bronx after an argument outside a pizza parlor turned into an all-out brawl, police said Thursday.

Responding to an alert of an assault, police discovered the 28-year-old victim yesterday with a gunshot wound to the chest around 3:46 p.m. near Tillotson Ave. and Baychester Ave. in Baychester. EMS rushed the victim to Jacobi Medical Center, where he died.

Sources told the Daily News that the men got into an argument outside a pizzeria that quickly became physical.

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There was a guy here. He bought a slice of pizza. He went outside, and he got into a fight, a worker at the pizza place said. They went down the block, and there were shots.

The two continued brawling down the block on Baychester Ave., where the victim pulled out a knife and the suspect opened fire, a police source said.

Cops recovered a knife at the scene, according to the source.

The gunman then fled into a nearby house, but witnesses flagged down cops and led them to the home, cops said. Police arrested the suspect, who had multiple stab wounds, according to the source.

They grabbed him when he answered the door, said a witness who did not want to be named. At first he put up a struggle, just as emergency services got there. They dragged him out and put him in the car.

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The suspect was later taken to Jacobi Hospital in stable condition, police said.

Both the victim and suspect have rap sheets. The victim has been arrested six times before, most recently in January for criminal possession of a weapon, according to police records.

The suspect has two prior arrests, most recently in January for strangulation, according to records.
OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (PIX11)  A 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the wildfire that burned through parts of New Jersey, according to authorities.

Its the second arrest made in the investigation. Joseph Kling, 19, is also facing aggravated arson charges over the Jones Road Wildfire, police said.

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Kling was accused of setting wooden pallets on fire and leaving the area without them being extinguished. Police said it was later revealed that the 17-year-old allegedly helped Kling set the fire and lied to officers about what happened.

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The Jones Road Wildfire has consumed over 15,000 acres. It was 75% contained as of Monday, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The 17-year-old was charged with aggravated arson, arson and hindering apprehension, according to authorities. Police said Kling is now also facing charges of hindering apprehension.

This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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A 16-year-old arrested in Sweden after a shooting that killed three youths is no longer a suspect and has been released, and four men have been arrested, prosecutors said Friday.

"Suspicions against the 16-year-old have weakened during his time in custody. He is no longer suspected of a crime," prosecutor Andreas Nyberg said in a statement.

Two men around the ages of 25 and 35 were arrested Thursday suspected of "incitement to murder," while a third man in his 20s was arrested overnight Thursday to Friday suspected of murder, the statement said.

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A fourth man around the age of 45 was arrested on Friday, also suspected of incitement to murder.

Three youths aged 15 to 20 were killed in Tuesday's shooting in broad daylight at a hair salon in central Uppsala, about 45 miles north of Stockholm.

The shooting shocked Sweden amid rising concern over gang violence, though police have not confirmed that the shooting was gang-related.

Police officers are seen at a crime scene in central Uppsala, Sweden on April 30, 2025. Three people were killed on April 29, 2025 in a shooting in Uppsala, a city north of Sweden's capital Stockholm, police said. / Credit: FREDRIK SANDBERG/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images

Swedish media have reported that at least one of the dead had connections to a criminal gang, though police have not confirmed those reports.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday called the shooting "an extremely violent act," saying it looked "like an execution."

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Uppsala is home base for Sweden's two most notorious gangs, Rumba and Foxtrot.

Their leaders, Ismail Abdo and Rawa Majid, are both now believed to be orchestrating operations from abroad. A new, violent chapter in Sweden's gang wars began when Abdo's mother was murdered in 2023 at her home in Uppsala, the BBC reported.

Recent violence in Sweden

Sweden has struggled for years to rein in gang conflicts, which have led to frequent shootings and bombings across the country that have occasionally claimed innocent victims.

Last week, a mother and her young child were severely injured when a homemade bomb tore through their home, media reported, adding that a neighbor suspected of ties to criminal gangs had been the real target.

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Earlier in April, two people were killed in a suspected gang fight in Gothenburg, while a renowned rapper was shot dead in a gang battle in the city in December.

Perpetrators are often young teens hired as contract killers because they are under 15, the age of criminal responsibility in Sweden.

The Swedish government has proposed new legislation that would allow police to wiretap children under the age of 15 in an attempt to curb the violence, according to the BBC.

In the country of 10.6 million people, 92 killings were recorded in 2024, 29 fewer than 2023  the lowest level since 2014, according to official data.

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There were also 296 reported shootings, down a fifth on the year before, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's center-right minority government, which is backed in parliament by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, came to power in 2022 with a vow to get tough on crime.

Sweden was also rocked by its worst mass shooting in February when 35-year-old Rickard Andersson entered the Campus Risbergska adult education center in the city of Orebro and shot dead 10 people before turning the gun on himself.

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A teenager was found wandering the streets in a Michigan town early in the morning

She alleges she was held captive for more than a day

Police fear there may be more victims

A 14-year-old girl was found wandering the streets around dawn over the weekend  and now a Michigan man is facing charges.

Police in Northville Township, Mich., arrested 22-year-old Charles Willis on several charges, including sexual criminal conduct, per The Detroit News, Local 4 and WWMT.

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Police received a report around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, about the young girl walking alone on the street, the outlets reported, citing Northville Township polices account.

Authorities would soon learn the child lived two hours away from where she was found, and that she had been in Willis home.

The suspect allegedly contacted the girl on Snapchat on April 25, and paid for an Uber to bring her to his home, per police, the outlets reported.

Once she arrived at his residence, Willis allegedly ordered the child to stay in the basement, police said.

She was held there for more than 24 hours, police said, according to WWMT.

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She was very brave in that she was able to tell us what happened to her, Northville Township Police Lieutenant Patrick Reinke said, the outlet reported.

Online court records show Willis has been charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct, one count of kidnapping, one count of enticing a minor and one count of child sexually abusive commercial activity.

Plea information was not available in online records; his lawyer did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comments.

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Investigators believe there may be more victims.

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Anyone who believes they or their child may have been in contact with Willis, or another adult predator, is urged to call Northville Township's Detective Bureau at 248-349-9400, their own local police, or reach out to a mental health professional.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



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(FOX40.COM)  Authorities have identified the teenage victim in a fatal shooting at a West Sacramento park earlier this week.

Video Above: What happens when you call 911?

According to Yolo County coroner Gina Moya, the victim in the shooting at Summerfield Park was 16-year-old Sacramento resident Adrian Carter.

On Wednesday, around 2 p.m. officers responded to reports of a shooting and found Carter, who was then taken to the hospital where he later died.

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On Thursday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and located the suspect at a home in Sacramento County.

The suspect was arrested and booked into Yolo County Jail.

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VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV)  Students at Micahs Mission School in Vicksburg are working on a podcast that focuses on what teenagers are dealing with in this day and time. Its called The Teenage Era.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Ten alleged sex predators are facing charges after being arrested earlier this week.

Several agencies, including federal and local law enforcement, made the arrests on April 28 and 29, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan police news release.

Those arrested were Daniel Hennigh, 22; Vaughn Catillon, 51; Shawn Crawford, 51; Andrew

Mosely, 23; Deepen Kothari, 42; Oliver Cruz Tejeda, 30; Kevin Rodriguez-Umana, 30, David

Jones, 32; Levi Smith III, 39; and Alistair Cooper, 28.

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They all face charges varying from luring a child with computer for sex act, prepare/advertise/distribute child sexual abuse material, and attempted sexual assault of a child less than 14.

The police department advised parents to speak with their children about chatting with strangers online.

Meanwhile, Outreach Coordinator at Prevent Child Abuse Nevada, Michelle Saldivar, echoed the message, sharing insight with 8 News Now into recent tools the organization is seeing online predators use more frequently.

One of the biggest things we saw coming up that we didnt see a lot of people talk about was Roblox, she said, referring to the game with a virtual universe.

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The outreach coordinator also mentioned that video roulette chat services, like those formerly offered by Omegle, which was shuttered in November 2023, were being used by child predators more often.

Saldivar shared signs for parents to be aware of that may signal their child is a victim of online predators, such as reluctance to speak with others around them in person. Likewise, she said to pay attention to if childrens regular patterns change, such as using new terms they havent used before.

Prevent Child Abuse Nevada offers resources that parents can take advantage of, such as free trainings on child grooming awareness. Likewise, Saldivar shared other local resources, like Nevada Child Seekers, who have free workshops on internet safety, as well as Signs of Hopes, a non-profit with resources for those affected by sexual exploitation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the LVMPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by calling (702) 828-3111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or through this link.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Thursday evening, at the Terre Haute City Council meeting there was a discussion about rezoning a property in the Farrington Grove neighborhood.

There is a rezoning petition under review for a house on the block of College and Washington. This petition is to change the residential home to a R2 zone, to allow a renovation of the home into apartments. A few neighbors were opposed of the petition, due to renovation taking place before the rezoning was approved.

New executive Director named for United Way of the Wabash Valley

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Thursday, the city council did not vote on this matter.

That long block of Center Street was rezoned back in the late 1990s to all R1. Its the only R1 or single family use block in the whole neighborhood, City Council Member representing District 4 Todd Nation said.

The area Planning Committee will meet next Wednesday to discuss the petition and then the city council will discuss it on Thursday, May 8.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a new investigation into toothpaste makers over fluoride, despite its benefit in helping to fight cavities and being recognized as one of the nations greatest public health achievements.

Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil and water, is used to strengthen tooth enamel. Ingesting too much can come with side effects, including death. However, negative health impacts are incredibly rare, and toothpaste levels are considered safe when applied as recommended.

But, the Republican is launching an investigation into some of the largest toothpaste makers. He claims Colgate and Proctor & Gamble have illegally marketed their products to parents and children in ways that are misleading, deceptive, and dangerous.

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Requests for comment from the companies were not immediately returned to The Independent.

Paxtons inquiry is linked to a National Toxicology Program meta-analysis that previously determined with moderate confidence that there is a link between higher levels of exposure to fluoride and lower IQ scores in children. Notably, the study said that there was insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on childrens IQ.

Dentists have criticized the National Toxicology Program for using unorthodox research methods, flawed analyses, lack of clarity, failure to follow the norms of peer review, and lack of transparency. Other studies have found no link between fluoride and IQ  although some Americans are exposed to higher than recommended levels because of natural fluoride contamination.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into two major toothpaste makers. The move comes amid a national war against fluoridation. (Getty Images)

The NTP report has important limitations. High fluoride exposure was defined as at least 1.5 milligrams per liter of water, which is double the concentration U.S. officials recommend in community water. The review also was not intended to demonstrate cause and effect, the American Dental Association said. Numerous factors impact IQ, and it is unclear whether IQ data from different studies are accurate, comparable or generalizable, according to American Academy of Pediatrics experts.

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Paxton has alleged that the companies ignored guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and others about usage and acute and long-term risks associated with fluoride overdose. He said that the toothpaste manufacturers flavor their products and deceptively market them in ways that encourage kids to ingest fluoride toothpaste and mislead their parents.

I will use every tool available to protect our kids from dangerous levels of fluoride exposure and deceptive advertising, Paxton said.

Long-term ingestion of excess fluoride in infancy and childhood can lead to dental fluorosis, which mostly causes blemishes on the teeth. High doses of fluoride can also cause skeletal fluorosis that results in neurological defects and muscle wasting, although it is extremely rare in the U.S. An acute dose that could cause serious harm to the body would be virtually impossible to achieve from toothpaste or water containing standard levels of added fluoride, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The recommended amount of toothpaste for young children is about the size of a pea. Still, kids who ingest an entire tube would not have long-term impacts, according to dentist Mary Swift (Getty Images)

Still, research published last year found that parents tend to significantly overdo toddlers toothbrushes with fluoridated toothpaste. The Nature study found they tended to overload toothbrushes by a factor of six to seven times the recommended amount, which is a rice-sized squirt for children under the age of two.

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Dentist Mary Swift, the Community Water Fluoridation Chair of the Texas Dental Association, told FOX 4 that the recommended dose is not a full brush of toothpaste, but that kids who ingested an entire tube would not have long-term effects  just a very upset stomach.

She also said there were gaps in the research connecting fluoride and lower IQ scores.

"There are seven thousand studies and research papers. This is an important part of peer-reviewed studies, so the toxicology report that the opponents to fluoride quote was never peer-reviewed, and it was very well understood that the toxicology report that linked IQ with fluoride was a very poorly run study," said Swift.

"We've got 75 years of proof that fluoride reduces decay and is safe, she said.

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Paxtons move comes after recent bans on fluoride in drinking water in Utah and Florida. These actions have been applauded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who plans to scale back fluoride use on a national scale.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says he plans to update the federal fluoride regulations. He is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (Getty Images)

This week, he told President Donald Trump that the more of the mineral people receive, the stupider you are, citing the same research as Paxton.

[EPA Administrator] Lee Zeldin and I are working together to change the federal fluoride regulations, to change the recommendations, and were looking at the science now, Kennedy said. In August, the national toxicity program... did a meta review of all the science on fluoride and found that theres a direct inverse correlation between fluoride exposure and low IQ in children.

Despite Kennedys plan, dentists argue that the benefits of fluoridation outweigh any potential risks. The American Dental Association points out that communities that have stopped fluoridating water have seen an increase in tooth decay.

As a science- and evidence-based organization, the ADA welcomes continued study and evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation and continues to strongly support community water fluoridation at its current recommended level, the association said.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in a Thursday press release that he has a new investigative target: Toothpaste.

Specifically, he said his office sent civil investigative demands to toothpaste manufacturers Colgate-Palmolive Company and Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing, over their use of misleading, deceptive, and dangerous marketing of childrens fluoride toothpaste.

I will use every tool available to protect our kids from dangerous levels of fluoride exposure and deceptive advertising, Paxton said. Toothpaste manufacturers must follow state law to ensure that they arent putting Texas families in peril through their false, misleading, and deceptive marketing  As this investigation continues, I will take aggressive action against any corporation that puts our childrens health at risk.

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KXAN reached out to those companies and the Texas Dental Association for comment. Neither company is headquartered in Texas.

Colgate sent KXAN a response that noted the American Dental Association and other oral health professional organizations in the US continue to strongly endorse the use of fluoride in oral care products, including childrens toothpaste.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States, and poor oral health can have a negative effect on childrens quality of life, performance at school, and success later in life. Our childrens toothpastes that contain fluoride provide important oral health benefits, are safe to use as directed, and provide directions for proper use consistent with US Food and Drug Administration requirements, including appropriate age restrictions and directions regarding the amount of toothpaste children should use, it said.

What does the research say?

In his release, Paxton accused the companies of encourag[ing] kids to ingest fluoride toothpaste and mislead their parents to use far more than the safe and recommended amount of fluoride toothpaste.

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A 2018 meta-analysis found that flavoring agents did not increase ingestion of toothpaste by children.

In his release, Paxton cited an August 2024 meta-analysis by the US Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program, which found that excessive fluoride exposure has a negative impact on childrens IQ.

However, it also rated 52 of the 74 studies that it reviewed as low quality with a high risk of bias.

The determination about lower IQs in children was based primarily on epidemiology studies in non-U.S. countries such as Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico where some pregnant women, infants, and children received total fluoride exposure amounts higher than 1.5 mg fluoride [per liter] of drinking water, the reports authors wrote. The U.S. Public Health Service currently recommends 0.7 mg/L, and the [WHO] has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5 mg/L.

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AP: Why water fluoridation, long considered a public health success story, is under scrutiny

The reports authors also noted that more research is necessary to know how, or if, fluoride exposure at the recommended level affects child development.

What does the ADA recommend?

The American Dental Association, the worlds oldest and largest dental organization, acknowledged in 2014 that there are dental risks from overuse of fluoride and recommended caregivers talk with a dentist before using a fluoride toothpaste.

All children should undergo a caries risk assessment before their dentists make recommendations associated with preventing or controlling dental caries  It also is critical that the dentist assess a childs total fluoride exposure from all sources when developing a preventive treatment plan that is directed at optimizing caries control and safety, the ADA wrote.

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According to the ADAs website, it only puts its seal of acceptance on toothpaste with fluoride and without flavoring agents that cause tooth decay.

Regardless of age, ingesting large amounts of toothpaste isnt safe.

Where does state law stand?

Texas law allows for the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, and allows schools to run fluoride mouth rinse programs. The states health code requires public water utilities to notify customers if it intended to cancel fluoridation of drinking water.

In February, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asked Gov. Greg Abbott to ban fluoridation, as previously reported by Nexstar.

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Lawmakers introduced SB 2653 and HB 3429 this session to ban fluoride in public water; however, both are still pending in committees.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 1AUSTIN  State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) proudly announced in a Thursday news release that House Bill 2730, which he joint-authored, passed the Texas House of Representatives this week with unanimous support. The bill now moves to the Senate and seeks to protect the homestead exemptions of homeowners across Texas.

Under current law, some appraisal districts have required homeowners to reapply for their homestead exemptions  even without credible evidence that they no longer qualify. H.B. 2730 addresses this by amending the Tax Code to prohibit chief appraisers from requiring a new application or confirmation of eligibility unless they have good reason to believe the homeowner no longer qualifies for the homestead exemption. In such cases, the appraiser must provide a written notice clearly stating the reasons for the request, along with the appropriate application form.

"This bill prevents homeowners from being burdened with unnecessary paperwork and ensures their exemption can't be questioned without valid cause," Landgraf said. "This is a win for all Texas homeowners," Landgraf added. "It provides homeowners with peace of mind, knowing their homestead exemption is secure."

H.B. 2730, which was filed by State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) restores fairness and common sense to the property tax system. Rep. Landgraf remains committed to advancing this legislation in the Senate to protect the rights of Texas homeowners and reduce bureaucratic overreach.
A Texas House subcommittee just unanimously passed a bill that would prevent a total ban on consumable hemp products, an issue that arose from a gray area in the 2018 Farm Bill.

At the time, the bill legalized hemp cultivation for agricultural purposes such as fiber, seeds and CBD extracts, and it did not specifically address the sale or regulation of consumable hemp products.

Critics have since argued that state leaders failed to anticipate or respond to the legal confusion that followed.

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"When you don't have a thoughtful, large bill passing to regulate cannabis, you get a hot mess, gray markets that we have all over Texas," Susan Hays, an attorney with a focus on hemp and marijuana, told the American-Statesman last May when Texas held a Senate hearing on the issue. "So it's very much the result of policy choices by the leadership."

Since then, it's been a contentious issue, and Republican officials have pushed to ban what they call "intoxicating hemp" products which can cause similar effects to cannabis, also known as marijuana, which is illegal in Texas.

House subcommittee passes new hemp bill

After the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 3  a sweeping ban on THC  on March 19, the new House legislation that unanimously passed late Wednesday seems to give Texas' consumable hemp market some wiggle room. Although it would allow only edibles and non-synthetic, smokable low-dose flower buds grown exclusively within the state, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Counties would default to allowing hemp sales but could opt out through elections, similar to those held for alcohol sales. If a county opts out, the hemp program would shift from state health officials to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the news organization reported.

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Still, even with the bills built-in flexibility, its chances of passing the Texas Senate appear slim. It directly contradicts demands from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republican leaders who have called for a total ban on these products.

A map showing locations of hemp stores and public schools is seen during a press conference at the Texas Capitol Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and law enforcement from across the state gathered to express their support for legislation that would crack down on the sale of synthetic THC products.

Last spring, Patrick released a list of legislative priorities that included revisiting the Senates 2019 decision to allow sales of cannabis-derived products in Texas. Hes remained firm in his stance and even visited a dispensary in Austin this March, reinforcing his opposition.

The bill also comes at a crucial time as the clock ticks down on the new Farm Bill. Although new drafts for 2025 have not yet been published, last May, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture passed its version of the bill, which excluded "intoxicating hemp" products  such as delta-8 and THCa  while the Senate committee's initial draft made no changes to hemp production from the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the crop.

A new bill failed to pass, necessitating a second extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which was originally meant to last only five years. With the U.S. House, Senate, and presidency now under Republican control, it is likely that hemp-derived products will still face a ban due to the Farm Bill, regardless of the outcome in Texas.

What's the next step?

The bill still needs to move through the full Texas House of Representatives. If it passes there, it would then need to be considered by the Texas Senate, where it faces strong opposition, particularly from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others pushing for a total ban.

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If the Senate rejects or amends the bill, it could go to a conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions. After that, it would need final approval from both chambers before heading to the governors desk for signature or veto.

What are delta-8 and THCa?

The effects of delta-8 and THCa are strikingly similar to delta-9 THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, or marijuana, which is illegal in Texas.

Both delta-8 and THCa are legal under state and federal hemp laws, which define legal hemp as cannabis products containing 0.3% or less of delta-9 THC.

The main difference between delta-8 and delta-9 THC is the location of a double bond: delta-8 has it on the eighth carbon, while delta-9 has it on the ninth. THCa, on the other hand, is not psychoactive in its natural form. However, when heated  a necessary step for smoking the product  it converts into delta-9 THC.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Is Texas banning all THC products? Panel passes new bill that says no
And just like that, the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity HomeStore is officially a ReStore.

After years of serving the community, Fremont Habitat held a ribbon cutting and coffee on April 29 in celebration of the rebranding.

The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, at which Chamber Vice Chairman Lonnie Dooley, of Gene Steffy Auto Group, presented Fremont Habitats Executive Director Joy McKay and Board President Ashley Fowler with its first $2 of profit and praised the group for their work.

This place has been such a great resource for Fremont, Dooley said. Im glad its here. Its been here since Ive been around and thats a long time ago. So, you, Joy, youve been working your butt off to get this place going and keep it going and organized.

The Fremont Area Habitat of Humanity opened its HomeStore in a garage in 2012. The organization quickly outgrew the location, as well as a second, before moving into its current location at 701 E. Dodge St., in February 2014. The current location opened in April 2014.

The Fremont Habitat opened its shop as a HomeStore because at the time, the rules to be a ReStore didnt work for Fremont, McKay said.

It wasnt (going to) work for us, she said. The rules were set for large communities, not this size of community, so we just became a HomeStore. Well, recently they have backed off on a lot of those rules. They understood that that doesnt work for every community, so now we can become a ReStore. So its official, were official!

HomeStore or ReStore, either works for them, McKay joked, as long as the community comes in and shops.

The ReStore is a home improvement outlet that offers a variety of new and gently used donated merchandise that includes appliances, building supplies, furniture and household items. Items are sold at a discount, making them affordable to those at a lower income level. It also keeps items destined for the landfill, out.

Since we opened in 2012, the store, all locations, has generated over $2 million in revenue, and has kept almost 800 tons out of the landfill, McKay said.

All of the proceeds from the store go back to fund the work Fremont Habitat does in the community, including doing home repairs and building safe and affordable housing.

Habitat ReStore is a team effort, McKay said, thanking her team that includes: Dusty Ramirez, ReStore manager; Stacy Manzer and Gabby Nava-Trujillo, ReStore cashiers; Eric Peterson, ReStore driver; Victoria Kolala, program manager; Shaun Smith, communications and operations manager; Matt Parmenter, construction site supervisor; Todd Peterson, repair manager; and Jamie Vollmer, bookkeeper.

McKay also praised the volunteers for all they do to support Habitat for Humanity.

I also want to thank our volunteers that work here on the construction site, in our office, on our board, on committees, McKay said. We have a large number of volunteers that we couldnt do what we do without our volunteers.

Fowler, of NP Dodge Real Estate, emphasized the need for volunteers at Habitat.

We really do need volunteers, Fowler said. I really encourage you as a business to challenge the people within your organization, to come and volunteer with Habitat. Its a day that youll never forget. Its a great team building experience and its just really a way for you to help the community and help yourselves feel good at the same time.

As a nonprofit, Habitat is also in need of funding, Fowler said.

The organization currently has a piece of land that it can purchase for $400,000. That land can house 20 homes, which is a significant amount of housing, but they need to raise the funds first.

Any amount that can be donated helps the Habitats mission, can be done on the website and is appreciated by the organization.

We appreciate everything this community does for our families that we help with homes every year, McKay said.

The Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity is taking part in the 2025 Fremont Area Big Give. Presented by the Fremont Area Community Foundation, from midnight through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, Fremont Habitat is one of over 80 nonprofit organizations taking part in this event.

Early giving started May 1. For more information and to donate, visit fremontareabiggive.org, call 402-721-4252 or email info@facfoundation.org.

If you would like to volunteer at Fremont Habitat, reach out to the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. ReStore hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday.

Donations are accepted 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, visit fremonthabitat.org/habitat-restore.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A Caddo Parish Grand Jury indicted four people on April 30, two of whom are accused in separate fatal homicides.

The Caddo Parish District Attorney said Jermaine Choate, 20 of Mesquite, Texas, is charged with the July 6, 2024, slaying of 14-year-old Deidrick James in Bilberry Park during a community gathering. The shooting was allegedly over a pair of headphones.

Dandre Marquis Webb, 26, was indicted for the fatal shooting of James T. White, 71, on January 23, 2025, as the victim waited for the bus in the 500 block of East 70th Street.

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The two other indictments are related to sex crimes, and there is limited information due to the nature of the crimes. Louis Bates is charged with first-degree rape and cruelty to persons with infirmities.

Macgreger Baird, 54 is charged with first-degree rape, sexual battery and indecent behavior with juveniles.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Should politics be discussed at the pulpit? A Texas pastor council believes it should, and the members are encouraging pastors across the state, including those in East Texas, to discuss it with their congregations.

When a pastor encourages people to vote, theyll get out and vote, Marshall Pastor Ray Wilson said.

Wilson has spent decades of his life behind the pulpit and started preaching in 1988. He said pastors were highly encouraged to keep politics out of the church during this time.

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I was probably one of a very few numbers of ministers that would be outspoken about particularly pro-life issues, Wilson said.

Nearly four decades later, Wilson is not just encouraging pastors to bring up this conversation to their congregations, he is also spearheading a North Texas Pastor Council.

Were not only pastors, were also citizens, Wilson said. So, if you say that we cant express ourselves and we cant encourage our people to express themselves, then were really cutting out a significant number of people.

Longview firefighter makes selfless decision to continue to serve his country

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He hopes through this council, he will be able to create connections for the church to get more involved.

How can I get word to Senator Cornyns office or Congressman Morans office? I have those contacts so I can help them get an email to somebody and to express their point of view. I would do that whether theyre liberal or conservative, said Wilson.

The statewide council agrees, sending an email to urge all pastors to encourage their congregations to vote.

In Jacksonville, the president and a professor of Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary says it is a newer trend.

I cannot say that Ive heard a lot of sermons personally that are political or taking on topics, but I hear more people talking about doing it, Dr. Philip Attebery explained. I think folks are getting a little more maybe bold about it.

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Dr. Attebery adds he believes it is because President Trump is now in office a leader who is more vocal about his beliefs.

I think that people may feel like weve sort of dodged a proverbial bullet here with Donald Trump being President, being more conservative. I think that gives folks a little bit of confidence. At least for a few years here, it might be an opportunity that things can be said and there might not be that extra retaliation, said Dr. Attebery.

However, he said its a trend that may not stick around long-term.

I think the pressure to remain silent on Biblical morality and so forth, I think that will be back, but right now it seems less, he said. Theres a little bit of a pause in it. I think that if he would not have been elected. We would not have had that pause.

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Dr. Attebery, once a pastor himself, says he stayed away from some political topics.

I have a particular leaning politically, but when Im preaching or pastoring, I really try to be as neutral as I can, he said.

Pastor Wilson believes the church should be involved because it was significant in the founding of our country.

Family and friends hold balloon release and candlelight vigil in memory of Eli Swinney

The phrase thats always comes up is separation of church and state. And of course, I dont know if yall are aware of this, but thats nowhere in any government document. Its not in the Constitution, is not in the Bill of rights.

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Instead, he says that phrase comes from a letter sent to Thomas Jefferson by some Baptists, saying they were concerned another denomination would become the state church of America. Wilsons says Thomas Jefferson replied it could not happen, because there was a great wall of separation between church and state that would keep that from ever happening.

He also points out that the church has always been involved in politics, even in the Bible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 1AUSTIN  The man responsible for sex crimes against two young girls in Texas and Arizona will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Nearly 40 years after the first of the two crimes was committed, a Rusk County Grand Jury gave David Roy Mundt, 62, of Longview, Texas, that sentence last week, a Texas Department of Public Safety news release said.

According to the release, on Oct. 28, 1992, a male suspect  now identified as Mundt  broke into a home in Rusk County and dragged a 7-year-old girl from her bed, sexually assaulting her in the backyard of the residence before fleeing. DNA collected during the investigation was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)  a national database to check for possible DNA matches between arrestees and unsolved cases nationwide  through the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Crime Laboratory Division. Despite the Henderson Police Department's continued investigation, a suspect was never identified, and no arrest was ever made.

Then, in December 2022, the DPS Crime Laboratory in Garland notified the Texas Rangers of a possible DNA match between the 1992 Texas case and a similar kidnapping and child sexual assault cold case from 1986 in Phoenix, Ariz. The Texas Rangers began coordinating with the Phoenix Police Department and determined DNA samples from the 1986 case were eligible for Advanced DNA testing and genealogy research through Bode Technologies.

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On June 15, 2024, that testing and research identified two brothers as possible suspects. The first brother was eventually ruled out because his DNA was already in the CODIS database and would have previously produced a positive match. Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the second brother, David Roy Mundt, for testing and comparison through DPS' Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program. The program is funded by the Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance (DOJ/BJA), which provides investigative funding for agencies across the United States to further unsolved sexual assaults and sexually related homicides, aiming to bring justice to the victims and their families.

Using SAKI grant funds, the sample collected from David Roy Mundt was sent to Bode Technologies for expedited DNA testing, which gave a positive match. On Aug. 7, 2024, the Texas Rangers, Texas Highway Patrol and Longview Police Department arrested Mundt at his home in Gregg County, Texas.

In August 2024, Mundt was indicted by a Rusk County grand jury on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child in the 1992 Texas case, and on April 25, 2025, he was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.

Cases like these highlight the importance of collaborative investigative work between the Texas Rangers and partner law enforcement agencies to bring justice and closure to victims and their families in unsolved crimes. The department would like to specifically thank the Henderson Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Longview Police Department, DPS' Crime Laboratory in Garland and Bode Technologies for their dedication that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  Passengers flying in and out of Rhode Island will continue to be screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the future.

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) announced Friday that it rescinded a petition filed last week to join TSAs Screening Partnership Program. The program lets airports use private security instead of the government agencys services.

RIAC said it started conducting inspections back in October, after there were unusually long lines at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airports checkpoint, particularly early in the morning.

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BACKGROUND: TF Green Airport may drop TSA for private security firm

As a result, the airport hired a consultant to study the checkpoints operations with a focus on finding ways to cut down on wait times.

RIAC noted that airport leaders also started meeting with top TSA leadership who were consistently supportive of the issues at the terminal.

With help from the national leadership team, the checkpoint has experienced significant operational improvements in recent weeks, RIAC said in a press release. The early morning lines that spilled out of the terminal in November are now mostly contained inside the checkpoint  a marked improvement.

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During an earlier inspection, there were more than 400 passengers waiting to go through security, forming a line that snaked through the terminal and almost out the door. During a more recent inspection, RIAC acknowledged that the lines were almost nonexistent.

RIAC said it would be pulling the application for private security based on the improvements, but added that airport officials will continue to monitor the situation.

The decision to rescind the application comes after U.S. Senator Jack Reed voiced his opposition to using private security. He praised the reversal, calling it wise.

I go through there twice a week at least, Reed told 12 News on Friday. [TSA is] efficient, courteous, and theyre professional Im glad this has been resolved.

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Thailand has reported its first anthrax death in decades, prompting authorities to track hundreds of people who have potentially been exposed to deadly bacteria.

A 53-year-old man in Mukdahan province died from the highly dangerous livestock disease, with authorities confirming a second case and investigating three more suspected infections.

The dead man had been exposed after a cow was slaughtered during a religious ceremony, according to early investigations.

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The meat was later distributed and consumed within the village.

Authorities identified at least 638 people as being potentially exposed, including 36 who had taken part in butchering livestock, while the rest had consumed raw or undercooked beef.

All individuals who may have been in contact with infected meat are being monitored, the health ministry said.

Meanwhile the United Nations said Democratic Republic of Congo was battling its own outbreak, which had killed one person.

Medics found 16 suspected cases and one confirmed human case in the countrys North Kivu Province, which has been blighted by violence and has this year seen the M23 rebel group make sweeping gains.

An ancient killer

Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus anthracis and typically affects cows, sheep and goats but can also spread to people.

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The bacteria produce potent toxins which are responsible for the symptoms.

The most common form is anthrax of the skin, when spores get into cuts or scratches, leading to black bumpy sores, headaches, muscle aches, fever and vomiting.

Gastrointestinal anthrax is caught from eating meat from an infected animal and can lead to severe abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhoea.

The rarest and most severe form of human anthrax is when the spores reach the lungs, which can cause severe breathing problems. Inhaled anthrax, if untreated, can have a fatality rate as high as 90 per cent.

Thai officials said the dead man was a construction worker with underlying diabetes. He developed a lesion on his right hand on April 24 and was hospitalised three days later.

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As his symptoms got worse, his wound turned black, his lymph nodes swelled up in his armpit and he began fainting and having seizures.

Globally, there are thought to be a few thousand human cases each year. This weeks death was the first anthrax fatality in Thailand since 1994.

Thailand last reported human anthrax cases in 2017, when two people were infected without fatalities. In 2000, 15 cases were recorded, also without deaths.

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CHICAGO (WGN)  Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians were honored and their fallen colleagues remembered at a third-annual brunch held by the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant.

The event was also a celebration of International Firefighters Day, which is Sunday.

Top-of-mind at Fridays event was Capt. David Meyer, who was killed April 23 while fighting a fire in the citys Austin neighborhood. A funeral for the nearly 30-year veteran was held Tuesday.

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Ill always remember his jokester spirit, how he always made any situation light and the jokes and pranks he used to play always had me laughing, said firefighter-EMT Lauren Williams. He was one of my first officers and to see that the community the sacrifice that many of us have made, it means a lot. It really touches the spirit and makes us feel motivated to keep going on.

Meyer was among the firefighters who drove to New York City to help search for victims following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Weve got a lot of members still dying from the effects of fighting that fire at the Twin Towers, so we need to do this every year to remind the younger generations of what the sacrifices were, said Matt Straley with the Ignite the Spirit Fund.

Students from Old St. Marys School were also a part of Fridays celebration at the restaurant, at 1401 South Michigan Avenue.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The former Waupun warden's reduced conviction to a low-level misdemeanor in connection with a prisoner's death has elicited some mixed reactions.

Randall Hepp pleaded no contest April 28 to violating the law of a state or county institution, in connection with the February 2024 death of 62-year-old Donald Maier, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine. Hepp was initially charged with felony misconduct in public office, which carries a maximum sentence of 1 years in prison and two years of extended supervision.

Hepp, 63, was the highest ranking of nine Waupun Correctional Institution staff members charged with felonies in June 2024 tied to prisoner deaths. He and six other staff members were accused of involvement in Maier's death, which the Dodge County Medical Examiner ruled a homicide, from probable dehydration and malnutrition. Three staffers were accused of involvement in the October 2023 death of 24-year-old Cameron Williams, who died of a rare stroke after staff failed to provide him medical attention.

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"(The) coalition welcomes the news of former warden Hepp's conviction," said Rev. Darren Utley in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Utley is a prison reform advocate that helped organize a coalition of activists, some family of prisoners, who have protested and demanded action at the Department of Corrections in recent years.

"We dont see this as something significant for prison rights because the court and confinement system in (Wisconsin) has shown itself to be willing to downplay the injustices of the police and corrections officers while it seeks maximum punishment for the poor and working people of the state," he added.

At Hepp's plea and sentencing hearing, Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries said Hepp was not directly involved in the staff's failure to provide basic necessities to Maier, but as the prison's top leader, Hepp was responsible for ensuring staff members followed policies.

De Vries said he did not believe imposing any jail time to Hepp would protect the public.

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Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who investigated Maier's death and referred charges, said he is in agreement with the district attorney's decision to settle the case as a misdemeanor conviction.

"I can understand why some may feel additional sanctions are warranted, but our court system must be blind to 'feelings' and 'agendas' and decisions made solely on the facts of the case," Schmidt wrote in an April 29 statement.

An investigation by the sheriff's office found in the days before Maier's death, prison staff intermittently shut off water to his cell to prevent him from flooding it, but did not properly document when the water was turned on or off. They also did not document missed meals  and there was evidence Maier had not eaten since five days before he died  or provide Maier with his medications, according to a criminal complaint.

"If (Hepp) knew what was going on there and he did nothing about it, we would know about that by now. It would come through," De Vries said at the hearing. "So the issue is what the warden had been doing to make sure this kind of thing didn't happen."

Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries presides as Randall Hepp, former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution, appears in a Dodge County Circuit Court for a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on April 28.

Family attorney reacts and Maier's mother gives statement to court

Maier's family filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit, claiming DOC staff were "deliberately indifferent" to Maier's serious medical and mental health needs, violating his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

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His mother declined comment to the Journal Sentinel and deferred a reporter to her attorney.

"Wisconsin has to stop treating its prison system as a bottomless pit into which we can cast people we don't want among us without ever giving a thought for them after that," attorney Jeff Scott Olson, who is representing Maier's family, said.

"We hope that there is a point beyond which the powers that be can no longer turn a blind eye to the wretched conditions in our prisons, and we hope that point has been passed with this case."

Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will did read a victim impact statement from Maier's mother at Hepp's hearing.

Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will appears in court as Randall Hepp, former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution, appears April 28 in Dodge County Circuit Court in Juneau for a plea and sentencing hearing regarding the death of an inmate.

She said she wishes all the defendants accused of having a role in her son's death would spend some time in jail, so that they learn firsthand what it is like to be dependent on guards for food, water, medical care and protection."

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In the statement, Maier's mother thanked authorities for pursuing charges, but said she was disappointed that "a slap on the wrist and the embarrassment of being caught and arrested appear to be the sentence that they are willing to settle for."

Schmidt says the governor needs to take accountability

Schmidt said Hepp was placed in a difficult position by Gov. Tony Evers and the former Department of Corrections administration.

"Dont get me wrong, he was the warden and was by law administratively responsible for Waupun Correctional Institution, and as a result, two deaths that occurred," Schmidt said. "While we explored it, no Wisconsin or federal law directly tied back to his bosses, who failed to provide adequate resources or leadership."

Evers' office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but the governor did call for reform of Waupun Correctional in his two-year budget, among other proposals like closing Green Bay Correctional Institution. He aims to turn Waupun Correctional into a vocational village focused on job training.

Gov. Tony Evers speaks at an event in July 2024.

"Keep in mind that there are many pieces to this puzzle that have not yet made their way through the criminal justice system, as there are still outstanding cases being processed through the courts," Schmidt said. "There most certainly is accountability taking place and being sought for the two deaths for which the sheriffs office made arrests."

Williams' mother says the process has caused 'significant distress'

Williams died of a rare stroke Oct. 30, 2023, after prison staff noted he was ill and behaving strangely, but did not enter his cell to check on him and provide medical attention, according to the criminal complaint in that case.

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Hepp was not charged in connection to the death, but three other staffers have been charged and have hearings in the next couple months.

Williams' Chicago mother, Raven Anderson, said she believes Hepp should have been charged in connection to her son's case, especially since the district attorney said the two deaths, Maier and Williams, were similar.

"I believe it is imperative that he is held accountable for the circumstances surrounding my child's death," Anderson said in a statement. "At the time of the incident, he was responsible for the management of the facility and should not be allowed to distance himself from the situation."

"Given the importance of accountability in this matter, I respectfully urge that the warden be charged in conjunction with the other personnel involved," Anderson added. "This situation has caused me significant distress, and I hope for a resolution that acknowledges the seriousness of the responsibilities held by all parties."

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Anderson also filed a civil lawsuit, claiming Williams' constitutional rights protecting against cruel and unusual process were violated.

Advocate calls for action, change

Utley, the prison reform advocate, said regardless of the outcomes of the criminal cases related to Maier's and Williams' deaths, the state's prisons need to remain under a microscope.

"Whatever the outcome of these cases, until we the people of (Wisconsin) demand a dramatic reduction in our prison population through alternatives, probation, clemency and the efforts neighboring states have already enacted we will continue to see torturous conditions in our state prisons and county jails," he said.

Although many injustices have come to light in recent years at Wisconsin's prisons, Utley said many more incidents are hidden in darkness.

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"We organized protests and vigils around these charges when they were brought because we heard of the same abuses and neglect from those inside the majority of the states prisons," he said.

Vanessa Swales contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The community reacts to the conviction of a Waupun warden
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivers remarks to staff at the department's Washington, D.C., headquarters on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta-Pool/Getty Images)

Countless elected officials in Colorado must consider themselves vulnerable to personal legal liability and even arrest, based on the Trump administrations dramatic escalation this week of immigration enforcement tactics.

Administration officials have shown that there is no limit  and certainly no limit imposed by the Constitution  to the methods theyll pursue to undertake mass deportations. Since almost the beginning of President Donald Trumps second term, federal immigration authorities have acted with impatience or disregard for due process and court rulings. The most visible victims of this abuse of power have been immigrants, including some who were living in the U.S. legally but were deported anyway.

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But now public officials are coming under attack, including leaders in elected office in Colorado, based on an executive order Trump signed Monday. The language in the executive order is wildly hostile. It frames the actions of targeted individual officials  not just jurisdictions  as crimes. Their efforts often violate federal criminal laws, including those prohibiting obstruction of justice, harboring or hiring illegal aliens, conspiring against the United States, and impeding federal law enforcement. One passage accuses some state and local officials of engaging in a lawless insurrection against the U.S. government.

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Thats an exceedingly serious accusation.

Sarah Parady, an at-large member of the Denver City Council, presumably is in the ambit of the executive order. She also has an informed perspective on it, since she is a lawyer who has litigated constitutional matters and once clerked for a federal judge in the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Given the nature of the Trump administration, she had anticipated the kind of threats directed at officials like her that are contained in the order.

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I think weaponized prosecutions are just part of the authoritarian playbook. They always go in that direction, and they always use that against whomever their political enemies are, and thats what this is about, she said.

The development gives new urgency, in addition to the general emergency the MAGA agenda presents in the state, to resistance activities throughout Colorado, especially in cities like Denver that immigration extremists label a sanctuary.

The executive order directs Pam Bondi, Trumps attorney general, and Kristi Noem, his secretary of Homeland Security, to publish a list of states and cities they determine are sanctuary jurisdictions. It is all but certain Denver will make the list, since the Trump administration has already singled it out for retribution. The administration has already yanked $24 million in grants for Denver over the citys purported sanctuary policies. In March, Republicans hauled Denver Mayor Mike Johnston before a U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing to answer for what they claimed, largely through misinformation, were obstructionist policies around federal immigration enforcement. One of Colorados own Republican members of Congress, Gabe Evans has declared that Denver and Colorado are sanctuary jurisdictions.

Anti-immigration zealots view several Denver policies as providing improper assistance to immigrants  what local officials would characterize as commonsense, safety-promoting, humane measures  such as a 2017 ordinance that enacted restrictions on local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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Theres every reason to take the executive order seriously. The administration has undertaken its immigration enforcement with evident contempt for constitutional limits, and its efforts have landed hundreds of people  who were afforded minimal or no due process, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents  in detention. Some ended up in a notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador, from which they might never be able to leave. Federal agents recently arrested a Wisconsin judge they claim obstructed immigration officials who wanted to detain a man in the judges courtroom.

An actual prosecution against an official like Parady or other Denver officeholders might be unlikely, because obstruction and other statutes the Trump administration suggests theyve violated do not plausibly cover actions theyve taken. To make an arrest, federal law enforcement officials would need to establish probable cause and obtain a warrant signed by a judge, Parady noted. That would constitute a strong check on abuse of the legal system.

But the threat of arrests does its own damage.

Its an effort to chill the speech and even the votes, or actions in the interest of our constituents, of elected leadership, Parady said. I can hardly imagine anything more dangerous to the politics of the country than trying to basically  terrorize your political opponents. But I am not terrorized by this.

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She added that Denver elected officials just need to keep doing our jobs on behalf of the people that elected us.

The executive order is not just an assault on public officials. More importantly, its an act of oppression against the people, including immigrant residents, of Denver and Colorado.

The laws of the city and state are the peoples laws, and public officials are the peoples representatives. Local statutes and ordinances were adopted according to the peoples will, and an authority that thwarts it through unconstitutional maneuvers amounts to a menace that is the peoples ultimate responsibility to defeat.

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Traveling from Denver or Colorado Springs, the first impression of Pueblo for many is that of an industrial city, with smoke stacks and warehouses that would look more at home in Pittsburgh than the Mountain West.

An expansive industrial complex dominates much of the southern Interstate 25 corridor and offers an intimate look at the citys past, its present and, should President Donald Trumps tariffs bring manufacturing back to the United States, its possible future.

The architect of the tariff plan, Peter Navarro said the endgame of tariffs is to fill up factories in Detroit and the Midwest, many of which he said are operating at low capacity.

Jobs in factories will come roaring back to our country," promised President Trump earlier this month. "And you see it happening already. We will supercharge our domestic industrial base.

Might that revival happen in Pueblo, a city known for the steel that built the West and the cables suspended from the Brooklyn Bridge?

Will the Pittsburgh of the West rise, like an ironclad phoenix, from the ash and slag heaps?

100 Days: Too soon to tell

Just how tariffs will impact Pueblos steel mill, operated by EVRAZ North America and owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, remains uncertain. The citys major industries  aerospace, chemical manufacturing, steel production and renewable energy  have decided to wait and see, rather than make any abrupt changes.

Theres tariffs announced and then theres pivoting. ... Were watching them closely to get an idea of how they will affect our industries here and our ability to bring in industry, said Jeffrey Shaw, the CEO of the Pueblo Economic Development Corp. But we just cant get a read on it yet.

Both the city and county of Pueblo have benefited from manufacturing over the decades. Pueblo County's manufacturing sector comprises close to 10% of the region's economy, involves nearly 4,700 employees and contributes $623 million to the local economy.

We have a very balanced manufacturing base, Shaw said. CS Wind is going strong... Collins Aerospace (is) making carbon brakes (and) United Launch Alliance (does) propulsion design for their rockets.

Right now the manufacturing seems very stable, he said. We are seeing a lot of opportunities in manufacturing.

Should manufacturing be supercharged and make a roaring return as Trump promised, Pueblo is primed to reclaim its crown as a regional manufacturing powerhouse. At one point, the Pueblo mill was the largest steel producer in the west. Today it doesn't even break the top 10, according to multiple published reports.

In the past, steel from the mill could be found on the railroad tracks that crisscrossed the West. Today, the mill accounts for nearly half of the rail in the country, according to PEDCO.

EVRAZ North America did not respond to Gazette attempts for comment for this story.

Tariffs may bring benefits to the steel sector, but at the expense of other industries, a report from the Council on Foreign Affairs found. A 2022 analysis from the Tax Foundation of Trump's first-term tariffs found production costs increased and employment fell.

The U.S. used to lead the world in manufacturing. It was the nations industry that supplied the war machines of the Allies and Soviet Union that toppled both Japan and Nazi Germany.

But the past 50 years have not been kind to manufacturing. Factories have stalled or shut down and jobs outsourced for the sake of cheaper goods.

During the postwar boom, the Pueblo mill, then owned by Colorado Fuel and Iron, employed about 12,000 people.

It ran on the labor of immigrants from around the world. The mill had its own newspaper, which was published in 40 languages and represented many of the cultures that found their way to Pueblo, with a recent population around 110,000, and have continued to thrive there.

Today, the mill employs fewer than 1,200 workers. EVRAZ North America, which bought the mill in 2007, said it supports 8,500 direct and indirect jobs in the region.

Shaw emphasized that investments, expansions and/or new ventures tend to slow down during presidential election cycles, but ramp back up once a new president is seated.

It remains to be seen how that may play out during Trumps second term.

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'Not the problem'



Trump's shaky relationship with workers unions, which have been a bastion of political power in Pueblo, may be felt in the 2026 midterms and 2028 election.

Every employee at EVRAZ, with the exception of management, is a union member, according to Chuck Perko, a fourth-generation steelworker. Perko, president of Local 3267, has found himself on many sides of the mill during his decade-plus career.

"I feel for our brothers and sisters in Canada right now because they make as quality a product as any other union worker in North America, Perko said. They're steel workers just like us. They are in the position they are because they make a good product."

"What has bothered me has been the attack on Canadian steel workers. They are not the problem."

Nationally, the president of United Steelworkers, David McCall, issued a statement calling for a balanced approach to tariffs. They can rein in "bad actors" and send a message to trading partners that they have to "earn" the right to trading with the U.S.

"Tariffs, however, are only one of the many tools we need to promote fair trade and reverse course on outsourcing and offshoring jobs," McCall said in an April news release. "First and foremost, we must ensure our trade policy targets cheaters rather than trusted economic allies like Canada.

The nation needs to build bridges, not barriers, McCall added.

McCall called on the Trump administration to pair the tariffs with strategic investments, strong procurement standards and union-friendly labor laws so that domestic production and jobs increase.

Manufacturer uncertainty

With a second term as president, Trump again promised to make America great again and bring manufacturing back to the country.

But for his plan to work, Trump believes he needs the tariffs.

These tariffs, in some ways, act as a sales tax on foreign goods imported to the U.S., causing consumer sentiment to plunge.

Some nations may not want to foot the bill. On Monday, the Port of Seattle  the fourth-busiest port in the nation  saw a single container ship docked. The Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw a 29% decrease in shipping traffic from China, pushing the West Coast ports to a tipping point, according to national news reports.

Economic uncertainty as a result of tariffs have hit Trumps approval rating, with a Fox News poll finding that 55% of respondents disapproved of his first 100 days overall, and 56% disapproved of his handling of the economy.

Theres no guarantee that tariffs will bring back manufacturing to the country, especially as exemptions on certain goods are issued.

Exempting cell phones and computers is great for the cell phone and computer companies, but the goal was to try to have things manufactured in the United States, (and) there seems to be a contradiction there, said Bill Craighead, director of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Economic Forum.

Tariffs have been used by the U.S. in the past, with mixed results.

In the 19th century, tariffs were a main source of revenue for the federal government, and it was something that contributed to some regional tensions in the United States, Craighead said. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 was seen as exacerbating the Depression, not only because the U.S. raised tariffs, but our trading partners retaliated, and there was a lot of trade conflict.

Even with President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal, the Great Depression plagued the United States until significant legislation was passed and the nation was dragged into World War II.

World War II benefited state and national manufacturing but since then it has slipped. Currently, manufacturing accounts for 5.2% of the state economy.

And just 100 days is too soon to gauge the full impact of the tariffs, according to Craighead.

Adding to the ongoing uncertainty Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, but left those on China in place, according to The Associated Press. Furthermore, a bipartisan effort to halt the tariffs failed in the Senate on Wednesday, probably meaning the tariffs now on pause will go into effect later this year, according to NBC.

There's a bit of a sense of foreboding but I can't point to something specific in the data and say Colorado's manufacturing employment declined X percent because of tariffs, Craighead said. I know there was a big rush to import inventory and a lot of people trying to stock up and get ahead of tariffs.

As for what tariffs may bring Colorados manufacturing industry? That remains unclear, though the overall U.S. gross domestic product declined in the first quarter of 2025 according to The Wall Street Journal.
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  Two 15-year-olds and a 19-year-old are facing charges in connection to a business robbery in Hampton.

Police were called to a 7-Eleven in the 1200 block of North King Street on April 30 around 12:30 a.m.

The investigation determined several suspects entered the business and stole items. One of the suspects pulled out a gun when confronted. They fled and no injuries were reported.

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Officers patrolling the area tracked down the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, during which all occupants were detained.

The Hampton Police Division arrested 19-year-old Ariel Davis from Hampton, a 15-year-old Hampton male, and a 15-year-old Virginia Beach male.

Davis was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and wearing a mask in public.

The 15-year-old Hampton juvenile was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, petit larceny, simple assault/battery and wearing a mask in public.

The 15-year-old Virginia Beach juvenile is facing a slew of charges, including robbery, possession of firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by juvenile, possession of a stolen firearm, concealed weapon, curfew violation, conspiracy to commit a felony, wearing a mask in public, petit larceny and providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Three teens were hospitalized after being shot near a high school in the citys Near West Side neighborhood, police said.

The teens  a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy  were on the sidewalk on the 200 block of South Hoyne Avenue at about 2:45 p.m. when shots rang out. Chicago Bulls College Prep High School is nearby, on the 2000 block of West Adams Street.

All three teens were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The 16-year-old boy was listed in serious condition with a wound to his lower back. The girl and other boy were both shot in the legs and listed in good condition as of 4:15 p.m.

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No one is in custody, but police said their 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 WGN-TV.
A giant inflatable intrauterine device is displayed outside of Virginia's Capitol on Feb. 7, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Three Virginia Planned Parenthood health centers in Richmond, Hampton and Virginia Beach have been affected by federal Title X family planning grant freezes, losing over $1 million in funds fueling family planning services.

Established in 1970, the federal program helps low and extremely low-income people access family planning care like contraception, sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment as well as cancer screenings, at low or no cost.

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Virginia League for Planned Parenthood CEO Paulette McElwain said that clinics in Virginia became aware of the federal funding changes on March 31, which means that about 11,000 patients will now have to pay higher costs for services.

She added that more than half of the Title X patients that VLPP cares for have incomes at or below the federal poverty level  the demographics that the federal funding program is meant to support.

VLPP is working hard to keep costs for patients as low as possible but inevitably, the loss of $1.2 million in funds that directly subsidized family planning services will impact patients, McElwain said. It is profoundly disappointing that the Trump administration is putting politics ahead of the health care needs of the people Planned Parenthood serves.

The Trump administration is facing a lawsuit over the cuts to the funding. California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Maine, Missouri, Montana and Utah have been completely cut off from the grants, according to the lawsuit, while Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia have had their access reduced. While costs for care have gone up for patients in Virginia, other states have reported the possibilities of reduced hours, laid off staff or closures of clinics altogether.

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Filed in the District Court of Columbia, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and the American Civil Liberties Unions 35-page lawsuit argues that about 842,000 people across the affected states now face reduced access to care. With the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. named as the top defendant, the suit argues that HHS has withheld $65.8 million over disagreements about organizations opposition to racism and speculation of providing care to undocumented immigrants.

While legal challenges to changes in reproductive health care access play out at the federal level, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin may soon weigh in on a right-to-contraception bill from this most recent legislative session. After passing the legislature, he sought amendments.

Youngkins substitute of the bill reinforces two U.S. Supreme Court cases that deal with access to contraception nationwide, while the right-to-contraception proposal prior to his substitute would apply specifically to Virginia if those federal cases should be overturned.

After helping overturn federal abortion protections in 2022, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed interest in revisiting cases that upheld contraception protections. As some states have also explored contraceptive restrictions in recent years, reproductive rights advocates and some lawmakers in Virginia have emphasized the benefit of strengthening state law, should federal protections for contraception also be overturned.

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While the measure also cleared the legislature last year, Youngkin sought amendments that the bills patrons said gutted it because it reinstated the federal court cases for which protection hinges on before he ultimately vetoed it.

He has until Friday to choose to sign the bill as it had cleared the legislature this year, or to veto it again.

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After mild weather for most of the week, thunderstorms and cold weather could be heading to Southern California over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

A low-pressure system that moved in on Thursday is expected to continue to move eastward into Arizona, which could result in instability over the region and bring a risk of showers and thunderstorms to the mountains, according to the weather service.

Flash flooding and debris flows are possible, including in burn-scar areas in the interior mountains, the agency said.

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Another low-pressure system is expected to move through the area Saturday, which could quickly deepen the marine layer. Coastal areas could see light rain or drizzle, especially Saturday morning and Sunday. Precipitation chances are highest for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with accumulations predicted to be very light and under a tenth of an inch.

In mountain and interior areas, showers could occur around 5,500 feet of elevation by Sunday but rain and snow are expected to be relatively light, the weather service said. Some mountain areas could see up to 0.50 inch of rain and 2 to 5 inches of snow.

Read more: 'It's a huge loss': Trump administration dismisses scientists preparing climate report

Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph could occur in coastal areas, with the strongest conditions over the Central Coast and southwest Santa Barbara. Interior valleys, mountains and deserts could see wind gusts of up to 35 mph.

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By Sunday, temperatures are expected to dip to the 60- to 70-degree range, which is about 10 degrees below normal.

An upper-level trough will ensure California sees cooler than normal temperatures until at least the middle of May, according to Scott Handel, a forecaster at the federal Climate Prediction Center.

The flow is cut off from the main storm track, which is why were seeing this kind of unsettled weather reach deeper into California than usual for May, Handel told the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that a ridge will build in the eastern and central U.S.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  To kick off the NATO events in a matter of weeks, world leaders from three countries will be a part of the NATO Parliamentary panels.

The University of Daytons Roger Glass Center for the Arts will host leaders from Canada, Germany and Italy for a panel on May 22. Just three days later, Bosnian leaders will arrive for a panel.

Dayton prepares to welcome NATO guests with unique gift bags

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Both panels are anticipated to be called The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations About Peace and Security in the Balkans.

Tickets to attend are free. To obtain tickets, 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.
May 2 (UPI) -- The Irish Data Protection Commission on Friday fined TikTok $600 million for illegally sending personal data of Europeans to Chinese servers.

The DPC decided TikTok's actions violated the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation by transferring the data and not providing sufficient transparency to users.

"TikTok's personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU," DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement.

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TikTok was also ordered to bring its data processing into compliance within 6 months.

"TikTok did not address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA (European Economic Area) personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage and other laws identified by TikTok as materially diverging from EU standards," Doyle said.

TikTok plans to appeal the DPC fine.

"Beyond the DPC's failure to substantively consider the extensive safeguards [already implemented by TikTok], we are disappointed to have been singled out despite relying on the same legal mechanism employed by thousands of other companies providing services in Europe," TikTok's Christine Grahn, head of public policy and government relations in Europe, said in a statement.

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She said TikTok had not gotten any requests from Chinese authorities to provide European user data.

TikTok told DPC throughout its inquiry that European data was not stored on servers in China.

But in April TikTok informed the DPC that "limited EEA User Data had in fact been stored on servers in China, contrary to TikTok's evidence to the Inquiry."

TikTok told the DPC it deleted the data on Chinese servers.

The DPC ordered TikTok to suspend the data transfers and bring its processing operations into compliance with the GDPR.

TikTok's December 2022 revised EEA Privacy Policy informed European users that personal data was stored on servers in the United States and Singapore.

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That policy also informed European users the data was subject to remote access by TikTok's corporate group in Brazil, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.

The fine is the third-largest imposed for violating the GDPR. TikTok's EU headquarters is in Ireland, giving the DPC legal regulatory authority over TikTok.
LONDON (AP)  A European Union privacy watchdog fined TikTok 530 million euros ($600 million) on Friday after a four-year investigation found that the video sharing app's data transfers to China put users at risk of spying, in breach of strict EU data privacy rules.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission also sanctioned TikTok for not being transparent with users about where their personal data was being sent and ordered the company to comply with the rules within six months.

The Irish national watchdog serves as TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the 27-nation EU because the company's European headquarters is based in Dublin.

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TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of (European) users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU, Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement.

TikTok said it disagreed with the decision and plans to appeal.

The company said in a blog post that the decision focuses on a select period ending in May 2023, before it embarked on a data localization project called Project Clover that involved building three data centers in Europe.

The facts are that Project Clover has some of the most stringent data protections anywhere in the industry, including unprecedented independent oversight by NCC Group, a leading European cybersecurity firm," said Christine Grahn, TikTok's European head of public policy and government relations. The decision fails to fully consider these considerable data security measures.

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TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is based in China, has been under scrutiny in Europe over how it handles personal information of its users amid concerns from Western officials that it poses a security risk over user data sent to China. In 2023, the Irish watchdog also fined the company hundreds of millions of euros in a separate child privacy investigation.

The Irish watchdog said its investigation found that TikTok failed to address potential access by Chinese authorities to European users' personal data under Chinese laws on anti-terrorism, counterespionage, cybersecurity and national intelligence that were identified as "materially diverging" from EU standards.

Grahn said TikTok has has never received a request for European user data from the Chinese authorities, and has never provided European user data to them.

Under the EU rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, European user data can only be transferred outside of the bloc if there are safeguards in place to ensure the same level of protection.

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Grahn said TikTok strongly disagreed with the Irish regulator's argument that it didn't carry out necessary assessments for data transfers, saying it sought advice from law firms and experts. She said TikTok was being singled out even though it uses the "same legal mechanisms" that thousands of other companies in Europe does and its approach is in line with EU rules.

The investigation, which opened in September 2021, also found that TikTok's privacy policy at the time did not name third countries, including China, where user data was transferred. The watchdog said the policy, which has since been updated, failed to explain that data processing involved remote access to personal data stored in Singapore and the United States by personnel based in China.

TikTok faces further scrutiny from the Irish regulator, which said that the company had provided inaccurate information throughout the inquiry by saying that it didn't store European user data on Chinese servers. It wasn't until April that it informed the regulator that it discovered in February that some data had in fact been stored on Chinese servers.

Doyle said that the watchdog is taking the recent developments very seriously" and considering what further regulatory action may be warranted.
The News

Irelands privacy regulator fined TikToks Chinese parent ByteDance 530 million ($600 million) Friday for illegally sending user data to China, in an infringement of EU rules.

The watchdog said that the video-sharing platform, which has its EU headquarters in Ireland, had breached the blocs data protection rules by sending Europeans user data to China without guaranteeing it would be protected under Chinese surveillance laws.

Those laws give Beijing extensive powers to compel firms to hand over user data and materially diverge from EU standards, the regulator said.

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In April TikTok told the regulator that it discovered some European user data had been stored on servers in China, contradicting previous denials.

TikTok said it would appeal the Irish regulators decision, and maintained that it had never provided data to Chinese authorities.
TikTok has been fined 530 million ($601 million) for violating EU personal data protection rules by transferring data to China, an Irish regulator said on Friday.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said TikTok breached the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by sharing European user data with China, and violated the bloc's transparency requirements.

The DPC is the lead supervisory authority for tech giants that have their European headquarters in Ireland, and has imposed fines on Amazon and Meta in the past. It fined TikTok 345 million in 2023 for its handling of data from users under the age of 18.

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During the investigation, the video-sharing app said it did not store any user data from Europe on servers in China, but in April admitted that this had happened to a limited extent, the DPC said.

DPC deputy chief Graham Doyle said TikTok was unable to guarantee that data from European users accessed by employees in China was protected in the same way as it was in the EU, as required by GDPR.

The platform did not, for example, take into account the possibility that Chinese authorities could access the data, Doyle said.

According to TikTok, the data has since been deleted, but the DPC said it is still considering further regulatory measures in consultation with EU data protection authorities.

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TikTok can still appeal the penalty, which in addition to the fine requires it to adapt its data processing to comply with EU rules within six months.

TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based in China, but the app's leaders jave repeatedly emphasized that ByteDance is majority-owned by international investors.

ByteDance must nonetheless comply with the requirements of the Chinese authorities through its headquarters in Beijing.

The company has already come under fire in the United States, where experts fear it could allow data from Americans to fall into the hands of the Chinese government.

Former president Joe Biden signed a law into effect a year ago stipulating that ByteDance must divest from its US operations or be banned. His successor, President Donald Trump, has repeatedly extended the deadline for the sale of the app.
University of Iowa and Iowa State University students protested at the April 23, 2025 Iowa Board of Regents meeting, asking for support and protection for international students. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Kate Zanger has worked in higher education for 49 years, more than half of that time at Clarke University in Dubuque. The vice president for student life is set to retire at the end of the spring semester.

In her career working at universities in Washington, D.C., and New York, Zanger said she has never seen actions taken against international students like the mass changes to Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) statuses and visa revocations that swept across the U.S.

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This is a time of fear for international students, said Zanger, the principal designated school official at Clarke working with the Student and Exchange Visitor program. While many students statuses have been restored at this point, officials working with impacted students say there will be social and economic consequences down the road.

For U.S. citizens, this time is kind of frightening, because of everything that you hear thats going on with the government, Zanger said. Imagine being an international student trying to figure this out.

Iowa universities confirm more than a dozen impacted students

Of the 40 Iowa public universities, community colleges and private institutions contacted by the Iowa Capital Dispatch and the 28 that responded, 13 acknowledged having some number of university students or recent graduates with changed SEVIS statuses.

The only state university to provide specific numbers of international students was the University of Northern Iowa, reporting two students with terminated  and reinstated  SEVIS statuses. Representatives from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University both stated there were students at their institutions who have seen their status change, but declined to say how many students and how many have been reinstated.

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At least four UI students have been impacted by student status revocations, and are suing the Department of Homeland Security for the actions taken against them. According to reporting by the Iowa State Daily, at least two ISU students have seen their visas revoked.

Other colleges confirming impacted international students include Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Clarke University, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges based in Davenport, Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Luther College in Decorah, Graceland University in Lamoni, Des Moines Area Community College based in central Iowa, Southeastern Community College in West Burlington and St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

All respondents saw either one or two student statuses change, and all but two students across all of the institutions have seen their statuses restored.

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Some students have also seen their visas revoked with much more aggressive language than in the past, said Karen Edwards, Grinnell College dean for International Student Affairs and principal designated school official.

Grinnell College refused to give specific numbers of impacted students, however, Edwards said around 20% of the student body, or around 340 students, are international, and some have seen both their SEVIS status change and their visa canceled.

While Edwards said F1 student visa revocation as a result of criminal activity is nothing new, and because these visa holders have duration of status benefits, they are not required to immediately leave the country if their visa is revoked, but they will have to reapply for a visa if they do travel abroad.

In the past when students were notified of their visa revocation, Edwards said information would be included explaining all of this. Now, language on these notices is harsher, she said, warning the holder that they are subject to detention or deportation to a country not their own.

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Edwards said the termination of SEVIS records is incredibly troublesome, as it is the record giving international students lawful status to study and complete other requirements and enabling information access and sharing for universities when needed.

When a SEVIS record is terminated, for example, someone whos here cant record their address update, or cant reduce their course load in their final semester, or cant submit other applications, a transfer to a new program or graduate level, Edwards said. So it really does immediately mean they cant function as a lawful F1 student here.

Even alumni who have continued to stay in the U.S. lawfully under their visa and SEVIS status have been impacted, Edwards said.

Uncertainty and fear for students

Moving away from campus. Trying to find legal representation. Missing a commencement ceremony and having to figure out how to retrieve an earned degree. These are some of the hardships endured by international students with terminated SEVIS statuses and revoked visas, according to university officials.

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At St. Ambrose University, two students saw a change in their SEVIS status and chose to leave the campus. Ricki Grover, international student advisor and study abroad coordinator, said in an email the university provided financial support to the students through its student emergency fund, helped them connect with legal resources and ensured theyd be able to complete their coursework over the summer.

While these statuses have now been reinstated, Grover said the students have not returned to campus.

Some universities have legal experts on hand to help impacted international students, Zanger said, but smaller colleges like Clarke dont. She said she reached out to larger institutions to see if an attorney would be available to represent the one Clarke student who saw their status terminated, but no one had the time. It can be difficult to find an immigration lawyer who has the expertise to work with students, she said.

Students have told her theyre choosing to stay in the U.S. for the summer out of fear that they wont be let back in to finish their studies, and Zanger said shes recommended all international students carry with them the correct documents when traveling.

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Others have said if they cant reenter the country, then they dont really want to be here anyway.

We try to assure them that we want you here at Clarke, we want you to graduate from Clarke, you bring a lot to our campus community, Zanger said.

The one student at Graceland University who saw their visa revoked was supposed to walk in the universitys commencement ceremony on April 27, but couldnt, despite their visa being reinstated that weekend. Graceland spokesperson Shane Adams said in an email the university will work with the student to ensure they still receive their degree.

We were disappointed that the student was not able to walk with their classmates on Sunday, Adams said in his email.

National actions could cause drop in international enrollment

International student enrollment in U.S. universities has been increasing over the past few years, with the 2024 Open Doors Report citing an increase of more than 25,000 students between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.

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The U.S. has traditionally been viewed as a welcoming and supportive space for students, which Edwards said has made the country a higher education destination for those wishing to study abroad. She worries about how actions taken against international students will impact what she called the countrys fifth-largest export  higher education.

I think right now, given the climate in the U.S.  if I was coming from another country, I might think twice about studying in the U.S., Zanger said, which is very sad, because our international students bring a lot to each of the campuses they are part of.

According to data from nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in the 2023-2024 academic year alone, international students supported more than 378,000 jobs and contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy. International students in Iowa have contributed nearly $272 million to the state economy and close to 1,900 jobs.

Beyond any economic impact these actions could have, Edwards said the diplomacy, goodwill and innovations that come with international students and the global perspectives and connections they bring will most likely be damaged.

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If we are less viewed as an education destination, that really places our whole way of thinking and learning at risk and it turns us into an isolationist space, as opposed to a global space with thinkers from all over the world, Edwards said. Thats what drew me to the field. Thats what makes me passionate about what I do and I see it at work here, because students from all over the world sit in the same classroom, (and) whether theyre talking about English literature or whether theyre doing a science project, it just brings a new voice to the table that helps everybody.

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Trailblazing entrepreneurs across the Pikes Peak region are the spotlight of this year's annual Small Business Week.

"Legacy of the Peak: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future" will celebrate local entrepreneurs who have shaped regional communities and who move the regional economy forward, according to the event webpage. Small Business Week runs Sunday through May 10, presented by U.S. Bank and hosted by the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center.

"Small businesses are the heart of our region, carrying forward the Legacy of the Peak  where rich traditions meet bold new ideas. This year, we honor the trailblazers who built our foundation and the next generation of entrepreneurs who are redefining what's possible," the event webpage states.

Weeklong festivities begin Monday evening, with a kickoff celebration and awards presentation from 4-5:30 p.m. at COS City Hub. The opening night event honors the finalists and announces the winners of the 2025 Small Business Awards. The award categories are small business person of the year, small business champion of the year, young entrepreneur of the year, family-owned business of the year and veteran-owned business of the year.

No events are planned on Tuesday.

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A discussion on artificial intelligence is scheduled from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday at Glen Eyrie. This special edition of 1 Million Cups, a program that engages entrepreneurs across the U.S. and connects them to the community, will feature a discussion with Jonathan Liebert, CEO and executive director of the BBB of Southern Colorado, on how generative AI is reshaping websites and marketing.

A report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, released in September, found 98% of small businesses are using a tool enabled by AI. Use of generative AI tools  chatbots like Chat GPT, or image creation  has increased 40% from 2023. Nearly all  91% of  small businesses using AI say it will help their business grow in the future, and 77% of small business owners plan to adopt emerging technologies like AI and metaverse, according to the report.

On Thursday, a small business listening tour will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Catalyst Campus. The collaborative session, in partnership with the chamber's In The Mix series, will connect business owners with Mayor Yemi Mobolade, other officials and business owners through roundtable discussions.

Friday is the closing celebration from 4-6 p.m. at The Public House at The Alexander. This networking celebration includes a cash bar, light refreshments and door prizes.

Tickets are $25 for each event or $80 for a weeklong pass. For more information, visit coloradospringschamberedc.com/sbw.
Weve see another middle school student in St. Johns County injured in an accident on an e-bike. Thursdays crash happened on Race Track Road in the same area where another boy was seriously hurt on Monday night. Thankfully, yesterdays crash did not result in serious injuries. Obviously many parents are worried about safety and St. Johns County leaders say theyre working on a new e-bike ordinance. Its not clear how soon it may be considered.

Three Big Things to Know:

Federal immigration agents and Florida state law enforcement wrap up a sweep of criminal migrants in the state, netting more than 1,000 arrests. Governor Ron DeSantis says thats the largest number in a single state in one week in ICEs history. ICE, DHS and the CPB were involved in Operation Tidal Wave. DeSantis says those arrested include violent offenders, gang members, sex offenders, fugitives and others who pose significant public safety threats. He adds Florida is proud to work closely with the Trump administration and help deliver on the 2024 mandate from America that our borders be secured and our immigration laws be followed.

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Floridas Attorney General says his office will investigate allegations of a possible gun registry at Jacksonville City Hall. The Mayors Office didnt directly deny the existence of a list, but says a document responsive to this request is not in the City of Jacksonvilles possession.

The first significant personnel overhaul for President Trump comes at a time of global instability, and it has given Secretary of State Marco Rubio an even broader portfolio. Rubio will serve as acting national security adviser, replacing Mike Waltz, who is nominated as United Nations ambassador. Trump announced the switch-up shortly after news broke that Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong were departing the administration, weeks after it was revealed that he added a journalist to a Signal chat being used to discuss military plans.

LISTEN: First Alert Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh says long hours of the weekend will be dry, but there will be a chance for rain and storms both Saturday and Sunday in the afternoon, early evening.

The 60-day Florida Legislative session is headed to overtime with the House and Senate deadlocked over a spending plan. Action News Jax local and state government reporter Jake Stofan stopped by to update when the lawmakers will gather again, as well as some of the legislation that passed during session and now awaits the Governors signature.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  You have the power in you to do anything and go anywhere was WSAVs Tina Tyus-Shaws message to graduating seniors at Jenkins High School on Thursday.

Shaw served as the keynote speaker at their Decision Day event. Positive vibes were everywhere as folks celebrated the seniors who are moving forward to college and the workforce after graduation.

My seniors in particular. Can I hear this from you? We are always becoming, Tyus-Shaw said. We are always becoming. Yes you are always becoming. So dont forget that. Take the path

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that will give you an opportunity to turn that new chapter and turn a page every day because you are always becoming.

Several seniors spoke about their futures.

Ill be attending Georgia Military College where Ill be enlisted asa second lieutenant in the United States Army as an infantry officer, and Ill be getting my criminal justice degree, said Connor Wilson Bote.

Im very proud of myself. You know Ive come a long way, and Ive changed. I grown quite a bit in my academics and socially as well, said Derek Wengai, who is headed to Louisiana State University.

Jenkins High School seniors received a certificate acknowledging the colleges to which theyll attend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  A professor of Supply Chain Management at Syracuse University is worried about the big hole that has opened up in the supply chain due to tariffs, specifically on China, Canada, and Mexico.

The primary gateway for Asia is the ports of Los Angeles, andright now, theyre projecting 35 percent less ships in the next two weeks, Dr. Patrick Penfield said. That basically is telling us that theres not a lot of stuff coming over.

The professor predicted that the American people would start to feel the economic effects during the early summer months.

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Your consumers and viewers are going to see bare shelves, and there will be bare shelves in various retail places, Dr. Penfield said.

Dr. Penfield recommended that shoppers begin stocking up on big-ticket items now, as prices could potentially double or triple.

clothing, footwear, big ticket items like cars and appliancesthats what I would focus on buying now, especially before back-to-school, you know, if you have young children, he said.

But he added that the domestic food supply chain will be fine, though the country will see prices increase.

Aladin Bibic, an Onondaga Community College student, heeded the professors advice before heading into Wegmans to shop Thursday afternoon, remembering to pinch his pennies and shop for the essentials.

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I have savings, for sure, Bibic said. But I feel like everyone should. Its kind of like a life lesson to have them because recessions always happen. The economy is never going to be great.

At the end of the day, Dr. Penfield said he does not see prices decreasing until the trade war eases up.

But until then, if he decides to just keep doing what hes doing, we wont see any relief, and this will continue on for the remainder of the year and could also go into next year, Dr. Penfield 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 WSYR.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The fire chief in Ramer, Tennessee and two Ramer firefighters are accused of intentionally starting fires.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said special agents began working with Selmer fire investigators in March to look into an abandoned structure fire in the Ramer community in McNairy County, about 100 miles east of Memphis.

During the investigation, the TBI gathered information about other fires, including abandoned structures and grass fires in and around Ramer. The TBI sad investigators identified members of the Ramer Fire Department as being responsible for the fires.

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On Thursday, warrants were issued for firefighters Gabriel Vandiver, 19, Trevor Williams, 19, and Fire Chief Jacob King, 23.

TBI agents arrested Vandiver and charged him with one count each of Arson and Vandalism. He was booked into the McNairy County Jail and released on his own recognizance.

Trevor Williams was arrested and charged with two counts each of Arson and Vandalism. Williams was booked into the McNairy County Jail and released on a $5,000 bond.

Ramer Fire Chief Jacob King was arrested and charged with two counts each of Facilitation to Commit Arson and Conspiracy to Commit Arson. His bond will be set during his first court appearance.

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TBI: Security guards arrested after truck pursuit, crash

If you have information about an intentionally set fire, call the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Tennessees Hemp Crackdown: A Step Backward for Freedom and Health

Tennessee conservatives champion limited government, personal freedom, and fiscal responsibility. Yet, House Bill 1376/Senate Bill 1413 threatens these values by imposing heavy-handed regulations on CBD, a safe, non-psychoactive hemp derivative.

Used by Tennesseans to manage epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, insomnia, and autism symptoms, or even as a safe alternative to alcohol, CBD is a lifeline for many families. This bill restricts access, burdens law enforcement, and wastes taxpayer dollarsall while undermining the very principles conservatives hold dear.

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The bill bans online sales of hemp products, forcing Tennesseans to buy CBD in person from local retailers. The bill also slashes Tennessees THC limit for hemp from the federal and internationally recognized standard of 0.3%  ensuring safe, non-intoxicating productsto an unreasonably restrictive and cost-prohibitive level, threatening access to trusted CBD.

These serve to eliminate the convenience, privacy, availability, and reliability of purchasing from trusted national brands like Charlottes Web, named for Charlotte Figi, a young girl whose severe epilepsy was alleviated by CBD. For rural Tennesseans, disabled individuals or veterans, or parents managing a childs epilepsy, this restriction is a significant hardship. Imagine a single mother in a small town, unable to drive to a specialty store, or a veteran relying on CBD for chronic pain, now forced to navigate less reputable local shops. By limiting choice, this bill strips away the personal freedom that Tennesseans value.

Market competition has become stifled

Transferring CBD oversight from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission is a baffling choice.

Rows of hemp plants grown on the Allenbrooke Farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Most states regulate hemp through agriculture departments, as its a plant-based product. Assigning this role to an agency tied to alcohol  a substance linked to over 3,000 deaths annually in Tennessee  creates a conflict of interest. CBD is a safe alternative for those reducing alcohol use, including recovering alcoholics and health-conscious Tennesseans who recognize the mounting evidence on the dangers of alcohol abuse.

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Forcing them to buy CBD in liquor or smoke shops risks temptation and undermines their recovery. The alcohol industry, which heavily influences Alcoholic Beverage Commissions nationwide, stands to benefit by stifling a competitor.

This is government overreach at its worst, prioritizing special interests over Tennessee families.

Legislation misallocates taxpayer dollars

Tennessees law enforcement and district attorneys are stretched thin combating violent crime, opioid overdoses, and drunk driving. Yet, this bill diverts their resources to policing a safe, non-psychoactive product with no documented public health threat.

In 2024, Tennessee reported nearly 4,500 alcohol related traffic crashes and is one of the worst states in the nation for drunk drivingfar more than any harm linked to CBD. By prioritizing this unnecessary crackdown, the bill misallocates taxpayer dollars and makes our communities less safe. The government should focus on real threats, not harmless products that help Tennesseans live healthier lives.

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Tennessee should be a leader in protecting personal freedom, promoting health, and using taxpayer dollars wisely. House Bill 1376/Senate Bill 1413 fails on all counts.

Daniel J. Smith

By restricting CBD access, empowering special interests, and burdening law enforcement, it moves our state backward when other states are moving forward. It also makes our state a little less attractive as businesses and individuals flee states lacking economic and personal freedom. Lawmakers must reject this bill and preserve Tennesseans right to safe, effective hemp products. Our families, veterans, and communities deserve better.

Daniel J. Smith is the director of the Political Economy Research Institute and Professor of Economics at Middle Tennessee State University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennesseans' choices are threatened with hemp legislation | Opinion
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Protests against President Donald Trump and his policies largely dominated May Day rallies in downtown Portland on Thursday, which drew large crowds that remained peaceful throughout the day.

Portland Police Bureau said they were expecting to see several protests in the city. By Thursday evening, PPB confirmed to KOIN 6 News the protests remained peaceful and there were no arrests.

Close to a thousand people showed up across the Rose City to make their voices heard, filling the streets with chanting and music for the several planned protests.

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Interim Cowlitz Police Chief allegedly sexually abused a minor before apparent suicide

This is a good reason for people to come together, said Jean Drake, who was in attendance at one of the rallies.

The first gathering happened at Pioneer Courthouse Square, organized by a local volunteer group called Indivisible. The group has been against the Trump Administration from the start.

Ive been to a couple of events. And even though people say, Well, what are you going to do, you cant change things? I think its inspiring to have other people around that also see the problems, Drake said.

Its been 100 days, we cant handle four years of this, added Rita King, another person attending the Pioneer Courthouse Square rally.

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A second rally was held at Terry Schrunk Plaza, hosted by the Portland Association of Teachers. Dozens were in attendance, including local leaders and lawmakers.

Jorge Sanchez Bautista is a senior at McDaniel High School and a candidate for the Portland Public Schools Board.

Alpenrose Dairy demolition signals end of an era

Im just trying to graduate high school, Bautista said with a laugh.

He said people of all backgrounds  including adults, the elderly and young people alike  are experiencing a hard time.

Doing everything as a united coalition, were all in this together, and were really taking steps forward, Bautista said.

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Many people at the various rallies mentioned the common theme of making their voices heard amid a presidential administration they dont agree with.

Though there were no arrests, Portland police said one person had to be taken away by ambulance due to dehydration since it was a sweltering sunny day.

In recent months, Portland has seen several protests in support of the 50501 Movement  50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement  opposing the Trump Administration.

Another body discovered floating in the Willamette River near Terminal 4

The movement brought thousands of people to the streets in February, March and April. Protesters have gathered in Portland, Salem and Vancouver to march against what they say are anti-democratic and illegal actions in the White House.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
It was the first time Id put on pumps in nearly 10 years.

When my twins, Caleb and Grace, turned 3, I left my corporate job to care for Caleb, who is medically fragile and behaviorally complex. That world of suits and strategy was replaced with feeding tubes and endless hospital hallways.

But this February, Republicans at the Arizona Legislature had begun questioning Arizonas disability services  and my son needed me in a new way. So, I found those uncomfortable heels and stepped into a fight I never thought Id take on.

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At first, I assumed the majority party just needed clarity. But instead of open minds, I met closed doors.

Then my seventh-grade daughter quietly stepped in.

Grace asked to meet with Rep. Willoughby

Grace Haley meets with Rep. Julie Willoughby on April 30, 2025.

Without telling me, Grace emailed our District 13 representative, Julie Willoughby, asking for a meeting.

And Willoughby opened her door.

In March, we loaded the wheelchair van and headed to the Capitol. Both of my kids have always had something to say  Caleb without words and Grace with words to spare. I asked if Grace could lead the meeting, and she took charge.

She asked about Willoughbys role as majority whip, her background as a trauma nurse and how committee chairs are chosen.

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Grace had attended a House Appropriations hearing and had been shaken by the way Chairman David Livingston and Vice Chair Matt Gress had treated terrified constituents. She came with questions and purpose.

Willoughby met her questions with grace. She treated Graces curiosity with dignity and care.

Rep. Guiterrez promised to cross the aisle

Grace Haley, 13, supports her twin brother, Caleb, during a rally at the state Capitol on Feb. 26, 2025.

I sat back, watching my daughter hold her own in a room that rarely makes space for voices like hers. I saw something begin to build  a bridge, tentative but real.

Then it was my turn. I couldve softened, made a friend. But, by the grace of God, I chose honesty  with empathy. I spoke about what life is like raising a medically complex child. I shared facts, countered misinformation and asked where we might meet in the middle.

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Willoughby listened with a genuine desire to understand.

A few weeks later, we attended a roundtable with Gov. Katie Hobbs and several Democratic legislators. I brought both kids, and that night, Grace felt something stir in her. She read a speech she had written herself  thanking them but also challenging them.

She spoke of her dreams for unity, and she reminded them, There is no champion and no enemy in this story. We all need each other.

After the meeting, Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, the assistant minority leader, pulled Grace aside.

I hear you, she said. And I promise, Ill try to cross the aisle.

Willoughby kept her door open to compromise

Then came the blow: Chairman Livingston introduced a bill that demanded legislative control of the Medicaid amendments and began dismantling the Parents as Paid Caregivers Program  a lifeline in the caregiver shortage.

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But Willoughby kept her door open. She asked questions and in time, drafted an amendment to protect our families while addressing her partys concerns. It was practical and compassionate.

She realized she needed bipartisan support. Thats when I called Gutierrez. She read the amendment and agreed to back it. This was her chance to keep her promise to Grace.

Opinion: Arizona finally does the right thing for disabled kids

But three new Republicans were added to the committee before the vote to ensure the amendment would fail.

Still, Willoughby stood firm. She said this issue was her hill to die on.

Days later, I heard from Willoughby and Gutierrez separately. I turned to Grace and whispered, They finally met. She shouted, THE WOMEN WILL GET THIS DONE!

3 women met in the middle to help families

And they did.

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A bipartisan amendment passed that valued families and proved that collaboration is still possible. I wasnt there when the vote passed, but I knew we all collectively exhaled.

So, Ill wear those pumps one more time, walk my children through the Capitol and remind them: this place belongs to you, too.

Because in a world so quick to divide, three ladies  one red, one blue and one still believing in purple  chose to meet in the middle.

Thats where hope begins.

Amy Haley of Chandler is a mother, caregiver and disability advocate. Reach her on Facebook @amyhaley or on Instagram @amyhaleyphotography.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona caregivers have an unlikely savior: A seventh-grader | Opinion
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The top United Nations court on Friday wraps a week of hearings on what Israel must do to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Last year, the U.N. General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on Israels legal obligations after the country effectively banned the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the main provider of aid to Gaza, from operating.

Experts say the case could have broader ramifications for the United Nations and its missions worldwide.

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The hearings are taking place as the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is nearing collapse and ceasefire efforts remain deadlocked. Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other humanitarian supplies since March 2. It renewed its bombardment on March 18, breaking a ceasefire, and seized large parts of the territory, saying it aims to push Hamas to release more hostages.

Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians and aid staff as part of its war with Hamas and did not attend the hearing. The country did provide a 38-page written submission for the court to consider.

What is at stake?

The hearings focused on provision of aid to the Palestinians, but the U.N. court's 15 judges could use their advisory opinion to give legal guidance on the powers of the world body.

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The court has the opportunity to clarify and address questions about the legal immunities of the United Nations, Mike Becker, an expert on international human rights law at Trinity College Dublin, told The Associated Press.

Advisory opinions issued by the U.N. court are described as nonbinding as there are no direct penalties attached to ignoring them. However, the treaty that covers the protections that countries must give to United Nations personnel says that disputes should be resolved through an advisory opinion at the ICJ and the opinion shall be accepted as decisive by the parties.

The oddity of this particular process, Becker said, is a clear response to any argument that the opinion is nonbinding.

What has the ICJ been tasked with answering?

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The resolution, sponsored by Norway, seeks the ICJs guidance on obligations of Israel  in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations  to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population. The United States, Israels closest ally, voted against it.

Israels ban on the agency, known as UNRWA, which provides aid to Gaza, came into effect in January. The organization has faced increased criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who claim the group is deeply infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA rejects that claim.

We cannot let states pick and choose where the U.N. is going to do its work. This advisory opinion is a very important opportunity to reinforce that, Becker said.

Do these proceedings matter for countries other than Israel?

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Whatever the judges decide will have an impact beyond the current situation in Gaza, according to Juliette McIntyre, an expert on international law at the University of South Australia. Are these immunities absolute or is there wiggle room? This is useful for where United Nations personnel are working in other places, McIntyre told AP.

An authoritative answer from the World Court can have influence beyond judicial proceedings as well. Every time a norm is breached, the norm gets weaker. The advisory opinion in this case could push the norm back, said McIntyre.

In separate proceedings last year, the court issued an unprecedented and sweeping condemnation of Israels rule over the occupied Palestinian territories, finding Israels presence unlawful and calling for it to end. The ICJ said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians right to self-determination.

According to McIntyre, the arguments presented this week reflect the opinion handed down just nine months ago. Now the starting premise is that Israel is illegally occupying all of Palestine, McIntyre said.

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What did the Palestinians and Israelis say?

On Monday, the Palestinian delegation accused Israel of breaching international law in the occupied territories and applauded the move to bring more proceedings to the court. Our journey with the international institutions, be it Security Council, the General Assembly or the ICJ, is we are building things block on top of another block while we are marching towards the accomplishment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including our right to self-determination, statehood, and the right of the refugees, Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters.

Israel has denied it is in violation of international law and said the proceedings are biased. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar hit back at the case during a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday. I accuse UNRWA, I accuse the U.N., I accuse the secretary-general and I accuse all those that weaponized international law and its institutions in order to deprive the most attacked country in the world, Israel, of its most basic right to defend itself, he said.

The court is expected to take months to deliver its opinion.

 Associated Press writer Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this report.
By Sara Merken and Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) - A prominent lawyer in Washington who defended Hunter Biden against criminal charges has launched a new law firm to represent former government officials and others targeted by the Trump administration.

Abbe Lowell left his large law firm Winston & Strawn to launch Lowell & Associates, which will defend clients including individuals, institutions and others that are "facing politicized investigations, civil and administrative actions," the firm said in a Friday statement.

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The new firm also includes two former lawyers at Skadden Arps who quit over its response to President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting the legal profession.

Skadden is one of nine firms that cut deals with the administration to avoid the Republican president's crackdown on the legal industry. Four other firms have sued to block Trump's orders, which restricted their business over the president's claims that they had "weaponized" the legal system against him or his allies.

One of the ex-Skadden lawyers, Rachel Cohen, said there is a need for attorneys "willing to stand up to the government when it oversteps."

Two other lawyers are also joining the new firm from Winston & Strawn.

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Lowell is representing New York Attorney General Letitia James after the Trump administration referred her to the Justice Department for allegedly falsifying real estate records. James has denied the allegations.

The new firm said it is also representing clients fighting the cancellation of grant funding by the Department of Government Efficiency and the federal government.

Lowell represented Hunter Biden, former Democratic President Joe Biden's son, against criminal gun and tax changes before he was pardoned in December. His clients have also included former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

The new firm comes amid a broader effort to mount and sustain legal challenges to the Trump administration.

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There are more than 200 lawsuits opposing key Trump policy initiatives, including efforts to curtail transgender and immigrant rights, and eliminating agency and grant funding.

Advocacy group Democracy Forward, which has filed more than 50 legal actions since the election, said this week it had hired Brian Netter, a former partner at Mayer Brown and a top attorney in the Biden-era U.S. Justice Department.

Netter said in a statement that he was joining the organization during "what may be the most consequential moment in the history of the U.S. courts."

(Reporting by Sara Merken and Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario and Alistair Bell)
Elizabeth School District returns banned books to shelves per judge's order

'The Courts order merely requires the District to adhere to the minimum basic constitutional requirements,' wrote Judge Charlotte Sweeney previously
Matt Moran (left), a top advisor of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and John Reid, a broadcaster and Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, are at the center of a firestorm engulfing the Virginia GOP. (Moran photo by Creative Direct, Reid photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Gov. Glenn Youngkins top political adviser, Matt Moran, temporarily stepped aside from his job as the head of the powerful Spirit of Virginia PAC, the PACs chief financial officer confirmed late Thursday evening.

Lisa Jennings told The Mercury that Moran, who allegedly advised Youngkin to pressure Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid to leave the race, had informed her on Wednesday that he would leave temporarily. A senior administration official said that Moran decided to step away because the controversy created a distraction for himself and his work for the PAC.

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Reid, the first openly gay candidate on a statewide ticket in Virginia, said the governor urged him to quit over explicit photos on a social media account bearing the same name as Reids but that Reid emphasized he had no connection to.

Earlier in the day Thursday, two sources familiar with the deliberations had said Moran resigned, as reported by Politico. Moran, after multiple requests for comment on the matter, has still not clarified his position.

The shift marks a dramatic fallout in a political storm that has rattled Virginia Republicans, exposed deep internal divisions, and fueled charges of political backstabbing just months before the November elections.

Moran, 36, had remained silent until Wednesday evening when, less than two hours before Reid took the stage alone at a Henrico County GOP rally where Youngkin canceled his appearance, he denied accusations that he tried to bully Reid out of the race.

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Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded, Moran posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Ive known John Reid for years and consider him a friend, Moran wrote, insisting he had been actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee.

Moran also released a sworn affidavit and a sharply worded legal letter from his attorney, George Terwilliger III, pushing back on Reids claims.

The letter argued Reids team had been misinformed and warned that continued accusations could bring legal consequences, with Terwilliger writing that Moran never attempted to extort, coerce, or pressure Mr. Reid but simply offered sound advice regarding the viability of Mr. Reids candidacy to someone he counted as a friend.

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Despite that, the letter hinted at a possible off-ramp, asking if Reids campaign was open to scheduling a call where we might further discuss the matter.

On Thursday, before Morans decision to step aside became known, an audio recording surfaced that captured an April 27 meeting between Moran and members of Reids campaign, where Moran framed Reids withdrawal as the only way to stop damaging opposition research from surfacing  a stance Reid later described as bordering on extortion.

The rift burst into public view last Friday, when The Richmonder reported that Youngkin had asked Reid, a conservative radio host and the first openly gay candidate on a statewide ticket, in a phone call to step down over sexually explicit posts shared by a Tumblr account with the same name of Reids other social media profiles.

On Sunday, Reid alleged in a video posted online that representatives of my campaign have been told by the leader of Governor Youngkins political organization that the attacks on me will continue unless I drop out.

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While Reid did not initially name Moran, his campaign followed up Monday with a cease-and-desist letter directly accusing Moran of defamation, claiming Moran told reporters Reid was behind the sexually explicit Tumblr account  a charge Reids team firmly denies. While this account shared a common username with our clients Instagram, he is not and never has been associated with the account, the letter said.

Moran has spent more than a decade deeply embedded in Virginia politics. He got his start managing the campaign of a rural delegate and working as a legislative aide before climbing the ranks to become spokesman for then-House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, and later chief of staff to Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights.

When Youngkin took office, Moran came on board as director of policy and legislative affairs  notably working without a state salary. Instead, he remained on leave from two consulting firms in which he held ownership stakes  Creative Direct and Link Public Affairs. That arrangement drew criticism from those who argued it posed serious conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile, Reid has vowed to continue his campaign as election season kicks into high gear.

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Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Moran stepped aside from his role as a Spirit of Virginia PAC advisor, as confirmed by the groups chief financial officer Lisa Jennings Thursday evening.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Hawaiian-style food options are somewhat limited in the Capital City, but a national restaurant chain may change things.

27 News reached out to the Hawaiian Bros Island Grill company this week to find out if it has any plans to set up shop in the Topeka area. The company currently has several locations in Kansas such as in Wichita, Lawrence and a recently opened spot in Manhattan.

A company spokeswoman responded saying that Topeka wont be receiving a Hawaiian Bros of its own. However, she didnt rule out the possibility that Topeka will receive one in the near future.

We do not currently have plans to put a restaurant there. However, we are a young and growing company and have just signed several franchises recently. Hawaiian Bros spokeswoman

Hawaiian Bros menu features its classic Plate Lunch which comes with a variety of combination options you can pick and choose from that typically include white rice and/or macaroni salad. Customers can add chicken, pork and spam to their dishes and finish things off with a dole soft serve.

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Former Wolfes Camera shop, nearby buildings for sale for $2.85 million

Topeka is currently due to receive several new restaurants in the days ahead such as a new CAVA, Whataburger and Raising Canes.

For more local eats news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A longtime Topeka optometry office in the downtown area is due to close this summer after decades of serving the local community.

Optometrist Dr. Jeffery Cramer is set to retire this year, marking the end of his time serving the Topeka community with their vision needs. His office can be found at 927 South Kansas Avenue near The Pennant and Royal Society.

It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that after 37 years I will be retiring from my practice and closing the office on June 26, 2025, Cramer said in a note posted at the front of his office.

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People are encouraged to call the office at 785-234-6649 to schedule eye exams before it closes in June. Patients medical records will be available as needed.

Is Topeka getting a Hawaiian Bros? What we know

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

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka police arrest a man after finding signs of cockfighting and animal abuse.

On Thursday, May 1, the narcotics unit with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) as well as the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a warrant in the 200 block of Southeast Swygart Street. Officers located marijuana, cocaine, firearms and drug paraphernalia.

Along with the drugs, TPD found signs of animal cruelty, according to a news release. Law enforcement seized a total of 28 animals from the residence.

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One man charged in connection to Topekas 5th homicide of 2025

As a result of the investigation, a 40-year-old man was taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the following charges:

Unlawful conduct of cockfighting.

Unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

Cruelty to animals.

Unlawful discharge of firearms in the city limits.

Distribution of marijuana.

Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Distribute or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia.

Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction.

Possession of cocaine.

Kansas drug tax.

Arrest warrants (four).

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent touted the apparent success of the "win-win" minerals agreement signed between Ukraine and the United States in an interview on Fox Business on May 1, suggesting a reset in relations between the two countries.

"In terms of the deal, this is a total economic partnership. This isn't just rare earths, it's infrastructure, it's energy, so there's the opportunity for both sides to really win," Bessent said during an interview with Fox Business.

Both sides signed a long-awaited minerals agreement on April 30 that establishes a joint investment fund in Ukraine.

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The signing of the minerals deal follows months of negotiations that at times became contentious. The U.S. and Ukraine were set to sign the deal in late February, but the plan fell apart following the infamous White House argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I think this is a strong signal to the Russian leadership and it gives President Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on an even stronger basis as opposed to the daylight that had been previously created between the U.S. and Ukraine," Bessent said.

"Now we can take these cards and go and show the Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people, the American people, between our goals," he added.

Read also: The full text of the US, Ukraine minerals agreement

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While the current deal doesnt contain any security guarantees, Svyrydenko wrote on X to say that in addition to direct financial contributions (to the fund), the deal may also provide new assistance  for example, air defense systems for Ukraine.

"We are going to accelerate the Ukraine economy and as the president says, as I always say, economic security is national security, national security is economic security, so a strong Ukraine post-this conflict will help Ukrainians maintain their national security," Bessent added.

The Treasury Secretary's comments come amid ongoing peace deal negotiations led by the United States. Trump has reportedly grown frustrated at the pace of negotiations, suggesting in recent days that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be "just tapping me along."

The peace deal, which is yet to be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament, has received some skepticism from lawmakers due to a lack of details.

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While revenues from Ukraines licenses will be added to the fund, it remains unclear how the Trump administration will encourage America's private sector to invest in Ukrainian projects.

In an interview on May 1, Trump said the minerals agreement with Ukraine ensures that "we get much more than the $350 billion" the U.S. has provided in assistance  referring to Trump's repeatedly inflated total on the amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Zelensky has hailed the agreement as a partnership on fair terms and said it could attract further American support.

Read also: U.S.Ukraine minerals deal: key points of the newly signed agreement

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Tourism in Jasper, Newton, Barton and McDonald counties generated $485 million last year in revenue and supports thousands of jobs.

During National Travel and Tourism Week, which begins Sunday, the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, also called Visit Joplin, will observe the power of travel.

Along the Route 66 Tri-State Corridor alone, the travel and tourism industry contributes to the regional economy, supporting local businesses while fostering long-term growth, Patrick Tuttle, director of Visit Joplin, said in a statement. In 2024, over 1,700 guests signed the visitors log in our Route 66 visitor center, with more than 1,100 of them being guests from 45 different countries.

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He said that the Missouri Division of Tourisms most recent annual report for fiscal 2024 shows that the four counties around Joplin provided 8,656 tourism-related jobs.

According to the report:

 Barton County, with 365 tourism jobs, generated $15.4 million.

 McDonald County, with 374 tourism jobs, generated $17 million.

 Newton County, with 2,271 tourism jobs, generated $138.5 million.

 Jasper County, with 5,646 jobs, generated $314.5 million.

Since 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week has brought attention to the travel industrys contribution to U.S. economic strength, community vitality and quality of life. In 2024, the national travel industry generated $2.9 trillion in economic output, supported more than 15 million jobs, and produced $190 billion in tax revenue, equivalent to $1,490 per household, according to the U.S. travel industry.

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The region has a number of tourism attractions.

Route 66, also called the Mother Road and Americas Main Street, traverses through Joplin, and a new mural was unveiled recently in the Route 66 Mural Park in downtown Joplin across from City Hall. Titled Route 66 Tri-State Corridor, it highlights 21 Route 66 landmarks in the region.

Joplin also sits next to the historic Jefferson Highway, which ran from Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans. Dedicated in 1916 and named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was inspired by the eastwest Lincoln Highway and was nicknamed the Palm to Pine Highway for the varying types of trees found at each end.

Another attraction found in Joplin is Grand Falls, the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri.

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In the Diamond area, about 16 miles east of Joplin, George Washington Carver National Monument is managed by the National Park Service. It commemorates the life and contributions of the former enslaved person who became the nations foremost agricultural scientist.

Another federal attraction in Newton County is the Neosho National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery raises rainbow trout as well as pallid sturgeon and Topeka shiners for restoration efforts. Additionally, log perch and freshwater drum are raised to serve as hosts for freshwater mussel restoration efforts. In addition to these species, visitors to Neosho National Fish Hatchery can see a variety of local birds and small mammals.

Lamar, in Barton County, is the birthplace of former President Harry Truman, and his childhood home is a state historic site. Lamar also has a monument in honor of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp, who once lived in that area.

McDonald County is frequented by those who like to fish, and float and is the home of one state park. The county seat also offers its story of Jesse James and the countys historical secession from the state of Missouri.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man was taken into custody after an international tourist was reportedly stabbed in the head and robbed of his cellphone in downtown Nashville early Friday morning.

According to a Davidson County affidavit, the incident occurred shortly after 4:15 a.m. on Friday, May 2 behind the Ascend Amphitheater in the 200 block of 1st Avenue South.

Per the court documents, officers saw surveillance footage of the suspect  identified as Domanic Tolbert  ambushing the victim before the victim ran away. In addition, the footage reportedly showed Tolbert picking up a cellphone after the assault and walking toward 1st Avenue South.

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Armed robbery suspect surrenders to Metro police after kneeling on a log in the Stones River

Officials said the victim walked to the Four Seasons Hotel, where staff called 911 to report the incident, adding that there was a witness with the victim at the time of the robbery.

Domanic Tolbert (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Based on the affidavit, the victim was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center due to severe blood loss and penetrating wounds to his head. Authorities described the victim as a tourist from Jalisco, Mexico.

Authorities said they noticed Tolbert across the street from an address in the 500 block of 3rd Avenue South, less than half a mile from the crime scene, with blood on his right hand around 7:30 a.m. on Friday. Seeing as Tolbert reportedly matched the suspect description, Crime Scene Investigation personnel responded to the scene to collect his sweatshirt and swab the blood from his hands.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

As written in the court documents, Due to the surveillance footage of the incident and the totality of the circumstance officers determined [Tolbert] was guilty of especially aggravated robbery.

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According to the Davidson County Sheriffs Office, the 43-year-old is being held in the Downtown Detention Center on a $150,000 bond for especially aggravated robbery.

Meanwhile, the Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 the victim is currently stable at VUMC.

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STOWE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  The Town of Stowe is officially welcoming a new chief of police.

Chief Brooke OSteen has a law enforcement career that includes experience at the United States Park Police in Washington D.C. before moving to Vermont back in 2015.

After getting her Vermont certifications, and getting employed by UVM Police, Brooke began work with Stowe as a part-time officer in 2016. Additional career accomplishments include her promotion to full-time Stowe PD sergeant in 2019, and her move to become Morristowns Chief of EMS last July.

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Additionally, both Brooke and her wife Lindsay have been committed to serving their communities in a public safety capacity in-state since 2015, according to a release from the Town of Stowe.

Town Manager Charles Safford said he is optimistic about what lies ahead under Brookes leadership.

Brooke is a skilled officer with twenty-two years in law enforcement. She is an engaged leader who inspires her team to achieve their full potential. I am optimistic about what lies ahead under Brookes leadership as the new Chief of Stowe PD

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
Denver District Attorney John Walsh addresses a crowd as he discusses the importance of rule of law during a Law Day event on the steps of the Denver City and County building on Thursday. Lawyers and judges came to the event to condemn the Trump administrations attacks on the rule of law.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  Thursday marked two years since six-year-old Kingston Campbell of Lynchburg was shot and killed while playing video games inside his bedroom.

In surveillance footage released following the attack, several individuals can be seen firing rounds into the house, before running off down a nearby street.

While police do not believe Campbell was the target of the attack, all of the individuals seen in the video remain at-large two years later.

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While we have an idea of who was involved, said Sgt. Barbara Gibson with the Lynchburg Police Department. Our biggest problem now is getting first-hand information. People that actually know for a fact that they did it that are willing to come forward and tell us.

On Thursday afternoon, Campbells family gathered in Lynchburgs Miller Park to release blue  Kingstons favorite color  balloons into the sky in his memory.

The tight-knit family said gatherings like that, in addition to everyday nods to a lost son, cousin, nephew, and sibling, help them stay close and keep Campbells memory alive.

My car, the back is Justice for Kingston,' said one of Campbells aunts, Adrianne Loving. My license plate says, stop gun violence. I graduate in 15 days and hes going to be on my cap. Everything I do is for him.

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LPD says Kingston Campbell and Terrion Marshall cases may be connected

From Facebook posts, to billboards, to simply asking people to speak up if they know anything about what happened the night of May 1, 2023, the family is continuing its push for justice.

It wont bring him back, but it would be the next step to finally getting to properly grieve, said Loving.

LPD says it continues to receive new information about the case every week, and said it is doing everything possible to hold the responsible people accountable.

Kingston is an innocent victim, said Gibson. We just want justice for him. He is a child of all of ours and we all want to see justice for him and were doing everything that we can.

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Throughout the past two years, police have asked anyone with information or possible evidence tied to the shooting to report it to the department or Crime Stoppers, which can be done anonymously.

However, first-hand accounts of the nights events have remained hard to come by.

We understand that they are fearful for their safety, said Gibson. We understand that. But its going to take somebody brave to come forward and give us the information we need to put these people away.

Despite the lack of answers, Campbells family remains hopeful that those responsible will feel called to come forward soon.

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Its no way the hurt and pain we felt two years ago, that they didnt feel it the next day, said Loving. Knowing, Hey I shot that place up. Oh, I accidentally hurt somebody. If were hurting, I know theyre hurting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Law enforcement officers in central Ohio are participating in a unique training, learning about safe and effective ways to interact with people who have autism.

Carrie Gutowski leads the training. Her son, Leo, was diagnosed with autism a decade ago when he was two years old.

Gutowski said there are a lot of behavioral signs a person with autism has that may also come off as a red flag to law enforcement.

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Columbus dispensary issued product alert for edible glitter in cannabis gummies

Someone with autism isnt going to have a shirt that says, I am autistic or a bracelet necessarily, she said. They might not even have a caregiver there that can give you a heads up. So, how are you going to know when it takes two days of testing at Nationwide Childrens with a doctor to decide if someone has autism?

Gutowski hopes that after receiving the training, officers will be able to recognize those signs and adjust their response.

Gutowski is conducting the training alongside Delaware County Sheriffs Deputy Jon Scowden, who also has a son with autism. They said they started the training nine years ago because they werent sure how their kids would react in a situation with law enforcement and worried how law enforcement would react to them.

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The class shows officers how to recognize the behavioral signs of a person with autism like sensitivity to loud noise or light, fine motor issues, or trouble communicating.

Leo greets people by saying, Ah chew, you know, Gutowski said. Instead of going when they meet somebody, Why is this kid saying, Ah chew to me, this is very strange, going, OK, well, we had the class with Carrie and Jon. Maybe this is this childs unique greeting.

Columbus financial social media influencer defrauded investors of $11 million, prosecutors say

Mental health professionals hope the training will help officers de-escalate rather than overstimulate.

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This is all meant to be a complement to what they already have, Rhianna Mattis, associate director of the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, said. This is just more tools in their belt, whether it may be, you know, the recognition of a mental health diagnosis, an autism diagnosis, you know, to be able to understand that. This specific training was facilitated by the board.

There was law enforcement from several agencies in both Franklin and Delaware counties as well as other emergency personnel.

Gutowski said that every time she does the training, participants come up to her saying how impactful this is and how they wish they had learned it sooner.

Meet the three candidates running for Columbus City Councils District 7 seat

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The main thing, honestly, here, is empathy, and I dont mean empathy in an emotional way, Gutowski said. I mean empathy and, like, a human instinct of survival. The best way to get through an interaction is to understand where that person is coming from, how theyre perceiving the world around them. So what were doing is were saying, Hey, officers, step into the mind of an individual with autism and be more aware of your surroundings.

Gutowski said she has trained thousands of law enforcement officers in central Ohio.

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A convicted trans paedophile who has been jailed for child pornography has complained of the distress of being sent to a male prison.

Dominic Carter, 40, changed gender after being charged by police and appeared in court dressed in pink and identifying as Sophie.

The trans woman escaped jail in 2023 after being caught with indecent images of children.

Carter, from Southsea, Hampshire has since appeared in court a further four times, having been handed a suspended sentence.

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But the sex offender has now been jailed for six months for flouting orders imposed after conviction.

Eve Shelley, defending, told Southampton Crown Court that Carter was being held in custody at HMP Winchester, a Category B mens prison.

She said: There are additional difficulties in terms of this particular defendant being kept in that male environment and that is something that is causing some distress and concern to her.

At the hearing  where Carter was referred to using female pronouns  the court heard that after the 2023 conviction, the former tree surgeon failed to attend appointments with probation.

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The police found Carter was no longer staying at the address, which had previously been registered after the paedophile called the authorities and pretended to have been kidnapped.

Its a deliberate breach

Hannah Douglas, prosecuting, told the hearing: Ms Carter had sent a message to say that they had been kidnapped and held hostage... and demanded 140 to be released into a bank account.

The prosecutor said police spoke to Carter throughout the day until they eventually arrested the defendant.

It was found she failed to comply with notification requirements having left her registered address, Ms Douglas said. We say its a deliberate breach.

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The court heard Carter also failed to comply with a suspended sentence order and community order which had been imposed after the 2023 conviction. Carter pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Chaotic lifestyle

Ms Shelley, mitigating, told the court that Carter failed to attend the appointments after the defendant had been kicked out of their parents house.

She said Carter was street homeless and had been assaulted herself.

Ms Shelley added: That particular chaotic lifestyle made them disengage with probation.

This defendant has been remanded in custody since the first of April this year and has used the time in custody in a positive way. They are now no longer using illicit drugs.

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This defendant has expressed to me an understating that upon receiving a sentence of immediate custody... that it is an opportunity to use that time positively.

Judge Nicholas Rowland sentenced Carter to six months in prison.

He said: Sophie Carter... I have no choice but to impose an immediate custody sentence.

I appreciate that your lifestyle is chaotic. The last thing I want to do is to have to send you to prison for these offences. I have given full credit for your plea.

I have much hope that now this slate is wiped clean that there wont be another one in the future. You need to sort this out otherwise you will go to prison for longer and longer periods.

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack stopped in Harrison County on Thursday, where he delivered an unclaimed property check to the Bridgeport Police Department worth $10,812.

According to Pack, one of the sections of unclaimed property includes gun auctions that are held by the State Treasurers Office to help local police departments.

Basically, get rid of the guns that they have. Sell the guns at auction, so they can get the money back to be able to use for their budget, said Pack. So we go through a real long process with the local police departments after the crimes been adjudicated, after all the case and everything is done.

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Pack stated that this process includes checking serial numbers, as well as ensuring that the guns work and that no modifications have been made. There are two on-site auctions that are held each year in Charleston, where federal gun dealers are able to come in and purchase the firearms.

According to Pack, the State Treasurers Office recently began implementing online auctions to expand its reach. With the advantage of online auctions is the gun dealers are from a larger part of the country, he added. They dont have to have the [expenses] to come in, so its all about returning money back to local police departments.

WVDOT website updated with maintenance project info

Pack told 12 News that this year, his office is returning about $500,000 to police departments all across the state. The money that was presented to the Bridgeport Police Department on Thursday is from a state auction held on March 27.

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The March gun auction raised more than $132,000, which was divided up among 18 law enforcement agencies across the state. They need the money, their budgets our always stretched, Pack added. So its a really good thing that we can help them with and were blessed to be able to do it, and anything we can do to help our local police departments is a good day.

Packed also said that the State Treasurers Office currently has about $400 million in unclaimed property for the state of West Virginia. This unclaimed property includes funds that belong to businesses, non-profits, and individuals.

It may be an old savings account you forgot about, said Pack. Its also coupons, its gift cards, its insurance policies, its refunds from hospitals. The money comes to us from a lot of different waysour job is to find the rightful owners.

This year, Pack stated that his office has already returned about $40 million to West Virginians around the state. He said that even if you think you dont have any, its important to check the State Treasurers Office Unclaimed Property website, because he and his wife recently received about $300 from various places due to being CPAs (Certified Public Accountants).

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Once you go to the website, Pack stated that you can enter your name and home address. After doing that, the State Treasurers Office will review your form and send something back to you via mail to let you know whether or not you have unclaimed property in the state of West Virginia.

Just a lot of different ways money can come to you. We wanna get it back to the rightful owners, Pack added. Its a program we worked really really hard on and love to be able to get more folks to do it.

Theres no statute of limitation on unclaimed property, according to Pack, so the money just remains in the State Treasurers Office if it never gets claimed. If theres something out there 100 years ago that your great-grandma hadif you can prove ownership, well give it to you, he added.

Its always good to be in Harrison County, its great to be able to help Bridgeport Police Department, Pack said. He also encouraged people to check the WV Treasurers website for any additional information and resources.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A former Capitol police officer was arraigned in connection to the death of Jaylen Lewis.

A Hinds County Grand Jury previously indicted Steven Frederick, Jr., and Michael Rhinewalt on one count each of manslaughter.

Two Capitol police officers indicted in Jaylen Lewis death

Court documents showed that Frederick was arraigned on April 28, 2025. His trial was set for July 21, 2025, and he received a $100,000 bond. During a previous court appearance, Rhinewalt also received a $100,000 bond.

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Lewis died after a shooting incident involving Capitol police on September 25, 2022. The indictment stated that Frederick and Rhinewalt did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, without malice, without authority of law and not in necessary self-defense, shoot and kill Lewis.

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), Frederick resigned in March 2023 shortly after being involved in a traffic accident while off duty. They said Rhinewalt has been on administrative leave without pay and has not been actively employed with the agency since January 2025.

Steven Frederick, Jr. (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Sheriffs Office) Michael Rhinewalt (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Sheriffs Office)

Rhinewalt was previously indicted, along with Jeffrey Walker, on two counts each of aggravated assault. The two were accused of using excessive force after a traffic stop on August 14, 2022, in Jackson.

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In 2023, Attorney Carlos Moore said Sherita Harris was in a vehicle that was stopped for running a red light near I-55 over near Fortification Street. Soon afterwards, a chase ensued, and Harris suffered a gunshot wound to the head. According to Moores investigation, he believes Rhinewalt shot Harris in the head.

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The family of a 16-year-old college student who died after taking a swim in a lake have paid tribute to their well-loved son and brother.

Valentine Ikechukwu got into difficulty while swimming with friends at Colwick Country Park, Nottingham, on one of the hottest days of the year on Wednesday.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 5.20pm after the teenager disappeared below the surface at the beauty spot.

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A police underwater search team assisted by fire crews launched a search for the student and his body was found at around 8pm.

In a statement, his family said: Valentine will remain in our hearts forever. He was a well-loved son and brother, and we are absolutely devastated as a family. Long live Valentine, forever 16.

He was a Nottingham College student and was well-liked amongst his friends. Words cannot describe what we are going through right now.

We would kindly request for privacy so that we can grieve as a family and try to come to terms with what has happened to our Valentine. He will be forever missed.

Emergency services were called to Colwick Country Park after the teenager was reported to have failed to emerge from a lake

Det Insp Gail Routledge, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: This was a tragedy where a young boy has lost his life. Our thoughts remain with Valentines family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

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While work continues to understand how Valentine came into difficulty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the devastating consequences of entering open water.

A file is being prepared for the coroner.

Fire brigade bosses have also issued a warning about swimming in open water when the weather is warm.

Group manager Tom Staples, of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: On behalf of the service, and personally, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the boys family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers of open water. We urge everyone to take care around lakes, rivers, and other natural bodies of water.

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Safety information and guidance are available on our website, and we encourage the public to familiarise themselves with it to help prevent future tragedies.

Cllr Sam Lux, executive member for carbon reduction, leisure and culture at Nottingham city council, which manages the site, added: This is an absolutely tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young person who has sadly died.

We will be working with Notts Police and Notts Fire and Rescue Service to understand the full circumstances of what happened but we join with them in highlighting the extreme dangers that open water such as lakes, rivers, quarries or canals can present.

As the current warm spell continues and as we approach the summer season we urge people to follow the guidance at Colwick park and other sites and not enter the water unless as part of properly supervised open water swimming sessions.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A road construction project that has caused slowdowns for years hit a major milestone Thursday. The I-15 Tropicana Interchange reopened with new lanes, ramps, and more.

The Nevada Department of Transportation said a major aspect of the project was getting it ready for a growing Las Vegas. To do that, they grew the roads. This includes new, three-lane on-ramps to the I-15, a wider Tropicana Ave with four lanes in each direction, and three-lane exits onto the road.

Kelsey McFarland, Public Information Officer for NDOT, said the roads were too old back in the projects Dropicana phase.

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Were hoping that this improves traffic flow for decades to come, McFarland said. We needed to improve this infrastructure that was built in the 1960s to accommodate greater population growth, and of course, this is a very busy intersection of Las Vegas with lots of big events happening nearby.

The projects manager, Dallan Affleck, said they took a multi-angle approach to the interchange, by trying to stop the need for future projects by also completing water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, among others, unrelated to NDOTs normal roadwork.

We do get a little bit of flak for the duration and the impacts that happen down here in Tropicana and in the area, Affleck said. So Im hoping that you can kind of walk with me a little bit and think of it a little bit like heart surgery on the city, when you pull open something, you want to get everything done.

Part of his reasoning  reducing the need for more cone-laden projects in the area.

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We cast a wider net because we wanted to make sure to get everything thats needed down here so that we dont have to come back, and youre not seeing some other project, you know, setting up with cones a year after we complete here, Affleck said.

While the utility infrastructure upgrades are harder to see, its hard to miss the wide roads.

Were going to see traffic moving a lot better now these days, and you saw the northbound off ramp go from four lanes to six lanes, McFarland said. That is a monster of an off ramp.

While this major part of the project is done, there are still some finishing touches, including widening Tropicana outside of the strip, and some striping on I-15. The striping is set for the middle of May, once its complete all lanes of will be back in use until some paving work in the summer.

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Los Angeles  Oscar Garcia of South Los Angeles is just weeks away from taking his last steps as a high school senior, and his first steps toward a college degree.

Garcia said attending college "means having an opportunity to get out of here."

It's an opportunity made possible through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

"FAFSA, man, they have a lot of issues," Garcia told CBS News. "It always gave me, like, some errors, or something. Yes, it was just pretty tedious."

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After a botched rollout of last year's FAFSA application under the Biden administration, it was delayed again this year, with students encountering error messages and glitches on the site. Making things more challenging were the unprecedented cuts to the Department of Education last month, impacting nearly half of the office of Federal Student Aid, which is responsible for managing FAFSA.

Garcia, who will be attending Los Angeles Trade Tech Community College in the fall, said he tried to call the Federal Student Aid Information Center for help "more times than what I can count. At some point I just wanted to stop."

Lina McCormick-Morin, deputy director of the Southern California College Attainment Network  an education equity group that seeks to help underrepresented students achieve a college education, helps low-income students navigate the FAFSA system.

"The process is really grueling," McCormick-Morin said. "It is genuinely like filing taxes and being audited at the same time."



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Thursday is National College Decision Day, which is the deadline for when most college-bound students have to declare which school they will attend in the fall.

McCormick-Morin has seen college dreams put on hold, as only 58% of eligible California high school seniors successfully submitted FAFSA applications for the upcoming school year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.

"It is difficult to see what is efficient about cutting the working capacity of any department that was already understaffed," McCormick-Morin said.

University of Southern California junior Stephani Jaramillo and California State University, Northridge junior Jose Pablo-Corona told CBS News they don't have safety nets  they only have FAFSA.



"I worry that without that help, I won't be able to continue my education," Pablo-Corona said. "So I'm pretty worried."



Jaramillo said that "for me, financial aid is hope, it's a stepping stone to reaching a potential future that I've been looking forward to my whole life."

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Now, both are concerned whether they will see their financial aid in time to complete college.



"Everyone chases some sort of American dream," Jaramillo said. "No matter what it looks like, some sort of, like, happiness and stability. For me, that's my education."



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LONG BEACH, Calif. (NewsNation)  Some industries are starting to feel the strain from President Donald Trumps tariffs, with truckers taking a particularly hard hit.

Layoffs have begun as United States ports experience a decline in cargo ship arrivals, resulting in less freight to transport across the country.

Pretty dire situations soon: Trucking CEO

Truckers, like others along Americas massive supply chain, fear the situation will only get worse.

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This year costs us money, this equipment costs us money, our chassis costs us money, our employees cost us money, electricity costs us money. So, after six months, I would say we would be in pretty dire situations, and thats just us, and there are hundreds of companies like us who would most likely be in a similar situation, if not worse, said Rudy Diaz, CEO of Hight Logistics.

Trumps tariffs explained: When do they start, and who is affected?

At Hight Logistics in Long Beach, California, the challenges are compounded by the companys shift to a clean fleet of more than 20 electric big rigs, each costing around $500,000.

Now, with far less freight to haul, the company started layoffs this week and cut trucker shifts in half. Similar cuts are happening across the industry, with some trucking companies reportedly shutting down altogether.

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The dire times have been triggered by the nosedive in freight traffic, specifically imports from China, nearly half of which are typically handled by the ports in Southern California.

20% drop in total imports expected: Report

The outlook remains bleak. The National Retail Federation projects a 20% decline in imports overall for the rest of this year and a monstrous dive of up to 80% in Chinese goods.

Even before the trade war escalated, California had planned to phase out sales of gas-powered big rigs by 2035. However, the Trump administration is now slowing those plans as it pushes to boost domestic manufacturing.

Trump ends Chinas de minimis tariff exemption on low-value packages

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The industry thats been moving towards a zero-emission fleet at great expense, and now to have this dramatic drop in volumes here, it couldnt have come at a worse time, as were carrying more debt-load as an industry than we ever have before, said Gordy Reimer, president of Hight Logistics.

Even so, operators are expressing faith and optimism that U.S. trade deals will be reached soon and that there will be long-term benefits from tariffs. However, they are working to diversify operations to survive.

Consumers, too, should brace for ripple effects as the trucking slowdown begins to impact prices and product availability.

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Donald Trumps plan to give women $5,000 to have children is a symbolic gesture which will fail to curb the United States crumbling birth rate, experts have warned.

The push for more babies comes amid decades of falling birth rates. The total fertility rate in 2023 was just 1.62 births per woman, well below the 2.1 required to keep the population even.

Mr Trump told reporters that a cash reward plan suggested by aides sounds like a good idea to me, while Elon Musk, who is thought to have at least 14 children, has previously warned civilisation is going to crumble if fertility rates do not climb.

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The USs pro-natal proposals are inspired by the rewards offered by a number of nations dotted around the globe, including Australia, South Korea and Hungary.

But policies have posted mixed results, with birth rates failing to significantly increase.

Gabriella Hoffman, the director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Womens Forum, questioned why the American policy was under consideration.

Ms Hoffman wrote on X: Baby bonuses have not worked for Hungary. Why would we replicate this here in [the US]?

Joseph Osborne, of US legal firm Osborne & Francis, said the incentives drawn up by the Trump administration risk becoming symbolic gestures.

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He said: Global evidence suggests that baby bonuses on their own are rarely effective in reversing declining birth rates.

Countries like South Korea and Russia have introduced generous financial incentives for over a decade, including cash payments, housing subsidies, and tax breaks. Yet, both nations remain among those with the lowest fertility rates in the world.

Russias birth rate of 1.41 is described as catastrophic by the Kremlin, while South Korea has recorded just one yearly birth rate increase in the past decade.

Mr Osborne argues, these policies often fail because they treat the symptom, not the cause.

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Figures from analysts LendingTree show the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is $297,674, the equivalent of $29,419.

This marks a 25pc jump in costs compared with 2023 when the total stood at $237,482.

Mr Osborne said: People arent simply having fewer children due to upfront costs; theyre making decisions based on long-term economic pressures, such as unaffordable childcare, stagnant wages, housing insecurity, and the lack of parental leave.

A one-time payment of $5,000 may help with early expenses, but it does little to shift these deeper structural realities. Incentives risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than sustainable solutions.

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In the US, maternity leave is inferior to other leading countries as there is no national statutory paid maternity, paternity or parental leave.

The Family and Medical Leave Act enables some employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave, but only 60pc of workers are eligible. States can pass their own maternity laws, but a postcode lottery as to whether mothers receive support has been a key factor harming the nations fertility rate.

Lump sums arent the solution

Oliver Chapman, chief executive of global supply chain procurement company OCI, said that while a cash perk may benefit parents in developing countries, higher earners are unlikely to be swayed.

In developed nations, a baby bonus has only tended to result in a short-term increase in birth rates, he said. Middle or upper-income families are much less likely to respond to this type of incentive, especially in the US.

0205 Income falls around the time of birth

Australia rolled out a $3,000 baby bonus in 2002, and while the fertility rate increased from 1.7 to 2 in the space of six years, it soon began to slump.

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By 2014 it had fallen to 1.5 and the policy was scrapped.

Stefania Marcassa, a professor of economics at Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, said: Studies suggest that while cash transfers can influence the timing and short-term patterns of fertility  especially among disadvantaged groups  their ability to produce sustained increases in overall fertility remains limited and context-dependent.

Rather than offer a one-off cash payment, demographics expert Paul Morland, believes the US should explore tax reliefs for parents.

Payments are part of the solution, however, doing things through the tax system is more effective, he said.

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A $5,000 payment is a lot of money to some people but tax relief is more relevant to higher earners and would benefit people across the income spectrum.

Tax relief, however, can come at a greater cost to government budgets, with France spending between 3.5pc and 4pc of GDP annually on a mixture of handouts, services and tax breaks.

Families with one or two children can shave up to 1,700 a year off their tax bills, while those with three or more can save 3,400. Means-tested childcare allowances of up to 810 and a birth bonus of 892 are also offered.

France is one of Europes most fertile countries, yet, since 2011, there has been a continuous decline despite the perks. The number of births recorded last year was the lowest since 1919.

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Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a demographic rearmament, with adults offered greater incentives to have children.

As France struggles to plug its falling birth rate despite devoting vast sums of GDP, experts believe Mr Trumps $5,000 incentive could be a mere drop in the ocean.

There are other ways to spend money on this, such as changing housing regulations to create more affordable homes  that might give the government more bang for its buck, Mr Morland said.

As for Britain, the fertility rate of 1.44 is even below that of the US.

The number of children born in England and Wales has been falling for the past decade and is at its lowest since 1977, while the average age of first-time mothers is at an all-time high.

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Women are thought to be choosing to prioritise careers or buying a house over having a baby, meaning many are having children later in life or not at all.

Despite the decline, cash lump sum incentives for adults to have children are not on Britains radar.

Figures published at the end of last year showed that the number of children born to British mothers has fallen by a quarter in 15 years.

Meanwhile, the fertility rate for foreign-born mothers has jumped to 2.03 children per woman. It means Britain has a reliance on immigration to boost its birth rate, according to Sarah Harper, professor of gerontology at Oxford University.

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The South Korean birth rate fell to just 0.72 children per woman in 2023, the lowest in the world. It recorded a 3.1pc jump last year but its unclear whether the governments pro-parent policy push is behind the rebound.

Economists believe it may be down to the mini-boom of babies born in the 1990s who are now reaching their early 30s and becoming parents themselves.

The country has spent over 200bn on baby-making incentives in the past 20 years, including state-sponsored dating.

A much more radical scheme under consideration would mean cash handouts worth around 56,000 per baby.

Elsewhere, Hungary is planning to grant mothers with one child an income tax exemption until they turn 30, while those with at least two children will pay no income tax for life.

In Spain a 2,500 universal child benefit introduced in 2007 and withdrawn in 2010 led to a 3pc increase in births, according to one study. But this did not provide clear evidence of a sustained increase in the fertility rate.

Meanwhile, another recent working paper found that a child-related transfer launched in Italy in 2022 had no impact.

With mixed results around the world, there is scepticism that a $5,000 bonus will work in the US. Rather than using a blunt tool cash perk, experts believe deeper-rooted socio-economic issues need resolving.

Mr Chapman said: I do not see Trumps latest policy reversing declining fertility trends and increasing the birth rate.

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U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, center, declares his candidacy for Colorado governor in the 2026 election alongside his wife, Susan Daggett, right, and their daughter, Halina Bennet, on Friday, April 11, 2025, at City Park in Denver.
The presidential administrations war on truth has continued full speed ahead this week, with Donald Trump calling for investigations into pollsters and media outlets over unflattering polls and pressuring Amazon not to notify customers how much his tariffs are increasing the price of products.

And these days, few people are being targeted in Trumps crusade against reality quite like Chris Krebs, his former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Trump and his administration have targeted him for having the gall to publicly debunk Trumps lies about the 2020 presidential election. Earlier this week, my MSNBC colleague Steve Benen highlighted Krebs outspokenness as he fights Trumps authoritarian executive order demanding that the Justice Department probe his time leading CISA. And then CNN reported Wednesday that the Trump administration has taken additional steps to make life harder for Krebs by pulling his membership in U.S. Customs and Border Protections Global Entry program, which allows people to re-enter the country easily.

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According to CNN:

Chris Krebs, President Donald Trumps former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, membership in Global Entry has been revoked. Krebs, who has repeatedly attested to the security of the 2020 election, told CNN he finds it hard to believe this isnt another act of retribution from the administration.

On Wednesday afternoon, Krebs received an email saying that his Trusted Traveler Program status had changed. He logged into the program and learned his Global Entry program membership had been revoked, he told CNN. Global Entry is the US Customs and Border Protection program that gives low-risk travelers expedited clearance when they arrive in the US.

Trump earlier this month stripped Krebs of any existing security clearance he may still hold since leaving office and ordered the Justice Department to probe the former official.

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Republicans have targeted CISA in their yearslong effort to discredit people who dispel disinformation and identify foreign attempts to manipulate Americans. The Trump administration has slashed millions of dollars from CISAs budget and vowed to establish new priorities.

If theres been one constant throughout Trumps second term, Id argue its his administrations angst toward truth-tellers  or, simply put, people whose adherence to facts undercuts Trumps political goals.

I think its fair to say we saw this when Trump blew up at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying Americans will eventually feel the impact from Russias war against his country. Weve seen this in Trumps aforementioned attacks on the free press and a private company that considered shining light on the impact of his destructive tariffs.

And now Krebs is the target of the presidents wrath for refusing to accept his warped reality as truth.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to clear the way for Elon Musk s Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans.

The emergency appeal is the first in a string of applications to the high court involving DOGE's swift-moving work across the federal government.

It comes after a judge in Maryland restricted the team's access to Social Security under federal privacy laws. The agency holds personal records on nearly everyone in the country, including school records, bank details, salary information and medical and mental health records for disability recipients, according to court documents.

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The government says the team needs access to target waste in the federal government. Musk, now preparing to step back from his work with DOGE, has been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud. The billionaire entrepreneur has described it as a  Ponzi scheme  and insisted that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending.

Solicitor General John Sauer argued Friday that the judges restrictions disrupt DOGEs important work and inappropriately interfere with executive-branch decisions. Left undisturbed, this preliminary injunction will only invite further judicial incursions into internal agency decision-making, he wrote.

He asked the justices to block the order from U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland as the lawsuit plays out.

An appeals court previously refused to immediately to lift the block on DOGE access, though it split along ideological lines. Conservative judges in the minority said theres no evidence that the team has done any targeted snooping or exposed personal information.

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The lawsuit was originally filed by a group of labor unions and retirees represented by the group Democracy Forward. The Supreme Court asked them for a response to the administration's appeal by May 12.

More than two dozen lawsuits have been filed over DOGE's work, which has included deep cuts at federal agencies and large-scale layoffs.

Hollander found that DOGE's efforts at Social Security amounted to a fishing expedition based on little more than suspicion of fraud.

Her order does allow staffers to access data that has been made anonymous, but the Trump administration has said DOGE can't work effectively with those restrictions.

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Elizabeth Laird with the nonprofit group Center for Democracy and Technology said wide-ranging access to sensitive personal data poses a serious threat. If DOGE gets a hold of this information, it opens the floodgates on a host of potential harms. It also normalizes a very dangerous practice for other federal agencies, she said.

The nation's court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trumps sweeping conservative agenda, with about 200 lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers.

Among those that have reached the Supreme Court so far, the justices have handed down some largely procedural rulings siding with the administration but have rejected the governments broad arguments in other cases.
After losing key legal battles, the Trump administration on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a federal judges decision protecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in Florida and other states from being deported while they sue the government.

The high-stakes appeal by the administrations solicitor general could have serious consequences for one group of Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status was set to expire in April under an order by the Department of Homeland Security. The same immigration protections for another group are set to run out in September.

Before its term ended, the Biden administration extended those deadlines until October 2026, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked that policy, leading to a lawsuit filed by Venezuelan immigrant groups in San Francisco federal court challenging her decision.

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In its petition to the Supreme Court, the administration argues that the court has no authority to review Noems decision revoking TPS protections for Venezuelans who fled the oppressive regime of President Nicolas Maduro. Despite the exodus of millions as Venezuelas economy collapsed, Noem recently found that those protections for Venezuelan immigrants run contrary to the national interest of the United States.

The courts order contravenes fundamental Executive Branch prerogatives and indefinitely delays sensitive policy decisions in an area of immigration policy that Congress recognized must be flexible, fast-paced, and discretionary, Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in the 41-page petition to the Supreme Court.

The petition was prompted by a federal appeals courts ruling in April that upheld the federal judges decision blocking Noems revocation of deportation protections for Venezuelans in the United States.

The appeals court in San Francisco backed U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chens decision rejecting the governments request to lift his stay of the revocation order. In March, Chen found that Venezuelan nationals with Temporary Protected Status in the United States could be irreparably injured if he did not put a hold on their deportations.

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Chen ruled that Noem had acted on broad generalizations and stereotypes when she revoked the deportation protections and work permits of about 350,000 Venezuelans benefiting from TPS.

It is evident that the Secretary made sweeping negative generalizations about Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries, the judge said in a 78-page order on March 31. Acting on the basis of a negative group stereotype and generalizing such stereotype to the entire group is the classic example of racism.

In April, administration lawyers asked Chen to put his stay ruling on hold so that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco could consider the order revoking the TPS extension issued by Noem in February.

The panel of three appellate judges ruled: Trump administration officials have not demonstrated that they will suffer irreparable harm if a lawsuit brought by Venezuelan immigrants challenging Noems order continues in federal court.

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Lawyers for the Trump administration argued that Noem has the exclusive power to revoke the Biden administrations TPS order for Venezuelan nationals in the United States and that the plaintiffs dont have rights under their equal protection argument to challenge her authority.

Government lawyers said Noems determinations are immigration policies rationally related to legitimate governmental interests and were not motivated by racially discriminatory intent, despite what Chen found in his initial ruling. They said the judges postponement of Noems order imposes irreparable injury to the executive branch and the public, asserting that Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members were covered along with other Venezuelan nationals by the Biden administrations TPS order in 2023.

Venezuelans who sued have provided significant evidence that TPS holders and their families would suffer irreparable harm if the revocation was allowed to go forward, Chen found.

In contrast, the governments contention that the public interest weighs in its favor is not convincing because the government lacks any evidence of national security harms, the judge added.

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His ruling, stopping the TPS revocation while the lawsuit plays out in his court, was a blow to the Trump administration. It has targeted Venezuelans as part of mass deportation efforts through several policies and argued that allowing people from Venezuela, in the midst of humanitarian and political crises, into the U.S. goes against American interests.

Days before he left office, President Joe Biden had extended TPS for Venezuela for an additional 18 months. But weeks into Trumps second term, Noem revoked the TPS extension for a large group of Venezuelans, effective April 7. The decision would have meant that as many as 350,000 Venezuelans, many of them living in South Florida, would have lost the ability to legally work in the U.S, and a few days later would have been vulnerable to detention and deportation. Another 250,000 Venezuelans with TPS would face the same fate in September under Noems policy, though that group is not affected by the case in San Francisco.

A group of seven Venezuelans facing deportation, along with an advocacy group named the National TPS Alliance, sued the Trump administration in the San Francisco federal court on Feb. 19, arguing that its decision to end deportation protections for Venezuelans is unlawful, politically motivated, racially discriminatory, and part of a broader pattern of bias against non-European, non-white immigrants.

The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
The Trump administration has been examining whether it can label some suspected cartel and gang members inside the US as enemy combatants as a possible way to detain them more easily and limit their ability to challenge their imprisonment, according to multiple people with knowledge of the deliberations.

The enemy combatant designation could also be applied to suspected narco-terrorists outside the US, the people said, as a way to potentially give the US a justification to conduct lethal strikes against them.

After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the US attached the label enemy combatant to anyone accused of being a part of or supporting the Taliban, al Qaeda, or associated forces engaged in hostilities against the US  and it used that sweeping definition to keep many of them in military detention on Guantanamo Bay indefinitely, without charge, trial, or judicial review.

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The discussions have revived a debate from President Donald Trumps first term in 2018, when he wanted to apply the label to all migrants who had entered the US illegally, according to two books written by former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor.

Lawyers and policy folks like me said that it was nuts and that theyd never meet the legal definition, and if we started treating migrants like terrorists it wouldnt just be a slippery slope  it would be a f**king mudslide into illegality and police state behavior, said a former Trump administration official who served at DHS during his first term.

One of the people familiar with the current deliberations said this time around, the administration was only considering ways to use the label against suspected members of the eight groups Trump has designated as foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

This hinges on the idea that they are designated terrorists, this person said.

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CNN has asked the Pentagon, National Security Council and Department of Homeland Security for comment.

The administration frequently tries to link migrants with terrorism. On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted on X that the National Counterterrorism Center identified 600 individuals with ties to terrorists who came through our borders illegally, claimed asylum, and under the Biden administration, were paroled here within our borders.

But several migrants the Trump administration has accused in recent weeks of being members of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, or other groups now designated as foreign terrorist organizations have denied having any affiliation with them.

Trump has expressed extreme frustration with federal courts halting many of those migrants deportations, amid legal challenges questioning whether they were being afforded due process. By labeling the migrants as enemy combatants, they would have fewer rights, the thinking goes.

No good faith legal argument

Legal experts say that applying the enemy combatant label to migrants deemed terrorists would not be the easy solution some Trump officials think it could be. There would be no legal basis for it in the first place, experts said, because the enemy combatant designation has only ever applied to the Taliban, al Qaeda, and associated forces.

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Its taking two distinct topics in national security law and hoping no one knows they are distinct, said Steve Vladeck, a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and CNN legal analyst. You cant just bend them together without recognizing their myriad substantive differences  there is no good faith legal argument here.

The label also wouldnt prevent migrants from challenging their detentions in federal court, even if it made it slightly more complicated because they would be in military custody.

Even if they were to designate all these folks as enemy combatants, it would do nothing to stop their ability to object to their detention if they are in the US, said Chris Mirasola, a former Department of Defense attorney in the first Trump administration and now a professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center. Mirasola said those individuals would still need to be afforded due process, even if it adds some more complexity and ambiguity to an individuals case.

But a former defense official who left DoD earlier this month said that likely wouldnt stop the administration from trying.

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Everything theyre doing is hunting for the one weird trick to make deportations unreviewable, this person said. Its a big game of whack a mole right now for the courts but they are whacking away.

One open question is whether someone labeled an enemy combatant and sent to El Salvadors megaprison CECOT, where the US has already sent hundreds of alleged gang and cartel members, would be able to appeal their detention and removal.

A view shows the Terrorism Confinement Center prison during a media tour in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on April 4. - Jose Cabezas/Reuters/File

While the Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay had the right to do so, its not clear whether that right extends to enemy combatants held anywhere else outside of the US.

Trump has been particularly frustrated by the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man the administration has accused of being a member of MS-13 but who was wrongly deported to El Salvador in March. His case has created a protracted legal fight between the administration and federal courts that have ordered his return to the US.

Concerns inside the Pentagon

Designating some migrants as enemy combatants could theoretically be a way to expand the US militarys role in arresting and detaining them, a law enforcement role that troops are currently prohibited from performing by law.

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But the discussions about it have deeply concerned some Pentagon and career executive branch lawyers, a person briefed on the deliberations told CNN. Its not clear where Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth might land on the issue, but two people familiar with the matter said some Pentagon lawyers would likely advise against it if it reached his desk for signature.

For one thing, it is not at all clear to DoD lawyers that the administration could reasonably argue that the enemy combatant label could even apply to members of groups like MS-13 or Tren de Aragua. It would also be legally dubious at best to argue that the US is in a protracted war with cartels and gangs on US soil, another legal hurdle the administration would have to clear if it wanted to label them enemy combatants.

When the US was holding people at Guantanamo during what the US termed the Global War on Terror, it was relying on the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force as a basis for its detention authority and arguing that the laws of war applied.

But when it comes to migrants on US soil accused of being members of gangs and cartels now deemed terrorist organizations, this is not an armed conflict or a war, said retired Air Force Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham, a national security law expert and law professor at Southwestern Law School. So legally, very straightforwardly, there is zero legal basis for the president to declare them enemy combatants.

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One of the former DoD lawyers said it does remain an open question, however, whether the administration could argue that the Mexican government is in a war against the cartels that has spilled over into the US, making it a party to an armed conflict.

They have total control over a whole nation, posing a grave threat to our national security, Trump said in March, referring to the cartels in Mexico.

A war at home

Trump has been actively socializing the idea that the US is at war with transnational gangs and cartels.

The cartels are waging war on America, and its time for America to wage war on the cartels, which we are doing, Trump said during his address to Congress in March.

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He declared earlier this year that at least one transnational criminal group and recently designated foreign terrorist organization, Tren de Aragua, is conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela, and invoked the Alien Enemies Act as a way to swiftly deport Venezuelan migrants without a court hearing.

The use of the Alien Enemies Act has been struck down repeatedly in the courts, however, including as recently as Thursday when a federal judge permanently barred the administration from invoking it to deport Venezuelans from the Southern District of Texas. But the administration successfully deported over 130 Venezuelans to El Salvador under the AEA before courts intervened.

More broadly, Pentagon lawyers have been concerned with the Trump administrations growing inclination to use the US military for public safety efforts traditionally handled by civilian law enforcement agencies and courts, one of the people familiar with the deliberations said.

Similar concerns were raised internally during the drafting of an executive order eventually issued by Trump Monday, which calls for DoD and the Justice Department to explore how military assets and personnel can be used to fight crime, this person added.

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Hegseth ordered thousands of troops to the southern border in recent months to help law enforcement agencies repel migrant crossings there, and earlier this month Trump ordered the military to take a more direct role in efforts to secure the border by establishing a militarized buffer zone there on federal land. As a result, troops can now apprehend migrants who trespass in that area.

Administration lawyers are more open to applying the enemy combatant label to suspected cartel and gang members outside the US, the people familiar with the deliberations said. That could give the US a justification to use lethal force against them, some officials believe, similar to how the US conducts drone strikes on suspected terrorists in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia.

The CIA has similarly been reviewing its authorities to use lethal force against drug cartels in Mexico, CNN has reported, and is already flying surveillance drones that are capable of being armed over Mexico.

Agency officials have been cautious about using assets traditionally going after what were seen as military targets now being employed against cartel targets, a US official previously told CNN. But the enemy combatant label could ease those concerns, one of the people familiar with the deliberations explained.

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Trump Administration cuts federal funding for local school district

LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  The La Mesa  Spring Valley School District is facing millions of dollars in federal cuts after receiving a letter from the Department of Education saying it plans to terminate funding it was granted two years ago.

I felt sick to my stomach. I felt helpless, said District Superintendent David Feliciano.

Feliciano says the grant was to provide a total of $11 million for critical health programs and resources. The district has already hired 30 mental health social workers and implemented programs to help children who need it. Theyre two years into the grant funding.

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Weve been able to create early intervention, responsive intervention, support for families, support for students, support for teachers, said Deputy Superintendent, Deann Ragsdale. We work side by side with their parents and their families, and we do intervention with the student and the teacher in the classroom and have been able to get childrens lives who have maybe really dysregulated behavior right back on track.

In the letter from the Department of Education it says the grant is inconsistent with and no longer effectuates the best interest of the federal government and will not be continued.

Feliciano says he plans to appeal and is reaching out to state representatives. If nothing changes, the funding will end at the end of the year and this could lead to layoffs early next year.

Its like the most basic critical services that are provided to families. I cant imagine anyone in the world that would have an issue with these services, he said.

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What happens to our babies when this is taken away. These are children. Why? Why would somebody decide that our children are pawns in a political game? Ragsdale added.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The United States has labelled the Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs in Haiti foreign terrorist organisations, a move that follows a trend under President Donald Trump of issuing terrorist designations against criminal groups in Latin America.

As part of Fridays announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the two gangs have spread violence and chaos in Haiti, where armed groups exert substantial control over much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over, Rubio said in a news statement.

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Haitian gangs, including the Viv Ansanm coalition and Gran Grif, are the primary source of instability and violence in Haiti. They are a direct threat to US national security interests in our region.

The Trump administration has projected a hard line against criminal groups in Latin America, often connecting those efforts to domestic priorities like stemming irregular migration and drug trafficking.

In February, the US also designated eight drug-trafficking and criminal groups as terrorist organisations, including gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Tren de Aragua and several Mexican drug cartels.

While such groups carry out acts of violence and intimidation, experts have typically differentiated between them and traditional terrorist organisations that typically have explicit political goals.

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The designation of foreign terrorist organisation makes any member of a given group inadmissible for entry into the US.

It also bars offering material support or resources to the group  an element of legal jeopardy that could inadvertently penalise individuals in areas where gangs are deeply embedded in the local economy and government.





But Trump and his allies have sought to up the ante against criminal organisations and cartels, blaming them for the flow of undocumented migration and illicit drug-trafficking into the US.

In the past, he and other Republican leaders have even suggested the US could carry out military strikes on countries such as Mexico to address the threat of gangs, causing alarm about possible violations of territorial sovereignty.

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While US-Mexico relations remain strong, critics fear aggressive moves  including the use of the terrorism designation for Mexican cartels  could undermine cooperation as the two countries address organised crime.

In Haiti, the threat of gangs is widespread. For instance, the Viv Ansanm coalition, whose name translates to Live Together, is thought to control as much as 85 percent of Port-au-Prince, preventing commercial flights from arriving and restricting necessary supplies like food and medicine.

With many Haitian civilians facing hunger, displacement and violence, critics fear the new designation could make it even harder to send necessary supplies to the country, given the need to negotiate with the gangs.

The first consequences will be on the humanitarian and international cooperation, which is basically the only thing preventing the people in Haiti from starving, Romain Le Cour, an expert with Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, told The Associated Press.

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Experts point out that the gangs often charge tolls for movement in and around their territory. The terrorist designation could make payment a criminal offence in the US.

It could function as a de facto embargo, said Jake Johnston, international research director at the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research.

The gangs exercise tremendous control over the commerce of the country, he added. Doing any kind of business with Haiti or in Haiti is going to carry much greater risk.

Gang control over Haiti has increased in recent years, particularly after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. His death led to a power vacuum, and no federal election has been held since, eroding public trust in state institutions.

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The gangs have exploited that vacuum to exert control. More than one million people have been internally displaced by the resulting violence, and the United Nations estimates that 5.7 million residents  nearly half the country  do not have enough food to eat.

Kenya has led a UN-backed international security mission tasked with bolstering local police as they combat the gangs. But that mission has been heavily reliant on US support, some of which Trump has frozen since taking office.

That task force has struggled to make an impact thus far, and in February, one of the Kenyan police officers was shot and killed as part of the mission, its first known death.

Sceptics have also questioned the efficacy of the international group, given the long and disastrous history of foreign interventions in Haiti, including by the US.

Trump has also attempted to scrap programmes like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole that allow Haitians to live legally in the US. An estimated 520,694 Haitians are protected under TPS alone. But under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security plans to fold the TPS programme for Haitians by August.
The Department of Education is investigating an Illinois school district for allegedly violating federal civil rights law through its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the Trump administration announced on Thursday, the latest sign of its opposition to such programs.

After four long years of the Biden Administrations tolerance for this kind of conduct, the American people returned President Trump to office to end this madness and enforce Title VI, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor wrote in a statement, referring to the law barring discrimination at federally funded institutions.

This Department of Education will not allow districts that receive federal funding to become safe spaces for racial segregation or any other unlawful discriminatory practices, he added.

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The investigation stems from allegations from Dr. Stacy Deemar, a white drama teacher who filed a complaint with the departments Office of Civil Rights

Deemar, with support from the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a conservative advocacy group, accuses the Evanston-Skokie School District 65 of a variety of instances of racism across teacher training and student activities.

These include the directing staff and students to engage in privilege walk exercises, in which participants step forward if they benefit from certain forms of identity-based privileges, as well as hosting specific discussion groups for staff and students with different racial and ethnic identities.

In an April complaint to the department from the foundation, Deemar said faculty had to undergo trainings when they were told that white people tend to dominate conversation by setting the tone for how everyone must talk and which words should be used, and white educators who actively disengage from conversations about improving the achievement of students of color and indigenous students are racist.

The Department of Education under Linda McMahon has taken on a prominent role in leading civil rights investigations (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The teacher also took issue with the districts Black Lives Matter-inspired curriculum and events, in which teachers were allegedly guided to teach students to understand that our country has a racist history that is grounded in white privilege, while others were told to read elementary school students Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham, which features an illustration comparing whiteness to a deal with the devil giving participants stolen land, stolen riches, [and] special favors.

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We are a diverse school district committed to equity and to ensuring that every child gets what they need and deserve to reach their full potential, district communications manager Hannah Dillow told The Independent. It remains our responsibility to meet every child where they are and to ensure continued growth. The District will continue to fulfill the intent and promise of equal protection and nondiscrimination embodied in the Constitution and our nations civil rights laws. The complaint misrepresents our Districts lawful and important professional learning and student-focused initiatives that are designed to advance the work of ensuring that ALL students have access and opportunity to a robust, high quality education.The District will fully comply with the OCR [Office of Civil Rights] investigation to help ensure a just and expeditious resolution.

Deemar previously accused the district of misconduct in 2019, prompting the first Trump administration to recognize her claims as valid, findings that were hastily suspended under the Biden administration, according to an April complaint from Southeastern Legal Foundation sent to the Department of Education.

In August of 2024, a federal court dismissed a related lawsuit from the drama teacher, with a judge writing that Deemar was not personally subject to racial staff affinity groups, not treated differently from others in terms of her exposure to the schools race-conscious lesson plans for students and teachers, and otherwise not denied any tangible benefits or targeted for negative treatment on account of her race.

She filed an amended complaint later that year.

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The Trump administration has made eliminating diversity policies and shifting the priorities of civil rights enforcement on campus a major part of its early agenda.

In April, the Department of Education threatened public schools with the loss of federal funding if they didnt certify they follow civil rights laws, a stance which the Trump administration argues includes abandoning diversity programs it sees as racist, though federal courts have so far paused this effort.

The department has also used Title VI to investigate scores of major U.S. universities for alleged campus antisemitism, part of the White Houses larger campaign against schools that saw prominent pro-Palestinian activist in recent years amid the Israel-Hamas war.

At the same time as the education department has taken on a prominent role in campus civil rights work, the Department of Justice, typically the most prominent arm of the government working on such cases, has seen a mass exodus of civil rights lawyers in recent days, as the DOJ reportedly has encouraged staff to focus on new priorities combatting antisemitism, transgender participation in womens sports, and what the administration deems woke ideology rather than areas like voting rights and police misconduct.

In a potential sign of things to come, the department this week lifted a long-running school desegregation order in Louisiana, one of many such consent decrees established in the wake of the Civil Rights Era.
The Trump administration labeled Haitian gangs Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as foreign terrorist organizations on Friday after notifying Congress last month about its intentions.

The move comes after the administration labeled several Latin American gangs, including Tren de Aragua based in Venezuela, as terrorist organizations. The goal was to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a law that gives the president broad powers to detain and deport foreigners, as justification to deport Venezuelans.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly smeared Haitian immigrants on the campaign trail and vowed mass deportations, and it now appears the administration wants to use the law to target them.

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A federal judge barred Trump from using the centuries-old law to expel foreign nationals on Thursday. The federal government sent approximately 260 men, the majority of them Venezuelan, to an infamous prison in El Salvador in March. The flights, which were part of a deal with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, took off before any of the men could see a judge, and they spurred a massive legal battle when it was reported that many of the men deported did not have any ties to Latin American gangs.

The situation in Haiti is grim. After President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021 and acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned under pressure in 2024, gang violence escalated dramatically, spreading from the capital city of Port-au-Prince to nearby towns and further out in the countryside.

In response, the Biden administration created a humanitarian parole program for four countries, including Haiti, in which migrants with sponsors could apply to live and work legally in the United States.

It was against this backdrop that Trump began fearmongering about Haitians who had settled in the country through the program, many of them opting to head to smaller, quieter towns in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, instead of more expensive cities like Miami and New York, where generations of Haitian immigrants have called home.

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After a Facebook user last September started a racist lie that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets, Trump and Vice President JD Vance spread the rumor far and wide and made up new ones, like falsely claiming that Haitians were responsible for a rise in communicable disease. (There was no noticeable increase in disease in Springfield.)

The rumors consumed the town, spurred bomb threats at local schools and spread fear among the Haitian community in Ohio and beyond.

Related...
The Trump administrations top health agency released an extensive review of transgender health care on Thursday, falselydeclaring that available scientific evidence does not support providing gender-affirming care to trans youth.

The 409-page review commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services promoted psychotherapy as a noninvasive alternative, which LGBTQ+ advocates have denounced as conversion therapy.

The new report contradicts decades of research and also challenges the guidance of major U.S. medical associations, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the American Medical Association, about established protocols for treating gender dysphoria among transgender youth.

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Gender dysphoria is the severe distress one feels when ones body does not align with ones gender identity, and it is the reason many trans people decide to undergo gender-affirming treatments like hormone therapy and surgery in the first place. Yet the HHS review instead proposes talk therapy to treat this condition in youth.

The review follows President Donald Trumps January executive order that threatened to withhold federal funding from hospitals and clinics that provide gender-affirming care to people under 19. The order instructed HHS to publish a report on best practices for treating children with gender dysphoria and asked agencies to rescind policies that rely on WPATH guidance within 90 days.

Now, HHS has provided that report, which it insists is not a clinical practice guideline, but rather intended for policymakers, clinicians, therapists, medical organizations, and ... patients and their families.

The evidence for benefit of pediatric medical transition is very uncertain, while the evidence for harm is less certain, the reports executive summary reads. When medical interventions pose unnecessary, disproportionate risks of harm, healthcare providers should refuse to offer them even when they are preferred, requested, or demanded by patients.

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The government did not disclose who compiled the research and cited the need to maintain the integrity of the process.

Our duty is to protect our nations children  not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya said in a statement accompanying the reports release. We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking at the Rx and Illicit drug Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 24. George Walker IV via AP

Critics of the report say that its purpose is to intentionally mischaracterize existing evidence about gender-affirming care, which shows the exact opposite of the HHS theory: When trans youth have access to these medical treatments, they experience low to no rates of regret and high rates of improved mental health and body image.

The agency itself admits in the report that research on harm is sparse and that evidence on the long-term health, psychological outcomes, quality of life or regret is very low. But still, the report touts the benefits of psychotherapy, including exploratory therapy, which it describes as helping children and adolescents come to terms with their bodies.

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Several LGBTQ+ and reproductive health organizations have denounced the reviews recommendation for psychotherapy. They see this as the agency trying to rebrand conversion therapy  a dangerous and long discredited practice built on the belief that being gay or trans is an illness to be cured  as an alternative to current medical treatments.

The ultimate goal of this report is to impose a political agenda in place of science and to insert the federal government where it does not belong  between healthcare providers and the families and patients they care for, Dr. Kellan Baker, the executive director of the Institute for Health Research and Policy at Whitman-Walker Health, an LGBTQ+ community health center, said in a statement.

Stephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff for policy, praised the report in the White House briefing room on Thursday, comparing the idea of being transgender to a cancerous communist woke culture that is destroying the country.

The report foregrounds itself heavily on an unscientific and discredited theory known as rapid-onset gender dysphoria, a claim that more and more adolescents assigned female at birth identify as transgender because of peer influence and social contagion. The theory was initially proposed by physician and researcher Lisa Littman in a 2018 paper. In a survey, Littman asked parents  largely recruited from anti-trans websites  to describe a process of immersion in social media and to link that with their childs gender dysphoria.

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However, a 2021 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found no such evidence to support the theory. That same year, the American Psychological Association and 61 other organizations of health care providers signed a letter denouncing the theory for a lack of rigorous empirical support for its existence.

While Littman later issued a correction updating her methodology and noting that rapid-onset gender dysphoria was not a formal diagnosis, the concept has gone viral in certain conservative corners of the internet. Littmans paper was cited widely in policies to restrict gender-affirming care in states like Florida and Texas, and now by the White House to further legitimize its attempts to restrict trans youths access to health care.

Trump called on Congress during his joint address in March to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalizing sex changes on children and forever ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.

The review released Thursday also repeatedly references the Cass Review, a similar report commissioned by the U.K.s National Health Service, which found that there wasnt reliable evidence for gender-affirming medicine. The Cass Review was published in April 2024, one month after the closure of the Tavistock Clinics Gender Identity Development Service, the U.K.s only national care service for transgender youth. Several trans health organizations and researchers said the review had significant shortcomings, questioning its scientific methodology and the appearance of discriminatory bias against trans people.

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The Cass Review, like the HHS report, advocates for the use of psychotherapy over medical interventions. Both reports argue that the practice is unfairly dismissed as conversion therapy and is the least invasive intervention for addressing psychological distress among trans youth.

Throughout the review, HHS maintains that with psychotherapy, a childs gender dysphoria will usually resolve without medical intervention, and that many of these children end up identifying as gay later in life.

But available science demonstrates that being trans is not a phase or a product of peer pressure. A 2022 study in the journal Pediatrics illustrated that the vast majority of trans youth continued to identify as transgender five years after coming out  and that stripping access to essential health care did not help trans youth grow into adults. In fact, trans youth face higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation than their cisgender peers. Research also shows that a lack of support by family and schools, bullying and harassment, and discrimination are the primary factors for poor mental health outcomes.

Other studies have shown that the rise in anti-trans legislation at the state level over the past five years could pose a public health risk to transgender youth. So far, 25 states have passed bans on gender-affirming hormones and surgery for trans youth, according to the Movement Advancement Project.

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By contrast, several studies suggest that medical interventions like puberty blocks and hormone replacement therapy can greatly improve mental health outcomes for transgender youth. A 2023 study in The Lancet found that when trans youth were able to access hormone therapy for two years, they reported a lower rate of suicidal ideation than the general population of the United States.

Many advocates see the HHS report as an expression of politics, not scientific evidence, and as the latest effort by the Trump administration to curtail access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

This report is clearly trying to build a case for conversion therapy, Dr. Aisha Mays, a California physician and board member with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.

Todays report is propaganda aiming to delegitimize the perfectly safe, effective, and evidence-based health care that trans people access to be who they are. Being transgender, just like being cisgender, is not a choice nor can it be reversed by any medical or social method.
Top state officials for attorney and judicial discipline spoke on Wednesday about the ways in which a 2024 constitutional amendment changed the process for disciplining state judges, the factors that stayed constant and the question marks that remain around specific rules.
Donald Trumps administration has reached a settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer on January 6, 2021 after joining a mob inside the halls of Congress.

Babbitt, 35, was wrapped in an American flag when a mob smashed through a window leading inside the chamber of the House of Representatives. Babbitt was hoisted up, an officer on the other side fired a single shot, and Babbitt fell to the ground.

A court filing on Friday confirmed a settlement had been reached after the family filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against the government last year. The terms are not yet public, and it is not clear whether the government is agreeing to a monetary settlement or any acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by a police officer during the Capitol riot (Twitter)

The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Justice.

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The death of Babbitt  an Air Force veteran and QAnon proponent who supported Trumps baseless stolen election narrative  emerged as a martyr-like figure among the presidents supporters, while Trump has repeatedly referred to her as a patriot.

Last month, Trump said he would look into whether the government should settle with her family.

Im a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, OK, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there  they even say, trying to sort of hold back the crowd, he told Newsmax last month.

And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think its a disgrace, he said. Im going to look into that.

Micki Wittehoff, right, Babbitts mother, had filed a wrongful death lawsuit after her daughter was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer on January 6, 2021, while she tried to climb through a broken window inside the House (Getty Images)

Trump also pledged he would look at at the governments decision to drop a case against Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police lieutenant who shot Babbitt. In April 2021, the Justice Department announced prosecutors were not pursuing criminal charges against Byrd after determining that the shooting was lawful.

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I think its a disgrace, he told Newsmax. Im going to look at that too. His reputation was  I wont even say. Lets find out about his reputation, OK? Were going to find out.

Her familys lawsuit claims she her hands were up in the air, empty, and in plain view of Lt. Byrd and other officers in the lobby.

Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone, according to the complaint.

The familys federal lawsuit was initially filed in California and transferred to Washington, D.C., last year, when the Justice Department under the Biden administration defended the governments position.

In footage from the Capitol attack, when thousands of Trumps supporters stormed the halls of Congress as lawmakers convened to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, Babbitt can be seen trying to climb through a smashed window while a mob surrounded the Speakers Lobby.

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Babbitt unlawfully entered the Capitol, government lawyers during the Biden administration wrote in court documents in response to the familys lawsuit.

A protester holds up a sign about Babbitt during a rally to support Trump in New York City (Getty Images)

She made her way to the east doors of the Speaker's Lobby situated immediately behind the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, the site of Joint Sessions of Congress, they continued. Although officers had barricaded the Speaker's Lobby doors with heavy furniture, demonstrators broke through the glass panels of the lobby doors and matching windows ... on either side of the doors."

Trump recently mentioned Babbitt while comparing the vandalization of Tesla dealerships to the Capitol attack, claiming that the damage to properties with Elon Musks company was far worse.

You didnt have anything like that on Jan. 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking, Trump said. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed.

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At least seven people died in connection with the attack, according to a bipartisan Senate report. One rioter died of a heart attack, another was crushed under a stampede of rioters, and another died of a stroke. At least five law enforcement officers died in the days and weeks after the riot, and more than 150 officers were injured.

More than 1,500 people were criminally charged in connection with the mobs assault, fueled by Trumps ongoing false claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him.

Trump issued full pardons for virtually all of them on the night of his inauguration, and he commuted the sentences of 14 convicted members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to time served.
The Trump administration has reached a financial settlement in principle with the family of Ashli Babbitt, a member of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer guarding the House chamber.

Justice Department attorneys and lawyers for the Babbitt family confirmed the agreement in court Friday, saying they hoped to iron out specific language and sign the settlement within the next 30 days.

The terms of the settlement and the estimated payout are not yet public, and neither the Justice Department nor Babbitt family lawyers provided specifics during the hearing in U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes courtroom. They did not respond to requests for comment.

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The impending payout to Babbitts family is likely to tear open lingering wounds on Capitol Hill, three months after President Donald Trump issued sweeping clemency to more than 1,000 people who stormed the Capitol. Babbitt was killed about 30 minutes after the mob entered the building. Three other Trump supporters died of natural causes amid the chaos and 140 police officers were wounded in the violence.

Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died after suffering a stroke the next day and several others died by suicide in the ensuing weeks and months.

The settlement news comes as the Justice Department has also argued in favor of refunding restitution payments made by some rioters  funds meant to cover damage caused to the Capitol  and shortly after Trump himself floated the notion of payments to rioters.

Meanwhile, members of Congress who fled the mob and several police officers injured during the attack are pursuing a lawsuit against Trump for his role in stoking the mob.

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Trump, who made common cause with Jan. 6 rioters early in his reelection campaign, forged a close relationship with Babbitts mother, Micki Witthoeft, in recent years. She was a visible presence at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. and at the Capitol during hearings related to Jan. 6 for much of the last four years.

Babbitt was among an early group of rioters that reached the doors of the Speakers Lobby, adjacent to the House chamber, while lawmakers were still evacuating. As members of the mob standing near Babbitt pounded on the doors and cracked glass window panes, outnumbered police officers stepped aside and ceded the hallway to the rioters. Moments later, Babbitt is seen on video attempting to enter the lobby through a shattered window.

Thats when Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd fired the fatal shot. Byrd was investigated and cleared by local and federal authorities.
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2021 President Donald Trumps administration has sued Hawaii and Michigan to try to stop them from filing lawsuits against major oil companies over the fossil fuel industrys role in climate change. Waikiki Beach is shown in this file photo.

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2021 President Donald Trumps administration has sued Hawaii and Michigan to try to stop them from filing lawsuits against major oil companies over the fossil fuel industrys role in climate change. Waikiki Beach is shown in this file photo.

WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trumps administration said today it is suing four Democratic-led states to prevent them from enforcing burdensome and ideologically motivated  laws and pursuing lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry over the harms caused by climate change.

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The U.S. Department of Justice, in a pair of lawsuits, argued that recent laws New York and Vermont adopted requiring oil companies to contribute billions of dollars into funds to pay for damage caused by climate change were unconstitutional.

New York alone hopes to raise $75 billion through its superfund  law, which the Justice Department called a transparent monetary-extraction scheme  designed to fund the states infrastructure projects with money from out-of-state businesses.

The Justice Department filed those cases today, a day after it launched two preemptive cases seeking to stop Hawaii and Michigan from filing planned lawsuits against major oil companies over climate change, cases the administration said would imperil domestic energy production.

Neither state had sued yet when the Justice Department filed its suit late on Wednesday.

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Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez filed the states lawsuit against oil companies today. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last year retained law firms to represent it in climate change-related litigation.

The litigation filed by the Justice Department Wednesday against Hawaii and Michigan said the intended lawsuits by the states constitute an extraordinary extraterritorial reach  that would unlawfully undermine federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and the administrations foreign policy objectives.

Numerous Democratic-led states have in recent years filed similar lawsuits against companies including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell and BP, accusing them of deceiving the public about the role fossil fuels have played in causing climate change.

The Hawaii complaint names those five oil companies and Aloha Petroleum, Phillips 66, Woodside Energy Hawaii, BHP Hawaii, Equilon, and the American Petroleum Institute.

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The 31-page civil complaint against Hawaii seeks to prevent each state from suing fossil fuel companies in state court to seek damages for alleged climate change harms,  according to a Justice Department news release.

The Justice Departments four lawsuits follow a pledge by Trumps campaign during the 2024 election to stop the wave of frivolous litigation from environmental extremists.

The Justice Department in the lawsuits cited an executive order that the Republican president signed on his first day back in office on Jan. 20, declaring a national energy emergency to speed permitting of energy projects, rolling back environmental protections and withdrawing the United States from an international pact to fight climate change.

These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our countrys economic and national security,  Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.

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The Justice Departments lawsuits said all four states are standing in the way of the administrations efforts to boost the domestic energy supply.

Trump recently directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to take action to stop the enforcement of state laws that unreasonably burden domestic energy development so that energy will once again be reliable and affordable for all Americans.

Hawaii intends to sue fossil fuel companies to seek damages for alleged climate change harms,  read the complaint that quoted a KHON news story about the intentions of state attorneys to sue oil companies. At a time when States should be contributing to a national effort to secure reliable sources of domestic energy, Hawaii is choosing to stand in the way. This Nations Constitution and laws do not tolerate this interference.

The lawsuit against Hawaii and Michigan and separate actions against New York and Vermont advance President Trumps directive  outlined Executive Order 14260, Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.

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These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our countrys economic and national security,  said Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in a statement. The Department of Justice is working to Unleash American Energy by stopping these illegitimate impediments to the production of affordable, reliable energy that Americans deserve.

The complaint alleges that these anticipated actions are preempted by the Clean Air Act and violate the Constitution  and that the lawsuits burden energy production and force the American people to pay more for energy, and make the United States less able to defend itself from hostile foreign actors.

Lopez, in a statement today, said that the state has an obligation to the people of Hawaii, to do everything in our power to fight deceptive practices from these fossil fuel companies that erode Hawaiis public health, natural resources and economy.

The federal lawsuit filed by the Justice Department attempts to block Hawaii from holding the fossil fuel industry responsible for deceptive conduct that caused climate change damage to Hawaii,  said Green.

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Gov. Josh Green pointed to the devastating climate-driven, wildfire-initiated disaster on Maui  that resulted in the tragic loss of 102 lives  and billions of dollars in damage.

This climate-related wildfire was the deadliest in United States history in more than a century,  said Green.

Civil complaints filed today in U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and for the District of Vermont challenge climate superfund  laws, alleging they impose strict liability on energy companies for their worldwide activities extracting or refining fossil fuels.

The laws assess penalties for those businesses purported contributions to harms  that those states allegedly  are experiencing from climate change.

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Attorneys general for the other three states did not respond to requests for comment.

The laws New York and Vermont adopted to create an industry-financed superfunds  are already the subject of ongoing legal challenges by Republican-led states and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which have sued to block the novel laws.

Lawsuits filed by other states similar to the ones Michigan and Hawaii intend to bring have accused energy companies of creating a public nuisance or violating state laws by concealing from the public for decades the fact that burning fossil fuels would lead to climate change. The companies have denied wrongdoing.

Many of the cases remain in their early stages after years of litigation by oil companies over whether the states could sue in state courts rather than federal courts.

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The U.S. Supreme Court in March rejected a bid by 19 Republican-led states, led by Alabama, to block five Democratic-led states from pursuing such lawsuits. The Republican-led states raised similar claims as the Justice Departments case.------------Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Peter Boylan contributed to this report.------------198 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our.

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National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is stepping down just weeks after the explosive Signalgate controversy, in which top Trump officials were caught discussing a sensitive military operation in an unsecured group chat that mistakenly included a journalist. Senator Mark Warner called it a holy crap on steroids breach to MSNBCs Rachel Maddow when the news first broke; security experts raised alarm; and after weeks of criticism, Waltz has been removed from that post, transferred to New Yo
President Donald Trump named a Tennessee woman as his first judicial nomination since returning to office for a second term.

In a social media post late May 1, Trump announced Whitney Hermandorfer as his pick for the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hermandorfer currently serves as director of the strategic litigation unit in Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office.

The sixth circuit covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. The court sits in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hermandorfer, if confirmed, will replace Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, appointed by former President Barack Obama, who last year said she planned to take senior status, a form of semi-retirement for judges.

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In her time with the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, Hermandorfer worked to defend the state's near-total abortion ban and challenged the ban on discrimination against transgender students.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti posted about Hermandorfer's nomination on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, calling her leadership a high bar of excellence.

"She has led not just teams of Tennessee attorneys but broad coalitions of states from across the country," Skrmetti wrote. "President Trump has selected a lawyer's lawyer for this important role. Whitney Hermandorfer's unwavering commitment to the rule of law, her exacting analytical rigor, and her unshakeable optimism will serve our country well.

Hermandorfer, Skrmetti said, will have big shoes to fill.

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"Her service on the Sixth Circuit exemplifies the combination of intellect, integrity, and kindness I expect Whitney will herself bring to the Court," Skrmetti said of Stranch. "Both are proud Tennesseans and proud moms, and both are outstanding role models for young attorneys and aspiring judges."

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, added to the praise for Hermandorfer.

"Throughout Whitneys esteemed career, she has demonstrated that she will be a fair-minded, principled jurist who will apply our nations laws as they are written and protect the constitutional rights of all Americans," Blackburn said. "The President could not have selected a better individual to be his first judicial nomination this term, and I look forward to swiftly advancing Whitneys nomination through the Senate Judiciary Committee and onto the Senate floor to get her confirmed.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman applauded Hermandorfer's nomination.

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Whitney was one of the brilliant advocates behind our lawsuit to protect womens sports, and her ability to see around legal corners led to key victories all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court," Coleman said. While I know our colleague, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, will be sorry to lose Whitneys talent, Kentucky is eager to have her join our circuit bench. Im proud to congratulate Whitney and her family, and we encourage the U.S. Senate to confirm her nomination.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: President Trump nominates Tennessee attorney as federal judge
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will join several nations in celebrating Victory Day on May 8, seemingly unaware that World War II only ended in Europe during that month in 1945  as America continued fighting Japan until August.

Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II, Trump wrote Thursday night in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform.

I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I, he continued.

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Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied forces on May 8, 1945, a little over a week after Adolf Hitler died by suicide inside his Berlin bunker. Russian forces had captured the German capital on May 2 after their former Soviet Union lost an estimated 24 million people to the war.

Victory Day is celebrated annually on May 8 by several former members of the Allied Powers, such as France, Poland and the United Kingdom (which calls it VE Day). Other nations, including Belarus and Russia, however, commemorate the end of hostilities from the Axis Powers on May 9.

Trump, who is reportedly eager to hold a 4-mile military parade on his birthday in June, argued Thursday in his post that the U.S. never publicly marks its wartime victories  and appeared to blame current or former leaders for this supposed lack of patriotism.

He wrote: We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything. Thats because we dont have leaders anymore that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!

Trump, seen here saluting during the White House Easter Egg Roll last month. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

Frustrated social media users have since pointed out that Nov. 11 would apparently no longer honor all U.S. veterans under this newly announced plan, however, as has been the case for 70 years now, and only be dedicated to those who served during World War I.

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Former President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 Armistice Day in 1919 to celebrate the end of WWI after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The date was officially replaced by Veterans Day in 1954 under former President Dwight Eisenhower.

Trump himself has never served and reportedly avoided the Vietnam War draft with a diagnosis of bone spurs in his foot. The daughter of the doctor who provided the diagnosis later said he had made that determination as a favor to his landlord  Trumps father, Fred.

The Victory Day announcement has sparked outrage and confusion on X, formerly Twitter.

We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. Trump is a complete moron, wrote former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, with another user asking: Why is Trump  erasing all post WWII veterans and their accomplishments.

This is Donald Trump's way of blaming OUR VETERANS for what happened in the Korean, Vietnam and Middle East wars.



He's stripping Veteran's Day from them because the U.S. didn't have clearcut "victories."



This is a vile move from a pathologically lying draft-dodger. pic.twitter.com/tdnVyAzXir  Stanphyl Capital    (@StanphylCap) May 2, 2025

Why does trump think he needs to rename everything? Changing Veterans Day to Victory Day for WWI is just stupid  Kelly D  (@KellDA) May 2, 2025

The 8th May has been marked as VE Day since before Trump was born. VE stands for Victory in Europe. There is also a VJ Day - Victory over Japan day in August.

As for the First World War, the idea that some Yank who refused to serve in the military, will command people around the pic.twitter.com/7gnE9329k4  Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) May 2, 2025

Trump is a dipshit simpleton. He doesnt understand that tens of thousands of troops were killed and wounded between May and August of 1945, so May 8th as Victory Day for WWII makes no sense from as a starting point.



Worse yet, changing Veterans Day to Victory Day for WWI pic.twitter.com/6oChSJjYeS  Alexander S. Vindman  (@AVindman) May 2, 2025

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Five-time draft dodging coward who refused to attend our fallen soldiers dignified transfers, Donald Trump, has announced he would rename Veterans Day as Victory Day for World War I in an attempt celebrate U.S. military victories.



Why does Trump have to mess with everything? pic.twitter.com/KvZFVieqrd  Ryan Shead (@RyanShead) May 2, 2025

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Finally. Due process for the Trump administration's immigrant detainees has been the single most important issue for the courts to address. While it was a relief that the Supreme Court weighed in with an order that all detainees must be allowed the right of habeas corpus, until this week, no judge had ruled on the underlying applicability at the heart of the policy: Trump's invocation of the 1789 Alien Enemies Act. On Thursday, a Trump-appointed judge ordered all deportations in his district to stop. Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a federal judge in Texas and member of the Federalist Society, ruled that it's ridiculous to define the presence of Venezuelan gang members in the country as an invasion or predatory incursion."

The judge admitted that he could not question the administration's contention that the Tren de Aragua gang is operating at the direction of the Venezuelan government (Trump's own intelligence community disputes this claim), so Rodriguez made the effort to delve into the archives to find how the law was meant to apply:

The historical record renders clear that the Presidents invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statutes terms. As a result, the Court concludes that as a matter of law, the Executive Branch cannot rely on the AEA, based on the Proclamation, to detain the Named Petitioners and the certified class, or to remove them from the country.

The Proclamation to which he refers is the one that declared the Tren de Aragua gang to have invaded the country and was therefore subject to immediate deportation. The judge wrote:

The President cannot summarily declare that a foreign nation or government has threatened or perpetrated an invasion or predatory incursion of the United States, followed by the identification of the alien enemies subject to detention or removal.

Thank you, Judge Rodriguez. The use of this ancient wartime power, which was only used three times before, and grievously abused in the case of the Japanese and Italian American internment, is an attack on common sense. Of course, we are not at war with Venezuela; the entire assumption is absurd, and the fact that our legal system has been dancing around it for months now is frustrating. Knowing how quickly the Supreme Court can act when it wants to, one hopes they will take up Trump's appeal very quickly and put this nonsense to rest once and for all.

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At worst, these gang members are common criminals, something the United States justice and immigration system deal with every day. But, as we've found out, some of these alleged gang members are actually just ordinary immigrants in the country, either legally protected or waiting for their cases to run their course. Trump's "deal" with the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, to lock these alleged gang members in a notorious gulag with no hope of a trial or any other due process makes the policy an even more grotesque assault on human rights.

It's worth taking a look back at how this thing got started. Unsurprisingly, it began with Trump's senior adviser Stephen Miller. The New York Times published a long piece a few days ago about the deportation agenda, noting:

Mr. Miller had long been interested in the Alien Enemies Act, a law passed in 1798 that allows the U.S. government to swiftly deport citizens of an invading nation. The authority has been invoked just three times in the past, all during times of war. He saw it as a powerful weapon to apply to immigration enforcement. The law allows you to instantaneously remove any noncitizen foreigner from an invading country, aged 14 or older, Mr. Miller told the right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk in a September 2023 interview, adding: That allows you to suspend the due process that normally applies to a removal proceeding.

You'll recall that as the campaign was heating up last year, Trump was having some trouble getting traction on his signature issue after he blew up the bipartisan border bill, making it clear that he did it purely for political purposes. President Biden had severely tightened up the border, so Trump was having to rant incoherently about numbers and statistics, but it just didn't have the juice it used to have. Until something happened that played right into Stephen Miller's plans.

A video went viral via the Rupert Murdoch media empire in August, with Fox News and The New York Post hyping footage of armed men in the hallways of an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. As New York Times reporter Jonathan Weissman recounts, it "metastasized into grandiose stories of whole buildings, whole sections of town and, in Mr. Trumps telling, the whole city of Aurora being taken over by migrants carrying weapons of war." It turned out that the story was made up by the slumlord who owned the building to excuse his neglect and some of the locals who had pumped up the story later recanted.

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But that idea of armed migrants carrying weapons of war was the hook Miller had been looking for and soon Trump was talking about the Alien Enemies Act at his campaign rallies, saying that the gang had invaded and conquered America, which he called an occupied state." He spent the rest of the campaign building up this idea of America being invaded by criminals.

When Salvadoran president Bukele came to visit a couple of weeks ago, he made the case for the deportations by suggesting that the United States was comparable to his country back in 2022, when it was called the murder capital of the world. He said:

[Y]ou have 350 million people to liberate. But to liberate 350 million people, you have to imprison some. That's the way it works, right? You cannot just free the criminals and think crime's going to go down magically. You have to imprison them, so you can liberate 350 million Americans that are asking for the end of crime and the end of terrorism.

The United States is not El Salvador, then or now. We are not at war with Venezuela or any country. Crime has been going down for years now, especially violent crime. (We do have a sickening amount of gun violence but that's the last thing Trump wants to curb, and it's hardly an immigrant problem.) 350 million Americans are not clamoring to be "liberated," at least not from some obscure street gang that nobody had heard of until Stephen Miller and Donald Trump made them into poster boys for their anti-immigrant crusade.

One would hope that the Supreme Court will rule that this misuse of the Alien Enemies Act is illegal, as anyone who can read English can see. If their past behavior is any guide, I'd guess it's going to be a while before they do it. But at least we have one judge, who nobody can claim is a biased lefty, finally saying the obvious. It's about time.
The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow President Donald Trump to roll back immigration protections for about 600,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S.

The emergency appeal from Solicitor General John Sauer is the latest of about a dozen expedited requests the Trump administration has brought to the high court in the past three months. The requests typically seek to immediately reinstate aspects of Trumps agenda  often related to his aggressive immigration crackdowns  in the face of preliminary adverse rulings from lower courts.

Thursdays appeal asks the justices to lift a court order blocking Trumps plan to curtail or end so-called temporary protected status, or TPS, for Venezuelan nationals. People who are granted TPS get protection from deportation and are issued work permits.

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Sauer urged the high court to allow Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to proceed with actions that would have resulted in some Venezuelan TPS holders losing their protection last month. Noem is also seeking to cut back an extension the Biden administration gave to other Venezuelan TPS recipients.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen blocked the moves in March in a withering decision that found Trumps rollback was based on racial discrimination and generalizations that many or most Venezuelans were involved in violent gangs. Chen, an Obama appointee, linked the administrations actions to inflammatory social media posts in which Noem painted the U.S. as besieged by Venezuelan gang members, whom she excoriated as dirt bags.

Sauer complained to the high court that Chen cherry-picked those examples and wrongly portrayed those comments as racially tinged.

Forceful condemnations of gang violence and broad questioning of the integrity of the prior administrations immigration practices, including potential abuses of the TPS program, do not evince discriminatory intent, Sauer wrote.

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Last month, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals turned down the Trump administrations request to put Chens order on hold while the litigation proceeds. Now, Sauer is making the same request at the Supreme Court.

If the high court grants the request and temporarily pauses Chens order, it would allow the administration to proceed with its plan.

Temporary protected status is a provision in immigration laws passed by Congress allowing U.S. authorities to halt most or all deportations to countries undergoing turmoil due to natural disaster, war or internal strife. Critics say the provision has been stretched beyond its original intent as some TPS designations have been repeatedly extended, in one instance for more than 25 years.

The Biden administration granted TPS to Venezuelans living in the U.S. in 2021 due to the political, economic and humanitarian crisis under Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.

Advocates for the Venezuelan TPS recipients will have until May 8 to file a response to the Trump administrations request, a Supreme Court spokesperson said.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to allow Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems containing sensitive personal information about millions of Americans.

Solicitor General John Sauer argued in an emergency appeal that DOGE has a legitimate need to access the data in order to advise the White House and federal agencies on updating technology and eliminating waste and fraud.

Musk has spread false or misleading claims about purportedly rampant fraud in the Social Security Administration. He has contended, with little evidence, that Social Security checks are being sent to large numbers of dead people or unauthorized immigrants.

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Sauer asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court order that blocked DOGE from accessing the sensitive data. Its the latest in a string of emergency requests  and the second in just two days  in which President Donald Trumps Justice Department is seeking quick intervention from the justices after lower courts blocked aspects of his agenda.

Sauer argued that a district judges injunction against DOGEs access to the SSA is an inappropriate intrusion on the presidents powers to manage the federal workforce.

The injunction involving the SSA does not merely halt the Executive Branchs critically important efforts to improve its information-technology infrastructure and eliminate waste, Sauer wrote. District court control of decisions about internal access to information also constitutes inappropriate superintendence of a coequal branch.

The data at issue in the case includes Social Security numbers, medical and mental health records, school records, immigration and naturalization records, bank account data and more.

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More than two dozen lawsuits have been filed against DOGE since the cost-cutting initiative, spearheaded by Musk, began its work. Several of those lawsuits allege violations of privacy laws stemming from DOGE employees access to data about government workers and the general public. Opponents of DOGE have also argued that the unfettered access provided to DOGE employees violates federal laws requiring all agency actions to be backed by a reasonable justification.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland blocked DOGEs access to SSA systems in March, although she permitted them to view data that didnt include personally identifying information. A different federal district judge also blocked DOGEs access to records at the Departments of Treasury and Education and the Office of Personnel Management, but the administration won an appeal earlier this month that restored its access at those agencies.
U.S. Marine Corps deployed at the southern border in San Diego, reinforce the US-Mexico border wall as pictured from Colonia Libertad in Tijuana, Baja Calif. state, Mexico on Feb. 5, 2025. Credit - Guillermo AriasAFP/Getty Images

On the day he took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution President Donald Trump began efforts to rewrite it, issuing an executive order purporting to end the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. This unilateral order presaged a series of alarming power grabs in the following monthsbeginning with immigration.

From the very beginning of his first presidential campaign to his second time in office, Trump has zeroed in on the issue of immigration, not just testing the bounds of power, but consolidating it. Indeed, in my opinion, the path to authoritarianism is being built on the backs of immigrants.

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As the head of a legal organization that advocates for immigrants, Im cursed with a front-row view of the framework that threatens to erode our democracy. While ostensibly targeting immigrants, what is being constructed is both the infrastructure and compliance that will facilitate a broader loss of rights for all Americans.

During the 2024 presidential campaign Trump and Republicans methodically scapegoated immigrants, laying the groundwork for an assault on constitutional checks and balances. Through photo-ops, political stunts, and fear mongering, they manufactured false crises (such as the baseless claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating dogs) to convince struggling Americans that immigrants caused their economic hardships and threatened public safety.

Leveraging fear and his mass-deportation agenda, upon taking office, Trump immediately began dismantling democratic safeguards. Legal scholars argue he has infringed upon First Amendment rights by arresting and attempting to deport student protesters, academics, and immigrant leaders whose opinions he disagrees with and whom he claims have made statements or engaged in activities that run counter to U.S. interests. Experts also warn that Trump has stripped these individuals of Fifth Amendment due process protections, revoking their lawful status without hearings or opportunities to present evidence.

Consistent with the patterns of strongman regimes, these actions seem aimed at terrorizing, silencing, and even disappearing dissenters, while creating a culture of intimidation that compels public compliance. And though the Trump Administration abruptly reversed plans to cancel thousands of international students' visas, this whiplash has made life more difficult, and disorienting, for many.

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Trump has created a new registry requiring millions of undocumented peopleeven those with pending immigration casesto provide addresses and fingerprints while carrying proof of registration at all times. Officials have detained a wide range of immigrants, including in some instances those with legal working status and even citizenship. This dynamic has created a cruel catch-22 which forces an impossible choice: register and risk immediate deportation, or refuse and become criminalized for noncompliance, destroying any path to legal status. The strategy deliberately manufactures fear and chaos while criminalizing communities.

This registration policy echoes historical atrocities that enabled severe human rights violations. In the U.S., forced registration led to Japanese American internment during World War II and profiling of male immigrants from 24 predominantly Muslim countries after 9/11.

Read More on Trumps 100 Days and Immigration: How America Became Afraid of the Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Trump has invoked wartime powers to expand his reach and suspend constitutional protections. Though many Americans might be shocked to learn that we are under invasion, Trump has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which authorizes the detention and removal of immigrants from hostile nations during declared war. A Trump-appointed federal judge recently rejected the use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants, but it is this legal precedent that facilitated the deportation of hundreds of people to a notorious prison in El Salvador with zero due process.

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One of those people is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father with legal permission to live in the U.S. Even though the Administration admitted to deporting Abrego Garcia by mistake, Trump is refusing to take any steps to bring him back, in open defiance of the Supreme Court and other federal court rulings.

Read More on Trumps 100 Days and Immigration: How the U.S. Betrayed International Students by Susan Thomas

At a White House meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, both countries leaders made the outrageous claim that they lack the power to fix this grievous error. Meanwhile, Trump is now publicly toying with the idea of deporting U.S. citizens to that same prison.

This may not be the end of Trumps use of the invasion excuse to illegally claim extraordinary wartime powers. In one of his first executive orders, Trump suggested that he was weighing whether to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act. His secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security reportedly will not, for now, recommend doing so, but the potential impact: mobilizing troops to round up immigrants in American neighborhoods.

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While the assault on immigrants demands our concern, we must also recognize it as the opening step toward dismantling everyone's rights. If we continue to normalize disappearances, silence foreign students, and carry out detention without charges or trial, applying these tactics to political opponents who are citizens will require little extension. And if military forces kick in your neighbor's door, the moment to speak without fear will have already passed.

Trump is counting on fear to command our silence. Rather than acquiesce, we must speak up to defend our increasingly fragile democracy before it vanishes entirely.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Employees at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation who observe misconduct and don't report it could be in for problems of their own under a bill now heading to the governor's desk.
President Donald Trump encouraged college graduates to break the system while bragging that top internet executives like billionaire Elon Musk initially hated me in my first term, and now theyre kissing my ass.

If you look at some of these internet people, I know so many of them, Elon is so terrific. But I know, now all of them, you know they all hated me in my first term, and now theyre kissing my ass. Its true. All of them. Its true, he said to applause before graduating students at the University of Alabama Thursday night.

Its amazing. Its nicer this way, he added.

Trump says 'internet people,' including Musk, are 'kissing my ass' after hating him in earlier term. pic.twitter.com/AmjMvi548i  Viory Video (@vioryvideo) May 2, 2025

Musk became one of Trumps most powerful advocates and closest advisers in the White House after reportedly donating $288 million towards Trump and other Republican candidates ahead of last Novembers election, which was the highest amount spent by anyone.

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This follows Musk dismissing Trump as too old to be president back in 2022 and reportedly calling Trump a fucking moron behind his back while touring the White House after Trumps first win, according to Politico.

Fellow tech CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who owns Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta, has also leaped closer to Trump after initially butting heads with him ahead of his second White House win.

Elon Musk is seen wearing a hat reading "Trump was right about everything" during a Cabinet meeting with the president at the White House in March. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images

Trump repeatedly took swings at Facebooks establishment of third-party fact-checkers and filed a lawsuit over his social media accounts being suspended by Meta after the violent 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Meta went on to donate $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund in December and in January it announced the abolishment of its fact-checking program and an agreement to pay Trump $25 million over his suspended accounts.

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Both Musk and Zuckerberg were often seen front and center during Trumps last inaugural events, along with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com Inc., and Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc., had front-row seats during Trump's 2025 inauguration in Washington. Bloomberg via Getty Images

A senior Trump administration official back in January called Zuckerbergs efforts to appease Trump a good start, but said more puckering up is needed.

There is a lot more ass-kissing that needs to be done, the official told Rolling Stone. He just needs to prove himself. Its a good start, but he cant just snap his fingers and make the past not happen.

Related...
MADISON - The White House border czar warned Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers over his guidance to state workers who encounter federal immigration officials on the job, suggesting the Democratic governor could face felony charges if the Trump administration believes its immigration efforts are impeded.

The comments came after Evers said his administration would not stop U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from carrying out their deportation orders.

Tom Homan, known as President Donald Trump's "border czar," told reporters gathered at the White House to "wait to see what's coming" when asked about Evers' April memo to state workers directing them to seek legal counsel when ICE officers visit state facilities and not to turn over any documents or other items without an Evers administration attorney present.

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"I meant what I said, you can not support what we're doing, and you can support sanctuary cities if that's what you want to do, but if you cross that line to impediment or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that's a felony and we're treating it as such," Homan told reporters May 1.

In a three-minute-long speech responding to Homan, Evers said his guidance did not direct anyone to break the law and was mischaracterized by Republicans. He described Homan's threat as "chilling."

"We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official, or even everyday American citizens who have broken no laws, committed no crimes and done nothing wrong," Evers said. "And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I'm not afraid."

Meanwhile, a White House spokesman said Homan "neither threatened nor predicted criminal charges against anyone."

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"As always, Democrats are drumming up hysteria. Tom Homan stated an objective fact: impeding law enforcement or knowingly harboring illegal aliens are crimes," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

Homan's warning to Evers comes after federal authorities arrested a Milwaukee County judge on April 25 and charged her with two federal counts accusing her of impeding immigration enforcement. Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of leading Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant charged with battery, through a door to a non-public hallway. Immigration agents arrested him outside the courthouse soon after.

Yesterday, a top Trump Administration official made an apparent threat to arrest me.



Heres my message to Wisconsinites. I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch. https://t.co/HUCx2vCJXU  Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) May 2, 2025

A spokeswoman for the White House did not immediately react to Evers' new comments or say whether Evers is under investigation because of the April memo to state workers.

Evers issued a memo to state agency employees about handling encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities. The guidance requires staff to contact the agency's legal counsel if ICE officers visit a state building and to ask the officers to return at another time if a staff attorney is unavailable.

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The memo also tells staff to refuse to hand over paper files or give ICE officers access to computer systems without consulting their agency's legal counsel, even if the officers have a warrant. It also tells staff not to answer questions and not to allow ICE officers to access non-public areas.

"The goal of this guidance was simple  to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws. Nothing more, nothing less," Evers said in his response to Homan.

"I haven't broken the law, I haven't committed a crime, and I've never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes," he said.

Wisconsin Republican lawmakers have asked Evers to rescind the guidance, characterizing it as a move to "impede the work of federal authorities." At least one GOP lawmaker has repeatedly called for Evers to be arrested, at one point posting to social media an AI-generated image depicting Trump arresting Evers.

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"... stick him in the same cell as the Milwaukee judge!" Rep. Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk, posted on X with a copy of the guidance attached to the tweet.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier, "Kind of running the fine line there, isn't it?"

But Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said in a recent interview he's "surprised this has received as much pushback as it has."

Kaul said advising state employees to get an attorney involved before interacting with ICE officers is "a reasonable thing that I think anybody would suggest in this circumstance."

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Kaul said attorneys' involvement would ensure private information of state citizens isn't released in the process and described the pushback as an effort to "politicize a common-sense move from the Evers administration."

Democratic state Sen. LaTonya Johnson of Milwaukee called Homan's comments "outrageous."

"Threatening to arrest a sitting governor for briefing his staff on their legal rights is outrageous," she posted on X.

Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

(This story was updated to add a response from the White House.)

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump border czar Tom Homan warns Gov. Tony Evers over ICE guidance
President Donald Trump had a bonkers proposal for graduating business majors on Thursday during his commencement address at the University of Alabama.

I challenge you not merely to use your talents for financial speculation but to apply your great skills that youve learned and had to forging the steel and pouring the concrete of new American factories, plants, shipyards, and even cities which are going up all over our country, the president declared.

Trump  who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an economics degree  added that business students shouldnt just build a strong portfolio but they should also build a very, very strong America.

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He went on to suggest how future engineers, technicians, mathematicians  and even journalists  could contribute to building a better America before pivoting to talk of border security and a need for fair elections, someofthepoliticalasides and ramblings he inserted throughout his speech.

Elsewhere in a speech met with hundreds of protesters outside, Trump ranted about political foes, spoke of internet people who hated him but now kiss his ass, remarked on real estate developer William Levitt having a trophy wife, and mused about tariff as the most beautiful word in the world.

Trump: "For the business majors here today, I challenge you not merely to use your talents for financial speculation, but to apply your great skills that you've learned and had to forging the steel and pouring the concrete of new American factories, plants, shipyards, and even pic.twitter.com/vqf5wytebM  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 2, 2025

Social media users were puzzled or amused by the presidents call to action for graduates.

Use your business degree to pour concrete?  The Great Gig in the Sky (@thegreatgig8) May 2, 2025

Yeah, that's why they all went to college.  Beth in Wisconsin (@mynameisBethS) May 2, 2025

, hes telling Alabama graduates to forget the office, youre going to be on the yard doing hard labor for me 



And the kids dont even know it.  https://t.co/siqscoBUbl  Crosby Tatum (@crosbyt123) May 2, 2025

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A great future awaits. Business majors forging steel and pouring concrete. Bet they were thrilled. https://t.co/LTppI7k0qk  Rick Petree (@RickPetree) May 2, 2025

Trump telling business majors to pour concrete and build factories is rich coming from a guy who outsourced his own merchandise and went bankrupt running casinos.



Real economic leadership isnt about slogans, its about investing in workers and incentivizing them to do  Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) May 2, 2025

Did I understand that correctly? All those students who went into debt for college are now supposed to go work in factories or take blue-collar jobs. Theres nothing wrong with those professions, but he basically just told them their degrees are useless.  JT (@escapeeJT) May 2, 2025

kids want tech AI and the computer dev golden era. They could care less about a factory. Its no longer 1929  Echo tone Music (@EcHoToNe) May 2, 2025

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So imagine going thru 4 years of college and the president of the United States is telling you to ready to work in the factories and warehouse that generation are going build those beautiful iPhones made in America.  Dj Omega Mvp (@DjOmegaMVP) May 2, 2025

Related...
President Donald Trumps proposed budget looks to end the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and Gateway space station central to NASAs existing Artemis program  but only after a successful moon landing as the nation remains in a race with China.

A preliminary overview of the White Houses planned 2026 discretionary budget released Friday dubbed SLS and Orion as grossly expensive and delayed, citing that each launch costs the government $4 billion and the program overall is 140% over budget.

Its among billions in cuts for the overall $18.8 billion proposed budget for NASA, which for the current fiscal year is nearly $25 billion. Ultimately, Congress will pass a budget and it often counters presidential proposals.

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The Trump administration looks to drop funds toward Artemis future launches by $879 million with a goal of ending them after the Artemis III flight.

The budget funds a program to replace SLS and Orion flights to the moon with more cost-effective commercial systems that would support more ambitious subsequent lunar missions, the White House proposal stated. The budget also proposes to terminate the Gateway, a small lunar space station in development with international partners, which would have been used to support future SLS and Orion missions.

NASA flew the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission that orbited the moon in 2022 and has its first crewed mission, Artemis II, gearing up to fly around the moon no later than April. Artemis III, still on NASAs calendar for summer 2027, would return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

NASAs Office of the Inspector General in 2023 raised the red flag of rising costs of SLS and Orion, noting that by the time it manages to fly Artemis III the program would have topped $93 billion. That includes billions more than originally announced in 2012 as years of delays and cost increases plagued the lead-up to Artemis I.

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Even nearly two years ago the audit said NASA should consider alternatives.

Although the SLS is the only launch vehicle currently available that meets Artemis mission needs, in the next 3 to 5 years other human-rated commercial alternatives that are lighter, cheaper, and reusable may become available, the audit said. Therefore, NASA may want to consider whether other commercial options should be a part of its mid- to long-term plans to support its ambitious space exploration goals.

That includes heavy-lift rockets such as Blue Origins New Glenn that flew for the first time early this year as well as the in-development SpaceX Starship that has made several suborbital test flights.

To that end, the Trump budget proposal looks to keep the human exploration budget the highest line item with more than $7 billion  including $1 billion in new investments to pursue Mars-focused programs.

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Thats the only program with a proposed increase.

The biggest loser in the proposed budget is space science with cuts of more than $2.2 billion followed by more than $1.1 billion in cuts to Earth science, mission support and more than $500 million from space technology.

In line with the administrations objectives of returning to the moon before China and putting a man on Mars, the budget would reduce lower priority research and terminate unaffordable missions such as the Mars Sample Return mission that is grossly overbudget and whose goals would be achieved by human missions to Mars, the proposal stated.

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The de minimis gravy train has come to a halt for China-based retailers and sellers.

At 12:01am on Friday, the trade exception (which has allowed shipments worth $800 or less to enter the country duty-free) was eliminated for packages coming from China.

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A key tenet of the business models of companies like Shein and Temu, as well as vendors on platforms like Amazon that drop-ship from overseas factories to consumers doorsteps, the trade rule, often referred to by detractors as a loophole, facilitates the importation of about 4 million packages per day into the U.S. market.

In 2024, 1.36 billion parcels entered the country duty free under de minimis, and at least half of them hailed from China.

Theres been much debate and confusion about what this will mean for shoppers, as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and express shippers like FedEx, UPS and DHL, which handle high volumes of de minimis parcels. Now, most of the packages that would have once utilized de minimis will be subject to a Type 11 informal entry process. Shipments worth $2,500 or less will be subject to more rigorous examination, including more data requirements that help Customs determine the appropriate duty rate.

The stumbling block for Chinese brands or shippers currently utilizing de minimis may be the import requirement of the 10-digit HTSUS code, which classifies an item and stipulates its duty rate. Identifying the proper code is essential to calculating the amount an importer must pay in tariffs, but the companies that have relied on de minimis are unlikely to have a process in place for effectively determiningor disseminatingthat information.

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The commercial model of many low-cost marketplaces is no longer viable, said Ram Ben Tzion, founder of Ultra Information Solutions. I would imagine that come May 3, we will see many additional disruptions to service.

Now, it will become the carriers responsibility to compile the relevant information for Customsa task theyre surely not accustomed to. This is a huge, huge, huge transition, Ben Tzion said. So now for millions of packages a day, all of a sudden, the responsible entity is going to be the carriers. Theyre not equipped, theyre not structured, theyre not informed to enforce this.

But according to the founder, whose firm is behind digital shipment vetting platform Publican, There are winners to this de minimis game.

The short-term beneficiaries of the China de minimis ban will be big retail outlets, he believes. Walmart is a huge winner. They have an online outlet that can compete with Amazon, that can compete with Temu, compete with Sheinbut they already have the mechanism in place to import and distribute goods through its e-commerce marketplace.

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If youre now Walmart, all of a sudden, your online marketplace will become something super valuable and relevant. You import by container, you distribute to the end consumers. You can still bring stuff from China the same way you did last weeksomething that the small shops on Temu or Shein cannot offer. So its a huge advantage for them.

Another groupAmerican textile producershas also been waiting with bated breath for the trade exception to expire.

We are grateful to President Trump and his administration for closing the destructive de minimis loophole that has allowed unsafe and illegal Chinese goodsincluding goods made with forced laborto flood the U.S. market duty-free and largely unchecked for years, said National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) president and CEO Kim Glas.

This loophole, largely exploited by Chinese e-commerce giants and others to skirt U.S. tariffs, regulations and laws, has contributed to the closure of 28 textile mills in the past 22 months, she added. Todays action by the administration is an important step forward to help rebalance the playing field for American manufacturers, preserve good-paying American manufacturing jobs, spur more investment and innovation in manufacturing facilities here at home, and close the backdoor to China once and for all.

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NCTO is also urging the administration and Congress to end de minimis for shipments originating in all countries.

Parkdale Mills chairman and CEO Anderson Warlick said, The de minimis loophole has impacted our businesses and our workforce significantly, given that [r]oughly half of de minimis shipments contain textile and apparel products which get an unfair competitive advantage at our expense.

The de minimis loophole has wreaked havoc on the U.S. textile industry by enabling duty-free access for massive volumes of fast fashion imports, largely from China. This policy undermines American manufacturers who play a critical role in our national security and industrial resilience, said Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and founder of Ohio-based MMI Textiles.

The mill employs 39 workers directly and 21 more through its other operations, and with a robust contract manufacturing network, MMI also supports hundreds of jobs across the U.S. supply chain, she said.

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The U.S. textile industry is vital to our nations industrial base, supplying the U.S. armed forces with uniforms and gear and producing lifesaving PPE during the pandemic. Despite these contributions, the current de minimis threshold has created an unfair advantage for foreign competitors, particularly China, by allowing them to bypass duties and flood the market with underpriced goodsat the direct expense of American jobs, she added.

Ron Sytz, CEO of fabric mill Beverly Knits, said he was thankful that the administration opted to close the door on duty-free China-made imports.

This loophole has been devastating to my familys 44-year-old textile manufacturing business in Gastonia, North Carolina, forcing us to lay off 175 workers and significantly reduce capacity in our plants, he said. We cant compete against subsidized imports from China that enter the U.S. duty free through the de minimis loophole.

With todays ban, though, Sytz believes the company will once again have a level playing field that will allow us to expand, invest and hire more associates here in the United States.
The Donald Trump era has cost the District of Columbia thousands of jobs , blown a billion-dollar hole in its budget and caused a downgrade of the citys AAA bond rating .

Now Trumps interim U.S. Attorney, Ed Martin, is coming for the capitals weed, too  and threatening to upend a tacit agreement where federal prosecutors have respected Washingtons local marijuana laws.

The opening salvo came via a letter from Martin to a D.C. medical-marijuana vendor. Your dispensary appears to be operating in violation of federal law, he wrote, and the Department of Justice has the authority to enforce federal law even when such activities may be permitted by local laws. So much for the stores legal license.

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Its a turn of events that ought to petrify anyone who thinks Washingtons deep-blue local electorate should be free to choose permissive blue-state rules.

But its very on-brand for Martin. A longtime anti-abortion activist who previously represented Jan. 6 defendants, hes been at the center of constant culture-war controversies ever since Trump made him D.C.s top federal prosecutor in January.

In that short period, Martin has been in the headlines over his numerous appearances on Kremlin propaganda TV , his demotions of prosecutors who handled January 6 cases , his threatening legal letters to Congressional Democrats and his hostile notes to medical

journals demanding details about alleged bias.

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The cannabis letter, in fact, has gotten scant attention because it wasnt even Martins most controversial new episode of the week. Or, for that matter, the day. It arrived right after he sent a letter to the nonprofit that governs Wikipedia , questioning the organizations tax status and demanding details about editorial practices  and right before the Washington Post unearthed a video that cast doubt on Martins claim that he hadnt known about the Nazi history of a Jan. 6 pardon recipient he had previously praised .

In the Senate, Democrats have demanded a rare hearing in an effort to stop Martin from holding the job permanently. On Wednesday, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis added his voice to the chorus , saying he was concerned about Martins public comments . Tillis sits on the Judiciary Committee, which must vote on the nomination by late this month. My colleague Jordain Carney reported last night that the nomination could be on thin ice .

Any hearing would surely focus more on Martins national political blow-ups than on cannabis in the capital. But its worth paying attention to that issue because pot scrambles Americas usual ideological alignments  and because its one place where the U.S. Attorney impacts Washingtons bipartisan political class. In my experience, plenty of conservatives avail themselves of the citys marijuana rules, too.



The current drama began April 24, when Martin weighed in on a dispute involving a licensed medical-marijuana dispensary known as Green Theory, located in the citys leafy Palisades neighborhood. The store has been in a longstanding spat with local parents who think it is too close to their kids schools. Martin agrees with the parents.

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Retail zoning, to put it mildly, is not the kind of thing federal officials typically handle. Its the ultimate City Hall issue. And in this case, City Hall had already decided on behalf of the store.

That didnt stop Martin. I am concerned that you are in violation of federal laws, which are intended to protect children, he wrote to Green Theorys owners, noting that his office had the power to enforce those laws no matter what the local government said.

But it was the other language in the letter that set off alarms.

As you likely know, there are numerous federal laws governing and even prohibiting the distribution and possession of marijuana, including provisions of the controlled substances act, Martin told the dispensarys owners. Persons and entities owning, operating, or facilitating such dispensaries  may be subject to criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions.

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In other words: Pretty much any store, or even their landlord, could be in hot water for doing something thats legally permitted, and increasingly common.

Under longstanding, bipartisan federal budget provisions , feds cant prosecute people abiding by state-level medical marijuana rules. Unfortunately for Green Theory, D.C. isnt a state  and Martin, unlike every other U.S. attorney, is in charge of prosecuting its street-level crimes. Which means his saber-rattling about controlled substances isnt just boilerplate culture-warrior rhetoric.

I think that letter is about the federal government attempting to go after home rule and take away my rights, said Pamela Wexler, an attorney who works closely with cannabis businesses in Washington.

Frankly, going after folks is chilling, said David Grosso, a former city councilmember who wrote many of the D.C. laws governing the industry. We are always more vulnerable.

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The administration has thus far avoided tangling with quasi-legal weed around the country, possibly because it is popular with chunks of Trumps base. The nations capital, though, may be an exception. In a fact sheet accompanying the presidents March 27  Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful  executive order, the White House specifically cited marijuana decriminalization as one of D.C.s failed policies.

We should expect federal law to be abided by, and well take a look at any situation where theres questions, Martin told me in an email. If the law is broken, were going to look closely at it.



Martin said that anybody who is selling marijuana better have a license and everything in order, otherwise we will pursue action against them, which suggests that he wont come after duly permitted dispensaries willy-nilly. But it was cold comfort to medical-marijuana advocates, who noted that Green Theory did have everything in order  and still got a menacing letter full of language about civil and criminal prosecution.

Notably, Martins stance drew loud cheers from people who would like to scrap the whole system of legal retail cannabis everywhere.

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Its a very big deal, Smart Approaches to Marijuana president Kevin Sabet told me. Any pot dispensary is on notice. Beyond that, anyone that owns a building where they lease it out to a pot dispensary is on notice. This goes beyond the idea of closing down a retail shop because youre near a school, which obviously is bad enough. People forget: Its still against the law to sell it at all.

I think the U.S. Attorney is sending a message that this is illegal and Im recommending you to get out of the business, Sabet added.

That interpretation happens to be shared by cannabis advocates, too. Meredith Kinner, a Capitol Hill attorney who represents dispensaries, predicted that actual prosecutions of licensed sellers would be hard to win, but noted that this might not be the point. It would force small businesses to spend unnecessary funds to defend their rights, which could put a lot of them out of business.

Green Theory did not reply to requests for comment. Adrian Snead, the attorney for one of the owners, declined comment. Martins letter gave the dispensary until May 12 to respond.

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As it happens, D.C.s marijuana status quo is almost comically absurd, thanks in large part to the citys not-quite-a-state status.

For years, Congress blocked the District from setting up legal and licensed marijuana sales. But lawmakers didnt stop the city from decriminalizing it, which led to a glut of phony-baloney stores offering weed as a gift with some other purchase. The one form of retail cannabis D.C. has been allowed to license is medical marijuana. Under the system, citizens self-certify to get a permit from the government  for health reasons, officially.

The patchwork result of all those cooks in the kitchen: A system that forces law-abiding adults to either ludicrously pretend to buy a trinket or dubiously write themselves a prescription  all in order to buy a clearly popular product that isnt illegal, but also isnt quite legal.

Youd have to be stoned out of your head to think this is the best way to organize cannabis sales. And yet locals have gotten used to it , which makes the big-picture implications of Martins letter unsettling.

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For the record, I think the small-ball question of how a sitting United States attorney came to be involved in a neighborhood land-use dispute is also kind of disturbing.

The in-the-weeds backstory is that D.C.s medical-marijuana regulations say dispensaries must be at least 300 feet from any school. In the area around Green Theory, a group of parents organized to demand that the city forbid any such store within at least 1,000 feet of a school  which happens to be the distance that triggers enhanced federal drug penalties.

After much agitation by both sides, local officials declined to change the rules.

Ordinarily, that would be the end of the story. Its a democracy, and if the elected government doesnt do what you want, you wait for the next election and try again. But in this case, thanks to Washingtons bizarro legal status, there was an unelected official who owed nothing to local voters but felt empowered to revisit the issue: Martin, a longtime Missouri pol who currently lives in Virginia.

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In appearances around town, Martin has positioned himself as a friend of the regular guy. In March, I watched him speak to a community group in Anacostia, an historically marginalized neighborhood. Looking every bit the G-Man, he showed up in a khaki trench coat (which he shed once the panel began), and he actually won points for willingness to talk to a non-Trumpy crowd. He then lost those points by sounding MAGA refrains against former President Joe Biden and foreign aid, eliciting jeers.

In his statement to me, Martin cast the Green Theory situation as another effort on behalf of the outsiders, albeit in one of the citys wealthiest areas. It was referred to me by a citizen who said: Have you seen this? Martin said. And when I looked into it, I thought the parents and the families in that community had not been heard well enough, so I thought I would go take a look at it.

As with other headline-grabbing letters from his office, Martin said he was only asking questions, not launching an investigation. Fair enough. But the questions included: Are you aware of the federal laws related to marijuana dispensaries and their locations near schools? and Can you produce documentation regarding your compliance with federal law? It doesnt take a paranoiac to feel threatened.

Grosso, the former city councilmember, suspects someone in the parent group flagged the issue for Martins office. The group, known as 1,000 Feet , did not respond to a request for comment. Its treasurer, Patrick Davis, is currently Trumps nominee for an assistant attorney general position, which would technically make him a Justice Department colleague of Martin. Davis also did not respond to messages.

The whole situation hearkens back to the days before D.C. acquired home rule, when local disputes were often settled in favor of whoever had some kind of connection on the Hill or managed to snag the attention of a federal VIP. Its a pretty lousy way to run a city. And now, as the citys self-government is called into question during the Trump era, it may be making a comeback.



CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled Kevin Sabet's name and misstated the name of the organization he leads. It is Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday halting all federal funding for US broadcasters National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

NPR and PBS "receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news'," the White House posted on X.

In the current fiscal year, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which distributes federal funds to public broadcasters, received $535 million dollars approved by Congress, according to a report on NPR.

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The report said NPR received around 1% of its funding from the US federal government, and slightly more indirectly. Its 246 member institutions operating more than 1,300 broadcasting stations receive between 8% and 10% of their funding from the CPB.

According to the report, PBS and its broadcasting stations receive about 15% of their funding from the CPB.

Trump has regularly criticized established media outlets, terming them "fake news media," and cracked down on outlets that are critical of government policies.

The Associated Press, one of the most significant news agencies worldwide with a strong reputation in the United States and abroad, was excluded from the White House press pool for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America," as ordered by Trump.

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Trump has made clear his preference for conservative outlets such as Fox News and Newsmax.

Reporters without Borders, an international non-governmental organization that monitors press freedom, noted in its 2025 Press Freedom Index: "Donald Trump's second term as president has brought a troubling deterioration in press freedom."
Donald Trumps criminal defense attorney Emily Bove, now a top official at the Department of Justice, reportedly pushed for an aggressive criminal investigation into Columbia University student activists that fueled a mass exodus of civil rights prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors  and a judge  fought against Boves pursuit of student activists Instagram accounts and search warrants as part of an allegedly aborted criminal inquiry into student demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza, according to a behind-the-scenes report from The New York Times.

Prosecutors in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division feared that the investigation was a pretext to facilitate Trumps deportation campaign targeting dissent on campus, and ultimately refused to put together a list of activist group members Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the newspaper reported. Following his election victory, Trump appointed Bove as associate deputy attorney general, serving under deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, another Trump criminal defense attorney.

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This is a false story fabricated by a group of people who allowed antisemitism and support of Hamas terrorists to fester for several years, standing by but doing nothing, according to a statement from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche shared with The Independent.

Bove  who represented the president during his criminal hush money trial in Manhattan and in Trumps federal cases involving classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 presidential election  then reportedly pushed for a search warrant for one campus activist groups Instagram account based on a threat.

Prosecutors pushed back, arguing that a post from Columbia University Apartheid Divest did not rise to the definition of a threat, The Times reported.

The Independent has requested comment from the group.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

When federal prosecutors involved in the investigation applied for a search warrant, a magistrate judge in New York rejected the request, finding that the government did not have sufficient probable cause, and amounted to potentially unconstitutional threats to the First Amendment, according to the newspaper.

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Bove then insisted that prosecutors appeal to a federal judge, who then instructed a chief magistrate judge to reconsider the request, The Times reported.

Magistrate judge Sarah Netburn blocked the request a second time  but said that if prosecutors tried again, she would force them to file an unsealed transcript of their discussions, according to The Times.

The warrant application included a photograph from CUADs social media of an inverted triangle symbol used by Hamas to designate targets for violence, which was spraypainted on Columbia property along with red paint designed to look like blood, according to Blanches statement.

The ongoing investigation has also included an independent magistrate judge finding probable cause to believe that there was evidence on Columbia property of harboring and concealing illegal aliens, he added. Under Attorney General Bondis leadership, unethical and inaccurate claims from Deep State terrorist sympathizers who stood by as members of the Jewish faith were targeted across the country will not deter us from aggressively investigating criminal conduct and rooting out antisemitism.

Demonstrators called for the release of Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was released on bail from ICE detention on April 30 as he challenges his immigration case and the constitutionality of his arrest (REUTERS)

At another point, Bove allegedly instructed FBI agents to wear raid jackets and stand in close formation on Columbias campus, prompting staff at the civil rights division to push back over fears of unlawful intimidation.

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A series of high-profile arrests targeting international student activists and academics for their Palestinian activism followed a wave of campus demonstrations drawing attention to Israels devastation in Gaza.

After taking office, Trump signed an executive order that declares U.S. policy is to ensure noncitizens do not  advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security. Another executive order pledges immediate action to investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities with a promise to deport Hamas sympathizers and revoke student visas, according to a fact sheet from the White House.

Activists and civil rights groups argue the administration is wrongly conflating activism and criticism of Israel with antisemitism to justify a mass purge of foreign students and punish activists for speech the government disagrees with.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked hundreds of student visas, and civil rights legal advocacy groups are joining legal battles in deportation hearings across the country.

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New of Boves alleged attempts to investigate Columbia students follows the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, who was arrested at his citizenship interview and hauled off in handcuffs earlier this month.

After a federal judge in Vermont ordered his immediate release from ICE custody, he walked out of a courthouse holding up two peace signs.

To President Trump and his cabinet, he told supporters. I am not afraid of you.
A Colorado Springs-based security company associated with a recently-arrested Fort Carson soldier appears to have ties to the underground nightclub that was the target of a federal raid over the weekend.

The FBI arrested Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, 27, on Wednesday in connection with his alleged involvement in cocaine distribution. Orona-Rodriguez, an Army staff sergeant stationed at Fort Carson, was reportedly one of 17 active-duty soldiers present at the raided nightclub at 296 S. Academy Blvd.

According to documents provided to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Orona-Rodriguez appears to hold a leadership position in Immortal Security LLC, which provides armed security at nightclubs. DEA officials said some of the service members at the raided club were providing armed security.

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Public records show that Immortal is less than a year old, having been established in September 2024. Its principal address is listed as 2330 S. Academy Blvd., the same address as El Huracan Night Club.

Warike Events, the event company tied to the raided nightclub, has also promoted parties at El Huracan, which was added to the Armys list of off-limits establishments last year. According to an affidavit, Orona-Rodriguez was told that Immortal Security is also off limits to members of the Armed Forces.

Virginia Thorne, the current lessee of the 296 S. Academy Blvd. venue, has held the lease for about four months. Thorne, who operates the event space through the name Warike Events, spoke with The Gazette Tuesday but refused to comment on the record when asked about her use of the property or anything else connected to the raid.
The Justice Department has reached a settlement in principle with the family of Ashli Babbitt, the Jan. 6 rioter who was fatally shot by a police officer during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. DOJ lawyers and Babbitts estate revealed the agreement during a court hearing Friday. The amount of the settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit was not disclosed.

The $30 million lawsuit, brought by Babbitts family and the conservative group Judicial Watch, alleges that U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd was negligent when he fired his gun as Babbitt and other rioters tried to break through doors leading toward the lobby of the House chamber on Jan. 6, 2021. The lawsuit accused Byrd of ambushing Babbitt and claimed he was not in uniform, did not identify himself as an officer, and did not provide any warnings or commands before shooting.

Following an internal investigation, both the Justice Department and the Capitol Police cleared Byrd of any wrongdoing. The DOJ said investigators had examined video footage, physical evidence from the scene, autopsy results and statements from officers and witnesses.

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After her death, Babbitt became a martyr of the MAGA movement, frequently referenced by Republican lawmakers like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has called on the Justice Department to consider pressing murder charges against Byrd.

Babbitt, an Air Force veteran and QAnon supporter, was also embraced by Donald Trump, who shortly after taking office in January issued blanket clemency for roughly 1,500 defendants in the Capitol attack. In 2021, Trump sent Babbitts family a personalized birthday video message. In March, during an interview with Newsmax, Trump said he was a big fan of Ashli Babbitt.

Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there, Trump said.

While the details of the settlement havent been disclosed, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said during Fridays hearing that the government and the plaintiff had indicated it would be at least 30 days before the lawsuit was officially settled.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President Trump is proposing massive cuts to education in his Friday budget request to Congress for fiscal 2026, including reduced funding for preschools, adult learning and the Education Departments Office of Civil Rights.

The Presidents Skinny Budget reflects funding levels for an agency that is responsibly winding down, shifting some responsibilities to the states, and thoughtfully preparing a plan to delegate other critical functions to more appropriate entities. It supports the Presidents vision of expanding school choice and ensuring every American has access to an excellent education, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

The biggest changes include consolidating 24 K-12 grant programs and seven Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) programs into two funding streams. The move, the Trump administration said, is to take away the influence of the Education Department on the states and give more power to parents of students with disabilities.

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Trump wants to get rid of adult education programs costing $729 million, saying they are not working and focusing on younger students will make remedial education for adults less necessary.

Preschool development grants would receive a cut of $315 million under his budget proposal, which says the grants were a tool of the last administration to push diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Through this program, Federal funding was provided to create a guidebook on Lessons for Creating Quality Care for Oregons LGBTQIA+ Families in collaboration with an organization called Pride Northwest, the White Houses fact sheet said.

In another move to reduce the size of the Department of Education, the Trump administration is looking to cut 35 percent of the funding for the Office of Civil Rights, which investigates discrimination complaints against both K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

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Howard University, the countrys only federally chartered historically Black college or university, would have its funding cut to 2021 levels in a move the president says would make the funding commitment more sustainable.

Charter schools, popular with Trump and other Republicans, were the only educational institutions to avoid the administrations proposed cuts on Friday, getting an additional $60 million in funding.

The Skinny Budget saves billions in taxpayer dollars from going to duplicative, unaligned, or non-essential programs. I look forward to presenting a complete FY 2026 budget in the future and working with Congress to deliver on the promise for a new era in education, McMahon said.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, are hard at work on their own spending bills. Republicans, who control both chambers, have been divided on the best way to fund the government while advancing Trumps agenda.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(NewsNation)  President Trumps claims that the U.S. is entering a golden age, ushered in by his administrations policies, is absurd, progressive journalist Mehdi Hasan says.

Trump on Thursday reiterated his claims of an impending renaissance as he addressed University of Alabama students: Youre the first graduating class of the golden age of America, the president told graduates.

Hasan, founder of the media company Zeteo, pushed back.

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Trumps first 100 days: An economic roller coaster of uncertainty

You talk about a golden age of America? On the 101st day of Trumps presidency, we had the first negative quarter of growth since the start of 2022, Hasan told On Balance on Thursday. A majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, believe were going to have a recession this year, as a result of Trumps policies.

Trump has been touting what he calls the accomplishments of his first 100 days in office, including steep tariffs on China that are designed to reshore jobs to the U.S.

Hasan countered that the tariffs have weakened the economy. He said many Americans are disheartened, too, after his administration mistakenly deported a Salvadoran national to a supermax prison in his home country.

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White House officials insist the man is a member of the notorious gang MS-13.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Photo courtesy of Northstar Canoes, which is struggling, the author writes, under the weight of President Donald Trump's tariffs and shambolic management of the U.S. economy.

Im the general manager at Northstar Canoes, a small manufacturing company in Minnesota, and so far, theres nothing about President Trumps policies that are good for either our international or domestic business.

Our 17 employees make performance canoes out of carbon fiber, aramid and polypropylene. Our canoes are sold throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Were not even a blip in the economy, but every passionate paddler knows our boats. We are one of the millions of small businesses that politicians like to call the backbone of the economy during campaign season.

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All businesses need a stable political and economic environment to thrive. Administrations on both sides of the aisle, for as long as I can recall, have worked to foster conditions that allow businesses to succeed.

This administrations trade wars and attempts to weaken environmental regulations, by contrast, are terrible for our business.

As a small company, weve invested significant resources to develop international markets. The tariffs imposed during the first Trump administration caused retaliatory tariffs to be imposed by both the European Union and Canada, which decreased our sales. To keep our prices competitive, we had to give discounts to our European and Canadian partners, lowering profitability. Which meant less opportunity to expand and support our workers.

Since the second Trump administrations policies have taken effect, our international business has come to a halt. The constant uncertainty means our customers dont even know the actual price theyll pay when they buy our canoes. And our European distributors are wary of a trade war. From the time they place an order it takes months before the container of canoes arrives at a European port, and our distributors cant risk that tariffs will be imposed during the lag time.

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On this side of the Atlantic, a large Canadian retailer cancelled nearly his entire order. I inquired what he planned to substitute for our canoes. He replied hed order from a Canadian brand. When I asked why he hadnt done so before, he answered that their canoes are lower quality and more expensive.

He explained he couldnt sell our canoes in the current political environment. In his words, Trump has done more to unite Canadians  conservatives and liberals  than anything in recent history. He explained that even if the tariffs were removed, no one would buy our canoes now because Canadians are boycotting products from the United States.

When trade opens up again  whether its in one year or in four  the customers wont necessarily come back. Once theyve established new buying habits, well have to invest more capital to change their purchasing behavior again. Whats infuriating is that we have already invested resources to open those markets.

The goal of any administration should be to facilitate business, not disrupt it.

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Meanwhile, our domestic business is threatened by the Trump administrations plans to eliminate the environmental review for proposed copper sulfide mines adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We build canoes in Minnesota because of the BWCA. More canoes are paddled in the Boundary Waters than anywhere else in the nation. The BWCA has some of the cleanest water in the world  many paddlers drink directly from the lakes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hard rock mining is among the biggest emitters of toxic chemicals  such as sulfuric acid, mercury and arsenic  of any industry. Mining companies assure us the toxic chemicals will be contained by tailings dams. But many of these pollutants last hundreds of years. Its unrealistic to believe a dam can be constructed that will last hundreds of years when the Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River recently failed after only 115 years.

An accidental release into the BWCA would be catastrophic for the environment, and for our business. The release of toxic chemicals into the pristine ecosystem would dramatically reduce BWCA visitation. Longer-term, it would force many BWCA-related businesses to close, while substantially decreasing property values in our region. It is imperative for our business, the economy of northeastern Minnesota, and the country that the BWCA remains permanently protected.

Between the sloppy rollout of tariffs and bullheaded support for mining without regard to the consequences, the Trump administration is mounting a full-scale assault on our small business.

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You dont have to look far to find other casualties.

We elected a businessman. Why doesnt he behave like one?

Editors note: The author is co-owner of Paddle and Portage, a site launched in 2024 with news, information and storytelling about the Boundary Waters and other great paddling destinations in North America.
President Donald Trump surged back to power on a promise to mount a mass deportation campaign. But large swaths of that effort have been blocked by judges across the country, who say the bumper sticker slogans have translated into flagrantly illegal policies.

A POLITICO review of hundreds of lawsuits reveals that despite Trumps aggressive border crackdown, hes been largely stymied on the other planks of his immigration agenda. Courts are throwing up increasingly fierce resistance to his efforts to swiftly detain and deport migrants living in the United States. And his attempts to strip legal status from hundreds of thousands of immigrants lawfully in the country have so far failed.

Trumps high-profile, and often haphazard, deportation moves have already generated three brushbacks from the Supreme Court, which reminded the administration of its obligation to provide reasonable due process to people whom the government has accused, often with little public evidence, of being alien enemies. And dozens of district and appellate court judges  appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents  have delivered even starker rebukes to the White House.

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Trumps use of war powers to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members is a path to perfect lawlessness, one judge wrote. The administrations detention of students with anti-Israel views harkens to the Red Scare and McCarthyism, concluded another. The denial of due process to some deportees could result in "persecution, torture, and death," wrote a third.

Trump and his top domestic policy adviser, Stephen Miller, were aiming for shock and awe on immigration, said Elizabeth Goitein, a civil liberties and national security expert with the Brennan Center for Justice. But in doing so, they have repeatedly overstepped their authority, she said.

The courts are recognizing it for what it is, Goitein said.

In response to adverse rulings, top Trump aides have assailed the courts, blasting rogue and radical judges. Trump himself has called for the impeachment of some of the judges. On Wednesday alone, Miller accused judges blocking Trumps deportation policies of a coup, an insurrection and of incinerating our Constitution. The next day, yet another court ruling blocked some of Trumps deportation plans  this time, from a judge whom Trump himself appointed in his first term. (Miller has been silent on that ruling, though the White House criticized it in a press office statement.)

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In court, the Justice Department has not adopted the White Houses escalating rhetoric but has warned of a now troubling pattern of district courts superintending immigration proceedings.

Trumps immigration agenda has not been uniformly foiled. He has deployed thousands of troops to the southern border, empowered immigration authorities and overseen a steep decline in illegal border crossings. Importantly, many of the policies halted by district judges have yet to work their way through appeals courts and to the Supreme Court for final review, where Trump hopes to prevail.

Still, in just over three months, Trump has racked up an astonishing string of initial legal losses  particularly on his multifaceted efforts to carry out deportations with far less due process than the standard immigration-court system affords.

Heres a look at the growing list of policies that have been struck down or partially halted by the courts:

Summary deportations under the Alien Enemies Act

The Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law meant to expel citizens of an invading foreign nation, had been invoked only three times in U.S. history before Trump used it to target Venezuelans he accused of being part of a criminal gang. He carried out an initial round of deportations under the act on March 15 so quickly that planes took off in the middle of an emergency court hearing as U.S. District Judge James Boasberg tried to stop them. Boasberg has signaled he may hold administration officials in criminal contempt for defying his orders.

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Subsequently, judges in Colorado and Texas ruled that Trump has twisted the Alien Enemies Act in ways that exceed his authority. And when immigration authorities appeared to be preparing a second round of abrupt deportations under the act, the Supreme Court intervened in an extraordinary middle-of-the-night order that commanded the administration to stop.

Deportations to countries other than a migrants country of origin

Sometimes, a person who is subject to deportation cannot be legally sent to their country of origin because Congress or the courts have determined they would not be safe there. The Trump administration has tried to get around this issue by quickly deporting people to third-party countries.

A federal judge in Massachusetts barred the administration from doing so, and the fight that is now pending at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Brian Murphy ruled that the third-party deportations, without an individualized assessment of whether the deportees could face torture or persecution, violated due process rights.

Temporary protected status of people fleeing humanitarian crises

The Trump administration has quickly attempted to cancel the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people granted authorization to live in the United States to flee persecution, violence or natural disasters in four countries: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. President Joe Bidens administration had extended their authorization deep into Trumps term. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sought to rescind those extensions and set new, more expedited deadlines for the protections to expire.

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Two judges  one in California, the other in Massachusetts  have issued wholesale blocks on those policies, staving off, for now, their imminent departure. The administration this week filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court seeking to lift one of those blocks.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Cristian

The legal fight that has drawn perhaps the strongest language from judges has been the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was living in Maryland and was erroneously deported to El Salvador. The Supreme Court called that deportation illegal because an immigration judge had barred the government from sending him to that country. And a conservative appeals court judge called the administrations conduct shocking to fundamental principles of American liberty.

A district judge in Maryland is currently probing the administrations failure to follow her command to seek Abrego Garcias return. Meanwhile, in a case that has not gotten as much public attention, a second Maryland judge recently ordered the return of a man, identified in court papers only as Cristian, who was deported to El Salvador on the same day as Abrego Garcia despite a pending asylum claim.

Mahmoud Khalil, Badar Khan Suri, Mohsen Mahdawi and Rumeysa Ozturk

Another group of high-profile cases center on the Trump administrations attempts to deport college students and academic researchers who have spoken out against Israel.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought their rapid deportation by invoking an obscure provision of immigration law that allows him to declare that their presence in the U.S. harms American foreign policy interests. But the academics say theyre being targeted purely because of their pro-Palestinian views in violation of the First Amendment.

A judge in Vermont recently ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia student. Other prominent scholars  Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student; Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts graduate student; and Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown scholar  remain in detention while their deportation cases lurch slowly forward. In each of those three cases, judges have ordered the administration not to begin deportations until the court cases are resolved.

And in a broader lawsuit, a federal judge rejected the administrations effort to dismiss claims that its policy targeting pro-Palestinian students is unconstitutional.

Full-time foreign students

No issue better exemplifies the administrations mad dash to overhaul immigration policies than its botched effort to conduct criminal record checks of 1.3 million foreign students who are studying in the U.S. on valid visas. Officials used the search results to terminate the students records in a database used to track full-time foreign students  a move that seemed to threaten their legal presence in the country.

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But the effort was marred by errors. Many of the students flagged in the search had only minor run-ins with police that do not qualify as a basis to revoke their legal status.

A deluge of lawsuits in dozens of states halted the effort altogether. Judges issued more than 50 restraining orders protecting hundreds of the more than 6,000 students ensnared by the administrations actions. Eventually, the administration reversed course and abandoned the effort. But some of the lawsuits are still pending as students want to ensure they arent targeted again.

Warrantless arrests in California

Stephen Millers tirade against judges this week stemmed largely from an order by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston, a California-based jurist who found that the Border Patrol was overstepping its legal authority to conduct warrantless arrests and stops. Thurston found that agents had failed to meet the legal requirements for conducting such detentions  particularly a requirement that they have reasonable suspicion that someone they stop is in the country illegally  and ordered that they comply more stringently.

Refugee admissions

When Trump sought to pause the admission of all refugees, a judge ruled the effort was illegal. A federal appeals court blocked a portion of the judges ruling but still required the administration to continue processing refugees approved for admission prior to Trumps term.

Redefining birthright citizenship

Perhaps Trumps most brazen immigration policy was his attempt, through an executive order on his first day back in office, to narrow the centuries-old understanding of the Constitutions guarantee of citizenship to those born on U.S. soil. Three district judges in three different courts immediately and resoundingly rejected Trumps order. Now, the Supreme Court is preparing to weigh whether those judges  each of whom blocked the policy nationwide  overstepped their authority and should have issued more limited rulings.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump ordered an end to all federal funding allocated for NPR and PBS, setting the stage for possible legal battles over whether the broadcast stations are entitled to taxpayer funds.

Trump issued an executive order late Thursday evening titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media, directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease all federal funds that go toward NPR and PBS. The order is the latest escalation in a longstanding battle between the networks and Republicans, who argue the stations use taxpayer dollars to amplify misinformation about conservatives.

The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administrations policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage, the executive order reads. The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.

Trump issues executive order to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS. pic.twitter.com/JlCbALCnUj  Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) May 2, 2025

The order comes as Trump is expected to send a formal rescissions package to Congress in the coming weeks to approve the presidents proposed spending cuts and codify them into law.

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Included in the rescissions package is a $1 billion cut in spending toward the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees networks such as PBS and NPR, a senior administration official told the Deseret News.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee has already introduced legislation seeking to halt federal funds from going toward the broadcasting networks and to instead use the money to go toward paying off the national debt.

Both PBS and NPR are partially funded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was authorized by Congress in 1967. Less than 1% of NPRs total funding comes from the federal government, but local stations that receive those grants pay fees to NPR.

However, NPR has especially come under fire over personal comments CEO Katherine Maher made expressing her own political views, including social media posts in 2020 when she described President Donald Trump as a racist and a sociopath. At the time, Maher did not work at NPR but was the CEO and executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation.

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NPR had $11.2 million in operating revenue provided by the CPB in 2024, Maher told lawmakers in March, arguing the funds ensured news and information was provided to all local public radio stations.

The matter is likely to play out in court, as its not entirely clear if Trump can withhold funding from the CPB that has been approved by Congress. Those legal questions are at the center of several of Trumps executive orders  and its why Republicans are requesting an official rescissions package to pass the spending cuts into law.
WARSAW (Reuters) -The presidential candidate backed by Poland's main nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) Karol Nawrocki met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, the White House said, in a sign of support shortly before the election.

Poles will vote in the first round of a presidentialballot on May 18. Cultivating good relations with theUnited States is important for a country that sees Washington's support as essential for its security.

"President Trump said 'you will win'," Nawrocki told private broadcaster TV Republika. "I read it as a kind of wish for my success in the upcoming elections, and also awareness of it, and after this whole day I can say that the American administration is aware of what is happening in Poland."

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Nawrocki had attended the National Day of Prayer at the White House.

The White House posted pictures of the meeting in the Oval Office on X, which showed Trump and Nawrocki shaking hands and giving a thumbs up gesture to the camera.

The nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party backing Nawrocki has positioned itself as a vocal supporter of Trump, with its lawmakers chanting his name in the Polish parliament after he won reelection.

Current president and PiS ally Andrzej Duda was one of Trump's preferred international partners during his 2017-2021 presidency and they have described themselves as friends.

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Many Poles have been unnerved by the way in which Trump has upended U.S. foreign policy, and an Opinia24 poll for private broadcaster RMF FM in March showed 49% of respondents believed his actions were bad for Poland, against 29% viewing them positively.

Nawrocki is currently second in opinion polls, and is likely to face frontrunner Rafal Trzaskowski from the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) in a second round runoff on June 1, assuming no candidate wins more than 50% of votes in the first round.

Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, a KO member of the European Parliament was dismissive of the meeting's significance.

"The president in Poland will be elected by Poles, not Trump and not Americans," he told private broadcaster Polsat News.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
This weeks breakthrough on an economic cooperation deal with Ukraine is unlikely to soften Russian President Vladimir Putins resistance to President Donald Trumps peace plan  and the White House isnt sure yet how to change that.

While administration officials on Thursday publicly heralded the deal as a major development, there is a lack of consensus inside the White House on what comes next, according to two people familiar with the discussions and granted anonymity because they arent authorized to speak publicly.

It could involve hard choices, including putting direct pressure on the Kremlin, which Trump has so far been reluctant to do.

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More sanctions would be the next turn of the screw, one of the people said. If the president wants to go that route.

A proposal sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to impose new sanctions on Russia and 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas and aluminum has received broad bipartisan support in the Senate, possibly even a veto-proof majority. Frances foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said on Thursday that he discussed the commendable proposal with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting and expressed a desire for European allies to coordinate with the U.S. on the imposition of new sanctions.

Whether an additional sanctions regime will be enough to pressure Putin is another matter.

The Russian leader has met four times in as many months with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and continued to reject the U.S. proposal for ending the three-year war, which would freeze the conflict along the current battle lines and thus give Russia significant territorial gains.

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Reacting to an intensified Russian bombing campaign in recent days, Trump has mused aloud on social media about whether he needs to toughen his approach toward Putin. But, over the last four months, hes shown no eagerness to do so. He has yet to take a position on a Republican proposal to increase sanctions on Moscow. And its been the presidents reluctance to approve additional aid for Ukraines war effort or post-war security guarantees that necessitated a future-looking revenue-sharing agreement in the first place.

In the briefing room on Thursday morning, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the historic deal was evidence that the president is the dealmaker in chief and committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine. The administrations trumpeting of the Ukraine deal comes with the president just having passed the politically significant 100-day mile-marker of his second term, which came and went without Trump having secured any deals on trade or a brokered peace between Russia and Ukraine that he promised would come in the first day of his administration.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who led negotiations on the minerals agreement over the last several months, suggested in a television interview on Thursday morning that it would have an impact on the peace talks that appear to be stalled.

This is a strong signal to the Russian leadership, and it gives President Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, he said during an appearance on Fox Business Network.

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Referring to the presidents Feb. 28 berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, where Trump told Zekenskyy that he didnt have the cards in peace talks, Bessent asserted that that is no longer the case.

President Trump has now dealt him the royal flush, because now we can take these cards and go and show the Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people between our goals, Bessent said.



Another Treasury official, granted anonymity to talk about the agreement, said that America having a greater economic interest in Ukraines future will show Russia the U.S. is committed to Ukraines long-term success.

Richard Haass, the former head of the Council on Foreign Relations and a veteran of three Republican administrations, said the deal is a positive step toward improving the strained relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine. But it is not, he said, a game-changer in peace talks.

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We shouldnt oversell this. Its not a substitute for an open-ended, longer term U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine, Haass said The single biggest question is whether this agreement leads to something more between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Trump, whose initial proposal to Ukraine was for the U.S. to receive $500 billion in revenues from the countrys future minerals development, has continued to publicly describe the deal as a way for American taxpayers to recoup some of the $120 billion in U.S. defense aid over the last three years. The final agreement, however, does not require Ukraine to repay any aid.

Instead, the two countries will establish a joint investment fund to help rebuild Ukraine after the war. Under the deal, the U.S. will have preferential rights to mineral extraction in Ukraine. Kyiv, meanwhile, will have the final say in what and where is being mined and retain the ownership of the subsoil. Ukraine will retain control of its natural resources and contribute 50 percent of future revenue from new licenses for critical minerals, oil and gas exploration.

And the agreement allows the U.S. to contribute to the fund through direct payments or through new military assistance. That leaves open the possibility for Congress to approve a new defense supplemental for Ukraine, although additional taxpayer-funded aid remains a long shot.

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As Bessent noted, the urgency for finally ratifying the economic cooperation agreement picked up in recent days after Trump met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral last weekend. It also materialized as the president grew increasingly irritated by Putins intensifying bombing campaign on Ukraines capital and maximalist position on peace talks, although a White House official suggested that Russias hard line publicly didnt completely reflect private negotiations with Moscow.

If anything, the Russian stance has toughened, Haass said. They are prosecuting the war with no letup, and their articulated position is getting more, not less, demanding and farther away from a ceasefire.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller may be up next for a new position in Donald Trumps administration: Axios reported Friday that hes a top candidate to replace Mike Waltz, Trumps departing national security adviser.

Miller, the ghoulish white nationalist behind the presidents anti-immigrant crusade, is already serving as the presidents adviser on Homeland Security; reportedly he runs the Homeland Security Council like clockwork.

Miller has already been working with the National Security Council, running what The Atlantic reported was the most active and well-staffed section on homeland security, which at times operated entirely independently from the leadership office previously run by Waltz. It worked so well that Alex Wong, Waltzs deputy, expressed concerns about the perceived split between the two factions.

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Its unlikely that Millers work as a homeland security adviser would stop him from taking on an additional role: Right now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has four. The secretary is also serving as the head of what remains of the United States Agency for International Development and the acting archivist at the National Archives and Records Administrationand in doing so, has found himself leading both an agency that has violated the Federal Records Act and the one that is meant to ensure that doesnt happen.

Two White House sources told Axios that Millers work with Rubio made him well suited for the role. Another said that the fiery advocate had already expressed his interest in taking on the job, and another said that if Stephen wants the job, its hard to see why Trump wouldnt say yes.

In recent weeks, Miller has been a fierce advocate for the Trump administrations immigration policiessometimes too fierceand has set off on unhinged rants during multiple television interviews and addresses.
The Colorado Springs Police Department released body camera footage of a non-fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 13.

Police received a call around 12:25 p.m. about a disturbance involving a group on the 4900 block of North Academy Boulevard.

In the body camera video, the responding officer can be seen asking a possible witness at 12:45 p.m. about the location of a woman involved in the disturbance. The officer then saw the woman and began driving closer.

The video, and more information on the department's use of force policy, is available here.

Seconds later, the video includes the sound of a gunshot and the officer calling in the shooting. When the officer gets out of her car to respond, several more gunshots are heard from the same direction. The officer returned fire before taking cover behind nearby parked vehicles.

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The suspect fled on foot and the officer found a woman on the ground with a gunshot wound to her head. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Preliminary DNA evidence recovered from the scene by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Vonderrick Rayford, 51, from Wisconsin.

Rayford was killed two days later in Iowa in another officer-involved shooting. According to Iowa police, Rayford reportedly opened fire on a deputy from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office after being stopped for speeding and was shot during the following standoff with multiple officers.

The Colorado Springs officer involved was identified as Officer Rachael Botkin.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into the use of force. As per state law, the final investigation will be sent to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office to determine if the officer was compliant with Colorado law.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slashing subsidies to two United States public broadcasters.

Trump issued the order to halt federal funding to PBS and NPR late on Thursday, accusing them of biased reporting and spreading left-wing propaganda.

The order is the US presidents latest bid to halt government funding of media he considers unfriendly to his administration. It comes as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned of an alarming deterioration in press freedom.

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In a social media post, the White House accused the outlets of receiving millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news'.

Trump directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which distributes government funding to media, to cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and  decline  future funding.

He also demanded that it root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organisations, endangering their future existence.

According to reports, CPB provide PBS and NPR with roughly half a billion dollars in financing annually, but they also rely heavily on private donations.





It is not clear how much of an immediate effect the order will have on the outlets, which are typically funded two years in advance by Congress in order to protect them from political influence.

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Last Month, Paula Kerger, PBSs CEO and president, warned that cuts in funding would disrupt the essential service of the outlet.

It has also been reported that the White House has asked Congress to rescind funding for the CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 that is responsible for administering the federal governments investment in public broadcasting.

Alarming deterioration in press freedom

As part of a broad campaign to cut federal spending, Trump has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums and theatres since taking office in January. He has also threatened to withhold federal research and education funds from universities.

Media has been a significant target. In March, Trump sought to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

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However, federal courts called out the administration, saying that in it was overstepping its authority in seeking to hold back funds appropriated by Congress.

Critics slammed the bid to shutter the outlets, which broadcast in many foreign states with authoritarian regimes that suppress media freedom, as a gift to US enemies.

However, concerns over media independence in the US are rising since Trump returned to the White House.

Media rights watchdog RSF warned in its annual report published on Friday of an alarming deterioration in press freedom in the US under Trump and unprecedented difficulties for independent journalists around the world.

Aside from physical attacks, the media rights watchdog noted that economic pressure has become a major and insidious problem threatening journalism.
Donald Trumps decision to remove Mike Waltz as his national security adviser could be followed by a mass firing of White House staff being dubbed The Purge, according to a report.

The dismissals could come as soon as late next week, sources have told Politico, with one insider saying a lot of employees will be let go over perceived loyalty concerns, with the president preferring to announce their removal in one sweeping gesture, rather than in piecemeal fashion one-by-one.

While Trump has so far managed to avoid a repeat of the same level of staffing chaos as his first term, which saw almost as high a turnover as the average season of his NBC reality show The Apprentice, Waltzs firing could mark the opening of the floodgates.

Mike Waltz has been moved out of his role in national security (Getty)

According to Politico, the outgoing adviser  whose tenure is the second-shortest in American history, behind only Michael Flynns three-week run  had quickly made enemies in his role by behaving in an arrogant manner. Hes a staff, but he was acting like a principal, one person told the magazine.

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Waltz also reportedly attracted suspicion from the MAGA wing of the Republican movement, with the likes of far-right activist Laura Loomer considering him too much of an establishment figure and a possible leaker and lobbying Trump to block some of his staff picks.

The view was Wait, why is he picking secret neocons for these jobs, thats not how this administration is going to work, a person close to Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong told Politico.

Which is bulls***, but that was the view and that set the stage for vibes of distrust and tension.

Then came the Signalgate scandal in late March, which erupted when The Atlantic reported that its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been mistakenly added by Waltz to a Signal group chat in which Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other high-ranking officials discussed the bombing of Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Waltz has been on thin ice for a while, a White House aide told Politico at the time. This made the ice thinner but at the same time may actually save him for now because they dont want to give Goldberg a scalp.

Mike Waltz attends a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month (EPA)

The axe finally fell on Thursday, with the president announcing that Rubio would succeed Waltz in leading the National Security Council (NSC) in an acting capacity and that the latter would be his new nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in place of New York Representative Elise Stefanik, forced to step aside to uphold a slim GOP majority in the House of Representatives.

The president is surrounded by highly talented and qualified patriots working to execute his agenda, the White House said in response to Thursdays developments.

Mike Waltz will continue these efforts, and Secretary Rubio will excel in this new role.

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The adviser appeared not to know his end was in sight earlier on Wednesday as he appeared on TV and then attended a cabinet meeting, at which he praised Trump and declared that it was a privilege to play a part in his administration.

He was also spotted by press photographers at that gathering continuing to scroll through Signal messages on his phone.

His removal adds to a growing sense in Washington that few in foreign policy and national security circles currently hold much sway over the presidents decision-making, with the NSC, State Department and Pentagon less dominant than they have been under previous commanders-in-chief.

Diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff, who has led Trumps peace missions to attempt to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, has been tipped as a possible successor to Waltz, although aides Stephen Miller, Richard Grenell, Sebastian Gorka and the less well-known Michael Anton have also been cited as increasingly influential voices in the presidents ear and therefore possible candidates for the role.
US President Donald Trump has proclaimed that 8 May will be marked in the United States as Victory Day in World War II and 11 November as Victory Day in World War I.

Source: Donald Trump on his platform Truth Social

Quote: "Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I."

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Details: Trump claimed that despite the US having "won both wars" and "nobody was close to us in terms of strength, courage or military brilliance", the country "never celebrates anything  because we don't have leaders anymore, that know how to do so!"

"We are going to start celebrating our victories again!", he added.

Background:

In November 2004, the 59th session of the UN General Assembly proclaimed 8 and 9 May as Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation in honour of all victims of World War II.

Since 2023, Ukraine has commemorated 8 May as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War of 19391945.

According to open sources, US losses in the Second World War amounted to 418,000 people.

The countries that suffered the greatest losses were those that were part of the USSR (26.6 million), China (13.5 million), Germany (6.48 million), Poland (6 million, more than half of whom were Jews, victims of the Holocaust), Japan (3.76 million) and India (3 million).

According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, Ukraine made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazism and Germany's allies. This came at the cost of extraordinary losses among Ukrainians and citizens of Ukraine of other nationalities during 1939-1945. The heaviest losses were demographic, estimated at 8-10 million people.

Meanwhile, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has complained that "Russia is facing attempts to revise the outcome of World War II and the role of the USSR in the victory to suit selfish political interests".

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President Donald Trump came into office promising to drill, baby, drill and, on day one, signed an executive order aimed at Unleashing American Energy. On Friday, just over 100 days later, oil companies released their first quarterly earnings reports of Trumps second term. They werent pretty.

The two largest oil companies in the United States saw revenues tumble. Earnings at Exxon Mobil fell 6 percent compared to last year, to $7.7 billion. Chevrons first-quarter income dropped more than a third, to $3.5 billion. We are seeing significant downward pressure on prices and margins, Darren Woods, chief executive of Exxon Mobil, said during a call with analysts on Friday. In this environment, it is more important than ever to focus on what we can control.

This caps a three month stretch  and the first 100 days of an administration  that saw oil executives swooning at the possibility of a boom. But since President Trump has taken office, headwinds have mounted.

More on Trumps first 100 days

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The price of a barrel of oil has fallen from almost $80 to about $60 since his inauguration, sweeping new tariffs have made things like steel costlier, and economic uncertainty has made planning considerably more challenging. According to Baker Hughes, an oil field service provider, the number of drilling rigs in the nations largest oil field, the Permian Basin, has fallen about 3 percent over the last month.

There seems to be a lack of continuity in the policymaking that affects that industry, said Sanjay Srinivasan, a professor of petroleum and natural gas engineering at Penn State University.

On the one hand, President Trump declared a national energy emergency within hours of taking office and has been pushing for an expansion of fossil fuel extraction. The Department of Interior, for example, announced plans to open more tracts of public land to drilling, including in the Arctic. It also moved to shorten the permitting process for projects from as long as two years to 28 days.

They are fast-tracking dangerous, disastrous projects that are going to put the health and safety of people, the water, and the environment at risk, said Jasmine Vazin, deputy director of the Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign at the Sierra Club, pointing to the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan as one example. This is what [oil companies] wanted.

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At the same time, the president has called for oil prices of $50 a barrel, which would decimate the industry. At $50-per-barrel oil, we will see U.S. oil production start to decline immediately and likely significantly, one anonymous executive responded in a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey. There cannot be U.S. energy dominance and $50-per-barrel oil; those two statements are contradictory. Others reported already cutting future capital expenditures based on the administrations ambitions.

Trumps tariffs have also taken a toll on oil companies by raising the cost of the steel they rely on for wells and other equipment, as well as likely slowing global demand for oil, which generally drops along with economic activity. Foreign producers deciding to increase output, including an OPEC+ announcement last week to boost its supply by more than 400,000 barrels a day in June, has only compounded domestic pressures.

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Have you lost your federal job or funding? Grist wants to hear about how cuts are impacting the environment, health, and safety of communities around the country.

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I have never felt more uncertainty about our business in my entire 40-plus-year career, said one executive in the Federal Reserve survey. Another added: Tariff policy is impossible for us to predict and doesnt have a clear goal. We want more stability.

Whether the Trump administration can bring that stability remains an open question. Even if it does, theres no guarantee that American oil output  which was already at record levels before Trump took office  can grow significantly, or that it will create more jobs. Its also unclear if Trump cares.

Ill get those guys drilling, he told supporters in Greenville, North Carolina, in November. If they drill themselves out of business, I dont give a damn.

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So far, that seems to be the trajectory. A Wall Street Journal analysis found that American oil-and-gas companies lost more than $280 billion in stock-market value between April 2, when Trump unveiled his tariff blitz, and Monday.

That drop outpaced that of every other major sector.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Trump promised to help Big Oil. Its revenues plummeted. on May 2, 2025.
President Trump unveiled the White House budget request for fiscal 2026 on Friday, a set of proposals that would make steep cuts to nondefense programs while boosting defense and border funding.

In a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought announced the presidents budget would reduce base nondefense discretionary budget authority by 22.6 percent, cutting spending levels by $163 billion.

That would include a roughly $18 billion reduction for the National Institutes of Health compared to fiscal 2025 levels.

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The request says the Department of Energy would see a reduction of more than $15 billion from what it described as the cancellation of former President Bidens Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

READ: Trumps budget proposal for FY2026

The budget also proposes a nearly $27 billion reduction for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with State Rental Assistance Block Grants on the chopping block. It instead calls for the transformation of the rental assistance programs into a state-based formula grant which would allow states to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.

Vought argued funding for homeland security, veterans, seniors, law enforcement and infrastructure would be protected.

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This is a pretty historic effort to deal with the bureaucracy, Vought told reporters Friday. You have heard and seen such action from our administration with DOGE, to be able to deal with the bureaucracy that we believe has grown over many years.

Vought also touted what he called a historic investment of $175 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security to implement Trumps mass deportation and plans to secure the border. He said the nearly 65 percent increase for Homeland Security will lead to hiring ICE agents, funding the border wall and Coast Guard funding, among other boosts aimed to curb immigration.

On the defense side, the administration proposes to increase funding by 13 percent, bringing the total to just more than $1 trillion.

The administration said the budget assumes enactment of legislation being assembled by congressional Republicans that is expected to include north of $300 billion in funding for defense programs and advancing Trumps border and immigration agenda.

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Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) criticized the defense portion of the budget, saying the OMB requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms.

Wicker added that the bill being crafted in Congress to further Trumps tax and spending priorities was meant to change fundamentally the direction of the Pentagon on programs like Golden Dome, border support, and unmanned capabilities  not to paper over OMBs intent to shred to the bone our military capabilities and our support to service members.

When asked about the criticism, Vought said 13 percent is a very, very healthy increase and we want to make sure that it is going towards capabilities that DoD needs, says it wants, says are vital. And we are changing the way that this place works, and were happy to continue to explain that to the Hill. And Im not surprised that well have to do some work on that front.

The proposal is Trumps first budget of his second term, which eclipsed its 100th day earlier this week.

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The so-called skinny budget is not as detailed as usual presidential budget requests, but congressional Republicans have said they expect more information about the presidents preferred spending direction in the coming weeks. However, some budget hawks are already grumbling about key details missing.

Presidential budget requests are generally considered a White House wish list, with congressional appropriators crafting the appropriations bills that become law. But the proposal is a window into the Trump administrations priorities at a time when he holds enormous sway over the Republican Party that controls both chambers of Congress.

GOP spending cardinals had also been pushing for the administrations numbers as appropriators begin to ramp up budget hearings for the next fiscal year.

When asked about Trumps involvement in creating the budget request, Vought said he was very, very involved throughout the process and noted that the one, big beautiful bill House Republicans are working through is really meant to contain the vast majority of the presidents agenda that can be done in reconciliation.

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Vought said the budget reflects the presidents goal to dismantle the Department of Education and that it has an impact on federalism, reflected through housing programs that have been turned into a block grant to states.

He said there is a substantial cut to foreign aid, which has been a target of the Trump administration after Elon Musks DOGE gutted the United States Agency for International Department (USAID) earlier this year.

Other cuts in the budget include billions of dollars from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the elimination of Job Corps, Preschool Development Grants, the Sexual Risk Avoidance Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Vought said the budget request calls for reductions to funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) but that it doesnt include changes to Pell Grants or Head Start programs, which provides early childhood education to low-income families. His comments come as Trump is already facing legal challenges after previous reports that Head Start funding was set to be cut in HHS budget amid office closures.

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Vought said he got a very, very different feel this time around from Republicans on Capitol Hill about this budget than he did when Trump unveiled budget requests during his first four years in office. In terms of how DOGEs work influenced the budget request, Vought said were joined at the hip, and feel that this is a joint project.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement that the House GOP is ready to work with Trump to implement the budget.

President Trumps plan ensures every federal taxpayer dollar spent is used to serve the American people, not a bloated bureaucracy or partisan pet projects, Johnson said in a statement. House Republicans stand ready to work alongside President Trump to implement a responsible budget that puts America first. This budget also reflects the critical role the One Big, Beautiful Bill will play in securing our border and strengthening our national security.

Vought told reporters the budget does not include the deficit targets or revenue assumptions, which will come at a later date while Congress works through reconciliation.

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While Maya MacGuineas, head of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), said the group was encouraged to see the administration put forward a plan that reduces spending, she added in a statement that the request focuses on only a quarter of the budget over a single year.

It remains to be seen what the rest of the Presidents proposals will hold, and there is still the multi-trillion-dollar question of whether the reconciliation bill will blow up the debt, she said, while calling on the president to quickly release a full budget.

We need a budget that tells the full story, and it should control spending, reduce borrowing, bring deficits down to 3 percent of GDP and put the debt on a sustainable path.

Updated at 12:05 p.m. EDT

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President Donald Trump shook up his national security team exactly 101 days into his second term, although by the time the details were fleshed out, it looked more like a game of musical chairs.

Michael Waltz is out as national security adviser, but he is being nominated for ambassador to the United Nations. That job was originally supposed to go to Elise Stefanik, the New York Republican representative, whose name was withdrawn to protect the GOPs slender House majority, which was depleted when other members left to join the Trump administration (including Waltz, a former congressman from Florida, himself).

In an interview with Fox News, vice-president JD Vance said Waltz wasnt let go and arguably had received a promotion. We brought Mike on to do some serious reforms of the National Security Council, Vance told the networks Bret Baier. He has done that.

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The Waltz switcheroo could nevertheless suggest that Trump has decided to pursue a nuclear deal with Iran rather than trying to eliminate or set back its programme militarily. Waltz was long viewed as too neoconservative for his role by many who saw a less interventionist foreign policy as key to Trumps election. But Trump has been comfortable with relatively hawkish UN ambassadors, such as Nikki Haley in his first term and his plans for Stefanik in his second.

Yet on the same day Trump reshuffled the deck, Trump threatened new sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil. Talks with Iran were also postponed, supposedly for logistical reasons.

A foreign policy shift could also depend on who the Waltz replacement is. Some of the names reportedly under consideration, such as former John Bolton chief of staff Fred Fleitz, arent noticeably less hawkish than Waltz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also filling in as National Security Adviser in the interim, and while he is perhaps less hawkish than he was a decade ago, he is still not viewed as the most consistent champion of intervention-averse realism and restraint. Trumps all-purpose special envoy Steve Witkoff getting the job would signal a shift in a more diplomatic direction.

Signal is also the name of the app on which top Trump administration officials were caught discussing the details of military strikes on Yemen in front of an anti-Trump journalist. That news story is what first raised questions about whether Trumps national security team would remain intact for long.

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Waltz was the person who invited Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the Atlantic magazine, into the Yemen chat. But Pete Hegseth, the Defence Secretary, is the one who shared the most sensitive details of the military operation during the conversation. This raised questions about who might be more endangered, especially after a second Hegseth Signal discussion was revealed.

But Waltz had detractors inside the universe of Trumps strongest supporters. Most of the people calling for Hegseths ouster, with a few exceptions, were weak Trump supporters at best. They were more often Democrats, neoconservatives or remnants of the old Republican establishment.

Trump didnt seem eager to give Democrats or the media either scalp. Thats why Waltz will continue in a valued position, Rubio will continue to consolidate the national security portfolio, and Hegseth has so far held onto the Defence Secretary job. Nothing happened at all until Signalgate had largely moved out of the headlines, or at least off the front page.

But the story may soon return to above the fold. While the National Security Adviser position can be filled by the president at will, the Senate must vote on Waltz becoming ambassador to the United Nations. His confirmation hearings will surely re-litigate what he and Hegseth said and did on which apps.

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Trumps national security team feels like an elaborate good cop-bad cop routine, with hawks threatening force and doves promising diplomacy all under the banner of an America First foreign policy. Trump doesnt want to be seen as weak, and he doesnt trust China or Iran. At the same time, by all indications, he would like to go down in history as the consummate dealmaker.

Time will tell whether Trump has assembled a team that will help him do that.

W James Antle III is executive editor of the Washington Examiner

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President Donald Trump is using a bizarre legal loophole to allow the military to perform domestic law enforcement activity on U.S. soil, an escalation of his already ultra-aggressive immigration and border security policies.



The Trump administration declared last month that chunks of land directly alongside the U.S.-Mexico border are now actually long, thin military installations  and that soldiers guarding those bases can detain and search trespassers before handing them over to law enforcement.



The military is usually barred from carrying out civil law enforcement work due to the Posse Comitatus Act, which was signed in 1878. But the law does have exceptions  including something known as the military purpose doctrine, which allows military activity on U.S. soil as long as it primarily furthers military function. The idea behind Trumps new guidance is that soldiers are protecting military installations from trespassers, not technically enforcing immigration law or guarding the border.



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Last month, the president signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to cede control of land along the border  known as the Roosevelt Reservation, as it was set aside by then-President Theodore Roosevelt  to the Defense Department, which has since started patrolling parts of the territory as if it were a military installation and detaining those who trespass on it.



Dozens of people have already been detained in this area, and New Mexicos top federal prosecutor has filed federal charges against them. The tactic recalls Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) Operation Lone Star, in which state National Guard soldiers were deputized under state emergency powers to aid in thousands of trespassing arrests of migrants  though those are state charges and not federal ones. Soldiers involved in that mission previously told HuffPost it was a mix of extreme political theater and dehumanizing violence against migrants.



Border experts and civil liberties advocates say the new federal strategy is yet another aspect of Trumps aggressive seizures of power, particularly when it comes to sealing the border and pursuing mass deportation of immigrants.



Theres a lot of human rights concerns around using the military, which is basically trained for war, versus using law enforcement thats trained to do civilian enforcement, said Vicki Gaubeca, associate director for U.S. immigration and border policy at Human Rights Watch.



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The Trump administration, she added, seems to be scouring the books to figure out a way to concentrate more power under the executive.



A Meeting Of The Military And Border Patrol



The dramatic changes at the border have happened quickly.



Last month, Trump issued an executive order on sealing the southern border and repelling invasions in which he commanded that a 60-foot strip of land running parallel to the border be transferred from the Interior Department to the Department of Defense and made into a military installation. He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use the land to address the emergency at the southern border, including by exclud[ing] persons from a military installation.



Two new military installations have since been designated.



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The first, announced in an April 21 military press release, covers the 170-mile stretch of the New Mexico-Mexico border and is known as the New Mexico National Defense Area. Its now considered an extension of Fort Huachuca, which is nearly 100 miles away in Arizona.



The second was only announced Thursday, when the Defense Department put out a press release about the El Paso National Defense Area, or EPNDA.

The new NDA comprises 2,000 acres of land, including the banks and bed of the Rio Grande River along the southern border from the American Dam in El Paso to Fort Hancock, Texas; approximately 63 miles, a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson, Capt. May Morales, told HuffPost in a statement.

The land was transferred from the International Boundary and Water Commission to the Department of the Army and is assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

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The newly designated El Paso National Defense Area is not part of the original Department of the Interior Roosevelt Reservation, which ends in New Mexico and was recently transferred to the DoD for border operations, an Interior Department spokesperson, J. Elizabeth Peace, added in a statement after this article was published.

News: Another National Defense Area established in TX. El Paso NDA is now part of Ft. Bliss. @JointTFSB troops under #USNORTHCOM will operate with the same authorities & tasks as those in the NM NDA. LINK: https://t.co/Z6A5iORccspic.twitter.com/xkCeK9qPJ1  U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) May 1, 2025

Trumps militarized use of the New Mexico border land is based on a 1907 proclamation from Roosevelt, who set aside the strip of land in California, Arizona and New Mexico as a protection against the smuggling of goods between Mexico and the United States. The new military installation does not include Native American reservations.

Even before the introduction of EPNDA, dozens of people had been detained under the new military authority and are now facing federal charges.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, the top federal prosecutor in New Mexico, on Thursday announced 82 new federal counts filed against individuals who willfully violated the New Mexico National Defense Area. The charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, Ellisons office said in a press release.

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U.S. troops are authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution, Ellison said, adding that he was working hand in glove with the military and border patrol. He even posted handshake emojis on X showing the bizarre new relationship:

The DOJ will work hand in glove with the DOD and USBP to gain 100% operational control of New Mexicos 180-mile border with Mexico. Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecutedno exceptions.



DOJ  DOD  USBP



 https://t.co/lzplLWr3ZIpic.twitter.com/OGo1ytYRtn  U.S. Attorney NM (@USAO_NM) May 1, 2025

The Tucson Sentinel has tracked down charging papers against at least 28 defendants who were arrested starting April 24. On top of the novel charges related to the military base, theyre also accused of entering the United States without authorization, a standard border enforcement charge.

Joint Task Force Southern Border has not detained any unauthorized trespassers within the New Mexico National Defense Area, Morales, the U.S. Northern Command spokesperson, said in her statement. Its not clear which agency specifically made these initial arrests.

Trump used some Roosevelt Reservation land in his first term to build sections of border wall.

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But the move to use the land for border militarization shows the new extremes to which he is willing to go in his second term, which has been marked by a series of so-called emergency declarations that have allowed Trump to seize more and more power.

Border Patrol agents are civilian law enforcement officers with border-specific training. Members of the military are not.

I dont think that would have even passed the laugh test during the first Trump administration, said Adam Isaacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America. Can you imagine proposing that to [former Defense Secretary] James Mattis?

A Transparent Ruse

Administration officials have repeatedly indicated that their goal in establishing the military installations is to enforce civilian immigration law.

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Since January, the department has stepped up efforts to curb illegal crossings, read a military press release last week, which quoted Hegseth saying: Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base  a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by U.S. troops and border patrol working together.

If someone steps on there, theyre stepping on a military installation. Now they can be detained by the military, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Brian Kilmeade earlier this week, referring to the New Mexico National Defense Area.

But legal experts say the border ploy appears to be a way for the administration to get around the law that keeps the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement.

The Brennan Center, a nonpartisan law and policy organization, called the move a transparent ruse to evade the Posse Comitatus Act without congressional authorization.

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The nominal justification for apprehending and detaining migrants who cross the border is protecting the installation. But the installation itself was created to apprehend and detain migrants, as well as to secure their removal, the Brennan Centers Elizabeth Goitein and Joseph Nunn wrote in an analysis published Wednesday.

These civilian law enforcement activities are not incidental  they are the reason for creating the installation. And apprehending migrants who trespass on the installation is the primary way in which this law enforcement mission will be furthered.

The new strategy is bizarre not only for its legal reasoning, but also practically: Unauthorized border crossings are already quite low thanks to Trumps radical attack against asylum rights.

Taking After Texas

U.S. soldiers have been operating around the border for years  but not like this.

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Thousands of National Guard soldiers, for example, have been part of a federal border mission since Trumps first term, a deployment Joe Biden continued. But up until now, they have only been allowed to do support work, including building infrastructure and conducting surveillance, and theyve never been directly involved with hands-on arrests of migrants.

A completely separate mission  on the state level, not federal  has seen Texas National Guard troops helping to arrest migrants, and it highlights some of the potential hazards with Trumps new border scheme.

Since 2021, Texas Gov. Abbott has sent thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers to the border as part of Operation Lone Star. The program has also included state troopers, and has involved busing migrants around the country, especially to Democratic cities like New York and Chicago.

Abbotts operation also previewed Trumps current strategy: He deputized the soldiers to help enforce state law. In effect, this has involved soldiers actively directing migrants to cross at certain parts of the border, like private ranch land, where they can be arrested for violating state trespassing laws.

Thousands of migrants have been charged with state trespassing violations as part of the operation. Many have languished in state jails for months, simply for going where Texas soldiers told them to go.

Soldiers who have spoken to HuffPost about Operation Lone Star said it is largely political theater, featuring soldiers carrying long guns and dressing in camouflage, measures Border Patrol agents generally dont use.

However, the state has also tasked soldiers with deterring border crossings, which involves shouting at migrants to turn back  and occasionally threatening them, harassing them and even carrying out violence against them, as HuffPost has reported. (The state claims Operation Lone Star maintains comprehensive accountability and oversight for all Service Members.)

Kristin Etter, director of policy and legal services at the Texas Immigration Law Council, said the new Roosevelt Reservation scheme is just one more area where Texas seems to have been a testing ground for the Trump administration.

The overarching theme is that we just have a giant negative [public relations] campaign against immigrants, Etter said. So that people see immigrants as criminals, so that you can put them in handcuffs and jumpsuits, and then people dont really care what youre doing to them when youre taking away due process.

Related...
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced he would rename Veterans Day as Victory Day for World War I in an attempt to purportedly celebrate U.S. military victories.

In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the move was needed to honor the unique U.S. sacrifices in both World Wars. Trump also announced he would rename Victory in Europe Day, which is commemorated on May 8, to Victory in World War II Day to recognize that we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.

We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything, Trump wrote. Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!

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The move to rename Veterans Day is surprising. The holiday was originally established in the aftermath of World War I as Armistice Day to honor American veterans who served in the bloody conflict. In the 1950s, the holiday was broadened to honor all American veterans, including those who served in World War II and the Korean War. Veterans Day was made a federal holiday in 1968 and current commemorations honor U.S. servicemembers from the Vietnam War, Gulf War and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, among other U.S. military operations.

May 8 does correspond with the end of fighting against Nazi Germany. But the U.S. continued fighting against Japan until September 1945, after Japan surrendered in the wake of the United States dropping two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unlike Veterans Day, Victory in Europe Day is not a federal holiday.

Trumps claim that the U.S. did more to secure victory in World War II may face sharp resistance from Russia, which has long emphasized heavy Soviet military casualties suffered during what is remembered as the Great Patriotic War. Almost 9 million Soviet troops and 19 million Soviet civilians were killed while fighting off Nazi Germanys military campaigns on the European wars eastern front. The United Kingdom also weathered considerable damage from German bombing raids.
President Donald Trump announced he is renaming Veterans Day to Victory Day to honor World War I soldiers and celebrate how America won both wars.

Veterans Day, which takes place on November 11, was originally called Armistice Day in the U.S. by then-President Woodrow Wilson to honor the heroism of those who died in the countrys service and with gratitude for the victory. It was later renamed Veterans Day to honor all American military veterans.

The president also revealed he wants to change the name of VE-Day on May 8 to Victory Day for World War II.

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Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II, Trump reasoned on Truth Social. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I.

President Donald Trump announced that he wants to change the names of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and VE Day on May 8 to Victory Day for World War I and World War II, respectively. (Getty Images)

It is unclear how Trump will go about changing the names, as he has not yet signed an executive order.

We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything, Trump added. Thats because we dont have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!

Critics were quick to point out that while the war in Europe came to an end when Germany surrendered on May 8, America continued to fight the Japanese in World War II until August 15, 1945.

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We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered, former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said in a post on X. Trump is a complete moron.

Critics called Trump out on social media, with many suggesting he had confused some dates. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Sometimes Trump comes up with things so monumentally stupid even Im at a loss for words, former Army officer and MeidasTouch podcast host Fred Wellman said on X. He wants to take away Veterans Day. He thinks WWII ended on May 8th. This is all so ridiculous.

Just embarrassing, Larry Sabota, director of UVAs Center for Politics, said. Trump doesn't even know the basic facts about WWI and WWII.

Trumps claim that America did more than any other country by far is also likely to ruffle Russian feathers. In Russia, Victory Day is held on May 9 to mark the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany.

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Nazi Germany surrendered in May 1945. For Americans, the Second World War would rage for three more months, until VJ Day in August, David Frum, a writer at The Atlantic, said. But for Russians and those influenced by them, "Victory Day" falls in May. Trump follows the Russian practice, not the American.

Meanwhile, plans have emerged for a huge military parade to mark Trumps birthday in June. The Army plans call from more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, according to The Associated Press.
A Fort Carson staff sergeant who was present at an illegal nightclub during a large-scale federal raid Sunday morning was arrested on suspicion of cocaine distribution Wednesday by the FBI.

Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, 27, is facing one federal count each for distribution and for possession with intent to distribute, connected to his alleged involvement in cocaine distribution, according to a Thursday news release from the FBI. The DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.

During his initial appearance in the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Denver Thursday, Orona-Rodriguez appeared calm as his charges were read to him. Each count has a possible sentencing of up to 20 years in prison with no more than a $1 million fine, or both a fine and imprisonment. Each charge also would require not less than three years and up to life on a supervised release, Magistrate Judge Timothy P O'Hara said.

According to court records, Orona-Rodriguez's offenses started no later than Sept. 16, 2024, and continued to at least April 9. Between those dates, investigators recovered numerous text messages between Orona-Rodriguez and another unnamed individual. The arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette states investigators are aware of the other person's identity and know they are "unlawfully present in the United States without admission and is a Mexican citizen." Investigators said they believe that individual is a source of supply for illegal drugs to Orona-Rodriguez.

Other photos and texts outlined in the arrest affidavit indicate Orona-Rodriguez was also allegedly involved with the unlawful sale of firearms. One thread of messages related to firearms in the document lays out texts between he and an alleged potential buyer, "present without admission in the United States."

The affidavit claims that Orona-Rodriguez also sold cocaine to an undercover DEA agent just a week before the raid.

Based on documents provided to the DEA, Orona-Rodriguez appears to hold a leadership/ownership role in a business called Immortal Security. The affidavit states Immortal Security provides armed security at nightclubs  including an after-hours, unlawful nightclub identified as "Warike" in the affidavit. That club was the site of the DEA raid on April 27.

According to the affidavit, DEA agents believe employees of Immortal Security, including Orona-Rodriguez, were involved in drug distribution and that some carried firearms while providing security at Warike and similar establishments.

The affidavit also states that Orona-Rodriguez received a developmental counseling form from his commanding officer in the spring of 2025" related to his after-hours security work. He was allegedly told at that time that working for Immortal Security is off-limits to military.

Orona-Rodriguez was one of 17 soldiers present at the raided nightclub April 27.

The raid resulted in 105 arrests, including individuals in the U.S. illegally, officials said. On Monday, a social media post from the DEA showed a busload of 60 people who had been detained in the raid.

More than 300 law enforcement officers from at least 10 agencies raided the property at 296 S. Academy Blvd., at the northwest corner of Academy Boulevard and Airport Road.

The DEA said federal agents are investigating drug trafficking, prostitution and other violent crimes that allegedly occurred at the nightclub.

The Colorado Springs Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriffs Office assisted in the operation, officials said. An unspecified quantity of drugs and weapons were found during the raid.

Law enforcement officials said the property had been under investigation for months, and local law enforcement was informed of the raid weeks in advance.

Fort Carson officials confirmed Monday that "several" of its soldiers were present at the club at the time of the raid. The soldiers were either patrons of the club or moonlighting as security, DEA officials said.

Illegal activities of any kind do not represent our military values, Fort Carson officials stated in an email. We will continue to work in coordination with our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to ensure our community is safe.

Orona-Rodriguez has served in the military for more than eight years. He has no prior felony convictions, according to court records.

At the time of his arrest, he was on assignment with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Orona-Rodriguez holds the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device; two Army Commendation Medals; 10 Army Achievement Medals; three Certificates of Achievement; and Meritorious Unit Commendations.

Orona-Rodriguez was being held at the El Paso County jail with a no-bond hold. He was released to the FBI Thursday, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. His preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.

Gazette's Michael Braithwaite contributed to this report.
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump is asking Congress for a national defense budget of $892.6 billion for fiscal year 2026, flat compared to 2025 spending.

The budget request, unveiled by the White House on Friday, prioritizes rebuilding the military, re-establishing deterrence, and promoting national security.

The White House Office of Management and Budget "is not requesting a trillion-dollar budget. It is requesting a budget of $892.6 billion, which is a cut in real terms," Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. "This budget would decrease President Trump's military options and his negotiating leverage."

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The proposed national security figure includes funding for the Department of Defense, as well as other agencies and programs that contribute to the country's security and defense.

In addition to the budget request, congressional Republicans plan to introduce a $150-billion defense package as part of Trump's sweeping tax cuts bill, which will cut taxes by $5 trillion and add $5.7 trillion to the federal government's debt over the next decade.

Funds associated with the massive reconciliation bill can begin to be spent once the bill passes, and will last into 2026.

According to a statement from the White House, the Defense Department budget request "builds on the President's promise to achieve peace through strength by providing the resources to rebuild our military, re-establish deterrence, and revive the warrior ethos of our Armed Forces."

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The White House said the funding will be used to strengthen U.S. safety, security, and sovereignty, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize the defense industrial base.

The budget request will now be subject to review and debate in Congress, with lawmakers expected to weigh in on the proposed spending levels and priorities in the coming weeks and months.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in WashingtonEditing by Rod Nickel)
A view of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, on April 22, 2025. Credit - Kyle Mazza/AnadoluGetty Images

More than a month after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump for freezing its federal funding, the President has come back with another financial swing against the university.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status, Trump posted on Truth Social early Friday. Its what they deserve!

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The immediate effect of Trumps declaration is not immediately clear. Per U.S. law, it is illegal for the President and other senior officials to ask the IRS to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.

Lily Batchelder, a New York University School of Law professor on tax policy, called the announcement a lawless action by the President.

If the President can announce that he is revoking the tax-exempt status of a charity, we have crossed a rubicon that has no clear end. What will stop him or any President from weaponizing the IRS to intimidate any political opponents or groups he dislikes into silence? she says.

Harvard University was one of the first higher education institutions in recent weeks to stand firmly against the Trump Administrationwhich ordered the university to take on anti-DEI policies, among other measures. The schools pushback has placed $2.2 billion in multi-year federal funding at risk, and the Administration has threatened to pull another $1 billion in grants. Federal funding exceeds the $2.4 billion distributed by Harvards endowment for the fiscal year ending in June 2024, which made up nearly 40% of the institutions total operating revenue..

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Much of the universitys staff has cheered the universitys decision, with dozens of professors vowing to take pay cuts in order to help the university battle Trump in court.

Private universities and colleges are tax-exempt if they qualify for 501(c)(3), or nonprofit, status, which requires that they operate exclusively foreducational purposes, according to the Association of American Universities (AAU). Higher education schools must show they are complying through tax filings, audits, and reports. An institution can lose its tax-exempt status if it fails to abide by rules regarding the valuation, disclosure, and use of charitable gifts, the AAU says. Batchelder lists examples, such as exceeding limits on lobbying and board members or executive directors using the charity for their personal gains.

The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research, and technological advancements that drive economic growth. There is no legal basis to rescind Harvards tax-exempt status, a Harvard University spokesperson told TIME in an emailed statement.

The IRS directed TIME to the Treasury Department for comment, which did not immediately respond to a request.

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Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission, the Harvard spokesperson added. It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation. The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.

For fiscal year 2024, Harvard distributed more than $749 million in financial aid and scholarships. About 55% of Harvard undergraduates received need-based scholarships.

Harvard University is also under investigation by the Trump Administration over pro-Palestinian campus protests and allegations of anti-semitism on campus. In April, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would cancel $2.7 million in grants to Harvard because of the participation of some international students in pro-Palestinain protests. Harvard bending the knee to antisemitismdriven by its spineless leadershipfuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security, said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Noem asked for Harvards records pertaining to foreign student visa holders, saying it would lose its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification if it did not comply. The program allows international students to study in the U.S.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Critics are blasting President Donald Trump over a plan for the U.S. Army to hold a massive parade on June 14.

That date is both the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Trumps birthday, and the parade is ostensibly for the military and not the president.

However, Trump has long craved just such a military spectacle. He wanted one during his first term, but had to settle for a somewhat smaller-scale event instead.

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And while the Army has long planned a celebration for its big birthday, The Associated Press reports that those plans didnt include a parade until very recently. The news agency said the event could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles as well as thousands of soldiers.

The U.S. military does not typically have large parades, even for big milestones, except on rare occasions. The last major military parades in the United States of this scale may have been for the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

In addition, Trumps parade comes as he ushers in an era of strict austerity, with major cuts across departments and throughout the federal government, including cuts to scientific research, school lunches and hunger programs.

The parade he wanted in his first term had an estimated price tag of $92 million.

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Critics called out Trump for making cuts to essential services while also finding the cash for a big parade:

Cutting cancer research while wasting money on this? Shameful.



Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trumps birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand pic.twitter.com/p36xtfbM1O  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 2, 2025

The scent of North Korea. https://t.co/8eR9SiwWnG  Jose A. Cabrera (@CabreraCostas) May 2, 2025

Waste, fraud and abuse.   Mark Farina (@djmarkfarina) May 1, 2025

The protests will be far bigger



Army plans for a potential parade on Trump's birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns | AP News https://t.co/NZ9owhFqkE  Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini)  (@AdamKinzinger) May 2, 2025

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But Meals on Wheels is canceled, children lunch programs, gone!

It's all about HIM!  Peggy Gabour (@peggy_gabour) May 2, 2025

Trump Plans $92 Million Military Parade-Honoring Himself.

If you think this is a joke it's not (link): https://t.co/KzLp0ZhXPVpic.twitter.com/V3aDjpbzZI  Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) April 8, 2025

We cant afford naloxone, but he is throwing himself a victory parade https://t.co/ORzr8yYMlX  Dr. Emily Brunner, MD DFASAM (@DrEmilyBrunner) May 2, 2025

North Korea is getting jealous https://t.co/odGTsipO8L  Paul Tencher (@paultencher) May 2, 2025

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When were ready to cut waste, I know where to start. https://t.co/G8JmzJhbKb  Political Punk (@actingliketommy) May 2, 2025

So @DOGE fired cancer researchers at @NIH and medical personnel at the @DeptVetAffairs, because the government needs to cut spending, but we're going to waste money on this totally unnecessary thing? Just disgusting. #MAGA#hypocrisyexposedhttps://t.co/Hb5rjrnnfu  Chris DiLapi (Big Twelve Conference Supporter) (@cmdilapi) May 2, 2025

This shit is disturbing https://t.co/4wxH7EVNKa  Krystal Ball (@krystalball) May 2, 2025

The Fuhrer wants a Nuremberg style parade on his birthday. https://t.co/aWm4ZEPKaF  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 1, 2025

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Perfect. And every Trump supporter attending the parade gets a free black shirt. https://t.co/clZMLPGIxN  Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) May 2, 2025

When the government efficiency hits https://t.co/UFmevwg7vD  Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 2, 2025

Hes in his Kim Jung Un era https://t.co/PLWjmnoXok  TJ L'Heureux (@tjlheureux0) May 2, 2025

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Sounds like a waste, born from abuse, from a complete fraud.



The Trump checklist trifecta.  https://t.co/ymfnqBQYH2  Ethan (@Ethan_Norof) May 2, 2025

This is dictator stuff https://t.co/adsWq4Bd7O  Fernando Gallo (@FernandoRGallo) May 2, 2025

Im sure DOGE is all over it. https://t.co/r3GEVNfIEv  Lee (@lee_montgomery) May 2, 2025

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President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration would revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status, escalating his fight with the nations oldest institution of higher education.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status, Trump wrote in a social media post. Its what they deserve!

Harvard, along with many other universities across the country, are exempt from paying taxes because they are included in section 501(c)(3) of U.S. tax code which designates them as nonprofits.

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The IRS could yank Harvards tax-exempt status, though not without cause. It would be required to show the school is violating longstanding rules governing when entities can receive a tax exemption. That would likely be a lengthy process, and Harvard would be free to challenge the decision in court  a case some experts have said the school would likely win.

There is no legal basis to rescind Harvards tax-exempt status, a Harvard spokesperson said in a statement. Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission. It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation.

An IRS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trumps latest social media post comes as a battle between the prestigious university and his administration continues to spiral.

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The Trump administration launched a review of roughly $9 billion in federal grants and contracts with the university over 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.

The administration has already rescinded more than $2 billion in federal funding from the school and is weighing whether to pull another $1 billion in grants. Harvard is suing the administration to challenge the decision to cut off money from the institution. The university said the far-reaching demands of Trump's antisemitism task force  which included changes to the university's hiring, admissions, discipline and programming  for reinstating the cash were unreasonable.

Trump threatened the universitys tax-exempt status, a few weeks ago, and the Department of Homeland Security has suggested it may revoke Harvards ability to enroll international students, who make up about 27 percent of its total enrollment and a key source of revenue. The Education Department is also probing the universitys foreign funding.

Last month, the president took to social media to ask whether Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity.

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The IRS reportedly then started looking into that shortly thereafter, however it is illegal for government officials to push the IRS to audit or investigate individual taxpayers.

The White House has said that the president wouldnt play any role in any investigation from the tax agency into Harvard. But Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, are urging the IRS watchdog to investigate whether the administration is illegally pressuring the agency to strip Harvard of its tax exemption.

House Democrats also criticized the president's post.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on House Ways and Means, said "Harvard has done nothing wrong." The president's efforts to pull the university's tax-exempt status, he said, amounted to "weaponizing" the government to attack institutions in a way Republican lawmakers  including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)  have previously decried.

I couldnt have said it better myself, Neal said, pointing to the video clips.

Brian Faler and Bernie Becker contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump on Friday renewed his threat to take away Harvard's tax-exempt status.

"We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve," Trump wrote in a post to his conservative social media platform. He first floated the idea in mid-April.

Any attempt to do so, though, would likely face legal challenges.

A Harvard spokesperson told ABC News there's no "legal basis" to rescind the university's tax-exempt status and said it would endanger the school's ability to carry out its mission.

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"Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission," the spokesperson said. "It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation. The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America."

MORE: Harvard sues Trump administration over threats to cut funding if demands go unmet

PHOTO: People walk through Harvard Yard on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachussetts, April 15, 2025. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Trump admin freezes billions in funding to Harvard University after rejecting demands

Trump has taken aim at the university after it said it would not comply with the administration's series of demands, including actions on antisemitism and the use of DEI on campus.

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The Trump administration has already frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, as well as $60 million in multi-year contract value to the institution. Harvard sued the administration in response, alleging the freeze violates the First Amendment and federal law.

Taking away the school's tax-exempt status would be the latest escalation.

Federal law bars the president from directly or indirectly ordering the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.

Sources previously told ABC News that the IRS was considering revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status. The White House said in a statement to ABC News in mid-April that any investigation by the IRS into Harvard began before President Trump began posting on his social media account that the school should lose its tax-exempt status.

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Many major public and private colleges in the U.S. are exempt from federal income under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code because of their educational mission, research and public service.

"The government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission," the Harvard spokesperson said. "The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research, and technological advancements that drive economic growth."

ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Katherine Faulders, Arthur Jones and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.

Harvard hits back 'no legal basis' for Trump move to take away tax-exempt status originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The United States will in future mark the allied victory in World War II on May 8, the day Germany surrendered in 1945, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday.

"Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything," he said.

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"That's because we don't have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" Trump concluded.

The New York Times noted that the announcement was not accompanied by an executive order and that the power to create public holidays rests with Congress.

May 8 is known in the US as V-E Day  or Victory in Europe Day  while November 11 marking the end of World War I in 1918 is Veterans Day. The US marks Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, on September 2, the day Japan surrendered in 1945.

Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, reflecting the time difference and continuing a Soviet tradition. President Vladimir Putin has given increased significance to the day over recent years, holding large parades on Moscow's Red Square.

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The New York Times said Trump's claim that the US did more than any other nation to defeat Nazi Germany might be contested in Russia, where Victory Day to honour the 27 million Soviets who died in the war is a national holiday.

US history has been a particular focus for Trump. On March 31, he signed an executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" requiring a re-examination of how the US assesses its past.
The United States will in future mark the allied victory in World War II on May 8, the day Germany surrendered in 1945, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday.

"Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything," he said.

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"That's because we don't have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" Trump concluded.

The New York Times noted that the announcement was not accompanied by an executive order and that the power to create public holidays rests with Congress.

May 8 is known in the US as V-E Day  or Victory in Europe Day  while November 11 marking the end of World War I in 1918 is Veterans Day. The US marks Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, on September 2, the day Japan surrendered in 1945.

Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, reflecting the time difference and continuing a Soviet tradition. President Vladimir Putin has given increased significance to the day over recent years, holding large parades on Moscow's Red Square.
Donald Trump said he will revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status.

We are going to be taking away Harvards tax exempt status. Its what they deserve! Mr Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The university is already in a legal battle with the Trump administration over the freezing of 1.7 billion ($2.2 billion) in federal grants.

Mr Trump initially threatened to revoke the status last month.

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On April 15, he said: Perhaps Harvard should lose its tax exempt status and be taxed as a political entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting sickness?

Harvard, the nations oldest and wealthiest university, said a revocation of its tax-exempt status would be unlawful and unprecedented.

A spokesperson said: There is no legal basis to rescind Harvards tax-exempt status.

The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.

The move would also cut money available for student scholarships, medical research and technological advancements that drive economic growth, the Harvard spokesperson said.

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Most universities, including Harvard, are exempt from federal income tax because they are deemed to be charitable organisations.

The exemption also allows people to make tax-deductible donations.

Following the implementation of a 2017 law, Harvard and other universities have to pay a 1.4 per cent excise tax on their endowments.

Harvards endowment amounted to 40 billion ($53.2 billion) as of the 2024 fiscal year, when it paid more than 33 million ($44 million) in taxes.

The Democrats have asked the Treasury to investigate any Inland Revenue Service actions being taken against Harvard.

Diane Yentel, president of the national council of non-profits, said in a statement Mr Trumps actions are an abuse of executive power and an existential threat to the entire nonprofit sector.

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If the Trump administration can silence universities today, who will be next? Ms Yentel said.

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Six nightclubs around Colorado Springs have been investigated for potential illegal activity since 2022, according to Colorado Springs police.

Police said New Havana Bar and Grill off North Academy Boulevard, an unnamed after-hours club on Palmer Park Boulevard, and La Terraza on South Circle Drive were all shut down through the public nuisance process.

Police said Babilonia Bar and Grill on East Platte Avenue, Nova Nightclub on South Nevada Avenue and El Huracan on South Academy Boulevard were evicted by their property owners.

A Police Department spokesperson told The Gazette some of these clubs were licensed and some were unlicensed. The spokesperson said each of the locations had multiple calls for service, which started a police investigation and the public nuisance process.

Meanwhile, Vickie Johnson said when she heard about the federal raid at an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs that led to the arrest of a Fort Carson soldier on suspicion of cocaine distribution on Sunday morning, she felt relieved that investigators were "finally doing something."

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"I'm so glad that they're ... they're closing these places down," she told Gazette news partner KOAA.

Johnson's son, Elijah Beatty, was shot and killed at a different unlicensed nightclub on Airport Road in December 2022. She said he had previously worked as a security guard at the club before his friends became worried for his safety.

A shooting in March 2023 left one dead and another injured at an unauthorized after-hours club at 2727 Palmer Park Blvd., police said. Braden Peltier, a 23-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Carson, died in the shooting.

Read more at koaa.com.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged bias in the broadcasters reporting.

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS and further requires that that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

Its the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with. Since taking office, Trump has ousted leaders, placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters and others, through takeovers of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agreed to eliminate diversity programs and other measures Trump has found objectionable.

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The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and have been preparing for the possibility of stiff cuts since Trumps election, as Republicans have long complained about them.

Paula Kerger, PBS CEO and president, said in a statement last month that the Trump administrations effort to rescind funding for public media would disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.

Theres nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress, she said. This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued Trump earlier this week over his move to fire three members of its five-person board, contending that the president was exceeding his authority and that the move would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business.

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Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. That package, however, which budget director Russell Vought said would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill.

The move against PBS and NPR comes as his administration has been working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press. Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, who have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.

Pittsburghs local PBS station, WQED, was the countrys first community-supported television station. It started broadcasting in 1954 and is the home of Fred Rogers. Rogers testified before Congress in 1969 to secure what he deemed as critical funding for public broadcasting.



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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.

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President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that seeks to restrict public funds to NPR and PBS, two independent public news organizations that have faced Republicans ire for reporting they claim is biased.

The extraordinary order, which the president signed behind closed doors aboard Air Force One and the White House announced around midnight, is the biggest escalation yet in the Trump administrations assault on the media.

The order claims that NPR and PBS produce biased and partisan news coverage and calls for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation to which Congress appropriates more than $500 million annually, to cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and  decline to provide future funding to the news organizations.

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Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter, the order says. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.

Federal funding accounts for about 15 percent of PBS annual revenue and 1 percent of NPRs annual budget. PBS produces both news and non-news content.

The order is all but certain to be challenged in court.

Trump and congressional Republicans have for months threatened to cut funding to the organizations. In March, the leaders of PBS and NPR testified before the House DOGE panel to defend their federal funding.

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The Presidents blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years," PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a Friday morning statement to POLITICO. "We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

Kerger said Tuesday on the network that many local stations would not exist without federal funding. This is really a resource that the communities treasure and would not exist were there not federal dollars to help, she added.

In a statement to the DOGE panel in March, Katherine Maher, NPRs president and CEO, stressed the organizations independence and asked Congress to give us the opportunity to continue to serve the American people with this unique and vital resource.

A spokesperson for NPR did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump in March wrote an executive order seeking to hollow out Voice of America, another independent, government-funded media organization the president has long accused of bias. A judge has since blocked that order.
President Trump signed a late-night executive order Thursday that would strip funds from NPR and PBS  further escalating his war on public broadcasters and the media as a whole.

No media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies, and the Government is entitled to determine which categories of activities to subsidize, Trump wrote in the order, instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease indirect and direct federal funding for the two outlets.

The president has accused both organizations of projecting biased viewpoints to the public.

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Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax paying citizens, he wrote in the order.

CBP pushed back on Trumps executive actions, saying the administration does not have authority over their funding.

CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the Presidents authority, CBP President Patricia Harrison said in a Friday statement. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.

In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors.

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Congress has already approved funding for the corporation through September 2027.

NPR receives about 1 percent of its funding directly from the federal government, while its 246 member institutions  operating more than 1,300 stations  receive on average 8 percent to 10 percent of their funding from the CPB, according to the outlet.

PBS and its stations receive about 15 percent of their revenues from the CPBs federal funds, NPR reported.

Both companies have served the public news for more than five decades, and representatives argue a cut to their funding would hurt marginalized communities.

The big impact would be on rural stations, stations in geographies that are quite large or complex; in order to be able to receive broadcast or infrastructure, costs are very high, NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in an interview on the network earlier this month.

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You could see some of those stations really having to cut back services or potentially going away altogether, she added.

Her counterpart echoed those concerns.

Theres nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement The Associated Press. This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.

In a statement, she said the company is currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.

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Trumps executive order comes weeks after the administration attempted to dismantle Voice of America and affiliated news services. A federal judge blocked the effort.

Its unclear whether PBS or NPR will file a lawsuit over potential funding cuts ordered by the president. Both entities say the public is in dire need of their services.

About 20 percent of Americans live in an area without any other local news coverage other than their local public radio station, Maher said.

This is tremendously important as a public service and just because not every single person uses it every day  you know, I dont drive on our interstates every day, and yet when I need it, its there. The same is true of public media, she added.

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Trump has also pressed GOP lawmakers in recent weeks to slash funding from both entities. Earlier this month, the House Oversight and Government Reforms Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee peppered Maher and Kerger with accusations of bias against conservatives and questions about funding during a hearing.

The Federal Communications Commission also recently launched an investigation into the media outlets for what it alleged was unlawful airing of commercials.

Updated at 1:44 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.
Late Thursday night, Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing unspecified bias as justification.

The executive order, which attacks NPR and PBS as spreaders of radical woke propaganda disguised as news,' who receive millions from taxpayers, doesnt just concern direct funding. It also commands the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the publicly funded nonprofit that oversees NPR and PBS, along with other unnamed government agencies, to identify indirect sources of government funding that may go to those outlets.

Trump said in mid-April he would be asking congress to cut funding for the CPB, but no such bill has been submitted to the House of Representatives or the Senate.

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NPR and PBS receive approximately half a billion dollars in public funding. This amounts to a small fraction of total funding for the media outlets however. For example, the largest source of funding for NPR 36%  comes from corporate sponsorships. The second largest source  30%  is via fees that local public stations pay for access to NPR programming.

Public funds amount to less than 1% of the money NPR directly receives from the U.S. government  though it receives slightly more public funds indirectly, as member stations also receive on average 10% of their budgets via public funding. Those funds likely will come under attack via the executive order.

Given that NPR and PBS funding is set by congress and that per the constitution and multiple related laws the President cannot unilaterally revoke laws passed by congress, its likely legal challenges to this order will follow.

Both outlets have long been targets for Trump, who on March 25 said during a White House press event that he would love to do that, and then complained that the outlets coverage is unfair and very biased.

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The next day, congressional Republicans held a combative hearing in which, among other things, they accused PBS of using taxpayer funds to push some of the most radical left positions.

During the hearing, Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, defended the outlets work saying in part, PBS stations provide something that cannot be found on commercial networks. This is because PBS stations are focused on the needs and interests of the viewers they serve, especially in rural areas.

Also at the hearing was NPR chief Katherine Maher, who attempted a conciliatory approach, asserting at one point that NPR was mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story aggressively.

Maher, who assumed her role at NPR in 2024, also addressed politically charged tweets she posted in 2020  which included describing Donald Trump as fascist and deranged racist sociopath  by disavowing them entirely.

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I regret those tweets. I would not tweet them again today. They represented a time where I was reflecting on something that I believe that the president had said, rather than who he is. I dont presume that anyone is a racist, she said. Trumps latest executive order suggests this did not succeed in mollifying the President.

The executive order not only continues Trumps attacks on media he deems unfriendly, but also his efforts to ideologically remake wide swaths of the federal government. In February for example, Trump fired several fired several board members of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and named himself chairman.

The post Trump Slashes Federal Funding to PBS, NPR in Executive Order appeared first on TheWrap.
President Donald Trump suggested that congressional Republicans should expel Democratic lawmakers from Congress in response to a so-far small impeachment push that has not been endorsed by party leadership.

In a lengthy Truth Social post published late Thursday night, the president wrote: The Democrats are really out of control. They have lost everything, especially their minds! These Radical Left Lunatics are into the Impeachment thing again. They have already got two No Name, little respected Congressmen, total Whackjobs both, throwing the Impeachment of DONALD J. TRUMP around.

The Republicans should start to think about expelling them from Congress for all of the crimes that they have committed, especially around Election time(s), Trump continued, calling Democrats very dishonest people that wont let our Country heal and total LOWLIFES, who hate our Country, and everything it stands for.

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Perhaps we should start playing this game on them, and expel Democrats for the many crimes that they have committed, the president wrote.

Democrats are not wholly on board with the idea of impeaching Trump for a third time, with House Democratic Conference Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) telling Semafor that impeachment is not an exercise that were willing to undertake. Last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said impeachment was too far away to even judge as a viable option for the current moment.

There is no evidence that Democrats committed any crimes against Trump  as he claimed in his post on Thursday, mentioning Sen. Adam Schiff, specifically  but the president has repeatedly made his thirst for revenge clear, and since taking office again has moved to exact it both through social media directive and through leveraging the hard power of the federal government he now controls.

In March, after months of threats on the campaign trail, Trump attempted to undo preemptive pardons granted to members of the Jan. 6 Committee whom Trump had singled out as potential prosecution targets. The Pardons that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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While no member of Congress has yet been charged by Trumps administration, the White House seems to be getting comfortable with using the justice system to retaliate or make an example of political rivals. The FBI last week made a public show of arresting Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after accusing her of obstructing the arrest of an undocumented migrant. The administration has also launched an investigation into Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, who in 2020 debunked false claims that Trump had lost the election to fraud.

The retribution is only just beginning. On Wednesday, White House border czar Tom Homan was asked by a reporter why the administration doesnt just arrest the leaders of sanctuary cities and sanctuary states for harboring and shielding illegal aliens, actually, terrorists from deportation.



Homans response can only be interpreted as a threat: Wait and see whats coming.

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President Donald Trump issued an executive order last night that is supposed to end federal funding for the public TV network PBS and the public radio network NPR. Specifically, he ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop its direct subsidies to those networks "to the maximum extent allowed by law" and to revise its grants to individual stations to block them from spending taxpayers' money on PBS or NPR programs. The order also instructs all executive agencies to eliminate any flow of funds to the two networks, and it asks the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate whether the networks are guilty of illegal discrimination.

If you're a totebag-hating Tory who wants to kick Daniel Tiger off the dole, you may be in for some disappointment. That phrase "to the maximum extent allowed by law" did not come from nowhere; this move is guaranteed to run into legal trouble. It also seems, on the surface at least, to be bizarrely timed, since Congress is supposed to vote on a rescission bill soon that would cut off the CPB's money anyway.

The biggest legal issue here is pretty simple: The CPB is not a part of the executive branch, so it isn't clear how the president would have the authority to issue those demands. I don't mean that it is an "independent agency" like the Federal Trade Commission; I mean that it is not, officially, a government agency at all. The law that established the corporation said it "would not be an agency or establishment of the United States Government." As a statutory matter, it isn't an arm of the federal apparatus.

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As a practical matter, of course, the CPB is very much an arm of the federal apparatusand the Oval Office has a long history of putting pressure on it, going all the way back to the organization's origins under President Lyndon Johnson. And of course, the president nominates new members to the CPB board when their predecessors' terms elapse, though they then have to be confirmed by the Senate. Trump is, in fact, in the midst of a legal fight right now over his attempt to fire three members of the board before their six-year terms expire.

Still, it is not technically a government agency, and its board has been arguing in court that Trump for that reason does not have the right to fire its members willy-nilly. It will surely say the same thing about this new order. I'll be interested to see how the White House defends itself against that line of attack, because I have a hard time imagining a winning legal argument for Trump's approachand I say that as someone who has been writing for three decades that the government and the CPB should break up.

But the big question here isn't Does the Trump administration have an argument up its sleeve that will wow the judges and let it tell the CPB what to do? The big question is: Wait, wasn't the Trump administration about to send Congress a request for it to rescind the CPB's funding? Why bother with this order at all?

There are all sorts of possible answers to that, from "maybe they don't have the votes in the Senate" to "maybe they think the threat of rescission will give them leverage over the board" to "maybe there's a faction fight in the White House about the best way to proceed" to "maybe Trump just got mad." We'll probably learn more down the road about what's going on behind the scenes. The important thing to recognize now is that the rescission path is far preferable to the executive-order pathand not just because it avoids those legal problems.

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Under the rescission bill, the CPB will lose its federal support but will be free to use its other resources to fund whatever programming it likes. Under the executive order, the CPB will still have federal support and will have to do whatever the White House says. The first approach detaches public media from the federal government but allows them to try to survive as what noncommercial broadcasting originally wasa part of civil society. The second approach actually tightens the feds' control over public media's biggest funder, and it centralizes that control in the hands of whoever happens to be president.

If rescission passes anyway, that won't matter much. But if this is supposed to be a substitute for rescission, it could leave us worse off than before.

The post Trump Tries To Defund NPR and PBS by Executive Order appeared first on Reason.com.
A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

The government under President Donald Trump is bending the arc of US history in a new direction, away from the civil rights focus of the past 60 plus years.

Addressing or even acknowledging racial injustice toward people of color is out.

Separating church and state is out, according to Trump.

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Exposing anti-Christian bias and being anti-woke is in.

The Department of Justice division created by the landmark 1957 Civil Rights Act to defend Americans rights has a new mission: rooting out anti-Christian bias, antisemitism and woke ideology, the head of the division, Harmeet Dhillon, recently told conservative commentator Glenn Beck.

A majority of the lawyers at the Civil Rights division  people who got jobs there to ensure equal access to the ballot box, perhaps  are expected to resign with pay until September.

At a White House Cabinet meeting Wednesday, secretaries repeatedly sought praise from Trump for purging diversity efforts from the government.

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Were not organizing money based on the color of skin, said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, referring to contracts cancelled at USDA.

If youre having DEI policies, were not going to fund your projects, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, bragging about how the administration will use taxpayer dollars to kill diversity efforts in states.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told Trump the administration had forgiven money a Chicago lender paid as part of a discrimination settlement.

Weve ripped wokeness out of the military, sir, DEI, trans. And its Fort Benning and Fort Bragg again at the DOD, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring to bases that again share names with Confederate generals.

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The administration is also working to strong-arm elite universities into dropping DEI programs by threatening billions in funding, including for scientific research. Harvard, so far, has decided to fight back.

But there are other examples, such as the fact that while the US has stopped accepting refugees for the most part, it is accepting White South Africans who claim they are the victims of racism in their country.

Not since Reconstruction

Its a much larger pivot than simply changing hiring practices and stopping so-called DEI efforts.

This is certainly the biggest rollback of civil rights since Reconstruction, according to Mark Updegrove, a presidential historian and CEO of the LBJ Foundation.

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Trumps policies and the way hes orienting his government combine as an assault on the Great Society legislation Johnson pushed through in the 1960s, including the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

President Lyndon B. Johnson shakes the hand of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the signing of the Civil Rights Act. - Getty Images

Comparing Trumps effort to purge the country of diversity efforts and deconstruct the Great Society legislation, Updegrove drew a parallel between now and the period beginning during Reconstruction when post-Civil War advances like the 13th Amendment were hurt by the rise of White Supremacy and Jim Crow.

Were seeing something very similar now, rolling back the advances of the 1960s, he said. While those Great Society laws were meant to be temporary measures to create a more equal society, Updegrove said the US is not yet there. So called anti-wokeism, he argued, is essentially permission to accept racism.

Cuts to Medicaid spending, higher education programs like Pell Grants, or Head Start programs would also hurt efforts at making the US a more equitable society.

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If you ultimately look at what Trump is doing, it is aimed at taking down the laws of the Great Society, which are effectively, in my view, the foundation of modern America and the path to a plural democracy for the first time in our history.

Retreat from civil rights and a push into religious freedom

While Trumps government is retreating from any effort by the federal government to pursue racial justice, it is leaning hard into ending what it sees as anti-Christian bias.

A task force helmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and focused on eradicating anti-Christian bias in the government held its first meeting this week.

At the majority-Catholic Supreme Court, justices were re-evaluating the separation of church and state this week. Conservative justices seemed open during oral arguments to the idea of taxpayer dollars going to fund a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma. The conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the arguments, leaving the outcome likely up to Chief Justice John Roberts.

A cross sits atop the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on April 17 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. - Nick Oxford/AP

The Solicitor General of the United States, D. John Sauer, who previously represented Trump before the court, argued on behalf of the Catholic charter school.

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Were bringing religion back to our country, Trump promised at a prayer breakfast in Washington on Thursday, where he said he will also sign a new executive order to create another commission, this one focused on religious liberty.

Trump seemed to acknowledge that some people might be surprised to hear that there is bias against Christians in a country that is majority Christian.

You havent heard that, but theres anti-Christian bias, also, he said.

Even many Christians say it does not exist in the widespread way it is being portrayed by Trumps administration.

When he discusses anti-Christian bias, he isnt referring to Christianity at large or mainstream Christianity, which includes Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans, Quakers, and even the LDS Church, said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of the Interfaith Alliance during an appearance on CNN after the announcement of the commission to eradicate anti-Christian bias.

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Brandeis is among those who worry of a slide away from the freedom of religion envisioned at the nations founding and toward a Christian nationalism.

This White House exploits faith for power, following a Christian nationalist playbook, he said.

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(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump on Friday said he plans to remove Harvards tax-exempt status, the latest move in the administrations policy battle with the Ivy League school.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status, Trump said on social media. Its what they deserve!

Last week, the Internal Revenue Service reportedly received an inquiry from the Treasury Department to rescind the schools tax-exemption status.

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Tax exemption is reserved for nonprofits, social welfare organizations, religious groups and some educational institutions that fit the governments criteria. However, they are banned from political campaign activity.

Proof of life on K2-18b not at all obvious: Harvard professor

Trump previously froze more than $2.2 billion in federal research funding for the school, citing its refusal to comply with controversial demands surrounding curriculum, protests and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The institution has sued the Trump administration over the funding cuts and joined more than 100 colleges in denouncing Trumps orders.

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Harvard has said it would defy the Trump administrations demands to limit activism on campus, though it has revamped its DEI office amid administration pressure.

NewsNation partner The Hill 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.
The White House on Friday released President Donald Trump's proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which calls for $163 billion in cuts to federal spending.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, in a letter to Congress alongside the proposal, said the cuts to discretionary funding would lead to "significant savings."

"The President is proposing base non-defense discretionary budget authority $163 billion -- 22.6 percent below -- current-year spending, while still protecting funding for homeland security, veterans, seniors, law enforcement, and infrastructure," Vought wrote.

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MORE: Trump admin live updates: Trump says he'll rename Veterans Day as 'Victory Day for World War I'

While budget proposals are essentially a wish-list for the administration, they serve to illustrate the president's priorities and what the White House hopes is a jumping off point for negotiations with Congress.

The cuts proposed would come from the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, USAID and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.

However, Trump is proposing a 13% increase to defense spending to bring it to $1.01 trillion for the next fiscal year, Vought said.

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The administration's also proposing $175 billion to go toward the southern border and $134 million to strengthen trade enforcement.

Trump's proposal was met with criticism from Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who pushed back on the White House account of defense spending.

"For the defense budget, OMB has requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms," Wicker wrote in a statement.

"OMB is not requesting a trillion-dollar budget. It is requesting a budget of $892.6 billion, which is a cut in real terms. This budget would decrease President Trump's military options and his negotiating leverage," Wicker said.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to give a commencement address at the University of Alabama, May 1, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Several Republicans who have been unafraid to challenge President Trump also issued statements critical of his budget request.

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Sen. Susan Collins, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she has "serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding given the challenges we face the proposed funding cuts to -- and in some cases elimination of -- programs like LIHEAP, TRIO, and those that support biomedical research.

"Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse," she said.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, also took issue with the defense spending numbers in Trump's proposal.

"America cannot expect our allies to heed calls for greater annual defense spending if we are unwilling to lead by example. Fortunately, Presidential budget requests are just that: requests. Congress will soon have an opportunity to ensure that American power -- and the credibility of our commitments -- are appropriately resourced. I hope and expect that my colleagues will join me in placing America's national security first as we begin the FY26 appropriations process," McConnell said.

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MORE: Kamala Harris steps back into limelight with speech criticizing Trump as he celebrates his first 100 days

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed alarm the request could severely slash programs many Americans rely on.

"President Trump has made his priorities clear as day: he wants to outright defund programs that help working Americans while he shovels massive tax breaks at billionaires like himself and raises taxes on middle-class Americans with his reckless tariffs," Murray said in a statement.

"This preliminary budget proposal is exceptionally light on details we desperately need -- but this much is clear: Trump wants to eviscerate programs that matter most to working families," Murray said.

Where Trump's 2026 budget proposal would cut funding

The budget proposal takes aim at programs that the administration has attacked in the past.

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It would cut funding at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which a senior White House official said had "abusive regulatory decrees" on gun owners. Cuts would also be in store for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which the official claimed is used to "target conservative organizations."

The budget also calls for huge cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services, including for programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It also has many cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The proposed budget also eliminates USAID's foreign aid, instead putting some foreign aid under the State Department's budget.

There was one notable program that the administration is looking to gut: a benefit program called LIHEAP, which helps subsidize energy bills for low-income individuals across the U.S.

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The cutting of funds to this program also runs counter to one of President Trump's campaign promise that he will lower energy bills for Americans on Day 1. A senior White House official, when asked about the proposed cuts to LIHEAP, claimed there was abuse and fraud relating to the program.

"We don't need a benefit hammock that keeps people out of the workforce. So LIHEAP is actually a fairly critical one of our reductions for accomplishing a lot of trying to get people back to work and dealing with the excessiveness of that, of that benefit," the senior White House said.

ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report.

Trump's 2026 budget proposal calls for $163B in cuts to federal spending originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Donald Trump delivered the commencement speech at the University of Alabama on Thursday.

His speech included career advice for grads as well as sections on tariffs and the 2020 election.

"America doesn't aim small. Alabama doesn't aim small, and neither do you," Trump told the grads.

In the first commencement speech of his second term, President Donald Trump talked about career advice, his first 100 days in office, and several of his standard agenda items, including the results of the 2020 election.

"You're the first graduating class of the golden age of America. We're in the golden age," Trump told new graduates of the University of Alabama on Thursday.

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Trump began his nearly hourlong address by talking about his administration's accomplishments in his first 100 days, which he described as "an exciting time for our nation," before dispensing some advice to the university's graduates.

"As you embark on this great adventure, let me share some of the biggest lessons I've learned from a lifetime spent building dreams and beating the odds. I beat a lot of odds," Trump said.

He told graduates they can have "great success at a very young age."

Trump talked about his experience working on his first major real estate project, the Grand Hyatt, at age 28. He cited examples such as Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, who started Apple and The Walt Disney Company, respectively, when they were 21.

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"So to everyone here today, don't waste your youth. Go out and fight, right from the beginning," Trump said.

"Find your limits and smash through everything," he added.

Trump told the graduates to "think big."

"You have to do something that you love. You will have all the same headaches and challenges, all the same delays and setbacks, so you might as well do something that's just amazing. America doesn't aim small. Alabama doesn't aim small, and neither do you," Trump said.

Tariffs and 2020 election results

During his speech, Trump also talked about some of his usual agenda topics, including tariffs and the 2020 presidential election results.

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Trump said the sweeping tariffs he has imposed on the world would soon bear results for the US.

"You'll be seeing the results pretty soon, sooner than most people think, because that's what other countries have been doing to us. Just so you understand, they were tariffing the hell out of us," Trump said.

He also used his time on stage to repeat his claim that he is the true winner of the 2020 presidential election. There is no evidence of any widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Toward the end of his address, Trump talked about his relationship with tech leaders such as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

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"Look at some of these internet people. I know so many of them. Elon is so terrific but I know now all of them. You know, they all hated me in my first term and now, they're kissing my ass," Trump said.

Business leaders such as Musk broke with Trump when the president withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord in his first term.

Musk was one of Trump's biggest supporters in the 2024 elections, spending at least $277 million supporting Trump and other GOP candidates running for office. Apple CEO Tim Cook and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman personally donated $1 million each to Trump's second inaugural fund.

During his first term, Trump delivered several commencement speeches, including at Liberty University and at West Point.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trump is seeking massive, unprecedented funding cuts across the federal government, unveiling a budget blueprint asking Congress to slash non-defense programs by more than $163 billion while keeping military funding flat. Already, Republicans in Congress are alarmed.

The proposal released Friday pressures Republican lawmakers to cleave more than 20 percent from federal coffers Trump has already been freezing without their approval since Inauguration Day. Congress isnt accustomed to cutting anywhere near what Trump is proposing, amplifying tension between the White House and congressional Republicans as GOP leadership works to fund the government before the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline.

Key Hill Republicans were quick to pan the White House's plan.

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Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) publicly objected to the administration's request to keep the military funded at about $893 billion, while criticizing Trump's proposed cuts to biomedical research, education support programs for low-income households and subsidies to help the poorest Americans cover the cost of heating and cooling their homes.

Noting that the budget was "late" and lacks "key details," Collins voiced "serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding given the security challenges we face," as well as the White House's proposed cuts "and in some cases elimination" of non-defense programs.

Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is now chair of the Senate's defense funding panel, slammed the White House budget office for asking Congress to keep defense spending static for the upcoming fiscal year, saying in a statement that the extra cash Republican leaders are hoping to pour on through the tax and spending megabill they are hoping to enact this summer is "not a substitute for full-year appropriations."

"OMB accounting gimmicks may well convince Administration officials and spokesmen that theyre doing enough to counter the growing, coordinated challenges we face from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and radical terrorists. But they wont fool Congress," McConnell said.

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The White Houses request would be a cut in real terms for the military, said Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in a statement, agreeing with McConnell that the additional $150 billion in military funding GOP leaders want to pass through their separate party-line package was not meant to paper over the White House budget offices intent to shred to the bone our military capabilities and our support to service members.

Congress often dismisses the White Houses budget ideas in favor of its own spending plan, and the Houses top appropriator has not committed to using Trumps overall totals as the ceiling for the dozen funding bills House Republicans plan to push through committee by August.

Look, were supportive of this administration, what its trying to do, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told reporters this week. But with all due respect to anybody, I think the members have a better understanding of what can pass and what cant than the Executive Branch does.

But Trump could always threaten to veto any funding bills he doesnt like, and House fiscal hawks are expected to demand Speaker Mike Johnson commit to deep cuts. A senior Office of Management and Budget official told reporters Friday that the administration would not rule out using so-called impoundment to override Congress' funding decisions by withholding cash lawmakers approve, but that it has so far had productive conversations with Hill Republicans.

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"Were working with Congress to see what they will pass, and I believe that they have an interest in passing cuts," the official said.

If Republicans do consider going along with the White House's plans, they will risk losing the Democratic support they'll likely need to get past the next funding cliff in less than five months  particularly in the Senate, where Republicans lack the votes to overcome the filibuster.

Democrats are also under heightened pressure to hold the line against the kind of cuts Trump is seeking. Still fresh from his political drubbing in March for serving up the votes to pass the GOPs last funding package, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed Friday that Democrats are going to fight this heartless budget with everything weve got, calling Trumps request a betrayal of working people from a morally bankrupt president.

The fiscal 2026 spending plan rolled out Friday, better known as the presidents skinny budget, represents an administration wish list that is typically viewed as symbolic. It nevertheless serves as a roadmap of Trumps spending priorities and political goals  and one that has taken on heightened importance amid the presidents ongoing efforts to wrest the power of the purse away from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

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The old budget day adage on Capitol Hill  the president proposes, Congress disposes  rings less true this year, since Trump has been canceling and freezing hundreds of billions of dollars without Congress consent, sparking lawsuits throughout the country and 39 watchdog investigations into whether the Trump administration is violating the law by impounding funding Congress already enacted.

As Trump has sought to rapidly reshape the federal government in his first months in office, he has tasked Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency with slashing spending in ways that have generated widespread upheaval. Those moves have at times put Trump at odds with congressional appropriators in his own party, setting the stage for a battle in the coming months over government spending.

Trumps latest budget asks for dramatic reductions to key environmental, energy, education and foreign aid programs for the fiscal year that starts in October, as well as the gutting of hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and other projects that the White House has deemed wasteful. In some cases, the administration is calling for the elimination of entire agencies.

At the same time, Trump wants Congress to increase funding for priority areas like border security, as well as for air and rail safety and law enforcement activities.

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In a letter to senior appropriators, White House budget director Russ Vought called the current government funding levels laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans.

Just as the Federal Government has intruded on matters best left to American families, it has intruded on matters best left to the level of government closest to the people, Vought wrote, arguing for shifting more responsibility to states and localities.

Against that backdrop, the budget proposal serves as the White Houses most comprehensive salvo, seeking to cut federal non-defense discretionary spending to just $557 billion in fiscal 2026  a reduction of roughly $163 billion from the current levels.

The lower spending target would mean far-reaching changes to domestic programs and foreign aid, including defunding Environmental Protection Agency initiatives that the White House dismissed as environmental justice efforts and cutting millions of dollars of Department of Education grants for teacher support and preschool development that the administration accused of promoting critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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The White House is also advocating for shuttering USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace, two of the most prominent agencies targeted in recent months by DOGE. At the Department of Health and Human Services, the administration would cut millions of dollars from public health agencies like the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and consolidate several smaller health offices  changes in line with an earlier leaked budget document that laid out plans for a sweeping department-wide reorganization.

The blueprint would slash discretionary funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development by more than 40 percent. The Department of the Interior and Department of Labor would also face steep budget cuts of over 30 percent, compared with their current enacted levels.

The administration also detailed deep proposed cuts to dozens of programs across various offices and agencies, from State Department programs meant to promote U.S. soft power abroad to NASA scientific initiatives and support for the International Space Station, to a range of conservation efforts.

The White House is expected to send a full budget request later this month with hundreds of pages on proposed funding for each program and agency, providing Congress with far more detailed guidance than the 46-page document lawmakers received on Friday.
The White House budget calls for slashing $17 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), citing the agency's failure to properly monitor risky gain-of-function research it funded at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)where the COVID-19 pandemic plausibly originated.

"While evidence of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic leaking from a laboratory is now confirmed by several intelligence agencies, the NIH's inability to prove that its grants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology were not complicit in such a possible leak, or get data and hold recipients of Federal funding accountable is evidence that NIH has grown too big and unfocused," reads the budget summary released on Friday.

Shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration, the CIA produced a new assessment saying that the agency now favors a lab leak explanation of the pandemic's origins.

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The FBI and the Energy Department have also said they favor the lab leak theory, as does Germany's intelligence agency.

NIH has come under intense scrutiny for lax oversight of gain-of-function research it funded at the WIV via its grantee, the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance.

In the years preceding the pandemic, NIH continued funding EcoHealth's gain-of-function research on coronaviruses, despite White House policies either freezing funding for that type of work or requiring it to undergo more serious scrutiny. It also failed to follow up with EcoHealth when it missed a deadline to submit progress reports on its work at WIV on the eve of the pandemic.

Lab leak proponents point to this work, which involved creating viruses with enhanced potential to infect human cells, as likely seeding the creation of the pandemic at the WIV.

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The Biden administration suspended EcoHealth Alliance, and its now-former president Peter Daszak from receiving federal funding in 2024, citing its lax oversight of its subgrantees in Wuhan.

In its last days in office, the Biden administration formally debarred EcoHealth and Daszak from receiving federal funds for the next five years.

Gain-of-function research on pandemic pathogens is a tiny portion of NIH's budget. EcoHealth's grant was just $3 million, and only a portion of that was spent on its controversial work at WIV.

Trump's proposed cuts to NIH are clearly part of a larger agenda to whittle the agency down in size. The budget document also criticizes NIH for funding "radical gender ideology."

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White House budget documents are ultimately a political statement, and it's typical that few of the proposed cuts they include are passed by Congress.

It would be notable if Congress declined to take up Trump on his proposed NIH cuts, given the administration's lab leak justification for the cuts.

The final report from the Republican majority on the House subcommittee tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19 concluded that the pandemic likely resulted from a lab incident.

It would be remarkable if, after coming to that conclusion, House Republicans continued to fund NIH at existing levels without additional oversight of gain-of-function research on pandemic pathogens.

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The Trump administration is reportedly going to be issuing a freeze on federal gain-of-function research funding imminently. Sen. Rand Paul (RKy.) also has reintroduced a bill to more tightly regulate funding of such research.

Paul's bill passed out of the Senate's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the last Congress.

The post Trump's Budget Calls for $17 Billion Cut to NIH, Citing Lax Oversight of Gain-of-Function Research in Wuhan appeared first on Reason.com.
A service program that sends young people across Wisconsin to maintain trails, control invasive species and teach about the outdoors is in jeopardy after the federal government slashed funding for AmeriCorps.

Central Conservation, a nonprofit conservation agency, hosts around 90 AmeriCorps members each year to staff the Wisconsin Conservation Corps, better known as WisCorps, and The Nature Place, a nature-focused community center in La Crosse.

Its full-time employees were directed late in the night April 27 to stop all work that involved using a grant they received from AmeriCorps. That funding was for between $1.4 million and $1.5 million. The reasoning was the same given to scores of federally funded programs canceled in recent weeks: It "no longer effectuates agency priorities."

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Seventeen AmeriCorps members were already serving with WisCorps and The Nature Place in Dane County, Wisconsin Dells, La Crosse and elsewhere. Forty-three more were preparing to be on their way to Wisconsin for summer work.

Central Conservation is scrambling to figure out if it can hold onto those currently serving and those who were expecting to have summer employment. But even if the organization can manage to blunt the impacts, said WisCorps director Eric Robertson, people will feel the loss.

"It's taking the fuel out of the plane as it's flying," Robertson said. "It's a middle finger to these people who invested their time to really make a modest living allowance, really just to be kicked to the curb."

More: Latest DOGE cuts to AmeriCorps gut Wisconsin programs, end work for 430 people

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More: Wisconsin sues over cuts to the service and volunteer agency AmeriCorps

Trail maintenance, tree-planting and environmental education projects now uncertain

WisCorps launched 16 years ago but partnered with AmeriCorps beginning in 2018 to dramatically expand its footprint. Today it sends members out in teams or individually to work on the Ice Age Trail, the shoreline of Lake Superior, state and national parks and other public lands, where they tackle community needs but also receive hands-on training that could shape future careers in conservation.

AmeriCorps was created more than three decades ago by former President Bill Clinton. In addition to serving communities through conservation, disaster response, health care and other areas, AmeriCorps members get professional development and funds to pay for further schooling or pay off student loans.

It has recently become a target of the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, aimed at drastically shrinking the size and scope of the federal government. In mid-April, AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps members were discharged. In the most recent cuts, DOGE ordered the service program to terminate nearly $400 million in grants  one of which was for Central Conservation.

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White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has pointed the Journal Sentinel to recent audits of the AmeriCorps program and concerns about waste, fraud and abuse in response to questions about the cuts.

AmeriCorps has failed eight consecutive audits and identified over $45 million in improper payments in 2024 alone," Kelly said in an email.

The program's inspector general said last November that it has been unable to produce auditable financial statements for the last eight years and suggested improvements for financial management.

Wisconsin is among 24 states suing over the cuts, which Attorney General Josh Kaul called "part of a pattern from the Trump administration of disrespect toward those who serve others."

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In the meantime, there will be tough decisions.

Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, a 320-acre mostly forested property along the Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells, is gearing up for spring and fall school field trips, as well as about 30 summer camp groups. The staff was counting on two WisCorps members, who'd been with the center since last September, to help run the show.

More: Federal plan to make Milwaukee homes safer, more efficient dies because of DEI connection

Now, center staff must decide quickly whether they have the financial means to keep their WisCorps members on through the end of their term in August. And the WisCorps members themselves  one of whom moved to the Dells from Ohio  have to decide whether they want to stay, knowing that they may not receive the money for their service meant for student loans and other college payments.

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Upham Woods has hosted multiple groups of WisCorps members, said center director Amy Workman, doing everything from rebuilding boardwalks to constructing safer trails to running an early childhood nature camp. The center was readying for the possibility of not getting another round of WisCorps members in the fall, but to have it happen so suddenly put everyone in a difficult position, she said.

At Kickapoo Valley Forest School, a public charter school in western Wisconsin's Vernon County focused on environmental education for young children, two WisCorps members serve as classroom assistants. It's a crucial role, said Jonel Kiesau, the school's leadership and planning coordinator, because the children spend several hours per day outside and need additional supervision during those activities. WisCorps has been an affordable way to accomplish that, she said.

More: What to know about the Milwaukee church tree-planting project halted by Trump administration

Kiesau has asked her school board to find a way to keep the current WisCorps members on through the end of the school year.

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"We really weren't prepared," Kiesau said. "Nobody thought this would affect our programs so quickly and immediately. It's really hard to pivot."

Central Conservation is urgently seeking outside funds to keep current AmeriCorps members around, Robertson said. He anticipated six would need to be suspended at the end of the week without a clear available funding source. He called the impending start of roughly 35 summer projects across the state that would have been staffed by AmeriCorps members "an uncontained wildfire on the horizon."

Those projects include planting tree seedlings near Lake Superior, improving mountain bike trails in the North Woods, conducting youth programs in Door County, installing a safe boardwalk at a nature preserve in Two Rivers and working on park restoration with at-risk youth in Kenosha County.

Robertson said he's hopeful the communities where these projects were to occur might be able to offer support to still get them accomplished.

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"We want to see these projects happen," he said. "If we lose that, we lose ourselves ... who are we? And will we continue?"

Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WisCorps conservation program in jeopardy as Trump slashes AmeriCorps
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump has picked his first judicial nominee of his second term: Whitney Hermandorfer, a Tennessee attorney who has clerked for three of the Supreme Courts conservative justices  including two of Trumps nominees  and who progressive groups warn has an extremist record.

In a social media post close to midnight on Thursday, Trump said he plans to nominate Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Hermandorfer, 37, currently works for the Tennessee attorney general as director of the offices strategic litigation unit.

Whitney has been serving the Great People of Tennessee, in the Attorney Generals Office, where she has strongly litigated in Court to protect Citizens from Federal Government Overreach, the president said on his social media site, Truth Social.

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Whitney is a Fighter who will inspire confidence in our Legal System, he said. Thank you Whitney!

President Donald Trump announced on social media that he plans to nominate Whitney Hermandorfer to a U.S. appeals court. Truth Social

Hermandorfer previously clerked for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett, one of Trumps nominees. She also clerked for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, another of Trumps nominees, when he was a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This was certainly a plus for the president.

She has a long history of working for Judges and Justices who respect the RULE OF LAW, and protect our Constitution, including Justice Samuel Alito and two fine Supreme Court Justices I appointed in my First Term, he said.

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A social media post is not a formal nomination; the White House has to officially submit Hermandorfers nomination to the Senate for it to begin moving. But the fact that Trump is even talking about naming someone to a court seat, here on May 2, is notable considering how sluggish Trumps White House has been in moving judicial nominations.

By this point in his term, President Joe Biden had nominated 12 people to lifetime federal judgeships. President Barack Obama had nominated three in his first term and five in his second term. In his first term, Trump had nominated two people to federal judgeships by this point, one of whom was then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch.

It is late for the first nominee, especially given how severely Trump has been attacking federal judges, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia and an expert on federal judicial nominations.

As for Hermandorfers qualifications to be a judge, Tobias called her an astute pick with solid conservative credentials, very much in the mold of Trumps first-term judicial nominees who had records of opposing abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and voting rights. He noted that she has defended the states strict abortion law and efforts to keep trans people out of womens sports in her work with the Tennessee attorney generals office.

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Hermandorfer is also young, meaning if she is confirmed by the Senate, she could hold this lifetime federal judgeship for decades.

Trump says he plans to nominate Whitney Hermandorfer to a U.S. appeals court seat, marking his first judicial nomination of his second term. Hermandorfer previously clerked for two of Trump's Supreme Court nominees, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Tom Williams via Getty Images

Progressive judicial advocacy groups seized on the news of Hermandorfers coming nomination, warning that it is evidence that Trump will prioritize judicial nominees willing to put personal loyalty over the law.

Maggie Jo Buchanan, interim executive director of Demand Justice, pointed out that in late March, Hermandorfer served as counsel of record for Tennessee in a brief submitted to the Supreme Court advocating the same position that Trump is using in his efforts to end birthright citizenship.

The administrations attempt to end birthright citizenship has been roundly criticized as unconstitutional by leading scholars on the left and right, but Hermandorfer appears to be willing to act in lockstep with the political desires of this administration, Buchanan said in a statement.

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Alliance For Justice described her record as disturbing and extremist.

In her work for the Tennessee attorney general, Hermandorfer led litigation from several states challenging Bidens Title IX guidance that included protections for transgender students and their inclusion in school activities. Her efforts to roll back these protections is what Trump was referring to in his post when he called her a staunch defender of Girls and Womens Sports.

This is perhaps why Trump himself included a familiar and obvious anti-trans dog whistle in his announcement, expressing his expectation that she will uphold the discrimination his administration has already pushed through various executive orders, Alliance for Justice said in a statement.

Keith Thirion, the groups interim co-president, said in the statement that he hopes senators are prepared to stop conservative crusaders like Whitney Hermandorfer who will be loyal to [Trump] and his discriminatory authoritarian agenda at the expense of all of us.

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People For the American Way President Svante Myrick took things a step further, saying the Senate shouldnt confirm Hermandorfer or any of Trumps judicial nominees given his regular attacks on the courts and his calls for judges to be removed who rule against him.

With a Republican-controlled Congress currently doing nothing to protect our democracy, its up to the courts to preserve the critical checks and balances and keep us free, Myrick said in a statement. Until Trump fully reverses course and recognizes that he is not a king, we cannot allow him to put any lifetime judges on our federal courts.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on when Trump plans to formally send Hermandorfers nomination to the Senate.
American officials prepared a number of options for U.S. President Donald Trump to increase economic pressure on Moscow in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin continued reluctance to end the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on May 2, citing undisclosed sources.

Shortly after his inauguration, Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia to force Moscow into negotiations, saying "we can do it the easy way or the hard way." So far, these threats have failed to materialize.

However, Trump recently questioned Russia's intentions to achieve peace given Russian ongoing attacks against Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia.

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It is unknown what options are on the table. The sources told Bloomberg that Trump is yet to make a decision, as diplomatic efforts to end the war are still underway.

Any decision, they added, rests solely with the U.S. president.

A day prior, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the U.S. remains committed to supporting peace efforts in Ukraine but will scale back its direct role as mediator.

The remarks reflect a significant shift in Washington's approach after months of stalled diplomacy aimed at brokering a ceasefire in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

The U.S. intensified its diplomatic outreach earlier this year, including negotiating proposals for a 30-day ceasefire and partial truces aimed at halting attacks on civilian energy infrastructure.

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Moscow has rejected these initiatives, and Russian forces have intensified strikes across Ukraine.

In contrast, Kyiv has accepted the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan and continues to demand an unconditional cessation of hostilities.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1 that at least 72 senators are ready to vote for sweeping new sanctions and tariffs against Russia, should Putin continue to avoid serious peace negotiations.

Read also: A billion-dollar question mark  the details of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A childrens book 8 years in the making will soon see its publishing date.

Heather Price is an intervention specialist at Driscoll Elementary School. Price, Gayle Cobb and Connie Fintel, the latter two being responsible for the books illustrations, have spent years weaving the charming tale told in The Day We Met an Angel.

The book will be published by Springboro publisher Braughler Books. The book will be available for purchase this summer, but an official date is not available as of this writing.

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The book is about a German shepherd golden retriever mix named Raguel (Rags, for short), who finds new purpose after failing his service dog exam.

Raguel means friend of God. Often in life, we are going in a certain direction, and we think the journey is planned. When something happens to disrupt this, its easy to resist the change. Sometimes just letting go is better, but it takes trust to do that. There is great learning and unexpected blessings in trusting the flow of life, Price said.

Through writing the book, Price has expressed lessons to her students about the importance of a growth mindset, collaboration, feedback and long-term goals.

When the book release, Price will donate copies to each Centerville school library, the Washington-Centerville Public Libraries, and the Springboro Public Library.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson wants President Donald Trump to rescue Russell Brand from the U.K. court where the comedic actor is charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.

Brand was granted bail Friday after being an 18-month investigation concluded that he sexually abused four women between 1999 and 2005. The 50-year-old entertainer denies any criminal conduct.

According to Carlson, Brand is being wrongly prosecuted because of his opposition to COVID-19 protocols that turned the UK into a totalitarian state during the pandemic.

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Russell Brand, whose youngest child is barely a year old, now faces life in prison, the fired Fox News host posted on X. He has no shot at a fair trial, because Britain is no longer a free country.

Carlson wants the British performer to be granted asylum in the U.S. to protect him from going to trial back home.

Say a prayer that the Trump administration comes to his rescue, Carlson wrote.

Brand posted video online from a press conference earlier this week when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if the president would consider granting asylum to British citizens in a jam.

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I have not heard that proposed to the president, nor have I spoken to him about that idea, but I certainly can talk to our national security team and see if its something the administration would entertain, she replied.

Carlson, 55, was cut loose from Fox News in 2023 after a series of embarrassing texts were made public including one saying he passionately hates Trump.

He appears to have since worked his way back into Trumps good graces. The president said he liked Carlson a lot before the 2024 election and claimed hed consider making the conspiracy theory pushing pundit his running mate.
Tucker Carlson wants Donald Trump to rescue Russell Brand from his sex crime chargesand hes imploring his followers to pray Trump will step in the save him.

Apparently, the British comedian is facing rape and sexual assault charges simply for being on team MAGA. Carlson wrote as much on X on Friday, in a post that portrayed Brand as a martyr to the right-wing cause. Russell Brand was once a famous leftwing actor, celebrated by the British establishment, Carlson began, then he criticized the government for using Covid to turn the UK into a totalitarian state.

Russell Brand was once a famous leftwing actor, celebrated by the British establishment. Then he criticized the government for using Covid to turn the UK into a totalitarian state. The accolades abruptly stopped. A government TV station accused Brand of committing sex crimes  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) May 2, 2025

Brand, known for his roles in comedy films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, is facing multiple counts of rape and sexual assault charges stemming from a year and a half-long investigation. But Carlson, who has hosted Brand on his post-Fox News podcast, says the government made it all up to get back at him for criticizing it.

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Brand was first accused publicly in 2023 by four different women. Now, he is out on conditional bail, according to Sky News, and used a few seconds of his freedom to retweet Carlsons Friday post imploring Trump for help.

Carlson goes on to insist that the British government is so outraged with the comedians criticism that it fashioned decades of sex crime accusations against him using anonymous witnesses from more than 20 years ago, for a case hes classified as transparently political and absurd.

Brand has maintained his innocence and insisted that though he was very very promiscuous his relationships were always absolutely, always consensual. After the formal charges were filed this month, he denied the allegations again with a social media video in which he expressed his hope that fans could look at his eyes and know he never engaged in non-consensual activity.

Carlson defended the former radio host fiercely Friday, as he argued that Brand is a model immigrant.

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Over the last few years, millions of foreigners have applied for asylum in the United States. Russell Brand actually deserves it, he wrote. He also compared Brands charges to those fake rape charges authorities brought against Julian Assange 15 years ago. (Swedish prosecutors dropped a rape investigation into the WikiLeaks founder in 2019.)

None of the charges are backed by hard evidence, he claimed, wrapping up his image of Brand as a sacrificial lamb of the right wing with a nice concluding bow. Brand, whose youngest child is barely a year old, now faces life in prison. He has no shot at a fair trial, because Britain is no longer a free country... Say a prayer that the Trump administration comes to his rescue.

Carlsons prayer may yet come true. Brand has become a fixture of the MAGA-sphere, pushing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and portraying himself as having had a religious transformation since the rape and assault allegations emerged. This past December, he partied it up at Mar-a-Lago in December to celebrate Trumps second inauguration.
(FOX40.COM)  The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office is asking for the communitys help in finding a missing 60-year-old man.

Video Above: How to report a missing person

TCSO said Robert Brennan was last seen around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday in the area of Cherokee Road, returning home.

Robert is described as 200 pounds, 5 feet and 9 inches, with brown hair, blue eyes and brown and grey facial hair.

(IMAGE: Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office)

The sheriffs office said he was last seen wearing grey sweatpants and slippers.

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More than one person dead at residence in Suisun City, police say

Anyone with information on Roberts whereabouts is asked to contact the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office at 209-533-5815.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Several thousand Turkish Cypriots took to the streets of the northern half of ethnically divided Cyprus capital Nicosia on Friday to protest what they say is Turkeys attempt to erode their secular roots and to strengthen the hold of political Islam over their society.

Rain showers cleared long enough for marchers to walk along a main thoroughfare hoisting trade union banners and holding placards reading It wont pass and Cyprus will stay secular before gathering for a concert.

The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations that leftist trade unions mounted to express their opposition to what they see as Ankaras bid to mold staunchly secular Turkish Cypriots into a more politically pliable community through the introduction of Islam into the education system.

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The protest came a day before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to breakaway northern Cyprus where he will inaugurate a complex of government buildings. Erdogan reportedly said that he would publicly rebuke protesters during his visit.

The protests began last month when the right-wing Turkish Cypriot authorities lifted a ban on wearing headscarves in high schools. Teachers trade unions, political parties and other leftist groups condemned the move as an encroachment into the strictly secular education system aimed at the eventual Islamization of Turkish Cypriot society.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following an Athens-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the islands northern third where it maintains more than 35,000 troops.

Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the Greek Cypriot south where the islands internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full benefits.

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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Friday that the appointment of Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as his personal envoy on Cyprus, tasked with exploring ways to resume peace talks stalled since 2017.

Elma Eylem, president of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers Union KTOEOS and one of the protests key organizers, said that the change in statute allowing the wearing of headscarves in school is evidence of a bid at social engineering to force Turkish Cypriot society into submission according to the edicts of Turkeys ruling AKP party.

This step has been taken in the divided part of our island which has been turned into a sub-administration of Turkey, where every institution has been taken over, where our population has been reduced to a minority and our political will has been taken away, this change in the statute is a part of social engineering, Eylem told The Associated Press in a written response to questions.

Teachers at one high school reportedly turned away a female student who showed up wearing a headscarf after the ban was lifted.

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Eylem defended the action, saying that teachers wont allow political Islam to be imposed on our girls through their bodies.

This issue is not a matter of freedom, headscarf or regulation. This issue is a step taken by the AKP in its efforts to deepen the political Islam domination over the Turkish Cypriot Community, she said.

Eylem also dismissed an earlier counterprotest by those in favor of allowing headscarf-wearing in high schools, saying that such demonstrations organized by Turkey in northern Cyprus do not reflect the will of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The nnion president said that a legal challenge to the lifting of the headscarf ban has been initiated at the Turkish Cypriot Constitutional Court, adding that their fight will be a long-term struggle.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Tennessee Valley Authority filed a lawsuit against the city of Holly Springs and its utility department for breach of contract.

A lawsuit was filed against City Mayor Sharon Gipson, the Board of Aldermen, and Wayne Jones, General Manager of the Holly Springs Utility Department, on Thursday in federal court, claiming the utility has not paid TVA for energy and power usage on time.

The 72-page document was filed on Thursday in federal court in Oxford and maintains that the defendants have not complied with the terms of the Wholesale Power Contract signed in 1975 between the City of Holly Springs and TVA.

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Testimony continues in murder trial for ex-officers accused in Tyre Nichols death

In addition to ongoing compliance issues for over two years, HSUD has failed to use electric system revenue in the prioritized order outlined in the Wholesale Power Contract, said a TVA spokesperson. HSUD has failed to provide timely and accurate financial information and failed to provide TVA with copies of annual external audits of the electric department since FY 2020. HSUDs financial condition has continued to decline.

According to TVA, HSUD currently has an outstanding and past-due balance with TVA for February 2025 of over $1.5 million.

Complaints against HSUD have long been the focus of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

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The Public Service Commission is committed to working with TVA to resolve this crisis. The people of HSUD deserve our full support, and we will continue to push forward with our investigation in order to ensure that the people within the Holly Springs Utility District receive the reliable utilities that they deserve, said Chairman Chris Brown.

WREG reached out to the defendants named in the lawsuit for a response as well as the attorney representing the city of Holly Springs, but we have not heard back from them.

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TAMAQUA, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Two Schuylkill County residents have been arrested in connection with a New York homicide.

22-year-old Sgrollin Santana of Tamaqua, PA, and 19-year-old Jaslynn Garcia of Shillington, PA, were arrested on Wednesday after being wanted out of Nassau County, New York on Second Degree Murder and Criminal Possesion of a Weapon in the Second Degree charges.

According to a Pennsylvania State Police press release, the Nassau County Detectives contacted troopers regarding a criminal homicide investigation in Nassau County.

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Firefighter found burning in Hazleton had also been shot

Detectives determined that both Garcia and Santana were both located on the 300 block of West Spruce Street through investigation.

The release states that just before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, both suspects were taken into custody by troopers, Tamaqua Police Department, and Schuylkill County Detectives.

Garcia and Santana are both being held at the Schuylkill County Prison pending extradition to New York.

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ILLINOIS (WCIA)  So far this year, the CDC has confirmed nearly 900 measles cases in the country. As the infection continues spreading from state to state, its starting to get closer to Central Illinois.

Public health officials say there were two measles cases confirmed in the Chicago area  one at OHare International Airport and another in the suburbs of Cook County.

RELATED: Measles: What are the first symptoms to look for?

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Another case was reported last week in the Southern Illinois area. Measles is a infectious disease that can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Health professionals say they want to make sure everyone is being cautious and getting vaccinated.

OSF Infectious Disease Physician Douglas Kasper said thats one of the biggest concerns right now.

The commonality in cases that we have seen in the United States is in an unvaccinated population makes up over 90% of the cases of measles that make it to clinical diagnosis, Kasper said.

Kasper said if youre not protected, then your health could be at a greater risk. He added that everyone should be vaccinated, especially babies and senior citizens, because itll help prevent a severe infection. He added that he is expecting cases in the state to rise.

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So far in 2025, the CDC has confirmed three deaths from the measles nationwide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Two people have been injured and fires have broken out at premises belonging to two businesses due to a Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The aggressor attacked the Slovianka hromada in the Synelnykove district with UAVs at night. Early reports indicate that two men have been injured. A 47-year-old man has been hospitalised in a moderate condition. The other man, aged 31, will receive outpatient treatment." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Details: The attack also caused fires at premises belonging to two businesses.

The Russians used artillery and an FPV drone to attack the Nikopol district.

"They struck the Pokrovske and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas. No casualties have been reported," Lysak said.

He added that air defence units from Air Command Skhid (East) had downed six drones over the oblast.

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Two lottery players in Massachusetts each won $100,000 from the same game on Thursday night.

Both prizes were from the daily Mass Cash drawing. The winning numbers for the May 1 drawing were 3, 13, 19, 26 and 27.

One of the $100,000 prizes was won on a ticket that matched all five numbers, sold in Peabody at a 7-Eleven. The other prize was won on a ticket sold at Fairhaven Wine & Spirits in Fairhaven.

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Overall, at least 562 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Thursday, including 13 in Springfield, 18 in Worcester and 47 in Boston.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod.

Massachusetts State Lottery
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Two bills are being considered in the 89th legislative session dealing with medical marijuana, which could lower cost and wait times.

Gladewater welcomes all coffee lovers to Starbucks grand opening

House Bill 46 and Senate Bill 1505 will allow licensed companies like Texas Original, a medical cannabis provider in Austin, to store prescriptions at satellite locations.

Patients go there to pick up their medicine, but they have to order from us the day before and we have to drive those prescriptions to each of those locations the morning of every morning, Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson said.

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The bills could lower cost and wait times for patients and allow people under the Compassionate Use Act to use vapor products instead of just consuming their prescriptions. The Compassionate Use Act regulates the use of medical marijuana.

Its a more stable form when it goes in through your lungs, it stays as delta nine THC, which is a bigger compound, Richardson said.

Senate Bill 3 is also a top priority that calls for a complete ban of all forms of THC in the state. This creates a sense of confusion for lawmakers.

I havent looked at the bill you know that closely since it came out of the senate, but its my understanding that a total ban of THC would, you know, end the good uses of medical THC as well, State Rep. Gary Vandever said.

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In a statement, the office of the Lieutenant Governor says the outcome of the bill will not change the Compassionate Use Program. State Representative Gary Vandeaver of New Boston says he hopes its true, but he still wouldnt support SB3.

Not do a total ban, but that, you know, keeps it available and certain, you know, strengths very highly regulated, available for adult use, Rep. Vandeaver said.

CHRISTUS Health hospitals earn top safety rating in East Texas

The house currently has its own THC law, House Bill 28, which would add more regulations in place of a complete ban. Rep. Vandeaver said he believes state representatives would be more supportive of it.

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Then, you know, it will go to a conference between the house and the senate, and well figure it out, well figure out, you know, what we can agree on, if we cant agree on anything, then the bill dies, Rep. Vandeaver said.

Texas Original said the state has to act now to not only regulate the hemp industry, but also fix the Compassionate Use Act.

If we want the program to exist, one of those two bills has to go through, work its way through legislature, otherwise, you know, this is probably a dying program here, Richardson said.

Lawmakers have until June 2nd to decide.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Two Pettis County deputies were shot while serving a search warrant early Friday morning, May 2, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The shooting happened off State Highway BB near Longwood Road in Pettis County, Missouri.

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MSHP says that deputies with the Pettis County Special Emergency Response Team were serving a search warrant related to a narcotics investigation. When those deputies entered the residence off Highway BB at around 5:45 a.m., they were met with gunfire.

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The Longwood Township where this incident took place is more than 15 minutes away from the Pettis County Courthouse in Sedalia.

Not in Sedalia. Sedalias really a great place to live and you know, a great place to raise a family, Sedalia, MO Resident Chuck Adams said when asked if he heard about things like this that often in his county.

But you know, drugs are being brought in, and any time youve got drugs being brought in, youre going to have crime, and youre going to have violence.

Two deputies were shot, one of whom returned fire towards the suspect. The suspect was not injured and was taken into custody shortly after at the Pettis County Jail in downtown Sedalia.

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Suspect in custody after 75-year-old woman found dead at Olathe home

Both deputies who were shot were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As of Friday afternoon, one has been released and the other remains in the hospital.

Adams called the law enforcement in his community great.

They get up every morning. They go to work not knowing whether theyre going to come home or not, he continued.

I mean, they put their lives on the line every day for us, so Ive got a great heart for our law enforcement, and like I said before, we just need to keep their families in prayer.

MSHP says that theyre investigating the officer-involved shooting and that charges are pending review by the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

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This is a developing story. FOX4 will update this story when more details are available.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  Two suspects have been arrested in connection to a deadly shooting in Santa Fe last Friday. The Santa Fe Police Department took 37-year-old Pierre Cheykaychi and 22-year-old Alexis Chavez into custody on Wednesday.

Man in his 20s shot to death in southeast Albuquerque, police say

Cheykaychi is being charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting obstructing an officer. Chavez is being charged with being an accessory to murder.

Photo from Santa Fe Police

Photo from Santa Fe Police

The charges stem back to Friday when police found 49-year-old Alvin Crespin had been shot multiple times in the area of Agua Fria Street and South Guadalupe. He later died from his injuries.

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Cheykaychi and Chavez were identified as the suspects with help from New Mexico State Polices automated license plate readers. They found Cheykachi near North Paseo De Peralta and West San Francisco Street. Police say he tried to flee, but he was arrested after a short chase on foot.

Cheykachi and Chavez have lengthy criminal histories. The Santa Fe Police Department listed them in a news release and theycan be viewed below

Cheykachi: November 2021: Unauthorized Graffiti March 2022: Receiving or Transferring a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting Obstructing an Officer, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended, Possession of Marijuana April 2022: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle. May 2022: Aggravated Burglary (Deadly Weapon), Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Household member), False Imprisonment, Battery Upon a Peace Officer, Resisting Obstructing an Officer April 2023: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Receiving Stolen Property, Resisting Obstructing an Officer

Chavez: June 2021: Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicles, Receiving Stolen Property July 2021: Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Battery Upon a Peace Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Resisting Obstructing an Officer, and Concealing Identity September 2021: Breaking and Entering, Conspiracy to commit Breaking March 2022: Receiving or Transferring a Stolen Motor Vehicle August 2023: Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle



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Testimony resumed on the fifth day of the Tyre Nichols state criminal trial on May 2.

Former Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith Jr. are facing charges that include second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Two other officers took plea deals ahead of a federal trial last year and will not be tried as part of this state trial.

The Commercial Appeal has reporters in the courtroom and is delivering live updates to this story throughout the day. Follow along here as news starts to come from the trial.

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The most recent updates are at the top of this file.

Use of force expert testifies

The second witness called was Jared Zwickey, a use-of-force trainer, who was also called upon during the federal criminal trial.

Attorney Martin Zummach, who represents Smith, questioned the reliability of the pole camera footage. Zwickey, who has experience reviewing footage of police activity, said the cameras have a lower frame rate and are grainy because of their distance from the subject.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy speaks with Judge James Jones Jr. prior to the beginning of the fifth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Zwickey said one deficiency with body cameras is their location on an officers chest, because it doesnt show where the officer is actually looking and cant capture things like the tension in a suspect's hand. They also produce blurred images if theres a lot of motion, such as in a fight.

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Zummach asked Zwickey if Smiths training was consistent with national standards.

Thats a difficult question, he said.

Zwickey added the training looks consistent with standards on paper, but hes unable to say if Smith actually followed these standards in the actual act of training. This questioning was followed by a video of the "Bad Bob" training.

The video shows Smith being pepper-sprayed before hes asked several questions and instructed to hit a training dummy referred to as Bad Bob. Smith strikes the dummy over and over, repeating stop fighting. Officers instruct Smith to strike the dummy with his elbows and then his kneecaps.

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Zwickey said, based on evidence he reviews, he had no reason to believe Nichols was searched, meaning the scene was unsecured and potentially dangerous.

Forensic consultant testifies about blood evidence

Samantha Spencer, an independent forensic consultant, was called as the first defense witness on the fifth day of trial. Spencer previously worked for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and was on the violent crime response team. She also testified during the federal criminal trial.

Stephen Leffler, a defense attorney for former Memphis Police Department officer Demetrius Haley, listens as Samantha Spencer, an independent forensic consultant, answers a question while she is testifying during the fifth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Spencer walked Stephen Leffler, representing Haley, through the process of DNA testing and profiling at the start of her testimony.

The first exhibit presented was a photo of Martin's boots from the night of Nichols' beating. Spencer said the right boot tested positive for blood, which DNA testing indicated was a match for Nichols.

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Haleys right boot also tested positive for blood, but DNA analysis was inconclusive, she said. Both officers boots showed traces of the DNA of several individuals.

Based on DNA analysis, Spencer said the strike Haley made was possibly to an area that did not have blood on it, like Nichols torso or an area that was clothed. However, Martins strikes were likely to a place with blood on it, like Nichols face, she said.

On cross-examination, Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman played video footage and asked Spencer to confirm that evidence showed Martin kicked Nichols three times and Haley kicked him twice.

What happened on the fourth day of the trial?

The fourth day of trial started with additional questioning of former Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill, who was fired after Nichols' death but has not been criminally charged, asl well as testimony from an emergency medical technician who treated Nichols at the scene.

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You can find all our updates from the fourth day of the trial in this story.

What happened on the third day of the trial?

Day three saw the prosecution rest its case after calling 5 witnesses. The defense started calling its witnesses to the stand in the afternoon. Those included an investigator from TBI and a former Memphis police officer.

You can find full updates from the trial's third day in this story.

What happened on the second day of the trial?

The second day of trial exclusively featured testimony from former Memphis Police Department officer Desmond Mills Jr. Mills, one of the five officers charged in relation to Nichols' death, took a plea deal before the federal trial.

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The day also saw video of Nichols' beating played in the courtroom. Several people in attendance, including much of Nichols' family, left the courtroom before the videos were played.

You can find full updates from the second day of the trial in this story.

What happened on the first day of the trial?

Attorneys argued over several motions before the jury was brought in and opening arguments began. After the prosecution and defense attorneys gave their opening arguments, Nichols' mother, RowVaugh Wells, was the first witness called to the stand.

You can find the full updates from the first day of the trial in this story.

What happened to Tyre Nichols?

Nichols was pulled over by Memphis police officers in the evening hours of Jan. 7, 2023. The officers pulled him from his car and attempted to arrest him before he was able to escape.

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Other officers found him and tackled him. While holding his arms, police punched, kicked, pepper-sprayed and hit Nichols with a baton. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition and died three days later.

Each of the officers charged in the case  Bean, Haley, Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr.  have already either been convicted or pleaded guilty in the federal criminal case.

Haley was convicted on all counts  using excessive force, being deliberately indifferent to Nichols' medical needs, witness tampering and conspiracy to witness tamper. Martin and Mills each pleaded guilty to using excessive force and conspiracy to witness tamper ahead of the federal trial.

Bean and Smith were convicted of witness tampering, but were acquitted of the other three charges.

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Sentencing for all five officers has been postponed until after the state criminal trial is completed.

Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tyre Nichols trial live blog: Foresnsic expert called on day 5
The Pentagon has created a second military zone in the El Paso area that U.S. soldiers will patrol as part of the Trump administrations efforts to crack down on people crossing the southern border illegally, even as crossings are at a historic low.

In a statement Thursday, the militarys Northern Command said the latest military zone will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso. The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that the area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock, according to Maj. Geoffrey Carmichael, spokesman for the Joint Task Force  Southern Border.

The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border, said Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command.

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Last month, the Pentagon designated a 60-foot-wide strip of land along the New Mexico-Mexico border as a military zone. On Monday, federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen migrants with violating security regulations after the U.S. Army spotted the group approaching the area and alerted Border Patrol agents. That charge is in addition to the charge of entering the U.S. illegally. Both are misdemeanors.

Geoffrey S. Corn, director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, said that for more than two centuries the federal government has prohibited the U.S. military from enforcing civilian laws, in part because soldiers mission isnt law enforcement.

Theyre trained as warriors, Corn said.

Still, he said, the Trump administration has found an ingenious way of using the military for immigration enforcement without asking Congress for permission.

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Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the U.S. military is prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement. However, an exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some cases.

Using the military as part of border security reinforces the perception and the narrative that the nation is under some type of invasion, he said. But the facts contradict the assertion of an invasion because the number of border crossings has been steadily dropping for some time now.

In March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported encountering 1,627 migrants in the El Paso sector, which includes all of New Mexicos border as well as El Paso and Hudspeth counties in West Texas. Thats an 87% decrease from August 2024, when the downward trend began.

Aimee Santillan, a policy analyst at the Hope Border Institute, an immigrant rights advocacy group in El Paso, said the militarization of our border has long been of great concern here in the borderlands.

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This escalation is deeply concerning since it not only represents a further step in criminalizing migrants attempting to seek asylum at the border but has the potential to also affect humanitarian aid, during a time when migrant deaths in the El Paso Border Patrol Sector have been soaring.

According to federal government data collected by No More Deaths, a migrant aid and advocacy group in Tucson, Arizona, at least 176 migrants died in the El Paso sector in 2024, continuing a decade-long upward trend. The federal government documented one migrant death in the sector in 2014.

Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Why does Washington find it hard to beat Iranian influence? According to the State Department, it's because the U.S. doesn't use "political violence" in Iraq, a country that the U.S. famously invaded and occupied in 2003.

"Iran uses levers of power that we refrain from using (political violence, bribery) and has economic and cultural relationships we cannot replicate," says the State Department's Iraq Familiarization Course slideshow from 2020 and 2021, which it just released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), along with several hundred pages of other training documents.

This message isn't propaganda for public consumption; it is an internal statement of the State Department's line. Part of mandatory training for employees stationed at the U.S. embassy and consulates in Iraq, the slideshow is a window into what the U.S. government tells itself about its role in the Middle East. The line that "we refrain from using political violence" is a sign that American leaders haven't really internalized what a disaster the Iraq War was.

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"A stable, sovereign, united Iraq is core to pursuing all our interests in Iraq," the slideshow states. "Optimal approach: Highlight that Iraq's path to stability is through a strong relationship with the U.S., not Iran."

To be clear, the Iranian government has used violence and bribery to influence Iraq, fostering predominantly Shi'ite sectarian militias that run their own protection rackets and assassinate peaceful opponents.

But one of the largest acts of "political violence" in Iraq's history was the U.S. invasion of 2003, when American troops invaded the country, toppled its government, and imposed a new one at gunpoint. (So much for Iraqi sovereignty.) The Iraq Body Count Project has documented at least 120,108 civilian deaths, some of which the U.S. Department of Defense tried to sweep under the rug, as a result of the war from 2003 to 2011.

Although the U.S. military officially handed the reins of security to the new Iraqi government in 2011, American troops returned in 2014, staying indefinitely. And they haven't shied from using threats and violence to reshape Iraqi politicsmost famously, by assassinating Iraqi official Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis alongside Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.

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Bribery was also embedded in the war effort from the beginning. In 2002, during the lead up to the invasion, U.S. special forces teams loaded with millions of dollars infiltrated Iraq in hopes of buying the loyalty of local leaders, The Guardian reported at the time.

During the famous "surge" of 2007, the U.S. military doubled down on this strategy, budgeting $150 million in just one year to pay off Sunni militias. The U.S. Army even published official photos of Iraqi militiamen getting paid to switch sides.

A Sons of Iraq member counts his cash after officials from 1st Brigade, 1st National Police Division, paid him with government of Iraq funds in the Karadah District of eastern Baghdad on Nov. 12, 2008. (U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Jeremy Todd)

Those taxpayer-funded bribes made a select few people very rich. Tribal sheikhs skimmed around 20 percent of the money intended to pay their militiamen, according to Foreign Affairs. In his forthcoming book, The Fort Bragg Cartel, investigative journalist Seth Harp reports that U.S. troops were convicted of stealing a total of $52 million in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2005 and 2015, and many other thefts were simply never caught.

"The Army would give my husband and his team hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay to get information," the wife of a Special Forces soldier told Harp. "But instead of really giving the money to informants, they brought it home taped to their bodies."

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Of course, no government will advertise that it rules through greed and fear. And many other materials in the State Department training, especially those given by outside academics, are more frank about the failures of the U.S. occupation. But American leaders seem to still tell themselves that the Iraq War was a basically innocent, well-intentioned misadventureand that failure came from not doing enough of the wrong things.

The post U.S. Government: We Didn't Use 'Political Violence' in Iraq appeared first on Reason.com.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, lost the latest stage of his court battle Friday over having his official security detail downgraded when he visits the United Kingdom. Harry had been appealing a previous court ruling that let the British government scale back his tax-funded close protection detail, which came after his decision to step down as a working member of the royal family and move to the United States.

Throughout most of his life as a working royal, Harry received blanket personal protection provided by British police. In February 2020, after he stepped down from his senior royal duties, Harry and his family's protection was downgraded to security measures to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Harry and his lawyers argued that private bodyguards, who cannot carry guns under British law and do not have access to the government's security network, are not sufficient to protect him and and his family when they visit the U.K.

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"The U.K. is my home," Harry told the nation's High Court in December 2023.

"The U.K. is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the U.S. That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil," Harry said in 2023.

In 2024, Harry lost a legal challenge he filed against that earlier 2020 decision, but he was granted the right to appeal.

"I concluded, having studied the detailed documents, I could not say the duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for a challenge to" the court's previous decision, Sir Geoffery Vos, the court's Master of the Rolls, said Friday.

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Harry did not attend Friday's hearing.

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LONDON  Harrods, Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group in the U.K. have all faced cyber attacks in recent days.

The cyber attacks have been targeting online operations for many of the retailers.

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We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorized access to some of our systems. Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe and as a result we have restricted internet access at our sites today, said a Harrods spokesperson. We are not asking our customers to do anything differently at this point and we will continue to provide updates as necessary.

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Harrods, which is owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, said that its Knightsbridge, H Beauty and airport stores remain open and customers can continue to shop via their website.

At Marks & Spencer, staff were advised to come into work as usual, but around 200 of its agency staff in the East Midlands of England were told not to come in, according to news reports.

We are really sorry that weve not been able to offer you the service you expect from M&S over the last week. We are working day and night to manage the current cyber incident and [to] get things back to normal for you as quickly as possible, said Stuart Machin, Marks & Spencers chief executive officer.

Thank you from me and everyone at M&S for all the support you have shown us. We do not take it for granted and we are incredibly grateful. Our teams are doing the very best they can, and are ready to welcome you into our stores  whether you are shopping for food or for fashion, home and beauty this bank holiday weekend, he added.

Harrods x Burberry

Richard Home, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre in the U.K., said the disruption caused by the recent incidents impacting the retail sector are naturally a cause for concern to those businesses affected, their customers and the public.

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He added that his organization, which is responsible for supporting companies facing cyber threats in the U.K., continues to work closely with organizations that have reported incidents to us to fully understand the nature of these attacks and to provide expert advice to the wider sector based on the threat picture.

He reiterated that the cyber attacks incident should act as a wake-up call to all organizations and urged leaders to follow the advice on the NCSC website to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to help prevent attacks and respond and recover effectively.

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Press freedom in the United States has suffered an alarming deterioration under Donald Trumps presidency, with a recent report suggesting things have hit an all-time low.

The U.S. was ranked 57th in Reporters Without Borders (RSF) annual press freedom index, putting it on par with countries such as Gambia and Uruguay.

In their report, the RSF warns of an authoritarian shift in the U.S. governments rhetoric against journalists, citing Trumps daily attacks on the media, attempts to deliberately defund outlets critical of his agenda and increased concentration of media ownership.

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Recent months have seen the White House escalate tensions with major news organizationsthe president is currently suing CBS for $20 billion after accusing them of defamation, and was narrowly thwarted in his attempts to shutter state-backed broadcasters like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

An executive order signed by Trump on Thursday night also called for the immediate defunding of public broadcasters NPR and PBS, after Trump accused them of receiving millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

Furthermore, the RSF report highlights a downturn in local journalism, which it says have transformed vast swathes of the country into news deserts.

Local journalism is bearing the brunt of the economic downturn: over 60 per cent of journalists and media experts surveyed by RSF in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania agree that it is difficult to earn a living wage as a journalist, and 75 per cent believe that the average media outlet struggles for economic viability," the reports states.

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The slashing of the USAID budget has also had a devastating impact on independent journalism around the world, and has resulted in an estimated 400 million citizens worldwide deprived of access to reliable information. Ukraine, and other parts of eastern Europe, have been particularly affected by the cuts.

Tech giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft have also been criticized over spreading disinformation, with RSF claiming the $247.3 billion in advertising revenue generated by tech companies is sucking funding out of local journalism.

NPR and PBS have been accused on spreading

Globally, the U.S. now ranks 57th in the world for press freedom, falling 13 places in the space of just two years. Whereas the state of American media was previously considered satisfactory, it has now been downgraded to problematic.

Press freedom is no longer a given in the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists noted earlier this week in a report on Trumps first 100 days, and urged reporters to unite against the rising tide of threats.

Globally, the economic indicator for press freedom has hit its worst level, with 160 of 180 nations facing severe financial instability. Conflicts in Gaza and Haiti have devastated media economies, while the report warns that over half the worlds population now lives in countries where journalism is extremely dangerous, with China, Uganda, and Ethiopia considered to be among the most oppressive.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Trump administration announced the U.S. has reached a deal with Mexico to boost water deliveries for South Texas farmers.

Mexico is obligated, under the 1944 U.S. Mexico Water Treaty to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years. This five-year period ends on October 24, 2025. So far, Mexico has delivered about 530,730 acre-feet of water.

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The Mexican government announced it has agreed to boost water deliveries to the U.S. Mexico plans to deliver 324,000 to 420,000 acre-feet of water over the next five months, according to a release.

Mexico will deliver to us over a years worth of water over the next 5 months, said Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas).

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio negotiated with the Mexican government. Rollins said an April 10 Truth Social post from President Trump accelerated negotiations.

The Trump administration decided in March to reject a delivery of water from the Colorado River to the city of Tijuana. The U.S. State Department cited Mexicos failure to uphold commitments to Texas under the water treaty.

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Rollins confirmed the U.S. has resumed deliveries from the Colorado river to Tijuana.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston said the Trump administration will use all available diplomatic tools to make sure Mexico honors its commitment, this time around, but added, she doesnt think theyll be necessary.

We have a president who is the ultimate dealmaker, Houston said. I would trust this administration and the deal that has been made.

Houston said, the administration has meetings scheduled, to ensure Mexico is upholding its obligations. She said the State Department also plans on further negotiations with Mexico to make up the rest of the shortfall.

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The water shortage has affected farmers who grow citrus, corn and winter vegetables. The Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers shut down the last sugar mill in Texas last year, blaming the lack of water provided by Mexico.

Very sadly, its too little too late for the sugar industry, said De La Cruz. But we saved citrus, and thats equally as important.

De La Cruz said she hopes in the future, Mexicos water deliveries will be more predictable.

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A U.S. representative from Tampa is calling the recent deportation to Cuba of a mother who got separated from her one-year-old baby and U.S. citizen husband cruel and unconscionable and urged President Donald Trump to grant humanitarian parole to reunite the family immediately.

In a letter to Trump, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Democrat, said that Heidy Sanchez Tejada, a 44-year-old home health aide from Tampa who was sent to Cuba last week, was ripped away from her infant daughter still breastfeeding at the time your Administration tore them apart.

Sanchezs husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, whom she married in 2021, told the Miami Herald that she had been fighting a deportation order for years. As a U.S. citizen, he filed a family petition to try to legalize her immigration status, which was pending when she was detained at a regular check-in appointment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Tampa on April 22.

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It is unconscionable and wrong for your ICE personnel to harm families in this way, Castor wrote Trump, adding that the treatment of the family was a deep stain on the administration and repugnant to American values and constitutional protections. She called on Trump to use his authority to return the mother to the U.S. because of her babys ongoing health issues.

ICE has not responded to a request for comment about the case.

Sydney Devitt, a press secretary for Castors office, said, We are pursuing all avenues to advocate for her return and are awaiting a response from the White House.

Tampa woman deported to Cuba gets separated from one-year-old and U.S. citizen husband

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Sanchez tried to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019, at a time when the first Trump administration required migrants to remain in that country until they could see an immigration judge. She attended a first hearing in the U.S. and was sent back to Mexico. But she missed her second hearing in the U.S. because she was kidnapped in Mexico, her lawyer, Claudia Canizares, said. She tried again to present herself at the border. Still, since a judge had already issued a deportation order after she missed the hearing, ICE detained her and held her for nine months.

Because Cuba was not accepting many deportees at the time, ICE released her with a supervision order known as an I-220B, which required that Sanchez attend regular check-ins. She was detained at one such appointment last week and sent to Cuba two days later.

In an interview with Univision from Havana, Sanchez said she was not given time to say goodbye to her daughter, whom she took to the appointment. They just simply ripped her away from my arms that day, she said, sobbing.

In a Facebook video pleading for help from Havana, she said she had been struggling with infertility for two decades and that the couples daughter was conceived through in vitro fertilization.

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I tell you this so you understand the desperation I am feeling right now for not having my child with me, she said, breaking into tears. My child is my life, my everything; they are killing me slowly every night I go to sleep without her.

Valle previously told the Miami Herald their daughter was in distress because of the separation from her mother, which Castor also mentioned in her letter. In a call Thursday, Valle said the child had undergone neurological testing this week due to ongoing medical conditions. He also said he was concerned about Sanchezs emotional distress.

Heidy does not stop crying, he said.  I told her we have to be strong for our daughter.

He said he was able to buy Sanchez food from an online supermarket that delivers in Cuba and sent her a package with clothing and other necessities.

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Castor said in the letter that due to the suffocating oppression in Cuba and lack of essentials like food and clean water, Ms. Sanchez should not be trafficked to a country where she will be harmed and suffer.

The circumstances of the deportation of Sanchez, who was sent to Cuba from Miami in a flight with another 81 Cuban migrants last week, has received significant attention amid the administrations push to ramp up deportations.

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Miami who is sponsoring an immigration reform bill, the Dignity Act, told the Herald she was aware of Sanchezs case, but House rules require that cases from outside her district be referred to their appropriate congressional representative.

Cases like this underscore why Congress must pass my Dignity Act  to bring compassion, order, and long-overdue reform to our broken immigration system, she said.

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A petition asking U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to grant Sanchez humanitarian parole back into the U.S. has gathered over a thousand signatures. Activists and relatives protested on Saturday in front of a courthouse in Tampa, urging Castor and Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott to help.

Scotts office did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

The family contacted his office and received the following response: We are sorry to learn about the difficulties you are experiencing. Please be aware that our office is unable to assist you in this legal matter.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says factory gigs are the great jobs of the future that Gen Z could work in for the "rest" of their lifeand so could their grandkids. But the workforces youngest cohort probably wont be running to fill the roles.

Some white-collar workers may be on the brink of layoffs thanks to AI, but the secretary of commerce says they will always have a place in Americas factories. As the U.S. puts up high tariffs and curbs immigration, the administration hopes to fuel an intergenerational manufacturing boom.

Its time to train people not to do the jobs of the past, but to do the great jobs of the future, Howard Lutnick told CNBC this week.

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This is the new model, where you work in these plants for the rest of your life, and your kids work here, and your grandkids work here.

While Lutnick said this is all part of President Trumps larger plan to make America more independent from foreign imports and services, the administrations targeted deportation of immigrants has left many domestic manufacturers scrambling for labor. To keep up with supply, people have to fill the plant jobs, and Lutnick thinks technicians tending to factory robots are the next hot gig.

You gotta remember these plants, all these automated arms and stuff, they need to be fixed. They all need a technician to fix them, he said. This is tradecraft, this is high school-educated, great jobs.

Robot technicians can earn $90K with just a high school diploma, Lutnick says

Robots are already starting to work side by side with humans on factory floors, and it's causing panic among workers that the tech will eventually steal their jobs. But Lutnick snubbed that notion, arguing people will always be needed to repair the robots.

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In fact, he advertises technician work as incredibly accessible and lucrative to U.S. citizens with just a high school diploma. Lutnick also pointed to local-led efforts to get community college students into the industry, using Arizona as an example of a state ramping up its efforts.

You go to the community colleges, and you train people, he said. All these community colleges [in Arizona] are training people right now, technicians, and these are really good-paying jobs.

The American businessman said technician jobs can pay anywhere from $70,000 to $90,000 from the jumpa promising gig with a low barrier to entry. Vocational schooling or apprenticeships are a nice touch on resumes, but only a high school diploma is required for most entry-level technician jobs. But its still not the dream for Gen Z turning to trade work.

Gen Zers want blue-collar jobsbut not in a factory

Manufacturing was predicted to explode with job growth long before Trumps immigration and tariff policies were implemented this year. This could be a huge win for Gen Zers chasing trade work as a six-figure career pathif only they wanted the jobs.

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Some 3.8 million new manufacturing opportunities are expected to open up by 2033, according to a 2024 report from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute. However, half of these roles are predicted to go unfilled due to labor supply issues and changing career choices. And Gen Zers, set to make up 30% of Americas workforce by 2030, are turning their nose up at factory work in particular.

Only 14% of Gen Z say theyd consider industrial work as a career path, according to a 2023 study from Soter Analytics. About a quarter of the young workers think that these jobs arent particularly safe, and dont offer flexibility. Theyd rather be an HVAC worker, plumber, or carpentersafer blue-collar gigs where workers have more control over their schedules.

With Americas increasingly dire need for manufacturing workers, Lutnicks vision of technicians as an intergenerational career may be a pipe dream. After all, only 25% of Americans think theyd be better off working in a factory, according to a 2024 poll from the Cato Institute. It will take a lot of convincing to get young Americans to take the leap.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
May 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department on Friday designated two powerful Haitian gangs as terrorist groups.

The agency listed the Viv Ansanm coalition, which consists of more than two dozen of Haiti's best-armed criminal groups, and the Gran Grif gang as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

Gangs control about 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as other regions, including the West and Artibonite departments, according to the United Nations.

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"The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. "Haitian gangs, including the Viv Ansanm coalition and Gran Grif, are the primary source of instability and violence in Haiti. They are a direct threat to U.S. national security interests in our region.

"These gangs have killed and continue attacking the people of Haiti, Haitian security forces and Multinational Security Support mission personnel, and are committed to overthrowing the government of Haiti."

Police officers patrol a street after attack on a public hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Dec. 24. Armed individuals belonging to the Vivre Ensemble coalition attacked the hospital. File Photo by Johnson Sabin/EPA-EFE

Rubio said gangs' ultimate goal is "creating a gang-controlled state where illicit trafficking and other criminal activities operate freely and terrorize Haitian citizens."

The designations "play a critical role in our fight against these vicious groups and are an effective way to curtail support for their terrorist activities," Rubio said. "Engaging in transactions with members of these groups entails risk in relation to counterterrorism sanctions authorities, not only for Haitians but also for U.S. lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens."

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Individuals and entities who give support or resources to Viv Ansanm or Gran Grif could face criminal charges and inadmissibility or removal from the United States.

"It has potentially huge implications whether banks, Western Union, financial systems will be willing to send remittances to Haiti," Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert on non-state armed groups who closely monitors Haiti, told The Miami Herald. "If they are afraid they will be prosecuted, they might be willing to not take such payments. On the positive aspect, perhaps this will scare off more Haitian politicians and businessmen who hire gangs for their nefarious purposes."

Eight other Latin American crime organizations were labeled as terror groups by the State Department in February, including Mexican cartels, as well as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua.

"The Trump Administration is sending a clear message with its terrorist designations of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif," a senior State Department official told The Miami Herald. "Under the leadership of Secretary Rubio we are holding accountable vicious groups which have undermined Haiti and its people. It's in America's national security interest to hold the vicious gangs accountable."

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Rubio praised "extraordinary bravery" of the Haitian National Police and all international partners supporting the MSS mission to establish stability and security in Haiti.

"We urge all of Haiti's political leaders to prioritize the security of the Haitian people, find solutions to stop the violence, and make progress toward the restoration of democracy through free and fair elections," Rubio said. "The United States stands with the Haitian people as they seek a secure, stable future for their country and citizens."

Viv Ansanm formed in September 2023 as a coalition of gangs through an alliance between the two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pep.

Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti's Artibonite department. Since 2022, Gran Grif has been responsible for 80% of civilian death reports in Artibonite, the State Department said in a fact sheet. In February, an attack killed a Kenyan Multinational Security Support mission officer.

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At least 5,601 people were killed in Haiti last year because of gang violence, an increase of more than 1,000 in 2023, the United Nations said.

In December, armed men opened fire at Haiti's largest hospital during a briefing to announce the reopening, killing two journalists and a police officer. Viv Ansanm claimed responsibility for the attack in a video posted to social media.

"There is no territorial limitation, so if someone is paying the gangs in France or Australia that still applies," Felbab-Brown told The Miami Herald. "There is no limitation to just Haiti or the United States."

Haiti has been facing worsening gang violence since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021.

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Gang violence is reaching "a point of no return," according to the United Nations' top envoy for the Caribbean nation.

Maria Isabel Salvador, the special representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Haiti, issued her warning during a Security Council briefing in New York City on April 21.

According to the United Nations, more than a million Haitians have been displaced. Also, more than half of the population -- 5.7 million Haitians -- faces acute hunger."
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Millions of people across the United States live with schizophrenia, and in Northwest Arkansas, UAMS aims to join in aiding not only those with the disorder but also the patients support systems.

One thing weve seen is a lot of parents that are in distress, and so many of our referrals have come from parents. And I think it just shows they are really needing this service that hasnt been here, said Elizabeth Demoret, project manager of the Odyssey Clinic for Northwest Arkansas.

The clinic opened in December, providing specialty care for first episode psychosis, the first clinic of its kind in Northwest Arkansas, working with the main diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder or delusional disorder.

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What we are really looking to do is to intervene early after a person has got a diagnosis and really provide them with wraparound services, said Demoret.

New law provides incentive for mental health professionals

The clinic offers a variety of resources such as individual therapy, family education and support, supportive employment, education services, and medication management.

Research shows that when people are involved in a program like this, they report and improve quality of life. They report less hospitalizations and they generally stay in treatment longer, said Demoret.

The clinic has seen plenty of positive community response to meeting the need in the area, holding a Northwest Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference in January with around three hundred people in attendance, according to Demoret.

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She said, though 1% seems like a small amount of the population to have schizophrenia, that comes out to over 3 million people, with increased rates in urban areas.

Demoret also said that college occurs during the prime years, when many are diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, which is why having the clinic in Fayetteville is vital to the community.

College is the prime age that these things can happen and I think also the transition from high school to college is one of the most stressful times in our lives. And that stress is something that can exacerbate symptoms or cause symptoms to emerge, said Demoret.

Outside of the newly opened clinic, resources and services for those impacted by schizophrenia are limited, but thats not the only thing that makes Odyssey Clinic unique to the community.

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A lot of outpatient clinics dont offer family education or support, and they dont offer the supportive employment and education piece. And those are things that people need. Theres also a lot of research that shows that when patients are involved in meaningful things like work or school, that also helps them get better, said Demoret.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A University of California Berkeley student who was just weeks away from graduating suffered serious injuries at a fraternity house. The incident happened during a frat party thrown on Cal Day, April 19, when UC Berkeley hosts celebrations for academics and campus life.

The senior, 21-year-old Bandna Bhatti, reportedly fell from Phi Kappa Taus fraternity house. Her injuries left her paralyzed from the waist down, a verified GoFundMe page states.

Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old, was just three weeks away from graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Data Science  a milestone she had worked so hard for  when our world was turned upside down. On April 19, we received the kind of call no family ever wants to get. Bandna had suffered a tragic and devastating fall, the page states.

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UC Berkeley officials said Bhatti is a Data Science major who is slated to graduate this spring.

A university spokesperson told KRON4, UC Berkeley is aware of an ongoing police investigation regarding reports of a student being injured near or at a fraternity. Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time.

The spokesperson declined to confirm the injured students name, adding, Federal student privacy law and university policies preclude us from discussing or confirming confidential student matters.

The Berkeley Police Department is investigating the incident.

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Three men found dead in Suisun City house identified

Bhattis injuries include a spinal fracture, and she is currently hospitalized, according the GoFundMe page. Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams. Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead, and we are humbly asking our community for help, her loved ones wrote.

As of Friday afternoon, the page had raised nearly $78,000 to help cover the students medical bills and long recovery ahead.

Bhattis mother told KRON4 that her daughter is in good spirits while surrounded by family and friends at her bedside.

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University police issued a warning to the UC Santa Barbara community this week, alerting them to be on the lookout for the suspect(s) involved in at least two on-campus hate crimes.

Both instances involved a suspect, described as a white male, yelling racist profanities at victims in a way that police said was motivated by bias against the victims perceived ethnicities.

While it hasnt been confirmed if the suspect is the same man in both reports, police said they believe the incidents are related.

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The first crime was reported on Monday, according to the warning, at around 5:55 p.m. outside of the Student Health Service building.

The suspect, who police said was a stranger to the victim, approached the victim and yelled, Get out of my country!

He then followed it by asking, Do you have a green card?

In addition to the verbal abuse, the suspect then rode his bicycle toward the victim and spat in the victims face. Police said another person nearby was also struck by the suspects spit.

Officials described this suspect as a white man about 23-27 years old who stands roughly 5 feet and 11 inches tall. He has blonde hair and a beard, and was said to be wearing a navy-blue hat, dark colored hoodie, dark colored pants, black Nike shoes and had a black backpack.

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The suspect was also in possession of a black beach cruiser-style bicycle, police added.

While the second hate crime was reported around 8:18 p.m. on Tuesday, police said it happened before the first crime.

According to the report, it was around 5 p.m. when another incident of intimidation motivated by bias against the victims perceived ethnicity happened outside the Isla Vista Theater.

This time, the suspect was seated in front of the theater and yelled, Get the f out of this country b-!

He then reiterated his racist profanities at the victim, yelling, Hey b-, I said get the f- out of this country!

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Police said this suspect is also described as a white male adult, but in this report he was estimated to be around 35 years old, standing 5 feet and 6-8 inches.

Hes estimated to weigh about 140-150 pounds, with blonde, medium-length hair and scruffy facial hair.

The similarities that this suspect description shares with the last, in addition to the blonde hair, is that this suspect was also said to be wearing dark jeans and a dark jacket, and he had a bicycle.

UCPD said it is investigating these crimes and asks anyone with information that might assist in the investigation to contact the UCSB Police Department at 805-893-3446, or report crime information anonymously at www.police.ucsb.edu/report-crime.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Department of Transportation has been working on improving lane visibility in the state for five years, and now they have new technology to help the process.

The department is now using moving retroreflective technology to assess lane marking visibility, according to a Thursday press release. This technology will make assessing lanes safer for employees and cheaper for taxpayers.

Montana man shares story for the first time after a grizzly bear ripped off his jaw

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John Gleason, UDOTs public relations director, told ABC4 that data collection on the reflectivity of these lane markings is essential for maintaining the visibility of the markings. He said snow plows wreak havoc on striping and Utahs extreme temperatures cut down on reflectivity over the years.

This means, that to keep lane markings visible in all weather conditions, there is a lot of maintenance needed.

Before the new technology, troopers would conduct traffic control as crews paced over lane markings holding retroreflectometers that slowly scanned the markings to determine their condition. Now, two trucks drive across the road, one spraying water and the other collecting reflection data while in motion.

Its a night and day difference from how we used to collect the data, Gleason said. Its safer and more convenient for our crews.

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Gleason continued to say the new technology means a lot to the folks that work in our striping maintenance group and for the drivers using these roads.

UDOT is currently using the new technology to test five areas along southbound I-15 between South Salt Lake and Draper to provide data on where to install wet-reflective tape, a product meant to help visibility in the rain.

Any time we can do our jobs safely, and get the data we need without anyone getting hurt and impacting the public, its a big win, said Abdul Wakil, UDOT maintenance asset engineer. Not only are we helping to keep routes safe and efficient in the present, but were also looking for innovative ways to improve their travel experience in the future  while keeping our crews safe.

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NAIROBI (Reuters) -Uganda's military chief, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, says he is holding an opposition activist in his basement and has threatened violence against him, after the man's party said he was abducted by armed men last week.

Eddie Mutwe, who also acts as the chief bodyguard for Uganda's leading opposition figure, Bobi Wine, went missing last weekend after being grabbed near the capital Kampala by armed men, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party has said.

The police have said they do not have Mutwe, whose real name is Edward Ssebuufu, and until now there had been no word on his whereabouts.

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In a series of posts on X late on Thursday, Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted what appeared to be a photograph of Mutwe, who was shirtless, and said he had captured him "like a grasshopper".

Reuters was not immediately able to independently verify the photograph, but the NUP party later re-used it on their X handle in a post seeking support for Mutwe.

"He is in my basement ... You are next!," Kainerugaba wrote in a post responding to one from Wine about Mutwe's disappearance.

"I still have to castrate him," he said a few hours later, adding that he would release Mutwe only when Museveni gave the order.

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The Uganda Human Rights Commission, a government body, on Thursday ordered Kainerugaba to release Mutwe, who they said had been unlawfully detained since April 26, or he would be "liable for contempt under... the constitution."

Spokespeople for the Ugandan government, military and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Uganda's opposition has accused Museveni of fast-tracking Kainerugaba's military career to prepare him to eventually succeed to the presidency, despite his son's frequent inflammatory remarks on social media, including threats in 2022 to invade neighbouring Kenya and in January to behead Wine.

Wine is a popular musician-turned-politician who came second in the 2021 election.

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Museveni, 80, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is expected to stand for re-election next January. His opponents and human rights activists have regularly accused his government of wide-ranging abuses including abductions and illegal detentions.

Museveni has denied these allegations.

"Eddie Mutwe's ordeal is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign to silence dissent and crush the aspirations of young people yearning for freedom," the Uganda Law Society said in a statement.

Wine, who says the 2021 vote was marred by massive fraud, wrote on X on Friday afternoon that soldiers had just raided his party headquarters ahead of a planned gathering to support Mutwe.

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Kizza Besigye, another opposition leader, who challenged Museveni in four elections, was detained in November and remains in jail on charges including treason.

(Reporting by Nairobi NewsroomWriting by Hereward HollandEditing by Frances Kerry and Ros Russell)
On 2 May, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke with US Vice President JD Vance regarding peace efforts to end Russias aggression against Ukraine.

Source: Lammy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lammy said that during the conversation with Vance, "we reaffirmed our shared desire for an end to Russias barbaric invasion of Ukraine and our commitment to a lasting peace".

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"Putin has stalled and hampered discussions for long enough. The world is losing patience," Lammy added.

Background:

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has attempted to accelerate a peace process between Ukraine and Russia and has reportedly prepared a "final offer" for a peace settlement.

Among other things, the United States is said to be willing to recognise Russian control over Ukrainian Crimea and to ease sanctions against Moscow.

Reuters later published the text of the proposed terms for ending Russias war against Ukraine that had been presented to the US side by Ukrainian and European officials during talks in London.

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By Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's internal security agency, the SBU, on Friday accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an attempt to assassinate a prominent Ukrainian blogger, accusing a 45-year-old woman of carrying out the failed hit.

The attempt to kill internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who once led the local chapter of a right-wing group but is now better known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, took place on Thursday.

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In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said the woman, whom it did not name, had fired several shots with a pistol, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg. The blogger said there was no danger to his life.

The woman's lawyer said in court that she did not contest the facts of the case.

Russia's FSB security service and its military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the SBU's allegations.

The SBU did not specify which of Russia's several security services it believed to have recruited the woman, but said that they had last year told her to move into Sternenko's apartment block in Kyiv, and to pick up a pistol from a dead drop.

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The SBU said the woman's handler told her on the morning of May 1 to kill Sternenko outside his apartment block.

The agency posted screenshots of what it said were messages between the woman and the handler and a video from a security camera showing the assassination attempt.

The accused's lawyer said the contact had told the woman that Sternenko was working for Russia's FSB.

The woman told the court that the contact, whose gender was not disclosed, had introduced themselves online as an SBU agent, and that she had initially feared them. Subsequently she had fallen in love with them despite never seeing their photo, she said.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Toby Chopra)
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needs to "accelerate the creation of Ukrainian ballistic systems as much as possible," according to his evening address published on May 2.

Zelensky made the statement following his meeting with the Commander-in-Chief, where he was briefed on military supplies, staffing, and Ukraines missile program, including domestic development and production.

"Our long-range capabilities are a clear and effective guarantee of Ukraines security," Zelensky said.

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Long-range missiles have been a critical component of Ukraine's defense against Russia's full-scale invasion. However, since the start of the invasion, Western partners have been reluctant and slow to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles out of a fear of escalation.

Kyiv first started receiving U.S. long-range missiles, specifically the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), in the fall of 2023  more than a year after Russia launched its invasion. At the time, Ukraine was only permitted to deploy these missiles against targets in occupied Ukrainian territory.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of ATACMS in November 2024, allowing Kyiv to launch them against military targets in Russia.

Ukraine has also received the British Storm Shadow and the French SCALP missiles. However, earlier this year, Ukraine reportedly ran out of its supply of ATACMS.

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While Ukraine's drone production industry has been successful  providing more than 95% of drones used on the front line  the missile development program has been slower, with some notable exceptions. Last year, Ukraine successfully tested its first domestically-made ballistic missile and produced 100 missiles.

The combination of Western reluctance and restrictions, as well as limited supply of long-range missiles, has underscored Ukraine's need to develop its own domestic missile program.

Read also: Could Ukraine have stopped Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the Trump administration's efforts have fostered some rapprochement between Russia and Ukraine, although the two sides remain far apart. He emphasised that there is no military solution to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Rubio in an interview with Fox News, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "Putin can't take all of Ukraine, Ukraine can't push the Russians all the way back to where they were in 2014. I think we know where Ukraine is. We know where Russia is right now. They're still far apart. They're closer, but they're still far apart."

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Details: Rubio emphasised that a real breakthrough in the peace process is urgently needed, as President Donald Trump will soon have to decide how much time he is willing to dedicate to it.

The secretary of state added that there are more critical issues in the world to address.

"Not that the war in Ukraine is not important, but I'd say what's happening with China is more important in the long term for the future of the world," he said. "Obviously, Iran's nuclear ambition. All these other things that we have going on. So at some point in time, it either has to be something that can happen, or we'll need to move on. That will be a decision the president will have to make."

Background:

The US State Department announced that Washington will change its approach to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, planning to take a less active role, though it is not distancing itself from the issue.

US Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, believes that Russias war against Ukraine is unlikely to end anytime soon.

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Financial benefit from the mineral resources deal between Ukraine and the United States may not materialise for at least another 10 years. The war, destroyed infrastructure and a lack of geological surveys significantly undermine the prospects for developing the deposits.

Source: Reuters

Details: Despite official statements about the political importance of the agreement signed between Ukraine and the United States regarding the development of Ukraine's mineral resources, actual profits from it are unlikely to appear anytime soon. According to industry experts, development in countries with advanced mining sectors, such as Canada or Australia, takes between 10 and 20 years. In the case of Ukraine, this period may be even longer due to a number of obstacles.

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Infrastructure  energy, transport and logistics  has suffered significant destruction due to the three-year full-scale war. Most of the deposits still lack comprehensive geological surveys that would confirm the economic viability of their development. In addition, potential investors may be discouraged from investing in a country at war.

"If anyone's thinking suddenly all these minerals are going to be flying out of Ukraine, they're dreaming. The reality is it's going to be difficult for people to justify investing money there when there are options to invest in critical minerals in countries that are not at war," said Adam Webb, Head of minerals at consultancy Benchmark Minerals Intelligence.

Quote: "Another hurdle is that some potentially lucrative projects are on land occupied by Russia, and the agreement does not include any security guarantees. Washington has said the presence of US interests would deter aggressors."

Details: According to Ukraine's Finance Ministry, the state received 47.7 billion hryvnias (about US$1 billion) in royalties and other payments related to the use of natural resources in 2024.

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However, revenues from the new US-Ukrainian joint fund will only apply to licences granted under the new rules introduced by the agreement.

The historical pace of licence issuance also does not inspire optimism: Ukraine issued approximately 20 licences for oil and gas, one for graphite, one for gold, two for manganese and one for copper from 2012 to 2020.

Background:

On the night of 30 April-1 May, marking the end of Donald Trump's hundredth day in office, Ukraine and the United States signed the mineral resources deal.

On 1 May, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) a draft law on ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and the United States regarding the establishment of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, stated that the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which is being created within the framework of the mineral resources deal, might begin operating just a few months after its ratification in the Verkhovna Rada.

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Key developments on May 2:

Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40

Massive drone attack reportedly targets Russian military sites in occupied Crimea

U.S. confirms sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts

Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 1, injures 28

A Russian drone attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv injured at least 40 people on May 2, according to local authorities. At least seven people have been hospitalized.

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Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has endured repeated air assaults throughout the full-scale war.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said via his official Telegram channel that the attack targeted 12 locations in four districts of the city, including Kyivskyi, Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, and Saltivskyi.

Several houses, shops, and vehicles were damaged following drone strikes, and some buildings caught fire, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. First responders have been dispatched to the sites of attack.

Massive drone attack reportedly targets Russian military sites in occupied Crimea

Russian air defenses allegedly intercepted 89 Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea and another 23 over the waters of the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on May 2.

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The pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported explosions in several key locations across the peninsula, including Sevastopol, Dzhankoy, Saky, Novofedorivka, and Kacha  sites that host Russian military airfields.

The Saky and Kacha airfields are used by Russia to control airspace over the Black Sea and to launch strikes on Ukrainian territory. Videos published by Crimean Wind showed multiple explosions and a fire near the village of Uhlove, close to the Kacha airfield.

Uhlove is located about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast of Kalamit Bay and roughly 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Simferopol.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed leader in Sevastopol, confirmed on Telegram that "loud sounds" were caused by Russian forces repelling an attempted drone attack.

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He claimed seven drones had been destroyed over the sea at a significant distance from shore.

"The fleet, in cooperation with air defense forces, is reflecting a massive combined attack," he wrote, claiming no damage to infrastructure in Sevastopol or its waters.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the reported strikes, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Read also: Could Ukraine have stopped Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?

U.S. confirms sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts support

The U.S. Air Force has transferred decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to supply spare parts for aircraft already donated by European partners, the War Zone reported on May 1.

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According to an Air Force spokesperson, the U.S. Air Force "has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts."

The aircraft, retired from U.S. service, are non-flyable and lack critical components such as engines and radars, making them unusable for operational missions.

On April 26, these stripped-down F-16 airframes were reportedly loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane that departed from Tucson International Airport in Arizona to Poland's Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key logistics hub for Western military assistance to Ukraine.

Several European allies have committed to supplying Ukraine with operational F-16s.

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Read also: One night with 3rd Assault Brigade medics in a new age of war

Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 1, injures 31

Russia forces launched drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia late at night on May 1, killing one person and injuring at least 31 others, including two children, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

Russia launched attack drones towards the city, striking targets at least 10 times and causing multiple fires, Fedorov said.

The regional military administration later reported that a 61-year-old man had been killed as a result of the attack.

Footage of the aftermath of the attacks shows multiple homes as well as a residential building damaged as a result of the attack. Fedorov later reported that a local university as well as an infrastructure facility were damaged in the strike.

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Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that apartment buildings, an educational institution, and an infrastructure facility were damaged in the attack.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

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The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.

The State Department said it is changing the methodology of how we contribute to the talks and will no longer fly around the world at the drop of a hat for meetings.

We will continue to help, but we will no longer fly around the world as mediators in meetings, said Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson.

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She added that Kyiv and Moscow must now present concrete proposals for ending the war and should meet directly to resolve the conflict.

Washington withdrawing from peace talks came soon after the US signed a minerals deal with Ukraine on more favourable terms for Kyiv, while Donald Trump green-lit his administrations first round of weapons deliveries to the war-torn country.

In recent days, Mr Trump has softened his stance towards Kyiv amid his growing frustrations towards Vladimir Putin for dragging his feet over attempts to secure a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has expressed a willingness for talks with Kyiv, but this week rejected a US peace proposal because it did not grant international recognition of the territory its forces seized in Ukraine.

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Ukraine has repeatedly rejected any formal recognition of Russias annexation of its territory, saying that Putin should not be rewarded for his aggression. Moscows forces control roughly one fifth of Ukraine, which includes its resource-rich industrial heartlands to the east.

US intelligence briefings overnight also suggested Mr Putin is now in a weakened position and has shifted his war goals to consolidate gains.

JD Vance, the US vice-president, admitted on Thursday that the war will not end any time soon.

Echoing the State Departments comments, Mr Vance said that both sides know what the others terms for peace are and now it is up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.

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Its not going anywhere  Its not going to end any time soon, he told Fox News.

For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way? added Mr Vance, who has been critical of Kyiv throughout negotiations.

On Wednesday, the US signed a long-contested rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine, which will give American companies preferential treatment in extracting Ukraines vast natural resources.

Ukraines parliament is set to hold a vote on May 8 to ratify the accord, which is central to Kyivs efforts to mend ties with the White House that had frayed since Mr Trump returned to office.

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Volodymyr Zelensky hailed it as a truly equal agreement, which is believed to have been far more favourable to Kyiv than earlier demands, and came amid Mr Trumps recent softening towards Ukraine.

Soon after the deal was signed, the US president approved a fresh delivery of weapons to Ukraine, the first of its kind since Mr Trump took office.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, meanwhile told Americans that the war in Ukraine is not our war.

Echoing the vice-presidents statements, he said that without a breakthrough, the president is going to have to make a decision about how much more time were going to dedicate to this.

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I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now ... Theyre closer, but theyre still far apart, he added in a separate interview with Fox News.

Russias frozen funds

Ukraine agreed immediately to the USs proposal for a 30-day ceasefire last month, while Moscow has stalled in what Kyivs allies warn is an attempt to improve Russias battlefield position.

On Friday, Europe announced it planned to seize and redistribute about 3 billion (2.5 billion) of Russias frozen funds.

The money would be used to compensate Western investors after Moscow seized cash held in Russia in recent months, three people told Reuters, escalating attempts by both sides to recoup billions in funds affected by the war.

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Euroclear will redistribute 3 billion from a pool of 10 billion in cash belonging to Russian entities and individuals hit by the EU sanctions that followed Russias full-scale invasion in 2022.

The EU changed its sanctions regime late last year, allowing a disbursement to Western investors.

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Ukraine exported 4.1 million tons of agricultural products in April, marking a 23.4% decrease from March figures, reported the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB).

"This export decrease follows typical seasonal patterns. The majority of harvested produce has already been exported, with only minor volumes remaining for export," the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club said.

Agriculture represents about 20% of Ukraine's GDP, making it a cornerstone of the economy. The sector has sustained approximately $80 billion in losses since Russia's full-scale invasion began, according to Agriculture Minister Vitalii Koval.

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UCAB data shows April exports declined across most agricultural categories, with vegetable oils being the only exception, showing a 6% increase from March.

Grain exports, which make up the largest share of Ukraine's agricultural exports, fell 33% month-over-month to 2.4 million tons. Corn represented 65% of grain exports, followed by wheat at 32% and barley at 2%.

Oilseed exports declined marginally by 3% to 421,200 tons, with soybeans accounting for 78% of the category.

According to UCAB, the unusual growth in Ukrainian sunflower oil exports during this period is connected to production being spread over a longer timeframe this year.

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Throughout the full-scale war, Moscow has tried to block Ukraine's exports by controlling the Black Sea and attempting to replace Ukrainian products globally with its own, including grain reportedly taken from occupied territories.

In October 2024, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal accused Russia of stealing millions of tons of Ukrainian grain from occupied territories, claiming that at least 180,000 tons were taken through Mariupol alone.

On April 25, Ukrainian security services detained a Russian 'shadow fleet' ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea.

After Russia's temporary Black Sea blockade, Ukraine established a new maritime trade route in 2023, reviving its agricultural exports. Agricultural products now account for 59% of the country's total exports.

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In 2024, Ukraine's agricultural exports reached $24.5 billion, approaching the record-breaking 2021's $27.7 billion.

Read also: Warm words rather than real investment  uncertainty surrounds newly-signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal

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A total of 201 artists and 103 media workers have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has reported.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)

Quote: "The literary and artistic generation known as the Executed Renaissance gave the world masterpieces of literature, art, music and theatre. These artists were the pride of our nation. Today, we are once again losing not just talented Ukrainians but also a part of our soul, as each of our artists has a unique personality that has enriched Ukrainian culture."

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Details: Meanwhile, the ministry did not specify how it determines whether the deceased person was an artist.

The Ministry of Culture emphasised that Russia's systematic crimes against journalists and the media represent a severe threat to freedom of speech and information security, undermining democratic values and human rights.

Background:

On 2 May 2025, an actor from the Dnipro Ukrainian Youth Theatre, Maksym Kovtun, was killed in action while defending Ukraine.

On 13 April 2025, musician Olena Kohut was killed in a Russian missile attack on Sumy.

The following people were killed in action defending Ukraine: Andrii Kasianov, an actor of the Dnipro Shevchenko Theatre; military photographer Arsen Fedosenko; actor Oleksii Khilskyi; director Kostiantyn Petryk; Ihor Voronka, a leading artist of the National Academic Chapel Dumka; choreographer Anton Smetskyi; Oleksandr Serdiuk, a vocalist of the Kyiv Theatre Berehynia; writer Vasyl Palamarchuk; Leonid Lavrenchuk, an employee of the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, and many others.

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Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stated that, within the framework of a peace settlement, Russia must not be granted a veto over Ukraines NATO membership.

Source: Sybiha during a speech at the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha noted that Ukraine would not accept "peace at any cost" and outlined the red lines in peace negotiations, describing them as "clear and unchanged".

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"First of all, we will not agree to recognise any temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as Russian," he said.

Sybiha added that Ukraine would not agree to any restrictions on the structure or size of its armed forces, reductions in its defence industry or limitations on military aid from allies and the presence of allied troops.

"Thirdly, we will not accept any restrictions on Ukraines sovereignty, on our internal or foreign policy, including the choice of alliances and blocs we aim to join," the minister stressed.

Sybiha acknowledged that, at present, there is no consensus among allies regarding Ukraines NATO membership, but stated that Kyiv would continue "actively working to reach one".

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"However, Russia or any other country does not and will not have a veto over our choice," he added.

Background:

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has attempted to accelerate a peace process between Ukraine and Russia and reportedly has prepared a "final offer" for a peace settlement.

Among other things, the United States is reportedly ready to recognise Russias control over Ukrainian Crimea and to ease sanctions against Moscow.

Later, Reuters reviewed a text of the proposed terms for ending Russias war against Ukraine, which had been presented to the American side by Ukrainian and European officials during negotiations in London.

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Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, has commented on the US State Departments statement that the United States would change its approach to efforts to end the Russo-Ukrainian war and take a less active role.

Source: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Tykhyi said that, following the US statement, he contacted State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

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Quote from Tykhyi: "We confirmed that her comment on the US role as a mediator was made in the context of her similar comment earlier this week: If there is no progress, we will step back from the mediator role."

Details: Tykhyi stated that this was not a new position of the United States, but merely a repetition of what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already stated.

Background:

On 29 April, Rubio said that Washington would abandon its mediator role between Russia and Ukraine in the absence of progress toward peace.

Earlier, Rubio said that the current week would be critically important for the United States decision on whether to continue efforts to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Ukrainian armed forces will take part in a British military procession on Monday celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which marks the end of fighting on the continent during World War Two.

Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK armed forces members, including soldiers on horseback and military bands, to symbolise "the global support for their continued fight for freedom" against Russia, the government said in a statement on Saturday.

The 80th anniversary falls as U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing for a deal to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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May 8 is observed in many countries including Britain, France and the United States as the date when the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany took effect in 1945.

Russia fought alongside the Western allies as the Soviet Union - which then included Ukraine. It marks the occasion on May 9.

Britain plans various events in the run-up to the anniversary, including a military parade and a flypast, culminating in a service of thanksgiving on Thursday at Westminster Abbey in London that is due to be attended by the royal family.

Britain has staunchly supported Kyiv since the war in Ukraine began, providing billions of pounds in military aid and placing wide-ranging sanctions on Russian entities and individuals to punish Moscow for the conflict.

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"In the midst of the first full-scale war in Europe since the Second World War, it is fitting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently fighting on the frontline of freedom are represented in Monday's event," defence minister John Healey said in the statement.

Armed forces from Australia, Canada and New Zealand will carry their nations' flags during the procession, which will feature the flags of every Commonwealth nation, the statement added.

Jack Mortimer, aged 101, is expected to be one of the veterans observing the military procession on Monday.

"People from all over the world joined forces 80 years ago to defend freedom  we must remember all of their sacrifices," Mortimer said in a statement issued by the government.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Frances Kerry)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry said he would love to be reconciled with his family in an interview with the BBC on Friday.

Harry, 40, stepped down from royal duties five years ago and moved to California. In 2023, he published his autobiography "Spare", which contained damning revelations about his father, King Charles and his elder brother, Prince William.

Harry last saw his father in February last year, shortly after Charles, 76, was diagnosed with cancer, when the pair had a short meeting in London.

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ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER

"I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."

ON BROADER RECONCILIATION

"Of course some members my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things. But you know, there is, I would love...reconciliation with my family... there's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious."

"It would be nice to have that reconciliation part. Now, if they don't want that, that's entirely up to them."

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ON VISITING THE UK

"For the time being, it is impossible for me to take my family back to the UK safely."

"I can't see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point."

"I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. And I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show you know, my children."

ON THE COURT CASE OVER HIS SECURITY

"There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands. Ultimately ...this whole thing, could be resolved through him, not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary."

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"There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family. This current situation that has been... now ongoing for five years, with regard to human life and safety, is the sticking point. It is the only thing that's left."

"Security was used as leverage. I think what really worries me more than anything else about today's decision... is that it is setting the precedent that security can be used to control members of the (royal) family. And effectively what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life."

ON FORGIVING

"There are things that have happened, since 2016 especially - throughout my whole life, but let's just stick (to) since 2016, there are things that have happened that I can now forgive. I have moved past that. I can forgive my family's involvement, my father, my brother and my stepmother. I can forgive the press to a large extent as well, for so many things that have happened. What I'm struggling to forgive and what I will probably always struggle to forgive is that a decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm's way."

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ON HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

"I don't want history to repeat itself."

"Through the disclosure process I've discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark."

"I'm not going to share (who) at this point. I know all the names of the people that were involved in this process. And again, you have to question why wasn't I put through the same risk management board that everybody else was put through, including members of my family?"

(Reporting by Sarah Young, Sam Tobin and David Milliken; Editing by Ros Russell)
The United Nations is considering its biggest shake-up for decades to streamline and cut costs in the face of sweeping aid reductions by Donald Trump and a looming budget crisis.

A confidential six-page discussion paper seen by The Telegraph suggests wholesale merging of agencies and departments, axing senior management positions and relocating staff to cheaper cities.

The document was disclosed as the UN faces deep cuts to its funding and a financial crisis which could leave it unable to pay its staff within months, according to reports.

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The United States, which is the worlds largest donor and biggest funder of the UN, is in the process of dramatically scaling back international aid which often flows through UN agencies.

Mr Trump has been a frequent critic of the body and has already ordered America to leave some agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), while reviewing whether to quit others.

At the same time, America and many other nations are failing to pay their membership dues on time, leaving the UN with a growing black hole in its accounts.

The UN faces deep cuts to its funding and a financial crisis which could leave it unable to pay its staff within months - Emma Farge/REUTERS

Individual agencies have already admitted they are expecting to make heavy short term cuts in order to stay afloat. The World Food Program (WFP), which receives half its money from America, is expected to cut up to 30 per cent of its staff.

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The head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30 per cent and cut senior-level positions by half.

The UN childrens agency, Unicef, projects that its funding will be at least a fifth down in 2025, compared with 2024.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, known as OCHA, also announced in April that it would cut its 2,600 staff by a fifth because of brutal cuts that have left it with a nearly 45m ($60m) shortfall.

UN sources said the new paper was a starting point for debate on more long term structural reform.

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Listing a number of systemic challenges, the paper echoes critics who have complained the body is byzantine, bloated and wasteful.

The document, marked strictly confidential highlights how mission creep and a proliferation of new agencies, funds and programmes have led to significant overlaps, inefficiencies, and increased costs in the UN system.

Streamlined, impactful, and fiscally responsible

Meanwhile, Geopolitical shifts and substantial reductions in foreign aid budgets are challenging the legitimacy and effectiveness of the organisation.

Instead, the UN must focus on being a streamlined, impactful, and fiscally responsible organisation, the paper says.

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The document goes on to list suggestions that would consolidate dozens of UN agencies into four primary departments: peace and security, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, and human rights.

Under one option, operational aspects of the WFP, Unicef, the WHO and the UN refugee agency would all be merged into a single humanitarian entity.

Staff must also move from costly headquarters in capitals like New York, Geneva and Rome, to cities like Nairobi, the paper suggests.

The memo was prepared by a task force appointed in March by Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Some diplomats have suggested that if they can demonstrate to Mr Trump that the UN is getting its house in order, they may be able to avert deeper US cuts.

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The memo is the result of an exercise to generate ideas and thoughts from senior officials on how to achieve the Secretary Generals vision, a spokesman for the secretary general told Reuters.

Another UN employee told The Telegraph: There is no question that the UN has become overly complex, burdened by duplication, overlapping mandates and institutional bloat.

But these flaws do not reflect irrelevance, they reflect the scale of what its trying to achieve.

Reform is overdue, but it must be reform that sharpens our focus, rather than tearing down what works.

We have to prioritise avoiding disruption to the millions of people that are served by critical UN programmes all around the world.

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The threat from Mr Trumps overhaul of US foreign policy has come on top of a long-standing problem with unpaid diplomatic bills.

Many member nations pay their contributions late, while others do not pay at all. Some 41 members between them recently failed to pay 570m ($760m) in mandatory contributions.

America pays 22 per cent of the UNs regular budget and is also often late with its payment, but many now worry that under Mr Trump, it will stop paying altogether.

Last year the UN had a 150m ($200m) cash shortfall, according to the Economist, and this year the gap will be bigger still.

The year-end cash deficit would hit 830m ($1.1bn) according to internal modelling, leaving the UN without money to pay salaries and suppliers by September.

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A decline in humanitarian aid traditionally provided by the United States and other wealthy countries is hitting hardest refugees seeking safety in countries neighbouring their own, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned in Geneva on Friday.

"Deep funding cuts are removing critical support for the world's most vulnerable refugees, who now face even greater risks of abuse, poverty, being forced to return home to danger or the prospect of new perilous journeys," it said.

More than 17.4 million refugee children were at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking or separation from their families, with long-term consequences for their well-being and development, the UNHCR said.

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A number of countries have cut their foreign aid budgets in the face of other demands, including spending on defence. The US, which previously provided up to 20% of the budgets of certain UN agencies, has cut its funding drastically under President Donald Trump.

The UNHCR listed examples of reduced funding:

In South Sudan, 75% of UNHCR spaces for women and girls no longer offer services, leaving up to 80,000 victims of rape or violence without medical care, legal assistance and economic support.

In Jordan, 200,000 vulnerable women and children are without help, as 63 humanitarian programmes providing specialist support have closed.

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And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, birth registrations in areas hosting refugees has been reduced leaving over 85% of 14,000 Central African and South Sudanese refugee children under the age of 4 at risk of statelessness.

"We must come together internationally and recognize our shared responsibility to support those in need and ensure that no one is left behind," UNHCR International Protection Director Elizabeth Tan told a press briefing in Geneva.
A New Mexico couple is accused of abusing their seven children and sexually assaulting their 16-year-old daughter while forcing them to live in filthy underground caves, surrounded by trash and rotten food, prosecutors allege.

The teen told authorities she had been forced by her parents to engage in sexual acts with her siblings  ranging in age from six months to 16  in front of other adults, the 6th Judicial District Attorneys Office said in a press release.

The 16-year-old also told authorities that she had been sexually assaulted by her father for four years, the district attorneys office alleges.

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On Monday, April 28, Valerie Cordell, 41, of Deming, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including 16 counts of child abuse, one count of criminal sexual penetration and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse after being arrested, according to online court records.

Her husband, Melvin Cordell, 50, is charged with 24 counts including criminal sexual contact of a minor, criminal sexual penetration, abuse of a child, aggravated battery, and tampering with evidence. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday, May 5.

The two were arrested on Feb. 21, 2025, following a lengthy investigation that began in October 2024, when the 16-year-old reported the alleged abuse while attending the New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy, local station KRQE reports.

The Roswell Police Department and New Mexico State Police began investigating the alleged horrors the teen told them she had endured and the deplorable conditions in which she and her siblings have been forced to live, the district attorney said in the 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.

During the 4-month investigation, investigators learned that the family of nine was living on a 35-acre site, in a semi-rural part of Luna County, near Deming that they described as an inhumane, squalid scene, according to the DAs Office.

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Officials found a dilapidated trailer, several unlivable camping trailers, broken-down vehicles, boxes of rotting food, bags of trash, along with buckets located all around the property filled with human feces, the DAs Office says.

The children were found in filthy conditions, they lived outside, year-round, sleeping on a mattress in a semi-underground cave, with tunnels from 4-to-6 feet in length or took shelter in the broken-down vehicles.

The 16-year-old allegedly told authorities she had gotten pregnant at least twice, when she was 14 and then when she turned 16, police said, KRQE reports.

When the parents were arrested, the children were placed in protective custody with the state, according to the DAs office.

The Cordells are being held without bond as they await their next court dates.

Attorneys for the couple did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.



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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Local 25, a union representing restaurant workers, said several recent votes to unionize service staff have not been recognized by owners of several popular eateries in D.C.

No union contract was the message plastered on picket line signs outside the recently reopened The Occidental restaurant at the famed Willard Hotel on Thursday.

Trump: Redskins team name superior to Commanders; fans chime in

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Local 25s event outside the restaurants Pennsylvania Avenue patio was held to represent service workers they recently voted to unionize at some of The Occidentals sister restaurants, but those votes have fallen on deaf ears with Starr Restaurant Group ownership.

Workers have been intimidated and bullied because they are [union] supporters. A super majority of workers at Le Diplomate, St. Anselm, and Pastis signed union-authorization cards in January, Amanda Gomez, an employee with Local 25, said.

Gomez and her organization allege Starr Restauran Group has made attempts to rupture union efforts, known as union busting, though they did not immediately offer evidence Thursday to back those claims.

Standing alone outside The Occidental, while holding a whiteboard alleging paid actors were among protestors, Anne Marie Henderson told passersby that those on the picket line did not work at the restaurant.

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Were fine the way we are  we dont want a union. We are not mistreated here, its not terrible work conditions. Theres not a late paycheck, Henderson, who identified herself as a receptionist working with the restaurants, said.

Henderson expressed confusion about the protest outside the restaurant, as she claims, no one among the restaurant staff has expressed interest in unionizing.

Traffic concerns, neighborhood affordability come to head over apartment proposal near historic Black church

When asked how many employees of The Occidental picketed on Thursday, Gomez declined to comment, citing concerns of retribution.

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Im not gonna get into numbers because we know that restaurant group is surveying workers, and so we are not gonna get into the exact numbers, Gomez said.

DC News Now reached out to Starr Restaurant Group for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  On Thursday, May 1, hundreds rallied outside Colorado Springs City Hall to mark May Day, or International Workers Day, and to protest President Donald Trump and others for slashing the federal workforce.

International Workers Day is to honor the workers who were attacked and murdered by police when protesting for the eight-hour workday in what became known as the 1886 Haymarket Massacre

The protests centered on opposing the President and billionaire supporters like Elon Musk, who has led the Department of Government Efficiencys mass firings of the federal workforce. Members of various unions spoke on how labor can organize to fight back locally and nationally.

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Throughout the year. Well put on a few trainings or workshops for people to learn how to have a basic organizing conversation and how to build up to their organizing committee and then hopefully be able to hand them off to a staff union organizer who can take them the rest of the way towards getting a contract and dignity at work, said Harry Mangles, Chair of the Workers Solidarity Project Colorado Springs.

Rallies were held across the country and in countries like Brazil.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  United Way of the Greater Dayton Area was presented a check in late April for close to $48,000.

United Way, a nonprofit social services organization, received $47,906 on April 29 from Montgomery County. According to the county, funds were raised from employees voluntarily participating in payroll deductions and fundraising events for the county.

Macys at Dayton Mall listed for sale

Photo/Montgomery County

County Coroner Kent Harshbarger said the county employees came together to support a good organization.

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This incredible result is a testament to the generosity and compassion of our county employees, said Harshbarger. Coming together to support the United Way is one of the many ways the county is investing in a brighter future for our community.

Funds will be utilized by United Way to assist with its mission of helping others in the community with services.

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Scientists are closer than ever to developing a universal antivenom for snake bites after analysing the blood of a man who was bitten more than 200 times  on purpose.

For almost two decades Tim Friede, a self-taught herpetologist, has been exposing himself to venom from more than a dozen of the worlds most dangerous snakes, in a highly unconventional attempt to build up some protection against the reptiles.

Now, researchers say they have used antibodies extracted from Mr Friedes blood as the foundation for an antivenom cocktail that offers complete or partial protection against 19 dangerous snakes  including king cobras, black mambas and tiger snakes.

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When I met this guy, who spent 18 years injecting himself with all manner of snakes from around the world, I thought he may have the secrets for a universal antivenom pumping through his veins, said Dr Jacob Glanville, the chief executive of Centivax, a biotechnology company.

So we began pulling out antibodies from Tims blood, he told the Telegraph. The results were thrilling.

The antivenom cocktail offers complete or partial protection against 19 dangerous snakes  including black mambas - TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images

Researchers identified two broadly neutralising antibodies  a special class of antibodies able to neutralise a wide variety of snake toxins  in Mr Friedes blood. They then combined these with a small molecule known to disarm some venom, to create a single snakebite treatment.

According to preclinical trial results published in the journal Cell on Friday, the antivenom cocktail protected mice from 13 venomous snakes, and partially protected against a further six.

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The results could pave the way for a universal snakebite treatment  which has long been considered the Holy Grail of snakebite research.

There is no doubt that this work moves the field forwards in an exciting direction, said Professor Nicholas Casewell, director of the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

He immunised himself

The need for updated antivenoms is acute. Each year, between 81,000 and 138,000 people die from snakebites, the vast majority in rural parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, while a further 400,000 suffer life changing injuries including amputations, sight loss and terrible open ulcers that never heal.

Yet the process of developing antivenoms has barely changed in a century  it is still based on milking snakes, injecting their venom into horses, and harvesting their antibodies. The resulting drugs are difficult to administer, can trigger severe side effects, and each protects against just one of the worlds 650 venomous snake species.

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A near universal alternative would not only simplify treatment, but make antivenom a more commercially viable product for manufacturers, by boosting the size of a potential market. Yet this has proven an elusive goal  some have warned it may not even be feasible.

This is because snake venom has evolved over centuries into some of the most complex toxins on earth  even among the same species, toxins vary by geographical region. A universal treatment would mean developing an antivenom to neutralise all of the most dangerous toxins found in dozens of snake species at once.

The latest research suggests scientists are looking for solutions in the right places  including Mr Friedes blood.

I stumbled across these news articles about him, and it kind of blew my mind, that over the course of 18 years he had immunised himself 600 plus times with escalating doses of venom from 16 species from every continent, and eventually had 202 bites, said Dr Glanville.

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So I got in touch and said: this may be an awkward question, but Id love to get my hands on some of your blood. And his answer was: Ive been waiting for this call for a long time.

Scientists urge people not to replicate the risky methods used by Tim Friede - Facebook

Using these samples initially posed an ethical dilemma, given the huge risks Mr Friede took by allowing snakes to bite him, and injecting himself with their venom.

It may be obvious, but no one should try what Tim Friede did  its not good for you, said Dr Glanville. Tim did something remarkable and it could help medical science  but also because hes run this experiment, theres no need for anyone else to. Please nobody try this.

But it was because of a concept from his work on HIV and flu that Dr Glanville and his collaborator, Peter Kwong of Columbia University, were excited by Mr Friedes blood: they were looking for broadly neutralising antibodies.

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They hoped that proteins might exist which could target structurally similar toxins found across multiple snakes. When they ran tests in the lab, they knew they were onto something.

When I tested [Mr Friedes] serum versus my own serum, his was off the chart, reacting to all the snakes, said Dr Glanville. I had specifically picked some venoms that he said hed never been exposed to, yet his serum hit that too. That was really exciting, because it was my first signal that he probably had these universal antibodies.

Through a process of elimination, the team then identified two of the most important broadly neutralising antibodies from Tims library (his blood). They were keen to base a treatment on human antibodies, because of the high safety profile.

The current antivenom cocktail only targets toxins found in elapid snakes - TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images

Later, the researchers combined these two proteins with a small molecule called varespladib, which is known to inhibit certain venom enzymes. Then they tested the cocktail in mice.

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We had to sojourn with the mice overnight and monitor them, to make sure they didnt die, said Dr Granville. We were a little punch drunk in the morning but when all the mice were seeing the light of day, it was pretty profound.

Others have also identified the promise of monoclonal antibodies to target antivenom  teams led by Prof Andreas Lausten in the Netherlands, and Dr Joe Jardine in the United States, have also identified specific antibodies that appear to disarm certain toxins.

But Prof Casewell said the breadth of the protective benefit is certainly novel in the Cell paper.

[This] provides a strong piece of evidence that combining relatively few antibodies and/or drugs together is feasible as a therapeutic strategy, he said. It could lead to a future therapy that could be beneficial to snakebite patients in many different parts of the world.

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Still, there are limitations to the latest study. Prof Lausten told the Telegraph that another component would likely need to be added to the mix to ensure full protection against all 19 snakes.

He also said further preclinical trials needed to look beyond fatality, because there are many other morbidities involved in snakebite that a good antivenom would need to deal with, including dermonecrosis, local tissue damage, coagulopathies, and simply pain.

The cure for snake bite may already be out there

The current antivenom cocktail only targets toxins found in elapid snakes, the family of animals characterised by their fixed fangs which includes cobras, mambas and taipans.

The treatment will not work against vipers, a separate family of venomous snakes with folding fangs that includes rattlesnakes and adders. Dr Glanville said his team are now developing a separate antivenom to use against bites from these species.

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The intention is basically to have two syringes  one that hits the elapids, and one that hits the vipers. And if youre in a situation where you dont know what you were bitten in, you take both, Dr Glanville said.

He added that the ultimate goal would be for these to be administered like an epipen for antivenom, which would make it available in even the most remote regions  including rural Guatemala, where Dr Glanville grew up. As a child, he was all too aware of the challenges in accessing antivenom.

But for now, the main priority is refining and testing the elapid snake antivenom cocktail. Before entering safety trials in humans, the team wants to incorporate a fourth component into the cocktail, to tackle the partial protection achieved against six snakes. They are also looking to run experiments in pet dogs bitten by snakes.

It is likely that any product faces at least five years of trials before reaching snakebite victims  which could prove an expensive endeavour. There are also some concerns that a final antibody product could be prohibitively pricey for the markets where most people are bitten: lower income countries.

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As of yet, no snakebite monoclonal antibodies have entered evaluation in clinical trials, said Dr Caswell. This endeavour is highly challenging, largely due to the costs associated with the development of biologic therapeutics, and the challenging financial market associated with neglected tropical diseases for commercial entities.

There is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments for snakebite though, so those of us in the field hope that these barriers can be overcome in the coming years, he added.

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James Milliken, the chancellor of the University of Texas, will be the next leader of the University of California, taking over at a critical juncture for the prestigious school system as it faces budget cuts and manifold threats from President Donald Trumps crusade against the countrys institutions of higher learning.

The UC Board of Regents approved Milliken, 68, at a meeting on Friday in San Francisco, wooing him away from UT, where he has been chancellor since 2018. Previously, Milliken, who has spent over three decades working in higher education, led the City University of New York and University of Nebraska and was senior vice president at the University of North Carolina.

We know that higher education faces challenges and changes, Milliken said in remarks to the board. What will not change is the University of Californias historic mission, teaching, research, health care and public service.

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Milliken said addressing waning public confidence and heightened uncertainty in higher education will be priorities. He stressed that the UC needs to do everything we can to right that ship, to address those challenges head on. He also pointed to the impact of artificial intelligence on the education and health care spaces.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement that Milliken has the steady, strategic leadership needed to expand UCs impact across the state.

I am excited to see him drive the next chapter of innovation, talent, and progress that will shape California and the country for generations to come, Newsom said.

Milliken will face the immediate challenge of navigating the precarious and volatile power struggle universities around the country are in with the Trump administration. While the UC schools so far have been spared from widespread funding cuts that Trump is trying inflict on elite private institutions such as Harvard and Columbia, they have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding as part of the administrations campaign to purge diversity and equity programs from academia. Several probes have been opened on UC campuses, with federal investigators interviewing faculty over allegations of antisemitism.

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Janet Reilly, chair of the regents, said in a statement that Milliken embodies the qualities and leadership experiences the University of California community needs at this moment.

He understands how critical UCs contributions are to the state and the country, and he has decades of experience leading public institutions during times of unprecedented change in higher education, Reilly added. Chancellor Milliken is simply the right person for UC at just the right time.

Millikens hire drew a sharp rebuke from the UCs largest employee union. Michael Avant, president of AFSCME Local 3299  which represents 37,000 frontline employees such as service workers and patient care technicians who went on one-day strike on Thursday over allegations of illegal labor practices  accused the UCs of pushing a strategy that concentrates more wealth and power in the hands of university executives at the expense of frontline workers and the core services for students and patients.

Milliken will have to steer the network of campuses through choppy financial waters. The UC is attempting to stave off an 8 percent budget cut proposed by Newsom and have already enacted a hiring freeze.

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Regent Lark Park, director of the California Education Learning Lab, called Millikens decision to head the UC system an act of bravery.

While I think we would all agree with you that the University of California stands at the pinnacle of public higher education in the United States and perhaps the world, it is nonetheless an extreme moment here  which I think you have fully considered before making this leap, Park said in comments to Milliken.

She added that the regents are fully ready to engage in saving public higher ed with you.

Milliken will start the job on Aug. 1, taking over from Michael Drake, the systems first Black president who announced last year that he would be stepping down after the current academic year. Drake has been president since 2020, succeeding Janet Napolitano, the former Department of Homeland Security Secretary. The 74-year-old Drake led the UC through much of the Covid-19 pandemic and intense protests over the war in Gaza that roiled several campuses.

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Drake told Milliken at the meeting that he has great confidence that you possess the qualifications and the vision and the wisdom to be able to lead this great university and uphold our values moving forward.

Millikens appointment comes after a six-month search by a search committee of regents and representatives of students, faculty, staff and alumni. He will make a salary of $1.5 million, which is on par with leaders at other large public institutions.
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  An upside-down American flag is gaining attention outside a business in Westfield.

The upside-down flag outside of Cloots Auto Body in Westfield is certainly turning some heads. According to the owner, it is his form of protest against the current Trump administration.

5 takeaways from Trump NewsNation town hall

If you have driven by Cloots Auto Body along Route 202 in Westfield, you may have noticed an upside-down American flag on a pole outside the business. The owner, Gary Cloutier, whos a left-leaning independent, believes that the current state of the country warrants this type of action.

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Theres so much turmoil on so many fronts. You cant even you cant keep track of it anymore. Theres just throwing so much at everybody to keep everybody off balance, said Cloutier.

Cloutier says hes in disagreement with many of President Donald Trumps polices, like tariffs. We went through part shortages when COVID was alive and well. Were going to go through the same thing. Im going to have a hard time getting parts and supplies for peoples cars, expressed Cloutier.

By displaying the flag in this manner, he hopes to draw attention to these issues and spark conversations about the state of the country. Some are applauding his bravery in doing so.

Molly Montgomery of Easthampton told 22News in a statement,

Im a firm believer in our first amendment, and I support Cloots Auto Bodys choice to exercise their freedom of speech. However, when business owners choose to use their platform to express their political opinions, they understand that they may alienate some current or potential future customers, and thats a risk they have to be willing to accept. I applaud their bravery in doing so. I find that those that are upset about the American flag being used to express disapproval of the government are often the same people who give a complete and total pass to the flag code violations that happen all around us every day; every time someone wears an American flag tshirt or bandana, any time someone wipes their mouth with an American flag napkin after eating BBQ off of an American flag paper plate, every time someone lays an American flag beach towel down on the ground. Those are all flag code violations that nobody cares about. I think the outrage over an upside down flag is less about the love of the flag or the country , and more about feeding into the division between the left and the right. I agree with Cloots that our country is in distress. I love my country, and I believe in the Constitution. Whatever happens to this country happens to us all no matter what side we identify as, and I hope we will all figure this out sooner rather than later. Molly Montgomery

Cloutiers form of protest is also not a new or uncommon one. Normally, we have seen this as a move from MAGA and the right across America. That is what we have seen, the flag blown upside down, more so and especially during Joe Bidens four years in office, said Political Consultant, Tony Cignoli.

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But this bold move has received backlash from some members of the community, including former customers. Theyve expressed their disapproval online and even made threats to Cloutier and his wife, like saying theyll boycott his business by holding a rally on Saturday in front of his shop. The Facebook post read, Fly the flag upside down, dont be surprised when your business goes down.

Cloutier responded to this, If they want to have a rally. Hey, how about thats your right. You know, you have the right to free speech just like I do, you know? So if they want to do it, go ahead and do it. Stay off my property. Thats all I got to say.

Cloutier does plan to continue hanging the flag upside down until he feels the country is moving in the right direction.

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By Amanda Stephenson

CALGARY (Reuters) -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Friday it expects to make a decision this fall whether to grant a permit to Enbridge's proposed Great Lakes tunnel for its Line 5 oil pipeline project.

The Army Corps, a federal engineering service, released an updated permitting timeline for the project that includes a 30-day public comment period from May 30 to June 3, followed by the decision in the fall.

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The Army Corps has permitting authority over U.S. projects involving wetlands and waterways.

Last month, Enbridge's Line 5 project received emergency designation after President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency in a January executive order, giving the Army Corps the ability to fast-track its review of the project.

An Enbridge spokesperson said in an email on Friday the company is encouraged by the updated schedule.

"Enbridge submitted project permit applications for the Great Lakes Tunnel project to state and federal regulators in April 2020  more than five years ago," the spokesperson said.

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The project would build a roughly 4-mile (6-km) tunnel for the 645-mile Line 5 that crosses through the Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes. The pipeline carries more than 20 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario.

Michigan regulators had approved Enbridge's application to build the $750-million tunnel under the Great Lakes to house its aging Line 5 oil pipeline in 2023, but the project still awaits Army Corps permitting.

Native American tribes and environmental groups who oppose the project because of the potential risk to the Great Lakes have refuted the idea that the tunnel is needed and that a national energy emergency exists.

(Reporting by Amanda Stephenson in Calgary and Valerie Volcovici in WashingtonEditing by Rod Nickel)
The US is canceling its M10 Booker program, citing design flaws and redundancies.

The light assault vehicle was deemed too heavy for its intended use.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he plans to shift the US's focus to advanced drone capabilities.

The US Army is canceling its M10 Booker light assault vehicle program as part of efforts to focus on advanced weaponry like drones.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed the move, calling the assault vehicle approved under the previous administration "a mistake" and citing issues with its 42-ton weight and design.

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"What came out of our procurement system wasn't good," he told reporters on Thursday, adding that the Army would learn from what happened.

Driscoll said it was too heavy for many of its intended missions, including operations like airdrops from US Air Force transport aircraft.

The M10 Booker, designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is technically classified as an infantry support vehicle or "assault gun," rather than a traditional light tank.

Development on it began in 2022 after General Dynamics was awarded a $1.14 billion contract. The Army originally planned to acquire over 500 M10s, and initial deliveries took place in February 2024.

An M10 Booker during a 2024 demonstration at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Christopher Kaufmann/US Army

It was the US Army's first new major armored vehicle in two decades, with the military branch saying it would allow "light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries."

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While initially conceptualized as relatively lightweight and air-droppable, its design evolution resulted in a vehicle deemed too heavy to operate as intended. An issue realized only after it was too late, Defense One reported in late April.

"This is not a story of acquisition gone awry," Alex Miller, an Army chief technology officer, told the outlet. "This is a story of the requirements process creating so much inertia that the Army couldn't get out of its own way, and it just kept rolling and rolling and rolling."

The cancellation of the M10 Booker program is part of a wider restructure ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In an official memo released Thursday, Hegseth called for a strategic move away from many long-standing assets like Humvees and helicopters toward areas like advanced drone capabilities.

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As part of this, Hegseth said that every division of the US Army should be equipped with drones by the end of 2026.

He called for crewed attack helicopter formations to be restructured and augmented with "inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries."

The memo instructed Army leadership to aggressively reassess inventory, terminate funding for "obsolete systems," and cancel or reduce "ineffective or redundant" programs.

Beyond the M10, areas targeted for cuts include some crewed aircraft, ground vehicles, and older generations of uncrewed aerial vehicles.

Read the original article on Business Insider
HONG KONG/SHENZHEN (Reuters) - Doris Au, a seller of door locks and hardware in Hong Kong for 25 years, received a letter from her bank, DBS Group, last June stating that her business account would be closed. The bank gave little explanation but subsequently froze the account, killing her business with international suppliers, she said.

Au discovered after searching online that another firm with a similar name was added to the U.S. trade blacklist in October 2023 for "providing support to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base." The entry identified two addresses, one of which was Au's warehouse.

"We are not that company. It's totally a mistake," Au told Reuters in her warehouse stacked with locks, hinges and sliding-door kits from well-known brands.

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Au's predicament captures the challenge facing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as it ramps up limits on China's access to American technology by adding dozens of Chinese firms to its blacklist.

A Reuters review of almost 100 Chinese and Hong Kong companies added to the U.S. entity list in 2023 and 2024 found more than a quarter, or 26 entries, contained erroneous details, such as incorrect names and addresses and outdated information.

For each listed entity, Reuters visited at least one address identified by the U.S. to determine whether the blacklisted firms were still there. Businesses at those locations included a beauty salon, a tutoring firm, a massage parlour and a counselling center.

At one site in Shenzhen, Reuters found weed-covered remnants of a factory locals said was demolished years earlier.

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Yet Reuters also found evidence of trade in restricted items by some entities, aided by loopholes, paper companies and networks of freight forwarders and shipping agents, illustrating the challenge of containing access to sensitive technology.

The entity list, established in 1997, has become an increasingly important tool for the U.S. to limit technology transfers to Russia and China, including semiconductors, that might undermine U.S. security. It is managed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a Commerce Department agency.

Five former U.S. officials acknowledged difficulties in evaluating possible cases of mistaken identity and updating information on the entity list, due in part to limited staffing. BIS is "woefully under-resourced," one said.

Many listed entities are front companies, said Matthew Borman, who until March was a senior BIS official overseeing U.S. export controls, including those targeting China and Russia.

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"The challenge is that they can move to a different address with a different name," he said.

BIS and the Commerce Department didn't respond to detailed questions about errors on the trade blacklist and any actions to rectify them.

Singapore-based DBS declined to comment on Au's case. In its letter to Au, DBS didn't mention the entity list but said it had reviewed her business account and found "activity/information that is not consistent with your account profile."

TRADE FLOWS

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. sought to limit transfers of technology that Russia needed for its war in Ukraine. The U.S. added hundreds of entities to contain Moscow's access to such components, many made in China. It also used the list to limit China's access to advanced capabilities in AI, military modernisation and quantum technology.

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That trend is continuing under Trump.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in March that China must be prevented from getting U.S. chips, noting the success of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. He said the U.S. would bring export controls into future trade deals.

The Commerce Department has claimed some success from its export controls in stemming chip flows to Russia via Hong Kong and China. But they don't catch everything.

Ukraine's KSE Institute think tank found 76% of all common high priority items likely to be procured by Russia for its weapons programs, including semiconductors, radar and communications gear, were routed through China and Hong Kong in 2023.

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Russian customs records show 20 of the 92 entity-listed companies visited by Reuters were exporting restricted items to Russia in December 2023, the most recent month for which a complete dataset was available. Those items, including semiconductors, were valued at $7.5 million.

A Hong Kong government spokesperson said the region had robust controls of strategic trade in line with international standards, but it would not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries.

China's Commerce Ministry didn't respond to questions about trade in U.S.-restricted items with Russia. Moscow's embassy in Washington also didn't respond to questions.

Blacklisted companies and addresses are barred from receiving restricted U.S. goods. Transactions with listed entities aren't necessarily prohibited but should be treated with a "red flag," and parties involved should conduct due diligence, BIS says on its website.

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Borman said entities are listed based on BIS analysts' review of open-source and classified information, and the process involves the Commerce, State, Defense, and Energy departments.

Denis Makkaveev, the Hong Kong-based director of Global Broker Solutions Limited, a freight-forwarding company that was entity-listed in 2023, told Reuters he was visited by two BIS agents in October.

In an email seen by Reuters, BIS told Makkaveev it wanted to conduct a "post shipment verification" on a 2024 shipment "to discuss the end use and the end user of the item".

The item wasn't specified and Makkaveev told Reuters he had no idea what it was.

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"I'm the forwarder, the logistics guy. I don't trade military goods," Makkaveev said in his office in an industrial building, showing some of the semiconductors he was shipping.

Makkaveev said he got around his company's blacklisting by setting up two new firms on Hong Kong's Companies Registry, which took less than a week. He said he used e-commerce platforms to process payments after banks shunned him.

GHOSTS OF ENTITIES PAST

Around half of the entity-listed locations Reuters visited were company secretarial, or COMSEC, firms. They act as host addresses for businesses formed by overseas and China-based individuals on Hong Kong's Companies Registry.

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Some had overspilling mailboxes. Others were tiny cubicles in dilapidated industrial buildings.

Staff at nine COMSEC firms whose addresses were identified by the U.S. as hosting blacklisted companies told Reuters the entities in question were no longer on their books. At one COMSEC firm, Inter Group, a manager surnamed Yang said it still represented hundreds of companies linked to people in Russia.

Banks that facilitate transactions for entities shipping restricted goods to Russia or China can face hefty fines from the U.S. Accordingly, Reuters found some banks monitored customers for any links to the entity list.

That's also where errors in the list came into play.

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Crystal Ng, who owns Tsz Yu Beauty salon in Hong Kong, said HSBC and Dah Sing Bank rejected her applications for accounts last year.

She said she learned from one of the banks that her office address was entity-listed when she moved there in late 2023, adding that the former tenant was a company secretarial firm.

In the end, Ng moved her salon to another address, after which she was able to open a business account with Dah Sing, she said.

Benjamin Kostrzewa, a former U.S. official and trade lawyer who advises financial institutions on export controls, said some addresses were "haunted by ghosts of sanctioned entities past."

Many banks have compliance protocols that automatically screen thousands of names daily to ensure they don't fall afoul of U.S. authorities, Kostrzewa said.

"In my experience, banks are often over-compliant," he added, "and sometimes they make mistakes."

HSBC declined to comment on Ng's case. Dah Sing didn't respond to questions.

LOCKED OUT

Au's business name, Win Key (China-Hong Kong) Limited, resembles Win Key and its aliases Win Key Ltd and Win Key Limited, which BIS added to the entity list in 2023.

Russian customs data provided by Olena Bilousova, senior researcher at the KSE Institute, and reviewed by Reuters show Win Key Ltd shipped $147 million of goods to Russia that year, including $104 million in restricted items such as chips and communications equipment. The data show none of the goods came from Au's warehouse.

The second address for Win Key Ltd identified by BIS was occupied by a company secretarial firm, Linkage Secretary Limited. It declined to comment about Win Key Ltd, which registry records show was dissolved in May 2024.

Lee Jan-chi, the Taiwan-based director of Win Key Ltd, couldn't be reached for comment at his residential address.

Taiwan joined the U.S. and its allies in enforcing export controls on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. The island's economy ministry told Reuters it couldn't comment on specific cases, but said Hong Kong's Win Key Ltd had been added to Taiwan's trade blacklist last October.

Since her address was blacklisted by Washington, Au says, U.S. and other foreign suppliers and couriers have refused to ship goods to her. She estimated her losses at over $600,000.

BIS says on its website that people can submit a request for an entity's listing to be removed or modified.

Au said she emailed BIS accordingly. She said she got a response in December seeking further information, which she provided, but hasn't heard more.

Two former U.S. officials said the appeal process is rarely used and tends to be treated with skepticism by U.S. authorities.

The entity list is "like the Hotel California," said Steve Coonen, a former export control expert and foreign affairs adviser for the U.S. government.

"You can probably check in anytime you want, but you can't ever leave."

(Reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong and David Kirton in Shenzhen; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington, Anson Law and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Antoni Slodkowski and David Crawshaw)
The U.S. Air Force has transferred decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to supply spare parts for aircraft already donated by European partners, the War Zone reported on May 1.

According to an Air Force spokesperson, the U.S. Department of the Air Force "has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts."

The aircraft, retired from U.S. service, are non-flyable and lack critical components such as engines and radars, making them unusable for operational missions.

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On April 26, these stripped-down F-16 airframes were reportedly loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane that departed from Tucson International Airport in Arizona to Poland's Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key logistics hub for Western military assistance to Ukraine.

Several European allies have committed to supplying Ukraine with operational F-16s.

The Netherlands has pledged 24 aircraft, Denmark has promised 19, with initial deliveries made in 2024, and Norway has pledged between 6 and 22 jets. Belgium has also announced its intent to provide F-16s, though specific numbers remain undisclosed.

The F-16 introduced in the late 1970s, is operated by over two dozen countries and is capable of both air-to-air combat and precision ground strikes.

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In Ukraine, they are used to intercept Russian missiles and drones and provide offensive capabilities to target Russian positions along the front line.

Ukraine's General Staff reported on Aug. 29, 2024, that an F-16 fighter jet crashed while repelling a large-scale Russian missile attack.

According to the military, the aircraft shot down four Russian cruise missiles before going down, demonstrating what officials described as its "high efficiency."

Read also: Trumps peace effort ignores thousands of Ukrainians still tortured in Russian captivity

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The Trump administration has exempted dozens of power providers from regulations under the Clean Air Act for two years, AP News reported. The goal: to reignite the coal industry, which has been declining in favor of renewable energy sources.

What's happening?

On April 8, President Donald Trump granted a two-year exemption to 47 power providers across the United States. According to a White House press release, "President Trump recognizes that environmental advocate overreach jeopardizes America's energy reliability, economic vitality, and national security."

By providing relief from Biden-era clean air rules, the exemption hopes to bolster the country's coal industry and power grid while reducing its reliance on energy from other countries.

Why is this exemption a concern?

The coal industry has long been a primary source of energy for the world and the U.S. According to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, it creates about 25% of U.S. energy and around 36% of global energy.

However, it's also responsible for a tremendous amount of pollution. Burning coal releases several polluting gases, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury. It also causes particulate matter  small particles that can lead to several health problems, such as asthma and heart attacks  to enter the air.

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The Trump administration's grant for temporary relief allows named coal-fired power plants to operate with looser requirements than they once had to. The new order loosens rules that made it harder to mine on federal lands and reduces environmental review requirements. It also pushes federal agencies to promote coal use locally and abroad.

The outcome could mean higher pollution risks. "This is what it looks like to put polluter profits ahead of the well-being of Americans and the planet," Maya Golden-Krasner, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, told AP News.

What's being done to clean up air pollution?

There are plenty of organizations, states, and countries still working toward making the air cleaner. Cities such as Paris, London, and Seattle have created clean air zones to encourage eco-friendly modes of transportation and reduce vehicle pollution. In Wisconsin, lawmakers are pushing for legislation to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030. And Poland's government recently made it easier for the country to expand its onshore wind farms for cleaner energy.

Progress is still possible when communities and leaders prioritize clean air. To get involved, support local clean air initiatives and vote for pro-climate candidates.

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.
Editors Note: We have updated this article to add information about how to send in tips to the US Marshals Service.

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The United States Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information on a violent criminal in Mobile.

Springhill Medical Center employee arrested following bomb threat

According to a Marshals news release, Gregory Vanness Jowers is wanted for:

Murder

First-degree robbery

Third-degree domestic violence  menacing

Third-degree domestic violence

Third-degree assault

Failure to appear  first-degree receiving stolen property

First-degree theft of property

Failure to appear  burglary

Failure to appear  third-degree escape

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Jowers is believed to be involved in the death of John Fabian on Christmas Day 2024.

Gregory Vanness Jowers. (Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

According to MCSO deputies, they were called to McLeod Road, where they found Fabian unresponsive. He was placed on life support before he died. Jowers allegedly lived with Fabian.

The news release said MCSO officials contacted Marshals for assistance in finding and arresting Jowers on March 26, 2025.

Marshals officials said they believe Jowers may be receiving assistance from family members and friends, allowing him to hide from law enforcement.

Gulf Shores ready for NCAA beach volleyball tourney that wasnt supposed to be here

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Jowers is described as being 6 feet 4 inches tall, 180 pounds and bald. He has brown eyes and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information can contact the Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2 or MCSO at 251-574-8633.

You can also send information to the Marshals tip line on 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 WKRG News 5.
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy successfully tested a sea-based hypersonic missile launch system at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marking a significant step toward deploying the advanced weapons at sea, the service announced on Friday.

The test demonstrated the Navy's cold-gas launch approach, which ejects the missile from a ship platform before ignition, ensuring safe distance. This method will be used in future sea-based deployments, including aboard the USS Zumwalt.

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"The speed, range, and survivability of hypersonic weapons are key to integrated deterrence for America," said Navy Secretary John Phelan.

Lockheed Martin Corp is the prime contractor for the weapon.

The test comes as the United States races to develop hypersonic capabilities, with Russia and China also pursuing similar technologies.

Russia has reportedly used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China denies conducting weapons tests despite U.S. military claims.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The News

Washington is sounding increasingly pessimistic about the prospects of reaching a peace deal in Ukraine, saying that it is up to Kyiv and Moscow to end the conflict as the US considers stepping away from negotiations.

American officials will no longer fly around the world to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Thursday.

In an interview with Fox News, Vice President JD Vance said that the war was not going to end any time soon, stressing that it would be up to Moscow and Kyiv to come up with an agreement to stop the conflict.

SIGNALS

The future of US engagement with the conflict remains unclear

Sources: Bloomberg, Politico

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With US officials warning that they are preparing to back away from negotiations, the future of Washingtons engagement with Kyiv and Moscow remains unclear. The US has said sanctions on Russia will remain in place and administration officials have reportedly prepared a set of options for ratcheting up economic pressure on Russia. Some officials have long believed that successfully negotiating a minerals deal with Ukraine would provide them with the political cover to increase support for Kyiv, a person familiar with the matter told Semafor. But uncertainty persists about what options US President Donald Trump will ultimately choose, and White House officials remain divided about the path forwards, Politico reported.

Russia fears minerals deal will draw Washington and Kyiv closer together

Sources: The Washington Post, Times Radio, The Moscow Times

In Moscow, fears are growing that the minerals deal signed earlier this week  as well as a successful sitdown between Trump and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican  will spur improving ties between Kyiv and Washington. The deal worsens the situation for Russia, a Kremlin-connected political analyst told The Washington Post: A key reason for tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy has been removed. The Kremlin still has a residual concern that Trump might actually at some point turn against them, Russia expert Keir Giles told Times Radio. To keep courting Trump, Russian officials have reportedly floated ideas ranging from a rare earths deal to assisting Washingtons diplomatic efforts with Iran, and even a possible Trump Tower in Moscow, The Moscow Times reported.

Can Russia and Ukraine negotiate a deal without Washington?

Sources: RIA Novosti, Politico

Both Russia and Ukraine have floated the prospects of direct negotiations, raising the prospects that peace talks could continue even if Washington walks away. America is trying to mediate, a Kremlin spokesperson said, but a peace agreement should be signed with Ukraine, not with America. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has said he is willing to negotiate directly with the Kremlin if Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, a significant shift in tone by the Ukrainian leader. Kyiv and Moscow can do things like prisoner exchanges, Kurt Volker, former US envoy to Ukraine told Semafor, but not an actual peace agreement, because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to win, and theres nothing Ukrainians can do to negotiate Putin away from that position. Putin actually has to feel pressure economically and on the battlefield.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration has reached a preliminary agreement to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt over her shooting by an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot, attorneys said on Friday.

Lawyers for Babbitt's estate and the Justice Department told a judge in Washington's federal court that they have reached a settlement in principle, but the details are still being worked out and the final agreement has not yet been signed. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

Babbitt's estate filed the $30 million lawsuit last year over her fatal shooting when she attempted to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speakers Lobby inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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The Capitol Police officer who shot her was cleared of wrongdoing, by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, which concluded that he acted in self-defense and in the defense of members of Congress. The Capitol Police also cleared the officer.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was unarmed when she was shot by the police lieutenant when she tried to climb through the door as others in the mob pressed to get into the lobby outside the House chamber.

The lawsuit alleges that the officer, who was not in uniform, failed to de-escalate the situation and did not give her any warnings or commands before opening fire. It also alleges negligence on the part of Capitol Police. The lawsuit says the department should have known that the officer was prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner.

Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone, the lawsuit said.

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The Capitol Police officer said in a televised interview that he fired as a last resort. When he pulled the trigger, he said, he had no idea whether the person jumping through the window was armed.

Capitol Police officials and an attorney for Babbitt's estate didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment on Friday.

President Donald Trump in January pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of all of the cases of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the riot.

___
The US Air Force has sent decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to be used for spare parts for the combat aircraft already supplied by European partners.

Source: The War Zone (TWZ), a defence and military technology news outlet

Quote from a US Air Force spokesperson: "The Department of the Air Force has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts. These F-16s were retired from active US use and are not flyable. Importantly, they lack critical components such as an engine or radar and could not be reconstituted for operational use."

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Details: The F-16s, shrink-wrapped and missing key components such as wings, tails, engines and nose cones, were loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane, registration number UR-82027, which departed from Tucson International Airport in Arizona on 26 April for Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland, a key logistical hub for Western aid to Ukraine.

TWZ notes that the fuselages came from what is known as the aircraft boneyard  the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson.

In early April, General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told the US Senate that additional F-16s were being prepared for Ukraine, but he did not disclose the sources.

Quote: "In all, around 85 operational F-16s have now been promised to Ukraine, which include 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway (with the same country providing 10 more that will be used for spare parts), while Belgium says it will supply 30.

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Of this grand total, it should be noted that at least some of the jets are not being sent to Ukraine but are instead being used for training Ukrainian pilots, primarily at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania."

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BUCHAREST (Reuters) - The United States has sent a team of election observers to Romania ahead of a presidential election rerun, a senior U.S. official said on Friday, amid criticism in Washington of a decision to cancel the initial 2024 ballot.

Romania, a NATO and EU member, has found itself at the centre of a dispute between Europe and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over the nature of democracy due to the decision in December to cancel an ongoing presidential vote due to suspicions of Russian meddling, which Moscow denies.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said Romania's annulment of the ballot after a far-right, pro-Russian candidate surged from relative obscurity to take the lead in the first round based on what he called "flimsy evidence" meant Bucharest did not share American values.

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The first round of the election rerun takes place on Sunday, with a runoff vote schedule for May 18 if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote.

"We'll spend some time with the government discussing how the elections are conducted and  then on Sunday, we'll actually go out to polling locations, and we'll watch people vote," James E. Trainor III, Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission of the United States told reporters in Bucharest.

"As Vice President Vance has said, there's some questionable things that have happened... but at the end of the day, it's important to root out what these foreign influences are, because the worst thing that can happen for democracies is to have outside influences come in and drown out the voice of the people."

A Romanian government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The cancellation of the election damaged the already fragile confidence of many Romanians in state institutions.

In the first round of that cancelled vote on Nov. 24, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who had been polling in single digits before the ballot, rose into first place amid an explosion of content on TikTok that favoured him.

A court barred Georgescu from standing in the rerun and now George Simion, leader of the radical right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), is leading in opinion polls.

Bucharest has tightened campaign rules to manage disinformation online, and on Friday the country's telecommunications regulator ANCOM said it had uncovered a network of 'Doppelganger' sites imitating government institutions and media outlets which was designed to spread misinformation.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Alan Charlish, Editing by Louise Heavens)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government has reached a settlement with the family of President Donald Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a police officer during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, an advocacy group representing the woman's family said on Friday.

The Justice Department and Babbitts estate reached an agreement in principle to resolve the case. The details are expected to be finalized within the next few weeks, according to Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, a conservative legal advocacy organization that is representing Babbitt's family in the case.

A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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A U.S. government settlement would mark the latest gesture of support from Trumps administration toward those who stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying Trumps 2020 election loss.

More than 1,500 people were criminally charged for participating in the riot. Trump pardoned nearly all of them, and released those who had been imprisoned. The Justice Department has moved to replace Trump as a defendant in lawsuits he faces over the violence at the Capitol.

Babbitts estate, through her husband Aaron, filed a $35 million wrongful death lawsuit last year in Washington federal court, alleging the officer who shot and killed her acted negligently.

Babbitt, 35, a U.S. Air Force veteran who lived in California, was fatally shot in the shoulder while she tried to enter a room near the floor of the House of the Representatives during the riot.

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An internal investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police cleared the officer of wrongdoing in 2021 and said he would not face internal discipline.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio and Matthew Lewis)
The United States remains committed to supporting peace efforts in Ukraine but will scale back its direct role as mediator, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on May 1.

"He (U.S. President Donald Trump) knows also that there is another part of the world, a whole globe that needs some attention," Bruce told reporters.

"We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings; that is now between the two parties, and now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end."

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The remarks reflect a significant shift in Washington's approach after months of stalled diplomacy aimed at brokering a ceasefire in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump had previously warned that the U.S. would withdraw from mediation efforts if no meaningful progress was made.

On April 18, Trump said, "If 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 just going to take a pass."

"The Secretary has also made it very clear that while our style will change, the methodology of how we contribute to this will change in that we will not be the mediators," Bruce added.

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Vice President JD Vance echoed the shift on May 1, telling Fox News that the war in Ukraine is unlikely to end "any time soon."

It is "going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are. It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict," Vance told Fox News' Bret Baier.

The U.S. intensified its diplomatic outreach earlier this year, including negotiating proposals for a 30-day ceasefire and partial truces aimed at halting attacks on civilian energy infrastructure.

Moscow has rejected these initiatives, and Russian forces have intensified strikes across Ukraine. On April 24, Russia launched 215 missiles and drones, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 87 in Kyiv alone.

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President Trump criticized the attack as "not necessary" and "very bad timing," directly appealing to Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Vladimir, Stop!" Yet he refrained from issuing any consequences or condemnation.

In contrast, Kyiv has accepted the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan and continues to demand an unconditional cessation of hostilities.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1 that at least 72 senators are ready to vote for sweeping new sanctions and tariffs against Russia, should Putin continue to avoid serious peace negotiations.

Read also: Trumps peace effort ignores thousands of Ukrainians still tortured in Russian captivity

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The US State Department has stated that Washington plans to change its approach to efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. While the United States will remain involved, it intends to take a less active role and will no longer act as a lead mediator.

Source: US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The question to Bruce initially concerned the possibility of new sanctions against those aiding Russia  a step Donald Trump has hinted at.

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In response, Bruce said Trump aims to act primarily through diplomacy and also "knows also that there is another part of the world, a whole globe that needs some attention".

She referred to recent remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the US would adjust its approach to its involvement in ending the war.

Quote: "...and the Secretarys also made it very clear that while our style will change, the methodology of how we contribute to this will change in that we will not be the mediators. That is what I mentioned on Tuesday, and the nature of how this would change is we would not  we certainly are still committed to it and will help and do what we can.

But we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties, and now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them."

Background:

On 29 April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would step back from its mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict if there is no progress in peace efforts.

Earlier, he said that the current week would be "critically important" in determining whether the US continues its efforts to stop the war.

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A lawsuit has been filed by the Woodland Park School District against the city of Woodland Park over the City Council's removal of the 1.09% sales tax that benefited the district.

The Woodland Park City Council reviewed the lawsuit and received legal counsel during an executive session prior to Thursday's regular meeting.

The suit outlines the timeline of events concerning the sales tax, the iterations of the intergovernmental agreement between the entities and actions taken by council that ultimately led to it unanimously voting to end the tax.

The suit claims that this was an "unlawful action" and "disregards the express will of the voters."

Among the claims, the suit says the repeal violated Woodland Park's Home Rule Charter because emergency ordinances are allowed only when necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety. The suit says the council failed to establish that standard.

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The second cause of action is for breach of the IGA, which the suit says is "a material breach of (the city's) obligations." The suit further says that the district reasonably incurred long-term financial obligations based on the funds provided by the sales tax.

"The financial disaster that the school district would face without immediate judicial intervention will result in elimination of critical teaching and support staff positions," the suit alleges.

The suit says that the loss of these positions would result in increased class sizes, decreased individual attention, cuts to educational and extracurricular activities, and the inability to meet financial obligations.

The plaintiffs asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order "preventing the city from implementing the repeal of the school tax unless and until it is approved by voters or otherwise is in compliance with the 2016 IGA, 2024 IGA and any other amendments thereto."
The U.S. State Department has approved up to $310.5 million in F-16 training and support services for Ukraine, signaling continued White House backing for Kyiv.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed the news in an official statement, noting that Ukraine had requested "equipment and services in support of its F-16 aircraft."

The equipment and services include "aircraft modifications and upgrades; personnel training related to operation, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts." The decision still needs a Congressional signoff.

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The proposed sale will improve Ukraine's security, as it has been "a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe."

Additionally, the sale will improve "Ukraines capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring its pilots are effectively trained" and contribute to the "overall modernization of Ukraines air force."

Ukraine most recently received a shipment of F-16 fighter jets in March 2025. In April, the U.S. also announced that more fighter jets were being prepared for transfer to Ukraine.

Several countries, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, have contributed F-16 fighter jets and training to bolster Ukraine's defense efforts.

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F-16s are used in both offensive and defensive operations. The aircraft have been used for intercepting Russian missiles and drones during aerial strikes against Ukraine. They could also be deployed to launch missiles and bombs at Russian positions along the front line.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of State has approved the possible sale of AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles to Norway for an estimated $370.9 million, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The principal contractor is RTX Corp, the Pentagon said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward)
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department approved a possible foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related support for $3.5 billion, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday.

The U.S. is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requested 1,000 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 50 AMRAAM guidance sections and other equipment including spares, missile containers, and spare parts, and logistics support services.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Friday.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corp, according to the Pentagon.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)
Ukraine's joint investment fund with the U.S., created under the minerals cooperation agreement, could begin operating within months of its ratification by the Verkhovna Rada, Econony Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on April 1, Suspilne reported.

The agreement, signed on April 30, establishes a foundation for deeper U.S.-Ukrainian economic cooperation by setting up a limited partnership fund to invest in critical minerals and energy projects.

"Our task is to do this as soon as possible, but it is very difficult to predict it now. I think it will take months, definitely not years," Svyrydenko told reporters in Washington.

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The deal comes after months of contentious negotiations, including a heated Oval Office argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in February, which initially delayed its signing.

The finalized agreement explicitly avoids linking previously received U.S. military aid to the fund  a sticking point in earlier drafts that triggered concerns over American access to revenues from Ukrainian state energy enterprises.

The fund will operate as a joint venture between the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Ukraine's Agency for Supporting Public-Private Partnership.

Financing will come exclusively from new licenses issued after the fund's creation. Fifty percent of revenues generated from new critical minerals, oil, and gas licenses will be directed into the fund, Svyrydenko said.

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The agreement details a list of 57 mineral resources covered, including strategic materials such as uranium, lithium, rare earth elements, gold, platinum, oil, and natural gas.

Any future expansion of the list requires mutual consent. Earlier leaked drafts, which sparked political backlash, had fueled speculation about possible U.S. control over Ukraine's legacy state-owned assets  concerns the final document addresses.

Opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said the ratification vote may take place during the plenary week of May 1315. Following ratification, two supplementary agreements will be signed: one to legally establish the fund and another to finalize technical and operational details.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously said the agreement signals Washington's long-term commitment to Ukraine as an economic partner and could serve as leverage in ongoing efforts to push Russia toward negotiating an end to its full-scale war against Ukraine.

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Read also: Warm words rather than real investment  uncertainty surrounds newly-signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal

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The United States is stepping up pressure on India and Pakistan to avoid conflict in Kashmir after a tourist massacre in an Indian-administered area of the divided territory last week.

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington hopes Pakistan will help hunt down the militants behind the attack as well as any other terrorist groups who he said sometimes operate from within Pakistan.

India has long accused Pakistan of harboring militant groups that have conducted attacks against it, including in Kashmir, something Islamabad has long denied.

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Vance also urged India, which has vowed to pursue the tourist massacre attackers to the ends of the earth to act with restraint so tensions do not explode into a war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict, Vance said in an interview on Fox News Special Report with Bret Baier.

And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.

Vances comments echoed those of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Wednesday spoke with top Pakistani and Indian officials and called on the two rivals to work with each other to de-escalate tensions, according to State Department readouts of the two calls.

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Rubio expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism, in his call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

In his call with Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22, and urged Pakistani officials cooperation in the investigation.

Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence, the readout said.

Fears of a broader conflict increased earlier this week when Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said his country had credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours.

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That timeframe has now passed.

Militants on April 22 massacred 26 civilians, the vast majority tourists, in the mountainous town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, a rampage that has sparked widespread outrage.

India and Pakistan have since engaged in tit-for-tat hostilities.

India closed its airspace to commercial flights from Pakistan on Tuesday, matching Islamabads ban on flights from India, which was imposed last week in response to New Delhis cancelation of visas for Pakistani nationals and suspension of a key water sharing treaty.

This week, New Delhi and Islamabad have both been flexing their military might.

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Pakistan shot down an Indian drone that was used for espionage in the disputed Kashmir region on Tuesday, Pakistani security sources told CNN.

Two days earlier, Indias navy said it had carried out test missile strikes to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike.

Tensions have also been simmering along the de facto border, the Line of Control, in Kashmir, and gunfire was exchanged along the disputed border for seven straight nights.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities continue to believe an Indian attack is highly likely a a senior Pakistani official told CNN on Friday.

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The official said four Indian fighter jets flew close to Pakistani airspace in the direction of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on what Pakistani authorities assessed to be an attack mission early Wednesday, but rather than cross the border, diverted to a nearby base. The official noted that Pakistani jets were also in the area. CNN cannot independently verify the allegations.

CNN has reached out to the Indian government, army and air force for comment on the officials allegations.

The official also praised efforts by the Trump administration to defuse tensions as even-handed and helpful.

A policeman stands guard at a checkpoint along a street in Srinagar on May 1, 2025. - Basit Zargar/AFP/Middle East Images/Getty Images

An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier stands guard near the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35 kilometers from Amritsar, on May 1, 2025. - Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

A history of conflict

Kashmir, one of the worlds most dangerous flashpoints, is controlled in part by India and Pakistan but both countries claim it in its entirety.

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The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars over the mountainous territory that has been divided since their independence from Britain nearly 80 years ago.

India conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan in 2019 following a major insurgent attack on paramilitary personnel inside Indian-administered Kashmir. It was the first such incursion into Pakistans territory since a 1971 war between the two neighbors.

The latest attack on tourists in Kashmir has sparked fears that India might respond in a similar way.

Conditions may be ripe for greater conflict now than was seen in 2019, according to Steven Honig and Natalie Caloca, researchers at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

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Writing on the CFR website, the two said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the transformation and stabilization of Kashmir a central pillar of his legacy

They said Modi was hurt politically by the 2019 attacks inside Indian-administer Kashmir and will likely feel pressure to be more assertive with New Delhis response this time.

Military numbers favor India

Both countries are heavily armed, though in any conventional conflict, India holds a large advantage.

The Indian defense budget is more than nine times Pakistans, according to the Military Balance 2025 from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

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That budget supports an active-duty Indian force of almost 1.5 million personnel, compared to just 660,000 for Pakistan.

On the ground, Indias 1.2 million force army has 3,750 main battle tanks and more than 10,000 artillery pieces, while Pakistans tank force is only two-thirds of Indias and Islamabad has fewer than half of the artillery pieces in New Delhis arsenal.

At sea, the Indian navys advantage is overwhelming. It has two aircraft carriers, 12 guided-missile destroyers, 11 guided-missile frigates and 16 attack submarines.

Pakistan has no carriers and no guided-missile destroyers, with 11 smaller guided-missile frigates being the backbone of its naval fleet. It also has only half the number of subs that India fields.

Pakistan's Air Force fighter JF-17 fighter jets fly past during the multinational naval exercise AMAN-25 in the Arabian Sea near Pakistan's port city of Karachi on February 10, 2025, as more than 50 countries participating with ships and observers. - Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

Both air forces rely heavily on older Soviet-era aircraft, including MiG-21s in India and the Chinese equivalent  the J-7  in Pakistan.

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While overall numbers of air-to-air fighter jets and ground-attack aircraft sway heavily in Indias favor, both militaries have been making recent efforts to update their air forces with modern fourth-generation aircraft.

India has been investing in multirole French-made Rafale jets, with 36 now in service, according to the Military Balance.

Pakistan has been adding Chinese J-10 multirole jets, with more than 20 now in its fleet.

Though Pakistan still has dozens of US-made F-16 fighters, the backbone of its fleet has become the JF-17, a joint project with China that came online in the early 2000s. About 150 are in service.

Despite acquiring the Rafales from France, Russian-made aircraft still play a significant role in Indias air fleet. More than 100 MiG-29 fighters are in service with the air force and navy combined. And more than 260 Su-30 ground attack jets bolster Indias force.

The rivals are closer in capabilities when it comes to nuclear forces  with around five dozen surface-to-surface launchers each  though India has longer range ballistic missiles than Pakistan.

India also has two nuclear-capable submarines while Pakistan has none.

CNNs Nic Robertson, Jennifer Hansler, Rhea Mogul, Sophia Saifi and Aishwarya S Iyer contributed to this report.

Clarification: This story has been updated to make clear Vice President JD Vance said militant groups sometimes operate from within Pakistan.

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US Vice President JD Vance is convinced that Russia's war against Ukraine will not end anytime soon.

Source: European Pravda; JD Vance's interview with Fox News

"Its not going to end anytime soon," JD Vance said.

Details: The US vice president noted that the US administration is now facing the question of how to help Russia and Ukraine "find some middle ground here" and end the war. At the same time, he added that "its going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal conflict".

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"Of course, they [Ukrainians] are angry that they were invaded. But are we going to continue to lose thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?" Vance said.

However, the US vice president expressed optimism about the prospects for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"It's hard to say confident. Because the Russians and Ukrainians are the ones to take the final step. We got them talking I think were in a place where they have got to say were done with the fighting. Were done with losing thousands and thousands of young people," Vance said.

Background:

The Trump administration has been trying to force the peace process between Ukraine and Russia in recent weeks. Media reports suggest that it has prepared a "final proposal" for a peaceful settlement.

The United States is ready to recognise Russia's control over Ukrainian Crimea and ease sanctions against Moscow.

Later, Reuters got acquainted with the text of proposals to end Russia's war against Ukraine, which were handed over to the American side by Ukrainian and European officials at the talks in London.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia announced Friday that criminal charges will not be filed against the D.C. officers who fatally shot an armed suspect in February.

According to court documents, a 29-year-old man was fatally shot by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers on Feb. 18 as he was attempting to stab and carjack a woman.

Court documents state that the suspect, identified as S.Z., drove his car into an MPD cruiser stopped at a red light on Georgia Avenue. S.Z. then exited his car and brandished a knife while walking towards the cruiser.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Investigation underway after DC police officer opened fire in Northwest

The USAO states the officer fired a shot that struck S.Z. in the shoulder, and he began to run towards a woman sitting in a parked vehicle, attempting to carjack her.

Court documents continue, stating S.Z. opened the car door and tried to stab the woman, and an officer shot him once again, this time with him falling to the ground.

He died at the scene.

After an investigation by the USAO and the MPD Internal Affairs Division, federal prosecutors determined insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated S.Z.s rights.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  There might be a reason some lost mail was never returned to sender.

A United States Postal Service employee stationed in Midtown, Manhattan was sentenced to three years of conditional discharge for stealing checks and credit cards from the mail, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.

MTA employee fired for running side hustle on the job

The 36-year-old woman admitted to colluding with her 34-year-old partner to operate the scheme from May 14, 2021 through March 10, 2022.

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During that time the postal employee would identify and take envelopes containing credit cards or checks and then use them to shop at stores like Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, B&H Photo, BJs Wholesale and Duane Reade.

Woman accused of illegally subletting Section 8 housing in NYC

The employee and her partner would also attempt to sell the stolen checks and credit cards through Instagram in exchange for payments through Zelle or CashApp.

Postal workers are expected to provide Americans with reliable mail service, and these defendants jeopardized that. We will hold accountable those who take advantage of their public positions to steal from others, said Bragg.

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The postal worker and her partner both pleaded guilty to grand larceny charges. The 34-year-old man is expected to be sentenced in June to up to three years in state prison.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park sets Armed Forces Day to honor veterans

Editors note: News 5 has replaced a photo on this page with one of the USS Alabama Battleship.

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The South Alabama Veterans Council will honor those who serve and have served, and remember those who have fallen in military service during an Armed Forces Day event at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.

Grease is the word along Mobile Bay as Fairhope brings a classic to The Bluff

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According to a South Alabama Veterans Council news release, the event will be Saturday, May 17, beginning with an Expo at 8:30 a.m. in the Aircraft Pavilion, 2703 Battleship Memorial Parkway.

LOCATION:

The Expo will feature Veterans Service Organizations displays and vendors, so visitors can learn about the various services and products available to veterans, the release said.

At 9:30 a.m., the event will continue with a ceremony featuring keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01), followed by a Gold Star Ceremony where families of fallen service members will be recognized, the release said.

(News 5 file photo)

The event will conclude with a parachute performance by the Silver Wings parachute team from Fort Benning, Ga., and a Meals Ready to Eat Cook-off where teams from local VSOs, the military, first responders, and others will compete, according to the release.

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Food trucks will also be available, the release said.

UPDATE on urn that washed ashore in Gulf Shores  police find family, learn how it got there

For more information, visit the South Alabama Veterans Council 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 WKRG News 5.
Joining nationwide protests Thursday against the Trump administration, a few dozen University of Texas students gathered below the iconic UT Tower to rally in support of migrant rights and free speech.

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, is celebrated May 1 as a day of protest linked to a history spanning more than a century of labor organizing. At this year's gathering of about 40 to 50 people at UT, organizers said a climate of fear around pro-Palestinian and anti-Trump speech has chilled expressive activity on college campuses  but it has also revealed the need for continued advocacy. In addition to immigrant and workers' rights, protesters also chanted for a free Palestine and for LGBTQ+ rights, and against racism, arguing that all those causes are "interconnected."

"It's even more important to stand together," said Javier Perez, a first-year UT student in biomedical engineering and a member of the Students for a Democratic Society. "These are not abstract political developments. They are here on our campuses."

University of Texas student Javier Perez speaks to students during a May Day protest at UT to oppose the presence of ICE on campus, the revocations of student visas and President Donald Trumps plans for mass deportations of immigrants.

In April, at least 260 international students in Texas, including 176 at UT System institutions, had been affected by the Trump administration's changes to their legal statuses, some losing their visas for violations such as parking tickets or for no reason. More than 100 lawsuits were filed about the visa terminations nationwide, including in North Texas.

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In a sudden reversal April 25, the Justice Department restored visas for thousands of students across the country who had minor or dismissed legal infractions. UT confirmed to the American-Statesman that "multiple" visas had been restored at its campus. UT System spokesperson Randa Safady said in an email Friday that "some universities recently learned about the reinstatement of the status of some international students whose visas were previously revoked."

But in newly released court documents, the Trump administration unveiled plans for a new policy and system to terminate the legal residency of international students "as needed," Inside Higher Ed reported. The policy is not yet final, but it could signal more visa revocations ahead.

"We do not have any additional information on how many students were affected or whose visa status was reinstated," Safady, the UT System spokesperson, said in an email Friday.

Brenda Flores listens during the May Day protest in front of the UT Tower.

Protesters on Thursday repeated calls for the university to offer more public support to international students. At a UT Faculty Council meeting last week, a representative from Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement Sonia Feigenbaum said Texas Global has been in touch with students individually by connecting them to resources and information. It is not sharing specific information about how many students have been affected, and the university declined to comment further.

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"We have been working very closely with a variety of offices and units across the university to make sure that we support all international students and scholars with concerns," Feigenbaum told faculty April 21. "One of the things that's really important is for us to keep the privacy of every single one of these students. ... We are not here to talk about numbers, because we want to make sure that what really ensues is our support of each individual."

Tim, an international student at UT from Taiwan who declined to share his last name for fear of retaliation, said he and other international students are fearful of speaking out because of the Trump administration, but he showed up to the protest because he believes in the importance of the Palestinian liberation movement and protections for international workers.

"America is a country of free speech, and that's an important reason I chose UT," Tim said. "We are not only immigrants. We are workers. We are teaching assistants."

UT student Joel Crain participates in the May Day protest on the campus.

The local chapter of the Texas State Employees Union released a statement condemning the targeting of international students by the federal government, and union representatives spoke at the rally in support of international students' rights.

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"The attacks on students, institutions, and academic freedom have not only silenced university administrators at a critical time, but members of the university community under threat have been given insufficient support and guidance," the union's statement said. "TSEU is calling on public higher education (institutions) to provide accurate information about visa revocations; provide useful support to students, staff, and faculty that could be affected; and to protect university community members from these attacks"

Just down the road earlier that day, thousands of protesters gathered at the Capitol to demonstrate against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, and they marched to Austin City Hall in the early evening.

In an interview, Perez, the first-year UT student, said that Students for a Democratic Society has been working to organize the campus around progressive causes regardless of how speech is being chilled. He said UT should follow Harvard's lead in standing up for students, but he understands the university's constraints due to its reliance on public funds.

"But above all else, we should stand up for students' rights," he said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: UT students hold May Day protest for workers, immigrants, Palestinians
Gov. Jared Polis addresses the Colorado General Assembly in January at the start of the 2025 legislative session.
James Lael and Kelly Anne Jensens sprawling, $9-million mansion in Sandy, Utah is the kind of luxury home out of reach to the average American  but not to the long arm of the law.

As KSL-TV reports, U.S. Marshals arrested the couple at their 27,000-square-foot property in late April as part of a multi-state raid.

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That same day, authorities raided James Jensen's company Arroyo Terminals in Rio Hondo, Texas, near the Mexican border.

The couple  along with sons Maxwell and Zachary  have been indicted for money laundering in the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas. They are accused of running a $300-million money-laundering scheme, allegedly smuggling crude oil from Mexico.

The federal indictment outlines a complex scheme dating back to May 2022. Heres what court documents suggest, along with a look at what criminal trade in crude oil costs Americans.

A complex scheme allegedly worth $300M

Court documents state that the Jensens brought 2,881 shipments of crude oil into the U.S.  falsely labeled as waste of lube oils and petroleum distillates.

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The Jensens are accused of directing payments for the crude oil to Mexican businesses that operate through the permission of Mexican criminal organizations.

Read more: Here are 5 must have items that Americans (almost) always overpay for  and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Court documents allege that James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to Mexican criminal organizations.

The Jensens moneys and assets gained from alleged illegal activities are subject to forfeiture  including the Arroyo Terminals business along with oil tankers, a second property in Draper, Utah, new cars and money in their bank accounts. These assets collectively total $300 million according to KSL-TV.

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None of these allegations have yet been proven in court.

At the global level, criminal trade in crude oil is a massive operation.

Illegal trade in oil drives prices at the pump

The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade estimates that criminal trade in crude oil is worth upwards of $11.9 billion annually, involving up to 227 million barrels of oil every year.

Windward AI, a U.K.-based company that helps organizations deal with maritime challenges, notes that oil smuggling causes supply-chain disruptions that lead to shortages and higher gas prices.

Port and border agents delay the delivery of legitimate oil shipments while they investigate potential cases of smuggled oil. Those delays are costly for legitimate oil suppliers, who may pass those costs on to consumers.

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According to the Energy Information Administration, the cost of crude oil is the largest driver of the price you pay at the pump. Smuggled oil can impact the price of crude oil, making gas more expensive.

Aside from its impact on the price of gasoline, smuggled crude oil can compromise the quality of gasoline, which is a safety concern.

Another safety concern? Trade in smuggled oil supports criminal activity and can fund terrorist organizations internationally and here in the U.S. The Jensens, for example, allegedly engaged in activity that was said to support Mexican criminal organizations.

Thats why shutting down such schemes is not only good for most peoples pocketbooks, but for public safety.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Utah state leaders are being sued over a bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Spencer Cox in March created a new guardianship system for adults with severe intellectual disability.

In a complaint filed in federal court in Utah earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Disability Law Center argued the law  SB199  violates the American With Disabilities and the Rehabilitation acts, as well as the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants equal protection under the law to all citizens.

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Sponsored by Sen. Kevin Stratton, R-Orem, and signed by Cox on March 17, SB199 creates a separate guardianship proceeding for people with a severe intellectual disability. To qualify, a physician or psychologist must sign a letter that indicates that the adult is an individual with a severe intellectual disability, the bill reads.

Guardianship is a legal process where someone, typically a family member, can ask a court to determine whether a person with a disability 18 years old or older is unable to make decisions and manage their affairs.

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With permission from a court, the guardian could then determine personal care and make financial and legal decisions for the disabled person. According to the Utah Parent Center, it can shield disabled people from manipulation and crime, allowing them to live a safer life. But it also limits the civil rights of the person under guardianship, taking away their authority to make adult decisions.

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The bill had the backing from several families of people with intellectual disabilities, who say the current system is too broad and not tailored to the most severely handicapped. More than 200 people signed on to a petition in support of the bill.

It makes sense to create a new and separate guardianship statutory section specifically for those with a severe intellectual disability and a lifelong functional limitation that began as a minor, said Lisa Thornton, an attorney, when speaking in favor of the bill during this years legislative session. Separating our population from the elderly, or ones who once had capacity, allows for greater protection for those with severe intellectual disabilities without impacting or creating restrictions on the elderly, or those who may regain capacity.

But during the session, both the ACLU and Disability Law Center spoke out against the bill. On April 18, the groups filed a lawsuit.

In the 42-page complaint, the groups argue the law creates a separate, harsher guardianship system based on a classification of severe intellectual disability  a term they say is circular and vague.

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Severe intellectual disability is not a term with a clear, well-established meaning among clinicians, the complaint reads, adding that it requires physicians to make a diagnosis that is typically made by the court.

The law also allows a guardian to restrict the disabled persons association with friends and family, the right to control their food and beverage consumption, and the right to restrict any activity that the guardian believes would be harmful, according to court documents. Typically, guardians can place restrictions on an individual basis  for instance, preventing an abusive former partner from visiting. But SB199 allows for blanket restrictions, which the complaint says is a violation of the persons rights.

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Additionally, the law creates a carveout where the disabled person wouldnt be granted an attorney in cases where a parent, grandparent or sibling is the prospective guardian, the groups argue.

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For those reasons, the groups allege the state is in violation of the American With Disabilities and the Rehabilitation acts, as well as the 14th Amendment.

SB199 creates a separate, more restrictive guardianship for a class of people with disabilities and denies them the same rights as others, like the right to talk with friends or relatives, solely based on a doctor describing the severity of a diagnosis, said Nate Crippes, the public affairs supervising attorney for the Disability Law Center.

It also doesnt allow for individualized determinations for this population, as is required by the ADA, he added.And by limiting the right to associate, if a guardian is abusive or neglectful, we fear no one will know. On the other hand, studies show a person with greater self-determination is more likely to identify an abusive situation and less likely to experience it.

In addition to Cox and the state of Utah, the lawsuit names Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant, the Utah Judicial Council, State Court Administrator Ronald Gordon Jr., the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts and the Utah State Court system.

The governors office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  An 18-year-old man serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died in a tragic accident on Thursday in North Carolina, according to church officials.

Elder Aleki Langi, 18, from Magna, was walking with his two companions on a sidewalk when a driver lost control of their vehicle and drove off the road into the missionaries, according to the church. Langi died from his injuries.

One of his companions was injured and treated at a local hospital where he has since been released. The other companion was not injured.

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We extend our deepest condolences and love to Elder Langis family, friends, and fellow missionaries during this difficult time. We pray that they will each feel the Saviors comfort and peace as they mourn his passing and honor his dedicated missionary service, said Sam Penrod, a church spokesman.

Langi was temporarily reassigned to the North Carolina Charlotte Mission while waiting for a visa to serve in the Jamaica Kingston Mission. Church officials say he was part of the Magna 2nd Ward in the Salt Lake Utah West Stake.

According to ABC4s sister station in North Carolina, Queen City News, the crash was a hit-and-run incident. The driver struck the missionaries and allegedly fled the scene. Police are still searching for the suspect and have not yet made any arrests.

Witnesses of the crash described the scene as horrific, saying they attempted to assist the victims and conduct CPR on Langi but were unable to save his life.

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A classroom at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake is pictured on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

A district judge in Utah issued a marvelous decision on April 18, finding Utahs school voucher law to be unconstitutional. The 60-page decision was based on a variety of constitutional flaws that the Utah law shares with Idahos recently-enacted education tax credit law. The Utah law was enacted in 2023 with $42.5 million in state funds. State funding increased by $40 million in each of the next two years.

The Utah judge said the Utah Constitution gives a direct command to the legislature to perform a single duty: establish and maintain the states education systems. The judge continued, This clear expression of one duty  coupled with the absence of any general duty to provide for the education or intellectual improvement of Utahns  impliedly restricts the legislature from creating a publicly funded school or education program outside of the public school system. In other words, Utahs Legislature is restricted from using public funds to support any form of private education.

Of interest is the fact that every member of the Idaho Legislature was sent a Legislative Alert on the first day of the 2025 legislative session, warning that any scheme to use taxpayer money for private education would be violative of the Idaho Constitution in a number of respects. The alert was provided by The Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution, a group that participated in the successful lawsuit to overturn the restrictive initiative law enacted in 2021.

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The alert identified the same constitutional flaw focused upon by the Utah judge  that Idahos Constitution prohibits the funding of private and parochial education. That has been the law of Idaho ever since statehood in 1890.

The alert spelled out several other constitutional infirmities that any voucher scheme would entail, including a deliberate transgression of Idahos strong prohibition against state support for religious education, discrimination against rural kids and Idaho religions that dont operate parochial schools, lack of accountability for taxpayer money expended on private schooling, and diminution of state money necessary to support Idahos public school system, which has been chronically underfunded for decades.

The Utah judges decision mentioned a number of other infirmities in the Utah law  private schools often exclude students with special needs, or condition admission upon adherence to certain religious beliefs, or fail to provide free schooling as constitutionally required for taxpayer-supported education. These flaws are also inherent in House Bill 93, the subsidy bill approved by the Legislature this year.

The Idaho Legislature was clearly warned of the serious constitutional problems with House Bill 93, which will subsidize private and parochial education to the tune of $50 million in just the first year. Yet, because of massive funding from out-of-state groups that are seeking to weaken public schools across the nation, a majority of our legislators cast aside the Constitution and passed the subsidy bill. The governor lacked the courage to veto the legislation, despite overwhelming public outcry against it.

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Now, as with the similar travesty in Utah, concerned Idahoans will have to resort to the courts in order to protect the wishes of Idahos constitutional drafters. Please stay tuned.

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. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.

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UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  Utica Police have arrested a woman after she attacked a male victim with a hammer on Genesee Street Thursday night.

Police and firefighters were called to the 1400 block of Genesee Street at approximately 5:20 pm on Thursday, May 1. Upon their arrival, they were met by a male victim who stated he  along with a group of people  were inside of an apartment. During the conversation, a female among the group  later identified as 49-year-old Dorothea Rolle of Utica  began to argue with the victim over money.

During the argument, Rolle grabbed a hammer and began to repeatedly strike the victim in the head and body. The victim was able to flee the apartment and contact police.

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Utica Police were eventually able to locate Rolle. She was taken into custody and transported to the Utica Police Department without further issue.

Rolle has been charged with:

second-degree Attempted Assault, a Class D Violent Felony,

third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a Class D Violent Felony, and

Petit Larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com.
An environmental impact report for a long-awaited veterans clinic in Bakersfield may not be needed following a finding from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"VA concludes that implementing the Proposed Action would not have a significant adverse impact on the quality of the natural or human environment, the report said. "Therefore, preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required."

The proposed action is the construction of a new VA outpatient clinic in Bakersfield, one that's been planned  and held up in court  for years.

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Congress approved the clinic in 2009 but construction on the new facility has been frustrated by a series of legal filings by a group called Progress for Bakersfield Veterans, LLC, or PBV.

Since 2018, PBV has filed a series of complaints alleging violations of the California Environmental Quality Act and other regulations. PBV is a subsidiary of Beverly Hills-based Cardinal Equities Group, which owns the building housing the existing clinic on Westwind Drive.

Critics have accused PBV of filing frivolous lawsuits in order to prolong the current clinic's tenure at its aging building. Because the terms of the lease are expired, PBV can raise the rent on the building every six months.

The Californian reported last year the VA was paying more than $400,000 a month to lease the current clinic location.

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"We are paying millions of dollars to somebody that doesnt even care for the rental of the current clinic. We are dumping tons of money, monthly," said Rick Knight, a 77-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran who uses the clinic.

Knight said he'd heard supposedly good news about the clinic before, only to see PBV file a lawsuit to stop progress.

"I am a pro-VA advocate to get us a clinic built and get away from this snake that is out to strike us and poison us again," Knight said.

Casey Schaubschlager, a social worker with the Wounded Heroes Fund, called the VA's finding "one more hoop jumped."

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"That being said, this project has been over a decade since the approval, but with the current court process going on, who knows how the lawsuit will go on, or how long," Schaubschlager said.

The VA did not immediately respond to request for comment Thursday.

U.S. Reps. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, and David Valadao, R-Hanford, both praised the news, saying the clinic was too long delayed.

"My office is working closely with the House Veterans Affairs Committee and in contact with the Veterans Affairs Department to find ways to remove the frivolous legal hurdles that have stifled this project well beyond its expected completion date," Fong said in an email Thursday.

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"Our veterans deserve to receive the best possible care, and I will continue to fight to deliver the services our nations heroes have rightfully and dutifully earned," he said.

Valadao said the clinic is a topic priority.

"After years of delays and frivolous lawsuits, the release of the no significant impact report for the Bakersfield VA clinic is a welcome update, Valadao said. This project has always been one of my top priorities, and Ill continue working closely with the VA to ensure we are doing everything we can to construct the new clinic valley veterans deserve.
An abandoned Hollywood home that neighbors said had been attracting a constant stream of transients and criminal activity was demolished after the property went up in flames.

The fire erupted Thursday morning at a two-story structure on the 1700 block of North Wilton Place around 2 a.m.

Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly responded to the scene. Video from bystanders showed a large fire crew presence working to extinguish the growing blaze.

L.A. Fire Department crews demolished a vacant home that neighbors said was taken over by squatters in Hollywood after a massive fire destroyed the property on May 1, 2025. (Citizen) L.A. Fire Department crews demolished a vacant home that neighbors said was taken over by squatters in Hollywood after a massive fire destroyed the property on May 1, 2025. (Citizen) L.A. Fire Department crews demolished a vacant home that neighbors said was taken over by squatters in Hollywood after a massive fire destroyed the property on May 1, 2025. (Los Angeles Fire Department) L.A. Fire Department crews demolished a vacant home that neighbors said was taken over by squatters in Hollywood after a massive fire destroyed the property on May 1, 2025. (KTLA) The remaining vacant property on the 1700 block of North Wilton Place in Hollywood that residents said continues to attract squatters and criminal activity. (KTLA) L.A. Fire Department crews demolished a vacant home that neighbors said was taken over by squatters in Hollywood after a massive fire destroyed the property on May 1, 2025. (Citizen)

The home was later red-tagged by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. Due to the danger of collapse and general safety hazards, the property was later demolished by LAFD crews.

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The demolished home was one of two vacant properties that had been a source of frustration and distress for nearby residents. The structures were attracting a constant stream of transients and squatters who neighbors said had overtaken the area.

Jeane Rice, a neighbor, told KTLAs Ellina Abovian that living on the street was a nightmare.

Its a lot of noise, a lot of drug activity, a lot of criminal activity and its very dangerous, she said.

Residents said there had been previous fires that were ignited by the squatters who loitered in the area.

But despite repeatedly calling the police and reaching out to city leaders for help, nothing had changed. Some residents had been calling for the demolition of the vacant properties for months.

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Rice said Thursdays massive fire further underscores the daily risk that neighbors are living with.

One of two vacant buildings on Wilton Place in Hollywood that neighbors said have attracted a constant stream of homeless people and dangerous criminal activity. (KTLA) One of two vacant buildings on Wilton Place in Hollywood that neighbors said have attracted a constant stream of homeless people and dangerous criminal activity. (KTLA) The backyard view of a vacant building on Wilton Place in Hollywood that neighbors said have attracted a constant stream of homeless people, dangerous criminal activity and even some visitors who have started fires. (KTLA) A person being arrested by L.A. police in a Hollywood neighborhood that residents said is overrun with crime and activity from transients and squatters. Neighbors said two vacant Hollywood buildings have attracted a constant stream of transients and squatters. The backyard view of a vacant building on Wilton Place in Hollywood that neighbors said have attracted a constant stream of homeless people, dangerous criminal activity and even some visitors who have started fires. (KTLA) The street and empty properties are littered with trash and debris from transients and squatters who have taken over the vacant Hollywood buildings on Wilton Place. (KTLA) The street and empty properties are littered with trash and debris from transients and squatters who have taken over the vacant Hollywood buildings on Wilton Place. (KTLA)

This could have been our building on fire and somebody being killed, she said.

Many residents told KTLA they were happy to see the structure demolished.

I wish they would have taken care of this earlier, said neighbor Nathaniel Siri. I wish they would tear all these [empty] houses down because these houses arent livable at this point. Thats been the case for years.

According to a statement from L.A. city councilmember Hugo Soto Martinezs office, the city has been working with the Department of Building and Safety to declare the property a public nuisance.

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The case is expected to go before the board of building and safety commissioners in May to place a lien.

Although many were happy to see at least one building demolished, concerns remain over the existing vacant property next door.

Its a failure of the city and its a failure of the developers, Rice said. They need to keep people out. Its a failure of the L.A. Department of Building and Safety because theyre not imposing fines on the owners. Its a failure of all these parties together. They need to come up with better resolutions and ways of handling things and it needs to be done quicker. When there are residents who are complaining that their lives are being affected and in danger, they need to act fast.

No injuries were reported during the incident and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BELEN, N.M. (KRQE)  After repeated, devastating floods through Belen and other parts of Valencia County, voters agreed on the need for flood control. But the new agency in charge of fixing the problem has no money to do it. Now, a new property tax is looking to change that.

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Eugene Pickett has called Pueblitos home near Belen for over 30 years and said he wont forget the 2018 monsoon that sent flood waters to his front door. Pickett said that when the High Line Canal over-flooded, it came through their neighborhood, but due to the natural landscaping that goes down, the water had nowhere else to go and flooded their homes.

I had three and a half feet of water in the house. There was probably 5-6 feet of water throughout the whole valley, I lost automobiles, I lost everything, said Pickett.

To prevent floods like those neighbors saw in 2018 and 2021, voters approved the Valencia County Arroyo Flood Control Districts creation in November.

That district is now behind a new mill levy property tax, charging area residents 50 cents per $1,000 of net taxable value, something that can be approved without voters. Its not going to be a large burden to the taxpayers of the county. I believe that what will be returned to the taxpayers is far greater than what will be paid by the taxpayers, said Teresa Smith De Cherif, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Valencia County Arroyo Flood Control District.

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The board on Thursday has no other funding stream in place. The next mill levy should bring in an estimated $800,000, money thats slated to go toward field work, hiring staff and engineers, and the development of flood mitigation plans.

These are floods of biblical proportion that wiped people out of their homes, many people have not returned. So really, there needs to be not only recovery but prevention of further flooding, said Teresa Smith De Cherif.

Valencia County property owners should see the new mill levy on their tax bill by November, with a first payment due by December.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Ark.  A broken taillight led a Van Buren County Sheriffs deputy to discover methamphetamine and cash in an early-morning traffic stop.

Court records show 43-year-old Joeneal Lakeith Robinson of Damascus is currently held in the Van Buren County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. He is facing charges of felony trafficking a controlled substance and felony possession of drug paraphernalia resulting from the April 30 traffic stop.

After the Meth Storm: Van Buren County court program breaks addiction cycle

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The warrant affidavit shows a deputy pulled Robinson over when he saw he had a brake light out on his pickup truck. In the course of the traffic stop, the deputy reported smelling marijuana, which Robinson admitted to smoking.

The deputy noted in his report that a pre-rolled cigarette fell out of Robinsons lap when he got out of his pickup truck, which he admitted to the deputy was marijuana.

Seized items from April 30 traffic stop  courtesy Van Buren County Sheriffs Office

According to the affidavit, as the deputy searched the truck, he found a light-blue pillowcase on the passenger seat. Inside the pillowcase was an estimated 521 grams (1.15 pounds) of suspected methamphetamine and more than $3,000 in cash.

DHS launches Me Over Meth campaign

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The deputy then took Robinson into custody, according to the affidavit, and the pickup truck was impounded. The deputy then reported turning all the evidence over to a Drug Task Force officer who had arrived at the scene.

Records show Robinson has a June 2 court date scheduled.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
WASHINGTON (NewsNation)  President Donald Trump has nominated Mike Waltz to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, just hours after Waltzs departure as national security adviser.

Vice President JD Vance described the move as a promotion during a Fox News interview, denying speculation that it was tied to the recent Signalgate controversy. Vance dismissed the incident as a nothingburger of a story.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser.

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Almost half of layoffs in 2025 driven by DOGE: Report

Waltz caught using Signal app in Cabinet meeting

Waltz has faced scrutiny for weeks after a journalist was mistakenly included in a group chat with top Trump officials on the messaging app Signal. The chat, created by Waltz and led primarily by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed plans for a strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Waltz was also spotted by reporters using the Signal app during Trumps Cabinet meeting the day before his exit as national security adviser.

In a social media post, Waltz did not address his departure from the national security team, but said he is deeply honored to continue serving Trump and the country.

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As with all ambassador appointments, Waltz must be confirmed by the Senate. Lawmakers are expected to grill Waltz on the security implications of the Signal chat and the use of an unapproved platform to discuss sensitive information.

Trump threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil

Trump to unveil budget proposal Friday: Report

Trump is expected to unveil his federal budget proposal on Friday. According to Axios, the trillion-dollar plan includes increases in border and national security spending, along with deep cuts to foreign aid.

As Trumps trade war with China continues to cause uncertainty, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging the administration to grant tariff exemptions for certain small businesses and products, such as those that cannot be produced in the United States or are not readily available.

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China has said it is exploring different approaches in trade negotiations but views the current 145% tariffs as a major hurdle to any potential deal.

NewsNations Anna Kutz contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News on May 1 that the war in Ukraine is not going to end "any time soon."

It is "going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are. It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict," Vance told Fox News' Bret Baier.

Earlier on April 30, Vance said that the Trump administration is working to broker a "durable solution" to the RussiaUkraine war within the next 100 days, according to a Fox News Digital interview.

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Asked about the state of negotiations, Vance said, "The first and necessary step of getting the Russia-Ukraine conflict solved is to get each of them to make a peace proposal." He added, "Weve got the peace proposal out there and issued, and were going to work very hard over the next 100 days to try to bring these guys together."

The renewed push follows months of diplomacy and comes after U.S. President Donald Trump shifted his campaign promise to end the war "within 24 hours" to a 100-day timeline, which has now passed without a deal.

Ukraine accepted a 30-day U.S.-backed ceasefire in March, but Russia rejected it, demanding an end to Western military aid. Despite calls for peace, Moscow has stepped up attacks against Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks.

Read also: Trumps peace effort ignores thousands of Ukrainians still tortured in Russian captivity

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Vatican has been ordered to pay millions of pounds in legal costs to a British financier caught up in the Vaticans trial of the century.

The Vatican will now pay half of the legal costs of almost 7 million incurred by Raffaele Mincione after he was forced to defend himself against allegations of dishonesty, fraud and conspiracy.

British-Italian businessman Mr Minciones name was cleared after taking High Court action in England against the Vatican to protect his reputation.

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The businessman won the legal action to clear his name over his role in the Vaticans 275 million purchase of a former Harrods warehouse in Chelsea, west London.

The former Harrods warehouse in west London, at the centre of the dispute - Bailey-Cooper Photography/Alamy

It was the first time the Vatican had faced trial in the English courts in its 2,000-year history.

The Holy See had claimed Mr Mincione committed fraud by inflating the price when his companies sold the former Harrods property to the Vatican in 2018 to convert into luxury apartments.

The financier and his legal team claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt where the legal goalposts were moved to secure his conviction in a trial in Italy.

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After ruling in his favour, the UK court has now ordered the Vatican to make an immediate payment to Mr Mincione of 1.5m within weeks, with further payments to be made following detailed assessment.

Mr Mincione said: I am proud as a British citizen that these matters have finally been examined by a truly independent judicial system which has exonerated me of dishonesty, fraud or conspiracy.

I am grateful that the English judge has awarded us millions of pounds in legal costs, reflecting the true winners and losers of this sorry case.

For the first time, I am also pleased to share the opinion of the Vatican City States chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi when he previously said he was satisfied by the findings in this case.

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The Vatican trial was originally an attempt to deflect attention from its own incompetence, but it quickly became a witch-hunt. I am still a Catholic and I believe that my Church should be and can be better than this.

In his judgment on the case, Mr Justice Robin Knowles granted 29 of the 31 declarations sought by Mr Mincione in his legal action against the Vatican.

It accepted independent expert evidence that the value of 275 million for the Harrods warehouse was a supportable market value for the property before the transaction in 2018.

However, the judge criticised Mr Mincione for failing to act in good faith in their communications with the Vatican, saying he had not been frank about the 275 million valuation and was misleading by reference to the sources available to him and in context.

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The Vatican, a Catholic enclave in the centre of Rome, often avoids legal action in foreign jurisdictions by claiming sovereign immunity.

The defence of sovereign immunity was not, however, available to the Vatican in the case of 60 Sloane Avenue, the central London property at the centre of the dispute, because the dispute relates to a commercial transaction.

During the trial in the Vatican, it emerged the late Pope Francis had authorised secret wiretaps, including of a cardinal, during the investigation. The extraordinary powers allowed investigators to bug phones, intercept emails and arrest anyone they wanted without seeking prior approval from a judge.

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A bank in Blakely was damaged when a vehicle crashed into it after colliding with another vehicle Friday afternoon.

A Honda SUV was pulling out of Depot Street when it collided with a Kia SUV traveling on Main Street just before 1 p.m., Police Chief Guy Salerno said. The collision resulted in the Honda crashing into the side of the Peoples Security Bank and Trust building at 540 Main St.

The bank was open when the Honda hit a part of the building with a conference room, which was empty, he said. Salerno said the banks maintenance staff was going to assess the damage.

There were no injuries and both vehicles were towed, he said.

Blakely police are investigating.
MONTPELIER, Vt, (ABC22/FOX44)  Vermonts Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation says it has dedicated more than $500,000 to restore and maintain fire towers across Vermont, beginning this summer.

The fire towers were built in the 1930s to monitor forest fires. Today, they mainly serve a recreational purpose, the department says.

The Bear Hill fire tower at Allis State Park will be the first to close from May 1 to June 15. Burke Mountain fire tower will then close to the public from May 15 to July 31.

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Shorter closures will occur at Okemo Mountain, Bald Mountain, Spruce Mountain, Mt. Olga and Elmore Mountain while workers install railings. This work is expected to extend into Spring 2026.

Wanted Morristown man caught, charged with attempted second-degree murder

Additional information and updated closures can be found on Trail Finder.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Veterans in West Virginia have a unique opportunity to learn more about their benefits when the PACT Act Claims clinic returns to Clarksburg this year.

On Wednesday, May 7, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center and the Veterans Benefit Administration are teaming up to host a PACT Act Claims clinic at the Nathan Goff Armory in Clarksburg from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This year, 12-14 representatives will be available to assist with filing claims, provide updates on pending claims, review paperwork and answer questions. Staff will also be available to help veterans enroll in VA Health Care and conduct toxic screen exposures.

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The PACT Act was signed in August of 2022 and is one of the biggest pieces of VA Legislation since the Department of Veterans Affairs was created. It expands eligibility for veterans health care and offers additional benefits.

12 University High students commit to serve the United States during Military Signing Day

12 News spoke with Mabel Wright, C&P and Environmental Health Chief, on why veterans should look into this opportunity, as its future may not be guaranteed.

Even if you were turned away for health care eligibility or denied service-connected benefits in the past, the laws and rules have really changed in the past couple of years, and I would highly encourage our veterans out there to come and speak to us in person to see what we can do to help them, Wright said.

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Toxic exposure screenings are brief surveys and conversation starters to help steer veterans toward benefits and services they may qualify for.

Staff of the clinic are encouraging those who will attend to bring a copy of their DD214, or discharge paperwork, and any other military or medical records related to their claim.

You can also find more information on the event through the VAs Facebook page.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

HUGER  Vice President J.D. Vance told a crowd at the Berkeley County mill for the countrys largest steel producer that America is entering a golden age for manufacturing.

Vance spoke Thursday at the Nucor mill in rural Huger to celebrate the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

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In his 20-minute speech, the vice president categorized the administrations controversial tariff policy as the catalyst for an incoming boom in U.S. jobs and American-made products.

One hundred days under Donald Trumps leadership sparks the beginning of the industrial renaissance in the United States of America, Vance told the crowd of around 500, made up of steel workers and other invited guests.

I believe the golden age of American manufacturing started 100 days ago, and were building it right here at Nucor steel in South Carolina.

Vance leaned on his own past as the grandson of a steel worker in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. He spoke about how his grandfather, who helped raise him, was proud of his profession and could name every American car made from Armco steel.

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He told the Nucor steel workers he hopes they get the same satisfaction.

When you see a lawn mower, a water heater, a kitchen appliance in your neighbors home, or your home, I hope every single one of you guys in front of me feel a sense of pride, Vance said as workers in the crowd nodded their heads. Because these are the products that make America work.

The promise of a stable, well-paying job with a good pension that drove people to companies like Nucor has largely disappeared, Vance said.

This administration aims to bring them back, Vance said.

I think weve got to send messages to our young people that the most interesting work  the work thats going to challenge your mind but also allow you to work with your hands  is found at American steel mills right here in Nucor Berkeley in South Carolina, Vance said to applause.

Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, introduced Vice President J.D. Vance at Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vance was introduced by Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, who looked at the crowd and said, this is red, white and blue, made in America.

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He told them its possible to invest in manufacturing and still protect the environment.

We choose both, Zeldin told the crowd. That is the Trump EPA, delivering for the people of South Carolina and delivering for the United States of America.

Nucor produces a quarter of new steel refined in the U.S. The company is based across the state line in Charlotte, North Carolina, but founded in South Carolina and still employs more than 2,500 people total at locations around the state.

The Berkeley plant alone employs around 1,000 people and produces 3.6 million tons of steel annually.

The company has been a consistent supporter of the Trump administrations tariff-laden economic plan. A 25% tariff on the importers of foreign steel products went into effect March 12.

Nucor CEO Leon Topalian provided an opening statement before Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Two days ago, Nucor CEO Leon Topalian told CNBC that the company has its biggest backlog in history, specifically mentioning the Berkeley mill in the interview.

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Topalian thanked the administration Thursday for continuing to level the playing field for American steel producers.

While Topalian continues to back the tariffs, many South Carolina industries, like the states multibillion-dollar auto sector, are in a state of flux as they adjust to often-changing announcements about tariffs and how theyll affect the cost of foreign-made parts used to build vehicles here.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the states lone Democratic congressman, has been a staunch critic of the tariffs.

Clyburn said in a statement Thursday that Trumps second in command would be better served meeting with South Carolinians from all walks of life.

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Trumps exorbitant tariffs  imposed on countless essential products without any strategy  are increasing costs, jeopardizing retirement savings, threatening jobs, and putting small businesses at risk, Clyburn said.

South Carolina stands to be harmed disproportionately, the statement said.

Vance told the crowd that tariffs are part of an effort to build up middle-class jobs in America, rather than let them be outsourced to other countries.

Do you want to ship American jobs off to the Peoples Republic of China? He asked. Do you want to rely on foreign corporations to make the things that you need in your home and your families need every single day?

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The crowd shouted no in response to both questions.

So why dont we rebuild Americas middle class? he asked rhetorically. Why dont we rebuild American manufacturing? And why dont we rebuild American industry, just like youre doing right here.

Later Thursday, U.S. Sen. Linsey Graham put out a statement thanking the Trump administration for choosing Nucor Steel in South Carolina to make the case for bringing high-paying manufacturing jobs back to America.

Urging Americans to support Trump as he cleans up the trade mess thats built up over the past 60 years, Graham pointed to Nucor as an example, saying the company has had to compete against China and other countries dumping low-cost steel.

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Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, South Carolina, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Steel i-beams were stacked to form a perimeter barrier. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

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Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at Nucor Steel Berkeley, in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

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Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, introduced Vice President J.D. Vance at Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger, S.C., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Lt. Gov. Pam Evette arrives at Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger ahead of Vice President J.D. Vance's speech spoke on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace poses for a selfie at Nucor Steel Berkeley ahead of a speech by Vice President J.D. Vance in Huger on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

The motorcade of Vice President J.D. Vance arrives at Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger, S.C., on Thursday May 1, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)
May 1A Vietnamese refugee who spent time in a California prison and most recently lived in Albuquerque died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody earlier this month.

Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, 55, died of natural causes April 16 at the Long Term Acute Care Hospital in El Paso, according to a release from ICE.

The release said that, from Feb. 26 until his death, Nguyen bounced between the El Paso Processing Center, an immigration detention center, and hospital "for treatment due to altered mental status, assistance to ambulate and assistance with his activities of daily living."

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The agency said during that time, ICE tried to contact Nguyen's family to care for him "to no avail," according to the release.

On Thursday, May Day rally goers in Tiguex Park in Old Town brought attention to Nguyen's death, with some attendees carrying his photo during the rally bringing attention to immigrant rights.

Tin Nguyen, an attorney for Nguyen, said the family  who lives in Dallas  didn't know where he was from mid-February until late March, when ICE told them he was ready to be released but needed 24/7 medical care.

The attorney said an autopsy found Nhon Nguyen died of acute pneumonia, with dementia as a secondary cause. Tin Nguyen said the family believes there was "some negligence" on the part of ICE.

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"We don't know the details of what happened in his last days at the hospital," he said. "I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered in how ICE treats people who are sick."

In the release, officials said ICE "remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments."

"Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay," according to the release. "... At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care."

The release states Nhon Nguyen came to the U.S. and was granted legal status in 1983 as part of the Refugee Act of 1980. In 1991, he was convicted of murder in California and sentenced to 15 years, with the crime violating the terms of his U.S. residency.

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ICE took custody of Nguyen in 2013 after his release on parole, and he was jailed until an immigration judge ordered his deportation, according to the release.

"However, Vietnam denied issuing a travel document," the release states, and ICE issued Nguyen an Order of Supervision, and released him from custody.

From there, ICE granted Nguyen's request to move to Dallas, where his family lives, before he moved to Albuquerque in 2018, according to the release. Seven years later, on Feb. 24, ICE arrested Nguyen "with the significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future to Vietnam."

The release states two days after being placed in the El Paso Processing Center, Nguyen was taken to the hospital until March 13, when he was brought back to the detention center. After a few more trips back and forth from the facility to the hospital, Nguyen was taken for the last time to the hospital on April 7.

"Consistent with ICE protocols, the appropriate components were notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility," according to the release. "Additionally, ICE notified the next of kin."
Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in the early morning hours of April 25 at her home in the suburbs of Perth, Australia

Days after the death, Giuffre's Australia-based attorney, Karrie Louden, was quoted as saying she had doubts Giuffre's death was a suicide

Louden said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE that she does not believe Giuffre's death is suspicious

Following Virginia Giuffres death by suicide, her Australia-based attorney has come forward clarifying remarks she made about the nature of her clients death.

Known as one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre, a mother of three, died by suicide in the early morning hours of April 25, 2025, at her farm in the suburbs of Perth, Australia, where she had lived for several years, her family said.

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Giuffre alleged she was trafficked as a teenager by Epstein and Maxwell to powerful men including Prince Andrew. Subsequently, she spent her life championing survivors of abuse. (Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing.)

HANDOUT/US District Court - Southern Dis/AFP via Getty Virginia Giuffre, center, with Prince Andrew (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right) in London

"Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking, her family said in a statement following her death.

In the end, they wrote, the toll of abuse is so heavy it became unbearable for Virginia to bear its weight.



Related: Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew Abuse Accuser, Dies by Suicide at Age 41 (Exclusive)

Three days later, her attorney, Karrie Louden, was quoted as saying she had doubts about whether Giuffre had taken her own life.

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Related: Virginia Giuffres Family Speaks Out About Her Suicide at 41: 'Too Much to Carry (Exclusive)

Weve got big question marks over it, Louden told The U.S. Sun on Monday, April 28. Theres suicide and then theres misadventure.

Giuffre "was in a lot of pain but she was looking forward to things in the future, Louden told The U.S. Sun.

Virginia Giuffre/Instagram Virginia Giuffre and her dog, June Bug Virginia Giuffre and her dog, June Bug

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Louden wrote, I would like to set the record straight as things I said have been misinterpreted.

Calling Giuffre a fighter who inspired many people, she wrote, I am not willing to speculate on her cause of death as to whether it was suicide or misadventure (death from unnatural causes, including when the deceased person willingly took a risk).

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Related: Virginia Giuffre Left Behind a Note with Personal Meaning Before Her Death by Suicide

I do not believe it was suspicious in any way, Louden said in the statement to PEOPLE. The Coroner will determine in due course the cause of death and that will be established based on the evidence."



Stressing that she is not critical of the police nor am I demanding any investigation, Louden continued, The police are only able to release limited information to non-family members as is their standard procedure. The police are already conducting an investigation and will no doubt provide all of their evidence to the Coroner.

Related: Virginia Giuffre's Sister-in-Law Says They Had 'Very, Very, Very Deep Conversations' Before Her Death by Suicide (Exclusive)

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In the statement, she shared her condolences with Giuffres family and friends, calling her "an absolute inspiration. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Tragic Ending to a Difficult Life

Emergency services responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at Giuffres home on April 25, Western Australia Police Force media liaison officer previously confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

According to authorities, "early indications" show that "the death is not suspicious." Major Crime detectives are investigating.

Giuffre's death came after a tumultuous few months when she was experiencing emotional and physical pain, her family said.

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Related: Virginia Giuffre Alleges Husband Has Physically Abused Her For Years: 'I Can No Longer Stay Silent' (Exclusive)

Giuffre and her husband of 22 years, Robert Giuffre, the father of her three children, 19, 16 and 15, were estranged at the time of her death after separating in 2023, her family said.

Related: Virginia Giuffre Was Prevented from Seeing Her Children in the Months Before Her Suicide (Exclusive)

Her family said Robert had allegedly beaten Giuffre during a family trip in January, which left her with severe injuries. Shortly after the trip, Robert filed a temporary family restraining order against her, which prevented her from seeing her children until June, her family said.

Virginia Roberts/Instagram Virginia Giuffre and her husband, Robert Giuffre Virginia Giuffre and her husband, Robert Giuffre

On March 30, she drew concern when she posted a picture on Instagram of herself covered in bruises in a hospital bed, saying she had been told she had just days to live because of renal failure and that she had been in a car crash with a bus.

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Her family clarified later to PEOPLE that a doctor told her she would have four days to live if she left the hospital at that point.

Her husbands lawyer did not respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment. He previously told PEOPLE that he had no comment on Roberts behalf because the matters were currently before the court.

Virginia became known publicly in 2010, when she came forward as an accuser of Epstein, who died by suicide in his prison cell at age 66 in 2019, and Maxwell, 63, who is currently serving a prison sentence for child sex trafficking in connection with Epstein.

In 2021, Virginia claimed in a lawsuit filed against Prince Andrew in New York that the royal forced her to have sex with him three times between 1999 and 2002 in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein.

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The two reached an out-of-court settlement in February 2022. The amount was not disclosed.



If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Read the original article on People
Bighorn sheep sit at the base of a rock formation in Garden of the Gods.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Volunteers from the American Red Cross Virginia Region are teaming up with Norfolk Fire and Rescue, Team Rubicon, Norfolk CERT and the Norfolk Medical Reserve Corp this Saturday, May 3, to install free smoke alarms in the Oakdale Farms neighborhood.

Volunteer teams will be in the area between 8:30 a.m. through 2 p.m. for the event. This event is part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. The initiative aims at reducing fire-related incidents by providing free smoke alarms and home fire safety education.

Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half, said Kristopher Dumschat, Regional Communications Manager with the Virginia Red Cross. Our volunteers are meeting one-on-one with families in at-risk communities through our Sound the Alarm events to share home fire safety information and install free smoke alarms where its safe to do so.

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The Red Cross responds to a house fire or other disasters every 8 minutes. Since the campaigns launch in 2014, the Virginia Red Cross has installed over 40,000 smoke alarms and made over 20,000 households safer. The organization encourages residents who cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install them to request assistance from the Red Cross.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: Visit redcross.org/Virginia to learn more about requesting a free smoke alarm installation.

To learn more about the Red Cross, their mission and how you can help, visit redcross.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Frustration continues to build around reproductive health restrictions in the U.S., as next month marks three years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion access to the states. Since then, Planned Parenthood has been flooded with out-of-state patients seeking care in Virginia.

A new report says theres a 16% rise in abortion rates in the Commonwealth.

Before the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the population of patients traveling from out-of-state to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood was between 2 and 3%, said RaeAnn Pickett of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. After the decision that came from the Supreme Court, that number of out-of-state patients increased to 15%.

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Floridas six-week abortion ban that went into effect in May 2024 is another contributing factor, with Pickett saying the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood saw their patient out-of-state numbers increase to 30% in a single day after that ban became active.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, there were more than 9,200 abortions performed in Virginia for out-of-state women last year, up by more than 4,300 from 2023.

The majority of patients are coming from the Carolinas and from Florida, she said. Regardless of where theyre coming from, the patient need is increasing.

States with the highest number of out-of-state abortions include Illinois, North Carolina, Kansas and New Mexico.

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Everyone should be extremely concerned with how these threats to abortion access are infringing upon care and limiting care to people in every state Pickett said. Its not just Virginia. Its not just the South. Access to abortion care is being threatened at every level.

Guttmachers research also shows Virginia to have the largest increase of physician-led abortions overall in the U.S, ranging around 5,500 between 2023 to 2024.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  All five University of Arkansas students whose SEVIS records were terminated have now had their status restored to active, a university spokesperson said.

We learned through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that five of our students who previously had their SEVIS records terminated have now been restored to active, John Thomas, the University of Arkansas director of media relations and core communications, told KNWA/FOX24.

University of Arkansas officials have not disclosed the students identities or the reasons for their status revocations, and said no more information is available at this time.

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National Weather Service confirms EF1 tornado in Gravette

On April 11, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security terminated the exchange visitor system records of five University of Arkansas students. On April 25, two of those students had their statuses restored.

International students on F-1 visas must prove financial support and stay in good academic standing, according to the Associated Press.

This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
First responders faced three pediatric drowning simulations, receiving high praise from a top surgeon at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Central Floridas only level one trauma center for children.

Responding agencies included Volusia Countys Beach Safety, Emergency Medical Services, and Coastal divisions, along with the Volusia Sheriffs Office, Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety, the Ponce Inlet and Port Orange fire departments, Halifax Health Medical Center of Port Orange and the Orlando Health Air Care Team.

Volusia County first responders were put to the test during pediatric drowning simulations.

We do these multiagency drills in many locations around Central Florida, but this was the first time we worked on the beach, said Donald Plumley, M.D., pediatric trauma medical director for Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Volusia County first responders were put to the test during pediatric drowning simulations.

Physicians and staff from Arnold Palmer Hospital monitored each teams progress as the patient was pulled from the ocean by Volusia County Beach Safety, treated on the beach, and transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Port Orange.

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Plumley continues, Everyone did fantastic, and it was a great learning experience for all. This was an impressive, collaborative effort, and everybody did fantastic.

After the scenario, the Arnold Palmer Hospital team debriefed the participants and shared insights to strengthen response efforts further.

Volusia County first responders were put to the test during pediatric drowning simulations.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Early voting began Friday in the Commonwealth, as Democrats look to find their candidate to replace Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Richmond, and the next attorney general.

Early voting locations opened at 8 a.m. on May 2, and many people made their way to cast their ballot for the democratic primaries.

One of my biggest concerns, I guess, is the casino, the Tysons Casino. I dont want it, said Donelle Sawyer.

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Early voting begins for Virginia Democratic primaries: What to know before heading to the polls

Thats one issue at the top of Sawyers mind as she decided who should be the democratic nominee in the race for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Im having a hard time picking one because theyre all gold. Theyre all really wonderful candidates, she said.

Representative Abigail Spanberger has already secured the democratic nomination for governor, her opponent will be Earle-Sears.

As Earle-Sears campaigns for her new seat, there are six democratic nominees on the ballot, looking to fill her seat as lieutenant governor.

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Former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney

Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef

State Sen. Aaron Rouse

Former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi

Former labor union leader Alexander Bastani

Voters can also expect to see candidates for attorney general on the ballot. Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor and former Norfolk State delegate Jay Jones are vying for the opportunity, and one will face Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Voter Joseph Harris said he expects one thing from each candidate, and thats a plan.

A plan to get back our democracy. We need a plan and I think people can get behind you if you have a plan, said Harris.

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Voters added that they want to see some change, and thats why they made sure they showed up to the polls.

Theres a lot going on in our communities. We want to take those things into consideration and vote responsibly, said Sawyer.

I think its important for all democrats to get behind our party and get out there and vote, Harris added.

To vote in Fairfax County, you must be a registered voter and have your ID. During early voting, you can vote at any of the voting locations below:

Fairfax County Government Cente r from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Mt. Vernon Governmental Center from 1-7 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

North County Governmental Center from 1-7 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

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More early voting locations will open in June, and election day is June 17.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WJHL)  Three Virginia State Police (VSP) trooper-pilots and two Ballad Health flight nurses were recognized for rescuing people from Unicoi County Hospital during Hurricane Helene.

The Childrens Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee honored them with the Mutual Aid State Award on Wednesday in Murfreesboro.

BVFD: Three cats dead, no injuries reported after Bristol house fire

Those recognized were:

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Retired First Sergeant Jeffrey W. Bush

Master Trooper-Pilot Bryan W. Canada

Trooper-Pilot Jacob A. Culp

Ballad Health Flight Nurse April Boyd

Flight Nurse/Paramedic Wayne Carroll

(Photo: Virginia State Police) (Photo: Virginia State Police) (Photo: Virginia State Police)

According to VSP, two of its Med Flight helicopters from Abingdon flew into Tennessee on Sept. 27 and rescued 40 patients and others from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital, which was surrounded by floodwaters.

Because they werent sure if the roof was strong enough to hold a helicopter, the pilots had to perform skid rescues, meaning they hovered just above the roof. The rescue took around four hours.

VSP said it responded because weather conditions were more favorable in Virginia. Once conditions improved, Tennessee National Guard resources were able to take flight.

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Ballad Health, which operates Unicoi County Hospital, is VSPs partner in operating Med Flight out of Abingdon.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As youth homelessness has reached record highs in Washington in recent years, a local advocacy group says one pandemic-era program could be the most cost-effective way to mitigate the issue.

According to some of the most recent data available from the the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington recorded 42,436 homeless students in 2023, more than double the amount the state recorded more than a decade before in 2010. Pierce County school districts represent some of the largest populations of students experiencing housing instability.

According to a recent report from the Washington-based homeless advocacy group, NorthStar Advocates, a program known as the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) has helped over 1,700 youth and young-adult households in Washington find and maintain stable housing since being implemented in 2020.

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In one year spanning 2023 and 2024, 93% of those assisted by the HPDF program maintained housing a year later.

HPDF works by making flexible one-time funding available for youth and young adults who are on the brink of becoming homelessness. The funding can be used in a variety of ways, with no one-size-fits-all approach.

According to the report from NorthStar Advocates, HPDF was used to provide rental assistance, housing deposits, housing application fees, utility payments and transportation costs.

The report noted, in one instance, HPDF was used to assist a mother fleeing a domestic abuser. The mother and her infant were able to leave an unsafe situation by moving quickly to reunite with family out-of-state. The funds flexibility allowed her to move out in the early morning by covering her taxi and airfare.

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In 2024, HPDF assisted a young adult whose car was damaged in a flood. She worked a night-shift job and bus lines were not available for her to commute to work.

After her car was flooded and her insurance wouldnt cover the cost of repairs, she was at risk of losing her job and therefore her housing. the report noted. The HPDF was able to pay for a one-time repair to her car so they could maintain their housing.

NorthStar Advocates say assistance through HPDF not only prevents people from becoming homeless, it also is cheaper than alternative programs that assist the unhoused.

In 2024, the average cost per household through HPDF was $2,659 which is lower than the cost of emergency shelter projects, which cost an average of $4,318 per household and less than one third the cost of Rapid Re-housing, which costs an average of $10,114, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

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Young people diverted by the HPDF spent significantly less time experiencing homelessness when compared to other interventions as well.

According to data from the Department of Commerce from 2023, processing of HPDF requests took an average of four days, while those in emergency shelters stayed an average of 40 days. Those in rapid re-housing programs stayed in the program an average of 114 days.

HPDF diversion funds can be accessed by any homeless service-providing organization in the state. It only requires service providers to attend certification training. As of May 2024, 776 providers were certified to access the fund.

Between 2023 and 2024, 62 service providers in Pierce County were trained to use HPDF funds.

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NorthStar Advocates is calling for the state to increase its HPDF investment and for all 39 counties to use the program to mitigate youth homelessness.

When the program was established in 2020, Yakima, Walla Walla, Spokane and Pierce counties were the only participants. At that time, HPDF received $1.5 million b-iannually in public funding.

Through legislative advocacy, the HPDFs public funding pool increased to $5 million bi-annually in 2023. Ten counties currently utilize the program.

HPDF continues to be utilized at high rates, and in many cases, is the only diversion fund specifically for youth and young adults in communities, NorthStar Advocates stated in their report. As such, the HPDF is pivotal for WAs efforts to prevent, reduce, and end [youth and young adult] homelessness.
(Photo by Ceri Breeze/Getty Images)

Western Washingtons ports are bracing for a deep slump later this month, as the presidents standoff with China over tariffs is expected to stifle the flow of goods.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins predicts a 40% reduction in cargo, as President Donald Trump continues his tariff crusade with 145% levies on China, which has responded with retaliatory measures. That lost business means a similar drop in work for local longshoremen, truckers and warehouse workers.

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On a press call Thursday with port officials and senators from Washington, Oregon and California, Calkins said the effects will ripple out through the whole economy in our port communities.

Fewer ships from across the Pacific means less cargo at our ports, said U.S. Sen Patty Murray of Washington. Less cargo at our ports means less goods for our truckers to transport, and that ultimately means bare shelves for our retailers and the American consumer.

Murray, a Democrat representing one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, compared the looming problem for small businesses reliant on trade to their plight during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up to this point, local ports have seen surging traffic as shippers looked to get ahead of the tariffs Trump has long promised. While he has pulled back drastic levies planned across the board, the taxes on Chinese imports remain.

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International imports in March were up 18% from March 2024 at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, according to the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which oversees both. Exports increased almost 3%.

In Seattle, total trade volume was still up 7.3% from March 24 to April 24 this year compared to last year.

Washingtons ports are still reeling from the consequences of tariffs imposed when Trump was first in office.

That time around, import taxes on India undercut a booming apple export industry, with 11,000 containers shipped from Seattle and Tacoma in 2018 falling to about 360, said Dick Marzano, a Port of Tacoma commissioner. Years later, that number only returned to around 3,500 in 2024, a testament to the potential long tail of protectionist trade policies.

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In a White House press briefing Thursday, top Trump adviser Stephen Miller defended the continued tariffs.

We need to have a trade relationship with China that does not do harm to our nations economic and national security, he said. At the same time, tariffs will bring significant revenue into this country that will allow us to pursue our dramatic plan of tax cuts and reforms.

Calkins was in Virginia this week trying to gin up business from renewable energy cargo, like wind turbine blades and transformers. The seaport alliance has also sent delegates to Vietnam and South Korea in hopes of finding more customers to diversify away from relying on China.

Were looking at all avenues to open up markets, Marzano said.

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But all those conversations are conditional on resolution to the trade dispute, Calkins said.

Were having to play the long game here in hopes that either Trump comes to his senses, he added, or Congress and Republicans in Congress are willing to check his power.

Other threats and oversight

Meanwhile, the state this week warned of trouble from China potentially suspending Boeing imports due to growing trade tensions with the United States.

Last year, Washingtons top export was civilian aircraft, engines and parts, worth $17 billion, according to the state Office of Financial Management. China accounted for $4 billion of that. Losing that revenue could, in turn, cost the state over $19 million in business and occupation tax proceeds.

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The warned suspension, which China has walked back, could mean 19,000 fewer jobs and $1.7 billion in lost labor income.

At the same time, new car registrations in Washington surged 18%, partly due to consumer anticipation that tariffs could push up auto prices, according to the Office of Financial Management.

Washington state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti met with local officials in Port Angeles on Tuesday. They told him about flagging logging exports and tourism from Canada, as well as businesses freezing plans while they hope for more stable future conditions.

This is the backbone of the economy being broken all while the cost of groceries, housing and services are going up, Pellicciotti told reporters Wednesday. America is losing and growing weaker under the presidents economic policies.

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Pellicciotti was one of 11 state financial officers to pen a letter Wednesday to Republican congressional leadership calling on them to assert their authority in trade and broader fiscal policy.

We will continue to do our part: safeguarding public funds, managing risk, and investing in our people, they wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota. But if Congress does not rise to this moment, no state government will be able to shield its citizens from the consequences.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, has bipartisan legislation aiming to do exactly that.

Introduced last month, Cantwells Trade Review Act of 2025 would require the president to notify Congress of the imposition or increase in a tariff within 48 hours. The notice must explain the rationale and analyze potential impacts to the countrys businesses and consumers.

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Within 60 days, Congress would have to pass a joint resolution approving the new tariff, or it would expire. Congress could also end tariffs at any time via resolution.

While the measure has attracted some Republican support, it has little chance of overcoming the hefty Trump-loyal wing of the party. Though Johnson opened the door ever so slightly Wednesday for potential congressional intervention.

On Wednesday, a separate resolution seeking to undo Trumps import taxes failed on a 49-49 vote in the U.S. Senate, with three Republicans joining Democrats.
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Coming up in a few weeks, one has the chance to go for a walk outside to support many area organizations including Habitat for Humanity of Evansville.

This is part of Walking for Dreams.

Dan Douglas and Billy Thompson joined Gretchen Ross on Daybreak to discuss how walking can build more homes.

You can watch the full interview in the attached media player.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
State Superintendent Ryan Walters delivers opening remarks at the Aug. 22, 2024, State Board of Education meeting. (Photo by Beth Wallis/StateImpact Oklahoma)

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is settling another campaign finance issue with State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

The Republican will pay $18,300 for an improper transfer of funds from his campaign war chest to a local school board election committee in Jenks.

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The payment was $2,100 to the local campaign committee, Cross for Jenks, which backed candidate Ashley Cross for school board in the district. She expressed concern about oversexualization in schools during her 2022 election bid. She eventually lost to incumbent school board member Terry Keeling.

The total payment must be received by the end of September, according to the settlement. The first installment of $5,000 is due on May 30.

Its the second time Walters has paid a fine in recent months, after another $5,000 settlement for improper use of his official social media account for political purposes in March. In that case, the Commission found 10 of Walters social media posts advocating for the election of President Donald Trump and the defeat of former Vice President Kamala Harris violated Oklahoma Ethics Rules.

In good news for Walters, the Ethics Commission also dismissed a separate complaint against him for endorsing an alternative membership organization to a union for teachers, which a Democratic lawmaker had brought.

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Rep. Ellyn Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, filed the complaint. She told StateImpact that state law provides two avenues for potential violations: using state resources for private purposes and the obligation of state officers to avoid conflicts of interest and preferential treatment. She argued that the union was a private organization and that public resources should not be used for advocacy on its behalf.

This article was originally published by KOSU.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A Walton man, if found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child, is facing at least 15 years in federal prison, United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI announced Friday.

19-year-old Jerry Butler III, of Walton, made his initial appearance in court Friday, May 2, for a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. Butler III is accused of using social media to request sexually explicit content from a minor. The minor allegedly made the content for Butler III and sent it to him using a social media messaging app.

Butler III was detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 5, 2025.

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If Butler III is convicted of the offense, he faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. Butler III also would have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI is in charge of the investigation.

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The ousting of national security adviser Mike Waltz triggered a major shake-up in President Trumps White House team, which is divided between America First-isolationists and traditional Republican hawks.

Trump announced Thursday afternoon that Waltz, a hawkish former congressman, would become his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expanding his portfolio to include national security adviser in the interim.

Waltz has been targeted by MAGA loyalists inside and outside the administration over an alleged lack of commitment to the presidents agenda, and he was at the center of a Signal chat scandal that marked a low point of Trumps first 100 days.

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His removal adds to the tumult in Trumps national security teams. It comes a month after multiple top National Security Council officials were fired along with the head of the National Security Agency and as the Pentagon is roiled by a leak investigation and firings among Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths top staff.

Mike Waltzs abrupt dismissal is further proof of the chaos and incompetence that has reigned over President Trumps White House and national security team during his first 100 days in office, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee.

The stunning amount of turnover of senior staff at both the National Security Council and at the Pentagon is alarming.

While the U.N. post would give Waltz a platform on the international stage, it moves him far from the Oval Office.

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Some Republicans expressed disappointment when word of Waltzs firing as national security adviser emerged.

He did a very good job as national security adviser. Its the prerogative of the president to decide who his team will be, but I was sorry to see that news, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said.

Those in traditional GOP foreign policy circles who see Waltz as a trusted figure may find solace in Rubio stepping into the role. Both are cut from the same cloth, supportive of working with U.S. allies and confronting adversaries.

Well never know what outrageous proposals made their way to Waltzs desk en route to the Oval Office and were quietly blocked thanks to him, said one foreign policy expert at a conservative think tank, asking for anonymity to protect working relationships with the White House.

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While Rubios interim appointment as national security adviser is comforting, who President Trump picks to replace Waltz full time will say a lot about the future direction of this White Houses foreign policy, the expert continued.

For those who believe in American leadership on the global stage, backing allies and standing up to adversaries  at a time when isolationists are gaining more influence  he will certainly be missed.

Waltzs messages on the Signal chat in March provided a window into the influence the national security adviser exercised and in the face of pushback from Hegseth and Vice President Vance. The existence of the chat was revealed by The Atlantic, whose editor Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added by Waltz.

In the chat, Waltz pushed back on assertions by Hegseth and Vance that the U.S. was doing Europes bidding by attacking the Houthis in Yemen and working to secure Red Sea shipping lanes.

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So whether its now, or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes, Waltz wrote in the group text.

Rubio did not get involved in that discussion in the chat.

Democrats took advantage of the shake-up to push for the Defense secretarys removal.

Waltz is out. Hegseth, youre next, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, posted on social platform X.

But Waltzs dismissal is likely less related to his poor handling of text messages and more with personnel clashes with some of Trumps fiercest MAGA supporters. Axios reported that Waltz clashed with Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and had tense relationships with Vance and Trumps close aide Steve Witkoff.

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Rubio has demonstrated a close relationship with the president even amid chaos and confrontation with some of the presidents most ambitious and energetic allies. The former Florida senator weathered Elon Musks destruction of the U.S. Agency for International Development through Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Some Democrats on Capitol Hill credited Rubio with preserving life-saving humanitarian assistance caught up in the cuts and foreign aid freeze.

And Rubio managed to roll out a reorganization of the State Department without, yet, sacrificing the agency to DOGEs cuts.

Trump reportedly stood up for Rubio during a tense back-and-forth with Musk during an Oval Office meeting, saying, Marcos doing a good job.

On Wednesday, Trump patted Rubios hand after he finished speaking during a Cabinet meeting, one signal of the presidents fondness for his former presidential rival.

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He is someone who is well known by the president, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, reacting to the announcement. The president makes perfect assessments of who would implement his agenda, and in this case hes chosen certainly the secretary, and Mr. Waltz to facilitate his agenda moving forward. Not entirely surprising, I have to say, and good news for the American people.

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President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would nominate outgoing national security adviser Mike Waltz to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Waltz, a former congressman from Florida, has been on shaky ground with Trump since March after he inadvertently added a journalist to a private chat on the messaging app Signal with other top national security officials to discuss military strikes in Yemen.
The Tennessean encourages readers to send letters to the editor and guest opinion columns (aka op-eds) to comment on relevant topics of the day.

The people's voice is an important part of strengthening our democracy and contributing to the public debate on important matters.

Our focus is on Tennessee issues or commentary written by residents of Tennessee or those who have a connection with the Volunteer State.

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We are fortunate to have a healthy flow of correspondence, and we do our best to publish letters and guest opinion columns in a timely manner.

The letters and op-eds we agree to publish all appear on Tennessean.com/opinion. Many letters typically go in the print product and in the e-edition, as appropriate, but occasionally timely, relevant letters packages will appear on the website too.

Here are the guidelines for submitting letters or op-eds:

Letters to the editor

Letters give a free forum for the people's voice, the vox populi, and should feel like watching a speaker at the soapbox at London's Hyde Park.

Maximum length is 250 words and writers should include their full name, address and phone numbers for verification. Only your name, city and ZIP code will be published.

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Go to this link (https://gannett-nxuao.formstack.com/forms/letter_editor) to fill out the letters form.

We reserve the right to edit for length and libel, and we do not allow vulgarities to appear in letters.

Op-Eds/Tennessee Voices

This is our basic criteria for guest opinion columns/op-eds:

600 words

Insert 2-3 hyperlinks in the text for reference

High-resolution headshot (1 to 5 megabytes) and please provide credit for the photo

One-sentence author bio

The subject should be something the author or authors know well. This is more of an expertise column.

Send these op-eds to opinions@tennessean.com. Our team will be in contact with you. They fact check each op-ed and may contact you to ask for clarification, as necessary.

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Given the volume of content we receive, we may not be able to publish all submissions in a timely manner or at all. Please make sure to specify if the topic is time-sensitive.

Ten tips for writing a great op-ed

Compiled from contributions by opinion editors of the USA TODAY Network. First presented at TEDx Nashville on Jan. 29, 2025, event and sent out to prospective op-ed writers.

Try to persuade, don't degrade Support opinions with facts Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints Make your point within the first two paragraphs Do not be boring !!! Offer something more than your opinion. Offer ideas and options for improving a situation or solving a problem. It's always helpful to ask: "Would you read this?" Write with passion. Facts matter, but passion adds tone and texture to produce pieces that are not boring. Make your point early and with authority. If you can't make your argument in 500 words or less, it's likely a weak argument. Its vital to read after you write. If you dont see the headline soon, write again.

The Tennessean opinion team.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Submit letter to the editor or guest opinion column to The Tennessean
TROUSDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Following the resignation of the previous appointee, a new warden has been named at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center.

RELATED: Warden at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center resigns

The previous warden, Vince Vantell, resigned from CoreCivic on March 21. Vantell had been on administrative leave since February. At the time, a spokesperson told News 2 that multiple operational leaders would serve as interim wardens until a new warden was named. On Thursday, a CoreCivic spokesperson confirmed that a new warden had been appointed: Guy Bosch.

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According to Boschs biography on CoreCivics website, he was a correctional officer with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. After 35 years of service with the Minnesota DOC, he joined CoreCivic in November 2024. Bosch was named warden last month.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into conditions at the prison in August 2024. Previously, a CoreCivic spokesperson told News 2 that Vantrells administrative leave was completely unrelated to the ongoing DOJ investigation.

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Services for people with dementia at assisted living facilities will have to meet new state standards across Washington under a law Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 5337, would require assisted living facilities to be certified by July 1, 2026, to care for people with dementia. This certificate is intended to help ensure the health and safety of residents, transparency for families, and appropriate training for staff.

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The Department of Social and Health Services would be required to create, manage and enforce the certification process.

This bill brings a baseline level of consistency to the definition for memory care, said Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director at AARP.

Facilities do not have to use terms such as memory care facility or specialized dementia care to be considered a memory care facility.

Under the new certification, facilities would be required to maintain staff onsite 24 hours a day and provide staff with at least six hours of continuing education.

A publicly available list of certified assisted living facilities specializing in memory care or that have memory care units would have to be maintained by the Department of Social and Health Services. The department would also conduct regular inspections to ensure the facilities comply with state law. Facilities that do not comply could face civil penalties.

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Memory care or specialized dementia care services vary across the 237 assisted living facilities in Washington, according to an informal study by the states Dementia Action Collaborative in 2021.

This can make it difficult for individuals and families to understand the services and staffing that facilities offer.

If a facility wants to say that theyre providing memory care, they have to meet just some basic requirements, MacCaul said.

MacCaul said the bill was modeled after Medicaid definitions to ensure consistency.

Older adults could outnumber children under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history by 2034, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections.

We have to shift the way we think about all of our systems and make sure that we have adequate consumer protections, consumer awareness and transparency, MacCaul said.
President Trump delivered a commencement address Thursday evening at the University of Alabama.

The speech came as Trump has been in a battle with higher education institutions over their policies on diversity, equity and inclusion, on-campus protests, alleged inaction on antisemitism and other areas. The White House has threatened funding at top schools as a way to pressure them to change their policies.

It also followed the administrations moves to dismantle the Education Department.

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His remarks were scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. EDT.

Watch the video coverage above.

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Tennessee state police released body camera footage from a 2022 traffic stop involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March and is being held in prison there, despite a Supreme Court order instructing the Trump administration to facilitate his return.

President Trump and key members of his administration have cited the traffic stop encounter in their claims that Abrego Garcia was allegedly a member of the MS-13 gang and a criminal.

Abrego Garcia, now 29, was pulled over in Tennessee three years ago for driving 75 mph on a stretch of Interstate 40 where the posted speed limit is 65 mph. He received a warning for having an expired license but was not arrested or charged.

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The video shows Tennessee officers openly discussing the potential that Abrego Garcia was engaging in human trafficking because he was driving an SUV with about eight passengers and no luggage. They questioned him about the passengers, where they were going and where he was coming from.

Abrego Garcia told the officers that he was driving coworkers to Maryland and that they had been working on a construction job in St. Louis, the video shows.

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Bacterial water contamination has altered  and even halted  some business operations in the Five Cities area.

On Wednesday night, a boil water notice was issued for cities in the South County after an unprecedented detection of coliform bacteria was found in the water distribution system of Zone 3 of the San Miguelito Water Co., The Tribune reported Thursday.

The alert advised residents of the impacted area to boil or otherwise disinfect water before using it for drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth. Bottled water can also be used as an alternative to tap water, the notice said.

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On Thursday, The Tribune looked into how businesses were responding to the warning  and it found that the impacts varied.

Some businesses close, medical operations change due to water contamination

Businesses like Rooster Creek Tavern and the Arroyo Grande Meat Company closed Thursday due to the boil water notice, according to signs posted on their storefronts, while others in the area remained open.

Ginas Italian Cuisine was one of the spots that remained open Thursday.

Manager Carlos Estevez told The Tribune that he boiled water for the restaurant before opening and was serving bottled water to customers. He said he didnt know how the weekend would go if the alert remains in place but said the restaurant would remain open.

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Branch Street Deli also stayed open Thursday but declined to comment to The Tribune. The restaurant did post guidance from the SLO County Health Agencys Environmental Health Services Division for what to do during a boil water notice and what to do after it ends.

Mule Bakery also remained open, but cautious.

Baker and front-end employee Peter Ljepava told The Tribune one of the owners was up until 2 a.m. sanitizing the bakery.

Peter Ljepava, one of the bakers at Mule Bakery + Cafe, said the business wasnt serving drinks on Thursday, April 30, 2025, after a boil-water notice was issued for the Five Cities area due to an unprecedented level of coliform bacteria found in the water distribution system.

Weve been in contact with the health department, seeing what we can do, what we cant do, what we need to make extra sure of, he said.

The impacts on the actual baked goods were limited, since water isnt an ingredient in any of the items except the icing on some scones, which were disposed of, he said.

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But Mule did not serve any drinks Thursday, which did take away a significant portion of their business, Ljepava added. The bakery will wait to see when its safe to begin serving drinks again, he said.

Mule Bakery + Cafe wasnt serving drinks on Thursday, April 30, 2025, after a boil-water notice was issued for the Five Cities area due to an unprecedented level of coliform bacteria that was found in the water distribution system.

As for the status of bottled water in the area, the grocery stores The Tribune visited did still have some water stocked  but it was depleting steadily as residents streamed in to purchase it.

Walmart in Arroyo Grande had eight pallets of water stocked around 1 p.m. Thursday. Around 11 a.m., a Walmart employee told The Tribune that the water wasnt disappearing as quickly as he thought. He said one pallet was gone in about an hour.

Walmart customer Kathie Merlo told The Tribune she bought water at Food 4 Less on Wednesday night after the notice was sent out. She described the experience as like a run on the bank.

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People were, like a line of people, just grabbing it off the shelves, she said. She added that a student from Arroyo Grande High School helped her get the last bottle off the shelf, which was pushed too far back for her to reach.

As of Thursday morning around 11:30 a.m., Food 4 Less in Arroyo Grande did have bottled water in stock.

The Tribune also reached out about how the contamination issue might impact medical services.

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital was using bottle water on Thursday, April 30, 2025, after a boil-water notice was issued for the Five Cities area due to an unprecedented level of coliform bacteria found in the water distribution system.

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and all other medical facilities across the Five Cities area were affected by the contamination issue, according to a statement from hospital president and CEO Sue Andersen.

Our hospital is actively coordinating with regional partners, including the County EMS Agency and Public Health, to ensure continued patient care and safety, Andersen said. In the meantime, we are using bottled water and taking all necessary precautions to maintain safe operations.
WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH)  Waterbury police say a New London man wanted in connection to multiple felony offenses was arrested Friday.

Jeremy Colonghi, 47, was served an active arrest warrant issued by Waterbury police around 5:30 a.m. The warrant was served in Groton, with assistance from Groton police and the U. S. Marshals Service.

Father accused of killing 12-year-old son with baseball bat in Branford

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He was charged with first-degree stalking, criminal violation of a protective order, second-degree harassment, and disorderly conduct.

Groton police said the the arrest was the result of investigations into crimes related to Colonghis threatening and harassing of various public officials and private individuals.

After the arrest, Colonghi was also charge with refusal to be processed at the Waterbury Police Department.

Police said Colonghi was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear, which was issued by Waterbury Superior Court.

He also faces an additional active arrest warrant issued by Groton police, which they said will be served at a later date.

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Colonghi is being held on a $215,000 bond, pending arraignment in court Friday.

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WEBSTER CITY, Iowa  The Webster Theater will once again open its doors on Thursday after a fire shut down the theater over a year ago.

Delayed Bombers entertainment venue granted eighth extension by City of Johnston

In November 2023 a fire broke out at a vacant building along 2nd Street in downtown Webster City. Despite multiple fire crews battling the blaze, several businesses near the vacant building sustained significant damage, including the historic Webster Theater.

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After the fire, a large restoration project on the theater began, and now  nearly 18 months later  the theater is ready to welcome back movie buffs.

According to a post on the theaters Facebook page, the first showing in the revamped space will be Marvels Thunderbolts at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.

Iowa News:

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NEW YORK (AP)  One of Harvey Weinstein 's accusers broke down in tears and cursed on the witness stand Friday as a defense lawyer questioned her account of the former Hollywood mogul forcing oral sex on her nearly two decades ago.

He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Miriam Haley told jurors.

That is for the jury to decide, Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean responded.

No, its not for the jury to decide. Its my experience. And he did that to me, Haley said, using expletives as tears began streaming down her face.

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Judge Curtis Farber halted questioning and sent jurors on a break. Haley, her eyes red and face glistening, did not look at Weinstein as she left the witness stand.

Haley, 48, was testifying for a fourth day at Weinsteins rape trial. Questioning resumed after the break, with Haley composed but frustration sometimes flickering in her voice.

By midafternoon, the judge grew impatient with contentious cross-talk and extraneous comments from Haley and the attorney. Farber pounded his fist on the bench at one point and banged his gavel at another, telling them: Lets behave, both of you.

Farber later said it was the first time in 13 years that he'd used the gavel.

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Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting Haley and another woman, Kaja Sokola, and raping a third, Jessica Mann. Mann and Sokola also are expected to testify.

Weinstein denies the allegations. His lawyers argue that his accusers had consensual encounters with a then-powerful movie producer who could advance their careers.

Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first accuser to testify at the retrial, which is happening after an appeals court overturned Weinstein's conviction at an earlier trial. Haley's testimony at that 2020 trial took just one day.

Haley alleges that Weinstein assaulted her after inviting her to stop by his apartment. She had worked briefly as a production assistant on the Weinstein-produced TV show Project Runway, and his company had booked her a flight to Los Angeles the next day to attend a movie premiere.

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She testified earlier in the week that Weinstein backed her into a bedroom and pushed her onto a bed, holding her down as she tried to get up and pleaded: No, no  its not going to happen.

Haley and two of her friends testified that she told them soon after that Weinstein had sexually assaulted her. She maintains she was never interested in any sexual or romantic relationship with Weinstein but still wanted his help professionally.

Weinstein, 73, listened with his hands clasped against his chin as Haley reiterated she never had romantic feelings for him and never wanted any sexual contact with him.

Bonjean questioned why Haley would agree to go to Weinsteins apartment after being put off by some of his prior behavior, including what she described as him barging into her home as he sought to persuade her to go to Paris with him.

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Haley said she thought it would be weird to refuse the invitation to his Manhattan loft, since his company had paid for the L.A. flight she was taking the next day.

Haley and grew emotional when asked just how her clothes came off before Weinstein allegedly yanked out a tampon and performed oral sex on her. Haley said Weinstein took off her clothing, but she didn't recall the details: I was, you know, busy struggling, she explained.

You removed your clothes, right? Bonjean soon asked, leading to Haley's tearful and cutting response.

Later, Bonjean continued to press her about the alleged July 2006 assault and its aftermath, including a time a couple of weeks later when Haley has said she had sex with Weinstein that she didnt want but didnt fight.

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You didnt say, Like, hey, what you did to me the other night wasnt cool? Bonjean asked.

No, said Haley, reiterating that she went numb during the hotel encounter.

Haley stayed in continued, sporadic contact with Weinstein for about three years afterward, according to testimony and documents. At times, she asked him for work, premiere tickets and financial backing for an online TV show she was trying to launch.

The other stuff is neither here nor there. It doesnt mean that I wasnt sexually assaulted, Haley said.

Bonjean also queried her about her continued interactions with Weinstein and his assistants, about her frequent travels and famous acquaintances at the time, and about her 2020 lawsuit against Weinstein. It ended in a $475,000 settlement.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted unless they give permission to be identified. Haley, Mann and Sokola have done so.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is slated to travel to Pennsylvania and South Carolina this month amid speculation hes considering a 2028 presidential bid.

Moore will deliver at the commencement address at Lincoln University, a historically Black university in the swing state of Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Moores grandfather was an alumnus of Lincoln University.

Later this month, he will travel to the early Democratic primary state of South Carolina to headline the state Democratic Partys Blue Palmetto Dinner.

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In his South Carolina address, Moore is expected to touch on the issue of economic growth, according to an excerpt obtained by The Hill.

In this moment, our job is not to simply go into hiding until theres another election. The measure of our success will be how we choose to lead. And Maryland is choosing to lead every day, Moore said. We are choosing to lead on fighting child poverty. We are choosing to lead on education. We are choosing to lead on economic growth.

While in South Carolina, the governor will also visit a pharmaceutical business and an electric vehicle business to talk about expansions into Maryland.

The development comes one day after Moore told ABCs The View that he is not running for president in 2028. Moore is up for reelection in next years midterm elections.

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Moore, 46, is seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party and has been floated as a potential presidential contender along with a handful of other Democratic governors including Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also been floated as a potential contender and is said to be considering the move. Buttigieg is set to hold a town hall with the liberal veterans group VoteVets in the early contest state of Iowa this month.

Updated at 9:23 a.m. EDT

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce officially broke ground Friday on a new building in Grand Rapids.

The $11.6 million project will mark a major expansion for the organization that is running out of space at its current headquarters.

The Center for Latino Economic and Talent Advancement is being built at 1111 Godfrey Ave SW in Grand Rapids.

Its beyond a building. Its really a hub for this community to connect, Guillermo Cisneros, president and CEO of the organization, said.

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce officially broke ground on a new building in Grand Rapids on May 2, 2025.

Cisneros says the current location on Division Avenue near Burton Street is too small to keep up with the organizations growth.

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Were hiring more people in the next few months, so we dont fit anymore. We have one single restroom for 14 people. We have an event space where we can bring 20 people comfortably and just we are very limited. We dont have technology. We dont have the infrastructure, Cisneros said.

Renderings of the new West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy) Renderings of the new West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy) Renderings of the new West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy) Renderings of the new West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy)

The new center will have an event space that can hold 200 people.

The funding for the project was provided through a public-private partnership.

The state of Michigan is contributing $5 million and the federal government is providing $850,000, along with donations from several businesses and private.

This investment really supports the economics of the entire region. Right now, the Latino community represents 20% of the city of Grand Rapids, Cisneros said.

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Local leaders like Javier Olvera, who owns Supermercado Mexico and several other businesses in the area, say the chamber provides critical support to the Latino community.

It has been very helpful to us. Weve been with the chamber for so many years and has help us connect with other entrepreneurs also become more efficient, Olvera said.

The organization says the 12,000-square-foot center will help support the West Michigan economy for generations.

We want to make sure that as we continue to grow as a community, as a city. We continue to bring resources and these assets that we are building in the city benefits the next generations, you know, of entrepreneurs, Olvera said.

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The building is expected to be finished by the end of February 2026.

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Grocery stores around the Pittsburgh area have announced they are offering a one-day discount to help people restock their food following storm-related power outages.

Here is where you can save some money while filling your fridge back up:

Giant Eagle

Giant Eagle will give a 15% discount on all purchases made at all Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland, Greene and Indiana County locations on Sunday, May 4.

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Shoppers will receive a coupon when they enter the store or at the checkout. Customers picking up curbside grocery orders or receiving home deliveries on Sunday will automatically receive the discount.

As the Pittsburgh community continues to recover from Tuesday evenings severe weather, our teams are working diligently to support our neighbors in need, said Giant Eagle CEO Bill Artman.

Purchases not eligible for the discount include milk, alcohol, fuel, tobacco, cigarettes, gift cards, prescriptions, any other items prohibited by law and all third-party transactions including DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart.

Kuhns Market

Kuhns Market is running the 15% off promotion this Sunday, May 4.

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It will be offered at all of its locations.

There is a 1 discount limit per customer, and it excludes milk, alcohol and tobacco.

ShopN Save

Multiple ShopN Save locations will offer a 15% restocking discount on Sunday, May 4.

The locations giving the discount are:

The Cranberry location on Freedom Road and

The Castle Shannon location on Castle Shannon Boulevard

The Mehelic Shop N Saves on Butler Street, Rochester Road and Pines Plaza on Perry Highway

We understand how challenging these unexpected situations can be, and we are here to support you, the owner of both stores said.

Items not eligible for the discount include milk, alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, gift cards, prescriptions, and any other items prohibited by law and all third-party transactions, including Instacart.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Election Day is right around the corner and across Ohio, there are hundreds of local races and issues and one statewide ballot question.

Weve always voted, Ohio voter Mary Porretta said. I dont think weve ever missed a vote.

She spent a few minutes on Thursday morning casting her ballot with her husband David Porretta.

Just our civic responsibility, we come regularly to vote, David Porretta said.

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They said they have been voting for decades and said to them, every election matters, even the ones without bigger races. Ohio Secretary of State Frank Larose agreed; he said there is no good reason not to vote.

Particularly in local elections, sometimes they come down to really small numbers, he said. This is probably not going to be the highest turnout election weve ever seen, so you dont really have to worry about lines at the polling locations.

LaRose said Issue 2, for example, is important to have your voice heard on. That issue asks voters to approve $2.5 billion in bonds for local infrastructure, an extension of a decades old program.

It does commit us to borrowing money into the future, but I would argue for important things like infrastructure that will improve our economy and quality of life in the state, LaRose said.

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Some argue that the program is outdated.

No matter how you vote on Issue 2, or any other race on your ballot this May, LaRose said all voters should keep a few things in mind. Remember to take a valid and unexpired photo ID to the polls, be kind to poll workers, and if you have not already mailed your absentee ballot, it is best to drop it off in person.

If you cannot make time to take your own ballot in person, a family member can do so, but they will need to go inside and sign a form.

Early voting will continue on Friday and all weekend long. Polls will close on Monday to prepare for Election Day on Tuesday.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As the Trump administration slashes and burns its way through Washington, D.C., in search of waste, fraud, and abuse to eliminate, one area of the federal budget remains conspicuously off limits for cuts: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The White House is leaning on a Republican Congress to spend big to preserve and rebuild the marquee center for the arts favored by a beltway elite. The administration has lobbied lawmakers behind the scenes for over a quarter of a billion dollars in new funding.

And Congress seems set to deliver.

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When the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a budget reconciliation proposal earlier this week, including $241,750,000 for repairs to the center itself and another nearly $15 million for operating and administrative expenses, the White House was thrilled. In fact, they were directly involved. A source with direct knowledge told RealClearPolitics that the administration "collaborated with members on Capitol Hill through every step of the process."

Republicans arent the typical patrons of the arts, and conservatives argue that taxpayer dollars shouldnt prop up liberal cultural expression. The Heritage Foundation, for instance, has long recommended that the public-private opera house be cut off. According to that Trump-friendly think tank, privatizing the Kennedy Center entirely would save hundreds of millions in public funds each year.

But Trump plans on building instead. Reviving the Kennedy Center, a White House official told RCP, remains "essential" to his "vision of restoring greatness to our nations capital."

This may puzzle the cultural and political elites who balked when Trump named himself chairman, fired the old board, and installed loyalists as trustees earlier this year. Protests followed. Most notably this included a troupe of 34 dancers, who silently performed The Nelken Line on the steps of the center earlier this year and who earned widespread derision on conservative corners of the internet.

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The White House sees at least two problems with the Kennedy Center. First, it has become "woke." While the center hosts a variety of programming, last year it hosted a number of drag brunches on its rooftop and booked a performance of a "Drag Salute to Divas" on the Millenium Stage. A White House called ending that kind of "anti-American propaganda" as critical "to protecting children and fostering patriotism." Second, it has become "broke." Visiting the facilities earlier this spring, the president bemoaned how the theater had fallen into "tremendous disrepair."

Hence the coming overhaul of the infrastructure and changes to the programming.

"President Trump recently toured the Kennedy Center and saw first-hand how waste, fraud and abuse has robbed Americas premier arts center. The back of the house and the front of the house have been left in an embarrassing state," said Ambassador Richard Grenell, whom Trump appointed president of the center.

The White House was looking past "partisan politics" to restore excellence in the arts, Grenell told RCP, because Trump "believes we deserve to have a national arts center that all Americans can be proud of."

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This is too much for some thespians. The hit musical Hamilton canceled its run at the Kennedy Center earlier this year in protest to changes Trump made to the board. Jeffery Seller, the producer of that show, wrote on social media that the changes fly "in the face of everything this national center represents." The president has never cared for that musical. He prefers other Broadway shows. During his March tour of the center, Trump was overheard by reporters discussing a number of other musicals, including "Phantom of the Opera," "Camelot," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Cats," and "Hello, Dolly!"

While Washington powerbrokers can often be found on the red carpets of the theater, Trump largely avoided it during his first term. When winners of the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors threatened a boycott, the president and first lady Melania Trump bowed out "to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction." Meanwhile, many Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an ex-officio member of the board, regularly attend.

Audiences are decidedly liberal - judging, at least, from the reception that Vice President J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance received when they stepped into the presidential box for a National Symphony Orchestra concert in March. The crowd booed. A heckler shouted, "You ruined this place!"

Less than two months later, the administration has green-lit hundreds of millions to renovate it.

Philip Wegmann is White House correspondent for RealClearPolitics.
Stephen Miller said that Americans won't pay more to buy a car as a result of tariffs.

Miller said that Trump's trade policies have incentivized automakers to boost domestic manufacturing.

Ford's top executive recently said he could not promise consumers wouldn't pay more.

Americans won't pay more to buy a car as a result of President Donald Trump's tariffs, the White House said on Thursday.

"No, not on cars they won't," White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said in response to a question of whether consumers might have to pay more to buy a vehicle as automakers adjust their production to account for Trump's tariffs.

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"Because again, there is now a massive economic incentive for automobile producers to expand production in the United States, and whatever they make here, there will be no tariff," he added.

Consumers appear skeptical. Dealers are reporting a surge in demand as customers try to lock in a deal before potential changes.

Economists aren't as convinced either.

Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based consultant firm, estimates that even the least impacted vehicles could still see a tariff burden above $2,000. Some vehicles, according to their estimates, could have a tariff burden of up to $12,000. The exact estimate varies on whether the vehicle is assembled in the US and the percentage of American-made parts that go into it.

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"If you are in the market for a new car and you find one you like, my advice is to buy it right away. If you have a used car you rely upon, my advice is to make sure it is well maintained as you are likely to use it for a while longer than you had earlier planned," said Patrick L. Anderson, the group's principle and CEO, said in a news release.

Here's what the nation's largest automakers have said about tariffs and whether they'll raise prices.

GM

CEO Mary Bara said that tariffs could cost General Motors up to $5 billion. As for consumers, she said that the leader in U.S. auto sales will "stay competitive."

"We have been able to maintain strong pricing and low incentives because customers want our vehicles," Bara told CNN. "What we've said and what we have provided in our guidance is that pricing is going to stay about at the same levels of what it is."

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Bara also did not outline any plans for GM to offer incentives along the lines of Ford's employee pricing promotion. She said that pricing in the auto industry changes "at least monthly and sometimes more frequently" and that GM would "respond to the market" to remain competitive.

As for tariffs overall, Bara said one of the best ways GM can respond is to continue to boost the portion of each vehicle that is made in the US.

Toyota

Toyota, the US's second-best-selling automaker, is significantly exposed to tariffs.

A UBS Securities report published at the outset of Trump's trade war said that tariffs could cost Japan's five biggest automakers $25 billion a year, mostly borne by Toyota, the world's largest automaker.

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Toyota is expected to benefit from Trump's decision on April 29 to rein in some of his auto tariffs. One of those orders allows automakers to claim an offset on auto parts tariffs if they produce and sell completed vehicles in the US. Toyota, like many of its competitors, imports parts that are then assembled into completed vehicles at its US-based plants.

In late March, Reuters cited Japanese domestic media reports that Toyota did not plan on raising prices in response to tariffs.

A Toyota spokesperson declined further comment to Business Insider.

Ford

On Wednesday, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he couldn't promise that US consumers wouldn't pay more to buy his company's vehicles.

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"No, I'm not saying that," Farley told CNN's Erin Burnett when she asked if he would commit to saying there would be no price increases from Ford this summer.

Instead, Farley announced that Ford, the nation's third-best-selling automaker, will extend its current sale, which offers employee pricing to consumers through July 4.

Hyundai

Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz recently said that he expected prices to remain steady.

"I don't expect to see a huge increase overnight," Munoz told Bloomberg News on April 15. "The market will decide."

Munoz said that if price increases were to occur, they would likely not be imposed on lower-cost entry-model vehicles.

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"Those customers are very sensitive to price," he said. "If you do that then maybe they won't buy the cars."

Hyundai and its sibling Kia were the fourth best-selling automaker in the US in 2024.

Honda

Honda said early on that Trump's tariffs could have a significant effect on its bottom line.

Global executive vice president Shinji Aoyama told analysts in February that a 25% tariff could cost the company $132.7 billion.

The fifth-best-selling automaker in the US has since shifted production of its Civic Hybrid from Japan to the US.

Stellantis

A historic member of Detroit's Big 3, Stellantis, formerly known as Chrysler, has also not said much about its tariff response.

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At a high level, Jeep and Dodge's parent company withdrew its 2025 financial guidance due to uncertainty around tariff policy.

Like Ford, Stellantis has extended its employee pricing offering. According to The Detroit News, the program will now run through early June.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is poised to ask Congress to cut funding for several of the Justice Department's law enforcement offices under a budget proposal that would likely hamper its ability to carry out the Trump administration's pledge to crack down on violent crime, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The fiscal-year 2026 budget proposal calls for cutting the budgets for the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, said the sources, who spoke anonymously because the budget had not been made public.

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The White House proposal calls for a roughly $1.2 billion budget for ATF in fiscal 2026, which would be down from its current funding level of about $1.625 billion, two of the sources said. If enacted, that would be the agency's lowest budget since at least 2016, one added.

The DEA, meanwhile, would see its current budget of $2.6 billion cut to $2.5 billion, while the FBI would have its $10.6 billion budget cut to $10.1 billion if the White House proposal is enacted by Congress, the two sources added.

The Justice Department has been mulling whether to merge the ATF with the DEA, a proposal opposed by many gun-rights and gun-control groups as well as by agents at both agencies.

Derek Maltz - who has been overseeing the DEA until the Senate can confirm Terry Cole, Trump's pick for its administrator - is stepping down on Friday, two other people familiar with his plans said.

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The proposed cuts to the DEA, ATF and FBI follow an executive order late last month that President Donald Trump said was designed to support law enforcement. It directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to take steps that would allow states, counties and cities to "unleash high-impact local police forces."

A Justice Department spokesman said the DOJ would "ensure our resources are effectively allocated to make America safe again."

Representatives of the White House, DEA, ATF and FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokeswoman for the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the proposed budget numbers being reported by Reuters are "false," without elaborating.

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The FBI, DEA and ATF all frequently work with local law enforcement to investigate crimes and analyze complex evidence. The ATF, most notably, played a crucial role in quickly helping to trace the gun used by the suspect who tried to assassinate Trump - who was then the Republican presidential candidate - in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year.

The Justice Department, in coordination with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, moved in April to terminate more than 300 criminal justice grants valued at $811 million. Many of them provided funding for police, local prosecutors, court-appointed child advocates and victims services.

The White House's proposed cuts to the ATF - which frequently finds itself under fire by pro-gun rights groups because of its role in regulating the firearms industry - would be particularly damaging, the sources said.

If enacted, the cuts would force the agency to slash hundreds or more jobs, two of the sources said, in addition to the nearly 600 people who have already accepted the government's deferred resignation option.

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The agency employs about 5,300, about half of whom are special agents, according to public records. It has been unable to fill about 150 slots for special agents due to budget cuts in 2024, forcing it to cancel its incoming agent classes, two of the sources said.

Such a decrease would limit the ATF's ability to assist federal, state and local law enforcement from analyzing key ballistic evidence that is often vital to solving homicides and other gun-related crimes.

It would also hamper its ability to help investigate cases involving bombs and arson, a niche area of expertise that many local law enforcement agencies lack, and it would impede it from conducting DNA analysis on shell casings to help solve crimes.

The DEA's budget proposal will not support funding for body-worn cameras, the sources said. The DEA quietly ended its body-worn camera program in late March, according to a previously unreported memo seen by Reuters. That memo reversed a policy under former Attorney General Merrick Garland that required all federal agents to wear them.

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The DEA also just recently lost about 200 employees who took the second wave of deferred resignation offers, another source told Reuters.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Additional reporting by Brad Heath in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty and Matthew Lewis)
The White House is currently unsure how to deal with Russia in the wake of the minerals deal with Ukraine.

Source: two sources familiar with the discussions told Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Despite the fact that on Thursday 1 May Trumps team publicly called the signing of the minerals agreement an important achievement, there is no unanimity in the White House itself on the next steps, the sources said.

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They said that the possible actions include tough decisions, including increasing pressure on the Kremlin, which Trump has not yet decided to do.

"More sanctions would be the next turn of the screw. If the president wants to go that route," one source said.

A US Treasury Department official who agreed to comment on the agreement on condition of anonymity said that the growing US economic interest in Ukraine demonstrates a determination to support its long-term future.

Background:

On 30 April, Ukraine and the US signed a framework agreement on economic partnership. Earlier, European Pravda revealed key details of the deal, which includes provisions on 57 critical minerals and US military assistance.

US President Donald Trump stated that the mineral deal would bring the US more benefits than it had spent on Ukraine.

On 2 May, the media reported that US officials had prepared a number of options for Trump to increase economic pressure on Russia.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House released President Donald Trump's 2026 budget proposal Friday, hoping to slash, if not zero out, spending on many government programs. It seeks a sweeping restructuring of the nations domestic priorities, reflective of the presidents first 100 days in office and sudden firing of federal workers.

Trump's plan aims for steep cuts to child care, disease research, renewable energy and peacekeeping abroad, many already underway through Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, all while pumping up billions for the administration's mass deportation agenda.

The budget drafters echo Trumps promises to end woke programs, including preschool grants to states with diversity programs. And they reflect his vow to stop the weaponization of government by slashing the Internal Revenue Service, even as critics accuse him of using the levers of power to punish people and institutions he disfavors

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Overall, its a sizable reduction in domestic accounts  some $163 billion, or 22.6% below current year spending, the White House said.

At the same time, the White House said it is relying on Congress to unleash $375 billion in new money for for the Homeland Security and Defense departments as part of Trumps big, beautiful bill of tax cuts and spending reductions. His goal is to repel when he calls a foreign invasion," though migrant arrivals to the U.S. are at all-time lows.

House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the proposal as a bold blueprint that reflects the values of hardworking Americans and the commitment to American strength and prosperity.

Budgets do not become law, but serve as a touchstone for the coming fiscal year debates. Often considered a statement of values, this first budget since Trump's return to the White House carries the added weight of defining the Republican president's second-term pursuits, alongside his party in Congress.

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It comes as Trump has unilaterally imposed what could be hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases in the form of tariffs, setting off a trade war that has consumers, CEOs and foreign leaders worried about a possible economic downturn.

Trump, in an interview with NBC News' Meet the Press taped Friday, pushed back against recession talk.

Asked by Meet the Press host Kristen Welker about Wall Street analysts who have expressed concerns that the chances of a recession are increasing, Trump insisted the economy will do fantastically.

Well, you know, you say, some people on Wall Street say, Trump said. Well, I tell you something else. Some people on Wall Street say that were going to have the greatest economy in history.

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Democrats assailed the budget as a devastating foreshadowing of Trump's vision for the country.

President Trump has made his priorities clear as day: he wants to outright defund programs that help working Americans," said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. This, she said, while he shovels massive tax breaks at billionaires like himself and raises taxes on middle-class Americans with his reckless tariffs.

The White House Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russell Vought, a chief architect of Project 2025 from the conservative Heritage Foundation, provided contours of a so-called skinny version of topline numbers only.

It covers only the federal government's discretionary spending, now about $1.83 trillion a year on defense and nondefense accounts. Trump's team drops that spending by $163 billion, to $1.69 trillion, a portion of the nation's nearly $7 trillion budget that includes far more programs and services.

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Federal budgets have been climbing steadily, as have annual deficits that are fast approaching $2 trillion, with annual interest payments on the debt almost $1 trillion. Thats thanks mostly to the spike in emergency COVID-19 pandemic spending, changes in the tax code that reduced revenues and the climbing costs of Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, largely to cover health needs as people age. The nations debt load, at $36 trillion, is ballooning.

We need a budget that tells the full story, and it should control spending, reduce borrowing, bring deficits down, said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog group.

Among some of the White House's proposed highlights:

The State Department and international programs would lose 84% of their money and receive $9.6 billion, reflecting deep cuts already underway, including to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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The Health and Human Services Department would be cut by $33.3 billion and the Education Departments spending would be reduced by $12 billion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health would all face steep reductions.

The Defense Department would get an additional $113.3 billion and Homeland Security would receive $42.3 billion more. Much of that is contingent on Congress approving Trump's big bill. That approach drew criticism from leading defense hawks, among them the former GOP Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

McConnell called the proposed boost in defense money in the president's budget a gimmick."

America cannot expect our allies to heed calls for greater annual defense spending if we are unwilling to lead by example," McConnell said in a blistering statement. "Fortunately, Presidential budget requests are just that: requests. Congress will soon have an opportunity to ensure that American power  and the credibility of our commitments  are appropriately resourced."

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It's Congress, under its constitutional powers, that decides the spending plans, approves the bills that authorize federal programs and funds them through the appropriations process. Often, that system breaks down, forcing lawmakers to pass stopgap spending bills to keep the government funded and avoid federal shutdowns.

Congress is already deep into the slog of drafting Trumps big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered funds for the administrations mass deportation effort  a package that, unlike the budget plan, would carry the force of law.

Vought is also expected on Capitol Hill in the weeks ahead as the Trump administration presses its case.

Among the more skilled conservative budget hands in Washington, Vought has charted a career toward this moment. He served during the first Trump administration in the same role and, for Project 2025, wrote an extensive chapter about the remaking of the federal government.

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Vought has separately been preparing a $9 billion package that would gut current 2025 funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which involves the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. Trump signed an executive order late Thursday that instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to cease funding for PBS and NPR.

Vought has said that a package of so-called budget rescissions would be a first of potentially more, as the Trump administration tests the appetite in Congress for lawmakers to go on record and vote to roll back the money.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that the administration is proposing to cut the Health and Human Services budget by $33.3 billion, not $33.3 trillion.
The fate of Republicans sweeping domestic policy bill is snagged on a crucial question: Are deep cuts to Medicaid, the federal health care program covering nearly 80 million Americans, something to be avoided? Or are they the whole point of pursuing the legislation?

That clash  with the White House on one side and GOP hard-liners in Congress on the other  is now playing out in closed-door meetings and in the hallways of Capitol Hill as the party rushes to write the megabill and potentially cut more than a half-trillion dollars from the safety-net health program over the coming decade.

If Republicans follow through, 10 million Americans or more could lose their health coverage, according to some estimates GOP lawmakers have reviewed. Thats a possibility that has made President Donald Trump and his top aides nervous, and they are now seeking alternatives that would still allow the GOP to finance a massive package of tax cuts.

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Trump officials are actively pushing congressional Republicans to explore a proposal to slash drug prices within the Medicaid program, a White House official said Thursday, a day after POLITICO reported that the administration was soliciting such a plan from Capitol Hill.

Savings is a big part of it, but its something the president has been open about in wanting to decrease health care and drug costs, said the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal thinking.

Lowering the cost of drugs for the federal government could generate significant savings, lessening the need to pursue the $600 billion of cuts House GOP leaders are eyeing for Medicaid.

That would solve major political programs for the GOP. Not only is Trump wary of sparking a broader political backlash  akin to what he saw after attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017  there is a cadre of congressional Republicans who are threatening to vote against the whole sprawling bill if the cuts go too deep.

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But there is also an aggressive corps of hard-right lawmakers who are insisting on deep cuts  especially to the 2010 expansion of the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. On Thursday, several were openly threatening to revolt if top leaders dont follow through with cuts.

Do you want to transform it, or do you want to cement it in place, nibbling around the edges? Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told reporters Thursday. Id like to transform it into something that's much better.

The future of Medicaid was discussed Thursday at a White House meeting that included Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and other key House Republican leaders. Among the options that were set to be presented to Trump was per capita caps on federal funding to states under the ACA expansion  a proposal that could produce major savings but end coverage for millions of Americans.

It remained unresolved after the meeting whether Republicans would pursue the plan, according to three people who were granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations. Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, won't mark up the legislation until later in the month, telling members it was to accommodate a few requests that came out of the meeting.

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Panel Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said before the meeting that he was absolutely open to the drug-pricing proposal, which would seek to cut costs by bringing what Medicaid pays for drugs in line with the lower prices paid abroad. The White House official emphasized it would only apply to the cost of medicines within the Medicaid program.

But the proposal faces massive headwinds on Capitol Hill, where the pharmaceutical industry has long resisted legislative attempts to curb drug prices. Johnson told POLITICO Thursday he was not a big fan of the so-called most-favored nations policy, which Republicans and pharmaceutical companies have warned in the past would devastate companies ability to develop new drugs.

The drug industry group PhRMA also came out sharply against the idea, warning it would "undervalue lifesaving medicines."

"Government price setting in any form is bad for American patients," senior vice president Alex Schriver said in a statement. "At a time when we are facing growing competition from China, policymakers should focus on fixing the flaws in the U.S. system, not importing failed policies from abroad."

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Trump stumped for the drug price policy during his first term, but ran into resistance from GOP lawmakers who likened it to government price controls. The idea had previously been championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other progressives who saw it as an aggressive way to rein in drug prices, before Trump adopted it as his own.

Trump later tried to impose the policy through regulatory rulemaking, but was never able to implement it after losing his 2020 reelection bid.

Its unclear how much savings a most-favored nation drug policy for Medicaid alone would generate. The program already pays a steep discount for drugs compared with the commercial market, potentially blunting the overall impact.

Medicaid already obtains among the lowest drug prices in the country," said Steven Knievel, a drug policy expert at the nonprofit Public Citizen.

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The conservative hard-liners Johnson will need to ultimately pass a bill are not sympathetic to the plan, with some calling it price fixing. Instead they are counting on Trump and Johnson to stand firm on slashing Medicaid. Roy on Thursday led a letter signed by 19 other House Republicans calling for structural Medicaid reform.

Guthrie met with the hard-right House Freedom Caucus Wednesday night, where  according to one attendee who was granted anonymity to describe the closed-door meeting  he described some of the complications of cutting deeply into the program. Some states, he explained, have trigger laws that would end the expansion if Congress pulled back federal funding, he explained, compounding the coverage losses.

Thats not our problem, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told him.

Burlison said much the same to reporters Thursday, saying states were gaming the system under the current structure, where the federal government picks up 90 percent of the cost for those receiving benefits under the ACA expansion.

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We should not let a state House or Senate tell the entire country how health care policy is going to stay for the rest  for everybody, he said. That's my position. I'm being very vocal about that."

David Lim and Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
May 1PROPHETSTOWN  The Whiteside County sheriff released more information Thursday, May 1, about a crash that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy the day before in rural Prophetstown.

Whiteside County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 18000 block of Lomax Road shortly after 3:30 p.m. in reference to the crash. According to a news release, deputies located a 13-year-old boy who was unresponsive. Deputies and EMS personnel rendered medical aid; however, the boy was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.

The teen's name has not been released.

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Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker said Thursday that a preliminary investigation has determined a black Ford Edge driven by Tara Fettig, 60, of Tampico, was traveling east on Lomax Road when the dirt bike, a 125cc Kawasaki operated by the teenager, entered the road from a private driveway and the two collided.

The crash is being investigated by the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico School District Superintendent Heidi Lensing announced on social media Wednesday night that a student in the district had died earlier in the day as the result of a tragic accident.

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts go out to the family and all who are grieving," Lensing wrote. "As a district, we are committed to supporting our students and staff during this incredibly difficult time."

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Lensing said counselors, social workers, and area ministers were at the sixth to 12th-grade campus Thursday to provide comfort, guidance, and a space for students to process the loss.

She also encouraged parents to talk to their children as students may respond in a variety of ways and may need additional support in the coming days.

Prophetstown police, firefighters and EMS, the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, the Whiteside County Coroner's Office and Randy's Towing assisted at the scene.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) justified her recent appearances with President Donald Trump on Thursday.

It doesnt mean Ive abandoned any of my values. It doesnt mean that Im not gonna stand my ground, Whitmer, who is a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said in an episode of Pod Save America released Thursday. This is one of those moments where, as a public servant, youre reminded your job is to put service above self, and thats what it was all about.

The episode aired two days after Trump seemingly took Whitmer by surprise at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan as he was announcing a new fighter mission of roughly 20 F-15EX jets at the base.

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After praising the governor, Trump invited her onstage to speak about the accomplishment, which she had lobbied for. She spoke briefly, shook his hand and left the stage.

Earlier in April, Whitmer was photographed at the Oval Officehiding her face behind a folder, reportedly while she was there to lobby for the new mission. She claimed she had been under the impression that she and Trump would be having a one-on-one, but first, he signed a series of controversial executive orders.

But I also left the room. No one reported that I left the room to go talk to my staff person. I said, We gotta get word out, because the stuff thats going on in there  I cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. Im not here for that, Whitmer said on the podcast. But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done.

The New York Times equated her Oval Office appearance with efforts that other Democrats  including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul  have made to work with Trump, and presumably, support their constituencies and their own political interests.

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Some Democrats have already voiced concerns and disappointment with Whitmers approach, but she insisted on the podcast that shes prioritizing the people of Michigan.

Whitmer has previously criticized Trump, and hes done the same to her. Even during the podcast, she said the U.S. was in a constitutional crisis under the Trump administration.

It is not easy to navigate these times, but one of the things that Ive learned is Ive gotta put the people in Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are gonna be my political interests, Whitmer said, adding that she doesnt think her association with Trump will hurt her political career.

Online on Tuesday, Whitmer also defended her decision to try to work amicably with Trump by claiming that she will work with anyone to move our state forward.

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But let me be clear: I will never back down from protecting our fundamental rights, defending our democracy, or fighting for every Michiganders future, she continued. Bipartisanship isnt about sacrificing our values. Its about standing strong and finding common ground to get things done. Its about putting people first, every single time.

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A National Labor Relations Board report has dealt a setback to union-busting efforts by Amazon, a regional hearing officer rejecting the company's arguments that workers at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia should not be afforded the right to collectively bargain.

In January, a majority of employees at Whole Foods' flagship Philadelphia location voted to join a union. Prior to the vote, a spokesperson for Whole Foods Market, which Amazon acquired in 2017, had said the company "recognizes the rights of our Team Members to make an informed decision on whether union representation is right for them."

But Amazon soon after filed a slew of objections with the NLRB, claiming, among other things, that UFCW Local 1776 had unfairly offered to provide employees' transportation to the union polling site. It also argued that the NLRB cannot certify the union election because it lacks a quorum  a product of President Donald Trump's legally dubious attempt to fire one of the board's Democratic-appointed and Senate-confirmed members, Gwynne Wilcox.

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In a decision issued May 1, Philadelphia-region Hearing Officer Deena E. Kobel rejected those arguments. The company's claim that the union had improperly provided transportation to workers on the day of the election, for example, was found legally lacking and practically irrelevant, Kobel pointing out that rides were offered to all employees, regardless of stated voting intentions  and that only nine workers utilized the option in an election that Amazon lost by 15 votes.

The decision, which recommends that the NLRB move forward with certification, is subject to appeal. But UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV urged the company to immediately enter into talks with its workers.

"This ruling is definitiveWhole Foods lost, the workers won, and its time for the company to respect the results, Young said in a statement. Amazons tired playbook of delay and obstruction has failed. We call on Whole Foods to stop wasting time and taxpayer resources with baseless legal challenges and sit down at the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract.

However, a Whole Foods Market spokesperson told Salon that the company has no intention of changing course just yet.

This is a preliminary report, not a ruling on the objections weve filed, and we remain confident that our objections will ultimately be upheld as the full process plays out," the spokesperson said.
The army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) asked the Senate this week to revoke former President Joseph Kabilas immunity from prosecution.

Removal of Kabilas immunity would pave the way for him to be prosecuted on charges of supporting a rebel insurgency in the countrys troubled eastern region, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said.

Last week, the government placed travel restrictions on Kabilas family, signalling a deepening rift between Kabila, who led the country for more than a decade until 2019, and current President Felix Tshisekedi, who took over from him that year.

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Tension between the two has kept Kabila away from the country for several years, living for the most part in South Africa. But his reported reappearance last month in the rebel-held Goma territory in DRCs eastern Kivu region has led to speculation that he may have allied himself with the armed rebel group, M23.

His reappearance in DRC appears also to have angered the government, which has been battling the Rwanda-backed M23 group in a deadly conflict in the countrys east for months. Last week, the rebels announced a ceasefire following mediation talks in Qatar.

Kambale Musavuli, a researcher at the Center for Research on Congo-Kinshasa, a think tank, said the DRCs move to prosecute the ex-leader was a positive step.

Putting him on trial could be a pivotal moment for the DRC, not only in seeking justice for past crimes but also in breaking the cycle of impunity that has plagued our leadership since independence, he said.

Democratic Republic of Congos former President Joseph Kabila attends a memorial service for Sam Nujoma, who became Namibias first democratically elected president, at the Independence stadium, in the Windhoek, Namibia, on February 28, 2025, several weeks before his reported reappearance in DRC [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]

What is Kabilas history?

Joseph Kabila, 53, is a former military officer who was fourth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019. Although his term was supposed to end in 2016, he controversially delayed elections until huge protests broke out. Presidents in the DRC are elected for a five-year term and are only permitted to serve two terms. A new constitution, adopted in 2006, reset Kabilas two-term tenure.

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He took over leadership of the country in 2001 at the age of just 29, after his father and former coup leader, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated. DRC presidents, former presidents and senators are immune from prosecution unless they commit gross misconduct according to the countrys constitution.

Kabilas relationship with President Tshisekedi, a former opposition leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), is fraught. Although the two men agreed in 2019 to an awkward power-sharing pact that allowed members of Kabilas Peoples Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) to take part in the new government, they clashed over who could appoint which officials to office. Their alliance broke down a year later, in 2020.

Tensions were also mounting over the M23 rebellion which began in 2012. Kabila has accused Tshisekedi of failing to tackle the matter with tact, complaining that the president has relied on external mediation rather than engaging in direct dialogue with the rebels.

In a recent opinion piece in South Africas Sunday Times, Kabila wrote that under Tshisekedi, the DRC is close to imploding as a result of the civil war. He also accused the president of attempting to hang onto power, referring to Tshisekedis plans to push for a constitutional review. Tshisekedi said in 2023 his government would review the constitution and leave the matter of term limits for the people to decide, without expanding further.

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Kabila has held talks with opposition leaders, including Moise Katumbi, leader of the Together for the Republic party, although it is unclear what was discussed. Observers say Kabila is angling to act as a lead negotiator between M23 and Kinshasa, but he has not publicly made that claim himself.

For his part, Tshisekedi blames Kabila for undermining his government and accuses him of supporting M23, citing his close links to former election chairman-turned-rebel-leader, Corneille Nangaa.

Nangaa, who declared his alliance with the rebels in 2023, was head of the countrys electoral commission from 2015 to 2021 and oversaw the disputed 2018 elections that brought Tshisekedi into office. The two later fell out over how the elections were run, causing Nangaa to publicly criticise Tshisekedi and eventually join a rebel group.

On April 20, the DRCs government suspended Kabilas party, PPRD, and ordered his assets to be seized on charges of supporting M23. It is not clear if those assets are yet under state control.

People gather around market stalls as residents begin to venture out onto the streets following clashes at Kadutu Market in Bukavu on February 18, 2025 [Luis Tato/AFP]

Why is the DRC government seeking to lift Kabilas immunity?

DRC Justice Minister Constant Mutamba told reporters on Wednesday that the state has amassed evidence implicating Kabila in war crimes, crimes against humanity and massacres of peaceful civilians and military personnel in the countrys east. He did not give specific details of these crimes.

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Swaths of the eastern region are currently under control of the M23 group, which seeks control of mineral wealth and has ambitions to take power in Kinshasa. The United Nations and United States claim the group is backed by neighbouring Rwanda.

In relation to this, Kabila is accused of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and participation in an insurrectional movement, the justice minister said.

Its not clear when the Senate will approve the armys demand, or when a trial might begin.

What is the M23 and what does it want?

The M23 armed group is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups vying for control of eastern DRCs trillions of dollars in mineral wealth, critical for the production of much of the worlds technology.

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According to UN experts and the US, M23 rebels are supported by about 4,000 soldiers from neighbouring Rwanda.

Rwandas President Paul Kagame has not explicitly denied supporting the group. In February, he told a CNN reporter he did not know if Rwandan troops had boots on the ground in the DRC.

The group, which is largely composed of Tutsi fighters, says it wants to protect Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin from discrimination and wants to transform the DRC from a failed state into a modern one, though critics say this is a pretext for Rwandas involvement.

Many M23 members were indeed former ethnic Tutsi rebels who integrated into the DRC army following the Congo Wars (1996-2003) but later defected, citing discrimination and broken peace deals.

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Those wars had roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of minority Tutsis and centrist Hutus. Thousands of genocidaires fled over the border into refugee camps in the DRC following the fall of the Hutu government, and from there, launched attacks on Rwanda. That conflict led to fighting in an already unstable DRC.

President Kagames government, meanwhile, accuses the DRC of enlisting remnant Hutu forces in the form of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which fights alongside the Congolese army.

In a previous uprising in 2012, M23 briefly seized Goma, a strategic regional hub, but withdrew after international pressure.

Since January, the group, which analysts say is eyeing political power this time, has again captured Goma as well as Bukavu, a city of 1.3 million people. At least 3,000 people were reported killed and thousands displaced in the Goma fighting in January.

Congolese traffic police officers affiliated with the M23 fighters direct traffic on the roads around the Birere Market in Goma on February 17, 2025 [Michel Lunanga/AFP]

What will happen to Kabila next?

Kabila has not responded to the DRC governments recent allegations or its moves to prosecute him. However, his allies have criticised these moves. Ferdinand Kambere, a senior member of Kabilas PPRD, said Kinshasas actions were a relentless persecution of the former president.

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For us, these mistakes that those in power keep making against the former president, thinking they are humiliating or intimidating him, actually show that the regime is nearing its end. They have nothing left to use against Kabila, Kambere told The Associated Press news agency.

But some say the move is necessary for justice. Kabilas reported appearance in Goma should not be seen as a coincidence, Musavuli, the researcher, said, but rather indicates that he may be shoring up alliances or defying Kinshasa. Kabila and any others implicated in crimes should be tried, he said.

His regime is deeply implicated in enabling armed groups, particularly in the east. Many of these crimes occurred under his watch, if not with his direct complicity, certainly with his strategic silence. The people want a transparent and credible judicial process, one that doesnt just scapegoat one individual but exposes the broader networks of power, both domestic and international, that have profited from the suffering of the Congolese people, he added.

Meanwhile, an opposition alliance against President Tshisekedi is forming. On Thursday, opposition leaders Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu and Delly Sesanga, together with Kabila, issued a joint call for national dialogue in what looked like a united front.

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In a statement, they questioned the strength of the Qatar-led ceasefire deal and instead called for a return to Congolese-led mediation mechanisms, including one being led by the countrys Catholic Church leaders, to deal with the root causes of the crisis, among them bad governance.




Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags across Wisconsin to fly at half-staff on May 4 to remember fallen firefighters, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

The memorial service is held in Maryland as part of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

Our firefighters have selflessly dedicated their lives to service and to ensure Wisconsinites across the state are safe and secure, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, Evers said in a statement. On behalf of the state, we recognize and thank all members of our firefighting communities for their brave service and sacrifice and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of safety and serving their fellow neighbor.

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Evers also declared May 3 and 4 to be National Firefighters Memorial Day Weekend in Wisconsin.

Here's what to know:

How long will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin?

Flags across Wisconsin will fly at half-staff until sunset on May 4.

Evers' order also says flags are to fly at half-staff on Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 in honor of the Final Alarm Ceremony and Fire Prevention Week, respectively.

Where will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin?

Per Evers' order, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag will fly at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin.

More: Milwaukee Fire Department is turning 150 years old. Here are key moments in its history

Why do flags fly at half-staff?

Flags are typically flown at half-staff after national tragedies or the deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders. They may also be at half-staff for Memorial Day or other national days of remembrance, including 9/11, according to Usa.gov.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are flags in Wisconsin at half-staff on May 4?
Head Start helps thousands of Nebraskans access quality child care. (Stock photo by Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images)

As the recipient of Nebraskas largest Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant, weve made a promise: to show up with care, consistency and compassion, especially when families face the toughest of times. Our work with CRCC, CSI, Educare Lincoln and Educare of Omaha, Inc., brings more than 200 combined years of experience in serving Nebraskas children and their families.

The federally funded Head Start program is part of that promise, one that has received bipartisan support year after year. But in recent weeks, news broke about a federal budget proposal that would zero out funding for Head Start in 2026. It is impossible to state the impact this move would have on nearly 800,000 children and their families nationwide.

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Congress has the power to decide what gets funded and what doesnt. Thats where we need to act.

Nebraska impact

In Nebraska, Head Start funding supports the capacity for 5,653 eligible children, employing 2,187 staff in 179 child care centers across the state. These are not just numbers. These are real Nebraska children and families with real futures. And now, the funding to support them is at real risk.

For 60 years, this nationally recognized, locally rooted program has given our most vulnerable children a safe, developmentally rich environment to learn and grow while their parents work to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The National Head Start Associations 2025 Nebraska Head Start Profile shows that 4,137 parents of enrolled children were employed, in school or in job training, which would not be possible without reliable child care through Head Start.

Protecting Head Start is essential to the well-being of children, families, and communities. Any move away from this risks consequences we cant afford. We dont use these words lightly.

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Head Start is a vital foundation for families working to build a better future. It offers reliable support for parents and strong, nurturing early education for children  along with meals, vision and hearing screenings, developmental assessments, and dental care.

Stability for children and families

Protecting Head Start means preserving stability, opportunity and access to care for at-risk children and over a million parents who rely on it to stay in the workforce. Communities nationwide depend on it as a cornerstone of their child and family support systems.

Head Start works. Not because its easy  but because its essential. Its a federal program with decades of data, bipartisan support and consistent, community-driven results. It combines local donations with state and federal funds to provide exactly what Nebraska families need: dependable, comprehensive quality child care.

Given Head Starts proven return and essential impact, the conversations in Congress and in our communities should be about increasing funding, not eliminating it. The return on investment is clear.

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Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman found that every dollar invested in quality early childhood programs like Head Start returns more than seven dollars in reduced crime, improved health and increased earnings. Supporting Head Start is not just a moral imperative. Its a smart economic one.

Investments in future

How much does the country invest? Head Start funding accounts for 0.18% of the FY2024 federal budget.

Head Start funding strengthens our work as long-standing early childhood partners in Nebraska. We know these families. We work alongside them. We see the deep commitment to their children and their dreams for their families futures, many of which would not be possible without help from Head Start.

As a state that values hard work, personal responsibility and community, Nebraskans should encourage congressional support for this invaluable program. When we talk about Nebraska family values, we do not abandon our youngest citizens when they need us most.

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We call on our elected officials, neighbors, friends and fellow Nebraskans  from Lincoln to Scottsbluff, Omaha to Ogallala  to speak up. Let your voice be heard. Speak up. Share this message. Remind Washington that Nebraska protects its children.

Lets ensure that, as Head Start celebrates 60 years of impact this May, the gift we give back is unwavering support. Because when we invest in children, we invest in us all.

Sarah Ann Kotchian is chief executive officer of the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative. She has served on local and state commissions, task forces and boards.






On May 2, a judge ruled that taxpayer-funded security protection for Prince Harryas well as his wife Meghan Markle and their kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibetwould not be reinstated.

This marks the end to a five-year long fight to reinstate said security after Harry and Meghan stepped back as working royals in 2020.

Harrys legal team has previously called his bid to reinstate security the fight of his lifeand the denial of security protection will likely mean that Meghan, Archie, and Lilibets visits to Harrys home country will be nonexistent.







Prince Harry has lost his bid to reinstate his security on visits to the U.K., a judge ruled todaywhich marks the end of the Duke of Sussexs legal challenge to a 2020 decision by the U.K. government that denied Harry, wife Meghan Markle, and kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet automatic taxpayer-funded security while in Harrys home country after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family five years ago.

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The 21-page decision came down on May 2 in a no doubt devastating blow to Harry; as he previously told People about this court case, This one has always mattered the most. Harry was in the U.K. just last month for an appeal on the original ruling, and that decision was made public Friday.

Getty Prince Harry on April 8, 2025 Prince Harry on April 8, 2025

After losing the appeal, on May 2, Harry expressed his disappointment while speaking to BBC News. "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he said. He added, "I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done... and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."



Though Harry will occasionally travel to the U.K. for engagements (and sometimes for court cases), the Duke of Sussex has previously expressed that, without security, he does not feel comfortable bringing Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet to his home country for fears of their safety. Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos dismissed Harrys appeal, adding that two other judges agreed with his opinion, per People. As he delivered the verdict, Vos said, The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC [the Royal and VIP Executive Committee]. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible, I said in my judgment, to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible.

As Harry left court April 9 after fighting for the appeal, he told People he was exhausted and overwhelmed. Harry has, per his legal team, described his fight for his and his familys security as a fight for his life, and this ruling will likely mean that Harrys visits to the U.K. will continue to be limited, and that Meghan, Archie, and Lilibets visits will likely be nonexistent. After the appeal hearing on April 8 and 9, Harry said that his worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this caseand thats really sad.

Getty Prince Harry on April 9, 2025 Prince Harry on April 9, 2025

Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Harry has long argued that RAVEC failed to assess the risks that Harry and his family uniquely face, and RAVECs case-by-case arrangement was something Harrys team has called inadequate, inappropriate, and ineffective.

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In December 2023, Harry told the High Court (via Hello!) that the U.K. is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the U.S. That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil.

Read the original article on InStyle
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A transgender Ohioan says Statehouse legislation fostering an increasingly anti-LGBTQ+ climate is why hes leaving the state.

Bennett Lovejoy, a 25-year-old trans man, moved to Ohio several years ago and began working as an education and research manager for Kaleidoscope Youth Center, a Columbus nonprofit providing housing and programming for LGBTQ+ youth. Although Lovejoy is fond of his initial Ohio years, his experience has soured as lawmakers have pursued bills restricting the trans community.

That legislation has manifested real-world hostility, Lovejoy said, citing a recent incident in Lewis Center when he and a friend were confronted for being trans.

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I was very much harassed, and it was me and my trans friend who also looks queer, Lovejoy told NBC4. My dog was off leash, but I was putting him back on the leash and this guy came up and started accosting us and shouting sexual expletives. Then, he chased us out of the park and took photos of our license plates. At that point, I was like, Im gonna hit the road.

House Bill 6s repeal, Delta-8 THC among bills moving through Ohio Statehouse

Incidents like this are why Lovejoy said he has retreated from public life in Ohio, no longer using public restrooms, attending sporting events or eating out at restaurants. The 25-year-old has a select few designated safe zone places that he knows support the trans community, or have a gender-neutral restroom.

These experiences, compounded with recent Trump administration orders, are why Lovejoy and his wife, alongside her family, say they are moving to Chicago on Sunday in search of a community accepting of LGBTQ+ people.

Bennett Lovejoy, a 25-year-old trans Ohioan, and his wife on their wedding day. (Courtesy Photo/Bennett Lovejoy)

Foiled education plans

In moving, Lovejoy is leaving behind an uncompleted masters degree in translational data analytics from the Ohio State University.

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He enrolled in fall 2023, and said the coursework provided him the capability to pursue a data science internship at Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit research institute. Those skills also yielded him a policy analyst position at Scioto Analysis and an independent contractor role at Rooted Analytics, both of which hes currently employed part time.

Still, Lovejoy stepped away from his degree as he became increasingly concerned with state proposals limiting gender-affirming care, a range of medical and mental health services for members of the trans community.

New Ohio law aims to crack down on organized retail theft

I dropped out because I had to spend my savings on top surgery, said Lovejoy, referring to a chest reconstruction procedure often provided to trans people. [Gov. Mike] DeWine was signing executive orders at the time that made it sound like I wouldnt be able to get surgery, even as an adult.

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Although DeWine vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care for trans youth in 2023, the Statehouse acted quickly to override him. Soon after, the governor tried to appease legislators by announcing a series of directives that included making Ohio one of the few states in the nation to also restrict gender-affirming care for adults.

DeWines proposal to limit trans adults didnt come to fruition, but the bill prohibiting care for trans youth is in effect while litigation continues.

A wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills

Beyond gender-affirming care restrictions, Lovejoy said a series of other Ohio anti-LGBTQ+ bills aid in fostering an unwelcoming culture, making it difficult to live and work in the state.

Measures include requiring academic institutions to set separate bathrooms based on students biological sex. Columbus City Schools said this law is why the district reverted students names to those reflected on birth certificates and rescinded its trans and gender variant student policy in February.

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DeWine also signed into law a bill coined by supporters as The Parents Bill of Rights, requiring teachers to notify parents before teaching sexuality content and of changes in a students mental or physical health. A national crisis hotline said it received a significant increase in calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio within hours after the governor approved the measure.

The Statehouse reintroduced a bill in late April that opponents said would amount to a ban of drag queens in public. Lawmakers have debated a proposal to ban universities from asking students their preferred pronouns and another penalizing school districts that use students chosen name and pronouns without parent permission.

Ohio lawmakers seek to put an end to police quotas

Ohios legislature has pursued these bills instead of repealing Ohios dormant same-sex marriage bans, removing antiquated HIV criminalization laws, passing a statewide conversion therapy ban, or prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination.

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Still, when asked in March whether Ohio is fostering an unfriendly climate for LGBTQ+ residents, DeWine said he disagrees with those who argue the state is unwelcoming.

Id disagree with that, I would totally disagree with that, said DeWine. I dont think we have done that. Look, you go back and look at everything that I have said as governor, in State of the State speeches and other times, this should be a welcoming state. We want everybody to come to Ohio and feel welcomed in the state.

Its a choice for me to leave

Lovejoy said he and members of his wifes family, which includes several others identifying within the LGBTQ+ community, each came to their own conclusion that now is the time to leave.

That choice comes from privilege, Lovejoy said. While facing marginalization as a member of the trans community, Lovejoy emphasized that being white, young and middle class has protected [him] in a lot of ways.

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I think theres something to be said about the fact that its a choice for me to leave it all, and its a hard one, Im having to scrimp money together to make it happen, he said. But, I still have enough resources to make that interstate move happen. Im not like a minor who cant move, and I feel really bad for those guys.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz joins NewsNation to discuss what may be the biggest legal setback yet for President Trumps mass deportation push. A federal judge in Texas  appointed by Trump himself  ruled that the president does not possess the lawful authority under the Alien Enemies Act to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country. This decision carries weight. In March, the Trump administration transferred 137 migrants through this judges district en route to a prison in El Salvador.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU)  The wife of the man accused of killing Jordan Beardshear in her Dakota Dunes apartment has changed her plea to no contest.

Reyna Castellanos is accused of aiding her husband, Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales, after he allegedly murdered Beardshear in 2023.

As a part of her plea change, in exchange for pleading no contest to her Class IIA felony charge of accessory to a felony and her class I misdemeanor charge of false report, her class IV felony accessory to a felony and class I misdemeanor charge of compounding a felony will be dropped.

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Prior to her sentencing, officials will conduct a presentence investigation, and Castellanos may face up to four years in prison, according to information in court documents.

Motion to change venue filed in Alias Reed murder trial

Castellanos was arrested in July for allegedly aiding her estranged husband, Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales, after he allegedly killed Jordan Beardshear in Dakota Dunes, S.D. on April 25, 2023. He is charged with first-degree murder, child neglect, and child abuse.

The news of her apparent involvement came after South Dakota Deputy Attorney Ernest Thompson filed a motion in Union County Court asking to admit a confession Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales allegedly made to Castellanos. That confession has since been admitted as evidence.

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Castellanos allegedly told officials she received a phone call from Castellanos-Rosales on April 26, 2023, where he asked her to drive him to different locations. She claimed she didnt know he had any involvement in Beardshears death and that she left him on a Sioux City highway.

Castellanos provided officials with her phone. They later found an audio file of a call she received from Castellanos-Rosales, where he admitted to killing Beardshear, court documents say.

When asked about her involvement again, Castellanos allegedly admitted that she took her husband to a residence in Jackson and brought him food. She then later took him to a Sioux City residence when he tried to flee the area, according to court documents.

Castellanos-Rosales was later apprehended in Mexico and turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service. His jury trial is scheduled to begin June 12.

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To view previous coverage of this case by KCAU 9, 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Completed in November 2023, the renovation of the Willows Courthouse in Glenn County achieved upgrades to the building without compromising the facilitys historic integrity.

Recognizing this achievement, the California Preservation Foundation recently awarded the renovation project with its Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation, which honors the best historic preservation projects in California. The foundation will honor this years recipients at an award ceremony on May 9 at the California Museum in Downtown Sacramento.

The renovated historic building is more efficient, secure

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Originally built in 1894 and located at 526 West Sycamore Street in Willows, the renovated and expanded historic courthouse consolidates court operations from three facilities in two cities, hearing all case types and providing a full range of court services to residents of Glenn County.

The renovation project not only increased operational efficiency for the court, but also improved security and seismic strength, and upgraded mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The buildings improved security features include entrance screening of all court users, and improved fire and life safety systems. The courthouses sustainability features include energy-efficient lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and water-efficient irrigation and plumbing systems.

The courthouse also has a self-help center, mediation and settlement spaces, and holding facilities for in-custody defendants.

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Expansion project preserved the historic nature of the building

After gaining title to the property from the county in 2011, the state Judicial Council acquired additional land to the rear of the building to construct the annex that allowed the court to consolidate its operations at one location.

The council, the court, and the construction vendors worked together to add a two-courtroom annex that would complement the original historic structure. As required by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards, the new two-story addition is compatible with the historic buildings size, scale, and architectural features but different enough to preserve the original buildings character.

The court is very pleased that the California Preservation Foundation has chosen to recognize and honor this unique historic courthouse renovation project that preserves the courthouses identity and its place as a central and iconic fixture of the City of Willows and the Glenn County community, stated Presiding Judge Donald Cole Byrd.

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Part of a statewide courthouse construction program

The courthouse renovation project was ranked as an Immediate Need in the judicial branchs capital-outlay plan, making it among the branchs highest-priority infrastructure projects. Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 35 new courthouse projects, with another 18 projects underway and in various stages.

These include new court facilities in both large and small counties, as well as urban and rural areas across the state.

For more information on the Willows Courthouse, visit the California courts website at www.courts.ca.gov/facilities-glenn.htm.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Officials with Windy Hollow Raceway Park say they will host three days of racing competition this weekend at the racing complex.

The Windy Hollow Raceway Park says on May 3, the dragway will host the First Annual Jr Royal. The event spotlights the Jr. Dragster division and will pay $1000 to the winner, $500 to runner up and $50 to semi-winners. The track will also kick off their WDRA Summit Sportsman Bracket Racing Series which includes Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Factory Street, Trophy, Motorcycle and the Junior Dragsters.

Planting season underway despite heavy rains, flooding

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We are excited to have bracket racing return to the drag strip. We really want to spotlight our Junior Dragsters this weekend. These kids race all over the country mostly for trophies. We want to pay them some big money this weekend. If I was 10 years old, and won a grandI would think I am on top of the world, said track promoter, Trevor Hutchins.

Officials say on May 4, Windy Hollow Speedway will have a Star Wars themed event for May 4. The event will include a $1 discount for fans wearing Star Wars Apparel. The Western Kentucky Saber Guild will also perform a Star Wars themed event during intermission. On track, the Speedway will feature $1000 to win for the Economies division plus Street Stock, Rusty Bolt, Mini Stock, Bomber, Crate Late Model and Crown Vic Oval racing. The track will also host ride alongs during intermission in retired NASCAR race cars.

Public asked to comment on Owensboro-Daviess County transportation projects

We have made a lot of improvements to the Speedway from re-configuring the banking, a barrier in turns 3 and 4, and a new front stretch fence to name a few, said track promoter, Trevor Hutchins.

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Officials say overnight primitive camping is available on both Friday and Saturday nights for those wanting to spend the weekend at the track.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  News 8 and the Connecticut Office of Tourism partnered to announce the winner of the Connecticut Pizza Capital Trail as voted on by fans and critics.

Modern Apizza was voted the best pizzeria in the state. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana came in second, ahead of Sallys Apizza, Zuppardis Apizza and BAR. See the top 20 vote-getters below.

Modern Apizza selling canned New Haven tap water

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The trail is a collection of the top 100 most celebrated independent pizza restaurants in Connecticut, aiming to guide visitors and pizza enthusiasts to where they can get some of the best pizza in the country.

This is exactly what we hoped to see, said Anthony Anthony, Chief Marketing Officer for the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism. Yes, New Haven made apizza put our pies on the map, but this list shows that Connecticuts passion for pizza runs statewide, from shoreline to the Notch, and everywhere in between. From charred crust to Greek-style pies, what unites all of these pizzerias is their local loyalty, generational roots, and the kind of pride you can taste in every bite.

Top 20 pizzerias

Modern Apizza, New Haven Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, multiple towns Sallys Apizza, multiple towns Zuppardis Apizza, West Haven BAR, New Haven Roseland Apizza, Derby Tonys Pizza, Willimantic Colony Grill, multiple towns Little City Pizza, Avon Domenics & Vinnies, multiple towns Pizzeria Marzano, Torrington Ernies Pizzeria, New Haven Little Rendezvous, Meriden Vero Cucino Rustico, Middletown Mangos Wood Fired Pizza Co, Mystic Pizza Palace & Restaurant, Old Saybrook Grand Apizza, multiple towns Mondo, Middletown Fuoco Apizza, Cheshire Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant, New Haven

Voting period

State officials said more than 13,000 votes were cast between March 14, National Pi Day, and May 1.

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To cast a ballot, voters selected up to ten pizzerias from a list of more than 900 restaurants or submit a write-in vote for a spot that may have been missed.

Where to find New Haven-style pizza outside of Connecticut

Eligibilty

To be eligible, restaurants must have a permanent brick-and-mortar location that can be featured on the Pizza Capital Trail map. Every independent pizzeria counts as one restaurant, regardless of how many locations that business may have. So, whether a pizzeria has one location or four, it will be represented as one entity in the voting and rankings.

Final rankings

The full list of the Top 100 pizzerias and the official Connecticut Pizza Capital Trail map will launch this fall, just in time for National Pizza Month in October.

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State officials said the final rankings will be determined through public voting and an expert panel of 10 food critics and influencers, ensuring that passionate pizza lovers and industry experts have a voice.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Amanda Zarate, who teaches theater at Wynnton Arts Academy, is the Muscogee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year.

The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which conducts MCSDs Teacher of the Year program, announced the winner Thursday night during its annual gala. A sellout crowd of more than 1,100 people attended the event in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

Each year, the staff at every MCSD school may nominate a teacher for this award. This years 54 nominees were announced in January during a ceremony in Legacy Hall at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

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MEEFs selection committee, comprising Columbus business and education leaders, evaluated the nominees applications to narrow the field to 10 semifinalists, announced in March.

The committee interviewed the semifinalists to determine three finalists, announced in April as MEEF and MCSD officials made surprise classroom visits.

Amanda Zarate, a theater teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy, right, gets a hug from Wynnton principal Jackie Mumpower after Zarate was surprised with the news April 8, 2025, that she has been selected as one of three finalists for the Muscogee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year award.

Then, to decide the winner, committee members observed the finalists teaching a lesson.

Why Amanda Zarate is MCSD Teacher of the Year

Selection committee chairman Josh Reynolds of TSYS described Zarates connection with her students as truly something special.

She brings a unique energy and empathy into her classroom that allows students to feel seen, heard and inspired, he said in MEEFs news release. Amanda meets each student where they are  with compassion, creativity and confidence. Its clear shes built a space where students feel safe to express themselves and are empowered to grow. Thats what stood out to the committee.

Amanda Zarate, a theater teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy, reacts to the news after she was announced as the Muscogee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year during the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation gala May 1 in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

Selection committee member and MCSD 2023 Teacher of the Year Tasha Morman observed Zarate teaching life skills through theater skills.

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Amanda goes far beyond the stage, using theater as a vessel to teach her students everything from communication and collaboration to confidence and critical thinking.

Amanda Zarate, a theater teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy, poses with Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation chairman Wes Kelley, left, and Muscogee County School District superintendent David Lewis after she was announced as the MCSD 2025 Teacher of the Year during the MEEF gala May 1 in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

Zarate, a former U.S. Army tank track mechanic, wrote in her application that she used the Armys values (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage) to inform her teaching philosophy.

As a theatre educator, my goal is to help students communicate and express themselves through theatre skills, she wrote. I believe all students are capable of achieving great things, regardless of their background. Eight years in, I take immense pride in creating a positive learning environment that engages students while respecting the many different ways they learn.

More about Amanda Zarates background

Originally from Illinois, Zarate came to Columbus as a soldier in the U.S. Army when she was stationed at Fort Benning.

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Zarate earned bachelors and masters degrees from Columbus State University. She is in a doctoral program there. Its a big change from working as a tank mechanic in the Army, where she was a specialist when was honorably discharged after four years of service.

Initially thinking she would become a theater performer, Zarate decided to become a theater teacher so she could have more stable working hours to be more available for her son as a single mother.

Zarate first wanted to teach in a high school, but she now enjoys all the hugs her K-5 students give her.

Amanda Zarate teaches theater at Wynnton Arts Academy in Columbus.

I didnt realize the amount of love and attention that the students at this level needed, she told the Ledger-Enquirer last month, when she was announced as a finalist for this award.

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Zarate cherishes her careers journey.

I think Im still going, she said. I just feel grateful to be able to share my ideas and to help teachers feel heard, help students feel heard.  There are so many grownups that dont know how to communicate. If I could help kids at this age feel like they can communicate better with their thoughts, their emotions, their ideas, then Ive done something.

Highlights of Amanda Zarates acceptance speech

During her acceptance speech Thursday night, Zarate told the crowd she grew up in a situation similar to the disadvantaged home life many of her students struggle to overcome.

Waiting on food stamps every month to get decent food in the house, she said. Devouring the breakfast pizza in elementary school because it was free. Wearing my brothers hand-me-down clothes. . . . Trying to keep my one pair of school shoes nice the whole year.

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Zarate used to be embarrassed about those circumstances.

Now, I own my childhood, she said. Its my strongest tool I have to connect with my students.

Amanda Zarate teaches theater at Wynnton Arts Academy in Columbus.

Connecting with her students in the fully committed way she feels they deserve, Zarate acknowledged, means sacrificing time elsewhere in her life, such as attending her sons activities or submitting her doctoral coursework on time.

If Im excelling at one thing, then something else is lacking, she said. . . . I am still learning, and I am still reaching for things to help make me a better person in every facet of my life.

Zarate addressed her son, Liam, my sweet boy, as she apologized for missing his school plays, awards days and little moments that Ill never get back.

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Im so sorry. Please know that no award, no recognition, will ever come before you in my heart. I love you, and Im learning to manage my time better so I can show up more  for you.

Zarate also spoke as a advocate for the arts in education.

The arts are not a side note in education; theyre a heartbeat, she said. In my classroom, students learn to express themselves, collaborate, take creative risks and build confidence. They find their voice, and they realize that their presence  their very existence  matters.

That is the power of the arts. And this moment, this honor, is not just about me; its about the value of arts education in every corner of our district.

What the nominees, semifinalists, finalists and winner received

During the gala, the nominees received a framed certificate of recognition and $100. The semifinalists received $500, and the finalists received $1,000. As the winner, Zarate received $5,000.

Amanda Zarate, a theater teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy, asked the crowd to dance with her following her acceptance speech after she was announced as the Muscogee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year during the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation gala May 1 in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

We are especially grateful to our generous supporters who enable MEEF to reward and recognize exceptional teachers, foundation chairman Wes Kelley of Brasfield & Gorrie said in the news release.

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The MCSD Teacher of the Year program sponsors are:

W.C. Bradley Company

Kinetic Credit Union

Synovus

This WORKS

Chancelight

Brasfield & Gorrie

Janet Davis

Hughston Clinic

Hecht Burdeshaw Architects

TSYS

Virtucom

Colony Bank

Columbus State University

Columbus Water Works

Freeman & Associates

Hall Booth Smith

Hughston Clinic

Muscogee Retired Educators Association

Outfront Media

Bill Reaves

Robinson, Grimes & Company

Spud Bowen & Associates

MEEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educational excellence by helping teachers who are innovative and exceptionally effective in the public schools of Columbus. Since it was established 29 years ago, the foundation has awarded more than $3.3 million to such educators through financial incentives in the Teacher of the Year program, the MEEF Grant program, the MEEF Endowment Fund and the Harvard Fellows program.

Amanda Zarate, a theater teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy, poses with former Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year award winners, MCSD officials and supporters after she was announced as the 2025 winner during the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation gala May 1 in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

MEEFs 2025 Teacher of the Year selection committee members are:
WINSLOW, Ind. (WEHT)  Tom Morrison served in the Army Infantry for a year and earned a Bronze Star.

He says memories flood back of fighting during the height of the Tet Offensive known as the surprise attacks on U.S. troops by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong.

In a pit like this, and there was a crew of us that were probably seven or eight of us in a mortar crew, says Morrison.

Going through photos its easy to tell how vividly Tom Morrison of Winslow can describe his service in the infantry with others across the U.S. and the world.

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At 25, Morrison left school at Oakland City College to join the First Infantry Division, Bravo Company in Vietnam.

Over one year  outside of building the occasional bunker and the daily sweep of the land during the day  nightly rounds surveying the dark for enemy mortars was just one of the jobs Morrison had.

You would go over there and set the gun up, shoot two rounds, and then turn around, shoot two more, says Morrison. You would do that for two hours, and then if you could back to sleep, good luck then theyd wake you up four hours later and get up and do it again. You do that every night.

Out of all those long, tedious nights firing off shells the night of July 19, 1968 is one where Morrison became a Bronze Star recipient.

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While on his way to fetch water to keep his guns barrel cool around 11 p.m., Morrison ran through enemy fire.

Youre thinking, I got to keep that gun, I got get that barrel cool, so I ran through stuff like that and eventually we got the gun going, says Morrison.

He eventually took down enemy targets as others were shooting him. Morrison has the medal to this day, keeping as a lifelong reminder of always looking out for his fellow infantrymen.

Somebody says, well, that was really brave. There was no bravery there, says Morrison. You were doing what you were trying to do and youre trying to protect all your buddies.

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Watch the video above to learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Friday that every American should be concerned about chilling suggestions from President Donald Trump's top border adviser that he could be arrested over guidance the Democrat issued to state employees about what to do if confronted by federal immigration agents.

Im not afraid, Evers said in the extraordinary video posted on YouTube. Ive never once been discouraged from doing the right thing and I will not start today.

At issue is guidance Evers' administration issued last month in response to state workers who asked what they should do if agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement show up at their offices.

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Evers' guidance advised them to contact an attorney immediately and ask the officers to return if an attorney is unavailable. The memo also advises state workers not to turn over paper files or give ICE officers access to computers without first consulting the state agency's attorney and not to answer questions from the agents.

The recommendations are similar to guidance that Connecticuts Democratic governor issued in January. The guidelines also mirror what the National Immigration Law Center and other advocacy groups have said should be done when immigration officials show up at a workplace.

Republican critics argued that the guidance was an order from Evers not to cooperate with ICE agents, an accusation the governor vehemently denied in Friday's video. The goal of the guidance was to give state employees clear, consistent instructions to ensure they have a lawyer present to help them comply with all applicable laws, Evers said.

He accused Republicans of lying about the guidance and spreading misinformation to fuel a fake controversy of their own creation.

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I havent broken the law, Evers said. I havent committed a crime and Ive never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes.

Tom Homan, Trump's top border adviser, was asked about the Evers memo by reporters outside the White House on Thursday. Homan said, Wait to see what's coming, when asked about the memo.

"You cannot support what were doing, and you can support sanctuary cities if thats what you want to do, but if you cross that line to impediment or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, thats a felony and were treating it as such, Homan said.

Some Republicans embraced the possibility of Evers being arrested. Republican Wisconsin state Rep. Calvin Callahan posted a fake image on social media showing Trump in a police uniform behind a grim-faced Evers in handcuffs outside of the state Capitol.

The comments from Homan and Evers' response come a week after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested at the courthouse on two felony charges. She is accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities by escorting him and his attorney out of her courtroom through the jury door last week after learning that federal officers were seeking his arrest.
(WFRV)  A man in southern Wisconsin had his cash bond set at $100,000 after allegedly chaining up an underage girl and being charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 64-year-old David Boyd is facing multiple charges following allegations of sexual assault and chaining a girl in a basement and not letting her leave.

On January 7, 2025, CPS received a report claiming an underage girl was sexually assaulted by her grand-godmothers boyfriend, identified as Boyd. The alleged assaults happened when the victim was between eight and nine years old, the complaint said.

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Authorities execute search warrants at two Wisconsin massage parlors amid prostitution allegations

The victim provided details to authorities of the alleged assaults. The complaint says a nurse practitioner found multiple scars on the victim, which the victim said were caused by Boyd using a knife on her.

Towards the end of February, the victim again spoke with authorities. She claimed that Boyd chained her arms to a pole in a basement. In the complaint, she also mentioned Boyd denied her food and was chained up long enough that she missed several days of school.

The complaint said she told authorities she drank water on the floor while she was chained up.

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On April 16, authorities executed a search warrant at a residence where they found items that were consistent with descriptions the victim provided. The complaint said there were chains found in the basement.

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Authorities said they made numerous attempts to speak with Boyd. Eventually, he reportedly agreed to come to the Brown Deer Police Department to talk.

Boyd is charged with:

Repeated sexual assault of a child Felony Up to 60 years in prison

Physical abuse of a child, use of a dangerous weapon Felony Up to six years in prison (can be increased by six due to using a dangerous weapon)

Trafficking of a child Felony Up to 40 years in prison

False imprisonment Felony Up to six years in prison

Repeated sexual assault of a child Felony Up to 60 years in prison



Court records show Boyd was in court on April 28 for his initial appearance. His cash bond was set at $100,000. The charges were field in Milwaukee County.

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Complaint: Former Appleton teacher allegedly had sex with student in schools parking lot

He is scheduled to be back in court on May 7 for a preliminary hearing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
(WFRV)  The woman convicted of deer poaching in several counties in eastern Wisconsin was sentenced on Friday to 30 days in jail and struck with multiple other punishments.

Man arrested in crash that killed beloved chiropractor in Wisconsin

Jessica Kroening of West Bend was in court Friday after pleading guilty on April 22 to the following charges:

Intentional contributing/delinquency of a child

Illegal shining of deer, elk, or bear Party to a crime modifier



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The charges stemmed from her poaching over 100 deer in Fond du Lac, Washington and Dodge Counties. Kroening was deemed to have shone lights at deer from a car, while three others shot them, harvested their heads and left them to rot.

Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriffs Office

Along with a 30-day jail sentence, Kroening must pay $1,000 in fines, while also being barred from owning any fishing or hunting license through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for three years.

Suspect in Wisconsin theft investigation arrested after barricading himself in closet for 4 hours

No additional information was provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
WISCONSIN (WFRV)  As the federal REAL ID deadline quickly approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reports that a significant majority of residents are ready.

According to a press release from WisDOT, more than 64% of Wisconsinites already have a REAL ID compliant driver license or ID card, well ahead of the May 7th federally enforced deadline.

DNR: Wisconsins general inland fishing season opens statewide on May 3

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Starting that day, WisDOT reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights or enter federal buildings.

Officials say the easiest and most common form of REAL ID is a driver license or state-issued ID with a start in the upper right corner.

Were ready. Over 3 million Wisconsinites already have a REAL ID, and many others have a passport or dont need one if theyre not flying. Tommy Winkler, DMV Administrator

Although DMV offices have seen an uptick in REAL ID appointments, many services can be handled online, by mail, or through third-party agents.

If you want a REAL ID before your license is up for renewal, the Driver License Guide on the DMV website is a great place to start. It walks through the documents needed and provides a printable checklist.

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Your trash is our treasure: Fox Valley Technical College students collect used electronics

The release says there is no extra charge for choosing a REAL ID-compliant card. If youre upgrading when you renew your license, youll pay the standard renewal fee, which is typically $34. If you upgrade outside your regular renewal period, the cost is $14 for a duplicate or replacement card.

Officials are reminding Wisconsinites that after you have applied, your REAL ID will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Be aware that the TSA will not accept the paper receipt as a valid ID, so be sure to give yourself enough time to receive your physical card before any upcoming travel.

For more information, visit wisconsindmv.gov/REALID.

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RAEFORD, N.C. (WBTW)  A 28-year-old man drown in a North Carolina river in April after saving the life of a little girl he had just met that day.

Brian Snowden, or as his family called him, Devilante, said he was loving and cared so much about people that he lost his life saving a 7-year-old girl whose name he didnt even know.

He lost his life at Drowning Creek on the Lumber River in North Carolina. His family said he had never been there, so he and his wife, along with other friends, decided to go.

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Snowden, who disappeared in the Lumber River near Wagram, was found on April 25, just a day after his disappearance.

Just minutes after arriving and enjoying some time in the water, the 7-year-old child slipped off the shoulders of another adult. Snowden, not thinking about his own life, saved the little girl and his wife, who jumped in to help.

He didnt even know her name or her age, Snowdens wife, Delilah, said. He just knew she needed help and he did just that. Without a second thought, without a What would happen to me? It was a little girl in trouble, and he knew somebody had to help her.

His brother-in-law, Devonte Wilson, told News13 that some parts of the creek are nearly 20 feet deep.

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The one thing that we are dealing with is that we dont understand, for you to have a heroic action, but then this isnt celebratory, Wilson said. Its hard to put a celebratory feel on it when youve lost someone behind that heroic action. It doesnt seem real.

Snowdens mother-in-law, Elana Bullard, said he loved kids, so it did not surprise her to hear that he died saving a child.

He loved kids. He didnt know this child, he had just me her that same day. He didnt know anything about this child, she said. He just saw a child in trouble, so it did not surprise me. He reacted in the manner in which I know he would.

* * *

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Eric Cooper is a multimedia journalist at News13. He joined the team in September 2024 and covers stories in the Pee Dee. He is a native of Cades in Williamsburg County and a proud graduate of Kingstree Senior High School and Benedict College. You can read more of his work here.

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LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  A woman was accused of child abuse on Thursday afternoon, four miles south of London, after deputies were sent in response to a complaint in the area.

The Laurel County Sheriffs Office posted on social media that deputies had been dispatched just before 1:45 p.m. on Thursday to Old Union Church Road in Laurel County, where Holley Strother, 19, was found, shortly before law enforcement contacted social services.

The 18-month-old reportedly had bruises on his face and back, authorities said.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Strother was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse of a child under age 12. She was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

The child abuse investigation remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH)  A woman was arrested after the Dime Bank in New London was robbed on Thursday afternoon, police said.

At approximately 1:03 p.m., Laetitia Perry, 46, allegedly entered the bank, handed the teller a note and left with an unknown sum of money.

Police searching for bank robbery suspect in Thompson

She was located and charged with second-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny.

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Police said the investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 860-447-1481.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman was charged in a Southaven shooting that left a victim in critical condition on Thursday.

Courtnie Williams, 34, of Southaven, was charged with domestic violence-aggravated assault.

Courtnie Williams (Courtesy of MPD)

On May 1, Southaven Police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of Clairborne Drive, but when officers arrived, they did not locate any victims at the residence.

During the investigation, it was determined that the suspect and victim left the residence before police arrived.

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Shots reported fired near Raleigh Millington Road

Memphis police located the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and leg at the intersection of Airways Boulevard and Shelby Drive. The victim was transported to Regional One in critical condition.

Police say they located her near the Memphis International Airport, and she was taken into custody.

Williams was taken to the Shelby County Jail to be extradited to Mississippi. Her bond has not been set.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  In May 2023, Shelba Berger made the choice to switch to a Craftmatic Adjustable Bed. Berger did a quick search and made a phone call, then spoke with a sales representative named Randy.

And he said, I have one (bed) in my warehouse,' Berger said. And, he said, The mattress and everything will come to around $2,800.'

Berger said Randy told her she would need to make a $500 down payment, which she did. Then, once she received the paperwork confirming her purchase, she paid the rest.

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Scammers finding luck with smishing scams; how to protect yourself

He said itd probably be three or four weeks, Berger said. This was in May. And of course, by October, November I did not have a bed.

Berger said months went by, and she never got the product she paid for. She continuously called Randy for help.

I couldnt get a hold of him, Berger said. And then, I would call the company and theyd say, Oh, he isnt in here today. It was just phone call after phone call after phone call.

Tired of waiting, Berger called the Better Business Bureau in southeast Florida. They confirmed the company has an F rating and a lot of unanswered complaints. She also called the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. Then, she called Better Call 4.

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Youre my last resort, she said.

Better Call 4 reached out to Craftmatic more than once but never got an answer. Then, Better Call 4 contacted the BBB serving southeast Florida. In an email, the BBB director of investigations said he made contact with the president of Craftmatic, who responded, That there was an issue with (Bergers) niece impersonating the customer, trying to cancel and getting a refund.'

Furniture retailer sued by Ohio for not delivering product, issuing refunds

Better Call 4 asked Berger about that.

So, I had a niece that was going to go to, was going to be in Florida and she said, I just might drop into their office, but she never got around to it, Berger said.

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Better Call 4 told the BBB that both women denied the claims and that the issue remains  Berger bought a bed and Craftmatic didnt deliver.

The BBB director responded: I have spoken with Craftmatic management and they are aware of the matter. BBB cannot force consumers or businesses to work with us. The consumers best option now may be to pursue restitution via a civil suit.

Better Call 4 passed that suggestion along to Berger and also reached out to Floridas Attorney General on her behalf, as Bergers complaint is just one of many.

Well keep you posted if there are any updates.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Prince William County police said a woman died after being rescued from a car following a crash in Woodbridge Thursday evening.

The woman was identified as 32-year-old Evangelina Castro.

Minutes before 7 p.m. on May 1, officers responded to the intersection of Dale Boulevard and Barksdale Street to investigate a crash.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Crash in Woodbridge cleared after impacting traffic for hours

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Their investigation revealed that a man was driving a Honda Civic on Dale Boulevard when he tried to make a left turn onto Barksdale Street, according to police. Thats when the Civic and another Honda collided in the intersection.

First responders removed Castro, a passenger, from the Civic. She was then taken to the hospital, where she died.

The driver of the Civic was also taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Prince William County police said the second driver stayed at the scene and was not hurt.

Officers shut down Dale Boulevard and Barksdale Street for over three hours as investigators and crews worked on the scene. All roads reopened to traffic early Friday morning.

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ATLANTA (AP)  Two women behind bars in Atlanta sued the state of Georgia on Friday over a recent law that added a cash bail requirement for more crimes, many of them misdemeanors.

The lawsuit accuses the state of violating people's constitutional rights to due process when they're accused of crimes that require cash bail due to last year's Senate Bill 63.

The law, which went into effect in July, requires cash bail for 30 additional crimes, 18 of which are always or often misdemeanors, including failing to appear for a traffic citation if it's not their first. Georgia requires cash bail for far more offenses than any other state and has one of the nation's highest rates of people in jail or prison.

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The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Southern Center for Human Rights, which filed the suit on behalf of the two women and a nonprofit group, estimate that tens of thousands of Georgians have and will be subject to the law if a judge doesn't rule it unconstitutional.

The law is keeping our jails full, separating people from their jobs, families, and homes, and all but guaranteeing that people leave worse than when they came in, said Lachlan Athanasiou of the Southern Center for Human Rights in a statement. Its difficult to think of a more backwards policy.

The lawsuit argues that the law prevents judges from considering whether cash bail is actually needed to ensure that people accused of crimes appear in court or dont pose any public safety risk, which was the original purpose of bail.

Republicans who supported the measure have argued that people let out of jail without bail are less likely to show up for court than those who have paid to get out of jail, although national studies contradict that claim. They also said judges could still set low bails.

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If you commit a crime, you have to be accountable for that and show back up to your hearing," said Republican Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch after the lawsuit was filed.

Since the bill was proposed, advocates warned it would hurt low-income and minority groups, who are less likely to have the means to pay cash bail. Those individuals may spend months behind bars awaiting court dates while people charged with the same offense walk free if they can afford to.

Unwarranted pretrial detention based on a persons inability to pay cash bond is unjust to those presumed innocent, wrongly punishing poverty and harming communities and families," the lawsuit said, adding that it can cause instability in housing, employment and family care.

The two women who filed the suit are currently incarcerated inside Georgia's Fulton County Jail, which has been the target of a federal probe due to its filthy living quarters and the in-custody death of a man whose body was found covered in insects. Sierrah Coronell was arrested in February on four charges, including drug possession and obstructing a police officer, and cannot afford to pay her $600 cash bond. She missed her daughter's 15th birthday and Easter with her five kids. She was their primary caregiver, but now they're living with their father.

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Diane Holsey worked at Burger King and helped take care of her grandchildren. Since she was arrested in April on two charges, including battery, Holsey has missed out on making money and could lose her job. She cannot afford her $4,000 cash bond or a $400 deposit required by a bondsman.

Nonprofit Women on the Rise also joined the suit. The organization provides services to women who would otherwise go to jail, but the law keeps many of them detained.

The law also limited the number of cash bonds that people or organizations, such as churches or charitable funds, can post to three per year unless they meet the same requirements bail bond companies do. A judge temporarily blocked that part of the law last year after Atlanta-based nonprofit Barred Business Foundation sued, arguing it was unconstitutional.

The law, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, was a reversal on criminal justice reform in Georgia, a priority of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Legislation passed almost unanimously in 2018 let judges release most people accused of misdemeanors without bail  part of a set of reforms that Deal said would combat unnecessary incarceration, make sure kids grew up with parents in the home and save taxpayer money.

___

This story was first published on May 2, 2025. Its headline was updated on May 6, 2025, to clarify that the law added cash bail requirements for certain charges, not just misdemeanors.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Officials with the Department of Human Services say Arkansans with Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, or EBT cards, need to keep an eye out for scammers trying to steal their money.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, helps more than 125,000 low-income families in Arkansas put food on the table.

Federal, state program helps Arkansans who had their SNAP benefits lost due to scam

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The Adams family in Montgomery County is one of many.

Weve been using SNAP on and off for about 10 years now, David Adams said.

This week, the family is preparing for their monthly grocery run, three days early.

Now its like use or lose, Angela Adams said.

Its a rather unique motto the family has adopted for their monthly food budget, but these parents say its better to be safe than sorry.

When youre standing in line at Walmart and you got about $200 worth of groceries, and [all of a sudden] theres a dollar on your card, you [are caught off guard], David Adams said.

In the last six months, the Adams say their SNAP Benefits have been stolen twice. First in October of 2024, then again in March of this year.

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Each time its at least a few hundred bucks, and it happens just hours after the money hits their account.

It can be hard to sit there and see your child be hungry and not being able to do anything about it, Angela Adams said.

Can you spot a credit card skimmer? What to look for

In 2024, DHS said more than 1,100 Arkansas families reported having their SNAP benefits stolen, totaling more than $550,000.

Its a big impact, DHS County Operations Director Mary Franklin said.

DHS officials said the thieves are stealing funds using card skimmers.

The device is placed on top of a traditional card reader and can copy your card number and your PIN.

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Theyre about to use that information to steal your benefits, Franklin said.

Most people wont even notice the device other than a slight difference in sizing.

Police say the best way to check is to give the card reader a slight tug. If its fake, itll usually pop right off.

Theres a real scammer out there somewhere that knows what theyre doing, Angela Adams said.

In 2024, the federal government was replacing any benefits stolen, but the legislation that allowed for that expired in December.

DHS has a list of precautions EBT cardholders can take:

Keep your PIN a secret, dont pick something common or easy to guess

Change your PIN often

Check your EBT account regularly for any suspicious charges and report them to the local police

DHS will never reach out via email, social media, or text to ask for a PIN

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It was just devastating, Angela Adams said.

Angela said her familys budget is stretched thin. Last month, she visited food pantries and local churches just to get by.

The family is hoping that by sharing their story, others can follow suit and take the necessary precautions to make sure no one goes hungry.

When you start messing with the kids, thats when you cross the line, David Adams said.

SNAP fraud is happening across the country. Some states are looking into EBT cards with a chip for more secure payments.

SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas?

DHS officials say this is something it is looking into but likely wont be rolled out for at least another year.

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Working4You reached out to Senator Tom Cottons office to ask if Congress is looking to reinstate the reimbursement program. We are still waiting to hear back.

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Raucous applause welcomed Ziauddin Yousafzai as he walked up to the podium in the Siempre in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday.

Though hes an educator and New York Times bestselling author, Yousafzai acknowledged that he is best-known for his daughter, Malala, who is an advocate for girls education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The world knows me as Malalas father. First, she was my daughter, but now Im her father, and Im so proud of this introduction  being known as father in patriarchal society, he said.

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Yousafzai was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Bellwether International Annual Fundraising Gala, and he helped the organization highlight reasons for hope in a violent world.

Preventing genocide

Bellwether International is a nonprofit focused on creating genocide-resistant societies and disrupting the genocide cycle. Its executive director, Rachel Miner, founded the organization while she was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University.

Miner told the galas attendees that Bellwether Internationals research shows, on average, genocides occur every two and a half years and that theyre a premeditated act.

Genocide is always premeditated. Its always planned. Thats really morbid and gruesome, but its also why we have hope. If its planned, its preventable. If its premeditated, its preventable, Miner said Tuesday.

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Per its five-year report, Bellwether hopes to create a world where governments can prevent genocide (top-down), and individuals resist genocide (bottom-up) to create peaceful and plural societies.

It does that through its Bellwether Method, which consists of providing trauma healing to genocide survivors through cognitive behavioral therapy, implementing economic empowerment initiatives and advocating for religious tolerance by working with governments.

Yousafzai first became acquainted with Miner and Bellwether at an interfaith and genocide art competition.

His nonprofit, the Malala Fund, which he founded with his daughter in 2013, has since partnered with Bellwether International.

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Rachel is spiritually qualified to do this job, Yousafzai said. This womans heart is full of love for humanity.

Rachel Miner, Bellwether International founder and CEO, speaks at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Another longtime Bellwether friend also spoke at the gala: MP Brendan OHara from the UK Parliament, who is also a human rights spokesperson for the Scottish National Party.

OHara recounted his first trip with Miner to Warsaw, Poland, which took place just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. He described running through department stores and childrens clothing stores with Miner, attempting to buy 300 pairs of childrens underwear for Ukrainian refugee children.

In crisis, people show who they are, and in that crisis, I saw the Bellwether way, he said.

Following Malalas example

During his remarks on Tuesday, Yousafzai gave the backstory of Malala, who has taken after her namesake, folk heroine Malalai of Maiwand.

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Malalai of Maiwand was a teenage girl who rallied fighters during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Before becoming a father, Yousafzai saw a portrait of Malalai in a friends home.

The fact that Malalai of Maiwand had her own identity and voice stood out to Yousafzai. He thought to himself that if he was a father in the coming years, he would name his daughter after Malalai.

I had this girl in my mind that shed be known by her own name and shed have her voice, he said.

Malala has gone on to raise her voice and advocate for the right to education  and she nearly lost her life for that cause.

Malala became an education activist as a child after the Taliban took over Swat Valley, where the Yousafzai family lived, and prohibited girls from attending school. In 2012, when she was just 15 years old, Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman.

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She was able to recover and continue her work. In just the past three years, the Malala Fund raised $65 million thats been invested in countries where the number of out of school girls is the highest, Ziauddin Yousafzai said, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria.

According to him, Pakistan has six million girls out of secondary school. Nigeria has five million out of school, Ethiopia has two million and Brazil has 600,000.

By speaking out, Malala went from being a voice for 50,000 girls to now 122 million out of school girls, her father said.

When your rights are violated, you should be the first person to speak up, Yousafzai said.

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Before concluding his remarks, Yousafzai posed a question to the audience.

Do you want to be poor with rich values or rich with poor values? I will go for the first one, he said.

Bellwether International has three trips planned in the coming months to Bosnia, Cambodia and Cape Town, South Africa, as it continues its mission to prevent genocide.
WELLINGTON (Reuters) -The majority of severe weather warnings across New Zealand have now been lifted, according to New Zealand government weather forecaster Metservice on Friday.

New Zealands capital city of Wellington was hit by the strongest winds in more than a decade on Thursday, closing schools and offices and cancelling flights. Farther south, in the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island, heavy rains caused flooding and landslides, forcing a few people to evacuate.

Both Christchurch City and Selwyn District remain in states of emergency as there was still surface flooding and road closures. However, Selwyn District Council said in a Facebook post that the worst of the weather was over.

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Wellington International Airport had reopened, although local news organization Stuff reported that not all planes had managed to land. Images on local news sites showed rocks and debris littering the road along the citys south coast and waves continuing to break over the sea walls.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office said on a post on Facebook that it continued to advise people not to travel unless necessary.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer in WellingtonEditing by Matthew Lewis)
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  The Wynn Hospital in Utica has lifted their visitor restrictions for the Maternal Child and Pediatric wards.

The hospital said in an announcement that the restrictions on visitors to those two wards were to better protect patients and employees from various illnesses, including the flu and RSV. The hospital has said the New York State Department of Health, as well as leaders from the Mohawk Valley Health System Maternity group, found these illnesses to no longer be prevalent.

Visitation regulations will now be as follows:

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In the Labor and Delivery unit, two support persons, including a doula if requested, may accompany the patient throughout the delivery period until their discharge home. These persons must wear a green bracelet; there is no switching out of support persons.

The persons may be the patents spouse, partner, sibling, parent or any other persons over the age of 16. Those two persons may be with the patient outside of regular visiting hours.

After delivery, two more persons may visit the patient until they are transferred to the hospitals Mother and Baby Unit. Only four total people are allowed in the room at one time.

In the Mother and Baby Unit, visiting hours will be from 8 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, with a designated quiet time from 2 pm to 4 pm. During these hours, the two support people from Labor and Delivery and another two visitors may be on the unit.

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Siblings of the newborn will be allowed to visit with an adult visitor. However, they may not be left unattended with the mother. Only four total visitors will be allowed in the mothers room at one time.

In the Neonatal ICU, visiting hours will be from 8 am to 8 pm. All adult visitors must be accompanied by their primary caregiver and show proper ID.

Grandparents may visit without parents if they have been given written permission by the primary caregiver on the visitation form. Grandparents will not be allowed to bring any visitors with them.

A total of two adult visitors  one of those being the primary caregiver  will be allowed at the bedside of each newborn at any time. This is in addition to a minor sibling.

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Siblings will be allowed to visit with an adult, but may not be left unattended with the caregiver. Only one parent will be able to stay overnight with the newborn.

Visitors to the Neonatal ICU may be asked about the presence of symptoms from flu, COVID or RSV.

In the Pediatric Unit, the patient shall designate two support persons over 16 years old at the time of admission. Those persons will be permitted to visit the patient with the parents present. Siblings of the patient are allowed to visit with an adult during normal visiting hours.

The hospital has advised that if visitors feel ill, they should stay home and delay their visit until they feel better.

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For more information on visitation, you are encouraged to visit the MVHS website.

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Juan Domiguez-Garcia killed his pregnant girlfriend Rosaly Rodriguez, 24, in July 2020

The remains of Rodriguez were found in a suitcase three months later, and it took a year for authorities to identify her

Dominguez-Garcia was charged in Dec. 2021, but police did not track him down until Nov. 2023



The man who killed Rosaly Rodriguez was sentenced on Friday, nearly five years after killing her and their unborn child.

Juan Dominguez-Garcia, 27, will serve 25 years in prison and another 15 years of supervised release after pleading no contest to a single charge of first-degree reckless homicide, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. The maximum sentence would have been 60 years.

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Wisconsin prosecutors agreed to drop charges of hiding a corpse and intentional homicide of an unborn child in exchange for Dominguez-Garcia's no contest plea.

In addition to his prison sentence, court records show that Dominguez-Garcia will also be required to pay $10,141.09 in restitution for his crime.

Rodriguez went missing in July 2020, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office.

Three months later, in October 2020, her body was found stuffed in a suitcase at an abandoned farm.

It then took another year for authorities to identify Rodriguez because of the condition of her remains.

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.

Related: At 18, He Killed a Woman by Hurling Rocks at Car, Then Took a Pic of Wreck as She Lay Dying. He Will Now Serve 45 Years in Prison

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In December of 2021, Dominguez-Garcia was officially named as a suspect in the case, but by then he was long gone.

Two years later, and more than three years after Rodriguez's death, Dominguez-Garcia was finally arrested in Missouri.

The Gladstone Police Department were able to apprehend Dominguez-Garcia during a routine traffic stop.

In a release, the GPD said that officers pulled Dominguez-Garcia over because his car had stolen plates.

Officers then discovered that Dominguez-Garcia had several identification cards under multiple names, so they pried a bit deeper into and eventually learned they had just pulled over a murder suspect who had been on the run for over three years.

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He was then taken into custody in Missouri before being extradited to Wisconsin.

In January, Dominguez-Garcia agreed to the deal with prosecutors. He will soon be transferred to a state prison to serve his sentence.

The judge did give him credit for the 525 days he has already served in prison.

Lawyers for Dominguez-Garcia and the Chippewa County District Attorney's Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Read the original article on People
The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV media outlet has reported that seven US strikes hit the Ras Isa oil port in al-Salif district in Hodeidah in the last few hours, where a US strike at the same port last month killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 in one of the deadliest attacks on the country byUS forces.

Earlier Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching two missiles towards northern Israel, targeting the Ramat David military airbase and the Tel Aviv area, as the group continues its military pressure in solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli fire.

The Israeli military said on Friday it intercepted the first missile and launched another interceptor at the second, which was also fired from Yemen.

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Alarms were triggered in several locations, though authorities reported no casualties or damage. The military added that the outcome of the second interception was still under review.

Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthis  also known as Ansar Allah  confirmed the group had carried a military operation against a key Israeli military target.

Saree said hypersonic missiles were used and had successfully hit their intended destination.

The Israeli army responded that interception attempts were made without providing further details.

The Houthi group has repeatedly said its attacks on Israel as well as United States and British ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait will only cease if Israel agrees to a permanent Gaza truce.

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The Houthis did not carry out attacks during the Gaza ceasefire earlier this year until Israel blocked all aid into the besieged enclave in early March and followed that with a full resumption of the war.

Growing civilian death toll

The attacks come as the US escalates its military operations in Yemen.

On Friday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth extended the USS Harry S Trumans deployment in the Middle East for an additional week, ensuring two carrier strike groups remain operational in the region, a Pentagon official confirmed anonymously to The Associated Press news agency.

Since March, the US has launched large-scale attacks not only on infrastructure but increasingly on individuals linked to the Houthi leadership.

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Civilian casualties are mounting, with UK-based monitor Airwars estimating between 27 and 55 civilians were killed in March alone, and suggesting Aprils toll is even higher.

On Monday, at least 68 people were killed in the overnight strike on detained African migrants, and eight people were killed around the capital, Houthi media reported.

Rights advocates have been alarmed about the growing civilian death toll. Three US Democratic senators recently wrote to Hegseth, demanding an accounting of civilian lives lost.

Strikes pose a growing risk to the civilian population in Yemen, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday. We continue to call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) OSHA is investigating the death of a contractor after they reportedly fell from the roof at the Utz Potato factory in Hanover.

According to Ted Czech, the public information officer for the York County Office of Emergency Management, officers from the Hanover Borough Police Department responded to a call claiming an individual had fallen approximately 25 feet off the factory roof at 900 High Street in Hanover.

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Czech said the York County Coroners office responded to the scene at 8:55 a.m.

Utz issued a statement after the incident, saying that a third-party contractor working on-site suffered a fatal fall.

We are deeply saddened to report that a tragic accident occurred today at Utzs 900 High Street, Hanover, Pennsylvania, facility. A third-party contractor working on-site suffered a fatal fall. Hanover Borough Police and Emergency responders arrived promptly to provide emergency assistance. Our hearts go out to the individuals family, friends, and colleagues during this

incredibly difficult time. At this moment, we ask for respect and privacy for those affected. Statement from Utz Brands

The York County Coroners Office said a sub-contractor was setting up scaffolding to do work on the roof when he fell through a skylight into a loading dock area below.

The name of the victim and their employer were not immediately available. The Coroners Office only identified him as a 34-year-old man.

An autopsy is set for Monday.

OSHA is investigating and says more information on the investigation will be provided as it becomes available.

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This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said a New York man has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud and tax evasion.

The AGs office stated that 72-year-old Joseph Schwartz of New York pleaded guilty to felony Medicaid fraud and felony attempt to evade or defeat tax. He was sentenced to 12 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections with a 48-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $1,801,620.53 in restitution.

Two Arkansas women arrested on fraud and exploitation charges

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Schwartz was the president and owner of Skyline Healthcare LLC, which operated multiple nursing homes in Arkansas. Officials said that the man submitted false and misleading information to impact per diem rates paid to the nursing homes.

Schwartz did not pay insurance premiums for his employees and would neglect grocery billsleading to nursing home employees having to buy food for residents. Officials said he also listed himself as an employee of multiple homes and drew a salary from that.

Schwartz didnt just take advantage of our vulnerable population, he also preyed on Arkansans who worked in his facilities, Griffin said. By submitting false information to manipulate Medicaid payments and failing to turn over employee tax withholdings, he betrayed the trust placed in him as an employer and the owner of those nursing homes.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces arrest of father-son pair for Medicaid fraud

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Two of the Skyline homes were later placed in receivership by the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration (DFA), the AGs office stated, adding that Schwartz also did not pay taxes to DFA despite withholding funds from employees paychecks.

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ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WETM)  The recent $254 billion New York State budget, announced on Monday, April 28, includes an initiative to ban cell phone use in public schools across the state.

According to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, starting September 2025, all public schools will implement policies prohibiting students from using cell phones during the entire school day. It comes as the budget has been agreed upon, but New York State Lawmakers have not yet passed anything. Superintendent of the Elmira Heights School District Michael Gill raised the issue of allowing students access to their phones during off time.

Students locking away cell phones in pouches at Elmira Middle School

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I think theres an argument for what happens during free time, like during lunch, should students be allowed to have access. I know some schools have already moved forward on this initiative, and thats their model, between classes, or at their lunch, they have access to them, Gill said. I dont see a reason why that wouldnt be reasonable.

Senior, Maycie Bennett at Thomas A. Edison High School disagreed with the initiative saying that students should be able to contact friends and family and use phones for educational purposes. She further added that teacher discretion should be used.

I think, in study halls, lunches, and free periods students should be allowed on their phones and then in classes when teachers are teaching it shouldnt be allowed, but while theyre doing work, it should be up to the teacher if they can use them, Bennett said.

Agreement reached on 2026 NYS budget

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Superintendent Gill mentioned Elmira Heights School District having guidelines for cell phone uses. Eighth-grade students and below must keep their phones stowed away during the school day to ensure theyre not distracted and can access them afterward. For high schoolers, Gill says there are flexible guidelines according to the individual teacher. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Douglas of the Horseheads Central School District noted that the district already addresses cell phone issues and will wait to see what Governor Hochul decides regarding the cell phone policy.

According to Gov. Hochul the budget will allocate $13.5 million to the school districts within the state to acquire things for the initiative. Gill said the funding might not be enough.

If its one lump sum, $13 million sounds like a lot, but when you spread that across 700 schools with varying size, well have to see what that number does and what were expected to do with that money. I would prefer an option of having guidelines where we dont have to spend further taxpayer money on things like this, maybe push those back to more academically focused and allow schools to handle those guidelines with those directions locally, said Gil.

Governor and NYS Senate differ on school cell phone ban policy

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Below is a statement from Hillary Austin, Superintendent of Schools Elmira City School District:

At the Elmira City School District, weve already taken proactive steps in this direction by implementing a no-cell-phone initiative for grades 7 and 8 at Ernie Davis Academy with Yondr pouches. This effort has shown early signs of positive impact on student engagement. Weve already done planning for some expansion of this initiative through the budgeting process for next year. We are hopeful to see additional financial resources that will support broader implementation.

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks with reporters in Richmond on May 2, 2025. (Photo By Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

What began as a session focused on how to spend Virginias projected multi-billion surplus has ended with Gov. Glenn Youngkin yanking nearly $900 million out of the state budget  bracing for the economic aftershocks of President Donald Trumps new administration.

At the start of the 2025 legislative session both Youngkin and members of Virginias General Assembly had their eyes on how best to use the windfall. But after Trump took office in late January, Youngkin announced Friday that he was setting aside a $900 million cushion to prepare for potential federal impacts.

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A good portion of the money stems from cutting one-time capital projects at colleges and universities and other public facilities which Youngkin said are still in the planning stages and havent yet entered construction.

Amid Trumps cuts to federal workers, congressional plans to trim federal funding, and fresh tariffs rattling international trade, Youngkin has repeatedly emphasized short-term risks and short-term disruptions as reasons to hold back spending.

As President Trump rightfully resets trade imbalances and restores fiscal responsibility in DC, Youngkin said as he announced he was signing the state budget on Friday. Those short term disruptions, I think, require us to be responsible and not spend 100% of this forecasted surplus today.

House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, commended Youngkins actions as prudent in a statement issued on Friday. He added that Virginia is better positioned to weather whatever comes next.

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Senate Majority Leader Scott Surrovell, D-Fairfax expressed frustration in a call with reporters Friday afternoon.

Im glad to see the governor is finally agreeing with us that the Virginia economy has some serious risk due to the actions of President Trump and Elon Musk, Senate Surovell said on the call following Youngkins announcement.

However, he criticized Youngkin for not conferring with lawmakers on his budget cuts.

He should have had a dialogue with us during the session so he could try to reach a mutual understanding or compromise about it, instead of showing up at the last minute, $900 million out of our budget, Surrovell said.

Signed and vetoed bills

Meanwhile, the governor may have pleased many lawmakers by deciding to sign bills he had previously tried to alter.

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When the legislature convened last month to review his amendments, they chose not to accept many of the amendments or substitutions he proposed when they sent the bills back to him for final signature or veto. Theyd also accepted his recommendations in part on some of the bills as well.

There are a lot of bills that I think are very interesting that I hadnt seen before that we tried to make a little better, Youngkin said. Didnt get the amendments passed, but Im going to sign them because I think they actually are pretty decent bills.

For instance, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico saw several of his returned bills signed to include an overhaul of Standards of Learning testing procedures and a bill to require social media companies verify the age of users and place time limits for minors under 16. Delegates Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax and Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, respectively carried the House versions of the bills.

The governor also vetoed bills that had been sent back to him with his amendments rejected.

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Such was the case with proposals from Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, that would create a right to contraception in Virginia. The lawmakers have stressed in recent years that state-level protections could be needed if two U.S. Supreme Court cases upholding contraception rights were overturned.

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, the federal case that had protected abortion access, Justice Clarence Thomas expressed interest in revisiting the courts previous contraception rulings. While his counterparts have not signaled similar interest, some states have sought to restrict contraception, while others have worked to shore up protections.

Like last year, Youngkin tried to amend Hashmi and Prices bills to line up with the Supreme Court, which the lawmakers said gutted the bills and missed the point. The Democratic-controlled legislature rejected his substitute, and he later rejected their bills altogether  just as he did this year.

Other budget bits

Meanwhile, on Friday, Youngkin celebrated some of the ways the state budget will support people, including investments in maternal health, which drew cheers from attendees. Both Youngkin and Democratic lawmakers had emphasized the need for legislation and funding to address maternal health disparities in the state, and the governor has already backed several bills carried by Democrats as well.

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The budget also includes $50 million for disaster response relief in Southwest Virginia and $50 million for community flood protection funding. A years-long effort  which had previously failed  to budget $50 million to overhaul Richmonds combined sewage overflow system survived this time around.

Following Richmonds water crisis earlier this year, when water treatment plant failures left the region with unsafe drinking water for nearly a week, Youngkin also announced plans to invest $25 million in drinking water infrastructure.

He received applause from the audience when he mentioned the budgets investment in education  $834 million in public education, which includes lifting support caps, investments for English language learners, investment in special education, and $7.5 million earmarked to help reduce child care waitlists. Theres also $134 million, he said, to fund much deserved bonuses for our teachers.

Youngkin also emphasized that the budget includes funding for Medicaid  a program that may still face some jeopardy in the state amid federal actions. Should congress cut federal spending, Virginias 2018 expansion, which affects roughly 630,000 people, could be at risk.

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Some lawmakers have suggested that a special session might be needed to figure out how to cover those costs if that happens, while Youngkin said Friday he believes there are ways to streamline the programs operations in the state to look for waste, fraud and abuse.

As its his final year as governor, Youngkin said he plans to address his cuts to capital projects in a caboose budget later this year. In that proposal he can outline what he envisions the legislature with as they head into the 2026 legislative session under whoever the new governor ends up being.

We can postpone the final appropriation for these very worthy projects and enable the General Assembly to take it back up in January, Youngkin said. I would really like to include them in my introduced caboose budget, and then the General Assembly can get to work.





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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Friday that he would trim Virginia's budget by $900 million in light of next year's tax revenue projections, which could decrease as the White House's reshaping of federal spending spurs economic uncertainty in the state.

At a news conference, Youngkin announced he had signed the bipartisan budget bill adopted in February by the Virginia General Assembly but vetoed 37 line items, winnowing state spending to create a rainy day cushion.

Youngkin said that while he still supported President Donald Trumps culling of federal spending and dramatic reshaping of global trade through tariffs, he also acknowledged that the changes could hurt Virginia in the short term.

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The Presidents actions to reset fiscal spending and reset unbalanced trade relationships are expected to have some impact in the near term on not only the Virginia workforce, but also the revenues that we collect, he said. Therefore, this ($900 million trim) is prudent, sound budgeting, putting the Commonwealth in a strong, dynamic position.

The cuts mainly sever funds allotted for 10 capital projects for higher education institutions, Youngkin said, adding that he also cut funding for long-term investment projects that could be funded under existing appropriations.

The budget vetoes also scrap funds for a public-private partnership for child care, Youngkin said. The governor described the amendment as an innovative idea but not ready for prime time yet. He said he hoped the legislature would take up the amendment again next year.

Youngkin's announcement comes after he proposed in late March more than 200 amendments to the Virginia House budget bill that would have cut the proposed state spending provisions by $300 million.

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Youngkins edits, however, were largely ignored by Democrats who have majorities in both chambers. After they returned to Richmond for a one-day session, lawmakers accepted about 30 of Youngkins proposed budget revisions and scrapped the remaining amendments.

According to Virginia law, Youngkin can outright veto the budget or line-item veto parts of the legislation after lawmakers reconvene, though his ability to scrupulously edit the text becomes limited. In light of this constraint, Youngkin opted to veto capital projects and ultimately sliced the state's spending plan by triple the amount he had initially proposed.

The line-item veto authority for a governor, unfortunately, is a blunt instrument, Youngkin said, adding: Oftentimes, when you use a line-item veto in the context of a budget, it takes away lots of other things, and it has unintended consequences.

House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert said in a statement that he wished Democrats had cooperated with Youngkin's $300 million worth of cuts, but he was ultimately pleased with the governor's actions Friday.

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Thanks to the Governors conservative leadership, Virginia is better positioned to weather what comes next, Gilbert said in a statement. I encourage my Democratic colleagues to join us in putting the Commonwealths fiscal health ahead of political games.

Democrat Luke Torian, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said: While todays budget signed by Governor Youngkin does not include every priority we fought for, it reflects the determined efforts of House and Senate Democrats to deliver meaningful progress for Virginians.

The budget bill is one of 91 remaining bills that Youngkin said he has until the end of the day Friday to either sign, veto or allow to become law without his action. Those bills landed on his desk after lawmakers rejected his amendments to the legislation in April.

There are bills that I have vetoed before that were vetoing again, Youngkin said on the remaining legislation he is taking up. "There are a lot of bills that I think are very interesting, that I hadnt seen before, and that we tried to make a little better. Didnt get the amendments passed, but Im still going to sign them."

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___

Olivia Diaz 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.
RICHMOND  Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the budget bill Friday with 37 line-item vetoes, amounting to $900 million in cuts. He cited potential financial instability based on tariffs and workforce reductions at the federal level.

We understand that as we head into fiscal year 2026, there are short-term risks to that projected surplus, he said, referring to previous projections which calculated a $3.2 billion budget surplus over two years. We all know that as President Trump rightfully resets trade imbalances and restores fiscal responsibility in DC, there are short-term disruptions  (that) require us to be responsible and not spend 100% of this forecasted surplus.

The bulk of the cuts, totaling $691 million, will come from a package of 10 one-time capital projects appropriated for colleges and universities. Youngkin said the projects were overwhelmingly in the planning stages and had not yet begun construction.

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These projects are good projects, he said. They should be funded. And we are providing the General Assembly the opportunity in January to pick them back up, and they will be able to use either cash resources or bonding to ensure these projects continue on their current timeline.

Senate majority leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, took issue with how those cuts were communicated.

(Youngkin) gave us zero heads up about what he was doing or why he was doing it, Surovell said. None of this was discussed during session. Its not the way to run a commonwealth, and its very disappointing and aggravating that were going to have almost a billion dollars cut out of our budget.

Youngkin previously included an amendment to the budget that would put an additional $300 million beyond the required deposit into the Senates rainy day fund. That amendment was not accepted by the Democrat-controlled state legislature.

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The $900 million in cuts wont go into the revenue reserve fund; rather, that portion of the budget surplus is simply unappropriated.

Youngkin said other cuts would include things such as a private-public child care partnership and long-term water infrastructure investments. The governor said the former was not yet ready for prime time, and the latter had alternative funding.

I just encouraged everyone to use existing appropriations in order to fund those things, he said. Theres other areas where there is already money existing, and it hasnt been used.

Youngkin said he would approve the other 135 items the legislature returned to him unchanged.

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Included in the budget would be $25 million for drinking water infrastructure and $12 million for maternal health investments. On the education front, Youngkin said there would be about $223 million to lift the support staff cap, $111 million for English language teachers, $53 million in additional funds for special education and an additional $134 million for teacher bonuses.

Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a phone conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to discuss the steps needed to increase support and unity around Ukraine, as well as further investments in the Ukrainian defence industry.

Source: a statement by the Ukrainian President's Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy informed the Danish PM about the results of the diplomatic efforts of the teams of Ukraine, the United States and European countries to achieve a complete, unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just and sustainable peace.

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He stressed that Ukraine immediately supported the American proposal, and it is now important to maximise sanctions pressure on Russia to force it to move towards peace.

Zelenskyy and Frederiksen also discussed continued direct investment in Ukraine's defence industry and current military needs, including additional air defence systems.

The parties also discussed cooperation in various multilateral formats, primarily within the coalition of the willing.

The Danish PM assured Zelenskyy of her full support and readiness to make every effort to achieve peace in Ukraine.

Background:

Earlier, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine would not agree to "peace at any price" and named red lines in the peace talks that "remain clear and unchanged".

He also said that Russia is using new hybrid tactics, pushing a "truce" that is in fact a mockery of the peace efforts of the US and other partners.

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EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated to correctly state the height of the zipline.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE)  Americas longest zipline has opened in Pigeon Forge, named the MegaZip. The 5,771-foot-long zipline launches from an elevation of 2,472 feet and drops over 1,000 feet over the course of the ride.

The attraction is a new addition to WildSide Adventure Park, which opened its doors six months ago.

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Places like WildSide are going to be important because its another new experience thats really like nothing else they can get in their home state or even close by, said Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Mark Ezell.

Ezell was one of a few people who got to ride the zipline on Thursday. He called it an asset to the tourism industry.

Its an incredible thing to have a state that has great tourism assets, he said. Were a sales tax state in Tennessee, we love that we dont have a personal income tax as a resident. What it means is that more visitors come and they spend their money, and that sales tax revenue, it benefits the whole residents of all of Tennessee.

Knoxville 311 launches Rocky Bot AI tool launched to help residents

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WildSide co-founders Bob and Bryce Bentz, who are also behind Anakeesta, said they wanted to bring something Pigeon Forge didnt already have.

Thats really what drove the concept of the MegaZip, said Bryce Bentz. Longest zip line in the United States, its hard to find topography that allows for something like that, and that really inspired us to say, Hey, whats the fastest way to get from the very top of the mountain to the very bottom? And a two and a half minute ride down a mile is the fastest way to do so.

They also have a number of mountain biking trails and UTV tours. While they told 6 News they dont expect to bring in millions of people like they do at Anakeesta, they hope to draw people with a thrill for the outdoors.

I think when you look at the Great Smoky Mountains area, you know, we have different sides to the park, said Bob Bentz. We have the North Carolina side, we have the Tennessee side, Townsend as the peaceful side, I think were now the wild side.

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Inspector finds hand washing issues at Grainger County restaurant

Since WildSides opening, Bob and Bryce Bentz said they have created 50 jobs, doubled their biking trails and plan to add more UTV tours in the future. They added, while it is still in the works, they also plan to add more attractions like the MegaZip.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674.

This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com.
Rallying cries echoed up and down the Yakima Valley as hundreds of workers and community members came together for May Day marches honoring International Workers Day across Yakima County.

Events in Sunnyside and Yakima Thursday drew hundreds of supporters, who rallied for workers and spoke about the importance of immigration.

May Day is something enormous for us because it spotlights workers and the efforts and sacrifices they make, said Lucero Mendez, who helped organize Yakimas march. Our workers havent stopped working. We dont want to stop supporting them.

PHOTOS: 2025 May Day march in Yakima Scenes from the annual May Day march in support of worker and immigrant rights Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Yakima, Wash.

Mendez is a Yakima-based community organizer for Poder Latinx, a nationwide nonprofit that focuses on Latino voter engagement and issues like economics, immigration and the environment.

In recent years, the May Day event has been centered at the Henry Beauchamp Community Center in Southeast Yakima, but this year it moved to Miller Park. Mendez said part of that move was to acknowledge Cesar Chavezs 1986 march, which included a stop at Miller Park.

Many of the more than 500 people who showed up to the Yakima event called for worker solidarity and better working conditions, marching down First, Walnut and Sixth streets and along Yakima Avenue from Miller Park.

Si todos estan unidos, nos respetan, said Yesenia Moreno, a Washington Beef worker with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. "If all workers are united, they respect us."

Two of Morenos coworkers, Erica Contreras and Noe Sanchez, said they were there to support fellow workers and call for higher wages and better benefits.

We are all workers and we deserve equal rights, said Alice Westphal, a member of Service Employees International Union.

Workers from across the state made the trip to Yakima  some came from the Tri-Cities. Leith Kahl, a longshoreman from the Port of Seattle, said he came to march and support Central Washington workers who produce the goods he moves onto ships.

I work, my father worked, my mom worked, all four of my grandparents worked, all eight of my grandparents worked. If theres no dignity for workers, whats left for me? Kahl said.

Yakima residents also turned out. Diana Woods, a Yakima resident, said she was a union supporter and was there to do something positive.

Theres so many people who are nervous and scared and they want to help, she said. When people come out, its like they say: courage spreads.

Immigration concerns abound

Many attendees at the Yakima May Day march were concerned about recent federal immigration policy. The Trump administration has taken steps to ramp up immigration enforcement and deport undocumented immigrants. Organizers noted that many workers in Yakima are immigrants or the children of immigrants.

Its time to ask for amnesty for all immigrants. Its time to organize to make sure our brothers and sisters are not disappeared, said Dulce Gutierrez, a former Yakima City Council member and organizing committee member.

Catholic Diocese of Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson spoke at the Yakima event, and said there was a great link between worker and immigrant rights.

It is our workers  documented and undocumented  who make America great, he said during a short benediction.

Angelina Lara, an organizer with nonprofit Fair Work Center, said concerns about immigration meant some community members did not want to turn out. Other community organizers agreed, noting the risks to undocumented residents.

Other times we came, we had open doors, now we have to lock our offices, she said. We need to be more careful than before.

Representatives from the Yakima Immigrant Response Network, which documents federal immigration enforcement activity in the area, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, which offers free legal services for immigrants, shared information at the May Day event.

Nuestra Casa and La Casa Hogar, two community-based nonprofits, shared information about their language and citizenship classes.

Mendez said many issues overlap with labor rights and encouraged community members to vote and elect representatives who will protect workers rights.

This march shows collective power, she said. We want justice for labor rights, for economic rights, for environmental rights, for immigrant rights.

Sunnyside shows up, boycott continues

Sunnyside saw plenty of activity too, as United Farm Workers, an agricultural workers union, rallied outside Windmill Mushroom Farms on Midvale Road. UFW and Empowering Latina Leadership and Action (ELLA), a Lower Valley-based nonprofit, then had a march near the Yakima Valley Highway.

Lorena Avalos, a UFW organizer, said workers have to stick together across industries and called for others to support the boycott of Windmill.

"Its important that they listen to us," she said in Spanish.

"If we fight, we will win," more than 30 workers and supporters chanted outside Windmill Farms. Mushroom Farmworkers have been calling for better working conditions and a union for the last three years. In late 2024, they started a boycott.

Avalos, who has worked on those efforts, said Windmill is still refusing to work with workers.

The company is continuing the same position. They dont want to negotiate, she said in Spanish.

Avalos praised local stores for listening to workers. Fiesta Foods stopped selling Windmill mushrooms, she said, and WinCo Foods was considering workers letters encouraging the boycott.

State legislators from Tacoma and Seattle made the journey to support those workers.

Its really important on International Workers Day to come out and be with workers, said state Sen. Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle.

Saldana and state Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, are both members of the state legislatures Latino Democratic Caucus and wanted to come support the Latino community in the Yakima Valley.

This is our state, these are our people, Mena said.
People march from Yakamart to the Yakama Nation Cultural Center in Toppenish, Wash for the REDgalia MMIP Awareness event on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley.
A member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus holds a picture of Kilmar Abrego Garcia during an April 9 news conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss Abrego Garcia's arrest and deportation.
Helena College officials and family members pinned the first-ever cosmetology cohort Friday and acknowledged their dedication to their craft.

There were 14 students honored at the Donaldson Campus in Helena.

Those pinned were Jordan Atchison, Madalyn Blatherwick, Lacey Bond, Shelby Fletcher, Cassie Gleason, Isabella Hasselbach, Savannah Henry, Danee Lieberg, Keslie Mcgowen, Autumn Messimer, Kendell Perry, Alexandra Sedlock, Alexa Tangen and Bianca Torney.

All of the students have future plans including entering the workforce at various salons, continuing their education and making Helena a more beautiful place.

The pinning ceremony had speeches from multiple faculty members including guest speaker Megan Winfield and Cosmetology Program Director Dawn Anderson.

"Take a breath, look around, let this moment really sink in," Winfield said. "You are not here by chance. You earned your place in this room. Every early morning, every late night and every moment you pushed through when it would have been easier to just give up, brought you to this moment."

To Anderson's knowledge all of the pinned students will be moving forward with their careers and passions.

"I'm so proud of them, it went so fast. There were lots of tears and lots of laughs and a little bit of drama, maybe a lot of drama, but I'm just so proud of them," Anderson said.

The cohort began its journey in the cosmetology field in January 2024 following the grand opening of the program.

The class is the first public cosmetology program in Montana. Students can earn an associate of applied science in cosmetology degree in four semesters, or 15 months. The facility, which is open to the public, was built for under $2 million.

"I expect Helena to be a much more beautiful place because now we've got 14 beauty professionals entering the workforce," the director said. "I think that this will really encourage young women and men that dream about being hair stylists to follow their dream and be able to get an associate's degree in the process."

The 14 members are in the midst of testing to complete their licensing procedures, Dean of Helena College Sandra Bauman said.

"What a special day. It's been many years in the making to bring up the cosmetology program. And to just see all of their hard work, the changes in these students and to see how much they've grown over the last couple of years just brings me to tears," Bauman said.

Savannah Henry said it felt "crazy" to be a part of the first class out of the college. She said the class had to work through so many "kinks" and that made it all the more surreal.

"I wouldn't have changed this for the world. it was such an amazing experience and to pave the path for some of the new girls has been amazing," Henry said.

She plans to work at the Magnolia Salon and Beauty Suites, 7534 Roughsawn Drive, to work toward more education and build clientele.

Cassie Gleason, another member of the first 14, said she has been waiting a long time for the program and was the founding president of the cosmetology club at the college.

The club was aimed at supporting the community by creating backpacks for Florence Crittenton that contained "care items" like baby shampoo and other products.

The club was founded during her time in the cosmetology program. Gleason added the club worked with a cancer community organization in Helena to help patients receive free services.

"My plans are to go to the Platinum Salon, but I'm also going to volunteer and work at the morgue and drive my hearse around," Gleason said. "In the fall, I have a connection with New York Fashion Week, so I'll be going to New York and doing makeup and possibly hair."

She said her passion was makeup.

Another student said it was amazing to be a part of the first-ever cohort out of Helena College in the program, but it ended up being a convenient option to stay close to family in Helena.

"It's kind of crazy to think that I was a part of the first class," Danee Lieberg said. "I never thought I would be. I thought I'd be going to Butte, Bozeman or Billings to do this education."

She added going to cosmetology school ran in the family and said her aunt and grandma did the same.

Lieberg plans to also work at Magnolia Salon and Beauty Suites with some of her fellow students.

All 14 of the pinned cohort will be recognized at Saturday's graduation.

"As we look to bring in the next group of students that will start this fall, I hope they see this group of amazing professionals and they feel inspired by that and know they can do it too," Bauman said.
Andras Csonka, program director and acting director of communications of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and Cultural Center, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, gives insight into some of the events that will mark this anniversary year.

Among other highlights, music historians Janos Macsai and Szabolcs Molnar will discuss the academys past one and a half centuries.



A series of concerts by students called The Hidden Treasures of the Liszt Academy (with subtitles such as Temperaments from the Last 150 Years and Choral Works from the Alma Mater) will present some rarities by composers from the history of the Composing Faculty.



A concert series started on March 23 with the internationally acclaimed Takacs Quartet, formed 50 years ago, presenting the storied traditions of the Hungarian string quartet.



Other groups in the series will be the Keller and Kelemen Quartets, with the youngest generation represented by the Korossy Quartet. All four quartets met and formed while their members were students at the academy.



The Legendary Concerts stand out as a special occasion among the fall events. The series will focus on the piano. Gabor Farkas will evoke the spirit of the virtuoso Istvan Thoman, who died in 1941.



Denes Varjon will pay tribute to the legacy of Geza Anda. Dezso Ranki will give a recital recalling his debut concert in 1970, while Janos Balazs will recreate a solo concert first given by Gyorgy Cziffra in 1956.



The Birth of Music Higher Education



Founded in 1875, the academy is named after the renowned composer and pianist Liszt, who initiated the start of higher education in music in Hungary and in 1879 moved to Andrassy utca (to the building now called the Old Academy of Music). The Liszt Academy launched its concert center in 2013 after extensive renovations of the main venue.



Today, the Liszt Academy Concert Centers primary responsibilities are serving activities connected to musical education, such as exam and diploma concerts, and hosting concerts by the student orchestra.



It also rents out its halls for Budapest-based orchestras and organizes its own concerts, presenting the most exciting Hungarian and international musicians, chamber music groups and orchestras to the Hungarian audience.



Besides the famed and completely renovated Art Nouveau main building (built between 1903 and 1907) and its sumptuous Grand Hall concert space where music is made visible, the Liszt Academy also runs the Old Academy of Music, where you can find the Liszt Memorial Museum. This venue also serves as the base for the harpsichord, organ and church music training programs.



The Liszt Academy was awarded the Europa Nostra (2015) and the European Heritage Award (2016) and continues its globally recognized mission not just in this commemorative year but also beyond, at home and worldwide.



For information in English, concert dates and ticket prices, visit concert.lisztacademy.hu/concert-series-2025-spring



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Dr Sandeep Nayak has successfully performed one of the world's first robotic transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) on a 62-year-old woman with oesophageal cancer and situs inversus totalis. This successful robotic surgery renews hope for patients with rare medical conditions.

Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition detected in less than 0.01% of the population. In this condition, the major internal organs in the chest and abdomen are positioned in a mirror-image reversal of normal anatomy.

Dr Sandeep Nayak, a leading surgical oncologist in India, shares key insights into the procedure and its associated complexities. "This case was one of the most technically challenging surgeries we've performed. Situs inversus requires the surgeon to rethink and reverse every step of the operation. While robotic technology helped make the surgery minimally invasive for the patient, the complexity of the reversed anatomy demanded meticulous planning and execution. This success highlights what is possible with the optimal combination of advanced technology, expertise and teamwork."

Navigating a Rare and Complex Challenge

Earlier this year, Dr Sandeep Nayak had the opportunity to perform this procedure on a 62-year-old woman with esophageal cancer and Situs Inversus Totalis who had approached him for treatment. According to global medical records, the first laparoscopic case was in 2016 and a robotic trans-hiatal approach in 2022; hence, this is the first-ever reported instance of a robotic transthoracic esophagectomy in such a complex medical condition.

According to her stage of cancer, she had to undergo crucial chemo-radiation therapy administered by Dr Nisha Vishnu and Dr Suresh Babu, preparing her for the complex surgical procedure. In January 2025, Dr Sandeep Nayak and his multidisciplinary team performed Robotic Transthoracic Esophagectomy (TTE) and lymph node removal. In February, she underwent a minor procedure to improve the swallowing ability and is recovering well under the supervision of the medical team.

Situs Inversus is a rare congenital condition where the major internal organs are mirrored or reversed from their normal positions. Though individuals with Situs Inversus live healthy lives without complications but when some condition requires surgery it becomes challenging.

Surgeons attempting to resolve this condition must be very much aware of the situs inversus with the capability to undertake accurate diagnosis and proper planning of the surgical procedures. Extensive pre-operative efforts include imaging, CT Scans, and MRIs to get a fair overview of the patients reversed anatomy state. Hence, during the surgery, they have to adopt a "mirror-image" approach and make necessary adjustments when using the surgical instruments and executing the standard techniques.

It is necessary to have in place a team of expert surgeons who are well versed with in advanced medical technology along with their surgical precision to have the best possible outcomes in such patients, while keeping in mind the highest degree of patient safety. Referring to this case, Dr Sandeep Nayak shares his experience stating, Although minimally invasive in approach, robotic surgery, with magnified visualization and precision provided invaluable insights, direction and pathways when operating within a highly complex surgical landscape ensuring a successful procedure.

A Milestone in Cancer Surgery

As aptly observed the unique demands of the surgery, Dr Sandeep Nayak, states, "This case stands out as one of the most technically demanding surgeries we have undertaken. Situs inversus compels the surgeon to fundamentally rethink and reverse the entire operational sequence. While the robotic technology was instrumental in achieving a minimally invasive outcome for the patient, the inherent complexity of the reversed anatomy demanded meticulous planning, unwavering focus, and seamless teamwork. This successful outcome underscores the remarkable potential when cutting-edge technology converges with specialised expertise and collaborative spirit."

Bangalore-based Dr Sandeep Nayak, who led the surgery, expressed great satisfaction about this achievement. It highlights a high level of awareness about and increasing knowledge in minimally invasive esophagectomy for rare conditions. This feat represents the worlds first surgery in resolving Situs inversus conditions and also paves the path for treating similar patients with intricate anatomical variations. This surgery is a landmark in itself as it highlights the important interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in treating life-threatening diseases such as cancer.

Patient-Focused Innovation

Dr Sandeep Nayak, a proponent of robotic surgery, adds that this surgery highlights the scope of dedicated surgeons and medical professionals in attempting to resolve the most challenging of medical cases through minimal access surgical options, which implies speedy recovery, fewer surgical complications, and trauma in comparison with traditional open surgery.

Dr Sandeep Nayak urges patients with similar medical complexities to come forward to resolve their conditions through advanced surgical techniques, especially minimally invasive techniques, and recover well and improve their quality of life. Armed with expert surgical skills and advanced surgical technologies, committed and dedicated surgeons can take on the most challenging medical cases.

(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.)
New Delhi: A Reddit post by an employee who recently returned from a trip to Europe is becoming viral on social media. In the post, the employee claims that her coworkers behaved in a passive-aggressive manner when she got back to work. According to the woman, she felt "drained and depressed" after having to deal with taunts like "Aaj toh madam Europe se time mil gaya?" from her coworkers.

Sharing a post on Reddit, the woman employee wrote, I land back in India. I go to the office, feeling refreshed, smiling and instantly, the HR gives me that look. Aaj toh madam Europe se time mil gaya? Another colleague chimes in: Bas ghoom lo, kaam toh yahi karna hai na. All in that taunting, passive-aggressive tone weve mastered here.

Further sharing her ordeal, the woman said that even late-night meetings were scheduled without asking. She wrote, Open my laptop: 248 emails. Teams notifications like ping ping ping. Late-night meetings scheduled without asking. A client waiting with a small change that derailed my day. And everyone here? Hustling, grinding, exhausted and pretending thats normal."

The employee claimed that glorifying a particular type of work culture was the worst part. And the worst part? We glorify this. We wear burnout like a badge of honour. We think rest = laziness. If you take time off, youre not serious about your career, she continued.

The employee said that the entire experience left her feeling drained, disconnected, and low-key depressed. She further wrote, "I came back full of energyand within two days, I feel drained, disconnected, and low-key depressed. Its like Europe reminded me what being human feels like and coming back here reminded me what being a corporate robot feels like. Just done."

Netizens reaction

The Reddit post shared by the employee has gone viral and sparked serious reactions, with several users questioning the workplace culture.

One user wrote, I do love European culture, they take us for granted here."

The main problem is that India doesnt have proper labour law," another expressed concern.

"Been there... Seen that... Problem is we have too many people. The capitalist overlords know if we don't do gadha majdoori, someone else will do it and probably for lesser compensation," said another user.

"This is because Europe is a rich place and if the country is rich they take good care of their citizens. India is a poor country and all we have to offer to the world is our cheap labour which is , believe me, heavily exploited here," said another user.
New Delhi: Rashid Naseem is the main promoter of the Shine City Group which had dealings in multi-level marketing and real estate. Naseem is also the mastermind of a multi-crore rupee ponzi scheme in Uttar Pradesh. The Special PMLA Court in Lucknow has declared Naseem a Fugitive Economic Offender.



Rashid Naseem Mastermind Behind Multi Crore UP Ponzi Scheme

Shine City Group, led by Naseem have been accused of cheating investors in UP, siphoning over hundreds of crores from them. The ponzi scheme kingpin, Rashid Naseem has collected Rs 1000 crores from investors by duping them, ED has said.

Where Is Rashid Naseem Currently Residing?

Rashid Naseem had failed multiple times to appear for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate. The premiere agency infact had issued summons against the realty promoter. However, it has been learnt that Naseem fled India via Nepal and is currently residing in Dubai, UAE.



Rashid Naseem Declared A Fugitive By ED

The Enforcement Directorate had filed four prosecution complaints in the ponzi case, provisionally attaching properties worth Rs 127.98 crore. ED had identified the amount as proceeds of crime. The investigative agency also identified the key accused and associated entities involved in laundering the illicitly collected funds.

The ED filed an application seeking his declaration as a Fugitive Economic Offender under FEOA, 2018.

Interpol Red Notice Against Rashid Naseem

Rashid Naseem has hundreds of FIRs in his name, Non-Bailable Warrant, Look Out Circular, and a Red Notice by Interpol. Approximately 554 FIRs have been registered by the UP Police against Rasheed Naseem and Shine City Group, that had prompted an ED investigation.

However the scam mastermind has refused to return to India to face the criminal proceedings.

Rashid Naseem And Shine City Ponzi Scheme

Rashid Naseem, the chieftain of the Shine City Ponzi Scheme raised funds via pyramid schemes under the garb of real estate investments. The funds collected were layered, transferred, and used to acquire various movable and immovable properties, which were held in the name of Shine City companies, its directors and other close associates, depriving investors of returns or promised plots.
Karnataka SSLC 2025: The Karnataka School Examinations and Assessments Board (KSEAB) will release the Karnataka SSLC Class 10th result 2025 today, i.e 2nd May, 2025 at 11:30 AM. All the students who have appeared for the class 10th examination will be able to access their results from the official websites, i.e. kseeb.kar.nic.in or karresults.nic.in after the release.

To pass the KSEAB SSLC or Class 10 exam, students must score at least 35 per cent in each subject and overall. Along with marks, students will also receive grades for their performance. In theory papers, a minimum of 40 out of 150 marks is required, while in practical exams, students must score at least 30 out of 50. Those who do not meet these minimum marks will have to appear for the KSEAB SSLC Supplementary Exam.

The Karnataka SSLC Examination took place from 21st March, 2025 to 4th April, 2025 across the 2,818 centres in the state. A total of 8,96,447 students appeared for this years SSLC exams, including 4,61,563 boys and 4,34,884 girls.In 2024 the result was declared on 9th May and the overall pass percentage stood at 73.40 percent.

A total of 8,96,447 students appeared for this years SSLC exams, including 4,61,563 boys and 4,34,884 girls. The exams were held at 2,818 centres across the state. Around 65,000 evaluators were appointed at 240 evaluation centres to carry out the assessment process efficiently and on time.
Expressing sorrow over the death of another female student from Nepal studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Ambassador of Nepal to India Shankar P Sharma said that the embassy is working closely with the MEA, Odisha government, police and the university for a thorough investigation into the matter. The latest student death case marked the second such death involving a Nepalese student at the university within 90 days.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic death of Nepali student Prisha Sah, found in her hostel room at KIIT, Odisha. Heartfelt condolences to her family. Prayers for eternal peace. We are closely coordinating with MEA, Odisha Govt, police & the university for a thorough investigation," Sharma said in a post on X.

Deeply saddened by the tragic death of Nepali student Prisha Sah, found in her hostel room at KIIT, Odisha.

Heartfelt condolences to her family. Prayers for eternal peace.



We are closely coordinating with MEA, Odisha Govt., police & the university for a thorough investigation. pic.twitter.com/ae8X3ZlZwQ  Dr. Shankar P Sharma (@DrShankarSharma) May 2, 2025

The student from Nepal was found hanging in her hostel room inside the university campus on Thursday, police said. According to news agency IANS, the deceased was identified as Prisha Shah, a first-year B.Tech computer science student who reportedly hails from the Birgunj area of Nepal.

Upon being informed, Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, and other senior police officers, along with Infocity police staff immediately reached the spot and initiated a probe into the suspicious death of the Nepali female student.

The deceased's body has been sent to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, for a post-mortem, which is scheduled to be held after the arrival of her family members on Friday. "Today evening at around 7 p.m., when attendance was being taken, one student, Prisha Shah, who was alone in the room, did not respond. When the college officials checked, she was found hanging. Upon being informed, we came here and are conducting an investigation," said Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, as quoted by IANS.

He further stated that the scientific team also reached the hostel and is searching the deceased's room for evidence. Singh noted that all the students in the hostel have faith in the police and are cooperating in the investigation.

The Police Commissioner told media persons that an investigation has started after the registration of an unnatural death case in this regard, as none has lodged any complaint alleging foul play in the case.

He said action will be taken if anyone's involvement in the suspicious death of the Nepali student comes to the fore.

"We have been questioning other girls in the hostel to ascertain whether the deceased had shared anything with any of them and showed any suspicious symptoms. We have spoken to the officials of the Nepal Embassy, who have also informed the deceased's family members. Her parents will reach Bhubaneswar on Friday morning," Singh added. He claimed that the situation is normal on the campus, as the students have full faith in the neutrality of police investigations.

Sources in the Commissionerate Police told IANS that the deceased student was under severe mental stress over a strained relationship with her boyfriend, who is staying at Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

KIIT University came in the line of fire following the suicide of a Nepali female student, Prakriti Lamsal, on February 16 and the subsequent assault on other Nepali students by the private educational institution's security guard.

(With agency Inputs)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has dropped a bombshell that may affect the Congress party's credibility in the state. CM Sarma has claimed that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stayed in Pakistan for 15 days without informing the government. The CM also claimed that Gogoi's kids are not Indian and have acquired citizenship in a foreign country. The Chief Minister said that he is taking 'full responsibility' for the claims.

"I say this with full responsibility  the minor children of one Member of Parliament from Assam are no longer citizens of India. But this is just the beginning. There is much more yet to be revealed," said Sarma on X.

Sarma has earlier said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has acquired 'very important' evidence in the matter. "A member of India's Parliament, who is the son of a former CM, goes to Pakistan via the Attari border and stayed there for 15 days," said Sarma while claiming that the Indian MP applied for citizenship of another country for his kids.

"I have evidence that Gaurav Gogoi's son and daughter are not Indian citizens. We are examining what he did there (Pakistan) for 15 days. There is no tourist place in Pakistan; it is only a terrorist adda. It is 100 per cent confirmed that he went there, but what did he do there in 15 days? Robert Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi are more concerned about Pakistan than India," said Sarma.

Earlier, Sarma had asked Gogoi to explain why his wife works in India but gets a salary from a Pakistani NGO and why his wife has not applied for Indian citizenship.

"Questions for the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party: 1. Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit? 2. Does your wife indeed receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India? If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organisation is paying a salary for activities conducted in India? 3. What is the citizenship status of your wife and your two children? Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold citizenship in another country? Many more questions will follow," he posted on X.

Gogoi, however, has denied the allegations saying that accusing him of politicising the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and 'indulging in petty politics'. Gogoi countered Sarma's allegations with his own set of questions asking if Sarma would resign should he fail to substantiate Gogoi and his wife's claims of being agents of an enemy country.

"It is unfortunate that at a time when the entire country is united and wants a strong response against Pakistan for the terrorist-sponsored attack on Indian citizens, the BJP leaders in various states, including Assam, are indulging in petty politics," said Gogoi.
Delhi Rain: As the heavy rainfall battered the national capital on Friday morning, a 26-year-old woman and her three children lost their lives after a house collapsed in Delhi's Najafgarh area. The incident occurred during a sudden thunderstorm that swept parts of Delhi, prompting a red alert.

Delhi | 4 people were killed and one injured after a tree fell on a tubewell room built on the farm in Kharkhari Canal village in Dwarka, due to strong winds this morning. The deceased are identified as 26-year-old Jyoti and her three children. Her husband, Ajay, has sustained May 2, 2025

According to officials, the tree fell due to gusty winds, crushing the small structure where a family had taken shelter. Jyoti and her three children were trapped under the debris.

#WATCH | Delhi: A woman and her 3 children died and husband injured after a tree fell on a tubewell room built on the farm in Kharkhari Canal village in Dwarka, due to strong winds this morning.



(Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/bZiSb3W2ki  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Despite prompt efforts by rescue teams and the fire department, all four were declared dead upon arrival at Rao Tula Ram (RTR) Memorial Hospital in Jafarpur Kalan. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said at 5.26 am, a PCR call was received reporting the house collapse.

When police reached the spot, it was found that due to strong winds, a neem tree had fallen on a room built in Kharkhari Nahar village near Jaffarpur Kalan in Dwarka district, causing it to collapse, Singh said. A woman, her husband and their three children were trapped under the debris, he said.

"With the help of the police and fire department, they were pulled out of the rubble and shifted to a nearby hospital in Jaffarpur Kalan, where four of them were declared dead," the officer said.

Jyoti, Aryan (7), Rishabh (5), and Priyansh (7 months) were killed in the incident. Ajay (30) sustained minor injuries in his chest and wrist. According to IANS, he has been discharged after receiving first aid. Ajay is the son of Phool Singh Kushwaha, a resident of the same locality.

The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said it got a call about the incident at 5.25 am. According to the DFS official, multiple teams were deployed to the spot, and four people were rescued from the rubble, media reports stated. Delhi-NCR witnesses traffic congestion as several trees were uprooted, and vehicles broke down amid heavy waterlogging due to a rainstorm earlier today.

Flight operations were affected, traffic was disrupted, and vehicles broke down in Delhi due to waterlogging amid heavy showers in several areas of the city. Trees were uprooted in many parts of the national capital, which also saw a dust storm early in the morning.

(With agencies' Inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a swipe at the Congress-led INDIA bloc and said that todays inauguration event will disturb the sleep of many. He was apparently pointing towards Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was also present during the event.

The Prime Minister was in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram to inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other dignitaries present during the inauguration ceremony of Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport https://t.co/wDa7GdmVmk pic.twitter.com/wi657FMAMT  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

While speaking during the event, PM Modi took a dig at the Congress party and said, "I want to tell Chief Minister (Pinarayi Vijayan), you are a strong pillar of the INDI alliance; Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here." "Today's event is going to disturb the sleep of many," he further stated.

The translator who translated the message in Hindi to Malayalam did not deliver the exact translation. PM Modi said, "The message has gone wherever it has to go."

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: At the inauguration event of Vizhinjam port, PM Modi says, " I want to tell CM, you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance, Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today's event is going to disturb the sleep of many" pic.twitter.com/UQvFrslWBP  ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Earlier on Thursday, Tharoor received PM Modi when the latter arrived in Thiruvananthapuram.

He then took a swipe at Delhi Airport in a post on the social media platform X, "Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency."

Also Read: Tharoors Dysfunctional Jibe At Delhi Airport On Way To Receive PM

Vizhinjam International Seaport

PM Modi on Friday inaugurated the 'Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport' worth Rs 8,900 crore in the presence of Kerala CM, Congress MP Tharoor, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, and Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandreshekar among others.

PM Modi emphasised that the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is an example of "new-age development," as it is situated at the confluence of a deep sea. He added that the seaport will boost trade, commerce, and will be particularly beneficial for Kerala's economy.

Meanwhile, Kerala CM extended the gratitude of PM Modi on behalf of the people of Kerala to dedicate the landmark project to the nation.

(with ANI inputs)
DECATUR  As the Heritage Behavioral Health Center and St. Teresa High School prepare to go toe-to-toe in a court battle, a new issue is rearing its head: does the Decatur City Council have a dog in this fight?

The short answer so far has been no. Now, however, the position is drifting towards a hint of maybe.

The issue centers on HBHCs $44 million project to relocate its downtown Decatur home to a redeveloped 130,000-square-foot campus on the site of the empty Northgate Mall right next door to the Catholic schools campus at 2710 N. Water Street.

St. Teresa doesnt want HBHCs clientele that includes people with substance abuse and behavioral issues anywhere near its 230 students. It fears for the kids safety and is seeking a court injunction to kill a move to the Northgate location.

HBHCs leadership accuses the school of fear mongering and claims its clientele pose no risks to their would-be neighbors. A motion to dismiss St. Teresas court action is now set for a hearing May 14 in Macon County Circuit Court.

HBHC president and CEO Mary Garrison declined to talk about the prospects of a question over zoning.

I do not have any comment on that, she said. But added, We are moving forward with this project and well address anything that comes up along the way.

Ken Hendriksen, executive director of the St. Teresa Educational Foundation, citing the upcoming court hearing, also declined comment when asked by a fellow Herald & Review reporter.

But the school leadership is also on the record previously as hoping the city council might have intervened because the school doesnt believe the HBHC project meets zoning laws that cover the Northgate site.

NOT INVOLVED

Under former City Manager Scot Wrighton, however, the city administration had made it clear it wasn't getting involved. It even issued a formal statement saying that it had no role to play as what HBHC was planning didnt appear to require special zoning permission.

Officially, at least, the view from the city's professional administration hasn't changed much.

"City Staff have not received any plans and have not had any formal communication with Heritage regarding the proposed project," according to City of Decatur Communications Director, Ryan Huffer, in response to a question from the Herald & Review.

Now, however, some doubts have been creeping in. They were raised openly when Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe was interviewed on the Byers & Co. radio show April 21, ahead of that evenings council meeting.

Some HBHC patients stay overnight and Moore Wolfe said that particular issue raised the possibility of debate over whether existing zoning would cover such stays.

Noting that, host Brian Byers pressed the issue of whether council non-involvement remained as black and white a situation as it had appeared to be previously.

I am saying it's more gray today than it was a couple of weeks ago in this regard, he suggested to Moore Wolfe.

Absolutely, yes, thats fair, the mayor replied.

Her words clearly set off some tremors of unease. Decatur Councilman David Horn questioned Moore Wolfe about her comments at the end of the council meeting that evening.

So can you explain to the council why it is less certain than before that this issue of rezoning will not come before the council? he asked.

Moore Wolfe, who clearly didnt want to be cornered again on the issue, told Horn that she wasnt certain of anything yet. She said the council needs to learn more about the HBHCs plans and, with that knowledge, it will be able to decide the direction we are going to need to go.

Speaking to the Herald & Review later, Moore Wolfe was still carefully diplomatic. Asked whether some kind of city involvement via zoning regulations was a possibility, she replied, I think the best answer is we just dont know.

She said the previous determination that the council could stay hands-off regarding the project was made before anybody really had an idea of what all was going to be happening on the site.

The mayor said council members needed some solid opinion from experts to help them figure out what comes next. Decatur now has a new City Manager, Tim Gleason, and Moore Wolfe was asked whether he might be expected to take point on the issue and give council members a sense of direction.

The mayor said she wasnt sure yet whether Gleason has had the opportunity to take a detailed look at the situation and noted its been a busy time and weve had a lot going on.

Moore Wolfe added: We (the council) have not been given a specific direction at this point and we dont know whether it (the issue of a zoning question) will be coming before the council.

Anything is possible.

RECUSING HIMSELF

Councilman Horn has a personal relationship with Garrison, the HBHC CEO, and has stated previously that he would recuse himself from any council vote on the HBHC relocation project.

But he told the Herald & Review that doesnt mean he is sidelined about voicing an opinion on whats going on, hence his close questioning of the mayor.

And Horn, clearly in favor of the project, doesnt buy the idea that the realization some Heritage clients will stay overnight in any way suggests opening up the zoning issue for a council vote.

He said the council administration was fully aware of how Heritage operated when it issued its original statement saying that nothing in the move to the Northgate site had triggered a zoning question.

What I can say is that the city corporation counsel, Wendy Morthland, would absolutely have been aware that Heritage has overnight stays at its current facility when she was making a judgment as to whether there would be a need to rezone before the city made the previous statement that it issued, he added.

...That statement had been made with that full knowledge and nothing has changed.

Horn acknowledged, however, there was always the looming possibility that the future might involve a more fluid" situation on councils involvement but said it could get messy if zoning came into question. Having acknowledged again his own personal situation, he said the issue of letting any council member without some kind of bias cast the first vote would be a tough one.

He pointed out, for example, that fellow Councilman Ed Culp is already on the record as taking St. Teresas side on the issue. And he notes the mayor works for HSHS St. Marys Hospital, and he says that has a business relationship with Heritage.

So I dont think its as simple as me being the only one who has to recuse myself, he added.

NEW LOCATION HAPPY ENDING

Another factor surfacing in the midst of all this speculation and doubt is the prospect of defusing the HBHC-St. Teresa confrontation by finding an entirely new location for the development project.

The mayor has noted that residential space might be available at a now disused part of the Crossing Healthcare campus but Horn said any discussion of alternative sites should have no bearing on council involvement or attitude to the HBHC move.

Well, its unclear to me how what is happening at Crossing would impact a zoning decision by the city council if it were to occur, he added.

Whether there is an opportunity at Crossing or anywhere else is not at all connected to what issues might be coming before the council.

But Moore Wolfe told the Herald & Review she cant help but dream that finding an alternative location for the HBHC move would ultimately be better than settling the current confrontation with a court battle or even, however vague a possibility, some kind of zoning fight.

Right now its just a very difficult situation and I would like to see a happy ending, she said. One without a winner and a loser.
In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated significantly. Amidst the rising conflict, a key question emerges: if war breaks out between the two nations, whom will the United States support?

In today's episode of DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analyzed how the United States might respond if the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions were to escalate into full-scale war.

After the Attack How America Reacted?

On April 22, 2025the day of the deadly terrorist assaultUS Vice President JD Vance was on an official visit to India. The United States was among the first nations to condemn the attack. President Donald Trump personally called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express solidarity, strongly denounce the attack, and pledge full support to India in its fight against terrorism. Since then, multiple statements from American leaders, officials, and experts have surfaced, outlining the US stance.

Watch Today's Full Episode

Before Trumps remarks, US Vice President JD Vance addressed the situation and expressed deep concern over it, While he acknowledged India's right to respond to the Pahalgam terror attack, he emphasised that such a response should be measured to avoid triggering a full-scale war. Vance also noted that Pakistan must cooperate with India to the extent it is responsible for the attack, urging strong action against terror outfits operating from its territory.

Following the attack, Trump addressed the rising tensions by urging both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. However, it's important to recall one of his earlier remarks during his election campaign, where he directly addressed the hypothetical question of whom the US would support in the event of a war between India and Pakistan. During his campaign, Trump expressed strong affection for the Indian community and pledged unwavering support.
The United States Vice President JD Vance, on Thursday, in an interview, said that the US hopes that Pakistan will cooperate with India to make sure that terrorists are "hunted down".

This comes after the Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed and several others were injured. After the attack, diplomatic and border tensions have been rising between India and Pakistan.

During an interview with Fox News, Vance made his first public remark on the Pahalgam attack and said, "Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict."

Talking about Pakistan's cooperation with India, US VP in the Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" show added, "And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they're responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with."

When the gruesome attack went down in Pahalgam on April 22, Vance was in India with his family on a visit. In a post on the social media platform X, he had condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

US' Stand On Pahalgam Terror Attack

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, amid the rising tensions between the two nations. He asked Pakistani officials to cooperate in the investigation and work to de-escalate tensions.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got full support from the Donald Trump administration. She added that they are in constant communication with the governments of India and Pakistan.

India's Measures In Aftermath Of Pahalgam Attack

India downgraded its ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and announced various diplomatic measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines, and shutting down the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan also suspended the Simla Agreement.

(with IANS inputs)
MANGALURU: The Karnataka BJP on Friday announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the family of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, who was killed by a gang of assailants in broad daylight. The BJP has vehemently demanded the probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the case. Speaking to the media after attending Shetty's funeral in Mangaluru, State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra made the announcement.

He noted that the brutal killing of Hindu worker Suhas Shetty had taken place before the shock of the Pahalgam terror attack had even subsided. He emphasised that the BJP is taking the case seriously. "The failure of the police department is evident from the outset. It is a clear failure to provide protection to citizens," Vijayendra said.

"We have decided to offer Rs 25 lakh as compensation to Suhas's family and have extended our support to them in this time of grief. The BJP leaders and workers stand with his family. They have lost a pillar of support."

Vijayendra also urged the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Home Minister G. Parameshwara to recognise the seriousness of the case and provide compensation from the state government.

He also demanded that the investigation be handed over to the NIA. "There is no protection for Hindus under the Congress government," he added. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said that all BJP leaders and workers had attended Suhas Shetty's funeral.

"He was killed by Popular Front of India (PFI) and Karnataka Forum for Dignity workers, who are jihadi elements. The Police Commissioner tried calling me, but I refused to speak to him," he added.

"I've heard that a 'surrender team' is being prepared. The actual killers and those who surrender are different people. This is the modus operandi in this region. Police are just waiting because the surrender team isn't ready. How long will this go on?" Ashoka asked the police department.

He also criticised the police in another incident, alleging that the police made a mentally challenged man an accused in the incident of slashing a cow's udder reported from Bengaluru.

"Even though threats were made a week ago declaring Suhas Shetty as the next target, the police didn't provide any protection. I wonder if the police even exist in this state," he said.

"On one hand, the Chief Minister publicly raises his hand on police officers, and on the other, Congress party offices have become police offices. I have no trust in this investigation."

Ashoka reiterated the demand for an NIA probe. "Whenever 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans are raised, murders follow. CM Siddaramaiah's past actions are linked to the killings of Hindu workers. In his previous term, the state Cabinet released 1,600 PFI activists. Empowered by this, they are committing murders without fear," he alleged.

"If proper investigation is not conducted, revenge killings will continue. Anti-national elements operate freely in coastal Karnataka. Murderers come from Kerala, kill, and escape. Innocent people are framed. This is the system here," Ashoka said.

He also alleged that a week before his murder, Suhas Shetty was warned by police not to carry any weapons in his vehicle, and the vehicle was searched.

"How did this message reach the killers? If he had a weapon, he might have survived. The murder took place within a half-kilometre radius of police presence, but police didn't even rush to the spot," he said.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former Minister M.P. Renukacharya criticised the police for inaction. He asked why 20 people were quickly arrested in connection with the mob lynching case of Mohammad Ashraf, while no arrests had been made in Suhas Shetty's murder, despite the existence of video evidence showing the killers.

Speaking in Davanagere, Renukacharya also alleged, "Hindus learn prayers and bhajans in temples. But in madrassas, children are taught to pelt stones and kill Hindus."

He called for those involved in the murder of Hindu activists to be "shot dead". He alleged that during Siddaramaiah's previous term, 56 Hindu activists were hacked to death.

"This government is giving an impression that it is functioning with support from Pakistan. Hindus have no safety here. Are we supposed to stay silent when Hindu activists are murdered? Hindus are not weak," he said.
Pahalgam Terror Attack: The Pakistani Army once again resorted to unprovoked firing from posts across the Line of Control (LoC) opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir during late hours of Thursday. The troops responded to the firing in a "calibrated and proportionate manner", the Indian Army said.

This unprovoked firing comes after the gruesome attack where terrorists gunned down 26 people in J-K's Pahalgam, while injuring several others on April 22.

According to the news agency ANI, the Indian Army has informed about the unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the LoC and said, "During the night of 01-02 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner."

The Indian Army effectively responded to the Pakistani Army's unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC on the night of April 30 in areas opposite Kupwara district as well as in the Uri and Akhnoor sectors in J-K, officials said. This was the seventh consecutive day of India's effective retaliation since the Pakistani Army's unprovoked small arms firing on the night of 25 and 26, the news agency reported.

Earlier in the Jammu region, the Indian Army effectively responded to Pakistan's small arms firing across the LoC in Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor sectors. Later, similar ceasefire violations were also recorded further north in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, and across the International Border (IB) in the Pargwal sector.

India's Diplomatic and Other Measures Against Pakistan

India on Wednesday had shut its airspace to all aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). Both countries have blocked each other's airlines from using their airspace, as Pakistan announced this step around a week ago.

After the attack, India had also announced several measures against Pakistan for its 'support of cross-border terrorism,' including curtailing the strength of Pakistan's High Commission, suspending the Indus Water Treaty, and closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari.

(with ANI inputs)
Pahalgam Terror Attack: The Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists, was executed by a collusion of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistan Army, and the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the NIA report said, ZEE News TV reported, citing sources.

According to the preliminary NIA report, at least 75 On Ground Workers (OGWs) have been arrested in connection with the heinous attack. The details surfaced as the national probe agency intensified its crackdown on the people who allegedly aided the terrorists in executing the attack.

The sources also revealed that top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Farooq Ahmad played an instrumental role in helping the terrorists to carry out the attack. He is believed to be hiding in PoK.

Meanwhile, amid the tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the eighth consecutive day on Friday.

ALSO READ: Pahalgam Attack: Unprovoked Pak Firing Continues For 8th Day Amid Border Tensions, Army Responds

A Defence Ministry statement on Friday said, "During the night of May 1 and May 2, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir." "Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner." In addition to the LoC, the Pakistan Army also violated the ceasefire on the International Border in the Pargwal sector of Jammu on Thursday.

Tensions have mounted between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

(With agency Inputs)
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the full support from the Trump administration, adding that they are in constant communication with the governments of India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking at the press briefing on Friday, Bruce said that the US is closely monitoring the situation.

State Department spokesperson cited the readout of US State Secretary Marco Rubio's Thursday conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

"We are monitoring closely. Yesterday, the Secretary spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As President Donald Trump articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support," she said.

"The Secretary encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible solution that maintains a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia. We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels," she added.

When asked if the calls for de-escalation were being heeded, Bruce said, "We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties. And beyond that, there's nothing I can give you, any other details."

It comes as there has been a rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 brutal attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured many others.

India has taken a raft of measures against Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, including holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari. India has also decided to curtail the strength of High Commissions.

The government has given armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on the response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC.

The Army responded swiftly to the ceasefire violation on the night of April 27-28 in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The Indian Army had also responded effectively to the Pakistan Army firing along the LoC on the night of April 26-27 in areas opposite the Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors, as per officials.

Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations in the Kashmir valley in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Amid the rising tension due to water-sharing with Haryana, the Punjab government has heightened security at the Nangal Dam. The conflict, which has been ongoing for days, prompted a meeting in Delhi led by the Union Home Ministry, involving officials from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan to address the situation post-dispute.

What is the root cause of the problem?

A fresh clash erupted between both states after Haryana requested 8,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam during a meeting on April 23. Currently, Haryana is receiving 4,000 cusecs of water daily, but it has now demanded an additional 8,500 cusecs. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated that he later called Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, citing Haryana's drinking water needs. However, Mann responded that Punjab, already grappling with a water crisis, has no water to spare.

During the meeting on Wednesday under the chairmanship of BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi, BJP-ruled Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi voted in favour of releasing water to Haryana. While Punjab was left isolated as Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh decided not to vote for either side. The Bhakra and Nangal dams are often considered a single entity, but they are actually separate dams. The Bhakra Dam is located in Himachal Pradesh, while the Nangal Dam is in Punjab. However, they are complementary parts of the same river project.
Pahalgam Attack Fallout: Farmer leader and leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait was manhandled by the public in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar over his remarks related to the Pahalgam terror attack. During the protest against Tikait, the situation became so tense that the police had to escort the farmer leader out of the place. Tikait, however, is safe and did not suffer any injury.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Rakesh Tikait had said that the attack was done by those who benefit from it. Tikait said that the attack was carried out by those who benefit from a Hindu-Muslim narrative. He further said that those responsible for the attack are roaming amidst the people of India. The BKU spokesperson failed to name and shame Pakistan for the brutal terror attack and instead indirectly blamed the Narendra Modi government for the attack.

Rakesh Tikait thrashed in UP for his anti national statements



Recently Tikait had given controversial statement over Pahalgam attack



Today while there was a Muzaffarnagar bandh, Tikait went there to do herogiri



But got proper servicing in the most nationalist state pic.twitter.com/gcURg9EPsf  BALA (@erbmjha) May 2, 2025

His remarks did not go well with the public who have been demanding a strong action against Pakistan for the terror attack. Tikait faced a massive protest in his own turf Muzaffarnagar where people demanded an apology from him for his remarks.

The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack had claimed lives of 26 innocent people, mainly tourists. Interestingly, Tikait's remark came at a time when even the opposition parties like AIMIM and Congress have voiced support to the Narendra Modi government for appropriate action against the perpetrator of the terror attack.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday slammed Delhi Airport and called it 'dysfunctional', informing that despite the delays, he managed to reach Thiruvananthapuram on time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Vizhinjam Port commission.

The Congress leader in a post on the social media platform X wrote, "Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency."

"Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception," he added. Tharoor also shared his pictures with PM Modi at the airport.

Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been pic.twitter.com/OoGHeS0Gbe  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 1, 2025

Earlier, in April, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also shared a picture of himself at the Delhi Airport and slammed it for delays.

He had written on X, "Delhi airport is a bl** sh** 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 and 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." Later, CM Abdullah updated that he reached Delhi after 3 am on that day.

The Airport had been facing flight delays due to weather conditions, and a runway was closed for construction work.

Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms led to flight delays and disruptions in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday.
Yoga practices play a crucial role in promoting hormonal balance, offering potential benefits for individuals dealing with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders. These conditions can significantly impact hormonal levels, leading to various health challenges.

Through specific yoga asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation, individuals may find relief and support in managing hormonal imbalances.Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder, Akshar Yoga Kendraa shares yoga poses to balance hormones and improve menstrual health.

Yoga for PCOS:

PCOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting people with reproductive age. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, high levels of androgens (male hormones), and ovarian cysts. Yoga can help manage PCOS symptoms by addressing hormonal fluctuations and improving overall well-being.

Asanas such as Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose) and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) can stimulate the reproductive organs and regulate hormonal balance.

Pranayama, especially Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing), can enhance hormonal harmony and reduce stress, a factor that often exacerbates PCOS symptoms.

Meditation and mindfulness practices can contribute to stress reduction, positively impacting hormonal regulation.

Yoga for Thyroid Disorders:

Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, involve an imbalance in thyroid hormone production. Yoga offers a holistic approach to support thyroid health, promoting balance in the endocrine system.

Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand) and Halasana (Plow Pose) are beneficial for stimulating the thyroid gland and improving its function.

Pranayama techniques

Kapalbhati Pranayama, a dynamic breathing technique, can boost metabolism and support thyroid function.

Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath) helps balance the endocrine system, aiding in thyroid regulation.

Overall Hormonal Balance:

In addition to specific asanas for PCOS and thyroid disorders, incorporating a regular yoga practice can contribute to overall hormonal balance. Stress management, a key element in hormonal health, is addressed through various yoga techniques.

Yoga Nidra, a form of guided relaxation, can significantly reduce stress and promote hormonal equilibrium.

Savasana (Corpse Pose) at the end of a yoga session allows the body to enter a deep state of relaxation, fostering hormonal balance.

Balasana (Child's Pose) is a restorative pose that calms the nervous system, indirectly impacting hormone levels.

Healing walk

Lift your arms up keeping them at shoulder width distance. Now, start walking with your arms raised in this position and your hands can be up in the air for 1-3 minutes. Initially this may not be possible as you will have to train the muscles of your arms and shoulders and strengthen them. Build up to 1-3 minutes gradually by starting of with a minute increase and so on until you are physically capable enough with the strength required to hold your arms up for 1-3 minutes straight. One round practice will require you to perform a minimum of three sets of these walks of minimum 1-3 minutes each.

Mind-Body Connection:

Yoga emphasizes the connection between the mind and body, recognizing that mental well-being is integral to hormonal balance. Practices like meditation and mindfulness enhance self-awareness, reducing the impact of stress on hormonal health.

Regular meditation practices, such as Mindful Breathing or Swaas Dhyan, can positively influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key player in hormonal regulation.

It offers a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, and emotional aspects of well-being. By embracing the simplicity and effectiveness of yoga, individuals can take proactive steps toward achieving hormonal balance and overall health.
SPRINGFIELD  Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who helped shepherd through the end of the death penalty in Illinois but whose legacy was sullied by a scandal that landed the Kankakee native in federal prison following his single term as the state's chief executive, died on Friday. He was 91.

Ryan, a Republican, served as the state's 39th governor from 1999 to 2003. Before that, he served two terms each as secretary of state, from 1991 to 1999, and lieutenant governor, from 1983 to 1991. He also served a decade-long stint in the Illinois House, including two years as House speaker.

In the state's top job, Ryan was best known for enacting a moratorium on executions of inmates on death row. And days before leaving office, Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 inmates to life in prison. This set the stage for the state's abolition of the death penalty, which was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn in 2011.

But Ryan also became part of the sordid club of Illinois governors who have served time in the federal penitentiary. He was convicted in 2006 on public corruption charges that included racketeering, conspiracy, mail and tax fraud.

The investigation stemmed from allegations that, during his time as secretary of state, employees under him sold commercial drivers licenses to unqualified truck drivers in exchange for cash bribes.

In 1994, a steel part fell off of a truck being driven on Interstate 94 near Milwaukee by one of the drivers who illegally received a license. A minivan being driven by Rev. Scott Willis, who had his wife and six children in the vehicle, hit the loose part. The van went up in flames, killing all six children.

The investigation, known as "Operation Safe Road," eventually expanded to include a broader look at Ryan's governmental and political operations. It led to charges that Ryan illegally steered state contracts to friends and allies and received illegal cash payments and gifts, vacations and personal services for himself and his family. He was also charged with trying to cover up the licenses-for-bribes scandal.

More than 75 people, including Ryan, were convicted in cases stemming from the licenses-for-bribes scandal. The conviction landed Ryan a 6 1/2-year prison sentence. He ultimately served just over five years behind bars.

He was the third Illinois governor convicted of federal charges since the 1960s, the others being Democrats Otto Kerner and Dan Walker. He was succeeded in office by the man who would become the fourth: Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Though born in Iowa, Ryan was a lifelong resident of Kankakee. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Ryan returned home and worked in his father's pharmacy. He would later receive his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Ferris State College in 1961 and would eventually own and expand his father's pharmacies into a family-run chain.

His first foray into public office was in 1968, when he was appointed to the Kankakee County Board. He was eventually elevated to board chairman before his election to the Illinois House.

Though he started out a staunch conservative, Ryan had a reputation throughout his political career as a prolific dealmaker who put pragmatism above political ideology and was respected by Democrats and Republicans alike.

This could make Ryan tough to pin down on certain issues. For instance, Ryan helped block the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment during his tenure as House speaker, but later vetoed legislation as governor that would have banned taxpayer funding of abortion.

He also broke the conservative mold on other issues, including with his longstanding support for an assault weapons ban.

This stance helped him in the 1998 gubernatorial election against Glenn Poshard, a socially conservative Democrat from Southern Illinois.

Though Poshard would soften his pro-gun rights position, it was too late. Ryan won the close race largely due to his stronger-than-usual performance for a Republican in the Democratic bastion of Cook County.

In his inaugural remarks in 1999, Ryan decried the politics of the day for featuring "too much pettiness, mean-spiritedness and partisanship."

"My basic instinct is to be open to everyone, to listen, to learn and to help where I can. Compromise is not a bad word," Ryan said, according to Lee Enterprises archives.

In addition to his moves on the death penalty, Ryan's tenure as governor included the launch of the five-year, $12 billion Illinois FIRST capital construction program to rebuild roads, bridges, sewers and public transportation.

Ryan also dedicated 51% of all new state revenues during his time in office to funding education. He also pushed for legislation that would ban discrimination against gay people in public accommodations like hotels and restaurants.

Ryan in 1999 became the first sitting American governor to visit communist Cuba since Fidel Castro took power in 1959. This was despite the longstanding trade embargo the federal government had imposed against the country.

As secretary of state, Ryan successfully pushed for legislative action that lowered the standard for drunk driving from a blood alcohol concentration of .1% to .08%.

In a statement, Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, characterized Ryan as "a bold leader who wasnt afraid to reach across the aisle and bring people together for the greater good."

"His investments in infrastructure, technology and education to help create a brighter future for Illinois will long be remembered," Curran said. "I am thinking of his family and those who loved him, and wishing them strength and peace as they say goodbye.

Gov. JB Pritzker, in a short statement released on social media Friday, said that he was sending his "deepest condolences to former Gov. Ryan's family and loved ones."

"May his memory be a blessing," Pritzker said.

Ryan is preceded in death by his wife, Lura. He had six children.
New Delhi: Sunny Deol gave fans an exclusive glimpse into life on the sets of Border 2, as he shared a fun and light-hearted behind-the-scenes moment from Dehradun. In a story posted on his Instagram, the iconic action star was seen calmly handling an early morning rain delay, offering reassurance to the worried producers with his trademark confidence: Dont get worried, I am there till we dont finish the film.

#Border2 Shooting Stopped Due To Heavy Rain



But, producers needs not to worried, because #SunnyDeol is here, till the film completes @iamsunnydeol pic.twitter.com/yTOoa8pGMh May 2, 2025

As the rain poured down, the production came to a halt, but the crew made the most of the situation by bonding over delicious pakoras and chaia true desi way of making the best out of a rainy day. The moment was a perfect blend of camaraderie and comfort, adding a personal touch to the intense atmosphere of the film set.

Border 2 promises to bring fresh energy to the franchise, with an ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. The sequel aims to continue the legacy of portraying the valor and sacrifice of Indias armed forces, while expanding the emotional depth and action-packed sequences of the original.

Backed by their production team, including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, JP Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is set to deliver an epic tale of patriotism and bravery. The films story is poised to honor the heroism of Indian soldiers, captivating audiences with its spirit of sacrifice and courage.

Border 2 is scheduled to release in theaters on January 23, 2026, with the aim of making a lasting impact on audiences nationwide.
Mumbai: Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan recalled one of her most memorable experiences of her career when she had an unexpected meeting with one of Hollywood's greatest directors, Steven Spielberg.

Speaking on day two of the ongoing WAVES 2025, during a panel moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar, Bebo shared how she once bumped into Spielberg at a restaurant while travelling. The incident occurred shortly after the release of her film '3 Idiots,' which starred Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi.

"I was actually in a restaurant, travelling somewhere, and Spielberg (Steven Spielberg) happened to be at the same place," Bebo recalled.

"This was many moons ago, around the time 3 Idiots was released. He actually came up to me and asked, 'Are you the girl in that very famous Indian film about three students?' I said, 'Yes, it's me!' He said, 'My God, I loved that movie,'" she added.

When asked about the possibility of working in Hollywood, Kareena responded, "I think it's just organically not happened. Having said that, films are my passion--they run in my veins. I was born into this family. Times are changing, and you never know. Chasing something has never been a part of my personality, but if it's meant to happen, maybe a Hindi-English film will come along. After all, even Spielberg is watching our movies!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated WAVES 2025 on Thursday. More than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups participate from over 90 countries.

The four-day event began on May 1 and will continue until May 4.
Mumbai: The ongoing WAVES 2025 Summit at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra, Mumbai, has delivered several unforgettable momentsbut one that truly stole the spotlight was a heartwarming exchange between Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan and legendary filmmaker SS Rajamouli.

In a now-viral clip from the event, Kartikdonning a traditional bandhgala-kurtagreeted Rajamouli with a warm handshake on stage. The young actor then graciously stepped aside to invite the Baahubali director forward, a gesture thats been widely praised across social media for its humility and class. Fans have flooded the internet with admiration, calling the moment a beautiful blend of respect and charisma.

Rajamouli used his time on stage to champion India's storytelling heritage, emphasizing its strength rooted in the countrys linguistic and cultural diversity. No other nation can match Indias narrative richness, he stated, striking a chord with audiences and further reinforcing the global potential of Indian cinema.

Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan charmed the crowdand the internetwith a candid moment during his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan Mantri Ji, sorry meri heartbeat bohot tez chal rahi hai aapke saamne, he confessed, drawing laughter and endearment from the audience. His honesty and humble demeanor once again endeared him to fans and attendees alike.

On the work front, Kartiks stardom continues to soar. With upcoming projects like Untitled Intense Musical Story with Anurag Basu, Tu Meri Main Tera, and the fantasy-action drama Naagzilla, he remains one of the most exciting and bankable stars in Indian cinema.

The video of Kartik and Rajamoulis stage moment remains one of the most talked-about highlights of WAVES 2025, adding to the summits vibrant celebration of art, culture, and cinema.
New Delhi: Dulquer Salmaan's highly anticipated Malayalam film I'm Game is once again in the headlines, this time for welcoming a new member on board. Featuring Dulquer in the lead role, the film on Friday announced the addition of one of Tamil cinema's top directors, Mysskin, to the team. This news follows the earlier inclusion of Antony Varghese, best known for his role in the hit film Angamaly Diaries.

Taking to Instagram, director Nahas Hidhayath wrote, ''We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the multifaceted, incredibly talented Mysskin Sir to the #ImGame team! Get ready for an exciting game ahead!''.

Acclaimed director and actor Mysskin responded by reposting the update on his Instagram story, adding ''I am thrilled to be a part of the incredibly talented team #IMGame. Get ready for an exciting game ahead.''

Produced by Dulquer Salmaan along with Jom Verghese, I'm Game has already sparked significant interest, as it marks Dulquer's return to Malayalam cinema after his 2023 drama 'King of Kotha'. Notably, this will be Dulquers 40th film.

I'm Game is Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, with the screenplay written by Sajeer Baba, Bilal Moidu and Ismail Aboobacker.

The film boasts a stellar technical crew Cinematography by Jimshi Khalid, Editing by Chaman Chakko, Music by Jakes Bejoy.

The announcement poster shows a pair of hands, one of them injured, holding a playing cardhinting at the film's suspenseful tone.

Fans eagerly await more details as anticipation builds following this exciting update about this action-thriller.
JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a joint statement, said on Friday that Israel carried out overnight attacks near the presidential palace in Syria's capital, Damascus. The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus.

"This is a clear message to the Syrian regime," the Israeli statement said. "We will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community." Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Israeli airstrikes targeted early Friday a site near the Syrian presidential residence in Damascus, causing loud explosions but no immediate casualties.

The observatory described the strikes as a "warning message" as they took place near one of the most fortified and symbolic locations of the Syrian government. The Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the Israeli air raids.

Amid the sectarian unrest, two wounded Druze Syrians were evacuated on Thursday to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed in northern Israel for medical treatment. On the same day, Katz warned of harsh responses if clashes with the Druze community continue in Syria.

Before dawn on Friday, hundreds of Israeli Druze protesters demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's private residence in Israel's northern coastal town of Caesarea, demanding that the Israeli army intervene and protect the Druze in Syria, according to reports by Israeli media outlets.

Earlier on Thursday night, thousands of Druze residents took to the streets in northern Israel, blocking major highways, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a SOHR update on Thursday, the death toll from two days of sectarian clashes near Damascus has climbed to 101, including nine field executions.

Druze people primarily live in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller groups in Jordan. Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze community since expanding its territorial control near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.
UN Security Council President Evangelos Sekeris has said that the Council is seriously concerned with the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and a meeting on the situation is possible.

Asked on Thursday if there would be a meeting on the tense situation in South Asia, he said, "With the plain logic, this is something which might probably happen."

Sekeris, who is the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, was speaking at a news conference after assuming the rotating Council presidency for the month.

India on principle, would be opposed to a meeting of the Council on the issue because it considers that disputes with Pakistan are bilateral matters under the 1972 Simla Agreement between its leaders, and there should be no third-party involvement.

However, the Council is empowered under the UN Carter to convene a meeting on the issue.

But beyond that, as a practical matter, the Council will not be able to take any action since permanent members -- other than possibly China -- would not want to directly get involved in deference to India.

Sekeris noted that Pakistan is on the Council as an elected member.

He conceded, "It's a difficult subject, but we are very receptive to any request (for a meeting). And if the meeting with the Security Council will take place in any form, we will still (hold the) debate, as President, you know, in a way to be faithful to a mandate."

He added that it could also be "an opportunity to have views expressed, and this might help to diffuse tensions".

"We are also seriously concerned with the growing bilateral tension," Sekeris said.

"If the situation is not de-escalating, calling for an extraordinary Security Council meeting, this is something which can come as a consequence," he said, because international peace was essentially its mandate.

He said that the Council had last month strongly condemned the "heinous" terrorist attack at Pahalgam, as had Greece.

"We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it's happening," he added.

He was asked if the Council's statement condemning the terrorist attack did not mention the perpetrators because of "Pakistan as a member using its leverage" to take out mention of The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Toiba-linked outfit, which owned responsibility for the attack, and if moves like it would undermine global efforts to hold specific terror groups responsible.

Sekeris said, "A press statement of whichever text, which is adopted by consensus unanimity, then of course, you cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation, because an internal document."

"For me, the important thing that we have is that this press statement was issued because, as you said, having the Security Council one member state, which is part of this conflict, of course, then you could expect another outcome," he added.
Russia-Urkaine War: In a significant development that may affect the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the United States has announced to pull out as a mediator saying that America is not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings. The US had earlier said that it would stop mediating between the two warring nations if no progress is made soon. A State Department official indicated on Thursday that there is little progress made by the two nations to end bloodshed.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings." Bruce, however, said that the US is committed to helping the two countries reach a deal. It is now between the two parties, and now  now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. Its going to be up to them," she said.

Earlier last week, US President Donald Trump has questioned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin's willingness to stop the war and criticised recent missile strikes in Ukraine. Trump said after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Vatican on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, on Saturday.

Last week on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia said. The meeting, which took place at the Kremlin, lasted three hours and was "constructive and very useful," Yury Ushakov, a key Putin aide who was at the talks, told reporters.

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its third year with both nations continuing to strike against each other.
Pakistan-India Tension: Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has been claiming that military action from India is imminent. The tensions have soared at the borders and various reports have claimed that Pakistan has already mobilized its army and air force towards the Indian border. Now, in a fresh sign indicating escalation of the situation, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has asked its residents of the border areas to stockpile food for at least two months. Amid fears of military escalation, authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ordered the closure of over 1,000 religious schools for 10 days on Thursday.

At least 26 people lost their lives in the drastic Pahalgam terror attack that took place in Kashmir.

The two nuclear-armed countries have exchanged gunfire for eight consecutive nights along the militarised Line of Control, the de facto border that separates the contested Kashmir region. Prime Minister of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq said that instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13 constituencies along the Line of Control (LoC), said media reports.

The PoK government has also allocated an emergency fund of PKR 1 billion ($3.5 million) to ensure the uninterrupted supply of food, medicine, and other essential items to all 13 affected constituencies.

Notably, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has given complete operational freedom to security forces to respond to the terror attack.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control for the past week and the Indian Army has already issued a warning to them over the unprovoked firing incidents.

The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of May 1-2 in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and Poonch districts, as well as in the Naushera and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), officials said.

According to the Indian Army, the troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner to the unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army. This is the eighth consecutive day of India's effective retaliation since the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small arms firing on the night of April 25-26.
US President Donald Trump has reissued threats against Iran, saying any country or person that buys oil or petrochemicals from Iran would face immediate US sanctions, after the indirect talks between the two countries were postponed.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions," Trump wrote on Thursday on Truth Social.

"They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.

Trump implemented what he calls a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran since taking office in January, including tougher sanctions on oil exports and threats of military action, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump's comments came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday that the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, scheduled for Saturday in Rome, had been postponed at the mediator Oman's proposal.

Baghaei reaffirmed Iran's determination to use diplomacy to safeguard the nation's "legitimate and legal" interests and to end the sanctions and economic pressure against Iran.

Earlier in the day, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi announced on social media platform X that the fourth round of the Iran-US talks scheduled for Saturday had been postponed for "logistical reasons," adding, "New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

"For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3," he wrote.

"New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."

Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did not elaborate.

Rome will see the Vatican begin its conclave next week to pick a new pope after the death of Pope Francis. Two other rounds of US-Iran talks have been held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on a half-century of enmity. The negotiations have been led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The US President, with his threat on social media, would be going after Iran's major economic resource. It produced an average of 2.9 million barrels a day 2023 of crude oil, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran's program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the US continues an airstrike campaign, called "Operation Rough Rider," that has been targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have long been backed by Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on early Thursday warned Iran over the rebels.

"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing," he wrote.

"You know very well what the US Military is capable of  and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing."

Last Saturday's round of talks, which included experts drilling down into the details of a possible deal, also took place as an explosion rocked an Iranian port, killing at least 70 people and injuring more than 1,000 others.
" " The Polar Prince returns to St. John's Harbour with the aid of the Atlantic Merlin, towing the barge of the Titan submersible. Dolores M. Harvey / Shutterstock

The Titan, a carbon fiber and titanium vessel designed for extreme depths, was on an expedition to explore the Titanic shipwreck when the submersible lost contact with its support ship, the Polar Prince, shortly after launching off the coast of Newfoundland.

The submersible implosion led to the deaths of all five passengers aboard, including OceanGates cofounder and CEO, Stockton Rush.

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Despite early hopes, the U.S. Navy had detected an acoustic signature consistent with a catastrophic implosion shortly after Titan lost contact, but this information was not made public until after debris was found.
For decades, the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) has served as a model cooperative program between the U.S. Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the states, and the dairy industry. NCIMS brings together all dairy stakeholders to maintain and update the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which provides uniform regulations for the dairy industry.

The 39th National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments met April 11 to 16 in Minneapolis, Minn., to deliberate many important issues facing the FDAs National Grade A Milk Program and the PMO. Delegates representing 49 states and Puerto Rico attended, along with representatives from the FDA and industry organizations. Attendees reviewed and discussed 81 different proposals for changes to the PMO, eight of which were submitted by National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) on behalf of its members.

The conference provides a unique forum for the industry and its regulators to come together. Sometimes the most valuable advances at the conference do not come from the proposals that pass but from issues that are raised for conference-wide attention.



One issue NMPF brought forward at the conference was the confusion caused by the Dear Veterinarian Letter the FDA published October 11 regarding the use of aspirin products in lactating dairy cattle. In the letter, the FDA stated that veterinarians and dairy farmers should stop the use of unapproved aspirin in lactating dairy cattle and use FDA-approved products to control pyrexia and pain. This letter has perplexed the industry for the past six months, so NMPF used the conference as an opportunity to gain clarity from the FDA on its position and ensure that federal regulators are on the same page as the states and industry. Though the proposal that NMPF submitted didnt pass, NMPF is pleased that the issue was thoroughly discussed and that NCIMS voted in favor of creating a study committee to engage the FDA, USDA, industry, and other appropriate stakeholders in exploring drug and chemical storage requirements and the administrative procedures for unapproved animal drugs, homeopathic/all natural drugs, and medical devices.

NMPF also had favorable outcomes for other proposals it submitted, including a proposal clarifying language around animal treatment record requirements and a proposal updating the rules for cleaning on-farm bulk tanks to be consistent with the rules for bulk milk hauling trucks and trailers.



Leaders from NMPF and its member cooperatives are very involved in NCIMS, and many serve on the NCIMS executive board or on committees between conferences. Brad Suhling of Prairie Farms was elected to the open industry from the central region for the NCIMS board. Suhling previously served on the Single Service Committee, and that vacancy will be filled by Charlie Mack (Prairie Farms). Amanda Rife (Land O Lakes) was elected the open industry from the eastern region for the NCIMS board and will serve as chair for Council I, Dave Kedzierski (United Dairymen of Arizona) will serve as the chair for Council II, Damon Miller (Dairy Farmers of America) will continue his term as the chair for Council III, and Clay Detlefsen will continue to serve in the NMPF staff representative seat. Finally, by unanimous vote, Antone Mickelson (Darigold/Northwest Dairy Association) will continue as vice chair of NCIMS executive board.

This year, attendees at NCIMS also celebrated the centennial of the PMO in 2024. The FDA ran a campaign throughout the past year to showcase what 100 years of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance has done for milk safety in the United States. Other industry partners also celebrated the centennial in different ways, including an award-winning feature story in New York Archives and a deep dive about the PMO in the Food Safety Matters podcast.

Protecting milk quality and safety is crucial for public health. The PMO has done that effectively for 100 years, and with continued collaboration through NCIMS, it will continue for many more.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2025

May 1, 2025
In its latest innovation leap, Zoho has unveiled a suite of advanced AI capabilities within Zoho Creator, its low-code platform, further cementing its leadership in democratising enterprise software development.

Announced today from its Australian base in Adelaide, the release from Zoho introduces CoCreator, a powerful new assistant designed to slash app development timelines and elevate productivity, all without increasing costs for existing users.

With over 100 million global users, Zoho continues to demonstrate the value of owning its full tech stack, allowing for deeply contextual AI that understands, predicts, and acts on business data in ways competitors cant match.

A New Standard for Speed and Simplicity

CoCreator empowers users of all skill levels to create apps using natural prompts, whether spoken, written, or derived from existing documents like software requirements. With AI-driven suggestions tailored to specific domains, the platform translates ideas into functional apps in record time.

This includes support for:

Voice and Text Prompt App Generation  Create fully-fledged applications from business specs or diagrams.

 Create fully-fledged applications from business specs or diagrams. Smart Component Suggestions  Zia now recommends contextual fields when building forms, something notably absent in most rival low-code tools.

 Zia now recommends contextual fields when building forms, something notably absent in most rival low-code tools. Automated Code Writing and Optimisation  Developers can auto-generate and refine code blocks using prompts tailored to app logic.

 Developers can auto-generate and refine code blocks using prompts tailored to app logic. Data Cleansing and Modelling  Turn messy, unstructured data into usable, structured formats within minutes.

What sets Zoho apart is that these AI features are integrated directly into the Creator platform, no third-party add-ons or hidden fees required.

AI with Context: Zohos Competitive Advantage

Unlike vendors who bolt AI onto existing systems, Zohos deep integration enables its AI, Zia, to truly understand the full context of user workflows. This allows it to suggest actions, write code, clean data, and automate processes with unparalleled relevance and precision.

In an era where AI is often used as a buzzword, Zohos approach stands out for its practicality and privacy-first design. None of its models are trained on customer data, and personal information is never retained, offering peace of mind alongside productivity.

Upcoming in June is a powerful new capability called AI Skills, enabling developers to embed natural language logic and smart process automation into apps. This feature is currently in Early Access but is expected to play a major role in how businesses streamline operations moving forward.

Custom AI Models for Niche Use Cases

In addition to built-in intelligence, Creator now supports the deployment of custom AI models trained on company-specific data. Whether its document scanning with OCR, forecasting trends, or object detection, these bespoke models bring tailored automation within reach for SMEs and enterprises alike.

Keeping Innovation Accessible

From the beginning, Zoho Creators mission has been clear: to make app development faster, easier, and more accessible. With these new AI enhancements, that vision is now supercharged; bringing enterprise-grade capability to users without enterprise-level costs.

AI allows us to take it to another level, shortening the time from an idea to an app, said Raju Vegesna, Zohos Chief Evangelist. Todays announcement raises the baseline on speed of quality app creation with deep capabilities, without adding costs.

Final Thoughts: A Smarter Path to Business Agility

For businesses navigating digital transformation, Zoho Creators latest update offers a compelling path forwardblending intuitive design, intelligent automation, and ethical AI principles.

In a market where many AI solutions feel experimental or overpriced, Zoho's approach is refreshingly grounded: useful, secure, and built for impact.

As someone who closely follows enterprise software trends, I see Zohos move not just as a product upgrade, but as a powerful statementAI should simplify, not complicate. And it should serve the business, not the other way around.
(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)



A two-hour drive from most U.S. military bases in Japans Kanto Plain, Tochigi Prefecture is home to many great tourist attractions.

Visit there during Golden Week, a chain of holidays from April 29 to May 6, to enjoy vivid and colorful views in a less-crowded atmosphere.

Head to the center of Tochigi City, where you can check out 1,151 colorful koinobori carp streamers flying over the Uzuma River against the backdrop of traditional warehouses lined along the river. Koinobori are traditionally decorated to celebrate Boys Day holiday (May 5), but even after the holiday, you can enjoy the impressive views with streamers until May 15.

(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)

(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)

(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)

(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)

(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)



A 30-minute drive from there, Ashikaga Flower Park is another must-see attraction during this season, as the park is filled with countless colorful seasonal flowers. Currently, white and violet blossoms of more than 350 wisteria trees are blooming, forming fantastic views throughout the vast park.

Visit Tochigi before the spring colors fade away!

Center of Tochigi City around the Uzuma River

Ashikaga Flower Park
MATTOON  Local car enthusiasts held the first Cruising Broadway Downtown Mattoon event on May 22, 2020, as an opportunity for families to go outside and socialize amid the COVID-19 pandemic's shutdowns of indoor gathering spaces.

"It was a way to get the kids out of the house and show them what we liked to do when we were kids," classic car owner Kevin Hamilton said of the inaugural cruise organized by Angela Bradbury and Gary Voudrie.

Five years later, the Cruising Broadway season has become an annual tradition that continues to grow. The cruises are typically held the second Friday of every month from April to October. The next one is scheduled for 6-10 p.m. May 9.

On cruise nights, owners of classic cars, hot rods and other showpiece vehicles gather in the First Mid Insurance Group's parking lot to display their rides and visit. The parking lot is typically full. Other enthusiasts drive back and forth on Broadway Avenue, where spectators park to watch the procession.

"I am very grateful to First Mid Insurance. Without them, this cruise wouldn't be happening," said Hamilton, who has been organizing the cruise since its third session in 2020. The Mattoon resident and his wife, Pandora, maintain this event's page on Facebook.

The cruise's parking lot also has the benefit of being next to The Original Burger King, a locally-owned Mattoon landmark that predates the unrelated corporate Burger King's presence in Illinois.

Cruise participant Paul Hargis of Humboldt said a lot of car enthusiasts from outside of Coles County like to eat at Burger King while they are in town for this event. Hamilton noted that the cruise regularly draws participants from Effingham, Paris, Shelbyville, Sullivan and other area communities.

"It just keeps getting bigger," Hargis said.

Car enthusiast Joe Trueblood of Mattoon added, "Every month, we see vehicles coming to the event that we have never seen before."

The cruise is held on Fridays so it will not conflict with weekend car shows, but Trueblood said the cruise also appeals to owners who don't like car shows, but still want a venue for their prized vehicles where they can "take them out and show them off."

While at the cruise, Hamilton said he encourages attendees to try downtown restaurants and the SweeTea'z drink trailer that is often at this event. He said the cruise's partner businesses also include Melissa Harden with Studio 21, who takes car photos in the fall in front of the illuminated marque of the former Time Theater on Broadway.

Trueblood, who is president of the Camp New Hope board, said the cruise also is a great place for selling raffle tickets, T-shirts and other fundraising items for this Lake Mattoon camp's recreational programs for people with developmental disabilities. He said car enthusiasts tend to be supportive of the camp, which hosts a car show in the fall.

"The cruise is a really good thing for the community," Trueblood said.

Trueblood said he and his wife, Jami, have been driving a restored 1970 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck to the cruise. Hamilton said he and his wife often bring their 1955 Chevrolet and 1973 Camaro Z28 to this event.

Hargis said he and his wife, Elaine, who are both veteran drag racers, have been displaying their 1972 El Camino and 1968 Camaro at the cruise, but he is preparing to debut a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback there.

This same Mustang was Hargis' first car when he was 16, a vehicle that he later sold. Hargis said he tracked down the Mustang nearly four years ago to an area barn, where it had been sitting for 43 years. Hargis said he has been restoring this vehicle from his youth and recently took it on a test drive.

"It was special. That's the word I would use," Hargis said, adding that he looks forward to showing the Mustang to his fellow car enthusiasts at the upcoming cruise.

"I am ready for next Friday."
About half a mile from Union Cross Elementary School in southeastern Forsyth County, an underground pipeline hums quietly beneath the surface, built to carry enough natural gas each day to power over 2 million homes.

Operated by Williams Companies, the pipeline is now slated for a major expansion  a project known as the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, which would lay a second pipe alongside the original to push even more gas through the region.

But the school with more than 400 students was unaware of the expansion plan when The Winston-Salem Journal approached parents.

No notice, no say

Williams plans to expand its Transco pipeline, which primarily carries methane from Texas to New York, by adding 55 miles of new pipe and upgrading four compressor stations in Virginia and North Carolina. In Forsyth County, the company will use a method called looping to lay a second pipeline beside the original, aiming to meet rising demand for power.

Rey Palacios, a parent of a student at the school, was among those who learned about the project for the first time during an interview with the Journal on April 16.

We dont want our children to be around anything that is potentially risky, obviously, Palacios said.If they can find a different route  if they can move it away from the school, they should do so.

Joel Lopez, another parent of a Union Cross Elementary student, said while he isnt fully aware of the risks, he trusts that the school would take action if the pipeline were found to pose a danger to the children.

If the school says it's not safe, we agree with the school, Lopez said as he waited in the car line to pick up his child. It was also the first time Lopez had heard about the proposed plan.

The pipeline proposal, however, hasnt just flown under the radar for families. The school district was left in the dark, too.

According to Amanda Lehmert, chief communications officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the district never received official notice about the project. School officials found out when the Journal reached out for comment.

When it was brought to our attention.... we reached out to the company and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for information we can share with families regarding the project and opportunities to learn more about it, Lehmert said.

Environmental advocates call for transparency

Since Williams' proposal for expansion was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October 2024, environmental groups such as Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club have called for greater transparency and due diligence from both Williams and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Those efforts have often been met with what they describe as limited public engagement and a lack of clear accountability, leaving many feeling that their concerns are being overlooked in the decision-making process.

The basic premise is, unless you are a directly impacted landowner who has to be facing eminent domain from the threat of this project, if its permitted and built, you would have absolutely no idea this was coming, Caroline Hansley, campaign organizing strategist at Sierra Club said.

According to Hansley, while there are other populated sites near the proposed pipeline expansion, including public and private schools, houses of worship, and daycare centers, theres no requirement for those communities to be informed, aside from directly impacted landowners.

Without a formal requirement or pressure from local officials, she added, theres little reason for a company like Williams to actively engage with the communities along the pipeline route.

Juhi Modi, North Carolina field coordinator at Appalachian Voices, recalled attending one of the open house events hosted by Williams last year  a meeting meant to gather public input on the proposed project.

But the setup, she explained, felt more passive than participatory. Williams employees stood scattered around the room, and rather than offering presentations or engaging the crowd, they waited for attendees to approach them with specific questions. For many community members unfamiliar with the technical details, it wasnt always clear what to ask, or even where to start.

There was no presentation, no dialog where Williams employees were forthcoming about the information, Modi said.

Without broad awareness among those who could be affected, the regulatory process is already moving forward.

In January, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it would prepare an environmental assessment for the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project  a decision criticized by environmental advocates, who argue that a more thorough and detailed environmental justice review is needed.

The assessment is scheduled for public release in November.

A risk running beneath their feet

While the project has received little public attention, as seen in the case of Union Cross Elementary, those closely following the issue have been working to raise awareness about the potential risks.

In March, a group of Guilford County residents spoke at a board of commissioners meeting, holding signs warning that the project brings risks, not benefits.

Ive got two little kids in Guilford County  got a 5 year old and a 2 year old, and the 5 year old will be starting school here in Guilford County in August, Jenny Zimmer said at the meeting.

These pipelines have high risk no matter where they are. But this particular pipeline route runs through multiple school and historic sites  and all of these children are at risk that feels like a really avoidable risk for the county to avoid.

While Forsyth County has never had any reported significant leaks from the Williams pipeline, a 2022 report by public interest and environmental advocacy groups found that from 2010 to 2021, a pipeline accident occurred in the U.S. roughly every 40 hours.

More than 2,600 hazardous gas leaks during that period caused over $4 billion in damages, killed 122 people, and released emissions equivalent to those from 2.4 million cars in a year.

Recent incidents include a rupture along the Mountain Valley Pipeline at Bent Mountain in Roanoke County, Virginia, in May 2024, and an explosion near Houston, Texas, that triggered a massive fire burning for four days in September of last year.

Scot Miller, assistant professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University, however, said doubling the pipeline does not necessarily double the risk and that explosions are not common.

The pipes that we often worry the most about are ones that are older or that are not well maintained, Miller said. Going forward, the amount of risks in those pipes really comes down to how well those pipes are monitored and maintained by the utility or by the distribution company.

Meanwhile, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed the Unleashing American Energy executive order. The order directed federal agencies to speed up pipeline permits, rolled back parts of the National Environmental Policy Act, and asked the National Economic Council to find ways to make it easier to approve interstate pipelines like the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.

If there is a leak

When methane gas leaks, it escapes into the atmosphere as a potent greenhouse gas. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere much more effectively than carbon dioxide, especially over the short term, meaning even small leaks add up and can speed up climate change.

Noah Kittner, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the pipelines proximity to Union Cross Elementary School raises reasonable concerns, noting that he would be worried about anything located within half a mile in the event of a leak.

While the additional pipeline could help relieve pressure issues, Kittner said that the main goal of the expansion is likely to increase the volume of gas moving through the area, as stated on Williams own website. By boosting overall capacity, the project could increase the risk for the amount of gas that could either leak or cause some kind of unintended explosion, he explained.

With any gas pipeline, there are safety risks of an explosion or combustion, which could cause significant damage. Those are small risks, but still should be noted at any location where youre doubling up the pipeline, Kittner added.

Williams wrote to the Journal that the proposed pipeline will undergo rigorous pressure testing to levels higher than those required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, promising the utmost safety for residents and the surrounding community.

Transco, which has been operating for over 75 years in this area, has a demonstrated track record of going above and beyond whats required and implementing best practices to maintain the integrity and safety of the pipeline infrastructure, the company wrote in an email.
The End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS), implemented in 2011, has significantly shaped the landscape of dialysis care in the United States. As nephrology advances and new therapies emerge, there is growing recognition that the current structure of the bundle may not adequately encourage innovation in 2025.1 This challenge is particularly evident when viewed through the lens of the rapid progress that is now being achieved in the care of kidney disease for individuals who are not on dialysis and in the care of other chronic illnesses, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, while advancements in pharmaceuticals and devices in dialysis have been limited.24

Historical Context

The current PPS evolved through several legislative phases, initially driven by concerns over Medicare's composite rate payment structure. The Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 and the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 first mandated congressional reports on expanding the existing composite rate bundle, which at the time included capital costs, administrative services, and basic medications, such as heparin. Subsequently, evidence emerged that higher hemoglobin targets from epoetin alfa were causing harma problem exacerbated by payment policies that incentivized increased prescribing. This overutilization crisis, along with rising costs of other separately billable medications, such as vitamin D receptor analogs and intravenous iron, led to the establishment of the comprehensive bundle for dialysis services with the inclusion of these drugs and biological products as mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), which was implemented on January 1, 2011.5

Beyond promoting cost efficiency, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 emphasized quality metrics through the Quality Incentive Program, which imposed penalties of up to 2% of Medicare income on dialysis centers failing to meet quality targets. This was important because it provided a counterbalance to cost cutting that might misalign with high-quality care. Indeed, the mortality rate for patients on dialysis declined after PPS implementation until the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, although these gains were marginal.6 The PPS also created an incentive to provide peritoneal dialysis (PD), which was used at higher rates by peer nations, by equalizing payments between hemodialysis and PD in the setting of lower costs to dialysis providers to provide this modality. This was followed by an increased utilization of PD, although the financial incentive for the modality has eroded over time as PD suppliers have increased costs to dialysis organizations. Nevertheless, these achievements have preserved access to safe, high-quality dialysis care for millions of Americans.

However, the PPS has had the unintended consequence of limiting development of new therapies because there is no structure that durably incentivizes them. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has tried to partially address this through the creation of two add-on payments to the bundle, the 2017 Transitional Drug Add-on Payment Adjustment (TDAPA) and the 2020 Transitional Add-on Payment for New and Innovative Equipment and Supplies (TPNIES).7,8 These were designed to encourage the development and use of novel drugs and dialysis equipment and supplies with added payments for 3 and 2 years, respectively.

Although well intentioned, TPNIES has not facilitated US adoption of an existing technology, hemodiafiltration, which has been used globally for decades and has been shown in prospective randomized controlled trials to improve mortality compared with convention hemodialysis for patients with kidney failure.9 Although the Food and Drug Administration's 2024 approval of a hemodiafiltration device is welcome, its financial viability within the current PPS remains uncertain because the manufacturer has not applied for TPNIES and it is unclear whether capital equipment outside of home dialysis would be eligible.

To date, only six drugs (etelcalcetide, difelikefalin, daprodustat, vadadustat, taurolidine, and heparin) and one device (Tablo Hemodialysis System) have been approved for add-on payments. Although these therapies represent advancements, none has demonstrated a reduction in patient mortality or hospitalization. Daprodusat was withdrawn in the United States in December 2024 because of business reasons unrelated to safety or efficacy, highlighting the challenges of bringing new medications covered under the PPS to market. In addition, when drugs and devices transition out of the add-on payment period, access to them is often likely to be significantly limited by dialysis providersa pattern already seen with etelcacitide.10 As of January 1, 2025, the oral phosphate binders have moved into the PPS with TDAPA and additional fixed payments to support their implementation. Although the full effect on access to specific agents remains unclear, the newest treatment of hyperphosphatemia, tenapanor, will not receive TDAPA payments and be unavailable through major dialysis providers.

The Need for a Legislative Fix

As the above highlights, change in the existing dialysis care has been slow in the 14 years since the PPS was implemented. The need for legislation to change the PPS stems primarily from the statutory limitations inherent in the current system. Much of the PPS is defined by the Social Security Act. This means that fundamental aspects of the payment system, such as the structure of the bundled payment, types of services included, and methodology for calculating rates, are codified in law. As a result, the CMS has limited ability to make substantial changes without Congressional action, which has been reinforced by a recent Supreme Court ruling.

In addition, CMS is mandated through the Medicare legislation to maintain budget neutrality. Despite the recent move of many patients from traditional Medicare to Medicare Advantage plans and the consequent reductions in Part A and Part B spending, any proposed change to the PPS that increases traditional Medicare spending beyond usual and customary amounts undergo substantial scrutiny. Thus, legislative intervention is needed for significant increases in payments that do not jeopardize existing support to spur innovation through the PPS.

Engaging with Congress to Effect Change

There are multiple avenues for engaging with members of Congress to enable legislative change. Kidney patients, health care professionals, dialysis providers, device and pharmaceutical companies, and professional societies leverage these channels to try and forward their objectives and improve the care for people living with kidney disease. Congress members may serve on committees that are charged with oversight of areas that touch kidney care or they may have a personal or constituent-based interest in nephrology. Advocates can assist such Congress members with evidence-based informed opinions through ongoing interactions as private professionals and through focused efforts and action days, such as those supported by the American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, Renal Physicians Association, and others.

In addition to individual Congress members, the Congressional Kidney Caucus, founded in 2002, is a voluntary bipartisan group of Congressional members with interest in kidney health and disease. This group serves an important function to provide a forum to kidney health advocates for communicating key issues affecting patients with kidney disease and potential legislative action or Congressional oversight to address them.

Advocates and Congressional leaders have championed many bills aimed at supporting innovation in dialysis care. Recent examples include companion bills in both the House and Senate known as the CKD Improvement in Research and Treatment Acts, which contain provisions for expansion of the recipients and providers of the kidney disease education benefit and expansion and extension of TDAPA and TPNIES payments, including to Medicare Advantage recipients.11

What Can Be Done Next to Support Improved Dialysis Care

The path forward to address the limitations of the current PPS and encourage innovation in dialysis care requires a multifaceted approach. Legislative advocacy is critical to improve development and access to new and potentially expensive life-saving and/or life-improving therapies. Working closely with Congressional champions, stakeholders must draft and introduce new legislation that addresses the structural limitations of the current PPS. This would likely involve proposing amendments to the Social Security Act to allow for more flexibility in the bundled payment system, clarification, and a move away from budget neutrality while ensuring protections against overutilization. Simultaneously, increasing the flexibility and incentives for device and pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring to market novel approaches that improve the care of people living with kidney disease on dialysis is a high priority. Allowing increased add-on payments and extending these increases over longer periods under both TDAPA and TPNIES would be a step in this direction. Strong legislative advocacy has been a hallmark of American nephrology, and we are alive in another moment when the old system needs to be replaced by something new under the guidance of the next generation of advocates who will help to shape how dialysis care should look in the decades to come for the benefit of our patients.
The concept of improving quality of kidney care, specifically for patients with kidney failure receiving facility-based dialysis, was solidified with the creation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).1 Previously, despite established poor clinical outcomes for patients with kidney failure (>50% 5-year mortality, >30% 30-day readmission incidence, and poor health-related quality of life) in the setting of rising costs, there had been a lack of focus on kidney quality measurement.2,3 Notably, the QIP was designed as a mandatory pay-for-performance program for all Medicare-certified dialysis facilities, penalizing facilities not meeting targets on evolving measures related to (1) clinical care (e.g., small solute clearance), (2) care coordination (e.g., standardized hospitalization ratio), (3) safety (e.g., blood stream infection), and (4) patient and family engagement (e.g., In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [ICH CAHPS]).1 Each year, the specific measures are evaluated and potentially modified. Notably, the measures included in the QIP use a range of data sources and methodologies, from claims-based measures with standardized hospitalization ratio to survey data with ICH CAHPS (Table 1).

Table 1 - ESRD Quality Incentive Program calendar year 2025 measures ESRD Quality Incentive Program calendar year 2025 measures Proposed Metric Numerator Denominator Bloodstream infection in hemodialysis patients The number of new positive blood culture events on the basis of blood cultures drawn as an outpatient or within 1 calendar day after a hospital admission The number of maintenance hemodialysis patients treated in the outpatient hemodialysis center on the first 2 working days of the month Patient experience of care: ICH CAHPS survey The measure score averages the proportion of those responding to each answer choice in all questions. Each global rating will be scored based on the number of respondents in the distribution of top responses, e.g., the percentage of patients rating the facility a 9 or 10 on a 010 scale (with 10 being the best) Patients with kidney failure receiving ICHD at the facility for the past 3 mo or longer are included in the initial population. The denominator for each question is the number of patients who responded to the particular question SRR The observed number of index hospital discharges that are followed by an unplanned hospital readmission within 430 d of discharge The expected number of index discharges followed by an unplanned readmission within 430 d in each facility, which is derived from a model that accounts for patient characteristics, the dialysis facility to which the patient is discharged, and the discharging acute care or critical access hospitals involved STrR The number of eligible observed red blood cell transfusion events: An event is defined as the transfer of one or more units of blood or blood products into a recipient's blood stream (code set is provided in the numerator details) among patients dialyzing at the facility during the inclusion episodes of the reporting period The number of eligible red blood cell transfusion events (as defined in the numerator statement) that would be expected among patients at a facility during the reporting period, given the patient mix at the facility SHR The number of inpatient hospital admissions among eligible patients at the facility during the reporting period. Index COVID-19 hospitalizations are not counted as hospitalization events The number of hospital admissions that would be expected among eligible patients at the facility during the reporting period, given the patient mix at the facility Kt/V dialysis adequacy topic- adult hemodialysis The number of patient-months in the denominator for patients whose delivered dose of dialysis was a spKt/V 1.2 1. All adult (older than 18 yr) hemodialysis patient-months where a patient received dialysis greater than two and less than four times a week, and the claim or EQRS did not indicate frequent dialysis

2. All patient-months where a patient was assigned to the same facility for the entire month and had ESRD for more than 90 d Kt/V dialysis adequacy topic- adult PD The number of patient-months in the denominator for patients whose delivered dose of dialysis was 1.7 Kt/V All adult PD patient-months where a patient was assigned to the same facility for the entire month and had kidney failure for more than 90 d Kt/V dialysis adequacy topic- pediatric hemodialysis The number of patient-months in the denominator for patients whose delivered dose of dialysis was a spKt/V 1.2 1. All pediatric (younger than 18 yr) ICHD patient-months where a patient received dialysis greater than two and less than four times a week, and the claim or EQRS did not indicate frequent dialysis

2. All patient-months where a patient was assigned to the same facility for the entire month and had ESRD for more than 90 d Kt/V dialysis adequacy topic- pediatric peritoneal The number of patient-months in the denominator for patients whose delivered dose of dialysis was 1.8 Kt/V All pediatric PD patient-months where a patient was assigned to the same facility for the entire month and had ESRD for more than 90 d Hemodialysis vascular access: long-term catheter rate The number of adult patient-months in the denominator where the patient is on maintenance hemodialysis using a catheter continuously for 3 mo or longer as of the last hemodialysis session of the reporting month All patient-months where the patient is at least 18 yr as of the first day of the reporting month and is determined to be a maintenance hemodialysis patient (in-center and home hemodialysis) for the complete reporting month at the same facility Hypercalcemia (reporting) The number of patient-months in the denominator with total uncorrected serum or plasma calcium laboratory value reported in EQRS The number of patient-months at the facility during the measurement period. Includes both Medicare and non-Medicare patients Percentage of PPW The number of patient-months in which the patient at the dialysis facility is on the kidney or kidney-pancreas waitlist as of the last day of each month during the performance period All patient-months for patients who are younger than 75 years on the last day of each month and are assigned to the dialysis facility according to each patient's treatment history as of the last day of each month during the reporting year Medication reconciliation (reporting) The number of patient-months in the denominator for which the facility reported required data in EQRS The total number of eligible patient-months for all patients assigned to a dialysis facility during the performance period Clinical depression screening and follow-up The number of eligible patients in the performance period for whom a facility successfully reports one of four conditions related to clinical depression screening and follow-up The number of eligible patients in the performance period National Healthcare Safety Network COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel reporting measure Cumulative number of HCP in the denominator population who are considered up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines The number of HCP eligible to work in the facility for at least 1 d during the reporting period, excluding persons with contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination that are described by the CDC Facility commitment to health equity (reporting) The number of domains of commitment to advancing health equity of which the facility completes attestations The denominator for each facility is 10, which represents 2 points for each of the domains of commitment to advancing health equity Screening for social drivers of health (reporting) The number of eligible patients who were screened for all five HRSNs: food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, utility difficulties, or interpersonal safety The number of eligible adult patients who have received care at the dialysis facility for at least 90 d Screen positive rate for social drivers of health (reporting) The number of eligible patients with Yes or No (nonmissing) screening responses for each of the five HRSNs The number of eligible adult patients who have received care at the dialysis facility and have screenings for each of the five HRSNs during the performance period https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cy-2025-proposed-technical-specificationspdf.pdf . Accessed October 30, 2024. CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; EQRS, End Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System; HCP, health care proxy; HRSN, health-related social need; ICH CAHPS, In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems; ICHD, in-center hemodialysis; Kt/V, dialysis adequacy; PD, peritoneal dialysis; PPW, prevalent patients waitlisted; SHR, standardized hospitalization ratio; sp, single pool; SRR, standardized readmission ratio; STrR, standardized transfusion ratio.

The design of the ESRD QIP as penalty-based has raised concerns that there is risk of depriving facilities providing care to underserved communities of necessary resources without fostering true improvements.4 Evidence to date on the effect of the QIP on dialysis care delivery illustrates limited effect.57 Although there are data demonstrating an association between QIP performance and clinical outcomes, such as mortality (facilities characterized by lower QIP scores have higher rates of patient mortality),5 this observation is likely confounded by myriad factors; there has been no randomized data illustrating that QIP performance is associated with clinical outcomes such as mortality. However, an analysis of dialysis centers over a 3-year period showed that facilities receiving QIP-based penalties did not see improvement in specific measures and were more likely to be located in low-income, minority-predominant zip codes.6 Dialysis centers with lower QIP performance have a higher proportion of historically disadvantaged patient populations (Black, dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, rural or low income). QIP penalties could contribute to further underfunding under-resourced clinics.7

Given the limitations on affecting quality and potential for unintended consequences, there is a compelling need to modernize the QIP to achieve its original goals for contemporary kidney care. A substantial overhaul would require legislative action given mandates by Congress in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. However, there are numerous ways in which the QIP could be reimagined within its existing structure. First, CMS can and should implement changes to better account for social risk factors (income, education, race and ethnicity, employment, community resources, and social support) and intersections with clinical, biochemical, and process-oriented measures. In the proposed 2025 ESRD prospective payment system, CMS requested comments on incorporating a Health Equity Adjustment Bonus to a facility's QIP total performance score, on the basis of achievement across five performance domains (Patient and Family Engagement, Care Coordination, Clinical Care, Safety Measure, and Reporting Measure) as well as its proportion of patients with dual eligibility status. Similar approaches have been proposed and finalized by CMS for its Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility value-based purchasing programs, and thus, it is likely that a Health Equity Adjustment may be adopted, although the published final rule does not finalize an approach. However, dual eligibility is only one social determinant of health, and there are limitations to its use given the state-by-state variation in Medicaid expansion, and there is further opportunity to account for additional social risk factors to ensure that facilities caring for vulnerable patients are not subject to disproportional financial penalties undercutting efforts to improve quality.

Second, there is a critical need to reevaluate QIP measures to ensure that measure sets are directly linked to clinical and patient-reported outcomes prioritized by patients. A recent Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative scientific workshop focused on patient-centered quality measures for dialysis found that most individual component measures of the 2025 QIP were rated by workshop participants as only low or moderate with respect to degree of patient-centeredness; for example, the ICH CAHPS was referenced as being challenged by a low response rate and lack of home dialysis patients.8 In addition, quality measures for dialysis facilities need to be based on the published literature demonstrating effectful interventions that are feasible to implement by facilities and demonstrable improvements in patient-centered outcomes. Other condition-based quality bundles that have successfully affected health care utilization and quality have broadened focus across a continuum (prehospitalization, hospitalization, and posthospitalization) and offer a more wholistic approach to approaching care delivery. For example, joint replacement bundles have been shown to be associated with lower short-term facility utilization, shortened length of stay, decrease complications rates, and increase home physical therapy rates, demonstrating their effect beyond the care delivered in the hospital including home care postoperatively.9 An unfortunate natural limitation of the ESRD QIP is its focus specifically on care within the dialysis unit. In the future evolution of the QIP, there should be consideration of measures that are within the dialysis units' control but expand beyond the care delivered in the unit. For example, with the eventual sunsetting of the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETCs) model (randomizing 30% of dialysis facilities to penalties and incentives on the basis of the rates of home dialysis and transplantation), there may be an opportunity to consider incorporating these types of broader, cross-continuum measures within the ESRD QIP, given CMS's focus on these measures and potential inclination to continue measurement.10

Finally, a key shortcoming of the ESRD QIP is that despite the term QIP, it functions as a penalty program. Other federal pay-for-performance programs, such as the Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System, offer both bonus payments and penalties. A penalty-based approach to quality improvement is challenging during an era in which dialysis facilities are facing multiple challenges constraining bandwidth. A shortage of dialysis unit staff, rapidly rising labor costs, and flat reimbursement all limit the ability for units to invest in innovation and quality improvement efforts. Maintaining the paradigm of financial withholds from poorly performing clinics may perpetuate a downward financial and quality spiral, which ultimately could affect some patients' reliable access to dialysis care.11 Finally, the growth of Medicare Advantage and other value-based care models that include a range of quality measures tied to bonus payments raise the question of the viability of financial penalties.

In summary, the ESRD QIP has been a 14-year approach to encouraging quality improvement among patients receiving dialysis, but one with only limited evidence to support that it has meaningfully improved clinical outcomes for patients. Within the existing structure of the QIP, we must drive greater improvements in quality by adopting the following approach: (1) incorporate measures that reflect patient-important clinical outcomes; (2) leverage broader, cross-continuum quality measures (care that is not limited to be influenceable by the dialysis unit setting); (3) provide additional support for units on the basis of social risk factors; and (4) shift from a penalty-based program to an incentive and investment-based model. A legislative overhaul is needed to fundamentally restructure the ESRD QIP to better incorporate these elements and to allow for further iteration. Through legislation, the ESRD QIP can be redesigned fundamentally to serve as an investment and incentivization model. For example, achieving health equity is an important, laudable goal but futile without upfront resources for interventions to address social determinants of health; like the ETCs model, a reimagined QIP could include an upfront payment adjustment for those facilities with a higher percentage of patients from disadvantaged populations, coupled to improvements in quality performance. Redesigning the QIP would also provide an opportunity for program administrators to ensure alignment of QIP metrics with those included in other quality programs, such as the Dialysis Facility Compare star rating program, Merit-based Incentive Payment System, and more recently implemented value-based payment models such as the ETCs model; alignment would streamline the number of measures dialysis units and clinicians are accountable for and offer the opportunity to focus on key areas of quality improvement. Ultimately, the goal of the ESRD QIP is laudableto foster greater quality for patients requiring dialysis, but there is risk of stalled progress without a fundamental reset of the program.
Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law are urging the states federal delegation to defend the rule of law, writing that several Trump administration actions have undermined the countrys legal and political systems.

More than 30 current and former faculty, representing positions across the political spectrum, signed the April 29 letter in their personal capacities, outlining what they described as a concern that the rule of law in the United States is in peril.

(W)e urge you to be vigilant in its defense, they wrote to Nebraska Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, as well as Reps. Mike Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith.

Eric Berger, a UNL professor of law whose area of expertise includes constitutional law and the First Amendment, said the faculty saw the letter "not at all a partisan issue but as a rule of law issue."

"We felt in our role as law professors, it was important to stand up for the rule of law and to make the public aware of its role in preserving and sustaining society," said Berger, who explained that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of UNL or his colleagues in the College of Law.

"We felt it was our duty to alert the public to these concerns and to call on our members of Congress to stand up for the rule of law," he added.

The letter from the faculty at Nebraska Law raises four recent actions by the Trump administration as areas of concern.

Free speech concerns

The first area cited was the revocation of student visas held by individuals studying at colleges and universities across the U.S. apparently based solely on the students exercise of their First Amendment rights of free speech.

The courts have made clear that citizens and non-citizens alike are protected by the First Amendment," the letter states.

Thousands of students, including three currently studying at UNL, learned in April their F-1 status recorded in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, had been terminated without them being afforded a reason or a hearing.

Several lawsuits said revoking the legal status of international students appeared aimed at driving those individuals out of the country. Trump administration officials have said they were targeting students involved in activities that run counter to U.S. interests.

In late March, federal immigration agents arrested Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey, near her home in Massachusetts and transported her to a detention facility in Louisiana.

Ozturk's lawyers say the 30-year-old was apparently targeted for co-authoring an op-ed in the campus newspaper critical of the Israeli government, which legal experts said amounted to viewpoint discrimination.

Berger said the U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized that First Amendment protections to free speech extend to all persons in the country through the "Unconstitutional Conditions Doctrine."

"Even if you do not have a right to a particular government benefit, the government cannot condition your receipt of that benefit in giving up your right to free speech," Berger said.

Failure to provide due process

UNL faculty also said the Trump administrations failure to provide even minimal due process protections to immigrants was another red flag.

In March, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old El Salvadoran man who had been living in the U.S. since he was 16, was accused by Maryland police and immigration officials of being affiliated with MS-13, a notorious El Salvadoran gang.

Abrego Garcia was later removed from the country and imprisoned in an El Salvadoran prison without a hearing. He remains there despite the Supreme Court ordering the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.

The letter from the College of Law faculty said not granting Abrego Garcia a hearing has further eroded the rule of law in the U.S.

That failure has resulted in an admission that mistakes were made and that individuals were deported without a proper basis for doing so, and yet no action has been taken to rectify the mistake, the letter states.

Berger said affording citizens and noncitizens due process has dual purposes. First, it ensures the government "gets the right guy." It also makes it clear "the government has the legal authority to do what it's doing."

"When an administration deports over 200 people without due process, it is also assuming significant powers without giving courts the opportunity to determine whether they have that power in the first place," Berger said.

The letter, and Berger individually, said the government's legal theory does not distinguish between citizens and noncitizens, which suggests that it may not be averse to stripping citizens of their due process rights.

Separation of powers ignored

The third point raised in the letter focuses on what the faculty described as the Trump administration's "systematic attacks on the federal judiciary and failure to fully comply with court orders, including rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court."

As numerous legal challenges have been filed, Berger said he and other faculty have been alarmed as Trump and those around him have attempted to delegitimize judges who have ruled against his administration.

In some instances, Trump and others have suggested judges who rule against the president should be impeached and removed from the bench.

"There are cases he will win and should win," Berger said, "but the extent the administration has attacked fundamental rule of law principles is deeply disturbing, which is why 33 of us signed onto a letter identifying those problems."

In April, a federal appeals court in Virginia led by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a conservative judge appointed by President Ronald Reagan, rebuked Trump for ignoring a lower court's ruling ordering the administration to return Abrego Garcia to the country.

Wilkinson wrote the administration's actions "come too close to grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both. This is a losing proposition all around."

Berger said all presidents "are sued for their policies from time to time," and find varying success in the legal system. For a president to ignore a court's order "raises questions of whether rule of law exists and whether the president believes himself to be all-powerful."

"It's really unprecedented for a president to insist that if he loses he can do what he wants," Berger said. "It really poses the danger of the country veering into autocracy from a democracy."

Attacks on lawyers

Since returning to office, Trump has targeted several law firms and lawyers he disagrees with, including several who have previously investigated the president, canceling government contracts or revoking security clearances.

The administration has also punished firms that have provided pro bono representation for causes the president opposes.

"The threat to the rule of law resulting from systematic attempts to retaliate against law firms whose only offense has been to zealously pursue their clients' interests  an obligation we teach our students is the responsibility of a lawyer," the faculty letter states.

Berger said the attacks could have a chilling effect that makes it more difficult for Americans to secure adequate legal representation in the future, and said supporters of the current administration should consider what would happen if another administration took similar actions.

"I think all Americans should ask themselves what their lives would look like if past or future generations could not go to court to challenge government actions that abuse power," Berger said.

The letter closes with a similar sentiment.

"If the government can punish non-citizens for their speech today, it can do the same to citizens tomorrow," the faculty wrote. "If the government can send non-citizens to an El Salvadoran prison without due process, it can do the same to citizens.

"If the government of today can abuse the law in one direction, a future government can use its force in the opposite direction," it continues. "If an attorney is threatened for representing one interest today, she may be threatened for representing your interest tomorrow."

In a statement, Taylor Gage, a spokesperson for Rep. Mike Flood, said Congressman Flood supports the rule of law and believes in the independence of our courts and the separation of powers."

"When a new administration takes office, there is often a flurry of litigation as opposing parties challenge new policies, and he expects that these matters will play out over time and that all parties will respect the decisions judges make," the statement continued.

Rep. Don Bacon did not respond to an email on Friday from the Journal Star seeking comment.

Richard Moberly, dean of the UNL College of Law, said he was proud of the faculty who used their personal time "to provide expert advice to our elected representatives" on issues of free speech and the rule of law.

"I wholeheartedly support their First Amendment right to do so, just as I wholeheartedly support the First Amendment rights of faculty who might issue public statements with contrary views," Moberly said in a statement. "I am also gratified to live in a state with elected officials who are open to hearing from a wide variety of perspectives."
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Physician executive Grace E. Terrell discusses her article, Physicians must innovate and focus on medicines core, not chores. She introduces the concept of core vs. chore, urging health care workers to distinguish essential patient care duties from the administrative tasks that often dominate their time, exemplified by an incident where staff prioritized EHR procedures over immediate patient needs. Grace highlights how poorly designed technology like EHRs, regulatory demands, and inefficient workflows contribute significantly to physician burnout, administrative burden, and information chaos, noting that physicians spend nearly twice as much time on EHR and desk work as they do on direct patient care. The conversation explores solutions such as redesigning care delivery models to delegate non-essential tasks, utilizing technology-enabled support teams, and enabling clinicians to practice at the top of their license, ultimately aiming to recenter health care on its core mission, reduce costs, and improve both patient and clinician experiences.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome Grace E. Terrell. Shes a physician executive, and todays KevinMD article is Physicians must innovate and focus on medicines core, not chores. Grace, welcome to the show.

Grace E. Terrell: Thank you. Glad to be here.

Kevin Pho: All right, so just tell us a little bit about your story and then jump into the KevinMD article that you shared with us.

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Grace E. Terrell: Absolutely. So, Im a general internist. Ive been in practice in medicine in one form or the other since I got out of training in 1993. Along the way Ive done things such as run a large independent, multi-specialty medical group in North Carolina called Cornerstone Healthcare. Ive had the honor of beyond that doing some things like running a whole genome sequencing company in rare disease.

And working in an integrated primary care and mental health model in the long-term care space. Currently, in addition to continuing to see patients on a regular basis, Im the chief medical officer of a company called IKS Health. And everything that were focused on focusing on right now is about understanding and working to solve this core versus chore dilemma.

Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us more about the core versus chore dilemma as you put it.

Grace E. Terrell: OK. So, I think whats happened to physicians over the course of my career has been that there has been a real problem: what ought to be the actual practice of medicine, our core mission of taking care of patients in the way that weve been trained and ought to be doing, has been displaced by more and more chores that are getting in the way.

Most of them are technology focused or theyre payment system dysfunction focused. It has to do with the hours and hours that we spend documenting in the electronic medical record. It can have to do with things such as the unfortunate work we have to do around things such as prior authorization.

All of these things have happened for a reason that have to do with the focus on making sure that the right types of payment gets done. But whats happened along the way is that as a result of that, less and less of the actual core work that physicians ought to be doing is being done and more and more chores are in the way.

Kevin Pho: So you mentioned youre a general internist, as am I. So just to give an example, for those listeners who may not be familiar with the day-to-day obstacles that we internists or physicians face, just give us an example of some of these chores that were talking about that gets into the way of the core work that you do.

Grace E. Terrell: Well, a lot of it is administrative. Its the fact that we are mostly doing data entry right now. So if you think about the types of work that youve probably done over the course of your career, Ive certainly done over mine. The best part of what we do is listening to patients, making appropriate diagnoses after we hear their story and examine them, after we get the appropriate type of test, and making sure that they get the right types of treatment, if its something that needs treatment.

And although that tends to be what gives us joy, is that actual work with patients, its become less and less of what we do. So much of the chores that we do right now have to do with clicking all day long on electronic medical records. Things like if theres an appropriate medicine for a patient, having to go through all sorts of processes to get that medicine approved for insurance.

A lot of it has to do with the burden of how we have to do clinical documentation now, get it just right so that we get paid or get paid in the right way. Some of it has to do with more and more inbox type of work that we have to do. Patients like being able to communicate directly now in between visits with their clinicians that are serving their needs.

But much of my inbox that still happens is things that I used to not have to do at all. They were handled by my staff and now they come directly to me. And much of it doesnt have to be done at all.

Kevin Pho: Now, if you were to estimate a certain percentage, what percentage of your day would you say is spent on these chores, these inbox related things, these prior authorizations versus directly communicating with patients themselves?

Grace E. Terrell: Well, you know, it is interesting when you talk about the concept of a day. OK. Because used to, that would be the time that you were actually with patients either in the hospital, in my case, also the nursing home, or the clinic or making home visits. And it might run, you know, because physicians tend to work long hours, anything from seven in the morning to five oclock in the evening.

Nowadays Im an ambulatory physician so I see patients just in the office. And so my day during the day when Im doing the clinical documentation, probably 40 to 50 percent of it is actually not in direct patient care, but doing all the clinical documentation, the answering the inbox, the prior auth and things like that.

But theres also the evening hours. Theres a term that is being used called pajama time, which I think is an insult. It basically says that because physicians are typically conscientious people, what we tend to do is we try to do as much as we can during the day. Then we go home, we are with our families, and then were having to do more documentation.

I actually think thats stolen time. Its stolen time by good people that are trying to do the right thing for patients. So if you add that to it, many clinicians are spending sometimes two to six hours a week in the evenings also doing work. And all that work is chore work. Its not the core work.

Kevin Pho: And weve been talking about this core versus chore debate on this podcast and on KevinMD for what seems to be years now and if this doesnt get better, thats going to lead to things like burnout and moral injury and more and more physicians leaving clinical practice, right?

Grace E. Terrell: Thats right. And fewer and fewer physicians are actually attracted to the types of work that you and I have done our whole careers as general internists, which is that type of work where there tends to be more of this because its become just, its been sort of a clinical documentation game thats happened over the last few years.

So it has to be solved. I think its one of the major reasons that we have a primary care shortage in the country right now. I have a daughter who is a pediatric intern at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) Hospitals, and my belief is that my mission in life at this point is to make sure that we get this fixed for her.

Shell be a third generation female physician. My mother-in-law was an internist. And much of what she ought to be doing over the course of her career is taking care of children. Theres a huge shortage of pediatricians right now. We need people like my daughter that are going into this. If we dont fix this, no ones going to go into it. Pediatric residencies werent getting filled this past year.

Kevin Pho: So I know that this isnt an unknown problem. We have a lot of different potential solutions that are out there. We have technological approaches like AI solutions, ambient AI scribes, for instance. So from your perspective, whats the best way to get out of this? What are some of the potential solutions that we can do to reduce the chore work physicians have to do?

Grace E. Terrell: I think theres several. One of them is related to understanding what physicians ought to be doing and eliminating all those other things that are getting in the way by several things. One is, you know, the concepts of having other people doing them for them. If it doesnt have to be done by a clinician, it shouldnt be. If it doesnt have to be done in person, it shouldnt be. It can be done by other people, it can be done by technology. Part of it I believe, is the redesign of technology itself.

So, the company I work for, IKS, we have done a lot of thought about many of the aspects of clinical of the clinical work and think about things like virtual medical assistants that can do some of this work. Part of it is our human beings. Part of it is the AI that we have developed around a lot of these chores.

But part of it is redesigning the technology and the workflows themselves. So I think that theres been basically five stages of health information technology. The first stage was really the revenue cycle management, the billing and scheduling, all that. This sort of 50-year-old technology.

And the second stage has been the electronic health records, the thirds probably, you know, population health and longitudinal care. The fourth is the internet of things or what we call remote patient monitoring. And the fifth is AI and predictive analytics. And unfortunately in health care, each of these has a friction point. Theyve been built one on top of another without really human-centered design as part of it. And so what we have to do as we are in the middle of re-imagining what ought to be done is to understand the system that were in and use people and technology to eliminate those friction points while were really focused on human-centered design. And in this case, the human being needs to be the clinician, their staffs, as well as what works for patients.

Kevin Pho: So tell us, in your ideal world, what would those improved workflows look like? You mentioned everyone practicing to the top of their license. You mentioned virtual medical assistants. So in your ideal world, just give us a scenario of what that would look like.

Grace E. Terrell: Absolutely. So I would imagine that either if it was in person or in some sort of, you know, telemedicine type of interaction with a patient that was seeking my help as an internist or perhaps my daughter as a pediatrician, that when I had that interaction, what was done ahead of time was understanding what had happened since the last time the patient had had that interaction, that the longitudinal care, the gaps in care wouldve been identified. The type of work around that wouldve been done by others through reach out and through care management.

As I entered a room, perhaps if its an ambulatory visit, what has happened since thats relevant? The patient and my clinical practice is told to me either in some sort of virtual way or whatever way I need to consume it. I would go in and have the interaction with the patient. And I would not be clicking or looking at a computer the whole time. I would be having an interaction. That interaction would help generate a note.

And then the clinical documentation that went along with my assessment and plan and all the things that I need to do for that patient, including being able to just call out visits for call out orders or which could be evidence-based and perhaps helped with the use of AI to make sure that the right things were done, were done in a way that all the time Im looking at my patient, examining my patient, my eyes and ears are focused on the patient.

And then after the interaction, if were using todays time, smooth access for the patient for getting those services are done. The patient isnt bankrupted as a result of it. And then the results come back in a timely way. The patients questions are asked and the interaction is one that actually meets their needs.

So every single one of those steps. You know, what weve done at IKS is weve actually looked at 16 different places in sort of the patient journey. Some of them are on the administrative side, some of them are on the care delivery side, where we can actually work now with either people or or technology to take the friction out of that. But as we move forward, we need to have that being a singular platform. And it needs to be something that, you know, works for patients everywhere, any place, anytime. It needs to work for the clinicians as well.

Kevin Pho: So whats preventing us from reaching that ideal goal? Is it a matter of the technology not being there? Is it a cost issue? Is it a person power issue in terms of staffing?

Grace E. Terrell: So tell us some of the, theres several friction points. Several, yeah. Several points are that much of the staffing is related, and its been designed for somebody in the office to do many of these tasks that are just asked, you know, just put one on top of the other. So, and theres just not enough people that are available with the right skill sets in many offices to do this a cost effective way.

Some of it is the fact that everything goes back to the point of care and ought not to be part of what the clinical interaction is to begin with. We dont do a good job in our payment system of paying for the longitudinal care thats needed for good outcomes. And so some of it in my opinion, needs to be about payment reform, which has been shown to make a great deal of difference. And something Ive had some, you know, background in, I havent gone into.

I actually think that you have to have payment model and care model redesign at the same time to get a lot of it done. And the third component of that is technology redesign. So, a lot of what I do and think about in this day and time in my current role is the technology and care model design. But at the same time, Ive had some background in payment model redesign in the past and its really almost a Rubiks cube. Youve gotta have all of it working together in all the different dimensions to get us where we need to go.

Kevin Pho: So it sounds like a lot of these approaches are more macro based approaches. How about for the individual clinician? While were waiting for some of these improvements to come along, is there anything that individual physician can do to better delineate core versus chore and better make that ratio more favorable?

Grace E. Terrell: So I think that depending on the environment that the clinician is in, understand what tools are out there, understanding how to give up things that your staff can do or that, you know, your staff outside of your practice can do for you. So, a really simple example that Ive seen for years is every single mammogram report still comes back to me for me to sign off on thats normal. Now theres no real need for that.

Whats needed actually is if theres an abnormal mammogram report, I likely need to know about it for one of my patients. Or if my patient didnt get a mammogram then it may be important for me to know that when I see them in the practice. But all that is right now, at least in our system, designed to come back to me, that really isnt the best work for a primary care physician in my case. It ought to be taken care of by, you know, by other aspects of how we actually manage those things for patients.

Kevin Pho: Now, I always like to ask this of my fellow internal medicine physicians. Youve been practicing for decades now. Youre still seeing patients despite all the obstacles that weve been talking about. Youre still practicing. Internist. Yes. Why do you stay in the field? What makes you keep on going despite everything that we talked about today?

Grace E. Terrell: You know, my practice at this point is very small because of my other responsibilities and things I do in my career, but a lot of these patients Ive literally been seeing 30 years and I feel that I make a difference in their lives. Ive experienced, you know, the personal satisfaction of taking care of patients and making a difference and, you know, its something that I think is really important.

And so, as Im thinking about the way to redesign things for the future, if Im not out there practicing myself, I dont think that I would be nearly as effective. So I think actually being in the trenches where you really understand what the real chores are is the only way that were going to actually get this solved. One of the issues weve had with our technology oftentimes is that theres not been the right type of design process because the people that are actually using the technology are not involved.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Grace Terrell. Shes a physician executive, and todays KevinMD article is, Physicians must innovate and focus on medicines core, not chores. Grace, lets end with some take home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Grace E. Terrell: The first message would be really think about the work you do and determine how much of it is actually chore versus the core mission that you have, and start thinking about how you can redesign in your own environment for that.

The second message is to not assume that the current state is where things have to be. And join me to help think about how we might innovate on the spot to actually start, where we need to go to actually improve health care.

The third thing is my personal mission statement, which I hope is something that will resonate with any of you all and that you might have your own personal mission statement and mine at this point in my career is: Ill use my talents, my experiences, and my scars, and work with other people to radically improve health care. And thats what Im about. And I hope that its something that will help, help for all the clinicians that are out there.

Kevin Pho: Grace. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight and thanks again for coming on the show.

Grace E. Terrell: Absolutely.
As a health care writer and data analyst, I hear frequently from patients who are being denied safe and effective pain care due to unscientific bias on the part of U.S. health care agenciesand sometimes on the part of otherwise once-reputable medical journals. These are among millions of U.S. citizens who are now being deserted by the medical profession.

Thousands, overcome by their pain and depression, have already committed suicide. Thousands of their physicians are leaving pain medicine, fearful of sanctions by state medical boards or ruinousthough frequently unfoundedprosecution by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration or Department of Justice.

In this context, one of my network contacts recently drew to my attention an editorial in the November 2024 issue of New England Journal of Medicine, by Andrew Kolodny, MD, and Robert M. Bohler, PhD, MPH, titled Screened out  how a survey change sheds light on iatrogenic opioid use disorder. The central premise of this paper is that the number of Americans who suffer from addiction due to over-prescription of opioids by doctors is vastly underreported in national surveys conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Such a premise is to be expected from Dr. Kolodny. He has been active as an anti-opioid writer and advocate for over 15 years. He has also made a small fortune in paid testimony as an asserted subject matter expert in multiple lawsuits against large pharmaceutical companies. This, despite the fact that his only board certification is in psychiatry rather than pain medicine. In online chronic pain communities, Dr. Kolodny is sometimes compared to Joseph Mengele of Nazi death camp fame, due to the damage he has done to people in pain. Like Dr. Kolodny, his coauthor is also affiliated with Physicians for Responsible Opioid PrescriptionPROPan organization that is similarly viewed by patients.

Having read the NEJM editorial, my long-time colleague and collaborator Stephen E. Nadeau, MD, contacted the editors of that publication to propose that they also publish a counterpoint to editorial positions taken by Kolodny and Bohler. NEJM refused to do so. It does not seem unreasonable to point out that such a position is at the very least unbalanced, if not unscientific and biased.

Thus, Dr. Nadeau and I went looking for a publication venue that would consider the extensive science that contradicts Kolodny and Bohler. We found one in the peer-reviewed open-access journal Medical Research Archives of the European Society of Medicine, which has published several of our previous papers. The result was an extensively referenced letter to the editors, Use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain: a recapitulation of the science. This article is available for unrestricted use, distribution, or reproduction in any medium, so long as the original authors and source are credited.

Among the points we offered were the following:

Vast clinical experience testifies to the high efficacy of opioids for treatment of chronic pain, provided such important comorbidities as depression have also been effectively treated.

Retrospective cohort studies published 10 years ago established that annual opioid-associated mortality among clinic populations was approximately 0.25 percent with dosage greater than 100 mg morphine equivalent/day (MMED).

Not explicit in our letter narrative was the reality that such incidence is so small and the conceptual confounds in diagnosis of substance use disorder are so large, that there can be no reliable advance prediction of addiction risk in individuals seen by pain management clinicians. None.

Oliva et al., in a large retrospective cohort study of Veterans Administration hospitals, demonstrated that [patient overdose and suicide] risk was not evenly distributed: It mainly accrues to patients with severe psychiatric disease, defined by multiple inpatient psychiatric admissions and multiple overdoses/suicide attempts.

Previously documented opioid use disorder (OUD) did make a substantial contribution to the odds ratio of a morbid outcome. However, the DSM-5 scale defining OUD is fraught with recognized problems, not the least being that any patient with severe, inadequately treated chronic moderate to severe pain seeking relief would qualify as having at least moderate OUD. In addition, the discriminant value of the scale has never been determined. In the Oliva et al. study, opioids themselves, in any dosage, explained very little additional variance. Thus, one could reasonably interpret the results of this study as showing that opioids are incriminated as innocent bystanders.

We also addressed the question Have prescription opioids contributed to the opioid overdose crisis? Our answer is a qualified yes and no.

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Between 1999 and approximately 2011, pill mills, supplied by major drug distribution firms, distributed vast quantities of pharmaceutical-grade opioids to vulnerable populations, thereby creating a large population of people with drug addiction.

However,  between 2010 and 2012, states shut down the pill mills through direct legal action and, most importantly, by expansion of use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Plans (PDMP) to 49 states (now 50). PDMPs rendered and still do render pill mill operations transparent. People with addiction had to turn to Mexican heroin and [far deadlier] Chinese fentanyl.

We also documented several other points from published science that conclusively contradict and discredit the positions taken by Dr. Kolodny and his colleague. But still, NEJM editors refused to allow publication. The process of science depends importantly upon reasoned, evidence-based public argument to resolve and refine its understandings and form the basis for public health policy. NEJM has failed in its duty of care in this process.

Richard A. Lawhern is a patient advocate.
In January 2022, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioned to a pass/fail format, sparking debate over how best to assess physician competence in an era where medical misinformation proliferates online. Although medical students loathe any mention of exams, we cannot deny that licensing exams are an important barrier to ensure baseline knowledge, and to prevent quacks and snake-oil salesmen from harming the public. This article explores the evolution of medical licensing, from its precursors in ancient China to its pivotal development under Islamic governance and subsequent transmission to Europe and the Western world.

Ancient China

The concept of evaluating medical practitioners began nearly 2,500 years ago. In Chinas Qin Dynasty, medical professionals were selected via the civil service exam, and assigned positions in the state bureaucracy based on their knowledge and skills. Later dynasties continued this meritocratic approach, which laid the foundations for modern licensing.

The Abbasid Caliphate: a foundational moment

The first recorded instance of a standardized exam specific to medical professionals occurred in the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. A patients death due to physician error prompted Caliph Al-Muqtadir to address the absence of oversight in medical practice. He tasked his chief physician, Sinan ibn Thabit ibn Qurrah, with establishing a system to verify practitioner competence. Sinans response was transformative: Within the first year, over 860 physicians in Baghdad faced rigorous examinations, with 160 failing to meet the required standards and thus losing the privilege of practicing medicine.

This initiative marked the inception of mandatory licensing in the Islamic world. Examinations were standardized and administered across the caliphate (a huge territory stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan) with official governmental oversight. The system aimed to eliminate unqualified practitionersoften derided as quacksand standardize care, reflecting a public health priority that parallels modern regulatory goals.

The licensing process: structure and continuity

The Abbasid licensing process was strikingly comprehensive. Candidates underwent oral and practical examinations conducted by senior physicians, who evaluated their mastery of medical texts, clinical acumen, and ethical judgment. Successful candidates swore the Hippocratic Oath, a practice codified in Islamic medical ethics by figures like Al-Razi (Rhazes), whose writings emphasized professional integrity. Upon completion, they received a formal license (ijaza), granting legal permission to practice. This tripartite structureexamination, oath, and certificationmirrors the sequence of modern medical credentialing, underscoring its enduring influence.

Transmission to Europe: the role of Arab Sicily

The Abbasid model extended beyond the Islamic heartland, notably through Arab rule in Sicily. During this period, Sicily became a center of medical education, with institutions teaching Arabic medical texts and hospitals providing structured care. Following the Norman conquest in the mid-12th century, these traditions persisted. The Norman King Roger II issued a decree mandating that physicians pass an examination to practicethe first edict of its kind in Christian Europe. This policy, documented in Norman legal records, bridged Islamic and European medical governance, leveraging Sicilys position as a cultural crossroads.

Frederick II and the Constitutions of Melfi

The legacy of Islamic medical regulation reached a zenith under Frederick II, the Hohenstaufen king of Sicily. In his Constitutions of Melfi, Frederick mandated that physicians pass a public examination supervised by the masters of the School of Salerno, Europes first medical university. Candidates were required to complete a five-year curriculum, including a year of supervised practice, before sitting for the exama precursor to modern residency and board certification. This formalized system spread to universities in Bologna, Paris, and Montpellier, embedding licensing into European medical education. These systems of medical pedagogy gradually spread to major universities throughout continental Europe such as those in France and Spain, ultimately setting the stage for the development of the modern medical licensing system that we use in Western countries today.

Conclusion

Spanning the Qin Dynasty, the Abbasid Caliphate, and medieval Europe, medical licensing has long aimed to ensure competence and protect patients. Today, the USMLE Step 1 pass/fail shift fuels debate over maintaining rigor amid rising medical disinformationunderscoring that robust standards remain essential to counter falsehoods and uphold trust in the profession.

Aamir Hussain is a dermatologist.
It was a typical night for the Madison City Council last September as the meeting dragged on toward 11 p.m.

Madisons top elected officials had just spent more than an hour debating a permit for a dog kennel, half an hour mulling whether to let residents own miniature pigs and another half an hour discussing whether their own meeting agenda should remind them how many votes it takes to pass certain items.

As debate dragged on for another half hour on whether council meetings should automatically adjourn at midnight, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway stepped in. The mayor, a former three-term council member herself, urged the body to change how it talks about issues facing the city.

You could collectively try to refocus your agendas on the policy issues that matter to this community, which frankly is not what you spend most of your time talking about in these meetings, Rhodes-Conway said.

Which issues the council should devote its time to is, of course, a matter of personal and political preference. But for many who have sat through the councils notoriously long meetings, the mayors observation had a ring of truth.

A Wisconsin State Journal analysis of every meeting over the last two council terms, or four years, found elected officials spent about half of their total time on two issues: discussing internal council structure, and rezoning or development requests that almost always are approved and had already been studied and endorsed by city staff and commissions.

Other key issues  like transit policy, homelessness and law enforcement  were only discussed at length a handful of times over the last four years.

Five years ago, a task force called for sweeping changes to city government intended to give the council more power and better represent constituents concerns.

The Task Force on Government Structure, known as TFOGS, made dozens of recommendations, both modest and ambitious. It called for a smaller, more professional council, whose members would be paid more and subject to term limits. The idea was that full-time elected officials could have a greater hand in steering city policy rather than reacting to policies created by the mayor and staff.

The task force also called for reforms like holding council meetings throughout the city, holding remote meetings, allowing members of the public to provide comment directly on the citys website, and providing child care at city meetings.

The reforms were aimed at helping council members address some of the citys biggest issues, from housing to economic disparities, said Justice Castaneda, who served on the task force.

Because of the limitations of the structure of the council, it doesnt allow us to leverage the talent of the people who come on in terms of addressing very complex issues that take time, Castaneda said. That is a very real thing that is contributing to or that has actually prevented us from addressing things in any type of sustained way.

Many of the task force recommendations have not been implemented. Interviews with nine current and former council members reveal frustration with a council many see as ineffectual.

The way the council operates doesnt work well, either for the council itself or for the public, said Mark Clear, who represented the West Side between 2007 and 2018. That results in burnout, and that results in a lot of turnover and you lose that institutional memory. It becomes self-actualizing. Former Ald. Brian Benford, who represented an East Side district in the 2000s and again between 2021 and 2023, said the council has become increasingly irrelevant compared to the mayors office, which has historically held more power to lead the city.

The council is supposed to create policy initiatives, but I challenge you to tell me what theyve done, Benford said. I really pray that the council becomes more relevant, that we see policy issues flow from that body.

What does the council talk about?

To better understand what the council does focus on, the State Journal tallied each item that was debated for at least 30 minutes during regular council meetings over the last four years. Items were not counted if they were one-off staff presentations, honorary resolutions or part of special meetings to discuss the budget.

Over the last four years, 98 agenda items met those parameters, and on average, the council debated them for 74 minutes each.

Over 7,242 minutes, the council spent 36% of that time on rezoning and development and 19% on internal council policy and politics.

Development items sometimes included significant housing developments or larger changes to city zoning, like the move to transit-oriented development, which changed zoning to encourage more density along mass transit routes. The council debated that change for 156 minutes.

But extensive council time was also spent on development items that dont necessarily have a broader impact on residents, like the zoning and use conditions of individual properties already endorsed by city staff, other commissions, and in some cases, the council itself.

For example, the council spent 140 minutes during a March 2024 meeting debating a challenge from a group of neighbors against dividing a single lot in the University Heights Historic District.

At a January 2024 meeting, the council debated for 104 minutes another appeal by neighbors fighting the owners of the the historic Old Spring Tavern over plans to build a separate house on the property, which the council had already backed two months before.

Council President Regina Vidaver, who has represented the Near West Side since 2021, said the council is often too reactive to issues that anger small groups of residents. That comes at the cost of council members not spending their time on the most pressing problems facing the city, Vidaver said.

Near West Side alder is new Madison City Council president After leadership elections on Tuesday, the council backed changes to bus fare evasion fines and awarded a contract for the construction of the Far East Side Imagination Center library.

The council does not spend time according to the importance of the issue or the budgetary magnitude of the issue. Its really about what people get up in arms about, Vidaver said. My view is, the community only has so much capacity for public involvement. When we take it for these things, where is it for the big stuff?

Council Vice President MGR Govindarajan said members do a lot of consequential work outside of meetings, but its not always reflected in what gets the most oxygen during the meetings themselves.

During a lot of council meetings, a lot I think is done not to convince our fellow alders but this idea that its going to convince our constituents that might be watching at 1 a.m., said Govindarajan, who has represented UWs campus since 2023. I really do appreciate the work that council does, and I wish that there were better processes where it could be seen better by the public.

Apart from zoning and development, the council spent the second largest chunk of its time on its own internal structure and policies, although it spent extensive time on only one of the government reform task forces recommendations: raising members own pay. Raises for the council was the third-most talked about single topic, behind body cameras and last years property tax referendum.

Increased pay for council members was meant to happen alongside other reforms, like longer terms, term limits and reducing the size of the council.

None of those other reforms have been seriously pursued, however, even though voters at a low-turnout election in April 2021 backed an advisory referendum calling for term limits on council members by 71%. And despite the thorough debate, enacting some form of council pay raises has failed twice since 2021.

Madison lakes bring in $220 million a year in spending, new study finds A study commissioned by the Clean Lakes Alliance determined, for the first time, the economic impact of the five lakes on the Madison chain.

Half measures

The only other key task force recommendations adopted in some form by the council are changes to member terms and the elimination and streamlining of city committees.

The April 1 election was the last time all of the council will be elected in a single cycle. Going forward, staggered terms will see half of the council elected to two-year terms each year, which aims to reduce turnover from one term to the next.

The task force recommended that council terms be extended to four years from the current two. The design of the staggered term system also creates a scenario where the same half of the council is always elected with the mayor, who serves a four-year term, in addition to new member training by staff and committee assignments happening every year.

Most of the effort to reduce city committees came only within recent weeks. In March, the council backed the elimination of four of the citys 56 committees, boards and commissions, with another, the Downtown Coordinating Committee, scheduled for elimination by next year.

That change is a departure from the recommendations made by the task force, which called for putting all committees under the umbrella of lead committees so their work can better complement one another.

Its these half-measures, incomplete measures that are doomed to failure, said former Ald. Rebecca Kemble, a leading supporter of the task force and who represented the North Side from 2015 to 2021. Theres no leadership anywhere in the city right now saying we need to collectively work on this.

Ald. Mike Verveer, who has represented Downtown since 1995 and is the longest serving member of the council, has been skeptical of committee consolidation and some other recommendations of the task force.

During the recent push to consolidate committees, he was able to keep the Downtown Coordinating Committee operating another year so it could wrap up work on the redesign of the top of State Street and the return of a scaled-back pedestrian mall this year.

I will admit guilty as charged for me pushing back on some of these attempts to consolidate and drop committees, because I think overall they serve a good function, Verveer said. (The council) being such a deliberative body is just part and parcel with this hyper-democracy that I think weve long been in Madison.

Reflections

Looking back, task force member Castaneda said he regrets pushing for a full-time council. Although he argued the current setup favors those who can afford to devote time to city service, the issue of higher pay for council members becoming a sticking point. That overshadowed the need to restructure the council to better focus on the citys most pressing issues, he said.

What I should have said is we should pay people for their labor, Castaneda said. That was a very real political misstep.

But the council also made a hatchet job of the recommendations by hurrying them to an advisory referendum with no attempt to educate voters about the issue, he said.

Its political science 101, Castaneda said. If they dont know the issue, people are going to skew towards the status quo.

After the task forces report and the referendum, a special work group of council members was assembled to enact the recommendations. But in 2022, that group fell apart due to internal strife between its members. That leaves the prospects for more reforms uncertain.

Some with recent experience on the council see a need to at least hire more staff to assist members with work if members arent going to be full-time. Council staff has already grown from two to five people in recent years.

The task force had called for an even more ambitious expansion of council staff, including an Office of Resident Engagement and Neighborhood Support to assist committees and act as a liaison between the city government and residents.

Former member Amani Latimer Burris, who represented the North and East sides from 2023 to this year, floated using money that would otherwise go to pay members higher salaries on part-time council staff.

We can be experimental as a city and we can have these values and ideas, but first we have to work on the structure and the power centers, and how can people do their jobs on a level thats sustainable, she said. Weve got to start making space for where well be 30 years down the road.
House Republicans have warned that China is becoming more aggressive in the Caribbean following a trip to the region.

The chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, and Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas visited Guyana, Suriname, and Barbados last week. Crawford told Politico that China is set to overtake the U.S. in terms of regional influence unless Washington increases trade and investment with Caribbean nations.

We have taken our eye off the ball in our hemisphere, and that has allowed an entree for the Chinese to fill that void, and theyve done it pretty masterfully, right under our nose, and theyre becoming more aggressive, said Crawford.

China is interested in the deposits of gas and oil in the area, as well as strategic sea lanes. It is making significant investments in the region through its Belt and Road international infrastructure effort, which includes building ports, bridges, and upgrading the electrical grid.

Rep. Rick Crawford wants the U.S. to increase its engagement with Caribbean nations as Chinese influence is on the rise in the region (Getty Images)

Crawford told Politico that such projects are giving China a power base in the region, which may grow into a threat to the U.S.

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If the Chinese say they would like to put a port in the Dominican Republic, well, of course they would, because theyd like another Djibouti [military base] right here in close proximity to the U.S. homeland, he told the outlet.

Several countries have established bases in Djibouti due to its strategic location on the eastern coast of Africa, near the Gulf of Aden.

In the Caribbean, China is also pressuring countries to cut their connections to Taiwan, which has relations with Belize, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Former special assistant to the leader of U.S. Southern Command, Leland Lazarus, told Politico that There are 12 countries that recognize Taipei and five of them are in the Caribbean, so its a key flank in that struggle.

Crawford noted that Congress has neglected the Caribbean, partly because of the optics of it being a place for tropical vacations rather than an area of strategic importance.

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Who wants to be out in Jamaica, or Barbados, or Trinidad on the government nickel and be thought of as Youre just vacationing, said Crawford.

The Trump administration has said that creating a deeper connection with the Caribbean is a foreign policy priority.

Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier sailing near Taiwan in March. Beijing lays claim to the island republic, which is officially recognized by only a handful of nations  including several in the Caribbean

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters last month that the administration wants to address illegal immigration, seek to dismantle criminal networks and push back against malign influences that threaten the stability of our hemisphere.

Also last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, now also the interim national security advisor, visited Suriname, Guyana, and Jamaica. During his visit, he cautioned Venezuela, a Chinese ally, against military adventurism following a dispute over territory with Guyana. He also slammed the terrible state of roads built by the Chinese.

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Crawford told Politico that he wants the U.S. to engage with the Caribbean Communitys Regional Security System and increase economic exchange. However, taking part in the Regional Security System would require legislation approved by Congress or joint action by Trump. Crawford noted that he hasnt planned any such action yet.

He also suggested deploying the Army Corps of Engineers to help with infrastructure development, adding that financing by the Inter-American Development Bank could be a source of funding. The bank is a regional multilateral lender working to create economic growth in the Caribbean and Latin America. A top State Department official sits on the banks board.

Guyana native Wazim Mowla heads the Caribbean Initiative at the Atlantic Council.

He told Politico that the regions development challenges are skyrocketing  energy insecurity, food insecurity, spikes of crime and violence.

There is a lot of financing and technical assistance that is needed for the region, and at the moment, there hasnt been a single country to step up and raise their hand, he added.

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Weve got to give them some options so that they can actually do business with us, said Crawford.

However, Trump has placed 38 percent tariffs on imports from Guyana and 10 percent on other Caribbean countries, which could provide an opening for China in the region.
Electoral success for Nigel Farages Reform in yesterdays local and regional contests across Britain has provoked panic in Labour and Tory HQs alike. Britains political landscape is fracturing, as the centre ground collapses. Revolutionary upheavals impend.

[Originally published at communist.red]

Even at the best of times, any election can only provide a snapshot  and local elections are even more partial in the picture they provide. Furthermore, the results of yesterdays votes are still coming in.

Nevertheless, the general trajectory and tendency is clear. Britains political landscape is being transformed before our eyes.

Decades of decay and years of austerity have led to a burning hatred towards the entire establishment. Politically, this expresses itself as a rejection of Britains two main parties  the Tories and Labour  and in the rise of Reform.

The old two-party system that has dominated Westminster for the past century is fracturing, under the hammer blow of events. As Nigel Farage himself correctly asserted, commenting on Reforms latest electoral successes, we are seeing a whole different politics.

Britain is entering uncharted waters. Instability reigns at every level: economically, socially, and politically. A new chaotic and uncertain chapter is opening up in front of us.

We are just in the car back from focus groups this weekend in Beverley, Hull,Scunthorpe & Peterborough and without doubt the disillusionment was the worst Ive heard, in every group it was anger; despondency or misery about the state of Britain that doesnt feel sustainable. pic.twitter.com/67FQhUmhJs  Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) April 28, 2025

Farages clean sweep

The Conservative-Labour duopoly is on course for a hammering in this years local elections, with both parties losing votes everywhere, in all directions. Reform, meanwhile, is set for a relative clean sweep of victories.

Already, Starmers Labour have been humiliated in the constituency of Runcorn & Helsby. On the basis of a 17 percentage point swing, Farages Reform overturned an almost 15,000 Labour majority in this bellwether by-election, winning the seat by a super-slim margin of just six votes.

In Greater Lincolnshire, meanwhile, ex-Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns comprehensively defeated her former party, by 42 percent to 26 percent, providing Reform with its first mayoral position.

At the time of writing, Reform UK is hopeful of picking up another mayoralty in Hull & East Yorkshire. And it came a close second in Doncaster, North Tyneside, and West of England, giving Labour a scare in all three contests.

Farages party has also grabbed hundreds of council seats off of the Tories and Labour, with a drip-feed of further local authority victories likely to be announced for Reform in the hours ahead.

Alarm bells

This has set off alarm bells at Labour and Tory HQs.

For the Conservatives, Reform poses an existential threat. As Farage himself accurately summarised this morning, these electoral results send a message across much of the country that we are now the opposition to the Labour Party in government.

For Labour, meanwhile, the Runcorn by-election shows the potential for Reform to turn the so-called red wall into a turquoise wall. After all, by some measures, the Cheshire constituency had been Labours 16th safest parliamentary seat.

If the Runcorn swing towards Reform was replicated across the country, more than 250 Labour MPs would lose their positions. Hence the anxiety and panic spreading through Starmers party.

Much could happen between now and the next general election. And precise predictions are impossible, given the volatility inherent in the situation, as votes splinter across four or five Westminster parties.

But it is still notable that recent surveys put Reform out in front in terms of public support. Some even suggest that Farage could gain a majority in the House of Commons, reducing Labour and the Tories to a rump.

 NEW | Poll suggests **Labour wipeout**



 REF: 28% (-)

 CON: 20% (-)

 LAB: 20% (-2)

 LD: 14% (-)

 GRN: 13% (+3)



Via @FindoutnowUK , 23 Apr (+/- vs 16 Apr) pic.twitter.com/ldP9EA9795  Stats for Lefties  (@LeftieStats) April 24, 2025

Importantly, Reforms lead is only likely to increase, as momentum gathers behind Farages party, and as Starmers Labour further discredits itself by carrying out further austerity and attacks on the working class.

No matter what the exact outcome, it is clear that the centre ground has well-and-truly collapsed. The period ahead will be one of increasing political fragmentation, polarisation, and radicalisation. The old status quo is crumbling.

Outflanking Reform

Reforms success is already leading to frictions and fissures inside Labour.

The partys leaders are veering about empirically, bouncing from pillar to post as they attempt to respond to each new crisis. But their efforts are futile, like a game of whack-a-mole.

As Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times comments, by running around trying to put out fires, Keir Starmer and his cronies are in danger of satisfying no one by trying to placate everyone.

Those closest to Starmer are calling for Labour to tack even further to the right, in an effort to prevent a haemorrhage of support towards Reform. But this strategy has already been attempted, to no avail.

Labours candidate in Runcorn made migrant-bashing a central part of her programme. Yet such attempts to outflank Reform on the right proved to be a failure.

Primarily, this is because such efforts fail to understand the real reason why certain working-class voters are moving towards Reform.

Disaffected workers are backing Farage not simply because of his partys stance over immigration, but because of his opportunistic opposition to cuts and industrial closures  for example, in relation to winter fuel payments and British Steel.

Unfortunately, there are many on the left who make the same mistake  believing that Reforms surge fundamentally represents support for racist ideas  but from the opposite standpoint.

This has led to irresponsible left leaders hysterically banging the drum about the threat of the far right, and running liberal popular-front campaigns to stop Farage.

Reform have gained another MP in Runcorn by a handful of votes. This confirms their threat in British politics. Its time to get organised to stop Reform UK#StandUpToRacism pic.twitter.com/N9fnb7zPza  Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) May 2, 2025

No doubt many have sincere concerns about the danger of reaction  especially given the barbarism that was seen on Britains streets last summer, as fascist gangs marauded through Muslim and ethnic minority communities.

The solution, however, is not to rally behind any so-called lesser evil, or to fight the right on the terrain of culture-war questions, but to struggle on an independent class basis for bold socialist policies.

In the final analysis, the rise of Reform is due to the complete political vacuum in Britain, with the left failing to provide a genuine anti-establishment alternative to Starmers Labour and the Tories.

In the absence of a clear class option, the field has been left wide open for reactionary populists and charlatans like Farage to mop up.

Diktats of capital

Others within the labour movement have started to grasp why Farage is gaining in popularity amongst some layers of workers: because of his demagogic diatribes about broken Britain.

By continuing austerity, pandering to the far right, and failing to offer real change, states left-wing grouping Momentum, for example, the Labour Leadership risks handing the country to the likes of Nigel Farage.

Similarly, veteran left MP Diane Abbott noted on social media that the Labour leadership seems to think that the answer to these catastrophic election results is more of the same, including cuts to winter fuel payments.

The Labour leadership should be listening to voters on winter fuel payments, welfare cuts, the cost of living, the NHS and energy bills, Abbott implored. Instead, it is attacking our own voters.

But such appeals to Starmer and co. will fall on deaf ears. The Labour leaders have proven that they take their marching orders from the bankers and billionaires; from the diktats of capital, not from ordinary workers or party members.

And with British capitalism in a dire state  dilapidated, stagnant, and stumbling from one disaster to the next  this means that savage cuts are the only item on the menu.

Revolutionary road

The reality is that any government that operates within the confines of capitalism will be ridden with crises and beholden to an austerity agenda.

Despite the reformist assertions of certain lefts, austerity is not a political choice, but a product of the cold logic of capitalism in crisis.

As the capitalist system spasms globally, the pressures bearing down on Starmers government will only intensify.

This will provoke social explosions and bitter class battles. The militant struggle currently being waged by the Birmingham bin workers is the music of the future.

The failure and inability of successive capitalist governments  Tory, Labour, and Reform  to offer a way forward will lead ever-larger layers to draw radical, and even revolutionary, conclusions.

It is the task of communists today to patiently explain; to provide a lucid understanding and sober perspective regarding the road ahead; and to build a force that can connect with the anti-establishment anger amongst workers and youth  and channel these moods and sentiments in a revolutionary direction.
On 28 April at midday, Red Electrica de Espana [Spanish Electrical Network] (REE) suffered an unprecedented failure that left the entire Spanish state, its neighbours Portugal and Andorra, and parts of southern France without electricity. In some areas, the blackout lasted until well into the night. After an unusual Monday, today [Tuesday 29 April] seems to be starting normally, with 99 percent of the electricity supply restored and the working day back on track.

[Originally published in Spanish at comunistasrevolucionarios.org]

On Monday 28 April at around 12:30 PM, 15 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generation were lost in five seconds, equivalent to 60 percent of all electricity demand at that time. The system collapsed for hours. Many people were trapped in lifts, trains, metros, airports, etc., and we were left without telecommunications, electrical appliances, public transport (except buses) and traffic lights on the streets.

Chaos did not reign, as the ruling class would have thought, but on the contrary, the self-organisation of workers and residents brought order to the situation. Precisely as in nature, order also arises spontaneously from chaos in society.

The real chaos lies in a system that desperately needs radical measures to secure the energy system and to protect the environment, but which is constantly coming up against limitations and the contradictions inherent in its own functioning. A system governed by private ownership of the means of production instead of democratic and rational planning means, therefore, anarchy and waste.

Everyone is wondering what could have caused this historic blackout. For now, they are saying no hypothesis should be ruled out, although some experts are already suggesting that the collapse couldve been precipitated by overcapacity in the system and a lack of equipment to counteract the instability of renewable energies, combined with a series of other factors.

Renewables under capitalism

The use of renewable energies has received a strong boost in recent years, and made up over 50 percent of the energy sources that produced electricity in Spain in 2024. In other words, of all the energy sources the Spanish state depends on (gas, nuclear, thermal, etc.), there is an increasing shift towards renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass.

The use of renewable energies has received a strong boost in recent years, and made up over 50 percent of the energy sources that produced electricity in Spain in 2024 / Image: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons

We must not forget that the European Union has been affected by its former dependence on Russian gas, which has made electricity more expensive across the continent. Its member states are seeking a degree of energy independence through renewables, supposedly also to combat climate change. Such a rapid uptake has meant that, alongside the advantages of these technologies, countries are now confronted with their downsides when they are not accompanied by the necessary investments.

Despite the urgent need for clean, non-polluting energy (although it would be impossible to implement this to its full potential under capitalism), the increased use of renewable energies has implications for traditional electricity grids. Fossil fuel energy generation was based on synchronous generators, which are suitable for energies such as gas that flow in a stable manner.

In contrast, non-synchronous renewable energies (solar, wind, hydroelectric) do not offer the necessary inertia [Editor: inertia refers to the literal inertia of spinning turbines that are used to generate electricity when burning fossil fuels. In the case of a temporary outage, the turbines literally keep spinning through inertia, so that electricity is still temporarily produced for the grid, preventing complete collapse.]

They are thus more unstable, depending on the greater or lesser intensity of the source that produces them (sun, wind, river flow, etc.). This can cause frequency and voltage anomalies  overloads and imbalances between supply and demand  in a system which must be balanced at all times.

In the event of excess (overcapacity), appropriate solutions are needed to store this energy and not waste it. Otherwise, grid operators may be forced to drastically reduce energy production (known as curtailment).

Some sources claim that at the time of the blackout, renewable energies accounted for around 70 percent of the total, allegedly caused by a period of high temperatures and strong winds. This would explain the low inertia that triggered the collapse. For its part, on 9 April, the REE categorically ruled out the possibility of a blackout. So what happened?

The government vs Red Electrica

Prime Minister Sanchez has begun to point to the responsibilities of private operators without explicitly accusing anyone. He has made it clear that investigations are being launched into Red Electrica and its parent company, a commission will be formed to investigate the blackout and that the European Commission will produce an independent report in the coming months.

Furthermore, he has ruled out that renewables are the cause of the problem, let alone that nuclear power is the solution. Above all, he has repeated that this can never happen again.

Now that Sanchez has passed the buck to Red Electrica, it should be noted that the supposedly public company is, technically, private. Twenty percent of its shares are held by the State Industrial Holdings Company (SEPI), but the remaining 80 percent are freely traded on international markets. In addition, its chairwoman, Beatriz Corredor, receives an annual salary of no less than 470,000.

But the debate goes beyond renewables yes, renewables no or public vs. private. As communists, we must point out the role of the ruling class in the energy sector, as in any other. Antonio Turiel, an energy expert at the CSIC [the Spanish National Research Council], states that:

The fundamental problem is not so much the drop as the instability of the grid (...). The reason is that a lot of renewable energy has been integrated without the necessary stabilisation systems that should have been put in place and which are now mandatory under regulations. [emphasis added]

Cheap comes at a high price. He makes it very clear:

This is offset if you install a series of devices that are obviously expensive and that serve this purpose, so that the system can function in this way. As this has not been done, at one point most of Spain's electricity was being supplied by photovoltaic power, which is somewhat inflexible and could not be adapted. So what happened? Some systems began to fail and there was a cascade effect.

There we have it: the problem is not that renewables have increased their share of energy production, but that this has not been accompanied by the necessary investment by the electricity oligopoly (ENDESA, Iberdrola, Naturgy, etc.) to make it work as safely and efficiently as possible, because they do not want to sacrifice a single penny of their super-profits.

What's more, the electricity oligopoly is exerting enormous pressure to prevent the closure of nuclear power plants for a very specific reason: after decades of operation, they have long since paid for themselves and now offer profits at virtually no cost. Of course, for capitalists, these profits take precedence over the risks and accidents that increasingly ageing nuclear facilities can cause.

For the nationalisation of the energy sector!

Future investigations may reveal the exact scientific and technical causes of the blackout. In the meantime, the trade unions should form their own commission of inquiry based on workers from the REE and the electricity companies, as it is clear that the ruling class will try to hide the real responsibility for what happened.

Future investigations may reveal the exact scientific and technical causes of the blackout / Image: Danieltarrino, Wikimedia Commons

No politicians or businessmen seek to genuinely improve the electricity infrastructure and its efficiency for the good of society, or to promote renewables to combat the climate crisis at its root. None of these tasks will be accomplished under the chaotic and cost-cutting capitalist system. What happened at the start of the week makes it clear that, despite being an exceptional failure, inefficiency and increasing privatisation of key infrastructure are the norm.

It is essential that sectors as important as energy, which mobilise or paralyse entire countries, are nationalised without compensation and under workers' control. Essential services for society cannot be a source of profit for a handful of rich people; they must be under the control of the working class and our families.

Throughout Monday, young people and workers demonstrated their great capacity to organise, coordinate and fill the roles needed during the blackout. We know that not a wheel turns, not a telephone rings, and not a light bulb shines without the kind permission of the working class, who make the world go round.

Only when the working class takes the means of production into its own hands and harmoniously plans the fundamental sectors of the economy will we be able to take advantage of all technical advances (existing and potential) to ensure a world where no home is left without power and where the climate and energy crisis is a problem of the past.

For the nationalisation of the energy sector under workers' control!

Join the communists to fight against capitalism!
In a climate of mounting political turbulence, the United Nations Security Council has granted a temporary extension of the mandate for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), prolonging its operations until 9 May. The unanimous decision, codified in Resolution 2778 (2025), authorizes UNMISS to employ all necessary means to carry out its responsibilities in a nation teetering on the edge of renewed conflict. Originally set to expire on 30 April, the mission now continues amidst high-stakes diplomatic deliberations within the Council chambers in New York.

This short-term measure arrives against the backdrop of a widening gulf between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Macharonce co-signatories of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement. Tensions reached a critical point following Machars house arrest in Juba on 26 March, a move that has sent ripples of unease through the countrys political apparatus. The fragile power-sharing arrangement, already punctuated by recurrent violence and unmet benchmarks, now faces an uncertain future, with peace monitors warning that the disintegration of trust at the top could plunge South Sudan back into chaos.

UNMISS, established in 2011 to shepherd the nascent republic through the aftermath of independence, remains a pivotal instrument for peacekeeping and civilian protection. Over the years, the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed its relevance, citing the missions critical role in addressing regional threats and fostering stability. Yet, with the latest Security Council briefing on 16 April yielding no concrete progress toward a lasting solution, the coming days may prove decisive for both the missions trajectory and the future of South Sudans transitional governance.
Moroccos migration policy, which combines humanitarian, security, and development dimensions was presented before the April session of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), held in the Dominican Republic April 28 to 30.

The presentation was made by members of a delegation from the Moroccan Parliament during their participation in a forum on regional integration and the migration crisis in Central America.

The Moroccan parliamentarians highlighted efforts made to integrate migrants into Moroccan society, including the regularization of their status.

On the sidelines of the session, the delegation held talks with Parlacen President Carlos Hernandez, Dominican Senate President Ricardo De Los Santos, and senior lawmakers in foreign relations.

During the talks that focused on ways of boosting parliamentary cooperation, Dominican MPs reaffirmed their countrys support for Moroccos territorial integrity and the autonomy initiative for the Sahara.

The session adopted reports and draft resolutions on orphan protection, migration, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in Central America.
South Africa is poised to confront the shadows of its past as President Cyril Ramaphosa authorizes a judicial inquiry into longstanding claims of political interference in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes.

This pivotal move comes in the wake of a legal suit filed by survivors and families of victims who accuse successive Governments of wilfully neglecting justice. While the 1996 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) laid bare the horrors of apartheidincluding murder, torture, and forced disappearancesfew cases ever made it to court, leaving wounds unhealed and justice deferred.

The inquiry forms part of a court-sanctioned settlement with 25 plaintiffs, including the son of Fort Calataone of the Cradock Four, a group of anti-apartheid activists murdered by security forces in 1985. Their killers confessed to the TRC but were denied amnesty, and yet, no formal charges followed. All six implicated officers have since died, deepening public frustration. Now, with $9 million in damages sought by the families and renewed attention on the absence of legal redress, the presidency affirms its commitment to establish the true facts and bring the matter to finality.

For decades, critics have accused the post-apartheid African National Congress (ANC) leadership of forging clandestine agreements with remnants of the white-minority regime to shield perpetrators from prosecutionallegations the ANC continues to refute. Nonetheless, Wednesdays presidential statement concedes that claims of undue influence and obstructed investigations have dogged previous administrations. A formal appointment to head the inquiry, alongside a definitive timetable, is expected imminentlysignalling what may be South Africas last earnest attempt to reconcile its democratic future with the ghosts of its apartheid past.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are working toward a peace agreement aimed at ending the violent conflict in eastern Congo, with both nations setting a target date of May 2.

On April 25, the Foreign ministers of both countries, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Olivier Nduhungirehe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The MoU marks a potential step forward in resolving the crisis, with both nations hoping to foster regional economic collaboration, particularly in the mineral sector, with American investments playing a central role.

Despite this diplomatic milestone, skepticism abounds. Critics point to past failed ceasefire attempts and the lack of firm commitments in the latest deal. Jakob Kerstan of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kinshasa expressed concerns, noting that there is no clear agreement on the withdrawal of M23 rebels from occupied territories, a key issue in the conflict. Additionally, the role of external actors, particularly the US, has raised questions about the underlying motives, with some fearing the agreement primarily serves Washingtons strategic interests, particularly in limiting Chinese and Russian influence over the DRCs rich mineral resources.

The ongoing instability in South Kivu, where recent fighting has reignited despite ceasefire agreements, underscores the fragility of the peace process. Analysts argue that the conflict is deeply rooted in historical, ethnic, and political complexities, with some calling for a broader, locally-driven peace process. While the US-brokered peace talks may provide an initial framework for resolution, experts warn that the road to lasting peace will require far more than political agreementsit will need genuine commitment to disarmament, reconstruction, and addressing the root causes of the violence.
The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has officially reinstated on April 30 Gabon into its fold, lifting all sanctions following a favourable review of the countrys political transition.

The decision, taken during the Councils 1,277th meeting, acknowledged that Gabons post-coup processes were generally successful, according to PSC Chairperson Rebecca Amuge Otengo. The country had been suspended from AU activities after the military ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba on 30 August 2023 in what was deemed an unconstitutional change of Government.

Speaking from AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Gabons Foreign Minister, Regis Onanga Ndiaye, heralded the development as a moment of honour and pride for the nation. Representing transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Ndiaye said Gabons return to the continental bloc restores its full participation in AU activities and major international engagements. The minister underscored the move as a key step in re-establishing Gabons standing within the global diplomatic community.

General Nguema, who led the coup last year, subsequently oversaw a return to constitutional order through elections in which he secured 94.85 percent of the vote. The AUs endorsement follows this electoral process, with Nguemas inauguration scheduled for 3 May in Libreville. His victory and the AUs decision mark a significant shift toward regional acceptance and signal Gabons intent to resume its role in continental affairs.
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New research from Bayes Business School, in collaboration with biopharmaceuticals company Merck KGaA, suggests member states from the European Union (EU) must work more closely together, provide better incentives for the development of new medicines and approve access to medicines quicker than other international regulators, if it is to attract greater investment from pharmaceutical companies.

The pharmaceutical industry is in a highly competitive market race for innovation, approval and rollout. National and regional regulatory frameworks are vital for fostering effective innovation, creating ecosystems to attract large pharmaceutical companies to develop biological and orphan drugs locally.

Regulatory ecosystems, including those from the US (FDA), European Union (EMA), UK (MHRA), China (NMPA) and Japan (PMDA) are all in competition to approve innovative medicines, but must also work together to achieve global aimsparticularly in crises as seen during COVID.

Current trends indicate that these pharmaceutical companies favor the US and other ecosystems over Europe for first submissions to develop drugs, due to faster average approval times, regulatory support and stronger incentives.

The qualitative research was led by Stefan Haefliger, Professor of Strategic Management and Innovation at Bayes, and Pedro Franco, Bayes alumnus (Executive MBA, 2023) and Head of Europe Global Regulatory and Scientific Policy at Merck KGaA. It aimed to explore reasons why leading pharmaceutical companies favored other markets, and what the European Union could do to gain competitive advantages over these to reestablish its global reputation. The study involved interviews with 47 senior practitioners in the pharmaceuticals industry, from across 19 nationalities.

"Competition of regulatory ecosystems in approving medicines: Policy implications in the case of Europe" by Pedro Franco and Professor Stefan Haefliger is published in Drug Discovery Today.

The most commonly identified reasons given by experts for companies choosing the US over the EU included:

Lower prices in the EU, which restrict revenues and margins for pharmaceutical companies.

The EU's smaller market size compared to the US.

Complications in post-approval access to medicines due to differing reimbursement systems across EU countries.

Rising costs in the EU, including taxes and research & development, are disincentivizing production.

Insufficient access to capital, resources and expertise.

Fewer clinical trials in European countries due to regulatory restrictions.

The study also revealed measures that could help the European regulatory ecosystem establish competitive advantages through leveraging strengths. These included introduction of regulatory sandboxes, joint scientific advice for drug-devices, the introduction of electronic product information, and simplification of the existing regulatory system and unlimited marketing authorizationwhich avoids pharmaceutical companies to renew licenses every five years.

Professor Haefliger said, "It is widely recognized that the European drug dispersion has fallen behind that of the US and others. Indeed, the UK's development and rapid deployment of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccination during COVID was celebrated by Eurosceptics as a 'Brexit dividend'following the UK regulatory framework's aggressive strategy after departure from the trading bloc.

"Pharmaceuticals are also a hot talking point right now, with President Trump's recent tariff announcements causing a stir in Ireland and across the EUamid fears that industry giants such as Johnson & Johnson may look to relocate instead of paying costly sums to export their products to the US market.

"Our study is supported by findings of the 2024 Draghi Report, that laid bare the EU's stagnation in pharmaceutical growth and urged reform in regulatory processes, capital access, and technological adoption.

"While many individuals in our study cite the lack of synergy between EU members as a reason for their reluctance to develop drugs in Europe, there remains a highly diverse pool of expertiseand certainly the potential to become a more attractive proposition.

"Without significant changes, however, the EU risks falling further behind its competitors in attracting pharmaceutical innovation, investment, and leading research talent."

More information: Pedro Franco et al, Competition of regulatory ecosystems in approving medicines: policy implications in the case of Europe, Drug Discovery Today (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2025.104295
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Kansas saw another bump in measles cases over the past week during an outbreak that has, so far this year, not yet spread to the Kansas City metro.

The state saw nine new cases, bringing the total number from 37 to 46, according to a Kansas Department of Health and Environment dashboard tracking cases.

The dashboard was updated, showing that, as of April 30, the outbreak still most affects eight southwestern Kansas counties: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens.

Of the state's 46 cases, 39 were reported in individuals who were not vaccinated, the dashboard shows.

According to the dashboard, Gray County has the most cases, at 15. That is an increase of nine in the county from the last KDHE update.

In mid-April, Kansas City health officials warned elected officials that measles could soon make its way to the region. Parents are urged to vaccinate children against the disease.

According to KDHE data, 52% of cases, 24, are reported in individuals aged 517 years old. Another 30% of cases, 14, were found in children 04 years of age.

A total of eight cases were found in those 18-years-old or older, KDHE data show.

Health experts say the upcoming summer travel months will give the highly contagious respiratory virus opportunities to spread from the southwestern corner of Kansas to areas with larger populations.

The first case of measles in Missouri this year was found about four hours south of Kansas City, according to the state Department of Health. That case was in a child and was associated with international travel, the health department said last month.

Kansas City has not had a case of measles since 2019, according to local health officials. Officials also said the metro falls short of having herd immunity from the disease, and that some zip codes are more at risk than others of contracting the disease.

Nearly 900 measles cases have been confirmed as of April 25, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The cases have been reported in 29 states and New York City: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

There have been 94 hospitalizations, or 11% of all cases reported. There are three confirmed deaths from measles this year.

According to the most recent data available, about 30% of cases involve children under 5 years, 38% involve children and teens between 5 and 19, and 30% involve adults.

In 2024, there were 285 total cases nationwide with no deaths reported by the CDC.

2025 The Kansas City Star. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Sexual minority men on the receiving end of intimate partner violence also have worse mental health outcomes including depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts, according to a new meta-analysis by UConn professor Chenglin Hong.

"Looking at the larger context, intimate partner violence as a public health issue is still under-studied among men, particularly sexual minority men," Hong says. "It's usually considered under the heterosexual umbrella: men as perpetrators, women as victims or survivors. But the issue affects sexual minority men just as much, or more, as heterosexual women."

Hong's meta-analysis "The Associations Between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual Minority Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," published in the journal Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, looked at 22 studies on the topic conducted between 2003 and 2022, both in the U.S. and around the world, including China and the United Kingdom. The article is the first of its kind in more than a decade, with the prior meta-analysis on the topic conducted in 2014.

Among his findings, Hong determined that sexual minority men experiencing intimate partner violence are almost three times more likely to have suicide ideation or attempts, compared to sexual minority men who didn't experience such violence.

"Men in general experience higher rates of suicide-related outcomes, but they often don't seek mental health services due to stigmas around masculinity," Hong explains. "But those who experience intimate partner violence may be even more limited. For example, they might be scared to see a provider because their partners may find out."

The meta-study, which Hong says was not funded but purely volunteer work, included a team of researchers across the country from institutions including Washington University in St. Louis, UC Davis, Michigan, UCLA, and Penn State.

At the end of the study, Hong makes several recommendations, including incorporating intimate partner violence screening as a standard part of health care and mental health assessments for men.

"I'm a social worker," Hong says. "A lot of the time, when we work with clients and refer them to different agencies, there are logistics: transportation, insurance issues. So the idea here is how to optimize integrated care by providing health care, mental health care, and intimate partner violence services in the same setting."

If Hong's proposed changes become more widespread, hopefully such issues of intimate malemale partner violence can dramatically decrease.

More information: Chenglin Hong et al, The Associations Between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual Minority Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Trauma, Violence, & Abuse (2024). DOI: 10.1177/15248380241275976
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When technology makes doctors more accessible, it can lead to lower quality for patients and increased pressure on already stressed doctors, says Magnus Wanderas. Wanderas has worked as a general practitioner himself and completed a doctorate on the topic at the University of Agder (UiA).

It has become easier to contact your GP. With just a few keystrokes, you can start an e-consultation where you can discuss what's on your mind. You can also ask your doctor for a video or phone appointment if you prefer not to visit the doctor's office.

This development accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and has stabilized at a high level.

"One in five consultations in Norwegian general practice is now digital, which means either via phone, video or a written e-consultation," says Wanderas.

In his doctoral thesis, he interviewed 24 GPs about how they perceive that remote consultations have changed general practitioner service.

Remote consultations are doctor's appointments via video or telephone, or written requests initiated by the patient, for example through Helsenorge (the official website providing information and access to health services for residents of Norway).

Follow-up appointments needed

Such remote consultations are faster than in-person visits, and they make it possible for general practitioners to see more patients. At least in theory. It doesn't help that nearly 1 in 5 people who have digital consultations still need an in-person appointment afterwards to resolve the issue.

"Before COVID, there was hope that remote consultations could ease some of the pressure on GPs, but it is likely that instead, they have led to considerable double usage of doctor's appointments," says Wanderas.

Asking about throat lozenges

Increased accessibility can lead to some contacting the doctor for things they perhaps shouldn't seek medical advice about.

"A GP in the study mentioned a patient who sent an e-consultation to ask which throat lozenge the doctor would recommend for a cold," says Wanderas.

At the same time, it is not easy for general practitioners to distinguish between serious and less serious inquiries in their inbox. Several describe checking e-consultations late at night to ensure there are no life-threatening conditions hidden among them.

"It's like having a direct line to the GP, and it's like asking already tired and conscientious GPs to become burned out," says one of the doctors in the study.

Doorknob questions

Another of the doctors interviewed says, "Most of what we do involves people skills. And we get these skills when we interact with people. These interactions make up perhaps 90% of everything we do. Medicine is only a small part of it."

"Some things can be handled digitally, and that's perfectly fine. But the more we move to digital platforms, the less room there is for doing good medical work," says Wanderas.

It's about physical examinations, nonverbal communication and what the researcher calls "doorknob questions"the important issues patients often bring up right at the end of the appointment. Several GPs noted that some patients reveal the real reason for their visit as they are about to leave.

"That is when they could raise concerns about, for example, alcohol problems, after initially visiting the doctor for a sore elbow. This space disappears with digital consultations," says Wanderas.

The day before the interview with Wanderas, the government proposed several measures (in Norwegian) to increase the accessibility of GPs, among them an obligation to offer video consultations.

Wanderas is skeptical of such an obligation.

He emphasizes that most GPs have already found a good way to work with digital consultations and that they should retain the freedom to find their own ways of working.

"This is a field where it is difficult to have definitive opinions. My interviews with 24 doctors are by no means enough to draw conclusions. There are probably GPs who think that digital consultations work perfectly," he says.

Still, he reminds us that new technology must be used wisely.

"Innovation is not always the same as progress. If we see that the technology is not having the effect we hope for, the wisest course may be to take a step back."

More information: Going remote in general practice: Investigating the transformation of healthcare delivery enabled by remote consultations. uia.brage.unit.no/uia-xmlui/handle/11250/3174694
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President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday released what it described as a comprehensive review of gender-related medical interventions for children and adolescents, warning of "significant risks" associated with puberty blockers and surgeries.

The 400-page report was issued without named authorsa departure from scientific norms but nonetheless defended by the Department of Health and Human Services as a measure "to help maintain the integrity of this process."

Youth gender medicine is a highly polarizing issue in many countries, with medical professionals seeking to strike a balance between alleviating psychological distress, respecting patient autonomy, and ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and appropriate for developing bodies and minds.

But the Trump administration's record of hostility toward transgender peopleincluding efforts to ban them from the military and erase language around gender identity from official documentshas raised questions about the objectivity of the review.

The report states that gender-affirming treatments carry risks "including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret."

"Our duty is to protect our nation's childrennot expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions," said Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health. "We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas."

Aisha Mays, a family physician in California and member of the nonprofit Physicians for Reproductive Health, called the report "propaganda" that aimed "to delegitimize the perfectly safe, effective, and evidence-based health care that transgender people access to be who they are."

"Being transgender, just like being cisgender, is not a choice nor can it be reversed by any medical or social method," she added. "The same way cisgender people know who they are, so do trans people. The same way cis people receive gender-affirming care, so do trans people."

While Health Secretary and noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has drawn scrutiny for brash statements at odds with scientific consensus, the report itself is largely written in sober, academic prose and heavily cites medical literature.

Still, it levels strong accusationsmost notably against US medical associations, which it claims "may impede or even oppose evidence-based medicine when the professional or financial interests of their members are threatened by medical practice reversal."

The report also denounces terms like "assigned sex at birth," arguing that it "suggests an arbitrary decisionnot unlike 'assigned seating'rather than the observation of a characteristic present long before birth, namely the child's sex."

Rare interventions

Its release follows a landmark review in the United Kingdom last year, led by retired pediatrician Hilary Cass, which urged "extreme caution" in prescribing hormone therapies to youth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which supports access to medically necessary gender-affirming care and opposes legislation that restricts it, said it was "deeply alarmed" by the U.S. report.

"For such an analysis to carry credibility, it must consider the totality of available data and the full spectrum of clinical outcomes rather than relying on select perspectives and a narrow set of data," the group said, adding that its own guidelines were misrepresented.

Despite intensifying political rhetoric, data show gender-affirming care among minors remains rare.

A study in JAMA Network Open found that gender-affirming surgery occurred at a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 among adults, compared to 2.1 per 100,000 among minors aged 15 to 17; 0.1 among those aged 13 to 14; and zero cases among children 12 or younger.

Another recent JAMA Pediatrics study reported that fewer than 0.1% of privately insured minors with a transgender or gender-diverse diagnosis received puberty blockers or hormonesand none were under 12.

 2025 AFP
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The health program that treats Sept. 11 first responders has started resuming enrollment of new participants and approving treatments for ailing patients after on-again, off-again Trump administration cuts had hobbled the program for weeks, the Daily News has learned.

A Department of Health and Human Services official informed doctors and administrators in the World Trade Center Health Program that all services could resume, according to an email obtained by the News.

"We are able to resume processing enrollments, certifications, and (treatment) letters at this time. Expedites have also been processed," wrote Lauren Cimineri, an HHS official. "You should be seeing the new decisions in your next data feeds this Friday and Monday."

Dr. James Howard, the director of the World Trade Center Health Program, has also been told by HHS officials that he is fully reinstated to his post and given authority to certify illnesses and approve treatment plans.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said in a statement that the HHS action came after bipartisan outreach to the Trump administration to jump-start the stalled program.

"Let me be clear: Anything that jeopardizes care for 9/11 responders and survivors is indefensible," Garbarino said in a statement.

Garbarino added that he had spoken with Howard and assured that "questions about Dr. Howard's authorities  have been resolved."

The action from the feds came after a front-page Daily News scoop revealed that Howard's status had been left in limbo for weeks, as well as that new participants were not being enrolled in the program and treatment plans were not being approved. This week, three FDNY employees were unable to get treatment plans approved for recent cancer diagnoses.

"We are glad to hear that the truth has finally caught up to (HHS) and that 9/11 responders and survivors will be getting the help from the program they should have been getting all along," said Ben Chevat of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, a 9/11 advocacy group. "But this should never have happened."

It's the second about-face in a few weeks for the Trump administration, which fired Howard and several other WTC Health Program staffers in March as part of a wide effort spearheaded by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to downsize government.

After a flurry of bipartisan outcry, the White House said it was reversing the cuts and reinstating Howard.

But it didn't actually take the necessary bureaucratic steps to return Howard to his post, effectively preventing him from approving treatment plans and overseeing other medical issues.

Many WTC health program staffers have been told their jobs have been eliminated and some have not been restored, despite claims they would all be rehired.

Dr. David Prezant, the FDNY's chief medical officer, called it a "shell game."

About 137,000 first responders and survivors rely on the WTC Health Program to get treatment and medication and monitor injuries and illnesses caused by the toxins that swirled around Ground Zero during 9/11 and the weeks that followed.

About 83,000 have at least one certified 9/11 illness from their exposure during and after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as the hijacked plane crashes near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon.

2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has kept in abeyance pleas by the Adani group and its offshore investors to settle a raft of regulatory charges until internal processes are reviewed, says a report from Reuters quoting two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

SEBI, where a new chief took charge in March, is reviewing rules of settlement pleas, the regulator said last month. A lack of uniformity in the settlement process and unclear rules on the nature of penalties imposed have prompted the review, the first source told the agency.

The review could take three months, after which the Adani pleas will be taken up under new processes, the second source, with direct knowledge of the matter, told Reuters.

Under SEBI's settlement process, investors and market participants pay a monetary fine or agree to regulatory directions without admission or denial of guilt.

SEBI and the Adani group did not respond to emails from the agency seeking comment.

Read: Adani Family Secretly Invested in Own Shares, Through 'Opaque' Funds, Alleges Non-profit International Investigative Media Group OCCRP) In August 2023, Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), in an article, said that crores of rupees were invested in listed stocks of India's Adani group via 'opaque' funds from Mauritius that 'obscured' the involvement of alleged business partners of the Adani family. OCCRP also reported that two men, Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli (Nasser) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Chang Chung-Ling (Chung-Ling) (Chinese/Taiwan), who are treated as public investors in stock exchange filings, are actually Adani insiders, which is a violation of Indian laws. This also reduced the free float of the stock, helping to manipulate the prices with less funds. (

Adani Enterprises says, "Based on the independent assessment, the SC order and the fact that there are no pending regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings as of date, except as mentioned above, the management concludes that there is no material non-compliance of applicable laws and regulations and accordingly, these financial statements do not carry any adjustments in this regard."

The controversial Hindenburg Research's report, inter alia, alleged that the Adani group of companies has manipulated its share prices, failed to disclose transactions with related parties and other relevant information concerning related parties in contravention of the regulations framed by SEBI and violated other provisions of securities laws.

In April 2024, Reuters reported that SEBI found that a group of offshore funds investing in companies under the Adani umbrella have breached disclosure regulations and exceeded investment thresholds. These insiders, preferring anonymity as they lack authorisation to engage with the media, revealed the findings to the agency.

Moreover, the regulator has been scrutinising the relationship between the Adani group and one of these funds to ascertain whether there is evidence of coordinated action with the conglomerate's principal stakeholdersa claim Adani has consistently refuted, the report says.

Earlier in 2024, SEBI issued notifications to about 12 offshore investors associated with the Adani group outlining the alleged violations and requesting explanations regarding their non-compliance with disclosure rules and investment ceilings, as disclosed by the sources to Reuters.
The customer is kinga much quoted business mantra coined by Harry Gordon Selfridge a century agois more of a hollow slogan today. Instead, customers of giant organisations are forced deal with systems that work at avoiding a human interface. In the age of digital automation, where artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to process massive amounts of data in seconds, we find ourselves battling glitchy algorithms instead of receiving the royal treatment.

AI was meant to improve efficiency, reduce costs and deliver quicker resolutions; and it certainly work well for routine transactions, but is it also turning into a tool to for companies to avoid customer issues?

One might laugh at early AI mishaps such as Alexa ordering expensive dollhouses and cookies ( The 10 Biggest AI Customer Service Fails (So Far!) ) based on a childs conversation, or ChatGPT scarily fabricating court cases (known as hallucination)but those errors were assumed to be the growing pains of a new technology. The concern today is deeper: it is about the widespread use and institutionalisation of AI-driven customer service without adequate safeguards, escalation channels, or human oversight.

When it works, AI certainly impresses. This is mainly for routine functions such as tracking orders, booking appointments, checking status or answering FAQs. But it quickly crumbles when presented with non-standard requests that require a nuanced or customised response or escalation and can turn into a frustrating barrier to basic service. This includes providing pre-scripted and irrelevant responses, or trapping customers in a maddening feedback loop with absolutely no recourse to human support.

Moving housealready a logistical nightmarecan become a serious ordeal when every company depends on rigid AI systems for delivery, dismantling, reinstallation or servicing.

Even your neighbourhood salon has now started sending you a WhatsApp message seeking feedback. But booking an appointment via the same route is like a mini-exam requiring you to answer endless details such as state, city, location of their outlet and tick on a drop down menu of services. How is this use of AI an improvement?

This appears to be a global problem. AI can facilitate as well as alienate. A Zendex survey report ( What Customers Expect from AI in Customer Service ) showed that, although people are open to interacting with AI chatbots, 55% found that chatbots ask too many repetitive questions and 47% found that they did not get accurate answers at the end of it. Lets look at some Indian examples.

Eureka Forbes has linked all its customer service to a registered mobile number. But when a technical glitch occurs and the system fails to recognise the number, the customer finds herself in a never ending loop of polite emails that refused to recognise the issue or escalate it to a human interface.

Reliance Digitals chatbot spammed a customer with delivery updates about a faulty product that had already been picked up and refunded. It also triggered the call-centre for a status check. It required a call to the store-head to, finally, stop the spamming. It also has an app that is supposed to offer an end-to-end solution, but it is not designed for a proper follow up, especially for installation and in-warranty services.

Another issue today is the pressure to download company apps to make payments, track delivery or book service requests. A customer has no idea of data is being accessed by the app; but a refusal to use it would mean giving up on easy access to certain services. Since there are serious concerns about how companies are automating, processing, storing and using our data which includes contact, address and payment details. Unless the ministry of consumer affairs (MCA) formulates rules to protect consumers, we remain a source of endless data for AI learning.

Even global companies, like IKEA, are notorious for making access difficult. When you, finally, get a human interface, there is another problempoorly trained call-centre assistants who repeatedly misinterpret and issue and appear to have no access to information that ought to be available on its system. And yet, every interaction begins with the standard disclaimer that this call may be recorded for training purposes. One can only hope that an AI-based analysis of such calls lead to future improvement.

In one extreme global example, a technical error after an update, allowed a customer to use the chatbots AI learning ability to embarrass DPD, a parcel delivery company, in January 2024 . Ashley Beauchamp, a pianist and conductor persuaded the chatbot to swear at him, criticise DPD and even suggest better delivery options and write a poem on how bad DPDs bot was. His post on X, which went viral, said: "It's utterly useless at answering any queries, and when asked, it happily produced a poem about how terrible they are as a company." The post got millions of views before the bot was suspended by DPD.

What makes such failures all the more galling is that companies certainly know better. They understand that AI-based systems improve only when they are fed large quantities of high-quality, real-world data, ideally from actual human interactions. HubSpot reports how a company could compress the task of processing 10,000 reviews from a few weeks to a few hours, using AI. Another used AI tools to collect and categorise data from multiple channels to understand the context and sentiment behind comments. If customer feedback is key to improving sales and service, why annoy customers with half-baked AI tools?

Companies seem to opt for inexpensive AI plug-ins instead of investing in hybrid models where human interaction and call-centres augment the gaps in AI performance. At the same time, they bombard customers with standard, checkbox-based feedback requests at every step of their service delivery in the hope of gathering more data. Is there any point in such feedback without nuanced information and examples that would lead to AI learning and improved systems?

Bad AI is a serious issue. A blog on univo.com says up to 85% of AI projects fail ( The Complex World of AI Failures / When Artificial Intelligence Goes Terribly Wrong ) due to poor data quality. Using flawed, incomplete, or biased datasets leads to unreliable outputs and this cannot change without human interaction. Experts also observe (sobot.in) that bad AI not only increases frustration but also lowers trust in the organisation.

Clearly, AI is a tool, but not a magic wand. Without better training data, robust oversight and a willingness to invest in human backup, it can become a symbol of corporate indifference.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred three individuals, Manish Mishra, chief financial officer (CFO) of Atlantaa Ltd, Vivek Chauhan and Ankur Sharma, from the markets for five years for misleading investors through fraudulent practices. These individuals were found guilty of promoting Atlantaa shares by spreading false information via YouTube videos, encouraging investors to purchase the scrip.

SEBI has imposed penalties of Rs50 lakh on Mr Mishra, Rs10 lakh each on Mr Chauhan and Mr Sharma. Additionally, Mr Mishra and Mr Sharma have been directed to disgorge unlawful gains of Rs10.38 lakh, which will be deposited in the Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).

In an order, Santosh Shukla, quasi-judicial authority (QJA) of SEBI, says "I find that Mr Mishra, Mr Chauhan and Mr Sharma have colluded and engaged in a coordinated scheme to upload misleading videos to induce investors to trade in shares of the company and in doing so, they have violated Section 12A(a), (b), (c) of the SEBI Act and regulations 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 4(1) and 4(2)(d), (k) and (r) of the PFUTP Regulations.

Atlantaa, a company listed on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), became the focus of a SEBI investigation following suspicious trading activities between 1 August and 23 November 2022. The investigation was triggered by a referral from the NSE, which led to the issuance of a show cause notice (SCN) on 27 June 2024. The SCN accused several individuals, including Mr Mishra, of spreading false and misleading information about Atlantaa to induce investors to trade in its shares.

According to SEBI's investigation, on 2 October 2022, a misleading YouTube video was uploaded on two channels MIDCAP CALLS and Profit Yatra. The video falsely claimed that Atlantaas stock price would rise dramatically from Rs18 to Rs130 within two months, with additional misleading assertions that the Adani group was investing in the company and that it was debt-free and fundamentally strong. This content was promoted using paid YouTube ads funded by Mr Mishra.

After the video was posted, Atlantaa's stock price surged by 49.18%, from Rs18.4 to Rs27.45, and trading volumes spiked significantly. The investigation revealed that Mr Mishra, Mr Chauhan, and Mr Sharma profited from the price increase by buying shares at lower prices and selling them at inflated rates.

SEBI found that the video, along with the exaggerated claims and a coordinated campaign, misled investors into believing they were making a sound investment in Atlantaa. The videos false predictions, including the involvement of the Adani group and claims of rapid stock growth, were determined to be fabricated. After the video went live, the stock's price and trading volume spiked, with many investors acting on the misleading information.

Despite defences from the accused, including claims of evidence tampering and the video being just a personal opinion, SEBI found compelling evidence that the scheme was deliberately designed to mislead investors for personal gain. SEBI investigation also revealed communication between Mr Mishra and other involved parties, indicating clear coordination to spread the misinformation.

Mr Mishra and Mr Chauhan are noted to be repeat defaulters and have acted against the spirit of fair play of the market and sound trading principles in the past, the order said.

Earlier, SEBI had issued restraint orders against Mr Mishra and Mr Chauhan in the matter involving Sadhana Broadcast, Sharpline Broadcast and Pressure Sensitive Systems (India) Ltd.

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JSW Steel Ltd's shares fell as much as 7% on BSE to Rs961.60 following rejection by the Supreme Court of the company's resolution plan for Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd. While rejecting JSW Steel's Rs19,700 crore resolution plan, the apex court ordered liquidation of Bhushan Power & Steel.

In an order, a bench of justice Bela M Trivedi and justice Satish Chandra Sharma says the resolution plan submitted by JSW Steel was 'illegal' and contrary to the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and it should not have been accepted by the committee of creditors (CoC).

In a regulatory filing, JSW Steel says, "We learnt that the Supreme Court pronounced Judgment on Friday, 2 May 2025, rejecting the resolution plan submitted by the Company and approved by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), on certain grounds. We are yet to receive the formal copy of the order to understand the grounds for rejection in detail and its implications. Once we receive the order and are able to review the same along with our legal advisors, we will decide on our further course of action."



The matter reached the Supreme Court amid growing concern that JSW Steel had not implemented the plan for the years since its approval. The Court noted that the resolution applicant failed to fulfil essential post-approval obligations, undermining the very objectives of the IBC, which include time-bound resolution of insolvency and maximisation of asset value.



Notably, in December 2024, the directorate of enforcement (ED) decided not to pursue its appeal before the Supreme Court against JSW Steel's takeover of Bhushan Power & Steel under the IBC.



It also returned attached assets valued at Rs4,025 crore to JSW Steel so that it could take control of Bhushan Power & Steel pursuant to the insolvency resolution process under IBC.



The restitution was made after the Supreme Courts order of 11 December 2024, directing ED to hand over the attached properties of Bhushan Power, after the central agency decided not to pursue its case against Bhushan Power & Steel.



In March 2021, lenders of Bhushan Power & Steel approved with most votes to close the company's deal with JSW Steel.

Lenders, including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Canara Bank, voted in favour of the proposal to accept payment according to the resolution plan with an undertaking to refund the amount in the event the Supreme Court gives an adverse order.

SBI, the largest lender to Bhushan Power & Steel and by accepting the resolution plan, was expected to recover over Rs4,000 crore. PNB was expected to recover Rs4,399 crore while Canara Bank could have got Rs2,244 crore from the plan. With this resolution plan, all creditors of Bhushan Steel were expected to gain 41% (Rs19,500 crore) as against their claims of Rs48,000 crore.

As per the resolution plan, the Sajjan Jindal-led steel-maker was expected to deposit Rs19,350 crore within two weeks in an escrow account. .

In September 2019, national company law tribunal (NCLT) had approved JSW Steels Rs19,700 crore bid for Bhushan Power & Steel.

Later in February 2020, NCLAT also approved JSW Steel's resolution plan. NCLAT granted immunity to JSW Steel from the litigations of Bhushan Power & Steel under Section 32a of the IBC. The Tribunal also directed investigative agencies not to seize the assets of Bhushan Power & Steel.

Bhushan Power & Steel, which had a steel-making capacity of around 2.75MTPA (metric tonnes per annum) in Odisha, was under insolvency proceedings since 2017.

JSW Steel emerged as the preferred bidder in 2019 after raising its earlier bid higher than rivals such as Tata Steel Ltd. News reports indicated JSW Steels bid valued Bhushan Power & Steels assets at around Rs19,500 crore, and JSW Steel had indicated that it will assume a minority stake in the company post-acquisition after finding a partner.

In September 2020, SBI had invoked the personal guarantees of Sanjay Singal, former promoter of Bhushan Power & Steel and sent him a demand notice for recovery of Rs12,275.91 crore.
Chances are youre just a short distance from a massage parlor where migrant women eat, sleep and toil as victims of sex trafficking. And chances are your state and local authorities are doing little to protect these women.

How we tackled the sex trafficking investigation Heres how the Lee Enterprises Public Service Team did a first-of-its-kind analysis of states efforts to protect women who are subject to sex

Nationwide, illicit massage parlors outnumber McDonald's restaurants. There are more than 16,800 in all, according to The Network, a nonprofit and leading authority on human trafficking.

Whether you're in a city, whether you're in the suburbs, or whether you're in a rural area, the prevalence of these storefronts is incredible. No matter where you are, no matter what state you're in, there are illicit massage businesses, said Chris Muller-Tabanera from The Network.

Men seeking cheap sex can find these illegal businesses with ease, a Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team investigation shows.

Overseas websites beyond the reach of law enforcement brazenly advertise these parlors, providing a map with directions. One site allows men to search based on the type of sex they want and even the shape of a womans curves.

The women working at these parlors are often middle-aged migrants from China or South Korea who speak little English, according to Polaris, an anti-trafficking group that published a detailed report on illicit massage parlors in 2018. Financially desperate, they perform acts they once couldnt have imagined.

They experience coercion and emotional trauma, said YunXi Wang, who worked in illicit parlors for years.

Even worse, many of these women, including Wang, endure sexual violence. In one survey of workers in illicit massage parlors, 40 percent of women interviewed said customers had sexually assaulted them.

We should shut this business down because it does not create any benefit for society. It only helps the owners to boost their income while leaving harm in its wake, Wang told a Lee Enterprises investigative reporter through a translator.

Although these illegal parlors operate in plain sight, a first-of-its-kind investigation by the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team found that most states are failing to protect these vulnerable women. Few law enforcement agencies punish the owners of these illegal businesses, let alone go after the organized crime networks supporting them.

All but four states have massage licensing boards whose duties include disciplining anyone violating standards, including taking action against those engaging in sex with customers, the Lee investigation found. However, most boards are passive, investigating only when someone submits a formal complaint. Even when they investigate, few states go after business owners.

State laws usually dont give licensing boards that option.

Lack of accountability

Lee Enterprises evaluated the work of these licensing boards by obtaining copies of as many disciplinary records nationwide as possible since 2019. Four states  Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont and Wyoming  don't have boards, and others dont release records or make obtaining them nearly impossible. Even so, our analysis found that most boards mete out few punishments.

Of the 32 states Lee analyzed, most take few actions against massage therapists for any reason. The median number of actions since 2019 was only 47. That means half the states had less than 10 disciplinary actions a year while the other half had 10 or more.

Virginia had 224 disciplinary actions, or about 41 a year.

Yet, among those states, there are an estimated 6,500 illegal massage parlors.

Only five states took action against businesses. Four of those  Massachusetts, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina  are among the most aggressive states in policing the industry.

Another source corroborates the failure of most states to protect these women: the National Practitioner Data Bank. Its a tool Congress created to prevent healthcare workers, including massage therapists, from surreptitiously moving to another state to escape sanctions from alleged violations.

Since 2019, state boards have reported only 871 disciplinary actions against massage therapists for sexual misconduct, an average of 145 actions a year for the entire nation. Our review of individual actions found that most were against men. Moreover, just seven states, led by Florida, made up 70 percent of those reports. Fourteen states reported less than one disciplinary action per year, and 11 others reported no actions at all.

These boards can and should play a critical role in trying to stop sex trafficking, said Rochelle Keyhan, a former Philadelphia prosecutor who now trains government officials and law enforcement how to deal effectively with illicit massage parlors. Civil remedies, she said, can be even better than prosecutions but usually require states or local jurisdictions to beef up their laws.

One reason for civil remedies is that law enforcement agencies fail to prosecute most human trafficking offenses successfully  or at all. FBI data from local police departments show that only seven percent of human trafficking offenses led to arrests from 2021 to 2023, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Thats 1,344 arrests for 19,225 reported offenses.

So few of these arrests involve sex trafficking at massage parlors that the FBI doesnt even track crimes committed at those locations. The FBI lumps crimes at massage parlors into the categories other and unknown.

Conditioning and Coercion

Chinese migrants account for most of the women at illicit spas. Koreans follow them; a few come from Thailand or Vietnam, according to Polaris.

These women seek a better life in the United States, often trying to escape troubles at home, explains Keyhan, who, with the help of translators, has interviewed 1,100 women who worked at illicit massage parlors. Some have debts to pay off or are fleeing domestic abuse. They may have ailing family in the United States.

Brokers will sell them visas or airline tickets, costing tens of thousands of dollars and saddling the women with crushing debt, Keyhan said.

They often arrive at destination hubs: San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Flushing, New York, where local Chinese newspapers, bulletin boards or websites are full of job ads for massage parlors. The women are typically between 35 and 55 and have limited education.

Keyhan says the ads are misleading, promising high pay with no mention of sex work.

For example, a victim might be told that she can earn $7,000 a month at a massage business in Ohio, and that the owner will arrange her transportation and living arrangements, Keyhan said. This is, in many ways, ideal for someone looking for economic opportunity in a foreign country. The victims might not realize that accepting this job can lead to finding themselves in an unfamiliar city, with no way to return home.

That puts them under the control of a network of massage parlor owners. They are often entirely dependent, sleeping overnight on the massage beds where they handle customers and eating in a back room, Keyhan said. Owners frequently move them from one parlor to another. They survive on $50 to $100 tips, but the owner often takes a cut of those too.

One academic survey of 116 of these women in Los Angeles and New York reported that 83 percent said they were not coerced to work in illicit massage parlors. Only 17 percent said they were forced to do sex work against their will.

John Chin of Hunter College and Lois Takahashi of the University of Southern California, the academics who conducted the research, said illicit massage parlors can offer women better wages than other jobs. And they seemed to have the freedom to leave or to go to other massage parlors.

Yet, some of the women said they didnt realize they would be asked to engage in sex. They might start by trying to do only regular massages but realize the pay is paltry.

One woman they interviewed said, "In the beginning, I guessed I was just going to provide regular massage services. However, I realized I was getting very little money for just providing regular massage services. I got a $10 tip at most for each client. The owner told me if I wanted to get more tips, I should provide hand jobs for the clients. I was in need of money. I wanted to pay back to the snakehead [smuggler] as soon as possible. So I started to provide a hand job to the clients after working in the parlor for two months."

The researchers acknowledged that these women were vulnerable, given their debts and their limited options.

Certainly, there's exploitation, said Chin. I think maybe within our study of 116, maybe one had said she actually enjoys her work, and she would like to keep doing it.

Most people in law enforcement and advocacy roles dont accept the notion that these women are not coerced.

Doug Gilmer, who used to investigate illicit massage parlors for the federal Homeland Security Investigations, said just because these women tell interviewers that they werent coerced does not convince him that they arent acting against their will.

I would say 80% to 90% of the women that we would encounter would tell us they were not coerced. But we also knew from those that did disclose and those who have left the industry they were so conditioned or brainwashed, Gilmer said. A lot of their responses were identical. They're pretty much a script. If law enforcement comes in here, this is what to say and this is what not to say.

What these women arent speaking to are the pressures they face to do the work, including the fear of being arrested and deported.

Beisi Huang, at Restore NYC, has spoken to many of these women after they were arrested for prostitution and sent to her nonprofit agency for help. She learned that many women saw no choice but to work in a massage parlor.

Women naturally feel very self-blaming and feel guilty about itbut that really is not their fault, she said. They avoid thinking too deeply about it as a coping mechanism.

I can boldly say about over 90%, maybe 95% of women who I have spoken to, came to me, told me that they have never done massage before, and they would not even think about doing massage before. It really is a choiceless choice.

Whos really watching?

Illicit massage parlors rarely get much notice in the news. That changed momentarily when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced charges in 2019 for paying for sex at Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida. Video cameras detectives hid in the ceiling captured his two visits, according to police.

That investigation took four painstaking months of stakeouts and surveillance, evidence of how labor-intensive these investigations can be. However, a judge ultimately threw out the footage because police had failed to protect the privacy of innocent female customers. Ultimately, prosecutors dismissed charges against everyone in the investigation. A recent call to the massage parlor confirmed its still open for business.

One of the lessons from the Kraft episode is that illicit massage parlors are not difficult to find, but they can be challenging to prosecute.

Kraft allegedly received a tip from a wealthy friend about the massage parlor he visited, a news report said.

However, many questionable websites advertise massage parlors that offer happy endings. Customer reviews provide explicit details. These establishments commonly operate in strip malls or other low-rent business districts. Prices are cheap. Hours are late.

Law enforcement officers offer telltale red flags for wary customers. Windows may be papered over, and entry often requires a buzzer. The doorway might feel tight and unwelcoming, with curtains shrouding the massage rooms in secrecy.

One expert says in smaller towns, these spas sometimes deny entry to women altogether. A Lee reporter visited a parlor in Chesterfield, Virginia, that police had raided. Inside, dim lights cast shadows over the outdated furniture, frozen in time, while the heavy scent of oil lingered in the air.

However, not all illicit massage parlors are that obvious from appearances. Wang said she worked in some Asian massage parlors that attempted to be legitimate. Still, some men patronizing the business would demand sex.

Even in legitimate massage parlors, once a woman enters the field, ill-intentioned male customers often lead her from the legitimate massage business into the illegal one. It might start with physical touch, like touching her legs, and could eventually escalate to happy endings or sexual services, Wang said.

Without strong self-awareness, a woman can easily accept this type of work without realizing whether it is the life she truly wants.

Up Next: As vulnerable immigrant women face assault, rape and other horrors, is anyone intervening?
KATHMANDU, May 2: The government of Nepal unveiled its policies and programs for the fiscal year 2025/26 on Friday. President Ramchandra Paudel presented the plan during a joint session of both houses of the Federal Parliament.

The policy emphasizes the governments commitment to promoting good governance and achieving rapid economic growth, aligning with the minimum common agenda of the ruling coalition.

Reaffirming its support for the federal democratic republican system, the government stated its determination to counter any regressive or anarchic attempts to undermine the Constitution or the current political structure, which it described as the result of the Nepali people's long struggle and sacrifice.

The policy document identifies ten major focus areas:

Related story Local govts intensify preparations for budget, policies and pro...
The High Court has declared a protest ban imposed during the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations unlawful, handing a major victory to 11 protesters who challenged police actions in court.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that former Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei acted outside the law when he banned public protests and assemblies within the Central Business District (CBD) through a media alert issued on June 18, 2024. The judge found the ban unconstitutional and in direct violation of several fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protection from arbitrary arrest.

The petitioners, represented by lawyer Pareno Solonka of Solonka & Solonka Advocates LLP, sued Bungei, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General. They told the Court that police violently disrupted the peaceful protest using tear gas, batons, water cannons, and, in some instances, even live bullets.

The Respondents beat, clobbered, maimed and tortured persons participating in the peaceful march, and in the process also treated them in a cruel, inhuman or degrading manner, they stated in court.

They further claimed that officers arrested them illegally and indiscriminately, following direct orders from the Inspector General and Bungei. During their arrest, they were allegedly denied access to legal counsel and never informed of the reasons for their detention.

The petitioners pointed to Bungeis press release as the trigger for the police crackdown, calling it arbitrary, unlawful, and unconstitutional. They maintained that Bungei issued the ban despite being fully aware that the planned protest would be peaceful.

In a strong condemnation of the authorities conduct, Justice Mwamuye ruled that the police had acted ultra viresbeyond their legal mandate. He emphasized that peaceful protest is a protected right in any democratic society.

The Court awarded the petitioners a total of Ksh. 2.2 million in general and exemplary damages, granting each Ksh. 200,000 as compensation for the violation of their rights.
The 2025 Finance Bill brings significant changes, particularly one that would allow the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to access personal and transactional data from businesses.

In the bill tabled before Parliament on Wednesday, the government proposes removing Section 59A(1B) of the Tax Procedures Act. This clause currently protects businesses from having to share customer data or trade secrets with KRA. If approved, the change would give KRA the power to require businesses to provide detailed transactional information, including data from their integrated systems.

At present, Section 59A(1B) prevents KRA from forcing companies to link their internal systems with the tax authoritys, particularly if such integration might expose sensitive business information or personal customer data. Removing this clause would grant KRA the ability to mandate full integration, widening its access to private data for tax enforcement and compliance purposes.

Bill Reintroduces Power for Cabinet Secretary

The bill also seeks to reinstate powers for the Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the National Treasury to waive penalties and interest on tax obligations. This provision, which was removed in the 2023 Finance Act over concerns about potential abuse and lack of transparency, would be brought back with new safeguards. Under the new proposal, the CS could waive penalties or interest, but only if electronic tax system errors were to blame. This could include issues such as system-generated mistakes, delays in updating taxpayer data, duplicated charges due to malfunctions, or incorrect taxpayer registration.

The bill reads: The Cabinet Secretary may, on the recommendation of the Commissioner, waive the whole or part of any penalty or interest imposed under this Act where the liability to pay the penalty or interest was due to: (a) an error generated by an electronic tax system; (b) a delay in the updating of an electronic tax system; (c) a duplication of a penalty or interest due to a malfunction of an electronic tax system; or (d) the incorrect registration of the tax obligations of a taxpayer.

In addition, the 2025 Finance Bill has simplified the implementation schedule. Most provisions will come into effect on July 1, 2025, eliminating the previously proposed three-tier structure. Two clauses have been deferred until January 1, 2026, while the remaining 57 provisions will be enacted as planned on July 1, 2025.
Kenyas Cardinal John Njue will not travel to Rome for the upcoming papal conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, citing ongoing health issues that make the journey unfeasible.

Officials from the Archdiocese of Nairobi confirmed to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), that Cardinal Njue has formally notified the Vatican of his decision to withdraw from the conclave due to medical concerns.

Now 79 years old, Cardinal Njue has scaled back his public appearances in recent months as his health declined. Despite his reduced presence, he has remained spiritually engaged with his community.

In January, Cardinal Njue addressed his health during a mass at St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Tena.

As you can see, I am not very strong, but I committed to coming and celebrating this mass with you. There is a lot of work to be done in Gods vineyard, and you are the ones to do it. It is your time, he told the congregation.

His public remarks came shortly after rumors falsely claimed he had passed away. The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi swiftly debunked the misinformation, clarifying that while the Cardinal faced health challenges, he remained involved in select pastoral duties.

With Cardinal Njue and Spanish Cardinal Antonio Canizares stepping aside, the number of eligible participants in the conclave has dropped from 135 to 133.

During an April 29 press briefing, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed that two cardinal electors would not participate due to health concerns. However, the Vatican did not disclose their identities at the time.

The conclave, scheduled to begin on May 7, will bring together cardinals from across the globe: 53 from Europe, 37 from the Americas, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, and 4 from Oceania.

Church regulations state that only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote. This years youngest voter is 45, while the oldest eligible participant is 79.

Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the secret ballot, where they will elect the next spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, representing over 1.3 billion faithful worldwide.
Public schools across Kenya will start receiving long-overdue capitation funds on Monday, the Ministry of Education has confirmed.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba made the announcement during the Inaugural Education Conference 2026 held at Lake Naivasha Resort. He disclosed that the government would release Ksh21 billion by the end of next week to support operations in public schools.

Ogamba explained that the delay stemmed from stiff competition for limited government resources among various state departments.

While the delay was unfortunate, we have been in constant consultation with the Treasury and are now committed to ensuring the funds are disbursed promptly, he stated. This support is critical in sustaining operations in public schools.

The announcement comes amid mounting frustration among school heads and education stakeholders over the delayed disbursements. Many schools reopened for the second term earlier this week without receiving the essential funds, prompting warnings from the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) about potential disruptions to learning.

CS Ogamba also issued a stern warning to school administrators who have resorted to charging unauthorized levies to fill the financial gap.

We are aware of some principals collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting parents. This must stop. Any head teacher found culpable will face disciplinary action, he warned.

Grade Nine to Grade Ten Transition

The Cabinet Secretary also addressed the upcoming Grade Nine to Grade Ten transition, assuring that consultations with key stakeholders are already underway to ensure a smooth implementation.

Ogamba emphasized the need for greater accountability in how schools use public funds. He directed County Directors of Education to enhance oversight and ensure responsible use of resources at the grassroots level.

He also urged education officials to take active measures in addressing rising incidents of student unrest, particularly during the second term.

We have observed a consistent rise in student unrest during this period. School heads and education officers must act to curb this worrying trend, he said.

Supporting Ogambas message, Principal Secretary Professor Julius Bitok acknowledged weaknesses in the current capitation framework. He noted that the Ministry will leverage the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to streamline funding processes and reinforce ongoing education reforms.
Former Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has accused Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of contempt of court, claiming he deliberately ignored a court order to reinstate his security detail.

Muturi argues that the absence of his bodyguards puts his life in jeopardy and constitutes willful defiance of the law by the countrys top police officer. In a petition filed at the High Court in Milimani, Muturi insists that the withdrawal of his security was not only unlawful but also a punitive response to his outspoken criticism of the current administration.

As a former Speaker of the National Assembly, Muturi believes he is entitled to protection under the Retirement Benefits (Deputy Presidents and Designated State Officers) Act. The Act guarantees two armed police officers for former Speakers, a privilege Muturi says was unlawfully revoked.

The government withdrew Muturis security shortly after President William Ruto removed him from the Cabinet, reportedly leaving him vulnerable. This prompted Muturi to take legal action.

In his application, Muturi revealed that the High Court issued a conservatory order on April 11, 2025, directing the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore his security and refrain from any interference until the case is heard on June 24.

The court issued a conservatory order directing the Inspector General of Police to immediately reinstate or restore my security and not to withdraw or interfere with it in any manner until 24 June 2025, Muturi stated in his affidavit.

Muturi has expressed alarm over the situation, arguing that the governments failure to act not only threatens his safety but also highlights a troubling rise in impunity within state institutions.

Muturi Alleges Political Motivation Behind Security Withdrawal

Muturi, who has since aligned himself with the emerging Opposition camp, believes that the decision to withdraw his security was politically motivated. He argues that the move was intended to silence him after his public criticisms of the government, particularly regarding issues such as abductions, disappearances, and alleged killings during last years protests.

The decision to withdraw the security is malicious and without lawful explanation. It was taken in reaction to Muturis public criticism of the current administration, the court document states.

Muturi maintains that the Inspector General deliberately disregarded the law and violated court orders by failing to reinstate his security. He has called the withdrawal an administrative action made without any force of law, unreasonable, whimsical, and ought to be quashed.

On April 17, 2025, Muturis legal team, Isaac W & Associates, sent a letter to the police chief demanding compliance with the court order, but received no response.

With the court order still unfulfilled, Muturi has returned to court, seeking a ruling that the Inspector General be found in contempt. He emphasizes that the law must be upheld, regardless of ones position in government.

It is the unqualified duty of every person against whom an order is issued to comply with it, Muturi asserts.
Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has raised serious concerns over what he terms as excessive borrowing by President William Rutos administration, warning that Kenya could be heading into a full-blown debt crisis.

Speaking on Wednesday, Nyoro drew stark comparisons between President Ruto and the late President Mwai Kibaki, arguing that while both borrowed funds, Kibaki used loans to finance visible development projectsunlike Rutos current track record.

During President Mwai Kibakis entire 10-year term, he inherited a national debt of Ksh600 billion and left it at around Ksh1.8 trillion. That means he borrowed approximately Ksh1.2 trillion in totalthe same amount Kenya is now borrowing every week, Nyoro stated.

Nyoro, a former Budget and Appropriations Committee chairperson, said the scale of borrowing under Ruto should translate into significant development gains. However, he claimed that Kenyans have yet to see returns that reflect the rising debt levels.

In his 10 years, we saw mega developmental projects like the Thika Super Highway and the construction of major roads. So if were borrowing as much in one week as Kibaki did over 10 years, then we should be seeing visible development every single year in Kenya, he emphasized.

He also criticized President Ruto and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi for insisting that Kenyas debt remains under control, calling such assurances misleading. Nyoro made the remarks during the official unveiling of the renovated St Pauls Gikuu Primary School in Kiharu.

The public debt in Kenya is at crisis level. We can defend it all we want, but the reality is visible on the ground, he stated.

Nyoro revealed that over Ksh1.1 trillion in the upcoming 2025/2026 budget will go toward paying interest on existing loans. He also warned that the government will need to borrow at least Ksh900 billion more just to bridge the fiscal gap.

We cannot continue digging the hole, yet in our utterances, we appear like we are doing proper debt management, he added.
President William Ruto has fulfilled his March 2025 pledge to sponsor 10 vulnerable girls from each of Nairobis 17 constituencies, enabling them to attend PCEA Booth Girls High School in Ngong Forest. The initiative now supports over 200 girls, covering not only their tuition fees but also uniforms and shopping expenses, easing the financial burden on their families.

On Thursday, President Ruto hosted the beneficiaries, their parents, and teachers for a special breakfast at State House Nairobi. He reiterated his goal of ensuring equal access to quality education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that the students are from needy homes so that I pay their fees, he said.

To support learning at the newly established school, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has deployed qualified teachers. Ruto emphasized the importance of such institutions in bridging the education divide and lifting communities out of poverty through learning.

Nairobi legislators including Langata MP Phelix Odiwuor, Dagoretti Norths Beatrice Elachi, Mathare MP Anthony Olouch, Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris were present and commended the governments efforts to uplift education in the capital.

Looking beyond the sponsorship initiative, President Ruto laid out a broader vision to strengthen the countrys education infrastructure, especially as schools transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). He noted that many schools lack adequate space to accommodate students moving from junior to senior secondary levels.

Our goal is to make sure that no child is left behind due to lack of space or opportunity. Education is the most powerful equalizer, and were determined to invest in it at all levels, Ruto said.

Ruto Orders 240 New Classrooms Built in Nairobi in 90 Days

To meet this goal, the government has launched the construction of 23,000 new classrooms nationwide. Nairobi, in particular, will receive special focus. The President revealed that Ksh.1 billion has been allocated for classroom expansion in the city, and he has directed the completion of 240 new classrooms within 90 days.

When I went to Nairobi and saw the gaps that still exist, my friends and I resolved to build 240 classrooms in different schools. I want these classrooms completed in 90 days, he said.

Additionally, Ruto promised to build a new school in Mabatini, Mathare, to improve learning conditions in the area.

To support vulnerable students beyond tuition, the President announced that the National Government is working with counties to create a legal framework that allows both levels of government to issue scholarships and bursaries.

I have given instructions to the Ministry of Education to work with the Council of Governors to do the framework that is required by law so that we can facilitate scholarships from the National and County governments, he said.

Finally, on the housing front, Ruto shared that the governments affordable housing programme is progressing well, and new homeowners will soon begin receiving keys to their units.
President William Ruto has pledged to deliver 130,000 new hostel units for students in universities and colleges across Kenya, as part of a broader plan to reform higher education and boost development using local resources. He also committed to clearing all university debts within the next four years.

Speaking during the installation of the chancellor at the Co-operative University of Kenya, President Ruto revealed that 23 public universities once on the verge of financial collapse are now steadily recovering.

Our first major investment is to build hostel spaces for 130,000 students in universities, colleges, and related institutions, he said.

This is not borrowed moneywere using locally raised funds. That is how we build a nation.

I am informed that in the next two to three, maybe four years, all the universities will be out of the debt trap, Ruto added.

The President assured Kenyans that under the governments new higher education funding model, all students would get fair access to learning opportunities. He noted that the same taxpayer-generated resources are financing national projects like housing and the construction of 400 new marketswithout relying on foreign loans.

Ruto also highlighted Kenyas shift towards a stronger savings culture. He credited the mandatory 6% savings contribution by both employees and employers for the significant growth in national savings.

We had saved Sh320 billion over 60 years. But from 2023 to now, weve already saved Sh280 billion. By 2027, we aim to hit the Sh1 trillion mark, he stated.

Turning to agriculture, the President praised the cooperative movement as a key pillar in transforming the sector. He expressed optimism that the Cooperative Bill currently before Parliament would boost transparency and drive economic growth at the grassroots.

He cited impressive gains in agricultural productivity and incomes, particularly in maize, tea, and coffee farming. In 2022, we produced 44 million bags of maize. This year, weve harvested 67 millionan increase of 23 million bags. Tea earnings are up Sh60 billion, coffee prices are improving, milk producers are earning more, and sugar imports have dropped by 100,000 metric tonnes, he said.

President Ruto reaffirmed his administrations commitment to empowering farmers, improving food security, and reducing the countrys reliance on imports.
One in three Georgians  more than 3.3 million people  live in areas without a primary care physician. While rural counties face the steepest shortages, even urban counties like DeKalb lack enough providers.

To address this shortage, Emory University School of Medicine offers the Kathelen and Dan Amos Medical Student Loan Forgiveness Program. The program, which was founded in 2021, supports current students, recent graduates and residents who plan to practice primary care  family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics or geriatrics  in Georgia.

Award recipients commit to at least two years of in-state primary care. They may reapply annually for up to four years and receive as much as $160,000 in total support. Each additional award adds one year of service to the obligation. Recipients who practice in rural areas qualify for extra money.

The program currently has 27 scholars who have committed to two years, 14 scholars to three years, seven scholars to four years and two scholars to five years. Cumulatively, this translates to 134 years of pledged practice in Georgia from 50 Amos Scholars.

The average medical school debt exceeds $200,000, not including undergraduate loans. For many students, this scholarship means they can follow their hearts into primary care rather than choose higher-paying specialties to manage their debt.

Serving her community

Take Janhavi Dubhashi, who will graduate from the Emory School of Medicine in May be heading to Baltimore, Maryland, to complete a dual residency in both internal medicine and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins. Dubhashi is the first Amos Scholar to go into a dual medicine-pediatrics residency program. After residency, she plans to return to her home state of Georgia.

I envision myself practicing both pediatrics and adult medicine in communities that have not historically had access to primary care, Dubhashi says.

Dubhashi became interested in primary care while growing up in Georgia. After getting her undergraduate degree in biology, she realized she wanted to focus on preventive health instead of a form of medicine that solely reacts to disease. She obtained her MPH with a concentration in health management and policy at Georgia State University.

During this time, Dubhashi worked at the Georgia State Capitol as an advocate and lobbyist for childrens health and well-being. She went on to complete a David A. Winston Fellowship and held a position within the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. However, in 2020, she realized that what her community really needed was primary care practitioners with a deeply rooted understanding of the social and political realities that impact health.

For Dubhashi, the decision wasnt easy. I met a lot of primary care providers early on who shared the tough reality of working in a field that isnt always valued. However, these were the same doctors I saw advocating for their patients every step of the way, within their clinics and beyond, she says.

The Amos Scholarship paved the way for her to prioritize her desired career over one with higher pay. The scholarship gives me a lot of relief in making career choices, she says. Now I can feel comfortable choosing primary care without feeling as much financial pressure.

Upon her return to Georgia, she hopes to start a FIT Clinic  Formerly Incarcerated Transitions  a model used in other states but not yet available in Georgia. These clinics provide consistent access to primary care to people recently released from prisons and jails, a much-needed gap to address within the field of primary care.

When I think of community, I think of people Im accountable to, Dubhashi says. That includes kids I am working with in the juvenile jail, people on the street who were recently discharged from our hospitals and my neighbors who dont have access to medical care.

Dubhashisays the Amos scholarship gave her the freedom to pursue primary care. A big part of my decision to pursue my dream of primary care came down to thisscholarship, she says.I am very grateful.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the long-awaited trade deal by the end of 2025.

Goyal described the dialogue as "highly productive," saying that it helped redefine the India-EU partnership.

The meeting focused on enhancing market access for businesses in both regions and strengthening trusted, diversified supply chains.

The discussions aimed to ensure that the FTA would not only be strategic but also mutually beneficial for the sustainable development of both economies.

In a social media post on 'X', Goyal said, "Redefining the India-EU Partnership, In my highly productive dialogue with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security @MarosSefcovic today, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to concluding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations by the end of 2025"

He emphasized that the agreement would boost innovation, improve competitiveness, and support future-ready investments and mobility between India and the EU.

Both parties underlined the importance of a fair and comprehensive agreement that supports shared prosperity.

They also highlighted the role of leadership from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in moving the talks forward.

The minister said, "Both India and EU, under the leadership of PM @NarendraModiji and EU President @VonderLeyen, remain committed to working towards a mutually beneficial and strategic agreement for shared prosperity and sustainable development of our regions".

The India-EU FTA has been under negotiation for several years. If concluded, it would be one of India's most significant trade pacts, opening up major opportunities for exporters, investors, and workers from both regions.

The meeting in Brussels signals a renewed push from both sides to overcome remaining challenges and finalize the agreement within the proposed timeline. (ANI)
PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 2: enreap, a leading provider of digital transformation and enterprise DevOps solutions, is proud to announce its new status as a GitLab Select Partner. This partnership reinforces enreap's commitment to delivering powerful, end-to-end DevSecOps transformations for global enterprises. The partnership strengthens enreap's DevSecOps capabilities, empowering clients with integrated, secure, and scalable software delivery pipelines. As a Select Partner, enreap will offer deeper expertise, enhanced support, and direct access to GitLab's comprehensive single DevOps platform, enabling faster deployments, improved collaboration, and stronger security practices across the software development lifecycle. "Joining GitLab's Select Partner program is a significant step forward in our mission to help teams simplify, secure, and scale software delivery," said Surinderpal S Kumar, CEO of enreap. "This partnership allows us to bring even more value to our clients through a unified DevOps experience powered by GitLab." Expanding DevSecOps Expertise The GitLab Select Partnership strengthens enreap's capabilities in: * Integrated DevSecOps implementation* CI/CD pipeline automation* Security-first software development* Cloud-native modernisation* MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) Business Value for Clients With this partnership, enreap clients gain: * Streamlined toolchains with a single DevSecOps platform* Accelerated time-to-market* Competitive pricing and efficient cost models* Consistent compliance and governance* Strategic support from certified GitLab consultants This collaboration complements enreap's existing leadership in Atlassian, cloud, and DevOps services, enhancing its ability to deliver enterprise-grade digital transformation across industries such as IT, BFSI, telecom, retail, e-commerce, automobile, and manufacturing. "GitLab's unified platform aligns perfectly with our approach--empowering engineering teams to innovate while maintaining control and quality," said Sanket Dhabole, Head of Customer Success at enreap. About enreap At enreap, we are committed to enabling transformation, evolving possibilities, and achieving operational excellence. As a trusted partner for digital transformation, we specialise in Atlassian solutions, Agile & DevOps, Cloud services, and PPM. Our approach empowers organisations to simplify complexity, drive innovation, and scale with confidence. Guided by our vision--"enreap, Enabling Transformation" for customers and "enreap, Evolving Possibilities" internally--we deliver long-term value, measurable outcomes, and meaningful partnerships. With a global presence across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the USA, we help businesses lead confidently in a digital-first world. Explore GitLab offerings: https://enreap.com/gitlab-partner-services/ Contact InformationMr. Chetan DalviAsst. Manager- Marketingenreap India Pvt. Ltdchetan.dalvi@enreap.comwww.enreap.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2676909/GitLab_Selects_enreap.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar urged the central government to take strict action against Pakistan for their alleged connections to the recent inhumane terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Javed Akhtar was invited to inaugurate the 'Glorious Maharashtra Festival', which was organised to commemorate Maharashtra's foundation day on Thursday. While addressing the politicians and other attendees at the Maharashtra Festival 2025, the Lyricist Javed Akhtar requested the Central Government to take "solid steps" against terrorism, as he believes that "a few crackers on the border" are still not enough for the lives lost in Pahalgam. "This has happened not just once but several times. I request that the Central Government take immediate steps. A few crackers on the border will not work. Take a solid step now. Do something so that the mad Army chief there (Pakistan), no sensible person can make a speech like he does. He says that Hindus and Muslims are different communities. He does not even care that there are Hindus in his country, too. So, do they have no respect? What kind of man is he? They should get a befitting reply so that they remember. They will not pay heed to anything less. I don't know much about politics. But I do know that it is time for 'aar ya paar," said Javed Akhtar. The noted screenwriter also remembered three tourists from Mumbai who lost their lives in a terror attack in Pahalgam. "Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone & Hemant Joshi from this state were looking for a moment of peace and happiness. Perhaps they should not have done that. In search of that, they visited Pahalgam. They were mercilessly shot there. We should not forget this. This is nothing ordinary. Enemies and those who wish us evil have their eyes on Mumbai," said Javed Akhtar. The co-writer of the 'Sholay' script shared an incident from his past, recounting a visit to Pakistan for a literary festival. "I went to Lahore for a literary festival. They were asking me good questions and I was answering. A woman got up and told me that Indians consider them (Pakistanis) terrorists. I told her that I am a resident of Mumbai and I have seen my city burning. Those who came to burn it did not come from Sweden or Egypt; those people are roaming freely in your city even today," shared Javed Akhtar. The lyricist also shared that India has always sought peace with Pakistan, but the neighbouring nation has refused to reciprocate. "What happened in Pahalgam is something which keeps happening after a few days. It is sad. What has Mumbai or this country done to you? Be it the Congress Government or the BJP, it always tried to have good relations with the neighbours," added lyricist Javed Akhtar. Twenty-six people were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya launched a sharp attack on the opposition parties, accusing the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of "misleading people and lying", calling them "automatic lying machines". Welcoming the decision on the caste census, Maurya said the Samajwadi Party has now turned into "Samaptwadi Party" following the announcement. He added that the move marked a step towards a "Congress mukt Bharat". He said the Centre's decision on the caste census is a step towards addressing social inequality and empowering backwards communities. Speaking to reporters, Maurya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not work under Opposition pressure and takes decisions with a far-sighted vision. "...PM Narendra Modi doesn't need their (Opposition) pressure or influence. In politics, PM Modi works on schemes 1 lakh kilometres ahead of where the Opposition thinks. The decision on the Caste Census is welcome," Maurya said. Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, Maurya said they had been defeated in their efforts to corner the government. "They have understood that if there is someone who can work for everyone's benefit, it is just the Government led by PM Narendra Modi," he added. Accusing the Congress and Samajwadi Party of misleading the public, the Deputy CM said, "Congress only misleads and lies, and so does the SP. They are automatic lying machines. But PM Narendra Modi does what he says. We had always said that we are not against the Caste Census, and the correct decision has been taken at the right time. The entire country is welcoming it." Earlier, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the government's decision to conduct a caste census, calling it a significant step towards establishing social justice. According to Yadav, this move is a major victory for the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and a result of collective pressure from various groups. Ashwini Vaishnaw after a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting said the move affirms the Centre's constitutional role and aims for transparency. "Caste was not included in all the census operations conducted since independence. In 2010, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider this subject. Most political parties recommended a caste census. Despite this, the Congress government decided to conduct only a survey of caste instead of a census. That survey is known as SECC," Vaishnaw said. He said the Congress and its INDI alliance partners "have only used the caste census as a political tool." "As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the subject census is listed at 69 in the Union list in the 7th schedule. According to the Constitution of India, census is a Union subject," Vaishnaw added. (ANI)
Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj demanded an investigation into the death of a Nepali girl student whose body was found at the hostel of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar. "We demand an investigation into this matter as soon as possible. We will also investigate the matter in detail, what happened and why she died...We want the accused should be arrested and punished," Samar Bahadur, a member of Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj, told ANI. The student was found dead inside her hostel room on Thursday evening, police said. Meanwhile, security was heightened outside the KIIT University. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad also demanded an investigation into the incident. "The incident has repeated. There was one more suicide case from the same hostel and building...ABVP demands a thorough investigation into the matter," a member of ABVP told ANI. According to the police, upon receiving the information about the alleged suicide, the body of the girl was recovered from her hostel room, which is inside the campus. The body was found in a hanging position. "Today, we have received information that a girl from Nepal has died by suicide at the KIIT University...we reached there and investigated the matter. A detailed investigation will be conducted into the matter...The scientific team reached there, and all the details were collected. Her family has been informed. The body has been sent to AIIMS for the post-mortem," said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh. Police further said that the Nepal Embassy has also been informed about the incident. Odisha government also extended condolences over the death of the girl and assured that necessary action will be taken in the matter. "Information about the alleged suicide of a girl student from Nepal, studying in the first year B Tech, Computer Science, KIIT University, was received from local police at about 8.10 pm today. The parents of the girl were informed about the incident immediately by the university authorities. In this hour of distress, the State Government extends its support to the family of the deceased and offers its condolences to them," the Information and Public Relations Department said. "On receipt of the information, senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, rushed to the site to enquire into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and take necessary action in the matter. The forensic team is at the spot to collect evidence," it added. Earlier this year, a Nepali student from the same university was found dead in the hostel on February 16, leading to Nepalese students staging a protest. The protesting students had alleged that a fellow student had harassed her and that the college had failed to act despite multiple complaints. Later, the accused student was arrested on February 17. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta extended her greetings on Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day, congratulating people from both states residing in the national capital. CM Gupta urged them to join the 'Viksit Delhi' campaign, pledging collective efforts to take the city forward. Speaking to reporters, Gupta said, "I congratulate you on Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day. Special congratulations to the families of Maharashtra and Gujarat living in Delhi... Join this campaign by becoming a part of Vikasit Delhi, and together we will take Delhi on a new path." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of their Statehood Day. PM Modi lauded the state for its rich culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and dynamism, noting that Gujaratis have excelled in various fields. In his X post, he wrote, "On the proud occasion of their Statehood Day, my best wishes to the people of Gujarat. The state has distinguished itself for its culture, spirit of enterprise and dynamism. The people of Gujarat have excelled in various fields. May the state keep attaining new heights of progress." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of Gujarat Day, lauding the state's rich natural resources, historical and cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. In a post on X, he wrote, "Many greetings on Gujarat Day to all the sisters and brothers of Gujarat, famous for its diverse natural resources, historical and cultural heritage, and hospitality. Gujarat has always attracted people from all over the world with its talent, hard work and practical skills. I pray to Dada Somnath for the continued progress and upliftment of the people of Gujarat, who have made pioneering contributions to nation building from the Bhakti movement to the freedom movement and modern times." Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also extended warm greetings to all Gujaratis on Gujarat State Foundation Day, also known as 'Gujarat Gaurav Diwas', celebrating the state's rich legacy and contributions. Highlighting the significance of this year's Gujarat Gaurav Diwas, Patel announced a roadmap to mark the decade from 2025 to 2035 as the "Utkarsh Gujarat Diamond Festival," via X, culminating in the Diamond Jubilee of Gujarat's formation in 2035. May 1 is celebrated as the foundation day of Maharashtra and Gujarat, commemorating the establishment of the two states. Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed in 1960, following the division of the state of Bombay after the passage of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, which came into effect on May 1, 1960. (ANI)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the nation won't progress unless Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBC communities move forward. Kharge was addressing the Poura Karmikara (Sanitation/civic workers) at Poura Karmikara Dinacharane event organised by the Government of Karnataka and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike here on Thursday. Speaking about the Caste Census, Kharge said that "During the tenure of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji, we initiated a Socio-Economic Caste Census in 2010. But the BJP didn't release that report. Rahul Gandhi repeatedly highlighted it, and we spoke about the Caste survey in every state. We insisted on taking up the Caste Census to help the Backward Community." "In 2023, I wrote a letter to the PM, urging him to initiate a Caste Census and add it as a component in the general census format. But the Union government ignored my letter, but now they have approved the Caste Enumeration as a part of the next General Census. BJP and Modiji want to take credit for initiating this Caste Census, therefore, they ignored our previous appeals," he added. Kharge urged the Central government to fulfill three demands of the Congress. He mentioned the Caste Census as his first demand. Secondly, he urged to implementation of Article 15(5), which provides a special provision for the advancement of SC/ST/OBC communities. Lastly, he insisted that the Union government remove the present reservation cap of 50 per cent and include SC/ST/OBC and Economically Weaker Section in the revised reservation quota. "If the government ignores these demands, then people will start agitating in the streets to secure their rights' he warned. He recalled Dr BR Ambedkar's contribution to the Labour law on this occasion. "Modiji is closing PSUs and gifting them to his crony friends, therefore, SC/ST/OBC are getting fewer employment opportunities," Kharge said. (ANI)
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday welcomed the Union government's decision to conduct a caste census along with the decadal census, calling it a long-pending demand since 1992. He added that the move will ensure that OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis receive funds and support. Speaking to ANI, NCP leader Bhujbal said, "This is a very good thing. We have been demanding this since 1992... It is good that this time the decision has been taken, and now just like Dalits and Adivasis get funds, OBCs will also start getting funds." Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has also welcomed the Centre's decision to conduct a caste census and credited Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for continuously batting for a caste census. "At last they (central government) agreed that the caste census is the need of the country and need of the hour. Since the last 3-4 years, (Lok Sabha) LoP Rahul Gandhi has been continuously batting for a caste census and raising the genuine issues of the people of this country...Whenever he does that, the BJP attacks him in a very bad manner...Our PM had told that in this country, only four castes are there, then what is the need for a caste survey?... We are very happy," Venugopal told ANI. Census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Constitution, listed at item 69 in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule. On Wednesday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs' decision, highlighted concerns about the transparency and intent of some states' own caste censuses, claiming that some censuses were conducted "purely from a political angle." "While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey," Vaishnaw said. Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana have already conducted a caste census in their respective state. Telangana has passed a bill to implement a 42 per cent backwards class reservation for people in the state. (ANI)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh joint general secretary Krishna Gopal has said that 'intolerance' prevails in Pakistan, due to which internal cohesion is lacking among the different communities living in the neighbouring country. Speaking at a book launch event, RSS leader said, "The world is facing a dangerous thing, intolerance. Pakistan was founded, and it would have been good if the Muslims had remained together peacefully. However, after the formation of Pakistan, tensions arose between those who speak Bangla and Urdu... Pakistan is still facing that intolerance. Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochs do not want to live together." Gopal's remarks came against the backdrop of the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. On Tuesday, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday affirmed the BJP-led government's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, stating that no one will be spared and terrorism will be eradicated from every part of the country. "This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country, and it will be accomplished," Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital. 26 people were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Home Minister Shah said the world is with India in the fight against terrorism. (ANI)
The arrested persons were identified as Lantanlung Bariamtak (30) and Heliwang Newme (28).

"One 7.65mm pistol, one magazine and live ammunition were recovered from them. It is learnt that both the arrested persons belong to NSCN (IM) and are holding the rank of Sergeant," said Assam Director General of Police, Harmeet Singh.

Earlier, three NSCN (IM) militants were killed in a fierce gun battle with Assam police and Assam Rifles in Dima Hasao district during the joint operation.

The deceased militants were identified as Gailuneing Pamei (49 years old), who holds the rank of Captain in the NSCN (IM) group, Iloi Hau Battalion, ZLR-A Region, Haijeulungbe Daime (31 years old), who holds the rank of Sergeant Major in the NSCN (IM) group and Shanvah Ahkonyah (30 years old).

Assam Police CPRO Rajib Saikia said that, during the operation security forces recovered 3 AK series rifles, 5 numbers of magazines of AK series rifles, 115 ammunition of AK series rifles, 2 pistols with magazines, 10 numbers of bullets, 2 numbers of walkie Talkie sets, incriminating documents, Rs 12570 cash, two mobile phones, various war like stores in possession from them.

A case under the Arms Act has been registered. (ANI)
The Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, Botcha Satyanarayana, has demanded a judicial inquiry into the wall collapse incident, which led to the deaths of seven to eight people at the Simhachalam temple in the state. YSRCP leader alleged that the TDP government's negligence led to the loss of the lives of the devotees. "The tragedy that happened yesterday is very sad. The failure of the government is the reason for the tragic death of seven people. The attention shown on the publicity hype was not shown on the safety of the devotees," Satyanarayana said. "They did not think about how many devotees would come, how to make arrangements, how to regulate the rush of devotees, or take better measures than the arrangements made in the past," he added. He said that as soon as the news of the accident in which seven people died came to light, former CM and YSRCP president YS Jagan rushed to Visakhapatnam and visited the families of the victims and the injured. "Those in responsible positions, like the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, did not respond to this incident. But as the leader of the opposition, YS Jagan acted responsibly. He visited the victims' families and gave them self-confidence," he added. Seven to eight devotees lost their lives and several others suffered injuries after a wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam during the annual Chandanotsavam festival in the early hours of Wednesday. CM Chandrababu Naidu announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased & Rs 3 lakh will be paid as assistance to those who are injured.PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the injured. (ANI)
The 10th Professor Sarat Mahanta memorial lecture was held in Assam's Guwahati. Renowned author, poet, lyricist and motivational speaker, Akshat Gupta has said that Hindu scriptures and ancient texts tell a timeless truth, and that it is grossly wrong to brand them as 'mythology'. He was delivering the 10th Professor Sarat Mahanta Memorial Lecture at the Royal Global University, Gorchuk, on Thursday. Gupta, who is the author of 'The Hidden Hindu' trilogy, said that the term 'mythology' originates from mithya, or untruth. "The moment you term Hindu scriptures and texts as mythology, you are labelling them as lies. And then the entire Ramayana, Mahabharat, Gita, Upanishads and Puranas become fiction," he said. He further asked, "How shall we inculcate devotion amongst our children if we call out religious and ancient philosophical texts as fictitious and mythos?" Gupta, who grew up in a small town of Ambikapur in present-day Chhattisgarh, pointed out that only Hindu texts are termed as mythology and not the texts of other faiths. The reason, he contended, was that the Europeans who colonised Bharat knew that it would be easy to rule over the people of this land if they were alienated from the dharma and culture. He underlined this through a vivid example, "The word 'sir' comes from Africa. The whites, when they initially went to Africa and tried to dominate the Africans, the latter fought back and defeated them because they were physically much stronger, Then the whites made them feel inferior and enslaved them psychologically by making them call the Europeans 'sir', which stands for 'slave I remain'. Once the Africans started calling the whites 'sir', subjugating them was a cakewalk." Gupta cited many examples of how the teachings of ancient Indian sages and scholars are passed off as modern-day inventions. "We are taught that Galileo found out that the world is round and revolves around the sun. When he and his followers propounded this theory, many of them were put to death or imprisoned because the theory was deemed to be anti-Christian, but our ancient scholars coined the terms 'bhugol' for the subject that we call geography. 'Bhu', as we all know, means the earth, and 'gol' is round," he said. Another very interesting example he cited was that of the chariot of Suryadev, the Sun God, being pulled by seven horses. "In all paintings and accounts, we see and hear about chariots being pulled by two horses or multiples of two horses. But Suryadev's chariot is pulled by seven horses. Why? This signifies the white light which, after passing through a prism, splits into seven colours," he said. "Astronomers found out in the last century that the solar system has nine planets. Since ancient times, we have known of 'navagraha', and there are temples dedicated to 'navagraha'. Newton rediscovered the theory of gravity that was propounded centuries ago by our ancient scholars. Akashvani and Doordarshan are words that find mention in our ancient texts, so the concept of air waves carrying sounds and words and images was also known to us from ancient times," Gupta said. He also said, "Those who conquered and subjugated us spread the notion that we believe in myths and superstitions and are illogical. None of that is true. We were always rational and scientific, but it was only that we failed to propagate our ancient wisdom and knowledge properly to the outside world." Pointing to the architecture of ancient temples, Prof Gupta said that, even today, no one has been able to fathom how temples like the Kailasa were built. Gupta then went on to question the rationale behind the mindless teaching of English. "There is no doubt that learning English is vital. But why should we teach our kids that 'A' is for apple and 'B' is for ball, and 'C' is for cat? Why not 'A' for Amba, 'B' for bhagwa or Bhagwan and 'C' for culture? Why not 'D' for dharma or 'G' for Gita?. We were cut off from our roots through Western education," he said. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who was the chief guest, said that the evening's function to honour the memory of Professor Sarat Mahanta was the most beautiful tribute to a persona that he had ever witnessed and participated in. "We know a lot from our ancient texts, but we cannot live by the values they impart," he said. "Centuries of subjugation made us lose our 'atmagaurav', our sense of pride in our heritage and culture. But today, our sense of 'atmavishwas' is returning," the Assam Governor said. The programme started with an invocation song by Zublee Baruah and the lighting of the traditional lamp by eminent guests. Well-known entrepreneur Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, Assam Chief Minister's principal secretary K.K. Dwivedi, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Indian Army's Eastern Command, Lieutenant General (retired) Rana Pratap Kalita, APSC Chairman Debraj Upadhyay, Advocate General Debajit Lon Saikia, Madhabdev University Vice Chancellor Dr Arupjyoti Chowdhury, former presidents of Axom Sahitya Sabha Dr Dhrubajyoti Barua and Surya Hazarika, actors Pranjal Saikia, Mridula Barua, Moloya Goswami, Zerifa Wahid and Kapil Borah, senior police officers, bureaucrats, academics and eminent persons from different walks of life were present at the event. (ANI)
Amid the water dispute with Haryana, Punjab Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said that Punjab has provided excess water to Haryana even though it has overdrawn. Sond opposed transferring excess water and insisted it should stay with Punjab for paddy cultivation. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "Haryana has used 103 per cent of its water allocation already till March 2025, which should have been used till 21 May. Rajasthan has used 110 per cent as well. Punjab provided surplus water to Haryana despite its overdraw, but opposes any further transfers, and we insist that unused Punjab water remains with Punjab since we need a lot of it for the paddy crop." Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli on Thursday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal of politicising the drinking water issue and instigating Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to deny more water to Haryana to avenge AAP's defeat in the Delhi elections. Badoli's remarks came after Chief Minister Mann on Tuesday refused to release more water to Haryana and accused the BJP-led central government of exerting pressure on the Punjab government through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to meet Haryana's demand. Badoli warned AAP that the people of Punjab will teach them a lesson for doing politics on water. Speaking to ANI, Haryana BJP president Badoli said, "When the AAP government was in Punjab and Delhi, they used to misguide people the same way during the three months of summer. They used to lie, claiming a shortage of water. Politicising a matter like drinking water is Arvind Kejriwal's old habit... To take revenge on the people of Delhi for their loss in the elections, Kejriwal instigated Bhagwant Mann to make such statements. For this, too, the people of Punjab will teach AAP a lesson." Earlier, Delhi minister Parvesh Verma alleged that Punjab is deliberately blocking water supply to both Haryana and Delhi in a politically motivated move. In a post on X, Parvesh Verma said, "The Punjab government has resorted to dirty politics by stopping the water supply to Haryana and Delhi. After losing in Delhi, now they want to create a water crisis in Delhi." He further asserted that the Delhi government is making continuous efforts to ensure clean water reaches every household and accused Punjab of seeking "revenge" on Delhi's residents. "We are working day and night to provide clean water to every household in Delhi and now the Punjab government wants to take revenge on the people of Delhi in this way. Stop this dirty politics or else you will be expelled from Punjab as well." The remarks come amid reports of reduced water flow to Delhi at a time when the national capital is already facing rising temperatures and growing demand for water. (ANI)
"Today is a proud and important day for the people of Andhra Pradesh. I warmly welcome Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Amaravati as he arrives to restart the development of our people's capital. Amaravati stands as a symbol of our shared hopes and dreams. This restart marks a new chapter of growth for our state," Naidu posted on X.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati.

According to a release by the PMO, the Prime Minister will inaugurate seven National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh. These Projects include widening various sections of National Highways and building Roads over bridges and subways, among others.

These projects will further enhance road safety, create employment opportunities, and provide seamless connectivity to religious and tourist places like Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Malakonda and Udayagiri Fort, among others.

"Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity. These projects are doubling of the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati and construction of a third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations," the release read.

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for infrastructure projects worth over Rs 11,240 crore, including the Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, other administrative buildings, and housing for over 5,200 families.

"It will also include trunk infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km world-class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems, worth over Rs 17,400 crore," the official statement read. (ANI)
Four people, including a woman and her three children, were killed and one injured when a neem tree fell on a tubewell room at a farm in Kharkhari Canal village, Dwarka, due to strong winds on Friday morning. With the assistance of the police and fire brigade, they were rescued from the debris and taken to RTR Hospital in Jafferpur Kalan, where all four were pronounced dead. The deceased have been identified as Jyoti, 26, and her three children. The injured, Ajay, the husband of the deceased woman, sustained minor injuries, Delhi Police said. According to the police, a PCR call was received regarding the collapse of a tubewell room. Earlier today, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi in the early hours, causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions in many areas of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has put out an alert, informing that severe weather is going on over Delhi NCR and urging the residents to ensure their safety. According to the advisory, it advises staying indoors and avoiding travel if possible. The advisory also recommends to seek shelter in safe location, avoid taking refuge under trees or near concrete floors and walls. It further advises unplugging electrical and electronic appliances to prevent damage or injury, and immediately moving out of water bodies and avoiding objects that conduct electricity. Due to inclement weather conditions, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport, officials said. "Due to inclement weather conditions and thunderstorms in Delhi, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport. Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," Delhi Airport said in an earlier advisory posted on X. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday made shocking claims regarding Pakistan, suggesting that nearly 10,000 people have been killed and disappeared. He said that the Pakistan Army had ordered the terrorist Hafiz Saeed and fugitive Dawood Ibrahim to "eliminate the Baluchis". "The army has ordered the bloodthirsty Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim to eliminate the Baluchis and protesters from India. In the last 15 days, about 10 thousand people have been killed and disappeared. Pakistan is in pieces," Dubey made these claims in a post on X. His remarks come amid heightened tensions and security concerns between India and Pakistan over the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has intensified diplomatic responses from both sides. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh joint general secretary Krishna Gopal has said that 'intolerance' prevails in Pakistan, due to which internal cohesion is lacking among the different communities living in the neighbouring country. Speaking at a book launch event, RSS leader said, "The world is facing a dangerous thing, intolerance. Pakistan was founded, and it would have been good if the Muslims had remained together peacefully. However, after the formation of Pakistan, tensions arose between those who speak Bangla and Urdu... Pakistan is still facing that intolerance. Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochs do not want to live together." Twenty-six people were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment. The government has announced a series of measures, including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday affirmed the BJP-led government's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, stating that no one will be spared and terrorism will be eradicated from every part of the country. (ANI)
Ammar Yashar, a former operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), was apprehended by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) during the investigation into the Jharkhand module of Hizb ut-Tahrir on Thursday, said officials. He was arrested in the Shamsher Nagar area of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. According to officials, he was produced in court and subsequently sent to jail. According to ATS, Ammar was earlier associated with the banned organisation Indian Mujahideen and was arrested by Jodhpur Police in 2014. He was released in May 2024, on bail after spending 10 years in jail. Following his release, he re-established contact with Hizb- ul- Tahrir ( HuT) operatives, who were arrested by ATS recently. Ammar's renewed involvement was revealed during the interrogation of Ayan Javed, a HuT member arrested by ATS recently. ATS revealed that, Javed gave the crucial about Ammar that led to the seizure of suspicious documents from him, linking him to the banned group. Therefore, ATS launched the massive crackdown on terror networks in April 26 in Dhanbad. During the significant operation, it arrested four operatives for alleged links to banned organisations Hizb ut-Tahrir and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Those arrested were identified as Gulfam Hasan (21), Aayan Javed (21), Md Shahzad Alam (20), and Shabnam Parveen (20). According to a release from the ATS, acting on intelligence inputs, the team recovered illegal arms, electronic devices, and extremist literature during raids on April 26. This marks the first criminal case in India following the recent ban on HuT under the UAPA Act. "On April 26, 2025, based on the facts uncovered from the said intelligence, multiple teams were formed to conduct searches and raids at suspected locations in Dhanbad district. During the raids, the following individuals were arrested. From their possession, two pistols, 12 cartridges, several electronic devices (such as mobile phones, laptops), and a large quantity of documents/books related to banned organisations were recovered. A criminal case has been registered at ATS, Ranchi, and further investigation is underway," the release stated. The HuT (Hizb ut-Tahrir) was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 by the Government of India on October 10, 2024. This is the first criminal case registered in the country following the ban on this organisation. (ANI)
The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army''s unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of May 1-2 in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and Poonch districts, as well as in the Naushera and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), officials said. According to the Indian Army, the troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner to the unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army. This is the eighth consecutive day of India''s effective retaliation since the Pakistan Army''s unprovoked small arms firing on the night of April 25-26. Earlier, the Indian Army effectively responded to Pakistan''s small arms firing across the LoC in Kupwara district as well as in the Uri and Akhnoor sectors in the region. Meanwhile, security forces in J&K''s Rajouri district have heightened their alertness following the terrorist attack. Joint search operations are underway in various forest areas, including forests and border regions, to track down terrorists. Vehicle check posts have been set up with security forces conducting thorough checks of suspected vehicles on highways and roads. Earlier on Tuesday, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, as per defence sources. Sources said India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International Border. On Wednesday India closed its airspace to all aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), another major step following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir''s Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), confirming the closure of its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights, from April 30 to May 23 (estimated duration). (ANI)
Amidst the diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, Defence Expert Sanjeev Srivastava spoke on Pakistan MP Palwasha Khan's statement and said that Pakistani politicians are making such statements because of the deep fears and apprehensions of India's action on Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. He said that India is a "superpower" and such statements will not affect the country. Srivastava stated that "superpowers" take action against terrorism under the zero tolerance policy, and such action will be taken against Pakistan as well by this "new India". "Pakistani leaders are making such statements because of the deep fear and apprehension they have about India's actions. Such statements are being made because of what they did in Pahalgam. These statements will not have any effect on India. India is a superpower; superpowers take action against terrorism under the zero tolerance policy. The same kind of action is going to be taken by this new India against Pakistan", he told ANI. On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed the BJP-led government's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, stating that no one will be spared and terrorism will be eradicated from every part of the country. "This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country and it will be accomplished," Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital. "Terrorists should not think that they have achieved their big victory. This fight is not over yet. Chun chun ke badla lenge (we will take revenge on all terrorists)," Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital. Twenty-six people were killed in terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on February 22. Shah said the world is with India in the fight against terrorism. "If someone thinks that by their cowardly attack they have their big victory, then understand one thing, this is the Narendra Modi government, no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country and it will be accomplished. In this fight Not only 140 crore Indians but the whole world is standing with India in this fight, all the countries of the world have come together and are standing with the people of India in this fight against terrorism. I want to reiterate the resolve that until terrorism is eradicated, our fight will continue and those who have committed it will certainly be given appropriate punishment," Home Minister Shah said. (ANI)
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday that four separate teams have been formed to track down the suspects in the Suhas Shetty murder case. Speaking to the mediapersons, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "Yesterday evening, in Mangaluru city, a murder has happened. We have already taken note of it. We have set up 4 different teams to catch the culprits. We are going to bring them to the books...in Dakshin Kannada, we try to bring in lots of peace and harmony and incidents like this should not deter those peace and harmony...we have taken this very seriously..." The Minister assured that the government is taking the incident seriously and remains committed to preserving peace and harmony in Dakshina Kannada. A rowdy sheeter named Suhas Shetty and the main accused in the Fazil murder case, was killed by a group of unidentified men in Mangaluru around 8:30 pm on Thursday, as per the Mangaluru Police Commissioner. Suhash Shetty, who was travelling in a vehicle along with Sanjay, Prajwal, Anvith, Latheesh, and Shashank, was intercepted by a group of assailants travelling in a four-wheeler and a pickup vehicle. The assailants, numbering five to six, attacked Suhash Shetty with deadly weapons, causing grievous injuries. He was immediately rushed to the AJ Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, as per the Mangaluru City Police. Speaking to ANI, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal said, "Last night at around 8.30 pm, Suhas Shetty, a rowdy sheeter, who is accused number one in Fazil's murder case, was killed by 5-6 unidentified assailants. We have registered a murder case, and teams are working on it. It is too early to say what the motive was behind the murder. We have imposed prohibitory orders to ensure peace in the city." He further added, "Bajrang Dal had called for a city bandh late last night. Some miscreants have tried to pelt stones at some buses. We have taken stock of the situation. We have made adequate deployment in the city. Our teams are patrolling..." Police have registered a case and begun an investigation. To maintain peace, prohibitory orders have been imposed in the city. The Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate has swiftly imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The order took effect at 6:00 AM on Friday and will remain in force until 6:00 AM on May 6, 2025. Further information on the case is still awaited. (ANI)
A 30-year-old known rowdy-sheeter Suhas Shetty was murdered in Mangaluru, Karnataka, on Thursday, triggering tension in the city. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the city to prevent further unrest and police have increased security and launched a search for the suspects. The police said they have identified the key suspects in the murder case, and teams are actively working to catch them. Over 1,000 police personnel and 22 drones in KSRP units have been deployed across the city to maintain law and order. Speaking to mediapersons, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), R Hitendra said, "Late last evening, Suhas Shetty was tragically murdered in Mangaluru. The city administration and police department have taken immediate and strong steps to maintain peace and order. Postmortem procedures are underway, and cremation arrangements will take place. We appeal to all citizens of Mangaluru to remain calm and cooperate fully with the authorities." He further said, "Preliminary investigation has identified key suspects, and multiple police teams have been deployed to apprehend them. We expect significant progress shortly. We have around 22 drones in KSRP units, and more than 1,000 police personnel have been stationed in the district, under the direction of the DC and Police Commissioner, to ensure security and control the situation." "As of now, no groups have formally sought permission to hold processions or protests. Any such decisions will be handled by local officers based on the evolving situation. We assure the public that the police department is fully committed to upholding law, peace, and harmony in the Dakshina Kannada district and Mangalore city," Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), R Hitendra said. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal says, "Last night at around 8.30 pm, Suhas Shetty, a rowdy sheeter, who is accused number one in Fazil's murder case, was killed by 5-6 unidentified assailants. We have registered a murder case, and teams are working on it. It is too early to say what the motive was behind the murder. We have imposed prohibitory orders to ensure peace in the city. Bajrang Dal had called for a city bandh late last night. Some miscreants have tried to pelt stones on some buses. We have taken stock of the situation. We have made adequate deployment in the city. Our teams are patrolling..." Karnataka home minister G Parameshwar said, senior police officers have been sent to control the situation. "Four teams have been formed to investigate the incident. Whoever committed the act, action will be taken against them. No matter what party, no matter what organization, legal action will be taken against those involved in the act." So far, no groups have asked for permission to hold any processions or protests. Local officers will decide on such matters based on the situation. The police and city administration have taken quick steps to maintain peace. (ANI)
Navi Mumbai police launched a combing operation late Thursday night to arrest wanted and absconding criminals and identify illegal foreign nationals in the area. Senior police inspector Nitin Thackeray stated that approximately 70 police officials will be involved in the operation. This includes "2 inspectors, seven officers, 30 officials from the Riot Control Unit (RCP) of Navi Mumbai Police, among other security personnel". "We have formed three teams for this operation. Some specific areas have been mapped and will be probed thoroughly," Thackeray told ANI. As part of the operation, police will also check previous criminal records. "We have identified a few criminals already, and an investigation will be conducted accordingly," he added. The police also plan to investigate illegal foreign nationals and proceed with further investigation under the Passport Act, 1967. Citizens have been urged to share any information about such individuals or those involved in narcotic-related networks. "If anyone in the public has information, they should inform the police. Their identity will be kept secret, and action will be taken based on the information," the police official assured. Meanwhile a similar operation against illegal Bangldeshi nationals is ongoing in neighbouring Gujarat, On April 30, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi stated that the state administration had demolished illegal encroachments where Bangladeshis are residing illegally. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation organised a demolition drive against the illegal Bangladeshis living near the Chandola Lake. Over 180 Bangladeshi intruders were identified by the officials in the presence of more than 2000 police personnel. The Ahmedabad police commissioner, Gyanendra Singh Malik, said that Bangal Vaas is a region where a lot of Bangladeshis live, and action has been taken against them earlier as well. He stated that the police officials had conducted a mass operation where more than 180 Bangladeshis were identified. More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed in the region, apart from the illegal construction, which the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has since destroyed. The Ahmedabad police commissioner further registered an FIR against Lallu Bihari who allegedly used to make fake rental agreements and Aadhar cards. Some individuals have also been found to have obtained illegal passports, and the police are investigating the matter. (ANI)
BJP leader Ravinder Raina lauded the Indian army response to the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of May 1-2 in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and Poonch districts, as well as in the Naushera and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. He also visited the village areas adjacent to the LoC (Line of Control) in Jammu and Kashmir. "I have visited villages in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir which are adjacent to the LoC. Pakistan is continuously violating the ceasefire by firing into Indian territory. Pakistan is firing towards the Indian border in the areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Mendhar, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Akhnoor, and Kupwara. The Indian Army has given a strong, befitting reply to this ceasefire... The people of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the army and police, will foil every conspiracy and evil intention of Pakistan," he said. According to the Indian Army, the troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner to the unprovoked small-arms firing by the Pakistan Army. This is the eighth consecutive day of India's effective retaliation since the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small-arms firing on the night of April 25-26. Earlier, the Indian Army effectively responded to Pakistan's small arms firing across the LoC in the Kupwara district as well as in the Uri and Akhnoor sectors in the region. Meanwhile, security forces in J&K's Rajouri district have heightened their alertness following the terrorist attack. Joint search operations are underway in various forest areas, including forests and border regions, to track down terrorists. Vehicle check posts have been set up with security forces conducting thorough checks of suspected vehicles on highways and roads. Earlier on Tuesday, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, as per defence sources. Sources said India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International Border. (ANI)
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the demise of former Union Minister Girija Vyas while speaking to reporters on Friday. Gehlot said that he had known Vyas from the days when she was the vice president of the Udaipur District Congress in the 1980s. He said that she played a crucial role in strengthening Congress and the accident has shocked him. The Congress leader stated that he was in touch with his family when she was in the hospital and went to meet her. "I have known her since she was the vice president of Udaipur District Congress in the 80s... She has served the state and the country through various posts in Congress. She played a crucial role in strengthening Congress. The accident has shaken everybody up... I was in touch with her since she was in the hospital in Ahmedabad. I went to meet her too. The doctor told me that she is in a highly critical condition... May her soul rest in peace and her family gets the strength to bear this loss", Ashok Gehlot told reporters. According to reports, Vyas recently suffered severe burns in a fire while performing the aarti at her home in Udaipur. Girija Vyas, a seasoned Congress party leader, has held prominent roles in both state and central governments. She has served as the state president of Congress in Rajasthan and chaired the National Women's Commission. Throughout her political career, Vyas has held several key positions within Congress. In 1991, she made her way to Parliament by securing a victory from the Udaipur Lok Sabha constituency. She also served as a union minister for the government led by Narasimha Rao. Girija Vyas was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from Rajasthan's Chittorgarh constituency. (ANI)
Following the unseasonal heavy downpour that triggered waterlogging across several parts of Delhi on early Friday, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma took stock of the situation, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the issue. Taking to the social media platform X, Verma posted a video of himself taking stock of the area, noting that four pumps near the Minto Bridge are being operated to clear the stagnant water. "Today, due to unseasonal record rainfall, water stagnated in some quantity at many places in Delhi. From 5:30 am onwards, I went to many places and took stock of the situation. On going to Minto Bridge, I saw that all four pumps were working and the operator was also alert. A pipe had burst and I have asked to repair it. In view of the monsoon, the cleaning of drains is being done continuously by PWD, MCD, DJB, NDMC, IFC," Verma stated in the post. The heavy rainfall, which began early Friday morning, led to significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions in several parts of Delhi, along with disruptions in flight operations. Meanwhile, in response to the waterlogging situation, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal inspected a few areas suffering from water stagnation following the heavy rain. He assured the residents that measures were in place to mitigate the impact. "This time, you will see that our traffic is running smoothly. There is some waterlogging in some places; our four pumps are running, and we are pumping out all the water. We have also cleaned the sewers on time. Our resolution is that no citizen should face any inconvenience," Chahal told ANI. Earlier, four people, including a woman and her three children, were killed when a neem tree fell on a tubewell room at a farm in Kharkhari Canal village, Dwarka, due to strong winds on Friday morning. One injury has also been reported in the incident. The four people were pronounced dead after they were rushed to the RTR Hospital in Jafferpur Kalan. The injured, Ajay, the husband of the deceased woman, sustained minor injuries, Delhi Police said. Earlier today, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi in the early hours, causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions in many areas of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has put out an alert, informing that severe weather is going on over Delhi NCR and urging the residents to ensure their safety. According to the advisory, it advises staying indoors and avoiding travel if possible. The advisory also recommends seeking shelter in a safe location and avoiding taking refuge under trees or near concrete floors and walls. It further advises unplugging electrical and electronic appliances to prevent damage or injury, and immediately moving out of water bodies and avoiding objects that conduct electricity. (ANI)
Amid calls for action against Pakistan over the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has devastated the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh on Friday said that the neighbouring country was already "half empty". "Although the attack has not occurred, Pakistan is already half empty. The Army chief there sent his children and wife abroad. Pakistan's Foreign Minister has fled with his family," Ghosh told reporters here. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah don't just talk but walk the talk, as they have done by previously attacking Pakistan. "What the BJP has done is historical. In the last 75 years, who has been able to answer (to Pakistan)? Who has ended terrorism in the country? Modi government. Pakistan will vanish. Be it our Prime Minister or Union Home Minister, they don't just talk. They walk the talk. After Sardar Patel, people had forgotten that the country had a home minister. It was after Amit Shah was appointed as the Home Minister that people noticed it," Ghosh said. His remarks come after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday reiterated the Centre's zero tolerance policy against terrorism, saying the fight against the menace will continue until terrorism is completely uprooted. "Terrorists should not think that they have achieved their big victory. This fight is not over yet. Chun chun ke badla lenge (we will take revenge on all terrorists)," Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said that the Modi government is committed to eliminating terrorism from every part of the country. "Har vyakti ko chun chun ke jawab bhi milega, jawab bhi diya jayega..." "This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country and it will be accomplished...," said the Union Minister. Calling for action against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi referred to the 'ghar me ghus ke maara' line used by BJP leaders in their speeches over the aerial and surgical strikes conducted during the Modi government against terror groups in Pakistan and said, "if you are taking action this time (against Pakistan), 'toh ghar mein ghus kar baith jana' (stay there)". "BJP says 'ghar me ghus ke maarenge'. If you (central government) are taking action this time (against Pakistan), 'toh ghar mein ghus kar baith jana'. It is the resolution of the Indian Parliament that PoK is ours. All opposition parties are telling the government that terrorism should be eradicated," Owaisi said, addressing the media in Hyderabad. (ANI)
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Vasantrao Sapkal on Friday credited Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, as the central government decides to conduct a caste census. Vasantrao Sapkal demanded that the caste census be implemented in a time-bound manner. "Congress demands that it (caste census) be implemented immediately in a time-bound manner. The BJP should focus on the same. This is a win for Rahul Gandhi. If this decision is taken, it will prove to be beneficial for the country. We request that this decision not be a mere announcement but implemented in reality," Sapkal told ANI. Speaking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "chun chun ke badla lenge" remark about Pakistan, the Congress leader said, "The Congress party has decided to stand with whatever decision the central government makes." Earlier on Thursday, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the government's decision to approve the caste census, describing it as a significant step towards achieving social justice. This move is a major victory for the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and a result of collective pressure from various groups, he said, adding that the decision to conduct a caste census is a 100 per cent victory for the 90 per cent PDA people. Yadav emphasised that the BJP government was forced to take this decision due to the combined pressure from all sections of society. Addressing a press conference, Yadav said, "The government has just taken a decision. We are happy that a step has been taken towards establishing social justice. The decision of the caste census is a 100% victory of 90% of the PDA people. Due to the combined pressure from all of us, the BJP government has been forced to take this decision. This is an important step in the victory of PDA in the fight for social justice." This came after the centre decided to include castes in the forthcoming census. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision on April 30 following the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed applications filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale, who sought to recall an order directing him to pay Rs50 lakh in damages and publicly apologise to Lakshmi Puri, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a defamation case. The bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Gaurav, while dismissing the petition moved by Saket Gokhle, appreciated the submissions made by Gokhle's lawyers Amarjit Singh Bedi and Harsha Vinoy. Puri was represented by Maninder Singh, Senior Advocate, who was briefed by Karanjawala & Company through Meghna Mishra, Senior Partner, Palak Sharma, Shreyansh Rathi, and Rohit Kumar, Associates. The court passed the order in the application filed by Saket Gokhale under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, seeking the recall of the judgment and Decree dated July 1, 2024. By way of the Judgement and Decree dated July 1, 2024, the Court had directed Gokhale to tender and publish a public apology to Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri within four weeks. Additionally, Gokhale was ordered to pay a sum of Rs. 50 lakhs to Ms Puri within eight weeks. During the hearing, Gokhale's counsel had urged the court to adopt a "liberal approach" and conveyed that the MP does not currently have the financial means to pay the damages. However, the offer was firmly rejected by Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Lakshmi Puri. Recently, another bench of the Delhi High Court issued an order for the attachment of a portion of the salary of Saket Gokhale, a Member of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The court directed that the salary will remain under attachment until a total sum of Rs 50 lakh is deposited in the court. This directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, who accused Gokhale of failing to comply with the court's previous instructions in a defamation case she had filed against him. In July of last year, the court had directed Gokhale to issue an apology to Puri and pay her Rs 50 lakh as damages. Justice Manmeet Pritam Arora's bench observed that no reasonable explanation had been provided for the non-payment of the decretal amount, warranting the issuance of an attachment order under Section 60(i) of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC). The court reviewed the provisions of Section 60 of the CPC concerning the attachment of Saket Gokhale's salary, which is reported to be Rs 1.9 lakh per month. Referring to the legal framework, the court noted that, as per the CPC, up to two-thirds of the salary could be attached. The defamation case originated in 2021 after Gokhale published a series of tweets questioning a property purchase made by Puri in Switzerland. His posts raised concerns regarding her and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's assets. Additionally, Gokhale tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in his tweets, calling for an ED investigation. In its July 2023 ruling, the High Court deemed the tweets defamatory, citing Shakespeare's Othello to emphasise the damage inflicted on Puri's reputation. As part of the judgement, Gokhale was directed to publicly apologise in The Times of India and on his Twitter account, where the apology must remain pinned for six months. Earlier, in July 2021, the court had issued an interim injunction, mandating Gokhale to remove the tweets within 24 hours and barring him from making further defamatory statements. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday, the ''Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport'' worth Rs 8,900 crore marking the first phase of the country''s first international deepwater transhipment project in Kerala. PM Modi, reached Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night and will reach the port by a chopper. He will visit its operations centre and deck before the inauguration Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, his parliamentary constituency yesterday. Taking to social media, Tharoor wrote, "Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception." https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1917990471890002166 The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is an ambitious project taken up by the Government of Kerala. The port is currently being developed in a landlord model with a Public Private Partnership component on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. The private partner, the Concessionaire Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited has commenced the construction on December 5, 2015. It is the country''s first dedicated container transhipment port, representing the transformative advancements being made in India''s maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat. Vizhinjam Port, which is strategically important, has been identified as a key priority project that will contribute to strengthening India''s position in global trade, enhancing logistics efficiency, and reducing reliance on foreign ports for cargo transhipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world''s busiest sea trade routes further strengthen India''s position in global trade. Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute in strengthening India''s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transshipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world''s busiest sea trade routes further strengthens India''s position in global trade. Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan addressed a media briefing on Wednesday ahead of the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport. In the presence of state ministers V Sivankutty, GR Anil, and Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran, Minister Vasavan announced the list of dignitaries invited to the commissioning ceremony. (ANI)
BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar on Friday alleged that Pakistan is sending infiltrators to India so that they can commit crimes and blasts in India. Sarkar said that Pakistan does not want to take them back and added that their intentions will not work in India. A large number of Pakistani nationals who were in India are returning to their country via the Attari border after the Indian government cancelled all kinds of visas for Pakistani citizens following the Pahalgam attack. "Pakistan deliberately sent infiltrators to harm India. Their intentions are not being fulfilled so they (Pakistan) are not ready to take them back. Pakistan is planning to send them here and commit crimes and explosions but this will not work in India", Jagannath Sarkar told ANI. According to data as of April 30, a total of 786 Pakistani nationals have left India via the Attari border within six days beginning April 24, as per a senior official. The terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans. The Indian government has broken every diplomatic ties with Pakistan and has taken specific steps regarding the same. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on April 23 and was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured. In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development. The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment. The government has announced a series of measures, including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. (ANI)
As part of today's proceedings, the committee will hear oral evidence from representatives of prominent legal and advisory firms, including Vaish Associates Advocates, Reina Legal, Economic Laws Practice, and Ved Jain & Associates.

Additionally, Jayant G. Pendse, a former Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and representatives from the Asia Pacific Real Assets Association Limited (APREA) will present their views on the bill.

Earlier, on April 18, the Select Committee invited suggestions and views from experts, industry associations, organisations, and other stakeholders on the proposed legislation, as per an official release.

The committee, chaired by BJP Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda, has requested that interested parties submit their memoranda or suggestions on the proposed bill.

In the July 2024 Budget, the government proposed a comprehensive review of the Income-tax Act of 1961. The purpose was to make the Act concise and lucid, thereby reducing disputes and litigation.

Earlier on March 18, the government encouraged the stakeholders to submit their suggestions on the newly introduced Income Tax Bill 2025. The Bill is currently under examination by the Select Committee for detailed consideration.

Meanwhile, on March 25, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for discussion in the monsoon session of Parliament.

Finance Minister Sitharaman spoke extensively about the Finance Bill in Parliament, adding that the Finance Bill 2025 gives unprecedented tax relief to honour taxpayers.

This new Income Tax Bill, tabled in Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 13 this year, seeks to replace the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 and introduce changes that affect different categories of taxpayers, including individuals, businesses, and non-profit organisations. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Ashutosh Verma on Friday has questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have not directly mentioned the name of Pakistan during their address in public amid outrage over the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Asserting that the centre has the support of political parties across the country, Verma asked, "Why are they using different synonyms for Pakistan?" "The Indian government has the support of multiple political parties across the country since it is a matter of national security. However, the questions remain. Why is the Union Home Minister afraid to say Pakistan's name? Show me that speech where the Prime Minister has taken Pakistan's name," the SP spokesperson told ANI. He urged the government to take action against the terrorists involved in the killing of 26 civilians in the Pahalgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. "If you want to do something, do it. The pyres of 26 people who were killed have also started to simmer down. Today is the 11th day, and the entire country is waiting to hear about the whereabouts of those terrorists. Meanwhile, you have given the country a new topic, which is the caste census," Verma said. Reacting to the centre's announcement to hold a caste census, the SP leader made a jibe and questioned whether the discussions during the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) meeting were being held on security or caste census. "When you were sending sensitive videos from the CCS meeting, were you discussing caste census or the country's security? We are also waiting for something to happen," Verma said. On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the centre's zero tolerance policy against terrorism, saying the fight against the menace will continue until terrorism is completely uprooted. "Terrorists should not think that they have achieved their big victory. This fight is not over yet. Chun chun ke badla lenge (we will take revenge on all terrorists)," Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said that the Modi government is committed to eliminating terrorism from every part of the country. "Har vyakti ko chun chun ke jawab bhi milega, jawab bhi diya jayega..." "This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country, and it will be accomplished...," said the Union Minister. (ANI)
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday became nostalgic as Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed Vizhinjam Port to the country, recalling his visit to Kerala in 2011, during which he approved an environmental impact study for the concerned seaport and container transhipment terminal. "As the PM dedicates Vizhinjam Port to the nation today, my mind goes back to June 13, 2011 when the-then CM of Kerala Oommen Chandy and the Thiruvananthapuram MP Dr Shashi Tharoor invited me to visit the site to set the ball rolling," Ramesh posted on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Kerala to dedicate the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, worth Rs 8,900 crore, to the nation. According to a release issued by the PMO, it is the country's first dedicated container transhipment port, representing the transformative advancements being made in India's maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat. Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute to strengthening India's position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transhipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world's busiest sea trade routes further strengthen India's position in global trade. PM Modi reached Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night and inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram today in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, built at a cost of Rs 8,900 crore, is an ambitious project of the Kerala government developed under a public-private partnership by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Tharoor welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, his parliamentary constituency, yesterday. Taking to social media, Tharoor wrote, "Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception." (ANI)
According to the alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, there has been constant rain since morning in Uttarakhand's Nainital and other adjoining areas. Due to the sudden rains in the mountains, there has been a sudden drop in temperatures in Nainital, forcing tourists who have come to visit the place to stay in hotels. The rains have also caused trouble for the students going to school. Earlier, the IMD predicted that isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds, with speeds reaching 40-60 Kmph, Is likely to be witnessed over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan from May 1 to May 6. The forecast indicates scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (40-60 km/h), across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from May 1 to May 6, 2025. Additionally, isolated hailstorms are very likely in Uttarakhand on May 1 and 3, with thundersquall winds (50-60 kmph) expected on May 3. On Friday, the Delhi-NCR region experienced traffic congestion as several trees were uprooted and vehicles broke down due to heavy waterlogging following a rainstorm. Places like Gurgaon, Delhi Airport and Minto Road have been severely inundated, resulting in significant inconvenience for the public. This abrupt shift in weather conditions has left individuals facing considerable challenges. Earlier today, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi in the early hours, resulting in waterlogging and traffic disruptions in many areas of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department has issued an alert, informing residents that severe weather is occurring over Delhi NCR and urging them to ensure their safety. According to the advisory, people are asked to stay indoors and avoid travel if possible. The advisory also recommends seeking shelter in a safe location and avoiding taking refuge under trees or near concrete floors and walls. It further advises unplugging electrical and electronic appliances to prevent damage or injury & immediately moving out of water bodies and avoiding objects that conduct electricity. (ANI)
Karkardooma Court on Friday granted bail to gangster Hashim Baba's associate, Asrar alias Popat, in a case lodged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). He was arrested in a case registered at the Gokul Puri police station on March 27. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala granted bail to Asrar on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 25,000 and two surety bonds in the same amount. While granting bail, the court has also imposed certain conditions. On January 18, the court refused to grant Delhi police permission to interrogate and arrest the accused in the present MCOCA FIR. The court had said that the FIR of MCOCA was based on the wrong foundation and a wrong legal notion. Delhi police, aggrieved by the order passed by the trial court on January 18, 2025, had approached the Delhi High Court. The High Court on March 6 set aside the order passed by the trial court. Accused thereafter challenged the order of March 6, 2025, passed by the High Court of Delhi. The Supreme Court on April 17, 2025, issued notice on the petition and directed "that it is observed that the impugned order will not come in the way of the petitioner seeking bail, which shall be considered on its own merits by the court concerned". The accused moved an application through advocate MS Khan seeking bail. It was submitted that the order of the High Court has been directed to be kept in abeyance while considering the bail application of the applicant. Advocate MS Khan, along with Advocate Prashant Prakash, argued that in this case, MCOCA has been invoked on a wrong foundation and wrong notion of law. In fact, the FIR of PS Welcome, which has been taken as the latest incident, culminated in the chargesheet, on which the cognizance had already been taken on May 17, 2024, whereas the present FIR was registered on September 16, 2024, counsel argued. On the other hand, the Special Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application and submitted that the order passed by the High Court has not been stayed by the Supreme Court. (ANI)
The local people held a protest against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi in Assam's Nalbari district on Friday. The protestors carried placards and raised slogans against Gogoi. They displayed black flags as the Congress MP's convoy was passing through the area. The protest occurred near the Balitara Post Office Chowk, coinciding with Gogoi's visit to a political meeting in the Dhamdhama area. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Gaurav Gogoi's children are not Indian citizens. Speaking to media persons, Chief Minister Sarma said, "I have evidence that Gaurav Gogoi's son and daughter are not Indian citizens. We are examining what he did there (Pakistan) for 15 days. There is no tourism place in Pakistan; it is only a terrorist adda. It is 100 per cent confirmed that he went there, but what did he do there in 15 days? Robert Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi are more concerned about Pakistan than India." Notably, the rivalry between Sarma and Gogoi has escalated into a full-blown social media battle, with both leaders using online platforms to trade barbs and accusations. The political slugfest comes during the ongoing Panchayat elections. The exchange has added fuel to Assam's already tense political landscape, setting the stage for a closely contested election. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Sarma questioned Gogoi, asking if he had visited Pakistan for 15 consecutive days and to clarify the purpose of the visit. Sarma further allegedly inquired whether Gogoi's wife receives a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while working in India, and sought details about the citizenship status of Gogoi's wife and two children. "Questions for the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from the Congress Party: 1. Did you visit Pakistan for a continuous period of 15 days? If so, could you kindly clarify the purpose of your visit? 2. Does your wife indeed receive a salary from a Pakistan-based NGO while residing and working in India? If so, may we ask why a Pakistan-based organisation is paying a salary for activities conducted in India? 3. What is the citizenship status of your wife and your two children? Are they Indian citizens, or do they hold citizenship of another country? Many more questions will follow," he posted on X. Gogoi countered with his own set of questions for the Chief Minister. He asked if Sarma would resign should he fail to substantiate Gogoi and his wife's claims of being agents of an enemy country. (ANI)
Speaking on the current state of trade relations, a trader, Abdulqadim Tayib, said, "We came from Afghanistan. Earlier, we had a good trade. Now, the Wagah border is closed."

Tayib highlighted the potential of the Chabahar border for trade between the two countries.

"The Chabahar border is good for Afghanistan and India's trade. We wish to encourage trade between Afghanistan and India. Also, we want both governments to make facilities for businessmen of Afghanistan and India," Tayib told ANI.

Further, another trader highlighted the difficulties faced by Afghan traders due to the closure of key borders with Pakistan.

"India and Pakistan border has been closed for Afghanistan trade. The Torkham border and the Chaman border have been closed. So now it's a big problem for Afghan trade people who export dry fruits, perishable fruits, and other commodities to India, Dubai, and other countries," an Indian trader who attended the event said.

"We request that the trade be facilitated through shipments via Chabahar, which is very near Kabul. Also, the shipment can be taken from Chabahar, which is the nearby port to the Indian borders," he added.

Notably, more than 3,100 international traders from 111 countries participated in Iran Expo 2025.

The event demonstrated exceptional synergy between government and private sector efforts to develop non-oil exports, the release added.

It further added that the exhibition marked significant growth from the previous year's attendance of 2,400 traders from 94 countries. Interest from domestic companies was unprecedented, with over 1,200 top export-oriented firms registering across six product categories. (ANI)
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and extended condolences over the loss of lives in the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Further, Defence Secretary Hegseth reiterated the United States' "strong support" to India. https://x.com/secdef/status/1917993617735471260?s=46 In a post on X, Hegseth said, "Today, I spoke with Indian Defence Minister Singh @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week. I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people." This comes amidst mounting tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military is continuing its build-up on the borders with India and has deployed air defence and artillery units at forward locations. Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline on Tuesday to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, defence sources said on Wednesday. They said India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International Border. The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control (LoC). The Army responded swiftly to the ceasefire violation on the night of April 27-28 in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), officials said. On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US counterpart Marco Rubio and discussed the recent terror attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Jaishankar stated that the perpetrators, backers, and planners of the attack must be brought to justice. "Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice," Jaishankar posted on X. (ANI)
Iran, Oman, and the US on Friday decided to postpone the fourth round of nuclear talks due to logistical and technical reasons, said Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. https://x.com/araghchi/status/1918011956663132570 In a post on X, Araghchi emphasised Iran's commitment to achieving a just and balanced deal, stating, "On Iran's part, there is no change in our determination to secure a negotiated solution." "In fact, we are more determined than ever to achieve a just and balanced deal, guaranteeing an end to sanctions, and creating confidence that Iran's nuclear program will forever remain peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected," he added. Earlier in April, US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff held talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat to resolve differences "through dialogue and diplomacy." As per the statement, Steve Witkoff was accompanied by America's Ambassador to Oman, Ana Escrogima. The talks between the American side and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were held in Muscat and hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr. The statement called the discussions "positive and constructive," with the US expressing gratitude to Oman for supporting the initiative. Iran's state news agency, IRNA, citing their foreign ministry, said that top negotiators from Iran and the US had exchanged the viewpoints of their respective governments with regards to the Iranian nuclear programme and the removal of sanctions on Iran via Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, IRNA noted that the talks, which took place on April 13, the first in years, came after Trump wrote to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, requesting that negotiations be opened into a deal between Tehran and Washington. IRNA further added that Iran said it was giving diplomacy a "genuine chance" if the American side demonstrates resolve and goodwill. It viewed the preliminary talks on Saturday as an opportunity to ascertain whether the United States was serious about diplomacy. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 2 (ANI/TPS): A 20-year-old man was killed and three others injured when a vehicle overturned in the Golan Heights near Ramat Magshimim, Magen David Adom said. "This was a serious car accident. One of the injured, who suffered a serious injury, was unconscious. We provided him with medical treatment and performed CPR operations, but his injury was fatal, and in the end, we were forced to declare him dead," said MDA paramedic Yossi Mosangad. "Three lightly injured people who were walking around the scene were treated on the spot and evacuated for further treatment at a hospital." (ANI/TPS)
The injured were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center in Safed, after being injured in Syrian territory.

IDF forces are deployed in the southern Syrian region and are prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering the region and Druze villages.

The IDF said it "continues to monitor developments in readiness for defense and various scenarios." (ANI/TPS)
The administration has initiated an investigation into universities for violating the law by using racial quotas, which the Supreme Court had ruled "illegal", said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during his press briefing on Thursday. Miller, while doubling down on allegations that the Trump administration was violating Supreme Court orders, said that it is, in fact several universities that had violated Supreme Court orders. "This administration has opened investigations into universities across the country for violating- and we talk a lot about Supreme Court rulings- universities across this country are in plain and direct violation of the Supreme Court's ruling that affirmative action, as in racial quotas and set asides, are illegal," he said. Miller said that the administration's agenda is that students should be admitted to universities on a colorblind basis. He added that the Trump administration has found evidence that several universities practised race-based discrimination, racial set-asides, and racial quota schemes. "Students must be admitted to universities on a colorblind basis. But we have demonstrated through clear evidence that our university system, including our medical schools and perhaps particularly our medical schools, are engaging in race-based discrimination, racial set-asides, racial quota schemes, and other efforts to invade to evade the Supreme Court's ruling," he said. "And again, the plain text of federal statute- So universities are on notice and universities are already facing the financial consequences of their non-compliance with federal law. The clearest example that we're all familiar with, of course, being Harvard, which is engaged in repeated systemic and sustained violations of federal civil rights law," he said. He added that Trump ended all types of discrimination based on gender and sex in terms of promotions and recruitments. "President Trump has ended across the entire federal government, all hiring, recruiting, retention, promotion, and training based on race and sex... It's going to be merit-based across the whole federal government," he said. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that five sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and one ship were detected operating near Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Friday. According to Taiwan's MND, one out of five sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to Chinese activity, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, sparking concerns over regional stability as Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island. Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. Last week, Taiwan's ruling party responded to growing fears about Chinese spying by requiring its members to declare their plans before visiting China, particularly Hong Kong and Macau, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA). China and Taiwan have frequently accused one another of spying, and Taiwan has arrested several people it says Beijing has hired to get intelligence or sway public opinion. According to RFA, Beijing usually rejects any role in espionage operations against Taiwan, referring to the charges as "politically motivated" or "groundless. Taiwan's President and Chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, Lai Ching-te, declared on Wednesday that all party members are now required to report in advance and submit a follow-up report if they visit China or interact with individuals connected to the Chinese government. "Any betrayal of the party's core values for personal gain must be met with strict disciplinary action and the harshest legal consequences," Lai told the party's weekly meeting, as quoted by the RFA report. Lai announced steps, including enhanced internal education for party members to increase their knowledge of national security and legal responsibilities, as well as the requirement to disclose visits to China. He also called for tighter control over parliamentary and local council aides, with party caucuses being entrusted with creating certain procedures and training courses, according to the RFA report. The actions follow the DPP being the target of previous Chinese espionage investigations. (ANI)
After the US and Ukraine signed an economic partnership agreement granting Washington access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals in exchange for an investment fund, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the deal an equal partnership and emphasised its benefits, including significant investment, industrial modernisation, and a new Reconstruction Fund. Sharing a post on X on Thursday, Zelenskyy wrote, "Today, our government team reported on the economic partnership with the United States. We have an agreement. It has been signed and will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. And we are interested in having no delays with it." "All our representatives did a good job. The agreement has changed significantly during the preparation process. It is now truly an equal partnership -- one that creates opportunities for substantial investment in Ukraine, as well as significant modernisation of Ukraine's industries and, equally importantly, its legal practices. The agreement foresees no debt. It stipulates the establishment of a Reconstruction Fund that will invest in Ukraine and generate returns in Ukraine. This means joint work with America, based on fair terms, allowing both Ukraine and the United States, which supports us in our defence, to make money in partnership," the post added. The Ukrainian President further called the deal the first tangible outcome of their meeting in the Vatican City. "President Trump and I discussed our readiness to conclude this agreement during our meeting in the Vatican. In fact, this is the first tangible outcome of that Vatican meeting, making it historic. We look forward to other outcomes from that conversation -- it was a meaningful meeting, and President Trump and I used every minute to the fullest. I thank him for that. And once again, I thank both our teams -- the Ukrainian and the American," Zelenskyy said. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1917994267294748840 Since President Trump assumed office in January, the US and Ukraine have been trying to sign an agreement on natural resources. The deal between the two nations comes after weeks of intense negotiations that at times became bitter and temporarily derailed US aid to Ukraine. On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department said that both nations signed the agreement. In a statement, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "As the President has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war." Zelenskyy was expected to sign the agreement during his visit to the US in February. However, the agreement was not signed after his visit was cut short following the contentious Oval Office meeting. (ANI)
Diplomatic initiatives have been initiated to investigate the death of a Nepali female student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha, the Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba announced on Friday morning. In a post on X, the Foreign Minister said, "Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi." Furthermore, Deuba also expressed condolences to the family of the Nepali student, Prisa Sah and said, "The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisa's soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour." Sah, a first-year B.Tech, Computer Science student studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, was found dead inside her hostel room on Thursday evening. This is the second incident of the death of a Nepali female student at the same university to be reported within three months. Earlier in February, Prakriti Lamsal also had taken her own life at the same university. "Today (1st May, 2025), we have received information that a girl from Nepal has died by suicide at the KIIT University...we reached there and investigated the matter. A detailed investigation will be conducted into the matter...The scientific team arrived, and all the necessary details were collected. Her family has been informed. The body has been sent to AIIMS for the post-mortem," Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh told ANI. The Odisha government also extended condolences over the death of the girl and assured that necessary action will be taken in the matter. "Information about the alleged suicide of a girl student from Nepal, studying in the first year B Tech, Computer Science, KIIT University, was received from local police at about 8.10 pm today. The parents of the girl were informed about the incident immediately by the university authorities. In this hour of distress, the State Government extends its support to the family of the deceased and offers its condolences to them," the Information and Public Relations Department said. "On receipt of the information, senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, rushed to the site to enquire into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and take necessary action in the matter. The forensic team is at the spot to collect evidence," it added. Earlier this year, a Nepali student from the same university was found dead in the hostel on February 16, leading to Nepalese students staging a protest. The protesting students had alleged that a fellow student had harassed her and that the college had failed to act despite multiple complaints. Later, the accused student was arrested on February 17. (ANI)
Israel has confirmed it carried out an airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strike was a direct message to the Syrian regime, warning against the deployment of forces near southern Damascus and threats to the Druze community. "This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," they said in the statement, Times of Israel reported. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also confirmed the strike near Ahmed Hussein al-Shara's palace In a post on X on Friday, IDF wrote, "A short time ago, warplanes attacked the area near Ahmed Hussein al-Shara's palace in Damascus." https://x.com/idfonline/status/1918122749165289541 Meanwhile, the US also condemned the violence against the Druze community in Syria, calling it "reprehensible and unacceptable." In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, "The recent violence and inflammatory rhetoric targeting members of the Druze community in Syria is reprehensible and unacceptable. The interim authorities must stop the fighting, hold perpetrators of violence and civilian harm accountable for their actions, and ensure the security of all Syrians." She added, "Sectarianism will only sink Syria and the region into chaos and more violence. We have seen that Syrians can solve their disputes peacefully through negotiations. We call for a representative future government that protects and integrates all of Syria's communities, including ethnic and religious minorities." According to Al Jazeera, the clashes broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticising Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze scholar. However, scholar Marwan Kiwan stated in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. (ANI) Earlier this week, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, leader of the Druze community, condemned the violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus as a "genocidal campaign" against the community in Syria. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the United Kingdom-based war monitor, stated that at least 101 people were killed in fighting between security forces, allied fighters and local Druze groups. The SOHR said the death toll included 30 government loyalists, 21 Druze fighters and 10 civilians, including Sahnaya's former mayor, Husam Warwar, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
The United States approved a potential USD 131 million foreign military sale to India aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. Announced by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday, the deal includes advanced SeaVision software, training, and support services to bolster India's maritime domain awareness and strengthen strategic ties between the two nations. Sharing a post on X, the US Department of State said, "State Dept authorises a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case for India to purchase Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness software and related equipment for an estimated cost of $131 million." https://x.com/StateDeptPM/status/1917669169518239817 The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday said, "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 131 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of this possible sale today." It added, "The Government of India has requested to buy SeaVision software (including requested software enhancements); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) training; remote software and analytic support; access to SeaVision documentation; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is USD131 million." Defence Security Cooperation Agency further said that the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. "The proposed sale will improve India's capability to meet current and future threats by bolstering its maritime domain awareness, analytical capabilities, and strategic posture. India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Hawkeye 360, located in Herndon, VA," it added. (ANI)
He was accorded a special welcome at the airport by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh.

Sharing a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote, "Warm welcome to President Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola as he lands in New Delhi on a State Visit. President is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including several Ministers, senior officials and business houses."

"On arrival, President was accorded a special welcome and received by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport," the post added.

https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1918166359491465349

Several MoUs are expected to be signed in the fields of traditional medicine, agriculture, and cultural cooperation during Lourenco visit.

In October 2015, the Vice President of Angola, Manuel Vicente, visited India to participate in the 3rd India-Africa Summit, during which he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit to Johannesburg to attend the BRICS Summit, Angolan President Lourenco met PM Modi on July 26, 2018.

India established formal diplomatic relations with Angola in 1985. Since then, it has maintained robust ties with the country. This year marks the 40th anniversary of these relations.

Angola is the Chair of the African Union for the year 2025.

EAM S Jaishankar and Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio met in Kampala on January 18, 2024, on the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial meeting.

Mos VK Singh visited Luanda on July 15, 2015, as the PM's special envoy to personally hand over an invitation for the IAFS III. During the visit, he called on Vice President Manuel Vicente.

There have been regular political exchanges between India and Angola, including several visits by their dignitaries such as the Agriculture Minister, Finance Minister, Health Minister etc. (ANI)
Following the death of a Nepali student at Odisha's Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi expressed condolences and said that they were coordinating with India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Odisha government, police and the university for a "thorough investigation." Sharing a post on X, the Nepal Embassy wrote, "Deeply saddened by the tragic death of Nepali student Prisha Sah at KIIT, Odisha. Heartfelt condolences to her family." "Prayers for her eternal peace. We're closely coordinating with MEA, Odisha Govt., police & the university for a thorough investigation," the post added. https://x.com/EONIndia/status/1918179191318827222 Earlier in the day, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba had said that diplomatic initiatives have been initiated to investigate the death of the student at KIIT. In a post on X, the Foreign Minister said, "Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi." Furthermore, Deuba also expressed condolences to the family of the Nepali student, Prisa Sah and said, "The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisa's soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour." Sah, a first-year B.Tech, Computer Science student studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, was found dead inside her hostel room on Thursday evening. This is the second incident of the death of a Nepali female student at the same university to be reported within three months. Earlier in February, Prakriti Lamsal also had taken her own life at the same university. (ANI)
Following Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's acknowledgement of the country's tango with terror operatives, saying that Pakistan has a past, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT department in charge, Amit Malviya said that "the fear is palpable." Following former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's acknowledgement of the country's tango with terror groups, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya weighed in on the remarks, stating that "the fear is palpable." Sharing the news on X, Malviya wrote, "The fear is palpable." https://x.com/amitmalviya/status/1918181355428691991 Bhutto's remarks follow Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitting Pakistan's involvement in backing and funding terrorist groups. Bhutto acknowledged Pakistan's history with extremism, claiming the nation has suffered as a result and has since reformed. In a conversation with Sky News's Yalda Hakim on Thursday, Bhutto said, "As far as what the defence minister said, I don't think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past... As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem..." "As far as Pakistan's history is concerned, it is history and it is not something that we are partaking in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history," Bhutto further said. Bhutto, who addressed a rally in Mirpur Khas on Thursday, once again engaged in empty rhetoric, claiming that Pakistan wanted peace but was ready for war if India provoked them. "Pakistan is a peaceful country, and Islam is a peaceful religion. We do not want war, but if someone attacks our Sindhu, then they should be ready for war. We don't beat the drums of war, but if provoked, the roar of a united Pakistan will be deafening," he said in the rally. A few days ago, in a video clip that went viral, Pakistan's Defence Minister was in conversation with Sky News's Yalda Hakim, when she asked him, "But you do admit, you do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations?" Khwaja Asif in his reply said, "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades... and the West, including Britain...That was a mistake, and we suffered for that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan's track record was unimpeachable." The admission from Pakistan's top echelon comes against the backdrop of the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terror group with deep ties to Pakistan, orchestrated the attack. (ANI)
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Good to speak with EU HRVP Kaja Kallas this evening. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Welcome European Union's strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1918304175722774767

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed grief for the lives lost in the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today. The Secretary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism," read a statement of US Secretary of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

Rubio further encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia.

"He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia," the statement added.

Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US counterpart Marco Rubio on Wednesday and discussed the recent terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. He also stated that the attack's perpetrators, backers, and planners must be brought to justice.

"Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers, and planners must be brought to justice," Jaishankar posted on X.

During the talks, Rubio reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. Expressing his sorrow for the lives lost in the "horrific terrorist attack" in Pahalgam, Rubio also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to "de-escalate tensions" and maintain peace and security in South Asia, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. (ANI)
The demonstrators marched through some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Dom, and Humboldt Forum, drawing attention from local citizens and tourists alike.

The demonstration followed the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed.

Earlier, members of the Indian community in the UK gathered in large numbers outside the Indian High Commission in London to show solidarity and support for India after the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali citizen, mostly tourists.

The gathering was a counter-response to a protest organized by a group of pro-Khalistani and Pakistani demonstrators.

Similarly, on April 28, in a heartfelt show of solidarity and mourning, the Hindu Mandir and Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Warsaw organised special prayers to honour the civilians killed in the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The Hindu Mandir conducted a "Garud Puran Path," offering condolences to the victims and their families.

The event saw participation from heads and members of various Indian diaspora associations in Warsaw, including the Tamil Association, Telugu Association, Sindhi Association, and Punjabi Association. Community leaders and devotees gathered to express their grief and support.

Members of the Indian diaspora in France gathered in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower here to condemn Pakistan for "harbouring and supporting terror activities" and expressed solidarity with the victims of the recent brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 tourists were killed and several others were injured.

The Indian diaspora organised the mass protest on Sunday. (ANI)
In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Appreciate the telecon with Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland. Thanked him for his support and solidarity. We agreed on zero tolerance for terrorism."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1918304801625932181

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and discussed the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Good to speak with EU HRVP Kaja Kallas this evening. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Welcome European Union's strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations."

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed grief for the lives lost in the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today. The Secretary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism," read a statement of US Secretary of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

Rubio further encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia. (ANI)
AMHERST  An Amherst County Sheriffs captain testified at length Thursday about finding the remains of Elsie Mae Wiggington, a nurse who was missing for more than a year, during the second day of Frederick Lewis Wiggington Jr.s murder trial.

Frederick Lewis Wiggington Jr., 38, is accused of first-degree murder and commission of a felony in connection with the death of Elsie Wiggington, who was 45 at the time she was last seen alive in June 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Amherst Circuit Court.

Amherst County Commonwealths Attorney Adam Stanley told the jury seated for the trial Fred Wiggington Jr. shot his wife in the back of the head in an execution in late June 2023, the timeframe she went missing, and lied about it more than a year, telling some she had left him and also making bizarre claims to others she had been murdered in Virginia Beach. Carlos Hutcherson, his attorney, said no evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, hair or written notes ties his client to the homicide.

Capt. Clay Thompson, of the Amherst County Sheriffs Office, testified Thursday of discovering the remains on Aug. 14, 2024, at the mobile home property at 673 Pendleton Drive in Amherst where the couple lived.

It was the second time in just more than a month the property had been searched and with a specific location: a concrete slab to the side of the trailer, Thompson testified. Two large totes holding water and other items had to be removed to get to the slab, according to Thompsons testimony.

Heavy equipment was needed to remove the slab, he said.

It was pretty cluttered, Thompson said. We had to get things moved out of the way to get to the concrete slab.

Thompson explained to the jury photos of the excavation that removed the slab and uncovered a hole where a blue tarp was spotted. He testified he personally got in the hole to search further, noticed an instant smell of decomposition after seeing the tarp and he immediately contacted the medical examiners office and Virginia State Police to assist in the recovery of the remains.

He said the remains were put into a body bag and sent to the medical examiners office for an autopsy. The hole was about 6 feet deep, and the body was lying on the back with hands on her chest, Thompson testified.

She was remarkably intact, Thompson said of the remains.

She was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts, Thompson said. He testified he conducted research shortly and learned the preservation was not abnormal.

He described in court the string that tied the tarp and noticing a white tint to the body he suspected was caused by Lyme but couldnt get officially confirmed by testing.

Thompson said the hole was wet, pretty mushy and there was no way to secure DNA or fingerprints evidence with the tarp submerged in water for a lengthy period. The string was checked for blood and none was found  he requested DNA on it, but none was performed, Thompson testified.

He testified his belief is the body was in the hole for just more than a year, based on the cases timeline. Thompson said in court he believes the concrete was deliberately poured to cover the hole and noted a concrete mixer, a piece of machinery, was located on the property.

He said July 9, 2024, was the first time the inside and outside of the property had been searched, but the intense heat that day thwarted the searchs capability with its effect on cadaver dogs. Thompson testified he became involved in the investigation in June 2024, a year after Elsie Wiggington was last seen alive, and the July 9 search seized cellphones, a laptop, a security system from inside the home, jewelry, necklaces and other items as evidence.

He testified carcasses of dead hogs were found across the property that had a lot of junk on it.

It was a mess, stuff everywhere, Thompson testified.

On July 9, 2024, another search was performed on a residence in Lexington where Fred Wiggington Jr. was living with his girlfriend, Thompson said. He said two trucks belonging to Fred Wiggington Jr. were seized and in one of them Elsie Wiggingtons driver license was found.

Kasey Kreutz, the assistant chief medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on Aug. 15, 2024, testified there was an unusual state of decomposition, and she couldnt determine how long she had been dead. Her determination is the cause of death was gunshot wound to the head.

Lt. Greg Jones, an Amherst County Sheriffs investigator, said he became involved in the investigation into Elsie Wiggingtons disappearance in May 2024. Jones testified he interviewed Tracey Coleman, Elsies close friend; Sativa Rucker, Elsies daughter; a director at Fairmont Crossing Health and Rehab where Elsie worked as a nurse, two neighbors of Fred and Elsie Wiggington on Pendleton Drive and Patricia Wiggington, the defendants ex-wife, among others.

Patricia Wiggington faces charges of accessory after the fact to homicide and obstruction of justice, which are scheduled for a preliminary hearing in July in Amherst General District Court. Stanley said at her Jan. 16 bond hearing she was interviewed three times by law enforcement and in the final one stated Fred Wiggington Jr. shot his wife and buried her body on their property.

Jones said during the investigation Fred Wiggington Jr.s phone was seized and an extraction was done that copied data from it. Elsie Wiggingtons iPhone was found in her husbands Lexington residence, which was odd since Fred Wiggington Jr. said she left it at their home in Amherst, and a factory reset had been done on April 8, 2024, meaning no information such as video evidence could be extracted, Jones testified.

He said the sheriffs office investigated tips and reported sightings of Elsie Wiggington, which did not turn up anything, and Fred Wiggington Jr.s phone was seized a second time for evidence collection.

Jones said all tips were taken seriously and investigated by law enforcement.

It was a high-profile case that was getting a lot of attention, Jones said.

A witness testified she knew Fred Wiggington Jr. through his brief employment at a Rockbridge County business where she worked, and he told her he was questioned by law enforcement for a murder. The woman said the defendant was freaked out, you could tell he was very nervous and when she asked if he committed murder, he didnt say anything.

Preston Peters, who works at Valley Pawn in Lexington, said in October 2023 Fred Wiggington Jr. pawned a .22 caliber firearm at the business. A Buena Vista man testified he bought the firearm and later turned it over to the Amherst County Sheriffs Office as part of the investigation.

Amherst County Sheriffs Investigator John Ferguson testified he was assigned to the case in May 2024 and ran search warrants on Elsie Wiggingtons social media, phone and bank records and accounts to show any signs of life and if friends and family established contact. Ferguson said a large withdrawal of about $10,000, as Fred Wiggington Jr. claimed during questioning, was not pulled and her Facebook page had been deleted.

Sgt. Sergio Sanchez, of the Amherst County Sheriffs Office, testified about interviewing Fred Wiggington Jr. twice in the summer of 2024. The defendant said during the interview there were rumors she ran off with another Fairmont Crossing employee and that she had left before for an extended period and came back.

Sanchez said text messages the couple exchanged on May 24, 2023, caught his attention, as it showed an argument and her concern he would leave her. The officer testified she texted she was sorry about his past and she did not plan on leaving him.

Fred Wiggington Jr. also is accused of concealing a dead body, a misdemeanor, but that charge is proceeding at a later date. The commonwealth will continue calling more witnesses when the trial resumes Friday.
KYOTO, May 03 (News On Japan) - Kyoto Notre Dame Women's University, a prestigious all-womens college with over 60 years of history, has announced that it will stop accepting new students from next academic year.

The decision marks a turning point for women's universities in Japan, many of which are struggling to survive amid a rapidly declining birthrate.

Founded in 1961 by four nuns dispatched from the United States, the university has focused on nurturing independent women through programs such as English-language education. However, enrollment has sharply declined in recent years. Last year, the school enrolled only 186 students out of a capacity of 330, prompting the administration to make the difficult decision to cease student recruitment.

This is the first time a four-year university in Kyoto Prefecture has suspended recruitment and moved toward eventual closure. Students expressed shock and disappointment, with some graduates rushing to campus to bid farewell. One alumna, who attended the university with her sister, reflected on the strict yet rewarding campus life, calling the experience unforgettable.

The issue is not unique to Kyoto. Nationwide, nearly 60% of Japans private four-year universities failed to meet their enrollment quotas last year. Women's universities have been hit particularly hardwhile there were nearly 100 such institutions three decades ago, only 71 remain today. Experts say career-minded high school girls increasingly prefer coeducational environments, putting pressure on smaller, single-gender colleges.

Some institutions have chosen to adapt. Sonoda Gakuen University in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, transitioned to a coeducational model this academic year after failing to attract even 30% of its enrollment target in its business department last year. This year, the university exceeded its quota. Students, both male and female, said they appreciated the change, with one remarking that he would not have considered the school had it remained women-only.

Still, others remain committed to the value of all-women's education. Konan Women's University in Kobe saw a drop in enrollment two years ago but has since partially recovered. Faculty there believe the appeal of women-only institutions remains strong, especially for fostering shared responsibility and open career discussions without gender-based limitations.

Experts note that going coeducational can help expand job opportunitiesespecially in fields like early childhood education, where more male educators are now entering. But the transition is not always smooth. Some current students voiced discomfort with the shift, saying they chose the school for its women-only environment and feel unsettled by the sudden change.

As competition for a shrinking student population intensifies, womens universities face growing pressure to either adapt or close. While some argue that coeducation is the only path forward, others stress the importance of preserving institutions that historically advanced womens education in Japan. Experts warn that even coeducational conversion is no guarantee of survival; investment in attractive programs and campus facilities is essential.

Ultimately, the fate of womens universities is becoming a national issuenot just one of supply and demand, but of preserving the diversity and value of educational options in a changing society.

Source: KTV NEWS
May 03 (News On Japan) - A senior member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, a designated organized crime syndicate, has been arrested in connection with the theft of over 170 Rolex watches in Osaka, and is suspected of having selected where the stolen goods would be sold.

The 50-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of stealing a vehicle last May that was loaded with 172 Rolex watches and other items.

Investigators believe the suspect was a central crime figure, with testimony from those involved indicating that he not only planned the operation but also chose some of the destinations for selling the stolen items.

So far, only nine of the stolen Rolex watches have been recovered.

Source: KTV NEWS
NAHA, May 03 (News On Japan) - A dugong, a nationally protected species feared to be at risk of extinction, was spotted swimming off the coast of Kume Island in Okinawa Prefecture in April. This marks the first confirmed sighting of a dugong in Okinawa since 2019.

The footage was taken on April 29th at a diving site southwest of Kume Island. A diver can be seen pointing in astonishment as the marine mammal glides peacefully through the water. The dugong is estimated to measure over two meters in length.

Kaji Harumi, a diving instructor who captured the footage, recalled the moment with excitement, saying it was the first time in her 20 years of diving that she had seen a dugong and that the encounter felt "unbelievable."

Kaji from Kumejima Diving Center SHIRAHAMA said: "I never thought Id ever meet such a creature through diving, so this became an unforgettable, irreplaceable dive and a truly valuable experience."

Dugongs, which are designated as a national natural monument, are known to graze on seagrass beds in waters around Okinawas main island and the Sakishima Islands. Evidence of feeding has been found in these areas in the past.

Hiroyuki Ozawa, director of the Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Environmental Science and a dugong expert, confirmed the animal as a dugong based on the shape of its head and tail and the absence of a dorsal fin. He added that based on the bodys scars and other features, it is likely the same individual that was captured in Taiwan in April and later released into the sea.

The last dugong confirmed in Okinawa was found dead in Nakijin Village in 2019. The Okinawa government is now considering conducting a survey to investigate dugong habitation around Kume Island.

Source: OTV
NAHA, May 03 (News On Japan) - Okinawa Prefecture has issued a warning to watch out for habu snakes, which become more active as temperatures rise in May, particularly during farming and outdoor activities in mountainous areas.

Each year, between 40 and 60 people are bitten by the highly venomous habu in the prefecture. While no deaths have been reported in recent years, many victims suffer lasting aftereffects that can impact their health and daily lives.

To help prevent such incidents, the prefecture has declared a "Habu Bite Advisory" for the two-month period from May 1st through the end of June.

Authorities are urging residents to clear brush where habu are likely to hide and to control the rodent population that serves as their prey. Caution is especially advised when working in fields or enjoying leisure time in forested or mountainous areas.

In the event of a bite, people are advised to avoid sudden movements and seek immediate medical attention.

Source: OTV
HOKKAIDO, May 03 (News On Japan) - During the Pacific War, members of the Ainu community, Japan's Indigenous people, were drafted and sent to the front lines alongside ethnic Japanese under the government's assimilation policy.

While enduring discrimination both at home and on the battlefield, some Ainu soldiers held on to a hope for equality through their service. The stories of those who were swept up by the nations policies reveal the hardships and complex emotions they experienced during the war.

In the town of Nibutani in Hokkaidos Hidaka region, where Ainu traditions remain strong, 65-year-old Kiyotaka Hamada shared the story of his father, Hiroshi, who served as an Ainu soldier during the war. Hiroshi, the eldest son in a farming family, worked on a ranch while studying hard. Yet, he was constantly subjected to discrimination simply for being Ainu.

Hamada recalled how his father once received a perfect score in school but was told by a teacher, "There's no way an Ainu like you could score 100." On another occasion, when Hamada was in fifth grade, his father woke him late at night and asked him to shave his body hairsomething Hamada believed stemmed from internalized shame about being visibly Ainu.

In 1941, when the Pacific War began, Hiroshi, then 20, was deployed to Manchuria. There too, he faced deep prejudice. "An officer once said, 'I hear there's an Ainu in our unit. Come out, Ainu! Do you eat raw meat?' It was public humiliationbullying, really," said Hamada.

However, among Hiroshis belongings was a self-made record of his military service, which reveals that despite the hardship, he found a stronger sense of camaraderie within the military than in daily civilian life. Skilled with horses, he earned the respect of his superiors and rose from private to sergeant.

"Of course, he believed war should never happen," said Hamada, "But being in the unit, training together, he said he actually made some good memoriesthough maybe he shouldn't have said that."

Mark Winchester, an assistant professor at the National Museum of Ethnology and expert in modern Ainu thought, noted that many Ainu may have seen conscription as a way to gain equal standing in Japanese society, having long suffered marginalization due to the colonization of Hokkaido. Yet this hope often collided with a grim reality, as some were treated as curiosities or placed at the front lines due to their hunting skillsan unequal burden masked by a superficial promise of equality.

During the war, the government shifted from trying to assimilate the Ainu under the old Protection Act to using their service as propaganda, hailing them as heroes for morale purposes.

In Biratori, Hokkaido, 76-year-old Fumio Kimura, an Ainu community leader involved in campaigns to return war remains, shared the story of his father, Kazuo, who served in a unit based in Asahikawa. He said his father rarely spoke of war or discrimination, though he was known for his exceptional physical abilities. Whether this silence reflected a lack of discrimination or a decision to shield his children from painful memories remains unknown.

Still, Kimura believes that passing on the story of Ainu history, including their role in war, is essential. "I bark louder than the Ezo wolf," he said. "We must all learn, especially the younger generation. The government must help us look back at the pastnot just for the Ainu, but for all of Japan and our children."

Today, there are no precise records of how many Ainu were conscripted or died in the war due to assimilation policies and inadequate documentation. Much of their wartime experience remains absent from history textbooks, raising the urgent question of how to preserve and pass down these overlooked narratives.

Both Hamada and Kimura emphasized the importance of learning from history to create a future free of discrimination.

Source: HBC 
Mitigation strategies are essential for businesses and individuals seeking to minimize risk in various contexts, from financial investments to project management and compliance. The goal of any mitigation strategy is to identify potential risks early and implement measures to either eliminate them or reduce their impact. The process typically involves risk identification, assessment, planning, and monitoring, and requires a structured approach to be effective. By proactively addressing uncertainties, organizations can ensure smoother operations and avoid costly disruptions.

Enhanced Due Diligence: Verify issuer credentials, business plans, and legal compliance. Whether investing in a financial product, entering a partnership, or launching a new project, due diligence is the cornerstone of effective risk mitigation. Verifying the credibility of an issuer or partner involves analyzing their track record, credentials, and reputation. For business plans, careful scrutiny of revenue models, operational frameworks, and financial projections ensures that underlying assumptions are sound. Legal compliance checks further safeguard against regulatory risks, ensuring all activities align with applicable laws and industry standards. This comprehensive approach helps to identify potential red flags and equips decision-makers with the information needed to make informed choices.

Another crucial step is diversifying exposure to risk. Concentrating resources in a single investment, market, or supplier amplifies vulnerability. Diversification acts as a buffer, spreading risk across different channels to minimize the impact of a single point of failure. For example, investors can allocate funds to a mix of asset classes, industries, and geographic regions. Businesses can cultivate a network of suppliers to prevent disruptions in the supply chain. In all cases, diversification provides stability and resilience in the face of unexpected challenges.

Clear communication and stakeholder engagement are also vital. All stakeholders, from employees to external partners, must understand the risks involved and the mitigation measures being implemented. Establishing clear protocols, conducting regular training, and fostering open communication channels ensure that everyone is prepared to respond effectively when risks materialize. Involving stakeholders in risk management planning also encourages collaboration, leveraging collective expertise to develop more robust strategies.

Technology plays a growing role in creating effective mitigation strategies. Advanced tools like predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning can help organizations identify emerging risks and patterns that may not be immediately apparent. Cybersecurity software, for instance, helps detect vulnerabilities in IT systems before breaches occur. Project management platforms with risk assessment features can streamline the tracking of potential issues and the implementation of solutions. Integrating technology into mitigation efforts enables real-time monitoring and more agile responses.

Another critical element is establishing contingency plans. Even the best-laid mitigation strategies can fail under unforeseen circumstances. Contingency plans act as a safety net, outlining alternative actions to minimize damage if primary measures fall short. This involves scenario planning, resource allocation, and rehearsing responses to potential crises. Testing contingency plans regularly through drills and simulations ensures readiness and identifies areas for improvement.

Finally, continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential to ensure mitigation strategies remain effective over time. Risks evolve, influenced by changes in the market, regulations, or external events. Regularly reviewing strategies allows organizations to adapt and refine their approach. Metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) can help assess the effectiveness of current measures and guide adjustments as needed.

By Marilee Crockett

Marilee is a distinguished financial executive with extensive experience in finance, compliance, and due diligence services across various sectors. As the Chief Investment Officer at Brilliant Minds Group Exit Club (BMG Exit Club), she brings a wealth of expertise in fund compliance, regulatory reporting, and risk management to help ensure comprehensive due diligence processes.

Marilee is the Founder and Director of Crockett Investigations, a licensed private investigations firm specializing in investment KYC/AML and enhanced due diligence for startups, General Partners, and Limited Partners. During her career, she has been instrumental in facilitating thousands of Regulation D 506(b) investments, collaborating with strategic partners, General Partners, Limited Partners, including private clients who are high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs).

Concurrent to her role at BMG Exit Club, Marilee is a special manager and U.S.-based agent at Crockett Global Consulting for international Venture Capitalists investing in U.S. startups.

Marilees career includes significant experience in the financial sector, having conducted due diligence, AML/KYC, and international financial crime investigations for two of the United States largest banks. She also served as President of Crockett Energy Consulting in Dallas, Texas, contributing to the development of the Environment Education Center in Plano, Texas.

Marilee holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Her multifaceted experience and commitment to excellence position her as a pivotal leader at BMG Exit Club, where she continues to drive innovation and uphold the highest standards in investment management.

Marilee has lived in eight states and two foreign countries. She currently resides in the Salt Lake City metro area. In her personal time, Marilee works in the film industry, plays the violin, and enjoys spending time with her family. She is the mother of seven grown children and has eleven grandchildren.
DUBLIN, IRELAND / HONG KONG / VANCOUVER, CANADA  Irelands controversial Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), widely known as the golden visa scheme, has officially closed its doors, leaving thousands of high-net-worth individualsprimarily Chinese nationalssearching for alternative second citizenship and residency solutions.

Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal second passports and identity transformation, has provided secure, lawful, and confidential alternatives.

Ireland Ends Golden Visa Scheme Dominated by Chinese Investors

The Irish government confirmed that the Immigrant Investor Programme, launched in 2012 to attract foreign direct investment, has been terminated following an official government review of its appropriateness.

The closure, effective immediately, ends a pathway that has granted residency to non-EU nationals with personal wealth exceeding US$2.1 million in exchange for investments in Irish enterprises, real estate funds, or philanthropic donations.

By June 23, 2024, the program had received 1,547 approved applications, of which a staggering 1,458 (94%) originated from mainland China. This underlines how the scheme had become almost entirely dominated by Chinese elites.

The Irish Department of Justice cited a reassessment of cultural, social, and economic impacts, alongside pressure from the European Commission, as central factors in the programs closure. Allegations of misuse, concerns about transparency, and the evolving global stance on investor-based residency programs contributed to the review.

Rising Demand for Secure Alternatives Among Chinese Nationals

This development has left a sudden void for thousands of mid-process Chinese nationals, or those planning to pursue the IIP. Amicus International Consulting, renowned for assisting clients with legal second passports, identity change, and offshore financial freedom, has seen inquiries since the announcement.

We understand the urgency and concern that many high-net-worth Chinese nationals are now facing, said a spokesperson for Amicus International. Were offering tailored solutions that comply with international law and ensure long-term asset security, privacy, and global mobility.

Amicus provides comprehensive services that include:

Second passport and citizenship programs in the Caribbean, Europe, and select Asian jurisdictions.

New legal identities backed by court-ordered name changes and legal frameworks.

Tax identification numbers and bank-compliant documentation for seamless offshore integration.

Relocation and residency planning for families seeking education, healthcare, and lifestyle freedom abroad.

Case Study: Investor Displaced by Irelands Golden Visa Closure Finds Solution in Grenada

In March 2025, a 52-year-old tech entrepreneur from Hangzhou began preparing a 1 million investment in an Irish enterprise under the IIP. When the program abruptly shut down, he contacted Amicus International Consulting. Within weeks, Amicus transitioned him to the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program, securing a second passport within 90 days.

The Grenadian passport granted him visa-free travel to 145 countries, including the EU Schengen Zone and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it enabled his children to apply for the E-2 investor visa to the United Statesa significant secondary benefit not offered by the IIP.

Ireland was our first choice, but the closure blindsided us. Amicus guided us through every legal step and found a better option that even included U.S. access, the investor shared.

Global Scrutiny on Golden Visa Programs: An Emerging Trend

Irelands decision mirrors similar moves across the European Union:

Portugal revised its golden visa regulations in 2023, limiting urban real estate options.

Greece raised investment thresholds in key regions, citing over-tourism and housing crises.

The U.K. scrapped its Tier 1 Investor Visa in 2022 following allegations of misuse linked to Russian oligarchs.

Amicus International notes that these shifts often affect Chinese nationals, given Chinas capital controls, travel restrictions, and increasing pressure on outbound investment.

Were witnessing a seismic shift in how nations view wealth-for-residency models, said the Amicus spokesperson. Whats vital now is having legal, well-vetted options. Thats where our services prove indispensable.

Amicus International: A Legal Lifeline for the Global Elite

Amicus International has built a reputation as a confidential advisor to high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, political dissidents, and privacy seekers worldwide. With decades of experience and global partnerships, Amicus specializes in:

Second passports from over 12 jurisdictions.

Name change and identity transformation that stand up to international scrutiny.

Tax-neutral and banking-compliant residency solutions.

For Chinese nationals affected by the IIP shutdown, Amicus recommends acting quickly and discreetly to explore options. At the same time, programs in Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Vanuatu remain open and favourable.

Additional Case Studies Highlighting Real Solutions

Case Study 2: Family of Three Leaves Beijing for Caribbean Life

A pharmaceutical executive and his family were midway through Irelands golden visa process when it closed. Fearing stagnation and travel uncertainty, they contacted Amicus International. Amicus facilitated Dominica citizenship through a donation path. The family relocated to Roseau, Dominica, and now enjoys:

Tax-free offshore asset management.

Commonwealth benefits for education.

Unrestricted travel across Europe and Asia.

Case Study 3: Mainland CEO Secures EU Access via Malta Citizenship by Descent

Another client, the son of a Maltese emigrant who had returned to China during the Cultural Revolution, was guided by Amicus in reclaiming ancestral citizenship. Though more complex, the Maltese passport offers EU-wide rights and long-term intergenerational benefits. This method involved no investmentonly legal heritage documentation.

A Cautionary Note: The Risks of Illegitimate Services

Amicus International warns against black-market passport schemes or fraudulent facilitators posing as legitimate service providers. Following Irelands policy change, reports of fake agents offering backdoor access to defunct visa programs have surfaced.

Any document not traceable to a sovereign government or official agency is a legal liability. Clients risk arrest, asset forfeiture, and travel bans, the company stated.

Amicus insists on legal, government-approved pathways and performs full due diligence on each client.



A New Era in Citizenship Planning

The era of golden visas with limited scrutiny is fading. Governments are under increasing pressure to vet applicants, close loopholes, and reinforce public trust in immigration systems.

However, the world still holds open doors for those who act decisively and wisely.

At Amicus International, we dont just help clients movewe help them move smart, said the spokesperson.

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Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

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About Amicus International Consulting

Amicus International is a global consultancy firm specializing in lawful identity transformation, second citizenship, asset protection, and privacy solutions. Focusing on discretion, legality, and strategic relocation, Amicus empowers clients to navigate geopolitical risk, censorship, financial restrictions, and personal security concerns with confidence.
A key deadline designed to entice Iowa state lawmakers to finish their work for the year has arrived, yet many significant policy questions remain unanswered.

Friday is the 110th calendar day of the 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature. It is the last day that state lawmakers will receive their stipend for daily housing and meal expenses.

Iowa does not have a required end date for legislative sessions, so the per diem expiration was created to give lawmakers an incentive to have their work completed for the year  the idea being that it will motivate legislators to complete their work before they lose the reimbursement for their meals and temporary housing costs.

Lawmakers have reached that point in the 2025 session. And while their work is nearing completion, many significant tasks remain.

First and foremost, legislators in the Republican-led Iowa Legislature  in coordination with Gov. Kim Reynolds  must set state spending for the budget year that begins July 1.

Significant policy questions remain also. Here is a look at what lawmakers  Republican leaders, in particular  will be working on in the coming days and weeks as they attempt to finish their work for 2025.

State budget

While both Iowa House and Senate Republicans released their 2026 state budget projections Monday, the chambers have yet to reach an agreement on a final proposal.

Senate Republicans and the governor released a proposal in tandem, proposing to spend $9.417 billion, down from Reynolds previous proposal of $9.433 billion that she presented in January.

Across the rotunda, House Republicans released their own spending proposal of $9.453 billion.

Although the proposals are separated by $36 million  just 0.3 % of the total proposed spending  the chambers are divided on a few aspects of the budget, including the Houses commitment to continued appropriations for paraeducators, according to Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford.

Similar to appropriations made last year, the House budget proposal would allocate $14 million for paraeducator pay.

Thats one of the pieces right now that, I would say, is one of the biggest sticking points. Our caucus feels extremely strong that if were going to provide that level of support that we did with that bill last year, that were not going to go back and just cut that and leave our schools in a situation to find the difference, Grassely told reporters Thursday.

Property taxes

Addressing Iowans rising property taxes has been a primary goal of many legislative Republicans, and two bills have been produced over the second half of the session. But neither has made it to either chambers floor for a vote.

The second and latest version of the bill includes a $50,000 property tax exemption for every household; elimination of the states rollback for residential and commercial properties; a 2% cap on most revenue growth; and a shift of about $426 million in funding for K-12 schools from local property taxes to the state.

Each of the twin bills, Senate Study Bill 1227 and House Study Bill 328, has passed only the first legislative step.

Sen. Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, recently said that he and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, continued to work on the bill after receiving feedback from tax policy advocates and local government leaders whose budgets would be impacted.

Dawson said that, if an agreement cannot be reached on the entirety of the legislation, lawmakers could pass the portions on which there is agreement and address the remaining issues during next years session.

Were still hopeful that we can find ourselves in a position where we can at least try to alleviate some immediate impacts that Iowans are going to see, whether its through significant assessments, whether its through increases, Grassley told reporters Thursday. Im hopeful that we can find a path to do something.

Eminent domain

The issue of eminent domain and hazardous liquid pipelines has only been addressed in previous years in the Iowa House, where Republicans have passed bills each of the past three years. Republicans in the Senate have declined to move them.

But in recent weeks, an increasing number of Senate Republicans have advocated  including by speaking on the chamber floor  for their partys leaders to bring up the House-passed eminent domain bills for debate in the Senate.

House File 943 would ban the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines. House File 639 contains multiple provisions, including insurance requirements for pipeline projects, public meeting attendance requirements for state regulator meetings, restricting when and how pipeline companies can sue landowners and prohibiting the renewal of a pipeline projects permit after 25 years.

A number of Republican Senators are working on policy surrounding eminent domain and pipeline issues and I am optimistic we will find a legislative solution, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, said in a statement.

Governors priorities

Lawmakers have yet to advance some of the legislative priorities proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, including bills focused on energy policy, unemployment insurance rates, child care and rural health care.

Many of Reynolds legislative proposals, including natural disaster relief, hands-free driving legislation and restricting cellphone usage in K-12 schools, have gone to her desk. But at least four of the governors bills have yet to be advanced through the House and Senate.

Each of the stalled proposals contains at least one provision on which legislators have not yet reached agreement: a right of first refusal law in the energy bill; spending on programs in the rural health care bill; a proposed shifting of funds and how that would impact existing programs in the child care bill; and concern over national economic uncertainty with the unemployment insurance bill.

Grassley said the chamber is currently prioritizing the budget before it moves forward with Reynolds proposals.

The priority is finding  some common ground in the budget so we can get the budget process moving the direction that Ive been tasked from our caucuses. Lets make progress before well be taking up significant pieces of policy, Grassley told reporters Thursday. Our focus right now is finding agreement on the budget. But that doesnt necessarily mean that those bills may not be considered.

Pharmacy benefit managers

Legislation designed to help rural pharmacies by further regulating pharmacy benefit managers  health care companies that function as intermediaries between insurance providers and drug manufacturers  has passed the Senate but not yet been considered in the House.

The bill, Senate File 383, would require all prescription drug contracts to use a pass-through pricing model  in which the amount paid by the PBM to the pharmacy is passed through to the plan sponsors  employers, insurers, government agencies, or managed care organizations  and the PBM is compensated through administrative fees, according to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs.

The bill also prohibits PBMs from disincentivizing individuals from selecting a pharmacy or from requiring customers to purchase any prescription drug through a mail order pharmacy, or from reimbursing small pharmacies less than the national or Iowa average drug acquisition cost, among other provisions.

Broadly speaking, pharmacists and other health care organizations are supportive of the legislation, while PBMs, insurance companies, business organizations, worker unions and local governments are opposed, according to state lobbying records.

My expectation is we will leave session trying to do something that will continue to provide relief for those rural pharmacies, Grassley said. But where we stand specifically on the bill as a whole? Well have to caucus on that again.

Pesticide lawsuits

The chances of legislation that would shield pesticide manufacturing companies from lawsuits coming up in the Iowa House this session appear to remain low.

Opponents argue Senate File 394, which was advanced by the Iowa Senate in March, would shield Bayer, the company that owns glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup, which is used by farmers across the state, from liability over failure to warn about the products health risks including cancer.

The House failed to take up the bill before the second legislative deadline of the session in April. While Grassley said he recently met with pesticide company Bayer to discuss the legislation, he remains uncertain whether the chamber will take it up this session.

I always just want to make sure that Iowans are aware of the impacts that this may have, not just for agriculture, but also jobs, Grassley told reporters Thursday. Theres that continued push and why Iowa is probably getting more attention because of the unique situation we find ourselves in. But again, the bill did not have a level of support. But that doesnt mean  its not something we may discuss further, but as we sit here right now, I dont think its something thats actively moving through the process.

The bill would shield Bayer from lawsuits claiming the company failed to warn consumers of health risks if the product label complies with federal labeling requirements. Bayer argues that since the Environmental Protection Agency has determined glyphosate is not carcinogenic, the company should not be required to put cancer warnings on Roundup.

Legislators wrap up public forums as end of session approaches The Legislative Coffee public forum series have come to an end, but the legislatively session is likely to extend targeted end date Friday.
Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade. Even if I was the guy with the broom, Id have 10 elephants. Youve got to love a parade, and if you or your kids or your grandkids havent already done so, this is the year to be part of the walking party cal
In the dusty border town of Rosso, straddling the frontier between Mauritania and Senegal, the humanitarian burden is growing heavier by the day as waves of deported migrants arrive with nowhere to turn. Weeks into Mauritanias intensified crackdown on undocumented migrants, hundredsmany hailing from Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Gambia, and Cote dIvoirefind themselves stranded in harrowing conditions. Without identity papers, they cannot re-enter Mauritania, nor cross officially into Senegal, and are left to navigate a purgatory marked by hunger, illness, and despair.

Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture. Many migrants speak of arbitrary arrests, physical abuse, and the seizure of personal belongings. They beat us, arrested us without warning, and deported us like criminals, one man recounted from the Senegalese side of Rosso, his voice laced with fatigue. Aid workers, already stretched thin, describe an unrelenting influxtwo buses a day, each filled to the brim. Makeshift shelters without electricity or running water are overflowing, as grassroots volunteers scramble to assign community leaders by nationality in an effort to manage the crisis. Yet the need continues to outpace the means.

While Mauritanian officials maintain that the expulsions comply with international law, regional leaders and humanitarian advocates are raising alarms. This is not deportation; this is abandonment, said Diallo Amadou Oury, a Guinean community leader in Senegal. Many of those expelled had been living and working in Mauritania for years, some with families still there. Critics argue the expulsions reflect a troubling new phase in EU-backed border enforcement policies, prioritising deterrence over dignity. As Rossos slums swell and aid resources dwindle, the human cost of this geopolitical calculus is playing out in plain sight.
When Spain was struck by an overwhelming power outage, Morocco came to the rescue thanks to an undersea power link, in a show of solidarity that falls in line with the Kingdoms approach to neighborliness and cross-border cooperation.

Morocco mobilized 38% of its national grid production to help Spain after the blackout. Prime Minister Sanchez thanked the Kingdom for the initiative that once again proves to the Spanish people that he was right in mending ties with Morocco on strong basis of mutual respect, fruitful cooperation, and active solidarity.

Relations between the two countries kept growing at all levels since Spain took a step to repair the prejudice left by its colonial rule in southern Morocco, or the Sahara, with an outright support for Moroccos territorial integrity and its autonomy plan as a lasting solution to the Sahara issue.

The Moroccan energy supply to its northern neighbor after the outage is no surprise for the well-informed readers. Morocco has two power interconnections with Spain as the two countries prepare to add a third link.

Morocco has also been exporting electricity to Spain since 2018.

Aspects of energy cooperation extend to the pipeline which Algeria hoped it will stay idle after its unilateral move to cut gas flow to Morocco and Spain in November 2021.

As Algeria disrupts regional energy market, weaponizing gas to win support for its Polisario proxies, Morocco and Spain gave the pipeline a new life by reverting the flow in summer 2023, enabling the Kingdom to import natural gas, enough to power to plants in northern Morocco.

Energy cooperation is a mirror reflecting the excellent ties between Spain and Morocco at the diplomatic, security, migration control, and economic levels.

Spain has remained steadfast in its new position in support of Moroccos territorial integrity, despite Algerias self-destructive economic war measures.

Illegal crossings to mainland Spain from northern Morocco dropped significantly as the two countries step up cross border security cooperation against trafficking gangs.

At the economic level, Spain remains Moroccos first trading partner in 2024, with a volume of 13 billion euros.

Spain sent rescue teams after a devastating earthquake hit Moroccos high Atlas in September 2023, while Morocco mobilized extensive logistical resources to support Spains relief efforts following the flooding in the Valencia region in November 2024, being thus one of the first countries to offer aid to its European neighbor.

The two countries have lingering issues to resolve, including shared water, but they choose the path of dialogue, cooperation and two-way solidarity, in a brilliant example of what relations between two ancient neighborly Kingdoms should be like.
Moroccos commitment to peace, stability, and economic development in the Sahel was commended during a panel discussion held at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London.

The debate, titled North Africas Response to Upheaval in the Sahel, brought together researchers and policy experts who underscored Moroccos strategic engagement in the region, citing long-standing historical, economic, and human ties.

Moroccos economic footprint in the Sahel remains strong despite the persistent instability, said Paul Melly, an Africa and Middle East analyst. Unlike other North African countries, Morocco has consistently invested in and partnered with Sahel states, even in challenging contexts.

Experts highlighted the Kingdoms integrated approach, combining security cooperation, economic investment, and diplomatic outreach. Intissar Faki, founding director of the North Africa and Sahel Program at the Middle East Institute, emphasized Moroccos use of soft power and the religious diplomacy led by King Mohammed VI as Commander of the Faithful.

The panel also focused on Moroccos Royal Initiative to provide Sahel countries access to the Atlantic, a move participants said could significantly enhance regional connectivity and economic prospects.
Morocco showcased its digital transformation progress at the congress Towards a Digitally Accessible Arab Region  ICTs for All 2025 held in Amman, Jordan.

The countrys strategic roadmap for advancing digital inclusion and public service digitalization were presented at the congress by Head of Universal Digital Access Service at Moroccos Digital Development Agency (ADD), Safaa El Alaoui, reported the news outlet mwn.com.

El Alaoui highlighted that ADDs initiatives support the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy launched in September 2024, which aims to boost the digital economy, develop local tech solutions, create jobs, and accelerate public service digitization.

The strategy focuses on modernizing public administration, enhancing interoperability between services, improving user experience, and promoting digital adoption, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Morocco aspires to become a leading digital and tech hub in Africa while ensuring inclusive access to digital tools, El Alaoui was quoed by the outlet as saying.

Key initiatives include a national data exchange platform for public institutions, the Digital Lab supporting rapid service digitization projects, and Dar Al Mouwatin, a one-stop digital center providing e-services to citizens in remote areas.

The Academia Raqmya platform offers training through a Digital Acculturation Pathway program to equip citizens with digital skills and knowledge of emerging technologies.

Additionally, ADD is collaborating with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to develop a national digital accessibility roadmap promoting inclusive design standards to ensure better access for people with disabilities.

The two-day congress (April 29-30) gathered regional experts and decision-makers to discuss digital inclusion, emerging technologies like AI, and enhanced cooperation for a more equitable digital society across the Arab world.

The congress was organized by Jordans Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in partnership with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Moroccos tourism continues its impressive performance with 2.4% increase in receipts by the end of March 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, with nearly 24.63 billion dirhams (approximately $2.5 billion), the foreign exchange office said.

Tourism has emerged as Moroccos leading revenue source, surpassing key sectors including automotive, chemicals, food, information technology, and even petroleum, according to the offices latest data.

The travel balance showed a surplus of over 17.62 billion dirhams, improving by 1.5% year-on-year, while travel expenditures rose 4.8% to 7 billion dirhams.

Morocco welcomed a record 4 million tourists in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 22% increase from the same period in 2024. This surge directly supported travel receipts and reflects both the post-COVID rebound and the rapid recovery of international travel.

The impressive growth is attributed to several factors: mobilization of the Moroccan diaspora, opening to new tourism markets, improved air accessibility through increased flight frequencies and low-cost carriers, investments in tourism infrastructure, and targeted promotion efforts through digital campaigns and cultural events.

Meanwhile, remittances from Moroccans living abroad reached 26.22 billion dirhams by the end of March 2025, compared to 27.96 billion dirhams during the same period in 2024.

The tourism sectors emergence as the countrys top revenue generator underscores its fundamental role in Moroccos economy through substantial revenue generation, massive investment attraction, and significant job creation.
Moroccan pharmaceutical industry representatives are participating in the 24th International Pharmaceutical Forum in Tunis, which opened Thursday under the theme The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

The Moroccan delegation includes four pharmaceutical laboratories and a pavilion dedicated to the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP), participating in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE).

FMIIP President Mohamed El Bouhmadi told MAP that Moroccos participation reflects its strategy to expand into foreign marketsa vital requirement for the national pharmaceutical industry to reduce production costs and increase efficiency.

Moroccan pharmaceutical factories currently use only 30-40% of their production capacity, El Bouhmadi noted, highlighting significant potential for additional production that could serve African markets. He emphasized that this expansion aligns with the Royal Vision to strengthen South-South cooperation through experience sharing, technology transfer, and joint investments.

Mohamed Al Hababi, President of the Confederation of Moroccan Pharmacists Unions, added that participation in international forums allows pharmacists to learn about new developments and engage in benchmarking of products, working methods, and services.

During the two-day event, Moroccan experts will contribute to scientific seminars with presentations on AIs role in personalizing care and pharmaceutical education, challenges related to generative AI, and the role of national regulatory agencies in Africa.

The forum has attracted over 3,000 participants from more than 30 countries, including 50 experts and specialists and 70 exhibitors, providing an important platform for knowledge exchange and potential business partnerships in the pharmaceutical sector.
Morocco hosted NATOs Regional Endeavor 2025 to strengthen further regional cooperation, dialogue and interoperability between NATO partners for peace and stability.

Organized by Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) and hosted by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces from 28 April to 2 May, the event was opened by Brigadier Aziz Idrissi Yazani, head of the Moroccan 2nd Bureau, and Rear Admiral Thorsten Marx, Assistant Chief of Staff J9 at JFC Naples, said a press release issued by JFC Naples.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Defense Attaches from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Tunisia, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Regional Endeavor 2025 marks a transition from JFCNPs Regional Exercise which ran from 2014 until 2024, and focused upon NATOs Exercise Planning Process.

The new Regional Endeavor capacity building initiative is designed to enhance cooperation between NATO and regional partners whilst providing a broader syllabus, said the statement of JFC which serves the NATO Alliance through preparation, planning & conducting of military operations.

The four annual workshops are organized in one of JFCNPs three partner regions starting this year in North Africa. This rotational format enables the host nation and regional partners to better focus the workshop content to meet their regional needs and challenges.

Regional Endeavor 2026 will move to the Gulf Region and then rotate to South-eastern Europe during 2027. With participants from Jordan, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia and the African Union and including instructional support from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first workshop focused on Interoperability.

The week-long workshop combined interactive sessions and discussions tailored to meet the interests of the course participants in relation to NATOs Operational Capability Concept Education and Feedback concept.

The upcoming three workshops during 2025 will focus upon Civil-Military Cooperation (June), Strategic Communications (September), and Crisis Management and Disaster Response (November).
Sheila the kangaroo returned home safely after running away from Auburn's Choctafaula Ranch on Tuesday and causing two minor crashes on Interstate-85 in Macon County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson told AP News that Sheila was captured on the side of the interstate between Tuskegee and Auburn. She was tranquilized by a dart and treated at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, according to AP News.

"Its really an awesome success story to be honest. Its the best outcome we could have. Nobody was hurt," said Patrick Starr, the kangaroo's owner and a managing member at Choctafaula Ranch.

How did Shelia escape

Starr told Opelika-Auburn News that Sheila escaped from her enclosure early Tuesday morning and the staff and other people who saw the kangaroo notified them.

Choctafaula is located right next to the interstate. At some point, the kangaroo crossed to the side of the interstate and hopped a pretty good distance," Starr said.

Authorities Shelia caused a two-vehicle crash in the southbound lane of Interstate-85 near the 46-mile marker, according to ALEA. She was also involved in a single-car crash on Interstate 85, but there were no injuries as a result of the collision, ALEA said. No one was injured in either incident.

He said the farm has many different kinds of animals, but Sheila is a private animal and one of his personal pets. She's about 7 years old.

How the pet owner and authorities safely captured the pet

The farms licensed to the USDA. With that, we have different contingency plans depending on what might happen, Starr said. You have to have that so we just followed that even though its my personal pet.

Starr said they also notified the city police to alert them about the kangaroo being loose and that they were working on capturing it.

Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson addressed the incident in a livestream on Facebook.

When somebody said there was a kangaroo of course I didnt believe it. Nobody believed it, but Im looking at him," Brunson said.

Starr said the farm communicated with the veterinarians that they worked with, and the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine immediately came out to help them capture the kangaroo.

Whenever it was first spotted, we probably got four calls about where it exactly was within probably a minute, and within five minutes, we were there, Starr said. Within about 15 minutes, we had located it and darted it.

Starr said law enforcement had cars stopped just to make sure that they had darted the kangaroo, waiting for her to go to sleep, which takes about 15 minutes. He said they brought the kangaroo back home, woke her up, and had her evaluated by their vets.

Its fine, and its doing fine today as well, he said.

A day following the incident, the director of captive wildlife at the Humane World for Animals released a statement to the Opelika-Auburn News stating that captivity is no place for a kangaroo no matter if it's "in a roadside petting zoo or kept as a pet in someones backyard." While no one was injured and the kangaroo made it home safely, she feared what could have happened.

"Kangaroos are strong, powerful animals and along with wallabies (a close relative) have been involved in at least 74 documented escapes since 2010 alone, resulting in at least 17 animal deaths. Sheilas escape marks the third kangaroo escape reported in Alabama in the last four years."

Starr loves Shelia, but doesn't advocate for others to own a kangaroo

Starr said he has used several kangaroos throughout the year for Choctafaula and has had different kangaroos over the last 15 years. He mentioned that there are state laws and regulations for owning a kangaroo, exhibiting one to the pubic or breeding them.

According to Alabama Legislative Services Agency Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.26, no person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association shall transport any of its stated species except for properly licensed game-breeders pursuant to Section 9-11-31, Code of Ala. 1975, or persons engaged in the interstate transport of any of the above-stated species through the state who are otherwise specifically authorized by permit of the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries or his designee.

Im not advocating for anyone to potentially own a kangaroo, he said. It is possible to own a kangaroo legally in the state of Alabama on a personal note without being licensed. Our business is licensed by the USDA, and has been for over 10 years, so any animal that we exhibit to the public falls underneath that permanent process.
I had the idea to do this ONTD original a while ago but Im a procrastinator so I never got around to actually doing it. On Sunday when Ke Huy Quan became only the second Asian American to win a best supporting actor Oscar, I went to YouTube to find Haing S. Ngor's acceptance speech when he won for 1984's The Killing Fields. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the person handing the award to him was Linda Hunt.It is a loose tradition for the previous year's winner in the opposite category (actor/actress) to present the award, so in theory it was not surprising that Linda Hunt was there. She won the Oscar for best supporting actress the year before for her role as Billy Kwan, a Chinese-Australian man with dwarfism, which felt similar to Marky Mark handing an award to the all Asian cast of Everything Everywhere All at Once. Seeing that video was enough to motivate me to finally put together this post. I debated whether or not to include photos/videos because some of these examples are ridiculously offensive. I decided to include them so that people can judge for themselves.Yellowface is when an Asian role is played by a non-Asian actor. It's usually accompanied by makeup and/or prosthetics to change their appearance. Note: this is related to but slightly different from the issue of whitewashing, which is when white actors are cast in non-white roles.First the aforementioned Linda Hunt - she played Billy Kwan in the 1982 film The Year of Living Dangerously (starring Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver). In her screen test, she wore "paste-on pieces above her eyes to [appear] Asian." Linda Hunt is probably best known as Hetty on NCIS: Los Angeles and the voice of Grandmother Willow in the Disney animated film Pocahontas. She was also nominated for a best actress Tony for the Broadway play End of the World.In 1937, Luise Rainer played the Chinese character O-Lan in The Good Earth (based on Pearl S. Buck's novel). Rainer won a best actress Oscar for this role. The main characters were played by white actors, but there were a handful of Asian actors cast in minor roles.Yul Brynner won multiple awards for playing the role of King Mongkut in The King and I. He originated the role on Broadway in 1951 and won a Tony for best featured actor. He played the same role in the 1956 movie adaptation which won him an Oscar for best actor. In 1976, he signed on to reprise his role as the king in a national tour followed by a Broadway revival. The first night of the tour, he had such bad laryngitis that his son spoke all of his lines and sang all of his songs from the orchestra pit while Yul lip synched. In 1985, he received a special Tony in recognition of his 4,525 performances in The King and I.He claimed that his Russian grandmother Natalya was a Eurasian woman with partial Buryat heritage. According to this family tree (you can click to go further back in his lineage) which goes back to Natalya's great grandfather, there are Russian husbands and nameless wives (Natalya's mother is the only one named) so there's no definitive proof either way that he did or did not have a Buryat ancestor somewhere further up his family tree. Regardless of his ancestry, he performed the role of King Mongkut by darkening his skin and wearing makeup to make him look Asian, which is the definition of yellowface.Also of note: Rita Moreno was cast as Tuptim in the movie adaptation of The King and I with Yul Brynner. In an interview years later, she said that half Asian actress France Nuyen was also up for the role of Tuptim (at the time, France was said to be half Vietnamese but later in life she said her father was actually Chinese). Rita said France probably didn't get the role because she didn't have a musical background and that Rita had an advantage because she was a contract player at the studio.The irony is that Rita Moreno's singing was dubbed by Leona Gordon in The King and I, and France was cast in a film adaptation of the musical South Pacific the following year. France later got a master's degree in clinical psychology and specialized in working with abused women, abused children, and women in prison. In 1989, she received a Woman of the Year award work. Fun fact: Rita and France both dated Marlon Brando (they both have terrible stories about him).In 1950, Julliard trained actress Juanita Hall, who had a Black father and an Irish-American mother, was the first Black actress to win a Tony for best supporting actress. Unfortunately, the role that got her this award was Bloody Mary, a Tonkinese (formerly part of China, present day Vietnam) character in the musical South Pacific. Bloody Mary was based on a real Tonkinese woman who Pulitzer Prize winning author James Michiner met while stationed in Vanuatu. Hall reprised her role in the 1958 film adaptation of South Pacific, but the producers decided to have her voice dubbed for the movie. Someone synched Juanita's singing on the original Broadway cast recording with the movie:Juanita Hall also played the Chinese character Madame Liang in Flower Drum Song on Broadway (1958) and in the film adaptation (1961).One of the most well known examples of yellowface controversy was Miss Saigon, which won both an Olivier and a Tony for Jonathan Pryce who wore prosthetics to alter the shape of his eyes and makeup to alter the color of his skin. When the show opened in the West End in 1989, British critics saw no issue with white actors playing Asian roles. In addition to Jonathan Pryce playing the Engineer, Keith Burns played the role of Kim's cousin/fiance/murder victim Thuy.When the show began its transfer to Broadway in 1990, Actors' Equity (the union that represents Broadway actors) refused to let Pryce be cast as the Engineer, saying, "The casting of a Caucasian actor made up to appear Asian is an affront to the Asian community. The casting choice is especially disturbing when the casting of an Asian actor, in the role, would be an important and significant opportunity to break the usual pattern of casting Asians in minor roles."British Actors' Equity responded by saying this decision was a violation of the principles of artistic integrity and freedom, and British producer Cameron Mackintosh threatened to cancel the Broadway production despite the fact that the upcoming Broadway show had already sold a record $25 million in advance tickets. Mackintosh, who had already had several disagreements with Actors' Equity about casting over the years, dug in his heels and unironically accused Equity of denying Pryce the job "on the basis of his race." Mackintosh claimed he had conducted a worldwide search for an Asian actor to play the Engineer and had been unable to find a single Asian actor capable of playing the role. He insisted that Pryce was the only actor who could play this part on Broadway (a few months later after Broadway and Actors' Equity relented, allowing him to bring Pryce to New York, Mackintosh admitted that the worldwide search had only been for Kim, NOT the Engineer, and said that he "regretted the misunderstanding" - translation: he straight up lied).His resistance to cast an Asian actor as the Engineer was somewhat ironic considering that he had held an international casting call to find Asian actresses to play Kim and Gigi, stating at the time that this was necessary for "authenticity." The show's official coffee table book, The Story of Miss Saigon, said that the creative team was "determined to have as many real-life Asians in the cast as possible; Madame Butterfly-type make-up, though suitable enough for opera, would, they knew, be inadequate, especially for the female members of the cast. Also, the physical demands made on performers in Miss Saigon required an authentic Asian litheness and grace. But apparently make up to make the male members of the cast look Asian was considered adequate.To add insult to injury, Mackintosh and British Equity claimed that Pryce "never wore yellowface" in the West End production (despite all the photographic proof in various cast photos to the contrary). Mackintosh later admitted that Pryce had worn eye prosthetics but said that this did not constitute yellowface.Lots of (white) people defended the choice to cast Jonathan Pryce saying that the character is Eurasian, but nowhere in the original script does it actually indicate that (in later productions, a line was added to the Bangkok scenes where someone refers to the Engineer as "half breed"). The only reference to the Engineer's origins are in the song "The American Dream" where he says that his father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong and that his mother was a prostitute who got high on betel nuts. After the casting controversy, the creative team behind Miss Saigon began referring to the Engineer as Eurasian.The Engineer was the first lead character on Broadway who was specifically Asian since Pacific Overtures, a 1976 Stephen Sondheim musical that closed after only six months, despite being nominated for ten Tonys. Asian American actors were understandably angry that they were not being considered for the first Asian lead character in over a decade. One Asian American actor with Broadway credits was flat out told he could not do the role.Actors' Equity eventually caved, allowing Pryce to join the Broadway cast. Pryce won both an Olivier and a Tony for his role as the Engineer. One of the few positive results of this very public fight was that in the Broadway production, Pryce no longer wore eye prosthetics. The other very positive result of this discourse was that once Pryce left the show, every actor to play the Engineer on Broadway since then has been Asian. The following are actors who were nominated for yellowface roles but did not winAline MacMahon was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for playing a character named Mrs. Ling Tan the 1944 movie Dragon Seed, based on Pearl S. Buck's book. There was only one Asian actor in the entire cast (Clarence Lung played an unnamed character referred to only as "fourth cousin").Dragon Seed also starred Katharine Hepburn in yellowface as the main character, a Chinese woman named Jade (a role that Judy Garland reportedly wanted to play) but she received no acting nominations.In 1946, Gale Sondergaard played Lady Thiang in Anna and the King of Siam, the precursor to The King and I. She was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar, and the movie won two Oscars (best cinematography and best art direction). The movie also starred Rex Harrison as King Mongkut. In 1940, Gale Sondergaard played a Eurasian character in The Letter, starring Bette Davis (this movie was nominated for seven Oscars).Jennifer Jones starred as Han Suyin, a Eurasian doctor from China, in the 1955 movie Love Is a Many Splendored Thing. It was nominated for eight Oscars, including a best actress nomination for Jones. The movie won three Oscars (best song, best costume design, and best score).In 1985, Joel Grey was nominated for a best supporting actor Golden Globe for playing a Korean martial arts expert named Chiun in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (which was based on the pulp fiction series The Destroyer). The movie also received an Oscar nomination for best (yellowface) make up.In 1958, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song opened on Broadway. It featured an almost entirely Asian cast. Originally a white nightclub comic named Larry Storch was cast in the lead role of Sammy Fong but during the pre-Broadway run in Boston, the role was recast with Larry Blyden, another white actor (who happened to be married to the show's choreographer, Carol Haney). He received a Tony nomination for best actor. The show received an additional five Tony nominations but won only one for best conductor and musical director. It was the longest running musical of the 1958 season and closed after 600 performances. A partial list of actors who have performed in yellowfaceAshton Kutcher as Raj in a 2012 Popchips commercialFred Astaire as a Chinese laborer in the Limestone Blues act of Ziegfeld FolliesEddie Murphy as Mr. Wong in NorbitLoretta Young as Sun Toya San, a Chinese orphan, in The Hatchet Man (that's English actor Leslie Fenton next to her). The cast included only one Asian actor. The rest of the Chinese characters were played by white actors in yellowface.Jim Sturgess as Hae-Joo Chang in Cloud AtlasTony Randall as Dr. Lao in 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (this movie received an Oscar for best makeup)Sean Connery as James Bond in You Only Live TwiceMarlon Brando as Sakini in The Teahouse of the August MoonMary Pickford as Cho Cho San in Madame ButterflyLon Chaney as Mr. Wu in Mr. WuBela Lugosi as Mr. Wong in The Mysterious Mr. WongPeter Lorre as Kentaro Moto in the Mr. Moto film seriesAnthony Quinn as Chang Tai in Island of Lost MenBoris Karloff as Mr. Wong in The Mystery of Mr. WongMickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at TiffanysJohn Wayne as Genghis Khan in ConquerorMyrna Loy as Onoto in The Crimson City, Yasmani in The Black Watch, Fah Lo See in The Mask of Fu Manchu, and Ursula Georgi in Thirteen WomenPeter Sellers as the Indian physician in The Road to Hong Kong, Dr. Ahmed el Kabir in The Millionairess, Hrundi V. Bakshi in The Party, and Sidney Wang in Murder by DeathRicardo Montalban as Nakamura in SayonaraAlec Guiness as Koichi Asano in A Majority of OneHenry Silva as Chunjin in The Manchurian CandidateFlora Robson as the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi in 55 Days at PekingDavid Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu & Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesFisher Stevens as Ben Jabituya/Jahveri in Short CircuitChristopher Walken as Feng in Balls of FuryFu Manchu has been played by Warner Oland, Boris Karloff, Peter Sellers, Christopher Lee, and Nicholas CageCharlie Chan has been played by Warner Oland, Sidney Toler, Roland Winters,and J. Carrol Naish Dishonorable mentions:American poet Michael Derrick Hudson submitted his work using the name of a female Chinese-American high school classmate (Yi-Fen Chou). He claimed that the same poem had been rejected 40 times when he submitted it using his real name and was rejected an additional 9 times using the fake name before it was accepted by problematic writer Sherman Alexie for the 2015 Best American Poetry anthology. Prior to this, poems submitted under his real name had been accepted by several other publications and won various poetry prizes/awards.Another dishonorable mention goes to every ballet company that still performs the Chinese tea dance in the Nutcracker with straw hats, pointed fingers, slant eyed makeup, shuffling steps, bowing, black wigs with chopsticks, Fu Manchu facial hair, etc.
(basically CM but longer version)

Queen of J-Pophas released their first song of 2025, Mine or Yours. It was used as a CM song for AYATAKA, a brand of unsweetened green tea produced by The Coca-Cola Company in Japan. No words yet if there will be an MV or not (hopefully there is!).Choose from any streaming service of your choice.Source:Youtube 1
At the end of April, crude oil prices settled at the lowest in four years. The immediate reason was a report that Saudi Arabia was fed up with production cuts and was willing to give cheaper oil for a longer go. The other reason: Trumps tariffs. Ironically, the tariff fear pressuring prices is related to economic growth prospects. Yet cheap oil is a great fuel for economic growthwhich is why oil importers are happy. Exporters, not so much.

Reuters reported earlier this week, citing unnamed sources, that Saudi Arabia had no intention to cut more production to prop up prices. Instead, the kingdom was going to endure the lower prices for as long as they lasted.

The Saudis are ready for lower prices and may need to pull back on some major projects, one of the Reuters sources said. This would be an inevitable consequence of lower oil prices, which major producers such as Saudi Arabia need higher for their public spending plan. In Saudi Arabias case, the price level necessary for that spending is over $90 per barrelwhich is not a price level that we are going to see anytime soon.

Importers, meanwhile, are happy with where prices areand these prices are driving their economic growth. India is an excellent case in point. Over the last three years, India has become a major customer for Russian oil producers because of the discount at which Russian crude was trading amid the sanction barrage that the West imposed on Russia. Indeed, the country became Indias biggest supplier of crude, overtaking previous leaders Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In fact, in fiscal 2024/25, the total share of OPEC oil exports to India fell to an all-time low because of the influx of Russian crude. Related: OPEC Plot Twist? Bloomberg Survey Shows Production Drop in April

While its cheap crude oil imports kept booming, Indias economic growth has been quite strong, toodespite a projected slowdown by the International Monetary Fund. The Fund last month revised down its projections for a host of Asian economies citing Trumps tariff war. Yet even with the revision, Indias GDP growth is projected at over 6% for the fiscal year that started in April. Compared to that, the IMF sees EU growth at some 0.2%. Cheap oil means stronger growth.

Yet forecasts such as the IMFs latest growth revision tend to affect trader decisions and, ultimately, prices. Bloomberg, for instance, this week cited recent forecasts by various agencies that cut oil demand projections because of the tariff war. One might even argue some of them were eager to make that cut and were looking for an opportunity. More specifically, the International Energy Agency lowered its oil demand outlook for the year by as much as 30%, saying, We have lowered the economic growth assumptions that underpin our forecasts, leading to a 400 kb/d reduction in expected oil demand growth for the remainder of the year.

The principal reason for all these revisions is trade disruption as a result of Trumps tariffs. All these forecasters seem to assume that the tariffs are here to stay and wreak havoc on the economies of all involved. While it is a fact tariffs have already been disruptive, there is no reason to assume this disruption will retain its current intensity and extend over a longer period of time. After all, most countries that Trump hit with tariffs have signaled a strong willingness to make trade deals with the U.S.including in energy.

While we wait to see how those forecasts will turn out, demand for oil is already rising thanks to the lower prices, per that Bloomberg report. And it is going to rise further until the price trend reverses, which is also inevitable at some point. For now, however, we seem to be far from that point.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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U.S.-China trade tensions are exacerbating the fragile demand picture. A fresh round of tariffs and retaliatory measures has heightened fears of a global

Though Chinas March crude imports surged, analysts argue this was driven more by pre-sanctions stockpiling than any uptick in consumption. With Beijings fiscal stimulus measures struggling to gain traction, traders are increasingly skeptical of Chinas ability to sustain meaningful crude demand growth in the near term.

Fresh economic data from China delivered a major blow to oil bulls. The country's official manufacturing PMI slumped to 49.0 in April, signaling contraction and raising alarm over the health of the worlds largest crude importer. Of particular concern was the new export orders index, which plunged to its weakest level since 2012 outside of pandemic anomalies. Analysts responded by slashing full-year growth forecasts to just 3.5%, casting doubt on sustainable Chinese demand.

Crude oil futures tumbled over the past week, falling more than 6% as concerns over weakening global demand and a resurgent supply outlook weighed on sentiment. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) briefly hit a low of $56.39 before recovering to $59.24 by Thursdays close. While dip-buying provided short-term support, the underlying market tone remains distinctly bearish as fundamental pressures intensify.

Crude oil futures tumbled over the past week, falling more than 6% as concerns over weakening global demand and a resurgent supply outlook weighed on sentiment. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) briefly hit a low of $56.39 before recovering to $59.24 by Thursdays close. While dip-buying provided short-term support, the underlying market tone remains distinctly bearish as fundamental pressures intensify.

China Demand Slowdown Fuels Bearish Sentiment

Fresh economic data from China delivered a major blow to oil bulls. The country's official manufacturing PMI slumped to 49.0 in April, signaling contraction and raising alarm over the health of the worlds largest crude importer. Of particular concern was the new export orders index, which plunged to its weakest level since 2012 outside of pandemic anomalies. Analysts responded by slashing full-year growth forecasts to just 3.5%, casting doubt on sustainable Chinese demand.

Though Chinas March crude imports surged, analysts argue this was driven more by pre-sanctions stockpiling than any uptick in consumption. With Beijings fiscal stimulus measures struggling to gain traction, traders are increasingly skeptical of Chinas ability to sustain meaningful crude demand growth in the near term.

Trade War Escalation Undermines Global Oil Demand Expectations

U.S.-China trade tensions are exacerbating the fragile demand picture. A fresh round of tariffs and retaliatory measures has heightened fears of a global slowdown, with the U.S. economy already contracting in Q1the first quarterly drop in three years. Analysts warn that President Trumps tariff strategy is significantly disrupting global trade flows and could push the global economy toward recession, directly pressuring oil consumption.

Barclays and other banks have already downgraded oil demand projections, with Brent forecasts reduced by $4 to $70 per barrel. As confidence in a robust economic recovery falters, so too does support for higher oil prices.

EIA Reports Mixed Inventory Data as Supply Stays Ample

On the supply front, the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data painted a mixed but largely bearish picture. Crude oil inventories fell by 2.7 million barrels to 440.4 million barrels last weekdefying analyst expectations for a build of 429,000 barrels. However, inventories at the Cushing, Oklahoma, hub rose by 682,000 barrels, and distillate stockpiles increased by 900,000 barrels, against forecasts for a draw.

Gasoline stocks dropped more than expectedfalling 4 million barrelsbut refinery activity continued to ramp up, with crude runs rising by 189,000 bpd and utilization climbing to 88.6%. Net U.S. crude imports also fell sharply by 663,000 bpd, pointing to a refined product market that is still structurally oversupplied despite headline crude draws.

OPEC+ Output Plans Keep Pressure on Prices

The broader supply outlook continues to tilt bearish. Several OPEC+ producers are reportedly pressing for accelerated output increases in June, as frustration mounts over internal quota breaches by members like Kazakhstan and Iraq. Saudi Arabia, the blocs de facto leader, has signaled it can tolerate prolonged low prices and is unwilling to cut production furthersignaling a strategic pivot toward defending market share over price.

Russia, while less aggressive, is unlikely to block moderate increases. With OPEC+ still holding back over 5 million bpd and internal cohesion fraying, traders are bracing for a more aggressive unwind of production cuts that could flood an already soft market with excess barrels.

Geopolitical Risks Offer Only Temporary Relief

Heightened geopolitical tension around Iran briefly lifted crude prices midweek. WTI and Brent rebounded nearly 2% on Thursday after President Trump threatened to impose secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil. The comments followed a postponed round of nuclear talks, adding to uncertainty over Middle East supply flows.

Analysts estimate that effective enforcement of these sanctions could remove up to 1.5 million bpd from global supply. However, this potential disruption is being counterbalanced by OPEC+ production flexibility and rising inventories, limiting the upside potential for prices driven by geopolitics alone.

Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures

Trend Indicator Analysis

The main trend is down according to the weekly swing chart. A trade through $71.64 will change the main trend to up. The minor trend is also down. A trade through $64.87 will change the minor trend to up. This will shift momentum to the upside.

The long-term range is $52.45 to $84.90. Its 50% level is $68.67. This is major resistance. Trading on the bearish side of this key level is also a sign of weakness. Additional resistance is the 52-week moving average at $68.79.

The short-term range is $71.64 to $54.48. Its pivot at $63.06 is controlling the near-term direction. Last week, sellers drove the market to its weakside, triggering the sharp break.

The minor range is $54.48 to $64.87. Its pivot is $59.67. Crude oil is currently on the weakside of this indicator.

Weekly Technical Forecast

The direction of the Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures market the week ending May 9 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $59.67.

Bullish Scenario

A sustained move over $59.67 will signal the presence of counter-trend buyers. If this creates enough momentum, we could see a possible near-term rally into the major pivot at $63.06.

Bearish Scenario

A sustained move under $59.67 will indicate the presence of sellers. This will leave the market vulnerable to a plunge into the April low at $54.48.

Bearish Oil Prices Forecast as Supply-Demand Balance Breaks Down

The fundamental backdrop for crude oil remains bearish. Demand is deteriorating under the weight of Chinas economic slowdown and trade war escalation, while supply resilience from OPEC+ and the U.S. continues to pressure prices. The latest EIA data, despite some bullish headlines, confirms ample domestic supply and robust refining activity.

However, the market remains prone to short-covering ralliesespecially around geopolitical flashpoints such as Iranian sanctions or surprise OPEC+ maneuvers. These moves may provide temporary relief, but without a sustained improvement in demand or a decisive policy shift from major producers, they are unlikely to change the overall direction.

Traders should maintain a cautious stance. Unless WTI reclaims and holds above $59.67 this week on the back of stronger fundamentals, the oil prices forecast continues to favor further downside. With structural imbalances deepening, rallies may offer better opportunities to sell than signals of a lasting recovery.

Although the market may be vulnerable to short-covering rallies as it nears value areas, the longer-term trend will remain decisively lower as long as it remains under the 52-week moving average at $68.78.
Forever chemicals seem to be coming up in weekly news articles around the world, as people become increasingly concerned about just how many PFAS we come into contact with on a daily basis. They are in our cooking equipment, the food we eat and, according to recent reports, even our drinking water. Until recently, little attention was given to PFAS but, under former President Biden, the U.S. imposed harsher restrictions on the use of PFAS, and, under President Trump, there has been more conversation about these forever chemicals.

PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, have been used to enhance the performance of consumer products and industrial equipment for over half a century. They allow grease and dirt to slide off fabrics, protect manufacturing equipment from rust, and have several other performance-boosting qualities. However, scientists are now suggesting that the lack of knowledge on the long-term impact of these chemicals is cause for concern. What is known is that PSAS take thousands of years to degrade. Recent studies have found PFAS in food and drinking water in multiple areas around the world, suggesting the need to better understand these forever chemicals to determine whether they are safe and if they should be so widely used.

The Biden administration introduced strict new federal standards on PFAS in 2024, due to concerns that they do not break down easily in the environment. Industry groups fought back saying that the measures were unattainable and onerous. Water utilities and chemical industry groups filed suit stating that the drinking water standards would be too expensive to achieve. They have since called on the Trump administration to roll back the restrictions on the use of PFAS.

In early April, in the U.S., the Trump administration decided to carry out a plan to stop hundreds of bans on PFAS and several dangerous compounds in consumer goods. This move affected the prohibition of bisphenol in childrens products, mercury in personal care products, and PFAS in food packaging and clothing, to name a few. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was expected to change the way it carries out chemical risk evaluations and pre-empt state laws that offer one of few meaningful checks on toxic chemicals in consumer products to support the move.

However, later in the month, the White House published a 36-page official national strategy, with consultation from 10 government agencies  a master plan to eradicate paper straws and bring back plastic. The document includes an eight-page overview of the health and environmental dangers of paper straws. It states that their composition includes PFAS, which are used to make the paper straws water-resistant but are also linked to serious health problems.

While the Trump administration seems committed to ridding us of the pulpy, soggy mess that torments too many of our citizens whenever they drink through a paper straw, the president appears less concerned about FSAS in other things, such as drinking water. Citing FPAS as a reason for the ban also seems at odds with Trumps drive to roll back regulations.

Also in April, the EPA announced new measures to tackle PFAS contamination, which included designating a head to oversee the creation of guidelines for how much PFAS factories can release in their wastewater and working with Congress to establish ways to hold polluters responsible. It also said it would create a plan to address PFAS contamination of fertilizer made from sewage sludge.

Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said in a statement, I have long been concerned about PFAS and the efforts to help states and communities dealing with legacy contamination in their backyards. Zeldin added, This is just a start of the work we will do on PFAS to ensure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water.

The EPA has come under attack from environmental groups concerned that the plans lack specific details, including whether the Biden-era drinking water standards will be fought against industry players in court. Many are worried about the widespread cuts that have been made at the EPA under the Trump administration and question how much power the agency will have to back up its PFAS plans.

Meanwhile, James Ferraro, an environmental attorney representing water utilities in their suit against the Biden drinking water regulations, said the EPAs announcement signals that the agency is mindful of the cost burdens PFAS regulations may impose, not just on industry, but also on public water systems. However, he acknowledged that the new measures felt very preliminary, and Well see how this unfolds.

Greater research needs to be conducted to fully understand the long-term impact of PFAS on health and the environment. As part of plans to support a green transition and improve public health, former U.S. President Biden introduced restrictions on PFAS use. However, it is still unclear whether the Trump administration will continue the work of the former president or will allow PFAS to continue being widely used.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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This situation at the moment is not a full-scale mobilization, but border closures, airspace shutdowns, and tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions are all in play. Low-level skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) have resumedpredictable, but still dangerous. Neither side wants war, but both are in a position in which they feel there is an enormous amount of domestic political capital tied to looking tough.

So far, Indias response is calibrated but aggressive. The most significant move so far is its formal suspension of participation in the Indus Waters Treatythe 1960 agreement that governs water sharing from the Indus River system. This isnt just symbolic. It sends a clear message: Delhi is willing to weaponize water, one of Pakistans most existential vulnerabilities.

On Tuesday, Pakistan said it had credible intel that India was planning a military strike within the next 24-36 hours (a timeframe that did not materialize by the time of writing on Friday morning ET).

Were seeing a fast-moving deterioration in India-Pakistan relations triggered by a high-casualty militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Indian intelligence is attributing the incident to Pakistan-based elements, citing cross-border movement and recovered ID documents. Pakistan has denied any role and is calling for third-party verification.

Were seeing a fast-moving deterioration in India-Pakistan relations triggered by a high-casualty militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Indian intelligence is attributing the incident to Pakistan-based elements, citing cross-border movement and recovered ID documents. Pakistan has denied any role and is calling for third-party verification.

On Tuesday, Pakistan said it had credible intel that India was planning a military strike within the next 24-36 hours (a timeframe that did not materialize by the time of writing on Friday morning ET).

So far, Indias response is calibrated but aggressive. The most significant move so far is its formal suspension of participation in the Indus Waters Treatythe 1960 agreement that governs water sharing from the Indus River system. This isnt just symbolic. It sends a clear message: Delhi is willing to weaponize water, one of Pakistans most existential vulnerabilities.

This situation at the moment is not a full-scale mobilization, but border closures, airspace shutdowns, and tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions are all in play. Low-level skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) have resumedpredictable, but still dangerous. Neither side wants war, but both are in a position in which they feel there is an enormous amount of domestic political capital tied to looking tough.

The suspension of Indus cooperation, particularly data-sharing on river flows, significantly raises the risk of miscalculation during monsoon season. India lacks the infrastructure to materially choke water flow to Pakistan today, but projects under development could shift that equation within 1218 months. Pakistan is well aware of whats going on and this is a primary reason behind its escalation.

Beyond a tense standoff militarily, what many may not realize is that India and Pakistan do some $10 billion in unofficial trade every year (via the UAE, Singapore and Afghanistan, according to Al Jazeera), and all of that is going to come under pressure, as well. Beyond that, the cash cost of this escalation is already mounting. Air India has chimed in to note that the Pakistan ban on airspace will cost it $600 million over the next 12 months, and the Pakistani stock market has lost some 6% since April 23rd.

What we will be looking at most closely is the potential here for a misfire or a miscalculation given the high-level tensions. If India continues to weaponize water, this will likely be a red line for Islamabad. The situation is volatile, but not out of control (yet), but we expect third-party mediators to help broker a de-escalation, and anything successful will have to focus on the water. (Both China and the U.S. have limited scope to intervene with Pakistan and India).
Crude oil futures tumbled over the past week, falling more than 6% as concerns over weakening global demand and a resurgent supply outlook weighed on sentiment.

Friday, May 02, 2025

China, preparing for a week-long lull in trading activity, has nevertheless given the oil markets a much-needed carrot after a month-long stick treatment, saying that Beijing is evaluating a Trump administration proposal to hold negotiations over tariffs. As US-Iran nuclear talks have seemingly hit a temporary impasse, ICE Brent is set to start May trading with a second consecutive weekly decline, trading slightly above $61 per barrel.

Saudi Arabia Wants Lower Oil Prices. Seemingly intent on regaining lost market share and stymying non-OPEC+ production growth, Saudi Arabia has been signalling that it will continue unwinding its output cuts and that Riyadh is ready to handle a prolonged period of lower prices after 5 years of OPEC+ cuts.

Texas LNG Project Sapped by Deadly Incident. Port Arthur LNG, the 13 mtpa gas liquefaction project developed by Sempra (NYSE:SRE), saw all construction work suspended after three people were killed and two others injured in a scaffolding accident that took place at 2am, according to contractor Bechtel.

Pemex Sinks Even Lower. The worlds most indebted oil company, the Mexican state oil firm Pemex, posted another quarterly loss after its Q1 performance showed a $2.1 billion shortfall, attributing the disappointing results to falling production from mature wells and delays in new well completions.

Related: Imperial Oil Q1 Earnings Rise on Higher Refining Margins

US Ethane Might Be Out of the Woods. Chinese petrochemical producers have been allegedly informed that ethane will be exempted from Beijings 125% tariff on all US goods, providing some relief as the US accounts for 99% of global ethane trade and has sent some 5.3 million tonnes to China last year.

Scotland No Longer Has a Refinery. Scotlands only refinery, the 150,000 b/d Grangemouth plant operated by a tandem of Petrochina and Ineos, ceased all crude oil processing this week, to be refurbished into an import terminal as plans for a biorefinery never really took off.

Ukraine Signs Long-Delayed US Minerals Pact. Kyiv signed the oft-mulled minerals deal with the Trump administration following two months of hesitation, giving the US preferential access to its energy resources, including rare earth metals but also iron, uranium and natural gas.

Spain Mulls Nationalization of Grid Operator. Alerted by the possibility of another nationwide blackout, Spains deputy Prime Minister has suggested that Madrid fully take over the Mediterranean countrys power grid operator REE, currently 20% owned by the state with the rest held in private hands.

Refiners Warn of California Gasoline Shortages. PBF Energy chief executive Matthew Lucey warned that the closure of P66s Los Angeles refinery and Valeros Benicia plant would create a gasoline short in California that could be as big as 250,000 b/d, causing the state to lose 17% of its current capacity.

China Courts Europe as Its Next UCO Market. As Trumps 145% tariff on China has killed any market economics in supply used cooking oil to the US, Chinese producers of the increasingly popular biofuel now target Europe to maintain steady export flows, after a meagre 0.6 million tonnes exported in 2024.

Chevron-Exxon Arbitration Set to Begin Soon. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce has scheduled the first hearing of ExxonMobils (NYSE:XOM) arbitration dispute against US peer Chevron (NYSE:CVX), claiming it has right of first refusal over Hess Guyanese assets, part of the latters buyout.

Malaysia Turns Against Petronas. Malaysias Sarawak state warned the countrys national oil firm Petronas that its Miri crude oil terminal operates without a regulatory license and questioned its distribution rights, endangering Petronas revenues as the state is home to 60% of the countrys reserves.

Asia Starts to Pull LNG Cargoes Away from Europe. According to media reports, four LNG carriers that were en route to Europe changed course to Asia over the past week as the decline in European gas prices and the return of Asias gas premium led sellers of US LNG to look eastward again.

Shell Plays Down Talk of BP Takeover. Wael Sawan, chief executive of UK-based energy major Shell (LON:SHEL) said that he would rather ramp up the companys share buyback than launch a takeover bid over peer major BP (NYSE:BP), coming on the back of Q1 net profit falling 28% year-over-year to $5.6 billion.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Whatever you think of Donald Trump, Elon Musk hitching himself to the Trump wagon was always a risky thing for the company. Trump divides people into two groups: those that love him and those that hate him. There is very little middle ground and, unfortunately for Tesla, their domestic customers to this point have been mainly in the second group. They tend to be wealthy, college educated people who are concerned about the environmentalmost the exact opposite of Trumps base.

As the market leader, Tesla (TSLA) is seemingly the only US base EV company with the financial clout and balance sheet to withstand short-term disruption from tariffs and/or slower global growth, but they reported a roughly 10% drop in revenue and a whopping 70% decline in profits for Q1. Nor is there any reason to think that that is the end of their troubles.

Despite the obvious and oft quoted potential of the market, therefore, investing in American EV specialist stocks right now is a risky thing to do, but Teslas problems may create an opportunity elsewhere in the industry for those who embrace risk and can tolerate it.

There have been reports this week that the Tesla (TSLA) board have initiated a search for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk. The company has denied them, of course, but the chaos around Teslas leadership is adding another element of uncertainty to an industry that is already under pressure from tariffs and the threat of a US, or maybe even a global recession.

There have been reports this week that the Tesla (TSLA) board have initiated a search for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk. The company has denied them, of course, but the chaos around Teslas leadership is adding another element of uncertainty to an industry that is already under pressure from tariffs and the threat of a US, or maybe even a global recession.

Despite the obvious and oft quoted potential of the market, therefore, investing in American EV specialist stocks right now is a risky thing to do, but Teslas problems may create an opportunity elsewhere in the industry for those who embrace risk and can tolerate it.

As the market leader, Tesla (TSLA) is seemingly the only US base EV company with the financial clout and balance sheet to withstand short-term disruption from tariffs and/or slower global growth, but they reported a roughly 10% drop in revenue and a whopping 70% decline in profits for Q1. Nor is there any reason to think that that is the end of their troubles.

Whatever you think of Donald Trump, Elon Musk hitching himself to the Trump wagon was always a risky thing for the company. Trump divides people into two groups: those that love him and those that hate him. There is very little middle ground and, unfortunately for Tesla, their domestic customers to this point have been mainly in the second group. They tend to be wealthy, college educated people who are concerned about the environmentalmost the exact opposite of Trumps base.

Nor is the overseas market likely to come to Teslas rescue. The hatred and disdain for Musk, and therefore for Tesla, in important markets like Europe, the UK, and Canada is obvious. Growth in China is also in danger, given that their government is in a trade war with the US and has shown itself in the past to be willing to use restrictions on or even outright bans of US companies to achieve geopolitical goals.

It could be that Tesla will move on from Elon and allow the quality of their product to be their defining characteristic as it was before, and that they will, after a short blip, be fine. As I said, the company is big enough and rich enough to withstand such a temporary disruption. Even if that is the case, though, there will be a period when sales suffer, and that opens the door for Teslas competitors.

The two best known smaller US EV companies, Rivian (RIVN) and Lucid (LCID), could be the beneficiaries of that.

On the negative side, both face the same problem: they are still what optimistic entrepreneurs and CEOS refer to as not yet revenue positive. Or, to put it another way, they are losing money. As Tesla themselves showed, that is not an impediment to future success, and things can turn around quickly once you reach the tipping point into profitability. But in order for RIVN and LCID to grow revenue enough to turn a profit, they have to take business from TSLA. Up until a few months ago, you would have said that that was unlikely, but it is a lot less so now.

Losing money is still a problem, of course, and both companies have only enough cash on hand to cover a couple of years of losses should the negative cash flow numbers stay at current levels. However, growth cures all ills for a company that is burning cash. It makes raising money in the future both easier and cheaper, while simultaneously reducing cash burn. Both companies are already growing at a decent clip, with Rivian posting 31.9% YoY quarterly growth in their last report and Lucid 49.2%, so any significant boost to that will make a marked difference to their prospects.

There are still the risks associated with tariffs and recession to consider, and because of that, RIVN is probably the safer bet of the two and would be my pick. First, they are bigger, with trailing twelve-month revenue of $4.97 billion versus only just over $800 million for Lucid, giving them more ability to withstand a downturn. In addition, they seem to have seen this coming. According to reports, have been stockpiling batteries for a while to give them some protection from tariffs. That stockpile also means that some of their costs have been front loaded, allowing them to operate with better margins for a while if needed.

The market seems to think that Teslas problems will be overcome, as the stock is still trading at triple-digit P/Es despite the recent declines. However, the drop in their sales that was evident in Q1, and that will presumably continue, creates an opportunity for their competitors. RIVN in particular looks set to take advantage of that, so, despite the risks, their stock may offer some decent returns over the next few months and it may be worth taking a small long position in anticipation of that.
Afghanistan risks becoming a battleground for competing global and regional powers, which could lead to renewed instability in the region.

While Western nations have been critical of the Taliban's human rights record, there are indications of increased engagement and consideration of future formal recognition.

The Taliban, despite not being formally recognized by any government, is gaining diplomatic traction with several countries, including Russia, China, and India, who are pursuing economic and political interests in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers were shunned by foreign governments after seizing power in 2021, but recently the hard-line militants have notched up some big wins in their diplomatic efforts to forge international ties.

This week, Indian special envoy Anand Prakash was in Kabul for talks with senior Taliban leaders on boosting political and trade links.

That came after Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov hosted a Taliban delegation in Tashkent to talk about a proposed trans-Afghan rail link.

And last week, in the biggest win of all, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations and agreed that ambassadors would be appointed in Kabul and Moscow.

Nobody has formally recognized the Taliban regime, yet. The militant rulers have been broadly criticized for widespread human rights violations, particularly against women and girls.

But things are moving toward their ultimate goal of acceptance in international circles.

"There's a growing feeling that the great powers are starting to compete among themselves to recognize a terrorist organization," Afghan political analyst Fakhim Kukhdomani told RFE/RL's Current Time.

China became the first country to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador in January 2024. It has been edging talks forward on infrastructure and investment as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

What Does Russia Want In Afghanistan?

Russia has also been seeking to develop economic interests in Afghanistan, especially in the mining and energy sectors. It did, in fact, keep its embassy in Kabul open, merely downgrading it in name after the Taliban seized power.

"The Russian intelligence services never cut their contacts with Taliban commanders," said Kukhdomani.

On security, Russia's main interest is about combatting the Islamic StateKhorasan group , which claimed responsibility for the deadly Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in March 2024.

Aleksei Zakharov, at the Observer Research Foundation (OSR), a Delhi-based think tank, also says that Russia is pursuing an economic agenda in Afghanistan.

"Russian and Taliban representatives are expected to sign a contract transitioning 50 million cubic meters of LPG (liquified petroleum gas) at the KazanForum in May 2025," he wrote on April 28.

This would be aimed at markets in South and Southeast Asia.

"However, the capacity of the route through Afghanistan and security issues may ultimately limit the agreement's implementation," added Zakharov.

There may be similar issues facing the above-mentioned rail project seeking to create a transit corridor from Russia through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to Pakistan.

India-Pakistan Tensions On The Rise

The Taliban's relations with its southern neighbor are strained, as Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering militants from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It said its army had killed 54 fighters "trying to infiltrate" across the border on April 27.

Pakistan has deported some 100,000 Afghan refugees in recent weeks, accusing them of being linked to terrorism and drug smuggling.

These tensions give an added security dynamic to India's attempts to warm ties, as it faces off with Pakistan following the deadly militant attack in Kashmir on April 22.

"India has keenly monitored the fluctuating relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan," Najib Azar, lecturer in global affairs at Wisconsin University, told RFE/RL on April 29.

"[It is] attempting to fill the void and mitigate the anti-Indian sentiments that Pakistan has fostered within the Taliban," added Azar, who was a spokesman for the pre-Taliban Afghan government.

Do Western Countries Talk To The Taliban?

Western powers have been the most strident in distancing themselves from the Taliban, following the withdrawal of their forces in 2021. They have also been the most outspoken in their criticism of the Taliban's human rights abuses.

But here, too, there's movement.

A British government report in March said it was pursuing a policy of "limited and pragmatic" engagement with Taliban officials via its embassy in Qatar.

The incoming German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has called for direct talks with the Taliban leadership to enable deportations of Afghans. A foreign policy spokesman for his Christian Democrats, Juergen Hardt, told RFE/RL in February "the truth is that they are in power."

"There's also the question of recognition," he added.

"I think there should be a common position of the European Union how to handle that. Not yet, but probably under special circumstances."

US officials have already held direct talks. Last month, they were in Kabul to secure the release of Americans held there. In return, Washington lifted the bounties on three members of the Haqqani network, including the Taliban's interior minister.

"It seems to me that Moscow's final decision to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations was taken after Washington removed the bounties," said Afghan political analyst Fakhim Kukhdomani.

Two Americans were released. But there's a way to go. Several are still detained, while the United States still designates both the Taliban and the Haqqani network as terrorist organizations.

Dangers For The Taliban

Former spokesman Najib Azad says there are also risks for the Taliban as it reaches out for better relations with multiple nations.

"The risk lies in allowing global and regional powers to exploit Afghanistan as a battleground for their rivalries, as has been the case over the past fifty years," said.

"Given the Taliban's inability to maintain a balanced political stance with these powers, they risk becoming a catalyst for renewed instability in the region once again."

By RFE/RL

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European benchmark natural gas prices rose on Friday amid signals from China that it considers engaging in trade talks with the United States.

A de-escalation of the tensions drove markets higher at the end of the week as traders and analysts weigh the possibility of less disruptive trade and lower impact on the economy. Over the past month, European gas prices have slumped by 20% on warmer spring weather and higher wind and solar output, but also due to concerns that an escalating U.S.-China trade war would hit global demand for commodities, including oil and gas.

On Thursday, China said it is evaluating U.S. offerings to start negotiations on tariffs.

China weighs possible trade talks but continues to call on the United States to remove all unilateral tariffs. The U.S. failing to do so would suggest an outright lack of sincerity from Washington and could further compromise mutual trust, according to a CNBC translation of comments by a spokesperson for the Chinese commerce ministry.

Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, rose by 2.2% at $37.25 (32.85 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 11:55 a.m. in Amsterdam on Friday.

At the end of the winter heating season, Europe had its natural gas storage sites depleted to levels last seen three years ago as a cold winter and low renewable energy output, with low wind speeds and little sunshine, forced countries to use more gas than in the past three winters.

Traders and analysts will be watching closely the pace of storage refills in the coming months, as well as LNG demand in Asia and whether North Asian demand would rise and potentially compete for spot cargoes with Europe.

Unlike in the previous months, Europes gas prices for the summer are currently lower than those for the next winter, encouraging stockpiling.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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QatarEnergy is in talks with Japanese energy companies over a long-term supply deal for liquefied natural gas from the expanded North Field.

According to an exclusive Reuters report that cited unnamed sources, the volume under discussion is a minimum of 3 million tons annually, to be split between several Japanese companies, which include heavyweights JERA and Mitsui & Co.

Qatar is already the largest supplier of LNG to resource-scarce Japan. The deal, over the Reuters sources, would strengthen the Gulf states dominant position on the Japanese market at a time of intensifying competition between LNG producers.

Qatar is investing billions in the expansion of its section of the worlds largest natural gas field. Plans were initially to boost LNG production twofold by 2030, from under 80 million tons annually. Then, last year, Qatar decided to go further and boost LNG capacity by as much as 85% by 2030. That would be equal to a total of 142 million tons of liquefied gas annually.

Meanwhile, QatarEnergy is securing long-term demand for all that LNG. Last year, it signed a supply deal with Kuwait for another 3 million tons of LNG annually over a period of 15 years. Iraq is a potential buyer. But it is Asia that is the key market for LNG suppliersexcept for the U.S., which ships LNG to Europe. And within Asia, Japan is a much sought after buyer because of its almost complete dependence on imports of energy. Last year, Japans total LNG imports reached 65.89 million tons.

Asia-Oceania currently accounts for more than half of our procurement sources. For supply stability, expanding options to regions like North America and the Middle East would be beneficial, the head of JERAs financial strategy and planning division said at a recent earnings call, as quoted by Reuters.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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(Summer Beach Blast)



What better way is there to start the 100 days of summer than spending time on one of the best beaches in Okinawa?

From May 23-26, Summer Beach Blast will be held on Torii Beach.

This four-day event will be packed with fun programs to kick off the hot season.

Starting with a waterslide and a splash pad, beach equipment rentals will be free to fully enjoy the beautiful waters of Torii.

Kids can have fun bouncing on inflatables and riding carts.

If you love to compete, why not join in a sandcastle/art contest or a beach volleyball tournament?

Plus, a movie night, live music, hermit crab conservation activities and so much more are on the list.

Please be aware that this is not an open-base event, so bring your SOFA friends and families.

Come to Torii Beach and lets kickstart the summer with a bang.

Summer Beach Blast

Dates: May 23-26

Time: 10 a.m.  6 p.m. (Movie Night takes place May 23 starting at 7 p.m.)

For more info, check out Torii MWR at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/toriimwrokinawa/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toriimwrokinawa/)
Dr. Hector Ocaranza knew El Paso would see measles the moment it began spreading in West Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Highways connect his border city with the epicenter of Texas' massive outbreak, which is up to 663 cases. They're the same roads used by thousands of families and commercial truckers who cross into Mexico and back each day.

"Diseases know no borders," said Ocaranza, El Paso's top public health doctor, "so as people are mobile, they're going to be coming and receiving medical attention in El Paso but they may be living in Juarez." It took a couple of months, but El Paso now has the highest measles case count in the state outside of West Texas with 38. Neighboring Ciudad Juarez has 14 cases as of Monday.

North America's three biggest measles outbreaks continue to balloon, with more than 2,500 known cases; three people have died in the U.S. and one in Mexico. It started in the fall in Ontario, Canada; then took off in late January in Texas and New Mexico; and has rapidly spread in Chihuahua state, which is up to 786 cases since mid-February.

These outbreaks are in areas with a notable population of certain Mennonite Christian communities who trace their migration over generations from Canada to Mexico to Seminole, Texas. Chihuahua health officials trace their first case to an 8-year-old Mennonite child who visited family in Seminole, got sick and spread the virus at school. And Ontario officials say their outbreak started at a large gathering in New Brunswick involving Mennonite communities.

Mexican and U.S. officials also say the genetic strains of measles spreading in Canada match the other large outbreaks.

"This virus was imported, traveling country to country," said Leticia Ruiz, director of prevention and disease control in Chihuahua.

North and South American countries have struggled to maintain the 95% measles vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Health Organization. And a recent World Health Organization report said measles activity in the Americas region is up elevenfold from the same time last year and that the risk level is "high" compared to the rest of the world's "moderate" level.

Measles cases have been confirmed in six of the region's countries  Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, the United States and Mexico  and investigating the disease's spread is labor-intensive and pricey. The response to each measles case in the U.S. costs an estimated $30,000 to $50,000, according to Dr. David Sugerman, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist.

Measles at the U.S.-Mexico border

The cases in Ciudad Juarez have no direct connection to the Mennonite settlement in Chihuahua, said Rogelio Covarrubias, a health official in the border city. The first measles case in El Paso was in a child at Fort Bliss, Ocaranza said.

More than half of El Paso's cases are in adults, which is unusually high, and three people have been hospitalized. The health department is holding vaccination clinics in malls and parks and says hundreds have gotten a shot. The vaccines are free  no questions asked, no matter which side of the border you live on.

Communication about measles between the two health departments is "informal" but "very good," Ocaranza said. Covarrubias said his team was alerted last week to a case of someone who became sick in El Paso and returned home to Juarez.

"There is constant concern in Ciudad Juarez  because we have travelers that pass through from across the world," Covarrubias said. "With a possible case of measles without taking precautions, many, many people could be infected."

Measles at the U.S.-Canada border

Michigan health officials said the outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County are linked to Ontario.

The state's chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, expects to see more cases. Michigan has a 95% vaccination rate for measles, mumps and rubella, but it hides weak spots  counties with 70% vaccination rates and individual schools where just 30% of kids vaccinated.

"If we think about measles as a forest fire, we've got these burning embers that are floating in the air right now," Bagdasarian said. "Whether those embers result in another wildfire just depends on where they land."

In Canada, six out of 10 provinces have reported measles cases. Alberta has the second-most with 83 as of April 12, according to government data.

Case counts in Ontario reached 1,020 as of Wednesday, mostly in the southwest part that borders Michigan. In one of the hardest-hit regions, Chatham-Kent Public Health officials announced a public exposure at a Mennonite church on Easter Sunday.

"It sometimes feels like we're just behind, always trying to catch up to measles," Dr. Sarah Wilson, a public health physician for Public Health Ontario. "It's always moving somewhere."
A hiker who spies a tick on her boot or a mushroom hunter who pulls one off his body might be curious about what kind of tick it is and, especially in the second case, whether its carrying any pathogens.

As of Thursday, Nebraskans can pack up the arachnid, fill out an online submission form and mail the tick off to the Nebraska Tick Testing Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for free identification and testing.

Those who submit ticks will get an emailed report indicating the type of tick and whether it tested positive for agents that cause tickborne diseases. And researchers will glean more information they can use to build a database of the types of ticks and the prevalence of particular tickborne pathogens in different parts of the state.

Shaun Cross, an assistant professor in UNMCs College of Public Health, said the program will be the first robust service of its kind in the Midwest, including Nebraska. Tick identification programs are more widely available in the northeastern United States, although they typically dont include testing.

The time is now, he said. Nebraskas getting new ticks moving in, and were seeing increased cases and (increased) burden of tickborne diseases across the United States generally.

In addition to helping researchers understand where ticks are located and what pathogens theyre carrying, Cross said, the program will help inform Nebraskans about their potential for exposure to pathogens that could result in tickborne diseases.

Cross noted that the tick testing laboratory he leads is not a diagnostic facility and that test results cant be used to make a medical diagnosis. Submitters should see their health care provider if they begin to experience signs and symptoms of tickborne illnesses, whether the labs tests are negative or positive.

But the results, he said, could offer a starting point to empower both potential patients and providers, some of whom may not be familiar with the new diseases moving into the state.

Health officials first reported that blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, had established a presence in eastern Nebraska in 2019. Two Nebraska cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2021, with both patients likely exposed near each other in northeast Nebraskas Thurston County. Researchers also isolated the bacteria from ticks collected in the area, confirming that local ticks were carrying the bacteria.

The Lone star tick, which is widely distributed in the southeastern and eastern United States, also appears to be expanding its range in Nebraska and has been found in east, southeast, northeast, north central, south central and southwest regions of the state.

Infected Lone star ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis and tularemia to humans. Bites from the tick also have been associated with alpha-gal syndrome, commonly known as red meat allergy.

To help Nebraskans track such movement, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services recently launched the Nebraska Tick Surveillance Map, a website that maps county-level reports of where different species of ticks have been found in Nebraska and what diseases each can carry. The state has been actively surveying for ticks since 2021.

Nebraska also is seeing a significant increase in reported cases of tickborne diseases, state health officials said, although its numbers are nowhere near those recorded in northern and eastern states where Lyme disease is endemic.

The median number of reported tickborne diseases in Nebraska increased by almost 60% from the 10-year period between 2005 and 2014 to the most recent period between 2015 and 2024.

Cross said the tick testing program also will provide information to the state health department. The program is part of the Nebraska Tick Network, a group that includes researchers at other University of Nebraska campuses, Creighton University and other institutions as well as agencies such as NDHHS and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The testing team also will provide annual reports with a heat map to track ticks and pathogens in counties across Nebraska and, eventually, the Midwest region. The testing program also will accept tick samples from outside Nebraska.

The program also will work with Nebraska One Health, a UNL-based program that focuses on connections among human, animal and environmental health. One of its partners is Tick Tag Go, an education and surveillance program that allows people to submit photos of ticks for identification via the iNaturalist app.

Were trying to add another layer to help the public, Cross said.


By Bob Clark,

Guest writer for Taxpayers Association of Oregon



As the Oregon legislature considers increasing Oregons gasoline tax by another 20 cents per gallon and squeezing fossil fuel supplies via Net Zero plans, it seems rather likely that Oregons economy will suffer relative to most other states, where the cost of transportation fuel, namely gasoline, is more than 20% lower on average.

It is worth considering that as gasoline prices dip to $3 or less, depending on local utility electric rates, the energy/fuel savings represented by all-electric cars evaporate almost entirely relative to hybrid gas-electric cars (such as a Toyota corolla with 55 Miles per Gallon efficiency).

Meanwhile, California is becoming a basket case, as the number of refineries in the state declines, leaving the state increasingly dependent on importing gasoline from overseas  this despite California having large untapped in-ground petroleum oil reserves and what was once a fleet of in-state refineries. Two refineries in California have announced plans to permanently close. The California state government is so desperate that it is considering taking over refineries with the thought of preventing further declines in the states gasoline supplies.

Oregon does not have any oil refineries and depends on neighboring states to supply it with gasoline  such that, gasoline supply developments in California and the state of Washington significantly impact Oregon gasoline prices.
BLOOMINGTON  Steve Vose, a Bloomington retiree and veteran of the U.S. Navy, said the United States of America as it stands is not the same country he grew up in.

It is our nation (and) we are the United States of America, Vose said. That means we stay united and we always have been united but not right now.

However, there currently are forces are working against the rights outlined in the Constitution, he said.

That was the reason Vose gave for why, with an American flag in hand, he was one of more than a hundred people who attended the May Day: Peaceful Rally for Democracy organized by Voices for Reason on Thursday.

Hundreds of similar protests popped up across the country supporting labor rights, immigrant rights and civil rights and opposing the policies of the Trump Administration that would endanger these rights.

"We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes  public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, housing over homelessness," said Jodie Slothower, a leader of Voices of Reason, in a news release. "This is exactly the kind of peaceful rally Governor Pritzker spoke about in New Hampshire recently."

Attendees gathered outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts at 4:30 p.m. holding up signs along East Street while chanting messages like "We will, we will vote you out" and "Due process equals justice."

Organizers then arranged a series of speakers starting at 5 p.m., each with similar message of taking action, whether it be by voting, running for local elected offices or by just giving back.

First was McLean County Board member Corey Beirne, who said May Day is a worldwide celebration that acknowledges the contributions of the workers of the world who want to see fairness, equity and justice and stand against authoritarians.

He also encouraged a more proactive approach to handling any authoritarian actions of the federal government.

We've tried responding to the noise and the mess and the nonsense that comes out as it happens, Beirne said. Let's not do that. Let's be proactive and come up with bold solutions, and let's get excited about those bold actions that are happening here in McLean in McLean County right now.

One such project Beirne said he is excited about would bring broadband speed to every corner of the county.

We need folks to stand up and fill the space, Beirne said. Get out of the comment sections and get into the rooms where people are taking action.

Laurie Bergner, a board member for the Immigration Project and Heartland Community College, also spoke to the crowd Thursday. She said the Immigration Project provides free legal, health and social services to immigrants all over the state south of Interstate 80.

Our rallies and protests give support to the legislators that are trying to do the right thing and they're giving support to the courts that are under such pressure, Bergner said. We need to have them see that this is what we want.

Another speaker was Delaney Reynolds, a senior at Illinois State University and president of the ISU College Democrats for the past two years, who highlighted the record-breaking voter turnout at the Bone Student Center during the last two elections.

During the November general election, more than 6,500 students cast ballots at the student center. During Aprils consolidated election, there were over 350 votes cast.

We are tired of performing our civic duty and voting for people who are not standing up and they're standing idly by as the Trump administration is allowing things to happen to citizens of this country, Reynolds said. We're going to keep voting and we're going to keep our words out there.

Last month, the United Faculty of Illinois State University ratified its very first collective bargaining agreement after being in negotiations for more than a year.

Ashley Farmer and Keith Pluymers, who serve as the transitional co-chairs of UFISU, said on Thursday, the contract will strengthen ISU and make it a better place for students to learn and members to work.

This led to chants of Get up, get down, Blo-No is a union town.

Pluymers said the contract was able to ensure fair wages, clear workplace rules, improvements to the learning environments of every student and locks on every door. However, it is still a dangerous time for higher education.

Higher ed is under attack from the federal government trying to cut our funds, Pluymers said. At a moment when that is in danger, the state of Illinois can step and say that we value public colleges and universities, (so) call your (representatives) and tell them to get behind us today.

During the protests, organizers also collected canned goods, which will be donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's food pantry. Voices of Reason, which is affiliated with the national Indivisible organization, also urged attendees to shop locally at the downtown farmer's market, which begins on Saturday, and to contact their Congressional representatives.
BLOOMINGTON  A Bloomington man has been detained in McLean County, accused of punching a woman in the face and stabbing a man in the back.

Wilson A. Lara Manzano, 26, is charged with the following:

one count of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony;

three counts of domestic battery, Class A misdemeanors;

one count of aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, a Class A misdemeanor;

one count of causing a child to be endangered, a Class A misdemeanor;

two counts of violation of pretrial release, Class A misdemeanors.

The defendant appeared in custody Wednesday afternoon before Judge Don Knapp for a detention hearing.

Assistant State's Attorney David Fitt filed a petition to detain Lara Manzano on the grounds dangerousness and willful flight. Public Defender Ron Lewis, who represented the defendant Wednesday, conceded to detention.

According to the probable cause statement provided to The Pantagraph, on April 26, Lara Manzano was intoxicated when he suddenly started punching a woman repeatedly in the backseat of a car.

A man tried to intervene, telling Lara Manzano to stop, "which angered the defendant more," according to the probable cause.

When the three arrived at a shared residence, the woman went inside to get her infant child and hid in a bedroom.

Lara Manzano followed her, and when she came out the bedroom with the baby in her arms, Lara Manzano grabbed a kitchen knife and began to chase her, shouting "You're going to pay," according to the statement.

During this incident, Lara Manzano was in violation of court orders to have no contact with that residence and no contact with a woman who was present, according to the probable cause. He was also on pretrial release for a separate aggravated domestic battery case for which he was released April 17.

The woman who had been watching the baby while the others were gone told police when the others arrived she heard yelling and the other woman crying.

When she tried to defend the woman holding the baby, Lara Manzano grabbed her by her hair and pulled her.

The man who had been in the car with them attempted to intervene to stop Lara Manzano from chasing the woman with the baby.

The defendant then began chasing him while yelling "I'm going to kill you!"

The man ran outside to escape, but Lara Manzano continued chasing him. When he caught up to the man in the middle of the street, Lara Manzano stabbed him in the back, according to the probable cause.

When police responded to the scene, officers observed a large bump on the woman's left eye, approximately 4 inches in diameter. Her eye appeared to barely be able to open, an officer noted.

The man who had been stabbed had a laceration on his back approximately 3 inches long, with blood dripping from the wound, police said. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Neighbors told police the two victims had sought refuge, banging on their door and asking to be let in. The neighbors then called the police.

"The defendant got down on his knees and began begging for forgiveness," according to the probable cause statement.

Later, the defendant told police he had pulled the woman's hair and pushed her face against the car window, but he "did not know if she hit her face or not and denied hitting her." Lara Manzano also told police he was defending himself when he made physical contact with the man and the other woman.

On March 21, the woman he is accused of punching had an emergency order of protection issued against Lara Manzano in North Carolina and a plenary order of protection March 28, ordering he have no contact with her.

The defendant has been served an emergency order of protection in Mecklenburg, North Carolina on March 21 for offenses he allegedly committed against the female victim in his newest McLean County case, meaning he was ordered to have no contact with the woman prior to the incident in which he punched her in the face.

When officers asked Lara Manzano if he was aware of the order of protection, he said he did not care about the order.

Knapp ordered Lara Manzano be detained pending trial. He is scheduled for an arraignment on May 16.
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This election, social media has been a major battleground as candidates try to reach younger voters. As Gen Z and Millennials now make up the dominant voter bloc in Australia, securing their support is more electorally important than ever.

This effort has also played out on Chinese social media platforms, namely WeChat and RedNote. Thousands of Australians use these apps, often as a main source of news.

The RECapture research team has been tracking political activity on these platforms for years. Between October 2024 and April 2025, we observed 319 Liberal Party advertisements, 68 Labor Party advertisements, and 258 ads from independent candidates on WeChat. More than 20 Australian politicians used RedNote for self-promotion. Both platforms are becoming increasingly popular among politicians.

But there's a catch: political communication on these apps is either banned or hidden. So how do candidates work around the rules?

We've found they use influencers and third parties, blurring the lines between authorized political advertising and undisclosed campaigning.

Skirting the rules

Platforms such as Facebook and Google maintain public ad repositories to document political advertising.

On WeChat and RedNote, however, such content is not formally registered or subject to public scrutiny.

Since 2019, WeChat has been a key platform for Australian politicians trying to reach Chinese-Australian voters.

From 2022 onwards, our research has observed the rising political popularity of RedNote, driven by its low entry barriers and emphasis on visual content.

In January, a shift of US-based users from TikTok to RedNote further elevated the platform's prominence. Now, candidates of all stripes are using it.

But WeChat bans political advertisements and campaigning. RedNote uses shadowbanning (the covert hiding of specific content) to limit the visibility of political accounts.

As a result, political figures in democracies globally often bypass these restrictions by working with Chinese-language media or influencers to reach Chinese-speaking voters.

This tactic enables political messaging outside platform and regulatory oversight. It undermines transparency and accountability in political communication.

How do political ads work on WeChat?

Political advertising on WeChat isn't transparent. WeChat requires official account registration through Chinese businesses recognized by Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent.

In Australia, Chinese-language media outlets serve as intermediaries. They distribute political campaign materials on behalf of candidates.

Political advertising on WeChat is presented in three main formats:

embedded within articles

as sponsored content

and as short videos distributed via WeChat's Channel function.

Advertising costs are typically negotiated between media outlets and campaign teams, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the outlet's influence and the ad's target demographic.

Spending on political ads on WeChat isn't disclosed anywhere, so it's very hard to track how much money is being spent this way.

What do these ads look like?

For example, we identified Scott Yung, a Liberal candidate for Bennelong, and Andy Yin, a former Liberal Party member now running as an independent for Bradfield. They both published between two and eight political advertisements on WeChat daily in April.

These ads were in addition to their self-promotional content and other campaigning activities via short videos.

This content sometimes includes celebrity endorsements. In 2019 and 2025, respectively, Yung and Yin used third-party media and marketing companies based in China to recruit celebrities to endorse their campaigns.

However, such strategies are criticized domestically due to concerns about potential "Chinese influence" and perceived links to the Communist Party of China.

But behind the public political ads lies a semi-private form of campaigning.

By attaching a QR code to their political ads, candidates direct their campaigns to private group chats, enabling a more targeted form of engagement (observed in the case of Liberal candidate for Reid Grange Chung's sponsored content).

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What about RedNote?

Non-Chinese Australian politicians often get around shadowbans on RedNote by signaling their connection to Chinese communities through symbolic gestures. This includes posts showcasing their visits to Chinese restaurants or photos taken at Lunar New Year community events.

Candidates of Chinese background often highlight their connections with prominent white Australian politicians, such as former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, to show their standing and political credibility within the party.

Discussions of party policies, especially controversial ones such as Australia-US-China relations, are rare. When they do occur, they are often selectively focused on matters of concern to Chinese migrants or those deemed safe for discussion on RedNote.

Chinese-Australian candidates often organize their offline campaign events to target Chinese-Australian influencers. The influencers then disseminate relevant content on RedNote.

As a result, candidates rely on content creators, influencers, supporters, migrant businesses and Chinese-language media outlets to promote their campaigns.

Regulations falling by the wayside

Candidates usually follow authorization disclosure rules on their English social media pages.

These rules, however, are often disregarded on RedNote or WeChat.

Candidates often outsource their campaigning work to Chinese media and marketing agencies. This means the candidates have minimal oversight of the activities taking place on these platforms, raising concerns about whether electoral regulations may be inadvertently violated in the process.

We've found instances of unauthorized pages of politicians and candidates that have gone unnoticed by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

These are hard to find because the content is largely shadowbanned. If users or the AEC searched a particular candidate's name, they wouldn't be able to find much.

In April, the AEC advised rules around authorizing this sort of content. It said electoral communications distributed by people or organizations that are not political entities still require authorization if monetary or gifts-in-kind transactions are involved.

The AEC's guidance further says political parties should include an authorization if they repost collaborative content. The general principle is: "when in doubt, authorize it."

The key challenges here are identifying who collaborates with whom, on which platform, how content is remixed, and whether the collaboration is voluntary or involves monetary or in-kind transactions.

The AEC doesn't actively monitor Chinese social media platforms. This makes enforcing any regulations almost impossible.

Given how much political candidates are using these apps, there needs to be better regulatory oversight of what happens on them.

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The intensification of existing farmland can sometimes be more harmful to local biodiversity than expanding the area covered by agricultural land, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

They showed that neither expansion nor intensification is consistently better for biodiversity, as it varies by factors including region, crop type and local vegetation.

The findings, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, challenge the conventional wisdom in favor of intensification, which encourages farmers to improve the productivity of existing farmland with techniques such as increased fertilizer and pesticide use.

Lead author Dr. Silvia Ceausu (UCL Center for Biodiversity & Environment Research, UCL Biosciences) said, "Feeding the global human population comes at an increasing cost for our planet's biodiversity. To mitigate this, the common assumption is that intensifying agricultural practices is always less detrimental to biodiversity than farmland expansion.

"But our new research highlights that it's actually more complicated than that. We show that farmland expansion is indeed drastically changing local biodiversity. However, once agriculture is established, intensifying agricultural practices can further degrade local biodiversity, sometimes more so than by further removing natural vegetation from the area.

"Our findings suggest that closing 'yield gaps'maximizing production on existing agricultural land in a given areacould come at a higher ecological cost than previously thought."

The researchers conducted a global assessment of the impacts on biodiversity from farmland intensification or expansion, using a large biodiversity database, natural vegetation data, and agricultural yield estimates.

They looked at existing agricultural areas (with varying amounts of natural vegetation near the farms; natural areas without any agriculture were excluded) producing maize, soybean, wheat, and rice, four common crops that together represent over half of the total global calorie production.

To measure biodiversity, the scientists looked at species richness (how many different species are in an area), total abundance (how many individuals there are of each species) and the geographical distribution of each species, and they looked at this both in the agricultural area and the surrounding areas.

The researchers found that overall, increasing crop yields by either route is harmful to biodiversity. But as for whether expansion or intensification was more or less harmful, it varied depending on the context, in terms of the region, crop type, or characteristics of the remaining natural vegetation, as well as which measure of biodiversity was used.

The study authors say their findings could have relevance to global agricultural policies and trade initiatives, particularly those aimed at curbing deforestation, as some have requirements for crops to come only from established farmland, which the researchers say may be an oversimplification of the evidence.

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While the data are very complex to determine in which situations expansion or intensification is less harmful, they suggest that farmers could at least focus on sustainable intensification techniques, such as biological pest controls and keeping patches of natural vegetation between fields.

For consumers, given the complexities involved in determining the sustainability of different products, the researchers suggest reducing food waste and meat consumption.

Co-author Professor Tim Newbold (UCL Center for Biodiversity & Environment Research, UCL Biosciences) said, "Finding the most sustainable way to increase crop yields is very complicated and depends on numerous factors, so simple suggestions like favoring farmland intensification over expansion are not always effectivethere's no one-size-fits all solution for sustainable agriculture."

The researchers caution that their study only looked at existing agricultural areas, and does not suggest that cultivating natural areas would be appropriate.

"We would not suggest expanding farmland into intact natural areas as it is vital for the planet that such unmodified landscapes are preserved," added Dr. Newbold.

Co-author David Leclere (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria) said, "In order to protect biodiversity while meeting food demand, we may need to rethink how we balance expansion and intensification in agriculture. There is likely a balance that can be struck between intensification and expansion in agricultural landscapes, informed by local and crop-specific data and considering the full range of environmental impacts."

More information: Silvia Ceausu et al, Geography and availability of natural habitat determine whether cropland intensification or expansion is more detrimental to biodiversity, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02691-x Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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France's flagship scientific research center CNRS has launched a new initiative, in an apparent effort to lure US scientists hit by federal research spending cuts under President Donald Trump.

The program aims to attract foreign researchers whose work is threatened and French researchers working abroad, some of whom "don't want to live and raise their children in Trump's United States," said CNRS President Antoine Petit.

According to Petit, the "Choose CNRS" initiative has already resulted in some contacts, although the "vast majority are non-Americans."

The CNRS is Europe's largest scientific research center with some 34,000 staff.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by France and European countries to cash in on US President Donald Trump's massive cuts in funding for education.

Since Trump's return in January, US universities have been threatened with massive federal funding cuts.

Research programs face closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, whilst foreign students fear possible deportation for their political views.

President Emmanuel Macron urged France's research institutions in March to attract and welcome US-based scientists.

France's "Choose France for Science" initiative launched mid-April with a dedicated platform for applications to host international researchers.

"Some foreign researchers have already arrived in France to familiarize themselves with the infrastructure, waiting for the funds and platform to be set up," France's research ministry said.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend on Monday a "Choose science choose Europe" event, "at a time when academic freedoms face a number... of threats" and Europe "is a continent of attractiveness," the Elysee Palace said.

In France, the Aix-Marseille University launched its "Safe place for science" program in March. It will receive its first foreign researchers in June.

Petit said the CNRS wanted researchers of all levels, from younger post-doctorates and junior professors to external research directors.

The CNRS also aims to recruit "stars" of international scientific research but money remains the driving force behind scientific research and Petit said the CNRS did not have a "very large" room for maneuver.

"The motivation of a researcher is never the remuneration," he said, but above all "the work environment, with its infrastructure and the opportunity to confront the best" scientists.

Petit expressed hope that the pay gap between scientists in France and the United States will narrow, once the lower cost of education and health, and more generous social benefits are taken into account.

 2025 AFP
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House Republicans passed a measure on May 1 that would repeal the government's decision to place California's longfin smelt, a finger-sized fish, on the endangered species list.

House members passed the resolution, introduced by Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, in a 216195 vote that followed party lines. The resolution now goes to the GOP-controlled Senate.

"We want to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's misguided decision to list the San Francisco Bay Delta population of the longfin smelt as being endangered," LaMalfa, who represents a rice-growing region in Northern California, said before the vote.

He said the agency's decision last year to declare the fish species endangered was "unscientific" and said it's making it harder to deliver water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmers.

The resolution was condemned by Democrats, who said the resolution goes against science and years of study by federal wildlife officials.

"They're turning a small fish into a very large scapegoat, pretending it will somehow provide real support to farmers," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

"The longfin population has declined over 99% since the 1980s," Huffman said. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service followed the law, the data and the science, just as Congress intended."

The resolution would repeal the Fish and Wildlife Service's 2024 decision under provisions of the 1996 Congressional Review Act, which enables Congress to review and disapprove rules adopted by agencies under certain circumstances.

The measure will next be considered by the Senate, where opponents said they fear it could also be passed. If approved and signed by President Donald Trump, it would be the first action by Congress to use its authority under the 1996 law to strip protections from a species under the Endangered Species Act.

Longfin smelt, which live in bays and estuaries along the Pacific Coast, are the sixth fish species in the San Francisco Bay estuary to be added to the federal endangered species list. The fish once filled the bay, but federal wildlife officials declared the population endangered after determining it had suffered a drastic decline.

The agency's decision followed a lengthy process that began with a 2007 petition submitted by environmental groups and that involved several lawsuits. The fish were listed by California as threatened in 2009.

Environmental groups said the decline of the longfin smelt, along with other fish species including Delta smelt and Chinook salmon, is linked to water management policies that have reduced flows through the estuary and contributed to worsening water quality.

"The resolution would essentially condemn San Francisco Bay's longfin smelt to extinction," said Jon Rosenfield, science director for the group San Francisco Baykeeper. "Removing protections for these fish would also be a blow to other imperiled fish populations, fisheries, and clean water in the Delta."

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed an LGBTQ Student Support Index, a 47-item list of practices recommended for universities to support sexual and gender minority students. Within the context of a nationwide push for universities to take action in support of sexual and gender minority students, this index can serve as a practical tool to help institutions realize this goal.

The work has been published in The Journal of NIAD-QE.

Sexual and gender minorities, collectively referred to as LGBT or LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, and others), constitute approximately 10% of the Japanese population. While Japan has faced criticism for lagging behind other developed countries in supporting and understanding sexual and gender minorities, in 2023, the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act was passed.

Although there remains a pressing need for universities and other higher education institutions to take necessary action, efforts to promote understanding are lacking, with only a few universities making notable progress. One reason for this is the lack of specific indicators to guide universities in their efforts.

In this study, researchers examined the reliability and validity of the LGBTQ Student Support Index, which was developed based on the results of a survey conducted with support staff and LGBTQ students at leading universities.

These indicators summarize the 47 items that we recommend universities address, ranging from inclusive policies to specific support services.

The LGBTQ Student Support Index features seven items related to the organization of the university, such as its overall policies and systems; 12 items concerning the environment of the university, such as facilities and equipment, awareness-raising efforts, and safer spaces; and 28 items related to students of the university, including identifying information and classroom support. The index was found to exhibit sufficient validity, retest reliability, and internal consistency.

The LGBTQ Student Support Index is more than just a tool; it serves as a potential turning point for universities. It is expected to be leveraged as a concrete tool for universities that are beginning to develop support systems for sexual and gender minority students. It will provide a clear roadmap for institutions, allowing them to navigate the complex landscape of LGBTQ+ support.

For universities already engaged in this work, it serves as a self-assessing tool, enabling them to assess their current efforts and identify areas for improvement. Moreover, a guidebook has also been published to support the practical implementation of the index, making it easier for institutions to drive positive change.

More information: Ayumu Watanabe, et al. Development, Reliability, and Validity of LGBTQ Student Support Index in Japanese Universities: Co-Creation with LGBTQ Students. The Journal of NIAD-QE (2025). DOI: 10.32175/kaikakugakui.2025.26006
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Researchers from the Institute for Environmental Sciences (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have unveiled DYNAMO-M, a global agent-based model that projects how farmers across the world's coasts may respond to the growing threat of coastal flooding and salt intrusion due to sea level rise (SLR). The model, which will be presented at the EGU General Assembly 2025 in Vienna (EGU25), offers new insights into the challenges faced by 13 million farming households globally.

Using decision-making logic rooted in discounted expected utility (DEU) theory, DYNAMO-M doesn't just forecast physical impactsit simulates real human choices: stay and absorb losses, adapt with salt-tolerant crops and elevated homes, or migrate inland. These decisions play out year by year, crop by crop, from 2020 through 2080, covering 23 major food crops in flood-prone areas worldwide. "Rising seas are forcing a decision: stay, adapt, or migrate," says lead researcher Kushagra Pandey.

The stakes are enormous. Rising salinity and floodwaters are already slashing crop yields and farming income. DYNAMO-M identifies hotspots of future migration, with vulnerable coastal regions in Florida, New York, Oregon, Japan, China, the Philippines, and Italy likely to see major shifts in population and land use. Notably, the model also highlights areas within 1 in 100 year floodplains, which are at particular risk.

But it's not all doom and displacement. The team also tested insurance schemes and government support policies in the model, revealing that smart interventions could significantly reduce the pressure to migrate and help communities stay and thrive despite the rising tides. "Small subsidies can significantly enhance adaptive capacity and reduce migration driven by sea-level rise," continues Kushagra Pandey.

The findings push the frontier of climate risk modeling and offer actionable insights for governments, insurers, and global development agencies grappling with how to support frontline farming communities in a warming world. DYNAMO-M could be the missing link in understanding one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: what happens when our farmlands floodand the farmers have to choose what to do next.

More information: Kushagra Pandey et al, How will 13 million global farming households respond to coastal flooding and salt intrusion under sea level rise? DYNAMO-M (2025). DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10487
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With US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's "proud" cancellation of the military's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program, the "war on woke" has found its latest frontierwar itself.

Stemming from a United Nations Security Council resolution in 2000, the WPS initiative aimed to increase the participation of women in public institutions, including in the security sector and in peace-making roles.

The WPS agenda aims to better understand how women, men, boys and girls experience war, peace and security differently. It increases operational effectiveness and supports the underlying goal of gender equality, described by the UN as the "No. 1 predictor of peace."

In the military context, it emphasizes the need to increase the participation of women and to better protect non-combatant women in war, particularly from the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence.

The decision to end the program as part of a wider war on diversity, equity and inclusion seems to assume national security and military power are incompatible with the promotion of racial and gender equality.

In other words, it assumes certain types of people aren't really cut out to be "warfighters." And it asserts that anything other than basic skill (such as weapons handling) undermines readiness and ability in warfare.

History and the available evidence suggest both ideas are wrong.

The archetypal warrior envisaged by Hegseth and others is one who relies on very traditional concepts of what constitutes a warrior and who that might be: not female, definitely not transgender, ideally also not gay.

Recent bans on transgender personnel in the US military, the removal of mandatory mental resilience training, and the "disappearance" from US museums and memorials of the records of the military contribution of women and minorities, reinforce these ideas.

The ideal soldier, according to the new doctrine, is straight, white, physically fit, stoic and male. Yet people of all stripes have served their countries ably and with honor.

Hard-won progress in retreat

Military service is allocated a privileged kind of status in society, despite (or perhaps because of) the ultimate sacrifice it can entail. That status has long been the preserve of men, often of a particular class or ethnicity.

But women and minorities around the world have fought for the right to enter the military, often as part of broader campaigns for greater equality within society in general.

But there remains resistance to these "interlopers." No matter their individual capabilities, women are painted as too physically weak, as a threat to combat unit cohesion, or a liability because of their particular health needs.

Women, in particular, are often perceived as being too emotional or lacking authority for military command. Minorities are seen as requiring distracting rules about cultural sensitivity, presenting language challenges, or are stereotyped as not cut out for leadership.

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But problem solvinga key military requirementis best tackled with a range of views and approaches. Research from the business world shows diverse teams are more successful, including delivering higher financial returns.

At a more granular level, we also know that minority groups have often outperformed other military units, as exemplified by the extraordinary feats of the New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion in World War I and the 28th Maori Battalion in World War II.

Women, too, have proved themselves many times over, most recently in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As well as matching the skills of their male counterparts, they also had different, useful approaches to roles such as intelligence gathering in conflict zones.

The 'woke warrior'

The competence of military personnel is not determined by sex, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. Rather, competence is determined by a combination of learned skills, training, education, physical ability, mental agility, resilience, experience, interpersonal skills and leadership qualities.

Any suggestion that military units are best served by being made up of only heterosexual men with "alpha" tendencies is undermined by the evidence. In fact, a monocultural, hypermasculine military may increase the potential for harassment, bullying or worse.

Modern military roles also involve a much wider range of skills than the traditional and stereotypically male infantry tasks of digging, walking with a pack, firing guns and killing an enemy.

In modern warfare, personnel may also need to engage in "hearts and minds" counterinsurgency, or in "gray zone" tactics, where specializations in intelligence, cyber or drone piloting are more highly prized. Militaries are also much more likely to be deployed to non-warfighting roles, such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

This isn't to say "controlled aggression" and other traditionally alpha-male attributes don't have their place. But national military strategies increasingly stress the need to train ethical and compassionate soldiers to successfully carry out government objectives.

The evolution of war requires the evolution of the military forces that fight them. The cancellation of the Women, Peace and Security program in the US threatens to put a stop to this process, at least in that country.

Despite Pete Hegseth's claim to be increasing "warfighting" capability, then, there is a real chance the move will decrease operational effectiveness, situational awareness and problem solving in conflict situations.

Far from being peripheral, the Women, Peace and Security program is central to the future of all military activity, and to developing conceptions of war, peace and security. Hegseth's "proud moment" looks less like winning a "war on woke" and more like a retreat from an understanding of the value a diverse military has created.

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Most weekends, the Facebook pages dedicated to the Orlando Wetlands focus on spectacular pictures of nature in actionhuge, hungry gators, mischievous otters and a flamboyant array of nesting birds.

But last weekend, a pair of unwelcome fliers sailed into the 1,650-acre park about 25 miles east of Orlando, causing a commotion that sparked an outcry among visitors and led to the filing of complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division.

The fliers piloted motor-powered paragliders into the protected space where even drones are forbidden.

"I saw them coming in," said James McNair, 61, a hospice nurse who spends most weekends with his camera gear at the wetlands and who serves as moderator of the Facebook page Orlando Wetlands Photography.

McNair snapped pictures of the fliers, one of whom headed directly toward a cypress tree dome, the main spot for nesting birds, which included wood storks, a long-legged wading species federally listed as threatened.

The wetlands is home to hundreds of species of birds, from plain-looking flycatchers to bright pink Roseate spoonbills, and more than 60 kinds of butterflies. Alligators, bobcats, coyotes, otters and raccoons also roam the marshy grounds.

McNair said he watched the paraglider sail toward the rookeries, flying closer and closer before pulling up at the last second. Dozens of birds scattered, abandoning nests and chicks.

When the paraglider drifted away, the birds slowly returned.

"But it definitely spooked a lot of them," McNair said.

The nature community reacted angrily online to McNair's photos of the fliers.

Some called for the FAA to investigate. Others described the fliers as self-entitled and idiots.

"Wish they landed on a gator," one post mused.

In response to critics, a man posted an apology in the Facebook group, suggesting he was one of the fliers.

The Orlando Sentinel was unable to verify his identity or contact him.

"I respect nature and always try to respect peopleI was out flying around and didn't know the wetlands park was there," the post read. "If I would have known, we would have steered clear of it. Never try [to] ruffle anyone's feathers, and I'm sorry to anyone that might have gotten upset with [us] flying by. It won't happen again since we know it's there now."

Mark Sees, the Orlando Wetlands manager, referred an inquiry to the city's communication team.

Spokesperson Ashley Papagni said the city learned of "low-flying paragliders over the Orlando Wetlands" from photos and community concerns. "One of the individuals involved later contacted us directly, expressed regret, and we were able to clarify the sensitive nature and the importance of protecting wildlife," Papagni said.

She did not name the individual, but said the incident was reported to the FAA and FWC.

Chad Weber, a law enforcement officer with the state wildlife agency, said investigators were gathering information about the incident, and it could potentially fall under Florida laws prohibiting harassment of wildlife.

The city acquired the 1,650 acres in 1986 for about $5.13 million to filter reclaimed wastewater. Water flows through the marsh and the plants, which consume the nutrients before the cleaned liquid spills into the St. John's River.

In December 2022, the city opened a 2,200-foot boardwalk to allow hikers, birdwatchers and other visitors a view over the water and closer to the coots, egrets, herons and wood storks who nest near the cypress dome.

"It's what I consider a hidden jewel of Central Florida," said Bruce Doerle, 77, a nature photographer.

Doerle said the paragliders are probably attracted to the wetlands area for the same reasons as birds.

Not many houses and a beautiful view from up high, he said.

On its website, the United States Powered Paragliding Association notes that "Airspace can be very intimidating to a lot of paramotor pilots."

"It means there are some places where we need permission to fly and other places where we don't."

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Ukraine and the US have signed a much-anticipated deal on natural resources. The deal would open up some of the war-torn country's mineral and energy resources to the United States.

The Conversation spoke to Dr. Gavin Harper, a Critical Materials Research Fellow at the Birmingham Center for Strategic Elements and Critical Materials, about the deal and what it means for both Washington and Kyiv.

What mineral resources exist in Ukraine?

The agreement between Ukraine and the US provides a list of 57 mineral resources which it applies to. Ukraine has reserves of lithium and rare earth metals valued in the trillions of dollars. Rare earth metals are a group of 17 elements, including scandium and yttrium, that are used in technology and important industrial processes.

Ukraine is also a producer of manganese, a key material in metallurgy and some of the widely used lithium-ion batteries, as well as graphite, which is also used in lithium ion batteries. Ukraine also holds major deposits of zirconium silicate, which is indispensable in the ceramics industry. Ukraine's extraction of graphite is limited, and lithium deposits have gone untouched due to the ongoing war and the need for new mining technology and investment.

The regions of Ukraine that are currently occupied by Russia are known to possess considerable reserves of critical minerals, which are vital for modern technologies. These critical minerals include lithium, titanium, graphite, and rare earth elements.

There are, however, significant challenges. Many geologists have contended that some of the critical materials Ukraine possesses are not particularly desirable to extract from an economic point of view. Some in the mining industry believe that other aspects of the deal, such as oil and gas, and access to mining infrastructure, may in the near term be the more desirable components of the deal.

While the agreement considers the primary, mined resources from the ground, Ukraine is also a large importer of new and used electric vehicles. When the components in these vehicles reach the end of life, there is an enormous opportunity to harvest and recycle these critical materials "above the ground." There may be ways to process these materials in tandem with the new industries that will be developed to take advantage of Ukraine's mineral wealth.

Why is the US so interested in Ukraine's mineral resources?

Elements and materials that are economically important, but at risk of short supply are known as critical materials. There are various reasons why these might be in short supply.

Sometimes one or a small number of countries have a monopoly on the supply of a material and can leverage that position for geopolitical influence. For some materials, it is not about the accessibility of material in the ground, but the ability to process and refine it. This is known as "mid-stream processing."

The US realizes that critical materials are key to the technologies that will power the economies of the future, and seeks to secure their supply. This allows them to capitalize on the economic opportunity.

Many of these materials are essential to building the technologies that will aid decarbonization. Given that China currently controls around 60% of global critical materials supply chains and 85% of processing capacity, it is clear why the US sees a strategic interest in developing other supply chains.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has already caused significant challenges around the supply of certain materials, and the ongoing war presents significant challenges to being able to take advantage of and develop the mineral resources Ukraine possesses.

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What applications are these minerals used in?

Graphite and lithium are key to electric vehicle batteries and are considered important critical materials due to their essential roles in the booming lithium-ion battery industry, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and grid storage.

Beryllium, valued for its exceptional lightness, stiffness, and thermal conductivity, is crucial for demanding specialized applications in aerospace, defense and electronics. Manganese is vital in steel production, because it significantly enhances steel's strength and resistance to wear. It's also an increasingly important component of some batteries.

Uranium's most well-known application is as the fuel source in nuclear reactors, and it also has niche uses in medicine and industry.

How will these resources be extracted?

The implementation of the US-Ukraine minerals deal will be challenging because of Russia's war. A primary concern revolves around the significant geographical overlap between Ukraine's critical mineral deposits and the active war zones in the eastern and southern regions of the country.

The significant damage to Ukrainian infrastructure presents a challenge to the development of new industries and the movement of extracted goods to onward markets.

The economic case for developing critical material deposits rests on a clear and accurate understanding of the mineral wealth that exists, and for some of the resources, it is unclear how accurate that data is.

For some of the types of deposit that are in Ukraine, extractive technologies have not currently been developed to a level where they can be commercialized. It takes a long time to develop new mines and the industries associated with them. So the timescales of developing Ukraine's mineral wealth will be longer than those of political administrations.

It has taken some time for the parties to negotiate the deal, which at times has been contentious. The deal has evolved significantly from the initial proposals, and Ukraine has now agreed to the revised terms.

One thing to note is that the US was one of the signatories, alongside the UK and Russia, of the Budapest Memorandum in 1994. The memorandum's signatories agreed "to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine" and to refrain from threat and use of force and economic coercion against Ukraine.

Given the distressed situation Ukraine finds itself in, the at times challenging negotiations sometimes felt at odds with the wording of this document.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The school curriculum has changed a lot from when many parents and grandparents were at school.

Alongside new approaches to learning math and increasing attention on technology, there is a compulsory focus on social and emotional skills.

Children start developing these skills by watching and observing others as babies. But they also need to be taught about them more activelythink about parents telling kids to say "thank you" or making sure they take turns when playing with friends.

How do schools teach social and emotional skills? And why is it important? Our new research shows how these lessons can improve students' well-being and lead to better academic results.

What do schools teach about social and emotional skills?

As the Productivity Commission noted in 2023, schools should support students' social and emotional well-being to help them "cope with the various stresses of life." It also found strong social and emotional skills support students' ability to engage and learn at school.

Since 2010, social and emotional skills have been a compulsory part of the Australian Curriculum. This involves four key strands for students from the first year of school to Year 10:

Self-awareness: understanding your strengths and limitations and having confidence you can achieve goals Self-management: identifying and managing your emotions, thoughts and behaviors in different situations. This includes managing stress and controlling impulses Social awareness: understanding other perspectives, empathizing with others from different backgrounds and cultures and understanding social expectations for behavior Relationship skills: forming and maintaining healthy relationships, communicating and cooperating. This also includes responsible decision-making and understanding morals and consequences.

How are these skills taught?

Teaching these skills can be done in two ways.

The first is by incorporating them into core academic subjects. For example, an English teacher might ask students to discuss the emotions, behaviors and relationships of characters in a novel. Teachers should also model the skills in their interactions with students.

To do this effectively, teachers need specific knowledge of how to teach these skills. Busy schools may not prioritize this professional development for teachers because, unlike academic knowledge, these skills are not assessed.

The second approach is to use a structured program designed to develop these skills. These programs can particularly help teachers with less training in social and emotional teaching.

However, we know these programs are not always available or implemented adequately in schools. For example, in 2015 we surveyed 600 public, Catholic and independent NSW primary schools. Fewer than two-thirds (60%) taught social and emotional skills using formal programs. And of the programs used, one in three (34%) had either never been tested or showed no positive effects on students' social-emotional skills.

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Why is this important?

But research tells us formal programs can work. Our 2025 study looked at the social and emotional skills of 18,600 Year 6 students in NSW government and non-government primary schools. We also used data from their school leaders about the types of social and emotional skills programs they usedor did not use.

We found students who received structured, evidence-based programs (on average, over three to four years) had better social and emotional skills on our self-report survey than those who did not.

Students who received these programs had social and emotional skills that were 7-10 percentile points better than those who did not. That is, in a group of 100 students, they ranked 7-10 places higher.

But it showed there was only a benefit if programs were evidence-basedthis means they had been formally tested to check they could be taught effectively by teachers in the classroom.

There are academic benefits as well

In another 2025 study, we followed students as they went to high school. We wanted to see how their social and emotional skills in primary school related to their later academic achievement.

We linked our survey data on NSW Year 6 students' self-awareness and self-management skills with their NAPLAN reading and numeracy scores in Year 7. We could do this for almost 24,000 students who participated in our survey and in NAPLAN.

We found increases in these skills were linked to increases in NAPLAN scores. Standard gains ranged between 820 percentile points.

This fits with other research which shows students with strong self-awareness and self-management are more confident about achieving academic goals and more engaged and focused on their learning. This in turn helps them engage and persevere with challenges, so they achieve more academic learning.

What now?

Our research shows how programs teaching social and emotional skills can give young people fundamental skills to navigate learning and life beyond school. But implementation is patchy and not always based on evidence. School today involves more than reading, math and facts. This means all schools need resources and access to effective programs to teach social and emotional skills.

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Co-leads of the QubiC 2.0 and QubiC design from Berkeley Lab's Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division. Credit: Berkeley Lab

Interdisciplinary teams across the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) are using innovative approaches to push the boundaries of superconducting qubit technology, bridging the gap between today's NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) systems and future fault-tolerant systems capable of impactful science applications.

QSA is one of the five United States Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers, bringing together leading pioneers in quantum information science (QIS) and engineering across 15 partner institutions.

A superconducting qubit is made from superconducting materials such as aluminum or niobium, which exhibit quantum effects when cooled to very low temperatures (typically around 20 millikelvins, or -273.13 C). Numerous technology companies and research teams across universities and national laboratories are leveraging superconducting qubits for prototype scientific computing in this rapidly growing field.

However, many challenges in controlling, calibrating, and operating superconducting quantum processors currently hinder qubit performance and restrict the kinds of simulations possible, particularly for investigating complex material systems.

Advancing quantum simulation

The QSA teams at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MIT Lincoln Laboratory simulated how charged particles behave under synthetic electromagnetic fields using superconducting qubits.

Publishing their results in fall 2024 in Nature Physics, the team developed a two-dimensional array of 16 superconducting transmon qubits arranged in a 4 x 4 grid. They modified the qubits' properties with continuous signals using independent electrical control lines for each qubit. The resulting behavior of the qubit grid emulates a magnetic vector potential, a key concept in electromagnetism that impacts how charged particles move in materials.

"Now we can dial in any electromagnetic field we wanteven fields beyond what is practically feasible in a laboratory environmentand watch how the motion of quantum particles changes in the field. Our work allows quantum computers to simulate much more of the rich behavior of quantum materials," said MIT's Ilan Rosen, who is the paper's lead author.

The team validated their approach to generating synthetic electromagnetic fields by observing the Hall effect, where a charged particle deflects sideways as it moves through a material under a perpendicular magnetic field. In real materials, the Hall effect leads to a voltage across the material, so their experiment demonstrated how precise control and engineering expand the capabilities of quantum simulators.

Expanding on their previous work leveraging the programmability of superconducting qubit arrays, the QSA teams at MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory devised another unique approach to studying particle behavior and localization. They selected ten qubits from the 44 grid to form a one-dimensional rhombic lattice. This qubit configuration enabled researchers to flexibly manipulate particle transport and group velocity, shedding light on complex phenomena in condensed matter physics.

The results were published on the arXiv preprint server in 2024.

The team was able to tweak this lattice using the synthetic electromagnetic field. Without the field, particles move freely (dispersive band regime), but when the magnetic field increases, the particles slow down and eventually get stuck in the lattice (flat-band regime). The introduction of disorder (random energy variations) is also used to study the distinctive transport responses arising from the adjustably flat band structure.

"Our study demonstrates that adding new capabilities to quantum simulatorslike electromagnetic fieldsallows us to study impactful physical systemslike materials with flat-band structures. These techniques are readily extensible to larger lattices, where we can study exotic quantum phases predicted by condensed matter physics theories," added Rosen.

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Pioneering control systems

As programmable superconducting qubit platforms advance fundamental research, there is a growing need in the field for robust control systems. Researchers need to control and direct quantum information systems, performing real-time qubit measurements. A QSA team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) built a modular field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based electronics control system called QubiC 2.0, publishing their results on the arXiv preprint server, (after building its predecessor, QubiC).

QubiC 2.0 is uniquely tailored for superconducting quantum systems and is fully open-source, making it available to the broader community. It operates with room-temperature electronics hardware, FPGA gateware, and engineering software to realize the desired radio frequency pulses to control and measure qubits. The fully open-sourced QubiC 2.0 gateware also provides exquisite low-level access for researchers to all control layers, enabling others to participate in the product's evolution and provide feedback.

"QubiC 2.0 (and its predecessor QubiC) provides a modular, scalable, and cost-effective qubit control hardware system and customized engineering solution for nascent platforms being developed in the field. Community feedback makes it potentially compatible with other quantum computing prototypes and technologies, which QSA is advancing," explained Gang Huang, who co-led the QubiC design from the Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division at Berkeley Lab.

QubiC 2.0 also leverages the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. It integrates a multilayer custom neural network directly on the FPGA chip. According to the team's experimental results, the AI-powered FPGA only takes 54 ns inference time for state discrimination, improving the quantum readout fidelity from 92% to 98%.

"With QubiC 2.0's capabilities, mid-circuit measurement and feed-forward techniques are achievable, enabling the realization of advanced quantum algorithms and a broader class of experiments. This control system meets the growing demands for scalability and open-source systems, fostering co-design in quantum research at QSA and the broader ecosystem," said Yilun Xu, QubiC co-lead at Berkeley Lab's ATAP Division.

Assessing performance

Another example of novel approaches using superconducting qubits was led by a team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with Berkeley Lab and Sandia National Laboratories. Researchers introduced a new technique to assess the performance of quantum logic gates called mirror randomized benchmarking (MRB), which can scale to thousands of qubits. Many widely used methods, like randomized benchmarking, become impractical beyond a small number of qubits.

Their results, published in Physical Review X, demonstrate that the method is highly adaptable, creating a way to study the performance of certain gates or even algorithms without costly computations.

"MRB's scalability allows it to accurately capture multi-qubit crosstalk errors missed by standard one- and two-qubit benchmarks. These crosstalk errors can be highly detrimental to performance. Our MRB results reveal that they constitute a significant fraction of the error in some of today's quantum processors," said lead author Jordan Hines.

QSA teams focusing on superconducting qubit platforms are pushing the boundaries of the nascent quantum technologies and opening new possibilities for advanced computing and the exploration of complex phenomena. From simulating synthetic electromagnetic fields and particle behavior to developing scalable control systems and advanced benchmarking techniques, they're paving the way for versatile quantum systems.

The seamless collaboration across QSA will continue accelerating progress toward fault-tolerant quantum computing and creating new opportunities for exchanging lessons about qubit technologies.
The detention hearing for a Waretown man accused of starting a wildfire that destroyed 15,300 acres and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Ocean County was adjourned Friday to allow defense counsel to submit additional information to see whether his client would be eligible for other release options, including home detention.

Joseph William Kling, 19, was charged April 23 with aggravated arson and arson. He was charged with hindering apprehension Thursday after he allegedly gave false information to police.

Kling is due back in Ocean County Superior Court at 11 a.m. Monday to hear the judges decision.

In reviewing this matter, the court notes that there is a significant concern regarding danger to the community and for potential risk of obstruction of the criminal justice process, Judge Pamela Snyder said before moving the matter. Therefore, if this court were to release this defendant, it would be on a heightened level of monitoring.

Joseph Compitello, Klings attorney, said he wouldnt be against home detention and that he would get the paperwork submitted by the end of the day Friday to allow pretrial services to review it.

A 17-year-old boy became the second individual charged in the case Thursday for allegedly helping Kling light several wooden pallets on fire to create a bonfire before leaving it unattended.

It also was determined that the juvenile gave misinformation to law enforcement about how the fire started.

He faces the same charges as Kling and is being held in the Ocean County juvenile facility.

Man charged with setting Ocean County forest fire didn't start it, his lawyer says A 19-year-old Waretown man charged with setting a massive forest fire that burned 15,300 acres in Ocean County says he did not light the fire, according to his lawyer.

Kling, wearing a jail-issued green jumpsuit, spoke briefly during the hearing when Snyder asked him to state his full name and spell his last name. Kling also confirmed he understood his rights.

The Cedar Bridge Fire Tower spotted a column of smoke coming from the area of Jones and Bryant roads in Ocean Township at 9:45 a.m. April 22. Upon arrival, emergency personnel observed a fire within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trusts Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, which is on the east side of Jones Road.

As of Friday afternoon, the fire was 80% contained.

Investigators from the county Prosecutors Office, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshals Office and New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office traced the origin of the blaze to an improperly extinguished bonfire, the Prosecutors Office said last week.

Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Lenzi said a juvenile identified as J.M. was involved in a dirt bike accident near Jones Road on the night of April 21 and told officers at the hospital that the last thing he remembered was being at a spot where there was a pit with a bunch of pallets.

Investigators learned Kling and three juveniles drove a 2006 Ford F-250 to a local recycling center and picked up 10 to 20 wooden pallets before traveling back to the woods and starting the fire with two pallets, Lenzi said.

J.M. then drove off on his dirt bike, at which time this defendant threw six more pallets onto the fire, Lenzi said.

Lenzi said when Kling and the others heard about J.M. being in an accident, they left the area and Kling was observed throwing the remaining pallets onto the fire.

They could still see the fire burning, Lenzi said. They said they were able to see a red glow as they drove away.

During an interview with police, J.M. said he and Kling were going to tell investigators that Mexicans were in the area of the fire. However, a group chat with multiple individuals appeared to refute that claim.

The two other juveniles eventually admitted they were the only four people in the area at the time of the fire, Lenzi said.

Kling has never been convicted of a crime but has pending charges of simple assault and endangering an injured victim stemming from a Jan. 5 fight.

Municipal court records also show Kling was cited Jan. 17 for having an open fire in Lacey. He was required to pay a $533 fine.

The public safety assessment used to determine a defendants likelihood of not appearing in court and committing new crimes recommended release. But the state pushed for Kling to be held due to the nature of the charges.

His actions exhibited a complete disregard for the safety of the community, Lenzi said. He gambled with the lives of the community when he lit the fire and knew it was still burning when he left. Its difficult to put into words the damage his actions had on the community because the damage is so extensive that its still being assessed weeks later. These offenses along with the underlying offenses are evidence of a troubling pattern of criminal behavior over the last four months.

Compitello submitted multiple character letters to the court from Klings mother and father as well as from a local neighbor and the Ocean County Vocational School, where his client is a student in the diesel program.

Detention hearing delayed for Waretown man accused of starting Ocean County wildfire The detention hearing for a Waretown man charged with arson in the wildfire that has destroyed more than 15,000 acres in southern Ocean County was delayed Tuesday.

He argued the judge shouldnt give the aggravated arson charge much weight as the evidence shows it wasnt his clients intention to set the woods on fire.

The allegations are that they brought materials to set a fire, not to burn down the forest, Compitello said. It would be appropriate to release Mr. Kling under conditions, even if there is an elevated request for him to report on a more frequent basis or for him to be released on home detention.
OCEAN CITY  Another meeting, another attempt to reverse a policy related to gender identity at Ocean City schools.

Two members of the Board of Education, Catherine Panico and Liz Nicoletti, have sought to end the school districts policy relating to transgender students, which calls for staff to accept students gender identity, regardless of whether it corresponds to the sex on their birth certificates.

That includes using the students preferred name and pronouns. The policy, known as 5756, does not require permission from parents, and expressly prevents the district from notifying the parents or guardians without the permission of the student.

Further, a student need not meet any threshold diagnosis or treatment requirements to have his or her gender identity recognized and respected by the district, school or school personnel, reads the states policy recommendation.

Much of the opposition has related to parental notification. Charles Martin, who said he currently lives in Galloway Township and has three children attending the Ocean City school district, said at the Thursday meeting that it was a matter of honesty and integrity.

The policy, he argued during the public comment portion of the meeting, teaches children that it is acceptable to be honest with their teachers but not with their parents.

When people are telling me its alright to be deceptive or guarded, every relationship Im involved in gets hurt, he said. At one point, he described teachers withholding information from parents about students self-deception and mental health.

The policy, based on guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education, has been a source of controversy in the district for years. Opponents maintain the district had leeway to decline to adopt the policy and that it should be scrapped.

Pride festival to return to Ocean City at the end of May We Belong Cape May County is bringing the OC Pride Fest back for a third year on May 31.

Proponents have argued, in turn, that for some students, notifying their families could mean alienation or even physical danger.

Joy Kolitsky, of Ocean City, who told the board she has one child in the district and another who recently graduated, stood up to support the policy.

I think it does as good a job as any public institution can do in helping a very small minority of students who have issues that they are struggling with. I think its a good thing to have, Kolitsky said.

Panico and Nicoletti have sought to scrap the policy, so far without success. Based on comments made at several public meetings, the members have attempted to get the matter on a Board of Education agenda for some time but have not been able to advance it through the committee process.

Board President Kevin Barnes has described it as the democratic process. Policy opponents have called it stonewalling.

In March, the two members tried again, with a motion to remove the decisions about the policy from the boards policy committee, to allow a vote by the full board. That motion failed, with only Panico and Nicoletti voting in favor.

On Thursday, Panico made a motion to rescind Policy 5756, which Nicoletti seconded. The board discussed whether they could vote on a motion that had already been made and defeated at a previous meeting, although Panico argued this was a distinct motion, not to remove the policy from the committee but to repeal it directly.

Board attorney Michael Stanton said the matter would need to be voted out of committee before it could be considered by the full board.

Ocean City school board members continue to debate state transgender policy Several members of the public, and two school board members, called for a repeal of a policy related to transgender students and said parents have a right to know.

Im the presider, and were not going to address it, Barnes said. Its my decision.

Barnes began the meeting with an admonition for members of the public, and for board members. He said the meeting is for the Board of Education and the board acts on the recommendations of the school superintendent and works for the betterment of the students.

We welcome members of the public to attend and observe our meetings. However, this meeting is strictly for conducting district business and is not a platform for political, religious or social debates, he said, reading from a prepared statement.

It is essential to maintain professionalism and order, he said.

To that end, we will not tolerate disruptions, including clapping, out-of-order comments or any behavior that interferes with the orderly conduct of this meeting. Members of the public can be asked to leave.

He added that board members are expected to adhere to Roberts Rules of Order.

He began the meeting with a moment of silence in recognition of the National Day of Prayer, which takes place annually on the first Thursday of May.

Panico and Nicoletti successfully ran together in 2022, in a campaign focused on parental rights that was endorsed by the conservative group Moms for Liberty.

Trump administration sues Maine over participation of transgender athletes in girls sports The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding.

At the March school board meeting, multiple people asked the board to rescind the transgender policy, describing it as evil, and some describing gender affirming treatments as mutilation.

The group We Belong Cape May County, which has organized public events in support of LGBTQ students, has planned a third Ocean City Pride Fest for May 31, including a pride walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk at 9 a.m. and an event at 840 E. Sixth St. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WILDWOOD CREST  State officials have declined meeting with all of the communities that would be part of a proposed beach project for the Wildwoods, Mayor Don Cabrera said Wednesday.

Cabrera reported on the matter during a Borough Commission meeting but said he did not have much progress to discuss.

Its all quiet on the front right now, he said.

The $54 million project would rebuild beaches in North Wildwood and construct a dune the length of the island, which includes North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, along with the Diamond Beach section of Lower Township. Plans call for the sand to be pulled from the wide beaches of Wildwood and Wildwood Crest to build North Wildwood beaches as well as the dunes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would lead the project, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Cabrera has advocated for a meeting to include all of the impacted towns. He said there have been individual meetings between the Crest and state officials, but they went nowhere.

But the DEP has not agreed to such a meeting, he said. The Army Corps had indicated willingness to meet but backed out because of DEP resistance, Cabrera said.

Thats incorrect, said Stephen Rochette, a spokesperson for the Army Corps Philadelphia District. We remain open to further discussions with the municipalities but its essential that NJDEP, our non-federal sponsor, is a part of those discussions/meetings.

Talks continue on contentious Wildwoods beach project, but will anyone budge? Talks continue over an impasse on a planned dune project for the Wildwoods. But will anyone budge?

He said his understanding is that the DEP and Wildwood Crest have not yet agreed to a meeting. Cabrera said he sees little point in another meeting with the DEP without the other communities being present.

This is an island-wide project, he said, arguing it should be an island-wide meeting.

Rochette said the Army Corps is ready to meet with Crest, alongside the DEP. The DEP also says it is ready talk.

DEP has not declined to meet and remains willing to meet with local officials, DEP spokesperson Caryn Shinske said Friday.

The proposal has been in the works for more than a decade and has drawn some local skepticism from the start.

While sand has accrued in Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, it has steadily eroded away from North Wildwood. An emergency state project last year returned some sand to the beaches, but North Wildwood officials want the long-term assurances of a federal project.

On the other end of the island, Crest originally wanted to help but seemed to get cold feet as federal plans solidified and it became clear just how much beach the borough would lose.

Crest officials say they like their nice, wide beaches, thank you very much, and indicated an intent to pull out of the project.

North Wildwood goes to court to keep Wildwood Crest in beach project North Wildwood is seeking a court order to keep Wildwood Crest in a federal beach project, saying $50 million worth of work is at stake.

I think 99% of you are interested in keeping the beaches exactly as they are, Cabrera said at the commission meeting.

For years, it was North Wildwood that regularly sparred with the DEP over beach replenishment, shore protection and state regulations. Now, it looks like Wildwood Crest has drawn the states ire. On March 11, DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette set a March 18 deadline for the communities to commit to the project, which is set to be funded by the federal and state governments. He wrote at the time that the municipal dispute was the reason the Wildwoods have never seen a federal and state beach project.

After about $1.5 million went into planning the project, LaTourette said, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest have indicated they may decline it.

This about-face is as shocking as it is misguided and has serious long-term consequences for the entire barrier island, he wrote. For the sake and safety of the Wildwoods and all who live or visit there, we urge that you show yourselves to be good neighbors and reaffirm your unqualified commitments to our existing project agreements.

At the same meeting, Crest officials approved a contract to move sand on its beach to fill in areas where water collects, with the ponds described as green and unhealthy.

That work is set to take place under an existing permit with the DEP, Crest officials said.

North Wildwood, where the beach project is most needed, went to court this spring to keep Crest in the agreement.

North Wildwoods survival  and the regions  hinges on Wildwood Crest honoring its (state aid agreement) obligations, according to the court filings from Anthony Bocchi, an attorney representing North Wildwood.

Cabrera reiterated that Crest already has better dunes than most communities along the New Jersey coast. Its an argument he had made in 2015, according to news reports from the time. He maintains his position that the loss of sand for Wildwood Crest as the project is currently proposed would be too significant for his community to support.
OCEAN CITY  Never mind Gillians Wonderland and its famous and somewhat-histrionic demise at the height of last summer. Hasnt everyone heard enough?

Less than five blocks down the Boardwalk, at Playlands Castaway Cove, there is still an amusement park pulse in Ocean City.

This surprises some people, says Brian Hartley, vice president of Castaway, the family-owned mid-Boardwalk landmark that dates back 65 years (older, in fact, than Wonderland, unless you consider Wonderlands predecessor Fun Deck).

Gillians is closed; we are still here, Hartley said a few days before Playlands April 18 opening, as workers buffed bumper car decks, programmed new arcade games, and awaited inspectors. It has been a push to get the word out. People confuse us with them.

They think there are no rides in Ocean City, he said.

Despite a devastating electrical fire in 2021 that destroyed Castaways arcade and toppled its signature pirate ship, this amusement park has been consistently drawing crowds to 11th Street, even while Gillians was mostly petering out over on Sixth.

This season, a new arcade building will open with a new pirate ship installed on the front roof, replacing the one destroyed by the fire. Several new rides have been added.

In the future, a new roller coaster will be installed on the arcade building roof with views up and down the Boardwalk and out to sea.

Pirate, parrot return to ship atop Ocean City Boardwalk amusement park entrance The new pirate ship on the roof of the arcade at Playland's Castaway Cove on the Ocean City Boardwalk is not an exact replica of the one lost to a fire four years ago, but its pretty close.

Hartley says theyre moving rides to open up spaces for people to better move around, as people are concerned that with Wonderland closed, Castaway will be crowded.

The Tidal Wave is going on the deck, Hartley said, referring to the oscillating spider-like ride, which will open up more space. Already this year, people were peering in, and early spring breakers were calling to see if Playland was open during the week. Adverse weather postponed a planned mid-April opening.

Castaway Cove was known as the place your kids graduated to from Wonderland (at age, say, 6), while Wonderland continued to live off the nostalgia of its iconic kiddie Wet Boats and Fire Engines, which were so old they were grandfathered in to not have any height requirement.

Some of those rides could resurface at Storybook Land, about 12 miles west of Atlantic City, owner Jessica Panetta says.

Details are to come, but the iconic fairy tale amusement park for younger children purchased the fire engine ride and other pieces from Wonderland.

We did get a few things from there that Wonderland fans will surely notice once theyre restored and out, she told The Inquirer.

While Castaway didnt buy any of Wonderlands kiddie rides, and most of his kiddie rides have a 36-inch height requirement, Hartley says there is fun to be had for all sizes and ages. Theres the lovely hand-painted carousel from Italy, the iconic Kansas-manufactured Chance train ride, number 396, beach buggy rides, and the slingshot.

Hes got new rides, including a new coaster and a ride called the Storm, and the entire arcade is brand new, with a focus on games that offer a physical interaction, like a motorcycle to ride, or, yes, actual Skee-Ball.

Truth is, if Wonderland had been all that crowded, before the abrupt closing announcement sent people scurrying for one last windy Ferris wheel ride and ignited a firestorm of outrage, itd probably still be open.

Now, developer Eustace Mita is forging ahead with his plans for an Icona in Wonderland hotel resort, and he told the Inquirer he plans to present his plans to City Council in May.

Awaiting an engineering report, he says he also may attempt to reopen the 6th Street Pizza shop and arcade that front the Boardwalk, which he acknowledges might not be the best move, business wise.

Painters were going over the white-washed facade last week to make it presentable, Mita said.

The problem is every dollar we spend is like throwing it into the ocean, Mita said by text message. This would be strictly from our love, of Ocean City and the Boardwalk, to at least not have everything be dark and lacking energy.

And maybe throw a little shade at the new arcade at Castaway? Who knows? The two parks have had a complicated relationship even before Mayor Gillians mother, Jean, divorced Wonderlands founder Roy Gillian and married Dave Simpson of the Castaway Cove Simpsons.

The two places have long jockeyed for attention from visitors.

It was only in the late 1990s that Castaway was given zoning permission to bring in bigger rides requiring more horsepower, Hartley said. After that, Castaway began drawing more and more business from families with older children as a series of financial setbacks doomed Wonderland.

Pirate ship on its way back to Playland's Castaway Cove in Ocean City On Wednesday, crews worked to return the landmark pirate ship to Playland's Castaway Cove on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

Still, nobody wanted to see Gillians fail. In an era of Disneyland and other corporate amusement parks with enormous footprints, the family amusement parks on the Jersey Shore boardwalks  the Moreys parks in Wildwood, the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, Fantasy Island in Beach Haven, the Casino Pier rides in Seaside Heights  seem worth preserving, and treasuring.

Its a shame, Hartley said. There should be enough business for two parks. We would have liked to see them stay around. You know, given the history, the memories that people had, they filled a niche. But we can only control what we can control.
Retired Davenport rabbi and Holocaust scholar Henry Jay Karp has released a book on what he sees as analogues between the Nazi regime and Donald Trump.

The book, "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Is a Price We Cannot Pay," was released as part of a new progressive publishing project called The American Unity & Integrity Project. The project, founded by New York Times bestselling author Carmen Renee Berry and book publisher Carolyn Rafferty, aims to inform, equip and unite Americans together in support of American democracy, according to its website.

Karp, 75, is the rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanuel in Davenport and the co-founder of the anti-discrimination organization One Human Family QCA. He has taught courses on Judaism and the Holocaust as an adjunct professor at St. Ambrose University since 1985.

The "Cost of Doing Nothing" has been released in a trilogy alongside two other books, "From Despair to Hope: How to Stay Calm in the Chaos," written by Berry, and "You Are Not Alone: Your Roadmap to Effective Political Action," written by Gary Lucks, a California environmental law attorney.

Berry, whose other books have sold over 1.5 million copies, wrote "From Despair to Hope" on methods to stay calm in response to what she views as a turmoil of changing actions by the Trump administration.

"You Are Not Alone" is a guidebook on what Lucks sees as effective political strategies for progressive activists in the 2026 midterm election and beyond.

At a Zoom book launch Tuesday night, attended by around 60 people, Berry and Rafferty described the trilogy as being in response to the second Trump administration.

Lucks described the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency as pretty draconian.

The three books total around 50 pages each. If the first series lands successfully, the publishing project will publish another trilogy of books, Karp said.

Karp said he was invited to write the book after he published a 6,000-word Substack article in October titled Nazi Analogies and Todays American Political Landscape Revisited.

In the article, Karp argues that some of the strongest rhetoric Trump used during the 2024 campaign is reminiscent, or identical, to language and rhetoric Adolf Hitler used in the 1920s through the 1940s. Karp described some statements by Trump, where the now-president describes political opponents as vermin and immigrants as poisoning the blood of our country, as verbatim Nazi hate speech.

These were echoes of the Nazi antisemitic rhetoric, Karp said.

For decades, some Holocaust scholars and Jewish leaders have criticized comparing Nazi actions and ideology with contemporary movements. Karp said he has been engaging with the debate over whether comparing other events to Nazi actions is appropriate for years, and has previously discussed the matter with other prominent Jewish scholars.

In the Substack article, Karp wrote that he has at times criticized the use of Nazi analogies when applied to politics inside and outside the United States. He criticized the comparison between detention facilities housing separated children under Trumps Family Separation Policy and concentration camps, which Karp called a false equivalency.

The very idea of defying the sanctity of the sacrifices of the victims of the Holocaust disgusts me. They did not die so that I could taste victory. How perverse that would be! Karp wrote in the article. But, on the other hand, if I witness an injustice so very much like one suffered by others during the Holocaust, like Wiesel, I cannot remain silent about the connection between them.

Karp said he dedicated a section of the book to grappling with the scholarly debate on if Nazi analogues are ever appropriate.

The Substack article was published on Oct. 26, 2024, less than two weeks before the 2024 election. Karp added a preamble to the article one week after the presidential inauguration in January, in which he wrote the articles message holds true in some very frightening ways.

Karp, originally from the Bronx, New York, said he is not directly descended from Holocaust survivors, but that some of his wifes family were imprisoned in concentration camps, including Auschwitz.

The "Cost of Doing Nothing" was released Tuesday. The book is available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.

At the book launch, Berry said the three books were originally meant to be published simultaneously, but due to publishing challenges, the other books will be published soon.

The books will also be published as paperbacks and are intended to be distributed to bookstores nationwide, Karp said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is cutting $900 million from the revised two-year state budget to set aside a buffer against potential revenue losses as Virginias economy braces for deep cuts in federal employment and spending, and the financial fallout from President Donald Trumps tariffs on global trading partners.

Youngkin, who continues to defend Trumps tariffs and cuts to the federal workforce, said on Friday that he is vetoing 37 line items in the budget that the Democratic-controlled General Assembly delivered to him. Most of the savings, about $840 million, will come in the current fiscal year and then roll over as surplus in the next year, which begins July 1.

The governor, who outlined his actions in a news conference at midday on Friday, acknowledged the risks to Virginias budget outlook, while remaining optimistic that the state will benefit in the long term from Trumps aggressive trade policy and cuts to the federal government that underpins the state economy.

The timing of that transition does create a risk to our financial forecast, he said.

Youngkin said the assembly budget would have committed all but $50 million of a projected $3.2 billion two-year surplus, but his cuts allow us to retain a portion of the projected surplus as a cushion ... against any risk to the forecast.

He said he is not basing the cuts on policy or political disagreements with the legislature, although he faulted the assembly for rejecting all but 33 of the 205 amendments he had proposed to the budget in late March to create a $300 million cushion in case revenues were to fall below the forecast.

I think the risks that I identified back in March, when we were all together, are the same risks, Youngkin told news media after the speech on Friday. I think we do recognize that the federal government is going to reduce the federal workforce, that Virginia has a substantial representation of that workforce, and I cant express loudly enough the deep empathy that I have for those families. It is a tough thing to go through.

In his speech, the governor said he is providing a hedge against potential losses of up to 3% in state income and sales tax revenues in the next fiscal year below the financial forecast on which the budget rests. It comes as businesses cut back in the face of declining demand because of higher prices under tariffs and job losses by federal employees and contractors.

The state also holds a combined $4.7 billion in the state rainy day and revenue reserve funds.

Capital projects

Youngkins budget cuts hit higher education hardest, including a proposal for Virginia Commonwealth University to purchase the Altria research facility in downtown Richmond.

Michael Porter, spokesperson for VCU, said: The project remains of critical importance, and we are hopeful it will be restored at the next opportunity.

The proposal, which the governor had included in the budget he introduced in December, is one of 10 affected projects in a higher education capital pool, along with a new performing arts center at the University of Virginia. Altogether, he is cutting $691 million in state funding for capital projects.

Prevented by law from unilaterally cutting portions of the budget item, he eliminated it entirely, saving $646 million in cash. He said all of the projects are in the planning stage and suggested that the assembly restore funding, either in cash or bonded debt, in its 60-day session that will begin in January under a new governor.

I also want to be perfectly clear that these projects are good projects and they should be funded, Youngkin said.

The pool also included projects planned at the College of William & Mary, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Longwood University, James Madison University, the Virginia Community College System, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, as well as money for a capital project at George Mason University.

After the General Assembly adopted its budget on Feb. 22, Youngkin proposed to add more than $60 million in state funds to the pool for a new phase of the Center for Leadership and Ethics at Virginia Military Institute, but the legislature rejected his amendment at its veto session on April 2.

He did not cut budget provisions for a new state office building at the site of the Virginia Department of Transportation Annex on East Broad Street, renovation of the governors offices and other offices at the Patrick Henry Building or temporary relocation of state employees who will be displaced by the eventual replacement of the James Monroe Building.

The governor also is cutting more than $200 million in state funding for government operations, primarily in the areas of natural resources and commerce and trade. Those cuts include an additional $50 million for the state community flood protection fund, which instead will rely on money that the assembly ordered released from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. It included money for new home ownership programs and rental assistance at the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Expansion targeted

Youngkin is targeting expansion of existing programs without reducing their existing funding. He is cutting $10 million in additional Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes, which also will lose $11.6 million in federal matching funds.

Ultimately, the cut will cost the state $43.3 million because the reimbursement rate would remain in effect for two years, not one. The governor had previously proposed the cut as part of a package of $300 million in potential savings, but the assembly rejected it a month ago.

Other affected state initiatives include the expansion of a Medicaid program for weight-loss drugs and a pilot program for early childhood education.

Youngkins budget cuts will not touch money to fully eliminate the recession-era cap on state funding of school support positions.

In his earlier package of proposed amendments, the governor had proposed to reduce K-12 spending on support positions by $138 million, but the legislature rejected it after hearing strong opposition from public school divisions and local governments across Virginia. Under state law, the governor would have had to make deep cuts in K-12 funding to reduce spending on support positions, including $1,000 bonuses for teachers and money for instruction of students who do not speak English as their first language.

A blunt instrument

In remarks to news media, Youngkin called the line-item veto a blunt instrument.

Oftentimes, when you use a line-item veto in the context of a governor in a budget, it takes away lots of other things and it has unintended consequences, he said.

The teacher bonus and a 1.5% one-time bonus for state and state-assisted local employees remain in the budget that Youngkin signed on Friday. So is $1.1 billion in tax rebates and cuts.

The package does not include his original proposals for offsetting local car tax payments for some Virginians and removing taxation of income from tips.

Its in a different format, but we agreed on that, he said, touting a cumulative $9 billion in tax rebates and cuts during his term.

Youngkin said his cuts do not reduce existing spending for any program, but seek to hold back money that the state does not have to spend now at a time of great economic uncertainty.

The impact of federal job and spending cuts has not shown up significantly in Virginias unemployment claims, although the state unemployment rate has inched up to 3.2%.

Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater said Friday that the state has documented 872 unemployment insurance claims by federal employees who worked in Virginia. State residents who work in the District of Columbia or Maryland would file claims there. The state also has documented 695 unemployment insurance claims by employees of federal contractors.

However, Slater acknowledged that unemployment claims are likely to mount because of pending layoffs by federal contractors, such as MITRE Corp. in Fairfax County, and companies affected by Trumps tariffs, such as Volvos truck factory in Pulaski County.

Youngkin also confirmed potential short-term risks, although he said the effects of Trumps policies have not shown up yet in state revenues, which he said were $85 million ahead of forecast at the end of March.

Watching Medicaid

His speech did not address the potential rollback of Virginias expansion of the Medicaid program, based on deep cuts in the federal share of the expanded programs costs that the Republican-controlled Congress is considering as part of a budget package to help pay for Trumps proposed tax cuts.

However, Youngkin acknowledged that Virginia has a trigger law that would require the state to reverse Medicaid expansion if the federal government reduces its share of the costs by 1% or more. More than 641,000 Virginians receive their health care benefits through the expanded program.

My current understanding is that is not something that is advancing, but were paying close attention, he said, adding that he is talking to the White House and members of Virginias congressional delegation about the pending budget package.

We just want to make sure that we are prepared to react to whats coming out of this budget bill, but I also believe that there is a very straightforward way to deal with this, which is fraud, waste and abuse is projected to be big in Medicaid, he said.

Trump and trade

In his speech, Youngkin again lauded the presidents efforts to reset trade relationships and restore fiscal sanity to Washington.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, faulted the governor for supporting Trumps policies and said, The Governor showed he is as out of touch as ever when it comes to standing up for Virginia.

While Virginians look to the governor for leadership, he once again spent his platform kissing up to Trump and justifying his devastating cuts to our federal workforce, Surovell said.

Democratic leaders in the House of Delegates took credit on Friday for what House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, called a family-first budget that puts money back in families pockets, strengthens our public schools, and builds strong communities through investments in infrastructure and health care.

House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said that while the final budget the governor signed does not include every priority we fought for, it reflects the determined efforts of House and Senate Democrats to deliver meaningful progress for Virginians.
Gwyneth Paltrow is convinced her "ridiculous" ski lawsuit represents "everything thats wrong with our legal system".

Gwyneth Paltrow has spoken out about her ski trial

The actress-turned-wellness guru went to court in 2023 to fight a lawsuit from Dr. Terry Sanderson who alleged she had bumped into him on the slopes in Utah back in 2016 with Paltrow claiming Sanderson was actually the one who skied into her. The jury ruled in Paltrow's favour after an eight-day trial, but the 'Iron Man' star is convinced the case should never have made it to court in the first place.

During an appearance on 'The Worlds First Podcast', she said: "I have to say, the idea that someone could ski into your back and knock you down and then sue you. I was like: This is everything thats wrong with our legal system'.

"It was ridiculous. Thats why I felt like I had to fight it. I was like: Im not going to be shaken down here. Im not doing that."

The 'Sliding Doors' star was sued by Sanderson for $300,000 over the 2016 collision and she countersued for costs plus a "symbolic" amount of $1.

After the trial, a jury in Park City, Utah, found the retired optometrist "100 per cent" at fault for the accident - awarding Paltrow her $1 plus legal fees.

Paltrow later took to social media to note she was "pleased" with the outcome of the trial.

In a statement shared on her Instagram Story, she explained: "I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity.

"I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case."

The Goop founder's comments were echoed in a similar statement released by her legal team.

Attorney Steve Owens said: "We are pleased with this unanimous outcome and appreciate the judge and jury's thoughtful handling of the case. Gwyneth has a history of advocating for what she believes in - this situation was no different and she will continue to stand up for what is right."
Cancun police officers hand out toys in remote areas in celebration of Dia de la Nina y el Nino

Cancun, Q.R.  Police officers in Cancun made their rounds for Childrens Day, handing out free toys to kids. While public events were held in the city, officers visited remote urban areas to ensure those kids were not left out.

Mexico celebrated Dia de la Nina y el Nino (Day of the Boys and Girls). Hundreds of toys were distributed to children around the city of Cancun during the annual celebration.

City police from the Municipal Citizen Security, joined in the celebration traveling to urban neighborhoods were free toys were handed out.

On this Childrens Day, the Benito Juarez Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security joined the celebration by bringing candy and joy to several neighborhoods in Cancun, city police said.

Cancun Mayor Ana Paty Peralta lead the public event held in the city in which hundreds of toys were distributed to children who, she said, are the driving force that inspires each person to be better.

With all our affection and love, we bring these toys to all our girls and boys. Dia de la Nina y el Nino is a day where we remember the importance of childhood, of educating our girls and boys, of making them happy, safe and strong, she said.

Dia de la Nina y el Nino is recognized each year to celebrate Mexicos children.
Chesterfield County, Virginia, police touted a series of stings last year targeting local massage parlors they believed were connected to a multinational sex trafficking ring.

As sex trafficking victims face coercion, rape in illicit parlors, little is done for justice Trafficking cases can be complex, leading some jurisdictions to take shortcuts by arresting or disciplining the women for prostitution, which experts say is punishing the victims without solving the problem.

But a review by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team found the operations in the county resulted in charges mostly against spa workers  the apparent victims of the trafficking  and not the ring's leaders.

Prosecutors filed only minor charges against the workers  many of which were later dismissed  and the efforts failed to shut down several businesses for months.

Its but one example of a national trend identified in a sweeping Lee Public Service Journalism Team investigation showing victims of human trafficking are often the only ones held accountable for the crimes  that is, if law enforcement takes any action at all.

Advocates against human trafficking criticized Chesterfield police for arresting the victims instead of the perpetrators of trafficking. Its a problem Chesterfield officials acknowledge.

In 2024, Chesterfield police arrested 21 women working at 13 massage parlors across the county. Police said the women were illegally selling sexual services to customers as part of a broader sex trafficking scheme.

But prosecutors filed no charges for human trafficking or any other felony in those cases and instead filed only misdemeanor charges against the spa workers and one woman who is listed as owner of one of the spas. Many of those charges were later dropped or dismissed, and at least three businesses remained open.

Of the 21 spa workers arrested, prosecutors never charged three women. In nine other cases, the women had their charges either dropped or dismissed. Five workers pleaded guilty only to minor permit or license violations. One worker pleaded guilty to prostitution. She paid a $100 fine plus court costs.

Only one case resulted in a conviction on a single charge of prostitution. That woman, a Chinese immigrant who owned two of the raided businesses, was given a 30-day suspended jail sentence.

Of the two cases still pending, none involve felony charges.

There are an estimated 16,800 illicit massage parlors nationwide, outnumbering McDonald's restaurants. However, a Lee Enterprises investigation found that few jurisdictions are doing anything to protect the women working in these parlors from being exploited.

Advocates argue that arresting these women is an outdated and ineffective approach. Often, the women simply move to a new location and learn to fear law enforcement.

Chesterfield County is arresting a bunch of victims and calling it a massage parlor shut down. That's ridiculous, said Rochelle Keyhan, who used to prosecute sex traffickers in Philadelphia and now trains police on the practical methods for shutting these businesses down. That's almost, in my opinion, the opposite of enforcement because what you just did was empower all of the traffickers and further disempower the victims, and it would have been better if you did nothing.

Law enforcement officials in cities such as Waco, Texas and Denver have made more successful efforts to shut down illicit massage parlors by arresting wealthy business owners rather than victims. Officials were even able to secure stiff prison sentences in some cases.

But those are exceptions to the rule.

The old-school methodology of doing (stings) would be to arrest everybody for prostitution and lock them up, and then call it a day, said Joseph Scaramucchi, who led the investigation of massage parlors in Waco. The problem with that is, its not going to close the business down, right? The owner is not paying the piper for anything.

Scaramucchis department focused on pursuing racketeering and money laundering charges against business owners. That process yielded more severe sentences for traffickers compared to typical prostitution-related charges.

One Chesterfield vice and narcotics detective, Jonathan Lombardo, acknowledged that arresting victims doesn't stop trafficking.

Its a lot of times a game of Whack-a-Mole, Lombardo said. Well shut one down, theyll pop back up, or that same one will be open with a new owner.

Global ring behind trafficking, police say

Much of the nations commercial sex trafficking is tied to a multinational organized crime ring with a global presence, according to Lombardo, who is also a member of Virginias and the FBIs human trafficking task forces.

The network exploits Chinese women saddled with debt who come to the U.S.  often through Flushing, New York. These women usually pay brokers tens of thousands of dollars for visas and airline tickets and arrive in the U.S. with limited English skills and few work options. Misleading ads entice women to work in illegal massage parlors.

More often than not, what we found there's always somebody bigger, not just the person running the actual day-to-day business, Lombardo said. There's always somebody behind that.

It is so complex that it makes what most people think of when they think of organized crime look  simple.

But there were no human trafficking charges filed in Chesterfield last year. Only one person was arrested in Chesterfield for human trafficking, according to data from Virginia State Police. That arrest was unrelated to the massage parlor arrests, and no charges were filed against that person.

The lack of human trafficking charges is a problem nationwide.

FBI data from local police departments show that only seven percent of human trafficking offenses led to arrests from 2021 to 2023  1,344 arrests for 19,225 reported offenses.

Chesterfield police said they lack the resources to crack down on organized crime because these complex cases cross jurisdictional boundaries. Lombardo said the few successful prosecutions in other cities have required federal assistance.

Most of the problems we run into are we work for a local agency in a state, and very few times are anybody higher up actually doing anything in Virginia, meaning that those involved in organized crime dont put their names on any local businesses, he said. To build that larger case requires a lot more than a local agency can often do by themselves.

Police in other jurisdictions have the same problem. Doug Gilmer, a former HSI investigator, said the FBI has stopped investigating illicit massage parlors, leaving the labor-intensive, painstaking work to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency can only handle so many cases.

Fearful victims often wont cooperate

A key reason for the lack of trafficking prosecutions related to illicit massage parlors is that the victims often dont cooperate with police.

In Chesterfield, most  if not all  of the women who were arrested were victims. Ed Pierpont, lieutenant of Chesterfield polices special investigations unit, said the ultimate goal isnt to punish victims of trafficking.

If the person is actually a victim of sex trafficking or labor trafficking,  that kind of negates the prosecutorial piece because we start focusing on how we can help them, he said.

So why charge victims in the first place? Lombardo explained that the hope is that the charges convince the women to identify traffickers.

First and foremost, (we) recognize that these people might be victims, Lombardo said  which means they will receive help regardless of whether they share information.

But I think we would be remiss if we just looked at that. Our whole goal is to climb the ladder (and) use this person below to get to the next level.

Women arrested in the Chesterfield County massage parlor crackdown were sent to a nonprofit victims organization called Safe Harbor for assistance. Even Safe Harbor employees are conflicted about whether arresting the women is a good idea.

We really don't want the people that are getting essentially used and abused to get criminal records, said Anne Lee Dabney, who worked directly with the women in Chesterfield. I mean, that's just not going to be helpful for them, right?

For some women being trafficked, the counseling is effective. But women from China face unique challenges, Dabney said, because they are dealing with organized crime, cultural issues and fear of law enforcement.

My hesitancy is, I don't want anything on their record to affect them, Dabney said. There's a lot of shame that comes with that.

Dabney said when the trafficking victims photos are released by law enforcement and splashed in the news, screenshots get back to friends and family in China on the social media app WeChat, and it can be very shameful.

Police acknowledged that sending the women to Safe Harbor didnt lead to them cooperating with the investigation.

Very rarely do these women  open up, Piepont said. There are many reasons for that. They may fear retaliation by their traffickers, he said, and they may distrust law enforcement.

Catherine Gray, assistant commonwealths attorney for Chesterfield, attributed the lack of local trafficking charges to that fear and distrust.

The goal is to build cases against the people who are bringing the women here, Gray told The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Wed like to start moving up the chain and identifying traffickers.

But many victims just arent ready to cooperate, Gray said.

Candidly, Im sure we have encountered victims of human trafficking, but for various reasons, they  were scared to ask for help, she said. She called the struggle to secure trafficking charges frustrating.

Theres nothing we can really do about the fact that a lot of women oftentimes want to come in and just plead (guilty) instead of asking for services, she said. Its heartbreaking. Were here to help, we want to help.

One woman, arrested at gunpoint, denies the charges

Xiuwen Zhang  a Chinese immigrant and state-licensed massage therapist who owns XF Massage at the Midlothian Station shopping center in Chesterfield, Virginia  said she deeply distrusts the police. She adamantly denied the allegations against her, and said she is not a victim of trafficking.

Zhang was arrested by Chesterfield police at gunpoint while at work in June. She was subsequently charged with prostitution and living or residing in a place of prostitution.

Speaking with The Times-Dispatch, Zhang said she would never offer sex acts for pay  and claimed an undercover detective asked her to perform illicit deeds. She also said that neither she nor any of the employees who have worked there are victims of human trafficking.

Im a good person, Zhang said, sitting in the dimly lit, lavender oil-scented room where she was arrested and recounting the events to The Times-Dispatch.

Zhang said on the afternoon of her arrest, she had momentarily turned her back on a client, who unbeknownst to her was an undercover detective with Chesterfield police. When she turned back around, he was naked, she said.

I said no, no! Put your clothes back on! Zhang told The Times-Dispatch. Pierpont refuted that claim, and said officials have recorded evidence of Zhang soliciting illicit acts for pay.

Minutes later, police officers stormed the massage parlor, guns drawn and pointed at her head, Zhang said. Zhang  a 56-year-old immigrant from China married to an American citizen  said she feared for her life.

I thought I was going to die, she said through Googles translation tool.

Then, the officers disabled her video surveillance cameras and seized cash from her desk drawer.

Pierponts version of events is much different.

I can 100% say her (story) is inaccurate, he said. Our detectives are not allowed to solicit illegal behavior  an act that could run afoul of state and federal entrapment laws.

Instead, he said detectives wait until sex acts are suggested, either verbally or through gestures  or by touch(ing) the privates area.

Theyre usually covered up, Pierpont said of the detectives. He declined to disclose the audio tape he said proves Zhang made the first move.

Pierpont did acknowledge that police had drawn their weapons and turned off Zhangs video feed during the arrest. Both choices, he said, were questions of safety.

For the officers going in, thats a normal procedure for us because we dont know who else is in there, he said of the guns. Its not that we thought she was a bad person; its just the unknown.

He added that officers disabled the cameras so that Zhang and others would not see them coming. As for the seizure of the cash, Pierpont said it was an act of civil asset forfeiture. Shell get her money back if a judge rules it was not earned illegally.

In March, Zhang was found guilty on one count of prostitution. Chesterfield police revoked her local massage permit.

While she is still state-licensed for now and could appeal the decision or practice in another locality, she said the publicity surrounding her arrest has already destroyed her reputation, brought her client list to nearly zero and destroyed her livelihood.

I need to eat, she said. But now, I worry that I (will not) eat.

She said she feels targeted by Chesterfield authorities because she is Chinese.

Americans are so nice, so friendly, she said through the translation tool. But the police, the courts, I do not trust them.

Some of the businesses are still open. Why?

Zhangs XF Massage is one of at least three massage parlors that functioned for almost a year after employee arrests.

The other two businesses were Sunshine Health Massage  also owned by Zhang, and located at 255 Wadsworth Drive  and QF Massage at 9821 Chester Road. QF Massage is still open.

Asked why some of the locations had remained operational, Pierpont said the Chesterfield police department does not have the authority under state law to instantly and unilaterally shut down a business.

That involves a judge, Pierpont said.

Under state code, the circuit court can dissolve a corporation when its directors or those in control of the corporation have acted, are acting, or will act in a manner that is illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent.

But just a conviction of one of the massage therapists operating without a license or  soliciting sex is not enough for a judge to close a business down, Pierpont said, and other governmental agencies need to petition a judge to take that action.

How we tackled the sex trafficking investigation Heres how the Lee Enterprises Public Service Team did a first-of-its-kind analysis of states efforts to protect women who are subject to sex trafficking at illicit massage parlors.

For example, the Chesterfield Health District, which Pierpont said is involved in local oversight of massage parlors to ensure compliance with health-related code, could present evidence to a judge asking for a particular business to be shuttered if the agency believes it presents a threat to public health.

A spokesperson for the Chesterfield Health District, referring to county code, said the agency is only empowered to enforce violations of sanitary and maintenance regulations. Criminal code enforcement does not fall under the province of local health officials, the spokesperson said.

Some of the businesses have ceased functioning without court intervention, Pierpont said. Those were closed after the county attorneys office in 2021 issued letters to the owners of the businesses indicating that the properties were the site of a criminal enterprise.

That worked in a few cases, Pierpont said, but in many others, attorneys for the property owners wanted concrete evidence before intervening.

And we just didnt have that at the time, he said.

Midlothian Station, the complex that hosted XF Massage, is managed by Commonwealth Commercial. Midlothian Center, the complex that hosted Sunshine Health Massage, is managed by Thalhimer. Centralia Crossing, the complex that hosted QF Massage, is managed by CBRE.

Representatives for each of the three companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Who regulates massage parlors?

Under both state law and county code, Chesterfield massage parlors and their employees must clear multiple bars to operate legally.

First, each massage therapist must be licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions after completing a state-certified minimum 500-hour training program and passing an exam from the states Board of Nursing.

Alternatively, the massage therapist can present a valid license from another U.S. state or territory or a foreign country for consideration.

At least nine of the women arrested by Chesterfield police were authorized massage therapists in Virginia, records show, although the actual number may be higher for massage therapists whose name spellings vary across state licensing records and court documents.

Once licensed by the state, each massage therapist must obtain a massage permit through Chesterfield police. Applications are reviewed by the chief of police, who weighs applicants against the state codes requirements.

Those permits must be renewed every three years. Massage therapists must consent to background checks and fingerprinting. Then each parlor must obtain a business license through the countys office of the revenue commissioner.

Of the six guilty pleas secured by Chesterfield prosecutors, five were for violating one or more of the licensing and permitting requirements. Only one woman pleaded guilty to prostitution, which is a misdemeanor in Virginia.

In response to questions regarding licensure for the illicit massage businesses, Commissioner of the Revenue Jenefer Hughes said each of the businesses had previously provided her office with valid massage permits when applying for a business license, which is valid for 12 months.

The permit must be submitted each year when the business license is renewed, Hughes told The Times-Dispatch. If (Chesterfield police) subsequently revokes the required permit, we will revoke the business license.

A Chesterfield police spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked if the department planned to rescind massage permits for the involved employees.

Theres no actual plan

Human trafficking in massage parlors and other businesses has been a known issue for years, Lombardo said, and its impact is certainly not limited to Chesterfield.

Chesterfield police began in-depth investigations in 2018, and Pierpoint said its been a lot of trial and error to get to this point. A big shift came in the fall of 2023 when the county tightened its ordinances on massage parlors.

The updated rules included the local massage permit application process, photo identification cards for authorized massage therapists in the county, narrower operating hours for massage parlors and a requirement for each business to keep a register of its employees.

The amended ordinance also allowed Chesterfield prosecutors to pursue both civil action and criminal prosecution against individuals and businesses who do not comply.

In September 2023 remarks urging Chesterfields Board of Supervisors to adopt the ordinance changes, Jeffrey Katz, then Chesterfield police chief, said it would make it easier for law enforcement to track and crack down on wrongdoing.

We will have the ability to revoke the license and shut the place down, Katz said at the time. We need to regulate this commerce so that when a community member goes to get a therapeutic massage, thats what theyre getting.

Pierpont said the new rules have proven game-changing. However, during a Chesterfield Board of Supervisors meeting in June, Roxana Paduretu, a Chesterfield massage therapist, described enforcement as inconsistent and unfair, saying the county is not doing enough to intervene.

There is no actual plan for how this ordinance will be implemented, Paduretu said. There are brothels that pretend to be massage clinics that employ willing and/or unwilling sex workers, (and) the only way  the Board of Nurses can act is if the local police department apprehends a licensed person performing an illegal act and secures a guilty plea or conviction.

It should be a well-oiled mechanism in which all the wheels are working together, she said. Instead, the local police department apprehends some people breaking the law, and they are either not prosecuted  or receive a slap on the wrist.

Paduretu added that it is ridiculous and outrageous  (that) law-abiding, small businesses owners are being forced to abide by this county regulation  a regulation she said caused panic and chaos among the community when it was implemented.

Meanwhile, criminals are allowed to walk out of the courtroom with impunity, she said.

This is not working, and we have to repeal it, she concluded to substantial applause.

'Up in smoke'

Xiuwen Zhangs husband, Paul McGowan, agreed that the ordinance is dysfunctional and unjust  but for different reasons.

In March, we got this certified letter saying youre in violation of Chesterfield County ordinance blah blah blah, youre illegal, if you dont get these permits within 30 days youll be shut down, McGowan, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime Chesterfield resident, recalled.

It was a very threatening letter, he said, and it came out of nowhere, because nobody had informed the couple of the rule changes.

In his September 2023 comments to the Board of Supervisors, Katz said police had worked and would continue to work with massage parlor owners and employees so that the ordinance changes would not ambush them.

Theyd warned some of these businesses that they deemed legitimate  i.e., white, American, McGowan said. But weve never been made aware of any complaints against (Zhang).

Pierpont categorically denied that Chesterfield police targets Asian American business owners. McGowan remains unconvinced.

Chinese people come here, and they sacrifice a lot just to get here, McGowan said of his spouse. And Xiuwen is very law-abiding, very aware of the law.

Im considering a civil lawsuit, McGowan said. We have this raid that happens, and in the few days following it, articles are all over  the news. You Google search her name, and shes associated with human trafficking.

The couple received a written notice from the Virginia Department of Health Professions enforcement division and a lease termination letter from the company landlord  all before Zhangs case even went to court.

As for the recording that allegedly proves Zhang offered to perform sex acts on an undercover detective? McGowan said it clearly shows Zhang rejecting, saying no.

But McGowan couldnt provide a copy of the tape because Chesterfield police wouldnt release it to him or his wife.

Zhangs hearing before the state licensing board is in May. McGowan fears the body will revoke her license and permanently jeopardize her career.

Her American dream is going up in smoke, he said.
This is Prudie Phones a Friend, a new feature where Jenee Desmond-Harris calls a few experts for their advice to a letter writer. Submit questions to Prudence here.

Dear Prudence,

Im a licensed therapist, and one of my clients, Brandon, has been testing my patience lately. Brandon is a classic alpha-male type. Hes also, frankly, a bit of a narcissist. Over time, its become clear that he has a need for control and validation. He thrives on manipulating people.

Brandon recently confessed that hes been deliberately leading on a manflirting with him, dropping hints, and then pulling back whenever the man tries to take things further. Brandon, who identifies as straight, admitted that he does it because he loves the ego boost it gives him. He said something along the lines of, Its like a game. Nothing turns me on more than making someone want me who can never have me. Its power.

Brandon wasnt just confessing; he was bragging. He seemed proud of the way he was toying with this mans emotions. Im a gay man myself, and hearing Brandon talk about him in this way felt personal. It wasnt just about Brandons toxic behavior; it was about the way he reduced this man to a pawn in his little power game. I wanted to call him out right then and there, but as a professional, I had to keep my composure. I tried to explore why he feels the need to dominate others, but he just laughed it off and told me that it wasnt that deephe just found this guy fun to mess with.

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Ive been wrestling with this ever since. Every session with him leaves me drained and angry, and Im starting to wonder if Im the right person to help him. Worse, I worry that by continuing to treat him, Im enabling his behavior in some way. Maybe Brandon doesnt really want to change. Maybe he just wants an audience. But then I wonder if perhaps Im the one with the problem, not Brandon. It is not my job to only help clients I like. I have an ethical duty to help clients even if I wouldnt associate with them in the real world. Maybe this is a learning experience for me that will make me a better therapist. Should I do the easy thing and drop Brandon as a client? Or should I take this as a challenge to put my personal feelings aside and help someone who clearly needs it, even when that person is not very likable?

Ethically Torn

Dear Ethically Torn,

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I think its a good sign that youre paying attention to this. I imagine some less thoughtful people in your position might either say to Brandon, What the hell? You have to stop treating people that way. Its not funny! (which would be true, and is probably what Brandon needs to hear from a good friend, but wouldnt solve the underlying problem) or tell him that due to a scheduling conflict, they wouldnt be able to fit him in anymore. Youre trying to do the right thing, and that means youre heading in the right direction. Although I know thats not enough. You need some instructions on how to move forward.

You presented your options as A) working with Brandon despite taking his behavior and personality personally, and feeling drained and angry after your sessions, or B) dropping him as a client. I felt a little stuck answering your letter because I did not think either of those choices would leave you feeling great. I can tell that you feel a sense of responsibility to be there for your clients, including those who rub you the wrong way. But it seems unsustainable and not ultimately helpful to Brandonfor you to continue to meet with him while suppressing your negative feelings and working hard to keep your composure. Plus, I wasnt sure if therapists had a framework for thinking about situations like the one youre in and didnt want to advise you in a way that would go against professional norms.

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So I reached out to Pamela LiVecchi, a clinical psychologist, professor, and the author of the book, Ethics for Counselors: Integrating Counseling and Psychology Standards. After noting that she appreciated your self-awareness and candor, and emphasizing that, Were all human and having reactions to one another is expected, she told me that situations like yours, in which a therapist is bothered by their negative reactions to a clients behavior or simply doesnt like a client, are fairly uncommon. But it turns out that when they do occur, there are a few actions to take before you decide to end the relationship.

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First, evaluate (and improve) the current state of your work situation. In stressful work environments, like when therapists have too many clients or lack support, it can be harder to feel empathetic, LiVecchi said. I wonder if that kind of workplace sounds familiar. What does the rest of your job look like? Is there anything you could do to slightly decrease your workload, get some administrative help, or streamline your days so you feel less frazzled? The perspective you bring to your sessions with Brandon might differ depending on whether youve had a chance to eat lunch or are breathlessly rushing from one client to another. Dont get me wrong, he does sound like a hard person to like. But you might have more capacity to hear about his antics and practice patience if you can decrease the stress in your workday overall. This is easier said than done, I know.

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You should also consult with a trusted colleague about what youre dealing with and how youre feeling. This is standard practice, according to LiVecchi. Therapists often consult when theyre struggling with their feelings about a client, LiVecchi said. We arent ethically obligated to help everyone, but we are obligated to behave ethically with everyone who we choose to work with. When were choosing to work with a client, were determining if we have the necessary training and skills to be helpful, and if were going to be able to have a healthy professional relationship. You dont have to figure this out alone. Is there anyone in a similar role to yours whom youd feel comfortable bouncing this issue off of (while still keeping patient confidentiality, of course)? Their perspective might help you clarify things.

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Sometimes, though, talking things through with a colleague isnt enough. In that case, you might seek out professional supervision. Feeling drained and angry after every session may be unhealthy for you and your client, LiVecchi said. Professional supervision can support deeper reflection on our emotional responses, and in this case, it could help you better understand your reactions to your clients behavior. So consider turning to a more experienced therapist for guidance. Maybe youll even learn that theyve been here before.

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After all of this, youll need to evaluate whether therapy can be helpful to Brandon and whether youre comfortable with your reactions to him. If so, then proceed, LiVecchi advised.

But if you conclude that Brandon isnt open to much self-reflection or you are still having a strong negative reaction to him, another therapist with a fresh perspective may be best, LiVecchi said. In that case, you will be tasked with referring him to someone who can meet his needsnot just ghosting him. Hopefully, if it comes to that, it wont be an agonizing decision because youll know youve left no stone unturned when it comes to trying to make the relationship work.

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As a final thought, LiVecchi encouraged me to remind readers that if youre wondering how your therapist feels about you, you can always ask. This can lead to healthy and productive conversations that serve to strengthen the relationship and create a safe atmosphere, she said.

So maybe also have a quick answer ready just in case Brandon surprises you one day by asking, So, how do you feel about me?

Jenee

Classic Prudie

Im experiencing karma in action, and while I would have expected to feel smug, I dont. The father of my children left when they were toddlers, and we would go years at a time without hearing from him, a problem exacerbated by alcohol. He occasionally paid small amounts of child support, but was frequently unemployed. Money was very tight and I had to ask my family for help, but both kids are now successfully launched in their early 20s. I recently found out that their father was actually not unemployed
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When Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian former student activist at Columbia University, walked free from federal detention this week after a Vermont judge ordered his release, it marked the first major legal setback in the Trump administrations sweeping effort to deport pro-Palestinian students. Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident in the U.S., had been targeted under a rarely used immigration provision that labels individuals as threats to American foreign policy. Among the 94 letters submitted in his defense was one from Roberta Walla Jewish activist and former civil rights lawyer in New York. The judge cited those letters as influential in his decision to grant Mahdawi bail. In this as-told-to essay, Wall explains her connection to Mahdawi and what happened since the arrest.

I learned about his arrest first in a headline. It said the student was in Vermont, and I knew Mohsen lived in Vermont, and I just knew right away it was him. The last time we had met in person, he was so excited because he thought Columbia students were finally moving toward creating a joint organization of Palestinian and Israeli students. Mohsen wanted me to do training, and Im actually in touch with that group now.

But that was the last time we met in person. April 7, I sent him a picture of me holding up a sign outside of Columbia, and it says, Hands off Khalil. And then he wrote back, Thank you. I am safe and in good spirit. So that was April 7. And then, he was seized not too long after that.

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We met in January 2024. I lived in the neighborhood near Columbia University, and I have been very involved in Palestinian activism. For many years, Ive traveled back and forth to the West Bank and Israel, and we have trainings sometimes in nonviolent communicationsome trainings just for Palestinians, some trainings just for Israelis, and then bringing people together.

A Columbia student who I met said, Oh, you need to meet my friend Mohsen. Mohsen reached out to me. And he wrote ,I am a student at Columbia University and currently co-leading the Palestinian movement on campus. It would be a pleasure to hear your thoughts and intentions. Mohsen and I met a number of times. It turned out that his high school principal, in the refugee camp where hes from, is one of my very dear Palestinian friends and studentsan amazing peacemaker.

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Im Jewish. Mohsen grew up Muslim. It turns out that we both are practitioners of Buddhist meditation, so we had all this sharing of activism and connections in the West Bank, as well as Buddhism. In January 2024, I invited him to a Friday night Shabbat service in the Harlem Jazz Museum, but he already had a Shabbat dinner that night.

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What is so just horrifyingly outrageous is that the entire justification for arresting him is that his stance is a threat to U.S. foreign policy. This is someone who is just an open, free human being. And at the same time, that hes a fierce leader, an advocate for Palestinians, hes such a teacher. He is really modeling peacemaking to me, for me. Because not only does he stand for everyones humanity and not to demonize anyone, he stands firmly for Palestinian rights. So, from my perspective, hes not watering down the Palestinian liberation strugglehes just sourcing it in a bigger playing field.

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After the arrest, the first thing I did was reach out to some rabbis and Buddhist communities I know in Vermont to mobilize them. And there was this horrible disinformation campaign from this Jewish self-proclaimed journalist, just picking apart his life and his statements. I felt sick to my stomach. It was just how it was all so demeaning of this human being that I know, who has been on a journey for 15 years to make sense of whats happened to him in a way that embraces his own and everyones humanity. I really felt sick to my stomach. And then I learned that some of the rabbis I know were actually affected by that. And for me, its humbling to see how fragile peoples goodwill is.

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I actually had an experience of how this disinformation can get into your own brain. I had a moment of, like, Whoa, could this incredible human being have been pulling the wool over my eyes? I mean, Im more than twice his agea civil rights lawyer and activist in New York CityIm not a naive person. And yet, you hear these things, you read these things, I felt humbled to be able to say, No, I trust my experience with this human being, and Im not going to be swayed by these fearmongers who are saying things that have nothing to do with my own experience. It was humbling to see how it gave me pause. And Mohsen is such a contrast to that.

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Next, I joined others in drafting a letter in support of Mohsen. I am a retired civil rights lawyer. Ive drafted depositions, Ive done all kinds of things in support of people whose civil rights were being compromised or attacked. But I had never done one myself in support for someone I knew.

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Related From Slate What Trump Is Doing in Louisiana Is Quiet but Devastating. One Afternoon Showed It All. Read More

In the beginning, I was worried, like, Oh, my God, what are they going to do to him? But as it all unfolded, I didnt feel worried about him at all. I had complete trust that he was prepared for whatever would happen.

I was jubilant when I saw him freed this week. Its great to have a small win at this point in time, though his case is ongoing. And I feel an urgency to remind people that everybody else was sent to the 5th Circuit in Louisiana, which is probably the circuit court leading the charge to destroy whatever remnants of democracy we have. We need to protect all the other political prisonersso Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, and Rumeysa Ozturk. This is the tip of the iceberg.

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I dont think of myself as someone whos had many illusions about this country, and yet I still feel shock at whats going on. Someone I knowand someone who I think can really create understanding between Jews and Palestiniansis attacked. And then, as a Jewish person, I feel terrified that these racist assaults and attacks are being carried out in my name. My family is very frightened by this, because the whole singling out minorities in this country always ends up being a threat to our safety, and this attempt to separate Jewish people out from that is naive and scary.
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On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. dealt a major defeat to Donald Trump, shooting down the presidents invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to summarily deport Venezuelan migrants. In a meticulous opinion, Rodriguez found that the statute could not be wielded against these individuals as a matter of law, applying his decision to every migrant currently confined in his district, the Southern District of Texas. He also permanently blocked the governments plan to transfer the men to a notoriously brutal El Salvadoran prison based on dubious allegations that they are members of a gang.

Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the ruling, its impact, and its shortcomings on this weeks episode of Amicus. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: It feels like a landmark moment and a crushing defeat for the Trump administration. I want to noteeven though judges hate it when we do thisthat Judge Rodriguez is himself a Trump appointee and a conservative and a Federalist Society member. Hes no flaming liberal. And this is the first time weve gotten a ruling on the merits that says You cannot use this law in this way, right?

Mark Joseph Stern: This is the first time a court has issued a definitive decision and a permanent injunction saying that the Alien Enemies Act simply cannot be used in this way. And what Rodriguez did is very straightforward. He quoted the statute, which applies, as relevant here, only to any invasion or predatory incursion against U.S. territory by any foreign nation or government. The judge analyzes these terms as they were used in 1798, when the statute was enacted, looking at dictionary definitions and common usage. And he concluded that these are words that describe either a military force or an organized, armed forcethey do not apply to alleged members of a gang who are accused of committing occasional acts of violence. Thats not an armed militia invading the nation; thats just criminals doing criminal things.

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Rodriguez also pointed out that Trumps proclamation actually makes no reference to the existence of any organized, armed group trying to conquer the country. It just isnt there. So he effectively used Trumps own poorly drafted declaration against him.

This is a sort of funny opinion because, on the one hand, it does represent a beatdown with the textualism stick. But the ruling itself is not a searing piece of legal writing. Its actually pretty bloodless, even cold. Its a very dispassionate piece of jurisprudential writing. I wonder what you think animates the choice to approach it this way.

First of all, this judge is a conservative, hes a Federalist Society member, and, I think, this is how he does law. Hes not a jurist filled with passion or outrage. This opinion is such hardcore textualism that it includes an appendix with Rodriguezs own extensive research featuring dozens of historical uses of the terms in the Alien Enemies Actincluding letters from George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jeffersonto show that the language of the statute was always used in connection to a military invasion and never used in connection to anything like gang violence. Hes showing readers, and higher courts: It isnt just me saying that the terms of the Alien Enemies Act could not possibly fit here. This is James Madison, the father of the Constitution. Its certainly the kind of opinion you want to write when you are playing with high stakes and you want this Supreme Court to affirm you, as every district court judge does.

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There is a part of the opinion thats a bit worrisome. Judge Rodriguez says that he may not adjudicate the veracity of the factual statements in the Proclamation but retains the authority to construe the AEAs terms and determine whether the announced basis for the Proclamation properly invokes the statute. A lot of smart readers said: Holy cow, he just gave Trump permission to come back and lie better next time. That feels like an exception that could swallow the rule.

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This is a concern that Just Securitys Ryan Goodman, among others, has flagged, and I think its legitimate. Rodriguez embraces a very broad conception of the political questions doctrine, a principle created by the Supreme Court that holds that the judiciary cant weigh in on certain disputes between the political branches. The Trump administration has been claiming in this litigation that judges have no ability to scrutinize the use of the Alien Enemies Act, and Rodriguez said, No, I can weigh in, as a matter of law. But then he took pains to say that he couldnt second-guess the fact-finding of the government and the factual claims of the president. That raises the possibility that a different proclamation with different facts could lead to the lawful application of the Alien Enemies Actfor instance, if Trump says Venezuelan migrants have formed a militia thats trying to take over some city.

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So I do think this is a concerning loophole in the opinion. I wouldnt even call it a loophole, really; this is a conservative judge splitting the baby, shooting down the administration quite harshly on the law but leaving room for Trump to come back with different factual allegations and say: You told us what the law requires, and we are now giving you the facts that you say are necessary for us to invoke it.

Related From Slate I Think the Tide Is Finally Turning Read More

The other bad news is that this decision will be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, the court most likely to reverse it.

Look, the 5th Circuit is a hotbed of far-right extremists, many of whom are locked in a competitive audition for Supreme Court slots. You have judges like Kyle Duncan and Andrew Oldham and James HoTrump appointees from the first termwho are all campaigning for the court by being as provocative and hard-right and trollish as possible. Because they are convinced, probably correctly, that thats what Trump is looking for this time: not just someone whos credentialed and polished, but a brawler who will own the libs and defend Trump no matter what.

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Now injected into this hotbed is the most controversial high-profile litigation of Trumps second term so far. A lot depends on which three-judge panel first gets this case; it could be a panel of normie conservatives or Democratic appointees. But we could also see a panel of Trump judges who deliver a scorching repudiation of Rodriguezs careful textualism and say that Trump gets to do whatever he wants. Judge Ho has already said that migrants crossing the border constitute an invasion and that courts cant second-guess the governments proclamation of such an invasion. But no other judge joined his opinion, which may be a sign that even some of the flamethrowers think it goes a little too far.

No matter what happens at the 5th Circuit, though, this is ultimately on a rocket ship to the Supreme Court, right?

Yes, and I have real optimism that the Supreme Court will side with Rodriguezespecially after it halted the late-night deportations of migrants from Texas two weeks ago, before Justice Samuel Alito even finished writing his dissent. Rodriguez has crafted an opinion that maximizes the odds of five or more justices saying: Sounds right to me.
Today sees Mabel share the highly anticipated single Benz featuring UK rapper Clavish, out now via Polydor Records.

After months of teasing fans on social media, Mabel has finally released the highly anticipated single Benz featuring UK rapper Clavish. Produced by Arthur Bean (Central Cee), the trap-infused track marks a confident return to Mabels early UK R&B roots, with her reflecting on a desire to be loved as deeply and attentively as someone treasures their material possessions. The track effortlessly pairs Mabels signature silky vocals with infectious horns and a self-assured verse from rapper Clavish. The single is accompanied by an official visualiser, which sees Mabel and Clavish cruise through London in a G-Class Benz.

Mabel single release 'Benz' - Photo credit - Silas Atwal

Listen to Benz featuring Clavish HERE

The track follows All Over You ft. King Promise, released earlier this year, and a string of critically acclaimed singles from last year including Vitamins, Stupid Dumb ft. Ty Dolla Sign and Chat. Reconnecting with her early sound and R&B roots, this new era signals a fresh and exhilarating reintroduction to the BRIT Award-winning artist you thought you knew.

Next month Mabel will headline the NOTION stage at the first ever SXSW London as a part of the House of R&B stage. Kicking off a week of electrifying performances, Mabel will grace the stage on June 2nd in Shoreditch. Tickets are available HERE

About MABEL

Mabel, born Mabel Alabama-Pearl McVey, is one of the UKs brightest popstars. She has amassed twelve top 20 singles with hits like Dont Call Me Up, My Lover and Fine Line, two UK top 3 albums and won Best Female Solo at the BRITs. Mabel released her platinum-selling debut album High Expectations in 2019  the biggest-selling debut by a British woman that year. Released in 2022, Mabels sophomore album About Last Night became her highest charting release to date, debuting at number two on the Official Charts and received critical acclaim from the likes of NME, The Observer and DIY. Mabel has now surpassed over 4.5 billion streams, and 8 million singles sold worldwide. She has also graced the cover of numerous publications including British GQ, Glamour, ES Mag and more.



Follow Her

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | X | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | WEBSITE



by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


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In 2003 Jonathan Gluck was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, essentially a bone marrow cancer. To confirm the diagnosis, his doctor ordered a full-body PET scan, considered one of the best tests for early detection of the disease. The day of the appointment, the medical staff injected a radioactive tracer into Glucks bloodstream, then instructed him to lie down on a machine similar to a CT scanner.

It took about an hour on a weeknight after work, and afterward, Gluck made a throwaway joke to the technician: Am I glowing from the radioactive tracer? I meant it as a bit of gallows humor, but he answered by essentially saying, Actually, sort of, Gluck, a journalist, writes in his forthcoming memoir, An Exercise in Uncertainty. The technician told him he might want to avoid sleeping next to his wife if she happened to be pregnant. She wasnt, Gluck responded, but they did have a 7-month-old. Oh, the technician said. You should definitely stay away from her.

Gluck went to a diner and stayed there until 2 a.m., about the time the technician said the radioactivity should be out of his systema small precaution he wouldnt have known to take if it hadnt been for that random conversation with the tech. In his memoir, he writes about the incident. Why wasnt I warned of the potential risks to Didi and A.J.? he says, naming his wife and daughter. What similar hazards have I, or you, not been informed of?

How much should doctors dwell on risks when consulting with patients? It seems like a straightforward question: Of course doctors should inform their patients of any and all possible risks before going ahead with a procedure. And yet, even experienced physicians struggle to strike the right balance. In Glucks case, the answer seemed straightforward: Stay away from the kid for a bit (a step that the International Atomic Energy Agency also suggests that patients consider following the kind of scan he got). But in some cases, a risk, or potentially negative outcome, might affect whether a patient goes through with a treatment at allor whether they later regret doing so.

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This is one of the hardest questions for us to answer, said Terri Fried, a professor and physician at Yale School of Medicine. Because what were really saying is, How much information do people need to make an informed decision?

To practice medicine ethically (and to avoid malpractice lawsuits), physicians must ensure that a patient has informed consent that is, they must tell the patient enough information about the treatment or procedure for the patient to make an informed decision about their care. (Its possible, of course, that in Glucks case, he did sign some form or another that mentioned those potential risks.) But how much information is too much? How little is too little? Informed consent laws dont get into specifics, leaving the question up to individual doctors.

Legally speaking, the answer here is relatively straightforward. Its what the reasonable person would want to know, said Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. Would a reasonable person want to know, for example, that there is a risk of death associated with anesthesia, albeit a small one? The answer may change depending on the context. For example, in an emergency situation, the stakes are often clearer: Rejecting a treatment could lead to the loss of a limb, or even the loss of life. Any minuscule risk of harm may be obviously worth it. But when it comes to a nonemergency or elective procedure, things get murkier.

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The problem is, patients have no idea what they want to know, Caplan said.

In January, the Cut published a piece by the writer Katie Heaney about her breast reduction from hell. The surgery didnt deliver the results she had expected, and during her recovery, she sent a mental health update to her medical team, telling them shed been feeling hopeless. That was called postoperative depression, and it was normal, they assured her. This was comforting to hear, Heaney writes, but it also made me wonder why nobody warned me before. Learning that a bad outcome is common is reassuring, but it can also be bewildering. If its normal, then why did it come as a surprise?

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Its possible that someone had warned her. Informed consent is required before any medical procedure that comes with significant risks, like a surgery or other invasive operation, for example. That consent can come in three forms: implied consent (the doctor explains the procedure and answers your questions), verbal consent (you agree out loud to the procedure), or written consent (you sign a form that describes the risks). Even if you work with a doctor who is extremely thorough in describing the risks and possible bad outcomeslike the low risk posed by radiation from a scanthey may be difficult to grasp. Just because youre given the information doesnt mean youre absorbing it.

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If the doctor has to reel off a list of 20 different side effects, that doesnt necessarily mean the patient understands all that information, said Jonathan Pugh, a senior research fellow at the Uehiro Oxford Institute who studies patient autonomy and informed consent.

To the contrary, it could lead to cognitive overload, leaving you overwhelmed with information and unable to process any of it. Pugh compares this with clicking Accept Cookies when you visit a website. As someone who works extensively on informed consent, I never give informed consent to websites, he said. Im just being overloaded with information. Im just not going to pay attention.

Plus, its just not possible for doctors to cover everything. What if an earthquake hits? What if you fall out of your hospital bed? What if a nurse and the anesthesiologist arent getting along that day and their feud affects your care? Its impossible to tell patients about the full range of possible bad outcomes, because there are good reasons to think thats infinity, said Nir Eyal, who studies bioethics at Rutgers School of Public Health.

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For that matter, studies in psychology suggest that, generally speaking, people are not great at assessing personal risk. Research has shown, for example, that people tend to overestimate the benefits, and underestimate the risks, of medical interventions. In my reporting for a recent story on in vitro fertilization, patients told me again and again that they had assumed that IVF was a guarantee. It would be a hard road, sure, but at the end of it, theyd have a baby. One woman I spoke to said she didnt realize how common miscarriages were until she had one herself at seven weeks. No one prepares you for if its not going to workso when it doesnt, its just shocking, she said.

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For that story, I spoke to health psychologist Alice Domar, who referenced a study she led years ago that found that patients expectations of a successful embryo transfer were twice as high as their actual chances. When patients come to the doctor, they want hope, Caplan said. They want good news, and they want to be told that things are going to be OK.

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So they may not hear what the doctor says in terms of adverse events, he added. They literally just block it out, dont pay attention.

The responsibility lies with the doctor to make sure the patient truly is giving informed consent. But there are some things patients can do to increase their chances of hearing and absorbing the relevant information. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions, said Caplan. Youre often thinking, Oh, itll be seen as a challenge, or I cant upset my doctor. But you have to ask questions.

Request supplemental materials, like one-sheeters, that you can take home and review when youre able to sit and process the information, Caplan said. He also suggests asking the doctor if its OK to record the conversation, so you can listen back to it later. (If you have an iPhone, you can easily do this with the Voice Memos app.)

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Fried, the Yale School of Medicine physician, works in geriatrics, and it weighs heavily on her mind whether her older patients are truly absorbing the medical information they need to know. Shes come up with a few questions she asks her patients before they undergo treatments and procedures, but anyone could steal them and ask their own doctors to talk through the same points with them to make sure theyre on the right page.

For one, Fried likes to share with her patients the best- and worst-case scenarios after a given procedure, along with where on that spectrum she expects the patient to land. Its an easy question for a patient to ask their physician: Tell me what you think the best case is? Tell me what you think the worst case is?  she said. It can also be informative to flip this around and ask yourself the same questions. For you, whats the best-case scenario here? Whats the worst? Identify those and ask your doctor the likelihood of each, Fried said.

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Another go-to: Ask your doctor what they would want to knowor what they would want a loved one to knowabout the potential risks of the procedure. That can make somebody stop in their tracks and really think about this, Fried said.

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Fried has also had some revealing conversations with her patients by asking them what they hope the procedure or treatment will accomplish. Sometimes, thats how she realizes that her patients are way off in their expectations. She remembers a veteran who used a wheelchair and who was scheduled for vascular surgery.

And I asked him what he thought the surgery was going to do for him, Fried said. And he said, Allow me to walk again.  She was alarmed; the surgery was absolutely not going to do that. Occasionally, she said, the conversations that seem to be most helpful to patients arent the ones that dwell on the bad outcomes; theyre the ones that dwell on the patients hopes.

You actually have to make sure that people understand what it is theyre going to achieve with the [procedure], she said. And theres an easy way to get at that, which is just to ask.
Israeli firefighting teams battled wildfires near Jerusalem for a second day on Thursday, with police reporting the reopening of several major roads that had been closed.

The fires broke out on Wednesday along the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, prompting police to shut the roads and evacuate thousands of residents from nearby communities.

Israel's firefighting service said 163 ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the flames.

Rescue agency Magen David Adom said it treated 23 people on Wednesday, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns.

Among them were two pregnant women and two babies under a year old, it added.

Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to public broadcaster Kan.

Crews worked through the night, allowing the reopening of main roads, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv route, police said.

"All routes have been reopened to traffic," said a police statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "national emergency", warning the fires could spread into Jerusalem.

Troops were deployed to support efforts and several Independence Day events were cancelled.

The Israeli military said its personnel were helping in Jerusalem and other central districts.

"Overnight dozens of engineering vehicles started operating throughout the country to form lines to prevent the fire from spreading into other trees," said a military statement.

"The IAF (air force) continues assisting in the effort to extinguish the fires," it said, adding that about 50 firetrucks were dispatched where the blaze had spread.

An AFP journalist at the scene on Wednesday said fires had swept through wooded areas near the main road between Latrun and Bet Shemesh.

Helicopters were seen trying to extinguish the flames.

Fanned by high temperatures and strong winds, the fires spread rapidly through wooded areas, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, police said.

Late Wednesday, the foreign ministry said firefighting aircraft were expected to arrive from Croatia, France, Italy, Romania and Spain to join the operation.
15th edition of the Rozgar Mela, held last week, focused on expanding employment opportunities in government sectors across India. Over 51,000 appointment letters were distributed by the Honble Prime Minister through videoconferencing, encouraging new recruits to follow the principle of Nagarik Parmo Dharma or citizen-centric service. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has played a key role in this initiative, issuing around 18,000 letters over time, including 6,500 in this round alone. These appointments span various roles such as Preventive Officers, Examiners, Inspectors, and Assistants, enhancing CBICs operational capabilities.

In parallel, the Passing Out Parade for the 75th batch of Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Officer Trainees was held at NACIN, Palasamudram. This batch was the first to complete their entire training on the campus and included officers from Bhutan, highlighting cross-border cooperation. Officers were encouraged to lead with integrity and dedication in their service roles.

Additionally, the Guwahati Customs Division executed two significant anti-smuggling operations. A search at a godown in Sonapur resulted in the seizure of 19.7 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes and 3,648 kilograms of poppy seeds, collectively valued at over Rs. 5.7 crores. A second operation in Kamrup (Metro) led to the recovery of another 3.8 lakh sticks of illegal cigarettes worth Rs. 95 lakhs. Combined, the seizures totaled 23.5 lakh sticks of cigarettes valued at Rs. 6.55 crores. These actions underscore ongoing efforts to curb illegal trade and enhance border vigilance.

********

Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 28/05/2025

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs

DO No. 17/News Letter/CH(IC)/2025 Dated: 28th April, 2025

Dear Colleague

The 15th edition of the Rozgar Mela, a flagship initiative dedicated to enhancing employment opportunities across India, was held last week. Addressing the event via videoconferencing, the Honble Prime Minister distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly-inducted youth across various Government departments and organisations. In his inspiring address, the Honble Prime Minister bestowed upon the new recruits the guiding mantra of Nagarik Parmo Dharma urging them to adopt citizen-centric service as a lifelong principle. The Rozgar Mela closely aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, where building a future-ready government workforce is an imperative.

CBIC has been an active participant in this initiative, having issued around 18,000 appointment letters through previous Rozgar Melas  a number that represents nearly 40% of our workforce strength. In the 15th tranche alone, over 6,500 appointment letters have been handed out for various posts under CBIC, ranging from Preventive Officers, Examiners, and CGST Inspectors to Tax Assistants, Executive Assistants, Havaldars and MTS. These appointments will significantly strengthen CBICs capacity for efficient tax administration and trade facilitation while injecting fresh energy into the organization.

The Passing Out Parade of the 75th batch of Officer Trainees of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs 86 Indirect Taxes) was held at NACIN, Palasamudram, in the august presence of the Honble Minister of State for Finance. This batch holds a special significance as it is the first batch to have undergone the entire training on the campus. It is also the first time that officers from the Royal Government of Bhutan marched shoulder to shoulder with their Indian counterparts in a conspicuous display of camaraderie. My special congratulations to those who have been awarded medals in recognition of their achievements during the training. With this batch of officers taking charge in their respective Zones, I urge them to lead with integrity, fairness, and humility, and to remain steadfast in their commitment to public service.

Acting on specific intelligence, officers from the Guwahati Customs Division, conducted a well-coordinated search operation at a godown in Sonapur, Guwahati. This operation resulted in the seizure of 197 cartons containing a total of 19,70,000 sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes of various brands, including Benson 85 Hedges, Esse Light Super Slim, Mond Blue Berry, WIN, and 555 Gold, with an estimated value of approximately Rs. 5.6 Crores. Additionally, 66 bags containing 3,648 kilograms of foreign-origin poppy seeds, valued at around Rs. 11 Lakhs, were recovered. In a separate operation on the same day, the officers executed another search in Kamrup (Metro), Assam, which led to the recovery of 38 cartons containing 3,80,000 sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes, primarily Esse Light Super Slim and Mond Silver, valued at Rs. 95 Lakhs. The total value of the seized cigarettes amounted to Rs. 6.55 Crores, with a total of 23,50,000 sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes seized during both the operations. Kudos to Guwahati Customs vigilant efforts against smuggling activities in the region!

Until next week!

Yours sincerely,

(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)

All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs.
Dramatic increases in the number of data centers, electric vehicles and electric appliances around the Pacific Northwest will cause demand for electricity in the region to potentially double over the next two decades.

Thats according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. On Tuesday, the congressionally mandated regional power planning agency presented its latest 20-year demand forecast for the Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana power system.

The stark projections do not include potential reductions in demand the council said will come from expected increases in energy efficiency and planned demand-response programs to shift power use to off-peak hours.

The forecast comes at a time when the regions energy future is in flux.

While demand for power is surging, the regions two biggest power consumers, Washington and Oregon, have laws requiring the states to quickly abandon fossil fuel-generated power and transition to renewable energy. That decreases the availability of affordable energy even as some new power generation and transmission projects face significant pushback for the harms they stand to cause ecosystems and Native nations.

Regional power managers are left in a bind, warning of growing blackout risks amid an increasingly uncertain energy future complicated by climate change and rampant political uncertainty.

The situation has also led, at times, to surging power costs during increasingly frequent extreme weather events including the January 2024 storm which cost Clark Public Utilities about $26 million.

Surging demand

We expect strong demand growth for the region  both in energy and in peak (demand)  over the next 20 years, said Steven Simmons, senior energy forecasting analyst behind the councils projections.

The scale of that growth between 2027 and 2046, however, varies substantially from one modeled scenario to another.

In 2024, the regions demand load was about 22,000 average megawatts. (Average megawatt is a unit of measurement for power  one annual aMW is equivalent to 1 megawatt produced continuously for one year.) Peak demand was about 35,000 megawatts in the winter and 33,000 megawatts in the summer.

Energy efficiency measures currently save the region an estimated 5,000 aMW, or a little less than one-fourth of total average demand, the presentation showed.

But peak demand is projected to grow as much as 3% each year. That could nearly double current highs by 2046 if the Northwest sees rapid economic growth and more climate warming.

Even with a recession stagnating demand for power, peak demand would still grow about 40 percent, council models show.

Average energy demand will follow similar patterns, projections show.

New model, new world

The council arrived at those projections by building its most complex computer model yet, Simmons said.

It took an end use approach that sums up individual forecasts for nearly every imaginable thing that uses power down to the smallest level and then adds that all up. This year, the council also employed an econometric model that looks at statistical relationships between economic quantities and weather to past demand.

In practice, all that boils down to models that can provide a look into potential futures  even in small geographic areas during specific hours on any given day.

Those models show a future where the region sees record demand on hot summer afternoons and cold winter mornings.

In addition, in the next five years, electricity demand from data centers will grow exponentially  even under the lowest projected outcomes. On the low end, demand will go from a couple hundred aMW to nearly 1,500. On the high end, utilities expect it will explode to about 4,600.

And even if the region can meet that challenge  which it must to keep lights on  then power demand from car and home electrification (as gas-powered appliances are replaced), as well as hydrogen production, all quickly start to take off around 2030.

Spurred by Washington and Oregon laws requiring most cars sold by 2035 to be electric vehicles, EV charging will go from using almost no power this year to sucking up between 5,500 aMW and 6,500 aMW in 2046.

Hydrogen production is also projected to grow to between 1,000 aMW to 3,000 aMW over the same time period.

The Bonneville Power Administration has identified some of the same trends.

We also see forecast uncertainty broadening, BPA spokesman Doug Johnson said.

BPA markets power produced by the federal Columbia-Snake River hydropower system and funds the council. The federal agency noted in its 2024 Resource Program that the previous decades steady annual growth of 0.3 percent has skyrocketed to 2.2 percent.

The Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee released its own projections this week, largely mirroring the councils. It emphasized surging demand highlights the need for more generation and transmission infrastructure. But those projects often face fierce opposition for harms they stand to cause.

All that adds up to a dangerous sum to Kurt Miller, who is CEO of Northwest Public Power Association and not part of the council.

The latest forecasts make one thing clear: Were demanding more from the electric grid than its currently built to deliver, he said.

Southwest Washington impacts

Erica Erland, communications director for Clark Public Utilities, said the utility has been consistently cautioning our local, state and regional leaders that there are very real and immediate concerns about regional resource adequacy, specifically during extreme weather events.

Erland pointed to the January 2024 storm as well as recent summer heat domes that pushed the regional power system very close to its limit and required swift regional coordination to keep the lights on.

Cowlitz Public Utility District did not respond to a request for comment on how the scenarios in the new projections might impact operations and power rates.

At Tuesdays meeting, Jennifer Light, the councils director of power planning, said the councils increasingly sophisticated models will help the region build a strategy to handle growing uncertainty.

Well have some insights that will allow us to understand what you might build for those really high risk futures, she said. We think well have the information to build a robust strategy that can be adaptive.
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:

Mechanical engineering PhD student Ted Sender configures the physical MRZR vehicle platform, interfaced with a synthetic off-road environment in the Digital Engineering (DE) lab of the Automotive Research Center. A wraparound screen creates an immersive experience. This DE setup supports integrated autonomy and mobility testing in mission-relevant scenarios. Credit: Levi Hutmacher/Michigan Engineering

Digital twins are a rapidly advancing area in engineering, going beyond static models to continuously receive data from the physical world and make predictions that go on to affect that reality. They have applications in areas such as energy systems, manufacturing and medicine. U-M's Automotive Research Center (ARC) uses them to help design, test and control autonomous off-road vehicles that operate in human-led teams.

While the Army supports the ARC Center of Excellence with an eye to projecting military force at a longer distance without soldiers in harm's way, the results could improve autonomous teams of humans and machines that operate in many other situations that are dangerous for humans. These include wildfires and other disaster relief operations, mining activities, and explorations of other planets.

The ARC director is Bogdan Epureanu, the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and a professor of electrical and computer engineering. In an interview with the Michigan Engineer, he shared insights into how the ARC leverages digital twins and explores the potential of humanrobot teaming in various scenarios.

Why are digital twins so useful in designing and running autonomous off-road vehicles?

Digital engineering accelerates the process of developing better autonomous off-road vehicles. Therefore, we aim to gather user input early onto involve humans in using these systems from the beginning. We want to ask users: If you had a system with these features, how would you use it? What design options do you prefer? What are the implications of the key design choices we make?

That means we need to either build the system and provide it to humans for testing, or design it in a digital environment and allow them to try it virtually. In the long run, it is more cost-effective to develop a computational environment where the human can be immersed and experience that interaction without first having to build the fleet of autonomous vehicles. We aim to have a physically accurate and cinematic representation of the world with very high fidelity, allowing humans to use all their senses while interacting with the environment and the engineered vehicle system.

This isn't just tele-operation of the vehicles. Instead, the human is operating at a higher level of abstraction, managing the work of multiple vehicleseach one functioning as an independent agent with its own goals that align with those of the human commander.

Human practitioners who use autonomous vehicles often discover new ways of operating them. If we don't take their opinion into account early on in the design process, we risk creating a system that ends up being used differently than intended. Including users from the start helps uncover new tactics, new ways of interaction and the need for new capabilities, providing guidance about what new capabilities should be developed.

A cinematic experiencethat's very evocative. What goes into that?

First, we scan the area we want to model. Our models include the topology of the terrain, soil types, vegetation, structures, and more. We then release a digital model of the vehicle, with synthetic sensors, into that digital environment. We observe its movements and actions.

In some cases, we may also have a physical vehicle in the real-world version of the landscape. We can monitor the real world and see where the vehicle is going and what it's doing. The cinematic digital environment, viewed on large screens, continuously predicts the actions of vehicles over the next five to ten seconds. It also updates its representations multiple times each second using data from the vehicles. The digital twin serves as an interface between the synthetic environment in which the human operates and the dangerous, real-world environment.

Inside the University of Michigan-led Automotive Research Center (ARC), researchers and students work on the next generation of military vehicles. Here, the team works on an autonomous vehicle that will be fully immersed in a digital environment for experimentation. Credit: Levi Hutmacher/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing

This feedback is very important because it's hard to predict in every situation what the vehicle will do. There are so many factors that affect the individual vehicle decisions, and one can't really capture all of them. In the simulation, the vehicle might choose to turn left at a certain point, while in reality, it chooses to turn right at that same point due to small differences.

In the simulated environment, not only can the human see where each vehicle is located, zooming in and out and panning around the environment, but they are also able to feel the vehicle vibrations, the vehicles' pitch, roll and yaw, and hear the sounds that the vehicles make as they move through and interact with the environment. These sensory cues provide better situational awareness, and alert the human to emerging issues, such as the presence of an adversary or damage progressing through the vehicle structure.

You said the human would be managing a fleet of vehicles. What might that look like?

We envision human agents managing autonomous agents with varying capabilities that can work as a team to carry out missions. For instance, many autonomous vehicles in a fire-fighting crew may focus on carrying water to douse the fire, but others may be designed to locate humans and help them get to safety.

The humans on the team would act as team leads, changing the directives of the vehicles as new details about the situation emerge. They may also help their vehicles navigate out of tricky situations that the autonomy can't handle alone, such as the coordinated steering and throttle needed on a steep, sandy hill.

Graduate student James Baxter conducts motion-based driving simulation trials. The Digital Engineering testbed enables driver feedback studies and vehicle dynamics evaluation under varied terrain conditions. Credit: Levi Hutmacher/Michigan Engineering

Sometimes, the human may handle more information than they can manage all at once. For this reason, we are also building a system to capture physiological measurements that provide AI agents with clues to the psychological states of human leads. For instance, if the human reaches cognitive overload, the AI agents will prioritize and simplify the information that they provide and take fewer risks that could lead to the need for human intervention.

How do digital twins fit with ARC's priorities and history?

The ARC is founded on a long tradition, and pioneers translational research since its inception. It hasn't focused on digital twins for its entire history, but we have been building this area since about 2018, when I became director. We still aim to build resilient machines with strong powertrains, tires or tracks that can handle the necessary surfaces, and provide protection from harsh environments and adversaries. However, autonomy is a fundamental disruptor in many ways.

For example, the use of autonomous vehicles in the military is fundamentally different from the use of conventional vehicles. Because there are no humans in harm's way in an autonomous vehicle, the strategy and tactics change, and so do the technologies we pursue.

Additionally, the design objectives vary considerably. Having a human in a conventional vehicle set our most stringent constraints on the design in the past. We needed a restraint system and a way to get in and out of the vehicle. We couldn't expose the vehicle to excessive vibrations, and we had to control the internal temperature. It also limited the missions that were possible, as a human would need to return to a location for food, rest and recovery. All these are eliminated for an autonomous vehicle.

When a vehicle can loiter in a position or an area for months, we have to think about different constraints on the design. For example, new methods are needed for vehicles to manage their energy and maintain situational awareness, autonomously perceiving the environment and making decisions.

Thus, we are currently reimagining what an off-road vehicle can do. With such a large design space, it is extremely valuable to test ideas in a digital environment before producing physical vehicle prototypes. But not all aspects of a vehicle can be simulated accurately.

Hence, we have made significant progress toward creating ways to blend the boundary between digital worlds and reality, where we include in digital representations the aspects we can model most easily, and have those interact with the elements of the physical world that are hard to model. Digital twins are an integral part of this approach. They are also one of the aspects we are pursuing in the ground vehicle alliance for digital engineering created in partnership with the U.S. Army Futures Command.

Why are digital twins essential to the ARC's mission today?

Digital twins are more critical than ever in the ARC current initiatives. They enable real-time data integration and scenario modeling, essential for advancing human-machine teaming in complex operational scenarios.

A prime example is a project that aims to develop a dynamic data-driven application system (DDDAS) framework to enhance combat search and rescue missions. This framework focuses on real-time data integration, human-in-the-loop modeling and optimizing humanmachine collaboration, demonstrating the pivotal role of digital twins in modern military operations.

By simulating various operational environments and potential outcomes, digital twins help commanders make informed decisions, leading to more successful mission outcomes. This underscores the ARC's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital twin technology to address contemporary challenges in autonomous systems and defense applications.
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:

Zihao Dong, a Northeastern doctorate student, tested the algorithm on Northeasterns Agile X Scout Mini mobile robot. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Delivery robots made by companies such as Starship Technologies and Kiwibot autonomously make their way along city streets and through neighborhoods.

Under the hood, these robotslike most mobile robots in use todayuse a variety of different sensors and software-based algorithms to navigate in these environments.

Lidar sensorswhich send out pulses of light to help calculate the distances of objectshave become a mainstay, enabling these robots to conduct simultaneous localization and mapping, otherwise known as SLAM.

However, these components are resource-intensive and require large amounts of memory for accurate mapping, limiting a robot's ability to operate over long distances, explains Northeastern University doctoral student Zihao Dong.

"After a certain time, you might be accruing over 10 or 20 gigabytes of memory on your cache," he says. "That can be a huge computational overhead for you to handle."

It's up to roboticists like Dong to help address these bottlenecks, delving deep into the algorithms that enable these robots to operate the way they do.

In newly published research, Dong, under the supervision of Michael Everett, a Northeastern professor of electrical & computer engineering, has developed a new 3D mapping approach that, in some cases, is 57% less resource-intensive than leading methods. The work is published on the arXiv preprint server.

Dong's algorithm, Deep Feature Assisted Lidar Inertial Odometry and Mapping (DFLIOM), builds on another called Direct LiDAR inertial Odometry and Mapping (DLIOM), which uses inertial measurement units and lidar data for 3D mapping.

Similarly, DFLIOM uses the same technologies, but introduces a new method of scanning environments that not only requires the use of less data, but in some instances can help decrease inaccuracies, Everett says.

The research helps challenge the notion that more data equals better outcomes, Everett explains.

"There's a big push from the people developing sensors to say, "We now have a sensor that can give you 10 times as many points than before," he says. "It's a way they market the sensors to be more useful.

"Actually, from the algorithm side, sometimes we get worried because now you have more data to process, and just having more data is not just a good thing because the algorithm can't keep up," he says.

With this work, Dong and Everett try to tackle this challenge and answer this question: "How can we write algorithms that can extract only the important pieces?"

The researchers tested the algorithm using Northeastern's Agile X Scout Mini mobile robot outfitted with an autonomy kit that featured an Ouster Lidar, a battery pack, and an Intel NUC mini PC. The robot created 3D maps of various exterior parts of Northeastern's campus, including Centennial Common, Egan Crossing and Shillman Hall.

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
A New Mexico couple is facing more than a dozen charges after authorities say they allegedly forced their eight children to live in squalid "underground caves" while subjecting them to a decade of physical and sexual abuse.

The abuse came to light in October 2024 when the couple's 16-year-old daughter confided in staff at the New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy, according to KRQE News.

The teen reported years of alleged sexual abuse, neglect and forced incest, prompting Roswell Police to alert state authorities. She said her family had been living in what she described as "underground caves" on a property in Deming.

On Monday, 41-year-old Valerie Cordell pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including child abuse and first-degree criminal sexual penetration. Her husband, 50-year-old Melvin Cordell, is facing 24 charges, including rape, child abuse, aggravated battery and tampering with evidence.

The teen disclosed that her father had allegedly performed two at-home abortions on her, and that she had reportedly been raped by both him and other adult relatives. She described a home life of starvation, coercion and extreme deprivation, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.

Both parents remain in custody at the Luna County Detention Center following their arrests on February 21. Melvin Cordell is scheduled to be arraigned on May 5.

Authorities believe the abuse occurred over a 10-year period from 2014 to 2024. Additional investigations are ongoing, particularly into alleged accomplices in Nevada.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
The death of Adrinana Younge, 11 years old, threw Guyana into a tailspin of protests, riots, looting and a general national disturbance that pitted the police against civilians.

Things went from bad to worse on Monday evening, in Georgetown, Guyana, as fiery protests broke out across the South American country, following the Post Mortem Examination (PME) report that 11-year-old Adriana Younge died by drowning.





The day started with scores of Guyanese peacefully protesting outside the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) awaiting the results. But by midday, things began heating up and intensified once the PME report was released, with reports of looting, vandalism of businesses and the burning of vehicles.





Kaieteur News reported that videos surfaced of looting taking place. One of them showed individuals looting a Chinese supermarket persons trying to break into the City Mall. Reports also surfaced of looters also invading Burger King.





Police ranks fired rubber pellets as protestors resisted by returning bricks, glass bottles and other debris in their direction.





Adrianna drowned





Subrian Younge, the father of 11-year-old Ariana Younge whose lifeless body he pulled from the Double Day Hotel pool on April 24, made it emphatically clear that he rejected the findings of an independent, four-hour long Post Mortem Examination (PME) conducted on Adrianas body on Monday.





According to that PME report, the 11-year-old died from drowning. It ruled out theories of forcible drowning or any other means of killing, followed by disposal of the body in water.





This was later confirmed by the familys lawyer, Darren Wade.





The PME, witnessed by the lawyer and a local doctor, Caleb Mc Cloggan, was conducted by the three-member pathology team comprising of: Dr Glenn A. Rudner from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York: Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, the government-appointed international pathologist from Barbados; and Dr. Gary L. Collins, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Delaware, who Adrianas family chose to represent their interests.





Prior to the childs Post Mortem, which commenced around 12:30 p.m, a series of scans, including X-rays and a full-body CT was conducted to assess fractures and other injuries, including internal bleeding, Wade informed.





Things not determined





In his update to the media, Wade noted: no bones were discovered broken in the childs body; no determination was made in relation to where she drowned; and no determination as to whether she drowned in tap water or pool water.





As for the decolouration on the body and reports of cotton wool being observed in the childs nostrils, after her lifeless body was pulled from the pool, Wade reported that as for the former, this was ruled to be consistent with water damage, and as for the former, the pathologists made no such discovery when the body was examined.





In the meantime, the relatives of the deceased child continue to press the government of Guyana for an independent and impartial investigation but there has been no effort yet to meet this specific request.

Wade stressed, as per the Kaieteur News report, "I believe it is critical at this point in time for the family and for the entire country that the state acts, that the President doesnt just talk and that he delivers based on that promise.





Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge




The disturbing murder and kidnapping case involving a Louisiana family is moving forward as suspect David Wayne Callihan has been deemed competent to stand trial.

Callihan, 37, is accused of kidnapping two young girls from their Loranger, Louisiana, home last June, after murdering their mother, and killing the youngest of the two girls during their abduction.

Following the murder of the mother, the children were transported across state lines, allegedly with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The 4-year-old victim's body was later found in Mississippi woods. Her 6-year-old sister was rescued and treated at a hospital.

A Thursday hearing at the U.S. District Courthouse in New Orleans determined that Callihan is mentally competent to face federal charges while being treated with medication, WLBT reported. A previous hearing in February left the matter unresolved, prompting a second psychiatric evaluation.

Callihan faces two federal charges in Louisiana and seven additional counts in Hinds County, Mississippi, including murder and kidnapping. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.

Victoria Cox, a second defendant in the case, is also charged with capital murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on December 8 in Mississippi.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
The Fisheries Department which also houses the Kingstown Fish Market (in the Background) has been cited as having a serious mould problem.

Elroy Boucher, President of the SVG Public Service Union (PSU), has accused the government of not properly maintaining the buildings housing various ministries and departments.





Boucher, who was at the time speaking during a sit out on April 22 by employees at the Ministry of Education, who had taken such action to highlight a mould problem at the workplace, said that the problem was not just at the Ministry of Education.





According to Boucher, there were similar problems at other governmental departments and referred in this regard to the Public Health Department, the outpatient clinic in Kingstown (which had since been resolved) and at the Fisheries Department.





The situation at Fisheries was so severe that workers there were still unable to go back into the building in Kingstown, Boucher said.





From Backpage

He reasoned that this was so because the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was passed in 2017, has not been enforced and therefore there is no protection for the workers.

"Because if it was enforced, even in 2018, the government would be mandated by that Act to ensure that the buildings are safe, he said.

The government has demonstrated a lack of care for the workers, Boucher said, and therefore, the buildings are left to deteriorate.

Mould was a serious thing that can negatively impact the lungs and ought to be taken seriously by any state authority, he stressed.

"It must be taken seriously and all we ask of the government [is] to take the safety of workers health, their health and safety seriously, the PSU President said.

Boucher referenced that during the COVID-19 pandemic when the vaccine mandate was implemented, it was touted as the government caring for its workers.

"The phrase was, its a duty to care, well if you think its a duty to care by forcing people to take a vaccine, now where is that duty to care?

He reiterated the point that if the buildings were maintained regularly under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the problems would not exist.

"Workers are the most important assets that any country has take them away and the whole public service will fall apart...and your duty is to care for their health in a very serious and meaningful way, not by taking away their rights, but by ensuring at least the buildings that they work in are safe to occupy, Boucher emphasized.

"The question one should ask (is), why all of these buildings, government buildings that are housed in the public service are in such deplorable conditions, such that they are serious impact on the health of the workers themselves? he told THE VINCENTIAN.




SVG could be spared any negative economic impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.

Because St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not export a lot of goods to the United States, the baseline 10 percent tariff imposed on all imports into that country will not have a direct impact on the local economy.





So said Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves while responding to a question posed by Fitzgerald Bramble, Opposition Parliamentarian and Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown in the House of Assembly on April 28.





On April 2, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to regulate imports, with the imposition of tariffs. This was to rectify what were the trade practices that contributed to large US trade deficits with the world. The tariffs came into effect on April 5.

Bramble asked about how the tariffs would affect the local economy and the governments plan to cushion the impact.





But Gonsalves explained that based on the data provided, over the last 10 years St. Vincent and the Grenadines exports to the US averaged 0.32 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.





Exports increased steadily from about $2 million in 2015 to $18.4 million in 2022. However, according to Gonsalves that number fell to $11 million in 2023 and half of that in 2024.





"The declines in 2023 and 2024 were principally due to a reduction in the export of conch, lobster and some other seafood according to the stats, Gonsalves explained.





He further explained that if one looked at the 10 percent tariff on such a small value of goods, then one will find that there is not going to be a direct impact across the economy.





"It may well have (an impact) in relation to the particular items which youre exporting, and the particular exporters may have a challenge, maybe, maybe not depending on the type of commodity, Gonsalves said.

A negative impact could arise in relation to price of commodities that either originate in the US, or passing through with the proposed tariffs to be imposed on shipping companies using Chinese-built ships in their fleet. That issue is currently on pause, but Gonsalves said that it would make things very difficult for us here.

Another impact according to the prime minister is the possibility of a recession internally in the US accompanied by an increase in the price of goods.





"If that happens, that could have a knock-on effect on us, for instance with tourists because they have less money to spend. Well have to look for markets elsewhere, he explained.





Finally, Gonsalves said that the proposed tariffs could potentially impact us negatively in terms of safety and security.





He reasoned that a country like Trinidad and Tobago who in 2024 exported $2.7 billion in goods and with the knock-on effects, there may be more people leaving that country including criminals which could then have an impact on us.





What was a bigger issue was how much we import from the US, Gonsalves posited. He said that in 2024, this country imported US$135 million worth of goods.




Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (3/7) uoc du bao co the giam tu 6,8 - 7,5% so voi ky ieu hanh truoc o. Cu the, gia ban le xang E5 RON 92 co the giam 1.412 ong (6,9%) ve muc 19.118 ong/lit; xang RON 95-III co the giam 1.440 ong (6,8%) ve muc 19.670 ong/lit. Trong khi o, dau hoa co the giam 7,5% ve muc 17.631 ong/lit; dau mazut co the giam 7,2% ve muc 15.730 ong/kg; dau diesel co the giam 7,1% ve muc 17.977 ong/lit.
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President Donald Trump may have given an indication about the ultimate fate of former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz before effectively removing him from his post on Thursday.

Two days earlier, Trump left Waltz on the tarmac at Joing Base Andrews as he headed to Michigan. Footage of the moment published by CNN showed how Waltz was prevented from boarding the plane along with Trump and given indications from an aide.

The moment Mike Walz realized he was done. Imagine getting on Marine One with your boss and then left standing on the tarmac 10 minutes later. What a circus. pic.twitter.com/K8x255qHm0  Kevin McNamee  (@kwmcnamee) May 1, 2025

The White House told the outlet that Waltz was not scheduled to go with Trump to Michigan, where the president held a rally to mark his first 100 days in office. However, the Daily Beast cited three sources from the Trump administration claiming it was "odd" Waltz was left there, especially as he had just been with the president on Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

Waltz's removal was announced on Thursday about six weeks after inadvertently adding a journalist to a Signal chat where highly sensitive information related to an upcoming attack on Yemen's Houthi rebels was discussed.

However, Axios detailed that Signalgate was not the only reason why he was on thin ice. Waltz's way of treating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was highlighted as a reason as well, with officials saying he did so with a dismissive attitude. "He treated her like staff and didn't realize he's the staff, she's the embodiment of the president," one official told Axios.

"Susie is a deeply loyal person and the disrespect was made all the worse because it was disloyal." Vice President JD Vance also reportedly told Waltz on a trip to Greenland in March that he had to work "more collaboratively."

Moreover, MAGA firebrand and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer targeted him during a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office and pressed him to fire specific staffers, who she labeled as "neocons," a term used to refer to people who hold hawkish foreign policy views associated with the Bush administration.

Loomer suggested Trump should fire several officials he had appointed, including his deputy, Alex Wong, who is also leaving his post. She also showed him an old video of Waltz criticizing Trump.

Loomer suggested Wong was the one who added The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the Signal chat, claiming that it was done "on purpose as part of a foreign opp to embarrass the Trump administration on behalf of China."

Waltz is now the nominee to be the next ambassador to the UN, and Senate Democrats are already showing eagerness to grill him. Most members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee signed a letter in late March a letter demanding that Trump provide answers about Signalgate. Moreover, Senator Chris Coons said on Thursday that he is looking "forward to a thorough confirmation hearing," responding to a post showing Waltz checking Signal during a recent Trump cabinet meeting.

Originally published on Latin Times
This years Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results have revealed a concerning learning gap among primary school students, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath has said.

Speaking at a recognition ceremony for the top five performers in the 2025 SEA yesterday at the ministrys head office in Port of Spain, Dowlath said the data will be analysed for better performance moving forward.
Samsung is gearing up for a major 2025 refresh, with a redesigned Galaxy Watch, upgraded foldable phones, and more big announcements on the horizon. The tech giant appears poised to push boundaries across its wearable and mobile lineups, according to a report by 9to5Google (via Seeking Alpha and SammyGuru).

Samsung is Going All-Out on Latest Teaser

The Korean company's Q1 2025 earnings call detailed many upcoming devices that are yet to be introduced and slated for this year. The latest earnings call had Samsung going all-out with what it has to offer for this year, as more devices and innovations are coming later in the year for all to enjoy.

However, apart from the many devices that are scheduled for their 2025 drop, one of the most important takeaways from this earnings call is the hint behind the upcoming improvements to its mobile devices, particularly the foldables.

New Galaxy Watch, Foldables, and More

The plan is for upcoming revamp for the Galaxy Watch later this year, slated to feature an "innovative design" for a new version of the wearable. While Samsung did not dive deep into its specifics, it is unclear if it will be a new hardware look, or a software change.

On the other hand, the biggest tease here is its foldable. According to Samsung, there are enhancements made for the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip coming later this year. However, there is another device that the company hinted at, centering on an "affordable" smartphone which highly matches the rumors behind the Galaxy Z Flip FE.

Finally, the company also talked about an "entry-level model" for its earbuds, and it may be referring to a new Galaxy Buds FE model to succeed the first one.

Samsung's Upcoming Devices This 2025

While Samsung went ahead of many tech companies earlier this year with the release of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S25 series, the South Korean tech giant is not yet done with its wave of innovation for this year. It is known that the Galaxy Watch wearable from Samsung is released later in each annual cycle, with the company usually setting it up for the Summer season.

On the wearables front, Samsung is also expected to debut upgraded Galaxy earbuds later this year.

However, one of the biggest launches remaining for Samsung this year is the arrival of its next generation of foldable devices, including both the Galaxy Z Fold7, as well as the Galaxy Z Flip7 which are expected to bring improvements compared to last year. That being said, there are also rumors about Samsung's upcoming release of the "G Fold" smartphone which features a tri-fold device that is looking to rival Huawei's.

Samsung has the entire calendar year mapped out for the many releases of the company, centering on the latest innovations for these devices, and 2025 is still unfolding with the many upcoming techs from the company.

Originally published on Tech Times
Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique.

At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity.
Thousands of people marked May Day, also known as International Workers Day, with a march and protest Thursday evening across Tucsons south side.

Like similar marches across the U.S. and world, Trumps political views was the focus.

In Tucson, marchers blocked streets for about two hours, but the protest organized by at least labor and activists groups was peaceful.

In Phoenix, an even larger gathering earlier in the day became tense when a pair of Trump supporters toting Trump flags and Trump 2028 hats marched through the crowd, confronting members of the crowd, the Arizona Republic reported.

At one point, Alfredo Gutierrez, the 79-year-old former Arizona Senate majority leader and long-time Arizona activist, put his body between the Trump supporters and event attendees. He jumped up and pulled the Trump flag down.

Rally organizers on microphones urged the public not to engage, saying it would be a peaceful protest, the Republic said. Police and rally organizers broke up the crowd after five minutes.

Gutierrez later told a Republic reporter that the Trump supporters were obviously trying to insult and provoke the attendees and that he was trying to prevent a more severe confrontation during a march that started at the Arizona State Capitol and ended at the Sandra Day OConnor federal courthouse.

Across the U.S. and world, hundreds of thousands of people rallied.

In the United States, demonstrators protested Trumps targeting of immigrants, federal workers and diversity initiatives.

Global protests largely emphasized Trumps tariffs, their impact on local jobs and the rise of the far right, according to the Associated Press.

May Day is celebrated globally on May 1.

Its associations with the U.S. labor movement began to mark riots in 1886, where a bomb was detonated during protests in Chicago for better working conditions.

Photos: May Day protest in Tucson draws thousands
A Guatemalan woman who gave birth in Tucson on Wednesday  days after entering Arizona through the desert and getting arrested by border agents  is facing rapid deportation proceedings under Trump's "expedited removal" policy, which could put her and her baby's health and safety at risk, according to an immigration attorney.

But Department of Homeland Security officers, who are posted outside the woman's Tucson Medical Center hospital room, are refusing to let the new mother speak to a lawyer, as she's requested, the Tucson attorney, Luis Campos, told the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday.

After days walking through the Southern Arizona desert, the woman was apprehended by Border Patrol earlier this week and put into detention, until agents transported her to the hospital to give birth on Wednesday, Campos said.

Campos said an advocate who became aware of the woman's situation contacted him Thursday and conveyed that she'd requested to speak to an attorney.

But when Campos attempted to visit her at TMC, DHS officers  who appeared to be with Customs and Border Protection  blocked the entrance to her hospital room, saying he needed a signed G-28 form identifying him as the woman's lawyer before he could see her, Campos told the Star.

Campos had the form with him and just needed the woman's signature, but CBP officers said neither he, nor a hospital official, would be allowed to take the form to her so she could sign, he said.

"She is clearly subject to removal, but she may have viable defenses to assert if given the opportunity," he said. "Im asking them to put her in deportation proceedings and to release her. They have the discretion to do that, so that she can be with her baby and find accommodations" as her deportation case proceeds.

Soon after his Jan. 20 inauguration President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring an "invasion" at the southern border and suspending the physical entry of migrants until he decides the invasion is over. The order also suspended migrants' ability to request asylum protection in the U.S.

The ACLU sued the administration in February over the asylum restrictions, saying they are illegal and put at risk the safety of vulnerable people fleeing harm, the Associated Press reported. Humanitarians have warned the restrictions will prompt more people to try to evade border agents, instead of surrendering to request asylum, which could lead to more migrant deaths in the borderlands.

CBP spokesman John Mennell confirmed Thursday that the woman at TMC faces expedited removal, a rapid deportation process without the ability to see an immigration judge first.

The woman will be given the choice of whether or not she wants to take her baby with her once she is deported, Mennell said. As a U.S. citizen, the newborn cannot be deported, he said.

"It is the mother's choice whether the child stays with the mother, or remains in the United States," he said.

Asked if the woman could be placed into normal deportation proceedings for humanitarian reasons, Mennell said, Those determinations are made on a case-by-case basis."

President Donald Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship in the U.S., which under the 14th Amendment automatically grants citizenship to children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

Three U.S. District Courts have halted Trump's January executive order ending birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children whose parents are in the country unlawfully. But the Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on the issue in May, the Associated Press reported.

"Urgent" situation

Campos said the woman could be discharged from the hospital any day, and returned to expedited removal processing, making the situation urgent." He hopes public attention to the case will pressure DHS to act in a more humane way.

Campos said he believes Border Patrol should have taken the woman directly to the hospital after her arrest, instead of detaining her for processing, considering her advanced pregnancy and her time spent exposed to the elements while traveling through the desert.

Even if she ends up not being eligible for release on humanitarian grounds, nor being eligible for an immigration hearing, "she still has the right to a lawyer," Campos said. "Family, and friends of family, have asked me to represent her."

Tucson Medical Center spokesman Tim Bentley said in a Friday email that the hospital would not comment on the situation.

The Star spoke Thursday with a Tennessee-based friend of the woman, who said he met the woman a few years ago while traveling with his parents, who are pastors, as they ministered in Guatemala.

The Star is identifying the friend only by his last name, Gaspar, because he said his parents  who are lawful permanent residents  are still in the process of attaining their U.S. citizenship. Even immigrants with legal status have been targeted by the Trump administration amid its mass-deportation campaign.

Gaspar, who is a U.S. citizen, stayed in touch with the woman over the years through Facebook, and he said they last corresponded a few weeks ago.

Gaspar said if the woman were to be released, pending her deportation proceedings, he and his wife are willing to host her, and her baby, in their home as she waits for her immigration case to proceed. He said his parents raised him to give back to the community, especially because they needed that help themselves after they first immigrated to the U.S. decades ago, from Guatemala.

"A good friend of ours helped out my parents when they came here 30 years ago," he said. "Were willing to help. We help out a lot of Americans who are homeless, too. We help out anyone in need."

Guatemala is experiencing high levels of violence now, Gaspar said, and that's why his friend left her home country. He has spoken with her parents in Guatemala to tell them their daughter gave birth in Tucson and is okay; her parents said they're also planning to leave their country due to the violence, Gaspar said.

Gaspar said his biggest fear is that his friend will be sent back to unsafe conditions in Guatemala with her newborn.

"Maybe theyd deport both of them back, and they don't have anywhere to go. The violence over there in Guatemala, it's really peaked," he said.

He said he's "really sad" and also angered by DHS officials' refusal to let her speak to a lawyer while in the hospital.

"That makes me feel awful," he said. "Honestly, she has the right to an attorney and theyre taking that right away from her."

Campos said the CBP officers said the woman is in their custody and they're not allowing any visitors here, even if it were family, friends, if theyre not a necessary hospital employee.

The legal issue is, who exercises control at that point?" Campos said. "Because the government says 'we have custody over her'. But shes in a hospital facility, where the hospital also has a say in custodial matters. Its an interesting legal question and I don't know how it gets resolved.
Thousands took to the streets to protest the Trump administration as part of a National Day of Action, May 1, 2025. More than 20 local groups organized the march in conjunction with mass gatherings across the country and Arizona.
Five candidates have applied to fill the seat vacated Thursday on the Tucson City Council.

Candidates for Tuesdays appointment, left open by longtime Councilman Richard Fimbres, had to have their completed documentation into the city clerks office by 9 a.m. Thursday.

Fimbres, who has represented Ward 5 since 2009, announced April 11 he would resign effective Thursday.

The Tucson City Council will be appointing one of the five candidates during a special meeting on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Whoever is tapped to fill Fimbres seat will serve through the end of the year. A separate set of candidates is running in the November election to serve a four-year term on the council.

The applicants are:

John Alan Adkisson is a founding member of Tucson Homebrew Club and opened Iron Johns Brewing Co. with John Markley in 2014, at its original location on Plumer Avenue. Adkisson said in his statement of interest he does not have ambitions for political office beyond this role and that his past political involvement has been limited to researching issues only enough to make informed voting decisions as a citizen.

David Garcia is the founder and CEO of Barrio Restoration, which began offering landscaping services to Tucsons south and west sides in 2022, with a mission to do good for the hood, he said in his resume. Garcia, through Barrio Restoration, also organizes and hosts community events for families on the citys south side, he said. His long-term goal through this work is to develop a job skills program for youth and unhoused residents to both revitalize neighborhoods and foster local pride in community ownership, he said.

Gabriel Holguin was a Council Aide for Fimbres, from November 2019 through March 2022, and again from February 2024 until now. In his statement of interest, Holguin pointed to his educational foundation in business along with his experience in the Ward 5 office, which together makes him confident in my ability to engage thoughtfully with city budget processes and to work closely with staff and stakeholders to ensure Ward 5s needs are met with both responsibility and long-term vision, he said.

Roberto Jaramillo has been a Ward 5 resident for over 65 years who served over three decades combined in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Navy Reserves and in the Arizona National Guard, according to his statement of interest. Jaramillo previously served as a member of the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board, a member of the Citizens Water Advisory Committee (CWAC), a member of the Unified Community Advisory Board (UCAB) and as a member of the Las Aguas Community-Based Organization, according to his resume.

Roque Anthony Perez II serves as the executive director of the Metro Education Commission, which advises the governing bodies on areas affecting educational welfare in the city and county. Perez also serves as a commissioner on the citys LGBTQ+ Commission, and experiences on both commissions have strengthened my ability to navigate complex systems while remaining rooted in the lived experiences of the people they are meant to serve, he said. Jaramillo was part of the 2023 class of Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerces 40 Under 40 awards.

Signature challenges too late in CD 7

If things had gone as planned, Daniel Butierez would be running without challengers for the Republican nomination in the special Congressional District 7 election.

But they didnt go as planned.

Earlier this month, Butierez and two other Republican candidates filed signatures to run in the special election to replace longtime congressman Raul Grijalva. Grijalva, a Democrat, died March 13.

Butierezs wife, Paula, filed complaints in Maricopa County Superior Court April 22, challenging the petition signatures filed by Republican candidates Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez.

Each candidate needed 568 valid signatures from Republican voters registered in the district. But Paula Butierez alleged that most of the signatures filed by both Rivas and Rodriguez were invalid, coming from non-registered people, non-residents of the district or non-Republicans.

She filed suit within the normal period of 10 days required for signature challenges. But as it turned out, the challenge period is shorter, five days, for special elections.

As a result, Daniel Butierez, Rivas and Rodriguez will all be on the Republican primary ballot.

Are there any signatures that didnt meet the criteria? Maybe, Rivas said Thursday. But for that reason we got much more than was required.

Rodriguez did not return a call seeking comment.

The primary election ends July 15, and the general election ends Sept. 23.

On the Democratic side, the candidates are: Deja Foxx, Adelita Grijalva, Patrick Harris Sr., Daniel Hernandez, and Jose Malvido Jr.

PAG/RTA conflict continues

The effort to oust Pima Association of Governments director Farhad Moghimi remained at a stalemate Thursday as the chief antagonists fired letters to each other about how the process should move forward.

On Wednesday, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, the chair of the Regional Transportation Authority board, outlined a proposed process for hiring new legal counsel, which would take place before any consideration of Moghimis job status. The process he proposed would be directed by Moghimi himself, who is being targeted for dismissal by some other board members.

On Thursday, the leader of that group, Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz, a new member of the Pima Association of Governments and Regional Transportation boards, objected in a letter to Winfield.

Legal counsel serves the Board, not the administration, and it is entirely inappropriate for the Executive Director to hand-pick attorneys who may be advising the Board on sensitive or potentially contentious matters, Heinz wrote.

The Pima Association of Governments and Regional Transportation Authority have overlapping boards with different leaders. After a contentious meeting on April 21, the two entities longtime counsel, Thomas Benavidez, resigned as legal counsel.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Reporter Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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

McFarlin Building LLC, the Tulsa firm best known for its revitalization of the citys historic Mayo Hotel, is now the official owner of another iconic property: the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Price Tower in Bartlesville.

The price of the 19-story concrete-and-copper structure, which houses a boutique hotel, office space, restaurant and bar, and an art gallery/museum, was $1.4 million.

The Price Tower was set to be sold next Tuesday as part of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy auction in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in Tulsa. However, bankruptcy trustee Patrick J. Molloy III said that although notices about the sale were sent out to some 900 potential buyers, the McFarlin Building LLC bid was the only one submitted.

We did have one potential buyer, who already owns another Frank Lloyd Wright property, come to Bartlesville to take a look at the tower, Molloy said. We visited every one of the buildings 19 floors. But in the end, this person declined to submit a bid.

The bankruptcy court is now moving forward with the sale of the tower. Molloy said the closing is estimated to take place as soon as within the next four or five days.

Efforts to reach representatives of McFarlin Building LLC for comment were not successful.

The $1.4 million price is what McFarlin Building LLC originally offered the former owner in May 2024, when it entered into a purchase agreement to buy the Price Tower.

However, days after signing the agreement, owner Cynthia Blanchard claimed in a statement that extensive and unreasonable last-minute demands (by the McFarlin Building group)  effectively prevented the transaction from being completed within the permitted timeframe, adding that she legally terminated the agreement in writing.

Blanchard then sought to sell the building through the commercial real estate website Ten-X, but the listing was ultimately pulled from the site.

Washington County District Judge Russell Vaclaw ruled on Jan. 21 that a $1.4 million purchase agreement between Blanchard and McFarlin Building LLC was to be enforced and executed, according to court documents. The next day, Blanchard filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which transferred the potential sale of the property to bankruptcy court.

The McFarlin Buildings $1.4 million offer was set up as a stalking horse bid, which is used to set the baseline for all bids on a given property in a bankruptcy auction. The official minimum bid for the Price Tower was set at $1,539,287.

The Price Tower was built in 1956 to be the headquarters of the Bartlesville oil and gas supply company owned by H.C. Price. It was later purchased by Phillips Petroleum Co. In 2001 it was taken over by a nonprofit organization called the Price Tower Arts Center, which sought to remake the building into a facility focusing on art, architecture and design.

Portions of the building were converted into a restaurant and bar and a luxury boutique hotel called The Inn at Price Tower.

However, the organization kept accumulating debt and ultimately sold the building to Blanchard, a native of nearby Dewey who had relocated with her husband to the Bartlesville area in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Two companies of which Blanchard is the lone officer, Green Copper Holdings and Copper Tree Inc., are officially listed as owners of the Price Tower.)

In an interview with the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise at the time of the sale, Blanchard said she planned to invest $10 million in renovating the Price Tower. However, in April 2024 Blanchard sold a number of artifacts and objects from the Price Tower, ranging from some of the decorative copper panels that adorn the towers exterior to unique original furnishings that Wright designed, through a Dallas company.

That sale prompted the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Wrights work, in August to file Uniform Commercial Code statements against the Price Tower owners to put potential buyers on notice that covered items from the collection cannot be sold without the Conservancys consent.

The Conservancy holds a preservation easement with the Price Tower to prevent just such a sale  which Blanchard claimed was not legally binding because she is operating the tower as a for-profit business rather than as a nonprofit organization.

Days after the Uniform Commercial Code statements were filed, Blanchard announced that Price Tower was going to close to the public and that businesses that had offices in the building would be evicted. The tower has been shuttered ever since.

In in an October 2024 interview with the Tulsa World, Macy Snyder-Amatucci, a member of the family that owns McFarlin Building LLC., said her family has been interested in the Price Tower for several years because, with all its history and its unique architecture, (it) just seemed to encompass what our company is about and all the things we believe in.

We had planned to invest up to about $10 million in (the Price Tower), and weve worked with the National Park Service before, and we were going to work with the Conservancy, as well, Snyder-Amatucci said. Because of all the time weve spent there, getting to know the building and its operations  you kind of get attached to it.
In a move to enhance user experience with artificial intelligence, Google launched a new update to the Gemini AI app.

According to the company, the update adds an AI-powered image editor that makes it easier to modify photos directly within the app. It reflects the broader trend of bringing AI into everyday tools, giving users new ways to get creative with their images. The new feature began rolling out yesterday.

Gemini users can now edit both AI-generated images and photos uploaded from their devices. The new feature will let you change backgrounds, replace objects, and add new elements to images, offering a toolkit if you're keen on digital artistry or casual photo editing.

"We're rolling out the ability to easily modify both your AI creations and images you upload from your phone or computer," said David Sharon, Group Product Manager for Gemini apps, in its blog announcement.

Google's initiative also introduces an image-based storytelling capability. Users can ask Gemini to create a first draft of a bedtime story about dragons, accompanied by complementary images, encouraging an interactive and illustrative narrative experience.

This update builds on a foundation laid with an AI image editing model that Google tested on the AI Studio platform back in March. The tested model evolved into the public tool now accessible directly within the Gemini app on both Android and iOS devices.

Ethical AI Image Watermarking?

Google also introduced SynthID, a watermarking system designed to address ethical concerns prevalent in the AI community, such as the creation of deepfakes and the removal of watermarks. The system includes an invisible digital watermark added to any image created or modified through Gemini, ensuring that changes made by AI can be tracked. According to Digital Trends, the SynthID watermark does not impact image quality and remains even if the image is cropped or further modified, allowing systems like Google Search to label the image appropriately as AI-generated or edited.

Google plans on adding a visible watermark system soon.

The tech company promises to extend support for more than 45 languages and aims to make it available in most countries soon. As the launch expands, users will gain access to existing image editing models, too.

Originally published on Tech Times
Curtis Killman Tulsa World Reporter Follow Curtis Killman 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

The state of Oklahoma has joined backers of an Osage County wind farm development in opposing its court-ordered removal.

The support came in the form of a friend-of-the-court brief filed in the pending appeal of a court order directing the 84-turbine wind farm and supporting equipment to be removed by the end of this year.

A federal judge in December 2023 ordered the removal of the wind farm after an appellate court determined that a subsidiary of Italian-based Enel and others had failed to obtain the necessary mining permits before it launched construction in 2014.

The continuing use of backfill mined without a permit to support the 84 turbine towers constituted a continuing trespass on the Osage Nations mineral rights and warranted a permanent injunction calling for their removal, according to the judges opinion in the case.

The Court concludes that Defendants past and continued refusal to obtain a lease constitutes interference with the sovereignty of the Osage Nation and is sufficient to constitute irreparable injury, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves of the U.S. Court of International Trade, sitting by designation, wrote in her opinion and order Dec. 20, 2023.

The U.S. Department of the Interior administers the Osage Nations mineral rights, which include ownership of rocks and minerals below the grounds surface. Federal law requires developers to obtain a permit from the tribes Minerals Council to engage in any mining activity in the county.

But an amicus curiae brief filed April 23 on behalf of the state of Oklahoma at the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver contends the removal order, issued as a permanent injunction, is overly broad.

Plainly, the injunction is overly broad in that it requires the removal of the portions of Appellants wind farm which are lawfully present, and then backfill the holes left from the removal with the converted minerals  leaving the circumstances which the district court found (to) constitute a continuing trespass unaltered, the brief states.

The state of Oklahoma disputed the judges contention that the wind farms use of the backfill constituted mining under the law and therefore, a continuing trespass on Osage Nation sovereignty.

Rather, the injury to the wind farm owners from its removal far outweighs any injury to the U.S. government and Osage Nation caused by the towers, according to the state of Oklahomas brief.

If the district courts injunction were enforced, Appellants will lose hundreds of millions of dollars of expenses and lost profits, the brief states.

A spokesman for Attorney General Gentner Drummonds office, in response to questions from the Tulsa World about the states involvement in the lawsuit, issued the following statement:

The State has an interest in this case because it is a landowner in Osage County. Further, the State has a general interest in protecting rights of surface owners. The court essentially ruled that the surface owners use of underground rock a decade ago means that the landowner has to pay the Osage Tribe damages for every year the wind turbine remains in place. While the Attorney General is no fan of wind turbines and all the significant problems they have spurred, the Osage Nation does not have the legal authority over what a property owner does or his or her own land.

Asked whether the states opposition to removal of the wind farm would harm its relations with the tribal nations, the statement continued:

This case should not affect relations between the tribes and the state. The Osage Nation does not have McGirt status. Instead, the tribe was provided mineral rights in Osage County. Thus, this case is better understood as a fight between owners of a surface estate versus owners of a mineral estate.

McGirt status refers to the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that resulted in 10 Oklahoma tribal nations in the eastern half of the state declaring their reservations as still intact.

The brief also predicted that development in the county, which is contiguous with the Osage Nation reservation, could be harmed as a result of the ruling.

Under the district courts order, future developers in Osage County would be required to purchase materials for backfill rather than simply reusing dirt and rocks which were dug up during construction, the brief claims.

In addition to the U.S. government, the Osage Minerals Council, an arm of the Osage Nation, first sued the wind farm development in 2014.

A federal judge in Tulsa initially ruled the use of the backfill did not require a permit. But the Denver appellate court overruled that decision in 2017, which was upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the decision.

The Citizens Equal Rights Foundation, a school district that receives funding from the wind farm project and property owners who had signed surface leases with Enel also joined in filing friend of the court briefs that back Enels appeal.

The U.S. governments policy of promoting tribal sovereignty against the rights of all other persons and property owners constitutes discrimination against the owners of the Osage County surface estate, according to CERFs brief.

Choe-Groves stayed her order calling for removal of the wind farm while the case is on appeal.

WHERE YOUR STORY LIVES: Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
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The beleaguered Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services could miss its payroll without an immediate infusion of cash, legislative leaders confirmed Friday.

"I received a call (Thursday) afternoon. The department said it will need $23 million to meet its payroll for the rest of the fiscal year," said Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa. "It will need a portion of that by Wednesday for the next payroll period."

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said later Friday that Commissioner Allie Friesen had since told him the department can get by until May 21.

But, Hilbert said in a written statement, "The House has no faith in the current fiscal position of the department. We have taken every step to understand the fiscal needs of this agency but frankly the systemic mismanagement that has been uncovered is appalling."

In a written statement, Friesen said: "ODMHSAS continues to navigate a difficult but necessary period of operational and fiscal reform. We are working closely with state leadership and the Governor's Office to ensure continuity of services and stability for our workforce while addressing long-standing structural issues that have impacted the agency."

The department has three pay periods left in this fiscal year, which ends June 30. State employees are generally paid twice a month.

Gov. Kevin Stitt said his office is "working with Mental Health to ensure operations continue and employees are paid on time."

Lawson is House majority leader and chairman of a special committee investigating the Department of Mental Health's tangled finances.

Upon learning of the shortfall, Lawson called a meeting of the investigating committee for Monday morning. Hilbert said Friesen has been asked to testify under oath at that meeting.

"This process, while challenging, is essential to strengthening financial systems, improving oversight, and ensuring operational integrity," Friesen said. "We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and building a stronger foundation to better serve Oklahomans in need of mental health and substance use support."

President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said he and Hilbert are moving with all possible speed to address the situation.

The Senate and House budget teams are already working to assess the damage and determine immediate next steps. Last night is the first time both Speaker Hilbert and I heard from the agency about being unable to make payroll," Paxton said. "Once we get all the details, we will develop a strategy moving forward to ensure the critical services delivered by the agency are not disrupted.

Getting the department even a portion of the $23 million through a supplemental appropriation would generally take five or more legislative days, but Lawson said he thought it could be done by Wednesday by suspending some procedural rules.

That would take two-thirds votes in both the House and the Senate, no sure thing even with one party  in this case Republicans  holding super majorities.

"We are out of time and will not accept any more delays," Hilbert said. "Individuals at ODMHSAS have known about this shortfall for months, yet it is the final month of legislative session and we still do not have answers.

"We will get to the bottom of how this happened and who is responsible. The people of Oklahoma deserve better than this dysfunction," he said.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, first went public with the situation Friday morning.

In a press release, Munson said, "We knew that the financial situation over at ODMHSAS was troublesome, but this is another level that makes me even more concerned as we wrap up this session and work toward finalizing the states budget.

With projected revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1 slightly lower than for the current one, Stitt pressured agencies not to ask for additional money. Instead, Stitt seeks a reduction of income tax rates, which would be expected to pare $500 million or more from state revenue.

"While the Legislature and the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency continue to investigate this matter, it is important to remember that real Oklahomans tax dollars are at stake here," said Munson, a candidate to replace the term-limited Stitt in next year's gubernatorial election.

"This is further reason we should not consider the Governors request for flat budgets for our agencies or an income tax cut for this years budget. It will only end up costing our state more when we know that we cannot afford it right now," Munson said.

Another 2026 gubernatorial candidate, Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond, called for Friesen's dismissal.

As Munson suggested, $23 million may not be the extent of the Mental Health Department's shortfall.

In a Thursday night public forum with eight area legislators, Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, said the House fiscal staff told her on Wednesday that as much as $70 million might be needed to make the department whole.

Blancett also noted that the owner of a private prison in Lawton housing 2,200 inmates is not renewing its contract, meaning the state will have to come up with more than $300 million to buy the facility or find room for the prisoners elsewhere.

World Capitol Bureau reporter Steve Metzer contributed to this story.

WHERE YOUR STORY LIVES: Reporters
US crime drama Sherlock & Daughter, featuring David Thewlis, Blu Hunt, Dougray Scott and Aussie Joe Klocek, will premiere next week on SBS.

Set in Victorian era London, this new take on Sherlock Holmes stars Thewlis and Hunt in the titular roles. Dougray Scott plays the detectives nemesis James Moriarty with Paul Reid as Inspector Bullivant, Sean Duggan as Dr Watson, and Antonio Aakeel as Swan.

Joe Klocek (Invisible Boys) features as Dan in the 8 part drama.

The great detective Sherlock Holmes finds himself in a most unusual state: extortion. He is stymied, unable to investigate a recent spate of high-profile kidnappings lest he incur the wrath of a mysterious criminal syndicate who have taken hostage his dearest friends, Doctor Watson and Mrs. Hudson. Meanwhile, a young American woman named Amelia Rojas travels across the world after a murder in her home in California, intent on meeting the famed detective with whom she claims a startling connection. When this strange young woman shows up on his Baker Street doorstep, Sherlock must determine whether she is a threat, an asset, or, somehow, family.

Episode One:

Sherlock Holmes confronts a grave dilemma when he finds himself being blackmailed by a criminal syndicate holding his closest friends, Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson, as hostages.

Thursday, 8 May at 9.30pm on SBS.
Saturday night marks Antony Greens final Election Night after more than three decades at ABC.

What a magnificent innings.

But you dont have to watch ABC, or you can choose to channel surf for various takes on a big night.

ABC:

David Speers and Sarah Ferguson will anchor ABCs coverage of the Federal Election from 5:30pm.

Antony Green will break down electorate results one last time, after announcing his retirement.

Online

Visit Australias No 1 news site news.abc.net.au and download the ABC NEWS app and ABC Listen app to stay across the latest as Australia Votes.

ABC NEWS website and app will bring you breaking news, live results, features, explainers and analysis, with our top writers unpacking the issues and the impacts for all Australians. Ask questions via the live blog, react in real time to the posts and sign up to receive an alert when Chief Elections Analyst Antony Green calls the result.

Before heading to the polling booth use Antony Greens guide to learn more about your seat and check out our interactive explainer on key promises from the major parties. If youre still undecided, Vote Compass is exclusive to the ABC and shows how your views compare to those of the major political parties. More than 1 million people have already taken part.

As the votes are counted, our comprehensive results service will provide up-to-the-minute updates for every seat. You can search any seat and pin key seats of interest, allowing you to personalise your own results experience as you keep across the latest developments on the race between the two major parties vying to win government.

On TV

The all-day election coverage begins at 7am** on ABC TV and ABC iview with Fauziah Ibrahim and Dan Bourchier on Weekend Breakfast followed by extended news bulletins from 11am to 4pm presented by Kathryn Robinson.

Gemma Veness will present a national news bulletin for ABC TV and ABC NEWS Channel at 5pm, crossing live to reporters stationed at key seats across the country, polling places and the major parties election headquarters.

If youre on the go, in line to vote or at an election night party stay in touch by live-streaming coverage all day on ABC iview and catch up on key moments and stories any time in the Australia Votes category.

Election Night  TV

From 5:30pm David Speers and Sarah Ferguson spearhead the TV broadcast special live from the ABC Election Centre in Sydney. Joining them at the election desk are Annabel Crabb and Laura Tingle, along with Bridget Brennan, who will interview candidates from across the country.

Special guests Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Coalition Senator James McGrath will provide their insights throughout the night.

Antony Green will crunch the numbers for the final time after announcing his retirement from the role following more than three decades of elections.

Jeremy Fernandez will use the Big Board to help give audiences a better perspective of the results, and analyse the latest trends in the vote with Casey Briggs.

A separate panel will be led by Patricia Karvelas joined by RedBridge Group directors Kosmos Samaras and Tony Barry, bringing their decades of experience as campaign strategists and pollsters.

ABC reporters will be spread from coast to coast in the battleground seats which will decide who forms the next government, and well hear from senior figures from the major and minor parties as the makeup of the 48th parliament starts to take shape.

Jane Norman and Olivia Caisley will monitor the mood of the Liberal and Labor camps from their Sydney functions and bring audiences the victory and concession speeches live.

Sunday May 4

The day after, join Weekend Breakfast from the special start time of 6am. Well be broadcasting live from the election battlegrounds to hear from the community what swayed their votes and what their hopes are for the future.

From 9am, in the final 90-minute Insiders program of the campaign, David Speers will present a post-election special from the ABC Election Centre with panellists Samantha Maiden, Jacob Greber and David Crowe.

Tune into your local ABC radio station for a special election wash-up edition of AM with Rachel Mealey.

From 10am Steve Austin will continue special live coverage on your local station, with WA listeners able to tune in to Gary Adshead and Nadia Mitsopoulos from 9am local time.

Later that day the ABC News Daily podcast will focus on the biggest story from Election 2025 and what it means for you.

**All times are AEST unless otherwise stated.

Seven:

Michael Usher, Natalie Barr, and Mark Riley will lead Sevens election day coverage 7NEWS: Australia Decides  The Results Live from 4pm Saturday May 3.

Live from 7NEWS Election Central will be Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek, Jane Hume, Michaelia Cash, Clare ONeil Warren Mundine and Clive Palmer.

Seven Network Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief, Anthony De Ceglie, said: Our election broadcast will be the countrys most informed, accurate and eye-catching. Weve got decades of experience in our election reporting team, and the unique perspectives and insight coming from our top-brass political panel will be a must-watch come election night.

This year, were introducing concepts that havent been seen before and overhauling the technology behind our forecasting  so were confident well be able to call the key races first.

Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr said: For months politicians have been doing the talking, now its time for Australians to tell us what they really think.

With our new technology, scrutineers in all the key seats and a studio full of experts, we will bring Australia rolling coverage as the results arrive, in the only poll that counts.

7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley said: Will Anthony Albanese become the first prime minister since John Howard in 2004 to be re-elected or will Peter Dutton become the eighth different prime minister in eight elections?

Our unrivalled expert team will tap into decades of experience to pick the voting trends early, identifying where and why they are happening and what they will mean to the outcome. Our experts will aim to answer that crucial question first, fast and accurately.

7NEWS National Desk Director Hugh Whitfeld added: Election night can be an overload of information when the results start coming in from 150 seats.

Weve overhauled our technology to make sure our viewers will get the most accurate data in the clearest possible way. The best and easiest way to follow the results is on 7NEWS.

Sevens election broadcast kicks off first at 4:00pm AEST Saturday, 3 May, on Seven and 7plus, with a special national edition of 7NEWS.

From 5:00pm AEST, join Monique Wright and David Woiwod for a lighter look at election day with 7NEWS: Australia Decides  Election 2025 crossing live to key battlegrounds, and to pick apart the campaign that was, flanked by some of the countrys brightest political minds.

Watch 7NEWS live at 6:00pm for all early seat calls and key updates from 7NEWS National Desk Director Hugh Whitfeld at the 7NEWS Power Board, as well as the rest of the days news, sport and weather.

At 7.00pm AEST, Michael Usher and Natalie Barr host the main event, 7NEWS: Australia Decides  The Results Live, from 7NEWS Election Central. Sevens unbeatable election team will be live right through the night, with real-time analysis and seat-by-seat breakdowns, crossing to the electorates and people that matter, until the race is called.

In an Australian-first, 7NEWS will provide up-to-the-minute results and unparalleled insights using the 7NEWS Power Board, backed exclusively by the same technology used by CNN.

Hugh Whitfeld, alongside esteemed political scientists Simon Jackman and Luke Mansillo, will use this new technology to break down votes faster and more clearly than anyone else, providing Australians with unparalleled booth-by-booth analysis.

As seats are called, the 7NEWS Election Needle will move in real time to determine who is most likely to form government at any given moment, based on expert analysis and data from a team of more than a dozen journalists, statisticians, political scientists and researchers.

On election night, Australias election engine room will be at 7NEWS Election Central. A brand-new situation room will house the countrys top number crunchers, pollsters and spinners, alongside 7NEWS presenter Tim McMillan  providing exclusive insight into how each camp is thinking and feeling.

7NEWS will have every battleground seat covered on election night, with live breaking updates from reporters inside campaign HQs and from the electorates that matter, across every state.

For the most informed analysis, up-to-the second data and live updates from where the action is, stay on 7NEWS.com.au, The West and The Nightly, on election night.

Thanks to new technology from US data firm InterKnowlogy, readers will have exclusive access to interactive electorate maps, seat counts and the 7NEWS Election Needle. The exclusive data will be informed by some of the countrys most respected political journalists, providing breaking updates first, detailing election night ins and outs, as they happen.

Get involved on 7NEWS Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages for immediate breaking updates, and behind-the-scenes analysis from inside the 7NEWS situation room.

7NEWS  Australias #1 news service  has assembled the biggest election team in Australia to deliver the most comprehensive and advanced coverage of the Federal Election, putting viewers well ahead of the rest, across Seven, 7plus, 7NEWS.com.au and social platforms.

Saturday, 3 May

New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania

4.00pm  5.00pm 7NEWS Election Day *Live*

5.00pm  6.00pm 7NEWS: Australia Decides  Election 2025 *Live*

6.00pm  7.00pm 7NEWS *Live*

7.00pm  Late 7NEWS: Australia Decides: The Results *Live*

Saturday, 3 May

South Australia, Northern Territory

4.00pm  5.00pm 7NEWS Election Day

5.00pm  6.00pm 7NEWS: Australia Decides  Election 2025

6.00pm  7.00pm 7NEWS *Live*

7.00pm  Late 7NEWS: Australia Decides: The Results *Live*

Saturday, 3 May

Western Australia

3.00pm  4.00pm 7NEWS: Election Day

4.00pm  5.00pm 7NEWS: Australia Decides  Election 2025

5.00pm  6.00pm 7NEWS: Australia Decides: First Count *Live*

6.00pm  7.00pm 7NEWS *Live*

7.00pm  Late 7NEWS: Australia Decides: The Results *Live*

Nine:

Nines 2025 Federal Election coverage will begin at 5.00pm AEST on Saturday, May 3, hosted by Ally Langdon and Peter Overton.

There will be Live crosses to party faithfuls with winners & losers and in a network tradition, Nine will be giving departing politicians the send-off they deserve  the only question is: what will it be this time?

Fiona Dear, Director of News and Current Affairs at Nine, said: Theres never been more at stake in a federal election. From the pressures Australians are feeling every day to the broader international forces shaping our economy, our coverage will go beyond the numbers to deliver real insight, live from both party HQs and our expert panel in studio. With the strongest political team in the country, Nine will lead the nation through this historic night.

With all eyes on how Australians respond to the most pressing national challenges  including the rising cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare access, climate policy and global economic uncertainty triggered by the US Governments sweeping tariff regime  Nine will bring viewers the clearest, smartest coverage from across the country.

Live from the heart of the action, Sarah Abo will be with Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses camp, while Karl Stefanovic will be embedded with Opposition Leader Peter Duttons camp.

Nines election headquarters will feature expert political insight from:

Charles Croucher  9News Political Editor

Andrew Probyn  9News National Affairs Editor

Liz Daniels  9News Politics Reporter

Adding further depth to the broadcast, Nines political panel will include voices from across the spectrum:

Katy Gallagher  Minister for Finance, Women, the Public Service and Government Services

Chris Bowen  Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Bridget McKenzie  Leader of the Nationals in the Senate

Christopher Pyne  Former Minister for Defence

With live crosses, exclusive interviews and real-time results as they happen, Nines Election 2025: Australia Decides will be the destination for viewers seeking the most comprehensive, credible and compelling coverage of Australias next chapter.

Nines Election 2025: Australia Decides Saturday, May 3 from 5.00pm. Live on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan.

10:

Sandra Sully, 10s National Affairs Editor, Hugh Riminton and Network Political Editor, Ashleigh Raper will lead 10 News First coverage of the Federal Election on Saturday May 3rd.

10 coverage begins from 5pm AEST in all markets.

Joining the panel live on the desk will be Senator Jenny McAllister (Labor), Kylea Tink MP (Teal Independent), Senator Dave Sharma (Liberal), as well as Senator Jacqui Lambie (Independent) and David Littleproud MP (Nationals) via satellite.

In a Network 10 exclusive, The Betoota Advocates Errol Parker and Clancy Overell will join live from Betoota HQ for their own take.

Throughout the night, 10 News First will bring viewers all the action as it unfolds, from breaking news and live results to expert analysis and sharp political insights. The networks rolling coverage will be backed by a comprehensive social offering, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and in-depth commentary from those in the know.

On the ground, our local teams will report live from key battleground electorates in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, providing crucial updates direct from the field.

With trusted voices, sharp insights, and live updates, 10 News First is your destination for comprehensive election night coverage and available to view on 10, 10 Play and 10 News First YouTube Channel.

Election Night Coverage.

10 News First At 5pm All Markets.

10 News First: Australia Decides.

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Viewers: Live At 6pm AEST on 10 and 10 Play.

Adelaide Viewers: Live At 6pm ACST on 10 Aad 10 Play.

Perth Viewers: Live At 4pm AWST on 10 and 10 Play.

10 News First YouTube Channel at 5pm.

SKY News:

SKY News coverage of 2025 Federal Election spans across the day from 6am through to its evening voerage at 5pm AEST anchored by Kieran Gilbert while Tom Connell breaks down analysis seat by seat.

Sunday also features plenty of analysis across the day.

Coverage begins at 6:00am with First Edition: Australia Decides, hosted by Peter Stefanovic in Brisbane, delivering live reports from key electorates as Australians head to the polls. From 9:00am, AM Agenda: Australia Decides, with Laura Jayes in Sydney, will continue the nationwide coverage, tracking turnout and early trends.

At 11:00am, NewsDay: Australia Decides, hosted by Ashleigh Gillon in Perth, will pick up the rolling coverage bringing the latest developments and key updates from polling booths. Then from 2:00pm, Holly Stearnes will lead Afternoon Agenda: Australia Decides from Melbourne, covering the crucial final hours before polls close.

At 5:00pm, Sky News special election night coverage begins. Sky News Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert will anchor live coverage of Australia Decides: Election Night, joined by a panel of political experts including Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell, Sky News Political Commentator and former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott Peta Credlin, Sky News Contributor and former ABC and Nine Political Editor Chris Uhlmann, Queensland Labor Senator and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt, Victorian Liberal Senator and Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson, Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs and former Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce and former Labor Cabinet Minister in the Rudd Government Joel Fitzgibbon, who will examine key results and project the likely outcome as Australia decides its next government.

As polls close around the country, Sky News Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell will break down the data in real time to provide viewers with up-to-the-minute voting numbers, emerging trends, projections, and results across all 151 seats.

During the night, the team will cross to Sky News Hosts Sharri Markson and Paul Murray who will be live from Liberal HQ and Chris Kenny and Laura Jayes who will live from Labor HQ.

Sky News all-star line-up of hosts and reporters will also be on location around the country including Andrew Bolt, Peter Stefanovic, Ashleigh Gillon, Matt Cunningham, Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood and Sky News Political Commentator and former Labor Cabinet Minister in the Hawke-Keating Governments, Graham Richardson.

Sky News will continue its live coverage on Sunday 4 May tracking all the seat-by-seat election results and what it means for our nation.

At 6:00am, Weekend Edition: Australias Verdict begins hosted by Tim Gilbert, who will review the full results and political fallout from the night before.

From 7:00am, Sunday Agenda: Australias Verdict with Andrew Clennell will guide viewers through the major developments and political reactions, followed by Outsiders at 9:00am hosted by Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow and Business Weekend from 11:00am hosted by Ross Greenwood with a look at the economic implications of the election results.

Election analysis continues from 12:00pm with NewsDay: Australias Verdict hosted by Kieran Gilbert, followed by Afternoon Agenda: Australias Verdict from 2:00pm, with Ashleigh Gillon. The day wraps up with Holly Stearnes returning to host NewsNight: Australias Verdict from 5:00pm, providing the latest updates and final tallies. Tom Connell will continue his analysis of key seats across the day.

Sky News live election coverage will be available across its breadth of broadcast, digital and audio platforms including Sky News and the Sky News Election Channel, free-to-air channel Sky News Regional, FAST channel Sky News Now, SkyNews.com.au, the Sky News Australia app available across mobile, tablet and compatible Smart TV devices, and Sky News Radio available on DAB+ digital radio in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

SkyNews.com.au will be the best destination for live data updates and to be the first to know when seats are called, with interactive features giving users an in-depth look as the national contest unfolds or drilling down to comprehensive analysis of data coming in from individual seats.

Saturday May 3

6:00am First Edition: Australia Decides with Peter Stefanovic

9:00am AM Agenda: Australia Decides with Laura Jayes

11:00am NewsDay: Australia Decides with Ashleigh Gillon

2:00pm Afternoon Agenda: Australia Decides with Holly Stearnes

5:00pm Australia Decides: Election Night anchored by Kieran Gilbert

Sunday May 4

6:00am Weekend Edition: Australias Verdict with Tim Gilbert

7:00am Sunday Agenda: Australias Verdict with Andrew Clennell

9:00am Outsiders with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow

11:00am Business Weekend with Ross Greenwood

12:00pm NewsDay: Australias Verdict with Kieran Gilbert

2:00pm Afternoon Agenda: Australias Verdict with Ashleigh Gillon

5:00pm NewsNight: Australias Verdict with Holly Stearnes

*All times are in AEST
Free TV Australia is again calling for reform of Australias election advertising blackout rules, labelling them outdated, anti-competitive, and no longer fit for purpose.

The election advertising blackout is a relic of the 1980s  and its completely out of step with todays media landscape, said Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair. Its absurd that broadcasters are banned from airing political ads in the final days before an election, while unregulated digital platforms are free to flood voters with content right up to  and including  polling day.

The current rules prohibit commercial and national broadcasters from airing political advertising from midnight on the Wednesday before election day.

The same rules do not apply to online platforms, social media, or print.

By election day, close to half of all Australians will have already voted  many after seeing political ads online and on TV. Yet, come polling day, the only place you wont find a political ad is on television or radio. Thats not just outdated  its illogical.

The blackout impacts on Commercial TV revenue, sending advertising dollars to global digital platforms that face less obligations.

This is a clear case of regulation failing to keep up with technology, Bridget Fair said. It creates an uneven playing field that harms Australian media businesses who spend more than $400 million a year on news and current affairs funded by advertising.

In 2019 the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee recommended ending the political ad blackout.

Multiple government reviews over the past decade have recommended reform  its time to act. The blackout no longer serves its original purpose and only penalises the most transparent and accountable media providers in the country.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designed to slash public subsidies for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), alleging bias in reporting.

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes funding to PBS and NPR stations, to cease direct funding to them.

The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding, the order says.

It further demands they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organisations.

The order says the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options.

Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence, the order reads.

The White House claimed the outlets spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.'

Government funding makes up about 14% of PBSs total budget, with individuals contributions, community engagement, production, and corporate support making up the other 86%.

Paula Kerger, PBSs CEO and president, said in a statement last month that the Trump administrations effort to rescind funding for public media would disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.

Theres nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress, she said.

The CPB sued the White House this week after Trump sought to fire three of its five board members. The nonprofit corporation was created by Congress in 1967 and provides funding for more than 1,500 locally managed public radio and TV stations.

Several media outlets have reported the White House plans to ask Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding for the CPB, with the amount being two years worth of funding.

Source: ABC, Reuters
Korea's first lesbian dating show, "Together," has sparked debate just days after it premiered. It all started when an apparent ex-girlfriend of one of the competitors, Dagyo, made some grave allegations online.

The accuser posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming that Dagyo abruptly ended their long-term relationship to participate in the show.

Dagyo, who left her long-term gf to appear on the show, her ex said: " We suddenly broke up, I thought it was my fault, so I've let her go, now everything makes sense" ... She added: "I was excited for the show, but now I can't stop crying."#ToGetHer # #GL pic.twitter.com/NSAR9svFWN   (@lee__bo_ra) April 25, 2025

At first, the ex-girlfriend blamed herself for the break-up but suspected that Dago's role in "TogetHer" was what really tore them apart.

The poster then provided evidence for her accusations by posting photos under a 'Lovestagram' shot as her description.

The claims immediately set off a raging debate among viewers. "I feel for her," added one user, empathizing with the reported ex.

Imagine being broken up with and thinking its your fault to see a lesbian show to cheer you up and your ex is on there talking about never having found true love oh id be sick  https://t.co/YIvr2sW3zX   (@HazzaGucci) April 25, 2025

Female in male dominated field . But this is painful & fack up. Got dumped because your partner wanted to join a "dating show" is bad & undeserved. I feel sad for her. You can love hard but then 1 day you get heartbroken for the stupidest reason that not even your fault.

WTH https://t.co/BJoYxIZd6D  A. (@thatqueermufan1) April 26, 2025

imagine being excited to watch the first lesbian dating show in ur country, only to find out that your ex who randomly broke up with you is searching for true love on the show.... the start of a villain origin story https://t.co/Q9RgqdlTlo  soumi | semi ia (@Ioonazula) April 26, 2025

There were other people, on the other hand, who fought back against Dagyo, claiming this was not logical and that assumptions should not have been built on the ex-girlfriend's statements only.

after all of these bitter ex scandals on indo sapphictwt, i cant help but feeling skeptical over this kind of thing lmaoo



the show might not b the reason why she broke up w her ex knowing we got no idea ab their whole story. she also didnt cheat, therefore idt we should judge https://t.co/GpodkCuTRn  aime (@lovuetts) April 25, 2025

always take news like this with a grain of salt, for all we know they had problems for a while & this is the ex getting revenge etc etc, Dagyo hasnt done anything wrong as far as we know https://t.co/mqyrOTBOMQ   vibes  (@InPlainSight5) April 26, 2025

im down for the mess but we do not know if she left the gf to appear on the show like it could be just a petty ex making shit up to make her look bad https://t.co/8IhNWl1uT9  j (@wwxslgbt) April 26, 2025

As yet, neither Dagyo nor the "TogetHer" production team has responded publicly to the accusations. And this isn't the only scandal surrounding the program in the meantime.

Viewers have also criticized other matters, like significant age differences between contestants.

Together continues to fascinate viewers as the debates around its individuals and the strength of its premise swirl on.

ToGetHer, which debuted on April 25, builds on the success of Wavve's earlier LGBTQ+ dating shows, including His Man, the country's first gay dating reality series, which launched in 2022 and has produced three seasons to date.

That show featured gay participants living together for eight days, with twists like a midseason new contestant to shake up dynamics.

In 2022, Wavve also aired Merry Queer, a reality series showcasing diverse couples, including gay, transgender, bisexual, and lesbian pairings.

The show explored young couples' views on love and marriage.

Wavve, a joint venture between South Korea's top broadcasters KBS, MBC, SBS, and telecom company SK Telecom, launched in 2019.

Despite popularity among viewers and an increase in paid subscribers following His Man's debut, the shows have faced criticism from conservative groups who argue the content is inappropriate for children.

Protests were held outside Wavve's Seoul headquarters after His Man's first season ended.
VIENTIANE - The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism on April 30 launched a photo exhibition celebrating Viet Nams 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975  2025).

Representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and numerous officials and staff from relevant agencies of both Viet Nam and Laos attended the opening.

Speaking at the event, Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket emphasised the historical significance of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign victory on April 30, 1975.

The minister highlighted that throughout history, former high-ranking leaders, experts, volunteer soldiers, and people of Laos and Viet Nam have consistently engaged in mutual visits, shared experiences, and exchanged valuable lessons to support each other's national development.

She emphasised that the victory on April 30, 1975, was not only a triumph for the army and people of Viet Nam but also a shared victory for the united forces and the special combat alliance between Laos and Viet Nam. Furthermore, it represented a victory for the three Indochinese nations - Laos, Viet Nam, and Cambodia. This victory has brought about stable politics and continuous economic growth for Viet Nam, improved living standards for its people, and a stronger, happier nation.

The exhibition features 120 photographs vividly depicting the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.

It runs until today at the Lao National Culture Hall in Vientiane. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Ha Noi has mobilised hundreds of billions of ong for the restoration, preservation and promotion of local cultural heritage every year, transforming the treasures into engines for sustainable tourism development.

With a collection of 6,489 relics, including three UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage elements and one world documentary heritage, as well as 1,350 craft villages, Ha Noi leads Viet Nam in cultural heritage abundance. These assets represent a rich resource for socio-economic development, particularly in the cultural industry.

Besides, the capital city boasts multiple traditional performing arts and folk cultural activities, including ca tru (ceremonial singing)  a world-recognised heritage, xam (blind busker's singing), and hat van (a form of ritual singing), which greatly appeal to both domestic and international tourists.

Over the recent past, many organisations and units in the city have innovated their approaches to capitalise on the cultural assets to develop cultural tourism and handicraft tourism. Notable offerings include the Sacred Night tour at Hoa Lo Prison Relic that honours young heroes through authentic historical narratives, the Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long night tour, the Temple of Literatures night tour featuring 3D mapping technology, and the Centre for the Quintessence of the Vietnamese Craft Village in Bat Trang ceramic village.

Despite these achievements, experts suggest Ha Noi develop a professional workforce to maximise the economic value of the heritage. The city requires long-term planning to create products deeply imbued with the cultural identity while ensuring sustainable heritage promotion. Craft villages must enhance tourism services and accelerate digital transformation in product promotion.

Competent authorities should also consolidate and expand tour routes based on heritage values, they said, adding the city needs to study and pilot public-private partnership models in heritage conservation linked with sustainable tourism development, while increasing investment in preservation and promotion of cultural heritage throughout the capital. VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  Viet Nam welcomed Shakyamuni Buddhas sacred relics  a national treasure of India on Friday, marking the first time the venerated artifacts have been brought to and enshrined in the country.

The precious artifacts were accompanied by Indias Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) hosted the reception ceremony at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City on the day, attended by Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council alongside Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Vice Supreme Patriarch, President of the VBS Executive Council, Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs ao Ngoc Dung, and Permanent Vice Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Duong Ngoc Hai.

Following the airport reception, the relics were transported to the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in HCM City, the main venue for the upcoming 20th UN Day of Vesak Celebrations. From May 3-8, they will be enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Binh Chanh District for public viewing and veneration.

The relics are scheduled to travel to several significant Buddhist sites across Viet Nam, including Ba en Mountain National Tourist Area in the southern province of Tay Ninh, Quan Su Pagoda in Ha Noi  the headquarters of the VBS, and Tam Chuc Pagoda in the northern province of Ha Nam.

The UN Vesak 2025, themed Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development, will take place from May 6 to 8. Some 1,200 delegates from 85 countries and territories, including dozens of heads of states, are expected to attend the event.

Viet Nam has hosted the UN Vesak celebrations three times before: in Ha Noi in 2008, Ninh Binh Province in 2014, and Ha Nam Province in 2019.  VNA/VNS
*Dr. Chandan Kumar

India and Viet Nam, two nations bound by ancient spiritual ties and a shared cultural ethos, are set to script a new chapter in their civilisational relationship with the upcoming exposition of the Holy Relics of the Buddha in Viet Nam. Organised under the aegis of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, this sacred event will unfold between May 2 and May 21, 2025, across four major Vietnamese cities, coinciding with the celebration of the United Nations Day of Vesak (May 68). The Holy Relicsprecious corporeal remains of Gautama Buddhawill journey from the sacred soil of India to the land of the rising dragon, Viet Nam, in a profound gesture of peace, unity, and shared spiritual heritage.

This is the first time in history that the Holy Relics of the Buddha will be taken to Viet Nam, offering devotees across the country a rare opportunity for darshan (sacred viewing). The event symbolises not only a sacred religious occasion but also a reaffirmation of India and Viet Nams Comprehensive Strategic Partnership rooted in ancient Dhamma.

India-Viet Nam Relations: A Legacy of Cooperation and Shared Destiny

India and Viet Nam share a long-standing relationship that seamlessly blends historical depth with modern strategic cooperation. From ancient Buddhist exchanges to contemporary collaborations in trade, defence, and diplomacy, this partnership has matured into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016. The joint vision articulated in 2020 For Peace, Prosperity and Peopleguides the bilateral agenda, touching upon economic, cultural, and geopolitical dimensions.

Diplomatic engagements have been robust, with high-level visits, joint commissions, and summits strengthening mutual trust. The recent 18th India-Viet Nam Joint Commission Meeting (October 2023), co-chaired by Indias External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, reviewed significant cooperation in trade, technology, and culture.

Cultural exchange remains a cornerstone of this relationship. Indian initiatives such as the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Ha Noi and the conservation of the My Son UNESCO Heritage Site by the Archaeological Survey of India reflect deep-rooted historical ties. Viet Nams support for Indias Indo-Pacific Vision and Indias assistance to Viet Nam through Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework further reinforce the synergy between the two nations.

The Role of Buddha Dhamma: An Eternal Civilisational Link

Buddha Dhamma has historically served as the spiritual bridge between India and Viet Nam. The transmission of Buddhist teachings to Viet Nam dates back over two millennia, occurring through both maritime and overland routes. Indian monks introduced Theravada Buddha Dhamma to the ancient Champa Kingdom via the southern sea route as early as the 2nd3rd century CE. Simultaneously, Mahayana traditions arrived through northern land routes via China.

One of the earliest known Vietnamese monks, Khuong Tang Hoi, played a pivotal role in the spread of Buddha Dhamma in East Asia. Of Indian descent, he translated key Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Classical Chinese, thus facilitating spiritual discourse in the region. Archaeological findings in Viet Nam, such as Sanskrit inscriptions and Indian-style stupas, testify to Indias lasting influence.

Buddhist texts like the Dhammapada, Lotus Sutra, and Heart Sutra have been part of Vietnamese religious life for centuries, first in Classical Chinese and later in vernacular Vietnamese. Pali studies are on the rise in Viet Nam, supported by increasing engagement with Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India. Vietnamese monks and lay pilgrims regularly travel to Indian pilgrimage sites, especially Bodh Gaya and Sarnath, to pay homage to the land of the Buddha.

The Holy Relics: A Sacred Legacy from Nagarjunakonda

The Holy Relics of the Buddha being sent to Viet Nam originate from Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh, one of Indias most sacred Buddhist archaeological sites. These relics were discovered in 1929 by A.H. Longhurst, then Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India, from a large stupa known as the Mahachetiyathe Great Stupa of the Blessed One.

The relic, a bone fragment of the Buddha, was found enshrined within a gold reliquary placed amidst gold flowers, pearls, garnets, and crystals inside a silver stupa. The relic was officially presented to the Mahabodhi Society of India in 1932 by the then Viceroy of India, the Earl of Willingdon, in a grand ceremony attended by Buddhists from Ceylon, Burma, Japan, and Tibet.

Currently enshrined in Mulagandhakuti Vihara, Sarnathwhere the Buddha delivered his first sermonthe relic holds immense spiritual significance. Every November, on the foundation day of the Vihara, a public exposition is held, attracting pilgrims from across the globe in the true spirit of the Buddhas teachings of compassion, equality, and universal brotherhood.

The 2025 Viet Nam Exposition: A Sacred Pilgrimage Across Four Cities

The 20-day exposition of the Buddhas sacred relics in Viet Nam will unfold across four spiritually significant locations, offering Vietnamese devotees and international pilgrims an extraordinary opportunity to connect with the living presence of the Buddha. The sacred journey will commence at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City from May 2 to May 8. Situated in the heart of Viet Nams economic capital, this inaugural venue marks a powerful moment of spiritual rejuvenation amid the vibrant urban landscape. The relics will then travel to Ba en Mountain in Tay Ninh Province from May 9 to May 13. Revered for its mystical charm and natural beauty, the hilltop location evokes the sacred geography of Indias Buddhist pilgrimage sites. From May 14 to May 18, the exposition will continue at Quan Su Pagoda in Ha Noi, the spiritual and historical capital of the country. As the headquarters of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Quan Su Pagoda will witness an atmosphere of deep devotion and national reverence. Finally, the relics will be enshrined at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province from May 16 to May 21. As Asias largest Buddhist complex, Tam Chucrenowned for its majestic architecture and tranquil surroundingsprovides a solemn and awe-inspiring conclusion to the sacred tour, symbolising the enduring and universal message of the Buddha.

This sacred journey across Viet Nam symbolises a pilgrimage of peace, a movement of sacred unity, and a celebration of the Dharma that transcends borders.

A Spiritual Diplomacy for the 21st Century

The exposition of the Holy Relics of the Buddha in Viet Nam is more than a religious eventit is a testament to the enduring spiritual, cultural, and diplomatic bond between India and Viet Nam. In an era marked by global conflicts and cultural fragmentation, this sacred event reinforces the Buddhas eternal message: Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal law.

Through the symbolism of relics, the wisdom of Dharma, and the power of civilisational diplomacy, India and Viet Nam are demonstrating how ancient values can illuminate modern paths. As the Holy Relics travel through the spiritual heartland of Viet Nam, they not only revive shared heritage but also chart a new direction in regional cooperation, people-to-people connect, and spiritual unity in Asia.

As the wheel of Dharma continues to turn from Sarnath to Saigon, the Buddhas message of peace finds new expressionstrengthening the fabric of Indo-Vietnamese ties and offering the world a living example of how shared heritage can inspire a peaceful and harmonious global order. VNS

Dr. Chandan Kumar is an Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, accompanied by his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, will pay State visits to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus, as well as an official visit to the Russian Federation from May 5 to 12.

During his visit to Russia, General Secretary To Lam is also scheduled to attend a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, which will take place on May 9 in Moscow's Red Square.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Friday, these visits are made at the invitation of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence always considers defence ties with Cuba as one of the pillars of the bilateral relationship, said Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang on May 2.

During a reception in Ha Noi for Lieut. Gen. Victor Leonardo Rojo Ramos, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Chief of the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, who is in Ha Noi for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, Giang thanked the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces for sending a delegation to the celebration.

Viet Nam always remembers and appreciates the invaluable, heartfelt, and meaningful supportboth material and spiritualof peace-loving people and countries around the world, especially the Cuban people and the fraternal Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, he said.

Congratulating the 64th anniversary of the Victory of Playa Giron (April 19), Giang expressed confidence in the two countries success in construction and development.

He lauded the recent achievements under the 20232025 defence cooperation plan, including Party and political work, training, technology transfer, communications, cybersecurity, logistics, and twinning partnerships, contributing to enhancing the two armies capacity to safeguard the homeland in the new context.

His praise was given to the successful joint production of volumes 4 and 5 of the documentary series Two Hearts, One Beat, which widely promotes the special relationship between the two countries and their armies.

Ramos, for his part, expressed delight at seeing Viet Nam poised to enter a new era of the nations rise. He stressed that Cuba will always stand side by side with the Vietnamese people and the Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA) to uphold the special friendship, solidarity, and cherished traditions between the two nations.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope for effective realisation of the existing cooperation agreements, making bilateral defence ties increasingly substantive, while also working toward the early building and signing of cooperation documents, particularly in areas of their needs and strengths.

Meeting with the Cuban official in the morning the same day, standing member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the VPAs General Department of Politics Sen. Lieut. Gen. Trinh Van Quyet affirmed that the victory of the Vietnamese people is also a triumph of justice and all peace-loving nations around the world, including Viet Nam and Cuba.

With 2025 designated as the Viet NamCuba Friendship Year and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties approaching, Quyet urged enhanced communication to educate younger generations about the historic relationship.

Ramos praised the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, particularly General Secretary To Lam, and wished Viet Nams 14th National Party Congress in 2026 a success.

In a separate meeting in the morning, Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, standing member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the VPAs General Staff, underscored the significance of the April 30, 1975 victory, attributing it to international support, including from Cuba, and Viet Nams unique military strategies and the peoples war. These have been discussed by the VPA and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces for many years.

He proposed continued collaboration in delegation exchanges, research, technology transfer, cybersecurity, military engineering, and logistics, tailored to each sides conditions and capabilities.

Ramos expressed his hope for expanded cooperation in areas of mutual strength, further fostering the cherished friendship between the two nations and their armies. He said he was impressed with the effective partnerships in training, technology, communications, and logistics.  VNS
BUENOS AIRES  Argentine news outlet Acercandonos Movimiento Cultural has covered Viet Nam's commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

The publication featured an article titled The great victory of April 30, 1975  pinnacle of Viet Nams national liberation, affirming that the triumph stands as one of the most remarkable milestones in the Vietnamese peoples history of national building and defence.

It also symbolises the unity and courageous spirit of the Vietnamese people in protecting their homeland while serving as a shining emblem of revolutionary heroism and the greatest achievement in the national and social liberation movement, led by the Communist Party of Viet Nam and late President Ho Chi Minh.

Chronicling key moments during Viet Nam's resistance against the US under the leadership of the Party and late President Ho Chi Minh, the news outlet stated that the Ho Chi Minh Campaign achieved complete victory on April 30, 1975, ushering the country into a new era of independence, unity, and progress towards socialism.

It described the victory as an exemplary triumph for revolutionary forces worldwide, propelling global struggles for independence, peace, democracy, and social progress.

The publication also included images of the military parade, public procession, and musical performances during the April 30 celebration in Ho Chi Minh City.

In a separate article, Acercandonos Movimiento Cultural featured the image of people fleeing aboard a helicopter perched atop a building in April 1975. The publication emphasised that this photograph symbolises the end of the war and represents a major military defeat for American forces.

The Argentine outlet also noted that two million Vietnamese lost their lives during the war, with many falling victim to bombs, napalm, and Agent Orange/dioxin dropped by B-52 bombers over Vietnamese territory.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Ambassador to Turkiye ang Thi Thu Ha presented her credentials to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 1 (local time).

Congratulating Ha on her appointment, President Erdogan expressed his delight over the new development in the Viet Nam  Turkiye ties. He spoke highly of the potential for expanded cooperation across multiple sectors and particularly hoped for continued growth in bilateral trade.

The President highlighted defence cooperation, especially in the defence industry, as a crucial area for the partnership, expressing hope for an early signing of cooperation agreements in this field.

He took the occasion to request Viet Nam's support for Turkiye's bid to become a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, pledging that Turkish agencies will continue supporting and promoting the bilateral relations.

The Vietnamese diplomat, for her part, congratulated Turkiye on its significant socio-economic achievements under President Erdogan's leadership, which have transformed the country into an economically developed nation with increasing influence regionally and globally.

She laid stress on the positive development of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, especially following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit in November 2023.

Ha said two-way trade reached over US$3 billion in 2024, making Viet Nam Turkiye's leading trade partner in Southeast Asia. Currently, more than 40 Turkish enterprises have investments in Viet Nam, with one Turkish group engaging in constructing Long Thanh International Airport in ong Nai province. Turkish Airlines operates two direct flights daily between the countries.

Ambassador Ha also noted Viet Nam's dispatch of a rescue team to assist earthquake victims in Turkiye in early 2023 as a vivid demonstration of solidarity between the nations. She affirmed her commitment to working closely with relevant Turkish agencies to contribute to the comprehensive and substantive development of bilateral relations.

She conveyed warm greetings from the Vietnamese Party and State leaders to President Erdogan, his spouse, and the Turkish people, as well as their invitations to the President and his spouse to make an official visit to Viet Nam, helping elevate the bilateral relations to a new high.  VNS
BANGKOK  Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang called for a deeper partnership between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Southeast Asia during the 2025 OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on May 2.

Speaking as Co-Chair of the OECDs Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) for 20222025, Hang stressed the need for collaboration amid global uncertainties, with SEARP playing a key role in supporting economic reform, regional integration, and inclusive and sustainable development.

She outlined three proposals for future cooperation: bolstering support for regional countries economic reform and new growth engines like digital transformation, green transition, innovation, and science and technology; elevating Southeast Asias role in shaping a global governance system that is fair, transparent, efficient, and future-ready; and fostering mutual engagement to bring Southeast Asia closer to the OECD and vice versa, in order to reinforce mutual trust and understanding.

Delegates engaged in vibrant discussions on ways to deepen the bilateral partnership, with a key focus on amplifying the regions voice in OECD policy-making and agenda-setting.

Within the framework of the forum, Hang held bilateral meetings with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Australias First Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Robyn Mudie, and Ambassador Jun Shimmi, Japans Permanent Representative to the OECD.

The foreign officials hailed Viet Nams socio-economic achievements and development strategy and congratulated the country on excellently fulfilling its role as Co-Chair of the SEARP during a period when global and regional economies faced numerous challenges. Viet Nam successfully advanced the programmes three priorities: supporting Southeast Asian countries in post-COVID-19 economic recovery, promoting policy and legal reforms, and bringing regional countries closer to the OECD.

Hang expressed gratitude for the valuable support and partnership from the OECD Secretariat, Australia, Japan, and other OECD member countries. She affirmed Viet Nams commitment to making further contributions to the programme and the partnership between the OECD and Southeast Asia, as well as further elevating Viet Nam  OECD relations.

On this occasion, she requested the OECD Secretariat and other member countries to continue supporting Viet Nam in its new strategic development phase, particularly in improving institutions, policy and investment climate to attract high-quality investment, promoting innovation and science-technology, and developing the private economic sector.

Earlier, consultations on the OECD Economic Surveys: Viet Nam 2025 were held at the OECD headquarters in Paris from April 29 to May 1, during which Hang shared Viet Nams development directions and priorities for the coming period. She stressed that the survey should outline an appropriate roadmap aligned with Viet Nams development conditions and fully reflect its strategic directions.

OECD member countries appreciated Viet Nams socio-economic development achievements, its development potential, and investment attraction prospects, while offering substantive recommendations closely aligned with Viet Nams development realities amidst profound global economic transformation.

The economic survey is periodically developed by the OECD for member countries and important partners. The 2025 edition aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of Viet Nams economy and offer specific recommendations on promoting macroeconomic foundations for growth, inclusive development, unlocking low-carbon economic growth, and leveraging trade and investment flows to boost productivity. The report is highly regarded by many countries and considered a valuable reference for guiding and developing socio-economic policies.  VNS
HA NOI  Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes state visit to Viet Nam from May 46 will open up a new chapter in the bilateral cooperation in the coming time, bringing benefits to the two nations while contributing to peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity in the region and the world, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam has said.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit, Tam stated that the visit, to be made at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong, will be the first by a Sri Lankan head of state to Viet Nam in 16 years. This will also be the first trip to Viet Nam by President Dissanayake since he took office in September, 2024, demonstrating the special importance the Sri Lankan leadership places on the traditional friendship with the Southeast Asian country.

From Viet Nam's perspective, the visit reaffirms the respect for Sri Lanka as a traditional friend and important partner in South Asia, Tam explained, stressing that as the two countries are celebrating their 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, this will be a good chance for them to reflect on the partnership and establish new directions for the relations in the new situation. The trip will feature various activities, covering the pillars of politics, economy, and culture, with the highlight being high-level talks and meetings as well as the signing of important cooperation documents.

While staying in Viet Nam, President Dissanayake will also participate as a guest of honour and speaker at the opening ceremony of the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City from May 68, demonstrating the deep Buddhist and cultural connections between the two countries.

The diplomat expressed her optimism about the future trajectory of bilateral ties, elaborating that Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have enjoyed a robust traditional friendship, with Sri Lankan governments across different periods having prioritised strengthening and developing relations with Viet Nam.

The two countries will promote cooperation in areas of their strengths such as agriculture, fisheries, culture, education, tourism, and Buddhism, based on existing cooperation documents and established mechanisms to achieve concrete and substantive results.

According to Tam, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka will enhance collaboration in important areas that have recently been affected by external factors, including trade, investment, defence, security, people-to-people exchanges, manufacturing, heritage conservation, and information technology. Additionally, they will explore expanding cooperation in new fields like customs, pharmaceuticals, logistics, renewable energy, electronics, electric vehicles, archaeology, AI, e-commerce, digital economy, digital transformation, innovation, local cooperation, and air and maritime connectivity to broaden their cooperation space and adapt to regional and international situations.

The two countries will coordinate more closely and effectively at multilateral forums, especially the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, and ASEAN Regional Forum as responsible partners, thereby enhancing the role and position of each country, she added.

Historical milestones and potential for growth

Reflecting on the diplomatic journey so far, Ambassador Tam traced the bilateral relations back to their consular ties set up in 1964 and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. Despite historical upheavals, including periods when Viet Nam had to temporarily close its embassy in Colombo, both countries have maintained regular exchanges of high-level visits and established institutional frameworks for cooperation.

Despite historical challenges, bilateral cooperation has flourished through regular high-level exchanges and institutional frameworks. Late President Ho Chi Minh visited Sri Lanka three times between 1911 and 1946 and today remains one of the few foreign leaders honoured with a statue in Colombo, Tam remarked.

Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have set up three key mechanisms at ministerial and deputy ministerial levels and signed over 30 cooperation agreements spanning trade, defence, agriculture, culture, and education.

Despite remaining modest, two-way trade has been at a relatively stable level of around US$300 million per year. Currently, Sri Lanka has about 30 projects in Viet Nam with an investment capital of over $40 million. Culture, Buddhism, and people-to-people exchanges are becoming strengths and potentials in the bilateral cooperation. Besides, the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka is growing, currently numbering about 150, making contributions to the socio-economic development of the host country.

Ambassador Tam outlined several priority areas for strengthening bilateral cooperation. She advocated leveraging both countries' coastal positions to develop agriculture, fisheries, and ocean resources. With tourism representing another promising sector, Tam recommended direct flights and streamlined visa processes to boost cultural and spiritual tourism exchanges.

For trade advancement, she suggested joint ventures focused on third-country exports to reduce production cost, transport time, and tariffs, while urging free trade negotiations and improved connectivity to facilitate trade.

The ambassador also highlighted education and technology cooperation as essential for addressing shared challenges through research and innovation.

Renewable energy collaboration is a potential area, she said, adding that solar and wind projects will not only strengthen the bilateral relationship but also contribute to addressing global challenges like climate change.  VNS
HCM CITY  Police have reopened the investigation into the death of a 14-year-old girl in Vinh Long last September, following her fathers desperate actions, with new evidence suggesting the driver may have violated traffic regulations.

On Friday, the Ministry of Public Security announced that the Investigation Police Agency (C01) is reviewing the case related to the tragic accident on September 4, 2024, in Tra On District, which resulted in the young students death.

"New evidence suggests the driver might not have followed traffic laws," a C01 spokesperson stated.

In response, C01 has requested the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuracy to revoke the prior decision not to prosecute, emphasisng the need for a thorough investigation and accountability for all parties involved.

The preliminary investigation last year suggested shared responsibility, citing the girls lack of awareness and Trungs unsafe overtaking maneuver as contributing factors.

However, following a provincial consultation, primary fault was ultimately attributed to the deceased girl, leading to the district polices decision not to pursue prosecution.

The girls father, Nguyen Vinh Phuc, 42, disagreed with the decision and demanded authorities pursue prosecution against the driver involved.

After his complaints were ignored by provincial authorities, Phuc tragically shot the driver on April 28 before taking his own life. The driver remains hospitalised.

In a letter shared on social media prior to his death, Phuc expressed his unwavering commitment to seeking justice for his daughter.

"My dearest daughter, each day, I look at your photo and whisper your name through my tears. I promise to keep searching for the truth for you. I believe that justice will prevail, and one day, you will receive the fairness you deserve," he wrote in Vietnamese.

Meanwhile, Vinh Long Police have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information regarding the scandal, following a wave of social media criticism over the provincial polices handling of the case.

Viet Nam News and Law attempted to contact the district police for comment via telephone but received no response.  VNS
HA NOI  In a moment of profound significance, detention centres and prisons across Viet Nam held official ceremonies to announce the Presidents 2025 amnesty decision.

For many inmates, the event marked not just a formal release, but a powerful symbol of redemption and the promise of a new beginning.

After serving time and demonstrating genuine effort in rehabilitation, inmates expressed overwhelming joy and hope for the future as they prepared to rejoin their families and communities.

For Truong Tan Truong, an inmate at the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Centre, April 30 became a day to remember. A native of Anh Son District, Truong was serving a 30-month sentence for disturbing public order. Reflecting on his journey, he said the sentence was long enough for him to deeply grasp the consequences of his actions.

"After undergoing a positive rehabilitation process, today Ive been granted amnesty and can return to my family and society. I'm both nervous and overjoyed. Im deeply grateful for the Presidents clemency, which has given people like me a chance to start over," Truong said.

Holding his amnesty decision with a beaming smile and eyes full of hope, Ho Viet Cuong, 38, from Dien Chau District, recalled his path to freedom. Sentenced to five years for trafficking prohibited goods, Cuong learned about the Presidents amnesty decision through public announcements and clear guidance from prison officers. Motivated by the possibility of redemption, he submitted a formal request to be considered.

"I'm grateful to the State for this clemency policy, which allows us to rebuild our lives. I also want to thank the prison staff for creating an environment where we could learn a trade and work seriously  giving us the tools to become useful members of society," he said.

Cuong also urged fellow inmates to maintain discipline and work toward rehabilitation, so they too might earn a second chance.

To ensure fairness and transparency, Nghe An Police authorities published all amnesty criteria and established a dedicated Amnesty Review Committee. The committee rigorously evaluated each case based on legal guidelines and inmate conduct.

Lieutenant Colonel Cao Thanh Hai, Deputy Head of the Criminal Judgment Enforcement and Judicial Support Department (PC10), confirmed that 41 inmates at the provincial detention center were eligible and approved for amnesty this April 30.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hoang uc Thanh, Deputy Warden of the detention facility, efforts to support reintegration have included vocational training, legal education and career orientation. These programmes aim to equip inmates with the knowledge and motivation needed to reintegrate successfully and contribute to their families and communities.

On May 1, similar amnesty ceremonies took place across the country. In Ha Giang Province, the provincial police held a ceremony to grant amnesty to eight inmates who had shown consistent effort and improvement. Authorities emphasised that the process was conducted in strict accordance with legal guidelines and the instructions of the Central Amnesty Advisory Council, ensuring fairness and transparency from the inmate group level upward.

For those not yet eligible, police officers encouraged continued good conduct and rehabilitation, emphasising that opportunities for clemency remain for those who genuinely strive to change.

In Can Tho, 22 inmates from the citys detention center and local holding facilities received presidential pardons. At Hong Ca Prison, under the Ministry of Public Securitys General Department VIII in Yen Bai Province, 58 inmates were granted amnesty. In Binh Duong Province, 61 inmates at the provincial detention center received clemency.

These individuals demonstrated exemplary discipline, remorse and determination to reform. During the ceremonies, authorities also facilitated the issuance of national ID cards for amnestied inmates  a step aimed at helping them quickly reintegrate, find employment and rebuild their lives.  VNS
Darrell Oh, Chairman Pharma Group Sector Committee

The year 2025 marks a new potential chapter for Vietnam and the pharmaceutical industry, driven by significant legislative progress including amended resolutions and implementation of changes to the laws on pharma, health insurance, and tendering.

Regarding implementation of the Law on Pharmacy, we appreciate the ratification of key policies to fasten patient access to innovation and enable sustainable supply. If implemented effectively, these changes will support the national direction of fostering innovation while cutting bureaucracy and red tape.

Moving forward, the government should keep an eye on the guiding regulations to make sure they dont introduce new administrative burdens or complexities  aligned with the goal of reducing admin procedures by 30 per cent. At the same time, there remains a strong need for faster adoption of digital solutions such as e-registration and e-labelling, which are also national priorities.

Vietnam has set a clear goal of becoming one of the top three investment destinations in ASEAN within the next 2-3 years. From the perspective of the innovative pharmaceutical industry, the country has significant potential to achieve this goal, particularly in high-value investments, as it was ranked as the second most promising ASEAN country for attracting research and development investment.

We outline key proposals to support Vietnam in achieving its ambitions by focusing on two critical areas: cultivating an innovation-friendly environment and enhancing the ease of doing business, and reforming health financing to match the pace of socioeconomic change via sustainable health financing solutions.

Firstly, to attract long-term investment from multinational corporations, particularly in the innovative pharmaceutical sector, prioritising and upholding intellectual property protection is essential, as it serves as the foundation for sustained innovation.

It is vital to ensure strict enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights in the pharmaceutical sector. Particular care must be taken during the drafting of regulations guiding the new Law on Pharmacy to avoid unintentionally introducing risks to IP protection. A comprehensive review of IP-related regulations specific to the pharmaceutical industry is warranted.

Secondly, investing in health is investing for the future, thus addressing the fiscal gap in healthcare. The World Health Organization recommends that governments allocate more than 5 per cent of GDP to domestic general government health expenditure to ensure universal health coverage, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and strengthen health systems.

In addition, more frequent National Reimbursement Drug List updates are needed to align with global therapeutic innovation, respond to evolving disease burdens, and guarantee timely and equitable access for Vietnamese patients. Vietnam, similar to some other ASEAN countries, is not meeting this target. This is not a unique challenge. However, meeting the 5 per cent of GDP target is not just about funding but, rather, it is also a strategic investment.

Various solutions to address this fiscal gap can be adapted to a Vietnamese context, both through increased healthcare funding as well as increased efficiency in how that funding is used.

These health financing solutions include traditional funding methods such as supplementary health insurance, and allocation of revenue from products that are harmful to health, and alternative funding methods such as risk-sharing agreements, managed entry agreements.

For the immediate term, upon the amendment of the special consumption tax, revenue should be allocated from products that are harmful to health (if consumed excessively) towards the Health Insurance Fund. This should be allocated in the 2026 government budget.

Also helpful would be mobilising stakeholders for an agreed action plan to enable the increase in funding to the Health Insurance Fund within the fiscal headroom of the government and the roadmap towards the 5 per cent of GDP target by 2030.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. To fully unlock the countrys potential, we must turn good policies into effective implementation, strengthen IP protection, and rethink health financing models to ensure access and sustainability. The Pharma Group stands ready to be a committed, long-term partner in this journey, for a healthier and more resilient Vietnam.

Pharmacy chain players change tack Pharmacy chains in Vietnam are venturing into uncharted territory as development space in the market becomes more limited.
Bank stocks continued to post gains in recent sessions, with notable contributions from HDBank and Kien Long Bank on April 24, supporting the VN-Index to surpass the 1,223-point threshold.

The previous trading day on April 23 also saw the same trajectory. The VN-Index rose by 13.87 points to close at 1,211, as the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange saw 416 stocks gain value and 120 decline. The banking sector performed particularly well, with Techcombank leading the way, increasing by 3.78 per cent and contributing 1.6 points to the overall index.

Despite a 1.5 per cent decline during the session, SHB maintained its highest trading level in three years. SSB also saw a drop of 3.65 per cent, while STB and VCB fell by 1.11 and 0.85 per cent, respectively.

Investor confidence in banking stocks has been strong since April 21. For instance, STB rose by 4.93 per cent to $1.62, its highest price in six sessions, with over 34 million shares traded, worth more than $52 million.

SHB also continued its upward momentum on April 21, rising by 2.72 per cent, and TPBank also saw positive movement, increasing by 2.65 per cent.

According to Nguyen The Minh, head of Research and Development for Retail Clients at Yuanta Securities Vietnam, many investors view the AGM season as an opportunity to take on new information, particularly from banks that are likely to announce strong dividend payouts or capital-raising plans.

Investors are expecting a wave of cash dividends and capital raising plans, Minh told VIR. Some major banks are actively restructuring weaker institutions. To support such restructuring, capital is required, making a capital-raising wave likely this year, especially among state-owned and large commercial banks.

At its AGM on April 22 in Ho Chi Minh City, HDBank set a target of $847 million in pre-tax profit, marking a 27 per cent increase compared to 2024. The bank also projects total assets to reach approximately $35.6 billion and credit outstanding to hit around $23.2 billion. It aims to keep its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio below 2 per cent.

Meanwhile, SHB also drew significant attention at its AGM on April 22 in Hanoi. The bank revealed a 2025 business plan targeting a profit before tax of $580 million, a 25 per cent increase from 2024. SHB also set a target for total assets to exceed $33.28 billion and aimed to keep NPLs below 2 per cent.

In 2024, SHB exceeded its key performance targets, posting a 25.2 per cent rise in profit before tax to $462 million. The banks total assets reached $29.90 billion, with outstanding credit at $21.36 billion. SHBs cost-to-income ratio stood at just 24.4 per cent, one of the lowest in the sector, thanks to its strong focus on digitalisation and technology adoption.

Chairman Do Quang Hien said the banks solid performance over the past year reflects shareholders strong confidence in its long-term sustainable development strategy.

I am pleased to see SHB receiving positive recognition from our shareholders, he said. However, the current share price on the market has yet to fully reflect the banks intrinsic value. With our robust 2024 results, clearly defined objectives for 2025, and a long-term strategic roadmap, I believe investors have every reason to reassess SHBs growth potential.

Meanwhile, Ngo Thu Ha, CEO of SHB, expressed strong confidence in the banks target of 16 per cent credit growth for 2025.

We are deploying a comprehensive suite of financial solutions tailored to effectively serve a wide range of customer segments. The banks credit expansion strategy remains closely aligned with national priorities, focusing on key sectors including infrastructure development, green financing, high technology, and logistics, Ha said.
A former Reedsburg woman whose family reported her missing 63 years ago and has been looking for her ever since has been found alive and well, according to authorities.

Audrey Backeberg, 82, who no longer goes by that last name, was found after detectives re-evaluated the evidence and conducted new interviews with family members and other witnesses, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said Thursday.

On Monday, after following a hunch that led him to request the help of an out-of-state law enforcement agency, Sheriffs Det. Isaac Hanson said he succeeded in speaking with Backeberg by phone for about 45 minutes.

She chose not to reveal her current location, Hanson said, but she is living in the United States, outside of Wisconsin. She remarried after going missing, Hanson said, but he declined to provide her new last name or indicate if she had any children with her second husband.

She was very cooperative, answered all my questions, Hanson said, adding that she was friendly on the phone. She had her reasons for leaving the area. I told her I wouldnt discuss her location because it is important to her. Based on the things that she told me, I think that she is confident in the decision that she made. Did what she had to do, type thing.

Backeberg had been reported missing in July 1962, when she was 20. She was living in Reedsburg at the time, and was last seen in the Sauk County city on July 7, 1962.

A witness said she last saw Backeberg walking around the corner from a bus stop in Indianapolis, according to the state Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults. Hanson spoke with the witness roughly a month ago, who confirmed the account.

Complaints made to the police shortly before her disappearance suggested she had been abused by her husband, then-sheriff Randy Stammen said in a 2002 interview on the 40th anniversary of her disappearance.

(She reported) her husband had loaded a couple of guns and put them into the trunk of his car and threatened to kill her, Stammen told the Baraboo News Republic in 2002.

Family members had long accepted that Backeberg had been murdered. In the same 2002 article, a sister said she just hoped Backebergs body would be found and the person responsible for her killing brought to justice. Barbara Bennett, Backebergs younger sister, Bennett said in 2023 that their mother died without knowing what happened to Audrey.

Living her life

Backeberg largely corroborated the account of her disappearance, Hansen said, adding that she had left of her own accord and has been living her life ever since then. He said the two did not discuss the abuse allegations.

She left things behind, has done her own thing, and has done well, Hanson said. I was happy that she talked with me and I was able to get as much as I did.

While not seeming upset at having been discovered, Backeberg seemed to want to protect her privacy, the detective said.

Its a lot, Hanson said. Sixty-two years, then, 10 minutes later, shes talking to somebody, her locator, when she doesnt want to be bothered or located.

After speaking with her, Hanson said, he notified Backebergs family members. Bennett and other family members were elated but also experiencing mixed emotions at the news that Backeberg was alive, Hanson said.

Bennett could not immediately be reached Friday.

Backeberg had two children with her former husband, Ronald, who died in 2006. One of those children, James, died before Ronald, according to his obituary. Hanson said he had not spoken with Backebergs surviving daughter.

More information about the case, including photos, may be available next week, once an official report of Hansons investigation is completed, Lt. Scott Steinhorst said.

A cold case heats up

Hanson was assigned the case in late January, the first time it had been opened since 2002. From there, he examined police records from around the time Backeberg disappeared and other archived files, spoke with roughly 20 witnesses and family members, and consulted with about 10 law enforcement agencies around the country.

I essentially got a box with all the case files from the 60s all the way up to present time, Hanson said, adding that the most recent entry was from the mid-1960s, an arrest record from an undisclosed location outside Wisconsin and an alleged sighting around Reedsburg.

Most of the records related to the case from other law enforcement agencies were unavailable in digital format, Hanson said, meaning he had to go through microfilm archives and other archived files. He also relied on other records from the 1960s unrelated to the case, Hanson said.

Good things happen when everybody works together, Hanson said. Without some of that stuff, I dont think you solve the case. Its crazy.

An account of Bennetts on Ancestry.com, as well as obituaries, yielded other clues, Hanson said.

It was just a bunch of puzzle pieces, Hanson said, adding that the sources led him to an address that he suspected was Backebergs.

He contacted a law enforcement agency in the area, which sent a detective to the address to investigate. Fifteen minutes later, the detective reported he had gone to the address and that the woman was indeed Backeberg.

Honestly, it was just digging and digging and digging and digging, and kind of putting it all together, Hanson said. It ended up working out.
This article is old - Published: Friday, May 2nd, 2025

Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates  along with contributions from the local MPs and MSs  here.

In this months column, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd Sam Rowlands writes:

We are approaching the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which was a truly monumental day in world history.

It marked the end of World War Two in the European theatre, with the previous day bringing the unconditional surrender of the German regime. That surrender was signed in Reims, France, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed a war-weary nation.

May 8th is a moment for us to reflect on the profound contributions made by communities across the United Kingdom, including Wrexham, in the fight to defeat fascism and protect our nation.

Like so many villages, towns and cities, Wrexham played its role with incredible commitment and sacrifice during the Second World War.

This year, Wrexham will honour its wartime legacy with a series of events.

The commemorations will begin with a service at St. Giles Parish Church at 12:30pm, followed by a parade led by the Royal Welch Fusiliers Volunteer Corps of Drums. The parade will run along Hope Street through to the Crown Buildings. A wreath laying ceremony will conclude proceedings.

There are other events happening, too. Mold Town Council will be hosting an event at the Daniel Owen Centre with World War Two-era music displays and period military vehicles, and Flint Town Council will begin its commemoration with a proclamation on St Mary & St Davids Parish Church steps at 9am before showcasing wartime memorabilia at the town hall.

More broadly, there will be events and commemorations across the United Kingdom to mark this milestone, including a military procession and flypast in London, beacon lightings across the country, and a televised concert at Horse Guards Parade.

These celebrations are important to demonstrate the collective gratitude of a nation that is forever in the debt of our wartime heroes.

These commemorations are all the more vital as the generation who bore witness to these historic events is gradually passing away. Its essential that people in our country and beyond remember the struggle, death and destruction that took place from 1939 to 1945. If it wasnt for those brave individuals, we wouldnt be here today enjoying the freedoms that many take for granted.

Welsh servicemen enlisted in vast numbers, with troops serving with distinction across all branches of the armed forces. The Royal Welch Fusiliers, with deep roots in Wrexham, fought valiantly in campaigns from Normandy to Italy. Following the Second World War, the Royal Welch Fusiliers received the Freedom of Wrexham on 15th June 1946.

It wasnt just on the frontlines that people made huge contributions, but on the home front too where Wrexhams industrial prowess came to the fore.

This was vital to the war effort, in producing munitions for the armed forces. Not only that, but many homes took in evacuees from the cities, offering shelter to children displaced by the Blitz. This was hugely traumatic for those children, but the people of Wrexham welcomed them warmly and gave them a home for the duration of the war.

The trauma of air raids, rationing, and the ever-present anxiety of war and loss was felt keenly across Wrexham, yet it was met with the very same fortitude that characterised the wider British response to the war. In different ways, all citizens made a contribution that ended up with victory.

These contributions exemplify the courage and determination that led to the great victory over fascism.

I am honoured to join many others in paying homage to our local heroes and to ensure that their legacy is remembered and celebrated in order to inspire future generations.

If you would like to get in touch with me, then you can do so by dropping me an email at sam.rowlands@senedd.wales
Call for legal minimum NHS dentist staffing levels

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 2nd, 2025

Senedd members called for legally binding minimum staffing levels in NHS dentistry amid concerns services face an existential crisis.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymrus shadow health secretary, proposed a bill to establish a minimum baseline of dentistry staff across Wales based on population need.

The bill would introduce a duty for health boards to calculate and take all reasonable steps to maintain dentistry staff levels, according to the motion debated on April 30.

Mr ap Gwynfor warned NHS Wales dentistry services are staring down the barrel of an existential crisis and without urgent action its unlikely to survive for much longer.

He pointed to a near-40% reduction in dentistry work within the NHS over the past decade.

Denialism

Mr ap Gwynfor, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd, warned so-called dental deserts are spreading at an alarming pace, with access to NHS treatment becoming a scarce luxury.

Desperate times demand a willingness to consider radical alternatives, he said.

Now more than ever, we need to break free of the irresponsible denialism and complacency that this [Welsh] Government has displayed towards dentistry in the NHS for many years.

Sian Gwenllian, who commissioned a report into the case for a dental school in north Wales, said the proposed bill would place a duty on ministers to develop a workforce plan.

The Plaid Cymru politician said: Only 36% of the population received dental treatment via the NHS in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area.

The figure across Wales is 44% which shows the situation is even worse in north Wales.

Squeezed out

Her colleague Llyr Gruffydd warned of a three-tier system, which increasingly sees patients being squeezed out of NHS care and having to opt to pay privately or  go without.

Mr Gruffydd told the Senedd that six dental practices in his North Wales region have handed back their NHS contracts over the past six months.

Im afraid that the trend shows no sign of abating, he said, expressing concerns about Rhos dental practice, near Wrexham, introducing a 230-a-year preventative service.

Mr Gruffydd claimed: So, once again, this Labour governments actions are actually pushing more people into having to pay for basic dental care even within an NHS practice.

Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds supported the motion which would seek to emulate the Nurse Staffing Levels Act 2016 introduced by her predecessor Kirsty Williams.

Crucially important

Jeremy Miles, Wales health secretary, pointed out that most dentists are commissioned via private businesses rather than employed by health boards as with nurses.

He told the Senedd: They are accountable for their own businesses and do ensure that their staffing levels are adequate to meet the needs of the contract. The independent nature of this arrangement is crucially important for the profession.

Mr Miles said regulations that underpin the contract include a requirement to ensure adequate staffing, with financial sanctions available if providers fail to do so.

Recognising the challenges facing NHS dentistry in Wales and across the UK, he argued: To improve NHS dentistry and to improve access  we must deliver a new general dental services contract. This, in fact, is the single most important thing that we can do.

Mr Miles said proposed reforms would bring NHS dental services into the 21st century.

Senedd members voted 28-2 in favour of the motion, with 17 abstentions but the proposal is unlikely to proceed without Labour ministers support.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Northern Nevadans turned out on Thursday for a May Day protest at the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building on Virginia Street.

It happened from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and featured members of the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council, Indivisible Northern Nevada, and 50501 NNV, according to a release from the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council.

This year's protest was designed to call attention to what those attending call President Trump's targeting of workers and unions, as well as issues with the president's actions involving the justice and court systems and treatment of migrants, including what protesters call the withholding of due process.

The rally featured speakers including Ross Kinson, President of the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council, and Rob Benner, Secretary-Treasurer of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada.

We reached out to both the Washoe County GOP and Governor Joe Lombardo for a response to the May Day protest, but we have yet to receive one.
Bajas Todos Santos, the vibrant and charming antidote to the party-centric Cabo, is entering a new era: one as a vacation destination, not just a stopover.

A handful of stunning, boutique hotels are luring tourists to this town an hour north of Cabo, and Villa Santa Cruz is leading the renaissance with the debut of luxe rooftop villas and an avant-garde fine dining restaurant with shockingly good pizza.

For decades, Todos Santos was one of Bajas best-kept secrets. But in recent years, day-trippers have started flocking to the town's colorful streets to peruse chic boutiques and art galleries, admire historic buildings, and slurp oysters at the buzzy bar Oystera, housed inside a revitalized sugar mill. It's even recently become a popular retreat for California tech founders, travel-savvy Canadians, and celebrities. (I saw actor and comedian Nick Kroll on my first visit.)

The destination has only one drawback: the beaches arent typically good for swimming. At Villa Santa Cruz, though, youre unlikely to care. Located a few miles outside of Todos Santos downtown and off a dirt road, the resort sits on a massive stretch of empty, pristine beach, providing a front-row seat for whale watching during the annual migration.

(Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz)

In 2001, when Todos Santos was barely a blip on the travel radar, Villa Santa Cruz co-founder Matt Canepa purchased the empty beach lot and lived off the grid in a trailer while he built the original hacienda-style villa. He later met his wife, Jessica, who was visiting Todos Santos, and together they opened a humble bed-and-breakfast in 2011, cooking for visitors themselves. In 2020, some of their longtime guests, Guillermo and Joyce Marrero, joined them as partners.

Since the pandemic, Villa Santa Cruz has grown rapidly to 23 rooms. The owners have added more villas for groups, cozy bungalows, chic oceanfront glamping tents and, most recently, eight rooftop villas, which form a dramatic circle around an elegant lap pool. Each villa has a staircase leading to a private, ocean-view patio complete with lounge seating, a hot tub, and a fire pit. (Yes, if youre traveling with kids, the monitor reaches.) The architecture is dramatic, a nod to classical stylethink tall columns, straight pediments, and wide archesblended with a bright orange stucco exterior and intricate tiling. Sleek, modern interiors are decorated with vibrant Mexican art pieces and feature large, luxurious bathrooms.

A guest room at Villa Santa Cruz (Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz)

Yet even with this expansion, Villa Santa Cruz has a surprisingly intimate vibe, thanks to its secluded location and sprawling grounds. Beach access is a short stroll from the rooftop villas: from the beach, you cant see anything but sand and ocean that seems to stretch for miles. The resort also has a second pool with a swim-up bar, horse stables where guests can book rides (including sunset and full-moon excursions), bocce and pickleball courts, and an outdoor massage retreat.

Todos Santos culinary scene is ramping up and its worth venturing out for. But Villa Santa Cruz offers two compelling reasons to stay in and avoid a bumpy ride down the dirt road after dark. The Green Room is a casual beachfront bar and sunset hot spot where one can spend hours counting whale spouts, tails, fins, and breaches. It serves fancy cocktailslike the Sex Wax made with mezcal, roasted pineapple, lime, and chili syrupalongside gourmet seafood tacos and tostadas. Bikinis are welcome, shoes are optional, and reservations are recommended. Pro tip: go early to snag the best seatsa row of Adirondack chairs facing the ocean.

Caracara, the newest restaurants at Villa Santa Cruz. (Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz)

Caracara, Villa Santa Cruzs newest restaurant, oozes romance from its position in the middle of an agave field. A handful of tables are set beneath a domed, nest-like structure where stunning pink, purple, and yellow sunset huesand later, starspeek through the web of sticks. Caracara utilizes the surrounding farm and a wood-fired pizza oven for plates like a life-changing, smoky Caesar salad and some of the best pizza in Baja. The Blanca, a bechamel-sauce pie topped with prosciutto, mushrooms, blue cheese, and spinach, is the menus ultimate sleeper, but the chicken mole is the one dish you cannot skip. Just outside is an elegant cocktail lounge with fire pits.

Caracara might look familiar. The structure is reminiscent of Nido, the trendy Japanese restaurant at the Viceroy in San Jose del Cabo. But beyond that, Villa Santa Cruz feels nothing like Caboand thats the point.



// Villa Santa Cruz, Camino a las Playitas, Sin Numero (Todos Santos), villasantacruzbaja.com
Ruth Buzzi, who rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series Rowan & Martins Laugh-In and made over 200 television appearances during a 45-year career, has died. She was 88.

Buzzi died Thursday at her home in Texas, says her agent Mike Eisenstadt. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimers and was in hospice care. Shortly before her death, her husband, Kent Perkins, had posted a statement on Buzzis Facebook page, thanking her many fans and telling them: She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them.

Members only

Buzzi won a Golden Globe and was a two-time Emmy nominee for the NBC show that ran from 1968 to 1973. She was the only regular to appear in all six seasons, including the pilot.

She was first spotted by Laugh-In creator and producer George Schlatter playing various characters on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour.

Schlatter was holding auditions for Laugh-In when he received a picture in the mail of Buzzi in her Ormphby costume, sitting in a wire mesh trash barrel. The character was clad in drab brown with her bun covered by a hairnet knotted in the middle of her forehead.

I think I hired her because of my passion for Gladys Ormphby, he wrote in his 2023 memoir Still Laughing: A Life in Comedy. I must admit that the hairnet and the rolled-down stockings did light my fire. My favorite Gladys line was when she announced that the day of the office Christmas party, they sent her home early.

The Gladys character used her purse as a weapon against anyone who bothered her, striking people over the head. On Laugh-In, her most frequent target was Arte Johnsons dirty old man character Tyrone F. Horneigh.

Gladys embodies the overlooked, the downtrodden, the taken for granted, the struggler, Buzzi told The Connecticut Post in 2018. So when she fights back, she speaks for everyone whos been marginalized, reduced to a sex object or otherwise abused. And thats almost everyone at some time or other.

Buzzi took her act to the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in Las Vegas, where she bashed her purse on the heads of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Lucille Ball, among others.

Ruth Buzzi brought a singular energy and charm to sketch comedy that made her a standout on Laugh-In and the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. Her characters, especially the unforgettable Gladys Ormphby, captured the delightful absurdity of the era, said Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.
Concerns about the future of Social Security, poor customer service at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and how AARP can help protect the program that Americans pay into to fund their retirement were on the agenda at a May 1 AARP event.

More than 55,000 listeners tuned into AARPs live tele-town hall to learn about new and long-standing issues with Social Security. AARPs Bill Sweeney, senior vice president for government affairs, and John Hishta, senior vice president of campaigns, were joined by Stephen Richardson, a former regional communications director for the SSA, to discuss how changes are impacting older Americans and to answer listener questions.

Members only

Here are five key takeaways from the event. You can also listen to the entire tele-town hall here.

1. Social Securitys customer service is in crisis

Since February, the SSA has announced a series of changes to its operations. These include new initiatives to combat fraud and waste, eliminating certain departments, restructuring operations, reducing its workforce, closing more than half of its regional offices, a proposal to cut some phone application services  then a walk back of those cuts.

There is so much news about Social Security, so much worry about Social Security right now, Sweeney noted as the May 1 AARP event began.

Fueling this worry is the SSA's customer service crisis, which has worsened. Extended call-time waits on hold and website crashes have long been persistent issues, but reports of these problems have ballooned in past weeks as millions of people sought clarity over the changes announced.

Join Our Fight to Protect Social Security Youve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. But recently, we've heard from thousands of Americans who want to know more about the future of Social Security. Heres what you can do: Tell Congress to strengthen Social Security customer service.

to strengthen Social Security customer service. Find out how AARP is fighting to keep Social Security strong .

. Learn more about what its like in Social Security offices around the country right now.

around the country right now. Get expert advice on Social Security benefits and answers to common questions.

More and more people are reaching out to Social Security  trying to figure out whats going on, Sweeney said. That has a vicious cycle. More people calling in means longer wait time, more people hitting the website means the website is more likely to crash  It means people are having to go into field offices, which is just exacerbating those long lines and waits.

Simultaneously, the agency has cut customer-service staff as it seeks to reduce its workforce from about 57,000 employees to 50,000, or by 12 percent. Some 2,500 workers left their jobs by April 19, the SSA reported, and of that group, at least 1,962  nearly 80 percent  worked in field offices that directly serve the public.

AARP is pushing the SSA and Congress to improve Social Securitys customer service.

We want the Social Security Administration to fix what's broken, Hishta said. It shouldn't take hours on the phone or multiple trips to a Social Security office an hour away to get an answer. Social Security customer service has to work better for the people who earned it and count on it.

2. Decision-makers are listening to older Americans  your voice matters
By Hannah English, Head of DC Corporate Consulting at Hymans Robertson As AE evolves, how can employers prepare for changes that will address these issues and improve retirement outcomes for all employees? What changes are currently expected?

On 19 September 2023, the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 gave the Secretary of State the power to:? Lower the age limit for auto-enrolment from 22 to 18: This will bring younger workers into the system earlier. Remove the Lower Earnings Limit for qualifying earnings: This will ensure contributions are made from the first pound of earnings. Not calculating pension contributions from the first 1 of income currently has a disproportionate impact on the savings of lower paid individuals. While these changes were expected within 2 to3 years of the Acts passage, no confirmed timeline has been provided. The government has also delayed phase two of the pensions review, which was expected to look additional reforms. This includes reviewing the minimum level of savings that employees and employers should save to tackle pensions adequacy concerns. This has left many employers uncertain about future changes to AE and possible timelines for change. How can employers prepare for changes?

To prepare for reforms which may be AE more inclusive, employers should focus on three key areas: adequacy, accessibility, and affordability. 1. Adequacy: ensuring sufficient contributions for all employees

The adequacy of retirement savings is a growing concern and one that is likely to be considered as part of any review of AE by the government. How employers can improve adequacy:

Review saving levels: The current minimum contribution of 8% is likely to be insufficient for many. Employers should consider how increased saving rates beyond current AE minimums could support better income in retirement. This could be through reviewing the default contribution employer and employee rates, or more generally encouraging staff to save more. Provide financial guidance: Offering educational resources, workshops, or one-on-one financial advice can help employees make informed decisions about how much they should save. 2. Accessibility: expanding access to pensions for all employees

Upcoming changes to AE will bring younger workers and those earning below the current qualifying earnings threshold into the system. Employers must ensure that pensions are accessible to all employees. How employers can improve accessibility:

Remove barriers to entry to encourage saving amongst all staff: Reviewing eligibility criteria for being a member of the pension scheme may identify that some staff are not automatically included at present eg due to current earnings/ age. Review scheme design for unintended barriers: Other barriers in your scheme design or pension offering may prevent employees from saving. Consider doing an analysis to understand who isnt saving and why. For example, do you offer a range of investment choices that suit the beliefs of all your members, or should you consider extending the range? Keep it flexible: Flexibility is key when considering the different needs of employees. Employers should assess how they can offer employees more control over their contributions. For example, allowing staff to save into more flexible vehicles (akin to a side car easy access savings pot) to enhance shorter term financial security may support employees to not opt out of saving all together and missing out on valuable employer contributions too. 3. Affordability: ensuring pension contributions are financially sustainable

While higher contribution rates will likely be necessary, employers must ensure that pension schemes remain affordable for both employees and the business. How employers can consider affordability:

Gradual increases and matching contributions: To ease the burden, employers can gradually increase employee contributions over time or consider aligning with key dates eg at the same time as a pay rise. This can encourage higher savings without overwhelming employees. Review the impact on lower-paid workers: For employees on lower wages, pension contributions should remain affordable. Employers can consider subsidising contributions during maternity or paternity leave or offering employee pension holidays in times of financial need. Use tax-efficient structures: Employers can explore salary sacrifice schemes or other tax-efficient options to help employees save more without impacting their take-home pay. Summary

As AE evolves, employers must be proactive in preparing for changes that will make pensions more inclusive and improve the adequacy of retirement savings. By focusing on adequacy, accessibility, and affordability, employers can ensure their pension schemes are more future proofed for possible reforms. This will also foster a more inclusive and financially secure workplace for all.
Big Bad Breakfast will open its seventh Alabama location in Vestavia Hills on May 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Big Bad Breakfast; used with permission)

Big Bad Breakfast -- the made-from-scratch breakfast concept from James Beard Award-winning Oxford, Miss., chef John Currence -- has announced it will open its newest Birmingham-area restaurant on May 13 in Vestavia Hills.

The restaurant, the seventh Big Bad Breakfast in Alabama, is located at 1467 Montgomery Highway.

I love Birmingham and am absolutely delighted at how much this city loves Big Bad Breakfast right back, Currence said in a media release. Opening in Vestavia Hills is really exciting for so many reasons.

Its a great community that we cant wait to serve and be a part of, and also because it tells me that the reputation weve worked so hard to create and maintain in our two other stores around the city has resonated with folks.

Folks across Alabama appreciate what BBB offers, and it just drives all of us so much to keep delivering on that promise of a great meal, a good time, and the best way to start your day.

Currence opened the first Birmingham-area Big Bad Breakfast on U.S. 280 in 2014 and the second in Homewood four years later.

Elsewhere around Alabama, the restaurant also has locations in Florence, Madison, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

RELATED: Charming North Alabama town works its magic on Big Bad Breakfast chef

Since opening the original Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford in 2008, Currence has grown the breakfast brands footprint to include 24 locations throughout the South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Diners at the new Vestavia Hills location will get to try Big Bad Breakfasts popular house-cured Tabasco and brown sugar bacon, scratch-made buttermilk biscuits, and Alabamas own McEwen & Sons grits, according to the media release.

This "Mother of All Biscuits" (with a crispy-fried dill chicken breast and cheddar cheese on a buttermilk biscuit) at Big Bad Breakfast is served "Dirty Bird" style by adding hot sauce, bacon and local honey. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Some of Currents specialty dishes include the Breakfast Crumble (a crumbled buttermilk biscuit with grits, tomato gravy, crumbled bacon, tomatoes, scallions and two eggs), the Breakfast Wrap (scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, pico de gallo, bell pepper and cheddar cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla), and the Fried Oyster Scramble Hangover Style (two eggs scrambled with bacon, onion, tomato, potatoes and topped with fried Gulf oysters and sliced jalapenos.)

The lunch menu includes a BLT, a ham po boy, a smashburger and the Screamin Demon (a pickle-brined fried chicken sandwich with Dukes mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, American cheese and comeback sauce).

Cocktails include mimosas, screwdrivers, Irish coffee and the Big Bad Bloody Mary.

Hours at the Vestavia Hills location of Big Bad Breakfast will be 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. For a sample menu, go here.
"Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan, will return to 70 MM IMAX theaters for one week only. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures) Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pi

If youve been wanting to see Sinnersselect as director Ryan Coogler intended, heres your chance as the hit flick is returning to IMAX 70mm, but for one week only at selection locations.

IMAX recently announced in a social media post that the film would be returning to the format at eight U.S. locations, including theaters in New York, California, Arizona, Florida and Texas, beginning on May 15, according to USA Today. Tickets are on sale now.

Read more: Alabamas connection to the hottest movie in America

Coogler used high-resolution IMAX film cameras while making Sinners. The period action horror film, which stars Michael B. Jordan, centers around a juke joint with a serious vampire problem in a small Mississippi town. It was filmed in Louisiana.

In this day and age with folks having so much access to streaming and watching so many things on their phones, its nice to have a format like IMAX that can be an experience you can only experience in the theaters, Coogler said in an interview with the AP.

You can see the full list of theaters where Sinners will be screening below, and you can read more about it on USA Todays website.
An artist's conception of Natiluss first U.S. manufacturing facility for KONA, its regional cargo aircraft. Natilus

California-based aircraft manufacturer Natilus is looking at several states - including Alabama - for a planned two-phase manufacturing operation that could eventually hire thousands.

Natilus announced last month that it had begun the process of selecting the site of its first U.S. manufacturing facility, to produce its regional blended-wing-body freighter, the Kona. The factory would then be expanded with a larger production footprint for Natilus 200-passenger aircraft, Horizon.

In announcing the project, Natilus said it was looking at regions in the U.S. with strong state and local incentive programs and facilities with adequate runway length, airspace clearance for testing, training and selloff facilities and proximity to suppliers and transportation.

The Business Journals is reporting that Alabama is a possible site, along with North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia.

The first phase would be a 250,000-square-foot facility able to make 60 KONA aircraft annually. The company plans to hire 300 full-time employees across manufacturing, aerospace, propulsion and test engineering, including production and quality roles, test pilots and machine technicians.

For the second phase, Natilus plans to build a 2.5 million square foot facility for production of the Horizon passenger aircraft, which is classed in the same segment as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The company says it would be one of the largest manufacturing sites of its kind.

The factory would not come online until the early 2030s. Although an earlier announcement from the company said the factory would hire about 3,000 workers, the Business Journals quoted Natilus CEO and co-founder Aleksy Matyushev as saying the facility would hire more than 11,000 workers.

In addition to U.S. sites for the second phase, the company said it is looking at the United Arab Emirates, India and Saudi Arabia. However, tariffs by the Trump Administration, and retaliatory tariffs from other countries, may mean locating the factory in the U.S. to mitigate supply chain disruptions.

Natiluss blended-wing-body aircraft will be made with carbon fiber airframes for advantages in fuel consumption, carbon emissions and payload capacity.

By manufacturing the worlds first commercial blended-wing-body aircraft domestically, we hope to strengthen the U.S.s position in the aviation industry, Nolan Giblin, head of business development at Natilus, said. This is the first of several moves Natilus has planned in its larger roadmap to supply major airlines with a more sustainable and cost-effective aircraft.
A Boaz man has pleaded guilty to hundreds of child pornography charges, crimes discovered when he fell behind on storage unit payments and a life-sized child sex doll was found as the unit was being emptied.

Dennis Ray Spann, 55, pleaded guilty to 225 counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of producing pornography, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey said.

Spann was sentenced to 10 years on the child porn possession convictions and 20 years each on the five child porn production charges.

Spann pleaded guilty in 2022 in Marshall County to three counts of first-degree sex abuse and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with two years to serve.

He was arrested last year on the new charges in Blount County, and his probation was revoked, according to court records.

Casey said Spann was renting a storage unit in Blount County when he failed to make payments.

The owners of the storage facility started to empty the unit when they discovered what appeared to be images of naked female children and a sex doll that was child-sized with childlike features.

The owners contacted the Oneonta Police Department to begin the investigation. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the FBIs Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force worked together on the investigation.

According to court documents, Spann admitted to possessing and producing the images and videos.

Casey praised the storage unit owners for coming forward.

It takes everyone, including our citizens, to fight back against child abuse, Casey said. The owner of these units no doubt saved other children from becoming victims of Dennis Spann.

Child pornography is not and never will be a victimless crime, she said. Every one of those images represents a child that was horrifically victimized and is victimized every time the images are shared.

Never forget, if you see something. Say something, Casey said. Every day I fight alongside law enforcement to protect our children and to make Alabama safe.
Midwives and their advocates are celebrating an Alabama court ruling that permanently blocks the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) from regulating freestanding birth centers like hospitals.

This ruling is a powerful affirmation of what birth workers, families, and communities across Alabama have long known: midwife-led care is essential, JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, wrote in a recent release.

As hospitals and obstetric services close across the stateparticularly in rural areasbirth centers and midwives are stepping in to fill a dangerous gap in access.

In a state facing a maternal health crisis, we need more options, not fewer, she continued.

The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Montgomery Thursday blocked the ADPH from continuing its current policy regarding more stringent rules for midwife centers, according to court documents.

This decision brings us one step closer to ensuring that safe, accessible, and community-based birthing care is available to everyone who needs it, Gilchrist wrote.

The ruling prevents the ADPH from imposing onerous licensing rules that would have made it effectively impossible for these centers to provide evidence-based midwifery care in the state, the ACLU release says.

The birth centers lawsuit was filed in August 2023 after ADPH created significant uncertainty around the legal status of birth centers that provide midwife-led care by asserting that all such birth centers require a hospital license, even though they exclusively provide midwifery care to low-risk patients using a model of care that is safely provided in out-of-hospital settings across the country.

ADPHs actions abruptly shut down operations for the one birth center then-operating in Alabama, despite a perfect safety record, it reads.

The release continues that the de facto ban on this essential care was especially harmful in Alabama, which has some of the highest maternal and infant health rates in the country, with Black women and infants making up a disproportionate share of deaths.

One factor playing into this concerning trend is inadequate access to pregnancy-related care, including the growing number of maternal health deserts in the state and closures of hospital labor and delivery units, it reads.

The decision from the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court holds that the Alabama Legislature never authorized ADPH to regulate midwifery care in birth centers, leaving that responsibility to the Board of Midwifery and other professional licensing boards in the state.

The ruling ensures that plaintiffs Oasis Family Birthing Center in Birmingham and Alabama Birth Center in Huntsville, which have been safely operating for the past year, may continue providing midwifery care to pregnant Alabamians, the release reads.

It adds that the centers will operate in accordance with evidence-based standards set by the American Association of Birth Centers."

We are elated that the dedicated midwives at Alabamas birth centers can continue to provide crucial care to pregnant Alabamians across the state without undue interference, said Whitney White, staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.

Midwifery care in birth centers is safe, can improve patient outcomes, and can play a critical role in expanding access to equitable pregnancy care in Alabama.

According to the most recent statistics from the March of Dimes, more than a quarter of all Alabamians  and nearly 90 percent in rural areas  have no birthing hospital within 30 minutes drive.

Todays decision will allow even more Alabamians to access this essential care and pave the way for more birth centers to open in the state, the ACLU release reads.

The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Alabama, and Bobby Segall of Copeland Franco on behalf of Oasis Family Birthing Center in Birmingham, Heather Skanes, M.D., Alabama Birth Center in Huntsville, Yashica Robinson, M.D., Birth Sanctuary in Gainesville, Stephanie Mitchell DNP, CNM, CPM, and the Alabama affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Construction is underway on a future train stop in downtown Mobile, Ala., as picture on Thursday, May 1, 2025. In the background is the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. John Sharp

Alabamas long-awaited return to Gulf Coast passenger rail is picking up steam with construction already underway in downtown Mobile, and Amtraks Mardi Gras Service on track for a summer debut.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Mobile and New Orleans will soon be cokatnnected by Amtrak service.

But even as the tracks are laid and a new train stop is being built, questions still linger over how the trains operations will be fundedand Alabamas role in that equation.

The City of Mobile has committed to its portion of a three-year, $3 million commitment and so has the Alabama State Port Authority. But in Montgomery, no money was earmarked out of this years General Fund to support the project.

Officials say its nothing to be concerned about. The project and the strategy to pay for it, they say, have not changed.

From our point, nothing has changed as far as the funding goes, said Dale Liesch, spokesperson for Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons office. Basically, the governors office has given us assurance they are maintaining the commitment to give us $1 million.

As proposed, the trains operations will be supported by three government entities  the State of Alabama, the Alabama Port Authority, and the Mobile City Council. Its an arrangement unique to Alabama, with Mississippi and Louisiana state governments picking up the entirety of their states tabs.

Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, said that negotiations about a $1 million commitment remain ongoing. The details and possible funding options, she said, are being reviewed and considered.

Citys commitment

Amtrak supporters gather in the Government Plaza Atrium after the Mobile City Council voted during its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, on three agreements needed to bring passenger rail service back to Mobile, Ala., for the first time since 2005. John Sharp

The Mardi Gras Service, once it begins sometime in July, will be a twice-daily Amtrak route connecting Mobile and New Orleans for the first time in nearly 20 years. The route includes four coastal Mississippi stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis.

The Mobile City Council is the only local government along the route to commit financial resources toward the initial start-up of the route.

We are counting on the state contributing something and we still have faith in the governor that she will do that and accommodate it, said Mobile City Councilman Josh Woods.

He, like the rest of the council, voted last August to dedicate $3.048 million over three years to support the operations of the Gulf Coast route. The total bill for the city is likely to be around $1 million, spread out over three years, as long as the port and the state legislature commit to the funding.

We would like the state to be on board, Councilman Ben Reynolds said. We have the governors word. She hasnt let us down that I can recall during my tenure. Thats a pretty good commitment.

The citys commitment occurred following some tense meetings leading up to the Aug. 6, 2024, vote. Some council members raised concerns over having city taxpayers pay for a service while other cities were not asked to do the same.

The councils vote in support of the commitment ends after three years and encourages Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission  a passenger rail advocacy group established by Congress in the 1980s  to seek future funding elsewhere.

My vote was really relying on the fact that weve told Amtrak, and its also in the agreement, that they cannot solicit us for extended service after three years, Woods said. They will have to look for other funding sources after year three. I didnt want us to sign up and be on the hook for infinity especially when Louisiana and Mississippi, their individual state (governments), were stepping up.

The three years will include some political changes including a new mayor of Mobile later this year, and a new governor after the 2026 election.

Reynolds that no matter what is owed by the city, its only an obligation that lasts for only three years.

By us agreeing to the Amtrak deal, weve committed ourselves to that deal, Reynolds said. There will have to be efforts to keep the various partners involved with us. The good thing is the deal is limited to three years. Whatever our exposure is for three years, that will be it.

States expectations

Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in downtown Mobile, Ala., to commence the work needed before Amtrak service can restart sometime in early 2025 along the Gulf Coast connecting Mobile to New Orleans. John Sharp

Knox Ross, chairman of the SRC, said the Mississippi and Louisiana commitments are finalized. He said Mississippi committed federal congestion mitigation money toward its $3 million commitment, while Louisiana state officials dipped into their General Fund to pay for their $3 million requirement.

Ross said there were no expectations that Alabama state officials, during this spring legislation session, would add a $1 million earmark for the project within the state budget. The legislatures session has three days remaining.

He also said there had been no lobbying efforts to secure the funding this year.

We didnt have any expectation that any state will commit more than they need to do until we get it up and running and that we have something to sell to them, Ross said, referring to operating commitments that will be needed once the train begins rolling.

David Clark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile, said the first payments from the local and state governments along the Gulf Coat route are not due until after the first year of the trains operations. That would likely mean the first installments on the matching funds of a federal Restoration & Enhancement (R&E) grant will not be due until summer 2026.

Alabama, in years past, opposed the Amtrak coastal project largely because of concerns by the Port Authority over passenger trains blocking freight trains that are a crucial part of their business.

The opposition led to a high-profile lawsuit before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, pitting Amtrak against the Port Authority and the two freight operators along the route  CSX and Norfolk Southern.

An agreement reached in 2022 ended the friction, even though some Mobile council members expressed concerns over having to pay for the projects operations.

City and state officials warmed up to the project after the Federal Railroad Administration released a $178.4 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to improve rail infrastructure along the Gulf Coast. Of that, $72 million going toward rail infrastructure improvements in Alabama, most of which will at least indirectly benefit the Port of Mobile.

Stimpson, last summer, called the CRISI grant a game changer for Mobile.

A financial commitment from the federal government, under the Biden Administration, toward the new I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, also helped influence the councils support.

Start date possibility

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in downtown Mobile, Ala., to commence the work needed before Amtrak service can restart sometime in early 2025 along the Gulf Coast connecting Mobile to New Orleans. John Sharp

There is no date set for the first train to roll, though officials anticipate it happening likely in July or into August.

Clark said the projects start depends on the completion of the train stop and rail project in downtown Mobile, adjacent to Cooper Riverside Park. He said that SRC commissioners have internally discussed the potential for a July 15 to Aug. 1 start date. Clark also said they likely want to avoid running the train on Aug. 29, which would be the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrinas landfall on the Gulf Coast.

The powerful storm destroyed portions of the rail line in 2005, ceasing regular Amtrak operations along it. Before the storm, Amtrak Sunset Limited connected the Gulf Coast by offering a long-distance service from Jacksonville, Fla., to Los Angeles.

The trains fares are also not yet set, though Ross said he anticipates more details rolling out later this month. The trains name, Mardi Gras Service, was announced on April 24.
The Alabama Supreme Court has authorized the execution of death row inmate Gregory Hunt for the 1988 beating death of a Walker County woman.

All nine justices on the court, in a ruling issued Thursday, unanimously authorized the execution beginning no less than 30 days from the date their order was issued. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will now have to set an execution date.

Attorneys for Hunt had not responded to a request by AL.com for comment prior to publication of this story.

The Alabama Attorney Generals Office on March 3 had asked the court to authorize Hunts execution.

In June 1990 a jury found Hunt guilty and by a vote of 11 to 1 recommended he be put to death for the Aug. 2, 1988 murder of Karen Lane in Walker County.

Lane was murdered in a Cordova apartment she shared with another young woman, according to court records. She suffered a total of 60 injuries, according to court appeal records. The indictment charging Hunt alleged that he had used his hands, fists, broom stick, and a bar stool to attack Lane.

Fingerprints and witness testimony linked Hunt to the scene, court records show.

Hunt is to be executed using nitrogen gas.

Hunt was part of a multi-plaintiff lawsuit that was dismissed in 2018 challenging the states three-drug lethal injection method. Court records show John Palombi, a federal public defender for the Middle District of Alabama, and Deputy AG Thomas Govan filed a motion to dismiss the case because the inmates named in the lawsuit, including Hunt, elected a new form of execution, nitrogen hypoxia, which was made legal that same year.

Alabama first used nitrogen hypoxia in an execution last year and has since executed three others using the method.
The Madison County Democratic Party, in a statement issued Wednesday night, described the police immunity bill currently in the legislative process as life-threatening.

Allowing extended immunity to police allows prejudice, executive committee chair Shelia McNeil said about HB202, which has faced Democratic Party opposition at every step as it proceeds in the legislative process this year. It is imperative to stand against this bill and advocate for those susceptible to injustice.

Rep. Rex Reynolds, a former Huntsville police chief, sponsored the bill that the Senate judiciary committee approved Wednesday. If approved by full Senate, it heads back to the House before going to Gov. Kay Iveys desk to sign it into law.

Reynolds has said the back the blue bill would give no immunity to police who violate citizens constitutional rights. He also argues that the bill is needed to encourage officer recruitment.

Despite that, the Madison County Democratic Party urged opposition to HB202 and noted that Alabama police are already well-protected by the law.

The bill would allow a police officer accused of misconduct, including use of excessive force resulting in death or injury, to request a pretrial immunity hearing, which the court has to hear within 45 days of filing the motion.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to hold officers accountable in some circumstances for actions that appear to violate the law or departmental procedures, McNeil said of the current immunity law in the state.

We are especially concerned for Black people and other minorities who have been historically victimized by bias and fear, she added. We believe that some police officers may view increased immunity as a green light to use excessive force in their encounters.
A former Mobile Police Department officer accused of rape has had the charge dismissed against him by the Mobile County District Attorney.

According to Fox10 News, a spokesperson for the district attorneys office said the case against Jonathan Leach was dismissed due to new evidence.

Our only option was to nolle prosequi the case after getting some new evidence and speaking with the alleged victim, the spokesperson told Fox10.

According to court documents from Sept. 2024, a grand jury indicted Leach for allegedly sexually assaulting a person who was incapacitated and incapable of consent.

Leach was fired by the Mobile Police Department in June 2024 in an unrelated incident, according to the department.
Towards the end of former Sen. Doug Jones speech to hundreds of protesters in a Tuscaloosa park, a motorcyclist circled the area and revved the engine loudly for several moments.

Jones, talking to a crowd gathered to oppose President Donald Trumps visit to the University of Alabama, turned briefly and quipped, Whatever hes riding now, its going to go up in price.

Jones was one of many speakers at Snow Hinton Park at the invite of the UA College Democrats. Two other protests, hosted by pro-Palestinian and pro-workers groups, occurred nearby Thursday.

About 200 people gathered at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to protest President Donald Trump's visit May 1, 2025. Williesha Morris

This is not a protest. This is a movement, Jones said. It is movements that changed this country. Whether it was a Civil Rights movement, whether it was an anti-war movement, Jones said. Its a movement. And guess what? It started on college campuses.

Jones told AL.com, Im gonna stay in the fight. Theres too much going on. Theres too much trouble in America. Theres too much trouble in Alabama. Im gonna stay in the fight, one way or another. He would not say whether hes considering running for office again.

Trump ought not to come speak on our campus, Christian Martin, with the College Democrats, told AL.com before the event.

People supporting and opposing the president flocked to the college town Thursday night, joining floods of others arriving for commencement ceremonies.

Trump is the first president to give a speech during the University of Alabamas graduation weekend. The university plans to issue about 6,000 degrees to students over the weekend.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who took Jones seat in 2021 and is considering a run for governor, later got a shoutout from Trump in Coleman Coliseum.

Cassandra Simon, a social work professor who is suing the university and Gov. Kay Ivey over state law banning some DEI programs, encouraged protesters to stand up for civil rights. In his second term, Trump has issued executive orders banning diversity, equity and inclusion from federal programs.

I am afraid, she said. Its okay to be afraid. Dont let that fear immobilize you.

Kyle Sweetser, a former Republican who now is running for Tubervilles seat, said Trump used to be pro-choice and supported the LGBTQ community.

He could have worked with both parties to get things done, Sweetser said. He could have fought to bust up monopolies, protect our national parks and improve the lives of everyday Americans, he said.

But he didnt do any of that. Instead, Trump cozied up to a select few billionaires, abused his power and betraying the trust of his most loyal followers, the people of Alabama, the people of the South, Sweetser said. His authoritarian regime is anti-Constitution. They think that they are above the law. They harass and threaten the press.

Former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke spoke to the crowd before Jones, opening with, So this is what Alabama looks like. F------ beautiful.

ORourke credited university students for taking action themselves instead of anticipating orders from Washington, D.C.

Alabama has long inspired Texas, long inspired the country, ORourke said. We have a profoundly powerful relationship. Too many people in this country understand the threat that Donald Trump poses to us individually, to our families, to our community our Constitution, to our country.

Addressing students, ORourke said graduation weekend should all about you and the hard work and the effort and the success that you have earned.

This jackass is trying to make it all about him, ORourke said while the crowd laughed and cheered.

Freddie and Rainer Clements drove two hours from Jacksonville to attend the protest.

People in Washington have to understand we do know whats going on, and this is how we feel, Freddie Clements said. One person on the internet is not much of an impact.

Before the protest, Birmingham resident Beth Mulvey said the country is such a mess.

Its not surprising, Mulvey said. She said Trump was going to do all this stuff when he was running, and people voted him in. So here we are in the mess that was promised. We really need all the branches of government to stand up and do what theyre supposed to do.

We just wanted them to know that there are students at UA who do not want Trumps presence here, Omorose Emwanta, with UA Leftists & UA Students for Justice for Palestine, told AL.com. Trumps presidency represents so many negative things. Trumps presidency has caused a great deal of stress and suffering in our lives.

Even though the event is optional, the fact that UA would invite Trump to just speak on campus at a commencement ceremony, something that people cherish and would love to go to, its a little slap in the face. So many graduating seniors are upset. Many students in general are not a fan, Emwanta said.

As protesters dispersed in Tuscaloosa, Trump touched down in town and was greeted with cheers and a warmup speech from Nick Saban.

Trump told his crowd of supporters that the country is in the midst of a new revolution of sense.

He told students they were the first graduating class of the golden age of America.
A Jefferson County Jail inmate died at the hospital, four days after he was found attempting to harm himself in his cell.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the inmate as Charlie James Dunn. He was 27 and lived in Bessemer.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Dunn was found inside his cell at 3:20 p.m. April 26.

He was taken to UAB Medical West where he remained until he was pronounced dead at 3:52 p.m. Wednesday.

Authorities said Dunn had used a bed sheet to hang himself.

Jefferson County Judge David Carpenter said Dunn remained on life support after being pronounced because he was an organ donor.

The judge dismissed all cases against him on Thursday so that his family could be there to instruct the hospital to harvest his organs and remove him from life support.

Dunn had been booked into the county jail in Bessemer on April 14 on charges for drug possession and receiving stolen property.

He was also under indictment for attempted murder for shooting into a vehicle.

Dunn is the second inmate at the jail in Bessemer in recent weeks to die at UAB Medical West after self-harm.

Jimmy Aaron Boothe, 42, died April 21, after he was found in his private cell on April 12.
Southern Baptists gather in a convention hall at the Music City Center in Nashville on June 15, 2021. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)

The Southern Baptist Convention, the nations largest Protestant denomination, lost more than a quarter of a million members from 2023 to 2024, according to the latest annual statistics compiled by Lifeway Research.

Southern Baptist congregations across the country lost a combined 259,824 members, according to the annual church profile.

With 12,722,266 members, the SBC is the smallest it has been since 1974.

The good news from the reports was that more people were attending services. In 2024, an average of more than 4.3 million people worshipped weekly in a Southern Baptist congregation, more than in any year since the pandemic.

More than 2.5 million participated in a small group Bible study each week.

Churches also reported 250,643 baptisms in 2024, up from 226,919 in 2023.

We rejoice that God is using Southern Baptist churches to reach people with the gospel, said Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. We celebrate the upward trends in baptisms that we havent seen in the past 30 years.

The number of SBC churches declined from 46,906 in 2023 to 46,876 in 2024, including congregations that closed and those that are no longer affiliated with the denomination.

Alabama has the fourth-most Southern Baptists by state: Texas ranks first (2,409,860), then Georgia (1,135,843), Tennessee (1,083,684), Alabama (933,549), North Carolina (884,663), Florida (764,853), South Carolina (602,129), Kentucky (520,424), Virginia (507,760) and Mississippi (502,416).
Plaintiffs in the case Boe v. Marshall have dropped a challenge to an Alabama state law that will prohibit transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.

The lawsuit was initially brought by several parents of transgender minors in 2023 after the Alabama legislature passed the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act in 2022.

The law makes it a felony for doctors to administer puberty blockers and hormones to individuals under 19 years of age. If convicted the an individual could be sentenced to over 10 years in prison.

Attorney General Steve Marshall, the representative for Alabama in the case, celebrated the dismissal of the case.

According to Marshall the dismissal marks a total and historic win for the State of Alabama.

This victory is not just for Alabama. This is a generational win for children, for families, and for reality itself, Marshall said. Alabama refused to be bullied. Now the rest of the country is seeing the truth. We are proud to lead that effort.

The plaintiffs were represented by several national organizations including the Human Rights Campaign, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law).

The National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law provided a joint statement to AL.com regarding the case being dropped.

A lot has changed in over three years. This is a very challenging environment for transgender adolescents and their families, the statement read.

The plaintiff families in this case were incredibly courageous to bring a case which secured an initial injunction that blocked the ban temporarily and made a huge difference in peoples lives.

The shutting down of medical care in Alabama has forced our plaintiffs and other Alabama families to make heart wrenching decisions that no family should ever have to make, and they are making the decisions they need to make that are right for them.

We salute the courage of these plaintiffs, and we will continue fighting to ensure families across the country have the freedom to get their transgender children the proven medical care that enables them to thrive.

The American Medical Association has routinely advised against states banning gender affirming care for transgender youth.